Governor Bob Ferguson says he thinks it's a different time right now and there is an opportunity to make a historic change in our tax structure. He has signaled support of a millionaires tax, saying it's different than earlier this year because the budget doesn't rely on it.

They're trying to squeak one more Harrell Administration priority through before the end of the year: allowing huge-ass corporate signs on skyscrapers in Downtown Seattle. services.seattle.gov/Portal/Cap/C...

Worth re-upping this video about a similar vulnerability exposed in one of Flock's major competitors, Motorola Solutions. The many problems with Flock are common throughout the industry. Flock isn't the problem, surveillance is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dUn...

While I'm feeling better than I was a week ago, my recovery is proceeding very sloooowly, which is frustrating. Am considering buying myself a month of HBO to see what this Heated Rivalry business is about while I continue to rest.

Even Westneat thinks the state Dems might finally go for a state income tax in 2026. Ferguson will be facing a lot of pressure if so. Gonna be an interesting couple of months!

A new episode of the Urbanist podcast is out! I spend some time talking about the new SPOG contract, as you'd expect.

NEW STORY // Housing Nonprofits Grapple with Fiscal Crisis and Federal Threats Story by Andrew Engelson via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/19/h...

For folks curious re the news re gender affirming care for trans youth I wrote a quick summary in the BDNH newsletter It’s NOT a national ban. it creates no new civil or criminal penalties, it is a proposal to wield the power of the purse to discriminatorily deny care mailchi.mp/interrupting...

I sued the Seattle PD in 2024. During settlement negotiations I proposed the city complete an independent audit of the SPD's compliance with the WA Public Records Act as part of our settlement agreement. The City Attorney's Office outright refused.

An audit of SPD's public disclosure unit and processes does seem merited.

Oh yikes.

Big day.

On this, Jane Austen's 250th birthday, I will offer the gentle reminder that I authored a YA version of Pride and Prejudice in space that is available at many fine booksellers. books2read.com/totravelthes...

Councilmember Lin requests community’s help after hit-and-run on Beacon Hill council.seattle.gov/2025/12/16/c...

People living near the Green River in the Tukwila Orillia area: evacuate immediately if you’re in the red zone!

SPOG gets a great new contract while legal settlements related to SPD greatly increase. notesfromtheemeraldcity.com/spog-gets-a-...

In yesterday's article about the SPOG contract, I mentioned the use of the SPOG X account to taunt and appear to take credit when Dan Nelson was demoted from Assistant Chief to Captain. Unsurprising that they're now publicly gloating about the excellent new contract they've obtained.

So much this. What direction/vision is coming from the top? In SPD the answer is going to be very different than SDOT's.

My latest about the newly passed SPOG contract, which isn't great news for Seattle's police accountability or its civilian response. Mayor Harrell just signed it yesterday.

It's official. Mayor-elect Katie Wilson is retaining SPD Chief Shon Barnes in his post, as well as other public safety leaders at SFD, CARE, and OEM.

I'll just say, if Wilson decides to retain Barnes, I hope she gets tangible gains from the decision (whether or not they're immediately visible to the public) as opposed to simply the ease of keeping the status quo.

Hearing that mayor-elect Katie Wilson will announce today that she will retain the current police chief, Shon Barnes. More to come.

Well, here we are.

I'm listening to Seattle's City Council meeting now, and we've already heard a few public comments opposing the new SPOG contract.

This is tonight! I'll be there, and I'm hoping some folks might want to talk about whatever happens with the SPOG contract this afternoon. 😉

I'll note that this proposed SPOG contract doesn't give subpoena power or remove civilian investigator limitations.

If you were on the fence about giving public comment at this afternoon's Seattle City Council meeting (2pm) about the proposed SPOG contract, I'd suggest you go ahead and do it.

Oh wow, CM Rob Saka has announced he will be voting AGAINST the proposed SPOG contract this afternoon. Unexpected! www.thestranger.com/guest-editor...

This has become a pattern with this council that I too find troubling. When it comes to surveillance, it is extremely easy to find reporting from multiple sources about the issues with these technologies.

Some Seattle CMs don't seem to understand "rushed" allegations re the proposed SPOG contract are because it came from Mayor Harrell shortly before the election that he subsequently lost. Passing this contract a few weeks before Mayor-elect Wilson begins her term feels "rushed" in a specific way.

HUD update: "intentional chaos" sounds about right.

Today is my first day back after a fantastic vacation, and I'm slowly gearing back up. Even in December, there's a lot going on!

I’d argue rolling back a lot of post-9/11 “but terrorists!” stuff should be a high priority for any new Dem admin. As ICE’s rampages, etc., make clear, they are too easily used against us. I get the politics, so miss me w doomer pessimism. The question is how do we make that politically viable.

Oh wow, Mountlake Terrace has made a complete reversal since June and changed their minds about Flock license plate readers!

Stay based, Seattle. "He speculated the city might be the epicenter of anti-AI sentiment among major U.S. tech hubs."

1. Why do we let ppl like Pinker—a psychologist—publish books abt the history of crime and violence, and why do we as a profession laud them (Pinker gave a keynote at the Am Society of Criminology abt a book that any criminologist should have seen right through)?

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver, A Summer Day

It's going to be an interesting legislative session in Olympia!

What's this? A new Urbanist podcast? 😉 @metropolitanglide.bsky.social and I talked about this month's election. Fair warning, we could have easily talked for another hour, there was so much to cover.

If you see someone living outside and it’s cold, tell them they can tell a bus driver they are going to a cold weather shelter and they should not be required to pay fare. Here’s info from KCRHA about cold weather plans across King County. kcrha.org/news-winter-...

Look at this beauty!

My latest is all about what we should expect to see in terms of homelessness and public safety when Katie Wilson takes office as Seattle's mayor next year.

Making sure that our neighbors and community can go to work or the store or just take a walk without being abducted is a huge public safety issue btw. And it’s a community-wide public safety issue that will affect you, even if you’re not the one directly under threat from a rogue federal agency.

Always good to be reminded that corporations don't care and have no shame.

I really love pie. Tomorrow I'm picking up a fancy pie that has the most delicious crust, and I'm so excited, it's going to be all I can do not to eat it until Thursday. 🤣

It’s been a hard month for license plate readers in Washington State. notesfromtheemeraldcity.com/its-been-a-h...

I love my heat pump so much! I am much less cold in the wintertime now.

Nala's groomer texted this morning asking why I hadn't made another appt. She called Nala an angel when I shared the news of her death. She made Nala's last year so much better. Nala was mostly blind with dementia and was scared to get her face trimmed but her new groomer was so kind and patient.

Wow again. Ruha Benjamin wrote Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code. From the blurb: "From everyday apps to complex algorithms, Ruha Benjamin cuts through tech-industry hype to understand how emerging technologies can reinforce White supremacy and deepen social inequity."

Wow. Vitale wrote The End of Policing, advocating for community-based solutions for safety instead of policing.