My latest for Notes from the Emerald City, analyzing the initial results of the WA State Supreme Court justices races. Candidates have already raised almost $2.5 million in these races, and we still have three months to go.

Whether you agree with Gennette Cordova or not, perspectives like hers have been noticeably missing from the public discourse around this...

COLUMN | 'Black Faces in High Places' Won't Transform Seattle Policing

A Black police chief does not guarantee safer Black communities. Gennette Cordova calls on Seattle to demand accountability beyond representation.

southseattleemerald.org

Today's AI analysis from the Wall Street Journal's tech journalist. Obviously Bluesky lacks the character length for deep nuance but this is quite the summary.

Christopher Mims@mims.bsky.social · 12h ago

feels like the big AI impacts are: upending coding and the practice of law; making a terrible mess in healthcare; more algorithmic bias in government at every level; and it will also kill the open web, concept art, the take-home essay and possibly critical thinking any other impacts I'm missing?

Great thread, and this first point is so real. So much legislation gets watered down before passage. Ideally you want to start at a place where you can afford to have the bill get watered down and still have it be achieving something worthwhile.

M. Nolan Gray 🥑@mnolangray.bsky.social · 15h ago

Some things I've learned about legislative advocacy, and I think my record speaks for itself. 1. Start by asking for everything you want. Stop preemptively negotiating against yourself. The process of passing the bill will whittle it down. Why started with a whittled down product?

I had friends over tonight and the only election result I shared with them was the library levy. I couldn't resist because all of us love libraries so much!

Between the surveillance debate and the budget deficit, Seattle is going to have quite a fall.

Erica C. Barnett@ericacbarnett.bsky.social · yesterday

This is obviously going to be a big showdown in the fall, when the council will argue to vastly expand police surveillance of neighborhoods all over Seattle. Nationally, this isn't really even a left-right issue—right-wing surveillance opponents have many of the same arguments as left-wing ones.

I woke up today, and the knee that has been hurting constantly since last Monday is feeling better. What a relief!

It's fascinating how cities and police depts are realizing Flock license plate readers are a problem in a myriad of ways, and instead of spending any time considering the risks of the tech, they jump to switching to another vendor of *the same technology* as if that will somehow solve the problem.

its very telling that the mainstream media narrative is that dsa has wacky and unreasonable positions when the republican party position is that abortion should be banned, latino families should be put in concentration camps, black people should be shot by cops and transgender people shouldnt exist

Helpful info for voting, but even if you've already voted this is worth a read to gain an understanding around some of the issues around Seattle Munipal Court.

The Urbanist@theurbanist.org · 3d ago

NEW OP-ED// Op-Ed: Vote Gabe Rothstein for Seattle Municipal Court By Austin Field (Guest Contributor) via @theurbanist.org

Here's my take on yesterday's press conference on Seattle's new interim chief and the resignation of Shon Barnes. I'd particularly like to flag the CARE response piece; a different police chief could potentially reduce friction in having CARE responders dispatched by 911 (although not a panacea).

The Urbanist@theurbanist.org · 5d ago

NEW STORY// Wilson and Council Clash after Seattle Police Chief's Resignation By Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org

Just a reminder, after a week full of scoops and general insanity at Seattle City Hall, that my work is funded directly and entirely by reader contributions and subscriptions. LOTS of options here, from newsletter subscriptions to one-time donations to my physical address, for checks!

I'm remembering the press conference when Adrian Diaz resigned as SPD Chief, and he was practically in tears, and Mayor Harrell kept him on the SPD's payroll while delivering a spectacle for the press.

I came early because of my knee and it's a good thing because this press conference is PACKED.

Getting ready to go hobble around City Hall for the police chief press conference. The nice thing about this injury is it doesn't seem to have anything to do with weight-bearing. It's just me trying to avoid moving the skin over my knee while I walk. 😂

Confirmed: SPD Chief Barnes has resigned. Current Deputy Chief Andre Sayles will serve as interim chief. Sayles only joined SPD last year after serving as Chief of the Police in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Sounds like Mayor Wilson struck while the iron was hot.

Amy Sundberg@amysundberg.bsky.social · last wk.

1. Seattle is lucky to have Erica. 2. It will be interesting to see how Mayor Wilson decides to handle this. At this point, it wouldn't be shocking if she decided to make a change at SPD.

As a member of the press, I agree that police should make accurate information available as soon as possible. I just don't place the blame at the mayor's feet when SPD fails to do this, because it's not uncommon or specific to SPD under this mayor.

1. Seattle is lucky to have Erica. 2. It will be interesting to see how Mayor Wilson decides to handle this. At this point, it wouldn't be shocking if she decided to make a change at SPD.

Erica C. Barnett@ericacbarnett.bsky.social · last wk.

The chief's outsized reaction to South Seattle Emerald reporter Connor Nash, who asked Barnes about my reporting on his absences from Seattle, has become an international story. Local reporting absolutely matters. PubliCola.com/support

I'm not seriously hurt, but my knees have been hurting a lot since yesterday afternoon and it sure is nice to have someone bring you food when you've been bravely bearing up.

My friend is going to bring me dinner, and in return I'm going to talk with him about all the races on his ballot for the primary, and this is a pretty great arrangement. (I would have done this without the food bribe, but I'm not going to complain!)

SPD police chief loses his cool notesfromtheemeraldcity.com/spd-police-c...

Just like last year, it's important for King County voters to mail ballots in early. How early? Why not today? Due to mail processing delays by Trump's USPS, ballots mailed just before or on Election Day are at rick of not being counted. If you do wait until the last minute, just use a drop box!

A reminder as you're filling out your Seattle primary ballot: Lindsay Calkins has withdrawn and is no longer running for Seattle Municipal Court Judge. Also, the WA Supreme Court justice races are extremely important!

Closing - Calkins for Judge

calkinsforjudge.com

Welp, I took a plunge, falling hard on both knees. They're both skinned, one is bleeding, and somehow I also managed to cut my foot. Have washed with soap, Bandaided up, and now I'm sitting with ice packs on the knees trying to breathe through the pain. Ouch.

I also encourage people to watch this video clip. Watching a man step between the reporter and Chief Barnes is really something.

Erica C. Barnett@ericacbarnett.bsky.social · last wk.

Um holy shit - Police Chief Shon Barnes got PISSED at @soseaemerald.bsky.social reporter Connor Nash when Nash asked about my reporting that Barnes is out of town a lot; Barnes said, "No YOU listen!" and then angrily said my "reports are WRONG." My reporting is based on his schedule.

I am being forced to choose between hearing T Kingfisher and Naomi Klein because they are both speaking in Seattle on the same evening. 😬

As you all know, I've been following this story closely as it's developed. As I was writing this article yesterday, press releases kept arriving in my inbox. The results seem to be more food access programs for kids and likely a slightly larger deficit to deal with this fall.

The Urbanist@theurbanist.org · 2w ago

NEW STORY// Councilmembers Reverse Course After Backlash to Universal School Meal Delay By Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org

I wrote a profile of the 46th LD race as 2 challengers attempt to unseat incumbent Rep Pollet. Unfortunately, Dreher's campaign said it made more sense for him to talk with me after the primary, and Rep Pollet didn't respond at all, but I still looked into some of the questions around that race.

The Urbanist@theurbanist.org · 2w ago

NEW STORY// Progressives Seek to Replace Rep. Gerry Pollet, but Split on Challenger By Amy Sundberg via @theurbanist.org

Speaking of air quality and asthma.... I have an electric stove and I sure am glad I do!

Sammy Roth@sammyroth.bsky.social · 2w ago

Insane new research. Scientists gave asthma patients free electric stoves to replace their gas stoves, then checked to see if symptoms improved. Not only did symptoms improve, ditching gas was *better than medicine.* Details in today's newsletter: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/electric-s...