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Issues With Former Police Chief Barnes Weren't Just About His Travel or Where He Lived In a frenzy to condemn the mayor, her opponents seem to have forgotten why Barnes' future at the city was tenuous to begin with.
Issues With Former Police Chief Barnes Weren't Just About His Travel or Residency - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett Mainstream media outlets and many Seattle City Councilmembers have expressed outrage over Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision…
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New column by @joshfeit.bsky.social : Greater Seattle! Headlining this week's spicy debut: Reasons to fire the police chief > Reasons not to fire the police chief.
New Column! Introducing Greater Seattle - PubliCola
By Josh Feit PubliCola isn’t making endorsements this year, but election season (see item 3 below) gives me the perfect…
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Wilson, New Interim Police Chief Sayles Address Barnes' Ouster, SPD's Future The new interim chief's family lives in Illinois, while he maintains another home in East King County and visits his family regularly. Yes, we know it sounds familiar.
Wilson, New Interim Police Chief Sayles Address Barnes' Ouster, SPD's Future - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett A press conference with Mayor Katie Wilson and new interim Police Chief Andre Sayles revolved, somewhat…
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Yes, there will be more news about Seattle's police chief coming soon. But how about a palate cleanser in the meantime? Burien Council Fires Controversial City Manager; Mayor and Council Say They've Found Money for Universal School Meals After All
Burien Council Fires Controversial City Manager; Mayor and Council Say They've Found Money for Universal School Meals After All - PubliCola
1. Burien City Manager Adolfo Bailon was fired by the Burien City Council earlier this week on a 4-1 vote,…
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Multiple Sources Say Police Chief Barnes is Out; Mayor’s Office Not Responding to Questions The chief has been under fire over his frequent trips out of town, after flying back from Dallas partway through a planned two-week absence to respond to a mass shooting at Seattle Center.
Multiple Sources Say Police Chief Barnes is Out; Mayor's Office Not Responding to Questions - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett On Wednesday night, multiple sources in several branches of city government told PubliCola that Mayor Katie…
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The police chief—who, as I reported, rents in Seattle and visits his family at their home in Chicago—was out of town or out of the office more than two months so far this year. He has bristled at questions about his absences and had planned to speak to TV reporters about his schedule today.
Partial, Altered Schedule Shows Police Chief Out of Town Nearly 7 Weeks So Far This Year - PubliCola
Barnes, under fire after we reported on his absence from the city during Sunday’s mass shooting, had planned a half-dozen…
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Erica, editor of PubliCola, here. The reason we have a comment section on PubliCola is that I like comments sections. If it ever gets wildly out of control to the point I can't moderate it on my own, it'll end. I almost never delete comments, and never based on viewpoint.
On Narrow Vote, Council Gets Rid of Local Appeal Process that Delays Land Use Legislation Opponents of Seattle land-use legislation will still be able to appeal to King County Superior Court or the Growth Management Hearings Board.
On Narrow Vote, Council Gets Rid of Local Appeal Process that Delays Land Use Legislation - PubliCola
Opponents of Seattle land-use legislation will still be able to appeal to King County Superior Court or the Growth…
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Confrontation With Reporter Was Just "Passion on Full Display," Police Chief Says; OPA Complaint Filed After the chief twice mischaracterized PubliCola’s reporting, SPD confirmed the chief planned two weeks off before Sunday’s tragedy at Seattle Center.
Confrontation With Reporter Was Just "Passion on Full Display," Police Chief Says; OPA Complaint Filed - PubliCola
After the chief twice mischaracterized PubliCola’s reporting, SPD confirmed the chief planned two weeks off before Sunday’s tragedy at Seattle…
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Seattle Police Chief Out of Town During Mass Shooting; Council's School Meals Plan Will Require Cuts to Other Services Today's Morning Fizz.
Seattle Police Chief Out of Town During Mass Shooting; Council's School Meals Plan Will Require Cuts to Other Services - PubliCola
1. Yesterday’s mass shooting at Seattle Center, in which a gunman killed three people and injured five more, was the…
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Most Men Prosecuted for Sex Buying Don't Reoffend, Report Suggests The public defense office says the evidence suggests there's no need to make sex buying a felony; the prosecutor, who's pushing for a bill next year, says harsher penalties would reduce demand.
Most Men Prosecuted for Sex Buying Don't Reoffend, Report Suggests - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett A new report from the King County Department of Public Defense about misdemeanor arrests for “commercial…
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Universal School Meals Delayed In Favor of Grocery Vouchers for Low-Income Families Three councilmembers voted against the amendment, arguing that limiting free meals to low-income kids creates stigma and imposes an administrative burden on parents, who must re-qualify every year.
Universal School Meals Delayed In Favor of Grocery Vouchers for Low-Income Families - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett After weeks of debate that revealed widespread public opposition to the proposal, the city council’s Families,…
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Mayor's Press Secretary Departs, Budget for Police Salary Hikes Tops $80 Million Today's Afternoon Fizz.
Mayor's Press Secretary Departs, Budget for Police Salary Hikes Tops $80 Million - PubliCola
1. Sage Wilson, Mayor Katie Wilson’s press secretary, is leaving the mayor’s office after less than seven months on the…
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With Major Reforms Years Away, City Could Make Temporary Changes to Housing Fees Next Year Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin says something must be done to address "plummeting" permits for new housing in Seattle.
With Major Reforms Years Away, City Could Make Temporary Changes to Housing Fees Next Year - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett Although a proposal to temporarily slash the Mandatory Housing Affordability fees paid by developers in most…
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This Week on PubliCola: A marathon debate over transit funding, Katie Wilson's flight patterns, a bill that would limit endless land-use appeals, and more news from the past week. Plus: Three podcasts, including one about sustaining a podcast and an independent news site long-term.
This Week on PubliCola: July 18, 2026 - PubliCola
A marathon debate over transit funding, Katie Wilson’s flight patterns, a bill that would limit endless land-use appeals, and more…
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Seattle Nice: Taxing for Transit, Nude Beach Ruling, and Mayor Wilson's Frugal Flights Listen to this week's episode of Seattle Nice.
Seattle Nice: Taxing for Transit, Nude Beach Ruling, and Mayor Wilson's Frugal Flights - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett Unlike the Seattle City Council, we sped through several local topics on Seattle Nice this week,…
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After Marathon Meeting, Council Committee Passes Wilson's Transit Measure Mostly Intact The 0.3 percent sales tax, which will go before voters in November, would expand transit service in Seattle for the next 10 years.
After Marathon Meeting, Council Committee Passes Wilson's Transit Measure Mostly Intact - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett It took three hours and 37 minutes—45 minutes longer than the new film The Odyssey—but a…
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Land Use Appeal Reform Moves Forward, Council Splits on Funding for School Meals Today's Afternoon Fizz.]
Land Use Appeal Reform Moves Forward, Council Splits on Funding for School Meals - PubliCola
1. A city council committee voted to move legislation forward on Wednesday that will—if it passes full council next week—shut…
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As Mayor, Katie Wilson Doesn't Travel Much. When She Does, You'll Find Her in 23F. Unlike her predecessor, who traveled first-class and was out of town for much of his term, Wilson rides in coach and has mostly stayed in Seattle.
As Mayor, Katie Wilson Doesn't Travel Much. When She Does, You'll Find Her in 23F. - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett For more than a year, records have been trickling into my inbox documenting the astronomical amounts…
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Seattle May Actually Limit Anti-Housing Land Use Appeals; More People Will be Eligible for Utility Discounts Today's late-afternoon Fizz.
Seattle May Actually Limit Anti-Housing Land Use Appeals; More People Will be Eligible for Utility Discounts - PubliCola
1. The Seattle City Council’s land use committee will vote tomorrow on a proposal, from Councilmember Eddie Lin, to…
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Voting “Yes” On Prop. 1 Will Fund the Library System We Deserve Guest columnist Brittney Moraski, advocacy chair for the Seattle Public Library Foundation Board, makes the case for the library levy measure, which is on the August 4 ballot.
Voting “Yes” On Prop. 1 Will Fund the Library System We Deserve - PubliCola
By Brittney Moraski As Advocacy Chair for the Seattle Public Library Foundation’s board, I want all Seattleites to know that…
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This Week on PubliCola: July 12, 2026 A wide-ranging interview with the mayor, a proposal to replace universal free meals at school with means-tested vouchers, serious questions about public disclosure at the homelessness author, and more stories you may have missed this week.
This Week on PubliCola: July 12, 2026 - PubliCola
A wide-ranging interview with the mayor, a proposal to replace universal free meals at school with means-tested vouchers, serious questions…
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KCRHA CEO Sought to Shield Records From Public Disclosure, Emails Suggest Kelly Kinnison directed an IT manager to exclude records labeled "deliberative" from public disclosure and restricted the public disclosure officer's access to her emails.
KCRHA CEO Sought to Shield Records From Public Disclosure, Emails Suggest - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett King County Regional Homelessness Authority CEO Kelly Kinnison sought to exempt many of her emails from…
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Mayor Katie Wilson Says She's "Doing a Reset" on Housing Agenda, "Very Hopeful" About Police Chief In Part 2 of our interview, the mayor talks about the police chief and potential cuts to SPD's budget, the future of the city's CARE team, and what's happening with her affordability agenda.
Mayor Katie Wilson Says She's "Doing a Reset" on Housing Agenda, "Very Hopeful" About Police Chief - PubliCola
In Part 2 of our interview, the mayor talks about the police chief and potential cuts to SPD’s budget, the…
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Council Proposal Would Delay Universal School Lunch Program, Fund Means-Tested Food Vouchers Instead Universal school lunch has been a key priority for Mayor Katie Wilson.
Council Proposal Would Delay Universal School Lunch Program, Fund Means-Tested Food Vouchers Instead - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett When I spoke to Mayor Katie Wilson on Tuesday, one of the key accomplishments she name-checked…
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Mayor Katie Wilson at Six Months In: “Incredibly Proud of What We’re Accomplishing” Part 1 of our in-depth interview with the mayor about her accomplishments and setbacks during her first six months in office.
Mayor Katie Wilson at Six Months In: "Incredibly Proud of What We're Accomplishing" - PubliCola
The mayor talks about her shelter plan, encampment sweeps, why news vouchers aren’t happening this year, and more. By Erica…
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Wilson Turns Off Stadium Surveillance Cameras, Homeless Authority Director Tells Staff Not to Trust the Media Today's Afternoon Fizz.
Wilson Turns Off Stadium Surveillance Cameras, Homeless Authority Director Tells Staff Not to Trust the Media - PubliCola
1. As PubliCola first reported on Bluesky yesterday, Mayor Katie Wilson is turning off the police surveillance cameras around the…
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Sound Transit's Bespoke Wayfinding System Is Unnecessarily Baffling International visitors have likely never seen anything quite like it.
Sound Transit's Bespoke Wayfinding System Is Unnecessarily Baffling - PubliCola
International visitors have likely never seen anything quite like it. By Erica C. Barnett For Sound Transit, the World…
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This week on PublICola: KCRHA contracts yanked, opponents rail against plan to eliminate one avenue for challenging density, news vouchers pushed back a year, and much more news you may have missed this week. Plus, new podcast episode!
This Week on PubliCola: July 4, 2026 - PubliCola
KCRHA contracts yanked, opponents rail against plan to eliminate one avenue for challenging density, news vouchers pushed back a year,…
publicola.com
Council Amendments Would Slash Transit Funding Plan, Subject Measure to Annual Council Vote Other amendments would allow the city to divert funding from Metro service to transit security and introduce new levels of micromanagement to the bus funding measure. publicola.com/2026/07/03/c...
Council Amendments Would Slash Transit Funding Plan, Subject Measure to Annual Council Vote - PubliCola
Other amendments would allow the city to divert funding from additional King County Metro bus service to transit security and…
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