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PubliCola@publicola.bsky.social · last wk.

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KCRHA Layoffs Begin, With Executive Positions, Financial Staff Untouched - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett The King County Regional Homelessness Authority made its first round of layoffs on Tuesday, six days…

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KCRHA Layoffs Begin, With Executive Positions, Financial Staff Untouched Union members had urged cutting the top two executive jobs. Instead, one of those executives got a promotion while 11 lower-level staffers got axed without severance.

KCRHA Layoffs Begin, With Executive Positions, Financial Staff Untouched - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett The King County Regional Homelessness Authority made its first round of layoffs on Tuesday, six days…

publicola.com

SPD Officer Alleges Retaliation by Lieutenant at Center of Discrimination Lawsuit SPD settled with four women who alleged discrimination and retaliation by Lt. John O’Neil. O’Neil, who has moved on and up, allegedly told staff his accusers were liars.

SPD Officer Alleges Retaliation by Lieutenant at Center of Discrimination Lawsuit - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Valerie Carson, one of four female police officers who split a $2.6 million settlement in a…

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In his latest Greater Seattle Column, @joshfeit.bsky.social takes on Chamber poll whiplash, the city's plan to go backward on pedestrian space at Pike Place Market, and what the latest (positive!) bike and scooter ridership numbers mean for the city.

Greater Seattle: Bikes, Cars, and Housing - PubliCola

By Josh Feit First, a quick follow-up to last week’s item about former state house candidate Ron Davis. ICYMI: Despite…

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Wilson Proposes Substantive Vision Zero Improvements—One Day After Councilmember's Hasty Attempt to Upstage Her Wilson’s executive order directs departments to do things, while Saka’s proposal, still in draft, would mostly codify and reiterate efforts that are already ongoing.

Wilson Proposes Substantive Vision Zero Improvements—One Day After Councilmember's Hasty Attempt to Upstage Her - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Mayor Katie Wilson signed an expansive, substantive executive order last week directing the Seattle Department of…

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This Week on PubliCola: August 23, 2026 KCRHA Layoffs Begin, SPD Chief Files Unfounded Complaint Against Detective, Privacy Advocates vs. Surveillance Cameras and More

This Week on PubliCola: August 23, 2026 - PubliCola

KCRHA Layoffs Begin, SPD Chief Files Unfounded Complaint Against Detective, Privacy Advocates vs. Surveillance Cameras and More By Erica C.…

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Interim Police Chief Sayles Filed Complaint Against Hate Crimes Detective for Speaking At Pro-LGBTQ Rally “Any further investigation would violate [the detective’s] constitutional rights and open the city to a lawsuit,” an investigator concluded when dismissing Sayles’ complaint.

Interim Police Chief Sayles Filed Complaint Against Hate Crimes Detective for Speaking At Pro-LGBTQ Rally - PubliCola

“Any further investigation would violate [the detective’s] constitutional rights and open the city to a lawsuit,” an investigator concluded when…

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Report: Police Contract Severely Limits CARE Team's Ability to Do Their Jobs But CARE Chief Amy Barden says there’s reason for optimism.

Report: Police Contract Severely Limits CARE Team's Ability to Do Their Jobs - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett A new report from the city’s Office of Inspector General confirms what Community Aided Response and…

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King County Enlists Uncanny AI Videos for Ethics Training; Drop in Mayor's Approval Rating Follows Anti-Wilson Media Frenzy Today's Afternoon Fizz.

King County Enlists Uncanny AI Videos for Ethics Training; Drop in Mayor's Approval Rating Follows Anti-Wilson Media Frenzy - PubliCola

1. King County is using what it calls an “innovative tool” to train 4,000 executive branch employees on how to…

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As Business-Backed Poll Says Most Support Police Surveillance Cameras; Privacy Advocates Raise Security Concerns The business-backed poll shows far more support for police surveillance than other polls from the same general time, raising questions about whether it represents organic support.

As Business-Backed Poll Says Most Support Police Surveillance Cameras; Privacy Advocates Raise Security Concerns - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett As a new poll appeared to show strong support for police surveillance in Seattle neighborhoods, a…

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As KCRHA Begins Layoffs, Union Suggests Cutting Top Executives First Employees have been kept in the dark about who will lose their jobs later this month, and a committee that will discuss the layoffs this week no longer holds its meetings in public.

As KCRHA Begins Layoffs, Union Suggests Cutting Top Executives First - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett An initial round of layoffs is imminent at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. Management reportedly…

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Greater Seattle: Junk Fees, Recalling Wilson, and Ron Davis' Post-Election Fixation The latest column from @joshfeit.bsky.social:

Greater Seattle: Junk Fees, Recalling Wilson, and Ron Davis' Post-Election Fixation - PubliCola

By Josh Feit 8 > 75 Seventy-five dollars was the cost of an unfair “notice fee” that then-PubliCola freelancer Katie…

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Former Chief Barnes' Top Staffers Leave SPD, KOMO Reporters Leave Union, and More Today's Morning Fizz.

Former Chief Barnes' Top Staffers Leave SPD, KOMO Reporters Leave Union, and More - PubliCola

1. Two top staffers hired by former police chief Shon Barnes are leaving SPD. Chief communications officer Barbara DeLollis, who’s…

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Councilmembers Blame Mayor For Delayed SPD Press Conference, Criticize Removal of Former Chief Barnes "You could tell us right now why there was a five-hour delay." "No, we can't."

Councilmembers Blame Mayor For Delayed SPD Press Conference, Criticize Removal of Former Chief Barnes - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett When interim police chief Andre Sayles, mayoral public safety director Alison Holcomb, and SPD Captain Randy…

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Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles Says He Won't Be Barnes 2.0: "I'm All About Collaboration" PubliCola talked with Sayles last week about the ever-growing police budget, broken trust with the city's LGBTQ+ community, the future of the CARE team, and much more.

Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles Says He Won't Be Barnes 2.0: "I'm All About Collaboration" - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Last week, after asking negotiating a minimum $741,000 settlement package with former police chief Shon Barnes,…

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Strauss Legislation Would Require RV Residents to Get Permits, Accept "Appropriate" Shelter RV residents who violate the permit terms— for example, by declining shelter too many times or failing to “comply with all laws”—would permanently forfeit their right to park overnight in Seattle.

Strauss Legislation Would Require RV Residents to Get Permits, Accept "Appropriate" Shelter - PubliCola

RV residents who violate the permit terms— for example, by declining shelter too many times or failing to “comply with…

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Greater Seattle: Primary Election Edition Josh disagrees with the conventional (Seattle Times) wisdom about Mayor Wilson and the recent city council and legislative elections.

Greater Seattle: Primary Election Edition - PubliCola

By Josh Feit Mayor Wilson > Theories of Mayor Wilson’s Demise As the mainstream media and the Seattle Times pounce…

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This Week on PubliCola: More Details on Barnes’ Absences and Departure, KOMO May De-Unionize, and More A whole bunch of PubliCola stories you may have missed this week, plus three podcast appearances!

This Week on PubliCola: More Details on Barnes' Absences and Departure, KOMO May De-Unionize, and More - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Monday, August 3 New Column! Introducing Greater Seattle PubliCola co-founder Josh Feit has a new column…

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Barnes Got An Additional $41,000 Payout; KOMO Reporters Will Vote on De-Unionizing; PubliCola Makes the Podcast Rounds The additional, previously unreported payment represents 29 days of unused paid time off, and brings the former police chief's settlement to more than $741,000.

Barnes Got An Additional $41,000 Payout; KOMO Reporters Will Vote on De-Unionizing; PubliCola Makes the Podcast Rounds - PubliCola

1. On July 12, the reporters, anchors, and other on-air staff at KOMO TV, a station owned by the conservative…

publicola.com

Alissa Rose @alissarose.bsky.social · 4w ago

A More Complete Calendar Shows Former Police Chief Out of Office Almost 40 Percent of the Time Barnes’ schedule had him out of the office at least 12 weeks this year, including a three-week stretch between July and mid- August.

Fuller Calendar for Barnes Shows Former Police Chief Out of Office Almost 40 Percent of the Time This Year - PubliCola

Barnes’ schedule had him out of the office 12 weeks through mid-August, including a three-week stretch between July and mid-…

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Robert Cruickshank@robertcruickshank.com · 4w ago

This is a crucial article to read - it lays out very clearly the long record that justifies Mayor Wilson rightly firing the police chief.

Former Police Chief's Payout Will Be Higher Than Previously Known; KCRHA Still at Full Staffing as Contract Transition Begins Today's late-morning Fizz.

Former Police Chief's Payout Will Be Higher Than Previously Known; KCRHA Still at Full Staffing as Contract Transition Begins - PubliCola

1. Former police chief Shon Barnes’ $700,000 settlement agreement with the city, which PubliCola received Thursday through a records request, includes…

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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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