iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 22/09/2026

Although it looks the ordinance will likely pass, Council President Joy Hollingsworth has introduced a last-minute amendment to clarify that non-pricing related surveillance for loss prevention and criminal enforcement would still be allowed. Privacy advocates are calling for it to be rejected.

Amendment F to CB 121267 - Fair Pricing and Transparency ORD

Sponsor: Councilmember Hollingsworth

Clarifying permissible surveillance

Effect: This amendment adds a new section to clarify that nothing in the bill prevents businesses from using technology for the sole purpose of security, loss prevention, safety, fraud prevention or detection, or compliance with law.

Amend Section 1 of CB 121267 as follows:

Section 1. A new Chapter 7.35 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows:

Chapter 7.35 Fair Pricing and Transparency

7.35.085 Use of surveillance

Nothing in this Chapter 7.35 prohibits the use of technology used solely for security, loss prevention, safety, fraud prevention, fraud detection, or compliance with law, provided that this technology and information collected by or generated from it shall not be used, directly or indirectly, for algorithmic-based price discrimination. The presence or use of such technology does not, by itself, constitute a violation of this Chapter 7.35.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 03/09/2026

Robin Hunt and I made a zine about the Black Lives Memorial Garden as part of Common Area Maintenance’s pocket neighborhoods collection. You can pick up a physical copy tonight 5:30-7:30pm at King Street Station during the Pioneer Square art walk.

Common area maintenance new zines screenshot

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 02/09/2026

SEA and Seattle Public Schools have just reached a tentative agreement, averting a teacher’s strike on the first day of school tomorrow.

Instagram post showing tentative agreement reached

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 29/08/2026

Look at these two charts. Two serious safety issues—homicides and pedestrian traffic deaths—which cause immense heartbreak and loss to Seattle communities. Both have seen concerning trends in the last decade. Are they both taken seriously by local media and policy makers?

Chart shows Seattle homicides spiked during COVID-19 pandemic

Chart shows Seattle pedestrian fatalities rise after Vision Zero adoption

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 28/08/2026

Someone is polling Seattle voters to test out opposition messaging against city council candidate Nilu Jenks. Appears like some of the statements are not just incendiary but also inaccurate...

* Jenks opposes prosecuting public drug use, even people smoking fentanyl on transit, in public parks and playgrounds.

Much more likely to vote for Jenks

Somewhat more likely to vote for Jenks

Somewhat less likely to vote for Jenks

Much less likely to vote for Jenks

* Jenks wants to turn off all public safety cameras in parts of the district like Aurora with high crime, open air drug markets, and prostitution.

Much more likely to vote for Jenks

Somewhat more likely to vote for Jenks

Somewhat less likely to vote for Jenks

Much less likely to vote for Jenks

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 21/08/2026

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson says off the bat that “traffic safety is part of public safety.” Wilson pledges to take action on the Vision Zero goal by 2030 which she admits the city won’t hit. The mayor is signing a new executive order to accelerate traffic safety projects.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 21/08/2026

Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle held a press briefing this morning (maybe more apt to call it a corporate media copaganda fest) in which he called for an investigation into Katie Wilson and the mayor’s office over its handling of the Seattle Center shooting last month.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 19/08/2026

INBOX: The Seattle Office of Labor Standards has announced a settlement recovering $4.4 million in back pay and damage from Uber Eats to more than 14,000 gig workers. The department says the company repeatedly failed to follow the city’s minimum payment laws for app-based workers.

Nearly $4.4 Million Returned to Over 14,000 Workers for Uber Eats Violations of the Minimum Payment Ordinance
The Office’s Second Largest Settlement
Seattle, WA – (August 18, 2026) Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) second largest settlement with Portier, LLC dba Uber Eats (Uber Eats) for alleged violations of the App-Based Worker Minimum Payment Ordinance. Uber Eats agreed to settle the claims for a total of $4,386,682.28 in back pay, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties to 14,421 affected workers and $5,982.90 in fines to the City of Seattle.

Under the Ordinance, OLS alleged Uber Eats failed to consistently provide minimum payments for cancelled orders when required, including when workers went to a pick-up location and reported to Uber Eats that an order needed to be cancelled for cause.

OLS also claimed that in some instances Uber Eats did not provide workers with the required minimum payments for the time they worked.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 11/08/2026

UPDATE: Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle has introduced a last-minute amendment to the junk fee ordinance which would effectively gut its pet rent provisions by allowing landlords to charge $25/month (plus inflation). Advocates are calling on the council to vote it down at today’s vote.

11. A fee for keeping a pet, provided that:
a. The fee may only be assessed for keeping a cat or a dog;
b. The fee may not exceed $25 per animal per month; this amount shall be
adjusted annually by the percentage amount of change in the housing component of the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Seattle-Tacoma-
Bellevue Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area as published by the United States
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, rounded up to the nearest whole
number

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 11/08/2026

Something interesting I learned reporting on this story is just how many advantages landlords have. It’s hard to see the rationale for adding on pet rent

Pet rent is arguably a case of quintuple dipping by landlords. They can already charge both a general security deposit and pet deposit on top of monthly rent to pay for potential damages. They also often write off thousands of dollars in taxable income under the expectation of depreciation due to tenant wear-and-tear (despite the fact that property prices have actually massively increased).

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 05/08/2026

Gotta give credit to Kshama Sawant, she mobilizes volunteers like a general. The campaign has canvassers tabling out in the smoke since 7am at every light rail station in the South End.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 04/08/2026

There’s only 6 hours left to vote in today’s primary elections. Only 20% of voters in King County have turned in their ballot so far. Boomers are out voting Gen Z by almost 5 to 1.

Young people voting less than old people

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 30/07/2026

UPDATE: After a day of speculation, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has announced SPD Chief Shon Barnes’ official resignation after less than two years on the job. Deputy Chief Andre Sayles will serve as interim chief. Wilson did not share the reasoning for Barnes (apparently forced) resignation.

Mayor Wilson Announces Resignation of Chief Barnes and Appointment of Andre Sayles as Interim Chief
Press conference to be held 11am tomorrow
SEATTLE, WA — Today, Mayor Katie B. Wilson accepted a letter of resignation from Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. Chief Barnes was appointed by Mayor Bruce Harrell in late 2024 and has made substantial contributions to public safety in Seattle.

"It has been an honor to serve the Seattle Police Department and this city," said Chief Barnes. "The men and women of this department show up every single day with professionalism and dedication, and what they did in the aftermath of the Bite of Seattle tragedy reflects the very best of who they are. I am proud of them and I have deep faith in the future of this department and in the vision for community-based policing that is taking root here. Seattle is committed to building a department that is truly connected to the communities it serves, and I believe in where that work is headed. I hope this transition gives the city and this department the opportunity to return full focus to what matters most, addressing youth gun violence and preventing more tragedies. That work is too important, and Seattle deserves nothing less.”

"Chief Barnes has served this department and this city with dedication, and I am grateful for his service," said Mayor Wilson. "The courage and professionalism that the officers of the Seattle Police Department showed deserves to be honored. I share Chief Barnes' hope that we can return our focus to addressing youth gun violence and ensuring that every family can feel safe in their neighborhood and across the city.”

The mayor is appointing Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as Interim Chief of the Seattle Police Department. Deputy Chief Sayles brings more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as Chief of Police in Beloit, Wisconsin. In 2025, Sayles joined the Seattle Police Department as Deputy Chief of Administration and Investigations. Under his oversight, SPD's Gun Violence Reduction Unit and homicide detectives have continued to close difficult cases, including the arrest of a suspect in the fatal shooting of two teenagers near Rainier Beach High School. The mayor believes he is the right Interim leader for SPD in this moment and to ensure continuity while we conduct a thorough search for a permanent chief.

“My vision for public safety in this city is grounded in transparency, trust, and genuine collaboration with the community,” said Mayor Wilson. “Keeping people safe requires trust, and trust requires that this department shows up in neighborhoods every day, builds relationships with residents, community organizations, and small businesses, and is accountable to the people it serves.”

“This situation is very difficult, and I admire the mayor for acting decisively to move forward and rebuild strong and engaged leadership inside the department so SPD members can build trust with the communities they serve,” said Sue Rahr, former SPD Interim Chief and retired Sheriff.

The mayor will hold a press conference tomorrow morning at 11:00am at City Hall to introduce Chief Sayles and provide information on the process for a permanent chief.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 30/07/2026

There’s still time to support @realchangenews.org vendor Debbie Nichols! Send her a tip at Real-Change on Venmo, and include her badge number 10542. This is a great way to directly and materially support hardworking community members like Debbie. #VendorWeek

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 29/07/2026

I'm excited to be participating in this year's @realchangenews.org Vendor Week to celebrate the 100s of essential and hardworking vendors of Seattle's only street paper. Please join me in fundraising for Debbie Nichols, you can send her a tip via Venmo. (Don't forget to include her badge no. 10542!)

Want to support my vendor, venmo Real-Change with "10542"

Debbie is one of hundreds of Real Change vendors

Vendors buy the Real Change newspaper for $1.25 and sell it for $4

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 24/07/2026

I find Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's statement puzzling. Instead of magnanimously taking the W on universal school meals, she says something antagonistic toward the council. Doesn't bode well for this year's budget season.

But it might not be that easy as Wilson pointed out in an emailed statement.

“Now Council is proposing to pull this funding from our general fund, which is already facing a $175 million deficit,” Wilson said. “I look forward to seeing which critical services they plan to cut from the general fund to make their numbers work. I ask them to reconsider the fiscally responsible approach my office originally put forward. Feeding every student in Seattle is a goal we share, and my office is eager to work with the Council to find the best path forward.”

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 17/07/2026

These signs got put up in Maple Leaf, Seattle a few weeks after ICE kidnapped someone in the neighborhood. But what are the actual plans to enforce it? Or is it just the reality that the city is powerless to stop Federal immigration enforcement?

Sign saying pursuant to city of Seattle policy, this property should not be used for civil immigration enforcement

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 07/07/2026

Activists are rallying outside Seattle City Hall to demand the city take down the surveillance cameras that are part of the SPD crime prevention pilot. While they appreciated Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision to turn off the stadium district cameras, they argue she hasn’t followed her campaign promises.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 27/06/2026

Earlier this week King County released its biennial survey of homelessness, which found that more Seattleites than ever before are living on the streets. Advocates said more resources are needed to prevent people from becoming homeless, and provide them shelter once they are unhoused.

Chart shows increase in homeless population over last decade in King county

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 24/06/2026

The KCRHA has released its initial Point-in-Time Count, which found that the number of homeless people on any given night in Seattle and King County rose from 16,900 to 18,400 between 2024 and 2026, a 9% increase. This was fueled by an increase of 21% in unsheltered people.

Graph shows significant increases in homelessness in King County over recent years

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 13/06/2026

Brilliant headline. No notes heatmap.news/daily/lee-ra...

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 12/06/2026

Right-wing dark money group Change Washington is sending out text blasts encouraging its supporters (and apparently many non-supporters that they have added to their lists) to email Seattle officials and agitate about gun violence and street-based sex work on Aurora Avenue.

Aurora Avenue residents are demanding safer neighborhoods, less violence, and real accountability from city leaders. Make your voice heard. City Hall isn’t acting with any urgency, and elected officials hear directly from the people affected. Make your voice heard.

📧 Email Mayor Wilson:
https://cngwa.us/e8omzn

📧 Email Councilmember Debora Juarez:
https://cngwa.us/pvvqz3

📖 Learn more:
https://cngwa.us/vfwjgc

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 07/06/2026

This is what the shelters look like from the inside

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 07/06/2026

Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss said the new shelter fills a gap for housing people with complex needs, such as disabling mental health illnesses and substance use disorders. Those people are at highest risk of unsheltered homelessness and are often banned by other tiny house villages.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 07/06/2026

Amy King, the CEO of Pallet, said the timeline for the shelter’s construction was remarkably quick, with it taking only two months from the lease being secured to the permit granted and units constructed. She said it was one of the fastest processes she had worked on for such a project.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 07/06/2026

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is announcing today the opening of a 75-unit enhanced tiny house shelter for people experiencing homelessness, located in the Interbay neighborhood. The facility is a part of Wilson’s plan to open 1,000 new shelter beds per year, with 300 beds announced so far in 2026.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 02/06/2026

My story "What happens after city officials take everything you own?" for @realchangenews.org has just won first place in Poverty & Homelessness Reporting - Small in the NW Excellence in Journalism awards. Thank you so much to @spjwash.bsky.social for the recognition!

Poverty & Homelessness Reporting - Small
First Place: Guy Oron, "What happens after city officials take everything you own?," Real Change
Judge's comments: Too often, the average citizen doesn't see the humanity behind homelessness statistics and policies. This article lets the human experience drive the narrative, brilliantly supported by the factual data. Outstanding.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 30/05/2026

INBOX: The family of 14-year-old Mattheis Johnson, who tragically died of a fall after climbing the Gas Works Park towers last year, has dropped its lawsuit against the City of Seattle after it removed the climbable parts of the structures. Since 2008, 3 people have died and 11 injured climbing them

Johnson family dismisses nuisance suit after city fixes gas works park danger

Today, the City completed abatement of the nuisance at Gas Works Park and the Johnson Family Plaintiffs dropped their first lawsuit.

"I still don't understand how the City punted and allowed a historical preservation committee to be in charge of a public safety matter. They all dragged their feet for years while kids were hurt and died.

There was a plan in place for years, and they still wouldn't make the changes, and now my son is dead. I don't know how people stood on top of the hill at the park and watched kids climb around in a toxic waste dump for so many years. Gasworks was never a safe place, and the City knew it was unsafe and did nothing. Every day I miss my son. Having to wake up every day knowing he is dead is torture. Some days it feels like he is still here, and some days it feels like he never was here. His absence is completely overwhelming. I think about all the life he doesn't get to have, and the life I don't get to see. I wanted to see my son grow up. I will have to live the rest of my life not knowing what his story could have been. I will never be whole again. I love you Mattheis. “ Adam Johnson, father.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 30/05/2026

Someone is polling Seattle voters about Mayor Katie Wilson’s “taller, denser, faster” plan to revise the comp plan update and testing out different supportive and oppositional messaging.

Important Survey about Seattle

* Everyone understands that we need more housing, but the Mayor's "taller, denser, faster" approach will result in the loss of parks, trees, and greenways. We don't want to lose the things we love about Seattle in our rush to get more housing built.

Much more likely to support

Somewhat more likely to support

Somewhat more likely to oppose

Much more likely to oppose

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 26/05/2026

About 40 people showed up in the rain today in South Seattle to commemorate the 6-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder and protest police brutality

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 24/05/2026

VIDEO: On Friday, the Seattle Social Housing Developer announced its first building acquisition. The moment was a milestone for the city’s housing movement, after 5 years of hard work and two successful ballot initiatives.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 21/05/2026

Andrew Bly (left) of Olympia and Alex Schaeffer (right) of WA’s 6th Congressional District were intercepted on May 19 while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. A video published by Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir showing activists being abused has drawn widespread condemnation.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 08/05/2026

@bootsriley.bsky.social shows support for SIFF cinema workers and their collective bargaining at the opening of the Seattle International Film Festival

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 02/05/2026

Around 1,000 people joined today’s May Day march in Seattle. Participants showed their support for worker rights and other causes such as defending immigrants, ending the war on Iran and opposing the Trump administration.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 28/04/2026

VIDEO: Song from the vigil for Filipina American activist Kai Sorem

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 26/04/2026

Community members are demanding justice for Seattle activist Kai Sorem, 26, who was killed on April 19 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in what is being described as a massacre of civilians. Sorem was a part of an activist delegation to visit peasant communities of Toboso, Negros Island.

Black and white Justice for Kai Sorem graphic with Kai's photo

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 22/04/2026

The Trump admin has opened an “antisemitism” investigation into the University of Washington, the latest move in a crackdown on pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel voices. For the last 2.5 years, U.S. students have been suspended or arrested for protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

AAGHarmeetDhillon

@AAGDhillon

Follow

Tomorrow, a student group-SUPER UW-is holding a fundraising event for the "Lebanese resistance." This group has a history of violent antisemitic activity on University of Washington's campus. On Friday, I authorized an @CivilRights investigation of UW's handling of antisemitism!

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 19/04/2026

“This is student housing” A person wrote on their tent outside Seattle Central College, USA. When your home becomes a site of protest, viral art installation and indictment of the capitalist economic system. Instead of hiding class violence, they chose to highlight it for all to see.

Tent labeled "this is student housing" outside Seattle Central College

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 18/03/2026

Tomorrow, Seattle community groups will hold an anti-war protest outside the Pacific Northwest’s largest defense and aerospace industry summit. The companies are accused of profiting off of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and lobbying for the “forever wars” stance of the bipartisan foreign policy elite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mass protest planned against weapons conference to oppose wars for profit

SEATTLE, WA

Seattle Convention Center Arches on Pike

March 18 at 12pm

Hundreds of companies that make up the military supply chain will be gathering at the Seattle Convention Center March 18-19 for the Aerospace and Defense Supplier Summit (DSS).

Concerned community organizations will be hosting a mass protest outside the convention center to oppose war and genocide profiteering and demand that the governor cancel and ban the conference from returning to Seattle and instead invest in jobs that meet peoples’ needs.

As the US continues its brutal war of aggression against Iran, it has already killed hundreds of civilians and spent over $11 billion within the first week of combat. The people are outraged that government spending continues to serve the needs of major weapons companies, rather than of the people. They will also call attention to the connections between these weapons companies and the ICE attacks on migrant communities.

Last time DSS was in Seattle in 2024, our mass protest forced their Boeing Conference Day onto zoom. This year, Boeing has backed out of a prominent sponsorship, though many of the companies present are within the Boeing supply chain.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 18/02/2026

I received a report today from a community member who spotted approximately 24 new unmarked SUVs. outside the ICE facility in Tukwila, WA, just south of Seattle. It’s hard to say for certain what this means, but it could indicate a greater deployment of personnel in the region in the near future.

Screenshot "I was at the ICE Tukwila office today and saw three full double decker truck loads of unmarked SUVs being unloaded and parked inside of the ICE facility. that's around 24 vehicles. One can safely assume that more vehicles = more agents = more enforcement coming our way."

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 08/02/2026

The newest statue of Karl Marx on earth

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 21/01/2026

I’ve been saying that Carney, unlike many of his peers in the EU or former PM Trudeau, actually understands global power relations. His recent remarks at Davos and deals with China suggest he will try to act shrewdly in Canada’s interests. He’s still a neoliberal though.

Carney is a dyed-in-the-wool agent of capitalism, having helmed the Canadian and UK central banks. He also called for an end to US dollar hegemony on the logic that Canada and Europe will suffer as US empire declines. It’ll be interesting to see what he does if he becomes PM.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 12/01/2026

Attendees shared various messages, the most prominent of which was rejection of the increasingly authoritarian rule of U.S. President Donald Trump. Some drew connections to the recent attack on Venezuela, saying that the government’s attacks on migrants at home are linked to foreign imperialism.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 12/01/2026

Speakers at the rally included local community leaders and elected officials, including King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson. The politicians condemned the federal government crackdown and pledged to defend immigrants within their jurisdictions.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 12/01/2026

More than 1,000 people protested in Seattle today against ICE’s attacks on immigrants and the recent killings of Renee Nicole Good and Keith Porter by ICE officers.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 04/01/2026

About 200 people are rallying in downtown Seattle to denounce U.S. military strikes on Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president Nicolás Maduro. The attacks occurred overnight and were authorized by U.S. President Donald Trump. Organizers called for a new anti-war movement to oppose the attacks.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 02/01/2026

Katie Wilson has officially taken the oath of office. In her speech, she pledged to fight for Seattle’s artists, activists and ordinary people who make it run, and liberate residents’ time from the grind of capitalism, saying the city should “honor what you're doing when you’re not making money.”

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 02/01/2026

Inauguration speakers include many who have collaborated with Wilson during her time as a community organizer, including health services research Ifrah Abshir, Nickelsville organizer Jarvis Capucion, Central District resident Cynthia Green and policy expert John Burbank.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 02/01/2026

Wilson's husband and fellow co-founder of the Transit Riders Union Scott Myers kicked off the event. He echoed Wilson’s progressive economic messages, saying rampant economic inequality had created the political space for outsiders to take power.

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