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Jesse Franz

@jessefranz.bsky.social
989 followers 281 following 44 posts

Unfortunately, not heir to the Franz bread empire. Works for the Seattle City Council. Recovering news producer. Personal views here.

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Reposted by Jesse Franz
Amy Sundberg @amysundberg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
ONE WEEK FROM TODAY 10/6: the first Seattle city council budget public hearing will be in both the afternoon and evening. This is your chance to give public comment on the budget and what you would like to see (or wouldn't like to see). There's a 2nd public hearing on the budget in November.
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Shirley Leung, PhD @shirleyswirley.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
I seriously unlocked a new type of joy I’ve never experienced when I stepped off the bus right into the GG sunset 🥹🥹🥹🌅🌅🌅 My metric for whether a bus legit gives u REAL park access is whether it drops u off at the same spot as the disabled parking spots and GG direct does
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
So proud to help make this happen! If you haven’t, hop aboard and let King County Metro and Seattle know how important this is. This pilot summer bus service is set to end on August 30,
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
BREAKING NEWS: The Seattle City Council just passed legislation that will (eventually) ban landlords from charging pet rent. Congratulations to everyone, especially my dog Lou, seen here asking me to cover him again for the 72nd month in a row.
Lou the golden retriever.
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AMR - Alexis Mercedes Rinck @alexis4seattle.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Ya know what? Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
Post from 36th District Republicans on facebook that includes an AI generated image of Alexis as the statue of liberty in rainbow colors with a march of people holding trần’s pride flags and a large flag that says “Seattle Welcomes Trans Refugees” the post then states: 
“Seattle City Council will vote Tuesday (8/11) on $300,000 to fund LGBTQIA organizations in response to the "emergency" of trans refugees flooding Seattle. Seattle Mayor Katie
Wilson rejected their plea to declare an emergency so they are pleading their case to the City Council. Join us Tuesday at 2:00 at Seattle City Hall to voice objection to this funding.
Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck claims to work for the people but the work she does only benefits HER people, the trans and queer community. She's building her career with our tax dollars.
Clips from August 4, 2026.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
GOOD NEWS! Really smart legislation for a really persistent issue that has enraged, annoyed, and subjected people to predatory practices. Great job by Councilmember Dionne Foster and her team. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
seattletimes.com
Seattle council bars homeowner solicitations to fight displacement
The voluntary "do not solicit" registry is intended to stop harassment and exploitation by speculators looking to buy Seattle houses at below-market prices.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
HELL YEAH! A lot of silent fist pumping and enthusiastic whispering has broke out in Seattle’s libraries tonight. Huge win for our city.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
All of us waiting on election results rn.
static.klipy.com
Sad Man Contemplating
ALT: Sad Man Contemplating
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Executive Girmay Zahilay @girmayzahilay.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
The information provided by Sound Transit today shows we can deliver light rail to Market Street by 2042 through cost savings and additional financial capacity. I’m ready to do everything in my capacity as a Board member and regional leader to make this happen. www.soundtransit.org/blog/platfor...
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Councilmember Dan Strauss @cmdanstrauss.seattle.gov · 31/07/2026
Ballard Light Rail is not dead. Today’s announcement shows us the way to get Ballard Link back on track. We must use these tools and get this project delivered by 2042.
council.seattle.gov
Sound Transit announces timeline for building light rail to Ballard - Seattle City Council Blog
Sound Transit announced today that the Ballard Light Rail Extension could begin service to Market Street in Ballard by 2042 if it is able to close the project’s funding gap by 2033.  “As a board and a...
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
We just passed major affordability legislation‼️ 30k+ new working families will soon be eligible for a big break on their utilities. That could mean more than $1k per year back in their pockets for food, rent, or anything else. I’m beyond proud to have worked on this legislation for the past year.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
I’m just a boy, sitting on the first-ever Golden Gardens Direct, asking the internet to hop aboard and come to the beach.
Selfie on the bus. Golden Gardens Director bus stop. The golden Gardens DirectorGolden Gardens Beach
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Councilmember Dan Strauss @cmdanstrauss.seattle.gov · 27/06/2026
Bus service to Golden Gardens starts today! I proposed and funded this pilot program last fall, and we’re bringing it to you this summer. Now, everyone will have better access to the beach — no hiking, scrambling, or parking required. More info: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metr...
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
The World Cup has shown so many amazing ways we can bring people together. The lasting effects of the 1962 Worlds Fair are all around us - from the Space Needle to the Monorail. My hope is the lasting effect of the World Cup is that we reenvision what we can do with our public spaces moving forward.
Stage with tv on Ballard Avenue showing the World Cup with people watching.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Bus service is coming to Golden Gardens! This beach belongs to everyone, and everyone deserves access to it. I'm damn proud to have helped create this new service. Thanks to the team who helped make it a reality. See you on the Golden Gardens Direct this Saturday. kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metr...
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Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck @councilmember-amr.seattle.gov · 10/06/2026
I authored this letter to fight for Seattle residents and their tax dollars. In addition to millions that would be directed away from our community, I'm concerned with the precedent this "cap" would set for Seattle. I'm grateful to my colleagues for signing on and hopeful for the path forward.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
We just announced new legislation! 31,000 low-income households would be eligible for steep discounts on their utility bills. That could mean more than $1,000 per year in savings. Utility costs are housing costs and this is a fair and fast way to make rent more affordable for those who need it most.
council.seattle.gov
Councilmember Dan Strauss announces proposal to reduce utility costs for 31,000 low-income households - Seattle City Council Blog
Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) announced major affordability legislation today that would dramatically decrease utility costs for 31,000 low-income households. The legislation would expand eli...
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Reposted by Jesse Franz
Julia Grant Reed @juliareedwa.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Are you coming? RSVP to join me at my kickoff event on June 4! Kids are welcome, food provided, joy for all! RSVP so I can get enough burgers! secure.actblue.com/donate/jrcam...
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
The best time to build rail to Ballard was 50 years ago when voters rejected Forward Thrust. The second best time to build light rail to Ballard is right now. Voters approved it, Seattle's planned its future growth around it, we've passed legislation to get it done faster. Build the damn trains.
council.seattle.gov
Seattle City Councilmember Strauss proposes amendments to save Ballard Light Rail - Seattle City Council Blog
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6), who also serves as a Sound Transit Board Member, announced today he will be proposing and supporting three key amendments focused on saving Ballard...
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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 29/04/2026
Let's goooo! Build all the rail, all of ST3. The Save Ballard Rail folks have been very consistent on that point: we're here to build the whole system, save all the lines and stations. We are all in this together.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Living in Ballard shouldn’t mean you have to be pen pals with your friends in Capitol Hill. Come help save Ballard light rail.
Community meeting on the future of light rail. Monday May, 11 at 6 pm at the National Nordic Museum.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Recognizing this is good and cool, while also staring down a 50 minute bus ride home to Ballard while working in this very building.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Launching my campaign for bagel mayor with a strong affordability platform.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
I wore this as my Halloween costume 12 years ago. 1) Wild how some things never change 2) I’ve always been like this.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
One thing about the Mariners, it was always going to be game 7.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Ichiro is warming up in the bullpen.
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Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck @councilmember-amr.seattle.gov · 06/08/2025
The Council approved my amendment to the supplemental budget which will add $300K in legal defense for our immigrant neighbors! This funding comes out of underspend from a jail contract. Transferring these funds to this urgent need facing community is a major win!
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Amy Sundberg @amysundberg.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
The Seattle City Council just passed an amendment to the supplemental budget, offered by CM Rinck, adding $300k to legal defense for unaccompanied children facing detention and deportation, taken from underspend from the City's much criticized SCORE jail contract.
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Amy Sundberg @amysundberg.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
The Seattle Shield Initiative has passed unanimously and will be on the Seattle ballot in November.
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Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck @councilmember-amr.seattle.gov · 16/07/2025
Tomorrow afternoon Councilmember Hollingsworth and I will be restoring “Hot Rat Summer” in Cal Anderson Park. This mosaic was wrongfully painted over and we are going to fix it.
Mosaic of a patron saint rat with a sun behind it and a little heart. Below it states “Hot Rat Summer”
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AMR - Alexis Mercedes Rinck @alexis4seattle.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
“seemed very nice” - The Seattle Times Editorial Board www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
seattletimes.com
Here's what The Seattle Times editorial board recommends for Seattle City Council, Position 8 | Editorial
The Times offers no recommendations for Seattle City Council Pos. 8. None of the three candidates check off enough boxes to earn an endorsement.
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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
I'm sitting in an unusually crowded meeting of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, which commissioner Kristin Hawes just said had an "unprecedented" amount of public comment—all of it against changes to the ethics code that would remove recusal reqiurements for councilmembers with conflicts
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Matt Ford @mford.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
DOJ says the Civil Rights Division is investigating a new “anti-Catholic law” in Washington state that requires priests to report suspected child abuse or neglect:
The Justice Department today announced it has opened a civil rights investigation into the development and passage of Washington State Senate Bill 5375, signed into law on May 2, 2025, by Governor Bob Ferguson, which appears on its face to violate the First Amendment.

Washington State’s new law adds “members of the clergy” to a list of other professionals who are required to report information received in a confessional setting relating to child abuse or neglect to law enforcement or other state authorities, with no exception for the absolute seal of confidentiality that applies to Catholic Priests.

Furthermore, the State of Washington’s new law singles out “members of the clergy” as the only “supervisors” who may not rely on applicable legal privileges, including religious confessions, as a defense to mandatory reporting.

The Civil Rights Division will investigate the apparent conflict between Washington State’s new law with the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment, a cornerstone of the United States Constitution.

“SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals. We take this matter very seriously and look forward to Washington State’s cooperation with our investigation.”
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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 16/04/2025
This was an excellent program that worked well and made people's lives easier. Government at its best. Of course Trump wants it gone.
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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Happy e-bike rebate launch day to all who celebrate. The lottery portal is now open! ebikeswsdot.aptim.com
ebikeswsdot.aptim.com
WE-Bike WSDOT E-Bike Rebate Program
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onion person @junlper.beer · 11/03/2025
tesla car vehicles will have more legal protections than trans people
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
National Parks, humanitarian aid, and civil rights are actually cool as hell. Thank you, federal workers. Hold the line.
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Gov. Bob Ferguson @governorferguson.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Very proud to announce the Department of Health will now process all requests to change gender designation on birth certificates within three business days. Previously, there was as much as a 10 month wait.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
My landlord distributing fire blankets after being hounded by rental inspectors for a year and framing it as a Valentine’s Day present is WILD behavior.
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State Representative Julia Reed @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
I don't always agree with the @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social editorial board, but agree very strongly on this. Maritime industrial lands and union livelihood should not be sacrificed for CM Nelson's far-fetched campaign year schemes. #Seattle #waleg www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...
seattletimes.com
Table poorly vetted plan for more housing near Seattle stadiums | Editorial
The Seattle City Council has bigger issues to ponder than whether to add housing to the stadium district. It ought to table a proposal that would do just that.
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mlklabor.bsky.social @mlklabor.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
This is a huge deal for grocery workers and shoppers who fought tirelessly to make sure this disastrous mega-merger never happens. @ufcw3000.bsky.social
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Evelyn Chow @etchow.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Congratulations and welcome to @alexis4seattle.bsky.social at City Hall! (Featuring @tammymorales.bsky.social and @jessefranz.bsky.social 😊)
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Ran into one of the new bosses today at Seattle City Hall. Seems pretty cool. @alexis4seattle.bsky.social
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
66,990 CUSTOMERS?! Hope this power outage map is wrong. I’m watching it like Kornacki.
Power outage map
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
The outage map going out can’t be a good omen for this windstorm.
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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 18/11/2024
Exactly this. As with Obama's presidency, Biden didn't deliver big enough, though he delivered more than Obama did.
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Fuse Washington @fusewashington.org · 14/11/2024
Seeing more and more familiar faces in #Seattle news and politics on this site! So we've updated our starter pack to include the new arrivals: @kromandavid.bsky.social @hannahkrieg.bsky.social @naomiishisaka.bsky.social! go.bsky.app/Tdxzvfr
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
Seattle folks attending tonight's public hearing: - Hearing starts at 5 PM - Participate in person or virtually - Watch live via Seattle Channel - Childcare available until 7 PM on the second floor - Searchable table of all budget amendments at the link below council.seattle.gov/2024/11/12/s...
council.seattle.gov
Seattle City Council budget amendment tracker - Seattle City Council Blog
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss has released this budget amendment tracker to help members of the community follow along with the budget process and upcoming votes on budget amendments. The tra...
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 10/11/2024
Hello! If you’re new following me here, you should probably know that the final public hearing on Seattle’s budget is this Tuesday at 5 PM.
Calendar showing the remaining two weeks of the City of Seattle’s budget cycle, including a public hearing on Tuesday, November 12 at 5 pm.
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Jesse Franz @jessefranz.bsky.social · 13/12/2023
The cops’ lawyers in this case have, again and again, gone above and beyond to make the most disgusting arguments.
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