Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 18/09/2026“Effective government is a progressive value” 🔥 Voters in King County are happy to tax themselves to pay for public goods, but they want to feel like their money is being spent effectively, delivering the maximum amount of public benefit for the cost. Fiscally responsible progressives rise up! 0253
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 08/09/2026This is already happening. PBS reported in 2025 that a former Yakima tribal chairman "expressed broad skepticism about the pursuit of renewable energy [...] which he suspects is largely a cover for the energy demands of data centers" (in opposition to a wind farm) www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...cascadepbs.orgThe obscure state agency that referees WA’s green energy battlesThe Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council has power to overrule local zoning laws – putting it at the center of a backlash to renewable energy. 35413
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 05/09/2026This Seattle Times op-ed by the CEO of a tech / AI lobby group read a bit weird (🤖) to me. Pangram says it's likely 100% AI generated. Am I surprised? Not really. Seattle Times, please do a better job of vetting your op-eds for AI. It's really not a great look. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/wa-h... 240
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Thank you to everyone who came to our celebration of life for the 554 & 271 buses last night. Rep. Hall and I really appreciated hearing from the community about how much these buses meant to you. And a special shoutout to our new friend who took transit to Issaquah all the way from Everett (!!) 1201
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 28/08/2026“We thought it was only fair,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said. “If America can rename a lake because it thinks the name should belong to “America,” Canada can rename a bird because it behaves like an asshole.” (Disclaimer: this is obviously satire)lewiscountyknews.substack.comCanada Renames Canada Goose to America Goose Because They’re JerksMove follows U.S. decision to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” 051
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 26/08/2026I went down a serious rabbit hole last night looking into how cities could use public development authorities to build giant batteries. Since the batteries would be publicly owned, communities could retain the profits to fund local benefit projects. Very curious to hear what people think!cascadianabundance.substack.comBIMBY: Batteries in My BackyardBut maybe not BRIMBY (BlackRock in My Backyard) 1185
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Issaquah friends - join us for the celebration of life for the 271 and 554 buses this Friday (8/28) at 6pm. There will be a speaking program, and attendees will have the opportunity to share their fondest memories from these bus routes. Formal attire (i.e. all black) is encouraged. 1259
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 24/08/2026My op-ed in the Seattle Times about how local governments can lead on clean energy is out today! Tl;dr: Cities should proactively identify sites for battery storage, set clear rules, and work to attract good projects. Let's build the damn batteries! www.seattletimes.com/opinion/its-...seattletimes.comIt's up to local governments in WA to lead on clean energy | Op-EdTo get batteries built on the timeline that climate change requires, city governments must lead the way and welcome clean energy in our backyards. 3287
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Wow this is spot on and the most accurate description of my own political ideology I’ve ever seen 👀 12axes.vercel.app 150
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Apparently, data center industry lobbyists are claiming that data center regulations will hurt the (small, socially useful) data centers used by hospitals and 911 call centers. I think we need a better name for mega data centers (in industry parlance, the "hyperscaler" ones used for AI inference) 260
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Great article by @typewriteralley.bsky.social on the progress Issaquah is making to spur homebuilding in Central Issaquah, near our future light rail station! (And thanks for the shoutout for my blog post about our absolutely nutty design standards!) www.theurbanist.org/issaquah-pus...theurbanist.orgIssaquah Councilmembers Push for Bolder Options as Housing Reforms Ramp UpA bill scaling back building requirements for upper-level "stepbacks" and outdoor balconies was approved last week, but with two dissenting votes. In voting against, Councilmembers Kevin Nichols and T... 1404
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Death to facade modulation, long live ornamentation and high-quality materials 070
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 11/06/2026I FINALLY GOT A BOOP!!! All it took was going to @girmayzahilay.bsky.social’s state of the county address in Federal Way. Turns out political schmoozing events have way less competition for Boops than light rail station openings 😂 1170
Reposted by Kelly JiangJames Talarico @jamestalarico.bsky.social · 04/06/2026There’s been a lot of talk in this race about what makes a "real man." A man does what’s right when no one is watching. He upholds his commitments to his family and neighbors. He doesn’t lie, cheat, & steal his way through life. Real men serve others. Weak men serve themselves. 873354499540
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 04/06/2026Doing nothing is a choice. Inaction means choosing to continue down a path of certain environmental harms - more tailpipe emissions, more tire particulates, more deforestation. Let's make better choices. cascadianabundance.substack.com/p/doing-noth...cascadianabundance.substack.comDoing Nothing Is A ChoiceIndecision is not neutral. 0122
Reposted by Kelly JiangKelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 04/06/2026Much of the environmental movement is based on the “precautionary principle,” which basically says “don’t do anything unless you’re sure it won’t cause any harm.” Well, guess what, the status quo is causing lots of harm. In that context, “doing nothing” is actively choosing to make things worse 🙃 0479
Reposted by Kelly JiangKelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 03/06/2026Yes! Inaction is not neutral. I think EISes should have to consider the environmental impacts of *inaction*, not just the environmental impacts of action. If we *don't* build housing or transit, what will the consequences be? A balanced EIS would include that. 3668
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 03/06/2026Are there any cities that use "reducing VMT" or "improving walk / bike score" as their primary policy goal in their transportation improvement programs (TIPs), rather than "maintaining intersection level of service" (i.e. "reducing wait times at traffic lights for cars"?) 391
Reposted by Kelly JiangRyan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 02/06/2026Went to walk for the bus, ended up at the City of Issaquah's pride flag raising. 31275
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 01/06/2026I find it fascinating to read the discourse about how Seattle feels like it's being screwed over by the suburbs, because people in the suburbs also feel like they're being screwed over by Seattle, and people in Snohomish and Pierce Counties constantly feel like they're being screwed by King County. 2130
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 28/05/2026I think this guy wins the award for best sign at a transit authority board meeting 417122
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 28/05/2026At the Sound Transit board meeting in Seattle where Ballard light rail advocates have a casket ⚰️ mourning the deferral of Ballard rail. The casket is covered in memes which are admittedly really good lol 0142
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 24/05/2026This is just the cutest thing 🥹🥹🥹 It was so wonderful to be part of this celebration and see the joy of kids and families being able to safely enjoy biking along the water 🫶 0110
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 23/05/2026I’m unreasonably excited to ride trailhead direct tomorrow FROM Issaquah TO Seattle for the Lake WA Blvd celebration!! 🥳 (it’s actually the most direct route to get from Issaquah to Judkins Park station lol, and has better frequency than the 554 on weekends!) 1543
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 03/05/2026Out: facade modulation In: better facade materials, ornament (decorations), art! In Issaquah, we’re currently working on updating our land use codes to allow people to do ornament and art instead of facade modulation. I’m hopeful it’ll lead to better looking (and less expensive) buildings! 1190
Reposted by Kelly JiangGreg Spotts @spottnik.bsky.social · 28/03/2026“Having a car should not be a requirement to building a life of one’s choosing.” 🚶 🚴♀️ 🚌 🚆 -Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson at the Sound Transit Crosslake Light Rail Opening 212627439
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 28/03/2026I got to ride the cross-lake light rail one day early! And I made a little video about it :) What a beautiful day! 070
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 28/03/2026My op-ed with @kevinnichols.org and Mayor Mullet is in the Seattle Times today! Cities should come to the table with streamlined permitting, a collaborative approach, and skin in the game. Let’s #buildthedamntrains! www.seattletimes.com/opinion/want...seattletimes.comWant Sound Transit to expand faster and for less money? Here's how | Op-EdIssaquah city officials make their case for how to offer solutions to help ST deliver rail projects faster. 0161
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 27/03/2026Who would’ve thunk, increasing bike access to transit increases transit ridership more than increasing car access does! 🚴🏻♀️🚊 And we’ve had studies on this since *checks notes* 1984?? Sheesh 0134
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 18/03/2026In Tacoma for the Sound Transit board retreat today with @kevinnichols.org, @kccclaudia.bsky.social, Mayor Mullet, and a dozen other Issaquah people in purple shirts! 💜 160
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 26/02/2026Love to see all the purple shirts in the room! (Also, union station is such a beautiful building 😍😍😍) 020
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 26/02/2026Please sign in PRO on SB 6355 (link below) to enable WA state to build more transmission lines to connect clean power to the grid! According to ProPublica, WA ranked dead last (50/50) for clean energy growth. That is embarrassing, and this bill lets us change that. cc @volts.wtfapp.leg.wa.govCSI 170
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 25/02/2026I’ve never seen this many people at city hall for any reason. Over 100 people showed up to support light rail to Issaquah, including electeds from Sammamish, Maple Valley, and Snoqualmie. I’m proud to be on a team that’s working hard to find creative solutions to build light rail faster and cheaper! 1898
Reposted by Kelly JiangRyan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 25/02/2026The house is totally packed tonight at Issaquah City Hall for a community meeting to galvanize support for keeping the city's connection to the light rail network on track ahead of potential Sound Transit budget cuts. 414111
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 23/02/2026My op-ed with @kevinnichols.org and Mayor Mullet is up on @theurbanist.org! Tl;dr, we should: 1. Decrease costs by eliminating new parking garages 2. Increase ridership by enabling more housing near light rail 3. Prioritize lower-cost alignment & construction feasibilitytheurbanist.orgOp-Ed: Issaquah’s Plan to Build Its Rail Line Faster and Cheaper » The Urbanist# Civic leaders from Issaquah say they're ready to deliver a light rail line that costs less, a station area that generates ridership through housing rather than garages, and a city that is ready to s... 0111
Reposted by Kelly JiangThe Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 23/02/2026NEW OP-ED // Issaquah’s Plan to Build Its Rail Line Faster and Cheaper Op-Ed by Mayor Mark Mullet and CMs Kelly Jiang and Kevin Nichols, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/23/o...theurbanist.orgOp-Ed: Issaquah’s Plan to Build Its Rail Line Faster and Cheaper » The Urbanist# Civic leaders from Issaquah say they're ready to deliver a light rail line that costs less, a station area that generates ridership through housing rather than garages, and a city that is ready to s... 1536
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 18/12/2025Interesting bill this session to reduce regulatory hurdles for modular housing. Tl;dr: we should allow certified inspectors in other states to certify modular homes built in factories in that state, instead of requiring them to pay a special WA inspector to travel there to inspect. Seems reasonable! 040
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 19/11/2025A couple months ago we had a long debate at city council about our tree code, which was (and still is, even after the updates) needlessly complicated. So, naturally I had to write a blog post about it.cascadianabundance.substack.comAll Trees MatterHow well-intended environmental policies go wrong. (For legal purposes, the title is a joke.) 030
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 12/11/2025A while back, I went down a rabbit hole in our land use code's requirements on "Design and Architectural Standards." It was so absurd that I had to write this article as a coping mechanism. I also dug into the history of where these standards came from (tl;dr: it was a reaction to this BRIGHT BLUE)cascadianabundance.substack.comWhen City Governments Act Like HOAsDeath to "bright, vibrant, vivid hues of color"! 3564
Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 11/09/2025I started a new Substack about Cascadian Abundance! Shoutout to Prof. Steven Teles of the @niskanencenter.bsky.social for putting this term into the zeitgeist. Looking forward to lots of generative discussions & debates! cascadianabundance.substack.com/p/what-is-ca...cascadianabundance.substack.comWhat is Cascadian Abundance?Spoiler alert: It's about building a cleaner, greener world that works for everyone. 020