By Erica C. Barnett Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans just announced the launch of a revamped community court for low-level… The post Revived Community Court Will be Paired With Punitive New “High-Priority” Track for Repeat Offenders appeared first on PubliCola.

1. As we reported on Bluesky Tuesday afternoon, former police chief Shon Barnes got a soft landing after Mayor Wilson… The post Former SPD Chief Lands on His Feet, Sound Transit Removes Candidate’s Photo from Station, More Moves at Wilson’s Office appeared first on PubliCola.

A city report showed one-time bonuses have no effect on police hiring. The Harrell Administration rewrote it to say the… The post As Council Considers Reinstating Police Hiring Bonuses, an Unreleased Draft Report Finding They Don’t Work Is Timely Agai appeared first on PubliCola.

by Josh Feit 10.5 million by October > 10.5 million by December Seattle scooter- and bike-share is about to… The post Greater Seattle: Bike and Scooter Share Could Soon Lap 2025’s Record-Setting Numbers appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Monday, September 28 On Wilson’s Budget, the Council Parts Ways With Reality The council has started… The post This Week on PubliCola: Wilson’s Budget Lands with Thud at Council, KCRHA Finds “Missing” $8 Million, RV Ban Advances, and More appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Seattle Nice has two interviews for you this week! On Friday’s show, we sat down with… The post Two Seattle Nice Interviews This Week: Mayor Katie Wilson and Budget Director Aly Pennucci, and Councilmember Dionne Foster appeared first on PubliCola.

. By Erica C. Barnett The Seattle Police Department overpaid police officers, management, and civilian staff a total of more… The post SPD Overpaid Officers By $13 Million. Now the City Wants It Back. appeared first on PubliCola.

In his interview with a city investigator, interim Chief Sayles said he still hadn’t read the initiative and appeared unfamiliar… The post Interim Police Chief Based Complaint Against Detective on Right-Wing Characterization of Anti-Trans Initiative appeared first on PubliCola.

1. City council members who funded an unsustainable budget last year by using one-time dollars to fund tens of millions in… The post Council Learns What “One-Time Funding” Means; Podcaster’s Advocacy for Anti-Trans Campaign Didn’t Violate Election Law appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett A Seattle Police Department officer, Adam Sun, is on administrative leave after using a pair of… The post Seattle Cop Used Chinese AI Smart Glasses to Film Inside SPD Facilities, Creating Video for Company appeared first on PubliCola.

1. Earlier this month, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority dropped a bombshell: That “missing” $8 million the financially battered… The post KCRHA Consultant Finds the “Missing” $8 Million; Strauss’ RV Ban Moves Forward (But Won’t Ban Sprinters, to Saka’s Dismay) appeared first on PubliCola.

By Josh Feit Last week, I featured Seattle City Councilmember Dionne Foster in an item headlined “Inclusionary Zoning > No… The post Greater Seattle: Inclusionary Zoning, Part 2; Amazon as a Percentage of the Budget; Permitted, but Struggling appeared first on PubliCola.

An early look at how the council is reacting to the mayor’s deficit-busting budget. By Erica C. Barnett Last week,… The post On Wilson’s Budget, the Council Parts Ways With Reality appeared first on PubliCola.

The proposal makes real cuts to close a $175 million gap—and reflects the conflict between campaign ambitions and a budget… The post Mayor Wilson Rolls Out Small-C Conservative Budget that Addresses City’s Structural Deficit appeared first on PubliCola.

By Josh Feit Councilmember Dionne Foster > Mayor Katie Wilson You couldn’t have a clearer juxtaposition. Mayor Wilson tried to… The post Greater Seattle: Councilmember Foster Breaks the MHA Logjam appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett City Councilmember Dionne Foster has introduced a bill that will give developers a break on mandatory… The post Housing Fee Reduction Sought By Developers Is Back On, Thanks to Deal Brokered by Councilmember Foster appeared first on PubliCola.

I will be out of town until next Thursday, so look for my stories on the mayor’s gun violence reduction… The post On Vacation – Back Late Next Week appeared first on PubliCola.

By Josh Feit 5,250 > 778 Here’s a rejoinder to those who complain that Seattle’s taxes on big business are… The post Greater Seattle: Third Places appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Tuesday, September 8 Greater Seattle: Late Press Conferences, On-Time Buses, Selfish Housing In this week’s column,… The post This Week on PubliCola: Building a Less “Fragile” Seattle Economy, Addressing Gun Violence, and Is It Selfish to Live Alone? appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett A comprehensive, 127-page report on the city’s business and taxing climate recommends that Seattle start taking… The post Report Recommends Diversifying Seattle Economy; Wilson’s Plan Would Initiate that Process, But Slowly appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett City Councilmember Maritza Rivera misrepresented the number of fatal shootings in Seattle by an order of… The post Maritza Rivera Overstates Gun Violence, Pushes Mayor to Pre-Commit to Handpicked “Focused Deterrence” Contractor appeared first on PubliCola.

1. Mayor Wilson’s communications office, which has seen a number of shakeups recently (including the recent firing of digital communications… The post Consultants, New Staffers Fill Out Mayor’s Communications Team appeared first on PubliCola.

1. While much of the city council was on vacation, transportation committee chair Rob Saka apparently spent his two-week summer… The post Saka’s Messy Transportation Bill Gets Messier; Controversial Group We Heart Seattle Makes City’s Official Volunteer Day Roster appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett An investigation into complaints against the director of Seattle’s Office for Civil Rights (SOCR), Derrick Wheeler-Smith,… The post Investigation Report: Trip to Strip Club on Civil Rights Office Trip Was Sexual Harassment appeared first on PubliCola.

By Josh Feit Five and a half hours > A half hour As they spin headlines to make Mayor Katie… The post Greater Seattle: Late Press Conferences, On-Time Buses, Selfish Housing appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Monday, August 31 Poll Tests Anti-Density Messages A new poll sponsored by groups like Tree Action… The post This Week On PubliCola: Katie Wilson is Jimmy Carter, Key Shelter Provider Closes Abruptly, SPD Delayed Information on Shooting appeared first on PubliCola.

The messages also reveal that Mayor Wilson was indecisive about going to the scene of the shooting while advisors… The post Messages Show SPD Primarily Responsible for Information Gap After Bite of Seattle Shooting appeared first on PubliCola.

Wilson rolled out the changes before a report that is supposed to explain how communications broke down after the Bite… The post Mayor Wilson Says City Will Improve Crisis Communications In Wake of Shooting appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Pallet Shelter, a company that manufactures freestanding, one-to-two-person shelter units that has been active in Seattle… The post Pallet, Company That Built Just-Opened Interbay Shelter, Closes Abruptly appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett King County Assessor John Arthur Wilson, who faced charges last year for allegedly stalking and harassing… The post King County Assessor Wilson Misused County Resources Amid Stalking and Harassment Allegations: Report appeared first on PubliCola.

By Josh Feit First of all, a quick followup to an item from a couple of weeks ago, when I… The post Greater Seattle: Katie Wilson is to Jimmy Carter as Zohran Mamdani is to Barack Obama appeared first on PubliCola.

1. A recent messaging poll by a group calling itself the “Green Neighborhoods Coalition” tested talking points against Mayor Katie… The post Poll Tests Anti-Density Messages, Mayor Wilson Does Damage Control, and Ron Davis Has Another Anti-Stranger Manifesto appeared first on PubliCola.

The investigation comes after the Office of Police Accountability said any “further investigation” of Sayles’ complaint against a detective who… The post Police Accountability Office Investigating Retaliation Complaint Against Interim Police Chief appeared first on PubliCola.

By Anna Zivarts Back in 2021, I went to visit one of the young people I was organizing alongside. Abby… The post Will Rainier Valley Transit Riders Actually  Benefit from the Proposed Rapid Ride R? appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett The King County Regional Homelessness Authority made its first round of layoffs on Tuesday, six days… The post KCRHA Layoffs Begin, With Executive Positions, Financial Staff Untouched appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Valerie Carson, one of four female police officers who split a $2.6 million settlement in a… The post SPD Officer Alleges Retaliation by Lieutenant at Center of Discrimination Lawsuit appeared first on PubliCola.

By Josh Feit First, a quick follow-up to last week’s item about former state house candidate Ron Davis. ICYMI: Despite… The post Greater Seattle: Bikes, Cars, and Housing appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Mayor Katie Wilson signed an expansive, substantive executive order last week directing the Seattle Department of… The post Wilson Proposes Substantive Vision Zero Improvements—One Day After Councilmember’s Hasty Attempt to Upstage Her appeared first on PubliCola.

KCRHA Layoffs Begin, SPD Chief Files Unfounded Complaint Against Detective, Privacy Advocates vs. Surveillance Cameras and More By Erica C.… The post This Week on PubliCola: August 23, 2026 appeared first on PubliCola.

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

By Erica C. Barnett A new report from the city’s Office of Inspector General confirms what Community Aided Response and… The post Report: Police Contract Severely Limits CARE Team’s Ability to Do Their Jobs appeared first on PubliCola.

1. King County is using what it calls an “innovative tool” to train 4,000 executive branch employees on how to… The post King County Enlists Uncanny AI Videos for Ethics Training; Drop in Mayor’s Approval Rating Follows Anti-Wilson Media Frenzy appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett As a new poll appeared to show strong support for police surveillance in Seattle neighborhoods, a… The post As Business-Backed Poll Says Most Support Police Surveillance Cameras; Privacy Advocates Raise Security Concerns appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett An initial round of layoffs is imminent at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. Management reportedly… The post As KCRHA Begins Layoffs, Union Suggests Cutting Top Executives First appeared first on PubliCola.

By Josh Feit 8 > 75 Seventy-five dollars was the cost of an unfair “notice fee” that then-PubliCola freelancer Katie… The post Greater Seattle: Junk Fees, Recalling Wilson, and Ron Davis’ Post-Election Fixation appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Monday, August 10 Greater Seattle: Primary Election Edition In the second edition of his new column,… The post This Week On PubliCola: SPD Exodus, Proposed RV Restrictions, Wilson Derangement Syndrome, and More appeared first on PubliCola.

1. Two top staffers hired by former police chief Shon Barnes are leaving SPD. Chief communications officer Barbara DeLollis, who’s… The post Former Chief Barnes’ Top Staffers Leave SPD, KOMO Reporters Leave Union, and More appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett When interim police chief Andre Sayles, mayoral public safety director Alison Holcomb, and SPD Captain Randy… The post Councilmembers Blame Mayor For Delayed SPD Press Conference, Criticize Removal of Former Chief Barnes appeared first on PubliCola.

By Erica C. Barnett Last week, after asking negotiating a minimum $741,000 settlement package with former police chief Shon Barnes,… The post Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles Says He Won’t Be Barnes 2.0: “I’m All About Collaboration” appeared first on PubliCola.

RV residents who violate the permit terms— for example, by declining shelter too many times or failing to “comply with… The post Strauss Legislation Would Require RV Residents to Get Permits, Accept “Appropriate” Shelter appeared first on PubliCola.