Reposted by Rian WattRyan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026"This was surprising to me to learn, that currently applicants need 30 plus permits from eight different departments to build housing in the city." -Seattle Budget Director Aly Pennucci just now 19217
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 28/09/2026As a fellow traveler on the Illinois to Seattle road — and a fan and friend of @typewriteralley.bsky.social for eight of those years: I’m glad you’re here! 0220
Reposted by Rian WattJosh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 26/09/2026everyone who's ever joined in an online pile on should read this. 21678141
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Quoted in the @nytimes.com this morning: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/u...nytimes.comWashington Taxed Its Millionaires. Now the Rich Want It Repealed.Washington State voters will get a chance to accept or reject the 9.9 percent income tax on millionaires approved by the Legislature, which broke the state’s taboo against levying income taxes. 2302
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Nobody — not teachers, not retirees, nobody — will be taxed under the Millionaires Tax unless they make more than a million dollars per year, and voters will always have the final say on any changes to that threshold. Anyone who says otherwise is lying to you. 48529
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 24/09/2026I’d say that your home address and ZIP code are not exactly in the “fine intellectual dexterity” category. But beyond that, I think Huang is fundamentally wrong about his assumption that you can get “systems thinking” without a command of the details. Details are the building blocks of the systems! 2194
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026I hope the business community takes the time to give the Mayor credit for this win. She is clearly being held to a different standard than other Mayors were/would have been, and this is exactly the kind of budget speech that would receive rave reviews if delivered by a Mayor from another faction. 310615
Reposted by Rian Watt👻BOOryan BlessDEAd🎃 @bryb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026This picture of the Pope at his 40th birthday party is everything to me.x 65250604
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026The additional premise of MHA was that development is a cost to be borne by society which must be mitigated. That premise is, in my view, fundamentally incorrect, and actual effect has been to tax the production housing we desperately need. 3242
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Key to understand that the idea here is to simultaneously a) lower fees for multi family projects b) raise more revenue for dedicated affordable housing, and c) reverse the incentive structure so that you pay less the closer you get to the allowable density on the lot that last part is hardest. 1202
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Some who have followed me since Twitter days may recall that I have a friend who I’ve known since he was homeless as a young person here in Seattle. He’s housed nlw but still in a tough spot, and his mother just passed. If you would like to contribute to those costs feel free to Venmo me @rianwatt. 160
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I am so proud of @typewriteralley.bsky.social and what we have built together! 1160
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026This has also been my experience and I am looking forward to find out that it’s all structural again in my 40s. 3120
Reposted by Rian WattDaniel Kay Hertz @danielkayhertz.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Sometimes I'll hear people say "that will never happen because [structural power imbalance x]" and sometimes it's true but a lot of the time it's like, I dunno the actual power relationships holding that line are, again, just some guys with finite time and attention bsky.app/profile/urba... 734318
Reposted by Rian WattDaniel Kay Hertz @danielkayhertz.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Your 20s are for believing everything is structural and your 30s are for learning that actually it's often just some guy or small group of guys (gender neutral) 2787080
Reposted by Rian WattGordon Padelford @gordonofseattle.bsky.social · 15/09/2026👀 The Pike Place Market Constituency is voting on this advisory letter tonight apparently. 6:15 PM in-person at Pike Place Market, 93 Pike Street #317, 3rd floor of the Economy Building in the Classroom, or online. Anyone can become a voting member: www.pikeplacemarketconstituency.org 2245
Reposted by Rian WattRay Delahanty | CityNerd @nerd4cities.bsky.social · 10/09/2026I think The Urbanist is such a singular organization in the way it combines journalism, advocacy, and community building. It’s a big part of why Seattle is transforming so rapidly (mostly in good ways!), and it’s why I’ve been a member for years. Consider doing likewise! 220624
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Terrible news for local journalists, journalism, and our democracy. 1161
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 06/09/2026I was honored to be asked to represent @no645.bsky.social at the @seattletimes.com Editorial Board interview a few weeks ago, alongside Senator June Robinson. You can watch that interview here: tvw.org/video/the-se...tvw.orgThe Seattle Times Editorial Board: I-645 Taxing Income Over $1 Million - TVWThe Seattle Times Editorial Board interviews proponents and opponents of Initiative Measure I-645, which concerns state and local taxes. 2232
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 03/09/2026me to my friends after a few drinks: deploy the SWAT biologists 080
Reposted by Rian WattAllison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 03/09/2026Any sweeping systemic change you want to make in the United States has to begin with adding seats to the Supreme Court in 2029. No major reform bill will survive the current court. No civil rights law, no anti-corruption law, no wealth tax, nothing. 627140553826
Reposted by Rian WattEconomic Opportunity Institute @eoionline.bsky.social · 01/09/2026At 22.4%, Washington now has one of the highest average premium rate increases in the country. When rates become too high, families are forced to choose between buying health insurance and paying for other basic needs than food and housing costs. www.healthinsurance.org/blog/health-...healthinsurance.orgHealth insurance premium increases for 2027: Proposed rates by state and what consumers should knowProposed 2027 health insurance premiums are rising across much of the U.S. See requested rate increases by state and what they mean for consumers. 02013
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 30/08/2026This is fun beatthecouch.combeatthecouch.comBEAT THE COUCH$10,000. Two secret years of real market history. One button. You will probably lose to a couch. 110
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Finally, an actual instance of the Joni Mitchell song. 020
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 26/08/2026I have found that the way out of this trap is to get specific. Who? Where? What are their names? What is our ongoing mutual relationship? “Community” is nodding at a very important set of relationships and accountability, but we need to do more than nod. 0100
Reposted by Rian WattNed Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · 26/08/2026One of the biggest intellectual vices in progressive politics/nonprofit world is constantly trying to shut down legitimate debates by insisting your preferred outcome is what "the community" (an ontologically good thing with undefined boundaries and homogeneous interests) wants. 1153566
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Man, Dolly Parton. Her music is so important to me and so many people and she represents so much of what is good in America. We were so lucky to share time with her. 050
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Without exaggeration, this 21 second stretch would have taken 5-7 minutes before this week. Multiply that by thousands of daily riders. Just amazing work! 319121
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Look at all those people who can use a low-emission vehicle to get where they need to go quickly and reliably! 0150
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Having spent a fair amount of professional time in both homelessness and urbanist spaces, I’m constantly astonished by how little the two groups speak to one another. 1284
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Anyone know this group? www.seattle4intentionaltech.org/joinseattle4intentionaltech.orgJoin | Empower Change—Join Us Now — Seattle Families for Intentional TechJoin Seattle Families for Intentional Tech to advocate for better educational technology policies in Seattle Public Schools. Get involved and make a difference today. 330
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 23/08/2026He’s a tough kid. I’m sure he did just fine. Now to take a big sip of water and find out what happened next 040
Reposted by Rian WattMeghan Montemurro @mmontemurro.bsky.social · 23/08/2026After not happening for 69 years, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Randy Arozarena both hit a home run on a team’s first pitch and last pitch of a game in a 6-day span. Pretty crazy! 420145
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Invest in @theurbanist.org and we can make this happen. 0372
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Gordon can put his record of results up against almost any non-elected Seattleite. An amazing, thoughtful, effective advocate. 1341
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Possession is nine tenths of the law, but I suppose you could make a play for the other tenth 071
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 17/08/2026As I’ve been on full-time Olympia work for the last 2.5 years, I’ve found The Observer an essential resource. 040
Reposted by Rian WattRyan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 15/08/2026So @nerd4cities.bsky.social and I are definitely going to sell out Town Hall Seattle, so I would get my ticket soon if you've been holding off. www.eventbrite.com/e/the-urbani...eventbrite.comThe Urbanist x CityNerd: Building A Transit-Oriented Puget SoundJoin The Urbanist's Ryan Packer and Ray Delahanty for a conversation about transit and housing in our region! 28510
Reposted by Rian WattM. Nolan Gray 🥑 @mnolangray.bsky.social · 13/08/2026The evidence is by now clear and policymakers/planners are slowly starting to respond to it: unfunded inclusionary zoning programs ultimately hurt housing production and affordability. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/13/b...bostonglobe.com‘20 percent of zero is zero’: Some progressive cities are slashing their affordable housing mandates. Should Boston? - The Boston GlobeThe plan — paired with major new city spending on dedicated affordable housing units — underscores how desperation is prompting some left-wing strongholds to make surprising compromises. 222836
Reposted by Rian WattSaganism @sagan.bsky.social · 14/08/202641 years ago, Carl Sagan gave a clear and elegant explanation of the science behind global warming. 393142845758
Reposted by Rian WattRyan Donohue @rpdonohue.bsky.social · 13/08/2026As many know, every year Fort Lawton sits empty is another year families are priced out of one of Seattle's best neighborhoods. We at Habitat for Humanity are ready to go, but we need your help. Use this link to comment today! habitatforhumanityseattle.quorum.us/campaign/167554habitatforhumanityseattle.quorum.usHabitat for Humanity SeattleHabitat for Humanity Seattle 16026
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 13/08/2026I am not sure why there is so much media coverage of the “recall effort” for Mayor Wilson when it carries only slightly more legal weight than an angry Facebook comment 29810