Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 1hBig Cleveland homer in the playoffs against Chicago? Never seen that one before 010
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 8hYep. Seems to be the case that investments in making parenting easier and more affordable are worth it because … it’s good to make parenting easier and more affordable, not because those policies do anything to boost fertility. 0120
Reposted by Rian WattRyan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Happy second birthday to the Overlook Walk, a piece of infrastructure that I can't imagine Seattle without at this point. 1046942
Reposted by Rian WattBetter Things Are Possible @internethippo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Yes, computers do everything at our company but don't worry, there's always a human reviewer. Nothing goes out the door without one of our highly trained shruggers briefly glancing at it and clicking Approve 405107697
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. 21677140
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 Now the Rich Want It Repealed.Washington State voters will get a chance to accept or reject the 9.9 percent income tax on millionaires approved by the Legislature, which broke the state’s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 · 24/09/2026Teachers across Washington understand that 645 would cut billions of dollars from K-12 education, and that's why they and the Washington Education Association are voting @no645.bsky.social. 0174
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 · 23/09/2026Updating to note that they put out a fairly unqualified statement of support, which is good! Hope there is more where this came from — on TV, in the op-ed pages, in private conversations. www.seattlechamber.com/news/2026/09...seattlechamber.comBusiness Leaders Welcome Mayor Wilson's Focus on Fiscal Responsibility and Public Safety in Proposed Budget - Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of CommerceThe Seattle Metro Chamber, Challenge Seattle, and Washington Roundtable today welcomed key elements of Mayor Wilson's proposed budget, citing its emphasis on 0141
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026I was also pleased to see the Mayor recognize that, in the medium- to long-term, additional progressive revenue will be needed to sustainably balance the city's budget. That's been true for years and it's true now. 0260
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 65245603
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Thank you for acknowledging this obvious error. We're all human. 001
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I am sure some will see it that way. Others will see it as killing development in NR zones. I think everyone should have much less confidence in their predictions of what will happen than they seem to have. The situation is, as you note, complex. 120
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026To be clear, I think we should maintain funding for AH. Separately, the evidence for housing supply lowering costs is unambiguous at this point. 120
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026MHA wasn’t handed down from the gods, it was a political compromise representing the values and priorities of the time it was constructed. We’re in a different moment now and we need to act like it. I am glad CM Foster is keeping the conversation alive. I am sure it will be a vigorous one. 0100
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Housing policy is really complicated and there are genuine tradeoffs here which will need to be worked out through the legislative process. It won’t be perfect. But it’d be crazy to maintain totally u changed a policy designed in a totally different cost and interest rate environment in a new one. 190
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I view this as a sensible effort to limit the negative impacts of that tax on market rate production, particularly in multi family zones, while maintaining a stream of funding for subsidized affordable housing which is ALSO desperately needed. 180
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 · 16/09/2026There are a lot of moving pieces to this proposal and so it can be hard to see the big picture, but that’s it, as best as I understand it. Lots more work to do, to be sure. 160
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 · 16/09/2026Also delighted that Ryan is sharing the stage with @nerd4cities.bsky.social, a great national evangelist for our issues, and two of our finest local leaders in @alexis4seattle.bsky.social and @kccclaudia.bsky.social. 0110
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 · 16/09/2026*finding My current theory for how I will find this out is discovering that although the specific idiosyncrasies of the particular guys really matter, their general features are determined by the fact that certain macro forces create certain types of guys with specific power relationships. 140
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
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 11/09/2026For example: www.nytimes.com/1966/12/11/a...nytimes.comSurvivors of Pearl Harbor Attack Find Honolulu Has Changed (Published 1966)attack survivors, in Honolulu for observance, comment on changes in city 030
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 11/09/2026I’m not sure Marcus would consider the Stranger the first line in his bio, considering his tenure at the Emerald and, indeed, the Times. 191
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 · 10/09/2026Indeed. As you can see from my arms in this photo, I'll be on this task force, and I look forward to the work. 280
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Today, I am gratified to share that at least some of our arguments resonated, and the Times endorsed the @no645.bsky.social campaign. This fall, I am confident a majority of Washington’s voters will join them. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit... 3160
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 · 03/09/2026Reminds me of one of my favorite baseball tweets, from @davidjroth.bsky.social: 0130
Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 03/09/2026me to my friends after a few drinks: deploy the SWAT biologists 080