Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily

Vacant Storefronts, Social Housing, and Aurora Violence Test Seattle Reform — May 25, 2026

Seattle vacancy taxes are moving from West Coast experiment to local reform test as downtown storefronts sit empty, social housing buys its first building, and Aurora gun violence forces new questions about safety, staffing, and accountability. IN THIS EPISODE 1. West Coast Cities Turn to Vacancy Taxes to Grapple with Housing Crisis [https://www.theurbanist.org/west-coast-cities-turn-to-vacancy-taxes-to-grapple-with-housing-crisis/] — The Urbanist West Coast Cities Turn to Vacancy Taxes to Grapple with Housing Crisis 📰 Support nonprofit journalism Donate # West Coast Cities Turn to Vacancy Taxes to Grapple with Housing Crisis By Collin Thrower- May 23, 2026 Share Aerial view of downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, one of the pioneering cities in implementing vacancy taxes. Their data has a lot to tell policymakers. (Quintin… * > “Make permitting and regulatory compliance affordable and you'll have more open businesses. I'm a leftist and this is just common sense. How many empty storefronts do we have that could be a new small business? > That and commercial real estate values need to take the dive they've…” — r/SeattleWA (46 upvotes) [https://www.reddit.com/r/SeattleWA/comments/1tmu712/west_coast_cities_turn_to_vacancy_taxes_to/onpnpbg/] Our take: We think this is the right tension: a vacancy tax may help, but if permitting, compliance, and buildout costs make every storefront a six-figure gamble, the city is taxing the symptom while protecting the disease. And yes, office values probably need to reprice for the remote-work era. * > “I’m prettttty conservative but honestly vacancy taxes seem like a good thing? > Just charge less rent bro! > Ok office space may be hard. But for fucks sake at least rent the ground floor commercial real estate out for cheap. Let some pop-up kitchens in or some artists or literally…” — r/SeattleWA (11 upvotes) [https://www.reddit.com/r/SeattleWA/comments/1tmu712/west_coast_cities_turn_to_vacancy_taxes_to/onq9qr0/] Our take: The blunt version lands because ground-floor dead space is a public problem, not just a private spreadsheet problem. We would separate hard-to-convert office towers from retail bays, but “fill it or get taxed” is a pretty defensible civic bargain. * > “Seattle commercial owners don't even offer tenant improvements. It's ridiculous. A small business has to build out things like plumbing while paying full rent. There has to be some incentive to filling those spaces. Empty business space ruins neighborhoods. There are tons of…” — r/SeattleWA (30 upvotes) [https://www.reddit.com/r/SeattleWA/comments/1tmu712/west_coast_cities_turn_to_vacancy_taxes_to/onpyf57/] Our take: This is exactly the small-business angle that gets lost: vacant space is not automatically usable space. If tenant improvements, plumbing, permits, and full rent start on day one, a vacancy policy has to push landlords and City Hall at the same time. 2. Step Back — Seattle now has a Social Housing Developer buying its first building — so what actually makes “social housing” different from the affordable housing programs Seattle already has, and what would count as evidence that this model is working? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Home - Seattle Social Housing Developer [https://seattlesocialhousing.org/] — Seattlesocialhousing * Seattle Social Housing Developer Acquires First Building near Pike Place Market [https://www.theurbanist.org/seattle-social-housing-developer-acquires-first-building-near-pike-place-market/] — Theurbanist * Seattle downtown apartment building tests new affordable housing model [https://www.tri-cityherald.com/living/article315867464.html] — Tri Cityherald * Tax For Social Housing Brought In Twice the Original Estimate, Mirroring Early JumpStart Results - PubliCola [https://publicola.com/2026/02/11/tax-for-social-housing-brought-in-twice-the-original-estimate-mirroring-early-jumpstart-results/] — ericacbarnett * Seattle social housing developer’s tax haul may be over double estimate | The Seattle Times [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/seattle-social-housing-developers-first-tax-haul-over-double-estimate/] — David Kroman * Audit finds WA homelessness agency ‘cannot account’ for $13M | FOX 13 Seattle [https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/seattle-audit-county-homelessness-agency-13m] — Connor Sarles 3. Seattle Times opinion piece on Vision Zero is dangerously misleading – Seattle Bike Blog [https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2026/05/22/seattle-times-opinion-piece-on-vision-zero-is-dangerously-misleading/] — Seattle Bike Blog Seattle Times opinion piece on Vision Zero is dangerously misleading – Seattle Bike Blog ## Seattle Times opinion piece on Vision Zero is dangerously misleading Posted From the Seattle Times. Seattle Library card holders can access the story here. “Spending on safety isn’t making Seattle streets less hazardous” This unequivocal headline in the Seattle Times is completely false. The op-ed it… 4. Is the light rail safe in Seattle? [https://www.citizendailypost.com/faq/is-the-light-rail-safe-in-seattle/] — Citizen Daily Post Is the light rail safe in Seattle? # Is the light rail safe in Seattle? Contents - Expert Answer - Detailed Explanation - Related Questions ## Expert Answer Seattle-area trains on Sound Transit's 1 Line were involved in collisions 92 times in 2015-2021, about once per month, based on Federal Transit Administration (FTA) data. There were 21 injuries and deaths, placing Sound Transit 15th of… 5. Mayor responds to North Seattle neighbors fed up with gun violence [https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/mayor-responds-north-seattle-neighbors-041730879.html] — Yahoo News # Mayor responds to North Seattle neighbors fed up with gun violence Published: 2026-05-22T04:17:30+00:00 Source: yahoo.com (yahoo.com) Language: en ## Story Mayor responds to North Seattle neighbors fed up with gun violence Advertisement Advertisement ## Top Stories: The Brief North Seattle residents are demanding immediate city action—including a crime task force, camera restorations,… Daily TopFive for Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-seattle-daily-fix/id1895649659] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6SnLmXKBtus9Fld4TOlCRJ]. Feedback? Email seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

Seattle Reform Runs Into Contracts, Tracks, Grid Fears, and Gunfire — May 22, 2026

Seattle CARE’s civilian crisis team is expanding while police-guild limits curb its work, as city leaders weigh fare enforcement, streetcar bike safety, data-center power demands, and Aurora gun violence with World Cup pressure looming. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Seattle Civilian Responder Team Chafes Under Police Guild Contract Restrictions [https://www.theurbanist.org/seattle-civilian-responder-team-chafes-under-police-guild-contract-restrictions/] — The Urbanist # Seattle Civilian Responder Team Chafes Under Police Guild Contract Restrictions Published: 2026-05-21T19:32:41+00:00 Source: theurbanist.org (theurbanist.org) Language: en ## Story Seattle Civilian Responder Team Chafes Under Police Guild Contract Restrictions 📰 Support nonprofit journalism Donate # Seattle Civilian Responder Team Chafes Under Police Guild Contract Restrictions By Amy… 2. The Status of Fare Evasion in Washington State – Seattle Transit Blog [https://seattletransitblog.com/2026/05/21/the-status-of-fare-evasion-in-washington-state/] — Seattle Transit Blog # The Status of Fare Evasion in Washington State – Seattle Transit Blog Author: Nick Sattele Published: 2026-05-21T11:49:00+00:00 Source: seattletransitblog.com (seattletransitblog.com) Language: en ## Story The Status of Fare Evasion in Washington State – Seattle Transit Blog Since Metro resumed fare enforcement in 2025, buses have displayed “Fares Required” as part of the headsign rotation.… 3. A decade later, First Hill Streetcar tracks still dangerous for bicyclists | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News [https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/05/a-decade-later-first-hill-streetcar-tracks-still-dangerous-for-bicyclists/] — CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News A decade later, First Hill Streetcar tracks still dangerous for bicyclists | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News (Image: CHS) By Matt Dowell For its 10th birthday, the First Hill Streetcar will get a suite of minor safety upgrades from the Seattle Department of Transportation. But a decade after a bicyclist died following a crash near the streetcar tracks, cyclists want more. As part of this year’s… 4. Seattle leaders’ proposed one-year ban on data centers met with strong support | News Pub [https://newspub.live/west/seattle-wa/seattle-leaders-proposed-one-year-ban-on-data-centers-met-with-strong-support/] — News Pub Seattle leaders’ proposed one-year ban on data centers met with strong support | News Pub Connect with us SEATTLE — City leaders are considering a one-year ban on new data centers in Seattle, and many residents are overwhelmingly on board. Councilmembers Debora Juarez, Eddie Lin, and Council President Joy Hollingsworth introduced the year-long moratorium after reports that four companies have… 5. North Seattle neighbors call for city action on gun violence | FOX 13 Seattle [https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/north-seattle-gun-violence-city-intervention] — FOX 13 Seattle # North Seattle neighbors call for city action on gun violence | FOX 13 Seattle Author: Jennifer Dowling Published: 2026-05-21T21:17:30-07:00 Source: fox13seattle.com (fox13seattle.com) Language: en ## Story North Seattle neighbors call for city action on gun violence | FOX 13 Seattle River Flood Warning is in effect, Chelan County #### The Brief - North Seattle residents are demanding… Daily TopFive for Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-seattle-daily-fix/id1895649659] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6SnLmXKBtus9Fld4TOlCRJ]. Feedback? Email seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

Sound Transit Starts Sorting ST3 Winners, Delays, and Deferrals — May 21, 2026

Sound Transit’s ST3 reset is moving from abstract shortfall to project-by-project triage, with a $34.5 billion gap forcing deferrals while Issaquah tries to cut permitting friction to keep its light rail line alive. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Sound Transit Updates ST3 Plan Amid Financial Constraints – Seattle Transit Blog [https://seattletransitblog.com/2026/05/06/sound-transit-updates-st3-plan-amid-financial-constraints] — Seattle Transit Blog  # Sound Transit Updates ST3 Plan Amid Financial Constraints On Thursday, Sound Transit Board Chair Dave Somers will share a resolution to update the Sound Transit 3 system plan. This update will help align the agency’s future Link extensions with the available funding. Due to record-breaking inflation and more… 2. Prevention WINS: King County Board of Health approves medicine return regulation [http://preventionworksinseattle.blogspot.com/2013/06/king-county-board-of-health-approves.html] — Prevention Works in Seattle Prevention WINS: King County Board of Health approves medicine return regulation Great news from the King County Board of Health: Yesterday, the King County Board of Health took a significant step towards reducing preventable deaths from drug overdoses by passing a Rule & Regulation to create a drug take-back system for King County residents. The program promotes the safe disposal of unused… 3. Facing Delay, Issaquah Pledges to Streamline Light Rail Permitting [https://www.theurbanist.org/facing-delay-issaquah-pledges-to-streamline-light-rail-permitting/] — The Urbanist Facing Delay, Issaquah Pledges to Streamline Light Rail Permitting 📰 Support nonprofit journalism Donate # Facing Delay, Issaquah Pledges to Streamline Light Rail Permitting By Ryan Packer- May 20, 2026 Share The commitment to reduce barriers standing in the way of the future 4 Line between Kirkland and Issaquah is the latest move by city leaders to get their project moving. (City of… Daily TopFive for Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-seattle-daily-fix/id1895649659] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6SnLmXKBtus9Fld4TOlCRJ]. Feedback? Email seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

Katie Wilson’s Build-Bigger Agenda Meets Sound Transit Math — May 20, 2026

Katie Wilson’s Seattle zoning and shelter agenda is moving from campaign slogan to council process, with bigger growth centers, larger shelters, and a possible Seattle Center bond—while Sound Transit’s ST3 shortfall keeps raising accountability questions. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Katie Wilson's 'Taller Denser Faster' Plan Starts to Get Fleshed Out [https://www.theurbanist.org/katie-wilsons-taller-denser-faster-plan-starts-fleshed-out/] — The Urbanist Katie Wilson's 'Taller Denser Faster' Plan Starts to Get Fleshed Out 📰 Support nonprofit journalism Donate # Katie Wilson's 'Taller Denser Faster' Plan Starts to Get Fleshed Out By Ryan Packer- May 19, 2026 Share The Wilson administration and the Seattle City Council are starting to get on the same page around what it means to go much bigger in the next phase of the city's growth plan. Despite… 2. Seattle City Council passes bill allowing larger homeless shelters, tiny home villages - MyNorthwest [https://mynorthwest.com/mynorthwest-politics/seattle-homeless-shelters/4240013] — MyNorthwest Seattle City Council passes bill allowing larger homeless shelters, tiny home villages - MyNorthwest.com Close MyNorthwest News Opinion Sports Tools Connect # Seattle City Council passes bill allowing larger homeless shelters, tiny home villages Tiny houses on display. (Photo: Matt Pitman, KIRO Newsradio) (Photo: Matt Pitman, KIRO Newsradio) The Seattle City Council (SCC) unanimously passed a… 3. Sound Transit spends millions on ads amid $34.5B gap [https://seattlered.com/transportation/sound-transit-advertising-spending-st3-shortfall-ballard/4118584] — Seattle Red Sound Transit spends millions on ads amid $34.5B gap On the Site: Sign up for daily conservative news & opinion delivered to your inbox Close Seattle Red Tools - Seattle Red App - Advertise With Us - Employment Connect # Sound Transit blows millions on ads while Ballard waits for light rail it’s been paying for Sound Transit is $34.5B short on its ST3 expansion but still found money for billboard… 4. Step Back — When King County sends public money to nonprofits for youth programs, what guardrails are supposed to catch waste or fraud before the checks clear — and when reviewers flag questionable costs, does anyone actually have to pay the money back? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Department of Community and Human Services Needs to ... [https://kingcounty.gov/en/independents/governance-and-leadership/government-oversight/auditors-office/reports-papers/reports/2025/dchs-contracts] — Kingcounty * King County response to possible fraud has auditor ‘deeply concerned’ | The Seattle Times [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/king-county-response-to-possible-fraud-has-auditor-deeply-concerned/] — David Gutman * King County Council responds to troubling audit with tougher oversight | The Seattle Times [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/king-county-council-responds-to-troubling-audit-with-tougher-oversight/] — David Gutman * King County audit finds unapproved payments, possible fraud [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/king-county-audit-finds-unapproved-payments-possible-fraud/] — David Gutman * 'Damning' audit finds lax King County oversight allowed potential ... [https://www.kuow.org/stories/damning-audit-finds-lax-king-county-oversight-allowed-potential-fraud-and-improper-payments-to-contractors] — Kuow * DCHS audit fallout deepens as report finds $700K in questionable spending, possible fraud [https://komonews.com/news/local/dchs-audit-fallout-deepens-as-report-finds-700k-in-questionable-spending-possible-fraud-king-county-seattle-youth-diversion-program-family-intervention-liberation-healing-systemic-racism-restorative-commnity-school-to-prison-withdrawal-stipends] — Komonews * King County kept paying contractors despite warnings of misused funds | The Seattle Times [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/king-county-kept-paying-contractors-despite-warnings-of-misused-funds/] — Lulu Ramadan 5. Mayor, council member support Seattle Center improvement bond measure [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mayor-council-member-support-seattle-center-improvement-bond-measure/] — The Seattle Times Mayor Katie Wilson and Councilmember Rob Saka came out in support Monday of a capital bond for Seattle Center, likely appearing on the 2027 ballot, though possibly earlier. If passed with 60% support, the measure would fund improvements to the aging campus, such as an overhaul of its HVAC and electrical systems, as well as a possible renovation of its centerpiece Armory building. The two elected… Daily TopFive for Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Feedback? Email seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

Seattle Transit Funding Faces the Hard-Math Phase — May 19, 2026

Seattle’s transportation reform agenda is running into hard math: a county funding measure may send the city less than its tax base suggests, while Sound Transit’s ST3 rescue options now involve real truncations, cancellations, and tradeoffs. IN THIS EPISODE 1. New County Transportation Funding Measure Could Shortchange Seattle [https://www.theurbanist.org/new-county-transportation-funding-measure-could-shortchange-seattle/] — The Urbanist New County Transportation Funding Measure Could Shortchange Seattle 📰 Support nonprofit journalism Donate # New County Transportation Funding Measure Could Shortchange Seattle By Ryan Packer- May 18, 2026 Share An amendment put forward by Steffanie Fain would cap Seattle's participation in a new pass-through funding program to well below the city's proportional share of the tax, resulting in… 2. Step Back — If Seattle voters are being asked to fund another countywide transportation measure, how can we tell whether the city is getting a fair return — what formulas, service metrics, or legal guardrails decide where the money actually goes? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Source [https://cdn.kingcounty.gov/-/media/king-county/depts/metro/documents/about/data-and-reports/2025/transit-development-plan-2025-2030.pdf?hash=A11946B55585A70BFC5ABD1F996E6965&rev=ba44f9bc665b45c6b06e1eadccd7baea] — White, Carrie * Seattle Transportation Levy on track to meet commitments to voters ... [https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2026/04/06/seattle-transportation-levy-on-track-to-meet-commitments-to-voters-report-shows-levy-dollars-at-work/] — Katie Olsen * Source [https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/council/agendas/Budget_TPLSR/20251014-Panel1-Packet.pdf] — Steadman, Marka * Source [https://seattletransitblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/A.-King-County-Metro-Transit-2025-System-Evaluation.pdf] — Seattletransitblog 3. ST3 Truncations – Seattle Transit Blog [https://seattletransitblog.com/2026/03/19/sound-transit-truncations/] — Seattle Transit Blog  # ST3 Truncations  Sound Transit finally addressed their severe budget shortfalls at the [March 18 Board… 4. Shallow Cogitations: This Doesn't Look Good [http://www.shallowcogitations.com/2009/07/this-doesnt-look-good.html] — Shallow Cogitations Shallow Cogitations: This Doesn't Look Good skip to main | skip to sidebar [The] Cascade Bicycle Club and the City of Seattle are being sued by a coalition of Ballard industrial businesses, industrial associations and the Ballard Chamber of Commerce. The lawsuit is an appeal to the Superior Court and challenges the city’s plans to complete the “Missing Link” of the Burke-Gilman Trail. The… 5. Lummi Nation to open first-of-its-kind substance withdrawal center this summer [https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/may/17/lummi-nation-to-open-first-of-its-kind-substance-withdrawal-center-this-summer/] — Cascadia Daily News Lummi Nation to open first-of-its-kind substance withdrawal center this summer | Cascadia Daily News # Lummi Nation to open first-of-its-kind substance withdrawal center this summer ## 16-bed facility is the first tribally owned, operated withdrawal site on tribal land in Washington - May 17, 2026 6:43 p.m. Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire told a crowd May 17 that the nation's new Secure… Daily TopFive for Seattle Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Feedback? Email seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [seattle-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].