PubliCola

Sep 25, 2024 | publicola.com | Erica Barnett

By Erica C. BarnettMayor Bruce Harrell announced a 2025-2026 budget proposal on Tuesday that avoids major cuts (and adds funding for Harrell’s priorities, like police and homeless encampment removals) by repurposing a majority of the JumpStart payroll expense tax to fill what would have otherwise been at least a $260 million budget deficit. The budget will cut 159 positions, including 76 that are currently filled.

Sep 23, 2024 | publicola.com | Erica Barnett

By Erica C. BarnettThis week’s “Seattle Nice” offers a preview of the upcoming campaigns for and against the initiative to fund social housing, I-137, which will go on the February ballot next to a competing measure from the city council that would provide a much smaller amount of funding for traditional affordable housing.

Sep 23, 2024 | publicola.com | Erica Barnett

Mayors often take on staff from other departments, but Harrell has taken the practice to a new level, with 27 staff on “loan.”By Erica C. BarnettOn Tuesday, Mayor Bruce Harrell will release a 2025-2026 budget proposal that will likely include significant cuts to close a budget deficit of more than $250 million. As preparation, Harrell asked most departments (except the Seattle Police Department and other public safety departments) to come up with potential cuts of 8 percent.

Sep 22, 2024 | publicola.com | Erica Barnett

By Erica C. BarnettI got the opportunity to be on KUOW Radio twice this week, with only one overlapping topic—the recent decision by Amazon to force all its white-collar workers to return to their physical offices, with assigned seats, five days a week. (If you’re new here, I think this is bad).

Sep 22, 2024 | publicola.com | Erica Barnett

A reassessment of Amy Winehouse, a book of photos from an artist unknown in her lifetime, and what to do with all those cherry tomatoes. 1. This beautiful piece by Leslie Jamison on how we as a culture processed Amy Winehouse’s addiction and death.