The Urbanist

The Urbanist newsroom discusses the April headlines, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announcing a greatly expanded Bicycle Weekend schedule on Lake Washington Boulevard, hundreds of transit advocates marching to save Ballard light rail from the chopping block, and behind-the-scenes pushback against a Capitol Hill crisis case center from prominent landlords and business owners.

The Urbanist newsroom (Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm) discusses the big opening day for Sound Transit's crosslake 2 Line and what it means for the future of light rail expansion in the Seattle region. In a series of speeches from Sound Transit leaders, officials waxed poetic on the significance of the day and some argued it provided momentum as the agency heads into the next round of expansions, with several projects way overbudget.

More than 200,000 riders piled on Link light rail during the 2 Line's March 28 opening day, which led to some long lines, especially at Judkins Park Station, where they cut the ribbon. Even with lengthy wait times, it was still good enough for the second busiest day in Link's history.

This grand opening was a long time in the making. We discussed all the twists and turns over the region's history (from Forward Thrust to the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure to siting battles) to finally arrive at a light rail connection between Seattle and the Eastside.

We also discussed the variety of approaches to transit-oriented development that cities along the line took, with Mercer Island the most hesitant to add housing and even fought back against state housing rules – unsuccessfully. The area around Judkins Park, meanwhile, has seen about 3,000 homes either added or in the pipeline.

Finally, we discussed how the agency might solve its financial woes plaguing Sound Transit 3 projects so that the next new lines can open as soon as possible.

The Urbanist's Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm discuss recent news out of Olympia, candidate campaign rollouts, and King County transportation funding woes. The crew also gives their recommendations for favorite outdoor festivals or seasonal events.

Our latest dispatches on the Washington State Legislature include:

• Mosquito Fleet Act Runs Into Choppy Seas in the State Senate
• Sound Transit’s Bid to Unlock 75-Year Bonds Finds Second Wind
• Neighborhood Cafe and Corner Store Bill Fails for Third Straight Year
• Legislation Targeting Ground-Floor Storefronts Gets Overhauled in House
• State Senate Signs Onto Billions of New Debt for Highway Upkeep
• Washington's Elevator Reform Bill Rises Again

To check out more on the candidates jumping in races, see Amy's interview with Hannah Sabio-Howell (who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen) and Ryan's interview with Ron Davis, who is challenging longtime Rep. Gerry Pollet.

This episode of The Urbanist Podcast was edited by your truly. Episodes also air on KVRU 105.7 FM radio Thursdays at 4pm. Thank you to Crystal Fincher and Shannon Cheng of KVRU for their assistance getting this podcast off the ground. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform to help us spread the word.

The Urbanist’s newsroom — Doug Trumm, Ryan Packer, and Amy Sundberg — dive into recent headlines in a podcast episode covering:

• Katie Wilson's State of the City speech. (Read our story)
• An update on which bills are moving and which are dying at the Washington State Legislation.
• The Seattle Social Housing Developer's big moves, including huge proceeds in its first year with a dedicated revenue source. (Read our story) 

 Here's a recap of the Olympia coverage we referenced:

• Age verification for Big Tech
• Washington’s Elevator Reform Bill Rises Again
• Curbing Mandates for Ground-Floor Retail Spaces Advances at Legislature
• Washington Legislature Grapples with Slew of Bills Regulating AI
• Washington State Reacts to Feared ICE Invasion, Constitutional Crisis
• State Lawmakers Move to Regulate License Plate Readers, Fearing ICE Misuse
• ICE’s Tacoma Detention Center Targeted in New Lawsuit Alleging Abuses
• 2026: The Year the Washington Legislature Catches Its Breath on Housing

And in a bonus closing segment, the three of us also offer our Pike Place Market food recommendations.

This episode of The Urbanist Podcast was edited by Doug Trumm. Episodes also air on KVRU 105.7 FM radio Thursdays at 4pm, on a once every two weeks cadence, give or take.

In this episode of The Urbanist Podcast, our newsroom discusses what the 2 Line opening scheduled for March 28 means for the region, and what removing former committee chair Claudia Balducci from Systems Expansions Committee and Executive Committee means for Sound Transit.

Hosts Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm also discuss the constitutional crisis created by a Department of Homeland Security that is ignoring due process rights in its haste to execute a campaign of mass deportation. They overview what state and local officials are doing to counter illegal actions by immigration agents, and prepare for the type of invasion that Minneapolis has seen.

Fresh off interviews with the two leading Seattle City Council candidates in District 5, Amy breaks down the race that could swing control of the legislative body. As immigrants, Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang have stressed the need to defend to protect at-risk communities in the face of ICE overreach.

Finally, the crew each provides their top 3 destinations for visitors to the Seattle region.

Note: This episode was re-uploaded on February 17 to correct an audio leveling issue at the 25-minute mark. This section should be much more audible now.

In this episode of The Urbanist Podcast, our newsroom discusses what the 2 Line opening scheduled for March 28 means for the region, and what removing former committee chair Claudia Balducci from Systems Expansions Committee and Executive Committee means for Sound Transit.

Hosts Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm also discuss the constitutional crisis created by a Department of Homeland Security that is ignoring due process rights in its haste to execute a campaign of mass deportation. They overview what state and local officials are doing to counter illegal actions by immigration agents, and prepare for the type of invasion that Minneapolis has seen.

Fresh off interviews with the two leading Seattle City Council candidates in District 5, Amy breaks down the race that could swing control of the legislative body. As immigrants, Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang have stressed the need to defend to protect at-risk communities in the face of ICE overreach.

Finally, the crew each provides their top 3 destinations for visitors to the Seattle region.

Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm of The Urbanist newsroom preview the session now underway at the Washington State Legislature in Olympia and break down the huge setback that the I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement project was just dealt, via a massive cost jump pushing the budget near $20 billion.  

Ryan recently covered a myriad of housing bills working their way through Olympia. Bills allowing smaller elevators and scissor stairs could make midrise buildings more feasible to build. The hosts discussed the pros and cons of legislation allowing residential construction in commercial zones in mid-sized cities, which was requested by Governor Bob Ferguson, but perpetuates a corridor urbanism approach that focuses apartments in polluted areas near dangerous highways.

The bills we referenced include:

• House Bill 1175 - Neighborhood cafes
• HB 1443 - Allows Mobile Dwelling Units on all Residences
• HB 2228 - Legalizing Scissor Stairs
• Senate Bill 5156 - Legalizing Smaller Elevators - Sightline Institute has a video explainer for more info.
• SB 6002 - Regulate Immigration Officials Access to License Plate Readers - Read Amy Sundberg’s article for more.
• SB 6026 - Requiring Mid-Size Cities to Allow Residential in all Commercial Zones.

Additionally, Amy and Doug recounted their first interview with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson since she's been installed in office. And the crew talks about their go-to parks for false spring reveling.

The Urbanist’s Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm kick off the new year by breaking down Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's inauguration ceremony and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's supplemental budget proposal, which included deep cuts to public education, while also queuing up a millionaires income tax for 2029. The trio also make a few new year predictions and flag some big stories to watch.

The Urbanist's newsroom dissects the biggest headlines of the last few weeks. Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm discuss the Federal Way Link light rail opening in early December, Katie Wilson's transition team and early hires, and the Seattle City Council's vote to approve a controversial labor contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild. The contract again punts on long-promised accountability measures and leaves several obstacles to civilian crisis response in place.

Check out recent articles for more:

• Thousands Packs Trains for Opening of Federal Way Light Rail
• Federal Way Link Stations Not Seeing a Housing Boom
• Seattle Approves Controversial Police Guild Contract, Three Councilmembers Dissent
• Katie Wilson's Transition Team Features Mix of Advocates and Insiders
• Katie Wilson Charts New Course on Public Safety and Homelessness

The Urbanist Podcast is back after a hiatus, just in time to break down 2025 election results. Urbanist-endorsed Katie Wilson pulled off a comeback in late returns to win the Seattle Mayor race. In this episode, Urbanist publisher Doug Trumm and reporter Amy Sundberg discuss results in Seattle and other interesting races across the region, including Tacoma, Bellevue, Kirkland, and a progressive sweep in Burien.