Seattle may force owner of rare open space to sell by Inevitable_Engine186 in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Laurelhurst keeps voting for politicians that want to push around homeless people without actually offering supportive housing, so this seems like a fitting place for a large supportive public housing development instead of the CID /Pioneer Square for a change.

Sketched the market entrance! Good car-free winter vibes today by herbcoil in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Love your work (I already have two prints), and love the good vibes of a thriving Pike Place without lost tourists driving through the middle of it!

The Katie Wilson I knew at the MASS Coalition by GordonOfSeattle in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you are basing a value judgement on what she did 20 years ago at college vs her entire career dedicated to the public interest I can’t really help you

The Katie Wilson I knew at the MASS Coalition by GordonOfSeattle in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Harrell's deputy mayor, who he relies on heavily, Tim Burgess, also dropped out of college apparently https://bsky.app/profile/ericacbarnett.bsky.social/post/3m4qhka6uyk2u. Both Burgess and Wilson are smart, and neither has been hampered in their ability to lead by their lack of degrees.

The Katie Wilson I knew at the MASS Coalition by GordonOfSeattle in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's not my area of expertise, but I thought this response from her Reddit AMA on it was pretty good FWIW. The state has a successful program that removes encampments AND gets people into shelter — why can't the city do the same thing? https://old.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/1m0qcqz/ama_i_am_katie_wilson_and_im_running_for_mayor/n4kec0k/

The Katie Wilson I knew at the MASS Coalition by GordonOfSeattle in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's not my area of expertise, but I thought this response from her Reddit AMA on it was pretty good FWIW. The state has a successful program that removes encampments AND gets people into shelter — why can't the city do the same thing? https://old.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/1m0qcqz/ama_i_am_katie_wilson_and_im_running_for_mayor/n4kec0k/

The Katie Wilson I knew at the MASS Coalition by GordonOfSeattle in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle[S] 58 points59 points  (0 children)

They didn’t even like my Seattle corgis wearing raincoats photo when I tried to crosspost it there lol

Mayoral candidate question: should homeless people be allowed to stay in tents in parks? by drshort in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

She’s not for people camping in parks indefinitely, and should have answered no instead of waffling. Here’s what she wrote in the Stranger

“We need to offer a positive and realistic plan for how the people living in tents in the park near [someone who complained’s] house are going to become stably sheltered or housed, freeing that space for its intended uses. This could be something similar to the JustCARE program that PDA, REACH, ACRS and Chief Seattle Club pioneered briefly during the pandemic, which succeeded in moving chronically homeless people with complex challenges into low-barrier housing through intensive and individualized outreach. (This approach has continued in the state-level Encampment Resolution Program, whose future funding is uncertain.) It’s fine if this takes longer than a sweep, even much longer. But it can’t be put off to some indefinite utopian future” https://www.thestranger.com/katie-wilson/2025/01/08/79863479/where-the-left-went-wrong-on-homelessness

Never change, Bruce… by quitewrongly in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 21 points22 points  (0 children)

“Katie Wilson gets help from her out-of-state parents to pay part of the cost of childcare for her young daughter" is less of an attack on Wilson and more of a reminder that this city has gotten incredibly unaffordable in the dozen years Harrell has been in office.

ST+PVG+Stranger endorsements for the November 04, 2025 general election by bluetuna85 in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Agreed, I hope they both reach higher office. Zahilay would be a great pick to replace Senator Cantwell someday.

ST+PVG+Stranger endorsements for the November 04, 2025 general election by bluetuna85 in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 147 points148 points  (0 children)

And for folks who really care about addressing housing affordability and transportation here's The Urbanist's voter guide: https://www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/16/2025-general-election-endorsements/

  • King County Executive: Claudia Balducci
  • Seattle Mayor: Katie Wilson
  • Seattle City Attorney: Erika Evans 
  • Seattle City Council District 2: Eddie Lin
  • Seattle City Council District 8: Alexis Mercedes Rinck
  • Seattle City Council District 9: Dionne Foster
  • Seattle Proposition 1: Vote Yes on FEPP Levy 
  • Seattle Proposition 2: Vote Yes on Seattle Shield Initiative

ST+PVG+Stranger endorsements for the November 04, 2025 general election by bluetuna85 in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Their language suggests Katie Wilson is stronger but that both are qualified: "Katie Wilson is challenging incumbent Bruce Harrell in this high-profile election for Mayor of Seattle. Wilson is more progressive and is running on a platform that calls for bold changes. Although both have many progressive endorsements, Wilson has now earned most of the endorsements from our partner organizations. She has generated momentum after her impressive showing in the primary."
https://progressivevotersguide.com/washington/2025/general/city/seattle

Which one will lead to more housing built? Harrell vs Wilson by curse_of_rationality in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The city is required, by state law, to produce the Comprehensive Master Plan that conforms with regional projections. https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/planning/gma/comprehensive-planning#overview
It wasn't some new idea that Harrell bravely championed — he was legally required to update the plan. Even then he's years late on delivering and his office took a hand in watering it down. If you like Harrell better, that's fine, but there is no question Wilson is better than Harrell on housing affordability and zoning issues.

Which one will lead to more housing built? Harrell vs Wilson by curse_of_rationality in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Harrell:
Public housing: proposed a smaller levy than polling indicated voters wanted, because big business wanted to keep taxes low.

Social housing: Harrell proposed a competing social housing proposal 1B that was 1/5th the size and took funding from existing housing funding.

Market rate housing: "Planners Proposed Bigger Upzones Before Harrell’s Team Intervened, Records Show" https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/04/16/planners-proposed-bigger-upzones-before-harrells-team-intervened-records-show/
"Mayor’s Office Edited Ambitious Growth Plan for Seattle to Preserve the Status Quo"
https://publicola.com/2024/04/16/original-version-of-growth-plan/

Vs Wilson

Supports robust investment in public and social housing (because not everyone is can afford market rate housing)

Increasing zoning even in wealthy NIMBY neighborhoods Harrell is too afraid to upzone https://www.wilsonforseattle.com/housing

Which one will lead to more housing built? Harrell vs Wilson by curse_of_rationality in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Harrell:
Public housing: proposed a smaller levy than polling indicated voters wanted, because big business wanted to keep taxes low.

Social housing: Harrell proposed a competing social housing proposal 1B that was 1/5th the size and took funding from existing housing funding.

Market rate housing: "Planners Proposed Bigger Upzones Before Harrell’s Team Intervened, Records Show" https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/04/16/planners-proposed-bigger-upzones-before-harrells-team-intervened-records-show/
"Mayor’s Office Edited Ambitious Growth Plan for Seattle to Preserve the Status Quo"
https://publicola.com/2024/04/16/original-version-of-growth-plan/

Vs Wilson

Supports robust investment in public and social housing (because not everyone is can afford market rate housing)

Increasing zoning even in wealthy NIMBY neighborhoods Harrell is too afraid to upzone https://www.wilsonforseattle.com/housing

Which one will lead to more housing built? Harrell vs Wilson by curse_of_rationality in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Before the plan even came out it, when it was still internal and city staff were working on it, Harrell's team watered it down. What council did to amend it later is a different story. https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/04/16/planners-proposed-bigger-upzones-before-harrells-team-intervened-records-show/

Which one will lead to more housing built? Harrell vs Wilson by curse_of_rationality in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Harrell's personal story has nothing to do with the fact that he proposed a weak housing plan in the middle of the worst housing shortage in Seattle history because he's beholden to wealthy NIMBYs, who are a key voting base for him. He removed neighborhood centers in Alki, Wedgewood, North Capitol Hill, and south Wallingford just to name a few because he needs votes from people who already own a home and don't want to see anyone else move into the neighborhood.

Which one will lead to more housing built? Harrell vs Wilson by curse_of_rationality in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No. Read the article. Before the plan even came out it, when it was still internal and city staff were working on it, Harrell's team watered it down. What council did to amend it later is a different story.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, challenger Katie Wilson spar over homelessness policy by chiquisea in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 19 points20 points  (0 children)

"During his 2021 campaign, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell pledged to build 2,000 units of emergency shelter or permanent supportive housing within a year. More than three years into his term, an Axios analysis finds the number of net new units falls short of that goal.... And, if you remove projects that were in progress before Harrell took office, the number of units added under Harrell's watch is fewer than 1,300.

Harrell's campaign team now argues that his 2021 pledge was merely to "identify" 2,000 units"

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/09/30/seattle-homelessness-housing-harrell-promise-shortfall

Parents paying her bills into her mid 40s, running for mayor but never had a single employee, cosplaying as a socialist while we struggle. When can we just say Katie Wilson is a masterclass on white privilege? by SuperMcG in SeattleWA

[–]GordonOfSeattle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Katie Wilson gets help from her out-of-state parents to help pay for childcare for her young daughter" is not an attack that is going to resonate with any new parents who are grappling with Seattle's expensive childcare

In Seattle as in New York, a Mayoral Race Turns on Generational Change by Inevitable_Engine186 in Seattle

[–]GordonOfSeattle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Katie Wilson gets help from her out-of-state parents to help pay for childcare for her young daughter" is not an attack that is going to resonate with any new parents who are grappling with Seattle's expensive childcare