Ballots have dropped.
---> Check out The Urbanist's endorsements. <---
Ballots must be postmarked by 8pm November 2nd, but the sooner you vote the better!
Endorsement Cheatsheet
Read the full endorsement writeup here.
What's at stake: Housing, zoning, and climate policy is front and center in this election. González, Oliver, and Mosqueda have articulated a progressive vision, while their opponents have assailed them for seeking to end exclusionary zoning and fund social housing. We shouldn't reward appeals to reactionary homeowners and big business. Let's back visionary urbanists.
Let's turn out the vote: If you'd like to canvass or phonebank, we can help get you in touch with campaigns. Let's help put candidates over the top.
Donor appreciation: Thank you to the 108 people who have donated since we launched our Fall Subscriber Drive. Your support is what keeps this publication going and allows us to mobilize the volunteers it take to put our endorsements together. Read more on how the subscriber drive went and donate here.
Why vote González?
Lorena González would push the city forward on safe streets, housing abundance, inclusive zoning, and progressive tax reform. Harrell appears to be another status quo politician in the vein of Jenny Durkan and Ed Murray. He's using suburban scare tactics around crime, bike lanes, and ending single family zoning rather than uplifting an urbanist vision of his own. We must seize this moment for advancing climate action, equity, and urban transformation rather than playing the same old delay tactic games.
"González has a vision for a vibrant city and will work on a world class multimodal transportation network," The Urbanist Election Committee wrote. "She gave up her car for transit, and it has made her a better policymaker with a heightened understanding of where we need to improve and what the barriers are."
Why vote Kennedy-Thomas?
We're sick of tinkering around the edges. Let's elect someone aiming to overhaul the criminal justice system to end the criminalization of poverty. Instead let's focus the City Attorney's office on defending tenants, workers, and victims of corporate crimes. Watch this video where NTK explains her vision.
"Instead of an establishment powerbroker, we have the opportunity to elect a transformational City Attorney who will not prosecute homeless people for stealing food. We should do so — vote Thomas-Kennedy." -The Urbanist Elections Committee.
Why vote Oliver?
"Nikkita Oliver has come back a sharper candidate, retooled and improved, particularly in how they discuss land use and exclusionary zoning. They earned our endorsement by coming out clearly against Compassion Seattle, for defunding SPD, for free public transit, and articulating better than any other candidate the connection between racial justice, housing policy, and much needed zoning reform. They know that to meet climate goals, we need to build abundant sustainable housing, to prioritize transit, to complete the bike master plan, and to really design the city for fewer cars..." -The Urbanist Elections Committee
Why vote Mosqueda?
"Mosqueda is the councilmember most poised to shepherd housing reform, progressive revenue, and the Green New Deal through city hall, as her record clearly shows. Seattle is lucky to have her." - The Urbanist Elections Committee.
Why vote Nguyen?
"Joe Nguyen’s record shows that he pushes for progressive change, even when it’s hard, and centers the lived experiences of those who are most frequently underrepresented in government. His championing of a fare-free Metro bus system comes from a place of knowing what impact that would have on places like Burien where he grew up." -The Urbanist Election Committee
Events
6:15pm Tuesday November 9th - The Urbanist Monthly Meetup with Crystal Fincher of Hacks & Wonks. RSVP for Zoom link.
Calls to Action
Let's fight to improve the City's 2022 budget as it nears finalization next month. Watch for amendments that the Move All Seattle Sustainably (MASS) coalition is backing which will invest more in walking, rolling, biking, and transit. Moreover, the Solidarity Budget coalition is pushing the City to divest from policing and invest in social housing, services, and racial equity.
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