On this four-year anniversary episode of Seattle Nice, we dissect two major policy and political battles, starting with the contentious Seattle Police Officer Guild (SPOG) contract. Passed by a narrow and unusual 6-3 City Council vote, the contract gives officers significant raises—a 42% increase overall— without requiring key accountability measures. We also discuss Mayor-elect Katie Wilson’s decision to retain Police Chief Sean Barnes, and the Trump administration’s erratic moves on homelessness funding.

Our editor is Quinn Waller.

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Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at realseattlenice@gmail.com

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A new era is dawning in Seattle and King County, with big changes happening at the top. We break down the personnel shifts, including Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson's choice of Brian Surratt as her sole Deputy Mayor. Is the pick in part a strategic move by Seatte’s new progressive mayor to win over the business community? Plus, we explore the uncertain future of Seattle Police Chief Sean Barnes: Will Mayor Wilson keep him on? Finally, we dive into the controversy surrounding King County Executive Girmay Zahilay’s "layoffs,” as reported by Publicola.

Quinn Waller is our editor.

Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails realseattlenice@gmail.com

Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at realseattlenice@gmail.com

Support the show

Your support on Patreon helps pay for editing, production, live events and the unique, hard-hitting local journalism and commentary you hear weekly on Seattle Nice.

Mayor-elect Katie Wilson turned down numerous invitations for national television appearances over the past week, telling Seattle Nice, “That is not my job.” But she took time out of her busy transition planning to speak with us (and you!). With assistance from our amazing Patreon supporters, and other listeners, we took advantage of the opportunity to pose the incoming mayor of Seattle questions on a wide range of topics, including the following:

• WHat concrete actions is she going to take to tackle affordability?
• How does she plan to deal with the City Council's adoption of a budget proviso requiring her to fund the Unified Care Team, which sweeps encampments?
• How, specifically, does she intend (as she has promised) to get 4000 homeless people into shelter or housing in her first term?
• What’s her response to Donald Trump calling her a "very, very liberal slash communist mayor" and does she consider herself a soccer fan like Zohran Mamdani?
• Given her opposition to the use of CCTV surveillance, what is her approach to ensuring fan safety and security during the World Cup?
• What’s the role of market capitalism in solving Seattle’s problems, given her commitment to socialism?
• Along with being Seattle's socialist mayor, does she accept the mantle of being Seattle's urbanist mayor, and what does that mean to her?
• As a City Hall outsider, how does her conception of politics differ from that of Bruce Harrell, the veteran incumbent she improbably vanquished?

And much, much more!

Our editor is Quinn Waller.

Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails realseattlenice@gmail.com

Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at realseattlenice@gmail.com

Support the show

Your support on Patreon helps pay for editing, production, live events and the unique, hard-hitting local journalism and commentary you hear weekly on Seattle Nice.