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Amy Barden, director of the city's Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) department. Barden has been on the job for just over two years, running the city's 911 operations while also setting up an unarmed team of social workers who respond to emergency calls that don't require police—the CARE Team. The CARE Team is expanding to 48 members this year, and their size will no longer be capped under the city's contract with the Seattle Police Officers' Guild (SPOG), which has historically resisted reducing the duties that legally have to be performed by police, like directing traffic and responding to 911 calls.  But the contract also includes new constraints on CARE that limit where the team is allowed to go and when they have to back off and call police. CARE can't help people if there are signs that they've recently used drugs, for instance, and they aren't allowed to go inside most buildings or respond to people inside cars. We asked Barden about these constraints, along with the requirement that SPD sergeants decide who to send out on crisis calls that come in to 911—police, CARE, or community service officers, civilian SPD staffers who respond to minor issues but lack the mental health and crisis response training of the social workers who make up the CARE team. We also talked about how CARE has evolved in its first 28 months, what happens when people call 911 for a person in crisis, and Barden's hopes for the team under new mayor Katie Wilson and a more progressive City Council. Our editor is Quinn Waller. Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

This week, we spoke to former deputy city attorney Scott Lindsay. Voters soundly rejected Lindsay's former boss, Republican Ann Davison, last November, but Lindsay argues that many of her prescriptions for addressing crime and disorder were sound—including "stay out" zones for people accused of using or possessing drugs in public, extra penalties for people who commit misdemeanors like shoplifting over and over, and the elimination of community court, which Lindsay called "a complete disaster and shame and stain on the record of city attorney [Pete] Holmes." Although the city has arguably been ruled by a moderate-to-conservative supermajority for at least the last four years, Lindsay says they failed to accomplish all their goals, in part, because former mayor Bruce Harrell wouldn't always get with the program. Seattle, Lindsay argues, still has "radically too few police officers," "no consensus about what to do about our most pressing public disorder problems," and neighborhoods that have been "destroyed" by people using and selling drugs in public.  PubliCola has frequently pushed back on the notion that cracking down on so-called "prolific offenders"—the subject of a report Lindsay wrote for the Downtown Seattle Association in 2019—is a solution to the problems facing neighborhoods like Little Saigon that have faced decades of neglect and disinvestment. Lindsay agreed—and said that isn't the point.  "More people will die every year of fentanyl and meth overdose than will be successful in getting out of the life and getting into treatment and turning their lives around," Lindsay said.  "I'm not saying give up, but I'm saying we need to balance our treatment approach with, how do we stop the havoc that these folks create? And one effective way at stopping the havoc that they create is to constantly disrupt. Use legal tools to disrupt their behavior. Convince them that being on the streets at 12th and Jackson smoking fentanyl is going to get you incarcerated. Even if that's for eight or 12 hours that is in effect, can be an effective tool at disrupting the problem behavior and saving neighborhoods. Little Saigon is gone, but others are on the brink." Listeners will probably have strong feelings about this conversation, which also includes a discussion of Police Chief Shon Barnes, community court, and the "radical abolitionists," in Lindsay's words, at King County's Department of Public Defense, which provides attorneys for indigent defendants. Our editor is Quinn Waller.  Ann Davison's 2025 annual report, referenced in the show, is here. Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

We sat down with new Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans and Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion founder Lisa Daugaard this week to talk about changes Evans is making to the way the city handles low-level drug cases. Under Evans' Republican predecessor, Ann Davison, people arrested for simple drug possession or using in public were either jailed and prosecuted or sent to a "drug prosecution alternative" where they have to get an assessment to confirm they have an addiction and stay out of trouble for six month.  Evans directed her prosecutors to go back to the pre-Davison policy of reviewing people's cases to see if they're eligible for LEAD, the city's pre-filing diversion program. In response to this reasonable directive, Police Chief Shon Barnes told his officers that going forward, officers had to refer every drug case to LEAD—an overstatement that led to a right-wing media freakout when police guild director Mike Solan claimed Mayor Katie Wilson had ordered an end to all drug arrests.  Evans and Daugaard set the record straight, explaining what LEAD does, who it's for, and how they believe this policy shift will actually help people addicted to fentanyl who use in public—which, they both reminded is, is encoded in the 2023 "Blake fix" law that empowered the city attorney to prosecute minor drug cases in the first place. "What we're doing is not anything inconsistent with what the law has already recommended for our office to be doing," Evans told us. "But nothing's off the table. If someone is not making meaningful progress with LEAD or in diversion, then we do reserve the right to do traditional prosecution." Our editor is Quinn Waller. Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

We have no clue what 2026 holds, but that hasn't stopped us! The annual "Seattle Nice" prognostication episode returns with Publicola Co-Founder Josh Feit to offer hopes and predictions for the city's 2026. The main event: Mayor-elect Katie Wilson’s looming tenure. Will she defy her critics and steer a progressive agenda with pragmatic, results-oriented grit? We're all optimistic.   The discussion also gets into Seattle's biggest flashpoints including the need for greater police accountability, and the role of the CARE Department. We also talk over ideas to tackle density and affordability, including a “sprawl tax” (or “urban pass”). Finally, the conversation shifts to the quiet crises plaguing the city: dimming transparency at city hall, the struggle for a vibrant nighttime economy, and an accountability deficit in the city's public education system.  Our editor is Quinn Waller.  Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

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.  Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

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 Shon 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 [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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 [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

The votes are in and a new era begins in Seattle politics. In this episode: The Concession and the Controversy: Was Bruce Harrell’s concession speech gracious enough?The Affordability Referendum: Wilson’s focus on pocketbook issues—housing, rent, and the rising cost of living—was the centerpiece of her campaign. Why didn’t Harrell’s response work? How will she deliver? Campaign Attacks: Were the Harrell camp’s attacks on Wilson (e.g.,"millennial socialist who still lives off parents’ money") unfair? Sexist? Shifting Politics: The cultural shift away from identity politics toward "bread and butter economic issues." Have white progressives changed their tune?  Road Ahead for Mayor-Elect Wilson: We analyze the challenges for an outsider promising to deliver on affordability. We also discuss the importance of her upcoming staff appointments, possible difficulties posed by Harrell's budget, and Wilson’s plans for housing, progressive taxation, and homeless encampment policies. Is Katie Wilson going to govern like Boston's progressive Mayor Michelle Wu?Our editor is Quinn Waller.  Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

We discuss and debate last night's election and the big progressive wins here in Seattle. Why did moderates lose? Why is the mayor's race between Bruce Harrell and Katie Wilson so tight? We also ponder the future of Seattle's political landscape. Could this end up being the most progressive Seattle government, ever?   Our editor is Quinn Waller.   Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

This week, we dive into the Seattle Mayoral race, taking a closer look at Bruce Harrell's campaign paying a consultant $5000 of a week.  We also discuss the final campaign strategies: Harrell's focus on Wilson's alleged inexperience versus Wilson's emphasis on affordability and portrayal of Harrell as a corporate stooge. Plus, we ask: are Seattle voters truly enthusiastic about either candidate? Our editor is Quinn Waller. Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

This week: A Seattle City Attorney candidate forum with incumbent Ann Davison and challenger Erica Evans. The event was recorded on October 16th and organized by the South Lake Union Community Council and Belltown United.  Note: City Attorney Ann Davison’s audio sounds heavily processed due to a production error at the venue. We did our best to make it audible. If you have trouble hearing any of her answers Apple Podcasts and other platforms now also include fairly accurate transcripts.   Our editor is Quinn Waller.  Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

This week's special guest, Purpose Dignity Action's Director of Outreach and Special Initiatives Nichole Alexander, spoke with Sandeep and Erica about the work the PDA's CoLEAD program is doing with drug users at a longtime "hot spot" in the Chinatown International District.  Centered on 12th and Jackson, the area has been a frequent target for police operations, encampment removals, and city-led outreach efforts over the past decade. The PDA's CoLEAD program, formed during the pandemic to relocate people from encampments on state highway rights-of-way into hotel-based lodging with intensive case management, saw results—according to Alexander, 95 percent of people they worked with moved into hotel-based shelters funded by the state, and 70 percent ended up in permanent housing. That program, known as the Encampment Resolution Program, lost state funding, and now CoLEAD is focusing its much more limited resources helping people around 12th and Jackson by offering them a safe, private place to stay—something Alexander says is a prerequisite for longer-term stability.  Unlike the city's Unified Care Team, which moves people from place to place while offering shelter referrals to some, CoLEAD spends weeks getting to know people individually and listen to their needs before moving them inside. "I hear a lot of people say folks don't want to come inside, and that is not what we find," Alexander told us. "We find 95% of folks really do want to come inside. They just want something that's going to be safe for them. They want to be able to close the door, use a toilet safely, have case management that cares—and have that long-term care, not just a quick answer." We also talked to Alexander about her personal story, the debate over whether jail and involuntary treatment lead to lasting recovery, and the misconception that low-barrier shelter or housing is inherently chaotic and destabilizing.  David was out this week, but we'll all be back together next week for a special election episode! Our editor is Quinn Waller Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

In this episode, we take a closer look at Mayor Bruce Harrell's proposed ban on anti-competitive covenants in grocery and pharmacy leases—a move aimed at preventing future food deserts. Is this a genuine step toward saving grocery stores and pharmacies, or, as Erica argues, a form of political posturing in the midst of a mayoral election? We also broaden the discussion to consider alternative solutions, with Sandeep suggesting a re-evaluation of design review processes as a more effective lever for lowering costs and sustaining local businesses.  David highlights the critical ideological divide here between Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson, whose socialist-sounding stance on publicly backed grocery stores offers a stark contrast to Harrell's market-oriented approach on remedying food deserts. Whereas Wilson wants the government more involved in the private sector, Harrell would reserve public dollars for things like food assistance.     We also discuss turbulence within the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, based on Erica’s reporting about accusations of mismanagement and racism against its CEO, Kelly Kennison. This segment unpacks the broader debate about the organization's efficacy and future. We come back to a question we’ve discussed before: is it time to pull the plug on the KCRHA?  Finally, we talk about Mayor Harrell's campaign criticism of Katie Wilson's experience, with Erica challenging the tone and substance of Harrell’s attacks. Quinn Waller is our editor.  Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

This week we take the patented Seattle Nice deep dive into Bruce Harrell's proposed nearly $9 billion budget, examining the Seattle mayor’s priorities as he’s fighting for his political life in what’s turned into a tough election year for him.   David points out how various local media outlets, from KIRO to our own Erica C. Barnett’s Publicola framed the budget news through their own lenses. The discussion also highlights the budget's strategic rollout, with Sandeep noting the mayor’s reliance on a "slick, produced, 15-minute video" in lieu of a traditional speech. We then get into criticism of the budget, which assumes both sales and B&O tax increases and prioritizes spending on new police hires and, in the face of Trump threats, immigrant and refugee assistance and other supports. Erica criticizes the mayor for boosting spending for what will be ongoing programs with one time dollars, saying he is avoiding tough choices and leaving substantial  projected out-year deficits. She argues he should have worked harder to cut the police budget in particular.  Sandeep echoes Erica’s concerns about a lack of fiscal discipline but says his concern extends to potential wasteful spending in all city departments and not just the cops. He also argues the mayor missed a political opportunity by not proposing more bold, innovative ideas.  We also get into the King County Council's recent ban on rent-setting software like RealPage to try and prevent algorithmic price fixing, which follows on the heels of a similar City ban. Finally, the podcast concludes with some back and forth about political endorsements, and specifically the “odd timing” of Pete Buttigieg's backing of Mayor Harrell.   Our editor is Quinn Waller. Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.

We delve into the political maneuvering behind the scenes leading up to Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed sales tax hike for non-police public safety initiatives. We also discuss the debate over proposed changes to Seattle's comprehensive plan. Our editor is Quinn Waller.  Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails [email protected] Thanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at [email protected] 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.