Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: ☕ Mayor Wilson, Starbucks, and business lobbying 🏳️🌈 Seattle to declare a state of emergency to support LGBTQ refugees 🚈 Sound Transit swings the axe at ST3 projects (vote is next Thursday, 5/28) 🚲 The NIMBY drama over Bicycle Weekends on Lake Washington Blvd As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, Robert Cruickshank, on Bluesky at .
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Hannah Sabio-Howell, a labor organizer and former Washington State Senate communications staffer, is challenging incumbent Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen for the 43rd Legislative District's state senate seat. The district, which covers Capitol Hill, First Hill, the Central District, and Madison Valley, is widely considered the most politically progressive district in the state. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find Hannah Sabio-Howell at .
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Washington Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen is running for reelection in the 43rd District. In this Hacks & Wonks interview, he defends his record and shares his priorities on taxes, education, child care, immigration & protecting Washington residents from a hostile federal administration. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find Jamie Pedersen at .
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Port Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa is running for the King County Council District 2 open seat and shares her priorities, including prioritizing criminal legal reform, affordable housing, child homelessness, and resisting federal overreach. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find Toshiko Hasegawa at .
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Rebecca Saldaña is leaving the State Senate to run for the open King County Council District 2 seat. She spoke with Hacks & Wonks about her priorities, including addressing the county's budget deficit, homelessness, public safety, transit equity, and environmental justice. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find Rebecca Saldaña at .
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On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and David Kroman discuss: 🚧 Governor comms sign-off rule delays info flow 🧊 WA tries to gain access to privately-run ICE facility ❌ Calls for dissolution after KCRHA audit 🧒 Wilson expands free student meals and childcare 🚓 SPD Chief questions LEAD program 🛑 Judge halts law to oust decertified sheriffs As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, David Kroman at .
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On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: ⚔️ Progressive Democrats take on moderate incumbents 🚈 Sound Transit 3 in crisis 🏘️ Mayor Wilson’s housing proposals 💯 Katie Wilson’s first 100 days 🧑🏫 Seattle Public Schools debates how to handle educator misconduct As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, Robert Cruickshank, on Bluesky at .
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On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss: 📜 Accountability law enacted for sheriffs ⚔️ Court battle starts over millionaires’ tax 🏛️ Wilson town halls on shelter proposal and surveillance 👮 Cops assigned to Magnuson ↔️ Opposing views at Comp Plan hearings As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find today’s co-host, Erica Barnett, on Bluesky at and on .
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Crystal gives a quick update on the Hacks & Wonks schedule. Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at .
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Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown has focused on protecting state residents, filing 49 lawsuits against federal actions and prioritizing consumer protection and workers' rights during his first year in office. Join us for an inside look at the often unseen work of the Attorney General's Office. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at . Follow us on Bluesky at . Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at and find Attorney General Nick Brown on Bluesky at .
info_outlineToday on the show, Marco Lowe, Professor at Seattle University’s Institute for Public Service, joins Crystal to discuss the extension of the eviction moratorium, the vital importance of keeping people housed, the departure of Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff, City Council candidate Sara Nelson caught in a lie regarding laying off workers at Fremont Brewing, new polling in the Seattle mayoral elections, the increasing impact of climate disasters, and developments in the carpenters’ union strike in our state.
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available below and at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Find the host, Crystal Fincher on Twitter at @finchfrii and find today’s co-host, Marco Lowe, at @MarcoLowe. More info is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Resources
“Seattle eviction moratorium extended into 2022” by Katie Campbell, Dyer Oxley, and Angela King from KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-eviction-moratorium-extended-into-2022
“King County Scrambling to Distribute Rent Assistance as Eviction Crisis Looms” by Doug Trumm from The Urbanist: https://www.theurbanist.org/2021/09/23/peter-rogoff-departing-sound-transit-leadership-in-2022/
“Peter Rogoff Departing Sound Transit Leadership in Early 2022” by Stephen Fesler from The Urbanist: https://www.theurbanist.org/2021/09/23/peter-rogoff-departing-sound-transit-leadership-in-2022/
“A $550-per-hour coach is helping Sound Transit’s chief get along with his employees” by Mike Lindblom from The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/a-550-per-hour-coach-is-helping-sound-transits-chief-get-along-with-his-employees/
“Sara Nelson Said Fremont Brewing Didn’t Lay Off Anyone During the Pandemic. Unfortunately, That’s Not True.” by Rich Smith from The Stranger: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/09/17/61269041/sara-nelson-said-fremont-brewing-didnt-lay-off-anyone-during-the-pandemic-unfortunately-thats-not-true
Crosscut-Elway Poll for the 2021 Seattle General Election: https://crosscut.com/sites/default/files/files/crosscutelway_0921.pdf
“New Poll Shows Harrell’s GOP Donors, Response to Murray Rape Accusations Could Drive Voters to González” by Rich Smith from The Stranger: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/09/20/61276092/poll-shows-harrells-gop-donors-response-to-murray-rape-accusations-could-drive-voters-to-gonzalez
González campaign internal polling: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MMyriegbmkvCj8ePRLa0hKiY7rx0CyH9/view
“Early Polling Indicates Tight Mayoral Race, Potent Lines of Attack Against Harrell” by Doug Trumm from The Urbanist: https://www.theurbanist.org/2021/09/22/early-polling-indicates-tight-mayoral-race-potent-lines-of-attack-against-harrell/
“Weather Disasters Have Become 5 Times As Common, Thanks In Part To Climate Change” by Eric McDaniel from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/07/1034607602/weather-disasters-have-become-five-times-as-common-thanks-in-part-to-climate-cha
“The Greatest Killer in New Orleans Wasn’t the Hurricane. It Was the Heat.” by Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Katy Reckdahl from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/us/new-orleans-hurricane-ida-heat.html
“Carpenters union pauses picketing in Seattle after wildcat strikes, dispute with Kshama Sawant” by Heidi Groover from The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/carpenters-union-to-pause-picketing-in-seattle-after-wildcat-strikes-dispute-with-kshama-sawant/
“Concerns about safety and legal action grow as carpenter strike ends first week” by Lilly Ana Fowler from KNKX: https://www.knkx.org/2021-09-24/concerns-about-safety-and-legal-action-grow-as-carpenter-strike-ends-first-week
Joe Mizrahi Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/Joe_Miz/status/1441250734150803474
Transcript:
A transcript will be uploaded as soon as possible.