State Legislative Session Falls Short on Housing As Seattle Comprehensive Plan Process Ramps Up
Release Date: 04/09/2024
Week in Review: April 18, 2025 - with Ryan Packer
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Ryan Packer discuss: 😟 Poll: people are plugged in/worried 🫰 No wealth tax = everyone else pays 🛣️ Transpo budget overview 🤷 Workers’ comp upgrade debacle 🪪 KC AFIS levy pros & cons 🚸 Tacoma Streets Initiative II 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, Ryan Packer at .
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As Federal Rights Rollbacks and Cuts Hit Home, Seattle Council Forms Crisis Response Committee - with Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Amy Sundberg
Hacks & Wonks
In response to sweeping policy changes at the federal level, Seattle City Council has established a Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes to track and respond to threats to federal funding, executive orders, and civil rights rollbacks affecting the city. The committee, chaired by Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, aims to address the local fallout from the Trump administration's second term. In this episode of "Hacks & Wonks" hosted by Crystal Fincher, Councilmember Rinck and journalist Amy Sundberg, who covers public safety and local policy for The Urbanist,...
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Week in Review: April 11, 2025 - with Lex Vaughn
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Lex Vaughn discuss: 🪧 Thousands protest Trump admin 🧑🎓 WA student visas revoked 🐀 Union head blasts “Ratfink” Ferguson 🤞 Progress on rent stabilization 👀 Fingerprint levy on April ballot 💥 Seattle City Council tensions 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, Lex Vaughn on Bluesky at and at .
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Week in Review: April 4, 2025 - with Erica Barnett
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Erica Barnett discuss: 🙅♂️ Ferguson against wealth tax ⚖️ WA joins lawsuit on public health funding cuts 👩💼 Braddock appointed acting KC Exec 💸 Moore skips public bidding process for $1M 🤷♂️ Saka denounces “defund” 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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Week in Review: March 28, 2025 - with Shauna Sowersby
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Shauna Sowersby discuss: 🌟 Frank Chopp’s legacy 💰 Senate & House budget proposals 📜 Parents’ Bill of Rights initiative 🧯 Natural gas initiative ruled unconstitutional 🚈 Dow Constantine nominated for Sound Transit CEO 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, Shauna Sowersby at .
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Week in Review: March 21, 2025 - with Robert Cruickshank
Hacks & Wonks
On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: 🤨 Gov Ferguson’s workplace complaints 😧 More troubling activity around Bruce Harrell 🏘️ SoDo housing proposal passed 👋 SPS superintendent resigns 🙄 Adam Smith is all wrong 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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Hacks & Wonks Host Returns to Radio Roots with KVRU Acquisition
Hacks & Wonks
Hacks & Wonks host Crystal Fincher and community leader Monisha Harrell have announced their acquisition of KVRU 105.7 FM, a non-profit, non-commercial community radio station based in South Seattle, with plans to preserve it as a trusted resource in South Seattle through community-driven programming. 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 , Monisha Harrell at , and KVRU at .
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Competing Social Housing Measures Face Off in Seattle Election with Rian Watt and Tiffani McCoy
Hacks & Wonks
Seattle voters will decide between two competing social housing funding measures in a special election ending Feb. 11. Proposition 1A, backed by labor and community groups, proposes a payroll tax on high earners to generate $53M annually. Proposition 1B, supported by the Chamber of Commerce, redirects $10M from existing funds. We chat with Rian Watt and Tiffani McCoy about the initiatives and their potential impact. 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 . Find our guest Tiffani McCoy on...
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Harm Reduction Approach Vital for Addressing Opioid Crisis, Says Expert (Re-Air)
Hacks & Wonks
On this topical show re-air, Crystal welcomes Everett Maroon, Executive Director of Blue Mountain Heart to Heart, for a conversation about their work in Southeast Washington using a harm reduction philosophy to support people, stabilize lives, & promote health and wellness in the community. Crystal and Everett chat about how the opioid epidemic has impacted rural communities, the role that stigma plays in keeping people from the help they need, what harm reduction is and why it is important. They then review the recent roller coaster ride of Washington state’s substance use disorder...
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Denver's STAR Program Offers Promising Alternative Response to Mental Health and Substance Use Crises (Re-Air)
Hacks & Wonks
On this topical show re-air, Crystal welcomes Evan Thompkins, STAR Program Specialist with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, and Stephanie Van Jacobs, Program Manager at WellPower! The STAR program offers a promising alternative response to mental health and substance use crises, providing individuals with the support and resources they need while reducing the burden on traditional police response. With strong community support and a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Denver residents, the STAR program is poised to continue making a positive impact on the lives...
info_outlineOn this topical show, Crystal Fincher and Executive Director of The Urbanist, Rian Watt, dig into how housing policy shapes the future vision for our communities, why the recent legislative session didn’t live up to its “Year of Housing 2.0” billing, and how the Seattle Comprehensive plan falls short and can be improved.
As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Follow us on Twitter at @HacksWonks. Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Twitter at @finchfrii and find Rian Watt at @rianwatt.
Resources
“State Legislators Push for ‘Year of Housing 2.0’” by Ryan Packer from The Urbanist
“Year of Housing 2.0 Mostly Fizzles Out at Washington Legislature” by Ryan Packer from The Urbanist
Find your Washington state legislators
Contact your Washington state legislators
“Seattle Releases Comprehensive Plan Less Ambitious Than Bellevue” by Doug Trumm from The Urbanist
“Housing Leaders Call Out Seattle’s Bare Minimum Growth Proposal” by Doug Trumm from The Urbanist
“Land Use Chair Tammy Morales Takes Aim at Proposed Seattle Growth Plan” by Ryan Packer from The Urbanist
“Op-Ed: Harrell’s Anemic Growth Plan Is Not ‘Space Needle Thinking’” by Tiffani McCoy, Mike Eliason and Paul Chapman for The Urbanist
“Growth Plan Falls Short of Seattle’s Needs, Planning Commission Says” by Ryan Packer from The Urbanist
Complete Communities Coalition
Public participation opportunities for Seattle Comprehensive Plan | City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development