That's...not very much housing at all. Looking at north Seattle that's just I-5, 15th Ave NW, and Aurora, which already have some upzoning around them. The Senate version covered nearly everything north of the cut, exactly where we want to encourage new housing.
That's...not very much housing at all. Looking at north Seattle that's just I-5, 15th Ave NW, and Aurora, which already have some upzoning around them. The Senate version covered nearly everything north of the cut, exactly where we want to encourage new housing.
Compare that image above with what the Senate version had, before the Dem amendment to remove anything but "bus rapid transit" was adopted. Note especially differences in privileged places like Mercer Island & Bellevue pennstate.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer… (h/t @thebethocracy for the maps)
Beekman's article is a good one that helps tease out a bit of what seems to have happened in the House. Note especially that Mercer Island is now happy (and getting very little upzoned). It would be important to have the complete story of why the bill was gutted, however.
Legislative caucuses are reticent to let the public know how decisions get made. But it's important that we find out. Which legislators demanded places like Mercer Island and Bellevue and Northeast Seattle get exempted from TOD? Without knowing, accountability is difficult.
@cruickshank Maybe file a public records request. HOUSE: leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/Pu… SENATE: leg.wa.gov/Senate/Pages/P…
@AvwriterJoe @cruickshank Caucuses are not public meetings and the norms are to keep what happens in them secret. This is done intentionally to prevent accountability to the public and the party itself. Electeds protecting each other in the name of process and being able to speak honestly in private.
@shermanmicah @cruickshank True, but there are always e-mails. I speak from experience, but I agree with you more transparency is needed in #waleg. That's why I'm a member of @WashingtonCOG!