Progressive cities aren't living up to their values, and it's crushing some of the best places in America.
If the goal of progressivism is to move us beyond the status quo, raising the tide for everyone, very few expensive, liberal coastal cities are succeeding at this.
Follow
Click to Follow rianwatt
Rian Watt
@rianwatt
ending homelessness 
• board , , 
• opinions mine, bad • curious • he/him
• board , , • opinions mine, bad • curious • he/himSeattle, WAJoined October 2011
Rian Watt’s Tweets
Hard to wrap your head around a position that recognizes exclusionary zoning’s racist history, recognizes that ending it increases the supply of housing, and doesn’t support ending it for good — all in the midst of a housing crisis!
Quote Tweet
Exclusionary zoning is rooted in a racist goal of keeping suburban communities wealthy and white. We should end it.
But replacing those single family homes with market rate units and condos is just exclusionary zoning by another name.
Show this thread
1
2
43
Show this thread
Tastes sweet!
Quote Tweet
BREAKING: Our GMA Climate bill, HB 1181, has PASSED the concurrence vote in the House and is now headed to @GovInslee's desk for signature! @Conserve_WA @davinaduerr @joefitzgibbon #ForOurFuture #WALeg
1
3
if I wanted to read 10,000 characters I would simply read a book
Quote Tweet
We’re making improvements to the writing and reading experience on Twitter! Starting today, Twitter now supports Tweets up to 10,000 characters in length, with bold and italic text formatting.
Sign up for Twitter Blue to access these new features, and apply to enable… Show more
2
1
16
WA housing hivemind: what should cities (particularly suburban ones) do in the next year to make HB 1110 and other new housing legislation as effective and expedient as possible? It's exciting to think about the next phase of fighting for missing middle!
1
1
3
Show this thread
When we started session, I thought that HB 1110 ("Missing Middle") was much more likely to pass than SB 5466 (TOD).
In the middle of session, a few weeks ago, I'd have flipped it.
Now, SB 5466 is dead and HB 1110 only needs to make it through reconciliation.
Quote Tweet
Less than 2 hours until the final cutoff for most bills in the WA legislature. The House is currently in caucus, and I'm watching to see whether the transit-oriented development bill, SB 5466, is going to make it to the floor. Given the amount of floor time left, looks unlikely.
5
Ryan's work is essential. You can support them here: patreon.com/typewriteralley
Quote Tweet
With the decline in local journalism, it's not surprising that electeds on small city councils aren't expecting a reporter to show up to cover their comp plan process. Which is exactly why I've started doing it.
4
26
Last year taught me that it isn't over until it's over.
It's great to see two of our three bills pass both houses; now it's critical for our coalition to hold legislators accountable for getting these bills over the finish line through reconciliation.
Quote Tweet
We have now passed two of our priority #ForOurFuture bills, HB 1181 and HB 1110, out of the Senate! This was a group effort and we are thankful for everyone who took part. Now, it is time for our elected officials to pass them over the finish line! #WALeg
2
19
Honored to serve on the boards of two of these great organizations: and .
We're strongest when we're in coalition with others, and in partnership with great elected leadership like Rep. Bateman.
Quote Tweet
Passing HB 1110 was only possible because of a coalition of diverse supporters making housing a priority. 
1/ @FuturewiseWA @Sightline @AARPWA @MBAKS_Voice @SierraClubWASt @UrbanistOrg @AKB1968
1/ @FuturewiseWA @Sightline @AARPWA @MBAKS_Voice @SierraClubWASt @UrbanistOrg @AKB1968Show this thread
2
20
community feedback matters when it aligns with what those in power want to do, and can be ignored or waved away when it doesn't
the path is power-building
Quote Tweet
NEW: Feedback on what to do with a final two block stretch of Bell Street overwhelmingly pushed the city to rethink vehicle access and turn the space over to people walking, biking, and rolling. That feedback has largely been set aside. theurbanist.org/2023/04/12/off
2
Nobody:
Toronto:
Quote Tweet
There are approximately 2,500 storeys proposed within a 700m radius of the Yonge and Steeles intersection. Existing strip malls and auto dealerships are set to be replaced by high-density development in one of the most dramatic urban transformations in all of #Toronto.
31
155
2,351
Show this thread
Today was a good day.
Today we announced that St. Thomas-Elgin became the second city in the country to end #homelessness for veterans.
This is the latest chapter in a story that began in Calgary over 13 years ago. 1/
Quote Tweet
St. Thomas-Elgin has become the second community in Canada to achieve Functional Zero Veteran Homelessness. This milestone shows what's possible when communities work together to end homelessness.
Read more about this achievement here 
caeh.ca/st-thomas-elgi
caeh.ca/st-thomas-elgi
1
5
19
Show this thread
A huge day today as we recognize the second city in Canada to end homelessness for veterans!
Despite a wave of new homelessness, St. Thomas-Elgin got it done through leadership & tenacity, working with excellent partners like the .
Homelessness is solvable.
Quote Tweet
St. Thomas-Elgin has become the second community in Canada to achieve Functional Zero Veteran Homelessness. This milestone shows what's possible when communities work together to end homelessness.
Read more about this achievement here caeh.ca/st-thomas-elgi
caeh.ca/st-thomas-elgi1
19
42
Some news from the day job:
Quote Tweet
St. Thomas-Elgin has become the second community in Canada to achieve Functional Zero Veteran Homelessness. This milestone shows what's possible when communities work together to end homelessness.
Read more about this achievement here caeh.ca/st-thomas-elgi
caeh.ca/st-thomas-elgi5
It's a wrap:
WA's middle housing bill, HB 1110, has passed the Senate by a 35 - 14 bipartisan vote!
Hard to overstate what a sea change this is for the state of Washington taking proactive action on zoning reform to create more housing choices.
#Homes4WA
Quote Tweet
I was skeptical that WA's middle housing bill could get this far this year, but here we are, with HB 1110 on the verge of passing the Senate after passing the House.
A big reason: @jessdbateman's off-the-charts leadership, just in her third year as a Rep!
#Homes4WA twitter.com/jessdbateman/s…
Show this thread
8
65
403
Show this thread
😀 🎉 🎊!!!!!!!
Quote Tweet
5
If this bill passes (as I hope it does), we need future sittings of the legislature to seriously take up the Subsidy and Stabilize parts of the bill, particularly the tenant protection package led by and others. Supply is just one piece of the puzzle.
Quote Tweet
Kuderer says the housing crisis has taken decades to arrive at, and says we won't be able to get out of it overnight.
Show this thread
1
4
Show this thread
opponents doing a great job explaining why the bill is needed
Quote Tweet
Senator Phil Fortunato says this bill isn't needed because some cities are doing it already. "This bill forces those local cities to do things...if they want to do it, I don't have a problem with it."
Show this thread
GIF
read image description
ALT
Quote Tweet
HB 1110, WA's missing middle housing bill, is on the floor of the state senate right now.
Show this thread
4
I was skeptical that WA's middle housing bill could get this far this year, but here we are, with HB 1110 on the verge of passing the Senate after passing the House.
A big reason: 's off-the-charts leadership, just in her third year as a Rep!
#Homes4WA
Quote Tweet
HB 1110 is on the Senate run list!!! @UrbanistOrg @Sightline @AARPWA @SierraClubWASt @FuturewiseWA content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WA
5
22
139
Show this thread
HB 1110 was weakened a bit in the process of getting it over all the hurdles of the legislative process, but it is still a strong middle housing bill, and passing it will be a giant step forward for the state on ending exclusionary zoning.
sightline.org/2023/01/03/was
1
15
56
Show this thread
Our study found that encampment clearance/sweeps could increase deaths among people experiencing homelessness by 25% by 2028. "Sweeping" people is not a solution to #homelessness, but is rather a form of (costly) state-sponsored violence.
Quote Tweet
Ceasing involuntary displacement of people experiencing homelessness may mitigate some health-related harms associated with #homelessness. ja.ma/41bODYQ
44
742
1,155
Show this thread
Totally gutted for her and for the USWNT. Terrible timing in the World Cup year.
Quote Tweet
The USWNT announced Mallory Swanson tore the patella tendon in her left knee in yesterday's match against Ireland.
Get well soon, @MalPugh 
4
Feel like this is the soccer equivalent of the MGL “if I had league average stuff I could dominate the league” take from baseball.
Quote Tweet
Replying to @ManagerTactical
I could win MLS with an average 2. Bundesliga team. Not because of the talent level but because of the tactical schooling players receive in the first two divisions in Germany. Just look at St. Louis, they do a ton of basic things right and decoded this league in no time.
1
now describing my politics as Coretta Scott King Thought
Quote Tweet
Replying to @talmonsmith @owenslindsay1 and @jonstewart
<Coretta Scott King> I tried.
1
8
This is the key point. The costs to landlords don’t scale with the cost of the unit — and the dollars matter far more to those renting than those leasing.
Quote Tweet
An average 1 bed in Seattle is $1.7k. Under Sawant's rules, landlords could charge a $10 late fee for tenants in these units. Under Nelson's, landlords could charge $25.5. Who do you think that $15 means more to? The rent-burdened worker who fell behind or a property owner?
Show this thread
1
1
14
Caviar doesn’t turn into an egg if you wait thirty years, but expensive housing does turn into cheaper housing as it ages and becomes less desirable.
And most people don’t stop buying eggs if they’ve already bought caviar, but most people do only buy one place to live.
Quote Tweet
Producing more caviar would technically increase "egg supply" but wouldn't lower egg prices for you at the store.
Any proposal to increase "housing supply" should specify what kind.
Show this thread
1
10
Show this thread