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Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Reports of His Demise are Premature

News   April 14, 2009 at 9:16 am Josh Feit

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1. Despite Tim Eyman’s mounting losses at the polls (last he year he got spanked once again when his bill to sabotage HOV lanes lost statewide), rumors of his demise are premature. Last month, Eyman’s sugar daddy, investment executive Michael Dunmire, donated $300,000 to Eyman’s latest, I-1033, an initiative that would cap government growth.Dunmire’s gift, brings the group’s total to $324,000 raised according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Dunmire’s money immediately went to pay for signature gatherers. 

2. Education reform lobbyists hit Olympia in full force yesterday, meeting in turn with House Speaker Rep. Frank Chopp (D-43, Wallingford) and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Lisa Brown (D-3, Spokane). Chopp reportedly told the reformers the education reform bill is dead because the reformers failed to reach a compromise with the tachers’ union. Brown reportedly told the reformers she’s interested in passing a bill.

3. King County Council Member Larry Phillips raised nearly $80,000 last month in his campaign to be the next King County Executive. That doubles what he raised in February, his campaign boasted yesterday—and it’s about $30,000 more than his Democratic Party rival, King County Council Member Dow Constantine, who raised about $50,000. (Full disclosure: Constantine’s campaign spokesperson Sandeep Kaushik is a contributing writer and colleague here at PubliCola) 

The race isn’t officially partisan, but Phillips and Constantine are the two candidates vying for King County’s liberal voters, while the other candidates, state Sen. Fred Jarrett and former KIRO host Susan Hutchison, are vying for moderate and conservative voters respectively.

4. The state legislature passed gun control legislation yesterday. However, it’s not the holy grail gun control legislation  that gun control advocates have been trying to get the Democratic majority to pass for years now (the legislation that would close the gun show loophole). It’s a bill that would prevent people who have been involuntarily committed from getting guns. 


  • http://fundourfuturewashington Lisa Layera Brunkan

    The adults haven’t been able to agree on education reform for 30 years. I applaud Senator Brown if it’s her intent to draw a line in the sand and break this historical deadlock by taking a concrete first step away from workgroups and towards a plan. While I can certainly understand the WEA’s reluctance to have faith given historical promises that weren’t kept, I hope for the sake of Washington children that the adults can find enough points of agreement to begin a new day for education in WA. Failure to do so will relegate yet more kids to a system that is antiquated and falls short of preparing them for what it will take to succeed in these times, in this Century. Our local communities will continue to suffer as our school districts struggle to stay afloat buoyed by a system that was constructed 30 years ago and patched ever since leaving many to waiver on the brink of insolvency. It’s time that Washington State became a leader in education innovation to match our track record in aerospace and technology- our kids depend on it and so do our local and state economies.

  • Dr. Nancy Chamberlain

    In regards to item 2, here is a note I sent Speaker Chopp:

    There is near-consensus on the need for major education reforms in this State – that the teacher’s union doesn’t agree and is resorting to threats against members of the legislature is NOT a reason to kill these bills. It IS NOT the job of reform advocates to reach an agreement with the WEA. It is the job of legislators to make the laws, and not everyone will agree with every law.

    Now is not the time to let politics overcome doing what is right. This State stands to lose millions of Federal dollars that we sorely need, if we do not enact these reforms. Now IS the time to make these changes. We cannot wait for the good times to come back. We are falling further behind, and are truly in a “race to the bottom”, instead of competing in the “race to the top.”

  • Dr. Nancy Chamberlain

    In regards to item 2, here is a note I sent Speaker Chopp:

    There is near-consensus on the need for major education reforms in this State – that the teacher’s union doesn’t agree and is resorting to threats against members of the legislature is NOT a reason to kill these bills. It IS NOT the job of reform advocates to reach an agreement with the WEA. It is the job of legislators to make the laws, and not everyone will agree with every law.

    Now is not the time to let politics overcome doing what is right. This State stands to lose millions of Federal dollars that we sorely need, if we do not enact these reforms. Now IS the time to make these changes. We cannot wait for the good times to come back. We are falling further behind, and are truly in a “race to the bottom”, instead of competing in the “race to the top.”

  • Dr. Nancy Chamberlain

    …and with regard to item 1:

    Too bad the reports of Tim Eyman’s demise were premature. The budget crisis would not be nearly this bad if it weren’t for his ill-conceived caps on revenue-generation that ill-informed voters passed.

  • Dr. Nancy Chamberlain

    …and with regard to item 1:

    Too bad the reports of Tim Eyman’s demise were premature. The budget crisis would not be nearly this bad if it weren’t for his ill-conceived caps on revenue-generation that ill-informed voters passed.

  • John Stokes

    On item # 2:

    If Speaker Chopp wants an agreement between the education reformers and the teachers union (the anti-reformers?) then perhaps he could use his close relationship with the WEA to persuade it to meet the reformers on common ground. Why it is the job of the progressives only to make the overtures for collaboration?

    My impression was that Speaker of the House Chopp is a man for all citizens, not just a special interest legislator, so this reported stance against this reform bill has me puzzled and disappointed.

    A personal note to Speaker Chopp: Speak for the kids, Mr. Speaker, not a small band of disgruntled and negative adults who have completely missed the thrust and importance of this legislation that would bring the teachers and the kids a better education system in which to work and learn.

    As a parent, citizen, voter and tax payer I have as much or more at stake in the outcome of this effort to move Washington education into the current century and actually prepare our children for the good jobs they will need to become contributing citizens/taxpayers than do the employees of the public, the public school teachers. We all have a stake in a better future and a better educational opportunity for all children.

    Its about the kids, Mr. Chopp, not the noisiest adults. Please do this because it is the right thing to do, not based on who makes the most calls to your office. Blow this opportunity to make a historic leap forward for education and for a stronger citizenry and you will be left with a permanent stain on your legacy. Do what is best for kids and the advancement of student learning and you will be a hero for the ages. How you want to be remembered is up to you. A champion of educational excellence for all children or a harbinger of mediocrity for the State of Washington. Think about it.

  • John Stokes

    On item # 2:

    If Speaker Chopp wants an agreement between the education reformers and the teachers union (the anti-reformers?) then perhaps he could use his close relationship with the WEA to persuade it to meet the reformers on common ground. Why it is the job of the progressives only to make the overtures for collaboration?

    My impression was that Speaker of the House Chopp is a man for all citizens, not just a special interest legislator, so this reported stance against this reform bill has me puzzled and disappointed.

    A personal note to Speaker Chopp: Speak for the kids, Mr. Speaker, not a small band of disgruntled and negative adults who have completely missed the thrust and importance of this legislation that would bring the teachers and the kids a better education system in which to work and learn.

    As a parent, citizen, voter and tax payer I have as much or more at stake in the outcome of this effort to move Washington education into the current century and actually prepare our children for the good jobs they will need to become contributing citizens/taxpayers than do the employees of the public, the public school teachers. We all have a stake in a better future and a better educational opportunity for all children.

    Its about the kids, Mr. Chopp, not the noisiest adults. Please do this because it is the right thing to do, not based on who makes the most calls to your office. Blow this opportunity to make a historic leap forward for education and for a stronger citizenry and you will be left with a permanent stain on your legacy. Do what is best for kids and the advancement of student learning and you will be a hero for the ages. How you want to be remembered is up to you. A champion of educational excellence for all children or a harbinger of mediocrity for the State of Washington. Think about it.

  • kt
  • kt
  • Lisa Layera Brunkan

    The adults haven't been able to agree on education reform for 30 years. I applaud Senator Brown if it's her intent to draw a line in the sand and break this historical deadlock by taking a concrete first step away from workgroups and towards a plan. While I can certainly understand the WEA's reluctance to have faith given historical promises that weren't kept, I hope for the sake of Washington children that the adults can find enough points of agreement to begin a new day for education in WA. Failure to do so will relegate yet more kids to a system that is antiquated and falls short of preparing them for what it will take to succeed in these times, in this Century. Our local communities will continue to suffer as our school districts struggle to stay afloat buoyed by a system that was constructed 30 years ago and patched ever since leaving many to waiver on the brink of insolvency. It's time that Washington State became a leader in education innovation to match our track record in aerospace and technology- our kids depend on it and so do our local and state economies.