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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.

Breaking News: Half of Seattle's Reps Support Making Seattle Property Owners Liable for State's Viaduct Price Tag

News   April 22, 2009 at 10:19 pm Josh Feit

The House just passed an unprecedented amendment for a state road project: Locals (Seattle property owners in this instance) will be liable for any cost overruns on the Viaduct tunnel.

Seattle’s 12 representatives split on the amendment. 

Chamber: HOUSE          2009 Regular Session    
Bill No.: ESSB 5768  Docs
Description: 826 CLIBBORN PG 2 LN 3
Item No.: 28
Transcript No: 101
Date: 4-22-2009

       Yeas: 49   Nays: 47   Absent: 0   Excused: 2
       
Voting yea:     Representatives Angel, Appleton, Blake, Campbell, Chase, Clibborn, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dickerson, Dunshee, Ericks, Finn, Goodman, Green, Haigh, Hudgins, Hunt, Hurst, Jacks, Kagi, Kelley, Kessler, Kirby, Liias, Linville, Maxwell, McCoy, Miloscia, Moeller, Morrell, Morris, Nelson, O’Brien, Ormsby, Orwall, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Quall, Rolfes, Seaquist, Sells, Springer, Takko, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Wallace, Wood, and Mr. Speaker (Chopp)

Voting nay:     Representatives Alexander, Anderson, Bailey, Carlyle, Chandler, Condotta, Cox, Crouse, Dammeier, DeBolt, Driscoll, Eddy, Ericksen, Grant-Herriot, Haler, Hasegawa, Herrera, Hinkle, Hope, Hunter, Johnson, Kenney, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, McCune, Orcutt, Parker, Pearson, Priest, Probst, Roach, Roberts, Rodne, Ross, Santos, Schmick, Shea, Short, Simpson, Smith, Sullivan, Taylor, Walsh, Warnick, White, and Williams

The bill itself passed 53-43 soon after. Weird (or boring): Majority Leader Rep. Frank Chopp (D-43, Wallingford)—who forced the anti-Seattle amendment on the caucus (and voted for it)—voted against the final bill. 

As Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36, Queen Anne), who voted against the amendment, pointed out to PubliCola yesterday: Seattle is already putting up $1 billion toward the project.

The state has pledged $4.8 billion, including $400,000 in tolling revenue.


  • Paulish

    Had all of the Seattle Reps voted as a block against this amendment, it would have failed. Pathetic.

  • World-Class Cynic

    And if the amendment fails, so does the tunnel and Seattle either picks its nose for another year or gets a viaduct replacement.

    Seattle’s wanted special treatment on the viaduct replacement, and they’re getting it. They just have to foot the cost.

    I know, I know — Seattle’s world-class cred will be mortally threatened unless downtown developers can stick the rest of the state with the bill while walking off with the profits. Life sucks. Grab a straw.

    This is a deal we could have reached five years ago. Way to go, world-class city!

  • World-Class Cynic

    And if the amendment fails, so does the tunnel and Seattle either picks its nose for another year or gets a viaduct replacement.

    Seattle’s wanted special treatment on the viaduct replacement, and they’re getting it. They just have to foot the cost.

    I know, I know — Seattle’s world-class cred will be mortally threatened unless downtown developers can stick the rest of the state with the bill while walking off with the profits. Life sucks. Grab a straw.

    This is a deal we could have reached five years ago. Way to go, world-class city!

  • Chris

    Each Seattle legislator that voted for it, cast the deciding vote…. a shift of a single vote would have killed the amendment.

  • Chris

    Each Seattle legislator that voted for it, cast the deciding vote…. a shift of a single vote would have killed the amendment.

  • Chris Van Dyk

    Downtown Seattle First Avenue Property owners supported the amendment—would rather be on the hook for cost overruns that might not happen, than for the Seattle portion of the viaduct cost that includes a streetcar on First Avenue—at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. The streetcar is a certain waste of money. This little amendment blocks streetcar property tax funding, and keeps Seattle focused on the tunnel itself.

  • Chris Van Dyk

    Downtown Seattle First Avenue Property owners supported the amendment—would rather be on the hook for cost overruns that might not happen, than for the Seattle portion of the viaduct cost that includes a streetcar on First Avenue—at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. The streetcar is a certain waste of money. This little amendment blocks streetcar property tax funding, and keeps Seattle focused on the tunnel itself.

  • Paulish

    Had all of the Seattle Reps voted as a block against this amendment, it would have failed. Pathetic.