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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.

Press Release Roundup

News   October 14, 2009 at 1:02 pm Erica C. Barnett

In today’s Press Release Roundup (actually yesterday’s; things have been crazy at the Cola), we give Jean Godden an A, Robert Rosencrantz a C, and the Transportation Choices Coalition a B plus.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVnhz-yRfb8[/youtube]

Addendum to the video: Mike O’Brien responded to Rosencrantz’s allegation that he wanted to double electric rates, saying Rosencrantz “completely mischaracterized my position. He’s distorting the record.”

O’Brien says he has proposed raising electric rates as an incentive for people to use less electricity; however, he says, the second part of his proposal is to give every City Light ratepayer a flat refund at the end of the year. That would give ratepayers an incentive to conserve.


  • http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly Caleb

    Self-promotion alert: Godden’s press release was totally deserving of the “A” grade, but she forgot to mention that she’s not the first Councilmember to write the city a check.

    http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2009/10/good_guy_of_the_day_jean_godde.php

  • sarah68

    Why on earth would getting a flat refund–in other words, a guaranteed amount of money, no matter how much electricity you used–cause you to conserve? The higher rate could, except it’s a bit difficult for low-income people to use any less than they are right now in their one-bedroom apartments. (Should they turn off the light in the living room, or in the bedroom?) So low-income people would be hurt, high income people would not be hurt, and they’d all get $$ from the taxpayers at year’s end for no reason whatsoever.

    That’s a frightening example of O’Brien’s thought process.

  • sarah68

    Why on earth would getting a flat refund–in other words, a guaranteed amount of money, no matter how much electricity you used–cause you to conserve? The higher rate could, except it’s a bit difficult for low-income people to use any less than they are right now in their one-bedroom apartments. (Should they turn off the light in the living room, or in the bedroom?) So low-income people would be hurt, high income people would not be hurt, and they’d all get $$ from the taxpayers at year’s end for no reason whatsoever.

    That’s a frightening example of O’Brien’s thought process.

  • Meg

    Godden makes over $100,000 salary? Not even San Francisco council member (Board of Supervisors) makes that much. It doesn’t make any sense.

  • Meg

    Godden makes over $100,000 salary? Not even San Francisco council member (Board of Supervisors) makes that much. It doesn’t make any sense.

  • http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly Caleb

    Self-promotion alert: Godden's press release was totally deserving of the “A” grade, but she forgot to mention that she's not the first Councilmember to write the city a check.

    http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2009…