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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.

PubliCola's Comment of the Day Actually Goes to…

News   October 15, 2009 at 6:09 pm Erica C. Barnett

Josh posted a jokey comment of the day below. This one, however, comes from Desiree Kramer, the Tent City resident and licensed security guard who claims she was given the choice by SHARE of participating their protest outside city officials’ houses or being evicted from Tent City.

(My update with more information from SHARE coming shortly).

Here’s Kramer’s comment:

15. D Kramer says:

I would like to invite all of Seattle to my bar hearing this wed at 7PM at the Josephinium 1902 2nd Ave Seattle, WA 98101-1186.

I protested the protest before it even started. I was personally harassed to the point of total stress attack and literal tears over how I was going to get 16 hrs of additional chores mandated by Scott Morrow because I dared to exercise my freedom of speech and ask others to help stop SHARE from forcing any of us to protest no matter the reason.

At my bar hearing I will be distributing copies of a memo scott morrow made regarding me and my fight to not protest.

I left tent city 4 with the mega flu everyone fears – kicked out after dark with no place to go at that time. I ended up in Harborview in the hospital that night due to the pain. Thank God for IV drip medication.

I know of 2 people who did not go to an inside SHARE shelter due to their being told it was not optional to do the protest.

The protests in Seattle should have willing protestors. No person or organization should ever be legally allowed to threaten the shelter or employment or person of a person to make them protest.

No more forced “donations”

No more forced community service that is really forced attendance at a church off list SHARE makes for at least 70% of the people at the tent cities.

No more supresssion of the freedom of speech of SHARE residents. They couldn’t come to others for help in this matter or any without risking permament bar – whether that person was political person – a press person or a hosting church.

10/15/09 AT 3:59 PM


  • Linda

    I walk downtown everyday and have seen the number of people panhandling increase with the recession. However, I don’t believe it is a problem. I don’t think that homeless people are aggressive panhandlers. It’s the non-profit fundraisers who are aggressive, in-your-face and rude. Will Burgess’ bill go after THEM? (and by the way, how much of that money actually goes to the cause they are raising it for?)

  • Linda

    I walk downtown everyday and have seen the number of people panhandling increase with the recession. However, I don’t believe it is a problem. I don’t think that homeless people are aggressive panhandlers. It’s the non-profit fundraisers who are aggressive, in-your-face and rude. Will Burgess’ bill go after THEM? (and by the way, how much of that money actually goes to the cause they are raising it for?)