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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.

Meanwhile, In Bellevue

News   November 3, 2009 at 10:02 pm ElectionNerd

The Kemper Freeman-backed anti-light rail slate, which we wrote about here (and elsewhere, but Google is failing us) appears to be winning. Here are the reults so far:

Council Position No. 2

Vicki Orrico 6817 46.55%
Conrad Lee 7800 53.27%
Write-in 26 0.18%
Council Position No. 4
Kevin R. Wallace 7012 50.95%
Patsy Bonincontri 6730 48.90%
Write-in 21 0.15%
Council Position No. 6
Michael Marchand 5320 38.72%
Don Davidson 8385 61.04%
Write-in 33 0.24%




  • Executive Dao

    Doesn’t matter, I will never allow someone outside of Seattle on to the ST board!

  • Executive Dao

    Doesn’t matter, I will never allow someone outside of Seattle on to the ST board!

  • mr. smitty

    I’m holding out hope on Kevin Wallace losing…but yeah it doesn’t look good.

  • mr. smitty

    I’m holding out hope on Kevin Wallace losing…but yeah it doesn’t look good.

  • Wells

    Light rail costs can be reduced by choosing a route that doesn’t disrupt main arterials or require tunnels. The route option that fits that description is along BNSF Lake Washington RR Line. All that’s needed is timed bus transfer systems to run from the most logical light rail station to downtown Bellevue, mere blocks away, but the pro-rail and anti-rail elite wanted none of that, for reasons that don’t stand up to logic. The proposed light rail dog-leg from SR-520 to downtown Bellevue is another example of how a timed bus transfer system could bring down the costs and impacts of light rail. I won’t be holding my breath waiting for the elite to grudgingly make a compromise on their wish list.

  • Wells

    Light rail costs can be reduced by choosing a route that doesn't disrupt main arterials or require tunnels. The route option that fits that description is along BNSF Lake Washington RR Line. All that's needed is timed bus transfer systems to run from the most logical light rail station to downtown Bellevue, mere blocks away, but the pro-rail and anti-rail elite wanted none of that, for reasons that don't stand up to logic. The proposed light rail dog-leg from SR-520 to downtown Bellevue is another example of how a timed bus transfer system could bring down the costs and impacts of light rail. I won't be holding my breath waiting for the elite to grudgingly make a compromise on their wish list.