Viva La Cola!

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.

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.

The Morning Blotter

At Harborview: Christopher Monfort paralyzed.

Beacon Hill: A deliveryman reported being robbed at gunpoint after bringing a large order of pizzas to a Beacon Hill apartment building in the 3500 block of S. Juneau Street on November 8th. A group of six men met the deliveryman inside the apartment building and told him to hand over the pizzas. When the deliveryman tried to get the men to pay for the food, a report says one of the men said “I got something for you” and pulled out a handgun. The deliveryman handed over the pizzas and $25, and the group of men fled into the apartment building. Police were unable to locate the men at either of the two apartment units given when the order was placed. An hour later, the pizza place called police again to report that a box used by the deliveryman had been returned to the store. “The was full of the wrappers and chicken bones,” the report says. “Someone had written a note on the top of the box. It said, ‘thank you. 110709.’”

Georgetown: Police investigating use of force in arrest at SPD evidence facility.

University District: Sorority member hit by car near UW taken off life support.

Greenwood: Secure your sheds, Greenwood! Three days after a woman reported that someone had broken into, burgled, and pooped in her shed, another neighborhood resident reported that someone entered the garage behind her home in the 11200 block of Dayton—just four blocks from the other crime scene—and relieved her of a freezer full of frozen meat.

Not Seattle: Former East Precinct Captain Mike Meehan confirmed as Berkley police chief.

Maple Leaf: Someone broke in to my car Wednesday night, despite the fact that I have nothing worth taking.




  • Renee

    That is awful.