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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.

A Formal Effort

News   November 27, 2009 at 8:48 am Morning Fizz

1. We were actually posting yesterday: Anand had a MusicNerd tip for tonight (Hella Dope at Nectar Lounge in Fremont). I flagged some excellent true crime reporting in the Seattle Weekly.

And you were actually here reading. Check out the rambunctious comments thread on yesterday’s Morning Fizz where we got into this year’s legislative agenda in Olympia, ridership numbers for light rail, and transportation taxes.

2. An outgoing nod to Mayor Greg Nickels? An incoming hello to Mayor-Elect Mike McGinn (that the City Council is setting the city’s work plan)?

On Monday City Council Member Bruce Harrell is introducing legislation that commits the council to take an active role in working on Nickels’ Race and Social Justice Initiative (outlined here)—a formal effort to hire more minorities at the city, expand minority contracting, improve access for immigrants to city services, educate city employees about institutional racism, and push the education effort out into the community as well.

3. The popular Columbia City farmers market is looking for new space. The Post Globe has the story.

Today’s Morning Fizz brought to you by the Sierra Club:

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  • http://www.ceousa.org/ Roger Clegg, Center for Equal

    “On Monday City Council Member Bruce Harrell is introducing legislation that commits the council to … expand minority contracting ….” It’s fine to make sure contracting programs are open to all, that bidding opportunities are widely publicized beforehand, and that no one gets discriminated against because of skin color or national origin. But that means no preferences because of skin color or what country your ancestors came from either–whether it’s labeled a “set-aside,” a “quota,” or a “goal,” since they all end up amounting to the same thing. Such discrimination is unfair and divisive; it costs the taxpayers money to award a contract to someone other than the lowest bidder; and it’s almost always illegal—indeed, unconstitutional—to boot (see 42 U.S.C. section 1981 and comments we submitted to the Colorado DOT here: http://www.ceousa.org/content/view/655/86/ ). Those who insist on engaging in such discrimination deserve to be sued, and they will lose.

  • http://www.ceousa.org Roger Clegg, Center for Equal Opportunity

    “On Monday City Council Member Bruce Harrell is introducing legislation that commits the council to … expand minority contracting ….” It’s fine to make sure contracting programs are open to all, that bidding opportunities are widely publicized beforehand, and that no one gets discriminated against because of skin color or national origin. But that means no preferences because of skin color or what country your ancestors came from either–whether it’s labeled a “set-aside,” a “quota,” or a “goal,” since they all end up amounting to the same thing. Such discrimination is unfair and divisive; it costs the taxpayers money to award a contract to someone other than the lowest bidder; and it’s almost always illegal—indeed, unconstitutional—to boot (see 42 U.S.C. section 1981 and comments we submitted to the Colorado DOT here: http://www.ceousa.org/content/view/655/86/ ). Those who insist on engaging in such discrimination deserve to be sued, and they will lose.