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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.

Breaking: Environmental Director Mann Leaving City

City Hall, Politics   January 29, 2010 at 1:02 pm Erica C. Barnett

Mike Mann, director of the city’s Office of Sustainability, is resigning. In an email (titled, after a PubliCola headline speculating about his future at the city, “The Future of Mann”) Mann—a longtime Greg Nickels loyalist— told colleagues,

I have had the great honor of serving Seattle residents for over 10 years and have had the privilege of working with each of you in that capacity.   From early efforts to provide replacement housing units for NewHolly to creating a new urban neighborhood in South Lake Union to my most recent position leading the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), I have been given a great opportunity to work with talented people like you, who care deeply about our environment, our community and our emerald city.  Working together with stakeholders and the excellent OSE staff, we have accomplished some signature achievements over the past two years. …

I have a great sense of pride for our mutual accomplishments.

It’s a new decade now, however, and the lure of a career creating a low-carbon economy outside of government is compelling.  We need to develop many more green solutions for our blue planet.  I am announcing today that I am leaving city government at the end of February.  There are green pastures outside of city hall, and I plan to pursue my passion for sustainability and environmental justice in those fields.  I look forward to crossing paths with many of you there.

Mann has not returned a call about why he is leaving the city and what his future plans are. Mayoral spokesman Mark Matassa says Mann “was not asked to leave.” However, the tone of his email certainly contradicts statements he made to PubliCola last month, when he said, “I am thoroughly enjoying OSE.”

Earlier this month, McGinn announced that he was seeking to eliminate or reclassify three of seven managerial and strategic-advisor positions at OSE—a possible prelude to a widely rumored reorganization in which sustainability functions will be distributed throughout city departments.

Matassa says McGinn has not found a replacement for Mann yet.

UPDATE: In an email this afternoon, McGinn announced Mann is leaving the city, and said he will be “work[ing] with the McGinn administration to craft a plan for a public-private partnership to lead the economic recovery through a retrofit agenda in Seattle.”


  • Guest

    Mann was very supportive of McGinn and his efforts for many years before McGinn was elected mayor. This is sad.

  • very sad

    Mann was very supportive of McGinn and his efforts for many years before McGinn was elected mayor. This is sad.

  • Cascade Conversations

    Mike Mann’s departure form OSE is a tremendous loss for the city, yet a benefit to an innovative, forward thinking company/organization in the private and/or non-profit sectors working on issues related to metropolitan-scale sustainability. Rest assure, we haven’t seen the end of Mann.

  • Cascade Conversations

    Mike Mann’s departure form OSE is a tremendous loss for the city, yet a benefit to an innovative, forward thinking company/organization in the private and/or non-profit sectors working on issues related to metropolitan-scale sustainability. Rest assure, we haven’t seen the end of Mann.

  • mimie

    It’s sad to see talent leave the City. Unfortunately with morale so low, this is just the beginning.

  • so disappointing

    Just another example of Mayor McGinn not recognizing the talent that is right in front of him.

  • so disappointing

    Just another example of Mayor McGinn not recognizing the talent that is right in front of him.

  • West Seattle Waiter

    Michael Mann is a smart talented person and committed to his community. He will do well in the private sector, but this is a loss to the citizens of Seattle. Its a shame that McGinn’s people don’t see that.

  • West Seattle Waiter

    Michael Mann is a smart talented person and committed to his community. He will do well in the private sector, but this is a loss to the citizens of Seattle. Its a shame that McGinn’s people don’t see that.

  • Tan-nosing doesn’t cut it

    Mann is leaving because his nose was only tan, not brown. He just wasn’t sycophantic enough. The number of people Seattle is losing who care about the environment inside our city is staggering.

    Seattle’s environmental voters got sold a bill of goods.

  • Tan-nosing doesn’t cut it

    Mann is leaving because his nose was only tan, not brown. He just wasn’t sycophantic enough. The number of people Seattle is losing who care about the environment inside our city is staggering.

    Seattle’s environmental voters got sold a bill of goods.

  • fred

    This is a real shame. And Mimie is right – I have to wonder if this is just the beginning of a lot of talented people leaving the City. I’ve never seen staff morale so low.

  • fred

    This is a real shame. And Mimie is right – I have to wonder if this is just the beginning of a lot of talented people leaving the City. I’ve never seen staff morale so low.

  • Foreign Observer

    Morale is rock bottom. Way too many people are just waiting for the sword to fall and they’ll have to wait for months to see who gets the axe. Obviously, no one in the MO has ever done any real management. That’s probably because MikeBike’s sycophants are groupies, volunteers, and others who are not ready for real world work. I’ve read the line that about MikeBike “hiring all his friends while my friends are being (or threatened to be) fired. So very sadly true. As those with a keen knowledge of how the city works leave, others around them will begin seeking other employment. A loss at all levels.

  • Foreign Observer

    Morale is rock bottom. Way too many people are just waiting for the sword to fall and they’ll have to wait for months to see who gets the axe. Obviously, no one in the MO has ever done any real management. That’s probably because MikeBike’s sycophants are groupies, volunteers, and others who are not ready for real world work. I’ve read the line that about MikeBike “hiring all his friends while my friends are being (or threatened to be) fired. So very sadly true. As those with a keen knowledge of how the city works leave, others around them will begin seeking other employment. A loss at all levels.

  • Trey

    Mike Mann is a talented individual. The city’s loss is once again the private sector’s gain.

  • Trey

    Mike Mann is a talented individual. The city’s loss is once again the private sector’s gain.

  • OnTheBrink

    too bad. seattle’s loss.

  • OnTheBrink

    too bad. seattle’s loss.

  • Yikes!

    Mike Mann’s departure is a huge loss for the city. It is unfathomable that McGinn cannot recognize talent and people who have selflessly dedicated themselves to serving the city. The city council needs to drastically and immediately cut the mayor’s budget to the bone, to the very bone, (leave him with an answering machine!) just to stop this insanity.

  • Yikes!

    Mike Mann’s departure is a huge loss for the city. It is unfathomable that McGinn cannot recognize talent and people who have selflessly dedicated themselves to serving the city. The city council needs to drastically and immediately cut the mayor’s budget to the bone, to the very bone, (leave him with an answering machine!) just to stop this insanity.

  • mike

    wait, you let him slide with this gem…

    an ‘urban neighborhood in South Lake Union’

    a collection of greenwashed, overpriced abortions cum condos does not a ‘neighborhood’ make.

  • mike

    wait, you let him slide with this gem…

    an ‘urban neighborhood in South Lake Union’

    a collection of greenwashed, overpriced abortions cum condos does not a ‘neighborhood’ make.

  • Marge

    Looks to me like he’s positioning himself to run for city council.

  • Marge

    Looks to me like he’s positioning himself to run for city council.

  • What took so Long

    Mann was never anything more than a political hack. He was Nickels’ first liaison to City Council until several of them banned him from their offices for repeatedly lying to them. Despite what he says in his email, he had no long-standing commitment to environmental concerns and everyone knows he was using OSE only as a personal stepping stone. The earlier comments here lamenting his departure must have been written by Mann himself and political cronies because no one in city goverrnment is going to miss him.

  • What took so Long

    Mann was never anything more than a political hack. He was Nickels’ first liaison to City Council until several of them banned him from their offices for repeatedly lying to them. Despite what he says in his email, he had no long-standing commitment to environmental concerns and everyone knows he was using OSE only as a personal stepping stone. The earlier comments here lamenting his departure must have been written by Mann himself and political cronies because no one in city goverrnment is going to miss him.

  • Nameless

    I heard Mann ended up at OSE when Ceis banished him from OPM for some misstep or other. Not to say he wasn’t a fine director of under-funded, overburdened OSE but that certainly wasn’t his calling.

  • Nameless

    I heard Mann ended up at OSE when Ceis banished him from OPM for some misstep or other. Not to say he wasn’t a fine director of under-funded, overburdened OSE but that certainly wasn’t his calling.

  • poor, pitiful you

    News flash to the whiny City employees moaning about low morale: it’s low *everywhere*, people. You probably thought you could keep your job & benefits forever, but it’s time you faced reality like the rest of us.

    And don’t blame the Mayor for doing his job– he’s trying to keep us afloat in a sea of red ink.

  • poor, pitiful you

    News flash to the whiny City employees moaning about low morale: it’s low *everywhere*, people. You probably thought you could keep your job & benefits forever, but it’s time you faced reality like the rest of us.

    And don’t blame the Mayor for doing his job– he’s trying to keep us afloat in a sea of red ink.

  • Soapboxin’

    When Microsoft needs to lay people off, does Steve Balmer use it as an applause line at shareholder meetings?
    -
    When people get whacked in the private sector, don’t they get pretty outraged if the reductions seem arbitrary and unfair?
    -
    Newsflash: As mentioned elsewhere, McGinn is backing down off both the timing and scope (200 sr. positions) of the layoffs. It’s official. He has apparently listened to reason, and agreed to improve the process. That should cut down on the howls of protest.
    -
    In all seriousness, thanks for listening, Mike. We can all agree that belt-tightening is necessary everywhere. It should be done correctly, though.

  • Soapboxin’

    When Microsoft needs to lay people off, does Steve Balmer use it as an applause line at shareholder meetings?
    -
    When people get whacked in the private sector, don’t they get pretty outraged if the reductions seem arbitrary and unfair?
    -
    Newsflash: As mentioned elsewhere, McGinn is backing down off both the timing and scope (200 sr. positions) of the layoffs. It’s official. He has apparently listened to reason, and agreed to improve the process. That should cut down on the howls of protest.
    -
    In all seriousness, thanks for listening, Mike. We can all agree that belt-tightening is necessary everywhere. It should be done correctly, though.

  • WTF?

    Give me a break, Mann is a total hack. He did some serious kissin’ in the Nickels admin. and has no scruples except trying to make a buck. Will he really do well in the private sector? Dudes a born hustler/politician. Maybe he will reborn himself and move with Nickels back to Chicago.

  • WTF?

    Give me a break, Mann is a total hack. He did some serious kissin’ in the Nickels admin. and has no scruples except trying to make a buck. Will he really do well in the private sector? Dudes a born hustler/politician. Maybe he will reborn himself and move with Nickels back to Chicago.

  • mimie

    It's sad to see talent leave the City. Unfortunately with morale so low, this is just the beginning.