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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.

Re: For the Tunnel. Against Cost Overruns. Anyone?

Politics, This Washington   July 12, 2010 at 1:33 pm Josh Feit

In my mini-editorial this morning, I called on pro-tunnel  advocates to stake out a compromise (and missing) position in the debate between Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle City Council Member Richard Conlin, who are both attached to their blatantly political and mostly disingenuous stances.

The Third Way: Adamantly pro-tunnel and adamantly anti-cost overruns.

One of the politicians I called out was State Sen. Ed Murray (D-43). He responded, telling me:

“Four years ago I passed legislation creating an independent board to review the viaduct financing. I have recommended we do it again. And not just now, but throughout the life of the project.”

The previous financial review, Murray points out, was done before the 2008 economic crash, and so, the a-okay  the tunnel project got a few years ago from the auditors doesn’t apply anymore, he says and he wants another review.




  • Remember Josh at the Stranger?

    Anybody out there remember Josh Feit on the Monorail? My how times change.

    Back then, Josh led the Taliban in the war against anyone who uttered a concern about wasted dollars, dubious projections, common sense, or conclusions altered by rapidly and significantly changing facts.

    Is Josh getting “journalistic” in his older years? Or has his brain found his typing fingers.

    Let's see how he reacts to this: attack, deny or just admit he might have grown up.

    As for Erica: a lost cause. Seattle's transportation equivalent of the Civil War re-enacters.

  • http://www.joeszilagyi.com/ Joe Szilagyi

    While I love Ed Murray…

    Murray, if you're reading this, remember that Conlin and the City Council's official pro-tunnel stance is “If you see something, don't say something.”

  • Josh Feit

    I'm bummed the monorail wasn't built.

  • tvguide

    On the monorail I agree with you Josh, although it must be said that you certainly have a double standard when it comes to cost issues relating to projects that you like (transit) and those you don't (evil autos). You really need to break out from the circle jerk and spend some time with some people that are not of like mind, you just might learn something.

  • Josh Feit

    What you're forgetting about my days at the Stranger is that I did more reporting questioning light rail's numbers (transit) than I did on about anything else.

  • Gomez

    An effective way to ensure something's success is to tear apart and rebuild its weaknesses in planning.

    Just try not to do it during construction, as mid-stream plan changes are a big reason why the Big Dig's costs went skyward.

  • mt_spurr

    There was an interesting take by State Rep Clibborn on McGinn's passive-aggressive sabotage of the tunnel in this interview:

    http://www.mynorthwest.com/index.php?nid=75&sid…

  • Donolectic

    Remember slow-witted anonymous strangers on the SLOG who launched petty personal attacks because they got butthurt over something that good writers like Josh and Erica wrote?

    You're one of them. Grow up and learn how to have a real argument.