Seattle, WA

Seattle City Council hears shelter expansion proposal of 500 new beds by June

Published

4 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Seattle City Council hears shelter expansion proposal of 500 new beds by June

SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is pushing to open hundreds of new shelter beds by June in an effort to move more people experiencing homelessness indoors before the FIFA World Cup comes to the city.

Seattle’s budget office estimates each shelter unit costs about $28,000, according to a city report. Wilson is asking the City Council, donors and philanthropic groups to help fund the first phase of her homelessness plan, which aims to create 500 new shelter spaces ahead of the international event.

“Our task now is to set up as much shelter as quickly as possible,” Senior Policy Adviser John Grant said during a City Council committee meeting Monday.

The proposal has support from some people who pass by a growing encampment near Seattle Center.

“I think that’s great. I think everyone needs a place to sleep,” said Michael Vincent of Seattle.

“Preferably tiny homes because they tend to be more cost-friendly,” added Thomas Andrikus, also of Seattle.

During a presentation to the council, the budget office said the city has identified $17.5 million that could support shelter expansion. The plan would require council approval to use $3.3 million in federal community development block grants and another $1.5 million from the Downtown Health and Human Services Fund.

Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck said she supports the effort and praised the urgency behind the plan, which includes vetting and selecting potential shelter sites through April.

“We have been in a state of emergency for 10 years now,” Rinck said. “I want to commend you all for moving with urgency on this and giving it the attention it truly needs so we can get our neighbors inside.”

Public Safety Committee Chair Robert Kettle said he also supports expanding options such as safe parking lots for recreational vehicles, similar to the former Interbay site. He said such spaces can help connect people to services while reducing the number of RVs parked in neighborhoods.

“If you have five RVs, at some point you’re going to have one that’s dealing drugs, then a stolen goods market,” Kettle said. “When Salmon Bay Village opened, the number of RVs on Nickerson really dropped.”

Kettle added that communities surrounding potential shelter sites should be included in planning discussions. City officials said they agree.

“The Human Services Department will be bringing together shelter providers to discuss best practices, not only for operating these shelters but also for addressing public safety concerns,” Grant said.

Sharon Lee, executive director of the Low Income Housing Institute, said community outreach has already played a role in opening new tiny home villages, including True Hope Village in Seattle’s Central District.

“Usually neighbors are very curious about who the target population will be,” Lee said. “People want to know that if there’s a village in their neighborhood, priority will go to people already living outside nearby.”

It is unclear when the City Council will next consider the legislation needed to move the shelter expansion forward.

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Seattle, WA

I’m a New Yorker who went to Seattle for the first time. Here are 9 things that surprised me.

Published

12 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

I’m a New Yorker who went to Seattle for the first time. Here are 9 things that surprised me.

Situated next to the coast in Downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market is an iconic outdoor market with more than 200 stores and restaurants. I’ve been hearing about it for decades, so I spent my first afternoon in Seattle perusing the 9-acre shopping hub.

On a sunny Thursday afternoon, the market was crowded with locals and tourists alike. I shuffled my way through what felt like a line to get a peek at the fresh seafood. When I needed a break from the mob, I found refuge inside a used bookstore.

Every so often, a delivery truck would drive through, dividing the crowd into two tightly packed globs, but most cars weren’t allowed to drive through Pike Place Market. This made sense to me, since each passing vehicle halted the pedestrian flow.

But I was surprised to learn that the open-air market’s cobblestone streets are normally open to all cars — the city is testing a ban on cars aside from vendors, delivery drivers, and those with disabilities, The Seattle Times reported in August 2025. The temporary ban began in April 2025 and is set to continue through spring 2026.

I was lucky enough to inadvertently schedule my trip during the ban. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if cars could freely move through the already crowded market.

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Seattle, WA

FOLLOWUP: Seattle Parks’ official announcement of this year’s beach and boat-ramp hours

Published

24 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

FOLLOWUP: Seattle Parks’ official announcement of this year’s beach and boat-ramp hours

(WSB photo, Saturday night)

As we first reported last month, some of Seattle Parks‘ “summer” hours this year are starting on May 1 – and this past weekend, we photographed illuminated signage announcing that along Alki, while noting the city had yet to make a full detailed announcement. Today, it’s finally out, including info on beach-fire season, which will start the Friday before Memorial Day:

With the summer season approaching, Seattle Parks and Recreation is reminding visitors of summer park hours, boat ramp access, and beach fire rules at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens.
Below are key details to help you plan ahead, including summer hours and beach fire season dates.
Summer Hours at Parks and Boat Ramps
This summer, starting Friday, May 1, 2026, the permanent summer hours will be in effect at select parks and boat ramps across Seattle:
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Alki Beach and Golden Gardens:
Summer Hours (May 1, 2026 — September 30, 2026): 4 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Non-Summer Hours (September 30, 2026 — April 30, 2027): 4 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Don Armeni and Eddie Vine Boat Ramps:
Summer Hours (May 1, 2026 — September 30, 2026): 4 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Non-Summer Hours (September 30, 2026 — April 30, 2027): Open 24 hours
These seasonal hours help support safe, enjoyable use during peak visitation while aligning with staffing and safety resources.
Beach Fire and Park Rules
Starting Friday, May 22, 2026, beach fires will be permitted at designated fire pits at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens seven days a week on a first come, first served basis. Bringing your own fire pit is not allowed, and no propane fire pits/rings are allowed.
-Fires must be extinguished by 10 p.m.
-Fires allowed 7 days a week starting Friday, May 22 through Tuesday, September 1.
-Staff will be on-site to manage and assist with putting out fires at 10 p.m.
-Parking lot gates will be locked and the park will close at 10:30 p.m. for summer hours.
-Please only burn clean (natural, bare, dry cord-wood) wood and douse your fire completely before leaving.
-Light a fire ONLY in one of the installed fire containers
-Use only clean, dry firewood
-Please douse your fire with water, not sand
-Fires are not allowed during air pollution alerts; we will post sign
-Please don’t remove any materials from the park, beach or dunes
-Please dispose of trash and ashes in the containers provided for each. (SMC 18.12.260)
-Be considerate of others–please, no loud or amplified music! (SMC 18.12.170)
-Remember, no alcohol or smoking are allowed, and parks are drug-free zones.
-Beach fire rules are outlined in detail in the Seattle Municipal Code section 18.12.270 and in our Beach Fires Policy.
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If you see an illegal fire, call 911. For current burn ban and air quality questions, contact Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Fire pits at Golden Gardens and Alki are unlocked by 5:30 p.m. Please extinguish all beach fires (using water, not sand) by 10 p.m. in order to ensure that all fires are completely extinguished in ample time before the park’s closure.
We’re committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all that visit Seattle parks! Thank you for doing your part to follow park guidelines and help keep these spaces welcoming for this summer.

Summer plans on Alki are expected to be among the topics at the Alki Community Council‘s monthly meeting Thursday (April 16), 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).

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Seattle, WA

Slog AM: A Missing Beaver in Seattle, Trump Fights With the Pope, Hungary’s Right Wing Prime Minister Loses Election Handily – The Stranger

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Slog AM: A Missing Beaver in Seattle, Trump Fights With the Pope, Hungary’s Right Wing Prime Minister Loses Election Handily – The Stranger

Answers: Authorities believe that those 21 skinned canine carcasses that washed ashore on Guemes Island around two weeks ago were foxes, not dogs. The fox carcasses were being transported to be used in a commercial fishing operation as bait. According to the Skagit County Sheriff’s office, they were bought out of state, legally, and brought to Washington. But the boat they were on experienced mechanical difficulties that somehow dumped its cargo in the water. It’s unfortunate when your cargo is 21 skinned fox carcasses that then wind up on a small community’s shores and they think there’s a dog serial killer in their midst. Nope, nope, just fishing bait.

While you were sleeping this weekend there was a swarm of 18 offshore earthquakes near the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Shh. Go back to sleep. They pose no threat to land. It’s just the tectonic plates moving apart.

In Other Animal Carcass News: People found a decapitated cougar partially submerged in Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille. Park rangers say the cougar died of natural causes and, even though its head was clearly cleanly severed by a human, there was no foul play. Stealing a cougar’s head from its carcass is perfectly legal under Idaho salvage laws. Finders keepers?

Beaver Missing: Someone stole Capitol Hill’s Waxon Spa’s taxidermy beaver mascot. The stuffed beaver wears pink bunny ears, purple heart sunglasses, and has pink painted nails. The waxers there need this beaver in order to wax other beavers. “Please help bring our baby home,” the spa pleads in a missing poster. They are offering a $400 reward

ICYMI: The new Ichiro Suzuki statue the Mariners unveiled Friday had a hard time uh, keeping it up.

A Gas Works Facelift: A new hazard correction order from Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections may force the parks department to take out “unsafe ladders, piping and catwalks by May 15.” A teen died last summer after climbing—and falling—from Gas Works’ structures. Two others have died in similar incidents since 2012. The SDCI order breaks through a six month stalemate between parks and the Landmarks Preservation Board which has blocked any attempt to remove hazards from the park for fear of it altering history.

The Weather: Overcast, rainy, but not too rainy.

A WEAK on Crime Pope: Donald Trump sent out a Truth Social screed against Pope Leo XIV, calling him weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy, and weak on nuclear weapons. After that, Trump shared an AI-generated photo of him as Jesus healing the sick. The Jesus pic crossed a line for some evangelicals.