A horned "devil comet" barreling toward Earth is set to explode in the coming days.

In between playing defense and scheming to win back Seattle’s voters over the next few election cycles, we should carve out some time for self-reflection. It’s tempting to think of the present moment as a backlash against progress, a temporary deviation in the arc of the moral universe—or perhaps, for the pessimist, to doubt the notion of progress altogether. But was this reaction really inevitable? by Katie Wilson

It’s a trying time for Seattle’s left.

The city’s new council members are rounding the curve on their first year in office, and I don’t know about you, but I’m wishing it was time to pass the baton. It’s depressing enough that City Hall is no longer a laboratory for progressive policy innovation. But it’s the Bad Idea Whac-A-Mole that’s truly exhausting: rolling back minimum wages and renter protections; defunding community-driven development; reinstating so-called SOAP and SODA zones; turning our big business tax into a slush fund. The left is having to fight like hell just to defend the achievements of the past decade.

In between playing defense and scheming to win back Seattle’s voters over the next few election cycles, we should carve out some time for self-reflection. It’s tempting to think of the present moment as a backlash against progress, a temporary deviation in the arc of the moral universe—or perhaps, for the pessimist, to doubt the notion of progress altogether. But was this reaction really inevitable? Can we draw any lessons from it? What should the left do differently in the future to regain influence and maintain it?

Critics of progressive-left political culture, as it’s developed over the past dozen or so years, often emphasize its supposed impotence: its penchant for loudness on social media, insistence on ideological purity, and zeal for “canceling” individuals instead of changing systems. Its adherents operate mainly in the symbolic realm and can’t break out of their echo chamber long enough to affect the real world.

Whatever the merits of this kind of critique, it doesn’t fully capture what’s happened in Seattle. Precisely what characterizes our city (and just a handful of others) is that the progressive left has been effective, relatively speaking, at winning real things. But our success is not due to some special organizing prowess or because we’ve avoided the pitfalls of the wider culture. It has more to do with our city’s demographic peculiarities.

Over the past several decades, progressive politics have come to correlate ever more strongly with educational attainment, while “dealigning” from markers of working class status. The gradual replacement of old Seattle’s blue collar workforce, displaced by rising housing costs and the dwindling of maritime and industrial jobs, with the younger, more affluent tech worker set hasn’t made Seattle any less blue; perhaps the opposite. Add to that some political self-selection among new arrivals, and the average normie non-activist voter just happens to be a flaming lib. On top of all that, union density in Washington state is among the highest in the country, and when Seattle’s labor unions decide to throw their weight around in local elections, left-leaning candidates tend to get a leg up.

With these advantages, Seattle’s left hasn’t had to be extraordinarily smart or strategic to win a modicum of political power. And a movement with power faces different problems than a movement in opposition. From the outside, it’s easy to lambaste the status quo and its obvious failings. But actually governing is more complicated. It means passing policies, implementing them, defending their results. It also means being vulnerable to blame for whatever’s going wrong in the city, whether or not it’s your fault or within your power to fix.

Of course, even at its strongest, Seattle’s progressive left held only partial power—through a city council majority that was often undermined by more centrist mayors. In such circumstances, governing also means having to decide when to remain oppositional, and when to compromise and win what you can. Either way, you have to tell a good story, explaining what you’ve done and why you couldn’t do more, to avoid being seen as ineffective.

All this means that the progressive predisposition of Seattle’s electorate is a trap, as well as an advantage. If it were harder to get lefties into office, that might force us to be more strategic about what they should do when they get there—and to build the kind of movement that can support them when the going gets rough.

Winning power is one thing, holding it is another.

Over the last two election cycles, the left lost it. The backlash began in 2021 with the victories of Mayor Bruce Harrell, Councilmember Sara Nelson, and City Attorney Ann Davison. Last fall finished the job, ushering in the most conservative city council Seattle has seen in a long time.

In my new column for The Stranger, I plan to look both backward and forward. I’ll dig through the past ten-plus years in search of lessons that can help Seattle’s left into the future. I write as someone who’s been involved in many—though by no means all—of the progressive policy battles of this period, primarily through my work with the Transit Riders Union. But I’m speaking for myself, not for any organization, and I don’t expect that all my opinions will be popular. There is too much groupthink on the left; so let’s disagree!

The backlash elections of 2021 and 2023 centered most obviously around the issues of homelessness, policing, and public safety. I will start the journey there, looking critically at the question of what our goals should be and how we frame and explain these goals.

These are themes we share with other progressive big cities, but our politics have a unique side, too. No look back at the past decade of Seattle’s left can bypass an assessment of Kshama Sawant’s tenure on the council, and the influence of her former organization, Socialist Alternative.

And these discussions will raise larger questions about progressive-left organizing. Who is “the left,” anyway, and does “progressive” mean anything anymore, if it ever did? Whom are we trying to organize and how? Toward what ends?

The left is not a monolith. In practice, Seattle’s left today is an uneasy alliance of labor unions, community organizations from the long-established to the ad-hoc, issue-based advocacy groups, service-focused nonprofits, parties and other overtly political formations, and freelance activists, coalescing imperfectly and temporarily around specific campaigns or policy goals. Between and also within these entities there exists a multiplicity of worldviews, theories of social change, and visions of a future, better social order.

When someone on the left (like me) talks about what “we” should be doing, only in the most abstract sense are they speaking to and about this whole constellation of actors. But throughout these institutions and broader left milieu there are individuals who, to a greater or lesser extent, can choose to do things differently, or to do something new.

There is a gleam of light on the horizon. In next Tuesday’s special election for citywide council position 8, the left looks poised to claw back a seat. Next year will bring a larger opportunity, with the mayor and city attorney up for re-election as well as the two citywide council positions. But progressives won’t have a chance at a reliable governing majority until 2027.

So let’s make sure that when we win that majority, we’re prepared to hold onto it. It’s easy to bemoan the hypocrisy of Seattle liberals, the reactionary and ungenerous impulses too often hiding behind those “in this house we believe” yard signs. I’ve done that myself. But if the left can’t maintain the edge in a city where your average voter is at pains to prove his progressive bona fides, what chance do we have at power anywhere?

Newlook Marketing has been awarded the 2003-2004 GoldenWeb award on the 30th June 2003. This award is presented by The International Association of Web Masters and Designers.

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21-Year Old WWII Soldier's Sketchbooks Reveal a Visual Diary of His Experiences

A visual diary with 158 pencil sketches brings to life the wartime experience of noted architect Victor A. Lundy, who served in the U.S. 26th Infantry Division during World War II. In 1942, Lundy was 19, studying to be an architect in New York City. Excited about rebuilding Europe post-war, he and other college men enlisted in the Army Special Training Program (ASTP). But, by 1944, with D-Day planned, the Army needed reinforcements, and Lundy and his company were thrown into the infantry. Lundy couldn't believe it and recalled during an oral history interview that during lectures, he "never listened, I was busy sketching." But soon, "I sort of took to it. ... war experience just hypnotizes young men." Lundy, who is now 92, recalls his inability to listen during lectures. “I was busy sketching,” he admits. During his time in the infantry, he continued to sketch in his pocket-sized notebooks. The drawings, which were created between May and November 1944—when Lundy was wounded—take us from his initial training in Fort Jackson to the front lines in France. The vivid images show everything from air raids to craps games for cigarettes. A sense of longing for home is a recurring theme in his sketches, which include detailed drawings of his bunk as well as particularly dream-like drawing, titled Home Sweet Home, that shows a soldier lounging on a hammock. Lundy, who went on to have an acclaimed architecture career, donated his eight sketchbooks to the Library of Congress in 2009. The sketchbooks have all been digitally archived and are now available for viewing online. Lundy’s gift is a precious one, as in this age of continued war and terror it is more important than ever to learn from our past history.

On Oct. 30, after our story was sent to the presses but before it was distributed, Mayor Lisa Brown announced that her team will add $800,000 of one-time funds to pay for inclement weather beds this winter — that is, extra beds for when the temperature drops below freezing. These dollars, plus the already allotted $250,000, mean the city is now able to pay for 133 beds for 143 nights, which is about the average number of nights that Spokane has lows at or below 32 degrees…

While there's always an impressive power hearing a full symphony fill a room with sound, there's a stirring subtlety that can only be achieved via classic music on a smaller scale.  That's a sonic itch that the Spokane String Quartet is always happy to scratch. Before the Spokane String Quartet takes the stage at The Fox this Sunday for a program featuring special guest pianist Archie Chen, we caught up with violinist Amanda Howard-Phillips—who has played with the quartet since 2011 and  is also second violin in the Spokane Symphony — to chat about the communal expression of string quartet music, SSQ's upcoming shows, and the unique place the group occupies in Spokane…

FUNDS FOR ARTISTS…

We're always searching out interesting and noteworthy projects at H&H, and we're happy to report that two buildings we've featured have recently been honored with awards…

The former Governor of California is thrilled for the release of his new family-friendly show which was created by Stan Lee specifically for the 'Predator' actor.

'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', in the meantime, makes the shortlist in the Entertainment field, and Stacey Abrams' 'All In: The Fight for Democracy' gets nominated in the Documentary category.

The 'Blinding Lights' hitmaker leads the nominees for the upcoming Billboard Music Awards by grabbing a total of 16 nods including the coveted title of Top Artist.

According to Dick Clark Productions, the 'Whiskey Glasses' singer will not be 'performing, presenting or accepting' any possible trophies at the 2021 music awards show.

The 'What About Love' hitmaker has been officially announced as a special honoree at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards which is going to be hosted by Nick Jonas.

Edwards recalls crying because she thought she looked stupid wearing a man's clothes for her girl group's music video which came out recently to support new single 'Confetti'.

Sydney Chase admits she has received the legal notice after it was initially sent to an email address she no longer uses, but she refuses to comply with the letter.

The auctioneer's left ring finger is nearly torn off when he gets bitten by one of his French bulldogs, Louis and Jax, as he attempts to intervene in a fight between the two.

The 'What About Love' hitmaker has been officially announced as a special honoree at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards which is going to be hosted by Nick Jonas.

Joining the May the 4th celebration, the daughter of late Carrie Fisher puts out two photos of son Kingston rocking the onesie and a brown knitted hat featuring Leia's signature double bun hairdo.

'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', in the meantime, makes the shortlist in the Entertainment field, and Stacey Abrams' 'All In: The Fight for Democracy' gets nominated in the Documentary category.

The 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star is ordered to forfeit the 'Fragment of Myron's Samian Athena' statue by the U.S. government because it was illegally 'looted' from Italy.

Edwards recalls crying because she thought she looked stupid wearing a man's clothes for her girl group's music video which came out recently to support new single 'Confetti'.

Sydney Chase admits she has received the legal notice after it was initially sent to an email address she no longer uses, but she refuses to comply with the letter.

The auctioneer's left ring finger is nearly torn off when he gets bitten by one of his French bulldogs, Louis and Jax, as he attempts to intervene in a fight between the two.

The 'Midnight Sun' actor admits that he finds 'a sense of purpose, increased energy, and better sleeping habits' after completing his 50-day 5 A.M. workout challenge.

The former 'Twilight' actress is set to play one of the major characters in sci-fi thriller 'Crimes of the Future' while the Disney alum is signed on for psychological thriller 'Spiral'.

Joining the May the 4th celebration, the daughter of late Carrie Fisher puts out two photos of son Kingston rocking the onesie and a brown knitted hat featuring Leia's signature double bun hairdo.

Book of poems will raise funds for anti-racism venture.

Salon group named in top awards' Business Thinker category.

Veteran of numerous conflicts appearing in Birmingham lunch date.

Andy Goff and some of his relatives joined a large crowd to watch the official opening of a WWI arboretum.

PP Electrical Systems worker is Young Engineer of the Year.

Coventry University’s Phoenix Racing team has won the Shell-sponsored award for the ‘Most Fuel-efficient Car’

Motorists are being urged by a road safety charity to concentrate at all times following the case of a driver who killed a cyclist while she was altering her satnav.

Design aims to monitor driver mood and energy levels.

Road users urged to think safety as nights draw in.

MG Motor UK appoints M3 as its new creative agency.

Historic embroideries back on display after epic ten year restoration.

A poignant new free exhibition, Last Post: Remembering the First World War, will explore the effect of the events of 1914-18 on the Post Office, its people and the contribution of postal communications to the war effort.

The unique remains of a First World War Handley Page O/400 bomber aircraft have been saved by a team from the RAF Museum.

West Midlands Railway to trial new service pattern at Bordesley for Birmingham City fixtures.

The Midlands Media Awards is this year to take place at The Holte Suite, Aston Villa FC’s prestigious hospitality centre.

Peter Lowe, Managing Editor of Sky News, is to be chairman of the judging panel for this year’s Midlands Media Awards, shortlisted nominations for which will be announced on Monday, May 13.

Les Reid, of the Coventry Telegraph, has been nominated for four categories at this year’s Awards, which are being held next month.

Richard Lutz plunders his archive to remember what happened last week.....

Richard Lutz saunters through a little path of heaven in the changing weather.  

Local legend honoured at 2024 Birmingham Awards.

New Heights Community Project in Kingstanding, Birmingham is the latest winner of Prime Minister David Cameron’s Big Society Award.

Warwick Arts Centre have announced their summer film series, including some whip-smart comedies guaranteed to make you forget the lousy weather.