Author Archives: jseattle

About jseattle

Justin is publisher of CHS. You can reach him at [email protected] or call/txt (206) 399-5959. Follow @jseattle on Twitter or be best pals on Facebook.

Seattle City Council prepares to wrap up 2025 ‘Phase 1’ growth plan that will push debate over many changes — including the Squire Park ‘donut hole’ — to 2026

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The Seattle City Council is preparing to put a bow on their 2025 process to overhaul the city’s new foundation for its 20-year growth plan — but not without some possible final tweaks to proposed border changes in comp plan committee chair Joy Hollingsworth’s home district.

Tuesday afternoon, the council will vote on multiple bills putting the comprehensive plan changes forged by Mayor Bruce Harrell and the council into action that include new “Neighborhood Centers” and state-mandated “Middle Housing” laws expanding zoning hoped to allow a greater range of housing types in more parts of the city.

Hollingsworth and council planners say the second phase of changing the growth plan with debate over the block by block particulars of neighborhood centers and transit corridors will take place “in early 2026” as Mayor-elect Katie Wilson’s administration takes the helm.

Included in Tuesday’s raft of “Phase 1” legislation is a last-minute plan Hollingsworth says will push the debate over the future zoning for the area between 14th Ave and 18th Ave on the borders of First Hill, Capitol Hill, and the Central District into 2026. Continue reading →

SUV smashes into E Pike self-serve kombucha taproom in chase reportedly involving human trafficking and gunfire — UPDATE

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(Image: SOMA Kombucha with permission to CHS)

Reports of a car chase and gunfire culminated in a crash caught on security video as a SUV smashed through the front of a self-serve kombucha taproom on E Pike early Monday.

Capitol Hill’s SOMA Kombucha will remain closed after extensive damage to its storefront. The neighboring HoneyHole sandwich joint sustained some damage to its shared wall but is expected to open as usual.

A Seattle Police Department spokesperson said a report on the incident was not yet complete but CHS has learned the crash involved at least one vehicle in pursuit of the SUV before the crash and reports of gunfire.

UPDATE: SPD says the driver of the crashed car was “with his girlfriend, fleeing from her pimp.”

“The pimp threatened them at the scene of the crash and forced the woman into his vehicle,” SPD’s brief on the incident says. “Officers quickly found this vehicle and the woman a few blocks away. The suspect exited the car before officers arrived and fled on foot.”

SPD says there was reported gunfire but officers did not find evidence of a shooting.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Continue reading →

Hollingsworth bids political farewell to Mayor Harrell, looks ahead to 2026

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Hollingsworth flanked by outgoing council president Nelson and D4 representative Rivera (Image: City of Seattle)

Harrell was at Hollingsworth’s side as she won the D3 seat in 2023

District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth will face a new landscape at Seattle City Hall in 2026 as she bids a political farewell to mentor and ally Mayor Bruce Harrell.

“His mother, Rose, and my grandmother worked together at Model Cities, a federal initiative dedicated to affordable housing, health and family services, youth programs, job training, and community-led planning,” Hollingsworth said in a recent message to constituents in the wake of Harrell’s election loss to Katie Wilson.

“From this work grew organizations like CAMP (now Byrd Barr), El Centro De La Raza, Head Start, Minority Health Clinics, and education reforms that helped shape generations of civic leaders, organizers, and public servants of color,” Hollingsworth wrote. Continue reading →

Report still underway but review of SPD crackdown on May 24th demonstrators in Cal Anderson ends early over leaks

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The review of the Seattle Police Department’s crackdown on demonstrators against an anti-trans Christian group’s rally in Cal Anderson Park in May will be incomplete.

The Seattle Office of Inspector General announced last month it suspended the “Sentinel Event Review” process around the May 24th arrests over leaked information from the confidential meetings. Continue reading →

In ‘vision’ for public safety, Wilson sticks with Chief Barnes

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Barnes flanked by new recruits (Image: SPD)

Mayor-elect Katie Wilson has opted for continuity and announced she will retain the Harrell administration’s cadre of first responder and emergency department leaders including Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes.

“They are each committing to lead their departments in accordance with my vision of community safety,” Wilson said in her statement. “With active partnership and direction from the Mayor’s office, I believe these leaders can work together and form a unified team committed to strengthening coordination, reform, accountability, and results.”

In the announcement, Wilson said she will retain Barnes, Seattle Fire Department Chief Harold Scoggins, Office of Emergency Management director Curry Mayer, and CARE Chief Amy Barden.

Criticized during her campaign for her support for police defunding principles, Wilson has said she will grow efforts to civilianize more of the work currently saddling the Seattle Police Department, expand alternative responses like the Community Assisted Response and Engagement Department crisis responders, and fix the city’s “broken” police accountability system. Continue reading →

‘Rescue extrication’ — Overnight crash near Capitol Hill Trader Joe’s leaves woman trapped in car

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17th and Madison from the CHS Facebook Group

A massive emergency response formed near the E Madison Trader Joe’s overnight for a “rescue extrication” after a collision around the corner at 17th and E Olive St. left a woman unconscious trapped inside her wrecked vehicle.

Seattle Police and Seattle Fire responded to the crash at 12:30 AM on the rain soaked night to find the car on its side and the victim unconscious and trapped inside. Continue reading →

Kha-Bar will dance onto Capitol Hill in 2026

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Chitralekha Majhi

12th Ave will be a busy area for new food and drink in 2026 as Kha-Bar prepares to bring the flavors of East India and Bangladesh to Capitol Hill.

Kathak dancer and choreographer Chitralekha Majhi and husband Manash Majhi are making a leap into the restaurant business with hopes of creating a mellow new neighborhood hangout right next to the NOD Theater and eXit Space School of Dance.

“I want it to be a neat and clean space, not too upscale but at same time nice,” Majhi said. “Not loud with off white, black, and pastel green that is calming and relaxing.” Continue reading →

Hollingsworth joins ‘yes’ vote in approving new contract for Seattle police

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Hollingsworth spoke about cannabis equity later in the afternoon council session

Saka

District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth joined the Seattle City Council majority Tuesday in approving a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild in an afternoon session marked by a loud protest in council chambers.

CHS reported here on the contract details and criticism that the agreement boosts officer salaries with little new requirements around accountability and oversight.

The new contract also lifts the cap on CARE Department hiring and opens the door for the city to grow the new team of crisis responders to its budgeted capacity, growing to 96 responders in the department’s first 18 months.

Tuesday, Hollingsworth did not comment on the contract before the 6-3 vote as she sided with the majority in approving the pact forged by outgoing Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office.

Five council members on the Labor Relations Policy Committee were part of the Harrell administration negotiations. Hollingsworth joined that group in approving the deal. Continue reading →

Cook Weaver ready to hand over its historic space after a decade on Capitol Hill

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Chef Zac Reynolds and Nile Klein of Cook and Weaver at its opening in 2017

For a chef who creates their own place on Capitol Hill, there are paths that might lead someday to your own restaurant group with 12 unique concepts and 20 locations.

And there are simpler routes that don’t lead to much more than good times and happy memories.

Chef-driven Cook Weaver has announced it will close with one last New Year’s Day of service after a decade in Capitol Hill’s historic Loveless Building.

“Why are we closing? Well, have you ever looked forward to a new chapter with anticipation, while also in tender thanksgiving for all that has brought you to this moment?,” owner Zac Reynolds wrote in the E Roy restaurant’s announcement. “That’s pretty much where I am. In truth, I really want to spend more time with my kid and my wife on evenings and weekends – it’s that simple.” Continue reading →

Seattle Police investigating after Tesla torched on First Hill

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The Seattle Police Department’s arson and bomb squad is investigating after someone busted out the window of a Tesla parked on First Hill early Saturday and set it on fire, destroying the vehicle, police say.

According to police, the incident took place just after 1 AM near Harborview and was captured on video as the suspect can be seen walking up to the car parked near 9th and Alder, breaking the window, and lighting the car on fire.

The incident comes after a flurry of similar acts earlier this year as protests grew against the company over CEO Elon Musk’s short-lived but damaging Department of Government Efficiency and its corporate-style cost-cutting of the federal government under the Trump administration. Continue reading →