Expanding our reach: Fall 2022 publication update

There may still be just a faint whisper of fall in the air, but despite the warm weather in Puget Sound, there’s no denying that we’re entering the final months of 2022. put in a reflective mindset, and so as I prepared to write this post update for our fall fundraiser, I couldn’t help but think about what’s changed at The town planner over the past year.

If I had to pick one notable change, it would be this: The town planner is now a resolutely regional publication. While we’ve always covered some stories from the Seattle metro area (and Washington State), in recent months more consistent coverage of areas like Eastside, Tacoma and Snohomish County has broadened the reach of our journalism. advocacy. And when I consider how that transition went, I’m impressed that it happened with a small writing team. Our journalists have truly embraced a regional mindset, and it shows in a lot of the articles and editorials we publish.

When I started as a volunteer writer for The town planner, I rarely looked outside of Seattle for stories to cover. In fact, downtown Seattle itself, my home for over a decade, seemed to provide more than enough material for me to write about. But while there are advantages to this kind of very detailed reporting, there are also disadvantages.

The fact is, applying good planning principles, like investing in public transit, walkable communities, and affordable housing, is just as important in suburbs and small towns as it is in big metros like Seattle. You could even say it’s more important since the majority of Americans live outside of major cities, especially in suburban areas. This means that if our society is to successfully progress in promoting sustainability and equity, suburbs, small towns and rural areas will all need to be at the center of the solutions we pursue.

That’s why we were proud to be one of the first outlets across the state to cover the legalization of missing mid-rise housing in Spokane. We also posted regular updates on politics, affordable housing, new developments and more in Bellevue and tracked housing growth and transit expansion in Tacoma. At the state level, transportation reporter Ryan Packer has followed news related to the Washington Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) progress in making the state’s highways safer for people who walk, bike and ride , among other topics. They also kept tabs on local transportation plans in places like Kirkland and Lynnwood, and also helped draw attention to a housing backlash aimed at slowing development near the ‘Lynnwood City Center’ light rail station. which will open soon, which thankfully was avoided thanks to housing advocates who spoke up.

There are many, many stories worthy of attention, and I am proud that we have been able to publish more of these stories thanks to the hard work and dedication of our existing editorial team and wonderful guest contributors. Part of the reason we were able to do this is that we were able to provide greater compensation for flagged items. This compensation has allowed our reporters and freelancers to follow stories more closely in their areas of interest and to devote more time to their work to The town planner.

I have also found that the wider regional reach of our publication has also increased the number of submissions we receive from volunteer writers. Each of these items is a gift and greatly appreciated.

When it comes to paying our writers for their work, donations are our main source of income. The two annual fundraisers are the foundation of our publication’s financial health. If you enjoy what we publish and want more high quality articles to read, now is the time to subscribe or donate to The Urbanist.

The support we have received from readers, contributors and volunteers has enabled us to accomplish a lot, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Moving the Puget Sound region toward greater equity, sustainability, and improved quality of life for all residents will require informed and active citizens who push for change. With your support, The Urbanist’s advocacy journalism will continue to play a crucial role as we move forward.