Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is running for re-election in 2025. 

He’s hoping to break the long running streak of single term mayors in Seattle like Mike McGinn, Ed Murray, and Jenny Durkin.

The election is still nearly a year away, and in the meantime, the mayor will  finish the last year of his term addressing a long list of issues: public safety, the future of downtown, and the implementation of a new comprehensive plan. 

The mayor sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss his plans for 2025.

Guest:
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

Relevant links:
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is running for re-election in 2025 - KUOW
Seattle’s next police chief: Mayor appoints Shon Barnes of Madison, Wisconsin to lead - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is running for re-election in 2025.&nbsp;
He&rsquo;s hoping to break the long running streak of single term mayors in Seattle like Mike McGinn, Ed Murray, and Jenny Durkin.
The election is still nearly a year away, and in the meantime, the mayor will&nbsp; finish the last year of his term addressing a long list of issues: public safety, the future of downtown, and the implementation of a new comprehensive plan.&nbsp;
The mayor sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss his plans for 2025.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell</li>
</ul>
Relevant links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-mayor-bruce-harrell-is-running-for-re-election-in-2025">Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is running for re-election in 2025</a> - KUOW<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/dyer-oxley"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-s-next-police-chief-mayor-appoints-shon-barnes-of-madison-wisconsin-to-lead">Seattle&rsquo;s next police chief: Mayor appoints Shon Barnes of Madison, Wisconsin to lead</a> - KUOW<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/ashley-hiruko"></a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on city budgets, the comprehensive plan, and more

Tactile Basketball

Costco

Cougar Gold

Grand Illusion Cinema

Credits

Christmas Eve begins our holiday break here on Soundside. We’re taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family… or to just eat lots of good food while staying indoors.

But we’ve still got plenty of jam packed shows ready for you.

Today - we’re focusing on local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest.

RELATED LINKS:
A tech startup helping the visually impaired "watch" sports with their fingertips
Will people always love Costco?
At 75, Cougar Gold canned cheese is still a Washington state favorite
The lights go down... for now... on the Grand Illusion Cinema

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

 

Christmas Eve begins our holiday break here on Soundside. We&rsquo;re taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family&hellip; or to just eat lots of good food while staying indoors.
But we&rsquo;ve still got plenty of jam packed shows ready for you.
Today - we&rsquo;re focusing on local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest.
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://thankyou.kuow.org/stories/a-bellevue-startup-helping-the-visually-impaired-w">A tech startup helping the visually impaired "watch" sports with their fingertips</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/will-people-always-love-costco">Will people always love Costco?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/at-75-cougar-gold-canned-cheese-is-still-a-local-favorite">At 75, Cougar Gold canned cheese is still a Washington state favorite</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-lights-go-down-for-now-on-the-grand-illusion-c">The lights go down... for now... on the Grand Illusion Cinema</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
&nbsp;

Soundside's Producer Picks for this Christmas Eve look at a number of local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest !

Producer Picks: Tactile Basketball, Costco, Cougar Gold, and the Grand Illusion Cinema

A lot has changed during Sara Nelson’s time in Seattle government.

She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election. 

She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council. 

Now - her time in office is coming to an end.

Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson’s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson’s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November. 

Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city – Nelson has been busy during her last month in office.

And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving.


GUESTS:
Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President

RELATED LINKS: 
Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times
New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

A lot has changed during Sara Nelson&rsquo;s time in Seattle government.
She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election.&nbsp;
She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council.&nbsp;
Now - her time in office is coming to an end.
Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson&rsquo;s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson&rsquo;s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November.&nbsp;
Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city&rsquo;s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city &ndash; Nelson has been busy during her last month in office.
And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving. 
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-passes-new-transparency-law-aimed-at-political-consultants/">Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/new-seattle-police-contract-includes-pay-boost-increased-use-of-unarmed-crisis-response">New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - KUOW</a><a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/amy-radil"></a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Sara Nelson reflects on her tenure, and the direction Seattle politics is moving.

"Frankly I love this town" - City Council President Sara Nelson says goodbye

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

GUEST: Former KIRO-FM host Dave Ross

TODAY'S TOPICS:
Flooding

Seattle Times: A damaged King County levee awaited fixes for years. Then it failed.
NBC News: Federal grants for flood mitigation work sat on hold as storms inundated Washington state
Affordability

NYTimes: How Democrats Used One Word to Turn the Tide Against Trump
NYTimes: These Young Adults Make Good Money. But Life, They Say, Is Unaffordable.
Dave Ross parody songs

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now &ndash; and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. It&rsquo;s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.
GUEST: Former KIRO-FM host Dave Ross
TODAY'S TOPICS:
<ul>
<li>Flooding
<ul>
<li>Seattle Times:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/a-damaged-king-county-levee-awaited-fixes-for-years-then-it-failed/#:~:text=The%20Desimone%20levee%20has%20been,long%20after%20the%202020%20flood.">A damaged King County levee awaited fixes for years. Then it failed.</a></li>
<li>NBC News: <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/washington-state-floods-federal-grants-on-hold-rcna250132">Federal grants for flood mitigation work sat on hold as storms inundated Washington state</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Affordability
<ul>
<li>NYTimes: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/upshot/affordability-democrats-trump.html">How Democrats Used One Word to Turn the Tide Against Trump</a></li>
<li>NYTimes: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/us/politics/middle-class-us-economy-affordability.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share">These Young Adults Make Good Money. But Life, They Say, Is Unaffordable.</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="http://daveross.com/index.html">Dave Ross parody songs</a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/philip-rivers-colts-nfl-seahawks-rcna249182"></a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on city budgets, the comprehensive plan, and more

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