Soundside

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Seattle social housing developer could acquire its first building this year Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

The Seattle City Council recently approved a $2 million dollar loan for the city’s social housing developer. That’s a public development authority that will manage publicly financed housing in the city. It can serve people who make up to 120% of the area median income.

Voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of the social housing developer in 2023. They also approved a funding plan for the developer in February that pays for it by putting in place a new tax on companies with high income earners. Next year, the social housing developer is anticipated to receive an estimated $50 million dollars from that tax.

In the meantime, Mayor Bruce Harrell requested the $2 million dollar loan, saying the money would go towards keeping the organization running and potentially acquiring new property this year. As of now, the developer doesn’t own any. In its early stages, the developer has been dogged by concerns that it hasn’t proven it can get this money out the door and into housing and questions about whether it’s serving the city’s greatest need by using public money to provide housing for people making more than the median income for the area.

Guest:

Roberto Jimenez, CEO of Seattle’s Social Housing Developer

Links:

KUOW: Why someone earning over $100,000 could qualify for Seattle’s affordable housing

Seattle Times: Seattle’s social housing developer struggles with ‘growing pains’

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No name, lots of game: Women's pro hockey comes to Seattle Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Seattle hockey fans rejoice! There is a new professional women’s team to root for, starting this fall.

The name of the team? Well … that’s yet to be determined, but there are many things we DO know about this upcoming third season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

This year, for the first time, the league is expanding into the Pacific Northwest, with teams in Vancouver and Seattle. There’ll now be 8 teams total vying for the “Walter Cup.”

And things are moving FAST at PWHL Seattle: Players have been drafted, head coach Steve O’Rourke has been hired.

There’s still a lot to be figured out, and the person making many of those decisions will be the new general manager Meghan Turner, who was the assistant GM of the Boston Fleet before being tapped for the head job here in Seattle.

Guest: Meghan Turner, General Manager of PWHL Seattle

Related Links:

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Producer Picks: Pacific Drive, Ren Faire, MoPop, and the Weekend Warmup Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

Soundside is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week.

Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show.

Relevant Links:

WEEKEND WARMUP LINKS:

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Producer Picks: Oakville Blobs, Bee Food, and Foosball Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

Soundside is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week.

Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show.

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.

Relevant Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's Producer Picks: Know Your Rights and The History of Seattle Rap Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

It's summer vacation week on Sounside. But that doesn't mean we're out of your podcast feed.

Senior producer Gabrielle Healy shares some of her favorite recent Soundside segments.

We’re talking about everything from the unsung heroes of the early Seattle rap scene with music writer Novocaine132 to your rights if you encounter ICE.

Plus, Seattle Eats talks about the Emerald City's best slice of pizza.

Guests

Novocaine132, author of "The Birth of Seattle Rap."
Henry Hwang, a directing attorney for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's producer picks: Seattle's Civic Poet, Deciding to See, and hummingbird bills Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

Soundside is taking a break this week. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week.

Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show.

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.

Relevant Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear it again: Finding a 'Storybook Ending' with Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic Jul 04, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever walked into a bookstore, lonely and single, and hoped you’d meet the love of your life?

We know there are at least a few of you out there.

That's part of the setup for Moira Macdonald’s debut novel “Storybook Ending.” It’s a story about loneliness, friendship, reading – and of course, the singular pleasure of spending time between the shelves of a cozy book shop in Seattle.

The spot in question, titled “Read the Room”, is based on Ravenna’s Third Place Books, one of Macdonald's regular haunts.

We talk to Macdonald, the longtime Seattle Times arts critic, about writing her novel, her recommendations for great summer reads and Seattle's best movie theaters.

And a note - this conversation first aired in June.

Guest

Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times arts critic and debut novelist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From security deposits to pet fees, here are your rights as a Seattle renter Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

From new statewide legislation freezing rent hikes at up to 10 percent for most tenants, to the Seattle City Council banning the use of algorithmic rent fixing, there's a lot of news to keep in mind if you’re a renter or a landlord.

And summer is moving season – prompting lots of questions about the rights for renters regarding repairs, fees and beyond. We review some frequently asked questions for renters in Seattle.

Guest

Teo Popescu, design, graphics, and data editor at KUOW

Note: KUOW's explainer serves as an overview of the most frequently asked questions about renter rights in Seattle. For a complete guide, review the Seattle renters handbook and the Seattle renters resource page, visit nonprofits like the Tenants Union, or call the Renting in Seattle helpline at: 206-684-5700.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - INDEPENDENCE DAY EDITION Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Libby may be out today, but … We’ve made it to the end of the work week!

And since tomorrow is a holiday, you’re probably trying to figure out what to do with a whole THREE DAYS of free time in front of you… But don’t worry, I’ve got the big list of everything to do on the 4th of July and BEYOND!

WELCOME to the Weekend Warmup!

LINKS:

FIREWORKS!!!
- Arlington — Quake Park 10 p.m.
- Bellevue — Downtown Park 10:05 p.m.
- Carnation — Remlinger Farms 9:45 p.m.
- Everett — Port Gardner Bay 10:15 p.m.
- Federal Way — Celebration Park 10:15 p.m.
- Kenmore — Log Boom Park 10 p.m.
- Kent — Lake Meridian Park 10 p.m.
- Kingston — Mike Wallace Park 10:15 p.m.
- Marysville — Ebey Waterfront Park 10 p.m.
- Sammamish — Sam. Commons 10 p.m.
- Seattle — Lake Union 10:15 p.m.
- Snoqualmie — Community Park 9:45 p.m.
- Steilacoom — offshore 10:30 p.m.
- Tacoma — Ruston Way 10 p.m.
- Tumwater — Tumwater Valley Golf 10:15 p.m.
PARADES!
- Arlington — 5 p.m. (kids 4:30 p.m.)
- Bainbridge Island — 1 p.m.
- Bothell — 12 p.m. (kids 11:15 a.m.)
- Burien — 11 a.m.
- Carnation — 11:30 a.m. (kids 11 a.m.)
- Dupont — 10 a.m.
- Edmonds — 12 p.m. (kids 11:30 a.m.)
- Enumclaw — noon
- Everett — 11 a.m.
- Issaquah — 11 a.m.
- Kingston — 12 p.m.
- Kirkland — 12 p.m. (kids 11:30 a.m.)
- Tumwater — 11 a.m.
Seattle Center’s 40th Annual Naturalization Ceremony
Civic Engagement! Write your elected officials!
SPORTS!
- Seattle Mariners vs Pittsburgh Pirates
- Seattle Sounders vs Columbus Crew
Pioneer Square Fest
Fairhaven Chicken Festival - Bellingham
The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WA lawmakers weigh in on Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

The Senate passed the Big Beautiful Bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives for a final vote on Donald Trump’s sweeping spending package.Aside from extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, the legislation includes cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, caps on student loans, and higher fees on people going through the legal immigration process. It also increases spending on defense and border security, limits taxes on workers who earn tips and increases the child tax credit.Republican lawmakers are quickly trying to pass the bill by July 4, when Trump said he wants to see it on his desk.Soundside checked in with a few Seattle-area Congress members who are trying to stop the bill from passing into law.

Guests:

Suzan DelBene represents Washington’s 1st congressional district and chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Pramila Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th congressional district.

Related stories:

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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