Dick Lilly

Dick Lilly is a former Seattle Times reporter who covered local government from the neighborhoods to City Hall and Seattle Public Schools. He later served as a public information officer and planner for Seattle Public Utilities, with a stint in the mayor’s office as press secretary for Mayor Paul Schell. He has written on politics for Crosscut.com and the Seattle Times as well as Post Alley.

Nice Country, See. Shame if Something were to Happen to it

It’s not politics at all. Oh, there are people around Donald Trump using the power of politics to satisfy or pay off various political interests. But, no, not for...

It Takes a Good Story to Win: The Dems don’t yet have one

The other side had a story.

New Seattle Social Housing for Seattle? Voters Decide Feb. 11 and here’s what’s at Stake

There are some in the local political world who believe that lots of Seattle voters think social housing is low-income housing, something they’re used to voting for in large majorities. But social housing is not low-income housing, at least not primarily.

Reconnecting With Rural America

Seeing all this, you might think small town America is another country and you’d be right, maybe not surprised that folks there feel left out, resentful of the wealth and power accumulated where you came from.

Little Known Fact: Low Income Housing is Finally on the Rise — and Here’s Why

In the last 25 years, as the homelessness problem steadily grew, it became obvious that increasing housing production – many more low-income apartments and houses, too – is the only meaningful path to getting people permanently out of tents and doorways.

The Other America — Poorer, Smaller

Rural America is a long way from Silicon Valley – or any major metro. The employment offered in those areas is pretty much non-existent in rural communities. So, too, the large employment and pay of government centers.Ā 

In Switzerland: Cities Safe for Kids

We have lost some elements of community that once let us feel our children would be safe out in the city on their own. Switzerland has retained that safety.

Book Review: Death and Consequences on Hilo

Eric Redman’s second crime novel set in Hawai’i, ā€œDeath in Hilo,ā€ is better than his first, lots better, and ā€œBones of Hiloā€ which came out in 2021 was itself a strikingly good first novel.

Seattle Needs More Cops and Fewer “Debates”

Simply put, Seattle needs a police department large and smart enough (and openly responsive to review by the city’s Office of Police Accountability and Community Police Commission and others) to investigate and arrest those involved.

Shaken to our Core: AI as a Change Agent

Remember Google’s early motto: ā€œDon’t be evilā€? With superintelligence they might be. And there’s Facebook’s motto, ā€œMove fast and break things.ā€ They’re racing to develop superintelligence and this kind of thinking still animates the tech companies. With AI they’re pretty likely to break things.

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