News Yesterday 4:30 PM

The Call Is Coming from Outside the House

Contribution Records Show Most of the Money Funding Prop 1B Isn’t Even from Seattle

Who wants to crush a big business tax in Seattle? Turns out, it’s not Seattleites. 

Next Tuesday, Seattle voters will finish voting on Proposition 1, our first shot at a social housing model. The original proposition—1A on your ballot—proposes a tax on businesses whose employees take home more than $1 million a year. That tax would fund the Seattle Social Housing Developer, which would acquire and build housing that would reliably serve Seattleites who make anywhere from 0 to 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), while guaranteeing that everyone’s rent is 30 percent of their income. (We like this idea and think you should vote for it.)

Unsurprisingly, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce isn’t stoked on a new tax on businesses and raised a campaign against it—1B on your ballot—which would attempt to pull from Jumpstart funds (which are already earmarked for entirely different types of low-income housing) and undermines the funding model that makes this social housing so unique. 

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In this week’s batch of ticket drops, The Weeknd has extended his three-years-running After Hours Til Dawn Tour, adding a summer date at Lumen Field. Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan are bringing their Outlaw Music Festival back to the Gorge this summer with Billy Strings, Lake Street Dive, Sierra Hull, and Lily Meola. Plus, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier's Unreal Unearth tour comes to Seattle this August. Read on for details on those and other newly announced events, plus some news you can use.

ON SALE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7

MUSIC

Amigo The Devil
The Crocodile (Sun June 1)

anees - Homesick Tour 2025
Showbox SoDo (Wed May 7)

Black Country, New Road
Moore Theatre (Sat May 24)

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News Yesterday 1:15 PM

The Comp Plan Committee Public Comment Hearing Was a Warzone

NIMBYs, YIMBYs, and Everything in Between as Seattle’s Housing Saga Unfolds

At 4 p.m. yesterday, advocates for increased housing density gathered at City Hall to attend a pre-public comment rally organized by the Housing Development Consortium (HDC). By the time this eternally tardy journalist arrived, at 4:15 p.m., they dispersed, hastily queuing up inside to sign up for public comment in front of the city’s Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan, which began at 5 p.m. 

City Hall security had wisely cordoned off chambers, directing attendees to line up in the main lobby level, rather than allowing a crowd to crush in. I say wisely because the line sprawled out from a large, zigzag queue at the bottom of the grand staircase to chambers, winding around to the coffee stand, back to the information desk, and down the long east hallway to nowhere.

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EverOut Yesterday 10:00 AM

Celebrate Valentine's Day 2025 at These Lovely Seattle Events

Date Nights, Dance Parties, and More

Whether you’re celebrating romantic, platonic, or familial love this Valentine’s Day this year, we’ve got notes on where to grab gifts for your sweetie, where to have a spicy date night, and more. If nothing here strikes your fancy, check out our guide to restaurants offering Valentine's Day menus and specials, or check out our complete Valentine's Day guide to browse all the options for yourself.

Big Hearted // Artists and Makers Market
Nothing quite says "I love you" like trying on oversized vintage jackets and complimenting each other. The Georgetown Trailer Park Mall is celebrating love for your friends, foes, and local crafters every weekend in February with the theme "Big Hearted." Pick out the perfect gift for your special someone(s), and don't forget to stop by Shotgun Ceremonies if you're looking to get hitched in what might be the only shipping container wedding chapel in the country. SHANNON LUBETICH
Georgetown Trailer Park Mall, Georgetown (Various dates between Feb 8–23)

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I, Anonymous Yesterday 9:48 AM

Nicecapades

To the person whose car I hit today.

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I must begin the morning with Trump (I will later dig into Musk). At present, it's almost impossible to keep up with his outrages, and, in some sense, this is impressive. He is not a young man, but his determination to make sure that "hell is empty" is, to say the least, Herculean.  He began the week by threatening important trading partners with tariffs that would tank the North American economy in short order; then he announced a plan that would displace 2 million Palestinians and, in the process, turn the entire US government into a gargantuan gentrifier. I have no idea what this manic man will do today or tomorrow. But what I do know is that Trump is not doing his job, which is mostly boring. He refuses to do the regular, dull, and technical stuff (the stuff that preoccupied Biden), because, of course, this would keep him busy and out of the news.

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WEDNESDAY 2/5 

Neko Case in Conversation with Cheryl Waters

(MUSIC/BOOKS) If you don't follow PNW-born treasure Neko Case on Instagram, then do yourself a favor and click that "follow" button. She documents her life in rural Vermont with a sincerity and rawness that few famous people display these days. There, you can expect to find a casual snap of her dinner, a blurry photo of her hair, and a trove of pet photos. Because of her delightfully authentic presence and poetic songwriting, I’m not surprised that she has released a memoir. Told in lyrical prose, The Harder I Fight the More I Love You recounts the story of Case's upbringing as a lonely creative child growing up in Tacoma. She will swing through Seattle to chat with KEXP's Cheryl Waters about the new book. (Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 7:30 pm, $10–$35 with the option to add-on a book purchase, all ages) AUDREY VANN

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Whether you're rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles, or you're just in it for the commercials and halftime show, one thing's for sure: Being prepared with an arsenal of snacks is absolutely imperative for your Super Bowl game-day viewing. We've gathered a list of hearty options, from hoagies to wings. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide.

Lariat Bar
What better place to experience the theatrics of the Super Bowl than Seattle's premiere (and sole) pro wrestling-themed bar? Lariat promises to supply free wings, Super Bowl squares, halftime games, and more.
White Center
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Columns Wed 2:00 PM

The Mystery of the Four Bobs

Who is Governor Ferguson and Why Isn’t He Down to Tax the Rich? 

Between his budget priorities and his inaugural address, incoming Governor Bob Ferguson has put progressives on edge since officially assuming office last month. Democratic legislators were just gearing up to fix the state’s major budget shortfall by raising new progressive revenue, a plan of a piece with Inslee’s parting proposal late last year. Then in rides Ferguson, slashing his sabre at the wealth tax and trumpeting words like “lean,” “efficiencies,” “hard choices,” and “right-size.” 

Ferguson’s plan leads with cuts and refuses to contemplate new revenue until “we have exhausted efforts to improve efficiency.” And his inaugural address? In the words of Paul Query at The Washington Observer: “The most interesting part of it was how Republican it sounded.”

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News Wed 12:00 PM

"They Attack Your Identity, Your Family, Your Ancestors": Disenrolled Nooksack Families on Their Battle for Identity

After Years of Legal and Political Challenges, Disenrolled Members Hope Their Struggle Will Shape Future Generations

In February 2013, Michelle Roberts was in Deming, Washington, 15 miles south of the Canadian border.  At the time, as a member of the federally-recognized Nooksack tribe, she lived in tribal housing, on tribal land, and worked in human resources for the Nooksack Tribal Gaming Agency. But on Valentine's Day of that year, all of that was threatened: She and more than 250 others received notice that, unless they contested it before the tribal council, their tribal membership would be revoked. The Nooksack leader at the time, Chairman Robert “Bob” Kelly Jr. said in a statement that those removed were “non-Indians who had erroneously been enrolled in the Tribe.” 

The families—who became known as the Nooksack 306—fought against their disenrollment for more than 10 years in a battle that traversed histories, adoptions, and the definitions of identity. However, last year, the day after last Thanksgiving, the thing they were fighting became a reality: Several families started being formally evicted from their homes under the Nooksack Housing Authority. Today, the Nooksack families feel like they have exhausted their options, but they hope generations to come with learn from what they see as a grave mistake. 

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Love and Sex Issue 2025 Wed 11:15 AM

The Stranger’s Love & Sex Issue

Available at Hundreds of Locations All over the City!

On January 20, as Trump was being sworn in to begin his second term of terror, I was focused on one thing: Love.

Instead of watching the Inauguration, reading the news, doom-scrolling social media, or coddling my brain with new episodes of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, I read through hundreds and hundreds of love notes submitted by Stranger readers to Stranger readers. At the start of the year, we put out the call for our free reader valentines, a tradition that has been around for something like 25 years, and you came through in spades, sending sweet messages to your partners, friends, family, kids, and pets.

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Love and Sex Issue 2025 Wed 11:00 AM

2025 Sex Survey Results

Threesomes and Orgies Continue to Rise, Top Population Continues to Sink, and Seattle Is Only Medium-Horny for Luigi

Illustrations by Pete Gamlen

Seeing how 2024 was rife with bullshit, I expected the results of our annual sex survey to echo that same dread. It’s hard to get horny in the midst of a terrifying political shitstorm, after all. But despite it all, nearly 3,000 of you beautiful people took the time to answer all our nosey questions, and the results have left us feeling warm and fuzzy with optimism. 

Compared to last year’s numbers, more of you are more satisfied with the amount of sex you’re having, fewer of you are keeping your kinks and fetishes from your partners, and the number of you in your preferred relationship—single vs. monogamous vs. in a polycule, for example—has increased. You’re having more boat sex, too! Plus, numbers are up for threesomes and orgies, which we count as a win because year after year, without fail, those are the two activities that top the majority of your “One sex act I want to do before I die…” lists. Dreams do come true.

It’s not all good, I suppose. The number of tops continues to decline (supporting Seattle’s reputation for running ’em all out of town), y’all are only 5/10 horny for Luigi Mangione (baffling!), and, for some reason, 2% of you are Republican, Libertarian, or MAGA. Gross.

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If pure evil were a basketball team, it’s now officially racked up enough victories over the past few days to be considered the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the late 90s. But don’t despair [insert some delusionally optimistic sounding nonsense bastardized from a Mel Robbins TikTok that still allows you to hold a shred of dignity]. Now is the time to be stalwart, not think of expatriating! [Note: We’re totally fucked. Double-check Asana for the time of Thursday’s Costa Rican citizenship meeting].

Weather: What exactly can I tell you that you can't already see looking outside your window? There’s snow! Icy streets have already caused multiple crashes and spin outs across King County, so if you absolutely have to hit the road this morning, please be careful! Scattered snow showers will continue throughout the morning before the temperature rises ever so slightly, bringing rain. Seattle public schools are all going remote instruction today with a two-hour delay. 

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Queer Tue 6:05 PM

Seattle Children’s Postpones Trans Teen’s Surgery Indefinitely

Hospital Staff Told Family It Was to Comply with Trump Order

Seattle Children’s Hospital postponed a transgender teen’s masculinizing top surgery only hours before it was scheduled allegedly to comply with one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting health care access for trans people under the age of 19. The family says it’s unclear if or when the procedure would be rescheduled.

According to the family, hospital staff called their 16-year-old son Monday evening and explained the hospital had postponed his surgery in accordance with Trump’s executive order banning all federal support for gender-affirming care for trans people under the age of 19, which among many things, threatens to withhold federal funds from hospitals that provide such care.

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Music Tue 12:50 PM

The Love of Hiphop

A Brief History of Desire, Lust, and Longing in Rap

Illustrations by Jordan Kay

The early ’80s were not exactly the best time for love and romance in rap. And with good reason. Most of the rappers, in a genre that was just 10 years old, were male and fresh out of puberty (if not still in it). The surge of women (or mature) rappers had to wait for the second half of the ’80s: MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and more. But in the beginning, rap was, to be frank, a boyz-to-men affair: Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Boogie Down Productions, Eric B and Rakim, and LL Cool J. As a consequence, expressions of sensitivity, affection, and longing were all but banned.

Permissible were raps about women being “crafty” (Beastie Boys), or “dumb” (Run-DMC), or “sophisticated bitch[es]” (Public Enemy). Then, out of the blue, LL Cool J (as in: Ladies Love Cool James Todd Smith) dropped “I Need Love.” This 1987 track, this confession, this expression of vulnerability from a rapper who, at age 17, claimed to be “as hard as hell” (“Rock the Bells”) and mocked Prince and Michael Jackson for being wusses, was now 19 and “alone in [his] room” longing for “a girl who’s as sweet as a dove.” This admission shook the rap world to its core. Love was now in the house, and there was no way of throwing it back out the door. It was here to stay. 

The list we present here of love’s movement through nearly four decades of a musical form that’s still, admittedly, dominated by hetero men, is by no means comprehensive. What we do here is provide 20 tracks that, in our estimate, are all up in it. 

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