Crosscut most recent
Posted Sat, Nov 7, 8 a.m.
By Knute Berger
It's been a tough year for books and words, but one bright spot was the effort to bring back a Seattle book festival. Some saw the event as a great first effort, others as a fiasco.
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Posted Tue, Nov 3, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
The dispute over an event at West Seattle's Lincoln Park unleashes a "cycle" of anger. Once again, parks make good battlefields.
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16 COMMENTS
Posted Fri, Oct 30, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
Even a Seattle liberal can get that "not in Kansas anymore" feeling about a visit to Eugene, Ore.
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6 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Oct 28, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
I have no answer yet about how to vote in the Seattle mayor's race. Like a lot of people, I'm still working it out.
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25 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Oct 21, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
One reason not to vote early in Seattle: From here to election day is an eternity, especially with two mayoral candidates like Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn.
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9 COMMENTS
Posted Tue, Oct 20, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
A new study shows Seattle-area tunnel projects are very likely to break the budget. But the nature of most mega-projects also suggests the Viaduct surface option wouldn't be exempt from cost problems either.
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36 COMMENTS
Posted Sun, Oct 18, noon
By Knute Berger
Seattle's iconic Pioneer Square bookstore might move. It could also close. Tough times bring tough choices for the bookseller, and the neighborhood it has helped to revive.
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9 COMMENTS
Posted Thu, Oct 15, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
Using a state pilot project, the Cascade Land Conservancy has made it possible to preserve historic Hidden Valley Camp for future generations. It's more than a win for holding back sprawl, it also saves an incubator of the Northwest's conservation ethic.
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3 COMMENTS
Posted Mon, Oct 12, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
September's demolition of state landmarks leaves Washington preservationists reeling.
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8 COMMENTS
Posted Thu, Oct 8, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
Mossback's low-cost, low-impact solutions to chronic civic problems.
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6 COMMENTS
Posted Sun, Oct 4, 7:10 p.m.
By Knute Berger
The University of Washington's Nuclear Reactor Building has won a place on the National Historic Register, a key step in saving this wonderfully designed structure from demolition.
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2 COMMENTS
Posted Fri, Oct 2, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
The patron saint of livable, walkable cities is being invoked on both sides of the debate over Seattle's Viaduct solution. Would Jacobs be a tunnel supporter, or a surface option fan?
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28 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Sep 30, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
Not from local hospitals, that's for sure. The city also is undergoing a remarkable surge of foreign-born and refugees.
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19 COMMENTS
Posted Mon, Sep 28, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
A new study shows how many people are following the Northwest's lead of turning into religious skeptics and non-joiners.
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1 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Sep 23, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
The Seattle School District is considering lowering its graduation requirements and giving diplomas to "D" students. I know first-hand that some good can come from a lousy grade.
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10 COMMENTS
Posted Mon, Sep 21, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
Backyard cottage housing is a benefit, not a threat, to single family neighborhoods, and in keeping with the values that shaped Seattle. Let's have more.
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17 COMMENTS
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
Seattle has a great international brand, but locally, the Emerald City image is tarnished. New leadership could give us a fresh start.
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24 COMMENTS
Posted Tue, Sep 15, 6 a.m.
By Knute Berger
The Future Shack awards suggest some design principles that could help us shape the city and region for the better.
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8 COMMENTS
Posted Thu, Sep 10, 10:03 p.m.
By Knute Berger
The first face-off of Seattle's mayoral candidates offered contrasts, but no aha! moments.
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5 COMMENTS
Posted Wed, Sep 9, 9:24 p.m.
By Knute Berger
An art exhibit in Port Angeles displays creative responses to the Cascadia dream.
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4 COMMENTS
Knute "Skip" Berger is Mossback. In addition to writing and blogging for Crosscut, he is editor-at-large of
Seattle magazine, political columnist for
Washington Law & Politics, and a regular guest of
Weekday with Steve Scher on NPR affiliate
KUOW-FM (94.9). A Seattle native, Berger has long been a writer and editor for local magazines and newspapers. Most recently, he was editor-in-chief of Village Voice Media's
Seattle Weekly from 2002 to 2006, where he wrote the award-winning
Mossback column. Berger has also worked for the Hope Heart Institute, Washington State Centennial Commission, and served as a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster reserve corps. He lives in Seattle.
Duwumps
An early name for Seattle was Duwumps, which reminds us of a time before civic pretension, "world-class" ambitions, and over-priced coffee. In that spirit, this news is collected as an antidote to Seattle hype. If you see stories that aid the cause of Lesser Seattle — or more positively, Greater Duwumps — send them to Mossback.
Blog posts
Posted Sat, Nov 7, 3 p.m.
by
Knute Berger
In Washington, voters showed less anger than a renewed sense of realism.
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Posted Wed, Nov 4, 1:18 p.m.
by
Knute Berger
Or is it the anti-gay, anti-Eyman vote? Interesting election maps on the two statewide measures.
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Posted Tue, Nov 3, 6 p.m.
by
Knute Berger
Washington state's Vancouver is considering a slight but significant name change
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Posted Mon, Nov 2, 2:51 p.m.
by
Knute Berger
A shooting in BC answers the question
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Posted Fri, Oct 30, 3:34 p.m.
by
Knute Berger
Get set for a new name on Northwest maps.
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Posted Mon, Oct 26, 4:07 p.m.
by
Knute Berger
Pro- and anti-tunnel advocates each showcase their disaster scenarios.
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Posted Fri, Oct 23, 10:10 a.m.
by
Knute Berger
That is, if Washington and the U.S. follow suit. The name would enhance but not supplant existing names for inland waters on either side of the border.
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Posted Tue, Oct 20, 11:17 a.m.
by
Knute Berger
One reason not to vote early in Seattle: From here to election day is an eternity, especially with two mayoral candidates like Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn.
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Posted Sun, Oct 18, 3:09 p.m.
by
Knute Berger
Health experts say that "moderate" drinking is practically no drinking at all, but that's not what they show on Mad Men. Nor would it sustain the Northwest economy.
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Posted Mon, Oct 12, 6 a.m.
by
Knute Berger
Despite recession, layoffs and white powder, Seattle publisher Frank Blethen is upbeat about his paper and its prospects.
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