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Mossback

Remembering Booth Gardner: A people's politician and an advocate for dignity

Sat, Mar 16, 4:28 p.m.

By Knute Berger

Booth Gardner's death from Parkinson's complications is a reminder of his compelling personal presence and his last great political struggle.

The importance of seeing the Space Needle

Tue, Mar 12, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

The economic and cultural case for preserving public sightlines to the city's biggest landmark.

South Lake Union and the boom-town blame game

Mon, Mar 11, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Look out, preservationists. The developers are here to transform the city for density, and they have their attorneys ready to make you just get out of their way.

Haste leads WSDOT to bungle big projects

Tue, Mar 5, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Overpriced ferries that list, cracked bridge pontoons. Can we trust transportation officials to manage the Tunnel and other major construction coming our way?

It really will toll for thee

Mon, Feb 25, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

This whole tolling thing is pretty new to Washington. The state DOT is looking for a "Tolling Auditor" who can show us how to it right.

Seattle declares goal of sustainability--in 1863!

Thu, Feb 21, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Read the city's first newspaper, published 150 years ago, and you'll find a town talking rain, coffee, growth, coal, and sustainability. Really.

State of the City: McGinn speaks from political strength

Tue, Feb 19, 9:36 p.m.

By Knute Berger

A smooth and confident mayor spins an inspiring tale of success and togetherness in 2013 Seattle.

The next Seattle mayor needs to be a puzzlemaster

Mon, Feb 18, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Billions of dollars in new public projects will be coming online in the next four years. The mayor will have to orchestrate it all.

Send in the cranes: Mega projects pack Seattle's construction pipeline

Mon, Feb 18, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

A laundry list of major building awaits Seattle's next mayor. Can you say $16 billion?

The Seattle drone rebellion

Thu, Feb 14, 7 p.m.

By Knute Berger

It's not just the little flying helicopters McGinn banished last week. Seattleites are also saying no to the drone-training regimen known as standardized testing.

How Gas Works Park shapes the Northwest today

Fri, Feb 1, 1:38 p.m.

By Knute Berger

The National Register of Historic Places has just honored the repurposed park. No wonder: The Seattle project started a whole new way of preserving and building on the past for the entire region.

'Ramps to Nowhere': Erasing Seattle's pro-transit past

Thu, Jan 31, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

How the doomed "Ramps to Nowhere" led to somewhere: a better Seattle.

The Other MOHAI

Thu, Jan 24, 6 p.m.

By Knute Berger

Behind the scenes at the Museum of History and Industry's secret Georgetown location.

Gun control is not a four-letter word

Thu, Jan 24, 5 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Somewhere between fearing guns and fearing those around you, there is a healthy respect for weapons. Knute Berger will meet you there.

A dream arena?

Wed, Jan 23, 1 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Looks really do matter. A first look at design for a new SoDo sports arena that will help shape Seattle's skyline for the long run.

READ MORE | 42 COMMENTS

Knute "Skip" Berger is Mossback. In addition to writing for Crosscut, he is editor-at-large and columnist for Seattle magazine and a regular guest of Weekday with Steve Scher on NPR affiliate KUOW-FM (94.9). In 2011, he was named Writer-in-Residence at the Space Needle and is author of Space Needle, The Spirit of Seattle (2012), the official 50th anniversary history of the tower. He won the Washington State Historic Preservation Officer's Annual Media Award for his coverage of heritage issues for Crosscut in 2008. He is the author of Pugetopolis: A Mossback takes on Growth Addicts, Weather Wimps and the Myth of Seattle Nice (2009). A Seattle native, Berger has long been a writer and editor for local magazines and newspapers. He was editor-in-chief of Seattle Weekly, founding editor and publisher of Eastsideweek, and editor of Washington and Adventure Travel magazines. He worked for the Hope Heart Institute and the Washington State Centennial Commission. He lives in Seattle.