📚 What Seattle read this year

Conditions Deteriorating in ICE Tacoma Facility

Washington congress members have warned that conditions are worsening for detainees in the ICE facility in Tacoma. The number of detainees has doubled since Trump took office, and has surpassed its bedcount. A letter from Senator Patty Murray to ICE Director Todd Lyons lays out the concerns: at least 3 pregnant women have not received medical care, there have been 2 suicide attempts since April, and attorneys have had to wait up to 6 hours to see their clients. ICE has until January 16 to respond. [KUOW]

• Increased ICE Arrests in Washington: Over the summer and into the fall, ICE arrested over 900 people in Washington state, which far surpassed the 1000 people arrested from January to July. Only 31% had criminal charges, which was supposedly the reason for all the arrests. Infamously, one detainee (with no criminal convictions) was mauled by a dog and was denied medical care for hours. [WA State Standard]
• Community Responds to ICE Kidnapping: On Sunday, community members in New Holly went door-to-door to inform residents about their rights after a recent ICE kidnapping in their area. The video of the apprehension spread quickly over social media. [South Seattle Emerald]
• Know Your Rights: The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network has a flier in multiple languages that can provide crucial information to those facing immigration enforcement.
• Farmworkers Forced to Work Through Flood: The WA Dept. of Labor is investigating two Skagit Valley Farms that may have forced workers to continue working through evacuation orders last week. Knutzen Farms did not have workers in the evacuation zone, but Skagit Valley Farms is still under investigation. In 2021, a farmworker drowned in the Whatcom County Floods while driving to work. [KUOW]

Katie Wilson Names Angela Brady as Transport Czar 🚆

City Cast Contributor Ryan Packer has the scoop on Katie Wilson naming Angela Brady as the new interim director of Seattle Department of Transportation. According to Ryan’s piece in The Urbanist, Brady is a somewhat controversial pick at a critical time for working with Sound Transit, owing to the $34 billion shortfall that could slow delivery of Seattle’s planned light rail lines. Wilson, who is the former head of the Transit Riders Union, has made transportation a key priority of her administration. [The Urbanist]

We Love To See Artists Get Money 🎻

Seattle-based music nonprofit Sonic Guild Seattle has given $10,000 to 10 local artists. Sonic Guild Seattle was started during the pandemic and has directly distributed over $650,000 in direct payments (👏) to artists since it began. We love to see artists supported. [KNKX]

The Most Popular Books, According to Seattle Public Library 📚

Here is what our friends at Seattle Public Library say were the top three most popular fiction books of the year: Three Days in June, James, and Wild Dark Shore. If you’ve read all of these, congrats, you have great taste. For more book recommendations, check out our picks from local authors. [Seattle Times]

North Seattle, Run Your Faucet Before Washing or Drinking🚰

Seattle Public Utilities is doing some work in North Seattle that may make your drinking water discolored. Check this map to see if your neighborhood is affected (the orange is a gross touch), and here’s what to do if you encounter cloudy water.

Where To Eat On Christmas Day! 🍽️

Not in a cooking mood? Who can blame you? We found a list of restaurants that will be open on Christmas. After dinner, why not go see a movie? The best way to spend Christmas IMO. [Seattle Times]