Futurewise

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Happy Hour on Wednesday! ❤️ Extra special thanks to Transportation Choices Coalition and Hop on Board Seattle for joining us to chat about the Seattle Transit Measure and why access to transit is SO important for our communities.

Our next Happy Hour is coming up on Oct. 7! We’re heading to Capitol Hill for a special (SpOoOoKy) edition. 👻🚲 (There will be PRIZES!)

We hope to see you all there! Learn more & RSVP : https://bit.ly/cccHHoct26

“Hop On Board!” Campaign Kicks Off Transit advocates including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, ATU 587 President Greg Woodfill, and many others, kicked launched the Hop On Board! campaign on Friday (…

BIG NEWS‼️ Futurewise won our Thurston County case!

ICYMI: This summer, Futurewise challenged Thurston County’s newly adopted climate plan on three grounds, arguing that it didn’t meet the requirements of Washington’s new climate planning law.

On Aug. 17, the Growth Management Hearings Board made their decision – and agreed with us on two out of three arguments!

The Board found that Thurston County’s plan fell short of adequately addressing current climate threats with measurable policies, specific actions, or development rules – and doing so equitably.

📌Why this matters:

🔸 This is the first real test of HB 1181, a new law that requires cities and counties to plan for climate change – including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and equitably improving climate resiliency.

🔸 This outcome sets a standard for what that climate planning must look like: measurable policies and actions that are built to work, not just sound right.

🔸 This decision will also benefit our legal team's work across the state. As counties finalize their comprehensive plan updates in the months and years ahead, Futurewise can use this outcome to hold them accountable. We will push for climate planning that includes real, equitable actions.

Read the latest update from Futurewise's legal team on our blog to get the full scoop.

The Board Has Ruled: Aspirational Is Not Enough - Futurewise On August 17, the Growth Management Hearing ruled that Thurston County's climate element does not comply with the GMA. This decision matters well beyond Thurston County. It provides guidance on what compliance with HB 1181 looks like: Climate planning that is built to work, not just sound right.

Our next Seattle Comp Plan happy hour is coming up, and we’re keeping the transit convo going! 🚌 ✨

📆 Wednesday, Sept. 16
🕕 6-7:30pm
📍 Old Stove Brewery in Ballard
🔗 RSVP online now: bit.ly/cccHHsept26

This month, our friends at Transportation Choices Coalition are joining us to discuss their "Hop on Board" campaign to pass the Seattle Transit Measure!

More buses and more homes go hand in hand. We need BOTH to create a more affordable, equitable, and sustainable Seattle. This is a chance to plugged in to this work and learn how you can make an impact.

Grab a drink, come celebrate with the Complete Communities Coalition as we fight for more homes, of more types, in more places, for more people. 🍻💕

September Comp Plan Happy Hour - Futurewise Is Seattle's Comp Plan process currently moving forward? Sadly, no, we are yet again, delayed.

On Monday, we joined Tacoma On the Go for their annual Pedal with Politicians event. 🚲

Director of Local Advocacy Jazmine and Board President Angela joined the 4-mile ride to learn about Tacoma’s new and upcoming bike infrastructure, meet local elected officials, and talk about how we can make biking safer, more connected, and sustainable in the region. This was also the first time the event went outside the downtown area and explored different Tacoma neighborhoods.

While we’ve made strides in transit-oriented development, there’s still work to do. We were thrilled to see the new bike lanes and safer streets already put into motion, and we're excited to see the new routes to come!

🚆 Jazmine took the Sounder and T Line from Seattle to Tacoma for the ride – and on both, bike and scooter demand exceeded the allotted space. The people need (& want) more bike infrastructure!

As Pierce County considers the Keep Pierce Moving levy to increase frequency and expand service areas, we also need to increase safe bike infrastructure for bicyclists and multimodal transit users alike.

Thank you for having us, Tacoma On the Go!

Want to help tackle the housing crisis? Eager to get Washington to move away from fossil fuels? Want to build walkable cities and protect Washington’s nature and farms? Join Futurewise as our next Campaign Events Intern!

🗓️ October 2026 to May 2027
🕙 Average of 10-15 hrs/week
📍 Remote with recommended in-person events (including our Jan. Lobby Day in Olympia!)
➡️ Learn more and apply: https://futurewise.org/campaign-events-intern/

The Campaign Events Intern will work with Futurewise staff and volunteers to build a grassroots statewide campaign around Washington's 2027 legislative session. They will work assist the State Organizer in planning and executing major campaign events, including campaign kickoff, annual Lobby Day, and post-session celebration.

This is a great opportunity for someone with a passion for making the world a better place who wants to take their education and skills-building beyond the classroom.

Priority deadline is September 18 by 5pm, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

This month, join us at Hellbent Brewery with our friends at Share the Cities and District 5 Seattle Council candidate Nilu Jenks. Come gather with friends, get your comp plan updates, and find out how you can join our quest to get more housing, of more types, in more places, for more people!

✨✨ Post-Session Celebration! ✨✨

Legislators adjourn today, and Futurewise is celebrating a successful session for our bills! Bring a friend or come to connect with your neighbors, we’ll be celebrating at Hellbent Brewing next Wednesday at 6!

Futurewise Meet & Greet Happy March, y'all! With the next Phase of our Comp Plan underway, our focus will be shifted to upzoning in "Centers and Corridors", otherwise known as Neighborhood Centers and Transit Corridors. Upzoning in these areas is one way that we can boost transit, give way for more trees, grow small busine...

With the days dwindling in here's what's left to pass of our priority agenda this year:
🏡 STEP Housing - HB 2266
🛗 Smaller Elevators - SB 5156
🛤️ Rural Freight + Sprawl - SB 5820
🏘️ Rural ADU regulations - HB 1345

And we'll be working right up until the final deadline! More on the blog

Legislative Update Week 8: Last Chance to Get Our Bills Across - Futurewise Happy March! Do you feel like February flew by in a blink? We do. This short 60-day session is in its final two weeks, and we’ve got a few bills left to pass.

The sun is coming back out 🤞 and so are we, and we need volunteers (for Saturday!)

We’re out at farmers markets talking to neighbors about the Comprehensive Plan, and how the public can impact the city’s vision and planning for OUR future.
We need your help! Learn more and sign up for a volunteer shift for a market near you-
https://futurewise.salsalabs.org/FebruaryandMarchCCCTabling