Seattle City Makers

Getting people off the streets and into housing is one of our city’s most pressing issues. Karen Lee took the reins at Plymouth Housing – one of the region’s largest providers of permanent supportive housing – a little more than a year ago. Jon and Karen discuss the crisis of homelessness, how fentanyl has impacted the community, her time at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and much more. J...

There are few, if any, reporters in Seattle who have operated at the nexus of sports, politics and business quite like Chris Daniels. After cutting his teeth in smaller markets, KOMO 4’s senior reporter, Daniels spent nearly two decades at the local NBC affiliate (KING 5). Jon and Chris discuss his career in broadcast journalism; changes in the industry; the saga of the Seattle Supersonics and the...

EMC Research Senior Principal Andrew Thibault has been conducting public opinion research in Seattle since the mid-90s – he has his finger squarely on the pulse of our city’s electorate. DSA commissioned Andrew and his team to survey likely Seattle voters in May ahead of an extremely crowded City Council primary election with seven of nine seats on the ballot and more than 40 candidates in the fie...

Prior to running for Seattle City Attorney, Ann Davison called the position the “impact seat” – a role that can have a cascading effect on public safety in Seattle. From launching the High Utilizer Initiative to helping craft proposed legislation on public drug use, she’s had a busy first year in the impact seat. Ann and Jon discuss her path to the role of Seattle’s top prosecutor, the fentanyl cr...

He’s responsible for perhaps the greatest urban park renovation in the nation and he’s once again lending his considerable insights to downtown Seattle. The founder of the Bryant Park Corporation, Dan Biederman and his team transformed Manhattan’s Bryant Park from a drug-infested area to be avoided into what is now considered the gold standard of active, vibrant urban public spaces. Time Magazine...

Dominique Davis changes lives. Drawing upon personal background and community relationships, Davis founded Community Passageways in 2017 with the goal of zero youth incarceration. Working on felony diversion and prevention has led to additional community-focused work, including a new effort to deliver safety, intervention and services to people in need along Third Avenue. Jon and Dominique dig int...

In a city with a worldwide reputation for great coffee, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better spot for espresso than the small but mighty Monorail Espresso. Aimee Peck started working at Monorail as a barista in 2008 and she took over the operation just a few years later. Aimee and Jon discussed Monorail Espresso’s origin story, the state of the industry, expansion plans and a truly perfect Sunda...

Pike Place Market is home to 220 stores with doors, 160 crafters, 85 farmers, 450 residents and five social service organizations. How is America’s oldest continuously running farmers market like “a cross between the mafia and a socialist government?” And why is it the most efficient shopping experience in Seattle? In Episode 31 of Seattle City Makers, Pike Place Market PDA Executive Director Mary...

One of the foremost authorities on cities sat down with us for an engaging look at the future of urban areas in this episode of Seattle City Makers. Award-winning Harvard professor, author and economist Ed Glaeser was recently in town for DSA’s annual State of Downtown event. He and Jon discussed Ed’s planned keynote remarks, the resiliency of cities, how to bring vibrancy back to our urban cores,...

A trip to Europe sparked inspiration for Rachel Marshall, and that led to what’s become THE standard by which all ginger beers are measured in Seattle. Her eponymous Rachel’s Ginger Beer began as a stand at a farmers market and 10 years later has four storefront operations. Jon and Rachel mix together Rachel’s origin story, her perspective on running a small business in Seattle, their favorite coc...

There’s no shortage of topics to discuss with this episode’s guest. A fifth-generation Seattleite, City Council member Andrew Lewis represents District 7 at City Hall, which includes downtown Seattle. Jon and Andrew dig into the tensions of the local political landscape, key issues impacting the heart of the city, what he’s hearing from voters and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Sch...

Southern California’s loss has certainly been Seattle’s gain in Eric Tanaka. Academia had him penciled in to design bike trails in the Golden State, but his real passion directed him to a culinary career that has served downtown Seattle since the early 90s. The managing partner at Tom Douglas restaurants, Eric and Jon discussed the state of the industry post-pandemic, his outlook on the city and r...

Our second episode of the year welcomes GeekWire co-founder John Cook to the podcast. A veteran journalist and media outlet co-creator, Cook and his team have grown GeekWire to a go-to national technology news website based in Seattle. Jon and John talk about GeekWire’s evolution, the growth and current status of the tech sector in Seattle, the importance of the office and more. Join us for Seattl...

Our first episode of 2023 focuses on public safety in downtown Seattle with a true authority on the subject – Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz. From a patrol officer in the late 90s to the top brass, Adrian Diaz has 26 years of experience in the department. Jon and Adrian talk about his rise to leadership, current challenges facing the department and the city, what he sees at areas like Third and...

Our final episode of the year digs into one of the most complex issues facing Seattle and other cities across the nation – homelessness – with Pallet Founder and CEO Amy King. From its headquarters in Everett, Washington, Pallet has grown into a national leader in rapid-response housing with villages in more than 100 cities. Jon and Amy discuss how Seattle and King County are faring in the fight a...

As SDOT’s new director, Greg Spotts believes he needs to understand every neighborhood in Seattle. If you follow him on social media, you’ll see he’s certainly making the rounds. Jon and Greg talk about his boots-on-the-ground management style, Greg’s background in the music industry, his vision for connecting the Seattle Streetcar line, mobility in a post-pandemic Seattle and more. Join us for Se...

Bob Donegan has been called the unofficial mayor of Seattle’s central waterfront. This conversation with Ivar's president proves that to be an appropriate moniker. Jon and Bob talk about the economic health of the neighborhood, the impact of the waterfront redevelopment, his advice for our city’s elected leaders, favorite Ivar’s menu items and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes...

It may seem like a cliche, but it’s true: picking up golf can be beneficial for one’s career. But for far too long this powerful networking tool has been wielded predominantly by men in the business world. As Dana Kimble started to love the game, she saw an opportunity to level out the gender imbalance and the Skanska Senior Director of Business Development founded The Pro Shop. Jon and Dana discu...

It’s election season! As you prepare to dig into your ballot, we thought the time was right talk politics with local political and public affairs consultant Sandeep Kaushik. A former journalist, Sandeep has worked on numerous campaigns and ballot measures in the Northwest. Jon and Sandeep dig into local and national races, Seattle’s political landscape, the pivotal 2023 City Council races and more...

If you’ve spent any appreciable time in downtown Seattle over the past 17 years then you’ve likely seen Harold Danley. A longtime member of the DSA/Metropolitan Improvement District’s Clean Team, the last few years have seen Harold behind the wheel of the ATLV, the All-Terrain Litter Vacuum. For nearly two decades Harold has made quick work of keeping the heart of downtown clean. He’s retiring at...

Jon Scholes takes a seat in the guest spot for episode 18 of the Seattle City Makers podcast. Producer James Sido and Jon discuss a business trip to D.C. focused on urban recovery, common issues facing cities across the country, DSA’s vision for Third Avenue and positioning downtown Seattle as a Central Connection District and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest host J...

We’re 17 episodes in and we have our first former candidate for Mayor of Seattle. As you’ll hear from this conversation, Colleen Echohawk has a much deeper and diverse background than her candidacy. The CEO of Eighth Generation, Echohawk has long been an influential voice in the community and previously led the Chief Seattle Club, a Native-led housing and human services agency. Jon and Colleen tal...

Who and what do you trust? It seems like a straightforward question, but as we’ve seen time and again, events and circumstances can shift confidence and beliefs. Each year, Edelman produces the Trust Barometer, a detailed trust and credibility survey about confidence in a few different groups: business, government, media and nonprofits. Jon and Edelman Pacific Northwest General Manager Ryan Cudney...

The word “transformational” is perhaps overused when it comes to public and private development projects. But there are few undertakings in Seattle’s history as transformative as the Waterfront Park redevelopment. As construction kicks into gear on the Overlook Walk and other signature elements of this major makeover, we sit down with the City of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projec...

GardnerGlobal, Inc. founder and CEO Jaebadiah Gardner is in the business of building wealth, with a focus on those who have been traditionally excluded. A developer, fund manager, author and speaker, Gardner’s start in building began with coordinating the installation of a sculpture at the University of Washington. Blocked Out, the first monument to diversity on the campus, was completed in 2005 a...