Latest Press Releases

  • Report: Unplanned Oil Refinery Closures Cost Communities Big

    Thousands of jobs, millions of tax dollars, delayed or avoided site cleanups: lessons from seven US communities should urge WA leaders to plan ahead.
    December 1, 2022

    MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Moore, emily@sightline.org   Since 2019 seven oil refineries have closed across the United States, almost all without warning, leading to the loss of more than 3,400 high-paying jobs and $21 million in forgone tax revenue annually in the communities that hosted them. At the same time, most of the oil companies that own […]

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  • Analysis: Alaska’s Early Midterm Election Results Show a Possible Way Out of Political Extremism

    With voters feeling free to cross party lines, moderation will likely win the day  
    November 22, 2022

    For Release: November 22, 2022 Media Contact: Jeannette Lee, Senior Researcher and Alaska Lead jeannette@sightline.org, @JLee907  ANCHORAGE, AK—The results from Alaska’s first ranked choice election are set to be announced at 4:00 PM AST, on Wednesday, November 23 (8:00 PM EST). By now, though, Alaska’s Division of Elections has counted a sufficient number of first-round […]

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  • Analysis: Alaska Voters Had More Choice in 2022 Statewide Elections

    Open primaries and ranked choice voting likely helped spur a larger, more diverse candidate pool and competition for all statewide primary races.
    November 7, 2022

    For Immediate Release: November 4, 2022 Media Contacts: Jeannette Lee, Senior Researcher and Alaska Lead jeannette@sightline.org, @JLee907 ANCHORAGE, AK – Alaskans this year had a larger, more diverse, and competitive statewide candidate pool to vote on, coinciding with the introduction of the state’s new election system using open primaries and ranked choice voting. That’s according […]

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  • Troutdale Says Tax-Funded Housing Project Is Designed with Too Many Homes

    The city’s planning commission ruled last month that 103 parking spaces was not enough for 94 planned affordable housing units
    October 21, 2022

    For Immediate Release: October 21, 2022 Media Contact: Michael Andersen, Senior Researcher, Housing Program michael@sightline.org, @andersem TROUTDALE, OR – The City of Troutdale, a city that has far more residents living on low incomes than low-priced homes, has rejected Home Forward’s offers to redesign their project in ways that would retain all 94 planned units. […]

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  • Is Anchorage Suffering from a Parking Glut?

    The Anchorage Assembly is considering an update to the city’s code to offer parking reduction options, but it might not go far enough
    October 10, 2022

    For Immediate Release: October 10, 2022 Media Contacts: Jeannette Lee, Senior Researcher and Alaska Lead jeannette@sightline.org, @JLee907 Catie Gould, Transportation Researcher catie@sightline.org, @Citizen_Cate ANCHORAGE, AK – The Anchorage Assembly is considering an update that would give property owners and developers options for obtaining parking reductions. But does it go far enough? The current proposal would […]

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  • The Downsides of Single-winner Districts

    Research shows that single-winner districts invite gerrymandering and worsen housing shortages
    October 3, 2022

    For Immediate Release: October 3, 2022 Media Contacts: Jay Lee, Democracy Researcher jay@sightline.org, @jaylee_tx Michael Andersen, Senior Housing Researcher michael@sightline.org, @andersem The Downsides of Single-winner Districts Research shows that single-winner districts invite gerrymandering and worsen housing shortages  Portland, OR – This afternoon, Councilor Mingus Mapps released an alternate proposal to Measure 26-228, which has been […]

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  • Legal Analysis: Approval Voting Could Face Challenges in Seattle

    September 19, 2022

    For Immediate Release: August 19, 2022 Media Contact: Alan Durning, Founder and Executive Director alandurning@sightline.org SEATTLE, OR – Seattle voters will decide in November whether to adopt approval voting (AV), ranked choice voting (RCV), or no change to their primary election ballots. New analysis by Seattle-based law firm Barnard Iglitzin & Lavitt LLP finds that, while RCV […]

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  • August 16 Is a Big Day for Alaska Voters (with Infographics)

    Ranked choice voting gets its Alaskan debut this month.
    August 1, 2022

    For Immediate Release: August 1, 2022 Media Contacts: Jeannette Lee, Sightline Institute, Senior Researcher & Alaska Lead jeannette@sightline.org, Twitter @JLee907 ANCHORAGE, AK – Ranked choice voting gets its Alaskan debut this month with the special general election. The same ballot will hold both the regular midterm primary election and special general election. The winner of […]

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  • New Report Documents Ten Years of Scrapped Fossil Fuel Projects in Cascadia

    Sightline Institute’s findings describe the trend of 40 thwarted fossil fuel export projects from 55 planned in the region, leaving 6 completed and 9 not yet canceled.
    June 1, 2022

    For Immediate Release: June 1, 2022 Media Contacts: Emily Moore, Sightline Institute, Senior Researcher 206-447-1880 x128, emily@sightline.org Steph Routh, Sightline Institute, Strategic Communications Manager 971-506-8385, steph@sightline.org SEATTLE, WA – Over the past decade, fossil fuel interests proposed dozens of coal, oil, and gas export facilities for the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Though […]

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  • Poll: Strong Majority of Washingtonians Support Middle Housing Options

    New statewide polling finds fully 61% of voters in Washington state support legislation to expand housing types, with 41% strongly supporting.
    February 4, 2022

    For immediate release: February 4, 2022  Contact: Anna Fahey Senior Director, Communications and Campaigns anna@sightline.org, 206-447-1880 x116  Olympia, WA — Three-fifths (61%) of voters in Washington state support legislation that would update zoning to allow more housing types across the state, with two-fifths (41%) expressing they support the law strongly, according to new polling completed […]

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