As a writer, I can become a bit self-absorbed, lost in my own thoughts, focused on my own work. I am grateful to Crosscut for indulging me. I’ve been writing for the website since Day One in 2007 and getting to explore the city and region, our politics, heritage and ways of living within its pages is a true gift. It’s a gift from smart and tolerant editors, our sponsors, donors and members, and you, our readers.
Crosscut also comes with great colleagues. I’m not only a Crosscut writer, but like you I’m a Crosscut reader — and I don’t want to be without it.
This past week I’ve been editing the work of our Olympia political reporter, John Stang, who is a one-man wire service. John is a dogged researcher — he goes to the hearings and does the interviews you and I don’t have time for. He follows the agendas, hidden and public, and every day he brings us some new tidbit, insight or story about how the laws (and the sausage) are made. I don’t feel like I have a handle on Olympia as it unfolds during the Legislative session without a daily dose of Stang.
And there’s Robert Mak, formerly of KING-TV, who is now running his own show, Top Story, and is part of Crosscut’s political coverage team. His work is a regular feature here. Robert does superb interviews and overviews on topics — he’s fair, informed and asks the essential questions. I tossed out my TV when it all went digital, but I watch on my computer. Mak’s reports are essential viewing. His recent piece, “The Legislature that Shoots Together Works Together?", on Republican and Democrats going to the gun range together was great video, especially the footage of blind state Sen. Cyrus Habib firing a rifle.
There are tons of other stories and contributors I could cite, but a few recent works by Crosscut writers come to mind as fun, informative and essential:
Drew Atkins on how coders are working on hacks that could help Seattle’s enormous traffic problems; David Kroman’s ongoing coverage of Bertha; Chris Vance’s recent commentary, “Missing the Point on McCleary,” about the state's duty to resolve education funding.
I loved the insightful architect Mark Hinshaw’s piece on the “Downtown Bicycle Revival Circus” and share some of his private nostalgia for the way Second Avenue used to be. There’s Glenn Nelson’s story (and photos and video) on the spring birdwatching craziness, “Owls Bring out the Cuckoo in Bird Lovers,” and Katy Sewalls’ about the 8-year-old girl who trades gifts with crows. (Yes, I am a bird lover too.)
My point is that every day, every week, Crosscut collects a terrific, one-of-a-kind batch of stories — via the written word, video and podcast — and delivers a not-for-profit, non-partisan news service that I can’t live without as a consumer of local news, opinion and ideas.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting the good work being done here by making a donation today so we can meet our goals and keep going.
