Avant Gossip

Blighted in Seattle: A Story of Land Grabbing Then and Now

Hope and Jackie talk about blight, aka the city's ability to seize land, and how it enabled Urban Renewal in a post WWII Seattle. They talk about the code enforcement program that was another tool for land grabbing, largely from Black families, and reference the 2021 Seattle Times piece written by Dr. Robert Jeffrey Sr. about the seizure of land from the New Hope Missionary Church.
Bringing it to the now, they talk about City Council's recent bill that allows the fire department to seize vacant land for demolition, pointing to the continuation of Seattle's land grabbing tactics.
They also seed the idea of "running" for the Planning Commission (not an elected office) and ask why orgs like Habitat for Humanity don't step in and help people with building restoration.
Thanks for listening!
xoxo
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Mini: Denny Blaine updates!

Hope and Jackie try to recall their experience when parks was trying to put a playground at a queer nude beach. We get into the leaked texts, the community outcry, the QFC and University Village owner Stuart Sloan of it all. This is a juicy one!
xoxo
We're socialists! Follow us on our socials: @avantgossip on tiktok and instagram
And make sure to rate us 5 stars on Spotify!!!

queer spaces + heterotopia: Denny Blaine Park

episode is 1 hour. Spotify is saying 2 hours 7 min, don't believe the propaganda!
Jackie and Hope ask the hard hitting questions in this gay ass episode. Such as, what are queer spaces? what makes a queer space heterotopia? and who the fuck is Denny Blaine?
Come join us, as we explore!
 
Sorry this is late! We were up to a lot of stuff and something about mercury in retrograde and the full moon being in aquarius really set me (Jackie) back.
We did it tho, it is here! So enjoy us giggling and chit chatting our asses off.
 
xoxo 

Mini-sode: Mayor Harrell Wants to Give Third Ave a Makeover

Third Ave has been a thorn in Seattle's side for years. Now, the Third Avenue Strategic Forum Report has put out recommendations for how to create "a welcoming and safe neighborhood the provides efficient transportation connections to Seattle and the broader region." As always, the question is: for who?
Hope and Jackie break down this plan, and honestly could have gone harder on it. Think ANTM, only instead of giving someone a pixie cut against their will, Seattle is trying to eradicate crime with "joyful banners" and people who occasionally sweep the sidewalk.
As per usual, it's a not-so-mini mini-sode focused on a local Seattle issue. Thanks for listening!
xoxo
We're socialists! Follow us on our socials: @avantgossip on tiktok and instagram
And make sure to rate us 5 stars on Spotify!!!

Urban Redevelopment: Brought to you by the Myth of "The Void"

Hope and Jackie discuss "dead zones" which have a lot of names but essentially describe holes in the hegemonic fabric. The myth that "nothing is happening" in these spaces has historically fueled both colonization and urban redevelopment, a pattern that continues today. We reference examples in Tel Aviv and Seattle.
It's an episode made with equal parts philosophy, urban planning, and giggles, with appearances from The Situationists, Superstudio, and us almost crying talking about bulletin boards.
xoxo
We're socialists! Follow us on our socials: @avantgossip on tiktok and instagram
And make sure to rate us 5 stars on Spotify!!!

Mini-sode: Seattle's Comprehensive Plan Rebrands Single Family Neighborhoods

If the episode on the history of zoning left you with a deep yearning for details about Seattle's future land plans use sprinkled with opinions about urbanists and cops, you came to the right place. Seattle is about to put out a new comprehensive plan, which means it's looking at what kind of housing is allowed where. People have opinions on it and Hope and Jackie are two of those people! Buckle up, it's a mini-sode.
xoxo
We're socialists! Follow us on our socials: @avantgossip on tiktok and instagram
And make sure to rate us 5 stars on Spotify!!!

Autozone: The History of American Zoning as told by Cutiepies

Hope and Jackie discuss the history of zoning in U.S. cities - How did it come about? What are incompatible uses? Why is this an example of heterotopia?
From Chinese Laundries to Euclidian Zoning, we talk about the 20th century's obsession with the idea of space, the way cities are built for cars, and why queerness might just be the antidote to it all. Foucault makes an appearence, as does Jackie's cat Cobbie.
Still working through some teeny weeny sound issues - the IT guy told us we gotta podcast in a room with no internet or devices lol
xoxo
We're socialists! Follow us on our socials: @avantgossip on tiktok and instagram
And make sure to rate us 5 stars on Spotify!!!

Mini-sode: Seattle Library’s Hiring Freeze and the Policing of Public Space

Hope and Jackie discuss Seattle's budget and how it has affected the library. What does all this say about how we are moving forward as a city anywhoooo?
Get mad with us!
xoxo 
 
We're socialists! Follow us on our socials: @avantgossip on tiktok and instagram
And make sure to rate us 5 stars on Spotify!!!

Koolhaus' Kool Library and the Heterotopia of it All

Seattle Central Public Library isn't like other girls. 
Jackie and Hope are diving into the world of Heterotopia and what the f*ck does it actually mean. We discuss architecture, history, hysterectomies, polyamory, and of course, heterotopia. 
 
We're socialists! Follow us on our socials: @avantgossip on tiktok and instagram
And make sure to rate us 5 stars on Spotify!!!
 
Love ya'll
XOXO

Housing Dreams: The American Nightmare

Hope and Jackie discuss the gritty world of housing, but in their cool, fun way.
The list of topics: 1. Utopia 2. Direct Action 3. Land Value Tax
1. Utopia: Lyon, France and Tony Garnier (like the shampoo)
2. Direct Action: Squatting is actually v cool
3. Land Value Tax: The guy with two first names Henry George popularized this idea. So what does Detroit got to do with him?
xoxo
We're socialists! Follow us on our socials: @avantgossip on tiktok and instagram