42 Years of The Wildrose, King County's Unsheltered Homelessness Surge, and Listener Mailbag
Today on the podcast host Jane C. Hu is joined by guest Rachel Karp, creator of the podcast Cruising and author of The Lesbian Bar Chronicles, along with producer Sam J. Leeds to dig into a savvy real estate decision that’s kept The Wildrose – one of the oldest lesbian bars in the country – operating for the last 42 years. Rachel also shares the storytelling event they’re hosting at the Rose on July 12. Then Jane and Sam are joined by contributor Guy Oron to talk about King County's latest Point-in-Time Count, which counted more than 18,000 people experiencing homelessness in one night. Guy explains the complicated bigger picture, what the data says, what it misses, and the $67 million in federal funding on the line. Finally, Jane digs into our listener mail bag to share some shoutouts from City Cast Seattle neighbors, and discuss a new plan to close the Burke-Gilman Trail’s missing link through Ballard.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.
For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.
Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle
Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Seattle and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Are Small Businesses and Affordable Housing at Odds? Plus, a New Vaccine That Prevents Overdose, and Zoe Kahn’s Sandwich Fest
A team of UW researchers is developing vaccines that could prevent opioid overdoses by blocking the drug from reaching the brain. Host Ja...

What Does a Seattle Monopoly Edition Look Like? Plus, Walking 48 Miles to End Immigrant Detention
Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by Stan Shikuma, co-chair of Tsuru for Solidarity’s leadership council, organizer, and a descendant...

The Ave’s Car-Free Pilot, Ferry Engineers Call In Sick for Better Pay, and Paid Parking Expands
After the Pike Place Market pilot, a new car-free experiment will be taking place on University Ave. Host Jane C. Hu talks to urbanist or...

Your E-Scooter Hot Takes, Best PSLs in Seattle, and Liam's First Seattle-versary
Where can you find the best pumpkin spice lattes in Seattle? Heather Phan Nguyen went all-in on a PSL rankings project, so we brought her...

Surveillance in Seattle, Budget Drama, Plus Policies For Pop-ups
Today on the podcast, Jane gets an insider perspective on how difficult it is to navigate the city’s regulatory system for local business...

Could More Art Activations Make the City Safer? Plus, Seattle Real Estate Trends and Karaoke Recs
Is it really a buyer’s market in Seattle? Host Jane C. Hu talks with real estate broker Posey Gruener and Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chi...

Your Guide to October 2026 in Seattle
Fall is here, with Halloween right around the corner, and we’ve got Seattle-specific costume ideas for you (Jimothy is just the beginning...

Is Seattle’s Coffee Scene Missing Anything? Plus, a New Indie Rock Podcast and the Valley of the Gnomes
2004 was the year indie rock exploded on the music scene — at least, that’s according to a new podcast that launched last week. Host Jane...

Our Global Fashion Influence, What Bees Teach Us About Social Isolation, and the Original Gayborhood
The Washington Department of Corrections has used solitary confinement for decades, often in violation of UN rules. Could a neuroscience...

Mayor Wilson’s Budget Explained, Seattle’s Neon Sign Past and Present, and Boeing’s Grunge Influence
Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by two first-timers to City Cast Seattle, Amy Sundberg, reporter at The Urbanist, and Megan Ulu-Lani...
