Dean Hirt Cited in Seattle Times

Earlier this month, CED Dean Sonia Hirt was cited in a Seattle Times article discussing the phenomenon of “shrinking cities”. Seattle is currently struggling with a shifting identity – since the 1980s, the city has been in a state of constant growth, but last year their population actually dropped for the first time in decades. But Seattle isn’t the only high-profile city experiencing population decline. Los Angeles, San Jose, and Portland also are experiencing a drop in population numbers, making the trend of shrinking cities part of a wider national conversation. Hirt offered thoughts on the possible benefits of shrinking cities and challenged the American assumption that all growth is inherently beneficial. She suggested that “there may be a paradigm shift happening” and noted that these cities’ reactions to their declining populations will be important and interesting to watch in the coming years.

To learn more about the national conversation on shrinking cities and Seattle’s role in that conversation, read the full article here.