#121: Reading “Facing the soft xenophobia of Emmett Watson”

We take a hard look at the soft xenophobia embedded in the jokes of beloved Seattle columnist Emmett Watson and the eco-soundbites of Oregon Governor Tom McCall. What starts as tongue-in-cheek jabs at newcomers evolves into real political consequences, downzoning, exclusionary housing policy, and a regional identity shaped by who we keep out. We trace the cultural and historical roots of “Lesser Seattle,” explore how humor became a gateway to NIMBYism, and examine how today’s housing crisis can be traced back to decades of protecting “neighborhood character.”