Janice Zahn hasn't responded, and this might be why

I emailed our State Representative Janice Zahn on Monday last week for clarification on why she supported HB 2266, the bill forcing Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) onto Mercer Island and asking if she would commit to sponsoring corrective legislation in the 2027 session.

Her response to this formal inquiry has been silence.

This surprised me, given how many of you have expressed concern about PSH on Mercer Island and signed the petition. I did some research into where the ideas in these bills came from and why Janice Zahn along with Representative My-Linh Thai and Senator Lisa Wellman do not seem eager to talk about them.

Here’s what I’ve uncovered so far:

The "Abundance" Engine:

Eliminating local control over low-barrier housing is part of a coordinated strategy by the "Abundance & Growth" movement, funded in large part by tech billionaire Dustin Moskovitz, who has poured over $150 million into the movement through his Open Philanthropy/Coefficient Giving organization. They view local zoning as "regulatory friction" that must be dismantled to achieve their specific version of social equity.

Futurewise Influence: 

Futurewise, the organization that complained about Mercer Island’s previous growth plan, receives direct funding grants from Moskovitz’s Coefficient Giving. Futurewise also provides the "model policy language" lawmakers use to draft these housing bills. Legislators like Thai, Zahn, and Wellman rely heavily on technical guidance from Futurewise lobbyists.

YIMBY Seal of Approval

These legislators are backed by an endorsement system that views any effort to restore local control over safety measures for low-barrier housing as "NIMBYism." For instance, both Representative Zahn and Representative Thai are endorsed by The Urbanist (a key part of the "abundance" network) and the WA Housing Alliance Action Fund, which promotes the Housing First/PSH model. Our representatives are desperate to receive the progressive “seal of approval” from these organizations.

No Room to Negotiate:

When asked to fix the laws they passed, our representatives are trapped. The lobbyists who authored these bills advise them that any safeguard violates the law's intent. To support our safety concerns is to break rank with the coalition that secures their political future.
The bottom line is they are not "surprised" by the law. They supported it. They have not committed to changes because they are structurally aligned with the very movement creating these mandates.

What We Must Do:

Stop asking for permission and start shifting the political cost. Until the cost of ignoring local safety concerns outweighs the risk of losing the "abundance" network's support, we are unlikely to see real change.

Hold them accountable for the actual, on-the-ground consequences of their votes. Call and email each of the legislators below and explain that they need to listen to their constituents over Futurewise and must put our community safety above an endorsement from The Urbanist.

Senator Lisa Wellman
360.786.7641
lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov

Representative Janice Zahn
360-786-7894
janice.zahn@leg.wa.gov

Representative My-Linh Thai
360-786-7926
my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov

Sample Email Template:

You can use the template below to contact your representatives. Feel free to personalize the body text with your own concerns.

Subject: Action Needed on PSH Mandates

Dear [Legislator Name],

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent of Mercer Island. I am deeply troubled by the mandates in HB 2266 that strip our local government of the ability to implement essential safety measures for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH).

I urge you to prioritize the safety and concerns of your constituents over the interests of outside lobbyist groups. Please commit to sponsoring or supporting corrective legislation in the 2027 session that restores local control and allows our community to ensure that low-barrier housing projects are managed with appropriate safety safeguards.

Thank you for your time and for listening to our community.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]