Hey All You Protest Kids,

After working for nine years as a politics reporter and news editor at The Stranger (and 3 years now at Slog where I filed the very first Slog post on April 26, 2005), I’ve decided it’s time for a change.

I told my dear friend and publisher Tim Keck the news last Wednesday morning, and I told all my superstar colleagues the news over the next 24 hours.

I’ve been planning this for a while (I wanted to get in one more legislative session), so I’ve saved enough money to cool out for a bit while looking for a new job.

It’s ironic, after nine years making a living hating on Seattle (and always with a plan to get back to the East Coast), I actually love it here these days (it has something to do with buying a fancy bike), and I’m angling to stay. I want to see how the whole story (Seattle) turns out. Light Rail ‘08?

We’ll see if I manage to stay. I’m looking at several opportunities here, but also in NYC and D.C.

I’ll be working at The Stranger for another month and then, I’m off.

Too many memories to recount here—although I do think my favorite day at The Stranger is the day Erica C. Barnett walked into my office and pitched me a story about someone named Cary Moon and some group called the People’s Waterfront Coalition and their plan to replace the Viaduct with nothing.

Anyway, the Greyhound’s rocking out tonight to maximum rockabilly.