Washington in Focus

In a presentation to the Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought, representatives from the Department of Ecology went over what led to the recent drought declaration and what the corresponding $3 million in grant funding means for communities. “A main one is that we look at water supply seasonal forecasts. What is the volume of runoff expected, especially for that April through September period, which in our state is when water supply challenges are likely to arise?" asked Jeff Marti, Drought Coordinator for the Department of Ecology’s Water Resources Division, during Monday’s committee meeting. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With funding commitments secured from both Washington and Oregon for the new Interstate 5 Bridge between Vancouver and Portland, the Joint Legislative Action Committee is now looking at potential designs for the replacement bridge that differ in their aesthetic style and functionality. Although Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has yet to sign it, a bill passed this session by the State Legislature committed a total of $1 billion in the form of $250 million in bonds during this biennium and another three rounds of bond sales for each subsequent biennia. The Washington Legislature allocated $1 billion for the new bridge as part of the Move Ahead Washington transportation package. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Port of Seattle Commission has authorized the next phase of a $133 million multi-year sound insulation program to wind down in 2026. The Sound Insulation Program had its genesis in 1985 and to date has provided high quality sound deadening insulation to more than 9,400 single-family homes and five condominium complexes in the vicinity of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to a Port of Seattle Commission news release. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Insurance advocacy groups in Washington state are pushing back against a new study released by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner highlighting the recent increase in insurance claim complaints. According to the OIC, its Consumer Advocacy Program received 467 complaints in April 2023 compared to the average of 287 per month. As of May, claim handling issues were documented in over 80% of all complaint reasons. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Washington State University President Kirk Schulz has been accused of interfering with an ethics violation investigation after a complaint was made against two employees in relation to a request for proposal to develop a police use of force database for the Attorney General's Office. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Renton officials are discussing ways to improve public safety in the area as violent crime rates continue. Overall crime in Renton increased by 6.4% from 2021 to 2022, according to a report from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. There were 7,852 reports of crime in 2021 and 8,353 in 2022. One noticeable statistic from the report is the 133% increase in murders within Renton’s city limits. There were three murders in 2021 and seven in 2022. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Spokane City Council, having recently approved millions in spending for the new labor contract with the Spokane Police Guild, is asking Mayor Nadine Woodward and her administration for answers on the 2024 budget. “We need the best information that we can get to make those difficult decisions. It’s never been about us versus them. We just don’t want to set you up, or the city up, for this financial structure that we cannot sustain,” said Councilmember Betsy Wilkerson during last Monday’s city council meeting approving the guild contract. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When mankind is set to explore Mars and the Moon in the future, the Washington state space industry will play a big role, while potentially generating astronomical dollars in economic impact. According to the Puget Sound Regional Council, the State of Washington’s space industry has an economic impact of $4.6 billion annually and supports 13,103 jobs within the state. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Spokane County commissioners asked the hard questions and came up with few answers about the efficacy of millions of dollars spent on homelessness only to see more people on the streets. The frustration came after a strategic planning meeting Monday, with commissioners getting bogged down in details about the implementation of an interlocal agreement regarding a new regional homeless authority. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Washington state experienced the eighth largest increase in home prices in the past seven years, according to a new study put out by Texas Real Estate Source. Washington building industry advocates say the increase is due to a regulations that have prevented supply from keeping up with demand. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The city of Seattle is preparing to host the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and is expected to generate millions of dollars for the downtown community. The All-Star Game festivities start on Friday, July 7 and run through Tuesday, July 11. According to Visit Seattle, the upcoming events will generate over $50 million in economic impact to the community. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After an hour-long public study session, the Spokane City Council adjourned to a closed-door executive session to discuss “potential litigation and collective bargaining negotiations,” as Council President Breean Beggs put it. Nearly 30 minutes later, council emerged from chambers with a solution to one of those two topics and commenced a special legislative session. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A city of Seattle proposal limiting the ability of companies to deactivate app-based workers has drawn criticism from businesses, community leaders, and customers themselves. At a June 27 meeting of the Public Safety and Human Rights Committee, numerous individuals testifying on the proposed ordinance warned it would undermine safety for customers and discourage them from reporting inappropriate behavior. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the Washington Department of Transportation continues its task of recommending a site for a future commercial airport in the state, the City of Yakima is willing to take on an expansion with electric aviation in mind. The Washington Department of Transportation’s Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission is sunsetting after a failed four-year search for a site for a future commercial airport. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A presentation to the Spokane City Council during their study session outlined the state of staffing for the Spokane Police Department, and currently, things aren't trending in a good direction. Spokane Assistant Police Chief Justin Lundgren highlighted the difficulties, noting that since 2020 the Spokane Police Department has seen 91 commissioned officer departures from the force. Combined with troubles in recruitment, hiring, and retention, SPD has 70 positions that are either vacant or "cannot [be utilized] for their primary purpose," as Assistant Chief Lundgren put it. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Washington state has a goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by 2030, but for now, state officials are looking for ways to bring them down from what are currently record highs. According to the latest data, 709 people were killed in traffic accidents last year, the most since Gov. Jay Inslee's Results Washington Initiative began tracking those numbers. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Washington state, there is a presumptive right to vote when a person registers either through the Secretary of State's Office, the Department of Licensing or DOL. While state officials have noted that illegally registering to vote or voting illegally in an election is a Class C felony, some counties have declined to prosecute in every reported instance of voter fraud. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The City of Tukwila will soon raise its minimum wage to better compare to the neighboring City of SeaTac, which has the highest minimum wage in the U.S. at $19.06. The minimum wage increase goes into effect on July 1, 2023. Large employers, which have more than 500 employees, regardless of where those employees are employed, will have to pay its workers a minimum of $18.99. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Washington fuel prices took home the gold this week, surpassing California as the most expensive fuel market in the nation. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was sitting at $4.89 statewide on Monday, up from $4.81 the week prior according to AAA data. This price hike marks the 20th week this year of rising fuel prices for Washingtonians, following the implementation of the new carbon tax earlier this year. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A business owner who voiced support for the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP, during its existence and barred armed officers from entering her stores after it ended is now suing the city and filed a tort claim against it for actively participating in CHOP and having the police abandon its local station. Molly Moon Neitzel operates a chain of Molly Moon's Ice Cream in Seattle. Her lawsuit filed against the city on June 7 in federal court seeking damages argues that its decision to abandon the East Precinct station during the 2020 riots and unwillingness to enforce the law during the occupation "subjected businesses, employees, and residents of that neighborhood to extensive property damage, public safety dangers, and an inability to use and access their properties." Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a nearly four-hour marathon session of readings, debate, public testimony, and votes, the Spokane City Council passed Ordinance Number C39397. The ordinance allows the investigation of the Chief of Police to fall under the purview of the Office of the Police Ombudsman. The ombudsman office is an investigative body consisting of five appointed members, one by the Spokane Police Officers Guild, one by the Lieutenants and Captains Association, one by the City Council, one by the mayor, and the fifth selected by those four members. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The City of Bellevue is considering a possible tax district that would send generated revenue solely to transportation maintenance projects. This potential district would be used to address the increase in traffic injuries that the city experienced in 2022. Approximately 29 people were seriously injured and two people were killed on Bellevue city streets last year, according to a city memo. This compares to 25 serious injuries and one person killed in crashes on Bellevue city streets in 2021. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As some states, such as Texas, have enacted laws banning the funding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, Washington state is implementing such training for all state agency employees and leadership. Despite the recent firing of the state's first director of the Office of Equity, the office continues its work under a Pro-Equity Anti-Racism, or PEAR, Plan & Playbook developed as part of a 2022 executive order by Gov. Jay Inslee. That work coincides with existing efforts by the State Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee that manages the required training centered around concepts such as Critical Race Theory and institutional privilege. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Seattle City Council voted 5-4 to refuse a bill that would transfer drug possession prosecution authority from King County to the Seattle City Attorney’s Office. The legislation was proposed by Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison and sponsored by City Councilmembers Sara Nelson and Alex Pedersen. The legislation would have allowed the city attorney to prosecute drug possession and public drug use within city limits for the first time in the city’s history. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a single-source, read no-bid, contract for $4.2 million dollars in a special session. The contract was awarded to New J LLC, a wireless provider operating out of Spokane, in a pilot program that all parties involved hope will become a more widely adopted model for rural broadband funding. Passing by a unanimous 5-0 vote, the funding was announced via a special session memorandum around 24 hours before the vote took place. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Karen Johnson was let go earlier this month as Washington state’s first director of the Office of Equity following an internal investigation finding she engaged in “inappropriate conduct” with employees that included micromanaging and “inappropriate or insensitive comments” that included ethnic remarks. While Johnson’s last day on the job was May 17, a May 26 investigation report obtained by The Center Square revealed that an internal investigation had been launched in the fall in response to allegations made by employees working in the Office of Financial Management, or OFM, and the Office of Equity, or OOE. The investigation involved interviewing more than a dozen witnesses and 2,649 pages of documentation. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Spokane County Library District is weeks away from project completion in their partnership with Spokane Valley to build a new $15 million library. “I won’t bury the lede, but we are 19 days out from opening June 17th,” said Patrick Roewe, executive director of the Spokane County Library District in a meeting with the Spokane Valley City Council late on Tuesday evening. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A bill passed this session by the Washington Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee will allow people starting in 2024 to register online to vote in the state by providing the last four digits of a Social Security Number and an electronic signature. It's a process proponents say will make it easier for people to register or pre-register if they're not yet 18, while detractors argue it makes the election system open to fraud or compromise people's private information to cyberattacks. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The City of Spokane is facing some tough budgetary choices before the year is out. Current projections place the unallocated strategic reserve at $9.2 million in the red, and the targeted total for the general reserve, where $19.1 million remains, is nearly $50 million short of where it's legally obligated to be by city law. The meeting opened with Council President Breean Beggs highlighting the recent ordinance it passed to bring greater transparency and accountability to the budgeting process from the Mayor's office and quickly descended into numbers with the city's budget manager. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

King County Regional Homelessness Authority CEO Marc Dones is stepping down from the role after serving as head of the agency since 2021. In a letter addressed to Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and King County Executive Dow Constantine, Dones compares the role as CEO of the agency to “a relay race,” adding that the time spent as head of the homelessness authority was more of a sprint. “As a queer black person, I have watched many members of my community burn out trying to hold too much for too many and I have watched them become unable to contribute the full breadth of their talent or vision to the work,” Dones said in a letter. “ I have watched them become bitter and destructive and what I know is that I don’t want that for myself.” Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With the recent passage of the "Blake fix" by the Washington State Legislature, Mayor Nadine Woodward took to Twitter Wednesday to highlight what she called Spokane's "leadership role in new drug laws." "We asked other mayors around the state to join us in pushing for a common-sense solution that sets clear expectations by balancing accountability to community safety and compassion for the individual struggling with addiction. We sent a strong message on behalf of everyone who lives, recreates, attends school, or otherwise enjoys our cities and the Legislature responded," said Mayor Woodward, after calling the current state of affairs a drug crisis and praising the legislation for putting up tougher boundaries and prioritizing public health and safety. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A lawsuit filed in Grant County Superior Court against a newly-enacted Washington state law banning the sale or purchase of firearms deemed “assault weapons” has been moved to Thurston County. Washington Gun Law, or GWL, tweeted out the decision was a “brutal development,” writing in a separate tweet, “This would be very bad for this case.” Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Yakima Police Department is proposing reductions to its staffing levels to help the city avoid a potential budget gap in the near future. The City of Yakima is requiring all of its departments to identify significant reductions to reach a goal of $7.2 million in savings. The Yakima Police Department is allotted about 44% of the city’s bi-annual budget. Salary and benefits represent 84% of the police department’s bi-annual budget, so cuts to its staff are being proposed. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Spokane City Council voted on their "Blake fix" law, set to re-criminalize drug possession passed by a 7-0 vote, bringing a local fix to a statewide problem that originated in Spokane. "The idea for this [ordinance] is to pass something now that will, one, help lead the way in Spokane for the whole state. Which is ironic because the Blake decision, which outlawed felony drug possession laws was created by our county prosecutor at the state supreme court, so it's ironic that we're trying to lead the way [for] the state now," said Council President Breean Beggs shortly before the vote on the politically-charged legislation. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A series of complaints filed late last year and early this year allege that employees with the Washington Attorney General's Office engaged in "unethical and unlawful conduct" during the selection of a university to create a police use of force database. Per 2021's Senate Bill 5259, the AGO was tasked with overseeing an advisory group to develop recommendations on how to better collect police data, along with creating a request for proposal, or RFP, for a private or public university to collect and store police use of force incident data that would be available for the public to view and download. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

King County officials see the newly-approved crisis center levy as a step forward in providing sufficient mental health services. While the King County Canvassing Board does not certify the election until May 5, The Center Square is calling the race with the levy receiving 57% approval from voters. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"Criminalizing drug possession and use is an important step for the public health and safety of our community. We have a drug crisis that requires us to act locally," Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward told The Center Square just prior to Gov. Jay Inslee calling a special session of the Legislature. The topic of debate for the special session, dubbed the "Blake fix" because of the Washington Supreme Court decision that it addressed, was meant to head off the de-facto legalization of all drug possession in Washington state starting after the current law expires on June 30. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A bill sent to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee for consideration would exempt various aspects of the election system from public records requests and centralize all local records requests with the Secretary of State's office. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 2023 point-in-time count numbers show a significant increase for individuals and families without a permanent abode in Spokane, though a large encampment had been drawing down at the time. According to the 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress released earlier this year, "homelessness in Washington state increased 10% overall from 2020 to 2022," and the Spokane Regional numbers over that same time period are a significant increase on that percentage. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cities throughout King County are seeking their own solutions to a potential lack of illicit drug possession laws in Washington state after the failure of Senate Bill 5536. Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus said she has begun talks with neighboring King County and Pierce County cities to enforce laws that have similar approaches. A common theme amongst King County cities is that they are prioritizing a treatment-forward approach to violators. However, that has a higher price tag. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A coalition of gun rights advocacy groups and individual citizens have filed a lawsuit against a new Washington state ban on firearms deemed “assault weapons” as soon as the legislation was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. The complaint filed by the Firearms Policy Coalition and Second Amendment Foundation in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington argues that HB 1240’s ban on certain types of semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendment. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Congressional hearing asking "Who's selling your data?" took place in the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, where Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers delivered her opening remarks calling for new laws to protect Americans from data brokers and stricter penalties for data breaches. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Seattle City Council has passed a $10 late-fee cap on rent with a 7-2 vote. Seattle now joins the nearby cities of Auburn and Burien in establishing a $10 late fee cap. Socialist City Councilmember Kshama Sawant sponsored Council Bill 120541. The bill cites that while many Seattle landlords do not charge punishing late fees, many do treat late fees as yet another opportunity to exploit their renters. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On May 31, 2020 more than a thousand individuals rioted in downtown Bellevue, with looters attacking stores at Bellevue Square, the Bellevue Connection, and Lincoln Square. The rioting prompted a civil emergency declaration by the city along with a 12-hour curfew. Afterwards, the Bellevue police department arrested 46 people and undertook a massive investigation into the incident that included sifting through 10,000 hours of video footage and the formation of a task force dedicated to the investigation. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Metropolitan Improvement District is set to sunset on June 30, but Seattle City Councilmember Sarah Nelson is proposing a 10-year renewal that would collect nearly $3 million more from downtown property owners. The district is managed by the Downtown Seattle Association, with employees, also known as “ambassadors” tasked with services such as daily cleaning of downtown streets and sidewalks. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Washington House has passed a bill allowing shelters to keep runaway juveniles from their parents to get an abortion and/or gender surgeries that include removing a girl's breasts or uterus. Although framed by proponents as a bill to protect youth suffering from abuse, SB 5599 only stipulates that the minors be "seeking or receiving protected health care services" for a homeless shelter or "host home" to avoid informing the parents or legal guardians, as otherwise required by state law. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Washington Senate bill aims to crack down on rampant catalytic converter thefts that have put the state worst in the nation. However, Senate Bill 5740 sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, has left industry and law enforcement groups divided over the bill’s provisions that underscore the ease with which the thefts can occur and difficulty in tracking down stolen car parts. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There were 26 Seattle City employees that made over $200,000 in overtime pay in 2022. Out of the 26 employees, there were 17 Seattle City Light employees who made over $200,000 in overtime pay. That is the most out of any Seattle department. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Two Washington State Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would fund access to health care by imposing an income tax on the annual pay of certain highly compensated hospital employees. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Washington State House of Representatives committee gave a do-pass recommendation on a 6-3 vote during executive session to an amended version of legislation that would reclassify possession of a controlled substance as a misdemeanor rather than a gross misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, while the maximum punishment for a gross misdemeanor is 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/washington-in-focus/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.