Friends,

 

We here at Shift WA are back from our summer break! And, as always, we have you covered on what’s going on in your own backyard. Read on…

The Executive Director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), Steven Strachan, joined us for this week’s Newsmaker Interview. He discussed the annual Crime in Washington report released by WASPC, which revealed that while violent crime rates are decreasing nationwide, they are rising in Washington State. The report also highlighted that Washington ranks last among all states and the District of Columbia in terms of police officers per resident. The data showed that people of color have been disproportionately affected by the increase in crime and the decrease in police officers. In his interview, Strachan emphasized the importance of lawmakers considering these concerning trends when developing future public safety proposals, discussed strategies to recruit more police officers, addressed the legislature's recent "fix" of the Blake decision regarding drug possession laws, and outlined the remaining challenges in improving law enforcement's ability to pursue suspected criminals. Read more.

Governor Jay Inslee and Democrat lawmakers claimed that their Cap and Trade legislation, commonly referred to as a "carbon tax," would only have a minimal impact on consumers, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. However, after six months of implementation, the program has caused gas prices in Washington to rise by 45 cents per gallon, resulting in the state having the highest gas prices in the country. Senator Chris Gildon, a Republican, wrote a letter to the Inslee Administration, urging them to make administrative changes to alleviate the burden on lower and middle-income workers affected by the policy. Read more.

 

Susanna Keilman, a Korean American with a background in the military and medical research who previously ran for state representative in the 28th Legislative District in 2022, recently organized an important vigil and march. The vigil was held in Seattle to honor Eina Kwon and her unborn child, who were tragically killed in a random murder. The rally was a response to growing anger and frustration within the Asian and Pacific Island community, as well as the wider region, over liberal policies that have contributed to crime, drug issues, homelessness, and mental health problems, making Seattle unsafe. Keilman recently joined us for an interview to explain the event and the frustrations. Read more.

 

Take a moment to enjoy the beautiful photography of Palouse Fields, courtesy of former U.S. Congressman Rod Chandler.