Day 9 of Special Session… still no budget.

Seattle May Day march described by Mayor Ed Murray as the “smallest I’ve seen,” during his term. Crowds saw some increased hostilities later in the evening, but overall most people cleared out of downtown Seattle by 9pm.

Councilmember Kshama Sawant claims, “May Day should be a beginning of a summer of resistance.” Sawant believes the May Day marches were for workers’ rights and immigrants’ rights as well as a protest against the Trump administration.

May Day violence in Olympia results in 9 arrests for felony riots. Self-titled “street people” clashed with anarchists in Olympia. “What we saw was a very focused group intent on creating damage and confrontation with police,” Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts said. Violence in Portland resulted in riots, Molotov cocktails and over two dozen arrests.

An income tax on high earners is being backed by the King County Council. “We’re trying to force the conversation because it’s the right thing to do,” Councilmember Lisa Herbold said about the resolution that would bring a, “progressive income tax targeting high-end households,” to King County by July 10.

King County Council votes to add a sales tax increase benefitting arts to the ballot. The measure, if approved by voters, will raise the already 10.1% sales tax in King County despite protests over its necessity.

West Point Treatment Plant “catastrophe” now revealed to have almost been fatal. The Seattle Times reports that managers of the plant say, “it was sheer luck that no one was seriously injured or killed.” One worker went into shock after falling into a tank on the night of the failure – despite “several alarms” having alerted the plant supervisor earlier in the evening.

Federal funding expected to remain for Puget Sound Transit, at least through the end of September. Hopefully this will save Puget Sound constituents from more ridiculous tax increases to fund the light rail – for now.

Law Naturalization Ceremony held in Spokane for 103 people. U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice oversaw the process in Spokane Valley, with immigrants from 41 different countries becoming American citizens.

Three people plan to run for Spokane County Commissioner Shelly O’Quinn’s soon-to-be vacated seat. All Republicans, the challengers who have expressed interest in running so far are John Guarisco – a marketing account manager in Spokane Valley, Rob Chase – Spokane County’s elected treasurer, and Mary Kuney who is the chief deputy auditor for the county.

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