Seattle’s socialist councilmember, Kshama Sawant, is trying her hand at football.
In a letter to Pete Carroll, Sawant wrote: “I am writing to convey that Colin Kaepernick would be welcome in Seattle, and to encourage you to take the opportunity to sign him as the Seahawks’ backup quarterback.”
At least this time she fesses up to her lack of knowledge, including, “I am not a football expert,” in her letter.
Happening In Olympia
Gov. Inslee is expected to call for another 30-day special session tomorrow.
Washington may be forced to remove salmon-blocking culverts, and spend $2 billion on salmon habitat restoration after a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision. The state has asked for another hearing, saying, “ordering a State to spend money on something that will make no difference is an abuse of discretion.” Washington was sued in 2001 by the federal government, along with 21 tribes, over the existence of salmon-blocking culverts which prevent fish from swimming upstream.
Western Washington
King County Metro violated their own advertising policies in allowing signage that advocates for injection sites. As per Jason Rantz, 6.2.6 of the county’s advertising policy prohibits, “any advertising that promotes any activity or product that is illegal under federal, state or local law.” Promoting use of drugs, even at so-called safe injection sites, is illegal.
Flooding at West Point Treatment due to equipment failures has cost an estimated $49 to $57 million in damages. Insurance is expected to cover most of the costs, but taxpayers will be responsible for paying a $250,000 deductible for insurance to cover some of the damage costs – and may be on the hook for any potential fines. Major repairs are expected to continue through October.
After it was uncovered that, “millions of tax dollars [were being] wasted for years by [Washington State Ferry] management,” officials vowed reform and budget cuts. Yet through “closed door contract negotiations with the Governor’s office, ferry unions found ways to effectively pay ferry workers back, through assignment pay and callback pay,” Mariya Frost of the Washington Policy Center explains in a piece about transparency (or lack-thereof) in our government. [Read More]
The Snoqualmie Tribe donated 200 defibrillators, worth $180,000, to law enforcement agencies in King County. Beneficiaries included the County Sheriff Department, Snoqualmie’s Police Department and the Snoqualmie Tribe Police Department. “Now almost every patrol car has an AED in their trunk, and that’s going to save lives,” Sheriff John Urquhart said of the generous donation.
Eastern Washington
Airway Heights city officials have been flushing contamination from water lines, and are expected to complete the process sometime this morning. Fire Chief Mitch Metzger said it has been a “24/7 process,” to flush the lines and that over 80,000 gallons of bottled water were distributed to residents as of Sunday morning.
Gov. Inslee and Oregon’s Gov. Kate Brown have requested increased federal funding to help with the Hanford cleanup. Finishing cleanup is expected to cost at least $100 billion more than the $19 billion already spent on the site.
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