Business and union leaders are going through extra effort to resume commercial and residential construction.  While government-funded construction projects have been allowed to continue during Governor Inslee’s stay-at-home orders, private construction projects are being forced to adhere to stricter review procedures and safety protocols in order for the governor to consider allowing workers back on the job sites.  Even after Inslee announced his pact with the governors of Oregon and California to work together to resume activities, Inslee has failed to do the one equalizing act allowed in those state which would benefit Washingtonians — permit work to resume on private construction sites. (The Stand and Seattle Times)

Due to failure of the Washington State Department of Corrections to follow medical procedures, Governor Inslee was forced to comply with a court order to release 950 inmates due to the coronavirus outbreak.  Failure to follow basic safety and medical practices at the Monroe Correctional Complex led to prisoners and staff contracting the virus. Prisoner advocates were then successful in having the Washington State Supreme Court order Inslee to release inmates from the 12 state correctional facilities to allow for more “social distancing.” This latest DOC failure follows earlier reports that as many as eight inmates died due to breakdowns in medical practices at state prisons.  (Everett Herald and Seattle Times)

Due to the failure of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services to follow medical procedures, 28 staff members and six patients at the state’s largest mental facility have contracted the coronavirus.  State epidemiologist Scott Lindquist said, “The outbreak of COVID-19 at Western State Hospital is serious.”  State health officials have initiated even more safety measures at Western State to try and stop the spread of the virus.  No word yet on whether Governor Inslee plans to release patients to provide more social distancing space at the hospital.  (News Tribune)

The West Seattle Bridge just became the latest symbol of government ineptitude and failed outcomes.  Like expensive progressive environmental and homeless programs, the relatively new span over the Duwamish River has failed to deliver promised results.  Government officials guaranteed, when it opened in 1984, that the bridge would last 75 years.  Yet with Wednesday’s announcement that the bridge will need to be closed for two years for repairs, and even with such repairs it will likely need to be replaced within 10 years, the roadway is now projected to barely survive half of its promised lifespan.  Because local liberal governments have been more concerned with growing the size and power of government, instead of efficiently and responsibly protecting public assets, local taxpayers will again be forced to pay for the liberal failure. (Seattle Times)

West Seattle King County Councilman Joe McDermott is the current top contender for making the most self-indulgent comment in 2020.  On responding to what the next steps should be regarding the crumbing West Seattle Bridge, the liberal lawmaker proclaimed, “This must be every state legislator’s top priority after dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.” According to McDermott, because the bridge closure will impact his (and his constituents) commute time, all legislators from across the state need to drop the needs of their constituents and focus on spending tax dollars on McDermott’s personal and political needs.  BTW, McDermott overstates the importance of the bridge on the state’s trade.  Very few incoming or outgoing containers use the span.  There is one port facility (Pier 5) which is dependent on the lower West Seattle Bridge, which will become more crowded with the taller bridge’s closure, but the overwhelming majority of Seattle’s port yards will not be significantly impacted. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

In yet another failure of local liberal government policy, a city-commissioned study has found that Seattle’s “soda tax” has failed to reduce consumption of sugary drinks in low-income children and adults (which was the stated goal of the tax).  Analyzing the data has found that “while there was a decrease in consumption of sugared beverages by the low-income Seattle children and parents in the study, none of it can be attributed to the sweetened beverage tax. In almost every single measurement, the comparison group not subject to the SBT saw bigger decreases in consumption.” The study also found there has been an increase in the consumer costs of non-sugary beverages, which could be offsetting the less-than-full implementation of the tax being passed onto sugary drink consumers. (SCC Insights)

Free ridership on Thurston County public transit led to an increase in hostile behavior from riders.  When Intercity Transit workers attempted stop riders from endlessly riding the bus with no specific destination, they were faced with “increasingly aggressive and hostile” behavior. (The Olympian)

In order to deny more people of their income and to cause even more problems, the irresponsible Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant is calling for a May 1^st rent strike.  Sawant apparently has not learned that property owners, their staff, and contractors also have bills and responsibilities.  Instead of encouraging renters and property owners to work together to overcome COVID-19 economic challenges, Sawant recklessly proposes this divisive action.  We look forward to liberal lawmakers like Washington Governor Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan condemning Sawant’s counter-productive proposal. (MyNorthwest)

While many people are losing wages, State Representative Jared Mead (D-Mill Creek) is greedily collecting two government paychecks.  Mead was recently appointed to fill a vacancy on the Snohomish County Council, but says he will continue to keep collecting his state legislative pay until the end of the year.  Mead has chosen not to resign his state representative position and allow the Snohomish Democrat Party and county council to immediately fill the 44^th legislative district seat he is vacating after a single term.  (Everett Herald)

A protest over Washington being the only state to ban recreational fishing due to the coronavirus outbreak is planned for this Saturday in the Tri-Cities.  Once again it appears Governor Inslee has determined the parameters of his unique ban mostly using political considerations instead of science or facts.  While recreational boaters and kayakers can use the waterways, they would be breaking the law if they held a fishing pole while doing so.  The protest on the water is planned to start at 9:00 AM at Richland’s Columbia Park Marina. (KEPR)

Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward has stated that the city will move ahead with $80 million dollars in construction projects this spring and summer. The move is meant to help the local economy and is allowed under Governor Inslee’s stay-at-home policies that allow government-financed construction projects to continue, while shutting down privately financed construction activities.  To help the economy even further, Woodward said she will appropriate $10 million in additional funds for road improvements and maintenance. (Spokesman-Review)

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