New data reveals that if you are under 50-years-old there is a greater chance that you will be murdered than die from COVID in Washington State.  After liberal rioters illegally seized portions of Seattle and attempted to mass murder police officers at the East Precinct, the Seattle City Council and then the Democrat controlled Washington State legislators rewarded the political violence by passing the rioters’ list of demands to make it more difficult for law enforcement to do its job.  Murder rates have increased to the point where a majority of Washington residents are more likely to die from a criminal act than from COVID. While this statistic is very unsettling, it is absolutely alarming that as crime rates are skyrocketing, Democrat politicians like Governor Jay Inslee assert that he still wants to do even more to restrict law enforcement officers from doing its job.  (Click to read full Shift Article)

Reminder: Tuesday is the deadline to return your ballot for the primary elections. Click here to find the ballot drop box closest to you.

Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo provides informative background on how Washington State’s new controversial police “reform” bills will significantly impact law enforcement’s ability to keep our community safe.  During a 16-minute video interview, the sheriff describes how both the 16 new statures passed under the legislative Democrats police “reform” package and the new drug laws will make it far more difficult for police officers to detain suspected criminals.  Sheriff Elfo said, “The major impact of these laws are going to be to impede law enforcement, to prevent crime, apprehending criminals, and performing their criminal care taking functions.” (Whatcom County Sheriff/YouTube)

The media is slowly revealing the cozy relationship between government employee unions and the Democrat Party in Washington State.  NW News Networks outlined how the public unions have received “payback” for their financial support of Democrat campaigns with liberal lawmakers passing bills which are financially favorable to government employees and their union coffers.  If one needs an example of clear liberal bias within our media, one has to look no farther than the lack of reporting on the significant influence government employee unions have on state policies through their financial contributions to Democrat campaigns and organizations.  If any business entity had this much influence over state policies, one could easily imagine that there would be daily front-page stories about its self-serving control over government. (NW News Networks)

Rail projects in the United States cost 50% more than similar projects in Europe and Canada and Sound Transit has two of the top three cost-per-mile light rail projects in the country.  These are a couple of the findings in a report on why American rail projects are so expensive and take a long time to construct.  The report points to environmental restrictions, customizing projects due to local demands, and delays in land purchasing as the primary reasons for the high cost in rail projects. The report revealed that the construction of a short rail line in Pittsburgh was the only light rail project more costly than Sound Transit’s “U-Link” and “Northgate” lines on a per mile basis ($511 million and $419 million respectively) in the country. (Seattle Times)

One of two women arrested for attempting to derail a train near Bellingham last November has pled guilty to charges, while the other suspect will be brought to trial later this month.  The two were videotaped along the rail lines where a “shunt”( a device designed to derail a train) had been placed on the tracks. The two were arrested while carrying materials used to create the shunt.  The rail lines around Bellingham have been the focus of liberal environmental activists as they use political violence to support their radical views.  Last December a train with oil tankers was derailed about five miles north of Bellingham causing multiple explosions. Terrorist acts by liberal activists are strongly suspected by authorities. (Bellingham Herald and U.S. Attorney’s Office media release)

Many Seattle restaurant and bars require proof of vaccination before allowing customers into the establishment.  This is a growing trend as some businesses say that fully vaccinated employees have obtained COVID from unvaccinated customers and by requiring proof of vaccination they are protecting their workers. It is believed more than 100 businesses have adopted this practice. (KING5 News)

A young entrepreneur’s lemonade stand is shut down while authorities do nothing regarding nearby homeless encampments where there is open drug use.  Elsa LeMaine has operated a lemonade stand next to Rucker Hill Park in Everett for a couple of years.  She gives her proceeds to a local homeless mission.  A week ago Park Rangers shut down her operation citing regulations against selling merchandise on park property. Meanwhile there are many nearby homeless encampments, where many laws are continuously being broken, which are left undisturbed by local authorities. (MyNorthwest)

A Vancouver Columbian columnist suggests that the best way to honor a fallen police officer is to listen to law enforcement officials as they discuss the negative impact of the new police “reform” bills that were rammed through the Democrat controlled legislature earlier this year.  Clark County Sheriff Jeremy Brown was killed in his car on July 22^nd while conducting surveillance of suspects in a theft at a local theatre.  The suspects in the theft have been arrested for the detective’s murder.  Police leaders across the state are speaking up against the new reforms (they are speaking now because Democrat legislators refused to listen to them as they hastily crafted the legislation). The Columbian’s Ann Donnelly writes, “The best tribute to Brown will be to listen to law enforcement’s advice about how to do their jobs safely and effectively.” (Vancouver Columbian)

The Spokane area leaders point to the state’s Growth Management Act as the primary cause for the severe housing shortage in the area.  Last week, Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward and the Spokane City Council passed the Housing Action Plan to speed up the process at the city level for new construction and to encourage more housing units to become available.  Spokane County has also streamlined its process and made applying for permits more accessible by placing it online. Yet even with these changes at the local government, Spokane County Commissioner Josh Kearns claims, “The biggest hindrance to single-family construction in Washington State is the Growth Management Act.” (KXLY TV)

Attorney General Bob Ferguson says his campaign needs more money so he can do his taxpayer funded job (which he believes includes forcing Washington residents to pay an unconstitutional state income tax).  In a fundraising email to his supporters, Ferguson fails to explain how his campaign receiving even more money (it already has $3,000,000 in reserves collecting high interests until he runs for governor in 2024) will help him perform his public duties, since he and his office are already very well-funded by Washington State taxpayers.  Yet Ferguson says that in order for him to use his public office to pursue his liberal agenda, he informs his gullible contributors that he “can’t do it alone” and that he “need(s) to know that you’re with me.”  There is the appearance of false advertising in these words since in no way does Ferguson’s bloated campaign bank account have any impact on the funding of his state offices.  Makes one wonder If a business or non-profit made such a misleading claim, wouldn’t that be something the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division would investigate?  On their website, the division states its job is to “keep the Washington marketplace free of unfair and deceptive practices.” (Bob Ferguson Campaign email, Washington State Public Disclosure Commission report, and AG Consumer Protect Division)

With primary elections occurring across the state next week, Shift is featuring two separate interviews with candidates for Spokane City Council.

Shift spoke with Northwest District candidate Mike Lish as we highlight high-profile primary races for Spokane City Council.  Decisions out of Spokane City Hall frustrated Lish, as he saw “the vibrant community we love start to slip away.” And so he became involved and aims to end the stagnation of the current city council to put a plan in place to solve to city’s housing and homeless problem.

Lish states that voters he’s talking to are also very concerned about rising crime rates while many at city hall are acting like Seattle politicians seeking to “defund the police.”  The city’s recent 72% vote to ban a local income tax is for Lish another example “that voters in Spokane want a fiscally responsible government and officials who are good stewards of taxpayer money.”  (Click to read full Newsmaker interview)

In one of our two Newsmaker Interviews this week, Shift talks with Spokane City Council candidate Jonathan Bingle, a small business owner who was born and raised in Northeast Spokane.  Bingle states that his neighborhood is often forgotten by current members of the council, and he wants to create more economic opportunities for local residents.  Bingle wants to bring more balance and collaboration to the council as it tackles the city’s current housing crisis.  (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

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