Washington’s state-run mental health programs and facilities are a complete mess with recent revelations about who the state hires to assist patients indicate it is not getting any better despite promises from Governor Jay Inslee.  The Tacoma News Tribune reported last week that Western State Hospital, the state’s largest mental health facility, knowingly hired in 2017 a repeat criminal with 22 felony convictions, and more pending, as a counselor.   Mark James’ annual salary started at $41,800 and quickly jumped nearly threefold to $118,000.  While this might be bad enough, the News Tribune reports that James is the suspect in the theft of thousands of dollars taken from patients’ petty cash accounts which he had access to during this time.

This is yet another serious problem with Washington State’s mental health programs and facilities under Governor Jay Inslee. These troubles include failed inspections, Western State decertification by the federal government (costing Washington taxpayers $53 million), nearly $100 million in daily court fines for failing to perform the state responsibility of “competency” treatments on criminals (who are currently left untreated in local jails), massive COVID outbreaks due to administrative failure to follow state safety guidelines, losing costly lawsuits to workers who are physically attacked by patients, and failing to adhere to public record requests.  We can expect the governor to do what liberals do best when faced with such problems: demand more tax money be wasted on the problems (so more dues-paying government employees can be hired), yet fail to change the bureaucrats or the policies which are causing the problems. (Click to read full Shift Article)

Senator Lynda Wilson (R – Vancouver) called for the legislature to reverse the Democrats’ alterations of the state’s “Three Strikes, You’re Out” law which reduced the penalty of a convicted rapist and murderer of a 14-year old Vancouver girl.  Because Democrats in 2021 removed some of the felonies which are included in the Three Strikes laws (through SB 5164), and because the Democrats in 2022 made it a bit easier on the criminals by removing the felony convictions retroactively, a Clark County judge was forced to reduce the sentence for Roy Wayne Wilson, who was convicted for the 2005 rape and murder of Chelsea Harrison.  Because Wilson already had two felony convictions prior to the rape and murder, he was automatically sentenced to life in prison under the Three Strikes law. Yet since the Democrats removed second degree robbery (which Wilson was previously convicted of for one of his strikes) from Three Strikes consideration the judge was forced to remove Wilson’s life sentence and reduced it to 26 years. This means this poster child for the Democrats’ public safety approach could be released from prison in just a few years.

Senator Wilson said, “It’s no wonder people have lost trust in government and are so concerned about public safety. They see how the laws are being tilted in favor of criminals, with less regard for the rights of victims, in the name of being ‘progressive.’ A reboot is in order when the Legislature convenes in January.” Senator Wilson represents the 17^th Legislative District, where the young girl was murdered. (Battle Ground Reflector, Washington Legislature Bill Summary, and Vancouver Columbian)

Democrat Representative Tarra Simmons (Bremerton) writes in a Seattle Times op-ed that all legislators should visit a prison every year in order to better understand the criminals and the conditions they live under before they vote on legislation which impacts prisoners.  Yet not once in the 500 word op-ed does the representative mention “crime victims.”  Representative Simmons should be praised for turning her life around after she spent 30 months in Washington State’s corrections facilities.  Yet her devotion to the concerns of the convicted criminals, while ignoring the negative impact they made on victims, is worrisome.

Representative Simmons introduced a controversial bill (HB 1692) during the 2022 legislative session to reduce the penalty of those convicted of drive-by shootings.  Has the representative spent time in the hospital with either of the two young boys who were recently shot in drive-by “road rage” incidents in Renton and Tacoma to better understand victims’ concerns?  (Seattle Times, Washington Legislature Bill Summary, KING5 News, and KOMO News)

The Armistice Coffee Shops has stopped accepting cash payment for purchases In an attempt to reduce the number of break-ins at its four Seattle locations.  Rebecca Smith, the owner of the small coffee chain, said her stores were getting broken into every two weeks by criminals smashing expensive front windows and then stealing the cash registers.  It cost the small business a minimum of $1,000 to fix the window and $300 to replace the register.

Smith said she has received pushback from liberals on social media over her new policy, for it means many homeless individuals won’t have the means to buy coffee from the shop.  But Smith said she was forced to make the move out of self-preservation because she was losing customers who felt unsafe coming into a boarded-up coffee shop.  Smith said she is pessimistic about Seattle’s ability, with a depleted police force, to solve the crime problems affecting small businesses, “I do think it’s going to get worse for everyone before it gets better.” (MyNorthwest and Armistice Coffee website)

A 19-year-old man with an extensive criminal history is being held on $750,000 bail for the latest “road rage” drive-by shooting incident, which occurred last Friday afternoon in Tacoma. The shooting on I-5 left an 11-year-old boy in the hospital after he was struck while riding in the back seat of the targeted vehicle.  The suspect was booked into the Pierce County jail  on suspicion of assault, drive-by shooting, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Prosecutors told the court the suspect has been arrested 18 times before and has two felony convictions.

Democrats during the 2022 legislature introduced a bill (HB 1692) to reduce the sentence of those convicted in drive-by shootings. Fortunately Democrat Speaker Laurie Jinkins refused to allow the legislation to move out of committee during an election year.  We will be watching to see if the bill, last sponsored by Democrat Representatives Tarra Simmons (Bremerton) and Larry Hackney (Tukwila) will be re-introduced in the 2023 Legislative Session. (KOMO News and Washington Legislature Bill Summary)

Pamela Lewison of the Washington Policy Center will be hosting a “Farm Hall” on state agriculture issues next Monday afternoon in Ellensburg.  Too often under one-party rule state farming policies are being dictated by liberal urban legislators who have very little understanding or appreciation for what it takes to run a farm in Washington State.  The Farm Hall will feature a discussion on the impact state policies have on farmers and ranchers and many elected officials are expected to attend.  The event will take place next Monday, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, at Ellensburg’s Iron Horse Brewery (1621 Vantage Highway). There is no cost, but registration is required. (Facebook and Washington Policy Center registration)

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