Portland’s decision to brace for unrest ahead of election night speaks volumes about the current state of left-leaning cities. Recently, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler issued a public guidance urging businesses to secure dumpsters, remove outdoor furniture, and eliminate possible projectiles or barricades shows a city preparing for potential chaos. The irony here is hard to ignore: a city that’s often portrayed as a hub for progressive values now fears potential violence from within its own ideological base. Businesses boarding up and taking these precautions isn’t just about safety; it highlights how radical elements in leftist cities often turn on their own communities.

This cycle of self-imposed fear and damage in places like Seattle and Portland reveals the unsustainable nature of appeasing radical voices without accountability. What’s more, these precautions seem almost routine now, as if disorder is simply expected in the city’s streets. When residents have to preemptively secure their neighborhoods against their own fellow residents, it reflects something about the state of city leadership. Portland, like other progressive strongholds, is increasingly learning the hard way that their leader’s refusal to check leftist radicalism often leads to self-inflicted harm.

As Shift WA previously reported, the FBI and local police are investigating arson attacks on ballot boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. Authorities are searching for a suspect, a white male, 30-40 years old, possibly with welding skills and targeting more ballot boxes. Clark County, WA, recovered 494 ballots from the damaged Vancouver box, with 345 voters receiving replacements so far and the rest sent out soon. Portland police have released details on a suspicious vehicle, an early-2000s Volvo S60 with notable modifications. Affected Washington voters should check their ballot status at votewa.gov and contact local elections if necessary. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

As KTTH’s Jason Rantz reports, Seattle’s small businesses are facing a tough battle against crime, and it’s clear many feel left behind. Spencer Carson, owner of Turntables and Trails, is the latest to be targeted, with thieves striking his shop four times in one night. Despite diligently monitoring alarm alerts, Carson was forced to turn off his system after repeated false triggers, only for thieves to seize the opportunity shortly after. While Carson doesn’t directly blame the homeless, he points out the difficult situation nearby encampments have created, as certain “nefarious characters” seem to exploit these areas. With police stretched thin and response times slowed, Carson just wants a fair chance to protect his business. Like many other local owners, he feels the city’s support has focused more on big corporations, leaving smaller businesses at risk. For Carson, it’s simple: he’s not asking for much—just a city that will answer the call when things go wrong. Read more at KTTH.

Surprise, surprise – Seattle’s latest budget balancing act looks more like a spending spree, as City Councilmember Dan Strauss announced a budget package that will drive the city further into debt. While Mayor Harrell’s budget already forecasted a $76 million deficit post-2026, the council’s new proposal expands that shortfall to $101 million by 2027. The budget gap is partly due to a revised revenue forecast showing a $48.6 million drop from expected general funds over the next two years, despite $40 million in increases from various taxes and fees. Rather than cut back, the council opted to reduce layoffs and ramp up spending on public safety, food access, homelessness, and housing initiatives. Once again, Seattle faces rising deficits with one-time funding patching ongoing expenses—another example of the city’s out-of-control spending and inability to budget sustainably. Read more at Center Square.

General Election voting is underway. Please remember to submit your ballot early to avoid last-minute issues. You can postmark your ballot by 8 p.m. on November 5 (no postage required), or through county drop boxes, which are open 24/7 and will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. As you know, this election includes crucial positions like president, governor, congressional seats, and local measures. Please remember to vote! You can find ballot drop locations here.

Have you subscribed to the new Shift WA podcast yet? We’ve already released three full episodes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive:

• Join us as we welcome Dale Whitaker, candidate for Washington’s Secretary of State, to discuss his reasons for running, thoughts on election security, and the role of technology in building election trust. We explore the line between election “integrity” and “denial,” plus why voters have historically trusted this role to Republicans. Dale also addresses the recent consent decree on 30-day residency requirements by Steve Hobbs and Bob Ferguson, and his vision for strengthening Washington’s business environment through the Secretary of State’s office.
• Fresh off a Seattle Times endorsement, Jaime Herrera-Beutler joins us to discuss her race for Commissioner of Public Lands. What does the Commissioner do? How can we reduce wildfires? What’s involved in forest management? Jaime tackles these questions and more.
• Pete Serrano discusses his path to law school, work as an environmental lawyer, and run for office. He breaks down the Attorney General’s mission, public safety priorities, and the police and public defender shortages. Pete also highlights what sets him apart from his opponent and shares thoughts on working with the legislature and whether the AG should be appointed by the governor.
• Judge Dave Larson joins the podcast to discuss his run for the Washington State Supreme Court, his journey into law, and the realities of judicial elections. He also touches on bias in the judiciary, legal news on ballot initiatives, and whether legal shows get it right. Finally, he shares ideas for improving the justice system.
• David Olson talks about his bid for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including the role of OSPI, implications of I-2081, and his approaches to learning loss and school tech policies. He also addresses rising anti-Semitism in schools and the need for more apprenticeships.

Subscribe now and don’t miss out on these critical discussions!

Please consider making a contribution to ensure Shift continues to provide daily updates on the shenanigans of the liberal establishment. If you’d rather mail a check, you can send it to: Shift WA | PO Box 956 | Cle Elum, WA 98922

Forward this to a friend.  It helps us grow our community and serve you better.

You can also follow SHIFTWA on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

If you feel we missed something that should be covered, email us at [email protected].