Liberal state lawmakers refuse to admit their public safety failures and instead tell police departments that officers need to put themselves at increased legal risk to keep the public safe.  Two of the more extreme members of the Washington State Senate Democrat caucus, Manka Dhingra (D – Kirkland) and Jamie Pedersen (D – Capitol Hill), issued a media release after the Democrats’ radical “reform” laws went into effect, stating, “Police have a responsibility to show up and help people in crisis.”  Apparently the two Democrat senators did not know the contents of one measure (HB 1310) of their police “reform” package, which they wrote and passed so quickly to appease the violent liberal rioters they count among their base.  The new laws actually severely restricts the calls police can respond to, including those involving someone suffering a mental health crisis, as multiple law enforcement agencies across the state have pointed out. (Click to read full Shift Article)

Due to Democrat lawmakers passing their controversial “police reform” laws, criminals are brazenly robbing retailers, because they know they will not face consequences for their actions.  Some lawbreakers are blatantly filling up their shopping carts and walking out of the store without paying, as they enjoy the gifts handed to them by Democrat legislators and their hastily drafted anti-police measures, written by Representative Roger Goodman (D – Kirkland) and Representative Jesse Johnson (D – Federal Way).  The “reform” bills, which severely restrict law enforcement’s ability to pursue suspected criminals, was passed by the Democrat legislature and signed by Governor Jay Inslee to reward the actions of violent liberal rioters over the past two years. Due to increased security costs and loss of merchandise, retailers are forced to increase prices, which only impacts law-abiding consumers and not the criminals. (KOMO News)

Today is the last day that unvaccinated state workers (including many State Patrol officers) can receive their final COVID shot or be fired by Governor Inslee on October 18th.  Over the weekend thousands of state workers protested at the Capitol Building, with many claiming they have difficulties with the undemocratic process used to force the mandate on the workers.  One of the protest’s organizers said, “If there’s going to be any sort of requirement for state workers related to this (i)t’s got to come from the state’s representatives, through the people’s representatives.” But that’s not the way Governor Jay “I’m the only one who can save lives” Inslee operates. (MyNorthwest and KOMO News)

When will Seattle’s liberal establishment finally admit that the city’s grand homelessness social experiment is a complete failure?  In the latest validation of Seattle’s non-stop slide, the Weyerhaeuser Company announced it has delayed returning employees to its Pioneer Square headquarters, due to the City of Seattle’s misguided and poorly executed plan to “Defund the Police,” and the resulting devastating effect on crime and public safety.  Weyerhaeuser executive Denise Merle said the company will not return until there are “significant and sustained improvements in neighborhood safety.”

The delay will significantly impact local small retailers who are dependent on the purchases of nearby office workers.  Despite the blow to their businesses, some small employers say this may be a blessing in disguise, for it may force the city’s elected officials to finally act.  Darcy Hanson, the owner of the Merchant’s Café optimistically said, “I’m glad they said it, because you know what? They’ll pay attention to Weyerhaeuser.” While we hope she is correct, recent history shows the city officials don’t listen to anyone unless they are a violent liberal rioter committing physical assault against police officers or a government employee union boss. Until Seattle’s liberal politicians finally admit their current policies are failing, local small retailers will just have to be satisfied with lame-duck Mayor Jenny Durkan’s plan to bring consumers back to downtown with a few free music concerts in needle-strewn parks. (Seattle Times and Mayor Durkan’s media release)

Meanwhile in Olympia, their city’s liberal homeless policies are leading to an increase in crime against nearby residents.  One senior citizen, who lives near one of the encampments allowed by city officials, has been violated on many occasions.  He found extension cords and water hoses hooked up to his house that ran down to the encampment.  He has also been burglarized by encampment residents, one time being shoved to the ground by someone he caught in the act. All the city does in response is say the problem should clear up soon – perhaps after the criminals have chased away the law-abiding citizens. (KING5 News)

King County judges have proposed making virtual jury selection permanent.  King County Superior Courts have used video interviews of prospective jurors during the past year as part of their social distancing measures during the pandemic.  The judges contend that if allowed to make this process permanent, then it will be quicker, and less of an intrusion on prospective jurors, who will not have to walk through the high-crime area around the courthouse only to have to sit for hours waiting to be called.  King County judges sent their proposal to the Washington State Supreme Court, which sets the rules for judicial processes in the state. (KING5 News)

The Seattle Times published a puff piece on the rise of U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal to being the leader of the most radical members of Congress, but the newspaper still refuses to mention the national news story which revealed that the Congresswoman runs a hostile work environment.  It is nearly unprecedented for 18 former and current staff members to openly condemn their boss to the media, yet this is what occurred in this September 13^th Buzzfeed article.   The Seattle Times has not found this national news story worth mentioning, even though it involved the member of Congress which represents the paper’s hometown.  It must be nice to be a liberal politician, when you can openly “berate staff members” and create “a dysfunctional and volatile workplace” and the local newspaper rewards you by writing another puff piece.  (Seattle Times and Buzzfeed)

The year’s poor wheat harvest is reflected in the sharp decrease in the amount of the commodity currently in storage.  Last year 182 millions of bushels of Washington wheat were in storage, compared to 114 million bushels this year.  The 38% reduction in stored commodities is fairly uniform throughout the Pacific Northwest for barley, oats, and corn.  (Pacific Northwest AG Network)

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who already has more than $3 million in his campaign’s bank account, complains about the state’s restrictions on politicians receiving money during the legislative session.  In his latest fundraising email, the flush-with-cash career politician says state laws restrict him from raising money for “approximately half of the year.”  The AG’s math is a bit off, since state campaign laws only restrict fundraising during a legislative session and the 30 days before the session starts, which means 25-40% of a year is off limits for his campaign begging, depending on the year .  And while the attorney general bemoans that he doesn’t receive money from corporations, he has never refused money from the state and national Democrat organizations which are flooded with corporate dollars.  And of course, Ferguson always welcomes the largest contributors to Washington State campaigns, the very powerful state government employee unions which control his party through their hefty contributions. (Ferguson campaign email and Washington State Public Disclosure Commission)

This week’s Newsmaker Interview is with David Preston of “Safe Seattle,” an organization which offers a very vocal critique of the failed homeless and public safety policies which have severely damaged the once “Most Livable City in America.”  Safe Seattle’s following has grown during the pandemic and the subsequent violent riots committed by leftist activists, as residents seek viewpoints which the local media fails to recognize. Every day, Safe Seattle posts numerous stories about what is happening on the front lines, as local residents and businesses are faced with the growing crime, drug, and sanitary problems resulting from Seattle’s elected officials unwillingness and inability to solve the homeless problems their own policies have created.  Shift often reposts Safe Seattle’s materials and we believe many of our readers will appreciate the perspective the site provides.  (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

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