A couple thousand City of Seattle workers believe it is still unsafe for them to work downtown two days a week.
Newsmaker Interview
Shift’s Newsmaker Interview is with Mark James, the Republican candidate for an open State House seat (Position 2) in the 38th Legislative District (North Snohomish County). Earlier this year, nine-term Democrat incumbent Representative Mike Sells announced his retirement after his district which went through major realignment during the redistricting process. The district became more attractive for GOP candidates with the inclusion of moderate and conservative areas outside of Everett. James and fellow Republican candidate in the Position 1 House seat, Gary Kemp, are attempting to do something many people thought was impossible before redistricting, which is sending two Republican representatives to Olympia from a district which was solidly Democrat.
James is currently a Marysville city councilmember, a small business owner, and a U.S. Army Veteran. In his interview, James provides his thoughts on the Democrats’ disastrous anti-police laws, the need to provide tax relief to help struggling families, and his belief that the Democrats’ poorly developed Long-Term Care payroll tax needs to be repealed. With thousands of Boeing manufacturing jobs in the district, James also explains what the state needs to do to keep those jobs in Everett. James also outlines the important reasons why the Republicans have a great opportunity to win in the 38th Legislative District. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)
State
Food banks say they are seeing a significant increase in seniors coming to their locations as those on fixed incomes have been hit hard by the double digit inflation and skyrocketing fuel prices caused by Democrat policies. Seniors are yet another group which could benefit from either reductions in the state’s sales tax or a suspension/reduction of the state’s gas tax. Democrat lawmakers continue their stubborn refusal to bring any type of tax relief to Washington residents despite billions in unexpected surplus state revenue. Governor Inslee and Democrat legislators evidently believe it is more important for the state to have too much money then it is for seniors and lower-income households to have enough money to pay their bills. (Q13 Fox News)
Western Washington
A couple of thousand City of Seattle workers do not want to return to their downtown offices because they believe it is unsafe. Union officials for the city employees say that fear of obtaining COVID and security risks in downtown are the primary reasons why 2,300 city workers do not want to return to the office for even two days a week as Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is requiring. We should note that the Seattle City Council continues to meet remotely, and members also refuse to work from their city hall office in downtown. What type of signal does it send that the so-called leaders and thousands of public servants being paid by the government entity responsible for the public safety of the city’s 750,000 residents do not believe it is safe for them to return to work downtown? (Seattle Times)
Earlier this week the Daily Briefing reported on the rumor that a Republican write-in candidate will be mounting a campaign against Democrat incumbent Senator Karen Keiser in the 33rd Legislative District. We now have the name of the person who has filed the necessary paperwork – Republican activist Marliza Melzer of Kent is officially a write-in candidate in the August 2nd primary election. If she receives 200 write-in votes in the primary, then her name will be included on the November general election ballot. The 33rd LD includes Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and parts of Kent. (Melzer’s Declaration of Candidacy)
Eastern Washington
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward said that the liberals who control the Spokane City Council are “trying to erode the will of the people” by attempting to take over responsibilities the city charter reserves for the mayor. The latest battle between the moderate mayor and the liberal-controlled city council involves Mayor Woodward removing the police department from an old second-story nunnery and placing them into a vacant city-owned building in the East Central neighborhood. City Council president Breean Briggs doesn’t support the move and next week the council will discuss a proposal that will give the council the power to determine the location of city facilities. This would alter the city charter which was approved by the voters. Mayor Woodward said, “This council has illustrated time and time again that they are trying to chip away at the city charter with a strong mayor system of government that was approved by voters.” (CenterSquare)
Overheard on the Internet
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