Shift’s Newsmaker interview is with Greg Cheney, a GOP Washington State House of Representatives candidate in the 18^th Legislative District (Clark County).  The Battle Ground attorney and small business owner won a hotly contested primary race between three Republican candidates for the opportunity to face a Democrat opponent in next month’s general election.  It is an open seat following the retirement of Republican Representative Larry Hoff.  Cheney is a Clark County native and he and his wife are the proud parents of two elementary school boys.

In his interview Cheney discusses how the state can reduce crime by “recriminalizing” drugs and allowing the police to pursue suspected criminals.  As a local planning commission member, Cheney describes how the state’s liberal energy policies are increasing the cost of new homes and making them unaffordable for first-time buyers. He believes the state should help seniors stay in their homes during retirement by freezing their property taxes.  Cheney has been active in helping those with mental health challenges and believes early intervention is key to helping students struggling after the pandemic. Finally, he gives one of the best presidential biographies ever written (in Shift’s humble opinion) as his favorite book. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

Starting today, lower- and middle-income Californians will find up to $1,050 deposited into their bank accounts because of a tax rebate plan their state’s Democrat lawmakers voted to give them from the state’s record tax revenue surplus.  Washington State Senate Republican Leader John Braun had strong comments about the failure of Washington’s Democrat lawmakers to do the same for our state’s taxpayers.  The senator noted that Governor Jay Inslee and Democrat legislators often work to turn our state into California’s “Mini-me” by blindly enacting that state’s failed energy, environmental, and public safety policies, yet when the Democrats had the opportunity to help struggling families, our state’s liberal lawmakers refused to follow the actions of their California colleagues.  The senator stated that this failure by Washington’s Democrat legislative majority makes them appear heartless.

Senator Braun said, “Democratic leaders in our state seem blind to the hardships being faced by families, especially those in the middle. Every time Republicans have tried to let the people keep more of their own money instead of giving it to the state, Democrats have said no. Gas prices are climbing again, but when we proposed an immediate suspension of the state gas tax, to save drivers 49.4 cents per gallon, the governor and other Democrats resorted to disinformation.” (Washington State Senate Republican caucus media release)

The Washington Policy Center has launched a new public information issues campaign called “Solutions on the Table.” The purpose of the effort is to inform a larger audience of the better solutions to our state’s issues than what is currently being discussed (and passed) by Democrat lawmakers.  Each topic will provide background information and an explanatory video on the issue and then provide social media “sharables” for readers. The initiative’s first topics are on the upcoming 46-cents-per-gallon gas “tax” state Democrat lawmakers have imposed, state sales tax relief, and  Education Scholarship Accounts which provide more options for parents. (Washington Policy Center)

Seattle Times’ columnist Jon Talton criticizes the Seattle City Council for its “leisurely journey” to restore 3^rd Avenue, which he believes is key to refurbishing the Downtown neighborhood.  While the councilmembers dawdle through the process, stores have remained boarded up, office employees continue to work remotely, and remaining businesses face the increased expenses of hiring private security, repairing damaged store fronts, and paying higher insurance premiums.

Meanwhile the problems associated with 3^rd Avenue – primarily criminal activity and drug use (which is technically criminal activity) – are now spreading to 4^th Avenue.  Talton lays the blame on “the City Council majority’s hostility to the Seattle Police Department.” He concludes that two actions are needed to restore the major thoroughfare that runs through the middle of Downtown. The first is for an incentive program to bring businesses back to 3^rd Avenue and take down all the boarded-up windows.  The second is to restore public safety for “No redesigned Third Avenue will work unless people feel safe. Connectivity fails when crime prevails.” (Seattle Times)

One young man was murdered, and another man was hurt in a double shooting early Friday morning just east of Downtown Seattle near the Yesler Terrace.  The latest violence increased the number of murder victims to 48 in the city this year, which already surpasses last year’s total and will likely break 2020’s murder record (53) in the next few weeks.  While most urban areas in the country are seeing violent crime decrease with the end of the pandemic, violence continues to rise in Seattle due to liberal anti-police policies at both the city and state level.  While incumbent Democrat legislators provide campaign-year lip service to being tough on crime, their voting records reveal a strong willingness to keep our state a more comfortable place to be a criminal. (KING5 News and KOMO News)

KTTH Radio Host Jason Rantz reports “Despite knowing the COVID vaccine doesn’t stop the spread of the virus, King County Executive (Dow Constantine) is keeping the mandate in effect for employees and volunteers.”  Rantz obtained an internal King County announcement which stated that all executive branch county employees are required to be fully vaccinated.  This mandate also requires all contractors and volunteers who work with the executive branch to be vaccinated. (MyNorthwest)

The Bellingham Police Department reports they have arrested a man for an amazing 68^th time.   Vaughn Anton Tufts was booked last Sunday for suspicion of second-degree assault, third-degree malicious mischief, and failure to appear on warrants for fourth-degree assault and third-degree theft.  Tufts is suspected of demanding more money for a drug deal involving fentanyl, and when the buyer refused, he sprayed him with bear spray. Just the type of repeat offender the Democrats have made sure has his voting rights returned as soon as he steps out of jail.  (Bellingham Herald)

Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl has informed the Inslee Administration today that the large encampment they have allowed to grow on Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) property is officially being declared a “chronic nuisance property” and that his department is starting the abatement process.  Chief Meidl said that 384 calls for service have come from the property in the past 56 days (an average of almost seven a day).

Chief Meidl wrote in his letter to WSDOT that “For over a year the State was unwilling to indemnify the City of Spokane for clean-up and enforcement action at the Property that the City was willing to perform. The City has exchanged letters and met with the State multiple times in an effort to establish a plan to bring an end to the illegal campsite at the Property.” (KXLY News)

The “leader of the security team” at the large encampment on WSDOT property in Spokane says he daily collects 50 – 60 foils (used to smoke heroin) because residents are using them in public.  While homeless “advocates” who want to keep the large encampment going call it “Camp Hope,” the security leader, a former encampment resident Robert Moody, said a better name is “Camp Dope.” Moody also says while his team is working to prevent crimes from occurring, there continues to be regular fights and thefts to go along with the open drug use.  A drive-by shooting occurred just outside the encampment on Wednesday.  Residents say rapes, beatings, and even a branding have taken place and have called the encampment “Lord of the Flies on drugs.”

The state’s taxpayers have paid for a fence which has been erected around the camp and ID badges will be soon be issued to the 500 – 600 residents.  Washington State taxpayers will also be funding a professional security team which WSDOT says it will put in place by next week. Moody says that he would like to have more contact with law enforcement, yet admits the camp residents have not responded well to previous attempts by the Spokane Police Department to assist residents. (Spokesman Review and KXLY)

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