King County Executive Dow Constantine is deflecting blame for the county’s jail booking restrictions, which have been in place since 2020, by blaming Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison. Davison, along with Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson and interim police Chief Sue Rahr, recently argued that these restrictions are exacerbating public safety issues by limiting their ability to handle repeat offenders and petty crimes. In response, Constantine accused Davison of incompetence rather than addressing his own administration’s failures.

A recent internal message from Constantine claims Davison’s office failed to compellingly challenge the booking restrictions in court – of course, that’s just a convenient excuse for the county’s inability to manage its own staffing and operational issues. Constantine’s attempt to shift blame onto Davidson ignores the reality that his administration’s restrictions are causing significant operational challenges. His dismissive attitude towards Seattle’s request for more jail space and his refusal to return any money despite the limited services further expose his lack of leadership. Instead of addressing the issues directly, Constantine is – once again – content to pass the buck. Read more at the Seattle Times.

Two new reports highlight financial implications if Washington voters approve measures to repeal the capital gains income tax (Initiative 2109). And – surprise, surprise – the financial impacts of these initiatives are far less severe than opponents of the initiatives previously claimed.

Initiative 2109 targets the capital gains income tax, which generated about $786 million in 2023 and $433 million by May 2024. This tax currently funds K-12 education, childcare, and school construction. The Office of Financial Management (OFM) now estimates a $2.2 billion loss over five years, far below the previous estimate of $5.6 billion. For months, supporters of the capital gains income tax have argued that eliminating the tax would exacerbate funding issues for education and childcare. On the other hand, those pushing for the tax’s repeal rightfully point out that the state can sustain these programs by merely re-prioritizing out-of-control spending. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison recently testified before the Seattle City Council that the police are prohibited from booking suspects for theft, property destruction, harassment, and other misdemeanors. She pointed out, “Our officers can’t book for over half of the misdemeanor crimes in our city laws.” Meanwhile, progressive Seattle City Council member Tammy Morales is opposing attempts to expand jail capacity for these very offenses, including theft, trespassing, property destruction, harassment, and animal cruelty.

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

• Episode 1:We called in Amy Harris from Red Strategies to discuss the ins and outs of campaign finance. We cover everything from the importance of funding to the challenges of small-dollar donations and those pesky fundraising texts.
• Episode 2: Raul Garcia joined us during his Freedom From Fentanyl Walk, sharing his family’s personal battle with addiction and discussing broader strategies to tackle this crisis. His firsthand experience is both inspiring and urgent.
• Episode 3:Michael Baumgartner spoke candidly about his run for Washington’s 5th congressional district, touching on key issues like the fentanyl crisis, border security, and even the complexities of the Jones Act.

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

Voting for Washington’s 2024 primary election is underway. Voters must return ballots to drop boxes or voting centers by 8 p.m. on August 6. Mailed ballots need to be postmarked by August 6, and the USPS recommends mailing them a week prior. It’s worth noting – all 39 counties have races on their ballots, with 654 offices and 94 local measures up for decision. Voters can check ballot status and drop box locations online!

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].