Look out, it’s Sound Transit’s budget! Nooooooooooooooo!
Happening in Olympia
The Federal Transit Administration announced a $1.2 billion grant to help Sound Transit build a light rail line to Lynnwood. “This grant agreement represents the department’s commitment to Sound Transit and the Seattle region to help mitigate congestion in one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas,” said acting FTA Administrator K. Jane Williams. Perhaps Williams was not briefed on the money black hole that is Sound Transit. (Seattle Times)
Gov. Inslee actually said giving a sales and property tax break to Washingtonians would be unconstitutional. Hear more from our confused governor in this cringe-worthy interview. (TVW)
Western Washington
Revenue collections from Seattle’s sugar tax have exceeded initial estimates, reaching close to $17 million in the first nine months. It’s as if sin taxes don’t actually change behavior… While city officials initially estimated declining revenues from this tax over time, indications now suggest the opposite. One couldn’t be blamed for thinking the real purpose of this tax isn’t public health but growing city government. (Seattle Times)
With Seattle’s contracted EMTs considering going on strike, Socialist city councilmember Kshama Sawant wants the city to hire EMTs directly, creating new unionized city positions. “As the strike looms, it’s more evident than ever that the safety of Seattleites must not be held hostage to corporate greed and a political culture of contracting out our safety net to profiteers,” Sawant wrote. (My Northwest)
Eastern Washington
Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who grew up in Richland, submitted his resignation to President Trump and will be stepping down in February. “Because you have the right to have a secretary of defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position,” Mattis wrote. (Tri-City Herald)
The Walla Walla City Council’s decision to lease Crawford Park to Valley Transit is causing some dissension. Valley Transit General Manager Dick Fondahn said the agreement would give his agency the authority to respond to what the police chief has described as “anti-social behavior” in Crawford Park. “For me, this just feels heavy-handed,” said Councilmen Chubb, who voted against the lease. “This doesn’t seem like the right way to do it.” (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
Notable Tweets
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