The first of many prohibitive regulations necessary to fulfill Seattle’s Green New Deal resolution have been unveiled. Thus far,  a 24 cents per gallon tax on 63,000 homes (mostly in lower income neighborhoods) and legislation to ban natural gas in new homes.  Seattle’s elected leaders are recklessly pushing policies through under the guise of an emergency and hoping you remain distracted enough not to notice. (Shift)

Sound Transit admitted during a Supreme Court hearing that it has been using the wrong table to access car tab fees.  The case is on whether Sound Transit wrote unclear ballot description for the ST3 package that was approved by the voters.  Having the state DMV and Sound Transit admit that they are using the wrong table to levy taxes helps the case that the language was unclear and confusing. (MyNorthwest)

The argument for a liquid natural gas (LNG) plant in Tacoma.  The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) is accepting public comments as it consider a necessary permit for the LNG facility. This is one of the two plants (the other in Cowlitz County) Governor Inslee reversed his support for as he abandoned Washington state jobs to attract national enviro money for his failed presidential bid.  PSCAA’s own analysis shows that the LNG plant would reduce CO2 emissions.  (Washington Policy Center)

The Office of Superintendent for Public Instruction released student tests from 2018-2019.  Statewide scores remain about the same with 60% of students meeting grade standards for English while only 49% met standards for math. (The Olympian)

Former three-term Seattle City Attorney Mark Sidran blasts the city’s current homeless/drug addiction policies in a Seattle Times Op-Ed.  Responding to a recent misguided New York Times editorial about Seattle, Sidran retorts, “Seattle’s model is not a ‘partial retreat in the war on drugs,’ it simply abandons the field. Rather than a ‘stepped-up campaign against addiction,’ Seattle enables addiction. The consequences have been devastating for the addicted, for public spaces and public safety.”  (Seattle Times)

King County Councilman Reagan Dunn proposed a pilot program where homeless individuals are provided transportation to be unified with their families.   “It’s inherently controversial, but it’s the kind of discussion our community isn’t having and we need to have it,” Dunn said in an interview. “Folks will say you’re just busing away the homeless population, but if you look a little deeper, you realize it’s family reunification.” (Seattle Times)

Candidates in the Spokane race for mayor clash over housing issues at candidate forum.  Council President Ben Stuckart said he supports “Housing First” model which states people are housed first and then receive assistance with drug abuse or mental issues.  Stuckart’s opponent Nadine Woodward believes the “Housing First” model doesn’t work for often people either don’t receive or accept the help they need.  (Inlander)

In August, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife authorized the lethal removal of two wolves from the ToGo pack that was responsible for several attacks on livestock in northeast Washington.  The wolves have yet to be killed and likely are responsible for recent attacks on cattle.  (Washington AG News)

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