Week in Review: March 8, 2024 - with Erica Barnett
Week in Review: Conservative Initiatives, Comprehensive Plan, and Ax Murderer Controversy
Conservative Initiatives Pass Democratic Legislature
In a surprising move, the Democratic-majority in the Washington state legislature passed three conservative ballot initiatives into law, bypassing the need for a public vote. The initiatives ban a state income tax, expand parental rights regarding instructional materials and student records in public schools, and give police broader authority for vehicular pursuits.
Barnett warned the parental rights measure could be wielded to out LGBTQ students: "It is outing trans kids, it is outing potentially gay and lesbian bisexual kids...it's a violation of the rights of privacy of children and teenagers."
The decision avoids a costly campaign battle, but Barnett questioned if it signals Democrats being "willing to negotiate instead of fight" well-funded opposition.
Mayor's Comprehensive Plan Faces Criticism
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's proposed 20-year Comprehensive Plan allows for just 100,000 new housing units, despite projections that 250,000 more people will move to the city. Critics blasted this as woefully inadequate to address the affordable housing shortage.
Barnett called it "stunning in its lack of ambition" beyond mandated zoning changes. Fincher urged residents to attend public meetings and directly press the mayor's and councilmembers' offices, saying "They need to hear from you, their constituents."
Revelation of Ax Attacks on Homeless People Raises Concerns\xa0
Weeks after a suspect's arrest, Seattle police admitted they withheld information about horrific ax attacks targeting the city's homeless population. The lack of public warning sparked outrage.
Barnett speculated police view such crimes against the unhoused as "not affect[ing] the general public." Fincher condemned the "dehumanizing conversations and rhetoric...about visible street homelessness" that enable such violence.
Both hosts emphasized the need for accountability and citizen engagement from Seattle's elected leaders on these intersecting crises around housing, public safety and inequality.
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As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com.
Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Twitter at @finchfrii and find today\u2019s co-host, Erica Barnett, at @ericacbarnett.
Resources
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Executive Dow Constantine Details How King County Tackles the Homelessness Crisis Through Housing Solutions from Hacks & Wonks
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\u201cWhy we are voting to pass WA\u2019s parental-rights initiative\u201d by Jamie Pedersen and Laurie Jinkins for The Seattle Times
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\u201cLGBTQ Advocates Are Ready to Fight the Parents\u2019 Bill of Rights\u201d by Vivan McCall from The Stranger
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\u201cFirst-of-its-kind database: Majority of people killed in police chases aren\u2019t the fleeing drivers\u201d by Susie Neilson, Jennifer Gollan and Janie Haseman from The San Francisco Chronicle
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\u201cCity Attorney Disqualifies Judge from Criminal Cases, Issues Traffic Ticket to Officer Who Killed Student With His SUV\u201d from PubliCola
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\u201cRepublican City Attorney Ann Davison Throws Municipal Court into Chaos\u201d by Ashley Nerbovig from The Stranger
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\u201cThe City Attorney\u2019s Blanket \u201cAffidavit of Prejudice\u201d Policy Against Judge Vaddadi\u201d by David Ziff from Ziff Blog
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\u201cDraft Comprehensive Plan Would Increase Housing Less Than Needed to Accommodate 250,000 New Residents\u201d by Erica C. Barnett from PubliCola
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\u201cSeattle Releases Comprehensive Plan Less Ambitious Than Bellevue\u201d by Doug Trumm from The Urbanist
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\u201cMayor Harrell proposes housing density in every Seattle neighborhood\u201d by David Kroman from The Seattle Times
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One Seattle Plan Engagement Hub
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\u201cFirst Hill man arrested in ax murder as Seattle Police secretly searched for suspect preying on homeless \u2014 UPDATE\u201d by Justin Carder from Capitol Hill Seattle Blog
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Find stories that Crystal is reading here
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