Future 42

Washington state should not follow California’s lead on energy

Bad energy policy has had serious consequences. Washington lawmakers can give residents some relief. Wherever California lawmakers lead, Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington lawmakers are soon to follow – just look at their recent mandate on electric vehicles. Now, it’s another attack on energy that’s going to hit Washingtonians in the pocketbook. And as of right...

[un]Divided: Spokane’s Camp Hope Predicament

In this week’s segment of [un]Divided, Brandi unpacks the debate over who is at fault for the Camp Hope situation in the city of Spokane. With approximately 500 homeless people camping out on the state’s Department of Transportation land, city and county officials are at a standstill about how to resolve the encampment. The inability of...

By Brandi Kruse

Victory! County nixes plans for Chinatown homeless megaplex (for now)

This article is republished here courtesy of Change Washington. When tasked with a long, difficult undertaking it’s important to celebrate the victories when they happen. King County’s decision to nix a planned homeless megaplex in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID) represents an unexpected and important success for sound homelessness policy, public safety, and common-sense governance. As we’ve written on...

[un]Divided: Win for Chinatown-International District

In Brandi’s recent segment of [un]Divided, she details the controversy surrounding the proposed expansion of a homeless complex in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Specifically, the dismissal of the community’s concerns by elected officials and the recent decision to pause the project.

By Brandi Kruse

Washington seeks to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035

Monumental change will hit low- and middle-class Washingtonians especially hard. State lawmakers and Gov. Jay Inslee are moving forward with plans to ban the purchase of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. In addition, the governor has declared a statewide goal for all “private” new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030. The state is trying...

How Seattle, King County’s poor criminal justice policies affect all Washington

Crime across Washington has increased significantly in recent years. While it’s a local problem in much of the state, it’s the result of decisions made elsewhere. Some might naturally point to Olympia, where the state legislature has enacted numerous police “reform” laws handicapping law enforcement and enabling criminal activity. However, ultimately this is tied to...

Elected officials have changed their tune on public safety – time will tell whether they mean it

Looming elections have a way of making politicians appear pragmatic. As public opinion sours on our state’s handling of the crime crisis – some Democrats are shifting their stance to stay in step. The question for voters is whether they believe that the sudden course correction will last past November. After staying silent on the...

By Brandi Kruse

Inflation is pushing Washington’s already-high cost of living even higher

Washingtonians squeezed despite record surplus Washington is already one of the most expensive states to live in – and inflation is making it even less affordable. The cost of living in the evergreen state is 13% higher than the national average. Housing and healthcare are each 22% above the national average, while transportation is 18%...

[un]Divided: The system must do better for survivors

On [un]Divided, Brandi Kruse hears the story of a woman who is speaking out about her attempted rape and how her attacker might not serve any time for the crime due to his mental state. One of the biggest challenges to Washington’s public safety crisis is how to prosecute violent offenders who are mentally ill....

Inslee’s emergency powers aren’t really going away

Last week Governor Jay Inslee announced he’d end the state of emergency for COVID-19 on Oct. 31, mere days before the November election. The state of emergency declaration has remained in place since Feb. 29, 2020, a period of more than 900 days. The reality is that regardless of what actually transpires (or expires) on...

Washington state is worth fighting for

I have been covering politics for about a decade in Washington state, but it’s getting harder to live here. More and more people are suffering on our streets, falling deeper into mental illness and drug addiction. People are also being killed at record numbers. This is not a future we deserve, so let’s change it....

By Brandi Kruse

Natural gas ban will make Seattle even more unaffordable

In February 2021 the Seattle City Council voted unanimously in favor of a new building code banning the use of natural gas in all new commercial and residential buildings over three stories high.

Ferry solutions fail to address actual problems

Commuters in the state of Washington have suffered these last few years with unreliable ferry service. Unlike some states where such transport options are more for leisure than practicality, Washingtonians rely on the ability to take a ferry to work, doctor’s appointments – you name it. Ferries are an integral part of the state’s transportation...

How new pursuit law has led to increased crime

In 2021 violent crime increased in Washington state by more than 12 percent compared to the year prior. That includes 325 murders, the most ever recorded since the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) first started to collect data in 1980. This enormous increase in crime did not come about randomly but was...

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Featured Articles

Washington state should not follow California’s lead on energy

Washington state should not follow California’s lead on energy

[un]Divided: Spokane’s Camp Hope Predicament

[un]Divided: Spokane’s Camp Hope Predicament

Victory! County nixes plans for Chinatown homeless megaplex (for now)

Victory! County nixes plans for Chinatown homeless megaplex (for now)

[un]Divided: Win for Chinatown-International District

[un]Divided: Win for Chinatown-International District

Washington seeks to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035

Washington seeks to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035

How Seattle, King County’s poor criminal justice policies affect all Washington

How Seattle, King County’s poor criminal justice policies affect all Washington

Elected officials have changed their tune on public safety – time will tell whether they mean it

Elected officials have changed their tune on public safety – time will tell whether they mean it

Inflation is pushing Washington’s already-high cost of living even higher

Inflation is pushing Washington’s already-high cost of living even higher

[un]Divided: The system must do better for survivors

[un]Divided: The system must do better for survivors

Inslee’s emergency powers aren’t really going away

Inslee’s emergency powers aren’t really going away

Washington state is worth fighting for

Washington state is worth fighting for

Natural gas ban will make Seattle even more unaffordable

Natural gas ban will make Seattle even more unaffordable

Ferry solutions fail to address actual problems

Ferry solutions fail to address actual problems

How new pursuit law has led to increased crime

How new pursuit law has led to increased crime