[un]Divided: Former addict ‘sickened’ by policies enabling drug abuse
[un]Divided: Former addict ‘sickened’ by policies enabling drug abuse
Ginny Burton is a 17-time felon who spent 28 years in active addiction. On the unDivided Podcast with Brandi Kruse, she says she is “sickened” by policies and movements that are enabling the personal destruction of people living on our streets.
By Brandi Kruse
What a natural gas ban would mean for your monthly budget
What a natural gas ban would mean for your monthly budget
A bill making its way through state legislature would prohibit natural gas lines from being extended to any new construction in Washington. The bill (HB 1589), which passed 52-44 in the House, saw intense opposition. Minority House Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, said in a tweet this legislation was “the most poorly thought-out major bill I’ve...
Police reforms have failed our children
Police reforms have failed our children
This article was originally published by the Lyden Tribune. By Simon Sefzik Earlier this month, two children were killed in a head-on accident on Interstate 82 in Eastern Washington. One of the victims was an 8-year-old girl named Delilah. The other was a 6-year-old boy named Timothy. According to KAPP KVEW’s Yak-Tri News,...
Matt McIlwain: 7 reasons why the capital gains tax is bad for Washington state
Matt McIlwain: 7 reasons why the capital gains tax is bad for Washington state
By Matt McIlwain Since Washingtonians rejected a state income tax by 64% to 36% in 2010, the state has prospered economically and substantially grown tax revenues. Now the state Supreme Court has reversed a lower court ruling and invented an excise tax on capital gains income that exists nowhere else in the world. If the...
[un]Divided: Small business owner considers run for Seattle City Council
[un]Divided: Small business owner considers run for Seattle City Council
The owner of Piroshky Piroshky Bakery in Seattle says “toxic” policies have left downtown in ruin. Olga Sagan tells Brandi Kruse on the unDivided Podcast that she is now considering a run for public office and wants to inspire other small business owners to speak out.
By Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided: Half of Tacoma’s murder victims are kids
[un]Divided: Half of Tacoma’s murder victims are kids
So far in 2023, half of all homicide victims in the city of Tacoma have been under the age of 18. On the unDivided Podcast, Brandi Kruse argues that addressing the cause of rising violence among youth should be a top priority.
By Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided: Democratic mayor questions his party’s public safety priorities
[un]Divided: Democratic mayor questions his party’s public safety priorities
Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell left the Republican Party in 2012, but now finds himself frustrated with how Democrats are handling the public safety crisis. He tells Brandi Kruse on the unDivided Podcast that a 2021 law limiting police pursuits “undermines common sense.”
By Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided: Fed up with government response, citizen group takes action on homelessness
[un]Divided: Fed up with government response, citizen group takes action on homelessness
A few years ago, Andrea Suarez says she hardly ever voted and probably couldn’t have named her city councilmember. Now she runs a citizen-led group called We Heart Seattle and is working to disrupt the homeless industrial complex across North America. She joined Brandi Kruse on the unDivided Podcast.
By Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided: South King County mayors urge action on crime crisis
[un]Divided: South King County mayors urge action on crime crisis
Kent Mayor Dana Ralph has become an important voice on issues related to public safety and homelessness, urging lawmakers in Olympia to pass reasonable laws to keep people safe. She joined Brandi Kruse on the unDivided Podcast.
By Brandi Kruse
Democratic lawmakers insult, demean supporters of police pursuit fix
Democratic lawmakers insult, demean supporters of police pursuit fix
On the steps of the Washington State Capitol, Amber Goldade spoke about losing her daughter. “I have suffered horrendously, and I will suffer until my dying day,” she said, facing news cameras. “She is and always will be a victim of the no-pursuit law.” In January 2022, 12-year-old Immaculee Goldade and her best friend were...
By Brandi Kruse
Call to action: Support Restoring Victims’ Rights By Allowing Police to Pursue Dangerous Criminals today
Call to action: Support Restoring Victims’ Rights By Allowing Police to Pursue Dangerous Criminals today
Today, on the Capitol Campus at 4PM in the John L. O’Brien building/JLOB, Hearing Room D SB 5352, the watered-down vehicle pursuit restoration bill, is scheduled for Executive Session in the House Committee on Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry. Executive session means legislators won’t take public testimony but we can fill the room to show them...
[un]Divided: Democrats debate police pursuit proposal in private
[un]Divided: Democrats debate police pursuit proposal in private
Instead of allowing public testimony on a proposal to fix the state’s broken police pursuit law, Democrats have opted for a closed-door meeting. On the unDivided Podcast, Brandi Kruse encouraged leaders to let Washingtonians have their voices heard.
By Brandi Kruse
“Restore the police pursuit law so no family has to go through what mine did.”
“Restore the police pursuit law so no family has to go through what mine did.”
There are some laws that make it harder for good law enforcement officers to do their jobs well. Like the law here in our state that makes it illegal for police to pursue criminals driving away from the scene of the crime. When the police aren’t allowed to work to prevent violent crime, we end...
By Amber Goldade