In the latest segment of [un]Divided, Jim Ferrell – the Mayor of Federal Way – discusses his campaign for King County Prosecutor with Brandi. She explains how this is the most important race because the Prosecutor elect will have the opportunity to set the tone for the criminal justice system. Accountability and justice are crucial...
Eminent Domain is a law which gives the government the right to take your property for a public use. They have to provide financial compensation, but it often isn’t enough – and the financial compensation often doesn’t make up for being forced out of your property. We talked to Randy Jones of Port Orchard, Washington about...
If you’re opposed to Governor Jay Inslee’s $1,000 bonus to state workers who get the COVID-19 booster shot, you’re not alone. According to a WA Poll of 875 Washington adults, 57 percent oppose the bonus, while only 27 percent supported it. Only 20 percent of those polled supported a booster mandate. The $1,000 bonus is...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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%...
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....
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...
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....