Be on the lookout for bad bills
Be on the lookout for bad bills
While details are still murky, here are what issues we can expect to pop up.
[un]Divided: State hospital employed 27-time felon
[un]Divided: State hospital employed 27-time felon
Brandi interviews Tacoma News Tribune journalist Sean Robinson in this segment of [un]Divided to discuss further the breaking news that Washington state knowingly hired a career criminal to work with vulnerable patients. As the criminal justice reform movement in Washington state continues to grow, this story is an extreme example of giving a convicted felon...
When in doubt – vote for balance on November 8
When in doubt – vote for balance on November 8
In Tuesday’s Midterm election, undecided voters have the power to usher in a period of much-needed sanity. They can do it by prioritizing balance above political party. At a time when extremes on both sides are pushing bad ideas – balance is the only thing that can truly protect us. Balance requires compromise, consensus, and...
[un]Divided: King County Prosecutor election race
[un]Divided: King County Prosecutor election race
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...
[un]Divided: Spokane’s Camp Hope Predicament
[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...
Victory! County nixes plans for Chinatown homeless megaplex (for now)
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
[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.
How Seattle, King County’s poor criminal justice policies affect all Washington
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
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...
[un]Divided: The system must do better for survivors
[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....
How new pursuit law has led to increased crime
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...
Washington’s failed response to alarming trends on homelessness
Washington’s failed response to alarming trends on homelessness
Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development revealed that Washington state is outpacing the nation in terms of homeless population growth. There are now an estimated 23,000 homeless people in the state – roughly the same as it was in 2005 after millions have been spent by both the state and...