Category Archives: In The News

05 Jan
0

The Stranger: Our Police Are Civil Servants and Guardians, Not Warriors

Our community is reeling with anger and frustration following the killing of yet another unarmed, non-threatening black man by police officers, this time in Minneapolis. We are heartsick at the senseless killings of George Floyd, Manuel Ellis, Breonna Taylor, and ...

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03 Dec
0

Seattle Met: Should Washington Embrace a Four-Day Workweek?

THE LAST Washington state legislative session, state senator Joe Nguyen and three others sponsored a bill that would trim the standard 40-hour workweek to 32. It didn’t gain traction. But with the coronavirus pandemic hastening remote office setups, imperiling our mental ...

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09 Nov
0

Crosscut: Seattle seeks state’s help to reduce power of police unions

Seattle was on the cusp of finally ending federal oversight of its police department when an outside arbitrator demanded that the city rehire an officer who had punched a handcuffed woman in the eye. The arbitrator’s ruling was so upsetting to ...

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02 Sep
0

Crosscut: Guaranteed income in Seattle? It’s been done before

I have a question for Mayor Durkan. When do we start getting our free money? On June 29, 11 U.S. mayors, led by Michael Tubbs of Stockton, California, announced the launch of a new network called Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. The basic ...

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17 Jun
0

Crosscut: ‘Everything is on the table’ as WA stares down a $9B shortfall

With state revenues now expected to take a $9 billion hit, new taxes could get a warmer reception when Washington lawmakers gather to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. On Wednesday, legislative budget writers received new information clarifying just how big ...

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12 Jun
0

Crosscut: Washington must prioritize equity as it responds to crises

After over two months of social distancing, our new normal has transformed into enduring agony. Like every other elected official in the state and beyond, I spend hours each day responding to heartbreaking emails from constituents who have been pushed ...

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08 Jun
0

WaPo: Seattle politicians consider defunding police department amid outbreak of violence at protest

Political leaders made moves Monday toward defunding the city’s police department in the aftermath of violence here over the weekend, following in the steps of other cities after nearly two weeks of protests over police brutality that have swept the ...

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04 May
0

Washington State Wire: Sen. Joe Nguyen is working on a budget proposal that protects vital services

Persisting inequities have been top of mind for Senator Joe Nguyen as he’s worked to shore up social services and protections through progressive legislation. He’s been a leader in the Legislature on technology policy and expanding TANF benefits. Now, with ...

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06 Apr
0

The Stranger: Don’t Listen to Bad Ideas—Austerity Will Only Hurt Us More

With our economy and sense of social normalcy completely upended to combat the spread of coronavirus, it was only a matter of time before we’d hear the calls for austerity. They come in well-messaged colloquialisms like “time to tighten our ...

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