Washington state megathread

[kingcharlesvii]

I'm quite happy with the results of the primary, some exciting news out of Everett with a similar situation to Seattle in 15 & 19 where we saw a whole new council. In Everett it appears that three Rs on council will be gone (since none of them are running for re-election)

I also think it's notable that alot of hullabaloo is made about a "backlash" to "radical" seattle politics but year after year we just don't see it. I don't personally agree with so much of what Sawant does and says, but at the end of the day she has survived numerous electoral challenges and I really don't foresee the Recall against her being successful.

People forget that the low approval ratings for Seattle City Council aren't just folks thinking the council has gone too far left, but also folks that believe it hasn't gone left enough

[kingcharlesvii]

It still just amazes me with Sawant how I constantly hear from center-left to right-wing folks that Sawant doesn't care about her district and how people in her district hate her. Hell they'll even say that about more than half the council, yet she routinely wins re-election. I really think part of the tension we see with people like gmac is the Seattle City politics of 20 years ago are long-gone, hell even looking back at the council in 2010 feels like a life-time ago.

Seattle has changed and the people within it want this new direction, and honestly so far as the fastest growing major city in the country (with over 100k new residents arriving between 2010-2020) as well as being the new mecca for the tech industry. I just fail to see how the new change in direction is disastrous. Having myself been homeless in the seattle metro region in the early 2010s the homelessness crisis isn't new, hell there's an almost live skit from the 90s regarding having to jump over panhandlers on your way to work.

[kingcharlesvii]

The very fact that Seattle is crazy is why people vote for SAlt, they’re entire advertising schtick is providing stability and peace in the city. They do want to solve homelessness and stop the junkies by giving them a place to stay and have professionals treat them to get on their feet.

Of course given you are blind to reality and are dismissive of run of the mill Seattle residents and their viewpoints on how to solve the cities problems, I see the problem may be you being such a giant square.

It's hilarious that you can say something like "SocAlt's entire advertising shtick is providing stability and peace" with a straight face, and then turn around and say I'm the delusional one.  You don't know this since you don't live here, but SocAlt goes out every week and plasters every lamppost in Capitol Hill with their big red posters.  Not once have those posters ever said anything about "peace and stability" it's always radical change, us-vs-them, fight fight fight, overthrow capitalism, down with the landlords, everyone who opposes us is a right-wing billionaire Trump supporter.

I'm actually gonna have to agree with gmac on this, Sawant and her crew such as Nikkita Oliver and Jess Spear have always tried making their candidacies and political projects about class and the need for radical change. It's honestly how incendiary their rhetoric is (and some of their more unfeasible policies) that makes me hesitant to directly support them. I've never honestly seen any of the SA folks talk about bringing "peace and stability" to the city, typically those that believe the city needs those things are the peeps supporting Kate Martin, Art Langlie and Sara Nelson tbh

[kingcharlesvii]

Disappointed to see there hasn't been much discussion around two big recent developments in Washington State Politics.

1st, The State Supreme Court ruled that the Capital Gains tax passed a few sessions ago is constitutional, they did however completely avoided touching the income tax debate by ruling a capital gains tax is an excise tax. I expect this will further empower progressives next session to consider trying to make a wealth tax happen as well as other progressive revenue options.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/supreme-court-rules-states-new-capital-gains-tax-is-legal/

2nd, In light of the recent Northwest Progressive Institute's poll that showed him at only 7% and far behind AG Ferguson, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced he will not be a candidate for Governor. Leaving only Ferguson and State Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz the only prominent politicians angling for governor on the democratic side, though Lt Gov. Denny Heck could be well positioned to take advantage of the relative obscurity of the current field amongst the general public
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/king-county-executive-dow-constantine-wont-run-for-wa-governor/
https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2023/03/bruce-dammeier-r-bob-ferguson-d-lead-hypothetical-2024-gubernatorial-field-in-wa.html

[kingcharlesvii]

Thankfully the Lynnwood Times found this WAC "According to WAC 434-215-060: Whenever, in the judgment of the filing officer, two or more candidates have filed for the same office whose names are so similar as to be confusing to voters, he or she shall differentiate between the candidates by the inclusion of additional information in connection with the name as it appears on the ballot. Such differentiation may be made by the inclusion of the candidate's occupation, status as incumbent or challenger, or by any other means which, in the judgment of the filing officer, fairly and impartially distinguishes the candidates. The filing officer may solicit suggestions and input from the candidates involved in order to resolve the situation."