by Denise Whitaker, KOMO News Reporter Thu, October 5th 2023, 3:51 PM PDT This Navier boat is a pre-production model that holds 6 passengers, but the company says it’s totally scalable to 60′. (KOMO News) DES MOINES, Wash. — It’s no secret that the greater Seattle area deals with a lot of traffic congestion. And
... continue reading.External Articles
Articles from around the area, including re-prints from various newspapers (provided under Fair-Use provision.) These are information only, which means that many, Many, MANY of these do not represent my point of view. (Seriously, they don’t.) I just want you to know what’s out there being discussed by electeds that concern Des Moines.
Police departments facing ‘historic crisis’ in finding, keeping officers should make changes: DOJ report
Story by Bart Jansen, USA TODAY •6h WASHINGTON – Police departments are grappling with “an historic crisis in recruiting and retaining” officers because of a tight labor market during the pandemic and community frustrations, the Justice Department said, recommending a series of policy changes Tuesday to find and keep officers. The recommendations came in response to a survey of 182 police
... continue reading.One court case changed how West Coast cities deal with homeless encampments
By Greg Kim Seattle Times staff reporter Five years ago, federal judges ruled it was “cruel and unusual” for cities to fine or arrest homeless people for sleeping outside when they had nowhere else to go. Fast-forwarding to recent months, elected officials in Seattle and along the West Coast are railing against the decision, asking
... continue reading.A deep dive into Seattle’s busy, beloved Ballard Locks
By Sandi Doughton Pacific NW magazine writer THREE YEARS AGO, a Washington state senator from Ferndale introduced a bill to study the costs and benefits of breaching the Ballard Locks. Republican Doug Ericksen, who died in 2021, didn’t really expect it to happen. His legislation was a jab at Seattle liberals calling for removal of dams on the
... continue reading.Rob Back – Waterland Blog Candidate Statement
Rob Back, a seasoned maintenance contractor and former council member, is a candidate for the Des Moines City Council, Position 2. With over 35 years of experience, Back brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong track record of accomplishments. Notably, he served as a council member from 2016 to 2020, during which time he
... continue reading.Can a city banish its poor? WA’s highest court is asked to weigh in
Being in the Top 10 isn’t always a good thing. Especially when it comes to homelessness. Washington state ranks number nine in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals, or those living on the street, and in the top five of the total number of people experiencing homelessness. The crisis escalated between 2020 and 2022, when that number jumped
... continue reading.Grant will help expand services at Auburn mental health clinic
The $940,298 grant will fund planning, development and expansion of facility By Benjamin Leung Friday, September 29, 2023 2:25pm NORTHWEST Auburn’s Sound Mental Health clinic at 4238 Auburn Way N. (Courtesy photo) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Sound Mental Health, a mental health clinic in Auburn, an approximately $940,000 grant
... continue reading.Burien prohibits camping amid high-profile homeless encampment debate
By Anna Patrick Seattle Times staff reporter The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless is funded by BECU, Campion Foundation, Raikes Foundation and Seattle Foundation. The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over Project Homeless content. After months of infighting over what to do about a small but growing unsheltered homeless population, Burien’s City Council approved a new
... continue reading.4 ways to change our approach to the housing crisis
The Clarion Inn in Auburn was purchased by the county to house homeless people. (Greg Gilbert / The Seattle Times, 2021) By Kent Hay Special to The Seattle Times When your job is mostly outside — wading through piles of garbage, hiking across acres of forest and brush to check on tents emanating the
... continue reading.Washington’s homeschooling boom is here to stay
Among Washington families who took up homeschooling during the pandemic nearly half are sticking with it, according to state data. Why it matters: While some families say homeschooling is a lifeline for kids who struggled in public schools, it’s contributed to enrollment drops, budget shortfalls and potential cuts in many districts, David S. Knight, an assistant professor of education
... continue reading.