Tuesday, November 8, is Election Day

Next Tuesday, Nov. 8, is Election Day in Washington state. Voters may register or update their information in-person, and vote in-person, until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 8 or prior, and ballots may be deposited into official drop boxes until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Every Washingtonian registered to vote by Oct. 31 should have received a mailed ballot. Voters may visit VoteWA.gov to review a personalized voter’s guide, request a replacement ballot, locate official drop boxes, and check their ballot status.

Inslee previews homelessness and housing legislative agenda for 2023

Standing inside Seattle's Civic Hotel on Wednesday, Gov. Jay Inslee previewed his housing and homelessness priorities for the upcoming 2023 legislative session. He said additional homelessness funding will be a top priority, along with a package of bills aimed at increasing more housing at prices that are more affordable for more people.

Legislators have approved historic investments to reduce homelessness in the past two sessions. These include first-time investments to open up thousands of new units through rapid acquisition projects, and investments in support services such as mental health and chemical dependency treatment. Within the first year, 14 new facilities have already opened, serving approximately 830 residents, and funding has been awarded to open an additional 19 projects in 12 counties that will provide nearly 1,000 units in the next six months.

Inslee and advocates at Wednesday’s press conference say these new strategies are making a difference, and they hope legislators will continue funding in the upcoming budget. In addition to reducing the number of people experiencing homelessness, Inslee said new policies must be adopted to address the state’s housing crisis.

Washington is growing faster than its housing inventory: the state’s population has grown by 25% since 2005 while housing construction has only grown by 22%. The discrepancy is pressuring rents and home prices upwards, contributing to an affordability crisis in many areas of the state.

To accelerate housing construction, Inslee called for transit-oriented development to increase density, streamlined permitting to speed home-building, and tax exemptions aimed at helping first-time buyers.

Read more: Inslee wants Legislature to focus on housing lower-income Washingtonians

Homelessness reduction efforts in Vancouver creating safety, stability

Inslee toured a pair of homelessness reduction and affordable housing projects in Clark County on Monday.

Twenty small pallet shelters comprise The Outpost in Vancouver, a shelter community with sanitation services and 24/7 staffing in service of formerly homeless residents. For residents of The Outpost, shelter is just the first step towards something greater.

“It’s not just the roof,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “It’s the mental health support, it’s the chemical addiction issues, it’s the medical-assisted treatment.”

After touring The Outpost, the governor continued to the Fourth Plain Community Commons, a mixed-use development with 106 affordable apartments for low-income tenants. The building also features a public plaza, office and event spaces, and a shared commercial kitchen incubator to support new food-based businesses.

The project benefitted from $6.5 million in state grants and funds from the State Housing Trust Fund and State Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program, two programs catalyzing transit-oriented housing development statewide.

Collaboration and compromise leads to successful water conservation in Kittitas County

Tribal, state, and local officials gathered in Ellensburg on Wednesday to celebrate progress to conserve water while supporting fish, farms, homes, and rural development.

In recent decades, water has been over-allocated in Kittitas County, leading to conflicts between tribes, farmers, developers, environmentalists, and government officials. The Yakima River Basin was the focus of Gov. Jay Inslee’s first legislative proposal when he took office in 2013. The parties agreed to a settlement in 2014, and later established water banks to better account for usage.

Eight years later, Kittitas County’s work has served as a model for other counties confronted by resources shortages, an issue worsened by the effects of climate change.

“The progress on this effort is an incredible testament to what’s possible when people commit to solving a challenge together, no matter how difficult,” Inslee said. “Trudi and I lived and raised our boys in this area for years. The Yakima River Basin was one of the first priorities my administration pursued in 2013. Congratulations to the many people helping protect water for fish, farms and the community.”

News you might have missed:

Commerce invests in expanded state behavioral health capacity

The Washington State Department of Commerce announced Monday that it has awarded $17.9 million in grants across eight projects to increase community-based treatment options and behavioral health supports. Recipients in Benton, King, Pierce, Skagit, and Snohomish counties were selected through a competitive process in support of Gov. Jay Inslee’s plan to shift civil commitment patients away from state hospitals and into community-based settings.

AG Ferguson wins motion to halt Albertson’s merger-related “special dividend” payment

Albertson Companies Inc. proposed a $4 billion “special dividend” payment to shareholders, just as the company’s proposed merger with The Kroger Co. was to be reviewed by state and federal antitrust enforcers. State attorney general Bob Ferguson filed suit and motioned for a temporary restraining order on Tuesday to halt the payment. His motion was granted, helping authorities weigh antitrust considerations. The merger would allow Albertson’s, Safeway, Haggen, Kroger, QFC, and Fred Meyer stores to operate under a single corporation, reducing competition.

WSDOT survey crew reacts quickly to extinguish brush fire

WSDOT surveyors Jeff Karnes and Garth Gavette were doing routine survey work on State Route 507 in Yelm in October when their work day suddenly heated up. Several small fires began smoldering in the brush around them. They leapt to action, calling authorities, notifying adjacent properties, and using a garden hose to soak structures to prevent their ignition. The pair even herded cows into an adjoining field away from the fire. Their swift action prevented a disaster and saved property and livestock.

K9 Colter retires after 14 years of state service

Bears should naturally fear and avoid humans for their own safety. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) returns nuisance bears to the wild through “hard releases,” hazing the bear with barking dogs and other stressors to restore that natural fear. On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee recognized Colter, a Karelian bear dog employed by WDFW, for 14 extraordinary years of service reacclimating bears to the wild and educating the public on WDFW activities.