Justice Potter Stewart famously observed that although pornography is sometimes difficult to define, “I know it when I see it.” The rule of law can also be abstract, but most Americans know the rule of law when they see it. More precisely, they know it when they don’t see it. And as of late, they have not seen it.
Protecting the people’s right to know in Washington state is a constant battle that is getting even harder. That’s a tough message to deliver, especially during Sunshine Week.
Anyone watching television police shows knows that you have a right to a lawyer, and if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you. Yet the increasing complexity of what is required to provide an effective lawyer, and the increase in the number of cases have threatened the ability of public defenders to provide that constitutionally required representation.
To many young families, Washington state is a desirable, yet difficult place to plant roots due to climbing prices. Some point to increasing interest rates and construction costs, but that’s not the whole story. The existing onerous zoning and permitting process plays a large role in the current housing affordability crisis.
Washington’s new tax on smoking alternatives and nicotine products is making its way through the state’s Legislature, known as Senate Bill 6129. The nearly 10,000 licensed tobacco retailers and over 500,000 smokers looking for healthier alternatives in the Evergreen State are on pins and needles, as they may soon be forced to close their doors, make purchases out of state or commit a larger share of an already strained budget to the products they need.
Sometime between now and June, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on Louisiana v. Callais, a case that could well spell the end of the landmark federal Voting Right Act. If what remains of federal voting rights fall, communities across the nation will lose needed protections – including communities right here in Washington state .
The young people I serve as a counselor are just like other high schoolers in Spokane, except for one important detail: All my students are also parents.
Here in Washington state, we know that wildfire flames don’t need to reach our doorsteps in order to impact us. Last fall, smoke from fires outside my hometown of Leavenworth grew so thick that my children’s sports activities were canceled, and I saw too many kids reaching for inhalers. The 2014 Carlton Complex fire was a wakeup call, yet fires continue to burn on federal lands. Our nation is still on fire, and our communities are still at risk.
Child care and early learning keeps society running, even if it does not show up on blueprints. Without child care providers educating and taking care of kids, daily life would stop.
