June 23, 2020

Source: ShiftWA.org

Massive administrative failure at Governor Jay Inslee’s Employment Security Department (ESD) has left tens of thousands of Washington residents without receiving their first promised payment. While the governor provides flippant and evasive responses to legitimate questions about the meltdown of his ESD, 81,000 applicants have yet to receive benefits from the state. Some 33,000 first applied for the benefits in March and April.  This is the latest indicator that the ESD’s performance during the coronavirus outbreak has been the worst of any state in the country.  ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine (who admitted she likely obtained the position because she raises money for Democrat candidates) says she now has a plan to get residents their benefits. Meanwhile, thousands of honest citizens are being harassed daily by creditors and some are being forced to sell their homes (likely at a loss) due to the failures of Governor Inslee and his political cronies. We should note that Inslee, who is already the 6th highest paid governor in the country, will be receiving a 6.8% pay raise next week. Heckuva job Jay! (Everett Herald, The Ladders, and Patch)

The much-maligned Western State Hospital is seeking to build a smaller facility near its current structure in Lakewood. Due to administrative failures from the Inslee Administration, the hospital failed to meet federal guidelines in 2018, costing Washington taxpayers $53 million. The mental treatment hospital has also been one of several state-run facilities that failed to adhere to health guidelines, causing mini outbreaks of the coronavirus this Spring among their staffs and residents. The Department of Social and Health Services is planning to replace its current hospital with smaller centers in Thurston and Clark counties and on its current Lakewood site. (News Tribune)

Former Congressman and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert is extremely critical of the actions of state and local officials for abandoning “the rule of law and their oath to protect and defend our communities. They have abandoned their law-abiding citizens and have been cowardly bullied into surrendering the East Precinct – and multiple city blocks.” Reichert condemned the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer by writing, “Every dedicated, honest, decent cop in this country would consider (Minneapolis police officer) Derek Chauvin’s actions disgusting.”  Reichert states that Governor Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson have sat on the sidelines while peaceful protests have “been highjacked by rioters, looters, arsonists, and murderers. Law abiding citizens are afraid as mob rule takes over the city.” (Washington Wire)