EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm no big fan of Jay Inslee, our state governor. But being a publisher of this paper, The Port Angeles Globe, I have to check the facts that other publications dish out, even if it favors the innocent, of quotes being made against them. Now you have to consider that the governor's office does edited what the governor says at the times to white washes in order to keep Inslee as a leader who can handle a emergency crisis. So, you have to consider that prospect keeping that in mind.
According to a news story from the Post Millennial from Montreal, Canada. The article was posted March 12th, and was shared on Face Book this week. The Port Angeles Globe looked for a press release backing the below story. The article said it was during " The events ban" when Inslee made those comments that he wished someone else was in charge of the Covid-19 crisis.
Washington governor wishes someone else was in charge as coronavirus ravages state.
Quoting the article: " Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced a ban on events of more than 250 people in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties for the remainder of March. And he wasn't the only US governor to make this call on group gatherings. During the press conference announcing the ban Governor Inslee said “I wish I didn’t have this on my shoulders right now. I wish it was on somebody else’s…” That is not what people need to hear during a crisis.
The ban will include parades, concerts, conventions, sporting events, fundraisers, and festivals across those three counties, and apply to social, recreational, spiritual, and other community gatherings. The Governor also stated that it is “very highly likely it will be extended” past the end of the month."
Editor's Note: The closes press release from the Governor's medium page, was posted on March 11th. with headline: "Inslee issues emergency proclamation that limits large events to minimize public health risk during COVID-19"
"Gov. Jay Inslee announced new community strategies and social distancing plans Wednesday at a news conference in Seattle to minimize COVID-19 exposure, particularly in counties hit hardest by the virus.
Starting today, events that take place in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties with more than 250 people are prohibited by the state. This order applies to gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational activities. These include but are not limited to: community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers and similar activities.
“This is an unprecedented public health situation and we can’t wait until we’re in the middle of it to slow it down,” Inslee said. “We’ve got to get ahead of the curve. One main defense is to reduce the interaction of people in our lives.”
“We recognize this new limitation will impact thousands of people, their plans, and their investments in these events,” Inslee said. “However, this is one of the most prudent choices we can make to keep people safe in this rapidly evolving health crisis. We want to do all we can to protect Washingtonians.”
So far, the virus has hit King County the hardest, with 24 deaths and 267 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning.
The governor also strongly encouraged state residents to practice social distancing, which means individuals should try to stay six feet or at least an arm’s length from each other.
In recent days, Inslee has encouraged older and vulnerable individuals not to attend large events. The governor is also asking for workplaces to look into teleworking options for employees, for people to sanitize and clean surfaces as they use them, and for people to bump elbows as a greeting instead of shaking hands.
Today’s announcement follows weeks of agencies and medical providers working long hours to get emergency communications and strategies to the public after the virus began to spread in Washington.
“We support the governor’s actions to slow the spread of this virus so the health care system has time to respond,” said Cassie Sauer, president of the Washington Hospital Association.."
Editor's note: as you can see, according to the press release no where do you see the comments that news article quoted the Governor in saying he wished that someone else were in charge. Was this the case of fake news? Or, a case of a government white wash from the governor's press releases? ( No local news outlets had those comments mentioned, why?)
Cantwell, Washington State, Oregon Lawmakers Press Trump Administration to Extend Columbia River System Environmental Impact Statement Comment Period as Nation Works to Address Coronavirus Pandemic.
Press release issued 3/ 31/ 20In a new letter, a group of Washington state and Oregon lawmakers urged the Council on Environmental Quality to extend the initial 45-day comment period for the draft environmental impact statement regarding the Columbia River System
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), as well as U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D, WA-09), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06), Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (D, OR-03), Suzan K. DelBene (D, WA-01), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08), and Denny Heck (D, WA-10), sent a letter to Council on Environmental Quality Chair Mary Neumayr requesting an extension of the 45 day public comment period currently underway for the Columbia River System draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). In observance of public health guidance, and in light of the social disruption caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic and the federal, state, and local government attention it requires, the lawmakers pressed to extend the deadline for public comment until at least 30 days after the federal public health emergency is over.
“Given the unique nature of this crisis, it is paramount that all of our national resources and energies be focused on effecting a comprehensive response,” the lawmakers wrote. “The current crisis cannot plausibly provide for an environment conducive to robust public comment. Public feedback should be solicited in an accessible manner and, crucially, in-person, so that the citizens who stand to be affected most directly can make their voices heard to the officials charged with making these decisions.”
The lawmakers continued: “Accordingly, we request the extension of this comment period until no sooner than 30 days after the conclusion of the public health emergency as declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.”
The Columbia River System draft EIS was originally released on February 28, 2020 with a 45 day public comment period. Public feedback is a crucial aspect of the federal rulemaking process, and considering the profound impact that the Columbia River System has on the region and its many diverse inhabitants, it is vital the public has a chance to voice their thoughts and opinions before any action is decided upon—options which are currently virtually impossible due to efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Read full letter below:
Dear Madam Chair:
We write to request an extension of the 45-day public comment period currently underway for the Federal Register notice entitled EIS No. 20200052, Draft, BR, BPA, USACE, OR, Columbia River System Operations. Due to the ongoing 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic—and the specific toll that it is taking on the Pacific Northwest—it is our concern that this important matter cannot receive the thoughtful consideration that it requires under these circumstances.
Given the unique nature of this crisis, it is paramount that all of our national resources and energies be focused on effecting a comprehensive response. The current crisis cannot plausibly provide for an environment conducive to robust public comment. Public feedback should be solicited in an accessible manner and, crucially, in-person, so that the citizens who stand to be affected most directly can make their voices heard to the officials charged with making these decisions. Accordingly, we request the extension of this comment period until no sooner than 30 days after the conclusion of the public health emergency as declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act are clear: agencies must incorporate the feedback from public comments into final rules, including in instances when the rules stand to have significant and long-term environmental impacts. The Columbia River System is a vital resource to the region, and a diverse array of stakeholders are counting on this specific environmental impact statement to bring a degree of finality and certainty to these issues. This can only be accomplished through a transparent public comment process that includes public meetings. This is an issue not of ideology, but one of public safety and full faith in institutions to be responsive to the most pressing matters.
We stand ready to work with the Administration to expeditiously extend the comment period or have the public comment period reopened once this national crisis has been addressed. In this moment, our collective energies are best served working to hasten that moment.
Thank you for your swift consideration of this pressing matter.
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
Burkina Faso crisis and COVID-19 concerns highlight pressure on Sahel food security.
Food insecurity levels in the Sahel region are “spiralling out of control”, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday, as it expressed concerns about the potential impact on humanitarian supply chains because of restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060942
COVID-19 should not herald rollback in rights for people with autism: UN chief.
The rights of persons with autism must be taken into account in efforts to address the COVID-19 coronavirus: “a public health crisis unlike any other in our lifetimes”, the UN Secretary-General said on Thursday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060912
Key COP26 climate summit postponed to ‘safeguard lives’
With no end in sight to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the UN climate change talks which were due to take place in Scotland later in the year, have been postponed until October 2021.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060902
Low-skilled workers, developing countries at risk of steep economic decline as coronavirus advances.
The global economy could shrink by up to one per cent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and may contract even further if restrictions on economic activities are extended without adequate fiscal responses, according to analysis released today by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060832
WHO concerned over rapid escalation in COVID-19 spread as caseload approaches one million.
Deaths from COVID-19 have more than doubled in the past week and will soon reach 50,000 worldwide, while the global caseload is heading towards one million, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) told journalists on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060852
COVID-19: International community must step up to prevent pandemic from devastating vulnerable on the run.
Given how quickly the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading, an outbreak is “looking imminent” in the world’s refugee camps, crowded reception centres or detention facilities where migrant families are sheltering, the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060872
‘Working round the clock’ to aid Venezuelan refugees and migrants during COVID-19 pandemic: UN agencies.
Two United Nations agencies came together Tuesday to urge the international community not to overlook the on-going plight of millions of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060862
COMMENTARY: Should state and local government reconsider the plastic shopping bag ban?
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