from the Governor's Medium page.
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a dozen bills today that will improve accountability for law enforcement in Washington state, and will create the nation’s strongest police accountability system. The governor, joined by community members and families of those impacted, signed the bills at the Eastside Community Center in Tacoma.
The governor signed legislation that will create an Office of Independent Investigations that reports to the governor, prohibit certain uses of force and will require more thorough oversight requirements for hiring and for reporting misconduct.
“The crises of the past year have unmasked long-standing inequities in our society. The consciousness of our state and nation has been raised against inequity in many forms,” Inslee said. “Our moral mandate to acknowledge these hard truths crystallized in the fallout from the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, and the killing of Manny Ellis in Tacoma. The bills I am signing today respect these truths and lay a solid foundation to halt inequity’s pernicious influence in our systems of government.”
Katrina Johnson — cousin of Charleena Lyles who was killed in Seattle in June of 2017 —praised the legislation being signed and thanked the governor and state for allowing impacted families to lead in policy discussions, as they are “experts of [their] experience.”
“To the impacted families, take a bow in knowing your loved ones death is not in vain,” Johnson said. “Today, we stand united in strength and bonded together in pain and blood. We celebrate on this bill signing day, and tomorrow it is back to work on implementation.”
House Bill 1267
Included in the package was HB 1267, sponsored by Rep. Debra Entenman, that will create a new office to conduct competent, unbiased investigations of police use of excessive force. These investigations will be required to be truly independent of the involved law enforcement agency. Releasing such investigations from any hint of conflicts of interest will improve accountability, transparency and the public’s confidence.
Last year, the governor convened a task force comprised of these individuals as well as representatives of law enforcement. HB 1267 reflects the recommendations of that task force.
The legislation was made possible due to tireless advocacy of families and communities hurt most by inequitable application of violence.
“This legislation will be complemented by legislation concerning state oversight and accountability of peace officers, requirements for tactics, permissible uses of force and other crucial legislation awaiting my signature today,” Inslee said.
Rep. Entenman thanked impacted families and communities for their continued advocacy.
“The new Office of Independent Investigation will increase transparency and trust in investigations of deadly uses of force by law enforcement. I want to thank the families of victims of police violence who courageously showed up again and again to change a system that provided them with no accountability and no justice,” Entenman said. “Their will to prevent other families from suffering as they have was a source of inspiration and motivation. I also want to thank the Governor’s Task Force, community members, and the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability for helping pass this first in the nation policy. Our premise is simple: police shouldn’t be investigating other police. This new office will help us build trust between the community and law enforcement by ensuring that there is accountability for unnecessary police violence.”
Related news stories & Press releases:
‘Vigilantism’ a fear in wake of new laws
Sheriff, legislator review police use-of-force limits--PDN
As police adjust to reforms, crisis responders feel deserted
Report: Nearly half of 911 calls to Seattle police don't need officer response--Seattle PI
Washington lawmaker: New policing laws ‘a bump in the road, not a crisis’--My Northwest
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
WA state will follow current CDC guidance and to that end, I made two announcements earlier today:
1). I am asking vaccinated Washingtonians statewide to consider wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission. This is a recommendation, not a requirement. Unvaccinated individuals are still required to wear a mask indoors.
2). We are also continuing our existing school guidance, which matches with the CDC’s masking guidance for the upcoming school year in K-12. All students and employees will be required to wear masks around each other in school buildings. We have to prevent the spread of COVID in our schools if we want to remain learning in-person.
This is a requirement, and school districts that don’t follow this guidance would not be following the law.--Quote from Gov. Inslee's fb page
Masks required for all K-12 students and staff heading back to the classroom
OLYMPIA – Safely returning to the classroom for full time in-person instruction this school year is important for students, teachers, and staff. Today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released updated guidance for the 2021-2022 school year. DOH’s guidance aims to minimize transmission and maximize in-person instruction and is informed by the latest science, recently released Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.--DOH
Hops season right around the corner, planning ahead for workforce shortage with higher wages.
When we hired cherry inspectors earlier this year, we saw difficulty in filling all the positions, so we decided to increase the already competitive wage.
Environmental penalties for 2nd quarter of 2021--DOE
Grant applications being accepted for flood-hazard planning.
Williams Lake Access Area improvements to close launch temporarily.
SPOKANE – Work to improve the Williams Lake Access Area in Spokane County could mean some inconvenience to users but will result in a better experience in the future. A limited season to complete work near water has contractor crews starting on a project this week. Work includes removing the existing, damaged boat ramp and replacing it with a new precast concrete plank ramp. An informal gravel ramp next to the concrete ramp will also be upgraded to a precast concrete plank ramp to accommodate more users.
Initial and continued claims for regular benefits decreased during the week of July 18 – July 24
OLYMPIA – During the week of July 18 – July 24, there were 4,554 initial regular unemployment claims (down 10.0 percent from the prior week) and 311,097 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (down 1.5 percent from the prior week) filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).
FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC:
Kilmer, Strickland Secure Historic Funding Increase for Puget Sound Restoration
House Approves Over 30% Funding Increase to Key Puget Sound Recovery Program.
Can This 'Marriage' Be Saved? How Conservatives and Liberals Can Learn to Trust Again
Senator Murray Pushes for Pathway to Citizenship for All During Twitter Live with OneAmerica.
Cantwell Announces Over $10.8 Million in Grants to Washington State Airports
$5.2 Million going to Tri-Cities Airport, $5.4 Million going to Paine Field.
Nick Brown of Seattle will be the first African American U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Vanessa Waldref will be the first female U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
(2) THIS WEEK'S HEADLINE NEWS:
WORLD NEWS
100,000 children in Tigray at risk of death from malnutrition: UNICEF
More than 100,000 children in Tigray, Ethiopia, could suffer from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition in the next 12 months, a tenfold jump over average annual levels, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/07/1096762
Mercenaries ‘impede’ peace, must leave Libya to allow elections.
The continued recruitment and presence of mercenaries in Libya is impeding “progress in the peace process” and an obstacle to upcoming elections, independent UN human rights experts said on Friday, calling for their “long overdue” departure.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/07/1096752
First Person: ‘I’m not old enough to be a woman’ says trafficked teen.
A teenage girl who was sold for sex for the price of a few beers as a twelve-year-old, has told the United Nations how she was trafficked between Burundi and Tanzania in East Africa.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/07/1096452
Human trafficking: UN chief calls for action as COVID leaves ‘many millions’ more vulnerable.
UN Secretary General António Guterres on Thursday urged States to take action against human trafficking, where a third of all victims are children.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/07/1096682
Remarks at a UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on Burma--USUN
https://usun.usmission.gov/remarks-at-a-un-security-council-arria-formula-meeting-on-burma/
Harassment of Foreign Journalists in the People’s Republic of China--US STATE DEPT
NATIONAL HEADLINE NEWS:
Guard Well-Equipped to Handle West Coast Wildfires
When wildfires happen out west, National Guard service members are there to fight those fires. And for now, they've got a good handle on the effort, the director of the National Guard said.--DOD
Government Intervenes in False Claims Act Lawsuits Against Kaiser Permanente Affiliates for Submitting Inaccurate Diagnosis Codes to the Medicare Advantage Program--DOJ
Attorney General Garland and Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Clarke Commemorate the 31st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act--DOJ
FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION EXTENDS SINGLE FAMILY EVICTION MORATORIUM
Today’s announcement extends the eviction moratorium through September 30 for foreclosed borrowers and other occupants and notes expiration of the foreclosure moratorium on July 31.
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_21_118
CDC awards $117 Million to Advance Innovation and Health Equity in Federal Initiative to End HIV--CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0727-end-hiv.html
BUSINESS & FINANCE NEWS
USDA Releases Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry--USDA
U.S. Department of the Treasury Policy Statement on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and Individual Vaccine Incentives--US TREASURY DEPT.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0297
Four Executives and Company Charged with Price Fixing in Ongoing Investigation into Broiler Chicken Industry
A federal grand jury in Denver, Colorado, returned an indictment yesterday charging Koch Foods, headquartered in Park Ridge, Illinois, for participating in a nationwide conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products. Separately, a federal grand jury in Denver returned an indictment charging four executives for their roles in the same conspiracy.--DOJ
Supply Chain Issues, Worker Shortages Impacted Economic Growth in Q2--US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Annual Report--THE FED
https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/annual-report.htm
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WILL AWARD UP TO $20M TO SUPPORT WORKERS’ RIGHTS, FIGHT LABOR ABUSES IN EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS.
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/ilab/ilab20210730
( 3) NEWS COMMENTARIES & LOCAL MEETINGS
Our Empathetic Authoritarians
Goodbye, America
We no longer have a Constitution.--American Spectator
Dem Rep. Nadler — and Pelosi — Seen Violating House Mask Mandate--NewsMax
LOCAL MEETINGS
CLALLAM COUNTY:
Clallam County work session for 8/2/21
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1274
Clallam County Commission meeting for 8/3/21
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=7276
OMC BOARD MEETING FOR 8/4/21
https://www.olympicmedical.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/AGENDA-August-4-2021.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Jefferson County meeting for 8/2/21
Port Townsend Council meeting for 8/2/21
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=1682
