link source: https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-tees-next-steps-statewide-equity-efforts-new-executive-order
The Washington State Office of Equity, located within the Office of Gov. Jay Inslee, released the state’s inaugural five-year Washington State Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Plan & Playbook today.
The release coincides with the signing of Executive Order 22-04, which requires all state agencies to develop a PEAR Strategic Action Plan. Following a roundtable discussion, Inslee signed the EO along with Dr. Karen Johnson, director of the Office of Equity, and community and state agency leaders who helped co-create the plan and playbook.
The EO requires state agencies and the Office of Equity to partner with communities to set metrics for measuring progress, conduct equity impact reviews, develop PEAR Strategic Action Plans, and ensure transparency through regular reporting mechanisms. The Office of Equity will create an online dashboard to publish statewide and agency-specific plans, performance measures and outcomes and submit an annual report to the governor and Legislature due Oct. 31, beginning in 2022.
The PEAR EO and playbook are the next step in the state’s commitment to eliminate barriers to state government services and inequities based on race, ethnicity, gender, and other characteristics.
“We will no longer replicate and reinforce systems, processes and behaviors that lead to inequities and disparities among various communities,” Inslee said. “I appreciate how closely the Office of Equity has worked with underserved communities to create this plan and playbook. It will equip state agencies to center equity and meaningfully engage with the communities most impacted by our programs and services. Dr. Johnson’s leadership is helping us make sure Washington state is a place that affirms the humanity, dignity, and equal worth of every Washingtonian.”
The Office of Equity co-created the state’s PEAR Plan & Playbook with community members, state employees, partners across many sectors, and members of all branches of state government. The office held 89 listening sessions and received more than 9,400 online survey responses.
“I thank the governor for his commitment to create a new, more just normal in Washington and the thousands of partners from many sectors across Washington for co-creating PEAR strategies and actions to create a more just state government system that works fairly for everyone,” Johnson said. “This work is transformative. It requires us to rethink basic assumptions about who state government serves and how programs should be designed and delivered to serve all people well.”
“The Office of Equity is committed to sharing decision-making with people most impacted by state laws, policies, programs, and practices to, ultimately, ensure that people who work in and are served by state government receive what the need to succeed in a way that lets them know that they belong," said Johnson.
The Legislature and governor established the Office of Equity in April 2020 to promote equitable access to opportunities and resources that reduce disparities and improve outcomes statewide across state government.
Visit www.equity.wa.gov to learn more about the Office of Equity.
OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
Drought and soil survey for Washington’s dryland wheat farmers.
Are you a dryland wheat farmer affected by the 2021 drought? If you are, the Washington State Department of Agriculture needs your help.
https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2022/03/drought-and-soil-survey-for-washingtons.html
CONSUMER ALERT: Washington state small business owners targeted by scams requesting payment for certificates, posters.
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson is alerting Washingtonians to scammers targeting new business owners, sending hundreds of thousands of deceptive letters into the state.
Mark Vasconi appointed to lead Washington State Broadband Office.
Digital equity focus, successful work with rural and underserved communities, position new director to continue advancing state’s ambitious goal of broadband access for all by 2024.
https://www.commerce.wa.gov/news/mark-vasconi-appointed-to-lead-washington-state-broadband-office/
Improving resilience and hazard planning for coastal communities
Coastal Tribes and communities face major natural hazards and need help to prepare, report finds--DOE
https://ecology.wa.gov/Blog/Posts/March-2022/Pilot-project-aids-hazard-planning-and-resilience
Clark County contractor penalized for discharging sediment into creek, wetlands.
OLYMPIA –
A Clark County contractor has been given a $131,000 penalty after inspectors from the Washington State Department of Ecology found sediment and stormwater running off a construction site into nearby wetlands and Packard Creek. Rotschy Inc.
https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Who-we-are/News/2022/March-22-Rotschy-penalty
Colville area residents invited to public discussion about living with disabilities.
OLYMPIA — If you’re interested in improving the lives of Colville residents who have disabilities, the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment (GCDE) needs to hear from you.
WDFW approves 6-days of razor clam digs beginning April 1
OLYMPIA – Razor clam enthusiasts can head to four coastal beaches as shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today, confirmed the next round of digging can proceed as planned from April 1-6.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/wdfw-approves-6-days-razor-clam-digs-beginning-april-1
Forterra, DNR Conserve 40 Acres Of Old-Growth Forest In Central Cascades.
Newest phase of conservation success in protecting Washington’s forest resources preserves critical habitat, adds it to Mount Si NRCA.
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/forterra-dnr-conserve-40-acres-old-growth-forest-central-cascades
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
UN alarm over mounting Ukraine casualties, amid desperate scenes in Mariupol.
Ongoing violence in Ukraine has left millions of people “in constant fear” of indiscriminate shelling, the UN warned on Friday, as efforts continued to reach the country’s most vulnerable populations, one month on from the Russian invasion.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114692
Learn from the past, ‘stand united against racism’ – UN chief.
“Let us stand united against racism and together build societies based on dignity, equality and solidarity”, the UN chief said on Friday, International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114682
Safety of UN workers ‘our top priority’, says Guterres.
The UN chief on Friday paid tribute to the dozens of United Nations personnel who have been detained this year while working for the Organization, and those whose whereabouts is unknown.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114672
Taliban’s backtracking on girls’ education, ‘deeply damaging’
Following a U-turn over re-opening girls’ secondary schools in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the UN human rights chief shared her “profound frustration and disappointment” that six months after the Taliban seized power, high school girls have yet to return to the classroom.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114482
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Interview with Ahmed Khir Eldon Mohammed of AlHurra --USUN
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Political and Humanitarian Situation in Syria--USUN
Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Choi and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori.--US STATE DEPT.
NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES:
FACT SHEET: United States and European Commission Announce Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework--WH
Treasury Sanctions Military Leaders, Military-Affiliated Cronies and Businesses, and a Military Unit Prior to Armed Forces Day in Burma.--US TREASURY DEPT.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0679
U.S. Department of Education Announces Steps to Hold Institutions Accountable for Taxpayer Losses.
USDA Announces More Resources to Increase and Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity
Technical Assistance Now Available to Processors; $23.6 Million Available for Meat, Poultry Readiness Grant program--USDA
IRS has $1.5 billion in refunds for people who have not filed a 2018 federal income tax return; April deadline approaches.
Effect of COVID-19 on Tuberculosis in the U.S.
In the United States, reported tuberculosis (TB) disease diagnoses fell 20% in 2020 and remained 13% lower in 2021 than TB disease diagnoses made prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to preliminary CDC data published today.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0324-tuberculosis-covid-19.html
FDA Issues Decisions on Additional E-Cigarette Products
Agency Permits Marketing of Certain Tobacco-Flavored Products, Denies Other Products; Additional Decisions on Popular Products Expected Soon.
HUD CHARGES PROPERTY MANAGER AND OWNERS OF A MILWAUKEE ROOMING HOUSE WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is charging Leaf Property Investment, LLC, Sam Leaf and Dennis Parker, owner and managers of a 19-unit rooming house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with discriminating against a former male tenant because of his sexual orientation and disability. Read the charge here.
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_22_053
HEADLINES FROM OTHER SOURCES:
Trump Sues Hillary Clinton, Her Campaign, and the DNC--PJ MEDIA
Biden’s Big Bumbling Brussels Confab — Insists He Is NATO’s Hero
“Let’s get something straight… I did not say that in fact the sanctions would deter him.”--PATRIOT POST
Media’s suppression of Hunter Biden’s laptop was election interference
Had Biden voters known of scandal, election would've tipped to Trump.---WASHINGON TIMES
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/mar/24/medias-suppression-of-hunter-laptop-was-election-i/
GOP governors’ betrayal on trans athlete bills shows why voters turned to Trump--WASHINGTON EXAMINER
4 Big Takeaways From The New York Times’s Attempt To Control The Hunter Biden Narrative--THE FEDERALIST
Putin’s Mistakes in Ukraine Are a Win for America and Its Allies
Russia’s blunder could breathe new life into the American Century.--AMERICAN SPECTATOR
https://spectator.org/putin-own-goal-ukraine/
Putin's War May Not Solve Russia's Ukraine Problem--NEWS MAX
https://www.newsmax.com/ira-stoll/famine-russification-stalin/2022/03/24/id/1062770/
Supreme Court: A Verbal Censure of Speech Doesn’t Violate the First Amendment--NATIONAL REVIEW
LOCAL MEETINGS:
CLALLAM COUNTY:
Clallam County Commission work session for 3/28/22
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1308
Clallam County Commission for 3/29/22
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=7310
City of Sequim Council meeting for 3/28/22
https://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2567
City of Forks Council meeting for 3/28/22
https://forkswashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Agenda_20220328-1.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 3/28/22
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/8bafdcbf-c8b1-4ddf-93ff-a002940ede5a
April 5 Women in Maritime Virtual Luncheon
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Port Commission of the Port of Port Townsend will participate in a Chamber of Jefferson County hosted Women in Leadership Virtual Luncheon – Women in Marine Trades.
https://portofpt.com/event/april-5-women-in-maritime-virtual-luncheon/
