State of emergency declared in Spokane County, essential goods and services include shelter, water, groceries and medical supplies
SEATTLE — On Saturday, August 19, Gov. Jay Inslee and Spokane County declared a state of emergency as a result of two large wildfires burning.
Today Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following warning to area businesses and hotels that his office is on the lookout for price increases on essential goods and services aimed at exploiting the misfortune of Washingtonians impacted by the wildfires.
He is alerting Washingtonians to be on the lookout for price gouging on essential goods and services and to report price gouging to his office.
“My office will use every legal tool at our disposal to stop predatory and unconscionable price increases imposed on essential goods and services that are intended to increase profits by exploiting Washingtonians impacted by wildfire,” Ferguson said. “This includes shelter for Washingtonians who have lost their homes, water, groceries and medical supplies.
“I am encouraging anyone who sees price gouging to snap a photo or take a screenshot, and then include the image with the complaint they file at the Attorney General’s website through our complaint portal. Spokane-area retailers should file complaints if the cost of the goods they purchase increase for reasons that appear driven by profit.
“It is unfair, deceptive and cruel to exploit increased demand as a result of an emergency in order to increase profits. My office will hold price gougers accountable.”
Washingtonians can file complaints at the Attorney General’s website here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint.
Violations of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act carry a maximum civil penalty of $7,500 per violation. Consumers can file consumer protection lawsuits seeking up to three times their economic damages.
Washington does not have a statute specifically referencing price gouging — not even during declared states of emergency. However, attempting to exploit a natural disaster for the sake of profit and harming consumers impacted by the emergency may be addressed as an unfair or deceptive practice under the Consumer Protection Act.
Attorney General’s price-gouging enforcement
In the spring of 2020 more than 1,300 Washingtonians filed complaints with the office following the declaration of a public health emergency. Washingtonians complained about extreme price increases for face masks, hand sanitizer and other products necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For example, some Washingtonians reported paying $40 for an 8-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer that had recently cost $3.50, or $42 for face masks that used to cost $8.
Ferguson launched a “See It, Snap It, Send It” campaign to combat illegal price gouging. Investigators in the Attorney General’s Office followed up on leads by visiting hundreds of businesses all over the state. The office sent nine warning and 14 cease-and-desist letters to price-gouging businesses.--WA AG
IN OTHER STATE NEWS...
New Commerce program aims to incentivize equitable access to credit for small businesses.
Contributions in exchange for tax credits will fund grants to eligible lending institutions to provide services and investment capital for small businesses lacking access to traditional bank loans.
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has launched a new program to address inequities in accessing capital for small businesses. The Equitable Access to Credit Program, created by the state legislature (HB 1015), creates a new funding mechanism to help Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) offer technical assistance services, small business training, and loans and investments to borrowers who may not be eligible for traditional bank loans.--WA COMMERCE
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project among organizations receiving funding to provide legal aid in communities across Washington state
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $15.4 million in grants to eight organizations across the state, expanding access to legal aid services for low-income immigrants. The 2023-25 appropriation from the Washington Legislature enables nearly a doubling of previous annual funding levels.--WA COMMERCE
Meet the students clearing litter from Washington highways.
The increasing pace of our high-tech world allows less and less time for teens to have summer jobs, much less to perform public service. This year, 72 Central Washington teens are doing both and making a difference one piece of litter at a time. As members of the Ecology Youth Corps, the students spend their summer break cleaning trash from state highways. --DOE
Payroll employment declines in July
OLYMPIA – Washington’s economy lost an estimated 6,400 jobs (seasonally adjusted) and the monthly unemployment rate decreased to 3.6% in July.
"July’s weak payroll number offsets the strong gains seen in June. Together with the downward revisions to first-quarter job totals, July’s numbers indicate the state’s labor market is gradually cooling off,” said Employment Security Department (ESD) State Economist Paul Turek. "Even so, the unemployment rate continued to fall, showing that the labor market remains historically tight.”--ESD
WDFW opens public comment period for black bear timber damage permit rule proposal.--WDFW
2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSONIAL DELEGATION
KILMER ANNOUNCES USDA LOAN TO BOOST HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IN MASON COUNTY
MASON COUNTY, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has approved a ReConnect Loan of more than $3.8 million to help build more than 16 fiber miles and install associated electronics, benefitting 800 households and 10 businesses. The project will meet the increasing demand for high-speed internet in rural Mason County.--PRESS RELEASE
KILMER, STRICKLAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $9.5 MILLION TO IMPROVE FISH HABITATS IN PUYALLUP RIVER & WAPATO CREEK
TACOMA, WA – Today, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Co-Chairs of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, announced that the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Port of Tacoma will receive grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to improve fish passage in the South Sound.--PRESS RELEASE
Quileute Tribe Gets $466K Grant for High-Speed Internet Deployment
45 homes, 10 businesses, plus the Tribe’s health clinic, police, and fire departments to be connected--PRESS RELEASE
Households in Okanogan County, Union to Get Federal Funds for High-Speed Internet
Cantwell announces $34M in funding for rural broadband--PRESS RELEASE
Senator Murray Announces Over $33 Million in Grant Funding and Loans to Improve High-Speed Internet Access Across Washington State.---PRESS RELEASE
Murray, Baldwin, Underwood Lead Bill to Protect Women’s Retirement Security--PRESS RELEASE DATED 8/18/23
3) WORLD & NATION
WORLD:
Deportation, Treatment of Ukraine’s Children by Russian Federations Takes Centre Stage by Many Delegates at Security Council Briefing
Delegate Questions Moscow’s Position in International Community once Conflict Ends--UN PRESS RELEASE
Condemning Military Satellite Launch, Secretary-General Again Calls on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to Resume Talks for Denuclearized Korean Peninsula--UN PRESS RELEASE
Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the UN Security Council Stakeout Following a Briefing on Ukraine.
'The Ukrainian people have bravely fought to defend their freedom and democracy and culture. And that is something that is worthy of celebrating. And they have bravely fought to defend and return Ukraine’s children – who have been forcibly transferred or deported to Russia, Belarus, and Russian-occupied territories.--USUN'
Imposing Sanctions and Visa Restrictions on Individuals and Entities to Promote Accountability for Forced Transfer and Deportation of Children During Russia’s Illegal War Against Ukraine--US STATE DEPT.
U.S. Open to Training Ukrainian F-16 Pilots if Needed--DOD
NATION
The Biden-Harris Administration Launches the SAVE Plan, the Most Affordable Student Loan Repayment Plan Ever to Lower Monthly Payments for Millions of Borrowers--WH
U.S. Department of Education Takes Action Against Five Schools for Disbursing Federal Student Aid to Students Enrolled in Unaccredited Programs
The settlement agreements include the payment of liabilities for all five schools and fines against three schools--DEPT. of EDUCATION
Justice Department Awards Almost $70 Million in Grant Funding for Support Services for American Indian and Alaska Native Victims of Crime--DOJ
Data Reports Show that Surge in Homelessness Was Averted During COVID-19 National Emergency
Two New HUD reports suggest that federal relief prevented a rise in evictions and homelessness during the pandemic.--HUD
Department of Homeland Security Announces Distribution of More Than $77 Million in Congressional Funding for Communities Receiving Migrants--DHS
4) BUSINESS
USDA Announces $72.9 Million in Grant Funding Awarded to Support U.S. Specialty Crop Producers; Marks $1 Billion in Investments through this Program--USDA
Biden-Harris Administration Invests $150M to Connect Underserved and Small Acreage Forest Landowners to Emerging Climate Markets as part of Investing in America Agenda--USDA
Real Estate Investor Resentenced to Prison for Bid Rigging After Retaliating Against Witnesses--DOJ
FTC Action Stops Business Opportunity Scheme That Promised Its AI-Boosted Tools Would Power High Earnings Through Online Stores
Court order temporarily halts the operations of Automators AI, which promised consumers high returns on investment in artificial intelligence-boosted stores on Amazon.com and Walmart.com, agency says--FTC
U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Proposed Regulations on Sales and Exchanges of Digital Assets by Brokers--US TREASURY DEPT.
