By The Herald Editorial Board
With another year nearly complete, let’s recap some of the more — and less — momentous issues discussed on The Herald’s Opinion pages in 2019.
Help newsrooms fulfill watchdog role — subscribe, Jan. 1: Regarding the shrinking of newspaper staffs across the country and the closure of newspapers in other communities.
“That loss also is evident in the coverage of local government, including the monitoring of city and county councils, school, utility and port districts and other public boards and agencies. As recent research indicates, that’s having an effect not just on the number of stories you see about local and state government but on the costs to governments and taxpayers.”
Splitting state takes liberties with representation, Feb. 21: Regarding state Rep. Matt Shea’s proposal to split Washington state down the Cascades to create the 51st state of Liberty and deliver fairer representation for the state’s eastern conservatives.
“The politics of partition won’t deliver fairer representation. We could divide Washington’s 39 counties into individual states, and we’d still have to divide those 39 new states into their own states, as was attempted in the mid-’90s with the bid to cleave Freedom County from Snohomish County.”
Update: Following an investigation that accused Shea of “domestic terrorism,” House Republicans dropped him from their caucus and kicked him from his office. He has defied calls to resign.
Cleaner fuels can drive climate change efforts, March 12: Regarding a bill in the state Legislature to adopt a low-carbon fuel standard in the state, using carbon credits and technology for cleaner-burning fuels.
“Supporters of the legislation, among them Climate Solutions, Audubon Washington and the Union of Concerned Scientists, don’t dispute that the standards have increased fuel prices but respond that those costs, along with volatility in the low-carbon fuels market, should subside as clean fuels technology advances. Washington, where many of these fuels already are being produced, should now be benefiting from their production in terms of reduced carbon emissions and other pollutants.”
Update: The statewide legislation failed to become law, but a similar proposal is now before the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for Snohomish, King, Pierce and Kitsap counties.
Rise in youth vaping requires age limit of 21, tax, March 22: Regarding bills in the state Legislature to raise the age for purchase of e-cigarettes and products and imposing a tax on vaping products.
“E-cigarettes have their supporters, including those who have successfully used them to transition from cigarettes and other tobacco products and even to quit nicotine all together. But, as shown by the FDA survey, they have also proved extremely effective in introducing youths to nicotine, leading to dependency and encouraging their own transition to cigarettes.”
Update: Both bills became law.
It’s past time to end twice-yearly time change, April 18: Regarding state legislation to join a West Coast-wide drive to stick with daylight time permanently:
“Turning the clocks back an hour from standard time to daylight saving time in late winter — often resulting in a loss of sleep for most people — is responsible for an increase in injuries and health problems.”
Update: The bill became state law, but requires action by Congress.
After vaccine mandate, talk with hesitant parents, May 3: Regarding successful state legislation that ended the personal exception for parents to refuse vaccination for children, and work ahead to persuade parents to follow the new law.
“That state lawmakers had to take this step is a disappointment; reliance on facts, reason and the considered opinion of a family pediatrician would be preferable to a state mandate, but recent measles outbreaks in the United States and in southwest Washington state required that legislators act quickly.”
Lawmakers delivered wins for environment, climate, May 5: Recounting successful legislation that set a goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2030; increased building efficiency standards; implemented recommendations to improve survival of salmon and orca; and a law to allow for the composting of human remains.
“Known usually for their finger-wagging — often appropriately — the state’s environmental advocates are instead using those fingers for high-fives regarding much of the work achieved during the Washington Legislature’s recently completed session on a range of green legislation addressing issues of pollution, energy efficiency, habitat protection and cleanup and steps toward confronting climate change.”
Find, fix failures to restore trust in Boeing, FAA, May 19: Regarding the start of congressional hearings into two crashes of Boeing 737 Max airliners, blamed on a software failure.
“It’s not know how soon the 737 Max may return to service, but the crashes of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights — and the response by Boeing and the FAA before and after those tragedies — has arguably degraded confidence in both. As the investigations and hearings continue, only full and candid cooperation can hope to restore that trust.”
Update: As investigations and work to recertify the 737 Max continues, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg departed the company, Dec. 23.
Assuring diplomas by solving student homelessness, May 24: With more than 1,200 students in the Everett School District considered homeless or without stabling housing, a supportive housing agency, Housing Hope, proposes to use surplus property near Sequioa High School for a multi-family development.
“Everett Public Schools — like all school districts — has the responsibility of ensuring graduation and good educational outcomes for all students. The lease with Housing Hope will allow both to address the needs of stable housing and academic success for students and can make lasting strides against the cycle of poverty in Everett.”
Update: The proposal met with opposition from Port Gardner residents. Following a moratorium and several hearings, the Everett City Council appeared to approve a compromise that would allow consideration of the development but has since reversed its decision and is expected to reconsider in January whether multi-family supportive housing will be allowed as a permitted use in single-family residential zones.
Bikini barista ruling protects public, free speech, July 5: Regarding a ruling by a federal appeals court in favor of the City of Everett’s ordinances regarding dress and conduct standards at coffee stands.
“As to the baristas’ rights to freedom of expression, the appellate judges cited earlier precedent that First Amendment protections related to wearing particular clothing or insignia are only granted where there’s a ‘great likelihood’ the message will be understood. In the context of a retail space — in particular one where the baristas are soliciting tips — the panel found that the ‘message sent by the baristas’ nearly nonexistent outfits vastly diverges’ from their claimed message of empowerment, confidence and body acceptance.”
50 years after ‘moon shot,’ we need an ‘earth shot,’ July 19: Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s landing on the moon and the need to apply President Kennedy’s message to reach for goals “because they are hard” to necessary action on climate change.
“Kennedy, in his ‘moon shot’ speech, acknowledged that the goal of putting astronauts on the moon would require technology that had yet to be invented and would demand immense investments of capital and effort: ‘I think that we must pay what needs to be paid,’ he said. Yet he had confidence in America that it would be done. We need that same confidence — in our abilities, our knowledge and our strength of character — for earth’s shot at survival, a challenge we must be willing to accept, unwilling to postpone and one we intend to win.”
A slow farewell as a North Cascades glacier melts, Aug. 20: Regarding research that shows that Columbia Glacier and other state glaciers are retreating and thinning at an accelerated rate; some may have only decades before disappearing.
“For how many more decades can we count on glaciers to provide the water that was banked centuries ago to augment rivers and reservoirs in future springs and summers? As a low-elevation glacier, Columbia can’t be saved. But if it is the first Cascades glacier to get its own funeral, it should also be the last.”
Need, resources make for tough call on opioid deal, Sept. 15: A settlement proposal by opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma raised questions about whether the deal would begin to address the opioid crisis and whether Purdue was being upfront about its finances.
“County and city law enforcement and other public officials also say they are seeing success, in particular through police patrols with embedded social workers, in persuading those with addictions to agree to treatment. More funding can help deliver the services that save lives. The difficult question before local officials now as they look at the need and resources available: Take the assurance of some money sooner, or press on for a shot at more money — and more justice — later.”
Begin making switch from gas tax to per-mile fee, Dec. 20: Regarding the state Transportation Commission’s recommendations to the Legislature to transition from a gas tax to a road usage charge to fund highway construction and other transportation projects.
“As vehicles have become more fuel efficient and a growing number of drivers switch to hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles, more miles are being driven that take a detour around the gas tax. … Starting with the state’s own fleets of department and agency vehicles — and potentially inviting local government fleets the option of joining in — the state can put the road-usage charge to a street-level test before it is expanded to more of the state’s motorists.”
A win for founders of state’s Public Records Act, Dec. 22: Regarding the state Supreme Court’s ruling that state lawmakers — despite past efforts to exempt themselves — must comply with the state’s Public Records Act and provide emails, correspondence, reports and other documents when requested by the public and press.
“Washington state is fortunate on two counts: First, that the Public Records Act’s founders drafted clear and convincing language that won the approval of a significant majority of the state’s voters nearly 50 years ago. And second, that the state’s courts have at last honored the law’s ‘plain meaning’ that the information that is produced for the benefit of the state’s residents — and through their tax dollars — belongs to the state’s residents.
A note to our readers: The editorials above only hint at the depth and breadth of the news during 2019. If you want to keep up with what’s to come in 2020, please consult this year’s first editorial, and keep subscribing.
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