October promises to be a big month not just for Mariners fans, but also open government enthusiasts in Washington State. So I’ve compiled four stories that I think are relevant, and then a programming note.
Table of Contents
New Model Rules for Public Records
Attorney General Nick Brown has announced new model rules for public records as per an Oct. 3 statement. AG Brown shared in the statement,
“Concerns about transparency and integrity in government are at an all-time high, and officials have an obligation to uphold the spirit of the Public Records Act. We welcome the public’s input into these model rules aimed at helping agencies across the state increase transparency and responsiveness to requests.”
Granted, I am waiting for others to comment first on these model rules - like the Public Records Officer Podcast and the Washington Coalition for Open Government - to comment. The former hearing is November 6, with a final deadline of November 16 to get comments into [email protected]. Being I have a commitment November 14-15, I intend to get my comments in before then.
But this is just the beginning…
An Open Government Podcast Covers Washington State…
Ten episodes in, I’m rivited to this new podcast by Jamie Nixon. As an open public meetings act (OPMA) first guy, I am so happy to really have accessible insight into the public records act (PRA) side of the open government family.
Following Up on Anti-Semitism Concerns
My first newsletter was about the University of Washington and their failings in addressing antisemitism in the framework of discussing open government. So too was a follow-up post. Well, quietly the Jewish Federation of Seattle made this announcement:
In 2024, Jews were targeted in 69% of all religiously motivated hate crimes nationwide, despite being just 2% of the U.S. population, and Washington alone saw a 25.8% increase in anti-Jewish bias incidents.
While our advocacy continues to be a key component of the necessary work to build safety and inclusion for Jewish people in our communities, the unprecedented nature of antisemitism today requires new tactics, strategies, and voices, especially from the leadership in Washington State.
That’s why we teamed up with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Pacific Northwest to develop a Washington State Plan to Combat Antisemitism. On September 25, JCRC Director Max Patashnik and the ADL representatives met with Governor Ferguson’s team to share the plan and its potential impact. The plan has three major areas:
1) Public Safety for Jewish Communities
2) Educating about Antisemitism & the Jewish Experience
3) Advancing Jewish Inclusion and Countering Discrimination
This conversation was just the first step in moving Washington’s Governor forward on a strategic plan to address antisemitism. We will continue updating you about our team’s work in this area in the coming months.
It’s noteworthy that Governor Ferguson’s team has not communicated this is underway. Lines up with the recent Public Records Officer Podcast criticisms, as well as professional journalists. Meanwhile, some such as KVI’s Ari Hoffman and his regular caller “Transit Joe” have been hammering Governor Ferguson to take a stand. One will hope this strategy will please address:
a) The starring role of the University of Washington in the October 7 Wars
b) The abuse of the public comment portion of the Open Public Meetings Act to hurl antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism by some.
Never again means never again. Period.
A Skagit Councilmember Calls Out the AWC
Finally, I admit I’ve known JoEllen Kresti since elementary school. But I did not know until 3 AM today JoEllen was capable of THIS… With that, let’s let JoEllen let rip into a mutual frienemy in the Association of Washington Cities.
For the past five years, I’ve served as your Council Member for Ward 2 and as a two-term Mayor Pro Tem. I’ve been proud to stand up for the values and traditions that make Sedro-Woolley a strong, close-knit community.
During that time, I’ve watched the City Council’s role diminish as local decisions are increasingly shaped by outside influences, particularly from Olympia and the Association of Washington Cities (AWC). The AWC often promotes one-size-fits-all policies, with a focus on raising property taxes, ideas that don’t reflect the unique needs of Sedro-Woolley. Too often, these agendas are pushed forward with backing from our own city administration. That’s not the Woolley Way.
We know what works here because we live it every day and we’re committed to protecting it.
Although I have much appreciation for the AWC’s lobbyists, public records team - yes the AWC has to respond to public records requests, and highly informative news website… the AWC sure knows sadly how to make frienemies with their one-size-fits-all approaches, opposition to housing supply legislation and continual lobbying to deny and diminish the public’s right to know. Oh and exceeding legislative testimony time limits.
A Programming Note
I am going to attempt to get off a Beehiv on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. If you want something inserted, plz e-mail me at growlernoise-AT-gmail-DOT-com and we’ll see what we can do.