After the horrific assassination of two Israeli diplomats in Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky in the other Washington/the wrong Washington - up to you - thoughts came to a Jewish-American in the public service and the upcoming Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) meeting that day. The PDC happens to have created a publicly searchable database of politicians’ addresses. I went to bed with dread, and got up deciding to share something that I used to cringe at watching many PDC meetings the last few years… Namely one can make reporting modification requests to the PDC.
I used to not approve of this kind of thing, but the world has changed. When we have the kind of malicious violence not just in Washington DC, but here in Western Washington - see University of Washington Regents Sept. 12 2024, see University of Washington engineering building occupation, and see Alex Tsimerman - we have reason to be concerned. Especially as:
The son of a former candidate for public office who was physically assaulted because of my father’s campaign sign across the street visible from my classroom.
I don’t see the highest ranking elected officials of Washington State - Bob Ferguson and Girmay Zalihay - going on offense against anti-Semitism.
I see the UW is only this month getting serious about their anti-Semitism problem.
I was home invaded by an anti-Semetic group in 7/2010.
The PDC generally grants reporting modifications, I know - I watch and testify regularly to the PDC. Recently, a reporting modification for address privacy was granted to a Congressman and his family. Another was granted to an outspoken State Representative.
Although the end result of this new advocacy will make government a bit more opaque, behind every public servant is a family. We need to strike a balance here. There also needs to be a clear understanding here that the kind of hate rhetoric that is becoming normalized will: a) NOT change politics or policies and b) Drive more opacity and mistrust into our politics. I’ve decided to err on the side of public servant safety.
I hope this is the wake-up call that makes the sacrifices of Sarah and Yaron worth it. As Bellevue politician Jared Nieuwenhuis said on X:
Words matter. When slogans like "From the River to the Sea" and "Globalize the Intifada" are repeated, they fuel violence against Jews. This isn't theoretical; it's a tragic reality. Last night in Washington, D.C., an antisemite—shouting "Free Palestine"—murdered a young Jewish couple in cold blood outside the Capital Jewish Museum. We must stand against this hate. Speak up. Call it out. Demand accountability. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. May their memories forever be a blessing.
I’ll let Jared have the last word.