Auburn Reporter, January 29, 2021

Opinion: Change is ahead for both political parties

Police and fire blotters

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2021

Mass vaccination site coming to Auburn

By Robert Whale rwhale@soundpublishing.com

The King County health department is close to finalizing its plans for a mass vaccination site in Auburn.

“We are waiting for confirmation … and we will have more details shortly,” Gabriel Spitzer, a spokesperson for Public Health

— Seattle and King County, said Jan. 25.

Jerry Thorson, Auburn’s director of emergency management, said the city expects to have a vaccination site in place within two or three weeks, if not sooner.

The plan, Thorson said, is to combine a testing and vaccination site at one place. Thorson, who has been the city’s “point person” on

the planning, has been coordinating with outside agencies and working with Public Health and every city department to make it happen.

The site itself has not been released, Thorson said, but it will be similar to the testing site at the General Services Administration (GSA), and likely with three or four additional lanes and three or four sets of fences or awnings.

“I believe it will still be a driveup location. We’re not looking for a building for this. We just want to get the cars through as quickly as we can. People will make their appointment, pull up, check in, get the vaccination and drive right out. We’re trying to make it as high-capacity as possible,” Thorson said.

When vaccines become

available, Thorson said, people may use the state Phase Finder application to determine when their group is eligible for the test.

Then they can go to their private provider, or to a pharmacy, or to one of the large-capacity vaccination sites that will soon pop up throughout the county.

See VACCINATION, Page 2

14-year-old victim of the Green River killer identified

By Steve Hunter shunter@soundpublishing.com

The King County Sheriff’s Office has identified another victim of the notorious Green River killer Gary Ridgway.

Wendy Stephens, 14, was one of four victims who had remained unidentified, according to a Jan. 25 Sheriff ’s Office press release.

Ridgway has been convicted of 49 murders, including Stephens (known as “Jane Doe” in court documents), but by his own estimates, the murder total is Wendy closer to 70.

Stephens Stephens ran away from her Denver, Colorado, home in 1983.

Her remains were discovered in 1984 at what was then known as the Highline baseball field, Gary Ridgway just west of the intersection of 16th Avenue South and South 146th Street. That area has since been incorporated as part of the city of SeaTac. She is believed to be Ridgway’s youngest victim.

The Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with forensic anthropologist Dr. Katherine Taylor, the DNA Doe Project and other scientists, positively identified Stephens.

“Today’s (Monday) development is a testament to the tireless efforts of detectives, scientists and other See VICTIM, Page 2 Subscriber mailing label below this line ____________________________________

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Veteran Auburn firefighter Will Highley to retire from VRFA after 37 years.

‘Will is a professional through and through’ Firefighter retires after 37 years with Valley Regional Fire Authority.

By Robert Whale rwhale@soundpublishing.com

In Will Highley’s early days with Auburn’s part-paid, part-volunteer department, there were some challenging moments.

“Sometimes, I was the only firefighter responding to 911 calls,” Highley recalled.

Like the time he arrived alone in a fire engine at an apartment fire, connected a hose to the hydrant and began preparing to enter the burning structure alone.

“I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see a volunteer firefighter had arrived, just in time,” Highley said.

That was the moment Highley decided to apply with the old Auburn Fire Department, today known as the Valley Regional Fire Authority.

Thirty-seven years after his first day on the job, Highley has decided to retire.

“Just a cursory look at the achievements that Will has had in the fire service shows you his commitment to duty,” VRFA Fire Chief Brent Swearingen said in a news release. “He has always been a dedicated and active

member of our department, right up to the end of his active service.

“Just this past November, Will received a letter of commendation for a rescue that he performed with his crew at a house fire in September of 2020. What his resume does not show is the way he performed his duties — with grace and good humor,” Swearingen said.

Highley spent his first six years as a firefighter in Parkland, Washington, before he applied for and got a job with the legacy Auburn Fire Department.

Throughout his career, according to the VRFA, Highley strove to expand his fire service knowledge through specialty areas. For six years, he was public information and education specialist, teaching fire safety in schools and emergency preparedness for community groups — a job he loved.

Next, Highly became a founding member of the department’s Wellness Camp and Fitness Team, working to improve the health of his co-workers.

He took part in the first Truck Academy, mastering aerial ladder skills and operations that subsequently moved the department to a higher level of professionalism, according to the VRFA. His most recent and lengthiest role was as a respiratory specialist who

tested and maintained self-contained breathing apparatus for more than eight years.

Highley also enjoyed helping with community events. He raised funds for 11 years through his participation in the MS Ride as part of the VRFA cycling team, and he never missed an opportunity to help with the annual holiday Toys for Kids drive.

Highley said he cherishes his memories of working with his station crew and bonding through the calls, downtime and meals shared together.

“Will is a professional through and through,” said Capt. Jordan Gustafson.

“His dedication to his profession is evident every time he walks into the firehouse. Will is flat out a hard worker who takes his career very seriously.

“He is a joy to work with around the firehouse, on routine calls and major incidents. His dedication, professionalism, and courage are infectious, and he will be missed,” Gustafson said.

Though Highley looks forward to “not setting an alarm clock,” he has no regrets. “I wouldn’t hesitate to do this job again. It has been great,” Highley said.

After Jan. 26, one will most likely find Highley hanging out with his family and enjoying his hobbies of cycling, hiking and camping.

“Just a cursory look at the achievements that Will has had in the fire service shows you his commitment to duty.

He has always been a dedicated and active member of our department, right up to the end of his active service.”

— VRFA Fire Chief Brent Swearingen

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Friday, January 29, 2021

Auburn Reporter

Lawmakers could prohibit using credit scores to determine insurance rates

By Cameron Sheppard csheppard@soundpublishing.com

Washington lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit insurance companies from using credit scores to determine rates or premiums for personal home and auto insurance.

During a public hearing this month, regulators, industry stakeholders and consumer advocates testified about the validity of using credit scores to determine an insurer’s risk, the implications of socio-economic inequality and the effect that quitting the practice could have on insurance customers across the state.

Senate Bill 5010’s primary sponsor, Sen. Mona Das (D-Kent), said the use of credit scores to determine the cost of insurance is “punitive” and can often have a negative impact on low-income Washingtonians and communities of color, both of which have already been disproportionately affected by the onset of the pandemic.

Das argued that being laid-off, cancelling your credit cards, or paying less on your credit bill month to month really has nothing to do with how you drive or how you care for your home — and is not a fair way for insurers to determine their risk when they open insurance policies.

“To penalize folks with increased rates or restricted access to coverage just because their credit history suffered during this challenging time is inequitable, unfair and really makes no sense,” Das said.

Another sponsor of the bill, Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), said credit scores can be affected negatively by a number of factors that do not necessarily correlate with risky behavior or an insurer’s risk of loss with a particular customer.

Saldaña said she worries that after the recession caused by the pandemic more people will be adversely affected by circumstances out of their control.

She admitted that it might be unclear exactly how this policy would affect insurance costs, but said she believes it will be worth the risk.

“There are fairer ways that don’t penalize someone for being poor,” she said.

Jon Noski, legislative liaison for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, said that using credit scoring to determine cost of insurance is “inherently unfair,” as studies show that people with lower credit scores pay up to 80 percent more than those with excellent credit scores.

Additionally, he said that people with a DUI on their record and good credit pay less than someone who has

FILE PHOTO

Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

a good driving record but low credit.

“Most people are not aware that their credit scores are used to determine how much they pay for insurance,” said Noski. “Insurers rely on rate setting formulas that include an individual’s credit information to determine how much they pay for critical and often mandatory insurance.”

Eric Slavich, lead property and casualty actuary at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, said he understands why insurance companies utilize credit scores to determine rates because statistically there is a correlation between credit scores and insurance claims, but he said he feels like their use is problematic as it is a “proxy” for race.

Slavich said he thought it would be better public policy to consider factors like an individual’s driving record when determining their rates of insurance. He said consumers should be able to understand why certain factors are being used and what they can do to receive better rates.

“For example, if you get into an accident or get traffic tickets your premiums will go up, so maybe you drive a little safer,” Slavich said. “That’s good public policy since it encourages safer driving.”

But insurance agents like Tami Ellingson of Inspire Insurance Services Inc. DBA Hutson Insurance, and Piilani Benz of Alliance West Insurance Inc., said they are worried that prohibiting the use of credit scores will make all of their customers’ premiums increase, maybe even to the point of not being able to afford it.

In addition, without a way to spread the cost of insurance by targeting customers for higher and lower rates,

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the cost might spread among customers. Slavich estimated that about 50 percent of insurance holders would see their rates go up while 50 percent might see their rates go down.

Birny Birnbaum with the Center for Economic Justice, who has studied insurance credit scoring since the early 1990s, refuted both of these claims.

“The folks with the best credit scores are currently getting the best rates because insurers view these folks as their most valuable customers,” Birnbaum said.

Birnbaum argued that insurers would not increase the rates of their most valued customers or drive them away to other insurance companies that would happily offer them more competitive rates. He called the insurers’ claims of raised rates a “scare tactic.”

“Insurers are saying you should ignore the fundamental unfairness of credit scoring because they claim most people benefit,” Birnbaum said during his testimony.

“There is no debate that average credit scores are lower for people of color,” said Douglas Heller of the Consumer Federation of America. “Which means that unless you address this problem, the average cost of coverage is higher for people of color.”

Heller said insurers do not need to use credit history to effectively rate costs of home and auto insurance.

“We know that because we have watched insurers succeed without it,” Heller said. “In California for example, where the use of credit is banned, not only are companies profitable and insurance rates below national average, California is the second most competitive insurance market in the nation.”

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Victim From Page 1

professionals who employed the latest in emerging DNA and genealogical technologies in Wendy’s disappearance,” according to the Sheriff ’s Office statement. “Cases once thought unsolvable are now within reach thanks to this pioneering work.

“Ever y person, in the words of Dr. Taylor, ne e ds their name.

Wendy again has hers thanks to the collaborative efforts of this investigative team. It is our hope today’s development brings those who love Wendy one step closer to healing.”

In 2001, DNA profiling technology linked Ridgway to the murder of four women, which led to his arrest by the Green River killer task force of the Sheriff ’s Office.

“Our exper ienced detectives continue to work on the Green River serial murders and roughly 300 unsolved cold cases to identify victims, hold perpetrators accountable and provide these grieving families with answers,” King County Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht said in a statement.

Ridgway lived in

Vaccination From Page 1

“If they’re in a longterm care facility,” Thorson said, “there are some discussions and efforts to try to get vaccinations to go out from a mobile perspective, like a van to those long-term care centers so they don’t have to try and package everyone up and move them to a vaccination location.”

Thorson said there should not be a vaccine cost for the city, though the city will deploy police officers and public employees to the site to help with traffic control and management.

“I don’t believe the city will be spending any money on vaccines, which are coming from the state,” Thorson said.

Spit zer explaine d how many shots Public Health hopes to administer every day.

“Our first high-capacity vaccination sites are expected to be able to administer 500 doses a day, with hopes of ramping up to 1,000-2,000 a day once the supply increases. The limited number of doses from the federal government continues to be the main bottleneck,” Spitzer said.

Before any of that

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Auburn and worked in Renton at the Kenworth Truck Co. when detectives arrested him for investigation of murder.

The body of one of his first victims was found in 1982 along the banks of the Green River in Kent.

Ridgway, 71, is serving a life sentence at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

A plea agreement between Ridgway and King County prosecutors in 2003 allowed him to avoid the death penalty. The agreement required Ridgway to plead guilty to the original seven charged counts as well as any and all future cases where his confession could be corroborated by reliable facts revealed by the investigation, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

As part of the agreement, Ridgway led Sheriff ’s Office investigators to numerous sites to help them find remains of his victims.

“Ridgway’s murderous spree left a trail of profound grief for so many families of murdered and missing women,” King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said in a Jan. 25 statement. “His crimes left an impact on our community that continues today.”

happens here, however, the movers and shakers have to solve some problems. Just as they did before setting up the GSA testing site, they’ll have figure out how to get people in and out and ensure there is enough room for staging.

As far as the vaccinations, Thorson said, “we’re struggling with the same things everybody else is: when will the vaccines be available for those locations? How do we get the information out? How do we get the proper people to get the vaccine at the right time?”

As soon as the COVID19 testing site at GSA got going, Thorson said, the city of Auburn shifted its attention to vaccinations.

Then, when the government began to roll out vaccines, everyone from Mayor Nancy Backus to emergency management staff began to work with Public Health to set up a site in Auburn.

“That was a big part of the issue for the testing site,” Thorson said. “We had to find a site that was large enough, not only to host the functions there, but traffic was also an issue.

So there are logistical issues like that.”

One of the things Thorson said he has come to appreciate the most are the many partnerships out there “working so hard to make this happen.”

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Mags, open carry at protests and AR-15s on Olympia’s agenda

By Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing.com

A number of bills concerning firearms are being considered by the Legislature this year as lawmakers in Olympia decide whether to place restrictions on high-capacity magazines, semiautomatic rifles and the open carrying of guns in some public places.

Some of the bills have been proposed before, like banning the sale or transfer of high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic rifles such asAR-15s. Democratic lawmakers say there is renewed momentum after a year of gun violence at political rallies and the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6.

Violence has touched protests in Washington state, too. Protesters were shot at two events in December at the State Capitol Campus in Olympia.

To address this, HB 1234 would ban carrying weapons at the State Capitol. Two other bills, SB 5038

and HB 1283, would prohibit open carry at or near public demonstrations and in a situation where a reasonable person would feel threatened, respectively.

Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45th District) said these bills are ones she hopes pass this year. She cited the violence in Washington, D.C., but also an incident last year, where former State Rep. Matt Shea (R-Spokane Valley) and hundreds of people with guns showed up on the campus at the same time as an elementary school outing.

“This is really about using open carry as a mechanism to intimidate people who want to access democracy, and who want to have their voices heard,” Dhingra said.

She noted that only open carry would be prohibited at the Capitol grounds and demonstrations.

People with concealed pistol licenses would still be able to carry weapons for personal protection as long as they’re out of sight.

Another bill includes SB 5078, which would outlaw selling or transferring high capacity

magazines, but would still allow people who already have these devices to keep them. However, they would only be use them while at shooting ranges or hunting. It would restrict the number of rounds that new magazines could hold to only 10.

The last of the five bills is SB 5217, which would ban the sale of semiautomatic rifles like the popular AR-15. Similar to high-capacity magazines, they would only be allowed to be used at shooting ranges or for hunting.

State Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-48th District) is sponsoring the high capacity magazine, automatic rifle and open carry bills.

“I think people are watching what’s been happening with an armed insurrection at the nation’s Capitol,” she said. “I think that people have seen that we need to have more common sense gun legislation in place so that people can feel safe when they go out in public.”

The high-capacity magazine sales ban is the focus this year. It’s

the preferred tool for mass shooters, she said.

Dave Workman, editor in chief of The Gun Mag, published by the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, questioned whether this would effectively reduce gun violence. With perhaps millions of large magazines already circulating around the state, without unique serial numbers, he said he didn’t know how the state would prevent someone who wanted one from getting one if they were determined.

“Sometimes they do these things,” Workman said. “Lawmakers propose such legislation simply to create the impression that they’re doing something.”

High-capacity magazine bans have been proposed in recent Legislature sessions and have failed. Still, the bill is a priority for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, said Kristen Ellingboe, the organization’s communications manager.

While there are already many high-capacity magazines in circulation, she hopes that limiting future

sales will help reduce gun violence.

“The precious seconds that it takes a shooter to reload can and often do make the difference between life and death,” she said.

SB 5078 outlines the lawmaker’s case against the magazines. It states that they have been used in all 10 of the deadliest mass shootings since 2009, and caused twice as many deaths and 14 times as many injuries. During the 2014 shooting at Seattle Pacific University, many potential victims were able to escape or disarm the shooter as the shooter reloaded.

“Such opportunities are necessarily reduced when large capacity magazines are used,” the bill states.

And for Ellingboe, the issue of police accountability is also tied to gun legislation. She noted there are several bills tied to policing that are moving through the Legislature.

The presence of firearms makes it harder for law enforcement to do their job, but law enforcement must be able to ensure it’s accountable to communities, she said.

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Friday, January 29, 2021

FIRE BLOTTER Between Jan. 18 and Jan. 24, the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to 239 calls for service, among them the following:

Jan. 18 Aid call: 7:43 a.m., (Lea Hill). Firefighters responding to a woman who was

Auburn Reporter reported to be unconscious arrived at the scene to find a bystander performing CPR, and when firefighters took over they determined that the woman was dead. Firefighters and Auburn police helped contact the woman’s family.

Jan. 19 Aid call: 5:23 p.m., (Pacific).

Firefighters and King County Medic One evaluated a senior citizen who was complaining of abdominal pain, and a private ambulance

transported the fellow to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center (MAMC).

Jan. 20 Aid call: 3:42 p.m., (Lea Hill). As firefighters were responding to an apartment complex for a man who said he had tripped and struck his head on a curb, another man, who was covered in blood, flagged them down and said he had been assaulted.

Auburn police responded to secure the scene and to

Jeffrey A. Denton Jeffrey A . Denton 51 of Kennewick, WA passed away peacefully at home on January 18, 2021. He graduated from Auburn High School in 1988, continuing his education at the University of Washington graduating with a BA Degree in Criminal Law. After moving with his wife Sharon in 2011 to Kennewick, WA, Jeff discovered a passion for taking care of his mini farm and an amazing variety of pets.

None were so special as his dog Blaze, his best friend.

He enjoyed cruising the Columbia, golfing and spending time at family gatherings and barbecues. Jeff never met a stranger and was always ready to help others with anything they needed, especially family. He was very supportive of Sharon and helped her pursue her dream of owning her own veterinary clinic.

Jeff loved his work as a Heavy Equipment Operator.

His work lives on at Stadium High School, the golf course at Newcastle, most recently Amazon data centers and the wind turbine farms in Oregon. Jeff was well respected by his co-workers for his strong work ethic, leadership, friendship and his sense of humor.

Jeff is survived by his parents Jim and Diana Denton, sister Lori Ferguson, husband Pierre, nephew Liam and niece Zoe Ferguson, sister Jodi Thayer, husband Paul, nephews Collin and Mason Thayer, as well the love of his life Sharon Denton and extended family, Mother-in-Law Meg Molton, brother-in-law, Ivan Molton, wife Sierra, nieces Josephine and Violet Molton, sister-in-law, Kerrin Bleazard, husband John, nieces Austin, Nova, Molly, and nephew, Luke Bleazard.

Jeff will be missed by all who knew him.

Forever in our hearts, Forever loved.

Rest in Peace Jeff

investigate. Turns out the two men had been in a fight with each other. One of them was transported to the hospital with a head injury, and the other was taken into police custody.

Jan. 21 Aid call: 6:52 p.m., (Lakeland Hills). Firefighters evaluated a 67-year-old man who was COVID positive and complaining of general weakness, and a private ambulance

POLICE BLOTTER Auburn Police responded to the following calls for service, among many others, between Jan. 17 and Jan. 20:

Jan. 16

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Theft from motor vehicle: 9 p.m., 2806 Auburn Way North. A brazen act of thievery went down at the Ray of Hope.

Jan. 17 Shoplifting: 12:42 p.m.,

William Henry Henline William Henry Henline was born May 6 1936, to parents Henry and Margaret Henline in Auburn WA. He had one Sister Barbara Henline- Dunn. William known as Bill graduated from Auburn high school in 1954, and began an electrical apprenticeship for four years becoming a long standing member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). William Henline married Arlene Ann Ulrich in December of 1955. They were the parents of four children Katherine Mary Frerichs, Karlene Ann Haisch, David Allen Henline and Donald William Henline. William was an active member of the IBEW, Swiss Sportsman Club and an enthusiastic collector of Antique Cars.

He is survived by his Sister Barbara, all his children, seven Grandchildren and four great grand children. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered

transported him to MAMC.

Jan. 22 Aid call: 3:10 p.m., (Lakeland Hills). Firefighters King County Medics treated a woman who had been struck by a car, and Airlift Northwest flew her to Harborview for further care.

Jan. 23 Aid call: 3:42 p.m., (Auburn). Firefighters helped

1101 Outlet Collection Way SW. A female, general age unspecified, stole a wallet from the Coach store inside the Outlet Collection Mall.

Shoplifting: 8:30 p.m., 4010 A St. SE. Unknown males boosted beer from Albertsons.

Traffic offense: 11:53 p.m., 2500 block of B Street Northwest. Police busted four people for unlawfully attending a street race.

Jan. 18 Misdemeanor vandalism: Overnight, 1100 block of A St. Somebody broke a vehicle window.

Residential burglary: 12:22 p.m., 5100 block of Olive Avenue Southeast. A person or persons unknown stole stuff from a person’s garage while said person was away at work between Jan. 16 and Jan. 18.

Miscellaneous non-criminal: 7:56 p.m., 5500 block of Kersey Way SE. Two youngsters occasioned a custody dispute.

Trespass: 12:55 a.m., 12400 Southeast 312th St. A man got the 24/7 boot from a 7-Eleven until 2026.

Theft: 10 a.m., 2500 block

a woman who was complaining of shortness of breath, and a private ambulance transported her to MAMC.

Jan. 24 Illegal burn: 11:15 p.m., (Algona). Firefighters who had been dispatched to an illegal burn complaint found a resident burning brush, so they had the man put the fire out and referred him to the VRFA website for information on outdoor burning.

of 19th Place Southeast. A man claimed his estranged wife had entered his home days earlier and stole his wallet, keys, cell phone and cash.

Highly suspicious: 10 a.m., 2500 block of 19th Place Southeast. Somebody found a duffel bag containing a .22 rifle with the butt stock cut into a pistol grip hidden in bushes outside of a townhome.

Disorderly conduct: 1:09 p.m., 2300 block of F Street Southeast. Police arrested a person of the feminine gender for deliberately blocking traffic.

Assault: 3:08 p.m., 4010 A St. SE. A man was assaulted in a grocery store.

Misdemeanor harassment: 4:30 p.m., 111 3rd St. NW. A disgruntled employee made threats to damage his or her former place of employment.

Jan. 20 Highly suspicious: 802 Pike St. NE. A suspicious circumstance involving a pistol and crossbow occurred near the 800 block of Pike Street NE.

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Opinion 5

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AUBURN REPORTER

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2021

Change is ahead for both political parties President Donald Trump changed the national political landscape. Both political parties have internal divisions with the resulting need to pause for reflection as they are forced to take a look at themselves and determine what they will be in the future.

It used to be simpler.

Republicans and Democrats stood for different things, though both were closer to the middle and more pragmatic. They were able to provide a check and balance on each other. Some voters complained it was sometimes hard to tell the political parties apart. But there was never much doubt that they ultimately put the country first and were capable of finding common ground on policy differences when needed.

Republicans favored a balanced budget, supported the military, followed foreign policy, felt Russia was a rival and threat, supported law and order, business, capitalism and self-reliance. They believed that everyone who worked hard enough could be successful.

Democrats believed that working together for the common good would yield a better life for everyone.

They supported education, small business, unions, a domestic agenda as well as our military. They saw themselves as the inclusive party

BOB ROEGNER and worked hard to build consensus. They felt everyone should have the same opportunities, which would benefit all.

After years of suppression, the 1960s brought Black people into political prominence and their desire to have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Republicans had actually worked to attract minorities to their ranks a few years ago, but that strategy seems to have been discarded. Minority political growth was followed by more women leaders emerging and flexing their political clout.

Then the politics of exclusion and inclusion became more strident. Republicans responded with the political brilliance of Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America,” then the Tea Party and “take back our country,” which captured the feeling of many of those who felt left behind, or held a grievance for some

reason that Donald Trump was able to exploit. Trump forced people to choose.

You were either on his side or not. Republicans moved hard right in just a few years while Democrats drifted more to the left over an extended time frame.

But what will happen to the two parties now? The Republican Party became the party of Trump through personality rather than a binding philosophy. With Trump out of office, what direction will Republicans choose?

Democrats saw the benefits of inclusion as women and minority voters gave them new power. As a nation, we need both parties to be strong, to balance each other and avoid one-party rule because we are not a one-party country. How do we return to the days when compromise was considered a strength, not a weakness? Trump ‘s followers stormed the U.S. Capitol and Trump has favored Russia? But that demonstrates the depth of change.

What is the future of the Republican Party? Will it remain the party of Trump?

His hold looks strong now with 87% of Republicans continuing to support him, and two Republican members of Congress from our state, Jaime HerreraBeutler and Dan Newhouse, have been condemned for

voting to impeach him. Or will Republicans return to their more moderate past, or turn to a new set of leaders? Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — who blames Trump for the loss of the House, Senate and presidency — along with other Republican leaders and several major corporations have sent signals that they are leery of continuing as the party of Trump and are distancing themselves.

Also, the next group of Republican presidential hopefuls is getting impatient to replace Trump and wants to lead his loyal voting bloc, though some groups in Trump’s voting bloc may also be discarded.

Trump shows no sign of stepping off center stage willingly. Several Republicans, including Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz and former Vice President Mike Pence, would like to be candidates in 2024. Pence attended Biden’s inauguration to send a message that he does not wish to remain in Trump’s shadow.

It won’t be McConnell telling Joe Biden “it’s my job to make you a one-term President” as he did with President Barack Obama, but a second Trump’s impeachment doesn’t bring the sides closer together either, though both parties may need the message to reestablish a common goal.

Will Biden run for a second term? That seems unlikely. If not, the competition for the Democratic nomination may include several familiar and unfamiliar names, with a Jamaican-Indian female Vice President Kamala Harris as the front-runner.

Will Trump run again?

That also seems unlikely.

Many Republicans and business leaders feel the best opportunity to reclaim the House, Senate and presidency lies with a more traditional president, so the midterms in 2022 may answer many questions as Trump candidates and antiTrump candidates fight over congressional positions and set the stage for candidates with wide appeal in 2024.

Republicans make up 25% of the voting public, Democrats 41% and independents 34%. Accountability comes in many sizes and shapes, and future presidents, including Democrats, need to learn from the Jan. 6 attempt at a coup d’etat that the public expects candidates to act responsibly.

Democrats need to make changes, too. First, they need to redefine who they are. Are they moderates, liberals or socialists and can they work together? Second, stop using the phrase “defund the police.” It isn’t going to happen, and it

plays into the “them vs. us” mentality that needs to be in the past.

Many smart political leaders, such as President Joe Biden, didn’t use the phrase because it suggested lawlessness. We are a country that supports the rule of law, and we still need rules and we still need police. The goal should be to ensure police departments are reformed and officers are trained properly — to think before they shoot. Since 50 states have certified their elections and found no voter fraud, and 60 lawsuits found the same thing, Republicans need to accept that Joe Biden is the president. Can you image the change in temperature if Donald Trump had said that or if he had attended the inauguration? He could have started the healing process. We also need to ensure “truth and facts” come from the leaders of both parties.

Right now, saving our jointly held values, constitution and history is far more important than anything else. The alternative is to sink farther into our respective divisions and sacrifice our position as the world’s leading democracy. If that happens, we all lose.

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.

Hydrogen gains momentum as replacement fuel for trucks

I

n the coming decade, European Union leaders are investing heavily in hydrogen fuel research, believing it is a key to eliminating CO2 discharges from vehicles.

One new technology is called pyrolysis. It is hoped the technology will allow Europeans to pipe hydrogen much like natural gas

now travels long distances across country and under water.

Hydrogen created by pyrolysis is an adaptation of an industrial process developed over the years. It was designed to remove CO2 from the process creating charred wood and organic matter.

Currently, 95 percent

1010 S. 336th St., Suite 330, Federal Way, WA 98003 253-833-0218 Rudi Alcott, Vice President ralcott@soundpublishing.com Andy Hobbs, Editor ahobbs@soundpublishing.com Robert Whale, Reporter rwhale@auburn-reporter.com Carol Greiling, Multimedia Sales Manager cgreiling@auburn-reporter.com Rob Shults, Regional Circulation Manager rshults@soundpublishing.com Submit news and letters to the editor at submissions@auburn-reporter.com Delivery inquiries: 888-838-3000 or circulation@soundpublishing.com

of all hydrogen used in commercial vehicles comes from methane production where CO2 is released into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas-free hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis using electricity from wind and solar farms, nuclear plants and hydroelectric powerhouses.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the transportation sector has dominated the growth in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions since 1990, accounting for 69 percent of the total increase.

President Joe Biden is actively looking for alternatives to natural gas, gasoline and diesel. Replacing gasoline with batteries in autos and trucks is on top of his agenda. Here’s hoping he will include hydrogen.

European leaders are banking on hydrogen fuel technologies to lead the way. A big chunk of the European Union’s $13.3 billion climate initiative centers on hydrogen.

For truckers, hydrogen offers an effective alternative to batteries. Drivers “fuel up” faster and supporting equipment

installed in trucks is lighter and more compact. It can also be stored indefinitely with zero energy loss.

Other key drawbacks of battery electric vehicles have been driving range, lengthy charging times and recycling of spent batteries, many of which end up in landfills. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, on the other hand, can cover similar distances while dramatically saving total trip times.

Developing hydrogen into a commercially viable fuel takes money — lots of it.

The Hydrogen Council, whose 60-members represent total revenues of nearly $2.9 trillion and close to 4.2 million jobs, joined forces with European Investment Bank to finance hydrogen projects. The council believes those projects will require $20 billion to $25 billion in annual investments during the next decade.

Many automakers are investing heavily in hydrogen. Hyundai, the South Korean auto giant, already is devoting $6.3 billion to fuel cell technology and plans to ramp up

DON C. BRUNELL production from 3,000 units per year to 40,000 units by 2022.

Washington-based truck manufacturer Kenworth is developing 10 zeroemissions Kenworth T680s powered by Toyota hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains. Toyota and Kenworth unveiled the jointly developed fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck, the result of a collaboration with the California Air Resources Board and the Port of Los Angeles. The trucks were developed for use at the Port of Los Angeles, throughout the Southern California and Central Coast areas, and in Merced County.

One of the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles “is that hydrogen uses a fueling infrastructure that’s similar to conventional trucks. This means that FCEVs could be refueled at

existing truck stops across the country and the fueling experience would be similar. A truck can be filled with hydrogen in less than 15 minutes,” wrote Patrick Molloy at Rocky Mountain Institute, Denver.

Nikola Motors, a U.S. maker of hydrogen trucks, claims its vehicles can get 12 to 15 miles per gallon (mpg), well above the average 6.4 mpg for a diesel truck. Two years ago, Nikola Motors, based in Phoenix, announced it launched a roadmap for 700 fueling stations across our country.

Now that hydrogen technology is growing in acceptance, here’s hoping there will be greater attention to accelerating research and development, scaling up production, and finding ways to reduce costs.

That’s welcome news.

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

6

Friday, January 29, 2021

Auburn Reporter

ASO presents free videos for kids

By Robert Whale rwhale@soundpublishing.com

First your child is introduced to Concertmaster Emilie Choi playing excerpts of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on her violin, and talking about the tale the music spins — about cold gusts of wind, snowfall, the crunching of boots over frozen surfaces.

That is one of the two seasons available right now in a series of arts education videos Auburn Symphony Orchestra and the Interurban Center for the Arts have partnered together to create. for children in prekindergarten and elementary school.

“We did an art project that is inspired by each movement of the Four Seasons, and so we’re releasing a video project related to each movement throughout the year, and we’ve done autumn and winter so far,” said ASO Executive Director Rachel Woolsey.

Making use of materials commonly found at home, these videos are accessible to almost every child, and are free at www.auburnsymphony.org/ learnfromhome.

Teaching artist Christy Caravaglio guides viewers step-bystep through each art project.

In the winter program, the youngsters make a wintry owl painting complete with snowfall.

In the autumn video, they paint trees with beautiful seasonal colors. The instructions are simple, yet they leave room for creativity, like the art docent lessons the ICA leads in many of the region’s schools.

To learn more, visit the Auburn Symphony’s website at www.auburnsymphony.org.

Interurban Center for the Arts offers art lessons and information on its website at greenrivercollegefoundation.org/ica.

FILE PHOTO

Robert Allen, 61, had never been homeless in his life before 2019, when he lost his housing. The chef has been trying to get back on his feet, and hopes to open a nonprofit and make hot sauce.

Sales tax to raise money for homeless

By Cameron Sheppard csheppard@soundpublishing.com

This year, through the Health Through Housing Initiative, King County has begun collecting a 1/10th of penny in an additional sales tax in order to raise money to purchase hotels, motels and nursing homes to house the “chronically homeless.”

The King County Council passed the initiative in October 2020 and the policy is expected to house roughly 2,000 people by October 2022. According to the Homeless Management Information Service, there are close to 4,500 “chronically homeless” people in King County.

The bonded proceeds brought in by the new sales tax are expected to bring more than $50 million into the Health Through Housing Fund in one year and over $400 million in the next six years, according to King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn.

Dunn described the county’s previous efforts to reduce homelessness as “disorganized” and “disjointed,” as the county has spent hundreds of millions of dollars toward the issue with little results to show.

Dunn said the Seattle metropolitan area has become a “dead-end street” for the nation’s homeless problem as they continue to offer services and benefits to the homeless

population that he says only encourages the homeless from other areas to flock to the area.

“We have a moral obligation to create a broad and robust safety net,” Dunn said. “But for the homeless from our own communities.”

King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove said he likes the Health Through Housing Initiative because of its elegant simplicity. He said he felt like the county’s previously attempted solutions were bogged down in bureaucracy without actually providing enough housing.

“Why don’t we just build some damn housing,” Upthegrove said he used to joke with colleagues.

Upthegove said he feels like

this initiative will create housing quickly, affordably and at a scale that is meaningful.

“This gets people off the street,” he said.

The building purchased will first be converted into “emergency housing,” before being made into “permanent supportive housing,” according to Upthegrove.

The executive branch of the county government has until the end of June to submit an implementation plan for the initiative to be approved by the council.

Upthegrove said the implementation will be managed by the King County Department of Community and Human Services.

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Auburn Reporter

Friday, January 29, 2021

7

Auburn Symphony Orchestra presents its winter schedule Reporter Staff Music can calm troubled waters and offer new experiences when we are in a rut.

This winter, the Auburn Symphony Orchestra wants to help people fend off the cacophonies of life with pleasant sounds and fresh music.

AS O continues to produce and share music for the 2020-21 season has many programs lined up for the beginning of 2021, all of them available to stream for free from auburnsymphony.org.

Here is ASO’s upcoming schedule.

• Available through Feb. 21 is an encore performance available for the first time on video. Édouard Lalo’s Cello Concerto in D minor is both lyrical and powerfully emotional.

Soloist Brian Wharton loves it for its romantic melodies, fiery passages and Spanish flavor.

• Johannes Brahms’ Piano Quintet offers a little something for every type of listener. From angst and vivacity to soothing melodies and finally exalted rhythms. Don’t miss this piece from the zenith of 19th century chamber music starting Feb. 18. Featuring musicians, Emilie Choi and Sol Im, violin; Betty Agent, viola; Brian Wharton, cello; and William Chapman Nyaho, piano.

• As winter turns to spring, hear the Nonets of Bohuslav Jan Martin and Louise Farrenc, conducted

by Music Director Wesley Schulz. The music on this program by French composer Louise Farrenc and Czech composer

Bohuslav Jan Martin is perfectly splendid: soothing harmonies and contagious melodies run rampant in these luxurious chamber works. Streaming begins March 11. Featuring musicians Wendy Wilhelmi, flute; Shannon Spicciati, oboe; Jennifer Nelson, clarinet ; Mona Butler, bassoon; Rodger Burnett, horn; Emilie Choi, violin; Betty Agent, viola; Brian Wharton, cello; and Steve Schermer, double bass.

Check auburnsymphony.org regularly for updates including performances and links to learning and listening resources.

The Symphony is offering its concerts for free as a commitment to remain “creatively connected” to the community during this time. More information is available online or by calling 253-887-7777.

COURTESY PHOTO

Brian Wharton playing Lalo’s Cello Concerto.

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8

Friday, January 29, 2021

Auburn Reporter

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