Washington state caps rent hikes at 10% through the end of the year
By Brett Davis The Center Square
Queen Queen Queen Anne &Magnolia news
The Washington State Department of Commerce on Friday announced a 10% limit on rent hikes through the end of 2025.
That decision results from Engrossed House Bill 1217, which limits annual rent increases in Washington to 7% plus the consumer price index, or 10%, whichever is less. It also sets a 5% cap for manufactured/mobile home lots.
The Department of Commerce said it would release rent cap information for 2026 this summer based on updated federal inflation data.
EHB 1217 was passed by both chambers of the Legislature during session and signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson on May 2.
The controversial rent cap bill drew a passionate response from both supporters and detractors during this year’s session.
Those advocating for EHB 1217 highlighted the benefits of stabilizing rental costs, including making housing more predictable and affordable for tenants. They argued that this would help prevent homelessness and provide a more secure housing environment.
However, opponents expressed concerns that rent caps would discourage new construction and hurt landlords, potentially leading to a worsening housing shortage.
According to the Department of Commerce, Washington must add 1.1 million homes in the next two decades to meet growing demand. This translates to roughly 55,000 new homes needed annually.
Curiouser and Curiouser
By Coe Elementary Parents
On May 9 and 10, the Coe Elementary Musical Theater Club once again transported audiences — this time down the rabbit hole — for its spring production of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.”
Of course, any worthwhile trip through Wonderland begins with Alice herself, played by Sloane Capps, who opened the show with a heartfelt rendition of “A World of My Own.”
“It was a dream come true to be Alice,” said Sloane. “And to be able to work with such an amazing cast of friends.” Helping her navigate this topsy-turvy world were Piper Taylor (Small Alice) and Emmy Slonecker (Tall Alice), who appeared and reappeared as the character’s size fluctuated throughout her journey — thanks to a few ill-advised snacks.
The cast featured a dynamic ensemble of 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-graders who brought color, chaos, and charisma to every inch of the stage across three joy-filled performances.
One of the crowd favorites — the ever-grinning
Cheshire Cat — was portrayed by three performers: Emma Brown, Faith Maxwell, and Iris Cave.
“All of the hard work, time, patience, and practice we have all given to
this spectacle has really paid off!" said Emma. “We have strengthened our bonds, found new friendships, and created a COMMUNITY!!!!” Iris added,
“I liked being backstage, looking at all the other performers, and I felt so proud.”
Vivian Dettling hopped through scenes as the perennially late White Rabbit, pocket watch in hand.
“Virtual Choir with Ms. Carreiro was the highlight of every single week during
remote school,” she said. “I loved watching all the older kids perform and could not wait for the opportunity.” That long wait clearly paid off.
Alice’s path was filled with unforgettable characters — from the bickering duo of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (played by
and Lee-
White) to the chaos of the tea party. “Being Tweedle Dee was so enjoyable
Stella Backstrom
sha
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Queen Anne & Magnolia Worship Services
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Twelfth Church of Christ, Scientist
In Person and Online Church Services
All are welcome & warmly invited to join these healing services
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Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons
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Additional Healing Resources: ChristianScience.com CSWashington.com SeattleMetroReadingRoom.org
For additional assistance, please contact us at seattle12cs@gmail.com or 206.283.2300 ChristianScienceTwelfthSeattle.com
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Savvy Senior: Gravesite care when you can’t get there
by Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you recommend any services that offer gravesite cleaning and care? I recently visited my parent’s cemetery gravesite over Memorial Day weekend and found that their headstones were overtaken by weeds and moss and need to be cleaned. I live in a different state and can’t get back very often. Who can I call on to help me with this?
Long-Distance Linda
Dear Linda,
Depending on where your parents are buried, there are a hodgepodge of places you can turn to for gravesite grooming, decorating and special care when you can’t get there. Here’s what you should know.
GRAVESITE CARE
It’s important to know that as a general rule, most cemeteries, like the one your parents are buried in, only provide basic grounds maintenance like mowing the grass and trash pickup. Special gravesite care and headstone cleaning is almost always up to the family. But for families who live a distance from their loved one’s burial place and can’t get back very often, what options are available?
A good place to start is to contact the cemetery staff where your parents are buried to see if they offer any special gravesite cleaning services or know of anyone who does. If not, try reaching out to some local funeral homes in the area to see if they can help or refer you.
If you don’t have any luck there, another option is to hire a gravesite care provider on your own. These are small or individually run businesses that provide services like
plot maintenance including grass trimming and weeding, headstone cleaning and restoration, flower and wreath deliveries and more. And so you know the work was completed or the flowers were delivered, many companies will take pictures of the gravesite and e-mail or text them to you.
There are literally hundreds of small businesses that provide gravesite care services in local communities or regions across the country. To find them, do a simple Google or Bing internet search, and type in something like “grave care services” or “cemetery headstone cleaning” plus your city or state. Or use an AI tool like Chat GPT or Gemini to do a search.
You can also seek help by contacting the local memorial society or funeral consumer alliance program near your parent’s gravesite – see Funerals.org/find-an-affiliate for contact information. These are volunteer groups that offer a wide range of information on local funeral and cremation providers, cemeteries and
The cost for most gravesite care services can range anywhere from $50 to over $250 for headstone cleaning and memorial restoration (depending on the job size), $50 to $200 for flower and wreath deliveries, and $30 to $80 for plot grooming. Special discounts for multiple gravesite services and visits may also exist.
FLORAL SERVICES
If you’re interested in decorating your parent’s gravesite next Memorial Day with fresh cut flowers or live plants, another option is to call a local florist to see if they can make a delivery directly to their grave site. Many florists will accommodate this request if you provide them the cemetery location and plot number, but you may not get a photo verifying the delivery.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
PWHL selects Seattle for 2nd expansion franchise
By John Wawrow Associated Press
The PWHL will expand to eight teams next season by adding Seattle as its second new franchise alongside Vancouver, and The Associated Press has learned that plans are already in the works to add two more in a year’s time.
Seattle’s addition, announced Wednesday, gives the PWHL a strong foothold in the Pacific Northwest and comes a week after the unveiling of the new team in Vancouver for the 2025-26 season. The westward move broadens the league’s reach across the continent in two markets with a history supporting women’s sports and separated by just a three-hour drive.
“Of course, the geography makes a ton of sense and I think we have a built-in rivalry here that will just naturally happen,” executive vice president of business operations Amy Scheer told the AP.
“But most importantly is they met all the criteria in terms of what we were looking for,” she added. “There’s just a ton of business reasons to do it. And those are the only things we’re focused on.”
STEADY GROWTH
The two-team expansion for
Season 3 is only the beginning for a league that launched in January 2024 with five Eastern franchises — Boston, New York, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto — and one in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The PWHL plans to grow to 10 teams for its 2026-27 season, a person with knowledge of discussions told the AP on the condition of anonymity because the talks are private.
The person said the league is accelerating its plans based on the strength of responses and feedback received during its eight-month expansion search in which the PWHL considered more than 20 markets.
Scheer didn’t entirely dispute the plan, without providing an exact timetable.
“I think we’ve been pretty clear from the outset that this is the first year of a multi-year process,” Scheer said as the PWHL closes the final week of the regular season. “It could come in Year 4. It could come Year 5. I think that those conversations are still being had.”
SEATTLE SPORTS SCENE
Neutral site stops this past season in Denver, Detroit, Quebec City and Edmonton each topped 14,000 fans.
The new team will initially go by PWHL Seattle and its colors will be
Healthy aging and the benefits of intergenerational programs in senior living
As the science of longevity is picking up steam, we’re learning about steps we can take to enhance not just our lifespan but our health span. Some ways to help increase health span you may know as increasing your activity level, improving your sleep hygiene, and paying attention to your nutrition and hydration. But there are other strategies that can be fun, engaging, and gratifying while offering benefits of improved health span. One strategy is fostering intergenerational relationships, something we actively support at Bayview, through our Intergenerational Children’s Center (ICC).
Here are a few reasons why this strategy works.
I’m sure we’ve all heard by now how social isolation and loneliness can contribute to poor health outcomes among older adults. AARP research suggests that loneliness has the same deleterious health impact as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Interactions between older adults and young children can be an effective weapon against loneliness and isolation. Here at Bayview, residents are able to engage with infants as young as 5.5 weeks up to 5 years old. This mixing of generations creates human connection not just for our residents but for the children as well.
of ageism in our society. In addition, interacting with children also creates mental and emotional stimulation that can help maintain cognitive function in older adults. For example, older adults engaging with children experience a positive emotional jolt that brings with it neurochemical benefits. Engaging with children can: release dopamine, a “reward” chemical that can improve mood and motivation; increase endorphin levels, natural painkillers and mood boosters; release oxytocin, fostering emotional warmth and connection; increase of serotonin levels, which can regulate mood, appetite, and sleep. These chemicals do more than just help us feel good (and that’s great) – they can promote resilience, reduce stress, enhance immune function, and protect cognitive health.
emerald green and cream. The team will play out of the NHL Kraken’s Climate Pledge Arena and practice at the Kraken Community Iceplex. Vancouver also has not announced a nickname yet.
Seattle features a growing youth hockey program, is home to the WNBA’s Storm and NWSL’s Reign, and previously shown support for women’s hockey. In November 2022, Seattle drew a U.S.-Canada Rivalry Series record crowd of 14,551. In January, the PWHL drew a crowd of 12,608 in kicking off its nine-game Takeover Tour of neutral site games in Seattle.
Boston Fleet captain and four-time U.S. Olympian Hilary Knight was a proponent of Seattle in the weeks ahead of her team’s Takeover Tour game against Montreal.
“I have yet to experience another crowd like that,” Knight said of the Rivalry Series game. “Seattle holds a special place in my mind, and that’s why I’m super excited to be able to share that experience with other teammates, whether it’s on the Fleet or on the Montreal team.”
The PWHL plans to announce the date of an expansion draft and how Vancouver and Seattle will be integrated into its entry draft on June 24 at a later time.
Side benefit: children growing up around older adults learn to see them as nurturing, supporting and caring rather than people to be afraid of. When we can nurture positive feelings around aging starting with young children, this will ultimately reduce negative stereotypes as children grow older and can mitigate the perpetuation
In short, when older adults spend time with young children, they can enhance their own physical and mental health as well. And as written by Kiya Young, Bayview’s Intergenerational Children’s Center Director, in a recent blog post, “intergenerational centers are not just places of care but thriving ecosystems where every interaction enriches lives, builds stronger communities, and prepares future generations for a more connected, compassionate, and empathetic world.” Interested in learning more about our ICC? Call 206-284-7330 and ask for Kiya Young.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
EATS Act bad for country
Our country has many critical needs right now, and one of these needs is for more ethical treatment of farm animals.
Like me, many Americans care about animal welfare. According to a recent poll, farm animal cruelty prevention is important to 80% of voters, regardless of political party. Many state and local animal protection laws and regulations, such as those prohibiting some of the cruelest practices in animal agriculture, reflect these values. And yet, federal lawmakers have just reintroduced the EATS Act, a bill that overrides the will of voters, infringes on the rights of state and local governments, and consigns countless animals to lifetimes
of cruelty and suffering.
The EATS Act, recently renamed the Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S. 1326), would allow Big Ag to set the course for animals and consumers across the country. It would erase over a hundred state and local laws and regulations that protect animals and jeopardize countless others. The EATS Act could thrust our country into legal limbo, triggering regulatory delays and litigation.
For America’s farms, farm animals, and food systems, I urge Representative Jayapal and Senators Murray and Cantwell to OPPOSE this dangerous bill and any bills like it.
Anna Hennessey Magnolia
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Nancy Weinbeck
Seattle Council faces third vacancy in 18 months with Cathy Moore set to resign
By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
The Seattle City Council will appoint a new representative for the third time since January 2024 after Seattle City Councilmember Cathy Moore announced she is resigning from her position.
Moore announced that her last day on the job will be July 7 after serving District 5 for a year and six months. She cited health and personal reasons for her resignation, which she seriously considered “over the past several months.”
“Ultimately, I believe that District 5 community members deserve a representative who can give their full attention to the critical issues facing the city and its neighborhoods,” Moore said in a statement on Monday.
The announcement came days after Moore withdrew a proposal to update Seattle’s code of ethics after receiving pushback from the community during previous public comment periods. The pulled bill would have revised the city’s ethics code to require council members to only disclose financial conflicts of interest when discussing or voting on legislation. Current rules mandate council members to disclose and recuse themselves from the entire process.
Moore’s resignation means the city council has to fill the District 5 seat soon. Fortunately, the majority of the council has experience with this process.
In January, the Seattle City Council appointed Mark Solomon with the Seattle Police Department to the vacant District 2 seat after five rounds of voting. Solomon filled the seat after Tammy Morales stepped down. Notably, he lost the seat to Morales during the 2019 general election, collecting 40% of votes.
In January 2024, Tanya Woo was appointed by the city council to the District 8 seat.
The Seattle City Council saw a major overhaul of its representatives in 2024 with five new city council members, including Moore. The council members represent a more politically-centered dais as each of the five council members prioritized public safety, homelessness, and affordable housing as part of their respective campaigns. Since then, Alexis Mercedes-Rinck was elected to the city-wide council seat, representing a new progressive face on the council.
The city charter gives the city council 20 calendar days to fill a vacant council position. This 20day period begins July 8, the day after Moore officially resigns. No names have emerged yet for early frontrunners to replace Moore.
THEATER
From page 1
and being able to make the audience laugh—it was a highlight of my Coe experience,” said Leesha.
The Mad Hatter and March Hare, played with wild abandon by Eleanor Williams and Vivienne Moll, kept things wonderfully off-kilter. “It was hard and there was a lot of work involved,”
Eleanor admitted, “but it was all worth it at the end when we got to perform.”
Meera Chheda played the Caterpillar with mellow wisdom, proving that sometimes the best advice comes from someone with extra legs and excellent taste in adventure songs.
“As a caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland, I loved singing ‘Adventure Is a Wonderful Thing,’” she said. “Our performance was surely the most wonderful adventure!”
And of course, no visit to Wonderland would be complete without the Queen of Hearts. Klunoyon Gnonhossou ruled the stage with poise and power. “Working with the cast was great. I especially loved being on stage with my friends and peers,” she shared. “The saddest part was realizing that it would be the last time on stage with everybody from the Coe community.”
Directed once again by the tireless Krista Carreiro and her passionate team, the production was a colorful, chaotic, and heartfelt journey that reminded everyone why school theater matters. Whether dancing with a Dodo, confronting pretentious flowers, being guided by a flippant caterpillar, playing musical chairs at a tea party, or verbally dueling with the Queen, the students of Coe Elementary helped Alice — and the audience — see that with enough heart (and maybe a cookie or two), anything is possible on stage.
COURTESY PHOTOS
WA AGO launches long-delayed police use of force database
By TJ Martinell The Center Square
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has announced the launch of the Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety, or WADEPS, after years of delays and setbacks due to contract disputes, data security concerns, and allegations of unethical conduct.
In 2021, the state Legislature enacted Senate Bill 5259, which tasked the AGO with overseeing an advisory group to develop recommendations for a request for proposal, or RFP, for a private or public university to create a police use of force incident database that would be available for the public to view and download.
The contract was eventually awarded to Washington State University, a client of the AGO and the only institution of higher learning to submit a bid.
SB 5259 put the approximate date for the database launch as April 2023, but the project faced delays due to numerous issues, one of which was finding a subcontractor to partner with after IBM, which was included in WSU’s bid, withdrew over opposition to a contract stipulation that they waive all intellectual property rights.
WSU later went on in February 2024 to subcontract with Carahsoft, a company at the time under investigation by the FBI in a separate state, as well as Amazon Web Services.
In October 2024, internal emails revealed apparent miscommunication or conflicts between AWS and WSU employees over the website’s construction, and according to those emails, in March AWS withdrew from the project.
Prior to that, WADEPS struggled to obtain data user agreements with 9-1-1 call centers, which would have included computer-aided dispatch data, or CAD, which many centers opposed to signing due to fears of violating federal law.
Lake Stevens City Attorney Greg Rubstello in an August 2024 email also wrote that “there is no cause or reason for cities and towns providing general law enforcement to its citizens to disclaim any responsibility of the creator and administrator of this data base for its product. This is an issue for resolution between the State of Washington and WSU.”
Meanwhile, an AGO employee told WADEPS it was seeking data out of the project’s scope. Washington State Parks was an initial beta-tester for WADEPS, but later pulled out.
According to an AGO press release announcing the launch of WADEPS, the Fife Police Department appears to have signed a DUA with WADEPS.
The WADEPS has also faced allegations of unethical conduct by a potential
subcontractor, starting from when the RFP was first put out. Bob Scales is a former King County Deputy prosecutor and special prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, and currently the president of Police Strategies. His company initially intended to subcontract with Seattle University to bid on the project, but Scales said he pulled out due to stipulations over waiving intellectual property.
Among Scales' allegations is that the AGO employees involved in the RFP process offered information to WSU as to when the RFP would be put out and how long they would have to submit their proposal, information that was not offered to other potential bidders.
The AGO also engaged in what one attorney described as a potential “technical violation of ethical rules” by ordering Seattle University to preserve records in its possession concerning Scales and the RFP, warning that failure to do so could subject them “to a broad spectrum of court-imposed sanctions.” Such orders are issued from attorneys to their clients.
The AGO eventually awarded WSU the contract and signed an agreement in 2023.
Ethics complaints filed by Scales have all been dismissed by the State Ethics Board, which is composed of AGO employees and whose executive director reports to the solicitor general.
Scales also filed ethics complaints against several WSU employees involved with WADEPS. Then-WSU President Eric Schulz was accused of interfering with the process after he wrote in a letter sent to both Scales and AGO attorneys at its WSU Division that no investigation would occur.
Under WSU’s bylaws, the president has no role in ethics investigations. Meanwhile, emails sent by then-WSU Provost President Elizabeth Chilton after the president’s letter was written said that her office would be looking into the matter.
However, WSU never announced the conclusion of any investigation.
Scales then went on to file a $42 million tort claim against WSU and the AGO with the State Risk Manager, who then handed the claim over to the AGO’s Tort Claim Division.
At the same time, the AGO signed a $250,000 contract with law firm Pacifica to defend it from a potential lawsuit by Scales; the law firm is headed up by a former AGO employee and among its partners was incoming-State Attorney General Nick Brown.
The Center Square's coverage of allegations surrounding WADEPS earned it a nomination last year for the DAO Prize for investigative reporting.
Law enforcement agencies have through Sept. 2 to begin reporting data to WADEPS, which they must then do on a monthly basis moving forward.
Board stiff: Sound Transit lacks transit expertise as project delays drag on
By Spencer Pauley
The Center Square
The Sound Transit Board of Directors has been criticized for a lack of transportation expertise among its members, as the agency continues to see delays to light rail expansion projects and cost overruns to major expansion projects despite massive funding.
The Center Square previously reported that more than $21.8 billion in tax revenue was generated by
Sound Transit between 1996 and 2023, with $10.3 billion raised between 2019 and 2023 alone. Despite this, the delays to the agency’s taxpayer-backed projects have continued, including the last two stations on the 2 line connecting across Lake Washington, which had their target opening of December 2025 moved to early 2026. Delays have led to calls for the agency to allow the public to have a say in who makes up the Board
When we start gardening, most of us are drawn to annuals, both ornamental flowers and edible crops, like moths to a flame. Like a flame, annuals shine with a dazzling light, burning brightly. The flame dances, gives heartening warmth, and lasts for weeks, even months. Yet frost snuffs out that flame forever. For a repeat performance, you’ll have to buy starts or grow from seed next year. Perennials are a slower burn, but if chosen with care, return each year. Instead of returning for months or weeks, it’s for years or decades to come. So, for many, perennials are the winner for value. But is that true for you?
Who’s Who and What’s
What
First, let’s get through the name thing. It’s confusing. We don’t use the word “perennially” as much as “annually,” so when people hear “annual,” they think “Ah! It comes back every year,” like Bumbershoot. In the plant world, annuals must be started from seed anew each year. They complete their life cycle and set seed within a growing season. Perennial plant roots over-winter in a dormant state underground to re-grow the next year. So, rather than blooming their heads off to reproduce, perennials reserve some energy to save for spring. Their bloom season is typically shorter, but they don’t need replacing as often.
Benefits of Annuals
Productivity –
great adds for “power spots” like your front door, window box, by a gate or driveway or patio. Annual food crops have delicious and nutritious benefits that speak for themselves.
You’ll want to be aware of the plant’s frost tolerance to know when you’ll wake up to a pile of black mush outside.
Lastly, a caveat to the “must-replace” rule for annuals: annuals that “selfsow” can replicate themselves where happy (requires loose, empty soil of their preferred type). They may not return in the same quantity or place you intended, however. I have planted Cerinthe major starts in my well-drained sandy hillside by my front door in more than one summer. Where does sow itself? In the cracks in my driveway.
picked, according to your existing soil and real-world weather conditions. Most nurseries sell perennials well-suited to your region and zone, (Seattle is Zone 9a now), but the best strategy is doing your homework about your microclimate and your intended plant.
of Directors making these decisions with billions of tax dollars at play. However, the agency’s governing structure is directly tied to state law, which Sound Transit Media Relations Manager John Gallagher pointed The Center Square to.
The law – established when the agency was formed in 1993 – states that Sound Transit shall be governed by a board
While it’s foolish to generalize when it comes to the vast and intricate world of plantdom, in general, the big appeal of annuals is in production. Because they have shorter time on the planet to reproduce, they make up for it by creating masses of seeds through flowers or fruit. As their willing accomplices in spreading this seed, we harvest armfuls of dahlias, tomatoes and zinnias.
Long season –When you want reliable, set-and-forget color (with regular care), annuals get the nod, especially for the main growing seasons of spring through summer. It would be possible, in a sunny container, to have violas from fall through early spring followed by geraniums or bedding daffodils with very few gaps in color. Exciting? Perhaps not. But easy? Definitely. Flowering annuals are
Downsides of Annuals In addition to the cost of replacement, annuals are –here’s another generalization – as a rule, more fussy than well-sited perennials. They are growing so fast; they need more support from the gardener. We are talking especially about plants we tend to buy in six-packs: peas, and basil, alyssum and petunias. Very droughttolerant annuals like geraniums, tubers like dahlias (which are semi-perennial here), and street-tough weeds like crabgrass are a different story.
The plants are usually seedlings, barely out of seed starting mix, and need to adjust to your new soil and climate conditions. We usually expect trees and shrubs to need extra watering for up to three years to establish their roots; annuals only get a few months. They’ll need watering more often, especially in containers, and many pests find their succulent new foliage delectable.
They may need extra fertilizer support, again especially in containers, because you’re asking the peas to grow four feet in a season, for instance. Benefits of perennials Perennials have grit and staying power.
If you choose according to “right plant, right place” principles, your perennial should love the spot you’ve
They will need lower maintenance in the long term than annuals. Yes, they will need supplemental water those first two or three summers, but you’ll be rewarded with strong healthy plants that will return for years. Some plants inherently last longer than others. Some wallflowers like Erysimum ‘Bowle’s Mauve’ are short-lived perennials that bloom almost like an annual, but may need replacing in a few years. Daylilies, Hosta, iris, oriental poppy, baptisia, and peony are some that can last decades. As a bonus, once established, their deep roots help them fend off weather extremes more than annuals. Beyond a top-dressing of compost in the fall or early spring, they shouldn’t need additional fertilizer. (Because you picked perennials that like the pH and drainage in your soil, remember?) As such, for year-to-year cost, perennials are the winning budget choice.
Downsides of Perennials
The upfront cost per plant is usually more than annuals. Exception: grafted one-gallon tomato plant, $19.99. But amortized per year of enjoyment, the cost of perennials goes down. You do need to baby them with watering those first years getting established in your garden, and some mulch is always nice. After that period, your cost in time and water should shrink significantly, particularly with drought-adapted perennials.
Lastly, because perennials have a shorter bloom period compared to annuals, if you want consistent color, you need to choreograph a color symphony with multiple varieties of perennials. You might have geum, allium and poppies followed by yarrow, salvia, and echinacea, and then asters and chrysanthemums.
Erica Browne Grivas
Get Growing
WA trade groups seek federal intervention to block state gas ban
By Carleen Johnson
The Center Square
Eight Washington state trade organizations, led by the Building Industry Association of Washington, are hoping their recent appeal to the federal government will stop what they regard as state overreach in energy policy.
On May 27, the eight trade organizations sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi asking the U.S. Department of Justice to protect against states implementing gas bans that violate the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
The letter specifically calls on the DOJ to act on President Donald Trump’s April 8 executive order removing impediments to domestic energy production by enforcing federal law and preventing states from enacting harmful gas bans.
“In early April, President Trump issued an executive order regarding energy and asked the Department of Justice to look at state policies that they consider to be an overreach, or to be out of compliance with existing federal law,” BIAW Executive Vice President Greg Lane said. “We certainly believe there's a number of those examples here in Washington state, whether it's the state building code council with their energy code or with the natural gas ban passed by the Legislature.”
Lane was referencing the 2021 Washington State Energy Code, which promotes using heat pumps for both space and water heating, replacing traditional fossil fuel and electric resistance systems. He also referenced Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1589, which allows Puget Sound Energy to end gas service to customers, forcing them to convert to electricity.
Lane told The Center Square that several other organizations and contractors signed the letter.
“The Associated General Contractors, the Food Industry Association, and a number of others sent the letter to the attorney general asking the Department of Justice to take a look at those policies and laws passed in Washington and consider putting Washington on their list of states that they target in their inquiry,” he said.
He explained that Trump’s executive order gave the Department of Justice 60 days to report to the president.
“So, I think that is sometime next week to produce a report back that outlines those state and local policies that they feel are out of compliance, and that they're going to target with action,” Lane explained. “We gave them a list of what we felt like were the most egregious in the state of Washington that drive up costs for families here and threaten individual energy security.”
TRANSIT
From page 5
consisting of representatives appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the council or other legislative authority of each member county.
Current Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine’s appointment raised eyebrows due to his direct connection with more than half of the board members. He resigned from the position, which he held for 15 years, to become Sound Transit's CEO. Prior to becoming the CEO of Sound Transit in March, Constantine served as chair of the Sound Transit Board of Directors from 2014 to 2016 and 2022 to 2023. As the county executive, he had the authority to appoint 10 elected officials from King County and its local jurisdictions to the Sound Transit Board, which consists of 18 members.
Lane said BIAW is confident that Washington’s energy code and associated costs, as well as the de facto gas ban and associated costs, fit the definition of imposing unnecessary costs on consumers, which is what Trump’s executive order targeted.
In November 2024, Washington voters approved Initiative 2066 to block the state's efforts to phase out natural gas.
In March, King County Superior Court Judge Sandra Widlan ruled that I-2066 violated the single-subject rule and subject and title requirements and invalidated it.
As reported by The Center Square, BIAW recently asked the Washington Supreme Court to take direct review of a Widlan’s ruling.
Lane said the setback in the King County ruling was expected and would not deter BIAW.
“We're fighting this however we can,” he said. “The increased costs associated with implementing the energy codes will never be paid off in terms of energy savings to consumers who purchase those homes. Then, of course, by cutting off natural gas and forcing consumers to convert to all electric and all the costs associated with that, it’s a lot, and we're not giving up.”
Widlan did not enter her oral ruling against I-2066 into the official court record until May 9, 49 days after the ruling and one day after The Center Square noted the lengthy delay, which BIAW contends was intentional to prevent filing an appeal request with the state Supreme Court.
“That was part of our frustration, and we think it was intentional to keep us from getting on their [state Supreme Court] docket before June,” Lane said. “So now we have to wait until September. We likely won't hear exactly what the date will be of the hearing until sometime this summer.”
Lane said the state’s highest court can decline the direct appeal, but he doesn’t believe that will happen.
“Given the history of these appeals and the issues involved, it would be very unusual, and we don't expect at all that they will decline to hear it,” he reasoned. “We think we're one of the most egregious states and certainly should be high on their priority list.”
The Center Square contacted the State Building Code Council for comment on the letter to the DOJ, but did not receive a response.
Other trade organizations that signed the letter: Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington; Associated Builders and Contractors Inland Pacific chapter; Northwest Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association; NW Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association; and the Washington Air Conditioning Contractors Association.
During the time in which Constantine was board chair, he appointed King County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci, Pete Von Reichbauer and Girmay Zahilay, who all currently serve on the board.
Charles Prestrud, director of the Coles Transportation Center at the Washington Policy Center think tank, is critical of Sound Transit’s board structure, saying that it “suffers from its in-bred nature.”
He noted that the original architects of the agency’s system plan wanted to make sure it wouldn’t be derailed in the future by the election of board members who didn’t support the plan. Hence the board’s makeup of local elected officials appointed by the three county executives helps the agency stay the course.
Prestrud added that this governmental structure remained even “after it is apparent that it doesn’t make sense from either a cost or ridership perspective.”
$80 million or bust: Wilkeson teeters on ghost town if cut off from Mt. Rainier
By Tim Clouser The Center Square
Proposals to restore access to one of Mount Rainier National Park’s four entrances could cost the state at least $80 million and nearly a decade for workers to complete.
The Washington State Department of Transportation closed the Fairfax Bridge on April 22. The 103-year-old bridge leads to the park’s northwest entrance, crossing the Carbon River Canyon to an area where around 30 residents live. They now have to drive another hour to get to town.
Wilkeson is one of the closest stops to eat and fuel up, so hundreds of thousands of tourists pass through the historic mining town every year. Friends of the Carbon Canyon, a group that helps maintain and raise awareness about the area, says rerouting the bridge will devastate the local economy.
“It’s over an hour if we call 911,” said Jill Cartwright, a group member from across the bridge. “Carbonado and Wilkeson are volunteer fire departments, and they’re going to be the first ones that would be coming through, but we wouldn’t expect any help for over an hour, if that.”
WSDOT unveiled seven “alternatives” to the closure on Wednesday. The cheapest would be demolishing the historic bridge and extending a permanent closure, which would take about three years to complete. Once the state receives funding, it could cost upwards of $50 million.
Maintaining the bridge is the state’s responsibility, but the structure sits behind others on a long backlog of work after decades of the Legislature underfunding maintenance. If WSDOT closed the bridge permanently, residents worry Wilkeson will become another dead-end ghost town.
The remains of other mining communities sit
GRIVAS
From page 5
My father fantasized about rolling shelves that brought new bloomers into view as needed for this purpose. Failing that, you have to plan your bloom sequence like a normal gardener. What’s the answer? That depends on you and your garden. If short-term, consistent color or a bountiful crop of veggies or buckets of zinnias is your dream,
underneath the bridge, serving as a reminder of what could happen if tourists don’t have a reason to stop in Wilkeson. The second option would be to rebuild the bridge at the same spot, taking six years and at least $80 million to $130 million to finish.
Each option relies on estimated costs today. If the Legislature takes a decade to secure funding, and a timeline hasn’t been established yet, the costs will include ten years of inflation.
“This study is funded through $1.5 million in state funding,” according to the WSDOT planning study. “No funding has been identified for right-of-way, design or construction.”
The next two options would be demolishing the existing bridge and realigning the road just north or south to rebuild a new crossing. Based on current estimates, both alternatives would cost upwards of $100 million and take about six years to build once funding is secured.
The last three alternatives involve rerouting the bridge.
The first would reroute the road above Wilkeson in Carbonado, requiring around 5 miles of new road and a bridge. That route would cost $465 million to $785 million and take about five years to complete.
The next option, and least favorable for the surrounding communities, would be to reroute the road from the Orting area, bypassing Wilkeson and Carbonado altogether.
annuals may be your priority. If you plan to garden for several years at your property, perennials deliver more environmental benefits and value, needing fewer inputs long-term.
You can find annuals and perennials that offer great pollinator benefit – seek out native or regionally native annuals or perennials especially those in the mint and aster families.
Of course, if you know me at all by now, you know I
That would cost $440 million to $735 million, requiring 11 miles of new highway but no bridge, and take seven years to complete.
The last option would be to reroute the road from Wilkeson, requiring 12 miles of new road and a bridge. That plan would cost $375 million to $610 million and take about six years to complete.
WSDOT will host an open house so residents can weigh in on June 2 in Carbonado and June 11 in Wilkeson. It’s also accepting online feedback through June 17. However, it will be years, potentially more than a decade, until residents and tourists have a new way across the canyon.
Wilkeson officials told The Center Square that they prefer realigning the road north or south of the existing bridge due to the associated costs. They said those options demonstrate a responsible use of taxpayer dollars and offer the least environmental impact while restoring access to the region.
“Restoring a permanent connection is critical not only for the daily lives of residents and their access to emergency services, schools and supplies, but also for the economic health of the entire region,” local officials wrote in a statement. “Wilkeson and its neighboring communities rely on national park tourism and recreation access, including OHV routes, to support small businesses and maintain our rural vitality.”
don’t choose. My garden is bursting with a diverse crew of annuals, biennials, and perennials, not to mention shrubs and trees. Some of my highest value, meaning the bloomingest, lowesteffort perennials are yarrow (Achillea), Geranium ‘Rozanne,’ and Agastache ‘Blue Boa.’ I love self-seeding calendula and California poppies. But I hold space (and time and water and fertilizer and potting mix) for my dahlias and tomatoes.