'How important is lived experience in government to ensure our elected officials are in touch with the people they serve?'

Check out Guy Oron's Real Change article about our transit rider representation bill
realchangenews.org/news/2024/02/1…

'We speak about equity and oftentimes we don't follow it. We speak about representation, and oftentimes we don't have representation.' Amin Tony Hester testifying in support of our transit rider representation bill.
Watch the full clip here: tvw.org/watch/?clientI… #WALeg

A reminder as the landlord lobby tries to pack the room to oppose reasonable limits on rent increases in Washington State. #WAleg , it is time to pass #RentStabilization (HB 2114 / SB 5961)

New public infrastructure expansion is often a bad deal. Instead we need to invest in walkable neighborhoods and paying working people. Strong Towns #WALeg (photo page 73 of Charles Marohn's book 'Strong Town's')

Thank you America Walks and Disability Rights WA for the opportunity to talk about safe and healthy mobility for everyone!

There were a few parts of @WAleg's HB1337 Accessory Dwelling Unit upzoning requirements that #PortAngeles hadn't yet implemented, so we prioritized those changes and used the code update opportunity to go further with making sustainable infill development easier. Strong Towns

The solution to an #AffordableHousing shortage is more small inexpensive housing units in walkable neighborhoods.

In #PortAngeles , through #housing density policy changes, we now have duplex developments at densities of 35 units/acre!

#WAleg Strong Towns

So often, public policy determines what we see in ou environment. We would have more solar panels on roofs in the United States if the incentive was to cover every available roof with panels, rather than throttle the number of panels based on a building's electricity consumption.

Organized workers will rebuild our build environments with healthy housing, walkable neighborhoods, public transportation, and sustainable public infrastructure!

Great work by Iron Workers Union, IAM Union District 751, SMART Union, IBEW, WA Building Trades, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Cornell ILR School News!

'The ultimate expression of equity is to share your power.'

- Karen Berkholtz of WAStatePWB at Association of Washington Cities

#cogovernance

Touring a Spokane Public Library built inside a Spokane Schools middle school, with Association of Washington Cities. The two local governments used their respective strengths to increase value and operational efficiencies for students and community, like open source library catalog software and makers-space.

To solve the housing crisis we need a lot more inexpensive small housing units in walkable neighborhoods. But in #PortAngeles we know building more infill housing without setting policy to limit the amount of housing we lose to #ShortTermRentals and vacation homes doesn't work.

I'm at National League of Cities conference with Association of Washington Cities working accessing fantastic funding programs, from our federal partners like Rep. Derek Kilmer, so that we can do the backlog of local projects we need to repair our cities and make good jobs in small towns and rural communities.

We all must champion policies that guarantee good jobs for all, create union jobs addressing the crises of climate change, economic inequality, and systemic racism, and put money into the hands of people and communities, not the wealthy few. #GoodJobsForAll @sunrisemvment

Weyerhaeuser is taking record profits out of rural timber country and not giving back what it truly owes our communities. Support striking Weyerhaeuser workers defending their health care and pensions. Petition at act.aflcio.org/petitions/stan…

Thank you for covering #Forks , and the unconscionable tripling of rent on fixed-income seniors and working families. #waleg had let rent increases be the loophole around our housing protection laws, even prohibiting local governments from passing rent stabilization policies.

#Dobbs makes so much sense now....

The bow of our Washington State Ferries today after the captain announced that we had slowed for #orca whales (not pictured, gone fishing).

Learn a language with me for free! Duolingo is fun, and proven to work. Here’s my invite link: invite.duolingo.com/BDHTZTB5CWWKT4…

In a state where the wealthiest 1% pay only about 3% of their income in taxes, and the poorest 20% pay about 17% of their income in taxes.... Time instead for the rich to pay what they truly owe.