Tag Archives: traffic safety

Washington ranked 8th most dangerous state, according to FBI crime report

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers May 1, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

In recent years reports show crime is worsening in Washington. The latest indication that our state’s crime problem is growing more dire is found in a recent FBI crime report. The report shows our state is the eighth most dangerous state for crime in the U.S.! 

According to a story published last week in the (Tacoma) News Tribune, the FBI report looked at the frequency of certain types of crime: assault offenses, homicide, kidnapping/abduction, sex offenses, burglary/breaking and entering, destruction/vandalism, extortion/blackmail, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and robbery. 

The FBI report showed Washington has the highest larceny and theft rate compared to other states. The study revealed our state has a larceny/theft rate of 2,133.6 per 100,000 residents. There were 179,545 larceny-theft incidents and 179,545 offenses reported in the state in 2022, said the report.  

The report showed Washington has a high kidnapping and abduction rate, with 16.3 incidents per 100,000 residents. In 2022, there were 1,327 kidnapping/abduction incidents and 1,454 offenses reported in Washington.  

Around the time the FBI crime report made the news, Governor Inslee was talking about how Washington’s recidivism rate for offenders had dropped from 34% in 2015 to 22% in 2020. The governor did not mention that our state has the lowest number of law enforcement officers per capita of any state in the nation or that we have a huge shortage of prosecutors in our state, which results in the dismissals of a large number of criminal charges every day. What about the victims of crime? 

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email. 

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Barker Road projects completion enhances 4th District traffic safety

This graphic provides more details about the Barker Road corridor projects.

On April 25, I was pleased to join Spokane Valley city officials and others at the event celebrating the completion of the Barker Road corridor projects. 

The Barker Road corridor projects were a true collaboration, as they received funding from the city of Spokane Valley, Spokane County, state government and the federal government. The state provided $1.5 million to the grade-separation project, which kickstarted the federal matching dollars and ultimately the project elements that followed. These investments ensure Spokane Valley remains a vibrant place to live, work and thrive. 

Besides removing a grade crossing with the BNSF train tracks, this project includes a new roundabout that will reduce the risk of serious or fatal collisions. While collisions are still possible in a roundabout, at least they are low speed and thus should mean fewer and less severe injuries. 

The new overpass and roundabout will improve emergency access for vehicles, eliminate vehicle wait times that have averaged about 162 minutes (about two and a half hours) per day at each of the two BNSF crossings, reduce overall traffic congestion and improve traffic flow, and eliminate the need for trains to sound their horns, making nearby neighborhoods less noisy.    

Judge’s decision forces new boundaries for many legislative districts 

Many residents (and legislators) throughout eastern Washington had become accustomed to the new legislative-district boundaries that were created by the state’s independent, bipartisan Redistricting Commission in late 2021. (Those boundaries, based on results of the 2020 U.S. Census, went into effect for the 2022 election season.)  

However, as many of you know by now, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik recently sided with Democratic activists who argued the 2022 redistricting plan violated the federal Voting Rights Act. He ordered new boundaries for many eastern Washington districts, as well as some districts found in Clark and Skamania counties in southwest Washington.  

Lasnik’s decision has a negative impact on only Republicans legislators, especially 15th District Senator Nikki Torres, a Latina Republican who was elected to her Senate seat only two years ago. Under the judge’s redrawn legislative boundaries, Senator Torres no longer even lives in the 15th District. She would have to relocate to be a candidate for reelection to the position she holds. 

Since Judge Lasnik issued his ruling, many people throughout eastern Washington have expressed their unhappiness over the decision. Among them is Moses Lake Deputy Mayor Deanna Martinez, who wrote this guest editorial that was published by the Tri-City Herald two weeks ago. 

Remembering former Senator Baxter

It was sad to hear that former 4th District Senator Jeff Baxter passed away on April 24. As some will remember, Jeff was appointed in early 2011 to replace longtime Senator Bob McCaslin, with whom I served when I was a state representative from 1981 to 1995. Although I defeated Jeff in a special election for the Senate seat in November 2011, our office worked with Jeff on a number of issues over the last 12 plus years. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jeff’s family.  

Photo from ESOPs panel talk in D.C. 

Members of the ESOPs panel that met at the U.S. Capitol (L to R): Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge of Durango, Colorado, chair Colorado ESOP Commission; Washington State Senator Mike Padden; Colorado State Representative Naquetta Ricks; Paul Kinghorn, University of Northern Iowa; and Zach Warmbrodt, Financial Service Editor for Politico. 

As was mentioned in an e-newsletter a few weeks ago, I was part of a congressional panel discussion on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) at the U.S. Capitol Building last month. This photo, provided by the event’s organizers, shows the panelists. Last year, the Legislature unanimously approved Senate Bill 5096, a bipartisan measure that I introduced that aids businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure. The governor signed SB 5096 on May 9th of last year. 

National Day of Prayer

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer in America. This day is as important to me as it is to so many of you. In recent days, some constituents have reached out to me and asked that I proclaim May 2 this year as a National Day of Prayer. As much as I would like to do that, a single legislator does not have the authority to make such a proclamation. It would take action by the Legislature to do it.

However, I am proud to point out there has been a long tradition of offering a prayer at the start of each day’s floor session in the Senate and House of Representatives during a legislative session. Many legislators, myself included, value this prayer very much before we begin a floor session to address issues important to the people of Washington.

WSU President Schulz to retire 

By now, you may have heard the news that Kirk Schulz will retire as Washington State University’s president when the 2024-25 school year ends approximately a year from now. During President Schulz’s tenure as WSU president, I met with him several times in either my Olympia or Spokane Valley office to discuss higher-education matters. Knowing that many 4th District residents have attended WSU in the past or are students there, I care about the university and its students. I wish the university well in hiring a worthy successor to lead an institution so important to our area and the entire state. 

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the interim we are conducting business from our district office in Spokane Valley. We are here to serve you!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

 

“Taxpayer Town Hall” coming October 17 with Treasurer Baumgartner

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers October 12, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

The public is invited to an upcoming “Taxpayer Town Hall” hosted by Spokane County Treasurer Michael Baumgartner and myself. It takes place this coming Tuesday, October 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the CenterPlace Regional Event Center in Spokane Valley.

Topics to be covered include issues affecting 2024 property taxes and policy proposals surrounding the exemptions for seniors and people with disabilities. There will be opportunities to ask questions.

We hope to see you and others there!

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of serving as your state senator!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Senate Law and Justice Committee meets in Spokane

It was good to welcome Senate Law and Justice Committee colleagues to Spokane, including four fellow Republicans. In the foreground is 15th District Senator Nikki Torres, R-Pasco. In the background (from left to right) are 39th District Senator Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley; 17th District Senator Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver; Senator Padden; and Senate Republican Caucus staff attorney Saundra Richartz.  

While it doesn’t happen often, legislative committees occasionally hold meetings and work sessions in communities outside of Olympia. Doing so allows lawmakers on these panels to see other parts of the state and meet with constituents and stakeholders who are unable to travel to the Capitol.

That was the case when the Senate Law and Justice Committee met October 2 at Washington State University’s Riverpoint campus in Spokane. Go here to view the agenda. As its ranking Republican, I was glad to welcome the other committee members to Spokane. Go here to view a video of the meeting.

Wagstaff named manufacturing company of the year by Valley Chamber

As noted in the next story below, Wagstaff Inc. was one of the local manufacturing companies that the Association of Washington Business Manufacturing Week tour visited last week. The Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce recently announced that it had awarded Wagstaff its 2023 Manufacturing Excellence Award For Manufacturer Of The Year. According to the chamber, the award recognizes a manufacturer committed to business excellence and has found creative solutions to challenges that enhance the industry.

AWB’s manufacturing tour stops in Spokane

Honeywell’s Lou Broughton shows others, including Senator Padden, part of the company’s facility. (Photo courtesy of Association of Washington Business.)

Manufacturing is an important part of Washington’s economy, one that should be a higher priority for some state and legislative leaders. Every year a key business organization based in Olympia does a very good job of highlighting the importance of manufacturing to our state.

The Association of Washington Business is wrapping up its annual Manufacturing Week tour across the state this week. The tour, which began October 4, stopped in Spokane last Thursday. I joined AWB officials and others at some manufacturing companies in the Spokane Valley area, including Honeywell and Wagstaff. (A few local companies were among the sponsors of the Unlock Your Future event at the HUB that attracted about 1,400 middle school students in the Spokane area. The Unlock Your Future student handbook can be viewed here.)

While the tour was in Spokane last week, AWB President Kris Johnson delivered a State of Manufacturing address. AWB’s report on Johnson’s address, which can be viewed here, shares several interesting statistics:

  • Manufacturing employs nearly 270,000 Washington residents, which is 8% of the state’s workforce.
  • There are more than 6,400 manufacturing companies, including 577 in Spokane County, which has more than 16,000 people in manufacturing careers.
  • There are 24 counties in Washington with at least 1,000 manufacturing workers, and five counties with more than 10,000 workers.

Transportation Committee discusses traffic safety proposal

On Monday, I was in Olympia to attend the Senate Transportation Committee’s meeting. The committee agenda can be viewed here.

Part of the meeting focused on a proposal that I have championed in recent years – using roadside oral fluid testing to better determine if a driver is impaired by certain drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opioids and benzodiazepines.

During the committee’s discussion on this issue, traffic safety analyst Chuck DeWeese presented on roadside oral fluid testing in more detail. His presentation can be viewed here. Chris Kirby, an official with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, then told committee members about his state’s oral fluid program. A PowerPoint presentation on the Indiana program can be seen here.

A video of the two presentations on roadside oral fluid testing can be seen here.

Retail theft continues to plague Washington

Several types of crime have worsened here in Washington, due largely to a 2021 law that makes it harder for law-enforcement officers to pursue and arrest suspects, and in turn makes it easier for criminals to break laws without fear of being arrested. Another reason for the crime increase is the low number of law-enforcement officers in Washington compared to other states.

One crime that particularly hurts businesses, workers and consumers alike in Washington is retail theft, which also is a national crime problem.

Retail theft has gotten so bad that Target is closing two of its stores in our state’s largest city. Go here to read a recent Seattle Times story on how the closures of those stores in Seattle will affect 90 employees. Target has said the employees will be able to transfer to other locations.

The Times article pointed out that retailers nationwide are being forced to contend with shoplifting causing a loss of inventory, or “shrinkage.” According to a recent study by the National Retail Federation, shrinkage for total retail sales in 2022 reached $112.1 billion, up from $93.9 billion in losses in 2021.

The Washington Retail Association said theft costs businesses $2.7 billion a year statewide.

Washington’s Capitol Building in the fall.

This is not a new issue for our Legislature. A year ago the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee dedicated a work session to retail theft, and the state Attorney General’s Office presented data which can be seen here. The presentation noted how organized retail theft is a growing problem in many communities. Because of the increase in retail thefts, stores are forced to raise prices, which hurts consumers.

Things have become so bad for retailers that the Washington Retail Association, which represents grocers and retailers across the state, created a crisis planning guide for retailers specifically to address rising crime in the state. Basically, the state’s retail association had to help stores figure how to navigate retail theft since the state hadn’t provided enough help to solve this problem.

It is time for the Legislature to place more attention on this crime issue.

Newspaper story on opening of Liberty Lake’s Lud Kramer Bridge

Bicyclists ride across the Lud Kramer Bridge soon after it opened. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation.)

In case you missed it, the Spokane Valley Herald did a recent story on the official opening of the Lud Kramer Bridge. You can read the story here.

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the interim we are conducting business from our district office in Spokane Valley. We are here to serve you!

Phone: (509) 921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.