Paul Allen to Donate $30 Million to House the Homeless: The Microsoft billionaire’s money will go to a new facility that could house as many as 100 families in Seattle, the Times reports. The city will fork over an additional $5 million for the complex, which will be operated by Mercy Housing Northwest. They don’t have a location yet.
Police Presence in Washington State Schools Has Increased 16,000% Since the 1980s: And there’s few state regulations keeping them in check, according to a new report by the American Civil Liberties Union. The study, published this week, finds that police have almost “unfettered discretion” on how they enforce the law in public schools. Disruptive behavior in Washington State schools, from “talking back to a teacher, to making an off-color joke, to throwing spitballs” could lead to criminal charges. The report highlights one instance in which a student was charged with felony assault for using a “fart spray” in the school hallways.
A few more findings from the ACLU: At least 3,400 students were refereed to law enforcement for prosecution in the 2013 to 2014 school year. In the school year prior, about 25% of student-based arrests were students with disabilities. Of 92 school-police contracts reviewed, only 25 required any specialized training.
Here’s why you should care:
Arrests have terrible consequences for students. A first-time arrest doubles the odds that a student will drop out of high school, and a first-time court appearance quadruples the odds. One study found that only 26 percent of students who were arrested graduated from high school, as opposed to 64 percent of their peers; arrested students were also half as likely to enroll in a four-year college. Young people who drop out of school in turn have lower income and lifetime earnings than their peers. Juvenile arrest also increases students’ chances of future imprisonment: young people with an arrest record are subject to greater surveillance and harsher discipline from police and other adults that significantly increases their chances of arrest.
Labor Unions Stand Behind Mayor Murray: So far, none of the labor unions that endorsed Mayor Ed Murray for re-election have rescinded their support. Heidi called all 19 unions backing Murray. Of those who responded, most highlighted Murray’s political experience or emphasized that the child sex abuse allegations against him have not been proven to be true. Then there’s David Westberg, business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 609, who suggested that if Trump gets a pass, so should Ed:
Certainly, the president has nowhere near the record of accomplishments Ed Murray does. I think, if in American politics all’s fair, we need to give Ed Murray the same consideration the president has received, which involved a lot of flexibility in terms of support.
Ann Coulter Cancels Berkeley Speech: After losing the support of conservative groups who, at one point, seemed totally ride or die for the cause of free speech, Ann Coulter pulled out of a speech at the University of California, Berkeley.
Coulter’s planned visit to Berkeley sparked fierce debate over the balance between safety and speech. Anti-fascist protesters, who find Coulter’s ideas so dangerous as to be unfit for public consumption, promised to cause a disturbance when she came to town. Right-wing groups, including the Oath Keepers militia, promised to defend Coulter. The writing on the wall spelled violence, and school administrators cancelled the pundit’s appearance. She promised to press on, with or without Berkeley's blessings, with the support of the Young America’s Foundation and The Berkeley College Republicans. But the prospect of a second street brawl in one month caused those organizations to back away from Coulter.
State Sues Vegetable Harvesting Company For Sexual Harassment: Supervisor Hermilo Cruz, kiss, groped and made “overt, sexual” gestures to woman who worked at the Horning Brothers onion packing plant.
Man Sues Officer Who Punched Him: Christopher Tavai was homeless when SPD officer Clark Dickson approached him at an encampment. The stop ended with Dickson punching Tavai in the in the face. Dickson was punished with one day suspension without pay. Now, he’s facing a lawsuit.