Heidi and the Socialists: Heidi spent her weekend at the Democratic Socialists of America convention in Chicago to find out how they plan to pull American politics left. The answer, it seems, lies in local politics—and in promoting policies that the Democrats are currently unwilling to embrace.
She writes:
The question facing DSA is not who they plan to run for president in 2020 to “spoil” the Democrats—the group “will almost without a doubt not put up an independent candidate,” Sunkara says—but how they use their newfound enthusiasm now. A small socialist organization is better positioned to phone-bank for a city council candidate or knock on doors in support of Medicare for All than do presidential campaign work. And there’s a lot of local work to be done before 2020.
State Investigates Blueberry Farm After Migrant Worker Died: We wrote about the death of 28-year-old Honesto Silva Ibarra on Sunday after, his fellow worker claims, he complained of headaches to a supervisor at Sarbanand Farms in Sumas, Washington, that went ignored. Now, the state’s Department of Labor and Industries has opened two investigations into Sarbanand Farms on workplace safety and employment standards. The first investigation, according to the Seattle Times, will determine if Ibarra’s death was workplace-related.
Smoke B Gone: Friday? Let us pray.
Cary Moon Holds Second Place in Mayoral Race: Moon has not yet declared victory over Nikkita Oliver, but she still holds the lead with almost all votes counted.
Two More Lawsuits Challenge Seattle’s Income Tax: Thanks to the Freedom Foundation and former Republican attorney general Rob McKenna.
Kent Police Fatally Shoot Man They Say Dragged an Officer in a Car: The man who was shot was 20-years-old and from Seattle. Officers responded to a violation of a no-contact order, and when they attempted to contact the suspect, he fled, police say. “The suspect made it to his car. As officers tried to stop him in his car, he was able to get it started,” Kent police spokesperson Commander Jarod Kasner told KING 5. This is the second fatal shooting by Kent police in two months.
Federal Way Bans Safe Injection Sites: The new Federal Way City Council ordinance <a href=”
http://www.king5.com/news/local/federal-way/federal-way-latest-to-say-no-to-safe-injection-sites/463132697″>takes a NIMBY approach to King County’s proposal to create two “Community Health Engagement Locations” in the county—one in Seattle, and one somewhere else. Bellevue and Auburn have already ruled themselves out.
Couple of bear pics as we are continuing to try to contain for Fish & Wildlife off of 204th St SW west of Poplar. pic.twitter.com/eXkgYdO9kH
— Lynnwood Police (@LynnwoodPD) August 8, 2017
Bears in Lynnwood! Bawww.
Plutonium Found Off of Public Highway Near Hanford: KING 5 obtained an internal memo by Hanford investigators revealing that air samples taken near a public highway on June 8 were contaminated with plutonium. Another reason why Trump should be more concerned with the nuclear disaster in his own backyard than starting WWIII with North Korea.
What Is This Crazy Interactive Wolf Story at the Seattle Times? Lynda V. Mapes’ deep dive into a controversial wolf researcher who pisses off ranchers includes a very cool interactive mapping element describing movements of wolf packs, farmer territory, and kills. Check it out.
Can We Stop Rimming Elon Musk Yet: He once fired his assistant of 12 years after she asked for a raise.
