A current transfer prompted my spouse Nina and I to make fairly a number of journeys alongside I-5. And that additional prompted a number of observations.

“I like the new canines,” Nina mentioned whereas we had been driving by Seattle.

“What?” I replied, as I used to be distracted attempting to make a tune out of the frequent jolts from driving over growth joints within the highway. Driving over them makes it sound like your automotive goes to collapse, so I figured I would as nicely make it enjoyable.

“The graffiti,” she mentioned, noting that the spray painted sizzling canines underneath a number of overpasses had been “form of cute.”

We obtained to know a few of these tags nicely on these drives. Nonetheless, their time is up. Similar might be mentioned for the growth joints. The Washington State Division of Transportation is shutting down southbound I-5 by Seattle over a collection of weekends (together with this upcoming weekend) to restore and substitute the growth joints. And whereas the freeway is shut down, crews will probably be portray over the graffiti alongside the way in which. This implies two issues: recent canvas; and in addition Seattle visitors goes to suck this summer season. Plan accordingly. Learn extra right here.

I’ve at all times had blended emotions about Seattle’s soda tax. On one hand, I am all about eliminating sugar-loaded drinks and meals (sugar is in every single place). So something to discourage the consumption of soda is an efficient factor in my thoughts, and a tax does simply that. Plus, that tax income goes to fund native meals banks and applications that get recent, wholesome meals to individuals who usually have problem getting it, like low-income households.

Then again, a voice at the back of my thoughts at all times jogs my memory that individuals have to purchase this horrible stuff to fund all the nice. So whereas a household is getting wholesome meals over right here, somebody must be popping open a soda over there.

Maybe cognitive dissonance like that’s the reason the College of Washington has been watching how Seattle’s soda tax has performed out. A current examine seemed on the financial outcomes of the tax (not the well being outcomes). It finally concludes that the tax “resulted in massive internet switch of funds to decrease earnings inhabitants.” On the identical time, it finds that “the lowest-income households paid a bigger proportion of family earnings on the tax, unsurprisingly.” However extra profit was gained than spent, so general, it is “an efficient diet coverage.” Learn extra right here.

I am unsure if the examine seemed on the financial influence of long-term well being penalties of consuming the taxed soda, from diabetes to weight problems, coronary heart illness and so forth. So my suggestion to of us fighting the identical back-and-forth inner debate as me: When you’ve got a pair additional bucks, purchase a soda on the retailer and donate that tax cash. Then promptly pour it out.

Police departments are going through steep challenges today, as is clear in Seattle and Tacoma.

In Tacoma, the town has been going through rising avenue crime. That has spurred Chief Avery Moore to develop a brand new crime discount plan, which he offered this week. Briefly, it proposes close to time period, midterm, and long run plans that can: improve police presence in “crime hotspots;” develop methods for areas with larger crime charges; and intervene with high-risk offenders. Such intervention means speaking with native gangs about alternate options to violence. Learn extra about that right here.

In Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell has a brand new plan for police recruitment and retention amid a extreme scarcity of officers. It begins with hiring bonuses — as much as $30,000 for officers coming from different departments, and $7,500 for brand spanking new recruits. They mayor has expressed a mission to carry new officers to Seattle, who replicate the values and strategy to policing that the town promotes. His incentive proposal will include a $1 million price ticket. That stage of spending must include council approval. And it’s unclear if council members will probably be on board with the plan. Councilmember Lisa Herbold advised KUOW that she wish to see extra effort from the mayor’s workplace to develop policing alternate options. Learn extra right here.

AS SEEN ON KUOW

Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice on the retirement residence tower the place he lives on First Hill. Rice not too long ago spoke with KUOW in regards to the plans he helped implement within the Nineties, which set in movement Seattle’s development over the previous three a long time. However Seattle is now taking a look at the way it needs to develop within the years forward, as increasingly more individuals transfer to city. (Joshua McNichols / KUOW)

DID YOU KNOW?

Seattle as soon as had a graffiti detective. Chris Younger was assigned to the beat to research and doc graffiti throughout the town over the previous decade or so. Seattle not has a graffiti detective. Such incidents are investigated by SPD’s common investigations unit.

However throughout his time on the beat, Det. Younger found loads of myths surrounding graffiti. That is why he began an internet site known as “Graffipedia.” A few of it’s Younger’s opinion, and a few of it’s knowledge collected from Seattle. For instance, some assume loads of graffiti is gang associated. Not true. There are a number of motivations behind graffiti, and several types of graffiti. The truth is, it has extra to do with an adrenaline-seeking subculture which operates underneath its personal algorithm.

I spoke with Det. Younger a number of years again. On the time, he advised me that taggers, statistically, are a median of 23 years outdated, white (77%), male (89%), and are primarily center class.

ALSO ON OUR MINDS

Black gun house owners have blended emotions in regards to the Supreme Courtroom’s concealed-carry ruling

The Supreme Courtroom’s current choice to ensure the constitutional proper of individuals to hold firearms in public areas for the aim of self-defense has grow to be an advanced subject for Black People. Black People overwhelmingly vote Democratic however have emerged in recent times because the fastest-growing demographic of gun house owners.

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