Week in Review: Legislature, Covid, and transit fare enforcement

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with political analyst Joni Balter, freelance journalist Joanne Silberner, and KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg

On Thursday, the Washington state Supreme court recognized a right of transit agencies to conduct fare inspections, but also ruled that a Snohomish County man was wrongfully detained for not showing proof of payment. In 2018, deputies fingerprinted and arrested the man for making false statements after giving a false name following his refusal to show proof of payment. What changes will be made going forward?

Last week, a King County Superior Court judge ruled that Seattle property owners be refunded tax payments they made to help pay for the waterfront project. The judge found that, among other reasons, the city did not comply with professional appraisal standards. Whose taxes are going up to pay for the waterfront project?

A bill that passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate for consideration would make fentanyl test strips that could help prevent accidental overdoses available to the public. The strips are currently illegal because they are technically labeled as drug paraphernalia. How many overdoses would they prevent?

Two bills are now up for consideration in the House after passing the Senate that address nursing working conditions and shortages. The bills would require hospitals to create staffing plans with input nurses and administrators; give the Department of Labor and Industries a greater role in investigating complaints alongside the Department of Health and reinforce a law regarding meals and breaks. How do nurses and the Hospital Association feel about this?

Unionized workers at PCC grocery stores are asking to come to the bargaining table early, saying they are not being paid a living wage. Their contract is set to expire in December. They also cite staffing shortages and poor working conditions. What's happening with our region's many union movements?

COVID restrictions continue to go away, while most federal support is being cut in May. What programs and resources will still exist down the road, and do we need to be thinking about another booster?