Written by Randy Corman
As we go into another election season, and local candidates start making their promises, it’s helpful for everyone to understand what a small percentage of property taxes and sales taxes the city really manages. These percentages are largely set by state law and voter actions.
The City of Renton receives about 9.5 cents of every dollar paid in property tax and sales tax in our city, while the State, County, School District, and other taxing districts get the rest.
Written by Randy Corman
Renton single-family zoning would be a thing of the past under House Bill 1110
House Bill 1110 would eliminate much of the single family zoning in our state in an effort to create more housing. It’s the latest in a series of attempts by legislators to supercede zoning by cities because the legislators feel cities have not been aggressive enough in solving the housing crisis. The bill would allow fourplexes in all single family neighborhoods in cities with more than 75,000 residents like Renton, and allow six-plexes in certain locations near parks and public transit. Cities between 25,000 and 75,000 population would have to allow duplexes on all single-family lots.
Written by Randy Corman
Photo by Erica Fischer
House Bill 1513 errantly attempts to improve equity by tossing out almost all automobile equipment safety requirements contained in RCW chapter 46.37
In doing so, the bill attempts to supercede safety standards based on years of scientific automotive testing with new rules that could only have been written by hurried politicians. Here’s just one example from the bill.
“A peace officer may only stop or detain an operator of a vehicle when the primary reason for the stop is an equipment failure violation when necessary to protect against an immediate, serious threat to the safety of the operator or others on the roadway.”
“Immediate, serious threat to the safety of the operator or others on the roadway” means …. Having both taillights, headlights, or brake lights out at nighttime”
“Having both brake lights out at nighttime” is dangerous, but hey…who needs brake lights during the day, right?
Written by Randy Corman
Renton’s 11th District Legislator Steve Bergquist (center, in blue) is co-sponsoring a bill to restore police pursuit authority. Last week he was given encouragement by six Renton Council Members and the Mayor: from left Council Member Alberson, Mayor Pavone, Council Members Van, Perez, O’Halloran (not shown, CMs Prince, and McIrvin); Near Rep. Bergquist’s office in Olympia
The City of Renton has a long, important partnership with the Association of Washington Cities (AWC), a respected professional organization that lobbies on behalf of all 281 cities and towns in our state. AWC just urgently informed cities that the Police Pursuit bill needs everyone’s help (bolding is theirs): “AWC is encouraged HB 1363 is continuing to move forward. Cities still need to reach out to legislators and ask them to support this bill because it still faces opposition and a difficult path to full passage”. Mayor Pavone and six council members are helping as requested.
But one Renton Council Member is doing the opposite, actively lobbying against the bill. Real Change just published an extensive interview with Council Member Carmen Rivera.
Written by Randy Corman
For those who would like to give the state legislature your input about police pursuit. You have a great chance right now! Police Vehicle Pursuit — HB 1363 — will be heard in the House transportation committee today.
(It takes 30 seconds to comment your support). https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1363
Here is the link to Testify in a Committee Hearing: https://leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Participating.aspx
My wife Cathy and I have each done this. It takes no time at all to register your comments. You’re allowed 5000 words, but if you keep them to a few sentences they are more likely to be read, so I encourage everyone to participate. The bill will give more police pursuit options, so if you want to empower police you should “support” the bill. You don’t have to read the bill to express support, but if you want to, here is the bill.
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