Contributors

25

Oct

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Contributors, Features, Rob Richards

‘This Is Definitely Historic’

Record-Setting Voter Totals in Thurston County If you're one of the many volunteers who have been working hard on Get-Out-The-Vote efforts this election cycle, you can take a minute to pat yourself on the back. As of this morning (10/25), 199,611 people - 83% of eligible voters - have registered to vote in Thurston County, and that number is expected to top 200k on Monday. Nearly half of them have voted already. "We are at almost 50% nine days prior to the election," said Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall. "This is unprecedented. Plus we have 25,000 more voters than we…

20

Oct

By Tracey Carlos

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Contributors, Features, Tracey Carlos

Know Your [Voting] Rights

Recently I went out to the Ensign Road RV community to make sure everyone is registered to vote who wants to be and make sure they have no trouble voting before the sweep scheduled for October 27. I was reminded that many people are not aware of their rights. Twice yesterday, once on Ensign once while sign-waving, I had a man tell me he had lost his right to vote because he was an ex-felon. They did not know that they had gotten that right back once they were no longer under state-supervised parole of probation. It makes me wonder…

Olympia Moves Ahead With Ensign Road RV Sweep

20

Oct

By Mindy Chambers

2 Comments

City of Olympia, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

Olympia Moves Ahead With Ensign Road RV Sweep

"If you're going to make us move, could you give us just a few more days?" That's what residents of recreational vehicles parked along Ensign Road near St. Peter Hospital hoped the City of Olympia would do. Many receive federal disability benefits, which come on the first of the month. The question is why the City can't wait to make them move until November 1 or a few days later. This would allow them to purchase gasoline and other things they need to leave the space they have called home for several months. Ty Gundel and Micky Nelson, a resident,…

Olympia YWCA Announces 2020 Womxn Of Achievement Honorees

19

Oct

By Rob Richards

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Contributors, Features, Rob Richards

Olympia YWCA Announces 2020 Womxn Of Achievement Honorees

In a release emailed out this morning, the Olympia YWCA announced this year's Womxn of Achievement Honorees to be highlighted at their virtual event on November 6, 2020. The event will feature special guest Patrice Cullors. According to their website, "Artist, activist, educator, public speaker, and Los Angeles-native Patrisse Cullors is the Co-Founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network and Founder of the Los Angeles-based grassroots organization Dignity and Power Now." The honorees include: Community organizer Talauna Reed, known for her work with Justice for Yvonne, Olympia Showing Up for Racial Justice, and Black Leaders in Solidarity and Action…

18

Oct

By Rob Richards

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Features, Rob Richards

But Did You Vote Though?

If you only spend five minutes online per day, you're probably seeing at least one article, ad, or social media post telling you to get out and vote. That's because it's REALLY important that you do. There are very important races up and down the ballot - I'm not exaggerating when I say that this election will define how our county government responds to the housing and environmental crises, how we educate our children across the state, and the direction of our federal government for the next generation. Did you get your ballot? If you live in Thurston County, it…

City to Sweep Car Campers From Ensign Road

16

Oct

By Mindy Chambers

4 Comments

City of Olympia, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

City to Sweep Car Campers From Ensign Road

UPDATE: 10.16.20 6:23PM The city of Olympia is telling residents of vehicles parked along Ensign Road near St. Peter Hospital that they must move those vehicles by October 27.The city plans to begin its official notification of the residents on October 20, Kellie Braseth, the city’s strategic communications director, said Friday.Information obtained by The Tribune states the city is moving the residents because “the daily activities of the roughly 60 people parked on Ensign Road has been impeding and slowing emergency vehicles bound for St. Peter Hospital Emergency Room” and that the Olympia Fire Department has “issued guidance to first…

Tenant Protections, Camp Sweeps in Olympia

15

Oct

By Tracey Carlos

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City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Tracey Carlos

Tenant Protections, Camp Sweeps in Olympia

Eviction Moratorium Extended until July The biggest issue at the October 6 Olympia City Council meeting spilled over into the October 13 meeting. Hence, I decided to hold off and write about both at once. That issue was the passing of an emergency ordinance regarding tenant protections related to COVID-19. Several people n attendance spoke on this issue. There was concern that the ordinance extended the protections too far out, making it more difficult for people to get out from under the debt they accrue. After much discussion, it was determined that the ordinance would protect tenants from through July…

Should We Have a Non-Partisan Secretary of State?

09

Oct

By Russ Lehman

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Contributors, Features, Russ Lehman

Should We Have a Non-Partisan Secretary of State?

The freedom to vote and the sanctity, security, and fairness of the franchise is the foundation of a healthy Democracy. As we are experiencing this year, we clearly can’t take that very basic right for granted. In the midst of a pandemic, we are also constantly being spewed upon by the President, and his enablers, with false and completely politically motivated allegations about our electoral system. The same electoral system was a source of great pride by Americans. Not anymore, thanks to the constant ranting’s, erroneous as they may be, by Donald Trump. The management of elections, even those for…

09

Oct

By Mindy Chambers

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City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers, This and That

City parks and COVID

A huge gathering of sports teams and fans at Yauger Park certainly piqued observers’ concerns. One poster to Facebook wrote this warning: “Olympia area friends be careful today if you walk through Yauger Park or bring your kids to play. There's a baseball tournament starting up, and the majority of folks watching and wandering around in close proximity are not wearing masks …” (photo from City of Olympia website) This came in a week in which 121 new COVID cases were reported – the most new cases in one week since Thurston County health officials began tracking the virus on…

08

Oct

By Letters

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Contributors, Russ Lehman

Russ Lehman

Russ is an attorney who has worked for the legislature, a governor, and has served as a board member of the WA State Public Disclosure Commission. He created and ran three different nonprofits and teaches public administration at the graduate level. He currently consults with the Billy Frank Jr Salmon Coalition.