It is the right thing to let felons who have served their time vote. It will help them be part of society once they have served their time. And a democracy should include everyone. So I am glad that a bill to do that has passed the state House. The article doesn’t really say what its prospects are in the Senate, so it couldn’t hurt to contact yours.

One thing I’m curious about, although obviously it’s the right thing to do either way, is how they will vote. During the 2004 election lawsuit they found some former felon voters, and many were Republicans. Not sure how much you can extrapolate a small sample size, but it may be that it helps Republicans a bit.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

The legislature is moving forward on police reform (first item, although the private prison story is interesting too). It would mean that police have to intervene when their colleagues use excessive force.

My favorite quote in the piece is Senator Jeff Holy complaining that it would make it tougher to hire cops. Good, my dude. Like, if it’s tougher to hire police who look the other way when other police are violent, it’s a better police force.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

The COVID-19 bill Governor Inslee signed on Friday is pretty good. I hope that the relief can get where it needs to go in a timely manner. People are hurting in the recession. Rent is behind for a lot of people, and many businesses are hurting. This bill goes a long way to help.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

Man, fucking Mercer Island. Homeless people should have housing. They are on Mercer Island for a reason. Maybe they’re less visible in the forested area than in Seattle or denser Eastside cities. Maybe they have friends and family on Mercer Island. But whatever the reasons, pawning them off to other cities isn’t helping them.

Anyway, please wash your hands right now.

Man, fucking Mercer Island. Homeless people should have housing. They are on Mercer Island for a reason. Maybe they’re less visible in the forested area than in Seattle or denser Eastside cities. Maybe they have friends and family on Mercer Island. But whatever the reasons, pawning them off to other cities isn’t helping them.

Anyway, please wash your hands right now.

Man, fucking Mercer Island. Homeless people should have housing. They are on Mercer Island for a reason. Maybe they’re less visible in the forested area than in Seattle or denser Eastside cities. Maybe they have friends and family on Mercer Island. But whatever the reasons, pawning them off to other cities isn’t helping them.

Anyway, please wash your hands right now.

What the fuck is Facebook doing? Zach is good people, and he should be able to do his job. But also, and more importantly, Facebook should follow the law. It’s sucking up so much ad money, it needs to just be transparent.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

There once was a fellow named Tim

Double dealing was what suited him

Another biggest lie of his life

Caused so much strife

See how his finances are grim

Anyway, please wash your hands right now.

The UK variant if COVID-19 was detected in the UW. So I am even more worried about reopening, especially indoors. Like we’re close. People have had both doses. Help is on the way for businesses.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

Did it snow where you are? None for me in the urban core. Do you need shelter? Late last year, Seattle wrote about their emergency plans during COVID-19.

Anyway, stay warm, and wash your hands right now.

I love The Admiral Theater. But man oh man, am I worried that it’s reopening today. As more and more people get the vaccine, get the second dose, and wait long enough to have full immunity, it makes sense for businesses to open. But it’s not worth spreading the disease, or dying, for Wonder Woman (I haven’t seen it, so this isn’t a review).

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

$4 an hour hazard pay for grocery workers goes into effect today. I am glad that happened, and that it is happening quickly. I hate that it was necessary; Grocery stores, pay your goddam workers, for fuck’s sake. Like, a few months of clapping doesn’t offset the risks of working in a public facing, indoor job.

And wash your hands right now.

Washington state has the most regressive tax system in the country. There are many proposals to fix it this legislative session. My favorite is the wealth tax proposal. Might as well go big.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

I am glad that King County is down to an r of 0.5. As frustrating as the last year has been, that’s definitely a great sign. I am glad that the Puget Sound region is doing well enough to get into the phase 2, but I worry an early reopening is going to reverse some of those gains.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

Generally speaking, I believe 2 contradictory things. That we need more gun control, and that law enforcement needs a lighter touch.

So I am a bit pensive about the bill in the Washington State Legislature to ban open carry guns at the state Capitol and at demonstrations writ large. I am fine with the Capitol (and would be fine for a full open carry ban). But it seems like just demonstrations could be abused. I don’t know, maybe I’m overthinking it.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.