Rich Smith Profile picture
Mar 4 11 tweets 3 min read
The WA Senate just passed HB 2037, a significant rollback from last year’s police accountability legislation. The version they passed allows cops to use force when someone walks away from a cop during a Terry stop #waleg

Background:
thestranger.com/slog/2022/02/0…
If the governor signs the bill, which he very likely will, then officers with little more than a hunch that you may have committed a low-level crime can use force to stop you from leaving a scene.
As I mentioned in the piece linked above, in committee, families of victims of police brutality and criminal justice advocates told stories of how this sort of policy opens the door for physical force to become deadly force.
The bill passed 32-16, with overwhelming support from Democrats, including Sens. Billig, Carlyle, Cleveland, Conway, Keiser, Lovick, Mullet, Randall, Rolfes, Salomon, Van De Wege
None of those brave senators explained their votes on the floor, but I don't think political fear of the GOP slamming Dems on crime motivated a lot of them. Mullett, Van De Wege, Billig, Rolfes, aren't even up for reelection next year. Carlyle is retiring.
And of course, the GOP is going to call them "the party of crime" no matter how they vote. No real reason vote for this bill unless you think it's fine to allow cops to hit someone even if they didn't hear a cop's order to stop
Annnnd now the House is debating SB 5919. This bill has changed since I wrote about it. Now, it expands a cop's ability to engage in vehicular pursuits.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Bi…
Before, cops needed probable cause and authorization from a supervisor (who would likely have a cooler head) to initiate a vehicular pursuit. This bill reduces that threshold for violent crimes (and nonviolent sex crimes) to reasonable suspicion (i.e. more than a hunch).
The bill also says cops don't need authorization from a supervisor (they just need to "notify" the supervisor), and they can pursue even if the threat isn't "imminent" -- so, if they think a person in a car maybe committed a violent crime three weeks ago, they can chase after.
Vehicular pursuits are dangerous; after shootings, they're the second leading cause of police killings.
slate.com/news-and-polit…
In another major blow to police accountability in Washington, the bill passes 86 to 12. Plenty of support from Democrats to dramatically expand vehicle pursuits. Deadly stuff.

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More from @richsssmith

Mar 4
The WA Senate is now poised to pass a bill that would give Uber/Lyft drivers a pay raise and some benefits outside of Seattle but prevent them from being classified as employees. Some unions see this bill as a major blow to the movement. Background: #waleg thestranger.com/slog/2022/03/0…
In not classifying the ridehail drivers as "employees," the bill would give Uber/Lyft a huge win, plus a great deal on car insurance. Other unions say the bill sets a dangerous precedent for a two-tiered benefit system that threatens workers' rights here and across the country.
And it passed, 40 to 8. Only a few Republicans opposed.
Read 5 tweets
Mar 3
The Teamsters are torn on a Washington state bill that would boost pay and offer some protections to Uber and Lyft drivers outside Seattle but stop short of classifying them as employees. #waleg thestranger.com/slog/2022/03/0…
Teamsters 117 + Drivers Union + House Dems want to take the deal and keep pushing for change at the federal/state level.

Teamsters Joint Council 28, the Mass AFL-CIO (which is currently fighting a Prop 22 clone from Uber/Lyft), and other orgs say the deal sets a bad precedent.
No official word yet from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, though a new administration takes over on March 20, so they're kind of in transition.
Read 4 tweets
Dec 22, 2020
A local militia group is planning the same kind of thing here at the Capitol building in Olympia, WA, too. They’re calling it a “Legislative Lockout,” and it’ll go from “Jan 10th 2021-Until Complete,” according to an email sent out by the WA 3%ers.
Here’s the basic plan
Tyler Miller, state committeeman for the Kitsap County Republicans and flat cap enthusiast, claims Republican legislators will support the action, but he didn’t name them in this video facebook.com/HazardousLiber…
Read 8 tweets
Nov 5, 2020
A little late to the “Count every vote, protect every person” rally in Pioneer Square. Nikkita Oliver and members of daily BLM protest groups givin a lot of speeches linking voting to protecting Black lives. By protecting every vote, by voting, you’re voting for these people.”
No small amount of frustration from the speakers regarding the relatively small numbers of protesters at recent nightly protests. “We could have used you all last night, when those officers brutalized us,” says Trae from Black Action Coalition. ST: seattletimes.com/seattle-news/e…
Speaker also refers to local TV news stations King 5, KIRO, and KOMO as “the new KKK” who are “not telling our stories at all.”
Read 12 tweets
Nov 4, 2020
Freakin antifa taking over the Republic City Council
I clearly need to look up what happened at that city council meeting but until then I'm going to reflexively blame Mayor Elbert Koontz on the strength of his name alone
Yes last Friday Republic voted 3 to 1 to contract with the county for police services (as @OlympiaJoe suspected and @MelissaSantos1 reported) to save money
…6-4363-8f8e-fa0d31295c25.filesusr.com/ugd/413cab_bf7…
Read 4 tweets
Sep 8, 2020
Group of about 100+ are marching down 5th Ave in the ID. Sign says, “SPOG is the prob.” Another days “Bezos is a looter.” We got a modest car brigade of 9-10 on the tail, protecting group from vehicular attacks.
This neighbor is into it
At least three police trucks stage on the on-ramp onto 4th as the person who plays the flute at these things kicks up a marchin tune
Read 22 tweets

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