April 2021

To the  Editor, 

Lawmakers in Olympia are considering important legislation that would help fix our upside-down tax code by asking the wealthiest in our state to pay their share. Senate Bill 5096 would impose a modest tax on the extraordinary profits made by the ultra-rich on the sale of stocks and other investments.

This would help kickstart our economy, keep money flowing to small businesses and communities, and help our children get ahead with early learning programs.

Only the richest 1% of Washingtonians would pay this tax. It’s only fair to ask them to pay their share, just like the rest of us already do. 

Thanks to our State Senator Joe Nguyen, who is one of the bill’s sponsors, and others, this bill passed the Senate earlier this month. Now it’s in the House. Legislators should keep capital gains moving. You can ask them to pass SB 5096 by calling 1-800-562-6000. 

Cause Haun

By Ben Doko, Local Activist

In the midst of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, Washington’s communities have had to totally rethink the way we live our lives. With our schools, workplaces, and even some medical care going fully online, fast and reliable internet access is an absolute necessity for modern life. 

Thanks to important technological advances like 5G internet making our new way of life possible, we are on the brink of a smarter, more connected nation than ever before. To fully realize the possibilities of this new economy, we cannot let internet access be available only to our wealthy residents. Ensuring our lower-income communities have access to this innovation must be a priority.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is announcing the opening of a new medical clinic in West Seattle this fall. They will take over the location now occupied by Swedish, at 3400 California Ave SW, who previously announced plans to move to the former Capco Beverages site on Alaska Street.

This facility will expand options for new and existing patients in the community as the closure of the West Seattle Bridge creates a barrier for residents to access quality health services close to home.

The new facility will house primary care, internal medicine, laboratory and limited radiology services.

Specialty services will rotate weekly and will include:

• Cardiology
• Orthopedics
• General surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology
• Women’s health

By Jean Godden

One thing the pandemic changed was the way we dress for work. Employees working from home, telecommuting and sometimes holding Zoom sessions, didn't have to follow a dress code.

It's been more common than not to find tech workers or even the family accountant wearing clothing that looks like a weekend trip to the beach. Sweatpants, T-shirts, sneakers and flip-flops have become everyday apparel and not just for changing into after work.

However, this casual weekend attire sadly is about to become a memory. Dress codes are not only returning, but -- come to find out -- in some official settings, they have never gone away.

The Sealtlh Seahawks hit a buzzsaw in their game vs the Rainer Beach Vikings on April 3. The Vikings took command early and never let go, rollling over the hapless Seahawks 35-0.

With only 2:04 left in the game the lights went out. They said they were hopeful of getting them back on but that didn't happen so they just ended the game.