by Dick Pilling
Those of a certain age – like old – may remember the Mamas and Papas, the 60’s rock group whose song “California Dreaming” became an anthem for many of that era.
At that time, California was my dream destination but, sadly, maturity reared its head, and I relocated to Washington State while still retaining wistful memories of my time living “ the dream”.
Now, however, my nostalgia is tinged with relief that I didn’t opt to “live the dream” because yesterday’s California Dream has morphed into a nightmare due to present-day management – mismanagement? – of Governor Newsom. Although, when you think about it, Newsom’s California is not much different from Governor Inslee’s Washington State.
Specifically, Newson enjoyed a $97.5 billion budget surplus in 2022 but, in just two years, turned the surplus into a $56 billion deficit.(1) Way more than Washington State’s shortfall of $26 billion (2) but Inslee is trying.
And California’s lamentable deficits also include water because its long-term water security is in question(3) due to controversial dam removals that threaten wells.(4) And Washington State seems to be moving in the same direction with similarly contentious dam removals.(5)
Sadly, not everything in California is in decline as retail stores “smash-and-grabs”, (6) and car jackings(7) continue to skyrocket and again, not to be left out, these crimes are on the increase in Washington(8)(9) ranking Washington among the most dangerous states in the country.(10)
There is a phrase “As California goes, so goes the nation” and, judging by today’s Washington, it may well be true.
Sadly…
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1. When budget season arrived in 2022, state lawmakers enjoyed the excitement and possibilities over how to spend a record $97.5 billion budget surplus, a shocking figure coming at the end of a bruising COVID-19 pandemic. But the two ensuing years have played out like a mirror universe as the state stares down a budget deficit yet again, estimated at $56 billion over the next two fiscal years.
https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-budget-whiplash/
2. In the fiscal year of 2022, Washington’s state debt stood at about 26.4 billion U.S. dollars. Comparatively, the state’s debt was approximately 11.73 billion U.S. dollars in 2000.
3. Heading into 2024, California’s long-term water security remains in question, with critical infrastructure projects and regulations still pending and climate change heightening the potential of extended drought. With additional conservation measures yet to take effect, the impact on water users also remains uncertain.
4. Environmentalists and the State of California are celebrating the world’s largest dam removal on the Upper Klamath River, while their work kills endangered species, destroys roads, threatens homes with bank collapse and is already seeing drinking water wells go dry
5. The Columbia River and its tributaries— including the Snake River—impact nearly every resident of the Northwest in some way, providing hydroelectric power, recreation, navigation, water supply, flood risk management, and more (and) Those who call for removing the four dams on the lower Snake River believe salmon runs will be restored but may not consider the ramifications to other river operations.
The (EIS Report released in September 2020) concludes breaching dams is not the best alternative “due to the adverse impacts to other resources such as transportation, power reliability and affordability, and greenhouse gas emissions.”
https://www.nwascopud.org/news-releases/removing-snake-river-dams-deemed-a-bad-idea/
6. Where in the United States Do Smash-and-Grabs Happen? Once again, California comes out on top of a list that no one wants to win. Los Angeles was the city most affected by ORC in 2022. All told, California had three—L.A., San Francisco/Oakland, and Sacramento—in the top ten.
https://www.deepsentinel.com/blogs/retail/the-epidemic-of-smash-and-grab-robberies/
7. Over that period, Chicago has seen a 115.7% increase in carjackings, Los Angeles has seen a 77.9% increase, San Francisco has seen a 70% increase, and Denver has seen a 61.7% increase. Last year’s rates per 100,000 people were 101.9 in Baltimore, 58.3 in Memphis and 48.3 in Chicago.Feb 5, 2024
8. Seattle is number 5 in the USA in Organized Retail Crime (ORC)
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Francisco/Oakland, CA
- Houston, TX
- New York, NY
- Seattle, WA
- Atlanta, GA
9. OLYMPIA, Wash. — Over the past year, KING 5 has reported extensively on smash-and-grabs in Western Washington. While dispensaries and vape shops are the primary targets, gun shops, convenience stores, and other small businesses have also been caught up in this ongoing problem, fueled in part by a social media trend.
- Seattle is one of seven cities across the nation to form new carjacking task forces as part of an expanded program started by the Department of Justice.
10.Washington ranked among the most dangerous states in the country, according to new study
As crime rates across the country seem to be decreasing, crime rates in the state of Washington have only increased, according to a Federal Bureau of Investigation crime data report. According to the FBI crime report, between 2020 and 2022, the rate of violent crime in the U.S. decreased from 398.5 incidents per 100,000 people to 380.7 incidents per 100,000 people, while the the rate of violent crime in Washington has increased from 293.7 incidents to 375.6 incidents, an 81.9 rate increase.
https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article287945530.html
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