Growth Management

Government Pet Projects – Special Interests Get Special Laws

By Cindy Alia

8/30/23

When government works at becoming a savior, what can go wrong? Despite years of government spending on “solutions”, the problem of the “unhoused” is still widespread in our state.  Governmental claims for ending homelessness often require throwing money at solutions without accountability for results.  A case in point is the Pierce County project to create a “Community First” tiny house village, which appears to be patterned after a communistic utopia, but which is an impractical scheme for social improvement in rural Pierce County. 

Bills of Concern Status 2/26/2021

February 26 2021 By Cindy Alia

Today we are in the midst of the legislative session with 38 days left for bills to become law.  There have been 2 cutoff dates met and we are nearing the point where bills heard in the house of origin must pass a floor vote in order to be heard in the opposite house.  There is still time to fight bad bills that may have passed the house of origin but have not yet made the transition to the floor of the opposite house.  

Rental Property Owners Face Onerous Demands in Legislative Bills

A suite of Tenant/Landlord Bills have been introduced and are progressing through the legislature.  It is self-evident that no genuine effort has been made by bill sponsors to solicit input from industry-wide stakeholders.  Tenant advocates have been candid (and successful) with their opposition to landlords having a seat at the table.  That is why these bills are generally so short-sighted.

Tenant/Landlord relationship and interaction is dynamic and complex, and these bills fail to recognize the on the ground circumstances created with real people living real lives.  Additionally the bills do not consider that both landlords and fellow tenants can suffer the consequences of a bad apple tenant. 

The Orca – Fact Versus Political Hysteria

By Cindy Alia

January 27, 2019

As much as I would like to take credit for this article, a very savvy and critically thinking facebook follower often has very in depth and well thought out comments to articles posted there.  Grateful for this kind of response and the research behind it, I feel compelled in this case to share the thoughts and conclusions reached from the research the follower had done.

CAPR Works to Protect Property Owners’ Rights and Their Septic Systems

Until this summer, property owners have never been represented on the Washington State Department of Health Onsite Sewage System (OSS) policy and technical rule revision Committee (basically an ad hoc committee to determine Washington State’s rules regarding septic systems).


Historically, only bureaucrats, environmental extremists, and industry representatives (septic pumping, designers, etc.) were involved. This may have been one reason why these policies seem to keep getting worse and more hostile to property owners over the years.

AVISTA / HYDRO ONE Sale Denied by WUTC!

by Cindy Alia, December 8, 2108

The Energy and tenacity of Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR), Spokane Treasurer Rob Chase who pursued coordination under the  the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, Idaho based Avista Customer Group, and many concerned and commenting citizens of both Washington and Idaho were very effective in putting pressure on the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Committee (WUTC), who in Washington State had the final say in determining if Avista, a United States owned utility company could be purchased by a Canadian utility company, Hydro One! 

Skagit County - Charter Push to Deny Rights - Denied! – Winning The Fight to Defeat the Charter Initiative

Skagit County – Winning The Fight to Defeat the Charter Initiative

Twenty-one days after the November 6th election, the excruciating slow process of counting votes in Skagit County was over.  However, after only a week of sorting through ballots, it was evident the initiative to transform Skagit into a county that resembled its dysfunctional neighbors was soundly beaten back.  In the end, voters turned down charter government by a 2 to1 margin.    

Is the GMA Harming Rural, Unincorporated King County?

Asphalt Plant Near Renton?

It has been said that the first (and perhaps the last) question of philosophy is, “What is the good?”  With respect to shaping and managing growth in Washington, that question was supposed to be addressed by a model designed to make sure laws and regulations are in place so that competing considerations are addressed fairly and consistently.  That model consists of the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) as the top-level guidance, followed by a county comprehensive plan for a regional focus, followed by zoning for specific uses within a county, and completed by the permitting process.  That model is again in danger of failing the residents of unincorporated King County.

Skagit County - Charter Push to Deny Rights

Only seven counties in Washington State have adopted the charter system of government. Seven out of 39 is almost 18% which is not an amount that signifies a large interest in this governing format statewide. The majority of residents of the 32 traditional counties see no advantage in changing their style of local governing. In fact, an argument can be made the charter system is not a good fit for the seven which adopted it. Charter counties become expensive in increased salary costs, bureaucracy laden, and less responsive to constituents.

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