EDITORIAL: Cheers & Jeers: Growth boundary, credit dip
May 4-Cheers: To county progress. The Clark County Council has adopted a proposal that could allow cities to expand their urban growth boundaries and explore the rezoning of agricultural areas. As Councilor Matt Little said: "It's not a final decision. It's a decision that will provide more analysis so we can make a future decision." Councilor Wil Fuentes disagreed with the adoption of a recommendation from the county planning commission, saying, "I think that's incredibly irresponsible."
Indeed, the issue is complex, with county officials attempting to balance development with protection of agricultural lands - all while adhering to the state's Growth Management Act. Those complications have led to missed deadlines for the proposal, meaning that any progress is welcome. The council is expected to make its final decisions on any changes to the map or other parts of the growth plan by October.
Jeers: To fiscal irresponsibility. Moody's, one of three major credit rating services, has revised its outlook for Washington's finances from stable to negative. As the Washington State Standard summarizes: "Washington got a clear warning this week that its reliance on reserves and one-time maneuvers to balance the budget endangers the state's strong credit rating."
Moody's affirmed the state's Triple-A rating on bonds, indicating fundamental economic strength. But a future decline in the rating could increase the cost of borrowing and ripple throughout the state's economy. If the current budgeting approach continues, Washington could be poorly equipped to "absorb unexpected revenue or expenditure shocks."
Interesting: A fireball in the night sky. More than 100 people in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia reported a flash of "greenish" light around midnight Wednesday.
The Seattle Times reports: "Rocks only a few inches thick, called meteors, superheat the air into a glowing plasma as they blast through Earth's atmosphere at speeds over 200,000 mph, University of Washington professor Chris Laws told The Seattle Times during a recent event. That's the 'fireball' we see." Experts say this is the common season for fireballs, giving us a reason to keep our eyes on the sky.
Jeers: To an ICE blunder. Recent reports detail the careless and callous actions that appear to be common from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. After months in detention at a processing center in Tacoma, Rakesh Rakesh was slated for a flight from Seattle to New York on the way to being deported to India.
Instead, Rakesh was placed on a plane to Sitka, Alaska. "The established procedures for this passenger were not followed by ICE," an Alaska Airlines spokesperson said. "Our gate agents were not notified that he would be boarding the flight." Enforcement of immigration laws is necessary; but that enforcement too often has been accompanied by incompetence and cruelty.
Cheers: To a complicated rescue. The Southwest Washington Region 4 Technical Rescue Team has saved a 36-year-old man who fell into a tank under construction at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility. The Columbian reports: "Using cables and ropes, the team was able to raise the man about 25 feet from the tank floor to the roof level. A second rope system then lowered the man down a stairway to a waiting ambulance, where he was taken to a nearby hospital."
The technical rescue team pulls first responders from several fire departments in the area. The recent incident demonstrates the value of such cooperation and specialized training.
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