Inside The Puget Sound Partnership
Efforts to clean up Puget Sound had been floundering for two decades when a new state agency took over the job in 2007. Since then, the Puget Sound Partnership has poured millions of dollars into making a new plan for restoring the health of the Sound. In the process, state funds were misspent, public resources misused, and a whistle–blower fired. This four–part KUOW investigation looks inside the state's latest troubled attempt to save Puget Sound. It airs August 17–20, 2010.
"Inside The Puget Sound Partnership" was reported and produced by John Ryan and edited by Jim Gates.
Blowing The Whistle On Puget Sound Agency
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Washington's whistle–blower law lets insiders quietly expose bad behavior by state officials. It protects the employees from retaliation if their employers even suspect them of spilling the beans. But sometimes, whistle–blowers lose their jobs anyway.
State Leaders Commute On Public Dime
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The head of the Puget Sound Partnership gets a perk few state agency directors do: a car for his exclusive use on the job. David Dicks also uses his official Prius for personal benefit: his commute. We found he isn't the only state leader driving to work on the public dime.
Family Ties To Puget Sound Posts
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Congressman Norm Dicks has steered millions of dollars toward cleaning up Puget Sound. His son David runs the state agency in charge of the cleanup. Both men say there's no conflict between family and public interest. Part three of our series focuses on the agency's family ties.
Cleaning Up With Political Connections
Friday, August 20, 2010
State auditors reported in May that the Puget Sound Partnership had distributed millions of dollars in consulting contracts unfairly. KUOW found no–bid contracts going to people who had worked with the agency director's father, Congressman Norm Dicks.
