Seattle proposal gets political pushback: Today So Far

• They've been married for seven years, but in Washington they're recognized.
• Pushback on Seattle proposal to provide incentives for sobriety.
• Hours at two of Seattle's popular parks are being cut short this summer.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for May 16, 2023.

When Olena and Iryna walked down the aisle at their wedding in Ukraine seven years ago, it wasn't technically legal. Gay marriage is not recognized in Ukraine. That didn't stop them, and they forged ahead despite the challenges they faced. The challenges that arose since Russia invaded Ukraine caused them to flee the country entirely, along with their daughter Yeva. Today, they are among 17,000 Ukrainians who have come to Washington state as refugees. And here, their marriage is recognized by the state.

At a recent ceremony in Seattle, the couple exchanged, yet again, the same rings they have worn for years to symbolize their union. Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu officiated the ceremony.

“I want to remind everyone that this is not just a ceremony, it’s a legal ceremony,” Justice Yu said. “Today, because of this ceremony, the state of Washington also offers protection to them as they move forward as a family.”

It's been a long journey for Olena, Iryna, and their daughter Yeva. As KUOW's Natalie Newcomb reports, that journey is not over. Read the full story here.

There's news, and then there's politics. Sometimes they're the same thing, and other times, well, you're reminded that this is why we can't have nice things.

In April, KUOW's David Hyde brought us a story about a new tactic to fight addiction in Seattle, as well as other parts of Washington. In short, the idea is to provide incentives (gift cards, cash, prizes) to people when they stay sober. Pass a drug test, get a prize. This tactic is called "contingency management.” Seattle is getting $800,000 from the Washington State Health Care Authority. That's a lot of money for average folks, but in government spending terms, it's a step above searching through couch cushions for spare change.

Of course, our world and times are what they are, and it didn't take long for folks to take this news and cram it through a political filter. Now, it's politicized. Hyde's latest coverage on this effort includes the pushback against the idea, mainly coming from the right end of the spectrum. One conservative group is calling it an "absurd giveaway." Fox News already had a segment on it, commenting that it's "gamifying" addiction, alongside some pretty bleak video of addicts suffering on the street.

Politicization is an annoying feature of our modern discourse. Debate over policies and programs are fair, but politicization isn't about any of that. It's about gamifying your attention. It's great for clicks, views, listens, and even votes, but not so much for solutions and progress. If I'm being honest, my assumption is that the assault weapons ban headlines faded, and "news" personalities needed to fill an attention gap. We probably won't hear much about stories like this when the presidential and gubernatorial headlines start showing up more often. That's when they'll really be screaming for your attention.

Contingency management, or other "motivational incentives," are not new. Treatment programs across the USA have used this approach for decades. So at this point, we already know a thing or two about it. Check out Hyde's latest story here.

Hours at two of Seattle's popular parks are being cut short this summer.

Golden Gardens and Alki Beach will close at 10:30 p.m. starting in late May. The city's Parks and Recreation Department says this is part of a pilot (a pilot that has been going on for a while now), aimed at deterring illegal activity at the parks during nighttime hours. Officers will start closing down the parks at 10 p.m. Read more here.

AS SEEN ON KUOW

Michael Wu, Tim Hyland (Actors Equity Association Member), Stephen Sumida, Rachel Mae Guyer-Mafune in "Hometown Boy" at Seattle Public Theater. This is KUOW arts reporter MIke Davis' pick of the week. The play is set at the home of Walter, an elderly Japanese American man, who appears to be a hoarder. It's cluttered with trinkets, and as his son James arrives with his girlfriend from New York, they are met with a repulsive smell from the kitchen sink. But this physical mess is no match for the metaphorical one. Secrets, lies, affairs, and a criminal act of love lurk beneath the surface and we soon learn that the true mess in this play resides in the lives of the characters. (John Ulman)

DID YOU KNOW?

What if an eagle attacks you? That's a question I recently began asking. I live near a nest, maybe two, and there are at least a couple juveniles who have come quite close to Cosmo and I while on walks. One swooped through some trees and landed on a branch about 10 feet away. Another coasted right over our heads outside our home.

Thankfully, this is the sort of curiosity that Alaska Public Media has covered in the past. The most relevant answer to any of this is to not put yourself in the position of coming into conflict with eagles in the first place. Eagles generally attack humans if they feel threatened, or people get too close to their territory. Just stay away. Still, eagles have attacked humans in the past. Such incidents aren't generally fatal, but you can get some nasty scratches.

A spokesperson with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told APM that if an eagle does start lingering too close to you (aka "stalking" you), put your hands up and make yourself appear as big as possible. Other sources have similar recommendations. Also, make some noise, and if you have anything reflective (like a mirror or cell phone glass), maybe shine that the eagle's way as you are putting some distance between you and them. If an eagle does get in your face, use your arms and clothes to protect your head.

Just in case this needs to be stated, because this is the internet and there are those folks out there, it is illegal to attack or kill an eagle in the United States. Don't do it.

ALSO ON OUR MINDS

Mike Pence might run for president. So supporters are launching a super PAC to fund it

A group of longtime Republican operatives is launching a super PAC supporting the expected presidential campaign of former Vice President Mike Pence. The move is the strongest signal yet that Pence is planning to officially challenge former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination. Pence has been signaling his plan for months with campaign-style trips to early voting states including Iowa and New Hampshire.

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