Week in Review: Amazon, politics, and mosquitos

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with political analyst Joni Balter, Puget Sound Business Journal’s Alex Halverson, and KUOW’s David Hyde.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell recently expressed interest in reviving the idea of a new streetcar line in Seattle that would connect the existing two lines. Previous plans to make this happen resulted in failure due to operating costs, production flaws, and leadership changes. Harrell’s latest pitch envisions the new streetcar line with a more cultural element to it rather than it being strictly for transit. Will it happen this time?

On Wednesday, Washington U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez was one of two house Democrats who voted to repeal President Joe Biden’s student debt relief program. Not only would the measure cancel the program, it would roll back months of paused payments and interest forgiveness. Perez said that she wanted "expansions of student debt forgiveness matched dollar for dollar with investments in career and technical education. The severe shortage of trades workers needs to be seen and treated as a national priority." What does this mean for borrowers?

On Thursday, State Senator Mark Mullett announced a bid for Washington State governor. Mullet joins fellow Democrats Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz as well as Republicans Richland School Board member Semi Bird and Yakima physician Raul Garcia. As a Democrat, he broke with his party by opposing the capital gains tax. What is the impact of him entering the field?

It was reported this week that mosquito season in the Seattle/Tacoma area has been lasting nearly a month longer per year compared to previous decades. Climate change is being cited as the culprit. Avoiding stagnant water is one way to keep mosquitos away, as well as turning on a box fan as mosquitos are terrible flyers. Have you noticed more mosquitos?