The City of Bellingham is launching an independent investigation in response to public records uncovered by KNKX and @cascadepbs.org that show a city employee asking ChatGPT for help tipping the scales to ensure a preferred vendor would be awarded a large city contract last year.
The glaring conflicts of interest that @atg.wa.gov works under, in regards to public records, are unacceptable and must be addressed by #waleg immediately. The AG should be enforcing the PRA, but they are the defense attorneys for the agencies... that conflict MUST END.
The Supreme Court, Presidency, Senate and two party system are all quite anti-democratic institutions as presently constructed.
Our institutions are not only incapable of preventing tyranny—they’re currently enabling it.
When democracy returns, we need to reform our political system.
So when a state employee reports being told to delete Teams posts because of a public records request, that’s not a “policy issue.”
That’s the exact conduct these statutes were written for.
Felony records destruction is real, and Washington has the laws on the books to call it what it is. #waleg
Washington law doesn’t mince words.
RCW 40.16.010:
Anyone who willfully destroys or conceals a public record commits a Class C felony.
RCW 40.16.020:
A public officer who does it? Class B felony. #waleg
In a democracy, the press – reporters – are the representatives of We, the People. That’s why our nation’s Founders protected the press in the First Amendment. When Trump attacks reporters, calling them “Piggy“ and threatening their networks, he is really attacking you and me.
To be fair, this isn’t just about @oicwa.bsky.social This culture of “put it where they won’t find it” was/is pervasive. As we say on the podcast “Get it gone” is like a mantra. If people don’t take transparency seriously and vote on it, they will lose it. #waleg #transparency
😍 Boston, you are beautiful. #NoKings
Qatari soldiers in Idaho will have better access to health care than Americans.
When the state's watchdog, whose mission is literally "To promote accountability and transparency in government" starts playing these kinds of games with the people's right to know, you have to start asking what, or who, they’re really protecting. #waleg
Let's see Pat McCarthy and/or Al Rose sit for an interview with the @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social and defend this at which time they can inform everyone how wrong I am. #waleg
I-900 makes it clear the Auditor can perform these kinds of audits. Everyone should ask why they are doing everything they can to avoid doing them. 🤔 I'm open to them showing the public how wrong I am. #waleg
I told everyone I had receipts proving they've done these audits before on Ep. 3 of @thepropodcast.bsky.social
Their office has lied to numerous requesters about their legal ability to perform these audits. I have those receipts too. #waleg www.thepublicrecordsofficer.com/ep-3-the-wat...
However, the response to Citizen's Hotline Request ID: H-22-079, clearly shows a finding related to a look into the records handling practices of Whidbey & Camano Island Tourism. #waleg
The highlighted area in the image below used to read "Open Meetings and Records." They recently changed it to take away the "Records" part. 🤷 #waleg
The @wastateauditor.bsky.social needs to stop digging the hole deeper. They modified their Citizens Hotline request form to make you think they can't perform audits on the records handling practices of public entities. #waleg
What Governor Pritzker is doing is right for his state, but it is vital for the Republic.
Neon lights Nobel Prize
When a leader speaks that leader dies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set you free
You gave me fortune you gave me fame
You gave me power in your God's name
I'm every person you need to be
Oh
I'm
The
Cult
Of
Personality
Cartoon by @ivan-ehlers.bsky.social.
7.5 months into what was a 6 month suspension/review of the auto-deletion of Washington’s public records, @governorferguson.bsky.social is silent about what’s happening. Not that it should be his decision alone, but he took it upon himself. This isn’t leadership. #waleg tinyurl.com/yc36auzy
There has been a deluge of news and analysis around @governorferguson.bsky.social increasing lack of transparency this week. He can’t govern like this. It’s not acceptable #waleg
Tens of millions of public records were erased every week. The review is overdue. The secrecy is indefensible. The people’s right to know is not optional. It’s time for @governorferguson.bsky.social to release the review and end auto-deletions permanently. #waleg
This isn’t a bureaucratic slip. It’s a breach of trust. The PRA’s preamble is clear: “The people… do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know.” But @governorferguson.bsky.social is doing exactly that... deciding behind closed doors. #waleg
Grateful the @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social published my op-ed today. On Feb 17, @governorferguson.bsky.social promised transparency and suspended the auto-deletion of Teams chats pending a 6-month review. 7+ months later, we’ve gotten silence. #waleg tinyurl.com/45tfxz3b
I suppose you think Dunlop should only be able to afford one home? 😉 #waleg
But at least staff are having a fun time figuring out how avoid to public accountability🤷🏻
Where are Washington leaders? #waleg
