Soundside

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Initiative 2066: Why proponents say you should vote 'Yes' Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

This election season we’re taking a dive into the big races and big initiatives on your ballot this November. This week we’re taking a look at Initiative 2066 – the "Natural Gas Policies Measure."

For a quick refresher, this initiative aims to keep natural gas as a consumer option as building codes, state policies, and utility companies begin a pivot to green and clean energy.

Yesterday, Soundside heard from Leah Missik, who opposes the initiative to repeal provisions in this year’s natural gas law.

Today, Soundside heard from a supporter of the initiative: Greg Lane, the executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, which is the main sponsor of the initiative.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundsideis a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Greg Lane, executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington.

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle City Council approves 'loitering' penalties for prostitution and drug zones Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

New criminal penalties for drug and prostitution-related crimes within some of Seattle's busiest areas are on the way.

In an 8 to 1 decision, the Seattle City Council voted in favor of two ordinances on Tuesday, one creates “Stay Out Of Drug Area” zones – or “SODA” zones – in six areas of the city.

A Seattle municipal court judge can now order people who get arrested for drug-related crimes to steer clear of these zones or face a gross misdemeanor charge.

The other establishes a “Stay Out of Area of Prostitution” zone on Aurora Avenue North from 85th to 145th street. This new SOAP ordinance also reinstates a prostitution loitering law as a misdemeanor.

And it creates a new gross misdemeanor offense: promoting “loitering for purposes of prostitution”, meant to target sex traffickers.

Soundside hears from KUOW politics reporter Amy Radil about the enforcement power these zones give the city, and the pushback from critics.

And later, Soundside talks to Madison Zack-Wu, an organizer with Strippers Are Workers, about the concerns sex workers have raised about the legislation.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Amy Radil, KUOW politics and government reporter
Madison Zack-Wu, organizer with Strippers Are Workers

Relevant Links:

New 'loitering' penalties targeting Seattle drug and prostitution zones approved by City Council - Amy Radil, KUOW

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Initiative 2066: Why opponents say you should vote 'No' Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

This election season we’re bringing you conversations on all of the statewide initiatives on this November’s ballot -- and this year, many of those initiatives have something to do with Washington’s ambitious goals to completely transition off of fossil fuels.

Last week we heard about Initiative 2117, which would repeal a key part of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. Today, we’re talking about Initiative 2066.

This one’s about natural gas. If passed, the measure would repeal parts of a natural gas law passed earlier this year. In a nutshell, the law was designed to push Puget Sound Energy into developing a plan for transitioning away from natural gas.

This is where Initiative 2066 comes into the picture. It’s supported by many of the critics of this year’s natural gas law – including building and hospitality associations.

Simply speaking, the initiative is aimed at guaranteeing utility customers’ access to natural gas by repealing certain provisions in this year's earlier natural gas bill, 1589, and changing state building codes.

I-2066 would prohibit penalties for using natural gas in construction, limit the ability of building codes to discourage the use of natural gas, and keep utility officials from making planning decisions that make natural gas cost-prohibitive.

Initiative supporters have branded it a “ban” on natural gas bans.

Over the next two days, we’ll hear from a supporter of the initiative to repeal provisions in this year’s natural gas law…. and an opponent of the initiative.

For the "No" side of the issue, Soundside spoke with Leah Missik, the acting Washington Director of the nonprofit “Climate Solutions.” She’s also on the executive team for the "No on 2066" campaign.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundsideis a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

Leah Missik, acting Washington Director of the nonprofit “Climate Solutions” and a member on the executive team for the "No on 2066" campaign.

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can we learn from one man's experience with SODA? Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

The Seattle City Council is preparing to take a final vote today on a pair of new laws that city attorney Ann Davison and some city council members say could help the city fight drug trafficking and prostitution.

The SODA ordinance – stands for “Stay Out of Drug Areas.” It would create a new gross misdemeanor, punishable up to 364 days in jail, and a $5,000 fine, for being caught inside a designated SODA zone – if you’re subject to a judge’s order to stay out.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann talks to one man who was subject to a similar policy – in his case, a King County judge issued a several-block “Stay Out of Drug Area” order after he was arrested in 2015.

Guests:

Joe Conniff, REACH Reentry Program Supervisor at Evergreen Support Services. Conniff is also the author of Causes and Conditions: A Life Experience in Addiction and Recovery.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human created noise hinders resident orcas' ability to hunt Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

As humans have built skyscrapers, factories and highways around the Puget Sound, our environment has become much noisier, and not just terrestrially.

Underwater, humans (and our large cargo ships) have a large sonic impact, too.

New research suggests that cacophony is hurting the survival of some of the original inhabitants of the Salish Sea: Southern Resident orca whales.

Orcas use a series of clicks and vocalizations to hunt down their favorite meal: Chinook Salmon. It’s sort of like a bat using echolocation.

A new study published in Global Change Biology by scientists at the University of Washington and NOAA shows how orcas’ hunting is affected by all that sound we create.

Guests:

Jennifer Tennessen,senior research scientist in the University of Washington’s Department of Biology

Relevant Links:

KUOW: Shhh! The orcas can’t hear their dinner

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How one complaint is changing accessibility at Washington state parks Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

Washington state parks need to be more accessible to people with disabilities.

That’s the conclusion from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation – which prompted a deal announced earlier this month to bring state parks into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Guests:

Laurel Demkovich, Washington State Standard reporter
Syren Nagakyrie, Founder and Director of Disabled Hikers

Related Links:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of striking workers skyrocketed in 2023, what does that mean for Boeing machinists? Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

33,000 Boeing factory workers walked off the job Friday, demanding higher wages and for the company to restore pensions. Most are based here in the Pacific Northwest.

The overall labor landscape in the U.S. has changed significantly since the last machinists strike 2008 – nationally, union membership remains at historically low levels, but work stoppages have increased in recent years and the number of striking workers skyrocketed in 2023.The UAW strike late last year won historic concessions for auto workers across the country.

Guests:

Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory

Rebecca Givan, Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Boeing Machinists reject contract as 96% vote to strike

AP: Boeing machinists vote to strike after rejecting pay increases of 25% over 4 years

New York Times: Boeing’s Strike Halts Airplane Production at Key Plants

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Hear It Again: Author Elise Hu on her new book and K-Beauty critique, 'Flawless' Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

K-beauty is not a niche market. Built around dewy skin with no visible pores, big eyes, a thin body, it’s the “ideal” for pop stars, celebrities, and regular people across the world.

The industry, built on Korean skincare and makeup products, is the result of “hallyu” — exporting of South Korean pop culture that the government has helped sponsor since the 1990s.

In her new book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital,” Elise Hu describes how digital filters and a booming beauty economy have transformed the industry, societal expectations, and what’s actually achievable when it comes to that “flawless” finish.

This interview originally aired on June 6th, 2023.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

Elise Hu: journalist, podcaster, and author of “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrating "El Grito" through the Music of Mexico Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

Today is Mexican Independence Day, and we’ve got a bit of a musical treat to take us out.

Yesterday, Orquesta Northwest put on a concert at Town Hall Seattle, celebrating “El Grito” -- the day that father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called for Mexicans to rise and fight for freedom.

The concert was part of the Mexam NW Festival, which features dozens of Mexican cultural events around the Seattle area. The festival is curated by the Mexican Consulate of Seattle and runs through October 19th.

Soundside producer Jason Burrows went to the Town Hall Seattle and caught the musicians and organizers as they were rehearsing for the performance.

GUESTS:

Paula Madrigal, Artistic Director of Orquesta Northwest
Teo Benson, Executive Director of Orquesta Northwest

Related Links:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why it's so hard to find an in-network therapist Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

If you’ve ever tried to find a therapist who takes your insurance and failed -- you're not alone.

Many in-network providers are bailing on insurance companies, and it’s affecting access to care.

A new investigation from ProPublica surveyed over 500 therapists nationwide – compiling their answers in a new investigation called “Why I left the network”.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests: