Fully Fund Washington's schools, invest more (not less) and branch out for long-term revenue

My daughter, Sidney, 2nd grade

Our message to Senator Braun on 3/26

Dear Members of the WA State Education Task Force:

(Sen. Andy Billig, Sen. Dino Rossi, Rep. Pat Sullivan, Sen. Ann Rivers, Rep. Kristine Lytton, Sen. Christine Rolfes, Rep. David Taylor & Rep. Paul Harris)

Do you know what I see when I volunteer in my daughter’s elementary school each week? The incredible amount of effort and resources it takes--even in an affluent school--to teach and make progress with each individual child. Many educators do this without having the services, personnel and resources they need and many compensate for it out of their own pockets or with overtime, when they’d normally be with their own families.

So in a state that is home to some of the wealthiest people and the biggest companies in the world, how is it that our public schools are still so under-resourced? Why do we shortchange our children this way?

I'm at a loss as to how Senate Republican lawmakers can propose to only really fund HALF the state’s schools with their plan while at the same time pressing significant taxes upon the property-owning middle class. The Seattle Times reported on 2/22 that this plan weighs even heavier on Seattle-area property owners than previously thought and Seattle families will receive less per-student-funding for their contributions than other parts of the state. It seemed hasty that 5607 was shoved through. It didn't allow time for the public, the Committees or Senate Democrats to really dig into the details. As a result, the true financial impact and it’s inadequacy was only discovered after it passed the Senate.

But Senator Ann Rivers said to me in an email exchange on 1/31/2017, “Please don't misunderstand me – I don't think 5607 is perfect. It is however, at this time, the singular bill that has 25 votes in the entire legislature.” This sounds like Republicans knew the plan wasn’t so much about best serving our students but rather slamming through a solution that would appease the lawsuit. The bottom line is: it still doesn’t solve the problem.

It's time to start looking at stable revenue sources without gutting every other social service because this is a long-term investment in our children and our state's economy via our competitiveness for jobs & innovation. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal agreed that more resources are needed in this Crosscut article (2/22/17). "A straight swap of state for local dollars such as the one proposed by Republicans isn’t enough. “If you’re seriously going to change outcomes for every student … I think every school district should have more resources,” Reykdal said. “The bottom line is they need to invest more.”

Therefore, I am asking you to support the House Democrats’ budget. I urge you to embrace the capital gains tax which will ensure that the wealthiest Washingtonians pay their fair share. And by the way, I’m not just asking here for ‘others’ to fund education. My husband and I will get to participate since we exercise stock and pay capital gains taxes every year too.

Also close tax break loop holes to large companies, like Boeing, who--let’s face it--have no loyalty to Washington when the bottom line is concerned. But our schools educate the next generation of workers. Why should big business reap the rewards of this workforce that they don’t help build? Washington is a great place to live and draws a deep and diverse talent pool. Companies are lucky to set up here and the state should start acting like it.

I’m a parent and constituent in the 36th District. But my family has and does live all over the state of Washington--and we are all products of the public school system.

• Rep. David Taylor: My grandfather was born and raised in Toppinish. He went to school there and worked on the family farm until the family was relocated to a Japanese internment camp in Wyoming.
• Sen. Andy Billig: My dad grew up on South Hill and attended the original Grant Elementary and went on to graduate from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane.
• Rep. Paul Harris: My father and stepmother now reside in the 17th district and my stepmom teaches 1st grade at Harmony Elementary, also located in your district.
• And as I previously shared with Sen. Ann Rivers: I grew up in her district of Ridgefield and attended Union Ridge Elementary, View Ridge Middle School and ultimately graduated from Ridgefield High School.

As my kids look ahead to 3rd grade (Sidney) and Kindergarten (Calvin) in the Fall, I ask you now that you’re in special session to set aside the lesser angels of our nature and work together to finally fulfill Washington’s Paramount Duty of fully funding education. Use the House Democrats plan. Create a sustainable revenue stream that simultaneously fixes our lopsided tax system and keeps social services intact. Shore up taxes lost to big businesses who aren’t paying nearly enough and tax capital gains 5-7% more. This legislation will define our core values as a state but it really shows voters if our lawmakers can overcome ideology and special-interest influence to do right by our most precious and beloved resource: our children.

Thank you,

Kali Sakai

Seattle, WA

Henry Shiro Sakai, 1926-2017

Last Wednesday April 12th while we were in Portland, my great-uncle Henry Shiro Sakai passed away. He was 91 and the youngest (and last) of my grandfather’s siblings. According to my Dad, he was an electrical engineer who worked in avionics for North American Aviation, which among other things had supplied modules for the space shuttle program. 

I had written to Uncle Hank this past February telling him of our plans to visit Portland during Spring Break and wanted to interview him. My thought was to get an account of our family’s experience in the World War II Japanese Internment Camps for posterity. He even made a joke in a subsequent voice mail that he hoped he’d still be around when we were scheduled to visit on Saturday April 15th. I had no idea that I should have taken his comment more seriously. I guess you can never know these things but I am heartbroken that I didn't take the initiative even 6 months sooner to talk to him about it. 

There isn’t going to be an official obituary or service—he and my aunt who survives him decided that wasn’t necessary—but I wanted to pay a humble homage to him anyway. RIP Uncle.

Photos by Cindy Hovind, 2013

Internet Search Information and Customer Privacy Concern

UPDATE 3/31: Comcast responded and it doesn't suck. Sounds like they aren't going to share out customer info and allow for opt-in participation with advertising. My view: cautiously impressed. Read on. http://corporate.comcast.com/comcast-voices/our-commitment-to-consumer-privacy

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This is an email I wrote today to the Comcast Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications: Government & Regulatory Communications & the larger Corporate Communications Team...

Dear Ms. Fitzmaurice & the Comcast Comm Team:

Today, as you know, our Congress passed a bill that allows ISP's to access and commoditize the search habits of their customers. 

Having been a Comcast customer for 20 years, I wanted to reach out to you personally and let you know that even though you CAN do something, I'd like to ask you not to. In a world where the government is recklessly pulling protection away from every single aspect of our lives, wouldn't it be great if large influential companies like Comcast did right by their customers just because it's the proper thing to do? 

I know the main argument for this legislation is opening up 'competition' for you and getting a 'piece of the action.' Destination sites like Google, Yahoo & Facebook get to collect and track users all day long and monetize it. But Comcast has merely been the 'dumb pipes' that people use to access these sites where endless personal data collection and monetization happen. The problem though is that users actually choose those destinations and willingly submit their personal information. But as an ISP, we look to you to create safe avenues to and from our Internet wanderings, not sell our comings and goings to others. 

So what if Comcast decided not to sell out customer information and took a strong stand on being THE conscientious ISP that takes privacy seriously? Or maybe allowing people to OPT-IN/OPT-OUT of such data collection/monetization--many would see that as a sensible compromise. I'm sure many customers who don't care would be happy to let you have their info. But as customers who do care, having no choice in the matter doesn't make us feel valued or safe. In fact, it makes us want to look for other options.

I ask you to consider what you could do that would set you apart and make Comcast an ISP people would clamor to support. If not just for your service but for your principles.

Sincerely,

Kali Sakai & Ken Moore

Seattle, WA

Reference:

Seattle Times: http://www.seattletimes.com/business/house-votes-to-block-obama-era-online-privacy-rules/

Announcing WSU's Murrow College 'Ethics in Communication' Project

'The Press' isn’t just some obscure, independent entity. It’s us--you and me--the American people. The press is our proxy: our ears, eyes and mouths—asking questions and making sense of what our government is doing. 

Dear fellow WSU Murrow alums & fans of the Free Press,

Do you think...

• defending ethics in journalism is vital?
• encouraging the next generation of journalists to be fair, tenacious and thorough is important?
• learning lessons from experienced leaders in the news & information industry is valuable?

Please check out this new project called Ethics in Communications from WSU's Murrow College of Communication and join me in supporting it!

Click HERE for the detailed 7-page slide deck about this project. 

What's the Project?

The main goal is to help educate WSU students and the public on ethics and responsibility of the Press. With the namesake of one of the most accomplished broadcast journalists in the industry, this presents a unique and important responsibility for the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. This will be accomplished by:

• Creating a series of videos and digital content in a PSA style format featuring top faculty and industry leaders. 
• Hosting a series of lectures with VIP Murrow Award winners, faculty and industry leaders at WSU Everett (opening later in 2017) for students & the public. 

What's the ask?

This project needs your help to get off the ground! The ultimate goal is $10,000 and they've already secured $2,500 of that. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to get this project fully-funded and going by March 30th. Here’s the secure donation link. Also feel free to pass this on to other WSU alumni or friends would would want to help! 

THANK YOU!

A little more background if you want it...

Over a month ago, I found myself frustrated, just wanting to do something--anything--to help defend, articulate and emphasize the great responsibility of the Press. Reflecting on how I viewed the world as a college student and new grad 20 years ago (ahem), I wondered if current students and newly minted Comm grads understood the vital role they play in our Democracy--not just in platitudes, but for real.

I spoke to Marvin (Marcelo), now General Manager of NW Public Radio & TV and Associate Professor, and then met with Camille Perezselsky, the Assistant Director of Development about this desire to do something for/with the school. It just so happened, they too were thinking of kicking off a project up this alley. I immediately wanted to be a part of it so I'm asking alums and friends of the college to join me in supporting this new project.