Hello CADF friends,
What a month! While it’s not at all uncommon for us to be overwhelmingly busy pushing back against government overreach and fighting for your constitutional rights, this month was… a bit of a doozy (in a good way!).
We’ve got a lot to go over this month, so buckle up!
Case Updates
NEW: Tacoma Initiative Lawsuit | Rent Increase Regulations Measure
On August 27th, we filed a lawsuit against the City of Tacoma on behalf of North Pearl Street, a Tacoma-based apartment complex due to the passage and implementation of the “Landlord Fairness Code Initiative.”
The code barely scraped through passage, moving forward with just about 400 votes, and the negative ramifications of that decision have been reverberating through the city of Tacoma ever since. It was advertised as offering protections for tenant rights, but in reality, it’s hindered swift action against squatters and problematic tenants, caused financial strain for taxpayers across the city, and disrupted the balance of housing regulation.
Who bears the burden of those ramifications? We all do – decisions like this overwhelmingly impact housing availability and affordability. Given the housing crisis we are all facing, efforts like the Tacoma initiative (whether they’re well-intended or not) make this disastrous problem much, much worse. Not to mention, the initiative itself is unlawful and unconstitutional.
Learn more:
CADF v. OFM | APPEAL FILED: WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT
UPDATE: On August 15th, we filed an appeal with the Washington State Supreme Court in an effort to not only defend our win against OFM, but to preserve the integrity of the Public Records Act.
We received notice from the court earlier this week that they will be accepting briefing, and from there, they will decide whether they should take review of the case. We anticipate having a decision on that by the end of the year.
Background: Last year, we won our public records suit against Governor Inslee’s Office of Financial Management for their refusal to turn over initial offers in collective bargaining negotiations, despite the fact that the parties had signed the agreements and negotiations were closed.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson ruled in our favor and shortly after, OFM filed an appeal. On June 13, 2024, we defended our win against them in the Division II Court of Appeals, and unfortunately, despite the law being on our side, the opinion rendered was in favor of OFM.
In Other News…
Initiatives & the Secret Lawsuit
CADF Executive Director, Jackson Maynard, spoke out against the blatant attempt to undermine the voices of Washingtonians when news broke about two secret lawsuits that were brought against the initiatives.
While we do not represent any proponents of the initiatives, the underhanded nature of the lawsuit was worth speaking out about, as Bob Ferguson, our very own Attorney General, was arguably the main person that tried to keep Washington in the dark.
Pictured: Jackson Maynard speaking at the Initiatives rally in front of the Attorney General’s office.
Project42: Annual Dinner
CADF staff had the privilege of attending Project42’s annual dinner on August 8th!
The event was a hit – it was emceed by the incomparable Brandi Kruse and headlined by Governor Scott Walker, who shared in-depth insights about what it means to strive to make your state a better place while flying in the face of adversity.
We had a wonderful time and are looking forward to next year’s event!
Summer Freedom Fest 2024
On August 17th, CADF co-hosted a booth at Freedom Fest, an annual event put on to celebrate – you guessed it – freedom (and our efforts to preserve it!).
We had a chance to talk about all of the work we’re doing to fight for your rights, connect with people about their concerns, and learn about what other great individuals and organizations are working on.
Pictured: CADF Executive Director (right) speaking to a group interested in the work we do!
CADF Executive Director, Jackson Maynard, had a chance to attend the State Policy Network’s Annual Meeting from August 19th-22nd down in Phoenix, AZ!
He attended several keynote and breakout sessions, learned a lot about other like-minded organizations, and networked with policy leaders from across the country.
STAY INVOLVED
- Donate to CADF: Make a tax-deductible donation at any level today to support our ongoing efforts to take legal action that will significantly impact public policy, open government, and tax relief
- Connect with us on social: Stay connected with us on all of our social media platforms to stay in the loop about our cases, events, latest media updates, and chances to get involved.
Thank you for your support!
Thank you,
Paige Jaramillo
Citizen Action Defense Fund
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