High Holiday Services
Washington’s best new plants
TBrowne
he annual FarWest conference in Portland has wrapped up. Thousands of attendees and 300 vendors came to the Western region’s main green industry conference from across the country. In addition to lectures and exhibitions, plants and products vie for awards for best new introductions – and this year, according to Digger Magazine (diggermagazine.com), quite a few were raised or at least introduced in Washington. Besides supporting local growers and innovators, you can rest assured these plants should perform well in Washington, given their favored conditions, of course. Many other winners hailed from Oregon.
You can see the full list of winners here: https://diggermagazine.com/ fws-nvs-peoples-2024/.
(Remember, the “Right plant, right place” guideline comes first when eyeing shiny new plants for the garden!)
Artemisia ‘Garden Ghost’ from Walla Walla Nursery delivers a shock of silver the lights up sunny garden beds day or night. Once established in
By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
Seattle Public Schools officials are reworking proposals for school closures to address an estimated $94 million budget deficit for the 2025-2026 school year.
Superintendent Brent Jones made the announcement on Monday, just 12 days after the district revealed two potential school consolidation plans.
The original options would have either closesd17 or 21 elementary and K-8 schools to save between $25.5 million to $31.5 million.
Feedback from school staff, parents and students was not supportive of either proposal.
During last week’s school board meeting, protests could be heard outside as Student Board Director Colin Bragg said Seattle students were “definitely feeling the tension in the district,” with the trickle down effect of looming budget cuts.
“I am sorry our proposed options created anxiety for many families who rely on the key programs and innovations within our schools – we are retooling our plans to address these concerns,” Jones said in a news release.
“What we proposed last week were initial approaches, which we are now reworking,” Jones continued.” While our financial challenges are real and it’s our fiscal responsibility to resolve them, it is very clear we need more time to listen and earn your trust as we resolve our structural deficit and revisit our timeline.”
The budget deficit is a result of weaker revenue streams and a continually decreasing enrollment. Over the past seven years alone, enrollment at Seattle Public Schools has dropped by 4,000 students. Despite this, the district still operates nearly the same number of school buildings.
District officials do not expect enrollment numbers to rebound for many years.
According to the district, closing a school could save Seattle Public Schools between $750,000 to $2 million. The approximately $30 million in savings from school closures would have left an estimated gap of $64 million for the district to address after consolidations.
The Center Square previously reported on Seattle Public Schools eyeing cuts to programs and staff to continue fixing
Forsythia 'Discovery'
COURTESY GARDEN MEDIA GROUP COURTESY OF DIGGER MAGAZINE
GRIVAS, 4
Queen Anne & Magnolia Worship Services
Sunday Worship at 10am Live Streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube. Simply look for Magnolia Lutheran Church.
Twelfth Church of Christ, Scientist
In Person and Online Church Services
All are welcome & warmly invited to join these healing services
For best audio results, please join by clicking on the link from your computer or smartphone and choose “Call Over Internet”
All Zoom Services Meeting ID: 418 806 2637 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4188062637
Sunday Services 11:00am – 12noon Pacific
Wednesday Testimonies 7:30pm – 8:30pm Pacific
Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons
Our weekly Bible Lesson Sermon may be found here: https://quarterly.christianscience.com/
Additional Healing Resources: ChristianScience.com CSWashington.com SeattleMetroReadingRoom.org
For additional assistance, please contact us at seattle12cs@gmail.com or 206.283.2300 ChristianScienceTwelfthSeattle.com
For a Healthier You CHIROPRACTORS
Queen Anne Dental Group
Dr. Frank J. Calvo & Family
Cosmetic, Implant, & General Dentistry
400 Boston St. 206-284-7812 www.QADG.net
Chiropractic AND Massage Therapy
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Meeting Mary
Afew weeks back a friend texted me to say how lonely she is.
She didn’t say she was lonely. She said how little enthusiasm she has for her work or for “anything, really.” She has no steam. She is always tired.
My training as a dancer has made me sensitive to the pitch and tone of all things; to how closely we have to pay attention to hear not only what someone is saying, but what they are trying to say. “Why don’t I give you a call?” I wrote back, fulfilling a promise I made to myself the day I met Mary.
And because these days I write only what I enjoy writing, and by doing so I have the writing life I have always wanted, I was immediately gratified by meeting Mary. What writer wouldn’t be?
Mary is the reason the reason I am taking my voice back, something that feels necessary for my well-being. I don’t think texts are enough for important conversations, so I will no longer let myself think that they are. I know people enable dictation and talk into their phones, creating texts the length of a page, and I’ve vowed not to be one of them.
Despite current trends, I am coming to terms with the fact that if our voices are to be heard, they must be spoken. Aloud. To someone who will listen. And we are going to have to be adamant about this because there is so much money to be made by keeping us communicating solely on our devices. All you have to do is watch the documentary The Social Dilemma to understand why.
A neighbor told me to watch it like he meant it, which he did. The film isn’t overly confessional, as I recall, but it did confirm that we may have a societal problem when the very software engineers who developed our social media platforms admit they don’t want their own children to use them. Watching it felt a bit like when I was 15 and just realizing something about my life – that it is actually my life.
As soon as my friend answered, it was pretty clear she had likely spent too much time alone since the death of her partner, so that she talked on and on, as if propelled by the sound of her own voice. I feared I’d made a mistake. She is grieving. She is righting herself. I kept trying to interject, and kept failing. So I decided just to listen.
But this amount of listening takes time. More time than a lot of us have in a day. Yet the image of her sitting on her couch alone and obviously devastated, urged making the time right out of me. Eventually our conversation took on a more natural give and take.
When I spotted Mary sitting
Mary Lou Sanelli Falling Awake
on a bench near the shoreline, I’d just come from a chance encounter with a coyote: Our eyes met, then we both looked forward in the direction where I was cycling and he was running, then we looked over at each other again. We did this back and forth one more time before the grasses made a crisp, snapping noise as he tore through the brush.
Mary was reserved at first. But I had to tell someone about that coyote – and with that, everything changed.
Just offshore, two herons stood motionless as our conversation led to Mary’s assessment of present day Seattle (I was pretty blown away by how closely she follows urban policy making), and to Kamala Harris. “Well,” she said, “we’ll see.”
Everything she implied by those three words fed my fear of what November could bring. I tried to ignore the butterflies in my chest, knowing what looms. But you get in trouble pretty quickly if you assume what someone’s politics are. I sat quietly, thinking how our chat up until then never had me thinking right or left. I thought how most of us mistrust extremes in general, how some discussions revitalize us, and I thought that we always have to listen to one side to get to the other, and be sure to listen again.
One of the herons speared a small, silvery fish. Sometimes I think the most valuable thing I’ve learned up until now, the one thing that has really stuck, is simply to breathe in moments like these. They remind how good it feels to do something for its own sake. Like most writers, I long to write. But I will do most anything for time away from the routine of the desk.
Mary said I’d be inspired by our sitting together, that I’d know just what to write when I got home.
Actually this piece was pretty much written before I got home. Mary began it the moment she wanted to hear more about “my” coyote.
And my friend who is having a hard time?
I hope she is a little less lonely now that all those words locked inside of her found their way out to be heard by us both.
Mary Lou Sanelli's newest title, In So Many Words, is recently released. Please ask for it at your favorite independent bookstore, and help her celebrate at Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park) on Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. or stop by her signing booth at the upcoming Italian Festival Sept. 28 and 29. www.marylousanelli.com
Savvy Senior: If you’re 65 or older, it’s time to get your pneumonia shot
Dear Savvy Senior, I recently turned 65 and would like to know if am supposed to get the pneumonia vaccine? And if so, which type of vaccine do I need and is it covered by Medicare? Relatively Healthy
Dear Relatively,
Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does indeed recommend the “pneumococcal vaccines” for pneumonia for adults age 65 and older. They’re also recommended for younger people with long-term health issues or weak immune systems, as well as children under 5 and people who smoke.
Pneumonia, which can happen anytime – not just during the cold months – can be a serious and even life-threatening condition. Each year, pneumonia causes a whopping 1.5 million people to visit medical emergency departments in the U.S. and causes roughly 50,000 deaths.
A recent study found that the use of pneumonia vaccines is associated with a 24 percent decreased risk of death, but vaccination rates aren’t that high. Around 67 percent of adults over the age of 65 are vaccinated against pneumonia, and just 24 percent of younger people (19-64 years old) at risk for pneumonia are vaccinated. The main reasons for this are because many people are unsure whether they need the vaccine, while others aren’t even aware a vaccine exists.
TYPES OF VACCINES
There are three different vaccines available, some more appropriate for certain people than others. They are the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine PPSV23 (Pneumovax23), the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV15 (Vaxneuvance) and PCV20 (Prevnar 20). The numbers indicate how many strains, or serotypes, of streptococcus pneumoniae are included in the vaccine.
SO, WHICH VACCINE SHOULD YOU GET?
If you’ve never been vaccinated for pneumonia, the newer PCV20 is the top choice – it covers the 20 most common serotypes now.
If that vaccine is not available in your area, you can get the PCV15 vaccine, followed one year later by PPSV23.
If you had the earlier PCV13 (but not PCV15), or the PPSV23 at or after age 65, you’re likely
eligible to get the PCV20 for increased protection.
But because of the different possibilities, you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the most effective option for you.
Side effects of these vaccines tend to be mild, but may include feeling achy and tired as well as redness, swelling and soreness where the injection was given. You’ll also be happy to know that Medicare Part B covers both single dose and two-dose pneumococcal shots, and you only need to get it once. Unlike the flu shot, which is given annually.
Most local pharmacies and community health clinics offer pneumococcal vaccines, but you may want to call ahead just to be sure.
For more information, visit the CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination webpage at CDC.gov/ vaccines/vpd/pneumo/index.html.
OTHER VACCINES
To avoid getting pneumonia as a consequence of a viral infection, you should also consider getting a flu shot, RSV shot and a Covid-19 booster in the fall. While vaccines cannot prevent every case of pneumonia (or other conditions they’re given for), those who get them usually have milder infections, a shorter course of illness and fewer serious complications than people who don’t get vaccinated. The flu shot and Covid booster are both covered by Medicare Part B, while the RSV vaccine (which is recommended every other year) is covered under Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plans. All three shots can also be given simultaneously.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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McCarthy returns to Coldwell Banker Bain
Keoki McCarthy has returned to Coldwell Banker Bain as a principal managing broker for its Lake Union, Madison Park and Magnolia offices and comes to the role with 25 years of real estate experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Washington State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. “I started my brokerage
SCHOOLS
From page 1
the budget deficit.
in 2001. Through the years it was McCarthy Real Estate that became McCarthy GMAC Real Estate, followed by Real Living Northwest Realtors and then in 2022 we became Corcoran Lifestyle Properties,” said McCarthy. “Today, having passed the baton of my old brokerage, I am thrilled to return to Coldwell Banker Bain as a principal managing broker. I hope I can give as much as I got all those years ago when I first started to the agents that I will be serving in the Lake Union, Madison Park and Magnolia offices. I see this less as a new job and more
Total staff-related costs make up 83.3% of district spending, so any cuts to save $64 million could come from transportation changes, staffing reductions, increased class sizes, program closures, mandatory fees and salary reductions.
GRIVAS
From page 1
well-drained soil, this droughttolerant shrub offers contrast in texture and color and will prefer to dry out between waterings. The foliage is the star with artemesias; small yellow flowers if they appear, tend to be “insignificant.”
It grows from 1-2’ high and up to 2.5’ wide making a potential beefy groundcover for a parking strip or other challenging hot spot.
Can you have too many hakonechloas? Not with new cultivars like this.
Hakonechloa ‘Lime Zest’ (Hakonechloa macra ‘Hakbri2’) comes from Briggs Nursery in Elma. It’s billed as the brightest available, with lime and white variegation on chartreuse leaves, with – did I mention? – pink stems! Side note: this has already found a partially shaded space in my yard paired with a dark leaved hardy hibiscus.
Like other hakone grass, this one is deciduous, reaching 1’ high and 2’ wide. They look wonderful solo in containers or massed in undulating waves.
Forsythia x intermedia ‘Discovery’ is part of the HILLIER Collection from Hillier Nurseries in the United Kingdom but is introduced by Meridian Young Nurseries in Lynden. It stands out with cream-white, widely striped foliage and a compact habit. Traditional forsythia have a blowsy, arching habit. They look wonderful in a row from a distance along a fence or draping along a wall.
as a return home.”
In 1995, McCarthy walked into Coldwell Banker Bain as a young college graduate looking to start a career in real estate and interviewed for an assistant role. Although he did not get the assistant position, he was recommended to Broker Lew Mason for consideration as a real estate agent. After negotiating with Mason, he began his real estate career and was mentored by Broker Wendy Lister. For more information, visit ColdwellBankerHomes. com.
Seattle
mayor's proposed budget closes $250M gap through layoffs and payroll tax
By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced his 2025-2026 biennium budget proposal that closes a $250 million general fund gap through staff layoffs and a reliance on the city's payroll expense tax.
Harrell’s budget cuts 159 city positions. More than half of those positions were not filled due, in part, to a hiring freeze that was ordered earlier this year.
Out of the proposed 159 positions eliminations, 76, or 48%, would be layoffs.
Harrell ordered city department directors to review their departments to make efficiency gains. Yet, layoffs were still included in the budget.
city positions. More than half of those positions were not filled due, in part, to a hiring freeze that was ordered earlier this year.
Out of the proposed 159 positions eliminations, 76, or 48%, would be layoffs.
Harrell ordered city department directors to review their departments to make efficiency gains. Yet, layoffs were still included in the budget.
Harrell’s proposed 20252026 budget closes the $250 million gap without implementing any new taxes as promised by the mayor during his 2024 state of the city address. This was done by relying on the city’s JumpStart Payroll Expense Tax.
Seattle employees who make at least $150,000 per year. Companies such as Amazon, Meta and Google are subject to the tax.
The proposed 20252025 budget utilizes $287 million in payroll expense tax revenues to support the general fund.
Seattle previously authorized approximately $105 million in 2023 and $130 million in 2024 as the maximum amounts available to transfer from the JumpStart Payroll Expense Tax Fund to the general fund to address the budget gap.
The school board was set to take a final vote on which option to choose this December before winter break, but that is not guaranteed now as a result of the district canceling upcoming community meetings regarding potential school consolidations.
A new schedule of public engagement sessions will be released soon.
However, in smaller gardens, people prune them into odd tetrahedrons to fit, which doesn’t end well. Design-wise, although they offer precious early color, they offer little in the way of foliage interest the rest of the year. This one, being slightly more compact at 5’ x 5’ and variegated, may remedy both of those issues.
Note to breeders: next, can you make me a really dwarf shrubby dogwood with nice variegation, please? I love Cornus alba “Ivory Halo,” which runs 6’ tall and wide. I’d need a shrink ray to fit it in my garden. I’m thinking two or three feet tall would be perfect. Briggs Nursery also won for a dwarf, early fruiting mulberry ‘Mojo Berry’ Mulberry (Morus rotundiloba Mojo Berry. The average size is 7’ tall by 3’ wide. PPAF). It requires no chilling hours to set fruit, so it works well in warmer hardiness zones like Seattle’s. While most mulberries fruit for three weeks, Mojo Berry bears fruit intermittently from May – September.
For the houseplant parents, Cascade Tropicals in Snohomish took home a prize for Philodendron ‘Caramel Marble,’ noted for distinctive serrated leaves with bold irregular gold variegation that emerge red. Like ‘Thai Constellation’ and ‘Pink Princess’ before it, these prized hot new philodendrons command crazy prices when they first hit the market. You may want to wait a couple of years on this one, as internet prices per plant are over $200.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced his 2025-2026 biennium budget proposal that closes a $250 million general fund gap through staff layoffs and a reliance on the city's payroll expense tax.
Harrell’s budget cuts 159
According to the proposed budget, the payroll tax is expected to generate $520 million in revenue next year.
The tax is paid by Seattle businesses with at least $8.5 million in local annual payroll. The rate the businesses pay ranges between 0.7% and 2.4% on salaries and wages paid to
Seattle’s budget deficit is the result of general fund revenues growing slower than the rate of growth for general government costs. The end of one-time federal COVID-19 relief grants also dealt a significant blow to Seattle’s budget.
The budget will now go to the Seattle City Council for a series of discussions over the next two months. A final vote on the proposed budget is tentatively set for Nov. 21.
McCarthy
Garden Ghost artemesia
COURTESY GARDEN MEDIA GROUP COURTESY OF DIGGER MAGAZINE
Bowling for food
By Lynda Balslev
Bowls are a popular and trendy category of food. The concept is simple: An individual serving bowl is arranged with various composed ingredients, such as cooked grains, vegetables, salads and proteins, that are connected by flavors and spices from regional cuisines. It's a satisfying and healthy sum of its individual parts -- and fun to eat.
The variations are limitless, and the seasonings and cultural influences are the distinguishing factors. A bowl may contain fresh or stir-fried vegetables, pickles and salsas, beans or legumes, rice or another grain, and cooked proteins, such as meat, chicken, tofu or shrimp.
This recipe is influenced by Southwestern cuisine. You can play with the ingredients and mix and match to your preference. Tofu, the main protein in the bowl, is a wonderful vessel for a marinade, and when cooked, its edges crisp, yielding a delightful texture. It's important to drain tofu and press it before cooking. This step removes any excess liquid, which ensures crispy results. Not a tofu fan? Skirt or flank steak, chicken or shrimp are great substitutions.
Note that the rice and salsa require advance preparation before assembling the bowl. They can be prepped while the tofu presses and marinates. They also make nice side dishes for other meals.
SOUTHWESTERN TOFU BOWL WITH CORN SALSA AND CILANTRO RICE
Active time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour plus draining and marinating time
Yield: Serves 4
1 (14-ounce) package extra-firm tofu
MARINADE:
■ 1 to 2 chipotles in adobo sauce, plus 2 tablespoons juice from the can
■ 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced
■ 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
■ 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
■ 1 tablespoon maple syrup
■ 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
■ 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
■ Kosher salt and freshly ground black
pepper
RICE:
■ 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
■ 1 cup long-grain white rice
■ 1 1/2 cups water
■ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
■ 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
■ 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
SALSA:
■ 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
■ Kernels from 1 ear of yellow corn or 1 cup defrosted frozen corn
■ 1 small poblano pepper, seeded, finely diced
■ 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
■ 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
■ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
■ 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
■ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
■ 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
■ 1 tablespoon olive oil
■ Salt and black pepper
■ 1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
■ 2 avocados, halved and sliced
■ Cilantro sprigs
■ Lime wedges
Drain the tofu and slice each block in half. Place the tofu on a cutting board lined with a kitchen towel or paper towels. Place several layers of paper towels on top and weigh down with another cutting board. Let stand for at least 30 minutes to drain. Once drained, cut into bite-size cubes.
While the tofu is draining, combine the marinade ingredients in a food processor
and process to blend.
Arrange the drained tofu in one layer in a baking dish. Pour the marinade over and turn the tofu to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
While the tofu is marinating, make the rice. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice; stir to coat and lightly toast, 15 to 30 seconds. Add the water and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, remove the lid and place a kitchen towel over the pot. Cover with the lid and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and towel and fluff the rice with a fork. Add the cilantro and lime juice and fluff once more.
King County still faces future cuts despite new proposed taxes in 2025
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced his 2025 budget proposal that could balance revenues and expenditures, but cuts still loom in the future.
The proposed 2025 budget totals about $10.2 billion, with the general fund projected to receive $1.16 billion in revenue. Constantine's proposed budget also includes one-time funding from salary savings.
The county was tasked with addressing a $50 million general fund budget deficit in May 2023. Washington state law requires counties to adopt a balanced budget.
Constantine said the general fund budget is not sustainable and is projected to be out of balance by about $150 million by 2026. Major budget reductions are expected after 2025 as a result.
“Without new revenue sources, future budgets will require significant cuts,” Constantine said in a news release. “Those cuts would directly, negatively impact the people of King County.”
The cuts would mostly come
from human services and criminal justice functions, according to the county.
The budget itself states that the “crisis is one year away,” as King County’s general fund is heavily dependent on the property tax. In the proposed 2025 budget, 56% of net general fund revenue comes from property taxes.
Constantine recently proposed a modified county hospital tax of 8.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value that would raise an estimated $74.6 million for the 2025 budget.
Out of the generated funds, $25 million would go to 11 public health clinics spread across the county, and eliminate the need for
them to be covered by the county’s general fund.
The 8.5-cent tax would cost the owner of a median-priced King County home an additional $75 a year. This proposed tax is included in the 2025 budget proposal.
The county is doing an annual budget for 2025 and will revert to biennial budgets for 2026-2027 and beyond. This comes as a result of voters approving a proposal to shift King County elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years to increase turnout.
The King County Council is anticipated to vote on the 2025 budget in November.
Combine the salsa ingredients in a bowl and mix to blend. Taste for seasoning. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat. Arrange the tofu on the skillet and cook until browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and season with salt and black pepper.
Divide the rice between four serving bowls. Arrange the tofu, salsa, tomatoes and avocado over the rice. Drizzle with the reserved marinade, if desired. Garnish with additional cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
Lynda Balslev is an award-winning writer, cookbook author, and recipe developer based in northern California. Visit TasteFood at TasteFoodblog.com.
Overlook Walk opens Friday
Friends of Waterfront Park and the City of Seattle invites the public to celebrate the grand opening of Overlook Walk on Friday, Oct. 4, a major milestone in the transformation of Seattle's waterfront. The event, beginning at 4:30 p.m. and continuing until 7 p.m. The event will feature a variety of exciting activities, music, and interactive experiences designed to engage visitors and highlight the significance of this new elevated park be-tween Pike Place Market, downtown, and Waterfront Park.
“The opening of Overlook Walk is a significant step toward fulfilling the vision of a fully connected and accessible waterfront for all residents,” said Joy Shigaki, president and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Park. “This iconic location offers an unparalleled experience and will be a place of gathering, exploration, and re-flection for generations to come. We encourage people to come back again and again as the full park comes to life.”
Overlook Walk is an integral part of the city’s broader vision to create a more connected,
ac-accessible, and vibrant waterfront. It will introduce a variety of new public spaces suited for programming, recreation, and community gatherings. Its upper deck offers expansive views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, and Seattle’s skyline, while the Salish Plaza and Salish Steps provide amphitheater-style seating ideal for outdoor performances, art installations, educational programs, and relaxing with friends. These versatile spaces, along with the large Park Promenade, are designed to host a wide range of activities yearround – from cultural festivals and public markets to intimate performances and fitness classes. Visitors can enjoy a seamless flow between the historic Pike Place Market, downtown Seattle, and the 20-acre Waterfront Park, creating new ways to experience Seattle’s rich natural and cultural offerings.
The day’s celebrations will kick off with an official private ribboncutting ceremony, hosted by the City of Seattle from 3-4 p.m. Following the ribbon-cutting will be a full slate of all-age activities from 4:30 to 7 p.m. between Overlook Walk and Pier 62.
By Spencer Pauley
The Center Square
Submitted
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LYNDA BALSLEV
USFWS appeals to remove endangered species status for gray wolf
By Carleen Johnson
The Biden administration is seeking to overturn a 2022 district court decision that reinstated Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves across most of the U.S.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service hopes to reinstate a rule passed under the Trump administration to remove ESA protections for gray wolves in the lower 48 states and put the animals under state management.
Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice filed an 87-page appeal of a California district court’s 2022 decision that blocked the Trump-era rule and kept existing listing regulations in place. The district court’s decision kept wolves in Minnesota a threatened species, and an endangered species in 44 states. In the appeal, USFWS argues that the district court incorrectly interpreted the ESA, which the government contends is only meant to ensure species are not in danger of going extinct, not to restore species to their full historical range.
“The ESA is clear: its goal is to prevent extinction, not to restore species to their
pre-western settlement numbers and range,”
USFWS argued in its court filing.
The ruling may not have an impact on gray wolf status in Washington, which is part of the Northern Rocky Mountain Region for the gray wolf and also includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, the eastern third of Oregon and a tiny part of Utah.
Staci Lehman, communications manager for the Washington Department of Fish &
Wildlife, emailed The Center Square.
“If the federal appeals court agrees to reinstate the rule passed under the Trump administration to remove Endangered Species Act protections, state and tribal wildlife management agencies will resume responsibility for gray wolves," she said. "In Washington, we have already been doing that for the most part."
She went on to say, “WDFW has facilitated wolf recovery for more than a
decade and is well-prepared to be the management authority for wolves statewide. The majority of wolf packs in Washington reside in the eastern third of the state where wolves have not been federally listed under the Endangered Species Act since 2011.”
The filing is not going over well with groups seeking enhanced protections for various groups of gray wolves, whose members argue turning over protections to the states will reverse decades of recovery.
Susan Holmes, executive director of the Endangered Species Coalition, called the filing “bewildering” and said if the government’s appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is successful, federal protections for gray wolves would be lifted, “robbing the species of important tools and protections that are key to conservation and recovery efforts.”
The government argues in its appeal that “The gray wolf is one of the ESA’s biggest success stories: it has made a remarkable recovery and now thrives in the continental United States in two large, expanding metapopulations that are also connected to
large populations of wolves in Canada."
Livestock groups have continued to push back on protections for the gray wolf due to attacks on cattle and other farm animals.
As previously reported by The Center Square, Pam Lewison, director of the Center for Agriculture at the Washington Policy
Center think tank, said the wolves have rebounded significantly and that farmers with livestock are living with that fact. Washington’s gray wolf population has increased for 15 straight years, reaching a total population of 260, according to the latest count conducted by WDFW and Colville tribe.
The Center Square
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