Dubious Distinctions

The amount of fentanyl seized by the federal DEA has increased by 1670% since 2019 (DEA).
#1 largest increase in drug overdose deaths over the past year 2022-2023 (CDC Data).
King County had over 1,000 fatal fentanyl overdoses in 2023, surpassing last year’s (2022) record by 47% ( The SeattleTimes).
Opioid deaths have more than doubled since 2019 (UW).
First responders called for 2,000 opioid overdoses per month in 2023 (DOH).
Fentanyl was detected in 46% of surface samples and 25% of air samples in buses and trains (UW).
Fentanyl overdoses are up 71% since September 2022 – All overdoses are up 45% in King County since September 2023 (The Seattle Times).
Washington leads the country in the fastest increase (both raw numbers and percentage); In 2023, there were 1,065 fentanyl-involved deaths in King County alone (King 5).
Numbers of children overdosing are skyrocketing, from 25 in 2021 to 46 in 2022 in Clark County alone (Seattle Times).
22 children in state care died in 2022 from overdosing or accidentally ingesting drugs (Seattle Times).
Washignton ranks #3 in 2023 for number of fentanyl pills seized by the federal DEA- 3,604,408 pills (Kiro 7)

Washington is a top state for this devastating holiday crime (KONA)
#51 in police officers per capita behind all states and D.C. (WASPC Report)
Homicide is up 96% since 2019 culminating in a new state record (WASPC)
61% of violent crimes go unsolved (WA Criminal Justice Snapshot)
#1 state most impacted by retail theft (Forbes)
#2 for all property crime (Statista)
#3 for automobile thefts (KIRO TV)
Public Service Announcement, One Pill Kills (TX) (DPS)
We are #2 in the nation, skyrocketing from 45K in 2021 to 55K in 2022, directly tied to increased crime (Koin News)
We are #1 in the nation and #3 in total value of stolen goods, more aggressive/violent( Forbes).
Record high 400 people murdered in Washington to date (King 5).
The homicide rate increased 58% from 2012-2022. The violent crime rate increased 26% from 2012-2022. The aggravated assault rate increased 37% from 2012-2022. Rape incidents reported to police increased 20% from 2012-2022. 61% of violent crimes reported to law enforcement were not solved in 2022. The percentage of violent crimes that went unsolved in WA increased 12% from 2012-2022 (CSG).
We are dead last in the nation and a record low in the number of law enforcement officers per capita. Clark County is the lowest in the state (House Dems).
#1 in the nation for burglaries (The Olympian)

#3 highest gas prices in the nation (Forbes).
#4 most expensive states to buy a home (Forbes).
#4 highest combined sales tax rate in the country (Tax Foundation).
#35 for business climate, down from #15 in 2022 prior to the capital gains tax (State Business Tax Climate Index).
Seattle has the #9 highest cost of living (Axios).
#4 most expensive state to buy groceries (King 5).

#50 in housing units per household (Lt. Gov. Report)
#4 highest homelessness rate (U.S. News & World Reports)
Homeless population is at an all time high and grew at the rate of 11% per year (Seattle Times).
#6 largest number of homeless students (Building Changes)
Estimated shortfall in housing is over a quarter of a million of new housing units(The Center Square).
For 2023 Washignton ranks 4th in the nation for homelessness, with 36 out of every 10,000 citizens experiencing homelessness. (HUD)

63% of children under age five do not have access to a nearby childcare provider, which reduces the state workforce by 133,000 (Commerce Report)
#9 for most expensive infant childcare (Economic Policy Institute)
The average family spends over 35% of their income to send two children to childcare (Economic Policy Institute)
#4 most expensive state for childcare (Help Advisor). (Seattle is 2nd most expensive city for childcare)

#1 worst state for potholes analyzing data from 2020-2023 (USA Today).
60% of roads need maintenance totaling 11,000 miles of backlog and costing $11 billion (The Center Square)
Fewest working ferries and on-time performance has declined for 5 years (KING TV)
Statewide, 810 people were killed in crashes involving a motor vehicle in 2023, a 33-year high. That’s up from 743 in 2022 (Seattle Times)

70% of critical salmon species are not meeting recovery goals or are “in crisis” (Salmon Recovery Office Report)
Nearly 50% of Washington’s freshwater and 20% of its marine water is polluted (Department of Ecology).
Three times more litter on public roads than the national average (Department of Ecology | KUOW).

WA is 45th in the nation in election integrity. (Center Square | Heritage Foundation)