Drugs:
- 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)
Public Safety:
- #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)
Affordability:
- #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).
Housing and Homelessness
- #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)
Education:
ChildCare:
- 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)
Roads and Ferries:
- #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)
Environment:
Elections:
