- Moses Lake, WA
Governor Jay Inslee stopped in Moses Lake to discuss with city council and the city manager the rising concerns of the regions rising housing prices and homelessness concerns. The governor also stopped in REC Silicon by Wheeler to see how they are tackling climate change by reducing their emissions making silicon for solar panels. While visiting the Norwegian plant Inslee said
"I am so glad to have these leaders diversifying our energy production, combating climate change & reducing our carbon emissions. I look forward to seeing more companies invest in our economy & expand job opportunities for WA."
After visiting the silicon plant the governor and his wife headed to the Civic Center where he and the city council and city manager discussed the concerns they had with the sharp rise in housing costs in the Moses Lake region and how they would prepare for a non equal inflation rate in the future forcing families out of homes and onto the streets. Both locally based State representative Tom Dent (R) and State Senator Judy Warnick (R) were not in attendance at the housing and homelessness meeting nor the Governor's tour and media press statement at the Sleep Center.
After having a meeting with local city leaders Inslee then headed to the Moses Lake Sleep center where he was given a full tour of the facility. Inslee acknowledged that the hosing price increase and homelessness issues are not a region issue but a state wide issue. Both the City Manager and the Governor agreed that the main issue for the sharp rise in housing prices was due to the fact that there's not enough housing in the city and surrounding areas with the steady rise in the yearly population of those moving in.
"At my request put another 120 Million dollars at the end of the last session" We have more work to do as a state wide basis we know we need we've gotta have a better solution to the housing and homelessness crisis" Inslee added.