As we approach the end of the year, it can only mean one thing: Another legislative session is approaching and, based on what our governor has said recently, we’d best hang onto our wallets.

In an article published by The Chronicle on Nov. 28, Gov. Jay Inslee announced from Green Hill School that he proposes building another “juvenile” facility in Aberdeen to address overcrowding here at Green Hill in Chehalis.

It’s necessary to address what he described as a “juvenile crime wave.” Further, he has decided it is the bestest (juvenile word, at best, I realize) and fastest way to address this problem.

A couple of questions crossed my mind when I saw the article, the first being, did it really take parading 10 public employees out to attend the press conference to make that announcement? 

The article didn’t say who they were, what their roles were, or where they came from, though they were identified as various state leaders in captions. Surely they all didn’t come from Olympia for a photo? 

That would be silly and expensive.

But more importantly, there have been many problems with crime at Green Hill School, and I wondered if he’d solved any of that? 

I don’t think he has.

And I wondered about the old Maple Lane facility in Grand Mound that was shuttered over a decade ago, but I didn’t have to look very far. In fact, the Dec. 5 edition of The Chronicle included an article about the State of Washington getting sued by former residents — 300 of them — for treatment they received dating back years at Maple Lane and other facilities.

It would seem to suggest that not just under Inslee (he’s the latest governor), they haven’t done well at this for years, and maybe it has even gotten worse. So, yes, building another problem seems like a good idea when you can’t fix the one you have. The state is now planning to build a new juvenile detention center at Stafford Creek in Grays Harbor County.

I also place the blame on the people who thought it was a good idea to change the definition of “juvenile” to include adults and mix the groups. Even though I barely graduated from high school, I could have told them this would be an issue. But, of course, in our state, even the courts think it's a winning idea. 

If the government is good at anything, it’s excelling in too many bad ideas, failing to execute, and covering up or excusing poor results. Luckily, we have a newly-elected Democratic governor-elect and we continue to have an all-Democrat controlled Legislature, so we can expect more of the same.

Speaking of more of the same, in a completely unrelated matter (not!) in the Dec. 5 edition of The Chronicle was an article titled “Gov. Inslee orders hiring and travel freeze for state agencies.” So he smartly proposes millions or more in a new facility, staffing and all the rest, and a few days later says the state is broke?

Now that's the Inslee I’ll remember. No new taxes, he said. But then he did just that. Build and spend, he says. But we’re broke.

This only makes perfect sense in Olympia.

Growing up after my dad died, we had very little money, and I can recall just telling my mom to write a check to cover expenses. Because that made sense to a child. But how does an adult propose what Inslee did knowing the state is broke? Here’s where the “hang onto your wallet” part comes in. Be ready for more new taxes.

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Since the Legislature has extra time on their hands, they have time to tinker. One Republican, sadly, has once again proposed to make the title of “The Evergreen State” official. Apparently, we have been using this title for years and, although we’ve managed, it's not official and that needs to change.

I have mistakenly assumed after seeing this on the license plate frame and many other places it already was official, but alas, no. And so, friends, this must change, and I can’t tell you how much better our lives will be once it does.

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John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.