News

Stay up to date with the latest dispatches from Futurewise

Futurewise is hiring a Community Outreach & Education Coordinator!

Are you a sharp, energetic self-starter with excellent communication and interpersonal skills?  Do you know someone else who is? We’re seeking the perfect fit for a new team member who will educate and engage the public on the benefits of … Continue reading

October 24, 2017

Working on the ground in the Tri-Cities

The City of Pasco – one of the cities in the Tri-Cities region – was the 10th fastest growing city in Washington State last year.  The city, as well as the region in general, is seeing a huge influx of … Continue reading

September 25, 2017

A rushed fix of the Hirst ruling won’t solve Washington’s water woes

Posted at A Rushed “Fix” of Hirst Ruling Won’t Solve Water Woes — 9/13/2017 Counter to the narrative that has been pressed by opposition, the Washington State Supreme Court’s water-availability Hirst decision isn’t in need of a “fix.” What we … Continue reading

September 13, 2017

Futurewise on KEXP

Futurewise Executive Director, Chris Wierzbicki, and Darcy Nonemacher, Government Affairs Director for the Washington Environmental Council talk with Diane Horn of KEXP about the wrap up of the 2017 legislative session on this “Sustainability Segment.”  Click hereto listen.

August 16, 2017

Hirst doesn’t need to be “fixed” – it needs support to be implemented locally.

Posted at Seattle Times – Op-Ed – Implement Hirst decision to allocate state’s water rights cautiously and fairly — 8/7/2017 The Hirst Decision applies common sense to our state’s growth and water resources. Read this piece by Timothly Ballew II, … Continue reading

August 8, 2017

Legislators use Hirst to hold WA taxpayers hostage

Local legislators are frustrated with their inability to work through a negotiation on Hirst that would better plan water resources for rural communities. There are many paths forward that would continue to protect farms, wildlife and property owners.

July 24, 2017

As legislative session ends, the public loses out to special interests

With the closing of the 2017 legislative session on July 20th – after three overtime sessions – it’s clear  that the people of Washington lost out to the power of special interests on a number of fronts. On the Hirst decision – … Continue reading

July 21, 2017

Superior Court Judge Denies Okanogan County Motions to Dismiss and Stays Appeals

On June 21, 2017, Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Christopher Culp denied motions by Okanogan County to dismiss Futurewise and the Methow Valley Citizens Council appeals of the Okanogan County comprehensive plan and zoning regulations. If granted, these motions would … Continue reading

June 26, 2017

Join us at the Growing Seattle Candidate Forum!

The next four years of Seattle’s City Council and Mayor’s Office will have a lot to contend with as our region continues to grow, especially in terms of housing and transportation. Come join us and other local groups to make your … Continue reading

June 5, 2017

Don’t blame GMA for supressing housing in Washington

If someone tells you the Growth Management Act is responsible for a housing shortage, do not believe them. According to just issued Census data, Washington State ranked sixth in the number of total building permits issued in 2016 –  see a … Continue reading

June 4, 2017

Futurewise releases Climate Challenges Atlas

As the federal administration is considering turning their backs on climate science with the potential pull-out of the Paris Climate Accord, Futurewise is recognizing that the impacts of climate disruption are very real, particularly as they relate to vulnerable communities.  … Continue reading

May 31, 2017

Pierce County Farm Land Under Threat

Despite years of work on behalf of Futurewise and the Puyallup Watershed Initiative partners, and thousands of dollars of investment, the Pierce County Council is ready to scrap protections for local farms.  This piece from King 5 tells the story. We’ll be … Continue reading

May 3, 2017