Pot discounts, food drives: Fed. workers get help in Washington
Jan 25, 2019, 5:43 AM | Updated: 9:22 am
TSA workers, air traffic controllers, and more joined a rally on Tuesday protesting the federal shutdown. (Matt Pitman, KIRO Radio)
(Matt Pitman, KIRO Radio)
Many agencies and businesses have stepped up to help workers during the federal shutdown. Count Seattle pot shop Uncle Ike’s among them.
A promotional text message was sent to Uncle Ike’s customers Thursday around noon which states “When they furlough, WE GO HIGH!” The message continues to state that Ike’s is offering federal workers a 10 percent discount until the end of the shutdown. Customers simply have to show their federal ID to get the deal.
RELATED: Seattle’s General Strike of 1919
RELATED: Gov. shutdown delays Alaska Airlines opening at Paine Field
“The shutdown is a stupid partisan cock fight,” Uncle Ike’s owner Ian Eisenberg told MyNorthwest. “Cannabis is a natural bridge builder, not a wall divider.”
“It is an honer to be able to help federal workers be a little more comfortable in this tough time,” he said.
Eisenberg said he doesn’t know how many federal workers generally come into his store. Such employees can fall under federal rules, which still consider marijuana illegal.
Bills aiming to end the government shutdown failed Thursday. President Donald Trump continues his demand for funding to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. But Democrats, who control the House, do not favor the wall. A Republican plan to provide $5.7 billion in wall funding failed. That deal would have opened the government until September. A Democratic plan also failed, but received two more votes. That plan would have opened the government until Feb. 8, but had no wall funding.
Many federal workers in the state continue to go without pay. Eisenberg is just on party in Washington responding to the government shutdown from his corner of business. Though others in the region have focused efforts on food drives and government assistance.
Food drive, gift cards
AAA is collecting non-perishable food and $20 gift cards to online retailers, restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores. Donations can be made at AAA stores and insurance offices.
“TSA Agents, Customs Officials and Air Traffic Controllers help AAA employees, members and travel clients get to and from their destinations safely,” AAA said in a statement. “Our AAA Travel Agents wanted to share our gratitude and support for the federal employees who we work with and who aid our clients.”
Free meals
A Sikh temple in Auburn, Gurudwara Sacha Marag, is offering free, hot dinners to federal workers every day until the government reopens.
Temple board member Aman Ghag says this is part of their traditional Langar Service, which usually takes place Sundays for the greater Auburn community. He says that’s now going to extend to every day for federal works.
“When there’s a need, a natural disaster or a need like this, we want to step up for the community and help out where we can,” Ghag said.
“This made sense for us to help the American people who are in need and provide food and service,” he said.
Ghag says federal workers can show up from 5-7:30 p.m. every night for a hot meal and food pantry items.
The temple is along 286th Place in Auburn, near Mountain View High School.
Unemployment, utility help
Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced Thursday that the state is offering unemployment benefits to federal employees. He said about 8,000 essential federal workers in Washington would be affected, such as Coast Guardsmen, FBI agents, and Border Patrol workers who are required to be on the job without pay during the partial federal government shutdown.
“It is unconscionable that the president of the United States has turned his federal workers into political pawns,” Inslee said Thursday. “It is wholly unacceptable, and Washington state will not stand by while our public servants work day after day while struggling to make ends meet. ”
Impacted federal workers can file a claim by going to the Employment Security Department website here.
Utilities
In Seattle, Mayor Jenny Durkan also announced this week that federal employees can defer utility payments while the shutdown continues. She signed an executive order making it official.
Tacoma Public Utilities has offered to extend payment due dates 60 days, and will waive late fees on bills.
Puget Sound Energy has said they will evaluate each case individually, but will generally allow customers in good standing to delay payments.
Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest
