💰 Is Rick Steves a good millionaire?

Do Good Millionaires Exist? Ask Rick Steves

Travel writer, host, and Washington legend Rick Steves made headlines last week after news broke that he bought the 100-year-old Edmonds Theater. This comes after he bought a hygiene center in Lynnwood, and publicly supported the millionaires tax. At a time when people seem to be frustrated by millionaires’ greed, we wanted to ask Rick why he decided to put his money towards these places and what he loves about living in Washington. [City Cast Seattle]

• Why he bought the theater: “I care about the arts…I care about the fabric of a community and the value of getting people together.” Rick said, “I measure profit by how I can contribute to the fabric of our community here. And this is going to be very profitable in that regard.”
• On how wealthy people should spend their money: “I'm making a case for the selfishness of being philanthropic. If you somehow produce or inherit or get more money than what you need, analyze…what you need for long-term security, and then everything else is wasted if you consume it.”
• Living and traveling in WA: “There's…a one day driving loop north of here, you know, over to Whidbey Island and Deception Pass and all the flowers and that kind of thing. That's a beautiful dose of the Northwest…Edmonds is quite an amazing place…I can't imagine a better place for me to have as my base.”

🚈 Fare gates coming to light rail: Sound Transit approved a proposal to add turnstiles at 14 light rail stations, which make up 85% of all entries for light rail riders. The reason? The agency says that 1/3 of riders are not paying their fee. The gates will be added between late 2029 and early 2030. It is expected to bring in $30 million of additional revenue per year. [Sound Transit Blog]

⛔ Elevated lead levels in Interbay: King County Public Health recommends pedestrians avoid the 4200 block of 23rd W between W Commodore Way and W Elmore Street due to elevated lead levels. If you do have to walk in this area, clean your shoes, damp-dust and mop your floor, and vacuum with a HEPA vacuum. Lead exposure is extremely serious to kids and pets. Please be safe, Seattle! [Public Health Insider]

🗽 DOJ suing WA over education policy: The DOJ alleges that Washington has “ignored” laws that bar undocumented immigrants and those without legal status from in-state tuition, loan eligibility and grants for education. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown calls the lawsuit “politically motivated.” Washington passed a law in 2003 that gives undocumented students resident status if they meet certain criteria, like having a high school degree or living here for a year. [KUOW]