On Monday, March 30, Governor Inslee urged our community to begin reporting social distancing and essential workers to the local police department.

I want everyone to be safe and healthy by voluntarily complying with orders and abiding by social distancing and “essential workforce” orders. However, I do not agree with the Governors statement that neighbors should be reporting other neighbors to local law enforcement for social distancing violations.

The #StayHealthyStayHome order was and remains arbitrary and vague. The Governor has already had two press conferences trying to clarify and explain the vague orders. I oppose the Governor threatening our community and taking a business license away from a family or small business in financial desperation.

Peter Abbarno, Candidate for State House of Representatives in the 20th Legislative District.

The Governor outlined his plan:

• Tier one: State or local authorities will issue a warning if they receive a complaint.
• Tier two: Action will be taken if they don’t stop, starting with possible citations, suspension notices, or revoking a business license.
• Tier three: If the violation continues, authorities will refer complaints to the attorney general or law enforcement.

If you see a violation of social distancing or a business open that is not essential, the Governor says to call your local police department on them and report the violation. The Governor even created a well planned and contemplated website to make it easy for neighbors to report their community members for a violation.

On March 26, only 5 days before this recent order, the Governor praised Washingtonians for helping flatten the curve and even released a graph. The Governor and Attorney General now want to turn ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ into ‘neighbors reporting neighbors’.

I urge the community to continue to follow social distancing recommendations and do your very best to comply with the order outlining ‘essential workers’ and ‘essential services.’

Continue supporting your neighbors and educating your neighbors and do not fall into the community policing that can quickly turn dangerous, and be an outlet for frustrations, personal vendettas, and revenge. That is not who we are or who we want to become.

Peter Abbarno, Candidate for State House of Representatives in the 20th Legislative District.