By Ken Robinson

Managing Editor

Every week there is a surprise in the discovery of a talented, interesting, heroic or compelling and even notorious person in our community. And it is a reminder of why we do what we do at the paper.

Writer Lindsay Peyton forwarded this quote to underscore our mission:

Talking to a stranger is an act of generosity. But listening to one is as well.

And this is what true journalism is: sitting down with someone, looking him in the eye, and asking the question "Who are you?" The story begins with their answer. 

-- novelist Hanya Yanagihara

We are always on the lookout for an opportunity to tell someone’s story.  In West Seattle, we have written about Sally Jewell, who once was president of outdoor company REI, then went on to become  Secretary of the Interior (and we wish she was still in that role…) . Jim Whitaker, also a West Seattle figure of note, also helmed REI. 

In Ballard, we have written about Ole Bardahl, who founded his eponymous oil company in 1939 and which still operates here.

In Burien, we have run many stories about Mary Kay LeTourneau and her now-husband, Vili Fualaau. 

We mention those examples because we suspect you may be familiar with them. But other personalities have had their story told. Who do you know? Do you know someone whose story should be told? If you do, tell us about them and we will consider telling their story.

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The story in the Seattle Times about how the Washington State Department of Licensing has been helping the federal government track down immigrants by giving out license information was a shocker. The fact that this department operates with no oversight is just wrong. No state department should be able to make their own rules about what is okay to reveal to outside agencies.

As of Monday morning, this practice has been halted by the governor and the deputy directed told to kick his lunch pail down the road.

In the current political climate, where some departments of the federal government are taking their marching orders from a president most people on this state did not want, this act by the DOL seems way out of bounds. Gov. Inslee had previously told that department to limit their cooperation with the feds. But the DOL found a way to take unilateral action.  The Governor would be will within his rights to replace employees there at several levels. We need to restore confidence with the public in this matter. 

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Some good news can be found in a bill that would adjust fees for auto licenses based on current value of the vehicle. The bizarre method used to calculate tab fees based on the needs of Sound Transit really put the wool over everyone’s eyes, until now. There is clamoring for a roll-back of this method and rightly so. In response, Sound Transit, has said they will just ask for more money and stretch our the development of light rail for more years. Maybe it is time to take a look at who is running Sound Transit.