District 26 Lawmakers In Spotlight
The state’s lawmaking body has been in session less than a few weeks and already District 26’s elected officials are finding themselves in controversies. And both situations don’t have to do with any particular bill under consideration.
State Senator Michelle Stennett (D) confirmed to the local media that the high-profile Croy Street Exchange Building at the corner of River and Croy streets in downtown Hailey will be turned into workforce housing. Stennett is a co-owner of the building.
In a resort town with sky-high real estate prices and a high number of working-class residents, that should be entirely good news. But, according to a report in the Mountain Express, at least some current business tenants feel Stennett’s 30-day eviction notice caught them off guard.
State Representative Muffy Davis (D) made both statewide and national news recently. Several weeks ago, Muffy and Rep. Sue Chew (D-Boise) filed a lawsuit against Idaho Speaker of the House Scott Bedke (R-Oakley). Davis and Chew were asking for remote work accommodations to be made for them while in session because of preexisting conditions that make them more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. Davis is a paraplegic and Chew has diabetes.
On Friday, Jan. 15, the Idaho House voted along party lines to reject the request. However, Bedke and the two representatives are still seeking an in-person work alternative that would better mitigate their COVID-related concerns.