Former state Sen. Jeralita Costa, a Snohomish County Democrat, has been hired for $57,240 a year to become an advocate for female inmates who are victims of staff sexual misconduct.

This job was created by the state Department of Corrections as part of a deal with some inmates at Purdy who said they were assaulted.

I wrote a story about this a couple years ago, but I'll have to look it up in the TNT library. Also, I recall getting a couple e-mails during or right after this past legislative session about the deal that had been struck by lawyers for the Purdy inmates and DOC, but I was swamped at the time.

I'll see if I can find those, too.

UPDATE: (3:38 p.m.) I'm having trouble with the link I wanted to post to a Seattle Times story that Jennifer Sullivan wrote and which ran in The News Tribune in late June about a settlement. The state settled for $1 million. Later, perhaps.

And from DOC:

DOC Appoints Jeralita Costa to Victim Advocate Post

OLYMPIA – The Department of Corrections has selected a long-time advocate and former state legislator to provide advocacy services for female offenders in women’s prison facilities who are victims of staff sexual misconduct.

Jeralita “Jeri” Costa will serve as the agency’s Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Victim Advocate, a position that was established as part of a stipulated agreement between DOC and plaintiffs in a 2007 class action lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct by agency staff.

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Chambers Bay Golf Course’s bottom line isn’t the only casualty of the recession. The county also is having a hard time finding a developer to build a clubhouse, restaurant and lodging at the course.

The county wants a private developer to spend its own money to build upscale facilities to match the elite course. Ideally, the clubhouse and other facilities would be open in time for the 2015 U.S. Open championship.

When the course landed the championship last year, county officials thought developers would jump at the chance. But that hasn’t happened.

The county received only four responses from developers when it solicited proposals last year. Later, it began talks with KemperSports, which manages Chambers Bay. But KemperSports asked the county to invest in the project, which could cost $15 million to $80 million, depending on the size of the facilities. That idea didn’t go over well with county officials.

Earlier this year a group of unnamed local investors approached the county about building the facilities. But Tony Tipton, the county’s Chambers Bay project manager, said that deal fell through when the group couldn’t secure financing.

Tipton said the county continues to have “low-level discussions with different developers.” But he said there are no firm negotiations.

“It’s a very tough market out there right now, particularly in the hospitality industry,” Tipton said. “There’s not a lot of construction of new hotels going on around the country right now.”

In the meantime, the county is making do with a temporary clubhouse.

Wanna have some say about what the Pierce County voters pamphlet will say about three proposed county charter amendments? Better wave your hand quickly.

At 10 a.m. Monday the County Council's Rules Committee will consider appointing committees to devise "pro" and "con" statements for the voters pamphlet for these charter amendments:

• Amendment No. 1 would: (a) move the election of council members and the executive to odd-numbered years by 2015; and (b) increase term limits for council members and the executive from two consecutive four-year terms to three consecutive four-year terms, consistent with term limits in effect for auditor, assessor-treasurer and sheriff.

•Amendment No. 2 would move the election of auditor, assessor-treasurer and sheriff to odd-numbered years by 2015.

•Amendment No. 3 would eliminate ranked choice voting and restore the primary and general election system for all county elective offices in accordance with state general election law.

Today the council issued a press release seeking volunteers to write "pro" and "con" statements on the amendments:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 7, 2009

The Pierce County Council is seeking those who support or oppose the three propositions headed for the November ballot.

The council’s Rules and Operations Committee on Monday, Aug. 10, will consider resolutions appointing members to the “pro” and “con” committees for propositions 1, 2 and 3. The statements they write will appear in the Pierce County voter’s pamphlet.

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