Public commenters urge WSIB to adopt ethical investing rules, cite climate and human-rights risks
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Summary
Dozens of beneficiaries and activists urged the Washington State Investment Board to adopt responsible-investing policies and divest from companies they said enable climate harm, private prisons and human-rights abuses; speakers cited pending legislation and asked the board to engage with bill sponsors.
Dozens of public commenters told the Washington State Investment Board during its February meeting that the board should adopt explicit responsible‑investment principles and divest from companies they said contribute to climate change, private‑prison operations and human‑rights abuses.
Barbara Carey, a PERS 3 retiree and member of the Retiree Public Employees Coalition, told the board that "roughly 800,000 of us Washingtonians depend on you to protect the long term value of our hard earned pension funds" and urged four concrete actions, including stopping investments in high‑emitting companies that lack credible transition plans and increasing allocations to legitimate climate solutions.
Speakers from Washington for Peace and Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace and local chapters of 350.org and other groups pressed the board to consider the legal and reputational risks of continuing to hold stakes in firms they named, including defense contractors and technology companies. Ray Levine of Jewish Voice for Peace asked board members to watch testimony on the Responsible Investment Act and said the bill "was written to give the SIB more agency and flexibility to respond to these serious community concerns."
Several commenters also linked the topic to pending legislation. A speaker summarized three Senate bills introduced this session that reference the board: one on coal, one on a private‑prison operator, and SB 6304, described to the board as the Responsible Investment Act; the board’s staff noted none of those bills had moved out of committee before the Feb. 9 fiscal cutoff.
Other commenters raised distinct concerns tied to WSIB property management. Diana Danan submitted documentation and reported three safety issues at a senior manufactured‑home community that she said the board owns through a manager, including a speed bump that local fire officials had flagged, inadequate reclaimed‑water aeration, and lighting that she said did not meet Florida Department of Health requirements.
Allison, a WSIB staff member, told the board that written public comments received before the meeting were provided to members and are displayed on the meeting slide; she did not have the exact count on hand.
Board members responded briefly during open session by thanking commenters and noting staff and committees would continue to engage on legislative and policy questions. The board did not take immediate policy action during the meeting; some members asked staff to keep the board informed as bills and proposals evolve.
