The Washington State Commission on African American Affairs (CAAA) serves as the official state representative of the African American community—advising the Governor, Legislature and state agencies regarding policy development and implementation. The Commission also works to establish relationships with local governments and private sector organizations that promote equal opportunity for African Americans.
The Commission has one paid Executive Director and one paid Executive Assistant who work full-time for the Commission. The Governor appoints the Executive Director who serves at the Governor's pleasure. The Commission also has a nine-member volunteer Commission Board appointed by the Governor.
Washington State Commission on African American Affairs
(CAAA)
Public
Structural Relationships
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Washington State Office of the Governor
(WA Governor) -
Washington State Commission on African American Affairs
(CAAA)
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Observations
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(October 27, 2020) - Initial Update
The Board prepared to receive proposed rules for the Location Compliance Certificates rulemaking project, briefly discussed the Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis, and remained uncertain if the agency would host a meeting of the Cannabis Advisory Council (CAC) in 2020.
WSLCB - Engagement - BIPOC
(October 12, 2020) - Summary
Participants secured the WSLCB’s commitment to refund withdrawn application licensing fees in a prelude to the first meeting of the Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis.
WSLCB - Engagement - BIPOC
(October 5, 2020) - Summary
WSLCB leadership listened during more than two hours of community feedback, provided some feedback of their own, and shared new details about the Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force.
WSLCB - Engagement - BIPOC
(September 29, 2020) - Summary
An at times contentious facilitated meeting provided an opportunity for agency leadership to hear from people of color about social equity in the industry and WSLCB’s practices.
WSLCB - Board Meeting
(September 30, 2020) - Summary
Significant new quality control rules were proposed and a licensee consultation program was adopted before public comment on WSLCB gatekeeping access to its BIPOC engagements.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(September 29, 2020) - Summary
Filling in the blanks on a perfunctory caucus meeting, we spotlight the WSLCB’s social equity efforts, rulemaking updates, and the resurrection of Cannabis 2.0.
The Week Ahead
(September 21, 2020)
A week more notable for cancellations would still include a meetup of third-party software integrators augmenting Washington state’s regulated marketplace despite Akerna.
WSLCB - Board Meeting
(September 16, 2020) - Summary
Reiterating a call heard by the Board as early as January 2018, Paula Sardinas and Angel Swanson asked for “immediate relief” for cannabis retail title certificate holders confined to ban and moratorium jurisdictions.
WSLCB - Board Meeting
(September 16, 2020) - Initial Update
The WSLCB Board undertook expected rulemaking actions prior to general public comments when a Commissioner on African American Affairs and a retail title certificate holder lobbied to move licenses out of ban and moratorium areas.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(September 1, 2020) - Summary
Board members more tangibly sensed how the State hiring freeze had begun to seize up the agency, and virtual engagements with “communities of color” were scheduled.