Super important video for EVERY Washington state resident to watch on the extreme corruption that is the cultural resources survey scam. It affects EVERYONE and makes every renter and property owner pay FAR high prices than needed:
Every single property I have worked on in both Eastern WA and Western WA has triggered these scam cultural resources surveys. Every single developer I have talked to has to deal with this.
Summary of the scam: the most powerful special interest in WA state, the tribes, can require any property owner to do a $10,000 cultural resources survey. I was told by the county official I had to pick one of the tribes approved two consultants who do this and if I didn’t he implied that the tribes would reject it. These scam surveys are now being required on pretty much every type of work that touches the ground. All of this means that housing and rental units cost FAR more than necessary due to the delays and very expensive consultants.
This is all my personal opinion; please don’t sue me super powerful entities I am criticizing ;).
I would recommend not buying property in Washington state until this whole corrupt set of rules is repealed. And I say that against my own interests as someone with property to sell here.