A business with nearly five decades of service is set to leave a blue state for greener pastures at great cost over the “political doom that’s come through town.”
“…the criminals basically have more protective rights than I do…”
Often opting for ignorance or a blasé attitude, leftists pushing socialist policies in once-thriving cities have refused to apply the brakes when confronted with awful outcomes and subsequent exoduses. Now, Tacoma, Washington’s Delta Camshaft owner Jon Bodwell is preparing his own departure at a cost likely to exceed $100,000 amid what he calls a “constant battle” with the city.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, the owner of the manufacturing business, his family started in Grit City in 1977, conveyed how crime, taxes, and politics were at the heart of his decision. “A majority of it is the constant battle with the city over the graffiti and the crime stuff here, the constant massive tax increase, everything is increasing.”
“The cost of power, the cost of insurance, everything is increasing by large increments. It’s not like one or two percent; it’s like, my insurance went up 20%. My power bill is going up. The claim is supposed to be going up another 13%. But just last month, it almost doubled,” he went on.
Bodwell likewise told The Post Millennial’s West Coast Editor Ari Hoffman, “I’ve decided I can no longer compete with the political doom that’s come through town,” and that his plans to move to Mesa, Arizona — that could cost over $100,000 — are “sadly worth every penny.”
EXCLUSIVE: Delta Camshaft in Tacoma, the largest custom camshaft regrinding company in America, is moving out after 48 years in Washington.
The owner, Jon Bodwell, told me, “I’ve decided I can no longer compete with the political doom that’s come through town. The building is… pic.twitter.com/6sCXCKcBCy
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) May 12, 2026
“Because crime is running rampant, my insurance policy on the building has skyrocketed. You know, quite a substantial amount in the past three to five years,” the owner told Fox News Digital. “And then, officers that I do speak with about the graffiti stuff like that, they’ll say it takes longer for them to write the report than it does if they arrest the person … the criminals basically have more protective rights than I do as the building owner.”
“A few years ago, I should have sold it, sold the building when people were buying and moving into downtown Tacoma. And now there’s just a ton of buildings for sale in the market because everyone’s leaving,” he added.
According to a survey by the Association of Washington Business conducted from January to February found that some 44% of business leaders to move their homes out of the state. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz proved the most high-profile figure to make the move out of Seattle to Miami, Florida.
The same review found businesses to be twice as likely to expand outside Washington as within it. Meanwhile, in addition to Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) signing the “millionaires’ tax” on March 30, it was reported earlier this month that in nearby Seattle, socialist Mayor Katie Wilson (D) had said of concerns over increased taxes, “I think the claims that millionaires are going to leave our state are, like, super overblown. And if — the ones that leave, like, bye.”
Seattle’s arrogant socialist mayor giggles with a wave to wealthy residents leaving state https://t.co/jSgbgs7rBV via @BIZPACReview
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) May 4, 2026
Among the devastating policies enacted in Washington, elected officials across the state have also made moves to redirect funds from tackling crime in favor of supporting illegal aliens.
Bodwell lamented, “If I was in my younger years, if I was in my mid-20s or 30s, I would go into politics to stop what’s occurring now. Unfortunately, I’m 56 with some very bad health issues that won’t allow me to be around for a whole lot longer, with my lungs and heart issues. But I definitely, I wish I could go back to get involved in politics to stop what’s occurring.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Manufacturer leaving blue state after 48 years: ‘the criminals basically have more protective rights than I do…’ - May 13, 2026
- Democrats giddy over Trump’s wording of gaggle answer, run with out-of-context sound bite - May 13, 2026
- Trump talks up Heisman winner who skipped White House event: ‘J.D., he’s a big fan of ours’ - May 12, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.