Anyone who thinks downtown Seattle doesn’t have a crime problem hasn’t talked to small business owners Olga Sagan. The owner of Piroshky Piroshky bakery, her business is one of many that have either fled downtown Seattle or, in her case, temporarily closed due to the lack of basic public safety. Sagan’s plight is well described...
For years the city of Seattle and other regional entities have tried – and failed – to reduce homelessness in their communities. We’ve argued that the reason for this is that they ignored or downplayed the primary causes – substance abuse and mental health issues – under the belief that housing availability or affordability is...
In January a 30-year-old Marysville man was charged with first degree murder for killing his 65-year-old roommate and attempting to set the residence on fire. A proposed bill moving through the state legislature would allow him, if convicted, to be released early – even if his sentence is for life. Under current state law, anyone...
In 2020, 2,369 restaurants and bars in Washington state closed their doors permanently. That’s 2,369 places where people earned a living, where locals met up with friends and family, and where a business owner poured the sweat of their life in the hopes of making it in a tough industry. However, many of those small...
Three years ago, Bartell Drugs announced it was closing one of its downtown Seattle stores due to rampant thefts. Anyone who has visited, lives in or has even heard of Seattle knows it’s not the only place. From the Safeway in South Seattle to Uwajimaya’s Chinatown-International District location, businesses throughout the city are reeling from...
Seattle’s police staffing crisis is worse than you probably think. It’s no secret that on top of public safety concerns the city of Seattle has a police staffing crisis. But what’s often unseen are the number of quality officers in the area who might have joined but didn’t because of the toxic environment that currently...
Last month the King County Regional Housing Authority announced it was forgoing its homelessness count for the second year in a row. Instead, they plan to “conduct qualitative engagement with people living unsheltered to learn more about their experiences and how we can better meet their needs.” This dysfunctional approach to a regional crisis aptly...
This week marks the beginning of the 2022 Washington legislative session. As lawmakers consider, revise, debate, and vote on proposals over the next 60 days, it is imperative that public safety is among the top priorities. Part of that is undoing the harm done during last year’s session in which legislators hastily enacted HB 1054,...
Is it sour grapes or just a complete lack of restraint? City councilmembers are considering a measure that would make the City Attorney report to them. This “brazen political play,” as described by The Seattle Times, comes after the preferred candidate of the far left councilmembers lost to a candidate pledging greater focus on public...
2021 tested Seattle in a way that likely leaves many residents and business owners more than ready for a new year. There’s the ongoing pandemic creating uncertainty and anxiety. Increasing homelessness is dividing communities who want to see people get the help they need and also want to enjoy beloved neighborhood parks. One of the...
“Residents say they’re frustrated with the lack of progress by Seattle, King County, and Sound Transit officials to address their safety concerns.” South Seattle Emerald How many more times do elected officials need to hear the same message? Residents of the Mount Baker neighborhood again are asking for some help (really any help) from their...
When your City Council has to choose between more public safety or less, which should they choose? That was put to the test last night when the Council voted on a budget amendment that interim Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said would potentially cut positions for 101 police officers. Diaz said: “In a city with...
Far-left columnist Katie Wilson wrote in Crosscut this reflection on the losses of the extreme left on Election Day: Mainstream media are more than happy to provide one explanation: “Defund the police” and “abolitionism” are ideas that repel, rather than attract, a majority of the electorate, across all racial groups and even in the nation’s...
This week’s local elections sent a message that it’s time for a dramatic shift in Seattle politics. With the election of candidates like Bruce Harrell for mayor, Sara Nelson for Seattle City Council and the likely election of Ann Davison to serve as City Attorney, voters made clear that their patience has run out. They...