Yesterday, Seattle was the subject of the Wall Street Journal’s editorial for its failure to reform policing while endangering poor and minority communities. Based on the recent federal hearing on the consent decree between the City of Seattle and the Department of Justice, the editorial board explained the simple facts: Seattle cut and demonized the...
The Seattle Times reports “several” shooting incidents last night around Seattle. We cannot seem to get through our weekends this summer without news of terrible violence in the city. People are getting hurt, losing lives and, yet, the city isn’t acting boldly enough to turn things around. All while the city’s businesses are in a...
Seattle Public Schools set a goal of clearing a homeless encampment on the campus of Broadview Thomson K-8 by September 1st when students return to classrooms. The district shared with parents this week, however, that while clearing the camp remains a “priority,” it will not be cleared in time to meet that deadline. According to...
Seattle Public Schools starts back in just one week. As this latest Covid-19 surge rocks our state and region, there is a great deal of uncertainty for all, but especially for students and parents. With that in mind, a column from Danny Westneat of the Seattle Times this past weekend struck a chord as students...
If you read the Seattle Times Editorial Board’s takedown of the City Council’s latest debacle you might have caught this one key statement: “More adept administrative oversight might have kept such a project on the rails, even despite the questionable insistence on handing out the no-bid deal. But this council was performing a hurried gesture...
Where is the plan? How many times will we have to ask before we get an answer? We have been calling for Seattle city leaders leaders to show us a plan for how they’re going to restore public safety. Time has passed and still no leadership. Other voices have taken up the call as well:...
U.S District Judge James Robart made clear this week that the federal consent decree allowing the federal government to oversee the Seattle Police Department will continue until Seattle’s leaders can get their act together. The Seattle Times reported that Judge Robart cited many possible reasons for the ongoing lack of compliance that he says has...
The conversation around the recent spike in gun violence often ignores the victims. As non-profit leader Sean Goode wrote in Crosscut, “…gun violence in Seattle and south King County is not new. It has long and overwhelmingly victimized people of color, and long and overwhelmingly deserved significant resources to curb.” He explains the importance of...
Enough is enough. That’s the message from courthouse employees frustrated by the lack of safety provided by the city at their workplace, the downtown King County Courthouse. The area around the courthouse and adjoining park are notoriously overrun by open drug abuse and dealing as well as unregulated encampments. On Friday, workers rallied at the...
We are pleased to announce that Chief Carmen Best is joining ChangeWA as an adviser to ChangeWA to promote solutions that address public safety and livability in Seattle. Chief Best writes in the Seattle Times today that city leaders and candidates for office must share their long overdue plans to address public safety. It’s hard...
The race for Seattle City Attorney is turning into one of the more interesting races to watch after yesterday’s primary. The importance of this position cannot be overstated. The city attorney is responsible for ensuring that criminals are prosecuted. As KOMO News put it, “concerns about crime, safety and repeat offenders are a driving force...
“These people need to get down to business and clean up the mess in this city.” That’s what Joe Howard, a financial trader living in Seattle, has to say to local political candidates. “I understand you want to open up society, you want a fair and equitable society, but just being airheaded about things behind...
“I’m tired of seeing other moms who are so sad and so angry. I’m tired of being that mom.” Alicia Dass lost her son Conner to gun violence in Seattle a little over a year ago, but the loss still burdens her. Now, she wants to make sure no other mothers are forced to live...
Today’s Seattle Times column “How the City Council left Seattle in a no man’s land on crime” from Danny Westneat is worth sharing today. Especially in the context of this terribly violent weekend where 4 people were killed by gun violence in Seattle. Westneat’s critique of the Seattle City Council’s approach to police and public...