In The News | Change Washington

Washington residents strongly support more focus on treatment for homeless

A new poll finds that Washington State residents overwhelmingly support the Trump Administration’s efforts to encourage treatment-based solutions (for both drug/alcohol addiction and mental illness) to battle the homelessness crises. Moreover, a large majority of Washington voters believe that current homelessness programs that DO NOT address addiction and mental health issues should be closed down....

Seattle’s absurd giveaway proposal for drug addicts

Budgets demonstrate values and priorities and a majority on the Seattle City Council just sent a clear message that the police don’t matter. The recently approved 2023 budget eliminated 80 unfilled police officer positions with no provisions for restaffing the severely depleted police department. But here’s what the City Council might decide is both...

Western State Hospital has become Arkham Asylum – if the Joker ran it

A recent expose by The Tacoma News Tribune of the state’s largest mental health facility is not only perhaps one of the most glaring examples of the inmates literally running the asylum as you’ll ever get, but it’s also a vivid example of how failings within the state’s mental health system is driving much of...

Why we are thankful

With Thanksgiving this week it’s a good opportunity to take time to discuss what we at Change Washington are thankful for. Our heartfelt thanks go to those who financially support Change Washington. Your contributions allow us to continue tracking and monitoring public policies in Seattle and King County that affect you and others throughout our...

Removing drug camps isn’t causing record homeless deaths

It’s no secret to any of you that Seattle is in bad shape, but you may not be aware of just how dysfunctional the situation is – and it may only get worse if there isn’t a change in course. The level of dysfunction was revealed in a recent Seattle Times story that we’ll be...

New voter survey shows they agree with you – Seattle must do better on all fronts

It’s easy at times to feel we’re alone in how we feel about the poor state of Seattle. But a new survey by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce reveals the complete opposite. We’re not alone. In fact, we’re the vast majority. The survey of 700 registered voters in Seattle show what Chamber CEO Rachel...

A Change Election

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...

Police Staffing Crisis: Chief Carmen Best points to Seattle City Council

Change Washington adviser and former Seattle Police Department Chief Carmen Best cited lack of support from Seattle City Council as one reason more than 300 police officers have left SPD in recent years. Police officers “want to feel like they have a decent budget, like their job isn’t at risk every single day that, they’re...

Video: Chief Carmen Best on Seattle’s need for change

Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best told Change Washington that Seattle is on the edge of a precipice and that city leaders will determine whether we “turn and keep it the top-tier world class city that it is or if we’re going to just let mayhem and destruction take us in a different direction.” Chief...

Public Safety is Necessary to Retain and Attract Seattle Businesses

Mark Mason, CEO of HomeStreet Bank knows a lot about Seattle and what’s working and not for our city’s businesses. In a recent Seattle Times editorial, Mason makes a number of critical points that our elected leaders and candidates for office must address: Companies are leaving Seattle or abandoning plans to locate here. Mason points...

Not the weekend reading we were hoping for

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...

Chief Carmen Best: Where is Seattle’s plan to address crime and prioritize public safety?

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...

A race to watch: Seattle City Attorney

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...

Mayhem Downtown Drains Seattle’s Resources and Reputation

The Seattle Times’s Dominic Gates reported that arrests and property damage in downtown Seattle are impacting SPD’s ability to respond to other crimes happening in the city and the overall public safety of the community. Following demonstrations over the weekend, interim SPD Chief Adrian Diaz pleaded to members of the community for the violence and...