As we countdown to the end of 2023, we are also counting down the last days of extreme progressives controlling the Seattle City Council and pushing their irresponsible policies onto the citizens. We also countdown to when six new councilmembers will be sworn in at the start of the new year. Most of these newly...
Mayor Bruce Harrell, the Seattle City Council, and regional leaders continue to treat the homelessness crisis as a housing issue despite the glaringly obvious fact that it’s driven by drug addiction. The evidence isn’t hard to find, and denying reality is causing unnecessary deaths. As reported recently by The Center Square, King County experienced a...
We hope you enjoyed the holiday season and want to welcome you all into 2023. If there is a theme this year for us at Change Washington, it’s “change things for the better.” The opportunity is there. Polling repeatedly demonstrates Seattle voters are tired of the status quo, and their numbers wanting change continues to...
With the systematic homelessness and public safety crisis in our region, you’d think King County would be primarily focused on addressing those issues. But apparently, the county government was taken over by the Grinch. Recently it was revealed that King County sent out a memo to its employees instructing them not to have any holiday-related...
Seattle voters have made it adamantly clear what they want when it comes to public safety, as polling has repeatedly demonstrated. They want crime reduced so they feel safe, and more police officers on the force, not fewer. Yet, the majority of the City Council isn’t listening. Recently the council voted 6-3 to approve a new...
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...
The people of Seattle have spoken loudly regarding its priorities for the city, but apparently the majority of the City Council isn’t listening. According to recent polling by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, public safety is the top priority, second only to homelessness. In his budget released in September, Mayor Bruce Harrell listened to...
On the latest episode of [un]Divided, independent journalist Brandi Kruse interviews King County Prosecutor candidate Jim Ferrell to discuss crime and public safety in the region. Read Change Washington’s Q&A interview with Ferrell here.
Now that Halloween is over and trick-or-treaters aren’t knocking on your door, here’s something scarier. Criminals could come breaking down your door instead, and get a slap on the wrist for robbing you. The King County Prosecutor’s Office recently started up a “diversion” program for juveniles that keep them out of the courtroom and a jail sentence...
Although many local, regional, and state elected offices are up for election, you could argue that the most important political race in our state is for King County Prosecutor. It will in large part determine the future of Seattle and other cities in the county regarding public safety, crime, and business climate. While cities handle...
Who’s got experience, endorsements and a track record?
Earlier this month we emailed both King County Prosecutor Candidates, Jim Ferrell and Leesa Manion, inviting them to participate in a questionnaire about public safety and crime in the region. Below are the questions and responses from Jim Ferrell. Leesa Manion did not respond after several emails were sent. Question 1: Describe your background and...
When tasked with a long, difficult undertaking it’s important to celebrate the victories when they happen. King County’s decision to nix a planned homeless megaplex in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID) represents an unexpected and important success for sound homelessness policy, public safety, and common-sense governance. As we’ve written on repeatedly, this entire project was thoroughly...
One of the cornerstones of public safety in the Seattle metro area is the King County Prosecutor’s Office. While city attorneys such as Ann Davison pursue misdemeanor crime, the county prosecutor handles felony cases such as violent assault, murder, rape, and serious drug offenses. At least that’s what they’re supposed to do. We’ve reported previously...