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...
In the film V for Vendetta, the protagonist reflects on the dystopian condition of England. “How did this happen? Who’s to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable.” There are those who are more responsible than others for the criminal ecosystem that currently exists in the...
Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison’s election last November showed that Seattle residents are ready for real change for the city. However, the ongoing rampant crime would not be possible if it weren’t for the gross enabling by former mayors, the City Council, and former city attorney Pete Holmes. Under his tenure, an astounding 50 percent...
Chances are you’ve experienced a bit of sticker-shock filling up your vehicle at the gas pump. While prices have risen in recent years, they’ve increased dramatically in the past few weeks due to ongoing global events. Unfortunately, even if things calm down overseas the prices here in Washington are only going to get worse thanks...
The 2022 legislative session ended on March 10 with a mixed bag that included some menial public safety reforms, unsustainable state spending, and homelessness policies that at best scratch the surface of the problem. Public Safety We began the session imploring lawmakers to fix a “police reform” law that effectively defanged police responses to actual...
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...
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...
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...
Former Seattle Police Chief and Change Washington adviser Carmen Best says that despite the city of Seattle trying to address homelessness, “if you just walk around, you can see that it hasn’t necessarily worked.” Best’s message underscores the need for Seattle’s leaders to develop a real plan to address homelessness that matches the scale of...
Change Washington Adviser and former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best believes that the recent spike in gun violence in Seattle requires both additional resources for police to respond, but also deter crimes. “We do need to have more visibility with officers in the field so that there is a deterrent for people to gather in...
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...