Public Safety | Change Washington

The real reason for Seattle’s crime drop? Undoing dangerous policy

Over the years, ChangeWA has occasionally sided with the long-time Times columnist, Danny Westneat, especially when extremists like Kshama Sawant, Lisa Herbold, and Pete Holmes controlled Seattle City Hall. But on his recent column explaining why Seattle crime rates have dropped, Westneat appeared to have forgotten several important occurrences which have had far more impact...

Homeless strategy is increasing the number who suffer in Washington

This is the third article of three on the various costs associated with homelessness. In this article we examine the costs associated with government-funded services and the lack of accountability of taxpayer funds. We also look at whether these services are attracting homeless individuals from other states. King County politicians boast that they work with...

New documentary reveals why “Housing First” is a failed policy

ChangeWA has teamed with filmmaker V Ginny Burton to produce "Behind Closed Doors," a shocking 30-minute documentary which exposes the unsafe and drug-filled conditions within King County's low-barrier housing.

Seattle City Council takes a steady approach to correct past mistakes

A recently released midyear crime report from the Council on Criminal Justice revealed that while murder is down across the U.S. when compared to 2019, Seattle’s homicide rate is 50% higher than it was five years ago. Frustrated Seattle voters, fed up with the mass exodus of police officers (Seattle currently has fewer police officers...

Citizens once again take the lead to keep the public safe

Nearly all restrictions imposed on police pursuits by previous state lawmakers were removed as Initiative 2113 finally became state law on June 6. The legislature passed the citizen Initiative (along with parental notification initiative and a ban on future state income tax) after Let’s Go Washington collected more than 400,000 signatures (around 325K were needed)....

Tale of Two Cities: Olympia and Lacey

As Washington State lawmakers in the State Capitol Building debate Governor Jay Inslee’s latest expensive proposal to fix the state’s never-ending homeless problem, just a mile or two away there is a clear example of one approach which helps lift people out of homelessness and another example which has kept people living in the cruel...

Join us on June 17 to honor Eina Kwon and unite for safety

Eina Kwon, a pregnant 34-year old woman, was murdered in the Belltown area of Seattle Tuesday in what appears to be a random attack. The child, which was almost full term, lived briefly but did not survive.

We’re not done pursuing a fix to police pursuit law

While current state law unbelievably still does not allow police to vehicularly pursue most criminal suspects, we’re pursuing a fix to it this legislative session – and we need your help to make it happen.

We have a great opportunity to revitalize Seattle

Four city councilmembers, including Socialist councilmember Kshama Sawant, have announced they will not be running for reelection this year.

Vehicle pursuit bills would roll back the crazy

Two years ago, the majority party in the state legislature decided to go crazy on crime. This legislative session, we have an opportunity to roll some of that crazy back and restore common sense to public safety when it comes to vehicular pursuits of criminal suspects. During the 2021 legislative session, the majority party voted...

King County plays the Grinch

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...

The Seattle City Council needs a shakeup

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...

Seattle’s broken budget needs a scorecard – It’s imperative to make your voice heard

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...

[un]Divided interview with Jim Ferrell

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.