In a new Seattle Times editorial, the paper criticizes the city government’s response to ongoing public safety problems affecting downtown Seattle and other areas of the city.

Crimes of many types have been increasing in Seattle in recent years. These include violent crimes, a few notable examples being the mass shooting on Third Avenue last month and the assaults and threats near King County Courthouse.

Compounding these issues has been a shortage of police. Seattle has yet to meet police staffing goals that were suggested in 2016, and its population has grown at a far faster rate than the number of police in recent years.

The city, the editorial argues, has not been taking the right approach to the problem and has lacked an urgency to address it. The City Council, for example, recently announced its 2020 work plan. The plan included items to prevent lawbreakers from being unduly penalized and extra scrutiny of police.

What was not introduced, however, were plans to reduce the number of crimes that have plagued the downtown area in recent years. As the Times puts it:

“Restorative justice, treatment and diversion should be part of the public-safety tool kit. But Seattle must also prioritize accountability and justice for all, including crime victims.”