A graphic with the Lime scootershare and bikeshare logo and a pair of riders says

Police and Public Safety

Dear Council: Make Safe Streets a Priority and Keep Parking Enforcement In SDOT

Seattle is nearing its final 2023-2024 budget and some big decisions are still in flux. The Mayor’s budget puts parking enforcement back in the...

Seattle Council Bans Chemical Weapons and Other Brutal Crowd Control Tactics

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) repeatedly tear-gassed and pepper-sprayed crowds during the first two weeks of protests, but the Seattle City Council sought to close...

Largely Status Quo Harrell Budget Proposal Puts Police First

Mayor Bruce Harrell largely presented a status quo biennium budget on Tuesday, but he is seeking to undo a few recent progressive policy wins,...
The memorials along the East Precinct police station--now christened the Capitol Hill Community Center--keep growing. (Photo by Doug Trumm)

Op-Ed: Walking Away from the Empty Promise of Seattle’s Consent Decree

Seattle is still struggling for justice and constitutional policing 12 years into federal monitoring via the consent decree. More than 12 years ago, 34 Seattle...
Harrell wears a suit and stands at a lectern with the seal of Seattle. He's surrounded by city councilmembers and staffers including Sara Nelson, Rob Saka, and Mark Solomon.

Harrell Vows to Block ICE Overreach, but Plan Lacks Teeth

Mayor Bruce Harrell recently released two executive orders seeking to respond to President Donald Trump’s aggressive moves to increase local immigration enforcement and illegally send in the National Guard. However, his plan is light on details and lacks leverage to get federal cooperation. Meanwhile, the police guild president vowed support for Trump’s plan.

Midweek Video: Why America’s Police Look Like Soldiers

https://youtu.be/KOAOVbyfjA0 How did America’s civilian police forces go from just uniforms and basic equipment to militarized forces mirroring the national military? Vox takes a look...

SDCI Approves Youth Jail, Opposition Contemplates Appeal

As predicted, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) approved the land use permit Thursday for the King County Children and Family Justice Center, also known...
Shaun Scott at Gas Works Park. (Photo credit: Alex Garland)

Protest, Policing, and the Prospect for Change: Shaun Scott Breaks It Down with The...

Our monthly meetup guest this month was former Seattle City Council candidate Shaun Scott. On Tuesday, he touched on a wide range of topics...