Police and Public Safety

Mayor Jenny Durkan flanked by Andre Taylor at Monday press conference on the CHOP shooting. (Seattle Channel)

Mayor Durkan Pledges to Close the CHOP and Reopen East Precinct, Chastising ‘Agitators’

Mayor Jenny Durkan promised to disperse the Capitol Hill Organized Protest and reinstall police inside East Precinct "in the near future" at a press...
A wall of police with riot shields outside East Precinct.

Streetcar and 101 ‘Ghost’ Positions at SPD Survive Budget Deliberations

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has a special privilege granted to no other department in the City. The City allocates funding to SPD for...

Restorative Justice is a Vital Component of Livable Urbanism

Last week I wrote about Pooja Vaddadi’s race to oust incumbent Judge Adam Eisenberg from the Seattle Municipal Court. Vaddadi contrasts her competence and...
Two CCTV cameras mounted on a pole.

Harrell’s Expanded Surveillance Program Clears Hurdle in Seattle Council

Despite public outcry and limited outreach, Seattle City Council’s public safety committee greenlit Mayor Harrell's pilot program installing 24/7 surveillance cameras in three neighborhoods and purchasing real-time crime center software and staff. The legislation moves to a full council vote on October 8.

Harrell Ducks Police Accountability Forum, Burgess Rides In to Attack González

Yesterday, the Seattle Community Police Commission (CPC) announced that Bruce Harrell had declined their invitation to a mayoral candidate forum on police accountability and...

Seattle Council Passes Budget Swiping Affordable Housing Funds to Boost SPD

The Sara Nelson-led Seattle City Council passed their first city budget in an 8-1 vote. It greenlit the mayor’s plan to slash investments in affordable housing and social services and trim 48 staff positions in order to boost police spending by 16% and close a large deficit without raising new taxes.
Mayor Jenny Durkan gave soon-to-retire Police Chief Carmen Best some flowers to express her gratitude during a press conference about blocking police budget cuts in the Norm Rice room at City Hall. (Seattle Channel)

Mayor Durkan Vetoes Rebalancing Package Decrying Police Cuts, ‘Irresponsible’ Investments

Mayor Jenny Durkan again reached for her veto pen today, nixing the entire rebalancing package passed on August 10th. The Seattle City Council was...
Kattle wears a blue suit and light gray beard and sits on Council dais.

Seattle Police Contract Passes Despite Limited Accountability Measures, Budget Hit

With a 24% raise and backpay, Seattle police officers are collectively earning an extra $96 million in compensation from the City in 2024. City leaders hope to spur hiring, but the contract did little to increase police accountability and blew a bigger hole in the City's quarter-billion-dollar budget deficit.