Image description: a sketch of a Link light rail train at an elevated station with text reading: Move Redmond 12:00 to 4PM May 10th Redmond 2 Line Opening Celebration - trails 2 transit presented by Sound Transit at Downtown Redmond Station..

Police and Public Safety

A large contingent of police barricaded 4th Avenue with their bicycles, blocking a route out of Westlake Park. (Photo by Robert Cruikshank)

Seattle Police Fleecing City with Overtime, Report Shows

As Seattle pored over its police department budget this year, one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb was $30 million in planned...

Three Upcoming Urbanist Events You Should Not Miss

We may be trapped in our houses still due a failing federal government, but that doesn't mean we can't connect with our fellow urbanists...
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...
Several sheriff vehicles park on Pine Street in Downtown Seattle next to the light rail station.

The Proliferation of Cars Has Driven Overpolicing and Crimes Waves

As the Seattle City Council voted to trim its 1400-strong sworn police force by 100 officers, critics suggested crime would increase. Some armchair criminologists...
Chief Best with a Downtown Seattle buildings and street behind her. Video is here: https://www.seattle.gov/police/together

Chief Best Resigns After Seattle Council Trims 100 Police Officer Positions

Chief Carmen Best announced yesterday she would be resigning effective September 2nd in a message to Seattle Police Department (SPD) employees after conservative radio...
Police hold nightsticks in full riot gear behind a metal fence as protesters march by.

Independent Journalists Urge City to Drop Media Subpoenas Aimed at Punishing Protesters

Today The Urbanist joined with dozens of other independent journalists in signing a letter asking the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to drop its subpoenas...
Police gathered in large numbers to ensure houseless were swept and cleared in rapid fashion with no interruption from encampment residents or their allies. (Photo by Enrico Doan)

Seeking a Defund Mechanism as Mayor and Police Chief Fortify in Opposition

Mayor Jenny Durkan held another press conference on Tuesday to criticize Seattle City Council and their efforts to defund police by 50% and reallocate...

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...