Defunding the police was one of the dumbest and most destructive ideas ever advanced by the left. In Seattle, city leaders are reconsidering this nonsense now that crime is surging. Homocides are way up, as well as car thefts and other serious crimes. Why have taxpayers put up with this for so long?
FOX News reports Seattle reverses course on defunding police as crime ravages locals: A huge crisis.
Seattle residents Victoria Beach, Eli Hoshor and Jonathan Choe said police shortages have left their city in dire straits in the aftermath of officials’ anti-law enforcement rhetoric.
Homicides skyrocketed by 24% while motor vehicle thefts climbed by 30% in the city last year. Overall crime ticked up by 4%.
Mayor Bruce Harrell pushed for increased police presence to curb the issue, saying, “We need immediate action and innovation to respond to our public safety issues… Seattle saw a 4% rise in reported crime last year… We need more officers to address our staffing crisis.”
Still, some residents’ outlook is less than optimistic.
“Right now, I don’t have a lot of hope,” Beach told Todd Piro Wednesday on “Fox & Friends First.”
“I think the mayor is on the right track, but Seattle is in a huge crisis. Our city has been destroyed, and we’re not going to get it back anytime soon,” she added.
Beach said she agrees that the city needs more police to help cut back on crime, saying the situation is currently a “free for all.”
“If you want to commit a crime, move to Seattle,” she said.
The mayor seems to be in over his head.
“TRYING TO BUY TIME:
@MayorofSeattle taking political gamble by admitting he doesn’t have “exact blueprint” in place to address concerns lingering in downtown. But some biz owners+neighbors victimized by crime are done waiting.” — Jonathan Choe Journalist (Seattle) (@choeshow) February 22, 2023.
The city can’t even retain police officers.
EXCLUSIVE: Seattle Police Dept. lost 12 officers in January and hired eight. So far in February, they lost three additional officers.
“This puts total officers lost since the BLM riots and defund movement to roughly 525 — a full third of the department. Unsurprisingly, crime is soaring.”— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) February 13, 2023.
Why would anyone want to be a police officer in a leftist city like Seattle where you’ll be constantly demonized?
Senate Bill 5599, sponsored by far-left state senator Marko Liias (D-Everett) permits shelters or host homes to provide housing for runaway minors without being required to notify their parents. If a parent says no to removing their 14-year-old daughter’s breasts, it is seen as neglect or abuse by many progressive activists and politicians. And that’s precisely the kind of health care service that would be allowed without parental consent, according to the bill summary.
Sen. Joe Nguyen says he introduced an amendment that undoes language that allowed surgical intervention without parental consent. I’ve not yet seen the amendment, as it’s not yet posted online. It does not change that minors can still receive gender-affirming care (such as hormone therapy) without parental consent. It also does not undo SB 5889 and SB 5313. He still maintains this is a bill about housing, but it is not: It is a bill about housing runaways seeking gender-affirming care.
The “Brandi Kruse” amendment, introduced today by Democrat
@meetjoenguyen, clarifies that SB 5599 will NOT expand the type of healthcare kids can get without parental consent. I still don’t like the bill, but this is a good improvement on the language. Thanks, Senator. — Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) February 14, 2023.
