The city hasn’t fixed its budget problems. Also: Interim police chief Sue Rahr, changes at the homelessness authority, and surveillance cameras coming to a neighborhood near you.
Monday, October 7
Interim SPD Chief Sue Rahr: “I’m Super Optimistic About Where We’re Headed”
In a broad-ranging interview with PubliCola, interim Seattle police chief Sue Rahr discussed the city’s new drug use and prostitution banishment zones, what kind of hiring standards the city should use for new officers, and what’s going on with the search for her replacement.
Wednesday, October 9
Dipping heavily into the JumpStart payroll tax fund, which is supposed to pay for affordable housing, to fund general-fund needs like police and transportation was supposed to fix the city’s massive budget deficit. But in the mayor’s budget, the deficits start growing again in 2027, which will likely mean more raids on JumpStart in the future.
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Thursday, October 10
The mantra of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority has been to center people with lived experience of homelessness and including them in decision-making roles. But a new agreement removes people with lived experience from positions of authority at the agency, which will now be governed by a panel of elected officials, leading many advocates to cry foul.
Friday, October 11
Also this week, the city council approved $50,000 police hiring bonuses and a police surveillance camera pilot that will cost more than $6 million over two years, including salaries for 21 new police officers. Responding to a sober report from the city’s Office for Civil Rights that recommended more community engagement, council public safety committee chair Bob Kettle said, “Seriously? ‘Expand outreach to pilot communities’? I say expand your outreach to the Seattle City Council!”