This afternoon, Judge Richard Jones weighed in for the first time on the “protest tax” lawsuit filed against the City of Seattle, denying the plaintiffs a temporary restraining order.
Continue readingBLM lawsuit over crowd-control devices shelved for now after parties agree on updated injunction
This morning, the City of Seattle and plaintiffs Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County and the ACLU jointly asked Judge Jones to approve an update to his earlier order on SPD’s use of crowd-control devices. Judge quickly approved it. His order also dismisses the plaintiffs’ contempt allegation, and stays the case until Judge Robart rules next month on the validity of the City Council’s ordinance banning crowd-control weapons.
Continue readingMonday news roundup
The Council warps up its budget-trimming process today, including an initial round of cuts to SPD.
Continue readingThis week in Council Chambers
The Council wraps up its 2020 budget changes this week, votes on overriding a Mayoral veto, and introduces a long list of new bills.
Continue readingFriday news roundup
It’s Friday morning, and the sun is back out in Seattle. Here’s the news.
Continue readingJudge Robart warns the City Council to watch its step in defunding SPD (updated)
For the first two and a half pages, today’s order issued by Judge Robart looks routine, granting a six-week extension to his recent temporary restraining order. But then, in the last paragraph, he had something else to say… (update at the end)
Continue readingCatching up on the legal machinations around SPD’s use of crowd control weapons (updated)
There has been a flurry of activity this week, as the wheels of justice creak forward in trying to resolve the various legal challenges to SPD’s policies for use of crowd-control weapons. Let’s get caught up. (updates below)
Continue readingThursday news roundup
SPD’s budget tops the news this morning, after the Council voted on cuts yesterday.
Continue readingCouncil approves amendments to force layoffs in SPD, disband Navigation Team, and more
Today the City Council marched through about two dozen amendments to the 2020 budget intended to address calls to partially defund and re-organize the Seattle Police Department. Along the way, they also achieved another long-time goal of progressive advocates: eliminating the Navigation Team. After the vote this afternoon, I recorded an hour-long debrief with Omari Salisbury of Converge Media and Marcus Green of the South Seattle Emerald. It was a great, far-ranging conversation, and I think you’ll enjoy watching it.
Continue readingWednesday news roundup
It’s the big day for defunding SPD, and that’s what everyone is talking about this morning.
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