After a weekend of late-night violence in the CHOP, today Mayor Jenny Durkan and SPD Chief Carmen Best signaled that their hands-off approach to the protest area on Capitol Hill is changing, and “it’s time for people to go home.” It’s been nearly a month since George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, surrounded by other officers who stood by and did nothing. The ensuing weeks here in Seattle — the protests, the violent police response, the looting and destruction, the abandoning of the East Precinct, and the occupation of a small section in the heart of Capitol …
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Durkan issues executive order requiring SPD body-cams to be turned on during protests
As promised, today Mayor Durkan issued an executive order reversing SPD’s existing body-cam policy and requiring that officers turn on their body-cam during free-speech demonstrations.
Continue readingWhat happens if the Mayor resigns or is impeached?
In the past week there have been multiple calls for Mayor Jenny Durkan to resign, which in some ways is nothing new since she has had her share of detractors ever since she took office. But this morning three Council members (Sawant, Morales and Mosqueda) joined the chorus, suggesting she resign over her handling of the protests in the city over the past week. Sawant went one step further, saying that if Durkan did not resign she would introduce articles of impeachment. Durkan has responded by saying that she has no intention of resigning and that she refuses to be …
Continue readingQuick notes from today
It was a messy day in Seattle politics, with a heated meeting of the Community Police Commission (CPC), a nearly five-hour City Council meeting, a march to City Hall, and various protest leaders jockeying to speak with the Mayor and police chief. Here are my take-aways.
Continue readingCouncil briefed on COVID-19, modifies Mayoral emergency declaration
This afternoon, the City Council received a long briefing from King County Public Health and several city department heads on the status of the COVID-19 response in Seattle. It then went into an extended executive session with its attorneys, followed by a public session in which it modified the Mayor’s declaration of emergency and issued a resolution with requests and expectations for the Mayor in how she exercised her emergency powers.
Continue readingMayor declares civil emergency related to coronavirus (updated)
This afternoon, Mayor Durkan declared a civil emergency related to the outbreak of the coronavirus known as COVID-19. (UPDATE 3/4: additional information added below in several places and at the end)
Continue readingDurkan delivers State of the City address
This morning Mayor Jenny Durkan took the stage at the Rainier Arts Center and delivered her annual “State of the City” address. It was a classic Durkan speech: optimistic, with an emphasis on getting results — and on results delivered. “Today the state of our city is strong and resilient,” Durkan said. “Yes, we have challenges, but we have the values, the determination and the talent to meet them.”
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