This evening, following the City Council’s vote to start making cuts to SPD as well as to the salaries of the department’s command staff, Chief Carmen Best announced her resignation, effective September 2.
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Council gives final approval to 2020 rebalanced budget
It happened in a blink of an eye: the bill was brought to the floor and immediately passed, and the budget was done. Just kidding. It was six hours of tedium. But there’s a rebalanced budget now — sort of. And more problems down the road.
Continue readingJudge denies “protest tax” plaintiffs a temporary restraining order
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 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 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 readingWhat to expect on Wednesday when the Council votes on SPD-related budget amendments (UPDATED)
Since Monday the City Council has reworked its list of three dozen proposed budget amendments related to the Seattle Police Department. Here’s what to expect when they take them up for votes on Wednesday morning. (update below)
Continue readingNew lawsuit filed against City of Seattle over SPD response to protests
Yesterday five Seattle protesters filed a lawsuit against the city over alleged SPD’s use of crowd-control weapons at protests, in particular the protest-turned riot on July 25th. Their allegations, as well as their requests for the court to take action, are similar to the case filed by Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County and the ACLU — so similar, in fact, that it’s questionable whether it will be able to continue as a separate case.
Continue readingHere are the cuts that the City Council is considering for SPD’s budget
Last Friday and today, the City Council’s budget committee walked through three dozen potential amendments to SPD’s budget for the rest of the year, setting up a vote on those amendments on Wednesday. Here’s what’s on the table.
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