This week the court-appointed monitor for the implementation of the Consent Decree filed a report on how the Seattle Police Department is doing on its goals to eliminate excessive use of force. There was a lot of good news, though a few areas of concern remain. Let’s dive in.
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Keystone XL resolution shifts to slow lane
Late last week the Trump administration surprised many by announcing that it had granted approval for TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline project. In response, activist groups and indigenous tribes immediately began organizing opposition, and locally Council member Kshama Sawant is doing some of the heavy lifting for that effort. Sawant introduced a resolution this afternoon for the City Council’s approval that would once again register its opposition to the pipeline — and direct the city not to do business with its financial backers. While the Council’s rules allow a resolution to be introduced and passed the same day, in this case …
Continue readingMurray’s State of the City Address: the “good parts” version
It was a State of the City address by Mayor Ed Murray, so there was the customary lofty rhetoric, celebration of the past year’s successes, grumbling about things that didn’t go his way, and pointed barbs aimed at the Trump administration. But there were also a handful of announcements, so let’s cut to the chase.
Continue readingJudge denies ACLU’s motion for temporary restraining order on sweeps
This afternoon U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ricardo Martinez issued an order denying the ACLU a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop WSDOT and the City of Seattle from seizing and destroying personal property without due process in cleaning up unsanctioned homeless encampments in Seattle.
Continue readingCouncil contemplates creating a private cause of action for bias-free policing
Last July, the City Council had a discussion of bias-free policing, and what steps it might take to hold the Seattle Police Department accountable for its biases. This morning, the Council revisits the topic.
Continue readingNew page for City Council candidates
I just launched a new permanent page on the site: tracking the candidates for City Council this year. It lists the candidates that are officially declared for Positions 8 and 9, along with contact information, financial disclosures, and other useful links on where to get more information about them. Some of the paperwork trickles in over time, especially in the few weeks after a candidate officially files for candidacy. I’ll keep filling in the holes as things appear. Enjoy!
Continue readingHow to contact your Council members
I’ve received several requests for guidance on how to contact City Council members. So here’s a new page with information on the various options and some (hopefully) helpful guidance. Enjoy.
Continue readingLooking back over the year: the thought pieces
Over the last year, occasionally something has happened that made me see an issue from a new side or rethink what I believed was going on. Here are my favorite “thought piece” posts.
Continue readingLooking back over the year: the opinion pieces
It turns out I can have opinions too! It took me a while to find my comfort level with mouthing off; other people took less time to disagree with me when I did. But they were healthy, productive conversations. Here are some of my favorite opinion pieces.
Continue readingLooking back over the year: the wonky posts
I’ll admit it: some of the most fun I’ve had over the last year has been digging into some of the lengthy reports and PowerPoint slide decks that governments are so good at generating, and answering the question “What’s really going on?” Here’s a collection of some of my favorite, wonkiest write-ups from the first year of the site.
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