This post
is from City Council President Sally Clark, Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair
of the Council’s public safety committee, and Councilmember Tim Burgess.
Last Monday morning’s shooting of a Metro bus driver reinforced for
many a belief that downtown street crime and disorder is out of control.
Contrary to what the Mayor and police commanders say, the Police
Department’s own statistics show an increase
in violent crime to the highest level since 2009 in some areas downtown. This
reality has prompted many downtown residents, workers and shop owners—from
Belltown to Pioneer Square and the Chinatown-International District—to believe
city government has abandoned them, shirking its responsibility to maintain
safe streets for everyone. (The Seattle
Times this morning has an analysis of downtown crime here. The
Times’ review includes a smaller geographic area than the Council’s
analysis.)
The public safety environment downtown demands leadership and
pragmatic, solution-focused actions. And
it should start with the Mayor, our city’s chief law enforcement officer. (Article
V, Section 2 of the City Charter reads: “The Mayor shall see that the
laws of the City are enforced, and shall direct and control all subordinate
officers of the City . . . and shall maintain peace and order in the City.”)
Here are three practical and immediate steps the Mayor should take.