Have a Link Salad!

/ Seattle Budget Season / By
Because I’ve been under the weather the last few days, today I’m going to give you a link salad of interesting articles I’ve been collecting over the last week, with less analysis than usual.
But first, a little on budget topics. As Kevin Schofield reported on Twitter, we’re looking at an interesting Friday, when the Seattle City Council is scheduled to go over issue identification for SPD. Apparently there is an error in the proposed budget, and it might be a pretty major one, so expect more on that soon!
SCC InsightSCC Insight

@SCC_Insight

When I was doing the data-entry last week, I came across a significant error in SPD’s proposed budget. I raised it with the City Budget Office, who acknowledged the error and said it would be fixed in an errata delivered to the Council.
1:40 PM – 10 Oct 2021

Relatedly, this Friday morning would be a good time to give public comment about the SPD budget and/or budgeting for alternatives to public safety. Public comment starts at 9:30am and you can sign up starting at 7:30am. And thanks to everyone who gave public comment at the first budget hearing last night!

From the first budget issue identification meeting this morning, it sounds like there is going to be some wrangling related to the JumpStart spending plan and how the Mayor chose to allocate those dollars. CM Sawant will also be trying to bring forward an amendment to increase the JumpStart tax, but we’ll see if she can get enough co-sponsors. It does seem that in order to maintain funding for the Equitable Communities Taskforce and participatory budgeting beyond this year, the Council will need to identify a new revenue source.

And here’s my live tweet thread of Monday’s Seattle Council Briefing:

Amy SundbergAmy Sundberg

@amysundberg

Good morning and welcome to today’s Seattle Council Briefing!
9:31 AM – 11 Oct 2021

 

Link Salad

Washington State Patrol’s hiring under fire as agency failed to diversify over decades | The Seattle Times

Washington State Patrol’s hiring under fire as agency failed to diversify over decades | The Seattle Times
The Washington State Patrol, a century old this year, doesn’t look a lot different than when it started: white and male. For years, people inside and outside WSP have warned…
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Cops Can Take Your Stuff and Not Give It Back. We Must Change That. - Slog - The Stranger

Cops Can Take Your Stuff and Not Give It Back. We Must Change That. – Slog – The Stranger
When federal agents and the King County Sheriff’s Office conducted an early morning raid in Skyway on October 21, 2020, they seized most everything of value they could get their hands on. The bounty they captured included computers that kids had been using to attend online school during the pandemic, as well as envelopes of cash they’d received as presents from their parents. It was reported that these agents were collecting “evidence.” King County Sheriff…
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Scott Hechinger
This report just out from U. of Chicago tells us, w/o doubt, that incarceration, this “solution” we spend billions on, is not a solution. It is a failed experiment. And that if officials actually care about safety, they should not be supporting it.

https://t.co/oEX21m0trm https://t.co/lceV6mEPNt

Indigenous families on the epidemic of missing and murdered women | Crosscut

Indigenous families on the epidemic of missing and murdered women | Crosscut
Three Native Americans from the Pacific Northwest reflect on the lack of attention for their missing loved ones and the search for justice.
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Dozens of states have tried to end qualified immunity. Police officers and unions helped beat nearly every bill. - The Washington Post

Dozens of states have tried to end qualified immunity. Police officers and unions helped beat nearly every bill. – The Washington Post
Only Colorado has passed legislation allowing residents to name individual officers in lawsuits — but even there, police wouldn’t have to pay the judgment.
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Election Headlines

Majority of King County Council denounces Kathy Lambert campaign mailer as racist | The Seattle Times

Majority of King County Council denounces Kathy Lambert campaign mailer as racist | The Seattle Times
Several King County councilmembers are calling on Councilmember Kathy Lambert, a 20-year incumbent, to apologize for a campaign mailer they say is racist.
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King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert stripped of committee chairmanships after offensive mailer | The Seattle Times

King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert stripped of committee chairmanships after offensive mailer | The Seattle Times
Before the King County Council voted to remove Councilmember Kathy Lambert from committee leadership roles in response to her campaign sending out offensive mailers, she asked to be allowed to…
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Seattle mayoral candidate Bruce Harrell posed for photos without mask at large event | The Seattle Times

Seattle mayoral candidate Bruce Harrell posed for photos without mask at large event | The Seattle Times
Attendees of an event coordinated to hear from Harrell about his platform were asked to wear masks when they weren’t seated at banquet tables, eating or drinking. But videos and…
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City Council careers show how mayoral candidates M. Lorena González and Bruce Harrell have served Seattle | The Seattle Times

City Council careers show how mayoral candidates M. Lorena González and Bruce Harrell have served Seattle | The Seattle Times
Both candidates for Seattle mayor, Bruce Harrell and M. Lorena González, have served recently on the City Council, which means they have extensive and overlapping records for voters to comb…
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