October 2018

Time for checkup to prevent residential burglary and car theft

By Jennifer Danner

Seattle Police Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

As we head into the fall months, there are a few important messages the SW Precinct would like to remind our community about. We would like to emphasize general property crime prevention (including residential burglary and auto theft/car prowl prevention), as well as pedestrian and traffic safety- specifically as it relates to school children.

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OP-ED: Nobody wants to be homeless
New film "Trickle Down Town" details local homelessness
Premier is Oct. 21 at the Admiral Theater

By Tomasz Biernacki

I recently read an open letter to the Mayor, on WestsideSeattle.com, regarding frustration around the RV dwellers on Harbor Ave SW and the homeless situation in general. Other posts on social media echo this same dissatisfaction (disgust even?) at city leadership and the homeless population. All of us in Seattle can, on some level, relate to the familiar line of thinking: that homeless people are dangerous drug addicted criminals, lazy ingrates who don’t want to work, or are not “from here” and are only in Seattle to take advantage of the available services.

Much of this ideology is misguided, misleading and frequently flat out inaccurate.

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LETTER: Who done it?

To the editor:

The letter submitted to the New York Times by someone allegedly from the Trump cabinet; the letter takes on the likeness of a Hollywood mystery…why not the butler?

After all, the butler knows everything which goes on in the Mansion and he's close to the boss.

Well, it seems like Las Vegas could benefit financially by creating odds betting on the list of possilble suspects who are at the top, as likely crooks closest to Trump.

I lightly view my opinions partly humorous in the sense of how absurd and paranoid Trump is reacting. Inasmuch as he is on a witch-hunt, requesting polygraph and letters from alleged suspect in his cabinet.

Let’s get real. Trump has broadcast serious insults toward anyone and everyone who is not his supporter. Now Trump is whining like a baby because someone told it like it is and Trump can’t handle what goes around coming back.

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Keep following the money

By Jean Godden

Last week Mayor Jenny Durkan delivered her first city budget to the Seattle City Council. The mayor proposed spending $5.9 billion in 2019, an increase of $300 million above this year's spending. Now it's up to the council to examine the mayor's plan, make any modifications and approve a final version by Thanksgiving Day.

At that time, the mayor will have two choices: either sign the budget or reject it. Unlike some governors and mayors, Seattle's mayor does not have the power to veto individual items within the budget.

During the next two months, the council will go over city spending in detail. As we are often told -- rightly, I think -- this is the most important thing that our elected officials do. The mayor and council are charged with deciding how taxpayers' money will be spent and how the city will allocate its resources. It's a matter of priorities.

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