From Newsgroup: alt.law-enforcement

from Seattle Times

Seattle voters are done waiting on public safety, new poll finds

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Gene Balk / FYI Guy Seattle Times columnist

Seattle voters are divided on plenty of issues. Public safety,
apparently, isnrCOt one of them. A new poll shows agreement so lopsided
you might need to do a double take to believe the numbers.

Released this week by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Challenge Seattle, the survey of 500 registered voters paints a stark
picture of a frustrated electorate. Fulcrum Strategy Group conducted the
poll Aug. 10-13, about two weeks after a shooting at Seattle Center that
left three people dead and was followed by police Chief Shon BarnesrCO resignation. The poll carries a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points
rCo a margin that doesnrCOt mean much given how decisive the results are.

LetrCOs dig into the numbers.

The most striking finding is the near-unanimous demand for a larger
police footprint in struggling neighborhoods. A staggering 90% of
respondents favor regular foot and bicycle patrols in areas dealing with persistent problems, such as the open-air drug and stolen goods markets
in Little Saigon in the Chinatown International District.

Seattleites are just as tired of sluggish 911 response times. Nine in 10
want the city to treat its seven-minute response standard for priority
calls as a mandate, even if it requires redirecting municipal spending
to hit that mark.

More surprising for a historically privacy-conscious city, surveillance
now enjoys widespread backing. Three-quarters of those surveyed endorse expanding the cityrCOs closed-circuit television network. Digging deeper,
74% want cameras at major venues like Seattle Center, and 71% want them deployed in areas plagued by street disorder. Even real-time monitoring
by civilian officials in high-crime areas and during major events draws
68% approval.

That data puts the electorate noticeably at odds with Mayor Katie
Wilson, who halted further camera expansion this spring, citing concerns
over data privacy and fears that the footage could be used against
immigrants by federal authorities.

Patience for the status quo on street-level drug use and encampments has similarly evaporated. More than 8 in 10 voters want the city to
prioritize shutting down open-air drug markets. While compassion remains
high rCo 82% favor offering treatment and shelter first rCo those same individuals overwhelmingly agree that repeated refusals of help should
trigger arrest and prosecution.

A ban on camping in parks and within 250 feet of playgrounds and schools
also drew massive support (79%), paired with a requirement that the city
clear such encampments within 72 hours. At the state level, 75% of those polled want to rewrite the law that currently allows a juvenile to be
arrested five times for illegally carrying a firearm before facing jail
time.

The message to elected officials is blunt. Voters are skeptical that
city leadership has a grip on public safety rCo only about one-third
believe officials actually have an effective plan in place. To close
that trust gap, 86% favor a comprehensive public safety action plan
within 100 days, complete with measurable goals and monthly progress
reports.

The poll reveals a stark ideological gap in confidence in the Wilson administrationrCOs public safety plan. Among progressive voters, a clear majority rCo 67% rCo expressed confidence in the administration. That drops
to just 29% among liberals and 12% among moderates and conservatives.

rCLThe public isnrCOt asking for a debate on public safety. They want action now to solve it,rCY Christine Gregoire, CEO of Challenge Seattle and
former Washington governor, noted in a news release regarding the poll.

It is worth reflecting on just how far public opinion has evolved. Back
in 2020, polling found voters roughly split on whether to reallocate
half of the police budget to community services. Now, just six years
later, 9 out of 10 want an expanded police presence in the neighborhoods
that need it most.

Gene Balk / FYI Guy: gbalk@seattletimes.com.
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