Monday, June 10
Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr: “We Have a Lot of Work to Do.”
Andrew Engelson sat down with new interim police chief Sue Rahr to talk about how she plans to address gun violence, hiring challenges, and a well-documented culture of misogyny at the police department, which is facing multiple lawsuits and complaints from women who say they experienced harassment, discrimination, and retaliation from Diaz and others in the department.
Wednesday, June 12
Ad Kiosks Could Be Coming to Downtown Seattle. But Are the “Public Benefits” Worth the Tradeoff?
The Downtown Seattle Association hopes to sign a deal with an Ohio-based advertising company to place dozens of tall, illuminated kiosks across downtown Seattle and in other neighborhoods. The ads will include some civic programming, like images of local art and guides to local events, but critics are asking whether these purported benefits are enough to allow the vertical billboards on public sidewalks.
Afternoon Fizz: Meanwhile, In Burien…
In Burien this week, police chief Ted Boe resigned from the King County Sheriff’s Office (which provides police services to Burien and other small cities) after almost 30 years on the job after city manager Adolfo Bailon and Mayor Kevin Schilling said they wanted him out because the sheriff’s office won’t enforce the city’s law against “camping” in the city. (The KCSO has sued, saying it’s unconstitutional). The city is also still looking for ways to ban a tiny house village, for which King County pledged $1 million more than a year ago.
Friday, June 14
Officers Describe SPD Under Diaz as a “Dictatorship” Where Retaliation was Routine
Women at SPD who spoke to PubliCola describe their experience working under former chief Diaz, saying department leadership weaponized misconduct complaints to retaliate against women who spoke up about discrimination and harassment. “A number of these complaints are anonymous and they’re just vague, somewhat shocking complaints,” one high-ranking officer said.
City Hall Fizz: Shakeups On the Second Floor
A longtime budget expert, deputy central staff director Aly Pennucci, has stepped down just as the new council prepares to take on an estimated $260 million deficit. And Council President Sara Nelson just hired a new communications director who previously worked for, and donated to, Republicans; he also contributed to a campaign that ran misleading ads against progressive council members, including two current council incumbents. The communications director represents the entire council, but Nelson reportedly did not consult other council members before making the hire.
Another person has died at SCORE, the Des Moines jail where Seattle may start sending people arrested for misdemeanors who can’t be booked into the King County Jail, which isn’t currently holding people arrested for minor misdemeanors. And: Kevin Dave, the SPD officer who struck and killed 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula in a crosswalk last year, did not have a valid Washington driver’s license, as required by law and Seattle police policy.