LateToCult 41,843 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Spoiler One thing shined through pretty clearly when the Seattle mayoral candidates debated Tuesday. And no, it wasn’t who would be the best choice to try to manage our ungovernable city. It was that defunding the police is on the run. None of the six candidates who appeared at Tuesday’s forum openly endorsed cutting the police budget, let alone by 50%, as a majority of the Seattle City Council had endorsed during the civil rights protests last summer. A number of candidates campaigned openly that what Seattle really needs right now is more cops — which is quite a political shift from a year ago. “I think the pendulum has swung against defund the police,” one candidate, Lance Randall, said after the debate had ended. “You can see it in these forums — the people who used to talk about it either don’t talk about it anymore or are now actively backpedaling.” Randall stole the show a bit at this forum, hosted by the Downtown Seattle Association, when he told about how he’d been shot at by thieves just this past Saturday in his Rainier Beach neighborhood. As first reported by KOMO News on Monday, Randall had been awakened at 4 a.m. by the sound of mechanical sawing. On the street outside, two people were cutting out a parked car’s catalytic converter. Randall went out and tried to get the license plate of the thieves’ car, but they spotted him and then fired five shots, some in the air and some at him, as they sped away. Randall had crouched behind his own car — his headrest absorbed one bullet. Randall is African American, so it hit home harder when he then upbraided the City Council and some of the other candidates for purporting to speak for minority communities about this issue. “We’ve had several forums, and I feel as though there’s an assumption that people of color do not want police officers in their neighborhoods to protect them,” Randall said. “We need police officers.” After the debate, he elaborated: “I guess I’ve grown weary of the City Council and others in the city attempting to speak and act on behalf of Black people, without asking and without considering the ramifications of some of these actions. “We are having nightly shootings,” he went on. “As someone who was just in one of these shootings, I think I can say that this community desperately wants someone to respond when we call 911. It doesn’t mean we don’t want to reform the police, or that we can’t do violence prevention programs and other alternative approaches. It means we need both.” Already this year Seattle has seen 220 shootings, which, if it continues, puts the city on track to break the record for most shootings in a year. Homicides had slowed a bit in the spring (there were 12 through May, about average for Seattle). But June so far has been one of the deadlier single months in Seattle crime history, with 10 killings this month through June 28. “Look, we’re down 300 cops — over 20 percent of the SPD workforce,” Sixkiller said. “People no longer feel safe … It is damaging the reputation of downtown Seattle, and it is sending a message to visitors and tourists and businesses alike that we can’t fix it.” Only current City Council President M. Lorena González and former Chief Seattle Club director Colleen Echohawk said a definite no to police emphasis patrols, urging more social and cultural investments instead. Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/if-the-seattle-mayors-race-is-any-guide-defund-the-police-has-lost-its-steam/%3famp=1 Interesting little read. Last year’s protests in the city seem to have had a big effect on Seattle politics. For starters, our mayor decided not to run for re-election. She claims it was because covid had to be her top priority but we all know it’s because residents hated her response to CHOP. Now it seems like it’s pushed more pro-policing candidates into the race. IMO, this election might still end up as “business as usual” because two of the front runners seem like the type to push the “defund” narrative to scoop up some votes. All the candidates suck ass this year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FATCAT 60,888 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 We're not in a political climate where "defunding" police is popular enough to win races. Crime is climbing, especially violent crime, and that's why we need to elect reformers that know how to adequately protect communities while being tough on crime in the RIGHT ways. This kitten over here (meow) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonkers 30,860 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 42 minutes ago, FATCAT said: We're not in a political climate where "defunding" police is popular enough to win races. Crime is climbing, especially violent crime, and that's why we need to elect reformers that know how to adequately protect communities while being tough on crime in the RIGHT ways. Defund the police is a terrible slogan that's unpopular and misunderstood. Some people think it means "abolish the police" which is a different agenda altogether. Defunding is about taking police budget and investing it areas that prevent violent crime in the first place, and removing responsibilities from the police since it's very difficult to be responsible for the wide array of things they have to do. First responders, dealing with domestic abuse, drugs, traffic, etc etc, it's too much for what theyr'e being paid and changing how public safety is funded is a good idea. Remember to like and subscribe, and click on the bell icon to get the latest updates Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahb 17,188 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 16 minutes ago, Bonkers said: Defund the police is a terrible slogan that's unpopular and misunderstood. Some people think it means "abolish the police" which is a different agenda altogether. Defunding is about taking police budget and investing it areas that prevent violent crime in the first place, and removing responsibilities from the police since it's very difficult to be responsible for the wide array of things they have to do. First responders, dealing with domestic abuse, drugs, traffic, etc etc, it's too much for what theyr'e being paid and changing how public safety is funded is a good idea. I think "reform the police" would've been a much better slogan tbh Do you feel him sir? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LateToCult 41,843 Posted July 10, 2021 Author Share Posted July 10, 2021 22 minutes ago, Bonkers said: Defund the police is a terrible slogan that's unpopular and misunderstood. Some people think it means "abolish the police" which is a different agenda altogether. Defunding is about taking police budget and investing it areas that prevent violent crime in the first place, and removing responsibilities from the police since it's very difficult to be responsible for the wide array of things they have to do. First responders, dealing with domestic abuse, drugs, traffic, etc etc, it's too much for what theyr'e being paid and changing how public safety is funded is a good idea. Very well said. If only Seattle leaders could stop obsessing over Amazon and race for five minutes to address the complete misunderstanding of what it actually means. Maybe then there wouldn’t be such a misconception of what it actually means. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
POP2 4,206 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 Good. Worst slogan I have ever heard. I’m glad most Democrats don’t touch it with a 10 foot pole. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Thomason 1,036 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 18 minutes ago, Bonkers said: Defund the police is a terrible slogan that's unpopular and misunderstood. Some people think it means "abolish the police" which is a different agenda altogether. Defunding is about taking police budget and investing it areas that prevent violent crime in the first place, and removing responsibilities from the police since it's very difficult to be responsible for the wide array of things they have to do. First responders, dealing with domestic abuse, drugs, traffic, etc etc, it's too much for what theyr'e being paid and changing how public safety is funded is a good idea. Since defund the police started with the BLM movement I will mention that the UKBLM gofundme did indeed mention "- Developing and delivering training, police monitoring and strategies for the abolition of police". It's unsurprising people associate defund with abolish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonkers 30,860 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 2 minutes ago, Chris Thomason said: Since defund the police started with the BLM movement I will mention that the UKBLM gofundme did indeed mention "- Developing and delivering training, police monitoring and strategies for the abolition of police". It's unsurprising people associate defund with abolish. Very good point. I think it's a terrible slogan and whether or not a particular agenda wants to abolish police it *sounds* like that's what it wants to do. In some states police officers earn *less than* $30,000 per year and then people are surprised when you have unqualified racists showing up to deal with domestic abuse. I think @sarahb said it best and it should be called reform from the start. Remember to like and subscribe, and click on the bell icon to get the latest updates Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,845 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 1 hour ago, Bonkers said: Defund the police is a terrible slogan that's unpopular and misunderstood. Some people think it means "abolish the police" which is a different agenda altogether. Defunding is about taking police budget and investing it areas that prevent violent crime in the first place, and removing responsibilities from the police since it's very difficult to be responsible for the wide array of things they have to do. First responders, dealing with domestic abuse, drugs, traffic, etc etc, it's too much for what theyr'e being paid and changing how public safety is funded is a good idea. I support the idea but ur right the slogan is terrible. On top of that ppl often say it in an angry agressive tone It gives off the impression they just dont want any law enforcement to exist at all period. While a few no doubt think to that extreme, i know thats not what most mean... But i get why its taken that way But again a few ppl do actually mean literally get rid of which i think is a terrible idea Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LateToCult 41,843 Posted July 10, 2021 Author Share Posted July 10, 2021 4 minutes ago, Economy said: I support the idea but ur right the slogan is terrible. On top of that ppl often say it in an angry agressive tone It gives off the impression they just dont want any law enforcement to exist at all period. While a few no doubt think to that extreme, i know thats not what most mean... But i get why its taken that way But again a few ppl do actually mean literally get rid of which i think is a terrible idea It doesn’t help that people in Seattle literally kicked out officers from a precinct, blocked off multiple streets, and called it an area free of police presence during the riots. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,845 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 25 minutes ago, LateToCult said: It doesn’t help that people in Seattle literally kicked out officers from a precinct, blocked off multiple streets, and called it an area free of police presence during the riots. One thing ive learned is a lot of ppl dont know how to be balanced about anything. Its always gotta be one extreme or the other when it comes to stances that become politicized The moment a movement starts over an issue (legitimate as it may be), it often explodes into a divide with 2 opposing sides in which one protects the status quo religiously because they are on the defence while the ones who want to tear down or change something get very agressive and want unrealistic sudden changes that would be highly disfunctional or innefective I wish ppl could look at situations and issues objectively without letting political affiliation bias and the emotions attached to it cloud their judgement all the time. And its gotten worse with social media Theres no civility any more to discuss anything. Just fighting Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gagaloo911 12,959 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 I do think it's a bad slogan as it is misleading and clearly can be easily misinterpreted and manipulated to demonize Democrats and use scare tactics that they're trying to get rid of the police. Like since "defund the police" is literally about reallocating funds and responsibilities, for instance so that mental health events and issues are handled by mental health professionals and not police as it should be and which people would support since police have enough responsibilities, why not use a slogan that actually represents that and isn't so misleading? I don't understand the desire to keep such a slogan when it's already hurt Democrats and isn't getting any more popular. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LateToCult 41,843 Posted July 10, 2021 Author Share Posted July 10, 2021 33 minutes ago, Gagaloo911 said: I do think it's a bad slogan as it is misleading and clearly can be easily misinterpreted and manipulated to demonize Democrats and use scare tactics that they're trying to get rid of the police. Like since "defund the police" is literally about reallocating funds and responsibilities, for instance so that mental health events and issues are handled by mental health professionals and not police as it should be and which people would support since police have enough responsibilities, why not use a slogan that actually represents that and isn't so misleading? I don't understand the desire to keep such a slogan when it's already hurt Democrats and isn't getting any more popular. In Seattle the conversation isn’t really about Democrat vs Republican. All the major candidates are Democrats. It’s more of a conversation about how left do people want the mayor to be. Right now it’s looking like the city wants a centrist Democrat. That’s saying something because usually people here are very critical of centrists yet I’ve seen an overwhelming amount of praise for Bruce Harrell (a centrist and front runner). Anyway, sorry I kind of took your comment in a different direction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bionic 50,111 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 13 hours ago, POP2 said: Good. Worst slogan I have ever heard. I’m glad most Democrats don’t touch it with a 10 foot pole. Amen. Its a terrible slogan because not only does it have to be explained for it to make sense, what "defund the police" actually stands for doesn't mean defunding at all Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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