Seattle mayoral candidates debate downtown safety issues

SEATTLE — After a recent killing, judges at the King County Courthouse sent a letter, asking that neighboring City Hall Park be shut down and residents relocated. Also, a King County Council member wants Seattle to condemn the park.

Today, six leading Seattle mayoral candidates participated in a forum sponsored by the Downtown Seattle Association.

Deputy Mayor Casey Sixkiller said, “I don’t agree with, with condemning the park and transferring ownership that just passes the buck. What we need to do is step up, make some tough decisions and work to bring those services to folks in that park.”

Businessman Art Langlie, “We can move people into places where we can help them. Because right now, they’re not getting help by being where they are.”

None of the candidates would condemn the park.

Public safety is a prime issue downtown. But the candidates disagree on whether more police is the answer and whether downtown should get special emphasis.

City Council President Lorena Gonazlez said, “No, we have done enforcement and emphasis patrols year after year after year after year at the tune of millions and millions of dollars of overtime expenditures, and it is not solved the public safety issues in downtown.”

Former City Council President Bruce Harrell said, “I will say this respect to public safety. First, we have to recognize it, particularly downtown. They have unique public safety issues that need to be addressed. That the experience of living and working downtown is completely unacceptable.”

Former Chief Seattle Club Executive Director Colleen Echohawk said, “If we do not solve our crisis of homelessness, we will continue to see public safety issues. Because we have people out there who are desperate, who are doing desperate things because they are hungry, because they are exhausted, because they have no place to sleep.”

A former economic development executive, Lance Randall, was shot at over the weekend as he tried to identify a catalytic converter thief. He encourages cooperation with police.

“If they will shoot at me, they will shoot at others. And I just want to encourage people to look after each other, protect one another, and, and contact your police officers, partner with them as you try to deal with this issue,” Randle said.

The primary election is Aug. 3. The top two candidates will go on to the November general election.

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