To combat a rash of incivility and outright criminal acts, three Business Improvement Area directors argue that Seattle needs to commit more law enforcement resources to business districts.

Following a public safety forum hosted by several Seattle Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), Erin Goodman, Lisa Howard, and Michael Stewart say the street crime situation in Seattle business districts is getting worse. They point to employees and customers who've encountered "aggressive and threatening behavior from people suffering from mental health and addiction, property damage, theft, human waste, discarded needles and drug dealing."
"We believe the city of Seattle has confused 'decriminalizing homelessness' with tolerating criminal acts," they write. "Whether [perpetrators] are homeless is not the issue. People are committing criminal acts, and because the city will not arrest or prosecute, there are no consequences and the problem is growing worse."
The BIA directors suggest placing more beat cops on the streets of business districts, removing illegal encampments, increasing the availability of mental health and addiction services, and focusing on crime to "arrest and prosecute those people engaging in criminal activities regardless of their housing status."
FULL STORY: City of Seattle’s inertia on street crime is intolerable

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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