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The progressives on the Seattle City Council have signaled their intention to dramatically slash the city police budget.
Today, they held a hearing on a plan to reduce the police department by 50% and redistribute the money to "communities of color."
Here are the details.
Today, they held a hearing on a plan to reduce the police department by 50% and redistribute the money to "communities of color."
Here are the details.
The activists are claiming that the Black Lives Matter movement has given them a political mandate to "defund" the Seattle Police Department.
They claim to have 45,000 petition signatures and 300 partner organizations who demand the 50% budget cut.
They claim to have 45,000 petition signatures and 300 partner organizations who demand the 50% budget cut.
The plan would "freeze hiring," [reduce] patrol staffing," abolish the homelessness outreach team, "cut SPD's training budget," and "end overtime pay for police officers."
Experts estimate this could reduce total number of officers from 1,400 to 700.
![The plan would "freeze hiring," [reduce] patrol staffing," abolish the homelessness outreach team, "cut SPD's training budget," and "end overtime pay for police officers." Experts estimate this could reduce total number of officers from 1,400 to 700.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ecb6EtTVAAAiDWH.png "The plan would \"freeze hiring,\" [reduce] patrol staffing,\" abolish the homelessness outreach team, \"cut SPD's training budget,\" and \"end overtime pay for police officers.\" Experts estimate this could reduce total number of officers from 1,400 to 700.")
Experts estimate this could reduce total number of officers from 1,400 to 700.
Black Lives Matter activist Nikkita Oliver, who is currently in negotiations with the Seattle mayor, says she supports "an abolitionist agenda" in which "police can be obsolete."
Oliver believes is the first step towards dismantling "patriarchy, white supremacy, and classism.”
Oliver believes is the first step towards dismantling "patriarchy, white supremacy, and classism.”
The plan recommends that up to $200 million of the police budget should be redistributed to "community-led solutions" so "we can grow our future without SPD."
Funding "community-led solutions" means a massive payday for racial-justice nonprofits and activist organizations.
Funding "community-led solutions" means a massive payday for racial-justice nonprofits and activist organizations.
The end goal for the activists is "police abolition."
The plan explicitly states that the 50% budget cut is just the first step towards demolishing the police department and creating a utopia "beyond policing."
The plan explicitly states that the 50% budget cut is just the first step towards demolishing the police department and creating a utopia "beyond policing."
Understand this: "police abolition" is no longer confined to obscure academic journals; it is now being considered by major American cities.
The activists have built their narrative: "The police are incorrigibly racist, violent, and corrupt. Reform is not enough. Utopia now!"
The activists have built their narrative: "The police are incorrigibly racist, violent, and corrupt. Reform is not enough. Utopia now!"
This legislation to "defund the police" has a real chance at becoming law in Seattle.
Four councilmembers—Morales, Sawant, Mosqueda, and González—have already pledged their support to a 50% cut. If they can flip one more councilmember, they can pass it.
Four councilmembers—Morales, Sawant, Mosqueda, and González—have already pledged their support to a 50% cut. If they can flip one more councilmember, they can pass it.
How will it end? In chaos. I published an article last year warning about the "defund the police" movement.
My predictions still stand: wealthy residents would hire private security and poor residents would be at the mercy of violent gangs.
/end https://www.city-journal.org/abolish-police-call-to-action
My predictions still stand: wealthy residents would hire private security and poor residents would be at the mercy of violent gangs.
/end https://www.city-journal.org/abolish-police-call-to-action
