Seattle’s latest crisis is making national news, and it’s a direct consequence of disastrous Democrats’ failed, anti-police policies. Starting Oct. 1, the Seattle Police Department will no longer respond to burglary alarms triggered by sensors or motion detectors unless there’s verified evidence, such as video footage or eyewitness accounts. This move comes as the department grapples with severe staffing shortages caused by years of anti-police rhetoric and defunding efforts championed by Democrats.

Security companies were blindsided by this policy, warning it will cause crime to skyrocket. Washington Alarm CEO Shannon Woodman criticized the decision, saying it will leave businesses and homeowners vulnerable to burglaries at a time when the city is already plagued by rising crime. Forcing people to install expensive new surveillance systems isn’t a solution—it’s an irresponsible shift of responsibility onto citizens who should be able to rely on police protection.

The real issue is Seattle’s decimated police force, which has shrunk from nearly 1,400 officers to just 930 due to policies that have driven officers away. These staffing shortages are not some unforeseen consequence but the predictable outcome of years of Democrat-led policies that have demonized law enforcement and neglected public safety. Now, residents are left to fend for themselves as the city chooses to prioritize politics over protection, leaving homes and businesses more vulnerable than ever.

This isn’t about cutting down on false alarms—it’s about a city leadership that has failed to support its police and left citizens paying the price. Read more at Fox News.

A recent economic analysis by the Washington Research Council reveals that Initiative 2109, which seeks to repeal Washington’s capital gains income tax, would have little effect on the state’s robust revenue stream. The repeal would reduce future state revenues by only $424 million in 2024 and $820 million in 2025—minor losses compared to overall rising tax collections. Claims that the initiative would harm funding for K-12 education and daycare are false, as state tax revenues will continue to grow even without the capital gains tax. The tax currently accounts for only 1% of the state’s general fund revenue, making its removal insignificant to public finances. Despite some lawmakers’ warnings of “devastation,” the study suggests repealing the tax would likely benefit economic growth and enhance state finances. Read the full study here.

Here’s another classic case of union overreach. State workers in Washington are voting on a new two-year contract, but union leaders from the Washington Public Employees Association are urging members to reject it, calling the proposed salary increases inadequate. Despite offering a 5% pay raise over two years and maintaining significant benefits, the union argues the deal is essentially a pay cut when accounting for inflation, rising costs, and a history of stagnant wages. They had pushed for a much higher 30% cost-of-living adjustment. By recommending a “no” vote, union leaders are leading workers into “uncharted territory,” risking no wage increase at all for a year if the deal fails.

With the state forecasting budget deficits, holding out for a 30% raise is so unrealistic that only Jay Inslee would, eventually, relent. For years, Inslee has handed the public employees union pie-in-the-sky deals – presumably as a reward for their unwavering support, all at taxpayers’ expense. We’ll continue to watch whether Inslee gives in this time around. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall and Executive Dow Constantine have made it clear that lawlessness reigns in King County under Democrat leadership. As KTTH’s Jason Rantz point out, after Burien passed an ordinance banning homeless encampments near schools and parks, Constantine undermined it by refusing to enforce the law through the sheriff’s office. Cole-Tindall then filed a frivolous lawsuit to block the ordinance, which was quickly dismissed by the courts—though the real goal seemed to be stalling enforcement, not winning.

Even after the judge’s ruling, Cole-Tindall refuses to enforce the ordinance, citing unresolved “constitutional concerns.” Rantz highlights the hypocrisy: Democrats blasted sheriffs for not enforcing gun laws they considered unconstitutional, yet now Cole-Tindall is doing the same with a law protecting schools. While law enforcement ignores real problems, the county enables criminal behavior and neglects its responsibility to protect the public. Read more of Jason Rantz’s take here.

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