Posted on 06/19/2026 8:53:56 AM PDT by Libloather
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a crackdown on open-air drug dealing Wednesday, declaring the city will "no longer tolerate" public drug sales, public drug use and the sale of stolen goods in two neighborhoods that residents and business owners say have been plagued by crime and disorder for years.
"We will no longer tolerate open-air drug sale and use and vending stolen goods," Wilson said in a press release Wednesday. "We are expanding police personnel in the area to engage directly with individuals participating in these activities, explain that the behavior is no longer tolerated and help ensure that the sidewalk and transit stops are safe and accessible for all."
Wilson said Seattle's Little Saigon, the easternmost part of the Chinatown–International District, primarily centered around 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street, would be the target of the enforcement crackdown.
"The community has worked together to do what they can, but city leaders have failed to act with the necessary focus and determination to sustain a meaningful change in everyday conditions," Wilson said. "We must disrupt the drug dealing, public disorder and other illegal activity that has destabilized this community."
In April, Westside Seattle reported that the Seattle Public Safety Committee of the Seattle City Council met on April 28 to discuss what Chair Robert Kettle called the "alarming" standstill in fixing Little Saigon’s public safety crisis.
According to data reviewed by city staff, Seattle Police Department arrests for drug use and possession increased from 633 in 2024 to 942 in 2025, a 47% jump. During the same period, post-arrest referrals to the LEAD diversion program fell by 30%.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
How can they expand police personnel, when the liberal view that we’re supposed to defund the police and use social workers?
Since what they’re talking about are nonviolent criminal offenses, this seems like it’s prime territory for the social workers.
And yet she wants to expand police presence.
Did I miss something? Are liberals okay with police now ?they no longer wanted to defund the police?
Let’s see them expand that de-funded police force.
Why was it “tolerated” in the first place???????
She'll hire more social workers for that.
From the article:
“She added that she will be allocating $1.1 million of one-time funding for services for the area, which include “neighborhood outreach staff to support service navigation, mobile overdose treatment and prevention teams, community activations to support neighbors and businesses and more.”
Yes, the need more cops, more arrests, and serious jail time.
Katie Wilson? Communist Katie Wilson? That Katie Wilson? Is going to crack down on crime???? The Katie Wilson who called police racist? The Katie Wilson who advocated defunding the police? The Katie Wilson who advocated for alternatives to policing? The Katie Wilson who called America structurally racist and who said police enforced that power structure? A crime crackdown sounds a little racist, doesn’t it Katie? What’s next? Are you joining the Republican Party and putting on a MAGA hat?
It’s just a virtue signal. She really won’t do anything
Gonna round up the whiners and put them in jail?
She’s a real boss bitch.
“the city will “no longer tolerate” public drug sales, public drug use and the sale of stolen goods in two neighborhoods that residents and business owners say have been plagued by crime and disorder for years.”
So moving and doing it in other neighborhoods is OK.
Because we’ve been told that doing and dealing drugs is a “victimless” crime.
This is NOT FAIR to drug dealers and criminals!
Talk about mixed messaging!
They spent the last 6 years letting everyone off, or not even arresting them in the first place!
What are these poor criminals going to do now? Get a real job? pshhhh
SLOW LEARNERS
Breaking the law is a crime...”Victimless” or not...
But if there is no victim why is there a law to start with?
So, you are saying that driving over the speed limit should not be a law because there is no “victim”????
Moreover, dealing in stolen goods is hardly a “victimless” crime.
All that TWOT will do is take into custody certain monsters — and then release them across town.
No bail, no hearing, no prosecution, nada.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.