Public Safety
Back to News Center Issues related to public safety and crime came to a head a few years ago when three apparently unrelated high-profile murders occurred in Federal Way within 24 hours. Some commenters blamed concentrations of multifamily housing for the deaths. Others thought efforts to defund police, constrain the…
Read More Back to News Center Effective January 1, 2025, the city of Black Diamond lifted its moratorium on new retail cannabis establishments. The moratorium had been in place since 2013. The effort to lift the ban began in January of last year in response to a proposal by city council member…
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Back to News Center When she ran for the position of Seattle city attorney in 2022, Ann Davison framed herself as a “pragmatist” and advocated for restoring law and order to the city’s streets by “increasing prosecution of misdemeanor crimes and clearing out homeless camps.” Since winning election and assuming…
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Back to News Center REALTORS® know “strong schools” and “public safety” are two of the most important factors homebuyers consider when looking for a home in a neighborhood they can afford. Our primary focus remains fixed on “housing supply” and “affordability” because that’s where REALTORS® can provide unique expertise. Even…
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Back to News Center Having working smoke alarms can save lives and property. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) founded and promotes Fire Prevention Week in its quest to reduce losses with “information, knowledge, and passion.” This year’s observance is October 6-12. NFPA, a self-funded nonprofit, created Fire Prevention Week…
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Back to News Center Good news: 75% of Washingtonians don’t litter, according to research by the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE). Bad news: The litterbugs cause “expensive cleanups, dangerous road conditions, loss of community tourism, and big environmental impacts.” In addition to safety risks, the unsightly debris can harm…
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Back to News Center A dispute that has been simmering since mid-2023 between the City of Burien and the King County Sheriff’s Office escalated in March when Patti Cole-Tindall sued the city in federal district court over a new ordinance passed by the city council. The Sheriff’s new legal action…
Read More Back to News Center The city of Renton’s Regional Fire Authority has agreed to share its CARES (Community Advocates for Referral and Education Services) program with the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, which provides both emergency and non-emergency services in a 120-square mile area that includes more than 260,000 residents,…
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Back to News Center Voters in the City of Maple Valley have approved a “Levy Lid Lift” to increase property taxes to pay for police services. The November ballot measure, which was approved by 66% of voters, restricts the use of $2.2 million in additional funding for police services only.…
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Back to News Center Burien is one of several cities in King County that does not have its own Police Department, and instead contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office for police services. Burien wants the Sheriff’s office to remove homeless campers from a city-owned vacant lot, but Sheriff Patti…
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