We're tried "progressive" rule and it turned out to be shit. Homelessness skyrocketed, as did crime. Communities of color were disproportionately affected. Affordable housing supply contracted and rents went up. Drug overdoses hit all time records--the biggest increases in the entire country. And, human trafficking of women also hit records.

Let's not elect shit again. Seattle deserves better than O'Sullivan--especially our most vulnerable residents who suffered under the past 'progressive' city council

We tried "conservative" rule and it turned out to be shit. Homelessness didn't "skyrocket", you just weren't bothered by it because it was under bridges, around the docks, in industrial areas, and out of your sight. What changed is Marine Security and other rules that sprouted fences to keep people out of those areas.

To pinpoint the real culprit in drug overdoses, mental health breakdowns, and homelessness point to conservatives like Reagan who stripped funding from our mental health system so many years ago. Point to greedy landlords. Point to businesses that fail to pay a living wage. Point to NIMBYs who only allow zoning for single family houses with an acre of lawn.

Conservatives suck! They always have. They always will. Conservatives celebrate when something for the public good fails. If you want to help our most vulnerable residents, never ever identify yourself as a conservative!

@2: The data does not lie, but feeble-minded people are easily manipulated.

Facts: Seattle has not had a "conservative" mayor since Wes Uhlman in 1969. "Progressives" have DOMINATED Seattle governance during the last 5+ years.

What have the produced???

The results show that "progressive" rule has, in fact, turned out to be shit. Compared to the nation, Seattle is:

2 in car thefts.

1 in retail crime.

1 in the growth of overdoses.

3 in homelessness.

13 in human trafficking.

2 in burglaries

Seattle records most homicides in at least 44 years in 2023--a murder rate higher than that of El Salvador. While the feeble-minded person may find this appealing, most would call this performance shitty.

Regarding housing: no where in Seattle is there 1 house/acre zoning. No where. In fact, the city aggressively up zoned neighborhood like the Central District which brought in developers and pushed out families of color in record numbers.

Get educated. Look at the facts. O'Sullivan will be shitty for Seattle.

(BTW, I agree with you on Reagan. He stripped mental funding for mental health. But blaming a president from 44 years ago for Seattle's failures is beyond a stretch of the imagination--but again, feeble-minded people may find that appealing--especially The Stranger readers, writers, and publishers.

@3 I'm a citizen, like you, very concerned about the rampant crime in our streets. What's shocking and appalling to me is the fact, of all those car thefts, trafficked humans, burglaries and murders you mention City Attorney Ann Davison hasn't convicted a single person for any of them. In fact she hasn't even tried! Seattle is a crime and drug ridden disaster zone and it's largely due to Ann Davison's failure to prosecute even one serious felony during her time as City Attorney. This city deserves better, and I say it's time the voters demand better!

@4 the city attorneys office doesn’t try felonies. Those are handled by the county. The city only deals with misdemeanors and despite claims from progressives that Davison would lock people up for being poor that hasn’t come close to happening.

@5 listen the people who voted for Davison expected her to crack down on the dealers, pimps and armed thieves preying on our most vulnerable communities and if she's not up to the job, for whatever reason, she needs to be replaced

@6 / thirteen12: Davison only has jurisdiction over misdemeanors. Since she's taken office she has been very strategic at going after people are are serial and repeat perpetrators. The results have been very successful. Safety has improved--albeit slightly.

Net: all of us in this comment section agree: rampant crime is not good for Seattle. Davison is the first city Attorney to publically be against crime (remember Pete Holmes, he ignored crime).

Davison is making Seattle safer. Let's support her.

@7 wait what?! Now I'm confused. Why were you talking about murders, trafficking and burglaries if the City Attorney only has jurisdiction over misdemeanors and therefore has no impact on those crime rates regardless what they do?

3rd paragraph from last.

Finally, The stranger admits that evictions aren't just about "greedy" landlords pushing out established tenants for more money.

Wow, I see a light of hope in these politically bleak times. He's already getting my vote.

He sounds not only great, but like a very strong candidate (which is not an easy combination to find these days). Thanks for letting us know about him, at The Stranger.