| − | Long influenced by [[liberal]] policies, Seattle has been in a state of decline,<ref>Jasper, William F. (April 11, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/31992-seattle-is-dying-radical-progressivism-is-the-reason Seattle Is Dying: Radical “Progressivism” Is the Reason]. ''The New American''. Retrieved April 11, 2019.</ref> particularly in recent years under current Democrat mayor Jenny Durkan, an open [[lesbian]] who has drawn criticism for her racism and sexism for her attacks on white men (along with throwing around accusations of "white privilege"), claiming them responsible for the rioting and destruction being caused in the [[2020 Antifa riots]] (while ignoring that she herself is white and that those she blames for the chaos are actually leftists like herself).<ref>[https://www.wnd.com/2020/06/lesbian-mayor-blames-white-men-violence-destruction-riots/ Lesbian mayor blames 'white men' for 'violence and destruction' at riots] at WorldNetDaily</ref> | + | Long influenced by [[liberal]] policies, [[Seattle]] has been in a state of decline,<ref>Jasper, William F. (April 11, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/31992-seattle-is-dying-radical-progressivism-is-the-reason Seattle Is Dying: Radical “Progressivism” Is the Reason]. ''The New American''. Retrieved April 11, 2019.</ref> particularly in recent years under current Democrat mayor Jenny Durkan, an open [[lesbian]] who has drawn criticism for her racism and sexism for her attacks on white men (along with throwing around accusations of "white privilege"), claiming them responsible for the rioting and destruction being caused in the [[2020 Antifa riots]] (while ignoring that she herself is white and that those she blames for the chaos are actually leftists like herself).<ref>[https://www.wnd.com/2020/06/lesbian-mayor-blames-white-men-violence-destruction-riots/ Lesbian mayor blames 'white men' for 'violence and destruction' at riots] at WorldNetDaily</ref> |
| | For nearly a month, starting in June 2020, the City of Seattle permitted [[anarchist]]s and [[activist]]s to seize six square blocks of the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood, naming their new enclave the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” (CHAZ) and then the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” (CHOP). [[Law enforcement]] and fire fighters were precluded from entering the territory. The Seattle Police Department was ordered to abandon their precinct within the CHOP. Person-related crime in the CHOP increased 525% from the same period of time in the same area the year before, including by Mayor [[Jenny Durkan]]’s own count “two additional homicides, 6 additional robberies, and 16 additional aggravated assaults (to include 2 additional non-fatal shootings).” The CHOP was allowed to stand for nearly a month, during which time two teenagers were shot and killed in the zone. The Seattle City Council, Mayor Jenny Durkan, and Washington Governor [[Jay Inslee]] publicly rejected [[federal]] involvement in law enforcement activities within the city of Seattle.<ref name="justice.gov"/> | | For nearly a month, starting in June 2020, the City of Seattle permitted [[anarchist]]s and [[activist]]s to seize six square blocks of the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood, naming their new enclave the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” (CHAZ) and then the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” (CHOP). [[Law enforcement]] and fire fighters were precluded from entering the territory. The Seattle Police Department was ordered to abandon their precinct within the CHOP. Person-related crime in the CHOP increased 525% from the same period of time in the same area the year before, including by Mayor [[Jenny Durkan]]’s own count “two additional homicides, 6 additional robberies, and 16 additional aggravated assaults (to include 2 additional non-fatal shootings).” The CHOP was allowed to stand for nearly a month, during which time two teenagers were shot and killed in the zone. The Seattle City Council, Mayor Jenny Durkan, and Washington Governor [[Jay Inslee]] publicly rejected [[federal]] involvement in law enforcement activities within the city of Seattle.<ref name="justice.gov"/> |