JASON RANTZ

Seattle Council candidate would not have voted to cut police budget 20%

Feb 22, 2021, 4:36 PM | Updated: Feb 23, 2021, 7:31 am

Willoughby...

The Seattle City Council chambers. (Seattle City Council, Flickr)

(Seattle City Council, Flickr)

A longtime activist in the Seattle area, Mike McQuaid has now announced he is running for the Seattle City Council, going up against Teresa Mosqueda in the at-large position.

McQuaid is a fourth generation Seattleite, and has served as a member, president, and transportation chair of the South Lake Union Community Council. He joined the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH to discuss hazard pay, police reform, and his candidacy.

As Jason asked, when McQuaid made this announcement, he toured the community and went to two of the QFC locations that are now going to be shuttered as a result of the hazard pay. Did the Seattle council make a mistake in imposing the pay?

“The legislation was well-intended, looking out for those that are putting their lives on the line every day,” he said. “… But we are addressing an industry that is operating a very razor thin margins and understanding the industry through a business lens, a labor lens, is extraordinarily important.”

WA prosecutor: Retroactive earned release bill gives ‘biggest benefit to worst offenders’

“The net effect of the legislation upset a very delicate balance that exists within the industry’s role in the community. They’re providing groceries, providing services, providing just a needed base of acceptance and consistency in our community,” he added. “And this triggered a closure of two stores, which potentially could cause loss of jobs.”

With regards to police reform, McQuaid says he would not have voted to cut the police budget by 20% had he been a councilmember, but he believes real changes need to be made.

“I think I would not have voted to cut the budget 20%. … I think without a question, any institution in our system has to be looked at periodically and incrementally as to can we refresh it? Can we make it current? Can we do a better job?” he said.

WA Rep: Police tactics bill appeases ‘political group’ at expense of safety

“On the other side of the equation, we have an institution that has been in place for hundreds of years throughout the world, that we all agree upon, keeps us safe, and it’s not appropriate to start blowing those institutions up immediately because of the acts of a very few — by the numbers — that are egregious and terribly wrong,” McQuaid said. “We have an opportunity to correct those. We need to pay attention to it.”

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3 – 6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm toThe Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

Jason Rantz

Burien lawsuit...

Jason Rantz

Exclusive: City of Burien sues King County for breaking contract in homeless camping ban

The City of Burien filed a lawsuit against King County for its refusal to enforce a homeless camping ban that was lawfully adopted.

34 minutes ago

Image: The Stevens County Sheriff's Office says it recently received an odd call from a Sasquatch h...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Sheriff’s office asked legality of hunting Sasquatch in Stevens County

A Sasquatch hunter had an interesting question for the Stevens County sheriff. Is it legal to hunt Sasquatch?

17 hours ago

Image: Children bike past Wilson Elementary in Spokane....

Jason Rantz

Rantz: ‘Racist’ Spokane elementary school’s ‘slaves and hobos’ ignites controversy

After a teacher told students they could dress as "slaves and hobos" for an event, the Spokane NAACP cried foul.

2 days ago

Images: At left, Bellevue Police Department Officer Kevin Bereta is seen in his uniform. At right, ...

Julia Dallas

Bellevue officer injured in VP Harris motorcade recalls road to reclaiming benefits

Bellevue Police Officer Kevin Bereta's life changed while he was on VP Kamala Harris' service detail during her visit to Washington.

2 days ago

permanent supportive housing...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: You’re being lied to about permanent supportive housing in Redmond

Redmond residents rightly push back against permanent supportive housing as a solution for the homeless, as Seattle media get in the way.

3 days ago

WA State Attorney General Bob Ferguson campaigning.  (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: On crime, Bob Ferguson campaign made its first massive blunder

The Bob Ferguson campaign wants you thinking his top priority is crime. His entire political history says otherwise.

4 days ago

Seattle Council candidate would not have voted to cut police budget 20%