‘It is shameful’: Councilmember Saka criticizes Seattle’s response to drug activity, stolen goods markets in CID

Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka called for more police patrols and social worker outreach at 12th Ave. S and S Jackson Street in the Chinatown International District while on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

“It is shameful that we, as a city, continue to let all the drug activity, the stolen goods markets, the public safety and public health issues continue to fester and grow and expand, and especially on a critical transit corridor like 12th and Jackson,” Saka said.

Saka calls for police patrols, social worker outreach

When asked why the city has struggled to address conditions at the intersection, Saka described the response he wants.

“I would like to see more regular and stronger police patrols and presence, and actually have officers interacting with the people and not just passively observing,” he said. “I would like to see stronger activation with our care department, our new crisis care department, full of social workers out there and engaging on a regular basis.”

He also addressed suspected criminal activity.

“If there’s a known or suspected crime going on. Stop it! Hold people accountable,” Saka said.

Saka discussed his role in funding those services.

“I’m doing my job on the council side to make sure the care department is well funded, well resourced,” Saka said. “Our Seattle Police Department is well funded, well resourced. We need a deployment of all these resources and, yes, including police out there to have a more compassionate approach that includes accountability.”

Public safety tops Saka’s business priorities

The interview also covered taxes, permitting and vacant storefronts. Saka described his message to businesses after taking office.

“I will not take you or your operations for granted, and will not do that through excessive taxes,” Saka said. “I like jobs personally, and it’s concerning to me when we have major employers, employers of all sizes, in Seattle thinking about reevaluating their footprint in the city and the broader region.”

Saka was asked about financial assistance for businesses, and he discussed permitting work and business and occupation tax relief.

“We’ve helped a number of small businesses in West Seattle get them unstuck from the permitting process,” he said. “There’s more to do. And again, number one, the number one thing that I think we can do is improve public safety.”

Saka addresses staffing and differences with the mayor

During the budget discussion, Saka outlined his priorities for police and emergency services.

“I’m personally looking at restoring, and I think I see a few opportunities to restore some of the cuts to the fire department,” he said. “We need better and improved officer staffing ratios and also 911 call takers. People are waiting too long, especially on the non-emergency line, to get appropriate responses.”

Regarding disagreements between the council and mayor, Saka pointed to areas where they have worked together.

“I’m on the same page with the executive on any number of things, on adding more housing, adding more shelter space,” he said. “I think we all share an interest in collaborating across our differences and finding solutions, because that’s ultimately what people of the city of Seattle want, the taxpayer wants.”

Daughter’s report of gunfire brings concerns home

Saka, who lives with his family in Delridge, described his seventh-grade daughter telling him she had awakened to gunfire.

“Certain neighborhoods, like in my district, for example, like Delridge, up and down the Delridge corridor in High Point, it’s happening even in places like Alki now,” Saka said. “Some neighborhoods continue to bear the brunt more than others.

“Everybody deserves to feel safe in their own neighborhoods and communities,” he continued.

Saka called for more officers to handle patrols beyond responding to calls.

“We need to restore a police force so they can be more proactive and get more bike patrols and foot patrols,” he said. “That takes time. It takes focus, and it takes hard, coordinated, sustained effort over many years.

“We’re making a lot of initial progress, but plenty more work to do,” he added. “We can’t let our foot off the gas pedal. That’s the takeaway.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.