Angry texts by Mayor Ed Murray to Seattle council member are childish, but justified

Jun 7, 2016, 7:14 AM | Updated: 8:22 am

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray sent a threat via text to Councilmember Sally Bagshaw over The Jungle and how to deal with it. (AP)

(AP)

BY JASON RANTZ

Talk Show Host and Columnist at Seattle Red AM 770

While up to 12 fires were intentionally set near and at the “Jungle” Monday afternoon, The Seattle Times was reporting that Seattle Mayor Ed Murray threatened council member Sally Bagshaw, who he viewed as standing in the way of his efforts to clean up the area known for its homeless encampments.

The threat: That he’d stop Seattle clean-ups and pull police enforcement if she gets in the way.

This is childish and petty — and I’m so proud that he stood up to her. The problem is that he still ended up losing this battle because he seems to be backtracking from the plan’s original two-week deadline.

This happened on May 21 when Murray was traveling in China on a trade mission. The texts, courtesy of the Times:

Saturday, May 21

MAYOR ED MURRAY 7:27 p.m.: This is Ed Murray could you call me at (phone number)
CITY COUNCILMEMBER SALLY BAGSHAW 7:34 p.m.: Tomorrow ok? Otherwise (9:30)
MURRAY 8:16 p.m.: If you do resolution on homelessness restricting our ability to deal with the rapes and other violent crime and the bike chop shops down there in the jungle I will stop all clean ups throughout the city and pull police off enforcement. We are losing the ability to control our streets.
BAGSHAW 9:02 p.m.: Is this really from you Mr. Mayor?
MURRAY 9:12 p.m.: Yes.
9:54 p.m.: Still trying to reach you. Time difference and we are coming back early so (traveling) all day tomorrow
10:04 p.m.: … we are coming back early which means I will be on a plane all day. So I need to speak with you this evening Seattle time. I am getting media (claims) that you are leading a council effort to stop our efforts in the jungle. I am stunned so I should talk with you before I respond.
Sunday, May 22
BAGSHAW 3:45 a.m.: … I am still gathering information and community comments. I will definitely share a draft with Mike Fong, Scott, Anthony, Maggie and Leslie for their input as well. Have a safe flight.
MURRAY 3:47 a.m.: I assume it is 4am in the morning so I won’t call now. I am absolutely taken aback by your lack of collaboration. Don’t get it.
4:11 a.m.: So I will stay up until I hear from you.
1:29 p.m.: Still waiting to hear from you.
10:46 p.m.: Scott Lindsey said you won’t speak with me because I will yell at you. I have always been with staff when I meet with you and I have never yelled at you.
10:46 p.m.: I have been forceful in my profound disagreement with you on how to approach homelessness, based on the consultants critique of the city.
10:46 p.m.: I am now going to skip a flight in an attempt to reach you.
10:46 p.m.: Sally I don’t know what is going on, but for the sake of the city will you please speak with me?
BAGSHAW 10:56 p.m.: I just tried to reach you. I am planning to meet Hyeok and Mike and Scott early Monday.

As you can tell, these text messages show an emotional Murray. These texts seem childish and the threat is somewhat petty, but let’s be clear: he was absolutely right to be angry. As inappropriate as the texts might be, I’m glad to see him on the right side of this fight.

Mayor Murray has facts on his side. Homelessness in the City of Seattle is getting out of control and the police don’t have control over many in the homeless community. And too many in the Seattle City Council have stood in the way of work that the actual experts say is working.

His threat to pull resources was, in theory, to show Bagshaw how seriously out of control the homeless situation would be had it not been for his intervention.

Maybe that’s what it will take to get Bagshaw and others on the council to realize what could happen if the mayor doesn’t move more aggressively to offer help to the homeless (help that we actually have to offer through the fantastic work of the Seattle Union Gospel Mission). If the Jungle were happening in Bagshaw’s neighborhood, perhaps we’d have more action?

And if it’s true that Bagshaw wouldn’t talk to the mayor because she’s scared that Murray will “yell” at her, she comes off as incredibly weak and I have no confidence she’ll be able to handle taking on this issue.

I’ve been very critical of the mayor’s response on homelessness. His RV lot idea was flawed and unvetted. But I’m going to stand on his side with these texts, however childish (we’ve all sent emotionally charged texts — or tweets). He’s passionate about finding a fix in a difficult position where if he does nothing, people like me will be mad. And if he does something activists don’t like, they’ll yell at him incessantly.

It’s good to see him get a little feisty for some results.

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