‘Why is everybody else getting their hands slapped?’ Jake and Spike react to Seattle park curfews

In an attempt to curb crime at Seattle parks, the mayor’s office announced a curfew this summer, shortening closing time from 11:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

“It’s the fourth year in a row that [the city] tries to curb late-night trouble and crime in our parks and our beaches and all the things at Alki and Golden Gardens. The city’s locking them down an hour earlier than prior years,” Jake Skorheim, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, explained.

Jake and Spike question Seattle park curfews

Spike elaborated on the closures.

“It’s not just a closed sign they’re putting in. They’re putting up barricades to keep people from entering,” Spike O’Neill, co-host of “Jake and Spike,” said.

Jake questioned the impact a curfew would have on innocent citizens.

“Why do you need to close the park, certainly for everyone else? Why is everybody else getting their hands slapped when they’re not in the cookie jar?” Jake said.

“I guess, if there’s going to be ne’er-do-wells in there, let’s at least keep the innocent bystanders out. Makes it easier to find anybody when [police] are looking for trouble,” Spike responded.

Jake’s park proposal

“Here’s a modest proposal for you. What if we close the parks at like, 5 p.m.?” Jake said. “If it’s safer, why open them at all?”

Spike hinted at the crime being directed elsewhere.

“If there’s been a decrease in crime at these closed parks, I bet there’s a correlating increase in crime close by, where they just cause trouble at other locations,” Spike said.

Listen to the full conversation below.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.