‘Take care of the streets’: Jake criticizes Katie Wilson’s priorities after Seattle adopts surveillance pricing restrictions

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson signed an ordinance that restricts large grocery chains from using shoppers’ personal information to set prices. The measure targets surveillance pricing, including the use of browsing history and other personal details to set what individual customers pay.

During “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, co-host Jake Skorheim argued that Wilson should focus on public safety, drug use, and police staffing before grocery pricing.

“I think there are other things that the local government should be fixing before they worry about your coupons,” Jake said. “I think protecting consumers is a valuable asset. How about you take the person who’s addicted to drugs off the street first before you worry about how much I’m paying for my dog food?”

Jake questions the mayor’s priorities

The ordinance applies to grocery chains with at least 20 locations worldwide. The mayor’s office describes the measure as a way to prevent prices from depending on what an algorithm determines a shopper is willing to pay.

Jake’s criticism centered on what he wants city government to address first.

“How about you worry about responding to mass shootings before you worry about coupons?” Jake said.

He clarified that his remarks were directed at Wilson rather than his co-host, Spike O’Neill.

“I’m not talking to you. I know I’m talking at you, but I’m actually talking to Katie Wilson right now,” Jake said.

Grocery discounts enter the debate

The grocery industry has warned that restrictions on using customer information could affect discounts. Those warnings are disputed policy arguments, not established price effects of the new law.

Jake expressed his own concern about grocery costs before returning to street conditions.

“Don’t make things more expensive for people when it comes to the grocery store because you have some thoughts,” he said. “Thank you very much. Take care of the streets. Get the drug addicts off the streets. Arrest people for doing illegal things.”

Jake describes what he wants for family trips downtown

Jake discussed his experiences driving through Seattle with his children.

“Let me drive downtown without having to shield my kids and tell them to look out the other side of the car because there are homeless people who are addicted to drugs, engaging in what only should be marital acts,” he said. “Don’t make me and my kids have to see that. Let me buy Cheerios. Let me handle that, and you handle the other stuff.”

Jake concluded by calling for attention to police staffing and leadership.

“Maybe hire police. Maybe make sure you have a chief of police. Maybe stop calling the Seattle Police Department non-truth tellers, and then you can step in and start writing legislation about coupons,” he said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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