A strongly worded letter the Seattle City Council sent Thursday takes Mayor Mike McGinn to task for delaying the hiring of 20 police officers — and not telling them.
A strongly worded letter the Seattle City Council sent Thursday takes Mayor Mike McGinn to task for delaying the hiring of 20 police officers — and not telling them.
The letter was a united attack on McGinn by all nine council members as the mayor prepares to veto council legislation that makes aggressive panhandling a civil infraction. The council passed the panhandling bill 5-4 Monday but apparently lacks the six votes needed to override McGinn’s veto.
“I think it’s been a hard week for everybody,” said Councilmember Sally Clark. “None of us have been comfortable with the feeling that we let down a certain segment of the city with the vote on panhandling.”
The council’s letter accuses the mayor of ignoring a January letter that said police staffing should be funded even when money is tight at City Hall. In particular, council members expressed dismay about the 20 officers, which are promised in the budget under the city’s Neighborhood Policing Plan.
Most Read Local Stories
“We are troubled by the halt in hiring net new officers and that this decision was made without consulting the council,” they wrote. “We request that you direct the Chief of Police to proceed with the hiring necessary to keep the city on track to achieve a net increase of 20 patrol officers this year.”
They also ask McGinn to detail how city departments will address “crime and street” disorder in neighborhood business districts and downtown.
Councilmember Tim Burgess sponsored the panhandling proposal as part of a package that sought more police officers and funding for housing and social services.
In response to the council letter, McGinn said members are asking him to spend money he doesn’t have.
He said the 2010 budget is to blame for the cuts. “We are cleaning up the mess that they created,” McGinn said.
The letter and response are just the latest tussle between the mayor and council.
Since McGinn took office in January, the council has repeatedly accused him of leaving them out of the loop on decisions and announcements. When the council hasn’t agreed with McGinn’s proposals, he has accused them of being irresponsible and unwilling to stand up for Seattle residents.
McGinn says he needs to cut $15 million from the 2010 budget midyear and $60 million this fall, when the next budget is written.
The council and mayor have scheduled two joint budget hearings to get public comment on the cuts. McGinn has publicly blamed the council for the city’s budget problems, angering the council.
Clark called the mayor’s statements “shortsighted.”
McGinn, on the other hand, said in an interview that “the only reason this letter is even made necessary is because they passed a budget that is out of balance. They can help us clean up the mess, or they can grandstand. That’s their choice.”
Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com