That’s why I’ve proposed “News Notes,” which would give Seattle residents $100 to support local media outlets of their choice. Learn more in my interview on the Mostly Economics podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAyw...

Black Lives Matter and the movement to use police funding to pay for non-police community safety progrmas were started by Black and brown people in Seattle, just like in other cities, but Harrell says those weren't the "real discussions" he was at in 2020, where everyone agreed with him.

Wilson doesn't take the bait on "my opponent's Defund movement," and says Harrell tried to lower standards for police hiring, hasn't implemented the 2017 police accountability ordinance, and hired Diaz over other qualified internal candidates.

Harrell wasn't to blame for anything that happened with former police chief Diaz, who he kept on the payroll, at more than $300,000 a year, despite credible allegations of misogyny, harassment, and a hostile work environment for women. Now we have a "superstar," Shon Barnes, so don't blame him.

Apparently homelessness is a national issue and a regional issue, but police officers leaving departments is a local issue that was caused by one person, Katie Wilson, who started Black Lives Matter and Defund (according to Harrell.)

A question about "preventing restaurants from leaving the city." Wilson says the city has the power to cap commercial rent; says the city can make it easier to start businesses by streamlining permits and making it easier for workers to live where they work to help restaurants hire and retain staff.

Wilson patiently explains, for the 400th time, that Harrell backed a plan that would have funded regular, 80% median income affordable using existing funds, which is not social housing.

Wilson keeps saying, accurately, that Harrell opposed funding social housing. "I'm never quick to call someone dishonest, perhaps they're making a mistake. ... There's NO record that I ever opposed it." he says. Harrell was THE FACE OF THE OPPOSITION.

People come into the mayor's office from all kinds of places, Wilson says, including Harrell—whose previous position on city council only involved managing a few people (one of his most common slams against her, as the Transit Riders Union she started is smaller than the City of Seattle.)

The first question for Wilson is uber-hostile?? "Ms. Wilson, you have no political experience...." She notes that she's been working on local political issues for 14 years, even if she hasn't been elected.

In his closing statement, Harrell said, "This is not the time for hope. Passion and great ideas and inexperience is just not going to get us there. Trump will walk all over a person without experience, period."

When business interests tried to buy the 2019 elections, they also poured millions into local races. That effort led to a backlash (they didn't win). Wonder how voters will perceive this last-ditch outpouring of corporate and real-estate support for the mayor, who only got 41%,