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Council members urge community engagement after Denny Blaine Park incident; King County crisis clinic hearing set
Summary
Council member Lisa Hollingsworth called for meetings with police and community groups after an interaction at Denny Blaine Park; she noted a King County public hearing on a proposed crisis care clinic at the Polyclinic in District 3 and encouraged residents to contact the county council.
Council members at the May 12 briefing raised public-safety concerns after an interaction between Seattle Police and parkgoers at Denny Blaine Park and highlighted upcoming community and county opportunities for residents to comment on crisis-response proposals.
"Being naked at a park is not a crime," Council member Lisa Hollingsworth said as she described her office’s outreach following the incident and a pending lawsuit that limits what staff can say publicly. Hollingsworth said her office arranged a meeting with Friends of Denny-Blaine, the Lavender Rights Project and Seattle Police Department leadership to discuss safety and response.
Hollingsworth also told colleagues there is a King County public hearing on a proposed crisis care clinic at the Polyclinic in District 3. The hearing was scheduled for Thursday, May 15, at the Wyckoff Center on the Seattle University campus from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; Hollingsworth urged residents to email the King County Council and participate in that county-level process.
Several council members said they are hosting or attending community public-safety forums in neighborhoods experiencing gun violence. One council member noted plans for a South Precinct Advisory Council meeting on or around Wednesday, May 28, and urged constituents to watch council newsletters for final location and details.
Council member Tammy Saka praised first responders and highlighted data she said the fire department provided, noting Seattle Fire Department’s resuscitation rates. "They have the highest resuscitation rates in the country," Saka said, adding her personal thanks for their emergency response work.
Why this matters: The councilors framed these items as part of neighborhood safety and crisis-response systems — local policing practices, county-operated crisis services, and community engagement all affect how residents experience public space and emergency care.
What’s next: City council offices will continue local engagement with SPD and community groups; King County’s public hearing on the crisis clinic remains the public venue to submit comments and questions about that proposal.
