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Public commenters press Seattle council on LEAD, RV outreach and alleged security abuses
Summary
Three in‑person and one remote public commenters told the Public Safety Committee their concerns ranged from criticism of the LEAD program and questions about RV outreach spending to an allegation that Seattle Center security officers assaulted a member of the public.
Public commenters opened the Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee’s Aug. 11 meeting by pressing elected officials on criminal‑justice policies, RV outreach spending and an allegation of misconduct by Seattle Center security officers.
Andrea Suarez of We Heart Seattle told the committee she and people in recovery “presented data from the Washington Policy Center that the law enforcement assisted diversion program is a scam” and urged the council to stop expanding what she called the LEAD program. She also asked where roughly $5 million in RV outreach funding had been spent and asked the council to solicit outside voices for the vehicle‑residency legislation under consideration.
Clive Hayward, who identified himself during public comment, described two encounters he said involved Emergency Services Unit officers from Seattle Center. He said he filed a claim with the city attorney in June alleging assault and reckless endangerment and that Seattle police declined to find probable cause. “When and how will the assault against me be resolved?” Hayward asked the committee.
Hallie Willis, policy manager for the Seattle‑King County Coalition on Homelessness, supported plans for safe lots and storage for people living in vehicles but warned that a one‑time permitting window could be punitive for people who miss enrollment or later become homeless. “We support … services that people living in RVs need to survive and move into shelter and housing,” Willis said, while urging changes to permit design to avoid harming those it intends to help.
David Haines, the remote commenter, criticized the city’s handling of drug‑crime exemptions and accused some nonprofits of siphoning public funds; Steve Repsello and Hannah Ziff also urged the committee to focus on officer staffing and data‑driven responses to crime.
The committee moved from public comment into a multi‑part agenda that included a briefing on the Bite of Seattle shooting response, a review of King County jail medical deferrals and a central‑staff presentation of draft vehicle‑residency legislation.
