成人X站

KTTH OPINION

Rantz: As crime crisis worsens, Democrats refuse to accept responsibility

Aug 9, 2023, 6:00 PM | Updated: 10:53 pm

gunshot wounds...

Police have 1st Avenue S blocked off at S Walker Street as they investigate a shooting. (Photo from Sam Campbell)

(Photo from Sam Campbell)

From Seattle to Tacoma, the Puget Sound region is experiencing a clear surge in violent crime, especially amongst juveniles.

Nearly every day, locals wake up to news of another homicide, car jacking, armed robbery or drug bust. It’s no longer shocking — it’s expected. We might notice when there聽颈蝉苍’迟听a violent crime reported.

But local leaders aren’t stepping up with a plan to address the crisis. They’re barely admitting we have a crisis to begin with.

Why not? Because they don’t want to be held accountable for the role they played in getting us here.

More from Jason Rantz: Former Seattle cop says ‘criminals are running this city’ in brutal resignation letter

Area crime crisis worsens thanks to Democrats

With the Major League Baseball All-Star Game far behind us, Seattle’s SODO neighborhood has returned to normal.

Police to gunshots this week, only to find a man dead at an intersection. There are no suspects. The afternoon before, in broad daylight, an turned into a gun fight between motorcyclists. Two of the three involved were shot.

In Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, even : a fatal stabbing after what sounds to be a domestic violence call. The victim was just 21 years old.

In Pierce County, we get the same stories.

A 15-year-old boy was in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Neither the victim, nor his parents will cooperate with police. A woman and teenage girl were in broad daylight in central Tacoma. Both are expected to survive, but there has been no information on suspects. And three teens and an adult were arrested for an alleged drive-by shooting. Police say they even shot multiple shots at an officer, who luckily escaped without any injury.

Who will step up?

All this crime begs a simple question:聽where is Democrat leadership? Where is Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell or Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards?

Where are members of the King or Pierce County Council?聽Where are the Democrat representatives and state senators who supposedly care about these communities?

Stepping up to lead doesn’t mean sending out a press release or offering a strongly worded sound bite without any substance only to ignore the issue until pressed about it two months later. It doesn’t mean putting out some meaningless tweet that no one sees so they can say they, technically, said something to avoid being criticized for their silence. It means sustained, public messaging that they know what’s happening, while explaining what they’re doing to address the crisis.

But local leaders refuse to even admit we have a crime crisis. And they certainly won’t offer a plan to stymie it. And the reason why is simple: Democrats don’t want to be held accountable for the crime crisis they helped to create.

Yes, Democrats are to blame

Democrats passed laws and implemented policies that created this culture of lawlessness.

It started with police defunding. Then, prosecutors stopped prosecuting, judges stopped jailing, and it was all to the benefit of restorative justice programs that don’t work, but keep getting millions of dollars in funding.

At the state level, Democrats effectively legalized drugs, stopped cops from contacting juvenile suspects (and possible witnesses) without a lawyer present, and banned them from vehicular pursuits in almost all cases.

It was the perfect recipe for a crime crisis.

And yes — it’s the fault of Democrats. Republicans control neither the city councils here nor the state legislature in Olympia. This is not their doing. Democrats did this.

But Democrats can play heroes

Democrats must acknowledge the crisis they created. And that means walking back their laws and policies.聽If they don’t, we’ll continue to see more blood shed, stolen cars, busted out storefronts, and the never ending surge of fatal drug overdoses.

It also means local media needs to step up coverage. Rather than offer transactional stories about crime, reporters must tie it to the laws and policies that are to blame. It may cost them access to Harrell or upset Democrat leadership in Olympia. But if they care about the region, it’s worth it. And believe me, as someone with nearly zero access to Democrats, they will still be able to do their job. I do mine without relying on them.

But which local Democrat is brave enough to admit fault? Which one can put their ideology and ego aside to be held accountable, and play hero with a viable plan?

Unfortunately, not a single Democrat lawmaker comes to mind.

Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3:00 p.m.鈥7:00 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). He is the author of the book 鈥.鈥澛Subscribe to the podcast. Follow @JasonRantz on聽,听, and聽. Check back frequently for more news and analysis.

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm to The Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

KTTH Opinion

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Double Shot: Why certain dogs get adopted before other dogs

Recently, three dogs were found. All three had swollen muzzles鈥攁nd it appears their mouths may have been bound with tape or a strap. Jason Rantz & Jake Skorheim have an interesting take on this one. It’s a Double Shot! 鈽曗槙 Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM […]

2 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Don’t give into this scam!

It is a scam when a person asks if they can switch seats with you on an airplane, and Jason Rantz has the story to prove it. Here’s an all-new Double Shot!鈽曗槙 Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to […]

2 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: WA Dems rage over ICE getting immigrant data

Washington Democrats are furious after the state鈥檚 Health Care Authority confirmed that personally identifiable information of illegal immigrants on Medicaid was shared with ICE through a federal database. But here鈥檚 the kicker: they have only themselves to blame. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH […]

2 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: New toll rates for Tacoma鈥揝eaTac routes

The Washington State Transportation Commission is preparing to implement electronic tolling on the brand-new SR鈥509 and SR鈥167 expressways, which will directly link Tacoma/Olympia to Sea鈥慣ac Airport without routing through Southcenter鈥. Tolls are set to open later this year with variable rates鈥$1.20 to $2.40, based on peak travel direction and time鈥. Listen to The Jason Rantz […]

2 days ago

scotus trans...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: SCOTUS gets it right, Washington should stop letting gender radicals gamble with kids鈥 bodies

The Supreme Court's ruling safeguards kids from radical gender experiments. Washington should follow suit, but they won't.

2 days ago

King County Metro is hosting an event with the radical Lavender Rights Project. (Photo: Jason Rantz...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: King County Metro hosting taxpayer-funded event with radical black trans liberation group

King County Metro hosts a taxpayer-funded event promoting a radical black trans liberation group. Some employees are upset.

2 days ago

Rantz: As crime crisis worsens, Democrats refuse to accept responsibility