Take a minute to [un]wind with our Sunday morning newsletter. Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what you may have missed from [un]Divided this week.
Plea or politics?
A bipartisan group of mayors north of Seattle joined with law enforcement leaders this week in a powerful video about the erosion of public safety.
The video, released by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, urges voters to contact their state lawmakers and ask them to reconsider several controversial bills aimed at police reform.
Chief among them is a bill that dramatically restricts the ability of police officers to engage in vehicle pursuits.
“Law enforcement is deeply concerned that some policing reforms may have had unintended outcomes,” Marysville Police Chief Erik Scairpon says in the video.
Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin – a Democrat whose police department lost Officer Dan Rocha in the line of duty this year – also joined the chorus.
Please join us in advocating for safer communities,” she asks the public at the close of the video.
From an optics standpoint, I found the video incredibly effective. It managed to strike a pacifying tone while also painting a troubling picture of the dire public safety crisis.
Some disagree.
Former State Rep. Jesse Johnson, one of the main architects of the 2021 police reform laws pushed in Washington state, took to Twitter to voice his disapproval. He called it a “shameful waste of taxpayer dollars creating fear-mongering campaign ads.”
“Sheriff Fortney and others should have come to the table when we invited them to talk about reform,” he wrote. “Folks suddenly have a voice close to an election on a bipartisan endorsed by Washington State Fraternal Order of Police pursuit policy. Wow.”
In its coverage of the video, The Everett Herald suggested it may have run afoul of state laws around improper lobbying.
Under state law, public agencies like the sheriff’s office are restricted to providing information or communicating on matters directly related to the business the agency.
“Furthermore, agencies must limit their communication to direct communication with elected officials or officer or employee of any agency,” Kim Bradford, spokeswoman for the state Public Disclosure Commission explained in an email. Indirect or grassroots lobbying is prohibited, she noted.
Grassroots lobbying is defined as a program addressed to the general public, a substantial portion of which is intended, designed or calculated primarily to influence state legislation, she wrote. A communication that advocates a change in the law, directs the public to reach out, and provides contact information for legislators would appear to be grassroots lobbying, she wrote.
Are law enforcement officials really not allowed to inform the public of their concerns about public safety? Apparently, we’ll find out. No doubt the state’s PDC is already looking into the video.
Does Carmen Best see a political future ahead?
Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best joined “Fridays with Friends” this week to discuss her post-SPD life, the city’s new chief, the state of public safety, and … a future career in politics?
Asked whether she’d ever consider running for office, Best didn’t balk.
"Of late, I think about it," she said (29:40 mark). "Absolutely I do. If it's the right niche, the right time, then definitely I would consider it. What I've found in stepping away is that I'm very, very passionate about what happens in community. It's a sense of fulfillment knowing that we're making a difference - or trying to anyway."
"I am a little older now and I think there might be a place at some point."
PLEASE DO IT CARMEN!
And don't forget to check out Carmen's book if you haven't read it already.
The magical fruit
As you know, we cover only the most divisive and pressing issues here on [un]Divided. In that spirit, my friend Dori Monson and I got into a heated culinary debate on his show this week about the proper way to prepare chili: Beans or no beans?
I am strongly on Team Beans and cooked up a delicious batch this week to herald the first day of fall.
For his part, Dori called beans the “Devil’s legume.”
Wow, those are strong words from a God-fearing man!
I put the issue to a highly scientific Twitter poll and the results were clear:
Monson was quick to dismiss the resounding defeat, quoting the International Chili Society:
“The ICS defines traditional chili as "any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, spices and other ingredients, with the exception of beans which are strictly forbidden.”
The people want beans, Dori. I guess you’re not a man of the people after all!
Raising money for our Charity of the Year
A HUGE thank you to Trevor and his family for representing [un]Divided at the Brigadoon Service Dogs annual gala this past weekend. Brigadoon, which trains and provides service dogs to veterans and those with disabilities, was selected by [un]Divided subscribers as our 2022 Charity of the Year.
[un]Divided was proud to be a business sponsor for this year’s event. I couldn’t attend, but 9-year-old Trevor (who raised nearly $2,000 dollars for Brigadoon by hosting a birthday fundraiser on his Facebook in lieu of gifts) went with his family to represent. Not only that, but auctioneer Matt Lorch brought Trevor on stage to help raise even more money! What a cool experience.
Thank you, Trevor and family!
You can learn more about Brigadoon and read about volunteer opportunities here.
Housekeeping
We’ll be holding our monthly subscriber Q&A in the next few days, so stay tuned for a date and time.
Have a great Sunday and thank you for supporting this mission to give common sense a comeback!
