Hollingsworth spoke about cannabis equity later in the afternoon council session
District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth joined the Seattle City Council majority Tuesday in approving a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild in an afternoon session marked by a loud protest in council chambers.
CHS reported here on the contract details and criticism that the agreement boosts officer salaries with little new requirements around accountability and oversight.
The new contract also lifts the cap on CARE Department hiring and opens the door for the city to grow the new team of crisis responders to its budgeted capacity, growing to 96 responders in the department’s first 18 months.
Tuesday, Hollingsworth did not comment on the contract before the 6-3 vote as she sided with the majority in approving the pact forged by outgoing Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office.
Five council members on the Labor Relations Policy Committee were part of the Harrell administration negotiations. Hollingsworth joined that group in approving the deal.
West Seattle representative Rob Saka, citywide rep Alexis Mercedes Rinck, and new South Seattle representative Eddie Lin voted against the contract, criticizing its lack of new accountability and oversight measures.
“It doesn’t strengthen civilian oversight. It doesn’t make it easier to remove officers who cause harm and violate public trusts. It doesn’t include transparency measures that build confidence between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” Rinck said. “In short, this contract asks Seattle taxpayers to invest more in policing without requiring more accountability in return and that is not a deal I can support.”
Demonstrators at City Hall booed and chanted loudly as Northwest Seattle rep Dan Strauss announced he would be voting yes on the contract. Council chambers were partially cleared after loud protest disrupted the contract vote. Hollingsworth, Rinck, and Strauss remained on the dais despite the disruptions as the meeting continued with the rest of the afternoon’s agenda.
There were no arrests.
The guild, meanwhile, which has carried on a campaign highlighting Seattle crime and criticizing the city’s leadership, celebrated Tuesday’s vote. “Seattle City Council ratifies the SPOG contract. Moderates 1 – Socialists 0. Public Safety for the win!,” the union’s social media post showing union head Mike Solan in a ridiculous superhero outfit read.
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