Whitlatch Settlement Underscores Need for a New, Better, Police Union Contract

September 6, 2017 / Editorial Board, Seattle Weekly

“New lesson: Bad cops get golden parachutes.

“Holmes blames the SPOG contract. “The City must regain its ability to manage, discipline, and hold officers accountable without the impediments that have been inserted into collective-bargaining agreements over the years,” Holmes explained after public outcry against the Whitlatch settlement. “This case demonstrates the vital importance obtaining of new agreements with our police unions that fully embrace reforms achieved through the Consent Decree.’”

Whitlatch Settlement Underscores Need for a New, Better, Police Union Contract

Trump Ends DACA, Washington Fights Back

September 5, 2017 / Sara Bernard, Seattle Weekly

“Mayor Ed Murray vowed that, despite this news, “the City of Seattle will continue to lead in protecting immigrants and refugees,” both through the newly-established Legal Defense Fund and Seattle’s oft-reiterated commitment to ensure that no city employee or police officer ask about citizenship status. All city services are available to all residents, regardless of immigration status, Murray said. City Attorney Pete Holmes reiterated that promise: “I will do everything in my power as City Attorney to ensure that the …

Listen to Pete on KOMO Radio with Herb Weisbaum

September 5, 2017 / Herb Weisbaum, KOMO Radio

Connelly: Judge upholds Seattle’s collective bargaining law for Uber, Lyft drivers

August 27, 2017 / Joel Connelly, Seattle PI

“Praising the ruling, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes said: ‘The court recognized the public importance of maintaining and promoting the safety and reliability of the for-hire transportation industry in the city of Seattle, goals which this law advances.”

Holmes allowed that the legal battle over Seattle’s law is far from over, saying: ‘We are very pleased with the court’s decision and will continue to vigorously defend this publicly important law on appeal.’”

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/Connelly-Judges-upholds-Uber-Lyft-collective-11962965.php

Supreme Court upholds Seattle gun tax

August 10, 2017 / Lynsi Burton, Seattle PI

“‘I’m grateful our Supreme Court recognized the challenges the state’s largest city faces in protecting its residents from gun violence and the need to identify sufficient revenue sources to fund its core missions,’ wrote City Attorney Pete Holmes in a statement.”

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Supreme-Court-upholds-Seattle-gun-tax-11747876.php

Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to block Seattle law allowing Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize

August 1, 2017 / David Gutman

“Michael Ryan, a city attorney who argued the case, said the city was pleased with Lasnik’s ruling.

“The U.S. Chamber brought some serious claims against the city on federal antitrust, federal labor law, state law, and the judge rejected all those claims today,” Ryan said. “This is the city clearing a nice legal hurdle.’”

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-seeking-to-block-seattle-law-allowing-uber-and-lyft-drivers-to-unionize/

Rebuffing union, Mayor Murray orders Seattle police to begin wearing body cameras

July 17, 2017 / Steve Miletich, Seattle Times

“[Kevin] Stuckey, the guild president, said Murray’s order will make it more difficult to reach agreement on the police-accountability measures and overall contract.

City Attorney Pete Holmes, in a statement, noted Murray’s action “deploys the cameras as soon as possible while continuing to bargain with our police unions in good faith.”

City Council President Bruce Harrell, a longtime proponent of body cameras, applauded the mayor’s decision, saying in a statement, “While we respect the collective bargaining process and have been …

Work begins to restore W. Seattle hillside after trees cut to ‘improve view’

July 13, 2017 / Staff, KOMO

“‘Trees are a vital resource and this settlement puts people on notice that the city will not ignore any unauthorized cutting of city trees,’ said Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes after the settlement in April.”

http://komonews.com/news/local/work-begins-to-restore-w-seattle-hillside-after-trees-cut-to-improve-view

Seattle City Council approves income tax for high-earning residents

July 10, 2017 / Natalie Brand, KING 5

“Our Supreme Court may be the final word on Seattle’s proposed high earners income tax, but remember this is the same court that has held our state legislature in contempt for failing to adequately fund public education,” said City Attorney Pete Holmes.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/seattle-city-council-approves-income-tax-for-high-earning-residents/455499111

139 men arrested in Aurora sex sting

July 5, 2017 / Lynsi Burton, SeattlePI

“In the past, like most jurisdictions, Seattle law enforcement efforts were largely focused on prostituted women and girls – the true victims of prostitution,” City Attorney Pete Holmes said in the media release. “This was neither a just nor effective approach; prostitution and trafficking continued to grow in our area. We changed our policy to reverse the trend and reduce the crime of commercial sexual exploitation and related crimes in Seattle using a two-prong approach: reducing sexual exploitation through …

EastPAC: Groups, SPD address neighborhood issues of crime, substance abuse

June 26, 2017 / Ester Kim, Capitol Hill Times

“It’s not enough to enforce a law, you have to change the law,” Holmes said. “We’re taking a public health issue and dealing with it more appropriately.”

Holmes said substance abuse is not a criminal justice issue; it is a public health problem. Changing how the issue is addressed may result in the problem at first seeming to get worse, Holmes said, so it still needs to be a public health concern”

“‘We can’t arrest our way out of …

The C Is for Crank Interviews: Pete Holmes

June 20, 2017 / Erica Barnett, The C is for Crank
https://thecisforcrank.com/2017/06/20/the-c-is-for-crank-interviews-pete-holmes/

Police Accountability:

“At some point, the city has got to be able to negotiate its contracts. It’s got to be able to hire and fire officers. It’s got to be able to appoint chiefs. The [CPC’s] approach is going to actually confound the ultimate goal of having a well-disciplined, well-trained, and community-respected police force. That’s my concern, and you can’t explain that in a sound bite.”

Specialty Courts:

“The defense bar was advising clients not to accept the …