King County's Plan to Fight Retail Crime
King County is actively seeking ways to address the growing issue of retail crime. Councilmember Claudia Balducci has proposed using new sales tax revenue to fund additional detectives and a prosecutor specifically targeting shoplifting.
The Proposal
- Funding Source: Recent sales tax increase
- Key Initiatives:
- Hiring more detectives
- Adding a prosecutor focused on shoplifting
- Goal: Keep grocery stores like Kroger open and safe for shoppers and workers
Balducci assures that this plan will not impact other public safety programs.
Opposition and Concerns
Not everyone supports Balducci's approach:
- Councilmember Girmay Zahilay (running against Balducci) advocates for a more thoughtful approach:
- Review crime data first
Involve stakeholders like the sheriff and store owners
Kent Mayor Dana Ralph expresses frustration, stating that King County needs stronger action to combat retail crime and that current policies are compromising safety.
Future Steps
If elected King County executive, Balducci promises to improve collaboration with local police. The budget process for this plan is set to begin soon, with the goal of having the new team operational by early 2025.