Protests, council meetings, and elections this week

Zaki Hamid discusses the week's news with The Seattle Times' Jonathan Martin and Naomi Ishisaka, and The Stranger's Jasmyne Keimig.

On Wednesday the Seattle city council voted to dismantle the city’s Navigation Team, a team of police and outreach workers who try to get homeless people to accept shelter before removing their camps. They also passed amendments on the 2020 budget re-balancing package that will cut the remainder of the 2020 SPD budget by around $3 million. What will these cuts mean for SPD, and the city in general?

Plus, Police Chief Carmen Best has asked the city council to stop protesters from marching to public figures' residences. Multiple city council members and other public officials have had protesters march to their homes in recent weeks, including Chief Best. How did the city council respond? And is this a new tactic for protesters?

Also, voters headed to the ballot box this week for the Washington primary, picking their choice for governor, Secretary of State, and a variety of other positions. What predictions can be made about the November election, based on the results?

While most candidates in the primary chose to skip an election night rally, a few bucked the trend. Republican candidates Tim Eyman and Loren Culp both held in person parties. Culp has previously stated that he believes masks infringe on people's freedom. When did masks, or other coronavirus prevention measures, become political? And how might those prevention measures, such as requiring masks, infringe on the rights of people with disabilities?

Finally, on Tuesday a deadly explosion ripped across Beirut, the result of an explosive chemical that was being stored in a port warehouse. At least 135 people were killed in the explosion, and at least 5,000 injured. Will the backlash from the improper storage of this fertilizer result in changes to the Lebanese government?