Week in Review: crime prevention, fentanyl, and kids

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with Erica Barnett, John Carlson, and Jodi-Ann Burey.

The city of Seattle took testimony on a proposed surveillance system made up of an acoustic gunshot locater and closed-circuit cameras. The testimony at City Hall on Monday was strongly opposed. But Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell told KUOW last fall that this surveillance could solve a problem. And, Harrell says this is a pilot that he will end. Hasn’t surveillance shone a light on police abuses? And helped solve crimes.

RELATED: Harrell seeks $1 million for controversial gunfire detection system

The new Seattle City Council's public safety committee held its first meeting this week. There was criticizing of the old council for "meddling" in police business and refusing to "let police be police." What are some examples of meddling here?

The Seattle Police Department says it's trying to attract more women officers. Its stated goal is that 30% of its recruit classes will be women by the year 2030. But a series of interviews of women working at SPD is not encouraging. There were reports of being harassed, discriminated against because of their sex, and passed over for promotion. How is the department reacting to that?

RELATED: Seattle Police is a 'good old boys club' where women struggle to get ahead, report says

New census data for last year shows King County's under-18 population dropped after rising for decades. It fell by more than 20,000 youngsters in two years. Some possible reasons include increased costs of raising children, Americans getting married later (if at all), lower fertility rates nationwide, and the cost of living and housing in King County. Is this population change good, bad, or neutral?

We have a child endangerment law in this state that makes it a crime to leave methamphetamine around where a child could poison themselves. The state Senate voted overwhelmingly to add fentanyl to that law. But the Democratic chair of the House Safety and Justice Committee says his colleagues do not want to criminalize parents. Would a kid better off being taken from their parents in such a situation?

RELATED: Curriculum about fentanyl, other opioids could come to WA junior high classrooms

Washington state will keep its property tax limit where it is: no more than a 1% increase per year. Some lawmakers wanted local control, allowing local governments to raise them up to 3% without voter approval. But Republicans kept it a statewide law. Some King County leaders said this will mean big budget cuts. What other options are there?