Seattle’s City Council was right to resist slipping a harmful new crime policy into its budget. But the council did so on Wednesday for the wrong reasons, and a majority is still gung-ho to pass the absurd policy in late November. This must not proceed, especially not without a thorough analysis of how it would affect public safety and justice for all, and an extensive public debate about its merits. As proposed by Councilmember Lisa Herbold, the policy would effectively legalize misdemeanor crimes that victimize thousands of Seattle residents every year.

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