Part 7/12:
The Toll of Policy and Leadership
Criticism of local leadership, particularly Mayor Bruce Harrell’s administration, points to a city adrift under perceived political complacency. Critics argue that Seattle’s government is “rudderless,” prioritizing symbolic gestures over meaningful solutions. Installations like sidewalk murals and tolerance for drug dealing are seen as symptomatic of a broader permissiveness—a mindset described by critics as “weaponized compassion.” Rather than addressing root causes—addiction, mental illness, and homelessness—the city seems content to manage symptoms with minimal intervention.