Shoreline and Lake Forest Park may have to go into the jail business.
That’s because King County has told cities that in 2012 it will no longer house prisoners awaiting trial and those convicted of misdemeanors. That’s why Seattle neighborhoods are fighting over the location of a new city jail.
Shoreline’s problem is compounded by the pending expiration of a contract to send prisoners to Yakima County.
Shoreline assistant city manager Julie Underwood said Monday that there’s little chance Shoreline or other nearby cities would start their own jails. A jail in Shoreline for fifty prisoners or one in Lake Forest Park for five or ten would not be cost effective.
Instead, Shoreline has talked to Kirkland and other North King County cities about forming a new entity to operate a 200-bed jail for six cities.
Underwood said that a more cost effective plan would be to combine the north county cities with Seattle to build a 650-bed jail that would require fewer than half as many staff members per prisoner as the 200-bed option.
A jail in Seattle would also mean higher costs for transporting prisoners back and forth to court appearances. Underwood said, however, that savings in operations outweigh the cost of transportation.
Transportation costs could go down with the use of video connections for arraignments.
LFP councilman offers interesting approach to red-light cameras
When the Lake Forest Park city council authorized red-light cameras two weeks ago, Councilman Donovan Tracy made a suggestion that has merit.
Tracy suggested putting revenue from the cameras into a traffic and pedestrian safety improvement fund.
I don’t know why fines from red-light cameras should get any different treatment than fines from any other traffic infraction, but Tracy’s proposal makes a lot more sense than the one Tim Eyman offers in Initiative 985.
I-985 would put revenue from red-light cameras into a “Reduce Traffic Congestion Account.”
I have nothing against reducing congestion, but I think safety is more important, and I think the cities and counties who enforce traffic laws should decide where the fine revenue goes.
Correction: Most of LFP gets electricity from Seattle City Light
Carolyn Armanini of Lake Forest Park corrects me on last week’s call for a public utility district for Lake Forest Park in light of the sale of Puget Sound Energy. Most of both Lake Forest Park and Shoreline get electricity from Seattle City Light while parts of both get service from PSE.
Seattle made a bad deal with the Sonics
If Seattle had lost its suit against the Sonics, it would have lost the team in exchange for some money.
Instead, it let the team go in exchange for some money and some vague promises that require quick Legislative action.
Evan Smith is Enterprise forum editor. Send comments to him at entopinion@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
