Seattle continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. A recent New York Times story showcased the chaos that played out in our city and how the “lack of a robust public safety presence” has left a lasting impact on citizens and businesses alike.

It is a frustrating and all too familiar story for those of us who lived it. And it only adds insult to injury to see our city portrayed as the face of extremism and dysfunction by national media outlets. Neither Seattle, nor any other can function without basic essential services.

A group of Seattle business owners filed suit over property damage and lost revenue suffered as a result of the city’s decision to abandon their neighborhood “leaving it unchecked by police, fire and emergency health services.” The Times noted that unlike other cities, “the issue is especially tense in Seattle, where the city government not only permitted the establishment of a police-free zone but provided infrastructure like concrete barriers and portable toilets to sustain it.”

Unfortunately, the Seattle City Council continues to focus on the wrong priorities. They are rushing to defund law enforcement, taking hundreds of officers off the street, without any plan to ensure essential public safety services in our community. That is doubling down on the chaos and extremism that landed us in the New York Times in the first place.

When Seattle residents call for help, they deserve to know someone will answer the phone. Join our fight to demand accountability and common-sense in the City Council.