Why is the city council's most progressive member--the one most likely to stand up for cop accountability--filling his schedule by meeting with police? Because he just took over the council's cop committee. Licata's base is stoked their guy snagged the police committee chair.
For years, Licata has talked about the need for police accountability, but hasn't gotten many concrete results. Now he's in the leadership position, and has a chance to craft law, instead of just winning points for being outspoken. This could be Licata's shining moment, or a disappointment.
Licata's armed with specific reforms like an early intervention system to catch minor police problems quickly or daylighting the city's police contract negotiation agenda. "I hope to make some incremental improvements in the system," Licata said before his first committee meeting. "This is going to make the monorail committee look like a cakewalk."
He'll have to overcome several challenges. Licata is perceived as super- sympathetic to activists which could hamper his dealings with police. It was Licata who held a hearing for antiwar protesters, after cops backed them into Pioneer Square last March. In November, Licata held a much-requested forum about the city's police contract negotiations.
Licata has also had a testy relationship with police union president Saucier. Licata needs to let Saucier and the rest of the police see that he's a fair guy--who's even championed for additional police. But if Licata gets too cozy with the cops, he could lose the trust of Seattle's activists--folks who soured on the committee under Licata's predecessor, Jim Compton. Activists disliked Compton (who they perceived as too cop friendly), pointing to a lack of leadership on giving the civilian review board access to complete complaint files.
Ultimately, Licata will need backup from other council members, something the left-winger has struggled with, as was the case on votes like lifting the lease lid and amending third-party water billing rules--issues where Licata was in the minority. But it bodes well that his new committee is stacked with progressives like Peter Steinbrueck and newcomer David Della (a Filipino American with a progressive labor background, who could help bridge the gap between police and minority communities). The trio's first resolution, endorsing the civilian review board's strategic plan, passed council unanimously on February 9.
