but they're in South Seattle.

it's not like the current administration or any daily papers in Seattle report on crime there either.

... well?

I really don't want to vote for Mallahan (Since he can't bother to vote himself), and McGinn is looking more and more as if he is way out of his league, especially in regards to the most important issue concerning my family, public safety. I am willing to organize and campaign for anyone that has a cohesive plan for combating crime in the south end. But so far, bupkis.

Public safety is one the main reasons cities incorporate. Any city candidate should be ready to speak to the issue at length and with meaningful insight. Seattle voters should think twice before drinking McGinn's kook aid.

I'm glad to see a more objective report on the mayoral race. I voted for McGinn in the primary, but I am now undecided. I will have to wait until the last possible moment to choose on this one.

I thought if we didn't build the tunnel there would be no more crime.

Every time I see McGinn I hear the faint strains of "Sugar Magnolia" playing with just a slight scent of marijuana and Patchouli wafting in the breeze.

Oh for pity's sake.

"Joe's got rehearsed platitudes"

Duh.

Many from a thoroughly disproven white, affluent take on youth violence. Seriously, where the article about how Joe figures the reason kids join gangs is because they have "self-hatred". What about that racial agenda? No follow up on how Mallahan thinks that nickels did a piss-poor job because he followed a racial agenda instead of public safety?

Wonder what Joe had to promise SPOG and fire for their endorsement? call them up and ask and listen for what they don't say.

Better yet, get out in to the communities that are really affected by public safety policy and see what they think about the mayor's race.

And, pick up the phone and call McGinn and ask for policy briefs. Do the same for Mallahan. See what you get, past the rehearsed, paid for, talking points.

"It seems McGinn is becoming a bit of a one-note candidate, too intensely focused on a war against the waterfront tunnel, rather than issues that affect residents and neighborhoods on a daily basis."

Agreed, except for the "is becoming". Wish people had noticed this before the primary and hoping that McGinn notices in time to turn things around.

We need to keep fathers out of jail so that these young boys can grow up with male role models. Teach the parents to do it better than it was done to them. Jail isn't the answer, families are. IV Real.

Thank you Jonah for the EXCELLENT spot on article.

I've been harping to the beat of this drum for weeks now... finally someone at the Stranger has written an article that is not blindly Pro-McGinn..

He is a straw candidate, and panders only to a couple special interests... He really does lack substance.

Maybe your fellow co-workers can get their proverbial tongues out of McGinn's ass to take notice also...

Don't say you didn't hear it here first.

Let's review:

Mallahan: No plan, rehearsed talking points, detached businessman who cares more about the "big picture" than the little guy (or voting)
McGinn: No plan, shrugged off talking points, painfully overinvolved "yay people" wonk who cares more about the little guy than the big picture

Yeah, I wonder who is going to really care about crime in our communities. I'm pretty sure it's the guy who says he's biking to work and not the chauffeured SUV-riding non-voter.

This is a very interesting discussion so far - I wonder how it will affect the vote at the 43rd Dems general election endorsements tomorrow night (7-9pm) at University Heights (NE 50th and University Way NE)?

My guess is Mallahan's voters won't bother showing up and McGinn's voters will do their best to turn out.

The surprise of the night will be the groundswell of support for Susan Hutchinson for KC Exec, of course. Expect the Seattle Times to talk about that in their editorial later in the week, along with their announcement that Jesus rode Dinosaurs in competitive street-racing competitions.

Thank you Jonah! It's nice to read something that at least asks McGinn a question rather than putting him up on Dominic's pedestal. I too voted for him in the primary, but it was more of a Nickels-wake-up-call vote. As I look at both Joe and Mike's positions and answers to questions, there are pros and cons for both of them.

If the Stranger wants to step above pure advocacy journalism (which I usually cheer loudly for), and give us the good and the bad from BOTH candidates, I think it woudl help a lot of people who are in the same boat as I, in terms of making an informed decision in the general election.

Thanks for getting the ball rolling.

Looks like he has a plan http://www.seattlepostglobe.org/2009/09/…

Full Plan here: http://mcginnformayor.com/issues/public-… Wow, these are real ideas, definitely not platitudes.

Thanks, Gidge.

@16 Yeah, role models are needed and sorely lacking, but as long as these men continue to commit crimes, how are we supposed to keep them out of jail? You're not seriously suggesting that we give every gangbanger with an illegitimate child a get-out-of-jail-free card, are you? I'm sorry, it seems like that's probably not your point (since you aren't prone to making batshit crazy comments), but it kind of sounds like it.

Carollani's suggestion is putting the cart before the horse. What's the point in providing male role models if those role models aren't any good? End the drug war, intervene early in kids' and young adults' lives so they don't get in trouble with the law or so they're at least less likely to reoffend, then you'll have some progress.

Two universal truths come to mind (I don't live in the Seattle area, but none of you seem to mention these):

1) Crime gets worse when the economy is down. Without exception. To a certain extent, you have to suck it up and ride it out.

2) The first point notwithstanding, community-oriented policing makes a huge difference. Cops need to get the fuck out of their cruisers, brush the powdered sugar off their uniforms, and walk beats/ride bikes, visit businesses and engage adult, kids and everyone in between. You really actually need new hires to do this because the old guard don't know how to schmooze and just piss people off by blustering. Keep cruisers in reserve and well distributed so they can respond when backup/major firepower is needed. But you can't, repeat can't, police effectively with your butt on a bench seat.

Nickels in 2013!

McGinn talks alot about Greenwood and all he got done. Well, I'll tell you that's the same rhetoric he'll give you later about what he did for Seattle. A lot of HOT AIR at meetings and not much more. That's what we got. He showed up for most of the meetings late or not at all. He was supposed to be in charge at the time.

When GAIN formed, Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors (an anti-crime citizen's group), he was nowhere to be found. A few of us helped them as they were starting to organize a bit and launch a forum about Aurora, do press releases, get attention. He was nowhere to be found. They continued on to be a valuable neighborhood group that at least keeps Aurora on the map at City Hall. Without McGinn's help.

But Aurora is nothing compared to the struggles in South Seattle. Yet.

Comprehensive, proactive, cost effective public safety solutions would be a good start no matter which end of Seattle you're in. If McGinn pedaled more it would send more blood to his brain so it would work better. Anyone with a Broadband platform as part of their 3 legged stool needs more blood to their brain.

So this is the post that cost Jonah his job; wow.