
Lars Larson: ‘When even the presence of police doesn’t deter criminal violence … you know it’s bad’
Lars Larson
The Northwest Nonsense
I guess you could say Portland and Seattle are doing a “bang up” job of making their downtowns safe … lots of bangs if you’re foolish enough to go there.

This past weekend, two people shot in Portland’s Old Town-Chinatown, a man and a woman. They’ll survive, we’re told.
In Seattle a few days earlier, a man in a wheelchair, shot in the chest. He’s on the mend too. That shooting happened on the shiny new waterfront development that Seattle just spent 800 million bucks on.
Prospects for the two cities seem dim lately.
The “Big Pink” bank tower in Portland fire-saled at a nearly 90 percent discount from its value just ten years ago. The new Ritz Carlton hotel and condos in bankruptcy. Big retailers fleeing and those who can’t afford to leave boarding up their storefronts against Antifa terrorists who have friends at City Hall.
Nordstrom hints it may not keep its signature store at Pioneer Courthouse Square much longer because of crime and filth.
Police have been defunded. And this seems telling to me…police were actually watching the crowd where that shooting happened over the weekend.
When even the presence of police doesn’t deter criminal violence … you know it’s bad.
Also read:
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- Opinion: 106 striking workers already using unemployment insurance benefitsA Washington Policy Center analyst says the state’s new law allowing striking workers to collect unemployment benefits is already affecting the UI system.
- POLL: Who should have the primary say in decisions about a student’s gender identity at school?Clark County Today is asking readers who should have the primary role in decisions about a student’s gender identity at school.
- Opinion: Study shows 2025’s record tax increases reduce Washington’s GDP growth and worker payTodd Myers writes that a new economic analysis projects Washington’s 2025 tax increases will slow GDP growth and reduce wages over the next several years.
- Letter: Facts aren’t politicalBrian Kendall writes that disagreements about the LEOFF 1 pension debate should begin with accurate facts rather than misinformation.







