"progressivism" run amuck.

Zitat

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The Seattle City Council is discussing adding a poverty defense to the city code that municipal court judges must consider when a case comes before them. The council is expected to continue its deliberation of the proposal in January.

In the version currently introduced and advanced by City Council member Lisa Herbold, a suspect facing charges on up to 100 different misdemeanor offense could use the poverty defense in court.

Supporters of the plan say the goal is to find a different outcome than jail for the person because they are impoverished and had to resort to stealing or pitching a tent on private property to obtain adequate shelter, which could lead to trespassing charges.

“It’s one of these well-intended concepts (of) we want to take care of people that can't take care of themselves," Humphrey said. "But what you are really doing is hurting other people."

Critics of the proposal say it would open the door to non-stop shoplifting even though supporters say it’s about having compassion for people who don’t have anything.

“We know that this is simply fear mongering," said Tiffani McCoy, a lead organizer for Real Change, told the City Council's Public Safety Committee Tuesday. "The early attacks against it are rooted in anti-poverty bias.”

Thieves selling stolen goods to earn money to pay for a basic need is just one element of the proposal that is currently under consideration. Another element is known as the no legal alternative option.

For example, if someone steals food from a grocery store but claims they did not know there was a food bank right around the corner, they could be protected under the poverty defense.

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https://keprtv.com/news/nation-world/sea...OUIoy3sXdpbIIkU

Congratulations to the Seattle City Council. They have now outdone the entire state of CA for sheer stupidity.