Diaz talks about the day squad and the hiring process for the gang unit starting at about 1:15:00 on the video of the hearing:
http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2120907

There’s always the possibility that progress is being made, but the larger trend is taking things lower — kind of like climbing a ladder on the sinking Titanic.

Why be so pessimistic? Watch this entire video and you’ll see that what has happened to Argentina very closely resembles what is happening in the US –
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/445.html

In order to protect what remains of the local economy, to prevent the ship from sinking even faster and hitting rock bottom, communities now need to quickly become self-sustainable.

That is, 1) create their own local and taxable (which makes it legal) non-fiat currency outside the US dollar to protect from the coming USD hyperinflation. This will help keep cash flowing locally and keep local business alive, 2) create a community-led infrastructure now for offering basic services such clothing, shelter, jobs programs, bartering, food & food production, safety, etc. (this was required in Argentina and other similar countries since govt eventually goes bankrupt and then offers no services), 3) create a community-based alternative health clinic for dealing with the loss of available or affordable health care to the community….

I could go on. All of these things are organized by, created by, and run by the local community. Paying jobs are created out of all this work that needs doing. The demand will definitely be there.

Argentina is not the only country. This has happened to too many to count, at the hands of the international central banking cartels who own the World Bank and the IMF (International Monetary Fund). In fact, your tax dollars help do this to other countries. Now the tables are being turned, and the middle class of the US, Europe and Japan are being erased and turned into a jobless class of the poor.

This is intentional. It’s all about the consolidation of power. Watch the video, and you will what I am talking about. No “conspiracy theories” here — just 100% fact.

Does this mean that SPD has hired new officers for the SE? Or are they reassigning staff already present in the SE (or eleswhere) to this squad? I as because I received a VM yesterday from the Mayor’s office asking me to call back regarding my latest two letters on ongoing short-staffing and current street violence.

When I call on Monday, I want to be able to articulate a clear position, not just receive a pat on the head about how “it’s all going to be all right”.

Thanks for the report. We all benefit from your gift of time.

The observations about nonprofits and community involvement are mine. I do not think that nonprofits have too much influence in this process, I think that regular everyday citizens not connected to a participating nonprofit should know about the YVPI, and that the City should go out of its way to elicit their contributions. On that score I wrote this to the YVPI interim director the other day:

there are a lot of people out here who are worried about the fate of their community and want to know what to do to help. The YVPI organizers are missing an important opportunity if they only focus on nonprofits and narrowly defined “at risk” populations.

I think the YVPI organizers probably have done a fantastic job to date and I think it’s a smart plan and with a lot of promise. The point is that however delightful the planning process has been, it hasn’t effected the situation on the streets one iota, which is the only outcome people should really be getting excited about. I hope the Southeast Seattle community will support the YVPI programs and get excited about them when they prove successful.