But regardless, truth starts with observations and anecdotes. In Seattle, reliable data measuring crime is hard to come by since people have become jaded and simply don’t report crime any longer. The police are understaffed (well below median police officers per capita in the country) and are directed by city leadership to deprioritize such investigations, so residents don’t see a benefit from reporting. I’ll admit I am part of the problem - the other day I saw a homeless person expose herself in front of children and I didn’t bother reporting it to any authority because nothing will be done and I am just exhausted by all of it. The only time residents bother is if they are victims of property crime that is large enough to make the insurance deductible worth it.
In the case of police shooting unarmed blacks, we already have the data. The Washington Post has maintained these records (https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/investigations/polic...). It gives us a clear sense of the magnitude of the issue at hand. This is also why surveys are able to say that people overestimate the frequency of police brutality.
> I also invite you to consider people who commit crimes as human beings with needs like you and I — needs that are often unmet
They are free to meet those needs the way anyone else does, by showing personal responsibility for their life choices. I have little sympathy for those who decide to live a drug centric lifestyle. And likewise, people shouldn’t move to a desirable, expensive location unless they have a plan on how to make it work. Existing residents should not have to subsidize either group, with their money or by giving up their quality of life.