Disappointing City Council

I recently asked Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin what progress the council was making on addressing the city’s gun-violence epidemic [“Shot ‘out of nowhere’ felled free spirit,” page one, July 3]. His response: “There isn’t much we can do until some Federal laws are changed.” This is thoroughly unacceptable.

Given the severity of the crisis, the council ought to be burning the midnight oil brainstorming ideas, collaborating with other agencies and seeking public input until a plan is in place. Because lives are at stake, it should be their highest priority.

Let there be no doubt: Solutions are out there for those brave enough, creative enough and forward-looking enough to seek them. Unfortunately, this does not describe Conlin or our present City Council.

There are few things more frustrating than public officials saying “We can’t.” By merely grumbling under your breath and throwing your hands up in the air, Mr. Conlin, you accomplish nothing, apart from signaling to the public that you are not qualified for your position.

— Alec Lawson, Seattle