SEATTLE—Mayor Greg Nickels denounced the decision by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to site the next location for a Secure Community Transitional Facility for sexual predators in Seattle at 132 South Spokane Street.

"I'm deeply disappointed with the state's decision to locate its facility for violent sexual predators in our city," Nickels said. "Of the King County sites under consideration, the Spokane Street site puts the most people at risk of harm. The selection of Seattle also disregards state guidelines about equitable distribution. The state has failed to follow its own rules.”

The area chosen by DSHS currently houses 135,000 Seattle residents, employs 255,043 men and women and has schools that serve 12,000 children. Over a million women, men and children attend ball games and other events at nearby Safeco Field and Seahawks Stadium.

"With so many people living, working, attending school and visiting this area, it is not appropriate for housing violent sexual predators," said Nickels

Nickels stressed that Seattle is taking an undue share of violent sex offenders. Seattle currently has one half of the County's level 2 and level 3 sex offenders (856 in King County, 401 of them in Seattle), even though it only has about one third of the County's population. In addition, of the four state work release facilities in King County, all of them are located in Seattle.

"This decision is unjust," said Nickels. "Seattle has taken its fair share of correctional and sexual predator housing facilities. It's time that DSHS started using its own criteria in making these decisions."

In August, Nickels sent a letter to DSHS outlining a number of public safety measures the City would be demanding if the Seattle site were chosen. DSHS' response on September 8 said that Seattle would be on its own in figuring out how to pay to ensure the safety of its citizens.

For example, in their letter DSHS said that they would only give Seattle $70,000 per year for increased police protection in the area. This amount would not even cover the cost of one additional police officer to patrol the area.

"There is no clear plan to protect citizens from violent sex offenders," said Nickels. "DSHS has acted like a fast train on the wrong track."

Office of the City Mayor release, September 10