Socialist mayor’s new answer to rampant retail crime ignites fury: ‘Bandage on a bullet wound’

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is rolling out city-funded security for grocery stores facing theft, break-ins and vandalism, fueling criticism that Seattle is spending taxpayer money to protect businesses from crime instead of doing enough to stop it in the first place.

The socialist mayor announced the rollout of the security funding as part of a $1.7 million grocery-support initiative included in the city's 2026 budget earlier this week.

"Keeping our neighborhood grocery stores safe and supported is essential to making sure every Seattleite has a reliable, affordable grocery store near them," Wilson said on social media Monday.

The plan will help 10 independent grocery stores pay for improvements and get a year of business support, while stores hit hard by retail theft can get one-time funding for security upgrades and repairs. 'WASTEFUL DISTRACTION': EXPERTS SLAM MAMDANI'S TAXPAYER-FUNDED GROCERY STORES The security funding is already drawing criticism from conservatives who argue the city is spending public money to help businesses absorb the consequences of crime rather than focusing enough resources on preventing it.

"The best way to support grocery store — and all businesses — is to actually enforce the law with a fully staffed and funded police department.

Giving money or resources to fix businesses that are broken by crime is a bandage on a bullet wound," Seattle-based KTTH host and conservative commentator Jason Rantz told Fox News Digital..

SMALL-BUSINESS OWNER URGES SEATTLE LEADERS TO ACT NOW ON PUBLIC DRUG USE AND SLOW EMERGENCY RESPONSE "We don’t need to think outside the box here.

Just enforce the law and put criminals in jail.

That works like a charm and will save everyone money and headaches," Rantz added.

"Is there no single human in Seattle willing to identify the criminals and end the crime instead," asked an X user .

"Seattle is arguably the worst city in the entire country right now, in terms of the rampant crime, widespread degradation and lawlessness that’s apparently gotten exponentially worse across the board over the last 2-3 yrs," another user chimed in.

NEW YORK SOCIALIST LAWMAKER TAKES HEAT AFTER SAYING SHOPLIFTING RESULTS FROM 'BIOLOGICAL NEED' "That used to be called the police department.

What are these security guards going to do? Make arrests? Observe & report? The criminals will walk right past the security with their stolen goods.

If they detain they will be sued.