Residents near Seattles CHOP ask what took city so long to move to break up protest

Read full article here: https://readnews.io/hg75e8 Residents who live nearSeattles "police-free" zone called CHOP Capitol Hill Organized Protest" expressed relief after Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Monday that city officials are working to end theprotest, following two shootings over the weekend, one of them deadly. But despite the mayors decision to act, some residents who live by the area were critical of the citys leadership for taking so long to act. PROTESTERS IN DC TRY TO TOPPLE JACKSON STATUE, TRUMP ISSUES WARNINGIt was doomed to happen from Day One, Matthew Ploszaj, who lives in the vicinity, told KOMO News. No one wanted to say it, but Im surprised it didnt happen sooner. It should have ended when the Car Tender got broken and the mob went down and broke his fence. It did not have to come to this. Durkan said the violence was distracting from changes sought by thousands of peaceful protesters opposing racial inequity and police brutality. She said at a news conference that the city is working with the community to bring CHOP to an end and that police soon would move back into a precinct building in the area they had largely abandoned. The mayor did not give an immediate timeline for clearing out the occupation but said additional steps would be examined if people dont leave voluntarily. With scores of people camping in a park in the protest zone, Durkan said peaceful demonstrations could continue, but nighttime disorder had to stop. The cumulative impacts of the gatherings and protests and the nighttime atmosphere and violence has led to increasingly difficult circumstances for our businesses and residents, Durkan said. The impacts have increased and the safety has decreased. City leaders have faced mounting criticism including from President Trump over the protest zone amid reports of violence inside the area. Police had not been able to go inside the zone. The dismantling of the CHOP will followthe death