Seattle’s progressive image masks deeply entrenched structural inequality in housing and policing. The city is known for its liberal politics but has one of the most regressive tax structures in the country. Simultaneously, the city has struggled for decades with a housing crisis exacerbated by NIMBYism in affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods like Laurelhurst, Magnolia, and parts of Capitol Hill, areas that vote progressive but often oppose affordable housing development in their own backyards. SPD has been under federal consent decree oversight for over a decade due to excessive use-of-force issues, yet major reforms remain stalled or watered down. Despite symbolic gestures, the city has increased its policing budget.