At the same time, political decisions at the state level have made Washington the eighth worst state in the country when it comes to feeding the hungry. Moreover, Seattle's neighborhoods are well known and well marked. The middle class can be found in neighborhoods like Wallingford and West Seattle. The city's booming economy is having a dramatic effect on African Americans in particular. Some black families are moving up and out of the traditionally black Central District into posher areas like Kirkland, Newport Hills, and Mercer Island.
Race relations are still a problem in Seattle.
Two recent studies found that bails are set higher for minority defendants in Washington state, and that King County prosecutors file stiffer charges against minorities than whites. And according to an investigation by The Seattle Times , blacks are six times more likely than whites to have their cars taken under the impound ordinance. The Seattle Police Department is another source of problems. More than 200 people showed up for a hearing last June to address police mistreatment of minorities. During the WTO protests in December, the police pulled black City Council Member Richard McIver from his car, even after he'd showed them identification.