Council not biggest concern But battles with the council aren't the most pressing concern for Schell, said Clifford Traisman, the head of intergovernmental relations and one of the mayor's top political advisers. Schell, he said, is more concerned with healing Seattle's bruised self-confidence than his own future. And trust was shattered among Capitol Hill residents whose neighborhood was visited by the most criticized police action of the week. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, police squared off against protesters in the city's most densely populated neighborhood. Officers fired volleys of tear gas, bean bags and nonlethal flash-bang grenades near homes and apartments to break up groups of demonstrators.
Police insist the action was necessary to maintain public safety.
It almost turned into residents being trashed, and that needs to be looked at. Assessments ahead will determine whether Schell was making the key decisions himself, or accepting bad advice. Hard questions will be asked about the standing of other top city officials, especially Police Chief Norm Stamper. But Traisman said it's unlikely Schell will look for a scapegoat. Loyalty is his middle name.