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 STORESSeattle Mayor Katie Wilson declared last year at a barista picket line, "I am not buying Starbucks, and you should not either.’" (David Ryder/Reuters)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 RESPONSESeattle Mayor Katie B.
Wilson during the Seattle International Film Festival screening of "The Invite" at SIFF Cinema Downtown on May 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.(Mat Hayward/Getty Images)"We don’t need to think outside the box here.
Just enforce the law and put crimina...