Highlights: Seattle mayor briefs public on ‘State of the City’
Feb 19, 2013, 5:58 PM | Updated: 6:05 pm
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn delivered his annual State of the City address Tuesday.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn delivered his annual State of the City address Tuesday.
He began by noting the successes of 2012, including paid sick leave for all workers, strides in bringing the Supersonics back to Seattle and efforts to curb predatory towing practices.
McGinn also noted lower points of the past twelve months.
“Last year started off with unspeakable tragedy,” he said. “We had 22 murders in the first five months of the year, including the shocking murders at Cafe Racer and Town Hall. In those five months we had almost as many murders as the prior year.”
In response, the city added violence emphasis patrols to crime hot spots and partnered with the federal government to enhance penalties for gun violations.
“But most of all, we reached out to the community for help,” he said.
McGinn noted that overall crime rates are at 30-year low. He praised Seattle police officers, who had a tough year amid increased scrutiny following a Department of Justice investigation into use of excessive force.
In looking at the year ahead, McGinn said the city will focus on “building great neighborhoods,” improving infrastructure and expanding support for early learning.
