‘She’s failed this city miserably’: Seattle woman behind Mayor Wilson recall effort explains why she filed

Recall charges have been filed against Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, accusing her of failing the city on public safety, from the Bite of Seattle shooting to the forced resignation of Police Chief Shon Barnes in the midst of a homicide investigation.

KIRO Newsradio spoke with the woman who filed the charges, Seattle resident Melinda Jacobson, who said she’d been considering a recall for months before Wilson’s handling of the Barnes resignation pushed her to file.

“When she first started, I thought she deserved the benefit of the doubt. But my big thing is public safety, and how she’s failed this city miserably in that regard,” Jacobson said. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but the icing on the cake, so to speak, was when she forced the resignation of Chief Barnes; that did it. Talking to other like-minded people, I decided that if somebody doesn’t do this, I have to do it. So I stepped up to the plate.”

The recall charges will undergo a technical review by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO). If the recall effort meets the technical requirements, KCPAO will write a ballot synopsis and file it with the Superior Court, where a judge will decide whether the charges meet the bar for malfeasance or misfeasance or a violation of the oath of office.

If the recall makes it through both of those steps, proponents would have 180 days to gather signatures to qualify a recall election for the ballot.

Public safety failures after the Bite of Seattle shooting were the final straw

Jacobson was asked whether Wilson’s handling of the gang-related mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle or Barnes’ resignation had any influence on her decision to file the recall.

“I have not been a fan of hers. I have been to one meeting where she presided in person; I was not impressed,” Jacobson said. “I was certainly not impressed with what she did on air for Bite of Seattle, and what she’s done since then. That cemented it, where she has to go. She’s not doing this city any favors by staying in as mayor.”

The conversation turned to Wilson’s apparent silence on widespread issues, including the violence on Aurora Avenue. Residents said complaints to the mayor over shootings and prostitution had become a daily occurrence, but Wilson ignored their pleas for help.

“One of the things was the Aurora problem. When I talked to some of the people directly involved with the horrible situation there, and found out that she had ignored their phone calls, emails, and attempts to meet in person for over six months. That is appalling. There’s no other word for it,” Jacobson said. “Well, there is another word for it, but I’m not going to say it.

“Then the business about the World Cup, and she had, quote, unquote, a credible threat, so that’s why she chose to turn the cameras on,” Jacobson added. “She just turned them off after the World Cup was over. I don’t know where she’s getting these ideas. What is wrong with her thinking? If I hear anything more about studies, I mean, that is ridiculous. That’s passing the buck. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

Jacobson says even if the recall fails, the pressure on Wilson won’t stop

A recall measure would require 70,000 signatures to get a recall measure on the ballot. The last time a recall effort was successful in King County was in 2018, when Black Diamond Councilmember Patricia Pepper was recalled in the February 13, 2018 special election. The last time a Seattle mayoral recall made it to the ballot was in 1975 with Mayor Wes Uhlman, who won the recall election and retained his seat.

Jacobson was asked if she knew how strenuous a process it would be to submit a recall effort and if she’s confident it’ll be a success.

“There are a lot of steps involved. If it doesn’t fly, at least I’ve tried, and then maybe the city council will step up to the plate because they have the means to dismiss her from her position,” Jacobson said. “I’m not sure the way it’ll go, but I think it’s a very well-written petition. It covers a lot of areas that she’s been sadly negligent in. If it doesn’t go through, yeah, I’ll be disappointed, but it’s not going to stop.

“I’ve started a momentum that’s going to be carried, and maybe the city council, if this doesn’t go through, they’ll step up to the plate,” Jacobson continued. “I’ve seen at least five different council people in interviews, and they’re not happy with the situation either.”

Mayor Wilson’s office responds to recall effort, stating the petition ‘does not appear to have merit’

KIRO Newsradio reached out to Mayor Wilson’s office, which provided the following statement:

“We’re aware of the petition that has been filed. While it does not appear to have merit, our focus remains where it belongs: on making life safer and more affordable for the people of Seattle,” the statement read.

The Mayor’s Office continued to explain the various areas Wilson’s administration remains focused on.

“Since taking office, we’re delivering meaningful progress: expanding community crisis responder hours, launching universal meals this September, banning rental junk fees, accelerating shelter expansion, expanding transit, investing in our libraries, and taking on unfair pricing at grocery stores. That work continues. The courts will address any questions. We will address the needs of Seattle.”

Contributing: Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio

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