‘These things don’t mesh’: KIRO hosts say Seattle’s downtown crime drop just shifted problems to other neighborhoods

An analysis by The Seattle Times found violent and property crimes in Seattle’s downtown commercial core have fallen by nearly 50% since 2018 — roughly 2,000 fewer crimes. But KIRO host Jake Skorheim said the numbers don’t tell the full story, especially when a stabbing victim just boarded a light rail train in Pioneer Square over the weekend.

“Crime in downtown Seattle is not like a big deal, and then somebody who’s just been stabbed jumps on one of these trains and is now trying to get somewhere safe,” Jake said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “These things don’t mesh.”

A person stabbed in Pioneer Square late Sunday boarded a northbound Sound Transit light rail train before first responders could arrive, forcing the King County Sheriff’s Office to shut down service for about 20 minutes to investigate.

The numbers almost cancel out

KIRO fill-in host Greg Tomlin said The Seattle Times data deserves a closer look, because while downtown improved, surrounding neighborhoods got dramatically worse.

“There’s perception, and there’s reality, and sometimes perception is reality,” Greg said. “I think you’re right to dig deeper into the data here.”

He read from the article’s infographic showing changes in violent and property crimes from 2018 to 2025: downtown Seattle was down 1,928, but South Lake Union and Cascade were up 457, Capitol Hill was up 780, and First Hill was up 568.

“Wait a minute, the numbers almost pan out,” Tomlin said. “Not quite, but they’re pretty dang close.”

Tomlin said it’s possible the criminal element has simply been pushed out of tourist areas and into the neighborhoods just outside.

“You look at Chinatown,” Jake responded.

Are victims giving up on 911?

Tomlin raised another factor that could be skewing the data: crime reporting itself. He said repeat victims may have simply stopped calling.

“I wonder if there’s a level of disillusionment on behalf of repeat victims who are like, ‘Why do I even call this in anymore?'” Tomlin said.

He pointed to a statistic that stunned both hosts. When Nordstrom’s flagship downtown Seattle store calls 911, only 29% of those calls result in a police officer showing up, according to a letter from Seattle business leaders.

“They can’t be alone in that statistic,” Tomlin said. “Listen to these businesses in the International District, where crime is persistent almost on a daily basis, and they say, ‘Yeah, we call the cops, and just nothing happens.’ So do you think you’re going to be more likely to continue to report crime? No.”

Jake said the Nordstrom comparison is what makes it so damning.

“That same company, Nordstrom, when they give over their 911 calls in Bellevue or Southcenter, they have a 100% police response to those 911 calls,” Jake said. “But in downtown Seattle, it’s 29%. You have a 71% difference in response calls.”

He said the conclusion is obvious.

“What do you think Nordstrom’s is going to do? Do you think they’re going to keep calling the cops all the time? No. Of course not,” Jake said.

Businesses resigned to their fate

Tomlin said the pattern extends well beyond one retailer.

“These victimized businesses or mom-and-pop shop owners, in many cases, I think, have simply been resigned to their fate and just saying, ‘OK, nothing’s going to be done. What’s the use in even calling in these crimes on a daily basis or weekly basis?'” Tomlin said.

The business leaders’ letter, signed by executives from companies including Microsoft and Nordstrom, called on Mayor Katie Wilson and the Seattle City Council to commit to a seven-minute priority 911 response standard, increase police patrols, and clear encampments near schools and businesses.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3