Seattle Mayor Ed Murray vows to combat gun crimes, make city safer in sweeping strategy announcement

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is vowing to make the city safer, reform Seattle’s troubled police department, and create more jobs to keep teenagers from getting in trouble.

In the wake of a number of recent incidents including a fatal shooting at Seattle Pacific University, Murray declared his call for a “summer of safety” in a special appearance before the Seattle City Council Wednesday.

“We have not, over the years, developed a coherent and coordinated citywide approach to public safety,” said Murray. “Unless we, as a city, address this crisis of confidence, our challenges in public safety will only grow.”

Murray detailed a list of strategies, vowing to crack down on gun violence and improve safety in all neighborhoods. He promised to present an annual progress report to the City Council on the efforts to improve public safety.

“Death by guns is not inevitable,” Murray said in announcing he would convene a Gun Violence Prevention Summit this fall. “I will work with my allies, faith leaders, law enforcement, moms and mayors to ensure that in our state, every sale of every gun goes through a background check.”