Tonya Woo: It’s time for Seattle to invest in Little Saigon’s future

Five months ago, a coalition of Little Saigon community members launched a petition: “Dedicate Resources to Restore and Revitalize Little Saigon.” It wasn’t just a plea—it was a plan. We called for real investment, culturally rooted public safety, and a seat at the table when decisions are made about our neighborhood’s future.

We appreciate the steps the City of Seattle has taken. Through the Downtown Activation Plan and strong community advocacy, we’ve helped bring in hotspot patrols, safety ambassadors, cleanups, a future mobile treatment van, and the “We Deliver Care” team.

But these efforts are overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis—and the City’s limited authority and funding. The deeper issues—housing, behavioral health, and long-term addiction treatment – fall under the responsibility of King County and Washington State.

And from those levels of government, we’ve received silence, delays, and inaction.

Here’s what we need in Little Saigon

In our petition, we outlined urgent and specific needs: the formation of a multi-jurisdictional task force, dedicated investments in culturally competent public safety and health services, regular sanitation and environmental maintenance, and transparency in how government dollars are allocated in the Chinatown-International District. We also called for a long-term economic development strategy and direct community involvement in the decision-making processes that affect our neighborhood.

Despite repeated appeals, the majority of the petition’s conditions remain unmet. The people most directly impacted—those who live and work in Little Saigon every day—remain excluded from decision-making in the highest level of power.

Meanwhile, unhoused and addicted individuals are still being pushed into Little Saigon without services, oversight, or support. Our neighborhood has become a containment zone for a regional crisis no one wants to claim responsibility for. And our community is bearing the burden.

A crisis from decades of neglect

This is displacement through historical neglect—rooted in decades of underinvestment and invisibility.

While many are grateful for temporary police patrols and cleanups, the underlying issues remain. The drug use, overdoses, and violence haven’t gone away—they’ve only moved around the block. And every day, it’s our residents, elders, and small businesses who are left to manage the fallout.

Little Saigon has not been idle. We are the ones administering Narcan, picking up litter from sidewalks, walking safety patrols, and supporting our neighbors. But we are not public infrastructure. We are a neighborhood. And we are exhausted.

This is what structural abandonment looks like.

‘We need action’

I’ve worked both inside and outside City Hall. I know when a promise is real and when it’s just political cover. Our community doesn’t need more vague commitments—we need action.

Little Saigon isn’t asking for special treatment. We’re demanding the same dignity, safety, and partnership that every neighborhood in Seattle, King County, and Washington State deserves. We’ve waited long enough. It’s time to fulfill the action items outlined in our petition. Supporting this petition isn’t just about one neighborhood—it’s a model for what it looks like to prioritize people over policy.

The time to act is now.

Tanya Woo is a community activist and former Seattle City Councilmember. She is a special contributor to MyNorthwest.com.