‘Seattle is making progress, step by step’: Mayor Wilson responds to plea from more than 30 major business leaders

More than 30 major players in Seattle’s business community have signed a letter urging Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and the City Council to take action on public safety.

Business leaders ranging from Microsoft’s Brad Smith to Seattle Mariners’ John Stanton to Costco’s Ron Vachris to Alaska Air Group’s Ben Minicucci are demanding an overhaul of the city’s public safety efforts.

Wilson responds to business leaders

Wilson issued a statement Thursday afternoon in response to the letter, saying she appreciated hearing from the business community and that many of their requests are already underway.

Wilson said in the last nine months the city has increased police presence in several neighborhoods, including Rainier Beach, the Chinatown-International District (CID), Little Saigon, North Aurora, and Belltown. She added that the city has made street-level investments in the CID and has committed resources to Little Saigon.

“We are working with residents and business owners to implement changes to the built environment that improve safety and reduce gun violence,” Wilson stated.

She also said the city put up barriers on Aurora, is working on modifying on-street parking in Belltown, and has more than doubled crisis care responders’ hours. In response to the number of officers, Wilson said there are 3,500 police officer applications in the queue and that the city is actively recruiting a new police chief.

“Seattle is making progress, step by step,” Wilson wrote. “While any violence is too much violence, it is important to understand that SPD data show shootings and homicides at their lowest in a decade. And yet, we have far too much crime and public disorder, and people have a right to be frustrated.

“I, like everyone in Seattle, want to see that progress happen faster and steadier,” she continued. “When we work in collaborative, transparent partnership on these goals, we make real progress on what matters most — creating a Seattle that is comfortable, safe, and prosperous.”

Poll: Only 34% of Seattle voters confident city has effective public safety plan

The letter was posted on the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s website Thursday. It stated that an Aug. 17 joint public opinion poll of registered Seattle voters found “residents expect the city to act with urgency, fund the actions needed to improve safety, and provide a clear plan for measuring progress.”

There was overwhelming support for a concrete set of actions on public safety, along with skepticism that City Hall has an adequate plan in place, according to the letter. Business leaders also pointed out that only 34% of voters said they were confident the city has an effective plan to address public safety.

“Voters are asking for action, on a timeline, with results they can measure,” the letter stated.

Letter demands CCTV activation, camping ban, faster 911 response times

The executives are requesting an increase in public safety investments, activation of the CCTV camera system, a public safety action plan, faster 911 call response times, the arrest of illegal drug users who repeatedly refuse treatment and shelter, and a camping ban within 250 feet of a park or playground, among other items. They are also asking the mayor and council to back those priorities in the city budget.

“A credible public-safety plan and a budget that protects the investments behind it are inseparable,” the letter stated. “Seattle voters have made it clear that they expect both. We are ready to be partners. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your staff to discuss how the city can move from planning to action on these priorities.”

Other corporations involved include Zillow Group, Puget Sound Energy, Weyerhaeuser, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, BECU, Starbucks, Nordstrom, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Challenge Seattle, Washington Roundtable, F5, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente, Madrona Venture Group, and Symetra Financial Corporation.

T-Mobile, Vulcan Real Estate, Russell Investments, Saltchuk, Joshua Green Corporation, Remitly, PEMCO Mutual Insurance Co., the SODO Business Improvement Area, Retail Lockbox, Inc., the Greater Seattle Business Association, Ballard Alliance, McKinstry Co. LLC, Tutta Bella, the Washington Hospitality Association, Laird Norton Company, and PSL Ventures also signed on.

‘We’re starting to go backwards again’: Hospitality leader says safety has declined since World Cup

“There’s a lot of conversations, a lot of different ideas, and I think we all need to rally as a city and say ‘Let’s focus on this now.’ It’s just, we’re at that point,” President and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association Anthony Anton told KIRO Newsradio.

Anton believes the city did a great job during the World Cup, but feels like safety efforts have declined.

“We put ourselves on such a great world view, and it feels like we’re starting to go backwards again,” he said. “And the safety of our employees, and the safety of our guests has a real impact on people we care about, and a real impact on the economic status of the city.”

Wilson dismisses Seattle council’s gun violence plan as ‘grandstanding and politicking’

The council is set to vote next week on a gun violence reduction plan that Wilson dismissed as “grandstanding and politicking” in an interview with KUOW.

Seattle City Councilmember Maritza Rivera is sponsoring the resolution and said the mayor has been slow to act on public safety.

“I’m underwhelmed that it’s taken this long for her to say what her response is going to be, and what she’s going to do to address all the shootings we’ve seen across the city,” Rivera told KIRO Newsradio.

Rivera’s resolution calls for the city to partner with national experts who’ve helped reduce violence in other cities.

Wilson said she’ll announce her own gun violence reduction strategy next week, along with an update on the city’s work to expand shelters.

Contributing: Aaron Granillo, KIRO Newsradio

Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.