Seattle Business Leaders Demand Public Safety Action Plan

A coalition of major Seattle-area business leaders is calling on city officials to take more aggressive and measurable steps to improve public safety. The letter, signed by 38 executives from companies including Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, and Nordstrom, urges the city to adopt a 100-day public safety action plan.

The plan would include restoring surveillance cameras in high-crime areas, establishing clear benchmarks for police response times, and expanding the use of CCTV cameras. The business leaders also want the city to recommit to its seven-minute standard for 911 response times and publicly report when that benchmark is not met.

August poll data cited by the coalition shows strong support for more urgent action on public safety among Seattle voters, with only 34% expressing confidence in the city's current plan. The business leaders argue that cameras can help deter crime and assist police in identifying suspects.