Seattle Business Leaders Demand Public Safety Action Plan Amid Crime Concerns

Seattle business leaders are calling for public safety improvements in the city, citing concerns over crime and police response times. In a sharply worded letter to Mayor Katie Wilson and the City Council, 38 leaders from companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, and Alaska Airlines urged the city to adopt a 100-day public safety action plan.

The plan would include reactivating CCTV cameras in high-event areas, conducting regular foot and bicycle patrols in areas with ongoing public safety problems, and prioritizing a shutdown of open-air drug markets. The business coalition also called for a clearer policy on drug diversion, offering treatment and shelter before arrest and prosecution.

According to an August poll of Seattle voters, only 34% were confident the city has an effective public safety plan. The poll found broad support for specific steps such as more police patrols in areas with persistent problems and expanded use of cameras. More than 86% of respondents supported a public safety action plan.

The business leaders pointed to data showing that Seattle has about 1.31 sworn officers per 1,000 residents, roughly 40% below Denver, 43% below San Francisco, and 58% below Boston. They argued that a credible public-safety plan and a budget that protects the investments behind it are inseparable.