It’s just two months into the new year and Seattle is still getting to know a new mayor, a reconstituted city council, and a new style of leadership. Standing under a banner that read “This Is Your City,” Mayor Katie Wilson delivered her State of the City speech to a packed crowd at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center Feb. 17.
Wilson’s speech spent much time describing challenges, less so on solutions. She is going slow, emphasizing “hope” as a mantra and a long-term strategy. She restated her most critical concerns: public safety, homelessness, childcare, and small business. The speech was a moderate one easing earlier fears that, as a democratic socialist, she would quickly make radical moves. In fact, some observers said it was a speech that could have been delivered by her predecessor, Mayor Bruce Harrell.
Wilson began her speech deploring the fatal shooting of two Rainier High School students at a nearby bus stop. To deal with that incident and other gun violence, she said that she will enlist a panel of local and national leaders to advise on solutions. She also plans to increase police presence in the Chinatown International District and close unsafe businesses.
When campaigning for office, Wilson had opposed expanding CCTV surveillance cameras but, after hearing from residents concerned for public safety, she now is less certain. At the same time, she is hearing from those who fear that the current federal administration will make use of those cameras for immigration enforcement. Facing a contentious but pressing issue, Wilson said she’s taking time to decide.
Addressing homelessness, another of her top issues, Wilson intends to expand emergency shelter and work with the CARE team. In responding to community upset over a Ballard encampment, she delayed closing the camp until residents could receive counseling. Eventually six individuals were placed in shelter and the encampment was cleared.
Wilson told of hearing directly about affordability with rents going up and vowed to adopt a bold policy to build more housing in more areas. She also expects to direct $115 million towards social housing, more than twice the amount previously budgeted.
With Seattle already a national leader on early childhood learning, Wilson plans to build on existing programs and site additional childcare facilities. In the aftermath of grocery stores being closed, she floated the notion of opening public grocery stores and promised to work on possibilities. Also on her to-do list is assisting small businesses by cutting red tape for business license applications.
Mayor Wilson closed her 40-minute speech with a love letter to the city as “the best place to live” and promised to make Seattle into a city where “everyone can afford to live.”
It’s an ambitious goal and especially so during these difficult times. With the city facing a budget shortfall, Wilson will have to depend on much help from the city council. The council has two new progressive members as well as a newly-elected president, District 3 councilmember Joy Hollingsworth. Backed by a unanimous vote of her colleagues, Hollingsworth, the first Black woman to head the council, earned colleagues’ admiration for her leadership working on the city’s comprehensive plan.
Hollingsworth’s positions closely parallel those expressed by Mayor Wilson. Both are focused on homelessness, housing affordability, and public safety. Hollingsworth — herself a small business owner — wants to expand CARE and police accountability while working on downtown recovery.
Another area Hollingsworth has stressed is her support for youth activities. As someone who played and coached basketball, she would like to see more youth engagement and late-night programs at community centers. She has been a strong advocate for parks and libraries.
As president, Hollingsworth has been presiding over council meetings showing concern that those speaking during public comment are treated with respect and kindness. She makes a practice of thanking each commentator.
Meanwhile, addition of the two new councilmembers — Eddie Lin representing District 2 and Dionne Foster filling the position 9 at-large seat — signals that the council now has a seemingly balanced left/right make-up.
Seattle residents can have “hope,” Mayor Wilson’s watchword, that the city will make progress resolving problems in the coming year.
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