Bill seeks to improve safety of patrons and surrounding neighborhood areas

Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, in close collaboration with City Attorney Ann Davison and Mayor Bruce Harrell, has unveiled a new plan to regulate night lounges that operate after 2 a.m. The proposed ordinance would require lounges to be up-to-date on all city permits and licenses, maintain two security guards and have video surveillance, draft a safety plan, and allow entry by police officers. Violence in and around these venues has been a persistent problem. 

“This new bill to address safety at Seattle’s after-hours lounge scene underscores our unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of patrons and the broader community,” said Councilmember Kettle. “Recognizing that persistent gun violence is unacceptable, we believe it’s our responsibility to act in a strategic and meaningful way. I appreciate the Mayor and City Attorney for their diligent efforts in helping bring this forward.”

The proposal was developed following multiple work sessions with impacted stakeholders to define policy objectives. These groups included families and friends of victims of after-hours violence, night life operators, SODO Business Improvement Area and a lounge operator. Enforcement will be handled by the Finance and Administrative Services Department, with fines starting at $1,000 for the first violation and quickly escalating to $5,000 after that.

“Gun violence at after-hours lounges and the heartbreak these incidents have caused for families in our city requires action to improve safety for patrons, employees, and the surrounding community,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “This legislation gives the City another tool to enhance nightlife safety and sets commonsense standards that late-night establishments must follow to increase safety and accountability. I’m grateful for the collaboration between the City Council and City Attorney’s Office on this important legislation.”

“One thing we all agree on is that we want to reduce gun violence in Seattle,” said Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison. “This legislation requires after-hours lounges to take common sense safety measures to improve safety. We owe it to the victims of gun violence to take action now.” 

Background

After hour lounges are typically open after typical bars close and operate between 2 and 6 a.m. They’re known as venues for socializing and dancing. City stats have shown that the most common time for shooting events is in the 2 a.m. hour.

Over the past decade, there have been dozens of shootings and homicides that have occurred in connection with after-hours nightlife lounges that operate between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Notable incidents include:

• On July 23, 2015, Donald “Donnie” Chin, the director of the International District Emergency Center was shot and killed at approximately 3 a.m. while trying to protect his community from shootings and fight disturbances connected to after-hours nightlife activity in the International District;
• On Aug. 17, 2024, Francisco Escatell was killed at approximately 3 a.m. in a shooting inside of an after-hours club in the SODO neighborhood;
• On Aug. 19, 2023, Nadia Kassa, Jonathan Bishu, and Trevis Bellard were killed and six more were injured at approximately 4:30 a.m. in a shooting at an after-hours nightclub on Rainier Avenue South.

Next steps

The Public Safety Committee held its first hearing on the bill today. A replay of the discussion will be posted and available via the Seattle Channel later today. A vote to refer the bill to the full Council could happen as early as April 8. 

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