Today Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), who chairs the Public Safety Committee, released the following statement on two recent tax proposals. Last week Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8, Citywide) announced a new proposal to lower city taxes for approximately 90% of Seattle businesses that currently pay the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax to raise revenue...
Category: Kettle
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Seattle City Councilmembers urge peaceful demonstrations ahead of weekend gatherings
Today in anticipation of the large demonstrations scheduled for this weekend, Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9), Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), and Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) released the following joint statement. This morning, Council President Nelson also joined state and local leaders at a press conference discussing public safety preparations. Seattle fully supports...
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Public Safety Chair Kettle statement on recent gun violence surge
Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, released the following statement in response to Saturday morning’s triple homicide and other recent incidents of gun violence in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. “The violence this weekend in Pioneer Square and other parts of the city shows, despite progress being made on our public...
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City Council passes new safety regulations for after-hours lounges
New regulations developed in collaboration with operators seek to address persistent violence The City Council today voted 6-0 to approve a new amended ordinance relating to regulation of after-hours nightlife lounges that are open between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. In light of a recent double murder at a nightclub in Rainier...
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City Council approves resolution endorsing holistic approach to public safety
Today the City Council adopted a resolution, sponsored by Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), strengthening Seattle’s commitment to a comprehensive approach to public safety. The resolution expresses appreciation for the community’s first responders, recognizes work done to reform the Seattle Police Department (SPD), endorses accountability measures, calls for diversified responses to 911 calls as offered...
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City unveils new safety regulations proposal for late night lounges
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...
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Council passes updated guidance for crowd management, sets the stage for end of federal consent decree
The City Council voted 6-3 today to approve final legislation on crowd management guidelines for the Seattle Police Department (SPD). The updated guidelines include several amendments intended to provide additional oversight and accountability, including checks on the use of blast balls. “The crowd management guidelines we passed today strike an important balance of giving our...
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Council President Nelson urges continued focus on public safety in 2025 after record number of bills passed in 2024
Noting the high number of public safety-related bills adopted by the Seattle City Council in 2024, today Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) welcomed incoming interim Chief of Police Shon Barnes to Seattle and urged a redoubling of city efforts on Seattle’s ongoing public safety challenges in the new year. In its first year, the...
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Councilmember Kettle welcomes new Police Chief Shon Barnes
Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, released the following statement on today’s announced appointment of Shon Barnes as Seattle’s Chief of Police. “I extend a warm welcome to Chief Barnes to Seattle and congratulate him on the opportunity to lead one of the finest police departments in the country and...
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Council’s Public Safety and Transportation chairs call for more transit security funding
Today Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), chair of the Transportation Committee, released the following joint statement in response to the early morning fatal stabbing of King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim. “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family, friends and...