Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) released the following statement on his constructed timeline the night of the July 26 mass shooting at Seattle Center. The timeline was discussed earlier today at the Public Safety Committee. “After receiving a call about the mass shooting from Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt, I immediately went to Seattle Center. I did so, given my role...
Robert Kettle
Posts from Councilmember Kettle
Councilmember Kettle Bite of Seattle Timeline
(Approximately 6 p.m. – preliminary reports of gunfire to SPD) 6:10 p.m. – Multiple notifications from the community (6:29 p.m. – First X/Twitter post from SPD investigating shooting at Seattle Center) 6:38 p.m. – First of series of texts to CMBK office staff 7:05 p.m. – Deputy Mayor (DM) Surratt call 7:09 p.m. – Councilmember (CM) Strauss call 7:18 p.m....
Public Safety Chair Kettle calls for systematic review of Seattle Center shooting incident
On Monday, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) delivered a letter to Mayor Katie B. Wilson, calling on her office to collaborate on a procedural review of the handling of last month’s Seattle Center mass shooting, including potential lessons learned. “The tragedy that recently unfolded during the Bite of Seattle at Seattle Center on July 26 has underscored the need for...
City Councilmembers react to Police Chief Barnes’ departure, voice major concerns
Today Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6), Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5), Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7, Public Safety Chair), released this statement following an official announcement from Mayor Katie B. Wilson that Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned. “Our city faces profound public safety challenges, from youth gun violence destroying lives to drug markets and human trafficking plaguing our neighborhoods. After the Seattle Center shooting, our focus should be on the lives lost and how we can address gun violence...
Public Safety Chair Kettle’s statement following Sunday’s mass shooting at Seattle Center
Today Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, released the following statement after gun violence at Seattle Center claimed the lives of three people during the Bite of Seattle annual food festival. “Last night’s shooting at the Seattle Center was a profound tragedy, and my thoughts are with the victims, their families, and loved ones. In the face of this...
Councilmember Kettle calls for realignment of city budget
Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) shared the following observations, following a letter he sent to Mayor Katie B. Wilson on Monday, July 20. As the City Council gears up for the upcoming fall budget process, the City of Seattle is facing a projected $175 million budget deficit next year. There’s a narrative that West Coast blue cities are incapable of being well run. We must push back on that narrative, starting with prudence around our budget, spending, and taxes. Every day, we must fulfill our charter...
Public Safety Chair Kettle urges Mayor to reconsider post-FIFA community safety camera shutoff
Today, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, released the following statement with respect to Mayor Katie B. Wilson’s announcement Tuesday that she has “turned off” cameras in the Stadium District and halted the previously approved expansion of the Real Time Crime Center program. “As local elected officials, we all take an oath to the Charter...
Councilmember Kettle proposes transit measure alternative with sharpened focus on service needs and affordability
Reduces sticker shock while also investing critical transit needs Today, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) announced that he’s introducing an affordable alternative to the Seattle Transit Measure renewal, CB 121226, proposed by the mayor and currently being considered by the City Council. The mayor’s proposal would increase the sales tax by 0.15% to 0.3%, while Councilmember Kettle’s amendment would increase...
Councilmember Kettle calls for a regional approach to address the homelessness crisis
Today, Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) released the following statement after Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced King County and the City of Seattle’s joint plan for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). “We have a regional homelessness problem on our local streets of Seattle,” said Councilmember Kettle. “We need, in turn, a regional approach to address the homelessness crisis that we face. To abandon the regional approach now would place...
Councilmember Kettle commends Mayor’s decision to activate stadium CCTV cameras
Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) issued this statement following Mayor Katie B. Wilson’s announcement Friday that she will turn on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed near the City’s stadiums. The decision comes ahead of Seattle’s FIFA World Cup events which are scheduled to begin on June 15. “I commend Mayor Wilson on her decision to turn on the Stadium District...
Councilmember Kettle criticizes CCTV camera ‘pause’ as unjustified, demands rollout before World Cup
Councilmember Bob Kettle issued the following statement related to a letter sent by his office to Mayor Katie B. Wilson calling on her to turn on the City’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. The letter notes that the mayor’s decision to “pause” the rollout of the cameras is inconsistent with the City ordinances that created the program.
Councilmember Kettle calls out Sound Transit: ‘Seattle needs the transit we were promised’
Councilmember Bob Kettle voiced strong support for the Ballard light rail project and urged Sound Transit board members to find a solution to build it.