Today, Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) said she was underwhelmed by the mayor’s new gun violence plan which was released earlier today. The plan continues already existing investments brought by prior administrations and councils. Councilmember Rivera is not alone in her frustration. Over the last few months, calls for meaningful action from the City have escalated by residents and stakeholders. ...
Press Releases
The latest press releases from Seattle City Councilmembers.
Mayor responds to Public Safety Chair Kettle’s transparency request on Police Chief’s forced resignation
Today Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, released the following statement after receiving a response from Mayor Katie Wilson regarding his request to provide the City Council with reason for the removal of Police Chief Shon Barnes as required by the City Charter. On the afternoon of July 30, in the midst of an ongoing investigation, Mayor Wilson announced that Police Chief Shon Barnes had resigned and stated the next day at...
Councilmember Kettle: My remarks on gun violence in this week’s Public Safety Committee
Hello Neighbors, I wanted to share with you my opening remarks from our last Public Safety Committee meeting, following another weekend of gun violence — this time in Belltown. “We have neighborhoods in crisis. Earlier this year in April, I was speaking about Little Saigon, and then we had North Aurora Avenue. Today, it’s Belltown. This weekend we had multiple gun violence...
Councilmember Rivera responds to Mayor Wilson’s characterizations of Rivera’s work on gun violence reduction
Today Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) issued the following statement in response to Mayor Katie Wilson’s remarks on KUOW’s Soundside, in which the mayor described the City Council’s efforts to stand up a focused deterrence strategy as “grandstanding and politicking.” Councilmember Rivera is currently sponsoring Resolution 32217, urging the City to adopt the National Network for Safe Communities collaborative gun violence strategy. A vote on the resolution is expected at next Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “Three people were killed in Belltown in...
Public Safety Chair Kettle presses Mayor for clarity on Police Chief’s forced resignation, cites continued lack of transparency and instability
Today Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, released the following statement regarding his request that Mayor Katie B. Wilson provide the City Council with reason for the forced removal of Police Chief Shon Barnes on July 30. As of Sept. 8, the Mayor’s Office has yet to answer. “Despite our requested deadline of August 28,...
Public Safety Chair Kettle on Mayor’s search for a new Seattle Police Chief
Councilmember Robert Kettle (District 7) released the following statement after Mayor Wilson announced launching a search for Seattle’s next police chief: “As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, the process of selecting the City’s next Chief of Police is of paramount importance. It is critical for our city to have a search that will bring a candidate with strong experience in policing, a...
Chair Saka proposes ‘SAFER Streets Act’ to turn Seattle’s Vision Zero commitments into durable law and accelerate traffic safety improvements
Today Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), chair of the Transportation, Waterfront and Seattle Center Committee, proposed the groundwork for first-of-its-kind traffic safety legislation — the Seattle SAFER (Safe Accountable Flexible Equitable Responsive) Streets Act. Chair Saka’s proposed package will feature three complementary pieces of legislation designed to strengthen traffic safety and accelerate progress toward Seattle’s ambitious Vision Zero goal of...
Councilmember Rivera brings Council resolution to implement new gun violence intervention strategy
National Network for Safe Communities is nationally recognized for results in reducing gun violence Today Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) ) introduced a resolution that will declare the Seattle City Council’s commitment to implement an evidence-based, comprehensive gun violence reduction strategy. Councilmember Rivera’s proposal comes after a string of high-profile gun violence incidents, including last month’s mass shooting at Seattle...
Councilmember Lin leads investment of Community Fund for Northern District 2
On Tuesday, the City Council passed the mid-year supplemental budget including an amendment from Councilmember Lin that invests $500,000 in a Northern District 2 community fund. The City Council directed these funds to the Human Services Department (HSD) to provide two neighborhood outreach positions focused on North Beacon Hill and North Rainier. “North Beacon Hill and North Rainier cannot wait...
Public Safety Chair Kettle shares his experience of the night of the Seattle Center shooting
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...
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...