Seattle Businesses Urge City Hall to Act on Public Safety

More than 30 Seattle companies, including Microsoft’s Brad Smith, the Mariners’ John Stanton, Costco’s Ron Vachris and Alaska Airlines’ Ben Minicucci, signed a letter urging Mayor Katie Wilson and the City Council to turn safety plans into action—calling for higher public-safety investments, activation of the CCTV system, a formal plan with measurable benchmarks, faster 911 responses, enforcement against drug users who refuse treatment and shelter, and a 250-foot camping ban near parks, all to be funded in the next city budget; the letter cites an August poll showing voters want urgent action and only 34% confidence in the current plan, and frames the effort as a partnership with city leaders.