Seattle Councilmember Kettle presses Mayor for action on public safety

SEATTLE - Seattle City Council Public Safety Chair Bob Kettle is calling on Mayor Katie Wilson’s office to deliver a comprehensive public safety strategy following recent gun violence and low favorability ratings for the executive administration.

Kettle urged executive action after a shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival and gunfire in Pioneer Square over the weekend, where nearby city surveillance cameras were dark during the incidents. The criticism comes alongside polling showing Wilson’s favorability at 37%, with voters giving her a D+ grade on public safety and low marks for transparency.

"We are at an inflection point, at this point, and partly because it's not January anymore. We're well into the start of the mayor's administration," Kettle said. "We can't, again, wish or hope that nobody gets killed on the streets in Pioneer Square, particularly when we have a system that's gone through the vetting, gone through the, you know, the protocols."

Mayor defends strategy amid legislative push

Kettle noted that while the City Council has maintained its own public safety framework, the executive branch must now match those efforts with a unified strategy.

"We have to have a plan. Right now, we don't have one on the executive side," Kettle said. "We do on the legislative side. By the way, we've had it for two and a half years, and we just need to have this comprehensive approach."

Mayor Wilson defended her administration's performance, stating that several safety initiatives are underway and that her office is coordinating a new approach to gun violence, with updates expected within weeks.

"Public safety is a very, very high priority for my office, and we are working in all areas to make sure that everyone gets home safe at the end of the day," said Wilson. "Ultimately, I'm going to be judged by my results, and I'm looking forward to that. You know, we are working hard on many fronts."

Independent oversight and upcoming hearing

The Office of Inspector General is currently conducting an independent review of the city's response to the Bite of Seattle incident. Kettle stressed that accountability extends beyond the police department to encompass broader city operations, including the Office of Emergency Management.

"This is not just an investigation of SPD, SPD leadership. This is [an investigation] of the system, which is the mayor and her administration," Kettle said.

Kettle is now pointing toward a Sept. 22 Public Safety Committee meeting, where responding officers are expected to testify. The roster includes a detective who authored an internal email alleging response delays while waiting for visiting dignitaries, despite denials by city and state leaders.

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