Seattle CEOs demand mayor act on violence, police response and drug markets

Senior executives from Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Zillow, Nordstrom, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile and the Seattle Mariners addressed Mayor Katie Wilson and City Council leaders, calling for a “credible public-safety plan” backed by a protected budget. Their letter, signed by 38 CEOs and civic heads, references a recent Belltown shooting that left three dead and three seriously wounded, and notes that only 34% of surveyed voters feel the city has an effective safety strategy.

The business coalition urges the city to restore a seven-minute 911 response target, expand foot and bicycle patrols, install CCTV in high-traffic districts, shut down open-air drug markets, and produce a detailed action plan within 100 days with monthly progress updates. Poll data cited shows strong public support for diversion programs, stricter encampment rules near schools, and rapid clearance of illegal camps. The letter also offers the executives’ willingness to meet city officials to move proposals from planning to implementation. Mayor Wilson, a self-identified democratic socialist who won office in 2025, has faced criticism over police leadership, including the recent resignation of Police Chief Shon Barnes and the appointment of interim chief Andre Sayles.