Seattle’s City Council voted Tuesday to advance a $418,000 gun violence partnership without the mayor’s backing, two days after three separate fatal shootings struck the city’s Belltown neighborhood in a single weekend.
Council Votes to Partner With National Group
The Public Safety Committee approved Councilmember Maritza Rivera’s resolution 3-0, with one abstention, establishing a two-year partnership with the National Network for Safe Communities. Rivera cited the organization’s track record in Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, where the approach reportedly reduced gun violence by up to 60 percent. The measure advances to the full council next week for final consideration.
Rivera expressed frustration at inaction despite proven solutions. The councilmember stated she cannot watch the city’s deteriorating situation while effective strategies remain unused. Committee Chair Bob Kettle emphasized the council would proceed regardless of mayoral support, calling for outside perspectives to address the crisis facing residents.
Mayor Plans Separate Strategy
Mayor Katie Wilson has not committed to the council’s approach, which Rivera called unfortunate. Wilson released a statement Tuesday describing the weekend violence as tragic and unacceptable, promising to announce her own gun violence prevention strategy shortly. The mayor’s plan includes additional staffing for prevention work and pushing state legislators to pass policies restricting firearms access on city streets.
Vice Chair Rob Saka urged Wilson to include funding for the council’s partnership in her upcoming budget proposal. Saka invoked the definition of insanity as repeating the same actions while expecting different outcomes, arguing Seattle needs new approaches to combat escalating gun violence threatening neighborhoods.
Focused Deterrence Model Targets Repeat Offenders
The nonbinding resolution signals council intent to pursue a focused deterrence model targeting the small percentage of individuals responsible for most shootings in a city. This approach concentrates resources on identifying and intervening with the highest-risk offenders rather than broad enforcement. As of Tuesday afternoon, police had made no arrests in connection with any of the three weekend shootings that claimed three lives across Belltown.
The divide between the council and mayor’s office highlights competing visions for addressing public safety as Seattle residents demand action following the latest wave of violence.