Americas most powerful companies demand mayor wake up to safety crisis

Seattle’s business elite is taking aim at Mayor Katie Wilson, demanding she get tough on public safety as the city grapples with deadly violence, open-air drug markets and concerns over police response times.In a blistering letter Thursday, the CEOs and leaders of some of the region’s biggest companies — Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Zillow, Nordstrom, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile and the Seattle Mariners — called on the City Council to deliver a “credible public-safety plan” with measurable results.“A credible public-safety plan and a budget that protects the investments behind it are inseparable.Seattle voters have made clear that they expect both.

We are ready to be partners,” the letter signed by 38 leaders reads.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story The unprecedented broadside comes as Seattle reels from a string of violent incidents, including a recent Belltown shooting that left three young people dead and three others seriously injured.Wilson herself called the violence “tragic and unacceptable.”The business leaders’ letter was signed by C-suite executives and civic leaders, including Microsoft President Brad Smith, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, Costco CEO Ron Vachris, Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman, Nordstrom CEO Erik Nordstrom, Mariners CEO John Stanton and T-Mobile Vice Chairman Mike Sievert.In addition to Wilson, the letter was addressed to City Council President Joy Hollingsworth, Public Safety Committee Chair Robert Kettle and members of the Seattle City Council.In the letter, the coalition expressed that its members are ready to meet with the mayor, council leadership and city staff to discuss moving these public safety priorities from planning into action.The California Post has reached out to the Mayor’s Office for comment on the p...