KOMO 4: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson outlines priorities in her first State of the City address

This story was originally published by KOMO 4 on Feb. 17, 2026.

SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson used her first State of the City address on Tuesday to outline an agenda focused on affordability, public safety, and homelessness, striking a tone of optimism while acknowledging the challenges facing the city.

Speaking before a crowd at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Wilson began her policy remarks by addressing recent gun violence, including the fatal shootings of two teenagers in Rainier Beach last month.

“In the coming days, my office will convene a panel of local and national experts who will develop and launch a strategy that is grounded in a clear understanding of Seattle’s gun violence problem and is tailored to the needs of our neighborhoods and our communities,” she said.

She added that the city is implementing an “intensive stabilization plan” through the end of the school year to reduce conflict and prevent retaliation, but said officials must address the root causes of violence rather than simply react to incidents.

Erin Goodman, the executive director of the SODO Business Improvement Area, said she has sometimes struggled to get the attention of city leaders on long-standing public safety concerns.

“I have felt that the response this time has been so apparent and obvious,” Goodman said.

On homelessness, Wilson outlined a more measured approach to encampment removals, saying the city does not currently have enough shelter or services to meet the need. Wilson said encampment removals would be prioritized based on safety concerns and neighborhood impacts, with the goal of better outcomes to bring more people indoors.

“That means conducting early outreach to people living on site before any posting of a removal and allowing flexibility when housing placements are imminent,” she said.

Her administration plans to introduce legislation to the City Council in the coming weeks to fund shelter expansion and streamline the process for building shelters, including adding 1,000 new shelter units this year and identifying land for additional tiny house villages.

Affordability was the central theme of the mayor’s address, and her ideas spanned housing, child care, food, and support for small businesses. Small business owners have raised concerns about lengthy permitting timelines, sometimes stretching to two years. Wilson said some regulations are “unnecessarily costly to comply with” and pledged to work more closely with employers.

“There are a lot of small businesses that appreciated what she said about how long it takes to get a permit in this city – too long,” said Jon Scholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association. “She had a tone of partnership and collaboration that I think is going to be very welcome by several businesses and employers in our community.”

On the topic of housing affordability, Wilson said the city will pursue zoning changes to allow more housing density, make it easier and cheaper to build backyard cottages, provide down payment assistance, partner with community land trusts, and support longtime homeowners.

Wilson also pointed to $115 million raised this spring for social housing — more than twice initial forecasts — calling it a powerful tool to expand affordable housing options.

Additionally, Wilson addressed the city’s controversial network of crime-fighting surveillance cameras. Though she previously opposed expanded surveillance over concerns about potential misuse, including immigration enforcement, she said she wants more time to weigh the arguments.

“I know this is a contentious issue and I want to get it right and not rush to a particular deadline,” she said.

Scholes said the cameras are an important tool that will serve to keep Seattle safer.

“Recognize that they are helping to solve crimes and take folks off the street that are hurting and harming others,” Scholes said.

Wilson acknowledged that many of her proposals will require funding at a time when the city faces a projected budget shortfall. She did not outline specific price tags for many initiatives.

“You might have noticed I did not put price tags on a lot of the items I mentioned today,” she said. “I think there’s a lot more to be gained by starting that conversation by looking at what we need and where we want to be and then figuring out how to get there.”

Goodman said the mayor has only been in office for six weeks and in that time has shown herself to be thoughtful and open to ideas from all sides.

“I find her approach very measured. She’s taking the time to really evaluate and not make very rapid decisions, and I appreciate that,” Goodman said.