SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell delivered his State of the City speech on Tuesday.
Harrell, addressing city leaders and the people of Seattle, spoke about his One Seattle Plan, crime, public safety, the drug crisis and more. Prior to the address, Harrell’s office released a “year in review” report for 2023.
In 2023, overall crime dropped 7% citywide, major violent crime fell 6% and property crime dipped 10%, according to Harrell. But homicides and damage inflicted by gun violence increased, Harrell added.
“This will require supporting a comprehensive array of public safety solutions,” Harrell said.
The city recovered more than 1,500 guns in 2023, a Seattle record, Harrell said. The mayor added monthly police applications are “the highest they’ve been in over three years.” Seattle police recovered an estimated 2 million fentanyl pills in 2023, Harrell noted.
The number of tents on sidewalks and in Seattle parks have been reduced by half from more than 1,000 when Harrell took office, the mayor said.
Harrell touted the city’s updated tree ordinance, which resulted in “protections for 150,000 additional trees, a requirement to replace three trees for every one tree removed and plans to plant thousands more annually.”
Other speech topics included affordable housing investments, the economy, reducing carbon footprint, the Seattle Fire Department and a potential Sonics return.
“I’m proud of the work that we have done together,” Harrell said in closing. “I wish 2024 will be the best year in Seattle’s history, but wishing is not a plan. It has been said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it. Let’s create new approaches and new ideas. In a learning environment, one’s goal should not be to be seen as the smartest in the room, but the one who learns the most. And from learning comes leading.
“Seattle’s pioneering spirit will elevate us to a better tomorrow. Our goal of building One Seattle is rooted in everything we will create. Thank you for being part of it.”
