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Seattle City Council Chair Sara Nelson says there’s more work to be done on public safety even after more than 10 related bills were passed in 2024.
In the first year of the new influx of city council members, 14 public safety-related bills were approved and signed into law, the most since 2015, according to Nelson.
The city council prioritized public safety after crime surged following the COViD-19 pandemic that started in 2020. Seattle crime statistics in 2024 are showing signs of improvement but are still considered high.
“It’s not the number of bills adopted that matters but rather what that number represents,” Nelson said in a statement. “This council is leading on what the voters elected us to do: reduce crime and improve public safety in a comprehensive and compassionate manner.”
Approved legislation from last year includes the Stay Out of Drug Area, or SODA, and Stay Out of Area of Prostitution, or SOAP, zones ordinances, which intend to disrupt drug-related crime and sex trafficking crimes in certain areas throughout Seattle.
Other notable passed legislation includes approving a contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, permanent hiring incentives and increased bonuses for lateral hires, and streamlining the hiring processes for police officers. These bills were intended to boost the Seattle Police Department’s staffing levels, which were at an all-time low last year.
A press release from Nelson’s office notes that applications to the Seattle Police Department rose sharply by the third quarter of 2024 as a result of the approved bills. This led to the first net positive increase in the number of deployable officers since 2020.
Nelson has emphasized the city take action based on recommendations from a 2024 audit that addresses places in Seattle where overdoses and crime are concentrated. The audit recommends a place-based approach to crime hotspots to best target limited police and human service resources.
In her press release, Nelson added that the council has a lot of work to do this year with the inclusion of approving a comprehensive plan update and filling its District 2 vacancy after Tammy Morales resignation took effect on Monday.
“We have a lot on our plate this year ... but we cannot lose momentum on public safety because there’s so much more work to be done,” Nelson said.