🏙️ Mayor has new safety plan

Belltown Shootings Keep Public Safety Conversation Going

Yesterday on the podcast, guest host Brett Hamil spoke with producers Liam Billingham and Ashley Smith about the success of the Bumbershoot Festival while down the block, Belltown experienced 3 shootings in 24 hours, which left 3 dead and several injured. With the recent shooting at Bite of Seattle and the appointment of new interim police chief Andre Sayles, the city is talking about public safety in a big way, and that includes the mayor and city council.

• Mayor and council members weigh in: In a statement on Tuesday, Mayor Wilson announced she will be putting forth a new violence prevention strategy that will be focused on violence interruption, deterrence, and also working to build Seattle’s economy. Councilmember Bob Kettle expressed his concern that police hiring isn’t offering enough incentives or doing enough career fairs or ride-alongs for prospective officers. Councilmember Rivera once again proposed working with the National Network for Safe Communities and said that they have reduced gun violence by 40% to 60% in other cities.
• What do the numbers say? In her statement, Wilson said that SPD data shows that shootings are at their lowest in a decade. Shots fired incidents are down from the same quarter last year, and according to SPD’s website, homicides are at 19 this year compared to 32 in 2025, 55 in 2024, and 65 in 2023.
• Input on next Police Chief: The city is looking for feedback on who they should hire to replace interim chief Andre Sayles. Follow this link to the survey, they say it should only take 5 minutes. It may seem like a small thing, but why not?
• Gun buyback event: Seattle & King County and the Sheriff’s Office are hosting a gun buyback event on September 12. This is a safe and anonymous way for King County residents to dispose of firearms. It’s this Saturday at Shoreline Community College from 8 am to 12 pm.

🐟 Federally protected salmon among electrocuted fish: On Tuesday, we covered the very strange news that an estimated 2000 fish died near the ends of the I-90 floating bridge due to the light rail’s electrical current. Now it seems Chinook salmon are among the dead fish. Chinook salmon are federally protected and haven't been harvested in 30 years to allow them to recover. Sound Transit is working to fix the problem. [Seattle Times]

🚧 City wants money for 21-year-old hole: In a story that feels very Seattle, the City of Seattle is in a battle with a developer over a hole in downtown. The city says that developer Bosa is in default of a 2017 agreement to build a high-rise project, and they could be in the hole (get it) $5,000 a day, depending on the length of the delay. Bosa says COVID and market conditions make the original development project plan impossible. [KUOW]

🎧 Is Seattle an EDM hub? Our city has long been a music town, but it seems like Electronic Dance Music has taken over where grunge once stood tall. Despite lacking the traditional club culture of bigger cities, Seattle has turned into a destination for EDM shows. From the Beyond Wonderland festival at The Gorge to Paddle Raves at Gas Works Park, EDM has increasingly become the soundtrack to summers in the PNW. [Yakima Herald]