By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Today, Seattle inaugurated its new mayor. Katie Wilson was sworn in and delivered her inaugural address to a full house at City Hall.
Surrounded by family, friends, city officials, and voters who supported her vision, Wilson stood before supporters holding signs that read “This is your city.” In her speech, Wilson painted a vision of a Seattle where every person, from every background and neighborhood, has the opportunity to flourish and help shape the city’s future.
“I campaigned on affordability, on homelessness, on taxing the rich. I’ve spent my career organizing with the people who often get left out of those official narratives, but now I am mayor,” said Wilson. “And it’s my job to channel excitement for major projects. And not just that, I have to genuinely care about them enough to exercise good judgment and make the best decisions possible for our city.”
“This is your city,” Wilson shouted. “And as your mayor I will work every single day to make that not a phrase, but a living reality. This is your city. That means you belong here.” Her voice echoed through the hall as supporters cheered and applauded, energized by her message of inclusion and belonging.
Wilson outlined the core values that will guide her agenda in office. Affordable and abundant housing was a central theme, with Wilson asserting that no person should be priced out of the city because of income or background. She said neighborhoods must be vibrant, connected, and resilient, with thriving local businesses and strong community life. She emphasized that housing stability is foundational to dignity and opportunity for all Seattle residents.
Wilson also spoke about safety and well‑being, asserting that every citizen has a right to feel secure in their community. The mayor said her administration will prioritize public health and community services that transcend traditional law enforcement models, focusing on behavioral health, emergency shelter, and other supports that address the homelessness crisis at its roots.
Wilson highlighted economic opportunity as another pillar of her vision. She said her administration will tackle the cost‑of‑living crisis while fostering a prosperous economy that supports good jobs, strengthens local businesses, and attracts investment from across the country. She spoke of building a city where families can thrive, where workers are supported, and where prosperity is shared broadly rather than concentrated among a few.
Sustainable transportation and environmental justice remained high on her agenda, rooted in her history as co‑founder of the Transit Riders Union. Wilson called for a transportation system that is reliable, accessible, and reduces dependence on cars, promoting cleaner air and more equitable mobility throughout the region.
“Seattle should have a sustainable, reliable transportation system that gets people where they want to go without needing to rely on a car,” said Wilson. “We have a responsibility to provide clean air, green public spaces, and climate resilience.”
Guest speakers at the ceremony took turns celebrating Wilson’s victory and affirming their support for her leadership. Among them was Ifrah Abshur, a longtime transit advocate who met Wilson nearly a decade ago when Abshur was a sophomore at Rainier Beach High School and volunteering with the Transit Riders Union.
“It is my honor to be here today welcoming Katie Wilson as Seattle’s new mayor,” said Abshur. “So, Katie and I crossed paths many years ago, almost 10 years ago. Long before either of us envisioned this moment. I was a sophomore at Rainier Beach and back then I simply dreamed about the bus arriving on time.”
Abshur paused as applause rose from the crowd, her words underscoring how small, personal dreams can shape large, civic achievements.
“By saying that, it was proof that a dream at a bus stop can become a policy on paper — proof that you can never be too optimistic,” Abshur added.
During Wilson’s campaign, some community members raised concerns about how her policies might impact the African American community. Wilson’s response was rooted in listening and building authentic relationships with community leaders who have deep roots in the city. One of those leaders was Cynthia A. Green, founder of the Cynthia Green Family Center in Skyway, which supports health and wellness for families throughout King County.
Green, an 80‑year resident of Seattle and its Central Area, brought a historical perspective to the event, reminding audience members that the city’s trajectory has been shaped by cycles of expansion and exclusion.
“I have the honor of standing before you as a witness to history. I have lived in Seattle for 80 years and watched this city rise and fall, expand and exclude,” said Green. “Promise and disappointment, I have seen prosperity arrive with promise and too often leave with people’s homes, history, and dignity in its wake. I have seen leadership come and go — some earnest, some ambitious, and some more concerned with being remembered than remembering the people.”
Her remarks framed Wilson’s inauguration as part of a long continuum of civic life, a moment of hope grounded in lived experience.
“So, I see this moment. I see it with the weight of a long memory,” Green continued. “Today we swear in a mayor who did not come from the loudest rooms or the richest donors, but from the long work of organizing, listening, and standing with people who usually are told to wait your turn.”
As Wilson brought her speech to a close, she encouraged residents to think boldly and to work together creatively.
“I believe that we can do all of this, and we can also do big, new things,” said Wilson. “And I am going to be calling on all the brilliance and the creativity and the dedication of our public sector, our city, as we push the boundaries of what we can accomplish together.”
