By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
In her first 2026 State of the City address, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson spoke to a full house at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute on Tuesday, outlining her vision for the city which she called the discipline of hope. Addressing elected officials, community members, Wilson laid out her strategies to confront homelessness and gun violence, prepare for potential federal threats, and launch an agenda centered on affordability in housing, childcare, food access, and support for small businesses.
Wilson opened her remarks by reflecting on the significance of the venue and the moment.
“I’m so excited to be gathered here at Langston Hughes. This beautiful building began its life more than 100 years ago as home to Washington State’s oldest Orthodox synagogue,” said Wilson. “It’s especially meaningful to be here because this is Black History Month, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of the first declaration that February is a month to honor the history, experiences, and power of America’s Black and African American communities.”
At a time when many feel that their rights are under attack nationally, Wilson urged Seattle residents to take a look back on history, and see how previous generations faced difficult situations and turned them into historic turning points of history.
“[We must] remember how much has been achieved through social movements that emerged in the toughest times, brought people together, and won transformative change,” said Wilson.
Wilson began the public safety portion of the address by honoring the lives lost in a recent tragedy in Rainier Beach, where two students were killed after school at a bus stop. Wilson said the city moved quickly to increase visible safety measures around schools.
“After the tragedy in Rainier Beach, we quickly coordinated with the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Public Schools to ensure increased security presence during the times when people are traveling to and from the school,” said Wilson.
In partnership with trusted community organizations, the Human Services Department and the Department of Education and Early Learning, the Wilson administration is implementing an intensive stabilization plan through the end of the school year aimed at reducing conflict and preventing retaliation among youth.
“In the Chinatown-International District, SPD will restore a late-night presence that was effective before it was discontinued last year,” said Wilson. “After hearing from key neighborhood leaders, we are also examining options for legal action against building owners who refuse to take responsibility for chronic nuisance properties with long histories of creating dangerous environments for neighboring residents and businesses.”
Wilson said the city is also developing a broader approach to gun violence that is intended to move beyond short-term stabilization and focus on prevention.
“We can’t just react and stabilize, we have to get to the roots of the problem,” said Wilson. “My office is working to develop a robust and multi-pronged gun violence strategy that will involve collaboration across City departments, County partners, and community experts, including those who have lost loved ones to gun violence.”
Wilson tied public safety to the city’s response to homelessness, calling it both a humanitarian and neighborhood stability challenge. After visiting an encampment in Ballard, Wilson acknowledged gaps in the current system.
“The conversations I had there underscored the reality that we simply don’t have enough housing, shelter, and services for everyone who is living unsheltered,” said Wilson. “But if you take a step back or just walk around the city, I don’t think that anyone can really argue that our overall approach to homelessness has been successful.”
“We can’t just keep moving people from place to place and calling that progress,” Wilson added.
With more than 4,000 people unsheltered, Wilson said the city will prioritize safety, expand supportive shelter and add 1,000 new units this year.
Wilson also addressed concerns about potential federal immigration enforcement actions, saying the city is preparing even though no surge has occurred locally.
“Seattle has not yet seen a surge of ICE activity here as we saw in Minneapolis. But we’re doing everything we can to prepare,” said Wilson. “That includes amplifying the work of our Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, which provides Know Your Rights Trainings, legal consultations, safety planning, and broad partnerships with immigrant and refugee communities.”
Wilson also acknowledged debate over expanding Seattle’s CCTV surveillance system, citing concerns about data security alongside arguments that cameras can help solve crimes and protect witnesses.
“I continue to have the concerns I expressed during the campaign about data security and how surveillance cameras could be abused to target vulnerable communities. I understand how CCTV cameras have been a useful tool to solve crimes, and can reduce profiling and protect witnesses,” said Wilson.
Throughout the address, Wilson emphasized unity.
“My overriding goal is that whoever you are, and wherever you come from: if Seattle is your home, then this is your city, and there’s a place for you here,” Wilson added.
As a renter, Wilson called affordability the city’s most pressing challenge.
“You shouldn’t need a six-figure income to live here. You shouldn’t need a half-million dollars to buy a house and have some stability in your life. And you shouldn’t need to be a millionaire to afford to raise a child,” said Wilson.
Wilson said rising costs affect residents across income levels.
“Affordability isn’t just a poor person’s issue, just a young person’s issue, or just a working person’s issue. The crisis reaches very high up the income scale,” Wilson added.
Wilson outlined an agenda centered on affordable housing, childcare, food access and making Seattle a more affordable place to build a small business.
Childcare remains a key focus, with plans to lower costs, expand early learning programs and support providers.
“Right now, there are so many gaps where so many children and so many families don’t have the support they need, and our whole society pays the price,” said Wilson.
Wilson closed with optimism about the city’s path forward.
“We’ve already taken the first steps. I’m not glossing over the challenges. They’re real. But a lot of incredible things are ahead this year,” said Wilson.
