On November 15, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that he has signed an Executive Order establishing a Downtown Activation Team (“DAT”).
The DAT will coordinate the work of thirteen (13) city agencies to clean, beautify, and activate downtown Seattle and the Chinatown-International District (“CID”). According to the Executive Order:
This team will provide a compassionate, coordinated, and place-based response to the challenges associated with criminal behavior, street and sidewalk cleaning, garbage pick-up, vegetation and odor control, public space lighting and activation, graffiti abatement, art creation, street closure activations including closures for special events, business space vacancies, and short- and long-term environmental improvements.
While the initial focus will be on downtown and the CID, the City may expand these efforts to other neighborhoods in the future.
In addition, the Mayor plans to propose legislation to the City Council aimed at protecting City employees and contractors from interference while they work. This legislation will also strengthen enforcement against illegal street vending, a known avenue for selling stolen goods. It will clarify the Seattle Police Department’s authority to enforce existing laws and support retail theft prevention.
