Saying that he “inherited a mess,” Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the start of Operation New Day to bring increased police attention to areas with concentrated criminal activity.

The Little Saigon neighborhood near 12th and Jackson was the first area of focus. Between January 7 and March 3, the police made 80 felony arrests for a wide range of crimes, including felony gun violations and commercial burglaries. While the Seattle Police Department will continue to monitor the improved situation at 12th and Jackson, attention will shift downtown to 3rd and Pine, where two fatal shootings occurred last week.