Newsletter | August 26, 2022
Redistricting Commission releases proposed map

Mandated to redraw Seattle City Council District lines to ensure that each district has approximately 105,000 residents, the Seattle Redistricting Commission has released its proposed map for public comment.

Several districts undergo significant boundary changes with the proposed map. District 5 would move south to add Crown Hill and North Beach, pushing District 6 south to take in about two-thirds of Magnolia and shrinking District 7. District 1 would move farther east to cover Georgetown, SoDo, and much of Pioneer Square.

Public comment is being accepted on the proposed map until November 8.
City Council approves hiring incentives for police
[Photo credit: Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times]

By a 6-3 vote, the Seattle City Council approved Mayor Bruce Harrell’s hiring incentives plan for the Seattle Police Department. Mayor Harrell has set a goal of hiring 500 additional officers over the next five years. SPD currently has about 950 officers, a drop of 450 from three years ago. Under this plan, hiring bonuses will range from $7,500 for new recruits to $30,000 for trained officers.
Seattle City Attorney prosecuting more aggressively

In a report to the City Council, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison showed significant changes in how her office handles prosecutions. From 2017-2021, the City Attorney’s office took an average of 129 days to decide whether to prosecute a case. The decision time is now three days. The report also reveals that the City Attorney’s office is choosing to pursue a prosecution twice as often.

The City Attorney’s office had a backlog of about 5,000 cases when City Attorney Davison took office on January 1, 2022. 
The Pre-Covid office days are a thing of the past

More than two years after the onset of the Covid pandemic, the return to work downtown is going slowly. This slow return raises questions about the future demand for office space, especially by tech firms.

According to a report released by the Downtown Seattle Association, the number of workers downtown is just 42% of pre-Covid levels. Seattle’s level of return to work downtown narrowly trails Portland but is higher than Los Angeles and San Francisco.

At the same time, Seattle has seen a significant rebound in visitors. In July 2019, Seattle had almost 3.3 million visitors, but that number dipped to 1.1 million in July 2020. This July, total visitors jumped to 2,977,653, injecting needed vitality into downtown Seattle.
WR diversity statement

WR is committed to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to create a safe, welcoming environment in which these principles can thrive.

We value all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, identity, sexual orientation, nationality, or disability, and that is the foundation of our commitment to those we serve. 
Washington Retail Staff