Last week, the Chamber released the results from our latest installment of The Index, the public opinion research project that we launched one year ago. We do this quality-of-life research in partnership with EMC Research – whom we appreciate for being both true thought partners and our accountability function in generating solid quality-of-life data.

As you look at the data, you’ll see some familiar refrains. Voters’ top concerns remain public safety, homelessness, and affordability. But what you’ll also see is a hopefulness that we share here at the Chamber – voters are optimistic about the future, and they are proud to call themselves Seattleites.

In the data, there are indications that voters believe we are turning the corner, and we agree.

For example, in addition to this data, we saw recently that downtown worker foot traffic has risen more than 10% from January 2022 to September 2022, according to the Downtown Seattle Association.

Moreover, concerns about homelessness, which remains the top issue, have seen an eight-point downward trend since one year ago. And why? It’s because of an all-hands-on-deck regional approach – one that is making a visible difference.

Here are my four takeaways from this latest Index.

The first is my own take as someone who looks at a lot of voter data and who sits in on focus groups. Voters of Seattle are progressive, they want to see a plan, they want their priorities reflected in the priorities of our leaders, and they want to see progress, urgently. Importantly, The Index reveals both the voters’ progressive values and their desire to see progress on public safety, homelessness, and affordability.

My second takeaway is that the three issues that were top concerns last August and were the same top three concerns last March are the same top three concerns today: homelessness, affordability, and public safety.

Public safety and affordability have both risen as priorities since August of 2021 and are holding steady. Additionally, public safety concerns are now cited as the top reason why people are considering moving out of Seattle. These numbers won’t change until the voters see action and sustained progress.

My third takeaway is that the voters are largely aligned on solutions, and elected leaders have an opportunity to be responsive to what the voters have voiced and take action.

  • The Seattle City Council is debating and finalizing the next biennial budget. It will be important that the Council both maintains and focuses investments in public safety.
  • The City of Seattle is also starting to take steps on housing affordability, including updating the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan, which is a place to codify intentions to increase housing supply.
  • This legislative session, the Chamber and our partners will be working to pass legislation to encourage more housing by making changes to zoning, as well as removing barriers that can add time and cost to housing, including permitting processes, parking requirements, and building code requirements and interpretations.
  • We hope to see cities and King County continue supporting a regional strategy on homelessness, which again, the voters see is working.

The City of Seattle and our region have positive momentum. While not necessarily at the pace we would all like to see, things are getting better.

And this is my fourth takeaway – that even though the needle didn’t move a lot, it consistently moved in the right direction.

  • The overall Index number is up
  • Right track is up
  • Wrong track is down
  • Over half of those surveyed are optimistic about the future
  • Over 70% of voters are proud to be a Seattleite despite their broader pessimism

Yes, some of these numbers are around the margins, but the challenges didn’t happen overnight, and overcoming them won’t happen overnight.

The Chamber will continue to collect this research going forward and we will continue to use it to drive progress on key issues impacting quality of life: public safety, homelessness, and affordability.

It is urgent that we don’t let this opportunity to build on momentum pass us by, and we promise to keep working relentlessly.

Onward,

Rachel

SEE THE INDEX

Rachel Smith
President and CEO
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce