Seattle Voters See Improvement, Call for Action on Public Safety, Homelessness

For immediate release: Oct. 17, 2022

Media contact: Jillian Henze, APR

Press Release

Seattle voters see improvement, call for action on public safety, homelessness

Polling data from The Index shows urgency from voters to restore safety, get people into housing

SEATTLE – Today, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce released the third installment of The Index showing Seattle voters are largely aligned on top concerns and have a shared sense of urgency in addressing those concerns. Seattle voters want immediate policy solutions for public safety, continued progress on homelessness, and more housing across the city.

In the poll, voters supported more urgent policies to hire police officers, get people into shelters with services, and increase housing in neighborhoods, transit areas, commercial areas and single-family zones to expand affordability.

“Our data shows that Seattleites are proud and see a path to solving our most persistent challenges, but they believe that we can make progress faster,” said Rachel Smith, president and CEO of the Chamber. “Seattle voters are compassionate, progressive, and more optimistic than six months ago, but they are impatient for action – especially on public safety.”

Seventy-one percent of voters are proud to call themselves Seattleites, and although two-thirds think Seattle is on the wrong track, optimism is on the rise and the majority now say they are optimistic about the future of the region.

Homelessness remains a top concern, but is on a downward trend, seeing an eight-point drop from one year ago. Eighty-two percent of voters – including 83% of self-identified Democrats – support closing homeless encampments once alternative shelter and services have been provided “even if it means those who refuse help will be displaced.” And nearly two-thirds of Seattle voters strongly support this action.

On public safety, most voters continue to say they feel less safe in their own neighborhoods and continue to have concerns about safety downtown. Nearly three-quarters of Seattle voters agree that hiring more police officers should be an immediate priority for the city and a majority strongly agree. And a majority of voters overall support prioritizing hiring and retaining officers “even if it means reducing the resources available to other city departments that provide critical services to Seattleites.”

“We knew that voters wanted to feel safe and see people cared for, and this data shows that they’re willing to prioritize action on these issues,” said Smith. “At the same time, they still lack confidence that they’re going to see desired results.”

Trust in the city to deliver on police reform and budgeting remains low, and most voters reported feeling that quality of life had declined.

Voters also supported policy action to increase housing, including in their own neighborhoods. Two-thirds support zoning and permitting changes to allow for more density across the city, “even if it means more duplexes and triplexes in single-family housing zones.” Eight-in-10 support making it easier to build new housing in transit corridors and commercial areas.

“Elected leaders have multiple upcoming opportunities to advance housing affordability through the city’s comprehensive plan, state action, and changes to processes and permitting,” said Smith. “Voters are telling them to go for it. They’re ready to see the increases in housing supply that will increase the opportunity for more people to live and succeed in Seattle.”

Polling was conducted by EMC Research, which interviewed 700 Seattle voters across each council district. In-depth data and crosstabs can be found on the Seattle Metro Chamber website at www.seattlechamber.com/theindex.

About the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

The Seattle Metropolitan (Seattle Metro) Chamber of Commerce is the regional business advocacy organization that engages the innovation and entrepreneurship of its 2,500 members to promote inclusive economic prosperity. Founded in 1882 by local business leaders, the Chamber today is an independent organization representing a regional workforce of approximately 750,000. For more information, visit www.seattlechamber.com.