The Seattle City Council recently approved a new strategy aimed at reducing gun violence across the city. Sponsored by Councilmember Maritza Rivera, the resolution passed a 7-0 vote, with two members abstaining.
The strategy allocates $418,000 to a two-year partnership with the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC). According to Rivera, the NNSC has previously helped cities like Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia cut down gun violence by up to 60%.
Rivera’s office stated that the strategy is grounded in findings from the Seattle City Auditor’s 2015 and 2025 reports. The strategy centers on focused deterrence, zeroing in on the small group of individuals responsible for the vast majority of local shootings.
Rivera emphasized that adopting this data-backed approach does not mean abandoning community-led safety programs, but rather pairing accountability with community investments.
However, the council’s push has exposed a growing rift between Councilmember Rivera and Mayor Katie Wilson. Rivera openly criticized Mayor Wilson’s gun violence strategy, arguing that the mayor is attempting to satisfy activist supporters who oppose collaborating with law enforcement. Calling the stance a concerning blind spot. Rivera pointed out that Wilson’s plan does not explicitly prevent the city from working with NNSC as requested by the council.
Meanwhile, Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle backed the resolution, noting that the council intends to move forward regardless of the mayor’s stance. Kettle stated that bringing in an outside perspective is necessary to deliver the safety improvements residents expect.
Mayor Wilson recently rolled out a separate, multi-prongedplan that focuses on boosting police patrols, deploying crisis responders, expanding community programs, and pushing for stricter state gun laws. Her strategy also includes partnership with researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington to track and evaluate results.
Despite Wilson’s assertion that her data-driven approach utilizes every available tool to tackle the issue. Rivera dismissed the mayor’s proposal as underwhelming, citing a lack of fresh concepts amid targeted deterrence.
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