Politics
Seattle councilmember fires back at mayor over gun violence response
The Center Square Seattle City Councilmember Maritza Rivera hit back strongly against Mayor Katie Wilson Thursday, pushing back on the mayor
By Andrew Paxton · 2026-09-11T04:40:31.192Z
The Center Square Seattle City Councilmember Maritza Rivera hit back strongly against Mayor Katie Wilson Thursday, pushing back on the mayor's characterization of her gun violence prevention efforts as "grandstanding and politicking."
Rivera’s statement https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WASEATTLE/bulletins/42985ca follows a recent interview https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESvAEB6zswFZFX1CNtVXePfzJG7ux0nPNt3 ayWLA9g Zyi6n0VLl58 tMCMUtO451ykHYDsfY crn2xhUvUFNpanIQpeiZUpxxkPIljeFolSR9f2DV1tMktPzykIzS8veSFA2albB4N1I3BR5TdAIx2 nCMCwbYshYhVmAHOK9hWkj76B5p8WE5G4XfH2QpKGNakNOv0 QnevEveXx6XMuxFavqDuVLKNVJcH7IqCM26GOm3VLjRPQ3fVfYiF1Q Wilson did with local media where the mayor dismissed the City Council's push to implement a focused deterrence strategy.
Rivera, who represents District 4, is currently sponsoring Resolution 32217 https://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?GUID=E88D3B3D 6A93 4610 BABF 2DBEFDB0133E&ID=8175172&Options=&Search=&utm medium=email&utm source=govdelivery , urging the city to adopt the National Network for Safe Communities https://nnscommunities.org/ collaborative gun violence reduction model.
"Three people were killed in Belltown in the span of 24 hours. Several more were wounded. That comes after the mass shooting https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article 303fdf01 3c90 4114 83cb 313b98461e74.html at the Bite of Seattle. It comes after the violence on North Aurora, after Little Saigon, and after Rainier Beach," Rivera wrote. "Focused deterrence is not an experiment. It is not a theory. It is not another study. It is a proven gun violence prevention strategy that has significantly driven down shootings in multiple cities across the nation."
Rivera directly questioned the mayor’s posture, asking: "When your neighborhood has had three shootings in a weekend and there’s a proven strategy that could stop future tragedies – is that grandstanding? Or is it the job we have been elected to do?"
The rift between the council and the executive office comes during a period of mounting political pressure on Wilson regarding her public safety record.
In recent months, Wilson saw a 20% drop https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article 95cec85f 40d9 4228 84fe 939a873deda8.html in approval ratings over her first seven months in office, falling from 57% in April down to 37% by early August. Pollsters attributed the sharp decline directly to low voter confidence in her public safety strategies, while a separate poll https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article f75d2406 9157 43dd 93bb a18beffa6e3c.html conducted by Change Washington revealed that 60% of surveyed voters believed Wilson should be recalled or resign.
This growing dissatisfaction culminated in formal legal action when two Seattle residents filed a recall petition over public safety obligations https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article 45effabb 5a23 44f6 8ecc f871c5743f98.html , accusing her of dereliction of duty over police leadership shifts, pauses to surveillance programs and ongoing violence. Though the petitioners abruptly withdrew https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article 9dc38a5d 9dda 402d a15f 13518eebb581.html the recall petition to gather additional evidence, public scrutiny has remained intense.
Meanwhile, fellow city leaders have repeatedly challenged Wilson's record. Councilmember Bob Kettle says sex trade and gun violence problems continue https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article cff7b811 503d 4670 992c 813b64741a1a.html due to a lack of an actionable public safety plan, particularly along the North Aurora corridor.
Kettle also publicly criticized https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article 1f7486da 90b4 429f 83bf 6ff7e5e25dd5.html the mayor over a delayed communications response following the Bite of Seattle mass shooting and her demand for former Police Chief Shon Barnes' resignation.
A full council vote on Rivera's resolution is expected next Tuesday.
Washington Editor
This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article 92e161e0 9bc9 4530 b41f a4e4a3b64a17.html .