But much of the questioning focused on issues that have emerged during the mayor’s recent absence from public questioning.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson faced questions Wednesday about a recall effort against her and the future of the city’s surveillance camera program as she spoke with reporters for the first time in roughly two weeks.
Wilson appeared publicly in Columbia City to sign an executive order aimed at speeding up housing construction and announce the creation of a housing production task force.
But much of the questioning focused on issues that have emerged during the mayor’s recent absence from public questioning.
Wilson was asked about a recall effort filed against her and was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations behind it.
“So that is a legal process that will be playing out,” Wilson said. “I'm focused on leading the city and on making it an affordable place for people to live, and that's the work that we're here to discuss today.”
Asked whether she planned to attend a court hearing involving the recall effort, Wilson said she would not.
“I personally will not be there,” Wilson said. “I will be represented by counsel.”
The appearance also came after Wilson abruptly removed Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes from his position amid an unsolved murder investigation connected to a shooting at the Bite of Seattle. Former interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr criticized the city’s initial public response to the violence this week, including the lack of an immediate public safety briefing.
“I can't believe the mayor's office would have refused to do a public safety briefing,” Rahr said Tuesday in an interview with KOMO News, calling the response “a big communications failure.”
A new voter poll released this week by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Challenge Seattle found roughly two-thirds of Seattle respondents lacked confidence in the mayor’s public safety plan. At the same time, 75% supported the use of a closed-circuit TV system to deter crime.
Wilson was asked whether the recent shootings and polling had changed her position on the cameras.
“We're continuing to follow the course that I laid out earlier this year,” Wilson said.
She said an audit is underway examining privacy, data security, storage and information-sharing practices involving the city’s CCTV system. Wilson said she expects the audit results around the end of September and described that as a “decision point” for the city.
Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin, who represents the city’s south side, acknowledged the strong public debate over the technology.
“Despite the polling, there are strong feelings about this issue,” Lin said. “There's deep concerns about privacy, especially with immigration enforcement.”
Lin also pointed to the impact of recent violence on communities in south Seattle.
“The gun violence has been devastating to our community, to Rainier Beach in particular,” Lin said.
