Mayor Wilson Issues First Executive Orders on Homelessness and Transit at Beacon Hill Event
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson answers reporters’ questions following her announcement of two executive orders at El Centro De La Raza.
By Staff Reports
In her first major policy action since taking office, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson signed two executive orders today at El Centro de la Raza in Beacon Hill. The orders target two of the city’s most persistent challenges: unsheltered homelessness and public transit reliability.
Speaking from the institution's Centilia Cultural Center, Mayor Wilson emphasized a shift toward "action and results," framing the upcoming 2026 World Cup as a critical deadline for the city's progress.
Accelerating Shelter and Housing Expansion
The first executive order aims to rapidly increase Seattle’s shelter and affordable housing capacity. This move follows the Mayor's recent visit to a Ballard encampment, where a scheduled removal was delayed to seek better outcomes for residents.
Key components of the Homelessness Executive Order include:
Interdepartmental Team: An immediate launch of a team to identify incentives and permitting changes to speed up the opening of new units.
Public Land Prioritization: Identifying city-owned and other government-owned lands for temporary or permanent emergency shelter.
Regional Coordination: Partnering with regional agencies to expand existing shelter programs.
Behavioral Health Support: Working with specialized organizations to integrate substance use disorder treatment and mental health counseling into housing programs.
Mayor Wilson noted that the city is currently "scouring the budget" and seeking philanthropic partners to fund these initiatives.
Prioritizing Transit: The "Fix the L8" Initiative
The second order directs the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to implement transit-priority infrastructure, specifically targeting Denny Way and the chronically delayed Route 8 bus line.
Wilson, who was a regular rider on Route 8, described the current 30 to 40-minute delays as "extremely frustrating" and a threat to residents' job security.
Transit Mandates for SDOT: Implement at least one bus lane on Denny Way to improve Route 8 speed. SDOT must return to the Mayor's office with a budget and implementation plan by April 17, 2026, and provide recommendations for additional high-impact transit corridors across the city.
World Cup 2026 and Strategic Goals
The administration is leveraging the World Cup timeline to drive urgency in city operations. Wilson stated that the event provides a "good timeline for opening significant new units" to address homelessness in downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.
Regarding the criteria for future encampment removals, Wilson clarified that while obstructions and hazards (such as proximity to industrial traffic or fire risks) remain considerations, the primary goal is moving people into stable environments rather than simply "moving people around".
