Seattle News Tonight: The Big O Shares His Takeaways on Katie Wilson Interview

Last night, The Big O joined Seattle News Tonight to discuss his recent conversation with Mayor-elect Katie Wilson on “The Big O Show.” Salisbury shared his post-interview reflections, offered insight into the new administration's structural changes and its strategy for tackling chronic issues in the Chinatown International District (CID), including Little Saigon. 

The New Deputy Mayor Structure

Salisbury pointed to Wilson’s decision to streamline the executive office by appointing only one Deputy Mayor, Brian Surratt, a significant departure from the traditional structure of having at least four deputy mayors. Salisbury questioned this decision during his conversation with Wilson.  

“Is Brian up for the job? I only say that in that the flip side of having multiple deputy mayors means that there's multiple access points to actually get the Mayor's attention and everything else,” he asked Wilson. “And one deputy mayor, it's a lot of people going to be coming at Brian.”

Wilson clarified that Surratt will have a community relations team supporting him, led by her former campaign manager Alex Gallo. Salisbury noted that this move aligns with the Mayor’s stated management style. 

"A lot of what [Wilson] talked about in her management style was the cut down in bureaucracy and rivals in City Hall,” he said. 

A New Approach to Governing

Salisbury talked about Wilson’s sharply differing approach from the previous administration as the first openly socialist Mayor-elect the city has had. 

On Wilson’s management philosophy, Salisbury commented that he does not think the administration is afraid to try new things, acknowledging that Wilson herself told him that some things will work, some things won't work.

Addressing the Little Saigon/CID Crisis

The conversation shifted to the persistent issues plaguing Little Saigon and the broader CID, including the open drug market and random crime. On “The Big O Show,” Wilson acknowledged the historical context, stating that Little Saigon a “troubled” and "neglected neighborhood for a very long time.”

To reverse this historical neglect, Wilson shared her two-part plan on “The Big O Show.”

Long-Term Investment: Working with organizations like Friends of Little Saigon to make longer term investments and changes, Wilson said. 

Short-Term Public Safety Adjustment: The administration will adjust their public safety strategies through a collaboration between the police department and neighborhood outreach teams, Wilson said. 

Salisbury offered a more critical assessment, emphasizing that crime is occurring every day and that while long-term investment is necessary, the city is yet to figure out a short term strategy to relieve the business owners and residents. 

He expressed his hope surrounding the neighborhood's struggles.

"I hope that it becomes a top priority and it isn't just talking points,” he said. 

Watch Katie Wilson’s full interview on “The Big O Show” here.