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Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell speaks at a Technology Alliance event last year. (GeekWire FIle Photo / Taylor Soper)
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell expressed optimism for the city’s future while addressing concerns about the Trump administration in his annual “State of the City” speech on Tuesday.
Harrell cited recent milestones and progress — Seattle is “on the rise,” he noted — but said he couldn’t talk about the state of the city “without recognizing the state of our nation.”
“We have a federal administration focused on division and working every day to drive us apart,” he said. “I am not being an alarmist when I say we should have grave concerns for what the Trump administration has in store for our city and its people.”
It was a different tone compared to November, when Harrell spoke at an event hosted by the Washington Technology Industry Association and signaled that he was taking a diplomatic approach as the country prepared for a big shift in federal leadership.
Harrell, who is part of a high-profile Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board organized by the Department of Homeland Security, said Tuesday that “unconstitutional executive orders and bad economic policies will mean revenue impacts and fewer resources to invest in local services that truly make a difference.”
He also called out “actions and rhetoric from the White House” that “take aim at parts of our community that we value central as to who we are,” noting the LGBTQ+ community, trans individuals, immigrant and refugees, women, and working families.
“When Seattle’s local values, policies, and priorities are challenged by unlawful federal actions, we will not hesitate to do everything in our power to defend our people and our rights,” Harrell said.
The mayor addressed federal initiatives against DEI, which has sparked some tech companies to roll back their own equity-related programs.
“While some may try to erase the letters ‘DEI’ from the alphabet, I’m proud that Seattle recognizes what diversity, equity, and inclusion actually mean — giving every person a fair shot improves outcomes and that seeking a level playing field for everyone is one of the most basic principles of building a strong and just America.”
Downtown Seattle
A streetcar with Amazon One branding moves through South Lake Union in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Harrell didn’t mention the tech industry or call out specific companies in his speech. He did spend time talking about downtown Seattle, which has struggled to rebound from the pandemic relative to other U.S. cities amid the rise of remote work.
Many tech companies don’t require employees to be in the office everyday, or have downsized or ditched office space altogether. Office vacancy rates surpassed 30% last year in downtown Seattle.
But Harrell said “there’s a different mood in the city,” compared to when he gave his first State of the City address three years ago and said downtown is “bustling again.”
Amazon is among a minority of companies bringing workers back to the office daily. Its recent return-to-office mandate for five days per week — a move applauded by Harrell — has increased foot traffic in downtown, according to new data from the Downtown Seattle Association, though numbers are still well below pre-pandemic levels.
City leaders have recently said that their goal is to attract downtown visitors of all kinds, not just the office workers who largely disappeared during the pandemic.
Harrell, who is running for re-election this year, also talked about efforts to help small businesses thrive — including cost relief, public safety efforts, and permitting and processing improvements — as well as climate-related initiatives.
The mayor for a moment broke from his serious tone in the speech, teasing “an announcement” while pulling out a basketball.
The crowd began buzzing with excitement, anticipating potential news about the city’s efforts to land an NBA franchise as part of a league expansion.
But it was just a joke.
“I’m just kidding,” Harrell said, chuckling amid laughs — and disappointment — in the audience at Benaroya Hall. “It’s a long speech, had to break it up a little bit here.”
Previously: Amazon and Seattle: Mayor Bruce Harrell on tech giant’s full return to office, and relationship with city
