Capitol Hill business owners hopeful for new public safety investments in Seattle budget

SEATTLE — A group of Capitol Hill business owners are celebrating public safety investments in the city’s newly adopted budget.

On Monday, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed the $8.3 billion biennial budget for 2025-2026 into law.

The budget includes funding for a major expansion of the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) team, which will add 23 new positions and provide services citywide every day. City leaders also committed $14.5 million to fund new health initiatives to address the fentanyl crisis and expand treatment options.

“We feel like the city is listening a little more than in the past. It’s been a little more collaboration to make sure we can all be heard,” said Samuel Hilbert, the owner of Aluel Cellars, which has a location in Capitol Hill. “I love this neighborhood. I don’t want to give up on this neighborhood.”

Hilbert said public drug use near his business is still a major issue.

“Things have gotten much more extreme,” Hilbert told KOMO News. “It’s happening very openly. Even in the last few weeks groups of five have expanded to groups of 20 doing drugs. It’s gotten to an extreme point that some of our Capitol Hill people who are loyal won’t come to this location because they don’t feel safe.”

RELATED: Capitol Hill businesses ask for city’s help with security costs, cleaning up the area

Hilbert and other Capitol Hill business owners and residents have organized ‘Safety Socials’ with the help of the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA). The events have been way to coordinate with city leaders on issues impacting businesses and proposed solutions.

“It’s basically a room full of people who love Capitol Hill,” said Thomas Goldstein, who advocates for Capitol Hill businesses. “The problems we have are big, but when we work together it feels like we have a chance of addressing it.”

Earlier this year, the Capitol Hill Business Alliance sent a letter to Mayor Bruce Harrell asking for help cleaning up the neighborhood and asking for help with the cost of providing security.

“I think for a while we watched things happen on Capitol Hill that went over the line,” Goldstein said. “It doesn’t mean we’re not an expressive neighborhood, but when you’re having your windows etched, when you are a small business and getting broken into repeatedly, that’s not Capitol Hill. It’s not Seattle. It’s not the community we want.”

The new budget also allocates funding to demolish vacant buildings, which have been a draw for trespassers and the site of major fires in the last few years. The GSBA also advocated for a full-time safety coordinator to work with local businesses, residents, and police to address safety issues.

Statement from GSBA about city’s new budget:“GSBA is committed to supporting the business in Capitol Hill and aims to work with partners such as Joy Hollingsworth to improve public safety, driving positive change and enhancing the quality of life for small businesses and local residents.”