Homelessness remains top concern for Seattle voters, but public safety is gaining ground

Crime and public safety may soon overtake homelessness as the top concern on Seattle voters’ minds, according to research from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

The business group regularly polls voters in the Seattle area and the latest survey, out Tuesday, reveals a shift in what worries them most.

Of the 700 voters included in the survey, 48% said they are most concerned or frustrated about crime, drugs, and public safety. That’s up 10 points since the Chamber last polled voters in March.

As in every previous survey, homelessness is still the top concern, with 51% of voters choosing it. But that percentage is down five points since the last survey.

“Voters don't believe that the city has an effective plan to address critical issues like public safety and homelessness,” Seattle Metro Chamber CEO Rachel Smith said during a press conference Tuesday. “They don't think they're getting enough of value for the tax dollars that they pay, and they don't trust the Seattle City Council to reform policing without compromising public safety.”

Following the trend, voters also said “addressing violent crime and gun violence” would have the biggest impact on “improving quality of life in Seattle.” In the previous survey, respondents said the most effective measure would be closing encampments in public places.

“Public safety concerns are the sticking point to voter optimism continuing to grow,” Smith said.

Optimism about the area has leveled off after increasing during the previous two surveys. The latest numbers show 63% of voters saying Seattle has gotten “seriously off track” and 68% saying the quality of life in the area is worse than it was four years ago.

Despite that gloomy outlook, fewer voters are seriously considering leaving the city than in past surveys, though the change is small.

Although the survey was conducted by EMC, an outside research firm, the Seattle Metro Chamber does have a policy agenda. The organization represents thousands of businesses in the region, including major players like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alaska Airlines. Critics on the left have called the organization “anti-tax” and accused it of framing questions in a way that biases survey results.

It’s also worth noting that the survey only includes registered voters, which tend to skew whiter and older than the broader demographic. In targeting voters, the Chamber is likely trying to anticipate the most pressing issues in the upcoming Seattle City Council elections.