Ordinance allowing for license plate readers approved by Council; City Attorney Ann Davison’s policy to that would enact greater consequences for street racing also to be considered before Council’s Public Safety Committee 

WR is thrilled to announce that Blake Garfield, owner of Bedrooms & More in Seattle, has been named one of the top five finalists in the National Retail Federation's (NRF) America’s Retail Champions program. This prestigious recognition celebrates small retailers who excel in advocating for their businesses and communities. Blake, along with WR President & CEO Renée Sunde, will represent Washington state in Washington, DC, at the 2024 Retail Advocates Summit in July.

Blake Garfield and his family, including founders Jeff and Wanda Garfield and Blake’s wife Krystal, have long been dedicated to championing small business interests. From addressing issues with the state Department of Revenue to advocating for legislation supporting injured workers, Blake's commitment to the retail sector is unwavering. His efforts have extended to federal advocacy, including engaging with Senator Patty Murray's office on credit card swipe fee concerns.

Locally, the Garfields have made significant contributions to public safety and community support, including leadership roles in the Seattle Celebrate Wallingford Neighborhood non-profit. Their dedication exemplifies the spirit of small business advocacy, making Blake Garfield a standout candidate for the America’s Retail Champion 2024 award.

Stay tuned for more updates as Blake and Renée travel to the nation's capital to participate in this distinguished event.

WR is pleased to announce the selection of Crystal Leatherman as the Retail Industry Representative on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force Executive Committee. With over 3,500 member storefronts, WR represents the diverse landscape of Washington's retail sector. Crystal, WR's Local & State Government Affairs Manager, brings a wealth of expertise in AI, legislative analysis, and industry advocacy to her new role.

Crystal's professional background includes successfully advocating for initiatives like SB 5838/HB 1934 during the 2024 legislative session, demonstrating the need for a well-balanced executive committee. Her experience extends to data governance coordination at the Department of Children, Youth, and Family, and grassroots coordination at the Washington State Auto Dealers Association.

As WR's AI policy lead, Crystal has facilitated internal workgroups, monitored AI legislation nationally and globally, and engaged in AI-related educational programs. Her commitment to diversity and equity is evident through her work on organizational transformation projects and her advocacy for underrepresented groups.

With a master's in public administration & public policy and a background in political science and communications, Crystal is well-equipped to advocate for the retail sector's interests on the AI Task Force Executive Committee. Her selection underscores WR's commitment to ensuring the retail industry's voice is heard in AI policy discussions.

We are excited to announce a significant new collaboration between Challenge Seattle Washington Retail Association (WR), Sound Cities Association, Bellevue Chamber and the Seattle Metro Chamber, aimed at addressing the critical issue of Organized Retail Crime (ORC). Under the esteemed leadership of former Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire, CEO of Challenge Seattle, WR President & CEO, Renée Sunde, will co-chair the 18-member steering committee which will include businesses, law enforcement and prosecutors to help formulate the region’s next steps establishing a long-term public-private partnership.

Gregoire brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership. As CEO of Challenge Seattle, an alliance of CEOs from 23 of the region’s largest organizations, Gregoire has been at the forefront of tackling pressing civic challenges such as housing, homelessness, and transportation. As Governor, Gregoire established a well-earned reputation for bringing together the right people, setting aside individual agenda – to get things done.

In recent years, organized retail crime and theft have surged in Washington state and 52% of Police Chiefs in King Country have identified retail theft as one of their top public safety priorities. Addressing ORC requires a true public-private partnership between retailers and businesses, cities and law enforcement and prosecutors.

To align the roles and ensure the long-term success of the Retail Industry Leadership Association’s (RILA) Vibrant Communities pilot project and new state funding, Challenge Seattle and WR will convene a series of meetings to ensure proper coordination of efforts throughout King County.

Challenge Seattle in partnership with WR, Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce, Bellevue Chamber and the Sound Cities Association, will host a half-day public safety summit scheduled for October 2 at Microsoft in Redmond. In addition to the named partners the event will include high level officials and decision makers including King Couty Mayors, Police Chiefs, prosecutors’ business organizations and regional business executives.

We believe that we can come together across sectors to ensure accountability and deterrence of one of our more pressing public safety challenges in the region.

Mark Johnson, WR’s Sr. Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, recently presented crucial updates on the 2023 Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Audit alongside the Seattle City Auditor at the Seattle City Council’s Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee meeting. The City of Seattle's Auditor's office conducted this comprehensive audit, highlighting the intricate operations driving ORC in Seattle.

Johnson emphasized the severe financial impact of ORC on the local and state economy, noting that the rise in ORC is partly due to the increased use of online marketplaces for selling stolen goods through “fencing.” Fencing is a sophisticated criminal activity where stolen merchandise from Seattle is shipped overseas, sold online, or peddled in storefronts and unregulated markets.

Johnson also provided an update on federal and state legislation recently passed and under discussion to tackle ORC more effectively.

The audit proposes seven actionable steps for Seattle to bolster its fight against ORC:

Despite resource constraints, particularly within the Seattle Police Department, the recommendations focus on leveraging collaborations, existing resources, and new technologies. SPD has committed to working with the City to implement recommendations, marking a significant step towards curbing organized retail crime in Seattle.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has announced a bold $10 million investment to combat youth violence and bolster mental health support. This comprehensive strategy, outlined in an executive order, focuses on expanding telehealth access, addressing gun violence, and implementing preventative measures for the city’s youth.

Key components include increasing telehealth therapy access from 80 to 2,000 students and launching a "100 Days of Action" violence prevention campaign. The plan also emphasizes mental health education, early intervention, and proactive screening in high schools.

Initial spending includes $2.4 million for telehealth services, guided by feedback from over 150 students. Additional measures include safe passage initiatives and enhanced police presence around Garfield High School.

The city also launched a public awareness campaign under the Reach Out Seattle initiative, aiming to increase the use of mental health resources. Seattle remains committed to spending $24 million annually on youth enrichment programs, ensuring a holistic approach to youth safety and well-being.

Since January, Seattle businesses reliant on third-party delivery apps have faced over $27 million in lost revenue due to the city's Delivery Pay Ordinance. A new revenue tracker highlights the ongoing financial strain on local establishments, including small, independent stores and restaurants. Despite clear data illustrating these losses, the City Council has delayed voting on a compromise bill that would ensure delivery workers earn at least Seattle's minimum wage of nearly $20 an hour, excluding tips and mileage.

Tammie Hetrick, president and CEO of the Washington Food Industry Association, emphasized the unsustainability of the ordinance, noting its detrimental effects on businesses already battling rising costs. She called for immediate action, highlighting the importance of a balanced solution.

Marcos Wanless, president of the Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, stressed the ordinance's negative impact on Seattle's restaurants, which are crucial for job creation, tourism, and the city's overall health. He urged the council to rectify the situation promptly.

Reneé Sunde, president and CEO of WR, echoed these concerns, urging the council to act on the compromise measure to alleviate the burden on retailers and delivery workers. The data is clear: it's time for the council to resolve this issue and support the city's businesses and workforce.

Shawn Nanez, 33, of Bremerton, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison and an additional two and a half years in community custody under a Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA) after pleading guilty to multiple felonies. Nanez's crimes involved stealing over $145,000 worth of merchandise from stores across King, Pierce, and Kitsap counties. This case marks the first successful prosecution by Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s new Organized Retail Crime Unit, established in 2023.

Nanez committed 28 thefts between April and June 2022, using tools to break into secured cases and steal high-value items, which he later sold for cash. Known to local loss prevention teams, his thefts often involved intimidation and physical confrontation with store employees. His arrest in June 2022 led to a confession about his routine in selling stolen goods.

Attorney General Ferguson’s unit, created to tackle sophisticated retail crimes, aims to protect businesses, workers, and the economy from the impacts of organized retail theft. With ongoing efforts and more prosecutions planned, the unit is expanding its resources to effectively address and combat these crimes across Washington.

Ferguson emphasized the importance of holding offenders accountable and reaffirmed the commitment to reducing organized retail crime, which poses significant threats to retail environments and the broader community.

WR congratulates the task force's diligent efforts in bringing justice to those responsible for organized retail crimes, protecting businesses and communities across the state. 

Read the full press release: atg.wa.gov

After four years on the job (including two as acting Chief), Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz has resigned as chief, replaced on a temporary basis by Sue Rahr, former King County Sheriff and Director of the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission, the state’s police academy.

“I’ve accomplished so much in the four years as chief, but there’s more to be done,” said an emotional Diaz, as he fought back tears at the press conference. Diaz will remain with the department, working on special assignments, according to Mayor Bruce Harrell. Diaz became the ninth person to leave the chief’s job since 2000.

Chief Diaz led the Seattle Police Department (SPD) through an extraordinarily difficult period. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, a majority on the Seattle City Council expressed a desire to reduce the budget for the police department by 50%. That commitment to slash police spending led Chief Carmen Best to resign, leading to Diaz’s ascension to chief.

While the Council never took meaningful action to cut the police budget, the department saw its number of uniformed officers plunge from 1,400 in early 2020 to under 1,000 today, despite efforts by Diaz and Mayor Bruce Harrell to reverse the decline. While the number of police officers fell, concerns about public safety have increased.

During his final months as chief, Diaz and the SPD were the subjects of several lawsuits alleging racial and sexual discrimination and harassment.

Acting Chief Rahr and former SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole, who left the department in 2017, will lead the search for a new chief. Unlike past searches, the City will not hire an outside firm to oversee the search process.

In the Sunday, June 2, 2024, edition of the Seattle Times, a letter penned by WR Board Member and local Seattle business owners Blake & Krystal Garfield was featured, expressing gratitude for Mayor Bruce Harrell's leadership in addressing public safety concerns in Seattle.

Here is their letter:

Sincerely, 

Blake & Krystal Garfield 

Bedrooms & More 

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has announced the next steps in the Crime Prevention Technology pilot, part of the broader One Seattle Safety Framework aimed at enhancing neighborhood safety. Following extensive public outreach and five Community Safety Forums, the pilot will introduce closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in three high-crime areas: Aurora Avenue North, downtown Third Avenue, and the Chinatown-International District (CID). The initiative also incorporates real-time crime center (RTCC) software for improved data analysis and investigations.

"Seattle needs more options in our public safety toolkit," said Mayor Harrell. "This pilot will add proven, evidence-based solutions to address gun violence, human trafficking, and other persistent crimes." The program, funded with $1.8 million approved by the City Council, focuses on CCTV and RTCC technologies, excluding the acoustic gunshot locator system due to cost.

The pilot aims to deter crime through public awareness of the cameras and enhance evidence collection to hold offenders accountable. It includes an expansion of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) to all police vehicles with dashcams. This will aid in solving active investigations, locating missing persons, and recovering stolen vehicles. Gun violence incidents in Seattle have increased by 13.4% this year.

Complementing the technology, the pilot will feature increased police patrols, community-based initiatives, and improved lighting and cleaning in targeted areas. The City has completed Surveillance Impact Reports for the new technologies and engaged over 1,000 public comments. The program will be evaluated by external experts, with preliminary results expected after one year.

Read more about Mayor Harrell’s vision 

Reneé Sunde, President and CEO, and Mark Johnson, Sr, VP of Policy and Government Affairs recently spoke to the media about the significant retail theft operation uncovered in Burien. Speaking with KIRO7 and Fox13Seattle.com respectively, they highlighted the growing issue of organized retail crime in the state.

Authorities seized 74,000 suspected stolen items from a Burien storefront, an adjacent warehouse, and a Federal Way home. This operation, detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington, revealed a scheme to sell stolen merchandise globally through platforms like Amazon and eBay.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the undercover effort, with Deputy Special Agent in Charge Steven Schrank explaining, "On multiple occasions, we had undercover officers portray themselves as individuals seeking to sell stolen merchandise." The investigation uncovered vast quantities of healthcare products, beauty aids, and tools stolen from major retailers.

Sunde emphasized the calculated nature of these crimes, saying, "It’s not just coming into a store and stealing something for individual use; we’re seeing a growing increase of organized crimes throughout Washington." She warned consumers to be cautious of unusually low prices online, as these could indicate stolen goods.

Johnson echoed these concerns, describing the crime as "premeditated, planned, organized retail crime." He urged the public and policymakers to recognize the severity of organized retail crime rings affecting communities.

Both Sunde and Johnson stressed the importance of consumer vigilance and reporting suspicious activities to help combat retail theft. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities accepting tips at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.

The Seattle City Council passed legislation approving a new police contract that covers 2021 through 2023 and Mayor Bruce Harrell quickly signed it into law. Negotiations are ongoing for a contract to cover 2024 and future years. The previous contract expired in 2020.

The contract raises the starting salary for police officers from $83,000 to $103,000, with officers earning $110,000 after six months. This contract makes Seattle police officers the highest paid in the state. Officers will receive back pay of up to $60,000 for the years in which they worked under the expired contract.

While the City of Seattle hopes this contract will boost officer hiring, the retroactive pay could trigger a wave of retirements by officers who postponed leaving until the contract was approved.

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is still subject to the 2012 consent decree with the federal government that is overseen by U.S. District Court Judge James Robart. Although SPD has met many benchmarks in the consent decree, Judge Robart has insisted on stronger accountability standards. The new contract strengthens the police chief's authority in firing decisions, shifting much of this authority away from independent arbitrators who review such cases.

The King County Council has voted to create a new minimum wage for unincorporated areas of the county, aligning with Tukwila’s highest-in-the-nation wage standard. This wage standard will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Employers with 500 or more employees will be required to pay $20.29 per hour. For smaller businesses, the minimum wage will be phased in over several years:

These small business wage breaks would decline over time until all businesses are paying the same minimum wage in 2030.

In public comment before the vote, John Engber, lobbyist for WR, urged the Council to adopt Councilmember Reagan Dunn’s amendment for total compensation credit. This amendment would have enabled employee benefits and tips to count toward the minimum wage. The Council rejected the amendment on a 7-2 vote and passed the legislation by 7-2.

On May 9, the Seattle City Council’s Governance, Accountability & Economic Development Committee passed legislation to revise the city’s app-based worker minimum compensation law, which took effect on January 13.

Before approving the legislation by a 4-0 vote (with Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth abstaining, asking her colleagues for more time for additional stakeholder engagement), the committee unanimously approved a series of amendments. Among the key amendments was the restoration of the private right of action provisions, which had been slated for elimination under the proposed legislation. Additionally, some enforcement authority of the City's Office of Labor Standards was reinstated.

One notable adjustment in the amended legislation is the postponement, by one year, of immediate penalties for inadvertent violations of the law, excluding cases involving non-payment or retaliation against workers. During this grace period, businesses will have 30 days to rectify such violations to avoid penalties.

While the full Council was expected to vote on this legislation on May 21, Council President Sara Nelson, sponsor of the legislation, has opted to delay action by the Council until May 28. This extension aims to accommodate Councilmember Hollingsworth's request for further stakeholder consultations on the proposed changes.

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In the battle against the fentanyl crisis gripping communities nationwide, King County has established proactive measures. With the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reporting fentanyl as the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, and alarming statistics revealing that 7 out of every 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl, urgent action is paramount. Seattle's geographic location, nestled on I-5, intersecting I-405 and I-90, and its proximity to Canada, make it a hub for narcotics distribution throughout the Northwest.

Operation Engage, spearheaded by the DEA, has been pivotal in addressing the escalating fentanyl crisis in Seattle and its surrounding areas. This collaborative effort aims to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks responsible for the distribution of fentanyl and other illicit substances. According to the DEA Seattle Field Division, the operation has resulted in significant seizures, including 3.7 million fentanyl pills in 2023.

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. Fentanyl is claiming innocent lives at an alarming rate, necessitating a collective effort to combat this deadly scourge. In response to the alarming surge in fentanyl-related overdoses, King County has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to combat the crisis. This multifaceted plan, announced by County Executive Dow Constantine, encompasses various sectors including public health, social services, and law enforcement.

With fentanyl overdoses reaching record highs in Washington, claiming over 1,000 lives in 2023 alone, urgent action is imperative. The county's initiatives aim to enhance access to community-based treatment, expand behavioral health facilities, and distribute overdose reversal medication like naloxone.

Simultaneously, law enforcement agencies are grappling with the scourge of organized retail crime often fueled by drug trafficking. Bellevue police recently dismantled a major theft ring responsible for pilfering luxury apparel, including high-value items from Lululemon, Nordstrom, and Macy’s stores across the region. The theft crew's sophisticated tactics, including disguises and coordinated heists, resulted in losses exceeding half a million dollars.

This crackdown highlights the detrimental impact of organized retail crime on businesses and consumers alike. The stolen merchandise, often sold at significantly reduced prices, not only undermines retailers but also drives up costs for consumers.

The apprehension of suspects involved in these crimes underscores the collaborative efforts between law enforcement and private sector stakeholders. Despite the challenges posed by sophisticated criminal operations, Bellevue police, aided by vigilant store security measures, successfully identified and apprehended key perpetrators.

In the ongoing battle against both fentanyl abuse and organized retail crime, community engagement is pivotal. Heightened awareness, coupled with proactive measures such as access to treatment resources and robust security protocols, is crucial in safeguarding public health and economic well-being.