# Half of businesses in Downtown Seattle say they’re considering closing, while housing inventory spikes by 173% in five years as woke Mayor Katie Wilson indulges crime and chaos

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/half-of-businesses-in-downtown-seattle-say-theyre-considering-closing-while-housing-inventory-spikes-by-173-in-five-years-as-woke-mayor-katie-wilson-indulges-crime-and-chaos/
- Published: 2026-10-28T18:31:20+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T23:19:32+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16245589/seattle-downtown-crime-homeless-drugs-businesses-closing.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Business, Environment, Markets, Science, World

## Key points

- 56 per cent of downtown businesses say conditions are untenable.
- Nearly half have considered leaving Seattle.
- Metro housing listings are up 173 per cent since 2023.

## Summary

A survey found that 56 per cent of downtown Seattle business owners say the business environment has become untenable, while 47 per cent have considered moving their operations out of the city. Owners cited safety concerns, taxes, fees and compliance costs, amid reported drug use and homelessness; the results highlight pressure on the city centre’s businesses.

The survey also found 61 per cent of owners are pessimistic about the next 12 months. Housing listings across the metro area have risen 173 per cent since 2023 to 13,000, according to Reventure. WeRise Wine Bar owner Jamila Conley said safety concerns led her to install a gate, and described Seattle’s planned minimum wage increase from $20.76 to $22.14 an hour as difficult for small businesses to absorb.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.