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Business owners and community members urge release of $11M for tiny-house shelters and action on stolen-goods market in Little Saigon
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Summary
At Seattle's public safety committee, multiple speakers from Little Saigon and Belltown urged lifting an $11,000,000 proviso to expand tiny-house shelters and called for stronger enforcement against organized street vending and fencing of stolen goods that they link to the local drug market.
Dozens of residents, business owners and neighborhood organizations told the Seattle Public Safety Committee on April 28 that Little Saigon and other commercial corridors are suffering from persistent open-air drug use, theft and a growing market in stolen goods.
Sharon Lee, who identified herself as executive director of Lehigh and a large employer in Little Saigon, told the committee: "People are shoplifting and bringing goods to Little Saigon to sell for cash to buy drugs." She said SDOT and other enforcement mechanisms have not effectively addressed unpermitted vending and that tiny-house villages and targeted sheltering should be prioritized to move people into services.
Speakers from the Low Income Housing Institute and other advocates urged the committee to lift a proviso on $11,000,000 in shelter funding placed during last year's budget process. Cara Williams of the Low Income Housing Institute said those funds are "being underutilized" while the city faces what she called simultaneous drug and housing crises and urged the council to make the funds available now to expand shelter beds with wraparound case management.
Business owners and merchants from Belltown and the International District described economic harm and a drop in foot traffic tied to open-air markets and visible drug activity. Jessica Norton, a longtime Belltown business owner, said vacancies are rising and customers avoid bus stops where drug activity is concentrated.
Several speakers urged stronger enforcement against unpermitted vending and the sale of stolen goods; one remote commenter proposed reclassifying sidewalk vending without a permit as a misdemeanor so SPD could enforce it. Vice Chair Osaka and other council members noted the council has funded additional street-use inspectors (nearly $3,000,000) and a statement of legislative intent directing the mayor to produce an interdepartmental plan before April 30 to address street vending and enforcement in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
No formal policy change was voted on in the committee. Council members and staff repeatedly thanked speakers and asked for follow-up material, and said the administration's forthcoming report will inform next steps on enforcement and shelter deployment.
The committee then moved to the ordinance data briefing and LEAD presentations.
