Seattle Mayoral Candidate Katie Wilson Talks Housing, Transit, and Affordability
On The Morning Ride, Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson discussed her campaign priorities, centering on housing affordability, public transit, and cost of living challenges.
Wilson, a co-founder of the Transit Riders Union, highlighted her work on expanding transit, raising the minimum wage, and pushing for affordable housing. She emphasized that the city’s high rents and regressive tax system contribute to rising costs, from groceries to restaurant meals. Wilson contrasted sales tax hikes with progressive measures like Seattle’s JumpStart payroll tax on large corporations, which she credits with protecting city services during the pandemic.
She also voiced concern over Kroger’s closure of grocery stores, including Lake City’s Fred Meyer, calling it a sign of corporate consolidation and the need for stronger city action to ensure neighborhood access to food and pharmacies.
On housing, Wilson advocated a multi-pronged approach: encouraging private development in well-connected neighborhoods, investing in affordable homeownership and land trusts, and expanding the city’s new social housing developer to provide permanently affordable rental units.
Facing incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell this November, Wilson framed her campaign as a fight to make Seattle livable for working- and middle-class residents, with a focus on long-term affordability and equity.
Listen to her full conversation with Phil Vandervort below:
