SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson vetoed a City Council-approved permit program for people living in RVs Tuesday. Instead, Wilson issued an executive order focused on outreach and shelter and drew sharp criticism from Councilmember Dan Strauss.
The permit program was part of a broader RV ordinance approved by the Seattle City Council more than a week ago. The plan sought to address overnight RV parking, while connecting people living in vehicles with housing and services.
Wilson said she vetoed the legislation because she had concerns about whether the permit program would accomplish those goals.
“I vetoed this bill, because I am concerned that the permit program outlined in the Council Bill 121283 does not meet that threshold,” Wilson said.
Instead, Wilson announced an executive order aimed at expanding outreach and engagement with people living in RVs across Seattle and connecting them with safer options and shelter.
Wilson said she had concerns about enforcement and potential legal issues with the council’s permit program. Wilson also acknowledged that she had not initially planned to veto the legislation.
“I was not originally intending to veto this legislation,” Wilson said. “Through sitting with it, learning more about the details and the challenges, that I felt compelled and believed that it was in best interest of the city to put forward an alternative pathway for consideration.”
Strauss, who helped craft the ordinance, reacted sharply to Mayor Wilson’s decision, and said he believed the legislation already included a mechanism to address potential problems with the program.
“This is why we have that work group baked into the legislation to say, if there are plans that need to change between now and March 1st, we have a way to address that,” Strauss said.
Strauss also accused Wilson of reversing a commitment she made to him about the legislation.
“She told me she wouldn’t veto the bill and then she did,” Strauss said. “At this point, I can’t trust her word.”
Asked whether he felt blindsided by the veto, Strauss expanded on his criticism.
“I feel like her word has been disingenuous,” Strauss said. “There have been a number of times that she has broken the promises that she’s made to me and the commitments she’s made to me.”
The council ordinance had also faced opposition from homelessness coalitions.
Hallie Willis with the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness called it “a poor policy that would drive people into worse circumstances.”
Strauss, however, argued that the ordinance they approved was the right solution.
“Doing nothing is not an option,” Strauss said.
Strauss said he hopes the council will meet to override Wilson’s veto and reinstate the permit program.
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