Collaborating on Solutions for a Safer Neighborhood
Capitol Hill Community Safety Roundtable
Event recap hosted March 18, 2026
Last week, GSBA Capitol Hill brought together a range of community voices for a focused, working conversation on safety in the neighborhood. Hosted by Capitol Hill Neighborhood Safety Coordinator Jen Carl, the Community Safety Roundtable created space for business owners, residents, public officials, and community partners to sit down, share what they’re seeing, and dig into solutions together.
Held at Seattle Central College, the session was intentionally designed as a working roundtable rather than a presentation. Attendees broke into small groups of six to talk through key issues, exchange lived experiences, and start identifying practical, neighborhood-based solutions.
Participants included East Precinct command staff and officers, the Crime Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Liaison, alongside business owners, residents, property managers, representatives from the City Attorney’s office, Joy Hollingsworth’s office, and the Office of Economic Development.
Discussion topics were picked directly from the most recent Seattle Public Safety Survey conducted by the Seattle Police Department, grounding the conversation in what community members across the city are experiencing right now. Conversations focused on traffic safety, police capacity, community capacity, property crime, drugs and alcohol, and police surveillance.
By the end of the session, there was a noticeable shift in the room. The conversation moved from naming challenges to mapping what action could look like. Ideas centered on creating new programs and shared spaces, strengthening police hiring and retention strategies, and expanding community education and training to better equip neighbors and businesses alike.
“This format allows us to move beyond the same conversations happening in the same circles,” said Jen Carl, GSBA’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood Safety Coordinator. “We need to format events in this way to prevent echo chambers where the same people are discussing the same problems from a deficit-minded space. This format allows us to be solution-minded and create a space for diverse perspectives that lead to a multitude of unique ideas to resolve the community’s biggest concerns.”
The roundtable felt like what’s possible when parts of the community come together with a shared goal: building a safer, more connected Capitol Hill. GSBA will continue to convene these conversations and support efforts that turn ideas into action.
If you’re looking to stay involved in Capitol Hill safety conversations, our next opportunity is just around the corner. Join us for the GSBA Capitol Hill Monthly Safety Call on Thursday, April 9 from 10:00–11:00AM. This virtual forum brings together community members, businesses, SPD, and City partners for real-time updates, shared resources, and open conversation about what’s happening on the ground.
All are welcome to join. Register to receive the Zoom link and be part of the conversation.
