Civic Cocktail

After struggling through the pandemic, social unrest, and an ongoing homelessness crisis, what is the state of downtown Seattle? Bob Donegan, president of Ivar's restaurants tells host Joni Balter that 2020 was grim, but he's encouraged by the crowds returning to the city. The number of visitors to Pike Place Market is a good example. Donegan says, "In April and May it had none. Last month, Pike Place Market was averaging 10,000 to 12,000 visitors a day." And more people coming downtown will help battle the perception the area is unsafe. Brian Surratt, the former director of Seattle's Office of Economic Development and current Vice President of Alexandria Real Estate says, "Downtown has been vacant for so long when you don't have bodies walking through and interacting with each other, you're going to notice a lot of these issues." He also blames national media reports for doom and gloom descriptions of Seattle after last summer's protests. But both men agree one thing could help jumpstart the recovery, and they say the City of Seattle could actually play a pivotal role.