Seattle – This week, Katie Wilson refused to answer whether she believes people experiencing homelessness should be able to live in parks in tents – a fundamental issue for many voters. While Bruce Harrell gave a simple answer– “No,” Wilson hesitated before finally saying “Um… I am going to pass on this one. I can’t really answer yes or no.”

WATCH: Katie Wilson “Passes” on Answering Whether Tents Should Be in Parks

Wilson’s unwillingness to state that she will remove encampments from parks inspired thousands of comments online, and, now, neighbors across the city are speaking out on Wilson’s non-answer and the progress made under Mayor Harrell in restoring park access and taking urgent, compassionate action on the homelessness crisis. Here’s what they’re saying: 

Tiffini Connell – North Seattle neighbor
“As someone who works closely with small, creative, and entrepreneurial business owners—the backbone of our communities—I hear every day how much they value the progress we’ve made in restoring safety and vitality to our public spaces. We simply can’t afford to go backwards. Allowing encampments to return to our parks and sidewalks impacts small businesses, vibrant residential neighborhoods, including affordable communities, kids and families alike. Continued leadership and accountability are essential to keeping Seattle’s recovery moving forward.”

Ann Goos, Magnolia neighbor:
“‘No’ – and I really appreciate Mayor Harrell’s direct response to a direct question. Especially one as important as this issue. Our public parks should not be used to house the homeless. And, I want elected officials to have the gravitas and experience to answer public policy questions when posed. The city under the incumbent mayor is making steady progress on addressing the homeless and has the experience to continue working collaboratively with the council to manage the issue and not depend on our public parks. And, he answered the question!”

Patrick Foley, U-District neighbor:
“In 2021, our parks were unusable, filled with tents, trash, open air drug use, and chaos.  After Bruce Harrell was elected, he said enough is enough. He took immediate action, ordered them to be cleaned up, and made them welcoming again to the public.  Recently, when asked if camping in parks should be allowed, Bruce said ‘No.’ His opponent Katie Wilson laughed and couldn’t even answer the question. That tells you everything you need to know.  Katie Wilson represents the old guard who tolerated crime and disorder.  Seattle cannot afford to slide backwards after all the progress that has been made by Bruce and his team.  Seattle deserves better.”

Tom Graff, Belltown neighbor: 
“As a Belltown resident and business owner, I’ve seen our parks and sidewalks become safer, cleaner, and more welcoming the past 4 years. What were once unsafe or neglected spaces are feeling more like public places again. Before Mayor Harrell, our neighborhood faced real challenges. Today, the quality of life is improving thanks to the focused, compassionate action on homelessness and public safety. With Mayor Harrell, we have a leader who delivers results and stands up for a city where public spaces belong to the public.”

Gary Lee, CID Community Member and Chinatown Blockwatch Member:
“As a member of the CID community and the Chinatown Blockwatch, I support Bruce Harrell for Mayor.  He has been making good progress in cleaning up the mess left behind in the CID by the pandemic.  The CID cannot risk going backwards with Katie Wilson – who could not commit to keeping parks free from homeless encampments.”

Jen Osborn, Owner, Paratex Pest Prevention
“Before Mayor Harrell took office, Ballard was the rats – literally! The rodent population significantly grew while longstanding encampments at Ballard Commons and other local parks remained untouched. As a pest prevention company, we continue to help our commercial and residential customers deal with the ramifications of the increased rodent population today – our parks need to continue to stay safe and sanitary, we cannot go back! Mayor Harrell recognizes that there are real public health, safety, and livability issues that worsen at unregulated encampments, and I’m grateful that he’s committed to helping people who are homeless find stability while also taking action to address these related challenges, big and small, in partnership with the community. We must keep this work going. Parks need to be for all, but not for the rats!”

Jannette Patterson, Belltown neighbor
“We see steady progress on public safety since Mayor Harrell took office. He has spoken in clear and honest language about the practical realities necessary to relieve the suffering on our sidewalks and in our parks. I appreciate that under his leadership the city stopped paying lip service to vague idealistic visions, but started taking action to improve things day by day. We want Belltown to be a neighborhood that everyone can visit and enjoy. Parks and sidewalks are not healthy or safe places for anyone to live with dignity. The mayor stands up for us all, and everyone agrees we need urgent and compassionate solutions to homelessness and return parks and public spaces for the use and enjoyment of residents and visitors.” 

Joe Peterson, Seattle resident and business owner
“I’ve seen great improvement under Bruce’s leadership in our city but the job isn’t done. I hope to see him continue his great work and that’s why I’ve already voted for him! Next summer will showcase Seattle with the World Cup games and it’s no time to risk unknown policies.”

Tija Petrovich, Pioneer Square neighbor
“By 2021, Seattle parks were overwhelmed by a steep rise in encampments, causing facility closures, mounting maintenance needs, and heightened community friction. Mayor Harrell quickly intervened, bolstering park safety and maintenance across the system. Furthermore, he expanded the unified care team to a 7-day-a-week operation, allowing for a consistent, dedicated effort to address encampments and move unhoused residents into permanent housing. A park is not a home. Hard stop. Allowing our neighbors to live unhoused in public spaces fails everyone. We need to keep moving forward, keep making progress.”

Charlotte Starck – President Alki Community Council
“Parks are for people. Not encampments. Alki Beach and our Seattle parks are vital to Seattle’s health and heart — places where children play, families connect, and urban residents find rare green space for health and wellness. We saw what happened when encampments overtook public parks: crime rose, parks were trashed, and families stayed away. Real housing means sanitation and a pathway to recovery. Mayor Bruce Harrell had the courage to restore these spaces to safe, shared community use. Seattle cannot afford to go back.”

Gretchen Swanson, Ballard neighbor
“I live in Ballard. Mayor Harrell’s policies have been instrumental in keeping Ballard Commons park open for all. The CARE team is available for assistance when someone is having a mental health issue, the park ambassadors are there to help people out, set up the games and chess pieces. I love seeing all the families enjoying the pirate ship and splashing in the water feature. During Mayor Harrell’s tenure the park has stayed a great place for the community. We can’t go back to the way it was before”

Jason H, Seattle neighbor
“Seattle thrives when leaders act with integrity, courage, and a clear plan. Our city needs experienced leadership that listens, stands firm under pressure, and keeps the community at the heart of every decision. This is Bruce Harrell.”

Erin H, Seattle neighbor
“Solving homelessness takes leaders with vision, courage, and staying power. Seattle needs consistent leadership and a clear plan to turn commitment into real, lasting results. Katie Wilson can’t even answer a question about homeless in parks, how can she lead us out of this issue?”

Jessica P, North Seattle Neighbor
“We’ve made meaningful progress in restoring our parks into the welcoming and safe public spaces that our Seattle community values and deserves.”

Kit P, Seattle resident and business owner
“Katie Wilson is not experienced enough to manage our city’s issues. As a business owner in Ballard, we are constantly dealing with the ramped drug  and homeless issue. We have a staff member who comes in early every day to walk the perimeter of our property picking up drug paraphernalia and cleaning up human waste. Katie Wilson, as interviews have shown, is not prepared to lead our city and move us forward with a solid plan. Bruce Harrell has and is proving he is what we need to ensure a healthy thriving community.”

Matt, Seattle Resident and Business Owner
“The challenges of running a city are complex. As the former CEO of a publicly traded company and a current business owner in Seattle, I can confidently say that Bruce Harrell is the only choice for Mayor. Given Katie Wilson’s lack of overall experience, inability to answer tough questions, and difficulty solving complex problems, the City of Seattle will undoubtedly suffer if she is elected.”

Sally, Leschi neighbor
“I support Mayor Bruce Harrell in his belief that homelessness people should not be allowed to live in tents in our parks and find his opponent, Katie Wilson’s  inability to respond, and choose to pass on the question, a very inappropriate answer for a mayoral candidate, given the importance of the issue in Seattle. If she is unable to let people know where she stands on homeless people living in tents in our parks, what other issues is she going to conceal from public discourse, let alone how is she going to be able to make a decision on all the issues the Mayor of Seattle will need to address and take a stand on.”

Wendy, Madison Park resident
“Here in Madison Valley, we are literally overrun with homeless encampments and people in our public parks, streets and sidewalks. A candidate who does not have a clear answer to this question is not someone who is capable of or qualified to run a city.

MB, Columbia City neighbor
“Let’s work together to find inside, safe housing for our homeless brothers and sisters.  Leaving our parks open and clean for Seattle residents and visitors alike should be our mission.”

Sue Mar, Chinatown International District
“NO” to homeless camps in city parks! Seattle parks are special places where its residents can go to be with nature, spend time with family, or just to step away from the hard realities of life for even a few minutes. Thank you, Bruce Harrell, for protecting Seattle parks!!!”