One in three Seattle residents is considering moving away from the city due to public safety concerns over daily crimes and high cost of living prices, according to a Seattle Times/Suffolk University
poll published in June.
About 33 percent of Seattle residents surveyed said they were seriously considering moving out of the city. Sixty-seven percent said they were not. The poll of 500 residents was conducted by phone from June 12 to 16, with a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
Among the residents who say they are considering leaving, 37 percent blamed rising housing costs, and 34 percent cited public safety as their primary reason for moving.
Mr. Inslee said the bills address the state’s housing shortage and should make home ownership more affordable. He also said the new laws could help those experiencing homelessness.
“Homelessness is a housing crisis,” Mr. Inslee said.
Public safety was the main concern among respondents in the highest household income bracket, those earning over $250,000 a year. These residents were also more likely to be homeowners than renters.
Of those wanting to move, 80 percent rated Seattle poorly as a place to live, and 66 percent said they did not feel safe in their neighborhood. In comparison, among the two-thirds of Seattleites who did not consider leaving, 88 percent rated the city as an excellent place to live, and 72 percent said they felt safe in their own neighborhood.
Mr. Inslee also signed a bill into law in April that will strengthen the prosecution of hate crimes and require rehab programs for offenders.