Katie Wilson Pressed for Answers By Seattle Democrats + GOP Sounds Alarm Over $15 Billion Bridge

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing new pressure over public safety, former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes' departure and the city's decision to keep surveillance cameras turned off around Pioneer Square and the Stadium District.

Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle is demanding greater transparency from Mayor Katie Wilson over Shon Barnes' exit as Seattle police chief. Kettle argues Barnes was effectively removed after Wilson asked him to resign and says the mayor should provide the City Council with her reasons. Wilson's office maintains Barnes resigned and says the City Charter requirement concerning reasons for dismissal does not apply.

The controversy comes as Seattle continues debating surveillance cameras, crime and public safety. The Seattle Police Officers Guild and Pioneer Square business leaders have called for cameras to be activated, arguing they could help police respond to crime and improve safety around downtown Seattle and the Stadium District. Mayor Wilson's administration says it is awaiting a review involving privacy and data concerns before making a final decision.

Also on Washington in Focus Daily: the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project connecting Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, is facing renewed taxpayer scrutiny as its projected price tag reaches as high as $15.2 billion.

Washington State Rep. John Ley is calling for a major reset of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project, arguing Washington and Oregon should scale the project to what the states can actually afford. The official I-5 bridge replacement estimate now ranges from $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with $14.4 billion being used for financial planning. The debate involves billions in taxpayer funding, light rail, tolling, federal transportation funding and the long-term cost of replacing the aging Interstate 5 Columbia River crossing.

Finally, a major Washington parental rights case is heading to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Parents challenging Washington state law involving runaway minors and gender-related services are asking the Supreme Court to reverse a Ninth Circuit ruling that prevented their lawsuit from moving forward on standing grounds. Oral arguments in International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson are scheduled for December 7, 2026.

The case could determine whether the parents can proceed with their constitutional challenge to Washington's law and raises broader questions involving parental rights, runaway youth, gender identity, family authority and when parents have standing to challenge state policy in federal court.

Washington in Focus Daily covers Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Shon Barnes, the Seattle Police Department, Seattle surveillance cameras, Pioneer Square public safety, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, Washington and Oregon transportation spending, the $15 billion I-5 bridge, Rep. John Ley, SCOTUS, Washington parental rights and the latest Washington state news and politics.

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