Seattle officials are taking action to address the rise in gun violence at after-hours night lounges, following a series of incidents that have raised concerns about safety in the city's nightlife. Based on a recent unveiling, Councilmember Bob Kettle, along with City Attorney Ann Davison and Mayor Bruce Harrell, has put forth an ordinance to impose stricter safety regulations on these late-night establishments, the Seattle City Council reports.
The proposed law stipulates that lounges operational post-2 a.m. must be in compliance with all city permits and licenses, as well as maintaining a minimum of two security guards on site, install video surveillance, and create a formal safety plan; moreover, the lounges must grant access to police officers upon their request. "This new bill to address safety at Seattle’s after-hours lounge scene underscores our unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of patrons and the broader community," Councilmember Kettle told the Seattle City Council.
Stakeholders involved in the bill's conception include families of past violence victims, night life operators, and organizations such as the SODO Business Improvement Area. When it comes to enforcement, the Finance and Administrative Services Department will be responsible, issuing fines that commence at $1,000 for a first-time offense and can escalate to $5,000 for subsequent violations. "Gun violence at after-hours lounges and the heartbreak these incidents have caused for families in our city requires action to improve safety for patrons, employees, and the surrounding community," Mayor Harrell explained, according to a statement on the Seattle City Council's website.
After-hours lounges, operational between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., have been linked to numerous shootings and homicides over the last decade, including the fatal shooting of community protector Donald "Donnie" Chin in 2015 and two separate shooting incidents in 2023 and 2024 that collectively took the lives of four individuals and injured several others; the statistics reveal that the 2 a.m. hour is the peak time for these violent outbursts. "We owe it to the victims of gun violence to take action now," said City Attorney Ann Davison, as per discussions on the Seattle City Council's website.
The new safety regulations are now in the hands of the Public Safety Committee, which conducted its first hearing on the bill yesterday—a replay of this discussion will soon be available via the Seattle Channel. Should the bill pass through the committee, it may advance to a full council vote as soon as April 8.
