Mayor Bruce Harrell Signs Metropolitan Improvement District Renewal and Expansion

Reported by Cesar Canizales

Avery Barnes, founder of Taswira, an African art and design gallery located in Pioneer Square, said her business has benefited from the metropolitan improvement district, which was recently renewed and expanded by the Seattle City Council. 

The MID funds the Downtown Ambassadors program, which provides cleaning, safety and hospitality services. The MID also aims to promote events and economic development. It is managed by the Downtown Seattle Association.

“Since opening my business, the MID staff were the first people to come in just with open arms and welcome me at the gallery and into Pioneer Square,” said Barnes.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on Thursday signed the renewal measure surrounded by dozens of Downtown Ambassadors, business owners, and councilmembers. He said the MID is a key component of his downtown revitalization plan. 

“Shiny things are cool. But getting to the basics, which is safety, cleanliness, activation--getting to the basics is going to be a core trademark of our administration. The MID makes that possible,” said Harrell.

Barnes was one of the speakers at the signing ceremony.

“I believe that the MID’S renewal and continued implementation of the Downtown Activation Plan will further support the success of businesses like mine. In renewing the MID, we invest in a vibrant and thriving downtown community,” said Barnes.

Harrell gave a shout-out to the Downtown Ambassadors as integral to the revitalization plan.

“You represent Seattle at its finest, people that are part of a team that are not afraid to put in the hard work. You greet people. You have to sometimes face situations that are intolerable,” said Harrell.

Cherrie Truncer, a Downtown Ambassador, talked about how the program has affected her and her colleagues.

“I, along with my fellow colleagues, have been given the opportunity to rebuild our own lives and in doing so, we have a profound impact on the lives of those we encounter every day.”

The MID’s renewal expands the service boundaries into South Seattle, increases cleaning services, and invests in unarmed security. 

Councilmember Sara Nelson sponsored the legislation to renew the MID. She thanked the ambassadors for their work.

“The stories we heard in chambers about how you helped an individual cross the street, how you save someone's life one day. And that was witnessed and talked about. This is what we have to be grateful for,” said Nelson.

Downtown Seattle Association president Jon Scholes says things are going in the right direction and renewing the MID will help maintain that trajectory. But he said addressing the fentanyl crisis needs to be a priority.

“There's cost to small businesses that are having to increase their security and staffing to deal with people that are desperate for their next hit, which is causing them to…steal the tip jar from a retail counter or shoplift or break windows. So there's economic and human cost here,” Scholes said.

The MID is made up of 300 city blocks and was launched in 1999. Its $18-million annual funding comes from ratepayer assessments, a special fee paid by businesses, property owners and others. 

Downtown Ambassadors remove a million gallons of trash each year, conduct welfare checks and help beautify the city.

Barnes says she appreciates the ambassadors, especially their work with the homeless community.

“I've seen this in action, how they have supported these individuals with true and genuine support, humanity, dignity, compassion, and, and this is the kind of aid that I see that represents our best step forward as a community,” said Barnes.