The GSBA chamber of commerce is hiring for a key role established in the city’s latest round of budgeting to be part of an increased effort around public safety in Capitol Hill’s core.

The chamber, “Washington State’s LGBTQ+ and allied chamber of commerce,” has posted its call for applicants for a new full-time Neighborhood Safety Coordinator for Capitol Hill.

“The Neighborhood Safety Coordinator (NSC) will work with the Capitol Hill business community and be responsible for building relationships, outreach, coordination with key city departments and communication to the community regarding safety issues,” the organization says.

Responsibilities include identifying, communicating, and addressing “public safety challenges” in the neighborhood, tracking “crime patterns,” and providing “follow-up support to business owners who have been impacted by criminal activity, including assistance with crime reporting, coordination with the Seattle Police Department, the Seattle City Attorney’s office, and the King County Prosecutor’s office.”

“The NSC position is tasked with developing relationships including neighborhood organizations, residents, businesses, city departments with the specific goal of addressing crime and community safety concerns,” the GSBA says.

CHS reported here in December on the city’s next moves in addressing Capitol Hill public safety after the GSBA worked with District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth to secure new funding and more attention at City Hall. The city is now working on a plan for a new service center for the city’s CARE mental and behavioral health emergencies team inside a former bank at Broadway and Pike. Deputy Mayor Tim Burgess said late last year the mayor’s office is also considering adding the area around Cal Anderson and Pike/Pine identified by SPD as a trouble zone for drug crimes and street disorder to an anti-crime camera system pilot currently being rolled out in the area around Aurora Ave N, the International District including Little Saigon, and the 3rd Ave corridor downtown.

The December community meeting came as part of what was planned to be a new series of gatherings involving the GSBA chamber of commerce and Hollingsworth who pledged to hold quarterly public safety meetings like it.

The new Neighborhood Safety Coordinator will be at the center of the group’s efforts.

The public safety push comes five years after the Greater Seattle Business Association advocacy group launched a special Capitol Hill Business Alliance wing in hopes of filling the gap left by the financial implosion of the neighborhood’s chamber of commerce. The re-started Capitol Hill Community Council is also hoped to better represent neighborhood needs and priorities.

More funding is earmarked to support GSBA’s efforts including $150,000 to support development of a new street Ambassador Program on Capitol Hill in 2026 modeled on efforts downtown.

You can learn more about the Neighborhood Safety Coordinator position here. The starting salary range is $60,000 to $70,000 a year, plus benefits.

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