New Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell calls for unity in inaugural speech

SEATTLE — Seattle’s new mayor, Bruce Harrell, took the ceremonial oath of office Tuesday and called for unity.

The swearing-in ceremony was scaled back because of COVID, with only family members, key staffers and journalists in the room.

Harrell outlined his vision of “One Seattle” and called for healing across political divisions, asking for critics to give his administration a chance.

“We reject slogans and mean tweets and we really commit to listening to one another,” Harrell said.

Harrell said a plan is coming to make sure everyone in Seattle gets access to health care.

He’s taking office during an Omicron surge as people struggle to find COVID tests.

KIRO 7 asked Harrell if there’s anything he can do as mayor to make tests more available.

“I’m sure there is, and again, this is our second day to figure that out. What we are doing is working with members of the old administration,” Harrell said. “We’re trying to figure out what went well and where we can improve.”

The new mayor said he is giving interim police chief Adrian Diaz a chance to “show his brilliance” and will decide in the first quarter whether to search for a new chief.

“We’ve had so many chiefs in recent years, the issue to me is not the chief, the issue is the culture and I can’t do anything to jeopardize the officers we have,” Harrell said in an interview.

Harrell also promised a detailed plan in the next three months for addressing homelessness.

“We talk about real progress in a short time. We’re meeting feverishly on that and I think you’ll see some changes here in the very near future,” Harrell said.

The mayor says the plan will be specific, so that people can measure “what the heck we are doing.”

He has not committed to extend the eviction moratorium that expires in the middle of this month, but suggested a new approach will be announced soon.

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