SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a sweeping new effort Monday to address food deserts across the city, following the sudden closure of the Fred Meyer store in Lake City — a move that left some residents without nearby access to affordable groceries or medicine.
Through an Executive Order signed this week, Harrell directed city departments to take a multipronged approach to expanding food access, including exploring the potential acquisition of the now-vacant Fred Meyer property at 13000 Lake City Way NE. The goal, Harrell said, is to ensure the site continues to serve community needs and does not worsen existing inequities.
“As mayor, I am fighting for every neighborhood in Seattle to have access to affordable food and medicine, which is essential for the health and safety of the people of our city,” Harrell said in a statement. “This solution-focused Executive Order explores all options available to the City to ensure our children, older adults, people with mobility issues, and families have equitable access to fresh, local, affordable, and culturally relevant food and medicine.”
The order calls on several city agencies — including the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, the Office of Planning and Community Development, and the Office of Sustainability and Environment — to identify areas at risk of becoming food deserts due to grocery or pharmacy closures. City officials are also directed to work with private partners to assess whether the city could help acquire properties in key neighborhoods to support future grocery or pharmacy operations.
In addition to property acquisition, the directive lays out plans to draft legislation that would change zoning and permitting regulations to encourage more grocery and pharmacy development in underserved areas. Harrell also ordered the creation of a stakeholder group, bringing together representatives from major grocery chains, local businesses, labor, and community organizations to examine the economic and structural challenges behind store closures — including those seen recently in Lake City.
The executive order also directs the city to advocate for changes at the state level. Seattle will push for a statewide ban on restrictive covenants — agreements that prevent grocery stores from opening on certain properties — and will seek tax reforms to support grocery and pharmacy operations.
Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth praised the move as both timely and necessary. “I appreciate the Mayor’s thoughtful proposal and it’s a proactive step to ensure that all Seattle neighborhoods have equitable access to fresh, healthy food and don’t become food deserts,” she said.
트위터 공유: 시애틀 시장 식품 사막 해소 위해 행정명령 발동