Dec 31, 2025 – Katie Wilson is confirmed as mayor‑elect, set to become Seattle’s third female mayor on Jan 2, continuing the city’s streak of one‑term mayors that began in 2010, and she announces a transition team of nonprofit, labor and business leaders to guide her four‑year agenda [6].

Jan 2, 2026 – Wilson is sworn in as Seattle mayor, succeeding Bruce Harrell, and in her inaugural speech she declares “Affordability is Seattle’s most pressing issue,” frames homelessness as a “trust issue,” and warns that rising costs could threaten the city’s cultural fabric, while unveiling a senior staff team to implement her progressive agenda [5].

Since Jan 4, 2026 – City departments report that they have resolved 101 encampments and RV sites, reflecting an early push to address homelessness under Wilson’s new administration [3].

Jan 15, 2026 – Wilson cancels the first scheduled encampment sweep at the Ballard site, stating “We should pursue solutions that bring more people inside rather than moving them from place to place,” and signals a shift toward a shelter‑first strategy that includes expanding emergency shelter and restoring the JustCARE partnership [4].

Jan 15, 2026 – After a request from Ballard Community Task Force chair Bruce Drager, Wilson delays the Ballard sweep, noting “We need to allow for better outcomes,” while highlighting that Ballard’s homeless population has risen about 25 % in three years and that 56 sweeps have been documented, underscoring the need for services over displacement [3].

Jan 15, 2026 – Wilson issues two executive orders: the first directs city agencies to identify and remove regulatory barriers, prioritize city‑owned land, and integrate behavioral‑health services to accelerate shelter and housing expansion; the second orders Seattle Department of Transportation to develop a transit‑priority plan for the Denny Way corridor, with SDOT required to submit a timeline, budget and implementation plan by April 17 [2].

Feb 17, 2026 – In her State of the City address, Wilson pledges to add 1,000 shelter units this year, announces a $115 million interlocal agreement to fund the city’s social‑housing developer this spring, and calls for treating childcare, early education and fresh‑food access as public goods, exploring a public grocery store, and adopting a “discipline of hope,” concluding with “Seattle is the best city in the world” [1].

Spring 2026 (planned) – The $115 million interlocal agreement is slated to flow to the publicly owned social‑housing developer, more than doubling projected revenue and supporting the city’s aggressive shelter‑building plan [1].

Apr 17, 2026 (planned) – Seattle Department of Transportation must deliver a detailed report on the Denny Way transit‑priority improvements, including at least one bus‑lane project and identification of additional corridors for future investment [2].

2026 (ongoing) – Wilson’s administration continues to expand emergency shelter capacity, restore the JustCARE partnership, and explore alternative grocery models, while community leaders such as Latino Community Fund director Lilliane Ballestero stress that “families, business owners and long‑time residents feel pressure to stay in Seattle,” reinforcing the citywide urgency of affordability and homelessness solutions [1].