Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn toured the International District—the first neighborhood allotted such an honor by the new mayor – on March 18. The mayor, along with Seattle Police Department officials, previously said they would increase patrols in the ID and nearby neighborhoods such as Pioneer Square and Belltown, and continued to make safety a primary concern during the walking tour. The tour of the ID included a history lesson at the Chinatown gate by the chair of the Historic Chinatown Gate Foundation. Many attendees were satisfied with the Mayor’s approachability and willingness to listen to the citizen’s comments and complaints. Mayor McGinn also visited business owners in the district while re-iterating his belief that the ID is a landmark and vital part of the city of Seattle.
