Covid 19 pandemic caused a major standstill in most industries globally. Most businesses were badly affected and may not have achieved stability to date. Different sectors of the economy suffered due to the lockdown and while some areas have picked up, others are still struggling.
Despite the drastic effects of COVID-19, some countries like the US have recovered significantly, but this article is based solely on Seattle and its recovery. Seattle has recovered greatly after COVID-19, especially compared to most of the cities in Washington. The recovery is not so solid in some areas but there are still some significant improvements.
The Mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harry, has put in so much effort to ensure the restoration of the city after the pandemic. The recovery agenda was tagged as ‘Downtown Activation Plan’.
Here are the seven activation plans created by the Mayor to help Seattle recover;
Public safety
This plan was set in motion to help combat gun violence and drug dealers and also repurpose vacant Storefronts. The rate of crime increased during and after the pandemic. With few people walking on the sidewalks or streets, crime perpetrators can easily prey on unsuspecting victims. Better lighting on the sidewalks aided significantly in the reduction of the crime rate in the city. With their safety guaranteed, most people moved back to the city.
Residential occupancy
Covid forced so many people into becoming hybrid workers. What this implies is that most workers in the city work from home. Increasing residential occupancy is a plan that was designed to increase the number of residents living downtown in Seattle. A childcare or an educational facility will be built to encourage the residents to move back to the city.
Retail recovery
A lot of retail businesses closed down during the lockdown period, and only a few were able to resume after the pandemic. The Mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harry, launched the Liberty Project To support small businesses. Currently, retail and other businesses in the city have improved and increased significantly. Residents can now easily get a reliable wash and fold laundry services, professional exterminators, or home essentials from stores or companies around.
Downtown works
One of the areas that have witnessed severe changes during COVID-19 is the private and public sector business. Many workers lost their jobs, while some worked from home. This has created a void in the corporate world of the city. Part of the Mayor’s plans in this sector includes the repurposing of vacant offices. However, there is a need to recover the corporate sector as this will help create a balance in the business world and provide job opportunities. The private and public sector business have not recovered like other areas but there are improvements.
Arts, culture and events
Seattle is the most populated city in Washington making it a fun and lively place. The pandemic affected most areas regarding the affairs of the city and that includes arts, culture, and culture. The Mayor’s plans in this sector include creating a director-level position to lead special events in the city. Different events have taken place in the city after the pandemic, but the goal is to experience a total recovery, and that is exactly where Seattle is headed.
Tourism and local visitors
The number of tourists and local visitors reduced due to COVID-19, but there is a visible recovery in that area presently. The Mayor already has some working plans dedicated to increasing tourist attractions in the state. Tourism is a major source of income in cities, states, or countries; hence, there is a need to improve that sector. Tourism in the city has not gotten near to what it used to be before the pandemic but it has attained a good level of recovery.
Environmental efforts
The Mayor has made a strong impact in the city by creating different avenues to aid in environmental improvement. Some of the measures include improving existing parks and making green efforts. One of the best ways to get people back to a particular location is by creating a better environment. Due to the relentless efforts of the Mayor to improve the environment, Seattle is going through a strong recovery process.
Conclusion
Seattle’s recovery after COVID-19 is highly commendable, especially considering how hard the downtown cities in America were hit by the pandemic. Seattle is one of the most populated Cities in the US, so controlling its residents to contain the spread of the virus wouldn’t have been an easy task. A recovery of this level, despite the obvious challenge, shows that it was a joint effort by the government and the citizens.
