U District Partnership Promotes Marcus Johnson to Director of Clean and Safe Operations

September 18, 2025

The U District Partnership is thrilled to announce the promotion of Marcus Johnson to Director of Clean and Safe Operations, effective immediately.

This milestone comes as Marcus celebrates his 10th anniversary with UDP this November—a decade in which he has fundamentally reshaped how the U District approaches cleaning and public safety.

Under Marcus’s leadership, UDP’s cleaning program has grown from a small contracted service into a robust, in-house daily operation, dramatically expanding the organization’s reach and impact across the district.

When Seattle Police foot patrols on University Way ended in 2020, Marcus spearheaded the creation of a pilot safety ambassador program. Today, that initiative is the backbone of UDP’s public safety efforts, with ambassadors providing daily patrols, vital support for small businesses and residents, and strong partnerships in homeless outreach.

During the pandemic, Marcus collaborated with the City and Evergreen Treatment Services to launch a neighborhood-based outreach program focused on people in the U District experiencing serious behavioral health challenges. The program’s success has been so strong that it is now being replicated in neighborhoods including Ballard and the Chinatown–International District.

Please join us in congratulating Marcus on this well-deserved promotion. His leadership, dedication, and vision continue to strengthen the U District and improve the lives of residents, businesses, and visitors alike.