Jim Street
olitics & Government
The 2019 Seattle Patch City Council Binary Questionnaire
We asked all 55 Council candidates to answer "yes" or "no" to questions about everything from Seattle dying to RV safe lots.
By Neal McNamara , Patch Staff
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SEATTLE, WA — In the most crowded Seattle City Council primary in decades, we wanted to make picking a candidate easy.
On May 22, we sent all 55 candidates running in the seven Council races a list of 10 words or phrases and asked them to answer "yes" or "no" to each one. We wanted to make it quick for voters to learn where candidates stand on big issues. And since we wanted all 55 to respond, we tried to make it quick for busy candidates.
The results? Mixed.
We asked candidates to return answers by Aug. 1, but urged them in many (many!) emails, Facebook messages, and phone calls to respond by around July 18, which is when ballots started hitting mailboxes. We decided to publish the 30-plus responses we had on July 29, but did send candidates one final email reminder — after all, candidates got more than two months to answer our 10 questions.
(Props to District 2 candidate Christopher Peguero who was the first to answer, about 30 minutes after getting the questions.)
A lot of the candidates didn't like the yes/no format, but we allowed everyone room to go longer — and many did. One incumbent even declined to participate until we pointed out that our original email said, "We encourage you to respond yes or no, but you're certainly welcome to go longer than that." We did not edit the answers, so everything you see is exactly what the candidates wrote.
The 10 phrases we sent were:
Head tax: Although it happened in 2018 (and was repealed), support or opposition to the idea of the head tax is a clear dividing line in Seattle politics. A "yes" to this generally puts candidates to the left of Mayor Jenny Durkan.
Amazon: We got a lot of questions about this one. A "yes" indicates general support of all the good (jobs, wealth) and bad (traffic, housing crisis) that Amazon has brought.
More bike lanes: Pretty self-explanatory.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: The 2019 Count Us In census found that 19 percent of King County's 11,199 homeless live in a car or RV. Seattle has been considering expanding safe lots for years.
Upzoning: Legislation passed by the City Council in March allows bigger buildings in certain neighborhoods in exchange for more affordable housing in those buildings.
Seattle is dying: Not necessarily the KOMO docu-drama, more the line of thinking behind it.
Ft. Lawton housing: One surprise was how many candidates — even conservative ones — support redeveloping vacant land near Discovery Park into affordable housing.
Close Pike Place Market to cars: A lot of candidates answered "no" because they thought we meant all vehicles. But we just means passenger cars, not delivery trucks.
1st Avenue Streetcar: Durkan paused this project — also known as the Central City Connector — to study cost overruns. But now SDOT is seeking a $9 million appropriation to get construction underway.
New Seattle library levy: This levy renewal will appear on the August Primary ballot.
Remember, primary day is Aug. 6, and ballots need to be postmarked by then or dropped in a King County Elections drop-box by 8 p.m. that night.
District 1 (West Seattle, South Park)
Brendan Kolding
Head tax: No
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: Maybe (depends on where we put them)
Safe lots for RVs/cars: No
Upzoning: Yes (But we do need to revisit the MHA)
Seattle is dying: No (We can recover)
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: No
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: No
Lisa Herbold (I)
Head tax: Yes, I voted for the employee hours tax
Amazon: Yes, Amazon is important to Seattle's economy. No, Amazon is not a good civic partner.
More bike lanes: Yes, but in some places non-arterial Greenways are better.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: HALA is is made up of about 60 recommendations- some of them I agree with; some not. The MHA upzones are one of the 60 recommendations and it's already been enacted. It's not perfect policy but it's groundbreaking in that all development- no matter if commercial or residential- will have to contribute to truly affordable housing.
Seattle is dying: Yes, we have a significant mental health and substance addiction crisis. It's serious & we need to help people with mental illness, maintain public spaces, and support businesses who bear the brunt of the impacts. No, our city isn't dying - we have a. among the nation's lowest unemployment rates, b. greatest job growth, c. 1,000 people moving to the region every week, d.more cranes in the sky than any US city, and e. record tourism for 9 years in a row - 40 million visitors last year.
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Phillip Tavel
Head tax:Amazon: No
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: Yes
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: No
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: Yes
District 2 (South Seattle, Georgetown)
Ari Hoffman
Head tax:Amazon: No
More bike lanes: Yes but routing and cost need to be re-evaluated
Safe lots for RVs/cars: No
Upzoning: Depends on the area
Seattle is dying: Yup…but we can save it
Ft. Lawton housing: No
Close Pike Place Market to cars: I would want to ask the people it affects first.
1st Avenue Streetcar: Not until our transportation projects can be brought back on budget and schedule
New Seattle library levy: No because covering people's late fees should not be part of it
Mark Solomon
Head tax:Amazon: No
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Christopher Peguero
Head tax:Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: No
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: No
Tammy Morales
Head tax:Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: No
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yeah, I guess
New Seattle library levy: Yes, but I'm pissed we have to rely on another regressive tax
District 3 (Capitol Hill, Central District)
Logan Bowers
Head tax: No
Amazon: (Didn't answer)
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Pat Murakami
Head tax: No. I would never tax businesses on gross revenue. We need to access City spending efficiency & effectiveness prior to adding new taxes. I will address our regressive tax system which harms low/middle income households and small businesses.
Amazon: Yes. Jobs and opportunities. The corporations causing the greatest inequity in our economy are located outside of the State of Washington.
More bike lanes: No. Yes to greenways and bike boulevards. Bicyclists exposed to continual vehicle exhaust are experiencing health issues.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: No. Expensive to operate. Funds better spent on proper housing.
Upzoning: No. Written by and for the benefit of mega developers.
Seattle is dying: No. But we need a lot of serious work to get back on track.
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes. Provided we use virtual rather than steel track
New Seattle library levy: It's up to the voters.
Egan Orion
Head tax: No. the council has to win back the trust of voters with a comprehensive, accountable plan on the homelessness and affordability crisis first.
Amazon: Yes, I support all businesses that promote innovation in Seattle.
More bike lanes: Yes, but we have to get the basics right first like filling potholes to ensure bike safety before we add more bike lanes.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes, but they must be highly supervised and short term. We don't want cars and RVs to be considered a permanent housing solution by the city. These sites should also prohibit any drug use onsite--similar to ones in Ballard--since, by nature, they are harder to supervise and have porous borders to them.
Upzoning: Yes, if done strategically so that we are increasing light density options near transportation arterials, schools, and grocery stores.
Seattle is dying: No, I believe Seattle is thriving but we need to do more to address the rising homelessness and affordability crisis.
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes. It was housing already; let's put it to use who need low income and affordable housing now.
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes, but only at peak times. Deliveries for businesses require some vehicle traffic on that street.
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes. I believe we need to expand all types of mass transit and this system will benefit short-distance downtown travelers and tourists who want to see where they're going. I think future projects should pay close attention to avoiding redundancies and maximizing the use of funds to better connect communities with limited transit access.
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Kshama Sawant (I)
Head tax: Yes
Amazon: Tax
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes, but more
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: Yes
District 4 (U-District, Sand Point)
Shaun Scott
Head tax: Yes to additional progressive revenue options.
Amazon: No to corporate oligarchy.
More bike lanes: ABSOLUTELY.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes to undoing the historical legacies of white supremacy as manifest in our regressive zoning
code.
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes to as many affordable housing units as we can possibly build.
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes to pedestrianizing Pike Place Market, and also pedestrianizing The Ave.
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes to more mass transit!
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Cathy Tuttle
Head tax: Yes
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: Well-designed, linked citywide network. Yes.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes. But where?
Upzoning: More houses of all kinds for all of our neighbors.
Seattle is dying: No. Seattle is thriving.
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes. Allow delivery, service, and emergency vehicles only.
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Frank Krueger
Head tax: Yes
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Ethan Hunter
Head tax: Yes
Amazon: No
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Sasha Anderson
Head tax: Yes, I believe our partners in big business need to work with the City and help us address the affordability crisis that we are facing.
Amazon: We welcome innovators in Seattle and we must work together to create a sustainable and affordable future.
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Possibly
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Joshua Newman
Head tax: No
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Heidi Stuber
Head tax: No. I'm not opposed to corporations being a part of the revenue solution in our city, but the head tax was not the right plan.
Amazon: Maybe. Should they be in our city? Since they're already here, I would say Yes, it would not benefit our city to lose the 45,000 jobs we currently have. Should they be paying zero in taxes? Of course not.
More bike lanes: Maybe. I believe bikers need and deserve to bike around our city safely with connected bike routes, but these routes do not always need to be on arterials and they should not be built if they cost $12 million/ mile.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes, provided the proper wrap-around services are provided to help people move into housing
Upzoning: Yes, it was not a perfect piece of legislation but we needed to do something to increase density. However, developers should have been required to include affordable housing onsite in every new development rather than paying an in lieu fee.
Seattle is dying: No, but we do need to quickly take action to reduce the homelessness crisis and get people into supportive housing. The scope of the problem and the impact on our city is not sustainable.
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes, since they reworked the plan to include more green space and recreation.
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes, provided the small businesses in the Market still have delivery access.
1st Avenue Streetcar: Maybe. The cost overruns are ridiculous and not a good use of city resources, but I think we owe it to the Central District and the International District communities who made sacrifices during the construction of the First Hill line to connect their streetcar into the heart of downtown.
New Seattle library levy: Yes
District 5 (Lake City, Northgate)
John Lombard
Head tax: No
Amazon: Yes to more tax revenue
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Too complicated for simple yes or no
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Ann Davison Sattler
Head tax: no, encourage & retain job growth
Amazon: public/private partnerships can achieve much
More bike lanes: a few areas; but even those should be on parallel streets not along major arterials for safety and to prevent extra congestion
Safe lots for RVs/cars: (No answer)
Upzoning: density and up zoning within a half mile of transit hubs yes
Seattle is dying: irrelevant; the approach of the last 4 years isn't working so a new approach is required.
Ft. Lawton housing: no, poor connection to services and transit.
Close Pike Place Market to cars: yes, allowing deliveries though
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: not until better stewardship shown with existing tax dollars
Debora Juarez
Head tax: Yes. Legislation needs collaboration between legislators, the community, and stakeholders affected by the changes. It needs time and cooperation to develop. Any progressive tax must be implemented correctly and the Council needs to work to insulate the City (and taxpayers) from the cost and stress of a prolonged lawsuit that could strike it down. I voted for the head tax, however, after discussions with the prime sponsors, I decided to vote for the repeal.
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: I can neither support or oppose this project at this time because I do not have enough information. The Mayor's office and SDOT are working on this and bringing more information to the city council. I look forward to learning more.
New Seattle library levy: Yes
District 6 (Ballard, Green Lake)
Terry Rice
Head tax: I was against the Head Tax because too many midsize, locally owned, mid-revenue, low-margin iconic Seattle businesses would have been impacted by the tax. I would have supported a different form of the head tax that was focused on multi-national corporations headquartered in Seattle.
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: This is a reasonable, temporary solution but the solution to homelessness is a home and our resources should be focused on building more low income housing, long term supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs.
Upzoning: Yes, it didn't go far enough but I enthusiastically support it. To meet our climate and housing goals more of the city must be rezoned away from single family homes which must include making it easier to build duplexes and triplexes in all parts of the city.
Seattle is dying: No, this is propaganda created by the right wing Sinclair Media Group
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes, we desperately need more housing in all neighborhoods in city
Close Pike Place Market to cars: No, small businesses need street access to load and unload. Small businesses are the heart and soul of the market and they are the stakeholders who do not want this to happen.
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes, begrudgingly.
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Jay Fathi
Head tax: No. It is clear Seattleites are progressive and compassionate and want to truly address our homelessness crisis for neighbors living unsheltered, and for the health of our communities. While I believe we likely need additional revenue to address our homelessness crisis, and that those who have more should pay their fair share, the entire 'head tax' endeavor was handled poorly. We will need to collaborate with all stakeholders, including those who may be taxed, and communicate clearly and transparently with everyone, utilizing data, and proposing clear strategies, while showing we can deliver results.
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes -- With our current crisis, a lot for the significant population of homeless who currently live in their vehicles, which would need to address both public health and public safety, is a healthier alternative to our current situation of car camping in residential neighborhoods.
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No, Seattle is not dying. Our city has a crisis that is leading to higher rates of homelessness, which is driven by many factors. This is visible to us every day. But this community can, and must, modify and improve our collective efforts, so we will all begin to see, realize, and feel progress being made.
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Maybe. As Seattlites, we know that some lost tourists drive vehicles right down to the Market, and they immediately regret it, and the concept has some appeal. But first we must have a robust discussion with the vendors who could be impacted and rely on using the street for loading and unloading their goods.
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes. This would provide public transit along 1st Avenue which currently lacks mass transit, and would connect residents and tourists with many local businesses and key areas of downtown.
New Seattle library levy: Yes!
Jeremy Cook
Head tax: No, I oppose the head tax.
Amazon: Yes, even though larger businesses can pose challenges. Being against them all the time is not productive.
More bike lanes: No, there may be a case here and there were a new bike lane makes sense. However, for the most part we have already spent too much money on bike lanes.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: No
Upzoning: No. We do need to increase density, however this paints with to broad a brush. Also it doesn't do enough to create affordable housing.
Seattle is dying: No. Seattle is not dying, however we do have too many people that are addicted to heroin and are committing crimes to pay for their drugs.
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: No, I would need to find out more from the people affected by it before making a final decision.
1st Avenue Streetcar: No, too expensive.
New Seattle library levy: No, library's are very important however these levy's outpace inflation and price people out of Seattle.
Melissa Hall
Head tax: Yes
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: Yes
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes
1st Avenue Streetcar: Yes
New Seattle library levy: Yes
District 7 (Downtown, Magnolia)
Gene Burrus
Head tax: No
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: No
Safe lots for RVs/cars: No
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: Yes
Ft. Lawton housing: No
Close Pike Place Market to cars: No
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: No
Isabell J. Kerner
Head tax: No
Amazon: Yes
More bike lanes: No (not until we have a plan where they do not remove on-street parking and hold the bike share companies accountable for obstructing the sidewalk—major issue for those with disabilities, scooters are also coming soon)
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: No (not with the current lack of oversight and vacancy rates—I have a building across from me that has been empty for over a year. It is now filled with squatters and likely contaminated with meth)
Seattle is dying: Yes
Ft. Lawton housing: No (not with the current plan)
Close Pike Place Market to cars: No (how could we get deliveries in?)
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: No
Don Harper
Head tax: No
Amazon: Engage with for help
More bike lanes: Stop and do comprehensive study if they're helping or hurting congestion
Safe lots for RVs/cars: No; Barbara Poppe says solution is permanent supportive housing
Upzoning: Bad legislation We need better
Seattle is dying: Failing to solve our problems by denying reality
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Yes to cars No to service vehicles & delivery
1st Avenue Streetcar: Unfortunately Yes only because of Federal money involved that can not be re-directed to real solutions
New Seattle library levy: Yes but where is the homeless priority money
Jason Williams
Head tax: Ill-conceived and a reminder that we need new leaders who will work with all sectors of society - including business - to address our pressing challenges.
Amazon: Incredible hub of innovation and catalyst for wealth and prosperity in the region.
More bike lanes: We need to prioritize safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Any break in a network renders the entire network unsafe. That's why we need to complete the bike master plan. While we build the urban city of tomorrow, replete with multiple forms of sustainable transit options, including cycling, we need to recognize that many commuters will travel by car.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: We should designate spaces for these vehicles and provide wraparound services to help the homeless find permanent housing.
Upzoning: With 1000 people moving to Seattle each week, we need to add density where it makes sense. I am in favor of the recent MHA legislation but worry that the in-lieu fee option for developers will further segregate our city. I will commit to rigorous monitoring to ensure that is not the case
Seattle is dying: Separate from homelessness, Seattle - like much of the country - has a challenge with substance use disorder. Nearly 400 people died from a drug overdose in Seattle in 2018. That is not okay. We need to do our part to reverse the national epidemic by helping users reduce consumption. While I am hesitant to criminalize drug use, since it is an addiction, I am inclined to prohibit drug use in open spaces. Also, many link drug use with a recent rise in property crime. Whether or not this is the case, we need to be clear that theft, generally, is a crime and we must give victims recourse.
Ft. Lawton housing: We all benefit from diversity in class and backgrounds. Our job is to make sure that we set the residents up for success. We should also make sure the project is being constructed in an ecologically friendly way, creating as much green space as possible for the residents and for the broader community.
Close Pike Place Market to cars: I am inclined to close the Market to cars, but would only do so if we have buy-in from the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority and participating businesses.
1st Avenue Streetcar: We need to start building alternative modes of transportation. I am encouraged by the ridership projections of this project and want to see it move forward.
New Seattle library levy: Yes. Funding libraries and access to verified information has taken on new urgency with the rise of misinformation and decline of faith in democracy as an institution
Andrew Lewis
Head tax: No
Amazon: (No answer)
More bike lanes: Yes, if pragmatically planned.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Yes
Upzoning: Yes
Seattle is dying: No
Ft. Lawton housing: Yes
Close Pike Place Market to cars: No
1st Avenue Streetcar: No
New Seattle library levy: Yes
Jim Pugel
Head tax: I absolutely support the concept of finding progressive revenue sources to tackle our homelessness crisis but I did not support the politics that led to the head tax. We need to work on the process behind legislation for that legislation to be effective. Why is it that in a city where a majority of voters support raising taxes on the wealthiest people and businesses, a proposal that sought to do exactly that was so unpopular? I believe it's because the City Council is perceived as un-transparent and unaccountable to the voters who elected them, rather than opening up a more public legislative process. This view may be right or wrong, but the bottom line is that when ordinary people see their government in that way, they are less and less likely to add funds for that government to spend. We need to work to restore real trust and legitimacy by ensuring procedural justice by creating legislation through the same coalition-building process that made other progressive priorities successful, like raising the minimum wage and passing I-1639. When activists, ordinary Seattleites, community groups, and local businesses work together, we will be able to find creative solutions that actually stick.
Amazon: Amazon has been a large part of the growing economy here in Seattle. They have been able to provide jobs in our city and expand our economic reach, but they have also caused friction with our neighborhoods and have not always worked in collaboration with our communities. My main focus with large companies moving in is our residents who already live here. With more businesses calling Seattle their home, I want to make sure that all workers and families have access to housing and transportation near their job. I will work to protect the rights of the people I serve — workers, young people, moms and dads, and ordinary community members in District 7 who deserve fair jobs with fair wages.
More bike lanes: We likely do need more bike lanes but more importantly, we need to change the process involved in the placement, funding, and construction of bike lanes and improve maintenance of current lanes.
Safe lots for RVs/cars: Having safe lots for cars and RVs will allow Seattle residents to have a safer place to sleep at night. Many of these folks do work part time, so it's important they have a safe place to sleep. Homelessness is one of the main concerns I plan on addressing, I often use the quote "make homelessness rare, brief, and one time". This idea is something that is very important to me, and safe lots may be a stepping stone to acquiring rapid re-housing and the "housing first" policy. With any large scale housing decision it's very important to have community support so that the partnership between government and individual remains strong. We also cannot afford more of the blanket policies indicative of the current City Council — some solutions will work for some neighborhoods and others won't. That's why we need a revamped Department of Neighborhoods and real collaboration with individual communities.
Upzoning: I am wary of moving too quickly before the MHA compromise is fully implemented and we certainly cannot afford any unilateral up-zoning in Seattle. Activists and businesses worked hard to pass MHA and HALA, and it will be a good first step in increasing affordable housing options. It might not be flashy, but a 'wait and see approach' may be our best bet in terms of any further up-zones. I will work with all stakeholders — community members, affordable housing activists, and homeless folks — to ensure we are creating effective solutions that will allow for building of affordable housing without negatively influencing the health, safety, and amenities of the communities impacted.
Seattle is dying: Seattle is facing a housing dilemma, a homelessness crisis, and skyrocketing rates of mental health issues and drug addiction. But it is still something we can fundamentally deal with and preserve the 'life' of our thriving city.
Ft. Lawton housing: We need more affordable housing. That's the bottom line we all know. Rather than upzone the whole city unilaterally or cut into single-family zoned neighborhoods, this is the kind of plan that may just work — building on surplus land we can get without bankrupting taxpayers, raising taxes, or negatively impacting communities. Simply put, this is a way of creating the affordable housing we need while working with ordinary Seattleites and people like me who live in the neighborhood or areas nearby and want our neighborhood to remain a place where families can live and work and play. But the process needs to reflect that sentiment of collaboration with the neighbors and communities impacted by the proposed development. We need open hearings to allow for real public involvement and maximize transparency and accountability — that's how government should work. We need to work together, City Council and neighborhood activists and community councils and human services providers and local businesses so all the stakeholders are given a real seat at the table and are actually listened to by the Councilmembers we elect. I want to see arm-in-arm collaboration that creates affordable housing and homelessness services while keeping every community safe. That means that with this development, we need supportive housing with mental health care and addiction services on site, ethical development standards and fair labor practices for all employees involved, real sanitary upkeep of the new green spaces created under the current plan and more police officers to keep our families and property safe and allow everyone to enjoy the benefits of the new park and Discovery Park. We are opening up our neighborhood and community to help the most vulnerable Seattleites — now we need to actually work together to find the best solutions. If done right, this will be one step in the right direction toward a better, fairer Seattle. If done without community collaboration, without thinking about the needs and safety of neighbors and families, this will be just another example of a city government out of touch with the people and the project will not work or be stalled for another decade. Seattleites are already losing faith in our government, let's work together to restore that trust by making Fort Lawton work for all of us.
Close Pike Place Market to cars: Pike Place Market is a Seattle icon and many people stop by to enjoy all it has to offer. With lots of foot traffic around it can become dangerous to have drivers navigating Pike Place Market. But I need to learn more about the freight moving in out of Pike Place and how the vendors utilize the streets around the market before I am prepared to provide a binary answer.
1st Avenue Streetcar: I support expanding public transit, but the streetcar is expensive and over budget and I fear that if we continue to run millions of dollars over projected costs, we will lose the trust of taxpayers who are already becoming more and more reluctant to approve property tax-based levies and increased funding for transportation projects. If the partnership between the people and our government erodes, we will lose any opportunity to expand our public transit system.
New Seattle library levy: I support the library levy!