1. If elected, what steps would you take to ensure that neighborhood residents have a voice in development in their communities and that Seattle’s growth benefits everyone (e.g., homeless people, renters, low-wage workers?)

I want public forums where a record is made on neighborhood feedback; use of the internet to capture opinions; and a defined decision-making tree for neighborhoods to understand who makes what decision. Let’s protect single-family neighborhoods from density that make no sense. I support multi-family and smaller detached housing near business districts, arterials, and transit hubs. I prefer smaller housing designs with pedestrian accessibility. This provides housing alternatives for those who want less house.

2. Building and preserving new housing units is key to solving our housing and homelessness crisis, but preventing the loss of the affordable housing that already exists is equally important. If elected, what would you do to preserve existing affordable / low-income housing? Please be specific about what the city can do under current law, and what changes, if any, you support in state law.

I have met with experts in Affordable Housing and community leaders. I will continue to seek their input on policy and support efforts to achieve the goal of 9,500 units by 2014. I will find additional funds for the existing affordable housing fund and consider re-establishing the Growth Related Housing Fund. I will encourage structuring a Land Acquisition Fund for land banking and encourage city guarantees of land purchases specifically for this targeted population.

3. What would you do to ensure that parks and open spaces are safe and accessible to all people, including homeless people, families with children, nearby workers, and others? Please be specific about what, if any, changes you would make in how parks are used and regulated. (e.g.; would you modify or eliminate the parks exclusion ordinance, support limiting park hours, support funding for downtown park rangers, add or remove park seating?)

Parks must be clean and safe. I support funding for unarmed park rangers and want neighborhood input on seating/hour issues. Open spaces are not identical. I want to assure access to parks for all. Ordinances should exist for enforcement by those with authority to act on crime that put others at risk. The Park Exclusion Ordinance 118607 attempted to provide this oversight but I don’t want to punish the homeless; I want to help them.

4. People struggling with homelessness and poverty are often focused on making ends meet, finding a place to sleep, and otherwise taking care of their basic needs and the needs of their families. Many don’t feel that elected officials listen to them, and don’t see much value in participating in the political process. How would you respond to that concern?

Through the use of public libraries, shelters, and non profits, I will make sure every person has access to me and other council members and I will visit them. I will encourage all to politically engage. Community advocacy groups that represent these constituents will be my partners in policy making. Those with fewer resources still have the right to equal participation and access.

5. If elected, would you take any steps to increase participation in the public process by people who are low-income and/or homeless?

Yes. I was raised in the Central District of Seattle in the 60s. Nobody had a lot of money. I will hold meetings to where it’s easiest to be involved. I will review how we provide notice of meetings and forums to these constituents. My staff will make personal efforts to meet with all constituents regardless of economic conditions. I’m not hesitant to go into any housing location to meet with people.

6. How would you respond to someone who is: Housed, but barely making ends meet, and concerned about losing their housing as costs rise and affordable housing is lost? Homeless, and feels they have no hope of finding a job that pays enough to afford a place to live as the cost of
housing continues to rise in Seattle?

I will be continuing to work for more affordable housing options in Seattle so there are fewer individuals living with this concern. I will review property tax impacts on low-income people. There is much we can do with policy as well as services to keep people housed in Seattle.

I’m committed to making sure social and human services are available. I’ll will be an advocate for employment training options and give people choices for improving their situations.

7. The Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness prioritizes permanent housing over shelter. How should this transition be managed, i.e., at what point in is a reduction in shelter appropriate?

The transition from shelter to permanent housing is the goal. Shelter reduction must be managed with a careful examination of our progress in solving the problem of homelessness. It is difficult to determine “a point” at which shelter reduction is appropriate but we need an inventory of existing shelters in relation to our progress. We should look at other cities such as San Francisco or New York to assist us determine the appropriate ratios as they have struggled with similar issues.

8. Poverty and homelessness are bad for one’s health. What role does the City of Seattle have in making sure people’s health care needs are met?

All citizens must have equal and affordable access to medical benefits and healthcare benefits. It is incumbent upon our City’s leaders to do everything possible to initiate and pass legislation designed to establish parity in these areas. Our City’s leaders must assist with tracking its citizens’ needs and partner with the county, state and federal leaders on coming up with reform and legislation to remedy these issues.

9. Please speak to changes you would like to see in the local jail system, focusing on how those changes impact homelessness?

I would like to make sure a portion of our funding for local jails goes to the direct delivery of social and medical services of impoverished inmates. I would like our City leaders, prosecutors and Judges to better understand recidivism. We should coordinate the prosecutorial process of victimless crimes in a different way and get early input from social service agencies better equipped to help the homeless.

10. Do you support any changes to the system for police accountability/oversight?

Yes. I would like to ensure that the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) has the ability to evaluate police on a completely transparent basis, with the ability to examine and subpoena documents and truly conduct independent examinations. I would like any decisions by the Chief of Police to be in writing and in particular any of his/her decisions that change or modify the findings made by the OPA.

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