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?)

We need to be to be a city of opportunity by providing Seattle families and individuals with affordable home choices and places to live living wage jobs so they can continue to enjoy what our city has to offer- which isn’t the case today. Open forums with citizens, the city and developers are needed in order to keep Seattle’s growth one that benefits all. My parents came here with little and were able to own a home—we can’t price out our working families.

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.

My plan to do this includes working with developers to create more mixed income communities like New Holly. We also need to make sure that we work with apartment owners to allow affordable rent for those who can’t afford to buy a home or are saving to do so. Lastly, our city needs to continue to be a city of opportunity so I will work with businesses so that workers can have a living wage.

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?)

While on the council, I consistently voted to fund police officers. Our parks are gems in our city and contribute to our quality of life, so we need to keep them safe and accessible for all our residents. As chair of the committee that oversees Parks, I made sure we put safety measures in our funding packages. Growing up my family used parks as places to relax, we should not take away this valuable recreation venue.

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?

My family grew up with very little resources. We depended on public transportation to get around the city. I understand the struggle that many in our city face day to day, through my experiences as a community organizer, labor leader and manager at the United Way. In my first term, I made sure these voices are heard. In a next term, I will continue to advocate for the needy in our city.

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

One way to encourage participation is by utilizing our city council meetings as a forum for those who are low-income or homeless. It shouldn’t stop there however, we need to conduct outreach and come face to face with these individuals to discuss how they can be involved. Government should not just be a tool for the rich—it needs to advocate for all income levels.

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 have talked about the need to keep our working families and individuals in Seattle as they are some of the people who have helped build this great city. I would speak with them about some affordable housing options available in Seattle and assure them that I will fight to make sure that we develop more affordable housing in the city.

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?

This transition needs to happen when our city has enough affordable housing options available, whether it is single family homes or rental units. Having a consistent place to stay encourages and empowers the homeless to get out of that situation. Housing prices continue to rise and apartments continue to turn into condos, as an elected official it is my duty to be a voice for those who don’t have one.

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?

Our city will be facing a budget shortfall in the next couple of years. I will make sure that despite this lack of money, the council fund human services. Many times, families and individuals who are poor and homeless depend on these services. It will be a priority of mine to ensure that vital and essential human services are funded. (60)

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

I feel that we need to invest resources in rehabilitation programs rather than jail time. Many studies have shown that the benefits of these programs are not only good for participants but for the communities as well. Our jails continue to get crowded and we need to address the issues at the core—institutional racism, poverty and other social inequity.

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

I support a truly independent police review board. Public Trust is paramount to public safety, and we can’t afford to compromise the integrity of our police. I believe in a zero tolerance policy on police misconduct, and an independent review board will remedy that separate from the OPA.

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