Candidates for Seattle City Council said they support housing levies and think the city can play a role in ending homelessness. At the Seattle City Council Candidates Forum on Social Justice Issues at Christ Our Hope Church Sunday afternoon, they disagreed only slightly in how to do that.
Position 9 incumbent Sally Clark was the only candidate to get more than polite applause when, in a moment of candor she said, "There's probably not a helluva lot the City Council can do to create jobs.''
The most passionate responses came on the question of police accountability. Councilmember Tim Burgess heads the Public Safety and Education Commission, which is responsible for police oversight. He spoke in favor of the current system where a complaint against the police goes before the Office of Professional Accountability, which is run by a civilian, the OPA Auditor and the OPA Review Board.
But others see flaws in the system.
"I think we need civilian leadership in the police force,'' said David Schraer, who is challenging incumbent Tim Burgess for Position 7. Schraer, who formerly ran White Center Development, said, "Police need to step up and speak out against other police (when they commit acts of wrongdoing). Everything is blue-lined now. The culture has to change.''
Dian Ferguson, a former director of SCAN-TV who's challenging incumbent Sally Clark, said it's "egregious that the federal government had to come in and investigate the police department. The police review board doesn't have subpoena power. And the police have to understand that they work for the people.''
When asked about helping the homeless and the mentally ill, Jean Godden, the Position 1 incumbent and head of the Budget Committee said, "I've always placed human services first. The city put 300,000 back into the budget that the mayor cut.''
Her opponent, Bobby Forch, who works for the city's transportation department, thinks one way to improve the local economy is, "if you live here, spend your money here so it regenerates. And the city should go out and get businesses to come here.''
Bruce Harrell, the Position 3 incumbent, spoke in favor of the car tab levy; "Poor people and old people use mass transit. It's very important.''
His opponent, Brad Meacham, former head of the Seattle Municipal League, said that temporary shelter is needed, and the city must concentrate on building affordable housing.
Clark added that the city has added temporary shelter (this year in Lake City) for the second consecutive winter.
Tom Rasmussen, the Position 5 incumbent, was asked about neighborhood opposition to homes for the mentally ill moving into their neighborhood.
"I understand the neighbors concern," he replied. "You have to work with them. Institute a good neighbor policy.''
Rasmussen's opponent, Dale Pusey, an accountant who moved to Seattle five years ago, said, "People resist an edict coming from the top down. You need outreach so people are aware of what's going on.''
Several religious groups and homeless advocacy organizations, including Catholic Community Services, First United Methodist Urban Outreach, Downtown Emergency Service Center and Real Change sponsored the forum.