SHSC - 2009 Voter's Guide - Seattle City Council

2009 Seattle City Council


Richard Conlin, Pos. 2	David Ginsberg, Pos. 2	Sally Bagshaw, Pos. 4


David Bloom, Pos. 4	Jesse Israel, Pos. 6	Nick Licata, Pos. 6


Mike O'Brien, Pos. 8	Robert Rosencrantz, Pos. 8

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Q1. Do you believe that the City has a leadership role in ending institutional racism?

Position 2

Conlin: Yes. We must consciously apply an antiracism analysis and approach in order to prevent the influence of race and class on our work. Institutionalized racism is a critical issue in our society, and the City must continue and expand its efforts to challenge it.

Ginsberg: I think we all have a leadership role. Probably the biggest way the City can help is by making sure that law enforcement is evenly applied and that jail is used judiciously, with a preference for community-based diversion programs. Education programs for the public and sensitivity training for police and city employees could also help.

Position 4

Bagshaw: Of course. I believe both the City and the County have a role to end racism and have taken strong steps toward fairness and opportunity for all of us. King County’s Equity and Social Justice Initiative is a strong model. I believe everyone, elected or not, should strive to end racism in our society.

Bloom: Both former King County Executive Ron Sims’ Equity and Social Justice Initiative and Mayor Greg Nickels’ Race and Social Justice Initiative’ demonstrate an important understanding that institutional racism continues to affect our society, including government. These initiatives are a step in the right direction. The problem of institutional racism, for example, is especially apparent in arrest and conviction rates for African-American males, particularly on drug charges. There are steps that both the Seattle and King County Police need to take to change this practice. This must include ongoing support for the drug court and other alternative means to incarceration that have proven to reduce our jail population and reduce recidivism. But it also means that we need to begin to change our attitude toward the drug problem from one of criminal justice to a public health issue. Such a change will dramatically change the way in which we respond. Finally, raising awareness of institutional racism within City government and changing attitudes and behaviors will benefit both the quality of our public institutions and the perception of government by those who too often experience discriminatory treatment based on their racial or ethnic background.

Position 6

Isreal: Yes. As we take on more growth and build communities around transit centers and urban centers we need to pay close attention to gentrification and not pushing communities of color and low-income communities outside the City.

We must also make sure that it is practical for all people to be involved in government. Community meetings should not be during work hours, and there should be childcare available. We should also have more robust outreach and translation programs that serve people for whom English is a second language.

It is a red flag that a disproportionate number of people going to jail are African American men, and I am concerned that we have too many people who are going to jail, when they should be going into other programs. In addition to continued support for substance abuse and mental health programs, we should focus on unemployment in disadvantaged communities. We must ensure that job seekers have technical training to take advantage of the durable infrastructure projects that are created instead of turning to crime. That begins with improving matriculation rates from our public school system. As a City Councilmember, I would actively work to ensure that the City is targeting incentives and funding to support our public schools that are most at risk.

I have worked closely with Ron Sims office to implement his Equity and Social Justice Initiative which tracks and then prioritizes County investments and service delivery based on need, equity and ending institutionalized racism. I'm proud that many of the County success stories over the past two years on this front have been driven from my team at Parks - in particular community partnerships in Skyway and White Center.

Licata: Yes. I support the Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative. As Council President I initiated a series of workshops for the Legislative Department dealing with Race and Social Justice. Still, more can be done within City government to: a. help identify racism within departments and programs and organizations funded by the City b. identify the tools to work toward eliminating it.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: Every government entity has a mandate to ensure fair treatment of everyone.

Q2. In these tough economic times what initiatives will you support to maintain and increase human services in the City?

Position 2

Conlin: I am committed to maintaining all human services funding for programs in the Seattle budget.

Ginsberg: Particularly in tough economic times we have to be sure we’re not cutting people off from the key services upon which they depend. I will fight to fully fund community based diversion programs and all the related programs upon which they depend. I will also fight for an expansion of youth programs at our community centers and universal early childhood education.

Position 4

Bagshaw: In a down economy, we obviously need to do more with less and coordinate our efforts through government, neighborhoods, non-profits, businesses, labor organizations and those who work in all aspects of public education. Human services are critical, and when times are dire, we need to take care of the most vulnerable.

I will support King County’s and the City of Seattle’s efforts “to focus on affordable housing, quality education, safe neighborhoods, access to health care” as defined in King County’s Equity and Social Justice Initiative.

Bloom: I have participated in several efforts coordinated over the years by SHSC and others to assure that human services are not cut in either the City’s or the County’s budgets. While the City of Seattle is facing a possible $72 million deficit in the 2010 budget, it is essential that human services not be cut to close the gap. As a member of the City Council I will advocate for an examination of City spending practices that place too much reliance on private consultants and that have allowed some departments to grow with too many inefficient levels of management. But more important, we are investing City resources in too many capital projects in our downtown with little or no benefit to the public interest. These include the most expensive option for replacing the viaduct, $300 million for Mercer, more than $50 million to build a South Lake Union Street Car that has actually led to reduction in bus service. My priority is to invest in people first: in human services, in low-income housing, in child care, in drug and alcohol counseling, in emergency shelter and transitional housing, and other supportive services. We can do this if we get our priorities straight.

Position 6

Isreal: My first priority as a Seattle City Councilmember will be to make sure we have an efficient well run government, and to figure out how we can keep services open and strong using our existing resources. This will include partnering with community based organizations that provide health and human services. At King County Parks I have worked to keep 25,000 acres of parkland open in the face of an 80% budget cut by raising funds through public-private partnerships. I will bring that experience to the table and strive to find innovative ways that we can strengthen our safety-net for those most in need without raising an already regressive sales tax, by partnering with the non-profit community. As the City, State and County budget crisis continues and community health services are defunded, I will consider potential alternative revenue streams to support this critical urban need.

Licata: I support an increase in the City’s investment in people. I will continue to lead as a Councilmember who will promote the SHSC budget priorities. In down economic times, these services are needed more than ever.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz:

Continue the housing levy— Seattle has voted to tax itself for affordable housing, and has another opportunity to do so in November
Make sure downtown developers and property owners pay for tunnel costs

Take every opportunity to find funding that will address:

Affordable housing for a wide range of citizens, assuring that those who work in support jobs can remain in the city, keeping families strong
Safe shelters, especially for people at risk (abused women, children)
Reinforce that police are a community resource for all--not just enforcers—from the chief on down
Look for ways to maximize access to and opportunities for food banks and community clinics

Q3. What role do you think the City or should play in supporting working families with young children?

Position 2

Conlin: Child care is critical to making it possible for working families to make ends meet and have a reasonable quality of life. The City should continue and expand its efforts to support child care.

Ginsberg: It’s clear the State is unable to fully fund education and we cannot allow a generation of youth to be lost. We must be preparing our kids for the competitive landscape of the 21st century. I believe the city should partner with the school district to guarantee early childhood education for all. I’d also like to implement something like what Kalamazoo has done, a “Seattle Promise” that says that we will help fund the college education of any child who gains admittance to one of our public colleges or universities.

Position 4

Bagshaw: We should take the lead, coordinating with non-profits, businesses, labor organizations as well as our public school district and King County, to provide the services working families need.

Bloom: One of the major themes of my campaign is to make Seattle affordable and supportive for working families. Maintaining a home for these families is essential if we intend to remain a great city. I have proposed the following: 1) Increase Seattle’s commitment to building affordable housing to 5,000 units beyond the goals of the housing levy. We start to achieve this by spending half of what was proposed for building a new jail on housing development and by passing an inclusionary zoning ordinance that requires developers to include low-income units in their projects; 2) Pass a living wage ordinance that over 140 cities have implemented; 3) Invest in early childhood education and middle school after school programs, both of which have been demonstrated to improve children’s educational achievement and life outcomes; 4) Invest in a flexible bus system that offers more cross town routes and serves major activity centers to give families workable transportation options to the automobile.

Position 6

Isreal: I am very concerned that women and children are the largest growing group living in poverty in our region. I will continue to support training programs for managers to promote equity in the workplace and fair hiring and promotion of women. I will also work with employers to offer incentives for those who provide for childcare and medical benefits.

In addition, I know that the number one thing we can do to help working families is work to attract employers to Seattle and keep them here. The City can help improve the climate for commerce in a number of ways, including preserving the high quality of life that attracts world class companies and workers. This means great public education, safe streets, parks and open space, and a transit infrastructure that offers residents attractive, reliable, low-cost options.

Licata: I support increasing the childcare subsidies provided by both the City and State so more low-income families can afford daycare. Further, as a way to improve childcare learning by retaining educated staff, I support programs that increase childcare workers salaries in exchange for their achievements in professional development in childcare learning. We also need to ensure health care is sufficiently funded so that children, youth, and families have adequate health care. Afterschool programs that offer student enrichment, family support and school involvement deserve additional investment.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: Job search assistance, collaboration with Employment Security Support family-friendly Parks Department programs/community centers that focus on youth, providing both respite for working families and a safe haven for the kids Parks and schools need to be available city-wide to make neighborhoods family-friendly City Light/SPU programs that provide subsidies for low-income families

Q4. What do you see as the role of City government in responding to and preventing domestic violence and sexual assault? In what specific ways would you support our regions’ domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and response efforts?

Position 2

Conlin: I have a track record of supporting domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and response efforts. In 2007 I received an award from the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence for my work to secure funding for legal assistance for victims of domestic violence. In 2008, even in the face of a very challenging budget, I was able to secure funding for a program for immigrants who are victims of domestic violence. I will continue to be a strong leader and deliver results on domestic violence issues.

Ginsberg: Police are often the first city employees to respond to domestic violence. Making sure that they’re properly trained is key. Also, the Crisi Clinic is another first call for many, and I’ll fight to ensure that the Crisis Clinic has the funding it needs to meet increasing demand in these tough times. I’ll listen to other providers as well and will incorporate their suggestions into my legislative agenda.

Position 4

Bagshaw: I worked as Chief Civil Deputy for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO). Our office led a regional effort to prevent domestic violence and to prosecute those who committed violent and aggressive acts against our most vulnerable populations. Among other important actions, we worked closely with non-profits providing valuable education and support for victims and started our victim assistance unit within the PAO.

In addition, we created alternatives to jail incarceration so those convicted of non-violent crimes could get the training they needed to improve their lives. I will continue to support these coordinated and humane efforts.

I worked as Chief Civil Deputy for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO). Our office led a regional effort to prevent domestic violence and to prosecute those who committed violent and aggressive acts against our most vulnerable populations. Among other important actions, we worked closely with non-profits providing valuable education and support for victims and started our victim assistance unit within the PAO.

Bloom: The City should have a vigorous program to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. Domestic violence, in addition to being physically dangerous or even fatal for female spouses and partners, is also a leading cause of homelessness for both women and children. Domestic violence, for example, is commonly experienced by youth who live on the streets. Our police must be trained in identifying and responding to domestic violence situations, that should include being able to make arrests in situations where women are obviously at risk. We must increase the number of safe houses where battered women can find safety and support. In too many situations they return to their batterers because they have nowhere else to go, except the street. We should also increase the number of shelters that are available to women with children and to unaccompanied minors. Again, our City’s disproportionate investment in big capital projects comes at the expense of our investment in addressing basic human needs, in this case an issue that places lives at risk.

Position 6

Isreal: As a Councilmember, I will urge the City to continue support for programs like Angeline’s shelter and the YWCA that address issue of domestic violence and sexual abuse. I will also support police training for handling domestic issues, as well as community based programs that empower and defend women.

I am strongly in support of increased neighborhood patrols and the hiring of additional patrol officers which will also significantly aid in the response efforts of police to DV calls.

Licata: Maintaining funding for the advocacy done by the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCCADV) and funding for the services provided by the member organizations of KCCADV is one critical role of City government. Domestic Violence is still the number one reason for homelessness among women; the costs of not supporting the advocacy of KCCADV and the services of its member organizations are too high.

Additionally, the criminal justice system must be designed to protect the victims and there families as well as holding offenders accountable.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: Psychiatric programs—in accessible places Women’s education—in accessible places with skills counseling (from community colleges), child care and job search (with Employment Security and community college job search groups) partnerships Police response Recycling cell phones for free emergency calls

Q5. If you are elected to the office that you seek, what specific steps would you take to respond substantively to the poverty and homelessness in our community?

Position 2

Conlin: It is government’s job to stand up for the people who cannot stand up for themselves. I have a strong voting record of support for human services and have used my influence to get more money for health and human services programs. I will continue to do so, and to support and initiate programs that strengthen community networks to help the disadvantaged and bring disadvantaged citizens into the mainstream, including new immigrant populations. My Local food Action Plan includes measures to decrease hunger and malnutrition by making healthy, affordable food accessible to vulnerable communities.

Ginsberg: We will implement a program similar to what Common Ground has done in New York City, where we provide housing to people as a first measure and then connect them to the social services they need. We’ll augment that with other programs designed to help get the employable homeless into jobs that they can feel good about and that give them a ladder out of poverty and despair.

Position 4

Bagshaw: Supporting our homeless neighbors and supporting our most vulnerable are deeply important to me, not just professionally but personally. For the 31 years I have lived in Seattle, I have volunteered my time to improve our public education and support kids; I have volunteered to be a mentor to girls and women in need; I have created a free legal clinic for homeless women; I have cut hair for homeless men. These actions are from my heart.

As an elected official, I will work with my elected colleagues in the City, the County, the State, and Federal government as well as neighborhood leaders to obtain necessary funding to assist with housing, supportive services. I believe strongly that poverty, violence, health problems and lack of education within families are interconnected issues, and the cycle must be broken and support made available from various sectors of our community if our families are to be made healthy and whole.

Bloom: First, I would make it a priority. The City of Seattle pats itself on the back for its human service and homeless service funding. And while it is true that our City does a relatively good job in this area, it is nowhere near enough. The problems continue to outstrip the needs. I would place human service funding ahead of spending on the capital projects I cited in Q2. I would also set a policy of emergency shelter in safe and well-managed environments for all who need it as a city priority. The fact of more than 2,500 people identified as homeless in the One Night Count indicates that we are far from adequate shelter. To this end I would eliminate the restriction that there can be only one Tent City at a time in Seattle, and I would find a permanent home for Nickelsville. My living wage initiative and my commitment to increasing low-income housing development, cited in Q3, would be key elements in this response.

Position 6

Isreal: Health care costs are spiraling out of control, job losses are at an all-time high, and funding from County and State programs have been cut back stranding many urban families. Particularly now, we must protect our safety net for those most in need. Community partnerships are imperative in a time when we have limited resources. We should be smarter about working hand in hand with non-profit and social service organizations that have existing relationship with disadvantaged communities.

In the long term, the government services and non-profit organizations that supported disadvantaged communities rely on a strong economy. These sectors will not be able to recover until the foundation of job growth and economic growth are stabilized. As a City Councilmember, I will work to ensure that business and industry are incubated and remain in Seattle. For example, I will aggressively promote Seattle’s competitiveness for the development and incubation of clean energy technologies.

As growth moves our way over the next 20 years, housing issues are also going to become even more acute. We must pass the housing levy to get more transitional and permanent low income housing. We must also we must build housing in our urban centers and around transit stations to meet the needs of many family types and income levels.

Licata: I will continue to be a leader in promoting the policies and programs recommended by the SHSC that create living wage jobs, affordable housing, safety net program funding, health care, childcare, and alternatives to incarceration.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: Even before election—especially before election--support of housing levy I’ll continue my work with the Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness

Q6. King County and the City of Seattle have endorsed the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County. We have made progress on some of the plan’s goals but we have not yet provided enough permanent housing to meet people’s needs.

How would you strike a balance between meeting people’s emergency survival needs and securing more permanent affordable housing?

Position 2

Conlin: How would you strike a balance between meeting people’s emergency survival needs and securing more permanent affordable housing?

We must continue to fund emergency shelters while working to provide permanent housing for all who are in need. The Housing Levy is a critical part of those efforts, and I strongly supported increasing the size of the levy and ensuring that it would be placed before the voters. I endorse the commitment to "A Roof Over Every Head", and will work to implement plans to create a governance structure to address homelessness issues, to improve data collection, and to build the community will to achieve this goal. I recognize, however, that there are significant shortfalls in both the Ten-Year Plan and in the funding and implementation that has been committed to it, and support additional steps that will address the issue of homelessness.

Ginsberg: Obviously as a measure of basic humanity we must provide for emergency needs particularly in times of harsh weather, etc., and so that must be fully funded to meet current demand. However, over the long term providing permanent housing and a hand up out of poverty is the sort of investment we need to be making. I would commit all available resources above those basic emergency shelter needs to the latter.

Position 4

Bagshaw: We need housing all along the continuum, from emergency housing, to temporary housing (including our Tent Cities), to family housing, as well as supportive services housing for those with mental illness or drug/alcohol problems, and low income housing so people can move from homelessness into housing. The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness calls for building or sustaining 9,500 units, which means approximately 1000 additional units annually. We are behind this goal, but we are making progress. In addition to building new units, we need to coordinate with local rental associations and non profits to better utilize existing resources.

We need all kinds of housing along this continuum and we do not have dedicated revenues to provide for all these needs. The result: we must coordinate with people from all parts of our community – faith based, non-profit, and individuals – to create the housing necessary.

Bloom: Meeting emergency survival needs should be priority. That’s why I said in Q5 that we must set a policy of providing shelter for all who need it. We cannot respond effectively to issues of addiction or mental illness or domestic violence if a person does not have stable shelter. When one is without shelter of any kind, that becomes the paramount need for that person. But shelter is not housing. It is still, at best, an interim measure. We must work harder to get people into permanent housing, long term transitional housing, or supportive housing where they have the stability to begin to deal with any other issues. Getting people into housing is also critical to be able to maintain steady employment. A significant benefit of Tent City and Nickelsville is that knowing that a person has a stable place to stay, even if it is a tent, can help that person maintain employment. Finally, in a city that has millions to spend on big capital projects, there is no excuse for having to “strike a balance” between survival needs and housing. In a civilized society, these should be our priorities, not $300 million for Mercer that will not improve traffic.

Position 6

Isreal: The City and County should continue to work closely with non-profit community, churches, schools and other property owners to facilitate temporary housing. As stated in question five, a permanent solution must including passing the housing levy, and we must build housing in our urban centers and around transit stations. Additionally, we must re-focus on mental health, substance abuse, and diversion programs.

Licata: I don’t believe we can begin to reduce funding for basic shelter until we can demonstrate a reduced need for shelter. When the City’s funds and programs target permanent housing development I will continue to lead as an advocate for fairness in funding shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: More permanent affordable housing allows future generations to grow up without worrying about having to live on the streets. More flexible programs at the City level [along the lines of Section 8] would give more people immediate access to housing

Q7. What role do you think the City should play in supporting our aging community?

Position 2

Conlin: I believe that all seniors have the right to culturally sensitive services, including health and human services. I am particularly concerned with transportation services for the elderly, and I will continue to advocate for transit services through my position on the Sound Transit Board and for sidewalks and pedestrian safety with a special emphasis on areas that have large numbers of elderly persons. I support full funding for the City’s Aging and Disability Services program and the Area Agency on Aging. I supported the development of Cannon House and the expansion of Branch Villa, and the rescue of Branch Villa and its preservation for the community as the Leon Sullivan Care Center when it experienced financial difficulties. I supported and will continue to support funding for Senior Centers in Seattle.

Ginsberg: I want to see good quality affordable senior housing in each of our communities so that our seniors can age in place in the neighborhoods where they’ve built their lives. The city can encourage this through smartcode and incentive zoning.

Position 4

Bagshaw: This is another area of personal importance to me. I took care of my 90 year old father who lived with my husband and me the last year of his life. I learned first hand the challenges our aging population face. As a community, we must have at the ready additional services to help those who cannot help themselves.

Many of our conversations are about low income and affordable housing, and providing more housing for those in need. Those are indeed admirable goals, all of which I support. But I think it is also important to pay attention to the needs of those who have homes, and particularly to help our elders age in place.

Bloom: The City should maintain its commitment to senior housing that was built under the senior housing bond program and other senior housing that is managed by SHA. This includes maintaining those units for the lowest income seniors and not converting them to any higher income uses. The City should also maintain its commitment to supporting the senior centers, to its program of utility discounts to low-income seniors, and to support for the mission of Senior Services “To promote the emotional, social, and physical well-being of older adults.” Finally, since transportation is vitally important to seniors, we must maintain support for the Access vans and assure that bus service in the Rainier Valley is not sacrificed in the wake of the opening of the light rail system.

Position 6

Isreal: With an aging boomer generation, it will be critically important to ensure the City is working proactively with other partners to build strong urban, multi-generational neighborhoods. Public-private partnerships can serve as a strong development tool toward creating a strong supply of affordable urban assisted living communities and housing that meets this critical need.

Working families today are also part of the sandwich generation – caring for young children and aging parents at the same time. I will promote tax incentives for employers who provide adequate family sick leave.

Licata: There has not been sufficient planning around how to best support Seattle growing population of senior citizens. A coordinated effort is necessary to determine the need for community care facilities as alternatives to nursing homes, as well as the direct service needs such as meal programs, transportation, and personal chore assistance in the home.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: Transportation/Access vans are vital for frail people who can no longer drive or even stand at the bus stop for extended periods. Support Meals on Wheels Continue the property-tax deferral program Continue the weatherization program

Q8. There is an increasing need for access to affordable housing among King County households and yet the County is cutting capital funding for affordable housing development.

Given the decrease in financial means, what are alternative ways you will support and provide incentives for production and preservation of affordable housing?

Position 2

Conlin: Given the decrease in financial means, what are alternative ways you will support and provide incentives for production and preservation of affordable housing? See answer to Question 10.

Ginsberg: On the City Council I would be limited to affecting City policies, and within those confines I will vigorously push for revisions to our planning and land use code to implement smartcode to encourage the development of greater density and more affordable housing throughout the city.

Position 4

Bagshaw:

I am a strong advocate of Seattle’s Housing Levy. We must pass this replacement housing levy at the City. I will encourage those involved in the 10 Year Plan to continue their outreach and coordinate efforts with banks and housing developers. I will also reach out to rental housing associations that have indicated a willingness to make their stock available to non-profit organizations and assure their units are filled (at a reduced rate) so people who need housing get it.

As a region, we must work with our elected and community leaders to assure appropriate housing and supportive services are coordinated and that these supportive services are made available and accounted for in a fiscally responsible manner. To help people stay in their homes, coordinated services including rent and utility assistance, job training, education assistance, health care, mental health counseling, foster care and chemical dependency treatment are available.

In addition to building the public will to provide good housing, as a region we must look more broadly at our strategies to create sustainable, more affordable housing options. Some ideas follow, as offered recently by federal leaders in the Obama Administration: DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson who announced an Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities with “6 Livability Principles.” I find this change in federal leadership heartening:

Provide more transportation choices.
Develop safe, reliable and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote public health.
Promote equitable, affordable housing.
Expand location- and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.
Enhance economic competitiveness.
Improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities, services and other basic needs by workers as well as expanded business access to markets.
Support existing communities.
Target federal funding toward existing communities – through such strategies as transit-oriented, mixed-use development and land recycling – to increase community revitalization, improve the efficiency of public works investments, and safeguard rural landscapes.
Coordinate policies and leverage investment.
Align federal policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding and increase the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy.
Value communities and neighborhoods.
Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe and walkable neighborhoods – rural, urban or suburban.

Bloom: As I stated in Q3, I would increase the City’s housing production goal by 5,000 units, redirect funds from major capital projects into housing, and pass an inclusionary zoning ordinance that more than 140 American cities have implemented, including Boston, Denver, and San Francisco. I would also introduce a one-for-one replacement requirement for developers to replace affordable housing that is demolished for new projects. Other methods would be to give tenants the right of first notice when an apartment building is being sold to enable them to form cooperatives to buy the building in cooperation with a local low-income housing non-profit.

Position 6

Isreal: We have additional opportunities when it comes to partnering to build employer assisted housing, increase housing options co-located with other public facilities like libraries, and allow for smaller units without parking or other options that tend to drive up housing costs to consumers. Friend and supporter, Jeff Reibman, explains here in recent article for the Puget Sound Business Journal on urban senior housing that co locating housing with park or other public spaces to decrease vandalism and increase community vibrancy: http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/07/27/focus6.html The City and other large employers in the region own underutilized land which may be viable for public housing or employee assisting housing partnerships with the correct incentives.

I am a strong supporter of the upcoming Housing Levy which will provide capital funding for to provide low income and transitional housing for Seattle's most vulnerable.

Licata: I support Incentive Zoning in exchange for increased housing setasides at affordability rates not already sufficiently provided by the current rental market. I support efforts to preserve the quality of the affordable housing we have now. I support requirements for developers to replace the housing that their developments eliminate.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: Although this is a County program, for years I worked with King County in creating and preserving low-income housing and look forward to continuing to do so.

Q9. How would the City ensure that everyone in our communities has access to adequate, nutritious food?

Position 2

Conlin: I have led the work of the Council on funding programs to feed the hungry, including securing some $1 million in additions to the 2009-2010 budgets to support food banks, home delivery of meals, and expanded outreach to get people signed up for food stamps. I worked with United Way to develop a coordinated strategy to end hunger and malnutrition in King County, announced at a news conference April 24. My Local Food Action Initiative, which was approved by the Council in 2008, focuses on both hunger issues and access to healthy, local food. I recently worked with a coalition of groups to develop a community action grant for submission to the US Department of Agriculture. Among other things, this $300,000 grant, awarded in June, provides funding for the Clean Greens program organized out of New Hope Baptist Church, for additional garden space for immigrant communities under Seattle’s P-Patch program, for providing access to fresh fruit and vegetables in the Delridge community, and several other projects.

Ginsberg: One of the best ways the City can help is by making sure that farmer’s markets are thriving and have stable locations throughout the city. We can also use incentive zoning to encourage the development of grocery stores in areas that are currently underserved.

Position 4

Bagshaw: Availability of food is not the primary problem in our region. Distribution is. The City and County are providing some good first steps to encourage local partnerships and in some cases to fund neighborhood grants and outreach efforts. Many community organizations including our underfunded food banks are taking steps to reach individual neighbors and neighborhood groups. Volunteer organizations such as “Gleaners” are making sure fresh fruits and vegetables are available to neighbors. In Delridge for example, a mobile truck is taking fresh fruits and vegetables around to particular neighborhoods in need. Most recently, I learned that a group led by AmeriCorp is reaching out through students to teach kids and families about the value of eating healthy snacks and growing their own fresh vegetables.

No single effort is going to solve the access problem. This must be a continuous community wide effort, which may best be led by neighbors rather than the government.

Bloom: Support the Local Food Action Initiative of Richard Conlin and the City Council “to promote local and regional food sustainability and security,” including: increasing funding for local food banks, expanding community gardens, increasing access to healthy food for low-income households by providing more fresh food to food banks and feeding programs, supporting local food producers, expanding the growing network of farmers markets, and educating the public on the benefits of healthy diets. Finally, I would support the development of a proposed Regional Food Policy Council to assist the City in developing policies that increase access to adequate, nutritious food.

Position 6

Isreal: As a board member of the Ballard Food Bank I see first hand the immense need for stable programs to serve those who are most vulnerable. We must make the most strategic use of public assets to support critical community needs. In addition to grant making, that could include subsidizing lease space for non-profit organizations that provide food services or providing surplus vehicles.

I also am proud that our commitment to growth management and the preservation of farmland has made Seattle a place where we have more farmers markets per capita than any other city in the nation. As a City Councilmember I will to support farmers’ markers, pea patches, and victory gardens.

Licata: The challenge of making sure that Seattle residents have enough to eat continues to grow. We must maintain and increase our funding for summer meal programs for children, foodbanks, childcare nutrition programs, and senior meal programs.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: More Pea Patches. I’m on the Board of Seattle Tilth and am a big booster of self-sufficiency gardening and growing.

Q10. One in five Seattle renters currently pays more than half their monthly income in rent. What policies would you undertake to develop more affordable housing to ensure that it is possible for working families to afford housing and still have enough money for basics like food, gas and child care?

Position 2

Conlin: I played a key role in the creation of Seattle’s Transfer of Development Rights and Bonus programs, which require the development and funding of low income housing as a prerequisite for building in downtown zones. I also assisted in developing the incentive zoning program, which extends these concepts to other zones around the City. I will continue to be involved in the work of government and community based agencies to increase the supply of low income housing in Seattle. I was one of the Councilmembers who ensured that the Low Income Housing Levy was expanded in 2002, and supported expanding it again this year. I will only support redevelopment of low income housing that ensures full replacement of all low income housing units and a guarantee that every family will have the opportunity to move back into the redeveloped community.

I am committed to realigning funding support as needed in order to support programs that research has demonstrated to be effective and to coordinate the provision of services from prevention and service programs. I am also committed to ensuring that the City continues to fund human service and housing programs as a high priority.

Ginsberg: This is one of the top 3 issues I’ve been talking about since I entered the race. We’ll use smartcode and the dense, compact development it encourages to get the market to provide more affordable housing. This should cover 80% or so of the need. The remaining 20% can be provided through extension and expansion of the housing levy, as well as leveraging our community centers to help bring down some of the costs of child care. We can create a Seattle that works for all of it’s residents, and this will be one of my top priorities on the Council.

Position 4

Bagshaw: Please see the 6 step plan above in response to Question 8.

Bloom: I refer you to my responses in Q3 and Q8 that I believe address this question.

Position 6

Isreal: The Puget Sound Regional Council expects 1.7 million additional people will move to our region by 2040. In order to keep housing affordable to families, we must encourage urban infill in targeted areas via tax and height incentives and altered zoning. Building housing around transit stations will be of particular importance to families who can save on transportation costs. And we must target improvements for green space, walkability and other community oriented infrastructure to areas accepting growth, so that the growth is an asset, not a liability to the neighborhood. If we do not accept growth in these strategic ways, Seattle will become unaffordable and quickly edge out our middle class. While passing of the Housing Levy and support is critically important, with the number of housing units needed, it is not possible for a levy to subsidize enough housing to meet the tidal wave of need required for Seattle to remain affordable. We must also look at increased density, streamlined permit process, alternatives to traditional single family homes and smart growth.

Licata: An employee earning a minimum wage must work 100 hours each week in order to afford an average 2-bedroom apartment in Seattle. We must find new ways to work with the private sector in order to provide the housing that people actually need as well as pay people a wage sufficient to maintain that housing.

Position 8

O'Brien:

Rosencrantz: Grow the economy so there are more family-wage jobs with benefits Programs that provide relief for utility costs