ELECTION 2019: City Councilmember Lisa Herbold announces she’s running for re-election

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“I’m running.” That was how City Councilmember Lisa Herbold opened a coffeehouse conversation with us this morning, announcing that she’s seeking a second term as the District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) representative on the council. She says that while she has a reputation as a “policy wonk,” she and her staff have “gotten the most satisfaction” out of working directly with constituents. “From getting a streetlight fixed … to getting SDOT to build a stairway,” Herbold says it’s been “powerful” to connect residents with the people in city government who can help, to “amplify their voices.” We talked about a lot more, of course, including her response to critics on a variety of issues – so check back in about an hour as we add the rest of the story. Herbold’s declaration means at least five people are now in the D-1 race, looking ahead to the August primary.

ADDED 11:50 AM: Working for the district, Herbold says, doesn’t just mean individual constituents’ issues, which were also a reason for running that she cited when announcing her original run in February 2015. She adds that she’s proud of “policy work that has specifically helped the district.” She’s been recounting that in lengthy weekly updates, published online and sent to her mailing list. Just a few she lists: The noise-ordinance work requested by Alki residents; advocating for shore power to be part of the T-5 project; a ready-to-work program in High Point; safety advocacy in South Park.

Others are listed on her campaign website, including commitments made during her 2015 campaign. “And there’s still a lot of work to be done.” Impact fees is high on that list – she mentions transportation and utility fees – and “addressing displacement issues” (right now, evictions are in the spotlight).

We observe that it’s been a rocky four years for the council in general.

“It’s definitely a different job than it used to be,” Herbold agrees. “It’s more intense … the expectations are higher … civic discussion has become more polarized.” But constituent services is what she sees as the touchpoint “where you can restore faith in government.”

In our recent interviews with challengers – and in other forums – a frequent criticism of the current council is that it’s spend-happy. Herbold says she agrees that the “issue of accountability is important – we have to be good public stewards of public dollars” and contends that she has led the council on that issue. She cites legislation stipulating council review of contracts and of capital projects. In the past, she says, the council didn’t always get “full information” about them, and now that’s changing. The council is working with the mayor’s office “to develop a watch list,” she adds, which is expected to go public in February.

One accountability model she points to is the budget stipulation that required a council review when the Delridge Way paving-and-more project reached 10 percent design, before any more funding could be released. This is the sort of accountability that could hold off surprises such as those on projects of which she’s been critical, including the Center City Streetcar and the city’s original bike-share program (Pronto).

Regarding eviction prevention, Herbold believes stronger protection for renters could keep some from becoming homeless. She says that people don’t always understand that while many people are being helped out of homelessness, many others continue to fall into it, and that needs to be addressed on a multitude of levels, from building more affordable housing to helping people stay in the housing they have. Current law allows some people to be evicted for owing less than a month’s rent, and does not oblige landlords to accept late payments after as little as three days, she notes.

She stresses the “regional responsibility” to tackle homelessness, and is hopeful that the new joint city-county initiative will be “a game-changer” for improved outcomes and accountability, and that it will “help the discussion about how to pay for (solutions). … We need a structure that can make decisions; this new regional body will do that.”

Also on the subject of homelessness, when asked about an example of something she would have done differently in her first term if she could have, she brings up the “head tax” – aka Employee Hours Tax – which she co-sponsored, and which the council passed, only to subsequently cancel the plan. She said they had no choice but to back off, with even supporters telling them they would lose a referendum vote. “I stayed awake nights thinking about it.” Herbold says that going to the voters first would have been a better way to do it – San Francisco, for example, has passed that kind of tax as a result of doing it that way. “They were able to run a proactive campaign about the need and use the campaign to make the case,” she notes, adding that she is “gratified” to see other cities around the country following suit. “I’m glad to have played some part in getting that started.”

Some critics allege that she and other councilmembers are “anti-business.” Herbold begs to differ. She points to the legacy-business program she’s been championing with the Office of Economic Development. For starters, she says, that program would designate one business at a time in each council district for support, with nominations from the community, and criteria “focused on what makes that particular business an anchor, a link to that community’s history.” If the program is a success for starters, “I’d like to expand it to be more robust.”

She also defends her record on businesses by bringing it back to the reason she says she wants to keep the job – helping constituents one by one. “Some businesses reach out to me for help,” such as Luna Park facing more parking removal in the upcoming paving project. And, “when district businesses said they were concerned about ‘secure scheduling,’ I made sure small business was exempt.” Same goes for a business tax that increased to fund police.

Some constituent advocacy has put her in the line of citywide fire, such as proposing changes to the citywide HALA Mandatory Housing Accountability upzoning plan. Rather than a watering-down of the upzoning, she sees the potential changes as helping achieve community support of a “shared objective of all councilmembers,” to get the MHA program in place and start raising more money for affordable housing. She is “optimistic” the amendments will be approved.

We ask about one more big issue of D-1 interest: Light rail, and specifically whether money will be found for some tunneling as part of the plan. She points to her post this week raising concern that the increased price tag for the Center City Streetcar could take away money that the city needs for other types of transit, such as the light-rail project (for which she serves on the Elected Leadership Group).

So now it’s on to the campaign. She says she plans to collect signatures to qualify for Democracy Vouchers. No campaign-kickoff event is on her calendar immediately but she says she’ll have one “eventually.” And she says even her grandchildren are on board with the campaign – her granddaughter (a 9th grader at Chief Sealth International High School) “is already lining up votes for me,” and her grandson is president of his class at Sanislo Elementary.

Herbold won the seat in 2015, after a nine-candidate primary and a mega-close general-election vote.

WHO ELSE IS RUNNING: In chronological order of campaigns registered with the city Ethics and Election Commission:
Phillip Tavel
Isaiah Willoughby
Brendan Kolding
Jesse Greene

87 Replies to "ELECTION 2019: City Councilmember Lisa Herbold announces she's running for re-election"

  • #noforherbold January 30, 2019 (10:36 am)

    Very curious how she would justify her recent trip to NYC to “warn” them against Amazon — who I would wager employees a large portion of her constituents by the way. Leave me wondering who paid for that trip as well.I can say that her choice to attempt to meddle in other city’s politics has left a sour taste in my mouth and she will not be getting my vote — if she really cared about us as her constituents then she would not be spending her time trying to influence a city that is not in her control.

    • WSB January 30, 2019 (10:38 am)

      The trip was paid for by the sponsoring organization, as reported and discussed at the time.

      • #noforherbold January 30, 2019 (10:44 am)

        Regardless, does not change the fact she is meddling in a city that is not hers — we pay for her time to influence our leaders, not NYC’s.

      • Accountability January 30, 2019 (11:25 am)

        While her trip expenses were paid for by another organization, she did this while on Seattle’s payroll.  I asked a PIO via FOIA, and while the expenses were covered, her paycheck came without this being vacation or leave time.  Collecting a paycheck while arguing against her constituents and local business?  No thank you, Lisa – go run for office in New York.

        • Honorable January 30, 2019 (12:51 pm)

          A person of integrity  would have taken vacation or unpaid leave.

    • My two cents ... January 30, 2019 (6:21 pm)

      You have it all wrong …. Herbold is “pro-business” …. at the expense of all business of over 10 people … Sheesh, what a pathetic spin attempt by Councilmember Herbold.

  • HTB January 30, 2019 (10:46 am)

    Please no – we need someone who’s not anti-business and anti-progress.

  • AlkiGal87 January 30, 2019 (11:00 am)

    Oh, I can hardly wait.  What we need to focus on is making sure Sawant does not keep her spot on the city council! People get out and VOTE!!

    • AMD January 30, 2019 (5:32 pm)

      First we’d need to move to her district.  No one in West Seattle gets to vote for or against Sawant, unless she seeks one of the city-wide positions instead.

      • Sky King January 30, 2019 (8:18 pm)

        LOL, thank you, AMD. I have relatives outside the city who complain to me about Sawant every time her antics are in the news and I can’t seem to get the point across to them that she doesn’t represent me and she did not even appear on my ballot, because West Seattle is not in her district. I’d hope fellow Seattleites understood that, though!

  • Rick January 30, 2019 (11:01 am)

    She has done nothing to stop the RV campers that destroyed the West Seattle Health Club and continue to trash the streets they are parked on. She will not be getting my vote this time.

    • ava l levine February 1, 2019 (4:11 pm)

      totally agree. 

    • Jim February 1, 2019 (4:55 pm)

      HelloI agree.I have found her office poorly responsive if at all. The motor homes on harbor ave continue and I don’t think she has done enough to secure my vote.

    • Cleo Subido February 2, 2019 (9:47 am)

      Exactly!  She has done NOTHING!  She is benign!  She is not a leader she is a follower and unfortunately O’Brien is who she follows. She is non- responsive and even when she votes she attaches a caveat so she can play both sides to appease. She does not give us any confidence as a leader for a part of this city that is clearly in need of someone to take control!! She’s got to go. A trip to NEW YORK?  For what?  She can’t impart anything for them to learn from. We need a leader. Brendan Kolding has my vote 

  • Um, No! January 30, 2019 (11:05 am)

    One and done!   Hopefully. 

  • PigeonRidgeBen January 30, 2019 (11:20 am)

    I’m always keen to hear the platforms and styles of challengers to an incumbent, and this cycle will not be an exception, however I am pleased with the Councilwoman’s performance to date and have zero regrets of giving her my initial vote. In my opinion she has represented her constituents interests and values. She is an experienced policy maker that has not strayed from what are transparent core values. She has been great at laying out her reasoning and process in her regular email updates and her office has responded to concerns and requests in a timely manner, and though it might not always be how I want it to be, the responses lay out the reasons why. I’m  glad to see we’ll have a diversity in visions to consider, and as always, may the best candidate for the present, future, peninsula, and city; win. (Is that proper semicolon use?)

  • anonyme January 30, 2019 (11:26 am)

    I find it particularly hypocritical that Herbold would claim that the most satisfying part of her job is working directly with constituents.  That has not been the case for most people that I know, and I have also experienced her lack of response first hand.  Not as bad as Durkan,  who is the most secretive politician I’ve come across, but unimpressive nonetheless.  I’m looking at Brendan Kolding, who is the only law & order candidate I’ve seen in a long time.  Take a look at his bio; he has extensive experience not just in law enforcement, but in education.  We need a new approach, that’s for sure.

    • Cool Rick January 30, 2019 (12:25 pm)

      That was amusing to me also. I’ve sent her emails several times that have gone ignored. She was also not even a little bit gracious in defeat with the head tax, choosing to admonish her constituents and paint them as naive fools misled by Amazon instead of listening to our concerns. The recent trip to New York only highlights how out of touch with her constituent base she is. I personally would never even consider voting for her again after how poorly her first run as a council member has gone. We need new leadership. She has been a large part of the problem with the current council.

      • Mickymse January 31, 2019 (12:33 pm)

        Or… one could look at the regular “office hours” she holds in our district. For example, last Friday I headed over to the Senior Center where I waited just 20-30 minutes to meet with her without any sort of appointment. While there, I chatted with a couple of seniors and a mom with her Boy Scout son who also came over to meet with her. And — since you clearly read the Blog — I’m sure you have seen numerous pictures of Lisa posted here when she has been in attendance at community meetings both large and small across District 1.

      • Cleo Subido February 2, 2019 (9:49 am)

        I too have sent emails that were never responded to as well as phone calls. 

  • Don Brubeck January 30, 2019 (11:34 am)

    Lisa Herbold has earned a second term with her solid, smart, balanced support for West Seattle and city-wide needs. For a sample just see her latest newsletter  .

    • West Seattle Hipster January 30, 2019 (12:15 pm)

      Of course Herbold’s website will tout all of her “achievements” but I would prefer to see an unbiased evaluation of her performances.Although I don’t believe that Herbold is an extremist like O’Brien and Sawant have proven to be, I do feel we need new leadership.  Like most of the city council she panders to special interest groups instead of the majority of her constituents.  I am just concerned that there will be no rational thinking candidates to oppose her (or the other open council seats).

      • Promises kept? January 31, 2019 (9:57 am)

        Agreed.  It could be a good news piece for WSB to do some fact checking on campaign promises made, achieved and not achieved.

        • WSB January 31, 2019 (10:05 am)

          The primary is 6+ months away. Right now, the news is who’s announcing and what they’re saying as they announce. Trust me, you’ll see so much coverage of the campaign for D-1 here, you’ll get sick of it, including some aspects we’ve never covered before (like campaign financing). It’s the only local race on the ballot this year so the spotlight is big and bright. – TR

          (added) Correcting myself – not the only local race – we’ll also be voting in County Council District 8.

  • Please no January 30, 2019 (11:54 am)

    I don’t see how we can afford another term of her misguided agenda. And the reference to getting a staircase build is wrong on so many levels, especially that they misappropriated  money from the school safety levy. Lisa, please go quickly and quietly. You are the last person I would vote for. 

  • KM January 30, 2019 (12:06 pm)

    Herbold has been very responsive in my communications with her (I’m not her only constituent), especially when I disagree with her on policy–I received follow-up to my follow-up. I really wish she was more progressive with her work in housing/zoning policy, but she looks like our best candidate in D1 thus far. However, many candidates don’t have their positions published yet, so I’m keeping an open mind. Rarely is there a candidate I am in 100% agreement with on platform.

    • Sky King January 30, 2019 (8:08 pm)

      Interesting. You might be a rare exception, as I don’t usually hear that she is responsive. I’ve spoken to a number of people, in fact, who have experienced just the opposite. Happy for you that she responds to you, but many of the rest of us would be happy to be quit of her. I’m interested to hear about the challengers’ positions, so I can choose one of them to vote into her seat.

  • ChefJoe January 30, 2019 (12:15 pm)

    Lisa’s office stopped answering emails inuiring about what happened with that full 35th Ave SW phase1 evaluation that was due back before phase2 plans were to be released.  At the same time, I like that she did propose permitting sdot sepa analysis to do something about parking impacts instead of just studying and concluding “parking will suck, go ahead”.https://www.reddit.com/r/WestSeattleWA/comments/9tqauh/sdots_35th_ave_sw_phase1_citizen_3_yr_before_and/

  • clark5080 January 30, 2019 (12:30 pm)

    Bring on the challengers! Will be interesting to see who tries to unseat her.

    • ava l levine February 1, 2019 (4:23 pm)

      check out Phil Tavel. He is solid,caring great listener with alot of experience. Come to the Forums we will have to ask Candidates to present their positions and answer questions. Watch for more info- 

  • We. Need. More. Housing. January 30, 2019 (12:33 pm)

    No. We need someone who will push hard to increase our middle class housing supply. Herbold is doing the opposite with watering down HALA (despite her lame claim that that’s not what she’s doing with her amendments). Too much of the city is exclusively reserved for single family houses on huge lots, and no amount of ADUs/DADUs will ever meet our middle class housing needs. It’s time for someone to stand up and fight for converting single family zoning to small lot zoning and allow duplexes/triplexes everywhere, that would allow us to start building reasonably sized houses on reasonably sized lots for the middle class rather than reserving most of the city for large houses on large lots for the privileged. We also need to greatly expand areas where high density housing is allowed and increase height limits citywide. Herbold will never do these things and will only perpetuate our housing shortage,

    • KM January 30, 2019 (1:33 pm)

      I’d be thrilled to support a candidate in D1 who will push to ban SF zoning citywide. Durkan doesn’t need to create a “middle-income advisory council” to think about the problem. The problem is that dense housing is illegal in most of the city. Now, where do I send the bill for my consultant fees?

    • CAM January 31, 2019 (12:07 am)

      I was working under the impression that those amendments were put forward by the neighborhood organizations and that the council members were required to present them and consider them with the whole council, not that she was personally endorsing or even recommending any of those changes. If I’ve missed something please let me know because that would be cause for great concern moving forward. 

      • CAM January 31, 2019 (12:17 am)

        Ugh. I just read more in depth. That’ll teach me to skim. That is unfortunate and I hope she hears from large numbers of district 1 constituents and amends her position based on what the majority is in favor of. 

      • BIGNO January 31, 2019 (7:51 am)

        CAM – I received a form letter (that was trying to be personalized),  from her supporting the MHA amendments she brought forth.   She thinks RSL will really help the housing situation and she also mentioned delaying any and/or more upzoning.  The council spent over 3 years selling us on a plan and she’s trying to make everyone happy, i.e., Juno, Scale. Hopefully she won’t get her way.  She is very much endorsing those changes.

  • BG January 30, 2019 (12:52 pm)

    Say what you will about her, but at least she fired evil Wells Fargo. I’m so glad that they do not provide banking services for the city any more.

    • M January 30, 2019 (2:06 pm)

      I think you missed the conclusion of that story. The city still banks with Wells Fargo because no other banks wanted to work with this horrible city council. 

    • My two cents ... January 30, 2019 (6:25 pm)

      @BG the initial response to your comment was spot on – Wells Fargo is still here, Herbold did nothing except to try and grab a headline.  

      • Chris Porter January 30, 2019 (9:46 pm)

        Actually the city has a contract that will end.  Trying to abruptly end the services with Wells Fargo would have but the city in a tight spot.  It is not easy to just move to another bank. Puget Sound Business Journal reported that banks refused to take on depository services for the city.  That would leave contractors and employees without payment.  SO effort was made to rid the city of Wells Fargo, but it is easier said than done. 

  • Lola January 30, 2019 (12:56 pm)

    Another one who will get a NO vote from me.

  • BigNO January 30, 2019 (1:15 pm)

    Big NO to someone who says she supports housing, then waters it down. Also, as she has mentioned in her amendments, she will delay anything other than RSL until late 2020. The reasoning? It would make those properties that stand in the way of ST3 too expensive for the city to buy and therefore creating more expense for the ST3. So basically she’s supporting not doing anything that would give houses more value, so the city won’t have to pay. Those homeowners that live in the ST3 path are basically screwed.

    • CAM January 31, 2019 (12:18 am)

      I was hasty and agree that her comment and position is unfortunate and not representative of what the majority of district 1 residents want. 

  • Mj January 30, 2019 (1:51 pm)

    I’m hoping to see a person that better understands the issues of pragmatic residents and taxpayers.  More money IS not the answer.

  • M January 30, 2019 (1:56 pm)

    Big no for me. She hasn’t addressed getting the RVs off of Harbor Avenue and they are still at the West Seattle Health Club. I feel unsafe to go to that gym after dark.

  • Plf January 30, 2019 (2:23 pm)

    No, absolutely not.  

  • alkiobserver January 30, 2019 (2:57 pm)

    Nope. Nope. Nope. Just way too many bad decisions. Lisa is way too far left. Her anti-business bias seals the “no” vote for me. Here’s to a much more fiscally conservative, pro-business and less progressive candidate bringing much needed and overdue balance to the council. 

  • pw January 30, 2019 (3:08 pm)

    I hope it becomes a No.Sometimes it is ok to say you need to move on. This person has done nothingbut nod and smile and increase taxes.

  • AIDM January 30, 2019 (3:40 pm)

    Let’s also not forget that she released a statement against impeachment proceedings for Mayor Molester after the fourth victim had come forward. She cited that due process needed to occur, somewhat unbelievably not understanding that impeachment proceedings are the “due process” that is used to assess the fitness of a mayor. Thank goodness that victim number five brought her around!

    • AM January 30, 2019 (6:22 pm)

      I am so glad to see so many anti Herbold comments!  Just might be hope for West Seattle!

  • M January 30, 2019 (6:15 pm)

    I’m voting NO for her, not because of Lisa in particular, but because we need some balance on the council. They are all the exact same council person that completely ignores any other way of thinking. Time to take back a small portion of this city from the activist. A little common sense and pro business would go a long way. 

    • M January 30, 2019 (7:54 pm)

      Who in your opinion in District 1 will bring more balance back? We definitely need more balance.

      • Dan January 30, 2019 (8:52 pm)

        Come to Easy Street tomorrow at 6pm and listen to Phil Tavel.  He might be the person you are looking for!

        • kj January 31, 2019 (1:55 pm)

          Agreed! Nice common sense guy. Supported by local business leaders too.

    • Mr J January 30, 2019 (8:06 pm)

      Based on all your comments you must be an expert. Perhaps you should run if you know what this city needs. Its easy to complain ain’t from the sidelines and not get involved. Run for council. 

  • Elizabeth January 30, 2019 (6:33 pm)

    I will not vote for her. 

  • Greg January 30, 2019 (8:50 pm)

    Have I been happy with all of her stances? Absolutely not – and, I have shared that with her. But, I have observed her work ethic and commitment to constituent concerns. I was one who called about noise on Alki – she took up the issue and got something done. D1 streets aren’t perfect, but they are much better than they used to be, and I believe that is because she works with SDOT to get things done. She knows her way around City Hall, and has a good heart. She cares about this community and represents us well. Yes, it’s popular to get on the naysayers “throw the rascal out” bandwagon, but she has earned another term. She is probably the hardest working member of the Council. Take a step back, a deep breath, and think.

    • The truth January 30, 2019 (9:16 pm)

      Just becuase she works hard doesn’t mean she deserves another term in office.  A lot of people work hard and still are not great at their job.  A lot of people have a “good heart” and mean well, that doesn’t mean they are an effective leader.  She has only earned the right to run again and maybe get re-elected.  Nothing says these other candidates wouldn’t have fixed the noise issue, maid roads better…. but maybe they would have done more to bring down property crime and address the homelessness issue better.side note- Her Legacy Business Program is scaffed at by most businesses.  So now the city will pick and choose who is worth saving?  How about you provide EVERY small and local business a chance to survive?  Virtue signaling at it’s finest.

  • Mike January 30, 2019 (10:28 pm)

    NOPE!

  • BG January 30, 2019 (10:31 pm)

    I seem to recall that in October 2016 she initially supported Mike O’Brien’s Council Bill 118794 (allowing homeless camping in public spaces, including parks).   I remember emailing her about my concern for the “campers ” in the north end of Lincoln Park. I received a reply consisting of “use find-it fix-it”. She did not come around until that woman had the incident there, and the huge public outcry that resulted. No thanks. Not getting my vote.

  • N January 30, 2019 (10:53 pm)

    I didn’t vote for her the first time and will not vote for her this time.

  • anonyme January 31, 2019 (6:23 am)

    She does indeed have a close relationship with SDOT, meaning she will take their side AGAINST constituents when projects go way out of whack, ensuring only that taxpayers pick up the bill for their boondoggles.  It’s interesting how politicians focus on the very rich or the very poor and ignore the rest.

  • KayK January 31, 2019 (7:12 am)

    Great to hear she is running. She has always been very responsive to problems in the district in my experience- even if she is unable to just wave a magic wand and fix everything to everyone’s liking. I also really appreciate her sense of fiscal responsibility, for example in her recent skepticism about the cost/benefit of continuing the First Avenue streetcar project. It will be interesting to see what new ideas other candidates might bring to the debate and I’m sure she’ll be listening to them as she listens to us and tries to  move the city forward and cope with the huge challenges we are all facing. 

  • Michelle January 31, 2019 (7:50 am)

    Lisa, TERRIBLE!!! 

  • grh January 31, 2019 (7:59 am)

    Say NO West Seattle!

  • WS Guy January 31, 2019 (8:31 am)

    I’m waiting to see how LH does with MHA/HALA and ST3.   The problem I’ve had with her, and with the Council overall, is that they use us and our neighborhoods as their progressive playthings rather than treating us with respect.  Taxes, transportation, housing, homeless… you name the issue.  Her advocacy for reduced MHA impacts and for Delridge/Junction with ST3 are showing me that she’s starting to think differently.  I will watch to see if she delivers, then decide. 

    • N January 31, 2019 (10:02 pm)

      Hear, Hear!

  • Astonishing Tales of the Sea January 31, 2019 (9:32 am)

    Let’s see…Voted symbolically to reject federal reimbursements due to a line item from ICE which simply reimbursed the PD for overtime hours without understanding the effects. This required an emergency vote a week later to accept the overall reimbursement. A policy wonk would know that the three absences on that day constituted “no” votes and her symbolic vote didn’t have room. Did it anyway. Voted for the Head Tax without any real public positioning. Like most of the council, they let Sawant go take all the flak & then quietly go along with unpopular public policy and complain when a recall emerges in a landslide. Only to reverse her position & insult voters’ intellligence claiming they are corporate pawns. All while repealing the legislation she voted for. All showing a complete and total lack of leadership. Accepted a trip from a special interest group to New York to amplify a debate against that city’s subsidy choices for Amazon. The situation for NYC & HQ2 has no mirroring whatsoever to her district & how she serves the constituents. Taking the trip shows that she is as available to special interest more than the people who love in her district who make work for Amazon and have consternation about local politicians and their employer in a seemingly endless impasse on how to exist together. This is just in the last 12 months. I cannot fathom how this person could be re-elected, but she probably will win. 

  • I wish I could take the bus January 31, 2019 (10:08 am)

    Hi Lisa and other candidates.  Lisa has acknowledged the lack of frequent public transportation in the North Admiral HALA up-zone area (i.e., Admiral and California).  Aside from the Ride 2 program during the “period of maximum constraint” there have been no additions of frequent public transportation in this area outside of the rush hour expresses that only carry passengers with the rush hour.  Try catching a bus to downtown during the PM rush hour without having to trek to the Rapid Ride C.  It was even acknowledged in the HALA EIS.  Please put this on your list of priorities candidates!

  • Alex January 31, 2019 (10:23 am)

    Councilwoman Herbold has helped our neighborhood with a variety of issues and while she couldn’t convince the rest of the Council, proposed an amendment to have SEPA control whether a neighborhood had enough capacity to support new development without any off street parking.   But I have mixed emotions supporting another term.   She is part of a Council that does not like business, believes landlords are the devils spawn, cannot deal with the homeless, pays legal fees to defend a councilmember for slander after calling two policemen murderers and  retaliated against homeowners using their property as Airbnb in lieu of offering homes for long term rent.    The Council looks at the middle class as Seattle’s ATM and the Head Tax was a disaster.  MHA HALA implemented in other areas of the city has not yielded the expected results of increasing low income housing yet the Council wants to move ahead anyway with the rest of the city with its gentrification plan.   The Council plans on rezoning every single family parcel to accommodate 3 dwellings with the developer making the parking a neighborhood problem.    I’d like to see the Council move to the center and Ms. Herbold is not a moderate.   

    • Alkiobserver January 31, 2019 (10:56 am)

      Spot on Alex! Well said. Lisa is part of the problem not the solution. Time for her to go. And hopefully the other districts will dump O’Brien and Sawant too. Long overdue for some common sense approaches to our challenges that elevate the middle class and support business and property owners that power the region. Not more of the same hollow virtue-signalling “progressive” tactics–tax the homeowner, demonize property owners and vilify businesses that just hurt us. 

    • KM January 31, 2019 (11:57 am)

      MHA HALA “has not yielded the expected results” because it hasn’t been implemented yet, anywhere, and still has not been adopted by the city as a policy. Also, the areas slated for upzoning are less than 10% of the city, not “every single family parcel.”

      • WSB January 31, 2019 (1:24 pm)

        I believe Alex is referring to the ADU/DADU legislation, which is separate. That *will* affect single-family parcels throughout the city. Also, an oft-overlooked point in descriptions of HALA/MHA – it is citywide; while the SF land affected is a fraction, it will upzone all commercial/multifamily property in the city, not just the urban villages. As for results, there may be some early metrics somewhere, as a few neighborhoods have had MHA implemented in separate actions – Uptown and the U District come to mind. Both approved in 2017:
        https://sccinsight.com/2017/10/02/council-passes-uptown-mha-rezone/
        https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-council-to-vote-today-on-big-u-district-upzone/

        TR

        • Charlie January 31, 2019 (1:41 pm)

          Thank you, Tracy, for setting the record straight. I also want want to add that entirely independently from the Seattle city government, their is a bill co-sponsored by 34th District Rep. Fitzgibbon and others to implement ADU legislation state-wide. This would supersede any policy adopted locally, and would naturally impact single-family parcels even without MHA/HALA or the Seattle ADU/DADU proposal: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1797&Year=2019&Initiative=false

        • KM January 31, 2019 (1:43 pm)

          If so, that would make a lot more sense! Wasn’t quite following Alex’s train of thought there since the earlier mention of HALA. I vaguely remember these upzones–were they actually part of HALA though or were they in the works prior? 

          • WSB January 31, 2019 (2:05 pm)

            You can read more about them on the HALA home page
            http://www.seattle.gov/hala/about/mandatory-housing-affordability-(mha)#whereismhaineffect

          • KM January 31, 2019 (2:21 pm)

            Thanks TR–maybe the city will change their graphic and language around implementation since some it has already taken place. Totally had me turned around there.Charlie, I do hope that the proposed ADU legislation is implemented state-wide. I’m so embarrassed by the efforts of a few homeowners in Queen Anne to block these changes citywide. 

  • JoAnne January 31, 2019 (11:46 am)

    Please, please can we get a reasonable candidate who is not an extreme socialist/Marxist?  It would be so nice if Seattle could be normal again, with a government that supports people who work instead of punishing us.  

  • T Rex January 31, 2019 (1:46 pm)

    Joanne, I am with you.  I have lived in Seattle since the early 80’s, things are SO much different here than they were back then. We weren’t as crazy as San Francisco but were where somewhere right in the middle and most everyone got along. Now? Well you said it, we are  on our way to socialism. The younger generation who think that it would cool to have the government do everything for them have never studied world history. It DOES not work and before they know it they will hardly have any control over their own money,  the laws that protect them, or their own lives to say the least. I will be long gone and I am now glad to be the age I am, the future for our country worries me. Our forefathers knew this when they wrote the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. They knew  the people had to protect themselves from their own government. Our politicians  now think  THEY know best. Think sugar tax to start with. Look what they say about Amazon. A company who used to be a hero in this town, we were all so proud that the coolest web site in the world started here, now we treat Amazon  like they are responsible for every problem in Seattle. If I were Bezos, I would be flipping my middle finger out of my private plane as I left Boeing Field. And I would take all the jobs and as many people that wanted to go with me. And I would pay for their re-location. Smart business, probably not, lesson learned of our ever so socialist city council, nope,  Seattle economy epic failure, yep. Sorry for the rant, but NOT VOTING FOR LISA!

  • Winn January 31, 2019 (5:29 pm)

    I don’t love Herbold, I’d prefer if she were challenged from the left so we could have a rep actually as socialist as all the reactionaries in the comments here seem to think Herbold is. Thankfully not all our neighbors share these regressive views, so I’m hopeful she’ll defeat these challenges from the right.

    • CMT January 31, 2019 (8:21 pm)

      Regardless of your views on Councilmember Herbold, please don’t use the tactic of labeling disagreement with our current city council’s ineffective policies and priorities “regressive” or “from the right.”   Many liberal leaning individuals recognize ill informed policy and action for what it is and see the damage it has done to our once liveable city.  I will say that in my view, Councilmember Herbold is the best of the existing council,

    • WW Resident February 1, 2019 (6:36 am)

      LMAO, so you think these past few years have been “progressive”? You must think that to think people criticizing Herbold as regressive.I used to think I was fairly liberal, but if what is happening in this city is liberal then I want know part of it. I’m not interested in “progressive” ideas of opening parks to the homeless or supplying Heroin to addicts, or recommending a guy with 72 convictions (14 which are felonies) to get probation and chemical dependency treatment for assault when he failed the last chance he got and said he didn’t give a cr@p, like our ineffectual Pete Holmes suggested

      • WW Resident February 1, 2019 (9:54 am)

        D@#m you spell check!! 

    • alkiobserver February 1, 2019 (11:02 am)

      Ha! That is funny @WINN to hear the call for moderate candidates smeared as “regresssive”. What is that supposed to mean? Is that how far left things have gone? If you aren’t charging full-on to the far left, you are “regressive”? I think there are a large number of residents that consider themselves socially liberal but fiscally concerned and outright alarmed by the misfires, backfires and outright screwups our city leadership has taken in pursuit of ever more socialist leaning policies that attack and damage the very citizens and businesses that financially power it. The failures can’t be ignored and excused. Lisa has been one of the council members on the vanguard of these failed approaches. Calling the fools out for their follies does not make one “regressive”.  As a nation, the extremes on the left and right shout over the adults in the middle. Here in Seattle, we have nothing left but left, more left and extreme left and crazy extreme left. The extreme left and crazy extreme left has been running roughshod over the conversations. Time for a change. 

      • T Rex February 1, 2019 (2:38 pm)

        Well said!

  • TRIPLETREAT February 1, 2019 (4:42 pm)

    There is no chance I’m voting for this person.

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