24 Replies to "1 week until voting begins. What haven't you heard District 1 City Council candidates talk about yet?"

• Mj July 11, 2019 (6:33 pm)

  Has anyone received their ballot yet?

  • WSB July 11, 2019 (7:15 pm)

    They haven’t been sent yet. As we’ve mentioned several times, they go in the mail next Wednesday (July 17th).

• 2cents July 11, 2019 (7:23 pm)

  Kolding under investigation by SPD for dishonesty.. that’s not good. Buh-bye.

  • WSB July 11, 2019 (7:26 pm)

    We already asked him about that (see separate story). Questions, anyone? Or have you already heard them all discuss absolutely everything that you think the city should be handling?

• Me July 11, 2019 (7:26 pm)

  Lisa,,,bye..good bye

• a July 11, 2019 (7:26 pm)

  I would like to know what the candidates are going to do to address the issue of RV’s parked for days/weeks on our streets. A lot of these RV’s are in bad condition and shouldn’t be on the road. The people in these vehicles are also leaving trash on the outside of their vehicles which the city is having to clean up. I use the find it fix it app to report these vehicles and eventually they are moved only to be replaced by another RV or to come back again a few days later. Isn’t there an easier solution? Can we focus on the trouble spots where RV’s are congregating and put “no overnight RV parking” signs up? This seems like a logical solution and would be cheaper than continually cleaning up after them

• East Coast Cynic July 11, 2019 (7:56 pm)

  Will the candidates continue to support the construction of West Seattle Link if we do not get the funding for a tunnel?  Will they then  fight construction of West Seattle Link?  Where do they stand?

  • Sam S July 12, 2019 (4:24 pm)

    Tavel is 100% tunnel. Says he will fight hard. 

• Mark Schletty July 11, 2019 (8:06 pm)

  1.   Will you vote to reverse the recent elimination of single family zoning?2.   Will you vote, on the HALA/MHA upzoned projects, to require onsight provision of affordable units instead of allowing fees in lieu of onsight units?3.   Will you vote against any downtown street tolling?4.   Will you vote to remove bike lanes from the major arterial streets and restore lost lanes for traffic?

  • Ivan Weiss July 12, 2019 (8:24 am)

    All three D1 candidates have stated they oppose street tolling. I hope that’s helpful.

• WS Guy July 11, 2019 (8:46 pm)

  I’d like to know how much time they plan to spend as a City Councilmember on Federal politics.  Or maybe, whether they think that’s appropriate.

• Peter July 11, 2019 (9:15 pm)

  I’d ask what they would do to improve transit now instead of their apparent do nothing until light rail attitude. I’d like to ask what they will do to address the severe housing shortage in Seattle. I’d like to ask what they will do to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety at a time when drivers are becoming increasingly hostile. But none of them are interested in any of these issues. 

• Wsres July 11, 2019 (11:32 pm)

  I would like to know their plan for cleaning up and helping drug addicted homeless throughout the city. Just this week I saw 2 people lying on the ground (on separate days) at the junction bus stop, completely out of our reality. Also, I wonder how/if they are planning to advocate for requiring built-in parking spaces for new construction in West Seattle. And finally, how will they advocate for small business owners?

• Jethro Marx July 12, 2019 (12:13 am)

  Will we continue to pretend that the issues facing our city are condensable into sound bite snippets suited for our atrophied attention spans? Will a system in which our leaders are subject to the outsize influence of the rich and powerful as a matter of course ever result in policy that serves the needs of the many? Or even most of the many? Must we choose between two opposite and over-simplified sides in each fight? Or do we still believe some nuance and ambiguity intrude on our lust for seeming simplicity? Ask them that, if you have the time.

• anonyme July 12, 2019 (6:57 am)

  How would you address the fragmented, inefficient, and wasteful use of taxpayer dollars by city agencies, such as SPU and SDOT?  Would you improve bus service to Arbor Heights?

• Sydney July 12, 2019 (7:19 am)

  As density increases, I’m interested to hear what specific plans (or even ideas) they have to improve pedestrian safety.

• WestSideVoter July 12, 2019 (8:04 am)

  Kolding Story in the times is a hack job.  They have no facts.    He’s the best one.  Bye LISA !

• Mj July 12, 2019 (8:35 am)

  Why are we having to vote on a Library Levy?  This levy was supposed to have been a one time occurrence and with City revenues up significantly why?

• Will S. July 12, 2019 (9:23 am)

  On September 20, 2017, the Seattle Times ran a story that began: “The FBI is investigating allegations that Seattle police officers, with
  the help of the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild, may have engaged in
  intimidation and price-fixing while working lucrative off-duty jobs
  directing traffic at parking garages and construction sites.” This investigation began with a referral from former Chief O’Toole. Former interim mayor Burgess (himself a former SPD officer), with the support of now-Chief Best, attempted to reform officers’ off-duty employment to reduce the existing opportunities for corrupt business practices while retaining officers’ ability to perform off-duty work; however, SPOG refused to accept any reforms of off-duty work arrangements in its new bargaining agreement with the City. To date, no progress has been made on this issue.Do the candidates care enough about this issue, and the broader question of the integrity of the police force, to insist on sensible reforms to off-duty employment? As the incumbent, Ms. Herbold should address her vote in favor of the police contract and also explain why Seattle City Light (which is overseen by the the council committee that she chairs) spends over $1 million per year for off-duty police to control traffic, when City code (SMC 11.12.130) allows for the use of civilian “flaggers” instead.

  • Tsurly July 12, 2019 (2:36 pm)

    I can answer this one as an engineering consultant who frequently manages projects with the public right of way: drivers constantly disregard civilian traffic controllers and the barricades/traffic revisions they are trying to implement. I always advise my clients to pay the extra money to hire uniformed police officers to run traffic control because it is far more effective at making drivers comply. So don’t blame city light for protecting their workers, blame drivers who think they are above the law.

• Thistlemist July 12, 2019 (9:36 am)

  I would like to hear about their thoughts on the Library Levy as well. More specifically, what are there feelings about the current funding situation were some basic city services like the library or road maintenance are funded outside of the general fund through the levy process  (not talking about one time structural updates but things like operation hours/basic upkeep and maintenance) . Do they feel that this is a working budget strategy or would they want to incorporate more services away from levies and into the city’s  general budget. Also, I would love to hear what their overall thoughts are on what part the city council plays in crafting policy that is workable and not likely to end up in projected legal battles.  What do they feel their duty as council members is in regards to weighing the pros and cons of going for policy changes that have the potential for high legal price tags attached. For example, the entire situation with the Showbox building downtown. As much as I personally would love to see the theater preserved, the council was repeatedly advised by a large contingency of various experts that a spot zone change of just one building was most likely illegal and would for sure end up in a court battle. The council went ahead with it anyways and a expensive and extended legal battle ensued, ending with a ruling in favor of the owner that stated the council overstepped its legal authority.  Now the city is facing further legal costs if they choose to appeal and/or some pretty hefty monetary judgments to the owner of the building. I honestly understand how some would feel it was worth the effort to preserve the building but on the other hand, it hard to stomach the amount of money and time that was put towards something that was at best a long shot and disregarded some pretty solid real-estate/owner rights laws.

• raybro July 12, 2019 (10:46 am)

  MJ, why are we even voting on a Library levy is a VERY GOOD question!  

• SLC July 12, 2019 (6:04 pm)

  Would like candidates to let us know their stance on maintaining current trees & increasing the number of trees & green spaces in Seattle. Recent news told us that trees are essential to reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere & slowing climate change & heating up of the earth. Our children & future generations will suffer if climate change is not addressed. More trees is an effective way of addressing this issue while more time consuming solutions are implemented. SLC

• RG July 13, 2019 (1:24 am)

  Which is the candidate for seattlites who favor up-zoning and are against single family housing zoning?

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