VIDEO: 3 weeks before Election Day, another Q&A session with City Council District 1 candidates

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If you haven’t yet settled on a choice for City Council District 1, with ballots going out tomorrow, this is a big week for evaluating the candidates side by side.

The first of three forums/debates this week was last night at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center. The Westside Interfaith Network and League of Women Voters presented it. Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist (and West Seattleite) Brian Callanan served as volunteer moderator:

That’s Callanan at center in our pre-forum photo above, with candidates Lisa Herbold at left and Phil Tavel at right. We recorded the entire event on video:

No surprises this time, unlike last Thursday’s event in North Delridge. The questions for this one, some of which were from written suggestions made by members of the audience, largely trod familiar ground, though there were a few small clashes, most notably over something The Stranger (which has endorsed Herbold) said about Tavel; while answering a question about homelessness-related funding, he said that publication said he had “gotten it right,” while she said what The Stranger said he got right was that their biggest difference was on homelessness funding. (This appears to be the story in question.)

Both were given two minutes for opening statements; you can watch the video if you’re interested. Below, we summarize how the Q&A went from there; it’s all paraphrasing/summarizing unless we use quotation marks to signify a direct quote.

First question: What is the most pressing issue for District 1?

Tavel: For the whole city – dealing with the homelessness crisis. The city isn’t acting with urgency. People “don’t see a city that they recognize any more.”

Herbold: People are telling her that homelessness is a “great concern.” The city is moving more people into permanent housing, faster, than ever before, but we need more housing.

Q: Is the city putting enough money toward homelessness?

Herbold: We need more permanent supportive housing. Need to double our investment.

Tavel: We probably need more money, but we don’t know what that sum is. “I’m not prepared to just write a blank check.” More research is needed. We “spend a tremendous amount of money on the administrative side.”

Q: What do you think about the future of Camp Second Chance?

Tavel: Some good things happen there, but we need to do more. Neighbors see the other fallout, people who come there who aren’t in C2C.

Herbold: It’s a fantastic model of a tiny-house village. The council is considering legislation to expand the total number of encampments, either tents or tiny houses. The percentage of folks leaving THVs and going to housing is among the highest of our interventions, 35 percent.

Tavel: What percentage of time does the 35% cover?

Herbold: 2018 – all tiny-house villages/sanctioned encampments. See the city website.

Q: West Seattle residents are concerned about density and parking. What options do you support?

Herbold: Supporting better bus service – we have been successful in adding some service to some lines – voters approved funding via the Transportation Benefit District. Also working on a variety of transportation projects, Highland Park safety, Safe Routes to School, Duwamish Longhouse safety project.

Tavel: Look at a picture from 100 years ago and West Seattle looks much different. We’re going to get denser. We have to plan better as a city. Long-term planning has been inadequate. We could have a lot more density in urban villages. People are concerned about 60-unit buildings with 17 parking spaces. Parking loss: Pho Aroma restaurant (on Delridge) is worried that they are losing parking for a bus stop.

Herbold: Bus lines like C and 120 are very popular.

Tavel: City is not updating neighborhood plans. I keep hearing that SDOT does not do planning well.

Q: Gentrification and loss of affordability are concerns – what should developers be required to do?

Tavel: HALA MHA – developers can either build on site or pay in-lieu fee – they’re all choosing latter. The affordable housing doesn’t even have to go in the neighborhood; it needs to. Meantme my landlord showed me his property tax bill and it had gone way up.

Herbold: There IS neighborhood planning happening – Delridge, Westwood, Junction. Somethng like HALA MHA, oyu don’t just implement it and walk away, you have to keep evaluating it. The in-lieu fees are important because each dollar leverage 3 more … it actually “buys more housing.” We’ll be looking to see if we’re hitting the 50-50 mark (between on-site and fees(, and if we’e not, we’ll raise the fee.

Tavel: How much development can happen in a 2-year period before we see the 50/50 isn’t happening?

Herbold: July of 2020 is when, I believe, we’ll be analyzing.

Q: What are two or three things the city can do to meet its climate goals?

Herbold: I’ve been moving toward electrification of city vehicles. I also want to change the construction code for new buildings, so there’s access to composting, recycling, garbage on every floor; more people use if more people can access. Also working with Port to require the electrification of T-5. I feel strongly we need to renew the Transportation Benefit District.

Tavel: We have to work to speed this up. If you understand what’s happening with climate … we’re “in a damage control period. … Going carbon-neutral in 30 years is way too far out.” Electrification of police cars is not currently feasible but let’s talk to experts like Tesla about it.

Q: The mayor has proposed her new budget. What changes do you recommend, what items do you applaud?

Tavel: I like the transitional program dealing with homeless people coming out of jail … I worry about some of the homeless service provider spending … SDOT and City Light and Public Utilities, we’re not looking at how we’e managing their projects.

Herbold: Increased investment in permanent supportive housing, going to be able to double it next year, one from bonding capacity, another from Lyft/Uber tax – not supportive of downtown streetcar funding.

Q: Property taxes are going up, voters are asked to support levies for basics like parks and streets. Why can’t general fund pay for them?

Herbold: Regressive tax system. The cost of city services is rising higher than the revenue to support it. Excited about income tax on high earners (still making its way through court). If it goes through, we will dial down our reliance on property and sales taxes.

Tavel: City is managing its budget poorly. Someone the other day said they feel like the city has squandered our generosity. “We’re failing to measure properly what we’re doing … we need better understanding of what it is we’re doing.”

Q: With the federal government reducing support for immigrants, what can we do, and do you support Seattle being a sanctuary city?

Herbold: Worked with now-Rep. Pramila Jayapal on Hate-Free Zone. We don’t inquire about immigration status. It makes the community safer. If you are worried about your immigration status, you’re not going to come forward (to report crimes, problems). We were the first city to pass this law after 9/11 and it’s been replicated all over the country.

Tavel: I do support Seattle being a sanctuary city. Immigrants who have given back depend on that. I don’t support criminals staying here. If you are a felon or have warrants out, you don’t deserve that protection. NWIRP is a fantastic group. We also need to support cultural diversity.

Q: There’s a national opioid crisis – what can be done? Do you support “safe injection sites”?

Tavel: No. Harm reduction for long-term drug abusers is important but not that. Need to increase our community-based detox services. The American Medical Association is creating a certification program for (former addicts) to help others.

Herbold: Agree that we need more community-based detox. The drug treatment aspect, usually not a city responsibility, it’s a county and state thing. So our state legislature has made some “game-changing investments in the last budget …going to see those come online.” Supports “overdose prevention sites.”

Tavel: Refutes Herbold’s contention that you can’t have harm reduction without “safe injection sites.”

Herbold: The resources saved by not having them pale in connection with the value of saving somebody you love.

Q: The prison system is broken. Do you support restorative justice?

Tavel: As a public defender for the last 15 years, (I know) you have to do a better job of reintegrating people. We can look at, when someone comes out of prison, support them so they can go down the path they want to choose. But there also are longterm criminals who will keep going back to it and we need to separate those out.

Herbold: The state has a fantastic program …housing and jobs for people coming out (of incarceration). One of the greatest factors for recidivism is housing – having somewhere to go cuts recidivism by 70 percent.

Q: What will you do about hunger in our schools, better access to food, the Delridge food desert?

Herbold: We have two food deserts in D-1. The city moving away from ensuring stores and toward supprting healthy food in other ways like Fresh Bucks, partnering with P-Patches … There are ways for the city to partner with the schools.

Tavel: I would love to see better food education. I had friends diagnosed as diabetics, they had very little nutrition understanding. Need to teach students how to eat healthy. Regarding the food desert in Delridge, the Delridge Grocery groundbreaking is November 2nd, everybody should join (the co-op), give them $100.

Q: Seattle & King County are having a child-care crisis. Some providers can’t pay living wage and stay in business. What are your solutions?

Tavel: Co-op preschool’s a great model. Expand use of our schools – a lot have space.

Herbold: Not true that there’s a lot of empty space – I championed two programs because they were being squeezed out. Our community centers also are bursting at the seams. They aren’t able to use for other purposes. A big part of this is about space. Incentive zoning to incentivize developers (to offer space for such programs) could be good.

Tavel: Says he was talking about before/after school.

Herbold: Those are the types of programs that are losing their spaces.

From here, moderator Callanan switched to community-submitted queestions.

Q: How will my life change if you are elected?

Tavel: You will start to rebuild your trust in our city government. You will regain your respect for it. I will have an office in D-1 and be here every day. You will be listened to and be heard. You will have someone foghting for you.

Herbold: Four seats have no incumbent running, so the council will have at least four new members. Residents of D-1 want somebody who knows how City Hall works. That’s going to be more critical than any other time when we have this massive change in representation. It’s going to be helpful to have someone who has experience.

Q: For Herbold – how can the council ban plastic straws but approve of (hypodermic) needles?

Herbold: The straw ban actually passed in 2010 and was just now implemented. We do not approve of needles but we have a robust needle-pickup program.

Q: For Tavel – we’re not a representative demographic in this room, how will you represent everyone?

Tavel: Because I go to all the different neighborhoods and talk to people. At Neighborhood House High Point, we’re talking about a forum to address teen children not paying attention to parents and getting involved in crime. In South Park I’ve been talking to the Latino community, Vietnamese community.

Herbold: Analysis of voting shows my strong support east of 35th – our city is focused on equity, putting the greatest needs of the people with the least, first. I have worked to get funding for programs at Neighborhood House like Ready to Work.

Q: RV residents – how do we keep their blackwater from our sewers?

Herbold: I piloted the RV remediation program, looking at expanding it. Currently it allows city to focus on eight locations every month – not chosen by public complaints, but by an objective assessment such as public health effects of that location.

Tavel: I know whatever we’re doing is not working. We need to enable police to enforce laws. We need to look at safe lots for pumping out waste, dropping off recycling and trash.

Q: What’s your plan for dog parks in West Seattle?

Tavel: We need to add one. We will be definitely adding one.

Herbold: The trick is finding land – we can look at city (surplus) land, wouldn’t want to take from existing parks – but we could look at existing city sites. The Parks Department is looking at this.

Q: For Herbold – how will you support police while holding them accountable?

Herbold: Those are not incompatible … my support (includes that) I approved the budget, hiring bonuses, lateral hire, retention plan … SPD’s budget has increased from $300 million to $400 million in the three years I’ve been on the council. Also have to get SPD out from under consent decree.

Tavel: Talking to officers after the (police union’s recent) forum, officers said if they could choose between $2 in salary and $1 plus a pat on the back, they’d choose the latter. I’ve talked to almost every officer in the Southwest Precinct. They don’t feel support. But if (an officer goes wrong), they should have real consequences.

Q: What would you do about revenues from sweetened-beverage tax, school-zone cameras?

Herbold: Voted against the sweetened-beverage tax. Need to use camera revenue for pedestrian safety programs.

Tavel: Would rescind sweetened beverage tax. Need to fight for taxes that are not regressive. Tax revenues not going to what they were suppsoed to.

Q: Drivers’ speeds on arterials are higher than what’s posted – what would you do to fix that?

Tavel: Police could have increased patrols. People tell us they want speed bumps. Maybe more speed cameras. And more driving education in general.

Herbold: Signage is important – speed limit should be consistent with signage – I agree with Tavel, traffic safety programs, speed bumps are something I go to bat for.

Last Q: How do you feel about setting up FEMA-style shelter?

Herbold: I’m interested in learning more about it.

Tavel: (Former D-1 candidate) Brendan Kolding was first to bring it up. All of a sudden it’s regained life. We do need a way to triage people who are living on the side of the road and in parks. But it’s not a solution.

Both then were given time for closing statements (see the video for those). Audience members were invited to hang around for a while and talk with the candidates one-on-one. One person stormed out just before the conclusion, apparently unhappy a question was not asked, shouting that our area is “still a Superfund site.”

VOTER-REGISTRATION REMINDER: Lucy Gaskill-Gaddis from the co-presenting League of Women Voters, which focuses on voter education, reminded everyone that you can register online until October 28th, and in person all the way up until Election Day.

VOTING REMINDER: The county plans to mail ballots tomorrow; you can vote as soon as yours arrives. The deadline for turning it in is 8 pm Tuesday, November 5th, if you are using a county dropbox (the two in West Seattle are in High Point and The Junction); if you send it via postal mail (remember it’s now postage-paid so no stamp needed), just be sure it will get a November 5th (or sooner) postmark.

NEXT FORUMS/DEBATES: Two more in West Seattle this week:

-Thursday (October 17th), 6 pm at Westside School (10404 34th SW; WSB sponsor), presented by the
West Seattle Chamber of Commerce

-Saturday (October 19th), 11 am at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon), presented by the
West Seattle Junction Association, with your WSB co-publishers moderating

51 Replies to "VIDEO: 3 weeks before Election Day, another Q&A session with City Council District 1 candidates"

  • Chris Stripinis October 15, 2019 (4:31 pm)

    Just this morning, it was announced that Amazon has spent over $1 million on a PAC supporting the more conservative City Council candidates in each district, including Mr. Tavel.https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/amazon-drops-additional-1-million-plus-into-seattle-city-council-races-with-ballots-mailing-this-week/

    If you are worried about increasing property taxes and other regressive taxes, keep in mind that Lisa Herbold supports a proposed income tax on high earners, something that would help make our tax system more progressive but which Amazon et al have fought with all their might.

    Article on proposed Seattle income tax on high earners: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-court-of-appeals-rules-seattles-wealth-tax-is-unconstitutional-but-gives-cities-new-leeway/%3Famp%3D1

  • Luke October 15, 2019 (7:45 pm)

    How Was attendance?Thank you for this report. I was unable to make it and this is very thorough. 

    • WSB October 15, 2019 (7:49 pm)

      Unfortunately neither of us took an approximate count but most of the seats were filled. Here’s the photo I tweeted shortly before it started:
      https://twitter.com/westseattleblog/status/1183923581157142528

    • sally October 16, 2019 (7:42 pm)

      Based on the chairs we put out, and the # of people sitting in the bleachers, I’d say around ~ 125 people? Good turn-out.

  • Karl Tull October 15, 2019 (7:46 pm)

    I am not a Herbold flunky who posts comments attacking Tavel and falsely implying that he’s conservative.  Are you joking?  I’m just an eyes wide open left of center democrat who believes that Tavel is the obvious better choice moving forward.  Bye Fe-Lisa ..

    • KM October 15, 2019 (8:08 pm)

      “more conservative City Council candidates”, Karl. Chris did not call Phil a conservative. 

  • Wsres October 15, 2019 (7:49 pm)

    I am voting for Tavel. It appears that our local small businesses have Tavel signs up, and I will vote with them.

    • Jon Wright October 15, 2019 (10:07 pm)

      I vote the way the ice cream parlor tells me to!

    • Nolan October 15, 2019 (10:33 pm)

      Literally anyone can run a small business if they have enough money to burn, and you’d probably be shocked if you knew how many of them are effectively run by underpaid employees trying to stop the owners from shooting themselves in the foot (e.g., Caffe Vita). There’s nothing special about their endorsements other than the fact that they have capital.

      • Rick October 16, 2019 (4:56 am)

        Nolan,seems you have a cross to burn. Try running a small business in West Seattle. I have since 1978 and believe me, it ain’t easy. But it’s what I do. Try to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Going to see my 97 year old Mother in Kansas on Saturday so I’m not accepting any criticism until I return on Wednesday.

        • Nolan October 16, 2019 (9:59 am)

          I didn’t say “it’s easy”, I said “anyone can do it if they have enough money”.

          • wsres October 16, 2019 (11:38 am)

            Nolan, you are right, anyone can. However, I know from WSBlog stories about many of the WS small businesses and from actually talking with the owners of many of the small shops in WS, that many of them are from here. I want to support the diverse small businesses of our community. 

          • Nolan October 16, 2019 (2:02 pm)

            Just try not to make the mistake of thinking that people with a lot of money and/or capital are somehow better informed on political issues. If anything, they tend to be the opposite: money has a way of insulating you from societal ills.

    • Tim October 17, 2019 (12:33 pm)

      I take
      exception to your simplistic view of what it takes to run a small business. I’m
      sorry you had a bad experience working for ̶C̶a̶f̶é̶ ̶V̶i̶t̶a̶  whatever small business you worked for, but
      to assume all small business owners are the same based on your bad experience
      is very narrow minded.

      Most small
      business owners I know started their business to be a part of their community.
      I left a good paying job after 22 years, with all the benefits and 4 weeks of
      vacation a year, but I never felt like I was doing anything important, and I didn’t
      feel a part of my neighborhood. Sure, I had lived in West Seattle since 1992,
      but I didn’t know a lot of people,  just
      the few I interacted with at the local businesses I frequented. But the owners
      seemed to know everyone, and I wanted to be a part of that, so I cashed in my
      small 401k and opened my store. Almost 10 years later I feel like I am a part
      of my neighborhood and beyond. I’ve gotten to know a lot of people in West
      Seattle, I see them out and about and I finally feel connected to where I
      live.  I love interacting with my
      customers, helping them reach goals, giving advice, and having them tell me
      that I helped make a difference, even if I know they did all the work, all I
      did was get them started.

      I haven’t
      had more than 3 days off in a row since 2010, I spend a lot of time working and
      building my business, and I feel stressed out a lot dealing with all that it
      takes to keep this thing going.  And I
      tell you this not to make you feel sorry for me, but to enlighten you to what
      most small business owners go through every day. And I bet almost all of us
      wouldn’t have it any other way.

      If your
      experience was different, I’m sorry, but to paint us all with the same brush is
      a slap in the face. We did it to make a difference, to be a part of our
      community, and to feel a sense of satisfaction doing something we love.

      If you’d
      like to get a different perspective, feel free to spend a day with me and see
      what it takes to run a successful, local small business. And I guarantee you it
      isn’t based on wasting money.TimOwner – West Seattle Runner

  • Canton October 15, 2019 (11:12 pm)

    Tavel seems obsessed with city spending… Well, about time someone is concerned. Lisa seems very tax hungry. Double this measure, cause we always pass the double amount initiative. $1 in tax intake, equals $3 in bond measures to create the debt to get s#it done. That’s the same model sound transit runs on. X amount of approved taxes, = 3x bonding credit. Just really like that Tavel is asking the hard spending questions.

    • Nolan October 16, 2019 (10:02 am)

      Asking “hard spending questions”, without being able to name specific and actionable budget modifications, is intellectually dishonest. The government needs to fund everything that isn’t covered by private enterprise, funded by the whims of charity, or left to rot, and everything on the budget fought to be there under that constraint.

      Who would want to hire a boss that insists you’re not doing your job because they don’t understand what you’re doing at all?

  • Elizabeth October 16, 2019 (3:08 am)

    I went to the debate.  I was on the fence about whom to vote for.  I really think Mr Tavel was better.   Ms. Herbold just seemed the “ same old “ candidate. I feel we need a new direction. Also, Ms. Herbold wants safe injection sites. My cousin struggles  with addiction ( he gets clean, then he goes back to using. He gets clean, then he goes back to using)  He laughs at safe injection sites.  He said that he didn’t care if there was a place to shoot up, he just wanted to shoot up.   I think we need a change. 

  • Lincolnparklove October 16, 2019 (6:48 am)

    I went to this event early. I was the first to hand over three questions on their note cards. I had called our representative so she might prepare for my questions. She sits on a chair as a representative of this district and all of seattle for utilities . None of my questions were read. We are planning to move a lot of people into this area. I wanted to know what was planned for the sewage that has always been dispersed into the sound with the onset of heavy rain. I want to ask about the amounts of garbage that we produce and ship elsewhere as most major cities do ( as well as toxins). Hillary Franz was applauding her self over taking creosote logs off of the beaches but really just moved them to Manchester to make another area toxic she is over public lands. We are still a super fund site and when moving lots of people to an area it needs to be mentioned. Properties close by are going for a lot of money. I know my real estate agent never mentioned  super fund sites when I moved to this area. Alot of the company’s here could be asked to reuse Amazon being one with their boxes. It takes alot to remake what was already made. We we we we use alot of chemicals that have killed our wildlife if you go to Costco you might realize by looking. If you go to Safeway, QFC, Wholefoods,PCC your brain might not visualize the amounts based on merchandising. I walked out the spoiler at the end because I wanted Lisa to answer to the audience not me alone. I spoke with Tavel and he did not have any insites on  any of those concerns. 

  • Concerned citizen October 16, 2019 (6:58 am)

    Herbold is toxic. Terrible attitude, ignores and condescends to the the residents of West Seattle, can’t keep track of how much money the city is spending (had a number of embarrassing emails leak about this), keeps championing clearly illegal moves by the council which in turn cost the city money in legal fees, and decided to fly off to NY to trash the city’s largest employer during the first week of Viadoom while the mayor and Dow Constantine were out in West Seattle meeting citizens at the water taxi.She’s an ideologue who won her seat on a razor thin margin and has taken that as a mandate to push her own extreme agendas even when they’ve been objectively harmful to the city and against the wishes of her constituency.Herbold needs to go. Do the right thing and vote her out good people of West Seattle.

  • Peter S. October 16, 2019 (7:26 am)

    Sorry I couldn’t make this, as I would’ve loved to ask the same questions of both candidates.  A local news outlet ran a piece a couple of days ago about a Lisa (supporters ??) accusation that Phil had a large number of unpaid traffic infraction fines, as well as LLC dissolutions, etc.  The Tavel campaign (supporters ??) responded in kind with accusations that Lisa had even more unpaid traffic fines and some of the infractions were of greater severity.  (I’d link the piece here, but not sure that is allowed.)Q1:  IF the accusations are true, and it’s an *IF*, how do you rack up so many tickets and still keep your license and/or insurance?  Most of us manage to get less than a handful over a lifetime of driving and our insurance company punishes us severely after only a few of them.Q2:  If these fines were ignored and went unpaid, then that points to blatant disregard of our laws and regulations, if not a moral failing.  Why should we trust you to help govern our city?

    • WSB October 16, 2019 (10:23 am)

      Most of that is from last Thursday’s Youngstown forum (before the talk-show hosts and political consultants jumped in the next ay). As reported in our coverage, co-moderator Ross Reynolds asked Phil Tavel if it were true that he had $1,000 in unpaid traffic fines. Tavel said yes. The discussion wasn’t about the fact he had tickets, it was about the unpaid fines; as we noted in subsequent comment discussion, both have more than a few tickets. You can research via the Seattle Municipal Court site, which shows 8 cases for Tavel between 1999 and 2017, 15 for Herbold between 1997 and 2015. A case may be more than one parking/traffic violation. – TR

  • abovealki October 16, 2019 (7:33 am)

    Speaking of flying off to NY, I’ve always wanted to know whether that trip was on Lisa’s own dime or whether any city funds were used. Anyone know? Otherwise, that stunt of trashing Amazon really soured me on her, after voting for her two times earlier. But not again.   

  • Lon October 16, 2019 (8:04 am)

    To me the question comes down to, do we want someone who’s popular, or someone who gives West Seattle its best shot? Tavel might be a really great guy by everyone’s account. But if he can’t deal with paying his parking fees, or answer relevant questions, or understand The Stranger’s endorsement of his opponent, or elaborate on what precise changes he’d like to make, he just isn’t ready. While their views are different, it actually reminds me quite a bit of Nikkita Oliver’s run for mayor–someone who’s locally involved, has support, but can’t deliver on specifics. (Obviously Amazon didn’t dump a ton of cash into Oliver’s campaign.) Lisa Herbold has been a responsive, reliable, and informed advocate and I’m convinced she’s West Seattle’s best bet.

  • Lola October 16, 2019 (8:14 am)

    Phil Tavel had my Vote way back in August. Still will get my vote in November. 

  • Andros October 16, 2019 (8:43 am)

    Tavel is obviously in Amazon’s pocket, and that’s where I draw the line.  I know Herbold hasn’t done everything that everyone wants, but this guy is a stooge for a big corporate.  https://gizmodo.com/amazon-to-seattle-nice-city-council-youve-got-there-1839073864

  • S October 16, 2019 (10:15 am)

    My vote goes to Herbold.  Tavel is backed by Besos/Amazon, while Lisa Herbold listens to everyone, not just the Chamber of Commerce.  

  • Peter S. October 16, 2019 (10:15 am)

    @Lon:Tavel’s apparently not the only candidate in this district race having problems remembering to pay his parking fees.  For me, it comes down to this:  Lisa is obviously not solely responsible, but she’s been at the helm while things have progressively gotten worse (IMO), so it’s time for someone else to take a swing at doing the job.  Same metric applies to Phil.  I really don’t like having to pick between the lesser evil of flawed candidates, but I’m getting used to it. Just as I am to the national and state level elections. 

  • NMS October 16, 2019 (1:25 pm)

    Tavel supporters, answer this question: how can Phil be trusted to handle our money when he cannot be bothered to pay what he owes the city he wants to represent? Aside from his dissolved businesses (13!?!), which is disgraceful, this is a huge issue to most of us.  I own a small business in The Junction and I would never display a sign for a candidate at my business as I feel that is not the place to do so.  I do at my home where I feel it is appropriate. Many businesses who have Tavel signs have been promised kickbacks for doing so. If you are fine with Amazon running West Seattle while paying no taxes in the city they claim to love, then there is no debate as you have already made up your mind. VOTE FOR HERBOLD, the best candidate running for this position.

    • Don’t believe you October 16, 2019 (1:43 pm)

      No businesses were promised kickbacks, that is a straight up lie.  Which now makes me question if you really own a business in the Junction or are you just pretending Lisa has support by business owners there by making this statement.  Please, tell me more about these promised kickbacks.  I will be waiting for your inside info on this claim!

      • NMS October 16, 2019 (3:33 pm)

        The burden is upon you to disprove my statement; I have proof, I was offered benefits. Answer the question, as a Tavel supporter, how can Phil be trusted? Sorry, DON’T BELIEVE YOU, I don’t think you can defend your candidate who is so untrustworthy that even his own supporters do not know how to answer simple questions about trust.

        • barton October 16, 2019 (4:40 pm)

          “kickback” implies that you were offered cash from Tavel if you placed a sign in your window.  Please confirm that is what you mean.  To be honest, your statement is pretty vague and gives absolutely no details so the burden isn’t on anyone to disprove your statement.  If you want anyone to believe you that wasn’t already a Herbold supporter, you might want to provide actual details.

    • Small business owner October 17, 2019 (12:43 pm)

      You mean I put up a Tavel sign in my business for free? Who do I call to get the “kickback”? I feel cheated that no one offered me anything but new leadership.

  • Mike October 16, 2019 (5:03 pm)

    This is good news:  https://mynorthwest.com/1555368/coalition-lisa-herbold-west-seattle/She has been horrible.  This is why district voting needs to be disbanded!  It has been horrible for Seattle.

    • KM October 16, 2019 (7:37 pm)

      Where is this list of 100 businesses? Jason “Rantz” only mentioned a few businesses, and one of the links is broken in the article.

      • Tsurly October 17, 2019 (6:30 am)

        I’d like to know what the 100 businesses are as well. As an informed consumer, I like to know where my money is going and what it supports. Peel and Press is definitely out. Actually tried it once and said never again, their product is junk.

    • Chris Stripinis October 16, 2019 (7:53 pm)

      I’m having trouble finding the list of the 100 West Seattle businesses supporting Tavel.   I went to the above link for the conservative talk radio host Jason Rantz’s show but they don’t list who the 100 businesses are.Do the 100 businesses not want to be identified?   Or, are there actually 100 businesses (a nice round number, huh?) that belong to such an organization?

    • Nolan October 16, 2019 (8:53 pm)

      MyNorthwest is an alt-right tabloid rag, not journalism. Their relationship with the truth is casual at best.

  • Scubafrog October 16, 2019 (6:49 pm)

    It’s fascinating how many people are in for the amazon-shill.  Perhaps those are the unsung trumpanzees of our wonderful Left-Leaning land.Anyhow, another vote for Herbold.  I don’t trust Corporate-money in elections.  Phil is beholden to Amazon, not The People.  Amazon never should’ve been involved.  Their injection of funds backfires, how can anyone trust a candidate who’s beholden to corporate interests?Seattle does need to start taxing Amazon (and all multi-billion-dollar industry), no more 0% corporate interest rates.  Tax the top 10% earners and corporations in Seattle.  Anyone with an iota of empathy knows the homeless need a real solution, and that solution isn’t to be found with bezos/tavel/durkan/inslee.  Most educated top-earners are willing to give more, we’re the ones getting massive kickbacks under tax breaks under virtually every administration and tons of tax loopholes aimed at those with high net worths.  The chasm between the haves and have-nots grows by the day.

  • alkimudda October 16, 2019 (9:59 pm)

    Bye Lisa. Your policies have done nothing but hurt West Seattle.  Mr T will be a welcome change! 

  • MJ October 17, 2019 (10:32 am)

    City spending on the Homeless challenge has grown significantly in the past few years and the problem has gotten worse.  Lisa’s answer is more money!  The City has a minimum wage of I believe $16 hour that correlates into about $32k per year, say $2,500 month.  Factoring for taxes $2,200 a month.  Apodment units can be leased for $800 a month and old school renting a house with others can reduce costing.  The point of this is the failure of the City to hold people accountable.  A frugal person working FT can find housing!Regarding crime its time for the City to hold people accountable for their actions.  Lisa has not had the back of the SPD, officer morale is low due to the Council and City Attorney who fails to prosecute criminals!

  • anonyme October 17, 2019 (11:43 am)

    It’s interesting that both of these candidates reviled and ridiculed Brendan Kolding for his FEMA approach to centralizing homeless services, yet now are “looking into it”.  Meanwhile, they both want more money for homelessness, which already has an unbelievably bloated bureaucracy associated with the problem, with Durkan adding more levels all the time and then demanding even more money to pay for them.  The average amount spent per homeless person far exceeds what I live on as a senior on Social Security.  There’s no excuse for this.

    • Nolan October 17, 2019 (12:29 pm)

      People with homes necessarily don’t need as much money to live as homeless people do. I really don’t understand what point you’re trying to make.

  • Mj October 17, 2019 (2:00 pm)

    Nolan the point I am trying to make is that the City passed a minimum wage law that pays sufficiently for a frugal single adult to house and take care of themselves without taxpayer support, and Lisa’s answer is to spend more money on the issue.  My answer is to expect more from people and I concur with anonyme  to stop expanding the Homeless Industrial Complex, aka beauracracy

  • HugsTown October 18, 2019 (1:35 pm)

    I attended this forum and I have to say that Phil Tavel really shined. Lisa Herbold seemed to studder and pause a lot, and seemed to be looking at an audience member/staffer in the front row for direction many times. As for substance, I also like what Phil had to say. I encourage everyone to watch the video and decide for yourself, but I thought that Phil really had great, informative answers. I’m with Phil.

  • Em October 18, 2019 (1:36 pm)

    A vote for Lisa,  is a vote for the same…. and to that I say, we been there done that.  No, thank you! NEXT!! 

  • VoteIvan October 18, 2019 (4:17 pm)

    Have you seen the “Shiny Tavel People” video yet? It will make you smile.  “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPkJ5HBKaA8”

  • I. Ponder October 18, 2019 (8:03 pm)

    I’m not a huge Tavel supporter because of his lack of experience and depth on issues. On the other hand, Lisa Herbold is very experienced. I recently attended hearings and votes at City Hall on housing issues I’ve been involved with for about 4 years. Lisa Herbold was clueless about the consequences of amendments she proposed. Her amendments were verbatim of those proposed by a group of wealthy Queen Anne homeowners fighting against progressive housing reforms. A group that stalled progressive housing legislation for 4 years through legal action. After their case was dismissed by the court Councilmember Herbold proposed them as last minute amendments. I was aghast! Didn’t see that coming. So much for her reputation as a progressive. It’s 90% virtue signaling. Fortunately her amendments were unanimously vetoed by the rest of the City Council. Kshama Sawant left prior to the vote to attend a rally. Councilmember Herbold struggled to explain her amendments. She seemed confused. I think it’s time for her to retire from City Council. I’m planning on voting for Phil Tavel even though I’m unsure if he will be effective on important issues I care about.

  • Lincoln park love October 18, 2019 (10:07 pm)

    I did not hear a call to the constituents from the candidates to get more involved in the fixes. If we want to talk about fema we should look to hurricane Katrina. I can’t  believe  you want to stick people together in the conditions they are in and hope for the best. People need to pick for these folks what they would pick for themselves. Train more people to deal with difficulties. Sign people up for disability because you know what , they qualify. Ann Sattler wants the poor to pick up garbage like the untouchables of India. Garbage men deserve every penny and I do not want some old women who sleeps in a tent picking up after a Montessori student because their teacher was not paying attention at a day outing in the park.  You know who is one face of this for me the young woman who jumped off the bridge onto I 5 she was paralyzed  from the waist down just a blip in the Times. Her name was Sonja . It’s not all murders and rapists.

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