ELECTION 2021: Seattle Mayor candidate Bruce Harrell’s West Seattle Junction visit

As announced, Seattle Mayor candidate Bruce Harrell visited the West Seattle Junction this afternoon/evening. When we arrived shortly before 5 pm, he was talking with potential constituents at KeyBank Plaza (California/Alaska), including Husky Deli‘s Jack Miller:

(WSB photos)

Shortly thereafter, he embarked on a walking tour with West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Radford. She led him behind KeyBank to the parking lot and pitched him on the merits of a potential purchase of the four WSJA-leased parking lots by Community Roots Housing, with city-backed funding (reported here in April).

Harrell asked her how the community would react to the loss of the parking lots; Radford said the expectation is that redevelopment would include some public parking spaces, as well as affordable housing and commercial storefronts. From there, they stopped in a few of the businesses open for Art Walk (included Wlld Rose’s and Capers Home, where he did a little shopping).

We had to break off shortly thereafter because of breaking news. Harrell, a former City Councilmember, faces Lorena González, current City Council President, in the November 2nd election, just under eight weeks away. Voting starts as soon as you get your ballot, which King County Elections plans to mail on October 13th.

RG September 9, 2021 (10:39 pm)

If you like Jenny Durkan (you shouldn’t) Vote for Bruce

Paleeaze! September 10, 2021 (7:04 am)

Jenny Durkan was weak. I mean “summer of love”? Really? Hopefully, he is not one to roll over.
misogynynotrequired September 10, 2021 (9:57 am)

If you had attended the event, you would’ve heard Harrell criticize Durkan for surrounding herself only with people who agree with her and not getting in front of the council on policy. The two of them are not carbon copies, despite the false equivalency drawn in the above comment.
- Voter September 10, 2021 (1:37 pm)
  
  Yep exactly. Bruce has my vote. He is the most experienced and qualified and knows how to get things done in the city.

PSPS September 9, 2021 (11:02 pm)

From Seattle Times, 4/11/21:

Trump’s stolen election racket is working extremely well — even here in Washington state

Seattleite George Petrie, CEO of Goodman Real Estate, who has given $2,800 to Trump each month this year, starting three weeks after the Jan. 6 fiasco at the Capitol.

This donation is notable for another reason: Petrie is the top donor to an independent expenditure campaign supporting Bruce Harrell for Seattle mayor, as well as a max contributor to Harrell’s campaign. Petrie has a long history of donating to both sides — last year he gave to Democrat Jay Inslee and also to Republican Loren Culp in the governor’s race. But still — it’s awkward, in blue Seattle, that Trump’s number one booster in the state, post-insurrection, is also Harrell’s top backer. It’s a terrible political look for Harrell.

Wseattleite September 10, 2021 (8:51 am)

So Inslee is Trump?
Peter September 10, 2021 (10:00 am)

I went to store A and bought apples. I went to a store B and bought oranges. Therefore stores A and B are the same store. Yep, your logic checks out.
The King September 10, 2021 (10:26 am)

And this affects a persons qualifications to do a job because……..
Chad September 10, 2021 (3:42 pm)

Your first mistake is reading the Seattle Times.
1994 September 10, 2021 (8:51 pm)

Maybe he got caught up in Trump’s scam of auto-billing donors every month without their consent? This has happened to thousands of people! Some of whom no longer support Trump. Harrell has my vote and got some of my democracy vouchers.

Jort September 9, 2021 (11:52 pm)

Why is it that one of Donald Trump’s biggest financial supporters in Seattle is donating to PACs supporting Bruce Harrell? Is there something in Bruce’s campaign that appeals to the type of person who wants to support a man who tried to overturn an election? Does Bruce have a special resemblance to Donald Trump that the rest of us haven’t seen yet? It’s very curious. I just think it’s so interesting that Trump supporters love Bruce Harrell. Sure says a lot about the candidate, that’s for sure. Thank goodness Lorena Gonzales is not a beloved candidate of supporters of the far right, extremist republican party.

Steve September 10, 2021 (6:12 am)

Jort, does this mean you didn’t vote for Inslee?
Paleeaze! September 10, 2021 (7:10 am)

The only thing it says is that Bruce is not as liberal as Lorena. From the perspective of Trump supporters it very well could be there is no other choice. If Bruce were running agsinst a republican, he would not get thst support. You should stop living in a world of assumptions and presumptions. It mskes your mind smaller.
Mertlez September 10, 2021 (7:22 am)

It’s simple. Bottom-feeders like Petrie want to cozy up to anyone in power. Matters of philosophy, morality and ethics are irrelevant. Power is power, whether it’s held by the right or the left.
neighbor September 10, 2021 (9:23 am)

They don’t love Bruce Harrell at all, and you certainly won’t see Petrie or Culp doing any photo ops with Harrell. If there was a candidate they actually liked you can be sure they’d be out stumping for them. Donations in this case come down to who they despise less, which just happens to be Harrell because Gonzales is even farther left than he is. I think most of us, at some point in our lives, have participated in elections where we felt like we were supporting the lesser of two evils. Didn’t mean we liked them, simply that we had to make a choice between the candidates on the ballot.
Back on planet earth September 10, 2021 (9:37 am)

The article mentions one person, who historically has given to both parties. Let’s not overreact.
misogynynotrequired September 10, 2021 (10:24 am)

González’s last name is misspelled in the above comment.
- Neighbor September 10, 2021 (11:20 am)
  
  Not misogyny, I’m just more accustomed to typing the other spelling, as it’s my colleague’s name. No disrespect intended to Lorena Gonzalez.

Jort September 9, 2021 (11:57 pm)

Looks like Bruce’s biggest question about West Seattle was about … wait for it … THE PARKING LOTS! My god, I swear there is just something about parking private automobiles for free that transcends all political division in this country. It is an actual pathology. Thanks for showing up, Bruce! Hope you liked our precious, beloved parking lots, the holiest of the holy pilgrimage sites for wannabe politicians, like failed candidate Phil Tavel, who gushingly called the Junction private automobile storage lots “one of District One’s unique qualities,” on his website.

Scottibell September 10, 2021 (12:12 am)

We are F’d with both Candidates. And that is the reality of the situation.

Felix Grounds September 10, 2021 (7:21 am)

Maybe YOU should run for Mayor, and when you win in a landslide, you can fix EVERYTHING.

Mike September 10, 2021 (6:04 am)

So he was born in Seattle, raised in Seattle, isn’t hellbent on destroying Seattle, wants to grow Seattle’s economic stability again, wants to help addicts get treatment and wants legitimate housing opportunities vs forcing people to live in squalor? He must really be the antichrist of the fringe extremists.

k September 10, 2021 (6:55 am)

He was presented a plan for affordable housing and responded with his concern about parking lots? Embarrassing. Would have loved to seen Echohawk leading our city, but Lorena is an obvious choice against this guy.

Billy September 10, 2021 (8:00 am)

On the parking lot issue – we already lost our free lots and I go to the Junction less as a result – much less stopping by on my way home from somewhere – do these businesses really want to reduce their customers even more? Very bad idea unless we are aiming to become the new soulless Capitol Hill only catering to the high rise residents. Let’s not lose our “main street” appeal.

neighbor September 10, 2021 (3:12 pm)

Not sure who you’re implying are the villains here. The parking lots were never really free. The small business owners in the junction leased them for as long as they were able to, but eventually the dramatic increase in property values (and consequently property taxes) made that unsustainable. Instead of acting like something has been taken from you, how about we show some appreciation to the small business owners who paid to give us a lovely gift for as long as they could?

Sillygoose September 10, 2021 (8:08 am)

VERY Disturbing to see our WS Junction Executive pitching more development in an overdeveloped community. There is no parking, our infrastructure is failing, crime is out of control and you want to crame more people into a claustrophobic area!!! What is wrong with you? Those that are going to lash out and say ride the bus or a bike are completely removed from reality. Shame on you Radford!!!

WSB September 10, 2021 (1:34 pm)

As we’ve reported previously, this isn’t a case of “parking lots OR redevelopment.” The lots WILL eventually be redeveloped – they’re zoned for mixed-use and they’re valued and taxed that way (the tax bill is why . The question as the WSJA sees it is whether the lots’ owners (Trusteed Prooerties) sells them off to a commercial developer who will build whatever they want to without community input, or whether there will be a plan like the one with Community Roots Housing, including some affordable housing and affordable commercial spaces.
Peter September 10, 2021 (2:19 pm)

No, Sillycomment, the community is not overdeveloped, there is ample parking, our infrastructure is not failing, and crime is not out of control. The fact is we have a severe and worsening housing shortage and critically need more development, even if there were “no parking” there are other ways to get around than by personal cars which are killing the planet, the city’s water and electricity usage is much lower than it was say 20 years ago and there is no capacity issue with either, and claiming increasing crime has always been a favorite talking point of housing opponents despite crime being near all an time low.

WS Steve September 10, 2021 (8:15 am)

If Harrell had even one new idea for dealing with the homelessness crisis I’d give him a second thought. Compassion Seattle is just a mandate for more sweeps with no mechanism for getting the unhoused into housing. Harrell now wants the council to pass it since it’s off the ballot. This is the same old approach but with a bigger hammer. Get outta here with that.

Sarah Airhart September 10, 2021 (8:28 am)

Absolutely NO to developing the parking lots are you KIDDING???? How are people supposed to venture ‘downtown WS’ and visit all those amazing little shops when there is NO PARKING??? This is crazy.

Ice September 10, 2021 (10:03 am)

There is a whole parking garage under Safeway that I have never seen anywhere near capacity.
- helpermonkey September 10, 2021 (10:45 am)
  
  @ ice – no one parks there anymore because they’re tired of getting car prowled.
- D-Ridge September 10, 2021 (11:37 am)
  
  In addition to the Safeway garage, the Whole Foods and QFC parking garages are always super empty.
  - ACG September 10, 2021 (11:00 pm)
    
    I’m pretty sure the QFC and Whole Foods parking garages are to be used only by customers visiting those businesses. So no, you can’t park there and go shop the small businesses in the Junction.
Lagartija Nick September 10, 2021 (10:14 am)

1) You can drive, park on a side street and WALK the two blocks. 2) You can take a bus. 3) You can ride a bike. 4) You can use one of the shared scooters. 5) You can use an Uber or other ride share. 6) You can walk. 7) You can use the Metro Ride Share. 8) You can use the free shuttle. And probably most importantly, 9) By the time any development is completed here, you will be able to use light rail. I have used 5 of the modes listed to access the junction from North Delridge. I strongly suspect several of these options would work for you too.
Stuck in West Seattle September 10, 2021 (10:47 am)

Agreed bring the free lots back.
- Felix Grounds September 11, 2021 (2:07 pm)
  
  There never were “free” lots…you ot I just weren’t the ones paying for them.
- Ice September 11, 2021 (2:21 pm)
  
  who is going to pay for them?

al September 10, 2021 (9:22 am)

Go Bruce-! So much better than LG.

Mj September 10, 2021 (9:39 am)

Bruce grew up in Seattle, went Seattle Public Schools and the off to the UW, sorry Cougs. He witnessed discrimination first hand and understands the challenges. He is immenently qualified to be Mayor.

I’ve met him a couple of times, he is very liberal but within the base lines, and sense he is down to earth and would be the Mayor for all City residents and would be less likely pander to small group special interest politics.

zark00 September 10, 2021 (11:00 am)

This decision should be extremely simple if you live here – if you want the bridge fixed DO NOT vote for Harrell.

skeeter September 10, 2021 (1:16 pm)

Okay zark I’ll bite. Who should we vote for if we DO want the bridge fixed?
Peter September 10, 2021 (2:23 pm)

That’s interesting. Just curious, what is your source of information that Harrell is against fixing the bridge?
My two cents … September 10, 2021 (2:51 pm)

@zark00 Let me get this straight – since construction and repair work is underway and will continue on between now and the election, not to mention when the term actually starts, Harrell, if elected will single- handily stop the work? Can you elaborate on this?
Canton September 10, 2021 (10:37 pm)

This decision should be extremely simple if you live here. If you want this city actually fixed, DON’T vote for Gonzalez.

Fairmont September 10, 2021 (1:16 pm)

Why would anyone vote for Lorena? She is part of the problem and has had ample time on city council to show some sort of improvements regarding the issues that are facing the city. But here we are… she doesn’t deserve a promotion or a second chance. That’s like hiring someone with a resume full of failures. I hope she fails and is left with nothing.

Actions not words September 10, 2021 (2:54 pm)

Spot on. The performance as council president has been underwhelming to say the least, don’t have any faith in progress with the position of mayor. Seems to be focused on a one track agenda and will not try to work, partner with other entities that don’t necessarily align with that agenda.

Wendell September 10, 2021 (3:11 pm)

I just wonder how many of these commentators made the effort to go and listen to what he had to say?BH’s visit to the Junction was his seventh stop at the end of an obviously tiring day. I found him to be sincere and passionate about fixing the mess that Seattle has become. He didn’t shirk from any questions, and I heard no mention of parking lots, that subject must’ve been discussed after the small audience dispersed for an art-walkabout.I really don’t care about anyone else’s vote, but one thing the current city council has succeeded in doing, is showing that women can be as equally incompetent as men.

the admirable admiral September 10, 2021 (3:18 pm)

bruce famously did nothing of consequence during his years on the city council. what makes you think he’ll be effective as mayor?

Jort September 10, 2021 (7:34 pm)

It’s another person, like Jenny Durkan before him, who wants to be mayor but doesn’t seem to care much about it or really explain why they want to do it. Just, you know, like it might be something fun to do or whatever. Frankly it looks like the worst job in the world.
- Canton September 10, 2021 (11:07 pm)
  
  Correct. Being mayor of our city currently, is definitely not a desirable job. He should get credit for actually running for a thankless position. What have we had before? Nickels had the ego to get sdot to create a snow path for himself. McGinn would fake his biking leadership role. Murray, well if you aren’t aware, look it up. Durkan “boss lady”, has left the room. Bruce Harrell as council president, was the only adult in the room, with all the aspirational activists with big hopes and no actual knowledge.
  - WSB September 11, 2021 (7:24 am)
    
    Datapoint, the allegation about Nickels was not borne out. We literally checked it out ourselves during the snows when he was mayor. Here’s how the ethics investigation turned out. What got him in trouble was giving his administration a B for its snow response that year. That pretty much cost him another term and also taught at least one generation of politicians that followed, to NEVER answer the question “How would you grade your (fill in the blank)?”
AMD September 11, 2021 (7:24 am)

It’s hilarious (and sad) to me how many people have already forgotten that Harrell was part of the same city council they claim to hate until just two years ago. He literally was part of the body that created the policies they can’t stand (albeit a somewhat absentee-participation trophy part) and yet there are still people tripping over themselves to declare that he’s the change the city needs. Best case scenario, he maintains the status quo. Worst case, he’ll be another placeholder like Durkan and enjoy the city paycheck while doing as little actual work as possible.

Sorry, comment time is over.