ELECTION 2023: Here are the first City Council District 1 results

Rhonda August 1, 2023 (9:00 pm)

26.6% turnout for such an important election in a VERY troubled city is extremely sad.

WSB August 1, 2023 (9:11 pm)

It’ll pick up at least a few more points – later tonight I’m going to go back and look at past election nights vs. final counts.
Jort August 1, 2023 (9:26 pm)

I love this stuff. “VERY troubled city.” The theatrics and dramatics, the histrionic moralizing about ongoing societal collapse, devastation and ruin, a city in shambles, teetering at the brink of apocalypse, that the future is nothing but doom and failure, that the citizens of the city are too stupid to know what’s best for themselves, and that all of this is due to the, um, city’s governing council. There are a lot of people in this city who don’t buy into this Chicken Little “Seattle is DYING so flood the streets with trillions of new police officers!” panic talk. It’s out of touch with the reality that most people in Seattle see: a decent place to live, certainly with some serious challenges, and people mostly wanting to do what they can to make it better. This constant screeching about the imminent catastrophic destruction of the city by people whose property values increased more than at any point in the city’s history is out of touch with reality, and these same voters never, ever seem to figure out that their language, approach, doomerism and lecturing are not moving any voters to their side. Maybe it’s time for another re-run of “Seattle is Dying” and a thousand more Danny Westneat columns about how Seattle is secretly, deeply yearning for a Republican Daddy to come save the day?
- GoombaJuice August 2, 2023 (8:31 am)
  
  Well put, I bet most people complaining don’t even live here!
- Actually Mike August 2, 2023 (9:05 am)
  
  Jort, this story in Seattle’s “other” newspaper is worth a look if you doubt that the city’s in trouble: “Seattle tops major metros for people feeling unsafe in their neighborhood”. Not that we’ll expect you to come around and deal with the facts–“None so blind as those who will not see”…https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/seattle-tops-major-metros-for-people-feeling-unsafe-in-their-neighborhood/
  - wsres August 2, 2023 (10:11 am)
    
    Feeling less safe because Seattlelites are just used to how it used to be not because it is actually less safe than bigger cities.
  - Novatore August 2, 2023 (2:29 pm)
    
    Nothing like vibes-based governance. I agree Mike, all government policies should be based on how people feel rather than facts!
  - Jort August 2, 2023 (2:55 pm)
    
    I am fully aware that the Seattle Times has, as part of their mission statement, a mandatory doomer-ism story about the decline of Seattle published at least every two days. (Their ideological commitment to talking about how bad everything feels in Seattle is is admirable in its persistence.) Here, let me add some special emphasis to the headline for that article: “Seattle tops major metros for people FEELING unsafe in their neighborhood.” The Seattle Times is very good at regularly publishing some version of this article. Even better is, when you read closer, it reveals that a astonishingly gargantuan “7% of adults” in the Seattle metro area (which includes all of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties), felt unsafe in their neighborhood. It is so strange to me to see people so cravenly desperate to seek out confirmation that other people just hate this city. Most people don’t hate it here. Our elections show this, over and over.
- Frank August 2, 2023 (9:16 am)
  
  Hehe
Thanks For Trying Phil August 1, 2023 (10:15 pm)

Such low turnout means the Jort’s of the city get their way and the downward spiral continues. Might be time to move out of the communist city of Seattle. 40 plus years of living here and this is by far the worst I’ve seen this city and it’s only going to get worse
- Danimal August 2, 2023 (2:00 am)
  
  This is the kind of Republican catch-phrase fearmongering that leads people to vote hard left to avoid people who think like you write/speak gaining positions of power. Seattle is not a “communist” city and you and your cohorts need to stop bandying that word around.
  - Jort August 2, 2023 (9:48 am)
    
    As history teaches us, communism, such as that apparently demonstrated in its most complete form here in Seattle, always results in extreme wealth inequality, hub locations for some of the wealthiest private corporations in human history and soaring, record-breaking private property values. Yes, communism at its finest. What amazing communism we see here in our fair city.
- K August 2, 2023 (6:17 am)
  
  Have you considered that more people want Jort’s version of Seattle than yours? And that’s why incumbents keep winning? Also, saying it’s worse now than it was in the 90s is ridiculous, and not borne out by statistics. Maybe your feelings about the city have changed, or the reporting on the city has changed and skewed your sense of what is and isn’t happening. But by no reasonable metric is Seattle worse off now than it was 30-40 years ago.
- Felix Grounds August 2, 2023 (7:01 am)
  
  THE COMUNISMS!!!OMG, Seattle is not even CLOSE to communism, not even close to Socialism really.The pearl clutching is laughable.
- heartless August 2, 2023 (8:52 am)
  
  Sorry, what? You think low turnout hurts (more) conservative candidates? Got some bad news for you, buddy…
- Jay August 2, 2023 (9:13 am)
  
  Everyone I’ve talked to about it says the city was way, way worse in the 80s and 90s.
  - SlimJim August 2, 2023 (9:45 am)
    
    Really Jay? “Seattle was way worse in the 80s and 90s” according people you know?Uh, really? I dont know who youve been talking to, but I’ve certainly lived here long enough to have seen the very negative changes since then.In the 1980s and 1990s this city was not full of tents, broken-down RVs and other places where the sad drug-addicted lived. People who were desperate didn’t try pitching tents in parks and vacant lots.People weren’t shooting at each other to the incredible extent they are now.Yes, there were homeless people, drugs and guns back then. There were all of these, but not nearly to the extent we have now. To pretend otherwise is sticking your head in the sand.
  - WSDudeman August 2, 2023 (10:55 am)
    
    I love you all arguing about Seattle being worse off in the 80’s compared to today. In the 80’s you didn’t have multiple vehicle thefts almost daily in WS, no multiple Junction stores being burglarized, you didn’t have all the gun violence, armed robberies and murder and you certainly didn’t have an out of control fentanyl problem with predatory houseless drug addicts.But you do you. I moved to Seattle in 2003 and she has gotten REAL dicey and dirty. Unfortunately, lots of people seem to put on their proverbial blinders rather than admitting our city has gone downhill in terms of safety.
    - Ron Swanson August 2, 2023 (12:20 pm)
      
      You moved here in the 2000s and you’re offering an opinion on how things were in the 1980s? I can assure you all those things did happen (more often) back then – but it was crack that was the current moral panic, and the addicts largely had housing to go back to because the city’s economy had stagnated since the 1960s and thus rents were cheap.
    - heartless August 2, 2023 (12:47 pm)
      
      lol
      
      https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/is-seattle-dying-not-if-you-look-crime-rates-from-the-80s-and-90s/
      
      “Big drop in Seattle crime since 1980s”
      
      “The city’s rates of violent crime and property crime were twice as high in the late 1980s.”
      
      So… Uh, maybe it’s not others who have on their blinders?
    - WSDUDEMAN August 2, 2023 (2:09 pm)
      
      I’m speaking of WS. We currently have the slew of problems I mentioned above. They were not as widespread in WS in the early 2000’s. Not even close. Everyone I know that grew up in WS has told me the same thing from their experiences. West Seattle is not as safe as it was when they grew up here.Just because Seattle had a bad downtown (and a few bad neighborhoods) in the 80’s and 90’s doesn’t mean crime should be dismissed today.
    - Norsegirl August 2, 2023 (2:50 pm)
      
      I have lived in various neighborhoods in Seattle since 1979. I don’t have hard statistics for support, but I do have an intact memory. I remember less crime, less traffic, less property vandalism, less gun violence, less expenses. I experienced a much more enjoyable and safe quality of life. I can assert that Seattle is “worse off” now, at least in what I consider measures of quality of life.
  - Seattlite August 2, 2023 (2:21 pm)
    
    As a 75-year-old Seattleite, I can say that information of crime going on in the 80’s/90’s was not only going on in Seattle but across the USA. Seattle never had a homeless population in the 80’s/90’s to even compare to the huge homeless population and the crime that comes with it in 2023. I also recall that SPD’s police officers were fully staffed during the 80’s/90’s compared to 2023.

Jort August 1, 2023 (9:00 pm)

Uh oh! Dare I say it’s almost time to break out the sad trombones (“wahhh wahhhh wahhhhhhhhhhh”) for part-time pizza parlor trivia host (he literally advertises this as on his campaign website) Phil Tavel, who looks to be decisively headed to his fourth straight failed political run? I continue to be impressed and amused with just how colossally misaligned with reality the typical comments section repeatedly is. Echo chambers do not equal voting majorities in this city.

Peter August 1, 2023 (9:25 pm)

There are still many thousand ballots to count, these results could change a lot. Tavel is not getting my vote, but he did make a better case for himself this time around.
Rhonda August 1, 2023 (9:29 pm)

When the voting majority is a small minority of Seattle residents, we get results like these.
- CAM August 2, 2023 (6:55 am)
  
  It’s an awfully strange conclusion to come to that your political opinion is consistently in the minority in elections but that is only because the majority of people agree with you but don’t ever vote. A more logical and fact based inference to draw would be that people don’t agree with you and that is why the results are what they are.
  - Seattlite August 2, 2023 (9:23 pm)
    
    I agree with you 100%, Rhonda. Many Seattle voters don’t vote due to candidates not having diverse political ideas on how to deal with Seattle’s plethora of old unresolved problems and the new problems coming down the pike. It takes new ideas and the implementation of those new ideas to start solving Seattle’s problems which, unfortunately, has not happened in many years. It seems that the same ol same ol approach will be voted into office once again.
D-Ridge August 1, 2023 (9:36 pm)

Haha, nice
Thanks For Trying Phil August 1, 2023 (10:10 pm)

Have you met Phil before Jort? Why such hostility towards someone who put the effort into trying to run for city council? You’re clearly a woke activist and are happy that he lost so the city can continue it’s downward spiral. You enjoy seeing the RV’s everywhere and the drugs and crime that surround them. Otherwise you wouldn’t be celebrating what looks like the defeat of someone who wanted to address this emergency facing our city and you wouldn’t be throwing jabs at him. If Maren is elected she will be Herbold 2.0 and the drug use and lawlessness will continue. More RV’s and tents will crowd our streets and greenspaces and you will continue to celebrate that. Because to you, all that matters is winning. You don’t care that the city is dead as long as the activists win. Seattle is dead and I don’t even blame the woke losers such as yourself. I blame the vast majority of the city that didn’t care enough to vote. Idiots like you only get your way when not enough of the sane majority let their voices be heard through their vote
- Aaron August 1, 2023 (11:50 pm)
  
  “You’re clearly a woke activist”I keep seeing this word “woke” get tossed around. What does it mean? Can you offer me a clear definition of the term?
  - Genesee5Points August 2, 2023 (8:34 am)
    
    The simple answer… Woke is the past tense of wake. In this context, to the Left/Dem/Liberal, the subject is “awake” to social issues facing society. To the Right/Rep/Conservative, the subject is an “extreme activist” in addressing these social/societal issues.
  - Community Member August 2, 2023 (11:21 am)
    
    What’s woke? How aboutBoy Scout Oath (or Promise)To do my duty, to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.Or maybe the bible
    
    1 Thessalonians 5:6
    
    So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
    .
    So, yeah, really got to question the values of anyone trying to frame woke as a slur.
    - Jeff August 3, 2023 (8:46 am)
      
      I agree… Woke = good, to me. It just means you’re aware of racial and classist issues.
  - Thomas August 2, 2023 (12:01 pm)
    
    Can’t get clearer than thisWoke has become a buzzword coopted by conservatives to other anyone who they may vaguely disagree. It no longer has any meaning when uttered by conservatives.
    - Scarlett August 2, 2023 (1:42 pm)
      
      It’s an insufferably annoying meme, but neither side has any interest in free speech, due process or any other civil liberty. The first step in arriving at the truth is to stop deceiving ourselves.
    - 937 August 2, 2023 (8:37 pm)
      
      Unless the “speech” is contrary to yours. THEN it’s racist, homophobic, “dangerous” – must be ‘moderated’. Due process? only for criminals – any one else (especially DJT) THROW AWAY THE KEY!!!! as for civil liberties? what about my second amendment? Naw gotta do away with that one too.Face it Scarlett- you are an ala carte civil libertarian. Own it.
N. August 1, 2023 (10:22 pm)

Hey Jort, Phil is only 591 votes behind Saka with a predicted 10 to 12,000 more ballots to count. You might want to save your singing voice. Phil’s public service in D1 won’t change either way this election goes so his foot print and influence will remain.
John August 1, 2023 (10:29 pm)

Or perhaps it’s the voters that are “misaligned with reality”.A pity.
Seaview Neighbor August 1, 2023 (10:48 pm)

Running for office takes an incredible amount of courage and work. And for most candidates elections end in the disappointment of not being elected. Those candidates voluntarily give hundreds of hours of their time in the hopes of making their community a better place. I did not support Mr. Tavel, but I do have a tremendous amount of respect for anyone who earnestly runs for office. Resorting to personal attacks and schoolyard name calling is not only crass, but serves to discourage otherwise sincere, qualified candidates from running for local public office in the future. I applaud Mr. Tavel and all the other candidates who had the courage to put their names and ideas out to the public, knowing the psychological toll that running for office takes – including reading boorish comments like the one above. I hope others will join me in doing the same.
- Jort August 2, 2023 (12:07 am)
  
  It sure would be nice to see the same exhortations for respect and decency come forward when comments sections are filled to the brim with vitriol and spittle-flecked rage at, say, current city council members like Lisa Herbold and Kshama Sawant. But, somehow, people don’t really speak up when they read others’ comments about how Lisa Herbold is literally taking personal pleasure in “destroying” the city. Politics ain’t beanbag. I’m sure Phil’s a nice guy and puts on a great trivia night. He’s a perennially failing political candidate whose entire shtick is “empower the comments sections to determine government policy.” There is an obvious and enormous gap between what comments sections think is a majority opinion, and what is the actual majority opinion. This plays out in every election and somehow people still don’t get it.
Del Griffith August 1, 2023 (11:05 pm)

I didn’t vote for the guy, but pretty low to make fun of someone for making the effort. Saka, Tavel, and Brown likely draw the same voters so simple math suggests you might have this all wrong. There’s a reason Herbold chose not to run again…
Canton August 2, 2023 (7:49 am)

Don’t count your chickens yet, or there may be some crow in your jort sandwich.
WSeaVoter August 2, 2023 (8:02 am)

Seriously not cool to make fun of Phil. He cares about our community. He puts in the work to make our community better . What have you done?
Phillip Tavel August 2, 2023 (8:41 am)

Hey Jort. I know I probably should not be responding, but can I ask what I ever did to engender such dislike from you. Yeah, I run a trivia night at a pizza place. But I’ve used that trivia night to raise thousands of dollars for causes like west side baby, the emergency hub network, the YMCA’s after school programs for kids, and an outreach group that brings food to the homeless in Pioneer Square. I was a public defender for 15 years and I represented over 3000 indigent clients in that time, and now I hear appeals from people who have been told they don’t get to keep their unemployment benefits, to make sure that those who deserved those benefits get to keep them. I have tried my whole life to step up and help people in need. Yes, this may be the fourth time I’ve run for public office, and I might have an awesome 0-4 to show for it when all the votes are in, but I believe I’ve always done it for the right reasons. I think our city could be amazing if we had leaders that prioritized actually helping people to have better lives and focused their energy on getting things done rather than just talking about it. And to have leaders who will be present, accessible, who will truly listen when they are called on to help, and who put their constituents first, above politics and virtue signaling. Running for office is not easy. It’s a grind. And especially local politics. You have to put yourself out to be judged every single day for everything you say or do. For that, I appreciate and applaud all 7 of the other candidates who chose to run this year in D1. But, what was it that I did or said to offend you so much? I don’t mind the criticism. You deserve to question those who seek to lead. If you run for office you better have thick skin and be willing to face that type of scrutiny as well as let yourself be held accountable to the people you seek to serve. I’m just legitimately wondering why you feel the way you feel about me. I hope you’ll share.
- Dale August 2, 2023 (10:07 am)
  
  Thanks, Phil, for reminding us about your community history and service. Maybe Jort will finally think before whining on the blog. Looking forward to his response to your post.
- 937 August 2, 2023 (1:12 pm)
  
  Nicely said Phil. You are a class act. Scrape the naysayers off your heel and keep in keeping on. You have my support and my vote. for a 5th or 50th time.
- Ravi O August 2, 2023 (2:19 pm)
  
  Keep up the good work Phil. Don’t let Jort get under your skin. Jort likes to come around and argue with people with an unnecessarily aggressive tone whenever there’s any post about politics or bike lanes. I assume they’ve spent some time debating against your politics and is using this as a moment to gloat.
- Canton August 2, 2023 (11:09 pm)
  
  This response and your continued community involvement, is why my fam voted for you. Hope our deadline votes and others elevate you to the primary.
- Seattlite August 3, 2023 (8:11 am)
  
  Phil Tavel the reason Jort has such animosity toward you is because you represent different ideas, views that could actually help Seattle out of the mess it is in today.
- Rhonda August 3, 2023 (8:46 pm)
  
  Thank you, Mr Tavel. Many of us on here are tired and disgusted by Jort’s disrespectful comments. You’re a class act, and, sadly, probably too good for most Seattle residents.
Delridge Dude August 2, 2023 (9:03 am)

It is very small of you to mock Phil, Jort.
Erik August 2, 2023 (9:54 am)

Because the top two candidates in this list have “public school mom” and “public school dad” on their webpage. As if that has anything do to with job…
- Josh August 2, 2023 (2:24 pm)
  
  Exactly, as i pointed out on this blog earlier and had Rob sakas wife Alicia harass and threaten me for doing so: how does maybe coaching your kids t ball a couple years ago qualify one for public service? It doesn’t and if it did then Josh for President. At least Tavel is active in the community. At least Costa has a record of supporting workers. What has Saka done other then workshop statements and be friends with the mayor? What positions does the guy even have beyond bland non answers. I trust that Costa and Tavel actual want to try to enact specific policies and have demonstrated a history of helping others. What has Saka done? What does he stand for? What evidence is out there that he actually stands for anything but Team Saka?
Jgreene August 2, 2023 (1:41 pm)

Jort – would love to hear your reply to Phil Tavel. I did not vote for him but your mocking him for taking a shot at public service is highly disappointing. We know you read these comments so please take a moment to reply. Would actually love to hear you response after being so snarky in online comments 🤷🏻‍♀️
- heartless August 2, 2023 (4:22 pm)
  
  How is it possible that none of you get that Jort was making fun of the commenters (ie: YOU ALL) and not Tavel per se?
  
  He’s obviously mocking the comment section for regularly (as in, during EVERY election) talking about how everyone is obviously going to vote for the (more) conservative candidates, and it’s not even a question, it’s going to happen, etc., etc., ad nauseam, despite the majority of Seattleites being quite happily (more) progressive in their politics.
  - Jgreene August 2, 2023 (6:06 pm)
    
    Sorry – you’re really trying to say Jort wasn’t mocking Phil Tavel with his comments? Try reading this statement again and tell me why he mentions the trivia thing or Tavel running 4 times? It’s not my reading comprehension that’s the issue — it’s a snarky statement and you can’t backtrack that 🤷🏻‍♀️
    - heartless August 2, 2023 (7:15 pm)
      
      The running 4 times directly links to the point that EVERY time he runs commenters swear up and down that he’s clearly the only choice and will absolutely get elected–which, again, is more about the rabid tunnel-vision of commenters than about Tavel himself.
      
      As for making fun of him for touting his trivia nights, I got nothing–that definitely comes across as a dig. But, to be fair, mocking people’s campaign websites really doesn’t seem that vitriolic.
      
      I stand by my reading–to me it absolutely comes across as Jort gleefully mocking many of the regular commenters rather than skewering Tavel himself.
    - Seaview Neighbor August 2, 2023 (11:04 pm)
      
      I’ve never commented on this blog in my life before last night. I was moved to do so because Jort’s statement was so completely inappropriate it needed to be called out. Comments like those, especially for a local race, are entirely indecorous and toxic to our system of local elections that relies on decent, sincere people putting their ideas out their in the hopes of serving their community.We all make mistakes and can be inappropriately crass. The right thing to do though is admit it when it happens and attempt an apology. I am hopeful that Jort shares these values and acts accordingly.

Darlene August 1, 2023 (9:01 pm)

Thanks WSB! What happens next? Do the top 3 advance to a final vote?

WSB August 1, 2023 (9:10 pm)

Just the top two. (The only thing final in this election is the levy vote.) It’ll be a few weeks before the results are final and certified – the next few days in particular, with the ballots dropboxed and mailed on Election Day, will be the most volatile ones. Each days’s results drop is usually between 3:30 and 4:30 pm – TR
- PDiddy August 2, 2023 (3:13 pm)
  
  Out of curiosity, if ranked choice were in place any idea how that would shift things? Only reason I ask is I am trying to kinda figure out how much that would change things. For example lets say Phil is out and lets say he had 22% total and the seconds went say 13% Saka and 12% Costa, would that just drop him and those amounts just get added to this count til you are down to a winner? I am still trying to get my head around how that works if it ever gets in place. Thanks for the awesome reporting you always do btw!

Peter August 1, 2023 (9:21 pm)

How is Maren Costa doing so well? She was lackluster at best in the forums I saw. She at one point was pretty clear she opposes light rail, which is a curious position for an alleged “environmental activist.”

Peter August 1, 2023 (10:33 pm)

My bad, I was ready the wrong column in my candidate notes and got the responses confused.
Spencer August 2, 2023 (7:10 am)

Haha no worries Peter. For what it’s worth, I went to the District 1 Mobility Forum a while back and everybody showed up but the Saka campaign. Costa herself was out that day, but sent a chipper young campaign aide that I was really fond of. I was impressed by their transit priorities. :D
Voter August 2, 2023 (8:21 am)

Maren Costa was endorsed by The Stranger.
- Derek August 2, 2023 (12:12 pm)
  
  Ha, if you think the Stranger has that much pull. Costa is actually a good candidate. Went door to door. Got to know her constituents. She won me over Saka. I am glad she got the most votes.
voted August 2, 2023 (10:23 am)

Maren Costa went door-to-door in my neighborhood, and she asked me what I think the council should be doing. That went a long way with me. Our household voted one for Costa and one for Tavel.

Tired of the BS August 1, 2023 (9:49 pm)

Can Jort get a time out? I’m so tired of hearing “his” righteousness, wahhh wahhh wahhhhhhhhhhh…

John August 1, 2023 (10:34 pm)

Jort fiddles while”Rome burns”.

AlkiDreamin August 1, 2023 (9:59 pm)

@Jort and WS neighbors, regardless of who you back, please be respectful of those who take the big step to run for office. It’s a huge undertaking and I appreciate all those who take time away from their lives and loved ones to seek elected office. We may disagree on political positions, but hopefully we can agree on that simple civility and appreciation?

Seaview Neighbor August 1, 2023 (11:11 pm)

This comment gives me hope. Couldn’t agree more. Running for office takes a huge amount of courage. Can you imagine knowing you are going to have your job, hobbies, speech, looks, etc. openly ridiculed and made fun of by your neighbors in public forums like this one … and then still have the guts to run for office? We can do so much better. We must do so much better. If we don’t then otherwise earnest folks who care about their community will all come to the same conclusion – it isn’t worth the time or psychological and personal pain to run for office. We need good people in office. And, regardless of whether we share their politics, attracting those people starts with demonstrating that their sincerity, service, and efforts are respected.

WSCurmudgeon August 1, 2023 (10:12 pm)

For all the also-rans, here is the

Sad Trombone

As noted by our stellar editor, who the top two are after all the votes are tallied may change. Mr Tavel at #3 is still in the running.

Matthieu August 1, 2023 (10:13 pm)

It is indeed a bit sad that people don’t vote. Voting in King County is so easy, just post for free your ballot either in a mailbox or a ballot box, that’s it. In many states and in most democracies in Europe you need to actually show up in person on a given day to vote.

Del Griffith August 1, 2023 (10:59 pm)

Wow on costa! Herbold might as well have run again. Hopefully this is just a low turnout, primary thing. Seems like both Tavel and Anderson’s votes would swing Saka, but who knows.I don’t care for Tavel, but pretty low to make fun of someone who puts in the effort.

Spike August 1, 2023 (11:03 pm)

To everyone bemoaning the low voter turnout, that’s often viewed as a sign of stability in a democracy. People are less motivated to take the time to vote when they’re happy enough with how things are going. That’s perhaps worth taking into account when you jump to the conclusion, which many of you seem to be doing, that if more people voted the results would be any different. It might just be that the majority of people in your community disagree with you.

KT August 2, 2023 (5:33 am)

That is an interesting perspective. Thanks for bringing that to the dialogue
Rob August 2, 2023 (6:43 am)

You are right. The voters in western Washington are happy with what’s going on . And have been for almost 40 years. It’s been under a single party rule. It’s been fun to watch someone say how there going to fix everything when there same party screwed it up. So your right as far as western WA voters go we live in a utopia

Rhonda August 1, 2023 (11:04 pm)

Apathy is currently in first place with a huge lead of 73.4%

937 August 2, 2023 (4:07 am)

EXACTLY this.
Jon August 2, 2023 (6:41 am)

Correct. It’s really sad. The majority of people have no clue about how the systems of government work, and only pay attention to the presidential elections. They don’t understand that there’s a Federal Congress and a state-level equivalent.
- CAM August 2, 2023 (5:47 pm)
  
  Jon: “People don’t vote like me and therefore they are uninformed and dumb.”
  - Canton August 2, 2023 (11:24 pm)
    
    Kinda like the definition of stubborn. To be stubborn, requires a second party. Without second party, one does what they want. Hence, stubborn is just ones opinion against one that won’t conform to anothers ideals.

No to Costa August 2, 2023 (12:32 am)

More housing is not what we need right now. We’ve tried that for 10 years and failed. It’s not Seattle’s responsibility to house the homeless population of the entire US. If you can’t afford it here, move to one of the many affordable states or even to eastern WA. It takes sacrifice and hard work to survive in this city and nobody owes you a single dollar, especially if you’re not a taxpayer yourself. Sweeps have been working in my neighborhood and others, so that’s the way to go. Time to play hardball, no more freebies.

Mariem August 2, 2023 (3:31 am)

No to Costa: what are the freebies you reference?
anonyme August 2, 2023 (6:29 am)

No To Costa, thanks for saying this. It is no more the responsibility of the city of Seattle (or taxpayers in general) to house everyone who wants to live here than it is, on a broader scale, to house, employ, and support everyone who wants to live in the US. As for the election – as usual, don’t know why I even bother to vote anymore. Seattle voters are the equivalent of Trump supporters – rabid in their convictions no matter how much negative evidence is presented as to the efficacy of their choices. As for Costa’s ‘environmentalism’, if it’s anything like Biden’s, we’re in deep doo-doo. Biden has approved more oil and gas leases on public property than Trump, showing huge support for the fossil fuel industries. The hypocrisy is nauseating.
Felix Grounds August 2, 2023 (7:17 am)

Comments like this are why I voted for Costa (partially). You know who also can move to another state if they hate the political leanings of this city?Go look in a mirror and find out.
- No to Costa August 2, 2023 (5:11 pm)
  
  Implying that I’m right leaning since I’m willing to call out one blatant flaw that everyone sees in this city is why this problem won’t get solved.
DC August 2, 2023 (8:18 am)

I’m curious when you bought your home and what ‘hard work’ you did to increase its value. Plenty of people here who work hard but when rents increase so rapidly are unable to keep up and are forced onto the streets. A little compassion might make your heart grow.
- 937 August 3, 2023 (7:08 am)
  
  Hey DC, let me give you a little lesson in how “investments” work… It’s pretty simple really… You buy at one price (which may be risky) and you hope over time that investment increases in value. And then (when you’re ready) you SELL it. Sure, over time – SOME investments require care (aka home ownership) with paint, remodels, yard care etc… All of which you HOPE is going to return in value. So while YOU may be priced out of the market, that doesn’t mean everybody is.
  
  I’ll put cash in one hand and compassion in the other and see which fills first.
  - Scarlett August 3, 2023 (7:44 pm)
    
    If you are a homeowner you probably have been the lucky recipient of a decade of Fed set low interest rates that has juiced demand for housing and perked up quite nicely the market value of your home value, particularly if you purchased or inherited a number of years ago. The flip side of low interest rates? Those who don’t own property and rely on income from interest products such as CD’s or money market funds.
    
    It is true that a gain hasn’t been realized until you sell, but then so is a stash of gold bars under someone’s living room floorboard; no one is claiming either person is poor. You can sell your home and realize your very nice gain and unless its a sale with more complex tax implications – a rental for example – you’ll probably pay no cap gains tax, only costs and taxes associated with selling.
    
    True, you don’t make Fed Reserve policy, but a little acknowledgment of one’s good fortune never hurt anyone.
JunctionGnome August 2, 2023 (8:55 am)

“Sweeps have been working in my neighborhood and others”

Where do you think those people are going? These are really people, our neighbors. More housing is a critical part of the solution and makes for a safer, better, more vibrant city. Whoever wins, I look forward to them taking a holistic and human focused response, both near term and long term (housing!).
- No to Costa August 2, 2023 (4:51 pm)
  
  From what I gather, Kent, Tacoma or Olympia. Those are the responsible ones who’ve accepted reality. Seattle is not the only place to make a living.
Josh August 2, 2023 (9:07 am)

Weird take. That growing cities don’t need more housing. Especially when trying to address homelessness. We haven’t tried building much new housing as it’s mostly determined by the market and zoning laws. The recent passage of trying to set up social housing is a good start, now let’s fund it with money from the rich who don’t pay their fair share.
datamuse August 2, 2023 (9:59 am)

Pretty harsh considering how many people I know personally who’ve lived here for most of their lives, paid their taxes, contributed to the local economy, and have literally been priced out. And, to my observation as someone who spends a lot of time in more rural parts of our state, dumping people in areas that don’t have the infrastructure to handle the influx does the residents of those areas no favors, either.
- miws August 2, 2023 (6:15 pm)
  
  Thank you, datamuse. I don’t know how long No to Costa, and any other like-thinkers have lived here, unless they volunteer the info but that “…just move to someplace cheaper…” attitude is old, tired, and very insensitive. Many don’t have the upfront money to move, and many need the infrastructure of the city due to chronic medical issues, especially if they already have long-established local healthcare. I think back to my maternal grandparents (who both died before I was born and they contributed to the paved residential streets, sidewalks, and other infrastructure we all enjoy around here in West Seattle, likely in the 1930s and 1940s. —Mike
MacJ August 2, 2023 (11:13 am)

I’m a third generation West Seattlite with a well paying job and it’s a stretch for me to afford living here, but I do it to be close to my family and my community. I’m concerned that my daughter won’t even have the option if we continue to barely build any new homes. “Move somewhere else if you can’t afford it” is the attitude that your property value is worth more than my community.
- K August 2, 2023 (2:14 pm)
  
  Housing prices are dictated by supply and demand. More housing actually slows the growth of equity in existing homes, which is why so many people fight against it. If you own a home, you have a scarce commodity and want to keep it scarce so it stays valuable, regardless of what that means for other people.

Also resident August 2, 2023 (7:53 am)

Costa wrote an open letter to the SCC asking them NOT to adopt the new state drug laws. She’s more of the same. We need change, not another Herbold. No to Costa.

SMH August 2, 2023 (8:53 am)

What I don’t understand is why Seattle ALWAYS pushes through all propositions to increase property tax. No matter what that Prop. entails. It’s getting out of control and really has some of us voters questioning if the polls just might be rigged!

Derek August 2, 2023 (10:34 am)

No, not rigged, renters outnumber homeowners.
Jay August 2, 2023 (11:10 am)

Don’t want higher property taxes that disproportionately impact the lower and middle class? Advocate for income taxes. Right now we’re stuck with regressive taxes, and funding the government is a painful necessity. Even though we live in one of the wealthiest regions of the world.
- onion August 2, 2023 (1:31 pm)
  
  Props to Mr Tavel for standing up for himself against the know-it-all gadfly Jort. Part of me guesses that the “moderates” split the moderate-conservative vote while Costa got the bulk of the Herbold legacy votes. I was hoping for a Saka-Tavel runoff in November, but I would put serious money on any moderate in a runoff against Costa (Herbold v2).
- Ex-Westwood Resident August 2, 2023 (2:05 pm)
  
  What makes you think that ANY tax will go down if they institute an Income Tax, let alone property taxes?
  
  They tried it before, but they wanted to remove the STATE portion of the Sales Tax but keep the county/city portion.
  
  Here is a tax reform I’d like to see; ONLY property owners can vote on property taxes.

wscommuter August 2, 2023 (9:38 am)

It’s always tedious when the extremists – far left or far right – spout their ill-informed/tasteless remarks. But that’s the price of free speech. So be it. While I didn’t vote for Mr. Tavel, I respect his effort and commitment. Come November, notwithstanding the delusional minimizing of Seattle’s problems by far left extremists, I think we’ll see a more moderate city council (these being folks who are, in fact, liberal or moderate Democrats). Of course, the far left will label these folks as “conservative” or “Republican” because they aren’t pure enough for the extremists, who insist on denying how bad things have gotten. Again, so be it. Reading the comment above, I’m reminded again that the only real difference between the far left and MAGA Republicans is that one group wear a red hat with a stupid slogan. Both groups cling to their deluded narratives in the face of objective facts.

WestSeattleBadTakes August 2, 2023 (5:08 pm)

who insist on denying how bad things have gotten

Hello, strawman.

Derek August 2, 2023 (9:45 am)

Heck yeah Costa!!!!! My family voted for her and I am glad to see she is taking the lead!

Jennifer August 2, 2023 (10:10 am)

For everyone complaining, here is my suggestion. RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL! If you think you have all the answers, RUN! If you think the current list of candidates is weak, RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL! Tavel didn’t get my vote, but I respect that he is running. Lucy Barefoot never stood a chance, but I respect her for running. Anderson’s ideas focused mainly on social services and we’re too narrow, but I respect him for running. Until I decide to run for city council, I will provide my critique on these types of forums while suggesting alternatives rather than just complaining without offering a solution. Maybe one day I’ll get the courage to put my name out there, share my vision and RUN!

karen August 2, 2023 (12:20 pm)

great response. No one is perfect. Our challenges are similar to all urban cities- if we just blame blame criticize and are not part of the solution we won’t fix anything

Scarlett August 2, 2023 (11:27 am)

Those who complain about taxes and government funding are often those who benefit the most by government largesse. This “bootstrap” myth has covered extensively here and in previous posts by myself (and others) but it seems to be one of those glaring – peculiar – blind spots in conservative thinking, though not exclusively conservative.

DeTocqueville in “Democracy in America (highly recommended) wrote that the wealthier a society becomes the less interested in freedom it becomes because the state confers financial benefits. DeTocqueville admired America because there was little inherited wealth; today, it is the opposite with trillions passed down to heirs and a financial industry to shepherd it for them.

Tough love is fine, so are all the other character-building bromides, or criticism of how taxes are apportioned, but be honest with yourselves about that dollar in your wallet, too. I guess this is sort of faint praise, but I’ve always expected more of this realistic, self-assessment from conservatives than others.

Peter S. August 2, 2023 (11:57 am)

>> Everyone I’ve talked to about it says the city was way, way worse in the 80s and 90s. <<

As a mostly life-long WS resident, I can tell you this largely depended on where in Seattle you lived. Yes, the crack epidemic was in full swing and areas such as the CD and Rainier Valley were gang war territory. However, crime in WS was generally far less than today and it wasn’t just an illusion because WS Blog does such a great job of keeping us informed. WS Herald had a “Crime Blotter”. Car thefts were extremely rare. Gunfire, let alone shootings, almost unheard of. Shoplifting and retail theft weren’t nearly as big a problem. Homelessness and drug addiction existed, but was largely invisible. Vandalism, property theft, etc, etc.

As other posters have noted, low voter turnout can be interpreted as either apathy or satisfaction. Although I might not like an election result, I would be far more accepting if it were simply a matter of “the majority has spoken”. Sub-thirty percent turnout is not a majority. Sub-thirty percent turnout is the minority who bothered to vote. Voting is not only a right, but a privilege. I wish more of us saw it as an obligation.

James August 2, 2023 (1:18 pm)

It’s because economic disparity is greatly increased. Crime always reflects poverty levels. Poverty is much higher now. We need UBI and put a cap on the super rich. You don’t need 17 houses when even one person is homeless. We need to fix that nationwide. Every major city has this issue, not just Seattle.
Derek August 2, 2023 (1:20 pm)

Crime was higher 20 years ago. Saying otherwise would be lying. https://www.macrotrends.net/cities/us/wa/seattle/crime-rate-statistics
Josh August 2, 2023 (2:28 pm)

I don’t know. Delridge and about have been pretty sketchy for a while. All the areas outside the old redlines in Seattle still have low crime. Businesses in the junction didn’t get robbed in the 80s and 90s because half the storefronts were empty, but nobody seems to remember that.

Michael August 2, 2023 (1:56 pm)

I saw a stark difference between Costa and Tavel, which pushed me toward Tavel, and I don’t mind saying so. I hope at least Saka pulls this one off. I’m an issue voter, not a party voter. Dangerous homeless camps and public drug use, which were not issues 15 years ago, are big concerns for our family. I feel like a lot of folk who feel the same are not voting but rather leaving, and I fear more of the same bleeding-heart kid-glove policies (my opinion of Costa) won’t get us anywhere. I appreciate the observations and conversations here, but hate the noise. “Woke” and “Republican” are absurd ways to describe our differences. There are plenty of issues and nuance for us to agree and disagree on. I voted. Thanks to all who did. Stay engaged.

Canton August 3, 2023 (12:05 am)

Spot on. Party labels are just gang affiliations. We are better than that. The votes should be common sense; but that’s how the crowd treats it. Just vote for someone that will create some change. We can’t fix it overnight, but we can change the leaders that don’t represent our current views.

anonyme August 4, 2023 (9:25 am)

Who exactly is “us”, “we”, and “our”? Majority rule is mob rule, not democracy, and certainly not representative government. I agree with Canton that partly labels are gang affiliations. The top two arrangement only guarantees that we will get left and far-left leadership, the only question being who will try to be more extremely left than all the others. While this area may be largely liberal, there are plenty of conservatives, moderates, and independents who have little or no representation. Balance is always good; we need a better way.