VIDEO: Seattle City Council candidates' Town Hall Q&A with Harbor-Alki group

actually actually finally a good candidate October 10, 2023 (8:50 pm)

The endorsement of Maren Costa by the entirety of her opponent cohort makes more sense every time I see her and Rob Saka in a debate together. Hers is a message of effectiveness, caring, leadership, and results, while Rob focuses on greasing the squeaky wheels with trite jabs and boomer opinions on urban living and crime. They agree on the proiorities facing us this term (affordable housing, homelessness, public safety), but only Maren talks realistically about a plan to work with the rest of the council to fund the fixes until they’re actually really actually actually finally fixed. It would be great if these elections brought a coalition of results-oriented rookies to the council. Maren has the right stuff, 100%.

WS Res October 10, 2023 (9:47 pm)

Rob also ignored interview requests from PubliCola.
- K October 11, 2023 (7:04 am)
  
  Pretty on brand for him!
- Little One October 12, 2023 (4:27 am)
  
  PubliCola says on their website that candidates in other districts also ignored or declined interviews.
CrBCAKE October 11, 2023 (8:30 am)

I did not support either candidate prior to the primary. I chose another candidate based on name recognition, but he did not make it through. After the primary, I looked at both candidates and I chose Rob Saka as the person who has the best ideas for making West Seattle a better place to live. I’ve been to 3 debates and each time Rob gives great, passionate answers about public safety, new housing, homelessness, and more. Maren Costa seems to have 3 points she continually goes back to. 1. We need to raise new revenue (fair enough. If we need it, we need it) 2. She has support of the other candidates who failed to make it through the primary 3. She doesn’t like Saka’s donors. 2 and 3 are not things I want to continually hear about. Here’s the thing, it’s not uncommon for a group of non-successful candidates to pile on the front runner. Often is due to jealousy or bruised egos. If you want me vote, show me you have answers and genuinely care about me and my family. Maren has not done this. Saka is the right choice.

AlkiAdvocate October 10, 2023 (9:04 pm)

At the 10:25 minute, did I just hear Costa talking about crime in relation to fentanyl use? Did she said something about when people are pushed into desperate situations they do desperate things? So they were forced into using fentanyl? She’s still backwards on the whole who is the criminal thing and who are the good guys argument. Big no to Costa.

Mr J October 11, 2023 (10:07 am)

Ok boomer.Drugs are coping mechanisms, when people are on hard times or see no way out they cope with what they can. Please google this and read the studies on how people get addicted. No one “forced them” but in their situation it may have been the easiest escape.
- Little One October 12, 2023 (4:35 am)
  
  Not a boomer here. I’m a big believer in prevention, offering treatment, and all round mental health support, especially for youth. I also think there needs to be consequences for the level of drug use, and the danger that synthetic opioids pose because of their potency, that we see in Seattle. These things are not mutually exclusive.
Jeff October 11, 2023 (11:01 am)

Big no to Saka actually. How is Costa backwards? She is addressing root causes which are desperately needed as opposed to just shuffling people with addictions around. We need treatment, not people thrown to jails or streets. Saka wants all fent users in jail which is awful.
- bradley October 11, 2023 (12:16 pm)
  
  No, he wants Fent off the streets and killing users.
  - elephant in the room October 12, 2023 (12:00 am)
    
    We should ask him. I suspect he’d talk about the foster care system, his stint in the military, how he personally picked our police chief, how he knocked on thousands of doors, and how he was in Star Wars before telling you he supports a knee-jerk council decision that supposedly routes people to treatment and housing without funding treatment or housing. It’s great how his only jab against Costa is an inconsequential comment she made amid a nationwide outcry for police oversight, when he’s following the lemmings off the cliff to appease the pearl-clutchers who don’t venture beyond their own dog-walk route. Ninja warrior gymnastics to avoid stepping on junkies and their syringes at the Junction? That’s what he said in this Alki forum. It’s a nightmare fantasy that doesn’t exist. He made it up.

WS NEEDS CHANGE October 10, 2023 (9:31 pm)

The issues, really, are clear. And the candidates are not that far apart on many of them, with the exception of public safety, where Maren’s public record of positions is terrible. Furthermore, Maren is two things: an activist, and a software web site designer. We do not need either of those things in public office. Rob might not be perfect, but he has the life experience and the legal/legislative experience to understand what he is doing. Maren is so inarticulate that I could actually not understand her positions, if she really has any. That will not represent us well. And the fact that Phil Tavel, whose policy positions actually most closely resemble Rob Saka’s, led an effort to endorse Maren, is strictly a personal vendetta. Please make your own choice and see through that.For this race in this city at this time, the choice is about risk. We cannot risk having Maren in office. Rob is the much safer choice.

JP October 10, 2023 (11:07 pm)

But what are their positions on the Lincoln Park Pickleball Project!?

Alki resident October 10, 2023 (11:24 pm)

Maren Costa is 100% supporting any and all tax hikes proposed by the city council except for one, which she thought was “inequitable”. 15 or so. I heard her interview on NPR. He was the only one who mentioned working within the budget. She also was (is?? now she’s running says she “isn’t” even though she publicly endorsed it) in favor of defunding police, doesn’t believe in prosecuting criminals, and actively put forward an open letter to the city council advocating for them not to pass the drug law. She also is a HUGE fan of Herbold. She’s more of what is ruining this city. Another activist who doesn’t care how much she damages everything in this city, including all the residents’ safety and happiness to protect the criminal class. We need change. Saka isn’t the best, but he’s better than her, and good enough. And for the record- a bunch of other crazy activist prior candidates is not a great endorsement. It’s like being endorsed by the Stranger. Extreme progressives for the drug addicts.

traveling halfway round the world October 11, 2023 (7:28 am)

I dunno man, I heard Saka hates pickle ball…

WSRes October 10, 2023 (11:33 pm)

Costa has been endorsed by the “Stranger”. The candidates they’ve endorsed in the past have ruined this city. Enough said.

Jeff October 11, 2023 (11:02 am)

Actually I think The Stranger is much better than Brandi Kruse or Jason Rantz (MAGA in sheep clothing) endorsements!

Migawigin October 10, 2023 (11:50 pm)

I’m so not the “LOL” type, but I just “LOL’d” at JP’s critical comment… Kinda makes me wistful for the “I’m just here for the comments” guy.

AlkiAdvocate October 10, 2023 (11:58 pm)

Saka has won me over with his life story, starting behind the eightball… a foster child raised in low income homes… joins the military… protects and serves… he is a true success story. And he gets us. He knows the value of family, and community. He is a genuinely good person. Let’s let him represent us on the council.Yes, when my guy did not make it through the primary, I started looking at Costa and Saka. And once I learned about Saka, I understood why so many people love him. Yes, he had my vote after seeing him at the Senior Center debate talking about public safety. He strengthened my vote at the South Seattle College debate when I saw the stark difference in his and Costa’s answers on identifying with low income and under-served communities, and tonight at Our Lady of Guadalupe he hit another home run with me when he talked about West Seattle’s need for side walks. He gets us. Let’s support him.

Robert October 11, 2023 (2:37 am)

What will end up mattering is which block on Council they will vote with. Rob was endorsed by Juarez, Nelson, Pedersen and the Times. Costa by Mosqueda and the Stranger.

WS NEEDS CHANGE October 11, 2023 (1:59 pm)

And today, the Mayor endorsed Rob!
- mixed signals October 11, 2023 (3:52 pm)
  
  Your handle seems to suggest one thing, and your post another, so I’ll ask you directly: since you posit that Rob Saka is part of the establishment, endorsed by the mayor who himself was on the council for a LONG time, are you suggesting we don’t vote for him because, as your handle suggests, Seattle needs change?
  - Robert October 13, 2023 (7:58 am)
    
    You need to catch up. The issue isn’t what someone might have done years ago. The more recent Council has taken Seattle into their utopian vision that would have us address all root causes before anyone is allowed to live in a civilized and relatively safe environment. The last election gave us several people seeking to change that. All pragmatic progressives. The mayor being one. For the change to take place we need to elect people who will support the mayor.

Seattlite October 11, 2023 (7:07 am)

I stand by my RESOUNDING NO vote for both candidates. Neither have the skills or plans to set Seattle on a path away from its reality of increased crime, police officer shortages, increased homeless population.

bradley October 11, 2023 (9:05 am)

I get your frustration. But a “no” vote equals a “yes” vote for Costa. Think it over.

shotinthefoot October 11, 2023 (8:30 am)

Saka is running on maga money, so Costa is the lesser of two evils here. Easy choice for me.

LionShare October 11, 2023 (10:54 am)

Costa is a vote for more of the same mess that got us here. Nothing new at all, just recycled failed policies we’ve all seen do not work and only make problems worse.And to try to knock Saka for ignoring interview request from PubliCola? Sorry, but ignoring interview requests from the same folks as those who write for The Stranger doesn’t bother me. Just like I wouldn’t hold someone ignoring Fox News against them. Two sides of the same dirty coin. At least Saka understands that the homeless problem involves people who just don’t want to follow the rules and want to take advantage of the law abiding, tax paying citizens and do what they want including ruining our shared public space. To be clear, the homeless problem – the one everyone is concerned about when talking politics – is NOT the working homeless who are at least trying to do the relight thing. While they are always held up as the example by the progressive left as the people moderates are trying to harm; the reality is that every candidate wants to help that group. The non-progressives are just adept enough to know that the folks doing fentanyl along alki aren’t part of that group.
bradley October 11, 2023 (12:19 pm)

Maga money? Evidence? I thought Amazon and Microsoft were Seattle’s dirty words. Or was that the exiting SCC’s?
- Jeff October 11, 2023 (1:14 pm)
  
  It’s money from Goodman Real Estate. (They are tied to Trump) Evidence of the MAGA money has been known with Saka for awhile. That’s why I (and Phil Tavel and others) don’t support him. And I still think Amazon is a dirty word until they pay corporate taxes. https://www.thestranger.com/elections-2023/2023/07/28/79096219/more-than-150000-of-trumper-and-big-business-money-hits-city-council-races
  - WS NEEDS CHANGE October 11, 2023 (1:58 pm)
    
    Candidates have no control over what PACs do, and in fact it is illegal for a campaign to coordinate or communicate with them in any way. All that this outside money means is that the business world thinks that Maren is less good for business than Rob. That’s it. And Maren also has outside money supporting her campaign.
  - HigherPoint October 11, 2023 (6:58 pm)
    
    Phil Tavel had the same “Trump” money supporting him in the race he ran in – so no, that is not why Phil is against Rob.Phil wants to run AGAIN and feels Maren would be the easier incumbent to challenge in the next council race. Boy did he miscalculate this one!
Barton October 11, 2023 (1:13 pm)

Wow. Trying to smear Saka with unsubstantiated references to MAGA money is really low.

Scarlett October 11, 2023 (9:53 am)

Here’s an idea for all the “bootstrap” conservatives (and faux progressives) who of course earned every shiny nickel in their pocket – hire your own private security. That’s right, put your free enterprise principles in action, get together with your neighbors, reach into your own wallets and hire your own security. We’re getting tired of footing the bill for protecting your assets and ridiculous demands for a Mayberry while the rest of us get little in return.

LionShare October 11, 2023 (11:00 am)

I’m, you know that proving safe public spaces is part of the government’s job right? One of their primary duties. What are TAX dollars pay for. So sorry, I don’t need to hire private security. I already paid for public security with my tax dollars. And yes, I earned every cent I own. Do you have a problem with that? It’s called working and paying your own way. Try it sometimes. It’s harder than playing the victim, but far more rewarding. From your tone, I suspect you don’t believe anyone earns their own way and that everyone has an unfair advantage. Sad.
- Scarlett October 11, 2023 (2:14 pm)
  
  It’s a nice fable people like you like to tell yourselves, but you know its just a fable. Unless you came straight from an orphanage you probably came with a healthy inheritance that gave you a head start in life. You’re probably the beneficiary of government handouts, directly or indirectly, that you don’t care, or don’t want to know about; affluence is subsidized far more than poverty in this country. Yeah, I’m going to point out the big elephant in the room that NO ONE talks about in so-called polite circles, so-called conservative or liberal. But carry on with the self-deception, it’s the most ubiquitous of human traits.
  - Big Dave October 11, 2023 (4:41 pm)
    
    It’s amazing to me that your insults make it past the moderator here. Just because a reader expects law and order doesn’t mean they inherited wealth. Your remarks do indicate that you aren’t interested in the rightful concerns of your neighbors.
bradley October 11, 2023 (12:23 pm)

Do you live off the shoulders of others? Work smarter, not harder. Wealth comes with maturity over the course of time, not in minutes, hours, weeks, or even years. It’s a long process. I can’t say I see a lot of Silver Spoons in West Seattle.
- Jeff October 11, 2023 (1:28 pm)
  
  @bradley Unfortunately, some think “Work smarter” AKA paying workers less while being super entitled. Wealth is usually not earned this way. Many people who have it come from “old money” they didn’t earn. The majority in fact. “People should be allowed to give inheritance to their kids” sure… with a cap.
  - bradley October 12, 2023 (11:02 am)
    
    Well then Jeff, Saka is your perfect candidate of choice, based on those opinions.

True North October 11, 2023 (1:39 pm)

I have watched or attended every event between Saka and Costa. I have actually met them both and talked to them face to face. I believe Maren is a good person who believes in her ideals and is committed to stand by them. I believe Rob is a good person who also believes in his ideals and is committed to standing by them. I have been a Democrat my entire life, leaning left and fighting, actually taking to the streets in protest, rallying in Washington DC for what I believe is doing the right thing and, reaching out to meet the candidates I have voted for.The rhetoric found on this platform, is often extreme and contains unfounded accusations against both candidates. The biggest problem we have in our entire country, is extremist behavior on both sides of the aisle. This is the reason we are suffering abject chaos in todays government. In Seattle, as elsewhere, now is the time for common sense moderation, not continued extremism.I like Maren as a person, I like Rob as a person, but my vote will be for moderation, Rob Saka.

GHE Parent October 11, 2023 (10:08 pm)

Rob stopped by my house today, just making sure I knew I’d be getting my ballet soon and that it was important to vote. He’s been at several of the local family events like the Morgan Junction park reopening- with his family, enjoying time with his kids and his wife. I don’t know Maren, but I’ve only heard good things about her as a local business owner and person. I also agree that, while I’ve been a democrat my whole life, doubling down on the same policies that aren’t showing the amount of progress we should be seeing is not the solution here. Things that should work *in theory* are not giving the results expected- and the general public is feeling the pain of it. If nothing else, Rob seems to have enough of that feeling too, and just wants people to feel safe in the own neighborhoods.

AlkiAdvocate October 11, 2023 (5:32 pm)

I was excited to see the Mayor’s endorsement of Saka. I was at the debate last night and Costa named dropped the mayor quite a few times, as she backtracked on whether or not defunding the police was a good idea. It must have been embarrassing for her to wake up to find that he endorsed Rob Saka. But you know what? In the end he made the right choice. Mayor Harrell is a good man, who wants what’s best for Seattle. I love that he’s given us our parks back. I love that he’s personally invested in community, and shows up at peewee football games, community events, and celebrations. He shows up for families in turmoil, suffering through crime, gang related violence, and more. Mayor Bruce is a good mayor, and he sees that same goodness in Rob Saka. Congratulations Rob!