On May 22, 2022 I was interviewed by photojournalist Clay Eals for the long-running Seattle Now and Then articles you see every Sunday in the Seattle Times Pacific NW Magazine. The event was a rally to help save the Masonic Home. There were electeds from around the region, but I was the only member of the Des Moines Council. I did not realise it at the time, but this says pretty much everything I want to say about why I ran, why I’m running again, who I am, and what I value. Transparency, Public Engagement, Parks, Environmental Justice, Economic Development, Seniors.
| SERVICE, MANAGEMENT, ETHICS | ||
| 3 years Environment Committee, 2 years Transportation Committee, 2 years Destination Des Moines, 3 years Police Advisory Committee, 3 years King County Flood District Advisory Committee. | ||
| Only member of Council to object to numerous ethical lapses by administration and council majority, including Hotel at Marina and removing second reading to ordinances. | Voted against salary increases making our City Manager the highest paid in the region, including a $400,000 severance package. | |
| Expanded citizen participation on Police Advisory Committee | ||
| Proposed much-needed changes to oversight on key issues, including Marina, Airport, Planning and Downtown. | Censured by majority on false charges with no evidence. | |
| TAXES | ||
| Working to end Port of Seattle Property Tax Levy. | ||
| Proposed property and utility tax reform to keep at risk seniors in their homes. | Voted against utility tax increases. | |
| AIRPORT | ||
 | Worked with Rep. Tina Orwall and Senator Karen Keiser on legislation to install air quality monitors and regulate aviation emissions. | |
| Helped create State Port Package update legislation. | ||
| Proposed creating a Director of Environmental Planning to negotiate on airport impacts as well as other environmental issues like water quality and tree canopy. | ||
| Founder of SeaTacNoise.Info. Only local group working to obtain compensation for everyone under flight path. | ||
| Proposed restoring sound insulation to building code, which was removed by previous council majority! | Postponed by Council majority until 2024. | |
| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | ||
  | Only former restaurant owner on Council. Knows what brick and mortar owners need. Created restaurant marketing program. | |
| Proposed common sense downtown improvements to parking, signage, marketing and mentorship. | ||
| Strong advocate for Food Truck programs and re-opening Coffee Hut at Redondo | ||
| Proposed business grant and mentoring programs for all businesses throughout Des Moines. | Votes against sweetheart deals like a a ten year lease for Quarterdeck for ($380 a month). | |
| PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT | ||
| Decades of IT and customer service experience. Proposed complete overhaul of city communication system including new multi-lingual, accessible web site and marketing campaign. Proposed adoption of phone apps for providing key services, bill pay, issue reporting, public safety, and emergency notification. |
||
| Works to organise neighborhood groups on many street-level projects improve roads, trash clean-ups, and public safety. | ||
| Proposed Marina Redevelopment Town Hall process. | Voted against ending second reading on important ordinances. | |
| Voted to restore Citizens Advisory Committee. Proposed restoring Public Planning Commission which was canceled by previous Council!Proposed public comment period for Committee Meetings and public access to advisory committees. | Voted against ending remote participation by the public via Zoom. | |
| PUBLIC SAFETY | ||
 | Proposed changing policing from reactive model to neighborhood policing. | |
| Proposed (and was passed) legislation to remove derelict vehicles after many resident complaints. | ||
| Only member of Council supporting Reach Out Des Moines. Programs which reduced teen violent crime 75% in Pacific Ridge! | ||
| Proposed re-opening negotiations with Kent to fix our City border along Pacific Highway | ||
| Proposed re-opening negotiations with Port of Seattle for dedicated $1.4M/year Public Safety fund as City of SeaTac has. | ||
| Proposed making 272nd police office into a functioning Substation to provide neighborhood policing to Redondo and Woodmont. | Voted against a Speed Camera proposal with no locations, date or cost. As predicted, the systems are now delayed and will cost far more. | |
| Proposed developing a plan to hire 12 more officers to return staffing to 2007 levels. | Against using tempoary funds to pay for two police officers which runs out in 2024. | |
| Strong advocate for police accountability, including body cameras and civilian oversight committee for complaints. | Voted against unrealistic body cam proposal--which took 2.5 years and cost 250% more than promised. | |
| Proposed creating a transparent zoning map to inform public and providers where emergency shelters could be safely located, | Voted against an ordinance with no clear guidance for developers or the public as to where services may be legally sited. | |
| Proposed re-instating our own Animal Control Officer—which we had for 25 years and the public loved. | Against outsourcing animal control which is in another city, provides less coverage and is not a big money saver | |
| MARINA | ||
 | Long time user of marina. Promotes sensible redevelopment based on 2007 plan which preserves north end, shops in center, and improvements for boaters at the south. | |
| Pointed out problems with parking gate system in 2017. | Voted for replacement parking system implemented in 2023. | |
| Proposed transparent Marina Redevelopment Town Hall process in 2021. | Voted against phony Marina Redevelopment proposals, including non-competitive proposal in Parcel A and then move to North Parking Lot. | |
| NEIGHBORHOODS | ||
   | Proposed new park and playgrounds at Marina and especially South end of Des Moines. | |
| Proposed more flexible permitting for ADUs and mixed-family housing | ||
| Worked to make Steven J, Underwood Park open more hours. | ||
| Helped obtain funding for Friends of Saltwater State Park, which provides important water quality monitoring! | ||
| Helped obtain funding for Trout Unlimited and Coho Salmon program | ||
| Helped build Community Garden at Midway Park. Long-time member of Reach-Out Des Moines, which provides after school programs for hundreds of teens in Des Moines. Participated in numerous events to support Pacific Ridge neighborhood. | Voted against tearing down historic Van Gasken House. |
|
| TRANSPORTATION | ||
| Works for community mitigation for negative impacts from SR-509 | ||
| Proposed creating a second Bus Shuttle to serve the south end of town, connecting upcoming Light Rail Station, Highline College and Marina. | Voted against $1,000,000 for passenger ferry which is not supported by either King County or the State and lost money. In its second run it broke down before even starting. | |
| SENIORS | ||
| Proposed expansion of Senior Activity Center per original grant plan. | ||
| Proposed bringing our highly successful Senior Services programs back into the City where they belong and where they were for decades, | Against outsourcing Senior Service programs! Against subsdising large, well funded private corporations, like Wesley, with funds that should go for city-wide benefit. |
|
