It’s almost election day! (Questions about voting? Go here!) In my four years as your Councilmember, a lot has happened. So, I figured it would be a good idea to give people a summary of where I stand on the issues you’ve told me that you care about most.
For regular visitors used to seeing my Weekly Updates, they’re still there! They’ll be back on the front page after the November 7 election. Until then, just click the top menu Weekly Updates.
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Transparency!
I put this issue first because if you don’t know how your government works, you cannot know how things could be better! Without transparency, you just have to accept that ‘this is as good as it gets.’ Too often, residents only get the bare minimum of input on important decisions. And many times we don’t even find out about critical decisions until after they are made. The City’s web site often lacks even the most basic information and many important events are not even recorded! This requires a cultural change and I continue to be the key driver of making that happen.
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Public Engagement
We recently restored our Citizens Advisory Committee. Now let’s restore our Public Planning Commission (we’re the only city in the region not to have one!) Let’s also develop a best-in-class digital strategy, to inform, engage, alert, and market the City! Not enough residents currently volunteer or even learn about all our great events, programs and planning. We’ve also had a series of potential health hazards in recent years. Yet each time we struggle to inform residents of possible health hazards! In short, we must do a much better job of communicating. -
More Police
We must hire more police. The City has a dozen fewer police officers than in 2007, despite a 12% increase in population and big increases in crime. We’ve made technology purchases, but nothing beats a police presence on your street.
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Focus On Small Business
As the only councilmember who has owned and operated a restaurant, I know that brick and mortar shops are the lifeblood of any city! They are the source of sustainable revenues and they provide the amenities our residents expect from a waterfront city. But for the past two decades our focus has been almost exclusively on large construction projects, which have done little to attract tourism or provide more dining and shopping options for our residents. Despite what many think, many of those projects, such as the Des Moines Creek Business Park are tax exempt and bring in very little sustainable revenue.
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A sane approach to Marina Redevelopment
As a long time user of the Marina, I know its value and its limitations. That is why I led the charge to stop ill-considered proposals such as a hotel in the North Parking Lot and wasting $1,000,000 on a private ferry that both the County and State have told us will never make money. Instead, I support the original vision for the Marina, referred to as ‘thirds’. North for the community, Center for restaurants and shops, South for boaters. And: make sure the Marina pays its own way, not the rest of the City. Simple. -
a new Approach To Sea-Tac Airport
There is no more important issue for the future of Des Moines. We must actively pursue means to reduce the noise and pollution because the harms to public health–especially children has been clear for decades. And instead of constantly talking about ‘economic partnerships’ and tiny grants that never amount to much, the City should be negotiating for the impact fees to address these issues, which were promised decades ago. This is millions of dollars we’ve left on the table. -
Upgrade Parks and Recreation
Make Des Moines the best place in the area to raise kids! Usable park space has not increased in almost twenty years and currently over half our City has no playground. Our programs are great. But they are concentrated in only one section of the City. We. Need. More! Check out my video interview at the Masonic Home for more!
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FLEXIBLE BUILDing
We should provide many more options for both developers and homeowners. Pre-permitted ADU Cottages, allow for a sensible mix of housing types, reducing parking requirements, easier permits, are just a few ways we can provide more opportunities for families to live in Des Moines–while improving the character and value of our neighborhoods. -
Bring critical programs Back to the City
We now outsource key programs for Seniors and Animal Control to private organizations. For decades these were considered important functions of the City and residents deeply appreciated the way we handled them. Outsourcing has made reduced the quality of both these programs, and with the recent lawsuit against Burien Cares, worth reviewing. We should work to bring these back to City Hall where they always belonged. -
Improve Code Enforcement
Des Moines has lax rules concerning home and property maintenance–including rental properties. This weakens neighborhoods, reduces the availability of quality affordable living space and encourages crime. We can make progress simply by restoring programs we used to have. We can also apply for available State grants to provide neighborhood and highway cleanups.
