Homelessness Policy

I believe there’s only one way to understand our homelessness crisis: at the ground level. Here’s how I believe that should work:

We should collect extensive data on social service programs, and stop investing in programs that can’t prove they’re effective. I believe we should make sure city services are effectively connecting Burien’s unhoused population with life-changing services. That means accurately measuring the impact of the crisis. I have been criticized for being too “tough” on service providers and officials. In this crisis, I believe it’s reasonable to be “tough” in making sure we’re effectively spending resources and getting results for the folks who need help.
We should build on our successes. We should listen closest to those who have broken the cycles of homelessness, mental health, and addiction. I will make sure those voices are central to the conversation. It’s time to provide services that truly help ‘break the cycle.’

We should demand ground-level results. Local programs should operate with the goal of changing lives and restoring public spaces. Simply showing referrals to available programs isn’t enough. We should demand that programs successfully encourage folks to pursue available resources. Again, measurable results should be the goal.

Government Accountability

Over the course of the last four years I’ve been on city council, I have been our city’s representative to our state audits. I think it’s important for the city to have fiscal and programmatic accountability to taxpayers and to voters, and that it’s important we are achieving positive results and improvement.

This is true whether it is the City of Burien, or the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

I’m pressing the issue of accountability because I believe in housing and social services. Growing up in Burien, I volunteered in low-income communities through St. Francis and other organizations. As an elected official, I’ve worked to deliver both beds and treatment opportunities through public-private partnerships by helping folks navigate the government system. We absolutely can save lives.

However, living in Burien, I’ve grown frustrated with regional leadership. This crisis is “all hands on deck”. It’s difficult to find suitable land for services and housing that isn’t tied up in contract issues. Regional leadership should enable our suburban communities – Burien, Renton, Des Moines, Tukwila, Kent, and beyond – to work together, and with service providers. If cities and housing providers find promising locations, KCRHA’s attitude should be “let’s see what can work”.

The KCRHA has a noble mission. However, like most people, I feel that regional leadership hasn’t risen to meet this crisis. More accountability will help. That includes communities like Burien pushing the KCRHA to be more flexible, less process-bound, and truly regional. Frankly, a decade into this crisis, it’s disappointing that a location outside of Burien City Limits would require special, conditional approval.

I value good working relationships. I also value accountability. With fentanyl deaths hitting all-time highs, I’ll keep pushing regional leadership to do better – even if that means bruised feelings.

Public Safety

The Seattle region is facing an intersectional crisis between public safety, homelessness, and addiction.

Here’s how I think we should address that complex problem:

We should fully fund our first responders. I understand that some folks are strongly opposed to increased funding for police, or for enforcement of laws in tent camps. I don’t agree. I believe that there are many instances that require a police response. I think funding first responders helps protect the vulnerable.

Despite that, I don’t believe every problem requires an armed response. On my ride alongs with our Burien Police, I’ve witnessed how our law enforcement responds to criminal behavior in our community. Some responses require police; others don’t. I want to make sure that both police and non-police responders have the tools they need to address situations they encounter. While on Council, I led the charge for a co-responder model in our downtown core, matching a police officer with a social service worker to address concerns in the commercial district of Burien.

Burien is a community that needs more investment in our justice system. I will continue to advocate, at the county and state level, to fund our local courts. Burien deserves a fully-funded justice system – especially for our most vulnerable.

Addressing public safety means bringing together people who disagree. I’m supported by local law enforcement, and I’m also a Moms Demand Action on Gun Sense Candidate of Distinction. It’s because of my record. People – even people who disagree with each other on a lot – know I’m serious about Burien’s big challenges.

Social Services, Mental Health, and Drug Addiction

I believe in social services. Whether it’s services in Burien, or services in a neighboring community, I believe Burien’s law enforcement and human services departments should connect people with opportunities to turn their lives around.

When it comes to social services, I walk the talk. I have spent time coordinating services with St. Vincent de Paul, Union Gospel Mission, Chief Seattle Club, Mary’s Place, and Transform Burien. During the pandemic, I joined AmeriCorps to respond to the housing and hunger crisis in our community among-low income seniors and families by coordinating federal resources to many in our public housing communities.

Here’s a few other ways I’ve fought for social services and housing justice:

I’ve worked for more housing for all income levels. I am proud to have voted in favor of affordable housing programs in Burien, as well as pushed Burien to streamline permitting for construction and development of new housing of all kinds. Burien shouldn’t become unaffordable just because it’s next door to Seattle.

I’ve fought for more emergency housing. I was proud to lead the charge to pass emergency shelter permitting on Council. We need to reduce costs and timeframes for more construction of housing at all levels, including shelter, rapid re-housing, long term, supportive, affordable, and market-rate housing. I have a record of partnering with behavioral and mental health care providers, including St. Anne’s Hospital, NAVOS, and SeaMar.

I’ve fought hard to get Burien its “fair share” in social service funding. That’s part of why I have so much support from South Sound leaders. They know I’m an effective voice, from Burien to the federal level.

Housing and Land Use

Our region and state is facing a crisis of limited housing supply of all kinds. I am the only candidate in this race that supports policies that expand housing construction of all levels and all kinds. The city should be working to find the best ways to incentivize construction of all kinds of housing to expand supply and give people more choice.

The city needs to be collaboratively with property owners, builders, and developers to ensure we are enhancing our housing supply, but also working to protect the things that make our city attractive to families.

Economic Development

I grew up in Burien working jobs at local businesses. My first job at 13 was at the Highline Performing Arts Center as a student employee. I am proud to have spent my teenage years bussing tables at Mick Kelley’s Irish Pub and 909 Coffee and Wine restaurants. I know how hard our restaurant workers and owners work to keep Burien a thriving community for all to come to. That’s why I’ve worked to support Burien businesses by directing pandemic recovery dollars to businesses as grants to invest in property damage, repair, and investment funds.

Burien city government needs to focus on the future of business, too. I have a plan to expand commercial zones and office spaces in Burien. Burien is already a city with a diverse array of residential and business districts. We should allow office buildings in strategic areas to grow our business sector and bring in additional revenue. Burien has had to deal with increased property values – we should also benefit from Seattle’s economic growth and ensure we are attracting more investments to grow our workforce and revenues.

Environmental Sustainability

Burien is known for our beautiful parks and accessible shoreline. I will continue to be an advocate for supporting and growing both in our community. That’s why during my first term on City Council, I voted in favor of budgets that fully funded our parks department, invested in green space and landslide prevention dollars.

Additionally, on City Council, I was one of the few councilmembers that voted against tree removal without a plan to ensure that we replace each tree that we remove.

Directing city operations to be cleaner and renewable is also important. That’s why I voted in favor of our city’s climate action plan, as well as worked with the Highline School District solar project team to learn best practices of getting solar in as many communities as we can. We can work to expand opportunities for homeowners and businesses to choose cleaner energy options with investments from the state and federal government, like solar panels.

I’m also an advocate for expanding public transportation. I’ve pushed the state legislature for more funding to expand public transportation options in Burien. Alongside this, I’ve been an advocate for growing the availability of electric vehicle charging stations, to give electric vehicle drivers more options for charging in their community. Common-sense investments in Burien’s energy future help our resiliency as a city.

A resilient community requires a safe, prosperous, and equitable community. In my first term, I’ve shown I can build that strong foundation for Burien. With your support, I’d be honored to continue this important work.