Top 10 "To Do List"
to Focus 7-Month "Caretaker"
on Accountability
for 100,000 Residents of District 4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Donna Hartmann-Miller, campaign manager, 206-502-9092
SEAT
TLE, April 22, 20
19 -
After the City Council appointed today a temporary "caretaker" with little input from the 100,000 residents of District 4, a leading candidate in the upcoming election Alex Pedersen crafted a "Top 10 To Do List" for the appointee -- until voters choose their Councilmember in November.
To finish the final seven months of the term that Seattle City Councilmember Rob Johnson vacated, the City Council today -- after much disagreement and several votes -- appointed Abel Pacheco, Jr.
"
This is a delicate time for the people of District 4 who have been fed up with the lack of accountability from their City Council representatives, so a caretaker who focuses on the priorities of the residents can start to rebuild trust and ensure a smooth transition to the elected Councilmember in November,"
said Alex Pedersen.
SUGGESTED TOP 10 TO DO LIST for "Caretaker Councilmember" in D-4:
- Listen to Your Constituents, not to Interest Groups. Although current Councilmembers grilled you for the appointment, it's the taxpayers who fund your salary and it's the 100,000 residents of District 4 who need your attention. Spend as much time in our neighborhoods as you do at City Hall.
- Leverage the Experience of the Non-Political City Auditor and Analysts of the City Council's "Central Staff." With only seven months to get things done for District 4, a caretaker needs to rely on the analytical muscle and institutional knowledge of those with years of experience guiding Councilmembers through complex details.
- Maximize the $6 billion budget. Hold City Hall accountable to live within its means and demand high performance from existing programs, so that city government produces the best outcomes for the public. This includes maximizing the benefits of the new Families, Education, Preschools, and Promise Levy which funds evidence-based early learning programs I helped to craft when I worked for City Council President Tim Burgess.
- Reduce Homelessness: Stick to best practices proven to reduce homelessness in other cities such as the evidence-based strategies from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, rather than spinning your wheels reinventing the wheel or chasing half-baked "shiny new objects." Coordinate and consolidate efforts with Mayor Durkan -- and with King County, which funds mental health and substance addiction programs. As someone who worked at HUD and has 20 years of affordable housing experience, I realize that compassion also means getting results.
- Increase Safety. Public safety should be a top priority of city government and our police officers and fire fighters need resources and support from city leaders. Public hearings should be called to get to the bottom of the recent report: "System Failure: Report on Prolific Offenders in Seattle's Criminal Justice System." For my press release on this issue, CLICK HERE.
- Improve Transportation. Our city's traffic and roads are a mess. With meaningful input from residents, City Hall must focus its limited resources to ensure we have reliable roads, transit, and sidewalks to safely move the most people — while enabling freight to move efficiently throughout our region to benefit our economy. At the same time, City Hall can do more to leverage innovations and data to reduce carbon emissions to protect our environment. The slow pace of road repaving and crosswalk improvements on 25th Ave NE and 35th Ave NE is unacceptable. The caretaker must let SDOT know residents are fed up and SDOT must speed up improvements. For my press release on encouraging more people to use transit, CLICK HERE.
- Prevent Displacement: Use data and be proactive in preventing the economic displacement of seniors, low-income families, neighborhood businesses owned by people of color, and other vulnerable people. Consistent with that goal, please Save The Ave in the University District.
- Close the New Jobs Loophole so future Councilmembers cannot abandon their posts early and leave 100,000 constituents without a voice at City Hall. For my press release on this issue, CLICK HERE.
- Provide Responsive "Constituent Services". In addition to responding promptly to requests from constituents to fill potholes and protect trees, we already know of several pedestrian safety projects sought by D-4 neighborhoods. City Hall makes community groups fight over the breadcrumbs remaining after city planners pick their own priorities. Even then City Hall funds only a handful from the many good ideas submitted by residents to SDOT's Neighborhood Street Fund ($24 million citywide). Therefore, the caretaker Councilmember should strive to fund the other highly ranked projects not lucky enough to get to the top of the heap. For a list of all projects, CLICK HERE. In September, the caretaker should also prioritize the highly ranked community-driven projects for parks and streets that don't make the cut from the Department of Neighborhoods "Your Voice, Your Choice" contest (just $2 million citywide).
- Ensure a Smooth Transition to the Elected Councilmember. During the appointment process, ALL applicants for the 6-month caretaker role publicly pledged to confer with the top City Council candidates for D-4. I have already doorbelled nearly 10,000 voters and -- for the past several years -- I participated in community meetings and published a neighborhood newsletter. I'm available at all times to assist and provide feedback.
I am grateful to all of
the applicants
for courageously stepping forward, I wish the appointed caretaker the best, and I look forward to the elections in August and November.
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Resignations and vacancies are governed primarily by the City Charter,
Article 19
.
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Alex Pedersen, a progressive results-oriented Democrat and former aide to City Council President Tim Burgess, is running for election on a platform of accountability, transparency, and results.
According to
data from the Seattle Ethics and Elections (SEEC)
, Pedersen is the leading overall fundraiser (donations + Democracy Vouchers), was the first to qualify for vouchers, and has received more donations from his own district than any other District 4 candidate.
Pedersen announced his campaign on November 28, 2018 for District 4. District 4 is home to approximately 100,000 residents in 20 neighborhoods including Bryant, Belvedere Terrace, Cowen Park, Eastlake, East Fremont, Hawthorne Hills, Inverness, Laurelhurst, Magnuson Park, Maple Leaf, Ravenna, Ravenna Springs, Roosevelt, Sand Point, the U District, University Park, View Ridge, Wallingford, Wedgwood and Windermere.
- Link to the City's official website for the Democracy Voucher program: https://www.seattle.gov/democracyvoucher
- Link to Alex Pedersen's bio: https://electalexpedersen.org/meet-alex/
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Paid for by Elect Alex Pedersen, P.O. Box 15235, Seattle, WA 98115
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