In studying Danny Westneat’s latest column (“Seattle shows it’s a fickle city,” Nov. 8, Native Information), I used to be struck by a thought: It’s not that Seattle voters are fickle — it’s that we maintain our leaders to excessive requirements. Liberal or conservative, all of us need secure streets and exquisite parks. Liberal or conservative, we would like our neighbors to be housed, and we would like these battling psychological sickness or dependancy to obtain the care they want.
Seattleites, like folks throughout the nation, are compassionate. We would like our metropolis to thrive. I’ll admit up entrance that I voted for Katie Wilson for mayor, and I’m glad she’s been elected. I reviewed each candidates fastidiously and believed she had a greater probability of fixing what I see as a metropolis headed within the unsuitable path. I’m seeing increasing homelessness and wealth disparity, rising housing costs pushing employees farther from their jobs, and a continued reliance on incarceration to deal with the social fallout of inequality, mental illness and inadequate public transit.
I do know that affordable folks noticed the identical issues and got here to totally different conclusions. Almost half of voters wished stability after 15 years with out a two-term mayor. Many noticed Wilson’s relative inexperience or perceived “gentle on crime” stance as a danger. I noticed a possibility. Now that she’s elected, I hope we will all get behind her as she works to resolve the issues that all of us agree want fixing.
As a doctor who has labored in Seattle’s homelessness sector for the previous 5 years, I’ve seen firsthand what number of proficient, dedicated persons are working tirelessly on a seemingly interminable hamster wheel. We want the federal government to accomplice extra successfully with service suppliers — listening to what they should succeed. Which means extra wraparound providers, extra case managers and extra accessible and accountable dependancy and psychological well being therapy. It additionally means investing within the coordination that enables these providers to work seamlessly collectively. Individuals in disaster deserve the correct assist, not simply the assistance that occurs to be out there.
We additionally want a renewed concentrate on public transit. In my Northeast Seattle neighborhood, we’d like smaller, extra frequent buses. Different elements of the town have totally different wants, however the precept is identical: Dependable, reasonably priced transit is important to a thriving metropolis. And we must be unafraid to face as much as monopolies that inflate prices on the emergency tools, software program, buses, tools for legislation enforcement that cities want, and that taxpayers finally fund.
Builders who revenue from Seattle’s fast densification also needs to contribute extra to the infrastructure — faculties, libraries and transit — that dense housing requires. Seattle voters have twice supported social housing, and we should always embrace that imaginative and prescient. Our constructed setting shapes how we join with each other. As somebody working to deal with the loneliness disaster, I see housing not simply as shelter however as a basis for belonging. We want extra housing choices for individuals who need to stay, and belong, in our stunning metropolis.
Lastly, we should recommit to public security. Feeling secure in our neighborhoods is significant for wholesome people and communities. Not each emergency requires an armed police response, however each emergency deserves a well timed one. Each Seattleite ought to really feel secure calling for assist, and that isn’t the case at present. We will rebuild belief by means of neighborhood policing and by making certain that those that serve our metropolis accomplish that with the correct coaching, instruments and help.
To the practically half of Seattle voters who didn’t help Wilson, I share your want for security, stability and accountability. Let’s give our new mayor the prospect and the neighborhood help to make progress on the issues none of us created, however all of us need solved.
