OCA - GREATER SEATTLE CHAPTER

EMBRACING THE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF CHINESE AND ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES

Seattle City Council Candidates Forum on Growth and Development
August 2, 2007

By Rebecca Chan, CPA

As Seattle continues along a path of unprecedented growth and development, who we elect to the City Council is becoming more and more important. The decisions they make about density, transit, and housing will shape our communities for years to come.

On August 2, 2007 at Yesler Terrace Community Center social justice groups asked City Council candidates about their vision and plans for Seattle's growth and how they will ensure that people of all income levels share in the city's prosperity. This forum was concerned about gentrification, housing and homelessness, living wage jobs, a voice for immigrants, environmental sustainability, improving the transit system and preserving small businesses.

Candidates in attendance included Joe Szwaja, Bruce Harrell, Al Runte, Tim Burgess, Councilmember David Della and Councilmember Sally Clark. Those that responded to the questionnaire but were not present included Councilmember Jean Godden, John Manning, Venus Velazquez and Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.

Prepared questions asked included:.

1. Addressing global warming has become a major priority for Seattle. As the city works to increase density
    and improve transit in order to meet the boldgreen house reduction targets: What policies do you propose
    to ensure that these solutions are equitable and increase access to affordable housing (so workers are
    able to live close to their workplaces)?

2. Small businesses are key to the immigrant and minority communities of Seattle,
2.1. What would you do to promote and support the growth of small businesses in the immigrant and
           minority communities of Seattle?
2.2. What strategies would you create? 
     2.3. What kinds of resources would you devote to help implement your strategies?

3. As part of your vision for waterfront development, please state first which option you would support for the
    Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement:
· An elevated option
· Some kind of tunnel option
· A surface-transit option
All three options require substantial transportation investments. Would you consider congestion pricing, parking taxes or a local carbon tax as potential revenue sources to fund this project?

4. Immigrant communities face significant barriers in trying to have their concerns heard and addressed in
    the development process. With large projects on the horizon in Seattle - many of which will have far-
    reaching effects on jobs, labor conditions, wages and housing for immigrants - how will you ensure that
    immigrant communities' voices are well-represented in the development of our city?

5. What is your position on the sale of public properties, including public schools, to private developers?

6. Rainier Valley's poverty rate is 55% above the citywide poverty rate. As skyrocketing housing costs and
    new development reach the area, many of these families are being displaced. What do you think are the
    cause of gentrification and what can Seattle City Council do to advance equitable development in the
    Rainier Valley and the city as a whole?

7. Would you support amending the city's comprehensive plan and planning code to include language
    requiring an "economic impact statement" for all new large hotel and retail development?

8. Such an amendment would require applicants to provide a detailed and credible analysis of the effects of
    such a development on existing public revenues, on area wages and benefits, on the demand for public
    services, on environmental infrastructure, on total vehicle miles traveled and the like. One tool that has
    proven effective at giving communities a voice in certain large-scale mixed-use developments is called a
    Community Benefits Agreement. CBAs are private contracts signed by community groups and by a
    developer which set forth a range of community benefits that the developer agrees to provide as part of 
    the development project.
    8.1. Do you support the concept of Community Benefits Agreement?
    8.2. Would you support language within a CBA that mandates union card check neutrality and access to 
          employees and to non-work areas?
    8.3. If a developer is not willing to negotiate a CBA at first request by the community, could you use
          whatever legal and appropriate means at your disposal to encourage a developer to enter into a CPA
          with those groups?
    8.4. What other creative solutions do you propose to ensure public benefits in the development or
          redevelopment of private property?

Queen Anne News coverage of the forum

Responses to the questions

The forum was sponsored by Puget Sound Sage, Real Change, Minority Executive Directors' Coalition, Legacy of Equality, Leadership, and Organizing (LELO), Community Coalition for Environmental Justice, Vietnamese-American Economic Development Association, Inter*Im Community Development Association, Tenants Union of Washington, Futurewise, Friends of Seattle, Transportation Choices Coalition, UNITE HERE Local 8, SEIU Local 6, UFCW Local 21, Hate Free Zone, Laborers Northwest Regional Organizing Coalition.