CHS asked the eight candidates running in the District 3 primary election eleven questions about how they would serve the neighborhoods around Capitol Hill, the Central District, and First Hill on the Seattle City Council. As you consider your August 1st primary ballot, we have 88 answers for you. We asked the candidates about everything from policing to single family zoning to homelessness and lidding I-5. With help from readers, we asked what specific ideas make each candidate stand out and what positions were they willing to take heat for supporting. We also asked how they would address issues around the community's relationship with the East Precinct. Meanwhile, after years of complaints about challenges in connecting with the D3 representative's office, we also asked each candidate about their plans to connect with the communities they represent. A lot of them have heard the complaints and are promising greater access and office hours in the district. Now it will be up to you to hold them to it -- and show up. You can view every candidate's answers at one time on the All Candidates D3 Primary Survey Results Page here. You can find our full coverage of the 2023 primary here.

Here are all of the D3 Primary Survey answers organized by question:

Q: What is a specific example of a change you were part of that has made District 3 a better place? What was your role?

Agarwal: I am a first-generation gay immigrant from India who has been married to my husband for ten years. We got married less than a year after Washington State voted to legalize same-sex marriage, and two years before it was legalized nationally. Prior to 2010, I was involved in Trikone-NW, a local LGBT organization focused on queer South Asians. The founders of the group, a lesbian South Asian couple, were plaintiffs in the 2005 case fighting for same-sex marriage but unfortunately lost at the Washington State Supreme Court. I was then and am still interested in advocating not just for our marriage rights that are so dear to me and increasingly threatened today, but for all queer people, and especially trans people, people of color, and trans people of color. Between these issues and the urgent issue of reproductive rights, this work is just as important on the local level as it is on the national level, and I would be proud to fight to protect these rights on the Seattle City Council.

Armstrong: I grew up singing in the Northwest Choirs and Vocalpoint Seattle, so I would say in my early days it would be contributing to the Arts scene here on the Hill, but now I find myself listening to the Queer community about what they want to see in our community via the Seattle LGBTQ Commission. I have also more recently been working toward implementing and supporting a Trans Bill of Rights in collaboration with Councilmember Sawant’s office and pushing toward rent control legislation that so many people struggling to pay rising rents want to see in our city despite the State law. The great thing about legislative processes is that laws can change, and with our campaign in office you will see us fight for the working people of Seattle to create housing solutions to make sure people can actually work and live in our city’s center.

Ashiofu: I worked as a part of a team with King County that implemented increased access to AIDS/HIV treatment and PrEP. This is especially important because District 3 has a high number of people dealing with this condition and I aim to ensure every person has access to the treatment they need to survive. Additionally, during the Covid-19 pandemic I worked with the community response team that worked to ensure access to healthcare in District 3.

Cooley: Being a co-founder of the pioneering medical and then recreational cannabis company Solstice, I helped craft nearly all legislation regarding cannabis in Seattle, King County, Washington, and Congress, which has significantly improved lives of many District Three residents.

Goodwin: I’ve been actively involved in organized clean-ups throughout the district as well as countless hours of volunteer efforts to cover up graffiti. The efforts of folks like me sometimes go unnoticed and unappreciated but were it not for them this district would be a much uglier place. This sort of volunteer work is something I intend to not only keep up, but to expand upon if elected. I’ve committed to spending at least 20 hours a month volunteering to clean-up district 3, whether that be picking up trash or covering up graffiti. One day of service a year isn’t good enough, and I intend to lead by example.

Hollingsworth: During the pandemic, food insecurity affected our community. I had the privilege of working at (Emergency Feeding Program + Northwest Harvest) who directly partnered with Odessa Brown, Caroline Downs, Feed The People, Central Area Senior Center, Byrd Barr, FAME Church and Africatown to help bring food to the community. This was done through food pop-ups, food access points, home delivery, hot meals and food pantry model. We were able to bring thousands of pounds of food to our neighborhood. Food insecurity affects 1 out of 11 people through out our neighborhood and 1 in 3 gen-z’s have experienced food insecurity. I also made our corner safer. The last 5 years have been car carnage on our corner with red light runners and wrecks. We had one of the most active corners in the city. I advocated for SDOT to improve our corner by showing data and video of how dangerous the corner was. It took us 5 years of videos, but so far, proud to report, there have been no accidents this year.

Hudnell: When I was Student Body President at Seattle University School of Law, I championed the transfer of about $5,000 from the Student Activities Fund to the Student food bank to support students who became food insecure during the early days of the Pandemic in March 2020. I later led efforts to ensure that Licensure for the Graduating class would happen in an equitable way so that pandemic would not affect our ability as a class to work in our profession of choice.

Hudson: In the five years that I ran the First Hill Improvement Association, I had the opportunity to make a lot of direct positive impacts in District 3. One example I’m especially proud of is supporting the largest affordable housing project built in Seattle in the last 50 years at Madison and Boylston. When we had the chance to take the surplus property owned by Sound Transit and create housing on it, we leaned into our affordability and inclusivity values and organized community members to fight for deep affordability, high-rise construction, and a zero-cost land transfer – and we won! The result is the recently opened building with two parts in one structure – “The Rise” is over 225 housing units – including 3-bedroom units for working families, and “Blake House,” which provides housing for over 110 formerly homeless seniors. This project is in a high-opportunity neighborhood richly served by transit and is an incredible example of what’s possible and necessary – and makes our neighborhoods and city better.

Q: If elected, what regular presence would your office keep in District 3? Meetings? Office time? How often? Where?

Agarwal: My office would be open to my constituents. They will have my email address and my phone number. They can email me or my staff at any point and raise their issues. I will also have a monthly meet and greet at Capitol Hill Library, Douglas Truth Library, Montlake branch and Madrona Sally Goldmark branch. I would do these meetings either on a weekday night or on a Saturday late morning. Since I live in the center of the district, my home office will always be open for phone calls and emails.

Armstrong: If elected, it would be the goal of my office to utilize our library system as a way to hold office hours in community and talk backs for what people want to see. Beyond that, creating a CRM system where people can submit tickets to our office’s helpdesk and expect a response is the new standard I want to set for our City Government. Too often things go unanswered and we need someone who will take on the job 24/7 to make sure constituents are not only heard, but also have their issues addressed and ultimately solved.

Ashiofu: My office would regularly have a bi-weekly presence at the farmers market on capitol hill on Sundays. I also routinely attend community council events and meet and greets at the local library in cap hill. I want my office to be as open as possible with as many lines of communication as needed in order to ensure I’m properly representing my constituents.

Cooley: Equally spread throughout the district we will hold weekly office hours, monthly townhalls and quarterly cookouts.

Goodwin: I don’t think I can intelligently answer this question without actually being in the position with a clearer picture of my weekly obligations, etc. That being said, if there are satellite office locations within D3 I would be happy to rotate office hours between them so as to enable better access for constituents. I also want to expand access to council meetings by occasionally holding them in early evenings and/or on Saturdays. I would aspire to have at least a couple hours a week of available office time.

Hollingsworth: Seeking city assistance is too difficult. We have complex application and implementation processes that are near impossible for residents to successfully navigate. I will be present, available, accessible and transparent. We will have rotating office hours in all of the community neighborhoods from Capitol Hill to Madison Valley, by hosting meetings at libraries, community centers and spaces. I also understand that inside the neighborhoods, are certain communities as well. Our in-person office hours will be hosted at the following neighborhoods and will also have a virtual component as well for people who cannot attend in person as well. Once a week rotating in the different neighborhoods. Capitol Hill Montlake Eastlake/North Capitol Hill Madison Park/Madison Valley First Hill Central District Madrona/Leschi

Hudnell: At least bi-weekly office hours in district. One day during the week and one day over the weekend to accommodate traditional and nontraditional workdays/hours. I haven’t settled on a location yet, however I would like to rotate locations so make it easier for people in the district to access me regardless of their ability to get around. This rotation would include locations in Capitol Hill, Central District, East Lake, Madison Park, and Madrona.

Hudson: It’s my intention to run our council office as a true representative of the people, vision, and values of District 3, which is only possible by maintaining a consistent presence in the District. I plan to hold regular office hours at accessible times and places throughout the district and to continue to be an active, present member of our neighborhoods. I think it’s important to get out there during weekdays, evenings, and weekends so the most number of folks can find us!

Q: What council committees are you best suited for? How will that help D3?

Agarwal: Finance and Housing- I have been a Treasurer on HOA board for five years. My work on this committee will increase confidence in my voters that their dollars are being used effectively. My work on housing policies will move development of new housing faster and hopefully lead to reduction or at least stabilization of rent increases. I will also ensure rules such that housing construction is done while maintaining the green canopy of Seattle. Transportation and Utilities- My main platform of Green infrastructure is focused on Transportation and utilities. I will work DoT to ensure we have last mile loop buses on 15th Ave , 23rd Ave and MLK connecting those neighborhoods to their local grocery stores and Capitol Hill light rail station. I will work with Seattle City Light to upgrade electric infrastructure to enable it to support electric vehicles as they become more affordable and prevalent. D3 residents will benefit from both of these policies.

Armstrong: I would like to work Land Use, but bring Sustainability over from the current Renter’s Rights committee. For me the climate change work we need to see from our Land Use codes to SSDI regulations need to be looking toward the next decades of Green investment while balancing the need for increased affordable housing.

Ashiofu: I am best suited for the Public Assets and Homelessness, Neighborhoods, Education, Civil Rights, and Culture, and lastly, sustainability and Renters Rights. I would be best suited for these committees because of my lived experience. I would be best suited to deal with housing and homelessness as I was unhoused for a portion of my life. I know how to gain the unhoused community’s trust and the strategies needed to get them off the street. I am best suited for civil rights because of my experience as both being gay and black. I am a member of the Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission and many other organizations focused on the experience of being black and gay. This would help D3 because they would have someone who has directly been affected by the policy be the person drafting it.

Cooley: First and foremost, the majority of the committees have to be rebuilt since their current structure does not create the most efficient and productive outcomes. When elected, we are going to reassemble the committees to serve the Seattle residents in the best way possible. The answer to this is question largely dependent on the skillset of the new council members, so it would be beneficial to allocate the committees upon the election.

Goodwin: Public Safety & Human Services The biggest and most pressing issues facing the city today are all connected to public safety. My experience as a public defender for the last 12 years has better qualified me to serve in that role than any of the other seven candidates. I will help to bridge the trust gap between law enforcement and the community and through effective bargaining establish a contract with SPD that incorporates commitments to adopting more community-centric policing strategies and less militaristic practices.

Hollingsworth: Public Safety Committee + Human Services Economic Development, Technology, + City Light Committee Public Safety is important. Prioritize crisis response teams and non-armed responders for neighbors in crisis Responsibly fund and staff first responders including police, fire and EMTs. I want to ensure we have fast response times for ALL Priority calls. As a small business owner, I have the direct experience to understand the needs of our small businesses. We are home to thousands of small local businesses. Family owned-operated. They create economic and environmental stability, create local jobs and build generational wealth. I commend those small businesses that survived the pandemic. They showed resilience, flexibility and a strong love of community. And for those small businesses who closed during the pandemic and look to start fresh, or for those new ones who have yet to open their doors, the city should be there to help.

Hudnell: Transportation Committee. District three has some of the densest neighborhoods in Seattle (and getting denser), however we only have the one light rail station at Capitol Hill. I am committed to adopting a rail transit plan like that proposed by Seattle Subway. This would mean that in addition to Judkins Park station, we would eventually see a light rail stations throughout our district beyond the eventual second station at Judkins Park. Housing/Land Use committee. A central plank of my platform is to put Seattle on a path to create at least 200K units of housing in the next ten years. In order to do this we will need to adopt a comprehensive growth plan that not only meets this goal, we must resist the temptation of concentrating all those new homes in already dense neighborhoods like those in D3, and instead, create density throughout the entire city. Public Safety & Homelessness committee. I intend to lean on my experiences as a former prosecutor to create a criminal justice system in Seattle that prioritizes rehabilitation and intervention over punishment. It’s important to point out that this would only apply to Misdemeanor cases, as the City does not have the ability to prosecute Felony cases nor make changes to the law which concerns felony offenses. This means resources for our neighbors and loved ones who come into contact with the criminal justice system while maintaining safety and the dignity of the victim(s).

Hudson: A recent endorsement called me one of “the most effective transit advocates in the state,” and I would love the chance to bring my years of transportation policy and funding experience to the Transportation Committee. D3 has Seattle’s highest rates of transit ridership and the densest housing, and many important transit and transportation projects need the keen eye of an expert like myself. From Vision Zero improvements, 12th Ave bike lanes, light rail stations, the First Hill Streetcar, two Rapid Ride lines, and the basic maintenance of our transportation infrastructure, I’m excited to bring that expertise to City Hall and ensure our district is safely connected to ourselves, the city, and the region. However, I’m not just a one-trick pony! I sit on the board of a large affordable housing provider and the Freeway Park Association and consider myself a policy omnivore. I studied economics at WWU and was a nnon-profit Executive Director for a decade, which gave me the experience to analyze budgets and engage in developing and managing funding for public works projects. I plan to bring my experience in housing, parks, transportation, safety, and social services and supporting our small businesses to every table where the needs of D3 are being discussed.

Q: Which recent Seattle council member would you most like to emulate? Why?

Agarwal: I have knocked on over 2100 doors in Seattle and talked to a lot of people. The perception of the Seattle City Council and its members is not great. I am my own person. I was a senior program manager at Microsoft and have been on my HOA board for five years. I bring the capability to listen to all sides, sometimes conflicting opinions, engage experts in different areas, identify issues and risks, work with the other council members to identify options and their pros and cons and reach the most effective solution that we can implement for our people. Yes, this will require compromise and I welcome compromise. I am running because I want to see a more prosperous and equitable Seattle and I believe I have the long-term vision to see through to that goal.

Armstrong: If I could combine Morales, Mosqueda and Sawant I would. These strong leaders have fought for so many radical changes to our city, and the fact that we could lose all three in one year is a devastating loss to our City Council.

Ashiofu: As a gay black man who has immigrated from another country, I wouldn’t want to emulate any previous council member. I have a great amount of respect for the people who have held these positions before me but my entire reason for running is that I want to bring my unique lived experience to the city council. I want to be something new for Seattle and to do that I can’t emulate the people who’ve come before me. My entire life I’ve forged my own path, I will continue to do this as a member of the city council.

Cooley: Nick Licata, since he always worked to find common ground and find solutions to improve all Seattleites’ lives.

Goodwin: Council President Juarez She has shown courage in the face of overwhelming pressure from deeply partisan voices that attempted to silence her. Despite disturbing threats she remained true to her beliefs. Plus she used to be a PD – real recognize real.

Hollingsworth:The position of city council is a job that balances policy, people and impact. In order to be successful, you have to work as a team to ensure basic essential services are met. I can find commonality amongst all city council members no matter the districts, backgrounds or positions.

Hudnell: Teresa Mosqueda. CM Mosqueda I think brings a much needed creative passion to the council championing the democracy voucher program, and the Super block concept. I hope to bring that same energy to enact lasting solutions.

Hudson: I’ve always been a huge fan of Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who has consistently delivered equitable and progressive change to our city while building bridges.

Q: What is a position you hold that is controversial or unpopular among D3 voters? (Reader question)

Agarwal: My stance on public safety is not universally accepted. I believe our police, fire, EMT force should be local. I want to encourage our local youth to join en masse to change the culture of these organizations. I also believe in bringing back local peach officers or community officers who do not carry a firearm. They are the on foot or on bike local presence. Residents in the neighboring few blocks would know them by name and could reach out to them for non-life-threatening emergencies. That said I do not believe in defunding the police. Money is always going to be a constraint. That means we have to prioritize our goal and projects. I do not believe that investment in the First Avenue street-car brings the best return on investment. There are faster alternatives already available on that route including light rail. If I have the option to use those funds and move the Ballard light rail from 2039 to 2034, I will rather do that. I don’t expect most Seattle residents to get rid of their cars till we have a very robust metro transit system. Even then they might want to keep a car for excursions into the Cascades. A robust metro system is at least 20 years away. Since residents are more likely to have cars than not, I want them to park those cars off the streets. I would require apartment complexes and condos to plan and build parking spaces for their residents. Please note, since D3 has so many restaurants and art venues, we would still need street parking for the non D3 patrons of those businesses.

Armstrong: We have to really invest in moving toward a carbon free future, and that will take sacrifice and change. Eliminating the sale of combustion engine vehicles (which account for over 50% of our emissions) and implementing a potential carbon tax for citizens or businesses who are not changing with the coming tides could be a necessary thing to explore. We would build this together as community and it is desperately needed to make sure we see a Seattle still standing here and resilient for my children’s children some day. It won’t be popular or easy, but we have to do it.

Ashiofu: My position on homelessness is somewhat controversial but it comes from my experience with homelessness both while I was unhoused and my experience with the unhoused community afterwards. The vast majority of people who have become homeless did not become homeless as a result of drug addiction or a mental health disorder. People initially become homeless as a result of poverty, identity, and crisis. I became homeless as a result of my sexual identity not for any other reason. People become addicted to drugs or develop mental health issues as a result of being homeless and the extreme stress that comes with living on the street. All of these conditions could be avoided if services existed to help people in crisis and ensure that rents are never so bad they put people on the street. We need drug and mental health care but solving the homelessness crisis requires empathy and resources.

Cooley: When elected I’m going to legalize all drugs. Decriminalization hasn’t worked since it did not address either the illicit market, or the production, distribution, and usage of substances. No effort was made to create resources to manage drug use, and as a consequence, we saw rates of drug deaths from drugs skyrocket. This is why I am proposing drug legalization, as all other options have been exhausted and have not produced any positive outcome. This is the only way we can keep Seattle residents safe from the black market and unnecessary drug deaths. By controlling the production from beginning to end, we will ensure that users receive substances of the highest quality and that risks are minimized. Since we cannot anticipate every possible consequence, the necessary resources, including treatment plans will be available.

Goodwin: My position as to the adoption of the RCWs on public drug use into the SMC is controversial. I am after all the only one of the 8 candidates who would have voted with the minority of the current council on this issue. When I have time to explain my position to voters and get into the nuances, most tend to come around or at least to soften their visceral reaction to a policy they initially perceived of as merely perpetuating the drug war and expanding the carceral state. Fundamentally it is about ensuring we have the additional tool for intervention – to disrupt the cycle of addiction. Continuing to do nothing is an unacceptable option.

Hollingsworth: It depends on which neighborhood and people’s perspective/background/experience. The open-air drug policy is controversial for Seattle Voters. I believe we need to adopt the State Law. It also needs to be a holistic approach that allows people to get into treatment. Using deadly chemical drugs in the open air is illegal and we need to apply the law to ensure people are getting treatment. It’s unhealthy and dangerous.

Hudnell: I believe that we should begin to experiment with Pedestrianization of Capitol Hill AKA the super-block. I think this ultimately will improve quality of life for our residents, and also help small businesses. That said, I think that we would need at least a year of designated weeks/weekends/months to test run the idea and allow residents and businesses alike to make adjustments to their patterns of life.

Hudson: Our four-time WNBA Champions, the unstoppable Seattle Storm, is all the basketball team our city needs.

Q: What is a City Hall department or major initiative you would cut back on and how would you reprioritize that spending?

Agarwal: Seattle residents feel that their day-to-day needs are not being met or it takes too long. It is not because our city employees are not working their full potential. It is because we are short staffed and /or the processes take too long. I want to address those needs and respond to our residents much faster, especially on their daily needs, construction permits, pothole concerns, bad pavement concerns, graffiti removal, broken cars, thefts, harassment of any kind, traffic concerns. Seattle police is already starting to move money from the heavy firearm they used to purchase. I would move that money to hire part-time local community peace officers, who are non-firearm carrying local community representatives of all ages, whose job is to direct the local populace to non-police resources for non-life threatening concerns.

Armstrong: I would love to base salaries for individuals in City Hall off of AMI (area median income) and then use additional funds from those who may be overpaid toward policies like right-to-shelter and alternatives to policing. I would also love to do an audit of our capital projects and see where exactly these impact fee revenue streams are going. I want to take a deep dive into our budgetary processes and see where there are holes in the bucket so to speak.

Ashiofu: We need to invest more into our seriously underfunded social services. We put too much focus into public safety without trying to address the underlying issues. We need to invest in health one, our parks and recreation, sanitation, public restrooms, trash collection, and libraries. All of these things would ensure a healthier and safer built environment for everyone in Seattle.

Cooley: I would cut back SPD budget and revert it creating a third leg of public safety that is unarmed and responds to non-violent 911 calls.

Goodwin: I’m concerned broadly about there being far too many unsustainable salaries among city employees. There needs to be some recalibrating particularly among those individuals who are making above $200k. We need to do better with the basics – I want to see more pot holes filled in and sidewalks repaired. But also, I’d like to see the stretch of Broadway North of the light rail station pedestrianized – wider sidewalks, perhaps protected bike lanes, and slower cars. That area is ripe for revitalization.

Hollingsworth: I’m a small business owner who has balanced many budgets. One of my main guidelines when looking at a budget is how much were bringing in, how much is going out, and most importantly, whether are we delivering a quality product to our customers. Before we increase taxes, and look at different pathways of revenues, we have to understand our budget, take a deep look at our expenditures, and how we can provide effective government services with tangible outcomes. Our primary objective on council should be whether are we meeting the basic needs of our citizens and can we ensure that we fiscally responsible for the current public dollars.

Hudnell: I don’t believe that the city should be subsidizing car infrastructure. To that end, I would end the program which installs EV charging stations at the expense of tax payers and instead dedicate those funds for things like E-bike rebates and protected bike lane construction. Second, the Seattle Police Department currently has funding for dozens of vacant officer positions. I would bring that number down to only the number that SPD can reasonably predict could be hired as a net positive to the department in the next year. I would then work to redirect those funds for other public safety programs and positions like social workers.

Hudson: One place I would focus on immediately is lowering overtime spending at the Seattle Police Department. This has been a problem for years, predating the recent decrease in sworn officers. Last year, SPD spent $33.7 million on overtime, approximately $7.3 million over budget. The department is likely to go over budget again this year for overtime. I would take that additional $30+million and invest it in the mental and behavioral health services and support we need to reduce calls to 911 and get people the help and support they desperately need.

Is there a way to help SPD East Precinct feel like a less hostile and more responsive, supportive presence in the neighborhood? How? (Reader question)

Agarwal: SPD always travels in vehicles. This does not allow them to have an on street human interaction with the local populace and thus the bond of trust that exists in many countries like UK, Australia, Singapore is broken. I would like to see police going on foot and interacting with the local population. If we see each other as fellow human beings, the trust will increase. Also, a 25- or 30-year-old police officer is not trained in mental health issues. It is unfair to them and to us if we call them for all non-violent or crime issues. I want to develop a network of local part-time community peace officers that route such needs to non-police departments.

Armstrong: The building itself is very old and needs to be refurbished for both the working conditions of officers and for the community who relies on its services. Beyond that we need to utilize city building space to carve out new departments like 311 and 611 as we have outlined in our policy platform to help the police specify their job toward priority 1 and 2 calls, while providing alternative options to Seattle citizens than just a traditional police response.

Ashiofu: We need to analyze the training process for the East Precinct. We need to restructure the recruitment process to ensure the people whose job it is to protect and serve are the absolute best and brightest. The current training is shorter than a full school year and that is nowhere near enough to properly enforce the law. We need to ensure that there’s a huge emphasis on accountability and transparency within every aspect of police life, from training to the contract they sign. Lastly, we need to ensure that the office of police accountability has stringent civilian oversight. The police department needs to become more civilian focused, and it especially needs diversity in the oversight committee.

Cooley: By demilitarizing the building, making it a community building by making it more accessible to the public, and hosting a variety of community events.

Goodwin: It’s a two-way street. When Pride bans SPD from marching, it perpetuates hostility. When council candidates decry SPD as being a bunch of racists, that perpetuates hostility. Leaders lessen hostility when they engage in healthy, respectful dialogue with SPD. That said I want to see more community policing by which I mean in part more officers conducting foot patrols and Officers making conscious efforts to connect to communities in all sorts of ways, not just in response to cries for help. Officers need to engage in training programs that work to reverse the paranoia-inducing / fear-mongering approaches that they have been instructed on which place officer safety on a pedestal, not community safety.

Hollingsworth: Our government has the responsibility to keep our communities safe. It’s the right response to the right situation. When a first responder (Mental health worker, social worker, EMT, Fire Fighter or Police officer) is answering a call, we want to make sure it’s one with care, they have the resources to respond and they have the training. 1. I support the Mayor’s plan to increase staffing numbers and in addition to community-driven reforms for true neighborhood safety. This is gun violence prevention, after-school resources, summer activities for youth and community officers. 2. Increase health one funding for our fire department which can help alleviate some of the calls from SPD into our Fire Department. 3. Decrease our response times for all calls for ALL Priority calls (1,2 &3). 4. Police accountability and more community connection and building relationships with people.

Hudnell: Respondent skipped this question

Hudson: I hear overwhelmingly from residents that they want to see the return of community-based policing and “beat cops,” officers who are deeply embedded in neighborhoods, out walking around in communities, getting to know residents and workers, and who can help mediate conflicts, address issues before they boil over, and be a resource for all. Ideally, this will foster supportive relationships between the police and the community and contribute to the important work of rebuilding trust in our police while improving public safety.

Q: What is your position on single family housing/residential small lot zoning, and what is your position on upzones across Seattle? (Reader question)

Agarwal: I believe in high density cities. They are good for economical public transport, economical food availability, economical to support local business. They are good to make cities walkable. Example, Manhattan. Greater Seattle is expected to grow by a million people in the next 15 years. We need 400-600K homes to absorb that increase. Due to our geography, our land is limited. That means we have to grow taller– everywhere. I believe in upzoning across all of Seattle. I also believe that the compromised state law doesn’t go far enough. I would love to see more apartments and condominiums, especially within a few blocks of major public transportation arteries like metro and last mile loop buses.

Armstrong: Upzone as much as possible while maintaining the foundations of the Queer community in Capitol Hill and the BIPOC community in the Central District.

Ashiofu: I am entirely against single family zoning. Seattle desperately needs to densify in order for both rents and carbon emissions to come down. The city is continuing to grow and our current practice of single family zoning is inhibiting the response to this growth. If we don’t do away with this backwards practice we will be subject to higher and higher rents and a city that forces people out instead of welcomes them in.

Cooley: I’m against single-family zoning. I’m very grateful that the state took the lead on it, now it is our time to take care of zoning in an inclusive and strategic way.

Goodwin: Broadly speaking we should be upzoning around the city to encourage more density. But we need to be mindful of the impacts such development has on our neighbors, particularly those that are of limited means and face increased risk of displacement. There are often greener alternatives than simply tearing down every SFH for the purpose of placing triplexes and the like in their stead, such as adding ADUs.

Hollingsworth: We either want to build big or have single-family home. We are missing the middle housing options where small family-owned spaces can be turned into duplexes, triplexes, small apartments etc. This is where whatever policy you put forth, you also have to see it through to ensure it has the intended impact. I support density in a thoughtful way that encourages growth but also allows people the opportunity to age in place. We need to support more options for people converting their homes into multifamily options, ADU’s and mother-in-law units. Streamline the permitting process for homeowners as carrying costs high and only add to the end result.

Hudnell: We must go beyond what HB1110 calls for and up zone across all of Seattle.

Hudson: Our current zoning makes it too hard and lengthy to build the housing we need and contributes to the untenable increase in housing costs, fueling displacement and homelessness. We need to allow for more housing of all types in every neighborhood, including housing affordable to teachers, nurses, first responders, and others living on middle incomes as well as deeply affordable housing for those of us living in or near poverty. I’ll push for zoning changes – including upzones everywhere across the city. The recent Urban Institute analysis showed us that we can create room for 270,000 more homes than currently allowed. Creating opportunities for missing middle housing across Seattle will lay the foundation for a future where everyone who wants to can live and prosper here.

Q: What does Seattle need to do that it isn’t already trying to address the homelessness crisis? What would that look like in D3?

Agarwal: I want to address homelessness in a compassionate and compartmentalized manner. We have not been successful so far as we have been chasing our tails. We might help a few people get off the street but, in the meantime, more people lose their homes. I want to stem the pipeline — reduce the recent homeless or upcoming homeless so we can address the long-term homelessness more effectively. Most youth homelessness happens when LGBTQIA+ kids are evicted by their families or when foster kids turn 18. I want to continue to support organizations like Lambert House to get such youth off the street and in stable housing, so they have an opportunity to build their lives. Most homelessness in adults is caused to due to economic issues whether old age, job losses or increase in rents. I am for implementing rent control for apartment complexes to reduce the latter. I want to leverage and fund I-135 to build public housing that we can house both old age, recently un-homed and people likely to lose their homes in the near future, It would also help in housing our service provides- teachers, nurses, grocery workers, police, fire officials, EMTS – based on their income and allow them to live locally in the neighborhoods they work. Once we have stemmed the pipeline, we can focus on long term homeless– people with mental health and substance abuse issues. I would convert some of the empty buildings in downtown to both residences as well as mental health and substance abuse hospitals. I would work with public/private partnerships and donors to fund and staff these facilities. the latter will require that we pay the staff a living wage and house them locally. This would be a long and repetitive process with a lot of regression in some individuals till we can convince them to break their habits and seek help. Finally, I also want to create barriers for non-resident homeowners, who buy properties and either keep them empty or do Airbnb or vrbo as this reduces the market supply and raises home prices.

Armstrong: We need to pass a right-to-shelter to incentivize the city to actually take action. We have spent 8 years talking and throwing money at the problem. If elected, I want to be case working individuals and bringing them inside. This will only happen if the City has a monetary consequence to actually take action instead of pass the problem along.

Ashiofu: Seattle needs harm reduction centers to get people off the street and ensure that they aren’t a harm to themself. We need to treat homelessness as a public health crisis, not a crime crisis. We need more empathy and compassion and less punitive measures. We need less barriers to services in order to gain the trust of the unhoused population. We need social housing and safe injection sites. There is a plethora of avenues we can take and I believe we should explore them all.

Cooley: We have to provide adequate space for those who are unhoused to develop home. In regards to District Three, we have to create more tiny house villages and a small number of RV safelots and campgrounds.

Goodwin: More tiny houses. Establish a couple safe-lots for RV parking. Seattle needs to get our neighbors in the county to contribute more money to the KCRHA.

Hollingsworth: We have to separate three issues. (Homelessness, open-air drug use, and public safety) While we are addressing our housing crisis with policy efforts, people who are on our streets and in and out of shelters cannot wait any longer. We have to build and provide more shelter options. My plan is to get everyone off the street and inside as quickly as possible by… 1. Family Shelters, Tiny Homes, Resourced RV + Car Lots, Day Centers for people to get connected to resources, showers, and case workers, Transitional Housing Options 2. Connecting people to mental health services, Fire Department Health One funding. 3. Addressing public safety issues within encampments of individuals who are preying on vulnerable people.

Hudnell: Respondent skipped this question

Hudson: Build more shelters and day centers and invest in crisis behavioral health as well as long-term mental health residential facilities so we can get people off the streets and into safety immediately, while long-term we can support people with the appropriate care they need with permanent support and deeply affordable independent housing that gives all of us our best shot to live our best lives.

Q: What is one idea for District 3 that you have that no other candidate is talking about?

Agarwal: I was the first to talk about my Green infrastructure plan– (1) Metro transit with last mile loop buses on 15th, 23rd and MLK (2) Work with Seattle City Light to upgrade electric infrastructure to support electric vehicles. Many other candidates have started leveraging my plan above. Secondly, I want to encourage local youth to join police and fire departments en masse and change the culture. I want part-time local community peace officers who keep in touch with their neighborhoods and direct non-life-threatening concerns to other departments than police. I want to address local concerns like potholes, bad pavements, graffiti, broken hours in a much time sensitive manner.

Armstrong: No other candidate is talking about climate change like our campaign and it’s terrifying quite honestly. Seattle needs to start preparing now for massive changes in weather and a refugee crisis from the South happening now into the next couple of decades. Other candidates who are more well-funded and supported by the status quo, business interests of our City barely allude to this crisis and some don’t even mention it on their literature. We have less than 7 years to turn things around, and there is a lot we can do at the City level to make sure we will survive. This is why I am running.

Ashiofu: I believe Seattle should pass a pilot program for Universal Basic Income. Our people are struggling to make ends meet across the city and giving the most vulnerable members of our society a little cushion would go a long way towards creating a more stable environment for people across Seattle. It would help address systemic inequality and we have a long ways to go before we solve these expansive issues.

Cooley: Making public transit free city-wide in order to attack climate change and address inequities in our community.

Goodwin: Specific to D3: the pedestrianization of north Broadway. Broadly to the City: Increasing the tax on short term rentals. Imposing a litter tax on most frequently trashed items. Imposing a tax on spray cans and paint-pens. and finally Prohibiting the resale of concert tickets above face value of the original ticket by ticket brokers (ie: stub hub, ticketmaster, etc.)

Hollingsworth: 1. Improving Basic City Services + Infrastructure 2. Someone that wants to work as a team with other council members, the mayor’s office, and the 45 city departments 3. Youth Engagement (Community Centers, Parks, Greenspaces + Libraries)

Hudnell: Rent control in the Central District as a tool to combat displacement. I wrote an op-ed in the stranger on this topic.

Hudson: Automatic enrollment in social benefits programs. Seattle has created many social benefit and assistance programs, like the Utility Discount Program, all with drastic under-enrollment percentages that have disproportionalities across language, nationality, race, and age. Because we don’t automatically enroll people in these programs, poorly paid workers and other low-income people don’t get the financial benefit they need and deserve. Putting money back in people’s pockets is critical to alleviating poverty and lowering living costs to make our wages go further.

Q: How would you support lidding I-5?

Agarwal: I support lidding I-5. it could become the new arts and environment center connecting downtown and First Hill and Capitol Hill. I recommend using the lid to build gardens, with walkways and bike paths. I would like to see an amphitheater, a skateboard ramp park, and a graffiti wall for artists can paint on and which rains clears it off. I want it to be both a walk friendly connector as well as a destination.

Armstrong: Yes if we can get Federal funds to support it, then absolutely and build housing and park space above it.

Ashiofu: I support the Lid I-5 Organization and I support allocating funds in order to ensure connectivity across the city. It would generate business for construction and economic activity across the new space being opened up. It would enable us to focus more on multimodal transport as this new space could be designed with walkability in mind. Seattle needs more connectivity and I would use my platform to support it.

Cooley: Raising funds on federal, state, county, and city levels, as well as utilizing grants. A good way to qualify for these resources would be through a seismic retrofit of the freeway. Selling a portion of the land in order to bridge the gap.

Goodwin: I’d make sure we get moving on the structural assessments of i-5 to determine rehab, retrofit and preservation needs. Ultimately the project is going to cost a lot of money and it is a good idea to ensure there is sufficient buy-in from the community at large. I would promote the plan and coordinate with the advocates passionate about the project, but this is not something that is simply going to get funded by the levy to move Seattle. If the taxpayers aren’t sold the lid is going nowhere.

Hollingsworth: Start the movement from the feasibility study done by WSP, working with Lidi5 organization, state, federal and other stakeholders to ensure the Seattle City Council can use it’s platform to be on board to ensure we continue to create sustainable transportation options.

Hudnell: We need to commit funds to more than just studying the lid, but for actual construction in order to pull down Federal Dollars that are on the table. While I believe that the progressive revenue streams that I propose will allow us to do so already, if this is not the case, then we need to be prepared to pass a levy specifically for the purpose of Lid-ing I-5. I fear if we don’t lead with public dollars, then we will need to turn to private developers to raise the funds at the expense of the ability to place affordable housing, green space, and other works for the public benefit on the lid.

Hudson: Interstate 5 ripped a seam through our city that has kept us divided ever since. This chasm especially affects District 3 residents. Lidding the Interstate through downtown and beyond is necessary to re-connect our communities, reduce air and noise pollution, and create public land in our center city. We have examples of doing this successfully here, both here in Seattle with Freeway Park and projects across the country. I have supported lidding I-5 for years, having sat on the Lid I-5 Steering Committee and the City’s Feasibility Study. I’ll champion this idea in our Comprehensive Plan and our state and federal legislative agendas, keep this work moving during our upcoming Move Seattle Levy renewal, and look to creative ways to finance the project and keep the benefits in the public’s interest.

Q: Far in the future, if the city were to honor you with a statue, where would it be placed and what would it look like?

Agarwal: Honestly, I am a humble citizen. I do not want to see my statue. I would be happy in my afterlife knowing that I did good for the people and that the fruits of my labor and vision are persisting.

Armstrong: I think it would be a yellow and purple “Chihuly-esque” statue to honor the colors of the non-binary flag as I would be the first non-binary person elected to Seattle City Council in a world where trans and gender defying people are being vilified we could stand up and say not here in Seattle. Here everyone is loved and welcome. It would most likely be on the new Seattle waterfront, which would be at the base of Queen Anne in about 70-80 years.

Ashiofu: It would be placed in the AIDS Memorial Parkway and it would look like a Phoenix. Through my darkest times I’ve always come out stronger. We rise from the ashes and continue to fight.

Cooley: The statue would depict me sitting on a bench ready for a conversation with a neighbor and would be located in the center of the Capitol hill super block.

Goodwin: It would be a statue of a man painting on a wall. It would be on Broadway, and the wall would be somewhere along Seattle Central which is constantly tagged up.

Hollingsworth: I don’t need a statue. I would be happy to see the good policies passed have a great impact on our community.

Hudnell: Respondent skipped this question

Hudson: That would be an incredible honor. I would hope that if that were to happen, it would be a beautiful, stately tree in a park somewhere. I’d want it to be a variety that could grow a wide canopy and provide places for people to sit in the shade and reduce heat islands, where birds and other animals to live, and help keep our air clean and healthy.

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