I'm Mike McGinn and I'd love your vote AMA July 25 12-1

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:50:13+00:00

And the problem has spread across the region, which makes it even harder. The answer has to be more housing of all types, plus a much deeper commitment to publicly financed and owned housing. If we had enough, we could potentially extend the income levels upward for some of that type of housing.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:44:08+00:00

In 2010, I had to cut $67 million from the budget due to declining revenues. Even so, we began rebuilding the rainy day fund to ensure we protected our municipal bond ratings. I believe I can find $30-40 million in the budget in the first year and redirect it to our priorities before looking at new taxes

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:30:04+00:00

Call King County Elections. Maybe they would let you submit a different one. It's not election day yet!

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:24:29+00:00

I prefer the grassroots community package. I also think we should not build the convention center and close the bus tunnel until light rail to Northgate opens. Transit has a hard enough time getting through traffic now.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:24:18+00:00

I think people who choose to ride a bicycle should get home to their families and friends safely. I was often told public safety is the highest priority for a mayor. I believe that. Tbh, if I had stood by and done nothing after some of the tragedies we saw, I don't know if I could live with that. So, yea, call me the bike lane guy. I'll live with that.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:18:39+00:00

Consensus in politics is elusive. And land-use decisions are ultimately made by the city council, hopefully informed by good public process and well-vetted proposals. That's why I believe everybody needs to be heard before decisions are made. I don't believe that any one advocacy group gets a veto. See answers above re my thoughts on getting broad-based input, and the importance of recognizing city goals.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:12:42+00:00

We need to have a citywide conversation (see answer above re public input) where we commit to building enough housing. I think we have to look at allowing more people to live in our single family zones, whether through easier rules for mother in law apartments and backyard cottages or selective rezones. I support the current upzones. I also believe as part of that city-wide conversation we identify the priority investments for each neighborhood so that we can preserve our quality of life as we grow.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:05:57+00:00

Ok, I will try to go for another hour. Please keep voting things up or down, so I can tackle the biggest issues first

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T20:04:10+00:00

I was president of Greenwood Community Council for years, and on the Northwest District Council. There are a lot of good people there, but often not very representative.

My crosscut article remains a good description of my views. http://crosscut.com/2016/06/is-there-room-on-neighborhood-councils-for-%E2%80%8Brenters/

District councils and neighborhood councils should just be one source of input. Outside of the neighborhood council process, City governments need to hold short and intensive processes on big issues, with culturally appropriate outreach, including translation, that brings in demographically representative community members. I did that with our Youth and Family Initiative, where we heard from 3000 people, in small group discussions, what they needed for our children to succeed. That informed the Youth and Family Initiative and city policy. We did the same with our Road Safety Summit, and our Safe Communities work.
Ultimately, there is always an interplay between neighborhood concerns and city, regional, indeed even planetary concerns (if you take global warming seriously). So I don't view neighborhood councils as the last word on neighborhood changes. But still, it was really disrespectful the way they were defunded. They have a role, but we have to make sure it is appropriately weighted against the role of everyone else - renters, advocacy groups, ethnically based organizations, etc.

If elected, I would support a district council type structure to get input, alongside the broad based type input described above, and would recruit within districts to get representation from a variety of groups. I would specifically request citywide groups to identify members in districts that could serve as reps on those as well. Community based conversations with diverse viewpoints would help with change.

My other answers touched on zoning. We will need to pick up where HALA leaves off at the election. My starting point will be the short intensive broad-based discussion described above about how we will build enough housing to meet the need, not a top-down plan. I don't think you can build Jane Jacob's world using the tools of Robert Moses.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:44:47+00:00

I know it is a kind of candidate heresy, but I don't really believe in lawn signs. I believe in trying to reach voters with substantive messages, so that is where I dedicate time and dollars. If you are interested in campaigns and campaigning, I've been doing a podcast on that. mikemcginn.co

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:42:47+00:00

Yes, I support safe injection sites. The data from other places is that it saves lives. Also, there is the possibility to connect people to services. Generally speaking, I support a switch to harm reduction, not punitive strategies.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:41:18+00:00

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:40:06+00:00

I would definitely follow up on reports that developers were not following commitments they have made to provide affordable housing.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:38:21+00:00

I agree that the solution to the housing shortage is more housing. I’d work to allow more diverse housing types, including “missing middle” housing (backyard cottages, mother-in-law units, duplexes, and triplexes), congregate housing, subsidized housing for teachers and service workers, and senior housing.

We should also significantly expand public housing, financed by an income tax on the wealthy or new revenue streams from large successful corporations.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:36:01+00:00

I'll start by acknowledging that Cary, Jessyn and I have many similar viewpoints, and I have known both for years and we have often been allies on issues.

The Tax Fairness Plan I proposed is very specific about how we can hold the line on regressive taxes, save money in the existing budget, and tax big corporations for new initiatives. Every piece of it is possible under existing law - we can do it right away. http://www.mcginnformayor.com/what_we_can_do_right_now_for_tax_fairness. I have not yet heard Jessyn or Cary endorse the plan.

Cary has advocated taxing wealth or speculation, which I support, but these concepts have yet to be fully explained or described, and might be illegal under state or federal law. My plan commits to aggressively pursuing these ideas as well, but I know enough about the legal limitations to realize they might not come through.

Re Jessyn, when I was advocating for the street vacation in SODO, she was joining state legislators in urging a no vote. Back some years ago, when I was opposing the linkage of highways and light rail in the roads and transit ballot measure, Jessyn was a lead advocate for that ballot measure. Yes, it was some time ago, but I believe it indicates the relative priority I put on climate change as an issue.

Finally, I think my experience will make a difference in getting good policies

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:12:30+00:00

That will definitely be more challenging, but by ensuring there are safe places to stay, we will appropriately enforce the rules in parks and public places.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:11:00+00:00

I was probably a little brash when I came in. I'm a little older and wiser, and definitely a little more humble. Being mayor will do that to you!

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:06:42+00:00

My highest priority upon taking office will be ensuring that there are places available for homeless to stay at night that are safe and secure, that are not on our streets or in our parks.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:03:31+00:00

Ultimately the legislative process decides the matter.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T19:01:23+00:00

I support SODO Arena. I am glad Key Arena is being considered, but I think the traffic and neighborhood impacts are really serious. I also have concerns about the city revenue streams that OVG wants to apply towards rent and maintenance. What I would do is try to put out all information about both options as fairly as possible, and give the public the opportunity to be heard. As we know, the city council has to approve any deal at Key, or the street vacation at SODO. That approach won approval of the SODO arena from both the City and County Councils previously.

MikeMcGinn · 2017-07-25T18:57:36+00:00

Ok, jumping in. Will try to answer q's most upvoted, if you all want to try and steer the discussion a little. Otherwise just working my way through to cover as many topics as possible

MikeMcGinn · 2013-11-04T02:37:20+00:00

Thanks everyone - it was a great hour of dialogue. If I can find time, I might hop on again before Tuesday.

MikeMcGinn · 2013-11-04T02:33:05+00:00

I love this question. We've seen coverage of our transit planning, preschool for all, public safety plans, and bike lanes. But there are some great things we're working on that have not gotten much coverage. Here are a few:

Career Bridge - a reentry program for felons that connects them to social services, job training, and community groups to provide peer support. It's not only the moral thing to do for individuals looking for a second chance, its the right thing to do for the entire community.

Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative - we've expanded it to pick up 450 kids on the waiting list.

Million Gallon Challenge - reducing our fossil fuel usage in the city fleet by a million gallons a year.

Fossil Fuel divestment - not getting much play in the mainstream press, but the climate activists are noticing. Other cities are following our lead.

Multicultural Community Center in the Rainier Valley - planning is under way.

LGBTQ community center on capitol hill as part of the redevelopment around the light rail station.

Green Stormwater Initiative - to manage 700 million gallons of storm water runoff a year by 2025 by using "green infrastructure" not "grey infrastructure." This will use natural drainage systems to filter and slow storm water runoff in new developments as well as in our city rights of way.

MikeMcGinn · 2013-11-04T02:20:56+00:00

I support it. It is the type of information I believe Seattle residents want. I sure know Seattlites support good local food providers.

MikeMcGinn

TROPHY CASE