Policy Positions
Policies for a City that Works
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY/DRUG/HOUSING CRISIS:
HOMELESSNESS
The “housing first” model fails to address the underlying issues of addiction and mental health that often lead to people being on the streets. Instead, we are in favor of bringing people off the streets and into shelter, providing or mandating treatment for those suffering from addiction, and offering permanent housing to those who have demonstrated steps toward recovery.
We support the work of professionals such as Seattle’s CARE team to bring people living outside to shelter, and the work of the city to clear any encampments in public spaces.
DRUG ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS
Many people living on our streets and in encampments are struggling with addiction, mental illness, or both. We support pathways to bring them to a safe, sober and stable future. We oppose supervised drug consumption sites and “harm reduction” policies that only keep drug users in their addictions. We support expanding mental health programs to address the needs of those living in crisis.
HOUSING
We support expansion of the housing supply and pragmatic solutions to build more affordable housing in the city.
We support reforming local rental regulations to restore a responsible balance of the interests of both renters and landlords. By supporting small landlords, we can protect and expand rental supply across the city. We are against rent control policies which ultimately lead to a reduction in rental supply and disincentivize landlords from maintenance and upkeep.
LIVABILITY/LAW AND ORDER
Criminal Justice
We support restoring the Seattle Police Department’s staffing to safe and reasonable numbers in line with our peer cities. We believe that property crimes are crimes with real victims and need to be treated as such. We support keeping violent suspects in jail without bail, the timely prosecution of crimes, and enhanced sentencing for repeat offenders.
Downtown and Commercial Corridors
We are concerned by storefront vacancies that are sucking the life out of our commercial districts. We support policies that promote a vibrant retail, restaurant, and small business community, such as streamlined permitting, expansion of allowed uses in ground-floor commercial spaces, and abatement of graffiti and vandalism.
PROSTITUTION/ VIOLENCE ALONG AURORA
We support policies that target the people who are trafficking young women through prostitution, helping the victims find pathways out of prostitution, and reducing the gun violence tied to those running the illicit sex trade.
