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-Hello. I am a husband, father,
and homeowner who has lived in Seattle
for over 10 years.
I have been repeatedly disillusioned by
the ineffectiveness of the city council.
The people in Seattle deserve a council
that listens and looks past
partisan politics to deliver results.
I am driven and qualified
to accomplish this.
I have volunteered as a trustee at the
Fulcrum Foundation, as president of the
Holy Rosary School Commission,
and as a basketball coach
at our local YMCA.
For over a decade, I worked for the
Seattle Police Department,
spending several years
in the Policy Unit during the consent decree.
I have also taught at Argosy University.
Homelessness, substance abuse,
and mental illness are citywide crises.
I can bring common sense and trust
back to city council deliberations
on these topics.
I will push for keeping our city
affordable without further raising taxes.
I will bring accountability
to the management of city funds.
The Seattle I am fighting for
prioritizes dignified,
safe living conditions.
I am dedicated to maintaining unity
between SPD and the community,
improving transit, and removing
double standards in our legal system.
I want to make our police officers
feel valued and empowered
to do their job.
I will address the SPD staffing shortage
so public safety is improved.
My top priorities are homelessness,
public safety, and restoring
accountability in city spending.
Solving homelessness requires space
and services for all the unhoused.
This means creating a regional network of
immediately available
emergency housing with specialized
social services followed by
enforcing the law when campers
refuse to either accept services
or move along.
People will not be allowed to live
in illegal conditions.
I will also push for addiction
treatment services, not injection sites.
I want intentional development practices
so that public services and schools
can accommodate growth and population.
MHA must be revisited so upzoned areas
necessarily include affordable housing
and adequate parking.
It's time for a new direction on
the city council, one that puts
the voice of residents first
and delivers improvements
on our local epidemics.
I am committed to being responsible
to residents and the leader
our city needs to move forward.
Thank you.
-I work hard for District 1.
I did bus service to Alki, Admiral,
and Highland Park, restoring police
community service officers, keeping the
Concord Elementary Learning Center open,
and more hours for Coleman Pool.
No issue is too big or too small.
I've passed laws against exhaust noise
at Alki and legislation to fix
derelict buildings in Delridge
and South Park.
I've worked with Sound Transit
so Light Rail doesn't tear apart the Junction.
I've increased opportunity,
better laws for renters and workers,
and a green jobs career pathway
so everyone has a place to live and work.
I've gone to the mat
for small business all over the city,
from Luna Park and Fauntleroy,
to the University District
and the Central District.
I insist on accountability.
When city hall wanted $1.4 million
to bail out the Pronto! bike company,
I said no.
Now downtown's demanding
a First Avenue street car.
It's $143 million over budget.
I say, let's invest that money in
real transportation infrastructure.
I'm requiring new oversight
on big construction projects.
Government can't do everything.
We must do the important things
and do them well.
On addressing our homelessness crisis,
I led passage of a $29 million bond
to boost affordable housing built in 2018.
We're requiring developers
for the first time to pay for
affordable housing that's truly affordable.
I've helped families and seniors
pay their bills, stay in their homes,
and prevent homelessness
before it starts.
We must have the political will to do more.
I'm endorsed by MLK Labor,
the King County 34th
and 11th District Democrats,
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal,
King County council member Joe McDermott,
state senator Joe Nguyen,
and Seattle council member
Lorena González.
I've lived in District 1 for 19 years.
My grandchildren attend
Sanislo Elementary and Chief Sealth High.
I hope I've earned your vote.
-Hello, my name is Phil Tavel,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council,
District 1 because Seattle can do better.
Four years ago, we were talking about
skyrocketing costs of living,
a lack of affordable housing,
more and more people living on our streets,
traffic problems,
and cost overruns in civic projects.
I have seen no improvement in these
and several other issues
while many have gotten worse.
It's time to make a change
in our city's leadership.
Our council needs to listen
to all of the people of our city,
not just a vocal minority.
We need to know where our hard-earned
taxpayer money is going
and what we're getting for it.
We need to be working with the people
in the businesses in our community
and not against them.
It's time to end the divisive politics,
restore common sense and moderation
to our government, and focus on effectively,
efficiently, and equitably delivering
services to the people of our city.
We have to change the way
we're addressing homelessness
and the rise in property
and violent crimes.
We must do a better job helping people
with untreated mental health disorders
and unaddressed substance-abuse issues.
And we need to properly fund and staff
our police department
to ensure that they can enforce
all of the laws of our city fairly
and evenly for all of us that live here.
I will make sure the bureaucracy
and politics do not keep us from implementing
common-sense solutions
to these problems.
I'm proud to be supported by
dozens of the small businesses
that form the heart and soul of our community.
Just drive down California Avenue
to see all the community establishments
like Husky Deli, Talarico's,
Menashe Jewelers, The Bridge, and many more
with my sign in their window.
They know that I will listen,
that I'm an everyday part of our community,
and that I care deeply about
making Seattle a better, safer,
and more productive city for everyone.
I've been a business owner,
a physics teacher, a judge, and
a public defender for 15 years.
I'm a community volunteer
and serve on the board of the
Morgan Community Association, Allied Arts,
the Green Spaces Coalition.
I'm a renter, a father of a 1st grader
at Arbor Heights Elementary,
and youth coach at West Seattle Bowl.
I will bring back moderation
and common sense to our council.
I ask you for your support
and for your vote.
Thank you.
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