-Hi.
I'm Seattle City Councilmember Andrew Lewis.
As a recent parent,
I am more determined than ever to build a Seattle
we can be proud to pass on to the next generation.
In my first term, I brought together
unlikely coalitions to deliver results,
and I'll continue that work if re-elected.
On public safety, in my first term,
I increased our park ranger program
from 2 to 28 rangers,
fully funded the police hiring budget each year,
passed an ordinance protecting firefighters from harassment
in the line of duty, and worked with Mayor Harrell
to create a civilian behavioral health response
in lieu of police involvement.
If re-elected, I'll increase these alternative responses,
continue the shared commitment of the Council and Mayor
to recruit and retain police, and support community programs
proven to reduce repeated criminal behavior
and gun violence.
On housing and homelessness,
we need to get people out of encampments
and into stable housing immediately.
Working with Mayor Harrell, my office helped create
the Unified Care Team -- a one-stop, no-excuses shop
to navigate people experiencing homelessness into shelter
and resolve encampment locations.
Encampments have been reduced by 42%,
but much work remains.
Over the next four years,
I'll increase enhanced shelter options like tiny houses
so people experiencing homelessness
have a stable shelter,
rather than being displaced to another encampment,
and I'll also work with city partners to build
and acquire social and non-profit housing
so more people can afford to live in our community.
We are running out of time to combat climate change,
and Seattle must confront the emergency with housing planning
that emphasizes dense, walkable communities,
electrification of buildings,
and safe, reliable public transportation.
I'm proud to have a rating of "strongly aligned"
from the Downtown Seattle Association and to be endorsed
by the Martin Luther King County Labor Council,
the 36th and 43rd District Democrats,
the Alliance for Gun Responsibility,
Attorney General Bob Ferguson,
and King County Executive Dow Constantine.
I hope to earn your vote.
Thank you for your consideration.