Seattle mayoral candidate Jessyn Farrell to make housing a top priority

As Seattle grows more prosperous, it grows less affordable. So if elected mayor, Jessyn Farrell says she will make housing a top priority.

“We also have to ask the private sector to help pay for services through impact fees; for example, schools and sidewalks, etcetera. We also need a renewed investment in public housing,” she said.

But she says affordability goes beyond the price of housing.

“We know that it costs more to put an infant in full-time child care than it does to send a kid to college. So I think we need to make a commitment that child care should cost no more than 10 percent of a family's income.”

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She says child care subsidies could come from part of the $500 million the region is scheduled to get from the state transportation package beginning in 2020.

She approaches public safety with the police shooting of Charleena Lyles in mind.

“We may have policies in place but are we committing the resources to make sure officers have the appropriate training?" she asked. "Do we have officers with the appropriate background as well? I mentioned hiring officers who may have more of a mental health or social worker background.”

And she wants to deal with the property crimes plaguing many neighborhoods.

“I think that we need to continue some of the data-based policing that's happening. To see where many property crimes are happening and deploy services there.”

Before running for the Legislature, Farrell was the executive director of a transit advocacy organization.

“We need a lot of ways to get around," she said. "I'm a mom, I drive you know most of us do drive. But again the reality is we're never going to be able to add enough car capacity to build our way out of traffic.”

And when it comes to the homeless, Farrell would stop the sweeps.

“We need to be spending more time upfront building relationships with people who are unhoused. And really understand what their needs are so they can have the appropriate services.”

At first, Farrell supported the Key Arena option for bringing the basketball Sonics and NHL hockey to Seattle. But now she supports the SODO plan because she believes transportation problems are easier to solve there.

Cox Media Group