Current Issues

RICHARD CONLIN ON THE ISSUES FROM A TO Z

Accountable Government and Fiscal Responsibility -- Fiscal Responsibility – Worked to ensure that City services are delivered in the most cost effective way. Emphasized keeping work in-house rather than contracting out for ongoing services. Advocated and supported full evaluation of City services to ensure that our programs are effective and deliver on the promised results.

Affordable Housing – Secured approval of first requirements for new development to fund affordable housing, and working to expand affordable housing through many different means. Most recently completed negotiations and managed completion of Capitol Hill Station Development Agreement, which will ensure that the Sound Transit land around the light rail station will be redeveloped with at least 36% of the units being affordable. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/08/06/capitol-hill-station-development-agreement/

Alaskan Way Viaduct and Waterfront – Led Council through tunnel decision. Support new “Waterfront for All” plan that will give Seattle a great new park when the aging and unsafe Viaduct is finally replaced. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2012/08/14/waterfront-draft-plan-approved-by-council/

Climate Change – Have been leading voice for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the last decade. Sponsored work to create Climate Action Plan for Seattle and initiated policies and programs to make Seattle carbon neutral. Led work on Green Building and Living Building programs. Got Seattle to divest from the Centralia Coal Plant. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/06/20/carbon-neutral-by-2050-climate-action-plan-update-approved/ http://conlin.seattle.gov/2012/07/31/living-building-ordinance-amendments/

Coal Trains – Founding member of Leadership Alliance Against Coal, which includes more than 75 local government and tribal officials working together to stop the coal trains. Testified and wrote letters opposing coal trains; working to build powerful coalition to make sure that we successfully keep this project from moving forward. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/10/15/stopping-the-coal-trains/

Domestic Violence – Given the ‘Take Action’ award by King County Coalition Against on Domestic Violence when, in the midst of the budget cuts of the recession, I secured funding for critical programs to provide legal assistance for immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence. Sponsored and supported programs for safe housing for those made homeless by domestic violence. Long and consistent supporter of programs to counter domestic violence and protect and support victims and survivors, and will continue to do so. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2012/03/27/safe-housing-for-domestic-violence-survivors/

Duwamish Cleanup – Leading the Council work to ensure that the Duwamish cleanup benefits the community by providing jobs for local people and support for revitalizing and improving South Park and Georgetown. Led the Council in making the first commitment to the successful regional effort to fund the new South Park Bridge. See http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/06/13/duwamish-superfund-city-commitments-on-cleanup-and-health-impacts/ and http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/05/23/duwamish-cleanup-job-training-program/

Economic Development

Emergency Preparedness – leading Council work to support preparedness, including neighborhood disaster hubs, comprehensive disaster management planning, and measures to reinforce the safety of vulnerable buildings and infrastructure. Initiated and found funding to develop a Seattle Recovery Plan in the event of a major disaster. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/08/08/preventing-buildings-from-collapsing-in-the-next-earthquake/

Environmental Stewardship – Endorsed in every election by Washington Conservation Voters and Sierra Club because of long and successful history of effective work for the environment. See http://wcvoters.org/campaigns-elections/endorsements/endorsed-richard-conlin-seattle-city-council and http://cascade.sierraclub.org/node/3296

Farms and Forests -- Established program to save farm and forest land that buys development rights and transfers them to urban areas, where developers are required to buy them in order to build. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/09/17/historic-growth-management-partnership-approved-by-seattle-and-king-county/

Fixing Our Streets and Bridges – Initiated the Citizen’s Transportation Advisory Committee II in 2003 to develop plan for repairing streets and bridges, which eventually led to Bridging the Gap Levy, the first major investment in this vital transportation infrastructure in decades. Continue to work for and support this important priority.

Food – Initiated Local Food Action Initiative, Seattle Food Action Plan, and Regional Food Policy Council to promote growing local food, get food aid to those in need, support farmers and farmers markets, and increase p-patches and community gardens. Named ‘Hunger Fighter of the Year’ by Food Lifeline/Seattle Weekly. See details at http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/food_initiative/

Freight Mobility – Moving freight is essential to our manufacturing and maritime industries. Sponsored road and track improvements that make rail move more smoothly with less congestion and Freight Mobility Board to develop full Seattle plan.

Health – Represented Seattle on the King County Board of Health for most of my time on the Council. Most recently, we defied threats of lawsuits to impose fees on pharmaceutical companies in order to create a safe collection system for disposing of leftover drugs and medicines. Led the Council in adopting a program to dedicate City resources to signing residents up for the Affordable Care Act (‘Obamacare’). Championed funding for community clinics and will continue to do so. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/05/21/seattle-signs-up-for-health-care/

Housing the Homeless – Strong advocate for Low Income Housing Levy and other efforts to find ways to house those in need. Committed to continuing to fund homelessness programs and end homelessness in Seattle. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2011/04/19/council-to-address-gaps-in-city-provided-homeless-services/

Land Use

LGBT Community – Proud to be endorsed by SEAMEC, the political arm of the LGBT community, and to have received the highest possible score on their candidate rating. I have a long history of supporting LGBT rights, from sponsoring legislation to create a private right of action to challenge discrimination and extending laws prohibiting discrimination to all businesses to my most recent achievement, persuading the National League of Cities to endorse Marriage Equality (I am an elected member of the League Board). http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/06/27/marriage-equality-endorsed-by-national-league-of-cities/

Libraries – Led effort that resulted in 2012 Library Levy, which ensures that all our libraries stay open on Sundays, eliminated week-long closures, and expanded funding for collections and technology. This restores cuts made during the recession, and fully funds our library buildings that were rebuilt or expanded through the 2000 Library bond. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/08/27/library-levy-achieving-goals-in-first-year-of-implementation/

Music, Arts, and the Vera Project – In response to the youth and music community, initiated funding for the Vera Project and have continued to support this program to involve all ages in producing and enjoying art and music. Supported funding for art and cultural work, and currently working on legislation to protect historical theaters by allowing them to sell their development rights. See http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/06/11/casa-latina-vera-and-fresh-bucks/

Neighborhood Issues – One of first actions as Councilmember was sponsoring legislation to triple the Neighborhood Matching Fund. Known around the City as a go-to Councilmember for addressing and solving neighborhood problems and supporting community involvement and the Department of Neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Plans – Managed the adoption process for our 37 neighborhood plans, and worked to ensure that they are implemented. Now working on updating them, and sponsored legislation that will ensure updating at least every ten years. I was involved in starting the Central Area Neighborhood Plan, and I am committed to making sure that they are followed and implemented. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/02/07/implementing-neighborhood-plans/

Open and Transparent Government – As Council President, initiated a Special Committee on Open Government, which reformed our public disclosure system and brought rules and procedures into best practices for open meetings and fair procedures.

Parks, Community Centers, and Open Space – Made sure that the 1999 Community Centers Levy and 2000 Parks Levy served all of our communities, including adding Belltown and Northgate Community Centers and many parks and community gardens that fulfill the vision of our neighborhood plans. In 2008, led successful Parks for All Levy, which has developed more than 20 new community gardens and new parks and open spaces all over the City. Now working to make the 2014 renewal provide critical support for the operations and maintenance of our park system. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2011/07/05/first-two-years-of-parks-for-all-levy-delivering-on-the-promises/

Pedestrians and Bicycles – Initiated development of Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plans, worked to get plans funded. Sponsored legislation approving Burke-Gilman Trail route in Ballard and bike/ped path on Portage Bay Bridge. Sponsored funding for sidewalks, including the Linden Avenue Main Street in Bitter Lake. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/05/17/northgate-station-ped-bike-access-works/ http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/02/05/sr-520-bicycle-and-pedestrian-connections/

Public Safety

  • Police – Endorsed by Seattle police officers for my commitment to public safety. Worked to implement reforms that will prevent use of excessive force and emphasize accountability, while recognizing that most of our officers are conscientious and effective, but need better leadership. Protecting the public against crime and violence is essential to all, but must be done fairly and with great care to protect human rights. Committed to long range goal of reducing the incentives for criminal behavior and emphasizing rehabilitation and restorative justice as the best way to keep people out of the criminal justice system. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2012/10/25/reforming-seattle-police-practices/
  • Fire – Endorsed by Seattle Fire Fighters for my effective work to support the renovation of our fire stations, maintaining appropriate numbers of fire fighters in our system and on each engine, and protecting the safety and health of our fire fighters.

Refugee and Immigrant Communities – Casa Latina gave me their “Social Justice Visionary” award for my work to support Casa Latina in creating a home and funding programs to provide dignified work along with language learning and other education and job training for undocumented immigrant workers. In the depths of the recession, I persuaded the Council to add funding for legal assistance to immigrant victims of domestic violence. I am committed to supporting our new immigrant communities, and have a long track record of assisting them. For recent work, see http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/06/11/casa-latina-vera-and-fresh-bucks/

Schools – Parent of three children who graduated from Garfield High School. Worked to expand the Families and Education Levy, support school traffic safety and fund Safe Routes to School. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2011/03/31/families-and-education-levy-goes-to-ballot/

Universal Pre-School – Will be the next stage in City programs to ensure that our children are cared for and ready for school. Support work that will lead to universal pre-school for 3 and 4 year olds in the next two years. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/09/24/preschool-for-all-children-plan-adopted-by-council/

Sick Leave – I support providing paid sick leave to all members of society. I voted against the sick leave ordinance because I wanted a different model that would have covered 30,000 more people and been simpler to administer and fairer to workers. For more details, see http://conlin.seattle.gov/index.php?s=sick+leave

Social Justice and Human Services – Led Council in ensuring that human services funding was protected and expanded when the recession forced us to cut tens of millions of dollars out of the City budget. Consistent supporter of Human Services Coalition budget priorities, and have initiated funding for many critical human services. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2012/04/12/hunger-free-community/

SR 520 Replacement – Led successful Seattle involvement that will result in adding transit/HOV lanes and bike/ped path to new bridge, no new car lanes. Won state approval for lids at Montlake and North Capitol Hill and better transit and bike/ped connections around the interchanges. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2011/11/02/city-and-state-agreement-on-sr-520/

Transit

  • Light Rail – As a member of the Sound Transit Board, playing key role in expanding light rail to Northgate and beyond and to the East Side. Working to get Sound Transit to the ballot in 2016, with possible new routes from Ballard to Downtown, West Seattle to Downtown, and Ballard to the University District. Bringing together transit and affordable housing – Capitol Hill Station area agreement has 36% affordable housing and a home for the Farmers Market. Led efforts to get Sound Transit to provide better bicycle and pedestrian access to stations, including bike/ped path over I-5 at Northgate. http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/07/30/sound-transit-moving-forward-on-new-lines-and-tod/
  • Buses – They are run by King County, but vital to Seattle. Formed partnership with King County to lobby State for funding, sponsored funding and planning for sidewalks, bus shelters, and transit priority lanes. We will get a state transportation package that funds our buses! http://conlin.seattle.gov/2011/08/18/saving-seattle%E2%80%99s-bus-service-framework-for-the-long-term/
  • Streetcars – Working to extend First Hill Streetcar to Aloha, build connector between First Hill Streetcar and South Lake Union Streetcar.

Transportation Safety – Championed safety improvements for Seattle streets, including better lighting and crosswalks, as well as basic maintenance and repairs (see fixing our streets and bridges).

Trees and the Urban Forest – Completed work this year on a new Urban Forest Stewardship Plan to revive and expand Seattle’s tree canopy. Working on new land use regulations to replace interim regulations to regulate tree removal adopted two years ago. See http://conlin.seattle.gov/2013/09/19/urban-forest-stewardship-plan/

Zero Waste – When Seattle Public Utilities wanted to site a third transfer station in Georgetown, I listened to the neighborhood, and initiated the Zero Waste Strategy to reduce waste as an alternative. The result has been spectacular – we have cut the waste sent to landfills by almost 30% and are working hard for further reductions. See http://conlin.seattle.gov/2010/08/17/zero-waste-on-the-critical-path-for-carbon-neutrality/

 

Voters Guide Statement:

RATED “OUTSTANDING” BY THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF KING COUNTY

Richard Conlin is an innovative and progressive leader. He listens, works hard, and gets things done for all of us. Richard Conlin makes change happen!

A CHAMPION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION CHOICES

Endorsed by Sierra Club, Washington Conservation Voters, Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Transit Blog.

  • As Sound Transit Board Member, bringing you light rail to UW and Northgate – and the Eastside
  • Won approval for Northgate Bike/Ped Bridge over I-5, bicycle lanes on SR 520 over Portage Ba
  • Initiated Zero Waste Strategy to increase recycling rates and reduce waste
  • Received “Trailblazer Award” from Sustainable Path Foundation.
I will work to establish better transit connections to Ballard and West Seattle, extend Capitol Hill Streetcar to Aloha, fully fund bus service, make bicycling and walking safe, maintain roads and bridges.

A CHAMPION FOR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND EDUCATION

Endorsed by King County Democrats, Progressive Voters Guide, Affordable Housing Council, Seattle Times.

  • Initiated successful plan to fully fund libraries
  • Won approval for agreement increasing affordable housing on Capitol Hill, zoning around light rail stations for thousands of new housing units
  • Worked with colleagues to expand Families and Education and Low Income Housing Levies, created Local Food Action Initiative
  • Secured funding for Phinney and University Neighborhood Centers, new South Park Bridge, new sidewalks connecting neighborhoods and schools, Linden Avenue Main Street.
I will work to link transit and communities to create new affordable housing, support full funding for parks and community centers, and realize the vision of our neighborhood plans.


A CHAMPION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN SERVICES, AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Endorsed by King County Labor Council, Seattle Firefighters, SEAMEC (LGBTQ Community Political Voice), Rated 100% Pro-Choice by NARAL
  • Increased human services funding, won funding for Casa Latina and community health clinics
  • Received “Take Action” award from King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence for funding legal assistance for immigrants and housing for domestic violence survivors
  • Honored as “Hunger Fighter of the Year” by Food Lifeline.

I will work to expand domestic violence programs and to fund programs to end hunger, combat childhood obesity, and serve the 60,000 Seattle residents who will get new health coverage in 2014.

Richard is a founder of Sustainable Seattle, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Bike Works, and the Central Area Neighborhood Plan. He serves on the Boards of Antioch University Seattle and YES! Magazine.

For further information on my positions on current issues and on my past work, we have uploaded the candidate questionnaires I have submitted to a wide range of civic organizations.  This way, you can search by the topic or organization that interests you, view my responses to specific questions, and download the files.

You can also visit my City Council website for information on current issues and my newsletter, "Making it Work" is a another good way to learn about current and past policy issues.

Richard's Accomplishments In The Asian American And Immigrant Communities 

Environment/Sustainability

Leadership & Public Service

Labor & Democrats

Business/Economy

Public Safety

Social Justice & Civil Rights

Buildings, Neighborhoods, & Community