Christal Wood for Seattle Mayor

Rental increases, and over-development taking place in Seattle over a short period of time have led to the gentrification of neighborhoods, which in turn lead to demographic shifts. Those who are neither rich enough to afford more exorbitant housing, nor poor enough to avail themselves of governmental assistance are often forced to look outside the city. An increase in homelessness and emigration to “bedroom communities” results; as the cost of living rises faster than average income.

I propose a city tax on housing rental rates that exceed affordability at median income, in order to slow rental inflation. To address the existence of widespread violation of related landlord/tenant law, additional enforcement staff is also needed in the City's Department of Construction and Land Use (DCLU).

I wish to improve the social and legal mistreatment of the city’s destitute. The city's homeless are regularly subject to malignment and abuse, as well as incarceration under the city's so-called "civility laws"; which both present Constitutional issues, and target behaviors arguably endemic to being without a home in the current social climate. The DCLU fines even churches for providing sanctuary to the homeless under "illegal camping" statute.

In the political dialogue around these measures, not enough is said about how women are disparately impacted by trends in poverty and homelessness. Not enough is said about how many of the city’s homeless are children and youth. No city can call itself civil while it treats human beings this way.

As Mayor, I would seek to modify or repeal the City's "civility" and illegal camping ordinances. I would work to redirect programs such as Safe Harbors, and take on the social and economic issues that have lead to a growth in Seattle's homeless population.