Workforce Housing

I love this town. I love living here, working here, recreating here, shopping here - I can’t imagine my life without a 20-minute walk to the farmers market. I almost couldn’t afford to buy a house here, but I got lucky in knowing someone who was interested in selling. I often still worry about some of my friends here. Being homeless doesn’t always look like sleeping on the streets - it can also be couch surfing, or living in hotels temporarily while searching for a rental.

In the time that I've served on the Anacortes Housing Authority, the Yes for Housing measure passed and is bringing in funds for renovating our historic Olson building for workforce housing. We have renovated two other buildings, and purchased land for five townhomes. Other exciting developments were the installation of solar panels on the Harbor House, and developing a partnership with Transitions Fidalgo for a Share the Bounty stand that gets filled with produce from the M Avenue garden by the middle school. The majority of these folks at the Harbor House are low income residents, folks who are disabled and/or elderly, and we need to keep them well taken care of.

Workforce housing - also known as Missing Middle Housing - will help support our more marginalized community members. I've been having conversations with folks in the area (as well as across the state), and I'd like for the City to work with developers to create a broader choice of housing on the island. Single family homes are important, and so are apartments, condos, and other multi-family options like fourplexes. Zoning allows for density to create these buildings between Commercial & M Avenue, and then along R Avenue - this is great for our local marine industry, the hospital, and other small businesses in the area.

With this, we have to plan for walkability and safe streets for pedestrians and cyclists. It ties into shopping locally and living locally - when folks can visit a store that's close, they can stroll on foot or travel by bike, helping to further reduce their carbon footprint. In fact, 62% of Millennials and 55% of the Silent Generation(those born before 1944), want walkable communities. Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers, less so.

Natural Preservation

These incredible blue waters and lush green forests are assets to the island. Not only do we recreate there, but the waterways provide career opportunities that we have to maintain. Our green spaces also help support responsible tourism, community gatherings, and our mental & physical health. The City should continue to brighten up spaces & mitigate the heat island effect with more pocket parks and community gardens.

I've earned the endorsement of folks from the Sierra Club & the Washington Conservation Voters, and I have trusted contacts that I can reach out to when I need insight on topics that are important to our residents. I'm volunteering with Transition Fidalgo in their community garden by the middle school, which helps to educate students on the importance of local food sources, while also supplying produce to three Share the Bounty stands across town.

Supporting Business

We have an wide assortment of businesses in town that are owned and managed by our friends and neighbors. We supported them through COVID, and sectors like music and arts will continue to need support to fully recover. I commit to bring a strong focus for long term sustainability here. Having the City shop locally goes beyond just buying paper clips and post it notes. It means choosing local at every chance we have, like for the maintenance of our vehicles. It means updating technology though local vendors, when it’s an appropriate and responsible way to spend public funds. There are options for good faith efforts towards Local Purchasing Preferences in the Policy guide, although this isn’t something that can be required.

I applaud what has been done with the parklets, and with easing up curbside regulations - these changes have kept businesses afloat, and have kept customers comfortable and safe. I’d also like to make sure that when the next emergency comes, that our businesses are able to adapt. For example, restaurants in Long Beach CA were able to convert their dining spaces into market spaces - something that could come in handy with code flexibility for folks who may not be comfortable in big grocery stores. Seeing our businesses flourish brings me joy, and I check in on folks (like Joe at the Union, Pat with Barrett Financial, or Rick at the Rockfish) when I see them out and about.

Supporting business also means making sure that patrons have a place to park - we can come at this from different angles, like offering easier ways to find parking through apps and technology, but ultimately the most cost effective solution is adapting into alternating one-way streets for a block on either side of the Commercial Business District (from 10th to 3rd). We just have to make sure to do it during a slower time of year, and be sure to give plenty of notice and opportunity for feedback before it happens!

Leadership Style

City Council shouldn’t micromanage. City Council Members give tools and guidance to City employees, to empower them to make the best decisions for their department. Council Members listen to constituents, and then work with staff or local agencies to act as a coordinator or a mediator to get solutions that are as productive for both parties as possible. This is a skill set I have been able to develop deeply, through my career and through my experience in volunteer boards. I am also a proud graduate of the 2016 Class of Leadership Skagit, which is a rigorous 9-month fully immersive commitment to learning what servant leadership is all about.

I believe that when people contribute to the conversation, they feel heard and appreciated - because they are truly heard and appreciated. Local government is effective when there are partnerships built on trust and compassion, not an authoritarian regime. This is important to remember when interacting with community members, guests, city employees, and other local elected officials.

My accomplishments have always been possible through teamwork, which is essential for long-term success when it comes to achieving shared goals. I will continue being a team player on the City Council.