Emotional town hall meeting greets new county councilmember

County Councilmember Rod Dembowski
Photo by Keith McGlashan

New County Councilmember Rod Dembowski's first town hall meeting, attended by around 45 people, was dominated by a coalition called SAFEinSeattle, whose members lined up at the microphone to tell emotional stories of bank foreclosures and eviction threats.

Speakers from Beacon Hill, Kent, and Seattle urged the Councilmember to "do the right thing" and stop the foreclosures. In response to one comment, Sheriff John Urquhart said that only the Sheriff's department can actually carry out evictions in King County, and vowed that his department would be gentle and compassionate, but that he would not refuse to carry out a judge's order to evict.

Sheriff John Urquhart,
Councilmember Rod Dembowski
Photo by Keith McGlashan

Dembowski was visibly moved at the testimony of a little boy, who said that he just wanted to stay in his house and have people leave him alone.

Another theme of the evening, echoed by some Shoreline residents, was the proposed reduction of service and raising of fares for Metro Transit. Two men active in veteran's affairs questioned the award of the money from the veteran's levy and suggested that it would be better spent to provide free Metro services to any card-carrying veteran.

Sheriff John Urquhart
Photo by Keith McGlashan

Shoreline resident Robin McClelland reported that she had been at a transportation forum at Paramount House. She listed several residents whose disabilities prevented them from attending the town hall and pointed out that people who come to meetings are those who can drive.

Another Shoreline resident said that the city should be building sidewalks, that it wasn't safe for his children to walk anywhere. He was also concerned about the recent change to the development code to allow buildings right up to the street.

Councilmember Dembowski made arrangements for all the people with concerns to talk with him after the meeting, to come to his office, or to talk with one of his staff.

Mayor Keith McGlashan hosted the event which was also attended by Deputy Mayor Chris Eggen, and Councilmember Jesse Salomon, in the Shoreline City Hall Council Chambers.

Councilmember Dembowski represents Council District 1 which includes a large section of NE Seattle, all of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, the King County section of Bothell, and Woodinville. He lives in NE Seattle and his wife's parents live in Richmond Beach.

Updated 05-10-2013 10:40am