On the Mayor's Mind: Building a strong community

Mayor Chris Roberts

By Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts

This past weekend, numerous Shoreline residents engaged in many different forms of civic action, from watching the inauguration of the 45th President, to participating in the student walkout on Friday, to marching in the Womxn’s March on Saturday.

It is encouraging for me to see so many people engaged in our political processes.

The actions our community members take to better our community do not go unnoticed.

At our first council meeting of the year, the Council unanimously named a trail near Fremont Pl and NE 160th "Gloria's Path" in recognition of Gloria Bryce.

As it was mentioned during public comment, Gloria's fingerprints are everywhere in the history of Shoreline. She served on both the initial committee that helped incorporate the City and the long range financial sustainability committee, as well as on the boards of the Shoreline Historical Museum and the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council. Her efforts in cleaning and maintaining the trail improved our community by creating a new pedestrian connection that is used daily by many residents.

Gloria is just one of thousands of Shoreline residents who take action to create a more welcoming, more inclusive, stronger community.

As a community we plant flowers and pull weeds. We organize community meetings and lead marches. We organize food drives and coach sports teams. We build houses and own businesses. We are teachers and we are healers. We care for our neighbors and perform acts of kindness to strangers.

These everyday actions build a stronger and more robust, more compassionate community. These are the actions and values that the City of Shoreline is built upon.

The Council will consider adoption of Resolution 401 at its next meeting. The resolution states, in part, “that the strength and vitality of our community comes from our rich diversity of cultures, experiences and faiths,” and the “City is committed to ensuring that Shoreline remains a welcoming, inclusive and safe community for all who live, work and visit here.”

The diversity in our community enriches us and makes us better, more understanding people. The conversations I have with Shoreline residents help me become a better representative and open my eyes to new ideas or new approaches.

Our communities are built locally and we shape how our futures will unfold. I am committed to that work and look forward to working with all Shoreline residents to build a more perfect union.