City of Shoreline: Council Position #2 candidate statements

Shoreline City Council Pos #2 Incumbent Keith Scully and challenger Vivian Collica have provided the following statements.

Keith Scully

Keith Scully

In my first council term, I’ve listened carefully to our citizens and worked hard to improve life in Shoreline by increasing sidewalk repairs and new construction, removing barriers to small-business success, and promoting affordable housing. 

I’ve fought for increased tree protections, against unnecessary expenses like an oversized maintenance facility, and to make Shoreline a place that welcomes everyone.

I’m seeking re-election to a second term because there’s still much to be done. I’m working with regional leaders on a thoughtful, cost-effective program to address homelessness. That effort is about bringing accountability to how your county tax dollars are spent and coordinating regional efforts — without diverting Shoreline’s resources outside of the city—so we focus on programs that really work.

I will continue to work to keep crime rates low and to make sure mental health and other crises end peacefully. Our Shoreline Police Department is a pioneer in the RADAR program, which uses mental health professionals as well as police officers during mental health emergencies.

We’re growing rapidly. Finding ways to accommodate that growth without sacrificing the convenience and community that drew all of us here is our biggest challenge. I’m a strong supporter of tree protections, parks, and open space. I believe we need to continue to encourage transit ridership, sidewalks, and other means of getting around without needing to drive. But I also acknowledge that most of us will own a car for the near and probably far future and accordingly support keeping parking available and our roads well-maintained.

I’m honored to have broad community support, including the Sierra Club, Democratic party organizations, Shoreline’s Firefighter’s and Police Officers’ Guilds, AG Ferguson, Councilmember Dembowski, Senators Salomon and Chase, Representative Ryu, Shoreline councilmembers, and, most importantly, so many fellow Shoreline residents who encouraged me to run for a second term.

Vivian Collica

Vivian Collica

The strategy to gain revenue by adding density is flawed, adding cost and depleting the budget. Homeowners are overburdened. Our Department of Economic Development is understaffed, leaving businesses under supported. The City cannot afford additional officers, repairs, nor educators. Traffic, parking worsens, crime escalates along with Property, Sales, Business Taxes, and Car Tabs. Council’s moving to join Seattle on homelessness.

Developers, the largest contributors to Growth impacts, are exempt from paying property tax for 12 years! Their agreements to bring in new, accessible businesses, not enforced, resulting in lost jobs, convenience and sales revenue. They’re excused from providing adequate parking. The apartments aren’t affordable. Millions of dollars have been wasted trying to acquire Point Wells from Snohomish County, for more, resource draining development.

Promoting local business with sensible zoning, grouping restaurants or adding attractive features like fountains, and holding interesting events, can attract both residents to stay and spend money in town, and lure in local visitors. We shouldn’t let food trucks from Ballard compete with our struggling businesses. Let’s invite local shops to pitch tents at Cromwell Park, or the Jazz Walk to sell goods, make money, and get exposure, building their customer base. A pop-up pet park along Midvale showcasing Mudbay, a 4th of July Parade, highlighting Grinders, Streetzeria, Sultan Gyro, or Shari’s Pies or a fireworks display would attract tourists, boosting our economy.

Relying heavily on homeowners to fund the budget worsens homelessness. Let’s give empty nesters a 10% tax break on property tax to rent out affordable rooms, like developers, reducing cost to the City and opening shelter space for more serious cases. We shouldn’t absorb KC’s problem, but can handle it on a local level, maintaining control of our city.

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