Seattle City Council election 2019: District 3 candidates on the issues

Taxing businesses / Homeless funding / Tolling streets / More duplexes / Backyard cottages / Police force / Downtown streetcar / Bike lanes / Consumption site / Rent control / Civil rights / Developer fees / Electric scooters / Rental applicants / Golf courses / Showbox demolition / District 3

Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes?

Egan Orion: No

Kshama Sawant: No

Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness?

Orion: Maybe

Sawant: No

Should Seattle toll downtown streets?

Orion: Maybe

Sawant: No

Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks?

Orion: Yes

Sawant: Yes

Should owners of backyard cottages be required to live on-site?

Orion: No

Sawant: No

Does Seattle need a larger police force?

Orion: Yes

Sawant: No

Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line?

Orion: Yes

Sawant: Yes

Does Seattle need more bike lanes?

Orion: Yes

Sawant: Yes

Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site?

Orion: Maybe

Sawant: Yes

Could Seattle benefit from rent control?

Orion: No

Sawant: Yes

Should Seattle’s Office for Civil Rights be made independent from the mayor?

Orion: Yes

Sawant: Yes

Should the city allow developers to pay fees in lieu of including affordable apartments in their projects?

Orion: Maybe

Sawant: No

Should Seattle allow shareable electric scooters?

Orion: Yes

Sawant: Yes

Should landlords be required to accept applicants on a first come, first served basis?

Orion: Yes

Sawant: Yes

Should Seattle build affordable housing on one or more of the city’s public golf courses?

Orion: Maybe

Sawant: Yes

Should Seattle be trying to protect the Showbox music venue from demolition?

Orion: Maybe

Sawant: Yes

District 3: Did you support the construction of King County’s new youth detention center?

Orion: “No. The school-to-prison pipeline has destroyed lives and communities and hasn’t made us any safer. I support the commitment to zero incarceration and would love to help make the city a partner in re-purposing the detention facilities in the new building. On the council, I will invest in the preventive services, educational support, job opportunities, and issues around affordability so we can make real progress for youth across our county.”

Sawant: “No, I was the sole vote against it on Seattle City Council. I support No New Youth Jail and Black Lives Matter, standing up against mass incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline. The $210 million for the youth jail should be used to fund after-school programs, youth jobs, and apprenticeship programs.”