Primary Election Day
Primary Election Day! A very small ballot with just three items, two for the County Council and one for the City Council. I've filled out my ballot and will drop it off on the way to plasma. In the process of putting ink to paper, I took a moment to appreciate that fascists across the nation, wherever they hold sway, make it impossible for voters to have such easy and accommodating access to the franchise as I do. From the fact of having universal vote-by-mail, to the presence of ballot drop boxes all over the city, and the ability to use them at any time of the day, I am thankful to live under layers of government which respect our democratic ideals. The fascists can go to hell.
I've become quite the single-issue voter in local elections over the years, and even at the state level. Well, two issues, but "never voting for a Republican" goes without saying. These days, with the state of the GOP being what it is, only in the most extraordinary circumstances would I ever consider a Republican candidate. But, anyway, the real "single issue" I mentioned is access to affordable housing. Among the credible candidates, whichever candidate puts the most effort into prioritizing affordable housing and offering detailed plans for taking action on this issue, is extremely likely to get my vote. To me it's insane, or more likely supremely out-of-touch, that any candidate wouldn't consider this by far the most urgent issue (notwithstanding the situational issues of the pandemic, which, I would note, include housing).
Sadly, what usually ends up happening is that candidates pay lip service to the issue in their platform, but don't actually present concrete plans. Thus, it's not super common that I feel particularly satisfied to vote for a candidate. None of the three candidates whose names I have inked today have filled me with great confidence that transformative action on affordable housing will be coming, at either the county or the city level.
There's another timeline out there, I imagine, where I run for one of these positions myself, to get someone serious on the issue in a position to make policy. However, I recognize that this may also just be wishful thinking. While nonzero, my research into the powers and purview of city and county councils in Washington State generally and specific incorporated municipalities in particular is quite limited, and I don't really know where state power ends and local power begins to a degree that I even feel confident saying that running for a local council would make any difference. In other words, my minimal knowledge on the matter is indicative of the fact that in this timeline I'm not seriously planning a run.
But I wish somebody would run who actually understands that it's not okay for the cost of rental housing to be what it is. (Homeownership too, but let's see to the working class first; then we can deal with the boo-hoos from middle class types who are priced out of the homeowners' market.)
I've become quite the single-issue voter in local elections over the years, and even at the state level. Well, two issues, but "never voting for a Republican" goes without saying. These days, with the state of the GOP being what it is, only in the most extraordinary circumstances would I ever consider a Republican candidate. But, anyway, the real "single issue" I mentioned is access to affordable housing. Among the credible candidates, whichever candidate puts the most effort into prioritizing affordable housing and offering detailed plans for taking action on this issue, is extremely likely to get my vote. To me it's insane, or more likely supremely out-of-touch, that any candidate wouldn't consider this by far the most urgent issue (notwithstanding the situational issues of the pandemic, which, I would note, include housing).
Sadly, what usually ends up happening is that candidates pay lip service to the issue in their platform, but don't actually present concrete plans. Thus, it's not super common that I feel particularly satisfied to vote for a candidate. None of the three candidates whose names I have inked today have filled me with great confidence that transformative action on affordable housing will be coming, at either the county or the city level.
There's another timeline out there, I imagine, where I run for one of these positions myself, to get someone serious on the issue in a position to make policy. However, I recognize that this may also just be wishful thinking. While nonzero, my research into the powers and purview of city and county councils in Washington State generally and specific incorporated municipalities in particular is quite limited, and I don't really know where state power ends and local power begins to a degree that I even feel confident saying that running for a local council would make any difference. In other words, my minimal knowledge on the matter is indicative of the fact that in this timeline I'm not seriously planning a run.
But I wish somebody would run who actually understands that it's not okay for the cost of rental housing to be what it is. (Homeownership too, but let's see to the working class first; then we can deal with the boo-hoos from middle class types who are priced out of the homeowners' market.)