1 00:00:01,034 --> 00:00:08,141 ♪♪ 2 00:00:10,643 --> 00:00:12,412 Hi. I'm Alex Pedersen, 3 00:00:12,512 --> 00:00:14,047 and I'm running for City Council 4 00:00:14,147 --> 00:00:15,315 to bring accountability 5 00:00:15,415 --> 00:00:17,117 to our city government. 6 00:00:17,217 --> 00:00:19,552 Many people have lost faith in city council 7 00:00:19,652 --> 00:00:22,088 because of politicians who don't listen. 8 00:00:22,188 --> 00:00:24,657 I will listen to the communities in our district, 9 00:00:24,758 --> 00:00:26,126 and I will deliver results 10 00:00:26,226 --> 00:00:28,294 for your priorities. 11 00:00:28,395 --> 00:00:31,097 We should be seeing better results on homelessness. 12 00:00:31,197 --> 00:00:32,832 I will use my experience 13 00:00:32,932 --> 00:00:34,768 to fund only the best strategies 14 00:00:34,868 --> 00:00:38,038 proven to reduce homelessness in other cities. 15 00:00:38,138 --> 00:00:39,606 I will maximize mental health 16 00:00:39,706 --> 00:00:41,441 and drug addiction programs 17 00:00:41,541 --> 00:00:44,511 to achieve real results on this regional crisis. 18 00:00:44,611 --> 00:00:47,247 Compassion requires results. 19 00:00:47,347 --> 00:00:48,982 To increase public safety, 20 00:00:49,082 --> 00:00:51,785 city council needs to support our police officers 21 00:00:51,885 --> 00:00:54,988 and hold the criminal justice system accountable. 22 00:00:55,088 --> 00:00:57,924 Our city's traffic and roads are a mess. 23 00:00:58,024 --> 00:01:00,860 City council must wisely invest your tax dollars 24 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,264 to move the most people by repairing roads, 25 00:01:04,364 --> 00:01:05,865 maximizing transit, 26 00:01:05,965 --> 00:01:08,101 and improving sidewalks. 27 00:01:08,201 --> 00:01:10,336 After earning a master's degree in government, 28 00:01:10,437 --> 00:01:12,005 I worked at the Department of Housing 29 00:01:12,105 --> 00:01:13,139 and Urban Development 30 00:01:13,239 --> 00:01:14,841 during the Clinton administration 31 00:01:14,941 --> 00:01:16,543 to reduce homelessness. 32 00:01:16,643 --> 00:01:19,779 My career includes 15 years in the private sector, 33 00:01:19,879 --> 00:01:22,182 preserving affordable housing. 34 00:01:22,282 --> 00:01:24,717 When I worked as an analyst for the city council, 35 00:01:24,818 --> 00:01:27,153 I crafted legislation, 36 00:01:27,253 --> 00:01:28,855 creating the nationally acclaimed 37 00:01:28,955 --> 00:01:30,723 Seattle Preschool Program, 38 00:01:30,824 --> 00:01:32,625 and I led efforts to fully fund 39 00:01:32,725 --> 00:01:34,694 the Nurse-Family Partnership that empowers 40 00:01:34,794 --> 00:01:36,896 low-income moms and their babies. 41 00:01:36,996 --> 00:01:39,699 As a progressive Democrat focused on results, 42 00:01:39,799 --> 00:01:41,568 I'm proud to be endorsed by 43 00:01:41,668 --> 00:01:43,870 former King County Executive Ron Sims, 44 00:01:43,970 --> 00:01:46,239 Tim Burgess, Nick Licata, 45 00:01:46,339 --> 00:01:48,575 Ruth Kagi, Daniel J. Evans, 46 00:01:48,675 --> 00:01:50,310 State Rep Gerry Pollet, 47 00:01:50,410 --> 00:01:52,378 Port Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck, 48 00:01:52,479 --> 00:01:54,881 the 46th Legislative District Democrats, 49 00:01:54,981 --> 00:01:56,449 and by neighborhood businesses. 50 00:01:56,549 --> 00:01:58,017 I'm Alex Pederson, 51 00:01:58,118 --> 00:02:00,653 and I would be honored to earn your vote. 52 00:02:02,122 --> 00:02:03,790 I'm Shaun Scott, and I'm running for 53 00:02:03,890 --> 00:02:06,559 Seattle City Council, District 4. 54 00:02:06,659 --> 00:02:08,828 The question before us in this election cycle 55 00:02:08,928 --> 00:02:11,264 is whether we want to be a city of compassion 56 00:02:11,364 --> 00:02:13,700 or a city of cruelty. 57 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,935 A compassionate city is one that builds enough 58 00:02:16,035 --> 00:02:18,004 deeply affordable social housing 59 00:02:18,104 --> 00:02:19,339 for those already here 60 00:02:19,439 --> 00:02:20,907 and for those on the way. 61 00:02:21,007 --> 00:02:23,209 A compassionate city is one with a fair tax code, 62 00:02:23,309 --> 00:02:25,078 where working people, renters, 63 00:02:25,178 --> 00:02:26,546 and homeowners don't shoulder 64 00:02:26,646 --> 00:02:29,048 a disproportionate share of our tax burden 65 00:02:29,149 --> 00:02:31,651 with regressive sales and property taxes. 66 00:02:31,751 --> 00:02:33,887 A compassionate city is one where every Seattleite 67 00:02:33,987 --> 00:02:36,689 can enjoy public parks, free public transit, 68 00:02:36,789 --> 00:02:39,792 and mental health and supportive housing services. 69 00:02:39,893 --> 00:02:40,994 As a former journalist 70 00:02:41,094 --> 00:02:42,428 and editor of Real Change News 71 00:02:42,529 --> 00:02:43,630 and a field organizer 72 00:02:43,730 --> 00:02:45,165 for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's 73 00:02:45,265 --> 00:02:46,966 2018 reelection campaign, 74 00:02:47,066 --> 00:02:48,868 I've worked almost my entire life 75 00:02:48,968 --> 00:02:50,670 towards studying and organizing 76 00:02:50,770 --> 00:02:52,539 for policies that make Seattle 77 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,707 a more compassionate city. 78 00:02:54,807 --> 00:02:57,143 I've been endorsed in this race by Cary Moon, 79 00:02:57,243 --> 00:02:58,945 the Washington State High School Democrats, 80 00:02:59,045 --> 00:03:00,880 Jessyn Farrell, Seattle Subway, 81 00:03:00,980 --> 00:03:02,415 the Transit Riders Union, 82 00:03:02,515 --> 00:03:04,417 Our Revolution, and The Stranger 83 00:03:04,517 --> 00:03:06,352 because of my commitment to creating 84 00:03:06,452 --> 00:03:08,454 a more compassionate city. 85 00:03:08,555 --> 00:03:09,989 Some forces in this city 86 00:03:10,089 --> 00:03:11,858 would turn us into a cruel city, 87 00:03:11,958 --> 00:03:14,127 a city that wastes $10 million a year 88 00:03:14,227 --> 00:03:16,362 on ineffective sweeps of the homeless, 89 00:03:16,462 --> 00:03:18,765 that displaces vulnerable homeowners 90 00:03:18,865 --> 00:03:21,401 and only builds housing for the richest among us, 91 00:03:21,501 --> 00:03:23,169 a city with no treatment centers 92 00:03:23,269 --> 00:03:25,505 and no investment in social services 93 00:03:25,605 --> 00:03:26,973 like childcare. 94 00:03:27,073 --> 00:03:29,042 I think that we can do better. 95 00:03:29,142 --> 00:03:31,844 I think that we can have a compassionate city. 96 00:03:31,945 --> 00:03:33,313 As a Seattle City Council member 97 00:03:33,413 --> 00:03:35,081 representing District 4, 98 00:03:35,181 --> 00:03:36,516 I'll work to build a unified, 99 00:03:36,616 --> 00:03:38,685 progressive coalition with organized labor, 100 00:03:38,785 --> 00:03:41,254 environmentalists, and everyday Seattleites 101 00:03:41,354 --> 00:03:43,456 to build a compassionate city. 102 00:03:43,556 --> 00:03:45,091 And in the November general election, 103 00:03:45,191 --> 00:03:47,293 I'm asking for your vote to help build that city. 104 00:03:47,393 --> 00:03:48,895 Thank you.