A few days ago, the Seattle Metro Chamber released the second installment of our new public opinion research project, The Index.
The Index measures quality of life over time by asking registered Seattle voters about the region’s most-pressing issues, including homelessness, public safety, affordability, and downtown Seattle’s recovery.
Quality of life is a critical measurement for our business community. As our members across the region work to attract and retain employees – to move here or to stay here – quality of life in our largest city has a significant impact on our ability to compete globally for our local workforce. Through The Index, the Chamber is able to surface voter opinions to inform the conversation around complex issues and demonstrates where there is broad agreement from the public.
The opinions reflected in the survey garnered fair, but for a civic booster like me, tough-to-read headlines:
- Seattle voters want action on homelessness and crime, poll finds, Puget Sound Business Journal
- Survey by Seattle Chamber of Commerce finds dissatisfaction with downtown's woes, KOMO 4
- 67% of Seattle residents have considered moving out of the city, new survey finds, GeekWire
- Poll reveals despair about Seattle that leaders can no longer ignore, The Seattle Times
But, stepping back and taking in all of what voters are telling us, I see big reasons to be optimistic.
Results Show Unity In Solutions
The issues we’re focused on as a business community are the same issues the voters care about. The Index shows the big differences we’ve seen in the past between renters and homeowners, younger and older voters, men and women, white people and people of color, are more muted.
From homelessness, to public safety, to affordability, the solutions we are talking about resonate with the voters who agree that we can do better than reacting to the slogans. With-me-or-against-me policy has resulted in lots of talk and little action.
Defund the police? Voters said no, we need to invest more in anti-racist reforms AND alternatives to sworn officers AND the right number of cops to make sure people are safe AND ensure that response times are being met. And 77% of people agree on this solution.
Stop the sweeps? Voters said no, we need competent outreach AND best practices like by-name lists, AND shelter that is better than a mat on the floor, AND services available, AND accountability in the system. Eighty-six percent of people agree we need to offer shelter AND close encampments. Nearly 9 out of 10 believe we need to invest more in behavioral health.
Voters understand that for challenges like improving public safety and reducing homelessness, we need an all-of-the-above approach. The way to rebuild voter trust is to be transparent about the challenges, and to center our approach in our values of compassion and action.
And it is time for policymakers to capitalize on this support with concrete actions. Voters are concerned about affordability and want more housing. Here at the Chamber, we have made the case that addressing affordability has to start being a priority for our leadership in every city in the region. Which of our elected leaders will get on board with us and lead the charge to address the regulatory, zoning, and bureaucratic barriers to building more housing, leasing space to start a small business, or opening a childcare facility? Whoever it is has a strong partner in the Seattle Metro Chamber – and will be delivering what the voters want.
You Can Already See And Feel A Difference
The numbers in The Index show an electorate that is optimistic about the future, united on the problems, and aligned on the solutions. The only thing that has been missing is follow through. Now, a change is under way.
Mayor Bruce Harrell and others are taking visible action steps to address crime. The King County Regional Homelessness Authority is funded and moving forward with an emergency response plan to meet the scope of the problem. Groups like the Downtown Seattle Association, our relentless downtown champion, have rolled up their sleeves in effective partnerships with real outcomes. Every day when I go downtown it’s looking better – and we’re committed partners in sustaining this progress, which voters agree is important to our regional economic recovery.
Seattle is not dying. Yes, we have problems, but our promise far outweighs them. No more endless debating, no more policy that responds to the loudest but not the majority, no more litmus tests. The voters understand the issues, they have complex reactions to them, and they want action.
Even in the face of Seattle’s many challenges, The Index shows 50% of voters remain optimistic about the future of this region. Optimism and a bias for action is a force to be reckoned with. And that’s just what Seattle needs.
Ever your optimist,
Rachel
Original source can be found here.
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