Sara’s Priorities
Seattle is clear about what matters most right now: addressing homelessness and improving public safety. Sara is focused on these urgent challenges - expanding treatment access and ensuring neighborhoods are safe. But she knows our city also needs thriving small businesses, vibrant arts and culture, more affordable housing, and stronger communities to truly move forward. That's the Seattle Sara is fighting for - meeting our biggest challenges while protecting what makes this city special.
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Drug & Mental Health Treatment
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Public Safety
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Small Businesses
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Arts & Culture
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Housing
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Building Community
Drug & Mental Health Treatment
Seattle's fentanyl crisis is claiming four lives every day in our city. Sara believes we must meet this challenge with both urgency and compassion, expanding access to treatment while addressing the root causes that lead to substance use disorder. She champions evidence-based solutions that create real pathways to recovery, while ensuring our most vulnerable neighbors can access the comprehensive care they need.
On Council, Sara has fought to expand access to life-saving treatment and recovery services:
Secured first-ever city funding for on-demand residential and intensive outpatient addiction treatment
Supported innovative mobile medication units bringing treatment directly to high-need areas
Successfully advocated for recovery-based support services in permanent supportive housing
Reformed the Regional Homelessness Authority's mandate to include recovery-focused approaches
Added $450,000 for mobile medication services in areas with high overdose rates
WHAT SARA HAS DELIVERED:
Public
Safety
Every Seattle resident deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood. Sara brings a balanced, practical approach to public safety that emphasizes both effective law enforcement and prevention. She works to ensure our first responders have the resources they need while supporting innovative programs that address root causes of crime and build community trust.
As Council President, Sara has championed a comprehensive approach to public safety that addresses both immediate needs and root causes:
Led passage of 11 pieces of public safety legislation in 2024
Secured funding to restore prosecutor positions and improve 911 response times
Supported technology investments to combat gun violence and car theft
Implemented SODA and SOAP zones to address crime hotspots while providing services
Advocated successfully for competitive police salaries to address staffing shortages
Added funding for neighborhood safety ambassadors
WHAT SARA HAS DELIVERED:
Small
Business
Seattle's small businesses create jobs, build generational wealth, and give our neighborhoods their unique character. Sara understands that supporting local entrepreneurs - especially business owners of color and in historically underserved communities - is crucial for building an equitable economy that works for everyone. She champions practical solutions to help small businesses thrive while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to establish lasting economic foundations in their communities.
Sara has worked to create an inclusive economy that supports small businesses and creates opportunities for all Seattle residents:
Created and maintained the Storefront Repair Fund
Established the Seattle Film Commission to attract production jobs
Protected funding for technical assistance programs serving minority-owned businesses
Supported the Metropolitan Improvement District to keep business districts clean and welcoming
Advocated for economic development initiatives targeting neighborhood business districts
WHAT SARA HAS DELIVERED:
Arts &
Culture
From iconic music venues to film production, Seattle's creative economy is essential to our city's soul. Sara understands that supporting arts and culture isn't just about big initiatives - it's about listening to the day-to-day needs of working artists, venue operators, and cultural workers. She believes a thriving creative sector needs both bold vision and practical solutions that help artists and venues survive and thrive in our city.
As Council President and former Economic Development Committee Chair, Sara has strengthened Seattle's creative economy at every level:
Successfully established the Seattle Film Commission to attract production jobs and revenue
Worked directly with music venues like El Corazón to create designated loading zones, making it possible for artists to actually load in their gear and perform
Saved the Seattle Channel's award-winning cultural and civic programming
Partnered with King County to open Harbor Island Studios, the region's first professional sound stage since 1996
Secured first-ever dedicated funding for both Film and Music Commissions
Engaged with the Washington Nightlife and Music Association to support Seattle's venue ecosystem
WHAT SARA HAS DELIVERED:
Housing
Seattle's housing crisis requires both bold solutions and careful oversight of public resources. Sara believes we must dramatically increase housing availability while ensuring our investments actually deliver results for Seattle residents. She brings a data-driven approach to housing policy, focusing on both increasing supply and making sure funded projects turn into real homes for real people.
On Council, Sara has supported historic investments in housing while pushing for greater accountability:
Supported a record $342 million investment in affordable housing for 2025-2026
Added $5.2 million in renter assistance funding
Provided $3.2 million for non-congregate shelter beds
Allocated $4 million for YouthCare's Constellation Center
Reformed the Regional Homelessness Authority's oversight structure to improve accountability
Advocated for faster deployment of housing resources to reduce project delays
WHAT SARA HAS DELIVERED:
Building
Community
Seattle's strength comes from its diverse neighborhoods and communities. Sara believes city government must actively work to connect all residents to resources, opportunities, and each other. She champions bringing city services directly to communities while supporting the neighborhood-level organizations that make Seattle special.
As citywide representative, Sara has worked to strengthen connections across Seattle:
Supported neighborhood safety ambassadors to enhance community presence
Funded the Central District Panthers youth football program, recognizing its vital role in community building
Brought mobile medication and treatment services directly to high-need areas
Supported neighborhood business districts through Business Improvement Areas
Enhanced the city's graffiti removal program to maintain neighborhood quality of life
Funded Uplift Northwest's efforts to connect people with job training and housing opportunities
WHAT SARA HAS DELIVERED:
