Strong Vision

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If you don't plan for the future, you won't be ready for it. We need to protect the natural resources of the region while encouraging urban revitalization, mixed-use zoning, and creating a vibrant downtown along with attractive business corridors. Too many storefronts remain empty, and we need to find a commonsense approach to growing our business districts while maintaining our underlying infrastructure. Our city policies need to help new and existing businesses thrive.

More growth can mean more traffic and worse commutes. Our residents deserve better options to connect Auburn's neighborhoods to our region's rapid transit centers and park n' rides. We need to ensure safe and reliable service, making it convenient and easy to use for everyday riders. The extension of the Link light rail into Federal Way will open new possibilities to connect Auburn to rapid transit and we can prepare today.

Our residents face a misalignment between minimum wage and "housing wage." When full-time workers can no longer afford housing, we will never solve our region's homeless crisis. We need to improve worker protections, provide access to good training and apprenticeship programs, enable affordable childcare for working parents, and create a workforce that can build up our region's economy in partnership with our businesses.

Every resident deserves shelter. Providing "housing first" is the fastest way to ensure a safer community and a cleaner city for everyone. Along with basic housing, we need to increase services to help folks who need that extra hand up to make a fresh start and break out of the cycles of addiction. Our community is stronger when we look out for each other.