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I’m proud of having served 10 years on the Sound Transit Board and even prouder of my role in spearheading the creation of the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund. A number of businesses, many of them small and owned by minorities and immigrants, were in real danger of going under during the planned light rail construction. The city believed we needed to help these businesses not only survive the challenges of construction, but survive long enough to reap the expected economic benefits of light rail once it arrived. With that goal in mind, the city provided a significant amount of funding, along with Sound Transit and the county, much of it in the form of loans, to ensure the Rainier Valley still had a future long after the trains would roll.
I also advocated for the one-for-one housing agreement when New Holly was built. The goal of New Holly was to create a community with a mix of incomes, not just a place for the poor, but I wanted to ensure that the goal didn’t come at the expense of low income people losing their homes in order to create middle income housing.
I felt then, and I feel the same today, that government has a role in protecting low-income and people of color to ensure they get their fair share, particularly those that are socioeconomically disadvantaged. That’s why I’ve also consistently demanded that women and people of color get their fair share of city contracts and are fairly represented within the city workforce. Seattle calls itself a welcoming city for all and my job was always to ensure that statement is more than just words.
Maintaining and creating jobs has always been important, even more so today. I advocated for the preservation of industrial maritime lands to ensure good paying blue collar jobs remained here.
I worked to ensure a healthy economic climate that produces tax revenues, tax revenues we used for parks, community centers, social programs – investments that don’t just benefit a few.
I’ve been called a number of things during my time on the Council but the one thing that I feel best about is being referred to as a “positive force.” Even contrarians can be seen as positive!
I wish to thank my family and the great people of Seattle, those I’ve worked with over the years, those that have emailed, called, come to see me or approached me out in the community. You matter. Thank you for making my time as a Councilmember something I’ll cherish forever. I will miss serving you.
Respectfully,
Councilmember Richard J. McIver
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