These candidates say they can make Seattle more affordable

Housing activist Jon Grant wants to replace departing Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgesss and, like most candidates in Seattle this year, affordability is his top issue.

"We can no longer let the market dictate to us what is acceptable in terms of our housing market" Grant said.

One of his proposals is to require developers to create 25 percent affordable housing in new construction.

Another candidate, Teresa Mosqueda calls that idea nice, but unattainable: "We need housing proposals that are going to pan out," she said, "not just political pandering."

Mosqueda is a campaign director for the Washington State Labor Council. She says don't blow up the current system for affordable housing, use it to get the maximum number of units now.

Sara Nelson has another take: "Public policy isn't pulling numbers out of a hat that sound good," she said, "they actually have to work."

Nelson is the co-owner of Fremont Brewing, and she used to work for former Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin. She says the city should keep working with everyone, including developers. That, for her, is the best way to spark construction of more housing, including the affordable kind.

Editor's note: Several more candidates have officially filed to run for Seattle City Council position 8, including local NAACP vice president Sheley Secrest, and educator and activist Mac McGregor. But none returned KUOW's request to comment for this story.