1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,503 ♪♪ 2 00:00:06,172 --> 00:00:07,474 -I am the candidate with the experience 3 00:00:07,507 --> 00:00:08,842 to offer bold new approaches 4 00:00:08,875 --> 00:00:11,211 to our community's more urgent challenges -- 5 00:00:11,244 --> 00:00:12,412 homelessness and lack of 6 00:00:12,445 --> 00:00:13,813 affordable housing, 7 00:00:13,847 --> 00:00:15,548 limited career paths for our youth, 8 00:00:15,582 --> 00:00:16,850 and increasing negative impacts 9 00:00:16,883 --> 00:00:18,118 of climate change. 10 00:00:18,151 --> 00:00:19,619 I've worked at the city of Seattle 11 00:00:19,652 --> 00:00:21,421 for over a decade and am proud 12 00:00:21,454 --> 00:00:22,655 to have been the energy behind 13 00:00:22,689 --> 00:00:24,324 the creation of the first-ever 14 00:00:24,357 --> 00:00:25,759 Environmental Justice Program 15 00:00:25,792 --> 00:00:27,260 at Seattle City Light. 16 00:00:27,293 --> 00:00:28,762 I have worked directly with communities 17 00:00:28,795 --> 00:00:30,930 to advocate for equity and justice. 18 00:00:30,964 --> 00:00:32,565 I intend to build on that experience 19 00:00:32,599 --> 00:00:33,967 as the city council member 20 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:35,368 to foster transparency, 21 00:00:35,402 --> 00:00:36,870 equity, and cultural accessibility 22 00:00:36,903 --> 00:00:38,738 across city government. 23 00:00:38,772 --> 00:00:40,607 This starts with facing head on 24 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,776 one of our city's most visible challenges -- 25 00:00:42,809 --> 00:00:44,477 our homelessness crisis. 26 00:00:44,511 --> 00:00:45,945 Over the past several months, 27 00:00:45,979 --> 00:00:47,113 I, along with my husband 28 00:00:47,147 --> 00:00:48,348 and two young children, 29 00:00:48,381 --> 00:00:51,251 have volunteered at Camp Second Chance. 30 00:00:51,284 --> 00:00:52,485 For our family, this has been 31 00:00:52,519 --> 00:00:53,920 a transformative experience 32 00:00:53,953 --> 00:00:54,988 to better know our neighbors 33 00:00:55,021 --> 00:00:56,489 facing the challenges of life 34 00:00:56,523 --> 00:00:58,024 on the street. 35 00:00:58,058 --> 00:00:59,392 We need to provide more support for those 36 00:00:59,426 --> 00:01:02,095 programs that work and continue to build 37 00:01:02,128 --> 00:01:03,363 upon those successes, 38 00:01:03,396 --> 00:01:05,298 but we also need to do more to protect 39 00:01:05,331 --> 00:01:07,033 our existing affordable housing units 40 00:01:07,067 --> 00:01:08,368 and meet the city's commitment 41 00:01:08,401 --> 00:01:10,437 to build 6,000 new, low-income, 42 00:01:10,470 --> 00:01:12,372 and affordable housing units. 43 00:01:12,405 --> 00:01:13,740 We will work with regional partners, 44 00:01:13,773 --> 00:01:15,575 private businesses, and nonprofits 45 00:01:15,608 --> 00:01:17,510 to consider policies and funding 46 00:01:17,544 --> 00:01:18,711 while working to stop the pressures 47 00:01:18,745 --> 00:01:20,747 of gentrification and displacement 48 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:23,450 so that all residents can thrive in place. 49 00:01:23,483 --> 00:01:24,884 I have been blessed to have the means 50 00:01:24,918 --> 00:01:25,919 to own a home in Seattle 51 00:01:25,952 --> 00:01:28,221 and understand firsthand the challenges 52 00:01:28,254 --> 00:01:30,523 and security that come with home ownership. 53 00:01:30,557 --> 00:01:32,225 We must provide stronger protections 54 00:01:32,258 --> 00:01:35,228 for our renters so they don't end up homeless. 55 00:01:35,261 --> 00:01:37,097 We can't displace people as quickly 56 00:01:37,130 --> 00:01:39,499 as we build affordable housing. 57 00:01:39,532 --> 00:01:41,367 Lastly, we know that we face 58 00:01:41,401 --> 00:01:43,369 a climate crisis. 59 00:01:43,403 --> 00:01:44,704 I believe it is time to call for 60 00:01:44,737 --> 00:01:46,639 a Seattle Green New Deal. 61 00:01:46,673 --> 00:01:48,475 This framework can serve as a catalyst 62 00:01:48,508 --> 00:01:50,243 to fast track the work underway 63 00:01:50,276 --> 00:01:51,911 at the city's climate action plan, 64 00:01:51,945 --> 00:01:53,580 creating jobs, opportunities, 65 00:01:53,613 --> 00:01:55,215 and career pathways for our youth 66 00:01:55,248 --> 00:01:56,783 to become the next generation 67 00:01:56,816 --> 00:02:00,620 of environmental and clean-energy workers. 68 00:02:00,653 --> 00:02:02,188 I'd be honored to have your vote. 69 00:02:02,222 --> 00:02:03,890 My name is Chris Peguero.