KUOW asks Seattle: How can the city recover from the pandemic?

KUOW is asking Seattle voters the same questions it is asking candidates for mayor in the 2021 primary election. This week, we asked: What’s the one thing you’d do differently to tackle Seattle’s Covid recovery?

The following answers are from KUOW listeners across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our online feedback form.

Question: The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly everything: Our economy/personal incomes, our work, our physical and mental health care, our relationships, and our kids. What’s the one thing you’d do differently to tackle Seattle’s Covid recovery?

"I would find the Billion$ in bridge funds that needs to get to my tenants and they can pay me the $10,400 they owe in back rent, per payment plan," said KUOW reader Brogan Thomsen.

Thomsen adds that they rent out a four-plex in Leschi, and two of their apartments go for below market prices ($1,300 for 1,200 square feet, with parking).

Another reader said they would organize efforts to go door-to-door around Seattle offering free vaccinations, along with pop-up vaccination sites where large numbers of people commonly congregate.

Seattle is currently among the cities with the highest vaccination rate. In June, it boasted that it was the first major US city to get 70% of residents fully vaccinated. In King County, 73% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated.

Reader Teresa would like the city to provide weekly updates on Covid stats, along with information about schools, businesses, libraries, and government agencies that have opened up. This would be part of "an effort to counter the fact that Seattle is looked at as unsafe, and not safeguarding its citizens with police and laws."

Teresa also says the city should "Announce that, to save taxpayer dollars, the City offices will move to a lower rent district, and sell properties that will bring in monies to hire more police. Safety first."

On Instagram, KUOW's followers suggested raising the minimum wage and funding mental health programs. Also, providing free street parking around businesses that stay open late. They also proposed providing free and affordable housing.