Campaign Corner: Burien City Council Position 3

Marie Barbon, Burien City Council, Position 3
“Ensuring public health and safety should be the primary role of the Burien City Council. The current policies and programs I support include the public camping ban, the co-response team, and organizations that provide sustained wraparound services for those who are unhoused and who may be suffering from substance abuse, addiction, and/or mental health challenges such as The More We Love.

The housing first approach has failed Burien. DESC Bloomside has exemplified this failure with repeated overdoses, some resulting in the deaths of both people and pets, along with increased criminal activity in the surrounding area and complaints from neighboring businesses about safety issues and loss of revenue.

If elected, I will work to expand the co-response team and law enforcement.  I will continue the efforts to hold DESC Bloomside accountable, and if they are unable to change their model to require treatment and other supportive services, I will advocate for the closure of the building.  

As a nurse, I know we must be creative in finding solutions and address public health and safety through a collaborative informed and multidisciplinary approach."

Sam Mendez- Burien City Council, Position 3
We reached out to Sam Mendez and did not receive a response to our question at the time of this publishing.