City Council Candidate Questionaire Responses
Candidate:
Jim Pugel
Do you believe that programs like P-Patch, which add to the quality of life and environment of Seattle and should be encouraged by the City to nourish?
Yes
If elected how you will support the P-Patch community gardening program?
I am an avid gardener and know exactly the kinds of personal, as well as communal, benefits this type of engagement with nature provides and I’m a proponent of the P-Patch community gardening program in Seattle. I support community-based gardening because I am a passionate gardener and because of the positive benefits for our whole city: the environmental learning and experience associated with urban green spaces, organic gardening and locally sourced food, education opportunities and community interaction, volunteer programs that encourage more community engagement in our City, and the food donations for those in need. As a Seattle city councilmember, I will be a close ally of the P-Patch community. I will meet with community activists and associated city employees to gain a better understanding of specific issues faced by the community and then tailor policy action to best accommodate those concerns — this includes staffing issues and threats from continued development. Whatever the issues may be, I will work hard to not only preserve existing P-Patches and community resources but will aim to grow the program while in office.
Would you support a study of the public and private needs of the P-Patch Program including addressing the future displacement of P-Patches due to development?
Would you support allocating resources to implement recommendations?
Yes
Yes
What would you do to resolve the immediate threat to Ballard P-Patch?
I would first look into existing local laws and potential policy changes that could be made to preserve P-Patches under threat from property development. In addition, I would help raise awareness for the preservation of the Ballard P-Patch and work to assist gardeners to help raise the money required to preserve the community garden. Ballard is not in my district, but P-Patches benefit ALL Seattleites.
Do you support requiring the Park District to pass administration of P-Patch Rejuvenation Funds to the Department of Neighborhoods and the P-Patch Program?
Yes
Do you support continuing to house the P-Patch community gardening program in the Department of Neighborhoods, which values community building and requires community participation in decisions that affect the P-Patch?
Yes
District 3. Do you agree that resources and city-owned land near the Republican and Immaculate P-Patches should be made available to save those P-Patches when they are displaced by development?
Yes
District 4. Do you agree that resources and city-owned land near Shiga’s garden P-Patch in the University District should be made available to save that P-Patch when it is displaced by development?
District 6. Do you agree that the city should financially support Ballard P-Patch gardeners in their quest to raise 1.8 million dollars by year end 2020 to save the Ballard P-Patch from development into four luxury homes?
District 7. Do you agree that city-owned land near the UpGarden, currently on top of Mercer Garage, should be made available to save the UpGarden when it is displaced by either redevelopment or parking needs at Mercer Garage?
Yes
Comments:
P-Patch rejuvendation funds: This is yet another reason why we need to revamp the Department of Neighborhoods — a top priority of mine once elected. District 7 Upgarden: I do agree that city-owned land near the UpGarden should be made available if the location is lost to redevelopment or repurposing. If the gardeners are displaced as a result of the P-Patch being removed then I will do everything I can to find an alternate location for those local gardeners.