So...Mayor Peterson did not get reelected. What saddens me the most is the majority did not vote for Ballard, but rather against Peterson. It would be better if he had lost to a strong candidate. I am afraid of what this means for our city. I'm not the most knowledgeable on city government and don't know the history and the full story of what Bart has done for this city in the past 8 years...but my impressions are that he did a good job. He wasn't afraid of the big issues. He wasn't afraid to raise the taxes that provide support for the services the city needs to really become a world class city. And that caused him to lose votes.
In 2002 Peterson introduced The Blueprint to End Homelessness. The plan has it's flaws, and the city is a little behind on the steps it laid out, but it was a plan that acknowledged some of the flawed systems that cause homelessness and supported service providers by saying "yes this is a problem and we are working together to fix it!"
I don't know much about the new guy, but was told that in a debate he failed to demonstrate a real understanding of homelessness. So I don't know what will happen with the plan, or if the city will continue to provide the funds that service providers desperately need.
I know, I know, homelessness is not an issue that most people think of when they go to vote. There are bigger issues, like taxes. I think many voters failed to make the connection...no property tax = less funds for IPS = bad school system = bad kids = more crime! Critics of Peterson said he did not do enough to fight crime...I'd like to see what ideas the new guy has, because I think Bart was on the right track. Change takes time. It takes even longer when you have to turn the boat around and adjust to a new administration with new priorities.
Tonight I gathered for tea with a minister, a homeless coalition employee, and a city planner. The last 2 had a lot of interaction with the mayor and his staff, and had nothing but good things to say about them. We just sat there and grieved over the loss, and wondered what the next four years will bring.
So goodbye Bart (what a classy guy).
