Who'd you pick for Seattle mayor? Nikkita Oliver

Why? We need more faces of color in this city. It's a very racist environment. It pushes itself with the myth of progressivism, and defines that within the context of Eurocentric educations and values and culture.

As you vote for a new mayor, what's the most important issue on your mind? Housing and slowing down the proliferation of grants and tax breaks to the biggest contributors to our traffic mess and our housing crisis—which are these huge tech companies, and other companies like that, who saddle themselves right in the center of our city. Versus Microsoft, which did a very good thing and went over to Redmond. We should have satellites radiating from Seattle of these high-techies. That would slow down the traffic and allow people to live here who have lived here for a long time. I don't have a community anymore here. I've lived here 45 years. We used to have 100 Indians, indigenous people, within a two-to-three block radius. I have nobody hardly in this city anymore. Everybody's had to leave and move somewhere else.

Who'd you pick for Seattle mayor? Bob Hasegawa

Why? Two reasons. First, of course, is proximity. We know Bob from the neighborhood. We meet with him at council meetings and so on. Second, I am also a big supporter of his ideas of building a municipal bank or a state bank in order to take money away from Wells Fargo, and Chase Bank, and so on, and then put it into a community-owned organization where the profits get reinvested into the community.

As you vote for a new mayor, what's the most important issue on your mind? Absolutely housing. We need more of it. We need it to be more affordable. We need ordinary people, and not people like me, living in Seattle.

Who'd you pick for Seattle mayor? Nikkita Oliver

Why? I think she is a really great representation of a lot of voices that haven't been heard in politics normally.

As you vote for a new mayor, what's the most important issue on your mind? For me, affordable housing.

Who'd you pick for Seattle mayor? Nikkita Oliver

Why? I actually just met her at The Station. I was getting ready to vote—reading, actually, The Stranger's endorsement for Cary Moon. And I got into a conversation with Nikkita and she seems like she knows what she's doing, and I trust this city in a woman's hands. Nikkita just seemed more personable. It felt like she was just an average person who has experienced a lot, and who has those first-hand experiences to further advocate for the common folk.

As you vote for a new mayor, what's the most important issue on your mind? Well, the rent is very high. And the increased homeless rate around the University District area has gotten pretty bad.

Who'd you pick for Seattle mayor? Nikkita Oliver

Why? I believe in her message for The People's Party. I believe that Seattle needs new blood, young blood—and a person of color in the process of governing our dear city.

As you vote for a new mayor, what's the most important issue on your mind? That's a really good question and I think we're facing multiple issues that are very, very important. I think that we have an absolute housing crisis, and hand-in-hand with that we have a serious homelessness crisis. We need to help people get back on their feet, and get to a livable wage, and get into living situations where they can enjoy life in the Pacific Northwest.

Who'd you pick for Seattle mayor? Cary Moon

Why? You know, it was between her and Nikkita—and actually, I would have voted for them both if I could. I think we're ready for a woman mayor, to begin with. I like positions both of them hold. I was just very impressed with Cary Moon's stance with The People's Waterfront Coalition, so she's kind of been in the background of my mind for a long time. But it's a pretty good slate of folks.

As you vote for a new mayor, what's the most important issue on your mind? I would say being able to deal with the growth. We need a mayor who's able to work with the council to be able to figure things out, in a time when development's crazy, and be able to find that balance. As somebody who doesn't have, you know, the big salary, man, I understand what it's like. You kind of feel like you somehow bought a lottery ticket if you bought a house at a certain time. Because—I mean, we bought our house 20 years ago and if we'd waited another year I would be one of those renters who just thinks, "Oh my god, I can't afford to live here." And, you know, down the road, as we age, you even start to look at whether you can afford the property taxes at the same time... So, I think that, yeah, it's listening to all sides and right now you have to listen to the smaller voices. And I mean smaller in as far as just economics, because money talks and it talks in a way that is so much larger than people's individual vote. And so I want a mayor who's going to listen to people, not money.

Who'd you pick for Seattle mayor? Nikkita Oliver

Why? I just think she's done a lot, and she's doing a lot for the community, and she's got some good ideas.

As you vote for a new mayor, what's the most important issue on your mind? Change.

Who'd you pick for Seattle mayor? Nikkita Oliver

Why? Because she represents the city. She doesn't back down and I think she's a good defender. She plays defense. And I think that's important. She can fight the good fight. Like I say, she looks like a boxer. Not that she looks like a boxer, but she does the boxing thing. And she looks like a fighter. And I just think that she's gonna fight for us like she does for everything else.

As you vote for a new mayor, what's the most important issue on your mind? A big one is definitely housing. I think transportation is also important—getting kids to and from. Those that can't afford to get to and from, especially.