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11.08.2011

General Election Day - 2011

 

Achievements

Tom Rasmussen ran for City Council in 2003 on a simple platform: work hard for the people of Seattle and get results. Tom has lived up to this promise by running the most responsive office in the City, dubbed a "one-man citizen's service bureau" by the Seattle Weekly, and responding to the concerns of Seattle residents with action.

Tom is the voice for seniors on the City Council and is recognized as a leading advocate for children, people with disabilities and refugees and immigrants. He has focused on strengthening programs that help people to live with dignity and independence and he has challenged the status quo by launching new and innovative approaches to improve the housing and human services programs in Seattle.

Tom's work focuses on improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods today and in the future. He is working to create affordable housing incentives, and to strengthen the attractiveness and vitality of our neighborhoods and the many businesses, large and small, which serve them.

  
 
A Voice for Seattle's Seniors

Tom was Director of the Mayor's Office of Senior Services before joining the Seattle City Council. He has spent most of his professional career advocating for seniors. Some examples of resources Tom has brought to help seniors remain independent include:
• Added $25,000 to support the Minor Home Repair program which assists seniors with everything from building wheel chair ramps to fixing leaking toilets
• Required the addition of one police detective for elder abuse investigations. This is a growing problem in Seattle with elder abuse caseloads tripling since 2000
• Initiated a $50,000 Emergency Utility Assistance Program to help low-income seniors and families who have received water shut-off notices
• Added $100,000 to support our Senior Centers

• Added $200,000 in the budget for grocery delivery services to homebound seniors and people with disabilities
• Added $75,000 in funding to expand the Age 55+ Employment Resource Center to help older adults obtain livable wage jobs
• Advocated and secured $125,000 annually in funding for senior caregivers as part of the 2004 Families and Education Levy. Dollars fund home visits focusing on early childhood literacy for low-income families with children ages 2-4. 36% of family, friend and neighbor caregivers in Washington are grandparents
• Restored $35,000 to the Neighborhood House Information and Assistance program, which offers in-person translation and referral services to seniors in our community
• Restored $500,000 for bookmobile services. These funds coupled with existing library resources should maintain the current service levels of the bookmobile

  

 

Fighting for Healthier and Safer Neighborhoods  
Tom is out in the city every day, working with citizens of Seattle to improve every neighborhood. Some resources that Tom helped bring to our communities include:

• Led Council effort to install red light cameras to improve pedestrian and traffic safety
• Secured $75,000 to complete the construction of a new LGBT Health and Wellness Center on Capitol Hill
• Significantly expanded and led adoption of new Alcohol Impact Areas to curtail the impact of public inebriance.
• Protecting and restoring $275,000 in funding for Community Health Clinics offer healthcare to the uninsured and low-income people of Seattle
• Initiated development of land auisition fund to reduce cost of low income housing development
• Leading the development of a new $400,000 pilot project linking human services with law enforcement with Council President Nick Licata, to help neighborhoods deal with the growing challenges of street crime
• Improved traffic safety in several neighborhods by installing speed cushions		  

 

Getting People Back on Their Feet 
Tom has always been a voice for those who deserve a helping hand. Tom has promoted policies that help people get the help they need, and the opportunities they deserve to get back on their feet, like transitional housing, mental health services, job placement, food assistance and other effective programs that help people move forward in life.
• Saving the outdoor meals program from closure
• Launched development of new fund for affordable housing site acquisition
• Led development of policies for investing $10 million in public health services
• Developing the first ever comprehensive homeless service center for men in downtown Seattle, to help get people back on their feet
• Leading the City's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
• Passing legislation requiring consumer protections from deceptive Tax Refund Anticipation Loans that target low-income and working families
• Holding the line on cuts to human services programs (food, shelter, domestic violence, senior programs)