In a recent interview with Brian Callanan on the Seattle News, Views and Brews podcast, Seattle City Council-elect Alexis Mercedes Rinck shared her insights on a range of topics, from her priorities upon taking office to the challenges of navigating a politically diverse council. Rinck, who won a commanding victory in the recent election, expressed her humility and gratitude for the trust placed in her by Seattle voters.

Top Priorities

When asked about her top priorities, Rinck highlighted housing and affordability as key areas of focus. She expressed excitement about the upcoming comprehensive plan, which will shape housing development across the city. Rinck emphasized the need to make permitting processes more efficient and establish adequate funding for affordable housing projects.

"I'm very clear on how do we ensure that we have our city departments doing the work to also streamline and make it successful," Rinck stated.

Working with a Diverse Council

Rinck acknowledged the challenges of working with a city council that leans more moderate and conservative. However, she drew upon her experience working with diverse groups of elected officials in her previous role with the Sound Cities Association.

"I've worked with everyone from MAGA to Marxist," Rinck shared, highlighting her ability to find common ground and build consensus.

Progressive Revenue and the City Budget

On the topic of progressive revenue, Rinck expressed support for Councilmember Moore's proposal for a capital gains tax. She also emphasized the importance of a sustainable budget that doesn't rely too much on one source of funding, like this year's heavy use of the Jumpstart payroll expense tax to fix a $250M+ budget deficit. 

"I'd like to make sure that we have a well-structured, sustainable budget that does not rely on constantly dipping into one major fund to kind of backfill where needed," Rinck explained.

The Impact of the Presidential Election

Rinck also addressed the potential impact of the recent Presidential election on Seattle politics. She highlighted concerns about the possible loss of federal funding and the need to protect vulnerable communities.

"We should be anticipating that that money might not come through," Rinck stated, referring to potential cuts to federal funding for housing and homelessness programs.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Finally, Rinck discussed her plans for the upcoming 2025 election, when she will be running for a full four-year term. She acknowledged the challenges of a lower turnout in an odd-numbered year but expressed optimism about engaging voters on local issues. But with endorsements from nearly all the district Democrat organizations in Seattle, Rinck is hoping the political wave she received in 2024 can continue into 2025. 

"I really wonder how much we can actually change the electorate that turns out next year with this message to say, what are we doing here?" Rinck pondered.

Overall, Rinck's interview provided valuable insights into her priorities, approach, and vision for Seattle. As she prepares to take office, only time will tell if Rinck will be a member who is committed to addressing the city's most pressing challenges with a collaborative and pragmatic approach, as she stated in this interview.