Meet the Candidate: Shoreline City Council Pos. 1 - Jack Malek
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
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| Jack Malek |
Housing & Homelessness Shoreline needs more homes, faster. The Planning Department must be streamlined so that housing can be built efficiently and affordably. The number of homes for sale today is nearly the same as in 1995, yet our population has grown by 70 million nationwide. When supply doesn’t meet demand, prices soar, and so does homelessness. By reducing red tape, simplifying rules, and lowering permitting costs, we can encourage builders to produce more housing of all types. Affordable housing, not bureaucracy, is the foundation of a healthy community. While some homelessness stems from behavioral health issues, the majority is tied directly to housing scarcity. Let’s fix that first.
Small Business & Jobs Shoreline’s commercial vacancy rate is just 2%, yet most available spaces are priced for corporate tenants not local entrepreneurs. Small businesses are the heart of Shoreline’s identity, most especially Film and Music. They deserve support through affordable, accessible commercial space and a faster, clearer permitting process. Partnering with Shoreline Community College can also attract high-paying local jobs. The state’s Fircrest Lab and UW Bothell’s biotech corridor offer exciting opportunities for thousands of local careers that let residents live and work right here in Shoreline.
Education Our schools are doing important work but struggling to meet diverse learning needs. Washington ranks 18th nationally, and many students simply don’t fit a one-size-fits-all model. We must fund smaller class sizes, strengthen transportation, and expand educational choices. Focused learning paths, and virtual or inter-district options. Teachers deserve fair pay, and families deserve more flexibility to help every student succeed.
Public Safety We need to take decisive action to address rising crime and prostitution beyond Trespass Laws: SOAP & SODA. That includes enforcing shoplifting laws, reinstating loitering ordinances, and providing job training for victims of sex trafficking, restoring both accountability and opportunity.
Environment & Trees Trees enrich our neighborhoods and protect our environment. Yet in dense, transit-oriented zones, we can balance preservation with growth. Light rail carries millions of commuters daily, the carbon equivalent of 45 million trees. We should focus tree protection in suburban areas while reducing costly permit rules and retention mandates near light rail. Together, we can maintain Shoreline’s suburban character and achieve a 40% canopy by 2050.
Email: vote@jackforcitycouncil.com
Webpage: www.electjackmalek.com
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3 comments:
“Streamlining” is an attractive word used by developers and politicians. Unfortunately, what it does is override and ignore environmental and community concerns and citizens’ rights!
Be very wary when people in government, elected officials mention that word as a goal. Everyone would like more efficient governments. But it should not mean canceling hard fought environmental standards that protect health, safety, quality, historic treasures and community character.
Sounds like Jack is saying “reducing costly permit rules and retention mandates near light rail” meaning if you live near the light rail stations don’t bother with trying to retain trees. That leaves this area with far fewer trees to provide healthy habitats to every living thing whether wildlife or human. These areas are exactly where we do need to focus on retention! Heat islands from parking lots, rooftops, lack of shade have made areas along the Aurora Corridor become our deserts of the future. Apartment and townhome residents, first time homeowners who live in these blue color neighborhoods are just as important as those heavily treed wealthier neighborhoods along our eastern and western shorelines. Developers should design and build with tree retention in mind in all areas of Shoreline. Trees should be the view in all neighborhoods.
Janet Way: Streamlining can sound like a shortcut, but that’s not my intent. My plan is to make the process more predictable, transparent, and affordable. Shoreline can protect its trees, character, and quality of life while improving how long it takes to get good projects approved. Efficiency and accountability aren’t opposites of environmental care. They’re part of building a city that works better for everyone.
Marla Tullio: Thank you for taking the time to write and share your perspective. I appreciate your passion for Shoreline’s tree canopy and environmental health. I couldn’t agree more that trees are vital for creating livable neighborhoods, clean air, and cooling our community, especially as we experience more heat events.
When I talk about reducing costly permit rules and retention mandates near light rail, I’m saying we need achievable standards that result in tree-lined, green neighborhoods, without stalling housing production for years or make projects financially unfeasible.
Every new development in Shoreline is already required to add landscaping and plant trees once construction is complete under SMC 20.50, including street trees, frontage landscaping, and interior plantings. My goal is to make those standards easier to navigate while keeping them strong and enforceable.
I believe we can have both housing and habitat by encouraging developers to design with trees in mind and requiring replacement plantings that grow into our future canopy. That’s how we keep Shoreline green, affordable, and sustainable for everyone.
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