Candidates at the “Fix The Harm Candidate Forum 2025” held on Oct. 22, 2025 focused on airport noise, air quality, workforce access and accountability for airport impacted neighborhoods across the 33rd Legislative District, according to organizers and participants at the event.
The forum was hosted by SeaTac4J, the SeaTac Airport Community Coalition for Justice, and moderated by Marcus Martinez, Paulina Lopez and Lin Thai. Martinez said the coalition brings together residents and advocates from communities most affected by airport and port operations and aims to ensure “the people who live with the noise, pollution, and the economic effects every day should have a real voice in shaping the solutions.”
Port of Seattle Commissioners Ryan Calkins, Toshiko Hasegawa and Hamdi Mohamed, State Sen. Tina Orwall, State Rep. Edwin Obras and Burien Mayor Kevin Schilling participated. Mohamed joined online due to childcare issues.
Video
Below is video of the forum, courtesy SeaTacNoise.info, followed by summaries by topic:
Community data and monitoring
Port commissioners said they support incorporating community collected environmental data alongside official sources. “I love the idea of embracing data from outside sources,” Hasegawa said, noting the port’s interest in transparent dashboards and a proposed tree index to track removals and plantings.
Calkins said the port would “be happy to post additional good sound scientific data that the community gathers” and highlighted ongoing legal fights to preserve equity and welcoming policies that the port says are threatened by federal rollbacks.
Legislative candidates endorsed additional monitoring and research. Obras cited current efforts to fund local air monitoring in Des Moines and the University of Washington’s ultrafine particle work. Orwall said state funded monitoring that pairs EPA pollution measures with ultrafine particle data is underway and linked air quality to health outcomes, noting that maps of landing paths “mirror children going to emergency department for asthma.”
Funding and mitigation
Questions centered on how to pay for mitigation and whether one time grants can be replaced by sustained investments. Hasegawa pointed to the South King County Community Impact Fund and said matching requirements have been lowered, while acknowledging barriers for smaller organizations. Mohamed urged “fair share” funding from the state, adding that port tax levy dollars are supporting a pilot program to repair and replace failed sound insulation packages.
Audience members pressed commissioners on overnight noise and the voluntary runway use agreement that asks controllers to avoid the third runway between midnight and 5 a.m. Mohamed said the agreement is voluntary and urged residents to share specific incidents with commissioners. Mohamed and Hasegawa said upgrading and expanding noise monitors is a priority.
Calkins said the port continues to work with federal partners but emphasized local steps, including capacity building for community groups that receive port funds.
Second airport and growth pressures
Several candidates said long term relief will require a regional strategy. Hasegawa warned that SEA broke passenger records multiple times this year and that projected population growth will intensify pressure. She said decisions about flight paths rest with the FAA and called for renewed state leadership on siting additional capacity. Calkins said the port now supports a second airport study and wants the state to restart that work.
Workforce and equity
Equity in hiring and contracting drew consensus. Calkins said the port is defending its Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and immigration related programs in court. Mohamed cited expanded workforce investments, pre apprenticeship programs and priority hire tied to impacted zip codes. Schilling highlighted Highline School District internships that connect local students to airport careers. Orwall described Running Start in the trades for juniors and seniors and said every student should have a viable path to living wage work.
Health impacts
Orwall and Obras stressed health interventions. Orwall said pilot programs with hepa air purifiers and vacuums reduced reliance on rescue inhalers for children with uncontrolled asthma and kept students in school more often. She said she will pursue stable funding and expand interventions for adults and families with young children.
The moderators closed by encouraging residents to continue submitting questions and contacting candidates as ballots arrive.
