[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of South King Media, nor its staff. The writers of this Letter have campaigned for Burien City Council candidate Cydney Moore..]
We’re writing today as three nonprofit leaders and community organizers in Burien who were recognized for our service with the Burien “Citizen of the Year” award in 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively.
We all share a deep commitment to the Burien community, which is why we’re lending our support to Cydney Moore for Burien City Council. Like us, Cydney served the community as a nonprofit leader and organizer for over a decade before joining the Burien City Council. Cydney is a mom of two who brings that same ethos of service and community connection to her approach as a councilmember.
The last four years have especially highlighted for us how Cydney steps up for her neighbors, whether in her leadership on the board of nonprofits like the Burien Arts Association, as a city councilmember, or as a regular volunteer in the community. For example, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cydney proposed and worked to launch free online art classes to provide a creative outlet for kids during a very difficult time, and packed art supply kits so all children could participate regardless of their financial resources. Working as a volunteer, Cydney also delivered food and supplies to families in need that were unable to travel to stores or food banks during the height of the crisis.
Her dedication to protecting and supporting Burien’s families during the pandemic did not stop at volunteering. Cydney used her position as a councilmember to help families during the pandemic by supporting a local eviction moratorium that kept people housed, supporting legislation that required hazard pay for essential workers, and leading the effort to create a grant program to provide financial support for local businesses. In 2022, she got the human services budget increased to fund essential services including food banks, rent/utility assistance, mental health treatment, and education programs. She also helped pass a groundbreaking suite of renter protections for Burien residents to prevent displacement of Burien families.
Cydney is deeply invested in Burien and understands our community needs a new approach to public safety. She supported launching a new public safety model in Burien that integrates mental and behavioral health workers alongside police when responding to crisis calls. Cydney has consistently advocated for affordable housing investments so that everyone in our community is safe and housed – no exceptions.
Cydney’s proven track record of advocating for Burien’s families is why she has support from the Highline Education Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, King County Democrats, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and over a dozen other organizations. She has been endorsed by elected leaders such as King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, Senator Karen Keiser, State Representative Tina Orwall, and many more.
Cydney understands that our city’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and she is committed to policies that promote inclusivity and fairness for all residents. When Cydney is elected to her next term, she will continue to collaborate with local government, small businesses, community groups and nonprofits to ensure Burien gets the resources we need to solve our most pressing problems. We encourage all residents to join us in voting for Cydney so we can work together to create a better future for our city and our neighbors.
–Grace Stiller, Roxana Pardo Garcia, and Vicky Hartley
Burien Citizens of the Year in 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively.
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