Q&A on the 30th Legislative District: Jamila Taylor | Elections 2024

Why are you running for Legislative District 30 – State Representative Position 1?

I am running to continue my work in the Legislature, addressing our shared concerns about homelessness, affordable housing, public safety, health care, and inclusive economic development. As Washingtonians, we must continue to strive for a state where everyone, regardless of their social identity, has the same opportunity to succeed.

Equity is the pursuit of fairness for all people, and it is what I have striven for over the past four years as a legislator and will continue to strive for after my re-election. In a just society, all members of the community have an equal opportunity to thrive and flourish, and no member is favored or disadvantaged over another. Principles of fairness, justice, and inclusion remain central to the spirit of this community.

I am proud of the experience and perspective I bring to the Legislature, which reflects my deep commitment to public service and positive change that works for our entire community. I will continue to promote policies that expand opportunity for historically underserved communities and racial groups, such as supporting universal health care for all Washingtonians, increasing access to apprenticeships and other postsecondary education opportunities, and expanding access to affordable housing.

The 30th District Constituency includes the 5th most diverse ZIP code in the country (98003). What are some actions you are taking to stay connected to these many different cultural communities so that you can effectively represent everyone?

I am proud of the diversity of our district and community. I work every day to ensure that I elevate the diverse voices of our district by reaching out to different communities within the district. I pride myself on building and maintaining relationships with organizations and people who are working to make our community a better place. During the legislative session, I meet with local leaders, community members, and various cultural organizations and groups to better understand current needs and priorities. I also attend events, meetings, and gatherings within the district to celebrate, embrace, and uplift our cultural differences.

My community involvement over the past 25 years has included organizations such as BlackPast.org, Urban League, Loren Miller Bar Association, Highline College Foundation, Federal Way Human Services Commission, and the Washington State Women’s Commission, among others. Community non-profits such as El Centro De La Raza, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Girl Scouts, and the National Alliance for Mental Illness have recognized my efforts to support the community.

As a former legal aid attorney, primarily representing victims of domestic violence and other crimes, I have represented immigrants and LGBTQIA+ individuals. I have professional clients, victims (immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+), and men seeking to resolve their family law issues.

In the Legislature, I currently chair the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. I also serve on the Housing Committee and the Human Services and Early Learning Committees. I have expanded my reach to ensure that a broader community of voices are included in the development of legislation.

What will you do in the legislature to address homelessness and affordable housing in your district?

As a former vice chair of the Housing, Human Services and Veterans Committee, along with my previous work in nonprofit leadership with tangible experience building public-private partnerships, I have a unique perspective on this issue. To urgently address homelessness and affordable housing, we must rapidly expand housing supply at all levels.

I support higher density on my own block. As a caregiver for my mother and brother, we are already three adults living in a single-family home — we couldn’t afford to do it any other way. Local control over zoning and density ideally helps preserve the character of a community and the stewardship of municipal resources, while planning for future growth and providing for expansion options throughout the housing ecosystem. Unfortunately, we know this isn’t always the case.

I understand the pressures local families face and the need to maximize resources and deliver services efficiently. In Olympia, I will continue the fight to ensure that every family — regardless of employment status and income — can keep a roof over their heads and access essential services without fear of gentrification. Many people with developmental disabilities and their families, seniors, and other residents on fixed incomes are unable to keep up with rising rents.

I have sponsored legislation to increase housing assistance, improve access to first-time homeownership, expand tenant protections, clarify landlord and tenant privacy when renting, and secure millions in funding for workforce housing in the 30th District.

What do you believe are the underlying causes of crime in our region and how do you plan to address them in the legislature?

There is considerable disagreement about the exact root cause of crime and the strategies to address the conditions that lead to the problems in our area. Because there are multiple types of crime, there are and can be multiple root causes – all of which deserve additional research to better understand. Strategies that include prevention, intervention, accountability, and re-entry into the public safety continuum have proven to be effective in our community and beyond.

Expanding economic opportunity and ensuring the safety net is working is vital to community stability. My dedication to expanding economic opportunity has resulted in the millions I helped secure to launch comprehensive youth violence intervention services in South King County and beyond. No community in South King County can make these investments alone. Teens routinely ask for youth employment, mentorship, pre-apprenticeship, creative outlets, mental health services, and other options.

As a state representative, I also secured $1 million for law enforcement, prosecutors, and criminal defense to establish programs to address organized theft and divert people to treatment, housing, and other services, while focusing on holding criminal gang leaders accountable for unlawful behavior. Additionally, I secured millions for survivors of domestic and sexual violence to assist them with their civil legal needs, particularly as a means of escape from their abusers. I secured seed funding for a crisis intervention center in our county so that law enforcement would have a place to take a person suffering from a mental health crisis without having to take them to jail or the emergency room.

What are your key qualifications and experiences that will help you succeed in this role?

I have served a diverse population as a community member, advocate, small business owner, and state representative. My experiences in nonprofit governance, building public-private partnerships and collaborations, financial oversight, and managing multiple federally funded programs have given me an unparalleled ability to provide our district with the funding and leadership needed to address many of our long-standing challenges. As a state representative, I chair the Civil Rights and Justice Committee and serve on the Housing Committee and the Human Services, Youth and Early Learning, and Developmental Advocacy Caucus, and as First Vice Chair of the Members of Color Caucus. My experience as a legislator gives me the insight, knowledge, and relationships across the island to elevate the voices and priorities of the 30th in Olympia.