Move Seattle Transportation Levy In early May, Mayor Murray proposed a “Move Seattle” transportation levy. The levy would be funded with $930 million in property taxes over nine years, with an annual cost of $275 for the owner of a $450,000 home. You can examine the details at the Move Seattle website; materials from the […]
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May 6, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
Growth and Displacement Vulnerability Risk Index
What will it say about us as a City if, in doing so, we select the alternative that has the greatest displacement impacts on low income and people of color?
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March 30, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
UP #365: MINIMUM WAGE IN EFFECT APRIL 1 – NO FOOLIN’
WHAT’S NEW? On Wednesday, April 1, 2015, the City of Seattle’s historic new minimum wage law goes into effect. All employers will have to pay their employees a minimum of $11 an hour, but those employers with 500 or fewer employees can count tips and medical benefit payments to help them reach the $11 minimum […]
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March 19, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
Anti-Union Policies on the Rise
Yesterday morning, I joined State Labor Council President Jeff Johnson, UNITE HERE Local 8 Union President Erik Van Rossum, and workers at a rally of Space Needle employees seeking long sought-after pay raises. The previous evening I sent this letter to Space Needle President Ron Sevart, urging him not to appeal the recent National Labor […]
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February 17, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
Comcast-Time Warner Merger and the Public Interest
A Resolution calling for public-interest obligations to be required of any merger between Comcast & Time Warner Cable.
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February 2, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
UP #362: We can do something about Global Warming
As the chair of the Council’s Budget Committee I also chair the Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS) Board. At the request of the 350Seattle.org which is fighting global climate change, SCERS asked our investment consultant NEPC (of Boston) to give its recommendation on how the city might divest from fossil fuel stocks, commonly referred […]
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December 9, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
UP #361: A Progressive Movement Arises
Let's make democracy more responsive by removing artificial hurdles that hinder voting.
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August 13, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
UP #355: My letter to Congress regarding the Gaza crisis
Since the beginning of last week, over 1,000 people have contacted my office expressing their thoughts and concerns about the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and whether it is within the role of a Seattle City Councilmember to express their opinion on these kinds of issues. I believe that it is important for Councilmembers to […]
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July 7, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
UP #354: Should we build rail on First Avenue downtown?
This past Monday, the Council granted my request to delay voting on Resolution 31526, relating to the proposed Center City Connector (CCC) street rail project slated for First Avenue. The resolution would have both adopted the City Connector Transit Study Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and would have endorsed efforts to pursue federal funding for the […]
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June 18, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata
UP #353: Is City Light CEO’s Raise Justified?
Does the city's highest paid employee deserve a 45 percent pay hike? Here, I explain my vote on the City Light CEO salary.