Month: October 2015

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October 22, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Godden

#PurpleThursday

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Today is #PurpleThursday, a day to wear purple to raise awareness around domestic violence. Domestic violence impacts us all – families, friends, co-workers and communities. And, sadly, it is the leading cause of injury to women, although everyone along the gender spectrum too, can be victims.

This #PurpleThursday though, I’d like to also raise awareness about the support available to victims of Domestic Violence as well as workplace violence. Let’s talk about paid leave from work through Seattle’s Safe Time ordinance.

Seattle made national headlines in 2011, when the City Council passed and the then mayor, Mike McGinn, signed into law the Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance (PSST for short).

Under the law, Seattle workers who have been employed 180 days now accrue paid time off, based on the … Continue Reading »

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October 21, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Burgess

More Sidewalks for Less Money

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Today Mayor Murray and I announced new strategies to construct more sidewalks for less money. For decades, neighborhood advocates have pushed the City to provide sidewalks to the areas that have none, but the biggest hurdle has been cost. Traditional...

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October 21, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant

Ensuring Safe Working Conditions at the Port

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On September 22, 2015, Councilmember O’Brien and I opposed the passage of a large package ordinance that would expand the City of Seattle’s relationship with the Port of Seattle. For several years, the Teamsters have been trying to organize the Port truck drivers. The Port of Seattle has been denying basic human rights to the drivers, like bathroom access, […]

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October 20, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata

Letter to Ethics and Elections Commission Requesting Ethics Code Fix

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Below is a press statement from earlier today regarding a request to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission re: closing a loophole Councilmember Licata Calls for Fix to Ethics Code in Response to Developer Shakedown SEATTLE – Councilmember Nick Licata delivered a letter to the Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission (SEEC) today, asking that the […]

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October 20, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata, News Releases

Councilmember Licata Calls for Fix to Ethics Code in Response to Developer Shakedown

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/20/2015

Councilmember Licata Calls for Fix to Ethics Code in Response to Developer Shakedown

SEATTLE - Councilmember Nick Licata delivered a letter to the Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission (SEEC) today, asking that the independent body develop legislation intended to sanction people or organizations that attempt to bargain with candidates by threatening to use independent expenditures in local elections.  The request comes in response to a recent Seattle Times report on allegations that a then-employee of Triad Development Group approached a candidate running for local office and offered to help make a $200,000 independent expenditure "go away," in exchange for settling a lawsuit.

Licata asked the SEEC to develop a solution to ensure any future similar independent expenditure coordination is clearly illegal. While Seattle has laws governing independent expenditures, there don't appear to be laws governing potential independent expenditures.

"Public trust is undermined by the lack of a clear, unambiguous prohibition in the Seattle Ethics and Elections Code of these activities that could be construed as unethical coercion at best, extortion at worst. Clear lines must be established," wrote Councilmember Licata in his letter. He added, "Even an appearance of potential corruption deeply damages our civic life."

The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission is an independent committee of seven citizen volunteers. The Commission is responsible for interpreting and applying the Seattle Ethics, Elections, Election Pamphlet, and Whistleblower Protection Codes and the City's Lobbying Regulations.

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Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast and Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council's website. Copies of legislation, Council meeting calendar, and archives of news releases can be found on the City Council website. Follow the Council on Twitter and on Facebook.

[View in Council Newsroom]

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October 20, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant

Solidarity with Planned Parenthood

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On October 19, 2015, the Seattle City Council passed a resolution in solidarity with the work of Planned Parenthood. This follows last year’s resolution calling on the federal government to repeal all bans on public coverage for abortion, like the Hyde Amendment. More about that resolution can be read here.  With lies, violence, and intimidation, the […]

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October 19, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Okamoto

Better Capacity, Better Outcomes

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Capacity-building has become a hot topic for governments and foundations everywhere, but what does it really mean and why do we want to invest in it? The City relies on non-profit organizations to deliver a significant amount of critical human services. The Human Services Department (HSD) currently has 400 contracts with nearly 200 organizations. HSD’s […]

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October 15, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant

Councilmembers Sawant and Licata on new legislation: No rent hikes for buildings with code violations!

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On October 14, 2015, Councilmembers Licata joined me, Attorney Knoll Lowney, Osman Osman and Sahro Farah from the 6511 Rainier Tenant Association, Hana Alici of the Tenants Union of Washington State, and Sharon Lee of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) to introduce proposed legislation to ban rent hikes in buildings that are not up to code. […]

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October 15, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata

UP #382 – A Proposal for New Tenant Protection Legislation

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Early yesterday, on October 14, 2015, I joined Councilmember Sawant in announcing our new proposal for protecting tenants facing rent increases. Our current law (Seattle Municipal Code 7.24.030) was a result of legislation passed 17 years ago, which I sponsored. It contains a range of protections for tenants. It requires landlords to give a minimum […]