Seattle is well known for its rich history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community organizing, activism and cultural expression – in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, in particular. However, unlike San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, and Chicago, the City of Seattle does not have an official LBGTQ Community Center. In June 2011, […]
Month: November 2015
Home » Archives for November 2015 » Page 3
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November 12, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave for City Employees
Guaranteed paid parental leave is both a workers’ rights and a women’s rights issue. All workers, regardless of their gender identity or family configuration, should be guaranteed this right. Research shows that direct contact with parents during the first three months are crucial to the immediate and long-term health and development of a child. It […]
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November 10, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Support Priority Hire Pre-Apprenticeship Support for Good Youth Jobs
Yesterday, I wrote about my amendment to secure funding for Career Bridge. Today I would like to speak to a complementary amendment, calling on Councilmembers to support Priority Hire Pre-Apprenticeship Support. Supporting Priority Hire This past January, after two years of campaigning by over 40 organizations and countless community activists, Council unanimously voted to adopt […]
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November 9, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Fund Career Bridge, Fight Racial Injustice
Over the last two decades, Seattle has seen a massive influx of new workers, particularly in the tech industries. City Hall has gone to great lengths to court specific companies through sweetheart deals to mega-corporations and developers. In the meantime, low income Seattleites and people of color, in particular, have been neglected, and the Mayor’s proposed budget continues this […]
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November 6, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Rasmussen
Budget: End of Round 1
Round 1 of the Council budget review concluded on Monday. Now we move into the phase of the budget where it’s important for people to express their support for the budget action items they favor. During the next week, councilmembers will be gauging public support on items that could make it into the budget package […]
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November 4, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Transcript: my remarks on the Homeless State of Emergency
On November 3, 2015, one day after the Mayor issued a Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness, I joined homeless organizers, social justice activists, and social service providers to deliver a statement. I then addressed the Council on the need to produce a response that is in proportion to the crisis. View my speech below. I’m glad […]
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November 3, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant, News Releases
Sawant, Homeless Advocates Statement on Civil Emergency Proclamation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/3/2015
Sawant, Homeless Advocates Statement on Civil Emergency Proclamation
Use the City's Rainy Day Fund to Seriously Address This Crisis
SEATTLE - Councilmember Kshama Sawant, along with Julia Sterkovsky, the Executive Director of Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC); Patricia Hayden and Steve Daschle, the co-chairs of the Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC); Tim Harris, the Founder and Director of Real Change; Liz Etta, the Interim Director of the Tenants Union of Washington State; Robby Stern, the President of Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action; Katie Wilson, the General Secretary of the Transit Riders Union; Jarvis Capucion, Board Member of Seattle Housing and Resource Effort (SHARE)*; Andrew Constantino, participant of SHARE; and Peggy Hotes, volunteer with Nickelsville issued the following statement regarding the Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness affirmed by the Seattle City Council today:
"The Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness recognizes the deep crisis that homeless advocates have been highlighting for years. We owe a debt of gratitude to the on-the-ground activists from Nickelsville, SHARE/WHEEL, and Real Change, as well as the Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC), One Night Count volunteers, and the affordable housing and transit activists who continue to make this issue a priority.
"We welcome the $5 million commitment and are supporting it, along with every budget amendment furthering homeless services and affordable housing.
"The SHSC has recommended that a bare minimum of $15 million is necessary for the coalition to provide basic, critical services. We sincerely hope that the Council will follow up on today's Proclamation with a commitment to fund the full $15 million. We also hope the Council will uphold the spirit of the Proclamation by including every proposed funding increase for homeless services in the new budget.
"For context, the Seattle Police Department recently exceeded its own overtime budget (without consultation with the Council) by $14 million - almost three times the amount now being put forward to resolve the state of emergency for homelessness.
"The City has $100 million available between the ‘Rainy Day fund' and Emergency Subfund, which is utilized for emergencies. The Mayor and City Council have now acknowledged that we're facing an emergency. We appeal to Councilmembers and the Mayor to use a significant portion of this fund to bolster the $5 million that is currently being proposed. We also hope Councilmembers will revisit Councilmember Sawant's budget proposal to introduce taxes on the super wealthy and big business in order to meet homeless needs.
"After years of pressure and organizing, including the 2014 and 2015 People's Budget Town Halls, we are finally seeing initial results as the political establishment recognizes this is an emergency situation. Now we need to seriously act on it."
*for identification purposes only
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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.
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November 3, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Statement on Civil Emergency Proclamation – Let’s Use the City’s Rainy Day Fund to Seriously Address This Crisis
On November 3, 2015, one day after the Mayor issued a Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness, I joined homeless organizers, social justice activists, and social service providers to deliver the following statement. Let’s Use the City’s Rainy Day Fund to Seriously Address This Crisis SEATTLE – Councilmember Kshama Sawant, along with Julia Sterkovsky, the Executive Director […]
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November 2, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, News Releases
Harrell’s Statement on Obama’s “Ban the Box” Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/2/2015
Harrell's Statement on Obama's "Ban the Box" Announcement
SEATTLE - Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, issued the following statement regarding President Obama's "Ban the Box" announcement today:
"I applaud President Obama's order to ‘ban the box' during the hiring process for federal government employees. Statements like, ‘felons need not apply' on job applications have been barriers for employment and opportunity for millions in this country seeking re-entry into society. Research also points to racial bias and inequality for many minorities.
"Seattle has been at the forefront of reforming the criminal justice system and working to address the root causes of institutional practices that leads to recidivism. We worked with the community and Seattle's ‘ban the box' law took effect November 1, 2013. Data from the 2013 Job Assistance ‘ban the box' Legislation has demonstrated laws helping individuals gain access to jobs benefits Seattle's economy and reduces recidivism.
"The work continues and in the upcoming months we will pursue a new certificate program to help individuals with criminal histories gain access to jobs that require a vocational license. Currently, a person with a criminal record cannot attain jobs in more than 90 career paths that require vocational licenses, including barbers, commercial fishers, or dental hygienists. The Certificate for Restoration of Opportunity Program (CROP) would allow an individual to file for a civil motion certifying that the required time had passed, without any new arrests or convictions, and that they meet all the terms of their sentence. A CROP will assist a person successfully re-enter society.
"Additionally, for the 2016 budget, I am seeking $50,000 to conduct fair employment bias testing. The employment testing will seek to determine if employment opportunities are influenced by a person's perceived race, accent, sexual orientation or other protected characteristics. Above all, I am most proud of the opportunity that we will afford people to rebuild their lives."
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Seattle City Council meetings are cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21, HD Channels 321 Comcast, 721 Wave 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.
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November 1, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Support Tenant Organizing and the Carl Haglund Ordinance
Last month, my office was contacted by a group of tenants in South Seattle whose landlord, the notorious slumlord Carl Haglund, was doubling their rents, despite truly appalling living conditions. This was a brazen attempt by Haglund to conduct building-wide economic evictions. After meeting with tenants to see the apartment building, my office joined with […]