One Month Into 2018
It has been an exciting couple of weeks for our office. Our Chief of Staff, Sejal Parikh, came on board on February 1st. Joining Policy Advisor Michael Maddux, Office Manager Faride Cuevas, and Scheduler/Community Outreach lead Aretha Basu, #TeamTeresa is continuing to move forward with an agenda that protects workers’ rights, supports women and minority owned business, and ensures a more affordable and livable Seattle for all!
Small Business Advisory Council
I am excited to join Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Small Business Advisory Council, along with Council Member Lisa Herbold, small businesses and advocates for women and minority owned business opportunities. Small businesses are a key component to the diversity of our city, and the unique nature of our neighborhoods. When small businesses are strong, Seattle is strong; when workers thrive, small businesses thrive. As a part of this council, I look forward to learning about programs to support small and micro businesses – such as the Micro Mercantes program in Portland – while continuing to ensure the strong worker protections we have won in Seattle are maintained and expanded. Through this work, I know that we can implement actionable programs to provide a foundation for more small businesses to flourish in all parts of our city!
Standing with School Bus Drivers
On February 1st, Seattle School bus drivers went on strike, demanding reasonable pay and benefits from sub-contractor First Student. I proudly stand with striking drivers, who are asking for health care for the people who safely transport our kiddos in Seattle to their public schools. As Councilmembers M. Lorena González, Rob Johnson, and I stated last week, “it is imperative that we ensure we are taking care of the people who take care of our kiddos.”
About Those Bike Racks
You may recall reports of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) installing bike racks under the Alaska Way viaduct, not a known destination for cyclists, done in part to “lessen the hazards of unsheltered living.” The use of hostile architecture is not in line with the values I know our city holds, which is why I immediately requested additional information.
Today we received much welcomed news from SDOT and the Mayor, who stated that they will move these racks to more appropriate locations for cyclists in Seattle. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues, especially with Transportation Committee Chair Member Mike O’Brien, on a long-term solution to eliminate the use of hostile architecture and instead focus on applying our limited revenue to building safe walkable/bikeable neighborhoods, and investing in infrastructure that provides shelter for the unsheltered.
In Case you Missed It –
Last Saturday, I joined 800 volunteers and the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs for a Mega Citizenship/Naturalization Workshop. While the federal government is doing all it can to put up walls and try to divide us, the City of Seattle remains committed to being a welcoming, inclusive place for all residents. Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, over 1,000 people were served at this city-sponsored workshop. I am so proud that Seattle continues to be a leader, showing that local government can be a partner, and building bridges with communities who may have historically been fearful of government. Click on the image below to watch me speak at the workshop.
Check Us Out!
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and now keep up with us on Instagram! #TeamTeresa is out in the community, and we look forward to seeing you and meeting you where you are. Let us know if you would like to organize a meeting in your neighborhood or learn more about your organization!
In Solidarity,
TM