SEATTLE - Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8 – Citywide & Chair of the Select Budget Committee) issued the following statement in response to Mayor Bruce Harrell’s budget proposal:
“As Budget Chair, I will be working with my Council colleagues to finalize the biennial budget that builds towards a Seattle where everyone is housed and cared for, healthy and safe, and supports workers and small businesses for a more equitable and resilient economy.
“We must protect investments in housing and maintain commitments with the workforce that cares for our most vulnerable, increase childcare to support workers and boost our local economy, prioritize climate resilience in programs and infrastructure investments, and stave off cuts to critical programs and city staff.
“Without investments in working families and core city services, the inequities we saw prior to COVID-19 will only continue to deepen. With a rocky economic forecast locally and nationally, inflation rates continuing to rise, and no new federal COVID-related funding, I will be focused on strong fiscal stewardship while maintaining investments in the people and services for our City. Seattle’s community, working families and local economy have growing needs, and in this biennial budget we must rise to the occasion by protecting investments in a more equitable future for us all – for workers who are organizing daily across this city, for small businesses who are seeking to open their doors or stay open, and for our elders, kiddos and vulnerable communities who have seen increased rates of trauma, stress, and hardship during COVID.
“I thank Mayor Harrell and the City Budget Office under the direction of Director Dingley for submitting the proposed budget. It’s going to be a whirlwind next eight weeks. I hope you – the public – write in, call-in, and connect with your councilmembers and community, to make sure your voice is heard. Together, the City Council and Seattle residents will collectively ensure the final biennial budget reflects our city’s progressive values.”
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