Author: Clay Showalter (Clay Showalter)

On September 21, 2015, the Seattle City Council adopted a resolution calling on the Washington State Legislature to repeal its ban on rent control. This rent control resolution is a huge victory for our grassroots movement for housing affordability.  Thirty five years after the state legislature sold out to big landlords by banning all rent […]

Seattle has seen a major construction boom resulting from strong economic growth. But very few of the new rental units are affordable to the majority of working people in this city. Additionally, existing units that used to be affordable are now experiencing skyrocketing rent hikes. Earlier this year, Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat summed it […]

On September 9, 2015, my resolution to designate the week of September 14-18 as Seattle Educators Week passed unanimously.  Within this legislation, the Seattle City Council called on the school district to negotiate in good faith, and for the Washington State Legislature to fully fund education. Go here for the full text of the legislation, and watch […]

On Thursday, September 17 at 9:00 AM at City Hall, the City Council’s Housing Committee will discuss the Rent Control Resolution introduced by Councilmember Nick Licata and me. Passing the Rent Control Resolution would make it official policy that the City of Seattle wants Washington State to lift its undemocratic ban on rent control. It […]

Thank you to all those who came to City Hall today to support my resolution designating this week as Seattle Educators Week! With the unanimous passage of this legislation, the City Council calls on the district to negotiate in good faith, and for the WA State Legislature to fully fund education. See below for the full […]

On September 10th, 2015, three days after the Seattle Education Association went on strike for a fair contract, I hosted a Community Forum, “Stand with Seattle Educators – Support a Fair Contract and High Quality Education for All.” The event was sponsored by the newly formed Coalition for the Schools Seattle Deserves, an alliance of educators, parents, […]

On Thursday, September 10th, I will co-host a community meeting with the Coalition for the Schools Seattle Deserves to discuss how we can come together and support Seattle’s striking educators. Please read the press release below for more information.  Read my statement about the issues concerning the educator’s contract here.  Councilmember Sawant to Co-Host Community […]

On Thursday, September 10th, I will co-host a community meeting with the Coalition for the Schools Seattle Deserves to discuss how we can come together and support Seattle’s striking educators. Please read the press release below for more information.  Read my statement about the issues concerning the educator’s contract here.  Councilmember Sawant to Co-Host Community […]

See below for the letter that I and two other Councilmembers sent to the Seattle School Board, urging them not to take legal action against the Seattle Education Association (the union representing teachers and other educators in Seattle). To read the solidarity statement I wrote supporting the union’s demands and a fair contract, see my blog […]

I support all the educators in the Seattle Education Association (SEA) who teach and guide the youth of Seattle. They are the best stewards of any education system. The district administration of Seattle Public Schools must listen to the union in their ongoing contract negotiations. Teachers and other educators deserve to be acknowledged for their […]