On Friday, November 23, 2015, the Seattle City Council cast our final votes on the 2016 budget. The People’s Budget movement won a number of progressive budget victories by rallying behind amendments, and I was proud to vote in favor of them. But, even with these victories, the final budget package remains woefully inadequate. As a workers’ representative that was elected on a […]
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November 23, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Seattle Women’s Commission’s Statement on Paid Parental Leave
Last week, on November 19, 2015, The Seattle Women’s Commission sent this powerful statement to Seattle City Councilmembers in support of my amendment to provide 12 weeks paid parental leave for City workers, and in solidarity with the struggle to win paid parental leave for all Seattleites. The Seattle Women’s Commission has recently approved our 2016 […]
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November 19, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
One Vote Shy of Winning 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave for City Workers
We’re Just 1 Vote Shy of Winning 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave for City Workers! Urge Councilmembers to Support 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave, Pack City Hall for Final Budget Votes! – Monday, Nov 23 @ 2 pm This week our movement won many important budget victories. We doubled funding for Career Bridge, youth apprentice […]
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November 16, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant, News Releases
Councilmember Sawant Celebrates Budget Victories
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/16/2015
Councilmember Sawant Celebrates Budget Victories
SEATTLE - Councilmember Kshama Sawant celebrated a series of budget amendment victories in the 2015 budget today, but noted the repeated broken campaign promises by corporate-funded councilmembers. “You can tell the election is over,” she said.
City Council Chambers were packed with supporters who advocated for funding for homeless services, 12-week paid parental leave, funding for tenant services, and for youth job and apprenticeship programs. Six of the budget amendments initiated by Councilmember Sawant were adopted.
Budget Amendments Won:
- Doubled funding for Career Bridge ($400,000)
- Doubled funding for youth apprentice programs ($300,000)
- Doubled funding for the Tenant's Union ($98,000)
- Commercial rent control study (Statement of Legislative Intent)
- Passed funding for YWCA homeless shelter ($256,000)
- Passed funding for University District Urban Rest Stop ($155,000)
Budget Amendments Lost:
- Municipal broadband pilot project
- 12 Weeks paid parental leave
- $10 million additional funding for homelessness services
Additionally, Councilmember Sawant's advocacy for an LGBTQ Community Center forced the passage of an alternative proposal, furthering the discussion.
Councilmember Sawant also co-sponsored several other progressive budget amendments which passed unanimously, including:
- $2.3 million additional funding for homeless services (Councilmember Licata)
- $600,000 for Zero Youth Detention funding (Councilmember O'Brien)
- $1 million for Orca passes for low-income middle and high school students (Councilmember O'Brien)
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November 15, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Seriously Addressing Homelessness in Seattle
With the Council’s recognition of the Mayor’s Proclamation of Civil Emergency on homelessness, the City of Seattle has the opportunity to dramatically escalate the fight against homelessness. Activists and social service providers have been organizing for decades to win this admission from the City government, and I want to thank everyone for the work they have done. I […]
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November 13, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Building an LGBTQ Community Center for Seattle
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, […]
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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 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 […]