Category: Councilmember Sawant

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.

[View in Council Newsroom]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/27/2015

Councilmember Sawant Unveils Commercial Rent Stabilization and Other Proposals to Support Seattle's Small Businesses

SEATTLE - Accompanied by many small business owners and worker representatives, Councilmember Kshama Sawant today unveiled a series of initiatives intended to support Seattle's small businesses and workers.  The proposals, which range from stabilizing commercial rents to improved late night transit service to providing retirement account options for workers, are part of a comprehensive package to help small businesses and their workers thrive.

"There's a lot of small business rhetoric from corporate politicians, but little actual policymaking that helps our city's small businesses. Commercial rent control, for example, is a policy that will directly benefit small businesses," said Councilmember Kshama Sawant. "City Hall needs to stop conferring sweetheart deals on big developers and corporations, and begin serving the interests of small businesses and working people."

The announcement today coincides with the Council's review of the proposed 2016 operating budget. Among other proposals for budget amendments, Councilmember Sawant is urging a study of commercial rent control in preparation for an ordinance next year.

"We all love Seattle's quirky unique culture, but we need to support our small businesses if we're serious about preserving the character and soul of our city," said David Meinert, owner of The Comet and other businesses. "We especially need to move on these policy ideas to support women and minority-owned businesses," he added.

Mike Rodriguez of Restaurant Opportunities Center United added that "Policies such as commercial rent control and a city-sponsored portable retirement system benefit both small businesses and their workers. We cannot lift living standards of restaurant workers by focusing on labor policy alone. When small businesses have a steady predictable profit and easier paths to provide benefits to their workers, both parties win."

For a more detailed explanation of Councilmember Sawant's "Progressive Plan for Seattle Small Businesses and Their Workers," click here.

Press Conference Speakers:
David Meinert, Owner, The Five Point Cafe, Comet Tavern, others
Sonja Ponath, Small Landlord, Former Small Business Owner
K. Wyking Garrett, AfricatownSeattle.com
Mike Rodriguez, Restaurant Opportunities Center United
Paula Lucas, Le Frock
Nate Omdal, Fair Trade Music Seattle

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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.

[View in Council Newsroom]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/27/2015

Councilmember Sawant to Host Second Annual People's Budget Town Hall Tuesday Evening

SEATTLE - Highlighting the need for an alternative to business-as-usual budgets, Councilmember Kshama Sawant will host the second annual People's Budget Town Hall this evening. The Town Hall will feature brief panel presentations on Affordable Housing; Human Services & Public Safety; Progressive Taxation & Public Infrastructure; and Education, Youth Jobs & Racial Justice.

Speakers will present specific recommendations both for this year's budget, and for a fundamental alternative to a City budget that fails, year after year, to address the most basic needs of Seattleites.

Members of the public will also have the opportunity to provide testimony and share what they require from the City budget.

WHAT:
People's Budget Town Hall

WHERE:
Seattle City Hall
Bertha Knight Lands Room, First Floor
600 4th Ave., Seattle 98104

WHEN:
Tuesday, October 27
6:00 p.m.

WHO:
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Tenants Union of Washington State
Casa Latina
Real Change
Transit Riders Union
Nickelsville
Seattle Housing and Resource Effort (SHARE)
Low Income Housing Institute
Socialist Alternative
15 Now
Upgrade Seattle
LGBTQ Allyship
Standing Against Foreclosure and Eviction (SAFE)
Public

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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.

[View in Council Newsroom]