On October 19, 2015, the Seattle City Council passed a resolution in solidarity with the work of Planned Parenthood. This follows last year’s resolution calling on the federal government to repeal all bans on public coverage for abortion, like the Hyde Amendment. More about that resolution can be read here. With lies, violence, and intimidation, the […]
Category: Councilmember Sawant
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October 15, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Councilmembers Sawant and Licata on new legislation: No rent hikes for buildings with code violations!
On October 14, 2015, Councilmembers Licata joined me, Attorney Knoll Lowney, Osman Osman and Sahro Farah from the 6511 Rainier Tenant Association, Hana Alici of the Tenants Union of Washington State, and Sharon Lee of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) to introduce proposed legislation to ban rent hikes in buildings that are not up to code. […]
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October 13, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2015
On October 12th, 2015, Seattle came together to celebrate our second annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day. When I first took office in early 2014, indigenous activists had been trying to secure sponsorship for the Indigenous Peoples’ Day resolution – without success. My office responded to the community immediately. Together with Matt Remle, the author of last year’s historic resolution, […]
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October 9, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Join Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2015 Celebration
After weeks of collaboration with Indigenous Rights activists, on Monday, October 6th, 2014, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 31538, declaring the second Monday in October “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in the City of Seattle. It was an honor to work with activists to draft the legislation, and to sponsor […]
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October 8, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Building the Struggle against Slumlords
This week has marked a series of victories in the movement for high quality affordable housing for all, and against slumlords! In response to notorious slumlord Carl Haglund’s attempt at doubling the rent on the tenants of the Charles Street Apartments, a building wracked with infestations and 225 housing code violations, tenants reached out to my City Council […]
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October 7, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2015 – Recognizing the Painful History of the Indian Boarding School Policy
Last year, it was my good fortune to have worked with indigenous community activists on the creation of Indigenous People’s Day in Seattle. By passing this historic resolution, the City of Seattle rejected a celebration of Columbus Day, and honored the history and memory of those who experienced the brutal realities of colonialism and genocide. This […]
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October 7, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
Seattle Tenants Force Slumlord Carl Haglund to Back Off Rent Increases
Now let’s step up protests to resolve the issues of all his tenants! With the help of Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata, and the Tenants Union of WA, tenants living in the Charles Street Apartments at 6511 Rainier Avenue South organized and fought back against appalling living conditions and circumstances. Tenants have lived with rats, roaches, […]
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October 6, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Sawant, News Releases
Councilmembers and Community Organizers to Join Tenants in Slumlord Protest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/6/2015
Councilmembers and Community Organizers to Join Tenants in Slumlord Protest
SEATTLE - Seattle City Councilmembers Kshama Sawant, Nick Licata and Mike O'Brien have joined with tenants and advocacy groups to call a protest against unlivable conditions and economic eviction at the hands of notorious Seattle slumlord, Carl Haglund.
Tenants will be joined Wednesday morning by Councilmember Kshama Sawant, King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, the Tenants Union of Washington State, the Low Income Housing Institute, LGBTQ Allyship, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action, Standing Against Foreclosure and Eviction, the Seattle King County NAACP, the Transit Riders Union, and other housing justice activists.
The appalling conditions faced by tenants of Haglund's Columbia City Condos at 6511 Rainier Ave S, and their courageous resistance, have been recently featured by several news outlets, detailing infestations of rats and roaches, mold, broken heaters and damaged electrical systems.
"Big Business, real-estate and landlord lobbyists argue that policies like rent control encourage slumlords. Haglund is a perfect example of how the opposite is true: Slumlords thrive in unregulated markets," said Councilmember Sawant.
WHAT:
Rally to protest slumlord Carl Haglund's treatment of tenants and the poor quality of living conditions at his properties
WHERE:
Carl Haglund's Columbia City Condos Office
3818 S Edmunds St. (Corner of Rainier and Edmunds)
Seattle, WA 98118
WHEN:
Wednesday, October 7
8:00AM
WHO:
Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant
King County Councilmember Larry Gossett
Tenants of 6511 Rainier Ave. S and other buildings owned by Carl Haglund
Tenants Union of Washington State
Low Income Housing Institute
LGBTQ Allyship
Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action
Standing Against Foreclosure and Eviction
Seattle King County NAACP
Transit Riders Union
Local housing justice advocates
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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.
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September 29, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant
My Response to the Mayor’s Budget
On Monday, September 28, 2015, Mayor Murray presented his version of the budget for 2016. Once again, it falls far short of what working people need. Check out my response, and join me at City Hall on October 27 for a People’s Budget Town Hall to build the movement for a budget that reflects the needs of ordinary […]
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September 23, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant, News Releases
Kshama Sawant Presents Open Letter to Chinese President Xi
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/22/2015
Kshama Sawant Presents Open Letter to Chinese President Xi
SEATTLE - Councilmember Kshama Sawant held a press conference today denouncing the systematic violation of democratic rights, human rights in general, and workers' rights in particular by the Chinese government and US corporations operating in China. In an open letter to President Xi, Councilmember Sawant called on Mayor Ed Murray and Governor Jay Inslee to discuss these issues with the Chinese President. The letter was signed by:
Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Councilmember
Dawn Gearhart, Teamsters Local 117
Paul Bigman, Executive Board, Martin Luther King County Labor Council (for identification purposes only)
Reverend Rich Lang, District Superintendent, Seattle/King County United Methodist Church
The letter is available online, and the full text is below.
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An Open Letter to President Xi of the People's Republic of China
President Xi,
We note that during your visit to the United States, starting here in Seattle, your itinerary is monopolized by discussions with representatives of big business such as Uber, Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Apple, IBM, Cisco, Dow Chemical, DuPont, GM, Pepsi and Berkshire Hathaway.
We believe the problems facing working people in both China and the US should be given attention, instead of being pushed to the side by politicians and corporate leaders, with their sole focus on maximizing profits.
We strongly protest the systematic violation by your government of democratic rights, human rights in general, and workers' rights in particular. We are deeply concerned about the global race to the bottom, pitting workers and environmental standards in each country against each other. Throughout the US and here in the Seattle region we see a constant loss of unionized, well-paid jobs and a proliferation of low-wage jobs where poverty pay is enabled by the brutal denial of democratic rights such as the right to organize and go on strike. We urge Mayor Murray and Governor Inslee to publicly discuss these important issues with President Xi, in support of workers and the environment globally.
It is the workers of China who have been the source of its rapid economic expansion. But Chinese workers still enjoy few of the benefits, instead working long hours for low wages and with minimal safety or welfare protection. US-owned multinational corporations are among the most egregious violators of workers' rights as shown by scandals involving Apple, Nike and New Balance.
Drivers working for the Uber multinational corporation are being exploited both in Seattle and in China. Seattle's Uber drivers are pushing the City Council to enact pro-worker legislation. Their success will be of significance to Uber drivers worldwide.
According to official figures, in 2013 only 242 million workers, out of China's total workforce of around 770 million, had a basic pension. Last year 68,061 workers were killed in workplace accidents. This included 146 workers killed in an explosion at a supplier to General Motors. The majority of the manufacturing labor force is made up of migrants who are deeply discriminated against when it comes to healthcare, schools and housing in the cities where they live and work. These conditions have led to 1,622 strikes so far this year in China - of which 1,211 were over non-payment of wages.
Union rights are under attack around the world, including in the US. In China, workers are not allowed by law to join an independent trade union or to organize freely. The All China Federation of Trade Unions, which is controlled by the Chinese government, has a very poor record of either being silent or siding with the employers during labor disputes.
We are completely opposed to all anti-immigrant rhetoric, and condemn right wing and racist statements that seek to pit workers in one country against workers in another. We defend the rights and dignity of ALL workers, regardless of ethnicity or national origin.
We stand in solidarity with the workers of China in their struggle for democratic rights, including the right to organize in independent trade unions. Multinational corporations exploiting the present sweatshop conditions in China, enforced by your government, will be confronted with our opposition and resistance.
For these issues not to be raised during your visit, President Xi, would only add further injustice.
In protest,
Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Councilmember
Reverend Rich Lang, District Superintendent Seattle/King County United Methodist Church
Paul Bigman, Executive Board, Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council*
Dawn Gearhart, Teamsters Local 117
*for identification purposes only