On the morning of April 9th, tens of thousands of Comcast’s Seattle customers suddenly found themselves without internet, television, or telephone service for hours. The outage was attributed to a damaged Comcast fiber optic line in Madison Park. Frustration mounted as the workday in parts of the city came to a virtual shutdown with no […]
Category: Councilmember Sawant
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Environmentalists and Workers Must Link Up to Stop Global Warming and Fight for Workers’ Rights
Yesterday, I rallied with hundreds of protestors to say NO to Shell’s Artic oil drilling, and to demand that the rig leave the Port of Seattle. To be successful, those who are passionate about fighting for the environment must link up with workers to collectively stop global warming and improve workers’ rights. Here’s a solidarity letter I sent to Port workers yesterday […]
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Divest UW Scores Major Victory, Convinces Board of Regents at UW to Divest from Coal
Congratulations to the students in Divest UW, who joined the call to build divestment campaigns in 2012 and have worked relentlessly for 3 years to get the UW Board of Regents to divest from fossil fuels. Check out this article by The Guardian about this important win. On May 14th, after years of rallying and building […]
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More than 500 People Attend Affordable Housing Town Hall
“If you thought Seattle activists were passionate in their successful push for the $15 an hour minimum wage, just wait until you see their fervor for rent control.” – Puget Sound Business Journal 4/24/15 More than 500 tenants, housing advocates, and social justice activists packed City Hall on April 23rd for an Affordable Housing Town […]
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Councilmember Sawant Votes No on Final Budget Package, Welcomes Positive Amendments to Mayor’s Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/24/2014
Councilmember Sawant Votes No on Final Budget Package,
Welcomes Positive Amendments to Mayor's Budget
SEATTLE - Councilmember Kshama Sawant released the following statement after voting against the Mayor's 2015-20...
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Kshama Sawant Arrested at Protest Against Alaska Airlines’ Attempts to Block $15/hour for Airport Workers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/20/2014
Kshama Sawant Arrested at Protest Against Alaska Airlines' Attempts to Block $15/hour for Airport Workers
SEATTLE - Councilmember Kshama Sawant was released from jail after being arrested while protesting Alaska...
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Council Budget Committee Passes Sawant $15 Plan for All City of Seattle Employees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/14/2014
Council Budget Committee Passes Sawant $15 Plan for All City of Seattle Employees
SEATTLE - An amendment to the City of Seattle 2015 annual budget introduced by socialist Councilmember Kshama Sawant was passed unanimously today to provide funding to bring all City of Seattle employees' wages to a minimum of $15 per hour beginning April 1, 2015.
The amendment would set aside $1.6 million over two years for approximately 1,500 City employees, including parks, parking lot and custodial workers, who currently make less than $15 per hour.
The Sawant amendment made good on a promise made in January by newly elected Mayor, Ed Murray to bring all City workers to $15 per hour by executive order. City unions and others, including Sawant, had been urging the City in recent months to follow through on that promise. The Mayor's proposed 2015 budget had not included funding to raise the wages of the City's lowest paid employees to $15 per hour.
"Today we were able to finally deliver on Mayor Murray's unfulfilled January promise," said Sawant.
The Sawant budget action was strongly supported by the Coalition of City Unions and a broad alliance of labor and community groups, including the grassroots campaign, 15 Now.
"Despite a year of inaction and resistance by the conservative majority of the City Council, today our city got out of the business of paying poverty wages," said Sawant.
Full Council is expected to vote on the Budget Committee’s recommendation on Monday, November 24.
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Sawant to Host Budget Town Hall for the People
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/29/2014
Sawant to Host Budget Town Hall for the People
SEATTLE - Councilmember Kshama Sawant will host a People's Budget Town Hall this Thursday evening and be joined by representatives from the King County Labor Council, Casa Latina, the Low Income Housing Institute, the Transit Riders Union, Seattle Displacement Coalition, Washington Federation of State Employees Local 304, Puget Sound Advocates for Retired Action (PSARA), 15 Now, Socialist Alternative and others.
The People's Budget Town Hall is intended for ordinary people and community organizations to provide public testimony and identify what they require from the City budget process to ensure their most basic needs are met. The People’s Budget Town Hall will include presentations from coalition members on critical needs such as affordable housing, mass transit and social support.
WHAT:
People’s Budget Town Hall hosted by Councilmember Kshama Sawant
WHERE:
Seattle City Hall, Council Chambers
600 Fourth Ave, 2nd Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
WHEN:
Thursday, October 30, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
WHO:
Councilmembers are invited to participate and members of the public are encouraged to attend
Note -- Somali language interpreters, assisted listening devices and childcare providers are available on-site.
Sawant invites the public to join the discussion and add their voice to the conversation about what a People's Budget should involve and how to create living wage jobs, quality affordable housing and essential services for all. Referring to the recent Chamber of Commerce retreat attended by five Councilmembers and the Mayor, Sawant said, "No wonder that every year we get the same business as usual budget. Big business has three days of lavish, unfettered access to City officials so they can craft a budget that fulfills their wishes. Meanwhile, working people, human service providers and others unrepresented by the establishment have two public hearings and a few minutes each to beg for leftover crumbs."
"When it comes to crafting the City’s budget, a majority of the Council, the Mayor, the County Executive and leadership in this town are stuck in business as usual thinking. We need new thinking and new policies to raise the necessary revenues from the wealthy and big corporations to fund the social needs facing Seattle," Sawant concluded.
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Councilmember Sawant in Solidarity with Activists Rallying Today Against SHA’s ‘Stepping Forward’ Proposal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/24/2014
Councilmember Sawant in Solidarity with Activists Rallying Today Against SHA’s 'Stepping Forward' Proposal
SEATTLE - Councilmember Kshama Sawant issued the following statement regarding today’s protest against the Seattle Housing Authority's (SHA's) "Stepping Forward" proposal. The protest is organized by Tenants United Against Stepping Forward, a group of tenants and housing justice activists who are bringing their struggle to City Hall. The proposal would increase rents for low-income residents by 430% over the next six years for a family living in a two bedroom house.
"I stand in solidarity will all those who are fighting to defend and expand affordable housing in this city, and I strongly support the demands being put forward by Tenants United Against Stepping Forward. These demands include scrapping Stepping Forward entirely, appointing tenant activists to the Mayor’s Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee, and ensuring that there is a voice for tenants in the SHA Board of Commissioner’s appointment process.
"The tenants' protests have already been effective. The City Council has sent a unanimous letter opposing Stepping Forward. Five of the seven SHA board members must be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council in the next six months. I urge the Mayor and Councilmembers to join me in signing a proclamation pledging to only appoint or confirm individuals who oppose Stepping Forward and who have a proven track record of housing advocacy for low-income people."
Today's protest, organized by Tenants United Against Stepping Forward, will begin at 3 p.m. in Seattle City Hall’s lobby at 600 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
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People’s Budget discussed by Sawant as most City Elected Officials head to Chamber of Commerce retreat on taxpayer dime
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/15/2014
People's Budget discussed by Sawant as most City Elected Officials head to Chamber of Commerce retreat on taxpayer dime
Seattle - Councilmember Kshama Sawant and allies from the Low Income Housing Institute, Casa Latina, Transit Riders Union, the East African community, housing advocates, social justice activists and other community representatives released the following statement regarding the Mayor’s proposed 'business as usual' City Budget:
"Our city is becoming increasingly unaffordable and unlivable for the majority of us. The suffering is being intensified by the fastest rising rents in the country. Rather than urgently addressing this crisis, Councilmembers and the Mayor are all set to deliver a 'business as usual' budget.
"In a brazen display of corporate favoritism, seven out of the top ten elected public officials of this city are congregating at the Suncadia luxury resort in Cle Elum for a retreat with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Scandalously, $10,000 of City funds, in other words taxpayer money, will be used to finance these trips this year. Elected officials will be there with the CEO of Alaska Airlines and the CFO of Boeing, among others. For the entire week, all Council meetings are suspended so that elected officials can hobnob with lobbyists and executives from some of the biggest corporations and businesses. Such networking by elected officials with big business is nothing other than service provided in return for campaign funds, while ensuring future career opportunities. And let’s be honest - they are also taking down their next marching orders from the Chamber.
"I don't take money from big business. My only priority is to serve working people and those who don't have a voice in government. In contrast to the Chamber retreat, I am going to hold a People's Budget Hearing October 30th at 6:00PM in City Hall, so that working people, human service providers, immigrant and people of color communities, social and economic justice organizations, and small businesses can talk about their needs and how we can fund them."