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October 27, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant, News Releases

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

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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

# # #

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]

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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

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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

# # #

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]

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September 23, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Sawant, News Releases

Kshama Sawant Presents Open Letter to Chinese President Xi

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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.

# # #

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

[View in Council Newsroom]

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September 16, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata, Councilmember Sawant, News Releases

Council Committee to Consider Ban on Limiting Rent Increases

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/16/2015

Council Committee to Consider Ban on Limiting Rent Increases

SEATTLE - Council's Housing Affordability, Human Services and Economic Resiliency Committee will consider a resolution on state prohibition of rent control tomorrow, which is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata. The resolution urges state legislators to change the Washington State law restricting local governments from instituting rent control or regulating rents. If the state ban were lifted, Seattle would have the option to pursue rent regulation legislation locally. Current state law does not allow cities to limit rent increases. Seattle has seen rent increases of up to 145% during 2015.

Councilmembers Sawant and Licata support having rent control as an option as part of a bold and comprehensive set of solutions to preserve affordable housing in Seattle.

Members of the public are encouraged to share their perspective during the public comment period at this Thursday's 9:30 a.m. meeting. This will be Council's first discussion on the resolution. Councilmembers Licata and Sawant debated the concept earlier this year at Town Hall Seattle in front of hundreds of spectators.

The committee is expected to vote on the proposal at the following meeting on Thursday, September 24 at 9:30 a.m. The resolution will then be considered at Full Council.

Councilmembers Licata and Sawant will be available after the committee meeting to respond to media inquiries.

WHAT:
Initial rent control discussion at the Council's Housing Affordability, Human Services and Economic Resiliency Committee

WHERE:
Seattle City Hall
Council Chambers, Second Floor
600 4th Ave., Seattle 98104

WHEN:
Thursday, September 17
9:30 a.m.

WHO:
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Members of the Council’s Housing Affordability, Human Services and Economic Resiliency Committee

[View in Council Newsroom]

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August 13, 2015January 6, 2023Councilmember Bagshaw, Councilmember Godden, Councilmember Licata, Councilmember Sawant, News Releases

Mayor to move forward on acquisition of NE 130th Street beach

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/13/2015

Mayor to move forward on acquisition of N.E. 130th Street beach

SEATTLE - Mayor Ed Murray today announced that the City plans to purchase portions of two properties that make up the former N.E. 130th Street beach from the current owners and restore waterfront access for the public.

“For decades, generations of Seattle residents enjoyed lakefront access from the N.E. 130th Street beach,” said Mayor Murray. “I have directed the Parks Department to begin the process of restoring that access by acquiring the properties using all tools at our disposal.” 

The two properties lie at the end of N.E. 130th Street and Rivera Place, near the Burke-Gilman Trail in the Cedar Park neighborhood in the Lake City area. Earlier this year, the private property owners restricted the public from accessing the waterfront.

“This parcel bordering Lake Washington has been used by the public to gain access to the water for over 80 years. It was very unfortunate to have access denied,” said Councilmember Jean Godden. “It’s great news that the City is now taking affirmative steps to restore this property to the public and to neighbors who know how much it matters to save this beach.”

“Privatizing public property based upon an 82 year-old records error is a disservice to the neighborhood,” said Councilmember Nick Licata. “I commend the Mayor for joining the Council in reclaiming what has long served as the only public access to Lake Washington between Matthews Beach and the northern city limits.”

“I visited the 130th Street beach with neighbors and community members and stand firmly behind them in their desire to have the beach end returned to its original use—a neighborhood park,” said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. “Many congratulations to the community who worked hard to ensure this space is open and welcoming to the community.”

“When public access to Lake Washington was taken away, community activists pushed the City to recover it,” said Councilmember Kshama Sawant. “Generations in Lake City will be able to swim in the neighborhood due to their organizing efforts.”

Under the Mayor’s direction, Seattle Parks and Recreation will send a purchase and sale agreement to the current owners. The owners will then have 30 days to agree with the terms, counter-offer, or decline. In the event a negotiated purchase of the portions of the properties cannot be reached, the Mayor will transmit an ordinance to City Council authorizing the use of eminent domain to acquire the parcels for public use and benefit.

“The 130th Street beach has provided recreational access to Lake Washington for residents since 1932,” said Dave Pope of the Friends of 130th Street Beach community group. “As Seattle continues to grow, more parks are needed, not fewer. I applaud Mayor Murray and City Council for taking the first steps in restoring beach access for those who do not have the luxury of owning waterfront property.”  

“Shoreline access is precious everywhere in Seattle,” said Jesús Aguirre, Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation. “We constantly strive to increase park and recreation opportunities for our residents and restoring this property to public use provides critical access for the community.”

In June, the City Council sent Mayor Murray a letter urging him to condemn the properties. The letter was signed by all members of the Council.

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[View in Council Newsroom]