by Erica C. Barnett
On Tuesday evening, The Seattle City Council voted 7-2 to override Mayor Jenny Durkan’s veto of the 2020 midyear “rebalancing” budget package they adopted in August, setting the stage for a showdown with the mayor in the upcoming 2021 budget discussions, which kick off formally next Tuesday.
Continue reading Seattle City Council Overrides Mayor’s 2020 Budget Veto, Leaving In Place Cuts to SPD and Navigation Teamby Carolyn Bick
Black Lives Matter Seattle – King County (BLMSKC) has filed for a Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission (SEEC) investigation into the Seattle City Council (SCC), according to a press release and letters received by the Emerald.
In a letter released on the morning of Sept. 14, BLMSKC called on the SEEC to “immediately, transparently, and aggressively investigate” the SCC for 12 different counts of what the press release containing the letter calls “potential incidents” involving both the entire SCC or specifically named members. The letter specifically states that it “makes no accusations” but that the issues outlined within the letter “are gravely concerning to Black Lives Matter Seattle King County.”
Continue reading BLMSKC Files For Seattle Ethics and Elections Investigation Into Seattle City Councilby Elizabeth Turnbull
On Tuesday, over 100 people gathered on Capitol Hill for a rally and protest, in which march organizers reiterated their demand to defund the Seattle Police Department (SPD) by 50%. Council member Kshama Sawant, speaking to the marchers, specifically denied that the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild (SPOG) stands in the way of defunding.
Every Day March organizers, who put on the rally, spoke about the current relationship between the Seattle Police force and the Black community and the need to channel funding to the Black community in order to provide better schools and equitable community development.
“You can’t keep oppressing the people who are paying your salaries and not expect them to fight for themselves,” said an Every Day March organizer named T.K. “How do our police officers, that are supposed to be serving us, make more money than us? And we’re paying for it!”
Continue reading Rally Reiterates Need For Defunding SPD, Sawant Says Seattle Police Officer’s Guild Not an Obstacleby Elizabeth Turnbull
Accompanied by at least one light-up tambourine, a few makeshift drums, and as many as two trumpets, a group of roughly 100 protesters marched through the Ravenna neighborhood Thursday night, July 23, chanting, “Every day!” and “Whose lives matter!? Black Lives Matter!”
Consisting of an 8 a.m. march, an afternoon picket, and an evening march, protesters have been taking part in the Everyday March for over a month in a continued effort to get the City to act on their demands. In recent days, the marchers have specifically pushed for defunding the Seattle Police Department (SPD) budget by 50 percent and for those funds to be reallocated to the Black community. Continue reading Amid Various Protests and Marches, One Group has been Taking to the Streets Every Day
by Chetanya Robinson
Seattle City Council passed a $214 million big business tax proposal Monday to address the damage of the COVID-19 pandemic, invest in affordable housing, and fund City services.
The 7-2 vote, a margin large enough to override a veto from Mayor Jenny Durkan, comes two years after the City Council passed and then walked back the Employee Hours Tax, or Head Tax, which would have raised $47 million per year for housing and homelessness services. Continue reading Seattle City Council Passes “Historic” Big Business Tax
by Chetanya Robinson
A new Seattle City Council was sworn in Monday, bringing four new faces behind the dais, three members returning for new terms, and with them, perhaps, a more progressive direction for Seattle politics. Continue reading Morales, New City Council Members Sworn In, Offering New Visions for Seattle and the South End
by Ellis Simani
The debate over immigration policy in our country has long been among the most contentious topics of this year’s presidential and congressional elections, but yesterday morning it took center stage when the starkly polarized Supreme Court deadlocked in a 4-4 vote on President Obama’s immigration plan. The executive action would have provided relief to millions of undocumented parents and children across the country. Continue reading Local Immigrant Rights Leaders Reflect on SCOTUS Ruling
by Alex Garland
Seattle City Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez opened Wednesday’s meeting of the Committee for Safe Communities by recognizing the family of Che Taylor, the 46 year old black male fatally shot by two Seattle police officers on Feb 21. Continue reading Councilmember Questions Fairness of Inquest Process
In his latest video, Brett Hamil offers some constructive advice for those recently elected to the Seattle City Council.
Continue reading Brett Hamil: New Seattle Councilmembers – Don’t Be “The One”
