Seattle’s emergency medical technicians (EMTs) working at the for-profit American Medical Response (AMR) have been fighting for decent wages and benefits, and against exploitative working conditions. My office, the EMTs, their union Teamsters Local 763, and others in the labor movement forced the City Council to pass a resolution to hold AMR accountable. But rather than […]
Friends and fellow activists, I have heard from many of you who are outraged to learn that a real estate developer intends to replace Seattle’s historic Showbox theater with a high-rise apartment building. This is yet another example of how development and construction decisions in Seattle are being driven primarily by whatever will make the […]
Mere weeks after they repealed the Amazon Tax that would have funded affordable housing, the Seattle City Council voted on July 9th to approve a plan to increase electricity rates on working families by about 30% over the next 6 years. Unfortunately, I was the only NO vote. Below are my comments explaining why I […]
On Thursday, May 24th, I co-sponsored the screening of the film “Pinkwashing Exposed: Seattle Fights Back” with the City of Seattle LGBTQ Commission and the Commission for People with Disabilities. In response, Mayor Durkan, the Seattle Times editorial board, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle expressed concern about the film. The Federation argued that the […]
Below is a letter I sent to UW president Ana Mari Cauce on May 31 in support of UAW Local 4121 and the 4,500 academic student employees (ASE’s) at the University of Washington, fighting for a fair contract that provides a living wage and addresses concerns about fees, affordability, healthcare, and workplace protections. In the […]
The following is an excellent statement issued by the Seattle LGBTQ Commission regarding the May 24, 2018 screening of the documentary “Pinkwashing Exposed.” Statement from the Seattle LGBTQ Commission regarding Documentary Screening: Pinkwashing Exposed The Seattle LGBTQ Commission has heard concerns from various individuals and organizations about our upcoming screening of the documentary Pinkwashing […]
On Monday, May 23, the Seattle City Council unanimously adopted a resolution that I put forward in support of UAW Local 4121, which represents 4,500 academic student employees (ASE’s) at the University of Washington fighting for a fair contract that ensures a living wage and addresses concerns about fees, affordability, healthcare, and workplace protections. Below […]
February 15, 2018 Dear members of the Progressive Revenue Taskforce; CC: Mayor Durkan and Councilmembers; Soon you will make your final recommendation to the City Council about taxing big business to fund affordable housing and homeless services. As you deliberate, the political establishment may urge you to confine yourselves to a narrow framework that does […]
Full transcript of Councilmember Kshama Sawant’s response to Trump’s State of the Union address follows. Sisters and Brothers, The first horrifying year of Trump’s White House has come to an end. A year of massive tax handouts to the corporate elite, of gutting regulations, of an assault on the hard won gains of working people, […]
On December 6, I wrote the following letter to Mayor Durkan and Human Services Department Director, Catherine Lester, explaining my opposition to cuts to homeless services and the elimination of 249 shelter beds. These cuts disproportionately impact organizations providing essential services for women and some of Seattle’s most vulnerable homeless populations. I have heard from […]