Today’s action from Black Action Coalition: http://www.instagram.com/p/CZkhM41PoW3/ and http://bit.ly/sb_needs
Follow the Bit.ly link to find instructions to sign up for public comment.
The Economic Development, Technology, and City Light Committee of the Seattle City Council, chaired by Councilmember Nelson, has decided to convene a panel of business leaders to discuss safety and crime against Seattle businesses at their meeting on February 9th. Councilmember Nelson opened the first meeting of the committee by talking about “a breakdown of the social contract” and making reference to emails and calls she has received from brick and mortar businesses. The panel appears to be handpicked by Councilmember Nelson and aims to increase criminalization of low-level theft and property crime.
Instead of trying to be a second Public Safety Committee, the Economic Development, Technology, and City Light Committee should focus its limited time on providing much needed investment and support to BIPOC owned businesses who have struggled to survive through two years of a pandemic.
Let’s use public comment and emails to make sure fearmongering does not distract from what is truly needed for safe communities!
Find your City Council Members and send them an email: http://www.seattle.gov/council/meet-the-council/find-your-district-and-councilmembers
Sample script:
Dear Councilmembers,
I am a resident of {YOUR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT}. I am writing to express my concerns about the panel discussion being held at the February 9th meeting of the Economic Development, Technology, and City Light Committee. I believe this committee is not the appropriate place for a discussion of public safety.
The city already has a Public Safety and Human Services Committee for public safety panels/discussions. Instead of duplicating work, the Economic Development, Technology, and City Light Committee should focus its limited time (the committee is scheduled to meet less than 20 times this year) on:
* Investing in the BIPOC business community
* Ensuring equitable access to capital
* Assisting businesses struggling from two straight years of reduced customer traffic due to the pandemic
* Preventing large technology companies from squeezing small businesses by taking a large percentage of sales as fees (ex. Grubhub)
* Ensuring businesses are not displaced by rising rents or development
* Transitioning our electrical grid off of fossil fuels
* Protecting workers from wage theft.
Sincerely,
{YOUR NAME}
Bonus Action: Return Your Special Election Ballot Before the 8PM Tuesday Deadline!
By now, you should have received a ballot in the mail that asks for your vote on renewing two levies that help to fund our public schools.
Here’s part of what our ‘YES’ votes will support, according to Capitol Hill Seattle Blog:
“The educational programs and operational levy includes funding for ‘day-to-day operations and funds staff such as nurses and custodians’ and would continue funding for programs like child nutrition programs, social-emotional health, and special education, while also funding special programs in science, math, and engineering, and career training.
“The buildings and capital levy provides the district budget for construction and overhauls, technology projects, and athletic projects including ‘maintenance, safety upgrades, and small renovations.’ This levy would also include $66.5 million in funding to help replace the district’s Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center with a new grandstand facility to be used for “high school athletics, for graduations, and by the community.”
MISSING YOUR BALLOT?
If you have not received your ballot yet, go here to track it down: http://info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/vote/myvoterinfo/ballottracker
HAVE YOUR BALLOT?
If you have received your ballot: vote YES to renew both levies that provide critical infrastructure to Seattle’s public schools. Although we think it is absurd that our schools are not adequately funded by the state, voting to defund our schools will not make anything better.
Once you have voted YES on both levies, seal, sign, and date your ballot envelope, and put it into the nearest ballot drop box! It’s probably TOO LATE to put it in the mail.
