As community leaders, small business owners, artists and activists, we are proud to support Councilmember Kshama Sawant for Seattle’s District 3 City Council seat. Business conglomerates, Political Action Committees, real estate developers and wealthy donors are infusing a record-breaking sum of campaign financing and resources into this election in an attempt to influence City Hall.
Are we in alignment with the values of these interests financing support for Councilmember Sawant’s challenger?
Councilmember Sawant is of course best known for leading the way on the historic $15 minimum wage, which has lifted the wages of tens of thousands of households in our community and has since become a nationwide movement.
She has also been a critical leader in the fight against gentrification and for economic justice in our city — in defending our neighbors against displacement from their homes, and in leading the movement for rent control.
She has helped secure tens of millions of dollars in funding for social services and affordable housing. This includes funding for apprenticeship programs, social services, and expanding the L.E.A.D. program citywide — which redirects low-level offenders into community-based treatment and support services. She organized with seniors and our community to attain permanent community ownership of the Central Area Senior Center and Byrd Barr Place; she also helped bring a post office back to the Central District.
Her efforts have had a transformative impact by promoting a progressive policy agenda in Seattle.
As a consistent ally in the fight against racism and police violence, Councilmember Sawant was the only member of Seattle’s City Council to vote against the rollback of accountability in the Police Union Contract. It has since been ruled to be in violation of the federal consent decree with the Seattle Police Department. Instead of rollbacks, Councilmember Sawant supports creating an elected community oversight board with full powers to hold the Police Department accountable.
Councilmember Sawant was the only City Councilmember to vote against a new youth jail and stood with our movement in the struggle to Block the Bunker. When Charleena Lyles and Che Taylor lost their lives at the hands of police officers, she joined the protest in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement to demand justice.
We’ve been disappointed with her opponent’s comments regarding issues of import to our community. He said in an interview with local journalist Erica Barnett, “I have not really been focusing a lot on policing” — an unfortunate and superficial response to a key issue of concern for Black and Brown community members targeted by racial profiling.
At a debate hosted by Town Hall Seattle, he said that Black business owners can succeed “if they put their minds to it,” echoing the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” trope which is insensitive to the historic and structural racism permeating the fabric of American society.
Councilmember Sawant has used her seat to win real support for small businesses owned by People of Color. Working alongside small businesses and community organizations, she helped win $650,000 in funding for small businesses hit hard by 23rd Avenue construction. She’s supported small businesses like Saba Ethiopian Cuisine, an immigrant-owned small business in Seattle’s District 3, in their struggle against economic eviction.
She has also lead the charge for commercial rent control and relocation assistance for small businesses.
Seattle’s affordability crisis is one of the worst in the nation. The Central District and South End have been at the epicenter of this crisis. Developers are generating enormous profits, while our community is losing ground to gentrification. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, the Central District was comprised of more than 70% Black residents. Now, it’s less than 20%. Without an empowered movement and elected officials like Sawant, prepared to stand up to these powerful forces, this process of displacement will continue apace.
This year, Councilmember Sawant’s office introduced a policy for citywide, comprehensive rent control. A victory for rent control would be a significant step forward in protecting our community from displacement. Her opponent refuses to commit to taxing large corporations, or to fight for rent control in the struggle for affordable housing.
While we haven’t always agreed with Councilmember Kshama Sawant on every policy position, it is indisputable that she has an unrivaled record of standing up for our community, for all ordinary people, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. There is simply too much at stake in this election to not stand up — and be counted. Our community and its voice matters.
In alignment with your values and as a matter of conscience, please stand with us as we unite to re-elect a tireless and steadfast fighter for our community: donate, volunteer, Vote Sawant. And please don’t forget to get your ballot in before Tuesday!
Inye Wokoma — Community Leader, Arts Administrator and Advocate for Housing Justice in the Central District
Karen Toering — Community Leader
James Miles — Community Leader and Educator
Gifted Gab — Artist
Yirim Seck — Artist, Activist
Tim Lennon — Culture Worker
Maria Kang — Community Member
Chris Webb — Community Member and Small Business Owner
Simon Okelo — Community Leader
