Council Press Conferences

Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) urges her colleagues to support several proposed amendments to the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy. She is joined by community partners to discuss the importance and impact of the amendments. Pending approval by the special committee, a vote to refer the proposal to the November ballot is expected Tuesday, June 17.

"I am so proud of the amendments that my office has introduced in partnership with community organizations and coalitions that have been working with students and families every single day,” said Councilmember Rinck. “These amendments were drafted in consultation with the Keep Your Promise Coalition which includes organizations such as Seattle Student Union, the Washington NAACP Youth Council, Community Passageways, Washington Youth Alliance Action Funds, People Power Washington, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Tech4Housing, Seattle Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators, Puget Sound Sage, Washington Building Leaders of Change, Washington Bus, and Washington Ethnic Studies Now. I want to thank them again for their collaboration and engagement on this critical levy renewal."

“These much-needed additions guard against the school-to-prison pipeline (amendment no. 1), puts the safety of students first, and protects schools as learning spaces that should not be interrupted by fear. In a moment where police departments, locally and nationally, have outsized power to criminalize and punish vulnerable communities, it is necessary to put in place guidance that protects FEPP dollars from being used for criminalization of students,” noted the Keep Your Promise Coalition, a local partnership of students, educators, staff and community.  

“Additional amendments to put money for fresh produce directly into families' pockets (amendment no. 5), to designate FEPP funding for restorative practices in schools (amendment no. 7), and to promise at-risk communities that Seattle will help keep them safe from undue attacks (amendment no. 8), provide critical resourcing for restorative practices that will allow these non-punitive security measures to be fully effective. We, as a local coalition of students, educators, and community members, call on community and councilmembers to support these amendments," the group concluded.  

The proposed Amendment 4 and Amendment 5 have also earned support from The Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board as part of their 2025-2026 Budget Recommendations.

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Seattle City Council

Katherine Ichinose, Program Manager, Seattle Student Union

Tim Warden-Hertz, Directing Attorney, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Lena Nguyen, Restorative Justice Practitioner, WA BLOC 

Yuna Martin, Youth Organizer, FEEST Seattle

Chetan Soni, Executive Director, Washington Youth Alliance

Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) joined advocates at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park today to advocate for fully funding Seattle’s renowned Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning program.

For decades, the Seattle Parks’ Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning program has provided kids and families an opportunity to visit Seattle’s parks, forests, and beaches to learn about nature. In 2024 alone, the program and its 93 volunteers were able to serve 5,385 students from 65 different schools as part of the field trip program. Many of those were under-resourced Title 1 schools. Thousands more kids and families were served through nature activations, guided walks, and community partnership programs.

Due to the city’s budget deficit, the program is scheduled to run out of funding next year. The current version of the Every Child Ready Initiative would only restore 38 percent of the funding for the Environmental Learning Program. The other 62 percent, including funding for the paid volunteer coordinator, would be cut.

Councilmember Strauss is proposing an amendment that would fully fund the environmental learning program for kids and families. This will ensure that the program continues to serve Seattle’s kids at its historic levels.

Speakers include:

Councilmember Dan Strauss, Seattle City Council

Maggi Johnson, Environmental Education volunteer, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Melanie Wienecke, Environmental Education volunteer, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Laurie Roback Farmer, Environmental Education volunteer, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Seattle City Councilmember Tanya Woo (Position 8, Citywide) shared details of proposed legislation aimed at addressing recent violence related to after-hours nightclubs in the city. Councilmember Woo was joined by victims’ family members, the Director of the SODO Business Improvement Area, and supported by nightclub operators and other stakeholders.

The new regulatory license would have a $250.00 application fee and can be denied or revoked if the establishment has a single shooting incident, or two or more serious public safety incidents within the past year. Penalties for operating without a new regulatory license would be $1,000 for the first offense, and subsequent violations would be a misdemeanor with up to 90 days in jail.

Speakers:
Tanya Woo, Seattle City Council Position 8
Caroline Escatell
Erin Goodman

Councilmember Moore joined city leaders including Interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr, Councilmember Kettle, City Attorney Ann Davison, and other community members and small business owners to announce new legislation cracking down on commercial sexual exploitation and associated gun violence.

Speakers include:
Cathy Moore, Seattle City Councilmember, District 5
Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr
Bob Kettle, Seattle City Councilmember, District 7
Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison

Community groups, labor organizations, and disability rights advocates joined Seattle City Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (District 2) to unveil new legislation to improve the proposed transportation levy renewal. The changes are focused on creating a safer, more accessible transportation system.

Speakers include:
Councilmember Tammy Morales, District 2
Chrissy Shimizu, Puget Sound Sage
Corina Yballa, MLK Labor
Cecelia Black, Disability Rights Washington
Clara Cantor, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways

A coalition of organizations hosted a community-led press conference calling on the Seattle City Council and Mayor’s Office to protect investments in the Equitable Development Initiative & JumpStart, expand progressive revenue options at the City, and center equity for our Black and Brown communities during the budget cycle.

Speakers include:
Ken Workman, Duwamish Tribe
Crystal Brown, Cultivate South Park
Stephanie Ung, Khmer Community of South King County
Miguel Maestas, El Centro de la Raza
Leslie Morishita, InterIm Community Development Association
Quynh Pham, Friends of Little Saigon (D2)
Wyking Garrett, Africatown Community Land Trust
Rev. Dr. Robert L. Jeffrey, New Hope Missionary Baptist
Ayan Musse, Whose Streets? Our Streets!
Mike Tulee, United Indians of All Tribes
Councilmember Tammy Morales, District 2

Councilmember Woo answers questions following the Seattle City Council meeting where the council voted to appoint Tanya Woo to fill a vacant position. Councilmember Woo will serve in Position 8, which represents the entire city. The position was formerly held by Teresa Mosqueda, who resigned on January 3 after being elected to the King County Council. Councilmember Woo will chair the Sustainability, City Light, Arts, and Culture committee. She will also serve as the Vice Chair of the Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee and as a member of the Housing and Human Services, Land Use, and Transportation Committees

The appointment begins immediately. It will last until November, when voters will elect someone to continue serving in the position through 2025.

Councilmember Kshama Sawant, union members, and renters discuss proposed rent control legislation. The press conference precedes a special meeting and public hearing of the Sustainability and Renters’ Rights Committee.

Speakers include:
Councilmember Kshama Sawant, City of Seattle

Julia Kobelt, rank-and-file member of UAW 4121

Ellen Anderson, UW student & Seattle renter

Sally Soriano, 32nd Legislative District member, former Seattle School Board member

Jordan Young, PCC grocery worker at the View Ridge store, member of PCC Workers United, member of the UFCW 3000 PCC Bargaining Committee

Jonathan Rosenblum, labor and renters’ rights organizer

Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4 – Northeast Seattle) announced Wednesday a bold tax reform to make our system more fair for Seattle with legislation eliminating a regressive water tax for everyone and replacing it with a 2% local expansion of the State’s new progressive tax on high-end capital gains.

Matching the new State law, this local tax would apply to only a very small number who gain more than $250,000 in a single year from the sale of assets, such as stocks or bonds, and it would exempt retirement savings and real estate transactions. Using zip code-level information gathered for the state-level capital gains excise tax, a local 2% could generate approximately $50 million annually, which would offset the amount City Hall’s General Fund takes from your water bills each year, so that this tax reform is essentially revenue-neutral.

The Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) consistently ranks Washington State as one of the most unfair systems in the country, where lower income residents pay a much higher percentage of their household earnings for taxes and fees than wealthier residents.

Speakers include:
Councilmember Alex Pedersen, City of Seattle

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, joined by a coalition of affordable housing developers, labor leaders, community organizations, the City of Seattle Office of Housing, and others, announced legislation (Council Bill 120584 and Resolution 32093) renewing the Seattle Housing Levy, including amendments proposed by the Seattle City Council. The Mayor and Select Committee Chair are in lockstep on the need for a robust $970 million package that invests in permanent supportive housing, resident services, workforce supports, and strong labor standards. 

Councilmember Mosqueda chairs the Council’s Select Committee about the 2023 Housing Levy, which received Mayor Bruce Harrell’s seven-year, $970 million proposal for the Levy on March 30, 2023. The Select Committee has been meeting since March, unpacking the proposal, hearing from the public, and crafting amendments.  

Seattle’s affordable housing needs have grown dramatically since the last Housing Levy was passed in 2016. The COVID pandemic and economic downturn have created far greater housing instability in our community than Seattle has seen in previous decades. At the same time, wages have not kept pace with inflation, and many workers in affordable housing are struggling with housing insecurity. 

Speakers include:

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, City of Seattle

Patience Malaba, Executive Director, Housing Development Consortium

Katie Garrow, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, MLK Labor

Maiko Winkler-Chin, Director, Office of Housing

James Lovell, Development Director, Chief Seattle Club

Naomi Lewis, Registered Nurse, DESC

K. Wyking Garrett, President & CEO, Community Land trust

Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle) joined workers from PCC Community Markets on Monday, March 13, 2023. The workers, who are members of UFCW Local 3000, shared stories of their working conditions, highlighted their demands, and announced a rank-and-file organizing effort at PCC stores across the Seattle area. PCC workers’ contract expires later this year.

Speakers include:

Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Council

Maddy Olson, PCC grocery worker, Workers Strike Back activist

Arlo Bender Simon, PCC grocery worker

Kai Lee-Kenniz, PCC worker

Jared Housing, PCC worker

Tiffanie Boldizsar, PCC worker

Varun Belur, Workers Strike Back activist

Shirley Henderson, Owner of Squirrel Chops coffee shop

Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8, Citywide) hosted a ceremony on Wednesday to rename a section of Union Street “D’Vonne Pickett, Jr. Way” in honor of the late community leader.  

Pickett was shot and killed in October outside The Postman, the mailing services shop he opened in 2018. Pickett and his wife, KeAnna — who have three young children — opened their business named after the profession of Jacques Chappell, Pickett’s great-grandfather, a mail carrier in the neighborhood. 

Seattle City Council unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by Councilmember Mosqueda to pave the way for the renaming. The resolution was written in conjunction with Mayor Bruce Harrell and Pickett’s family to honor his legacy. 

The street, which stretches between Liberty Bank Building, and Midtown Square, and is an area honoring important and loved figures including Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Ave added in 2014 near Mount Zion Baptist Church and E Barbara Bailey Way designated in 2019 between Cal Anderson and Capitol Hill Station. 

Speakers include:

Mayor Bruce Harrell, City of Seattle

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Council

KeAnna Rose Pickett, wife of D’Vonne Pickett, Jr.

De’Auzjanae Pickett, sister of D’Vonne Pickett, Jr.

Cassandra Nicole Chappelle, mother of D’Vonne Pickett, Jr.

Craig First-Rider, brother of D’Vonne Pickett, Jr.

Jermaine Williams, friend of D'Vonne Pickett, Jr.

Paul Sutton, friend of D'Vonne Pickett, Jr.

Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle), chair of the Seattle City Council’s Sustainability and Renters’ Rights Committee, held a press conference and rally alongside community leaders, socialists, and supporting organizations to demand Seattle City Council vote ‘Yes’ on the ordinance her office has introduced, to make Seattle the nation’s first city to ban caste discrimination. 

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Council

Samir Khobragade, tech worker

Tanmay Waghmare, tech worker

Ram Kumar, Ambedcar International Center

Raghav Kaushik, tech worker

Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis (District 7 - Pioneer Square to Magnolia) announced his intentions to protect Pike Place Market from proposed legislation that would permanently strip historic districts of key administrative review authority. The Market, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, was stripped of its independent administrative review processes like many other historic districts at the start of the COVID pandemic. This disconnect between the community stewards and administration of the Market has outlasted its need and is cutting out some of the Market’s strongest advocates from discussions on its future. Thursday’s event features representatives from Friends of the Market who have an extensive history of service to the Market and can speak to the importance of returning administrative review to the Market, provided by Councilmember Lewis’ amendment to CB120456.

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis, Seattle City Council

Sara Patton, Friends of the Market advocate

Duncan Thieme, Friends of the Market Board member

Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle), chair of the Seattle City Council’s Sustainability and Renters’ Rights Committee, proposes City legislation aimed at fighting caste discrimination. Caste is a system of rigid social stratification characterized by hereditary status, endogamy (completely closed categories), and social barriers based on birth and descent. Caste discrimination occurs in the form of social segregation, economic deprivation, physical and psychological abuse, and violence. Caste discrimination is also manifested in employment, education, and housing.

It is faced by South Asian American and other immigrant working people in their workplaces, including in the tech sector, in Seattle and in cities around the country. Sawant and other speakers will present the draft ordinance, which will be the first of its kind in the nation if passed by the City Council. Speakers will explain the caste discrimination that exists locally and nationally, and how the proposed ordinance will help fight caste discrimination.

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Council

Samir Khobragade, Tech worker & South Asian American community member

Raghav Kaushik, Tech worker & South Asian American community member

Hassan Khan, Human rights activist

Javed Sikandar, Technology leader

Lama Rangdrol, Seattle-based African American teacher of Buddhism

Alvin Muragori, Socialist & community organizer

Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda presents the balancing package and provides an overview of the budget.

Speakers and attendees include:

Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Council

Esther Handy, Director, Seattle City Council Central Staff

Councilmember Sara Nelson (Position 9, Citywide), film industry professionals, and community members urge the Seattle City Council to pass her legislation to create a Seattle Film Commission. The Council is scheduled to vote on the legislation during its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 20. If passed, the Commission would help advise city leaders on ways to both bring the film and television industry to Seattle and ensure creatives already in Seattle have more professional opportunities in the city. 

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Sara Nelson, Seattle City Council

Tom Skerritt, Emmy Award winning actor

Susan LaSalle, Seattle-based film producer & member, SEATTLE FILM SUMMIT

Anthony Tackett, member, SEATTLE FILM SUMMIT

Markham McIntyre, Director of Seattle Office of Economic Development

Amy Lillard, Executive Director, Washington Filmworks

Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis (President of the Seattle Park District Governing Board and Councilmember from District 7) announces his budget for the Seattle Metropolitan Park District. The Park District is a supplemental funding source for Seattle’s parks that was approved by voters in 2014, making investments citywide for six years at a time. This is the second round of investments by the Park District. More information here.

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis, Seattle City Council

Jon Scholes, President & CEO, Downtown Seattle Association 

Christopher Williams, Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Rebecca Bear, President & CEO, Seattle Parks Foundation

Andrea Ornelas, Assistant Political Director, Laborers Local 242 

Katie Garrow, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Laborers Local 242

Nicole Grant, Executive Director, 350 Seattle

Following the the U.S. Supreme Court’s overruling of Roe v. Wade, Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (District 2, Chinatown / International District and South Seattle) and Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1, West Seattle and South Park) are joined by reproductive justice advocates to announce legislation that will protect people seeking abortions in Seattle.

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Lisa Herbold, Seattle City Council

Councilmember Tammy Morales, Seattle City Council

Kim Clark, Legal Voice

Kia Guarino, Pro-Choice Washington

Yvette Maganya, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates (PPAA)

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8, Citywide), Seattle Office of Housing, and affordable housing providers unveil the first slate of housing projects funded by JumpStart Seattle. JumpStart is a progressive payroll tax that makes historic investments in affordable housing and also funds critical investments into equitable development, the City’s Green New Deal, economic resilience, and workforce development. 

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Council

Maiko Winkler-Chin, Office of Housing

Velma Veloria, Filipino Community Center and former WA State 11th LD Rep 

Miguel Maestas, El Centro del la Raza 

James Lovell, Chief Seattle Club

Nicole Macri, State Representative (D-43rd)

Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle), joined by community leaders, announce legislation making Seattle a sanctuary city for pregnant people and their doctors. The legislation is in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, which overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday. 

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Council

Sam Sumpter, UAW Local 4121

Dr. Amy Zhang, Resident & Fellow Physician Union

Emily McArthur, Socialist Alternative

Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (District 2) and community representatives of the maritime industry announce the release of $1 million in funding by the city to support maritime training and education. 

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Tammy J. Morales, Seattle City Council

Deputy Mayor Kendee Yamaguchi, City of Seattle

John Lederer, Seattle Office of Economic Development

Louise Chernin, Seattle Colleges

Daniel P. Golosman, Seattle Skills Center (Seattle Public Schools)

Berit Erikkson, Sailors Union of the Pacific 

Forest Reese, Student, Seattle Maritime Academy 

Lisa Herbold (District 1 – West Seattle/South Park) and Andrew J. Lewis (District 7 – Pioneer Square to Magnolia) join Working Washington and Seattle Restaurants United to discuss the first in a suite of bills called “PayUp” focused on labor standards protections for app-based workers. 

The bill sets minimum compensation standards, transparency in employment terms, and flexibility in employment issues for app-based workers. This bill is the result of nearly a year of engagement with stakeholders including drivers and the companies with whom they work. Engagement thus far has included over a dozen large-format stakeholder meetings and three public meetings in the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee.  Discussion of the introduced bill will begin at the April 12 Public Safety and Human Services committee. 

Speakers and attendees include: 

Councilmember Lisa Herbold, Seattle City Council

Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis, Seattle City Council

Mikey Pullman, gig worker & PayUp campaign leader

Kim Wolfe, gig worker & PayUp campaign leader

Carmen Figueroa, gig worker & PayUp campaign leader

Wei Lin, gig worker & PayUp campaign leader

Jeanie Chunn, Seattle Restaurants United

Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle), chair of the Council's Sustainability and Renters Rights Committee, holds a press conference at the Starbucks Headquarters with Starbucks Workers United members from Buffalo and Seattle, local progressive union members, and socialists. The group unveils a new council resolution in solidarity with Starbucks unionization.    

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Kshama Sawant, City of Seattle

Casey Moore, Starbucks, Buffalo, New York

Gianna Reeve, Starbucks, Buffalo, New York

Michah Lakes, Starbucks, Seattle

Brent Hayes, Starbucks, Seattle

Sydney Durkin, Starbucks, Seattle

Sarah Pappin, Starbucks, Seattle

Star Willey, Starbucks, Seattle

Sam White, Darwin's Ltd. coffee shop, Boston

Elan Axelbank, Socialist Alternative

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda join local child care provider Jenny Lowery and representatives from SEIU 925 to highlight the importance of long-overdue investments in child care. The U.S. Senate continues to negotiate the Build Back Better Act that was passed by the House of Representatives in November. 

The Build Back Better Act is a $1.85 trillion package that would make unprecedented investments in working people, families, and communities across America. This is particularly true when it comes to child care. The House bill includes universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, expanding access to free, high-quality preschool for more than six million children; affordable, high-quality childcare with costs limited to no more than seven percent of income for families earning up to 250 percent of the state median income; and four weeks of guaranteed paid family and medical leave, guaranteed. 

Speakers include:

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Washington Dist. 7.

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Council

Jenny Lowery, Hullabaloo Preschool