During the August 6th Council Meeting, corporate backed councilmembers shamefully voted 7-1 to remove a procedural resolution placing I-137 on the November ballot from the agenda. CM Morales was the lone “no” vote. CM Kettle introduced the motion to table the I-137 vote, citing unspecified “legal questions” after a public comment session in which commenters unanimously voiced support for the initiative and urged Council to place it on the fall ballot.
Tabling the I-137 resolution effectively cloisters the initiative to a February special election and gives Council the opportunity to subvert the initiative by placing big business’ deceptive alternative alongside it on the ballot. Seattle DSA unequivocally sees this as a voter suppression tactic. Rather than placing the initiative on the upcoming November election in which 80% of voters are expected to cast their ballot, the Council chose to answer the Chamber of Commerce’s call (literally) and send it to a low-turnout election. With seven bought votes, the Chamber of Commerce undermined the will of the Seattle voters who voted for I-135, signed I-137, and expressed continued support for social housing at every given opportunity. If the Chamber wants an alternative, they should do the work of putting their own initiative on the ballot rather than attempting to cripple social housing in its infancy with an insufficient alternative that upholds the status quo.
This action potentially opens councilmembers to legal action. The City Charter states, “Consideration of such initiative petition shall take precedence over all other business before the City Council, except appropriation bills and emergency measures”. Any councilmember who voted in favor of the motion may be in violation of the charter and if so could be recalled.
Every councilmember who voted against social housing, for minimum wage rollbacks, and for private prisons is nominally a Democrat. One commenter remarked during the meeting, “With Democrats like you, unprincipled as you are, who needs Republicans”. When Democrats support the same policies as Republicans, are financially supported in their races by the same business interests as Republicans, and engage in the same voter suppression tactics as Republicans, we ask: What good are these Democrats for working people? We must be organized in a strong movement and envision a future with a party for and run by working people.
Seattle DSA stands in solidarity with House Our Neighbors and coalition partners. We are committed to fighting big business’ alternative and passing I-137 in February.
To get plugged into work supporting social housing, attend our next Housing Justice Working Group meeting, Tuesday August 20th at 6pm.
To get plugged into a broader movement to fight against the destruction of the rights of working people by Democrats and Republicans alike, join the Democratic Socialists of America.
