Seattle City Council Caves to Big Developers with Phony Ballot Initiative

Seattle DSA Housing Justice Working Group statement written by Tom Barnard

On September 19th, the Seattle City Council finally unveiled its alternative to I-137 after refusing to act earlier to put it on the November ballot. Clearly trying to subvert the voter approved newly created Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD), the council created an alternative which results in significantly less funding, contains methods to keep the developer from accessing that funding, and creates a bureaucratic process designed to erect operational roadblocks.

The council’s alternative cuts funding for new housing from approximately $50 million/yr to a maximum of $10 million/yr, and then sunset in five years. This would sharply curtail the number of units that could be purchased or built, setting the SSHD up to fail.

Worse yet, instead of creating a new excess compensation tax aimed at the richest companies in the City, it would raid existing funds from the JumpStart payroll expense tax, most of which is currently earmarked for other affordable housing projects limited to people making less than 80% of the area median income (AMI). This not only deprives other essential social services of funds, but also forces the SSHD to compete for those funds with other affordable housing nonprofits. During public comment, spokespeople from the Low Income Housing Institute and Plymouth Housing urged the council to vote “no” on the alternative.

In fact, the Council’s option would not create social housing at all, as incomes for the housing units would be capped at 80% AMI. As specified in I-135, Social housing is a mixed-income housing model in which wealthier tenants, at 120% AMI, subsidize the rents of those making less, with rents permanently capped at 30% of residents’ income. 

Council members engaged in various attempts at rhetorical subterfuge by describing the alternative as “proof of concept” for social housing, which in fact it is not. Sponsor Maritza Rivera claimed their alternative, “balances the need for innovation with the need for accountability” without giving “a blank check to yet another new agency that does not have the experience creating housing.” And after doing everything they could to keep it from the November ballot, Councilmember Rob Saka claimed that having two competing measures on the ballot was “simply good governance … centering choice [and] optionality.”

The fact is that the Seattle City Council and its real estate backers who fueled their rise to power are attempting to keep in place a housing system which does work for the vast majority of Seattle renters.

Tenants face ever increasing rental rates that beggar them, from developments owned by Wall Street dark money investors whose only interest is a maximum return on investment. Seattle DSA’s Housing Justice Working Group believes that housing is a human right and we stand in solidarity with House our Neighbors and coalition partners in opposition to the Council’s alternative.

Seattle voters will not be fooled. The idea of social housing is on an upswing, from the recent King County workforce housing initiative, to ongoing discussions at the state level, to Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's brand new legislation that will establish and fund federal social housing.

SDSA’s successful effort to get the signatures necessary to place I-137 on the ballot will need to follow up later this year with a vigorous effort to turn out the vote for the February ballot. To get involved in the fight to fund social housing join us at our next working group meeting on October 6th at 7pm.

Sick and tired of your current job or are currently under- or unemployed? Feeling alienated at work? Do you want to organize workers and build the socialist movement as part of your job?

Time is running out to RSVP to Labor Working Group's next Socialist Job Fair on October 6th! Reserve your spot now.

Labor unions representing a diverse range of sectors will be attending, representing unionized as well as non-unionized workplaces. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/forms/socialist-job-fair-105 and expect one of our members to reach out and follow up with you.

When workers fight together, they win!

General Election Canvass for Shaun Scott

 This Sat. 9/28 11am

I-5 Colonnade: RSVP

This Sun. 9/29 11am

Washington Park Arboretum: RSVP

The general election is just 6 weeks away! These past two weekends, we’ve kicked off our field operation for the general, emphasizing Shaun’s socialist policy platform. Shaun’s commitment to fighting budget cuts and fully funding our public schools by taxing the ultra-rich and big business, resonated powerfully with voters across the spectrum. Recently the Seattle School Board announced its planning on closing up to 21 Elementary schools - the biggest closure of schools in the country! We can’t wait to hit the doors again this week to send a working class champion to Olympia this November!

The Seattle Times endorsed his right-wing, pro-corporate Democratic Party opponent Andrea Suarez. We’re going to have to fight back as pro-corporate and pro-developer forces align behind Andrea Suarez.

Who is Shaun Scott? Read more about him here.

THE BOEING MACHINISTS FIGHT ON, AND SDSA IS THERE WITH THEM

This Saturday, 9/28

Between 2 - 6pm

It is now Week 3 of the strike as members of IAM 751 fight for a better contract that ensures a living wage, the return of their pensions, better healthcare and safer working conditions. While Boeing has paid $817 million over the past decade to executives and $68 billion to shareholders, machinists continue to struggle with rising costs of living. Members of Seattle DSA have been there alongside them every step of the way and will continue to be. An injury to one is an injury to all!

Seattle DSA is mobilizing our members to the Seattle picket lines between 2 and 6pm on Saturday, 9/28. Anyone able to stay later is encouraged to do so.

Park at the IAM Hall at 9125 15th Place South and catch a shuttle to the picket lines. The entrance is between the two buildings. Shuttles run regularly and there’s no parking along the line.

If you are taking public transit, you can get off directly at the picket line at 14th & East Marginal Way.

Sign up for more information about future picketing here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/strike-ready-for-the-machinists