Sometimes, it really feels like the bad news never ends. In the past week alone, Congress acquitted Trump, Mercer Island banned homelessness, Seattle police killed yet another person having a mental health crisis, and my own family and friends are stuck in the apocalyptic nightmare that is Texas.
In these times, I never fail to be inspired by the community around me. Mutual aid networks step in where the government is failing us. Activists tirelessly organize to lobby our elected officials to do the right thing. It is only by supporting each other that we can improve things for the better.
I also hope that you're inspired by the stories being told this Black History Month. At KCYD, we are constantly working to fight anti-blackness in our communities and especially in our own organization. This work cannot be completed in a month. Indeed, it cannot even be completed in a year. But it is essential that we undertake it and work on it constantly, in every month of the year.
Yuan Tao, KCYD Chair
KCYD Statement On The Mercer Island City Council's Recent Homelessness Response: Callous And Cruel (And Most Likely Illegal)
On February 16, 2021, during their regularly scheduled meeting, the Mercer Island City Council voted in favor of Ordinance No. 21C-02, Use of Mercer Island Public Property, 6-1. This ordinance institutes a $1,000 fine and/or up to 90 days in jail, for all people found to be camping, sleeping, or otherwise "loitering" on Mercer Island public property.
In an attempt to avoid being in direct violation of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Martin v. Boise (2019), which makes criminalizing the use of public property while homeless persons await empty shelter space illegal, Mercer Island City Council added a provision to only enforce the law if there is shelter available for the people experiencing homeless. Not only does this shelter not exist, it also forces them to interact with police officers who have an abhorrent record ofkilling people experiencing homelessnessand mentalhealthcrises.
Homelessness is a regional problem that must be tackled together. Unfortunately, despite of (or perhaps because of) the fact that Mercer Island is one of the richest areas in the country, they are determined to pretend the problem doesn’t exist instead of listening to the providers and experts on the ground about strategies that will actually work. It is clear that this ordinance was passed not, as they claim, for the good of the people experiencing homelessness, but rather out of an unbelievable lack of concern for their fellow humans.
King County Young Democrats applauds the high schoolers that spoke out against this ordinance. We hope that they continue to lead with their compassion and rationality.
If you feel the need to let the Mercer Island City Council know your thoughts on this egregious ordinance, you can contact them here.
Bridging the Gap Between Progressives and Moderates
After the November election, progressives and centrists immediately started pointing fingers at each other for why the election results weren’t quite as favorable to Democrats as we all would have liked. At our February meet-up, we’re hoping to have a conversation with you about your thoughts on if progressives and moderates need to work together. If yes, how can we do that?
This is not a panel discussion. We want to hear from you! Our monthly meet-ups are an opportunity to have some genuine conversation and to get to meet other young Democrats. Register for the meeting here.
KCYD Statement On The Cruel, Heartless, Stupid, And Most Likely Illegal Actions of The Mercer Island City Council, In Response To Trying To Keep Homeless People In A State of Perpetual Traumatic Violence And Out of Their Nice Parks
On February 16, 2021, during their regularly scheduled meeting, the Mercer Island City Council voted in favor of Ordinance No. 21C-02, Use of Mercer Island Public Property, 6-1.
Conveniently, this ordinance has a built-in protection measure that makes the law unenforceable if there is no shelter available for the people experiencing homelessness, who must still under all conditions of enforcing this law interact with law enforcement, police officers, and possibly other outreach workers in an attempt to move them away from a safe space to rest while they wait for shelter that does not exist to pop up in King County. If this ordinance did not have such a measure, it would be in direct violation of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Martin v. Boise (2019), which makes criminalizing the use of public property while homeless persons await empty shelter space illegal.
It is yet to be seen if the enforcement of this ordinance will violate Martin v. Boise, however, knowing the history of King County police departments interacting with populations experiencing homelessness throughout the county and across time, we can only assume this ordinance will be mishandled, especially as the Council slides presented make no mention of the details of who will be handling this data and what oversight will be applied to make sure it is accurate, accessible, and reported in a timely manner.
In their own slides and materials on this ordinance, shown during the Mercer Island City Council hearing, the Council argues it "does not criminalize homelessness". Words do in fact have meaning behind them, however, and if it was the intention of the Mercer Island City Council to avoid criminalizing homelessness, this absolutely astoundingly selfish ordinance would not have even been considered.
Mercer Island as a whole should be ashamed one of their high schoolers had a more compassionate and reasonable outlook on trying to fix homelessness than their own elected officials. May they feel the consequences of their actions.
If you feel the need to let the Mercer Island City Council know your thoughts on this egregious ordinance, you can contact them here.
Not Sure Where To Start With Black History Month?
As Young Dems, we know that part of the experience of being in our membership is learning more about the fine points of politics, and how we can make our region better for everyone involved. But if you're new to the area or didn't get a lot of education on the diversity of peoples in our nation's history, trying to celebrate things like Black History Month can seem daunting. Here's a short list of fun places to start to learn more, do more, and get more involved. Happy Black History Month!
1. Let's Talk About Abolition with Nikkita Oliver: Not sure why Black Lives Matter protests are so important, or how we got here in the first place? You're not alone. Nikkita Oliver is a local lawyer, advocate, and former mayoral candidate who wants to talk with all of us about abolition, what it is and what it means. Join to learn or join to talk to new people!
2. Anti-Racist Giving Workshop: Want to donate to anti-racist causes? Not sure how, or where to look? This webinar can help you out!
3. Making Abolition Geographies: Want a bigger discussion on what abolition could mean for public safety here, across town, around the world and into the future? This webinar will show the intersection between race and geography and inspire you to take a look at how doing the work in your neighborhood can help shape your city.
Crip Camp - Documentary Screening and Disabled Activist Panel.
Join King County Young Democrats as we host a virtual documentary screening and disability justice panel. We will screen Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution a 2020 documentary (with executive producers Michelle and Barack Obama). After the screening, we will have a panel of disabled activists from Washington and will discuss the unique challenges and opportunities that come with being a self-advocate with a disability. Crip Camp - Documentary Screening and Disabled Activist Panel.
Join King County Young Democrats as we host a virtual documentary screening and disability justice panel. We will screen Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution a 2020 documentary (with executive producers Michelle and Barack Obama). After the screening, we will have a panel of disabled activists from Washington and will discuss the unique challenges and opportunities that come with being a self-advocate with a disability.
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, follows a group of disabled teenagers in the early 1970s at Camp Jened. As the campers grow up and move to Berkeley, California, they learn that disruption and unity might secure life-changing accessibility for millions.
CALL TO ACTION for residents of the 36th, 43rd and 46th Legislative Districts! Please send an email to your senator on the Ways & Means Committee. We expect the committee to discuss and vote on SB 5160 this Thursday, Feb. 18 starting at noon. Please send this email which is below Thursday morning at the latest. Below is sample language. If you can personalize your email, that is even better!
Thank you for your advocacy, and look forward to a detailed #WALeg update coming in the next KCYD Newsletter!
Best,
Matthew Lang
Legislative Director
King County Young Democrats
206.468.8559
I’m your constituent and a member of the King County Young Democrats, and I am writing to ask for your support in passing SB 5160 out of the Ways & Means Committee this week. I hope you will not only vote for this bill, but champion it to make sure it leaves the committee in a strong form that protects tenants.
Renters in our district and around the state have struggled throughout the pandemic. Many have thousands of dollars in rental debt piling up, after maxing out credit cards or borrowing from friends and family to pay bills. When eviction moratoriums are lifted, which could be as early as March 31, many thousands of households, especially in communities of color, will be at immediate risk of eviction and homelessness. We can’t let that happen.
SB 5160 will help protect tenants from eviction by establishing a right to legal counsel and a reasonable payment plan. Right now, landlords have much greater access to lawyers than their tenants do. Legal counsel will help tenants to reach fair settlements with their landlords, keeping more people in their homes. Payment plans will give tenants time to catch up on rent and apply for rental assistance. SB 5160 would also prohibit late fees on unpaid rent accrued during the moratorium. These are all common sense measures that will give people badly-needed time to get their lives back on track, and help prevent the homelessness crisis from getting even worse.
I’m counting on you as my senator to champion this bill and do the right thing for renters in my district.
Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address or Neighborhood - so they know you are in their district]
YDWA Trivia Night!
Do you know your political history and hot gossip? Do you think you know it better than your fellow county Young Dems? What about your whole STATE's Young Dems?
Join the Young Democrats of Washington for our statewide fundraiser to support our convention fees and events budget for the next year! For $30.00 (or more with a lovely donation), you and up to 6 of your fellow politicos can compete for the title of Ultimate Trivia Champion against an entire state's worth of Democrats! More details and to register, go here.
