Mayor Ed Murray issued the following statement after new unemployment figures were released by the Washington State Employment Security Department. The Seattle-area unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent during the month of September, which is the […]

10/19

Mayor Murray issues statement on today’s Black Lives Matter activities

Mayor Ed Murray issued the following statement of support for Seattle School teacher’s Black Lives Matter efforts: “I stand in solidarity with the 2,000 Seattle teachers who held “Black Lives Matter” rallies and activities today. […]

10/18

City Launches Public Records Request Center

As part of the City of Seattle’s ongoing commitment to transparency and to make the process of obtaining public records as easy as possible, the City is launching the Public Records Request Center. This online public portal offers constituents one […]

10/17

Mayor, Council propose implementation changes to Mandatory Housing Affordability program

Today, Mayor Murray and seven Councilmembers announced two proposed changes to implementation of the Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) program, aimed at increasing production and addressing the ongoing displacement occurring as Seattle grows […]

10/14

City encourages residents to prepare for weekend weather

With high-winds and rain predicted for Seattle and much of the Pacific Northwest this weekend, it is recommended that residents take extra precautions at home and when out. Residents should defer traveling during the storm, avoid and report downed […]

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Seattle Implements 2016 Minimum Wage Increase — Posted on Jan 4 2016 by Seattle Medium

10/21/2016 Nativegrl77

As of Jan. 1, 2015, the minimum wage in the City of Seattle increased to $13.00 per hour for large employers, and $12.00 per for small employers (companies with fewer than 500 employees).

According to the City’s minimum wage ordinance, the minimum wage requirement can be met in two ways:

A) Pay the prevailing minimum wage rate according to the wage increase schedule for their business size; or

B) Pay a reduced minimum wage ($12.50 for large employers, and $10.50 for small employers) and make up the balance with employee tips reported to the IRS (small employers only) and/or payments toward an employee’s medical benefits plan (large and small employers).

The ordinance, approved by Seattle voters, calls for a phased-in implementation of the $15 minimum wage. Seattle’s minimum wage will continue to increase each year on Jan. 1, with the level of the increase dependent on the size of business and whether or not the worker receives healthcare benefits and/or tips. Large employers will pay the $15 minimum wage beginning Jan. 1, 2017, and small employers will pay the $15 minimum wage by Jan. 1, 2019.

“When our $15 minimum wage is fully implemented, more than 100,000 workers across the city will benefit,” said Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. “Higher wages will help make Seattle more affordable for everyone who works in the city. Our phased-in approach, developed by labor and business working together, minimizes disruptions – especially to small businesses. I am proud that the Seattle model has been replicated in other cities across the country.

Employers with employees performing work in Seattle are required to pay the prevailing minimum wage as outlined in the minimum wage schedule for their business category. Minimum wage requirements are the same for non-profit and private employers.

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The Supreme Court’s decision on voting access … a repost

10/19/2016 Nativegrl77

First posted 8/6/2015

The Supreme Court announced a major decision about voting access in the United States. You can start a petition now to address these issues and make your voice heard.

The Supreme Court announced a landmark voting access decision in the case of Evenwel v. Abbott, upholding the current standard for creating congressional districts – the geographical lines that determine where you vote and who represents you in Congress – around the country.

This is the first Supreme Court decision regarding voting access and congressional districts in 50 years, and it has reignited debates about these issues around the country.

Over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of Change.org users like you have taken action to protect voting rights, expand voting access, and ensure that the United States maintains a free and open democracy. From the Voting Rights Act to expanding early voting around the country, users have started petitions to voice their opinions. Now you can add your voice to the conversation.

You can start your own petition about voting rights, voting access, or issues concerning America’s voting process by clicking here. It only takes about five minutes.

Change.org users are using these tools to ask their states to create nonpartisan committees to draw up the new congressional districts, to ask Congress to address issues of voter access, to call on governors to create early voting in in their home states, and much more.

Want to do the same? All you have to do is go to the dedicated start a petition page for voting rights and access and follow a few easy steps: https://www.change.org/start-a-petition/protecting-democracy.

In just a few moments, you can make your voice a part of the conversation.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

The Staff at Change.org

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Fighting for Homeless Veterans in Washington State …have things improved

10/18/2016 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

Fighting for Homeless Veterans in Washington State

Last week, I stood with fellow Democratic Senators to discuss how the Republicans’ reckless spending proposal would cut 10,000 housing vouchers that would bring homeless veterans off the streets and into supportive housing. We owe it to our veterans to provide them with the resources and support they need to put a roof over their heads. And this is just one more example of the Republicans putting politics and ideology over families, communities, and even those who have served our nation.

Watch the press conference >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc9AA9ZMLy0&tracker=False

“Veterans housing program targeted”” – The Olympian http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/11/1574690/veterans-housing-program-targeted.html

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Contrasting Republican and Democratic Budget Proposals: Reckless Cuts VS. Sensible Solutions

Last week, I spoke on the Senate floor to contrast the Republican and Democratic spending proposals currently being debated in the Senate. I am extremely disappointed that Republicans who came into office promising to work with us on helping our economy, have proposed an extreme budget that would destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs, devastate workers and small business across the country, and threaten our fragile economic recovery. The Democrats offered a plan to cut spending responsibly, while continuing to make the investments we need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build our competitors.

Watch video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDujvIW0o20

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Standing Up for Washington State Veterans’ Caregivers

Earlier this month, I pointedly questioned Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki about the VA’s decision to limit a critical benefit for the caregivers of severely injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The VA’s decision, which cuts back stipends for those who have left careers behind to care for their injured loved ones, ignores the will of Congress in passing the caregivers law last year.

and watch the hearing >> http://veterans.senate.gov/hearings.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=5ee43015-815c-4f30-a682-7fa0115ebb63

Families of severely wounded veterans still waiting for help” – The News Tribune

“VA blasted for limits on caregiver benefits” – Army Times

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Working to Lower Tariffs on Washington State Farmers and Growers

I was encouraged by the announcement made by President Barack Obama and President of Mexico Felipe Calderón earlier this month that they had reached an agreement on a path forward for resolving the cross-border trucking dispute and ending the retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. The Mexican government has committed to suspending 50% of the tariffs once a final rule is published and an agreement is signed. The other 50% of the tariffs will be suspended when the program commences. While this agreement is absolutely encouraging, I am deeply disappointed that the Mexican government has refused to immediately lift the tariffs that are devastating Washington state farmers and growers.

Over the past two years, I have pressured the Obama Administration to work with the Mexican government to remove retaliatory tariffs on Washington state farmers and growers. Earlier this year, I praised an announcement by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood that the Administration would be moving forward with a proposal to negotiate an end to Mexican tariffs on agricultural products. I criticized the Mexican government’s response to this proposal when they refused to make any changes to the list of products affected by the tariffs. Their newest agreement is a step in the right direction and I will continue calling on the Mexican government to immediately drop these harmful tariffs.

http://murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=a2aa1596-544f-46f4-ba8f-d37ec06c049b&ContentType_id=0b98dc1b-dd08-4df2-adac-21f6ae03beed&Group_id=97a054dd-8a74-4cd0-8771-fbc3be733874

“Mexico tariffs on ag products may end” – Yakima Herald-Republic >> http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/03/03/mexico-tariffs-may-end

To comment: http://murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe

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Rescind my city’s cruel anti-homeless feeding ban … still?

10/18/2016 Nativegrl77 3 Comments

Randall Kallinen

Sign the petition

Helping my city’s homeless could land me in jail with a $2000 dollar fine.

Last November, a 90-year-old Florida man was arrested and faced 60 days in jail for feeding the homeless. A few months later, a San Antonio woman was hit with a $2000 dollar fine for doing the same.. These “feeding bans” have popped up all over the United States. In fact, more than 70 cities around the country have instituted or tried to institute similar ordinances.

My name is Randall Kallinen, and I am deeply saddened to say that my beloved city of Houston has followed suit. Now, a good deed could cost you $2000 here, too. This is just the wrong direction to be taking. It’s anti-compassion and anti-humanitarian, and we need to turn it around.

Tell Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston City Council that feeding the homeless isn’t a crime. Change the law and allow good samaritans to feed the hungry.

As a civil rights lawyer for over 21 years, homeless advocate and the president of Houston’s ACLU chapter for 3 years, I speak from experience when I say that humane acts of kindness should be rewarded, not punished. When Houston passed this ban 3 years ago, organizations from across the religious and political spectrum spoke out because they understood that being a good samaritan isn’t a religious or political issue, but rather a matter of human rights. Now most have been frightened off from giving to the needy. Helping those in need should be considered a fundamental right, particularly now when more and more people are experiencing food insecurity and the government is failing to fix the problem. Houston’s cruel “anti-feeding” ordinance stands in the way of that right, and it is up to you and me to overturn it.

Because of our size, as Texas goes, so goes the rest of the country in many political matters. Too many cities have already adopted these anti-humanitarian measures. Getting Houston to rescind this draconian ordinance where you must seek permission as where and when to feed more than 5 less fortunate outside on public property could go a long way toward turning the tide across the nation.

Criminalizing charity penalizes our community’s most vulnerable. Can you help to make sure that doesn’t happen?

Let’s put an end to this misguided ordinance and return the spirit of giving and charity to the city of Houston. Join me and tell Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston City Council that every human deserves compassion. Tell them to rescind the “anti-feeding” ordinance.