The Seattle election results from Feb. 11 showed the Seattle Public Schools levies, which the Chamber endorsed and contributed to, passed with flying colors, and Proposition 1B has likely been defeated.
Thank you to all members for supporting the Chamber’s work as we challenged Proposition 1A. Your guidance, thought partnership, and support of the campaign was important. It was also important that we pushed back on this proposal, which was not ready for primetime. We defeated local option capital gains taxes in Seattle last fall, we likely lost this one, but your Chamber will keep showing up as your champion – win or lose.
These ballot initiatives are becoming prolific. In addition to Prop 1A, over the last couple of elections we have seen minimum wage increases in Burien, Tukwila, Renton and Everett all by initiative. Tacoma passed a tenant protection initiative. And the conversation around solving the housing crisis is not working. It’s time for a total regroup and a reassessment of our organizational partnerships on this topic.
We will continue to bird dog the social housing public development authority just as we do other agencies to ensure they are accountable and delivering on what was promised the voters.
Your Chamber will carry on with our work on your behalf, and getting things right at the state level is more important than ever.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email larse@www.seattlechamber.com.