SENT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 * * * organizations can continue to sign on below and we will send again later

Mayor Durkan and Seattle City Councilmembers:

As deliberations over the 2021 Seattle city budget approach, we are deeply concerned that revenue shortfalls will lead to vital programs and services being pitted against each other in competition for scarce resources. Spending cuts, in turn, dampen economic activity and stall recovery. People are depending on local governments more than ever, and our local economy depends in this moment on renewed investments. We urge you to reject an austerity approach and instead seek new progressive revenue to sustain and expand city services during this difficult time.

A July 2020 report from the Roosevelt Institute explains that state and local budget cuts “have the potential to devastate communities and local economies, causing unnecessary hardship, deepening the recession, and hampering the eventual economic recovery.” In addition to advocating federal action, the report recommends that “states and localities should also move quickly to stave off cuts and expand services and employment by raising revenue progressively.”

The Jumpstart Seattle legislation passed earlier this year is an important first step toward supporting Seattle communities and bolstering our local economy. However, more must be done to protect and expand the city’s investments in transportation, housing and human services, Black and brown communities, families, neighborhoods and small businesses. Cuts in any of these areas will make the pandemic-recession and its impacts even worse, especially for Black, brown and low-income communities. Damage done now will be harder and more expensive to reverse in the future. Adding to this challenge is the urgent need to invest in community-led health and safety systems as alternatives to policing.

We understand that you face a difficult budget process with massive recession-driven revenue shortfalls. We are encouraged that Mayor Durkan has expressed support for a city income tax as a potential new revenue stream. We urge you to make the fullest use possible of Jumpstart Seattle funds and to put all new progressive revenue options on the table to craft a budget that sustains rather than starves our city in 2021.

Sincerely,

350 Seattle
36th District Democrats
43rd District Democrats
All in for Washington
Beacon Hill Safe Streets
Be:Seattle
Cafe Red
Casa Latina
Cascade Bicycle Club
Central Seattle Greenways
Civic Ventures
Disability Rights Washington
Economic Opportunity Institute
Faith Action Network
Food & Water Action
International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, District Council 5
Lake City Taskforce on Homelessness
Low Income Housing Institute
Neighborhood House
North Helpline
OneAmerica
Positive Spin Pole Dance Fitness
PROTEC17 - Professional & Technical Employees, Local 17
Queen Anne Helpline
Rainier Valley Greenways Safe Streets
Real Change
Resident & Fellow Physician Union – Northwest (formerly UW Housestaff Assoc.)
Seattle Subway
Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness
SHARE - Seattle Housing and Resource Effort
Share The Cities
Sierra Club Seattle Group
Solid Ground
Standing Against Foreclosures and Evictions (S.A.F.E.)
Tenants Union of Washington State
The Urbanist
Transit Riders Union
Transportation Choices Coalition
UAW 4121
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
WHEEL (Women's Housing, Equality & Enhancement League)
Working Washington/Fair Work Center
YouthCare