New City Council sworn in to start year
Four new members joined the council, while five council members returned to represent newly formed districts. In addition, for the first time in history, the council now celebrates a female majority, with five female councilmembers.
Hundreds of people showed up to attend the first meeting of the new year, resulting in the council chambers reaching capacity a half-hour before the meeting was scheduled to begin.
The council members made statements following their oaths of office, addressing their election to office and what direction the council needs to take next. Nearly all members voiced concerns over housing affordability, human services and homelessness, in addition to education and transportation.
New representation
Bruce Harrell, now serving his third term in office, was unanimously elected council president after being nominated by City Councilmember Mike O’Brien. Harrell received the only nomination.
“When I listen and I see the red signs of fierce advocates for unserved and under-represented populations, and I see nationally how brutally people are being treated throughout this country, I am constantly reminded about the cruel and inhumane treatment that certain people conduct when they have the upper-hand in power,” Harrell said during his acceptance speech.
He then refers to new council members Lorena Gonzalez and Debora Juarez, the council’s first Latino and Native American representatives, respectively: “The city needs to be led by people who know what it means to be without power, who were called names, who were told they were inferior, told that they would not exceed, told they were second-class citizens.”
Juarez, who was sworn in by her two daughters and a niece, spoke about being a member of the Blackfoot nation, as well as Latino. Despite having lost her voice, she gave a moving speech about how she felt about being elected. She spoke of one of her inspirations, Chief Wilma ManKiller, the first female chief elected in 1985, who was approached by a man in 1992 about a prophecy he had, stating that he felt it was the year of the woman.
“She smiled and thought of the recent appointment of judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, then Hillary Rodham Clinton’s work on health care and other recent high-profile women,” Juarez said. “She smiled. She thought about it all day and kept smiling — that is how I feel today.”
Gonzalez said it is the City Council’s job to be the voice for all of those who were pushed into the shadows, for immigrants and refugees who came looking for a new life. She said the council must work to address the issue of homelessness, income inequality and affordable housing. Her words were echoed by Lisa Herbold and Sally Bagshaw, who is now serving her third term.
“While 2015 was a year of change, I am sure that 2016 will be a year of action,” Gonzalez said.
New District 4 Councilmember Rob Johnson commended the council for approving funding to address homelessness, as well as opening the door for for-hire and ride-sharing members to unionize, but he said long-term planning is needed to ensure progress continues. He outlined his goals for office, noting a more efficient and affordable transportation system for the community is greatly needed.
He also spoke about education, restating his belief that there need to be seats for all students through an open and meaningful dialogue between educators and the community.
Former council president Tim Burgess also touched on education, reporting the city’s preschool program is off to a great start with 15 new classrooms, one more than originally scheduled, but then eight more students than anticipated enrolled. He also spoke about the lag in education being experienced across the nation, stating while several other countries have been able to overcome shortfalls with early education, the United States is still behind.
“Tragically, many Seattle kids enter kindergarten already behind their peers, and it will be nearly impossible for them to catch up,” Burgess said, pledging to work on the issue.
New voices
O’Brien had his oath administered by Courtney B. Lauer, someone he said had inspired him. He said her story was reason for the council to take action, reporting that Lauer, her husband and three children had moved to Seattle but ended up living on the street, sleeping in Woodland Park. Now living in a homeless camp and transitional housing, the family must leave the shelter by the end of March, O’Brien said. They were granted a housing voucher, but it is set to expire in February. So far, Lauer has been unable to find affordable housing.
“We hear too many stories like Courtney’s in Seattle,” O’Brien said.
Given the chance to speak, Lauer thanked the City of Seattle for all of its help but cautioned there are other families still living on the street.
“We’re only one family,” she said. “There are a bunch of families that can barely survive, so I’m hoping that it gets better for everybody.”
District 3 City Councilmember Kshama Sawant made a strong appeal for a socialism movement, putting people before profits. Dozens of supporters held signs calling for rent control and taxation of the rich, ideas promoted by Sawant.
She said a Supreme Court ruling should not stand in the way of a millionaires’ tax, calling for an end to developers and corporations dictating conditions and compensation to their workers, particularly with regard to affordable housing and paid parental leave.
“The rights of workers and employees and unrepresented communities, right now in the national discussion, are being obliterated,” Harrell said. “When you listen to the presidential rhetoric you hear, it is almost laughable when they proclaim immigrants should be barred from coming to this country. They don’t seem to understand the concept of corporate responsibility, their obligation or other concerns, other than just extracting profits. I am convinced that through the advocacy of Councilmembers Sawant and Herbold that these kinds of voices, your voices will be heard in unprecedented levels in city hall.”
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