TAKE ACTION

WI UPDATES

Everyone who joined us on Thursday at Tutta Bella had a great time! Creating more opportunities for connections among our members was a refrain we heard – noted!

The Washington State Legislature will be back in session starting Jan 12. It is the “short” session (60 days) and things will move fast. Given deficit projections, energy will be focused on the budget and the tension between raising new revenue (and continuing to address our upside-down tax policies) versus cutting deeper into our social services. You’ll see actions below that you can take now and a zoom session to get you ready to engage!

Seattle also faces a budget deficit, and our incoming Mayor faces the previous administration’s unsustainable budget. Mayor Wilson appears to be making smart moves to build a diverse administration balancing vision and pragmatism. You’ll see actions below that you can take now.

FEDERAL ACTIONS

Note. Signing online letters and petitions are not necessarily effective as identical mass messages do not have any official weight and are often ignored by targeted decision-makers. They are often used simply to build the organization's database for donations. Unless you can customize the message, it’s better to compose a few sentences yourself and send them directly.

Demand a Congressional investigation into Hegseth’s extrajudicial killings

Use the Indivisible template for talking points. Then compose a few sentences of your own and contact your Rep and our Senators to demand an investigation!

• Senator Murray: (DC) 202-224-2621 Email (You don't need to select a Topic.)

• Senator Cantwell: (DC) 202-224-3441 Email (Topic = Department of Defense)

• Rep. Jayapal: (DC) 202-225-3106 Email (Topic = Defense and Military)

Tell your electeds to ensure HUD continues to fund the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program

HUD’s CoC Program funds state, local, and nonprofits activities to rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Last week HUD temporarily revoked a controversial policy change that would significantly cut funding for permanent housing. Voice you concern and ask your electeds to advocate for continued and uninterrupted funding of this program:

• Senator Murray: (DC) 202-224-2621 Email (You don't need to select a Topic.)

• Senator Cantwell: (DC) 202-224-3441 Email (Topic = Housing)

• Rep. Jayapal: (DC) 202-225-3106 Email (Topic = Housing)

Oppose rollbacks to endangered species protections by Dec 21

The attack against the Endangered Special Act (ESA) continues. There is a suite of proposed changes designed to limit the law’s effectiveness.

• ·Customize Earth Justice’s template and submit your comments.

STATE AND COUNTY ACTIONS

Tell your state electeds to pass progressive revenue and reject cuts

Gov Ferguson, while a fighter as AG, is less so – thus far – as Governor and has stated that his budget will rely on cuts. Progressive policy wonks see opportunity in this upcoming session to build on modest progressive revenue vehicles passed in the last session. Our electeds need to hear from us before the session starts. Customize and send both templates below:

• Tell Governor Ferguson and lawmakers to balance the budget by making Washington’s super rich and big corps pay what they owe

• Tell lawmakers to pass progressive revenue to prevent cuts.

Interested in holding ICE accountable?

The WA Indivisible Network has an Unmask ICE Workgroup working on passing state, county, and city legislation, ordinances, and proclamations that will hold federal agents accountable and require them to show their faces/ID/agency when interacting with the public. The workgroup meets on the third Wed of the month. 

• The next meeting is Dec 17, 4:30-5:30PM (RSVP) 

Sign up for Take Action Network (TAN)

WI provides curated actions, but given the scope and pace of the upcoming session, take advantage of the amazing work the Washington Indivisible Legislative Action (WILA) team does. They track bill actions you can take on topics like immigration, environmental policy, housing & homelessness, reproductive rights, voter registration, and police reform.

• TAN sign up instructions and training.

CITY ACTIONS

Tell Seattle City Council to deactivate Flock cameras

Other towns and cities, including in our area, have recognized the dangers to privacy and human rights of Flock’s license plate-recording cameras and deactivated their cameras. Seattle still has them (including at the parking lot of least one Home Depot—how handy for ICE!). There’s great info, tools, and talking points at DeFlock.  

• Email the Seattle City Council (council@seattle.gov) with your comments or to arrange a face-to-face meeting with your council rep.

Tell Seattle City Council to let CARE do their jobs

The city council rubber-stamped the latest contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG), providing 42% raises with few accountability concessions. Read Councilmember Saka’s reasons for a No vote.

The city just added $7 million to the budget to expand the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Team to 48 responders, social workers who can respond to low-risk 911 calls without a police escort. However, the SPOG contract effectively prohibits them from responding to most crisis calls, forcing them to call the police.

Although the contract is a done deal, there is a  Memo Of Understanding (MOU) between the SPD and the Community Assisted Response and Engagement Team (CARE) to allow the CARE team to respond to low-risk 911 calls without a police escort.

• Tell our City Council to reopen the MOU and allow the CARE Team to do their jobs, even if the police union opposes it.
  Email: council@seattle.gov

GRATITUDE ACTIONS

As the weather turns cold and blustery, Julie will be collecting new or gently used donations of gloves, mittens, winter scarves, and blankets for the Whittier Heights Tiny Village for Women. 

• Drop off at 10233 Valmay Ave NW, in the designated box on the front porch.

WI OPPORTUNITIES

Urgent request to help prepare for potential National Guard here! WI is collaborating with Seattle-area groups supporting the United Veteran Civilian Response (UVCR) efforts to prepare for potential National Guard deployment in Seattle. Contact Julie to join.