Yesterday I asked UFCW 3000 Secretary-Treasurer @joe_miz three direct questions about his union's connection to the group that derailed WinCo's first Seattle store. He hasn't answered.
While we wait, let's talk about the mayor his union put in office. /1
In August 2025, @MayorofSeattle accepted the UFCW 3000 endorsement outside the closing Lake City Fred Meyer. She pledged to fight food deserts and explore a "public option" grocery store. UFCW 3000 launched their "Fresh Food for All" campaign at the same event.
(Source: The Urbanist, 9/25/25; KNKX, 9/25/25) /2
Seven months later, a Portland-based entity called "Lake Washington Working Families" derailed a 24-hour, employee-owned discount grocer from opening 3 miles away in the same council district. The Hearing Examiner sent the project back to Wilson's own SDCI for further review. Her administration now controls the timeline and scope of that review.
(Source: Hearing Examiner Case W-25-008) /3
Wilson's Director of Community Relations, Alex Gallo-Brown, came directly from UFCW 3000. Joe Mizrahi, UFCW 3000's Secretary-Treasurer, personally explained why the union endorsed her: "the conversation we've had over issues like the store closure."
(Sources: Center Square, 12/16/25; Seattle Times, 8/27/25) /4
@MayorofSeattle The union that put her in office has a documented 25-year pattern of using front groups to block non-union grocery stores. The building at 13550 Aurora has been vacant since 2018. And the mayor who campaigned on "fresh food for all" has said nothing.
/5
@MayorofSeattle @MayorofSeattle : do you support WinCo opening at 13550 Aurora Ave N?
Yes or no? /6
Sources:
UFCW 3000 endorsement at Lake City Fred Meyer: theurbanist.org/2025/09/25/kat…
Wilson "public option" grocery pledge: knkx.org/business/2025-…
Mizrahi quote on endorsement: seattletimes.com/seattle-news/p…
Wilson staff from UFCW 3000: thecentersquare.com/washington/art…
Hearing Examiner case file: web6.seattle.gov/Examiner/case/…
KING 5 coverage: king5.com/article/news/l…
/fin
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