On September 22, the Trump Administration announced a proposed rule change would negatively impact certain immigrants and immigrant families who access public services that help them stay healthy or pursue education and economic stability.
The government is proposing to change the public charge policy dramatically, to make it more difficult for low- and moderate-income families to come to and stay in the U.S.
This policy change is yet another way that the #Trump Administration is attacking immigrant communities in Seattle, in Washington State & across the Country. Passage of this rule will undoubtedly cause fear and terror amongst our immigrant communities in Seattle.
In WA State, food and nutrition advocates have expressed concern about the impact of this proposed rule on women, infants & children, in particular. Programs like the Women, Infants and Children or #WIC Food and Nutrition Services could be lost for mothers & their young children.
With passage of this resolution, the City of Seattle joins more than 80,000 people and organizations calling upon the federal government to abandon this proposed rule change.
I want to encourage the public to join us in submitting a comment in opposition to the proposed public charge rule change by no later than December 10, 2018. If you are interested in submitting a public comment, you can use the form that is available at protectingimmigrantfamilies.org
I want to thank the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition for their work here in Washington State to educate and mobilize the public to call for this proposed rule change to be rejected.
I intend to vote to override the Mayor's vetoes at tomorrow's special Full Council mtg.
This morning @ Council Briefing, I stated that I stand by what Council did this summer & I continue to believe these are the right policy choices. I will continue to support divestment. /1
b/c Council is required to follow the Open Public Meetings Act, I don't know the outcome of tomorrow's vote.
If vetoes are sustained, then the work we have collectively done is erased. This will mean zero dollars from 2020's budget for BIPOC-led community safety investments. /2
Today, I introduced an alternative bill that is a compromise between the Mayor and Council.
This bill will *ONLY* move forward if the vetoes are sustained by my colleagues.
Again, I plan to vote to override all the vetoes. /3
This weekend has been marked by great personal loss to those of us who knew and loved Rahwa Habte and Sarah Leyrer. Both from different walks of life. Both loved community, organized community and staunchly fought for what was right. Both gone too soon. Rest in Power. /1
I first met Sarah in law school. She was effervescent, quirky and had a heart pure as gold. I convinced her to work at Casa Latina and we often stood in store parking lots volunteering as legal observers to make sure day laborers were protected from ICE raids in South Seattle. /2
Like many of you, I have watched with dismay as the SPD has failed to demonstrate restraint or exercise the de-escalation principles that should be the hallmark of a truly reformed law enforcement department.
The culture change we are pushing for, and have been since 2010, has failed to materialize. The City Council has taken the initial votes to begin the process of transforming how the City of Seattle ensures community safety for everyone, particularly our BIPOC communities.
Meanwhile, the Mayor insists on sowing seeds of fear, intimidation and misinformation from a bully pulpit, further dividing our community in a time of unprecedented crisis. All the while, she calls for unity.
Today is a down-payment on community investments and an ongoing commitment to transform how we deliver community-supported public safety services across the city. /2
Our collective commitments now, plant the seeds and provide a blueprint for massive divestment from our militarized police force and reinvestment in community-based public safety #solutions. Phase 2 of this work begins in just 7 weeks. /3
This is great news for Child Care Providers across the Country, who are essential to our collective recovery from the #COVID19 crisis! Thanks to the House Members who voted in favor and many thanks to our Senator @PattyMurray, who needs our support to get this done! 💪/1
If passed, the #ChildCareIsEssential Act, "would provide grant money to child care providers in an effort to help the facilities reopen safely amid the coronavirus pandemic and stabilize the sector’s operations on Wednesday." /2
Additionally, the "Child Care for Economic Recovery Act, includes a number of tax provisions that are aimed at making child care more affordable for families and providing assistance to child-care providers." /3