A lot of reporters working on Seattle City Council election analysis are still stuck at "results are mixed", or putting too much emphasis on Sawant losing (when results aren't fully in). Results aren't mixed - last night was a bad night for Amazon. Follow along to see why.
Imagine the Chamber and Amazon honchos this morning looking at City Council strategy for next year. The labor/social justice bloc starts with Gonzalez, Mosqueda and Herbold. That group just added Morales, Strauss and Lewis. 6 of 9 without Kshama (or an often sympathetic Jaurez)!
Those business honchos are not sitting there clapping each other on the back saying "We killed it last night!" They're saying "crap - how the hell do we get to five votes on anything - we have completely lost control of the council."
One might argue that was already true - but the council the last two years was in transition, without a solid majority forming in either direction. During my term, the Chamber had a solid 7-2 bloc. That's what the Chamber was hoping to recreate. Last night, they lost more ground.
The Chamber has to keep spinning that the results were mixed. Or that Kshama possibly losing is a big story. The real story - their money backfired - only reduces their future influence. They're desperately spinning what they know isn't true, because it's all they got.
Business interests deeply dislike Kshama, but they fear what a labor/social justice movement can pass. Those constituencies already won paid sick leave, minimum wage, secure scheduling, hotel worker rights, tenant protections, etc. They're now stronger, with more council allies
I know that with all the spinning it can be hard to keep score at home. But those that have been in trenches of passing legislation can do the math. Need some historians here, but in my years of city politics I can't remember when big business had fewer solid allies on council.
Having said that, a council majority still has to unite around an agenda that the public can support. They face a Mayor elected with Amazon dollars and aligned with the Chamber. The corporatists still have big bullhorns and influence. But last night they lost the council.
