**NOTICE**Given the current public health #COVIDー19 crisis, I have made the difficult decision to end my 12-week maternity leave early and return to work effective this Thursday, March 19, 2020. On that date, I will fully resume my Council President duties.
@CMTMosqueda will continue to serve as Council President Pro Tem through Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
Over the past several weeks, the circumstances have required me to engage more and more while on my maternity leave. I am immensely grateful to Councilmembers @Lisa_Herbold, Debora Juarez (@D5Juarez) and @CMTMosqueda for their service as Pro Tems while I am on maternity leave.
A special thank you goes to @CMTMosqueda, who has spent much of her Pro Tem assignment dealing with the the impacts of this pandemic on the operations of the Legislative Department and our City’s response to the pandemic; all while juggling new motherhood.
I also want to thank my rockstar staff aka #TeamLorena—Brianna, Cody and Vy—for all the work they've done to continue serving the Legislative Department and the people of Seattle while I have been focusing on healing and bonding with my daughter Nadia, who is now 9 weeks old.
@SeattleCouncil’s staff — from technology, to communications, analysts, administrative and aides — have all done a phenomenal job adapting to and complying with #SocialDistancing recommendations while fulfilling their ongoing work demands.
While it is difficult to end my maternity leave early, I’m excited to transition back into full-time work to work with my @SeattleCouncil colleagues, @MayorJenny and our state and regional partners on the #COVIDー19 response and non-#COVIDー19 work that demands our attention.
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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