Join us for the final 2021 Endorsements Meeting

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Votes on Seattle City Council Pos. 9, Seattle Mayor, Seattle City Attorney, King County Executive

Our September endorsements meeting will be held virtually at 7PM Tuesday, September 21st. Please register to receive the link for the meeting.

[Feel free to check out our 2021 endorsement rules.] The last date to become an eligible voting member in time for this meeting is September 11th.

Please see the agenda so that we all may stay on time! Candidates to be considered for endorsement are in the following races: Seattle City Council Position 9, Seattle Mayor, Seattle City Attorney, and King County Executive.

The Mutual Aid Committee has some draft rules!

We also have a handful of resolutions proposed—please be sure to read them before the meeting! They are as follows:

• in Support of a Select Committee for Climate in the Seattle City Council

• to Support Tubman Health Capital Campaign

• in Support of Reproductive Choice

• in Support of Continued Remote Testimony

Last but certainly not least, we'll have an update on redistricting! The redistricting commissioners will release their first set of draft maps earlier on the 21st, so we should be able to get a quick preview of what the new district boundaries may look like.

Become a 43rd PAC Founder Today!

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We’re excited to share the good news - the 43rd District Democrats have officially registered as a Political Action Committee! This PAC will allow us to directly support the candidates endorsed by our membership. We are excited to now be able to:

☑️ Get out the word about the outstanding candidates endorsed by the 43rd District Democrats

☑️ Professionally print endorsement literature for our Precinct Committee Officers and members to distribute

☑️ Host canvasses, phone banks, and other volunteer events for our endorsed candidates

Now we need your help - this work is possible only with your generous support, which is why we are asking you to join us as a founding member of the 43rd District Democrats PAC!

Founders will be celebrated at our September and October general meetings and on our website. Can we count on you?

Thank you as always for your continued support of the 43rd District Democrats!

Beyond Meetings

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There’s always more you can do!

Against Charter Amendment 29 (Compassion Seattle)

We passed a resolution against CA 29—in agreement with House Our Neighbors—but they need your help spreading the truth! Volunteer ASAP: HouseOurNeighbors.NationBuilder.com

Help our endorsed candidates!

• Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle Council Pos. 8 — http://TeamTeresa.org/volunteer/

• Toshiko Hasegawa, Port Commissioner Pos. 4 — HasegawaForPort.com/get-involved

• Hamdi Mohamed, Port Commissioner Pos. 3 — http://HamdiForPort.com/volunteers

• Michelle Sarju, Seattle School board D-5 — http://SarjuForSeattleSchools.com/join-us

• Vivian Song Maritz Seattle School Board D — https://vivian.school/

In Support of Kshama Sawant

(Since we oppose the recall campaign.) Recall efforts aim to take down on of Seattle’s most progressive and outspoken Councilmembers through this upcoming ballot in a December ballot. Sawant won her seat in office via democratic election, we have a responsibility to keep her there.

Fill out their volunteer form today: https://KshamaSolidarity.org/volunteer

Join us for our July Meeting!

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[Alt Text] Dark background with an artistic laptop at center left under a single-lightbulb light; the laptop displays the 43rd's logo. At center right, there's font saying "Join us for July!" with the Zoom logo by it and moving cursor

RSVP to receive a Zoom link!

Electing a new Meetings and Events Chair

At this meeting we will be electing a new Meetings & Events Chair to serve on our board and help us run our virtual and in person meetings. You can visit our website to learn more and please email our chair at chair@43rddemocrats.org if you are interested or with any questions that you have!

Endorsement Votes And Resolutions

The list of resolutions to be considered:

1. Resolution to Endorse House Our Neighbors (Endorsement of a “no” position on Seattle Charter Amendment 29)

2. Resolution to Endorse Whole Washington Initiative I-1362

3. Resolution to Support the #PayUp Campaign for Washington’s Gig Workers

4. Resolution in Support of Seattle for Everyone

Our Own Political Action Committee

At our July meeting we'll also consider bylaws and rules changes necessary for our organization to open a Political Action Committee and print endorsement sheets for the general election. If we approve the rules changes, we will also consider a budget for the PAC. If you have any questions about the proposed changes please email chair@43rddemocrats.org

1. Proposed Bylaws Changes

2. Proposed PAC Standing Rules

3. Proposed 43rd PAC Budget

The last date to become an eligible voting member in time for this meeting is July 10th.

Endorsements!

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Join us June 15th at 7pm for our 2021 endorsement meeting by submitting your RSVP here! Please find more information on the endorsements meeting including voting eligibility, endorsement rules, and candidate questionnaires on our endorsements page.

Please take a look at the agenda and read through the proposed resolution on Sustainable Mobility before joining so that we all may stay on time. Follow along on our Facebook event for reminders.

The last date to become an eligible voting member in time for this meeting is June 5.

Seattle City Council Forum

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June 3rd at 7pm

We will host a Seattle City Council Pos. 9 candidates forum with Nikkita Oliver, Brianna Thomas, Corey Eichner, and Sarah Nelson—be sure to RSVP!

We'll have local, longtime Seattle journalist Erica Barnett moderating the forum with prepared questions. If you would like to ask the candidates something, submit your questions here! The event will be live-streamed to our Facebook and archived there so anyone can watch at any time. Will we see you there?

Will we see you at our May General Meeting?

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It’s May 18; Be sure to RSVP!

We'll hear candidate statements from Sen. Joe Nguyen (running for King County Executive) and Nikkita Oliver (running for Seattle City Council Position 9). You will also have the opportunity to learn up on renter's rights through our local LGBTQ Allyship's presentation, and cover a legislative recap together with our 43rd Sen. Jamie Pedersen, Rep. Frank Chopp, and Rep. Nicole Macri!

To be respectful of everyone's time, please be sure to read through the agenda and resolutions beforehand. Our proposed resolutions are as follows:

• In Support of A 43rd Mutual Aid Committee (and an FAQ on Mutual Aid)

• On Transportation Plans And Highway Expansion

• In Support of A Seattle City Council Climate Committee

(Join early at 6:30PM for any technological or voting assistance.) Feel free to RSVP on Facebook, where we'll post reading reminders.

Did you miss our last meeting?

No fear! We recorded it. There were a lot of mayoral candidates who gave statements—which Capitol Hill Seattle Blog covered—and we passed a number of resolutions.

Join us for our April Meeting! (+some updates)

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Join us April 20th at 7pm

We'll hear from Congressional Rep. Adam Smith, King County Executive Dow Constantine running for re-election, Port Commissioner Stephanie Bowman for re-election, and mayoral candidates Jessyn Farrell, Andrew Grant Houston, Colleen Echohawk, Lorena González, and Bruce Harrell! Be sure to read through the agenda's linked items beforehand so we can all stay on time. (Come early at 6:30PM for any technological or voting assistance.) A link will be sent to you closer to the meeting date after you RSVP. Will you join us?

COVID-19 Vaccinations 16+!

Seattle has already opened sign-ups to its four mass vaccination sites to all King County residents and workers over the age of 16. Eligibility will expand statewide on April 15th.

Seattle's Eviction Moratorium

After we and so many other Seattleites sent letters to the mayor's office asking extension of the moratorium through the end of this year. Mayor Jenny Durkan decided to extend it through the end of June.

Legislative and Electoral Updates

Be sure to keep an eye out in your inboxes for routine Elections Committee and Policy & Advocacy Committee emails! We're doing our darnedest since March to keep you informed on local campaigns and any action you can take at the Legislature.

March General Meeting

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Happy Spring, everyone! We’ll be holding our virtual March meeting at the usual 7pm time on the 16th.

Please, take a look at the agenda for proposed resolutions you may vote on! Remember, you must be a 2021-registered 43rd Dems member to receive a vote code. RSVP here to receive the virtual meeting link closer to the meeting date. In the meantime, you may also RSVP to the Facebook event page where we'll post reading reminders of each proposed resolution throughout the week.

Virtual Trainings, The Eviction Moratorium, and Capital Gains

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Beginning March 16th:

The Washington Dems have partnered with the ASDC Best Practices Institute to ensure the most thorough and comprehensive training for all Local Party Leaders, PCOs, and amazing volunteers! The "Train The Trainer" (T3) program trains thousands at their own pace over six weeks, beginning March 16. But register for free by Sunday, March 14 at 8:59pm!

If you are a new LPO leader, a new PCO, or a new State Committee Member, please sign up. It’s a great refresher course for “experienced” folks as well, especially if you have not participated in a formal training over the last two years! This will replace the early 2021 Rise and Organizing Training that gives just a few hours of new material.  T3 gives you access to 12 hours of the latest techniques and tactics, again at your own pace, over six weeks.

T3 training classes will be “live” every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 - 5 p.m. PT, from March 16, through April 22.

Seattle’s Eviction Moratorium

At the end of this month, the Mayor's eviction moratorium will expire. This will put many in direct danger as the pandemic continues, the economy shrinks, and jobs lessen. In 2018, staggering 87.5% of evicted Seattle tenants became homeless. More than one in three became completely unsheltered. We can only imagine these statistics have worsened. It's irrefutable, expanding the eviction moratorium is harm reduction.

With a majority vote by the 43rd District Democrat's Board and in congruence with previously-passed resolutions, we have signed on to a 47-partnered letter asking for a continuation of the moratorium with an eye on non-payment and repayment plans passing through the Seattle City Council.

Interested in helping? You can! Seattle Transit Rider's Union has a written letter for you to send. We welcome adding in a short personal and relevant story showing how the eviction moratorium directly benefits--or the lack of one could harm--you or a loved one.

A Big Win at The Legislature!

Our Policy & Advocacy Committee has been busy tracking decided priority bills (link only showing which ones are still alive). But we're looking at a rather transformative moment for Washington:

After years of regressive taxes, things are looking up. The Capital Gains Tax has passed the Senate (the bill's repeatedly biggest hurdle) 25-24! The House looks like it will have the votes for the bill. While less than the originally -proposed tax, it would apply a 7% tax rate to capital gains over $250k/year. Real estate transactions (like home sales), retirement earnings, selling livestock, and income from selling a small business grossing under $10 million a year before sale are exempt. Less than 18,000 people (less than 0.25% of Washingtonians) would pay the tax. Read Melissa Santos' full Crosscut piece to see how this compares to similar proposals to tax the rich.