Okay, let me first say before I speak.
Just run the show.
We're going to have Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck address the vantage point of this
good news from the council standpoint, I want to recognize Council President
Sarah Nelson is here with Councilmember Rob Saka
and finance chair, budget chair, Councilmember Dan Strauss.
Thank you for being here.
What I think what we're
I think the headline should be
City Hall is working.
We're working in a sense that we brought together business leaders,
the man and council working together,
human service providers, nonprofit organizations
and community leaders trying to look at what can we do
to make sure we have a vibrant small business community
employing people from their own communities.
One of the benefits of this job that I have is I get to go
to some of the coolest restaurants all over the city,
and the best tofu in the city
the city has to offer.
I'll go to Columbia City and West
Seattle, Bitter Lake, West... and,
Laurelhurst or, the Central District
and there's so many great stories
to tell, you know, that you could do that
about the vibrancy of the small businesses.
When we say they are truly the heart and soul of our neighborhoods,
they're creating jobs and white residents
and and character that is.
This proposal,
this plan on tax relief has been consistently highlighted in
so many discussions is one of the most effective ways
to support our small and medium sized businesses.
So by reducing taxes for 90% of small and medium sized businesses,
we are helping entrepreneurs pursue their dream.
We're helping ensure that they can continue to contribute
to the fabric of our neighborhoods and indeed our communities.
So this creates a pathway for a more affordable
Seattle for small and business medium businesses.
You know, we've looked at so many internal systems on how we can help as well.
And and at the same time, this legislation
helps secure funding for
essential services and programs that our residents rely on.
These services include affordable housing vouchers
and shelter food bank supports for survivors of gender based violence.
You heard in the council deliberations.
Cancer research institutions all of which
have the threat of funding,
based on the rhetoric
and the nonsensical positions taking in the Trump administration.
I've used terms like the federal government
should have a secret pact with cities.
I don't see that term lightly.
It is very clear that, in our opinion, based on our values here in the city,
that we believe they are abandoning their responsibility
to provide these social safety net
that is so critically needed to help all communities.
So this balanced approach and this very thoughtful approach that the City Council
really deliberated on, I heard, was a few snippets, a few speeches.
I will comment on some of those speeches, but they were well done.
I'll just put it that way.
They were heartfelt.
I'm really happy to hear that this balanced approach, relief for small
businesses and raising new progressive revenue underscores our city's commitment
to both economic growth and community resilience.
So my signing this legislation places
this proposal on the ballot for November 2025.
I'm not mistaken, there's a few other issues on that ballot.
I recall.
I thought i was going to get a better laugh than that.
That we look forward to the voters decision and,
and again, my heartfelt thanks to the community
and community leaders, Councilmember Mercedes Rink, as a freshman or
fresh person, I guess, on the city council should be very proud of the leadership.
The council
Is really doing well in terms of making sure they're having an honest
and transparent and a value based discussion.
On this proposal.
And they demonstrated their ability to do so.
Speaking next, Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rink,
and we're proud to partner again with you on this proposal.
And the entire council for this innovative revenue solution.
And again, congratulations. And you have the microphone.
(applause)
- Hello everyone.
Thank you, Mayor Harrell, for those kind words.
Thank you to my colleagues as well that are here today.
I am Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rink.
And thank you all so much for being here to celebrate
this incredible win for the people of Seattle.
Today is a big day as we celebrate the passage
of the Seattle Shield Initiative through Seattle City Council.
As we are set to send this to voters.
When the Trump administration took office and kicked off a flurry of executive
orders, throwing federal money
or federal workforce and our civil rights into jeopardy.
Seattle City Council responded by standing up the Select
Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes to understand
these impacts to our city
and the Trump regime's actions since taking office in January has shaken
any sense of stability and predictability for our businesses
and have eliminated or attempted to eliminate entire categories
of economic support for cities like Seattle.
We built the Seattle Shield Initiative proposal as a well researched, thoroughly
stakeholder, and strongly vetted response to this constellation of challenges.
Once Seattle voters provide us with this tool, this more progressive
rebalancing of our piano tax, we will ensure that critical city services
are maintains despite challenges with our budget or the Trump regime
today.
And with this proposal, we can simultaneously
do this while shielding our small businesses.
The heartbeat of our neighborhoods from economic uncertainty.
This bill, crafted in partnership with Mayor Harrell
and that council just unanimously passed,
represents the work of all of us.
We worked together to draft, fine tune and amend this.
We worked with countless stakeholders the small business community,
unions and human services
providers across sectors, many of whom are present with us today.
And together, we've shown
that local government can step up when federal leadership steps back.
Together, we're saying Seattle will remain a city
that chooses collaboration over division, because we know
when we invest in each other, we can build a future.
We all deserve.
And I believe
when we give Seattle voters the choice this November, they will choose to seal
shields our city and protect what matters most one another.
So to close out, I want to thank Mayor Harrell
and the entire team at the mayor's office, the City Budget office, council
central staff, the Office of Economic and Revenue forecasts, my team in Office
Position eight, and my colleagues on Second City Council for their partnership
in developing this legislation and passing it unanimously.
And I want to thank the Seattle
Human Services Coalition and our human services providers and labor
and our union partners, small business leaders from the West Seattle Chamber.
You spend time with my team to workshop this proposal and champions.
This is for all of you.
Let's do this. Thank you.
(applause)
- And I
like to thank the City Budget Office and the Council,
the revenue forecast,
my staff and colleagues and friends on the council.
And I like to thank the Human Services Coalition and service providers
and MLK labor and union partners, small business leaders.
Okay.
Thank you for that.
Ok.
If there's any if there's any questions will entertain a few,
but we want to, signs legislations and really, shakes hands.
And so are there any questions?
I don't want to deprive you of the opportunity to ask any questions.
Hearing none, I'm going to count us down.
3, 2, One Seattle.
Yeah.
Okay. Let’s sign some legislation.
(applause)
Let's get that good photo out.
Here we go.
Good.
Okay, great.
Thank you.
Mayor.
Okay.
All right.
The crowd said yay!
(applause)