1 00:00:00,083 --> 00:00:02,544 ♪♪ 2 00:00:02,544 --> 00:00:06,423 -Seattle Proposition 1: Seattle Transit Measure. 3 00:00:06,756 --> 00:00:09,968 Seattle Proposition 1, the Seattle Transit Measure, 4 00:00:09,968 --> 00:00:12,679 would dedicate funding to transit services 5 00:00:12,679 --> 00:00:17,017 benefiting Seattle residents, including more frequent service, 6 00:00:17,017 --> 00:00:20,645 affordable fare programs for qualifying individuals, 7 00:00:20,645 --> 00:00:24,190 reliability, access, and climate projects, 8 00:00:24,190 --> 00:00:27,360 enhanced service on rapid ride and routes serving 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,530 regional centers and high equity priority areas, 10 00:00:30,530 --> 00:00:36,202 facilitation of Sound Transit expansion, and other services as 11 00:00:36,202 --> 00:00:39,039 provided in Ordinance 127-474. 12 00:00:39,039 --> 00:00:44,085 Proposition 1 would authorize a 0.3% sales tax and use 13 00:00:44,085 --> 00:00:46,087 tax for up to 10 years. 14 00:00:46,087 --> 00:00:48,840 The tax would replace the current voter-approved 15 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:55,096 0.15% sales tax expiring March 31, 2027. 16 00:00:55,096 --> 00:00:59,267 The new tax would go into effect April 1, 2027. 17 00:01:01,311 --> 00:01:04,439 -If you catch a bus after dark, you know the wait. 18 00:01:04,439 --> 00:01:06,274 The schedule says 10 minutes. 19 00:01:06,274 --> 00:01:09,110 You stand there for 30, and you get home an hour 20 00:01:09,110 --> 00:01:10,612 later than you planned. 21 00:01:10,612 --> 00:01:13,573 On a good route, the bus shows up and you forget about it. 22 00:01:13,573 --> 00:01:17,077 On a thin one, you plan your whole evening around it. 23 00:01:17,077 --> 00:01:20,663 Seattle voted in 2020 for more bus service, and that money 24 00:01:20,663 --> 00:01:22,248 did what we said it would. 25 00:01:22,248 --> 00:01:25,418 Buses come more often on the routes people ride most. 26 00:01:25,418 --> 00:01:28,880 And 10,000 of our neighbors ride with a free pass. 27 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,925 That funding runs out in 2027. 28 00:01:31,925 --> 00:01:34,594 If Proposition 1 fails, the extra service we 29 00:01:34,594 --> 00:01:36,096 bought with it goes away. 30 00:01:37,263 --> 00:01:40,642 Proposition 1 renews the funding for $29 more 31 00:01:40,642 --> 00:01:42,227 a year per household. 32 00:01:42,227 --> 00:01:45,146 With this funding, buses will come more often, and 33 00:01:45,146 --> 00:01:48,316 they will keep running later at night and on weekends. 34 00:01:48,316 --> 00:01:51,694 The free passes for Seattleites who cannot cover 35 00:01:51,694 --> 00:01:55,240 the fare will double, from 10,000 people to 22,000. 36 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,618 For a family, a bus you can count on means skipping the 37 00:01:58,618 --> 00:02:00,286 cost of gas or a second car. 38 00:02:00,286 --> 00:02:03,331 For a neighbor who stopped driving, it means getting 39 00:02:03,331 --> 00:02:06,042 to the doctor without asking anyone for a ride. 40 00:02:06,042 --> 00:02:09,379 Each of those trips is also one less car in traffic. 41 00:02:09,379 --> 00:02:12,549 Vote yes on Proposition 1 when your ballot comes. 42 00:02:12,549 --> 00:02:16,678 Proposition 1 is endorsed by Mayor Katie Wilson, King County 43 00:02:16,678 --> 00:02:20,515 Executive Girmay Zahilay, Seattle and King County 44 00:02:20,515 --> 00:02:25,520 Councilmembers, MLK Labor, ATU 587, King County Democrats, 45 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,898 Seattle Streets Alliance, 350 Seattle, Transit Riders 46 00:02:28,898 --> 00:02:31,526 Union, Transportation Choices Coalition, 47 00:02:31,526 --> 00:02:33,820 The Urbanist, FutureWise, and many more. 48 00:02:35,989 --> 00:02:38,992 -Seattle politicians say they care about affordability, 49 00:02:38,992 --> 00:02:41,828 then turn around and ask residents to approve another 50 00:02:41,828 --> 00:02:43,496 regressive sales tax increase. 51 00:02:43,496 --> 00:02:48,668 Proposition 1 would double the Seattle Transit Measure 52 00:02:48,668 --> 00:02:51,421 sales tax from 0.15% to 0.30%. 53 00:02:51,421 --> 00:02:55,633 That would push Seattle's combined sales tax rate to 54 00:02:55,633 --> 00:02:59,929 10.7%, among the highest in any major city in America. 55 00:02:59,929 --> 00:03:03,183 Before the government demands more from taxpayers, it should 56 00:03:03,183 --> 00:03:06,603 demonstrate accountability for the money it already receives. 57 00:03:06,603 --> 00:03:10,607 Proposition 1 includes funding connected to Sound Transit, an 58 00:03:10,607 --> 00:03:14,527 agency struggling to deliver projects voters were promised. 59 00:03:14,527 --> 00:03:17,405 Ballard and West Seattle residents have paid Sound 60 00:03:17,405 --> 00:03:20,408 Transit taxes for years, yet their planned light rail 61 00:03:20,408 --> 00:03:23,828 expansions continue to face massive financial challenges, 62 00:03:23,828 --> 00:03:25,330 delays, and uncertainty. 63 00:03:26,331 --> 00:03:29,209 At the same time, transit agencies are leaving 64 00:03:29,209 --> 00:03:30,919 fair revenue uncollected. 65 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,464 During the World Cup, at least one-third of Sound Transit 66 00:03:34,464 --> 00:03:36,424 riders boarded without paying. 67 00:03:36,424 --> 00:03:39,677 Why should taxpayers continually be asked to pay more when 68 00:03:39,677 --> 00:03:42,972 transit agencies will not consistently collect fares from 69 00:03:42,972 --> 00:03:44,557 the people using the system? 70 00:03:44,557 --> 00:03:47,894 Seattle families are already being squeezed by the rising 71 00:03:47,894 --> 00:03:51,105 cost of housing, food, utilities, and transportation. 72 00:03:51,105 --> 00:03:54,817 Sales taxes hit working families and lower-income residents 73 00:03:54,817 --> 00:03:58,571 hardest because they consume a larger share of their earnings. 74 00:03:58,571 --> 00:04:03,451 Proponents dismiss Proposition 1 as just $29 more, but that 75 00:04:03,451 --> 00:04:05,578 minimizes the real issue. 76 00:04:05,578 --> 00:04:09,040 Seattle's sales tax rate would rise 10.7%, and taxpayers 77 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,252 would again be asked to subsidize a system that has not 78 00:04:12,252 --> 00:04:14,254 delivered the promised results. 79 00:04:14,254 --> 00:04:17,924 Reliable transit matters, but so does accountability. 80 00:04:17,924 --> 00:04:21,219 City Hall and transit agencies should prioritize existing 81 00:04:21,219 --> 00:04:24,681 revenue, collect unpaid fares, manage projects responsibly, 82 00:04:24,681 --> 00:04:27,350 and prove taxpayers are getting results before 83 00:04:27,350 --> 00:04:29,185 demanding another tax increase. 84 00:04:29,185 --> 00:04:32,230 Doubling a regressive tax is not affordability. 85 00:04:32,230 --> 00:04:36,734 Vote no on Proposition 1 until accountability comes first.