General Secretary of the Transit Riders Union, I spend much of my time organizing and fighting for the basic things people in our communities need to live a dignified life: Housing. Shelter. Affordable, accessible, and reliable public transit.
When my comrades and I go to lawmakers and ask them to fund these essential needs, we hear the same reply again and again: “We’d like to, but there’s just not enough money.”
Of course, we know there’s enough money! The two richest humans in the history of the world live right here in King County. Scores of profitable mega-corporations do business and extract wealth here. The problem is, we’re not taxing the people who have all that wealth. Instead, we’re taxing the people who are struggling the most.
I joined the board of the Economic Opportunity Institute because EOI isn’t afraid to tackle the fundamental issues facing our city, state, and society – issues like progressive taxation.
And I’m incredibly grateful to EOI for another reason. EOI staff don’t just do vital research and policy work. They build meaningful partnerships with grassroots organizations. I know this first-hand.
In 2017, immediately following the election of #45, EOI and the Transit Riders Union teamed up to build the Trump-Proof Seattle Coalition. Over the course of a whirlwind six months, we built a movement for a progressive taxation that won a unanimous city council vote passing Seattle’s pioneering income tax on affluent households.
Now together, we’re doing battle with the Freedom Foundation and other forces of reaction as our legislation heads to the Washington State Supreme Court. If we win, this would raise $175 million a year in Seattle – revenue that can go to affordable housing, free community college tuition, the homelessness crisis, transit, and green jobs.
EOI can’t keep doing this groundbreaking work without your support. Please give generously and power EOI into 2019!
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