UPDATE: Citywide caravan urges City Council to override mayor’s budget-cuts veto

4:13 PM: When the City Council reconvenes tomorrow after its two-week end-of-summer recess, one big question looms: Will councilmembers vote to override Mayor Jenny Durkan‘s veto of their budget-“rebalancing” package? A daylong campaign urging an override is on the road around the city right now, and it started in West Seattle.

(WSB photos/video)

The “Labor Day Caravan for Black Lives,” organized by two coalitions supporting police-budget cuts and community-organization investment – Decriminalize Seattle and King County Equity Now – is going to each City Council district. It began with a District 1 mini-rally outside the Duwamish Longhouse and is scheduled to stop in each of the six other districts before the day’s out. Speakers were led by Nikkita Oliver:

But the focus is not only on police cuts, but also on other BIPOC community issues. For the Duwamish Tribe, the spotlight right now is on the safety project on West Marginal Way SW between the Longhouse and the riverfront parkland across the street, historic home to a Duwamish village. Longhouse director Jolene Haas spoke briefly about the need for advocacy.

After leaving the Longhouse, the caravan headed out for District 2, stopping in Rainier Beach; District 3, with a stop on Capitol Hill; and District 4, stopping at the UW, so far.

They’ve had a livestream going the whole time, with a discussion of community public-safety work inbetween stops; you can watch here. At least two City Councilmembers have shown up at caravan stops so far – citywide Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (a West Seattle resident) at the Longhouse, District 3’s Tammy Morales in Rainier Beach. As of right now, the vetoed legislation is not on the council’s agenda for tomorrow.

6:29 PM: The caravan just concluded, after the seventh and final rally, outside City Hall downtown.

Bradley September 7, 2020 (9:24 pm)

Don’t be intimidated. Create a viable, citizen driven plan, not based on emotions. Vote No until that time comes together.

Nick September 7, 2020 (10:03 pm)

I agree 100%

onion September 7, 2020 (9:26 pm)

I respect the goals of the protesters, but not the means. Major changes or shifts in Seattle’s budget priorities need to be put to a citywide referendum.

Bradley September 7, 2020 (10:15 pm)

WRT that, I find it offensive and hypocritical that the CM’s won’t answer e-mails, voice messages, or letters but will make themselves available at marches and front porch, late night rendezvous. This reeks of Special Interest that is so intolerant.
Azimuth September 7, 2020 (10:26 pm)

… agreed, including a clear 1, 2, 5, and 10 year plan to refocus our goals for rebalancing law enforcement and these other proposed forms of community care.
- WS2000 September 8, 2020 (8:31 am)
  
  It’s interesting how those (largely white people) who benefit from the current system demand to change the system when it looks as if it might benefit other (largely Black) people. * Did we have a citywide vote to reduce funding for mental health?* Did we have a citywide vote to reduce funding for community programs?* Did we have a citywide vote to put police in charge of responding to mental health issues?* Did we have a citywide vote to decide whether the police should be able to arm themselves with military style equipment?* Did we have a citywide vote on a police contract that allows police officers to earn virtually unlimited overtime?Changes or shifts in budget priorities is precisely the job of the city council, and this looks very much like a citizen-driven plan. If you’re a citizen and you have a different plan, organize and present it as effectively as these other citizens have done.
  - Blbl September 8, 2020 (10:32 am)
    
    Exactly, WS2000. Thank you!

Anne September 8, 2020 (8:30 am)

Have reached out to Lisa Herbold to explain how it is she ran for re-election with a campaign promise to hire more police -now wants to defund. Of course no answer- think she’d only do that if she was up for re-election now.

WSB September 8, 2020 (9:06 am)

She answered that way back in mid-July.
https://westseattleblog.com/2020/07/defund-spd-where-it-stands-what-its-about-and-how-west-seattles-city-councilmember-explains-her-change-on-police/
- ACG September 8, 2020 (9:56 am)
  
  I read that article and her explanation. That is fine to have a personal change of heart. But she is an elected official. She ran on a platform promising increasing and supporting police. People agreed with that platform and voted for her on that promise, and she won the election because of those votes. She was elected to carry out those major campaign points. That’s what she needs to do. I have heard other elected officials say that “I don’t personally support ________, but my constituents do and I was elected to represent them and not my own personal agenda”. And they cast their votes to represent their constituents. That is what should happen here. Bait and switch, otherwise.
  - MrsT September 8, 2020 (12:35 pm)
    
    I’d be furious if my elected representative Didn’t take new information into account when making such a big decision. In case you haven’t noticed a bunch of things have changed, or been revealed since the election. This entire line of thinking baffles me and makes me question the emotional intelligence of so many of my neighbors. Any person who can rightfully consider themselves reasonable must be willing to adjust their opinion when new information is introduced.
- Anne September 8, 2020 (10:38 am)
  
  Right-but sorry – she wanted our votes -she made a promise for that vote-I would like her to explain that with something other than-she had a change of heart. Guess she’s just like many politicians- any party-say/promise anything-to get elected- then do whatever they want.Put change in policing & how that should be accomplished to a vote of the people because we obviously can’t trust – at least in her case-her promise.

Black Lives Matter and Police Reform supporter September 8, 2020 (9:36 am)

Time to s*** or get off the pot. Protesting is fun and energizing, but it has become counter-productive in keeping positive energy and support among diverse groups of people who are are now sick of seeing continuous protests and associated destruction. News coverage is dwindling. The real work to create change is not glamorous or fun. Get off the streets and do the real work. Get out the vote. Join the work of police reform. Work on census response. Volunteer at food banks and animal shelters. It is time.

WSB September 8, 2020 (10:14 am)

This wasn’t a protest, nor was it destructive. (And as for news coverage dwindling, frankly, that’s because of the laziness of some others in the business who will just run out to the events that result in clashes, like the unrelated protest hours later outside SPOG – the caravan was absolutely newsworthy, although we only knew about it because I bumped into an indirect mention on Instagram; I don’t know who showed up at other stops but a TV station was at the Longhouse along with us.) It was actually a well-choreographed daylong political action – I kept the stream on for the rest of the afternoon while at the desk working on other stuff during the day and inbetween stops, there were discussions of both how the system works and how to advocate, get out the vote, etc., as well as interviews. Not to mention, the two coalitions that presented this ARE the ones who have been working on reform – whether you agree with their proposals/ideas or not, they ARE doing the work. I apologize that the sparseness of our “happening now” copy does not adequately convey all that. – TR
- Blbl September 8, 2020 (10:42 am)
  
  So true! And thank you so much for covering the demonstrations, from sign waving on the corner to marches down California, to the caravan, to neighborhood night marches. You said it – they are newsworthy and important.

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