Written by Collin R.
On the 11th of February 2025, the voters of Seattle will decide the fate of Proposition 1A: the people’s plan to dedicate funding to the Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD). Seattle DSA worked in coalition with House Our Neighbors on Initiative 135 to create the Seattle Social Housing Developer and Initiative 137 (I-137) to get Proposition 1A on the ballot, which is it is essential that we as socialists mobilize to ensure the success of this important step towards creating a more equitable city.
Proposition 1A will create a 5% excess payroll compensation tax on businesses paying an employee more than $1 million, which will raise ~$50 million per-year—enough to provide 2000 social housing units to a city over the next 10 years. TLDR: the wealthiest corporations of Seattle will contribute 5 cents of every dollar they pay an employee above $1 million to house thousands of their neighbors.
Politically, it is essential that we nullify the dirty tactics of the corporate backed members of the city council. After delaying the adoption of I-137 to appease their corporate backers to ensure it wouldn’t appear on the high-turnout November ballot, councilmembers Maritza Rivera, Cathy Moore, Sara Nelson, Joy Hollingsworth, Rob Saka, and Robert Kettle are attempting to hijack the people’s initiative with Proposition 1B: the Chamber of Commerce’s plan to strangle the SSHD in one hand and the city’s JumpStart funding in the other.
Proposition 1B would generate but one fifth of Proposition 1A’s funding and sunset after 5 years, meaning the SSHD will neither be able to provide nearly enough housing to even slightly close the housing deficit nor capitalize on experience with long-term plans. Most insidiously, Proposition 1B robs Peter to pay Paul: it plans to fund the SSHD by taking $10 million from JumpStart funding, an already existing payroll tax which funds private affordable housing, nutrition assistance, grants to small businesses, and support for immigrant families. Apparently, Maritza Rivera, Cathy Moore, and Robert Kettle think there isn’t a housing crisis, people face no difficulties affording food, small businesses have no financial issues, and immigrants can be ignored.
Ensuring Proposition 1A passes is a critical step forward for the socialist movement in Seattle and the United States. Proposition 1A validates the political labor our comrades have contributed to organizing a robust social housing program in Seattle, and represents a mandate for socialist housing policy over the current ineffective privatized approach. Seattle voters are tired of the tent cities adjacent to neighborhoods lined with walled mansions that materially and symbolically embody capitalist barbarism. Not only us socialists, but all ethically conscious human beings demand the equitable decency that social housing provides. Adequately funding the SSHD is especially critical given the current financial climate, as private affordable housing developers are suffering from a capital crunch due to ballooning costs. A dedicated revenue stream will insulate the provision of affordable housing from market fluctuations, and while 2000 units over the next 10 years is far from enough to alleviate the city’s housing crisis, it’s an essential step in proving that a better world is possible.
Without establishing an independent funding mechanism to provision the Seattle Social Housing Developer, the housing crisis will exacerbate and inequalities will widen. This is exactly why tens of thousands of voters signed I-137: to establish a new and independent funding mechanism for the SSHD. Proposition 1A will fulfill this goal, while Proposition 1B will only further strain the already overburdened funding bottlenecks in affordable housing. As socialists, we must mobilize to ensure our city takes a step on the right side of history.
Join us the morning of January 4th to kick off 2025 talking to voters about raising progressive revenue to fund permanently affordable social housing! Dozens of volunteers all across the city will be knocking doors letting voters know that they have a chance to lead the nation on a proven housing solution. With Proposition 1A, Seattle will take a leap forward towards addressing the housing crisis – but we need your help to make that possible!
Starting Jan. 4th through election day on Feb. 11th we will be knocking thousands of doors turning out our neighbors who support and benefit the most from social housing. Once folks arrive around 10:30am, we will have a short training on door knocking, Proposition 1A, and social housing so you are set up for success at the doors. At around 11:00am we will officially kick off and start hitting the doors!
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the field director Ben Ferlo at [email protected]. We hope to see you then – let’s build social housing!
RSVP for the kickoff events happening nearest to you to receive any updates or changes to this event!
Beacon Hill: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747105/
Capitol Hill: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747089/
Columbia City: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747088/
Fremont: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747087/
North U-District: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747093/
Wallingford: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747092/