The City of Seattle budget process is underway and we need your help! Mayor Durkan’s budget proposal for 2019-20 does not maintain our city’s current levels of human service funding and makes NONE of the additional investments needed to see the changes Seattle residents and businesses want in our communities. Moreover, the proposed budget cuts existing legal services for sexual assault survivors – funding that supports consultations and representation for protection orders, immigration, criminal and Title IX cases for approximately 100 survivors.
In light of #MeToo and the recent increase in demand for sexual assault
services in our region, this is unacceptable.
First and foremost, we demand no cuts to existing human service funding in Seattle! We support the Seattle Human Services Coalition’s 2019-20 budget recommendations to move us toward becoming a just and thriving community and we must urge our elected officials to fund the full portfolio. In particular, we know that funding the proposed County-Wide Domestic Violence Hotline and Attorneys for Sexual Violence Survivors recommendations are crucial steps to connecting survivors to the support they deserve.
The Attorneys for Sexual Violence Survivors recommendation was intended to fund an additional attorney – now that funding is needed to prevent a cut in services.
So what can you do?
Contact Councilmembers directly
Sooner is always better, but do it before October 25th!
Mike O’Brien, (206) 684-8800, mike.obrien@seattle.gov
Sally Bagshaw, (206) 684-8801, sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov
Lorena Gonzalez, (206) 684-8802, lorena.gonzalez@seattle.gov
Lisa Herbold, (206) 684-8803, lisa.herbold@seattle.gov
Bruce Harrell, (206) 684-8804, bruce.harrell@seattle.gov
Debora Juarez, (206) 684-8805, debora.juarez@seattle.gov
Teresa Mosqueda, (206)684-8806, teresa.mosqueda@seattle.gov
Kshama Sawant, (206) 684-8016, kshama.sawant@seattle.gov
Rob Johnson, (206) 684-8808, rob.johnson@seattle.gov
Join us at a public hearing where your presence will make a difference
Tuesday, October 23rd
5:30pm
Seattle City Hall – Council Chambers
600 4th Ave, 2nd Floor, 98104
Sign-in to testify usually starts at 4:30 or 5pm. You may want to arrive as early as 3pm to secure an earlier speaking time, but they will keep the hearing open until everyone who wants to testify has done so. Find tips and pointers on how the hearings work here.
“What should I say?”
Primary message: We support the Seattle Human Services Coalition’s 2019-20 budget recommendations to move us toward becoming a just and thriving community and we urge you to fund the full portfolio. Council should not approve any cuts to existing human service funding, including legal services for sexual assault survivors!
Always start with your support of the Seattle Human Services Coalition’s full portfolio, then talk about the need for programs that support survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Seattle, including the proposed County-Wide Domestic Violence Hotline and Attorneys for Sexual Violence Survivors. In particular, communicate that the proposed cuts to sexual assault legal services are unacceptable. Find more messaging here.
Let your voice be heard!