“Seattle City Council just voted 7-2 for a big business tax that will raise at least $214+ million dollars annually. The JumpStart legislation will provide relief to workers, families, and small businesses, and will fund energy-efficient, affordable housing and Green New Deal investments. This is a real step toward reversing Washington’s regressive tax system, and a downpayment on Seattle’s Green New Deal.”- 350Seattle

Thank you for gathering signatures Greens! From allies at TaxAmazon: Yesterday, Seattle City Council took the final vote to pass an Amazon Tax that will raise well over $200 million per year to fund affordable housing….

Clearly this is a huge win, raising over four times more than the Amazon Tax that City Council passed and then repealed in 2018. This time they did not cave to the corporate pressure, and instead voted to empower the citizens of Seattle. This was a hard won victory (shout out to Transit Rider’s Union), one that deserved more than lip service the first time around, and riding on the crest of this victory, the movement needs to decide what to do next to maximize empowerment for the grassroots.

On July 8th, (Wednesday evening) the followup TaxAmazon Action Conference will be at 6pm on zoom (link here). Check out the resolution proposed by the Tax Amazon Coordinating Committee here, and please join this important discussion!

“Amid the coronavirus lockdown, local governments everywhere are rolling out budget cuts. Corporate politicians hope to make working people pay for this crisis while wealthy businesses like Amazon make record profits and Wall Street gets trillions in bailouts. In Seattle, our victory signals a reversal of this trend. This is an offensive victory to expand progressive funding for working people’s needs, rather than the attacks on public services being brutally carried out by political establishments across the country. Now is the time to spread this victory across the country. We saw this happen with the $15 minimum wage — let’s make it happen with Tax Amazon! Our rallying cry everywhere must be: NO to austerity and attacks on public services! Tax big business and the rich, not working people!“

“Last Wednesday, July 1st, the Seattle City Council voted 7-2 in its Budget Committee for a tax on Amazon and big business that will raise an estimated $240 million annually! This is a historic victory for working people and the direct result of the pressure of our grassroots movement which collected 27,000 signatures for an independent ballot initiative in just one month.

We won something truly groundbreaking on Wednesday, but the battle is not over yet — at this pivotal moment, our movement must remain vigilant in fighting against every corporate loophole until the last hour and ensuring the City Council finalizes the Amazon Tax at meeting.

In 2018, the City Council unanimously passed a similar Amazon Tax, only to repeal it weeks later. The only way to defend our Amazon Tax and prevent future attacks from big business is to keep up the pressure with the threat of our independent ballot initiative!

This weekend, we know that big business will be holding closed door meetings, using every tool at their disposal to try to stop, weaken or delay our Amazon Tax. This includes rolling back the two amendments our movement won to strengthen the legislation by adding $40 million in additional funding and removing the ‘sunset clause,’ which would insert an expiration date on our progressive tax. We absolutely cannot afford to slow down. 

We need all our supporters to go ALL OUT this weekend to smash our goal of 30,000 signatures. That’s why we’re hosting a FINAL MEGACANVASS this weekend to collect as many signatures as possible!

The Democratic establishment politicians and the corporate media are, of course, attempting to erase the role of our Tax Amazon movement in this victory. Check out this op-ed by Councilmember Sawant in The Nation which sets the record straight and share it on social media.”

Several of us are collecting signatures for this effort in full pandemic regalia, hand sanitizer, the works while we also collect for ballot access and an emergency Washington Single Payer health plan.

Let’s get Ballot Access Greens. Send those petition signatures in! Don’t let a little pandemic keep us off the Washington State Ballot. We are not Libertarians, we can’t just throw money at signature gatherers, okay?

“2020 Annual National Meeting and Presidential Nominating Convention

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic we must hold a virtual convention online.

July 9, 2020 – July 12, 2020
Presidential Nominating Convention: July 11th, Noon-8pm Eastern Time
$100 registration fee

Members of the media may apply online for credentials to cover this event

Green Party US is grateful to the Detroit Green Party and Wayne State University, who were originally going to host this year’s convention. They have been gracious partners as we have navigated this unprecedented situation. We look forward to convening in Detroit in a future year.

We are hard at work developing a convention format and tool suite to hold a democratic, deliberative and inspiring event to launch the Green Party’s general election campaign.

This will take substantial resources and so we still request delegates and those who otherwise would have attended in Detroit to contribute a registration fee as usual.“

In case you missed our Washington caucus results:

Dario/Darlene : 3 WA delegates.

Howie/Angela: 2 WA delegates.

More details for our delegates.

Fight back against the Divide and Conquer tactics that oppress, repress, and suppress new solutions. Build bridges, don’t burn crap down in your own backyard, who does that really serve? Just keep swimming.

Movement for a People’s Party solidarity events on July 11th and “Building a Broader Coalition”

On the national front, Movement for A People’s Party is planning several direct actions on July 11th to appeal to legislators with their slate (everyone’s slate) of demands from the people. Their 3rd Party vision is shared by so many of us. In reality the systemic barriers of the Duopoly create a ceiling seemingly close enough to touch, but not to break through.

From Shelby at MPP to GPSEA: “We are having a nationwide rally to demand multiple progressive policies. Medicare for all, climate change, and better covid relief. This is set for July 11th and Seattle is not on the map. Which it should be. We have to stand outside our reps homes and demand they help us. I am reaching out because I am sympathetic to your cause and want to extend the offer to be a part of the movement so we in Washington can demand our rights too. That and any sister organization you are in talks with. I would like this to serve as an open dialogue to plan a socially distant rally. If your group is interested.”

This is happening at the same time as our Green Party Primary, but for those of us who are not delegates this year we encourage you to observe, participate, and report back at the August GPSEA meeting.

Solidarity starts at home Seattle Ecosocialists. Let’s support our allies.

Movement for A People’s Party: https://peoplesparty.org/coalition/

Seattle People’s Party: https://seattlepeoplesparty.com/
Socialist Alternative Seattle: [email protected].
Washington Progressive Party: https://www.waprogressiveparty.org/

A note from Green Party of Washington Ballot Access Coordinators:

GPUS and GPWA are now urgently collecting the petitions required to gain WA State election ballot access & status for the Green Party for the 2020 federal elections.
WA State denies the Green Party automatic access to the WA State election ballot and imposes a voter petition requirement on the GPUS.

We are now reaching out to you and your friends and co-workers to help collect 2,000 voter signatures before 25 July 2020 to qualify the Green Party for the WA State election ballot in November 2020.

Only currently registered voters in WA State can sign these petitions and they must sign with their full name as that name is recorded on their County Elections Dept voter registration and they must use their residence address as that address is recorded on their County Elections Dept voter registration (even if they moved to a new address but did not officially notify their County Elections Dept of their new address).
A copy of the WA State Petition is provided below this email for you to print out as a paper copy (only paper printout petition forms are acceptable), and there is also a website link provided from where you can print the petition too.  Please print copies of this petition and have your registered voter family, friends, and workmates sign the form now.

 Download the Green Party Nominating Petition here

Important – Send your completed petition form before 25 July via postal mail to:Green Party of Washington, PO Box 70493, Seattle, WA 98127  
As a follow-up contact to this email we will telephone you soon to remind you of the urgency for this petition gathering effort by all Green Party supporters and friends in WA State (unless you inform us via email that you do not need a tel call).  For any questions or assistance, please reply to this email address.

We look forward to a very effective and successful WA State election ballot access petition gathering effort with you.
Thank you for your support and involvement in the GP US and the GPWA.”

– Herb Camet, Jr., M.A., PCV
Member, Coordinating Council of GPWA

Stay up Peaceful Warriors.