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It’s time to take action. The State Senate is about to embark on a “listening tour”, with a series of Transportation Forums around the state. If they can come to agreement, Governor Inslee is prepared to call a special session in November to pass a transportation package. It’s up to us to make sure that King County gets a local funding option for public transit this year – it’s pretty much our last chance to stop deep service cuts.

If you do just one thing this month for public transit, let it be this: be there in Bellevue next Tuesday evening, September 17, for the first of the State Senate’s Forums. This is our opportunity to speak out for public transit – and to call out the Majority Coalition Caucus (including Sen. Rodney Tom) on their anti-transit, anti-union, anti-environment, anti-worker agenda. RSVP to contact@transitriders.org (or call 206-651-4282) if you can be there on September 17.

Senate “Transportation Leadership Forum”

Tuesday, September 17, 6:00–9:00pm*

Stevenson Elementary School

14220 NE 8th St., Bellevue 98007

* We will be rallying outside at 5:30 pm –Take the 550, 545, or 268 from downtown Seattle, then transfer to Rapid Ride B.

TRU has pledged to support the boycott of Grand Hyatt Seattle and Hyatt at Olive 8 called by UNITE HERE Local 8.  You can read our resolution below, and please read more and pledge your support here yourself!

Read more

Here are our endorsements for the upcoming Seattle and King County elections:

Mayor of Seattle: MIKE MCGINN

Seattle City Council Position 2: KSHAMA SAWANT

Seattle City Council Position 4: SALLY BAGSHAW

Seattle City Council Position 6: NICK LICATA

Seattle City Council Position 8: MIKE O’BRIEN

King County Executive: DOW CONSTANTINE

King County Council District 1: ROD DEMBOWSKI or NAOMI WILSON (no preferential endorsement)

King County Council District 5: DAVE UPTHEGROVE *

King County Council District 9: SHARI SONG

* Dave Upthegrove’s opponent, Andy Massagli, did not respond to our survey for local candidates. However, he did respond to our 2012 survey for candidates running for state legislature, and expressed the opinion that a “bicycle or walking shoe tax” would be a more appropriate way to fund public transit than taxing cars. Or better: “an alcohol or gang tax would target the riding demographic beautifully. Maybe a sagging pants that shows your underwear tax is in order”. Vote for UPTHEGROVE, people!

Our condolences and support go out to the Metro Driver who was shot downtown on the Route 27 bus yesterday morning.

Your bus driver has a dangerous job.  Thank him or her today!  Maybe Seattle needs a bus driver appreciation week.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the WTF, Olympia? Rally on July 27!  Here is a link to videos of all the speakers — thank you to Peter Brannan for recording and editing the video:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-FRfFVPTNVXL43Hq2Pk4-WranjkzXwWQ

And here’s a write-up about the rally in the Seattle Transit Blog:

https://seattletransitblog.com/2013/07/29/tru-takes-hard-line-electeds-pin-blame-on-sen-tom/

We got last-minute confirmations today from Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle King County NAACP President James Bible.  Our updated speaker line-up (order may shift a bit) is below.

Don’t forget to bring your grievances for Sen. Rodney Tom!

• Katie Wilson (TRU)
• Exec. Dow Constantine
• Mayor Mike McGinn
• Rep. Gael Tarleton
• Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles
• Jacob Struiksma (TRU)
• Verita Alexander (ATU/Metro Driver)
• Anita Nath (PSARA)
• Kshama Sawant (Socialist Alternative/City Council candidate)
• James Bible (NAACP Pres.)
• Scott Myers (TRU)

Print a poster     Print some flyers     And come to the rally!

The rally will start at noon at City Hall Park, the grassy park on the south side of the King County Courthouse at 3rd and Yesler, 450 3rd Avenue.

Here’s our new guest speaker line-up – several TRU organizers and members will be speaking too.  Stay tuned for updates:

• Rep. Gael Tarleton
• Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles
• Mayor Mike McGinn
• TRU Member Jacob Struiksma
• Metro Driver and ATU Executive Board Officer Verita Alexander
• PSARA Board Member Anita Nath
• Socialist Alternative activist and City Council candidate Kshama Sawant

On Tuesday we learned nation-wide vigils for Trayvon Martin have been called for this Saturday at noon, exactly the same time as the WTF, Olympia? rally. 

Out of respect for this national day of action and to avoid conflicting with the Seattle vigil, we have decided to reschedule WTF, Olympia? for the following Saturday, July 27. 

Vigil for Trayvon Martin at the Federal Building in Seattle

Here’s our guest speaker line-up so far! In addition to speakers from TRU:

• Larry Phillips (King County Councilmember)
• Mike McGinn (Mayor, City of Seattle)
• Jessyn Farrell (District 46 Representative)
• Nate Chappelle (Metro driver, ATU 587 Executive Board Officer)
• Jesse Hagopian (Garfield High School teacher, Social Equality Educators organizer)
• Anita Nath (Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action Board Member)
• Kshama Sawant (Socialist Alternative, Seattle City Council candidate)

Check back for updates!