A judge of the Washington State Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that the sympathetic Seattle voting plan, which aims to overhaul the city’s homeless population policy, will not participate in the city’s November election.
Earlier this week, supporters of the Seattle movement appealed the August 27 ruling, removing the proposed city charter amendment from the ballot. King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer ruled that the measure goes beyond the state law governing charter amendments and initiatives because it sets specific expenditures for homeless services such as shelters-these powers Must be retained by elected officials.
“The rejection of our urgent appeal today means that Seattle voters must change the person in charge if they want to change the city’s failed approach to addressing the homelessness crisis,” a Seattle Sympathy spokesperson said on Friday.
“Although we are deeply disappointed, we will continue to share evidence that the method of our amendment can bring necessary and significant changes to those who do not have shelter in our parks and other public places.”
Sympathy for Seattle will require the city to improve services, build 2,000 shelters, and then demolish camps from public places such as parks and sidewalks. On Friday, King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer (Catherine Shaffer) stated that the initiative goes beyond state law by allowing the city’s budget to be authorized through a charter-intuitive process.
Just two months ago, supporters who sympathized with Seattle announced that the initiative would easily qualify for voting. According to its supporters, public opinion polls for the measure have been effective, with a support rate close to 65%. But critics such as the American Civil Liberties Union assert that because it requires cities to set up clear camps in parks and sidewalks (after housing and services are in place), it actually criminalizes homelessness.
But in the end, neither support nor opposition decided to sympathize with Seattle’s merits, but rather obscure laws that determined how the city spends its money. Judge Schaefer ruled that voters cannot make any city budget policy Through this type of voting measures.
Supporters who sympathize with Seattle say they will shift their focus to the election and Seattle’s top-level campaign, and only support candidates who support the measure, including former city council chair Bruce Harrell, rather than current city council chair Lorena Gonzale (Lorena Gonzalez). Ann Davison replaced Nicole Thomas-Kennedy as City Attorney; Kenneth Wilson surpassed Teresa Mosqueda to take the 8th council position, and Sara Nelson surpassed Nikkita Oliver to take 9th place.
The spokesperson said: “We will hold candidates accountable for their positions in this crisis and plans to resolve the crisis, and urge voters to elect new leaders who can push Seattle forward rather than maintain the status quo.”
“We cannot afford further inaction and the continued failure of New York City in response to this emergency. Voters in Seattle, you have the right to make a difference in the election of mayor, city attorney, and city council in November this year.”