TRIGGER WARNING: This intro includes public testimony about suicide and housing insecurity trauma.

Speakers from intro (by order of appearance): Fatima Abarta (spoken through interpreter), Kerri Burnside, Monica Zazueta, and Boyd West.

Karissa and Phillip come together again for a discussion about State Senator Annette Cleveland’s recent death blow to rent stabilization in the legislature. We deep dive into Senator Cleveland’s OBSCENE campaign finance corruption and discuss how this is obviously integral to the story, and to every story involving local politics. To ignore this influential element is journalistic malpractice, yet you will not get the full story from the Columbian and Karissa will tell you why.

We also talk about the Columbian’s complicity in what went down with rent stabilization, as the Editorial Board provided a convenient off ramp for Annette the day of her vote when she was clearly feeling some pressure from constituents about this very popular and reasonable bill. (NO SHADE to the Columbian’s reporters, who have been doing great work covering the housing crisis in particular! This is wholly a criticism of the Columbian’s Editorial Board).

Finally, Karissa and Phillip consider the merits of putting most eggs in the basket of electoralism versus organizing for a grassroots initiative or other direct policy pushes of our local elected officials as part of a broader, multiple front strategy to address the crises our community faces.

THANK YOU to the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and Council for the Homeless for sticking up for all the human beings in Washington who are being rent-gouged!

CALL-TO-ACTION: It is important to note that while Cleveland singlehandedly killed the bill on the senate side, rent stabilization is NOT DEAD, although it has a difficult path forward. We need to up the pressure. Here is a convenient form from Futurewise that will connect you to writing a letter to your reps on rent stabilization and other great legislation to address living costs as well as climate and environment:

futurewise.salsalabs.org/floorvote202…fbcb87fe9990

If you want to give Annette Cleveland hell for her shameful sociopathic vote, here is a link to her contact info:

senatedemocrats.wa.gov/cleveland/contact/