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Statement For · Kirk Hovenkotter, Kathryn Ricchiuto, Nick Sattele
statement appears human Committee: Kirk Hovenkotter, Kathryn Ricchiuto, Nick Sattele
Seattle needs great transit. Without it, riders with disabilities, older adults, youth, and working families are stuck waiting for the bus and miss opportunities. Transit should be a seamless part of peoples’ lives, not a burden to plan around.
In 2020, we voted to improve bus service across Seattle. That measure has delivered: buses run more often, and 10,000 of our neighbors receive free transit passes. But this funding runs out in 2027 unless we renew it.
For just $29 more per year per household, Proposition 1 will ensure buses come more often, later at night, and on weekends. It will double the free passes for low income Seattleites. With buses we can count on, more families can skip the expense of gas or a second car. And we can all enjoy less traffic and cleaner air. Vote “Yes” to keep Seattle’s buses coming.
Endorsed by Mayor Katie Wilson, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, Seattle City Councilmembers Hollingsworth, Saka, Foster, Juarez, Kettle, Lin, Rinck, Rivera, and Saka, King County Councilmembers Barón, Dembowski, Lewis and Mosqueda, MLK Labor, ATU 587, King County Democrats, Seattle Streets Alliance, 350 Seattle, Transit Riders Union, Transportation Choices Coalition, The Urbanist, and more.
Rebuttal of argument against
This measure funds bus service from King County Metro. Voting no cuts bus service working people rely on. Without it, late night and shift workers lose out. This measure helps us afford to live in our expensive city.
The measure costs a low income household $17 a year. Owning a car costs $11,577 a year. Proposition 1 provides free ORCA cards to 22,000 of the lowest income riders. Vote yes on Proposition 1.
Statement Against · Ari Hoffman
statement likely AI Committee: Ari Hoffman
Seattle politicians say they care about affordability, then ask residents to approve another regressive sales tax. Proposition 1 would double the Seattle Transit Measure sales tax from 0.15% to 0.30%, putting our sales tax at 10.7%, among the highest rates of any major city in America. Before demanding more from taxpayers, government should demonstrate accountability for the money it already receives.
The measure includes funding connected to Sound Transit, even as the agency struggles to deliver projects voters were promised. Ballard and West Seattle residents have paid Sound Transit taxes for years while planned light-rail expansions face enormous financial challenges and uncertainty. Meanwhile, transit agencies are leaving fare revenue uncollected. At least one-third of riders on Sound Transit boarded without paying during the World Cup. Taxpayers should not continually be asked to pay more while agencies fail to collect fares from riders.
Seattle families already face high housing, food, utility, and transportation costs. Sales taxes disproportionately burden working families and people with lower incomes because they consume a larger share of household earnings. Reliable transit matters. So does accountability. City Hall should prioritize existing resources, demand responsible management, and improve fare collection before raising taxes.
Vote No on Proposition 1.
Rebuttal of argument for
The proponents call Proposition 1 “just $29 more,” but that minimizes the real issue: Seattle’s sales tax would climb to 10.7%, hitting working families and low-income residents hardest. Doubling this regressive tax is not affordability.
Reliable transit deserves responsible management. Before demanding more, City Hall and transit agencies should prioritize existing revenue, collect unpaid fares, and prove taxpayers are getting results. Seattleites already pay heavily for promised transit projects. Vote no until accountability comes first.