Review DSA Resources Before You Cast Your Ballot

We’re just days away from the Nov. 5 general election, and if you haven’t turned in your ballot yet, we’ve got you covered on a few key issues.

Seattle voters will decide on City Council Position 8, with incumbent Tanya Woo facing off against challenger Alexis Mercedes Rinck. Check out our Candidate Scorecard to see how their responses to a brief questionnaire align with our downtown priorities. We also invite you to watch a moderated discussion with the candidates that we hosted last month.

One of the most important issues on the ballot is located at the very end of it: Seattle Proposition 1, the Levy to Keep Seattle Moving! which was unanimously endorsed by the DSA Board of Directors. We urge you to vote yes on Prop 1.

“Downtown stands to benefit tremendously from the Seattle transportation levy,” DSA President & CEO Jon Scholes said. “Making it easier to get to and move around downtown will accelerate our revitalization efforts.”

The measure would expand the current Seattle transportation levy that was approved by voters in 2008 and 2015. The current levy is set to expire at the end of 2024.

If approved, the levy would invest $1.55 billion over eight years to fund critical needs, prepare the city for future growth and help meet sustainability goals. This funding will account for approximately 30% of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s budget.

“Transportation infrastructure touches our lives every day. Keeping it well-maintained, modernized and accessible is foundational for our city’s prosperity,” said Alex Hudson, executive director of DSA partner Commute Seattle. “The mayor’s proposal makes critical investments to keep our city and economy moving, to connect people to opportunities and each other, and to build a green, healthy, safe Seattle now and into the future. Commute Seattle is pleased to see investments in transit reliability, increasing multimodal access to the places Seattleites want to get to, and improving Third Avenue.”

Another critical issue on the ballot is Initiative 2117, the Repeal Carbon Cap and Invest Program Measure. The DSA Board of Directors recommends voting no on I-2117, which seeks to repeal the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act. If passed, the repeal could severely impact Seattle’s downtown-focused priorities.

Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 5 or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. Find a drop box near you in King County.

Questions or comments can be directed to info@downtowseattle.org.