The Port of Seattle Commission voted unanimously today to pass two different motions related to measures that will be considered on the upcoming Washington state ballot.
First, the Commission continued their strong stance in support of economic equity by passing a motion to endorse Referendum 88. If approved by voters on November 5, 2019, Referendum 88 would keep in place Initiative 1000, which would allow public entities to take action to increase the number of minority, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises that are awarded public contracts.
“The region experienced its largest economic expansion in the last decade, but not every community benefitted from that growth,” said Commissioner Ryan Calkins. “Ensuring that small, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises have a real shot at competing for opportunities is critical to our mission for developing an equitable economy.”
The Port of Seattle Commission first took action opposing the state’s ban on affirmative action in 1998, when voters first considered it at the ballot. Since then, the Commission has appeared in the State Legislature multiple times to testify in support of repealing Initiative 200.
The Commission also approved a motion to oppose Initiative 976, a measure that would have catastrophic consequences to our state’s transportation system if enacted. I-976 would reduce state and local transportation funds, as well as funding for Sound Transit 3, and would put at risk important Port partnerships that intend to speed the movement of goods and people throughout the Puget Sound region.
“Ports are transportation entities, and we were created by voters to ensure the public maintained access to the shoreline and the public broadly could benefit,” said Commission Vice President Fred Felleman. “Developing transportation infrastructure to export goods, move passengers, and grow jobs is critical to what we do. This initiative puts all of that work at risk.”
Contact
Peter McGraw | Maritime Media Officer
(206) 787-3446 | mcgraw.p@portseattle.org
