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I’m traveling this week and I spent most of my writing time on my public testimony against the discriminatory SOAP and SODA zones. These are unfortunately not spaces for bathing or refreshing beverages. Instead, they will allow police to harass and surveil anyone they think is a sex worker or is just loitering. Public comment is now limited to 1 minute! I have a lot to address in that time. I’m happy that so many organizations, coalitions, and Seattle residents are organizing against these bills. I’m worried they won’t be enough. Like I said last week, we have to try.
My name is josh martinez and I’m a small-business owner in Seattle. I’m asking you all to vote no on the discriminatory SOAP and SODA zones. We know you know better. You’ve heard from so many that this will harm Black, brown, and Native people. It will harm trans people. It will harm immigrants, people living homeless, and sex workers. We are your constituents too.
This council edited an impartial memo, limited public comment, ignored experts, and voted far from the public to pass this bill. That’s how we know you know. You cannot blame ignorance. We will not accept your callousness. You know which communities you’re willing to let the police surveil and exploit. You’re betting it won’t be anyone who has your direct number. We are your constituents too.
Voters will know it’s your fault in a year, when these laws didn’t help and only hurt. When more people are jobless and on the streets because police labeled them prostitutes and loiterers. This and past councils have voted against fair housing, drug treatment, and mental health counseling. This is your cruelty we see now in the CID, on Pike/Pine, on Aurora, and other parts of the city. We’re trying to prevent this. This will be your fault.
Kindness never killed a city, but cruelty will always leave a mark. Please vote no today.
josh
my name is josh martinez. i have always loved trying to understand systems, and the systems that built those systems. i spend a lot of time thinking about how to get there from here.
i own and operate a consulting practice, Future Emergent.
say hello: josh[at]bethefuture.space
