Chisme Politico | Week 2
January 22, 2021
A New Day 🌅
Saludos, amigos y camaradas de LCF y Progreso! Welcome back to the Chisme Politico newsletter, where LCF and Progreso breakdown local and state news for you, so it makes it easier for you to keep up with the news. Here’s the breakdown: Donald Trump is no longer in office, and Joe Biden has become our new President of the United States. Kamala Harris is our first Black, Indian, woman of color as Vice President. This is a time for our communities to take a collective sigh of relief and feel rejoice for this new day, but the fight continues. We want to take the time to thank all the organizers who have worked tirelessly to combat the systemic issues our communities face and keep the systems accountable to change. We encourage you to thank an organizer today.
Introducing 👋🏼: Community Member Highlights
On Thursday, January 21, Yakima PRIDE President and community member Cristina Ortega gave testimony in favor of HB Bill 1152 — a bill that supports measures to create comprehensive public health districts. She brought along Esther Moses Hypieer, a Native woman who recently lost her son and stated:
“We need knowledgeable health care officials making decisions on how and when to open and not politicians or city officials who only care about loss of profit. This bill is important in efforts to avoid more unnecessary deaths .”
On Tuesday, January 19, Giovanni Severino, our lead policy organizer for Progreso testified in opposition to SB 5126 Climate Commitment Act, which is related to limiting greenhouse gas emissions and how communities of color are impacted by climate change.
“While this bill makes a concerted effort at making caps, big businesses are still able to pollute and in turn don’t protect vulnerable communities that get hit the hardest by these emissions. We also hope that there is a continuous effort to include all communities, especially communities of color, to participate in these conversations when addressing climate challenges since we’re also important stakeholders.”
Other Bills on our Radar 🔎
Unemployment Insurance for Undocumented Workers
What it is: Undocumented immigrants pay into the state’s unemployment insurance program, but are currently unable to access it. This would include a flat rate benefit for everyone, be similar to the PUA program, and avoid public charge issues. Check out WAISN’s Policy Platform to learn more about the potential bill and more information about health care access for undocumented immigrants and closing the Northwest Detention Center.
Legislative Champions: Saldaña, Gregerson
Recent developments: This bill is currently still in draft but will be submitted by February 11th.
What you can do: Sign onto this letter to tell your representatives
End Debt Based License Suspension Bill (SB 5226)
What it is: Stops the suspension of driver’s licenses for unpaid fines and fees for civil moving violations. This impacts communities of color most of all. It also ensures that drivers keep their insurance, can get to work, and provide transportation for their families.
Legislative Champions: Salomon, Saldaña, Das, Frockt, Hasegawa, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Muzzall, Nguyen, Nobles, Pedersen, Randall, Wilson, C.
Recent developments: Couple of road blockers — judges are concerned about the lack of revenue. Police and public safety officials believe it will encourage people to not apply for a license. Local governments are concerned since they don’t get funded. Coalitions behind this work (ACLU) are pressuring legislators to get a hearing by next week.
What you can do: Sign and endorse this letter! https://signon-acluofwashington.nationbuilder.com/licensesuspensions
More Actions You Can Take Right Now ✍🏽
The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act (SB 5141) received its first legislative hearing on January 20 in the Senate Energy, Environment, and Technology Committee. Now we need you to take action to ensure this bill passed out of committee. Please take some time to endorse the letter below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkSyg-KxGVXIaZLoD9QOYeYTcfTnCLNPV17n1mvzQq2WN1wA/viewform?usp=sf_link
🚨Reminder — Legislative Action Week (February 9–11) 📝
If reading this newsletter and all the latest WA electoral news has got you fired up and you want to get involved, please join us (and your representative!) at our Legislative Action Week this February 9–11th (times TBD). We’ve secured the following state legislators at this event:
- Rep. Javier Valdez (LD 46) who represents parts of Seattle, Northgate, and Bothell
- Rep. Skyler Rude (16th LD) who represents parts of Pasco, Benton City, Prosser, and Walla Walla
- Rep. Chris Corry (14th LD) who represents Yakima County, all of Klickitat and Skamania counties and a small portion of Eastern Clark County.
- Rep. Tom Dent (13th LD) who represents Lincoln and Kittitas counties, as well as parts of Grant and Yakima counties.
If you see your representative on this list, please join us in sharing your story about the bills or issues that are directly impacting members of your community. They may be sponsoring a bill you are strongly supporting or in opposition of! We plan to share our legislative agenda with them and share the stories of folks who are willing to share.
Need help crafting your own testimony? Come to our workshops on January 25 and January 29 and we can walk you through it.
If you have interest in knowing more please, contact margot@progresowa.org.
