Yes to Proposition 1 to promote climate justice and keep our communities connected.
Seattle Foundation envisions a thriving region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice, where all individuals and communities have equitable access and outcomes, regardless of race, place, or identity. This vision includes a region where residents are connected through reliable, affordable transit. Seattle voters have the opportunity this fall to renew the Seattle Transportation Benefit District by voting Yes on Seattle Proposition 1 – a local measure that supplements King County Metro transit service. Seattle Foundation, with the support of our Board of Trustees, recommends a Yes vote for Proposition 1.
Transit is an essential part of addressing our climate crisis and ensuring communities have the ability to access critical services, leisure, and employment. Proposition 1 will invest in maintaining transit service and ensuring critical programs that provide affordability for low-income residents and students continue to serve our community. Furthermore, Proposition 1 provides support to address the transportation challenges communities face as a result of the emergency West Seattle Bridge closure.
While transit ridership is down overall, data shows that ridership remains high on routes that serve low and moderate income communities, including route 7 connecting Rainier Valley to Downtown Seattle, which has the second highest ridership rate for King County Metro post-pandemic.
Over the last few years, Seattle Foundation has worked with partners and philanthropists to build our Climate Justice Impact Strategy. Through this strategy, we invest in community-based research and organizing efforts, build coalitions that bridge social and environmental justice and strengthen the capacity of nonprofits working to advance community-led climate solutions.
We also use our voice, exercise our leadership and align philanthropic efforts to increase climate justice for our most vulnerable communities. Through our endorsements of Initiative 1631 and Initiative 976, we spoke out as an organization about the importance of strong public policy to reduce pollution and protect critical revenue for transit and support communities on the frontlines of our changing climate. We are proud to continue using our voice in support of smart public policy that benefits our entire region by endorsing Proposition 1: Yes for Transit.
We stand with fellow endorsers of Proposition 1 – a broad and inclusive coalition of community voices including Downtown Seattle Association, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Seattle Foundation Climate Justice Grantees including Puget Sound Sage, Climate Solutions, 350 Seattle, Transportation Choices Coalition, and many other community based organizations and public officials.
We hope you’ll join us in voting Yes on Proposition 1 in support of our communities and our climate.
Learn more about Proposition 1 at yesfortransit.com.