Sawant and David Meinert team up for small business plan
written by Bryan Cohen for Capitol Hill Blog October 26, 2015 Full Article
Excerpt: Restaurant owner, band manager, and civic activist Dave Meinert and socialist City Council member Kshama Sawant team up to unveil a plan Tuesday for Seattle small businesses.
David Meinert owns 5 Point Cafe, Mecca Cafe, Lost Lake Cafe, Comet Tavern and Sawant started having more productive conversations while working out the final minimum wage deal on the mayor’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee last year.
The story includes details of the plan including proposals for rent stabilization, a “portable retirement account” system, and more late night transit to help late night workers commute.
“Kshama and I have been talking/meeting since (then),” Meinert said in an email to CHS. “Lately we started discussing the displacement of small business and how it is similar to the displacement of residents.”
Here is the announcement of the event:
SEATTLE – Councilmember Kshama Sawant will join with Seattle nightlife industry leader David Meinert and other small business owners tomorrow to unveil a plan to pursue rent stabilization for Seattle’s small businesses. Business owners can have few options when faced with drastic rent increases, as relocation costs can be prohibitive. While the state statute prohibits rent control for residences, there is no such law for commercial properties.
Councilmember Sawant will also unveil additional proposals intended to support small businesses, and their workers, tomorrow. The small business initiatives tie directly to the City’s proposed 2016 budget, which is currently undergoing Council review.
WHAT:
Announcement of plan for rent stabilization for small businesses, other small business initiatives
WHERE:
Seattle City Hall
Lobby, First Floor
600 4th Ave., Seattle 98104
WHEN:
Tuesday, October 27
9:00 a.m.
WHO:
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
David Meinert
Small Business Owners
The Plan:
Like so many working people, the majority of Seattle’s small businesses and independent self
-employed individuals struggle to get by. They face ever-increasing rents, poor access to capital, and limited help from City agencies. Too often, small businesses that are integral to a neighborhood’s character are displaced. This is
especially true for women and minority owned businesses.We have come together to propose a series of innovative, progressive policies to strengthen independent and small businesses and to provide a better environment for artists. Both are important to Seattle’s thriving economy and culture. We find common ground in our belief that the City government should prioritize the needs of working people and small businesses, rather than giving special breaks to big developers and corporations. Together, we present seven ways to begin improving conditions for small businesses and their workers.
1. Commercial Rent Stabilization to Benefit Small Businesses
2. Portable Retirement Accounts for Workers in Small Businesses
3.Expand Late Night Public Transit
4. Expansion of Social Service Outreach for the Homeless, People with Mental Illnesses and Addictions
5. Municipal Bank & Low-Interest Loans
6.Priority for Local Small Businesses in Commercial Leasing
7.Seattle Needs a Small Business Task Force
ENDORSERS:
Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Councilmember;
David Meinert, owner, The Five Point Cafe, Comet Tavern, & others
Molly Moon Nietzel, Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream; K. Wyking Garrett, AfricatownSeattle.com which features and highlights Black-owned businesses and community; Marcus Charles, owner, Neumos & Crocodile Cafe; Mike Rodriguez, Restaurant Opportunities Center United; Sharon Blyth-Moss & Shirley Henderson, small start-up business owners; Ottman Bezzaza, owner, Med Mix; Paula Lucas, owner, Le Frock; Sonja Ponath, small landlord, former small business owner; Ed Beeson, owner, Gigs-4-U; Katey Pierini, licensed massage therapist; Luis Rodriguez, owner, The Station; Shontina Vernon, musician, writer, theatre artist & educator