Image courtesy of Reuters
“I only take an average worker’s wage and donate the rest of my salary to help build social justice movements.” – Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Every Councilmember faces a choice of who they represent and which world they inhabit. My place is with working people and their struggles. I was elected to give a voice to working people, union members, women, people of color and immigrants. In line with the principles of the political party I represent, Socialist Alternative, I pledge to stay accountable to working people by taking only the average worker’s wage.
Seattle City Councilmembers receive over $117,000 a year – the second highest of any city council in the country. Inevitably, such a salary removes Councilmembers from the realities of life for poor and working people.
I take home just $40,000 per year. This amount is roughly the full-time take-home pay of an average Seattleite. The remainder of my salary goes to a Solidarity Fund to help build social justice movements.
Towards the end of each calendar year, and more regularly as needed, I will give a full account of my income and how my Solidarity Fund is being used.
Annual Solidarity Fund Amount: $42,000
| 15 Now | $15,000 |
| Transit Riders Union | $700 |
| Seattle People’s Climate March | $1,845 |
| Puget Sound Sage | $500 |
| Socialist Alternative | $14,500 |
| Jess Spear for State House | $1,900 |
| Casa Latina | $500 |
| Howie Hawkins for Governor | $200 |
Remaining balance going into 2015: $14,250
2015 Donations:
2016 Donations:
| Standing Against Foreclosure and Eviction | $300 |
| Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle | $250 |
| Economic Opportunity Institute | $2,500 |
| Paid Family Leave movement | $8,000 |
| Solidarity with ChinaWorker.info | $545 |
| Solidarity with Democratic Socialist Movement of Nigeria | $1,045 |
| Socialist Alternative | $13,800 |
| Transit Riders Union | $250 |
| Jill Stein for President | $200 |
| Indigenous Peoples Day | $500 |
| 15 Now | $11,525 |
| Not This Time/DeEscalate Washington Initiative 940 | $250 |
| Social Justice Iftar | $300 |
| Paid Family Leave rally | $100 |
| Seattle Protects Women (UNITE HERE/Yes on 124) | $500 |
| Washington Community Action Network | $360 |
| 350 Seattle | $250 |
Remaining balance going into 2017: $19,975
2017 Donations:
| May 1st Action Coalition | $2,500 |
| Washington Community Action Network | $300 |
| Socialist Alternative | $13,800 |
| Economic Opportunity Institute | $250 |
| Transit Riders Union | $250 |
| Stop the Sweeps movement | $94 |
| International Socialism School Scholarship | $1,640 |
| 15 Now | $11,525 |
| Not This Time/DeEscalate Washington Initiative 940 | $250 |
| Social Justice Iftar | $300 |
| Paid Family Leave rally | $100 |
| Seattle Protects Women (UNITE HERE/Yes on 124) | $500 |
| 350 Seattle | $250 |
The 2017 donation summary is still being updated.
