Socialist Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant and [might as well just call himself a socialist] Councilmember Nick Licata have introduced a resolution calling on the state Legislature to lift its ban on rent control. Currently, Washington law protects us all from the disaster that is rent control.
On Thursday, Seattle’s housing affordability committee split its vote (3-3) on the resolution. Councilmember Mike O’Brien joined Sawant and Licata while committee chair John Okamoto and fellow outgoing Councilmembers Jean Godden and Tom Rasmussen voted against it.
Okamoto told KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz that he believes the failed resolution was “politically motivated.” In our own words, it appears to have been just another publicity stunt devised by Sawant to draw attention to herself and score political points. MyNorthwest.com,
“I think this is politically motivated,” Okamoto confided to Rantz.
It’s all about taking advantage of people’s emotions during a time when the city is in a housing crisis, he added.
“People being pushed over the edge; I think that’s why it’s gained traction and attention,” he said.
So, should we read into that? Is he referring to Sawant? Rantz wanted to know. After all, Sawant has been the voice of rent control.
“I believe it is,” Okamoto responded. “I believe there is a distinction between what’s good policy, and there’s good politics.”
Incidentally, all three councilmembers who rejected the resolution are not up for re-election. Though, to be fair, the councilmembers who approved the resolution are also, arguably, the furthest to the Left.
The issue of rent control does, undoubtedly, help Sawant score political points with her base. It raises her profile and gets her into the news—something that appears to be her primary motivation for a lot of what she does.
No surprises here
It takes a “special” kind of constituent to vote in and continue supporting someone like Sawant! And I don’t mean an intelligent group of people…