March 8, 2019
Re: Affordable Housing Priorities HB 1923, SB 5812 / HB 1797
Legislators,
We are writing to you urge you to take action on land use reforms to address our housing
affordability crisis. Please pass HB 1923 and SB 5812/HB 1797.
It is an unfortunate truth that our zoning and land use laws are embedded in a legacy of racial
injustice and serve to perpetuate the interests of the wealthy. This is a highly complex issue, to
be sure, but that complexity can coexist with those truths.
To move forward we need your action to update land use laws to promote the building of
more homes near the opportunities we all want access to: employment, education, healthcare,
relaxation and entertainment.
We cannot delay merely because this will change our communities—our communities are living
entities just like the people who make them up and will always change; it is our job to ensure
that they change by allowing more of us to live, work, and thrive here.
Inaction will continue to constrain opportunity while many struggle with rising rents,
unattainable down-payments, life-shortening commutes, economy-slowing gridlock and
planet-killing emissions.
Housing is a matter of basic safety, justice, and economic opportunity. It is time we update our
laws to ensure that we are building for this generation of need and the next. Please pass HB
1923 and SB 5812/HB 1797 in order to build more homes for the people who need them.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine, King County Executive
Dave Somers, Snohomish County Executive
Jessica Bateman, Olympia City Councilmember
Jim Cooper, Olympia City Councilmember
Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Councilmember
Lorena Gonzalez, Seattle City Councilmember
Mike O’Brien, Seattle City Councilmember
Rob Johnson, Seattle City Councilmember
Sally Bagshaw, Seattle City Councilmember
Kate Burke, Spokane City Councilmember
Ryan Mello, Tacoma City Councilmember
Larry Brown, Auburn City Councilmember
Jimmy Matta, Mayor of Burien
Krystal Marx, Burien City Councilmember
Pedro Olguin, Burien City Councilmember
Jennifer Gregerson, Mayor of Mukilteo
Leanne Guier, Mayor of Pacific
Clint Bryson, Montesano City Councilmember
Matthew Hepner, East Wenatchee City Councilmember

 Ryan Calkins, Port of Seattle
Futurewise
Climate Solutions
Washington Environmental Council
Washington Conservation Voters
Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium
The Housing Development Consortium of Seattle/King County
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
Blue Mountain Action Council
Sightline Institute
Moms Rising
Statewide Poverty Action
HopeSource
Fuse Washington
International Association of Machinists, 751
SEIU 775
SEIU 1199NW
SEIU 925
SEIU 49
Teamsters 117
Teamsters Joint Council
UFCW 21
Washington Education Association
Washington Public Employees Association, UFCW 365
Washington State Building Trades
Washington State Council of Firefighters
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Washington State Nurses Association