Compassion Seattle appeal denied, homeless amendment will not appear on ballot

The Washington State Court of Appeals ruled Friday that a Seattle homelessness measure will not appear on the November ballot.

A King County judge struck Compassion Seattle’s proposed Charter Amendment 29 from the fall ballot last week. Compassion Seattle and its supporters announced on Tuesday they would appeal the decision.

In the original ruling last week, King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer had said that she and other voters might like what the measure’s proponents are trying to do, but it exceeds what can be accomplished through a local charter amendment.

Shaffer said it would conflict with state law and usurp the Seattle City Council’s power.

The head of the Downtown Seattle Association, Jon Scholes, announced earlier this week that the DSA, along with other supporters, would be filing an emergency motion of appeal with the Washington Court of Appeals for the Compassion Seattle charter amendment.

That motion has now been denied.

Compassion Seattle released a statement following Friday’s decision:

Today’s rejection of our emergency appeal motion means that Seattle voters must change who is in charge if they want a change to the city’s failed approach to addressing the homelessness crisis. While we are deeply disappointed, we will continue to share evidence that our amendment’s approach can make a necessary and noticeable difference for those living unsheltered in our parks and other public spaces.

Our work has elevated this issue — undoubtedly the most consequential one facing Seattleites —  to the forefront of this election for both candidates and voters. We will hold candidates accountable for their position on this crisis and their plans to address it, and urge voters to elect new leaders who will move Seattle forward and not perpetuate the status quo. The evidence speaks for itself: Seattle has continued to increase its spending on homelessness over the last five years, yet the number of people living unsheltered has only increased. We cannot afford further inaction and the City’s continued failed approach to this emergency. Seattle voters, you have the power to make a difference this November in who you elect as Mayor, as City Attorney, and to the City Council.

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