Posted on Aug 4, 2023
Fired Amazon employee-activist leads Seattle City Council race
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Seattle City Council candidate Maren Costa was knocking on doors in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood, ahead of Tuesday’s primary, when she came across a house that stood out.
It was in the modern, mixed materials style that developers of new construction tend to favor. In many neighborhoods, it would’ve blended in, but it cut a sharp contrast with the small, older homes surrounding it.
“What about the poor neighborhoods, like South Park?” asked resident Nikki McCall after Costa made her pitch, as part of her City Council campaign. “I mean, we are a gentrifier, as you can probably tell, but this is a blue-collar neighborhood.”
South Park struggles with pollution of every kind. It’s a major artery for car travel. The Duwamish River that runs through it is a toxic superfund site, and there’s constant noise pollution from air travel. Still, South Park hasn’t escaped the affordability crisis plaguing the city.
“People die here earlier,” McCall said.
Costa agreed — 13 years earlier than Laurelhurst residents, she said.
It was in the modern, mixed materials style that developers of new construction tend to favor. In many neighborhoods, it would’ve blended in, but it cut a sharp contrast with the small, older homes surrounding it.
“What about the poor neighborhoods, like South Park?” asked resident Nikki McCall after Costa made her pitch, as part of her City Council campaign. “I mean, we are a gentrifier, as you can probably tell, but this is a blue-collar neighborhood.”
South Park struggles with pollution of every kind. It’s a major artery for car travel. The Duwamish River that runs through it is a toxic superfund site, and there’s constant noise pollution from air travel. Still, South Park hasn’t escaped the affordability crisis plaguing the city.
“People die here earlier,” McCall said.
Costa agreed — 13 years earlier than Laurelhurst residents, she said.
Fired Amazon employee-activist leads Seattle City Council race
Posted from kuow.org
Amazon
Seattle
Posted 9 mo ago
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She had a huge task to undertake. So often the impoverished are overlooked and forgotten
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Amazon declined to be interviewed for this story, but a spokesperson said Amazon’s sustainability goals were already in the works when the group started organizing.
“We wouldn't have done what we did if they were just marching right along and leading in the way that Amazon would normally lead,” Costa said. “I wouldn't have felt like I had to do that.”
The scope of Costa’s activism widened when the pandemic hit. Amazon’s corporate employees were able to work from home, but warehouse workers remained on the front lines. Amazon faced threats internally from union drives and externally from critics who said warehouses were unsafe.
When Amazon Employees for Climate Justice began showing solidarity with warehouse workers, Costa landed in hot water. She and a colleague were fired within two hours of inviting coworkers to a virtual town hall with warehouse staff.
The Amazon spokesperson said they were fired for violating internal policies.
The National Labor Relations Board ruled the firings were illegal. Amazon agreed to pay back wages to the fired employees as part of a settlement agreement.
The episode launched Costa into the public eye. She hopes to use that exposure, plus her background in Big Tech and activism, to beat her most likely opponent, Rob Saka. He also has roots in tech, but not as an employee-activist.
Saka has the more centrist Seattle Times endorsement, while Costa has the left-leaning Stranger’s.
Both candidates appear to be headed to the general election in November, though votes are still being counted."
..."Amazon declined to be interviewed for this story, but a spokesperson said Amazon’s sustainability goals were already in the works when the group started organizing.
“We wouldn't have done what we did if they were just marching right along and leading in the way that Amazon would normally lead,” Costa said. “I wouldn't have felt like I had to do that.”
The scope of Costa’s activism widened when the pandemic hit. Amazon’s corporate employees were able to work from home, but warehouse workers remained on the front lines. Amazon faced threats internally from union drives and externally from critics who said warehouses were unsafe.
When Amazon Employees for Climate Justice began showing solidarity with warehouse workers, Costa landed in hot water. She and a colleague were fired within two hours of inviting coworkers to a virtual town hall with warehouse staff.
The Amazon spokesperson said they were fired for violating internal policies.
The National Labor Relations Board ruled the firings were illegal. Amazon agreed to pay back wages to the fired employees as part of a settlement agreement.
The episode launched Costa into the public eye. She hopes to use that exposure, plus her background in Big Tech and activism, to beat her most likely opponent, Rob Saka. He also has roots in tech, but not as an employee-activist.
Saka has the more centrist Seattle Times endorsement, while Costa has the left-leaning Stranger’s.
Both candidates appear to be headed to the general election in November, though votes are still being counted."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SGT (Join to see) Be Careful Who You show the Door. You Decision May Come back to Bight You in the Ass!
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