In a recent Vancouver city council meeting, John Ley voiced strong support for four Let’s Go Washington initiatives aimed at lowering the cost of living for hardworking Vancouver residents. Ley highlighted the council’s contradiction in raising property taxes while rejecting citizen-backed initiatives that could reduce fuel costs, repeal the capital gains tax, allow natural gas use, and give workers a choice to opt out of state-run long-term care. With over 400,000 signatures supporting each initiative, Ley emphasized the importance of respecting the will of the people. He urged the council to reject their resolution and support these measures, stating, “Vote Yes, Pay Less!” as a call to action for voters in November.
Transcript:
Good evening, Council. John Ley, Hazel Dell.
The city council says they’re concerned about the affordability of living in Washington. This includes support for affordable housing, which recently raised property taxes, taking $100 million from the people over the next decade.
Yet you apparently now want to reject four citizen initiatives that will lower the cost of living for citizens, especially hard-working, low, and middle-income residents of Vancouver. Why do you want citizens already hard-pressed to cover their monthly food, heating, and energy bills to be forced to pay more?
The four Let’s Go Washington initiatives were each signed by over 400,000 citizens. I-2066 received the second most signatures in the history of Washington State initiatives. They did this in a record 48 days.
Why do you choose to ignore the will of the people? Why would you choose to refuse to help lower the cost of living for hardworking Vancouver citizens? Why do you want to pick our pockets for even more money?
I-2117 will lower the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel by between $0.40 and $0.50 per gallon. I-2066 will allow the choice of using natural gas for heating and cooking in people’s homes. I-2109 will repeal the capital gains tax. I-2124 allows workers the choice to opt-out or stay in the state-run Long Term Care Coverage Act. Give workers a choice.
The people have spoken. There are seven citizen initiatives so powerful that the legislature has already adopted three of them, and they are now law. The people will most likely pass the remaining four in November.
Please reject the language in your resolution. Please support the people. They can vote yes and pay less on the four remaining Let’s Go Washington initiatives.
Thank you.
