Seattle councilmember Tammy Morales announces resignation

Seattle councilmember Tammy Morales resigns over concerns

Five years into the job, Seattle's District 2 representative Tammy Morales says she's worried about the direction of the Council, slamming her colleagues on the way out.

SEATTLE - Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales announced her resignation on Wednesday, citing that she is worried about the future of the Council's institution.

Morales, who represents District 2, will step down effective Jan. 6.

Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales announced her resignation on Wednesday, citing that she is worried about the future of the council's institution. Morales, who represents District 2, will step down effective Jan. 6, 2025. In a statement released Wednesday, she expressed pride in her accomplishments during her tenure, including the passage of the Race and Social Justice ordinance, the Tenants Bill of Rights and securing more than $350 million in investments for District 2 and across Seattle. "Representing the people of Seattle, especially of south Seattle, has been my greatest honor and I will miss the opportunity to work alongside all of you on behalf of our neighbors," Morales wrote in part. "I am so thankful for the community organizers, community leaders, students and advocates who have helped to drive the priorities of my Council office for the last five years." However, Morales went on to outline several concerns about the Council's recent actions, specifically pointing to what she perceives as an erosion of the essential checks and balances system, which she said had undermined her ability to serve effectively. "Since January, this Council has: Interfered with the ability of our non-partisan Council Central Staff to provide objective policy analysis Suppressed the will of voters by offering an alternative ballot initiative that would effectively gut the Seattle social housing developer next February Stifled first amendment rights during public comment by arresting people Intimidated commenters by having a police presence when any controversial legislation is considered Witnessed a significant reduction of institutional knowledge through the departure of 3 Council Central policy staff, the entire Council communications team, members of our human resources and finance team, and several legislative aides Attempted to defund a critical program for addressing anti-displacement and supporting community economic development led by people of color Passed 11 separate bills to increase the punitive nature of our criminal legal system without any additional meaningful accountability for our police department And passed a budget that reduces funding for social services for our most vulnerable while dramatically increasing funding for jails, police, and sweeps" Morales also spoke about the toll her role had taken on her personal health, saying the demands of public office had led to a deterioration in both her mental and physical well-being. She emphasized that this is a challenge faced by many women in public office. "I have a personal responsibility to my family, who deserve to see me show up whole," she said. Despite her resignation, Morales made it clear that she was not leaving public service altogether. "I’m not going anywhere," she stated. "I just need some time to think about how best to serve the City I love and find the next opportunity to repair the harm done to Black and brown communities, democratize access to power and resources, and plan for the 7th generation." For now, Morales will take time away to care for her children and her ailing father. She concluded her statement by thanking her constituents for the opportunity to serve, while reiterating her commitment to the ongoing work of equity and justice in Seattle. "I will miss the opportunity to work alongside all of you on behalf of our neighbors," she said.

Councilmember Tammy J. Morales, District 2

In a statement released Wednesday, Morales expressed pride in her accomplishments during her tenure, including the passage of the Race and Social Justice ordinance, the Tenants Bill of Rights and securing more than $350 million in investments for District 2 and across Seattle.

"Representing the people of Seattle, especially of south Seattle, has been my greatest honor and I will miss the opportunity to work alongside all of you on behalf of our neighbors," Morales wrote in part. "I am so thankful for the community organizers, community leaders, students and advocates who have helped to drive the priorities of my Council office for the last five years."

However, Morales went on to outline several concerns about the Council's recent actions, specifically pointing to what she perceives as an erosion of the essential checks and balances system, which she said had undermined her ability to serve effectively.

"Since January, this Council has:

Interfered with the ability of our non-partisan Council Central Staff to provide objective policy analysis.
Suppressed the will of voters by offering an alternative ballot initiative that would effectively gut the Seattle social housing developer next February.
Stifled first amendment rights during public comment by arresting people.
Intimidated commenters by having a police presence when any controversial legislation is considered.
Witnessed a significant reduction of institutional knowledge through the departure of 3 Council Central policy staff, the entire Council communications team, members of our human resources and finance team, and several legislative aides.
Attempted to defund a critical program for addressing anti-displacement and supporting community economic development led by people of color.
Passed 11 separate bills to increase the punitive nature of our criminal legal system without any additional meaningful accountability for our police department.
And passed a budget that reduces funding for social services for our most vulnerable while dramatically increasing funding for jails, police, and sweeps."

Morales also spoke about the toll her role has taken on her personal health, saying the demands of public office had led to a deterioration in both her mental and physical well-being. She emphasized that this is a challenge faced by many women in public office.

"As an elected representative I took an oath to the constitution of the United States, Washington State, and to our City Charter. Key among those duties is to protect the health, safety, environment, and general welfare of the people," Morales wrote. "I can no longer, in good conscience, say I am doing this by remaining on this Council."

Despite her resignation, Morales made it clear that she was not leaving public service altogether. "I’m not going anywhere," she stated. "I just need some time to think about how best to serve the City I love and find the next opportunity to repair the harm done to Black and brown communities, democratize access to power and resources, and plan for the 7th generation."

For now, Morales will take time away to care for her children and her ailing father. She concluded her statement by thanking her constituents for the opportunity to serve, while reiterating her commitment to the ongoing work of equity and justice in Seattle.

"I didn’t see this coming," Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell remarked on Morales' departure. "I want to thank her for her service, and now we have an opportunity to get another council member[…] she did five years of really hard work, so I want to personally thank her. I’m a [District 2] resident, so I want to thank her for her service."

"I was just as surprised as everyone else, I found out with the media," said fellow councilmember Rob Saka.

Morales was often the single dissenting vote in the City Council's recent ordinances, including controversial bills like the "Stay Out of Drug Area" and "Stay Out of Area of Prostitution," funding for video surveillance of high-crime areas, increasing bonuses for Seattle police officers despite a years-long national hiring shortage, and the contentious South King County correctional center (SCORE) vote, which was approved after members retreated from angry protesters in the council chambers to vote virtually.

Saka, despite voting against her on most high-profile bills, says that Morales is mischaracterizing the city council and his colleagues.

"[It's] hyperbole and, look, everyone is entitled to speak their own opinion and speak their own truth, but for me personally, I've been more than accommodating and more than collaborative. I went out of my way to be a good colleague. I wish councilmember Morales the very best in all of her future endeavors and pursuits, but it's politics and I understand that," said Saka. "I bent over backwards, I co-sponspored a number of her amendments of the budgets — 'cause you need two co-sponsors — even though I knew I wasn't going to vote for them."

"I strongly disagree on some of the harsh rhetoric and divisive politics here in her statement, but I wish her nothing but the best," said Saka.

"I will miss the opportunity to work alongside all of you on behalf of our neighbors," wrote Morales.

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