On December 4, Councilmember Tammy Morales announced her resignation from the Seattle City Council, effective Jan. 6, 2025. In a letter addressed to her constituents, she cited worries about the future of the Council and her place on it as reasons for her decision.
CM Morales was originally elected in 2019 to represent District 2, which includes the Chinatown International District and much of Southeast Seattle. She is currently serving a second term following her re-election last year.
“For the last 11 months, this Council has eroded our checks and balances as a legislative department and undermined my work as a policy maker,” she wrote.
Morales went on to list a number of examples of her claim, including but not limited to the stifling of First Amendment rights during public comment by arresting people and the suppression of the will of voters “by offering an alternative ballot initiative that would effectively gut the Seattle social housing developer.”
She also referenced the recently-passed biennial budget, which she said reduces funding for social services while dramatically increasing funding for jails, police, and sweeps.
“This was a very difficult decision,” wrote CM Morales. “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. I can no longer, in good conscience, say I am doing this by remaining on this Council.”
The councilmember concluded her letter by thanking her staff, and mentioned her personal responsibility to “show up” for her family. She said her tenure on the Council has caused mental and physical deterioration, calling this “an unfortunate reality for many women in particular who serve in public office.”
Responses to the resignation announcement ranged on social media Wednesday morning, with some calling the news “heartbreaking but understandable” and a “tremendous loss.”
“But know that in my time here, your work, and the community who have shown up despite its repression, have given me hope. I’m not going anywhere,” wrote CM Morales before signing off. “Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.”
