shannon cheng

curious, adventure-seeking, optimist. grassroots activist.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

i am so angry that after nearly SIX years of waiting for the SPOG contract to come out from closed door negotiations, we were only given 1 minute for public comment.

here's what i would have said with a whole 2 minutes: 🧵

[Amy Sundberg @amysundberg]

The limit of 1 minute for public comment in addition to no public hearing is yet another slap in the face.

[Hacks & Wonks @HacksWonks]

We’re baaaaaack! Some news:

Crystal & Monisha Harrell have acquired KVRU 105.7 FM, a non-profit, non-commercial community radio station based in South Seattle, with plans to preserve it as a trusted resource through community-driven programming

📻🎶🎙️

https://t.co/LoVx3vyRSR

[People Power WA @PeoplePowerWA]

🚨Seattle/State Leg ACTION ALERT

If you are part of the 80% of Seattle voters who support civilianized crisis response to low-priority calls, take 30s to sign in PRO to HB 1816 by TOMORROW at 9:30a! 1/3

https://t.co/iiFpnJR6wr

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

@finchfrii 🥹

[Hacks & Wonks @HacksWonks]

On this week-in-review, @finchfrii and @drbestturtle discuss:
📂Filing week & the 3⃣ Bobs
⚖️Boeing to face criminal prosecution
🥡Gig worker rights battle
🤝Mega-coalition criticizes Harrell’s Comp Plan
🚔Disappointing SPOG contract approved

https://t.co/KyfBXDuFuG 🧵 1/12

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

Reject the SPOG contract and do better.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

Passing statewide legislation takes years of coalition building, not just a copy-and-pasted sentence in the City's annual legislative agenda. Seattle must stand firm on what we get out of collective bargaining with SPOG - this contract feels like we didn't even try.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

Some point to the state legislature as the solution to the conundrum. We have been there too and no action on this issue has happened since a 2021 public hearing.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

The contract before you is already expired. What leverage is left when SPOG walks away with 23% backpay raises in exchange for barely any accountability?

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

This permissive SPOG contract locks up a quarter of the general fund in the SPD budget. Counter to misinformation from the last several years about SPD getting defunded, it is really SPD that is defunding everything else.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

This permissive SPOG contract enables a toxic workplace culture to fester, impacting SPD's recruitment and retention of good officers despite all the City resources that have been thrown at it.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

This permissive SPOG contract lets officers and sergeants get by without accountability that their lieutenants and captains have accepted.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

This permissive SPOG contract hampers Seattle standing up a civilian-led alternative crisis response for situations where an armed response isn't necessary and may even cause escalation and be harmful.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

Lately, discussion about public safety has been about addressing a "permissive environment" around crime. I would argue that the permissive environment that really needs to be changed is the one that the SPOG contract enables.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

i am so angry that after nearly SIX years of waiting for the SPOG contract to come out from closed door negotiations, we were only given 1 minute for public comment.

here's what i would have said with a whole 2 minutes: 🧵

[Amy Sundberg @amysundberg]

The limit of 1 minute for public comment in addition to no public hearing is yet another slap in the face.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

The City and SPOG have had over 5 years to come to this agreement. I expected a massive price tag to come with any gains in accountability, but was honestly not prepared for how one-sided this agreement is.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

In 2018, we stood with the coalition of community groups, including the @SeaCPC, against this contract's previous iteration. In December 2019, we spoke at the last and only public hearing on the current contract negotiations.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

Hello. I’m Shannon Cheng, Chair of @PeoplePowerWA, speaking in opposition to the SPOG contract. Our group has worked on Seattle police accountability since the 2017 Accountability Ordinance.

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

@finchfrii Take action by tomorrow (5/14) here:

https://t.co/cnfj3YHGWq

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

The new SPOG contract is up for approval at Seattle City Council next Tuesday.

Trying to advocate and engage with an utterly opaque process over the last 5+ years has been challenging and frustrating. Despite that, I am still shocked at how one-sided the agreement turned out 💔

[People Power WA @PeoplePowerWA]

Learn more and take action to oppose the new Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) contract at: https://t.co/sh1BwEhP31

🧵1/9

[shannon cheng @drbestturtle]

Hoping everyone listens to this episode about proposed dangerous surveillance technology 👁️ and asks City of Seattle to give us win-wins rather than lose-loses!

[Hacks & Wonks @HacksWonks]

Today, guest host @drbestturtle talks Seattle surveillance technology with @amysundberg and BJ Last of Solidarity Budget:
💨 Rushed public input process
💩 Tech is ineffective AND harmful
🫂 Proven solutions for gun violence
📢 Public meeting 2/27!
https://t.co/2YIfpSpfIl 🧵 1/20