Ensure Everyone Can Thrive in Renton
✅ Support Our Workforce by Raising the Minimum Wage: As the first City Councilmember to endorse and support Renton’s community-led Raise the Wage Renton campaign, I supported organizers in engaging with various stakeholders, including the Renton Chamber of Commerce, business owners, community members, to address concerns and gather support for the wage increase, which demonstrates by commitment to collaborative policymaking. I was a vocal advocate for the importance of fair wages for all workers and actively participated in discussions and events promoting this initiative.
✅ Support Raise the Wage Renton which exempts small businesses with fewer than 15 employees: Small businesses are exempt from the ordinance because it applies only to businesses that either (1) have at least 15 employees, regardless of location, or (2) have annual gross revenue exceeding $2 million. Businesses that fall below both of these thresholds are not subject to the minimum wage and labor standards established by the ordinance. For employers with 15–499 employees, the ordinance sets up a tiered increase in the minimum wage to gradually reach the final target rate.
✅ Support Economic Growth in Renton: While on Council, I have advocated for and supported art, tourism, and planning grants to keep Renton ahead of the curve. By 2023, we increased this grant funding to over $55 million. I have supported long-term partnerships with companies like Boeing, Topgolf, the Seahawks, the Sounders, Reign FC, and presently the opening of the Valley Medical Cancer Center to ensure Renton’s economic development. In November 2023, Renton received one of two Governor’s Smart Communities Awards for the South Lake Washington redevelopment project, transforming a former industrial site into a mixed-use area with retail, housing, and public spaces. I have supported collaborations such as that with our Renton Downtown Partnership, which, in August 2022, achieved full Washington Main Street Community status.
riveraforrenton.com 