Jesse A. James for Seattle

Jesse A. James

for 2025!
Seattle City Council
-position 8-

Let's create a safe and affordable Seattle for everyone!
Vote Jesse A. James for the future!

About JAJ -from an anonymous friend and colleague.

Jesse A. James is a Seattle-based musician and political journalist with a rich history of activism. Back in 2022, he ran for the House of Representatives and actively participated in various demonstrations advocating for freedom of speech, governmental transparency, and reproductive rights.

In 2023, Jesse released his highly-anticipated album, "The Standoff," which showcased his musical prowess and creativity. A year later, in 2024, he joined the Cascade Party of Washington—a newly formed political entity. By 2025, he was elected to the party's Board of Directors and contributed his skills to multiple committees. Throughout his career, Jesse has fervently championed tax relief for working-class and middle-class citizens, along with universal healthcare.

Currently, Jesse is dedicated to writing articles for The Summit. Jesse A. James is a member of the Lakota tribe (1/4 Sioux). His personal experiences as a service/food industry worker and a renter in Seattle have shaped his outlook and commitment to the city, where he has spent approximately 90% of his life, with the remaining 10% within the surrounding area.

Jesse A James at the Westlake Assembly for Free Speech & Information (2022)

Now hear from Jesse on the issues:

Transportation
I am a self-proclaimed light rail expansionist: Ballard, West Seattle, maybe more! I want that big beautiful train as close to everywhere as practical and possible. I am a general advocate for well funded, fast, and safe public transit as a whole. A quality transportation system is one of the main indicators of a truly prospering city.

Small Business
We need to prioritize small business owners over corporations. This includes treating them as independent contributors to our city's economy and culture; parters even, but not simply as cash machines for the city coffers. I want to make it easier to start a business, and realistic to be able to maintain it.

Abolish the Sugar Tax (Sweetened Beverage Tax) - Click here to read my op-ed on this
This is a regressive tax that has plagued consumers and small businesses alike for the better part of a decade. Nothing short of its immediate destruction would satisfy me.

Public Safety
I believe that Seattle has made progress these last couple years with public safety, crime, and homelessness. We need to remain diligent and stay the course; encouraging accountability among our police force, and supporting them when they hold up to that standard, while never holding a blind eye when it comes to matters of misconduct and unnecessary aggression. I support the SOAP and SODA zones.

Minimum Wage, Unions, and the Working Class
As someone who has benefited from Seattle's minimum wage, and as a firm voice for the working class, this one is a no-brainer. Everyone deserves a living wage! I am also a supporter of labor unions, as well as tax relief for working class people, as they are the one's who receive most of the burden and hardship from recent political and economical events.

Affordable Housing
I fully support the MFTE program, and the efforts the city has made recently to make Seattle a more affordable place to live. In fact, we need more affordable housing for lower income residents, and really, more housing in general. An abundance of housing with proper regulations is the best way to combat overpriced rent and homelessness. I support streamlining the permitting process for housing development.

Ending the Democracy Voucher Program - Click here to read my op-ed on this
This program is flat out elitist; Made to give grassroots candidates a fighting chance, since it's creation, it has only served the incumbents and big name candidates, allowing them to hold more extravagant campaign parties. Renewal for this program is up for a direct vote by the city in August. Please join me in voting it down!

Transparency, Ethics, and Freedom of Speech
I support the current City Council rules & ethics, in the same light that I support stock trading bans on members of congress. It is the responsibility of all levels of government to be accountable to the people, and cross-incentives in our system tend to breed corruption. Accountability includes being transparent, putting a halt to corruption when faced with it, and upholding the right of Freedom of Speech & Expression for all!