Against a backdrop of colorful toys, Sen. Patty Murray held a press conference at Wallingford Center today to address a somber topic: the effect of the economic downturn and her push for Wall Street reform.
Jude LaRene, who owns Izilla Toys, introduced the senator with a few remarks about how the economy has affected his business: “We’ve seen our credit dry up or frozen, our interest rates go sky-high, and it makes it really hard to stay in business.” LaRene and his wife and business partner Jen Schneeweis opened their second Izilla Toys store (the first is in Capitol Hill) late last year. “We had hoped, with the expansion to our second store here, to hire people but instead we just work longer hours,” LaRene said. “We’ve worked hard and pay our bills, and it’s not being reflected in our experience with banks.”
Sen. Murray then talked about the economic effects many Washingtonians have felt in the past few years: “These are people who scrimped and saved and did the best they knew how, and were hurt through no fault of their own. They played by the rules and paid the price while the people on Wall Street did not. It’s time to hold Wall St. accountable and end the system that leaves these people holding the bag.”
She said she’ll work to pass a bill that includes a strong consumer-protection agency, an end to taxpayer bailouts, and strong regulation.
Sen. Murray then introduced a number of Washingtonians who have been affected by the economic downturn, among them Devin Glaser (in red shirt in photos above), a before- and after-school childcare provider at John Stanford International School who’s facing foreclosure on his condo. He said it was clear that times are stressful and told of a 7-year-old student who pulled him aside to ask for help getting his dad a job.
After the press conference, Sen. Murray stopped to chat briefly with Chamber of Commerce president Kara Ceriello and Community Council president Mary Heim about issues facing Wallingford.
