1
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:09,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

2
00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:25,010
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

3
00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:41,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

4
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:57,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

5
00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:13,010
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

6
00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:29,010
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

7
00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:45,010
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

8
00:01:51,000 --> 00:02:01,010
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

9
00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:17,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

10
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:33,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

11
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:49,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

12
00:02:55,000 --> 00:03:05,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

13
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:21,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

14
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:37,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

15
00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:53,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

16
00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:09,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

17
00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:25,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

18
00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:41,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

19
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:57,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

20
00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:13,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

21
00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:29,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

22
00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,009
[MUSIC]

23
00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:53,009
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

24
00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,060
Oh. Good morning. The November 12th,

25
00:05:59,060 --> 00:06:02,600
2026 special meeting of the Seattle City Council will come to order.

26
00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,420
It is 9:36 a.m.

27
00:06:04,420 --> 00:06:05,920
I'm Joy Hollingsworth Council president.

28
00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:07,900
Will the clerk please call the roll?

29
00:06:07,900 --> 00:06:10,220
Councilmember Strauss here.

30
00:06:10,220 --> 00:06:12,760
Councilmember Foster here.

31
00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,080
Councilmember Juarez here.

32
00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,120
Councilmember Kettle here.

33
00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,520
Councilmember Lin here.

34
00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,840
Councilmember Rinck here.

35
00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:24,460
Councilmember Rivera. Present.

36
00:06:24,460 --> 00:06:25,580
Councilmember Saka.

37
00:06:25,580 --> 00:06:26,340
Here.

38
00:06:26,340 --> 00:06:27,360
And Council President.

39
00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:28,580
Hollingsworth here.

40
00:06:28,580 --> 00:06:29,820
Nine present.

41
00:06:29,820 --> 00:06:31,959
Awesome. Thank you. Colleagues, we're going to jump right

42
00:06:31,959 --> 00:06:34,720
into the hybrid public comment period.

43
00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:40,000
Public comment is limited to items on today's agenda and the council work program.

44
00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,079
The council cannot accept comments on

45
00:06:42,079 --> 00:06:45,800
quasi judicial items or on campaign related matters.

46
00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:50,920
I also want to thank our clerk who worked really hard to get this meeting scheduled,

47
00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,000
because we are in the middle of budget as well.

48
00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,320
So just want to thank our clerk and our whole team for all their hard work,

49
00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,500
to make sure that we had this special meeting.

50
00:06:59,500 --> 00:07:03,760
Clerk how many speakers do we have signed up today?

51
00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:09,880
Currently, we have 20 remote and ten in person.

52
00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,640
True. And 30. How many?

53
00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,580
2010. 20.

54
00:07:15,580 --> 00:07:18,920
30. Okay.

55
00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,480
Okay, so we have 30.

56
00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,620
So we have pardon me.

57
00:07:24,620 --> 00:07:27,520
Yes, sir. So that'll be 31.

58
00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,620
If so, we have 30.

59
00:07:29,620 --> 00:07:31,920
We have 31 speakers.

60
00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:33,000
We have more signing up.

61
00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,940
So each speaker is going to get one minute to speak.

62
00:07:35,940 --> 00:07:41,220
Will the clerk please read the instructions. Thank you.

63
00:07:41,220 --> 00:07:44,580
Public comment period will be moderated in the following manner.

64
00:07:44,580 --> 00:07:46,920
Speakers will be called in the order in which they registered.

65
00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,660
Speakers will hear a chime when 10 seconds are left of their time.

66
00:07:49,660 --> 00:07:51,700
Speakers. Microphones will be muted if they do not end

67
00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:54,420
their comments within the allotted time to allow us to call the next speaker.

68
00:07:54,420 --> 00:07:58,000
The public comment period is now open and will begin with the first speaker on the list.

69
00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,820
Awesome. And first, I want,

70
00:08:00,820 --> 00:08:03,020
before we start public comment,

71
00:08:03,020 --> 00:08:08,200
my only ask today is that we establish a couple ground rules.

72
00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,000
First, everyone deserves an opportunity to be heard,

73
00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,000
so we understand that there are certain issues that bring out strong emotions,

74
00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,400
different experiences and different opinions.

75
00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,560
Second, I'm asking everyone to respect each other.

76
00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:25,440
So you might not agree with someone's opinion and just respect their right to express it.

77
00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,080
So please refrain from name calling or interruptions.

78
00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,320
Try to use the jazz hands or silent gestures to show

79
00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:37,500
your support so we can keep the interruptions down as best as possible.

80
00:08:37,500 --> 00:08:38,900
You got it. C boom.

81
00:08:38,900 --> 00:08:40,000
Thank you. With that,

82
00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,880
we're going to jump into public comment and really

83
00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,500
appreciate you all coming down here this morning.

84
00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:49,020
So we have Eugene first followed by Mike and then Arianna Riley.

85
00:08:49,020 --> 00:08:50,960
Welcome Eugene.

86
00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:55,080
Eugene Wasserman from the North Seattle Industrial Association.

87
00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:59,680
We urge you to to vote to override the mayor's veto.

88
00:08:59,680 --> 00:09:00,960
This legislation.

89
00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:02,420
From our point of view,

90
00:09:02,420 --> 00:09:06,360
we view what Councilmember Strauss has proposed,

91
00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:07,760
and many of you voted for,

92
00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,920
is a humane way to end drug dealing in our area.

93
00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:16,680
We have. We all our businesses have seen drug dealing at these RVs.

94
00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:19,440
And at a meeting not too long ago that

95
00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:23,480
Councilmember Strauss arranged with some of the higher ups in the police department.

96
00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,040
They admitted there's nothing they can do about it.

97
00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:31,260
So our view is if you vote to with the mayor,

98
00:09:31,260 --> 00:09:33,480
you're voting for more drug dealing on our neighborhood.

99
00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,400
I listened to her press conference.

100
00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:39,420
I didn't hear say a word about ending drug dealing with dealing with that issue.

101
00:09:39,420 --> 00:09:40,960
She was dealing with nurses,

102
00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:42,140
parking, RVs,

103
00:09:42,140 --> 00:09:45,160
some staff person wrote an idiotic thing for her.

104
00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,280
You know, we were in line with the mayor

105
00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,480
and but was just disappointed on this one. Thank you.

106
00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:52,880
Thank you Eugene. Next we have Mike Stewart,

107
00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,780
followed by Arianna and then Alice Green. Welcome, Mike.

108
00:09:55,780 --> 00:09:57,080
Thank you. Good morning,

109
00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:58,800
City Councilmembers. My name is Mike Stewart.

110
00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,100
I'm executive director of the Ballard Alliance,

111
00:10:01,100 --> 00:10:03,820
a neighborhood improvement organization in Ballard.

112
00:10:03,820 --> 00:10:05,939
I'm here to request that you restore

113
00:10:05,939 --> 00:10:09,100
your previous decision and reaffirm Council bill one,

114
00:10:09,100 --> 00:10:11,220
two, one, 283.

115
00:10:11,220 --> 00:10:14,520
Over the years, the Alliance has worked with Councilmember Strauss and

116
00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:19,060
his team to develop solutions for individuals living in vehicles.

117
00:10:19,060 --> 00:10:22,520
His extensive experience has informed this legislation,

118
00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:27,200
which is a comprehensive solution that needs to be implemented in Seattle.

119
00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,919
Councilmember Strauss already completed months

120
00:10:29,919 --> 00:10:32,880
of process with frontline service providers,

121
00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:37,599
city departments and community partners to create effective legislation that requires

122
00:10:37,599 --> 00:10:42,560
all components to be successful, including CB 121283.

123
00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:45,519
In addition, the legislation provides additional time

124
00:10:45,519 --> 00:10:48,920
in early 2027 to make any adjustments if needed.

125
00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:50,600
This council got it right.

126
00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:51,980
On October 20th.

127
00:10:51,980 --> 00:10:54,100
We can't afford additional delay.

128
00:10:54,100 --> 00:10:58,180
I urge you to hold fast and adopt this bill. Thank you.

129
00:10:58,180 --> 00:11:01,440
Thank you, Mike. Next, we have Arianna Riley, followed by Alice Green.

130
00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,400
And then Allison. Welcome.

131
00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,900
Hello, my name is Arianna Riley and I'm here from West Seattle.

132
00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:11,239
I've been coming here and observing you guys long enough that I

133
00:11:11,239 --> 00:11:15,200
know this policy was not proposed from a lack of intelligence,

134
00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,760
nor was it proposed because anybody was paid off to do so.

135
00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,919
This is why I am just so disappointed to hear

136
00:11:21,919 --> 00:11:26,120
such a truly awful and disgusting policy proposed by someone who I

137
00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:30,700
know thinks before acting and doesn't usually propose such atrocious policies.

138
00:11:30,700 --> 00:11:34,600
There are lots of reasons why someone would not want to go to a shelter.

139
00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,880
In making it easier for the city to tow people's homes away,

140
00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:42,440
in an attempt to force them into shelter is an irresponsible use of state power.

141
00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,240
This policy is not only disgusting and cruel,

142
00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,240
but also doesn't make fiscal sense,

143
00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,360
rational sense, or any type of sense punishing

144
00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,920
poor people for being poor is never good policy.

145
00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,760
I'm disappointed and I really do expect better.

146
00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,980
Politics of cruelty are just not something that we should be engaging in.

147
00:12:01,980 --> 00:12:03,040
It's not intelligent,

148
00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,220
it's not useful, and it's not fun.

149
00:12:05,220 --> 00:12:07,280
Please vote no. Thank you.

150
00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:08,620
Thank you Arianna.

151
00:12:08,620 --> 00:12:14,320
Next we have Alice Green followed by Allison and then Lum. Welcome, Alice.

152
00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,220
Thanks for hearing us today.

153
00:12:17,220 --> 00:12:19,040
Councilmembers.

154
00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:24,160
I think the basic assumption of the mayor or

155
00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:29,720
people at large is that because people are living a nomadic lifestyle,

156
00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,760
that they are drug users and drug dealers,

157
00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,280
and that's not true.

158
00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:40,120
There are just like there are silent homeless people who are sleeping on

159
00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:45,500
couches and have not burned up all their social capital with issues,

160
00:12:45,500 --> 00:12:47,100
you know, personal issues.

161
00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:52,580
There are people that are homeless that are choosing to live in vehicles rather than,

162
00:12:52,580 --> 00:12:57,520
you know, not not living anywhere,

163
00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,120
or they don't have that social capital going for them.

164
00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:06,220
I think you need to uphold the veto of the RV ban

165
00:13:06,220 --> 00:13:11,260
because people there's good people out there.

166
00:13:11,260 --> 00:13:13,600
There's people that will weld for each other,

167
00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:15,580
share soup there, there.

168
00:13:15,580 --> 00:13:21,760
And also shout out to Seattle Housing Authority because thank you.

169
00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:26,960
Thank you, Alice. Next we have Allison followed by Lamb and then Chanel,

170
00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:28,520
Jeff, Paul, Tara Miller,

171
00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,600
and then Rachel. Welcome.

172
00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:32,940
Thank you. Good morning, Councilmembers.

173
00:13:32,940 --> 00:13:36,520
Allison Azinger with the Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness,

174
00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,400
urging you to uphold the mayor's veto.

175
00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:44,079
We sincerely thank Councilmember Strauss for bringing forward

176
00:13:44,079 --> 00:13:47,999
significant positive proposals to improve how our city

177
00:13:47,999 --> 00:13:52,420
responds to people who are living in vehicles, including RVs.

178
00:13:52,420 --> 00:13:54,560
And we thank Councilmembers, Rinck, Foster,

179
00:13:54,560 --> 00:13:59,400
Lin and Saka for stating their support for an alternative approach to

180
00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:04,600
chart a better plan for how we specifically respond to people who live in RVs.

181
00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:10,900
Over 4700 letters have been sent in the last few weeks urging this action.

182
00:14:10,900 --> 00:14:14,720
This legislation, this specific piece of legislation

183
00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,900
of the six brought forward is a ban.

184
00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:22,639
The changes to parking rules and the permit program would have created

185
00:14:22,639 --> 00:14:27,940
a draconian ban on hundreds of people who live in the best shelter available to them,

186
00:14:27,940 --> 00:14:30,760
voting to uphold the veto will demonstrate that,

187
00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,140
together with all of us,

188
00:14:32,140 --> 00:14:35,900
you're committed to a Seattle where we work together to strengthen our community,

189
00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:39,840
resolve problems, and create a better housed future.

190
00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:41,360
We don't have to accept

191
00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:45,880
ineffective or harmful approaches that haven't been fully thought through.

192
00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,640
That people, instead of investing in proven.

193
00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:51,760
Solutions. Thank you very much.

194
00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,420
Thank you. Allison. Next we have Liam.

195
00:14:54,420 --> 00:14:57,120
Thanks for using the jazz heads. Good to see you.

196
00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:58,860
And then Chanel, followed by Jeff Tarr.

197
00:14:58,860 --> 00:15:00,800
Rachel. Double. Double.

198
00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:02,180
Good morning. My name is.

199
00:15:02,180 --> 00:15:04,940
And I'm the general manager for the Transit Riders Union.

200
00:15:04,940 --> 00:15:07,640
I'm also a resident of district seven.

201
00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:09,800
I live right by Aurora Avenue.

202
00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:14,600
And so I encounter neighbors who live in RVs and other vehicles.

203
00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,040
And that's what they are.

204
00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:17,220
They're my neighbors.

205
00:15:17,220 --> 00:15:18,800
They. It's their homes.

206
00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,900
And they don't deserve to be treated like nuisance or some sort of drug problem.

207
00:15:22,900 --> 00:15:25,040
They deserve to be treated with compassion,

208
00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:29,780
with dignity and resources that will get them all the way to home.

209
00:15:29,780 --> 00:15:32,720
So I want to start by thanking Councilmembers,

210
00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:34,120
Lin, Rinck,

211
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:39,420
and Foster for voting no on a poorly thought out plan,

212
00:15:39,420 --> 00:15:41,580
and which needs a better alternative,

213
00:15:41,580 --> 00:15:43,639
and also for the courage of

214
00:15:43,639 --> 00:15:48,480
Councilmember Saka for joining them to sustain the mayor's veto.

215
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:53,680
And I think when you decide today about whether or not to sustain or override the veto,

216
00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:59,860
I ask you, is Seattle a city that believes in compassion for all of its residents?

217
00:15:59,860 --> 00:16:03,000
Is it are its leaders ones who believe that

218
00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,680
people should have choices about their homes and where they live?

219
00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:09,280
Or are we a city that will criminalize penalty,

220
00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:12,980
criminalize and regulate poverty?

221
00:16:12,980 --> 00:16:14,960
Thank you. I'm sorry.

222
00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:16,120
I don't mean to cut you off.

223
00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:17,760
I do let people if the time is up,

224
00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:19,920
I do let you finish your train of thought as well.

225
00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:21,480
So I'm not trying to cut people off.

226
00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,500
Next we have Chanel followed by Jeff,

227
00:16:24,500 --> 00:16:25,800
Tara, and then Rachel.

228
00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:27,920
Welcome.

229
00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,120
Okay. Good afternoon, Councilmembers.

230
00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,040
I'm speaking today in support of sustaining Mayor Wilson's veto.

231
00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:34,560
I bring direct lived experience.

232
00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,000
My bus was towed, which led me to live in a tiny home,

233
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:41,620
and I volunteer with with Stop the Sweeps to help tow people out of harms way.

234
00:16:41,620 --> 00:16:44,000
I've attended a vehicle residency meeting.

235
00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,560
Let me be clear I do not trust Kcata with our money,

236
00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,660
but I keep showing up because I do the real work.

237
00:16:48,660 --> 00:16:53,020
In fact, the South Park location chosen for the RV lot was my suggestion.

238
00:16:53,020 --> 00:16:57,960
Rushing into this without grassroots input is like it is a mistake,

239
00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,580
especially when the safe lot is scheduled to open this very month,

240
00:17:00,580 --> 00:17:03,260
waiting to see how that operates first makes far more sense.

241
00:17:03,260 --> 00:17:05,440
Please sustain the veto today and I invite Council,

242
00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:08,520
Councilmember Strauss and any other Councilmember who wants to join us

243
00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:12,000
to attend the next vehicle meeting on December 8th at 3:00,

244
00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,380
so we can shape the policy. Right. Thank you.

245
00:17:14,380 --> 00:17:16,480
Thank you Chanel. Next we have Jeff,

246
00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,780
followed by Tara and then Rachel.

247
00:17:18,780 --> 00:17:21,720
Welcome, Jeff. Paul.

248
00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:25,480
Good morning Council. My name is Jeff Paul.

249
00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:29,520
I'm the co Eddie of our neighbors and a member of the services not Sweeps Coalition.

250
00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,020
I'm here to appreciate all of you who are

251
00:17:32,020 --> 00:17:35,060
going to vote to uphold the mayor's veto on the RV ban.

252
00:17:35,060 --> 00:17:36,400
Thank you, Councilmember Foster.

253
00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:37,700
Thank you, Councilmember Rinck.

254
00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:39,220
Thank you, Councilmember Lynn, and thank you.

255
00:17:39,220 --> 00:17:42,520
Councilmember Saka. You all have heard my message at this point.

256
00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:46,360
There's a world of difference between living in an RV and living in a tent.

257
00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:49,960
I lived in my vehicle for a brief time when I lost my housing,

258
00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,680
and it provided the stability that I needed to keep my job and exit homelessness.

259
00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:58,160
I fully support the additional services provided by Strauss legislation,

260
00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,520
but a ban that would largely prohibit RVs in the city

261
00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,920
is like super harmful and probably illegal.

262
00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,000
So be on the right side of history on this one.

263
00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,260
Work with the executive and uphold the veto. Thank you.

264
00:18:07,260 --> 00:18:08,720
Thank you Jeff. Next we have Tara,

265
00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:10,620
followed by Rachael. Welcome, Tara.

266
00:18:10,620 --> 00:18:12,100
Next up is Rachael.

267
00:18:12,100 --> 00:18:13,720
And then we'll continue our in person.

268
00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:17,120
If you are online, we should be with you within two three speakers. Welcome.

269
00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:18,920
Good morning. My name is Tara Miller.

270
00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,360
I'm the executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle,

271
00:18:21,360 --> 00:18:23,000
and I live in district five.

272
00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,400
Councilmember Strauss requested an Old Testament story

273
00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,540
last time we were here, so I got you.

274
00:18:27,540 --> 00:18:30,380
This is from Prophet Isaiah chapter 58.

275
00:18:30,380 --> 00:18:33,600
Is this not the fast that I choose to loose the bonds of injustice,

276
00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,220
to let the oppressed go free?

277
00:18:35,220 --> 00:18:36,999
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and

278
00:18:36,999 --> 00:18:39,020
bring the homeless poor into your house?

279
00:18:39,020 --> 00:18:42,440
If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

280
00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,400
you shall be called the repair of the breach.

281
00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,560
The restorer of streets to live in.

282
00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:48,760
When it comes to RVs on the streets of Seattle,

283
00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:50,440
some of the solutions provided are.

284
00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:52,560
You get one shot to escape the breach,

285
00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:54,039
and let's push the breach outside of

286
00:18:54,039 --> 00:18:57,600
our city organizations who work to loose the bonds of injustice

287
00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:03,140
are asking you instead to be repairers of this breach and restores of Seattle's streets.

288
00:19:03,140 --> 00:19:06,180
Thank you to the councilmembers who support Mayor Wilson's veto.

289
00:19:06,180 --> 00:19:09,640
We appreciate Councilmember Saka for having the humility to change course.

290
00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,660
When you saw a more effective path that would bring more people along,

291
00:19:12,660 --> 00:19:14,679
please uphold the mayor's veto and change

292
00:19:14,679 --> 00:19:17,020
course toward something more effective. Thank you.

293
00:19:17,020 --> 00:19:19,560
Thank you. Tara. Next, we have Rachel.

294
00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,640
Welcome, Rachel. Welcome.

295
00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:24,480
Good morning, councilmembers.

296
00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,280
I'm Rachel, I live in district five,

297
00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,700
and I'm an organizer with the Church Council of Greater Seattle.

298
00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:35,880
I'm from Seattle and I've worked in nonprofits here locally for about ten years.

299
00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,220
For decades, I have seen city administrations attempt to

300
00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:42,840
address our crisis of unaffordability and housing.

301
00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,940
Today, I'm really greatly appreciative of all of

302
00:19:45,940 --> 00:19:48,800
the bills that were passed to open a new,

303
00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:53,720
safe lot for RV's and dedicate more resources to this underserved community.

304
00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,740
I'm also very appreciative of those that voted no on the permitting bill,

305
00:19:57,740 --> 00:20:00,880
and who have committed to uphold Mayor Wilson's veto.

306
00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,400
I ask you all today to uphold the veto now that you have

307
00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,800
more information and have heard from our community,

308
00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:09,960
you know that there are other pathways to

309
00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:14,200
create a better and safer Seattle for all of our neighbors.

310
00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,460
Our neighbors deserve better than sweeps,

311
00:20:16,460 --> 00:20:18,280
punitive punishments, and bans.

312
00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:20,920
And it is inhumane and immoral to push our RV's off

313
00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:24,720
our streets without a guarantee of safe and accessible housing.

314
00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:28,960
I ask that you sustain the veto and do better.

315
00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:31,080
Thank you. Next we have Todd,

316
00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,400
followed by Sept and then Ryan.

317
00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:34,920
And those are our last in-person speakers,

318
00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:36,720
and we'll go to online.

319
00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,520
Welcome, Todd. Todd Haas.

320
00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:46,720
Honorable councilmembers.

321
00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:47,920
My name is Todd Haas.

322
00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:51,400
I'm with share wheel tent City four and Lake share.

323
00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,600
We'll share and wheel together operate

324
00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:58,560
nearly 500 indoor and outdoor shelter beds all over Seattle.

325
00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:02,000
We know from experience that without shelter, people die.

326
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,020
The RV permitting system would risk people's only home and shelter.

327
00:21:06,020 --> 00:21:07,900
It's costly and inhumane.

328
00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:11,280
We're grateful Mayor Wilson vetoed the RV permit bill,

329
00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:15,400
and that Councilmember Saka joined her in proposing an alternate plan.

330
00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,140
We, the people who are homeless, now,

331
00:21:18,140 --> 00:21:22,160
ask you to uphold the veto and use the 10 million in permitting costs

332
00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:27,200
instead to build more life shelter camps or housing.

333
00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:29,640
You should provide resources instead of punishing

334
00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,440
people of little or no means. Thank you.

335
00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,720
Thank you. Todd. Next we have Sepp,

336
00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:40,960
followed by Ryan. Welcome, Sepp.

337
00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,160
Hi. Thank you. My name is set.

338
00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:49,040
I am the advocacy and program manager with the Queer Power Alliance.

339
00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,560
And queer folks are overrepresented in

340
00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:57,180
the unhoused population and also in the population of folks who lives in their vehicles.

341
00:21:57,180 --> 00:22:01,000
We have to assume that folks are making the best decisions for themselves.

342
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,880
And oftentimes, living in an RV or a vehicle is really

343
00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:09,220
someone's best solution to surviving.

344
00:22:09,220 --> 00:22:12,040
So criminalizing them is obviously wrong.

345
00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:16,120
We want to say thank the councilmembers who voted no in the first place,

346
00:22:16,120 --> 00:22:18,599
and thank Councilmember Saka for supporting

347
00:22:18,599 --> 00:22:21,520
the alternative proposed by the mayor. Thank you.

348
00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,600
Thank you. Next we have Ryan,

349
00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,360
Ryan, welcome,

350
00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:28,880
Ryan. Good to see you.

351
00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,180
My name is Ryan McNamee.

352
00:22:32,180 --> 00:22:35,040
I understand this is the Governance and Utilities Committee.

353
00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:36,900
I'm here to bring to your attention.

354
00:22:36,900 --> 00:22:38,520
So Ryan, we're going to pause your time.

355
00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:39,800
We're going to do a minute.

356
00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:44,480
So we're not going to let me just this isn't we're at a special meeting on city council.

357
00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:49,420
So you can I believe he can talk about anything.

358
00:22:49,420 --> 00:22:50,840
Yeah you can. All right.

359
00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:52,100
So this isn't this is a full council.

360
00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:55,480
I just wanted to make sure before you dove into details. Go ahead. Ryan.

361
00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:57,860
Thank you. My name is Ryan Mina Hashemi.

362
00:22:57,860 --> 00:23:02,240
I'm here to bring to the attention of Councilmember Hollingsworth and

363
00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:06,160
Councilmember Strauss an ongoing fraud that has been

364
00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:10,380
going on in the city of Seattle since 2023.

365
00:23:10,380 --> 00:23:13,999
This pertains to a multimillion dollar contract

366
00:23:13,999 --> 00:23:17,140
that was awarded to Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company.

367
00:23:17,140 --> 00:23:23,560
They committed to utilize women minority and veteran owned businesses, and now,

368
00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:25,400
four years later, those women,

369
00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:30,160
minority and veteran owned businesses have not received $1 of utilization.

370
00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,300
While Burns and McDonnell has received millions of dollars,

371
00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:37,540
the only utilization and money that they have distributed to

372
00:23:37,540 --> 00:23:44,160
subcontractors has been to a family member of Burns and McDonnell employees.

373
00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:50,300
I ask you to urge Katie Wilson Mayor Wilson to Debora Burns and.

374
00:23:50,300 --> 00:23:52,520
Thank you. Next,

375
00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:54,120
we're going to transition online.

376
00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:58,740
If you are online, please be present.

377
00:23:58,740 --> 00:24:03,120
We have Taylor Farley followed by Katie and Star six.

378
00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:05,400
To unmute yourself. Welcome.

379
00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:12,500
Hello. Thank you.

380
00:24:12,500 --> 00:24:15,040
My name is Taylor Farley.

381
00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,320
I'm the executive director of Queer Power Alliance,

382
00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:27,280
and I am calling on you to uphold the mayor's veto on the RV ban.

383
00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,880
Seattle is moving in the right direction by investing in housing,

384
00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:35,520
shelter and services that help people find stability.

385
00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:41,020
Let's not allow that the RV ban to be a sore thumb and undermine this process.

386
00:24:41,020 --> 00:24:44,740
We cannot criminalize our way to out of poverty,

387
00:24:44,740 --> 00:24:49,880
and we cannot vanish our way out of homelessness.

388
00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:56,440
For many people, their vehicle is the only safe place they come to call home.

389
00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:02,800
Taking that away without providing real alternatives can only create more harm.

390
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,040
I'd like to thank councilmembers.

391
00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:06,580
Rinck, Foster,

392
00:25:06,580 --> 00:25:10,840
Lin and Saka for supporting a different approach.

393
00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:12,460
Let's invest in safe parking,

394
00:25:12,460 --> 00:25:17,000
expand shelter and create real pathways for permanent housing.

395
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,860
Thank you. Taylor. Next we have Katie Gentry,

396
00:25:19,860 --> 00:25:22,100
followed by Paulina Lopez.

397
00:25:22,100 --> 00:25:29,680
Welcome. Star six to unmute yourself.

398
00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,000
Hello, my name is.

399
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:33,640
Hello. My name is Katie Gentry and I'm

400
00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:35,920
an experienced homeless outreach worker calling on you

401
00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:38,420
to uphold the mayor's veto on the RV ban.

402
00:25:38,420 --> 00:25:41,840
We spent years working alongside people who live outside in Seattle.

403
00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,160
I've seen firsthand how RVs can become

404
00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,880
impromptu shelters during extreme weather and literally save lives,

405
00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:50,319
especially when the city fails to open

406
00:25:50,319 --> 00:25:53,500
expanded emergency shelters when people need them most.

407
00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:55,960
Registration is a performative requirement,

408
00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:59,640
designed around a reality that many unhoused people simply cannot meet.

409
00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,160
Lost titles, deceased owners, decades old,

410
00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,880
informal sales and permanently branded salvage vehicles

411
00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:07,840
can make registration impossible,

412
00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:10,560
regardless of someone's ability or willingness to comply.

413
00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:14,100
You cannot make someone's home illegal and call it a solution.

414
00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:17,160
It is unacceptable to take away one of the few forms of

415
00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:21,400
protection people have without providing a safe and realistic alternative.

416
00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,940
We need meaningful support for people living outside but offering permanent housing,

417
00:26:24,940 --> 00:26:28,520
accessible shelter, individualized support, not more displacement.

418
00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:29,920
People need stability and housing,

419
00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:31,920
not another ban that tells them how to look down upon.

420
00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:33,460
They are by the business, alliances,

421
00:26:33,460 --> 00:26:35,920
politicians and house people.

422
00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,560
Thank you Katie. Next we have Paulina,

423
00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:46,820
followed by Elizabeth. Welcome, Paulina.

424
00:26:46,820 --> 00:26:48,500
Good morning.

425
00:26:48,500 --> 00:26:51,300
Good morning. Councilmembers, thank you so much.

426
00:26:51,300 --> 00:26:52,460
My name is Paulina Lopez.

427
00:26:52,460 --> 00:26:55,600
I'm the executive director of the Duwamish River Community Coalition.

428
00:26:55,600 --> 00:27:00,560
I'm here also to uphold Mayor Wilson veto for legislation.

429
00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:07,040
And thank you, Councilmember Lin Saka Foster and Rinck for bringing as well.

430
00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,160
I would like to, you know,

431
00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:15,140
mention how hard it is being for many of our neighbors not having access to housing,

432
00:27:15,140 --> 00:27:17,920
and I support the increase of the engagement,

433
00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,400
meaningful engagement to people living in RVs,

434
00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:22,839
opening safe parking locations that not

435
00:27:22,839 --> 00:27:26,560
only belong to communities that are already lacking.

436
00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:28,860
For some infrastructure.

437
00:27:28,860 --> 00:27:32,660
I believe that support of this veto on the RV,

438
00:27:32,660 --> 00:27:38,540
permitting legislation did not adequately address environmental justice concerns also.

439
00:27:38,540 --> 00:27:41,840
And so I support the mayor's veto but don't support the inaction.

440
00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:47,340
I hope that we can take intermediate responsibility for protecting neighbors health,

441
00:27:47,340 --> 00:27:49,760
safety and quality of life. Thank you.

442
00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,080
Thank you. Paulina. Next we have Elizabeth.

443
00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:53,360
I don't see Graham here.

444
00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:58,440
Next we'll have Robin Schwarz. Welcome, Elizabeth.

445
00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,360
Good morning. My name is Elizabeth Archambault.

446
00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:04,980
And I live in the South Lake Union neighborhood.

447
00:28:04,980 --> 00:28:11,800
I want to thank the councilmembers for this opportunity to urge a no vote on RV ban and

448
00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:19,860
uphold Mayor Wilson CAO standing for standing for a no vote and upholding the veto.

449
00:28:19,860 --> 00:28:24,020
Actually provides, excuse me,

450
00:28:24,020 --> 00:28:28,440
stands up for people that experience homelessness where they live,

451
00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:32,700
and it's standing up for real solutions like a additional shelters,

452
00:28:32,700 --> 00:28:37,620
paved parking, permanent housing and essential services that people need.

453
00:28:37,620 --> 00:28:43,980
Please do continue to vote no on this harmful RV ban and uphold the veto.

454
00:28:43,980 --> 00:28:47,520
This this permit, this,

455
00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,520
this legislation would only push people into worse conditions,

456
00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:55,640
into smaller vehicles and without any shelter at all. Thank you.

457
00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,160
Thank you. Elizabeth. Next we have Graham is not present.

458
00:28:58,160 --> 00:28:59,900
We have Robin followed by Graham.

459
00:28:59,900 --> 00:29:01,280
Oh, you're duplicate.

460
00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:04,680
My apologies. Robin then Graham. And then Rose.

461
00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,800
Good morning. My name is Robin Schwarz.

462
00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:10,800
I work at the Duwamish River Community Coalition,

463
00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:12,480
and I live in the Duwamish Valley.

464
00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:17,900
I'm calling in support of Executive Order 202609 Mayor Wilson.

465
00:29:17,900 --> 00:29:21,120
Alternative to Council's proposed RV legislation.

466
00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,880
And I really appreciate Councilmember Saka support as well

467
00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,640
as this has a significant impact on D1 and especially Georgetown.

468
00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:31,940
The proposed alternatives will support better outreach and a more robust approach to

469
00:29:31,940 --> 00:29:34,119
public safety and equitable outcomes for

470
00:29:34,119 --> 00:29:37,960
both housed and unhoused community members. Thank you.

471
00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,700
Thank you. Next,

472
00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:43,960
we have Graham,

473
00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,880
followed by Rose star six.

474
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,560
Hi.

475
00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,040
Can you hear me?

476
00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,180
Yes, we can hear you.

477
00:29:57,180 --> 00:29:58,920
Hey, Graham.

478
00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,160
Wonderful. Good evening, Councilmembers.

479
00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:02,260
My name is Dr. Graham Press,

480
00:30:02,260 --> 00:30:05,160
the executive director of the National Vehicle Coalition and

481
00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:08,420
a former Seattle resident vehicle resident outreach worker.

482
00:30:08,420 --> 00:30:09,660
Thank you for all.

483
00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:11,860
To the amazing RV residents,

484
00:30:11,860 --> 00:30:14,220
advocates and experts who spoke today.

485
00:30:14,220 --> 00:30:16,100
I am touched by your honesty,

486
00:30:16,100 --> 00:30:18,580
your truth, and your love for our community.

487
00:30:18,580 --> 00:30:23,300
And thank you, Councilmember Rob Saka for committing to support Mayor Wilson's veto.

488
00:30:23,300 --> 00:30:24,820
Please follow through today.

489
00:30:24,820 --> 00:30:28,420
I urge every Councilmember to uphold this veto.

490
00:30:28,420 --> 00:30:31,079
We should not collectively punish

491
00:30:31,079 --> 00:30:34,980
all RV residents for the actions of any individual bad actors.

492
00:30:34,980 --> 00:30:36,760
Vehicle residents are your neighbors,

493
00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,400
workers, families and constituents.

494
00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:44,880
They contribute to Seattle's communities and deserve representation, not displacement.

495
00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:46,980
Whatever today's outcome, the NVR,

496
00:30:46,980 --> 00:30:48,920
the National Vehicle Residency Coalition,

497
00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,760
stands ready to serve as an accountable partner in Seattle's next step.

498
00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:55,360
We bring national research experience,

499
00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:58,920
parking program operators and the voices of vehicle residents themselves.

500
00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:02,900
We ask you to be included in advising and evaluating Seattle's RV policies.

501
00:31:02,900 --> 00:31:04,640
Thank you. Graham. Next, we have Rose,

502
00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:08,160
followed by Joe. Welcome, Rose.

503
00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,440
Hello, Councilmembers,

504
00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:15,079
I am Rose, aye.

505
00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:19,900
Ask you all to uphold the veto today.

506
00:31:19,900 --> 00:31:22,520
It is really important for a lot of individuals.

507
00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:26,040
I am a D2 resident and I see RVs on the street all the time,

508
00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:31,120
but I know that those RVs are way better than the tents that they were replaced.

509
00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:33,000
These people do not leave our city.

510
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:34,540
They have nowhere else to go.

511
00:31:34,540 --> 00:31:39,340
I have people that sleep on pallets outside of my apartment every day.

512
00:31:39,340 --> 00:31:42,320
I see what people struggle with,

513
00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:44,480
and I know that when people don't have RVs,

514
00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:45,600
where they have safe homes,

515
00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:48,200
where they can have jobs and maintain themselves,

516
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:50,980
they break into nearby apartments to try and get warmth.

517
00:31:50,980 --> 00:31:53,400
They stay outside in the most terrible conditions

518
00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:55,700
and they try to survive however they can.

519
00:31:55,700 --> 00:31:58,320
This is not a problem that goes away just because we

520
00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,000
chase people out of where they currently are,

521
00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:03,440
and it is impossible for us to get rid of

522
00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,360
the RVs and simultaneously have nobody lose their homes.

523
00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,400
There is going to be something that affects

524
00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,160
people and will make people lose what little they have.

525
00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:15,080
We deserve to help them. However we can.

526
00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:16,580
Thank you Rose.

527
00:32:16,580 --> 00:32:17,660
Next we have Joe,

528
00:32:17,660 --> 00:32:21,760
followed by Brandon and then Laurel.

529
00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:23,880
Thank you.

530
00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:26,380
President Hollingsworth Joe Kunzler here.

531
00:32:26,380 --> 00:32:28,360
Your caller.

532
00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:34,799
It appears today that the that the mayor's veto overseeing legislation to stop

533
00:32:34,799 --> 00:32:38,100
the land and water and air pollution by

534
00:32:38,100 --> 00:32:42,860
unregulated unregistered RVs will likely be sustained.

535
00:32:42,860 --> 00:32:48,020
I call upon the Seattle City Council to work towards alternatives to stop the air,

536
00:32:48,020 --> 00:32:53,180
land and sea pollution that has caused by unregistered RVs.

537
00:32:53,180 --> 00:32:55,480
That includes having safe lots.

538
00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:59,980
That includes working towards getting people into permanent housing.

539
00:32:59,980 --> 00:33:07,180
That includes enforcing current laws on the books against unwanted and unwelcome air,

540
00:33:07,180 --> 00:33:08,280
land and sea pollution,

541
00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:14,640
whether it's from solid waste or from petroleum products like oil and water.

542
00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:17,220
As these vehicles are not kept maintained.

543
00:33:17,220 --> 00:33:22,260
I wish somebody would bring this kind of issue up besides me,

544
00:33:22,260 --> 00:33:24,180
I was out, you know,

545
00:33:24,180 --> 00:33:27,040
photographing for a political action committee.

546
00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:30,000
Thank you Joe. Next we have Brandon,

547
00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:33,400
followed by Laurel and then Audrey.

548
00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:44,760
Star six to unmute yourself.

549
00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:47,660
Brandon. I don't see Brandon yet.

550
00:33:47,660 --> 00:33:50,560
Oh, there he is. Hi, Brandon.

551
00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:55,260
Star six. You're still on mute.

552
00:33:55,260 --> 00:33:58,480
We see you, but you're not off mute.

553
00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:03,840
We can come back to Brandon.

554
00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:07,040
We'll go to Laurel, followed by Audrey. We'll come back to you.

555
00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:09,680
Brandon.

556
00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:12,680
Star six to unmute yourself. Awesome.

557
00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:20,100
First of all, I'd like to direct a shout out to the public commenter from the 10th,

558
00:34:20,100 --> 00:34:23,280
Josh sand, whose words could be my own.

559
00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:25,140
It's not a popular opinion,

560
00:34:25,140 --> 00:34:29,199
but many of us in Seattle are not willing to memory hole the anti-Jewish abuse

561
00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:33,680
that is flaunted without consequence and has been for over a decade.

562
00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:35,920
Nor are we going to ignore why,

563
00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:40,240
if it was done by white right wingers such as the Diwali incident,

564
00:34:40,240 --> 00:34:42,660
I'm sure it would be forcefully condemned.

565
00:34:42,660 --> 00:34:46,479
But there is an unwritten rule in Seattle that any cause that is

566
00:34:46,479 --> 00:34:50,480
done under the guise of Black or Muslim advocacy must be supported,

567
00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:54,840
or at the very least just ignored the way this has been exploited,

568
00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:56,380
both in our city and elsewhere,

569
00:34:56,380 --> 00:34:58,120
is a subject in itself,

570
00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:01,599
but it cannot be corrected when our city blacklists individuals and

571
00:35:01,599 --> 00:35:03,679
organizations who speak out against

572
00:35:03,679 --> 00:35:06,480
the human rights abuses of Muslims or people of color,

573
00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:08,020
including in this city,

574
00:35:08,020 --> 00:35:12,960
it is not a coincidence that the funded organizations do not support Jews,

575
00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:15,500
but often support those who attack us.

576
00:35:15,500 --> 00:35:18,280
We need to see some changes. Thank you.

577
00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:21,140
Thank you. Laurel. Next we have Audrey,

578
00:35:21,140 --> 00:35:26,320
followed by Is Brandon back on?

579
00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:30,080
Hey, Audrey. Welcome, star six yourself.

580
00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:36,200
Hello, Council. My name is Audrey Wong.

581
00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,480
I'm a resident in district two.

582
00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:39,980
I have two things I want to mention today.

583
00:35:39,980 --> 00:35:43,320
First is supporting the mayor's veto.

584
00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:46,680
You know, I echo what what most people have said here today.

585
00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:49,960
And the other thing I would just mention is that the specific reason that I'm.

586
00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:56,060
I think that we need to reject this effective ban is because it's a one time census.

587
00:35:56,060 --> 00:35:58,560
I mean, if you've ever forgotten to send an email,

588
00:35:58,560 --> 00:35:59,740
forgotten to turn something in,

589
00:35:59,740 --> 00:36:01,100
didn't turn in your homework,

590
00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:03,760
that's a ridiculous reason to to lose

591
00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:06,460
your housing and then be on the street because you,

592
00:36:06,460 --> 00:36:08,340
you know, didn't meet this deadline.

593
00:36:08,340 --> 00:36:11,920
The second thing I am here to say is to support

594
00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:15,620
Councilmember Rinck budget Provisio on

595
00:36:15,620 --> 00:36:20,100
the expansion of the real time cameras throughout Seattle.

596
00:36:20,100 --> 00:36:23,640
I'm very concerned seeing mayor's communication about it,

597
00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:28,500
that the public does not have enough transparency as to what evidence this will.

598
00:36:28,500 --> 00:36:33,280
This will actually make the city safer and that it's actually being effective.

599
00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:37,120
So do support Councilmember Rinck. Provisio.

600
00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:39,300
All right. We'll go to Brandon.

601
00:36:39,300 --> 00:36:40,960
And then next we have Amira.

602
00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:44,320
Welcome, Brandon star six to unmute yourself.

603
00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:51,320
We see you, Brandon.

604
00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:53,720
Star six.

605
00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:00,640
We'll keep coming back to you, Brandon.

606
00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:05,480
But star six to unmute yourself, my friend.

607
00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,840
All right, we'll go to Mira.

608
00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:12,040
We'll come back to Brandon.

609
00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:23,260
Good morning, Councilmembers.

610
00:37:23,260 --> 00:37:24,540
I'm Amir Ziada,

611
00:37:24,540 --> 00:37:28,200
government affairs coordinator for Opeiu Local eight.

612
00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:31,480
Our members are the frontline workers who run Seattle shelters.

613
00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:34,220
And at Lehigh, the city's RV safe lots.

614
00:37:34,220 --> 00:37:35,560
Thank you, Mayor Wilson,

615
00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:37,800
for your leadership and thank you, Councilmembers.

616
00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:42,880
Rinck. Foster, Lin and Saka for standing with her.

617
00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:45,460
I'm here to ask you to sustain the mayor's veto.

618
00:37:45,460 --> 00:37:50,060
The permit program can't work because there aren't enough places for people to go.

619
00:37:50,060 --> 00:37:52,559
City data shows that people live in

620
00:37:52,559 --> 00:37:58,880
vehicles and more often and more abundantly than are safe.

621
00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:01,080
Laws can hold and shelters are full.

622
00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:05,720
So towing someone's only home with nowhere to spend them just puts them on the streets.

623
00:38:05,720 --> 00:38:08,560
The mayor's plan builds the places first,

624
00:38:08,560 --> 00:38:09,860
and it's already moving.

625
00:38:09,860 --> 00:38:11,100
Outreach dollars are out.

626
00:38:11,100 --> 00:38:12,720
Glass Yard Commons is opening,

627
00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:15,560
and there's a second safe lot in this budget.

628
00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:17,800
Our members run these programs,

629
00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,580
and they're happy to help make sure that it works,

630
00:38:20,580 --> 00:38:21,880
build the places first,

631
00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:24,160
pay the workers who run them fairly.

632
00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:25,300
And thank you.

633
00:38:25,300 --> 00:38:26,820
Mira. Next we have a,

634
00:38:26,820 --> 00:38:30,100
C, a B, followed by Kate Rubin, a CAB.

635
00:38:30,100 --> 00:38:31,560
Welcome. And Brandon Craig,

636
00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:34,260
we're going to keep you up if you get star six,

637
00:38:34,260 --> 00:38:37,320
you're good. A CAB.

638
00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:45,160
Hello. So I am here once again to speak on

639
00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:48,679
the fact that we seem to be once again trying

640
00:38:48,679 --> 00:38:53,280
to punish poor people by driving them out of the city.

641
00:38:53,480 --> 00:39:01,920
There was somebody earlier who talked about being drug dealers, they're RVs.

642
00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:03,960
And for me personally,

643
00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:11,600
I have a much greater concern with the amount of cops and that work with Ice locally,

644
00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:14,840
and the fact that a lot of cops are also drug dealers.

645
00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:17,720
And unlike other aspects of society,

646
00:39:17,720 --> 00:39:22,199
they don't really held to account or held accountable for

647
00:39:22,199 --> 00:39:28,860
their actions and certain parts of my family aren't very good.

648
00:39:28,860 --> 00:39:31,580
We have business links with

649
00:39:31,580 --> 00:39:35,239
Councilmember Kettle when he worked with

650
00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:39,100
the CIA and some of his more unsavory actions there.

651
00:39:39,100 --> 00:39:42,400
So it's accountability for.

652
00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:46,100
Thank you a CAB Brandon. We still see you.

653
00:39:46,100 --> 00:39:48,680
Star six to unmute yourself.

654
00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:53,280
Star six.

655
00:39:55,120 --> 00:39:59,000
Next we have Kate Rubin, followed by David.

656
00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:04,960
If there are people on the back end for Seattle channel that have Brandon's number,

657
00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:08,920
maybe someone can call him to show how to do the star.

658
00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:11,160
Six hi Kate.

659
00:40:12,240 --> 00:40:15,400
Hi, my name is Kate Rubin.

660
00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:19,560
I live in district two and I'm the co-executive director of the Seattle.

661
00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:22,680
During the pandemic, we did outreach to RV residents.

662
00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:24,999
Most of the people we encountered had experienced

663
00:40:24,999 --> 00:40:27,280
an eviction and were unable to access shelter.

664
00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:30,880
That allowed them to stay with their partners or pets and lock up their belongings.

665
00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:32,560
Evictions are at record highs,

666
00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:34,640
and Seattle lacks adequate shelter.

667
00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:38,199
This bill threatens to take away the homes of current RV residents and prevent

668
00:40:38,199 --> 00:40:41,700
people who lose their housing in the future from seeking shelter in RV,

669
00:40:41,700 --> 00:40:45,360
even though that is sometimes the most appropriate situation.

670
00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:49,060
We support Mayor Wilson's decision to veto this legislation.

671
00:40:49,060 --> 00:40:50,519
The City Charter establishes that

672
00:40:50,519 --> 00:40:52,800
our government exists to protect and enhance the health,

673
00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:55,719
safety and general welfare of its people spending

674
00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:59,259
public resources to create an extensive new permitting bureaucracy,

675
00:40:59,259 --> 00:41:01,880
only to impound people's homes when they cannot comply,

676
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:05,040
is not good governance or an effective response to homelessness.

677
00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:09,399
We urge you to sustain the mayor's veto and continue investing in safe shelter and

678
00:41:09,399 --> 00:41:13,900
services that help people stabilize and get back into housing. Thank you.

679
00:41:13,900 --> 00:41:15,320
Thank you. Kate. Next,

680
00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:18,960
we have David Haynes, followed by Kelly.

681
00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:30,440
Hi. Thank you. David Haynes,

682
00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:32,760
Councilmember Rob Saka deserves real credit.

683
00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:34,500
If he upholds this veto.

684
00:41:34,500 --> 00:41:37,439
Seattle has refused to combat actual crime

685
00:41:37,439 --> 00:41:40,300
while allowing innocent people in poverty to suffer,

686
00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:43,560
to suffer under legislation meant for criminals.

687
00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:47,840
It makes no sense to let an addict junkie thief who commits crime get

688
00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:52,880
a pass on real scrutiny because they get six chances to engage with service providers.

689
00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:57,199
Meanwhile, our policies are a knee jerk blanket war on

690
00:41:57,199 --> 00:42:02,200
the poor present legislation targets impoverished residents as if they were criminals,

691
00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:06,220
treating poverty as a crime to be swept away and mistreated as subhuman.

692
00:42:06,220 --> 00:42:08,800
Instead of stopping real offenders,

693
00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:11,960
we must evolve this legislation,

694
00:42:11,960 --> 00:42:14,720
enforce real accountability against criminals,

695
00:42:14,720 --> 00:42:18,080
protect peaceful vehicle residents in safe areas,

696
00:42:18,080 --> 00:42:21,480
and request a 30 day National Guard deployment

697
00:42:21,480 --> 00:42:26,940
this year to build authorized encampments with genuine First World utilities,

698
00:42:26,940 --> 00:42:28,500
uphold the veto.

699
00:42:28,500 --> 00:42:30,320
Thank you.

700
00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:31,400
Thank you, David.

701
00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:33,100
Next, we have Kelly, Buford,

702
00:42:33,100 --> 00:42:37,520
Kelly and then Brandon Craig. Star six.

703
00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:47,560
Good evening, councilmembers.

704
00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:52,120
My name is Kelly O'Brien and I'm a Nickelsville participant at Brighton Village.

705
00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:55,360
I urge you to sustain Mayor Wilson's veto on

706
00:42:55,360 --> 00:43:01,600
the RV permitting legislation and vote no on Autistic Emerging technology patent holder.

707
00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:03,340
And Nickelsville gives me safety,

708
00:43:03,340 --> 00:43:06,679
purpose and a supportive community criminalizing

709
00:43:06,679 --> 00:43:08,999
our unhoused neighbors living in RV strips away

710
00:43:08,999 --> 00:43:11,640
that same stability and does not create housing.

711
00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:15,560
People can lose their RV if they are missed in the one time count to obtain a permit,

712
00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:18,199
severely limiting where and how long they could park and

713
00:43:18,199 --> 00:43:21,400
risk getting tickets towed and impounded.

714
00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:26,960
Please choose community led solutions over displacement and uphold the mayor's veto.

715
00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:29,160
Thank you.

716
00:43:29,160 --> 00:43:31,880
Thank you. Kelly. Brandon Craig,

717
00:43:31,880 --> 00:43:34,100
coming back to you, star six to unmute yourself.

718
00:43:34,100 --> 00:43:35,520
Other people who are not present,

719
00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:38,340
I will say your name, Brandon, start.

720
00:43:38,340 --> 00:43:39,860
Thank you. What's up man?

721
00:43:39,860 --> 00:43:41,720
Hi. AM I unmuted finally.

722
00:43:41,720 --> 00:43:43,300
Yes. Let's go.

723
00:43:43,300 --> 00:43:46,640
Okay, so my question is thank you. Thank you.

724
00:43:46,640 --> 00:43:50,460
Is the city now in the business of telling people if they can be alive or not?

725
00:43:50,460 --> 00:43:52,720
My name is Brandon. I'm a Nickelsville participant.

726
00:43:52,720 --> 00:43:56,220
And all this band does is create red tape.

727
00:43:56,220 --> 00:43:59,559
Let's go over that. Only people only able to park for

728
00:43:59,559 --> 00:44:02,800
two hours without a permit and never between 12 and 6.

729
00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:05,760
Only 72 hours with the permit allows

730
00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:09,440
a person's RV to be impounded while they're seeking repair assistance.

731
00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:11,840
Revoked permits based on offers of shelter that may not

732
00:44:11,840 --> 00:44:14,480
be appropriate or accessible to them,

733
00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:17,300
expands enforcement without ensuring safe lot capacity,

734
00:44:17,300 --> 00:44:19,880
storage and realistic housing pathways.

735
00:44:19,880 --> 00:44:22,760
And all of that is dependent on a one time census

736
00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:25,880
without any clear way of missed RV dwellers being included.

737
00:44:25,880 --> 00:44:27,780
This is sneaky. This is dishonest.

738
00:44:27,780 --> 00:44:29,180
This is inhumane.

739
00:44:29,180 --> 00:44:30,880
You did not get it right the first time.

740
00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:33,220
This is an RV ban period.

741
00:44:33,220 --> 00:44:35,060
We do not have enough shelter now yet.

742
00:44:35,060 --> 00:44:36,480
We are forcing people into that.

743
00:44:36,480 --> 00:44:39,900
Not enough. What are we doing? Thank you for your time.

744
00:44:39,900 --> 00:44:43,380
Thank you. Brandon, I'm so glad you got off star six.

745
00:44:43,380 --> 00:44:45,820
That's like that really warmed my heart.

746
00:44:45,820 --> 00:44:50,000
Okay. Next I'm going to say all the people who are not present.

747
00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:52,999
I'll read your name once just to see if before we go

748
00:44:52,999 --> 00:44:56,220
back to see if anyone else signed up in person before we close public comment,

749
00:44:56,220 --> 00:44:58,340
we have Graham Preuss.

750
00:44:58,340 --> 00:45:00,760
We have Carl Foster,

751
00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:02,540
we have Jeff Mass,

752
00:45:02,540 --> 00:45:08,000
we have Sterling Washington. What is that?

753
00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:11,460
Read Morgan, Miss Torres,

754
00:45:11,460 --> 00:45:13,820
and then read Morgan.

755
00:45:13,820 --> 00:45:15,040
Oh, that was a duplicate.

756
00:45:15,040 --> 00:45:16,560
Okay.

757
00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:17,880
All right. I don't see them.

758
00:45:17,880 --> 00:45:19,900
We'll give them like five seconds.

759
00:45:19,900 --> 00:45:21,980
Not present.

760
00:45:21,980 --> 00:45:24,840
Do we have any more signed up on in person?

761
00:45:24,840 --> 00:45:28,900
No. Okay, so we've reached the end of our public comment period.

762
00:45:28,900 --> 00:45:30,800
Wait, there is one more person.

763
00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:32,180
Yeah. Come on up.

764
00:45:32,180 --> 00:45:34,200
Welcome.

765
00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:35,480
Just go ahead and you're going to sign up,

766
00:45:35,480 --> 00:45:37,080
and then you're going to state your name for the record.

767
00:45:37,080 --> 00:45:39,660
So we have it. And you can go ahead and give your public comment.

768
00:45:39,660 --> 00:45:42,160
Okay.

769
00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:43,700
Hi. My name is Casey Ross.

770
00:45:43,700 --> 00:45:47,999
I Friday I'm here because I have been

771
00:45:47,999 --> 00:45:52,560
talking with a lot of people in Cal Anderson that have been homeless.

772
00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:54,040
People have been losing their phones.

773
00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:56,860
People have been having their houses or their RVs,

774
00:45:56,860 --> 00:45:59,040
their RVs, their vans burned down,

775
00:45:59,040 --> 00:46:00,840
their tents are being burned.

776
00:46:00,840 --> 00:46:04,360
There is people are being assaulted because there is not

777
00:46:04,360 --> 00:46:09,480
enough resources for people to adequately stabilize themselves.

778
00:46:09,480 --> 00:46:11,920
And in the midst of all of this,

779
00:46:11,920 --> 00:46:17,740
I am very confused as to why we are banning our fees.

780
00:46:17,740 --> 00:46:21,680
Why are we banning people's shelter?

781
00:46:21,680 --> 00:46:26,380
I know people live in apartment buildings that also commit crime.

782
00:46:26,380 --> 00:46:28,720
Should we ban apartment buildings?

783
00:46:28,720 --> 00:46:33,060
I know there are people in single family housing that do drugs in their house.

784
00:46:33,060 --> 00:46:35,420
Do we ban single family housing?

785
00:46:35,420 --> 00:46:39,920
This is a collective punishment for an individual crime.

786
00:46:39,920 --> 00:46:46,120
We should be going after the violent actors and leaving everyone else alone. Thank you.

787
00:46:46,120 --> 00:46:48,780
Thank you. Friday. All right.

788
00:46:48,780 --> 00:46:52,120
Is anyone else that did not sign up would like to speak?

789
00:46:52,120 --> 00:46:54,160
All right. Awesome. Well, thank you all.

790
00:46:54,160 --> 00:46:56,240
Public comment period is now closed.

791
00:46:56,240 --> 00:46:57,600
Thank you all for coming.

792
00:46:57,600 --> 00:47:00,240
Thank you to the folks that waited online patiently.

793
00:47:00,240 --> 00:47:01,840
I also want to say we are joined in person.

794
00:47:01,840 --> 00:47:04,280
They were online at the beginning of public comment period,

795
00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:08,000
but we do have Councilmember Rivera here and also Councilmember Foster here.

796
00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:09,680
They were online the whole time,

797
00:47:09,680 --> 00:47:12,300
but they are in person now as well.

798
00:47:12,300 --> 00:47:16,420
So we're going to jump right into our agenda.

799
00:47:16,420 --> 00:47:21,020
There's no introduction and referral calendar for consideration today.

800
00:47:21,020 --> 00:47:22,560
And if there's no objection,

801
00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:25,260
the agenda will be adopted.

802
00:47:25,260 --> 00:47:28,320
Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted.

803
00:47:28,320 --> 00:47:33,320
So will the clerk please read item number one into the record.

804
00:47:33,320 --> 00:47:36,360
Reconsideration of Council bill vetoed by mayor.

805
00:47:36,360 --> 00:47:39,800
Council Bill 121283 relating to the traffic code.

806
00:47:39,800 --> 00:47:43,400
Creating a new permit program for owners of motor homes and

807
00:47:43,400 --> 00:47:48,780
travel trailers to support a structured pathway to shelter.

808
00:47:48,780 --> 00:47:52,180
So colleagues, on October 20th, 2026,

809
00:47:52,180 --> 00:47:53,679
the Seattle City Council passed

810
00:47:53,679 --> 00:47:59,140
Council Bill 121283 with six votes in favor and three opposed.

811
00:47:59,140 --> 00:48:03,100
Mayor Wilson vetoed the bill on November the 2nd,

812
00:48:03,100 --> 00:48:04,840
pursuant to Seattle City Charter,

813
00:48:04,840 --> 00:48:07,060
and the Seattle City Council will consider.

814
00:48:07,060 --> 00:48:08,520
Reconsider. Excuse me.

815
00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:11,080
The passage of Council Bill 121283,

816
00:48:11,080 --> 00:48:13,200
and it must receive at least two thirds votes.

817
00:48:13,200 --> 00:48:18,840
Six councilmembers voting in the affirmation to pass,

818
00:48:18,840 --> 00:48:22,020
not affirmation to affirmative to pass it again.

819
00:48:22,020 --> 00:48:28,780
I'm calling up the reconsidering of Council Bill 121283 to consider passage of the bill,

820
00:48:28,780 --> 00:48:34,440
which will be determined if the mayor's veto will be overridden or sustained.

821
00:48:34,440 --> 00:48:36,800
So the reconsideration of Council Bill one, two, one,

822
00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:42,920
283 is now pending before the Council and Councilmember Strauss as sponsor of the bill.

823
00:48:42,920 --> 00:48:47,940
You are recognized first to address it before I open it up to other colleagues.

824
00:48:47,940 --> 00:48:49,220
Thank you. Thank you,

825
00:48:49,220 --> 00:48:50,560
Council president, colleagues.

826
00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:53,520
The bill before us is one of five pieces of legislation.

827
00:48:53,520 --> 00:48:57,440
This bill in particular regulates our RV's to be allowed on city streets

828
00:48:57,440 --> 00:49:01,720
for two hours at a time and provides a permit for people who live in their RV's.

829
00:49:01,720 --> 00:49:04,680
Nowhere in any part of this entire package,

830
00:49:04,680 --> 00:49:06,400
any of this legislation,

831
00:49:06,400 --> 00:49:11,240
none of it makes vehicle residency illegal when it comes to vehicle residency.

832
00:49:11,240 --> 00:49:13,840
In this package across the entire package,

833
00:49:13,840 --> 00:49:17,199
the only times that we touch vehicle residency is to provide

834
00:49:17,199 --> 00:49:21,240
support and services for folks in these vehicles.

835
00:49:21,240 --> 00:49:24,299
It has been discussed that if you own an RV

836
00:49:24,299 --> 00:49:28,040
and you park it on your street in a residential neighborhood,

837
00:49:28,040 --> 00:49:30,720
they don't want that to be illegal tomorrow.

838
00:49:30,720 --> 00:49:33,600
The fact of the matter is, is it's already illegal today.

839
00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:38,340
So if you are parking an oversize vehicle outside of the industrial area,

840
00:49:38,340 --> 00:49:41,000
you are already out of compliance with the law.

841
00:49:41,000 --> 00:49:43,040
That doesn't change. In fact,

842
00:49:43,040 --> 00:49:49,400
this legislation makes it gives more allowances to reduce that area restriction,

843
00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:52,640
but provide a time limit.

844
00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:54,520
I've heard concerns.

845
00:49:54,520 --> 00:49:56,100
We've all heard concerns today.

846
00:49:56,100 --> 00:49:58,260
We've heard concerns about these bills.

847
00:49:58,260 --> 00:50:00,140
This bill in particular,

848
00:50:00,140 --> 00:50:06,560
what strikes me is that these are the same concerns of complexity, of expense,

849
00:50:06,560 --> 00:50:09,020
of potential harmful impacts that I have

850
00:50:09,020 --> 00:50:12,680
literally heard about setting up tiny home villages,

851
00:50:12,680 --> 00:50:15,860
providing medically assisted treatment at shelters,

852
00:50:15,860 --> 00:50:20,460
focusing our shelter commitment on complex shelters.

853
00:50:20,460 --> 00:50:22,360
These are, in fact,

854
00:50:22,360 --> 00:50:29,040
almost verbatim the same concerns that I heard when bringing service providers together

855
00:50:29,040 --> 00:50:30,999
for meetings that eventually led to

856
00:50:30,999 --> 00:50:35,400
the neighborhood impact framework that is currently being expanded here in our city.

857
00:50:35,400 --> 00:50:38,360
And it's the right way of doing work.

858
00:50:38,360 --> 00:50:40,880
And at the initial outset of the conversation,

859
00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:41,960
there are always concerns.

860
00:50:41,960 --> 00:50:44,460
And these concerns come from good places,

861
00:50:44,460 --> 00:50:47,000
and they need to be addressed.

862
00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:49,380
If the bill before us was a ban,

863
00:50:49,380 --> 00:50:51,120
there could not be a permit,

864
00:50:51,120 --> 00:50:57,520
a permit is literally allowing people to stay in place because we don't want to.

865
00:50:57,520 --> 00:51:00,280
For the people who live on our streets today,

866
00:51:00,280 --> 00:51:03,020
we don't want them in a worse place off.

867
00:51:03,020 --> 00:51:05,679
We need to update these regulations and care for

868
00:51:05,679 --> 00:51:08,760
the people caught in between the legislation.

869
00:51:08,760 --> 00:51:10,900
At the core of it is not complex.

870
00:51:10,900 --> 00:51:13,720
RVs can only park on the streets for two hours at a time,

871
00:51:13,720 --> 00:51:14,820
and if you live in an RV,

872
00:51:14,820 --> 00:51:16,320
you can get a permit.

873
00:51:16,320 --> 00:51:18,179
I can understand why people are

874
00:51:18,179 --> 00:51:22,039
Are concerned for the not hypothetical families and

875
00:51:22,039 --> 00:51:26,700
the people who have been used as reasons not to move forward.

876
00:51:26,700 --> 00:51:30,479
The people on the streets of Seattle today who live in

877
00:51:30,479 --> 00:51:34,980
their vehicles make up about 25% of our homeless population.

878
00:51:34,980 --> 00:51:40,720
Yet when you look at our outreach contracts commensurate with street homelessness.

879
00:51:40,920 --> 00:51:43,440
They pale in comparison.

880
00:51:43,440 --> 00:51:45,240
We don't have the outreach workers.

881
00:51:45,240 --> 00:51:46,600
We don't have the resources,

882
00:51:46,600 --> 00:51:51,700
the services that tent homelessness has on the streets today.

883
00:51:51,700 --> 00:51:53,020
We don't have a single safe.

884
00:51:53,020 --> 00:51:56,300
We haven't had a single safe lot open in years.

885
00:51:56,300 --> 00:52:02,840
Would anyone say that be okay with having no shelters at all,

886
00:52:02,840 --> 00:52:08,240
open anywhere in the city for a period of a year and a half to two years?

887
00:52:08,240 --> 00:52:13,080
In this? I bring this up because the situation that we have today,

888
00:52:13,080 --> 00:52:16,280
if we were just to implement this bill before us without any

889
00:52:16,280 --> 00:52:19,920
of the other changes that we made in the other four pieces of legislation,

890
00:52:19,920 --> 00:52:22,100
we would be in a bad place.

891
00:52:22,100 --> 00:52:24,360
But what I'm saying here is that there is

892
00:52:24,360 --> 00:52:28,360
an important step that we must take to do both at the same time.

893
00:52:28,360 --> 00:52:31,780
We have to change how we are investing in vehicle,

894
00:52:31,780 --> 00:52:33,920
in helping people who live in their vehicles.

895
00:52:33,920 --> 00:52:37,020
We have to help specifically people who live in RVs,

896
00:52:37,020 --> 00:52:40,100
and we need to update our street regulations,

897
00:52:40,100 --> 00:52:42,400
not because an RV can be lived in,

898
00:52:42,400 --> 00:52:45,520
but because of the size of the vehicle.

899
00:52:48,160 --> 00:52:52,760
The answer for these real families who are being used,

900
00:52:52,760 --> 00:52:57,200
hypothetically, is that we need to get them inside.

901
00:52:57,200 --> 00:53:02,560
The answer is not to leave them in their current condition,

902
00:53:02,560 --> 00:53:07,600
because we have concerns about how we might move forward.

903
00:53:07,600 --> 00:53:11,599
This bill before us gives us the ability to help stabilize and support people living in

904
00:53:11,599 --> 00:53:15,620
their vehicles by giving them more certainty about where they can and cannot park,

905
00:53:15,620 --> 00:53:18,920
and that they will not be pushed around,

906
00:53:18,920 --> 00:53:20,880
that they have more agency,

907
00:53:20,880 --> 00:53:23,040
that they are connected with service providers,

908
00:53:23,040 --> 00:53:26,600
and that they have a pathway into shelter or housing.

909
00:53:26,600 --> 00:53:30,319
And when I say that currently the permanent supportive shelter

910
00:53:30,319 --> 00:53:33,400
that we build or the affordable housing that we build does not come with

911
00:53:33,400 --> 00:53:37,080
parking because we council make the make the decision

912
00:53:37,080 --> 00:53:41,080
that a unit of shelter or housing is more important than a parking spot.

913
00:53:41,080 --> 00:53:43,920
And I agree with

914
00:53:43,920 --> 00:53:49,820
the new shelter storage provisions that were passed in other parts of this package.

915
00:53:49,820 --> 00:53:54,680
We are now able to utilize any of the family shelter that we have online,

916
00:53:54,680 --> 00:53:55,860
which we don't have enough of,

917
00:53:55,860 --> 00:53:58,940
but that's part of the conversation that we continue to have.

918
00:53:58,940 --> 00:54:01,160
We can use any of the permanent supportive housing.

919
00:54:01,160 --> 00:54:04,179
We can use any of our affordable housing to be

920
00:54:04,179 --> 00:54:07,500
able to store somebody's vehicle while they try out going inside.

921
00:54:07,500 --> 00:54:10,560
Today, that's not an option for them because today,

922
00:54:10,560 --> 00:54:11,840
with the current situation,

923
00:54:11,840 --> 00:54:13,400
with the current status quo,

924
00:54:13,400 --> 00:54:17,679
their option is that they have to give up their vehicle to try out a type of

925
00:54:17,679 --> 00:54:22,440
shelter or type of housing that might not work.

926
00:54:22,440 --> 00:54:25,400
So doing nothing is is not an option.

927
00:54:25,400 --> 00:54:28,239
And the answer to these hypothetical families who are very

928
00:54:28,239 --> 00:54:31,800
real is we can't leave them in their current situation,

929
00:54:31,800 --> 00:54:34,900
and that we must help them and bring them inside.

930
00:54:34,900 --> 00:54:37,599
When meeting with the mayor in

931
00:54:37,599 --> 00:54:40,040
over the past number of months and with service providers,

932
00:54:40,040 --> 00:54:42,959
I've heard concerns and what might surprise some folks in

933
00:54:42,959 --> 00:54:46,960
the audience is that I agree with almost all of the concerns.

934
00:54:46,960 --> 00:54:53,000
It is. And these are concerns regarding implementation.

935
00:54:53,000 --> 00:54:56,740
Where we differ is how we respond to concerns.

936
00:54:56,740 --> 00:54:58,580
My response is let's work together.

937
00:54:58,580 --> 00:55:00,880
Let's get around the table and figure out the solution.

938
00:55:00,880 --> 00:55:03,939
Let's make sure that we center human beings and create

939
00:55:03,939 --> 00:55:07,780
a program that can actually stabilize and bring people inside.

940
00:55:07,780 --> 00:55:10,120
That's what I've done in the past.

941
00:55:10,120 --> 00:55:15,140
I've heard the same concerns about the bill before us from departments as the mayor has.

942
00:55:15,140 --> 00:55:17,580
And again, I agree with these concerns.

943
00:55:17,580 --> 00:55:20,380
I agree that these concerns need to be addressed.

944
00:55:20,380 --> 00:55:23,560
And my response to concerns is to address them,

945
00:55:23,560 --> 00:55:27,440
not stop and do nothing.

946
00:55:27,440 --> 00:55:34,420
I share this because what we are experiencing right now is similar to what I've

947
00:55:34,420 --> 00:55:36,840
experienced when helping make our

948
00:55:36,840 --> 00:55:43,040
homeless or addressing homelessness more human centered in the past.

949
00:55:43,040 --> 00:55:47,840
This process, these concerns are the same as what I heard when we changed

950
00:55:47,840 --> 00:55:49,919
our city's homelessness response by our work in

951
00:55:49,919 --> 00:55:53,680
the Ballard Commons that has now become the work that just occurred.

952
00:55:53,680 --> 00:55:56,240
And as the Pioneer Square project,

953
00:55:56,240 --> 00:55:58,640
it's again, when I began meetings,

954
00:55:58,640 --> 00:56:00,800
which eventually led to the Neighborhood Impact framework,

955
00:56:00,800 --> 00:56:06,160
I heard concerns from service providers and departments,

956
00:56:06,160 --> 00:56:08,639
and our response was that we exercised

957
00:56:08,639 --> 00:56:11,380
leadership to address these concerns with compassion.

958
00:56:11,380 --> 00:56:14,000
This legislation is built on that model.

959
00:56:14,000 --> 00:56:20,480
It's built on the model of work we have already done just this year.

960
00:56:20,480 --> 00:56:23,800
That removes encampments without sweeps.

961
00:56:23,800 --> 00:56:27,320
It's not leadership to fall over when concerns are raised.

962
00:56:27,320 --> 00:56:28,640
What is leadership is to say,

963
00:56:28,640 --> 00:56:34,680
let's work together and make sure the harm you are scared of does not occur.

964
00:56:34,680 --> 00:56:37,400
We don't want to punish people for living in their vehicle.

965
00:56:37,400 --> 00:56:39,100
We don't want to take their home.

966
00:56:39,100 --> 00:56:48,080
We don't want to make them worse off or involve them in the criminal legal system.

967
00:56:48,080 --> 00:56:51,480
We want to make sure that they receive the supports that they need,

968
00:56:51,480 --> 00:56:53,999
that they are able to stabilize in place and

969
00:56:53,999 --> 00:56:56,720
make the transitions into shelter and housing,

970
00:56:56,720 --> 00:56:59,440
and that we're able to provide them.

971
00:57:01,080 --> 00:57:07,480
We have the ability to work together and make sure those harmful concerns don't happen.

972
00:57:07,480 --> 00:57:13,439
The legislation that we've already passed also created the allowance for

973
00:57:13,439 --> 00:57:16,400
overnight semi truck drivers to be able to park in

974
00:57:16,400 --> 00:57:21,160
the same way that if we need a place for traveling nurses to park,

975
00:57:21,160 --> 00:57:23,720
we've already got that in the bill.

976
00:57:23,720 --> 00:57:28,640
If we have veterans sleeping in their RVs outside of the V.A.,

977
00:57:28,640 --> 00:57:37,320
we need to have a small veterans safe lot at the at at the V.A.

978
00:57:37,320 --> 00:57:40,800
This isn't rocket science.

979
00:57:40,800 --> 00:57:42,120
This is helping people.

980
00:57:42,120 --> 00:57:45,159
And the bill that we have before us creates

981
00:57:45,159 --> 00:57:50,240
the space to make sure that we're able to care for all of these people.

982
00:57:50,240 --> 00:57:53,560
And that's why I added the check and adjust portion of this bill.

983
00:57:53,560 --> 00:57:57,400
I added that portion so that we're able to work together,

984
00:57:57,400 --> 00:57:58,659
not because the bill wasn't

985
00:57:58,659 --> 00:58:03,159
ready to say the bill isn't ready to vote on because of the check and

986
00:58:03,159 --> 00:58:09,559
adjust period after it was created as a true offering to work together is disappointing.

987
00:58:09,559 --> 00:58:14,839
It's also disappointing to see the mayor fold in a moment where we need leadership.

988
00:58:14,839 --> 00:58:18,400
I've spoken to the mayor about this legislation since February.

989
00:58:18,400 --> 00:58:20,219
I shared legislation in July.

990
00:58:20,219 --> 00:58:21,979
We introduced it in August.

991
00:58:21,979 --> 00:58:24,299
We had committee work in September,

992
00:58:24,299 --> 00:58:26,080
a vote in October.

993
00:58:26,080 --> 00:58:31,199
Then I worked with her team on the implementation budget.

994
00:58:31,199 --> 00:58:34,859
Where has she been for a 60 day work group?

995
00:58:34,859 --> 00:58:39,079
The reason that I bring this up before us today is because we have literally.

996
00:58:39,079 --> 00:58:42,419
I worked with the mayor's team to create a budget amendment to.

997
00:58:42,419 --> 00:58:44,800
Because I was working in partnership,

998
00:58:44,800 --> 00:58:47,280
and that's part of the chair's package tomorrow.

999
00:58:47,280 --> 00:58:51,599
So if the override if the vote if the veto is sustained,

1000
00:58:51,599 --> 00:58:56,079
then we have to make changes in the budget because I was literally working with her team

1001
00:58:56,079 --> 00:59:01,320
to do the work in the right way together.

1002
00:59:01,320 --> 00:59:03,419
And we know that departments won't work,

1003
00:59:03,419 --> 00:59:06,199
won't begin working without the bill being passed,

1004
00:59:06,199 --> 00:59:08,840
which is the importance of moving forward today.

1005
00:59:08,840 --> 00:59:12,479
We also need the public to understand how regulations

1006
00:59:12,479 --> 00:59:16,419
will change with enough time for them to prepare.

1007
00:59:16,419 --> 00:59:23,840
That is why we set the effective date in April and full implementation August 1st.

1008
00:59:23,840 --> 00:59:26,719
We need the time for people to understand what is changing,

1009
00:59:26,719 --> 00:59:28,400
and that's the importance of moving forward.

1010
00:59:28,400 --> 00:59:33,499
Today. Any time in that period since February,

1011
00:59:33,499 --> 00:59:36,259
the mayor could have stood up a 60 day workgroup

1012
00:59:36,259 --> 00:59:39,779
60 days before the veto was September 2nd.

1013
00:59:39,779 --> 00:59:45,759
That was before we took up another two committee votes.

1014
00:59:45,759 --> 00:59:48,719
I, I,

1015
00:59:48,719 --> 00:59:51,679
I'm glad that she wants to have a workgroup.

1016
00:59:51,679 --> 00:59:54,379
I, I think that this is good,

1017
00:59:54,379 --> 00:59:58,039
but where has she been?

1018
00:59:58,039 --> 01:00:02,400
The check and adjust period that is within the bill that is before us today,

1019
01:00:02,400 --> 01:00:05,219
has a report due on March 1st,

1020
01:00:05,219 --> 01:00:09,960
almost 120 days from now.

1021
01:00:09,960 --> 01:00:13,940
Her executive Order of this workgroup is essentially

1022
01:00:13,940 --> 01:00:18,559
a cut and paste of sections of legislation.

1023
01:00:18,559 --> 01:00:21,039
And the reason I bring up the March 1st deadline

1024
01:00:21,039 --> 01:00:23,859
for the Check and Adjust workgroup is because her plan for

1025
01:00:23,859 --> 01:00:29,339
a workgroup can still share recommendations before the check and adjust period ends.

1026
01:00:29,339 --> 01:00:30,979
That was the intent.

1027
01:00:30,979 --> 01:00:33,439
That's the intent, is for everyone to be able to come

1028
01:00:33,439 --> 01:00:35,999
up with their best ideas and put them

1029
01:00:35,999 --> 01:00:41,139
into the ability for us to work together and move forward together.

1030
01:00:41,139 --> 01:00:45,920
You can override the veto and still have your workgroup colleagues.

1031
01:00:45,920 --> 01:00:49,039
I'll likely have a few words to share at the end, but I'll just note,

1032
01:00:49,039 --> 01:00:51,319
usually when we take up legislation,

1033
01:00:51,319 --> 01:00:53,939
we're human beings can be caught in the middle.

1034
01:00:53,939 --> 01:00:56,899
We're human beings can be negatively impacted.

1035
01:00:56,899 --> 01:01:01,160
We have the room filled with service providers,

1036
01:01:01,160 --> 01:01:04,880
and these are folks who have given me chewed my ear off just this week.

1037
01:01:04,880 --> 01:01:08,800
So I know that they're not scared of giving me their opinion yet.

1038
01:01:08,800 --> 01:01:10,919
We don't see them here in chambers today.

1039
01:01:10,919 --> 01:01:12,719
Thank you, Council President.

1040
01:01:12,719 --> 01:01:15,599
Thank you, Councilmember Strauss colleagues,

1041
01:01:15,599 --> 01:01:20,360
are there any other further comments regarding the bill before us?

1042
01:01:20,360 --> 01:01:22,379
Now is the time.

1043
01:01:22,379 --> 01:01:26,400
Any other comments?

1044
01:01:26,400 --> 01:01:28,439
Council member Kettle.

1045
01:01:28,439 --> 01:01:30,880
Thank you, Council President, and thank you,

1046
01:01:30,880 --> 01:01:33,679
everyone for being here.

1047
01:01:33,679 --> 01:01:39,719
The issue of and discussion on Arv's is difficult and like many of my colleagues,

1048
01:01:39,719 --> 01:01:42,480
I've been working the topic of RVs.

1049
01:01:42,480 --> 01:01:46,679
Whether it's that one individual RV circumstance

1050
01:01:46,679 --> 01:01:52,419
documented very well by much of the public commenters today and what they've spoken to.

1051
01:01:52,419 --> 01:01:56,779
And yes, we should lead with compassion with these individuals.

1052
01:01:56,779 --> 01:02:02,199
I would say the suite of these bills that we just passed speaks to this,

1053
01:02:02,199 --> 01:02:07,319
and I want to thank Councilmember Strauss for his work in this area.

1054
01:02:07,319 --> 01:02:09,280
And then there's the issue of RVs,

1055
01:02:09,280 --> 01:02:12,959
usually in a grouping that creates a public safety challenge.

1056
01:02:12,959 --> 01:02:16,399
I've seen this firsthand again and again and again.

1057
01:02:16,399 --> 01:02:18,420
I think of the impact on communities,

1058
01:02:18,420 --> 01:02:19,940
neighborhoods, you know,

1059
01:02:19,940 --> 01:02:24,879
the neighbors and the businesses that have been hurt.

1060
01:02:24,879 --> 01:02:27,900
It's important to think about them as well.

1061
01:02:27,900 --> 01:02:31,599
We must also lead with wisdom,

1062
01:02:31,599 --> 01:02:33,439
knowing that on one hand,

1063
01:02:33,439 --> 01:02:34,960
we have neighbors in crisis,

1064
01:02:34,960 --> 01:02:39,519
but also neighborhoods in crisis and separately,

1065
01:02:39,519 --> 01:02:45,319
speaking about being on the streets and working the topic, I,

1066
01:02:45,319 --> 01:02:48,819
I come back to and I think of a young woman I saw in an RV

1067
01:02:48,819 --> 01:02:53,140
in actually Ballard in Ballard off Leary.

1068
01:02:53,140 --> 01:02:58,560
In one of those RVs in that grouping an RV full of men.

1069
01:02:58,560 --> 01:03:01,039
And clearly there was some drug activity going on.

1070
01:03:01,039 --> 01:03:04,499
And I think of that young woman's, you know,

1071
01:03:04,499 --> 01:03:08,499
in the circumstance that she was in.

1072
01:03:08,499 --> 01:03:10,759
You know, it's important for us

1073
01:03:10,759 --> 01:03:15,719
to as I've done so with Council member Rinck gender based violence.

1074
01:03:15,719 --> 01:03:19,339
But I could, you know, just imagine the circumstances of that young woman.

1075
01:03:19,339 --> 01:03:21,399
So this is more than the drug markets and

1076
01:03:21,399 --> 01:03:26,360
the stolen goods markets that come about in conjunction with drug markets.

1077
01:03:26,440 --> 01:03:28,920
We must also step forward.

1078
01:03:28,920 --> 01:03:30,719
We cannot be a city of two minds,

1079
01:03:30,719 --> 01:03:33,739
something that I've spoken to many times in public safety committee,

1080
01:03:33,739 --> 01:03:37,039
a city that becomes paralyzed or goes sideways.

1081
01:03:37,039 --> 01:03:41,239
I've seen this many times because of the clear lack of

1082
01:03:41,239 --> 01:03:46,940
sustained leadership leadership with follow up and follow through and Little Saigon,

1083
01:03:46,940 --> 01:03:48,999
we were told 90 days north,

1084
01:03:48,999 --> 01:03:52,519
Aurora 90 days and other areas to.

1085
01:03:52,519 --> 01:03:55,360
But where are we today?

1086
01:03:55,999 --> 01:03:58,359
In the same place.

1087
01:03:58,359 --> 01:04:04,780
Should we assume the mayor's plan will be different this time?

1088
01:04:04,780 --> 01:04:07,800
We must look out for our neighbors and our neighborhoods,

1089
01:04:07,800 --> 01:04:10,999
and we must solve both issues.

1090
01:04:10,999 --> 01:04:18,599
To close and I recently heard a podcast in which the Olympic Hills tiny home,

1091
01:04:18,599 --> 01:04:21,039
Tiny Homes village was brought up.

1092
01:04:21,039 --> 01:04:25,959
This tiny home village was a result of a council budget action that aye.

1093
01:04:25,959 --> 01:04:28,719
My team did two years ago.

1094
01:04:28,719 --> 01:04:30,559
It was with coordinated entry.

1095
01:04:30,559 --> 01:04:32,659
Initially was the Alder Street location.

1096
01:04:32,659 --> 01:04:36,679
We've been working with the county on that that that issue and I'd just like.

1097
01:04:36,679 --> 01:04:38,440
By the way, on a side note, thank.

1098
01:04:38,440 --> 01:04:41,159
Executive ly for unsticking

1099
01:04:41,159 --> 01:04:44,639
the challenges that we were having with the the county on that location.

1100
01:04:44,639 --> 01:04:46,079
But because of those issues,

1101
01:04:46,079 --> 01:04:50,440
we switched to Lake City and that tiny home village,

1102
01:04:50,440 --> 01:04:52,659
the Olympic Hills is is up because of

1103
01:04:52,659 --> 01:04:57,559
a council bill action that my team worked two years ago.

1104
01:04:57,559 --> 01:04:59,899
And then there's the salmon Bay village

1105
01:04:59,899 --> 01:05:06,719
tiny home RV safe lot in Interbay that I supported both in community and here on council.

1106
01:05:06,719 --> 01:05:09,479
Not long ago, I had a shovel in hand for

1107
01:05:09,479 --> 01:05:12,440
the Glass Yard Commons groundbreaking ceremony,

1108
01:05:12,440 --> 01:05:16,680
which is about to open and Councilmember Strauss is right.

1109
01:05:16,680 --> 01:05:18,479
A year and a half plus.

1110
01:05:18,479 --> 01:05:22,400
I don't know the exact time that we had nothing in terms of RV safe.

1111
01:05:22,400 --> 01:05:27,739
Lots. That's a failure of leadership.

1112
01:05:27,739 --> 01:05:32,059
That's a failure of sustained leadership with follow up and follow through.

1113
01:05:32,059 --> 01:05:34,319
But here we are. Fortunately,

1114
01:05:34,319 --> 01:05:36,599
you know, coming through with Glass Yard Commons,

1115
01:05:36,599 --> 01:05:39,399
and I supported my discussions with my colleagues here

1116
01:05:39,399 --> 01:05:42,459
and Councilmember Strauss Chair Strauss from a budget perspective.

1117
01:05:42,459 --> 01:05:45,139
On opening a second RV safe lot,

1118
01:05:45,139 --> 01:05:47,639
because it's very important to the topic and the issues that

1119
01:05:47,639 --> 01:05:50,840
all the commenters brought up.

1120
01:05:50,840 --> 01:05:54,199
But at the end of the day, again, colleagues.

1121
01:05:54,360 --> 01:05:59,159
I agree with the compassion for the individuals,

1122
01:05:59,159 --> 01:06:02,800
the circumstances, for those neighbors in crisis.

1123
01:06:02,800 --> 01:06:05,159
But we cannot turn our heads away from

1124
01:06:05,159 --> 01:06:09,300
the impacts on the communities, on their neighborhoods.

1125
01:06:09,300 --> 01:06:12,360
We cannot look away from that.

1126
01:06:15,120 --> 01:06:19,320
And so thank you, Councilmember Strauss.

1127
01:06:19,320 --> 01:06:20,740
Thank you, Councilmember Kettle.

1128
01:06:20,740 --> 01:06:24,000
I see Councilmember Lin.

1129
01:06:25,120 --> 01:06:29,520
Thank you, Council President colleagues.

1130
01:06:29,520 --> 01:06:33,600
Thank you to everyone that came and spoke today.

1131
01:06:33,600 --> 01:06:37,320
Thank you to the media for covering this today.

1132
01:06:38,240 --> 01:06:40,700
And, you know,

1133
01:06:40,700 --> 01:06:41,840
we've had a,

1134
01:06:41,840 --> 01:06:44,600
I think, a kind of difficult discussion and debate.

1135
01:06:44,600 --> 01:06:49,300
And, you know, I think that that speaks to the complexity of the issue.

1136
01:06:49,300 --> 01:06:52,380
This speaks to the difficulty of,

1137
01:06:52,380 --> 01:06:55,300
you know, the larger issue for us,

1138
01:06:55,300 --> 01:06:56,640
which is housing,

1139
01:06:56,640 --> 01:07:03,880
homelessness, other unaddressed issues in our community around substance use.

1140
01:07:03,880 --> 01:07:06,180
And, you know,

1141
01:07:06,180 --> 01:07:07,660
this is this is not a new problem.

1142
01:07:07,660 --> 01:07:13,440
Obviously, it's been happening for over a decade and, and so one,

1143
01:07:13,440 --> 01:07:19,320
I, you know, oftentimes we focus on the differences between us.

1144
01:07:19,320 --> 01:07:25,960
And I just want to speak to a little bit about what I think we share.

1145
01:07:25,960 --> 01:07:28,340
And, you know,

1146
01:07:28,340 --> 01:07:35,680
I think we share that we need to do a lot better for folks living in RVs,

1147
01:07:35,680 --> 01:07:41,540
folks living in vehicles and Councilmember Kettle to the impacted neighborhoods.

1148
01:07:41,540 --> 01:07:42,920
I think we share that.

1149
01:07:42,920 --> 01:07:46,000
I think the mayor shares that as well.

1150
01:07:46,000 --> 01:07:48,780
And, and so that with that in mind,

1151
01:07:48,780 --> 01:07:50,700
that's why I want to thank you,

1152
01:07:50,700 --> 01:07:56,680
Councilmember Strauss, for calling attention to this issue.

1153
01:07:56,680 --> 01:08:00,960
And I don't think it's because any of us weren't

1154
01:08:00,960 --> 01:08:05,520
aware of this issue or didn't care about it.

1155
01:08:05,520 --> 01:08:07,679
But, you know, we have a lot of different things that we

1156
01:08:07,679 --> 01:08:10,760
focus on as a city, as councilmembers.

1157
01:08:10,760 --> 01:08:14,540
And I think a lot of the attention has in

1158
01:08:14,540 --> 01:08:21,980
our homeless efforts is oftentimes focused on folks living,

1159
01:08:21,980 --> 01:08:24,160
not living in vehicles.

1160
01:08:24,160 --> 01:08:28,920
And, and I think too often the folks that are living in RVs and vehicles are,

1161
01:08:28,920 --> 01:08:30,920
are sort of forgotten.

1162
01:08:30,920 --> 01:08:34,800
And so I just really,

1163
01:08:34,800 --> 01:08:37,560
no matter how today's vote goes,

1164
01:08:37,560 --> 01:08:39,980
I just applaud you for,

1165
01:08:39,980 --> 01:08:42,140
for bringing attention to this.

1166
01:08:42,140 --> 01:08:43,500
And I think, you know,

1167
01:08:43,500 --> 01:08:48,399
the four pieces of legislation that were not vetoed were

1168
01:08:48,399 --> 01:08:53,360
really impactful and are going to make a meaningful difference for our community.

1169
01:08:53,360 --> 01:08:58,480
And so I want to thank you for bringing those forward and,

1170
01:08:58,480 --> 01:09:01,320
you know, bringing forward this this discussion.

1171
01:09:01,320 --> 01:09:04,180
I'm sure you knew it was not going to be an easy one.

1172
01:09:04,180 --> 01:09:08,640
And but I applaud you for bringing forward a difficult,

1173
01:09:08,640 --> 01:09:11,920
complex discussion for all of us.

1174
01:09:12,760 --> 01:09:16,480
I appreciate that the legislation included the check and Adjust,

1175
01:09:16,480 --> 01:09:19,300
and we worked together on that.

1176
01:09:19,300 --> 01:09:22,620
And as you highlighted, in many ways,

1177
01:09:22,620 --> 01:09:28,680
the mayor's work group sort of borrows from that concept. And aye.

1178
01:09:29,800 --> 01:09:35,800
If the veto is upheld in that workgroup is stood up,

1179
01:09:35,800 --> 01:09:41,600
I hope that part of that workgroup that she works with council,

1180
01:09:41,600 --> 01:09:47,160
that she works with community impacted communities.

1181
01:09:47,160 --> 01:09:49,100
And, you know,

1182
01:09:49,100 --> 01:09:51,840
if the veto is not upheld,

1183
01:09:51,840 --> 01:09:55,700
then I certainly think that was a critical, you know,

1184
01:09:55,700 --> 01:10:00,720
reason why I supported the bill and committee was the check and adjust.

1185
01:10:00,720 --> 01:10:04,560
And then. You know,

1186
01:10:04,560 --> 01:10:08,319
I did change my mind later and I and I do just want to speak

1187
01:10:08,319 --> 01:10:13,040
to I think it's okay that we change our minds from time to time.

1188
01:10:13,040 --> 01:10:16,040
I think, you know, I heard that the,

1189
01:10:16,040 --> 01:10:17,380
the mayor, you know,

1190
01:10:17,380 --> 01:10:22,200
maybe changed her mind about vetoing Councilmember Saka.

1191
01:10:22,200 --> 01:10:23,480
I'm not sure how you're going to vote today,

1192
01:10:23,480 --> 01:10:26,840
but you may have changed your mind as well.

1193
01:10:26,840 --> 01:10:29,440
And I don't think that that that's a bad thing,

1194
01:10:29,440 --> 01:10:31,760
that we change our minds from time to time.

1195
01:10:31,760 --> 01:10:35,360
These are complex issues and.

1196
01:10:35,360 --> 01:10:37,780
And, you know,

1197
01:10:37,780 --> 01:10:40,020
we get feedback and a lot of different ways.

1198
01:10:40,020 --> 01:10:43,720
And so I just want to speak to that.

1199
01:10:43,960 --> 01:10:48,040
Again, at the end of the day,

1200
01:10:48,040 --> 01:10:50,480
I also just want to speak to sort of the,

1201
01:10:50,480 --> 01:10:54,600
the diversity of opinions here on council.

1202
01:10:54,600 --> 01:10:59,520
We and with the mayor's office,

1203
01:10:59,520 --> 01:11:02,820
we are all elected to represent.

1204
01:11:02,820 --> 01:11:04,840
I mean, some of us are elected in districts,

1205
01:11:04,840 --> 01:11:07,280
but we all represent the entire city.

1206
01:11:07,280 --> 01:11:09,600
Some of us were elected last year,

1207
01:11:09,600 --> 01:11:12,960
some of us a few years ago.

1208
01:11:12,960 --> 01:11:14,840
But at the end of the day,

1209
01:11:14,840 --> 01:11:19,080
we all again, were elected.

1210
01:11:19,080 --> 01:11:22,320
Sometimes I forget that Councilmember Juarez was appointed recently,

1211
01:11:22,320 --> 01:11:28,079
but Councilmember Juarez was elected multiple times and to represent district five

1212
01:11:28,079 --> 01:11:34,080
and so thankful for for your willingness to come back and support us.

1213
01:11:34,080 --> 01:11:36,820
And I say that because, you know,

1214
01:11:36,820 --> 01:11:40,820
I think it's healthy that we have differences of opinion. That's a good thing.

1215
01:11:40,820 --> 01:11:44,600
Our community has differences of opinion, and that's okay.

1216
01:11:44,600 --> 01:11:46,640
And that's a good thing.

1217
01:11:46,880 --> 01:11:50,800
And I think part of our job as electeds,

1218
01:11:50,800 --> 01:11:52,800
and I, you spoke to this a little bit,

1219
01:11:52,800 --> 01:11:55,380
Councilmember Strauss is for us to,

1220
01:11:55,380 --> 01:11:58,320
to make progress and find ways to come together.

1221
01:11:58,320 --> 01:12:01,200
And I am committed to that,

1222
01:12:01,200 --> 01:12:05,440
you know, regardless of how today's vote goes,

1223
01:12:05,440 --> 01:12:08,560
whether it's through the mayor's work group or whether it's through

1224
01:12:08,560 --> 01:12:12,320
future legislation or through the check and adjust period,

1225
01:12:12,320 --> 01:12:13,680
we have to come together.

1226
01:12:13,680 --> 01:12:15,460
We have to do better.

1227
01:12:15,460 --> 01:12:18,480
I will be voting no today, but again,

1228
01:12:18,480 --> 01:12:22,260
I appreciate all your hard work on this issue. Councilmember Strauss.

1229
01:12:22,260 --> 01:12:27,060
And again, I think regardless of how today's vote goes,

1230
01:12:27,060 --> 01:12:30,459
you have helped us make progress on this issue and

1231
01:12:30,459 --> 01:12:34,720
uplift a critical thing for us to to focus on,

1232
01:12:34,720 --> 01:12:40,600
and that obviously will continue in the in the coming months and years. Thank you.

1233
01:12:40,600 --> 01:12:42,960
Thank you. Councilmember Lin.

1234
01:12:42,960 --> 01:12:46,360
I see Councilmember Juarez.

1235
01:12:46,360 --> 01:12:48,360
Yes, thank you. Good morning. Good morning.

1236
01:12:48,360 --> 01:12:51,720
Well, I want to thank thank you and thank you for your leadership.

1237
01:12:51,720 --> 01:12:54,920
I want to thank the folks that showed up.

1238
01:12:54,920 --> 01:12:58,919
As you know, I always kind of keep a running tally of where we're at

1239
01:12:58,919 --> 01:13:03,160
with people who show up at public comment and who also call in.

1240
01:13:03,160 --> 01:13:05,439
And I want to thank those folks and a lot of

1241
01:13:05,439 --> 01:13:08,020
the issues that were raised, we've heard before.

1242
01:13:08,020 --> 01:13:11,520
And to hear again and to be re-emphasized again is important.

1243
01:13:11,520 --> 01:13:13,240
And Councilmember Lin,

1244
01:13:13,240 --> 01:13:14,960
thank you so much for those kind words.

1245
01:13:14,960 --> 01:13:16,480
And I've said this many times,

1246
01:13:16,480 --> 01:13:18,620
and I'm glad to hear you say it as well,

1247
01:13:18,620 --> 01:13:21,560
is that even if some of us are elected from districts,

1248
01:13:21,560 --> 01:13:23,100
we represent the whole city.

1249
01:13:23,100 --> 01:13:26,400
Our vote is weighs just as much as everybody else's vote.

1250
01:13:26,400 --> 01:13:28,240
But we honor the needs of our district.

1251
01:13:28,240 --> 01:13:31,640
And that's why we went to a district system.

1252
01:13:31,640 --> 01:13:35,480
As you know, Mayor Murray in 2015 said that we were going to end homelessness,

1253
01:13:35,480 --> 01:13:37,980
and that was 11 years ago.

1254
01:13:37,980 --> 01:13:40,640
And I've sat here and watched many,

1255
01:13:40,640 --> 01:13:44,340
many committees, many reports, many studies.

1256
01:13:44,340 --> 01:13:46,640
When we did the navigation center,

1257
01:13:46,640 --> 01:13:47,920
when we did tiny houses,

1258
01:13:47,920 --> 01:13:49,840
when we did sanctioned encampments,

1259
01:13:49,840 --> 01:13:55,340
unsanctioned encampments, when we did permanent supportive housing.

1260
01:13:55,340 --> 01:13:57,860
So we set good neighbor agreements.

1261
01:13:57,860 --> 01:14:01,439
You know, you've sat through all of those things to make to try to make it

1262
01:14:01,439 --> 01:14:05,380
work with one thing in mind is to have the humanity,

1263
01:14:05,380 --> 01:14:07,880
to not let people live in a street.

1264
01:14:07,880 --> 01:14:11,880
And some of the folks I wrote down a lot what people said during public comment,

1265
01:14:11,880 --> 01:14:13,800
and I just want to say a few things,

1266
01:14:13,800 --> 01:14:17,480
and I want to go right to the mayor's veto.

1267
01:14:17,480 --> 01:14:20,280
I think that this is a comprehensive solution to some folks,

1268
01:14:20,280 --> 01:14:22,020
says, however,

1269
01:14:22,020 --> 01:14:23,860
I've been hearing the terms

1270
01:14:23,860 --> 01:14:30,520
a draconian band criminalizing the homeless people being punished.

1271
01:14:30,520 --> 01:14:36,280
I'm just going to say this I don't think it's fair to say those things,

1272
01:14:36,280 --> 01:14:38,999
because that's not what has been in our hearts and our minds

1273
01:14:38,999 --> 01:14:42,100
when we put together pieces of legislation like this.

1274
01:14:42,100 --> 01:14:43,560
And as you know,

1275
01:14:43,560 --> 01:14:47,120
we were in committee on September 15th.

1276
01:14:47,120 --> 01:14:52,860
We were in committee and on in committee on September 22nd, with many amendments.

1277
01:14:52,860 --> 01:14:57,180
And I believe that's when Councilmember Foster brought the one time count issue,

1278
01:14:57,180 --> 01:14:59,760
which I was very supportive of.

1279
01:14:59,760 --> 01:15:03,960
And then it went to full council in a six three vote.

1280
01:15:03,960 --> 01:15:08,860
I understand, and then on November 2nd, there was a veto.

1281
01:15:08,860 --> 01:15:12,780
And so I bring up those dates and times because before the committee,

1282
01:15:12,780 --> 01:15:15,000
probably the public should probably know this.

1283
01:15:15,000 --> 01:15:19,820
We started these discussions in the spring and summer,

1284
01:15:19,820 --> 01:15:22,080
not just with stakeholders,

1285
01:15:22,080 --> 01:15:27,040
community, those that that take care of our relatives on the street.

1286
01:15:27,040 --> 01:15:29,620
But before we put ink to paper.

1287
01:15:29,620 --> 01:15:31,840
So it isn't like we sat down and said, hey,

1288
01:15:31,840 --> 01:15:35,879
let's figure out the worst way to criminalize the homeless and impose

1289
01:15:35,879 --> 01:15:40,160
draconian bans and punish people.

1290
01:15:40,160 --> 01:15:43,140
No, that's not the hard work we do here.

1291
01:15:43,140 --> 01:15:46,000
I know that when people show up and scream at us at city council,

1292
01:15:46,000 --> 01:15:48,300
they think that that's absolutely not true.

1293
01:15:48,300 --> 01:15:51,520
So let me get to what I want to talk about.

1294
01:15:51,520 --> 01:15:52,880
The meat in the substance,

1295
01:15:52,880 --> 01:15:54,520
in the context of this,

1296
01:15:54,520 --> 01:15:56,260
this this partial veto.

1297
01:15:56,260 --> 01:15:58,860
And I want to thank the mayor for not vetoing all of it.

1298
01:15:58,860 --> 01:16:02,220
And I'm looking forward to seeing what the new plan will be.

1299
01:16:02,220 --> 01:16:07,040
And I think it's important to note what Councilmember Strauss had shared,

1300
01:16:07,040 --> 01:16:08,680
that this legislation,

1301
01:16:08,680 --> 01:16:12,360
the way I read it and looked at it to regulate RVs,

1302
01:16:12,360 --> 01:16:15,720
it does not make vehicle residency illegal.

1303
01:16:15,720 --> 01:16:17,520
It's already illegal.

1304
01:16:17,520 --> 01:16:19,940
So that's just not true.

1305
01:16:19,940 --> 01:16:23,319
I thought that this and I believe that this legislation gave

1306
01:16:23,319 --> 01:16:26,960
more allowances and a path to a home.

1307
01:16:26,960 --> 01:16:28,880
And I like that a lot of you,

1308
01:16:28,880 --> 01:16:30,440
including my colleagues,

1309
01:16:30,440 --> 01:16:35,300
have said online and offline that all these concerns Councilmember Lin was saying,

1310
01:16:35,300 --> 01:16:37,160
come from a good place.

1311
01:16:37,160 --> 01:16:39,820
Nobody's pitting anyone against anyone.

1312
01:16:39,820 --> 01:16:43,240
Nobody's criminalizing anyone with their thoughts or their policies.

1313
01:16:43,240 --> 01:16:45,800
We may have disagreements, but at the end of the day,

1314
01:16:45,800 --> 01:16:49,240
we're trying to get there in a good way.

1315
01:16:49,240 --> 01:16:50,980
What I believe, though,

1316
01:16:50,980 --> 01:16:59,160
is that in in just in one sentence is a parking spot is not a home.

1317
01:16:59,160 --> 01:17:02,560
Parking space is not a home.

1318
01:17:02,560 --> 01:17:04,980
Having to move your car in your RV, every,

1319
01:17:04,980 --> 01:17:06,720
every 72 hours,

1320
01:17:06,720 --> 01:17:09,600
every is not a home.

1321
01:17:09,600 --> 01:17:16,680
So it took a lot for us to get here to find some point of entry for those living in RVs,

1322
01:17:16,680 --> 01:17:18,720
to have a path to a home,

1323
01:17:18,720 --> 01:17:21,220
whether it's brick and mortar,

1324
01:17:21,220 --> 01:17:22,560
is it a tiny house?

1325
01:17:22,560 --> 01:17:26,079
I don't know, but I think it's inhumane to have

1326
01:17:26,079 --> 01:17:29,680
people believe that their home is a parking spot.

1327
01:17:29,680 --> 01:17:32,320
I just do, and maybe that's just a difference.

1328
01:17:32,320 --> 01:17:33,800
I'm not going to politicize this.

1329
01:17:33,800 --> 01:17:35,680
I'm going to stay with my vote.

1330
01:17:35,680 --> 01:17:37,380
I'm not one to.

1331
01:17:37,380 --> 01:17:38,820
I do my homework.

1332
01:17:38,820 --> 01:17:41,879
I went through the mayor's veto that she sent

1333
01:17:41,879 --> 01:17:44,820
the letter to the clerk dated November 2nd,

1334
01:17:44,820 --> 01:17:48,920
and she gave a six reasons why she was vetoing it.

1335
01:17:48,920 --> 01:17:53,880
And I want to be as respectful as possible.

1336
01:17:54,680 --> 01:17:59,840
Every one of these bases for the veto can be cured,

1337
01:17:59,840 --> 01:18:03,580
remedied, or could have been addressed on September 15th,

1338
01:18:03,580 --> 01:18:07,399
September 22nd, and certainly before full council and certainly during

1339
01:18:07,399 --> 01:18:09,760
the spring and summer when we had commitments

1340
01:18:09,760 --> 01:18:12,420
from the mayor's office in the executive that we all.

1341
01:18:12,420 --> 01:18:15,860
We invested time and effort and spent political capital,

1342
01:18:15,860 --> 01:18:18,160
even with people that didn't agree with us,

1343
01:18:18,160 --> 01:18:19,960
to move this forward.

1344
01:18:19,960 --> 01:18:22,480
And I think Councilmember Rivera brought this up as well.

1345
01:18:22,480 --> 01:18:24,020
It isn't just about.

1346
01:18:24,020 --> 01:18:25,640
Yes, there are families in homes.

1347
01:18:25,640 --> 01:18:28,260
There are nurses in RVs, and there's all these.

1348
01:18:28,260 --> 01:18:30,780
There's also and let's not shy away from it.

1349
01:18:30,780 --> 01:18:37,440
There's a lot of sex trafficking in criminal activity and drug activity going on in RVs.

1350
01:18:37,440 --> 01:18:41,720
So I'm not saying that everyone who lives on is doing those things.

1351
01:18:41,720 --> 01:18:44,160
And you're right, if you're doing those things in your house,

1352
01:18:44,160 --> 01:18:46,520
in your apartment, you don't lose your apartment.

1353
01:18:46,520 --> 01:18:48,280
But when you're on the public street,

1354
01:18:48,280 --> 01:18:50,480
then it becomes a public safety issue.

1355
01:18:50,480 --> 01:18:54,280
And it's up to us as an elected body to address that.

1356
01:18:54,280 --> 01:18:56,320
Going through the six bases,

1357
01:18:56,320 --> 01:18:58,160
the one time census count,

1358
01:18:58,160 --> 01:19:01,640
again, the legal considerations of RV ownership,

1359
01:19:01,640 --> 01:19:03,660
the cost of long term storage,

1360
01:19:03,660 --> 01:19:05,640
the risk that noncompliance could create

1361
01:19:05,640 --> 01:19:11,280
more unsheltered folks enforcement issues, administrative complexity.

1362
01:19:11,280 --> 01:19:14,600
Every one of these six bases I have seen,

1363
01:19:14,600 --> 01:19:18,920
this city council and this city overcome every one of them,

1364
01:19:18,920 --> 01:19:20,320
every one of them.

1365
01:19:20,320 --> 01:19:23,640
When they have the drive, the policy,

1366
01:19:23,640 --> 01:19:26,180
the belief that they're doing the right thing,

1367
01:19:26,180 --> 01:19:29,200
even though some people may not be happy about it.

1368
01:19:29,200 --> 01:19:30,340
Because at the end of the day,

1369
01:19:30,340 --> 01:19:32,540
the humanity is what's in here.

1370
01:19:32,540 --> 01:19:36,040
Let's get these people into homes, not RVs.

1371
01:19:36,040 --> 01:19:39,560
In a parking spot at the Qfc parking lot,

1372
01:19:39,560 --> 01:19:40,840
or next to a park,

1373
01:19:40,840 --> 01:19:43,140
or on a residential street.

1374
01:19:43,140 --> 01:19:45,700
I just want to end in that.

1375
01:19:45,700 --> 01:19:53,280
Two things. Which is interesting for me to say, but.

1376
01:19:53,360 --> 01:20:02,200
In politics, there's never really a single point of failure or success. There, are.

1377
01:20:02,200 --> 01:20:05,540
There are nine councilmembers in our legislative branch,

1378
01:20:05,540 --> 01:20:08,000
and we have one mayor.

1379
01:20:08,000 --> 01:20:16,560
And I believe that when you and the public sees dishonesty,

1380
01:20:16,560 --> 01:20:20,520
inconsistency, lack of leadership,

1381
01:20:20,520 --> 01:20:24,920
that that's housed out and.

1382
01:20:25,000 --> 01:20:32,180
For those reasons, I'm going to stay with the votes that I have committed to.

1383
01:20:32,180 --> 01:20:34,440
I have not changed my mind.

1384
01:20:34,440 --> 01:20:36,440
And and I think somebody said this,

1385
01:20:36,440 --> 01:20:37,720
and we've heard it many times,

1386
01:20:37,720 --> 01:20:41,360
and I'm sure Councilmember Strauss will fill in the details.

1387
01:20:41,360 --> 01:20:46,480
This is just the beginning of the path away from the parking spot.

1388
01:20:46,480 --> 01:20:50,940
A lot of this is going to be implemented in 2027, and there's more to do.

1389
01:20:50,940 --> 01:20:58,540
And again, we cannot let politics get in the middle of or

1390
01:20:58,540 --> 01:21:01,860
get in in front of or be more important of

1391
01:21:01,860 --> 01:21:06,520
than the policies that we're trying to put together to get people into homes.

1392
01:21:06,520 --> 01:21:08,940
I'm not worried about reelection.

1393
01:21:08,940 --> 01:21:11,440
I'm not worried about speaking to a base.

1394
01:21:11,440 --> 01:21:16,080
I'm not speaking to a person of audience of one.

1395
01:21:16,080 --> 01:21:19,540
I am representing the city of Seattle and

1396
01:21:19,540 --> 01:21:23,160
honoring the needs of district five and understanding again.

1397
01:21:23,160 --> 01:21:26,180
And I'm going to say it again a parking spot is not a home.

1398
01:21:26,180 --> 01:21:28,180
So for those reasons,

1399
01:21:28,180 --> 01:21:32,060
I will not be supporting the mayor's veto.

1400
01:21:32,060 --> 01:21:34,400
And I am opposed to it.

1401
01:21:34,400 --> 01:21:38,079
And I think it's unfortunate that we've done all this work and committed

1402
01:21:38,079 --> 01:21:43,640
ourselves on the word of the executive branch that we were going to get this done,

1403
01:21:43,640 --> 01:21:46,700
because there's still a lot more to do.

1404
01:21:46,700 --> 01:21:48,720
Thank you, Council President.

1405
01:21:48,720 --> 01:21:50,580
Thank you, Councilmember Juarez.

1406
01:21:50,580 --> 01:21:54,260
I see Councilmember Saka followed by Councilmember Rivera.

1407
01:21:54,260 --> 01:21:56,000
Thank you, Madam Council President.

1408
01:21:56,000 --> 01:21:59,059
And as I look out at a kind of

1409
01:21:59,059 --> 01:22:04,280
packed council chamber full of community members, advocates,

1410
01:22:04,280 --> 01:22:07,540
media partners, 5 or 6 cameras,

1411
01:22:07,540 --> 01:22:10,340
just a normal Thursday morning in the office,

1412
01:22:10,340 --> 01:22:14,760
colleagues, just a normal Thursday morning.

1413
01:22:14,760 --> 01:22:16,200
Bad joke. All right.

1414
01:22:16,200 --> 01:22:19,800
Well, thank you again, Council president.

1415
01:22:19,800 --> 01:22:29,760
I want to start today by extending a little practice of an attitude of gratitude,

1416
01:22:29,760 --> 01:22:32,660
which is what I try to do every single day.

1417
01:22:32,660 --> 01:22:36,980
And live in in a really important principle and value that I have for me,

1418
01:22:36,980 --> 01:22:42,840
myself and my family always practice an attitude of gratitude.

1419
01:22:42,840 --> 01:22:49,120
And that's why I want to start by specifically thanking Councilmember Strauss.

1420
01:22:49,360 --> 01:22:56,280
For his leadership and tireless work on this legislation,

1421
01:22:56,280 --> 01:23:00,040
the six piece legislative package.

1422
01:23:00,160 --> 01:23:07,360
That he worked on all year round for members of the public,

1423
01:23:07,360 --> 01:23:14,499
the entire legislative branch of government has about 90 employees, 90.

1424
01:23:14,499 --> 01:23:18,379
And our ability as councilmembers to

1425
01:23:18,379 --> 01:23:22,119
direct certain personnel within

1426
01:23:22,119 --> 01:23:26,180
them is only is limited to a certain subset of fractional share of that 90.

1427
01:23:26,180 --> 01:23:30,119
By contrast, the mayor has 14,000 city

1428
01:23:30,119 --> 01:23:33,119
employees at her beck and disposal and

1429
01:23:33,119 --> 01:23:36,499
can direct and marshal towards resources and get things done.

1430
01:23:36,499 --> 01:23:38,520
Proposed legislation.

1431
01:23:38,520 --> 01:23:43,300
What Councilmember Strauss did this year was a Herculean effort.

1432
01:23:43,300 --> 01:23:45,420
He saw a problem,

1433
01:23:45,420 --> 01:23:51,479
recognized that the status quo is not good enough.

1434
01:23:51,479 --> 01:23:57,160
He took decisive leadership and action to address that challenge,

1435
01:23:57,160 --> 01:24:03,359
which is why, again, I want to thank Councilmember Strauss for his hard work.

1436
01:24:03,359 --> 01:24:06,279
I also want to thank Mayor Wilson for her leadership in bringing

1437
01:24:06,279 --> 01:24:11,240
forward an alternative approach, and I deserve that.

1438
01:24:11,240 --> 01:24:13,760
I think deserves a fair shot.

1439
01:24:13,840 --> 01:24:17,120
I also want to acknowledge.

1440
01:24:17,120 --> 01:24:20,279
Two different votes.

1441
01:24:21,520 --> 01:24:27,720
What we know today is that the status quo is totally unacceptable.

1442
01:24:27,720 --> 01:24:32,960
That's why I voted yes on this legislation last month.

1443
01:24:32,960 --> 01:24:36,160
And let me be crystal clear,

1444
01:24:36,160 --> 01:24:39,439
I stand by that vote.

1445
01:24:39,439 --> 01:24:44,040
That vote was about refusing to accept inaction.

1446
01:24:44,040 --> 01:24:51,760
Today's vote is about determining the best path forward together,

1447
01:24:51,760 --> 01:24:56,779
but voting to support legislation and deciding whether to

1448
01:24:56,779 --> 01:25:02,319
override a veto are two separate decisions.

1449
01:25:02,319 --> 01:25:07,120
My principles and values haven't changed.

1450
01:25:07,120 --> 01:25:14,359
What's changed is that we now have a new path to consider.

1451
01:25:14,359 --> 01:25:15,880
Through her executive order,

1452
01:25:15,880 --> 01:25:18,980
Mayor Wilson has committed to expanding outreach,

1453
01:25:18,980 --> 01:25:24,380
advancing RV safe lots and developing an alternative approach.

1454
01:25:24,380 --> 01:25:29,120
Again, I believe that deserves a fair opportunity,

1455
01:25:29,120 --> 01:25:35,240
and I recognize that today's decision has real consequences.

1456
01:25:35,240 --> 01:25:39,240
I take that responsibility very seriously.

1457
01:25:41,200 --> 01:25:51,319
Whatever path we land on with the mayor's upcoming alternative to be evaluated,

1458
01:25:51,319 --> 01:25:55,680
in my view, by three guiding principles.

1459
01:25:55,680 --> 01:25:59,040
First and foremost, human dignity.

1460
01:25:59,040 --> 01:26:03,439
People experiencing homelessness deserve to be treated with

1461
01:26:03,439 --> 01:26:08,840
dignity and respect. That's it.

1462
01:26:08,880 --> 01:26:12,119
And what's also true is so do the residents and

1463
01:26:12,119 --> 01:26:17,920
small businesses whose neighborhoods are directly affected.

1464
01:26:18,720 --> 01:26:25,840
Second, we need compassion and accountability.

1465
01:26:25,840 --> 01:26:31,040
In other words, we need both the carrot and the stick.

1466
01:26:31,720 --> 01:26:35,000
Seattle deserves both.

1467
01:26:35,720 --> 01:26:39,820
That includes more shelter capacity,

1468
01:26:39,820 --> 01:26:46,520
more RV safe lots and appropriate enforcement to better address,

1469
01:26:46,520 --> 01:26:52,000
to better address unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

1470
01:26:52,000 --> 01:26:54,240
Third, and finally,

1471
01:26:54,240 --> 01:26:59,160
geographic equity must be a top priority.

1472
01:26:59,399 --> 01:27:01,520
My council district.

1473
01:27:01,520 --> 01:27:08,640
District one has carried a disproportionate share of this challenge for far too long,

1474
01:27:08,640 --> 01:27:12,120
depending on the reporting period.

1475
01:27:12,120 --> 01:27:19,920
District one has 2 to 3 times higher concentration

1476
01:27:19,920 --> 01:27:24,880
of RV encampments than the next closest council district.

1477
01:27:24,880 --> 01:27:28,279
We cannot solve a citywide problem by concentrating

1478
01:27:28,279 --> 01:27:33,279
its consequences in a handful of neighborhoods. We can't.

1479
01:27:34,520 --> 01:27:39,519
I'm going to harp on Councilmember Lynn's comments a moment ago,

1480
01:27:39,519 --> 01:27:41,220
talking about unity.

1481
01:27:41,220 --> 01:27:43,720
Love it.

1482
01:27:43,720 --> 01:27:48,040
My fellow tireless Councilmember.

1483
01:27:48,359 --> 01:27:53,479
We have an opportunity to turn disagreement at

1484
01:27:53,479 --> 01:27:59,200
City Hall into a shared commitment to action.

1485
01:27:59,399 --> 01:28:02,519
We may disagree on a path,

1486
01:28:02,519 --> 01:28:06,460
but we should never lose sight of our shared destination.

1487
01:28:06,460 --> 01:28:10,600
This isn't about choosing sides.

1488
01:28:10,680 --> 01:28:13,819
It's about delivering results.

1489
01:28:13,819 --> 01:28:17,840
And those results must be measurable,

1490
01:28:17,840 --> 01:28:20,579
including more safe parking capacity,

1491
01:28:20,579 --> 01:28:24,440
meaningful enforcement, greater geographic equity,

1492
01:28:24,440 --> 01:28:26,660
and safer neighborhoods,

1493
01:28:26,660 --> 01:28:32,600
and if this new approach falls short,

1494
01:28:32,600 --> 01:28:34,820
we have an obligation, nay,

1495
01:28:34,820 --> 01:28:40,240
a duty, to revisit what isn't working.

1496
01:28:40,359 --> 01:28:44,799
Our commitment must be to the results,

1497
01:28:44,799 --> 01:28:51,479
not any single proposal. So today.

1498
01:28:52,319 --> 01:28:57,159
I will be voting against the bill before us,

1499
01:28:57,159 --> 01:29:01,800
thereby sustaining the mayor's veto, potentially.

1500
01:29:02,479 --> 01:29:08,600
But not because I've abandoned my previous position,

1501
01:29:08,600 --> 01:29:14,600
but because I'm willing to give a potentially stronger solution a fair chance.

1502
01:29:14,960 --> 01:29:26,760
That said, patients must be matched by progress our residents deserve nothing less.

1503
01:29:27,240 --> 01:29:36,120
And finally, I want to close by mentioning talking a little bit about leadership.

1504
01:29:38,080 --> 01:29:44,660
A lot of the discussion seems to be whether it's in community,

1505
01:29:44,660 --> 01:29:46,119
the advocacy groups,

1506
01:29:46,119 --> 01:29:52,520
media seems to swirl around a particular policy.

1507
01:29:52,680 --> 01:29:56,439
A disagreement at City Hall.

1508
01:29:56,479 --> 01:30:01,720
A even a solemn exercise of

1509
01:30:01,720 --> 01:30:06,560
the Democratic checks and balances that we have enshrined in all levels of government,

1510
01:30:06,560 --> 01:30:08,200
including right here in the City of Seattle.

1511
01:30:08,200 --> 01:30:18,640
Government. Embodied by the decision whether to override an executive veto or not.

1512
01:30:20,120 --> 01:30:27,640
Again, diving deep down the nitty gritty policy nuances,

1513
01:30:27,640 --> 01:30:30,999
what I find to be the most profound and

1514
01:30:30,999 --> 01:30:35,459
the most intriguing aspect of this entire conversation is leadership.

1515
01:30:35,459 --> 01:30:36,680
It's not policy.

1516
01:30:36,680 --> 01:30:41,279
It's not democratic checks and balances. It's leadership.

1517
01:30:43,080 --> 01:30:48,200
I heard Councilmember Strauss a moment ago say that leadership,

1518
01:30:48,200 --> 01:30:54,119
paraphrasing leadership, is not turning your back when the criticism ramps up.

1519
01:30:54,119 --> 01:30:56,020
That's absolutely true.

1520
01:30:56,020 --> 01:30:58,240
Absolutely true.

1521
01:30:59,319 --> 01:31:04,960
And I also heard what Councilmember Lin said a moment ago.

1522
01:31:05,279 --> 01:31:14,120
That leadership is being willing to change your mind and change your position,

1523
01:31:14,120 --> 01:31:15,499
making a decision,

1524
01:31:15,499 --> 01:31:20,120
standing firmly on the decision based off of principles and values,

1525
01:31:20,120 --> 01:31:26,179
and then having the humility and grace to change your mind.

1526
01:31:26,179 --> 01:31:30,760
If material new information becomes available.

1527
01:31:30,760 --> 01:31:37,080
That's actually what one of my political mentors told me a couple of years back.

1528
01:31:37,080 --> 01:31:41,200
So when I look up to and respect deeply.

1529
01:31:43,160 --> 01:31:50,979
And we all land at a different place as it relates to the nine of us on that issue.

1530
01:31:50,979 --> 01:31:58,640
But I think that is the most intriguing aspect of this entire conversation.

1531
01:31:58,640 --> 01:32:00,700
We need, we need, in my view,

1532
01:32:00,700 --> 01:32:06,160
we need more leaders at all levels of government.

1533
01:32:06,920 --> 01:32:10,200
To humble themselves.

1534
01:32:10,319 --> 01:32:15,380
With if and when new information becomes available, and do the.

1535
01:32:15,380 --> 01:32:17,260
Make the best decision.

1536
01:32:17,260 --> 01:32:20,840
Do the greatest good for the greatest number.

1537
01:32:20,840 --> 01:32:27,040
I want to thank Councilmember Strauss again and Mayor Wilson.

1538
01:32:27,080 --> 01:32:30,859
For their leadership and their willingness to

1539
01:32:30,859 --> 01:32:37,600
address this challenge with the comprehensive solution.

1540
01:32:37,600 --> 01:32:39,760
Thank you.

1541
01:32:39,760 --> 01:32:40,840
Thank you. Councilmember Saka.

1542
01:32:40,840 --> 01:32:42,920
Next we have Councilmember Rivera.

1543
01:32:42,920 --> 01:32:44,900
Thank you, thank you.

1544
01:32:44,900 --> 01:32:48,160
Council President colleagues.

1545
01:32:48,160 --> 01:32:49,699
Both are true.

1546
01:32:49,699 --> 01:32:54,379
There are people living in RVs who need permanent homes and services,

1547
01:32:54,379 --> 01:32:58,520
just like the individuals who are living on our streets and tents.

1548
01:32:58,520 --> 01:33:00,519
Neither are humane,

1549
01:33:00,519 --> 01:33:06,960
especially our families with children living in vehicles, not RVs.

1550
01:33:06,960 --> 01:33:09,799
It's also true that we've seen a number of

1551
01:33:09,799 --> 01:33:14,319
individuals using our RVs for drug dealing, sex trafficking,

1552
01:33:14,319 --> 01:33:17,999
and exploiting our vulnerable women and

1553
01:33:17,999 --> 01:33:23,120
other vulnerable community members in our community.

1554
01:33:23,120 --> 01:33:29,359
And these are these are not healthy for our neighborhoods.

1555
01:33:29,359 --> 01:33:33,099
We have to acknowledge that both of these things are true.

1556
01:33:33,099 --> 01:33:36,279
And so when we're looking for policy solutions,

1557
01:33:36,279 --> 01:33:40,680
we're looking for solutions that need to address both.

1558
01:33:40,680 --> 01:33:45,740
I understand that this legislation is intended to do more outreach,

1559
01:33:45,740 --> 01:33:50,719
a concentrated outreach to folks living in RVs.

1560
01:33:50,719 --> 01:33:54,459
I do want to acknowledge that the unified Care team does

1561
01:33:54,459 --> 01:33:58,240
outreach to our folks living in RVs.

1562
01:33:58,240 --> 01:34:01,519
So I don't want to leave it unsaid that we

1563
01:34:01,519 --> 01:34:05,520
haven't had folks doing outreach to folks who are legitimately,

1564
01:34:05,520 --> 01:34:08,540
legitimately living in RVs.

1565
01:34:08,540 --> 01:34:10,060
But as I said earlier,

1566
01:34:10,060 --> 01:34:13,359
there are others who are not legitimately living in RVs,

1567
01:34:13,359 --> 01:34:16,680
and those folks are causing harms in our neighborhoods.

1568
01:34:16,680 --> 01:34:18,960
I can tell you that at Magnuson Park,

1569
01:34:18,960 --> 01:34:20,960
where we have permanent supportive housing,

1570
01:34:20,960 --> 01:34:24,520
individuals living and low income individuals like

1571
01:34:24,520 --> 01:34:28,420
moms raising teenage kids and smaller children

1572
01:34:28,420 --> 01:34:32,719
in a low income housing at the park have

1573
01:34:32,719 --> 01:34:37,680
had a terrible time managing for RVs at the park.

1574
01:34:37,680 --> 01:34:39,560
And I've. Since I've gotten here,

1575
01:34:39,560 --> 01:34:41,700
this is my third year on the Council.

1576
01:34:41,700 --> 01:34:46,740
I've been trying to help to ensure that those RVs selling drugs to the.

1577
01:34:46,740 --> 01:34:51,160
Or and trying to sell drugs to our vulnerable populations. There is not.

1578
01:34:51,160 --> 01:34:52,680
Okay.

1579
01:34:52,680 --> 01:34:55,160
Obviously, this is not every RV,

1580
01:34:55,160 --> 01:34:59,000
but there are a lot of RVs out there engaging in this behavior.

1581
01:34:59,000 --> 01:35:01,740
And we need to acknowledge that as well.

1582
01:35:01,740 --> 01:35:03,380
Both are true.

1583
01:35:03,380 --> 01:35:07,600
We and I want to appreciate Councilmember Juarez

1584
01:35:07,600 --> 01:35:12,420
for laying out the facts around this legislation.

1585
01:35:12,420 --> 01:35:16,600
And also acknowledging that the the two points that I made today,

1586
01:35:16,600 --> 01:35:20,199
because I know that she's grappling with some of that in

1587
01:35:20,199 --> 01:35:26,520
the D5 in our who's who neighbors, the D4.

1588
01:35:26,880 --> 01:35:29,960
As I stated, when we first vote,

1589
01:35:29,960 --> 01:35:36,840
I'm concerned that this legislation will not necessarily yield what we intend.

1590
01:35:36,840 --> 01:35:41,440
However, this is the legislation that we have before us today,

1591
01:35:41,440 --> 01:35:43,720
and doing nothing is not an option.

1592
01:35:43,720 --> 01:35:47,900
So what I always say is we have something before us.

1593
01:35:47,900 --> 01:35:51,479
It intends to do outreach to individuals in

1594
01:35:51,479 --> 01:35:56,380
RVs to try to provide them services and get them more permanent housing.

1595
01:35:56,380 --> 01:35:59,439
But it also would hopefully address

1596
01:35:59,439 --> 01:36:03,600
the RVs that are causing harm in our neighborhoods and communities.

1597
01:36:03,600 --> 01:36:05,740
So to me,

1598
01:36:05,740 --> 01:36:08,640
it's worth doing something.

1599
01:36:08,640 --> 01:36:15,520
And then reevaluating and reevaluating and assessing whether it is working or not.

1600
01:36:15,520 --> 01:36:19,280
And if it's not, then we shift our approach.

1601
01:36:19,280 --> 01:36:21,340
But right now, as I said earlier,

1602
01:36:21,340 --> 01:36:23,480
this is what's before us on the table.

1603
01:36:23,480 --> 01:36:26,100
Now, should this not pass today,

1604
01:36:26,100 --> 01:36:31,880
I am looking forward to working with the mayor on the approach that she's intending,

1605
01:36:31,880 --> 01:36:35,060
and I hope that she works with all of us,

1606
01:36:35,060 --> 01:36:36,800
not just some of us,

1607
01:36:36,800 --> 01:36:40,180
because this is an issue that is across the city,

1608
01:36:40,180 --> 01:36:43,520
concentrated in some districts more than others.

1609
01:36:43,520 --> 01:36:45,060
And I appreciate your comments.

1610
01:36:45,060 --> 01:36:47,879
Councilmember Saka, because we've had three years of

1611
01:36:47,879 --> 01:36:51,420
working together and talking about this very issue,

1612
01:36:51,420 --> 01:36:54,620
and it is something that's happening across the city.

1613
01:36:54,620 --> 01:36:57,560
Every council district is touched by this.

1614
01:36:57,560 --> 01:37:03,600
So I look forward to working with the mayor to address these issues,

1615
01:37:03,600 --> 01:37:06,680
because they do need to be addressed.

1616
01:37:06,680 --> 01:37:10,380
And so I will continue.

1617
01:37:10,380 --> 01:37:13,680
I will vote as I voted last time,

1618
01:37:13,680 --> 01:37:15,720
and like I said,

1619
01:37:15,720 --> 01:37:22,399
I hope to be able to work with the mayor on her approach to see how we can make

1620
01:37:22,399 --> 01:37:27,000
some actual positive results with whatever

1621
01:37:27,000 --> 01:37:31,680
it is she's intending in addressing these concerns.

1622
01:37:31,680 --> 01:37:33,000
Both of these concerns,

1623
01:37:33,000 --> 01:37:34,960
because they're equally important.

1624
01:37:34,960 --> 01:37:36,360
Thank you, Council President.

1625
01:37:36,360 --> 01:37:37,840
Thank you, Councilmember Rivera.

1626
01:37:37,840 --> 01:37:42,020
We have Councilmember Foster followed by Councilmember Rinck. Councilmember Foster.

1627
01:37:42,020 --> 01:37:44,640
Thank you so much. Council President,

1628
01:37:44,640 --> 01:37:47,360
and thank you, colleagues.

1629
01:37:47,360 --> 01:37:49,260
I will be,

1630
01:37:49,260 --> 01:37:51,880
I think, fairly brief with my remarks.

1631
01:37:51,880 --> 01:37:53,320
You know, as I said,

1632
01:37:53,320 --> 01:37:56,440
when we had this before us a few weeks ago,

1633
01:37:56,440 --> 01:38:00,479
I brought an amendment when this bill was in committee that would have

1634
01:38:00,479 --> 01:38:04,740
allowed for the census to be an ongoing census.

1635
01:38:04,740 --> 01:38:07,960
And for me, that has been a critical piece of this conversation.

1636
01:38:07,960 --> 01:38:10,760
So I just want to once again thank Councilmember Lin

1637
01:38:10,760 --> 01:38:13,720
and Councilmember Juarez for supporting that amendment.

1638
01:38:13,720 --> 01:38:16,120
When it was in committee.

1639
01:38:16,120 --> 01:38:17,920
And there's been a lot of discussion here,

1640
01:38:17,920 --> 01:38:20,199
but I'll focus mine on where

1641
01:38:20,199 --> 01:38:23,300
my heart and my head has been for the last several months around this,

1642
01:38:23,300 --> 01:38:27,460
which is that we know that homelessness is not a static experience,

1643
01:38:27,460 --> 01:38:29,680
that people circumstances change,

1644
01:38:29,680 --> 01:38:32,300
people move in and out of homelessness.

1645
01:38:32,300 --> 01:38:34,679
That is one of our our greatest challenges in

1646
01:38:34,679 --> 01:38:37,200
the city is we continue to try to bring more shelter online,

1647
01:38:37,200 --> 01:38:42,620
bring more housing online is that we are still seeing people become newly homeless,

1648
01:38:42,620 --> 01:38:44,460
even as we make progress.

1649
01:38:44,460 --> 01:38:47,640
Getting folks moved off of the streets and into housing.

1650
01:38:47,640 --> 01:38:49,380
And from my perspective,

1651
01:38:49,380 --> 01:38:53,279
having a one time census and a permit that corresponds with

1652
01:38:53,279 --> 01:38:59,940
that one time census is not an effective way to address what is an ongoing challenge.

1653
01:38:59,940 --> 01:39:02,960
So I want to just be clear and focused on that.

1654
01:39:02,960 --> 01:39:04,600
From my perspective,

1655
01:39:04,600 --> 01:39:08,319
I think that and what I will say is I've seen and

1656
01:39:08,319 --> 01:39:12,080
spoken to families who are homeless and living in RVs.

1657
01:39:12,080 --> 01:39:13,719
I had a chance and I will

1658
01:39:13,719 --> 01:39:16,839
appreciate Councilmember Strauss for encouraging us all to go out

1659
01:39:16,839 --> 01:39:21,960
with the vehicle residency outreach program and the the staff there.

1660
01:39:21,960 --> 01:39:27,980
I had the opportunity to join them for a day and talk to folks who are living in RVs,

1661
01:39:27,980 --> 01:39:29,840
not all around the city. We did the sort of.

1662
01:39:29,840 --> 01:39:32,000
The South District with them,

1663
01:39:32,000 --> 01:39:34,600
but it was incredibly informative to understand

1664
01:39:34,600 --> 01:39:37,600
the experiences that people are having because there is a lot of

1665
01:39:37,600 --> 01:39:39,839
need and we are actually we are

1666
01:39:39,839 --> 01:39:43,600
underinvesting in what's needed for folks who are living in their vehicles,

1667
01:39:43,600 --> 01:39:45,580
whether that is getting the get,

1668
01:39:45,580 --> 01:39:47,660
getting their tires fixed, getting gas,

1669
01:39:47,660 --> 01:39:50,999
making sure that they are appropriately connected to caseworkers so

1670
01:39:50,999 --> 01:39:54,580
that we can help support getting folks from their vehicles and into housing.

1671
01:39:54,580 --> 01:39:56,600
I have seen that with my very eyes,

1672
01:39:56,600 --> 01:39:59,940
and it's very clear that we have a lot more work to do there.

1673
01:39:59,940 --> 01:40:02,999
I'm very grateful that there is resources in

1674
01:40:02,999 --> 01:40:06,320
this budget to support an additional RV safe lot.

1675
01:40:06,320 --> 01:40:10,120
I think that is something that we all agree on here on Council.

1676
01:40:10,120 --> 01:40:12,120
So thank you, Councilmember Strauss, for putting that.

1677
01:40:12,120 --> 01:40:14,020
I believe that was your budget amendment.

1678
01:40:14,020 --> 01:40:16,199
I think that's going to be really meaningful for

1679
01:40:16,199 --> 01:40:18,320
addressing the problem that is in front of us.

1680
01:40:18,320 --> 01:40:19,840
So my vote remains the same.

1681
01:40:19,840 --> 01:40:21,120
I will be voting no today,

1682
01:40:21,120 --> 01:40:26,300
but I just wanted to restate some of the reasons that were really specific for for me,

1683
01:40:26,300 --> 01:40:27,400
deciding where I'm at here.

1684
01:40:27,400 --> 01:40:28,200
Thank you.

1685
01:40:28,200 --> 01:40:29,940
Thank you. Councilmember Foster.

1686
01:40:29,940 --> 01:40:32,360
Councilmember Rinck.

1687
01:40:32,360 --> 01:40:33,600
Thank you, Council President.

1688
01:40:33,600 --> 01:40:36,199
And I want to start off by thanking everyone who has

1689
01:40:36,199 --> 01:40:38,800
come out to make their voice heard today,

1690
01:40:38,800 --> 01:40:42,880
in particular, those who came forward to share their lived experience with homelessness.

1691
01:40:42,880 --> 01:40:44,320
It takes courage to share your story,

1692
01:40:44,320 --> 01:40:46,640
and I want to thank you again for being here.

1693
01:40:46,640 --> 01:40:49,680
Colleagues, I will be maintaining my position and voting

1694
01:40:49,680 --> 01:40:52,680
no on this particular piece of legislation today.

1695
01:40:52,680 --> 01:40:57,040
I want to thank the mayor for not just vetoing the legislation,

1696
01:40:57,040 --> 01:41:02,360
but proposing alternative action through an executive order to help move us forward.

1697
01:41:02,360 --> 01:41:07,040
There is no question that the status quo is not meeting need and isn't working for many.

1698
01:41:07,040 --> 01:41:11,399
But I believe that the executive order paired with the other bills as a part of

1699
01:41:11,399 --> 01:41:13,639
the larger legislative package proposed by

1700
01:41:13,639 --> 01:41:17,140
Councilmember Strauss pieces of that package that I did support,

1701
01:41:17,140 --> 01:41:20,219
I believe that combined will put us in a better position to

1702
01:41:20,219 --> 01:41:24,280
deliver results that I know our community members are looking forward for,

1703
01:41:24,280 --> 01:41:26,160
while also leading with dignity.

1704
01:41:26,160 --> 01:41:27,520
And so with that,

1705
01:41:27,520 --> 01:41:28,960
I'll be brief and leave it there.

1706
01:41:28,960 --> 01:41:30,280
Thank you, Council President.

1707
01:41:30,280 --> 01:41:32,600
Thank you, Councilmember Rinck.

1708
01:41:32,600 --> 01:41:36,080
I will say my remarks really quick.

1709
01:41:36,080 --> 01:41:39,080
Councilmember Strauss and then you will have closing word, if that's okay.

1710
01:41:39,080 --> 01:41:41,900
Did everyone get a chance to speak?

1711
01:41:41,900 --> 01:41:43,900
So I first want to thank.

1712
01:41:43,900 --> 01:41:47,600
Councilmember Strauss for your hard work on this legislation.

1713
01:41:47,600 --> 01:41:50,000
Engaging in difficult conversations.

1714
01:41:50,000 --> 01:41:52,020
What's happening around our city?

1715
01:41:52,020 --> 01:41:55,899
I. Double down on what

1716
01:41:55,899 --> 01:42:02,160
Councilmember Lin said about always starting with what we can agree on.

1717
01:42:02,160 --> 01:42:04,520
And so I also want to thank the mayor's office and

1718
01:42:04,520 --> 01:42:08,460
their administration for their engagement in this process as well,

1719
01:42:08,460 --> 01:42:12,840
because I believe everyone involved wants to make things better for people.

1720
01:42:12,840 --> 01:42:15,920
We may have different approaches, different perspectives,

1721
01:42:15,920 --> 01:42:19,440
and different ideas about implementation.

1722
01:42:19,440 --> 01:42:21,800
And before I say anything else,

1723
01:42:21,800 --> 01:42:25,059
I also want to thank the folks that came here today to

1724
01:42:25,059 --> 01:42:30,780
advocate for our people experiencing homelessness and the services.

1725
01:42:30,780 --> 01:42:33,540
Also the outreach workers who meet people where they are,

1726
01:42:33,540 --> 01:42:36,159
social workers and service providers who help people

1727
01:42:36,159 --> 01:42:39,280
navigate incredibly difficult circumstances.

1728
01:42:39,280 --> 01:42:43,140
The Seattle Public Utilities employees

1729
01:42:43,140 --> 01:42:47,320
who pump wastewater from RV's and clean up our public spaces,

1730
01:42:47,320 --> 01:42:51,520
the emergency responders who are called into difficult situations every day,

1731
01:42:51,520 --> 01:42:55,359
and the neighbors that help connect people to services and show

1732
01:42:55,359 --> 01:43:00,080
compassion even when they're frustrated with conditions around them as well.

1733
01:43:00,080 --> 01:43:01,480
So we see you. We appreciate you.

1734
01:43:01,480 --> 01:43:03,360
And I know this work is not easy.

1735
01:43:03,360 --> 01:43:06,780
And I also know what we're doing is not working well enough.

1736
01:43:06,780 --> 01:43:11,360
Over the last three years, my voting record has supported and backed,

1737
01:43:11,360 --> 01:43:17,720
has backed a lot of the response to homelessness regarding funding.

1738
01:43:17,720 --> 01:43:22,080
When Mayor Wilson brought forward legislation to expand shelter capacity,

1739
01:43:22,080 --> 01:43:25,720
I supported it when the legislation needed to move quickly through council,

1740
01:43:25,720 --> 01:43:27,080
I supported that process.

1741
01:43:27,080 --> 01:43:31,479
I watch how Councilmember Foster championed it and worked with her colleagues and

1742
01:43:31,479 --> 01:43:34,119
Councilmember Strauss worked to identify funding and

1743
01:43:34,119 --> 01:43:36,920
move the financial components through his committee.

1744
01:43:36,920 --> 01:43:38,899
I also supported the mayor's goal of creating

1745
01:43:38,899 --> 01:43:41,900
500 additional shelter units before the World Cup,

1746
01:43:41,900 --> 01:43:47,140
I supported the goal of reaching 1000 shelter units by the end of 2026.

1747
01:43:47,140 --> 01:43:51,540
I support the new goal of 1000 shelters by the end of 2027.

1748
01:43:51,540 --> 01:43:56,240
I supported prioritizing 500 of those units for people with high acuity needs.

1749
01:43:56,240 --> 01:43:58,800
That's people that are experiencing serious mental health challenges,

1750
01:43:58,800 --> 01:44:00,320
substance use disorders,

1751
01:44:00,320 --> 01:44:03,280
and other significant barriers to stable housing.

1752
01:44:03,280 --> 01:44:05,240
And when that legislation came before us,

1753
01:44:05,240 --> 01:44:09,560
I brought forward amendments to make sure families and children were not forgotten,

1754
01:44:09,560 --> 01:44:11,039
because we cannot talk about some of

1755
01:44:11,039 --> 01:44:14,600
our most vulnerable residents without talking about women,

1756
01:44:14,600 --> 01:44:17,520
children and families who are on the streets.

1757
01:44:17,520 --> 01:44:21,840
My amendment called for two family shelter locations as a part of that expansion.

1758
01:44:21,840 --> 01:44:23,520
At a minimum, I wanted to make sure

1759
01:44:23,520 --> 01:44:27,600
at least two family shelters were prioritized within the first thousand,

1760
01:44:27,600 --> 01:44:31,800
and I tend to follow through on that commitment and be loud as possible as well.

1761
01:44:31,800 --> 01:44:35,920
And so that amendment for proviso sits in the chair's package.

1762
01:44:35,920 --> 01:44:37,680
Thank you, Councilmember Strauss, for that,

1763
01:44:37,680 --> 01:44:42,260
to make sure that we can center families in this conversation as well,

1764
01:44:42,260 --> 01:44:45,159
because I know that has been the center around a lot of

1765
01:44:45,159 --> 01:44:49,220
folks mind when they're talking about this legislation and families.

1766
01:44:49,220 --> 01:44:53,620
So I wanted to make sure that we continued to focus on that,

1767
01:44:53,620 --> 01:44:56,200
because I take those very seriously.

1768
01:44:56,200 --> 01:44:58,600
I've also walked our neighborhoods.

1769
01:44:58,600 --> 01:45:01,600
I've talked to people who live in RVs.

1770
01:45:01,600 --> 01:45:04,980
I've talked to outreach workers who, you know,

1771
01:45:04,980 --> 01:45:07,240
go out every day and continue to push forward,

1772
01:45:07,240 --> 01:45:09,040
connecting people to resources,

1773
01:45:09,040 --> 01:45:11,240
talk to neighbors who are frustrated,

1774
01:45:11,240 --> 01:45:12,600
but they don't lack compassion.

1775
01:45:12,600 --> 01:45:14,180
I know people want to shame them.

1776
01:45:14,180 --> 01:45:16,980
And in that piece, but,

1777
01:45:16,980 --> 01:45:20,800
you know, they see the same conditions year after year and they want it to get better.

1778
01:45:20,800 --> 01:45:22,520
And I see what struggle is.

1779
01:45:22,520 --> 01:45:24,560
Struggle for people to survive,

1780
01:45:24,560 --> 01:45:26,420
struggle for our neighborhoods,

1781
01:45:26,420 --> 01:45:30,600
trying to remain accessible and struggle also for city employees,

1782
01:45:30,600 --> 01:45:34,019
trying to manage some of the consequences of the system that we

1783
01:45:34,019 --> 01:45:37,900
continue to vote on that isn't producing results that we need.

1784
01:45:37,900 --> 01:45:41,999
Sometimes. And I don't believe there's anything humane

1785
01:45:41,999 --> 01:45:46,640
about allowing someone to live in an RV without reliable sanitation,

1786
01:45:46,640 --> 01:45:48,320
without access to treatment,

1787
01:45:48,320 --> 01:45:50,200
without a pathway to stable housing,

1788
01:45:50,200 --> 01:45:52,079
and without knowing when help is

1789
01:45:52,079 --> 01:45:55,440
coming and watching the people deteriorate on our streets.

1790
01:45:55,440 --> 01:45:59,220
While we continue to debate which program we should administer,

1791
01:45:59,220 --> 01:46:00,720
asking what we should call it,

1792
01:46:00,720 --> 01:46:03,620
should we set up a task force, a focus group?

1793
01:46:03,620 --> 01:46:05,800
What are we talking about right now?

1794
01:46:05,800 --> 01:46:08,140
I think what is humane,

1795
01:46:08,140 --> 01:46:12,720
I don't think it's humane to have the resources available,

1796
01:46:12,720 --> 01:46:16,960
but we fail to turn those resources into meaningful outcomes.

1797
01:46:16,960 --> 01:46:19,640
That is the frustration that people are feeling.

1798
01:46:19,640 --> 01:46:21,920
And even though it's frustration for me,

1799
01:46:21,920 --> 01:46:24,080
I know how people that are experiencing homelessness,

1800
01:46:24,080 --> 01:46:28,960
how frustrated they are as well to be in the position that they are trying to survive.

1801
01:46:28,960 --> 01:46:31,999
While we cannot get them those funds and money and

1802
01:46:31,999 --> 01:46:35,200
trying to figure out where does it go in 2026,

1803
01:46:35,200 --> 01:46:38,560
we budgeted 228 million for homelessness.

1804
01:46:38,560 --> 01:46:42,479
Response and approximately 126 million of that

1805
01:46:42,479 --> 01:46:47,880
was HSD funding allocated to the King County Regional Homeless Authority.

1806
01:46:47,920 --> 01:46:50,940
126 million.

1807
01:46:50,940 --> 01:46:55,460
The 228 million doesn't necessarily tell us the entire story.

1808
01:46:55,460 --> 01:46:56,780
What we're spending,

1809
01:46:56,780 --> 01:46:59,760
and I want to make sure that it doesn't matter what we're spending.

1810
01:46:59,760 --> 01:47:01,680
I want to make sure that we have the outcomes.

1811
01:47:01,680 --> 01:47:03,720
If you told me Joy, if we need to double that,

1812
01:47:03,720 --> 01:47:06,500
to make sure that people aren't experiencing homelessness, I'd say,

1813
01:47:06,500 --> 01:47:09,800
great, show me how we're going to get there.

1814
01:47:09,800 --> 01:47:15,720
And I also want to thank our Seattle Public Utilities because they introduced

1815
01:47:15,720 --> 01:47:21,400
a program where they provide wastewater pumping for services for people living in RVs,

1816
01:47:21,400 --> 01:47:22,760
because without those services,

1817
01:47:22,760 --> 01:47:24,480
sewage can spill onto the streets.

1818
01:47:24,480 --> 01:47:26,000
Drainage and systems.

1819
01:47:26,000 --> 01:47:27,940
And when they did that program,

1820
01:47:27,940 --> 01:47:33,380
it went down 72% after the wastewater pumping program began, RVs,

1821
01:47:33,380 --> 01:47:37,119
the the spillage associated with RVs

1822
01:47:37,119 --> 01:47:41,680
declined 72% after wastewater pumping program began,

1823
01:47:41,680 --> 01:47:43,520
which I think is phenomenal.

1824
01:47:43,520 --> 01:47:49,900
In 2024, Seattle Fire recorded over 19,000 homelessness related emergency incidents.

1825
01:47:49,900 --> 01:47:52,420
That's 52 incidents every single day.

1826
01:47:52,420 --> 01:47:54,160
Over 8000 were medical,

1827
01:47:54,160 --> 01:47:57,039
3000 were fired and 5000 were people

1828
01:47:57,039 --> 01:48:00,040
with good intent calls just checking on their neighbors.

1829
01:48:00,040 --> 01:48:05,960
That's why I'm incredibly grateful that we are refunding the fire department.

1830
01:48:05,960 --> 01:48:07,240
Thank you, Councilmember Rivera,

1831
01:48:07,240 --> 01:48:10,340
for sponsoring that and the chair for putting it in,

1832
01:48:10,340 --> 01:48:11,800
because over time,

1833
01:48:11,800 --> 01:48:14,280
even though it's labeled as overtime, it's not overtime.

1834
01:48:14,280 --> 01:48:17,800
It's crucial time because if we didn't have it,

1835
01:48:17,800 --> 01:48:19,760
if we did not have that funding, you know,

1836
01:48:19,760 --> 01:48:21,239
who's getting not getting responded

1837
01:48:21,239 --> 01:48:24,360
to the people that are experiencing homelessness right now,

1838
01:48:24,360 --> 01:48:26,640
they will suffer the most.

1839
01:48:26,640 --> 01:48:30,200
That brings me to the King County Regional Homeless Authority,

1840
01:48:30,200 --> 01:48:31,960
because all of this matters.

1841
01:48:31,960 --> 01:48:33,760
I know we're talking about this legislation,

1842
01:48:33,760 --> 01:48:35,800
but it's a bigger piece here,

1843
01:48:35,800 --> 01:48:36,920
and I want to be respectful.

1844
01:48:36,920 --> 01:48:39,659
But I also want to be clear that the execution

1845
01:48:39,659 --> 01:48:43,040
of our regional homeless authority has been deeply disappointing,

1846
01:48:43,040 --> 01:48:46,119
and we created a regional system because we believe

1847
01:48:46,119 --> 01:48:49,160
that working together would help us coordinate resources,

1848
01:48:49,160 --> 01:48:53,200
improve outcomes, and respond more effectively to homelessness.

1849
01:48:53,200 --> 01:48:56,980
And what we've seen has been a complete disaster.

1850
01:48:56,980 --> 01:48:58,200
We've seen money wasted.

1851
01:48:58,200 --> 01:49:00,360
We see staff time go down the drain.

1852
01:49:00,360 --> 01:49:03,600
We've seen community partnerships disappear.

1853
01:49:03,600 --> 01:49:06,980
We've seen people spend years of political capital.

1854
01:49:06,980 --> 01:49:09,460
And that's very disappointing.

1855
01:49:09,460 --> 01:49:15,840
And we still have people living in RVs without stable sanitation and pathways to housing.

1856
01:49:15,840 --> 01:49:17,880
We also still have people experiencing

1857
01:49:17,880 --> 01:49:20,400
incredible mental health and substance use challenges.

1858
01:49:20,400 --> 01:49:24,160
Without consistent access to services they need.

1859
01:49:24,160 --> 01:49:25,940
Do we call it substance use disorder?

1860
01:49:25,940 --> 01:49:27,100
Do you call it addiction?

1861
01:49:27,100 --> 01:49:32,120
I see people arguing at the table about these things instead of the outcomes.

1862
01:49:32,120 --> 01:49:36,740
It might make us feel good about allocating millions of dollars, but without outcomes.

1863
01:49:36,740 --> 01:49:38,980
Now that is cruel and inhumane.

1864
01:49:38,980 --> 01:49:40,660
Without outcomes.

1865
01:49:40,660 --> 01:49:43,640
That to me is cruel and inhumane because

1866
01:49:43,640 --> 01:49:46,840
I think about another person who could have received shelter,

1867
01:49:46,840 --> 01:49:50,420
another family that could have received support,

1868
01:49:50,420 --> 01:49:52,720
another person who could have received treatment,

1869
01:49:52,720 --> 01:49:56,220
another opportunity to move someone into stable housing.

1870
01:49:56,220 --> 01:49:59,520
And honestly, no matter how this vote turns out,

1871
01:49:59,520 --> 01:50:02,680
personally, I just want outcomes.

1872
01:50:02,680 --> 01:50:04,380
I just want to see people,

1873
01:50:04,380 --> 01:50:08,520
us moving in the right direction as a council and the mayor's office,

1874
01:50:08,520 --> 01:50:10,620
because right now we are not.

1875
01:50:10,620 --> 01:50:12,120
And let's be real, you guys,

1876
01:50:12,120 --> 01:50:15,480
we cannot place all the challenges on Mayor Wilson in this administration.

1877
01:50:15,480 --> 01:50:19,840
This has been going on for years, for years.

1878
01:50:19,840 --> 01:50:23,040
Okay. And we've been watching it.

1879
01:50:23,040 --> 01:50:27,960
And then people are frustrated and we've reached a breaking point.

1880
01:50:27,960 --> 01:50:31,480
And this has been going on through multiple generations,

1881
01:50:31,480 --> 01:50:34,320
multiple generations, administrations,

1882
01:50:34,320 --> 01:50:37,380
multiple budgets, and multiple approaches.

1883
01:50:37,380 --> 01:50:43,480
But I do believe that we have to move beyond intentions and focus on executions.

1884
01:50:43,480 --> 01:50:47,520
So I do respect folks that come up.

1885
01:50:47,520 --> 01:50:52,160
I do respect that my colleagues have different perspective on this legislation,

1886
01:50:52,160 --> 01:50:56,660
but I also believe that when we raise concerns about potential harms of a policy,

1887
01:50:56,660 --> 01:51:01,800
we must equally be willing to confront the harm that is happening under the status quo.

1888
01:51:01,800 --> 01:51:03,160
That is what's important.

1889
01:51:03,160 --> 01:51:05,720
We can't be selective recognizing suffering.

1890
01:51:05,720 --> 01:51:07,360
We can't be selective on that.

1891
01:51:07,360 --> 01:51:11,280
You have to be able to hold up a mirror to the current situation.

1892
01:51:11,280 --> 01:51:13,460
That's what's happening in Seattle,

1893
01:51:13,460 --> 01:51:16,240
and you can't let accountability be oppression.

1894
01:51:16,240 --> 01:51:17,440
That's not what it is.

1895
01:51:17,440 --> 01:51:19,160
But you got to talk about the status quo.

1896
01:51:19,160 --> 01:51:20,240
And let me close with this.

1897
01:51:20,240 --> 01:51:22,360
I was at the grocery store the other day,

1898
01:51:22,360 --> 01:51:25,920
and there was a woman with a baby standing outside with her children,

1899
01:51:25,920 --> 01:51:27,500
asking for a couple dollars,

1900
01:51:27,500 --> 01:51:28,620
asking to be seen,

1901
01:51:28,620 --> 01:51:29,880
asking to be help.

1902
01:51:29,880 --> 01:51:33,960
And I think about the hundreds of millions of dollars that we invest in this city.

1903
01:51:33,960 --> 01:51:35,120
And I ask myself,

1904
01:51:35,120 --> 01:51:37,260
why isn't that investment reaching her?

1905
01:51:37,260 --> 01:51:41,000
And why is it when I raise that question,

1906
01:51:41,000 --> 01:51:44,360
why am I then targeted as bad?

1907
01:51:44,360 --> 01:51:47,060
Why is it why are you asking that?

1908
01:51:47,060 --> 01:51:49,560
Why are oh, you're anti this?

1909
01:51:49,560 --> 01:51:53,600
No, I want to know why she is still in that position,

1910
01:51:53,600 --> 01:51:54,960
why we cannot help.

1911
01:51:54,960 --> 01:51:58,319
Why are we still in so many seeing so many people struggle in

1912
01:51:58,319 --> 01:52:01,980
a city where resources and capacity that Seattle has.

1913
01:52:01,980 --> 01:52:04,520
Those are questions that should keep us all focused.

1914
01:52:04,520 --> 01:52:05,820
Because at the end of the day,

1915
01:52:05,820 --> 01:52:07,239
like they say in love and hip hop,

1916
01:52:07,239 --> 01:52:09,399
at the end of the day, the people experiencing

1917
01:52:09,399 --> 01:52:11,880
homelessness are the ones paying the price.

1918
01:52:11,880 --> 01:52:14,519
When we, the government, do not deliver.

1919
01:52:14,519 --> 01:52:16,860
So we will continue to build shelter.

1920
01:52:16,860 --> 01:52:19,079
I'll continue to support my colleagues in that effort.

1921
01:52:19,079 --> 01:52:21,199
I'll continue to support the mayor in that effort.

1922
01:52:21,199 --> 01:52:23,419
I voted yes to support the bill.

1923
01:52:23,419 --> 01:52:25,159
I'm still going to support that.

1924
01:52:25,159 --> 01:52:29,560
Yes, today because I want a solution no matter what we call it.

1925
01:52:29,560 --> 01:52:31,419
I don't care if we call it Vrap.

1926
01:52:31,419 --> 01:52:36,459
I don't care if it's called getting people straight into RV to homes.

1927
01:52:36,459 --> 01:52:37,940
I don't care what we call it.

1928
01:52:37,940 --> 01:52:39,239
Councilmember Strauss.

1929
01:52:39,239 --> 01:52:42,139
I just want to see people be able to get help

1930
01:52:42,139 --> 01:52:45,199
that they need so we can solve these problems,

1931
01:52:45,199 --> 01:52:47,720
rather than us have these political discussions.

1932
01:52:47,720 --> 01:52:49,139
Because the reality is,

1933
01:52:49,139 --> 01:52:54,179
is that those people on the street that are suffering today, they deserve better.

1934
01:52:54,179 --> 01:52:55,479
Seattle deserves better.

1935
01:52:55,479 --> 01:52:57,259
We can do so much better.

1936
01:52:57,259 --> 01:53:00,139
And as the council that has the power of the purse,

1937
01:53:00,139 --> 01:53:03,319
you know, we can continue to put our money where our mouth is.

1938
01:53:03,319 --> 01:53:05,279
But we also need execution.

1939
01:53:05,279 --> 01:53:08,800
And on that is going to take all of us and our mayor's office as well.

1940
01:53:08,800 --> 01:53:12,119
So I appreciate the time, colleagues.

1941
01:53:12,119 --> 01:53:13,319
Those are my comments.

1942
01:53:13,319 --> 01:53:14,859
And I will turn this over to

1943
01:53:14,859 --> 01:53:17,640
Councilmember Strauss for your closing remarks before we take a vote.

1944
01:53:17,640 --> 01:53:19,920
Councilmember Strauss thank you, Council President.

1945
01:53:19,920 --> 01:53:23,740
I agree it doesn't matter what we call it or how we you know,

1946
01:53:23,740 --> 01:53:25,039
who takes credit for what.

1947
01:53:25,039 --> 01:53:29,039
It's about getting outcomes for the people of Seattle.

1948
01:53:29,039 --> 01:53:30,439
Whether you live in your vehicle,

1949
01:53:30,439 --> 01:53:31,800
whether you live in an RV,

1950
01:53:31,800 --> 01:53:33,359
whether you live in a home,

1951
01:53:33,359 --> 01:53:35,139
whether you rent or own,

1952
01:53:35,139 --> 01:53:39,799
it is our duty to get outcomes delivered to Seattleites.

1953
01:53:39,799 --> 01:53:42,739
The legislation before US centers, humans.

1954
01:53:42,739 --> 01:53:50,000
It's based on proven models that I've worked on before these,

1955
01:53:50,000 --> 01:53:54,799
and something that we have to be really real is that the real families being

1956
01:53:54,799 --> 01:54:00,099
used hypothetically aren't being served because our outreach,

1957
01:54:00,099 --> 01:54:04,679
our resources and our shelter that is designed for people who live in

1958
01:54:04,679 --> 01:54:10,119
their vehicles is inadequately funded or staffed,

1959
01:54:10,119 --> 01:54:13,619
period, even compared to street homelessness.

1960
01:54:13,619 --> 01:54:17,479
I've heard advocates in these last few weeks say that we shouldn't be spending

1961
01:54:17,479 --> 01:54:19,979
this money on vehicle residents because

1962
01:54:19,979 --> 01:54:23,840
other parts of our homeless response system needs help.

1963
01:54:27,439 --> 01:54:29,960
This is so inappropriate,

1964
01:54:29,960 --> 01:54:32,520
I don't even know where to begin.

1965
01:54:32,840 --> 01:54:38,079
This is we have to be properly funding and

1966
01:54:38,079 --> 01:54:45,439
supporting addressing homelessness for people who live in their vehicles.

1967
01:54:45,439 --> 01:54:48,039
Our current system is failing and doing nothing.

1968
01:54:48,039 --> 01:54:50,300
Is is not an option.

1969
01:54:50,300 --> 01:54:56,319
The mayor's task force can even occur with a veto override.

1970
01:54:56,359 --> 01:55:03,359
60 days from her veto and executive order is January 3rd.

1971
01:55:03,520 --> 01:55:06,960
I expect to receive that report by January 15th.

1972
01:55:06,960 --> 01:55:10,260
And yes, I'm given a couple days for editing if they'd like.

1973
01:55:10,260 --> 01:55:15,239
I state this because to say that

1974
01:55:15,239 --> 01:55:21,279
a vote today to sustain the veto is a vote for a new path is duplicitous,

1975
01:55:21,279 --> 01:55:24,519
in my opinion, because that report can be

1976
01:55:24,519 --> 01:55:28,599
provided before the even before the check and adjust

1977
01:55:28,599 --> 01:55:32,419
Period is halfway over.

1978
01:55:32,419 --> 01:55:36,680
The concerns that I've heard from advocates that this is too expensive.

1979
01:55:36,680 --> 01:55:38,760
It's complex, it's cruel, it's punitive,

1980
01:55:38,760 --> 01:55:41,479
are the same things that I've heard from Republicans

1981
01:55:41,479 --> 01:55:44,199
when they are talking about tiny home villages,

1982
01:55:44,199 --> 01:55:46,479
medically assisted treatment at shelters,

1983
01:55:46,479 --> 01:55:49,600
focusing shelters on complex homelessness,

1984
01:55:49,600 --> 01:55:53,519
and the same concerns that I heard when we were having

1985
01:55:53,519 --> 01:55:57,760
those original meetings that led to the neighborhood Impact framework.

1986
01:55:57,760 --> 01:55:59,919
Seattle needs leadership to both address

1987
01:55:59,919 --> 01:56:03,039
outstanding concerns and to move forward together.

1988
01:56:03,039 --> 01:56:06,019
Today. Not tomorrow,

1989
01:56:06,019 --> 01:56:08,600
not 60 days from now.

1990
01:56:08,920 --> 01:56:14,380
We need to do better for the people living in our vehicles and for our entire community.

1991
01:56:14,380 --> 01:56:17,279
I'm glad that my 11 months,

1992
01:56:17,279 --> 01:56:21,699
more than 11 months of work has resulted in our city

1993
01:56:21,699 --> 01:56:24,359
centering humans and people who live

1994
01:56:24,359 --> 01:56:27,459
in their vehicles in a way that has not been done before.

1995
01:56:27,459 --> 01:56:30,439
I'm glad that this these 11 months of work

1996
01:56:30,439 --> 01:56:33,079
has finally made this mayor pay attention to what

1997
01:56:33,079 --> 01:56:39,119
so many Seattleites know is an issue that cannot wait to be addressed.

1998
01:56:39,119 --> 01:56:42,539
Voting to sustain the override.

1999
01:56:42,539 --> 01:56:47,640
Voting to sustain the veto is not a vote for a potential new path,

2000
01:56:47,640 --> 01:56:52,319
because the new path can be taken while we override this veto.

2001
01:56:52,560 --> 01:56:57,760
Voting to sustain the veto is voting for the status quo.

2002
01:56:57,760 --> 01:57:03,199
It's voting to plan for a plan and a vote to delay taking action.

2003
01:57:03,199 --> 01:57:06,039
Helping people who have been overlooked,

2004
01:57:06,039 --> 01:57:10,159
under-resourced, and left in the cold.

2005
01:57:10,159 --> 01:57:14,960
With the city turning their back on them and voting to sustain the veto.

2006
01:57:14,960 --> 01:57:17,279
Today is a vote to stand in the middle of

2007
01:57:17,279 --> 01:57:23,340
a street on a day when we need to be taking action.

2008
01:57:23,340 --> 01:57:25,279
We can't just stand.

2009
01:57:25,279 --> 01:57:28,520
We must act. Colleagues,

2010
01:57:28,520 --> 01:57:32,879
I request and request you to take a third thought about it.

2011
01:57:32,879 --> 01:57:39,959
I request you to vote to override the mayor's unnecessary veto and vote to work together.

2012
01:57:39,959 --> 01:57:42,119
Vote to address concerns that we've heard.

2013
01:57:42,119 --> 01:57:46,919
Vote to update regulations and care for the people who live in their RVs in our city

2014
01:57:46,919 --> 01:57:50,359
today vote to move forward together and not

2015
01:57:50,359 --> 01:57:54,179
standing still in the middle of the road. Thank you colleagues.

2016
01:57:54,179 --> 01:57:56,479
Thank you. Councilmember Strauss.

2017
01:57:56,479 --> 01:57:58,279
If there's no further comments,

2018
01:57:58,279 --> 01:58:00,760
the council will now reconsider passage of Council Bill one,

2019
01:58:00,760 --> 01:58:03,099
two, one, two, eight three oh.

2020
01:58:03,099 --> 01:58:04,479
Point of information.

2021
01:58:04,479 --> 01:58:08,700
Can you clearly articulate how we shall be voting?

2022
01:58:08,700 --> 01:58:11,299
I believe that this is a. Yeah, tell it.

2023
01:58:11,299 --> 01:58:12,580
Tell us everything, please.

2024
01:58:12,580 --> 01:58:13,980
That was the next bullet point.

2025
01:58:13,980 --> 01:58:16,840
Councilmember Strauss. You jumped ahead of me.

2026
01:58:16,840 --> 01:58:18,419
No worries. I got y'all.

2027
01:58:18,419 --> 01:58:21,439
So during roll call, councilmembers will eat.

2028
01:58:21,439 --> 01:58:26,700
This is literally the next bullet point during the roll call,

2029
01:58:26,700 --> 01:58:34,099
Councilmembers will either vote I to pass the bill again and override the mayor's veto,

2030
01:58:34,099 --> 01:58:40,119
or no, to not pass the bill and sustain the mayor's veto.

2031
01:58:40,119 --> 01:58:44,519
A yes is to override the mayor's veto and vote yes on the bill.

2032
01:58:44,519 --> 01:58:47,760
A no is to not pass the bill,

2033
01:58:47,760 --> 01:58:51,100
and that will sustain the mayor's veto.

2034
01:58:51,100 --> 01:58:53,279
Does everyone understand?

2035
01:58:53,279 --> 01:58:55,460
We have a question. Oh, Councilmember Lin.

2036
01:58:55,460 --> 01:58:57,239
Council President Hollingsworth.

2037
01:58:57,239 --> 01:59:00,320
I just want to raise a point of order.

2038
01:59:00,320 --> 01:59:05,000
I do believe we have a rule about not impugning motives of each other.

2039
01:59:05,000 --> 01:59:10,159
And I just heard something about intent being duplicitous.

2040
01:59:10,159 --> 01:59:12,559
And I just want to address that because I do think that

2041
01:59:12,559 --> 01:59:15,119
it is impugning the motive of one of my colleagues,

2042
01:59:15,119 --> 01:59:16,860
and I just want to call that out.

2043
01:59:16,860 --> 01:59:18,559
Thank you, Council President.

2044
01:59:18,559 --> 01:59:21,220
Thank you. Councilmember Lin.

2045
01:59:21,220 --> 01:59:26,399
Okay, so during during the roll call,

2046
01:59:26,399 --> 01:59:33,379
it's I to pass the bill and no to I to pass the bill and override the mayor's veto.

2047
01:59:33,379 --> 01:59:37,220
No, not to pass the bill and sustain the mayor's veto.

2048
01:59:37,220 --> 01:59:44,700
If the if if the reconsideration vote has more than six eyes votes to pass the bill,

2049
01:59:44,700 --> 01:59:47,399
then the bill passes.

2050
01:59:47,399 --> 01:59:49,600
If it doesn't, the mayor's.

2051
01:59:49,600 --> 01:59:51,979
Excuse me. Let me read this again.

2052
01:59:51,979 --> 01:59:58,579
If the reconsideration vote has six or more eyes to votes to pass the bill,

2053
01:59:58,579 --> 01:59:59,840
then the bill passes.

2054
01:59:59,840 --> 02:00:01,600
The mayor's veto will be overridden,

2055
02:00:01,600 --> 02:00:04,819
and the provisions within the bill will go into effect.

2056
02:00:04,819 --> 02:00:08,559
If it. Who wrote

2057
02:00:08,559 --> 02:00:08,569
[LAUGHTER]

2058
02:00:08,569 --> 02:00:09,399
this script?

2059
02:00:09,399 --> 02:00:10,449
[LAUGHTER]

2060
02:00:12,840 --> 02:00:16,479
Okay. Thank you. The reconsider.

2061
02:00:16,479 --> 02:00:21,859
If the reconsideration vote is tied or has less than six eyes,

2062
02:00:21,859 --> 02:00:24,960
the bill will fail and the mayor's veto will be sustained.

2063
02:00:24,960 --> 02:00:28,079
So, look, it needs six or more votes, okay?

2064
02:00:28,079 --> 02:00:31,159
To to override the mayor's veto.

2065
02:00:31,159 --> 02:00:32,820
Anything less than six.

2066
02:00:32,820 --> 02:00:34,940
The mayor's veto is sustained.

2067
02:00:34,940 --> 02:00:36,960
Okay.

2068
02:00:36,960 --> 02:00:38,799
Does everyone understand that?

2069
02:00:38,799 --> 02:00:43,039
Did I make it clear? Okay. Sorry. This script I oh, you wrote

2070
02:00:43,039 --> 02:00:43,049
[LAUGHTER]

2071
02:00:43,049 --> 02:00:43,479
this.

2072
02:00:43,479 --> 02:00:43,624
[LAUGHTER]

2073
02:00:43,624 --> 02:00:44,159
Amelia.

2074
02:00:44,159 --> 02:00:44,184
[LAUGHTER]

2075
02:00:44,184 --> 02:00:44,800
I'm sorry.

2076
02:00:44,800 --> 02:00:45,205
[LAUGHTER]

2077
02:00:45,205 --> 02:00:47,039
Okay.

2078
02:00:47,600 --> 02:00:50,840
You're very technical because it's a tongue twister.

2079
02:00:50,840 --> 02:00:53,899
All right? Hearing. No. Are there any other further comments.

2080
02:00:53,899 --> 02:00:55,620
Madam Council president, point of order.

2081
02:00:55,620 --> 02:00:57,019
Yeah. Councilmember Saka.

2082
02:00:57,019 --> 02:01:00,539
First off, just want to acknowledge what Councilmember Lin said a moment ago.

2083
02:01:00,539 --> 02:01:03,159
You know, I, I too took some issue with

2084
02:01:03,159 --> 02:01:07,200
some comments made towards the very end of this conversation.

2085
02:01:07,200 --> 02:01:09,560
And, you know, the Seattle,

2086
02:01:09,560 --> 02:01:12,360
passive aggressive, subtle slights.

2087
02:01:12,360 --> 02:01:16,079
Let's disagree on the on the merits, but Councilmember Strauss,

2088
02:01:16,079 --> 02:01:17,799
if you have a problem with me,

2089
02:01:17,799 --> 02:01:21,279
I promise you, you I'm not the one.

2090
02:01:21,279 --> 02:01:23,099
You can take it up with me directly.

2091
02:01:23,099 --> 02:01:25,479
Our offices are right next to each other.

2092
02:01:25,479 --> 02:01:30,059
I'm open for a conversation anytime. Let's avoid.

2093
02:01:30,059 --> 02:01:32,219
Let's let's focus on the issues,

2094
02:01:32,219 --> 02:01:35,039
the merits of the issues have vigorous disagreements.

2095
02:01:35,039 --> 02:01:36,919
I understand and respect that.

2096
02:01:36,919 --> 02:01:40,880
But do not, under any circumstances, impugn my motives.

2097
02:01:40,880 --> 02:01:44,599
My character, or my integrity.

2098
02:01:44,599 --> 02:01:46,239
I don't do that to anyone else.

2099
02:01:46,239 --> 02:01:49,439
Do not do it to me. Thank you.

2100
02:01:49,439 --> 02:01:52,439
Thank you, Councilmember Saka Councilmember Strauss.

2101
02:01:52,439 --> 02:01:54,079
Thank you. And thank you, colleagues,

2102
02:01:54,079 --> 02:01:55,359
for bringing this up.

2103
02:01:55,359 --> 02:01:56,960
I will just state that this is,

2104
02:01:56,960 --> 02:01:58,239
in my opinion,

2105
02:01:58,239 --> 02:02:01,159
that two things can't be true at the same time.

2106
02:02:01,159 --> 02:02:04,039
And this is really centered in regarding

2107
02:02:04,039 --> 02:02:10,579
the mayor's task force that is stated to occur within 60 days.

2108
02:02:10,579 --> 02:02:16,220
That is, within the same period of the check and adjust work group.

2109
02:02:16,220 --> 02:02:20,059
And that's why it is not intending to impugn motives.

2110
02:02:20,059 --> 02:02:24,399
It is intended to speak to fact that the period of time that we

2111
02:02:24,399 --> 02:02:30,359
have to make adjustments to this legislation is longer than 60 days,

2112
02:02:30,359 --> 02:02:33,680
and both can be accomplished.

2113
02:02:33,680 --> 02:02:38,739
That is why I'm speaking to fact and not to motives. Thank you.

2114
02:02:38,739 --> 02:02:41,720
Thank you. Councilmember Strauss.

2115
02:02:41,720 --> 02:02:46,760
All right. We couldn't get through the meeting without a clip on the internet, y'all.

2116
02:02:46,760 --> 02:02:49,800
So I'm all right.

2117
02:02:49,800 --> 02:02:53,059
I appreciate everyone's remarks.

2118
02:02:53,059 --> 02:02:54,999
Okay. Everybody's cool.

2119
02:02:54,999 --> 02:02:56,940
And I also,

2120
02:02:56,940 --> 02:02:58,219
before we take this vote,

2121
02:02:58,219 --> 02:03:01,319
I just want to say I enjoy working with everyone here.

2122
02:03:01,319 --> 02:03:02,979
So thank you all.

2123
02:03:02,979 --> 02:03:07,740
And let's go ahead and take the vote on Council bill one,

2124
02:03:07,740 --> 02:03:10,359
two, one, two, eight three.

2125
02:03:11,039 --> 02:03:13,059
Councilmember Strauss.

2126
02:03:13,059 --> 02:03:14,059
Yes.

2127
02:03:14,059 --> 02:03:15,539
Councilmember Foster.

2128
02:03:15,539 --> 02:03:16,579
No.

2129
02:03:16,579 --> 02:03:18,260
Councilmember Juarez.

2130
02:03:18,260 --> 02:03:19,339
Yes.

2131
02:03:19,339 --> 02:03:22,800
Councilmember Kettle. I Councilmember Lin.

2132
02:03:22,800 --> 02:03:23,799
No.

2133
02:03:23,799 --> 02:03:25,179
Councilmember Rinck.

2134
02:03:25,179 --> 02:03:26,120
No.

2135
02:03:26,120 --> 02:03:28,399
Councilmember Rivera aye.

2136
02:03:28,399 --> 02:03:32,740
Councilmember Saka. Nay. Council President. Hollingsworth.

2137
02:03:32,740 --> 02:03:33,879
Yes.

2138
02:03:33,879 --> 02:03:35,740
Five in favor four opposed.

2139
02:03:35,740 --> 02:03:39,759
The bill fails and the mayor's veto is sustained. If we

2140
02:03:39,759 --> 02:03:39,770
[APPLAUSE]

2141
02:03:39,770 --> 02:03:43,600
could if we could just hold our claps.

2142
02:03:43,600 --> 02:03:45,119
I know there's a couple people.

2143
02:03:45,119 --> 02:03:46,199
Thank you. All right.

2144
02:03:46,199 --> 02:03:48,840
So now we reach the end of our.

2145
02:03:48,840 --> 02:03:50,039
Today's agenda.

2146
02:03:50,039 --> 02:03:52,959
Is there any further business to come before the council.

2147
02:03:52,959 --> 02:03:58,980
So the next City council meeting is scheduled for tentatively November, November 17th.

2148
02:03:58,980 --> 02:04:02,119
The City Council will hold a special meeting on November 20th at

2149
02:04:02,119 --> 02:04:05,520
1 p.m. To consider final votes on proposed budget hearing.

2150
02:04:05,520 --> 02:04:07,000
No further business. We are adjourned.

2151
02:04:07,000 --> 02:04:08,840
Thank you all.

2152
02:04:08,840 --> 02:04:10,359
Thank you.

2153
02:04:24,640 --> 02:04:34,649
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

2154
02:04:40,640 --> 02:04:42,649
[MUSIC]

2155
02:04:48,640 --> 02:04:58,649
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

2156
02:11:04,240 --> 02:11:14,250
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
