GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU ALL.
THIS IS THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND IT'S 1:36 PM.
THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HEARING SERVICES EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND RENTERS RIGHTS OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I WILL READ A STATEMENT FROM MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBER, I COUNCILMEMBER
WHEREAS WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY'S HEARING DUE TO A PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED COMMITMENT.
MY DISTRICT MEMBER IS HERE TO MAKE SURE YOU FEEL HEARD.
AS YOU ARE COUNCILMEMBER, I AM COMMITTED TO HELPING SENIORS AND MAKING SURE THAT OTHER
-- OTHERS CAN AGE WITH DIGNITY AND HOUSING SECURITY.
I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO REMEDY THIS INFORMATION.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO YOU ON MANY EMAILS AND CALLS OVER THE YEARS AND SINCE
THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CONCERN YOU'VE SHARED WITH ME , I COUNCILMEMBER WHEREAS HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH HOUSING EXPERTS
JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW IN TERMS OF THE RULES, IT'S
NOT THAT ONLY MEMBERS CAN SHOW UP TO A COMMITTEE.
ANY COUNCILMEMBER CAN ATTEND ANY COMMITTEE MEETING , SO I WELCOME ANY COUNCILMEMBER WHO
WANTS TO JOIN US SO IF THEY WANT TO JOIN US LATER, THAT WILL BE AWESOME.
WE HAVE ONE VERY IMPORTANT ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA: FIGHTING BACK AGAINST DISPLACEMENT
AND EVICTION, AND QUITE POSSIBLY IMPENDING HOMELESSNESS OF MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNERS , IN
PARTICULAR THE RESIDENCE OF THIS MOBILE HOME PARK.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH A GROUP OF RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE MANUFACTURED HOMES AT THIS
MOBILE HOME PARK IN NORTH SEATTLE.
THIS PARK HOUSES SENIORS 55 YEARS OR OVER , MANY OF WHOM HAVE SPENT DECADES IN THE COMMUNITY
AND HAVE NOT ONLY PUT IN THAT TIME BUT ALSO BUILT IN THE CAN --BUILT THE COMMUNITY FROM
THE GROUND UP AND FOR THEM TO BE EVICTED FROM THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE TOTALLY DEVASTATING
AND I SHOULD SAY IN GENERAL THAT ANY RENTER OR HOMEOWNER IS EVICTED OR PRICED OUT OF THE
TENANCY IN SEATTLE, IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE, THE WAY THE
HOUSING MARKET IS GOING THESE DAYS WITH BOTH HOME PRICES AND RENTS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE
REACH OF MOST OF US.
LET'S FACE IT.
IT'S NOT JUST THOSE RESIDENTS THAT ARE FACING THIS CRISIS.
IT IS REGIONWIDE AND MOST OF US, MANY OF US WHO USED TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS MIDDLE-
CLASS FOLKS, WE ARE NOW FACING THE BRUNT OF THIS CRISIS, NOT TO MENTION THOSE WHO ARE
ALREADY HOMELESS AND FACING A TRULY DEVASTATING EXPERIENCE, BUT ON TOP OF THAT , THE RESIDENCE
--RESIDENT PLAYERS ARE ONLY MANUFACTURED HOMES BUT AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF NO LONGER MOBILE
AND MAYBE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IF YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT IT THAN I DO SO THERE'S A REAL
POSSIBILITY OF LOSING ALL THE EQUITY YOU HAVE AND IN SUPPORT UPON INJURY -- INSULT UPON
INJURY YOU ALSO HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT DEMOLISHED.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE TO LIVE IN THE VERY UNLIVABLE MARKET OF SEATTLE,
AFTER JUST HAVING LOST THEIR HOME . AS AN ELECTIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF SEATTLE'S WORKING
PEOPLE AND SOME WHO CARES PASSIONATELY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS, I THINK IF THE CITY COUNCIL, IF POLITICIANS IN THE CITY WANT TO HAVE ANY LOGICAL, SENSIBLE,
NOT TO MENTION JUST AND COMPASSIONATE OUTLOOK ON THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS IN THE CITY, THEN I THINK TENANT NUMBER ONE SHOULD BE DO NO HARM .
[ APPLAUSE ] IN OTHER WORDS , IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SOLVING THIS ACUTE CRISIS IN OUR CITY,
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO MAKE THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY HOUSED HOMELESS . THAT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER
. AND AS WE WILL SEE LATER IN THE COMMITTEE , THERE ARE LEGAL , LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS THE
COUNCIL CAN ENACT TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENCE STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THAT THE COMMUNITY
STAYS INTACT AND THE QUESTION IS ONE OF POLITICAL WILL AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT
ORDINARY PEOPLE, NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS AT THIS PARK BUT OTHERS IN SOLIDARITY HERE WITH
THEM TO SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT
AS WE BUILD THIS STRUGGLE, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE, BOTH OWNERS AND RENTERS,
TO SPEAK UP IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE HALCYON RESIDENTS.
THIS PROBLEM HAS ARISEN BECAUSE THE ERSTWHILE HOMEOWNER --OWNER OF THE PROPERTY PASSED AWAY
AND THIS PROPERTY IS NOW IN TRUST CONTROLLED BY U.S. BANK . U.S. BANK IS, OF COURSE AS
WE KNOW A BIG FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ORDINARY PEOPLE . I THINK THAT'S
A FAIRLY UNCONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT TO MAKE THAT EVERYBODY CAN AGREE WITH , WHICH IS IN
THE PROCESS OF SELLING THE PROPERTY TO A DEVELOPER . SO COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL NOW HAVE TO DECIDE
WHOSE SIDE THEY ARE ON.
DOES HALCYON AND THE REST OF THE CITY BELONG TO U.S. BANK , REAL ESTATE SPECULATORS AND
CORPORATE DEVELOPERS , WHO SEE HOUSING AS NOTHING MORE THAN A PROFIT-MAKING INSTRUMENT?
OR DOES THIS HALCYON COMMUNITY AND THE CITY BELONG TO THE HUMAN BEINGS WHO LIVE HERE AND
MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES HAPPEN?
RIGHT?
[ APPLAUSE ] >> WE KNOW, YOU AND I KNOW WHICH SIDE WE ARE ON.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE POSE THAT QUESTION TREVOR BUT HE ALSO ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
WE WELCOME EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN CITY HALL TO STAND WITH US, BECAUSE THAT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT.
ON THE TECHNICAL FRONT, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CITIES --CITY COUNCIL . THEY
ALWAYS WORK HARD , AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS ONE AS WELL TO HELP US IDENTIFY SOME NEXT STEPS THAT WE
CAN USE TO SAVE THESE HOMES.
LUCKILY, RESIDENTS OF MOBILE HOME PARKS HAVE FOUGHT FOR AND WON SIMILAR VICTORIES IN OTHER
PLACES AND REALLY QUICK NOT TO GET TOO TECHNICAL AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE WE WANT TO HEAR THE
STORIES BUT JUST TO OUTLINE WHAT STEPS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AS
INITIAL STEPS, ONE, PLACING A MORATORIUM ON REDEVELOPMENT OF ANY MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS
SO THAT WE CAN FIRST --QUICKLY PREVENT THE SALE TO THE CORPORATE DEVELOPERS SO THAT WE
CAN THEN TAKE THE NEXT STEPS, SO THAT'S ONE PART OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO GOING FORWARD.
AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THE CITY COUNCIL IS ALSO CONSIDERING SOMETHING THAT IS ACTUALLY
IN SOME SENSE UNRELATED, WHICH IS THE MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY LEGISLATION, WHICH TALKS
ABOUT OVERALL UP ZONING IN THE CITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE FLOORS IN THE CITY
, TO CREATE HOMES FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING INTO THE CITY, SO I WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR: ON THE WHOLE, MY OFFICE IS COMPLETELY IN SUPPORT OF WHAT WE CALL UP ZONING , BUT
WE ALSO AGAIN, WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT UP ZONING OR ANY OTHER POLICY RELATED TO HOUSING
, TENANT NUMBER ONE IS DO NO HARM, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS PROPERTY AND ALSO ANOTHER
IN JOINING PROPERTY --ADJOINING PROPERTY, THAT NEITHER OF THESE GETS UP- ZONED BECAUSE
WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO DOWN-ZONE IT AGAIN SO LET'S KEEP IT INTACT FOR NOW.
THERE WILL BE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT SHOULD BE COMING FORWARD FROM MY OFFICE VERY
SOON, AS SOON AS WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK ON IT WITH THE INCREDIBLE HELP OF STAFF AND THOSE
ARE CONCRETE THINGS WE SHOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR WITH OTHER COUNSEL OFFICES AS WELL , BUT
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU THE MOST EXCITING THING ABOUT IT FOR ME IS THAT WE ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING
NEW.
WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE . SO ONE OTHER FACT THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE WITH YOU, WHICH IS ALSO IN THE STAFF MEMO AND DO PEOPLE HAVE COPIES OF THE CENTRAL
STAFF MEMO?
PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE THAT IF YOU WANT AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH COPIES, WE SHOULD BRING
THEM . BUT IT TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A MORATORIUM . IN PREVIOUS
YEARS, FROM 88 --1998 --1988 TO 1990 THEY ADOPTED A MORATORIUM ON THE REDEVELOPMENT
OF MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS , WITH THE SAME IDEA, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP IS MAINTAINED, SO WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING NEW HERE.
THE SECOND IDEA WE HAD, WHICH WAS TO DESIGNATE THESE MOBILE HOME PARKS WITH THEIR OWN ZONING
DESIGNATION, AGAIN, WE CANNOT CLAIM CREDIT FOR THAT IDEA BECAUSE IT'S BEEN DONE IN OTHER
CITIES AND THE MOST EXCITING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT ONLY IN AUGUST, AS RECENTLY AS AUGUST
OF LAST YEAR, PORTLAND OREGON WHICH IS IN OUR REGION, PORTLAND, OREGON, HAD A UNANIMOUS
CITY COUNCIL VOTE DESIGNATING 56 OUT OF THE 57 MOBILE HOME PARKS IN THEIR CITY WITH THEIR
OWN DESIGNATION, WHICH GOES A LONG WAY IN PROTECTING THOSE HOMES AND WE WANT TO DO THE
SAME THING HERE.
DOES THAT SOUND GOOD?
SO I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THESE LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN TRIED BEFORE IS ACTUALLY
A GOOD THING FOR US, BECAUSE THEN NO POLITICIAN CAN SAY, WELL, THIS IS A NEW THING OR WE ARE
IN THIS NEW TERRITORY AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
WE SEEN THE PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL VOTE UNANIMOUSLY ON SOMETHING SIMILAR . LET'S DO THIS IN SEATTLE
AS WELL, BUT THESE ARE NEXT STEPS, NOT FOR TODAY . I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT FOR TODAY
BUT WE WILL HAVE THE LEGISLATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
FOR NOW, WE WILL PIVOT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE NORMALLY DON'T HAVE VERY MANY PEOPLE TESTIFYING, SO WE HAVE TWO MINUTES ASSIGNED FOR EACH SPEAKER,
BUT SINCE WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE, BOTH RESIDENTS AND SUPPORTERS SPEAKING TODAY, WE WILL ALLOCATE
90 SECONDS TO EACH SPEAKER IF THAT'S OKAY . TED WILL CALL OUT THE NAMES AND PLEASE WATCH
THE TIMERS HERE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU WRAP UP WITHIN TIME, AND SO THAT THE SPEAKER
AFTER YOU CAN ALSO SPEAK . TED, DO YOU WANT TO START?
MAYOR, THERE ARE 15 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FRONT FOR PEOPLE -- PUBLIC COMMENT .
IF YOU ARE ON DECK , THERE ARE TWO MINOR -- MICROPHONES AND YOU CAN LINE UP SO THAT YOU ARE READY
BEHIND EITHER ONE TO GO NEXT .
I JUST WANTED TO ALSO QUICKLY THANKED THE INTERPRETERS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS ROOM, SO
PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE INTERPRETERS WHO ARE HELPING.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> ZIEG HEIL MY GARBAGE NAZI RATS.
I HAVE SIX SOLUTIONS.
IN 2008 I BROUGHT A GOVERNMENT CLASS ACTION FOR $100 MILLION AND I WIN.
FOR DISABLED SENIOR CITIZENS . I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS
ALL MY LIFE OR WHAT I'VE LIVED IN SEATTLE WHICH IS ALMOST 35 YEARS SO THE SITUATION
RIGHT NOW --THIS DON'T CHANGE NOTHING.
IT'S PURE PROPAGANDA WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
YOU FIND A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE 50 OR 100 AND TALK ABOUT CHANGE.
BUT YOU NEVER CHANGE FOR THE MIDDLE.
WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM IN THE CITY.
THIS COUNCILMAN FOR FIVE YEARS SHE'S NEVER ONE TIME -- TALKING ABOUT STOPPING [ INDISCERNIBLE
] TALKING ABOUT STOPPING AMAZON , NOW NOBODY WILL TOUCH YOU.
STAND UP, AMERICA .
IMAGING WILLIAMS FOLLOWED BY SARAH JANE SIEGFRIED .
SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE HAD A HOUSING PROBLEM . I WOULD BE IN MEETINGS WITH BETTY AND SHE'S
PRACTICALLY SCREAMING BECAUSE OF THE DESCRIBED --DESTRUCTION OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING . NOT ONLY THAT . WE HAD CITIZENS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THE NEIGHBORS TOOK TURNS TO SIT IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I SAW THE DEVELOPERS GOING IN AND OUT OF THE
INNER OFFICES, BUT NOBODY LISTENED.
THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE THROWN OUT OF THEIR HOMES
OUR AMONG --ARE AMONG THE HOMELESS TODAY, SHIVERING IN A TENT, NO SHOWER, NO BATHROOM,
NO HEAT, NO KITCHEN . NOBODY LISTENED . THIS TIME, I THINK THIS TIME, THEY MIGHT LISTEN
. WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STOP THIS, THIS TIME.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER SAMANT.
I AM SURGING SIEGFRIED, HERE TODAY REPRESENTING PUGET SOUND ADVOCATES FOR RETIREMENT ACTION
. WE ARE SOLIDLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ATTEMPT TO SAVE HALCION MOBILE HOME ESTATES BECAUSE
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW OPTIONS FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING HOMEOWNERSHIP AND CREATING AT GREAT EFFORT , MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERSHIP , AND YET , HERE WE HAVE EXISTING INVESTMENTS BY SENIORS OVER
MANY, MANY YEARS THAT WE ARE READY TO JUST BLOW AWAY.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE . WE NEED LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERSHIP AS PART OF A CONTINUUM OF HOUSING
OPTIONS . WE NEED THIS PARK IN PARTICULAR WHICH IS LOVELY.
I WAS JUST IN PALM SPRINGS FOR A FEW DAYS, VISITING AT A SENIOR HOUSING, MANUFACTURED
HOUSING PARK . THE PERSON, MY FRIEND , BOUGHT THIS 1956 , IT WAS ORIGINALLY A SINGLE WIDE
BUT NOW IT'S A DOUBLE WIDE, AND THEY'VE ADDED TO IT GREATLY, AND YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW.
IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO VISUALIZE HOW LOVELY SOME OF THESE HOMES ARE . THEY ARE WELL CARED
FOR AND ALL KINDS OF BUILT-INS, UPDATED KITCHEN, IN THIS CASE SOMEONE JUST SHARED WITH ME THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAD INVESTED IN THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM . THE CITY HAD COME IN AND PUT IN
INSULATION AND NEW WINDOWS AND LOW ELECTRICITY REFRIGERATOR AND LOW-FLOW TOILET SO WE ARE
THROWING AWAY SO MUCH INVESTMENT BY DOING THIS AND IT'S NOT RECOVERABLE UNLESS WE TAKE
THE STEPS YOU ARE RECOMMENDING.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
AFTER BRENT COMES --I'M HAVING TROUBLE READING THIS NAME . I THINK IT'S CHARLENE , FOLLOWED
BY WESLEY SHEARER .
HELLO, I AM BRENT McFARLAND.
I'M ALSO WITH PUGET SOUND ADVOCATES FOR RETIREMENT HOME ACTION AND I'M ALSO HERE IS THE NEIGHBOR,
HAVING LIVED IN THE BITTER LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT A HALF A MILE FROM THE
HALCION NEIGHBORHOOD , SO I AM HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH NEIGHBORS.
I APPRECIATE NEIGHBORS WHO'VE BEEN IN THE REGION FOR A LONG TIME WHO ARE LOOKING OUT
FOR EACH OTHER.
I THINK THIS IS A CULTURAL PIECE OF OUR SEATTLE DISTRICT THAT WE NEED TO VALUE , AND UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE'S A LONG HISTORY IN NORTH SEATTLE OF NORTH SEATTLE BEING A HAVEN FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING , AND FOR WORKING PEOPLE.
AND FOR LOWER INCOME AND FIXED INCOME PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO ARE LOSING HOUSING ALL OVER
THE PLACE . IF WE CAN RETAIN A STABLE, LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTH SEATTLE, WE REALLY
SHOULD DO IT, SO I APPRECIATE THE IDEAS FOR SPECIAL ZONING FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO SAVE
IT , AND I HOPE THAT MY COUNCILMEMBER WHEREAS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY IS ALSO PAYING
ATTENTION TO THIS.
THANK YOU.
SO NEXT I HAVE, I THINK , CHARLENE MALIN?
THIS IS HER, MARTIN.
I'M A MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNER IN CANYON PARK.
I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE PARK THAT'S BEING UP FOR TAKE -- BEING TAKEN AWAY.
I HAVE LIVED IN MANUFACTURED HOMES FOR OVER 10 YEARS . IT'S THE ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THAT EVEN MYSELF COULD GET . WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PLACES FOR SENIORS.
I AM WATCHING APARTMENTS EVEN IN BOTTLE -- BOTHELL BEING BUILT UP AND WHAT ABOUT THE SENIORS
THAT ARE LOSING HOMES OR ARE GOING TO BE PUT OUT ON THE STREETS?
WE HAVE ENOUGH HOMELESS HERE.
WE NEED TO SAVE OUR HOMES.
WE'VE ALL LIVED THERE FOR QUITE A WHILE , AND, YOU KNOW , I'VE ALSO LIVED IN APARTMENTS . MY
MOM LIVED IN ONE AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I WOULD RATHER HAVE MY HOME THEN TO LIVE IN
AN APARTMENT THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TODAY ON LOW INCOME.
THANK YOU.
AFTER WESLEY COMES THE REVEREND ANGELA YANG FOLLOWED BY REVEREND DAN CAVANAUGH.
MY NAME IS WESLEY SHEARER . I AM SECOND-GENERATION TO MOBILE HOME HALCION.
MY FAMILY HAS LIVED HERE SINCE THE 1970S.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN HALCION SINCE 1999, WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER, LORI ANN, WHO'S LIVED
HERE MOST OF HER LIFE.
I'VE WORKED FOR BUDGET RENT-A- CAR FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND I BELONG TO TEAMSTERS.
WITHOUT TEAMSTERS, IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME ALSO.
I LIVE IN A VERY SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO IS MENTALLY CHALLENGED . RESIDENTS WHO
LIVE HERE ARE LIKE FAMILY AND HELP EACH OTHER.
LORI AND FEELS VERY SECURE HERE , AND I WATCH OVER HERE --HER.
IT'S LIKE SHE HAS AN EXTENDED FAMILY.
I ALSO VOLUNTEER FOR HALCION AS SECURITY TO HELP MAINTAIN A SAFE COMMUNITY FOR OUR CITIZENS
. MOST OF THEM LIVE HERE ON A FIXED INCOME.
MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO MOVE.
THEY COULD BE HOMELESS AND FORCED OUT ON THE STREETS IF THEY HAVE TO LEAVE HALCION MOBILE
HOME PARK.
THE RESIDENTS HERE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DIFFERENT MANAGERS SINCE 2018 THAT HALCION WOULD NEVER
BE SOLD BECAUSE THE PARK IS BUILT ON A LANDFILL AND IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO BUILD ANY SOLID
STRUCTURE LIKE LARGE APARTMENTS OR HOMES AND IT'S VERY UNEVEN AND CONSTANTLY SHIFTS . I
BEG YOU, PLEASE SAVE OUR PLACE . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THE REVEREND ANGELA YANG, FOLLOWED BY DAN CAVANAUGH, FOLLOWED BY REN� McCOY , I THINK.
THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER SAMANT AND ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS WE SEEK A SOLUTION . I
AM REVEREND ANGELA YANG AT BETHANY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.
WE TOGETHER ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE SEATTLE MADE A PROMISE TO ALL THE PEOPLE TO STOP HOMELESSNESS
. FAITH LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, EVERYBODY GATHERED , AND IN 2018 110 HOMELESS PEOPLE
DIED IN KING COUNTY, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE.
110 WHO DID NOT HAVE TO DIE , SO WHY WOULD WE ADD TO THIS?
ENDING HOMELESSNESS MEANS FROM MY CALCULATIONS MEANS THAT LESS PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS , NOT
MORE.
TODAY I AM INCLUDING ALL OF US IN THE WE AND WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE WANT SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY TO KEEP ITS PROMISE AND SAVE A COMMUNITY OF 85 OF ITS BELOVED ELDERS, MENTORS , OCTOGENARIANS,
BELOVED SENIORS WHO HAVE LIVED FAITHFULLY, LOVINGLY, UNSELFISHLY FOR DECADES, PAYING
THEIR TAXES, LIVING THEIR LIVE, WORKING HARD TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE IN THEIR MOBILE
HOME . THEY ARE NOT IN A TOWER.
THEY ARE NOT IN CONDOMINIUMS OR MANSIONS.
NO, THIS IS THEIR MOBILE HOME, WHICH THEY CALL HOME IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, AND LIKE
WESLEY SHARED, THEY'VE DONE NOTHING TO HURT OR DESTROY.
THEY HAVE NOT LIED OR COLLUDED IN ACTS OF HATE OR VIOLENCE.
THEY'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG SO WHY ARE 85 MOBILE HOME ELDERS FACING DISPLACEMENT?
ISN'T IT HARD ENOUGH TO GROW OLD ? CHALLENGING ENOUGH TO GROW OLD?
IT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL OF US, SO LET'S START 2019 RIGHT AND SHOW REAL COMPASSION.
SHOWED JUSTICE TO OUR ELDERS.
LET'S START 2019 BY DOING THE RIGHT THING . 85 SENIORS OF HALCION MOBILE HOME PARK,
A 55+ COMMUNITY OF 85 MOBILE HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS OF NORTH SEATTLE REACHED OUT TO
OUR COUNSEL'S HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
I REPEAT, HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AND WAS CONTACTED BY OUR COMMUNITY ELDERS, SOME OF
WHOM HAVE LIVED THERE FOR DECADES, AND SOME HAVE LIVED THERE WITH HER THREE MONTHS TO
49 YEARS, CALLING THIS THEIR HOME.
THERE'S NO NEED, MY FRIENDS, FOR THEM TO FACE DISPLACEMENT OR HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THE TRUSTEES
OF THE PROPERTY, EXECUTIVES OF U.S. BANK ARE SELLING THE PROPERTY OR SEEKING TO SELL THE
PROPERTY FOR $22 MILLION FOR A FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPER WHO INTENDS TO DEVELOP IT AND REPLACE
THEM WITH MARKET RATE HOUSES THAT NONE OF US WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN.
THERE'S NO NEED TO SHOVE 85 SENIORS ON THE COLD, WET STREETS OF SEATTLE.
NO NEED.
RATHER, IT'S EMBARRASSING FOR THE CITY AND HEARTBREAKING AS WELL, SO LET'S NOT MAKE THIS
HAPPEN.
MANY OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE SHARED WITH ME THAT THEY'VE SHARED THE HOMES -- BUILT THE
HOMES FROM SAVINGS FOR DECADES, WORKING HARD, PAYING TAXES AND LOVING THE COMMUNITY.
A RESIDENT SAID HE MOVED INTO THE MOBILE HOME WITH HIS MOTHER TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MOTHER
IN 1970.
49 YEARS AGO. 85 RESIDENT S, 85 STORIES.
THE WORLD TELLS US THERE IS NO WORLD --ROOM BUT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
PLEASE MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY LETTING OUR BELOVED ELDERS AND MENTORS, OUR BELOVED SENIORS OF
HALCION KEEP THEIR HOMES.
DO NOT ADD TO HOMELESSNESS.
WE TOGETHER CAN MAKE A PROMISE TO END HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE.
THE WORLD TELLS US THERE IS NO ROOM BUT WE KNOW BETTER, THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM.
LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HI, MY NAME IS DAN.
I AM A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.
I THINK THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A STRUGGLE OVER WHO RUNS THE CITY.
BIG BUSINESS OR ORDINARY PEOPLE, RIGHT?
BIG BUSINESS WANTS TO TREAT THE CITY LIKE IT --IT'S AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
AS MUCH PROFIT AS POSSIBLE AND IT DOESN'T MATTER TO THEM THAT SENIORS COULD LOSE THEIR
HOMES BECAUSE ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS MAKING THE MOST MONEY POSSIBLE AND IT'S THE SAME
REASON BIG DEVELOPERS ARE RAISING RENTS AND EVICTING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT WE
THINK THE SENIORS AT HALCION HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR HOMES.
THIS IS THEIR CITY AND THEIR HOMES AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE, NOT BIG BUSINESSES
LIKE U.S. BANK AND I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THE SENIORS AT HALCION BUT ALSO ALL THE SENIORS
AND WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO LIVE IN THIS CITY AND I THINK A VICTORY FOR THE
SENIORS AT HALCION WOULD BE A VICTORY FOR THEM ALL ACROSS THE CITY . I AM PROUD TO STAND
WITH YOU ALL AND I THINK IF WE CAN BUILD A FIGHTING MOVEMENT, I THINK WE CAN WIN AND
TELL BIG BUSINESS THAT THEY DON'T GET TO PUSH PEOPLE AROUND AND TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THEIR
LIVES ARE EXPENDABLE.
AFTER REN� COMES DEVON SILVERDALE
I'M HERE IN SOLITARY -- SOLIDARITY WITH THIS HALCION MOBILE HOMEOWNERSHIP PARK . MY MOM
PASSED IN JULY IT WAS WONDERFUL FOR EVERYBODY.
I CAN IMAGINE IF VANCOUVER WAS DOING THIS WELL, THEY ARE NOT UP ZONING AND DEMANDING
AS MANY HOMES AND MAYBE NOT QUITE THE NEED BUT IT IS AN EXTREMELY LARGE, GROWING CITY
AS WELL . BUT THERE'S NO PLACE FOR ANYONE TO GO . IN ASSISTED LIVING , YOU KNOW HOW
MUCH IT COSTS A MONTH FOR A MINIMUM?
$5000 . WHERE ARE WE GOING TO REPLACE EVERYONE?
WE DON'T HAVE THE PLACE FOR THEM TO LIVE RIGHT NOW , SO THAT'S NOT PART OF THE EQUATION.
SOME OF THEM COULD MAYBE GO INTO ASSISTED LIVING AND THAT'S GOING TO COST THE STATE
A HECK OF A LOT MORE MONEY IN ASSISTED LIVING AND WHAT ABOUT THE MORAL PART OF THIS?
WHERE HAVE THE MORALS GONE IN THIS CITY ? FOR FIVE OR SEVEN YEARS NOW I'VE BEEN COMING DOWN
HERE ADVOCATING FOR HOUSING AND I WON'T TELL MY STORY, BUT I AM HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE
, AND I KNOW, HARD-WORKING PEOPLE DESERVE THE WORK --ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND DARN IT,
I'M 61 YEARS OLD AND I'VE WORKED SINCE I WAS 10 AND I'M NOT WHERE I WANTED TO BE EITHER
BUT I'M NO LONGER ASHAMED.
I'M GRATEFUL.
AS MY BODY IS STARTING TO SHAKE AS LONG AS I CAN I WILL KEEP ADVOCATING FOR WHAT'S MORALLY
RIGHT BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS . WE ARE NOT ROBOTS.
WHEN WE CAN THINK FROM THE INTELLIGENCE OF OUR HEART BECAUSE THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY -- I
BEGGED THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT AREN'T HERE AND PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE COMMITTEE
THAT THEY CAN STOP AND DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE IN THEIR HOME.
THANK YOU.
AFTER DEVON IS JOE WALL, FOLLOWED BY BARBARA HERSHEY.
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY HERE IN CHAMBERS AND COUNCILMEMBER SAMANT.
MY NAME IS DEVON SILVERDALE AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF BE SEATTLE, A NONPROFIT THAT WORKS WITH RENTERS AND THE HOMELESS IN THE CITY
. YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE MET TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EITHER BEEN FACING HOMELESSNESS
OR HAVE ENDED UP ON THE STREETS DUE TO DISPLACEMENT IN THE CITY , AND JUST THINKING ABOUT IT MAKES
ME SO SAD . WE KNOW -- WE KNOW -- THAT THIS CRISIS IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT ON SENIORS,
THAT DISPLACEMENT IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT ON SENIORS AND THAT IT'S VERY DIRE IF YOU
ARE DISPLACED ONTO THE STREETS WHICH HONESTLY WILL HAPPEN TO A LOT OF FOLKS IF THEY DO GET
EVICTED FROM WHERE THEY ARE LIVING.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IN 2019 AND THE CITY , IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY STILL
TO WORK TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED MOST BY THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS,
AND TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED . AND SO, I WOULD URGE OBVIOUSLY COUNCILMEMBER
SAMANT, YOU'VE ORGANIZED THIS SO YOU ARE ON BOARD BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE COUNCILMEMBER
SUAREZ AND HARRELL AND EVERYONE ELSE TO SUPPORT THESE FOLKS HERE, BECAUSE FOR THEM, IT IS
DO OR DIE AND IF YOU DON'T DO IT, WE KNOW WHAT SIDE YOU ARE ON AND 2019 IS GOING TO
END QUICKER THAN YOU THINK.
SO THANKS SO MUCH.
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAMANT FOR TAKING UP THIS ISSUE . THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. I HAVE A CONNECTION WITH THIS TRAILER PARK . I CAME DOWN HERE TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE,
BUT YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED IT.
I THINK YOU ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE CITY HAS A LARGE PLOT OF LAND OVER AT MAGNUSON , THE FORT LEWIS REDEVELOPMENT, AND
I AM ESTIMATING THAT THIS LOCATION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS ABOUT TWO ACRES, THAT'S PROBABLY
ABOUT 35 ACRES.
IF YOUR PLAN A DOESN'T WORK WHY DON'T YOU ENTERTAIN A LAND SWAP WITH THIS DEVELOPER
. DON'T FORCE THESE PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT, LET THE CITY OWN IT BUT HAVE THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
RUN IT . THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION TO THE PEOPLE AT THE PARK IS THAT YOU FOLKS
HAVE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ALL OVER THE TOWN.
LET YOUR RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS KNOW BEING --WHAT'S BEING DONE WITH YOU SO THAT THEY
CAN GET ON BOARD, YOUR RIGHTEOUS FIGHT TO MAINTAIN YOUR HOMES.
MOBILE HOME LIVING IS HIGH DENSITY.
IT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND IT'S ALREADY THERE.
SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR TRYING TO HANG ONTO YOUR HOMES, AND TO THE COUNCILMEMBER FOR TAKING
THIS UP . THANK YOU.
IF I MIGHT INTERJECT, THANK YOU FOR THE OTHER IDEA AND WE ARE NOT CLOSED TO ANY POSSIBLE
OPTIONS . THE QUESTION IS, LET'S DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED PERMANENTLY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE BARBARA HERSHEY FOLLOWED BY LAURA LAURA BERNSTEIN . >> COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS BARBARA HERSHEY.
I'VE BEEN A LONGTIME CITY OF SEATTLE RESIDENT.
I DON'T LIVE IN HALCYON.
I LIVE IN THE U DISTRICT ACTUALLY BUT ONE OF MY FRIENDS LINDA McQUAY LIVES AT HALCYON
AND BOUGHT A MOBILE HOME THERE A FEW YEARS AGO AND SHE'S THE ONE WHO HAS MADE ME AWARE
OF THE SITUATION, AND SINCE THEN, I'VE MET A NUMBER OF THE OTHER RESIDENTS AT HALCYON.
I'M VERY CONCERNED LEARNING ABOUT THEIR SITUATION BECAUSE THIS IS A SENIOR PARK , AND MANY OF
THE RESIDENTS ARE ELDERLY , OR DISABLED . I ATTENDED A MEETING A FEW DAYS AGO.
ABOUT DISCUSSING TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THE HEARING TODAY FOR RESIDENTS AND THE QUESTIONS
WERE, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO WALK THE HILL FROM 3rd TO 4th?
WILL THEY NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP THEM --ACTUALLY GET TO CITY HALL AND AFTER HEARING THIS DISCUSSION
I THOUGHT , YOU KNOW , THESE ELDERLY CITIZENS CANNOT MANAGE THE LOGISTICS OF MOVING ALL
THE BELONGINGS LET ALONE FIND A PLACE TO LIVE . AND PAY THE ADDITIONAL COST OF RENT IF THEY
COULD FIND A PLACE . WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THIS AND TO ASSIST THESE PEOPLE . I
NOTED THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HERBAL -- WENT TO NEW YORK TO SAY HEY, WE SHOULD'VE DONE
MORE.
NOW IS THE TIME.
WE NEED TO DO MORE TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING DISPLACED AND YES, WE NEED MORE
HOUSING ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT WE MUST TAKE CARE OF THOSE BEING DISPLACED FIRST.
I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE TAKING UP THIS ISSUE NOW AND CATCHING IT BEFORE IT FALLS THROUGH
THE CRACKS.
THE WHOLE BOARD IS ALREADY IN ORDER AND AUTHORITY SET UP AS AN ORGANIZATION.
WHERE I AM FROM IN IOWA, MY FAMILY SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS.
STEPHEN KING HAS RECENTLY BEEN IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.
FOR 15 YEARS -- HE SHATTERED THE WHOLE CULTURE AND HE WAS QUOTED OVER 16 YEARS OF SAYING
THE THINGS HE SAID AND NOBODY CALLED HIM OUT AND HE SHOULD'VE BEEN CALLED OUT A LONG TIME
AGO AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS ARE ALLOWED TO FESTER FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON THEIR LAND WHEN THEY ARE VULNERABLE,
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW COMMON IT IS FOR LOCAL POLITICIANS TO TAKE UP ISSUES SUCH AS THIS
. I AM SO GLAD THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AND IT'S BEING PUBLISHED BECAUSE THE MORE THE
WORD GETS OUT, THE MORE EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHAT THE CORRECT THING TO DO IS, TO ALLOW
THE PEOPLE HERE TO STAY . ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS I HAVE MET IN A GRIEF AND LOSS GROUP
IS 76, AND SHE'S BEEN STABLE.
SHE ALWAYS TELLS ME TO PERSEVERE.
SHE'S BEEN A STRONGHOLD FOR MY TINY COMMUNITY OF MY INNERMOST CIRCLE AND I ALWAYS IMAGINE
HER MEETING MY SON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE , WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN BUT SHE'S BEEN A DEAR
FRIEND AND LET'S JUST KEEP THINGS IN PLACE IN A GOOD WAY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
THANK YOU.
LINDA McQUAY FOLLOWED BY LAURA LOWE BURSTEIN . SPEC THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
CALLING THIS MEETING.
I LIVE AT HALCYON AND I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS YOU ARE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM
ANOTHER PEOPLE FROM HALCYON A LITTLE LATER ON AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE TELLING YOU THEIR
STORIES IN MORE DEPTH , BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY HALCYON IS IN A PARTICULAR SITUATION . IT'S
ACTUALLY IN A TRUST SET UP BY A TESTAMENTARY WILL , SO THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS AROUND
HOW YOU SOLVE THIS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT THAT MEANS IS, THERE IS NO ONE PERSON WHO OWNS THIS LAND, SO IF
YOU TALK ABOUT WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO SELL THE LAND, I THINK THAT COMES INTO QUESTION AT
A CERTAIN POINT.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO BRING UP THAT POINT, AND THEN THE OTHER POINT THAT I KIND OF CAME
TO WHICH IS PRETTY OBVIOUS , BUT IT JUST SEEMED SO CLEAR TO ME THAT IN ANY KIND OF DEVELOPMENT
, IF THERE IS DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES , IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE PERSON
BUYING THE PROPERTY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT TO PAY AND ARRANGE FOR THAT HOUSING OR RELOCATION
OR COMPENSATION FOR DISPLACEMENT . FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE CAN PAY OVER $10 MILLION , SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN $10 MILLION AND ASKING PRICE OF $22 MILLION FOR THIS PIECE OF LAND THAT IS OUR
MOBILE HOME PARK , CERTAINLY THEY COULD TAKE A PORTION OF THAT AND PAY FOR FULL COMPENSATION
TO US FOR DISPLACEMENT AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE LAW OF THE LAND FOR ANY DISPLACEMENT
OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES . THANK YOU.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS LAURA LOWE BURSTEIN.
I AM A RENTER AND I AM HERE TO SAY WE WANTED TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW WE ARE LISTENING AND
MANY OTHERS ARE REALLY CONCERNED WITH DISTRICT 5 DISPLACEMENT , WITH THE TWO NEW LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS COMING IN.
NOW THAT THIS HAS CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION AND THANK YOU FOR COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT BRINGING
IT TO WIDER ATTENTION FOR EVERYONE.
WE WANT TO HELP AND WE WILL BE LISTENING TODAY AND CONNECTING WITH LINDA, AND I WISH ALL
THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WERE HERE AND I HOPE THEY ARE ALL WATCHING THIS LATER ON, AT LEAST
THE TAPED VERSION OF THIS, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS HEARING.
THAT IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER . SO IF THERE ARE ANY OF THE SPEAKERS FOR THE MAIN POINT ON
THE AGENDA THAT HAVE NOT COME TO THE TABLE YET, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO.
THERE'S THREE MORE CHAIRS . SO WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THE TABLE.
I GUESS THERE ARE FOUR MORE CHAIRS . NICK IS GOING TO SIT?
HE SHOULD GO AHEAD.
SO , FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE IN PUBLIC COMMENT . IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT
, AND I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD NOT ONLY THE RESIDENCE OF HALCYON, BUT ALSO
THE PEOPLE HERE TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A WHOLE . I WANT TO THANK THE PUGET SOUND
ADVOCATES FOR ACTION, BRENT McFARLAND AND ALSO SARAH JEAN SIEGFRIED WHO I THINK MADE
AN ELEGANT CASE FOR WHY THIS WOULD BE TOTALLY WRONG FOR WILL --IF THESE RESIDENTS WERE DISPLACED
. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK LAURA LOWE AND OTHERS FROM BE SEATTLE BECAUSE IT ALSO ILLUSTRATES
THAT WE HAVE SOLIDARITY ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AND IT ILLUSTRATES THAT HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS
AND PEOPLE ADVOCATING FOR DENSITY , WE ALL ARE IN THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO
MAKE SEATTLE AN AFFORDABLE CITY FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT IF WE ARE DISPLACING
PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD THEIR VOICES
AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO HEAR EVERYBODY'S STORY BUT WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ALSO HAVE TO GET
BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVE, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS AS
BRIEF AS POSSIBLE, BUT MAYBE THREE MINUTES AND WE CAN HEAR MANY STORIES.
IF THERE -- NICK JONES HAS BEEN IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE RESIDENCE AND I'VE LET HIM KNOW THAT
THIS THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE --IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO COME AND SHARE
THEIR STORIES WE CAN MAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME.
SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN MAYBE YOU CAN GO BACK AND MAKE ROOM FOR THEM BUT
WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
HAVE YOU ALL DECIDED WHO WILL GO FIRST?
YOU CAN DO IT IN ANY ORDER.
START BY INTRODUCING YOUR NAME OF COURSE.
MY NAME IS RENEE HAGEN.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
I WAS A BARTENDER FOR 38 YEARS.
I SPENT 30 YEARS WITH THE LOCAL BARTENDING UNIT --UNION AND I ALSO WORKED TO THE OUT
--WITH THE ALBERTSONS PRIOR TO THEIR CLOSING.
BEFORE I FOUND THE HALCYON MOBILE HOME PARK , I WAS HOMELESS . IT WASN'T PRETTY.
I AM TELLING YOU.
FROM A CARDBOARD BOX BEHIND A 711 STORE, WAITING UNTIL 2:00 IN THE MORNING TO GET A HOT DOG
FOR FREE BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO THROW THEM OUT . THEN I FELT LIKE GOD HAD BLESSED
ME.
I FOUND THE TOOLSHED THAT SOMEONE RENTED TO ME FOR $200 A MONTH, NO HEAT, RUNNING WATER
OR ELECTRICITY BUT I STAYED THERE FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN I FOUND HALCYON MOBILE HOME
PARK AND I THOUGHT GOD HAS BLESSED ME AGAIN.
I AM SO THANKFUL TOO FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE , THE HOME WISE PROGRAM . MY MOBILE HOME WAS
ABOUT THREE WALLS WITH SORT OF A ROOF . I HAD NO WINDOW ON MY BACK DOOR BUT BY THE GRACE
AND BLESSINGS OF THAT HOME WISE PROGRAM, I WAS ABLE TO GET NEW DOORS, NEW WINDOWS ALL
THE WAY AROUND, THEY BLEW IN INSULATION.
I HAVE A HEAT PUMP WHICH MAKES MY HOME EFFICIENT, THEREFORE I WAS ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM
THROUGH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT THAT WOULD HELP ME GAIN POINTS WITH MY ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
SAVE ON MY ELECTRIC BILL.
LIKE I SAY, I'VE BEEN THERE SEVEN YEARS.
EACH ONE OF THESE PICTURES REPRESENT A YEAR THAT I'VE LIVED THERE , AND WHAT I DID WITH
THE PROPERTY BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE THREE FOOT HIGH WEEDS WHERE ALL THE FLOWERS ARE AND LAUREL
HEDGE TALLER THAN MY MOBILE HOME, BUT I TRIED TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTY TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE
AND BE RESPECTFUL TOWARDS MY NEIGHBORS . I GROW VEGETABLES AND TRY AND SHARE THEM WITH
MOST OF THE RESIDENCE AT THE HALCYON MOBILE HOME PARK ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT CAN'T GET
TO THE GROCERY STORE OR DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION . I THINK IT'S JUST THE NEIGHBORLY THING TO
DO, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BECOME AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE LEARNED TO ENJOY ABOUT LIVING AT
THE HALCYON MOBILE HOME PARK . MY FATHER'S ASHES ARE HERE . IF I HAD KNOWN MY HOME WOULD
BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME I CERTAINLY NEVER WOULD HAVE PUT THEM THERE . LIKE I SAY, I AM REALLY
BLESSED TO HAVE A HOME AND FOR SEVEN YEARS, I'VE HAD THAT SECURITY WITHOUT WORRY OF HAVING
A HOME AND NOW THEY WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY OF SEATTLE WANTING TO HELP ME OUT AND IMPROVE AND REFURBISH
MY HOME SO IT IS LIVABLE AND I CAN BE PROUD AND CALL IT HOME -- HOW CAN WE THROW U.S.
BANK OR WHOEVER'S MONEY AND TERROR UP WITH THE CITY HAS TRIED TO HELP US DO TO KEEP OUR
HOMES, KEEP THEM REFURBISHED AND LIVABLE.
THIS IS WRONG.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT TAKES CARE OF EACH OTHER . WE CHECK ON EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE
EACH OTHER IS OKAY . WE GROW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO SHARE WITH EACH OTHER.
WE DO WELLNESS CHECKS AND BRING MEALS.
AGAIN, I GET RIDES TO MY DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS ALL THE TIME FROM MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR.
THAT'S WHAT HALCYON COMMUNITY IS.
EVERY COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE WHAT WE HAVE AT HALCYON PARK AND WE DON'T DESERVE
TO HAVE IT TAKEN AWAY . THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ELOISE MICKELSON AND I BOUGHT MY HOME AT HALCYON PARK IN 2003, 15 YEARS AGO
. AT THE TIME, I WAS LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE TO A LOCATION NEAR MY MOTHER.
A FRIEND WHO WAS A REALTOR WHO LIVED IN THE PARK TOLD ME ABOUT THIS PLACE CALLED HALCYON
, A SAFE, SECURE PLACE FOR 55 YEARS AND OLDER.
I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD SETTLE DOWN FOR LIFE THERE.
THE ONLY THING I NEEDED TO WORRY ABOUT WAS PAYING MY RENT ON TIME AND KEEPING THE ROOF
S AND DECIDING WHO TO LEAVE MY HOME TO WHEN I DIED . MANAGEMENT ALSO ASSURED ME OF THAT
FACT . SO, TODAY , IN LIGHT OF OUR SITUATION FACING THE PROSPECT OF LOSING OUR HOMES , IT
IS DEVASTATING TO OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND RELATIONSHIPS.
WE LOSE WHERE OUR GRANDKIDS COME TO VISIT AND PLAY . IT'S LIKE
SOMEONE JUST CAME IN, I'M SORRY I'M SO NERVOUS ABOUT THIS, IT'S MY FIRST TIME IN THIS KIND
OF SITUATION, BUT IT'S LIKE SOMEONE CAME IN AND ROBBED MY LIFE AND DUMPED ME INTO A HOMELESS
TENT . THIS IS A DECISION BY PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THINKING ABOUT THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
BEING FORCED INTO THIS SITUATION.
THIS IS A CARING COMMUNITY.
WE LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND I KNOW MANY OF US ARE TELLING THAT SAME STORY OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS TRUE.
I HAVE HELD MANY HANDS --41 TO BE EXACT -- WHO PASSED ON UNDER MY CARE AND I'M SO THANKFUL
TO BE ABLE TO BE BLESSED TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR MANY PEOPLE.
THIS IS A CARING COMMUNITY.
WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
SOME OF US, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, REALLY WOULD HAVE NO OTHER
PLACE TO GO.
SO I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY OR THE POWERS THAT BE TO THINK ABOUT THE PAIN AND SUFFERING
CONTINUING THIS PROJECT WILL CAUSE OUR COMMUNITY.
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE, CITY COUNCIL OF HUMAN SERVICES, COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT, THE SEATTLE
TIMES, KIRO RADIO, NPR, THINK YOU ALL . --THANK YOU ALL.
REAL NEWS CHANNEL 13, I MISSED SOMEONE.
FOR LISTENING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT . MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR CARING .
MY NAME IS MARILYN REED . I LIVE IN THE HALCYON MOBILE HOME PARK.
I MAY FEEL EMOTIONAL, AND IT'S BECAUSE MY DEAR FRIEND PATTY LIVES IN THE PARK . SHE'S
LIVED THERE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS AND IT'S BECAUSE OF HER THAT I'M THERE.
HOW MANY?
25.
AND SO SHE HAS ASKED ME TO READ A LETTER FOR FOR --HER BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO COME . SHE
WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE STORYTELLERS GUILD IN SEATTLE SO SHE'S TITLED IT BROKEN
TRUST, BROKEN HEARTS.
I AM 82 AND HAVE JUST HAD MAJOR SURGERY . SO I AM READING FOR PATTIES EIGHT LINEN.
I AM 82 AND HAVE JUST HAD MAJOR SURGERY AND AM UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY.
I LIVE WITH ABOUT 100 OTHER SENIORS IN THE HALCYON MOBILE HOME PARK IN NORTH SEATTLE.
WE OWN OUR HOMES AND PAY MONTHLY RENT FOR THE LAND . KNOWING OTHER MOBILE HOME PARKS
HAVE BEEN SOLD TO DEVELOPERS, ALL OF US HAVE ASKED ABOUT THAT WHEN WE MOVED IN.
WE WERE TOLD BOTH BY AFFORDABLE LIVING REAL ESTATE AND THE PARK MANAGERS THAT THIS PLACE
WAS IN TRUST WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, AND COULD NEVER BE SOLD . WE WERE SHOCKED
TO LEARN RECENTLY THAT ARE PART HAS BEEN PUT UP FOR SALE AND AVAILABLE TO DEVELOPERS, AND
NOW UNDER A PENDING SALE . WE ARE ALL FRIGHTENED.
WE ARE LOW INCOME SENIORS AND A NUMBER OF US ARE DISABLED.
MOST OF US HAVE INVESTED ALL OF OUR LIFE SAVINGS INTO OUR HOMES IN IMPROVEMENTS.
WE LEARNED IN JULY, FIRST BY RUMOR AND THEN OFFICIALLY 11 DAYS LATER FROM MANAGEMENT , THAT
OUR PARK WAS FOR SALE.
TWO PEOPLE WHO HAD ALREADY PUT THEIR HOMES UP FOR SALE WERE SUDDENLY FACED WITH GETTING
A MERE PITTANCE FOR THEIR PLACE, IF THEY COULD SELL IT AT ALL.
A FEW WEEKS AFTER HEARING THE NEWS, ONE MAN DIED OF A HEART ATTACK . ANOTHER RESIDENT
WAS HOSPITALIZED DUE TO SHOCK . ANOTHER RESIDENT HAD TO BORROW MONEY BECAUSE HE HAD PUT MONEY
DOWN ON ANOTHER PLACE, COUNTING ON THE SALE OF HIS HALCYON HOME . HE WENT INTO A PANIC,
PUT HIS PLACE UP FOR SALE THROUGH AFFORDABLE LIVING, AND LEFT , BUT HE HAD TO REDUCE HIS
HOME FROM $20,000-$4000 . AND POSSIBLE BUYERS NEEDED TO BE TOLD THAT THE PARK WAS FOR SALE.
EVENTUALLY, HEMAN --HE ENDED UP WITH A MERE $200 FOR HIS $20,000 HOME . A SERIOUS OFFER
HAS BEEN MADE BY BLUE FERN DEVELOPMENT TO DEMOLISH OUR HOMES AND PUT UP 196 HIGH-END
TOWNHOUSES.
MANY OF US GO TO CHURCHES NEARBY AND OUR DAILY LIVES AND ACTIVITIES ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
. WE HAVE FRIENDS ALL AROUND THE SPARK.
MANY OF US DON'T DRIVE.
THIS IS THE CENTER OF OUR WHOLE LIVES, AND THERE IS NOTHING AFFORDABLE FOR US OUTSIDE
OF THIS . WE ARE LOW INCOME AND THIS WAS TO BE OUR FINAL RESIDENCE.
THE WAITING LIST FOR SENIOR HOUSES AND EVEN ASSISTED LIVING ARE FULL OR CLOSED.
THE HOMES ARE TOO OLD TO BE MOVED.
WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?
WE WILL ALL BE HOMELESS.
AND WHY DO THE HOMEOWNERS -- DO THE OWNERS GET TO MAKE A HUGE PROFIT WHEN THE AREA IS
SOLD WHILE WE RECEIVE A PITTANCE FOR THE LIFE SAVINGS WE WORKED SO HARD TO EARN AND INVEST?
THIS PARK ORIGINALLY BELONGED TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND WAS SOLD TO A WOMAN, HESTER
MIKLOS, WHO HAD ORIGINALLY SET UP A TRUST AS A SENIOR PARK , PROTECTED FOR SENIORS.
THIS IS TRULY A CASE OF BROKEN TRUST AND BROKEN HEARTS .
HI, I AM LYNETTE CHASE AND MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN IN HALCYON FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS . MY
BROTHER AND MY MOTHER BEFORE US AND WE'VE ALL BEEN TOLD ALONG THE WAY THAT THIS WAS
A SAFE PLACE TO BE, THAT THIS COULD BE OUR FOREVER HOME, BECAUSE OF THE TRUST AND THAT
IT WAS SAFE.
SO WE TOOK OUR 401(K), CASHED IT IN, AND NOW WE HAVE OUR FOREVER HOME . ALONG THE WAY THEN,
MY HUSBAND HAD A NEAR FATAL AUTO ACCIDENT AND HE'S NOW IN A NURSING HOME 100% OF THE
TIME.
HE WAS ALREADY DISABLED THEN, BUT NOW HE REQUIRES 24-HOUR CARE . SO I AM ON CALL 24/7 FROM THE
NURSING HOME FOR ALL OF THOSE EMERGENCIES THAT HAPPEN , AND IF HE GOES IN THE HOSPITAL,
THEN I END UP SPENDING FOR FIVE DAYS SITTING NEXT TO HIM SO THAT I CAN HELP COMMUNICATE
WITH THE DOCTORS ON EVERYTHING.
AND THEN, IN 2015 , THEN I GOT CANCER.
AND SO I NEEDED TREATMENT . I NEEDED RIDES.
I NEEDED GROCERIES.
I NEEDED SOMEONE TO HOLD MY HAND AND THEN WE GOT THROUGH THAT AND THIS LAST SPRING , I
DEVELOPED A BRAIN AND NERVE ISSUE AND I COULDN'T WALK.
IT AFFECTED MY COGNITIVE ABILITIES, MY HEARING, MY VISION, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE PAIN . HOW
DO YOU THINK I GOT THROUGH ALL OF THIS?
MY FAMILY HAS SINCE MOVED AWAY OR PASSED ON, SO I DON'T HAVE FAMILY AROUND TO TURN TO , EXCEPT
FOR MY FAMILY AT HALCYON . THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU RIDES, TO HOLD YOUR HAND,
TO FIX A CUP OF TEA . WITHOUT THEM, I WOULD'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS ALONE.
IT'S A SCARY TIME ANYWAY, BUT TO HAVE TO DO IT ALL ALONE WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN UNBEARABLE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT THESE PEOPLE.
YES, IT'S MY HOME, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
I CAN'T LEAVE THE AREA, BECAUSE MY HUSBAND CAN'T LEAD --LEAVE THE AREA BECAUSE OF HIS
MEDICAL NEEDS, SO I HAVE FAMILY IN FLORIDA BUT I CAN'T GO THERE BECAUSE I CAN'T ABANDON
MY HUSBAND HERE, SO NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO TO CONTINUE
TO LIVE IN SEATTLE, EVEN IF I LOSE MY HOME.
I AM REALLY IN A QUANDARY.
ANYWAY, SO WE COULD USE ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.
THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING CITY COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, MEMBERS OF THE PRESS
AND OTHERS WHO COME TO THIS HEARING TODAY.
MY NAME IS LINDA CONSTANTINE AND I MOVED TO THE HALCYON SENIOR COMMUNITY 10 YEARS AGO.
I RETIRED AFTER FOUR YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT.
MY LAST JOB WAS A BOOKKEEPER FOR CENTRAL MARKET . IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 A CHRONIC MEDICAL
CONDITION FORCED ME TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE.
I HAD TO FACE THE SOBERING REALITY THAT I COULD NO LONGER MAINTAIN THE UPKEEP OF MY
HOME.
AT THE SAME TIME, HOUSING OPTIONS WERE EXTREMELY LIMITED IN SEATTLE.
I WAS TOLD ABOUT AN AFFORDABLE SENIOR PARK WITH A FEW HOMES FOR SALE.
IN THE SAME GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD I'D LIVED IN FOR YEARS.
THAT WAS APPEALING TO ME, AS I COULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES WHERE I WAS KNOWN
AND REMAIN IN THE AREA I WAS ACCUSTOMED TO.
I HAD BEEN TOLD THE PARK WAS OWNED BY A TRUST AND REMAINED IN THIS COMMUNITY IN PERPETUITY.
I DISCOVERED I HAD MOVED TO A SPECIAL PLACE WHEN I STARTED FINDING WELCOME GETS ON MY
PORCH.
PEOPLE WERE COMING UP TO ME TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND MAKE ME FEEL WELCOME . IN VERY SHORT ORDER,
IT WAS APPARENT THAT I HAD FOUND NOT JUST ACCOMMODATIONS THAT I COULD AFFORD, BUT A
HOME , AND A COMMUNITY.
THE PEOPLE WERE LOVELY AND THE AMENITIES LIKE A SWIMMING POOL, LAUNDRY FACILITY AND MEETING
SPACE , WERE A HUGE PLUS.
I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT HALCYON ACTUALLY PROVIDED MORE FOR LESS AND IT WAS APPARENT
THAT THIS WAS THE FOR -- PERFECT PLACE FOR ME TO LIVE.
OUR COMMUNITY WAS UNIQUE.
PEOPLE GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER, WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND HELP WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.
IS THE EQUIVALENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH BUILT-IN AND PEOPLE ALWAYS KNOW IF THERE IS SOMEONE
SKETCHY ON OUR STREETS . NEIGHBORS TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND TAKE EACH OTHER TO APPOINTMENTS,
BABYSIT PETS, SHARE SKILLS WITH EACH OTHER, OFTEN DOING WORK THAT IS TO USE --TOO EXPENSIVE
ON A LIMITED INCOME . THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF SECURITY IN THAT AND IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH
OUR PARK IS A LARGE EXTENDED FAMILY.
I CANNOT STRESS STRONGLY ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY THIS IS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS,
AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH DISABILITIES . OUR COMMUNITY IS OUR SANCTUARY.
CONTRARY TO THE ASSURANCES THAT HALCYON WILL ALWAYS REMAIN THE SAME AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING
WHICH MOST OF US HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE BY VARIOUS SOURCES, SUDDENLY, OUT OF THE BLUE
LAST SUMMER, WE EACH RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE ON-SITE MANAGERS TELLING US THAT THE PROPERTY
HAD BEEN LISTED FOR SALE . JUST RECENTLY, WE HEARD THEY HAD A BUYER.
THIS IS DEVASTATING NEWS FOR ME, AND IT'S FAR WORSE FOR OTHERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD . WILL
WE BE COMPENSATED?
AND EVEN IF WE ARE, WHERE WILL WE GO?
FEW OF US IF ANY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE OTHER --IN THE GREATER SEATTLE AREA.
THIS WILL DISPLACE OVER 80 SENIORS, MANY WITH DISABILITIES.
HOW MANY OF US WILL BE FORCED INTO HOMELESSNESS?
I PERSONALLY HAVE NO FAMILY TO HELP ME OUT.
THE BEST I WILL BE ABLE TO DO IS GET A SMALL MOTORHOME TO LIVE IN, AND THAT'S ONLY IF WE
ARE WELL COMPENSATED.
REGARDLESS, I WILL BE LEFT HOMELESS, AND WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MEDICAL ISSUES?
WILL THE CITY OR STATE PAY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM?
IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WOULD UPROOT A GROUP OF SENIOR CITIZENS
LIKE THIS.
IS PROFIT MORE IMPORTANT THAN PEOPLE?
ARE WE JUST DISPOSABLE?
WE DON'T THINK WE ARE, AND WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT TO SAVE OUR HOMES.
THANK YOU . >>
MY NAME IS BOB HOLLEY AND I'VE LIVED IN HALCYON HOME NUMBER 10 FOR 9 1/2 YEARS . I AM A RETIRED
BOEING TECHNICIAN.
THE PARK IS THE ONLY WAY I COULD STAY IN SEATTLE IN MY RETIREMENT . EVERYTHING I NEED IS CLOSE
BY, GOOD BUS SERVICE DOWNTOWN, BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS AREA AND I CAN RIDE NEAR THE URBAN
TRAIL FOR GROCERY SHOPPING.
MY DOCTOR IS THAT UW NORTHRIDGE.
MY CHURCH JUST --PURCHASED A SITE FOR THE NEW LOCATION LESS THAN 3 1/2 MILES FROM HALCYON
WITH BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE THE ENTIRE WAY.
THE PARK ITSELF , WE HAVE NEIGHBORS AND WE ALL TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
I'VE BEEN TAKEN TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND PICKED PEOPLE UP AFTER MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
I HAD A SHOULDER AND KNEE INJURY A FEW YEARS AGO . WHEN I GOT BACK FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM
, I NEEDED TO GO TO THE PHARMACY.
BETTY IN 47 TOOK ME UP THERE.
MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR FRED WENT UP TO THE HIGHLAND AREA TO RETRIEVE MY CAR.
WHEN I WENT FOR SURGERY, LINDA TOOK ME TO THE CLINIC AND PICK ME UP TO --PICKED ME UP
AFTER THE SHOULDER SURGERY AND I'VE ALSO TAKEN OTHERS TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS WHEN THEY NEEDED
IT . IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SPARK I WILL HAVE TO LEAVE SEATTLE, MY CHURCH, MY FRIENDS AND
MY COMMUNITY.
IF I DON'T LIVE HERE , I WILL HAVE TO DOWNSIZE MY LIFE.
I NOW ENJOY DOING THINGS I COULD NOT DO IN AN APARTMENT . IT KEEPS ME YOUNG TO HAVE A
WORKING HOBBY TO BUILD SMALL BOATS . THIS SUMMER, I AM DOING THE SAILORS 100 IN A HOME
BUILT BOAT AND THIS KEEPS MY MIND SHARP AND KEEPS ME INVOLVED IN LIFE . THE WORD TRUSTEE
IS BASED ON THE WORD TRUST.
OUR TRUSTEES ARE ANYTHING BUT TRUSTWORTHY.
I DEMAND NEW TRUSTEES COME INTO THE BOARD.
I DEMAND TRUSTEE POSITIONS FOR --ARE PARK RESIDENT S SO THAT WE HAVE A SAY IN THE PARK
AND I DEMAND THIS PARK BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET NOW .
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS HELENA BENEDICT AND I'M WITH THE TENANTS UNIT -- UNION OF WASHINGTON AND WE
ARE HERE STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE RESIDENCE OF HALCYON . I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH
FOR COMING HERE AND BEARING YOUR SOULS SO THAT FOLKS THAT MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
AT STAKE HERE CAN GET A GLIMPSE OF THAT AND SHAME ON THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO COULDN'T TAKE
THE TIME OUT OF THEIR WORKING DAY TO TAKE -- TO DO THEIR JOB AND BE HERE AND LISTEN
TO THIS TESTIMONY.
I'VE BEEN HONORED TO ORGANIZE ALONGSIDE FOLKS AT THE FIRST MOBILE HOME PARK IN SEATAC FOR
MORE THAN TWO YEARS NOW AND THE STORIES WE ARE HEARING TODAY ARE JUST SO HEARTBREAKINGLY
FAMILIAR . THE STORIES OF A COMMUNITY THAT SPROUTED UP IN A PLACE THAT WAS MAYBE NEGLECTED,
THAT FOLKS WHERE PEOPLE IN POWER SAID POOR FOLKS CAN LIVE ON TOP OF A LANDFILL IN THE
FLIGHT PATH OF AN AIRPORT AND IN THAT COMMUNITY , THROUGH HARD WORK AND NEIGHBORLINESS AND
TRUST, THEY'VE BLOSSOMED INTO COMMUNITIES OF OPPORTUNITY, OF SUPPORT , OF POTENTIAL,
AND NOW THAT SUDDENLY BECOMES SOMETHING DESIRABLE . THE SYSTEM ALLOWS RICH FOLKS TO SELL THAT
COMMUNITY FOR A PROFIT AND GET RICHER OFF OF EVICTING THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR REGION.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND TO THE CITY FOR STARTING THIS CONVERSATION . IN SEATAC
, IT LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, SO THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT
OF POWER HERE AND I JUST ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO REALLY THINK BEYOND THIS DAY, THE MORATORIUM
IS SUPERPOWERFUL, THINKING ABOUT ZONING AND PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND
FINDING PUBLIC DOLLARS IN ONE OF THE RICHEST REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY TO INVEST IN PUBLIC
OWNERSHIP OR COMMUNAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS , WHICH AS WE ARE LEARNING TODAY
ARE JUST SO PRECIOUS . THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
COULD WE MAYBE GO WITH THE NEXT SPEAKER AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD
AND SPEAK.
OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS THE TC OF THE DALLAS . -- LETICIA VIDALE AND I COME COME
--FROM THE CITY OF -- COMMUNITY OF FIRS IN SEATAC .
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >>
Translator: I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR ABOUT 16 YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: IT'S A VERY SAD SITUATION WE ARE GOING THROUGH
BECAUSE WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE I THOUGHT THAT
I WOULD LIVE THERE FOREVER.
>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HELP US KEEP YOUR HOMES . I'VE BEEN LISTENING
TO ALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS AND THEY ARE SENIOR CITIZENS . SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE WE ARE GOING
TO BE THERE.
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO US WHEN WE GET TO THAT AGE?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING TO KEEP OUR HOUSE . WE STILL
HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT WANT TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US IF WE LOSE OUR HOMES?
WE WON'T HAVE A HOME AND THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY, EVEN FOR INVESTORS , BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO
THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THESE
HOMES AND HOW MANY HOMELESS WE ALREADY HAVE AND HOW MANY THEY ARE GOING TO CREATE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU HAVE THE POWER, FOR YOU TO SAY TO THESE PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW, GIVE US OPTIONS, MAYBE WE WILL SPLIT HALF WITH YOU . IT IS IMPORTANT AND NOT TO
LEAVE US HOMELESS.
OUR HOMES ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE MOBILE HOMES,
THEY ARE NOT IMPORTANT, BUT THESE HOUSES ARE OUR HOME.
WE HAVE INVESTED IN THEM AND FIXED THEM TO MAKE THEM LOOK PRETTY , TO MAKE THEM AS VALUABLE
AS A HOME WORTH $500,000 . IT IS THE SAME FOR US.
WE ARE NOT RICH, BUT THIS IS ALL WE HAVE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU ARE GIVING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPE WE FIND PEOPLE WITH GOOD HEARTS THAT ALLOW US TO KEEP OUR PARKS, OUR HOMES, AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM MARTA SAMARA AND I COME FROM THE FIRS COMMUNITY.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: MORE THAN ANYTHING, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AS YOU ARE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING
WE ARE GOING THROUGH AS WELL.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE LIVING IN A MOBILE HOME
PARK.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]>> Translator: I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR MORE THAN 16 YEARS.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: WHEN I DECIDED TO BUY A MOBILE HOME, I DID IT WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING A FIXED
PLACE TO STAY AND BEING IN A STABLE SITUATION.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]>> Translator: THE WAY YOU WERE MENTIONING IT , IT'S AN ECONOMIC
FORM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: I RECEIVED A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT .
Translator: IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD WE WORK, A LOT OF US WORKED TWO JOBS ARE MORE
JUST TO HAVE A NORMAL LIFE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: I THINK IT IS UNFAIR BY THE OWNERS FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT TO TELL YOU, WE ARE
GOING TO CLOSE THIS PLACE.
YOU HAVE TO SELL YOUR HOUSE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: SO WHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE IT IS FOR TRYING TO HAVE A STABLE LIFE BECAUSE ONCE
YOU HAVE A HOME YOU CAN GET A --YOU CAN GET ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR FAMILY AND IT'S AN ECONOMIC
WAY TO EXTEND YOUR INCOME.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: AND LIVE IN A DIGNIFIED HOME.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: WE FEEL LIKE YOU CAN HELP US TO MAKE MORE FAIR LAWS THAT DON'T ONLY BENEFIT
OWNERS, BUT ALSO RENTERS.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: BECAUSE WHEN THEY GAVE US THE NEWS THEY SAID YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE
FROM THE STATE, BUT THAT ASSISTANCE IS TO DESTROY YOUR HOMES .
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: SO WE HAVE A CRISIS IN HOMES.
WHY ARE THEY DESTROYING HOUSES?
WE ARE LIVING IN A CRISIS .
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Translator: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY, AND LET'S WORK HARD TO KEEP
OUR HOMES.
>> HI, I AM NICHOLAS JONES AND I AM A STAFF MEMBER WITH THE OFFICE OF KSHAMA SAWANT.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK ALONGSIDE OVER THE --WITH THE HOUSING COMMUNITY OVER THE
LAST FEW WEEKS AND TO DOOR KNOCK WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND MEET EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY
AND REALLY SEE WHAT LIFE IN HALCYON IS LIKE . IN THEIR EXPERIENCE, I'VE REALLY SEEN A
COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN SHAPED BY THE LOVING HANDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT.
I'VE SEEN LYNETTE'S INCREDIBLE CEILING ABILITIES AND THE BOATS BOB HAS MENTIONED AND JUST THIS
MORNING, WEST WAS SHOWING ME THE MURALS THEY'VE PUT ON THE BALL --THE WALLS OF THEIR COMMUNITY
ROOMS.
I'VE SEEN THE BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS THAT ELOISE DECORATES HER APARTMENT WITH . THIS IS A COMMUNITY
OF PEOPLE , OF ARTISTS, PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTE NOT JUST TO HALCYON, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY
THAT SURROUNDS IT . I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND WHAT HAPPENS HERE GOES FAR BEYOND
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED THAT HALCYON AND MEANS EVERYTHING TO THE COMMUNITY RIGHT ACROSS
THE STREET, THE DEVELOPING MOBILE HOME PARK . WE KNOW IF THIS DEAL GOES THROUGH AND THE
HALCYON COMMUNITY WAS DESTROYED AND ALL THESE LOVELY PEOPLE PUSHED OUT , WHAT IS KNOCKING
ON THE DOOR OF ALL THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT DEVELOPERS ALSO WANT TO GET THEIR HANDS ON?
THROUGH DOORKNOCKING I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK FACE-TO- FACE WITH MANY OF THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE TOO ILL TO BE THERE TODAY, A LOT OF THE FOLKS THERE LIKE OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED
ARE DISABLED OR STRUGGLING AND IN THIS SITUATION THEY WILL BE FORCED OUT.
THAT IS A ONE-WAY TICKET TO DESTITUTION, THE STREET, AND WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE HERE LIKE I SAID HAVE SUNK THEIR LIFE SAVINGS, RETIREMENT, PENSIONS INTO
THEIR HOMES AT HALCYON.
THEY'VE GIVEN THEIR ALL AND LIVE TO MAKE THIS A PLACE THEY WANT TO LIVE AND DIE TOGETHER
IN , AND ALMOST EVERYONE HAS SHARED WITH ME THEIR STORIES, MEMORIES, TEARS , AND JUST
HOW TERRIFIED THEY ARE AT THE THOUGHT OF THE FUTURE THAT COULD AWAIT THEM IF THE SALE GOES
THROUGH.
WHEN MY COLLEAGUE JONATHAN ROSENBLUM AND MYSELF MET A LOT OF THE RESIDENCE, WE ASKED THEM
WHAT IS ONE WORD THAT DESCRIBES THIS COMMUNITY TO YOU?
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, PEOPLE TOLD US IT WAS HOME.
IT WAS COMMUNITY.
IT WAS SAFETY AND SECURITY , IN THE MIDST OF WHAT IS CLEARLY A CRISIS OF AFFORDABILITY
IN THE CITY, AND IT'S OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE.
THE SITUATION COMES DOWN TO JUST PROFIT VERSUS PEOPLE , AND I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SAVE THE COMMUNITY OF HALCYON AND I'VE BEEN VERY HONORED AND
PROUD TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME DO THAT .
CAN WE HAVE WES GO FIRST?
OF COURSE.
HI, MY NAME IS WESLEY SHEARER, AND I LEAVE IN SPACE 58 OR NOW I CALL IT MY HOME.
WHEN YOU DISPLACE PEOPLE , IT'S HARD . BUT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, IT'S EVEN HARDER BECAUSE
THEY HAVE TO LIVE ON THE STREETS.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE STREET ARE MENTALLY CHALLENGED AND IT'S HARDER FOR
THEM TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD . NOW, MY DAUGHTER IS MENTALLY CHALLENGED AND SHE HAS BEEN MENTALLY
CHALLENGED EVER SINCE HER BIRTH . I HAVE TAUGHT HER ABOUT HOW TO DO A BANK ACCOUNT AND OTHER
THINGS , TRIED TO MAKE HER SUFFICIENT , BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HER , IT'S A
LOT HARDER, BECAUSE ME, I KNOW WHAT TO DO OR TRY TO DO AND OTHER PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY
WANT TO DO , OR WILL SEARCH FOR IT, BUT A MENTALLY CHALLENGED PERSON CAN'T BECAUSE THEY
DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORTH TO THEM.
IT'S VERY HARD FOR HER TO LEARN WHAT TO DO , SINCE IT IS HARD FOR ME TO TEACH HER IF
SHE IS OUT ON THE STREET OR CAN'T BE PLACED IN A PLACE WITH OTHER PERSONS LIKE HER.
WE CAN TRY TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING BUT IT'S MORE HARDER FOR HER . PLEASE, HELP SAVE OUR
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S ALL WE HAVE . THANK YOU.
SPEC THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND HELP ORGANIZE THIS EVENT.
MY NAME IS KYLIN PARKS AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
I AM CRYING UP HERE, LISTENING TO YOUR STORIES.
I'VE WORKED WITH YOU FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY, VERY EMOTIONAL SUBJECT
FOR ME BECAUSE I, TOO , MA MOBILE HOMEOWNER, AND I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY IN LYNNWOOD THAT
WAS SOLD TO A DEVELOPER 12 YEARS AGO.
WE ORGANIZED QUICKLY, FOUGHT TO SAVE, WENT TO A COUNCIL MEETING IN LYNNWOOD, TOOK PICKET
SIGNS AND SIGNS THAT SAID DON'T KICK GRANDMA OUT --THAT HELPS.
[ LAUGHTER ] THE DEVELOPER SHOWED UP AT THE MEETING AND SAID TO US HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO
SELL THE PARK BACK TO US FOR $100,000 EACH PER LOT SPACE . THAT WAS EXTREMELY LUDICROUS
, BUT WHAT IT DID SAY TO US IS THAT PERHAPS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD SELL IF
WE PUT ENOUGH PRESSURE ON HIM.
HE WAS A LOCAL DEVELOPER , CHURCH IN THE AREA, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, OKAY?
SO WE APPROACHED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY, AND THIS WAS AT THE TOP,
AROUND 2007 , AT THE TOP OF THE MARKET, AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING
OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY SAID THEY WERE.
WE WERE DELIGHTED.
THEY MET WITH THE DEVELOPER, THEY ENTERED INTO A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT THAT GAVE
THEM ONE YEAR TO FIND THE FINANCING.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CAME TO OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH I WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT
ONLY BECAUSE I WAS THE YOUNGEST I THINK , AND ASKED IF THE BOARD WAS WILLING TO TAKE A WHOLE
YEAR TO LOBBY THE LEGISLATURE IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY AND EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS FOR THE MONEY THAT IT TOOK, WHICH WAS $10 MILLION TO SING OUR COMMUNITY.
--TO SAVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I QUIT WORK AND MANY OF US LOBBIED THE ENTIRE STATE AND WORKED EXTREMELY HARD AND I AM HERE
TO GIVE YOU HOPE, BECAUSE WE WERE SUCCESSFUL , AND I DO LIVE IN THE SAME HOME THAT I REMEMBER
VERY CLEARLY DOING INTERVIEWS AND THEY SAID WHAT IS IT LIKE?
AND I SAID, IF I LOSE MY HOME, I HAVE TO SEE IT GO TO THE DUMP.
THIS IS MY SANCTUARY, APPRECIATE THAT WORD, AND I FEEL LIKE IT IS HAVING ME GO -- PULLED
A GUN TO MY HEAD AND ASKING ME TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND I THINK YOU ALL FEEL EXACTLY THE
SAME WAY.
SO YOU CAN STICK TOGETHER.
LOOK AT THE SURROUNDINGS, THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN TODAY.
IT IS POSSIBLE.
WE WILL STAND IN SOLIDARITY.
WE WILL FIGHT.
THE REASON WE FORMED THE ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNERS, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
FIRS AND HELPING THEM A -- FORM AN ASSOCIATION, I'VE BEEN HELPING HALCYON FORM AN ASSOCIATION,
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER.
WE ARE SMART.
WE ARE NOT TRAILER TRASH.
WE LIVE IN MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNITIES.
WE WILL PAE OUR WAY --WE PAE OUR WAY AND ARE FOR THE MOST PART NOT ON SUBSIDIES AND WE
ARE THE ONES THAT POUR YOUR COFFEE, HAVE DONE YOUR HARD WORK, HAVE MADE YOUR BIDS AND AND
ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND YOU WANT TO THROW US AWAY SO WHEN I HEAR THAT WE ARE IS -- DISPOSABLE,
THAT IS INSANE.
HOW MANY INTANGIBLE COSTS HAVE WE STAYED --SAVED THE STATE OF WASHINGTON BY TAKING EACH OTHER
TO PLACES AND TO FEEDING EACH OTHER AND GROWING VEGETABLES -- THAT'S A LOT OF INTANGIBLE COST
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IS ALWAYS LOOKING AT, WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY?
WE SAVED OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE PROVED IT WAS MORE AFFORDABLE TO KEEP THAT IT WAS TO
LOSE, BECAUSE IF YOU LOSE THIS COMMUNITY, IT WILL NEVER RETURN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND EVERYONE AROUND THE TABLE . MY NAME IS ISHBEL DICKENS
AND I AM HERE AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE DISPLACEMENT COALITION AND AS ONE OF THE FOUNDING
MEMBERS IF YOU LIKE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNERS . I'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNERS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
I VISITED HALCYON IN 1988 . I WAS A VOLUNTEER AT THAT TIME, AND I AM A VOLUNTEER AGAIN NOW,
BUT BETWEEN THEN AND NOW I BECAME THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY
TO WORK FOR PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR HOMES BUT WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE HOMEOWNERS IN
THE COUNTRY.
WHEN I STARTED WITH SEATTLE DISPLACEMENT COALITION IN 1988, WE MET AT BROADVIEW UNITED CHURCH
OF CHRIST, WHICH IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE HALCYON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COME TO THOSE MEETINGS AND THE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OTHER TIME COMING, AND WE WORK ON THOSE FIRST MORATORIUMS THAT ARE
MENTIONED IN THE MEMORANDUM HERE.
WE WERE PART OF THAT.
I REMEMBER JIM STREET , JEAN NOLAND, PEOPLE LIKE THAT COMING AND MEETING WITH HOMEOWNERS
AND AT THE TIME THERE WERE SIX MANUFACTURED COMMUNITIES BETWEEN 98 AND 145th IN AURORA
. NOW THERE ARE TWO , BOTH AT RISK . I WAS ALSO INVOLVED AT THE TIME AFTER VOLUNTEERING,
I WAS HIRED BY THE LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE AND WE TRIED TO SAVE WHAT WAS NATIONAL TRAILER
PARK , I HATE THAT WORD, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED AT THE TIME, ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF AURORA FROM WHERE YOU ARE.
WE WERE WITHIN HOURS OF SAVING THAT COMMUNITY, BUT WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO
TAKE ONE MORE VOTE, AND THAT PROCESS KILLED THE OPPORTUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T DO AN EMERGENCY VOTE, BUT THEY DIDN'T, AND WE LOST MORE THAN
100 SPACES THERE . I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE FOLKS AT UNIVERSITY TRAILER PARK . THEY LOST
THEIR COMMUNITY LAST YEAR AND I KNOW AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS IS HOMELESS.
THAT COMMUNITY WAS THE ONLY ONE WHEN THE CITY --DURING THE MORATORIA AND THEY LOOKED TO
ZONE THE COMMUNITY AND NOT TRAILER PARK WAS THE ONLY ONE WHERE THEY CONSIDERED IT WORTHY
OF CHANGING THE ZONING.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO AND YOU'VE HEARD KYLE AND'S STORY.
--KYLIN'S STORY AND I'M HAPPY TO HELP BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MORATORIUM, WHICH GIVES THE CITY TIME TO PUT TOGETHER LONG-
TERM PLANS . WE CAN LOOK AT LOCAL ZONING ORDINANCES.
WE'VE WORKED WITH LYNWOOD, MARYSVILLE THOMAS BUT CAN -- SPOKANE AND WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF WORKING WITH KENMORE TO GET ZONING ORDINANCES PAST.
THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS UPHELD ONE ZONING ORDINANCE BACK IN 2010, SO IT CAN
BE DONE.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT BILLS IN OLYMPIA, ALAMO AND OTHERS ARE LOOKING AT A VERY LARGE WHAT
WE CALL AN OMNIBUS BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE LANDLORD TO GIVE YOU FIVE YEARS NOTICE
OF CLOSURE, ALLOW A NONPROFIT OR THE RESIDENT ASSOCIATION OR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO TRY TO
PURCHASE THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OR IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND THE LANDLORD
STILL WANTS YOU OUT IN LESS THAN FIVE, THEY HAVE TO PAY FAIR MARKET OR ASSESSED VALUE
OF YOUR HOMES AFTER TWO YEARS OR ELSE YOU GET TO STAY AT LEAST FIVE AND AT LEAST TRY
TO GET SOME RETURN ON THE EQUITY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE INVESTED IN YOUR HOMES AND THIS IS
YOUR NEST EGG . THIS IS YOUR INHERITANCE FOR YOUR FAMILIES, AND YOU DESERVE NOTHING LESS
THAN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CHOICES TO LIVE WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE, AND TO HAVE YOUR
HOMES FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES . I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH STAFF AND KUSHAN AND
OTHERS TO FIND WAYS TO PRESERVE THE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE UNLESS YOU GET FULL COMPENSATION AS
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE , YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE HOMEOWNERS AGAIN AND THAT'S THE SAD
REALITY.
THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY.
YOU DESERVE NOTHING LESS.
THANK YOU.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY WHO SHARED THEIR STORIES AND IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE
FOR ANYBODY WHO IS WATCHING, AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE WATCHING BECAUSE THEY ARE ACTUALLY
MESSAGING ME AS WE SPEAK, SAYING THAT THEY ARE WATCHING AND THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S
NO OTHER COUNCILMEMBER HERE TO HEAR THE STORIES.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL HUMAN BEINGS WITH
REAL FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND AS YOU ALL SAID, YOU ARE NOT ONLY LOSING YOUR FINANCIAL
EQUITY IF THIS HAPPENS AND THE SALE GOES THROUGH.
YOU ARE ALSO LOSING THE ONLY COMMUNITY YOU HAVE, AND ACTUALLY, I THINK SOME OF YOU SAID
EVEN MORE MOVINGLY, ACTUALLY, I WISH OTHERS COULD HAVE THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE IN OTHERS
--IN REALITY, THE WAY YOU ARE DESCRIBING YOUR COMMUNITY, I DON'T HAVE THAT.
I WISH I DID.
IT IS SOMETHING TO ASPIRE TO, ACTUALLY . THE SECOND PART OF OUR MEETING WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE THE POLICY ANALYST FROM MY OFFICE AND KETIL FREEMAN FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF WHO'S
BEEN WORKING ON THE CENTRAL POLICY ASPECT OF THIS TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
WHAT THE CONCRETE NEXT STEPS ARE , BUT BEFORE WE GO TO THAT, WHICH WE WILL DO IN A MINUTE
OR TWO , I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ONE OR TWO THINGS AND MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
ONE IS, WE ARE READY JUST IN THE INDIVIDUAL TESTIMONIES HAVE HEARD THREE DIFFERENT UNIONS
BEING MENTIONED: TEAMSTERS, THE ENGINEERS UNION FOR BOWLING AND LOCAL 8 , SO I JUST
WANTED TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT I THINK, AND MIKE ANDREWS, WHO IS HERE AND IS REPRESENTING
THE ENGINEERS BUT ALSO IS FROM THE LABOR MOVEMENT, THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE MAKING A CALL TO
THE LABOR UNIONS IN SEATTLE , IN THE SEATTLE REGION, TO ISSUE STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT IN
FAVOR OF MAINTAINING HALCYON AND MY OFFICE WILL HELP YOU IN THAT, BUT WE NEED YOUR SIGNATURES
ON THE LETTERS BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU, NOT JUST ME AND MY OFFICE.
WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON THAT AS A NEXT STEP AND I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND
THE COUNCIL THAT IF THEY DON'T OFF --WORK ON THIS THEY WILL BE KICKING GRANDMA OUT AND
THAT'S ON THEIR CONSCIENCE SO THEY KNEW --NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE POLITICAL PRICE THEY WILL
HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
I WOULD SAY, COLIN, WE ARE NOT HOLDING GUNS TO OUR OWN HEADS, THE CORPORATIONS AND POLITICAL
ELITE WHO ALLOW THE CITY TO NOT BE AFFORDABLE TO THE REST OF US, THEY ARE HOLDING GUNS TO
OUR HEADS, SO DO WE ALL AGREE IT'S TIME TO CONVERT OUR TEARS INTO A FIGHTING STRUGGLE
AND WIND?
--WIN?
I KNOW THE HALCYON COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE HAVING AN ORGANIZING MEETING THAT JONATHAN,
NICK AND OTHERS WILL BE AT EARLY NEXT WEEK, SO I DON'T HAVE A CONCRETE DATE AND TIME FOR
THIS ACTION , BUT VERY LIKELY, ONE OF OUR ACTIONS I THINK LOGICALLY SHOULD BE A PROTEST
ACTION OUTSIDE U.S. BANK . WHO HERE IS GOING TO JOIN US, IF YOU CAN, THAT IS, IF YOU DON'T
HAVE WORK?
JONATHAN HAS SIGN UP SHEETS . IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY SIGNED UP, MAKE SURE TO SIGN UP SO
THAT WE CAN CONTACT YOU.
I THINK IT WAS VERY VALUABLE.
FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU HELENA BENEDICT FROM THE UNION AND LETICIA VIDALE AND MARTEZ ZAMORA,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE . CAN WE HAVE THE FIRS COMMUNITY AND OTHERS OF YOU
COME TO EITHER THE U.S. BANK ACTION OR TWO OTHER ACTIONS?
BECAUSE THEN WE CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM SEATTLE IS ALREADY -- FACING,
OTHERS HAVE ALREADY FACED IT AND ARE FACING IT RIGHT NOW IN SEATAC.
SO ANOTHER SHOW OF HANDS . WE WILL BE BRINGING THE LEGISLATION FORWARD NEXT WEEK BECAUSE
WE HAVE TO ACT URGENTLY ON THIS . WHO HERE COMMITS TO EITHER COMING THEMSELVES, OR BRINGING
PEOPLE WITH THEM, OR BOTH, TO MAKE SURE THAT CITY COUNCIL HEARS YOUR VOICES?
COME ON.
WE NEED MORE HANDS UP.
FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE , AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU ALL, BUT FOR NOW,
IF I CAN INVITE TED AND KETIL TO THE TABLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HE WILL SHOW YOU TO THE RESTROOM.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING, KETIL.
I KNOW THAT WAS LONG.
I AM TOLD SOME FOLKS HAVE TO LEAVE AT 3:30 PM SHARP . SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY.
CAN WE HAVE INTRODUCTIONS FOR THE RECORD?
TED RENDON, COUNCILMEMBER -- AND COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
OKAY.
SO KETIL, IF YOU WANT TO JUST KICK THIS SESSION OFF.
SURE.
I THINK A LOT OF WHAT I WOULD GO OVER HAS BEEN COVERED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THROUGH
YOUR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS OR FOLKS COMMENTING HERE AT THE TABLE AND I WILL JUST REMARK ON
A FEW THINGS, NUMBER ONE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WITH --WHICH MS.
DICKENS TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT AND A COUPLE OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER GOING
FORWARD BUT AS MS.
DICKENS MENTIONED, BETWEEN 1988 AND 1990, THERE WAS AN INITIAL MORATORIUM AND THEN THREE
CONTINUATIONS OF THAT MORATORIUM TO ALLOW THE CITY TIME TO CONSIDER DIFFERENT OPTIONS
FOR STABILIZING MOBILE HOME PARKS WITHIN THE CITY, SO THAT'S CERTAINLY AN OPTION THAT THE
COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER HERE AND ONE WE ARE DEVELOPING FOR YOU.
HOW LONG OF A DURATION WOULD EACH OF THOSE MORATORIUMS BE?
THE INITIAL WAS FOR ONE YEAR AND THEN UNDER STATE LAW, YOU CAN CONTINUE THAT MORATORIUM
FOR A SIX-MONTH PERIOD .
CAN YOU ALSO EXPLAIN VERY QUICKLY WHAT ACTUALLY THAT MORATORIUM ENABLES?
SURE.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A LAND-USE DEVICE TO BUY TIME FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WHAT PERMANENT
REGULATIONS TO PUT IN PLACE THAT MAY HELP STABILIZE MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES.
SO SIMILAR TO THE SHOW BOX, IT'S AN ACTION THE COUNCIL CAN TAKE THAT HAS A WORK PROGRAM
THAT ACCOMPANIES IT THAT OUTLINES ESSENTIALLY ASSENT -- A SCHEDULE BY WHICH THE COUNCIL
COULD CONSIDER PERMANENT REGULATIONS THAT COULD BENEFIT MOBILE HOME PARK COMMUNITIES.
BUT THAT SORT OF GETS TO WHAT WAS DONE IN PORTLAND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
I'VE SPENT THE LAST LITTLE WHILE GOING OVER THE CHANGE TO PLAN POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS IN PORTLAND, AND THEY ARE COMPREHENSIVE, LENGTHY AND TOOK TIME TO DEVELOP SO WHAT MORATORIUM
DOES IS GIVE THE CITY THAT TIME.
SO YOU HAD MENTIONED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU'VE ASKED US TO DEVELOP , MOVING TOWARD
INTRODUCING THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION HERE ON TUESDAY . AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL CAN'T
ACT ON AN ORDINANCE --CAN'T ACT ON THE SAME DAY AS THE INTRODUCTION FOR AN ORDINANCE,
UNLIKE A RESOLUTION SO ASSUMING THAT AN ORDINANCE IS INTRODUCED OR A BILL ON TUESDAY, THE EARLIEST
THE CITY COULD ACT ON IT WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.
THE DRAFT ORDINANCE WE'VE CREATED FOR YOU IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON SIGNATURE BY
THE MAYOR, SO IT WILL REQUIRE A THREE QUARTERS VOTE OF THE FULL CITY COUNCIL TO COMPLY WITH
THE CHARTER.
IN ADDITION TO, AND SORT OF LOOKING FURTHER DOWN THE LINE HERE AT WHAT OPTIONS MAY BE
AVAILABLE TO THE CITY TO SUPPORT MOBILE HOME PARK RESIDENTS, A NONEXCLUSIVE OPTION WOULD
BE TO CONSIDER RELOCATION SYSTEMS NOT PROVIDED BY THE STATE . WITH THAT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
COULD LOOK LIKE AND OTHER OPTIONS COULD ALSO BE DEVELOPED DURING THAT TIME OF A MORATORIUM.
RIGHT.
AND CAN I ASK YOU ALSO, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, DO WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE AS TO HOW URGENT
THIS IS?
THE WHOLE POINT OF DOING THE MORATORIUM URGENTLY IS TO DO IT BEFORE THE DEVELOPER VESTS?
TO PRECLUDE THE DEVELOPER FROM VESTING, THE MORATORIUM WOULD PRECLUDE APPLICATIONS, SO
IF SOMEBODY APPLIED FOR A PERMIT TO DEVELOP THE SITE AND ALSO PROCESSING THOSE APPLICATIONS,
IF SOMEBODY WERE TO APPLY BEFORE THE MORATORIUM BECAME EFFECTIVE , THEIR PERMIT COULDN'T BE
ISSUED FOR A YEAR AND PRACTICALLY SPEAKING IT TAKES THAT LONG TO GET A PERMIT FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS ANYWAY, BUT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IF THE COUNCIL
WANTS TO PRESERVE THE OPTION FOR CONSIDERING REGULATIONS THAT WILL STABILIZE MOBILE HOME
PARKS.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE DEVELOPER HAS NOT APPLIED.
IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS A PRE- APPLICATION CONFERENCE THAT OCCURRED BACK IN DECEMBER,
BUT IT IS CERTAINLY IN YOUR INTEREST TO GET AN APPLICATION AND FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS
INCLUDING THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF UPCOMING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OBLIGATIONS.
>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE POTENTIAL PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER OF THE HALCYON SITE HAS NOT APPLIED
FOR A MASTER USE PERMIT . THEY DID, HOWEVER, HAVE A PRE- APPLICATION CONFERENCE BACK IN
DECEMBER, SO THEY MAY BE APPLYING SOON.
IT IS IN THEIR INTEREST TO ACTUALLY GET AN APPLICATION IN THE DOOR SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER . I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES ARE, SO I DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL
OF KNOWLEDGE IN TERMS OF WHAT A DEVELOPER MAY CHOOSE TO DO, BUT THERE'S A FINANCIAL
INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO APPLY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING
IMPLEMENTING MANDATORY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH COULD INCLUDE THIS SITE ALTHOUGH SOME
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE CONSIDERING EXCLUDING THIS FROM THAT PROGRAM AND IF THEY DID APPLY NOW,
OR GOT AN APPLICATION IN BEFORE MHA IS IMPLEMENTED THERE WOULD BE NO HOUSING OBLIGATION ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
ONE OF THE RESIDENTS INDICATED HE HAS A QUESTION.
HE'S AT THE MICROPHONE.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS STUART DUCKWORTH , AND I HAVE A QUESTION.
HALCYON IS SPECIAL BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE, BUT MORE THAN THAT.
HALCYON ZONING AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS FOR TRAILER PARKS ONLY, BECAUSE HALCYON IS SITTING ON
A LANDFILL , GARBAGE DUMP, IF YOU WILL.
SINCE THE EARLY '40S . YOU CAN'T EVEN BUILD A HOUSE ON THAT, SO IT'S BASICALLY ZONE FOR
MOBILE HOME, SO THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE ZONING, SO THAT'S THE POINT . IF THEY
DON'T CHANGE THE ZONING, THE DEVELOPER CANNOT BUILD THOSE HOMES, SO THAT'S THE END OF THE
STORY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE UNDERLYING ZONING OF THE HALCYON SITE IS COMMERCIAL 140, WHICH
IS A COMMERCIAL ONE ZONE DESIGNATION THAT YOU WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH KIND OF BIG BOX RETAIL
. IT MAY BE THE CASE THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL AREA ASSOCIATED WITH THE SITE.
SEATTLE HAS A LOT OF UNDERGROUND LANDFILLS THAT DISCHARGE METHANE AND OTHERS THAT ARE
HISTORICAL, NOT ANCIENT, BUT HISTORICAL.
THERE'S SORT OF A HIGHER LEVEL OF ENGINEERING THAT MAY BE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE SITE
TO MEDICATE AGAINST THE IMPACT OF THAT CRITICAL AREA ASSOCIATED WITH THE FORMER LANDFILL , BUT
IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE OR RESTRICT IT JUST TO MOBILE HOMES.
SO THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT IN A NUTSHELL AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SORT OF PROCEDURAL
STUFF, WE SHOULD HAVE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION INTRODUCED ON TUESDAY.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU'LL NEED TO AMEND THE REFERRALS CALENDAR TO WALK IT ON.
AND JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION BECAUSE IT CAN BE CONFUSING SO IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT IT'S NOT ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO EXEMPT THE REGION OF THAT PROPERTY FROM THE ZONING,
BUT IT MAKES SENSE IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THIS NOTE --MOBILE HOME PARK .
IT MAY TAKE SOME DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE OFF THE MOBILE HOME PARKS, BUT CLEARLY THERE IS
A DEVELOPMENT INTEREST IN IT BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS GONE THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF HIRING AN
ARCHITECT AND GETTING A PRE- APPLICATION CONFERENCE IN DEVELOPING A SITE PLAN.
WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DEVELOP, THE TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED ON THE
HALCYON SITE TODAY, IS NOT CONTINGENT UPON THE NUB ZONE OCCURRING THROUGH MHA.
IF THE DEVELOPER'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT LIKE BUILD TO A HIGHER HEIGHT THAT
WOULD BE ALLOWED UNDERAGE --MHA THEN IT MAY BE UNDER -- IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO REVISE
THE APPLICATION AFTER IT'S BEEN MADE BUT AT LEAST FROM JUST SORT OF LOOKING AT IT FROM
A PERMITTING STANDPOINT, THERE'S ENOUGH DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE TODAY UNDER EXISTING ZONING FOR THE
SITE TO BE CONVERTED TO SOMETHING ELSE.
I SEE.
THAT MAKES SENSE . DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
JUST FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW THE PROCESSES THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT
IN TERMS OF INTRODUCTION AND THAT SORT OF THING, SO THIS BILL TO DO A MORATORIUM HAS
TO GO THROUGH AT MINIMUM TWO STEPS . FIRST, IT HAS TO BE WAS CALLED INTRODUCED, WHICH
MAKES IT AVAILABLE AND LIVE , AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A VOTE OF THE COUNCIL . THE MAJORITY
OF THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO VOTE YES JUST TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE, TO INTRODUCE IT AND
THAT WILL HOPEFULLY HAPPEN FROM WHAT WE JUST HEARD ON TUESDAY . IT WILL BE READY FOR THEM
TO DO THAT ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK , AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT WILL GO, THE SOONEST IT WOULD
BE AVAILABLE TO GO TO THE FULL COUNCIL WOULD BE THE NEXT MONDAY AT SOONEST , THE COUNCIL
WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE MORATORIUM.
WE WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO PUSH BACK AGAINST ANY ATTEMPTS TO DELAY BECAUSE WE HEARD
IN
THE TESTIMONY THE EXAMPLE OF COUNCIL IN THE PAST HAVING DELAYED SO LONG THAT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROTECT A DIFFERENT PARK WAS LOST AND WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS OF THAT OR I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE WORD IS, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
>> 2:00 IS WHEN THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING WILL OCCUR ON TUESDAY, AND THE ACTION BY THE COUNCIL
ON TUESDAY WILL BE TO AMEND THE INTRODUCTION OR REFERRALS CALENDAR TO ADD THE BILL . THE
FOLLOWING MONDAY IS WHEN THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE ACTION ON THE BILL, ASSUMING THAT IT'S
REFERRED DIRECTLY TO FULL COUNCIL, AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN SOMETIME AFTER 2:00 AS WELL.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY IS STARTING AT 2:00 AND NOT 1:30 PM?
IS THAT RIGHT?
IT NORMALLY WOULD BE 2:00 , BUT I DON'T KNOW.
OKAY, BUT IN ANY CASE, TUESDAY , PEOPLE SHOULD COME EARLY ANYWAY SO KEEP 1:30 PM IN MIND
BECAUSE IF YOU SHOW UP A LITTLE EARLIER ANYWAY, EVEN IF THE MEETING STARTS AT 2:00, 1:30 PM
STILL MAKE SENSE.
KETIL, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE FROM YOUR MEMO?
NO, I THINK WE'VE COVERED IT .
OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH , AND WE WILL BE SENDING OUT AN EMAIL NOTIFICATION FOR EVERYBODY WHO
SIGNED UP TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALL HERE ON TUESDAY AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT GOES
THROUGH AND EVERYBODY THAT IT WAS -- THAT WAS HERE TODAY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOW
UP ON TUESDAY AND THE REASON IT'S ON TUESDAY BY THE WAY IS MLK DAY ON MONDAY, USUALLY THE
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE ON MONDAYS.
FOR HALCYON RESIDENTS, A SPECIFIC MESSAGE FOR YOU, WE NEED MORE OF YOU ON TUESDAY THEN
WE EVEN HAD TODAY EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT TODAY, WE NEED AN EVEN BETTER TURNOUT
ON TUESDAY.
>> I JUST LOOKED IT UP.
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY IS AT 2 PM . BUT YOU SHOULD GET HERE AT 1:30 PM.
YES, EXACTLY.
WHICH
COUNCIL MEMBERS DO
I CONTACT PERSONALLY?
ALL OF THEM.
CONTACT THE WHOLE COUNCIL.
EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON IT ON TUESDAY, YES . THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, KETIL, AND ALSO I WANTED TO THINK JONATHAN ROSENBLUM AND NICK JONES FROM MY
OFFICE WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE HALCYON RESIDENTS AND KYLE AND -- KYLIN PARKS AND
ABILITY, THANK YOU
FOR COMING.
WE APPRECIATE IT.