>> THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE HUMAN SERVICES EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
THE TIME IS 60 ZERO 2 PM.
THIS IS FEBRUARY 20, 2019.
WE ARE IN CITY COUNCIL
CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL, AND
I BELIEVE HE WILL BE JOINED BY
ONE OR TWO OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS, WHO WILL BE HERE
SHORTLY.
WESSEL THANK CENTRAL STAFF
MEMBER JEFF SIMMS FOR BEING
WITH US.
TODAY, WE HAVE ONE IMPORTANT
ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
THAT'S THE QUESTION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE PERMANENT
DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE DESPITE
THE RESCHEDULING WE HAD TO DO.
THIS MEETING WAS ORIGINALLY
SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN LAST WEEK,
BUT WE HAD TO CANCEL IT BECAUSE
OF THE SNOWSTORMS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE
BEING FLEXIBLE WITH THE CHANGE
WE HAD TO MAKE.
TO QUICKLY FILL IN EVERYONE WHO
MAY BE NEW TO THE ISSUE, AND
JUST TO GIVE A RECAP TO
EVERYONE, IN 2018, MY OFFICE
HAS HEARD FROM MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS INTERESTED IN THE
LEADERSHIP AT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE WHO HAVE ASKED WHEN
AND HOW THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
PLANS TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO BE
THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT.
IT SHOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE TO
ANYBODY WHY THERE IS SO MUCH
INTEREST ABOUT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, GIVEN THE
CRISIS OUR CITY IS FACING.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS,
THE ESCALATING HOMELESSNESS,
AND THE UNDERFUNDING OF SELFLESS
SERVICES.
THE DEPARTMENT DOES VERY
IMPORTANT WORK.
IN VERY CONSTRAINED
CIRCUMSTANCES.
A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND
INDIVIDUALS CARE ABOUT THESE
ISSUES AND SO THERE IS
UNDOUBTEDLY A LOT OF INTEREST
ABOUT THIS.
JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S
INFORMATION, MY OFFICE HAS PUT
TOGETHER THIS PACKET THAT SAYS
ALL OF THE INFORMATION BETWEEN
MY OFFICE AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
STAFF MEMBER, JONATHAN
ROSENBLUM, CAN HAND THEM OUT TO
ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED.
IT HAS THE EMAIL RECORD BETWEEN
MY OFFICE AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
JUST TO CLARIFY THE HISTORY
BEHIND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO, FLOWING FROM ALL OF THAT,
WE LATER LEARNED, MY OFFICE
LATER LEARNED, HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES AND HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS HAD BEEN
INDEPENDENTLY, OF THEIR OWN
ACCORD, ASKING THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
SEARCH.
MUCH LIKE WHAT IS DONE NORMALLY
IN THE SEARCH FOR OTHER HIGH-
PROFILE DIRECTOR APPOINTMENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE MAYOR'S
PRESS RELEASE LAST MONTH
ANNOUNCING HER APPOINTMENT TO
THE DIRECTOR POSITION OF THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION OR SDOT, THE
PRESS RELEASE AND I AM QUOTING
A SECTION FROM THE PRESS
RELEASE THAT SAYS, "IN MAY,
MAYOR DURKAN ANNOUNCED A SEARCH
COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDED NEARLY
A DOZEN BUSINESS,
TRANSPORTATION, LABOR, AND
COMMITTEE LEADERS.
THE SEARCH FOR A NEW DIRECTOR
OF SDOT ALSO INCLUDED AN
EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH
PROCESS.
AFTER CONDUCTING INTERVIES
WITH APPLICANTS, THE SEARCH
COMMITTEE SUBMITTED THEIR
ECOMMENDATIONS FOR FINALIST
TO MAYOR DURKAN, WHO INTERVIEWED
THE FINALISTS EARLIER THIS
MONTH."
SO, I THINK WHAT IS STANDING
OUT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IS THE
COMPLETE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE
SEARCH METHODS THAT WE USED FOR
OTHER BIG DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
IN CONTRAST WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT HAPPENED IN
THE HUMAN SERVICES CASE IS THE
MAYOR DID NOT CONSULT THE
WORKERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OR HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THIS
APPOINTMENT, AS FAR AS I KNOW.
IN A MID-DECEMBER PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
ACTUALLY, JUST STEPPING BACK A
LITTLE BIT. IN THE PACKAGE, YOU
WILL SEE AN EMAIL FROM MY STAFF
MEMBER RIGHT THERE, TO THE
MAYOR'S STAFF ON MARCH 23rd
LAST YEAR.
THEN ANOTHER EMAIL FROM APRIL
OF LAST YEAR, ASKING THAT WE
ARE HEARING FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND NOT CONSTITUENTS.
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE
SELECTION PROCESS, AND SO IF
YOU HAVE INFORMATION, LET US
KNOW.
WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THROUGHOUT
THAT YEAR, BUT LATE LAST YEAR
IN MID-DECEMBER, THE PRESS
RELEASE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
WE ALL LATER LEARNED THE MAYOR
SEEMED TO BE BYPASSING THE
USUAL SEARCH AND WAS APPOINTING
MISTER JASON JOHNSON.
A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT, MY
OFFICE WAS CONTACTED BY LEADERS
IN THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS
MANY HST WORKERS, AND TED FROM
MY STAFF CAN PROVIDE MORE
INFORMATION WHEN WE START
DISCUSSION AT THE TABLE.
WE WERE TOLD MANY HST EMPLOYEES
HAD DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT
WAS HAPPENING, AND MY OFFICE
WAS INSPIRED INVITED TO A
MEETING WITH UNION MEMBERS IN
EARLY JANUARY.
AT THAT MEETING, WHICH MY STAFF
MEMBERS ATTENDED, WE SAW A ROOM
OVERFLOWING WITH HST EMPLOYEES,
WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT HAVING A
VOICE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
PRINCIPLES THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS AGREED TO ADHERE
TO, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THEIR
DEPARTMENT.
OUT OF THAT MEETING, THE OFFICE
REACHED OUT TO HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AND HEARD SIMILAR
CONCERNS TO WHAT WE HAD HEARD
FROM THE MEETING WITH THE
WORKERS.
AND THEN, FLOWING FROM ALL OF
THAT, OFFICE THEN ORGANIZED A
COMMITTEE MEETING TO GENUINELY
HEAR FROM WORKERS, HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND THIS WAS
AGAIN, A COMMUNITY MEETING BUT
IT WAS HELD AFTER WORK HOURS TO
ENABLE MAXIMUM ATTENDANCE.
IT WAS AT THE MILLER COMMUNITY
CENTER ON JANUARY 4. NO OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS ATTENDED THE
MEETING BUT IT WAS RECORDED ON
SEATTLE CHANNEL.
MANY OF YOU HERE WERE ALSO AT
THAT MEETING.
AT THAT MEETING, WHEN I GAVE
THE CHAIR'S REMARKS TO OPEN THE
MEETING, I SAID ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ACTUALLY
REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF REGULAR
PEOPLE, WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY
THIS POLICY DECISION, INCLUDING
DECISIONS ON APPOINTMENTS, AND
IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO LISTEN TO
HSD EMPLOYEES, AND CLIENTS OF
THE DEPARTMENT FIRST AND
FOREMOST, SO I OPENED THE
MEETING ON THAT NOTE, SAYING IF
WE HEAR OVERWHELMINGLY THAT
PEOPLE WANT AN ALTERNATIVE IN
TERMS OF CONDUCTING A SEARCH,
AND WHO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN
THAT SEARCH, THAT IS THE WAY WE
WILL GO, OR ELSE IF WE
OVERWHELMINGLY HEAR THAT PEOPLE
ARE SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S
HAPPENING GOING FORWARD WITH
THE APPOINTMENT.
THAT'S HOW I PRESENTED IT.
I HOPE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
WATCHED THE VIDEO OF THAT
MEETING.
SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER ASKED THE
COUNCIL TO SEND A NOMINATION
BACK TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO
CONDUCT AN INCLUSIVE DIRECTOR
SEARCH.
HST EMPLOYEES, I BELIEVE IT WAS
34 OUT OF 35, PEOPLE WHO SPOKE,
WHO SPOKE ALONG THOSE LINES,
ONE PERSON WAS SATISFIED WITH
THE NOMINATION THAT THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE HAD PRESENTED, AND WE
HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE ATTENDING
THAT MEETING.
HSD EMPLOYEES ALSO PRESENTED US
WITH A PETITION SIGNED BY 130
EMPLOYEES OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
I WON'T REPEAT ALL THE POWERFUL
TESTIMONY NOW.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN
SPEAK AGAIN FOR THEMSELVES,
BOTH IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND IN
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND
ALSO AT THE TABLE.
AS A RESULT OF THE TESTIMONY,
AS I HAD COMMITTED TO BEFORE
THE MEETING STARTED THAT NIGHT,
I COMMITTED TO INTRODUCE A
RESOLUTION OUTLINING STEPS FOR
THE MAYOR TO GENUINELY INVOLVE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THIS
DECISION.
JEFF SIMMS FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF, MY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF, MY STUFF PUT TOGETHER
INPUT FROM HSD WORKERS AND
THEIR UNION.
WE ARE DISCUSSING THAT
RESOLUTION, BUT THE QUESTION
FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IS
STILL THE SAME.
HOW CAN THE COUNCIL REPRESENT
YOU BEST IN THIS APPOINTMENT
THAT WILL -- THAT WE KNOW
REGARDLESS OF WHO IS APPOINTED
IS GOING TO HAVE A GREAT IMPACT
ON OUR LIVES.
AND HOW CAN WE SHOW THAT
COMMITMENT?
YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
YOU ARE FREE TO SIGN UP IF YOU
HAVEN'T ALREADY.
THIS IS THE LAW IN THE CITY.
YOU CAN SPEAK.
AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL
ASSEMBLE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
AGREED TO BE AT THE TABLE, HAVE
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THEM AND
THEN OF COURSE, WE ARE HAPPY
FOR A DISCUSSION TO TAKE PLACE
AT THE TABLE.
DO YOU WANT TO READ OUT THE
NAMES?
>> THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS,
DAVID H.I.M., ALEX PIMERMAN.
>> I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW
THERE IS FREE CHILDCARE ON THIS
FLOOR AND IF YOU NEED CHILDCARE
FOR YOUR CHILD, LET MY STAFF
KNOW AND WE WILL TAKE CARE OF
IT.
>> CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS
DAVID HAYNES.
WE NEED A SECOND AMENDMENT TO
ONCE AND FOR ALL HOLD THE
ENTIRE SOCIAL WELFARE INDUSTRY
OF GOVERNMENT AND NONGOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES ACCOUNTABLE.
WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESS VOICES
THAT NEVER HAVE BEEN HEARD FROM
OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS ABOUT
INEPT, UNQUALIFIED, SELF-
APPOINTED, POLITICALLY
CONNECTED NONPROFITS?
HUSTLING THE FEDERAL GRANT
BOOK, WHILE BUYING OFF
POLITICIANS WITH TAXPAYER MONEY
AND PAYING ORGANIZERS,
OPERATORS, EXCUSE ME,
OPERATIVES AND RACE BAITING --
WHO CONDUCT A GRASSROOTS
SUPPORT WHO REFUSES TO KEEP
THEM ACCOUNTABLE TRADING
TEXTURE MONEY FOR POLITICAL
SUPPORT DECEIVING DISTRICT
CONSTITUENTS AS IF SOMETHING IS
BEING DONE.
YET ALL THIS FOR ONE PERSON'S
JOB IS ANOTHER DECEPTIVE
GUARANTEE THAT THE CORRUPT
SOCIAL WELFARE INDUSTRY IS
GETTING OFF THE HOOK WHILE
CONSPIRING TO HAVE ANOTHER
CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL PUT
IN POSITION TO GUARANTEE THEY
CAN GET A SALARY RAISE AT THE
NEXT BUDGET CYCLE ACTING LIKE
THEY NEED TO SELL THE EMERGENCY
CRISIS, WHILE THE WHOLE TIME
OPPRESSING THE POOR, KEEPING
THEM DESPERATE SO THERE IS
ALWAYS A DEMAND FOR MORE MONEY
WITH THE SAME UNACCOUNTABLE,
$90 MILLION GOVERNMENT AND
NONGOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS.
SHARON LEE OF LOW-INCOME
HOUSING, SQUANDERED OVER $350
MILLION, WHILE DEMANDING A
REPLACEMENT FOR ALL OF HER ONE
DOWN SLUMS BECAUSE SHE SKIMMED
TOO MUCH AND DOESN'T KNOW OR
WON'T BUILD PROPER HOMES.
WWW.ALTRIGHT.COM, WHO THOUGHT
THEY COULD CHANGE THE NAME FROM
THE KING COUNTY COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS, AND NEVER BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
THERE IS NO HOMELESS HOUSING AT
ALL.
IF YOU SEEK HELP FROM ALL HOME,
THEY ONLY HAVE A CONTACT
NUMBER.
WE NEED A SECOND AMENDMENT TO
MAKE SURE THOSE PAID TO DECIDE
THE FATE OF ANOTHER LIFE IS
TRUSTWORTHY AND NOT DISHONEST,
SLOTH, RACIST, OR SCORNED WITH
HORRIBLE EXPERIENCES THAT MAKE
THEM A THREAT.
WE NEED A SECOND AMENDMENT TOLD
THE GOVERNMENT AND
NONGOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR EGREGIOUS FAILURES, AND
ONGOING RIGHTS VIOLATING,
SUBHUMAN MISTREATMENT OF
SERVICE AND HOUSING PROVIDED BY
CORRUPT, UNQUALIFIED CRIMINALS
AND SOCIAL WELFARE WHO PAY
PEOPLE TO BE HERE AND LIE ABOUT
MORE RACES AND TO TRICK AND
INTIMIDATE WITHOUT ANY
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR
FAILURES IN COMMUNITY, PROBLEM-
SOLVING OTHER THAN THEIR OWN
PERSONAL LIFESTYLE FINANCED.
>> PLEASE WRAP IT UP.
>> FOR THE SAKE OF THE
HOMELESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALEX TSIMERMA FOLLOWED BY
RALPH NICHOLSON, FOLLOWED BY
ALEX FINSEY.
>> HELLO, MYANTI-SEMONITE
CRIMINAL KILLER.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, MAYOR
DURKAN, WHEN COME TALK ABOUT
CHANGE STATUS QUO.
I SEE MANY DIRECTOR BECAUSE I
COME TO HER EVERY DAY.
NOTHING CHANGE.
NOTHING WILL BE CHANGE.
FOR MANY YEARS, HUNDRED TIMES I
TOLD YOU.
IT'S ONLY ONE WAY WHAT WE CAN
MAKE THESE PEOPLE BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS CROAK WHO WORK FOR YOU
AND FOR GOVERNMENT.
FROM EVERY DIRECTOR, FROM EVERY
COUNCIL.
BY DEFINITION, A PURE CROAK.
I NEVER SEE THIS NICE CROAK.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN?
HAVE Q AND A EVERY MONTH.
I TALK ABOUT THIS.
A TALK ABOUT CITY COUNCIL.
I TALK ABOUT FREE CONVERSATION.
SO WE CAN SPEAK WITHOUT
LIMITATION.
IN THIS SITUATION, CROAK LIKE
YOU, DIRECTOR, OR DURKEN, WHO
NEVER HAVE ONE Q AND A WILL BE
ASKED TO ASK QUESTION . MAYBE,
WILL BE CHANGED.
IT'S A SIMPLE POLITICAL
INSTITUTION MENTALITY.
IT'S NOTHING SURPRISE ME.
SO 4 OUT, FIVE TO GO.
JUST 700,000 DEGENERATE -- INTO
THIS CITY.
WE NEED TO CLEANSE THIS CHAMBER
TOTALLY.
PAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR US LIKE ALL
BUSINESSES DOING.
EVERY RESPONSIBILITY.
ONLY AFTER THIS WHEN EVERY BOSS
TALKS TO EVERYBODY EVERY WEEK
LIKE SUPPOSED TO BE WITH Q&A.
MAYBE WE CAN BRING SEATTLE BACK
TO AMERICA.
STANDUP, AMERICA.
CLEANSE THIS DIRTY COUNCIL.
>> RALPH NICHOLSON FOLLOWED BY
ALEX FINSEY, AND CAMILLE
RICHARDS.
>> I AM AWARE THAT WHAT I HAVE
TO SAY OVER THE NEXT FIVE
MINUTES, MANY OF YOU WILL FIND
INCENDIARY.
WITH THAT SAID, I WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND THE
GRAVITY AS I NOW ACCUSE JASON
JOHNSON OF MALFEASANCE AND/OR
INCOMPETENCE, AND FOR THAT
MATTER BOTH.
THE BLATANT DISREGARD OF A
SECTION OF THE PROJECT SERVICES
AGREEMENT, SIGNED BY MISTER
JOHNSON STATES, "THE AGENCY
SHALL MAINTAIN CLIENT GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURES, WHICH INCLUDE HOW
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE INFORMED
OF THEIR RIGHTS TO RESOLVE
GRIEVANCES.
THE AGENCY SHALL MAINTAIN
DOCUMENTATION OF ALL GRIEVANCES
FILED AGAINST THE PROGRAM,
INCLUDING THE OUTCOME OF THE
GRIEVANCE IN DATE OF RESOLUTION.
JASON JOHNSON WAS FULLY
APPRISED OF A SITUATION, WHERE
A VULNERABLE WOMAN, LIVING AT
LICTON SPRINGS TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE WAS SEXUALLY HARASSED
BY A CASE MANAGER, EMPLOYED BY
LEHIGH, WHO WAS TASKED WITH
PLACING THIS WOMAN IN PERMANENT
HOUSING.
TO EVERYONE'S SHOCK, HST SIDED
WITH LEHIGH IN DECIDING THE
SHARE WAS INTERFERING WITH CASE
MANAGER EFFORTS.
IT HOWEVER INTO AN EMAIL SENT
BY LISA HERBOLD TO SHARON LEE,
LEHIGH'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
MS. HERBOLD STATED, "IN ONE
CASE YOU EXPLAINED HOW CHER WAS
INTERFERING AT LICTON SPRINGS
BUT DIDN'T ONCE MENTION THERE
WAS A SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPLAINT
AGAINST RICHARD HORN, THE CASE
MANAGER IN QUESTION."
JASON JOHNSON'S SOLUTION TO
THIS INSIDIOUS INCIDENT WAS TO
TURN A BLIND EYE WHEN THIS MAN
WAS SIMPLY TRANSFERRED TO CAMP
SECOND CHANCE.
NOTHING WAS DONE BY HST.
IF A CITY COUNCILWOMAN KNOWS OF
THIS GROSS INJUSTICE, THEN
JASON JOHNSON CAN PLEAD
IGNORANCE ALL HE WANTS, BUT THE
REALITY IS THIS HAPPENED ON HIS
WATCH.
IF THIS SHAMEFUL DISREGARD OF
THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A
HOMELESS WOMAN DOES NOT
CONVINCE YOU THAT JASON JOHNSON
IS UNQUALIFIED TO BE THE
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES,
MAYBE THIS WILL.
IN ANOTHER SECTION OF THE
PROJECT SERVICES AGREEMENT, IT
STATES THAT THERE WILL BE A
COMMITMENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD
HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
I REALIZE MY TIME IS UP.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CONCEDE MY
TIME TO HIM, IF THAT IS
POSSIBLE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AFTER AN INCIDENT WAS SHARED,
THE CITY AUTHORIZED OPERATING
PARTNER OF LEHIGH, KENT CITY 5,
HELPED THE COUNT LEADERS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT REPORTING A
VERY DRUNK MAN TERRORIZING THE
MAGNOLIA NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WELL
AS THE CAMP.
MISS LEE WITH HST SUPPORT
OVERTURNED THE BARS THAT WERE
ISSUED FOR FAILURE TO PROTECT
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE
RESIDENTS OF THE CAMP.
BECAUSE OF HSD SUPPORT OF
LEHIGH IN THIS MATTER, AND
BECAUSE LEHIGH HELD THE
PURSESTRINGS FOR THIS CAMP,
WITH PROFOUND RELUCTANCE, DAY-
TO-DAY OPERATIONS WERE LEFT TO
LEHIGH.
SUBSEQUENTLY, MISTER JOHNSON
IGNORED CHER'S PLEASE FOR --
AND IGNORED LETTERS ABOUT
CONCERN FOR SAFETY.
IN THE SAME EMAIL COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD SENT TO LEE, SHE
STATED, "YOU DIDN'T MENTION
THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD A LOADED
GUN.
I CAN ONLY SURMISE THAT THE
SECTION IN THE PROJECT SERVICES
AGREEMENT THAT SAYS GOOD
NEIGHBOR PLANS WILL INCLUDE A
PROCESS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH
NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES AND
RESIDENTS, POLICIES, PROCEDURES
TO ADDRESS NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN
IS MEANINGLESS TO JASON."
UNDER JASON JOHNSON'S
LEADERSHIP, HST HAS
DEMONSTRATED ONLY THE HMI IS
NUMBERS ARE OF IMPORT.
NOT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF
THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND THE
CITY.
MOREOVER, WHAT I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT IS THE PERPETUATION OF
HALF-TRUTHS THAT HSD UNDER
JASON JOHNSON USES TO SHOW
POSITIVE RESULTS.
IN REALITY, THESE SKEWED
METRICS ARE A BENEFIT TO NO
ONE.
INSTEAD, THEY PRODUCE UNTENABLE
CONSEQUENCES ABOVE AND BEYOND
THE WASTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF TAXPAYER MONEY.
I HAVE ONLY SCRATCHED THE
SURFACE AND MY TIME IS UP, BUT
IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THE
STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THIS
CITY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE
GROUND, RATHER THAN ACCEPTING
THE WORD OF A MAN WHO WAS ONLY
CONCERNED ABOUT CONTRIVED AND
MEANINGLESS NUMBERS, AND TO SEE
THE PROOF OF WHAT I HAVE SAID,
I WILL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MY
TIME AND WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH
COPIES OF THE SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTS.
I IMPLORE YOU TO BLOCK THE
HIRING OF JASON JOHNSON.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THAT WAS BOTH RALPH AND ALEX.
NEXT UP IS CAMILLE, FOLLOWED BY
BETTY PITOU AND JEFF FOSSIS.
>> ALSO, JUST A SUGGESTION,
WHEN TED READS OUT THE NAMES IN
ADVANCE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU
KNOW, YOU, PEER.
SO THAT WE SPEND LESS TIME.
>> I'M GOING TO FORFEIT MY TWO
MINUTES AND ALLOW CAMILLE TO
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
>> WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
>> JAMES FOSSIS, A BOARD MEMBER
OF THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER.
>> OKAY.
>> THE POSITION OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DIRECTOR IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR THE NONPROFITS IN
THE CITY.
HERE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE
IMPORTANCE.
IN 2012, CATHERINE LUSTER WAS
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR
THE CITY.
THAT IS WHEN THE CITY TOOK
CONTROL OF THE SEATTLE INDIAN
SERVICES COMMISSION OUR PDA.
AND APPOINTED AS ITS PUPPET,
FRED PODESTA, TO CHAIR THE
SEATTLE INDIAN SERVICES
COMMISSION.
FRED PODESTA WAS THE DIRECTOR OF
FINANCE FOR THE CITY AT THAT
TIME.
ALL OF THIS WAS DONE WITH THE
HELP OF KENNY PITTMAN OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS,
TONY KILLED UP OF SEATTLE CITY
CENTRAL STAFF,
TOM BYERS OF THE CITY RIVER
GROUP, AND WHO ALL ALSO IS A
CITY DEPUTY MEMBER.
DURING TESTIMONY OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, BOTH CATHERINE LUSTER
AND FRED PODESTA MISREPRESENTED
THE SEATTLE CITY INDIAN
CENTER'S FINANCIAL STAKE AT THE
LAST SHY CENTER.
THEY FAILED TO SHARE THAT THE
SIC'S INITIAL $200,000
CONTRIBUTION TO THE BUILDING
FUND AS WELL AS THE $5.75
MILLION THAT WAS PAID FROM 1988
TO JUNE 2013.
OF OCCUPANCY.
BOTH OCCUPANTS OF THE LUSH EYE
CENTER WOULD THEN OWN IT'S
SHARE OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
AND ALASKAN COMMUNITIES.
CATHERINE LUSTER'S FAILURE TO
PROVIDE THE INFORMATION HAD
GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER.
DUE TO THE LOSS OF THAT MONEY
OR THAT BUILDING, THAT WAS ARE
FOREVER HOME.
BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF HUMAN
SERVICES DIRECTOR LESTER, AND
FRED PODESTA, AND TOM BYERS,
AND NICK LICATA, SALLY BAGSHAW,
MIKE O'BRIEN, BRUCE HARRELL,
AND ED A, THE SEATTLE INDIAN
CENTER WAS KICKED OUT FROM ITS
FOREVER HOME IN JUNE OF 2013.
BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THIS ILLUSTRATES THE POWER AND
INFLUENCE THE DIRECTOR OF THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE DON'T WANT A REPEAT OF JAKOB
JOHNSON'S SUPERVISOR'S
PREDECESSOR.
WAS HE GROOMED TO DESTROY HUMAN
SERVICE AGENCIES THAT GET IN
THE WAY OF THE SEATTLE OF
SEATTLE HAS AGREED IS JUST
UNTENABLE THAT THIS MAN DO THAT
BECAUSE HE IS VERY DISMISSIVE
WHEN HE DEALS WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
I KNOW BECAUSE I SO WHAT HE DID
HERE AT THE SEATTLE INDIAN
CENTER JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
THIS UNACCEPTABLE SCENARIO MUST
BE REMEDIED BY THE MAYOR AND
THE CITY COUNCIL NOW, STARTING
WITH REOPENING THE POSITION OF
HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR SO THAT
A MORE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL, OR
MORE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, MAY
APPLY.
WE WANT THE NEW HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECTOR TO WORK WITH THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER, SO WE
CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
SERVICES FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS
FOR THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, AND
NOT JUST AMERICAN INDIANS AND
ALASKA NATIVES BECAUSE WE HAVE
BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 60 YEARS,
AND WE WANT CONTINUE TO DO
THAT, BUT YOU GUYS TOOK AWAY
OUR BUILDING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> BEFORE YOU GO, BETTY, CAN
TED READ OUT SOME MORE NAMES?
>> AFTER BETTY WILL BE JOE
YOUNG, FOLLOWED BY ANATRO
FREEMAN, FOLLOWED BY BOB PARCEL.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS BETTY PITOU.
I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE
HALF OF THE SEATTLE INDIAN
CENTER.
I HAVE ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED AT
THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER FOR
MANY YEARS AND FIND IT TO BE A
PLACE WHERE PROVIDES VARIOUS
SERVICES FOR MANY NEEDY PEOPLE
IN SEATTLE, AND A LOT OF TIMES,
PEOPLE IN THAT AGENCY GOES
ABOVE AND BEYOND.
I REALLY FEEL THAT THE CITY OR
PLACES THAT ACTUALLY HAS POWER
TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD
BE GIVEN TO AGENCY THAT
ACTUALLY GOES ALL THE WAY OUT
TO SERVE TO HUMAN KINDNESS, AND
WE HAVE TOO MANY HOMELESS
PEOPLE ALREADY ON THE STREET,
AND HAVING AGENCY LIKE SEATTLE
INDIAN CENTER TO PROVIDE THOSE
SERVICES TO HELP ALLEVIATE MORE
PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREETS,
REALLY IS SOMETHING THE CITY
SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT.
I AM HERE IN BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER AND SAY
THAT THEY HAVE DONE GREAT WORK.
I HAVE VOLUNTEERED THERE FOR
MANY YEARS AND REALLY BELIEVE
IF WE HAD MANY AGENCY THAT
PROVIDES THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
EITHER HOMELESS OR DON'T HAVE
ANY PLACE TO GO, I THINK THAT
IS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE
AGENCY, SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE
HOMELESS AND THOSE WHO ARE THE
MOST NEEDIEST.
THANK YOU.
>> THE FARMER DOES NOT LOOK TO
THE LOCUSTS TO KILL THE FIELDS.
ANY CONTACT WHERE THE PERSONAL
AND PROFESSIONAL DEMANDS
FULFILLMENT OF COMMITMENTS, THE
REPEATED MISSED DEADLINES,'S
HANDLING OF RELEVANT REPORTS
AND DATA, AND THE FUMBLED
COMMITMENTS PALE IN COMPARISON
TO THE INABILITY OF JASON
JOHNSON'S HUMAN SERVICE
DEPARTMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
VALIDATE THE VERY DEMOGRAPHIC
THEY SERVE.
JASON JOHNSON'S APATHY
RESONATES.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.
THE REPORTS HAVE SPOKEN.
SHORT-TERM RAPID REHOUSING IS
ONLY EQUITABLE FOR LANDLORDS.
EVERY BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
MODEL SUPPORTS THAT THE
CATALYST FOR LASTING CHANGE IS
PROPAGATED BY SELF
ACCOUNTABILITY, COMMUNITY, AND
STABILITY.
JASON JOHNSON, HSD AND MAYOR
DURKAN IGNORE THIS BASIC TRUTH
AND CONTINUE TO ENDORSE THE
HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
TREATING HOUSES CITIZENS OF
THIS CITY LIKE A VIRUS THAT
MUST BE CONTAINED AND
CONTROLLED.
USING SERVICES TO AND AT A
VULNERABLE POPULACE UNDER
DIRECT ROLE IS AN ABUSE OF
POWER.
THE MISSION OF HSD CAN BE TO
GIVE THE PEOPLE THE FREEDOM AND
THE RESOURCES TO CHOOSE TO BE
BETTER WITHIN SOCIETY.
WE AT NICKELSVILLE ALREADY DO
WHAT JASON JOHNSON CAN'T OR HIS
DEPARTMENT.
WE DELIVER LASTING PROGRESS
THROUGH A CONCISE, DEMOCRATIC,
SELF MANAGED MODEL, FORTIFIED
WITH INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY,
COMPASSION, AND DEDICATION
CULTIVATED THOSE WE HAVE
EFFECTIVELY WORKED TO GROW WITH
FOR 20 YEARS.
PROGRESS WITHOUT HYPOCRISY.
WE ENCOURAGE THOSE NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED BY THE PERVERSE
GENTRIFICATION AND THE
EMBEZZLEMENT OF HOPES AND DREAMS
TO FACE YOUR OPPRESSORS WITH
COURAGE AND DIGNITY.
TO ASK THE CITY'S MAYOR AND HER
SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO
CONTINUES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
ENDORSE A NONPROFIT, LOW-INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE, WHO IS
SUBVERSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE, AND
WAS CITED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON TO HAVE THE HIGHEST
EVICTION RATE FOR ANY HOUSING
NONPROFIT IN THE STATE, AND
FINALLY I CHALLENGE THE MAYOR,
HSD, AND THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE TO REIMAGINE,
REDIRECT, AND REVITALIZE THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
FOR THE HOUSELESS PEOPLE AND
FOR HOMEOWNERS ALIKE, SET A
STANDARD FOR THIS NATION.
THANK YOU FOR SHARPENING OUR
WILL.
TAKE YOU FOR ALL THE WET, COLD
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS THAT HAVE
STRIPPED US OF FRIVOLOUS
DESIRES AND FILLED US FOR
GRATITUDE FOR WHAT LITTLE WE
HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US
EVOLVE.
WE WILL BE BETTER.
>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT.
GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS ANATRO FREEMAN.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, I AM PART OF
SHARE WHEEL AND WOMEN IN BLACK.
I BROUGHT SOME MATERIAL FOR
YOU, NINE COPIES JUST IN CASE.
WE HAVE A VISION OF SEATTLE, A
SEATTLE THAT HAS A DEEP
KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL PROGRAMS,
AND REALITIES ON THE GROUND.
THAT ADDRESSES HOMELESSNESS AS
A STRUCTURAL, SOCIETAL PROBLEM,
NOT A PATHOLOGY OF INDIVIDUALS.
THAT TREATS HOMELESS PEOPLE AND
PROGRAMS AS PARTNERS.
THAT HELPS WHEN ASKED AND
NEEDED.
ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF
COOPERATIVE WORK IN SEATTLE WAS
IN 1998.
THEN MAYOR SHALL ALLOCATED
$500,000 TO BRING ALL HOMELESS
WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN OFF THE
STREETS BY CHRISTMAS.
A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE, HOMELESS
WOMEN, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND
CITY OFFICIALS, CAME TOGETHER
TO PLAN WHAT TO DO WITH THAT
MONEY.
THE RESULT WAS LIKE A STONE
SOUP.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOUND TO
START CRITICALNESS SERVICES
INCLUDING A CENTRAL, ONE-STOP
LOCATION FOR FINDING SHELTER.
THE WOMEN'S REFERRAL CENTER.
SEVERAL AGENCIES COMBINING
THEIR EFFORTS.
LAST YEAR, MANY PROGRAMS
BESIDES SHARE AND WILLS WERE
GOING TO BE DEFENDED INCLUDING
THE WOMEN'S REFERRAL CENTER.
WRC FUNDING WAS RESTORED AFTER
TWO HSD STAFF VISITED THE
CENTER AND SAW WHAT IT ACTUALLY
DOES.
WE HAVE A VISION OF A HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT VISITS
THE PROGRAMS IT SERVES BEFORE
FUNDING DECISIONS ARE MADE.
AFTERWARD, WE NEED A MORE
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS FOR
SELECTING THE DIRECTOR OF THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND
A MORE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS
FOR THE FUTURE WORK OF THE
DEPARTMENT.
WE AREN'T THE ONLY ONES SAYING
THIS.
YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE.
>> PLEASE CONCLUDE.
>> YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED THAT
SO MANY PEOPLE SAY YOU ARE
FOLLOWING SO VERY SHORT OF WHAT
SEATTLE CAN BE.
PLEASE, SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AFTER BOB PARCEL COMES TARA
BUCKNER FOLLOWED BY PATTY
MALONE.
>> MY NAME IS BOB ROSELL.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF SHARE,
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
CURRENTLY, I SURVEY SHELTER IN
BELLTOWN.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
CALLING FOR AN OPEN PROCESS TO
SELECT THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF
HUMAN SERVICES.
WE DID SUGGEST SOMETHING
SIMILAR WHEN THE PREVIOUS
DIRECTOR, CATHERINE LESTER WAS
RESIGNING FOR REASONS THAT WILL
BE SELF-EVIDENT.
WE THINK ANY FAIR AND OPEN
PROCESS WOULD HAVE PRODUCED
SOMEONE BETTER FOR THIS
SENSITIVE JOB THAN THE MAYOR'S
PRESENT NOMINEE, MISTER JASON
JOHNSON.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SEVERELY
DISAPPOINTING.
THE DISAGREEMENTS ON SOLVING
HOMELESSNESS OR FUNDAL
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES OF RESPECT.
WE REPEATEDLY ASKED HIM TO
RESPOND TO DIFFICULT PROBLEMS.
OFTEN, HE HAS IGNORED US AND
BELATEDLY INFORMED OTHERS.
THAT'S HIS MISHANDLING OF TENT
CITY 5 LAST SPRING WHEN HE WAS
THE DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR HST,
AND MISTER JOHNSON MADE A POINT
OF IGNORING REPEATED CALLS AND
LETTERS FOR NECESSARY FUNDING
INCREASES AND REGISTERING SHOCK
WHEN OUR SHELTERS HAD TO CLOSE
DUE TO THE AFOREMENTIONED LACK
OF FUNDING.
HE ORDERED A SEQUINED AUDIT.
AFTER MONTHS OF PLEADING THE
CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS, WE
WERE FINALLY ABLE TO REOPEN THE
SHELTERS AFTER SAID FUNDS WERE
BROKERED BY THE COUNTY DIRECTOR
OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.
>> ANOTHER YEAR, MISTER JOHNSON
WAS TASKED TO IMPLEMENT A CITY
COUNCIL BUDGET GREEN SHEET TO
PAY FOR SHARE AND NICKEL.
THE HONEY BUCKET COMPANY
ASSURED US IT WOULD BE DONE BUT
IT WAS NEVER FOLLOWED UP ON.
MISTER JOHNSON HAD STANDARDS
FOR REIMBURSEMENT THAT WAS
ASSURED.
SPECIFICALLY, HSD NEVER ALLOWED
THREE THIRD-PARTY
REIMBURSEMENTS.
TAKEN TRASH TO THE DUMPS HAD
THEMSELVES.
IT WAS MUCH CHEAPER THAT WAY.
MISTER JOHNSON CLAIMED SINCE
THE TRASH COMPANY DIDN'T PICK
IT UP, AT THE SITE DIRECTLY,
THE CITY WOULDN'T REIMBURSE
SHARE FOR THE DUMPING.
WE WEREN'T EXPECTING A LOT OF
THANKS BUT WE DID NOT EXACTLY
EXPECT THAT.
TWO BUDGET SEASONS AGO, THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
EMBARKED ON A DISASTROUS
PATHWAY HOME.
THE REBIDDING OF A CITY SHELTER
CONTRACT, AND SHARE ALONG WITH
MANY OTHER PROVIDERS WAS CUT
FOR REFUSING TO MEET PLACEMENT
GOALS THAT WERE LAUGHABLY OUT
OF LINE WITH THE ACTUAL
PHYSICAL AVAILABILITY, SPACE,
AND THE PRESENCE OF THE POOR
WOULD BE TOLERATED, WHICH COULD
BE WHY THOSE GOALS WERE NOT MET
BY MOST OF THE AGENCIES IN
QUESTION.
WE THEN SPENT FIVE MONTHS
FIGHTING FOR REFUND AND
ALONGSIDE THE OTHER SHELTERS
AND PROVIDERS.
WE WERE EVENTUALLY SPECIAL
ACTION OF THIS COUNSEL.
NOW, THE CITY EXPANDING THE
NUMBER OF SHELTER BEDS INSTEAD
OF REDUCING THEM.
IN SPITE OF THIS AND IN SPITE
OF THE FACT THAT SHARE SHELTERS
ARE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE,
EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING
PEOPLE INTO HOUSING AND
SHELTERS, MISTER JOHNSON'S
BUDGET OF LAST FALL AGAIN
RECOMMENDED COMPLETELY CUTTING
INDOOR SHELTERS AFTER SIX
MONTHS.
TO REITERATE, THE OTHER SHELTER
PROVIDERS WITH HIGHER OVERHEAD,
THAT WERE LESS AFFECTED BY THE
METRICS AND DATA, MISTER
JOHNSON'S CLAIMS WERE SO
IMPORTANT, WERE FUNDED FOR
2019, WHILE SHARE WAS CUT.
>> THERE IS A DISCERNIBLE
PATTERN HERE.
SHARE WAS RETALIATED AGAINST
FOR SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER.
WE DID NOT SET OUT TO BE
CONFRONTATIONAL BUT WE FEEL WE
MUST CONTEST THE WIDESPREAD
CONSUMPTION THAT WHOEVER HAS
LESS MONEY MUST BE
TROUBLEMAKERS.
IN FACT,, WE ARE GENERALLY THE
ONES EXPERIENCING THE TROUBLE.
MISTER JOHNSON, FOR HIS PART,
CERTAINLY SEEMS AVERSE TO
HAVING HOMELESS PEOPLE OR THEIR
ORGANIZATIONS DISAGREEING WITH
HIM OUT LOUD.
HIS CONDUCT IS TYPICAL OF HUMAN
NATURE, WHICH IS OFTEN AT ODDS
WITH FREE SPEECH, AND DEMOCRACY
WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK.
DEMOCRACY DOES NOT RAIN DOWN
FROM ABOVE.
IT ERUPTS FROM BELOW.
THE CITY AUDITOR IS REVIEWING
THE HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICE
DEPARTMENT RECORDS ON SEVERAL
ASPECTS OF EXCUSE ME, HOMELESS
SERVICES AND SWEEPS.
THEY HAVE FOUND THAT MANY
ASPECTS OF SEATTLE'S HOMELESS
POLICIES ARE INEFFECTIVE AND
THAT ALLEGEDLY CRUCIALDATA IS
YEARS BEHIND IN BEING COMPLIED.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE MORE
OBVIOUS REASONS WHILE SHARE
STRONGLY RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF
YOUR PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
COUNCIL MEMBERS HERALD, WE
INVITE YOU TO IMPLORE YOU TO
MEET WITH US AND TO VISIT OUR
SHELTERS.
YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ARE TELLING
THE TRUTH AND THAT WE HAVE
THINGS OF VALUE TO IMPACT.
WE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, HOPE TO
MEET WITH YOU AND DISCUSS THESE
IMPORTANT MATTERS FURTHER.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WAS THAT BOB PARCEL, TARA
BUCKNER AND PATTY MALONE?
NEXT UP, PATTY DAWSON FOLLOWED
BY MICHAEL, I CAN'T READ THE
END OF THAT, AND AVA METS.
>> PLEASE, USE THE MICROPHONE.
>> HELLO.
I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT.
A LENGTHENED PIECE OF WHAT I AM
SAYING RIGHT HERE.
OF GUTHRIE.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA DAWSON.
I HAVE WORKED FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR 12 YEARS.
THERE HAVE BEEN PROMOTIONAL
HIRINGS RECENTLY IN ADS THAT
HAVE NOT SEEMED TO HAVE A
STANDARD PROCESS WITH NO RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS AND
WITH WHITE MALES GETTING THE
POSITION.
IN ONE CASE THERE WERE OVER 19
APPLICANTS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE
MORE EXPERIENCE, SENIORITY AND
DIVERSITY.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER
CONCERNS ABOUT RECENT HIRINGS.
AS A WHITE PERSON, I AND A
GROUP OF WHITE COWORKERS WERE
APPROACHED BY SOME COLLEAGUES
OF COLOR AND ASKED TO STAND UP
AND SPEAK OUT.
LATER IN A MEETING, FOSTERING
DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH
MISTER JOHNSON, WE ASKED HIM TO
HEAR OUR CONCERNS.
HE SAID NO.
HE SAID HE BELIEVED IN ARE
DIRECT MANAGERS WHO OVERSAW THE
PROCESS THAT HE WAS CURRENT AND
DID NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM US.
SOON AFTER THIS MEETING, WE
WENT MISTER JOHNSON HIMSELF WAS
NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH HIS OWN
STANDARD HIRE PROCESS.
STAFF WORKED WITH THE UNION TO
EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS AND 100
ATTENDED A MEETING WITH THE
DEPUTY MAYOR.
WE EXPRESSED TO HIM THIS LACK
OF AN OPEN AND INCLUSIVE
PROCESS IS ANOTHER REFLECTION
OF THE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WE
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING.
IN THAT MEETING, MISTER JOHNSON
WAS ASKED BY A KEY MEMBER OF
THE CHANGE TEAM IF HE THOUGHT
HE SHOULD GO THROUGH A FORMAL
HIRING PROCESS.
HE SAID NO.
HE SAID HE WAS ENTITLED TO THE
POSITION.
THE MAYOR, THE DEPUTY MAYOR AND
JASON JOHNSON ARE ALL WHITE
PEOPLE.
IS THE MAYOR'S ENTITLEMENT TO
MAKE THE APPOINTMENT AND MISTER
JOHNSON'S ENTITLEMENT TO ACCEPT
IT, ANOTHER REFLECTION OF
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM?
I BELIEVE IT IS.
PLEASE, VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION
FOR AN INCLUSIVE SEARCH.
PULSE
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT UP IS THE NAME I HAD
TROUBLE READING.
MICHAEL -- MAY BE, JIM?
>> ANY READOUT MORNINGS?
>> EVA METS, FOLLOWED BY CACCIA
HOWARD.
>> HELLO AND GOOD EVENING FROM
GEORGETOWN.
ORGANIZATIONS AND ANY RELIABLE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP EXPECTING
RESPECT FORM PARTNERSHIPS,
AGGRESSIVE, FORWARD MOVEMENT,
AND PURSUE GOALS FOR PATHS,
PROMISES, NEW IDEAS AND
AGREEMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, ETC.
IT CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY
PROVEN EXAMPLES.
WHILE TRACKABLE INSTANCES ARE
TAKEN BY HEADS OF BUSINESS.
AT THIS POINT OF ESTABLISHING A
TRUSTED EXAMPLE EMERGED WITH
POSITIVE -- OF OUR MAYOR AT
THIS POINT ENSURING ANY
CONSISTENCY. OTHER THAN LIKE IT
IS A CLEAR FALSE APPOINTMENTS,
PROMISES, AT OUR GEORGETOWN
CAMPUS.
NOT WHAT ANYONE WOULD EXPECT
FROM A MORAL SOUNDLY WIDELY
HEARD LEADER OF EDUCATED MEANS.
WHO SAY THEY CAN BE TRUSTED TO
IMPLANT ANY SATISFACTORY
FEELINGS OF A SURETY OR RELIANCE
THAT ANY FURTHER PROMISES OR
VIEWS CAN BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY OR
PERHAPS MORE THAN TEMPORARILY.
SELF-SERVING STANCES.
ALMOST AS IF SPENDING TIME
WHILE BEING HIGHLY PAID FOR
RESULTS, CLOSELY RESEMBLES A
MULTITUDE, AND THOUGHT OUT
POSTPONEMENTS TO FURTHER
WASTEFUL EXCUSES CAN COME INTO
PLAY UNTIL RESOURCES ARE MEANT
TO BE HARMFUL TO THE HOMELESS
AND OTHERWISE DESIGNATED
INDIVIDUALS ARE EITHER BANISHED,
OR THEIR PROPERTY IS SPREADOUT,
OR SEQUESTERED FOR OTHER
UNRELATED CITY USE OR HIDDEN
AGENDAS.
I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING
A LOT OF HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE
IN THIS FIELD AND THAT SINCE
I'VE BEEN THERE.
PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO HELP
THEMSELVES SAY ONE PERSON CAN
BE ONE STEP AWAY, ONE PAYCHECK
AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP OR SO, I
KNOW GEORGETOWN FOR ONE IS A
PLACE WHERE THAT HELP CAN BE
FOUND.
OUT OF THOSE MINDS I'VE MET,
I'VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
IF THEY HAD ONE IOTA OF THE
POWER OR INFLUENCE THE MAYOR
HAS, WOULD HAVE HAD MORE
INTELLIGENCE IF THEY HAD BEEN
SLAPPED IN THE FACE.
JUST THE AUDACITY AND THE
RUDENESS OF MAKING SO MANY
PROMISES THAT EVIDENTLY IS
GOING TO PLAY EVERYBODY FOR A
FULL TWO --
>> PLEASE CALL WRAP UP.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AFTER EVA METS, COSTILLO
HOWARD, FOLLOWED BY KRISTA
SNELL OR.
>> MY NAME IS EVA.
I AM A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR TO
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM THAT WE
HAVE A MAJOR CRISIS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST
RATES OF HOMELESSNESS PER
CAPITA IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
THE MAYOR DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY WERE HOMELESS CRISIS.
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT HAS
COMPLETELY FAILED TO ADDRESS
THIS CRISIS.
THEY VOTED AGAINST THE FUNDING
THAT IS NEEDED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES.
EVERY CITY COUNCILMEMBER EXCEPT
FOR TERESA MOSQUEDA AND SAWANT
VOTED TO REPEAL THE AMAZON TAX
WHICH WOULD ADDRESS THE
HOMELESS CRISIS IN THE CITY.
I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE
CONSIDER THIS CONTEXT IN THE
HSD APPOINTMENTS.
THAT'S WHY THE MAYOR'S PROCESS
OF TRYING TO RAM THROUGH THIS
APPOINTMENT IS SO UNACCEPTABLE
AND WE REALLY NEED TO LISTEN.
I'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE
TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT THE NEED
FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE PROCESS.
PEOPLE HAVE COME FORWARD
DEMANDING THIS.
WITH THE FAILURE OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT TO ADDRESS THIS
HOMELESS CRISIS, THAT HAS FORCED
THE HSD DEPARTMENT AND CITY
EMPLOYEES TO FILL THE GAP AND
PROVIDE THESE VITAL SOCIAL
SERVICES, AND WE REALLY NEED A
FAIR AND INCLUSIVE PROCESS.
I'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE
TALKING ABOUT WHY IT IS SO
IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY, HAVE A LENGTH OF
SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE IN
THIS PROCESS AND THAT'S WHY I
SUPPORT THE MEASURE PAID FOR BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU
FOR INVITING US TO SPEAK
TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS COSTILLO HOWARD.
I AM A CASE MANAGER FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
I AM HERE TO REQUEST FOR THE
COUNCIL TO RETURN THE
NOMINATION FOR THE HSD DIRECTOR
BACK TO THE MAYOR, AND TO BEGIN
AN INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT
INTERVIEW PROCESS.
I ADMIRE THAT THE CITY HAS MADE
A COMMITMENT TO THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE BUT
SO FAR, IT SEEMS TO ME THIS
PLEDGE IS AT A SURFACE LEVEL
AND THE PRINCIPLES ARE NOT
UPHELD WHEN IT REALLY MATTERS.
I THINK THIS APPOINTMENT
PROCESS OR LACK OF PROCESS HAS
MADE THAT VERY CLEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAYOR HAS
THE POWER TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS
BUT I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO
HAND THE POWER BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY WILL BE
THE ONES THAT ARE TRULY
IMPACTED BY THIS POSITION.
IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME
THAT THERE ARE COMPETITIVE
PROCESSES FOR SOME DIRECTORS OF
THE CITY BUT NOT OTHERS.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD STOP
APPOINTMENTS ALTOGETHER.
THE ACTIVE ACT OF APPOINTING AN
INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT AN INCLUSIVE
PROCESS WILL ALWAYS BENEFIT
WHITE PEOPLE AND UPHOLD A
CULTURE OF WHITE SUPREMACY DUE
TO THE BIAS AND SYSTEMIC
INJUSTICES THAT HAVE CONTINUED
TO BENEFIT WHITE PEOPLE OVER
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ARE
INTENTIONAL WITH HOW WE USE OUR
POWER AS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
I AM HOPING THE COUNCIL WILL
RECOMMEND A TRANSPARENT TO
TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE
PROCESS THAT INCLUDES VOICES OF
COMMUNITY AND STAFF TO FIND A
NEW HSD DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I THINK THERE IS SIX MORE
PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL GO TO THE
TABLE DISCUSSIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S
PATIENCE FOR WHO WAS HERE FOR
THAT PART OF THE MEETING.
>> ANDREW MILLSAP FOLLOWED BY
AMANDA LILES, FOLLOWED BY PJ
D'AMICO.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS KRISTA SNELL OR.
I'M AN EMPLOYEE OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND A
MEMBER OF THE PROTECT 17 UNION
AND HSD CHANGE TEAM.
I URGE YOU TO TAKE UP THE
RESOLUTION TO SEND BACK THIS
NOMINATION.
FOLLOWING AND WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY, STAKEHOLDERS, IS ALL
PART OF WHAT THE MAYOR HAS SAID
SHE WANTS.
SHE SENT AN EMAIL ON JANUARY
29.
IN HER VALUES, SHE STATED
RACIAL JUSTICE, RACIAL EQUITY
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INCLUDING
WHEN CREATING POLICIES, MAKING
DECISIONS, INCLUSION THAT TAKES
PLACE TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO
WILL BE IMPACTED BY OUR WORK,
LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER,
ACCOUNTABILITY TO EACH OTHER,
AND STEWARDSHIP.
THIS INCLUDES PROMOTING
INCLUSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE
PRACTICES.
I UNDERSTAND I HAVE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF IGNORANCE IN
LOOKING AT HOW OTHER PROCESSES
HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
SOMETIMES, WE DO TAKE UP A
BIGGER PIECE.
THIS ONE FOR JASON JOHNSON YOU
JUST GET APPOINTED.
I THINK WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE
WHEN WE DO SEE SYSTEMIC RACISM.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NEW.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BE LOOKING
AT THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING
MADE, AND NOT LEAVING BEHIND
STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
IF WE ARE NOT LEARNING FROM
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WE
ARE NOT BEING ACCOUNTABLE AND
INCLUSIVE.
AN INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT
HIRING PRACTICE IS CRUCIAL FOR
THE WORK WE DO IN SERVING OUR
COMMUNITY.
PLEASE, VOTE FOR THIS
RESOLUTION TO SEND BACK THE
NOMINATION SO WE CAN CREATE AN
OPEN, INCLUSIVE, TRANSPARENT
HIRING PRACTICE THAT CAN TAKE
PLACE TO WORK AGAINST THE
SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I HAVEN'T PREPARED A SPEECH.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING
IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR A
LITTLE GRACE AND I WOULD LIKE
TO START BY THANKING THOSE OF
YOU ARE PRESENT AND THE AMAZING
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN TONIGHT.
I AM NOT SURE I HAVE A LOT MORE
I CAN PUT ON TOP OF THAT OTHER
THAN I WORK FOR HSD AS A CASE
MANAGER IN THE AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME
THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORTH
BY THE MAYOR'S LETTER THAT
CONCERN ME IN RESPONSE TO YOUR
RESOLUTION.
SPECIFICALLY, SHE STATES JASON
HAS BEEN VETTED BY A 10 MONTH
PROCESS.
WHEN HE HAS BEEN THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR.
SHE ALSO KIND OF PUTS IN HERE
THAT HIS DEVOTION TO OUR SJ
WORK COMES FROM BEING A MEMBER
OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY.
I IDENTIFY AS AND I AM A PERSON
OF COLOR.
I CAN TELL YOU THOSE TWO THINGS
CANNOT BE CONFLATED, RACE AND
SEXUALITY ARE DIFFERENT.
I THINK THE SUBTEXT OF HER
STATEMENT WAS BASICALLY THAT
SHE THINKS HE HAS A PERSPECTIVE
THAT IS THE SAME AS SOMEBODY
WHO MIGHT BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
BECAUSE HE IS LGBT.
HIS QUALIFICATIONS NEED TO COME
DIRECTLY FROM THIS EXPERIENCE
AND NO OTHER PLACE.
ADDITIONALLY, SHE STATES IN HER
LETTER, WHILE SHE HAS HAD AN
OPEN PROCESS FOR DEPARTMENTS
LIKE THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THAT IT'S WITHIN
HER PURVIEW, PER HER CHOICE, TO
APPOINT WHO SHE LIKES.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY HERE
THAT SHE WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE.
I WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.
I DON'T WORK FOR HER.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AMANDA LYLE.
I AM IN FROM DENVER TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF OF NICKELSVILLE.
I AM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE COLORADO VILLAGE
COLLABORATIVE.
WE HAVE DENVER'S FIRST AND ONLY
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE FOR THE
HOMELESS RIGHT NOW.
HOURS WILL BE TWO YEARS OLD IN
JULY.
WE ARE BABIES COMPARED TO
NICKELSVILLE.
HAVING BEEN HERE AND SEEN FIRST-
HAND ALL FOUR OF NICKELSVILLE'S
MAJOR TINY HOUSES, I KNOW
STRIPPING THESE INCREDIBLE
LEADERS OF THEIR ABILITY TO RUN
THEIR OWN CAMPS WOULD BE A
GRAVE MISTAKE.
I DON'T THINK YOU REALIZE JUST
HOW INVALUABLE THESE AMAZING
PEOPLE ARE.
HAVING MET AND SPENT TIME WITH
MANY RESIDENTS, I CAN SAY THEIR
INTERNAL LEADERS SAVE LIVES
DAILY.
THEIR EXPERTISE AND COMPASSION
CANNOT BE BOUGHT, NOR CAN IT BE
TAUGHT.
IN DENVER, WE LOOK UP TO THE
NICKELODEON'S.
WE LOVE YOU GUYS.
TO CUT THEM OUT OF THEIR OWN
LIFESAVING OPERATION IS TO
MURDER IT.
IF YOU DO THIS, YOU WILL FAIL.
YOU WILL FAIL THE ORGANIZATION,
THE MOVEMENT, AND MOST OF ALL
THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO RELY
ON THIS TO WORK.
I IMPLORE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS
HORRIBLE TAKEOVER.
SELF-MANAGEMENT IS PARAMOUNT.
WE HAVE LEARNED THIS THE HARD
WAY IN DENVER.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
THEY NEED THIS.
TAKING THEIR CONTROL TAKES
THEIR DIGNITY AND REGARDLESS OF
THE MONEYMAKING DATA YOU WILL
BE ABLE TO FORCE, YOU WILL
FAIL.
YOU WILL FILL YOURSELVES BUT
WORSE YOU WILL FAIL THE
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF YOUR
BEAUTIFUL CITY.
PLEASE, HEAR THIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS ARE PJ
D'AMICO AND GLENN WILLIAMSON.
>> TO MY DEAR FELLOW SOCIALIST
CITY COUNCILWOMAN, I HAVE
TRAVELED FAR TO SEE YOU.
I AM FROM THE CITY OF DENVER.
WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WANTED TO
BE LIKE YOU UNTIL THIS WEEK.
HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE NOT A
PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM.
YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE BY
ASSOCIATING SOCIAL WORKERS, AND
DATA COUNTERS AS A MEANS TO
MODIFY PEOPLE INTO CHATTEL.
WE DON'T NEED YOUR SOCIAL
WORKERS.
WE NEED YOU TO TAKE YOUR BOOTS
OFF OUR NECK.
I WANT TO POINT OUT A PATTERN.
THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER, IN
THE ROOM TONIGHT, HAD THEIR
SEVEN TREE STRIPPED BY WHITE
PEOPLE WHO SENT THEM INTO CAMPS
. FOUR BLOCKS AWAY, JAPANESE
PEOPLE WERE SENT TO INTERNMENT
CAMPS TO BE COUNTED.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU I AM NOT
CHATTEL.
I HAVE BEEN SLEEPING ON THE
STREETS OF DENVER BY CHOICE.
I WILL BE IN KENYA IN A WEEK,
WHERE PEOPLE IN THE LARGEST
SLUM IN THE WORLD TREAT THEIR
HUMAN BEINGS BETTER THAN THE WAY
WE ARE BEING TREATED HERE.
MISS SHARON LEE MAKES 20 TIMES
MORE THAN THE NEXT HIGHEST PAID
PERSON IN THIS NETWORK.
THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW ONE MORE
THING.
I PROMISE YOU THIS BECAUSE WE
WERE BRINGING THE MAYOR OF
DENVER TO YOUR CITY, PROBABLY
NOT ANYMORE, BUT THE WORLD IS
WATCHING AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
AND LEADERS FROM AROUND THE
COUNTRY TO BE ON YOUR STREETS,
FILLING UP YOUR JAILS IN THE
NEXT MONTH.
COUNT ON IT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I THINK EVERYBODY HAS SPOKE
VERY WELL ON ANYTHING I WOULD
TOUCH ON.
THERE IS AN INTERESTING
DICHOTOMY IN THIS CITY.
I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT SIX
MONTHS LIVING AT TENT CITY 3
THE ENTIRE TIME.
WHICH IS PART OF THE SHARE WILL
PROGRAM SYSTEM.
THERE IS AN INTERESTING
DICHOTOMY.
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY OR AT
LEAST THE MIDWEST, WHERE I AM
FROM, USE SEATTLE AS A VERY
FORWARD THINKING, VERY MAY BE
LEFT WING, IF YOU WILL, FORWARD
THINKING CITY.
I GET HERE, AND YOUR PRESENCE
ON THE COUNCIL WOULD LEND TO
THAT IDEA BUT THEN TAKE A WALK
DOWN THIRD AVENUE ON FRIDAY
NIGHT AND IT'S A DIFFERENT
STORY.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT MANY
PEOPLE LITERALLY IN DOORWAYS
AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO I WOULD
JUST IMPLORE YOU TO KEEP DOING
WHAT YOU ARE DOING, AS FAR AS
ELIMINATING THAT DICHOTOMY AND
MOVING FORWARD IN A FORWARD
THINKING WAY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO.
I THINK THIS APPOINTMENT IS
CLEARLY INDICATIVE OF NOT ONLY
PRIVILEGE BUT BORDERLINE
OLIGARCHY.
AND ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE
EXAMPLES IS HOW CLEARLY DEFINED
1% IS HERE IN SEATTLE.
I THINK THAT IF PEOPLE GOT
THEIR HEADS TOGETHER, IT WOULD
BE AN EASILY SOLVED PROBLEM.
IF ALL WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS
THROW MONEY AT IT, AND THAT'S
UP FOR DEBATE, BUT THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE
IT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OKAY, SO WE ARE DONE WITH
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WILL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
TO JOIN US FOR THE PRESENTATION
PLEASE COME UP HERE AND TAKE A
SEAT HERE, AND --
IF THE THREE OF YOU DON'T MIND,
YOU GO TO THE OTHER SIDE?
YOU CAN TAKE THAT CHAIR.
TAKE THAT CHAIR, ALSO.
I AM JUST TRYING TO MINIMIZE
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE --
>> SURE.
>> CAN WE START WITH JUST ONE
SENTENCE INTRODUCTIONS JUST FOR
THE RECORD AND THEN WE WILL
START?
>> JEFF SIMMS COUNCIL CEMTRAL
STAFF.
>> CAMILLE MONSON RICHARDS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEATTLE
INDIAN CENTER.
>> -- SEATTLE INDIAN
CENTERBOARD RECTOR.
>> JAMES FOSSIS, ASSAILANT
INCIDENT.
>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
SOUTHWEST YOUTH AND FAMILY
SERVICES, AND COCHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION.
>> SEAN SMITH, NICKELSVILLE
VILLAGE, AND AM ALSO A SHARE
BOARD MEMBER.
>> TIA JONES, I AM WITH THE
SILENCE BREAKERS AND ALSO ON
THE MAYOR'S ANTI-HARASSMENT
DOES, NATION TASK FORCE TEAM.
>> LESLIE BOWLING, HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE.
>> AARON BRYANT, HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE AND CHANGE
TEAM CO-LEAD.
>> FANTASTIC.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SOME
SHORT PREPARED TESTIMONIES AND
THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE A
DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL, FEEL FREE TO ASK
QUESTIONS AND ALL THAT, BUT I
WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD START
WITH A QUICK SUMMARY.
JEFF, COULD YOU GIVE US A QUICK
SUMMARY OF WHAT THE RESOLUTION
DOES?
EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THE RESOLUTION.
LET'S HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
UNDER SHINING.
>> BRIEFLY, IT RESOLVES TO NOT
TAKE ACTION ON THE NOMINATION
AS IT CURRENTLY HAS BEEN
PRESENTED, AND THEN ALSO
OUTLINES SOME EXPECTATIONS
COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD HAVE FOR
HOW TO PROCEED WITH THE SEARCH
COMMITTEE IN A FULL SEARCH
PROCESS IN ORDER TO RESUBMIT A
NOMINATION.
>> CAN YOU GO OVER SOME OF THE
-- WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT,
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA THE
RESOLUTION LAYS OUT FOR HOW THE
SEARCH PROCESS SHOULD GO, HOW
THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE
COMPOSED AND SO ONE?
>> SURE.
IT'S INCLUDING A RANGE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, NONPROFIT
HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDERS,
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE OR ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
EMPLOYEES, AND THE HUMAN
SERVICE DEPARTMENT
REPRESENTATIVES FROM PROTECT 17
AND THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT CHANGE TEAM AND
CAUCUSES.
THERE WOULD BE A REPRESENTATIVE
GROUP PARTICIATING IN THE
SEARCH PROCESS, AND THEN
LOOKING TO IDENTIFY THE
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS,
ATTRIBUTES, THINGS LIKE THAT
FOR THE DIRECTOR AND ALSO BRING
FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
NOMINEES BASED ON THEIR
EXPERTISE, AND SERVING LOW-
INCOME POPULATIONS, AND
POPULATIONS THAT HAVE
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS.
ADDRESSING INSTITUTIONAL
IMMIGRATION, MANAGING A LARGE
INSTITUTION AND PROMOTING
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN
DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, JEFF.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS, WHOEVER
WANTS TO START.
I AM OKAY WITH ANY ORDER.
>> I COULD GO.
THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION MEMBERS HELP
RESIDENTS REACH THEIR FIRST
POTENTIAL BY RUNNING HUNDREDS
OF AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE THAT PROVIDE
SHELTER, FOOD, HEALTHCARE,
SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, ELDERS, YOUTH,
AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND
SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
WE DO THIS WITH FUNDING
PARTNERS LIKE UNITED WAY,
SEATTLE FOUNDATION AND PUBLIC
PARTNERS LIKE KING COUNTY, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, AS WELL AS
PRIVATE DONORS.
IN JANUARY 15, 2019, A LETTER
FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
REGARDING THE MAYOR'S
NOMINATION OF A CANDIDATE FOR
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES, WE
LET YOU KNOW THAT THE SEATTLE
HUMAN SERVICES COALITION IS
CONCERNED THAT ALTHOUGH THE
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS A
CRITICAL, HIGH-IMPACT ROLE,
THERE IS NO PUBLIC PROCESS AT
ALL IN THE SELECTION OF THE
CANDIDATE PROPOSED BY MAYOR
JENNY DURKAN.
CONSEQUENTLY,, THE SEATTLE
HUMAN SERVICES COALITION URGES
THIS CITY COUNCIL TO RETURN THE
NOMINATION TO MAYOR DURKAN AND
REQUEST A FULL SEARCH PROCESS
THAT INCLUDES INTEGRAL
PARTICIPATION OF HUMAN SERVICES
PROVIDERS, PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS, HSD EMPLOYEES,
AND OTHER PUBLIC PARTNERS.
WE REQUEST THAT SUCH A PROCESS
PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
REGARDING WHAT QUALIFICATIONS,
SKILLS, AND ATTRIBUTES, THE
MAYOR IS LOOKING FOR IN A
DIRECTOR, AND WHAT THE MAYOR
BELIEVES NEEDS TO CHANGE IN THE
FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE SEARCH
PROCESS ALSO PROVIDES
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUMAN
SERVICES PROVIDERS, PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS, HSD EMPLOYEES AND
OTHER PROUD PARTNERS TO
PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THOSE
QUESTIONS AS WELL AS CANDIDATES
FOR THE POSITION TO ANSWER
THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
QUALIFICATIONS, AND THE SKILLS
THEY WOULD BRING IN ORDER TO
MEET THESE EXPECTATIONS, AND
HOW THEY WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE
DESIRED CHANGES.
THE PERSON IN THIS ROLE HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN IMPACT
ON THE LIVES OF ALL SEATTLE
RESIDENTS, ALL ALONG THE INCOME
SPECTRUM AND FROM ALL RACES AND
BACKGROUNDS.
THIS PERSON IS CHARGED WITH
LEADING CITY EFFORTS TO MAKE
CHANGES SO THAT ALL OF US
TOGETHER CAN MOVE SEATTLE
TOWARD A MORE JUST AND THRIVING
COMMUNITY.
OUR CITY DESERVES A MORE IN-
DEPTH, INCLUSIVE PROCESS IN
DETERMINING WHO WILL SHOULDER
THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ON OUR
BEHALF UNTIL THEY WILL BE THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF
YOUR HEAD -- SO, HOW MANY HUMAN
SERVICES PROVIDERS ARE PART OF
THE HUMAN SERVICES COALITION?
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 180 MEMBERS.
>> 180 OR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS?
>> MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ARE A COALITION OF
COALITIONS.
OF THE COALITIONS THAT
PARTICIPATE IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES COALITION, 180 HAVE
PAID DUES TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
>> JUST A QUESTION.
IS THAT THE POSITION OF MOST OF
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, AND WAS
THERE A PROCESS OR WAS THAT
SORT OF THE LEADERSHIP?
>> IT WAS DISCUSSED AT A
STEERING COMMITTEE AND WE CAME
UP WITH THIS RESPONSE TO WHAT
WE DISCUSSED AT THE STEERING
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF
REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF
THE COALITIONS.
>> SO THE STEERING COMMITTEE IS
FIVE, 10, 20, 30 PEOPLE?
>> TYPICALLY, WE HAVE ABOUT 15
PEOPLE AT ONE OF OUR MEETINGS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> REPRESENTING VARIOUS
COALITIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MADAM CHAIR.
JAMES A. FOSSIS.
THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTERBOARD,
WE HAVEN'T MET, BUT I THINK I
CAN SPEAK FOR THEM.
I THINK WE ARE IN CONCURRENCE
WITH WHAT STEVE HAS PRESENTED
AND FEEL THAT IS A FAIR WAY OF
SELECTING A DIRECTOR, A VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT POSITION, IN
CITY GOVERNMENT.
CATHERINE LESTER AND MISTER
JOHNSON HAVE BOTH LET THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER DOWN IN
MANY WAYS.
OUR JOURNEY STARTED BACK IN
JANUARY.
I MEAN, BACK IN EXCUSE ME 2013.
WHEN WE WERE KICKED OUT OF OUR
HOME AND WE GOT NO SUPPORT FROM
THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES.
I FEEL THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT, A
VERY STRONG ATTEMPT THAT THE
CITY TRIED TO COLLUDE WITH
AGENTS OF PRIVATE BUSINESS TO
STEAL OUR HOME.
AND $6 MILLION FROM THE INDIAN
CENTER.
IN MY OPINION, THE CORRUPT
DEALINGS WITH THE COMMISSION,
THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER
COMMISSION IS WELL-DOCUMENTED.
THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE RULES
THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED IN
ORDINANCE.
IN HOW TO MANAGE THAT
PARTICULAR GROUP IN MY OPINION.
AND BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF
THE CITY, AND REMEMBER, I WAS A
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTR FOR 31
YEARS.
I WORE THAT ON MY SHOULDER
PROUDLY, AND HAVE A PROUD
HERITAGE BELIEF THAT CHIEF
SEATTLE WAS AN OUTSTANDING
WARRIOR.
THAT'S WHY HE SITS UP THERE.
HE WOULD BE ASHAMED OF WHAT HAS
GONE ON AND HOW THE SEATTLE
INDIAN CENTER HAS BEEN TREATED,
AND THE HOMELESS OF ALL COLORS
AND CREEDS HAVE BEEN TREATED AND
IT'S TERRIBLE.
IT'S DEPLORABLE.
BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS -- YOU
KNOW, OUR CLIENTS AND OUR STAFF
HAVE BEEN LIVING IN DEPLORABLE
CONDITIONS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T, AND A LOT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
NOT COME DOWN TO OUR CENTER,
ONE THAT DID IS GONE NOW AND
WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SUPPORTED
US, BUT THEN HE TURNED HIS BACK
ON US AS WELL AS HIS AID, WHO
IS NOW A CITY COUNCIL PERSON
AND MADE A BUNCH OF PROMISES
THAT THEY DIDN'T KEEP.
>> I'M SORRY.
I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.
JUST IN THE INTEREST OF THE
TOPIC WE'RE DISCUSSING, IF THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER COULD SAY
MORE ABOUT WHY THE SEATTLE
INDIAN CENTER FEELS THAT THIS
RESOLUTION IS IMPORTANT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO RESOLVE ALL THE BACK
HISTORY, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING?
BECAUSE MOST OF US DON'T KNOW
ABOUT IT BUT IN TERMS OF MAKING
SENSE FOR PEOPLE, LIKE WHY THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER HAS THIS
SUPPORT RESOLUTION . MAYBE, WE
COULD CLARIFY THAT, AND ALSO
KEEPING IN MIND THERE ARE
SEVERAL PEOPLE TO FOLLOW.
>> SURE.
I WILL BE BRIEF, IF I CAN.
WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF IF YOU
ARE A PRIVATE COMPANY ON
BANKRUPTCY, WE DEPEND ON THE
SERVICES OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR OUR EXISTENCE, AND THEY'VE
BEEN A TOTAL FAILURE, WHEN
MISTER HARRELL WAS TRYING TO
HELP US THROUGH THIS PROCESS,
WE STARTED OUT WITH $2 MILLION.
WE WERE ASKING FOR $2 MILLION
TO GET US A NEW HOME, AND WE
DIDN'T GET IT.
SO WE ARE TELLING OR WE ARE
TRYING TO TELL YOU IS IF YOU
DON'T ACT SOON, AND WE GO
UNDER, THAT'S GOING TO MEAN A
LOT OF HUMAN BEINGS ARE GOING
TO BE ON THE STREET TO ADD TO
YOUR HUMAN PROBLEM WITH WHERE
THEY ARE GOING TO STAY AND HOW
THEY ARE GOING TO LIVE.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST BEFORE THE NEXT SPEAKER
GOES, I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS JOINED US.
TWO OTHER SPEAKERS WANT TO
SPEAK?
>> DID YOU WANT TO DO THE OTHER
PEOPLE FIRST?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR
GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
IN MY INTRODUCTION, I SAID I AM
THE CHANGE TEAM CO-LEAD.
I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT
A CHANGE TEAM IS.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS A RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES
THAT WAS REALLY BIRTHED OUT OF
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
WITH THE WORK AROUND UNDOING
RACISM.
AND SO WE HAVE THIS RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE.
WITH AN ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT
OF THE CITY IS A CHANGE TEAM.
CHANGE TEAM CONSISTS OF A CITY
EMPLOYEE -- EMPLOYEES WHO WANT
TO LOOK AT THE MANY PRACTICES,
POLICIES, OUR PRINCIPLES, AND
THE WAYS THAT WE MAKE
DECISIONS.
WE REALLY TAKE TIME TO ANALYZE
THE WAY WE OPERATE AND THE WAY
THAT WE CONDUCT OURSELVES AS
CITY EMPLOYEES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A
LITTLE BIT OF BACK CONTEXT ON
WHO WE ARE AS A CHANGE TEAM.
WE ARE CHANGE AGENTS.
WE TRY TO OPERATE IN A
PRINCIPLED MANNER.
SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES ARE
UNDERSTANDING THAT RACE AND
RACISM STILL EXIST,
UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECTING
HISTORY, CELEBRATING OUR
DIFFERENT CULTURES, AND YOU
KNOW, ONE THING THAT ONE OF THE
MEMBERS ALWAYS SAYS, CRYSTAL
DUKE, AS YOU BRING WHO YOU ARE
TO WHAT YOU DO SO MAKING SPACE
FOR PEOPLE TO BRING WHO THEY
ARE TO THIS WORK AND FOLKS NOT
FEELING LIKE THEY HAVE TO TURN
OFF WHO THEY ARE.
WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING FOR
CITY GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT'S JUST IN A NUTSHELL
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO
AS A CHANGE TEAM.
WE ALSO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES
TO ADDRESS INSTITUTIONALIZED
RACIST PRACTICES WITHIN THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND
WITHIN THE CITY.
THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR
POLICIES.
FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THIS SPACE
TONIGHT, WE ARE FUNDERS WITHIN
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
OVER I WOULD SAY MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
WE FUND ORGANIZATIONS TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE
COMMUNITY, AND MORE THAN JUST
HOMELESSNESS.
WE PROVIDE SERVICES AROUND
CHILDCARE NUTRITION, SUMMER
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, UPWARD BOUND,
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, I AM
IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT HUMAN
TRAFFICKING UNIT.
ADVOCACY SERVICES, LEGAL
SERVICES, COMMUNITY
MOBILIZATION, AND WE PROVIDE AN
ARRAY OF SERVICES WITHIN THE
HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO BE
MISSED.
I REALLY WANTED TO LIFT THAT UP
AND HIGHLIGHT THAT.
YOU HEARD MANY FOLKS FROM THE
AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES
DIVISION SPEAK TONIGHT.
THEY PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES TO OUR ELDERLY AND
DISABLED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO LOOK THAT UP.
I THINK IT IS CRITICAL FOR US
TO BE AT THIS TABLE, HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION AND I REALLY
WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO
UNDERSTAND, WE ARE DOING OUR
JOB.
WE ARE IN A VERY TRICKY PLACE
AS CITY EMPLOYEES.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN TASKED TO DO
THIS VERY JOB, WHICH IS ASKING
FOR A TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE
PROCESS.
I WILL PROBABLY SAY A LITTLE
MORE AS I GIVE OTHERS AN
OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
WHEN I OFFERED MY INTRODUCTION,
ONE OF THE KEY PIECES I FORGOT
TO MENTION WAS THAT I AM A
CHANGE TEAM MEMBER FOR THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
CHANGE TEAM IS ASKING FOR A
TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE
PROCESS FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
I DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN OR
DO SOME CONTEXT SETTING WITH
REGARD TO WHERE THE ASK COMES
FROM AND IN NOVEMBER 2017, WHEN
MAYOR DURKAN CAME INTO OFFICE,
SHE ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
AFFIRMING THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S
COMMITMENT TO RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
IN JANUARY 2018, CITY EMPLOYEES
I WANT TO SAY ALL ROUGHLY
13,000 OF US PARTICIPATED IN A
NEW PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM WHERE THERE WERE
COMPETENCIES THAT REALLY
DISCUSS HOW WE DO OUR WORK,
INCLUDING EQUITY AND INCLUSION,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACTION,
COMMUNICATION SERVICE AND
TEAMWORK.
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE SENT OUT AN
EMAIL TO THE ENTIRE EMPLOYEE
STAFF.
INFORMING US OF WORKPLACE
EXPECTATIONS, AND THOSE
INCLUDED RACIAL EQUITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING,
INCLUSION, STEWARDSHIP, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT, THE
EMPLOYEES OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT ALSO HAVE WORKPLACE
EXPECTATIONS.
THOSE INCLUDE ETHICS AND
INTEGRITY, COLLABORATION,
CLINICAL THINKING AND
LEADERSHIP, INTERPERSONAL
ABILITIES, HAVING A CUSTOMER
FOCUS, USING CULTURAL
COMPETENCY AND EXERCISING
ADAPTABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY.
THAT'S THE CONTEXT WITH WHICH
THE CHANGE TEAM IS ASKING FOR
AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
I HAVE MADE OBSERVATIONS ON HOW
A LACK OF A TRANSPARENT PROCESS
IS HARMFUL, AND HOW A
TRANSPARENT PROCESS IS HELPFUL.
WITHOUT A TRANSPARENT PROCESS,
I SEE CITY OFFICIALS AND
EMPLOYEES PERPETUATING WHITE
SUPREMACY BY FOCUSING ON
INDIVIDUAL AND INDIVIDUAL ACTS.
I SEE HOW COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
ARE BEING PITTED AGAINST EACH
OTHER.
I SEE CITY OFFICIALS AND CITY
EMPLOYEES NOT LIVING OR ACTING
IN ACCORDANCE TO OUR PROPOSED
VALUES.
IF WE HAVE A TRANSPARENT, OPEN,
AND INCLUSIVE PROCESS, I SEE HOW
CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE
THROUGH OUR ACTION, WHAT OUR
WRITTEN COMMITMENT IS TO RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
I SEE HOW THIS BODY, CITY
COUNCIL, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
CAN WORK TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION
THAT ADDRESSES STRUCTURAL RACISM
THROUGH THE USE OF APPOINTMENTS.
MEMBERS OF THIS VERY BODY
EXERCISE THIS IN CHANGING THE
CITY CHARTER AFTER HAVING AN
OPEN, TRANSPARENT PROCESS, WHEN
THERE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER
NEEDING TO STEP UP, AND IN THE
FALL OF 2017.
I ALSO SEE HOW THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN
RELATIONSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP BY
HAVING TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE AT THIS TABLE.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
THANKED EVERYONE WHO HAS COME
HERE TO SPEAK OUT TONIGHT.
THANK YOU.
AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD IN THIS DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI AGAIN.
I AM TIERAY JONES WITH THE
SILENCE BREAKERS, JUST ECHOING
OFF OF WHAT YOU SAID.
IT'S VERY POWERFUL TO SEE
PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ON THE SAME
MISSION.
I DEFINITELY, AS WE DO, AS
SILENCE BREAKERS DEFINITELY
SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL FOR
RESOLUTION 31862.
>> SORRY.
I'M REALLY SORRY TO INTERRUPT
YOU BUT BEFORE YOU TALK ABOUT
WHY THE SILENCE BREAKERS
SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, CAN YOU
PLEASE GIVE EVERYBODY IN THE
PUBLIC A LITTLE BIT OF A
DISCUSSION OF WHO THE SILENCE
BREAKERS ARE, HOW YOU GOT
FORMED AND WHAT WORK YOU DO?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE SILENCE BREAKERS CAME OUT
OF SOME EMPLOYEES FIGHTING
RACIAL, SOCIAL, AND
DISCRIMINATION HARASSMENT
WITHIN THE WORKPLACE.
WE HAVE KIND OF MADE THE PAPER
WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AT THE
BEGINNING OF 2017.
THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS THAT
CAME OUT THROUGHOUT THE
DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTING A LOT
OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND
DISCRIMINATION THAT WAS TAKING
PLACE.
WE BANDED TOGETHER AS A STRONG
BODY OF PEOPLE AND WORKERS, TO
BRING OUR VOICES TO THE TABLE
AND TO BE HEARD.
THROUGH THAT, YOU HAVE PROBABLY
EITHER SEEN US IN PASSING.
YOU PROBABLY SEEN ME IN
PASSING.
WITH THE CONVERSATIONS BEFORE
WITH SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND
I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES, OR
I WAS HONORED TO BE THE VOICE
OF THE GROUP WHEN WE DECIDED TO
GET INTO THE ANTI-HARASSMENT
DISCRIMINATION WORK FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
MAYOR DURKAN TO TRY TO CHANGE
THE CULTURE WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND MAKE SOME LASTING
IMPACTS.
THAT'S THE SILENCE BREAKERS.
AND MY JOURNEY TO THIS TABLE.
WE DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION AND I THINK AS I SAT
HERE AND LISTENED TO EVERYBODY
COURAGEOUSLY GET UP THERE AND
SPEAK YOUR TRUTHS, I HEARD AN
UNDERLYING CONSENSUS OF A LACK
OF HUMANITY.
THAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF WHEN
YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO FEELS THEY
ARE ENTITLED A POSITION THAT
OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE DON'T WANT
THEM IN.
IT'S ENOUGH TO SAY THAT 100
PENNIES EQUAL A DOLLAR BUT HOW
MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED TO
HEAR FOR PEOPLE TO SEEM VALUED.
IF YOU CONTINUE TO PUT PEOPLE
IN THEIR PLACE, THAT STIFLE OR
PRESS THEIR ABILITY TO DO THEIR
JOB, WE THEREFORE IMPACT OUR
COMMUNITY.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN
THIS ROOM THAT ARE HURT TODAY,
AND IT'S SO APPARENT BECAUSE WE
ARE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT
A COMBINATION OF ISSUES THAT
ALL CONNECT, AND THEY ARE ALL
CONNECTED BY PEOPLE.
WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION
ABOUT ONE MAN, RIGHT?
ONE MAN THAT IS SUPPOSED TO
REPRESENT THOUSANDS, IF NOT
MILLIONS.
AND CAN IMPACT THEM WITH HIS
JOB, WITH HIS DECISION-MAKING.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE RECOGNIZE INJUSTICE
ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE
EVERYWHERE.
THAT'S AN OKAY IF NOBODY
REMEMBERS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY POINT, I THINK THE VALUE
SHOULD STILL BE THAT THIS IS
NOT DUE PROCESS.
THIS IS NOT DUE PROCESS.
YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IT
SOUNDS LIKE COULD STEP IN AND
FILL THIS ROLE, VOLUNTARY OR
NOT.
THEY HAVE MORE PASSION, MORE
CONNECTION TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT,
AND BEING A HUMAN PERSON THAN
THE PERSON NOT YOU, BUT THE
MAYOR HAS DECIDED TO PUT FORTH
IN THIS POSITION AND I WILL
TELL YOU BEING PART OF IDT, I
AM ASHAMED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
HOW I AM GOING TO SPEAK TO MY
CONSTITUENTS AND MY FELLOW
PEERS SAYING WE WERE FIGHTING
FOR YOUR RIGHTS BUT NOT IN THIS
CASE.
THAT'S NOT INCLUSIVITY AT ALL.
THAT'S NOT A RESPECT TO
HUMANITY IN ANY REGARD.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION?
THANKS FOR SHARING.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I HAVE
WITH THIS CONVERSATION AND I
KNOW PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING FROM
THE HEART, AND I BELIEVE WHAT
THEY ARE SAYING IS TRUTHFUL.
THERE IS NO QUESTION OF INTENT
HERE.
I DO HAVE A CHALLENGE WHEN I'M
TALKING ABOUT A PERSON OR
PROCESS AND THERE IS NO ONE ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE.
THOSE THAT EITHER MADE THE
DECISION TO PUT FORTH MISTER
JOHNSON'S RCSUMC, THOSE THAT
PLAYED ANY ROLE IN THAT PROCESS
INCLUDING THE MAYOR, DEPUTY
MAYOR, WHOEVER ELSE IS INVOLVED
IN THE PROCESS AGAIN TO HAVE
THAT SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT MADE.
MY CONCERN IN TALKING TO SOME
MEMBERS OF THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE CHANGE TEAM AND CHANGE
AGENTS WHO HAVE THAT KIND OF
ANALYSIS TAKING PLACE WHAT ARE
THE ISSUES THAT SURFACE?
WHAT HAVE THE ISSUES BEEN?
JUST SORT OF CUT TO THE CHASE.
I HAVE NO INTEREST OR APPETITE
TO SUPPORT A PERSON THAT IS
AGAINST WHAT I BELIEVE IN
PERSONALLY.
AND I JUST, BEFORE I MAKE
RATIONAL DECISIONS OR EVEN
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THIS
RESOLUTION, I LIKE GETTING ALL
MY FACTS TOGETHER.
WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO
AND WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO
IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, OR
THREE, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES,
CONTINUING TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERYBODY IN
THE ROOM, THAT JUST ALLOWS ME
TO BE I THINK BETTER INFORMED
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEREVER
I STAND ON AN ISSUE IS NOT
BASED STRICTLY ON EMOTION BUT
SOME LEVEL OF THE DUE PROCESS
YOU SPOKE ABOUT.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY ON ONE OF
THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED
PRESIDENT HARRELD, WE HAVE
REPEATEDLY URGED THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES
AT OUR MEETINGS, INCLUDING THIS
ONE.
SPECIFICALLY, WE ASKED FOR ONE
OF THE DEPUTY MAYORS TO BE AT
THE TABLE.
THEY HAVE DECLINED IT.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY HAVE
CHOSEN TO DO THAT.
WE WOULD BE HAPPY FOR THEM, IF
THEY ARE WATCHING THIS MEETING
AND WANT TO JOIN US, WE WILL BE
HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE, BUT
SHORT OF THAT, IT'S REALLY
THEIR DECISION.
>> WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT
WE CAN HAVE IT OPENLY, WITH THE
CAMERAS ROLLING ON CHANNEL 21
AND WE CAN ALSO TRY TO DEVELOP
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT TO HAVE SOME WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS, AND WITH THE
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS. I'M
NOT TRYING TO SOLVE ALL OF THIS
IN ONE DAY, BUT AT THE END OF
THE DAY, I THINK WE ARE TRYING
TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE.
I THINK EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO
GET TO THE SAME PLACE WHICH IS
NOT ONLY A GREAT PROCESS BUT A
GREAT LEADER.
I HAVE BARRY BEEN VERY SILENT
AND LISTENING TO THE INDIAN
CENTER'S CONCERNS.
I THINK THEY ARE VERY WELL
PLACED, AS YOU WELL KNOW.
I HAVE TRIED TO DO MY BEST
TRYING TO HELP YOU OVER THE
YEARS.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE
APPROPRIATE FORUM TO HEAR ABOUT
THE CENTER'S CONCERNS, PER SE,
BUT IT IS APPROPRIATE, I THINK
TO HEAR ABOUT THE PROCESS
BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF YOUR
FACTS ARE LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM
MY VERSION OF THE FACTS.
ONE OF THE COMPANIES -- I THINK
THE ORGANIZATION IS THE INDIAN
HEALTH BOARD WHEN YOU SAID
THERE WAS A PRIVATE ENTITY BUT
I WASN'T SURE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THAT I
WANT BUT I'M HOPING WE CAN
SEGREGATE THE CENTER'S
CONCERNS, WHICH ARE AGAIN, WELL
PLACED, WITH THIS PROCESS
BECAUSE THEN I HAVE TO TALK TO
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HUNDREDS
OF PROVIDERS ABOUT THEIR
CONCERNS, AND SO I THOUGHT WHAT
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT IS THE
PROCESS THAT RESULTED IN MISTER
JOHNSON BEING THE DEPARTMENT
HEAD.
>> NOMINATION.
>> THE NOMINATION.
>> JUST ON THAT, I ALSO DO
AGREE THAT IF POSSIBLE, IF WE
CAN FIND A WAY FOR THE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER TO MAYBE
FOCUS HER COMMENTS TONIGHT ON
HOW -- WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE
ON THE RESOLUTION AND THE
NOMINATION OF THE DIRECTOR
ITSELF, AND THERE ARE LARGER
ISSUES THAT YOU ARE BRINGING
FORWARD.
I DO AGREE WITH PRESIDENT
HARRELD THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD
HAVE A SEPARATE DISCUSSION
ABOUT THAT, AND MY STUFF AND I
WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT WE
SHOULD SCHEDULE ANOTHER
COMMITTEE HEARING ON THAT TOPIC
SEPARATELY FROM ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT.
WE DO HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED
TENTATIVELY FOR FEBRUARY 26.
WE COULD DO IT THEN BUT LET'S
HAVE A DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF
WHEN TO SCHEDULE THAT AND IF
YOU COULD TRY AND DIRECT YOUR
COMMENTS TO THIS PARTICULAR
NOMINATION.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL, WE HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS AND A
LOT OF THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN
TREATED IS BAD BECAUSE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
I AM NOT GOING TO SHUT UP.
>> I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO.
>> LET ME FINISH.
>> MISTER HARRELL, YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT WAS THAT
NOW?
>> HEALTH PORT?
>> NO, YOU SAID WHAT WE'RE
DOING IS THE FACTS WERE WRONG.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.
BUT GO AHEAD.
>> YOU WERE SAYING --
>> I SAID THE FACTS WERE
INCONSISTENT OF MY VERSION OF
THE FAX.
>> -- WAS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN
SERVICES AT THAT TIME AND I
SAID IT'S BECAUSE OF HER AND
FRED PODESTA, THE PUPPET, THAT
THIS ALL CAME ABOUT.
WE WERE $150,000 IN THE REAR,
BUT YOU GUYS KEPT $5.8 MILLION
OF OUR MONEY.
FOR OVER 25 YEARS OF THAT WE
SHELLED OUT.
THAT WAS OUR PDA.
IF YOU WANT TO GO ON FROM THAT,
THAT'S FINE.
WE HAVE HAD IT WITH -- I'M NOT
GOING TO SHUT UP ANYMORE
BECAUSE I HAVE SHOT UP EVER
SINCE NICK LICATA AND ALL THE
OTHER GROUPS.
YOU WERE THE AID.
>> THERE WERE PROMISES MADE BUT
YOU NEVER KEPT.
>> YOU PROMISED TO FIND US A
HOME.
>> OKAY.
LET'S TAKE THIS TIME TO TALK
ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
>> I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
IT.
>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE.
>> THE CHAIR WANTS TO TABLE
THIS.
THAT'S FINE.
>> AGAIN, WHAT I SAID WAS YOUR
FACTS THAT YOU ARE ALLEGING ARE
LITTLE INCONSISTENT WITH SOME
OF THE THINGS I RECALL.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY
FROM THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
>> PART OF IT, AND YOU KNOW
THAT, LET ME SAY SOMETHING
ABOUT SHARE.
SHARE AND SAFE HAVEN.
PLEASE, LET ME FINISH.
>> THE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD --
BOUGHT THE BUILDING
>> THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER
HOUSED --
>> CORRECT?
>> THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER
HOUSED SAFE HAVEN FOR TWO YEARS.
WE DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY.
NONE.
THE CITY DIDN'T HELP THEM.
THEY CAME TO US.
AT THAT TIME, WHEN WE WERE AT
THE LESCHI CENTER AND SCOTT WAS
THERE.
ALL THE PEOPLE.
WE HAD ABOUT NIFTY PEOPLE A
NIGHT JUST FROM SAFE HAVEN
DOING THE CITY'S JOB FOR
NOTHING.
>> AS THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, MAY I SAY THAT
CLEARLY THERE ARE SERIOUS
ISSUES TO DISCUSS IN RELATION
TO THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED
WITH SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER.
I AM IN NO WAY SUGGESTING WE
NOT TALK ABOUT IT.
ALL I'M SAYING IS CAN WE HAVE
ANOTHER COMMITTEE MEETING
AT A NEAR FUTURE DATE JUST UE
BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS HERE TO
TALK ABOUT THE QUESTION OF HOW
THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE
APPOINTED.
>> HE WAS UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF
CATHERINE LESTER.
I WILL POINT BACK TO THAT.
>> OKAY.
>> AND HE IS PLAYING THE SAME
GAME SHE DID.
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
I DON'T CARE.
>> MISS BETTY PITOU.
>> I WANTED TO SAY THAT GETTING
BACK TO WHAT'S HAPPENING, IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND A
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES THAT
ACTUALLY CARES FOR EVERYONE AND
NOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHO THEY
WANT, AND WHO IS IT THAT THEY
SUPPORT BECAUSE THE WORK THAT
THEY DO, FOR INSTANCE THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER DOES, AND
MANY OF THE OTHER NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION, VERY IMPORTANT.
IF THEY WEREN'T THERE A LOT OF
PEOPLE WOULD BE ON THE STREETS.
WHAT THEY DO IS PROVIDE
SERVICES FOR MANY NEEDY PEOPLE,
AND WE ALL KNOW THE HOMELESS IN
SEATTLE IS GETTING HIGHER AND
HIGHER.
AND LESS WE SUPPORT, OUR AGENCY
JUST LIKE THE SEATTLE INDIAN
CENTER, TO HELP BE ABLE TO
ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE
PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING IN TERMS
OF HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE,
IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE I HAVE
ACTUALLY BEEN THERE,
VOLUNTEERED AND BEEN AROUND FOR
A LONG TIME AND REALIZED ONE
AGENCY IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL THE AGENCY
THAT HELPS PEOPLE TO GET BACK
ON THEIR FEET AND BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO BE
DECENT PEOPLE AGAIN BECAUSE IT
JUST CANNOT HAPPEN.
OUR HOMELESS IS GETTING WORSE.
WE AS PROVIDERS, AN AGENCY
THERE TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN, WE CAN'T DO IT BY
OURSELVES UNLESS WE WORK
TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IS THE
CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BE
ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE
NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT ARE
ACTUALLY TRYING TO ALLEVIATE
THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PROBLEM
GETS WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER.
>> IN AND OUR CONCERN IS THAT
THIS MAN HAS BEEN UNDER THE
TUTELAGE OF HIS PREDECESSOR,
AND IT'S GOING TO BE MOS.
AND I JUST DON'T WANT THAT.
>> SO JUST TO CLARIFY THE
INDIAN CENTER WILL HAVE A
FOLLOW UP MEETING TO TALK
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CENTER'S
ISSUES.
>> IT DEFINITELY PREDATES ME SO
I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE
ISSUE, AS WELL.
>> WELL, YEAH.
>> LET ME SAY THIS ABOUT THAT
MAN.
HE CAME TO THE INDIAN CENTER
AND HE WAS SO DISMISSIVE.
>> I'M SORRY, ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT MISTER JOHNSON?
>> MISTER JOHNSON.
>> OR ANY OF THE HSD EMPLOYEES
FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE?
>> THIS REPRESENTS MISTER
HARRELL, MISS SAWANT, AND MISS
HER BOLD.
THIS REPRESENTS THE WORK THE
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER DOES.
WE DID 129,000 UNITS OF SERVICE.
IN 2019 2018.
WE SERVED 29,000 PEOPLE.
HERE IS.
IT'S ALL ON YOUR HMIS.
WE ARE BUSY.
WE AIN'T GOT TIME TO FORK
AROUND.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> STEVE AND I WORK TOGETHER.
I AM PART OF THE COALITION.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO
BRING IT BACK TO THE ISSUE.
THAT IS VERY USEFUL.
ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS ARE VERY
USEFUL AND WELL TAKEN.
I'M SORRY?
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> I WAS JUST TRYING TO
REASSURE YOU IN MY MIND THIS IS
NOT THE END OF THE'S
DISCUSSION.
I DO PROMISE YOU WE WILL DO THE
DISCUSSION AGAIN.
>> I DON'T CARE ANYMORE.
>> YOU CLEARLY DO CARE.
>> CAN I MAKE ONE LAST COMMENT?
YOU CAN TALK AFTER I'M DONE.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THE
CITY REALLY NEEDS TO BACK THESE
NONPROFIT AGENCIES THAT ARE
ACTUALLY HELPING GET PEOPLE OFF
THE STREETS.
THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF THEM
THAT REALLY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND
KIND I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO
SPEND ANY MONEY IN COMMUNITY
THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY
SUPPORT THESE AGENCY BECAUSE
THEY'RE THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY
TAKE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND
PROVIDING THEM ROOF OVER THEIR
HEADS, AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE
FED.
THAT'S A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY
BUT IF THE CITY IS NOT DOING
IT, THEY NEED TO GIVE THAT
SUPPORT TO THESE AGENCY DOING
THEIR JOB FOR THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO SAY ONE OTHER
THING.
ONE OF THE REALLY BIG PROGRAMS
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW INVOLVES SEX
TRAFFICKING OF AMERICAN INDIAN
AND ALASKAN NATIVE GIRLS AND
BOYS.
THAT IS VERY, VERY CRITICAL.
WE HAVE A GRANT FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO WORK WITH
THIS GROUP, AND WE ARE HOUSING
THEM WITH NO HELP FROM THE CITY.
WE DO A LOT.
THIS AGENCY HAS DONE A LOT FOR
THE LAST 61 YEARS.
THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT US.
YOU AND NICK LICATA, AND ALL
THAT GROUP.
AND THE MAYOR AT THAT TIME.
>> AND THE NEXT MAYOR.
>> COME AGAIN.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOUR THROWING NAMES OUT THERE.
THROW THEM OUT THERE.
WAS THAT IN?
WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
NICK LICATA, MIKE O'BRIEN,
McGINN.
>> IF I MIGHT -- ALL THE NAMES
ASIDE, I DO THINK YOU ALL DID
HIGHLIGHT ONE IMPORTANT POINT,
AND I THINK I WANTED TO BRING
THAT BACK TO THE ISSUE, AS MANY
HSD EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES,
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS, HAVE
REPEATEDLY TOLD ME AND MY
STAFF, AND ALSO AS YOU
TESTIFIED PUBLICLY, AND MANY OF
YOU AND THE COMMITTEE ON
JANUARY 24, IS FOR YOU, YOU
DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE THIS ABOUT
ANY ONE PERSON WHO WAS THE
NOMINATION ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY
THERE ARE CONCERNS RELATED TO
THE INDIVIDUAL, AS WELL.
BUT PRIMARILY, YOUR COMMENTS
FROM THE SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER
ARE HIGHLIGHTING THAT THERE ARE
ENDEMIC PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF
CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING AND
BECAUSE OF THE CHRONIC
UNDERFUNDING, AUTOMATICALLY THE
DEPARTMENT'S DRAW BECOMES THEY
ARE FUNDING SOME PROGRAMS
CANNOT FUNDING THE OTHER
PROGRAMS, AND A LOT OF THOSE
DECISIONS AND ENDED UP FALLING
IN THE HANDS OF A FEW
INDIVIDUALS.
>> AND THEN WHEN MISTER JOHNSON
COMES HERE TO OUR AGENCY, HE
WAS THERE FOR NOT MORE THAN 90
SECONDS.
THAT'S WHAT HE GAVE US.
90 SECONDS.
AND HE SMELLED.
HE ACTED LIKE HE SMELLED
GARBAGE.
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT WHEN I SAID
HE WAS VERY DISMISSIVE.
AND THAT IS INSULTING.
>> THE ONE THING WE DIDN'T SAY
IS WE NEED A PLACE WHERE WE CAN
HELP PEOPLE.
THE PLACE WE HAVE NOW IS NOT
THAT PLACE.
THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL.
IT'S ABOUT MONEY.
IT'S ALL ABOUT GREED AND MONEY.
OUR OLD HOME IS EXTREMELY
VALUABLE IN REAL ESTATE.
THAT'S WHY ALL THOSE FOLKS
JUMPED ON BOARD.
SO WHO GETS HURT?
THE HOMELESS, THE AMERICAN
INDIANS, THE ALASKAN NATIVES,
AND THE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON
OUR SERVICES.
WE ARE THEIR LIFEBLOOD.
>> AND YOU DON'T JUST SERVE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
>> LOOK AT YOUR HMIS.
>> I KNOW THAT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT.
>> WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE.
>> OUR STAFF IS WONDERFUL.
THEY WORK UNDER SOME BAD
CONDITIONS.
OUR FLOORS WERE COVERED WITH
HUMAN -- BECAUSE WE HAD A SEWER
LEAK.
IT HAS JUST BEEN HORRENDOUS AS
TO WHAT OUR STAFF HAS HAD TO GO
THROUGH BUT ANYHOW, WE JUST
WANTED TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF
THAT AND TELL YOU IT'S BECAUSE
OF THESE PEOPLE IN THOSE
POSITIONS IN THE DIRECTOR
POSITIONS.
>> YES.
WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY WAS
THOSE ISSUES ARE ACTUALLY
IMPORTANT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE
TO HAVE A SEPARATE DISCUSSION
BECAUSE THIS WILL TAKE MUCH
LONGER TO DISCUSS ALL THE
THINGS THAT YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
I DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS FORWARD.
IS HELPING US TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
IT IS NOT ABOUT ANY ONE
INDIVIDUAL.
THERE IS, OVERALL, WE HAVE TO
INSIST ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND EVERYTHING THAT IS RELATED
TO THAT QUESTION.
>> I HAVE TO SAY THIS DISCUSSION
REALLY RELATES TO THE SAME
DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING SINCE WE HEARD THE
NOMINATION OF JASON JOHNSON.
OUR ISSUE IS TRUST.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD IN PUBLIC
TESTIMONY TONIGHT, AND IN THE
PAST, WE HAVE NO REASON TO
TRUST JASON JOHNSON.
HE HAS REFUSED TO SIT DOWN AND
MEET WITH US, EITHER AT
NICKELSVILLE.
HE HAS THROWN OUT THE DIRECTORS
RULES, AS FAR AS THE AUTHORIZED
--.
HE HAS TRIED TO DEFUND US UNDER
PONTIFICATING DATA COLLECTION.
WE HAVE NO REASON TO TRUST.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
DISCUSSING THIS FOR ABOUT SIX
WEEKS NOW.
AND THE UNDERLYING THEME I GET
IS TRUST.
WE THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A
PUBLIC PROCESS.
FOR ANY HEAD OF CITY DEPARTMENT.
APPOINTMENTS DON'T WORK.
OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE
SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN HOMELESS.
AT THE HEAD OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
SOMEONE THAT KNOWS WHAT WE GO
THROUGH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
>> SEAN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING
THAT.
THE LACK OF TRUST THAT YOU ARE
DESCRIBING BETWEEN MISTER
JOHNSON AND BOTH YOU AND YOUR
ORGANIZATION, YOU PERSONALLY,
AND THE RESIDENTS, WAS THERE A
DROP OFF FROM PRECEDING
DIRECTORS GOING BACK TO MISS
LESTER, MISS SMITH, AND EVEN
BEFORE HER?
OR WAS THERE ALWAYS SORT OF
THAT VOID OF TRUST, IF YOU ARE
IN A POSITION TO ANSWER THAT.
>> I WOULD SAY THE HAS ALWAYS
BEEN SOME MISTRUST.
IT'S GOTTEN MORE POINTED WITH
MISTER JOHNSON.
SINCE HE HAS BEEN THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE WATCHED THE DIRECTOR'S
RULES GET TOSSED OUT THE
WINDOW.
WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROMISES
FROM HIM TO UPHOLD SHEETS
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN
HELPING OUR ORGANIZATION WITH
NEEDED FUNDING.
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, HE HAS
DONE NOTHING TO HELP US.
HE HAS DONE EXACTLY THE
OPPOSITE.
EVERY TIME THAT WE SPEAK OUT,
WE GET RETALIATED AGAINST.
SO WHY WOULD WE TRUST HIM?
>> SEAN, IN THE PACKET OF
LETTERS WITH THE MAYOR, THERE
IS THE LETTERS FROM MARCH AND
APRIL 2018, ALMOST A YEAR AGO,
WHEN WE WERE ASKING THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE WHAT THEIR PLAN WAS FOR
THIS NOMINATION, AND IN BOTH OF
THOSE LETTERS, WE MENTIONED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
CALLING US, ASKING WHAT'S GOING
TO BE THE PLAN AND THE PROCESS?
AND I THINK I REMEMBER YOU
MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE ONES
THAT CALLED AND WAS ASKING
ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR THE LAST
YEAR.
IN THE LAST YEAR, DID THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE EVER TALK TO YOU
IN ANY WAY ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE
PLANNING ON DOING?
>> I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING
EITHER ON THE SHARE SIDE OF
THINGS OR IN NICKELSVILLE ABOUT
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE CONTACTING
US REGARDING THE NOMINATION.
FOR THE HEAD OF HST.
>> AND THEN ACTUALLY, IF I
COULD, I WAS REMEMBERING WHEN
THE IDT WAS MENTIONED, I WAS
ALSO REMEMBERING IN THE DEPUTY
MAYOR'S LATEST LETTER, IT TALKS
ABOUT THE AVERAGE AT THE MAYOR
DID.
IT SAYS THE SENTENCE ON THE
BACK PAGE, IT'S ALL IN THESE
LETTERS WITH THE MAYOR, THE
BACK PAGE SAYS SHE PERSONALLY
MET WITH THE SILENCE BREAKERS
AND THE ANTI-HARASSMENT IDT.
>> HAS THAT MEETING HAPPENED?
>> DID THE MAYOR MEET WITH YOU?
IF SHE DID, WHAT WAS THE
FEEDBACK TO HER?
>> YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THIS.
SHE MAKES HERSELF AVAILABLE IN
SUMMER GUARD.
I THINK THERE WOULD BE A LOT
MORE PERSONAL TIME, A LOT MORE
TIME TO BE ALLOTTED INSTEAD OF
SHORT, BRIEF MOMENTS.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY HAVE A
GOOD LIKE FRUITFUL CONVERSATION
IN 30 MINUTES.
SO YES AND NOW.
HAVE I MET WITH HER?
ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT I LIKE MORE TIME?
ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, I AM A COALITION OF A
LOT OF WOMEN AND PEOPLE FOR
THIS CITY SO ENZYME DURING THE
IDT WORK, I AM NOT WAS PRIVY TO
THE SAME SESSIONS AND MEETINGS
MY OTHER SILENCE BREAKERS THAT
SHOWED UP OUT HERE.
>> SPECIFICALLY THE SILENCE
BREAKERS SEND A LETTER TO THE
COUNCIL LAST WEEK IN
PREPARATION FOR THE MEETING WE
WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE LAST WEEK
WHICH GOT COUNSELED CANCELED,
AND THEN WE'RE MEETING TONIGHT.
DID YOU WILL HEAR FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IN RESPONSE TO
THE LETTER THAT YOU SENT?
>> NO.
>> GO AHEAD, ERIN.
>> ANOTHER INTERACTION WITH
MISTER JOHNSON OCCURRED WHEN
THE CITY COUNCIL MAGNANIMOUSLY
GAVE US MONEY TO GET OUT OF OUR
FOREVER HOME.
THAT MAN BIRD DOGGED US
ALTHOUGH THE MONEY HAD ALREADY
BEEN SET ASIDE FOR MOVING.
HE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK
WITH, AND MY STAFF, OUR
RESOURCE DEVELOPER AT THE TIME
HAD A TERRIBLE TIME WITH HIM.
IT TOOK SIX MONTHS TO GET THE
MONEY BACK.
THAT WAS DUE TO US.
THAT HAD BEEN PROMISED BY MISTER
HARRELL AND COMPANY.
SO, IT'S LIKE HE WANTS TO
IRRITATE.
THAT'S WHAT THE SEATTLE INDIAN
CENTER'S EXPERIENCE WAS WITH
THIS MAN.
MAYBE, HE LEARNED THAT FROM
CATHERINE LESTER, I DON'T KNOW.
>> CAN I CLARIFY SOMETHING
REALLY QUICKLY HERE?
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A
FLOW OF POWER, RIGHT?
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
THE MAYOR MIGHT PUT FORTH A
PROPOSAL BUT WHAT'S MORE
POWERFUL TO ME IS THE FACT THAT
WE ARE SITTING AT THIS TABLE
RIGHT NOW, OKAY?
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT DUE PROCESS, THE THE HIGH
LEARNING PROCESS OF US COMING
TOGETHER AT THIS MOMENT HAVE SO
MUCH VALUE AND MORE WEIGHT THAN
TRYING TO FORCE BLAME ON ONE
PERSON.
THIS IS COLLECTIVE PROBLEM.
THIS IS A SEATTLE PROBLEM, NOT
JUST A MAYOR'S PROBLEM.
IT'S ALL OF OUR PROBLEM.
AS WE COME FORTH TO SIT AT THIS
TABLE, WE ARE DOING OUR DUE
DILIGENCE AND ARE PART TO BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND CHANGE THE
CULTURE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN, I AM
HAPPY TO BE.
I AM HAPPY EVERYBODY AT THIS
TABLE IS HAVING THIS DISCUSSION
AND DIALOGUE BUT IT'S NOT A ONE-
PERSON PROBLEM.
>> I GUESS ONE THING I WANTED
TO MAKE SURE I SAID BEFORE I
STEPPED OUT, FOR ONE, THANKS
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
ALLOWING US TO BE HEARD.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE
CHILDCARE. MY BOYS ARE OUTSIDE.
MY TIME IS UP, BUT I JUST WANT
TO SAY --
>> THEY ARE WAIVING.
>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE
BEEN OFF-TOPIC AT ALL.
FOLKS MAY THINK WE HAVE BEEN
OFF-TOPIC BUT THAT VERY
HISTORY, WE NEED TO KNOW.
I KNOW THAT HISTORY.
I DON'T KNOW EVERY PIECE OF IT
BUT I KNOW WHEN YOU'LL MOVED.
I WAS A CONTRACT SPECIALIST AT
THE TIME.
I CAME TO VISIT AND YOU GUYS
HAD BOXES AND STILL GETTING
SETTLED.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT AND
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR
OUR ELDER IN THE ROOM BUT ALSO
RECOGNIZE THE EMOTION BEHIND
THAT IMPACT.
THAT WAS A REAL SITUATION, NO
MATTER HOW, WHO, AND WHAT, THEY
ARE STILL FEELING THE IMPACT OF
THAT DECISION.
ONE THING I REALLY WANTED TO
LIFT UP TONIGHT IS WE HAVE A
LARGE BODY OF PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO TURN THE RACIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE FROM RHETORIC TO
ACTION.
TRULY LEADING UP THE INITIATIVE
, WE NEED LEADERS WHO WILL
UNDERSTAND THE HORNS AND THE
HELPS OF OUR SYSTEM, WHO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE FOOTS OF
OPPRESSION AND HOW WE CAN BE
WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY.
WE NEED TO TREAT THE COMMUNITY
AS PARTNERS.
THAT'S BEEN A CHARGE OF OUR
CHANGE TEAM IDENTIFYING
CONSTITUENTS AND GETTING
SERIOUS ABOUT CONNECTING WITH
PEOPLE.
WE WORK IN THE TOWER ACROSS THE
STREET, MANY OF US.
WE HAVE TO COME DOWN TO THE
GROUND AND ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOT ONLY LIVED
EXPERIENCE BUT OUR LIVING
EXPERIENCE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS A CHANGE
TEAM AND AS A COLLECTIVE.
MY NAME IS ERIN BRIAN AND I AM
ONE OF THE CHANGE TEAM POLICE.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME TONIGHT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> YOUR BOYS ARE MAKING SURE
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON TIME.
WE WILL RESPECT THAT.
IF I MIGHT JUST INDULGE 30
SECONDS MORE OF YOUR TIME.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE, CAN YOU
PLEASE SAY BASED ON EVERYTHING
YOU'VE SEEN AND ALSO YOUR ROLE
IN THE CHANGE TEAM AND SO ON,
DO YOU THINK THIS COMMITTEE CAN
VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION TODAY OR
IT CAN WAIT, OR WHAT DO YOU
THINK THE COMMITTEE SHOULD DO
TODAY, TONIGHT?
>> I THINK WE HAVE HAD A LONG
CONVERSATION AND I DO BELIEVE
WE NEED TO PUMP OUR BRICKS.
I THINK THIS RESOLUTION WILL
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUMP
OUR BRICKS.
WE NEED TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION WHAT WE NEED TO
CONSIDER AND HAVE THE RIGHT
PEOPLE AT THE TABLE TO HELP US
MAKE THE DECISION.
WILL NEED TO BE PART OF THE
DECISION.
THE MAYOR PUT OUT EXCLUSIVELY
AROUND EXCLUSION AND NOT
LEAVING PEOPLE OUT.
IT'S EVIDENT WE LEFT IT LOUD
AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE
RIGHT THING.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS ON CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE TO PUT THIS
RESOLUTION PASSED.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, LESLIE.
>> I'M GOING TO SAY SOME THINGS
BUT GO AHEAD AND WATCH THE TAPE
LATER.
WE ARE NOT TRIANGULATING BEHIND
YOUR BACK.
I DO WANT TO SAY WHILE YOU'RE
HERE, THAT WAS VERY IMPACTFUL,
WHAT YOU SAID.
WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST
ARGUMENTS I HAVE HEARD THUS FAR
IN THE WHOLE DEBATE.
I DID WANT TO SAY I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR
DIALOGUE.
I APOLOGIZE IF I SAID ANYTHING
THAT OFFENDED ANYONE.
I USUALLY DO THAT ONCE A DAY.
I DIDN'T DO IT TODAY SO MAYBE
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE
ONGOING DIALOGUE IN ALL
SERIOUSNESS BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW
HARD YOU ARE WORKING ON YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE YOU
SERVE SO THANK YOU, VERY VERY
MUCH.
MY CONCERN, AND I AM UNDER THE
PRESSURE OF TIME, AS WELL.
MY CONCERN ABOUT THE RESOLUTION
JUST TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT
IS I AM PREPARED TO EITHER
CONFIRM OR NOT CONFIRM.
THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN.
IF IT WERE THUMBS DOWN AS A
COUNSEL, COUNCIL, THE ISSUE
BOTH ERIN AND OTHERS HAVE
SURFACED ABOUT THIS, I AM NOT
SURE A NATIONAL SEARCH GETS US
THERE.
YOU HIRE A SEARCH FIRM AND DO
THIS WORK, YOU GET ALL THESE
FOLKS, AND THAT'S A PROCESS.
I AM VERY INTERESTED IN
ACTUALLY ATTACKING THE
SUBSTANCE OF WHAT IS BEING SAID
ABOUT BOTH THE PROCESS, AND
ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT THE
PROCESS WOULD UNVEIL, WHETHER
IT'S TRUST, QUITE FRANKLY PEOPLE
BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST,
WHETHER THERE IS BOTH RACIST OR
WHATEVER OTHER KINDS OF
DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE,
WHETHER WE DIDN'T LOOK AT THIS
PROCESS THROUGH A RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE LINES.
I WANT TO GET TO THAT.
MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
METHOD FOR DOING THAT IS FOR ME
TO GET EVERYONE AT THE TABLE OR
IN A ROOM AND START HAVING THAT
DIALOGUE.
TO JUMP FROM THIS CONVERSATION
TO -- AND IT'S NOT A MANDATE.
I GUESS IT'S JUST A
RECOMMENDATION FOR A NATIONAL
SEARCH.
I AM NOT THERE YET BECAUSE I
HAVEN'T HAD THAT DIALOGUE OR
EVEN TALKED TO MISTER JOHNSON
HIMSELF YET ABOUT THIS ISSUE,
OR IN THE MAYOR ABOUT WALK ME
THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE BEING
FAIRLY TRANSPARENT WHEN THEY
SAID THERE REALLY WASN'T A
PROCESS PER SE.
HE HAS BEEN IN AN INTERIM
POSITION FOR 10 MONTHS OR SO, I
HAVE TO ADMIT I'VE SEEN MANY
MAYORS, I'VE WORKED WITH MANY
MAYORS, AND THIS IS NOT THE
FIRST TIME THIS KIND OF THING
HAS HAPPENED, SO I THINK MY
TAKE AWAY FROM THIS DISCUSSION
IS LET'S DO A DEEPER DIVE ON
THE KINDS OF THINGS A BETTER
PROCESS WOULD HAVE UNCOVERED.
I DON'T KNOW MISTER JOHNSON
WELL AT ALL.
I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I DON'T TRUST HIM EITHER
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HIM.
I DON'T WALK AROUND TRUSTING
PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW.
MY INTERACTIONS WITH HIM HAVE
BEEN QUITE PLEASANT.
WHAT I'VE ASKED HIM TO DELIVER
FOR ME ON A FEW HSD MATTERS, HE
HAS BEEN FORTHCOMING.
I WELCOME THE INFORMATION AND I
WELCOME SOME KIND OF PROCESS,
BUT I'M NOT JUST GOING TO A
NATIONAL SEARCH.
I AM NOT THERE.
>> OTHERS SHOULD RESPOND BUT
JUST TO CLARIFY, FOCUSING ON
THE NATIONAL PART OF IT, AND
YOU ARE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD
DO A DEEPER DIVE, GET PEOPLE TO
THE TABLE, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE
DOING.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE.
IT'S NOT ME DECIDING AS A
COUNCIL MEMBER THAT I AM
OPPOSED TO JASON JOHNSON'S
APPOINTMENT.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN
INVITING FOR THEM?
I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO A
CERTAIN FEW MEETINGS WHERE I
SAID I WILL PASS ON THAT.
>> THAT WAS HER CHOICE.
THAT WAS NOT A SET UP, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
WE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS
WITH THE WAY THERE WAS
BASICALLY NO PROCESS.
IT WAS NOT AN OBJECTION TO THE
PROCESS.
THERE WAS NO SEARCH CONDUCTED
AT ALL.
AND BECAUSE MY STAFF HAD A
MEETING WITH 50 PEOPLE, MANY OF
THEM UNION MEMBERS AND
EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO
TOLD US THEY WERE NOT HAPPY
WITH THIS NOMINATION.
THAT IS WHY WE HELD THE
COMMITTEE MEETING SO I DO NOT
AGREE WITH YOU AT ALL THAT ANY
OF THESE MEETINGS WAS ANY KIND
OF POLITICAL SET UP.
IT WAS AN OFFICIAL COMMITTEE
MEETING.
>> IT AND SAY IT WAS A SETUP.
>> YOU ARE IMPLYING THAT.
CAN I PLEASE FINISH?
I TOTALLY REJECT THIS IDEA THAT
THERE WAS ANYTHING, ANY
PERSONAL AGENDA FROM ANY
POLITICAL OFFICE.
THIS WAS PURELY 100% IN
RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
-- LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
HERE.
MANY OF THEM HAVE LEFT BECAUSE
THEY HAVE FAMILIES TO RETURN
TO, BUT SECURITY STAFF TOLD US
THERE WAS 105 PEOPLE HERE
TODAY.
THERE WERE OVER 100 PEOPLE AT
THE COMMITTEE MEETING ON
JANUARY 24.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT
HEARING.
WHETHER YOU AGREE OR NOT IS A
DIFFERENT QUESTION BUT YOU
CANNOT POSSIBLY QUESTION THAT
WE HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WE ARE CLEARLY HEARING
LOUD AND CLEAR.
IT'S UP TO YOU TO AGREE OR
DISAGREE BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT
QUESTION.
I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE
OTHER POINT THAT YOU RAISED,
WHICH IS THAT YES, THERE HAVE
BEEN MANY OCCASIONS WHERE
INTERIM DIRECTORS HAVE BEEN
APPOINTED TO THE PERMANENT
POSITION.
NOBODY DENIES THAT, BUT THAT IS
NOT THE POINT HERE.
THE POINT IS WHEN THE HIGHEST
LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE CITY,
WE ARE ELECTED BY VOTERS, WHEN
WE HEAR FROM HUNDREDS OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS IN THIS PARTICULAR
CASE WE HAVE A PROBLEM, IT IS
COMPLETELY RATIONAL AND
REASONABLE ON MY PART AS A
CHAIR OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE TO LISTEN.
THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.
WE'RE NOT DISPUTING THAT THERE
HAVE BEEN OTHER CASES WHERE
INTERIM DIRECTORS HAVE BEEN
APPOINTED BUT IN THOSE CASES
THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS.
THERE WAS NO WHITE
CONSTITUENCIES OF EMPLOYEES,
UNION MEMBERS, HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS, HOMELESS PEOPLE, ALL
COLLECTIVELY TELLING US WE HAVE
A PROBLEM.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, OBVIOUSLY WE
HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.
THAT IS WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT
THE SITUATION.
PEOPLE HAVE TALKED TO US AND
ASKED US NOT TO DO THIS.
AND ALSO, JUST TO CLARIFY AS
JEFF SAID EARLIER, I DON'T KNOW
IF COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE HERE
WHEN HE SPOKE BUT HE CLARIFIED
IN THE RESOLUTION, IT SAYS
EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WHICH IS A
NATIONAL SEARCH VERSUS A LOCAL
SEARCH.
THE POINT IS A SEARCH COMMITTEE
THAT INCLUDES THE VOICES THAT
WERE EXCLUDED.
THAT IS THE POINT ABOUT IT.
IT IS NOT THE GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE.
IT IS MORE THE SCOPE OF WHAT
ACTUALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
FOR THE PROCESS TO HAPPEN, IN
MY VIEW, THAT IS WHY I THOUGHT
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE
SHOULD DO THE RESOLUTION AS
OPPOSED TO VOTING ON THE
SPECIFIC APPOINTMENT OF A
PERSON BECAUSE THEN IT BECOMES
ABOUT THE PERSON.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT PERSON
BEING APPOINTED OR NOT, AS
OPPOSED TO WE DON'T AGREE WITH
THE WAY THIS PROCESS WAS
CONDUCTED.
THAT IS WHY THE RESOLUTION AS
OPPOSED TO AN UP AND DOWN VOTE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I WANT TO KIND OF CLARIFY.
YOU KNOW, IF MISTER JOHNSON IS
THE QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, MAKE
HIM APPLY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AT THE SAME TIME, ACTING IN
THE POSITION OF INTERIM
DIRECTOR DOES NOT GRANT YOU THE
WORKING OR LIVING KNOWLEDGE
THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHT FIT FOR
THAT POSITION.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE LONGER
WE POSTPONE THIS DECISION JUST
TO MAKE HIM APPLY, THE MORE
HARM WE ARE CREATING FOR NOT
ONLY THE EMPLOYEES THAT OPERATE
UNDERNEATH HIM THAT ARE HURTING,
WE ARE DEVALUING THEIR
TESTIMONY AND THEIR VOICE, BUT
YOU ARE LEAVING THEM ENABLED TO
ACTUALLY ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY.
MOST OF THESE PEOPLE LOVE WHAT
THEY DO.
BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY FULLY COME
TO WORK IN YOUR FULL SELF IF
YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS
ACTUALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT.
THE LINGERING HARM THAT COULD
HAPPEN.
>> I AGREE.
>> SO JUST MAKE HIM APPLY.
POSTED ON THE SITE AND MAKE HIM
APPLY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> I FEEL LIKE I AM AT HOME.
I HAVE TO RAISE MY HAND.
I AGREE.
THE RULES -- THE PRIOR RULES
PRIOR TO THIS RESOLUTION
REQUIRE THAT.
IT REQUIRES WITHIN 10 WEEKS
FROM THE MAYOR'S TENDERING OF
THE PACKAGE FOR US TO GO UP OR
DOWN.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE NOT
CONFIRMED AND THEN WE'RE BACK
TO THE DRAWING BOARD SO I DO
BELIEVE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
QUITE CANDIDLY, THAT'S WHY I
WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE NATIONAL SEARCH PIECE OF
IT.
NOT TO HARP ON THAT BECAUSE
THEN IT'S DRAWN OUT.
MY GUESS IS HE WOULD STILL BE
THE INTERIM BUT I WASN'T TRYING
TO SUGGEST THAT WE ARE TRYING
TO JUST POLITICIZE THIS WHOLE
APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
I WANT TO GET THE WORK DONE.
I WANT TO GET IT DONE QUICKLY.
SO I'M HOPING TO MEET WITH
FOLKS THIS WEEK TO TRY TO DO A
DEEPER DIVE ON THE ISSUES THAT
úHAVE BEEN ADDRESSED HERE.
IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT WITH
ME.
I HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY ON
THIS, AS WELL.
>> THANKS, YEAH, I'VE BEEN
QUIET.
I DID LISTEN TO FOLKS AT THE
PREVIOUS MEETING.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.
I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THIS
COMMITTEE, BUT I AM VERY
INTERESTED IN THE WORK FOLKS DO
FOR OUR CITY AND THE LESS
FORTUNATE IN OUR CITY.
YOU KNOW, I AM STRUGGLING WITH
THIS ISSUE.
I AM FINDING IT, ONE, I
APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
PASSED LEGISLATION IN THE PASS
THAT DEFINES THE COUNSEL'S
COUNCIL'S RULES AND THOSE ARE
THE RULES WE ALL AGREED TO.
I AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE IDEA
THAT THE STATUS QUO IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE AND THAT WE NEED TO
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THOSE RULES
ARE IN THE LIGHT OF OUR STATED
COMMITMENT TO OUR OUR SGI
PRINCIPLES BECAUSE THOSE ROWS
DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COURAGE
CITY STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
, MANY OF WHOM DO RECEIVE
FUNDING, WHOSE ORGANIZATIONS
RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE CITY
TO HAVE TAKEN THE COURAGE TO
ASK FOR AN INCLUSIVE AND
TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
I AM TROUBLED BY REPORTS THAT A
TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE
PROMISE OR PROMISED WERE
PROMISED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
BUT THIS IS ALWAYS THE THING,
RIGHT?
IN MY INTEREST IN NOT WANTING
TO FOCUS ON THE INDIVIDUAL, AND
FOCUS ON THE STRUCTURAL NEED,
TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO, I
DON'T KNOW HOW TO SEPARATE
THOSE TWO THINGS NOW THAT WE
HAVE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE US,
SO I AM INCLINED TO SUPPORT A
úPATH FORWARD WHERE WE HAVE THA
NOMINATION PROCESS BEFORE THE
COUNSEL.
WE TAKE THE VOTE, AND THEN WE
DECIDE HOW WE ARE GOING TO
CHANGE THIS PROCESS FOR THE
FUTURE.
IN MY MIND, I CANNOT MAKE THIS
NOT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL WHEN
WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL BEFORE
US, AND IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO
VOTE TO TURN DOWN THE
NOMINATION, REJECT THE
NOMINATION, THEN AS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HARRELL SAID WE WOULD
BE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THE
NOMINATION, I THINK WE HAVE A
LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE AREA
OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN OUR
PROCESS THAT WE HAVE LEGISLATED
THAT CAN HELP WITH SOME OF THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH THE
QUESTION AND ANSWER PROCESS.
THAT IS ALL PUBLIC AND
TRANSPARENT ON THE COUNCIL SITE.
WE WORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC TO GENERATE THE
QUESTIONS THAT WE THEN GIVE THE
NOMINEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ANSWER.
THOSE ANSWERS ARE PUBLIC.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DISAGREE WITH THOSE ANSWERS OR
PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT
DEMONSTRATES TO THE DECISION-
MAKERS WHETHER OR NOT THAT
INFORMATION, THOSE ANSWERS,
SQUARE WITH THEIR EXPERIENCES,
AND THEN AGAIN, WE HAVE TO MAKE
A DECISION BASED ON ALL OF THAT
INFORMATION.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE
TELLING US IS WE HAVE NOT ASKED
THE EXECUTIVE TO PROVIDE ALL
THE INFORMATION FOR AN
INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT
PROCESS.
I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING ON
THAT, BUT I FEEL LIKE SENDING
THIS NOMINATION, SENDING IT
BACK, IS MAKING IT ABOUT THE
PERSON.
I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO
SEPARATE THAT IN MY MIND.
>> CAN I JUMP IN?
I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR
THE HUMAN SERVICES COALITION IS
WHAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD IN THIS
ENTIRE PROCESS IS WHAT IS THE
MAYOR'S INTEREST IN HUMAN
SERVICES?
WHAT IS HER VISION FOR HUMAN
SERVICES?
HOW DOES SHE THINK THE
DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE OPERATED?
HAD WE HAD EVEN SOME SEMBLANCE
OF A PROCESS THAT LED US TO
THAT UNDERSTANDING, I THINK WE
WOULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
WHAT IS PARTICULARLY IRKSOME
FOR US, INTO THE 30 YEARS I
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES COALITION, THIS IS THE
FIRST MAYOR WHO HAS NOT MET
WITH THE COALITION IN A FULL
YEAR AND TWO MONTHS OF HER
TERM.
WE THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE BEFORE
A DECISION OF THIS IMPORT IS
MADE THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OF THE CITY TAKE THE TIME TO
COME AND TALK TO ONE OF THE KEY
CONSTITUENCIES THAT WOULD HELP
SHAPE THAT DECISION.
IT WASN'T DONE.
WE ARE SAYING I THINK IT'S IN
THE COUNCIL'S PURVIEW TO SEND
THE DECISION BACK TO THE MAYOR
AND SAY DO A BETTER PROCESS.
BECAUSE IT ISN'T ABOUT THE
PERSON, IT IS ABOUT THE
PROCESS.
IN OUR MINDS.
>> I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THAT
ON THE ONE HAND, THERE WAS A
PROMISE THAT YOU REFERRED TO,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD THAT I
READ IN MY RESPONSE TO THE
MAYOR, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE --
HSD EMPLOYEES AND THE CHANGE
TEAM ARE ESPECIALLY NOT IN
FAVOR OF THE WAY THIS HAPPENED
BECAUSE THEY WERE PROMISED AN
INCLUSIVE PROCESS AND THERE WAS
ACTUALLY -- I JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY.
WHEN YOU SAY PROCESS, WHAT DOES
IT IMPLY?
IT IMPLIES SOME SORT OF
ENGAGEMENT WITH SOME SECTION OF
THE COMMUNITY OR ANOTHER.
WHEN I SAY PROCESS, THAT'S WHAT
I MEAN.
THERE WAS NO SUCH THING.
LET'S BE CLEAR.
THERE WAS NO PROCESS AND MANY
OF YOUR KNOTTING WHICH MEANS
YOU'RE DEFINING THE PROCESS THE
SAME WAY.
AS TO THE QUESTION OF SHOULDN'T
WE VOTE ON THIS NOMINATION
ITSELF RATHER THAN GO TO
RESOLUTION BECAUSE THERE IS A
SENSE OF AND THE, WELL, LET ME
TALK ABOUT A SENSE OF URGENCY.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
SAID WHEN I OPENED THIS MEETING
TONIGHT.
MY STAFF MEMBER SEND AN EMAIL
TO THE MAN'S STAFF ON MARCH 23
OF LAST YEAR SAYING PEOPLE ARE
ASKING ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT
PROCESS FOR THE NEW
COUNCILMEMBER DIRECTOR.
HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GET
ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT?
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMEONE
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BRIEFLY
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ABOUT
THE INTENDED PROCESS BEFORE
DIRECTOR LESTER'S LAST DATE.
THAT WAS THE LETTER ON MARCH
23.
WE WERE CLEARLY DOING OUR DUE
DILIGENCE FOLLOWING UP WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE EVEN BEFORE THE
PREVIOUS DIRECTOR WAS DUE FOR
HER LAST DAY.
APRIL 17, 2018, HI ANTHONY, YOU
AND I TALKED ONE OR TWO MONTHS
AGO ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS
FOR NOMINATING A NEW DIRECTOR
OF HSD.
IS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE READY TO
PRESENT TO THE COMMITTEE ABOUT
WHAT THAT PROCESS WILL LOOK
LIKE?
JUST TO REMIND YOU, WE'RE
GETTING CONSTITUENT INQUIRIES
ABOUT THIS AND WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL PEOPLE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT PLANNED A
PROCESS YET BUT HAVE SOME IDEA
OF WHEN THAT PROCESS WILL
BEGIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
THAT, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP."
IT WAS NOT FOR LACK OF
FOLLOWING UP FROM THE COUNCIL
THAT WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF HAVE
SPOKEN, NOT BECAUSE MY OFFICE
HAS ANY SPECIFIC AGENDA ON THIS
OR THAT APPOINTMENT.
SO IF THERE IS A SENSE OF
URGENCY, WE SHOULD HAVE HEARD
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE A LONG
TIME AGO AND I AGREE THERE HAVE
BEEN RULES SET UP, AND IN
GENERAL, THOSE RULES ARE
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT
THINGS TO BE STUCK FOREVER IN
AN ENDLESS BUREAUCRATIC
DISCUSSION.
HOWEVER, THE RULES HAVE TO BE A
LIVING BODY, MEANING WHEN WE
HEAR FROM HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE,
WE CAN'T TELL THEM THESE ARE
THE RULES SO WE CAN'T DO WHAT
YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO.
INSTEAD, IT'S OUR JOB THEN, AS
THE CITY COUNCIL TO SAY WE DO
HAVE THE RULES AND THE GENERAL
GUIDELINES, BUT CLEARLY, WE ARE
HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR FROM
PEOPLE THEY WANT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
HOW CAN WE IGNORE THAT?
THAT'S THE QUESTION HERE.
AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
SHARE YOUR FEELING ABOUT NOT
MAKING IT ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL.
I DON'T EITHER.
MY FEAR IS IF WE CALL FOR A
VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF
MISTER JOHNSON, IT BECOMES
ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL.
HOW CAN I GOOD CONSCIENCE VOTE
YES ON IT WHEN I'VE HEARD FROM
HUNDREDS OF MY CONSTITUENTS
SAYING THEY WANT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, AND THEN IF I VOTE
NOW IT BECOMES NOW ON AN
INDIVIDUAL.
>> AND RESPOND TO THAT?
>> LET ME JUST FINISHED.
IN MY VIEW, THE RESOLUTION WAS
A WAY EXACTLY THE PROBLEM YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
LET'S NOT MAKE IT ABOUT AN
INDIVIDUAL.
LET'S HAVE A SEARCH COMMITTEE
THAT INCLUDES ALL THESE VOICES
SO THEN WE CAN COLLECTIVELY
DECIDE AND AS YOU SAID, MISTER
JOHNSON IS TOTALLY FREE TO
APPLY.
>> CHAIR, MAY I SPEAK?
>> PLEASE, DO BUT I DO WANT TO
RESPECT MY COLLEAGUE FOR HER
RESPONSE.
>> SO, I GUESS WHAT I WAS
TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THROUGH
THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS, I
WOULD HOPE WE CAN WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND CODEVELOPING
QUESTIONS THAT COULD GET TO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION UPON
WHICH WE CAN BASE OUR DECISION
MAKING ON BECAUSE AGAIN, I
DON'T DISAGREE THAT WE NEED TO
MAKE CHANGES WITH THE PROCESS.
FOR ME IT'S ABOUT CHANGING THE
SEQUENCING OF THOSE PROCESSES.
FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT A LIMIT TO
THE COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY TO SEND
BACK AN APPOINTMENT.
IT IS THE EXECUTIVE'S
PREROGATIVE TO SEND US THEIR
APPOINTMENT AND LET THE CHIPS
FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
IN MY MIND, THE WAY WE WOULD
CHANGE THE PROCESS IS WE MAKE
AMENDMENTS TO THE RESOLUTION
THAT WAS PASSED SEVERAL YEARS
AGO AND WE MAKE VERY CLEAR TO
THE EXECUTIVE THAT WE WILL MAKE
OUR DECISIONS AS A COUNCIL
BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT X, Y
OR Z THINGS ARE DONE.
THAT WAY EVERYBODY IS IN THEIR
LANE ACCORDING TO WHAT THEIR
ROLE IS.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I AGREE WITH
YOU.
I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS
THIS COUNCIL IS GOING TO ACT
ON.
THIS HOMELESS ISSUE HAS BEEN
AROUND FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND
THE COUNCIL HAS DONE NOTHING.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT
THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES
DEALS WITH ALL THESE GROUPS
TRYING TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS.
THIS PERSON HASN'T DONE THAT.
WHY IS THIS COUNCIL AFRAID OF A
NATIONAL SEARCH?
YOU DO IT FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
WHY NOT GO BACK TO THE MAYOR
AND SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WE WANT SOMEBODY WHO WILL BUY
INTO THE URGENCY OF THE
HOMELESS ISSUES THAT THESE FOLKS
HAVE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
THEY HAD THE COURAGE TO SPEAK
AND I DON'T THINK YOU ARE
LISTENING.
I THINK YOU ARE, BUT --
>> PERHAPS, YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT ME, I DON'T KNOW BUT LET
ME BE VERY CLEAR.
I AM NOT AFRAID OF A NATIONAL
SEARCH.
I WILL REPEAT IT.
I AM NOT AFRAID OF A NATIONAL
SEARCH.
WHAT I SAID IS OR NOT THERE.
EITHER ESTHER JOHNSON IS RIGHT
OR WRONG FOR THE JOB.
I NEED TO KNOW THE CRITERIA
WITH WHICH I WILL MAKE THAT
CALL.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES
THE CITY COUNCIL REALLY WEIGHS
IN ON A DEPARTMENT HEAD.
I DON'T SQUANDER THAT.
I DON'T RUBBER STAMP THAT.
I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT
GOT US TO THIS POINT SO DON'T
MISQUOTE ME WHEN I SAID NO I AM
NOT THERE YET.
I AM NOT GOING TO GO TO A
NATIONAL SEARCH WHEN WE HAVEN'T
DONE THE HARD WORK WITH THE
RACE AND EQUITY TEAM, AND WE
HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE ISSUES
THAT CAN SURFACE IN THAT
PROCESS.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE FOR ME.
>> IF YOU GO BACK TO THE
RECORD, I DIDN'T SPECIFY YOU.
>> I DON'T REALLY CARE.
I AM JUST SPEAKING ON MY
IMPRESSION OF THIS CONVERSATION.
THAT WE MAY END UP IN A
NATIONAL SEARCH, AND THAT MIGHT
BE A GOOD THING.
>> BRUCE, YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE
OF THIS.
>>I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN,
THIS IS ALL OF OUR BODY OF
WORK.
I WILL BE QUICK.
I HAVE TO GO, SO I WILL BE
QUICK.
>> WE ARE FRIENDS SO WE CAN
TALK TO EACH OTHER THAT WAY.
>> I DON'T NEED AN EXPLANATION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY WE TALK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF YOU AS
BEING IN THE POSITIONS YOU'RE
IN.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT RESOLUTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS.
WHAT I AM HEARING IS A LOT OF
HESITATION.
WHICH DOESN'T GIVE ANY
SEMBLANCE OF HOPE TO THE PEOPLE
WHO CAME HERE.
WE HAVE RULES FOR A REASON, BUT
AS TIMES CHANGE, IT'S OUR
OBLIGATION TO CHANGE THAT.
THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE TIME
JUST MAKES THOSE THAT ARE
SUFFERING SUFFER LONGER.
IF THE ASK IS JUST AGAIN I
DON'T CARE ABOUT A NATIONAL
SEARCH OR A LOCAL SEARCH, WHAT
I'M JUST SAYING IS HAVE HIM
SUBMIT HIS RCSUMC AND FILL OUT
THE QUESTIONNAIRES, AND PUT
THAT ON WWW.SEATTLE.GOV, AND
MAKE HIM APPLY LIKE EVERYBODY
ELSE.
IF AT THAT POINT, IF YOU GUYS
STILL FEEL LIKE HE'S THE BEST
CANDIDATE, LET THE MAYOR DO
WHAT SHE WANTS.
LET ANYBODY DO WHAT THEY WANT,
BUT BEING PART OF THE RSJI IS
THE EQUITY OF HOW PEOPLE ARE
BEING HIRED.
IF YOU'RE NOT GIVING THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO
APPLY, HOW IS THAT EQUITABLE?
>> I WANT TO SNEAK IN BEFORE
YOU, SHAWN.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE
COUNCIL'S RULES ARE IN
PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING.
WITH THE HELP OF JEFF, WE HAVE
THE RESOLUTION THAT STATES THE
COUNCIL'S RULES HERE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S
RESOLUTION.
SO IT IS NOT LAW.
IT USES WORDS LIKE -- IN FACT,
EVERYTHING THAT IT SAYS ABOUT
THE PROCESS STARTS WITH THE
LINE, "THIS CITY COUNCIL
INTENDS TO FOLLOW THESE STEPS."
SO EVERYTHING HERE IS AN
INTENTION.
I WOULD HOPE THAT NOBODY WOULD
THINK THIS INTENTION PASSED IN
2007 WOULD SUPERSEDE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
FOR THE 10 WEEKS COMES FROM,
THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT
COUNCIL MUST DO THIS IN 10
WEEKS.
THAT'S FROM THIS RESOLUTION.
COUNCIL INTENDS TO HAVE THIS
RESOLVED IN 10 WEEKS.
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT
THAT HAPPENS.
IF COUNCIL NEVER VOTES ON IT,
THAT THE ENTIRE LEGAL.
COUNCIL HAS A PROCEDURE TO
RETIRE LEGISLATION THAT WAS
NEVER VOTED ON AND IT JUST GOES
AWAY.
THAT'S SOMETHING COUNCIL DOES
OVER YEAR WITH BILLS THAT ARE
NEVER VOTED ON.
THIS RESOLUTION FROM 2007 HAS
EXACTLY THE SAME LEGAL WEIGHT
AS THIS RESOLUTION THAT SEAN
HAS BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY.
SO, WE TALK ABOUT WE COULD
CHANGE THE RULES.
WE COULD CHANGE THE PROCEDURE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS NEW
RESOLUTION DOES.
IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE PROMISED TO
INVOLVE PEOPLE AND THEN DIDN'T,
SO IF WE THEN USE THE QUESTION
AND ANSWER PROCESS, AND ALL
THAT, TO GET PROMISES FOR NEXT
TIME, THEN ALL WE ARE SAYING IS
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW YOUR
PROMISES BECAUSE IF YOU TO WE
RUBBERSTAMP YOUR CANDIDATE
ANYWAY.
>> EXACTLY.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IF I HAD
A VOTE, I WOULD TELL THE MAYOR,
GO BACK TO THE TABLE.
THIS GUY IS NOT QUALIFIED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU KNOW, SOLUTIONS COME
FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
THEY DON'T COME FROM TOP DOWN.
TOP DOWN DOESN'T WORK.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE LAST
YEAR.
YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT
PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU AND
PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS IN THIS
ARE TELLING YOU HE'S NOT RIGHT.
>> I REALLY WANT TO GET THROUGH
THIS.
JUST ON THE NOTE THAT SEAN LEFT
OFF, I WANT TO REITERATE ONE
THING, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS A
SITUATION WHERE THE INPUT THAT
WE HAVE GOTTEN AS A COUNCIL FROM
ORDINARY PEOPLE, SERVICE
PROVIDERS, THE SILENCE BREAKERS
WHO ARE DOING VERY IMPORTANT
WORK, FROM HSD EMPLOYEES HAS
NOT BEEN AMBIGUOUS.
IN NO WAY HAS IT BEEN AMBIGUOUS
ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT FROM
THIS.
THEY ARE VERY CLEAR THAT THEY
DON'T WANT A SITUATION WHERE
THERE WAS NO INCLUSION AT ALL,
NO TRANSPLANT SEATTLE.
WE ARE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT
SOME INCLUSION AND OTHER GROUPS
NOT BEING INCLUDED.
THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION, AS WE
HAVE CLEARLY SHOWN TO PREVENT
THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE REPEATEDLY BUT
THERE WAS NO NEWS.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY NEWS TO TELL
ANYBODY.
AND THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO
MAKE AND I FEEL LIKE I AS A
CITY COUNCILMEMBER, AND
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FEEL
LIKE I HAVE HEARD A LOT FROM
PEOPLE.
IT'S THE PREROGATIVE OF EVERY
COUNCILMEMBER HERE TO DO WHAT
THEY WANT TO DO BUT I WILL BE
CALLING THE RESOLUTION TO A
VOTE IN COMMITTEE IN A SECOND
BUT I WANTED TO RESPOND TO A
IMPORTANT POINT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD MADE.
WHY NOT INCORPORATE ALL THE
CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS AND TO
THE NOMINATION, THE APPOINTMENT
HEARING OF MISTER JOHNSON
HIMSELF, AND BRING ALL OF THAT.
THAT IS NOT IN ITSELF IS NOT --
I TAKE THAT IN COMPLETELY GOOD
FAITH IF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAD
NOT SPOKEN UP BUT THEY JUST
WANTED TO ASK QUESTIONS, I
WOULD SAY TILL THE MAYOR TO
TAKE THIS BACK AND APPOINT A
SEARCH COMMITTEE BUT INSTEAD
PEOPLE SAY ASK HIM HARD
QUESTIONS.
I WOULD TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE ARE
SAYING.
PEOPLE ARE SAYING TELL THE
MAYOR TO TAKE THIS BACK.
I ALSO HAVE A LARGER CONCERN,
WHICH IS THAT WE CAN
INCORPORATE ALL KINDS OF
QUESTIONS, BUT IN REALITY, THAT
IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE IN THE SENSE
THAT IT'S WHEN PEOPLE GET
ORGANIZED AND COME TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE WIN
ACCOUNTABILITY.
IN MY HONEST OPINION, IT WILL
NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH AT ALL TO ASK
ANY NOMINEE QUESTIONS WHEN
THERE ARE SUCH DEEP CONCERNS
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
RELATION TO HOMELESSNESS.
CLEARLY, IT IS NOT ABOUT ONE
PERSON.
IT'S ABOUT A WHOLE THING THAT'S
HAPPENING.
GIVEN ALL OF THAT, I AS AN
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE MYSELF
AM FULLY CONVINCED WE SHOULD
BRING THIS TO A VOTE, SO IF YOU
WANT TO WEIGH IN, PLEASE DO.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY WHAT
I MEAN BY THE QUESTION AND
ANSWER PROCESS.
I THINK WE COULD CREATE AN
INCLUSIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER
PROCESS, WHERE WE WORK ON
QUESTIONS TOGETHER AND REVIEW
THE ANSWERS TOGETHER.
IF WE DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT THE
ANSWERS SAY, THE COMMUNITY HAS
A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE, THEY
TELL US THAT IS NOT THEIR
EXPERIENCE.
IF WE IDENTIFY PROBLEMS THROUGH
THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD,
WE COULD CREATE SOME SORT OF AN
ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS AROUND
THOSE PROBLEMS.
YOU AS THE CHAIR COULD DO THAT.
AGAIN, I WANT US TO BE CREATIVE
ABOUT THE MOMENT WE ARE IN AND
ALSO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE
HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE FACT THAT
OUR PROCESS CANNOT REMAIN A
STATUS QUO PROCESS IN
NOMINATIONS FOR THE FUTURE.
I THINK WE CAN THINK CREATIVELY
ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS
LIKE AND SHOULD THE NOMINATION
MOVE FORWARD, SOME
ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THE
THINGS THAT WE FLAG THROUGH
THAT PROCESS AS PROBLEMS.
>> I WOULD SAY IN RESPONSE TO
THAT, IN MY VIEW, THIS WHOLE
DISCUSSION WE HAVE HAD IN
MULTIPLE COMMITTEES AND THE
RESOLUTION ITSELF IS AN
EXTREMELY CREATIVE APPROACH,
ACTUALLY, TO SAY WE'RE NOT
MAKING A ABOUT ONE PERSON.
WE'RE MAKING ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THERE WAS NO SEARCH.
FORGET AN INCLUSIVE ONE.
THERE WAS NO SEARCH CONDUCTED.
THERE WAS NO INCLUSION PERIOD.
AND SO, I FEEL THAT WHEN WE
HAVE HEARD SO MUCH FROM SO MANY
PEOPLE, WHAT IS THE QUESTION
AND ANSWER SESSION GOING TO
REVEAL THAT WE HAVEN'T ALREADY
HEARD?
IF WE WENT THAT ROUTE, AND THE
REASON I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF
THAT ROUTE EVEN THOUGH I DO
COMPLETELY AGREE, YOU'RE
SUGGESTING THAT IN GOOD FAITH,
THAT BASICALLY IMPLIES THAT ALL
THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILIES
AND CHILDREN, HAVE PUT THEIR
LIVES ASIDE TO COME TO
COMMITTEE AFTER COMMITTEE TO
ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS WILL HAVE
TO DO IT MANY MORE TIMES, AND
THEY'RE STILL NOT GOING TO GET
THAT BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IT
BECOMES ABOUT THE NOMINATION OF
NE INDIVIDUAL AND THAT WILL
CREATE MORE HESITATION.
AS YOU SAID, THERE IS ALREADY
HESITATION.
BEFORE A CALL TO VOTE, I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK ALL THE PEOPLE HERE
WHO ARE NOT COUNCILMEMBERS OR
STAFF --
>> I LIKE TO GET A WORD IN.
>> NOBODY IS PREVENTING YOU
FROM GETTING A WORD IN.
I JUST WANT TO ASK ALL OF THE
PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE NOT ON THE
COUNCIL OR STAFF IN ANY WAY,
DO YOU THINK THE COMMITTEE
SHOULD VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION?
>> YES.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> IF YOU DON'T, YOU PREFER
SOME OTHER ROUTE, WE WOULD GO
THAT ROUTE.
>> I HAVE A STACK OF EMAILS
FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO
ORDINARY PEOPLE AND SERVICE
PROVIDERS IN SUPPORT.
>> WHERE ARE THEY?
>> I'M HAPPY TO MAKE COPIES.
>> WE ARE HERE NOW.
WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
>> IS IT A POSSIBLE RESOLUTION
IF YOU'RE FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE
THAT WE OPEN UP THE VOTE TO THE
PUBLIC.
>> THAT'S WHAT I DID, YEAH.
COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL, GO
AHEAD AND THEN I HAVE NO OTHER
CHOICE BUT TO CALL IT FOR A
VOTE.
>> WHAT TROUBLES ME, JUST TO BE
VERY HONEST WITH EVERYONE IN
THIS ROOM IS ONCE AGAIN, THIS
IS SORT OF US VERSUS THEM
DECISION WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE.
IT FEELS THAT WAY.
I UNDERSTAND.
I BELIEVE WE ARE ALL ON THE
SAME SIDE ON THIS.
I FLIPPED.
I HAVEN'T FLIPPED.
NO ONE HAS THE POWER OF ME TO
FLIP.
LET ME TELL YOU BESIDE I'M ON.
I AM ON THE SIDE OF IF THIS
PROCESS WAS WRONG, IF THERE WAS
NOT THE RIGHT RSJI PROCESS,
THEN LET'S HAVE THAT PROCESS,
YES.
I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD MEANINGFUL
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RSJI
EQUITY TEAM BECAUSE OF THE
WEATHER.
I HAVEN'T HAD MEANINGFUL
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PEOPLE AT
THIS TABLE.
I THINK QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S
THE HARD WORK THAT HE COUNCIL
DOES DURING THIS PROCESS.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY OF
THESE CONFIRMATIONS WHERE IT
GOT REALLY SIDEWAYS BECAUSE
THE PERSON WASN'T THE RIGHT
PERSON FOR THE JOB AND THE
RIGHT PROCESS WASN'T USED.
I DON'T REALLY LIKE ONE SIDED
CONVERSATIONS.
IF MISTER JENSEN WERE HERE, I
WOULD ASK HIM TO RESPOND TO THE
CONCERNS OR EVEN THE PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT.
I DIDN'T ASK HIM IF HE HAD AN
OPTION B HERE.
SO ONE OF MY CONCERNS AGAIN IS
WE STILL HAVE TIME, EVEN
ACCORDING TO OUR OWN RULES.
I THINK WE ARE MIDWAY THROUGH
OUR 10-WEEK PROCESS AND THERE'S
A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
I AGREE LOOKING AT THIS PROCESS
THIS IS A GOOD TEST CASE FOR
LOOKING AT THE PROCESS.
YOU'RE TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO
HAS SUED THE CITY OF EMPLYMENT
CITY OF SEATTLE UNEMPLOYMENT
PROCESSES.
I KNOW STRANGER TO CITY GROUNDS
HIRING PROCESSES.
I HAVE CROSS-EXAMINED MANY
DEPARTMENT HEADS ON THESE
ISSUES.
WEEK WILL DO THE HARD WORK.
LET'S DO THE HARD WORK TO SEE
HOW THIS DECISION WAS MADE, HOW
THIS RCSUMC WAS BROUGHT FORWARD
AND GET EVERYONE TO MOVE
FORWARD IN SHORT ORDER.
THAT'S WHERE I COME OUT ON THIS.
>> I WANT TO RESPECT ALL THE
HARD WORK HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
HAVE DONE ALREADY AND I DO,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, SOME
PEOPLE DID SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE EXISTING NOMINATION, AND
THIS MEETING WAS OPEN TO
EVERYBODY.
THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO EXCLUDE
ANYBODY.
WE URGED SEVERAL PEOPLE TO COME
TO THE TABLE, BUT THEY
DECLINED, SO I'M SORRY, WE HAVE
NO CONTROL OVER THAT.
AGAIN, IS ANYBODY'S MIND
CHANGED?
'S LIKE ALL THIS FOR A VOTE?
>> WHO ARE YOU ASKING?
>> THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I AM
ACCOUNTABLE TO.
>> AYE.
>> OKAY, THAT'S WHERE IT'S
GOING TO GO.
I CALL THE ITEM FOR A VOTE.
>> I ABSTAIN.
>> ALL IN FAVOR.
>> AYE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I DO NEED A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION
PLEASE SAY I. ALL OPPOSED.
ALL ABSTAINING.
>> I ABSTAIN.
>> OKAY.
IT IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF
EVERYBODY HERE AND EVERYBODY
WHO IS LEFT.
IT'S FOR THE MOVEMENT TO FIGURE
OUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO FROM
HERE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR NOT
ONLY COMING TONIGHT BUT FOR ALL
THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
DOING.