THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE
SLATED FOR THE FIRST AGENDA
ITEM IS THE QUESTION OF VENDORS
AND RIGHTS AND EVICTION AND
DISPLACEMENT FROM THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
WE WILL BE SPECIFICALLY TALKING
ABOUT THE STRUGGLE THAT IS
FACED BY THE RESIDENCE OF THE
CHCEAU APARTMENTS.
THE MORATORIUM HAS BEEN VOTED
INTO LAW.
TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING IS A
LEGALLY REQUIRED STEP IN THAT.
IT IS FITTING THAT WE HAVE A
DISCUSSION AS WELL.
THE EXAMPLE SET SHOWS THAT WHEN
ORDINARY PEOPLE GET ORGANIZED
WE CAN FIGHT BACK AND WE CAN
HAVE AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY.
CHCEAU RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS.
IN BOTH CASES, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE AND
LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
THE CRISIS THEY ARE FACING IS
WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE FACING.
THE PUGET SOUND REGION HAS SEEN
RENT SKYROCKET.
RENTS HAVE SOARED 155% IN
GREATER SEATTLE SINCE 1998.
155%. IMAGINE THAT IN YOUR
HEAD, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> THEY HAVE RISEN 69% SINCE
2010.
AND, I KNOW A LOT OF REAL
ESTATE AND ECONOMIC FUNDED
PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU IN THE NEWS
THAT RENTS ARE NOT RISING THAT
MUCH AND NOW IT SHOULD BE GOOD
FOR RENTERS.
THAT ME QUOTE MIKE FROM THE
SEATTLE TIMES, RENT DROPPING
DOES NOT HAPPEN.
THE CITY AND REGION BECAME A
PROFIT-MAKING MACHINE FOR
CORPORATE DEVELOPERS.
ALSO FOR BIG BUSINESSES LIKE
AMAZON.
ON AVERAGE ONE PERSON OR FAMILY
IS EVICTED FROM THEIR HOME IN
DISTRICT 3 EVERY OTHER DAY.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
THAT NUMBER ACCOUNTS ONLY FOR
THE COURT ORDERED EVICTIONS,
THAT IS NOT INCLUDING THOSE WHO
ARE EVICTED, THEY MOVED BECAUSE
THE RENT WENT BEYOND THEIR
ABILITY TO PAY, THEY WERE
PUSHED OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OR OUT OF THE CITY ENTIRELY.
WE KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BECOME
HOMELESS BECAUSE OF RENT.
NATIONWIDE STUDIES RECENTLY
HAVE INDICATED A VERY STRONG
CORRELATION BETWEEN RISING RENT
AND RISING HOME PRICES.
THIS NOT BUY INTO THIS
DEHUMANIZING MYTH THAT IF
SOMEBODY BECAME HOMELESS IS
BECAUSE THEY DID GET THEIR LIFE
TOGETHER.
IT IS BECAUSE OF SOCIAL
CONDITIONS THEY ARE SUBJECTED
TO.
WE WILL NEED TO BUILD A
MOVEMENT FOR RENT CONTROL AT A
MASSIVE EXTENSION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BY TAXING BIG
BUSINESSES SO THAT NO LONGER
WILL PEOPLE BE PRICED OUT OF
THEIR HOME.
THEIR AFFORDABLE HOMES WILL BE
AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS
THEM.
WE NEED TO GET ORGANIZED TO
RESIST PLACEMENT AND WE NEED TO
UNITE IN OUR STRUGGLES.
THERE MAY BE RESIDENCE HERE. I
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN
SOLIDARITY.
WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE
VIETNAMESE SENIOR ASSOCIATION
HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE CHCEAU
RESIDENTS AND THAT ASSOCIATION
MEMBERS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
HEALTHCARE.
THE CHCEAU BUILDING, THEN WE
WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS IS IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, A COUPLE OF BLOCKS
FROM HERE.
THERE ARE 21 APARTMENT HOMES.
THAT INCLUDES 14 CONTRACTED
WITH THE DEVELOPMENT UNIT TO BE
AFFORDABLE AS PART OF THEIR
SECTION 8 PROGRAM THAT HUD
ADMINISTERS.
THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
CHOICE VOUCHERS THAT WE HEAR
ABOUT WHERE THERE IS A VOUCHER
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO FIND A
LANDLORD TO ACCEPT THEM.
IN THE CHCEAU'S SUBSIDY IS
ATTACHED TO THE APARTMENT.
THE OTHER SEVEN HOMES ARE ALSO
RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE BUT NOT
UNDER SECTION 8. THEY ARE
MARKERT AVAILABLE AFFORDABLE
HOMES.
THE RESIDENTS ALSO NEED
AFFORDABLE HOMES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ALONGSIDE THE
SECTION 8 RECIPIENTS.
AT THE END OF 2017 A REAL
ESTATE COMPANY WITH $185
MILLION PORTFOLIO PURCHASED THE
CHCEAU BUILDING.
>> ACCORDING TO THEIR MISSION
STATEMENT, THIS IS ON THEIR
WEBSITE, YOU CAN LOOK IT UP,
THEY SAY IN OUR VIEW, THEIR
VIEW, IDEAL PROPERTIES ARE
DATED IN APPEARANCE AND HAVE
SEVERAL DEFAULT MAINTENANCE
ITEMS.
IN PLAIN ENGLISH THAT MEANS
THAT WE GO LOOKING FOR
BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOT IN GREAT
SHAPE THAT HAVE MAINTENANCE
ISSUES, LOW RENT AND THEN WE
BUY THEM UP, DEMOLISH THEM AND
BUILD LUXURY UNITS IN THEIR
PLACE.
>> THEY ARE NOT DOING THIS AS
PUBLIC SERVICE, OBVIOUSLY.
>> IN AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN
THE PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL
THERE IS A SENTENCE THAT SAYS
THEY AIM FOR INVESTOR RETURNS
FOR 20% PER DEAL.
EVERY BUILDING THEY DEMOLISH
THEY WANT TO MAKE AT LEAST 25%
PROFIT.
THAT IS A HUGE PROFIT MARGIN.
THIS PAST WINTER CHCEAU
RESIDENTS RECEIVED NOTICE THAT
THEY WERE CANCELING THE SECTION
8 PROGRAM AND SOMEONE ELSE IN
THE NOTICE HAD AN OUTREACH
MEETING FOR PLANS TO DEMOLISH
AND REDEVELOP THAT BUILDING.
AND THEY HAD THIS MEETING
SCHEDULED DURING THE SNOW
STORMS.
I AM NOT BLAMING THE SNOWSTORMS
BUT THEY DID NOT RESCHEDULE THE
MEETING.
THAT IS NOT THE MAIN ISSUE.
THE TENANTS DID NOT EVEN KNOW
THE BUILDING WAS SLATED FOR
DEMOLITION AND MUCH LESS ABOUT
THE MEETING ITSELF.
MEMBER EMAILED MY OFFICE SAYING
HEY, I JUST SAW NOTIFICATION
ABOUT THIS, DON'T YOU THINK WE
SHOULD JOIN WITH THE TENANTS.
WE AGREED.
I DISPATCHED MY STAFF MEMBERS
TO THAT MEETING EVEN THOUGH IT
WAS A SNOWSTORM AND IT WAS HARD
TO COMMUTE, STAFF MEMBERS ARE
DEDICATED AND THEY WENT TO THAT
MEETING.
WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THERE WAS
NO TENANT.
NOBODY THERE EXCEPT THE
DEVELOPER, REPRESENTATIVES AND
MY STAFF.
THEN I ASKED STAFF MEMBERS TO
DO OR NOT THIS BUILDING BECAUSE
WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY THERE
WERE NO TENANTS THERE.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE NOT THERE
BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS.
WHEN WE TALKED TO THE TENANTS
WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
WE FOUND OUT.
FOLLOWING THAT, THEY HAVE HAD
NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE
DEVELOPER AND OWNER.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE PRINTED
THOSE NOTIFICATIONS.
IF NOT, WE CAN MAKE THEM
AVAILABLE.
THEY ARE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.
NOW, IT IS MY HONOR AND DELIGHT
TO SAY THAT THE TENANTS ARE
REFUSING TO JUST ACCEPT THIS AS
OH, IT IS THEIR FATE.
THEY ARE FIGHTING BACK.>> THEY
HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR OWN
LIST OF DEMANDS.
THEY WILL READ THEM OUT LOUD.
I DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO IT.
THEY WILL BE SPEAKING
THEMSELVES.
BEFORE THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SO EACH SPEAKER HAS 90 SECONDS.
IT IS OFTEN NOT ENOUGH BUT
PLEASE, MAKE SURE YOU STICK TO
TIME SO WE CAN GET TO THE MAIN
AGENDA ITEMS OF THE COMMITTEE
SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY STAY
TOGETHER BEFORE PEOPLE NEED TO
LEAVE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND
JOBS.
>> FIRST, MIKE ANDREW FOLLOWED
BY KIM LONG GREEN FOLLOWED BY
MEGAN MURPHY.
>> IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME,
PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE DON'T
SPEND TIME FOR YOU TO COME UP.
>> KIM AND THEN MEGAN MURPHY.
>>
>> I AM MIKE ANDREW THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. FIRST I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT FOR HAVING THIS
IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT
FORCING PEOPLE TO GO DOWN TO
CITY HALL TO EXPRESS THEIR
VIEWS.
I ALSO WANT TO HONOR THE
CHCEAU RESIDENTS.
THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR ALL OF
US.
I AM HERE PARTICULARLY BECAUSE
HOUSING IS A REAL CRISIS FOR
ALL WORKING PEOPLE.
IT IS A CRISIS PARTICULARLY FOR
RETIRED WORKING PEOPLE.
FOR SENIORS.
>> A LOT OF YOUR AUDIENCE CAN
TELL YOU, EVEN IF YOU WERE
LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A GOOD
UNION JOB AND HAVE RETIRED WITH
A FULLY FUNDED DEFINED BENEFITS
PENSION IT IS DIFFICULT TO LIVE
IN A CITY WHERE HOUSING PRICES
ARE AS HIGH AS THEY ARE IN
SEATTLE.
IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET BY ON
SOCIAL SECURITY ALONE, IT IS
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
ASK ANYBODY.
WHAT SENIORS NEED IS TO BE ABLE
TO BE SECURE IN OUR HOMES, TO
KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY THE RENT
AND THE REST OF OUR BILLS AND
TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE BUILT
AMONGST OUR FRIENDS AND PEOPLE
WHO ARE LIKE US AND PEOPLE WHO
SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE.
WE DON'T WANT THE RISK OF
FINDING OUT 30 DAYS OR 60 DAYS
OR EVEN 90 DAYS THAT SUDDENLY
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A
NEW HOME.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I AM FROM THE VIETNAMESE
SENIOR HOUSING DIVISION.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE
CHCEAU APARTMENT TENANTS WHO
WILL BE DISPLACED OR EVICTED.
THANK YOU CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
ESPECIALLY, WHO FIGHTS FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO VOICE.
WE NEED YOU.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP THIS
EVICTION AND DISPLACEMENT FROM
THE CENTER CENTRAL DISTRICT.
MANY OF US ARE VIETNAMESE AND
WE ARE FACING EVICTION AND
DISPLACEMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MEGAN MURPHY IS NEXT TRIP.
AFTER THAT IS DEVIN FOLLOWED BY
RUBY HOLLAND.
>> I'M GLAD YOU ARE HAVING THIS.
BECAUSE OF NEGLIGENCE FROM DHS
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A
DEBILITATING DISEASE AND I LOST
CUSTODY OF MY SON.
IN A WAY I DIED INSIDE OF
MYSELF.
WHAT YOU DO WITH PAIN WHEN THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE TRUSTED WITH
POWER DON'T DO A GOOD JOB WITH
THEIR POWER.
BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE OF
THE JOB THEY TOTALLY IMPACTED
SOMEBODY'S LIFE IN A VERY
HURTFUL WAY.
SO WHEN I MOVED TO SEATTLE I
GRABBED ONTO THE ACTIVIST
BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER AND AUNT
WERE ACTIVISTS AND WE HAVE TO
ORGANIZE.
THE PEOPLE WITH MONEY HAVE A
LOT OF POWER.
I THINK MORE MORE PEOPLE HAVE
TO GET INVOLVED IN HOUSING
JUSTICE.
VULNERABLE PEOPLE BEING PLACED
ON THE STREET IS MORALLY WRONG.
IT NEEDS TO BE EASIER FOR
PEOPLE TO DO THIS. IF IT IS
ONLINE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
MORE OF A WEIGHT OR SOMEHOW,
I'M GLAD WERE HERE TODAY BECAUSE
SECTION 8 VOUCHERS HAVE BECOME
KIND OF LIKE A THING WHERE YOU
BECOME SEGREGATED.
THEY WERE MEANT TO INTEGRATE
PEOPLE INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THERE IS NO LONGER UNITS WHERE
PEOPLE CAN INTEGRATE INTO MULTI
CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT HAS BECOME THIS THING WHERE,
I THINK WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR
MORE SECTION 8 MONEY AND MORE
RICHLY FUNDED AND MULTI TIERED
COMMUNITIES OF DIFFERENT
INCOMES.
IT [ APPLAUSE ]NEEDS TO BECOME
A REALITY AND NOT JUST A DREAM
WE THINK ABOUT WHEN WE ARE
ANGRY.
WE NEED TO GATHER TOGETHER IN
THE HURT AND CHANGE THINGS.
>>>> HELLO EVERYBODY.
HELLO KSHAMA SAWANT AND
VACANCIES.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
B SEATTLE.
I AM A DISTRICT 3 RENTER.
THESE RESIDENTS ARE MY
NEIGHBORS.
I AM HERE FOR THEM HAD TO SPEAK
TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HERE
TODAY.
I AM HERE TO ASK THEM TO SUPPORT
NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE AT THE
CHCEAU, BECAUSE THEY ARE AN
EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
SEATTLE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND THE ENTIRE CITY AS A WHOLE.
WE NEED THESE THINGS TO HELP
TENANTS. ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON
THIS SUDDEN COMMITTEE IS A
TENANT.
WE NEED TO INCREASE TENANT [
APPLAUSE ] RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE.
IT IS CRIMINAL HOW LITTLE
PEOPLE GET.
>> $3800 DOES NOT HELP ANYONE
MOVE.
WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THINGS TO
HELP KEEP THE HOUSE.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR
NEIGHBORS AND TELL BAD
LANDLORDS THAT THEY CAN NO
LONGER IGNORE THE THINGS THAT
THEY HAVE TO DO.
I JUST WANT [ APPLAUSE ]TO
URGE THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT
HERE THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING ON
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL LATER TO
LISTEN TO THESE NEIGHBORS.
SUPPORT THEM.
PUSH FOR GREATER PROTECTIONS TO
HELP THESE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
>>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS RUBY HOLLAND AND I
AM HONORED TO BE HERE.
MY FAMILY PURCHASED A HOME IN
THE CENTRAL AREA IN 1963.
I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN THIS
CHURCH.
HOWEVER, HOMEOWNERS, MYSELF
INCLUDED, HOMEOWNERS OF COLORS,
SENIOR HOME OWNERS ARE FACING
DISPLACEMENT HERE IN THE
CENTRAL AREA BECAUSE OF THE MHA
WHICH WILL BE VOTED ON MONDAY.
ZONES ARE GOING TO DISPLACE US.
THEY WANT US TO GIVE UP OUR
HOME SO THAT DEVELOPERS CAN
BUILD APARTMENTS THAT WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE IN. WE NEED AN
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PLAN.
COUNCILMEMBER COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND KSHAMA SAWANT HAS BEEN
TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE
SENIOR HOMEOWNERS.
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES.
WE WANT TO AGE IN PLACE AND WE
NEED HELP.
THANK YOU.
>> AFTER AMY TOWER COMES SABA
FOLLOWED BY NATHAN DEELEY AND
IMOGENE WILLIAMS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
COUNCILMEMBER, I WORK WITH THE
TENANTS ADMINISTRATION.
WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
CHCEAU TENANTS AND ALL THOSE
PEOPLE FACING DISPLACEMENT FROM
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
WE SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOUR
OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING TO STAND
UP FOR THE TENANTS IN YOUR
DISTRICT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE AMAZING
COPIES OF THE THINGS, LIKE THE
MISSION STATEMENT.
I THINK IT IS TELLING WHEN THEY
SELL THINGS LIKE WE DO A GREAT
JOB OF REPOSITIONING MULTI
FAMILY ASSETS.
THAT REALLY MEANS KICKING
PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES FOR
PROFIT.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE
DISCUSSIONS AND EVEN IF IT IS
LEGAL IT IS IMMORAL.
ALSO, THIS LETTER IS INCREDIBLE
THAT THE TENANTS DELIVERED TO
THE CADENCE REAL ESTATE.
I APPRECIATE THAT THEY URGED THE
, CHRIS AND THOSE TO COME TO
THIS MEETING AND EXPLAIN
THEMSELVES AND AS FAR AS I
KNOW, THEY ARE NOT HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR
WORK AND TO THE TENANTS FOR
FIGHTING THIS AND FACING
DISPLACEMENT FROM THEIR [
APPLAUSE ]HOMES.
WE STAND WITH YOU.
>>
>>> HELLO.
MY MOTHER OWNS THE BUSINESS ON
THE CORNER.
I WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR WHAT
IS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE HEAR ABOUT MORE ISSUES AND
OLD CUSTOMERS THAT HAD TO MOVE
OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS DISAPPOINTING AND [
APPLAUSE ]SAD.
WE ARE NOT POWERLESS.
WE CAN SPEAK UP.
WE CAN KEEP SHOWING UP AND KEEP
SHARING.
THAT IS WHERE OUR POWER LIES.
WE HAVE OUR VOICE.
KEEP CONTINUING.
WE BELIEVE THAT THINGS CAN
CHANGE.
>>>>.
MY NAME IS NATHAN DALLY.
MY FRIEND LIVES OF THE CHCEAU.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
REALITY THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING AT GIVEN WHAT IS ABOUT
TO HAPPEN.
IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR
BUSINESS TO THROW PEOPLE OUT ON
THE STREET.
THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE
EMBARRASSED.
WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE,
SPEAKING UP AND SPEAKING OUT
AND EMBARRASSING THEM IS A GOOD
THING.
WE HAVE A CRISIS OF HOUSING. IT
IS A SUPPLY ISSUE IN PART.
DEVELOPERS CAN BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
THIS IS NOT BEING PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
WHAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DO IS CHANGE THE WAY THEY
ARE SHOWING UP.
INSTEAD OF EMBARRASSING
THEMSELVES. COME AND SIT DOWN [
APPLAUSE ]AND HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HOW THEY
CAN HELP.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
DEVELOPMENT CAN'T GO FORWARD.
MAYBE THEY CAN COME TO SOME
KIND OF ARRANGEMENT.
THEY SHOULD BE ENGAGING WITH
THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED
BY WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND
SHOWING THAT THEY CARE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>>> IMOGENE WILLIAMS IS NEXT
THEN QUEEN BEE FOLLOWED BY
ROBERT GIDDENS.
>> I DON'T LIVE AT THE CHCEAU
BUT I DO LIVE IN CAPITAL HERE.
I DO CARE ABOUT MY TOWN.
85 PEOPLE LIVE AT CALLS IN.
WHEN THEY REALIZED HOW MUCH
TROUBLE THEY WERE IN THEY WROTE
TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
KSHAMA SAWANT WAS THE ONE WHO
RESPONDED, TOOK THE LEADERSHIP .
SHE SAVED THEM TEMPORARILY, AT
LEAST THEY ARE RESCUED.
MAYBE NOT PERMANENTLY.
IT IS BETTER THAN IT WAS.
>> THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING
ARTICLES IN REAL CHANGE.
PORTLAND CREATED A ZONE. THERE
ARE HOUSING ZONES.
YOU CAN BUILD A GROCERY STORE
AND THIS KIND OF ZONE AND A
HOME IN THIS OTHER KIND OF
ZONE.
THERE ARE ZONES.
PORTLAND CREATED A SPECIAL ZONE
AND PUT THE MOBILE HOME PARK IN
A SPECIAL ZONE.
THEY WERE SAVED.
THERE ARE LOTS OF THEM.
WE DON'T HAVE LOTS OF THEM.
WE HAVE ALL SAND AND ONE OTHER
TINY ONE.
IT PROBABLY HAS 10 OR 15
RESIDENTS.
PORTLAND DID THAT.
WHY DO THEY HAVE THAT KIND OF
LEADERSHIP IN WE DON'T?
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THAT?
>> NO.
>> THAT IS HUNDREDS OF
AFFORDABLE UNITS.
DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN OUR TOWN
THAT DOESN'T CARE IF WE HAVE
ANY AFFORDABLE UNITS OR NOT?
>> WE ARE CLOSE TO THAT.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE THREATENED WITH
EVICTION, WHEN THEY ARE
HOMELESS, WE LOSE THEIR TALENT.
THEY AREN'T TEACHING, THEY ARE
TAKING CARE OF A CHILD OR A
SENIOR.
THEY'RE JUST FREAKING OUT ON
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET A
TENT.
HOW DO I GET A TENT?
HOW DO I EAT? HOW DO I KEEP
WARM?
YOU CALL THAT A BRAIN DRAIN.
IT IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR TOWN.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE THE
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, THE
PEOPLE ARE THE RESOURCE.
BOEING IS HERE, MICROSOFT, THEY
ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT BOWLING.
TWO SENTENCES.
HOW CAN THEY MAXIMIZE THEIR
PROFITS? BUILD A PLANE IN SOUTH
CAROLINA.
NO LABOR UNIONS, SMALL WAGES.
THE DREAM LINER.
BUILD IT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
POOR SCHOOLS.
BUT THE PLANE WOULDN'T FLY.
SEND IT TO SEATTLE.
SEND IT TO EVERETT.
THE FINALISTS ARROW MACHINIST
IN THE WORLD.
THEY TINKERED AND IT FLEW.
THAT IS BOEING.
THANK YOU [ APPLAUSE ]FOR YOUR
TIME.
>>
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
LET'S GIVE HONOR TO GOD IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND SPACE.
THANK YOU, JESUS FOR ALLOWING
ME TO SPEAK.
I WAS AT HOME AND I WAS
HESITANT.
I WANT TO SAY TO KSHAMA SAWANT
THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR VOICE.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR
PEOPLE.
I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK FOR MY
ORGANIZATION TODAY.
SOME PEOPLE KNOW ME AS A MEMBER
. I AM HERE TO SPEAK FOR ME AND
MY HEART.
I FEEL SEATTLE IS A BEAUTIFUL
PLACE AND HAS BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
IN ALL COLORS, ALL SHAPES,
FORMS AND FASHION.
WE HAVE TO LEARN TO CARE AND
LOVE EACH OTHER.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING
OUTSIDE OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN
KNOW ABOUT THEM.
EVERYBODY IS HUMAN.
ALL OF OUR LIVES MATTER AND
EVERYBODY COUNTS.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
BEING A VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
BEING HERE AND SPEAKING UP AND
SPEAKING OUT.
I THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME A
VOICE TODAY.
IT REALLY HURTS ME THAT THIS IS
THE RICHEST CITY IN THE WORLD,
I HAVE SEEN US LEARN DIFFERENT
THINGS.
HOW CAN WE NOT CARE ABOUT OUR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS?
WE HAVE TO BE A VOICE.
I HAVE MADE A CHOICE TO BE A
VOICE.
EVERYBODY ELSE THAT LIVES HERE
SHOULD BE A VOICE AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH . I LOVE YOU
FROM MY HEART.
I THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU
ARE TRYING TO DO FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE LESS FORTUNATE, PEOPLE THAT
NEED SOMEBODY TO BE A VOICE TO
FIGHT A CITY LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE RICH DEVELOPERS
COMING IN AND TAKING OVER AND
PUSHING PEOPLE OUTSIDE.
I LIVE ON THE WATERFRONT AND IT
HURTS ME EVERY TIME I SEE A
HOMELESS PERSON SLEEPING
OUTSIDE.
THEY STAND ACROSS FROM CITY
HALL.
INNOCENT PEOPLE.
I THANK GOD AND I THANK YOU
ALL.
I THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOD
BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
HEARING ME TODAY.
THESE SIGNS SAY IT ALL.
[ APPLAUSE ]>>
>> I AM NOT SURE IF I AM
READING THIS CORRECTLY.
I BELIEVE THE NAME IS ROBERT
INNS.
MAYBE IT IS RICHARD?
>> OKAY.
AFTER THAT IS MISS BECHARD AND
THEN MICHAEL FULLER.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY I THINK
YOUR HEART IS IN THE RIGHT
PLACE.
YOU STOPPING THE DEVELOPER IS
NOT HELPING THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE.
WHAT WE NEED IS HOUSING.
YOU STOPPING EVERY SINGLE
DEVELOPMENT IS DRIVING UP COST.
THE COST $300,000 TO MAKE A LOW
INCOME HOUSING UNIT.
THAT WILL NEVER BE AFFORDABLE.
WE NEED TO REDUCE ALL THE
HOUSING CODE AND RESIDENTIAL
HOUSING CODE.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO 5 TO 6
YEARS THAT IT WOULD BE DONE. WE
NEVER CHANGE THE HOUSING CODE.
WE NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD
MORE HOUSING.
EVERY TIME SOMEBODY TRIES TO
BUILD SOMETHING SOMEBODY LIKE
YOU TRIES TO STOP IT.
I WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE
THERE.
I WANT TO HELP THEM FIND NEW
PLACES SO WE CAN BUILD 73
HOUSES.
WE WANT TO WORK AT AMAZON AND
EARN A LIVING WAGE.
THEY CAN EARN A GOOD LIVING.
THAT IS PEOPLE HERE MAKING THAT
MONEY.
THAT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE
WEALTHY.
AMAZON IS BUILDING A BRANCH TO
TRAIN US SO THAT WE CAN GET
JOBS THERE SO WE CAN WORK AT
MICROSOFT AND MAKE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SO WE CAN
ADVANCE OURSELVES.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT YOUR INCOME
TO GO UP?
>> ARE YOU GOING TO WORK FOR
MINIMUM WAGE? IF YOU LET
DEVELOPERS COME AND -- IT COST
$300,000 -- >> MAN SPEAK. IT
COSTS --
>> PLEASE LET HIM SPEAK.
>> IT COST $300,000 TO BUILD A
LOW INCOME HOUSING UNIT.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT'S WRONG.
THAT IS BECAUSE WE NEED -- YOU
HAVE TO LET DEVELOPERS BUILD.
IF DEVELOPERS NEVER BUILD THERE
WILL NEVER BE -- THE ONLY WAY
THIS CAN BE BUILT IS WITH --
>> NO.
IF YOU TALK TO THEM --
>> OKAY.>> WE CAN CONTINUE ON
WITH THE OTHER SPEAKERS WE WILL
GIVE YOU DID YOU FINISH YOUR
POINT?
>> OKAY.
>> THEN THE HONORABLE MICHAEL
FULLER FOLLOWED BY SHIRLEY
HENDERSON.
>> ON BLACK TODAY AND I'M GOING
TO STAY BLACK.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT,
MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE ON THE
PLANET.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO
SYSTEMATICALLY OPPRESS US,
REPRESS US, D PROCESS AND TO
PROCESS.
I DON'T CARE WHO IS UP IN THAT
CITY HALL, IT SEEMS TO COME UP
AGAIN OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
IT IS TIME OUT.
YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, YES I
WAS NAMED AND RAISED IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T LIKE WHAT THE
CORRUPTION HAS DONE TO BLACK
PEOPLE CONTINUOUSLY DOES IT AND
YOU ASK FOR OUR SUPPORT.
YOU ARE NOT GETTING MINE.
I NEED TO SEE A MAGNIFICENT
CHANGE THAT IS ORDERED BY THE
MAN UPSTAIRS.
YOU MIGHT NOT BELIEVE IN GOD
BUT I DO.
I THINK IT IS TIME OUT FOR THE
STATE.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING?
WHEN YOU DON'T GET IN LINE WITH
WHAT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THAT
MEANS YOU ARE FULL OF HATE.
YOU CAN BE CHARGED WITH A HATE
CRIME.
YOU CAN FIX A WHOLE LOT OF
THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT
YOU HAVEN'T DONE AND YOU REPEAT
THIS STUFF OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND I AM FED UP WITH IT.
I'M TIRED OF IT.
BETTY LOU HAS BEEN DEAD HOW
LONG.
SHE SAID I'M SICK AND TIRED OF
BEING SICK AND TIRED AND THIS
TIREDNESS IS STILL LINGERING IN
THE CITY AND IN THIS RACIST
TOWN.>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THIS HOMELESSNESS IS
SICKENING.
YOU ARE STEPPING ON MY TOES. I
AM TRYING TO DECREASE
HOMELESSNESS BUT YOU ARE
INCREASING IT WHEN YOUR TAIL ME
AND RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, THEN
INAUDIBLE.
ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL.
OCTOBER 15, 1970 I FIND OUT
RICHARD DIXON AND [ INAUDIBLE ]
AND ARTICLE [ INAUDIBLE ] [
INAUDIBLE ] WHAT WE HAVE HERE
TODAY IS KSHAMA SAWANT IS A
FAILURE TO COMMUNITY.
10 YEARS IN IMPRISONMENT.
100 [ INAUDIBLE ] DEPRIVATION
OF RIGHTS, ONE YEAR IN PRISON,
THREE YEARS SUPERVISORY AND [
INAUDIBLE ] BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THIS IS NOT A DREAM.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> SHIRLEY HENDERSON.
>> IF YOU HEARING THEM, PLEASE
LINE UP.
>> YES.
I AM SHIRLEY HENDERSON.
I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND I AM
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH
CHCEAU RESIDENCE.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF
CONFUSION AMONGST THOSE OF US
IN THE CITY ABOUT WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
DISPLACEMENT AND DISCRIMINATION
IN THIS DISTRICT PARTICULARLY
WHICH IS ONE OF THE FASTEST
GROWING IN THE CITY.
NOT JUST HERE AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
CAN AFFORD TO PAY IN THE CITY
THAT ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
AMAZON IS ONE OF THEM.
GAINES IS ANOTHER.
THEY WANT TO TAKE FROM THOSE OF
US WHO DON'T HAVE TO INCREASE
THEIR PROFITS AND IT IS
DISGUSTING TO SEE THIS ISSUE
WITH CADENCE WHERE THEY ARE
WILLINGLY DISPLACING
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SPENT
THERE IN TIRE LIVES IN THE
BUILDING.
I SAW THE STRAIN THAT SO MANY
PEOPLE WENT THROUGH BEING ON A
FIXED INCOME AND LIVING IN A
PLACE FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES
AND WANTING TO DIE IN THAT
PLACE AND BEING EVICTED TO NO
DIRECTION.
I THINK THE DEMANDS THAT WE
HAVE ON THIS LETTER ARE THE
LEAST CADENCE CAN DO.
THEY CAN AFFORD IT.
I THINK THAT WE ALSO, AS SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS WE HAVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE OF COLOR OWN BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESSES AND
WE NEED RENT CONTROL AND MASS
EXPANSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNITS SIMPLY BUILT SO THAT WE
CAN FUND BY TAXING THOSE WHO
CAN AFFORD IT, BIG BUSINESS.
WE ALSO NEED COMMERCIAL RENT
CONTROL WHICH IS DOABLE AND I [
APPLAUSE ]THINK COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT WHO HAS STOOD
FEARLESSLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO
DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HORATIO IS NEXT THEN --
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW
WORDS.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT PERSON
BEFORE ME SAID.
I'M FROM TACOMA.
I AM COMING HERE FROM, AS A
PART OF TACOMA TO THE TENANT
ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IS HERE
AND FAMILIAR WITH OUR TENANTS
ASSOCIATION.
WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS THAT THERE
IS SEVEN MONTHS IN WHICH THESE
PEOPLE WERE IN LIMBO AND DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO.
ON TOP OF THAT I AM HERE AS A
MEMBER OF THE PUGET SOUND.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO STOP
LOOKING AT OUR REGION AS THESE
SMALL KINGDOMS. I AM TIRED OF
SEEING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD
TO LIVE IN SEATTLE COME DOWN TO
TACOMA.
THEN THEY HAVE TO MOVE.
ALL THESE OTHER PLACES AROUND.
WHAT I WANT IS MORE
COMMUNICATION.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
CIRCLES THAT WE DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO.
THAT'S ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR.
WHAT MY CAMP WILL MEMBERS TO
SPEAK WITH OTHER TOWNSHIPS.
I HOPE THERE CAN BE OPEN
COMMUNICATION.
WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF PEOPLE
WHO TO BLAME.
I WANT TO BLAME AMAZON AND
EVERYBODY.
THE THING IS, WE NEED GOOD
LEADERSHIP.
WE WANT TO FOLLOW GOOD PLANS.
THE PEOPLE ARE READY.
>> BEFORE YOU GO, I WANTED TO
SAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY
PEOPLE KNOW HIM.
THANK YOU FOR COMING FROM
TACOMA.
WE NEED SOLIDARITY AMONG THOSE
STRUGGLING.
YOUR VOICE IS VERY IMPORTANT
AND APPRECIATED.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE, THIS
FOCUS ON THE MEETING.
GOOGLE TO TENANTS STRUGGLING
YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY DID
ACHIEVE AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS
BECAUSE THEY GOT ORGANIZED JUST
LIKE THE CHCEAU TENANTS ARE
DOING.
PLEASE TALK TO ADAM IN MY
OFFICE.
WE NEED MORE COMMUNICATION.
THAT IS NOT BETWEEN CORPORATE
POLITICIANS IN EACH AREA.
IT NEEDS TO BE AMONG WORKING
PEOPLE.
>> IT CAN BE DONE.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT UP IS TO WHY IT
FOLLOWED BY JACLYN WU AND DAVID
PARSONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM A COMMUNITY BUILDER IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND I
REPRESENT AFRICA TOWN.
I AM HERE TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY AGAINST PREDATORY
DEVELOPMENT.
NEXT SATURDAY IS GOING TO BE A
GRAND [ APPLAUSE ] RIBBON-
CUTTING FOR THE LIBERTY BANK
BUILDING.
THAT IS 115 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
>>>> WE THINK THAT IS A
POSITIVE THING AND A STEP IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WHEN THE PHONE LINES OPENED UP
FOR LEASING THAT BUILDING ON
THE VERBAL ONE, THOUSANDS OF
CALLS CAME IN AND SHUT DOWN THE
LINE.
THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING AND
PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE WHO GREW
UP IN THIS COMMUNITY AND LIVED
IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAVE
BEEN DISPLACED AND THEIR DESIRE
TO COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
AND BE WHERE THEY HAVE ROOTS.
SO THERE NEEDS TO BE 10 MORE OF
THESE BUILDINGS IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
THROUGHOUT THE CITY THERE NEED
TO BE MORE AND THERE SHOULD BE
A BALANCING OF THE MARKET RATE.
THE MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT IS
NOT MAKING IT LESS EXPENSIVE
FOR AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT.
THEY DASHED LOOK AT THE
COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE IS
EXPENSIVE HOUSING.
IS THERE MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES?
>> I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.
WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THE
FACT OR DEAL WITH -- THERE IS A
LARGE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES IN
THIS REGION.
IT IS A SHAME THAT A REGION
THAT IS THIS RICH IN RESOURCES
THAT MODELS ITSELF TO BE A CITY
OF THE FUTURE CAN ALLOW THIS
LEVEL OF INEQUITY AND
INEQUALITY AND DISPLACEMENT TO
HAPPEN IN THE CITY.
THIS HAS TO BE DISRUPTED.
IF THIS IS A MODEL OF THE
FUTURE THIS IS NOT ONE THAT
WORKS FOR THE MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE.
EVERYONE WILL NOT BE A
DEVELOPER AT AMAZON.
YOU HAVE TEACHERS, CHILDCARE
WORKERS, WE HAVE SECURITY
OFFICERS, PEOPLE THAT ARE
LOADING BOXES.
THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO
LIVE.
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COMMUTE
THREE HOURS A DAY AND NOT BE
ABLE TO PICK UP THEIR CHILDREN.
OTHERS WILL ENJOY HEAVEN ON
EARTH.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO
CONTINUOUSLY BE ELEVATED AS A
CRISIS, A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE
AND IN THE CITY WHICH IS TO BE
PROGRESSIVE AND LIBERAL, WE
ON'T SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE
BENEFITING FROM ALL THESE
OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT ON THE
TOP OF THE AGENDA.
WE SUPPORT THE RESIDENCE, THE
CYBERCAFE.
WE WANT TO SEE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT SOLUTION SO THAT
THE COMMUNITY IS NOT PUSHED
OUT.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>>
>> BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
I'M SORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO LET PEOPLE
KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE NOT
SIGNED UP ALREADY TO SPEAK THEN
YOU WANT YOUR VOICE HEARD,
PLEASE, SIGN-UP OR, PEER WHEN
THE LAST SPEAKER IS DONE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
I LIVE IN SEATTLE MANY YEARS.
I HAVE VIETNAMESE.
>> I AM VIETNAMESE AND I HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS AND I
AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT [
INAUDIBLE ] MY PURPOSE HERE IS
TO SUPPORT EVERY EFFORT. I WISH
EVERYBODY HAS A GOOD AND HAPPY
DAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT UP IS JACLYN WU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBER
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JACLYN WU AND I AM A
MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT COMMISSION HE.
WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
CHCEAU MEMBERS. WE BELIEVE
THAT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A DOWN ZONE
IN ALL THE AREAS THAT ARE
VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
WE BELIEVE AND HOPE THAT WE PUT
IN A MORATORIUM.
SO MANY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE THREATENED WITH
DISPLACEMENT AND CANNOT AFFORD
TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
THE CITY IS BUILT ON IMMIGRANTS
AND THE BACKBONES OF WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE
NOT JUST FOR YEARS, DECADES AS
WELL.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE
NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED A MORATORIUM.
PLEASE, WE IMPLORE YOU TO LOOK
INTO THESE OPTIONS AS POLICIES.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT IS DAVID PARSONS THEN
JOHN ARDUOUS AND DAN CAVANAUGH.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DAVID PARSONS.
THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING MY SIGN
IN AND GIVING ME A CHANCE TO
SPEAK.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF UAW.
THE UNION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON REPRESENTING 5000
WORKERS THAT ARE STUDENT
EMPLOYEES AND FACTORIAL
RESEARCHERS.
WE HAVE ADVANCED STUDENTS WHO
ARE IN TRAINING TO GET JOBS. I
WILL COME BACK TO THAT IN A
SECOND.
FIRST, I WANT TO SHOUT OUT AND
THANK YOU TO THE TENANTS WHO
ARE LIVING AT CHCEAU.
I ASKED THAT WE GIVE THEM A
ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEIR
COURAGEOUS ORGANIZING IN THE
STRUGGLE. IT IS NOT EASY. ON
BEHALF OF MY UNION I WANT TO
LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR
úBACKS.
THIS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS THAT WE ARE FACING IS
STRUCTURAL.
IT IS SUBSTANTIAL. IN A RECENT
SURVEY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP WE
FOUND THAT A FULL 82% OF OUR
MEMBERS ARE REPORTING BEING
RENT BURDEN.
THEY ARE PAYING MORE THAN 30%
OF THEIR WAGES IN RENT ONLY.
A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THEM
ARE PAYING MORE THAN 50% OF
THEIR WAGES IN RENT.
THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE
SITUATION.
IT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE OUTCOME.
I WANT TO THANK KSHAMA SAWANT
FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND THE
TENANTS FOR ORGANIZING AND
PUTTING UP SUCH A GREAT FIGHT
WE ARE GOING TO WIN THIS
STRUGGLE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM A NEIGHBOR HERE IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING TOGETHER
THIS MEETING FOR MY NEIGHBORS
TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
MY CONCERN IS I FEEL THAT THIS
HAS BECOME A BIT OF AN
ANIMOSITY.
THIS IS A STRUGGLE, ONE AGAINST
ANOTHER.
AS A HOMEOWNER I FEEL LIKE I AM
AS MUCH A PART OF THE PROBLEM.
I BOUGHT A HOME, OBVIOUSLY,
SOMEONE ELSE DOES NOT HAVE A
HOME NOW.
>> IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT
BUILDING LOW INCOME HOUSING
COST ABOUT $300,000 PER UNIT.
THERE IS A GREAT POINT THAT WE
ARE THE CITY OF IMMENSE
úRESOURCES.
SO, AS MUCH AS I WOULD SAY THAT
YES, A GROUP LIKE AMAZON SHOULD
DEFINITELY INVEST IN MAKING
THIS THE GREATEST CITY THAT IT
CAN BE AN HOPING THAT THEY
WOULD HELP THOSE WHO CAN'T
AFFORD IT.
>> MICROSOFT SHOULD ALSO PAY.
PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF,, HAPPY TO
PAY A BIT MORE IN TAXES IF IT
TAKES THE BURDEN OFF MY
NEIGHBORS AND IF WE CAN
ORGANIZE TO HELP OUR FELLOW
NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS.
THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE
TO SEE FROM CITY COUNCIL.
WHAT OPTIONS COULD BE DONE TO
ACTIVATE THE RESOURCES WE
ALREADY HAVE IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR LAST TWO ARE DAN
CAVANAUGH AND EMERSON.
>>.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS DAN.
I AM A RESIDENT AND I AM HERE
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
RESIDENCE OF THE CHCEAU.
I AM REALLY STRUCK BY HOW
REASONABLE THESE DEMANDS ARE.
ASKING FOR MOVING EXPENSES AND
ENSURING THAT EACH HOUSEHOLD IS
AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO A
COMPARABLY PRICED AND SIZED
APARTMENT.
THEY ARE ASKING THEM TO FIX
REPAIRS.
THESE ARE NOT UNREASONABLE.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT
CADENCE CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR
THESE THINGS.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THEY?
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE
HERE BUILDING THIS MOVEMENT.
I THINK WE NEED TO BUILDING
MOVEMENTS LIKE THIS FOR THINGS
LIKE RENT CONTROL AND FOR
TAXING THE RICH TO BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I REALLY DO THINK WE SHOULD NOT
PUT THE BURDEN ON WORKING CLASS
HOMEOWNERS.
AMAZON AND BIG BUSINESS NEED TO
PAY THEIR SHARE TO BUILD
AFFORDABLE UNITS.
I THINK WE NEED A MASS
EXPANSION OF SOCIAL HOUSING.
IT IS BRAVE THAT CHCEAU
TENANTS ARE STANDING UP TO
FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES.
YOUR FIGHT IS MY FIGHT.
I'M HERE WITH YOU.
THIS KEEP BUILDING THIS
MOVEMENT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
PEOPLE HERE TO SIGN TO SAY
SOMETHING.
I'M STEPPING UP NOW.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FOR THE DISABLED AND FOR THE
DISENFRANCHISED YEAR IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I THINK POSSIBLY A WAY THAT WE
CAN START GAINING THE HOUSING
AND RESOURCES THAT WE NEED ARE
FROM THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE
COMING HERE AND BUILDING THESE
APARTMENTS AND SKY RISES AND
ALL THESE DIFFERENT MALLS AND
THINGS.
IF THEY WOULD COME IN AND
EITHER FINANCIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO
A FUND THAT WOULD HELP THE
HOMELESS OR LOW INCOME OR MAKE
SURE THAT THEIR DEVELOPMENT
INCLUDES THE DISENFRANCHISED.
THAT IS MY OPINION.
I STAND WITH ALL OF YOU THAT
ARE SUFFERING FROM THE WAY OUR
CITY, I WAS BORN AND RAISED
HERE.
OUR CITY IS BEING DESTROYED BY
GREED.
IT'S READ DICKIE LIST.
UNITED WE STAND.
DIVIDED WE WILL FALL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I'M SORRY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH
THE NAMES.
WE CAN'T LOCATE WHERE YOU SIGN.
FOR PUBLIC RECORDS, I NEED YOUR
NAME.
>> I WAS THE FIRST ONE HERE.
>> I'M SORRY.
I DON'T SEE IT.
IT IS POSSIBLE.
JUST TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE
YOUR NAME --
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS EMERSON.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE ALMOST
MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I AM A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THE
CHCEAU RESIDENCE A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE FOR THE INCREDIBLE
BRAVERY THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN
STANDING UP TO THEIR LANDLORD
AND THE DEVELOPER TRYING TO
DISPLACE THEM.
THAT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO
DO.
IT PUTS THEM IN A DIFFICULT
POSITION.
WHEN YOU ARE A GROUP OF ORDINARY
, ELDERLY OR DISABLED WORKING
PEOPLE STANDING UP TO A
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION
WHO THOUGHT THEY COULD GET AWAY
WITH SWEEPING THESE PEOPLE OUT
OF THEIR HOMES AND WHO KNOWS
WHERE ELSE.
I THINK THAT GOES TO SHOW THE
INCREDIBLE MOVEMENT THAT WE ARE
CAPABLE OF BUILDING HERE IN
SEATTLE.
I THINK AS MANY HAVE SAID
BEFORE ME, THERE IS MUCH THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I THINK WE DO HAVE AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF WEALTH IN THE CITY.
THAT COMES FROM DEVELOPERS AND
FROM BUSINESSES LIKE AMAZON.
WE FOUGHT LAST YEAR TO TAX
THOSE BIG BUSINESSES TO BUILD
THE DESPERATE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY REPEALED IT.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT
AGAIN. WE NEED TO PUT THAT TAX
BACK IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN
REGAIN THAT MONEY THAT WE NEED
IN ORDER TO BUILD THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NECESSARY.
THE AFFORDABLE UNIT THAT'S
BEING BILLED HERE, THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE CALLED.
IT'S ALREADY FILLED.
WE NEED A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF
SOCIAL HOUSING.
WE NEED RENT CONTROL.
WE NEED TO ALLOW FOR THE PEOPLE
IN THE CITY WHO ARE ON THE
STREETS TO BE HOUSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY NAME IS URSULA WHITE
OLIVER.
>> OKAY.
>> I AM COMING IN A LITTLE BIT
LATE SO AM PRETTY SURE SOME OF
WHAT I AM SAYING IS ADDRESS.
I HEARD A LOT OF GOOD
INTENTIONS.
WHAT I KNOW IS, NOT ONLY DO I
HAVE THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING,
WE HAVE THOSE ON THE BRINK OF
SUFFERING.
YOU HAVE HOMEOWNERS WHO WOULD
LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY A LITTLE
BIT MORE IN TAXES, BUT CAN'T.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHOOSE HOW
THAT MONEY IS BEING SAID.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IT BACK
TO THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY, I
ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO PAY A
LITTLE BIT MORE IN TAXES TO
HAVE MORE TREES BECAUSE I LIVE
CLOSE TO A PARK.
I KNOW AS A HOMEOWNER AND A
SINGLE PARENT, BARELY BEING A
HOMEOWNER, I GET TO ENJOY THAT
PARK BUT THAT THOSE TAXES GO A
LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
I AM BARELY HOLDING ONTO THAT
HOME.
I HAVE TWO KIDS.
TWO YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN
BOYS.
THAT MAKES THIS A STATISTIC,
RIGHT?
>> WHAT WOULD REALLY HELP IS TO
UNDERSTAND THE PARAMETERS AND
BOUNDARIES GOING INTO OUR
POLICIES.
MAYBE THERE POLICIES THAT NEED
TO BE CHANGED.
HOW DO WE BECOME A LITTLE MORE
INNOVATIVE AND UNDERSTAND THE
BOUNDARIES AND THE POLICIES,
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN
BEING ABLE TO ADD FUNDS OR GET
FUNDS AND HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE
DISTRIBUTED?
YOU HAVE TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF
READING.
IF SOME OF THAT READING IS DONE
IN SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE
BEEN THROWN OUT AND THE REASONS
WHY ARE PRESENTED IN SUCH A WAY
THAT IT IS SIMPLIFIED AND THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE IDEAS AND
BEING IMPACTED ARE INFORMED AND
PRESENTED WITH THAT
INFORMATION, YOU GET INNOVATIVE
THINKING.
BRING THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS.
THEY WILL COME HERE WITH
COMPLAINTS, NO.
THEY WILL HAVE SOLUTIONS.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE TO COME HERE --
>> I'M SORRY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> [ APPLAUSE ] I JUST WANTED
TO SAY THAT AS A SEATTLE
RESIDENT I WAS BORN HERE, IN
1960, I GREW UP JUST ON THE
NORTH SIDE OF THE REDLINE THAT
EXISTED.
I AM HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH
THE CHCEAU RESIDENCE IN EVERY
SINGLE EFFORT THAT WE MAKE
ALONG THE WAY.
AND A COMMITMENT TO FIGHT FOR
THAT.
THANK YOU.
>>
>> CAN YOU COME SIGN UP ON THE
SPEAKING LIST, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO, ON BEHALF OF MY
PROVIDER.
I AM NOT A CHCEAU RESIDENT. I
AM THE PROVIDER OF A MAN WHO IS
DISABLED. HE USES A WHEELCHAIR
ALL THE TIME.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT HIM
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAD THAT
MR. KAYDEN IS A LUCKY PERSON WHO
IS THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING.
HE IS A PRIORITY PERSON BECAUSE
HE IS DISABLED AND CANNOT FIND
ANY PLACE TO GO BECAUSE HE
LIVES IN THIS BUILDING SINCE
1980. HE IS BEEN THERE FOR 39
YEARS HE HAS BEEN LIVING THERE.
HE IS MY CONCERN. HE RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM THE NEW OWNER AND HE
KEEPS TALKING TO ME ABOUT HOW
TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE.
SO I AM HELPING HIM.
IT IS HARD TO FIND A PLACE TO
HAVE FOR HIM. SO, THE WAY I SEE
-- PERSONALLY I AM CONCERNED.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY
CONCERN IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
I SEE THAT RIGHT NOW THE OTHER
MEETING IN THE OTHER OFFICE IS
THERE THE OTHER DAY, I HEARD
SOMEONE TALK ABOUT 400 PEOPLE
HAVE A SECTION 8 VOUCHER AND
THEY CANNOT FIND A PLACE TO
LIVE.
>> I'M SORRY.
CAN YOU WRAP UP?
>> FINISH SPEAKING
>> OKAY.
>> FINISH SOON?
>> OKAY.
>> I HEARD ABOUT THAT.
400 PEOPLE HAVE SECTION 8
VOUCHERS AND CANNOT FIND A
PLACE TO LIVE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I SEE
BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL OWNER AND
BUSINESS PEOPLE NEED TO SOLVE
THIS ISSUE.
SEATTLE IS A BEAUTIFUL AND
POPULAR CITY.
WE HAVE BOEING AND MICROSOFT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
VISITED THE CITY FROM FOREIGN
COUNTRIES.
WHEN I TOOK A LOOK AT THE
STREET AND THE CITY AND A LOT
OF HOMELESS PEOPLE AND I THINK
WE NEED TO -- IF THINGS KEEP
GOING ON, THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS
TO THE STREET IS NOT GOOD.
WE WOULD LIKE TO, BETWEEN THE
BUSINESS PEOPLE AND THE CITY WE
NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF IDEA
PROGRAM TO HELP THE HOMELESS
PEOPLE AND POOR PEOPLE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO
TESTIFIED.
WE WENT TO START WITH THE FIRST
GROUP WHICH IS THE RESIDENCE OF
THE CHCEAU.
DO WE HAVE THEM READY?
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THERE WERE OTHER CHCEAU
TENANTS THAT WERE GOING TO JOIN
US HERE AS WELL.
ARE PEOPLE BEING SHY?
>> OKAY.
>> FOR THE RECORD, CAN YOU
STATE YOUR NAME BRIEFLY AND
THEN EACH OF YOU CAN SPEAK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS [ INAUDIBLE ]
JOHNSON.
IN 2003 I WAS MARRIED AND
LIVING IN WASHINGTON.
THE ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND AND I
WERE WALKING AND A CAR STRUCK
US.
MY HUSBANDWAS KILLED AND I WAS
COMATOSE FOR A FEW HOURS.
FOUR DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND 4
DAYS IN ICU.
TWO WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL.
I HAD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
AFTER THE ACCIDENT I COULD NOT
SEEK EMPLOYMENT.
I HAVE DAILY HEADACHES.
SOMETIMES I JUST NEED TO STAY
HOME.
AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN 2008 MY
PARENTS MOVED ME DOWN HERE TO
SEATTLE AND I LIVED WITH THEM
IN AN APARTMENT.
THEY HELPED ME OUT UNTIL I
COULD GET BACK. IN 2015, I
MARRIED MY BEST FRIEND, WARREN.
HE IS HERE.
PLEASE STAND UP.>> WE LIVE IN
AN APARTMENT, 309 IN THE
CHCEAU APARTMENTS.
WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS. IT IS
VERY QUIET.
IT'S CLOSE TO THE STORE AND
CLOSE TO MY MEDICAL CARE.
IT'S CLOSE TO MY PARENTS.
WE ALL LOVE OUR PARENTS.
MY FATHER WAS RECENTLY
DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE IV LUNG
CANCER.
TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, HE
WAS UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY.
MY MOTHER HAD KNEE SURGERY.
THEY DEPEND ON ME. IF CADENCE
IS GOING TO MOVE US OUT, I
DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO
LIVE.
WHO IS GOING TO HELP MY
PARENTS?
THE MANAGER TOLD US THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO STOP SECTION 8
HOUSING BY THE END OF DECEMBER,
THIS YEAR.
THEY DID NOT TELL US THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO DEMOLISH THE
BUILDING.
THE OTHER TENANTS AND I WANT
CADENCE TO PAY FOR THAT [
INAUDIBLE ]. THEY CANNOT JUST
GIVE US A VOUCHER.
SOMEBODY HAS LIVED THERE FOR
DECADES.
SOME OF LIVED HERE FOR 30 YEARS
OR MORE.
MANY TENANTS ARE SENIORS AND
SOME ARE DISABLED.
ONE OF THE TENANTS IS 93 YEARS
OLD.
THAT IS WHY WE WANT CADENCE TO
RELOCATE US WHEN THEY DEMOLISH
THE BUILDING.
IT DID NOT ALWAYS USED TO BE
THIS WAY.
IN FACT, FOR MANY YEARS MY
UNCLE OWNED A TATTOO APARTMENT.
HE TREATED TENANTS FAIRLY.
úHE HAD TO SELL THE BUILDING A
YEAR AGO. THAT IS WHEN CADENCE
BOUGHT IT.
MY UNCLE WAS LIVING AT THE
CHCEAU WHEN THEY CADENCE TOOK
ALL OVER AND THEY RAISED THE
RENT ON HIM SO MUCH THAT HE HAD
TO MOVE OUT.
WE ORGANIZE TO STAND UP FOR OUR
RIGHTS.
WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST
CADENCE.
WE ARE GLAD TO SEE SO MANY
PEOPLE, FRIENDS, TENANTS AND
NEIGHBORS SUPPORTING OUR CAUSE.
THIS IS OUR CITY.
NEIGHBORHOODS, WE WILL FIGHT
FOR THE RIGHT TO LIVE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM RENC HOLMES.
IT IS NICE TO SEE ALL OF YOU
HERE.
I WANT EVERYONE TO GIVE
YOURSELF A ROUND OF APPLAUSE
FOR COMING IN TODAY.>> [
APPLAUSE ]
>> WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
OUR STRUGGLE AT THE CHCEAU
APARTMENTS FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THE
CRISIS THAT IS IMPACTING SO
MANY OF US IN SEATTLE.
I TAKE CARE OF MY AUNT.
SHE HAS LIVED AT THE CHCEAU
FOR 30 YEARS.
SHE IS 88 YEARS OLD.
THIS IS HER COMMUNITY.
HER CHURCHES DOWN THE STREET.
HER DOCTOR IS UP THE STREET.
SHE IS UPSET AND HURT TO THINK
THAT SHE IS GOING TO BE KICKED
OUT OF HER APARTMENT BECAUSE
CADENCE WANTS TO TEAR DOWN AND
BUILD 72 SMALL UNITS.
OUR FAMILY CAME FROM ARKANSAS
AND SETTLED IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE 40s BECAUSE
THIS WAS THE AREA THAT WE WERE
ALLOWED TO LIVE IN.
MOTHER GORDON HAS SEEN HER
FRIENDS PASS AWAY AND HER
CHILDREN SELL THE PROPERTY FOR
PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.
SHE IS SEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CHANGE SO MUCH.
WHEN I TAKE HER OUT SHE SAYS I
DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD ANYMORE.
I SAY DON'T WORRY, IS STILL
CHANGING.
I NEVER THOUGHT THE CHANGE
WOULD COME TO OUR DOORSTEP.
A FEW WEEKS AGO THE TEAM CAME
AND KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR TO LET
US KNOW THAT CADENCE REAL
ESTATE WAS PLANNING TO TEAR
DOWN OUR BUILDING AND REBUILD
EFFICIENCY UNITS.
IT SEEMS THAT CADENCE HAD HELD
A PLANNING MEETING RIGHT AFTER
THE BIG SNOW AND THEY NEGLECTED
TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE DIVERSE
GROUP.
OUR NEW NEIGHBORS JUST MOVED IN
. THEY WERE LIVING IN THEIR CAR
AND VARIOUS SHELTERS BEFORE
THEY GOT INTO THE CHCEAU.
THEY HAVE TWO TODDLERS AND THEY
JUST HAD A BABY BOY A COUPLE
DAYS AGO.
BABY SHOULD NOT LIVE IN
SHELTERS, SHOULD THEY?
OUR OLDEST RESIDENT IS 93 YEARS
OLD.
HE IS A RETIRED PAINTER.
HE LIVES WITH HIS WIFE WHO IS
IN THEIR 80s.
HE SAID THE DEVELOPERS WILL
MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, THAT IS
THEIR RIGHT.
THEY MUST ALSO CONSIDER THE
RIGHTS OF THE TENANTS WHO LIVE
THERE.
THAT IS ONLY FAIR.
MR. HUNG, ANOTHER LONG-TERM
RESIDENT WORKS TWO JOBS.
HE IS A MAILMAN AND HE DRIVES A
FOR HUBER.
HE SAID THE RICH JUST KEEP
GETTING RICHER AND HE JUST
KEEPS WORKING.
WE JUST WANT TO STAY IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS SAD THAT SO MANY OF US
HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUSHED OUT.
THE DEVELOPERS SEEM TO CARE
ABOUT PROFITS.
WHAT ABOUT US? THE PEOPLE?
WE ARE SO VERY THANKFUL FOR THE
TEAM.
THEY CAME AND CARE.
WITH THE HELP THEY UP THIS
ORGANIZE AND WE DID MEET WITH
CADENCE ON THURSDAY, THE 14th.
WE ALL WENT TO THE MEETING
TOGETHER.
WE PRESENTED OUR DEMANDS
TOGETHER.
CADENCE NEW WE WERE SERIOUS.
I WANT TO READ YOU A LIST OF
THE DEMANDS THAT WE PRESENTED.
WE SAID WE THE APARTMENT
TENANTS DEMAND RELOCATION TO
NEW APARTMENTS IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT IF WE CHOOSE TO
CONTINUE LIVING IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH AFFORDABILITY
AND ACCESSIBILITY SPECIFICALLY
THEY WILL PAY ALL MOVING
EXPNSES UPFRONT FOR EACH
HOUSEHOLD.
CADENCE AGREES TO ENSURE THAT
EACH HOUSEHOLD IS AFFORDED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE IN
COMPARABLY SIZED AND PRICED
APARTMENTS.
WHERE WE MOVE IS OUR CHOICE.
CADENCE WILL RESPECT EACH
HOUSEHOLD'S CHOICE ABOUT WHERE
WE DECIDE TO LIVE.
IF WE WANT TO LIVE IN THE US
NEIGHBORHOOD THEN CADENCE WILL
ACCOMMODATE US BY FINDING
AVAILABLE AND AFFORDING US
AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE NEIGHBOR
HOOD.
THEY WILL PAY EACH HOUSEHOLD A
DOLLAR AMOUNT.
THEY HAVE OFFERED $5000 IF WE
MOVE.
WHEN CADENCE BUILDS A NEW
APARTMENT BUILDING ON THE
CHCEAU SITE, IF THEY BUILD IT,
WE WANT THEM TO DESIGNATE 15%
OF THE APARTMENTS TO BE
AFFORDABLE UNITS.
[ APPLAUSE ] AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DWELLINGS ARE NEEDED.
THEY NEED TO SIGN A LEGALLY
BINDING AGREEMENT IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ALL THE TERMS SPECIFIED
ABOVE PROVIDING THE SAME TERMS
TO ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN ADDITION
THEY WILL MAKE IMMEDIATE
REPAIRS TO THE APARTMENT
BUILDING FIXING THE LIFT,
REPAIRING THE STAIRS AND A LIST
THAT IS LONG.
THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY ARE
NOT PLANNING TO TEAR THE
BUILDING DOWN RIGHT AWAY.
THEY SAID A FEW YEARS.
I ASKED FOR THAT IN WRITING.
YOU KNOW, THEY CAN SAY ONE
THING AND DO ANOTHER.>> [
APPLAUSE ] JOHN FENTON SAID HE
WILL SEE WHAT HE CAN DO.
WE WANT THEM TO DO THE RIGHT
THING.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU
>> I WANT TO ASK A FEW
QUESTIONS TO [ INAUDIBLE ] WHAT
OPTIONS THE TENANTS HAVE.
BEFORE THAT WE HAVE TWO
COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS HERE WHO
WE HAVE INVITED TO THE PANEL TO
SPEAK ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND
WHY THEY ARE HERE IN
SOLIDARITY.
LINE>>. PLEASE, EACH OF YOU
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR THE
RECORD AND THEN SPEAK.
>> MY NAME IS ROBERT JEFFREY.
I AM THE SENIOR PASTOR AT THE
NEW HOPE CHURCH.
BEFORE I START I WANTED TO SAY
THAT I THINK THAT THE PROPOSAL
TO CADENCE SHOULD BE A MODEL
FOR ALL DEVELOPERS MOVING IN TO
ANY OCCUPIED AREA AND THAT
PROPOSAL SHOULD BE ADOPTED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] I AM PLEDGING
MY SUPPORT AND WE ARE GOING TO
STICK THIS OUT.
THE PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION
CAN'T BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
POOR.
NOT THE ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED
AND THE EXPENSE OF THE SICK OR
THE INFIRM.
WE HAVE TO FIND A BETTER WAY.
PERSONALLY, I'M NOT AGAINST
GROWTH.
I BELIEVE IN MANAGED GROWTH.
NOT THE SURVIVAL OF THE
FITTEST.
THAT IS THE LAW WHICH GIVES
FORTH THE CHAOS.
MANAGE GROWTH TAKES THE LONG-
TERM INVESTMENTS MADE BY THOSE
WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY OCCUPIED
COMMUNITIES.
THE BI-LO SELL HIGH SHOULD
NEVER BE BLINDLY APPLIED TO
HUMAN BEINGS.
TO DO THIS IS BOTH IMMORAL AT
ITS CORE AND NOT IN THE FUTURE
OF THIS MUNICIPALITY.
MANAGE GROWTH, TAKE SERIOUSLY
THE FACT OF UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
THE EXPLOSION OF THE HOMELESS
POPULATION IN SEATTLE.
HUMAN AND COMMUNITY PRACTICES
NEED TO BE HANDLED.
IT BELIEVES IN THE EQUALITY OF
ALL PEOPLE.
THEY COULD BE DEVELOPERS, POOR,
SICK, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR
CONDITION IS, WHETHER THEY ARE
INFORMED, WE NEED INTELLIGENT
AND CIVILIZED MANAGED GROWTH.
THAT IS WHY WE PAY OUR TAXES.
THAT IS WHY WE PAY PROPERTY
TAXES AND THAT IS WHY WE PAY
SALES TAX.
THAT IS WHY WE ELECTED OFFICIALS
TO DO INTELLIGENT AND CIVILIZED
POLICIES.
THEY DON'T JUST LOOK OUT FOR
PEOPLE WITH MONEY.
THEY LOOK OUT ALSO FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE INFIRMED OR PORK AND OF
DIFFERENT COLORS THAN THEY
MIGHT BE.
THIS, WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING
HERE IS BEING EXPERIENCED ALL
OVER AMERICA IN HARLEM, EVERY
NATIVE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT
THIS NATION.
PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED.
NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE, ALL
MINORITY AND POOR AND INFIRMED
PEOPLE.
THERE HAS TO BE SOME LOGIC.
SOME REASON PUT TO THIS.
WHY NOT START HERE? WHY NOT
START NOW?
THE START IN SEATTLE,
WASHINGTON.
>> I WANT TO THANK KSHAMA
SAWANT FOR HER EFFORTS.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
DISPARAGING REMARKS.
I WANT TO SAY THIS. I
APPLAUD YOUR INTEGRITY.
I APPLAUD YOUR HARD WORK.
I APPLAUD THE SERVICE YOU GIVE
TO THE COMMUNITY.
REGARDLESS OF COLOR AND MONEY
AND ANYTHING.
I THINK YOU ARE A WARM WOMAN OF
INTEGRITY.
I WISH WE HAD MORE PEOPLE
DOWNTOWN LIKE YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BLACK
DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE RIGHT.
WE SEE THAT IN THE POLICIES
COMING FROM CITY COUNCIL.>>
THANK YOU.
>> SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
PASTOR JEFFREY.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS VIOLET.
WE SEE THIS EVERY DAY.
THIS IS NOT THE NORM FOR
SEATTLE.
WE SEE BUILDINGS MORE THEY ARE
BEING DISPLACED.
THIS IS THE WORST.
LISTENING TO THIS IS
HEARTBREAKING.
SO, I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
TENANTS.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE TENANTS,
THE TENANTS UNION ALWAYS WANTS
TO BE IN THAT ARM OF SUPPORT.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO IN OUR
OFFICES EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU KSHAMA SAWANT .
HERE'S THE THING.
WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE
PROBLEMS CAN BE ALLEVIATED FROM
RENTAL INCREASES BY PAYING YOUR
FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT.
I PROBABLY PAID MORE TAXES THAN
JEFF PAZO.
PROBABLY.
>> PROBABLY.
THE PROBLEMS STEM A LONG TIME
AGO.
WE ARE IN A DEEP HOLE OF RENTAL
INCREASES.
THIS IS A HOT MARKET FOR
DEVELOPERS ALL OVER THE WORLD
TO COME IN.
THEY ARE BUYING UP THIS LAND.
SO, HERE IS THE THING.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
GROWTH.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.
IT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BACK OF
THE TENANTS.
NOT AT ALL.
PERIOD.
WHAT ARE THE NUMBER ONE RACE,
I'M GOING TO SAY THIS BECAUSE A
LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T.
RACE THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED,
IS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IT IS
DOCUMENTED THAT THE BLACK
PEOPLE ARE THE NUMBER ONES WHO
ARE BEING AFFECTED.
I HAVE TO SAY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T SAY IT.
SO HERE'S THE THING, I THINK
THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO SAY, HOW
CAN WE PUSH POLICY TO STOP
DEVELOPERS FROM COMING INTO
COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE
ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES IN THE
COMMUNITY AND SAID THIS IS OUR
COMMUNITY, YOU CAN'T JUST COME
UP IN HERE AND PUSH US OUT.
THERE HAS TO BE LEGISLATION
THAT YOU ARE WELCOME HERE BUT
NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF TENANTS.
YOU WILL BE EVICTED.
>> THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IS NOT
DECREASING.
IN 2015 THEY SAID THE HOMELESS
PROBLEM WOULD BE NO MORE.
LISTEN, THAT WAS A LIE FROM THE
START.
I DON'T KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH
THAT PLAN.
OH, I'M SORRY, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE DID.
IT DID NOT DECREASE.
IT IS INCREASING.
WE SEE A LOT OF DEVELOPERS
ADDING TO THE PROBLEMS OF
HOUSING.
THEY HAVE RENT INCREASES.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING ARE
THE MARGINAL LIVES AND
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES HERE IN
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
THAT IS LOW INCOME, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITY, BLACK PEOPLE.
I WANT US TO SEE THIS PICTURE.
YOU CAN COME INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALL ARE WELCOME DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT YOUR COLOR.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DATA
IN THEIR PLACE FOR 40 YEARS.
WHERE THEY GOING TO GO?
WHERE?
DOES THE CITY HAVE A PLAN OR
DOES THE DEVELOPER HAVE A PLAN?
WE ARE GOING TO DISPLACE 34
BLACK PEOPLE OR SAMOAN OR
ACTUALLY KNOW.
WE'LL JUST GIVE THEM A NOTICE
AND SAY GOODBYE.
IN 90 DAYS YOU HAVE TO FIND A
NEW PLACE.
HERE'S THE THING.
WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT AND
WE HAVE TO SAVE OURSELVES BY
SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND
START PUSHING FORTH POLICY THAT
WILL STOP THIS OUTRAGEOUS
PRACTICE.
WE HAVE TO.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS.
SERIOUSLY.
>> WHY DO I KNOW AND WHY DO I
HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, NOT
BECAUSE OF THE TENANTS UNIT.
I WAS RAISED IN SEATTLE FOR 40
YEARS.
LANE NEAR AVENUE DOES NOT LOOK
LIKE IT.
DOWNTOWN DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
DOWNTOWN.
I GREW UP WHERE THERE WERE
PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME AND
BLACK PEOPLE WALKING IN
COLUMBIA CITY AND DOWNTOWN THEY
DON'T LOOK LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
THERE IS NO EQUITABLE RACE IN
SEATTLE.
ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME
, PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, THEY ARE
GETTING PUSHED OUT.
I SAY THIS RESPECTFULLY.
IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE, IT
SHOULDN'T BE ON THE BACK OF US
OR THE TENANT WHO LOOK LIKE ME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU TO ALL THE
FAMILIES FOR MAKING A VERY
IMPORTANT INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
IN TERMS OF WHAT VIOLET WAS
JUST SAYING ABOUT NOT ONLY THE
OVERALL CRISIS OF HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND ADDICTION AND
DISPLACEMENT, IT IS AFFECTING
THE MASS OF PEOPLE.
IF YOU BREAK DOWN THE IMPACT BY
RACE AND GENDER YOU CAN SEE
THAT IT IS DISPROPORTIONATE TO,
ESPECIALLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY
IS BEING IMPACTED.
I WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION
TO A STUDY THAT WE DISCOVERED
IN MY PREVIOUS COMMITTEE
MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK.
THIS IS TUESDAY, THIS MEETING
LAST TUESDAY, WE HAD A DOCTOR,
A RESEARCHER AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON WHO -- THIS IS
AVAILABLE ANYWHERE.
THIS STUDY IS UNIQUE.
IT IS LOOKING AT ALL OF THE
CODE EVICTIONS.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THIS IS A
SUBSET OF THE PEOPLE. THIS ONLY
TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THOSE WHO
HAD A FORMAL EVICTION FROM
THEIR LANDLORD AND THEN WENT TO
COURT TO CHALLENGE THAT.
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE ARE BEING
IMPACTED.
IN OTHER WORDS, AS VIOLET WAS
SAYING, THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY
FACING OTHER OPPRESSIONS AND
THOSE THAT ARE THE MOST
VULNERABLE ARE FACING THE
SHARPEST BRUNT OF THE HOUSING
CRISIS.
THE IRONY OF IRONY, THIS
RELATES TO WHAT DAVID PARSONS
SAID IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT,
THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE RESEARCH
ARE FACING THE CRISIS OF
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
DURING HIS PRESENTATION AT CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON TUESDAY HE
SAID EVEN I WITH A PHD DON'T
MAKE ENOUGH TO FULFILL THE RENT
BEING THIRST UPON US.
YET THE DOUBLE UP WITH A
ROOMMATE.
IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS TO
TEACHERS, CUSTODIANS, LIBRARY
WORKERS AND SO MANY OTHER
PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK
OF THE CITY WITHOUT WHOM THE
CITY WOULD COLLAPSE IN A SINGLE
DAY BUT ARE NOT MAKING THE
WAGES THAT A RESEARCHER MIGHT
MAKE.
THIS IS A MASSIVE CRISIS WE ARE
FACING.
>> WE ALSO HAVE AN IMPORTANT
POINT ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ]. I
HAVE A QUESTION, WOULD YOU, THE
TENANTS BE INTERESTED IN
CONNECTING WITH THEM TO SEE IF
YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR OWN
TENANTS UNIT?
>> YES.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU REVEREND JEFFREY
FOR THE COMMENTS MADE.
HE HAS SEEN, HAVING LIVED HERE
FOR MANY DECADES HE HAS SEEN
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND THE WHOLE
CENTRAL DISTRICT HAS BASICALLY
BECOME TO MUTED OF ITS BLACK
COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE
BEING PUSHED OUT OUTSIDE THE
CITY LIMITS.
WE SEE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR CONSTANTLY ATTEMPTING TO
CUT FUNDING FOR HOMELESS
SERVICES WHICH IMPACTS OUR
BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SHAME ON THEM.
IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE FOR THEM
TO BE DOING THIS WHEN THAT
CRISIS IS AT THE GREATEST.
TO COME BACK TO THE QUESTIONS
OF CHCEAU, I HOPE YOU WERE
ABLE TO HEAR WHEN RENCE WAS
GOING OVER THE DEMANDS THAT THE
TENANTS HAD PRESENTED.
I WANTED TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS
AS THE POLICY TO EXPLAIN WHAT
ARE THE NEXT STEPS POSSIBLE AND
WHAT CAN THE CITY COUNCIL DO.
I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WE
DID INVITE CADENCE, THE
DEVELOPERS TO THIS MEETING.
WE INVITED THEM AND WE URGE
THEM TO BE AT THIS MEETING.
THEY SENT ME AN EMAIL SAYING
THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE IT.
[ INAUDIBLE ] YES.
THE MEETING AND THAT THE
TENANTS HAD ON THURSDAY NIGHT,
THE DEVELOPERS SAID WE WILL
THINK ABOUT IT.
THEY ARE NOT HERE.
I'M NOT REALLY SURPRISED.
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW AS
WELL THAT WE ARE GETTING HELP
FROM THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS.
THESE ARE HARD-WORKING
EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WHO WORK ON CODE
COMPLIANCE. IF YOU ARE A RENTER
AND THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG IN
YOUR HOME, THE SHOWERS NOT
WORKING OR THE PLUMBING IS NOT
FIXED AND THE HEATING IS NOT
WORKING THEN YOU CAN CONTACT MY
OFFICE AND WE GET THE HELP OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
AND INSPECTIONS TO ADDRESS
THOSE ISSUES.
THEY'RE GOOD ABOUT THAT.
THEY ALSO ADMINISTER THE
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I AGREE WITH THE SPEAKERS THAT
THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IS
NOWHERE NEAR WHAT PEOPLE NEED
WHEN THEY ARE DISPLACED.
OF COURSE, THEY SHOULD NOT BE
DISPLACED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I INVITED CITY STAFF TO JOIN
US.
THEY SAID THEIR APOLOGIES. IT
IS UNDERSTANDABLE IF THEY ARE
UNABLE TO MAKE A SATURDAY
MEETING.
I WANT TO STRESS THAT WHILE
THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE IT, MY
OFFICE BELIEVES IT IS IMPORTANT
TO HAVE THIS ON A SATURDAY
AFTERNOON IN THE COMMUNITY.
OTHERWISE PUBLIC VOICES ARE NOT
HEARD IN CITY HALL.
>> I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS
UNFORTUNATE THAT NO OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER BOTHERED TO SHOW
UP.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A TRACK
RECORD.
IN THE COMMUNITY WERE HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE ARE HERE
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE NOT HERE.
I THINK THAT IS A PROBLEM.
I THINK WE SHOULD DEMAND THAT
THEY LISTEN TO ORDINARY PEOPLE.
I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO
DEMAND THAT.
>> ON THE ISSUE, CAN YOU GO
OVER SOME OF THE ISSUES
SPECIFIC THINGS THAT THE
TENANTS ARE FACING AND WHAT
THEY CAN DO?
>> SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE HAVE BEEN ASKING THE OFFICE
OF THE HOUSING ABOUT AND THE
HOUSING AUTHORITY, THEY
ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM, IT IS
ABOUT THESE DEMANDS THAT ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT AT THE CHCEAU
THAT CADENCE NEEDS TO FIND AN
EQUIVALENT LACE FOR PEOPLE TO
GO AT THE SAME RENT AND THAT
SORT OF THING.
TAKING A STEP BACK, DEVELOPERS
IN SEATTLE ARE NOT MAKING IT
THEIR RESPONSIBILITY USUALLY.
WHEN THEY GO IN DISPLACED PEOPLE
IT IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM.
IMAGINE IF WE SET A PRECEDENCE
THAT IT IS THE DEVELOPERS
RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND A PLACE,
AN EQUAL PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO
GO.
IF WE DO THAT HERE WE CAN DO IT
THE NEXT TIME AND THE NEXT
TIME.>> CADENCE ON THEIR
WEBSITE SAYS THAT THEY HAVE
OVER 30 BUILDINGS.
LARGE BUILDINGS LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE LAWS, IN THIS
BUILDING THERE ARE SOME UNITS
THAT ARE PART OF SECTION 8 AND
SOME UNITS ARE NOT.
FOR THE UNITS THAT ARE PART OF
SECTION 8, THE SECTION 8 ALLOWS
THAT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO
ANOTHER BUILDING.
IF THE BUILDING, IF CADENCE
AGREES AND THE OTHER BUILDING
AGREES.
CADENCE OWNS 30 OTHER
BUILDINGS.
DO THEY OWN BUILDINGS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD?
CAN THEY OFFER UNITS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD?
THEY COULD EVEN TRANSFER THIS
FEDERAL MONEY TO BUILDINGS THAT
THE CITY IS FUNDING RIGHT NOW
IN THE AREA.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE
RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED CADENCE TO
COME TO THEM AND TO SAY AND,
WHERE COULD THEY GO?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN BEST IF CADENCE
HAD AGREED TO COME TODAY AND
MADE A PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO DO
THAT.
PEOPLE SHOULD ASK THEM TO DO
THAT.
THEY CAN TRANSFER THAT TO AN
EQUIVALENT UNIT AND IT NEEDS TO
BE ONE THAT WORKS FOR THE
RESIDENCE.
WE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SPECIFIC TIES TO THIS
COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND
HAVE MOBILITY NEEDS AND THAT
SORT OF THING.
FOR THE OTHER UNITS, THE SEVEN
HOMES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THAT
PROGRAM, CADENCE OWNS
BUILDINGS.
THEY CAN PROVIDE OTHER HOMES AT
THE SAME RENT, SAME SIZE.
THEY CAN PROVIDE THAT IF THEY
THOUGHT IT WAS THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S UP TO US TO MAKE IT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY.
>> I WILL STOP THERE.
>> ASK A QUESTION?
>> DO, DOES THE CITY HAVE A WAY
OF FINDING OUT WHAT OTHER
BUILDINGS ARE OWNED BY CADENCE
AND IF NOT, HOW DO WE GET THAT
INFORMATION?
>> I WILL ASK.
>> I WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY
KNOW THAT, IF YOU HAVE NOT
SIGNED THIS PETITION, PLEASE,
IF YOU SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR
STRUGGLE, SIGN IT.
YOU MAY NOT SUPPORT THEM BUT
SIDING THIS PETITION MEANS THAT
YOU SIGNED WITH THESE CHCEAU
TENANTS AND THEIR STRUGGLE AND
YOU DEMAND THAT CADENCE OF
FINES ALTERNATE ACCESSIBLE
HOMES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
TENANTS ARE NOT DISPLACED FROM
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
>> SO, I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT
HAS CADENCE OFFERED SO FAR?
I SUGGEST YOU LET EVERYBODY KNOW
THE FACT THAT THE TENANTS HAVE
ORGANIZED AND MADE THEIR
STRUGGLE PUBLIC, THAT ITSELF
HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE STEP
FORWARD.
THAT HAS PUT PRESSURE ON ALL
THE DEVELOPERS.
THEY DON'T WANT TO SHOW UP TO
MEETINGS.
THEY DON'T WANT THEIR NAMES
KNOWN.
WHAT THEY WANT IS TO QUIETLY
MAKE ALL THE PROFITS THAT THEY
MAKE AND THEN WENT TENANTS JUST
QUIETLY MOVE OUT, THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENED.
I KNOW SOMEBODY IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS THAT I AM STOPPING
EVERY DEVELOPER.
I THINK YOU ARE GIVING ME TOO
MUCH POWER.
TOO MUCH OF THIS IS HAPPENING.
SMALL BUSINESSES, ORDINARY
PEOPLE ARE GETTING PUSHED OUT.
I ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WORKING-CLASS
AND MIDDLE-CLASS HOMEOWNERS ARE
FACING SIMILAR STRUGGLES THAT
WE SHOULD UNITE HOMEOWNERS AND
RENTERS TOGETHER IN A STRUGGLE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> SO, I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE
FACT THAT CADENCE AND ITS REAL
ESTATE AND PROPERTY MANAGER,
THE FACT THAT THEY FELT FORCED
TO RESPOND TO THE TENANTS IS A
TESTIMONY TO THE TENANTS
GETTING ORGANIZED.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ME, IT'S
BECAUSE OF THE TENANTS.
THEY FELT AFRAID THAT IF THEY
DIDN'T RESPOND AT ALL IT WOULD
LOOK REALLY REALLY BAD.
THE FACT THAT YOU GOT A
RESPONSE, WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE
THAT AS A VICTORY FOR THE
TENANTS.
THEN, ON TOP OF THAT, THE
TENANTS ARE SENT A LETTER TO
CADENCE, I DON'T THINK WE READ
THAT OUT LOUD.
I'M SURE THAT IS AVAILABLE
PUBLICLY.
THEY SENT A LETTER SAYING WE
NEED YOU TO MEET WITH US.
FOR A FEW DAYS WE DIDN'T HEAR
FROM CADENCE AT ALL.
AS THE TENANTS GET PUBLIC
PRESSURE THEY HEARD FROM
CADENCE THAT THEY WOULD MEET
WITH THEM.
THEY MET WITH THEM THURSDAY
NIGHT.
IT WAS NOT JUST REPRESENTATIVES
FROM SOME DIFFERENT HIGHER
CORPORATION.
THE PRINCIPLES THEMSELVES WERE
THERE.
I THINK THAT IS TESTIMONY TO
THE SUCCESS THE TENANTS HAVE
HAD PUTTING PRESSURE ON
CADENCE.
THURSDAY NIGHT MY STAFF AND I
WERE THERE.
THEY SPOKE DIRECTLY TO THE
OWNERS OF CADENCE.
IT WAS QUITE POWERFUL.
SO, CADENCE HAS MADE SOME
OFFERS TO TENANTS. COULD YOU
EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THEY HAVE
OFFERED AND HOW DOES THAT STAND
IN RELATION TO WHAT THE TENANTS
ARE DEMANDING?
>> SO, WHEN WE FIRST WENT TO
THE INITIAL OUTREACH MEETING IN
THE SNOWSTORM BEFORE THE
RESIDENTS OF THE CHCEAU NEW
THIS WAS HAPPENING, AT THAT
MEETING, WE ASKED ABOUT WHAT
CADENCE INTENDED TO DO ABOUT
DISPLACING PEOPLE.
AT THAT TIME THEY TALKED ABOUT
THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND
BYLAW THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT.
THAT IS A LITTLE BIT UNDER
3900.
THAT IS IF IT IS JUST ABOUT
MOVING THAT'S ONE THING.
IF YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIGHER
RENT, THAT DISAPPEARS IN A
MOMENT.
>> THE, AFTER THE RESIDENTS
STARTED ORGANIZING THEN THE
COMPANY, CADENCE SAID THEY WOULD
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE.
THEY SAID THEY WOULD PROVIDE
$5000 ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
THAT IS A VICTORY FROM WHAT
THEY HAVE DONE ALREADY.
THAT WAS NOT ON THE TABLE
ORIGINALLY.
IN TERMS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
DEMAND ABOUT HAVING SOMEWHERE
TO GO, RIGHT NOW THE MAIN THING
THAT CADENCE IS SAYING IS THAT
THOSE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE, WHO
ARE IN SECTION 8, THAT'S NOT
ALL THE RESIDENTS.
THOSE UNITS, WHEN THEY ARE
DISPLACED THEN INSTEAD OF BEING
IN A SECTION 8 UNIT THEY WILL
GET A SECTION 8 CHOICE VOUCHER
WHICH IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK
ABOUT WHEN YOU GET A SECTION 8
VOUCHER.
THE SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
GIVES YOU A VOUCHER BUT YOU
HAVE TO FIND A LANDLORD TO
ACCEPT IT.
THAT IS, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO
LOSE THAT.
IF YOU HAVE THAT, THAT DOES NOT
GUARANTEE THAT THERE IS A
LANDLORD THAT WILL ACCEPT IT.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LEARNED THERE
ARE 400 PEOPLE WITH THOSE
VOUCHERS FROM THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY RIGHT NOW
LOOKING FOR A LANDLORD TO
ACCEPT THOSE VOUCHERS.
SO AT THE MEETING ON THURSDAY
AND PREVIOUSLY MANY RESIDENTS
POINTED OUT THAT THAT IS NOT
SUFFICIENT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS
BYLAW ANYWAY. THAT IS DONE
AUTOMATICALLY. CADENCE PLAYS NO
ROLE IN THAT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE
WILL GET ANYWAY.
>> SO, WHAT THEY HAVE NOT
AGREED TO DO YET IS ACTUALLY
FIND PEOPLE A PLACE TO GO.
NOT A PLACE THAT WORKS FOR THEM.
I GO THANK YOU.
>> MY STAFF JUST REMINDED WE
HAVE A PRINTOUT OF THE LETTER
THE TENANTS WROTE TO CADENCE
URGING THEM TO COME TO THIS
MEETING AND THEIR LIST OF
DEMANDS.
ARE WE ABLE TO PASS THEM OUT TO
, AT LEAST AS MANY AS WE HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE COPIES
FOR EVERYBODY.
WE WILL POST THIS ON MY WEBSITE
SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A
COPY, JOHN WILL COME AROUND AND
GIVE YOU ONE.
>> RENCE CAN YOU TELL ME HOW
MANY TENANTS SIGNED THIS LETTER
INVITING THE DEVELOPER TO COME
TO THIS?
LIKE I BELIEVE IT WAS 19.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, 21.
>> CAN YOU ALSO TELL ME, WHAT
ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FROM THE
MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH THE
DEVELOPER THURSDAY NIGHT AND
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY
HAVE OFFERED SO FAR.
>> I THINK THE MEETING LET THEM
KNOW THAT WE WERE ORGANIZED AND
THEY TOOK NOTICE.
I THINK THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY
COULD SWEEP US UNDER THE RUG
AND MAKE [ APPLAUSE ]US GO
AWAY.
NOW THEY KNOW WE ARE ORGANIZED
AND WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT.>>
>> WE ASKED THEM TO WRITE A
LETTER TO MAKE US UP PROVE THAT
THEY WOULD DO WHATEVER THEY
TOLD US ON THURSDAY.
THEY CANNOT JUST SAY YES, WE
WILL RELOCATE YOU AND THEN WE
ARE WAITING AND NOTHING IS
GOING ON.
WE WANT THIS IN WRITING.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHAT
THEY OFFERED WHICH IS, THE
TENANT RELOCATION IS NOT REALLY
AN OFFER.
THAT IS THE LAW.
BEYOND THAT THEY ARE SAYING
THAT THEY WILL GIVE $5000 TO
EACH TENANT.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR ORGANIZING.
NO DEVELOPER IS GOING TO PART
WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY WITHOUT
US DEMANDING IT.
YOU THINK THAT YOUR FELLOW
TENANTS, WILL THAT BE ENOUGH?
DO YOU THINK YOUR DEMAND THAT
YOU HAVE SAID THE RESPONSIBILITY
IS THEIRS?
>> THEY NEED TO FIND THAT
HOUSING.
>> WE WANT TO STAY IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY AUNT HAS LIVED HERE ALL OF
HER LIFE.
SHE IS 88 YEARS OLD.
THIS IS HER HOME.
SHE DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE.
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE UPROOTED
FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SHE HAD AN OPERATION FOUR YEARS
AGO TO SAVE HER LIFE.
SHE JUST WANTS TO BE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SHE IS
ACCUSTOMED TO.
>> OKAY. I
ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
REVEREND ANGELA WING THE PASTOR
AT BETHANY UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST IN BEACON HILL.
SHE HAS JOINED THE STRUGGLE OF
THE CHCEAU TENANTS.
SHE WOULD ALSO BE WITH THEM
WITH THE DEVELOPERS ON THURSDAY
AND ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAID
WHICH REALLY, I FELT WAS
IMPORTANT WAS THAT EVEN THOUGH
SHE REPS RESENTS A CONGREGATION
IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CITY
SHE THOUGHT HER VOICE WAS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE MOST
COMMUNITIES IN DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE CITY ARE FACING THIS
CRISIS AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO
BE IN SOLIDARITY.
IF THEY WIN THEIR MAY BE A
TREMENDOUS BOOST FOR OTHER
STRUGGLES.
>> ALSO, REVEREND JEFFREY SAID
THE DEMANDS CAN AND SHOULD BE A
MODEL FOR WHAT RENTERS SHOULD
GET WHEN THEIR BUILDINGS ARE
BEING DEMOLISHED AND THEY ARE
BEING EVICTED.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ADOPT
IT.
I THINK THAT IS AN INTERESTING
IDEA AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON
THAT.
I WANT TO POINT OUT HOW
POWERFUL THIS IDEA IS.
FOR, IN A SITUATION WHERE
DEVELOPERS, BY LAW, THIS IS
TOTALLY LEGAL, MANY OF US MAY
THINK IT IS IMMORAL BUT IT IS
TOTALLY LEGAL FOR THEM TO
DEMOLISH THIS AND BUILD NEW
HOMES. WE ARE NOT AGAINST NEW
HOMES.
WE WANT A CITY THAT IS
AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE.
WE WANT A NICE CITY THAT IS
AFFORDABLE.
I AM NOT OPPOSED TO NICE
BUILDINGS.
I WANT IT TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND
AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYBODY.
IT SHOULD NOT BE JUST FOR RICH
PEOPLE.
>> I WANTED US TO TAKE IN
ACCOUNT, WE ARE COMING TO THE
CLOSE OF THIS MEETING.
WE CANNOT CLOSE THIS WITHOUT
PLANNING NEXT STEPS.
WE -- WHAT THE TENANTS WANT IS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND
ALTERNATE AFFORDABLE HOMES IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT IS NOT A SMALL THING.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE POWER AND
BALANCE BETWEEN BIG DEVELOPERS
AND ORDINARY PEOPLE.
DEVELOPERS ARE NOT REQUIRED,
THAT DEMAND IS NOT LEGALLY
ENFORCEABLE AT THIS MOMENT.
THAT IS WHAT THE REVEREND IS
SAYING, THEY NEED TO MAKE IT
LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE.
AT THIS MOMENT IS NOT.
IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO WIN
THAT LAW BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE A
FIGHTING MOVEMENT TO WHEN THAT.
AT THIS MOMENT THE TENANTS ARE
SHOWING COURAGE BY INCLUDING
THIS DEMANDED NOT JUST SAYING
OKAY I'LL ACCEPT WHATEVER YOU
CAN GIVE ME.
THEY ARE STARTING TO DEMAND
THIS.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE THING
BECAUSE IT GOES TO THE HEART OF
THE BUSINESS MODEL OF THE
DEVELOPERS.
THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS TO
DEMOLISH AFFORDABLE HOMES AND
THEN PUT LUXURY HOMES IN THEIR
PLACE.
WHEN I SAY LUXURY IT DOESN'T
MEAN THEY ARE LUXURY. IT JUST
MEANS THAT ONLY RICH PEOPLE CAN
AFFORD THEM.
THIS IS VERY -- IT IS A CRUCIAL
SHIFT THAT WE DEMAND THIS.
IT GOES TO THE HEART OF THE
BUSINESS MODEL OF THE
DEVELOPER.
I SAY THAT TO GIVE THE TENANTS
THEIR CREDITS AND TO EMPHASIZE
HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE FOR
THEM TO WIN THIS DEMAND. THIS
NOT UNDER ESTIMATE THE STRUGGLE
THAT WE HAVE AHEAD OF US.
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE COME HERE
IN SOLIDARITY WITH EVERYBODY
FACING THE HOUSING CRISIS, THIS
IS GOING TO BE A HARD THING TO
WIN.
IT IS GOING TO BE A FIGHT.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SAID OR MAY
THINK, WHY DO WE APPROACH THESE
ISSUES WITH ANIMOSITY, WHY
DON'T WE SPEAK NICELY?
>> WE ARE ALL NICE PAPER PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR.
IT IS NOT THE TENANTS OR THOSE
WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR THEM WHO
ARE ENGAGING IN ANIMOSITY.
THE REAL ANIMOSITY IS A SYSTEM
THAT DISPENSES WITH ORDINARY
PEOPLE COMPLETELY DISCOUNT
THEIR HUMANITY AND SAYS THAT WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHATEVER
WE WANT TO DO TO GET OUR 25%
PROFIT.
THAT IS THE REAL ANIMOSITY.
>> IF IF IT WERE MERELY A
QUESTION OF ASKING THEM NICELY,
WE HAVE DONE THAT 1 MILLION
TIMES AND IT HAS NOT GOTTEN A
SETTING THING.
WE WON BECAUSE WE FOUGHT.
NEVER BE ASHAMED OF FIGHTING.
THAT IS REJECT ANY ACCUSATIONS
OF ANIMOSITY.
WE ARE BEING NICE TO THE PEOPLE
WHO NEED US TO BE NICE AND
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO COME TO THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS MEETING BY
SUMMARIZING WHAT WE HAVE
ACHIEVED.
WE HAVE BROUGHT MANY PEOPLE
FROM OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
WE ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
TENANTS.
THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP
FORWARD.
WE HAVE HELD A CITY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MEETING IN THE
DISTRICT AND IT IS VERY, I KNOW
THAT THIS WAS VERY DIFFERENT
THAN MOST CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
MOST MEETINGS HAVE TO BE IN
CITY HALL.
MOST OF THE DISCUSSION IS
COMPLETELY INACCESSIBLE TO
ORDINARY PEOPLE BECAUSE WE
DON'T KNOW THE JARGON AND
TERMINOLOGY.
I HAVE ORGANIZED THIS COMMITTEE
TO BE ACCESSIBLE SO EVERYBODY
KNOWS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
IT IS VERY SIMPLE.
THERE IS NOTHING MYSTERIOUS OR
JARGON ABOUT IT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BASIC
RIGHTS.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
>> PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU
WANT THESE TENANTS TO WIN THEIR
FIGHT SO THAT WE CAN BUILD
FUTURE VICTORIES MAKE SURE YOU
SIGN THIS PETITION.
>> PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION.
PLEASE EXPECT THAT YOU WILL BE
CONTACTED BY THE TENANTS OR MY
OFFICE IN THE FUTURE. WE NEED
TO KEEP BUILDING THIS A FIGHT.
TODAY'S MEETING WAS A GREAT
STEP FORWARD AND I THANK YOU
ALL SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
WITHOUT YOU THERE IS NO
STRUGGLE.
IT IS HARDLY GOING TO BE
ENOUGH.
WE HAVE, WITH THE COURAGE OF
TENANTS AND YOU, WE HAVE PUT
THEM ON NOTICE. THAT WILL NOT
BE ENOUGH.
WE WANT TO WIN VICTORIES.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO MAKE PUBLIC
SPEECHES AND STATEMENTS.
WE WANT TO WIN REAL VICTORIES
WHICH MEANS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.>> PLEASE EXPECT TO
HEAR FROM US IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS.
WE WILL NEED TO DO MANY MORE
ORGANIZING ACTIONS.
I APPEAL TO YOU.
THOSE OF YOU, A HOMEOWNER OR
RENTER, IF YOU ARE FACING A
STRUGGLE, IF YOU ARE A RENTER
AND YOUR BUILDING HAS A SIMILAR
STRUGGLE, IF YOU HAVE REACHED
OUT TO YOUR LANDLORD OR
PROPERTY MANAGER MANY TIMES AND
ASKED THEM TO FIX A PROBLEM IN
YOUR BUILDING AND THEY HAVE NOT
DONE THAT, PLEASE CONTACT MY
OFFICE.
WE WANT TO HELP YOU FIX THOSE
PROBLEMS AND WE WANT TO BRING
YOU INTO PART OF THE
ORGANIZATION.
WITHOUT ALL OF US GETTING
ORGANIZED WE WILL NOT WIN
VICTORIES.
RATHER THAN BEING INDIVIDUAL
STRUGGLES AND IN INDIVIDUAL
BUILDINGS.
THIS BRING THEM ALL TOGETHER.
IF YOU ARE LIVING IN A SINGLE-
FAMILY HOME BUT YOU HAVE A
ROOMMATE OR HOUSE RENTERS, COME
TO US.
WE SHOULD TALK.
IF YOU ARE A SMALL LANDLORD AND
YOU SUPPORT RENTER STRUGGLES.
WE HAVE MET SOME OF THEM, GET
IN TOUCH WITH MY OFFICE.
THIS MOVEMENT IS NOT GOING TO
BE ANTAGONIZING.
IF YOU SUPPORT THE IDEA OF
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THEN CONTACT MY OFFICE SO WE CAN
CONTINUE.
THE LAST POINT AND THE
OBLIGATION OF MY OFFICE, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN TOUCH
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION TO
GET INFORMATION ABOUT CADENCE
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN THEIR
BUILDING ARE FIXED LIKE RENCE
SAID.
THE LIFT IS NOT WORKING.
THEIR CHILDREN WHO WALK ON THE
STAIRS EVEN THOUGH THEY NEED A
LIFT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER
CHOICE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE
PROBLEMS ARE FIXED IMMEDIATELY.
WE WILL ALSO BE IN TOUCH WITH
THE FEDERAL HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE URGING THEM TO COME TO
SEATTLE.
WE WANT THEM TO COME FOR
MEETING.
THAT WILL NOT BE AN EASY TASK.
THE HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT IS UNDER DONALD
HUD HAS FACED DECADES OF CUTS.
UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP THOSE
HAVE BEEN SUFFERING BECAUSE OF
THE SHUTDOWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT RESULT WE
WILL GET BUT WE WILL CONTINUE
TO PRESSURE THEM INTO MEETING
WITH US.
THE MORE YOU RAISE YOUR VOICES
AND BUILD A UNIFIED MOVEMENT
THE MORE IT WILL ENABLE ME TO
SUCCEED IN THAT ENDEAVOR.
IF YOU WANT TO FORM A TENANTS
UNIT, CONTACT MY OFFICE. LET'S
GET THE CITY ORGANIZED.
LET'S WIN A REAL BILL OF
RENTERS RIGHTS.
THIS MAKE THE CITY AND
AFFORDABLE CITY AND LET'S WIN
THESE INDIVIDUAL STRUGGLES AND
FIGHT FOR RENT CONTROL AND FOR
TAXING BIG BUSINESSES LIKE
AMAZON TO FUND A MASSIVE
EXPANSION OF SOCIAL HOUSING SO
THAT WE DON'T REMAIN AT OUR
CHILDREN DON'T REMAIN AT THE
WHIM OF FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M SORRY.
THERE IS ONE MORE ITEM THAT I
FORGOT ABOUT.
THAT IS, A PUBLIC HEARING THAT
I WOULD WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE
ON THE LEGISLATION WITH A
TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE
DESTRUCTION OF MOBILE HOMES TO
PUT ZONING PROTECTION IN PLACE.
AS I MENTIONED THIS IS A
LEGALLY REQUIRED HEARING.
THIS IS NOT DISPUTED.
BY LAW WE ARE REQUIRED TO OPEN
THIS TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK ON
THAT ISSUE, NOT THE CHCEAU
ISSUE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
>> SEEING NOBODY WANTING TO
SPEAK ON THAT ISSUE, WE WILL --
I'M SORRY.
>> THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON
THAT.
IF NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK
ON THAT ISSUE, I WILL GO AHEAD
AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON
THAT.
WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING BUT
NOT THE FIGHT.>>