>>> I'M JOINED BY VICE CHAIR
BRUCE HARRELL.
WE HAVE TO MAKE ITEMS ON
TODAY'S PROPOSED AGENDA.
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTIONS AND EXPANSIONS,
SDCI HAS COMPLETED WORK ON
THEIR RENTING INTO THE SEATTLE
WEB PORTAL WHICH IS A PLACE
THAT RENTERS AND LANDLORDS CAN
VISIT TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT
THEIR RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CITY.
THE PORTAL ALSO HAS A NEW
DEDICATED PHONE NUMBER THAT
RENTERS CAN CALL TO REPORT
VIOLATIONS AND ASK FOR HELP. WE
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS THE
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
DEPARTMENT'S EFFORT ON THIS
BECAUSE STAFF ARE OVERWORKED
GIVEN HOW MANY RENTERS NEED
SUPPORT IN SEATTLE AND HAVE
NEEDED SO IN RECENT YEARS.
WE ALSO HAVE TIME ON TODAY'S
AGENDA FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TALK ABOUT
THE TRAGIC SHOOTING INCIDENCES
THAT OCCURRED LAST WEEKEND AND
ON GUN VIOLENCE IN GENERAL.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ONLY A VERY
INITIAL DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC
BUT MY OFFICE DECIDED TO
RAPIDLY ORGANIZE IT IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE WE
WANTED TO BEGIN RESPONDING TO
THE INCIDENT.
IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THOSE WHO ARE HERE TO MAKE YOUR
VOICES HEARD AND PRESENT IDEAS
FOR WHAT YOU THINK COULD BE
DONE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY-
BASED SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE
PROBLEM WE ARE FACING.
OVER THE WEEKEND MY OFFICE
SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
SOME OF YOU ARE HERE TO
PRESENT.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING REDUCING
ANY QUALITY HAS THE GREATEST
IMPACT ON REDUCING VIOLENCE
WHICH I WILL TALK ABOUT IN A
LITTLE BIT.
BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS WHO HAVE URGENTLY MADE
TIME OUT OF THEIR SCHEDULES TO
BE HERE WHICH IS GREATLY
APPRECIATED.
IF THERE'S NO OPPOSITION FROM
FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS I
COMMEND-- AMEND THE PUBLIC
AGENDA TO PUT THE FIRST SECOND
ITEM 1st AND THE FIRST ITEM 2nd.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO OBJECTION
THE AGENDA WILL BE VOTING ON
WILL BE-- AND THE SECOND WOULD
BE THE SEATTLE DISCUSSION ON
RENTING IN SEATTLE.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION THE
AGENDA WILL BE ABDUCTED.
>>-- ADOPTED.
>> NO OBJECTION.
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC
COMMENT SO THOSE OF YOU WHO
SIGNED UP WILL GET TWO MINUTES
EACH.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP BUT
YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC
COMMENT YOU'RE FREE TO SPEAK
AND THEN SIGN UP.
WE WILL BE READING THE NAMES
OUT.
>> THERE ARE 4 PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
DAVID HAYNES FOLLOWED BY KATHY
YOSSI.
>> RENTERS REVOLT.
BE A LIGHTNING BOLT.
DO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD, RENTERS
REVOLT.
WE NEED CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE IT
ILLEGAL FOR KING COUNTY
PROPERTY ASSESSOR'S TO CONTINUE
INFLATING THE PERCEPTION OF
VALUE IN THE DILAPIDATED
RUNDOWN RENTAL HOUSING MARKET
BUILT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
BACK IN THE 20th CENTURY.
LACK OF COMMONWEALTH QUALITY-OF-
LIFE ISSUES HAVE OPPRESSED THE
CITY WITH CAPITULATION TO THE
NEVER-ENDING CELEBRATION OF
SUPPLY AND DEMAND SQUEEZE
HOUSING MARKETS WHILE
SPECULATORS PARK IT ON THE
BACKS OF THE WORKING CLASS.
SOLD OUT TO BANKS THAT
POLITICIANS COMPLAIN ABOUT BUT
PULL PUNCHES AS THEY AUTHORIZE
MORE MONEY TO NONPROFITS TEST
WITH MONEY TO PAY SOMEONE
ELSE'S RENT AT THE ARTIFICIALLY
CREATED COST.
WHEN IS CITY COUNCIL GOING TO
TAKE THE PEN AND FORCE THE
BANKS TO FINANCE THE 21st
CENTURY HOUSING BUILDOUT?
WHEN IS THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND EXPECTIONS
INSPECTION STOP CAPITULATING TO
RUN DOWN HOUSING NEVER JUDGED
AS BEING THE MODERN THIRD WORLD
CONDITION THAT MANY BUILDINGS
IN SEATTLE ARE IN?
A PERFECT EXAMPLE ABOUT WHY
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
INSPECTIONS SHOULD BECOME PROVED
IS THE BILLING AND BALLARD NEXT
TO CARTER MOTORS.
IT HAS SENT PEOPLE TO THE
HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THE GAS
THAT COMES UP THROUGH AND THEY
WERE NEVER PROPERLY ENFORCED
WITH FIRST WORLD INTERPRETATION
AND GET THE RUN DOWN GHETTO
BUILDING BUYS OFF THE
GOVERNMENT WITH YEARLY PROPERTY
TAXES TO CONVERGE OPPRESSING
FIRST WORLD QUALITY-OF-LIFE
ISSUES.
ALLOWING AN OPPRESSED TENET 14
DAYS VERSUS THREE DAYS TO STILL
PAY THE ARTIFICIALLY AND
INFLATED RENT IS NOT ENOUGH SO
GOD BLESS THE RENTERS REVOLT IN
THE 21st CENTURY HOUSING
BUILDOUT.
>> KATHY?
>> HI THERE.
I LIVE IN THE CORNER OF 21st
AND EAST COLUMBIA.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR MORE THAN
30 YEARS.
I RAISED MY FAMILY THERE AND
PROVIDED CARE TO MANY CHILDREN
AT ADVENTURE DAYCARE.
IN OUR 30+ YEARS LIVING IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT WE HAVE
WITNESSED GUN VIOLENCE,
PROSTITUTION, AND DRUG CRIMES
AND HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED SO
MANY BENEFITS OF LIVING IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL CITY.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED A
LOT AS WELL.
LONGTIME FAMILIES AND ELDERLY
NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED,
SERVICES SUCH AS THE POST
OFFICE AND AFFORDABLE GROCERIES
ARE BEING REPLACED BY UPSCALE
HOUSING AND SERVICES.
HOUR BLOCK AND THE BLOCKS
ADJACENT TO OURS HAVE SEEN
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT INCLUDING
PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE
STREET, TRAFFIC CIRCLES, SPEED
BUMPS, AND STOP SIGNS.
AND, THE TERRIBLE SCARY GUN
VIOLENCE CONTINUES.
IT IS A SYSTEM SYMPTOM OF
SYSTEMIC RACISM, NOT TRAFFIC
PATTERNS.
I HONOR AND RESPECT THE WORK
AND EFFORT MY NEIGHBORS AND
FRIENDS HAVE PUT INTO SOLVING
THIS TERRIBLE PROBLEM.
WE ALL WANT A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD
BUT I'M WONDERING, HOW CAN WE
ENSURE THAT THE UNHEARD VOICES
OF LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE BEING
INCLUDED?
I ASK THAT THE EVALUATION OF
ANY PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THE
GUN VIOLENCE PROBLEMS IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT INCLUDE THE
VOICES OF LONGTIME RESIDENTS
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THAT
THESE SOLUTIONS BE LOOKED AT
THROUGH A SOCIAL RACIAL AND
ECONOMIC EQUITY LENS.
>> DEMEUS?
>> I'VE BEEN BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE A FEW TIMES BEFORE
THE LAST TIME IN FEBRUARY.
AT THAT TIME I WOULD ASK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT GET BACK
TO ME WITH HER OFFICE.
AT THAT TIME MR. HARRELL'S
OFFICE WAS ABLE TO HELP ME WITH
SOME OF MY ISSUES.
WHAT I WANT TO ADDRESS ARE SOME
OF THE ISSUES GOING ON WITH THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND
CONTRACTS AND SOME OF THE
RENTER RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT.
I'VE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A
LAWSUIT WITH SHARE REGARDING
FAIR PAY, HOUSING VIOLATIONS,
AND OTHER ISSUES THAT WAS NOT
TAKEN CARE OF.
THE COURTS ARE LOOKING AT IT IN
A MUCH DIFFERENT LIGHT BUT WITH
SDCI FAILING TO MEET SOME BASIC
FAILURES TO OVERSEE THEIR
CONTRACTING PARTNERS HAS BEEN
AIDED MADE IT DIFFICULT TO
MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING AND
WORK WITH THE CITY TO FIND
SOLUTIONS TO MY ISSUE.
AGAIN I WILL ASK CAN YOU MAKE A
COMMITMENT TO GET A HOLD OF ME?
BUT THIS TIME ACTUALLY FOLLOW
THROUGH AND HAVE SOMEONE FOLLOW
UP WITH ME.
I PROVIDED MY EMAIL AGAIN
HOPING I CAN GET IN CONTACT TO
HAVE YOUR ASSISTANCE TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THESE
DEPARTMENTS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND
THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORTS THAT
YOU HAVE MADE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE CHANGES
HOPING TO COME IN WITH THIS
ELECTION, I HOPE YOU CAN HELP
ME SHOW CONSTITUENTS WHAT WE
CAN EXPECT FROM YOU.
>> I LIKE THEM THEM LOOKING AT
ME.
I MISS BOUCHARD.
YOU FEEL ME?
THIS IS HUMAN SERVICES.
THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OKAY?
BECAUSE WHEN THE FOLK REALLY
LIKE TO PUT THE WORD OUT ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON, THEY LIKE TO
SEE EVIDENCE, RIGHT?
THEY LIKE TO SEE HOW BLACK
PEOPLE I REALLY BEING TREATED
IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC THAT WE
BETTER PRAY IS GOING TO STAND,
OKAY?
FOR Y'ALL DOING WHAT YOU'RE
DOING TO US AS BLACK PEOPLE,
OKAY?
AND YOU SAY YOU ARE ALWAYS
COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING.
ALWAYS EATING FROM THE CRUMBS
OFF OF THE TABLE AND VARIOUS
OTHER THINGS THAT YOU COULD SAY
NEGATIVE ABOUT US BECAUSE I
DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE
WAS SHOOTINGS OVER THERE IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT EITHER BECAUSE
I'M A PRODUCT OF THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT ALTHOUGH I DON'T LIVE
OVER THERE.
OKAY?
SO, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
ABOUT THE EQUITY STANDPOINT
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING
FOR US TO HAVE AS A PEOPLE AND
WE HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE
LOOKING LIKE WE'RE BEGGING FOR
SOMETHING?
WHY SHOULD WE EVEN BE HAVING TO
LIVE IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF
JIM CROW?
YOU TELL ME THAT.
YOU GIVE ME AN ANSWER AND READ
THE BOOK AND WHEN YOU SEE ME
AGAIN AFTER YOU READ THE BOOK
YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT BLACK
WOMEN HAD TO SUFFER AS A RESULT
OF HER HUSBAND BEING
ASSASSINATED.
HERE IN AMERICA FOR SOMETHING
THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO BENEFIT
FROM BECAUSE HE WAS KILLED.
AND EVERY OTHER SINGLE SO-
CALLED LEADER, OR MAYBE YOU
THINK THERE ARE SOME LEADERS
AROUND, OKAY?
THAT ARE DOING SOMETHING WORTHY
OF GETTING YOUR LITTLE GRANT
MONEY, YOUR LITTLE PETTY CHANGE.
I DARE YOU FOR YOU TO DO
SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE YOU HEAR
ME RAISE MY VOICE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
IT'S NOT ONLY IS KILLING EACH
OTHER BUT THE POLICE IS KILLING
US TO.
AND YOU KNOW IT.
YOU ARE THE SCOURGE OF THE
NATION.
>> THAT'S THE LAST PERSON FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> DID ANYBODY ELSE WHO DID NOT
SIGN UP WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
BEFORE WE CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT?
SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS
DISCUSSION AS I MENTIONED ON
THE RECENT WAY OF GUN VIOLENCE.
THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN AVAILABLE TO COME TO
DISCUSS WITH US AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU ALL MAKING TIME.
I ALSO SHOULD LET MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT MY OFFICE
REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL
ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE UNABLE TO
COME BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS
VERY SHORT NOTICE.
I WANT TO SHARE THAT WE REACHED
OUT TO THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
AND NAACP LEADERSHIP OF THE NEW
HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
IN THE SPECIAL DISTRICT AND
REV. WALDEN WHO HAS BEEN A
LONGTIME ACTIVIST AND MEMBER OF
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION.
SHE IN FACT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE
IT BECAUSE SHE WAS AT A MEETING
AS WE SPEAK.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUTREACH AND
HAVE THE SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS.
I THINK MEMBER GONZALES WILL
HAVE A DISCUSSION WHERE
HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A
REPORT BACK FROM THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT SO WE WILL
COORDINATE ON THOSE ONGOING
EFFORTS.
I WANTED TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE
THAT OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN
CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE
DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED
IN RECENT DAYS.
MY STAFF AND I SENT DEEPEST
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF
THE YOUNG BLACK MAN WHO
TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE TO GUN
VIOLENCE ON FRIDAY.
WE STAND WITH SEATTLE'S BLACK
COMMUNITY IN MORNING-- IN
MOURNING FOR THIS LOSS. MY
HUSBAND AND I HEAR THE GUNSHOTS
WHERE WE LIVE IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT ALSO AND ONE OF THE
RECENT SHOOTINGS THIS WEEKEND
TOOK PLACE JUST TWO BLOCKS FROM
WHERE WE LIVE.
I PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND AND
SHARE THE ANXIETY OF MY
NEIGHBORS AND DESIRE FOR SAFE
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR OUR FAMILIES,
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE NEED COMMON SENSE GUN
CONTROL MEASURES LIKE BANNING
SEMI AUTOMATIC WEAPONS TO
PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE INCIDENTS
LIKE THE ONE THAT HAPPENED AT
28th AND JACKSON IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
SEVERAL RESIDENTS HAVE REACHED
OUT TO US WITH PROPOSALS TO
ADDRESS THE INCIDENCE OF GUN
VIOLENCE INCLUDING CONCRETE
CHANGES TO PUBLIC SPACE USAGE
AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WHICH
THEY BELIEVE COULD HAVE A
POSITIVE IMPACT AND HELP REDUCE
INCIDENCES OF DRIVE-BY
SHOOTINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ARE ADVOCATING FOR TRAFFIC
MEASURES LIKE FLOWERBEDS OR
úSPEED BUMPS ON 21st AVE.
WERE THERE HAVE BEEN 3 SHOOTINGS
IN THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR.
MY OFFICE HAS ASKED THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO
USE THEIR EXPERTISE TO REVIEW
AND IMPLEMENT THESE MEASURES
AND OTHER POTENTIALLY EFFECTIVE
SUGGESTIONS WE HAVE HEARD AND
WILL BE HEARING IN THE FUTURE.
HOWEVER, AS WAS CORRECTLY SAID,
WE ARE AWARE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN AND GUN CONTROL MEASURES
WILL BE INSUFFICIENT IF THE
OVER ARCHING PROBLEMS FACED BY
OUR SOCIETY REMAIN UNADDRESSED.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING AS
NATIONWIDE STUDIES HAVE SYSTEM
SYSTEMATICALLY SHOWN REDUCING
EQUALITY HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT
AND IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
WORKING PEOPLE.
IN SEATTLE THIS MEANS DE-
ESCALATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS CRISIS NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED WITH BOLD
POLICIES.
SEATTLE NEEDS RENT CONTROL AND
WE NEED TO TAX AMAZON AND OTHER
BIG BUSINESSES TO FUND AN
EXPANSION OF HOUSING AND TO
FULLY FUND PUBLIC TRANSIT AND
SOCIAL SERVICES.
TO FIGHT THE ALIENATION FACED
BY YOUNG PEOPLE WE NOT ONLY
NEED FOR THEM TO HAVE STABLE
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT WE
ALSO NEED TO TAX THE RICH TO
FULLY FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
NEW JOBS PROGRAMS.
YOUNG PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF RACE
OR HOUSEHOLD INCOME HAVE THE
RIGHT TO HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC
EDUCATION, FULLY EQUIPPED
SCHOOLS WITH ACCESS TO ART
OPPORTUNITIES, AFTERSCHOOL
PROGRAMS, LIBRARIES AND
INTERNET ACCESS.
WE KNOW THAT YOUTH VIOLENCE
PLUMMETS WHEN TEACHERS HAVE THE
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT THEY
NEED AND WHEN PARENTS ARE NOT
WORRIED ABOUT CHOOSING BETWEEN
RENT AND MEDICATION.
A MASSIVE EXPANSION BY TAXING
BIG BUSINESS WOULD ALSO MEAN A
CITYWIDE PUBLIC SECTOR JOGS
JOBS PROGRAM WITH
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS SO THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO
LIVING RANGE WAGE AND UNIONIZED
JOBS.
MY OFFICE HAS SUCCESSFULLY
FOUGHT FOR AND WON MILLIONS IN
FUNDING FOR THE YOUTH VIOLENCE
PREVENTION INITIATIVE AND
CAREER BRIDGE WHICH
REHABILITATES FORMERLY
INCARCERATED PEOPLE INTO JOBS
AND HOUSING AND REDUCES
RECIDIVISM.
FUNDING FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASSISTANT DIVISION, A SAFE
CONSUMPTION SITE AND CITY
SANCTIONED HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS
WITH CITY FUNDED SERVICES LIKE
TRASH REMOVAL FOR HOMELESS
COMMITTEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE A
PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF WORKING
WELL.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT MANY OF
THESE PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO BE
UNDERFUNDED BY THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT.
WE NEED SERIOUS FUNDING TO
ADDRESS THE OPIOID AND MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR SOCIETY.
SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
ASKED OUR OFFICE WITH
INCREASING POLICE PATROLS OR
INCLUDING THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND EMPHASIS PATROLS HELP?
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT HAS BEEN
ONE OF THE MAIN AREAS ALREADY
DESIGNATED FOR EMPHASIS PATROLS
AND WE ARE DISCUSSING ESPECIALLY
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. HOWEVER
THE FACT REMAINS THAT GUN
VIOLENCE WAS NOT PREVENTED
DESPITE EMPHASIS PATROLS.
TIMMONS-- DECADES WILL NOT-- WE
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO POLICE
OURSELVES OUT OF THE CRISIS
BECAUSE IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY
ROOTED IN THIS BROKEN SYSTEM.
SEATTLE IS SPENDING MORE THAN
EVER ON INCREASED POLICING SET
$400 MILLION PER YEAR AND THE
UNITED STATES HAD THE HIGHEST
PRISON RATE IN THE WORLD WITH
724 PEOPLE FOR 100,000
INCARCERATED.
WITH THAT BACKGROUND I WANTED
TO SHARE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS
UNABLE TO BE THERE AND WE WILL
HAVE SPEAKERS AT THE TABLE.
ONE IS A MEASURED MESSAGE FROM
SHIRLEY HENDERSON WHO IS THE
OWNER OF THE COFFEE SHOP IN THE
SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THESE
INCIDENCES HAVE HAPPENED.
SHE SAYS AS A SMALL BUSINESS IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT WE ARE IN
MOURNING OVER THE LOSS OF LIFE
AND THE IMPACT OF THE LOSS OF
VIOLENCE.
THE ROOT OF THIS STEMS FROM DEEP
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND THE
LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
FROM SYSTEMIC RACISM.
SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORKING
PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING UNDER THE
WEIGHT OF BIG BUSINESS AND
CORPORATE GREED REFUSING TO PUT
MONEY BEHIND REAL SOLUTIONS TO
THE PROBLEM AND INSTEAD LEANING
ON INCREASED POLICING WHICH
MOVES THE VIOLENCE AWAY TO
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOES
NOT DEAL WITH THE ROOT CAUSE.
AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER I AM
DEDICATED TO FIGHTING ROOT
CAUSES BY PUSHING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC
JUSTICE, AND BUSINESS IN ORDER
TO FUND LIVABILITY. THIS IS A
LETTER FROM REV. JEFFREY WHO IS
NOT ABLE TO BE HERE AND SAYS MY
NAME IS REV. ROBERT JEFFREY AND
I LIVE IT 1913 E. ALDER.
I HAVE LIVED AT THIS LOCATION
IN THE HEART OF THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
LIKE MANY I HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS
APPALLED AT THE RATE AND
CONSISTENCY OF THE VIOLENCE
THAT HAS PLAGUED THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON
AND IS RATHER A REOCCURRING
TRAGEDY PAYED OUT FOR AT LEAST
THE LAST 30 YEARS THAT I'VE
LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE HAS BEEN
TRIED TO ELIMINATE THE WASTE OF
HUMAN POTENTIAL AND THOSE WHO
LIVE AND WORK IN PROXIMITY TO
THESE OFTEN INDISCRIMINATE ACTS
OF VIOLENCE.
IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF AFTER
HAVING PARTICIPATED PERSONALLY
AND COUNTLESS EFFORTS TO STOP
THE VIOLENCE, THESE ARE SOME OF
THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS.
FIRSTLY WE HAVE ENTIRELY TOO
MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR TIME
DURING THE PERIOD WHEN SCHOOL
IS NOT IN SESSION.
MANY SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE ALSO
NOT RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OR
DESIRES OR ARE TOO EXPENSIVE
FOR THEM TO AFFORD.
YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
DESIGN THEIR OWN SUMMER
PROGRAMS OR AT LEAST GIVE
SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO BE DOING RATHER
THAN HAVE THESE PROGRAMS
DESIGNED BY AND INFORMS--
UNINFORMED PROFESSIONALS.
SECONDLY THEY NEED CAREER PATH
JOBS IN THE CITY MUST GET
SERIOUS ABOUT SEEKING HELP IN
PROVIDING YOUTH UP TO THE AGE
OF 18.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT EVERY
YOUNG PERSON WHO WANTS TO EARN
MONEY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A
JOB.
THIRDLY INSTITUTIONS NEED TO
SERVE AS LEARNING CENTERS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO TO
LEARNING FRIENDLY PLACES DURING
THE SUMMER.
FOURTH, I BELIEVE THE CITY
NEEDS TO REACH OUT TO LEADERS
WHO HAVE CREDIBILITY ON THE
STREET.
THE OTHER ONES WHO NEED TO
BEING PEACE ON THE STREETS.
FINALLY I REALIZE THAT IN TIMES
LIKE THIS THERE'S A TENDENCY TO
PUT THIS PROBLEM INTO THE HANDS
OF THE POLICE.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE HIDDEN
BEHIND THE POLICE QUESTION LONG
ENOUGH.
IT IS EVIDENT THAT IF THEY
COULD SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED YEARS AGO
BY TOTALLY DISMANTLING THE
COMMUNITY AND IMPRISONING
THOUSANDS OF YOUTH, ESPECIALLY
BLACK PEOPLE ON DRUG CHARGES
ONLY TO THEN MAKE DRUGS LEGAL.
DON'T THINK THAT THIS HYPOCRISY
GOES UNNOTICED AMONG THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
THIS PROBLEM MUST BE SOLVED BY
US AND BY THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE WHO ARE CRIMINALS MUST GO
TO JAIL, HOWEVER THOSE WHO ARE
INNOCENTLY CAUGHT UP IN THE
CROSS WIRES OF THIS SOCIAL
CRISIS MUST BE SAVED, SINCERELY
DR. JEFFREY.
I APPRECIATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
WHO HAVE SENT MESSAGES MESSAGES
AND WE WILL BE SEEKING MORE
INPUT.
FOR NOW WE WARMLY WELCOME IF
YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN US AT THE
TABLE.
>> WE WANT AS MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE.
>> WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE.
I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
SHANNON WHO IS A LONG TIME AND
DEDICATED ACTIVIST IS ALSO HERE
IN CHAMBERS.
WE WILL OF COURSE BE DISCUSSING
WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS
WELL.
IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT THE
COMMITTEE GOES, COULD YOU PLEASE
GIVE BRIEF INTRODUCTIONS AS A
MATTER OF RECORD AND THEN WE
CAN START A DISCUSSION?
>> GARRETT WEED HIM.
I LIVE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND LIVED IN SEATTLE SINCE 2000.
I'M A METEOROLOGIST.
>> MY NAME IS EMILY LIEBERMAN
AND I LIVE ON 21st AVE.
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
I'VE LIVED IN SEATTLE SINCE 2001
AND I'M GOING TO SWITCH SIDES.
>> I AM KATHY YAZZIE AND LIVE
ON THE CORNER OF 21st AND EAST
COLUMBIA AND I'VE BEEN THERE A
LITTLE LONGER THAN 30 YEARS.
>> JOANNA:.
I LIVE SOUTH OF UNION ON 21st
AVE.
I'VE LIVED IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT SINCE 1977 AND IN THAT
HOUSE SINCE 1985.
>> I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
MAKING YOURSELVES AVAILABLE
SUCH SHORT NOTICE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE FAMILIES AND
WORK OBLIGATIONS AND I WANTED
THIS TO BE A FREE-FLOWING
DISCUSSION SO IT'S NOT LIKE--
IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE A
SPECIFIC AGENDA.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT
FIRST OF ALL HOW YOU FEEL IT
HAS BEEN GOING AND ALSO WHAT
THINGS YOU FEEL THE CITY SHOULD
BE DOING. JUST PLEASE FEEL FREE
TO JUMP IN.
>> DO YOU WANT TO START?
>> FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THAT
THE COMMUNITY HAS-- THERE ARE A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT ARE CONCERNED AND IT'S A
VERY GOOD VARIETY.
FOR INSTANCE BEFORE I CAME I
TALKED TO A WOMAN WHO IS PART
OF THE DESMOND JACKSON
FOUNDATION AND SHE MAY HAVE
COME EXCEPT THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO KATIE'S COFFEE BECAUSE
THERE WAS A MEETING WITH A MAN
NAMED VERNON WHO HAS BEEN
HOMELESS IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT FOR SOME TIME.
APPARENTLY HIS SITUATION HAS
GOTTEN MUCH BETTER SO SOME
RESIDENTS WERE GOING OVER THERE
TO MEET WITH HIM AND TALK TO
HIM.
I'VE BEEN ACTIVE ON SEVERAL
COMMITTEES FOR SOME TIME AND IN
TERMS OF THE FEELING OF SAFETY
AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS,
I REALIZE THIS IS ONLY ONE
LITTLE PIECE OF IT.
NONETHELESS I THINK WE HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT FEAR AND ANGER
REALLY AFFECT EVERYBODY'S BRAINS
INCLUDING ADULTS.
BUT THE ABILITY FOR CHILDREN TO
LEARN, HAVING SOME FEELING AND
PERCEPTION OF SAFETY AND TO
HAVE REAL SAFETY IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS IS ESSENTIAL TO
CURB GUN VIOLENCE AND I WOULD
SAY THAT THIS WOMEN THAT I
TALKED TO IS AS CONCERNED ABOUT
GUN VIOLENCE, IF NOT MORE,
BECAUSE HER NEPHEW WAS A VIC
THEM.
I KNOW THAT YOLANDA WHO HAS WHO
EMILY HAS REACHED OUT TO IS
ALSO CONCERNED.
I WOULD SAY THAT NEW RESIDENTS
AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE
FOR A LONG TIME HAVE EQUAL
CONCERN AND WANT TO WORK ON
THIS TOGETHER.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT AS SHE SAID, A LOT OF
PEOPLE ON THE BLOCK WOULD BE
HERE IF THEY COULD BE HERE.
I CAN ONLY BE HERE BECAUSE I
WORK A WEIRD SHIFT SCHEDULE
THAT HAPPENS TO WORK.
SOME OF THE POINTS THAT I'VE
JOTTED DOWN ARE MINE AND SOME
ARE ON BEHALF OF NEIGHBORS BOTH
HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS.
ONE THING I THINK THAT WE NEED
YOUR GUYS HELP TO FIX IS TO
REMOVE THE ABILITY TO COMMIT A
DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AND THEN BE
ABLE TO SPEED FAIRLY UNIMPEDED
ALL THE WAY TO CHERRY.
21st IS THE ONLY STREET YOU CAN
DO THAT AND OUR BROCK BLOCK
BETWEEN UNION AND MARION IF YOU
GO 50 OR 60 MPH, YOU ARE SCOT-
FREE AND THOSE THAT PLANNED TO
HAVE A GUN BATTLE I GUESS HAVE
CLEARLY LEARNED THAT THIS IS
WHERE TO DO IT IF YOU WANT A
CLEAN GETAWAY.
SO, I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING
TO STOP UNTIL WE MAKE IT SO
THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT 21st
AVE.?
>> BETWEEN UNION AND MARION.
YOU CAN GO STRAIGHT TO TERRY
AND THEN YOU ARE LEAVING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALL OF THE OTHER BLOCKS BETWEEN
17 AND 23rd HAVE SOMETHING
STOPPING THEM SO I THINK
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF
WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING THERE
SO THAT YOU CAN'T SPEED THROUGH
IT WOULD NOT JUST MOVE THE
VIOLENCE, I THINK PEOPLE WOULD
HAVE TO RETHINK OR DELAY AND
THEN EVENTUALLY REDUCE THE
VIOLENCE.
I THINK THIS IS KNOWN AS THE
EASY PLACE TO DO IT.
IF WE GET RID OF THE EASY PLACE
TO COMMIT A DRIVE-BY, THAT CAN
REDUCE VIOLENCE.
I CAN COME BACK TO SOME OTHER
POINTS AS WELL.
WE HAD THE FIRST SHOOTING 18
MONTHS AGO BUT THEN WE'VE HAD
FOUR MORE IN THE SCHOOL YEAR AT
THE WYNN INTERSECTION.
WE HAD A FIRST ONE AND THOUGHT
THAT WE WERE REALLY UNLUCKY.
THEN WHEN WE WENT UNDER THE
SECOND, WE WERE HOPING MAYBE
SHOOTERS WOULD AVOID THE AREA
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE--
>> CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR?
>> YES, +1 +118 MONTHS AGO.
THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE JUST ON
OUR INTERSECTION.
>> 21st AND UNION.
>> 21st SOUTH OF UNION AND THEN
TO THE MIDBLOCK.
WHEN THERE WAS A THIRD ONE WE
THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE CITY
WOULD SEE THAT AND DO SOMETHING
. IT WAS THIS SHOOTING WHEN
THERE WERE 15 SHOTS IN FRONT OF
MY HOUSE AND I HIT THE DECK AND
WAITED OUT THE SHOTS IN MY
DINING ROOM.
THEN WHEN THERE IS A FOURTH
SHOOTING WE THOUGHT THERE'S
GOING TO BE A FIFTH AND THERE
WAS A FIFTH.
PEOPLE JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S
WHERE YOU CAN COMMIT A SHOOTING
AND GET AWAY.
>> SO, WHEN SOME OF THESE
POINTS ABOUT 21st AVE.
WERE BROUGHT UP, WE DID CONTACT
US DOT-- SDOT. THE COUNCIL SAYS
THERE IS A LIAISON WHO THEY CAN
CALL ON.
THAT PERSON SAID THAT,
BASICALLY SAID THAT THE PEOPLE
IN SDOT HAVE EXPERTISE ABOUT
TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES FOR
THE SAKE OF TRAFFIC CALMING BUT
IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON GUN
VIOLENCE AND THAT SORT OF THING
THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND
OF THE INITIAL RESPONSE THAT WE
GOT WHEN WE REACHED OUT.
>> WE DID ASK THEM TO JOIN US
BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO BUT
WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THEM.
>> I WOULD SAY RECOGNIZING THAT
THERE IS A VERY LONG HISTORY OF
GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, I THINK THESE FOUR
INCIDENCES IN THE LAST MONTH,
+5 ARTICLES ABOUT THE FIVE
DIFFERENT EVENTS IN THE LAST 18
MONTHS THAT HAVE BEEN, AS HE
SAID, ALL THE WAY DOWN THE
BLOCK WITH SMASHED CARS AND
BULLET HOLES.
THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT
ESCALATION IN THIS SPECIFIC
SPOT.
AND THE SHOOTING LAST FRIDAY, I
DON'T KNOW THE TERMINOLOGY BUT
THEY USED SOME KIND OF
AUTOMATIC WEAPON.
>> SEMI AUTOMATIC.
>> SOMETHING THAT WAS ABLE TO
SHOOT 75 BULLETS IN A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME IS WHAT THEY
SAID THEY FOUND.
AT THIS MOMENT IN THIS SPOT
THERE'S AN ESCALATION OF
VIOLENCE.
YOU KNOW THERE ARE VARIOUS
POTENTIAL REASONS FOR THAT
PROBLEM AND ONE IS THAT THE
STREET WE'VE BEEN REPORTEDLY
TOLD IS LIKE A HISTORICAL EDGE
OF A GANG TERRITORY AND ANOTHER
POTENTIAL REASON IS THIS, THAT
IT'S THE ONLY STREET BETWEEN
17th AND 23rd THAT DOES NOT
HAVE CONCRETE TRAFFIC CALMING
BARRIERS SO IT MAKES IT THE ONE
STRAIGHT SHOT GOING SOUTH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THERE
ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE
NEED TO WORK AT THE PROBLEM BUT
ONE THING THAT REALLY HASN'T
BEEN ADDRESSED YET IS THIS
CONCEPT OF CRIME PREVENTION
THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
WHICH IS A WAY TO SEEK TO
PREVENT CRIME THAT HAS BEEN
PROVEN EFFECTIVE AND DOES NOT
INVOLVE MORE POLICING WHICH IS
NOT WELCOMED TO EVERYONE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE DONE WHAT
WE CAN.
OUR COMMUNITY PUT IN PLANTERS
IN A SPOT WHERE PEOPLE WERE
PARKING ON THE SIDEWALK TO SELL
DRUGS AND WE'VE PUT SOME BIG
BEAUTIFUL PLANTERS WITH TREES
THERE.
A FENCE WAS REMOVED SO A
SECURITY CAMERA COULD HAVE A
BETTER VANTAGE.
A HEDGE WAS REMOVED TO IMPROVE
HIS IMPROVED VISIBILITY AND
HAVE EYES ON THE STREET.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE HEALTHY
YOUTH CENTRAL AREA NETWORK TO
COMMISSION A MURAL THAT WILL BE
PAINTED BY 30 CHILDREN WHO LIVE
ON THIS BLOCK WHO WILL WORK
TOGETHER TO PAINT THIS MURAL
AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF
ADVOCACY TO HELP MAKE THE
CORNER PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
INCLUDING WORKING WITH SAFE
ROUTES TO SCHOOL, FOLKS WHO
WILL PUT IN A CROSSWALK AND WE
PUT UP CROSSING FLAGS.
WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE DONE A LOT
OF WHAT WE COULD.
WE'VE HAD THREE BIG MEETINGS IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE ON THE BLOCK AND PEOPLE
SURROUNDING, I PUT A FLYER ON
EVERY DOOR AND BLOCK. WE MET
WITH LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND
HAVE HAD MEETINGS THAT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE COME TO.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAS
BEEN TO THE BLOCK.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
WE'VE RAISED OUR CONCERNS AND
SENT MANY COMMUNICATIONS TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, TO CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, TWO SDOT, SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT AND OTHER AGENCIES.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS FOR
THE CITY TO, IN ADDITION TO ALL
OF THE EFFORTS THAT YOU ARE
MAKING, THE EFFORTS THAT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS MAKING, TO
USE SOME TOOLS THAT ARE NOT
POLICING TO ADDRESS WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THIS HOT SPOT.
LAST SEPTEMBER THEY MADE IT
SOUND REALLY EASY LIKE--
>> THIS IS SDOT?
>> THE SEATTLE POLICE
DPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN THE EAST
PRECINCT AND HAS SOME NEW
COMMUNITY PRECINCT OFFICERS.
THEY HAVE TRAINED THEM TO
CONDUCT CRIME PREVENTION'S.
IT'S THE ACRONYM THAT THEY HAVE
TRAINED THEM TO CONDUCT THESE
REVIEWS.
THEY SAY ALL WE HAVE TO DO, THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS MAKE IT
SAFE BY PUTTING IN A BARRIER
HERE OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT
WE HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME
RESPONSE THAT YOU DID WHICH IS
SDOT SAYING WE DON'T KNOW HOW
TO DO THAT.
WE APPRECIATE THAT SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT PUT UP ONE ON THE BLOCK
BUT THE OTHER THING WE ARE
ASKING FOR IS SOME TYPE OF
TRAFFIC CALMING TO PREVENT THIS
DRIVING BY.
ALL FIVE OF THE INCIDENTS WE
ARE DISCUSSING HERE I'M PRETTY
CERTAIN HAVE INVOLVED SOME
FLIGHT DOWN 21st WHICH IS THE
CLEAR PATH GOING SOUTH.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS FOR SDOT
TO ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY AND
SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.
TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO SPEAK TO THEM, TO DEVELOP
PLANS ABOUT WHAT COULD MAKE, IF
THERE ARE PHYSICAL CHANGES THAT
COULD MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
SAFER OR ATTEMPT TO DO SO OR
PROVIDE A VISUAL BARRIER CLOSE
ENOUGH TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
YOU CAN'T JUST FLY AWAY.
THAT WAS THE CONCEPT OF THE
FLOWERBEDS. THERE ARE DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT DIFFERENT CITIES
HAVE DONE WHETHER IT'S PUT UP--
>> I'M SORRY MY PHOTOCOPIER
STOPPED ON ME SO I DON'T HAVE
MULTIPLE GOOD COPIES.
>> THESE ARE JUST A FEW
CONCEPTS.
IF THERE WERE A FEW PLANTERS
THAT WOULD CREATE THE KIND OF
DIVERSION THAT EVERY OTHER--
>> SLOW IT DOWN SO IT CANNOT
JUST BE A DRIVE-BY.
>> THE OTHER BLOCKS WERE BUILT
IN BUT THE CITY COULD FLIP--
PLOP DOWN SOME PLANTERS OR THEY
COULD DIVERT TRAFFIC AT THE END
OF THE BLOCK OR PUT IN
CONJUNCTION WITH ONE OF THOSE
THINGS, PUT IN SPEED BUMPS BUT
I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ALONE
WILL BE EFFECTIVE.
THE REQUEST IS FOR SDOT TO COME
TO THE TABLE AND FOR THE CITY
TO DIRECT SDOT TO DO SO AND
LOOK BEYOND POLICING AND OTHER
SOLUTIONS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
HAS BEEN ASKING TO DO SINCE
SEPTEMBER.
>> AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, MY
OFFICE AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS
WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH SDOT
ON THAT.
JUST A BIT OF A QUESTION.
HOW HAS SDOT INTERACTED?
TO WHAT EXTENT?
HAVE THEY SENT STAFF MEMBERS TO
THE BLOCK TO VISIT ALONGSIDE
YOU?
>> I CAN TELL YOU PERSONALLY.
IN 2017 I DID ADVOCACY ABOUT
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL AND THE
PERSON CAME AND WALKED WITH OUR
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO WASHINGTON.
IN THAT CASE THEY WERE HAPPY.
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT VIOLENCE
REDUCTION THEY HAVE NOT COME OR
BEEN WILLING TO COME.
AN EMAIL WAS FORWARDED TO
SOMEBODY WHO WROTE BACK TO ME
SAYING WE PUT IN A CROSSWALK.
I SAID I KNOW THAT'S BEEN IN
THE WORKS SO WE ARE ASKING FOR
MORE.
SHE WROTE BACK AND SAID WHAT
YOU CAN APPLY FOR A GRANT AND
WHEN I APPLIED SAYING IS THERE
ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO--
>> I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO
THIS.
>> I'M CURRENTLY INTERIM CHAIR
AND I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
EAST PACK GROUP FOR MANY YEARS.
ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS IS THAT
PEOPLE WILL TALK TO US ABOUT A
SEPTET BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE
THEY INTERACT WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
SEEMS LIKE MAYBE THEY INTERACT
A LITTLE BIT WITH WHOEVER DOES
IT BUT IT ALWAYS FEEL LIKE
FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE ONE
PRESENTATION AND THAT EAST
PRECINCT CRIME PREVENTION GROUP
IS TRYING TO WORK WITH THE
ENTIRE EAST PRECINCT.
IF YOU GET A GROUP TO GIVE YOU
A PRESENTATION, MAYBE ONE GROUP
TALKS TO THEM. THE FOLLOW-UP
BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS TO ACTUALLY
A COMP WHICH SOMETHING, OR MAYBE
IF PEOPLE COULD WORK WITH THE
DEPARTMENT TO GIVE THEM SOME
IDEAS AND TOOLS, MAYBE THEY
COULD WORK TOGETHER.
IF THEY ARE NOT WORKING TOGETHER
THEN IT'S UP TO US TO ASK FOR
SOMETHING.
MAYBE WE WON'T COMPLETELY
DEVELOP CONSENSUS ON HOW THE
STREET SHOULD BE DIVERTED, OR
MAYBE WE WILL MAKE A MISTAKE.
MAYBE WE WILL MAKE IT SO
EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN'T ENTER.
IT FEELS LIKE YOU NEED THE
DEPARTMENT TALKING TO EACH OTHER
AND REALLY COMING IN TALKING TO
NEIGHBORHOODS BUT ALSO SOMEBODY
THAT CAN MAYBE LOOK AT THE
OVERALL CENTRAL DISTRICT.
AS YOU SAID IT HAPPENS ON
JACKSON.
IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE
PIPE PINE AREA SO MAYBE IF
SOMEONE HAD EYES ON THE ENTIRE
AREA THERE COULD BE SOME TYPE
OF DESIGN OR AT LEAST REVIEW OF
HOW THINGS COULD BE SLOWED DOWN
AND DISCOURAGED.
WHILE THIS WILL NOT FIX THE
ROOT CAUSES THE FEWER
OPPORTUNITIES THAT SOMEONE HAS
TO DO VIOLENCE WILL GIVE THEM A
MOMENT TO RETHINK THEIR
ACTIONS.
>> THAT'S TOTALLY RATIONAL.
I MENTIONED THIS BUT WE HEAR
SHOTS AND THE KIND YOU ARE
DESCRIBING WHERE IT'S CLEARLY
SOME SORT OF AUTOMATIC OR SEMI
AUTOMATIC WEAPON.
IT'S NOT JUST A HANDGUN.
IT IS SCARY.
ABSOLUTELY.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED ALSO
CLEARLY WHAT SEEMS TO BE THAT
WE HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN THESE DEPARTMENTS SO I
WOULD SAY, OBVIOUSLY IT'S
PREMATURE AND WE SHOULD LOOK
INTO THIS MORE BUT IT SEEMS
LIKE THE FIRST STEP MIGHT BE TO
GET KEY STAFF MEMBERS FROM KEY
DEPARTMENTS TO COME TOGETHER
THERE AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH
RESIDENTS.
LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S TOTALLY
FAIR IF THEY SAY FROM THERE
EXPERTISE THAT THIS WOULD WORK
FINE BUT LET'S HAVE THAT
DISCUSSION.
IT SEEMS ONLY REASONABLE TO
EXPECT THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT
DISCUSSION.
>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FIRST
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
ON THE BLOCK SOUTH OF MARION
BETWEEN MARION AND CHERRY ON
THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET ARE
TWO MAC CHILDCARE CENTERS. I
HAVE BEEN THINKING FOR QUITE
SOME TIME NOW THAT SCHOOLS ARE
NOTIFIED AND DO LOCKDOWNS.
DURING THIS LAST INCIDENT
GARFIELD WAS LOCKED DOWN AND I
THINK WASHINGTON-- NOT
WASHINGTON, I THINK THEY ALL
HAD SOME TIME PERIOD OF LOCKED
DOWN.
AND WHEN I CAME BACK FROM
WALKING MY DOG I NOTICED THE
CHILDREN ACROSS THE STREET WERE
PLAYING IN THE YARD BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T KNOW THERE HAD BEEN
A SHOOTING AND THAT PEOPLE WERE
RACING DOWN THE STREET TO ESCAPE
FROM VIOLENCE. WE SHOULD HAVE A
SYSTEM IN THIS CITY THAT
NOTIFIES EARLY LEARNING AND
CARE ENVIRONMENTS OF EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS AND WHERE THE
CHILDREN SHOULD BE IN THE HOUSE.
>> TEAMS LIKE-- SEEMS LIKE A
PARTICULARLY GLARING THINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
>> THE STATE HAS TAKEN SOME
VERY SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT
SEPS TOWARD THIS EFFORT.
BUT, IT'S VERY JARRING TO HEAR
GUNSHOTS AND SEE CHILDREN
PLAYING IN THE YARD, AND THEN
LATER TO SEE THAT GARFIELD HAD
BEEN NOTIFIED.
I THINK EVEN IF THE STATE GETS
AROUND TO DOING SOMETHING WE AS
A CITY NEEDS ME TO DO SOMETHING
TO PROTECT EARLY LEARNERS.
>> SPEAKING OF BIG RESPONSES
VERSUS LITTLE RESPONSES, WE
NEED TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE
CAN AND WHILE I SUPPORT THE
IDEA THAT WE SHOULD TAKE SORT
OF A SYSTEMIC LOOK AT THE MAY
BE-- IF WE THINK IT MAY BE
HELPFUL TO LOOK AT TRAFFIC
PATTERNS AND SEE IF THERE ARE
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES THAT WE
CAN MAKE BUT THIS IS A PROCESS
HEAVY CITY AND I DON'T WANT THE
DESIRE FOR PROCESS TO GET IN
THE WAY OF THE THINGS WE COULD
ACTUALLY DO RIGHT NOW CHEAPLY
AND QUICKLY.
I THINK ON THIS PARTICULAR BLOCK
WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE
INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN
RAPID SUCCESSION ESCALATING IN
SEVERITY INJURIES AND DEATH,
WHEN THAT CAR SPEEDS DOWN 21st
IT PASSES THESE THREE PRESCHOOLS
. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH
TO SAY IF WE COULD RAISE $5000
FOR PLANTERS OR OUR BUDGET, OR
LET THE COMMUNITY RAISE IT AND
PUT THEM ON THE STREET IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WOULD LIKE
ACTION NOW.
>> BECAUSE WE HAVE A CRITICAL
PROBLEM IN ONE SPECIFIC SPOT.
>> I WOULD BE INTERESTING
INTERESTED IN HOW THEY COULD
INTERACT WITH SDOT EVEN ON THIS
BLOCK.
IF THEY HAVE A PLANNING TOOL
WHY DON'T THEY SHARE THAT WITH
SDOT?
>> FIRST OF ALL WE NEED THE
DEPARTMENTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH
EACH OTHER BUT ALSO I FEEL LIKE
A BASIC FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO
GET PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE
EXPERTISE TO COME THERE.
MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE EXPERTISE
ON HOW TO USE TRAFFIC MEASURES
TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC ISSUES BUT
OTHER ISSUES, FAIR ENOUGH.
I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST
HAVE THEM VISIT.
YOU MENTIONED THAT OTHER CITIES
HAVE DONE SOMETHING.
>> CERTAINLY THERE ARE STUDIES
ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND THERE
ARE SPECIFIC PLACES THAT HAS
BEEN STUDIED WHICH I DID NOT
PRINT AND BRING.
THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES.
LET'S NOT EVEN GO OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE.
LET'S LOOK AT NORTH CAPITAL
HILL WHICH HAS LITTLE TURN
AFTER LITTLE TURN.
THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO
MAKE PLACES NOT FEEL LIKE A
CRAZY THOROUGHFARE.
IF THERE HAD BEEN FIVE MAJOR
GUN VIOLENCE INCIDENTS ON NORTH
CAPITAL HILL OR IN GREEN LAKE
OR LAURELHURST THERE WOULD HAVE
BEEN A DIFFERENT RESPONSE THEN
WE'VE SEEN SO I APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO ADVOCATE FOR
THIS AREA.
>> THERE ARE INEQUITIES.
SYSTEMATIC INEQUITIES AND
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
HAVE DIFFERENT RESPONSES.
WE KNOW THAT'S TRUE.
>> I THINK OF ROOSEVELT AND
EPSTEIN WERE ON LOCKDOWN AS
OFTEN AS WASHINGTON AND
GARFIELD THERE WOULD BE A
DIFFERENT RESPONSE.
>> DEFINITELY PLEASE SEND ME
WHATEVER STUDIES THERE ARE ABOUT
WHAT IMPACT ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN CHANGES HAVE ON THESE
ISSUES.
I AGREE WITH YOU THEY SHOULD
NOT BE DISMISSED IN ANY WAY.
ON THE JOB EARLY LEARNING
CENTERS, IS IT TRUE THAT THERE
IS NO EFFECTIVE STATE LAW THAT
MANDATES OF THAT?
HOW IS IT THAT GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL IS ABLE TO DO THAT BUT
NOT--
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS SET UP
BUT I DO KNOW THAT EARLY
LEARNING CENTERS GET NO
NOTIFICATION OF--
>> CAN YOU TELL ME, HOW DO HIGH
SCHOOLS, WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF
NOTIFICATION?
DO SCHOOL STAFF THEMSELVES LOOK
IT UP AND DO IT?
>> THEY GET NOTIFIED.
SCHOOLS GET NOTIFIED.
>> FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?
>> I THINK SO.
>> ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS
THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, DO
PRIVATE SCHOOLS GET NOTIFIED?
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING LIKE
WASHINGTON AND THE DIFFERENT
GIRLS SCHOOLS, I HAVEN'T HEARD
ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I HAVE NOT EVER HEARD.
>> GIBBONS WAS NOTIFIED BUT I
DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE TIED
INTO A SYSTEM OR IF IT WAS AN
INDIVIDUAL THAT SAID YOU NEED
TO NOTIFY ME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS BUT I
JUST KNOW THAT IT DOES.
I GET AMBER ALERTS ON MY PHONE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A
WAY TO NOTIFY ME.
>> HAVING THREE KIDS IN
LOCKDOWNS NOT INFREQUENTLY IS
THAT THEY GET NOTIFICATION AND
CONSULTATION ABOUT WHEN THEY
CAN LIFT IT.
>> BUT THEY NOTIFY THROUGH THE
DISTRICT I THINK. I THINK IT'S
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> WE WILL RESEARCH THAT AND
GET BACK TO PEOPLE.
>> BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE LIMITED
EXPERTISE, WE WILL NEED OTHER
PEOPLE AT THE TABLE WITH US.
SO I JUST WANT TO PROPOSE SOME
NEXT STEPS.
ONE IS PLEASE SHARE WITH ME,
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE YOUR EMAIL
ADDRESS AS WELL, WHATEVER
INFORMATION YOU HAVE FROM
SEATTLE OR OTHER CITIES OR
COUNTRIES INTERNATIONALLY IF
THERE ARE SOME BEST PRACTICES
WE CAN GO BY.
>> I KNOW THAT SPD, I THINK THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
USED TO DO THE DO THESE
ANALYSES AND NOW SPD IS DOING
THEM.
SEATTLE AS A CITY HAS USED THIS
PROCESS AS A WAY TO MAKE
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES FOR SOME
TIME.
I WILL SEND THAT BUT I WANT YOU
TO KNOW THAT SEATTLE BELIEVES
IN AND USES THIS PROCESS.
>> ALSO SHARE THAT INFORMATION
WITH INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS
AND ALSO DEPARTMENT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
PEOPLE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH
THESE ISSUES IF WE CAN GET IN
TOUCH WITH THEM AS WELL.
>> WHAT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO IS
HAVE SOME SORT OF COMMUNITY
CONVERSATION.
I THINK THE MOST USEFUL THING
IS IF WE ARE ACTUALLY THERE
RATHER THAN HERE.
OUR OFFICE WILL WORK WITH YOU
SCHEDULING SOME TIME BUT IT
WILL BE MORE USEFULLY SPENT IF
WE COULD GET PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SOME EXPERTISE OF SOME KIND
EVEN IF IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT
IS NEEDED.
WE WILL TRY TO WORK ON THAT AND
COORDINATE WITH YOU ON TERMS OF
WHEN WE CAN DO THAT.
>> MY QUESTION IS WHO CAN TELL
SDOT PLEASE MAKE THESE CHANGES
EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T FEEL THAT
IT'S WITHIN YOUR EXPERTISE?
>> IF IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
REQUIRES ANY LEGISLATIVE
MEASURES LIKE IF IT'S MAJOR
ENOUGH WE WOULD NEED AN
ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE
PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL AND
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THOSE THINGS EXACTLY SO
IT SEEMS LIKE THESE ARE SMALLER
MEASURES.
ULTIMATELY THE DEPARTMENTS, BY
THE WAY THE CITY IS STRUCTURED,
REPORT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
BUT THE CITY COUNCIL AS A
LEGISLATIVE BODY HAS THE
ABILITY TO ENGAGE WITH
DEPARTMENTS AND MAKE REQUESTS
BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT.
AND THEN, THEY ARE FREE TO
DISCUSS AMONGST THEMSELVES IN
TERMS OF THEIR EXPERTISE AND
COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS OF
WHAT WOULD AND WOULD NOT WORK.
I THINK THE FIRST STEP IS TO GET
ORDINATION WITH DEPARTMENTS AND
FIND A TIME THAT WORKS FOR YOU
PROBABLY ON A WEEKDAY EVENING
OR A WEEKEND WOULD PROBABLY BE
THE BEST DURING THE DAY, WHEN
THERE IS DAYLIGHT.
AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
>> WHEN THE PARKING WAS CHANGED
ALLOWING PARKING ON THE WEST
SIDE OF 21st, AND WHEN EACH OF
THE TRAFFIC CIRCLES WERE
INSTALLED, IT JUST INVOLVED
PETITIONING THE NEIGHBORS. IT
WAS NOT A BIG DEAL.
YOU KNOCK ON THE DOORS AND SAY
DO YOU WANT THIS?
WHEN EVERYBODY AGREED IT
HAPPENED.
>> SO THERE ARE TRAFFIC CIRCLES?
>> TWO OF THEM.
>> IT'S NOT A STRAIGHT SHOT.
THERE ARE TRAFFIC CIRCLES.
>> IT'S A VERY LONG BLOCK. SO
THEN IT'S A VERY LONG BLOCK AND
TRAFFIC CIRCLES DON'T SEEM TO--
I LIVED THERE WHEN THE PARKING
CHANGED AND WHEN THE TRAFFIC--
THERE WAS A BIG CHANGE IN
SPEEDING.
>> PEOPLE DO NOT SPEED LIKE
THEY USED TO.
>> AT THIS POINT DURING CERTAIN
TIMES OF THE DAY WHEN THERE'S
QUITE A BIT OF TRAFFIC AND
PEOPLE HAVE TO PULL OVER,
THERE'S NOT A LOT.
AT CERTAIN TIMES WHEN THERE IS
NOT TRAFFIC COMING SUDDENLY
PEOPLE ARE-- LIKE WITH A
GETAWAY.
>> SOMETIMES I THINK PEOPLE
ELSE COMING AND THEY DECIDE. G
>> IMPOSSIBLE WHEN YOU GET
STUCK BEHIND A GARBAGE TRUCK.
>> WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT
BEING THE ONE STRAIGHT SHOT
THIS WAS MY DRYING.
I'M SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH
CONCRETE CURB BULBS.
WE SAID BETWEEN 17th AND 23rd
IT'S THE ONLY STRAIGHT SHOT.
THERE ARE TRAFFIC CIRCLES BUT
THAT'S ALL AND IT DOESN'T SEEM
TO SLOW DOWN CARS TOO MUCH.
TWO OF THE BLOCKS HAVE CURVED
BULBS THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE IN
AN S-SHAPED AND PEOPLE HAVE TO
WAIT AT BOTH ENDS.
20th HAS 2 CONCRETE BULBS AT
THE ROUNDABOUT SO THAT
SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWS TRAFFIC.
THEN 22nd ONE BLOCK BELOW US IS
THE GREENWAY SO THERE ARE BIKES
THAT SLOW TRAFFIC AND A LOT OF
SPEED BUMPS.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE SEE
THAT OUR BLOCK DOES NOT HAVE
COMPARABLE TRAFFIC CALMING
MEASURES.
>> THINK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING
OUT AND SHARING CONCERNS ON
BEHALF OF NOT JUST YOURSELVES
BUT YOUR NEIGHBORS.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.
SEPTED IS ALMOST 50 YEARS OLD
AND IT'S CONCERNING WHEN SDOT
OR WHOEVER YOU TALKED TO DIDN'T
FEEL COMFORTABLE ON THAT KIND
OF ANALYSIS BECAUSE I THINK
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
EXPERTISE IN SEPTED DESIGNS
THAT SHOULD ALMOST BE A
REQUIREMENT GIVEN THE FACT
THAT IT WAS FOUNDED IN THE
1960S BY, I THINK HIS NAME WAS
JEFFREY.
I REMEMBER READING IT MYSELF AS
A LAYPERSON.
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS
AND I THINK THIS WOULD BE A
RIGHT ANALYSIS TO HAVE SDOT IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DO A DEEP
DIVE ON WHAT MAKES SENSE.
THE LETTER THAT YOU SHARE FROM
REV. JEFFRIES NAILED THE ISSUE
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THAT IN
ADDITION TO SEPTED, WE NEED TO
QUITE CANDIDLY, AND I MAY BE A
MINORITY OPINION, WE NEED TO
KNOW WHO ARE COMMITTING THESE
ATROCIOUS ACTS AS WELL.
ARE THEY COMING FROM OTHER
AREAS OR ARE THERE ISSUES WE
HAVE TO CONCERN OURSELVES WITH?
WE NEED TO INVEST OUR BUDGET
AND MONEY INTO OTHER PEOPLE AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO GET HELP WITH
UNDERLYING ISSUES.
PULLING A GUN OUT AND SHOOTING
SOMEONE IS NOT A NATURAL ACT IN
MY MIND.
YOU CAN GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT
YEARS OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM
OR WHERE THE BREAKDOWN IS, BUT
WE HAVE TO HAVE AN INVESTMENT
STRATEGY THAT ADDRESSES IT.
THIS STUFF SEEMS TO COME IN
WAVES.
IN 2007 2008 WE HAD A HIGH
NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS OF KIDS IN
MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND THAT'S WHERE
THE USE PRESUMPTION, SALE USE
OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION ISSUE
CAME OUT OF THAT AND WE DID
SOME REALLY CREATIVE THINGS.
SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL WHEN YOU
PUT POLICE OFFICERS IN MIDDLE
SCHOOLS.
ALSO THERE WERE UNIFORMED
OFFICERS BUT THAT WAS ONE PART
OF A MULTIFACETED STRATEGY.
IT SEEMS LIKE VIOLENCE IS ON
THE UPTICK RIGHT NOW AND AGAIN,
WITH THE LETTER THE LETTER THAT
WAS WRITTEN AS A STRONG LETTER
TO WAKE UP THE CITY TO REVISIT
THESE ISSUES.
I THINK THAT SEPTED IS A GREAT
STRATEGY AND THOSE PILLARS
THAT REV. JEFFREY POINTED OUT
IS A GREAT STRATEGY.
WE HAVE TO GET EXPERTISE HERE
TO COME UP WITH A STRATEGY TO
MAKE SURE HOMES ARE SAFE
BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO
LIVE THROUGH THIS KIND OF FEAR.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS
WITH THE EAST PRECINCT.
THE POLICE TEND TO SEE THAT
MOST OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN
SHOOTINGS DO NOT HAVE ADDRESSES
IN SEATTLE.
SO, WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS
THIS BUT IN TERMS OF THE LARGER
ISSUE I WOULD THINK YOU NEED TO
ENGAGE IN SOME REGIONAL
PLANNING OR SOME TYPE OF
REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF HOW IT IS
HAPPENING.
MY PERCEPTION IS THAT A FEW
YEARS AGO MOST OF THE PEOPLE
WERE 3040 OR 50, MAYBE NOT AS
OLD AS I AM, BUT OLDER.
SUDDENLY I SAW MORE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN THE MIX AND NOTICE IN
THE NEWS STORIES SHOOTERS HAVE
BEEN YOUNG PEOPLE IN MY
PERCEPTION IS TRUE.
WHERE ARE THEY DOING THE
RECRUITING?
WHAT ARE THE VULNERABLE AREAS
OF RECRUITING?
THAT SEEMS LIKE ONE WAY TO START
FIGURING OUT HOW TO HELP
>> I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S
COMMENTS.
WE HAVE KEPT OUR NEXT AGENDA
ITEM BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE
ARRANGE SOMETHING IN TERMS OF
CONCRETE NEXT STEPS.
I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE
AFTER SO MANY DECADES OF WORK
IN THE CITY, WE SHOULD HAVE
SOME EXPERTISE.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY WE DON'T
HAVE EXPERTISE.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE DO
SOMETHING CONCRETELY AND IT IS
NOT RULED OUT THAT IF THE
DEPARTMENT INDEED DOES NOT HAVE
EXPERTISE, ALTHOUGH I AGREE
THAT THEY SHOULD OF THE PROGRAM
HAS BEEN THERE FOR DECADES, IF
THEY DON'T LET'S TAKE CONCRETE
MEASURES. THERE ARE WAYS THAT
WE CAN ADDRESS THIS AND I DON'T
SEE WHY THESE CANNOT BE
ACCOMMODATED.
TO ME THEY SEEM SMALL IN TERMS
OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO
ACHIEVE THEM.
LET'S OVERCOME THE SMALLER
HURDLES.
THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO
SAY IS WHAT TO DO FOR EARLY
LEARNING CENTERS.
I FEEL THAT SHOULD CHANGE
IMMEDIATELY AND SEEMS ABSOLUTELY
NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT LITTLE
CHILDREN ARE PUT IN POTENTIALLY
HARMS RAY HARMS WAY.
>> IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING IN
SEATTLE--
>> WE CAN DO THAT MORE QUICKLY
THAN IT WILL TAKE THE STATE.
>> WE WILL CONCRETELY WORK ON
THAT.
>> THE STATE LICENSES THE
DAYCARE SO IT SEEMS LIKE THEY
WOULD HAVE THE LIST.
>> I'M NOT AN EXPERT BUT ALL
I'M SAYING IS THAT IT SEEMS
IMPORTANT.
THE LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS
ALONG THE LINES OF HIS LETTER
AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS ALSO
THE PLACE, THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
IS A HISTORICALLY BACKED
NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD ALSO LIKE
FOR US TO HAVE A COMMUNITY
CONVERSATION THAT INCLUDES
AFRICA DOWN.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD, LET'S DO A
COMMUNITY MEET UP WHERE WE CAN
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT
LARGER ISSUES WITH TRAFFIC AND
OTHER ISSUES.
LET'S ALSO HAVE A LARGER
DISCUSSION ON WHAT WE WANT IT
TO BE LIKE.
WE WANT IT TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR
EVERYONE AND THE FUNDING FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYING A LOT OF
THE YOUTH ARE GETTING INVOLVED
IN GETTING PROBLEMATIC
SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE THINGS TO GET TO, AND
CONSTRUCTIVE USES FOR THEIR TIME
BECAUSE NO ONE IS REALLY
LOOKING OUT FOR THEM, I WOULD
LIKE YOU ALL TO BE INCLUDED IN
THAT CONVERSATION.
I KNOW THAT YOU ALREADY ARE BUT
LET'S MAKE IT WIDER.
I WOULD LIKE MY OFFICE TO BE IN
TOUCH WITH YOU ON ALL OF THESE
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IF THAT
SEEMS AGREEABLE TO YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
EFFORTS.
>> WE WILL BE IN TOUCH AND
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS.
>> THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. I ALSO
SHOULD MENTION THANKS NOT ONLY
TO TED BUT JEFF SIMS WHO HAS
GIVEN INSIGHT INTO SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS WE WERE LOOKING INTO.
>> NO PROBLEM.
INTRODUCTIONS AND PLEASE TAKE
IT AWAY.
>> GEOFF TALLENT WITH SDCI.
>> I'M SEPTED-- THE LEAD
PROGRAM MANAGER FOR SDCI.
>> THANK YOU AND PLEASE TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> APOLOGIES FOR SITTING SO FAR
DOWN THE TABLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING US HERE.
WE WERE HERE MAYBE SIX OR EIGHT
MONTHS AGO TO GIVE YOU AN
UPDATE ON PROGRESS SO IT'S
EXCITING TO SHOW YOU SOME
FINISHED PRODUCTS. WE
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HELP PROMOTE THIS NEW PROGRAM.
WE HAD A SOFT LAUNCH IN THE
YEAR BUT ARE MAKING A CONCERTED
EFFORT TO GET THE WORD OUT
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
>> THE DEPARTMENTS PURPOSE AND
VALUES, MAYBE THE ONE THING I
WILL CALL ATTENTION TO HIS
EQUITY IS IN OUR PURPOSE
STATEMENT AND SURELY THIS IS A
GREAT PART OF THE DEPARTMENT BY
REACHING ALL COMMUNITIES IN
SEATTLE WITH INFORMATION THAT
THEY NEED AND IMPROVING ACCESS
TO SERVICES.
RENTING IN SEATTLE STARTED WITH
A COUNCIL REQUEST.
A LITTLE BIT OF SEED FUNDING IN
2017 TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAM AND
THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP ON
THAT.
WE SPENT 2018 BUILDING OUT THE
WEBSITE, GETTING A PHONE LINE
IN PLACE AND THE TECHNOLOGY TO
SUPPORT THAT AND OTHER
MATERIALS WE WILL HIGHLIGHT
HERE.
EARLIER WE STARTED WITH A SOFT
LAUNCH AND HERE WE ARE IN MAY
TRYING TO DO A MORE AGGRESSIVE
EFFORT TO GET THE WORD OUT.
WE FEEL THAT EVERYTHING IS
OPERATING SMOOTHLY AND WE WANT
CUSTOMERS TO START COMING TO
US.
>> DID YOU HAVE A SELECT GROUP
OF RENTERS TO TEST THIS SOFT
LAUNCH?
>> WE'VE DONE TESTING IN A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS AS
DIFFERENT PIECES CAME TOGETHER.
WE HAVE RENTERS WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE OF IT.
WE HAD THE RENTERS COMMISSION,
AND THEY REVIEWED SOME OF THE
MATERIALS AND GAVE US SOME GOOD
INSIGHT INTO THE WEBSITE AND
ITS FLOWER.
WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY
LIAISONS TO GET SOME
PERSPECTIVE OF IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES FOR THOSE PORTIONS
OF THE WEBSITE.
>> SOME OF THE KEY FEATURES OF
RENTING, IT'S MORE THAN A
PORTAL AND PHONE NUMBER.
FIRST AND FOREMOST ITS BOOTS ON
THE GROUND AND GETTING OUT INTO
THE COMMUNITY TO HELP DELIVER
OUR MESSAGE DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE
FACE-TO-FACE.
ENHANCED OUTREACH AND
COORDINATION IS A BIG PART OF
THAT.
WE DID 38 EVENTS IN 2018 AND
HAVE OVER 60 PLANNED. A COUPLE
OF BIG ONES. DULCIE DID A GREAT
JOB DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS .
WE ARE DOING QUARTERLY TRAININGS
FOR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
FOR LANDLORDS AND THAT HAS BEEN
A LOT OF WORK WEAVING CIVIL
RIGHTS PROTECTIONS TOGETHER
INTO A SINGLE INTEGRATED
CURRICULUM THAT HELPS LANDLORDS
FILL IN GAPS OF THE LANDLORD
EXPERIENCE.
DULCIE WORKED WITH SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY TO GET US
INVITED TO THE INITIAL TENANT
MEETINGS AS PEOPLE ARE
RECEIVING VOUCHERS.
SHE IS ABLE TO TALK TO 8 TO 15
TENANTS TO GIVE THEM
INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
AND WHO TO CALL IF THEY ARE
HAVING PROBLEMS.
A LOT OF OTHER COLLABORATION
AND SOME EXCITING ONES WORKING
WITH COMMUNITY CONNECTORS.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF EVENTS AT
BIRD BAR IN THE CENTRAL AREA
AND INVITING SPU TO COME ALONG
TO PROMOTE SOME OF THEIR
PROGRAMS LIKE LIGHT BULBS AND
PRESENTING PREVENTING GREECE.
A CONNECTION WITH OTHER
IMPORTANT CITY MISSIONS.
BASICALLY A PORTABLE RENTING IN
SEATTLE CLINIC.
YOU CAN SEE A PICTURE OF OUR
TENT AND WE ARE SET UP WITH A
COUPLE OF EXPERTS SO THE GROUP
THAT CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AND
TAKE SERVICE REQUESTS IF WE
IDENTIFY ISSUES THERE. FINALLY
COORDINATION BETWEEN
DEPARTMENTS.
SINCE WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT
TOUCH ON RENTER ISSUES A BIG
PART OF THE EFFORTS ARE GETTING
DEPARTMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER,
COME UP WITH UNIFIED MESSAGING
AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION.
THEY HELPED BUILD PORTIONS OF
THE WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SPEAKING TO THEIR ISSUES AS
WELL AS OUR OWN DEPARTMENTS.
ANOTHER KEY PIECE WITH
INFOGRAPHICS AND INFORMATION,
BUT FOR NOW MATERIALS WERE DENSE
, BLACK AND WHITE AND
LEGALISTIC.
WE'VE GIVEN EXAMPLES OF THE NEW
BROCHURES AND BROKEN IT INTO
KEY PARTS OF THE TENANT
EXPERIENCE INTENDED TO GIVE YOU
ENOUGH INFORMATION TO GET YOU
STARTED BUT NOT GO TO DEEP.
BUT THEN, POINT EVERYTHING BACK
TO THE PHONE LINE AND WEB
PORTAL TO GET INFORMATION OR
HELP.
>> I HAVE TO SAY I LOVE THE
GRAPHICS.
>> THANK YOU.
THESE ARE TRANSLATED INTO 14
LANGUAGES AND HAVE BECOME A
BUILDING BLOCK OF SOME OF THE
MATERIALS ON THE WEBSITE.
>> THE DEDICATED HELPLINE WE
TOUCHED ON.
A SINGLE PHONE NUMBER THAT
PEOPLE CAN CALL INSTEAD OF
HAVING TO LOOK THROUGH THE CITY
DIRECTORY AND FIND THREE OR
FOUR DEPARTMENTS THAT MAY BE
ABLE TO HELP THEM.
WE HAVE THE ADDED PROBLEM THAT
RENTERS PROTECTIONS ARE IN SDCI
AND PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK TO CALL
THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTIONS
AND INSPECTIONS.
BRANDING EVERYTHING AROUND
RENTING WITH THE PHONE LINE
ASSOCIATED TO THAT WE HOPE TO
MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO
KNOW WHERE TO GO.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY IDEAS AS TO
WHAT PROPORTION ARE AWARE OF
CITY DEPARTMENTS?
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY
STATISTICS.
WE JUST I THINK NO MORE FROM
FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY
TALKING AND PEOPLE SAID I HAVE
NO IDEA TO CALL THEM.
THE OTHER THINGS WE KNOW ARE
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF CALLS THAT
SHOULD HAVE COME TO US SO WE
HAVE BEEN GOOD AT MAKING
REFERRALS DURING THE YEAR.
>> HOPEFULLY THIS EFFORT WILL
HAVE ALL OF THESE CALLS
FUNNELING THROUGH THE SINGLE
PHONE LINE AND WE CAN WORK TO
GET IT TO THE RIGHT DEPARTMENTS.
>> IN THE PAST THERE WAS A
DIFFERENT PHONE NUMBER THAT WAS
ON THE WEBSITE FOR RENTERS TO
CALL AND WE GAVE PROBABLY
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT PHONE
NUMBER WHEN THEY CALLED AT
DIFFERENT TIMES AND WE BEEN
ABLE TO HELP MANY PEOPLE.
IS THAT PHONE NUMBER STILL
ACTIVE?
SHOULD WE BE GIVING PEOPLE THIS
PHONE NUMBER?
>> THE PHONE NUMBER IS STILL
ACTIVE.
IT'S THE LONG-STANDING CODE
COMPLIANCE HELPLINE AND THAT'S
WHERE PEOPLE CALL IN IF THEY
SEE ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION. WE
ARE STILL RECEIVING CALLS ON
THAT LINE AND IT'S THE SAME
PEOPLE ANSWERING BOTH LINES.
THEY ARE EXPERT ENOUGH TO SAY
THAT'S A RENTER CALL.
EITHER NUMBER IS FINE.
I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO
PROMOTE THIS NEW PHONE NUMBER
AND IT'S A WAY OF ISOLATING
RENTER ISSUES TO COLLECT DATA
ON HOW MANY CALLS WE ARE
GETTING.
>> SO FROM NOW ON WE SHOULD
GIVE THIS NUMBER?
>> YES.
I THINK I WILL JUMP OUT OF THE
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND
HOPEFULLY TECHNOLOGY WILL WORK
WITH US TO SHOW YOU A FEW KEY
PIECES OF THE WEBSITE.
>> THE FIRST THING THAT YOU SEE
, WE SPEND A LOT OF DEBATE ON
THIS AND TESTED IT WITH SEVERAL
PEOPLE AND DECIDED WE NEED TO
DOORS.
AND, TO USE ACCESSIBLE LANGUAGE
FOR EACH OF THOSE YOU NEED TO
WRITE THE SAME INFORMATION THAT
IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
IF YOU COME IN AS A RENTER YOU
WILL SEE THE MAIN DOORWAY FOR
INFORMATION.
WE ORGANIZE THIS AROUND THE
RENTER EXPERIENCE.
SORT OF THE BE PREPARED, ARE
YOU READY TO RENT, MANAGING THE
RENTAL RELATIONSHIP, MOVING OUT
AND GENERAL RESOURCES.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THIS IS A
WAY TO SAY THIS IS ABOUT WHERE
I AM IN MY RENTAL EXPERIENCE.
I'M ABOUT READY TO MOVE IN.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT MOVING
COSTS, WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT
IS NOT, INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS,
AND YOU ARE ENTITLED TO ASK FOR
THAT CHECKLIST.
MAKE SURE YOU GET THE MOVE IN
CHECKLIST.
A LOT OF AGREEMENTS ARE OUT
THERE.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE
ARE ALSO MAKING A CROSSOVER TO
ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
THE FUTURE UTILITIES SO PEOPLE
BOTH KNOW HOW TO GET MOOT
UTILITIES MOVED OVER BUT SOME
OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT MAY
BE AVAILABLE.
>> THIS ONE MAY GO INTO UTILITY
DISCOUNT.
IF NOT IT'S MENTIONED ELSEWHERE.
AND LET'S SEE.
OTHER FEATURES TO LOOK AT HERE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY FEEDBACK FROM
THE RENTERS COMMISSION.
THEY SAID BUT I DON'T WANT TO
NAVIGATE.
I JUST WANT HELP SO WE CREATED
A COUPLE OF THINGS TO GET YOU
WHERE YOU NEEDED TO GO.
SO RIGHT HERE IS THE TOP SEVEN
ISSUES THAT WE GET AND EXACTLY
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP ON THOSE.
ANOTHER ONE TO FEATURE HERE,
MATERIALS IN OTHER LANGUAGES.
WE DID NOT TRANSLATE EVERYTHING
ON THE WEBSITE.
THAT'S MORE THAN WE COULD DO
RIGHT NOW BUT WHAT WE DID DO
WAS INVENTORY AND CATALOG
THINGS THAT WE HAD AND THAT WE
WROTE.
SUMMARY INFORMATION PLUS THESE
INFOGRAPHICS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE
VIDEOS WE SHOW IN A MINUTE ARE
ALL LANGUAGE ON THESE DIFFERENT
WEB PAGES.
I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
>> FOR MY OWN CURIOSITY, ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE DID IN THE
CITY WAS ALSO REQUIRE LANDLORDS
TO INCLUDE VOTER REGISTRATION
INFO.
IS THERE ANY INDICATION FOR
RENTERS?
IF I'M A RENTER AND I GO TO
YOUR WEBSITE, I KNOW THERE'S A
SECURITY DEPOSIT CHECKLIST.
IS THERE INFORMATION PACKET?
>> THIS DEFINITELY LINKS TO
INFORMATION TO SAY WHEN YOU
MOVE IN YOU SHOULD WRITE--
>> WE DIDN'T BUT WE CAN.
>> THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.
IT'S AVAILABLE.
IT IS ATTACHED AS PART OF THE
INFORMATION FOR TENANTS.
WE DON'T HIGHLIGHT THAT OR
SPEAK TO IT BUT WE CAN.
>> BECAUSE RENTERS EXPERIENCE
MORE MOVING AND INSTABILITY
COMPARED TO HOMEOWNERS
OBVIOUSLY THE QUESTION OF
GETTING REREGISTERED ALWAYS
COMES OUT.
>> IT'S A GREAT IDEA, EASY TO
DO AND DULCIE IS THE ONE TO DO
IT .
>> ONE OTHER THING TO FEATURE
HERE.
THE STATE PASSED TENANT
PROTECTION LAWS AND SHE WAS
ABLE TO GET IN RIGHT AWAY.
AS WE START UNPACKING THOSE WE
WILL BE ABLE TO SAY MORE ABOUT
THEM ON THIS WEBSITE.
>> I THINK WE WILL GO BACK--
>> AND EVICTIONS WHAT DOES IT
TELL YOU?
>> A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE
EVICTION PROCESS AND LINKS TO
RELATED TOPICS BECAUSE
EVICTIONS COME WITH DIFFERENT
TYPES OF NOTICES AND COMMUNITY
RESOURCES TO GO TO.
OUR DEPARTMENT DOES NOT GET
DEEP INTO CONVICTIONS
EVICTIONS.
WE RELY ON THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE
ENOUGH INFORMATION TO KNOW THAT
THIS IS IMPORTANT AND HELP THEM
GET CONNECTED WITH THE RIGHT
RESOURCES.
I THINK WITH CHANGES IN STATE
LAW WE ARE PLANNING TO BOLSTER
THIS.
>> YOU JUST MENTIONED, I'M NOT
SURE HOW YOU WOULD SAY THIS BUT
DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO IN ADDITION TO THIS
INFORMATION BUT MAY BE ABOVE OR
BELOW, LIKE HAVE A BULLET POINT
CHECKLIST TO SAY IF YOU GOT AN
EVICTION NOTICE THEN COULD WE
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT?
>> HELP PEOPLE BE ABLE TO
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN TYPES OF
EVICTION OR A VALID EVICTION?
>> THEY MAY BE LEGAL BUT WE MAY
CONSIDER THEM UNJUST BUT IT MAY
BE LEGAL WHEREAS SOME MAY BE
STRAIGHT UP ILLEGAL.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL
HOW MUCH WE SAY BECAUSE IT IS
SUCH A CRITICAL EVENT THAT YOU
NEED PROPER REPRESENTATION TO
SORT THROUGH.
THE OTHER THING RECENTLY
SUGGESTED IS A FLOWCHART
BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A
COMPLICATED PROCESS TO
UNDERSTAND.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT THE
STEPS ARE AND EMPHASIZE YOU
NEED TO QUICKLY TAKE ACTION TO
PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.
>> THAT REALLY MAKES SENSE.
IN THAT FLOWCHART OF ACTION
COULD REEMPHASIZE THAT GETTING
LEGAL HELP IS A GOOD IDEA?
OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST BARRIER
IS THAT THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD
IT.
BUT IT'S WORTH TRYING TO COBBLE
TOGETHER GETTING SOME SORT OF
LEGAL REPRESENTATION BECAUSE
THE STATISTICS THAT WE SEE ARE
SO STARTLING.
HAVING LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR
OUTCOMES.
>> EMPHASIZING THAT.
>> THERE ARE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT
AFFORD IT SO GETTING CONNECTED
QUICKLY AND HAVING PEOPLE TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE SERVICES.
>> IS THAT LIFE?
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CLICK ON
THAT?
YOU WILL PULL UP THE ORDINANCE?
>> HELPING UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE
VALID REASONS FOR BEING EVICTED
OR NOT.
THIS GOES INTO ALL 16.
>> MY FEAR, I THOUGHT YOU WERE
GOING TO PUT UP THE ORDINANCE.
I WAS LIKE NO ONE WANTS TO READ
IT TRUST ME.
>> WE DID OUR BEST TO REWRITE
EVERYTHING INTO PLAIN LANGUAGE.
>> I THINK THE POINT BEING MADE
THAT I AGREE WITH IS THAT IT'S
GOT TO BE SO EASY FOR SOMEONE
TO RELATE-- BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THE PERSON NOT
REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL MAY NOT
BE A LAWYER.
I JUST WANTED TO BE SO CRYSTAL-
CLEAR THAT ANYONE COULD
UNDERSTAND IT.
>> I THINK THE FIRST BULLET
POINT IS THE ONE THAT THE STATE-
-
>> IT HASN'T CHANGED YET SO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GO
THROUGH AND HAVE SOMETHING
SAYING--
>> JULY 27. 90 DAYS AFTER THE
END OF THE SESSION.
>> TO THAT POINT, WOULD YOU BE
AGREEABLE TO RATHER THAN SAYING
JUST CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE,
WHICH WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS BUT
MOST PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW,
WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO SAY WHEN
CAN THE LANDLORD EVICT YOU OR
SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF A
PERSON WHO DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS-
-
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
WHAT'S NICE IS THAT IT'S EASILY
CHANGED.
WE ARE IN A SETTLING IN PERIOD
AND WORK THROUGH A LOT OF BUGS.
WE ARE RECEPTIVE TO
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ANYONE IN
THE COMMUNITY IF THEY SEE
THINGS THAT COULD BE MORE CLEAR
OR MISSING.
BECAUSE IT'S A NIMBLE WEBSITE
WE CAN GO INTO MAKE THOSE
CHANGES.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO DASHING
BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE
PRESENTATION THERE.
IN ADDITION TO THE WEBSITE, WE
CREATED A VIDEO AND IT'S A
SHORT VIDEO THAT SUPPOSED TO BE
SHORT ENOUGH TO HELP PEOPLE
REMEMBER THAT THE CITY HAS
RESOURCES.
IT DOESN'T GO INTO MUCH DETAIL
AND I CAN PLAY IT IF WE CAN
MAKE THIS WORK HERE.
MAYBE.
WE HAD TECHNICAL--
>> YOU HAVE IT QUEUED UP IN THE
WINDOW.
>> THERE'S A LOT TO KNOW ABOUT
RENTING IN SEATTLE.
WHAT ARE MY RENTER RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES?
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW WHEN MOVING
IN?
WHO DO I CONTACT WHEN THERE'S A
PROBLEM WITH MY UNIT?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT'S TIME TO
MOVE OUT?
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS MANY
RENTAL PROTECTIONS AND
RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW.
VISIT SEATTLE.GOV/RENTING IN
SEATTLE.
>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE US BACK
TO THE BEGINNING AGAIN.
ANYWAY, VERY SHORT VIDEO WHICH
BRIDGES SOCIAL MEDIA SO THIS IS
INTENDED TO BE EASILY SHARED ON
SOCIAL MEDIA OR MAYBE THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL WHEN THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR SOME FILLER SPACE.
IT'S TRANSLATED INTO-- OR
NARRATED INTO 14 LANGUAGES.
ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF
PARTNERSHIP IS THE COMMUNITY
LIAISONS WHO DID THE LATE--
IT'S A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO
HAVE THEM COME INTO THE STUDIO
AND DO THAT, AND ACTUAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SOCIAL MEDIA
WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED ON
THAT, MAINLY US AND LOOKING FOR
PARTNERS TO HELP SPREAD THE
WORD THROUGH TWITTER.
I GUESS OUR DEPARTMENT DOES NOT
HAVE INSTAGRAM BUT TWITTER AND
FACEBOOK AND USING THE HASHTAG
RENTING IN SEATTLE TO BRAND
EVERYTHING SO WE BEEN DOING
THINGS LIKE SHARING THIS VIDEO
AND GETTING OTHER TIPS OUT.
>> DO YOU KNOW IF PEOPLE WHO
ARE DEPENDENT ON OTHER
LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH
ARE ALSO INCLINED TO CHECK
SOCIAL MEDIA SO YOU KNOW WHAT
KIND OF TRAFFIC YOU GET?
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A WAY
OF KNOWING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE SEE WHO IS
VIEWING IT WITH A LOT OF
DETAIL.
>> ONE OF THE PIECES OF
FEEDBACK THAT CAME FROM
ENGAGING WITH COMMITTEE LIAISONS
IS THAT OLDER GENERATIONS
PREFER TO COMMUNICATE BY PHONE
AND CALL AND SPEAK TO SOMEONE.
THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE ALL
ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO, IT'S PRETTY EXPECTANT.
>> KIDS THESE DAYS.
>> ONE OTHER THING.
AS YOU KNOW THIS YEAR COUNSEL
TRANSFERRED SOME FUNDING FOR
TENANT SERVICES AND GRANT
FUNDING FROM HSD TO OUR
DEPARTMENT AND ADDED ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR LEGAL SERVICES.
SO, WE TOOK THAT FUNDING AND
EARLY THIS YEAR RAN A
COMPETITIVE GRANT SOLICITATION
PROCESS AND PUT A REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS OUT ON THE STREET AND
ASKED ANYONE WHO HAD GOOD IDEAS
OR WAS INTERESTED TO PROPOSE
WAYS THEY COULD HELP SERVE
TENANTS IN A VARIETY OF AREAS.
OUTREACH, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND
SO OUR REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS
MADE THE DECISION, SELECTED THE
ORGANIZATIONS AND WE'VE
NOTIFIED THEM ALL.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
WRITING GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
IT'S GOING TO COVER A NUMBER OF
THINGS SO DEFENSE AND LEGAL AID,
TENET COUNSELING, DOOR-TO-DOOR
OUTREACH, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
WORKSHOPS AND OVERLAPPING WITH
THAT WE ARE EXCITED TO BRING IN
A COUPLE OF SMALLER
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING IMMIGRANTS
AND REFUGEES AND THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE WORKING WITH SMALLER
ORGANIZATIONS AND REACHING
COMMUNITIES THAT WE'VE HAD A
LARGER-- HARDER TIME REACHING
IN THE PAST.
SORT OF WHAT'S ON OUR PLATE, IN
ADDITION TO DOING THIS LAUNCH
AND MAINTAINING WHAT WE'VE
ALREADY BUILT, THE CHANGES TO
STATE LAW WE ARE VERY EXCITED
ABOUT.
SO WE WILL DO A SHORT CAMPAIGN.
I THINK LANDLORDS WILL BE A BIG
AUDIENCE MAKING SURE THEY ARE
AWARE OF THESE LAWS.
WE HAVE A LANDLORD EMAIL LIST
WITH THE PROGRAM OF 19,000
LANDLORDS OR PROPERTY MANAGERS.
IT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET
INFORMATION INTO THEIR HANDS SO
AS WE FINISH SCRUBBING THE
CHANGES WE WILL SUMMARIZE AND
PUSH THAT OUT TO THE LANDLORD
COMMUNITY, FOLD THAT INTO THE
TRAININGS WE ARE DOING AND THEN
TENANT OUTREACH TO LET THEM
KNOW OF THEIR ENHANCED RIGHTS
AS WELL.
THE OTHER BIG THING ON OUR PLATE
IS TO CREATE A RENTERS
HANDBOOK.
THE THE GOAL IS TO TAKE
SOMETHING DENSE AND TURN IT
INTO SOMETHING MORE USER-
FRIENDLY.
IT ISN'T JUST A SUMMARY OF LAWS
BUT HAD RESOURCES ON WHERE TO
GO.
KIND OF LIKE THESE AND FOR
GRAPHICS BUT FLESHED OUT A
LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND, SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY WANT
TO KEEP SO MORE DURABLE INSTEAD
OF A PIECE OF PAPER INSTEAD OF
ONE OF 100 THAT YOU ARE HANDED
WHEN YOU MOVE IN.
>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THIS IS GREAT WORK.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED.
IT RESIDES IN SDCI. I DON'T
KNOW IF WE THOUGHT OF THAT OR
THE MAYOR.
DOES THAT STILL SEEM LIKE THE
PROPER DEPARTMENT FOR THIS KIND
OF ACTIVITY TO DECIDE RESIDE?
I HAVEN'T THOUGHT THOROUGHLY
THROUGH IT.
>> IT IS IN SDCI BECAUSE A LOT
OF THESE PROTECTIONS GREW OUT OF
LAND-USE CODES SO I THINK IT'S
A LEGACY OF THAT.
AS FAR AS THE WRITEUP THAT WE
DID IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST
THAT YOU GAVE US IN 2017, WE
ANALYZED OTHER OPTIONS LIKE
CREATING A STANDALONE RENTER
RESOURCE CENTER.
THE CONSENSUS IS THAT PEOPLE
THAT WE'VE TALKED TO IN
DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IS LET'S NOT BUILD
SOMETHING NEW.
THIS SHOULD BE MORE ABOUT A
VIRTUAL CENTER AND MANY THINGS
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, ENHANCED
COORDINATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TALKING TO
EACH OTHER AND BETTER MATERIALS
AND OUTREACH.
RIGHT NOW MOST OF THE TENANT
SERVICES ARE HOUSED BETWEEN THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND US.
WE APPROACH THINGS IN DIFFERENT
WAYS AND HAVE A DIFFERENT BODY
OF LAWS.
IT WOULD BE HARD TO MESH THEM
TOGETHER SO MORE COORDINATION
BETWEEN US SEEMS TO SERVE THE
NEED.
>> JUST CURIOUS.
THANK YU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
PLEASE KEEP US-- OF DATES AND
REALLY GOOD WORK.
AND THINK IT TO OTHER STAFF
MEMBERS. WE ARE ALWAYS
IMPRESSED WITH YOUR WORK AND
THE DEDICATION OF ALL OF YOUR
STAFF MEMBERS. IT'S REALLY
HELPFUL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANY OTHER POINTS, MEETING
ADJOURNED.