WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
PRESENT.
>> I SEE HIM.
THANK YOU.
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ?
>> HERE.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> I'M SORRY, HOW MANY WERE
PRESENT, JODIE?
>> SEVEN.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF MAY 5TH, 2020, WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I DO NOT
HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT TODAY,
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND JUMP ON IN
TO THE PRESENTATION ON THE
CO-LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED
DIVERSION L.E.A.D.
PROGRAM.
WE HAVE WITH US TODAY A FEW
PRESENTERS, LISA DAUGAARD, THE
PRESENTER WITH THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER'S ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE
JESSE BENET, MELODIE REECE AND
LEONTAI BERRY.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, DO YOU WANT
TO MAKE REMARKS ON THIS SUBJECT
BEFORE I HAND IT OVER?
>> YES, THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, SO
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I
HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
WORKING WITH LISA DAUGAARD AND
OTHER FOLKS AT THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER ASSOCIATION, THE TALK
ABOUT CO-LEAD AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING CO-LEAD
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE
SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING.
I'LL LEAVE IT OBVIOUSLY TO THEM
AND THEIR PRESENTATION TO
EXPLAIN WHAT CO-LEAD IS, BUT,
YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE WORKING
THROUGH A LOT OF OUR CHALLENGES
OF HAVING, STILL HAVING A LOT OF
OUR NEIGHBORS LIVING OUTSIDE
DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS AND
SEEING THAT WE NEED A LOT OF
DIFFERENT TOOLS IN OUR TOOL BOX
TO PROVIDE OUT REACH IN THE
CHANGING AND EVOLVING
ENVIRONMENT, SOME OF THE SUCCESS
THAT I HAVE SEEN FROM TALKING TO
PEOPLE AT KING COUNTY AND
TALKING TO PEOPLE IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THAT CO-LEAD HAS
BEEN ABLE TO DO IN BURIEN AND
OTHER PARTS OF KING COUNTY AND
PROVIDING OUT REACH AND GETTING
PEOPLE INSIDE AND GETTING PEOPLE
ACCESS TO WRAP AROUND SERVICES
HAS BEEN REALLY INSTRUMENTAL TO
MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A LOT
OF DIFFERENT TOOLS AND SERVICES
FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY
DURING THIS CRISIS.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD
AND STRAUSS HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH THEM FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS.
I GOT THE IDEA TO TRY TO ARRANGE
A PRESENTATION DURING THE
BRIEFING WHEN I HELD THE BIA
DIRECTORS PUT TOGETHER A SIMILAR
PRESENTATION LAST WEEK WHICH WAS
GREAT AND I WAS GLAD TO HAVE
BEEN A PART OF THAT AS WELL.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IT
AGAIN AND HEARING FROM OUR TEAM
HERE THAT WE HAVE FROM THE PDA
AND LOOKING AT WAYS WE COULD
PARTNER AS A CITY AND TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE
SERVICES WITH THAT, I WANT TO
TURN IT OVER TO THE PRESENTING
PANEL AND HEAR WHAT FOLKS HAVE
TO SAY.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, FOR
INVITING THESE GUESTS TO JOIN US
TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUE, PARTICULARLY IN
THE CONTEXT OF ADDRESSING THE
CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF
THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO
THIS MATTER AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES AND INTERVENTION
PROGRAMS AND WITHOUT FURTHER
ADO, WE'LL HEAD OVER TO OUR
PANELIST.
IT IS 9:35 A.M..
WE'RE SCHEDULED TO HEAR THIS
PRESENTATION UNTIL 10:05:00 A.M.
SO WE'LL BE AFFORD AD THE FULL
TIME FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT OVER
TO THE PRESENTERS AT THIS POINT.
>> I'LL GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY
SCREEN AND I'LL HANDLE THE
SLIDES.
I THINK LISA WILL KICK US OFF.
HERE WE GO.
CAN EVERYBODY SEE THAT OKAY?
>> LOOKS GREAT.
>> OKAY.
>> GOOD MORNING TO THE COUNCIL.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
PROPOSING THIS AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ FOR FINDING A
WAY TO HEAR FROM US THIS
MORNING.
I AM JUST AM GOING TO GIVE AN
OVER VIEW OF WHAT WE'RE DOING
AND WHY AND THEN JESSE AND
MELODIE AND LEONTAI, DOING THE
WORK ON THE GROUND BASIS WILL
EXPLAIN THE PRACTICE OF CO-LEAD
AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING ALREADY
THAT IS PROMISING, SO YOU MAY
RECALL THAT WE HAD A DELAY IN
FINALIZING THE CONTRACT FOR THE
STANDARD PROGRAM, CLASSIC
L.E.A.D., IF YOU WILL.
WE DID REACH AN AGREEMENT ON
THAT CONTRACT IN EARLY TO
MID-MARCH, JUST IN TIME TO FIND
THAT THE ENTIRE WORLD HAD
SHIFTED AROUND US, SO IT HAS
BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECALL
WHAT IS THE CORE PURPOSE AND
SOLUTION OF L.E.A.D.
AND HOW CAN
WE ADAPT THE RESOURCES QUICKLY
AND IN A TARGETED WAY TO STILL
DELIVER ON THE FUNCTION THAT
L.E.A.D.
IS MEANT TO SERVE UNDER
COVID EMERGENCY CONDITIONS AND
GIVEN THE PROFOUND CHANGES THAT
HAVE OCCURRED WITH RESPECT TO
THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE PURPOSE OF L.E.A.D.
IS TO
ADDRESS LAW VIOLATIONS AND
PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR THAT STEM
FROM, THAT ARE GENUINE ISSUES
AND THAT DO PRESENT A LEGITIMATE
EXPECTATION FROM THE COMMUNITY
OF A RESPONSE WHERE AN
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE WOULD BE
LEGALLY AUTHORIZED BUT WHERE WE
KNOW THAT JAIL AND PROSECUTION
ARE GENERALLY BOTH INEFFECTIVE
AND OFTEN COUNTER PRODUCTIVE IN
ACTUALLY REVOLVING THE PROBLEMS
THAT DRIVE THE PROBLEMED
BEHAVIOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IN THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE, WE
HAVE SEEN, IN CLASSIC L.E.A.D.
WE DO ARREST DIVERSION, PEOPLE
WHO COULD BE SUBJECT TO ARREST
AND JAIL BOOKING ARE INSTEAD
CONNECTED IN A WARM HAND OFF TO
COMMUNITY BASED CARE PROVIDERS
WHO START ON A SUSTAINED PROCESS
OF CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT
THAT MAY LAST MONTHS OR YEARS,
AND THEN WE ALSO TAKE SOCIAL
CONTACT REFERRALS SO IT IS NOT
NECESSARY TO MAKE AN ARREST IN
ORDER TO GET PEOPLE HELP AND
SUPPORT.
THESE DAYS, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS
BEEN DRAMATICALLY AFFECTED BY
COVID CONDITIONS BECAUSE IT IS
NOT SAFE TO PROACTIVELY ENGAGE
PEOPLE UNLESS IT IS NECESSARY
AND THE RESOURCES, INCLUDING
JAIL BOOKING ARE FUNCTIONALLY
INACCESSIBLE FOR LOWER LEVEL,
NOT TO SAY UNIMPORTANT, BUT
LOWER LEVEL PUBLIC ORDERED TYPE
OFFENSES.
THERE ARE JAIL BOOKING CRITERIA,
REGION WIDE, INCLUDING AT THE
KING COUNTY JAIL WHERE THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD
BOOK PEOPLE.
THE COURTS ARE CLOSED.
IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, AN ALTERNATE
RESPONSE TO GENUINE ISSUES
AROUND LAW VIOLATIONS DUE TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND
EXTREME POVERTY, SO PEOPLE
LIVING IN SHELTERS, PEOPLE USING
DRUGS, ENGAGED IN THE INFORMAL
ECONOMY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE
IMPORTANT.
IN SOME WAYS, IF WE DON'T
MOBILIZE THAT, THERE IS NO OTHER
OBVIOUS RESPONSE, SO THAT IS
WHAT WE ATTEMPTED TO DO WITH
CO-L.E.A.D., WHICH THE CO STANDS
FOR COVID AND CO-RESPONDER.
WE ATTEMPTED IT TO FIGURE OUT A
WAY TO USE THE SAME VAULTS AND
PRINCIPLES OF CLASSIC L.E.A.D.,
SO HOUSING FIRST, HARM
REDUCTION, FIELD-BASED
ENGAGEMENT, INTENSIVE CARE, AND
WHAT WE KNOW WORKS FOR PEOPLE
STRUGGLING WITH TRAMA AND
RELATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ISSUES, BUT AT DIFFERENT POINTS
OF INTERCEPTION.
IT IS IMPORTANT AND WE WON'T
FOCUS ON IT VERY MUCH IN THIS
PRESENTATION IS TO SUPPORT THE
PEOPLE WHO BOTH WERE IN JAIL AND
NEEDED TO GET OUT IN ORDER FOR
THE KING COUNTY JAIL POPULATION
TO BE REDUCED FOR COVID
TRANSMISSION REASONS AND BECAUSE
IN GENERAL, THAT IS A GOOD
OBJECTIVE, PEOPLE WERE NEEDING
TO BE RELEASED BUT COURTS NEEDED
TO SEE A PLAN.
WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO HELP WITH
THAT AND WE HAVE BEEN.
THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE
RELEASED BUT BECAUSE OF THE
BARREN LANDSCAPE WITH NO LEGAL
INCOME SOURCES AVAILABLE TO MANY
PEOPLE, NORMAL SYSTEMS OF CARE
THAT ARE USUALLY PRETTY
INACCESSIBLE TO THIS POPULATION,
EVEN LESS ACCESSIBLE.
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
PEOPLE WERE RELEASED, BUT REALLY
WERE STRUGGLING, VIOLATING
CONDITIONS OF RELEASE, BUT
NEEDED NOT TO GO BACK INTO THE
JAIL, SO WE'RE ALSO RESPONDING
TO THOSE SITUATIONS, AND THIS IS
JUST TO KEEP -- RELATED TO
INCARCERATION.
NATIONALLY THERE IS A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, LOCALLY,
WE'RE REALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A
COMMUNITY-BASED CARE PLAN THAT
MAKES THAT VIABLE.
THE OTHER THING, THOUGH, THAT I
JUST WANT TO NAME, AS YOU ALL
KNOW FROM THE LAST TEN YEARS,
HEARING OCCASIONALLY FROM ME, IT
IS A BAD IDEA TO MAKE THE BEST
LEVEL OF CARE ACCESSIBLE TO
PEOPLE ONLY THROUGH THE CONTACT
WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
YOU DON'T WANT TO SET IT UP SO
PEOPLE GET THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
SUPPORT, ONLY AFTER THEY GET
CHARGED WITH A CRIME, SO WE WERE
GLAD TO SEE IN BURIEN, AND WE'RE
JUST TALKING ABOUT BURIEN
BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE WE STARTED
THIS FIRST SO IT IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE, WE
WERE GLAD TO SEE IN BURIEN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND CITY OFFICIALS ALL
SAY, LOOK, THERE ARE JAIL
BOOKING LIMITS.
WE KNOW WE SHOULDN'T BE ENGAGING
IN JUST MOVING PEOPLE AROUND,
AND AT THE SAME TIME, FOLKS WERE
STARTING TO GATHER AND LIVE IN
THE PARKS IN BURIEN, WHICH HAVE
KIND OF BEEN THE NO CAMPING
AREAS DESIGNATED BY BURIEN CITY
OFFICIALS.
RATHER THAN JUST MOVING PEOPLE
ALONG, CAN YOU STEP IN AND
PROVIDE ALTERNATE SUPPORT?
SO THE PICTURE THAT YOU SEE HERE
CO-L.E.A.D., BORN IN BURIEN,
SEVERAL WEEKS BACK IN THE
PARKING LOT BY BURIEN DISTRICT
COURT BEFORE THE TEAM WENT OUT
AND DID INITIAL OUT REACH IN THE
BURIEN STATE PARK AND DOTTIE
HARPER PARK, IDENTIFYING PEOPLE,
MANY OF WHOM WHO WERE USING
DRUGS AND HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO
STAY, BUT WHO NEEDED HELP, SOME
OF WHOM WERE OR THOUGHT THEY MAY
BE SICK WITH COVID-LIKE
SYMPTOMS, MANY DIDN'T HAVE
ACCESS TO SANITATION FACILITIES
TO PREVENT THAT, AND ALL OF WHOM
WERE ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, IN A
PRECARIOUS POSITION WITH NO
ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL INCOME.
THIS IS THE KIND OF PLACE-BASED
OUT REACH AND CASE MANAGEMENT
THAT WE HAVE BEGUN TO DEPLOY.
WE'RE THINKING IN THE NEXT
SEVERAL MONTHS, CO-L.E.A.D.
IS
SCHEDULED TO WORK NOW THROUGH
JULY, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
REPLICATE THIS WORK IN SEVERAL
LOCATIONS IN SEATTLE WHERE THERE
ARE SERIOUS PUBLIC ORDER ISSUES
BUT THE KIND OF ISSUES THAT
RESPOND BEST TO CARE, SUPPORT,
INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND A
LODGING SITUATION, SO WE'RE
TRYING TO APPLY HOUSING FIRST IN
A CONTEXT WHERE SUDDENLY THERE
IS THIS NEW RESOURCE OF HOTEL
ROOMS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOTEL
INDUSTRY HAS BEEN PROFOUNDLY
AFFECTED BY THE ECONOMIC SHUT
DOWN.
WILL PROBABLY NOT SEE A RETURN
TO NORMAL FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS,
IF NOT LONGER THAN THAT, AND
HOTELS PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT
PLATFORM TO MORE THAN SHELTER
PEOPLE, TO GIVE PEOPLE A GOOD
PLACE TO FIND -- TO SECURITY AND
A BASE OF ENGAGEMENT FOR CARE
TEAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
WORKING WITH FOLKS OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WHERE WE
HAVE ALREADY SEEN, REALLY QUITE
BIGGER -- I DON'T WANT TO
MINIMIZE.
THIS IS NOT EASY WORK AND PEOPLE
HAVE CHALLENGES, BUT THIS
CONTEXT OF HOTEL ROOMS HAS
ALLOWED THE CARE TEAMS TO VERY
EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE
IN MANY CASES.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JESSE,
LEONTAI, AND MELODIE.
>> WE'RE PRETTY TIGHT ON TIME SO
I THINK -- DO WE HAVE ANOTHER
FIVE OR SO MINUTES?
I KNOW WE ONLY HAD TEN TOTAL.
>> WE ARE SCHEDULED TO GO UNTIL
10:05.
>> OH, GREAT.
>> SO YOU HAVE A FEW MORE
MINUTES HERE.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO LISA COVERED A LITTLE BIT
AROUND THE HOTELS, SO I'LL JUST
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
MODEL.
SO THE MODEL IS BASED ON MORE OF
A SHIFT WORK AND LESS SORT OF
9:00 TO 5:00 HOURS, SO THE
INITIAL TEAM OF WHAT WE CALL OUT
REACH RESPONDERS/CASE MANAGERS
THAT WERE HIRED UP, THERE WERE
12, WE'RE UP TO 15 OF THEM NOW.
THE SHIFTS ARE 8:00 TO 4:30 P.M.
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AS WELL AS
1:00 P.M.
TO 9:30 P.M..
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, 10:00 TO
4:30 WITH SOMEBODY ON CALL
OVERNIGHT.
THESE HOURS ARE SORT OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
OF THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THIS
ALLOWS FOR US TO MEET AT OUR
OFFICE WHERE WE HAVE SUPPLIES.
IT ALLOWS STAFF TO KIND OF LOOK
AT E-MAIL AND GET CAUGHT UP FOR
THE DAY AND IT ALLOWS US TO GO
OUT TO THE HOTELS AND HAVE
ACTUALLY AN ON SITE PRESENCE IN
EACH OF THE HOTELS.
WE HAVE A STAFF ROOM AT THREE OF
THE FIVE HOTELS THAT WE USE, THE
LARGER HOTELS, AND WE'RE
ACTUALLY ON SITE DURING THE DAY
SHIFT AND THE SWING SHIFT AND
THE WEEKEND SHIFT.
WE'RE CHECKING IN WITH PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS, WE'RE THERE IN THE
STAFF ROOM, WE'RE KIND OF COMING
AND GOING, WE'RE TALKING WITH
HOTEL STAFF.
WE'RE THERE FOR A CHUNK OF EACH
OF THOSE SHIFTS.
THAT SLIDE AND THIS SLIDE JUST
TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
WHAT LISA WAS TALKING ABOUT.
OUR FOCUS AROUND HELPING PEOPLE
SHELTER IN PLACE.
THE INITIAL KIND OF
STABILIZATION, AND THEN WE GO
INTO MORE OF AN INTENSIVE CASE
MANAGEMENT MODE WHERE WHATEVER
THE SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM,
WHATEVER SORT OF PLACE IT IS
OPERATING AT, WE'RE THERE TO
ACCESS IT, SO INITIALLY WE HAD
HEARD FOOD STAMPS WEREN'T UP AND
RUNNING AND THEN THEY WERE.
WE'RE MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE
GETTING ON DSHS.
WE'RE MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE ON
APPLE HEALTH AND MEDICAID IS
TURNED ON.
WE HAVE A MEDICAL PROVIDER THAT
GOES OUT FOUR OF THE FIVE DAYS A
WEEK AND SHE SPENDS TWO TO FOUR
HOURS ON SHIFT WITH THE OUT
REACH RESPONDERS GOING AND
SEEING CLIENTS AND OFFERING
HEALTHCARE SUPPORT AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
MANY OF OUR CLIENTS, A SMALL
SUBSET ARE ENROLLED IN THE
BROADER COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH TREATMENT SYSTEM BUT THAT
SYSTEM HAS VERY MUCH GONE QUITE
MINIMAL DURING A TIME OF COVID.
MANY PROVIDERS ARE OFFERING
LIMITED CRISTHIANIC BASED
SERVICE AND TELEHEALTH.
THAT IS NOT AN OPTION THAT WORKS
FOR MANY OF THE PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS.
THEY NEED THE SERVICES TO COME
TO THEM, SO THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE
HELP.
ON DAY TWO, IN THE PROGRAM, SHE
WAS ABLE TO WORK VERY HARD AND
COLLABORATIVELY WITH NEIGHBOR
CARE TO GET SEVERAL FOLKS ON
SUBOXONE WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS
OF THE PROGRAM.
MELODIE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT.
LISA ALREADY COVERED HOW
CO-L.E.A.D.
IS BASED ON
L.E.A.D., AND THEN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF SLIDES, I'M GOING TO
TURN OVER TO MELODIE AND LEONTAI
TO TALK ABOUT A PARTICIPANTS.
HE AGREED TO HAVE HIS PHOTO
USED.
THIS IS AT ONE OF THE HOTELS,
THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES.
I'LL HAVE THEM TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN
OUT REACH RESPONDER AND WHAT IT
IS LIKE TO PROVIDE SERVICES ON
SITE AT THE HOTELS AND OTHER
THOUGHTS THAT THEY HAVE TO ADD.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT FROM
HERE?
>> YEAH.
THANKS, JESSE.
HELLO CITY COUNCIL.
GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF US AS
OUTREACH RESPONDERS LOOKS PRETTY
MUCH, YOU KNOW, IT IS A GOOD
BALANCE OF STREET OUT REACH AND
MOTEL OUT REACH.
IT IS A LOT OF BEING ON SITE AS
JESSE SAID, TO HAVE A PRESENCE,
TO SET UP IN THE LOBBY OF
WHATEVER HOTEL ROOM, TO JUST
ALLOW FOLKS TO SEE THAT WE'RE
THERE IF THEY HAVE TROUBLES OR
WANT TO CHAT.
WE ALSO DO CHECK IN WITH ALL OF
OUR PARTICIPANTS AT EACH OF THE
HOTELS DAILY EITHER BY CALL OR
ACTUALLY BY KNOCKING ON THEIR
DOORS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY,
YOU KNOW, ARE PRIVY TO MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS THAT THEY HAVE OR
COURT HEARINGS OR THINGS LIKE
THAT.
YOU KNOW IT IS A LOT OF JUST,
LIKE, BEING THERE FOR PEOPLE AND
HELPING THEM THROUGH THIS TIME.
THIS CLIENT HERE THAT YOU SEE IN
THE SLIDE, HIS NAME IS RICKY.
HE IS A STUDENT AT HIGHLINE
COLLEGE AND HAD ACTUALLY BEEN
LIVING IN A LAUNDRYMAT FOR THE
LAST FOUR MONTHS IN AUBURN.
WE GOT HIM IN CONTACT WITH
POLICE.
HE WAS GOING TO BE TRESPASSED.
WE GOT HIM INTO HOUSING OR INTO
THE TEMPORARY HOUSING THAT WE
SECURE AT SEATAC AND HERE IS THE
NEXT PICTURE, AGAIN, RICKY AND
SOME OF THE OUTREACH RESPONDERS
AND ANOTHER CLIENT, SORT OF
GOING THROUGH GOAL SETTING AND
TALKING THROUGH, YOU KNOW,
CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE HAVING.
RICKY IS AN AWESOME SUCCESS
STORY BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN
CONTINUING TO GO TO SCHOOL
THROUGH THIS.
WE HAVE HOOKED HIM UP WITH
SEVERAL DIFFERENT SERVICES AND
WE CONTINUE TO JUST BE A SUPPORT
SYSTEM FOR HIM AND HE, BEING
ABLE TO TAKE A SHOWER AND BE
HYGENIC HAS REALLY HELPED WITH
HIS OVER DEMEANOR AND WE'RE
SEEING THAT FROM CLIENTS THAT
THEY'RE SO GRATEFUL TO JUST BE
ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO SHOWER,
TO TAKE A BATH WHERE THEY
HAVEN'T IN A LONG TIME BECAUSE
MANY OF THE SANITATION AND
OTHER, SORT OF, FACILITIES HAVE
BEEN CLOSED DOWN.
SO BEING ABLE TO JUST HAVE A HOT
SHOWER AND TO HAVE A BED IS
REALLY STABILIZING FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
I DO ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT, LIKE, THE ABILITY FOR US
TO STABILIZE THESE FOLKS USING
THIS TEMPORARY HOTEL ROOM
SITUATION, APPROXIMATELY HALF OF
OUR CLIENT LOAD HAVE PERSONALLY
OPTED INTO MEDICATED ASSISTED
TREATMENT WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A
WAY FOR FOLKS TO HELP WEAN OFF
OF THE DRUG OF CHOICE AND SORT
OF GET BACK ON THEIR FEET IN
TERMS OF HEALTH, SO FOR THAT
MANY PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SAY
I'M READY TO STOP MY ADDICTION
AND ASKED FOR MEDICAL HELP IS
PROFOUND AND WOULD NOT HAVE
HAPPENED WOULD WE NOT GET THEM A
PLACE TO SLEEP, SO I'LL LEAVE IT
AT THAT AND LET LEONTAI SPEAK A
LITTLE MORE.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LEONTAI.
A DAY IN THE LIFE WITH
CO-L.E.A.D., I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO SAY FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY,
WHEN WE STARTED, WE OUT REACHED
WITH INDIVIDUALS AND THEY WERE
KIND OF IFFY WHETHER THEY WANTED
TO BE SCREENED BY US OR NOT.
ONCE WE SHOWED THEM THAT WE'RE
INVESTED AND WE CARED AND
CONTINUED TO COME BY, COME BY,
COME BY, THE NEXT WEEK AFTER
THAT, THE NEXT WEEK AFTER THAT,
MANY INDIVIDUALS WERE SHOWING
UP, SHOWING UP, SHOWING UP,
ASKING US, ASKING US, ASKING US,
AND THERE IS THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL
WHO WE CURRENTLY HAVE PLACED
THAT I MET.
WHEN I ENGAGED WITH HIM, HE WAS
PRETTY -- HE IS A PRETTY SELF
SUFFICIENT PERSON.
HE DIDN'T REALLY CARE WHAT I WAS
TALKING ABOUT.
HE WAS WILLING TO SCREEN, BUT
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I FEEL LIKE
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS
TELLING HIM, SO HE CAME OFF AS A
GRUMPY KIND OF GUY.
EVERYONE KNOWS HIM AS A GRUMPY
KIND OF GUY.
SINCE HE HAS BEEN PLACED, HE
CALLS ME EVERY NIGHT, TEXTS ME
IN THE MORNING, HE HAS MADE FOOD
FOR ME.
I THINK THE BIG THING WITH THIS
GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS ON OUR
STAFF TEAM IS WHAT WE BRING TO
THE TABLE IS COMPASSION AND HARD
WORK AND SHOWING THESE PEOPLE WE
ACTUALLY CARE AND ARE HERE FOR
THEM.
AS MORE OF A FRIEND APPROACH,
NOT AS AN AUTHORITATIVE FIGURE.
WE WANT THEM TO MAKE THE ORGANIC
CHANGE ON THEIR OWN AND WE'RE
HERE TO SUPPORT THEM IF THEY
WANT TO DO THAT.
WE'RE NOT FORCING THEM INTO
DOING ANYTHING.
WE'RE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN GET,
THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.
>> THANK YOU, LEONTAI.
SO ONE THING I SKIPPED OVER IS
BEFORE WE DID OUR FIRST PARKING
LOT, KIND OF, MEETING WITH
BURIEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE DID
ABOUT A WEEK'S WORTH OF PRETTY
INTENSIVE HARM REDUCTION,
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, OUT
REACH-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT AND
INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH
TRAINING AND I THINK BECAUSE OF
THAT AND JUST THIS BEAUTIFULLY
DIVERSE GROUP OF STAFF THAT WE
HIRED, WE HAD ALREADY REALLY
CREATED A STRONG KIND OF COHORT
TO PUT ARMS AROUND THE CLIENTS
THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING AND
EVERYTHING IS BASED ON, YOU
KNOW, HARM-REDUCTION, WE HONOR
EVERYONE'S AGENCY AND
DETERMINATION AND TREAT THEM
WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND
KINDNESS.
I MENTIONED THE LODGING
AGREEMENT.
THERE ARE ALSO RULES TO FOLLOW.
THIS IS NOT A FREE FOR ALL OR
PARTY TIME.
THE LODGING AGREEMENT IS A SOLID
THREE PAGES AND THERE ARE A LOT
OF THINGS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN
COVID THAT WE'RE ASKING CLIENTS
TO DO, INCLUDING WEAR PPE, NOT
HAVE VISITORS TO THEIR ROOM, ET
CETERA.
THE NEXT SLIDE, LISA REALLY
COVERED A LOT OF THIS, SORRY IF
YOU CAN HEAR THAT.
MY NEIGHBOR IS SAWING IN HIS
BCKYARD.
THE TARGET POPULATION IS TWO
FOLD.
WE'RE RESPONDING TO FOLKS THAT
ARE STUCK IN JAIL AND THEN ALSO
A NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL APPROACH IN
TANDEM WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
PARTNERS.
THE NEXT TWO SLIDES ARE ABOUT
BUDGET AND WE HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE
OVER WHAT WE'RE TRACKING AND
MEASUREMENT.
I THINK I'LL GO TO THAT ONE
FIRST AND LET LISA DO BUDGET.
WE ARE TRACKING EVERYTHING THAT
WE WOULD BE TRACKING FOR CLASSIC
L.E.A.D.
FOR BOTH THE CITY'S HSD
REQUIREMENTS AND THE COUNTIES BE
HEARD.
RIGHT NOW IMPLEMENTING A CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT IS
SOPHISTICATED THAN OUR SPREAD
SHEET TRACKING THAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE TRACKING ALL OF THE
DEMOCRATIC INFORMATION,
HOMELESSNESS INFORMATION, AND
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
INVOLVEMENT INFORMATION.
WE HAVE -- IT IS A BIT UNIQUE TO
SET UP A CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
WITHIN THE RANKS OF PDA, WHICH
IS ESSENTIALLY KIND OF A LAW
FIRM THAT DOES CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM REFORM AND HAS SEVERAL
PROGRAM AREAS.
WE HAVE HAD TO BE QUITE CREATIVE
IN TERMS OF HOW WE GET
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INFORMATION
AND WE HAVE ADAPTED A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT RELEASES OF
INFORMATION AND HAVE DONE A LOT
OF COORDINATION WITH LOCAL
SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
INFORMED FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
INDUSTRY AND THE MEDICAL
PROVIDER CAN LOOK FOLKS UP AND
SEE THEIR MEDICAID AND SOME OF
THEIR OTHER HEALTHCARE HISTORY.
I'LL LET LISA TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT DR. CATHERINE BECK YET
FROM U-DUB WHO HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH US ON THE CLASSIC L.E.A.D.
AND NOT ONLY OVERSEE BUT TRACK
ALONG AND WITNESS, IF YOU WILL,
WHAT WE'RE DOING IN CO-L.E.A.D..
ONE OF THE COOL THINGS IS EVERY
DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, WE
HAVE A SHIFT CHANGE WHERE THE
DAY AND THE SWING MEET FOR AN
HOUR AND WE STAFF ALL OF THE
CLIENTS.
THIS IS BASED ON A DAILY TEAM
MEETING MODEL THAT COMES OUT OF
ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT,
AN INTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH
MODEL.
THAT MEETING HAS JUST CREATED A
SENSE OF, LIKE, COMMUNITY AROUND
OUR CLIENTS, A SENSE OF
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING IN
TERMS OF HOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE
SUPPORTING PEOPLE.
IT ALLOWS US TO CALL EACH OTHER
IN, IF YOU WILL, AROUND
ADVOCATING FOR CLIENTS AND WHAT
THEY NEED.
IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO TALK ABOUT
BOUNDARIES AND SET RULES AND
LIMITS.
IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY LOVELY WAY
TO WATCH THE TEAM COME TOGETHER
AND REALLY PUT HEADS DOWN AND
THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE SUPPORT
PEOPLE FROM A HARM REDUCTION
STANCE.
WHERE DO I USE -- HOW CAN I USE
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING?
WHAT IS A RESOURCE TO CONNECT
THIS PERSON TO?
I'LL GO TO THE BUDGET SLIDE AND
HAND IT BACK OVER TO LISA AND
THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE WE SHOULD
HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> I'LL WRAP IT UP HERE SO THAT
THERE IS TIME FOR QUESTIONS.
THE BUDGET IS LAID OUT HERE
THROUGH JULY.
THIS IS JUST REPURPOSING
EXISTING FUNDING FOR L.E.A.D.
THAT CAN BE USED DIFFERENTLY TO
REACH THE SAME POPULATION.
WE WERE PLANNING TO ON IT.
THIS IS THE SECOND L.E.A.D.
TEAM.
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL COSTS DUE
TO COVID CONDITIONS, PPE,
MEDICAL DEVICES AND SO ON.
THE HOTEL COST IS $300,000 FOR
THE SEATTLE FOCUS AND OFFSET BY
A REALLY NICE DONATION FROM
PEARL JAM.
FIGURING OUT HOW TO TAKE THIS
FORWARD, IF THAT IS DESIRED,
AFTER JULY OR AUGUST, IS A
COMING CONVERSATION.
THERE IS A ROBUST EVALUATION
PROCESS UNDER WAY AND WE HOPE TO
HAVE KIND OF LESSONS LEARNED AND
IMPLICATIONS OF THE WORK
AVAILABLE TO CITY OFFICIALS IN
THE NEXT SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS.
WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK,
WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES OR CAPACITY TO WORK
EVERYWHERE WHERE THIS MIGHT BE A
SUITABLE APPROACH, BUT WHAT WE
CAN DO IS DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE AND WHAT IT TAKES TO
HAVE THIS GO WELL.
WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT IN SOME
PLACES OF GREAT COMMUNITY IMPACT
AND GREAT NEED AND HAVE HEARD
THE SUGGESTION OF PIONEER
SQUARE, SECOND AVENUE EXTENSION
AND THE AREA BY THE NAVIGATION
CENTER AT 12th AND KING, CERTAIN
OPEN TO WORK IN THOSE AREAS.
I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE IS IN DIALOGUE WITH THIS
ABOUT WHERE WE CAN BE MOST
EFFECTIVE, A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE
WILL BE ACTIVATING THIS WEEK,
TRYING TO REACH AGREEMENT ON
WHERE WE CAN BEST MAKE USE OF
THESE RESOURCES TO GENERATE THE
LESSONS THAT CAN BE DERIVED FROM
THIS STYLE OF WORK.
.
>> I STOPPED SHARING THE SLIDE
SHOW SO I CAN SEE EVERYBODY IF
THERE ARE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
PRESENTATION.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
WE HAVE THREE MINUTES LEFT
ALLOTTED IN THIS SLOT AND I SAW
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS
INDICATED SHE HAS A QUESTION, SO
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO HER TO ASK
HER.
COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO ALLOW
MAYBE TWO MORE QUESTIONS AFTER
THIS.
NOW IS THE TIME TO RAISE YOUR
HAND.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
ANYBODY ELSE WITH A QUESTION?
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO THE TEAM PRESENTING
TODAY.
THIS SEEMS A HUMANE WAY TO
RESPOND TO ISSUES WE GOT FACING
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR OFFERING
THIS DEMONSTRATION OF HOW WE
COULD BE RESPONDING TO THE
CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT FOLKS IN THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
IDEAS LIKE THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THEM
ABOUT WHETHER WE CAN FIND SOME
HOTEL SPACE TO MOVE PEOPLE AND I
KNOW SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
WORKING ON THE SAME IDEA, SO
THIS DOESN'T LOOK EASY.
THESE SORTS OF INTENSE CASE
MANAGEMENT, OBVIOUSLY REQUIRES A
LOT OF PLANNING AND LOGISTICS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
YOU'RE DOING AND I WANT TO ASK
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THIS IN THE
NEXT SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS, IF YOU
WOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND
DO A CHECK IN WITH US SO WE CAN
LEARN WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T
WORK, AND REALLY HOW WE CAN YOU
KNOW, TRY TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THIS
KIND OF STRATEGY SO THAT WE'RE
PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORS AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> GREAT.
AWE SUCCINCT ANSWER.
>> THANK YOU, LISA, THANK YOU
EVERYONE ELSE WORKING ON THIS.
I AM HOPING TO KNOW, I THINK I
ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT
WOULD LIKE TO ASK HERE, WHEN
WERE THE SEATTLE BASED HOTEL
ROOMS BOOKED?
WHEN WERE YOUR CASE MANAGERS IN
SEATTLE BROUGHT ON AND COULD YOU
HAVE BEEN SHOES ON THE GROUND
THE WEEK OF MARCH 27TH OR
MARCH 20TH?
>> SURE.
I'LL TAKE THAT.
WE RESERVED A BLOCK OF HOTEL
ROOMS IN EARLY APRIL,
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE COULD ADD
MORE AND WE ARE ABOUT TO ADD
MORE.
WE HAVE THIS CASE MANAGEMENT
TEAM UP AND READY TO WORK IN AN
AREA THAT PRESENTED, YOU KNOW,
PUBLIC ORDER ISSUES, A LOT OF
NEED AND COMMUNITY IMPACT.
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT, SO, YES, WE
COULD HAVE DONE WORK IN BALLARD,
AT BALLARD COMMONS, AND AT THE
SAME TIME, IT IS CLEARLY TRUE
THAT YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T RESPOND
IN ALL POSSIBLE APPROPRIATE
PLACES, SO WE ARE READY TO GO IN
ONE OR MORE OF THE HIGH IMPACT
LOCALES THAT COMBINE MAJOR
COMMUNITY IMPACT, NEIGHBORHOOD
IMPACT AND HUMAN NEED.
>> I WANTED TO ADD ONE THING I
FORGOT EARLIER AND IT IS SO
IMPORTANT AND I SHOULD HAVE IT
IN THE SLIDE.
PART OF WHAT HAS MADE THIS WORK
SO WELL IS WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE,
ONE IS ONE OF OUR LEAD PROJECT
MANAGERS THAT SERVE AS HOTEL
LIAISONS.
THIS IS THE PRACTICE BORROWED
FROM PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROGRAM
LIAISON WITH THE HOUSING
PROVIDER, YOU HAVE AN IN BETWEEN
PERSON THAT UNDERSTANDS PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT, OFTEN COMES FROM
REAL ESTATE BACKGROUND AND SO WE
USED ONE OF OUR L.E.A.D.
PROJECT
MANAGERS AND OUR CO-L.E.A.D.
OPERATIONS MANAGER THAT HELPS
WITH THAT AND THEY DO THE
LIAISONS WITH THE HOTELS.
WHEN THE HOTEL HAS AN ISSUE,
THEY CALL JESSE OR TABITHA HERE.
THE CONCERN, VALIDATE IT AND
SEND IT OVER TO US AND
COMMUNICATE BACK.
THAT HAS BEEN THE MAGIC, THE
RESPONSIVENESS, AND THIS IS NOT
ANYTHING -- IT IS NOT ANYTHING
NEW.
MANY HOUSING PRIORS DO THIS.
IT IS LIKE A LANDLORD LIAISON,
IF YOU WILL.
THAT HAS BEEN CRITICAL AND WE
HAVE HAD 24/7 RESPONSE TO THE
HOTELS IF THEY HAVE AN ISSUE.
IT ALLOWED US TO EDUCATE THEM
AROUND HARM REDUCTION PRACTICES,
ALLOWED FOR US TO COLLABORATE
AND IT HAS BEEN A REALLY LOVELY
PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE HAD
WITH THE HOTELS IN SUPPORTING
OUR CLIENTS.
ONE OF THE HOTELS GIVES THE
CLIENTS ALL A WELCOME KIT WHEN
THEY ARRIVE.
IT IS PRETTY STUNNING TO WATCH.
I THINK LISA ACTUALLY STARTED
NEGOTIATING SOME OF THE HOTEL
STUFF EVEN BACK IN MARCH.
THIS WAS NO EASY FEAT.
SHE WAS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK
TRYING TO GET THESE HOTEL
RELATIONSHIPS UP AND WE'RE JUST
SO LUCKY THAT WE GOT IN EARLY
AND WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE SOME
OF THAT.
>> AND THANK YOU, JESSE AND
LISA.
DURING THE TIME OF COVID, I HAVE
CHANGED MY UNDERSTANDING OF TIME
AND I SAID MARCH AND I MEANT
APRIL.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE
CORRECT MONTH NAME.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, SO WE'RE RUNNING A
LITTLE OVER AT THIS POINT.
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, WHO HAS A
QUICK SET OF REMARKS TO MAKE AND
WE'LL THANK OUR PRESENTERS WHO
ARE AVAILABLE TO US OFFLINE.
GLADLY AVAILABLE TO US OFFLINE
TO CONTINUE THIS IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION, SO COUNCILMEMBER
REMEMBER BOLD, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO REALLY EXTEND MY
APPRECIATION TO THE FOLKS AT
L.E.A.D.
AND SPECIFICALLY LISA,
JESSE, LEONTAI AND ME WILL --
MELODIE
FOR THE GOOD WORK.
THANK YOU FOR REORIENTING THE
WORK FOR ADDRESSING THE NEEDS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID-19
CRISIS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY THAT
I'M REALLY EXCITED, THE COMMENTS
MAY HAVE BEEN MADE BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AT THE
BEGINNING.
I CAME IN A LITTLE BIT LATE, BUT
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IS WORKING IN
COLLABORATION WITH YOU TO DO
THIS SHIFT AND DO THE CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS NECESSARY TO PUT IT
IN PLACE.
I GOT AN E-MAIL LAST WEEK WHERE
THE EXECUTIVE STATES THAT THEY
POSITIVELY VIEW CO-L.E.A.D.
AS A
POTENTIALLY USEFUL TOOL FOR
HELPING THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS AND THEY GO
ON TO SAY THAT THEY WERE REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT WHAT COULD BE
LEARNED FROM THIS NEW PUBLIC
SAFETY PROGRAM AND HOPE SOME
LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM
ONGOING IMPACT TO IMPROVE
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND BETTER
SERVE HIGHER BARRIER
INDIVIDUALS, SO REALLY, IN AWE
OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING ON THE
STREET AND APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR
COLLABORATION WITH HSD AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WE'LL BE WITH
YOU TO BRING THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL AND
APPRECIATIVE FOR THAT AND AS WE
CLOSE OUT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP THAT
HAS BEEN DEVELOPED RAPIDLY WITH
NOT ONLY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE BUT ALSO WITH SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT, THAT IS LEANING
HEAVILY ON THIS AS A STRATEGY
FOR DE-CARCERATION AND
INCREDIBLY HEALTHY LOCAL
CONVERSATIONS AND ECOSYSTEM, SO
WE APPRECIATE IT AND YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, AND THANK
YOU ESPECIALLY TO ALL OF OUR
PRESENTERS.
NOT JUST FOR BEING WITH US TODAY
BUT FOR THE HARD WORK THAT
YOU'RE DOING EVERY DAY TO SERVE
FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
REALLY APPRECIATE, AGAIN, ALL OF
THE WORK YOU CONTINUITY
CONTINUOUSLY DO.
WE'LL CLOSE OUT THIS PORTION OF
TODAY'S COUNCIL BRIEFING, SO
WE'LL SAY GOODBYE TO OUR
PRESENTERS AND WE'LL BE TALKING
TO YOU ALL VERY SOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH
US.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
WE'LL TRANSITION INTO THE
PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS.
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES.
AGAIN, I'LL CALL ON COUNCIL
MEMBERS AS ESTABLISHED BY THE
ROLL CALL FOR CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS AND THIS WEEK'S ROLL
CALL ROTATION BEGINS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THEN
HERBOLD, JUAREZ, LEWIS, MORALES,
MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN, SAWANT AND
I'LL CONCLUDE THE AGENDA
SUGGESTION.
WE ALSO HAVE ERIC, WHO IS HERE
WITH US TODAY TO HELP ADDRESS
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT LEGISLATION
AND POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS THAT
APPEAR ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CALLING ON
FOLKS.
WE ARE SCHEDULED TO DO REPORTS
UNTIL ABOUT 11:00 A.M.
AND THEN
WE'LL HEAD INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION SO FIRST UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I'LL KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
INCLUDED, USE AND NEIGHBORHOOD'S
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONE ITEM FROM THE LAND COMMITTEE
ON THE FULL CALENDAR WHICH IS CB
119790.
IT APPROVES A SUBDIVISION IN THE
PINEHURST NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE HEARING EXAMINER ISSUED A
PRELIMINARY APPROVAL LAST YEAR
AND IT IS OUR ROLE TO CONFIRM
THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS MET THE
APPLICABLE CONDITIONS.
I PLAN TO BRING THIS TO FULL
COUNCIL NEXT WEEK.
THIS WEEK I WILL BE JOINING THE
SAFE STREETS MEETING ON
WEDNESDAY.
I'LL BE PARTICIPATING ON A PANEL
ON THE BALLARD DISTRICT COUNCIL
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBERS AND
THERS.
AS ALWAYS, I'LL BE HOLDING
DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS OVER THE
PHONE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH
CONSTITUENTS.
AS WE HEARD FROM THE
PRESENTATION JUST NOW, WE DO
HAVE OTHER OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES
TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
STILL LIVING OUTSIDE AND THOSE
OPTIONS INCLUDE WAYS TO BRING
THEM INTO SAFE, SECURE PLACES TO
MEET THEIR NEEDS RATHER THAN
PUSH THEM AROUND THE
COMMUNITIES.
IN BALLARD, WE HAVE MADE GREAT
PROGRESS ON MARKET STREET
CONSTRUCTION.
THIS IS A VERY DELAYED PROJECT
AND AS SOON AS I CAME INTO
OFFICE, I WORKED WITH S-DOT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE MEETING
AND EXCEEDING THE TIMELINES AND
I'M THANKFUL TO S-DOT FOR
DELIVERING THE SECTION OF THE
PROJECT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
I WANT TO THANK, IN CONSTITUENTS
COMMUNICATION I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO REACHED OUT TO MY
OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE
CONSTITUENTS MEETINGS.
I WANT TO COMPLIMENT MY
NEIGHBORS ON PALENTINE.
THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY DOES
PROMOTE CONNECTIVITY AND IT IS
GREAT TO SEE RESIDENTS THANKING
OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
MY OFFICE IS CONTINUING TO
PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO SMALL
BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS
AROUND AVAILABLE SUPPORT
PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.
WE HAVE BEEN ASSISTING THE
FREMONT ART COUNCIL REGARDING
THEIR RENT AS WELL AS THE
CONTINUED MAINTENANCE OF THE
FREMONT TOLL.
I'LL REACH OUT TO THIS TO YOU AS
WELL AND THE CONTINUED
MAINTENANCE IN LIGHT OF THE
STEEP DROP OFF AS DUE TO THE
CANCELLATION OF THE SOLSTICE
PARADE NEXT MONTH AND FINALLY, I
WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, THIS IS
THE FIRST YEAR IN MAYBE EVER
THAT BALLARD HAS NOT -- WILL NOT
BE HAVING THE PARADE THIS COMING
SUNDAY, IT IS A NORWEGIAN
CONDITION DAY AND IT HAS BEEN
THE LARGEST CONSTITUTION DAY
PARADE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY OF
NORWAY IN THE WORLD.
THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF MY
LIFE AND I'M EXCITED AND SAD
THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO JOIN
WITH MY NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S REPORT?
OKAY.
SEEN NONE, WE'LL MOVE ALONG.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
SO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE
ANY ITEMS ON THE FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA, NOR DO WE HAVE ANY
MEETINGS COMING UP.
THE MEETING OF MAY 12TH IS
CANCELLED DUE TO THE GOVERNOR'S
ORDER.
THE MAIN THING I WANT TO SHARE
WITH COUNCIL TODAY RELATES TO
THE FACT THAT ON THURSDAY THE
CITY ATTORNEY FILED THE MOTION
TO TERMINATE THE CONSENT DECREE
TWO YEAR SUSTAINMENT PLAN.
THERE IS AN IMPORTANT EXCEPTION
TO WHAT WAS FILED ON THURSDAY AS
COMPARED TO WHAT EARLIER
DELIBERATIONS HAD CONSIDERED
FILING.
THAT EXCEPTION IS BECAUSE OF
WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HEARD
FROM THE COUNCIL, IT DOES NOT
INCLUDE THE CONCERNS RAISED BY
JUDGE ROBARD IN HIS MAY 21ST,
2019, ORDER ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE MOTION STATES THAT THE CITY
WILL FILE A SUBSEQUENT MOTION BY
AUGUST 1ST AND THE CITY'S
REREPLY AT THAT TIME WILL
ADDRESS THE ISSUES RAISED
REGARDING DISCIPLINE.
WE HAD EARLIER CONVERSATIONS
AROUND CONCERN THAT THE FILING
WOULD INCLUDE A REQUEST TO
TERMINATE THE CONSENT DECREE AS
IT RELATES TO THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES AND REALLY
PLEASED THAT THE EXECUTIVE AND
THE CITY ATTORNEY AGREED TO HOLD
THOSE ISSUES UNTIL A SUBSEQUENT
FILING OUT OF THE SHARED CONCERN
WITH THE COUNCIL THAT WE NEEDED
TO DO MORE WORK ENGAGING WITH
OUR COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDERS
AROUND THOSE ISSUES, SPECIFIC TO
ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED BY THE
COUNCIL AND RESOLUTION
ACCOMPANYING THE PASSAGE OF THE
CONTRACT.
THOSE WERE ISSUES NOT ONLY
IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNCIL BUT
IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY STAKE
HOLDERS, INCLUDING THE CPC.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HONOR
THE FACT THAT THIS PROCESS WAS
BEGUN BY COMMUNITY GROUPS NEARLY
TEN YEARS AGO, SENT A LETTER TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN
RESPONSE TO THEIR LETTER, THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RELEASED
FINDINGS ON 2011 AND THE CITY
AND THE DOJ ENTERED INTO A
CONSENT DECREE BACK IN 2012.
THE GAINS IN LOWERING USE OF
FORCE AND ENHANCING
ACCOUNTABILITY ALSO CAME ABOUT
BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT, IN PARTICULAR,
POLICE OFFICERS WHO WORKED WITH
ALL OF THE OTHER BRANCHES OF THE
REFORM EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT
REFORM.
THE FILING OF THE MOTION TO
TERMINATE THE CONSENT DECREE TWO
YEAR SUSTAINMENT PROGRAM IS AN
EXERCISE IN DEMONSTRATING THAT
ALL OF THE PHASE ONE
ASSESSMENTS, TOGETHER WITH THE
13 COMPLIANCE REPORTS COMPLETED
DURING PHASE TWO HAVE BEEN
COMPLETED.
THE CITY HAS GONE THROUGH AN
EXERCISE OF SUBMITTING REPORTS
AND HAVING THE COURT, HAVING THE
MONITOR CONCLUDE THE REPORTS
SIGNIFICANCENY COMPLIANCE.
THE ASSESSMENT AND THE
COMPLIANCE REPORTS COMPROMISED
MORE THAN 1,000 PAGES AND THE
MONITOR HAS AGREED IN EACH OF
THOSE INSTANCES THAT SPD HAS
ACHIEVE AND AND SUSTAINED
COMPLIANCE OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
THOSE ISSUES COVER THE INCIDENTS
OF SERIOUS FORCE AND THE
REDUCTION OF THE USE OF SERIOUS
FORCE AND.
SERIOUS FORCE HAS BEEN REDUCED
BY 60%.
WE, IN OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THE
FILING THOUGHT IT WAS -- WHEN I
SAY WE, I MEAN MYSELF AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ,
THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO UNDER SCORE THE FACT THAT
ALTHOUGH SERIOUS FORCE HAS BEEN
GREATLY REDUCED, THERE STILL
REMAINS A VERY CONCERNING
DISPARITY, RACIAL DISPARITY
AMONG USE OF FORCE.
THEY DOCUMENT THAT AND IDENTIFY
IT AS AN AREA FOR CONTINUED AND
NECESSARY PROGRESS.
THE REPORTS IDENTIFIED THE FACT
THAT SPD HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY
OUTSIDE GROUPS AS A NATIONAL
LEADER AND CRISIS RESPONSE
TRAINING, AND THAT SPD, THERE IS
THE FILINGS THAT SHOW THE SPD
DOES NOT ENGAGE IN NO SUSPICION
STOP AND FRISK TACTICS AND
FINALLY SPD AND THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION COLLABORATED
TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT HIGH
QUALITY BIAS TRAINING AND TO
STUDY THE SOURCES AND EFFECTS OF
RACIAL DISPARITY AND POLICING.
A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS THAT THE
FILINGS AND REPORTS THAT I
REFERENCED BELOW IDENTIFIED IS
THE PATROL STAFFING AND SUPER
VISION MODEL TO ENSURE THAT
PATROL OFFICERS HAVE A
CONSISTENT AND TRAINED
SUPERVISOR AND THE RECOGNITION
THAT THE OPA CONDUCTS THOROUGH
AND COMPLETE INVESTIGATIONS AND
HAS ADOPTED SEVERAL KEY
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MONITOR
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
AND SO, AGAIN, IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS STILL
ANOTHER PIECE OF WORK THAT IS
GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR US TO
ENGAGE IN AND THAT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO THE FINDINGS OF
JUDGE ROBARD AS IT RELATES TO
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
SIGNIFICANT BODY OF WORK THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO PRIOR
TO AN AUGUST FILING IN THAT
AREA.
THE OTHER ITEM THAT I WANTED TO
RAISE TODAY IS THE FACT THAT
LATE LAST WEEK, WE FOUND OUT
FROM CHIEF SCOGGINS THAT THEY'RE
AFTER ANALYSIS THAT WAS DONE
AFTER THE CLOSURE OF THE BRIDGE,
THAT I REQUESTED VERY EARLY ON
AND I'M SURE OTHERS DID AS WELL
IN THE PUBLIC IS THIS CONCERN
AROUND THE AVAILABILITY OF
POLICE -- I'M SORRY, FIRE
RESOURCES TO ADDRESS ENGINEERS
ON THE PENINSULA AND THE IMPACT
OF THE BRIDGE CLOSURE AND AS A
RESULT OF THOSE INQUIRIES, THE
POLICE, I'M SORRY, THE FIRE
CHIEF LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT
úTHEY HAD RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHO ADDED AN
ADDITIONAL LADDER, AS WELL AS AN
ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE
VEHICLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE
NEEDS.
I BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO, WE
CAN EXPECT SOME OF THOSE
RESOURCES TO COME TO THE
PENINSULA IN JUNE.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR THAT REPORT.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING
PARTNERSHIP ON THE ISSUES
RELATED TO THE CONSENT DECREE.
FOR ME, I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE
THAT THIS IS NOT PARTICULARLY AS
IT RELATES TO POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES IS NOT A
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED SCENARIO.
THAT WORK IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE FULLY SUPPORTING AND
RESOURCING OUR CIVILIAN-LED
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WHICH
INCLUDES THE COMMUNITY AND
POLICE COMMISSION TO ENSURE THAT
WHEN OFFICERS ENGAGE IN
MISCONDUCT, THAT THEY ARE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE AND THERE IS A LOT
MORE WORK WE NEED TO DO AS IT
RELATES TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE ON
THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT IS GOING
TO REFLECT THOSE PRIORITIES TO
THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.
SO THIS IS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
IN THE CONSENT DECREE PROCESS
BUT CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT BE
TAKEN AS A MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
MESSAGE BY ANYONE BY ANY MEANS
AS IT RELATES TO ONGOING WORK
FOR ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND
RELATED DISCIPLINE ISSUES.
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU AS WELL, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, FOR HELPING TO SEND
THAT MESSAGE AS WELL AS
EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE COUNCIL.
WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
LAW DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT WE FEEL IT IS THAT WE
DON'T SEND THAT MISSION
ACCOMPLISHED MESSAGE WHILE
MOVING FORWARD.
I THANK EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL
DESERVES MAY THANKS FOR HELPING
TO BE RESOLVED IN THAT STRATEGY.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ON HER
REPORT?
OKAY.
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WE'LL
GO AHEAD AND MOVE THROUGH.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING!
>> GOOD MORNING.
SO I'M GOING TO START WITH THE
NATIONAL HERB AND INDIAN FAMILY
COALITION.
WE HAVE A LETTER WITH A
SIGNATURE, A CIRCULATED LETTER
OF SUPPORT FOR THE AMERICAN
INDIAN NATIVE COMMUNITY TO BE
FULLY AND ACCURATELY COUNTED IN
THE 2020 CENSUS.
AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA
NATIVE PEOPLES ARE THE MOST
UNDER COUNTED POPULATION IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THE NATIONAL COLATION, A SEATTLE
BASED NON-PROFIT IS WORKING HARD
TO ENSURE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
IN THE 2020 CENSUS.
THEY LAUNCHED A NATIONAL CENSUS
PROJECT TO ENGAGE URBAN,
AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKA NATIVE
NON-PROFITS AND CENSUS
INITIATIVES THROUGH A NATIONAL
PSA POSTER MATERIALS AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, FUNDING TO 17
CITIES.
SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE CITIES
THAT RECEIVED THE FUNDING, SO IN
SEATTLE, THE NATIONAL INDIAN
FAMILY COLATION PROVIDED CENSUS
FUNDING TO THE CHIEF'S SEATTLE
CLUB, THE TRIBES, WHO DO INDIAN
EDUCATION PROGRAM AT SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE NATIONAL
INDIAN URBAN INDIAN FAMILY
COALITION APPLIED TO THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, RAPID
RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH
SUPPORTS CENSUS ADVOCACY ON A
LOCAL LEFT.
WHILE IT WAS APPROVED, YAY, THEY
HAVE REQUESTED A LETTER OF
SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT AT A
LOCAL LEVEL, SO I ASK FOR YOUR
SIGNATURES TODAY TO SHOW OUR
SOLID SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL
URBAN INDIAN FAMILY COALITION
AND THE GREAT WORK THEY DO.
A BIG SHOUT OUT TO JEANINE, A
MEMBER OF THE NATION, AN AMAZING
AND TIRELESS LEADER FOR DECADES
OF THIS ORGANIZATION, VERY
SUCCESSFUL AND A MODEL FOR
OTHERS AS WELL.
I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN SIGNING
THIS LETTER OF PARTNERSHIP, SO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AT THIS TIME
DO I REQUEST A ROLL CALL AT THIS
JUNCTURE FOR THE SIGNATURES FROM
MY COLLEAGUES OR HOW DO WE DO
THIS?
>> ORDINARILY ON LETTERS WE
WOULD DO A ROLL CALL IN THE
OTHER BUSINESS SECTION AT FULL
COUNCIL, SO.
>> OKAY.
>> WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA AT
FULL COUNCIL IF THAT IS OKAY
WITH YOU.
>> THAT IS FINE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GREAT.
>> I WILL MOVE INTO COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR THE
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITY COMMITTEE FOR THIS
AFTERNOON'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
I'LL GIVE AN UPDATE ON PARKS.
SO ONCE THE PARKS WEEKLY REPORT,
ONCE WE RECEIVE THE FINAL
COLLECTION OF SOCIAL DISTANCING
PROGRAM DATA FROM LAST WEEK,
I'LL FORWARD IT TO YOU GUYS, TO
MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
I WANT TO PROVIDE A FENDLY
REMINDER I SEND THE DATA SNAP
SHOTS EVERY WEEK AS AN FYI.
SOCIAL DISTANCING PROGRAMMING IS
NEW BUT EXISTS TO SAVE LIVES.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE
STAY IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH
PARKS.
THE DATA IS SIMPLY, PARDON THE
PUN, THE BEST BALL PARK ANALYSIS
ABOUT PARK USAGE.
IT IS NOT 100 % ACCURATE.
IT IS NOT 100 % ACCURATE COUNT.
THE NUMBERS ARE AVERAGES.
HOWEVER, THEY ARE HELP FALLING
TO VISUALIZE TRENDS OVERTIME TO
ASSESS OVER ALL COMPLIANCE.
I WANT TO THANK JESUS, IN
CONSTANT CONTACT WITH ME AND MR.
NELLIS AND MR. TURNER.
WE HAVE THE REOPENING OF FOUR
PUBLIC GOLF COURSES.
LAST WEEK MAY 5TH ALL FOUR OF
THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL GOLF
COURSES REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
THAT WAS JEFFERSON PARK, WEST
SEATTLE, JACKSON PARK, AND
INTERBAY.
PREMIERE GOLF IS CONTRACTED BY
THE CITY TO OPERATE ALL FOUR
COURSES AND OPEN WITH THE
NECESSARY SAFETY GUIDELINES SET
FORTH BY THE GOVERNOR.
I'M ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH
PARKS TO ASSESS THE UNDER
UTILIZED ACREAGE OF GOLF COURSES
AND HOW THEY COULD BE USED BY
NONGOLFERS.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR CITY
FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATED
SHARED USE OF PUBLIC SPACE.
I'M WORKING WITH THE EXPERTS AND
ADVOCATES LIKE THE SEATTLE
GREENWAYS AND 350 SEATTLE.
WE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
EXECUTIVE AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
UP IN DISTRICT FIVE, JACKSON
GOLF COURSE IS 160 ACRES.
WE'LL BE LOOKING INTO THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE THE REOPENING OF
ADA ACCESSIBLE PARKING LOTS.
LAST FRIDAY, MAY 8TH, SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION REOPENED
LIMITED ACCESSIBLE ADA PARKING
LOTS AT FOUR MAJOR PARKS.
LINCOLN, SEWARD, GREEN LAKE
AND -- AND IN REGARDS TO MAJOR
PARKS, STARTING ON FRIDAY, AS
YOU ALL KNOW, MAY 8TH, MAJOR
PARKS WILL CLOSE AT 8:00 INSTEAD
OF 11:30 TO FURTHER DETER THE
BARBECUES, BONFIRES AND PARTIES
TAKING PLACE IN THE PARKS.
THE PARKS THAT WILL NOWHERE
CLOSE AT 8:00 INSTEAD OF 11:30
ARE 17 OF THOSE.
STARTING WITH CAL ANDERSON,
DISCOVERY, GAS WORKS, GOLDEN
GARDENS, GREEN LAKE, LINCOLN,
MADISON, SEWARD, VOLUNTEER,
WASHINGTON PARK, WEST SEATTLE
STADIUM, MYRTLE EDWARDS,
WOODLAND PARKS.
SOCIAL DISTANCING AMBASSADORS
WILL BE OUT REMINDING PEOPLE OF
THIS CHANGE.
IN REGARD TO S-DOT AND STAY
HEALTHY STREETS, S-DOT UPDATED
TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WILL
CLOSE 20 MILES OF RESIDENTIAL
STREETS.
ADJUSTMENTS WILL ALLOW
RESIDENTS, DELIVERY DRIVERS,
GARBAGE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
VEHICLES TO CONTINUE TO USE THE
STREETS BUT NO THROUGH TRAFFIC
IS ALLOWED.
WE KNOW S-DOT HAS BEGUN TO
REPLACE THE TEMPORARY SIGNS WITH
OFFICIAL SIGNS.
WE CONTINUE TO BE IN CONTACT
WITH THE PARKS WITH S-DOT ON THE
HEALTHY STREETS.
IN REGARDS TO THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY RESTROOM ACCESS, A
REPORT TO ADDRESS RESTROOM
ACCESS FOR THE UNSHELTARD,
UNHOUSED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS REOPENED
FIVE BRANCHES FOR RESTROOM USE
ONLY.
NO OTHER SERVICES ARE BEING
OFFERED.
RESTROOMS ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK FROM 10:00 A.M.
TO
6:00 P.M., CLOSED FOR BREAKS AND
TO CLEAN.
APRIL 23RD THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY OPENED TO BALLARD,
BEACON HILL AND UNIVERSITY
BRANCHES FOR RESTROOM USE.
ON APRIL 27TH, SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES OPENED THE CAPITOL
HILL BRANCH AND PART OF THE
CENTRAL FOR RESTROOM USE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN TO USE
THE RESTROOMS ARE FOLLOWING
SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES AND
CONTINUE TO EXPRESS THEIR
GRATITUDE TO STAFF FOR PROVIDING
THIS SERVICE.
IN REGARDS TO COMMUNITIES, BODY
BAGS, LAST WEEK THE SEATTLE
HEALTH BOARD, WHILE WAITING FOR
MORE COVID-19 TESTS AND PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, RECEIVED A
BOX OF BODY BAGS.
THANK YOU BUREAU OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS AND INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICES.
ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH WARD,
THEY KNOW WHY OR HOW THEY
RECEIVED THEM.
IT IS A CLINIC, NOT A HOSPITAL.
THEY HAVE NO USE FOR THEM.
THIS IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN
RELEASED TO INDIAN COUNTRY TO
COMBAT COVID-19.
AS YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS TO
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND IN
PARTICULARLY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN
AND NATIVE AMERICAN AND LATINO
COMMUNITIES.
WE TON STRUGGLE WITH THIS VIRUS
AS EVERYONE ELSE IS.
THEY CONTINUE TO ENCOUNTER AN
UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF OBSTACLES
IN BUREAUCRACY AND COVID
FUNDING.
PPP AND CRITICAL RESOURCES TO
SERVE OR PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING
IN SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE DIRECTORS OF
THE SEATTLE HEALTH BOARD AND
OTHER NATIVE GROUPS AND TRIBES,
PARTICIPATING IN ROUNDTABLES
WITH LEADERSHIP AND GETTING THE
MONEY IN THE DOORS FOR CLINICS
THAT DON'T JUST PROVIDE SERVICES
FOR NATIVES BUT SPOUSES AND
THEIR CHILDREN.
WE WILL BE IN CLOSE
COMMUNICATION WITH TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS AND LEADERSHIP AND
THE LOCAL NATIVE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL AND
FORMER COUNCIL, MAY 5TH WAS
NATIONAL DAY OF WEARNESS FOR
MISSING INDIGENOUS WOMAN AND
GIRLS.
I JOINED THEM WITH A PAINTED RED
HAND OVER THE MOUTH, THE SYMBOL
OF MISSING WOMEN AND GIRLS, A
GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT AIMED AT
BREAKING THE CIRCLE OF VIOLENCE.
IT IS GOING STRONG AND I WANT TO
THANK ALL OF YOU THERE AND THOSE
HERE NOW THAT HELPED PASS THE
LEGISLATION AND THE ORDINANCE
AND THE BUDGET FOR THE FUNDING
OF THE POSITION FOR THE DATA.
BIG THANK YOU AND OUR HANDS UP
FROM INDIAN COUNTRY.
GOING BACK TO THE URBAN INDIAN
HEALTH INSTITUTE, BEST PRACTICES
FOR COVID-19 DATA STANDARDS,
AGAIN, THE URBAN INDIAN HEALTH
INSTITUTE HAS CREATED A RESOURCE
WITH BEST PRACTICES AND
COLLECTING NATIVE DATA FOR LOCAL
AUTHORITIES, HEALTHCARE
ORGANIZATIONS AND HOSPITALS TO
HELP ADVOCATE FLATIVE PEOPLE TO
BE COUNTED.
IT ALSO HAS GUIDANCE FOR LOCAL
AND STATE ENTITIES ON HOW TO
COLLECT THE DATA CORRECTLY.
THE OFFICE WILL BE E-MAILING
THIS RESOURCE TO YOU SHORTLY.
SDRIBLTH 5 NEWS, WE'RE REALLY
HAPPY, THE LAKE FRONT COMMUNITY
HAS OPENED.
THE ADDRESS IS 600 NORTH 130th.
IT WAS OPENED BY LEHIGH RECENTLY
AT BEAR LAKE.
IT NOW HAS 35 RESIDENTS, ALL OF
WHOM REFERRED BY THE NAVIGATION
TEAM.
THEY WERE AT RISK OF COVID.
WE'RE MONITORING THE SITUATION
ON 125th AND LAKE CITY WAY.
THE TEAM HAS BEEN OUT THERE AT
LEAST SIX TIMES A WEEK, SETTING
UP EXTRA DUMPSTERS, MORE HONEY
BUCKETS, GETTING THE HONEY
BUCKETS CLEANED, TWO HAND
WASHING STATIONS AND PUBLIC
HEALTH HAS BEEN MONITORING IT
FOR HEPATITIS A.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT
WITH THE NORTH PRECINCT, KEPT IN
CONTACT WITH SERGEANT LENKE.
BIG SHOUT US TO HELP US.
I GO DOWN THERE ONCE A DAY.
IT IS NOT FAR FROM MY HOUSE, TO
SEE WHERES AT AND THE TENT COUNT
OF HOW MANY OF THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND OUR NEIGHBORS ARE AT
RISK BECAUSE THEY ARE
UNSHELTERED AND LIVING THERE.
FINALLY, A BRIEF CHECK IN WITH
THE TWO HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.
JILL HUDSON AND MARTIN HALE.
AMAZING EDUCATORS, CHECKING IN
WITH THEM, WHAT IS GOING ON IN
THEIR SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THEIR STUDENTS, ESPECIAL
SHOUT OUT TO ELIZABETH
WAINWRIGHT ERIC FRIEND OF OURS,
WE VISITED HER GROUP IN THE
PAST.
ELIZABETH HAS BEEN DELIVERING
FOOD TO HER STUDENTS DURING THIS
PANDEMIC.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.
THIS IS COMMUNITY AT ITS BEST.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY LAST
TUESDAY TO JOIN A SENIOR CLASS
AT LAKESIDE SCHOOL ON THE
HISTORY OF SEATTLE.
THEY WILL HAVE A FINAL PROJECT
TO CREATE A TIME CAPSULE FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CATCH A
GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
I WANT TO THANKS JAMES FOR
INVITING ME TO ENGAGE IN THE
CLASS AND THE GREAT QUESTIONS
THIS DID ASK.
I MET WITH GREENWAYS IN SEATTLE.
AS YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY
INTERSECT IT IS ABOUT EXPANDING
OPTIONS FOR SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION AND
RECREATION.
FOR 350, WE FOCUSED ON, YOU
KNOW, OF COURSE, THEY ARE A
GROUP FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE
WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING WITH
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS.
IN A MEETING WITH ALICE LOCKHART
AT 350, WE DISCUSSED HOW
DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS WERE
RESPONDING TO THE OPEN STREETS
PROGRAM, HOW WE CAN USE OTHER
PUBLIC SPACE FOR PUBLIC USE AND
THE MUTUAL INTEREST IN SEEING
THE NUMBER OF RECREATIONAL
ACCESS EXPAND IN D5.
LOCAL BIKE SHOPS ARE SENDING OUT
OF THE INVENTORIES OF BIKES AS
FOLKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LESS
CONGESTION ON THE ROADS.
LIKE MANY OF YOU HAVE,
PARTICIPATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOOD'S WEBINAR.
I WANT TO THANK OTHERS FOR
INVITING ME AND GIVING ME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE
DOING CITY-WIDE, CERTAINLY SOME
OF THE ISSUES CITY WIDE OR
NATIONALLY, BUT ALSO OF COURSE,
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH UPDATES.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'S REPORT?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WE'LL
MOVE ALONG.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO REPORT THIS
WEEK.
THERE IS NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL OR FULL
COUNCIL MEETING FROM THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS AND
INVESTMENTS.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL'S
INDULGENCE IN HAVING THE
PRESENTATION FROM THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER ASSOCIATION.
IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR FROM THE
WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING AND I
APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK WITH THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AND BRINGING
THAT PRESENTATION TOGETHER THIS
MORNING.
THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF
INTEREST OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS IN SCALING A CO-L.E.A.D.
AS A PROGRAM THAT WE CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
A GRAT DEAL OF INTEREST ON THE
COUNCIL.
A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THE
VARIOUS BUSINESS AND
NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS AROUND
THE CITY, STAKE HOLDERS OF WHICH
HAVE BEEN, I'M VERY EXCITED OF
THE PROSPECT OF GETTING SOME
KIND OF INTERVENTION AND
PARTNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY WHERE
EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH
L.E.A.D.
ARE ALREADY IN EFFECT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THAT PARTNRSHIP AND IT WAS GOOD
TO HEAR FROM THEM THIS MORNING.
SOME OF THE STUFF GOING ON THIS
WEEK, I WOULD BE PARTICIPATING
IN THE MONTHLY MEETING.
I'LL BE THERE VIRTUALLY.
TOMORROW IT IS 6:00 P.M.
TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN DOING IN COVID THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ TALKED
ABOUT IN HER UPDATE AS WELL AS
THE OTHER LONG-TERM PROJECTS WE
MIGHT DO TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBANOUS CITY.
I'LL HAVE A MEETING ON FRIDAY
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY
TASK FORCE HOPEFULLY TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE WAY WAYS WE
CAN LEVERAGE FUTURE ACTIONS IN
CONGRESS.
THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO TRY
TO GET MORE RELIEF FOR CITY AND
OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE OF THE
CITY, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF
SUPPORTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES
BUT IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING THE
RENTERS AND OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE
BEEN HIT HARD BY UNEMPLOYMENT
AND HARD SHIP DURING THE
COVID-19 CRISIS, SO I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT.
I'M GOING TO BE SITTING DOWN
WITH BRIAN CALLAHAN AT THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL TOMORROW TO TALK
ABOUT THE CITY'S HOMELESSNESS
RESPONSE, AND OTHERWISE, WE'LL
BE AVAILABLE AS ALWAYS FOR
MEETINGS WITH CONSTITUENTS IN
DISTRICT 7, THERE ARE QUITE A
FEW OF THE MEETINGS SCHEDULED
FOR THIS WEEK AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO THOSE AS USUAL.
OTHERWISE I DON'T HAVE ANY
FURTHER UPDATES TODAY BUT LOOK
FORWARD TO ANOTHER WEEK OF
COUNCIL BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON THAT REPORT?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WE'LL
MOVE ALONG.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, TODAY,
LET'S SEE, THIS AFTERNOON WE'LL
BE VOTING ON COUNCIL BILL 119
WHICH WOULD PREVENT RENTERS BY
PROHIBITING LANDLORDS FROM
CONSIDERING EVICTIONS RELATED TO
THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY AS A WAY
TO DENY FUTURE HOUSING.
THIS IS A PRETTY STRAIGHT
FORWARD PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION STEMMING
FROM THIS CRISIS AND I DO WANT
TO THANK THE TENANT'S UNION, GOT
REAL CHANGE IN THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT FOR MAKING THE
LEGISLATION AS STRONG AS
POSSIBLE.
THANKS TO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES
WHO WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF
CONVERSATIONS WITH OVER THE LAST
FEW WEEKS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS
LEGISLATION THIS AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO ADDRESS THE DECISION
TO SPEND THE DISCUSSION ON THE
REVENUE LEGISLATION.
THE CORONAVIRUS UP ENDED ALL OF
OUR LIVES.
SEEING RECORD BREAKING SMALL
BUSINESS CLOSURES.
MANY LOST THEIR JOBS AND HAVE NO
WAY TO PAY FOR BASIC NEEDS SOME
HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO
COVID-19.
GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
CRISIS THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
FACING, IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE
HOW NOT GOVERNING IS THE
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS YET THE GOVERNOR
REQUIRES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ONLY ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE
QUOTE, UNQUOTE, ROUTINE.
IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS
NOTHING ROUTINE ABOUT
CORONAVIRUS OR THE NEED TO
RESPOND TO THE CRISIS, OUR
COUNCIL LEADERSHIP MADE A CHOICE
TO ENFORCE THE STRICTEST LEGAL
INTERPRETATION OF THE GOVERNOR.
THE CRUCIAL CONVERSATION ABOUT
EMERGENCY RELIEF IS HALTED AND
FOR NOW, THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETINGS HAVE
CANCELLED AND THE LEGISLATION
COUNCIL MEMBERS SAWANT AND I
CO-SPONSORED IS DELAYED UNTIL
THE PROCLAMATION EXPIRES.
I WANT TO SAY AGAIN, AS I SAID
BEFORE, I WASN'T ELECTED TO TELL
MY COMMUNITY WHAT WE CAN'T DO.
I WAS ELECTED TO HELP LEAD THE
CITY EVEN THROUGH A CRISIS AND
EVEN WHEN IT IS HARD AND I'M NOT
GIVING UP ON THE FIGHT TO HELP
OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE'LL BE WORKING TO CRAFT THE
LEGISLATION, SUPPORT THE
EMERGENCY RELIEF MEASURES,
ADDRESS CRITICAL HOUSING AND
FOOD INSECURITY AND ISSUES FACED
BY OUR NEIGHBORS.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR CON
STITENTS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF SEATTLEITES HAVE BEEN LEFT
TWISTING IN THE WIND AND WITHOUT
IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL RELIEF, MANY
R WILL HAVE NO WAY TO
FINANCIALLY RECOVER FROM THE
CRISIS.
THIS EFFECTIVELY PULLS THE RUG
OUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE ALREADY ON
THE BRINK OF DISASTER AND IT IS
A DISASTER THAT NONE OF US COULD
HAVE PREDICTED BUT WITH
EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS, WE CAN
HELP MITIGATE THEM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE
EDUCATION AND EXPECT THERE WILL
BE A BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULED AS
SOON AS THE GOVERNOR'S
PROCLAMATION EXPIRES.
ONE MORE THING, WHICH IS THAT
LAST WEEK LEGISLATION THAT I
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TO SHIFT
THE NAVIGATION TEAM'S ROLL TO
PROVIDING OUT REACH RATHER THAN
SWEEPING PEOPLE, LAST WEEK THAT
LEGISLATION MADE ITS WAY ON TO
KOMO NEWS DESPITE THE FACT THAT
I HAVE HAD NO COMMUNICATION WITH
THEM.
NOW THAT IT IS THERE OUT IN THE
PUBLIC, WE ALL KNOW, WE ARE
WORKING ON THE LEGISLATION.
I THINK I HAVE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR
SINCE LONG BEFORE I BECAME AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT I DON'T
THINK THAT SWEEPS ARE THE
APPROPRIATE WAY TO HANDLE OUR
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, SO, AND
LAST WEEK WE SAW HOW NECESSARY
IT IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE POLICY ON
THE BOOKS DURING THIS CRISIS.
SO ONCE WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THIS, YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE
MORE LEGISLATION FROM THIS
OFFICE THAT HELPS PROTECT OUR
HOMELESSNESS NEIGHBORS -- OUR
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE THROUGH
THE ROLL CALL.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GOOD
MOTHER'S DAY AND HAPPY MOTHER'S
DAY TO YOUR MOTHERS AS WELL.
I HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO
SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND ENJOY
FAMILY FROM AFAR THIS WEEKEND.
WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE ENGAGING
IN MINI GROUP GATHERINGS AND I
THINK THAT IT IS A SIGN THAT WE
ARE ALL EAGER TO GET OUT AND
ENJOY LIFE AS NORMAL, BUT THIS
IS NOT THE TIME TO GET OUT AND
ENJOY LIFE AS NORMAL.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
SOCIALLY DISTANCING AND THAT
MEANS ENGAGING WITH FRIENDS AND
FAMILY FROM AFAR AND I KNOW THAT
I CALLED MY MOM VIA ZOOM WHEN I
WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED TO GO
AND SEE HER.
I HOPE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO TAKE
THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS TO
SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND TO BE VERY
CAUTIOUS OF THE CONCERN THAT THE
COVID IS GOING TO POTENTIALLY
RESPIKE IF WE ENGAGE IN SOCIAL
ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO WHEN IT IS
SAFE.
I WANT TO ALSO START WITH THE
COMMENTS ABOUT THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE AS YOU SAW LAST
THURSDAY, THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETING WAS SCHEDULED
FOR THIS WEEK THAT HAS BEEN
CANCELLED FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE
ISSUED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
BASED ON EVOLVING LEGAL ADVICE
FROM THE CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE.
THIS WAS BASED ON THEIR READING
OF THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS.
I WANT TO CLARIFY FOR OUR
COLLEAGUES IN THE PUBLIC.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND FOLLOWED HER
DIRECTION.
THAT, HOWEVER, DOES NOT MEAN I
AGREE WITH HERBOLD'S ASSESSMENT
OF THE LEGAL ASSESSMENT AS WAS
REPORTED IN THE NEWS.
THIS IS NOT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S ASSESSMENT.
THIS IS THE LEGAL ADVICE WE HAVE
BEEN DEALT SO FAR AND THAT IS
WHAT I DISAGREE WITH.
I DID SAY I AGREE IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE DO PASS
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, IT DOESN'T
HAVE QUESTIONS HANGING OVER IT,
AND WE BENEFIT IN HAVING THE
PUBLIC ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS AND
THAT IS WHAT THE GUIDANCE WAS
AIMED IN.
HOW DO WE HAVE FULL ENGAGEMENT
OF THE PROCESS AS ALLOWED BY THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER AND NOT BE IN
VIOLATION OF IT.
MY ONGOING CONCERN WITH THE
LEGAL ADVICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
DEALT IS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN
WE'LL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN
PERSON SAFELY.
TO THAT END, I'LL BE ASKING
FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS TO OUR LEGAL
TEAM AND BEYOND ABOUT THE OPMA
POLICY AS IT STANDS AS WELL.
I THINK COMMON SENSE WOULD TELL
US THIS CRISIS IS URGENT AND THE
FUNDING EMERGENCY DEMANDS A
RESPONSE AND RELIEF.
NOW AND IN THE LONG-TERM.
THE LEGAL ADVICE SAYS OTHERWISE
AND THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A SPIKE IN
RECENT DAYS HERE ON THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST AS PEOPLE HAVE BEGUN
TO REENTER THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND
HAVE CLOSER INTERACTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO
BE A RESURGENCE AS WE HAVE SEEN
IN OTHER AREAS OF THE GLOBE, FOR
EXAMPLE IN SEOUL.
THEY HAD TO REIMPOSE A SHUT DOWN
OF VARIOUS NATURE AS PEOPLE
BEGAN TO ENGAGE IN LIFE AS
NORMAL AND THEY SAW INCREASED
SPIKES OF COVID.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT NO MATTER WHEN WE DO
COME BACK TO IN PERSON MEETINGS
THAT WE FIRST PROTECT THE STAFF,
CITY WORKERS AND ATTENDEES.
THAT IS THE PRIORITY IN
PRESIDENT'S GUIDANCE AND
IMPORTANT FOR US TO IMPLEMENT
HER RECOMMENDATIONS AS WE SEEK
CLARIFICATION.
AS WE SEEK CLARIFICATION ON THE
LEAD GUIDANCE, WE DON'T WANT TO
BE IN VIOLATION OF THE EXISTING
LEGAL GUIDANCE BUT THE NEED
CONTINUES TO GROW.
WE HAVE SEEN THE BROOKINGS
REPORT JUST LAST WEEK RECORD A
NUMBER OF -- A RECORD NUMBER OF
KIDS GOING HUNGRY.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE VENDORS THAT
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PAY FOR
THE MARCH INVOICES BECAUSE THERE
WERE NO PROFITS IN APRIL AND
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SPIRAL.
WE HAVE SEEN THE FEDERAL CASH
ASSISTANCE LEAVE OUT POPULATIONS
THAT THE CITY HAS HISTORICALLY
STEPPED IN TO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE.
THAT IS WHY I THINK IT IS
IMPERATIVE FOR US TO THINK
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND WILL BE
DOING SO WITH THE STATE AND
LOCAL PARTNERS AS WE LOOK AT
WHAT IT MEANS TO REENGAGE.
THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
COMPOUND AG PROBLEMS OVER THE
NEXT 18 MONTHS AND PROBABLY TWO
TO THREE YEARS.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD OVER
THE WEEKEND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
WHAT THE QUOTE, IMMEDIATE IMPACT
WILL BE, WE NEED TO THINK IN TWO
OR THREE YEAR CATEGORIES, NOT
ONE TWO TO THREE MONTHS.
SO AS WE THINK MORE BROADLY
ABOUT THIS CRISIS, THE QUESTIONS
THAT I'LL CONTINUE TO ASK MEAN
WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO
REVALATE THE OPMA.
THIS IS NO ONE EFFORT TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE RESPONDING NOT JUST
TO THE ECONOMIC CRISIS BUT THE
ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN THE
BACKYARD FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS
THE LEGAL ANALYSIS IS WHAT IT IS
FOR NOW.
I WANT TO REITERATE I'M
COMMITTED TO PRACTICING
SUSTAINABLE REVENUE TO RESPOND
TO THE CRISIS AND LINGERING
EFFECTS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
ENGAGING WITH ALL OF YOU AND ALL
OF THE PUBLIC IN THAT PROCESS AS
SOON AS WE'RE ALLOWED.
MY HOPE AND MY PLAN IS TO
RECONVENE THE MEETINGS WHEN WE
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO,
WHEN WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO SO
WITHIN THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF
JUNE, ASSUMING WE'RE ABLE TO
MEET IN PERSON OR THERE IS A
CHANGE IN OPMA POLICY.
IN THE MEANTIME, I CONTINUE TO
LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
WITH THE PUBLIC, WHETHER THAT IS
TRYING TO GET ALTERNATIVE
OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT THE CRISIS IS, NOT TO TALK
ABOUT BILLS, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING
TO BE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE
LEGAL ADVICE THAT THEY HAVE
GIVEN US BUT TO TALK ABOUT THE
EVOLVING CRISIS, WHETHER FROM
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS OR
ECONOMISTS, RENTERS AND SMALL
LANDLORDS, I WOULD LOVE TO
ENGAGE IN THE PUBLIC WITH A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW
COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES AND
WORKERS ARE BEING AFFECTED.
TO THIS END, I'M LOOKING AT
HOSTING POTENTIALLY TOWN HALLS
OR SOME OTHER FORM OF PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT OVER THE NEXT TWO
WEEKS AS WE TRY TO SHED LIGHT ON
THE EVOLVING PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS AND THE IMPACT IN
SEATTLE, SO STAY TUNED FOR THOSE
UP COMING EVENTS AND I WOULD
LOVE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AS
WE THINK ABOUT LOCAL AND
NATIONAL EXPERTS WHO CAN SHED
LIGHT ON THIS CRISIS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW
THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP
YOU UPDATED IF THERE IS ANY
POLICY THAT DOES MEET THE
GUIDANCE THAT WAS OUTLINED IN
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S MEMO
THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR
THE COMMITTEE GIVEN THE CURRENT
LEGAL PARAMETERS AND APPRECIATE
ONGOING EFFORTS TO A MEND
POSSIBLE LEGISLATION TO MAKE
SURE IT MEETS THE EFFORT AS WE
SEEK GREATER LEGAL ADVICE OR
CLARIFICATION ON POLICY FROM THE
STATE.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR HER GUIDANCE,
WHILE IT IS ONLY TWO WEEKS, WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS AN IMMENSE
NEED OUT THERE.
WE LOOK FORWARD WITH CONTINUING
TO ENGAGE WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE
REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE
AN IMMEDIATE CRISIS THAT NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED OVER THE NEXT
FEW YEARS, NOT NECESSARILY THE
NEXT FEW MONTHS.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, ON THE FULL
AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 3 IS 119785.
THIS BILL WOULD FIRST ADOPT THE
FINAL 2020 ACTION PLAN.
APPROVE THE SUBMITTAL TO THE
HOUSE HUD AND THIRD, A MEND
126000 WHICH ADOPTED THE 2020
BUDGET.
THE FUNDS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE
FEDERAL GRANTS BEING CONSIDERED
IN COUNCIL BILL 119783.
WE HAD AN OFFICIAL PUBLIC
HEARING ON THIS LAST WEEK AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY
PASSING THE BILL TODAY.
FINALLY AS WE HAD HOPED THERE
WOULD BE ADDITIONAL
CONVERSATIONS LAST WEEK RELATED
TO EXACTLY THE PRESENTATION ON
HOW WE DEDENSEFY SHELTERS AND
GET PEOPLE INTO INDIVIDUAL
ROOMS, AS OF 10:30 THIS MORNING,
WE DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU
ON THE BILL THAT WE DISCUSSED
LAST WEEK, WHICH IS COUNCIL BILL
119783.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW I AM PREPARED
TO ASK THIS COUNCIL FOR YOUR
INDULGENCE TO POTENTIALLY WALK
ON LEGISLATION TO COUNCIL BILL
119783 THAT PASSED LAST WEEK,
WHICH WOULD ACCEPT APPROPRIATED
FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS RELATED
TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC CRISIS
RESPONSE, INCLUDING CARES ACT
FUNDING.
AS YOU WILL REMEMBER, WHEN THE
COUNCIL PASSED THE LEGISLATION
WE HELD BACK $1.4 MILLION OF
CDBG FUNDS THROUGH A SUBSTITUTE
I SPONSORS.
THE LEGISLATION I WOULD
POTENTIALLY WALK UP FOR THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, NOT FOR VOTE, BUT
WOULD KEY US UP FOR A POSSIBLE
VOTE NEXT WEEK IF NEEDED WOULD
APPROPRIATE THE REMAINING FUNDS
TO SHELTER DE-DENSIFICATION AND
WHILE I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS THAT BEGAN
LAST WEEK WILL CONCLUDE THIS
WEEK AND WILL APPROPRIATE
GENERAL FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH THE
HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS NEEDS
AROUND PERSONNEL, STAFFING, MEAL
DELIVERY, AND INDIVIDUAL ROOMS,
WE KNOW THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS
HAVE NOT CONCLUDED YET.
TO BE VERY CLEAR, MY HOPE IS
THAT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE
HAVE TEED UP TO HAPPEN AT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL THROUGH THE
OFFICE, HSD OFFICE OF HOUSING,
THAT THOSE WILL HOPEFULLY
CONCLUDE THIS WEEK.
THAT IF WE'RE ABLE TO WALK ON
THE LEGISLATION FOR THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR THIS WEEK, YOU WILL SEE
THAT WE HAVE A TITLE THAT IS
BROAD ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR US TO
A MEND THE LEGISLATION TO FREE
UP THE $1.4 MILLION FOR THINGS
LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS
CRITICAL FOR MYSELF,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOPING TO
RECEIVE PROGRESS ON THE
LEGISLATION.
CDC GUIDANCE AND THE PUBLIC
HEALTH GUIDANCE SAYS SETTINGS
ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED SAFE
DUE TO UNDER LYING HEALTH
CONDITIONS OR THEIR AGE.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE EXECUTIVE
WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE US AN
UPDATE TODAY ON HOW THE
CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING AND
COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, MY HOPE IS
THAT WE CAN TEE UP THIS
LEGISLATION TO THE EXTENT THAT
WE NEED IT EITHER TO PUT
1.4 MILLION INTO
DE-DENSIFICATION OR FREE IT UP
FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SOPHIE'S CHOICE IS THERE BUT WE
WANTED LEGISLATION READY TO GO
NEXT MONDAY THROUGH EITHER OF
THOSE PATHS.
AMY GORE HAS SENT AROUND AN
E-MAIL WITH THAT DRAFT
LEGISLATION.
IF THERE ARE ANY UPDATES BEFORE
2:00 P.M.'S FULL COUNCIL
MEETING, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO LET
COLLEAGUES KNOW THIS IS A PLACE
HOLDER FOR NOW AND REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING WORK AS
WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
SUPPORT DE-DENSIFICATION,
OPERATING NEEDS RELATED TO
STAFF, PPE, CLEANING AND FOOD
SERVICE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
THAT CONCLUDES MY LONG REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, ON THE POTENTIAL, I
GUESS, THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU
HAVE TO THE ORIGINAL COUNCIL
BILL A WEEK LATER, IS THAT --
I'M A LITTLE UNCLEAR AS TO
WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO BRING
THAT FORWARD THIS AFTERNOON OR
NOT.
>> MY INTENT WOULD BE TO BRING
IT FORWARD AS A WALK ON PIECE OF
LEGISLATION FOR THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR.
>> GOT IT.
OKAY.
SO JUST SO FOLKS KNOW FOR THIS
AFTERNOON, THAT WILL REQUIRE I
BELIEVE US TO SUSPEND THE RULES
SINCE IT WASN'T CIRCULATED ON
FRIDAY.
NT AN ISSUE, JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE FOLKS ARE AWARE THAT THAT
WILL BE A PRESSURE A PROCEDURAL
THING WE
WILL HAVE TO DO.
AGAIN IT WOULD JUST BE ADDITION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER,
YES.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
COMMENTS RELATED TO SPECIFICALLY
THE DE-DENSIFICATION WORK
NECESSARY FOR SHELTERS AND THE
CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THE
WORK AND OUR EFFORTS TO GET
SUPPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVES TO
LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING
DEDENSIFICATION OF SHELTERS
REMINDED ME OF AN ITEM THAT I
WANTED TO RAISE IN MY COMMITTEE
REPORT AND THAT IS SPECIFICALLY
THE FACT THAT ON FRIDAY, THE
SOUTHWEST TEEN LIFE CENTER
ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD
TEMPORARILY SHELTER YOUTH FROM
YOUTH CARES, JACKSON STREET,
OVERNIGHT SHELTER.
THE MOVE WILL PROVIDE 24/7
SHELTER SPACE, SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES, AND MORE SPACE FOR
SOCIAL DISTANCING PER PUBLIC
HEALTH GUIDANCE.
THE PROGRAM ITSELF SUPPORTS
YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND
24 AND YOUTH AT THE LOCATION
WILL BE PROVIDED ACCESS TO
SHOWERS AND THREE MEALS A DAY.
THIS IS AN ACTION ANNOUNCED A
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND IT HAS
TAKEN SOME TIME TO GET THE
ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN YOUTH CARE
AND THE CITY IN PLACE.
ON FRIDAY, I BELIEVE, FIVE YOUNG
PEOPLE MOVED TO THIS LOCATION.
I THINK IT IS REALLY INTERESTING
TO NOTE THAT IN THE EFFORTS TO
DE-INTENSIFY THE JACKSON STREET
OVERNIGHT SHELTER, THE YOUTH AT
THE SHELTER WERE GIVEN A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO CHOOSE
FROM AND THIS WAS THE OPTION
THAT THEY SELECTED AT THE
SOUTHWEST TEEN LIFE CENTER.
ONE OF THE THINGS FOR ME THAT
REALLY UNDER SCORES THE CITY'S
EFFORTS TO FIND AN APPROACH
TOWARD DE-INTENSIFICATION IS HOW
THE CITY'S EXPLANATION OF HOW
THAT LOCATION IS GOING TO HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO HOLD PEOPLE
REALLY DIFFERS FROM THAT OF
YOUTH CARE.
THE CITY IS TALKING ABOUT THAT
LOCATION POTENTIALLY HOLDING UP
TO 30 INDIVIDUALS, BUT IN ITS
WISDOM, THE CITY IS DEFERRING TO
YOUTH CARE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY
YOUNG PEOPLE ACTUALLY GO AND SO
THEY'RE STARTING WITH FIVE.
I THINK WHAT NEEDS TO HAVE
HAPPEN IS THAT A DETERMINATION
OF THE CAPACITY OF THAT LOCATION
REALLY NEEDS TO BE GUIDED BY THE
USE OF THE SITE AND HOW MUCH
SOCIAL DISTANCING IS POSSIBLE IN
THAT LOCATION SO THAT WE'RE NOT
JUST REPLICATING DENSE CAPACITY
OF NEW LOCATIONS.
REALLY, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATIVE
OF THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
AND YOUTH CARE IN MOVING THIS
FORWARD BUT I THINK THIS IS A
REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT
WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING WITHIN
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
DE-INTENSIFICATION AND WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
HER EFFORTS IN WORKING WITH HSD
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN TRYING
TO BEGIN THE DE-INTENSIFICATION
APPROACH THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO
MOVE INTO THEIR OWN SPACES WITH
THEIR OWN DOORS AND FOLLOW
REALLY THE CDC BEST PRACTICES
EFFORTS AND FOLLOW THE WORK THAT
WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING KING
COUNTY DO WITH SUCCESS.
SO THANK YOU.
>>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN .
BUT GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES
AND HAPPY DAY AFTER MOTHER'S
DAY, ESPECIALLY TO OUR MOMS ON
THE CITY COUNCIL.
THERE IS ONE ITEM ON TODAY'S
COUNCIL AGENDA WHICH NORMALLY
COMES FROM THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE.
THE WORKING GROUP, UTILITIES
COMMITTEE INCLUDES OVERSIGHT OF
THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY ADVISORY
úGROUP THAT SUPPORTS THE
ANALYSIS OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AT
THE REQUEST OF THE ACLU OF
WASHINGTON.
WE WILL A POINT JENNIFER E. LEE
WHO IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND YOU
CAN VIEW HER RESUME IN THE
PACKET.
IN DISTRICT 4 MY OFFICE WILL
úHAVE A VIRTUAL MEETING WITH
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO HEAR ABOUT
THE NEEDS OF FOOD BANKS AND
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE
DISTRICT 4. I VOLUNTEERED TO
DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO NEIGHBORS.
WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL FOR THOSE
WHO WORK AT NONPROFITS AND DO
THE HARD WORK TO SERVE THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
AS USUAL I WILL HAVE VIRTUAL
OFFICE HOURS THIS FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.
PLEASE SIGN UP ON THE CITY
COUNCIL WEBSITE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, FOR THAT REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ALONG
TO THE NEXT COUNCILMEMBER AND
THAT IS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE.
NO ITEMS FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY
COUNCIL, I AM HAPPY TO COSPONSOR
THE RENTAL FILED AGAINST THEM
DURING THE COVID-19 MORATORIUM.
THE RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSE OF
THE MOBILE HOME PARK ALONGSIDE
HAVE REQUESTED THAT THE COUNCIL
EXTEND THE TEMPORARY ZONING
RESTRICTIONS THAT PROTECTED
THEM FROM DISPLACEMENT OVER THE
LAST COUPLE YEARS.
WE WERE ALONG WITH THE MOVING
TESTIMONY AND TREMENDOUS
SOLIDARITY THEY RECEIVED FROM
THE COMMUNITY CITYWIDE.
THE COUNCIL PASSED SONY
PROTECTION ON THE BASIS OF THE
TIME FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO DO
THE WORK THAT WAS NECESSARY TO
MAKE THOSE OR OTHER ZONING
PROTECTIONS PERMANENT.
THE MAYOR HAS NOT PRIORITIZED
PROTECTING THE HOMES OF THE
RESIDENTS IN THE PARK AND HAVE
MADE NO PROGRESS ON THE ZONING
WORK SO WE WILL HAVE A VOTE FOR
THAT TEMPORARY EXTENSION AND I
SHOULD MENTION THE RESIDENTS OF
THIS ARE SENIORS WHO IF THEY
LOST THIS HOME WOULD ALMOST
CERTAINLY FACE HOMELESSNESS BUT
OTHERWISE HOUSING INSTABILITY
WHICH WOULD BE DANGEROUS AT ANY
TIME BUT ESPECIALLY DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
STAFF IS PREPARING LEGISLATION
FROM MY OFFICE.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR STAFF CONTACT
MY OFFICE IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS I HAVE
HEARD FROM MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO ARE ANGRY AND
OUTRAGED AT THE DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT TO POSTPONE THE
VOTE ON LEGISLATION TO FUND
IMMEDIATE COVID RELEASE A LONG
TIME PROGRAM FOR AN EXPANSION
OF HOUSING AND GREEN NEW DEAL
PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED
TO RECOVER FROM THE COVID
EMERGENCY.
THE IDEA THAT WE CANNOT ADDRESS
THE COVID EMERGENCY IN A NEW
WAY BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE
EMERGENCY WOULD BE BIZARRELY
HILARIOUS IF THEY WERE NOT
PEOPLES LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS
ON THE LINE AND THE IDEA WERE
NOT POLITICIANS WITH THE GREED
OF BIG BUSINESS.
THE ARGUMENT THAT OUR VIRTUAL
OPEN BROADCAST RECORDED COUNCIL
MEETINGS ARE NOT OPEN ENOUGH
JUSTIFYING CANCELING THOSE
MEETINGS AND CLAIMING THIS IS
IN DEFENSE OF OPEN MEETINGS IS
TRULY SOMETHING YOU CANNOT MAKE
UP.
THIS ARGUMENT IS BEING MADE BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND JOINED BY
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT BUT
THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THESE
TWO WERE AMONG THE POLITICIANS
TWO YEARS AGO, ALMOST EXACTLY,
WHO WERE AMONG THE POLITICIANS
WHO CONSPIRED BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS TO REPEAL THE MOVEMENT
THAT YEAR IN 2018 AND ANOTHER
BACKROOM DEAL WHICH WAS IN
FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THE
PUBLIC MEETING AND TAKEN TO
COURT AND THEY HAD TO SETTLE
THE CASE WITH TAXPAYER MONEY.
IT IS STUNNING.
ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO REMEMBER
THESE ARE EXCUSES THAT ARE
COVERS FOR ACTUALLY WHAT IS
GOING ON WHICH IS LOYALTY TO
BIG BUSINESS AND BECAUSE THE
MOVEMENT HAD MOMENTUM AND HAS
MOMENTUM AND BECAUSE THERE IS
TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY SUPPORT
BEHIND BIG BUSINESS, NOT ONLY
IN SEATTLE BUT NATIONWIDE,
SHOWS THIS IS A POPULAR IDEA,
ESPECIALLY AS THE ECONOMY HAS
GONE IN RECESSION.
POLITICIANS WHO WANT
PROGRESSIVE CREDENTIALS ARE
HAVING TO RESULT TO LEGALISTIC
MANEUVERS.
ULTIMATELY WHAT IS AT STAKE IS
THIS TAX ON SEATTLE'S BIG IS
THIS AND TO HELP ADDRESS
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND
CREATE GOOD JOBS THROUGH A
MAJOR EXPANSION OF SOCIAL
HOUSING AND GREEN NEW DEAL.
IT'S NOT JUST THIS PROGRAM AND
THIS ONE CITY, THIS IS RELATED
TO WHAT IS EMERGING NATIONWIDE
AND GLOBALLY.
WE ARE HEADING INTO A DEPRESSION
, CLEARLY SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO
PAY FOR THIS CRISIS.
THE QUESTION IS WHO WILL PAY?
BIG IS MISS OR THE WORKING
PEOPLE?
THE POLITICIANS REFUSED TO TAX
THE WEALTHY AND ARE NOT TAKING
A NEUTRAL POSITION.
THEY ARE HELPING ENSURE THE
COST OF THE CRISIS WILL BE PAID
FOR BY WORKING PEOPLE.
IN THE FORM OF PROFOUND AND
PROLONGED JOBLESSNESS,
IMPOVERISHMENT AND BUDGETS
SLASHING UNDERFUNDED SOCIAL
PROGRAMS.
THIS IS A MATHEMATICAL OUTCOME.
IT WILL HAPPEN.
IF WE DON'T TEXT BUSINESS AND
THE WEALTHY.
THEY ARE HELPING TO ENSURE THE
ELITE, MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS,
MILLIONAIRES, MULTIMILLIONAIRES
AND BILLIONAIRES, WERE NOT ONLY
SHIELDED FROM THE RAVAGE OF THE
RECESSION BUT IN FACT ARE
PROFITEERING FROM THE CRISIS.
ALREADY THE INTRODUCED POLICY
STUDIES AS OF APRIL 15, HIS
FORTUNE INCREASED BY $25
BILLION SINCE JANUARY 1 AND
OVER 22 MILLION PEOPLE LOST
THEIR JOBS, OVER THE SAME THREE
WEEKS, U.S. BILLIONAIRE WEALTH
INCREASED BY $282 BILLION AND
ALMOST 10% GAIN.
IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF
ORGANIZED MASS MOVEMENTS
ESPECIALLY THE HISTORIC GENERAL
STRIKES LED BY SOCIALIST
LEADERS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT
THAT THEFEDERAL GOVERNMENT
UNDER FDR WAS FINALLY FORCED TO
ENACT THE NEW DEAL PROGRAMS.
THAT IS THE KIND OF MASS
ORGANIZING WE WILL NEED AND
WILL NOT BE LED BY
ESTABLISHMENT POLITICIANS.
IT WILL BE LED BY WORKING
PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
THEMSELVES.
OUR MOVEMENT WILL NOT SIT BACK
AND ACCEPT THIS ATTEMPT BY THE
CITY'S DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT
WHO ARE LAWYER TO BIG BUSINESS
AND SHUT DOWN THE CONVERSATION.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE
RALLYING THIS AFTERNOON OUTSIDE
CITY HALL IN A SOCIALLY
DISTANCED EVENT. MY OFFICES
HOSTING A TOWN HALL MEETING AND
IF YOU WANT TO STAND WITH
WORKING PEOPLE YOU ARE MOST
WELCOME TO JOIN ME AND MEMBERS
THERE AND I CERTAINLY LOOK
FORWAD TO COSPONSORING THE
TOWN HALL.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ON HER
REPORT?
OKAY, HEARING NONE, I WILL GO
AHEAD AND GO ON TO MY REPORT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY LEGISLATION
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
AND THOSE MEETINGS ARE CANCELED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE CONSISTENT
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER AND
PROCLAMATIONS.
ONE ITEM THAT IS ON TODAY'S
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA, THAT HIS
COUNSEL BILL 119-788, THIS IS
THE SECOND AND FOLLOW UP PIECE
OF LEGISLATION I HAVE INTRODUCED
FOR TENANT PROTECTIONS RELATED
TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
THIS BILL WERE CREATE
FLEXIBILITY TO USE PAYMENT
PLANS WITH LANDLORDS, IT IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND FOR THIS
BILL WE HAVE INCORPORATED INPUT
FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE
AGENCY, AND AS WELL AS
STAKEHOLDERS FROM WASHINGTON,
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT AND
THE WASHINGTON MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING ASSOCIATION.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE
FOLKS FOR BEING WILLING TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH MY OFFICE
ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE UPON THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
THAT WILL AGAIN CREATE A
PATHWAY FOR TENANTS TO CREATE
PAYMENT PLANS WITH THE
LANDLORDS IN THE AFTERMATH AND
PROCESS OF RECOVERING FROM THIS
CRISIS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
THAT HOUSING STABILITY
CONTINUES AND THAT THEY DON'T
END UP BEING EVICTED FOR
FALLING BEHIND ON RENT.
WE DO HAVE I SHOULD WHO WILL
BRIEF US ON THE BILL.
ARE YOU STILL THERE?
THERE YOU ARE.
CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK, QUICK
SUMMARY OF THE BILL AND ITS
COMPONENTS. THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
I KNOW THERE IS AN UPDATE IN
TERMS OF POTENTIAL AMENDMENT
THAT MIGHT LONGER BE INTRODUCED.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO, AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
MENTIONED THIS BILL WOULD
CREATE AN OPTION TO PAY BACK
RENT ON A PAYMENT PLAN.
THIS BILL WAS REINTRODUCED AS A
SUBSTITUTE TO ACCOMMODATE A
TITLE CHANGE BUT ESSENTIALLY
THE BILL JUST ALLOWS A LANDLORD
TO, EXCUSE ME, A TENANT TO USE
THE PAYMENT PLAN EITHER LAID
OUT IN THE BILL OR IF THEY HAVE
A PROPOSAL AND THE LANDLORD
AGREES TO IT CAN PAY BACK RENT
ON THAT ALTERNATIVE SCHEDULE.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR A NO
LATE FEE INTEREST OR OTHER
CHARGES FOR RENTAL ACCRUED FOR
A YEAR AFTER THE END OF THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY.
WE ADDED PROVISIONS AROUND
NOTICE, THE FACT THAT MEMBERS
PUT LOTUS ON EVICTION NOTICE
ABOUT THE RIGHTS THE TENANTS
HAVE AND IT PROHIBITS FEES,
OTHERWISE ALLOWED BY STATE LAW
BUT WITH THE INTENT THAT
ATTORNEYS FEES WOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED.
AND I JUST NOTE THAT THIS DOES
NOT CONFLICT WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S ORDER, IT SETS A
FLOOR PROTECTIONS AROUND RENTAL
PAYMENT PLANS AND LATE FEES AND
THE CITY IS ADDING TO THOSE
PROTECTIONS.
ORIGINALLY THERE WAS ONE
AMENDMENT TO THIS BILL PROPOSED
BY COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD TO
EXTEND THE PAYMENT PLAN OUT TO
12 MONTHS BUT THAT IS NO LONGER
BEING OFFERED.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, DO
YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY REMARKS?
NO , YOU'RE GOOD?
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT
THE BILL FOR ASHA WHO WILL NOT
BE AVAILABLE AT THE FULL
COUNCIL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS YOUR
ONE SHOT AT THE COUNCIL STAFF.
OKAY, THANK YOU, ASHA, FOR
CALLING IN THIS MORNING.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK
THAT YOU AND THE OFFICE HAVE
DONE TO ENGAGE WITH THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO
WITH EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS,
REALLY EXCITING ABOUT ADVANCING
THIS IMPORTANT TENANT
PROTECTION LEGISLATION THIS
AFTERNOON.
A LOT OF GRATITUDE FOR YOUR
HARD WORK AND MAKING SURE IT IS
ALL BUTTONED UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ASHA.
OKAY, THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT
I WILL BRING UP REALLY QUICKLY
IS I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HAVING A
LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION 20-28,
I ISSUED A MEMORANDUM LAST WEEK
ON WEDNESDAY, PROVIDING
GUIDANCE, NOT A MANDATE, NOT A
DIRECTIVE, TO EACH OF YOU AS
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAD YOUR
INDIVIDUAL AUTHORITY AS CHAIRS
OF YOUR COMMITTEES ABOUT THE
RISKS AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH
MOVING LEGISLATION THAT MAY NOT
BE RESPONSIVE TO THE COVID-19
AND THE CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS OR ROUTINE AND
NECESSARY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MEMO IS
CONCERNING TO A LOT OF YOU,
EQUALLY CONCERNING TO ME, I
THINK THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO
HAVE CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
WHEN OUR HANDS ARE SO SEVERELY
TIED AS A RESULT OF PROCLAMATION
20-28 AND FOR OUR COLLEAGUES,
SAWANT AND MORALES WHO
APPARENTLY THINK I TAKE GREAT
JOY IN STOPPING A CONVERSATION
ABOUT PROGRESSIVE REVENUE I
WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD ON
THAT, IT GIVES ME NO JOY TO
GIVE GUIDANCE THAT REQUIRES US
TO COMPLY SO STRICTLY WITH THE
LEGAL ADVICE I HAVE SEEN AND
WITH THE READING OF THE
PROCLAMATION AND GUIDANCE THAT
HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE.
IF THIS COUNSEL AND IT'S CHAIRS
OF THE COMMITTEES WANT TO
ASSUME THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH
KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY
VIOLATING THE OPEN PUBLIC
MEETINGS ACT THAT IS WITHIN
YOUR AUTHORITY TO DO.
SO WHEN THEIR COMMENTS MADE
ABOUT TAXPAYERS MONEY BEING
PAID TO SETTLE LAWSUITS THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, I
BELIEVE, IF WE PROCEED WITH
THIS CONVERSATION IN SUCH A
RECKLESS MANNER.
I ALSO THINK THIS LEGISLATION
AND ANY ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS
RELATED TO REVENUE GENERATION
THAT WOULD BE CRITICAL TO THE
RECOVERY OF PEOPLE THAT WE ALL
LOVE AND CARE FOR DEEPLY WHO
ARE CONSTITUENTS IN THIS CITY
IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CANNOT
MOVE FORWARD A PACKAGE OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL
INEVITABLY RESULT IN A MYRIAD
AND A FLOOD OF LAWSUITS THAT
WILL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY CANCEL
THAT LEGISLATION OUT BECAUSE WE
DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
TO BE CLEAR, I DIDN'T WRITE THE
ACT.
THAT IS A STATE STATUTE.
OKAY?
I HAVE BEEN DOING ADVOCACY IN
THE BACKGROUND TO REQUEST THAT
THE PROCLAMATION BE SOFTENED
SLIGHTLY TO ACCOUNT FOR THE
REALITIES OF HOW TECHNOLOGY
WORKS TODAY.
THIS BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS
ABOUT HOW WE ARE DOING PUBLIC
COMMENT ONLINE, WHY IS IT
SUFFICIENT?
I MUST BE SOME SORT OF CRAZY
PERSON BECAUSE I SOMEHOW DON'T
APPRECIATE TECHNOLOGY AND ITS
UTILITY IN THESE SETTINGS.
TRUST ME.
I DO.
IT'S EXACTLY WHY I ADVOCATED TO
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND TO
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
AND THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TO
REQUEST THAT THE PROCLAMATION
BE MODIFIED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE
REALITIES OF TECHNOLOGY.
IN THE MODERN-DAY PICK
UNFORTUNATELY THE ACT IS VERY
STRICT.
IT REQUIRES IN PERSON VIEWING
SO IF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
WALKS INTO CITY HALL IN SEATTLE
OR ANYWHERE IN THE STATE THEY
HAVE AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT UNDER
THE STATUTE TO SET IN CHAMBERS
OR ANYWHERE ELSE THAT IS
AVAILABLE TO WATCH OUR
PROCEEDINGS.
THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL
CORNERSTONE TO OPEN THE
GOVERNMENT.
WHICH WE ARE OBLIGED TO FOLLOW.
IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE
COUNCIL WHO WANT TO JUST
DISREGARD THAT I GUESS THAT IS
WITHIN YOUR CONTINUED PURVIEW
TO CONTINUE TO DO.
AGAIN, I AM CALLED UPON TO MAKE
TOUGH DECISIONS IN THIS
SCENARIO IS THE LEAD OF THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
ACKNOWLEDGE I WILL NOT MAKE
EVERYBODY HAPPY ALL THE TIME.
I HAVE LIMITED THIS GUIDANCE
BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE LEGISLATION MOVING
FORWARD WILL BE ABLE TO BE ON
THE STRONGEST GROUND POSSIBLE
AND I ALSO FRANKLY AND
PROTECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT I
DON'T WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO
BE, AND EACH OF YOU, TO BE PUT
IN THE POSITION OF INCREASED
RISK AND LIABILITY RELATED TO
ANY ALLEGATIONS THAT WE HAVE
PASSED THIS LEGISLATION IN A
WAY THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH
THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
I APPRECIATE THAT IT IS A
DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR US TO
BE IN AND ALSO PART OF THE
REASON WHY IN MY WEEKLY CALL
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE I
ADVOCATE ONCE AGAIN THAT WHEN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE COMES
BACK, A SPECIAL SESSION OR
REGULAR SESSION, THAT THERE BE
A VERY HARD LOOK TAKEN AT
REFORMING THE OPEN PUBLIC
MEETINGS ACT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
FACT THAT WE WILL BE IN A WORLD
OF SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR MANY,
MANY, MONTHS TO COME AND HAVING
TO EXIST UNDER PROCLAMATION 20-
28 CREATES A CRISIS FOR THE
CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT.
I RECOGNIZE THAT AND I AM
WORKING WITH OTHER COUNSEL
PRESIDENTS INCLUDING COUNCIL
MEMBER -- ACROSS THE STREET TO
EMPHASIZE ON BEHALF OF THIS
COUNSEL THAT WE NEED TO SEE
SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT THAT ALLOWS
US TO PROMOTE THE PUBLIC HEALTH
ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED
AND ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO DO
THE IMPORTANT POLICY WORK THAT
IS NOT JUST RELATED TO THE
CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
BUT ALSO RELATED TO THE
RECOVERY AND TO OTHER DELIVERY
OF SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN.
AND EXISTING UNDER THE STRICT
RULES AND RESTRICTIONS OF
PROCLAMATION 20-28 IS NOT GOING
TO BE EASY TO DO IN THE LONG-
TERM.
ALSO COLLECTS I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IN THE MEMO YOU SAW
THAT I AM ASKING MONICA SIMMONS
FROM OUR CLERKS OFFICE AND
FINANCIAL SERVICES TO BEGIN THE
PROCESS NOW OF THINKING ABOUT
HOW TO PHYSICALLY CHANGE CITY
HALL, INCLUDING THE CHAMBERS AND
THE DAIS, TO ALLOW US TO HAVE
IN PERSON PUBLIC VIEWING.
I HOPE IS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE
TO SEE THOSE PHYSICAL CHANGES
AND THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO
EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF
IN PERSON VIEWING THAT IS SAFE
AND CONSISTENT WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S SHELTER-IN-PLACE
ORDER SHOULD EXTEND BEYOND MAY
31 AND ALSO IS CONSISTENT WITH
AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
PHYSICAL DISTANCING FOR FOLKS
TO PARTICIPATE IF THEY CHOOSE
TO BE HERE IN PERSON.
SO, AGAIN, MY GOAL HERE IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT OPERATIONALLY WE
ARE COMPLYING WITH THE OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
I SHARE THE FRUSTRATION WITH
MANY OF YOU ABOUT THE OUTCOME
OF NOT BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS
EITHER THIS LEGISLATION OR ANY
OTHER LEGISLATION FRANKLY THAT
FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE FOUR
CORNERS OF THE PROCLAMATION.
BUT THIS IS OUR REALITY SO
PROCLAMATION 2028 EXISTS AND AS
LONG AS THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC
PERSISTS IN THE WAY THAT IT IS
PERSISTING OUR OPERATIONS WILL
BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY IT AND
I THINK, AND I HOPE, THAT WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER, COLLABORATIVELY,
TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT PATHWAYS,
PRODUCTIVE PATHWAYS, THAT STILL
ALLOW US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT THESE REALLY IMPORTANT
ISSUES WHILE STILL COMPLYING
WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
I BELIEVE THAT IS POSSIBLE.
OUR RESTRICTIONS ARE LIMITED.
NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE PUBLIC
MEETINGS.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT PREVENTS
US FROM CONTINUING TO HAVE
THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THESE IMPORTANT POLICY
ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, I'M HEARTENED TO HEAR
FOLKS WHO WANT TO HAVE
TOWNHOUSE TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION AND I THINK THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM
BEING ABLE TO ORGANIZE PUBLIC
MEETINGS WITH THE MAJORITY OF
STATE COUNCILMEMBERS USING
COMMITTEE STRUCTURES TO ADVANCE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT FALL
OUTSIDE OF THE FOUR CORNERS OF
THE PROCLAMATION 20-28.
AND I APPRECIATE THE ONGOING
CONVERSATION AND AGAIN, I HOPE
THAT WE CAN DO IT IN A
RESPECTFUL WAY AS OPPOSED TO
ENGAGING IN NAME-CALLING OR
SUBSCRIBING ILL INTENT AND ILL
MOTIVE OF THESE SMOKY ROOM,
BACKROOM DEALS, I HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE THESE BACK ROOMS ARE SO I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ALLEGATION
IS COMING FROM.
I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY
TRANSPARENT AND SHARE WITH ALL
OF YOU THE LEGAL ADVICE I HAVE
RECEIVED.
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
HAS BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT, I
HAVE PUT ALL OF THE CARDS ON
THE TABLE AND CONTINUE TO LOOK
FORWARD TO HAVING CONVERSATIONS
WITH EACH OF YOU AND WITH OUR
LAW DEPARTMENT AND FIGURE OUT
HOW TO HAVE A PATH FORWARD TO
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN BASIC
COMPONENTS OF GOVERNMENT AND
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO DO THAT
WITHIN THE CONSTRUCT OF
PROCLAMATION 20-28.
SO I WILL END UP THERE.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN
EXECUTIVE SESSION COMING UP
WHERE WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH EACH
OTHER ON THIS ISSUE AND OTHER
ISSUES BUT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND
MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> I DO, THIS IS DEBORA JUAREZ.
>> THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL REITERATE SOMETHING THAT
I SHARED IN MARCH AND APRIL 6,
AGAIN, LET'S NOT PLAY POLITICS
IN THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHY WE ARE
ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS NOT A TIME TO PROMOTE
OR TRY TO UNDERCUT A MOVEMENT.
QUITE FRANKLY IF WE ARE GOING
TO START THIS NONSENSE AGAIN,
US, THEM, WHOSE MORE
PROGRESSIVE, AND SOME KIND OF
CRAZY CONTEST, IN THE MIDDLE OF
A PANDEMIC WHERE WE ARE TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAVE
PEOPLE'S LIVES AND ECONOMY, THE
ACCUSATIONS, AGAIN, ABOUT
SOMETHING BEING CONSPIRATORIAL,
I MEAN, AGAIN, NOT THE TIME TO
BE DIVISIVE OR ACCUSATORY.
WE HAVE SEEN ENOUGH THAT I JUST
ABOUT EVERY LEVEL AND IT IS
ANYMORE HORRIFIC AND I HOPE WE
KEEP IT OUT OF CHAMBERS.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR KEEPING IN MIND
AND REITERATING THAT THE HEALTH
CONCERN HERE ABOUT US COMING IN
AND HAVING THE PUBLIC IN
CHAMBER, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF
US WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE
SYSTEM, THIS IS A LIFE OR DEATH
SITUATION.
THIS IS AN ABOUT ANYONE TRYING
TO UNDERCUT A MOVEMENT OR NOT
UNDERSTANDING OUR ROLES, ALL OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
AGAIN, AS I SHARED BEFORE, I
HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION, YES, I DO, I WAS
HERE WHEN ALL OF THAT WITH
TIME.
I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
PASSING LEGISLATION WITHOUT
PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS COUNSEL HAS PASSED ONE TAX
AND THAT WAS THE SUGAR BEVERAGE
TAX.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO LEAVE US
WITH.
I AM HOPING FOR ONCE WE CAN
HAVE A HEALTHY, ROBUST,
RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT A
PROGRESSIVE TAX WHICH WE ALL
KNOW WE NEED AND HOW WE GET
THAT DONE.
I AM NOT INTERESTED AND I AM
TIRED, QUITE FRANKLY, OF THIS
NONSENSE OF PEOPLE PLAYING
POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT
WE ARE GOING THROUGH.
I AM JUST TIRED OF IT.
I WANT TO THINK COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, GONZALEZ, MOSQUEDA ,
AND SAWANT, YOU AS WELL, WHEN
WE WENT THROUGH THIS BACK IN
2017 AND 2018, SEVEN MONTHS, IN
THE END IT WAS REPEALED.
LET'S PUT OUR HEADS AND MINDS
AND HEARTS TOGETHER TO DO IT
RIGHT.
TALKING ABOUT LAWSUITS,
POINTING FINGERS, IT'S
UNNECESSARY AND QUITE FRANKLY
IMMATURE.
IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
I LIKE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
SAID, WE CANNOT PASS THIS TYPE
OF LEGISLATION, ATTACKS IF YOU
WILL, AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT
NOW, WE WILL BE AGAIN, SUED
AGAIN, AND USING TAXPAYER MONEY
FOR ATTACKS IN WHICH WE HAVEN'T
HAD IT FULLY VETTED, HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO
STEP UP AND TELL US AND
EVERYBODY, I MEAN, EVERYBODY
ACROSS THE BOARD, YES, WE GET
1000 EMAILS ABOUT A GROUP AND A
MOVEMENT, AND I RESPECT THAT.
BUT WHAT I'M HAVING HARD TIME
DOING AS AN ELECTED IS WEIRD
STARTING DOWN THIS ROAD AGAIN.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BRING US
CLOSER TOGETHER AS A CITY
COUNCIL TO DO THE BEST WE CAN
FOR OUR PEOPLE.
I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON
WHAT YOUR COMMENTS WERE ABOUT
YOUR READ OF WHAT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S, FIRST OF ALL, THE
GUIDANCE AS FAR AS I
UNDERSTAND, IT'S NOT LEGALLY
BINDING.
AND I ALSO WOULD BE CURIOUS TO
KNOW WHAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS
OF THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
ASSERTING THAT THE OPEN PUBLIC
MEETINGS ACT REQUIRES IN PERSON
ATTENDANCE. I DON'T SEE
ANYTHING IN THE STATUTE THAT
REQUIRES IN PERSON ATTENDANCE.
I SEE IT SAYS ALL PERSONS SHALL
BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND ANY
MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR BODY IN
THE LAST THREE WEEKS THIS
COUNSEL HAS CONDUCTED MEETINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN ATTENDED ONLINE
BY MANY PEOPLE, DOZENS OF
PEOPLE, CONTRIBUTING PUBLIC
COMMENT, ALL PUBLIC MEMBERS
HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO ATTEND AND
OBSERVE THE MEETING REMOTELY,
ETC., I WOULD JUST WONDER HOW
IN YOUR VIEW IS THAT
PARTICIPATION FALLING SHORT OF
THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT
AND IF WE ARE FALLING SHORT,
WHAT IS THE LEGAL BASIS AND
DECISION, ETC., FOR THAT
CONCLUSION AND I WOULD JUST ASK
A QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD STATED SHE ATTENDED A
PUBLIC MEETING ON THE BRIDGE
SITUATION ATTENDED BY 3200
PEOPLE AND QUOTE I COULDN'T
TELL IF ANYONE SHOOK THEIR
HEADS IN DISAPPOINTMENT, SO ONE
QUESTION IS IS THERE ANY
STANDARD IN THE OPMA THAT
REQUIRES OFFICIALS TO BE
OBSERVING FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OF
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
CERTAINLY IN THAT CASE THE
MAJORITY OF THOSE WISHING TO
ATTEND OR TURNED AWAY, NOT IN
THE SAME ROOM WHERE
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD SEE THE
FACIAL EXPRESSION, WITH THAT
CONSTITUTE AN UP PUBLIC
MEETINGS ACT VIOLATION AND IF
NOT, WHY NOT?
POORLY, POLITICALLY, I WILL SAY
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE ENGAGED
IN THIS DECISION DO YOU CARE
MORE ABOUT WHATEVER OF BIG
BUSINESS AND THE WEALTHY WHO
OPPOSE ANY TAX AT ANY TIME, NOT
ABOUT NOW, IT IS ANYTIME YOU
TALK ABOUT PASSING A BIG
BUSINESS TAX, THEY WILL BE
OPPOSED TO IT.
IT SEEMS YOU ARE MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT.
MANY WORKING PEOPLE CAME AT THE
TIME, TWO YEARS AGO AND USE
OTHER FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.
YOU SAW THEM AND YOU HEARD THEM
SPEAK IN ANGER AND OUTRAGE
SAYING HOW CAN YOU REPEAL A TAX
THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR INNER-
CITY KNEES BECAUSE IT'S I DON'T
ACCEPT THIS FRAMING THAT THIS IS
PART OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERN.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
PUBLIC HEALTH YOU WOULD DO
EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO PASS
ATTACKS ON BIG BUSINESS BUT NOT
JUST THAT, TAKE ALL THE
MEASURES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO
MAKE SURE THE BURDEN OF THE
CRISIS DOES NOT LAND ON THE
POOREST PEOPLE.
BY MAKING THIS DECISION YOU ARE
THE ONES PLAYING POLITICS AND
ALSO I DON'T APPRECIATE THAT
MOVEMENT LED BY ORDINARY PEOPLE
WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR
LIVES IS BEING TERMED AS PEOPLE
WHO ARE PLAYING POLITICS.
THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR
LIVES AND FOR THE RIGHTS AND I
THINK PRESIDENT GONZALEZ YOU
SHOULD KNOW BECAUSE YOU AND
OTHERS PARTICIPATED IN THAT.
EVERYONE KNOWS IT IS BEING
DOCUMENTED.
THANK YOU.
>> I THINK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, IF YOU WOULD SPEND SOME
TIME WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEYS
MEMO THAT GIVES US ATTORNEY
CLIENT GLITCH INFORMATION YOU
WILL HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS
ANSWERED AND IF YOU DON'T
YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'M NOT THE CITY ATTORNEY.
I WOULD DEFER TO CITY ATTORNEYS
TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS INCLUDING CASE LAW
CITATIONS.
I WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN THAT
CONVERSATION PUBLICLY, AGAIN,
SPENT SOME TIME WITH THE MEMO
AND YOU MIGHT HAVE YOUR
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
I HAVE THAT APPEAR IN FRONT OF
ME, CURRENTLY.
BUT, I DO THINK THAT IS PART OF
THE REASON WHY WE'RE HAVING
THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT IS
COMING UP AND OF COURSE, THAT
WILL BE SUBJECT TO ATTORNEY
KARCHER VILLAGE AND THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO GET A ROBUST
UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL BASIS
IN THE LEGAL SUPPORT FOR THE
GUIDANCE THAT I HAD ISSUED.
SO, AGAIN, WE ARE BOUND BY
PROCLAMATION 20-28, BINDING ON
US AND IT DID EFFECTIVELY
CHANGE THE STANDARDS AROUND THE
OPMA WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO
MANAGE THE SPREAD OF A DEADLY
INFECTION AMONGST OUR
POPULATION.
YES, I DO CARE ABOUT PUBLIC
HEALTH AND THE ASSERTION BY
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT,
THAT I DON'T CARE ABOUT PUBLIC
HEALTH IS OFFENSIVE.
AND THE REALITY IS I DO CARE.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I AM ASKED
TO WORK ON CREATING AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECONVENE
IN CHAMBERS IN A RESPONSIBLE
MANNER THAT IS ALSO COMPLIANT
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS AND
CDC RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO CENTER THE
HEALTH OF OUR STAFF AND THE
GENERAL PUBLIC WHO WANTS TO
ENGAGE WITH US IN PERSON, IN
CHAMBERS, ON THIS ISSUE OR ANY
OTHER ISSUE.
I WILL CENTER THEIR HEALTH AND
MY DECISION IN MAKING THAT I DO
NOT CARE FOR THEM BECAUSE I
DON'T SUPPORT YOUR PERSPECTIVE
OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS
TAX.
SO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CALL US INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHERE
WE NEED TO HEAD AT THIS POINT.
SO, I WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT
NOW.
LET'S SEE.
OKAY.
SO, AS PRESIDING OFFICER I AM
ANNOUNCING THIS COUNSEL WILL
NOW HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO
DISCUSS PENDING POTENTIAL OR
ACTUAL LITIGATION.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ARE NOT
-- ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
LEGAL MATTERS.
ILLEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITIES
OFFICE IS PRESENT TO ENSURE
THAT THE COUNCIL RESERVES
QUESTIONS OF POLICY FOR OPEN
SESSIONS.
I EXPECT THIS SESSION WILL LAST
APPROXIMATELY 60 MINUTES.
THAT MEANS THIS EXECUTIVE
SESSION WILL LAST UNTIL 12:35
P.M.
IF THE SESSION IS TO BE
EXTENDED BEYOND THAT TIME I
WILL ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION AND
THE EXPECTED DURATION.