>>> THIS MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:33 A.M..
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
HERE.
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> SAWANT?
>> HERE.
>> STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS SHLG THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SILENT, I'LL
ALLOW ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION
AT COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETINGS.
IN ORDER TO CONTINUE
PARTICIPATING REMOTELY, I'M
GOING TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE
COUNCIL RULES THROUGH
AUGUST 1ST, 2020, TO ALLOW THIS
MEETING TO OCCUR WHILE
PARTICIPATING THROUGH ELECTRONIC
MEANS.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC
PARTICIPATION AT COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETINGS THROUGH
AUGUST 1ST OF 2020.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
BRIEFING MEETINGS WILL BE HELD
WTH COUNCIL MEMBERS
PARTICIPATING ELECTRONICALLY
THROUGH AUGUST 1ST OF 2020.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF JULY 6TH, 2020, WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT?
I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS
QUICKLY.
JUST WANTED TO REMIND FOLKS AND
GIVE YOU ALL A QUICK UPDATE
REGARDING THE COUNCIL'S CALENDAR
FOR THE REMAINING YEAR.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED SOME
UPDATES FROM COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA AS CHAIR OF THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE ON SOME ISSUES
RELATED TO CALENDARING FOR THE
REST OF THE YEAR AND I'M SURE
SHE WILL GO THROUGH THIS IN HER
REPORT THIS MORNING SO I WON'T
COVER THOSE FOR YOU.
I'LL LEAVE THEM FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TO COVER.
I'LL SEND OUT A MEMO TO THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
CONFIRMING THE DATES OF THE CITY
COUNCIL'S SUMMER RECESS, WHICH,
FOR 2020, FALLS BETWEEN AUGUST
24th AND SEPTEMBER 4TH, SO AS A
REMINDER SH, THE COUNCIL RULES
STATE THAT COUNCIL BRIEFINGS AND
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WILL NOT
BE HELD ON THE LAST TWO MONDAYS
OF AUGUST.
IN ADDITION, THE STANDING
COMMITTEES WILL NOT HOLD THE
REGULAR MEETINGS ACCORDING TO
THE COUNCIL RULES APPROVED LAST
YEAR, SO I AM SENDING THIS MEMO
OUT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONFIRM THAT
THE COUNCIL SUMMER RECESS IS
STILL IN EFFECT AND CONSISTENT
WITH THE COUNCIL RULES AND I
KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL WORKING
REMOTELY AND SO THINGS SEEM A
LITTLE IN FLUX AND OUT OF THE
ORDINARY AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT THE
RECESS IS STILL IN PLACE AND
THAT WE WILL WORK OUR OPERATIONS
AND OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS
AROUND THAT PREVIOUSLY APPROVED
AND ON THE BOOKS SUMMER RECESS.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK
THAT OUR STAFF CONTINUE TO DO,
THAT ALL OF THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES DO AND WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONFIRM
THAT THAT SUMMER RECESS IS STILL
PLANNED.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
REPORT ON THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S ASPECT, HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF FOLKS HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT REPORT.
OKAY.
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WE'LL
BEGIN OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE
AGENDA, WHICH IS A PREVIEW OF
THE TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS, COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES AS WELL.
WE'LL GO AHEAD IN ORDER OF THE
ROLE CALL AND THIS WEEK WE'LL
BEGIN WITH COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
AND WE'LL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, MORALES,
MOSQUEDA, PEDERSEN, SAWANT,
STRAUSS, HERBOLD, AND I WILL
CONCLUDE THIS AGENDA DISCUSSION.
I DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT
WE HAVE TWO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
SCHEDULED FOR THIS MORNING.
IF WE COULD TAILOR OUR COMMENTS
THIS MORNING DURING THIS
PARTICULAR REPORT OUT
ACCORDINGLY SO THAT WE CAN DIG
INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS BY
NO LATER THAN 10:30, I WOULD
REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S
COOPERATION SO THAT WE CAN END
THIS MORNING'S TIME TOGETHER AT
12:30 P.M.
AND HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE FOR THIS
AFTERNOON.
THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND START THE REPORTS OUT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU'RE UP
FIRST.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE
TO BE BRIEF, SO, THERE TWO ITEMS
FROM THE AFTERNOON COUNCIL
AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER ONE IS
RESOLUTION 31950.
IT IS REGARDING OUR RECREATION
GRANT WE DO EVERY YEAR.
THIS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION TO SUBMIT GRANT
APPLICATIONS TO THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON TO THE RECREATION AND
CONSERVATION OFFICE.
OUR CEO FOR STATE FUNDING
ASSISTANCE.
THIS RESOLUTION IS ROUTINE AND
REQUIRED AS PART OF THE FORMAL
GRAND RCO GRANT PROCESS.
WE HAVE A STRONG SUCCESS RATE IN
ACQUIRING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
PLANNED PROJECTS.
2020 SEATTLE PARKS AND REC WILL
COMPLETE 11 RCO APPLICATIONS FOR
A TOTAL OF $6,120,000.
THE GRANTS REQUIRE A LOCAL MATCH
AND WILL FUND ONLY PROJECTS
INCLUDED IN AN ADOPTED PLAN.
AS YOU ALL REMEMBER, OUR ADOPTED
PLAN FOR MATCHING FUNDS WERE IN
THE SEATTLE PARK AND REC'S
2016-2021 CAPITAL PROGRAM.
WE'LL ANNOUNCE THE AWARDS IN
JANUARY OF 2021 BUT THE GRANT
AWARDS WILL NOT BE CONTRACTED
UNTIL THE FALL OF 2021.
THE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT
CURRENTLY UNFUNDED PROJECT
ELEMENTS.
SECOND ITEM, FIRST OF ALL, LET
ME THANK QUICKLY, CENTRAL STAFF,
BRIAN AND TRACY AND MR. NELLAMS
REGARDING THE MONO BILL COUNCIL
BILL 119185.
IT ALLOWS THE SEATTLE DIRECTOR
TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN MOVING
FORWARD WITH THE PLATFORM
EXPANSION BY AUTHORIZING
EXECUTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE
EXISTING MONORAIL OPERATING AND
EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH WEST
LAKE CENTER.
YOU RECALL WE WORKED ON THIS --
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE
MONORAIL, OWNED BY THE CITY AND
OPERATED BY A CONCESSIONER HAS
THE CAPACITY, AND WE'RE HOPING
TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM CAPACITY TO
TRANSPORT 6,000 RIDERS IN EACH
DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.
CONCEPTIONALLY, THAT IS THE GOAL
THERE.
TRAFFIC LITIGATIONS ARE UNDER
WAY IN ANTICIPATION OF THE
ARENA'S OPENING, IN THE FALL OF
2021, SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING
PATRON USE OF THE SEATTLE CENTER
MONORAIL TO HELP MITIGATE
TRAFFIC.
LET'S SEE.
THE STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE
AFTER COUNCIL BRIEFING IF ANY
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS, OTHERWISE THIS
LEGISLATION IS PRETTY STRAIGHT
FORWARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
COUNCIL SUPPORTING IT.
SECOND ITEM UNDER PARKS, AGAIN,
THIS MORNING, MY OFFICE WILL
UPDATE YOU WITH THE WEEKLY PARKS
COVID-19 UPDATES.
VERY BRIEFLY, THE FOOD LIFE
LINE -- WE HAVE THE DISTRIBUTION
OF EMERGENCY FOOD.
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC PARTNERED
WITH FOOD LIFE LINE TO
DISTRIBUTE FOOD BOXES ON
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8TH.
FOOD LIFE LINE IS DISTRIBUTING
THOUSANDS OF BOXES THIS WEEK AT
FIVE LOCATIONS AROUND THE
REGION, INCLUDING RAINIER BEACH
COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE BOXES CONTAIN FRESH PRODUCE
AND ASSORTED DAIRY ITEMS.
FREE SUMMER MEALS IN THE PARKS.
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED WAY
OF KING COUNTY AND THE SEATTLE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC IS
PROVIDING FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR
YOUTH 1 TO 18.
EACH IS OPERATING MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY FROM JULY 6TH TO AUGUST
21st.
LET'S SEE SOUTH PARKING LOT AT
GOLDEN GARDENS WILL BE REOPENING
BEGINNING THIS WEEKEND, THE
PARKING LOT NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF
GOLDEN GARDENS PARK WILL BE
REOPENED FOR DROP OFF AND
LIMITED PARKING TO HELP REDUCE
CONGESTION AND IMPROVED PARKING
FLOW.
THE JAPANESE GARDEN WILL OPEN ON
JULY 14TH.
LET'S SEE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU!
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> THERE IS ONE LAST ITEM!
I'M SORRY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M HAPPY
TODAY BECAUSE THE WASHINGTON
REDSKINS ARE NO MORE.
>> THAT IS GREAT NEWS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, FOR THAT REPORT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ'S REPORT?
HEARING NONE, I WOULD JUST
QUICKLY ASK, BEFORE WE KEEP
GOING, IF SOMEBODY FROM OUR TECH
DEPARTMENT CAN CORRECT THE
SPELLING OF COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ'S NAME AS IT APPEARS ON
THE ZOOM CALL.
I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
OKAY.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WILL TRY TO MOVE QUICKLY
THROUGH A NUMBER OF UPDATES THIS
MORNING.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND YOUR
OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH MY
OFFICE TO GET THE PERSONAL
GUARANTEE SUSPENSION LEGISLATION
ON INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL ON
FOR TODAY.
I HAD INEXTENDED TO WALK THAT
BILL ON LAST WEEK.
I THINK THAT THE WAY WE DID
FINALLY RESOLVE THAT WORKED OUT
FINE, SO IT IS ON INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL TODAY.
JUST AS A BIT OF BACKGROUND TO
JUST GET US ALL UP TO SPEED ON
THAT BILL AGAIN, THIS WAS A
PROPOSAL THAT WAS BROUGHT FROM
CONSULTATION WITH A NUMBER OF
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN MY
DISTRICT WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
ESSENTIALLY BEING SHAKEN DOWN BY
COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS FOR THEIR
RENT, DESPITE THE MORATORIUMS
AND OTHER REGULATIONS ON THAT
AND THEN ESSENTIALLY THREATENED
WITH INVOKING A PERSONAL
GUARANTEE CLAUSE IN THE LEASE
MEANING THE LANDLORDS COULD GO
AFTER THE HOME, PERSONAL SAVINGS
OR PERSONAL ASSETS OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER AS COLLATERAL FOR
THE RENT.
A NUMBER OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS,
NEW YORK, AND SOME CITIES IN
CALIFORNIA, AND I THINK EVEN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, IS
DISCUSSING SIMILAR LEGISLATION
AROUND SUSPENDING THESE PERSONAL
GUARANTEE CLAUSES UNTIL THE END
OF THE COVID OUTBREAK AND STATE
I THINK THAT IT IS ONLY FAIR TO
DO SO GIVEN THAT THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER MAY SIGN UP
KNOWING THAT MANY SMALL
BUSINESSES FAIL TO LOSE
EVERYTHING IN THE BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE THEY'RE PUTTING
TOGETHER, BUT NO ONE ANTICIPATED
THAT THERE WOULD BE THIS MASSIVE
PANDEMIC AND ACCOMPANYING
MASSIVE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE THAT
PUTS AT RISK NOT ONLY LOSING THE
BUSINESS BUT LOSING ALL OF YOUR
PERSONAL ASSETS AS WELL.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE SIGNED UP
FOR THAT AND I THINK IT IS ONLY
FAIR THAT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE
CLAUSES BE SUSPENDED SO THAT
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND
NON-PROFITS ARE NOT FACING THE
PROSPECT OF LOSING EVERYTHING IN
ADDITION TO THEIR BUSINESS.
I LIKE FORWARD TO DISCUSSING
THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT
WEEK.
SECOND, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS
THAT LAST WEEK I HAD A REALLY
GOOD OPPORTUNITY WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS DEMONSTRATING FOR THE
GOALS OF DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE
OUTSIDE THE QUEEN ANN FARMER'S
MARKET.
I STAYED A LITTLE BIT AFTER THE
DEMONSTRATION TO TALK TO SOME
FOLKS AND WE HAD REALLY GREAT
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO MOVE
FORWARD AND MEET THOSE GOALS.
I DO PROUDLY SUPPORT THOSE GOALS
INCLUDING A REDUCTION IN THE
BUDGET.
I DID ALSO SAY THAT I WANT TO
WORK WITH --
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I'M
SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
IF YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING AND YOU
ARE NOT ON MUTE, I WOULD ASK FOR
YOU TO PLEASE MUTE YOURSELF
BECAUSE WE'RE HEARING SOME
AMBIENT NOISE IN THE BACKGROUND
DURING COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'
REPORT.
IF YOU'RE NOT ACTIVELY SPEAKING
OR PRESENTING, I WOULD ASK THAT
YOU PLEASE MUTE YOURSELF OR I
ASK THAT THE TECH DEPARTMENT
PLEASE MUTE THOSE USERS SO THAT
WE CAN MINIMIZE THE INTERRUPTION
AND DISTRACTION FROM THE
REPORTS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR MAINTAINING
THE DECORUM OF THE ONLINE
MEETING, SO THANK YOU.
AS I WAS SAYING ABOUT THE 50%
CUT, I DO THINK THAT WE, AND I
KNOW THIS IS THE INTENTION OF
EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL TO WORK
TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THIS SUMMER
SESSION AND THE FALL SESSION TO
CRAFT A PLAN TO MEET THE GOALS,
INCLUDING THE GOAL OF THE 50%
CUT.
I WANT TO SHARE AT A HIGH LEVEL
THREE STRATEGIES THAT COULD BE
INSTRUCTIONIVE TO WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND WORK AS A COUNCIL
TO REALIZE A PLAN TO REALIZE THE
GOALS.
I THINK THE FIRST STRATEGY, AS
WE HEARD FROM OUR PANEL LAST
WEDNESDAY IS REALLOCATION OF
CERTAIN CIVILIAN SERVICES TO
OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR EVEN
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF
DEPARTMENT. OF THE POLICE
INDEED, I WAS PLEASED TO SEE A
LETTER THIS MORNING THAT WAS
CIRCULATED TO ALL OF US THAT THE
EXECUTIVE IS APPARENTLY
INTENDING TO TRANSFER
$76 MILLION WORTH OF FUNCTIONS
OUTSIDE OF THE SWORN CHAIN OF
COMMAND AND INTO CIVILIAN
CONTROL.
THAT INCLUDES THE 911 DISPATCH,
WHICH IS A SPECIFICALLY
DELINEATED, INDEPENDENT
RECOMMENDATION OF DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE.
IT INCLUDES PARKING ENFORCEMENT,
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, AND THE OFFICE OF
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
ALL CIVILIAN AGENCIES THAT
SHOULD NOT BE UNDER THE SWORN
CHAIN OF COMMAND AND SHOULD BE
COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OR IN
MORE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS, I
DO THINK THAT IS AN ESSENTIAL
CORE, ONE OF THE THREE
STRATEGIES THAT I HAVE SORT OF
IDENTIFIED AS WANTING TO FOCUS
ON BECAUSE I DO THINK IT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE
CULTURE AND IN TERMS OF THE
MISSION OF SOME OF THE SERVICES
THAT THEY BE SEPARATED OUT FROM
A SWORN CHAIN OF COMMAND AND BE
PUT INTO MORE APPROPRIATE
DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES OR EVEN
MADE INDEPENDENT WITH THE CHANGE
FOCUS AND A CHANGED LEADERSHIP.
I THINK THAT IS A KEY COMPONENT
AND I APPLAUD THE EXECUTIVE FOR
TAKING THE INITIATIVE THIS
MORNING IN SIGNALLING THAT THEY
ARE WILLING TO MAKE THOSE
REDUCTIONS AND TO MAKE THE
TRANSFERS.
I THINK THE SECOND STRATEGY IS
THE RIGHT SIZING OF FIRST
RESPONSE AND I THINK WE HAVE
DONE A LOT OF WORK ALREADY AS A
COUNCIL ON THIS IN TERMS OF
IDENTIFYING THAT OVER HALF OF
911 CALLS ARE NONCRIMINAL IN
NATURE.
THOSE 911 CALLS COULD BE BETTER
SERVED BY A DIFFERENT CLASS OF
FIRST RESPONDER.
I TALKED LAST DURING BRIEFING
LAST WEEK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF A CAHOOTST STYLE RESPONSE.
I THINK A TRANSITION FROM
CURRENT FUNCTIONS SERVED BY
CORNUCOPIA OF FIRST RESPONSET
ALTERNATES, TRANSFERRED BY AN
INDEPENDENT 911 DISPATCH IS A
CORE PART OF THE STRATEGY.
I WOULD CALL THAT A RIGHT SIZING
OF FIRST RESPONSE AND I THINK
THAT THAT IS A CORE PART OF HOW
WE REALIZE A 50% CUT GOAL IN
REALLOCATION FROM SWORN OFFICERS
TO NEW ALTERNATE, PUBLIC HEALTH
AND HARM REDUCTION FIRST
RESPONDER SERVICES.
THE THIRD STRATEGY IS LONG
OVERDUE INVESTMENT AND SCALING
UP OF INVESTMENT AND SO WE'RE
DOING CRITICAL ANTI-VIOLENCE AND
COMMUNITY BUILDING WORK IN THE
CITY THAT MITIGATE THE EXISTING
CASE LOAD OF WHAT WE HAVE SPD
RESPONDING TO AND BUILD STRONG
COMMUNITIES AND LONG-TERM
RESILIENCE THAT CUTS DOWN ON THE
NEED FOR THE TYPE OF SERVICE
THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY SWORN
SPD OFFICERS.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF
US ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE WORKED
WITH ORGANIZATIONS DOING THIS
CRITICAL WORK.
WE HAVE SEEN PROOF OF CONCEPT IN
HOW EFFECTIVE THE WORK THEY HAVE
BEEN DOING HAS BEEN AND I THINK
THAT THERE IS A STRONG
OPPORTUNITY IN THE SCALING UP
AND EXPANSION OF THOSE SERVICES
TO MAKE REAL LONG-TERM PROGRESS
ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO I WAS JUST SHARING THE
BROAD -- I KNOW OUR TIME IS
LIMITED TODAY BUT I THINK THE
BROAD THREE STRATEGIES ARE
PLACES WE CAN REALLY LOOK TO
START MAKING PROGRESS AND
PUTTING TOGETHER DURING THE
SUMMER SESSION A PLAN, I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE
ON THIS COUNCIL TO MAKE THAT A
REALITY AND TRULY HONOR OUR
CHARTER OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC SAFETY TO THE CITY IN A
WAY THAT IT IS EVIDENT.
WE PRANKLY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING,
BASED ON THE MISMATCH OF 911
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE AND THE
SERVICES WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING
WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN TAILORED TO
THAT RESPONSE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO FORMULATE THAT PLAN WITH
EVERYONE HERE AND WITH MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY.
MY LAST UPDATE, I'LL BE BRIEF ON
THIS, ON THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE,
I HAVE BEEN DEPUTYIZED BY THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, PROVIDING AN
UPDATE ON WHO THE NOMINEES AS A
COUNCIL WILL BE FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD OF THE KING
COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY.
BOARD ADVISES THE GOVERNING
COMMITTEE WHICH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND I SERVE
ON.
EVERY SORT OF CAUCUS ON THE
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
GETS TO NOMINATE A FEW MEMBERS
TO THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
SO I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SHARE
THE BIOS OF THE TWO MEMBERS AND
THEN I'LL CLOSE OUT MY REPORT.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FOR -- WE'RE
WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH MY
STAFF IN COMING TO AN AGREEMENT
ON THE TWO MEMBERS.
I THINK WE HAVE TWO GREAT
NOMINEES AND THEY WILL SERVE THE
WORK OF THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY
REALLY WELL.
SO FIRST IS PAULA CARVALHO.
A GRADUATE OF MIT AND WORKS AT
THE FOUNDATION AS A PROGRAM
OFFICER ON THE YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY THERE,
WHICH IS A CRITICAL STRATEGY IN
SEATTLE.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE FOUNDATION,
SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR AT THE
MOCKINGBIRD SOCIETY.
IN THE ROLE, OVER SAW STATE-WIDE
PROGRAMMING WITH THE DUEL FOCUS
ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SYSTEMS
PERFORM.
SHE INITIATED AND SHARED THE
RACIAL EQUITY COMMITTEE UNTIL
HER DEPARTURE FROM THAT PREVIOUS
BOARD BEFORE JOINING OR RATHER
BEFORE WORKING AT MOCKINGBIRD,
SHE WAS AN INDEPENDENT CASE
MANAGER FOR THE YMCA GREATER
SEATTLE.
SHE HAS A GREAT WEALTH OF
EXPERIENCE, HAS A MASTER'S
DEGREE IN TEACHING FROM SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY, WILL MAKE AN
EXCELLENT PARTNER IN MAKING
REGIONAL PROGRESS ON CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS.
OUR SECOND POINT IS DR. REDDY
WHO WORKED IN THE FIELD OF
HOMELESS HEALTH SINCE COMPLETING
AN INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENY
AND BRINGS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
FROM A LOT OF THE OTHER FOLKS
FROM A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
PRIMARY HEALTH IS A MASSIVE
SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE REGIONAL
AUTHORITY.
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING
DR. REDDY SERVE ON THE REGIONAL
BODY, THE IMPLEMENTATION BODY AS
WELL, AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO ADVOCATING LATER THIS MONTH
FOR BOTH OF THESE NOMINEES AND
THEN HEARING FROM THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL
COMMITTEE ON WHO THEY ARE
PUTTING FORWARD TO SERVE ON IT
AS WELL.
WITH THAT, I CAN TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS ON THE REPORT TODAY.
OTHERWISE, I AM HAPPY TO YIELD
IT BACK OVER TO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, BEFORE
WE CONCLUDE THIS SECTION OF THE
REPORT,AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING
THE LEAD ON PROVIDING THE FULL
COUNCIL WITH UPDATES ON THE KING
COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESS
AUTHORITY, IMPLEMENTATION BOARD
APPOINTMENT PROCESS, I WANTED TO
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JEFF
SIMS FROM THE COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF WHO IS BACK FROM PARENTAL
LEAVE.
WELCOME BACK, JEFF, FROM
PARENTAL LEAVE, AND WELCOME BACK
TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE US A
LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THIS
PARTICULAR APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
I DID WANT TO GIVE JEFF AN
OPPORTUNITY, SINCE WE ASKED HIM
TO BE ON THE CALL THIS MORNING,
AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST QUICKLY
BRIEF COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE
PUBLIC ON WHAT THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD APPOINTMENT
PROCESS WAS THAT LED TO THE
IDENTIFICATION OF PAULA CARVALHO
AND DR. REDDY AS THE COUNCIL'S
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S
RECOMMENDED APPOINTMENTS TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD.
SO, JEFF, I SEE THAT YOU ARE OFF
MUTE AND WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO
YOU TO WALK US THROUGH QUICKLY
WHAT THAT IMPLEMENTATION BOARD
PROCESS WAS AND WE'LL TAKE
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM
COLLEAGUES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR THE
PUBLIC'S AWARENESS, I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS THURSDAY,
JULY 16TH AT 10:00 A.M.
IS THE
NEXT MEETING OF THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
GOVERNING COMMITTEE.
THAT WILL BE WHEN THE
NOMINATIONS GET DISCUSSED BY THE
GOVERNING COMMITTEE.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WAS THE
ONLY APPOINTING AUTHORITY THAT
USED THE PROCESS BY POSTING A
SOLICITATION AND E-MAILING THE
REQUEST TO ALL OF THE HOMELESS
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND STAKE
HOLDERS, EMERGENCY CAST A WIDE
NET AND ALLOWED PUBLIC INPUT ON.
THAT ALL CANDIDATES THAT WERE
POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE TO BE PART
OF THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, SO
NOT WORKING AT AN INELIGIBLE
ENTITY WERE FORDED TO THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE GOT
EVERYONE'S FEED BACK.
THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES CAME TO
THE TOP OR A SMALL NUMBER, I
SHOULD SAY, AND THEN AS ALSO,
MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
AWAY, THERE IS A LOT OF
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
AND A LIST OF 12 DIFFERENT
SKILLS AND EXPERTISE THAT MUST
BE MET SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT
TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' PROCESS.
I WAS ON FAMILY LEAVE TO WORK
WITH THE OTHER APPOINTING
AUTHORITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS WERE MET
THROUGH THE PROCESS WE ARRIVED
AT HAVING THE TWO NOMINEES
THROUGH THE BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR THAT
QUICK SUMMARY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'
REPORT OR ANY QUESTIONS FOR JEFF
SPECIFIC TO THE IMPLEMENTATION
BOARD PROCESS?
ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND
GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE
REPORTS.
THANKS AGAIN, JEFF, FOR BEING
WITH US THIS MORNING.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO HANG UP AND
LEAVE THE ZOOM CALL IF YOU HAVE
TO GET TO OTHER THINGS, WHICH I
IMAGINE YOU DO.
THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING WITH US
THIS MORNING AND THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
REPORTING OUT ON THAT PROCESS
AND THOSE NOMINEES.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON THE AGENDA TODAY,
BUT I DID WANT TO GIVE A FEW
UPDATES.
VERY EXCITED TO REPORT THAT THE
RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY IS
CELEBRATING THE 2 HL DOLLARS
REWARD FROM THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
IT WILL GO TOWARD PURCHASING
FOOD FOR THE FOOD INTERVENTION
CENTER WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON SINCE THEY COMPLETED
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN UPDATE IN
2012.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE GREGORY
DAVIS, DAVID, AMANDA LOPEZ AND
ENTIRE BACK TEAM.
IT WILL BE VERY EXCITING TO SEE
THE PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES TO WORK
REALLY HARD WITH OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES THAT
ARE TRYING TO APPLY FOR A
DIFFERENT FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
AT THIS POINT, THEY HAVE SERVED
471 BUSINESSES WITH TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND THEY ARE
CONTINUING TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO
FUNDING.
THEY HAVE RECENTLY RAISED ABOUT
$728,000 SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE
ANOTHER ROUND OF FUNDING FOR THE
SMALL BUSINESS STABILIZATION
FUND, SO THERE WILL BE MORE
DETAILS ABOUT THAT COMING SOON.
I DO WANT TO MAKE OUR COLLEAGUES
AND OUR COMMUNITY AWARE, AS WE
FACE THE COMPOUNDING EFFECTS OF
THE PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMIC
CRISIS AND THE GROWING DEMAND
FOR RACIAL EQUITY, WE SOMETIMES
FORGET TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD
WORK AND SACRIFICE OF CITY
WORKERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
DEDICATE THEIR WORK TO RACIAL
EQUITY.
AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND A
WOMAN OF COLOR, I KNEW GOING
INTO THIS PROCESS THAT THERE
WOULD BE -- I WOULD HAVE TO FACE
A LOT OF IRE FROM SOME FOLKS IN
OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY, FROM
THE PART OF OUR COUNTRY'S
POPULATION THAT IS STRONGLY
OBJECTING TO AN EQUITABLE
SOCIETY.
I WANT TO LET OUR COMMUNITY KNOW
THAT THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WE HAVE
IN THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
ARE RECEIVING DEATH THREATS AND
HARASSMENT FOR THEIR WORK IN
HELPING THE CITY IMPLEMENT OUR
GOALS AND VALUES OF RACIAL
EQUITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT.
I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY KNOWS THIS IS
HAPPENING AND THAT WE REALLY
NEED TO SUPPORT OUR CITY
WORKERS.
THEY DESERVE OUR THANKS FOR THE
HARD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE -- MOST OF
THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS ARE PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY
HAVE FACED DEATH THREATS AND IT
WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE OUR
SUPPORT.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW IT IS
HAPPENING.
I HOPE THEY RECEIVE THE SUPPORT
OF ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND
ELECTED LEADERS SO THAT THEY CAN
WORK WITHOUT FEAR OR
INTIMIDATION.
ON THE CALENDAR THIS AFTERNOON I
HAVE A RESOLUTION 31955 THAT
REAFFIRMS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT
TO SUPPORT MONEY TRANSFER
ORGANIZATIONS.
THESE ARE ENTITIES THAT SERVE
OUR SOMALI OFFICE BACK HOME AND
THEY FACE SAFETY CONCERNS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHALLENGES
OPENING BANK ACCOUNTS AND
THEREFORE HAVE TO CARRY LARGE
AMOUNTS OF CASH AROUND.
THIS IS DUE TO SOME FEDERAL
ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN SEVERAL
YEARS AGO SO THE RESOLUTION
CALLS FOR STATE ASSIST IN
IDENTIFYING POLICY SOLUTIONS
THAT CAN REALLY PROVIDE BETTER
SUPPORT TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS
AND I CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT THIS AFTERNOON.
I DO WANT TO THANK ONE AMERICA.
THE SAFETY TASK FORCE AND OTHERS
FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR A
DETENTION AND LOOK FORWARD TO
TALKING TO COLLEGES ABOUT THAT
THIS AFTERNOON.
I WAS ALLOWED TO JOIN WITH
SEVERAL OTHER COLLEAGUES A PRESS
CONFERENCE WITH DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW,
THE GREEN LIGHT PROJECT AND
OTHERS TO CALL FOR A DIVESTMENT
FROM SPD.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR
ALLOWING US TO PARTICIPATE IN
THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE
THERE IS A DISTRUST OF ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
I APPRECIATE THEIR CALL FOR US
TO COMMIT PUBLICLY TO A 50% CUT
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR
AND TO INVESTING IN A BUDGET
PROCESS THAT IS LED BY THE
COMMUNITY AS WE PLAN FOR THE
2021 BUDGET.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES AND WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE
CHANGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS
LOOKING FOR.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR THAT
REPORT.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO YOUR
COMMENTS AROUND OUR GOOD STAFF
OVER AT THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS WHO DO TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF WORK ON THE POINT AROUND HOW
THIS -- HOW DEATH THREATS ARE
NOT A NEW THING FOR THEM.
I'M REMINDED THAT ABOUT A YEAR
AGO OR SO, THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO
VACATE THE OFFICE BECAUSE OF
SOMEBODY SHOWING UP WITH A GUN
AND SO YOU KNOW, THESE ARE
EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE DEDICATED
THEIR CAREERS TO ADVANCING THE
CIVIL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
THEY DO SO AT GREAT SACRIFICE
AND UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
PRESSURE TO DELIVER RESULTS ON
BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE, BUT ALSO ARE HELD TO
THE DUTY OF HOLDING US ALL
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE OBLIGATIONS
TO COMPLY WITH AND IMPLEMENT THE
PRINCIPLES AROUND THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE THAT
INCLUDES IN HOUSE TRAINING.
IT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE LEADING WITH RACE IN TERMS
OF HOW WE PROCESS POLICIES AND
HOW WE LOOK AT THE WORK THAT WE
DO AS GOVERNMENT IN THE SPACE
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT
THEY'RE BEING SO OPENLY ATTACKED
FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH OF ON
THEIR MANDATE AROUND THE RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE IS
ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU, AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT
OVERSEES OCR IS MAKING TIME TO
ADDRESS THE PARTICULAR CONCERNS
PUBLICLY BECAUSE THEY DO THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT AND I HOPE THEY
HEAR YOUR REMARKS AND ANY OTHER
REMARKS COUNCILMEMBERS MAKE IN
SUPPORT OF THE ONGOING
COMMITMENT, NOT JUST TO DO
ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTIGATION OF
OUR CIVIL RIGHTS LAW AS IT
RELATES TO SEATTLE RESIDENTS AT
LARGE BUT ALSO THE WORK THAT
THEY DO TIRELESSLY AND OFTEN
TIMES WITH NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES
AND NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT TO
ADVANCE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE WHICH IS PART OF
THEIR MANDATE AS A EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE
TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM THIS
MORNING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
OKAY, HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND MOVE ALONG TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
COLLEGES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE BUDGET
AND FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
I DID WANT TO SPEND A FEW
MINUTES, THOUGH, PROVIDING FOLKS
WITH A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHAT TO
EXPECT IN THE UP COMING BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY
THIS WEEK.
AGAIN, AS PER USUAL, WE'LL HAVE
A 10:00 A.M.
MEETING AND
2:00 P.M.
MEETING.
SESSION ONE IN THE MORNING AND
SESSION TWO IN THE AFTERNOON.
THIS WEEK WE WILL CONFINE PUBLIC
COMMENT TO THE 10:00 A.M.
SLOT
SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT
AND PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT,
WE'LL HAVE AN EXTENDED PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD, AGAIN, AT
10:00 A.M..
SIGN UP STARTS AT 8:00 A.M..
WANTED TO NOTE THAT FOR FOLKS
USED TO HAVING TWO SESSIONS.
REASON WE'RE DOING THAT IS
BECAUSE WE HAVE A PACKED AGENDA
LET ME GIVE A PREVIEW ON WHAT TO
EXPECT ON WEDNESDAY AND WE'LL
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE AND THIS FOLLOWS UP
ON SOME INFORMATION THAT I SENT
THIS MORNING.
SO FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ONGOING WORK.
WE JUST FINISHED AN AMAZING
PROCESS THAT LED TO NEW REVENUE
TO HELP FUND OUR ONGOING
COVID-19 RELIEF EFFORTS AND
AFFORDING HOUSING IN THE OUT
YEARS.
WE'RE TURNING THE LEGISLATION
FOR FOCUSING ON REBALANCING THE
2020 ADOPTED BUDGET.
WE WILL HAVE THE MORNING SESSION
TO WRAP UP OUR DETAILED SPEND
PLAN RESOLUTION AND THE
AFTERNOON SESSION FOCUSED ON THE
2020 REBALANCING EFFORT.
BECAUSE MANY OF US HAVE NOT
PARTICIPATED IN A BUDGET SESSION
YET AND ALMOST ALL OF US HAVE
NOT PARTICIPATED IN A SUMMER
BUDGET SESSION, I WANTED TO GIVE
YOU A QUICK OVER VIEW OF WHAT TO
EXPECT STARTING THIS AFTERNOON
IN THE SESSION 2, 2:00 P.M.
BUDGET SESSIONS.
THIS ALSO FOLLOWS AN E-MAIL THAT
I SENT TO YOU THIS MORNING WITH
AN OVER VIEW OF THE PROCESS AND
THE CALENDAR.
WE ARE AWARE THAT THE MAYOR HAS
SENT DOWN HER 2020 REBALANCING
PACKAGE.
WE HAVE HAD TWO BRIEFINGS FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THE
PROPOSED BUDGET FROM THE CITY
BUDGET'S OFFICE AND THIS WEEK,
WE WILL START OUR BUDGET
COMMITTEE DELIBERATIONS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
CENTRAL STAFF TO DEVELOP A
PROCESS THAT WILL HELP US REVIEW
LEGISLATION THROUGH THE POLICY
LENS THAT IS IMPORTANT,
INCLUDING ALSO THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE CONSIDERATIONS
THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
PRIORITIZED.
THIS MORNING I SENT OUT A MEMO
THAT DESCRIBES THE NEXT STEPS
AND WITH YOUR PERMISSION,
PLEASE, DO TAKE A LOOK AT THE
CALENDAR THERE, BUT I'M GOING TO
GO INTO A FEW DETAILS HERE THAT
MIGHT BE OF INTEREST FOR YOU AND
YOUR STAFF.
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING 12 PIECES
OF LEGISLATION DURING THE
REBALANCING EXERCISE.
TO HELP US GET ORIENTED, CENTRAL
STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH
DIRECTOR KIRSTEN AIRSTAD AND
WE'LL KICKOFF THE JULY 15TH
SESSION WITH AN OVER VIEW OF
WHAT IT MEANS TO DO A MID-YEAR
BUDGET REBALANCING PACKAGE.
CENTRAL STAFF WILL PRESENT ON
THREE AREAS.
HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND
COVID SPENDING.
SECOND, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SPENDING, AND THIRD, THE FISCAL
RESERVE FUNDS.
YOU'LL ALSO RECEIVE, WITH
WEDNESDAY'S AGENDA, MATERIALS ON
THE OVER 20 ADDITIONAL CENTRAL
STAFF ISSUE PAPERS ON SELECT
DEPARTMENTS, TOPICS AND PROPOSED
LEGISLATION.
IT IS MY INTENTION THAT WE WILL
ALSO HAVE TIME TO HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS ON SOME POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS AND SOME OF THOSE
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS WILL BE
OUTLINED IN THE ISSUED PAPERS
COMING FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY HIGH
LEVEL.
IT IS GOING TO INCLUDE A
DESCRIPTION WITH THE MORE FORMAL
AMENDMENT PROCESS STARTING ON
JULY 22nd.
WE WILL BE USING OUR NORMAL
AMENDMENT PROCESS, SO FOR FOLKS
WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BUDGET
BEFORE, YOU MAY BE USED TO
HEARING ABOUT GREEN SHEETS.
FOR COUNCILMEMBERS' KNOWLEDGE,
WHEN WE'RE DOING THE SUMMER
BUDGET IT IS NORMAL PROCESS.
FLAG WHAT AMENDMENTS YOU MAY BE
INTERESTED IN SO LISA AND THE
TEAM ON CENTRAL STAFF CAN GET
THOSE CRAFTED FOR U.
LISA WILL SEND OUT A FORM, LISA
WILL BE SENDING TODAY, A FORM
THAT EACH COUNCILMEMBER CAN USE
TO DEVELOP THEIR FORMAL
AMENDMENTS WHICH WILL THEN BE
PRESENTED ON JULY 22nd 23rd.
NEXT WEEKEND, COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO PRESENT
THEIR FORMAL AMENDMENTS.
THIS WEEK IS THE HIGH LEVEL
IDENTIFICATION.
NEXT WEEK ON THE 22nd, MORE
FORMAL AMENDMENT DISCUSSION.
AS A REMINDER TO FOLKS, THESE
AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE SELF
BALANCING, MEANING THAT IF YOU
HAVE AN AD YOU WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE, YOU'RE ALSO BEING ASKED TO
IDENTIFY THE CORRESPONDING CUT
OR REDUCTION SO WE CAN HAVE A
BALANCED BUDGET.
IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL TIME, THE
PRESENTATIONS WILL CONTINUE IN
THE MORNING OF JULY 23RD.
WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO HOLD THAT
TIME ON YOUR CALENDAR, BUT OUR
HOPE IS THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH
IT ON THE 22nd.
FINALLY, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
WIL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS TO
EACH PIECE OF THE LEGISLATION IN
THE JULY 29TH MEETING AND
CENTRAL STAFF WILL TAKE A COUPLE
OF DAYS TO REVISE THE
LEGISLATION TO REFLECT THE
PRIORITIES AND OBTAIN LEGAL
REVIEW.
COMMITTEE NOW IS SCHEDULED TO
VOTE ON THE LEGISLATION AS
AMENDED ON MONDAY, AUGUST 3RD.
THANK YOU FOR THE FLEXIBILITY ON
THAT DAY.
WE PLAN TO HAVE A MEETING ON
MONDAY, AUGUST 3RD, AFTER
COUNCIL BRIEFING.
THAT VOTE WILL FINALIZE THE
COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL WILL
THEN VOTE ON EACH PIECE OF
LEGISLATION IN OUR NORMAL
AFTERNOON SESSION ON AUGUST 3RD.
AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE MEMO OR THE PROCESS,
PLEASE CONTACT LISA KAY OR
DIRECTOR AIRSTAD ON CENTRAL
STAFF, AND ADDITIONAL MEMOS WILL
BE COMING OUT LATER THIS
AFTERNOON.
I JUST WANT TO SANK THANK YOU TO
LISA, WHO HAS BEEN LEADING THIS
EFFORT AND DR. AIRSTAD AS WELL
WHO HELPED PREPARE THE BUDGET
BALANCING MEMOS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, BEFORE I MOVE
ON TO WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE
MORNING SESSION, I THOUGHT I
WOULD PAUSE TO SEE IF THERE IS
ANY CLARIFICATION OR QUESTIONS
ANYONE MAY HAVE?
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED FOR
CLARIFICATION, COLLEAGUES?
OKAY, LOOKS LIKE THERE ISN'T.
LET'S MOVE ON TO YOUR
DESCRIPTION OF THE AFTERNOON
SESSION.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO WRAPPING UP
OUR JUMP START SEATTLE REVENUE
PACKAGE DISCUSSIONS.
AGAIN, ON WEDNESDAY, THIS WEEK,
IN THE MORNING, AT 10:00 A.M.,
WE WILL FINALIZE THE DETAILED
RESOLUTION ON THE SPEND PLAN.
I WANT TO THANK TRACY AND ALI
WHO HAVE BEEN LEADING THE FUND,
BILL DRAFTING AND AMENDMENT
DRAFTING.
ALI SEND AN E-MAIL ON WEDNESDAY,
JULY 8TH WITH THE TEXT OF THE
JUMP START SPENDING PLAN
RESOLUTION.
THIS WAS THE INITIAL TEXT YOU
WOULD SEE IN THE RESOLUTION THAT
IS ON TODAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
THERE HAS BEEN MINOR AMENDMENTS
INCLUDED AS WELL AND THIS WAS
JUST THE BASE, BECAUSE I KNOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS.
AS A REMINDER, THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR HAS
RESOLUTION 31957 AND IT IS BEING
UPDATED AS WE SPEAK WITH VARIOUS
AMENDMENTS FROM YOU ALL,
INCLUDING MYSELF AS WELL, WHICH
I WILL PREVIEW FOR YOU THIS
MORNING AND WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME
TO DISCUSS IN DETAIL ON
WEDNESDAY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES WHO IDENTIFIED
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS.
MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN -- MANY OF
YOU HAVE HAD YOUR AMENDMENTS
REFLECTED IN THE DRAFT
RESOLUTION THAT WAS INTRODUCED
AND DESCRIBED IN THE JULY 1ST
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO, SO THANK
YOU.
THOSE HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED
INTO THE DRAFT RESOLUTION AS
INTRODUCED AND YOU WILL ALSO
NOTE THAT IN THE MEMO THAT
CENTRAL STAFF IS SENDING OUT,
EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S
NAMES WILL BE BY EACH OF THE
AMENDMENT TEXT OR CONCEPTS THAT
WERE INTRODUCED SO THAT WE GET A
CHANCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR WORK
AND FOR US ON WEDNESDAY, WE'LL
BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE LEADERS OR
SPONSORS SPEAK TO THOSE ISSUES.
DURING WEDNESDAY'S MORNING
SESSION, THE COMMITTEE WILL
DISCUSS AND VOTE ON THE COVID
EMERGENCY RELIEF BILL.
AGAIN, WHICH IS COUNCIL BILL
119812 AND JUMP START SPENDING
BILL WHICH IS RESOLUTION 31957.
THE COVID RELIEF BILL, AGAIN, AS
A REMINDER, AUTHORIZES
$86 MILLION FROM THE CITY'S
RESERVE FUNDS IN 2020 TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES
IMPACTED BY COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE CORRESPONDING RESOLUTION
31957, IS THE DETAILED JUMP
START SPENDING PLAN THAT
PROVIDES SPENDING DETAILS FOR
THE PROCEEDS FROM THE RECENTLY
ADOPTED JUMP START SEATTLE PAY
ROLL TAX FOR EACH YEAR, FOCUSED
ON THE KEY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED IN YEARS 2022 AND
BEYOND.
THE COMMITTEE WILL TAKE
DISCUSSION ON THE COVID RELIEF
BILL.
IT IS IMPORTANT WE DO THIS IN
THIS ORDER BECAUSE IT IS
NECESSARY FOR ANY AMENDMENTS
THAT INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT
OF SPENDING THAT WE'RE TAKING
FROM THE EMERGENCY RESERVES TO
THEN BE REFLECTED IN OUR
RESOLUTION, IF IT IS ADOPTED.
WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, KNOW THE
TOTAL UNIVERSAL DOLLARS BEFORE
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE SPENDING
PLAN.
THEN THE CENTRAL STAFF WILL
DESCRIBE THE COVID RELIEF BILL
AND BRIEFLY DESCRIBE HOW IT
RELATES TO THE REBALANCING
PACKAGE AND PROVIDE DETAILS OF
THE USE OF RESERVES AND OTHER
COVID RELIEF EFFORTS THAT THE
CITY IS INVESTING IN.
WE WILL WALK THROUGH THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, TO THE
COVID RELIEF BILL, AND YOU WILL
HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE ALL OF
THOSE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND
OTHER AMENDMENTS CURRENTLY UNDER
REVIEW BY LAW WITH THE MEMO AND
THE REVISED DRAFT THAT IS GOING
TO BE SENT AROUND SOON.
WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION
AFTERWARDS ON RESOLUTION 31957,
WHICH IS OUR ONGOING DETAILED
SPEND RESOLUTION.
CENTRAL STAFF WILL DESCRIBE WHAT
IS IN THE RESOLUTION, HOW IT IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE PROPOSED
RESOLUTION THAT WAS ORIGINALLY
INTRODUCED AND ALSO IDENTIFY
AREAS WHERE THERE IS SIGNIFICANT
EMPHASIS OR INTEREST FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR EXAMPLE,
ADDING COMMUNITY FUNDING FOR
ADDRESSING HISTORICAL POLICIES
SUCH AS RED LINING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH.
THERE IS ABOUT SEVEN AMENDMENTS
TO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
CENTRAL STAFF IS SORTING THINGS
OUT.
ANY AMENDMENTS WE SEE THAT ARE
VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE, WE ARE
GOING TO ASK FOLKS TO PROBABLY
WORK TOGETHER, SO WE'LL BE
FLAGGING THAT LATER.
I'LL PAUSE THERE TO SEE IF THERE
ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON WHAT TO
EXPECT ON THE MORNING SESSION.
TWO BILLS, AND THE TEXT OF THE
SPENDING PLAN RESOLUTION IS VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE INTRODUCED.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
LOOKS LIKE IT IS CLEAR.
>> OKAY.
AND I'LL JUST UP WITH THIS,
COUCIL PRESIDENT, THERE ARE
THREE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO
FLAG FOR FOLKS.
NUMBER ONE, THERE WILL BE A
SUBSTITUTE BILL THAT WILL SEND
AROUND THAT REFLECTS A NUMBER OF
THE CHANGES YOU ALL HAVE
IDENTIFIED HERE.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND SOME KEY
AMENDMENTS THAT YOU FLAG FOR
CENTRAL STAFF.
WE TRIED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, IF
IT WAS REALLY STREAM LINING THE
CONVERSATIONS AND
NONCONTROVERSIAL TO TRY TO
REFLECT AS MANY SO THERE WAS AN
EASIER PROCESS FOR US TO
DELIBERATE A FEW OF THE CHANGES
MADE.
WE HAVE ALSO INCLUDED A FEW
REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES WE HAVE
PLANNED FOR FOLKS EARLY.
I FLAGGED FOR YOU EARLY WE WERE
INTERESTED IN CLARIFYING
LANGUAGE AROUND CHILD CARE
ENTITIES.
ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS WE SEE
REFLECTED IN THE SUBSTITUTE BILL
GOING AROUND SO THAT ENTITIES
DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE TO BE
CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY TO
APPLY FOR OR RECEIVE BENEFITS
FROM THE SPENDING PLAN.
I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY
QUESTIONS AND I KNOW ALLEY AND
TRACY WILL AS WELL IN ANY OF THE
SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE YOU SEE
COMING TOWARD YOU.
IT WILL ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BY A
MEMO.
ALSO WANT TO FLAG FOR FOLKS
HAVING ONGOING CONVERSATIONS
RIGHT NOW FOR FOLKS, BOTH ON
COUNCIL AND IN COMMUNITY ABOUT
ADDING LANGUAGE RELATED TO GREEN
NEW DEAL PRIORITIES AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
HISTORICALLY DISINVESTED
COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE FACED HIGH RATES OF
DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION
INCLUDING IN BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
A LOT OF THE WORK IS ON RIGHT
NOW.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE COME
FORWARD FOR BOTH MEMBERS AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WE ARE
LOOKING AT STRENGTHENING SOME OF
THE LANGUAGE WITH YOUR SUPPORT.
I BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE A REALLY
GREAT BALANCE OF, INCLUDING
LANGUAGE TO SHORE UP OR INVEST
IN COMMUNITIES, EMPHASIZING
AMENDMENT LANGUAGE ON CLIMATE
RESILIENCE AND TRANSITIONS FROM
FOSSIL FUELS, ASSISTANCE WITH
ENERGY, LOW INCOME HOME OWNERS
IN SEATTLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE
WHO ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING
PRESSURE SUCH AS COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR AND THOSE IN, THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR
PARTNERS IN LABOR TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE
THAT JOBS CREATED THROUGH THE
INVESTMENTS ARE GOOD JOBS, UNION
JOBS AND CREATING PATHWAYS
FORWARD FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR TO ACCESS THE JOBS AND
THAT INCLUDES ALSO STRENGTHENING
SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON RELATED TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS.
JUST WANTED TO FLAG THOSE THREE
EFFORTS, SUBSTITUTE ADDITIONAL
LANGUAGE ON GREEN NEW DEAL AND
HOUSING, NECESSARILY IN AREAS
IMPACTED BY INSTITUTIONALIZED
RACISM AND PAST DISCRIMINATORY
PRACTICES.
SO WE'LL SEND OUT MORE
INFORMATION VERY SOON ON THAT.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
REPORT.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> HELLO, COLLEAGUES.
ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA,
I HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS RELATED
TO TRANSPORTATION AND
TECHNOLOGY.
COUNCIL BILL 119826 IS ACCEPTING
THE 3.5 MILLION FOR THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE.
THE MONEY IS FROM THE FEDERAL
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
AND IS GOING TO OUR SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
THANKS TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND MAYOR DURKAN FOR
THEIR VOTES AT THE PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE
THE FUNDS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE.
APPOINTMENT 10585 WILL APPOINT
DR. TYRONE GRANDERSON TO THE
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY
BOARD.
DR. GRANDERSON FOUNDED AN
ORGANIZATION, SERVED AS CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE
INSTITUTE OF HEALTH METRICS AND
EVALUATION, AND EARNED A PHD IN
COMPUTER SCIENCE.
THERE IS AN AMENDMENT CLARIFYING
THAT DR. GRANDERSON IS A NEW
APPOINTMENT.
DR. DRANDERSON IS SO DEDICATED
TO THE TECHNOLOGY FIELD HE HAS
BEEN ATTENDING THE MEETDINGS TO
OBSERVE HE IS PRACTICALLY
ALREADY A MEMBER BUT THE MEMO
WILL CLARIFY IT IS OFFICIALLY A
NEW APPOINTMENT.
RESOLUTION 30950 MENTIONED BY
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, THRILLED
TO SUPPORT THAT TODAY.
IN ADDITION TO THE THREE PARKS
AND OTHER PARTS OF SEATTLE, THIS
RESOLUTION INCLUDES TWO
IMPORTANT PARKS IN DISTRIBUTE
FOUR AT THE SOUTHERN END OF
DISTRIBUTE FOUR AT TERRY PETTIS
PARK IN EAST LAKE AND
NORTHEASTERN END OF DISTRIBUTE 4
AT THE PLAY AREA.
THERE ARE OVER 1,000 LOW INCOME
FAMILIES WHO CALL THE PARK HOME
AND RENOVATING THIS AREA IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
THIS RESOLUTION ENABLES US TO
SEEK MATCHING FUNDS FOR ALL OF
THE PARKS.
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR TODAY, WE HAVE COUNCIL
BILL 119833.
THAT IS THE PROPOSED RENEWAL OF
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT.
THIS FRIDAY AT 10:00 A.M.
WE'LL
HAVE THE MEETING ON BITH
FUNDING.
THANKS TO DAN STRAUSS AND THE
COLLEAGUES ABLE TO JOIN US THIS
PAST FRIDAY.
ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TEAM,
SEATTLE CHANNEL, CITY CLERK,
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND
CENTRAL STAFF WHO WORKED HARD TO
ENABLE A PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
BASED ON PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT
MEETING LAST WEEK, I AM
INTERESTED IN AN AMENDMENT TO
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO ALLOW A
SHIFT OF SOME OF THE ROADWORK
DOLLARS TO CREATE MORE TRANSIT
HOURS.
IDEALLY, THE FULL COUNCIL WILL
VOTE ON THE FINAL MEASURE BY
MONDAY, JULY 27th BECAUSE THE
DEADLINE A AUGUST 4TH TO PUT IT
ON THE BALLOT FOR MEMBERS TO
CONSIDER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THAT REPORT?
SEEING NONE.
WE'LL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT
COUNCILMEMBER.
THAT IS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON
THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTER'S
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR JULY 28th WILL BE
CANCELLED DUE TO THE CITY BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS.
I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY PROUD TO
HAVE WORKED IN THE LAST FEW
WEEKS WITH SENIOR CLERGY FROM
THE BLACK COMMUNITY AS THEY HAVE
ADVANCED THE CENTRAL AREA
HOUSING PLAN.
THE CENTERPIECE OF WHICH IS A
DEMAND FOR THE CITY TO COMMIT TO
HOUSING NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TO BEGIN TO
REVERSE RACIST GENTRIFICATION
FUNDED BY PART OF THE AMAZON TAX
AND OUR MOVEMENT WAS ABLE TO WIN
LAST WEEK.
THEY SENT A LETTER JUNE 2ND TO
THE MAYOR AND ALL CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS THAT OUTLINES THE SET OF
DEMANDS AND I JUST WANTED TO
SHARE WITH MEMBERS THE PUBLIC
WHO ARE WATCHING THAT I WILL BE
PUTTING FORWARD AN AMENDMENT
THIS WEDNESDAY IN OUR
DISCUSSIONS ON THE AMAZON TAX,
WHAT WE CALL A SPENDING PLAN, TO
DEDICATE $50 MILLION PER YEAR
TOWARD THIS VITALLY NECESSARY
WORK AND I WOULD REALLY WELCOME
ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO JOIN WITH
ME AND THE COMMUNITY IN PUTTING
REAL DOLLARS BEHIND THE SLOGAN
OF BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THE AMENDMENT WILL MAKE CLEAR
THAT WE NEED TO DESIGNATE
DOLLARS TO THIS WORK OF FOCUSING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION
FOR WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR SUCH AS THE BLACK
COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN
DECIMATED BY GENTRIFICATION OVER
THE LAST YEARS AND DECADES.
WE NEED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC
ABOUT THAT AND THE CITY COUNCIL
MUST AFFIRMATIVELY COMMIT TO THE
CENTER DISTRICT AND GENTRIFIED
NEIGHBORHOODS TO BUILD THE HOMES
AND YOUTH AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING
AND COMMUNITY PREFERENCE,
HOUSING POLICIES TO ENSURE THE
HOMES ARE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES
WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OR WHO ARE AT RISK
OF DISPLACEMENT.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING
THE CALL, MORE THAN 220 FAITH
LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS FROM MANY
DIFFERENT FAITH TRADITIONS HAVE
WRITTEN AN OPEN LETTER TO THE
CITY LAST WEEK CALLING ON THE
CITY TO SUPPORT THE BUILD 1,000
HOMES DEMAND IN FULL AND I'LL
MAKE SURE MY STAFF FORWARD TO
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY HAS A LOOK AT IT.
THIS LETTER WAS SIGNED IN THREE
DAYS' TIME BY A WIDE RANGE OF
PEOPLE INCLUDING MICHAEL RAMOS
OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER
SEATTLE, REVEREND BIANCA DAVIS
OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN.
ELISE, CO-CHAIRS OF FAITH ACTION
NETWORK, SISTER OF RAYMOND.
JASON LEVINE AND JAMES MORAL,
AMONG OTHER RABBIS AND OF COURSE
THE REVEREND ROBERT JEFFREYS.
SENIOR PASTOR OF THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
REVEREND LAWRENCE WILLIS, TRUE
VINE OF HOLINESS MISSION BAPTIST
CHURCH.
REVEREND DR. KERRY CHURCH.
REVEREND WILLY SEALS, THE CHRIST
SPIRIT CHURCH, AND BISHOP GARY
TYSON, GOOD WILL MISSIONARY
BAPTIST CHURCH AND ANGELA YANG
WHO HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE
IN ORGANIZING THIS COMMUNITY.
THE FAITH LETTER SHOWS THE
BREATH OF SUPPORT BEHIND THIS
DEMAND AND I HOPE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL JOIN US IN
SUPPORTING THIS SPENDING PLAN
AMENDMENT AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE
A DRAFT WITH THE AMENDMENT WITH
OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, CONTACT MY
STAFF MEMBER JONATHAN ROSENBLOOM
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT.
I WILL ALSO REPORT THAT THE TAX
AMAZON MOVEMENT MET FOR THE
FOURTH ACTION CONFERENCE TO
DISCUSS DEBATE AND ULTIMATELY
VOTE ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE
30,000 BALLOT INITIATIVE
SIGNATURES GATHERED BY OUR
VOLUNTEERS.
THE RESOLUTION WAS PASSED ALMOST
UNANIMOUSLY TO HOLD THE
SIGNATURES IN RESERVE IN CASE
BIG BUSINESS INTENDS TO FILE THE
REFERENDUM LIKE IN 2018 BUT
OTHERWISE TO HOLD ON TO THEM AND
IN MANY WAYS, THOSE 30,000
INITIATIVE SIGNATURES VIOLENT
BEEN THE BED ROCK OF WINNING
THIS AMAZON VICTORY BECAUSE
CLEARLY BIG BUSINESS WOULD NOT
HAVE MADE THE CONCESSION IF IT
WERE NOT FOR A CONCRETE THREAT,
A CREDIBLE THREAT OF A BALLOT
INITIATIVE.
THE ACTIVIST SHOULD MAKE NOTE OF
THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN HAVE AND
THE GAME CHANGING CONSEQUENCES
OF HAVING A GENUINE GRASSROOTS
MOVEMENT.
AMAZON WAS A GRASS ROOTS
MOVEMENT, HAS WON HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH THE
ONLY PRO DEPRESSIVE TAX OPTIONS,
PAID ENTIRELY BY BIG BUSINESS
AND ONE WEEK LATER, WE'RE SEEING
THE LEGISLATION FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT WHICH
DOES NOT YET HAVE A MOVEMENT
AROUND IT.
AS A RESULT, THE SAME ELECTED
OFFICIALS WHO ARE PROPOSING YES
ON THE AMAZON TAX ARE VERY
LIKELY GETTING READY TO VOTE FOR
AN EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE SALES
TAX INCREASE PAID FOR BY WORKING
CLASS PEOPLE.
THE MAYOR HAS PUT FORWARD,
CUTTING THE CITY'S SHARE OF
FUNDING FOR KING COUNTY METRO BY
THREE FOURTHS.
THIS IS A BIG CUT.
IT CLEARLY SHOWS THAT WORKING
PEOPLE CAN NOT TRUST THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND
NEEDS TO RELY ON THE STRENGTH OF
OUR OWN MOVEMENT.
IF MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE WANTS TO
NOT HAVE IT PAID BY AGGRESSIVE
TAX MECHANISMS, WE'LL HAVE TO
FIGHT FOR IT LIKE WE FOUGHT FOR
AND WON THE AMAZON TAX.
I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT SEVEN
OF THE NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
PUBLICLY STATED SUPPORT FOR THE
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD
MOVEMENT TO CUT POLICE BUDGET BY
AT LEAST 50% AND I WAS HAPPY TO
BE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH
SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS LAST WEEK AND THEN, AS I
SAID BEFORE, AND AS I SAID AT
THE PRESS CONFERENCE, IN THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE, MY OFFICE WILL
BE BRINGING, IN COORDINATION
WITH THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN, AN
AMENDMENT LEGISLATION TO CUT
$85 MILLION FROM THE 2020
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BUDGET, WHICH IS THE REMAINING
BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR OR 50% OF
THE REMAINING BUDGET FOR THIS
YEAR.
THAT IS AN ESTIMATE.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO
CUTTING MORE AND FUNDING SOCIAL
PROGRAMS INSTEAD AND VITAL HUMAN
NEEDS.
ALSO WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE
PUBLIC.
WE'RE WATCHING THAT AS THE CITY
COUNCIL IS DOING, THE MAYOR
DURKAN IS HOLDING HER OWN PRESS
CONFERENCE AND MY STAFF ARE
MONITORING THAT PRESS
CONFERENCE.
MAYOR DURKAN HAS SAID THAT SHE
WILL VOTO ANY CUT FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR THE POLICE IF IT
ZEROS OUT THE BUDGET OR IF IT
DES NOT MEET THE NEED FOR
SERVICE.
I WANTED TO SHARE SOME
HIGHLIGHTS THAT MY STAFF HAS
SHARED WITH ME FROM THE PRESS
CONFERENCE WHICH SHOWS THE KIND
OF, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL GAS
LIGHTING AND THE LOSS SERVICES
THAT ARE BEING RAISED BY MAYOR
DURKAN'S OFFICE VERY DISHONESTLY
AND THE POLICE CHIEF.
THEY CLAIM THAT MAYOR DURKAN HAS
CLAIMED IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE
OR AT LEAST RAISED THE QUESTION,
AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY BASIS IN
REALITY, THAT THE DECISION, IF
THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDES TO
DEFUND SPD BY 50% THIS YEAR AND
50% NEXT YEAR, SHE ASKED THE
QUESTION, WOULD THAT TAKE US OUT
OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL
CONSENT DECREE?
THIS IS DISHONEST.
IT IS NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST
DEFUNDING POLICE.
IT IS ABOUT CHANGING THE WAY THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATES,
MEANING WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY
ADDRESS THE VIOLENCE, THE RACISM
AND EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE, ALL
OF THE EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC
SITUATION WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THEN HOLDING THEM
ACCOUNTABLE IN ALL OF THIS, IN
ADDITION, DEFUNDING IS GOING TO
NEED AN ELECTIVE COMMUNITY OVER
SIGHT BOARD WITH POWERS OVER THE
POLICE, INCLUDING HIRING AND
FIRING AND POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES.
AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
PUSH BACK AGAINST THIS
DISHONESTY FROM MAYOR DURKAN AND
FROM CHIEF BEST.
CHIEF BEST ALSO AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE SAID SOMETHING TO THE
EFFECT OF I WILL NOT SACRIFICE
OFFICERS OF COLOR FOR POLITICAL
POINTS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHAT IS
GOING ON IS MAYOR DURKAN AND THE
POLICE LEADERSHIP USING, AGAIN,
MORE GAS LIGHTING TACTICS IN
ORDER TO PUSH BACK AGAINST,
THEY'RE THREATENING PEOPLE OF
COLOR WHO ARE DEMANDING THE
DEFUNDING OF POLICE BY SAYING
THAT, WELL, IF YOU WANT TO
DEFUND, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN
IS OFFICERS OF COLOR OR OTHER
MINORITY COMMUNITY OFFICERS WILL
LOSE THEIR JOBS FIRST.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT.
THERE IS NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING PREVENTING THE CITY FROM
NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE POLICE OFFICER'S GUILD THAT
PROTECTS OFFICERS OF COLOR AS
UFCW TREASURY SECRETARY NOTED ON
FRIDAY IN A TWEET AND I WILL
QUOTE THAT TWEET.
AS A UNION LEADER I CALL BS ON
THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE, SENIORITY
ARGUMENT.
THEY COULD BARGAIN OVER
SOLUTIONS BUT INSTEAD THEY WILL
HIDE BEHIND LABOR PRINCIPLES TO
PROTECT THE WHITE SUPREMACY IN
SPD, UNQUOTE.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
POINT THAT WE'RE ABSOLUTELY, YOU
KNOW, WE WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND
NAIL FOR LABOR RIGHTS BUT THIS
IS NOT ABOUT LABOR RIGHTS.
THIS IS ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF
WORKING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE,
SUPPORTED BY THE LABOR UNION AS
A WHOLE TO HAVE A SOCIETY FREE
OF RACISM AND POLICE VIOLENCE
AND LET'S NOT CONFUSE THE TWO IN
ANY WAY.
DURKAN IS ALSO OUTRAGEOUSLY
REPEATEDLY SAID AND REPEATED
THIS IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE
THAT SPD TRAINING IS LITERALLY
THE MODEL FOR THE NATION.
MODEL FOR WHAT?
MODEL FOR NOT A SINGLE POLICE
OFFICER BEING PROSECUTED FOR
KILLINGS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE?
MODEL FOR HARASSING HOMELESS
PEOPLE AND WHAT FOR?
I'M NOT CLEAR WHAT SHE MEANS BY
THAT.
I WOULD URGE HER OFFICE TO
CLARIFY WHAT THEY MEAN, WHAT
THEY THINK THE SEATTLE POLICE IS
A MODEL FOR.
WE ALSO HAVE TO NOTE, YOU KNOW,
ONE OTHER THING THAT SHE BROUGHT
UP IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY
IN RESPONSE TO A MEDIA QUESTION
IS, AND THIS IS PARAPHRASING OR
A CLOSE QUOTE FROM A STAFF.
IT IS UNCLEAR TO ME WHAT THE
COUNCIL MEANS BY CUTTING 50%.
THEY HAVE SAID IT DIFFERENT
WAYS.
YOU SHOULD TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT
YOUR PLAN IS TO REPLACE THE
SERVICES.
DO YOU WANT TO REDUCE RESPONSE
TIME SO THEY SHOW UP 15 OR 20
MINUTES AFTER YOU CALL?
LET'S BE CLEAR.
IS THIS NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
AGAIN, THIS IS COMPLETELY
MISLEADING.
I WANT TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, KIRO
7 REPORTED ON JUNE 22ND, 2020,
YOUNG PEOPLE, TEENS, CALL
SEATTLE POLICE REPEATEDLY TO
TELL THEM THAT THERE WAS -- THAT
THEY MADE A DISCOVERY OF A
SUTCASE THAT HAD WASHED UP ON
THE ROCKS IN WEST SEATTLE WHERE
THEY SUSPECTED THAT THERE WERE
BODY PARTS, BECAUSE THEY SMELLED
AN ODOR.
SEATTLE POLICE CONFIRMED THAT
THEY HAD A RESPONSE TIME OF AN
HOUR AND A HALF AND THE TEENS
TELL US, AND THIS IS FROM A TIK
TOK VIDEO THAT WENT VIRAL, THEY
TELL US THAT THEY CALLED THE
POLICE TWICE, BUT IT TOOK NEARLY
THREE HOURS FOR THE AUTHORITIES
TO ARRIVE.
TO REJECT THE IDEA OF CUTTING
THE POLICE BUDGET OR DEFUNDING
THEM OF 50% IS GOING TO IMPACT
SERVICES NEGATIVELY.
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE
POLICE ONLY SPEND A SMALL
MINORITY OF THEIR TIME
INVESTIGATING THE ACTUAL
EGREGIOUS CLAIMS.
THE MAJORITY OF THE POLICE TIME
AND THIS IS WHERE MATHEMATICS IS
IMPORTANT, THE MAJORITY OF TIME
IS USED IN HARASSING FOR
COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, HOMELESS NEIGHBORS,
ABUSING PROTESTERS AND IN THE
CASE OF OUR SISTER, SHOOTING THE
PEOPLE THAT HAVE CALLED THEM FOR
ASSISTANCE.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT OUR
MOVEMENT IS PROPOSING THAT THE
POLICE NO LONGER SPEND TIME
DOING.
NOT RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY
PHONE CALLS WHERE THERE IS A
CRIMINAL ELEMENT.
I WOULD APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO NOT -- AND ENGAGE IN
THE DEBATE HONESTLY AND THEN THE
LAST POINT IN RELATION TO THE
CUTS, OF COURSE, SUPPORT THE
COMMENTS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBERS
IN THIS MORNING'S BRIEFING ABOUT
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
STAFF THAT ARE FACING DEATH
THREATS AND OTHER THREATS AND
ARE SHOWING A LOT OF COURAGE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE STAND
AGAINST THE MAYOR'S -- BECAUSE
THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS IS
ONE DEPARTMENT WHICH DOES
IMPORTANT WORK WHO ARE WORKING
REALLY ON SHORT STAFF AND THE
COMPLAINTS DON'T GET HEARD FOR
MONTHS EVEN THOUGH THE STAFF ARE
DEDICATED.
THE MAYOR HAS FROZEN OPEN
POSITIONS IN THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS.
THAT APPLIES TO THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS AS WELL.
THE BEST WAY THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL CAN SHOW THE SUPPORT
WITH STAFF IS IN ADDITION TO OUR
MESSAGES OF SOLIDARITY THAT WE
STOP MANDATORY FURLOUGHS OR
LAYOFFS AND END HIRING FREEZES
IN CRUCIAL DEPARTMENTS LIKE
CIVIL RIGHTS AND LABOR
STANDARDS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, FOR THOSE REMARKS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WE WILL
MOVE DOWN THE LINE TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
THE LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR TODAY.
COUNCIL BILL 119832, FEMA
REQUIRED LEGISLATION TO UPDATE
SEATTLE'S FLOOD INSURANCE RATE
MAPS AND DUE TO A FEDERAL
DEADLINE, MY INTENTION IS TO
BRING THE LEGISLATION DIRECTLY
TO FULL COUNCIL NEXT WEEK.
ALSO ON THE IRC IS CB 119831.
THE CHILD CARE NEAR YOU PACKAGE,
WHICH THE LAND USE COMMITTEE
WILL BE TAKING UP OVER THE NEXT
SEVERAL WEEKS MAKING TECHNICAL
CHANGES TO HOW OUR CHILD CARE
FACILITIES ARE PERMITTED
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, REDUCING
COSTS, AND ALLOWING FOR CHILD
CARE TO BE NEAR YOU THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LAND USE
AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE IS
NEXT WEDNESDAY, JULY 22nd.
THE BEST DAY THE YEAR FOR SOME
OUR COLLEAGUES.
WE'LL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON
THE CHILD CARE NEAR YOU PACKAGE
AND THE LAND USE BILL.
WE WILL ALSO HEAR A REPORT FROM
SDCI AND OSC ON THEIR TREE
PROTECTION WORK THAT HAS BEEN
OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THIS COVID
PANDEMIC DESPITE NOT BEING ABLE
TO PRESENT IN OUR LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
REGARDING JUMP START SEATTLE.
ON WEDNESDAY, I'LL BE PROPOSING
TWO AMENDMENTS TO THE JUMP START
SEATTLE SPENDING BILLS.
ONE AMENDMENT WOULD ADD AN
ADDITIONAL $9 MILLION TO THE
SMALL BUSINESS STABILIZATION
FUND TO BE TAKEN FROM THE
REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND AND
EMERGENCY FUNDS.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT WOULD EXPRESS
THE CITY COUNCIL'S INTENT TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SMALL
BUSINESS SUPPORT BY PROVIDING
RELIEF THROUGH BNO TAXES.
I'M THANKFUL TO THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE WORKED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ TO
HAVE A FEW AMENDMENTS INCLUDED
IN THE SUBSTITUTE TO THE 2020
RELIEF BILL SO THAT WE CAN
STREAM LINE THE PROCESS ON
WEDNESDAY.
ONE OF THOSE CHANGES THAT WE
WORK TOGETHER ON IS INCREASING
THE ELIGIBLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS
SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES WITH UP TO
TEN FTE'S FROM THE DECREASE IF
THEY HAVE PART TIME WORKERS AND
EXTENDING THE RANGE A LITTLE
BIT.
THANK YOU TO THE GREAT WORK FROM
STAFF, NOAH, AND OTHERS IN OTHER
OFFICES FOR TAKING A LOOK AT HOW
MANY BUSINESSES HAVE WHAT LEVELS
OF EMPLOYEES.
THAT HELPED US CRAFT THIS
AMENDMENT IN A GREAT WAY.
I WILL ALSO BE MAKING AN
AMENDMENT THAT ALLOWS -- THAT IS
INCLUDED IN THE SUBSTITUTE THAT
ALLOWS NON-PROFITS THAT PROVIDE
COMMUNITY SERVICES ELIGIBLE FOR
THE SUPPORT AS WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
DISCUSS THE DEFUNDING OF THE
POLICE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS
THAT DEFUNDING THE POLICE DOES
NOT MEAN DECREASING PUBLIC
SAFETY.
IN FACT, IT MEANS INCREASING
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR SO MANY
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDING
PUBLIC SAFETY IN A WAY THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES WANT.
I HAVE HEARD THIS IN BALLARD AND
I KNOW PUBLIC SAFETY WORKS
DIFFERENT IN BALLARD THAN ON
BEACON HILL.
IT WORKS DIFFERENTLY IN RAINIER
BEACH THAT IN RIVEN.
WE ARE DEFINING HOW THE CUTS TO
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL
OCCUR.
IN THIS TRANSITION, YOU WILL
ALWAYS BE ABLE TO CALL 911 AND
HAVE SOMEONE RESPOND TO YOUR
CALL AS IS THE CASE TODAY.
OUR METRIC OF SUCCESS AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE TRANSITION
WILL BE THAT WHEN YOU CALL 911,
YOU GET A FAST RESPONSE 24/7
WITH THE APPROPRIATE FIRST
RESPONDER WHO HAS THE RESOURCES
THAT THEY NEED TO RESOLVE THE
CALL.
TRANSITIONS TAKE TIME TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AND WE NEED TO BE
STRATEGIC WITH THE CHANGES.
WE NEED TO SET UP PROGRAMS FOR
SUCCESS SO THAT THEY AND THE
PEOPLE WORKING WITHIN THE
PROGRAMS ARE SUCCESSFUL.
THE WORST THING THAT WE CAN DO
IS TRANSFER RESPONSIBILITY
BEFORE PROGRAMS ARE READY.
WATCH THEM FAIL AND THEN SAY
THIS NEW WAY OF PROVIDING PUBLIC
SAFETY DOESN'T WORK.
WE OWE IT TO EVERYONE TO HAVE A
TIME FOR TRANSITION AND ARE SET
UP FOR SUCCESS.
DO WE NEED A POLICE OFFICER WITH
A GUN RESPONDING TO TRAFFIC
STOPS, MENTAL HEALTH CALLS,
NONCRIMINAL CALLS.
THE ANSWER IS NO.
DO WE NEED A FAST 911 RESPONSE
WITH THE APPROPRIATE FIRST
RESPONDER WITH THE RESOURCES
THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL?
ABSOLUTELY YES.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING
PROGRAMS WE HAVE IN PLACE.
HEALTH ONE, CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAM, AND OTHERS AS WE CONTINUE
TO SPEAK ABOUT CAHOOTS IN
EUGENE.
IT IS A GOOD PROGRAM AND THE
LARGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR
PROGRAM AND OUR PROGRAM IS THAT
CAHOOTS IS HARD WIRED INTO 911
AND DOESN'T REQUIRE AN OFFICER
TO MAKE THE REFERRAL.
WE HAVE THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE
HERE IN SEATTLE IN PLACE AND WE
NEED TO HARD WIRE THEM INTO 911
SO THAT THEY DON'T NEED A
REFERRAL FROM A POLICE OFFICER.
WE HAVE HAD DAILY PROTESTS IN
OUR CITY FOR OVER A MONTH WITH
THE MESSAGE TO LISTEN TO THE
BLACK COMMUNITY.
THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS NOT
MONOLITHIC ARE HAVE A SIMILAR
VOICE.
WE HAVE A CONSISTENT MESSAGE OF
DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
WHAT WE HEARD LAST WEEK IN
COMMITTEE WAS AN ORGANIZED
MEMBERS OF OUR BLACK COMMUNITY
MAKING VERY SPECIFIC REQUESTS
FOR OUR CITY GOVERNMENT TO ACT
ON.
WE HEARD THE PROPOSAL TO SCALE
DOWN SPD FUNDING AND SCALE UP
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS.
IT IS A FALSE NARRATIVE TO SAY
THE APPROACHES WILL NOT WORK AND
CAN NOT WORK BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
READY TO STEP IN TODAY.
AGAIN, THE WORSE THING WE CAN DO
IS GIVE ORGANIZATIONS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF RESPONDING
WITHOUT THE TIME THEY NEED TO
SCALE UP AND BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE NEED TO SET UP THE PROGRAMS
AND ORGANIZATIONS TO SUCCEED IN
THIS TRANSITION.
WE ALSO RECEIVED 911 CALLING
ANALYSIS AND INFORMATION WHICH
LEADS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
CHANGES ARE POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE, FOR TOO LONG, REQUIRED
THE POLICE OFFICERS TO BE THE
SOCIAL WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS, HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE
AND PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT WAS CLEAR TO ME FROM SPD'S
PRESENTATION IN COMMITTEE THAT
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLACE
THESE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE
APPROPRIATE FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE ARE CLEARLY DEFINING WHERE
THE CUTS ARE COMING FROM SO THAT
WE'RE NOT TAKING A PERCENTAGE
OFF THE TOP OF THE BUDGET.
WE'RE USING A SCALPEL, NOT AN AX
TO CHANGE HOW WE PROVIDING
PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE NEED TO ACT
WITH URGENCY AND STRATEGY.
OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT, THE
SOLUTIONS ARE CLEAR AND IN FRONT
OF US, AND WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IMPORTANT
CHANGES AND TO CREATE THE WORLD
WE KNOW IS POSSIBLE.
WE WILL ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY IS
MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THIS
TANSITION AND THAT PUBLIC
SAFETY IS INCREASED TO ALL
COMMUNITIES AT THE CONCLUSION OF
THE TRANSITION.
AS FOR DISTRIBUTE 6, WONDERFUL
DISTRIBUTE 6, I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING A RALLY
FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER AND
DEFUNDING THE POLICE JUST
YESTERDAY.
I'M ALSO SEEING RESIDENTS ACROSS
DISTRIBUTE 6 REPRESENTING FOR
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AT CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE
DISTRICT, GETTING CARS TO HONK
AND WAVING SIGNS AS WELL AS
HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH
OTHER.
I HAVE SEEN SUSTAINABLE BALLARD
SUNRISE PROJECT.
FOLKS IN GREENWOOD AT 85th AND
GREENWOOD AND BARBARA AND JORDAN
ON 56th AND 15th ONE NIGHT.
THESE ARE MEANINGFUL
DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE VALUES
THAT FOLKS IN DISTRICT 6 HAVE.
I ATTENDED THE BALLARD COUNCIL
TO DISCUSS LAND USE IN BALLARD
AND ON MARKET STREET.
IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION AND
I REALLY APPRECIATED HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND MUCH I
ALSO ATTENDED THE RATE PAYER
COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ISSUES
IMPORTANT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
JUMP START SEATTLE.
I ALSO SPOKE TO RESIDENTS DURING
OUR D6 RESIDENTS CONVERSATIONS
THAT I HAVE EVERY WEEK ABOUT,
AGAIN, HOMELESSNESS, DEFUNDING
THE POLICE, CURB CUTS, TREES AND
LAND USE.
I HAVE ONE CONSTITUENT SPEAK TO
ME.
SHE TALKED TO ME ABOUT LICENSES
AND HOW SHE NEEDS A LICENSE TO
PERFORM HER DUTIES AND THAT
FOLLOWS HER FROM ANY PLACE OF
EMPLOYMENT IN ANY STATE.
HER DESIRE TO HAVE ALSO POLICE
OFFICERS OR PEACE OFFICERS HAVE
A SIMILAR LICENSE.
IT REQUIRES CONTINUING
EDUCATION.
IT REQUIRES CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UP
FRONT TRAINING.
HER LICENSE ACTUALLY TAKES
LONGER TO COMPLETE AN THE POLICE
ACADEMY.
THAT WAS SOMETHING SHE NOTED TO
ME.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS
THAT SHE MENTIONED IS THAT IF A
MASSAGE THERAPIST HAS A
VIOLATION OF THEIR DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITY, THAT GOES ON
THEIR RECORD AND THAT FOLLOWS
THEM WHEREVER THEY ARE EMPLOYED
AND WHATEVER STATE THEY WORK.
SHE THINKS THAT THAT WOULD BE A
GOOD THING TO ALSO HAVE OUR
POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS HAVE
AS PART OF THEIR HIRING
REQUIREMENTS.
I HAVE TO AGREE.
WE ALSO WORKED IN DISTRIBUTE 6
ON GETTING THE GOLDEN GARDENS
LOCK BACK OPEN AND HAVING
CHANGES MADE TO THE STAY HEALTHY
STREET UP AND DOWN GOLDEN
GARDENS WAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN PARKS AS
ALWAYS.
WE HAVE SPOKEN TO A GROUP
WORKING TO EXPAND SUNSET PARK
INTO THE STREET, SO THAT IS AN
EMERGING TOPIC THAT I CONTINUE
TO TRACK AND WORK WITH THEM ON,
AND AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO HOLD
RESIDENT MEETINGS BY PHONE EVERY
WEEK.
I REALLY MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GET TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE
AND PERSON IN OUR DISTRICT
OFFICE.
PHONE WILL HAVE TO DO FOR NOW.
AS FAR AS REGIONAL COMMITTEES,
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
COMMITTEES WHICH IS VERY
MEETING.
IT IS GREAT TO SEE OUR OTHER
CITIES AND THIS WEEK I WILL ALSO
BE ATTENDING A REGIONAL TRANSIT
AND MOBILITY COMMITTEE IN
ADDITION TO THE BUDGET AND
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON
TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY
FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON CLARIFYING
WHAT DEFUNDING REALLY MEANS.
I THINK YOUR WORDS SPEAK VOLUME
TO THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT IN COMMUNITIES, REALLY
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY IS A MORE
IMPORTANT WORD TO USE AND I
COULDN'T SAY IT BETTER SO JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ELOQUENT WORDS AND WE'LL BE
LOOKING TO HIGHLIGHT THE
COMMENTS YOU JUST SHARED WITH
THE COMMUNITY OVER AND OVER AS
WE SEEK TO CLARIFY WHAT IT TRULY
MEANS TO REINVEST AND REENVISION
WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY
SAFETY MEANS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE THOSE OUT
VIA OUR BLOG IF YOU HAVE THOSE
IN WRITING AND HAVE YOU FEATURED
AS A GUEST.
>> I WOULD LOVE THAT.
>> I WANT TO ECHO MY THANKS FOR
SPEAKING SO ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THE
WORK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS
ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO AS OPPOSED
TO THE SPIN THAT WE'RE HEARING
ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE ARE UNDER
TAKING, ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THE
COUNCIL IS NOT LOOKING
ALTERNATIVE BLUNT CUTS, AS
DESCRIBED BY THE EXECUTIVE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SCALPEL-LIKE
APPROACHES TO SCALE DOWN WHAT WE
USE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RESPOND
TO AND WHAT WE CAN SCALE UP IN
TERMS OF COMMUNITY-BASED
INVESTMENTS THAT WE KNOW ARE A
PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH THAT WILL
ACTUALLY BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT
ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE ISSUES
THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY ASKING LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO RESPOND TO.
AND SO I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO TALK
ABOUT THIS PLAN OF TRANSITION TO
SCALE DOWN LAW ENFORCEMENT
INVESTMENTS AND SCALE UP
COMMUNITY-BASED INVESTMENTS IN A
WAY THAT POSITIONS US TO TRULY
PUT FORWARD A PUBLIC SAFETY
MODEL THAT IS GOING TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO THE CALLS FROM
BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT AND
STILL COMPLY WITH THEIR
OBLIGATION TO DELIVER ON PUBLIC
SAFETY.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS, IT
IS SOMETHING WE ALREADY DO, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND THOSE ARE UNARMED
FOLKS WHO RESPOND TO ISSUES
WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
NON-VIOLENT, THAT ARE, YOU KNOW,
NEEDED -- NEED A SORT OF TYPE OF
RESPONSE AND WE'RE ALREADY
INVESTING IN IT.
THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE
COULDN'T LOOK AT STRONGER
INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY
SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM, FOR
EXAMPLE, AS ONE OF THOSE
POTENTIAL MODELS, SO, AGAIN,
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE
THESE NUANCED CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT WHAT APPROACHES WE CAN
TAKE OVER THE COMING MONTHS AND
YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ACTUALLY REBUILDING OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY MODEL AND NOT JUST
TOOLING AROUND THE EDGES AND AM
HEARTENED BY THE FACT THAT SO
MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON THE
ISSUE AND ARE REALLY ROLLING UP
THEIR SLEEVES TO NOT JUST SPEAK
THEIR VALUES BUT TO PUT THOSE
VALUES INTO ACTION.
THANKS AGAIN FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, ALL.
>>> NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, PLEASE.
.
>> GOT IT.
GOOD MORNING.
GREETINGS, EVERYBODY.
JUST TO START OFF, CONSISTENT
WITH THE COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION
REGARDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS,
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING FOR
JULY 14TH HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE SHOUT
OUT TO THE WORK THAT THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT IS DOING UNDER
ITS COVID-19 TEST SITES THAT ARE
ADMINISTERED AT BOTH TWO SITES,
ONE IN SOTO AND ONE IN AURORA.
OR UP ON AURORA.
THEY HAVE DONE MORE THAN 48,000
TESTS FOR FOLKS.
IT IS A WALK UP SERVICE, DRIVE
UP SERVICE, AND IT IS SOME WORK
THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS
DOING THAT HASN'T GOTTEN, I
THINK, ENOUGH ATTENTION.
I THINK FOLKS READ LAST WEEK
ABOUT THE GREEK ROW OUTBREAK AT
THE UDUB.
THOSE FOLKS GOT TESTED AS A FIRE
DEPARTMENT TESTING SITE AND THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ACTUALLY THE
ONES WHO ALERTED SEATTLE KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH THAT WE HAD
ANOTHER OUTBREAK.
AGAIN, THE WORK THAT THEY'RE
DOING IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
AND THEIR TURN AROUND TIME FOR
TEST RESULTS IS ALSO A REAL KEY
TO THEIR SUCCESS.
WANT TO THANK FOLKS FOR THAT
WORK, AND ALSO, I'M HAPPY TO
SHARE SORT OF MORE GRANULAR
DETAILS ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS
OF WHO THEY'RE TESTING AND THE
RESULTS FOR THOSE TESTS IF
ANYBODY IS INTERESTED.
ON FRIDAY EVENING I SENT A
LETTER TO THE MAYOR AND POLICE
CHIEF REGARDING THE THREAT TO
LOCAL JOURNALISTS, SALISBURY OF
CONVERGED MEDIA AND THE ACTUAL
ARREST OF ANDREW BUNCOMB E, THE
U.S. CORRESPONDENT.
BOTH AS THE CHOP WAS CLEARED ON
JULY 1ST.
BRITISH AMBASSADOR LAUNCHED AN
OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH THE
STATE DEPARTMENT AND WHITE HOUSE
OVER THE ARREST OF MR. BUNCOMBE,
AND MY LETTER NOTES THAT WHILE
MR. SALISBURY WAS NOT ARRESTED,
I'M CONCERNED THAT SUCH ACTIONS
CAN HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT
OPPRESS COVERAGE.
FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS FOR
THE PRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION ARE A LYNCHPIN OF
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND LESS
RESPECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE
QUALITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY IS
DIMINISHED AND ERODED.
FURTHER, OUR OWN LAWS, IN THIS
CASE, SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE 12A
.12020 THAT ADDRESSES THE
FAILURE TO DISBURSE EXPLICITLY
EXEMPTS NEWS REPORTERS IN THE
EVENT OF A PUBLIC SAFETY ORDER.
FURTHER, THIS COUNCIL ADOPTED AN
OBSERVER'S BILL OF RIGHTS IN
2017 WHICH CLEARLY STATES THE
RIGHT TO OBSERVE THE ACS OF
OFFICERS.
I BELIEVE IT IS OUR JOB AS
ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THE
PRESS REMAINS FREE AND IS ABLE
TO CARRY OUT ITS WORK IN
ACCORDIONS WITH THE CONSTITUTION
AND CITY LAW.
CONSTITUTION AND CITY LAW
PROTECTIONS FOR THE PRESS AND
OBSERVERS DO NOT EXIST FOR THE
CONVENIENCE OF GOVERNMENT TO BE
CAST ASIDE WHEN IT IS
INCONVENIENT FOR GOVERNMENT AND
THE LETTER REQUESTS THE MAYOR
AND CITY ATTORNEY TO REMEDY THIS
UNACCEPTABLE A BRIDGEMENT OF THE
FIRST AMENDMENT AND IMPROPER USE
OF CITY LAW.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL WHO
HAVE SPOKE VERY ELOQUENTLY TO
OUR EFFORTS TO DEFUND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
AND REINVEST IN COMMUNITY-BASED
PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS THAT ARE
EVIDENCE-BASED AND WE KNOW CAN
DELIVER POSITIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD BECAUSE
I THINK EVERYBODY SPOKE VERY,
VERY WELL ON WHAT WE'RE DOING
AND WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING.
I'LL PUT ASIDE, IN THE
INSTANCE -- IN THE SEEKING OF
BREVITY, I'LL PUT ASIDE MY
BROADER REMARKS, BUT WANT TO
ZERO IN ON A COUPLE OF THINGS WE
HAVE HEARD FROM THE CHIEF OVER
THE WEEKEND.
AS IT RELATES TO THE STATEMENT
THAT THE COUNCIL INTENDS TO ZERO
OUT THE ENTIRE FOURTH QUARTER
BUDGET FOR SPD AND REDUCE 50% OF
THE TOTAL WORK FORCE, I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT I AND OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CONTINUING
TO WORK THROUGH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENTS BUDGET AND IN
BEGINNING STAGES OF DEVELOPING
PROPOSALS.
I RECOGNIZE THIS WILL BE A SHORT
PROCESS FOR THE REBALANCING OF
THE BUDGET, BUT NEVERTHELESS,
I'M NOT SURE HOW IT IS THAT THE
CHIEF CAN BE PROG ON THE BUDGET
THAT
HAVEN'T BEEN DEVELOPED YET.
IN THE CASE THAT SOME LAYOFFS
ARE NECESSARY OF THE MANY VERY
WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT'S THE
CHIEF POSES, ONE IS THE FIRING
OF OFFICERS.
I WANT TO STATE VERY, VERY
CLEARLY THAT THE CHIEF IS
EMPOWERED UNDER THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,
RULE 15, TO IMPLEMENT LAYOFFS IN
A WAY THAT IS CALLED OUT OF
ORDER.
THIS MEANS SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO
FIRE THE NEWEST OFFICERS HIRED
FIRST.
SHE CAN REQUEST THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FOR
PERMISSION TO LAYOFF OUT OF
ORDER, WHEN DOING SO IS IN THE
INTEREST OF EFFICIENT OPERATIONS
OF HIS OR HER DEPARTMENT.
SHE IS MAKING THE ARGUMENT TO
THE PUBLIC NOW THAT FIRING
MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WOULD BE HARMFUL.
I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND I
KNOW THAT THE CHIEF CAN ARGUE
JUST AS CONVINCINGLY THAT
MAINTAINING THE EMPLOYMENT OF
OFFICERS IS IN THE INTEREST OF
SPD IN REQUESTING THE PERMISSION
TO DO LAYOFFS OUT OF ORDER, TO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT SHE CAN MAKE
THIS ARGUMENT AND GET THIS
PERMISSION.
SO I THINK THE WORST CASE
SCENARIO PICTURE IS REALLY IN
THE CHIEF'S HANDS WHEN SHE
DECIDES THE PRIORITIES THAT SHE
WANTS TO SET, SHOULD LAYOFFS BE
NECESSARY.
AS IT RELATES TO THE SOUTHWEST
PRECINCT, I WANT TO RAISE THE
FACT THAT ALTHOUGH, UNDER THE
CHART YE, THE CHIEF DECIDES HOW
TO DEPLOY OFFICERS.
THE CHARTER ALSO STATES THAT
THERE SHALL BE MAINTAINED
ADEQUATE POLICE PROTECTION IN
EACH DISTRICT OF THE CITY.
THE CHARTER DOESN'T PROTECT SPD
OFFICERS DOING SOCIAL WORK OR
ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
ADDRESSING NOISE COMPLAINTS OR
TRAFFIC STOPS FOR EXAMPLE.
THIS IS THE EFFORT THAT WE'RE
MAKING TO NARROW THE NUMBER OF
THINGS THAT SPD DOES TO TAKE OUT
OF THEIR HANDS THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THINGS
THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
FINALLY, THE SEATTLE BUDGET HAS
A BUDGET CONTROL LEVEL FOR EACH
PRECINCT, INCLUDING THE
SOUTHWEST PRECINCT, AND IT IS
THE COUNCIL THAT HAS BUDGET
AUTHORITY FOR THE FUNDING FOR
EACH BUDGET CONTROL LEVEL OR THE
SPENDING FOR EACH PRECINCT.
IN CLOSING, ON THIS TOPIC, I
JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE
THE UPDATE PROVIDED BY DEPUTY
MAYOR ABOUT THE MAYOR AND
CHIEF'S ANNOUNCEMENT FOR
ESTIMATES THAT THEY ESTIMATE TO
BE BETWEEN 76 TO $86 MILLION IN
REDUCTIONS TO THE S
APPROXIMATELY FD'S 2021 BUDGET
AND LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING
THOSE MORE CAREFULLY.
JUST HIGHLIGHTING, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE TALKING
ABOUT MORE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS
STARTING ON WEDNESDAY BUT JUST
WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW IN CASE
OF OTHER MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
CONTACTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THAT
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, I'M PROPOSING A PROVISO
TO REMOVE THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO THE GATEKEEPING
FUNCTION IT CURRENTLY PLAYS IN
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED
DIVERSION PROGRAM LEAD AND
CO-LEAD, CO-LEAD BEING THE
EVOLUTION OF LEAD DURING THE
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
THIS IS AT THE REQUEST OF THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER'S ASSOCIATION
WHICH OPERATES LEAD AND CO-LEAD
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, BOTH ARE
PREARREST DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN LOW LEVEL
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
CURRENTLY ALL REFERRALS MUST BE
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY SPD.
THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM SPD'S
CURRENT LACK OF CAPACITY TO
PROVIDE THIS FUNCTION AND THE
RESULT FOR CO-LEAD IS THAT
THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY UNABLE TO
ACT ON ANY NEW REFERRALS NOW
THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FROM SOCIAL
CONTACT REFERRALS AND WE HAVE
PROVIDED THEM RESOURCE TO
ASSIST THESE PEOPLE AND THEY
ARE UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET
SPD TO, BASICALLY, APPROVE
THOSE REFERRALS BECAUSE OF
THEIR CURRENT LACK OF CAPACITY
TO DO SO.
SO, THEY HAVE UNIQUE AND SCARCE
RESOURCES INCLUDING SPECIALIZED
CASE MANAGEMENT AND THEY ARE
GOING ON USED.
THEY ARE PROVIDING THE
REFERRALS TO BE ACCEPTED FROM
COMMUNITY SOURCES AND PUBLIC
AGENCIES WITHOUT REQUIRING SPD
TO APPROVE THOSE REFERRALS AND
IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE POSITIVE
AND COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP
THE LEAD HAS BUILT WITH SPD
OFFICERS AND REMOVES THEM FROM
THE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLE AT
THE START OF A REFERRAL AND AS
RELATES TO WORK HAPPENING IN
THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I
WANT FOLKS TO KNOW A BIT OF AN
UPDATE ABOUT THE LEGISLATION
THAT WE VOTED ON LAST WEEK TO
APPROPRIATE 13 MILLION DOLLARS
IN ONE-TIME FUNDING FROM THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO
SUPPORT COVID RESPONSE.
THESE ARE SORELY NEEDED AND
ANXIOUSLY AWAITED FUNDS TO
REIMBURSE FRONTLINE HOMELESS
PROVIDERS FOR EXTRAORDINARY
EFFORTS AND UNANTICIPATED COSTS
TO SERVE PEOPLE DURING THIS
PANDEMIC AND I PUSHED HARD TO
APPROPRIATE THESE FUNDS AS SOON
AS WE RECEIVE THE LEGISLATION
AND I APPRECIATE THE CHAIRS
SUPPORT AND COUNCIL APPROVAL ON
THAT EXPEDITED TIMELINE.
LESSON 24 HOURS AFTER THE VOTE,
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
RELEASED THEIR RFP FOR 4.9
MILLION DOLLARS OF THESE FUNDS
AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE
EXTRAORDINARY SPEED WITH WHICH
HSD ACTED AFTER RECEIVING THE
GREEN LIGHT FROM COUNCIL AND
THE INTENT OF THE RFP IS TO
HELP NONPROFITS TO STAY IN
GUIDELINES OF PROTECTION FROM
THE CDC WITHOUT REDUCING THE
CAPACITY OF THE SEATTLE
HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
PROPOSALS ARE DUE JULY 17 AND
AWARDS WILL BE MADE BY JULY 27
WITH FUNDING AWARDS COVERING
THE PERIOD OF MARCH 1 2020
THROUGH DECEMBER DECEMBER 31,
2020.
AGAIN, THANKS TO HSD FOR THEIR
QUICK REACTION TO GET THESE
DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR AND I WILL
LET YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE
TIMELINE ON THE BALANCE OF
THOSE DOLLARS AND THE BALANCE
OF THE 13 MILLION DOLLARS, AS
SOON AS I LEARN MORE.
FINALLY, AS FAR AS THE
DEPARTMENTS IN MY REPORTING
AREA, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
WHAT WE'VE ALL HEARD FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH.
WE KNOW THAT THE CORONAVIRUS
HAS BEEN INCREASING IN KING
COUNTY SINCE MID-JUNE AND THERE
HAS BEEN THE LARGEST INCREASE
IN NEW CASES IN YOUNG ADULTS
AND SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY IS WARNING THAT THE RISK
FOR INFECTION HAS INCREASED AND
OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BETTER
THAN MOST AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THAT HAVE
KEPT US SAFE SO FAR.
STAY 6 FEET APART FROM OTHERS
AND MINIMIZE CONTACT WITH
OTHERS OUTSIDE YOUR HOME AND
FREQUENT HANDWASHING AND HAND
SANITIZER WITH THE USE OF CLOTH
FACE COVERINGS AND AVOID GROUP
GATHERINGS IN POORLY VENTILATED
SPACES.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
CORONAVIRUS TESTING IS FREE.
CONSIDER BEING TESTED IF YOU'VE
RECENTLY BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT
WITH ANYONE WITH COVID OR IF
YOU'VE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS
LIKE FEVER, COUGH, DIFFICULTY
BREATHING, COUGH, MUSCLE ACHES
OR LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL.
IF YOU HAVE A HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER, CONTACT THEM ABOUT
BEING TESTED AND IF YOU DON'T,
THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF SEATTLE
KING COUNTY HAS A WEBSITE WHERE
YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF FREE
TESTING LOCATIONS REGARDLESS OF
IMMIGRATION STATUS AND WITH
FREE LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION.
GOOGLE KING COUNTY COVID
TESTING LOCATIONS.
LASTLY, I WANT TO FLAG FOR
EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL A
COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS COMING UP
FOR SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE AND
WE WILL BE CIRCULATING AN
AMENDMENT COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TO SET
ASIDE A PORTION OF JUMPSTART
REVENUE STARTING IN 2022 FOR
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS IN THE HOUSING AND
SERVICES BUCKET OF SPENDING AND
IT WOULD BE 5% OF THE REVENUE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
THE PROJECTS WOULD, OF COURSE,
ONLY SERVE HOUSEHOLDS UP TO 80%
AMI AND SPECIFICALLY TARGETED
THOSE AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT
FROM COMMUNITIES OR THOSE WHO
FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING
HOMEOWNERSHIP DUE TO PAST
DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES AND
PRACTICES.
AS RELATES TO THE 2020 COVID
RELIEF NAVIGATION AMENDMENT, TO
COUNCIL BILL 119812, WORKING ON
AN AMENDMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR
DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO
SEATTLE'S LOW INCOME, IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE WORKERS AND
HOUSEHOLDS.
AND, ENSURING THAT SOME OF
THOSE FUNDS ARE USED TO ADVISE
OR PROVIDE NAVIGATION SUPPORT
TO THE RECIPIENTS OF DIRECT AID
TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN AVOID
INADVERTENTLY LOSING OTHER
INCOME TESTED BENEFITS.
THAT'S AL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE ARNON
AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING WORK
IN THE SPACE AS CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE STAYING
FAIRLY BUSY AT THE MOMENT WITH
BOTH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF
CHAIRING PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ALSO, THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, IN GENERAL.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING WORK
AND I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK
COMMENT ON THE ISSUES RELATED
TO DIVERSITY HIRING AND
RECRUITMENT AT THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I WANTED
TO MAKE A NOTE THAT WHILE IT IS
TRUE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND
THE SEATTLE POLICE COMMISSION
HAVE ADVOCATED STRONGLY IN THE
PAST FOR STRATEGIES AND
RESOURCES BEING DEDICATED TO
MAKING SURE THAT THE RACIAL
MAKEUP OF THE SEATTLE RESIDENTS
IS REFLECTED IN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE IS NO WANTS TOTHAT
POSITION AND THE NEW ONES,
BASICALLY, AND I'M QUOTING FROM
A REPORT DONE, TWO REPORTS BY
THE POLICE COMMISSION, ONE IN
2016 AND THE OTHER IN 2017
WHERE IT SAYS, QUOTE, RACIAL
CONGRUITY, LOAN, IS NOT ENOUGH
TO BUILD RAPPORT WITH
COMMUNITIES, MANY OF WHICH HAVE
LONG FELT OPPRESSED BY
GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS.
SO, I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THE ARGUMENT THAT BIPOC
OFFICERS LEAD TO LESS OPPRESSION
AND LESS EXCESSIVE FORCE AND
INCREASED AMOUNT OF TRUST FROM
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THAT IT
IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE. WHAT
IS IMPORTANT, IT'S NOT ONLY
DIVERSE HIRES, BUT MAKING SURE
THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
TAKING A STEP FURTHER WITH
REGARD TO THOSE HIRES AND
INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT
THOSE INDIVIDUALS OF COLOR THAT
ARE BEING HIRED HAVE A TRUE
UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENT
NEEDS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION REPORT FROM
JANUARY 2016 SAID, QUOTE,
RESEARCH SAYS EXPERTS REPORT
THAT WHEN A POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
OFFICERS REFLECT THE RACIAL
DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE
COMMUNITIES, THEY SERVE THE
DEPARTMENT AND IT FULFILLS
IMPORTANT PURPOSES.
IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
REASONABLY REFLECTS THE ETHNIC
AND RACIAL MAKEUP, IT CONVEYS A
SENSE OF EQUITY TO THE PUBLIC
AND IF NOT, IT CAN INVITE
SUSPICION AS TO WHY MEMBERS OF
VARIOUS RACIAL AND ETHNIC
GROUPS ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE.
IT INCREASES THE PROBABILITY
THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN
COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND
IN POINT, POLICE OFFICERS WHO
UNDERSTAND AND EMPATHIZE WITH
VARIOUS CULTURES MAY CONTRIBUTE
TO MORE EFFECTIVE POLICING.
THIRD, IT INCREASES THE
LIKELIHOOD THAT OFFICERS WILL
COME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND
RESPECT THE VARIOUS ETHNIC
PERSPECTIVES THROUGH THEIR
DAILY INTERACTIONS AND LACK OF
EXPOSURE TO OTHER CULTURES CAN
INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT
CITIZENS' MOTIVES WILL BE
MISUNDERSTOOD.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO APPRECIATE OR
UNDERSTAND THE COMMENTS FROM
CHIEF BEST IN THAT CONTEST.
THAT IS NOT DIVERSITY FOR THE
SAKE OF DIVERSITY, BUT IT IS
INCREASING THE RACIAL AND
ETHNIC DIVERSITY WITHIN THE
SWORN OFFICER PERSONNEL THAT
HAS TO BE CULTIVATED IN A WAY
THAT IS ALLOWING THOSE OFFICERS
TO FUNCTION WITHIN A SYSTEM
THAT APPRECIATES AND VALUES AND
SUPPORTS THE CULTURAL AND
LINGUISTIC AND ETHNIC
UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
OVER POLICED AND ARE CURRENTLY
OVER POLICED.
ONLY THEN WILL WE SEE POSITIVE
RESULTS OF THE INCREASE IN
DIVERSITY AND OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
AND, THE NATIONAL RESEARCH
BEARS THAT OUT AND I APPRECIATE
THE SEATTLE POLICE COMMISSION'S
EFFORTS IN DOING RESEARCH
SPECIFIC TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THAT WAS
REPORTED IN JANUARY 2016 AND
THERE WAS A FOLLOW-UP IN 2017,
AS WELL, THAT I THINK WILL BE
IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR THE
PUBLIC AND CERTAINLY, FOR US,
AS POLICYMAKERS, TO CONTINUE TO
KEEP AN I ON AS WE CONTINUE TO
IDENTIFY WAYS TO RIGHT SIZE
THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
RESPOND TO THE ISSUES THAT THEY
NEED TO RESPOND TO AND NOT
RESPOND TO THE ISSUES THEY
DON'T NEED TO RESPOND TO.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION AND
THANK THEM FOR DOING A LOT OF
WORK, HISTORICAL WORK, IN THE
SPACE OF RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION, PARTICULARLY
RELATING TO DIVERSITY AND THE
OUTCOMES WE CAN SEE IF DIVERSE
HIRES ARE MADE. AGAIN, THAT'S
ONLY AS GOOD AS THE ENVIRONMENT
IN WHICH WE ARE ASKING THEM TO
WORK IN AND THE SYSTEM WE ASK
THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO WORK
WITHIN.
YOUR POINTS ARE WELL MADE AND
WILL TAKEN, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AROUND THE POWER THAT
THE CHIEF HOLDS IN MAKING THOSE
DECISIONS AND THE PERSUASIVE
NATURE OF HER ABILITY TO BE
ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES
SHE NEEDS THAT WOULD NOT SET
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BACK ON
THE DIVERSITY, HIRING AND
RECRUITMENT THEY'VE BEEN
UNSUCCESSFUL ON OVER THE LAST 2-
3 YEARS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
HEARING NONE, I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO REPORT OTHER THAN
TO SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
I'VE REPORTED ON OTHER THINGS
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND DID MY
DUTIES AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR
WITH THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
SO, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE
OUT THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS
MORNING'S COUNCIL BRIEFING,
UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
BEFORE I TRANSITION US TO
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I WAS SLOW ON THE DRAW AND WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
SUMMARIZING THE EFFECT OF
ARRESTING THE JOURNALISTS AND
HOW ABHORRENT IT IS AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR THE REPORT
OR TO DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE
OF BEING ARRESTED AND WHAT
HAPPENED TO HIM AND WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE JAIL WHEN HE
WAS THERE.
THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING THAT AND
I WILL NOTE THAT I'M INTERESTED
IN WORKING WITH YOU AS THE
CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO
FOLLOW UP ON THAT INCIDENT,
RECOGNIZING THAT WE'VE NOW HAD
A REPORTER JAILED AND ANOTHER
REPORTER THAT WAS HIT WITH A
FLASH BANG. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
, AS WE'VE TALKED TO OTHER
REPORTERS ABOUT IN THE LAST FEW
WEEKS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT REPORTERS FEEL SAFE IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU ON THAT
AND THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD
WITH A NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS IN
THE AREA ABOUT THE NEED TO DO
THAT ON MANY LEVELS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING UP
WITH YOU ON THAT CONVERSATION.
IF YOU GET UPDATES ON THE
STATUS OF THAT INDIVIDUAL, WE
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THOSE AS THE
SUMMER CONTINUES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, FOR
THOSE LAST WORDS AND WE WILL
MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'M ANNOUNCING THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL NOW CONVENE AN
EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH TWO
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS SCHEDULED
FOR THIS MORNING AND INTO THE
AFTERNOON AND THE PURPOSE IS TO
DISCUSS PENDING, POTENTIAL OR
ACTUAL LITIGATION AND LABOR
NEGOTIATIONS.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ARE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO
DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL
MATTERS WITH CITY ATTORNEYS, AS
AUTHORIZED BY LAW AND ILLEGAL
MONITOR FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY
OFFICE IS ALWAYS PRESENT TO
MAKE SURE THERE ARE QUESTIONS
OF POLICY FOR OPEN SESSIONS.
I EXPECT THAT THE SESSION, THE
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, THAT THEY
WILL END IN APPROXIMATELY 120
MINUTES, THAT'S TWO HOURS.
SO, I'M EXPECTING THAT WE WILL
END BY NO LATER THAN 1:15 p.m.
. IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ARE
EXTENDED BEYOND THAT TIME, I
WILL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION TO
ANNOUNCE AN EXTENSION AND THE
EXPECTED DURATION.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL
WAIT FOR THE CLERK'S NOTICE
THAT WE ARE NO LONGER STREAMING
LIVE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
PLEASE CONFIRM WHEN THE
AUTHORIZED ATTENDEES ARE ON THE
LINE AND I WILL CALL THE ROLL.
♪