>>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US IT IS OCTOBER
26th 2020 THIS COUNCIL BRIEFING
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER, THE
TIME IS 9:34 A.M.
BEFORE WE ASKED TO TAKE THE ROLE
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW MY
OFFICE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT
WILL BE A UNABLE TO JOIN US
DURING COUNCIL BRIEFING, SHE'S
FEELING A LITTLE UNDER THE
WEATHER.
WE HOPE SHE CAN JOIN US AT 2:00
DURING OUR FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
SHE DOES APOLOGIZE TO THE
GUESTS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE
HERE IN PERSON AND WE WILL GO
AHEAD AND ASK THAT THE COURT
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
[ ROLL CALL ]
>> THANK YOU.
I INADVERTENTLY FORGOT TO STATE
FOR THE RECORD COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ IS UNABLE TO JOIN US SO
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO HAVE THE
RECORD REFLECT SHE IS EXCUSED
FOR TODAY.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, THE
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 1920 20 WILL
BE ADOPTED, HEARING NO
OBJECTION THE MINUTES ARE
ADOPTED.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT, JUST
WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING ONCE
AGAIN TO EVERYONE.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE FILLING WELL
AND TO BE BACK WITH YOU ALL
THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND
ALL OF LAST WEEK I WAS IN AND
OUT OF THE VIRTUAL OFFICE DUE
TO FEELING UNWELL.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO
REACHED OUT WITH WELL WISHES
AND EVEN OFFERS OF SOUP AND
FOOD AND MAGAZINES.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR
STEPPING IN LAST MONDAY, I DO
APPRECIATE HER STEPPING UP IN
THAT ROLL. AT THIS AFTERNOON'S
FULL COUNCIL MEETING WE HAVE A
SHORT AGENDA, WE WILL CONSIDER
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS, THE
INTRODUCTION TO REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND OUR COUNCIL BILL .
WE WILL ALSO ACCEPT A PUBLIC
COMMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND
CONSISTENT WITH AGENDA THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES, THAT
DOES CONCLUDE MY REPORT AND
BEFORE A TRANSITION INTO A
PREVIEW OF TODAY'S COUNCIL
MEETING WHERE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PROVIDE, EXCUSE
ME WE WILL NOT BE MOVING INTO A
PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS AND MEETINGS WE WILL BE
HEARING A PRESENTATION ON A
COUPLE OF COUNCIL BILLS AND WE
DID WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD
UNOFFICIAL WELCOME TO THIS
VIRTUAL SPACE TO MANY OF OUR
GUESTS WHO WILL BE PRESENTING
ON THESE TWO IMPORTANT PROPERTY
TRANSFER AND/OR LEASE BILLS
THAT WILL BE SHEPHERDED THROUGH
BY COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
SO, WELCOME FROM AFRICA TOWN
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, -- ALSO
WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE
EXECUTIVE'S STAFF WITH US.
PATRICE THOMAS IS AN ADDITIONAL
AD AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE SAY THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
WILL HAVE SOME OPENING REMARKS
AS SOON AS WE TRANSITION TO THE
NEXT SECTION AND I APOLOGIZE IF
I MISSED ANYBODY.
YOU WILL ALL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES TO US AND AGAIN A
WARM WELCOME TO EACH OF YOU FOR
JOINING US THIS MORNING ON
THESE IMPORTANT BILLS.
OKAY SO WE WILL HAVE NOW A
PRESENTATION ON COUNCIL BILLS
TREND 20 AND 119906 . BEFORE WE
BEGIN THIS PRESENTATION I WANT
TO NOTE AN ERROR IN THE AGENDA
WHICH INCORRECTLY REFERENCES
THE BILL TITLE, THE CURRENT
PRESENTATION TITLE SHOULD READ
PRESENTATION ON COUNCIL BILLS
TREND 20 AND 119906 AFRICA
TOWN PROPERTY LEASE AND CENTRAL
AREA CENTER PROPERTY TRANSFER.
AGAIN, A SMALL ERROR BUT THE
CLERK'S OFFICE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE I CORRECTED THAT FOR THE
RECORD.
AGAIN PRESENTERS FOR THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT SENIOR CENTER
PROPERTY TRANSFER INCLUDE THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER AND
WE WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION ON
FIRE STATION SIX PROPERTY LEASE
TO AFRICA TOWN COMMUNITY LAND
AND WE WILL BE JOINED BY THE
DIRECTOR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AND I READ
THROUGH THE LIST OF THE AFRICA
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID I WILL
HANDED OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA THE SPONSOR OF THESE
COUNCIL BILLS AND OFFER AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BEFORE THE
PRESENTATION AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD
MORNING.
MY EXCITEMENT PALES IN
COMPARISON TO THE EXCITEMENT
MANY ON THIS BRIEFING ARE
FEELING AFTER YEARS OF WORKING
ON THIS EFFORT SO IT'S REALLY
EXCITING TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM
THE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS PUSHING FOR THESE
TRANSFERS AND ACTIONS.
WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS ON TWO
PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
COUNCIL BILL 119905
AUTHORIZING LONG-TERM LEASE FOR
THE OLD FIRE STATION TO AFRICA
TOWN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST FOR
THE CREATION OF THE CULTURAL
CENTER.
AND COUNCIL BILL 119906
AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER FROM
THE CITY TO THE ORGANIZATION TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE SERVICES
PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY FOR
OVER 50 YEARS.
THESE LEGISLATION CAME TO THE
COUNCIL AND TO OUR BODY FOR
DELIBERATION THAT IT WAS AFTER
WE HAD BEGUN IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS.
SO RECOGNIZING WE HAVE ASKED
COUNCILMEMBERS TO PUT VARIOUS
LEGISLATION ON HOLD DURING THE
BUDGET, WE APPRECIATE THE WORK
DONE WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THESE
ORGANIZATIONS DID NOT HAVE TO
WAIT ANYMORE.
THERE HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS
MANY YEARS OF THEIR EFFORTS
TRYING TO MAKE SURE LEGISLATION
WOULD MOVE FORWARD SO TODAY IS
A BRIEFING INSTEAD OF IN ONE OF
THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
MOVING FORWARD AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE AND NOT ADDING TO THE
WEIGHT EXPERIENCED BY MANY
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS TODAY.
WE ARE EXPEDITING WHILE
PROVIDING THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO
DELIBERATE AND FOR THE PUBLIC
TO ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE LEGISLATION AND WHY WE ARE
MOVING FORWARD HOPEFULLY WITH
SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL TO
ENACT THESE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
FOLLOWED BY THIS BRIEFING WILL
HAVE A FULL COUNCIL VOTE
SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2nd SO I
WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY
KNOWS TIMELINE SO IF YOU HAVE
THOUGHTS OR FEEDBACK JUST LIKE
A NORMAL COMMITTEE MEETING YOU
CAN SEND THOSE TO
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY
BECAUSE WE WILL BE TAKING
ACTION NOVEMBER 2nd.
SO WE ARE HOPING FOR ALL OF YOU
TO ASK QUESTIONS BUT THIS IS
THE CHANCE FOR US.
WE WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR WORKING TO CARVE
OUT THIS TIME.
WE KNOW TIME IS LIMITED BUT AS
WE ARE HEARING MORE ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION YOU WILL SEE HOW
THIS TIES INTO THE LEGISLATION
THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PASSED.
LAST MONTH WE PASSED
LEGISLATION TRANSFERRING
PROPERTY TO THE ORGANIZATION
AND THESE TRANSFERS ALLOW FOR
ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE THE
ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND
DIRECT CONTROL OVER WHAT
HAPPENS ON THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO THIS TRANSFER ALLOWED FOR
THE SITES THAT HAD BEEN
OCCUPYING THE COMMUNITY AREA TO
BE ABLE, MANY DECADES TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF
TRANSFERRING THE SITE TO THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND I
HAD BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE
NICHOLSON ADMINISTRATION.
IN 2018 THE COUNCIL PASSED A
RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THE
TRANSFER OF THESE PROPERTIES
THAT HAVE MUTUAL AND OFFSETTING
BENEFITS TO LEASE THEM TO THE
ORGANIZATIONS RESIDING ON THE
FACILITIES NO LATER THAN MARCH
2019.
HERE WE ARE OCTOBER 2020, A
LONG PROCESS AND I'M EXCITED TO
HEAR ABOUT THE SITES, THE
MECHANISMS OF TRANSFER AND
MAKING SURE THE ORGANIZATIONS
HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR PLANS.
LASTLY I NOTED ON 119905 THE
LONG-TERM LEASE OF THE OLD FIRE
STATION SIX, WE ARE EXCITED TO
HAVE AFRICA TOWN FLOORS
FINANCIAL AND PLEASE COME AGAIN
IN ADDITION TO EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVES.
AND ON COUNCIL BILL 119906 THE
TRANSFER OF THE CULTURAL AREA
SENIOR CENTER WE WILL HEAR FROM
THE PRESENTERS FROM THE CENTRAL
AREA SENIOR CENTER AND AGAIN WE
HAVE THE DEPARTMENT
REPRESENTATIVES AND WITH THAT
REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR FROM
COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
REMEMBER FOLKS NOVEMBER 2nd IS
THE FINAL VOTE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING
MORE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE AGENDA DOES INDICATE WE ARE
SLATED TO RUN WITH THIS
PRESENTATION UNTIL 10:15 A.M.
HOWEVER WE DID GET STARTED A
LITTLE LATE AS WE WERE RUNNING
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND MAKING
SURE WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE
THE PRESENTATION.
SO WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
RUN THROUGH THESE PRESENTATIONS
UNTIL AT LEAST 10:30 IN THE
MORNING.
MY HOPE IS WE WILL GET THROUGH
ALL OF THEM BY THEN SO WE CAN
DO THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA
THIS MORNING.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND I
UNDERSTAND YOU'RE MAKING INITIAL
REMARKS. I WILL GO AHEAD AND
HANDED OVER TO YOU AND THEN
REALLY QUICKLY, EITHER
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA OR
OTHERS CAN YOU PROVIDE THE
VIEWING AUDIENCE AND OUR GUESTS
A RUN OF SHOW IN TERMS OF WHICH
WILL YOU WANT TO GO FIRST.
>> IF IT PLEASES THE PRESIDENT
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE COUNCIL
BILL 119905 WHICH IS THE
AFRICA TOWN TRANSFER FIRST AND
THEN COUNCIL BILL 119906 THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER
SECOND.
>> GRADE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
DO THE ORDER.
OKAY HANDING IT OVER PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD AND MAKE YOUR REMARKS
AND THEN YOU CAN HANDED OVER TO
THE GOOD FOLKS WHO ARE WITH US
RELATED TO COUNCIL BILL 119905.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU AND I WILL BE VERY
BRIEF.
THERE PEOPLE SPENDING MORE TIME
ON THESE PROJECTS THAN I HAVE
BUT JUST TO STATE THE BORING
STUFF, COUNCIL BILL 119905 IS
A 99 YEAR LEASE UNDER A
MUTUALLY OFFSETTING BENEFITS
AGREEMENT WITH AFRICA TOWN SO
IT WOULD PROVIDE AFRICA TOWN
WITH A LANDMARK FIRE STATION
STRUCTURE THAT IS AT -- IN THE
CENTRAL AREA OF 99 YEARS.
IN THE PROGRAMMING THAT AFRICA
TOWN WILL PROVIDE WILL OFFSET
THE RENT THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE
CHARGED FOR THAT FACILITY.
THE CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER
PROJECT, THE CASC HAS BEEN
OPERATING UNDER MUTUALLY
OFFSETTING AGREEMENT FOR
DECADES NOW AND THAT
LEGISLATION WOULD TRANSFER THE
PROPERTY TO THE SENIOR CENTER
SO THAT THEY WOULD OWN THE
PROPERTY OUTRIGHT.
SO THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE PROJECTS THEY ARE IN
DIFFERENT STAGES, ONE HAS BEEN
ACTIVE FOR A LONG TIME AND THE
OTHER IS A NEW PROJECT, A NEW
IDEA THE CITY IS HOPING TO GET
OFF THE GROUND WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
SO I WILL TRANSFER OVER TO THE
DIRECTOR TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBERS.
DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT AND
NEIGHBORHOODS, HAVING US ON
BEHALF OF THE MAYOR ON THESE
IMPORTANT ACTIONS I WILL ALSO
BE BRIEF AS WE WANT TO GET OVER
TO THE COMMUNITY PORTION OF THE
CONVERSATION.
A BIG THANK YOU TO COMMUNITY
PARTNERS ON THE PHONE WORKING
TIRELESSLY WITH US TO DEVELOP
THESE AGREEMENTS AS
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA SHARED.
REPRESENTING MANY MONTHS AND
YEARS OF CONVERSATIONS, THANK
YOU TO STAFF WHO ALONG WITH THE
COMMUNITY WORKED TO PUT
TOGETHER THESE ORGANIZATIONAL
CRITERIA'S TO MOVE US FORWARD
AFTER YEARS OF CONVERSATION.
THIS CONTINUES THE WORK THAT
FOLLOWED THE TRANSFER AND
HOPEFULLY SOON WE WILL SEE
TRANSFER DOCUMENTS FOR THE
GREENWOOD SENIOR CENTER.
STAFF ARE IN ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SOUTH
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AS
WELL AS WE KNOW THERE ARE
ADDITIONAL MUTUAL AND
OFFSETTING BENEFITS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
MY COLLEAGUES WILL GIVE A MORE
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE
TRANSFER DOCUMENTS AND
AGREEMENTS BUT TO OFFER A FEW
COMMENTS WE KNOW AND THE
COMMUNITY HAS TOLD US WHEN WE
PUT WEALTH ASSETS AND CAPACITY
IN THE HANDS OF COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITIES CAN GROW,
ORGANIZATIONS CAN BECOME
SUSTAINABLE AND WE AS A CITY
CAN FIGHT DISPLACEMENT.
WE FEEL WE HAVE TAKEN CONCRETE
STEPS TO DO THAT, THIS PROTECTS
AND ESTABLISHES HISTORIC AND
LONG-STANDING SERVICES FOR
SENIORS IN THE BROADER
COMMUNITY.
IT REALLY ESTABLISHES NEW
PROGRAMMING THAT IS INNOVATIVE
WITHIN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT SO
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COLLEAGUES FROM OPC.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE.
THE INITIATIVE AND DIVISION
MANAGER AND I WANT TO ECHO THE
EXCITEMENT EVERYBODY HAS STATED
AROUND TRANSFERRING PROPERTY TO
COMMUNITIES TO BUILD COMMUNITY
WEALTH AND THE FIRE STATION SIX
HAS BEEN ONE OF THESE,
SPECIFICALLY THE INITIAL
DEMONSTRATED PROJECT WHICH
MEETS THROUGH THE EQUITY DRIVERS
IN ECONOMIC AND MOBILITY,
BUILDING ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND
PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT
COMMERCIAL CULTURAL AND
RESIDENTIAL DISPLACEMENT AND
FINALLY BUILDING ON CULTURAL
ASSETS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY A LOT TO
INVITE MY COLLEAGUE WHO LED THE
LEGISLATION ON FIRE STATION SIX
TO DO THE PRESENTATION FOR THIS
LEGISLATION.
TAKE IT OVER.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS PROPOSAL IS LEGISLATIVE
ACTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR
OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE YOU A REAL PROPERTY
LEASE WITH AFRICA TOWN.
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
WILLIAM GROSS CENTER FOR
CULTURAL INNOVATION AND FIRE
STATION SIX LOCATED AT 101,
23rd AVENUE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
IS TO SUPPORT REPRODUCING OF
THE FORMER FIRE STATION SIX AS
THE CENTER SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES CREATIVE
ENTREPRENEURS IN CREATING
PATHWAYS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE-
BASED ECONOMY CONSISTENT WITH
GOALS OF THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND THE EDI
INITIATIVE ESTABLISHED IN 2015
IS A MULTI-DEPARTMENT EFFORT
COORDINATED BY PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF MARGINALIZED
POPULATIONS TO REDUCE
DISPARITIES AND CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS QUALITY
EDUCATION, LIVING WAGE JOBS,
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS MENTIONED.
THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE EDI
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IN 2006. A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT AFRICA LAND
TOWN TRUST.
IS ONE OF THE DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS AFRICA TOWN COMMUNITY
LAND TRUST WAS FORMED TO
ACQUIRE, STEWARD AND DEVELOP
LAND ASSETS NECESSARY FOR THE
BLACK AFRICAN COMMUNITY TO GROW
AND THRIVE IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AS WELL AS A BORE
OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS WITH RETENTION
AND DEVELOPMENT OF LAND.
FORMED IN 2016 FOLLOWING A
HISTORIC INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CENTRAL
AREA COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
PRIVATE OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS
OF THE MIDTOWN CENTER.
THE AGREEMENT CULMINATED FROM
THE WORK OF THE HUMAN UNION
STREET STATION BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION AND AFRICA TOWN
STAKEHOLDERS TO FACILITATE
INCLUSIVE HERITAGE RICH
DEVELOPMENT AT THE MIDTOWN
CENTER INCLUDING COMMUNITY AND
SMALL BUSINESS SPACES AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE.
SPEAKING TO THE CENTER AFRICA
TOWN HAS RECEIVED 1.15 MILLION
IN EDI GRANTS TO CREATE THE
CENTER FOR CULTURAL INNOVATION
INTENDED TO BE A CATALYST TO
SUPPORT THE BLACK COMMUNITY
RICHEST HISTORY WHICH HAS BEEN
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY LOCAL
STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES AND
PRIVATE SECTOR PRACTICES.
THE CENTER WAS AN EARLY PIONEER
IN SEATTLE AND SUCCESSFUL
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR,
AFTER HELPING SLAVES ESCAPE AND
ESTABLISH A SETTLEMENT HE
ARRIVED AS ONE OF THE FIRST FEW
HUNDRED PEOPLE IN WHAT IS NOW
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE ACTIVITIES WILL HELP REPAIR
SOME OF THE HARM THAT PAST
POLICIES AND PRACTICES HAVE
BEEN CREATED AND TO ADVANCE
COMMUNITY SO DETERMINATION.
SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES WILL BE
PROVIDED AT WGC INCLUDING
SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE MARKETING ASSISTANCE
AND TRAINING EMPLOYMENT AND
TECHNICAL SKILLS IN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
LASTLY BUT NOT LEAST
CELEBRATION AND ENRICHMENT OF
BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN
CULTURE AND HERITAGE.
THE LAST BIT I WILL SHARE THE
CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY AS STATED
INCLUDING HISTORIC BUILDINGS
KNOWN AS FIRE STATION SIX AND
WGC INTENDS TO ACTIVATE THIS
SPACE WITH THAT STATED
INTENTION.
I WILL NOT GO ANY FURTHER, I
DON'T WANT TO GO ON ANY FURTHER
I THINK I WILL PASS IT ON TO
ACOT.
>> WE WILL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT
OVER TO OUR GUESTS TO GO AHEAD
AND WALK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY
PORTION OF THIS CONVERSATION.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS
AND STAFF.
THANK YOU, WE'RE GLAD TO BE
HERE TODAY.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY.
A LOT OF WORK WITH OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER THE
YEARS, OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
MUCH APPRECIATION, SHE JUST
TOOK OFF HALF OF MY
PRESENTATION SO THAT'S GREAT.
AND DEFINITELY, TO THE MAYOR
AND THE STAFF AS WELL FOR
GETTING THIS PROCESS MOVING AT
THIS CRITICAL TIME.
SO WITH THAT I WILL SHARE THE
SCREEN AND GOING TO OUR
PRESENTATION.
JUST FOR THE RECORD IT WILL BE
MYSELF AND I WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
-- WILL NOT BE ABLE TO JOIN US
TODAY DUE TO HIS SCHEDULING
CONFLICT.
OKAY ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE?
>> YEAH, IT LOOKS GOOD.
>> YES, THE VISION AND
OPPORTUNITY TO REPURPOSE THE
FORMER FIRE STATION SIX AS THE
WILLIAM GROSE CENTER FOR
CULTURAL INNOVATION.
YOU HEARD ABOUT WILLIAM GROSE,
HE PURCHASED 12 ACRES OF LAND
IN 1822 AND BEGAN TO PARTITION
HIS LAND OFF TO OTHER BLACKS
THAT WERE SETTLING HERE WHICH
IS WHAT EFFECTIVELY ESTABLISHED
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AS AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE
COMMUNITY.
HE WAS FOLLOWED BY MANY OTHER
PIONEERS OR AFRICAN-AMERICANS
COMING FROM THE SOUTH, MOSTLY
FLEEING THE JIM CROW POST
SLAVERY SHARECROPPER SOCIETY,
SEEKING BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE,
SAFETY, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
AND THIS GREAT MIGRATION WE
KNOW OF HAPPENED AT THE HIGHEST
LEVEL AROUND WORLD WAR II WHEN
MANY PEOPLE CAME FOR THE
SHIPYARD, BOEING OR TIME
ECONOMY JOBS.
SO WHEN THEY CAME AGAIN, THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT IN SEATTLE HAD
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF JIM CROW
RACISM IN THE FORM OF HOUSING
RESTRICTIONS WHERE PEOPLE COULD
LIVE AND BUY SO BLACKS WERE
SETTLED IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
ALONGSIDE OTHER COMMUNITIES,
DESPITE THOSE CONDITIONS ARE
VERY RICH COMMUNITY GROUP.
CREATORS, MAKERS, INNOVATORS
AND ENTREPRENEURS.
WE KNOW THE LEGACY, THE JAZZ
LEGACY IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
FROM JACKSON STREET TO MADISON
STREET GIVING US FOLKS OR
LEGENDS SHOULD WE SAY LIKE
QUINCY JONES, RAY CHARLES, JIMI
HENDRIX, CREATIVE'S LIKE WAR
KNOWN ARTISTS AND FOLKS LIKE
OCTAVIAN BUTLER AND CONTINUING
LEGACIES LIKE ISHMAEL BUTLER.
SEATTLE HAS GROWN.
WE LOOK AROUND AND RECEIVE MANY
CRANES, EVERYWHERE WE WILL SEE
MANY STATISTICS SUCH AS THOSE
OUTLINED HERE, AROUND IT BEING
A ROBUST AND THRIVING ECONOMY.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT SEEN
OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN
HERE ALMOST 140 YEARS BENEFITING
AND GROWING AT THE SAME RATE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT SEATTLE 2035
PLAN WE ACTUALLY DID NOT SEE
OUR COMMUNITY, THE LEGACY OF
THOSE THAT WERE FOREMENTIONED.
MY CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN OF MY
PEERS AS PART OF THIS FUTURE.
WE HAVE SEEN THE TRENDS AND
STATISTICS WHICH ILLUSTRATE
WHAT WE HAVE IN SEATTLE
CURRENTLY IS A STATE OF MODERN-
DAY JIM CROW APARTHEID. WHEN WE
LOOK AT APARTHEID THE ROOT WORD
BEING A PART IN THE COMMUNITY
BEING SYSTEMATICALLY, OVER TIME
THROUGH VARIOUS POLICIES AND
PRACTICES BEING KEPT APART FROM
YOUR WE CAN SEE THE IMMEDIATE
INCOME GAP ALMOST OR MORE THAN
DOUBLE. WE LOOK AT THE WEALTH
GAP, ALMOST HALF $1 MILLION IN
DIFFERENCE.
BUT AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS IS DUE
TO THE LACK OF PARTICIPATION IN
THE ECONOMIC GROWTH, THE
VARIOUS INDUSTRY SECTORS THAT
HAVE DRIVEN THE GROWTH OVER THE
LAST 30 TO 40 YEARS.
SO SOME OF THE KEY PROBLEMS
THAT WE SEE IS THE EDUCATION
THAT COMMUNITY HAVE RECEIVED
AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN PREPARING
YOU FOR THESE INDUSTRY SECTORS
OR ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
TO-DATE THEY LACK THE KNOWLEDGE
AND CAPITAL TO GROW IN SCALE.
THERE IS VERY'S EMPLOYMENT FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN
VICTIMS OF CRIMINALIZATION,
THOSE POLICIES WITH MASS
INCARCERATION, WE SEE THAT 40%
OF JOBS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO
BE REPLACED BY AUTOMATION AND
THE McKINSEY STUDY SHOWS THAT
WOULD HIT THE BLACK MALE THE
HARDEST WE KNOW IMMIGRANT
REFUGEE COMMUNITIES HAVE
BARRIERS TO THE JOB MARKET AS
WELL AS GROWING BUSINESSES
BEYOND COMMUNITIES.
THE CURRENT SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN
FRAGMENTED AND INCONSISTENT
OVER TIME AND COVID-19 HAS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED OUR
COMMUNITY TO ONLY FURTHER
EXACERBATE THE EXISTING GAPS
THAT EXISTED PRIOR.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE STARTUP
INITIATIVE, WE UNDERSTAND MANY
TECH STARTUPS, THE LARGE
ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES SUCH AS
MICROSOFT AND AMAZON AND THEN
THE MANY SPINOFFS FROM THOSE
BUSINESSES, OUR COMMUNITY HAS
NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE ECONOMY.
1% OF FUNDING GOING TO BLACK
FOUNDERS, EVEN LESS, 2%
REPORTEDLY GOING TO BLACK WOMEN
FOUNDERS AND ACCORDING TO
VARIOUS STUDIES, BLACK NET WORTH
AND WEALTH IS PREDICTED TO GO
TO ZERO.
IF THERE IS NOT COURSE
CORRECTION AND SIGNIFICANT
DIRECTION DISRUPTION OF THE
CURRENT STATUS QUO AND AGAIN
COVID-19 ONLY EXACERBATES THESE
ISSUES.
SO, OVER TIME THROUGH VARIOUS
INITIATIVES, THIS PROJECT IS
EIGHT YEARS IN DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND HAVE USED
INITIATIVES LIKE BACK IN 2014
STARTING THE BLACK SEATTLE
IMAGINE AFRICA TOWN COMMUNITY
PLANNING INITIATIVE THAT IS
ONGOING.
BLACK DOT WHICH WAS LAUNCHED AS
A PILOT POP UP CO-WORKING IN
INCUBATOR SPACE IN 2015 AND IS
STILL PROVIDING SERVICES AND
RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE 23rd ACTION PLAN, THE
REVITALIZATION PLAN AND PROCESS
FOR THE HISTORICAL CENTRAL ARTS
AND CULTURAL DISTRICT HAVE ALL
PROVIDED INSIGHTS INTO WHAT
SOLUTIONS WE NEED WHEN
VALIDATING THOSE THOUGHTS AND
PROPOSALS WHEN ENVISIONING THE
WILLIAM GROSE.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
IMAGINE A TEAM OF TWO 12-YEAR-
OLD COFOUNDERS USING A SEWING
MACHINE AND A 3-D PRINTER TO
DESIGN A HOODIE LACED WITH
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY OR HIGH
SCHOOL SENIOR STOPPING BY THE
WILLIAM GROSE TO GET ASSISTANCE
TO CREATE AN APP. THESE ARE THE
TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES WE
ENVISION AT THE WILLIAM GROSE
CENTER. BIGGER THAN JUST THE
CENTER WE LOOK AT THIS AS A
CATALYST AND EPICENTER WHICH
WILL PROVIDE FOR STEWARDSHIP
FOR TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITY
THROUGH CULTURAL INNOVATION.
SO IN THE DISTRICT WE KNOW WE
DON'T WANT TO BE JUST MUSEUM
PIECES OR MURALS, STATUES AND
PLAQUES IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT INNOVATION
DISTRICTS SUCH AS SOUTH LAKE
UNION AND UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON ARE LOOKED AT AS
BEING ESSENTIAL TO THE ECONOMY
IN MOVING THE ECONOMY FORWARD.
SO WE LOOK AT HOW DO WE CONNECT
THE GENIUS AND THE BRILLIANCE
THAT HAS BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY,
THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION WHICH
IS MAKING A WAY OUT OF NO WAY.
WORKING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
OFTEN LESS IS WHAT OUR
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN FORCED OUT OF
AND MANY TIME AND TIME AGAIN
HAVE CREATED TREMENDOUS VALUE
WHICH HAS BENEFITED MANY
OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY BUT NOT
OUR COMMUNITY AS MUCH WHEN WE
SPEAK TO DRIVING POP-CULTURE WE
THINK ABOUT THE MUSIC.
FROM JAZZ TO RHYTHM AND BLUES
TO HIP-HOP TO ELECTRONIC AND
ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ASPECTS SO
WE LOOK AT AFRICA TOWN AS AN
ASSET BASED COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND FIRE
STATION SIX IS A PLACE OF
CONVENING AND STEWARDING A
LARGER ECOSYSTEM THAT WE WILL
PROVIDE FOR PATHWAYS FROM PRE-
CAKE ALL THE WAY THROUGH
WORKFORCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND
BACK TO MENTOR AND AND ACTUALLY
INVESTING BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND AGAIN MAKING SURE
THERE IS A CONNECTED ECOSYSTEM
THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN
ACTUALLY MATRICULATE THROUGH
AND THAT THOSE RESOURCES ARE
PRESENT EACH STEP OF THE JOURNEY
SO THEY CAN GET TO THE
DESTINATION OF ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABILITY AS INDIVIDUALS
AND THEN MORE SO AS A COMMUNITY
COLLECTIVELY.
SO THE WILLIAM GROSE WOULD BE A
HUB FOR INNOVATION THAT HAS
BEEN AND CONTINUES TAKING
PLACE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
WE LOOK AT KEY THINGS,
CONNECTION, POINTS OF VALUE OF
CULTURE COMMUNITY INNOVATION
TECHNOLOGY AND ENTERPRISE. A
ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PATHWAYS TO
EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND
ENTREPRENEURSHIP. A SPACE FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES TO INCUBATE
AND PILOT BUSINESS IDEAS AND
RECEIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
NEEDED TO GROW AND DEVELOP AND
ALSO SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
A SPACE FOR REGULAR MEETINGS,
GATHERINGS, NETWORKING,
COMMUNITY, CULTURE BUILDING
AROUND TECHNOLOGY, ENTERPRISE
AND EMPOWERMENT.
WHO WILL WE SERVE?
YOU THIN YOUNG ADULTS,
CREATIVE'S, ENTREPRENEURS,
EXISTING LOCAL BUSINESSES,
TECHNOLOGISTS, COMMUNITY
BUILDERS, UNEMPLOYED,
UNDEREMPLOYED, IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES, PREVIOUSLY
INCARCERATED.
WE THINK BRINGING PEOPLE
TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT WALKS
OF LIFE AND DIFFERENT SKILLS
PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
GREATER OUTCOMES.
YOU HEARD PREVIOUSLY THIS
PROJECT IS IN THE EQUITABLE
INITIATIVE DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT.
WE STARTED THE IN 2016 AND NOW
WE FACE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN
BRINGING THIS TO REALITY SO NOW
WE HOPE EVERYONE CAN EMBRACE
THE URGENCY PARTICULARLY AS WE
ARE IN THIS, IN THE MIDDLE OF A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT HAS
DEVASTATED ECONOMIES AND EVEN
AS WE'RE DOING THIS MEETING IN
A MUCH DIFFERENT WAY.
SO HOW DO WE GIVE COMMUNITY,
BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS
REALLY CLEAR PATHWAYS TO THE
FUTURE AND BEING ECONOMICALLY
SUSTAINABLE SO WE CAN HAVE A
FUTURE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND IN THE SEATTLE THE HONORS
PASSED AND HELPS YOU TO BECOME
A WORLD-CLASS CITY THAT'S
INCLUSIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES OF
THE WORLD THAT HAVE MADE IT A
CITY NOT A ONE CLASS CITY
EXCLUSIVE TO WHITE, HEALTHY,
HIGH WAGE PRIMARILY BUT THAT'S
THE CURRENT TRAJECTORY WE ARE
ON.
SOME OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN
DONE INCLUDES HACK-ATHON,
DESIGN WEEKENDS, CAREER
INTEGRATORS AND CAREER AND
TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION AND
REALLY THE FOCUS OVER THE LAST
SIX MONTHS HAS BEEN AROUND
COVID-19 WITH ASSISTANCE TO THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SO WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
LET PEOPLE KNOW THERE IS MUCH
OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED TO
HELP MAKE THIS A REALITY AND
MAKE THIS A VEHICLE TO THE
FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY SO
THAT IS ADVISING STRATEGIC
PARTNERS WITH TECH MENTORS,
STRATEGIC PARTNERS OBVIOUSLY
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND
FUNDRAISING.
SO WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
PASS IT OVER TO THE STATE AND
REALLY OUR FACE OF AFRICA TOWN
. AS MANY PEOPLE SEE.
>> A GREAT PRESENTATION AND
GREAT HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
INTO WHY WILLIAM GROSE CENTER
IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
FOR ME I WILL START A LITTLE
BIT WITH MY BACKGROUND.
I STARTED MODELING AND ACTING
WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD IN
BELLEVUE AT ABC KIDS AND TEENS
AND I HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY TO
BELLEVUE.
I WAS A CENTRAL DISTRICT KID
AND RESIDENT. HEARING THE
COMMERCIAL ON THE RADIO SPIKED
MY INTEREST TO SAY THAT WHERE I
CAN GO LEARN AND TRAIN.
I ENDED UP TRAINING AS ONE OF
THE ONLY BLACK GIRLS IN MY CREW
IN MY COHORT TRYING TO LEARN
ABOUT HOW TO INTRODUCE MYSELF
TO THE WORLD.
AS A STAR.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
HOW DO YOU EMBRACE YOUR OWN
IDENTITY WHEN YOU ARE THE ONLY
ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU IN THIS
SPACE?
YOU'RE BEING TOP BY A BUNCH OF
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LOOK LIKE YOU
OR WHO HAVE LIVED YOUR
EXPERIENCE.
SO HEARING ABOUT WILLIAM GROSE
CENTER , FOR ME I THINK ABOUT
MY JOURNEY.
TAKING THAT FROM NINE YEARS
OLD, MOVING IT INTO THEATER AND
DOING ABOUT GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL REALLY CEMENTING MY LOVE
FOR CREATIVE ARTS, FINDING MY
VOICE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA,
BEHIND THE CAMERA, STAGE
MANAGING AND DIRECTING.
TAKING THAT EXPERIENCE TO OTHER
PLACES, CREATING A TRAUMA TROOP
AND TAKING THAT EXPERIENCE TO
HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND GETTING
RIGHT INTO THE THEATER PROGRAM
BECAUSE I WAS TRAINED.
I HAD THE SKILLS AND THEY
RECOGNIZED RIGHT AWAY. FOR ME
AT HOWARD I WAS LIKE I AM HERE
WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT LOOK
LIKE ME WHO HAVE LOVE AND
PASSION FOR CREATIVITY, FOR
CONTENT CREATION.
TO VISION SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
WANTING TO CREATE A CINEMATIC
EXPERIENCE FOR THE AUDIENCE
THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET.
THERE I EXPLODED, WHEN I CAME
BACK AND CONCENTRATED ON MY
STUDIES AT UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON TACOMA I WAS ABLE TO
TAKE THE TRAINING INTO
PRODUCTION IN A SERIOUS WAY.
SO I BRING THAT EXPENSE WITH ME
TO AFRICA TOWN COMMUNITY LAND
TRUST.
REALLY CEMENTING SO MUCH OF MY
LOVE AND KNOWLEDGE FOR MY
COMMUNITY BY TAKING MY
EXPERIENCE AND PRODUCING A
DOCUMENTARY ON GENTRIFICATION,
SPECIFICALLY IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, INTERVIEWING SO MANY
CENTRAL DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHO
EXPERIENCE WHAT MY FAMILY DID
IN 2003.
BEING RIPPED AWAY FROM THE PLACE
I WAS FAMILIAR WITH AND
BRINGING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO
AFRICA TOWN AND SEEING THE
VISION AT WILLIAM GROSE CENTER.
THERE IS A DIRECT PATHWAY
NEEDED IN TERMS OF A CREATIVE
WORLD FOR STUDENTS, BLACK
STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR THAT I
HAD TO CARVE OUT FOR MYSELF.
THERE WAS ONE PROGRAM I GARFIELD
THAT ALLOWED ME TO FLOURISH.
THAT PROGRAM IS NOT REALLY
THERE ANYMORE, IT'S NOT THE
SAME.
THEY HAVE TAKEN SO MUCH MONEY
OUT OF THE ARTS AND PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS THAT THE YOUTH DO
NOT HAVE ENOUGH AVENUES AND
PATHWAYS TO FIND OUT HOW TO
EXPLORE THE ARTS AND THE
CREATIVE ARTS IN A WAY THAT
TAKES IT AND INFUSES IT WITH
TECHNOLOGY.
WE SEE THAT NOW.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON ZOOM.
MAYBE THERE'S A NEW CREATIVE
WAY TO DO THESE MEETINGS BUT
THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPACE FOR
SOMEONE INNOVATIVE ENOUGH TO BE
ABLE TO EXPLORE WHAT THAT WOULD
LOOK LIKE.
AND THEN MENTOR AND GUIDE IT IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO THEY CAN
SEE THIS IS HOW I CAN DO THAT
CODE THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WAY
WE COMMUNICATE VIRTUALLY NOW
THAT WE HAVE TO BECAUSE OF
COVID.
THERE IS INNOVATION THAT CAN BE
HAD AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
BRINGING IN CREATIVE ARTS,
CONTENT CREATION, TO BE
PRODUCTION, ALL THE THINGS I DO
NOW WITH MEDIA INFUSING IT WITH
THE WORK I DO WITH AFRICA TOWN
AND THE NEW COALITION OF KING
COUNTY EQUITY NOW.
IT IS INSPIRING FOR ME AND I
WANT TO GIVE INSPIRATION TO THE
NEXT GENERATION AND WE NEED TO
PUT THAT IN PLACE AND WILLIAM
GROSE CENTER WOULD BE JUST THAT
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
TIME.
I WILL PASS IT ON TO THE NEXT
INDIVIDUAL.
THANK YOU GUYS.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING
ON THOSE CREATIVE POINTS ON
INNOVATION AND HOW THOSE MEAT
OFTEN IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN
SEATTLE.
I THINK AT DIFFERENT POINTS FOR
ME, I AM A CREATIVE AND THE
INSTITUTIONS THAT WERE ABLE TO
PREPARE ME TO BE A PROFESSIONAL
AND I CATERED TO NOT ONLY MY
LIVED EXPERIENCE BUT CATERED TO
MY FUTURE PERSPECTIVE, DREAMS,
HOPES AND GOALS.
INSTITUTIONS LIKE LANGSTON
HUGHES PERFORMING ARTS WHICH
HAD PROGRAMS THAT WERE THERE
FOR YOUTH THAT LOOKED LIKE ME.
HEARTS AND MINDS IS ANOTHER
PROGRAM THEY HAD.
SPACES I CAN GO TO LIKE ODESSA
BROWN.
BEING A GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATE, BEING A FIFTH-
GENERATION CENTRAL DISTRICT
BORN AND RAISED, MIGRATE
GRANDFATHER AND HIS FAMILY
CREATED AN ECOSYSTEM SO I WAS
ABLE TO GET PART OF THAT BUT
THIS TWENTY-YEAR CHANGE BETWEEN
2000 AND 2020, I RECOGNIZED MY
YOUNGER SISTER WHO IS JUST
HITTING HIGH SCHOOL HAS NONE OF
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEEK
INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION.
TO SHARPEN IRON WITH IRON, TO
SEE OTHERS WHO CAN ACCOMPLISH
AND PHYSICALLY MENTOR HER.
HAVE SO MANY MENTORS IN THIS
COMMUNITY, THEM THEMSELVES DO
NOT HAVE INSTITUTIONS TO GET
BACK THE WAY THEY WERE ABLE TO
GET TO ME.
I AM IN A POSITION TO GET BACK.
I AM A PROFESSIONAL DANCER, A
LICENSED COSMETOLOGIST, I GOT
MY LICENSE FROM SOMEWHERE NOT
AVAILABLE TO MY COMMUNITY.
I HAVE MENTORS THAT WERE MY
INSTRUCTORS THAT WERE
CONSTANTLY FINDING NEW WAYS TO
INNOVATE AND CREATE A SPACE FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE I WANT TO
DO WHAT YOU DO SO HOW DID YOU
GET THERE?
THERE IS NO ROADMAP ANYMORE
BECAUSE OF DEVASTATION TO THE
COMMUNITY.
SO I SEE MYSELF AT THE WILLIAM
GROSE CENTER BEING A MENTOR,
ALSO CONTINUING TO BE INCUBATED
IN MY COMMUNITY, BEING
STRETCHED IN MY COMMUNITY
BECAUSE I KNOW MY COMMUNITY HAS
MORE TO OFFER ME BUT I KNOW IT
STARTS WHERE YOU ARE.
YOU CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL
ANYWHERE IF YOU CAN'T BE
SUCCESSFUL ON YOUR OWN TWO
FEET, IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU AND
PEOPLE YOU SEE EVERY DAY.
IF THEY CANNOT REACH YOU AND
GIVE YOU NURTURE THEN YOU
CANNOT SPREAD YOUR WINGS IN
ANOTHER PLACE.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PLACES
LIKE WILLIAM GROSE CENTER AND
WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE CAMPUS , I
THINK OF A COMMUNITY THAT IS
BEING REVIVED AND THE FRUITS OF
THAT LABOR, THE FRUITS OF BEING
REINVIGORATED WILL BLESS THE
WHOLE CITY.
AND WE HAVE SEEN IT BY THE
GRADES THAT WE LOOK UP TO,
THEIR OWN INNOVATION, TENACITY
AND WILL TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO MAKING IT HAPPEN FOR THE
PAST 20 YEARS WITH LITTLE TO
NOTHING AND GETTING THINGS
TAKEN AWAY FROM US I AM EXCITED
TO SEE OUR CITY COME TOGETHER
AND SAY THIS IS THE NEED, THIS
IS A PROBLEM AND WE'RE GOING TO
ADDRESS IT SOME PEOPLE LIKE ME
CAN STAY HERE AND SUSTAIN
ONESELF AND I CAN OFFER
SOMETHING TO THE CITY AND OFF
ALEC AFTER MOVED TO LOS ANGELES
YOU KNOW I HAVE MOVED ALL OVER
THE NATION TO FIND A PLACE
BECAUSE MY PLACE HAS BEEN
DISMANTLED AND TAKEN FROM ME
AND I AM SITTING HERE TRYING TO
STAND FOR AND BRING SOMETHING
BACK SO I SHOULD HAVE TO GO
OUTSIDE MY OWN CITY TO GET WHAT
I NEED?
SO I AM JUST EXCITED, REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I THINK
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AND I
WILL PASS IT ON TO ELIJAH IF HE
HAS ANYTHING TO SAY TO THE
WILLIAM GROSE CENTER.
>> THANK YOU, I LOVE TO HEAR
YOUR PASSION AND YOUR STORY.
YOU ARE MY MENTORS SO YOU KNOW
WHAT IT IS.
MY NAME IS ELIZA LEWIS.
I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR, I OWN A
COMPANY OFFERING EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT TO MY COMMUNITY. A
FUNERAL HOME WHICH IS ESSENTIAL
TO THE COMMUNITY IN THIS TIME
HAVING FAMILY MEMBERS WE NEED
TO BE LAID TO REST MAKING SURE
OUR BODIES ARE LAID TO REST IN
THE BEST WAY AND BE REPRESENTE
WITHIN THE.
FLOORS FINANCIAL GROUP ALSO, WE
DO SIX-WEEK WORKSHOPS FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY WHERE
WE ARE REPRESENTED WITHIN OUR
FINANCIAL SEVERITIES AS YOU CAN
SEE.
BEING THROUGH THAT, WE NEED TO
BE REPRESENTED, WE NEED TO BE
SEEN, WE NEED TO HAVE MENTORS
LIKE MYSELF BEING ABLE TO TALK
TO THE YOUTH WHO ARE GOING TO
GO THROUGH THE CORRUPT SYSTEM
AND GOING THROUGH THESE
PREDATORY LENDING'S AND
EVERYTHING ELSE SO WE HAVE A
WORKSHOP WHERE WE TEACH BASIC
FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES TO BE ABLE
SUSTAIN OURSELVES AND BE ABLE
TO GET TO FINANCIAL WEALTH
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I AM A ORGANIZER.
I AM A AFRICA TOWN BABY I LIKE
TO SAY BECAUSE I GRADUATED FROM
THE AFRICA TOWN GRADUATION AND
REALLY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MYSELF.
I HAVE BEEN AN ENTREPRENEUR
SINCE I WAS VERY YOUNG AND I
DID NOT KNOW I WAS AN
ENTREPRENEUR BECAUSE I DID NOT
HAVE ANYONE TO CULTIVATE
MYSELF.
FROM A YOUNG AGE AT FIVE YEARS
OLD I STARTED A LEMONADE STAND
AND I WOULD DO SIDE GIGS FOR
MONEY.
YOU KNOW I WOULD ALWAYS KIND OF
WEATHER WAS A LEMONADE STAND OR
WALKING DOGS I REMEMBER IT WAS
SEEN AS MORE OR LESS THIS IS
HOW I COULD MAKE MONEY.
MY MOM DID NOT REALLY TELL ME I
WAS AN ENTREPRENEUR OR BUSINESS
OWNER.
SHE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS HER
YOUNG SON DOING IT AND I
REMEMBER AT EIGHT YEARS OLD I
DECIDED TO GRANT MYSELF A
DAYCARE AND HAD MY OWN FLYERS
AND I DID MY OWN ADVERTISEMENTS
GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR KNOCKING,
CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS, BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE TOOK
A CHANCE ON ME ALLOWING ME TO
WALK THEIR DOGS.
I WAS MAKING A FEW HUNDRED
DOLLARS A WEEK AT EIGHT YEARS
OLD, BEING INNOVATED AND
INTUBATING INNOVATING MY
CULTURAL GENIUS MYSELF.
I DID NOT HAVE MENTORS TO TELL
ME YOU CAN DO IT, I BELIEVE IN
YOU, YOU ARE GREAT, YOUR
FANTASTIC.
YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR OWN
COMMERCIAL.
I DID NOT REALLY SEE ANY OF
THOSE THINGS BECAUSE I WAS JUST
A KID AND I WAS JUST DOING WHAT
KIDS DO.
WHEN WE FIND A WAY TO GET EXTRA
MONEY AND MAKE IT FUN THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
ORGANICALLY WITHOUT THE SUPPORT
SYSTEM BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE
DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT SYSTEM
IS WE START TO BE TOLD WE NEED
TO BE ADULTS AND ADULTS WORK
REGULAR 9:00 TO 5:00 AND WE'RE
GOING TO REGULAR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND WE DON'T SEE A
SPACE FOR OURSELVES AS
ENTREPRENEURS.
WE'RE TOLD TO WORK AND GO TO
COLLEGE AND DO THESE THINGS SO
WE ARE MADE FOR SOCIETY SO WE
START TO FORGET ABOUT INNER
TALENTS, INNER GIFTS, IN YOUR
LOVE, DREAM AND COMPASSION AND
WE START WORKING REGULAR JOBS
SO THAT'S WHAT I DID AT 14
YEARS OLD.
I WORKED AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER
, A LOT OF THOSE COMMUNITY
CENTERS IN THE PARKS AND
RECREATION.
I DID THE MATH AND I WORKED FOR
ABOUT 600 HOURS, SOMETHING CRAZY
, $600 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
SO I DID THE MATH AND I MADE
FIVE DOLLARS AN HOUR BECAUSE I
WAS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO WORK BUT
I WAS COMMITTED TO KEEP DOING
THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THIS IS ALL
I HAD AT THE TIME.
WE WENT THROUGH HOMELESSNESS
AND SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO
MAKE MONEY.
SO I FINISHED THE PROGRAM AND I
WAS HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CHECK
BECAUSE I WORKED FOR THAT AND I
WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
WHEN I GOT TO THE AGE WHEN I
WAS OLD ENOUGH TO WORK I WOULD
WORK THROUGH THE REGULAR SYSTEM
AND I STARTED GOING TO RACIAL
PROFILING, I STARTED BEING
TARGETED AND I STARTED FIGHTING
MICRO-AGGRESSIONS.
I DID NOT REALIZE THE SYSTEM IN
PLACE TO MAKE ME FAIL, BUT I
KNEW THAT THERE WAS A
DIFFERENCE.
IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS 16
YEARS OLD I WAS GOING TO
SCHOOL, I WAS HOMELESS AND
WORKING THREE JOBS WHILE PLAYING
FOOTBALL AND I WAS FACED WITH
ALL THESE DIFFERENT TRIALS AND
TRIBULATIONS.
IN THE WORKFORCE OR IN THE
CLASSROOM, PEOPLE TELLING ME I
CANNOT BE GREAT AND I WOULD BE
A FAILURE OR GOING TO JAIL AND
I DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER
MENTORS UNTIL LATER IN HIGH
SCHOOL.
SO REALLY WHEN I WAS ABLE TO
SEE AND FIND THE PROPER MENTORS,
GOT CONNECTED WITH MY MENTOR
AND I REALLY FOUND OUT ABOUT
AFRICA TOWN AND WHAT IT MEANT
úTO ME WAS SEEING PEOPLE WHO LOK
LIKE ME THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL.
SEEING PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE
ME THEY WERE KILLING THE GAME
AND ABLE TO GIVE ME THE JEWELS
I NEEDED, TO RUN THE COMPANIES
THAT I RUN NOW.
SO WHAT THAT IS, IT'S BEING
ABLE TO NOT JUST THE STABLE BUT
TO FLOURISH BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
MADE ME DO.
SO YOU KNOW I WAS ABLE TO BUILD
THESE PROFESSIONALS COMING INTO
THE COMMUNITY, TEACHING
LITERACY SKILLS BECAUSE I WANT
TO GIVE THE SKILLS I NEEDED
GROWING UP AND THAT I STRUGGLED
WITH GROWING UP SO I CAN HELP
MY COMMUNITY AND WE CAN
CONTINUE TO THRIVE WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY.
I WAS RAISED IN SEATTLE MY
WHOLE LIFE BUT I COULD NOT LIVE
IN SEATTLE.
SO I WAS A PRODUCT OF
GENTRIFICATION.
MY MOM COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE
IN SEATTLE SO WE OFTEN TIMES I
WENT TO SCHOOL IN EVERY AND
CONTINUOUSLY WENT TO DIFFERENT
SCHOOLS AND WHAT THAT DID FOR
ME, THEY PUT ME ON THE IEP BUT
THEY WERE NOT LOOKING AT MY
SITUATION OR HEARING MY STORY.
THERE WERE NOT SEEING THE
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS I WAS
GOING THROUGH AS A YOUNG ADULT
AND FACING, THOSE TRAUMAS WITH
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, GOING
TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND
WHATNOT.
SO THAT IS WHAT THE WILLIAM
GROSE CENTER IS.
IT IS A PLACE FOR KIDS WHO LOOK
LIKE ME WHO HAVE ENERGY WITHIN
THEM AND IT CAN BE CULTIVATED
WITHIN THAT PROCESS AND I THINK
IT IS VERY SAD OVER $200 MILLION
IS PUT INTO INCARCERATING US
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FUNDING
PUT INTO CULTIVATING INNER
GENIUS AND SINGERS THRIVE, TO
SEE US AS BUSINESS OWNERS.
I'M 20 YEARS OLD I WENT TO THE
HIGH SCHOOL AND WHEN I TELL
PEOPLE I'M A BUSINESS OWNER
PEOPLE LOOK AT ME IN DISBELIEF.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE DISBELIEF
WHEN YOU LOOK AT A YOUNG BLACK
PROFESSIONAL AND SEE THEM AS A
BUSINESS OWNER, YOU SHOULD SAY
HOW CAN I BE A PART OF YOUR
SUCCESS?
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
HOW CAN I BREATHE LIFE INTO YOU
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE SAYING YOU
ARE SUPPORTIVE AND WANT TO BE
AN ALLY, YOU HAVE TO BE AN ALLY
TO BUSINESS OWNERS, YOU HAVE TO
BE AN ALLY TO THE WILLIAM GROSE
CENTER, YOU HAVE TO BE AN ALLY
TO THE SITUATIONS.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY,
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME
BUT DEFINITELY THE WILLIAM
GROSE CENTER IS NEEDED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST
PRESENTATION. WE HEARD FROM
EVERY PRESENTER ON THAT
PARTICULAR PANEL.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE
ONE MORE PRESENTATION AND, BUT
BEFORE WE TRANSITION TO THE
SECOND PRESENTATION I WANTED TO
AFFORD COUNCILMEMBERS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OF
EITHER THE EXECUTIVE STAFF WITH
US OR OF ANY OF THE COMMUNITY
PRESENTERS WHO SPOKE TO THIS
PARTICULAR BILL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM VERY EXCITED AS A DISTRICT
COUNCIL MEMBER AND COMMUNITY
MEMBER IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND A SOMEBODY WHO HAS MARCHED
ALONG WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER
WE ARE SEEING THE BLACK
COMMUNITY VISION FOR THE
WILLIAM GROSE CENTER MOVING
FORWARD THANKS TO ALL THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS
WHO JUST SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY
ABOUT THE HISTORY AND WHAT IT
MEANS.
FOR YEARS, AFRICA TOWN AND
OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
BEEN CALLING ON THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO TRANSFER THE UNUSED
FIRE STATION SIX FOR THIS VITAL
COMMUNITY PURPOSE AND AS NOTED
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY
AND I WOULD SAY TOO LONG.
I WANT TO NOTE UNTIL EARLIER
THIS YEAR THE MAYOR HAD BEEN
STALLING GETTING THIS TRANSFER
DONE AND AFTER A PROTEST BROKE
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY DEMAND
PICKED UP MOMENTUM BECAUSE OF
THE PROTESTS I THINK WE ARE
SEEING THIS COMING TO FRUITION.
IN FRONT OF US AND I JUST
WANTED TO CONVEY TO EVERYBODY
WHO SPOKE THAT IT HAS BEEN AN
HONOR FOR MY OFFICE TO HAVE
JOINED AFRICA TOWN AND
ALONGSIDE THE JUSTICE FOR
GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS DEMANDING
WE HAVE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FINALLY EXPEDITE REPRODUCING
THE FIRE STATION TO THE WILLIAM
GROSE CENTER.
I'M GLAD WE HAVE THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US AND WHAT
I EXPECT WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL
VOTE NEXT MONDAY AND I WANTED
TO CREDIT LEADERSHIP FOR AFRICA
TOWN AND ALL THE ALLIES
INCLUDING DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE
AND THE BROADER BLACK LIVES
MATTER MOVEMENT WHO HAVE BEEN
PUSHING FOR THIS TO COME ABOUT
AND OF COURSE WE WILL HEAR
ABOUT THE CENTRAL AREA SENIOR
CENTER WHICH IS GOING TO BE AN
IMPORTANT STEP.
TOGETHER THESE ARE BOTH
IMPORTANT STEPS.
I WANT TO NOTE WE NEED TO
COUPLE THESE IMPORTANT STEPS
WITH A LOT MORE AND OVER THE
WEEKEND MY OFFICE HAS OFFERED A
NEW PROPOSAL COMING FROM AFRICA
TOWN FOR IMPORTANT BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO HAVE AND TO REALLY
FUND AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT ON THE SITE OF THE
FORMER CAIRO CENTER IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND SO THESE
ARE ALL PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT
AND THIS WILL BE A RARE
OPPORTUNITY TO USE A FULL
SQUARE BLOCK IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING SPECIFICALLY TO BENEFIT
BLACK COMMUNITIES AND TO FIGHT
AGAINST BLACK COMMUNITY
DISPLACEMENT.
LASTLY I WILL ADD THAT IT WAS
REALLY A MATTER OF PRIDE FOR MY
OFFICE TO JOIN HUNDREDS OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO RALLIED
AGAINST THE SALE OF THE SITE TO
CORPORATE DEVELOPER LAST YEAR
AND THOSE ACTIONS WERE REALLY
INSPIRING BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE
ACTIONS WAS ABLE TO DISRUPT THE
BOARD MEETING PLANNING THE SALE
ON A RAINY MORNING AND IT'S
BECAUSE OF THIS PRESSURE FROM
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS THAT AFRICA
TOWN BELIEVES WHEN YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE IT.
I WILL SAY A FEW MORE THINGS
ABOUT THAT WHEN WE DO THE
COUNCIL GO AROUND BUT I WANTED
TO SHARE THAT.
ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO
EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR PRESENTING
THIS MORNING.
WHAT STRIKES ME AND WHAT I'VE
SEEN BEFORE AS I WATCH YOUR
TEACHINGS IS YOU ARE CREATING A
FEEDBACK LOOP WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY, YOU'RE USING YOUR
COMMUNITY NETWORK TO CREATE A
FEEDBACK LOOP ABLE TO EXPAND
OUTCOMES BEYOND THE INPUT SO
I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS
TRANSFER.
I'M SORRY IT'S TAKING SO LONG
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU MORE.
>> THANK YOU, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THE
FIRST PANEL?
>> I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT TO ADD.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
COUNCIL, COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
MEMBER COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
BEING WILLING TO PUSH THE CITY
AND THE STATUS QUO TO CHANGE TO
ACCOMMODATE ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO SAY
AT ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
HAVE SUPPORTED THOSE
INITIATIVES.
IT'S HARD TO GO FROM ONE STATE
TO ANOTHER STATE AND WE HAVE
REALLY BEEN IN A JIM CROW
APARTHEID SOCIOECONOMIC STATE
AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO A
NEW NORMAL WITH EQUITY IS
HAVING OLD UNPRECEDENTED AND
DISRUPTIVE INTERVENTIONS AND
INVESTMENTS.
SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT, TO SAY
OUR FOCUS IS AROUND OWNERSHIP
AND THE LEASE COMPONENT IS
REALLY A MEDIAN OR STEP IN
BETWEEN SO WE CAN ACCESS AND
BEGIN PROVIDING VALUE AND
RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN THAT
SPACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE ALL THE
COUNSEL COUNCIL TO REMAIN
COMMITTED TO THE PROPERTY BEING
OWNED BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY AS
THE ACTUAL OUTCOME AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S
BUREAUCRATIC THINGS AND WE DID
NOT WANT TO STOP THAT FROM
PROVIDING CRITICAL SERVICES TO
THE BUSINESSES IN THIS POST
COVERT ENVIRONMENT WHICH WE ARE
VULNERABLE IN WITH 40 TO 60% OF
BLACK BUSINESSES BEING
THREATENED TO CLOSE AND THEN WE
HAVE TO ALSO BE THINKING VERY
HARD AND FAST ABOUT UPSCALING
OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN HIT
BASED ON JOBS BEING TAKEN AWAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE CLOSING
REMARKS.
WE DO WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL OF
THE TIME YOU HAVE GIVEN.
NOT JUST THIS MORNING BUT
THROUGHOUT THE DECADES AND
HISTORY IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
OF CONTINUING TO CHAMPION THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY TO FIGHT FOR THE
SOLUTIONS THAT WE KNOW ARE AT
OUR FINGERTIPS IN ORDER TO MAKE
A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN
CREATING THAT DISRUPTION AND
REALLY SHEPHERDING FORWARD SOME
MEANINGFUL WEALTH BUILDING
OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE REALLY
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THROUGHOUT
THE HISTORY OF THE CITY BUT IN
A COVID-19 RECOVERY PHASE HAVE
BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING
FROM ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU
TO THOSE WHO SHARED YOUR
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE
GENTRIFICATION AND INTENTIONAL
EXCLUSION FROM MANY OF THE
PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO OTHER
RESIDENTS IN SEATTLE WHO ARE
NOT BLACK AND APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU IN
PARTNERSHIP AS WE CONTINUE TO
LOOK AT THESE IMPORTANT POLICIES
AND IN MAKING SURE WE ARE
CENTERING THE BLACK COMMUNITY
AND THOSE WHO ARE MOST
NEGATIVELY EXPRESSING
GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT
AND ECONOMIC EXCLUSION IN
POLICY DECISION-MAKING AND
CONSTRUCTION.
REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU
BEING WITH US.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE
SECOND PRESENTATION IF YOU
WOULD LIKE BUT WE'RE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND TRANSITION TO THE
SECOND PRESENTATION.
WE ARE RUNNING A LITTLE OVER
TIME BUT I DO THINK THESE BILLS
ARE VERY IMPORTANT. I REALLY DO
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
ENOUGH TIME TO HEAR THE FULL
PRESENTATION.
DIANE, YOU'RE GOING TO GO NEXT.
I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING READY TO
SHARE YOUR SCREEN.
COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BILL AS AN
INTRODUCTION?
OKAY THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS AND THEN DIRECTOR
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE OPENING
COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE
EXECUTIVE WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO
HAND IT OVER?
>> I WILL MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS
IF THAT'S OKAY.
ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR WE BRING
FORWARD THIS LEGISLATION TO
TRANSFER THE CENTRAL AREA
SENIOR CENTER TO THE COMMUNITY.
A LONG AND RICH HISTORY IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT PROVIDING
CENTRAL PROGRAMMING AND
SERVICES TO SENIORS PARTICULARLY
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
THIS HAS BEEN EVEN MORE SO
DURING COVID-19 AS WE ARE
PROVIDING HOT MEALS WITH
LUNCHES, HELP WITH PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS, ETC.
THIS BUILDS ON YEARS OF
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PROVIDING
SOCIAL COHESION CONNECTION AND
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS COUNSELING
AND TRANSPORTATION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK DIANE
AND HER BOARD FOR THOUGHTFUL
CONVERSATION FOR ADVOCACY OVER
THE YEARS AND PLEASED TO BRING
FORWARD THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPENING
REMARKS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ANY
ADDITIONAL REMARKS?
OKAY DIANE, WELCOME.
I SEE YOU HAVE A VERY STRONG
BACKUP TEAM BEHIND YOU.
IN THE ROOM WITH YOU SO WE ARE
EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE
COUNCIL BRIEFING AND WE ARE
EXCITED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER AND
HOW THIS PROPOSED BILL SUPPORTS
THE CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE OUR BOARD
PRESIDENT, WE HAVE WITH US MY
COHORT DR. JOHN PERKINS WHO HAS
WORKED HARD WITH US OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO GET TO
THIS POINT AND THEN WE HAVE A
MEMBER WITH US, CAROL WELLS.
2020 IS SHAPING UP TO BE AN
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND
MUCH IS HAPPENING QUICKLY.
WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR AT
LEAST THE LAST FIVE YEARS SO
EVERYTHING IS RAPIDLY HAPPENING
STARTING WITH IN 2019 AUGUST
22nd IT WAS MY BIRTH DAY IN THE
CITY TOLD US WE HAD TO MAKE SURE
WE HAD $55,000 IN THE BANK AS
CAPITAL ENHANCEMENT FUNDS AND
MAINTENANCE FUNDS FOR THE
BUILDING AND WE HAD TO MAKE
SURE BY SEPTEMBER 1st WE COULD
DOCUMENT THAT.
SO WE WERE PART OF ANOTHER
ORGANIZATION WHO DID NOT
SEPARATE FUNDS ENTIRELY SO
THINGS WERE MIXED AND I
COULDN'T GET A CLEAR NUMBER OF
HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAD IN THE
ACCOUNT SO WE DECIDED TO RAISE
$55,000 AND PUT IT IN THE BANK
ACCOUNT AND WITHIN SEVEN DAYS
THE COMMUNITY HAD SUPPORTED US
TO SUCH AN EXTENT WE HAD RAISED
OVER $100,000 AND WE KNEW WE
WERE ON OUR WAY TO WHERE WE
NEEDED TO BE.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG AND ARDUOUS
OVER 50 YEARS FOR US.
IN 1960 A NUMBER OF AFRICAN-
AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ARE PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES DECIDED THE AFRICAN-
AMERICAN SENIORS NEEDED A
DEDICATED SPACE WHERE THEY
COULD HAVE PROGRAMS.
WE HAD BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, REDLINING
WHERE ITALIANS AND JEWISH PEOPLE
AND JAPANESE AND AFRICAN-
AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE CONFINED
TO A CERTAIN PART OF THE CITY.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME 70% OF
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT WAS
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMPARED TO 8%
TODAY.
THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY SAID WE ARE NO
LONGER USING THE SPACE FOR THE
CONVALESCENT CENTER WE WOULD
LIKE FOR YOU TO BE THE OWNERS
OF THAT SPACE SO THEY ALLOWED
US TO RENT IT.
OUR PURPOSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO
INFUSE WARM FRIENDSHIPS,
HEALTHY ACTIVITIES, JOYFUL
EXPERIENCES INTO THE LIVES OF
MATURE ADULTS WHICH IS DEFINED
AS A POPULATION OF 55 YEARS OR
OLDER.
ONE OF OUR VISIONS THAT WE HAVE
AND WHY WE ARE SO PLEASED FOR
THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BUILDING
IS THAT IT HAS BEEN VERY
DIFFICULT TO RAISE THE ONGOING
FUNDS THAT ARE NEEDED TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THE
BUILDING UP IN TOP SHAPE
CONDITION.
NEEDS RETROFITTING AND A BUNCH
OF DIFFERENT THINGS BUT WE HAVE
ALWAYS HAD A VISION FOR
OURSELVES AND IT IS THAT WE
WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE
PREMIER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
SERVING OLDER ADULTS WITHIN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND THE
CENTRAL COMMUNITY.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO
GRAB A BITE TO EAT, TO LEARN
AND ACQUIRE NEW ENHANCED
KNOWLEDGE WHILE SOCIALIZING AND
HAVING FUN.
HAVING HEALTHY ONGOING
ACTIVITIES, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE
THE DRUMMING GROUP MEETING ON
THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING AS
WELL AS OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS
CLASS, DOING FITNESS EXERCISE
AND TAI CHI.
THE PROBLEMS WE WANT TO ADDRESS
IN THE FUTURE WHEN THE TRANSFER
OFFICIALLY HAPPENS IS WE WANT
TO MODERNIZE THE BUILDING TO
ACCOMMODATE MORE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE MANY SYMPTOMS AND
SYSTEMS WE NEED TO UPGRADE, WE
NEED TO RETROFIT, WE NEED A
GENERATOR.
WE WANT TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE
THE PARKING LOT WHICH WE WERE
ABLE TO ACQUIRE A PERMIT FOR
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
REFLECT THE RICH HISTORICAL AND
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER HAS
PLAYED IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
SINCE IT'S A VERY FOUNDING.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE VERY
PROUD OF IS WE HAVE SO MANY
PARTNERSHIPS.
ONE OF THE PARTNERSHIPS IS WITH
AN ORGANIZATION THAT EVERY YEAR
I RECOMMEND MAYBE 10 SENIORS IN
NEED OF REHAB TO THEIR HOMES
AND DWELLING PLACES AND THEN
THEY GO OUT AND DO WHATEVER THE
REHAB NEEDS.
ONE PARTICULAR THING THAT
HAPPENED LAST YEAR WAS ONE
MEMBER WAS ABLE TO GET HER
PLUMBING TOTALLY REDONE AS WELL
AS A THAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN
DETERIORATING.
SO THEY CAME OUT AND REPLACED
THE TECH.
OUR MEMBERS ARE HAPPY, AS WE
EXPERIENCE COVID-19 THE BIGGEST
THING WE ARE HEARING IS THEY
ALL WANT TO COME BACK AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
SOCIAL ISOLATION IS GREAT BUT
THEY MISS THE CENTER.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE LIVE
MUSIC EVERY THIRD FRIDAY, THE
BIRTHDAY LUNCH IS PEOPLE MISS
WHERE THEY GET FLOWERS AND THEY
ARE HONORED FOR HAVING AGED
ANOTHER YEAR.
IT'S ALWAYS A COMPETITION, SOME
ARE AS OLD AS 107 AND EVERYBODY
ALWAYS WANTS TO BE THE OLDEST
PERSON IN THE ROOM.
WE HAVE A PATIO PARTY EVERYBODY
MISSED THAT THIS YEAR THAT IS A
BIG THING.
WE OPEN UP THE TERRACE, YOU CAN
WATCH THE HYDROPLANE RACING.
WE HAVE GREAT FOOD AND DANCING
AND LIVE MUSIC.
YOU CAN EVEN GET A COUPLE
COCKTAILS IF YOU WANT BUT
THAT'S THE KIND OF SPIRIT THAT
HAPPENS AT THE CENTRAL AREA
SENIOR CENTER.
SO THE LONG-TERM PURPOSE AND
VISION SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN
1960 HAS BEEN TO CELEBRATE AND
SERVE ALL SENIORS ESPECIALLY
THOSE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND
OF AFRICAN IMMIGRANT
BACKGROUNDS THAT LIVE IN KING
COUNTY IN ADDITION TO SERVING
THE WHOLE ENTIRE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
WE ARE SEEN AS BOTH A SENIOR
CENTER AND AS A COMMUNITY
CENTER IN MANY WAYS FOR ALL THE
VARIOUS COMMUNITY COUNCILS THAT
MEET HERE, PEOPLE THAT COME
HERE TO CELEBRATE A LIFE AND
JUST TO HAVE A GREAT TIME AS
WELL AS MAKING SURE THEY ARE
ALL HEALTHY AND WELL.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE
THAT HAS HELPED IN THIS
JOURNEY.
WE PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBERS O'BRIEN AND IN
2018 THEY WERE WILLING TO TAKE
THE CASE TO THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE COUNCILMEMBER
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORAELS WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN MOVING FORWARD
IN 2019 AND 2020 TO GET US TO
THE PLACE WE ARE.
AND WE THANK THE INNER
DEPARTMENTAL TEAM THAT WE MET
WITH.
WE HAVE TO SAY THAT THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALL
OF THEIR STAFF THAT WORKED WITH
THEM TOOK US THROUGH THE RINGER
BUT IT WAS A GOOD JOURNEY TO
TAKE TOGETHER BECAUSE WE HAVE
ARRIVED AT THE POINT THAT HAS
BEEN OUR VISION FOR THE LAST 51
YEARS SO WE THANK YOU.
NOW WE ARE READY.
>> GREAT.
OKAY THANK YOU SO MUCH DIANE
FOR THE PRESENTATION.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? CERTAINLY WANT TO
MAKE SURE THE DIRECTOR HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADD ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AS WELL.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IN
THE QUEUE FIRST.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR ALL THE WORK.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR YOU TODAY
AND TO SEE ALL THE WORK YOU
HAVE BEEN PUTTING INTO THIS
FINALLY COMING TO FRUITION
IDEALLY WITH A VOTE NEXT WEEK.
WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET
IN THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS THE
SAME WEEK YOU HAD JUST FOUND
OUT THE PARAMETERS WERE SORT OF
MOVING AND THERE WAS A SIX PAGE
DOCUMENT LIKE WE HAD TO MEET
THESE CRITERIA AND YOU HAVE ALL
BEEN DOING HEROES WORK TO PULL
TOGETHER NOT JUST FUNDING BUT
RESPONDING TO MOVING GOALPOSTS
I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH WORK I
APPRECIATE THAT YOU DO AND IN
ADDITION TO GETTING THIS BACK
END ADMINISTRATIVE WORK COMPLETE
SO THIS TRANSFER CAN GO FORWARD.
IT IS REALLY A PORTABLE AND I
DON'T WANT THAT TO GO UNSAID.
HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF WORK AND THE SCENES TO
RESPOND TO CHANGING CRITERIA
AND KUDOS TO YOU AND THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY FOR ALL THE HARD WORK
YOU HAVE DONE TO PULL TOGETHER
THE FUNDING BUT ESPECIALLY NOW
WHEN WE KNOW SENIOR ISOLATION
FOR EXAMPLE IS TREMENDOUSLY HIGH
AND ADDING TO THE STRESS THAT
COVID IS ALREADY IMPOSING ON
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
YOU'RE ACTUALLY SAVING LIVES SO
WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU
PLEASE COUNT US IN FOR THE
FUTURE AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
JUST THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER
CHAPTER.
>> INC.
IS SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR THE COMMENTS.
I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU DIANE FOR THE
PRESENTATION AND FOR YOUR LONG-
STANDING ADVOCACY FOR THIS
ISSUE FOR THIS TO BE BROUGHT
INTO COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP BUT
ALSO, ALL THE SERVICE YOU
PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A
WHOLE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
BUT ESPECIALLY THE SENIOR GROUP.
FOR WHOM I KNOW IT IS NOT AT
ALL AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT
THE CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER
IS A COMMUNITY LIFELINE FOR THE
SENIORS NOT JUST IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT BUT IN THE WIDER
REGION.
I WANTED TO SHARE ONE EXAMPLE
THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS.
ON APRIL 23rd OF LAST YEAR, OF
COURSE DIANE AND OTHERS WILL
REMEMBER WE WERE ALL THERE
TOGETHER WITH THE LEADERSHIP
WITH MANY FROM THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT INCLUDING NEARLY 100
SENIORS AT CITY HALL.
WE GATHERED AT A RALLY AT CITY
HALL LOBBY THEN WE WENT TO THE
CHAMBERS TO DO THE COMMITTEE
WHICH IS BEING SHARED BY MY
OFFICE WHERE WE DISCUSSED
RESOLUTION AND THAT WAS ONE
STEP IN ORDER TO NOTCH THE
PROCESS ALONG AND WAS REALLY
INSPIRING TO HEAR 100 SENIORS
CHANTING NO MORE DELAYS, NO
MORE DELAYS.
WE NEED THIS TO GO FORWARD BUT
THE EXAMPLE I WANTED TO SHARE
AND UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T
REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBER BUT I KNOW
DIANE WILL KNOW WHO I'M TALKING
ABOUT.
THIS WONDERFUL WOMAN WHO SAID
YOU KNOW SHE FACED, SHE HAD A
BRAIN ANEURYSM WHICH RESULTED IN
BLINDNESS.
YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE THE KIND
OF TRAUMA ONE WOULD GO THROUGH
ESPECIALLY BEING A SENIOR AND
EXTREME AND SUDDEN ONSET OF
ISOLATION. SHE WAS DESCRIBING
HOW SHE LITERALLY NEEDED TO
LEARN HOW TO WALK AGAIN BECAUSE
SUDDENLY SHE WAS WITHOUT SITE
AND HOW THE CENTER SERVICES AND
NOT JUST THE SERVICES BUT
COMMUNITY, LOVE, ENCOURAGEMENT
SHE GOT SHE RELEARNED TO WALK
AND SHE LEARNED HOW TO DANCE.
IT WAS TRANSFORMATIVE FOR HER
LIFE AND REALLY POSSIBLY HELPED
HER LIVE AS OPPOSED TO SOME
OTHER EXTREMELY TRAGIC OUTCOME.
SO I THINK THAT STORY IS A REAL
EXAMPLE OF HOW IT IS SO
PRECIOUS, WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THIS
LEGISLATION IS FINALLY MOVING
FORWARD.
IT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE
COMMUNITY.
>> THAT WAS KELSEY WATSON.
SHE WILL BE HAPPY AND THRILLED
YOU REMEMBERED THAT.
SHE CONTINUES TO DANCE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THOSE COMMENTS AND
FOR REMINDING US OF THOSE
MOMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN .
>> THANK YOU DIANE FOR BEING
HERE AND WITH YOUR CREW TODAY.
I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT
THE CENTRAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS
OVER THE YEARS AND IT IS SUCH A
WONDERFUL ASSET FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND I AM GLAD WE ARE
SEEING THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION TRYING
TO ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT ISSUES
AND PREVENT MORE GENTRIFICATION
AND PRESERVE ASSETS IN THE
COMMUNITY AND I THINK THIS
QUESTION, I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAVING
THIS BRIEFING SO WE CAN LOOK
AT THE REAL ESTATE DOCUMENTS
BEFORE US AND TRY TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND OR GET THEM OUT TO
THE PUBLIC SO THAT WE CAN HURRY
UP AND GET THIS DONE FINALLY.
SO I GUESS, THIS QUESTION IS ON
THE CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
IF STILL HERE.
>> HE IS STILL HERE.
>> OKAY GOOD.
TWO QUESTIONS ON THE REAL
ESTATE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE
ATTACHED.
THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED FORM
OF DEED AND THE FORM OF DEED I
JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND, IT
LOOKS LIKE THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE
PERHAPS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEFINED FOR
THIS PARTICULAR DEAL?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER DOES
NOT INTEND TO BUILD HOUSING ON
THEIR SITE BUT IF THEY DID WANT
TO, IT'S 80% OR BELOW MEDIAN
NCOME UNDER THE DEED.
I THINK HALF OF THE UNITS WOULD
HAVE TO BE BELOW 60% VARIED
MEDIAN INCOME.
BUT IF I GET THAT WRONG OR IF
I'M INCORRECT PLEASE CORRECT ME.
>> OKAY IT IS DEFINED AS 80% OF
AREA MEDIAN INCOME BUT HALF OF
THE UNITS HAVE TO BE AT LEAST
60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
OKAY THANK YOU.
BELOW, THANK YOU.
AND THEN, THERE IS A PARAGRAPH
IN THE DEED AT THE BOTTOM,
NUMBER FIVE. SO, P 5 WHICH SAYS
THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS
AUTHORIZED TO SELL THE PROPERTY
ONLY IF ALL THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED.
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO KEEP THE
CENTRAL AND PUBLIC HANDS AND
PROVIDING THESE GREAT SERVICES
THAT IT PROVIDES.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE
OF THAT CLAUSE WHERE IT SAYS
THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS
AUTHORIZED TO SELL THE PROPERTY.
>> THE CITY IS TRANSFERRING
OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY TO
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER.
IT IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
THAT FULFILLS A CERTAIN MISSION
AND THE GOAL OF THE LEGISLATION
IS TO ENABLE THEM TO CONTINUE
SERVING THAT MISSION.
IT IS VARIABLE VERY VIABLE
PROPERTY.
AS YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN THERE
IT HAS AMAZING VIEWS.
IT IS A LARGE SITE WITH A
RELATIVELY SMALL BUILDING ON
THE SITE.
IT MAY MAKE SENSE IN THE FUTURE
FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO SELL
THE PROPERTY AND MOVE THEIR
OPERATIONS TO A DIFFERENT
LOCATION.
IF THAT COME OVER TIME, BECOMES
IN THEIR INTEREST AND I KNOW
IT'S NOT THE INTENT NOW IN THE
NEAR OR LONG TERM BUT IF IT
DOES BECOME IN THE INTEREST IN
THE DEED WOULD REQUIRE THAT
THERE BE, THAT THE MISSION OF
THE LEGISLATION IN THE CITY
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY TO THE
SENIOR CENTER IS FULFILLED.
>> CAN I JOIN IN AND SAY
SOMETHING?
>> ABSOLUTELY, PLEASE DIANE.
>> OUR INTENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN
WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND OUR
FOOTPRINT ON THIS PROPERTY.
WE WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE A
FACILITY DOUBLE THE SIZE AND
SPACE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE
WHICH WOULD NOT PRECLUDE THAT
IF THAT WAS TO HAPPEN IN THE
FUTURE, US CREATING A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY TO
LOOK AT BUILDING SOME
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PRIMARILY
FOR SENIORS.
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
JUST PLAN WHAT OUR FUTURE IS
GOING TO BE, TO DO THE
RETROFITTING, THE UPGRADING FOR
THE CURRENT BUILDING WE ARE IN
BECAUSE WE HAVE STUDIED THE
BUILDING ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT
WE'RE TALKING MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST TO
FIRM UP THE SLOPE WOULD BE $16
MILLION WITH BUILDINGS WE HAVE
LOOKED AT TO DOUBLE THE SPACE
IT WOULD BE BETWEEN 24 MILLION
AND 30 MILLION DOLLARS SO WE
KNOW THAT WOULD BE QUITE THE
UNDERTAKING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE FOREVER
, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE
TIME THAT IS NECESSARY TO PLAN
OUR FUTURE IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL
SPACE AND PROGRAMS.
IT IS NEVER OUR INTENTION TO
RELOCATE TO A DIFFERENT PROPERTY
, BUT WE NEVER KNOW WHAT THE
FUTURE DICTATES IN TERMS OF
WHAT'S GOING TO GROW UP AROUND
US BUT IT IS OUR INTENTION TO
PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT WOULD
ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR FOOTPRINT
ON THE PROPERTY SO WE CAN SERVE
MORE PEOPLE IN TERMS OF SERVICES
, AS WELL AS BE THE COMMUNITY
SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR
SENIORS.
>> YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT LINE OF
QUESTIONING COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON THIS PRESENTATION?
OKAY.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THE PRESENTATION.
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE DIANE,
YOU BEING HERE AS WELL AS YOUR
BOARD PRESIDENT AND OTHERS.
CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS AS WE
LOOK TO TAKE FINAL ACTION ON
BOTH OF THESE BILLS NEXT MONDAY
SO THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR
BEING WITH US.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY COLLEAGUES MOVING IT TO
OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
OUR GUESTS ARE INVITED, AND
THEIR PORTION OF THE
PRESENTATION PARTICIPATION TODAY
AND WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH DIANE.
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS, I
WILL CALL ON COUNCILMEMBERS IN
THE ESTABLISHED ROTATED ROLL
CALL TODAY THAT IS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND THEN
I WILL CONCLUDE THIS PORTION OF
THE AGENDA.
FIRST IS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, I WAITED TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY AND THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER.
REGARDING LAND-USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE THERE
ARE 33 ITEMS FROM THE LAND-USE
AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE ON
TODAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
20 APPOINTMENTS TO THE DESIGN
REVIEW BOARD, 13 TO THE
INSTRUCTION CODE ADVISORY BOARD.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE LAND,
FROM THE LAND-USE AND
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
MY OFFICE SUBMITTED 14 FORM B
LAST WEEK COSPONSORING 38,
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WENT
FOR COSPONSORSHIP SUPPORT AND
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
SUPPORTING GOOD POLICY MOVING
FORWARD.
EVENTS I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION
A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR
THE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT WHICH WE SAW COME
BEFORE COUNCIL A FEW WEEKS AGO,
OCTOBER 29th AT 10:00 A.M.
THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE NORMAL
INCOME I WILL SAY FAMILIES WITH
A PLACE TO CALL HOME IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU TO HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP.
DISTRICT 6 UPDATES I CONTINUE
TO HOST RESIDENT MEETINGS EVERY
WEEK.
DURING MEETINGS LAST WEEK WE
CONTINUED TO DISCUSS
HOMELESSNESS AND PUBLIC SAFETY,
SECURING DISCUSSING SECURED
TREATMENT FACILITIES.
WE TALK WITH PEOPLE FROM
MULTIPLE PLACES, PLEASE
CONTINUE TO SEND IN MEETING
REQUESTS AND WE ARE SCHEDULING
THREE WEEKS OUT.
SMALL BUSINESS AREA EXCITED TO
SEE THE MAYOR PUT FORWARD CAFE
STREET PERMITS AN EXTENDED
SIDEWALK CAFE PERMITS FOR
WINTER MONTHS INCLUDING
UPDATING GUIDELINES AROUND TENT
AND PROPANE HEATERS AND
EXTENDING PERMITS UNTIL OCTOBER
31st 2021.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE
FORWARD, EXCITED TO SEE CAFE
STREETS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
COLLEAGUES THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT
REPORT?
HEARING NONE WE WILL MOVE DOWN
THE LINE, NEXT UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU I WILL BE FAIRLY BRIEF
WITH MY PRESENTATION TODAY.
I DO HAVE AN ITEM ON TODAY'S
COUNCIL AGENDA.
COUNCIL BILL 119942.
A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT WAS
DISTRIBUTED TO THIS BILL
ESSENTIALLY CLARIFYING THE
$245,000 AMOUNT AND HOW IT CAN
BE SPENT CONSISTENT WITH HST OR
THAT MONEY CONSISTENT WITH
COUNCIL INTENT THAT IS A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT WAS
CIRCULATED LAST WEEK AND WILL
BE CONSIDERED IN ADDITION TO
THE BILL.
I DO WANT TO NOTE WE ATTACHED A
SUPPLEMENTAL FRAMEWORK THAT WAS
SUBMITTED BY THE PROVIDER
COMMUNITY IN CONSULTATION WITH
OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS AND
ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE HAS BEEN A BACK-AND-FORTH
OVER THE WEEKEND BETWEEN SOME
STAKEHOLDERS ON CONTINUING TO
REFINE THE FRAMEWORK SO
HOPEFULLY BY THE AFTERNOON WE
WILL BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE AND
UPLOAD SUPPLEMENTAL FRAMEWORK
INCLUDING AMENDMENTS AND
ADDITIONS TO IT.
THIS FRAMEWORK, I DON'T KNOW IF
COLLEAGUES HAVE REVIEWED IT BUT
IT OFFERS A PROMISING STEP
FORWARD IN MEETING OF MINDS
BETWEEN THE HUMAN SERVICES AND
PROVIDER COMMUNITY ON HOW DOES
ONGOING PROVIDER BASED CENTER
ENGAGEMENTS METHODS OF OUTREACH
CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND
CAN BE A MATERIAL CHANGE FROM A
LOT OF DEFICIENCIES THAT WE AS
A COUNCIL AND THE PROVIDER
COMMUNITY SAW IN THE OLD
NAVIGATION TEAM MODEL THAT THIS
COLLABORATION SEEKS TO REPLACE.
SO THAT UPDATED FRAMEWORK WILL
HOPEFULLY BE PROVIDED BEFORE
THE FALL MEETING THIS AFTERNOON
AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONSIDERING
COUNCIL BILL 119942 IN THE
CONTEXT OF THAT NEW FRAMEWORK.
LAST WEEK I HAD THE PLEASURE OF
REPRESENTING THE COUNCIL AT THE
PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL.
OF NOTE WE APPROVED THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT, THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM SORRY.
OR TIP AS IT IS KNOWN.
THIS PROGRAM FUNDS 11 SEATTLE
PROJECTS, AMONG THEM THE RAPID
LINE THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
REPLACEMENT, THE ROUTE 40 AND
48 CORRIDOR UPGRADES FOR THE
BUS LINES.
MONEY FOR PEDESTRIAN WAYFINDING.
MONEY FOR THE DOWNTOWN BIKE
NETWORK.
AND INVESTMENTS FOR THE
GEORGETOWN SOUTH PARK CONNECTION
, $2 MILLION IN MONORAIL
MAINTENANCE FOR THE SEATTLE
CENTER AND $700,000 IN
STREETCAR MAINTENANCE.
IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT
APPROVED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC
HEARING TOMORROW FOR THE BUDGET
AND TO DISCUSS ALL THE BUDGET
ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED
AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER
REPORTS TO MAKE TODAY, THANK
YOU.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THE REPORT?
HEARING NONE, SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST TO CLARIFY, ON THE
OUTREACH AND RESPONSE TEAM FOR
HOMELESSNESS, THE FRAMEWORK YOU
MENTIONED, DID YOU SAY A NEW
VERSION OF THE FRAMEWORK
DOCUMENT WILL BE PROVIDED OR WE
SHOULD LOOK AT THE ONE ALREADY
PROVIDED?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
A NEW FRAMEWORK IS GOING TO
COME FORWARD THAT WILL BE
REFLECTIVE OF SORT OF THE
DELIBERATIVE CHANGES THAT HAVE
BEEN MADE BY TALKING AMONGST
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TALKING TO
PEOPLE IN HSD AND WILL
HOPEFULLY BE SUBMITTED THIS
MORNING SO I WOULD EXPECT
ANOTHER TO COME DOWN.
YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE WE WILL NOW HEAR
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES, GOOD
MORNING EVERYONE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL PRESENTERS
WHO WERE HERE THIS MORNING.
EXCITED TO SEE THE SENIOR
CENTER, THE CENTRAL AND THE
WILLIAM GROSE CENTER ARE
FINALLY MOVING FORWARD.
I KNOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR QUITE SOME
TIME AND THIS MOVES US TOWARD
ACTING ON GOALS FOR IMPROVING
AND ADDRESSING THE RACIAL
EQUITY ISSUES WE HAVE WITH THE
CITY.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
I WANT TO THANK COLLEAGUES WHO
COSPONSORED THE FORM B AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSIONS
LATER THIS WEEK AND FOR THE
DISCUSSION TOMORROW EVENING.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS I
HAVE BEEN VISITING ENCAMPMENTS,
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND RV
RESIDENCE AS WELL AS BUSINESSES
IN GEORGETOWN AND THE SOTO AREA.
DURING THE VISITS WE ARE ASKING
WHAT FOLKS THINK THE CITY CAN
DO FOR THEM.
FOR ENCAMPMENT RESIDENTS I WANT
TO SHARE A FEW THINGS.
RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR TRASH
SERVICE AND EASIER ACCESS TO
RUNNING WATER.
RV RESIDENCE HAVE ASKED FOR HELP
CONNECTING TO OUTREACH WORKERS
WHO CAN PROVIDE CLOTHING OR
MEAL VOUCHERS.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ASKING FOR
SUPPORT WITH CRIME AND I WANT
TO MAKE CLEAR THEY ARE NOT
ASKING FOR WHOLESALE REMOVAL OF
ENCAMPMENTS, THEY ARE ASKING
FOR PARTICULAR ISSUES TO BE
ADDRESSED AND EVERYONE IS
ASKING FOR NONCOGNITIVE SHELTER
OR IN THE CASE OF RVS FOR A
PLACE TO PARK WHERE THEY WILL
NOT BE ASKED TO MOVE.
LAST WEDNESDAY I SAT DOWN WITH
FOLKS FROM SMALL BUSINESS,
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THREE ON
HOUSED NEIGHBORS FROM HERE IN
DISTRICT 2 TO TALK ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF CITY ENGAGEMENT WITH
ON HOUSED NEIGHBORS, WHAT IT
COULD LOOK LIKE.
FROM THE CONVERSATION I LEARNED
WE NEED TO LET EXPERTS LEAD ON
ENGAGEMENT AND STRATEGY.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUTREACH
PROGRAMS THAT TRISTE TREAT
FOLKS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
WE WANT A COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH HOMELESS AND
UNHOUSED PEOPLE THEMSELVES AND
WE NEED TO STAND UP HYGIENE
SERVICES.
FOLKS JUST WANT TO FEEL SAFE IN
THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEY WANT
TO DO THAT IN A FORM OF NON-
CONGREGATIONAL DURING SO THEY
DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE
PANDEMIC AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO
MET WITH US OVER THE LAST
COUPLE WEEKS, WHO TOOK TIME TO
SHARE EXPERIENCES WITH ME AND I
THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
PASS ON TO THE REST OF OUR
COLLEAGUES THE THOUGHTS THEY
HAD.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
LISTEN DIRECTLY TO THOSE
EXPERIENCING THE IMPACT OF THE
POLICY DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING
THAT WE HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO
SAY.
ON WEDNESDAY I WILL BE MEETING
WITH NEIGHBORS FROM NEW HOLLY
TO TALK ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENT AT
THE SENIOR PARK AND TO TALK
ABOUT HOW WE CAN ADDRESS ISSUES
OF FOLKS LIVING HOUSED AND
UNHOUSED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO
PARTICIPATE IN A TOWN HALL ON
THURSDAY THAT WILL BE HOSTED BY
THE DEEP 2 DSA AND OTHER
ORGANIZERS SO WE WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE
BUILDING A BUDGET THAT MATCHES
THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
IN THE SOUTH END.
I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL THAT I
HAVE COLLEAGUES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUDGET
HEARING TOMORROW.
AND THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE WE WILL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
IN BUDGET ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK
WE WILL BEGIN PUBLIC TESTIMONY
FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS STARTING AT
5:30 P.M., PUBLIC, IS AVAILABLE
TO SIGN UP AT 3:30 P.M.
SO PLEASE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SIGN UP SO WE CAN HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM YOU ON ITEMS OF
MOST IMPORTANCE TO YOU AS WE
CONSIDER WHERE WE GO WITH
DRAFTING THE COUNCIL VERSION OF
THE BUDGET IN RESPONSE TO WHAT
THE MAYOR HAS SENT OUT THIS
WILL BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET
FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ON
PRIORITY ISSUE AREAS.
SO AGAIN TOMORROW, TUESDAY
OCTOBER 27th WE LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM YOU, PUBLIC
COMMENT BEGINS TO BE OPENED FOR
SIGN-UP AT 3:30 P.M.
I WILL TRY TO KEEP US TO THE
10:00 P.M.
ENDING TIME SO DEPENDING ON HOW
MANY FOLKS SIGN-UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT WE WILL GIVE YOU AN
UPDATE AS THE MEETING STARTS
BUT MY INTENT IS TO HEAR FROM
EVERYBODY ON THE LIST AS WE DID
IN THE LAST MEETING, THERE WERE
OVER 150 PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND
WE DID HEAR FROM ALL THE FOLKS
PRESENT IN THE FORM FORMAT.
ON WEDNESDAY WE WILL GO TO
DISCUSSION ON THE COUNCIL BY
THE ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE ATTEMPT.
AS YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR FORM
B'S LAST THURSDAY, THANK YOU
FOR GETTING THOSE IN.
CENTRAL STAFF WILL SUMMARIZE
EACH PROPOSAL BOTH BUDGET
ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS OF
INTENT AND WILL GIVE THE PUBLIC
A CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THOSE IDEAS YOU IDENTIFY IN
YOUR FORM A HAS BEEN FURTHER
HONED AND WE WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBERS TO SPEAK TO
THEIR PROPOSALS BRIEFLY.
COUNCILMEMBERS YOU MAY INDICATE
YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESE BUDGET
ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND WILL
HAVE A MEMO SUMMARIZING THE
PROCESS FOR SIGNALING INTEREST
AND ADDING YOUR NAME AS A
COSPONSOR.
IT WILL BE A VISUAL
CORRESPONDING WITH THE PUBLIC
PRESENTATION SO EACH OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER FACES APPEAR
INSTEAD OF RAISING HANDS GIVEN
THAT WE ARE ON ZOOM.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS
COUNCILMEMBERS RAISED HANDS AND
STAFF CONFIRMED THE INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SIGNING
ON AS COSPONSORS BUT GIVEN WE
CANNOT SEE EVERYBODY IN REAL-
TIME WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE
WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF
YOU AND FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC
TO BE ABLE TO SEE VISUALLY WHO
WAS SIGNING ON.
SO THANK YOU TO THE
COMMUNICATION TEAM FOR WORKING
ON THIS PROCESS, YOU'LL SEE
MORE HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT IN
A MEMO FORTHCOMING.
FOR THE MORE ANIMAL WILL BE
CIRCULATED BY MY OFFICE EVERY
MONDAY WE ATTEMPT TO SUMMARIZE
BUDGET ITEMS AND ADDITION OF
YOUR INTERNAL DEADLINES WITH
ANY SORT OF COMMUNICATION
ISSUES OR IDEAS THAT WE ARE
FLAGGING FOR YOU TO HIGHLIGHT
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE CITY
, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER EFFORTS
TO FURTHER DISSECT THE BUDGET
AND TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL
PRIORITIES SO WE WILL SEND THE
MEMO TO YOU SHORTLY.
IN THE MEMO YOU WILL SEE WHICH
ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED ON
WHICH DAYS.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS OCTOBER
28, OCTOBER 29th AND OCTOBER
30th.
IN THE MEMO YOU WILL SEE ALL
THE DEPARTMENTS.
A HEADS UP FOR THOSE INTERESTED
IN IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES FOR
THE WEDNESDAY MEETING.
THE LIST INCLUDES CITY BUDGET
OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE, THE
OFFICES OF CIVIL RIGHTS,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING,
INSPECTOR GENERAL,
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS,
REFUGEE AFFAIRS, PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE
LAST THREE ARE SEATTLE EMPLOYEE
RETIREMENT SYSTEM, PUBLIC
LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES.
DON'T WORRY, THAT WILL BE
SUMMARIZED IN A MEMO WITH ALL
THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS BY DATE.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW WHAT
WAS COMING UP FIRST.
WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEEK
LAST WEEK AND WE USUALLY DO A
PROCLAMATION HONORING THE WEEK.
WE DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO
DRAFT THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THIS YEAR
BUT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU
AND HOPEFULLY BRING FORWARD THE
PROCLAMATION IN THE NEXT WEEK.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME PIECES
THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE TOWN HALL
MEETING WITH THE AUTHOR OF, WITH
THE AUTHOR OF THE COLOR OF LAW,
AND THE CHIEF SEATTLE
COUNCILMEMBER AND MICHAEL BROWN
FROM SEATTLE FOUNDATION
DISCUSSING MUCH OF WHAT THE
PRESENTERS DISCUSSED TODAY.
THE HISTORY OF RACIAL
SEGREGATION IN SEATTLE AND THE
IMPACT THE LEGACY HAS ON
TODAY'S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
ACROSS THE CITY AND WAYS IN
WHICH WE SHOULD BE WORKING WITH
PUBLIC POLICY TO UNDO PAST HARM.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING
TO HIGHLIGHT THE WAYS WE CAN
MAKE FOR THE CHANGES IN THE
PROCLAMATION FORTHCOMING BUT IT
WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION AND THAT
DOVETAILS NICELY WITH THE
PRESENTATIONSTODAY.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
RECOGNIZED ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD OFFICE
WE WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE
HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY LAND TRUST,
COOPER LEGACY AWARD, THANK YOU
FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE
REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE
ASKING WE DO A QUICK VIDEO FOR
THEM AS THEY FEATURE THE WORK
IN THEIR VIRTUAL GALA.
I KNOW EVERYBODY IS DOING
VIRTUAL GALAS AND WE WERE
FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH THEM TO
PROVIDE A SHORT VIDEO
RECOGNIZING WAYS IN WHICH WE
ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES BENEFITING FOLKS
IN THE COUNTY AND ALSO
INCLUSION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
WORK.
EXCITED TO BE PARTNERS WITH THEM
AND WE WANT TO THANK WHO
RECOGNIZED US FOR WORK BUT WE
WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR HER
WORK IN ADVANCING HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES.
SHE WANTED TO THANK US AND THE
COUNCIL FOR THE WORK WE HAVE
INCLUDED IN THE JUMPSTART
SPENDING PLAN 2022 SPECIFIC TO
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS IS A WAY TO ALLOW FOR
FAMILY MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY
TO GET A GENERATIONAL POVERTY
INTO EQUITABLY EQUITY ACROSS
THE CITY.
LASTLY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
NEWS, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THE WORK HUMANITY,
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEATTLE
KING COUNTY IS DOING.
THEY HAD AN ANNOUNCEMENT LAST
WEEK ABOUT THEIR GROUNDBREAKING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
IN LAUREL HEIGHTS BUT DUE TO
THE COMMITTEE THIS THURSDAY I
CANNOT JOIN THEM BUT THERE IS
EXCITING WORK THEY ARE DOING
WHICH WHEN COMPLETED WILL
PROVIDE SEVEN HARD-WORKING LOW
INCOME FAMILIES A PLACE TO CALL
HOME AS WE WORK ON GREATER
FINANCIAL STABILITY
INDEPENDENCE AND EQUITY BUILDING
IN THE CITY THROUGH VARIOUS
POLICIES, HOMEOWNERSHIP AND
FIRST-TIME HOME OWNING, IT'S A
GREAT WAY TO CONTINUE TO CREATE
A MORE EQUITABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY FOR ALL.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEIR WORK.
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF
THESE THINGS HAPPENING IN
HOUSING THAT DOVETAIL WITH THE
PRESENTATION WE HEARD THIS WEEK
TO LOOK FORWARD TO RECOGNIZING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEEK IN
SEATTLE WITH THE PROCLAMATION
OF COMING IN THE FUTURE WEEKS.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING ON.
WILL MOVE DOWN THE LINE TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND THEN
.
>> HELLO COLLECTS THE
TRANSPORTATION UTILITY
COMMITTEE HAS NO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S FULL CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA.
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
WILL RESUME MEETINGS ON
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2nd AFTER
THE FALL BUDGET SEASON.
REGARDING REVIEW OF THE $6.5
MILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL, THANK
YOU TO VARIOUS COUNCILMEMBERS
ABLE TO COSPONSOR MY FORM B'S.
I ENJOYED THE INTERACTIONS AND
WORKING WITH YOU ON YOUR
PROPOSALS AS WELL.
LAST WEEK I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO WRITE ALONG WITH THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT HEALTH 1 TEAM
CURRENTLY LOCATED DOWNTOWN.
AS MANY OF US KNOW HEALTH ONE
IS A NEW MODEL COMBINING
FIREFIGHTERS AND CASE MANAGERS
FROM HUMAN SERVICES TO ENGAGE
WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS AND
OTHER DISTRESS ON CITY STREETS.
ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF THIS
TEAM IS TO PREVENT MORE
EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS
SITUATIONS AND THE CONCEPT IS
THAT IT'S MORE EFFECTIVE, A
MORE EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION
WHEN CITY GOVERNMENT LINKS THE
PERSON TO OTHER SERVICES RATHER
THAN REACTING AND SENDING THEM
TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR WORSE
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SO THE MAYOR HAS PRUDENTLY
PROPOSED TO DOUBLE THE MODEL.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT EXPANDED.
WE WANT TO SEE IT EXPANDED TO
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. IT WAS
APPARENT THE HEALTH ONE TEAMS
WILL NEED MORE DATA ANALYSIS
SUPPORT AS THEY GROW SO THEY
CAN FOLLOW UP WITH GROWING
NUMBERS OF CLIENTS AND TO
ANALYZE TRENDS OF PATIENT CARE
AND HOTSPOTS.
WILL TALK MORE DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS, THANK YOU.
>> INC.
YOU.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT
REPORT?
HEARING ON.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING
EVERYBODY.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTER
RIGHTS COMMITTEE WHICH HAS NO
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS
UNTIL THE BUDGET DELIBERATION
CONCLUDES.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PROVIDED
SPONSORSHIP TO THE VARIOUS
AMENDMENTS FROM MY OFFICE AND
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT
AND I WANTED TO SAY THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT IS IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE SOLIDARITY
BUDGET BEING DEMANDED BY
HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I'M SURE MANY WILL BE SPEAKING
FROM THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET AND
THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET TOMORROW
AT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ALL
OF THE DEMANDS COMING FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE IN
ALIGNMENT AND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AM DISAPPOINTED NO OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER HAS AGREED TO
SUPPORT THE PROPOSALS FROM OUR
MOVEMENT TO DEFUND THE POLICE
BY 50% AND TO INCREASE AMAZON
TAX RATE SO WE CANNOT ONLY FUND
COMMUNITY LED PROGRAMS FOR
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND PROMOTE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND ADDITION TO
TRYING TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND STOPPING THE
DRACONIAN BUDGET CUTS PROPOSED
BY THE MAYOR.
ALSO THE PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY
TO DO THE NECESSARY RESEARCH TO
HAVE ELECTED COMMITTEE
OVERSIGHT VOTE WHICH WOULD
PROVIDE COMMUNITY CONTROL OVER
THE POLICE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
BRING THOSE AMENDMENTS FORWARD
DURING THE FINAL ROUND OF
DISCUSSIONS FOR THE FINAL VOTE
AND I WOULD REALLY WELCOME
SUPPORT FROM COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
THESE VERY IMPORTANT PROPOSALS
THAT HAVE COME FROM THE JUSTICE
FOR GEORGE FORD MOVEMENT AND I
LOOK FORWARD FOR PUSHING FOR
THEM THEN.
TALKING ABOUT THE CENTRAL AREA
SENIOR CENTER AND THE CENTRAL
AREA SENIOR CENTER.
BOTH ARE KEY PROJECTS FOR ANTI-
GENTRIFICATION AND ANTI-BLACK
DISPLACEMENT IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT BUT AS I WAS SAYING WE
NEED TO DO A LOT MORE AND OVER
THIS WEEKEND MY OFFICE
SUBMITTED A NEW PROPOSAL FOR AN
IMPORTANT BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
ADVOCATED FOR AND ALSO
INFORMING CENTRAL STAFF AND HAD
A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT
THIS PROPOSAL COMING SLIGHTLY
OUTSIDE THE DEADLINE BUT
THURSDAY 5:00 P.M.
THE DEADLINE WE HAVE WHICH WE
SUBMITTED THE OTHER FORMS BUT
THIS ONE CAME A LITTLE BIT AFTER
AND WE THINK IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT AND HAS A VERY
CONCRETE PROPOSAL.
SO I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO SUPPORT FROM COUNCILMEMBERS,
AFRICA TOWN IS ADVOCATING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER CAIRO
CENTER AT 1601 IN DISTRICT 3.
THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO
USE A FULL SQUARE BLOCK IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT TO DEVELOP
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT AND ALSO AS I
INFORMED EARLIER I HAVE JOINED
HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
RALLYING AGAINST THE SALE OF
THE SITE, THE DEVELOPER LAST
YEAR AND THOSE ACTIONS DID HAVE
AN IMPACT NOW BECAUSE OF THE
MOMENTUM FROM THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER MOVEMENT THERE IS REAL
MOMENTUM TO BE ABLE TO WIN AND
I'M DELIGHTED AFRICA TOWN HAS
BROUGHT THIS OPPORTUNITY FORWARD
TO ACQUIRE FROM THE CORPORATE
DEVELOPER.
AFRICA TOWN'S ADVOCATING FOR
THE PROPERTY TO BE USED TO
DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
POPULATIONS EARNING 30 TO 50%
OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THE PROPOSED USE WILL BE NON-
CONGREGATE HOUSING FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE CURRENT 250
BED SPREAD OUT. THIS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS URGENTLY NEEDED, THE
AFRICA TOWN PROJECT AT THE
FORMER SITE WILL REPRESENT AN
IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND WILL BE
IMPORTANT AGAINST RACIST
GENTRIFICATION AND HIS
COMMUNITY DEMAND TO MAKE BLACK
LIVES MATTER.
THIS PROPOSAL HAS COME SLIGHTLY
LATE AND WE NEED TO HAVE IT ON
THE AGENDA TO BE DISCUSSED WITH
OTHER AMENDMENTS IN
DELIBERATIONS THIS WEEK SO
PLEASE LET MY OFFICE KNOW IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE
PROPOSAL AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO BE LISTED AS A COSPONSOR I
WELCOME THAT AND I WOULD BE
HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANY OFFICE
THAT WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS
PROJECT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
OKAY.
HEARING ON I WILL GO AHEAD AND
CONCLUDE THIS SECTION OF THE
AGENDA.
REALLY QUICKLY, NOTHING ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA FROM THE
GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE.
AND, WE DID HAVE A OPPORTUNITY,
MY OFFICE ATTENDED AN OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK,
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING LED A DISCUSSION
WITH MEMBERS OF THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE AND REQUESTED
OFFICIALLY FEEDBACK ON SOME
LEGISLATION THAT IS BEING
CONSIDERED TO ALLOW THEM DURING
COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO ALLOW
ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE
FLEXIBILITY IN ORDER TO BE
NIMBLE IN RESPONDING TO SOME
ONGOING EARLY LEARNING AND
EDUCATION NEEDS RELATED
DIRECTLY TO COVID-19.
WE WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT
THAT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME
AND AFTER THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE HAS HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE
LEGISLATION THEN WE WILL HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION DIRECTLY AND IN
ADVANCE OF SUBMISSION OF
LEGISLATION TO THE COUNCIL FOR
CONSIDERATION.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
REPORT THIS MORNING.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
ME ON MY REPORT?
HEARING ON COLLEAGUES THAT DOES
CONCLUDE OUR AGENDA FOR THIS
MORNING'S COUNCIL BRIEFING.
SO WE ARE ADJOURNED AND I WILL
SEE YOU ALL AT 2:00.
THANK YOU.