>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 3RD, 2020, AND
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE, FULL COMMITTEE OF THE
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:05 P.M.
I'M TERESA
MOSQUEDA, PRESIDENT PRO TEM
FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.
WE DO HAVE A PACKED HOUSE UP
HERE AND WE HAVE A PACKED HOUSE
DOWNSTAIRS AS WELL.
AS IS TRUE IN THE PAST, WE HAVE
ALLOWED AS MANY SIGNS AS YOU CAN
SEE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IF YOU HAVE A LARGE SIGN, WE'RE
ASKING FOLKS TO HOLD THEM DOWN
OR IF YOU WANT TO, YOU'RE
ALLOWED TO HOLD THEM BACK.
WE CAN'T HAVE THEM IN THE WAY OF
THE CAMERA.
APPRECIATE THAT FOR THE FOLKS
WHO MENTIONED IT PRIOR.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT FOR
ANY FOLKS COMING IN NOW.
WE'RE ASKING FOLKS TO KEEP THEIR
SIGNS A LITTLE BIT LOW.
IF YOU DO WANT TO HOLD THEM,
PLEASE DO GO TO THE BACK SO THEY
CAN BE HELD BACK THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR
PRESENTATION TODAY AFTER WE GET
ROLL CALL STARTED HERE.
BEFORE WE START WITH ROLL CALL,
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE CLERK GO
AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL, THEN
I'LL BE EXCUSING COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WILL BE
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S COUNCIL
MEETING.
HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS EXCUSED.
AS IT GOES TO PRESENTATIONS, THE
NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, I'M NOT
AWARE OF ANY PRESENTATIONS
TODAY.
WONDERFUL.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 21ST AND
27TH, 2020 CITY COUNCIL HAVE
BEEN PRESENTED AND REVIEWED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I SAID BUT THE
MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 21ST AND
JANUARY 27TH, 2020 CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MEETING MINUTES ARE GOING TO BE
SIGNED.
MOVING ON.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO THE
INTRODUCTION OF REFERRAL
CALENDAR, THE CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION TO REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO THE
AGENDA, TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION TO THE
AGENDA, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME WE ARE EXCITED TO
WELCOME ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE
COME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP
THE COMMENTS RELEVANT TO
ANYTHING THAT'S ON TODAY'S
COUNCIL AGENDA OR OUR
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE
ALREADY REVIEWED OUR SHORT
CALENDAR FOR TODAY.
SO I KNOW YOUR TOPICS WILL BE ON
POINT.
GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE HERE, WE ARE GOING TO
LIMIT COUNSEL PRESENTATIONS TO
ONE MINUTE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
TWO MINUTES FOR GROUPS.
I APPRECIATE FOLKS STAYING
WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME.
WE HAVE OVER 100 PEOPLE ALREADY
SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY AND MY HOPE
IS WE CAN GET THROUGH EVERYONE.
WE WILL TAKE A BREAK OR A PAUSE
AT 20 MINUTES IN, SO WE CAN
POTENTIALLY CONSIDER EXTENDING
THE AGENDA TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE
AS MANY FOLKS TO SPEAK AS
POSSIBLE.
I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT I KNOW
THIS HAS COME UP ON THE COUNCIL
AGENDA A FEW TIMES PRIOR.
THERE'S BEEN TWO OPPORTUNITIES
TO PUBLICALLY TESTIFY.
THE FIRST HAVING A 30-MINUTE
TIMEFRAME.
THE SECOND HAVING AN HOUR AND
20-MINUTE TIMEFRAME.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU LIMITING
YOUR COMMENTS TO ONE MINUTE PER
INDIVIDUAL AND TWO MINUTES PER
GROUP.
AND AS YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN
TOLD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
YOUR LARGE SIGNS TO THE BACK
THERE.
AS FOLKS ARE SPEAKING, PLEASE
DON'T HOLD UP YOUR SIGNS TOO
HIGH SO PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE
AND CAMERAS CAN STILL SEE.
ARETHA WILL BE READING INTO THE
RECORD THE NAMES OF THE FOLKS
WHO ARE HERE TO TESTIFY.
AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO READ
THREE NAMES AT A TIME.
AS WE READ THREE NAMES, PLEASE
LINE UP THREE AT A TIME TO EACH
OF THE MICROPHONES SO WE CAN
KEEP THIS GOING QUICKLY AND SO
WE CAN HEAR FROM AS MANY PEOPLE
AS POSSIBLE.
I WILL NOTE THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW
BOOING.
I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR BOOING
HERE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SHOW SIGNS OF
SUPPORT, THIS IS GOING TO BE
WELCOME AND THAT WILL ALSO KEEP
US MOVING ALONG SO WE DON'T HAVE
TO PAUSE FOR APPLAUSE.
THIS WOULD BE WELCOME FOR ANY
APPLAUSING.
I REALLY AM GOING TO DISCOURAGE
BOOING.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT FOLKS HAVE A CHANCE TO GET
UP TO THE MICROPHONE GIVEN THAT
WE DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE
DOWNSTAIRS.
BEFORE WE DO AS PER OUR CUSTOM,
WE ALWAYS HAVE -- ELECTED
OFFICIALS HAVE A CHANCE TO COME
UP FIRST.
SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO
WELCOME UP COUNCILMEMBER FROM
THE CITY OF REDMAN.
DO WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER KHAN IN
THE AUDIENCE?
WONDERFUL.
AS SHE MAKES HER WAY TO THE
MICROPHONE, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ INTO THE RECORD THE FIRST
THREE PEOPLE THAT WILL SPEAK
AFTER HER.
>> THE FIRST THREE NAMES ARE
BOTMA, RAHM, AND CHEMPAD.
>> WONDERFUL.
WELCOME.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, FOR
BEING HERE.
IS THIS INDIVIDUAL WITH YOU?
>> NO.
>> OKAY.
JUST AS A REMINDER, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE FOLKS STAND UP
NEXT TO ANYBODY THAT'S
TESTIFYING THAT'S NOT THERE AS A
GROUP.
OKAY.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
I'M A CITY COUNCILMEMBER IN THE
CITY OF REDMOND.
I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THE RESOLUTION TODAY.
I BELIEVE IT IS AN IMPORTANT
TESTIMONY AND A STATEMENT TO THE
COMMUNITY THAT LIVES IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AS WELL AS THE WIDER
REGION.
COMING HERE FROM REDMOND --
>> I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER,
I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT WE'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE SIGNS ON EITHER
SIDE.
SO FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WAITING
THEIR TURN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO
STAND UP AND WAIT IN LINE BEHIND
BUT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO PUT THEIR
SIGNS DOWN.
>> INCLUDING THE GENTLEMAN
THERE.
>> YOU'RE NOT WITH A GROUP.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M NEXT.
>> YOU ARE, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING AND
PUTTING YOUR SIGN DOWN.
I APPRECIATE IT.
IF YOUR NAME IS NOT CALLED, I DO
NOT WANT YOU STANDING BEHIND THE
PERSON TESTIFYING.
COUNCILMEMBER, I'M SORRY FOR THE
INTERRUPTION.
PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
COMING FROM THE CITY OF REDMOND
WHICH IS A MAJORITY MINORITY
CITY AND A LARGE SOUTH ASIAN
COMMUNITY, WE'RE DIRECTLY
IMPACTED BY THE RESOLUTION THAT
IS PRESENTED TODAY.
COMING FROM THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY
MYSELF, WE HOUSE THE LARGEST
MOSQUE IN THE REGION.
THE MUSLIM ASSOCIATION OF PUGET
SOUND.
AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE'RE
CURRENTLY FACING A NEED FOR
DEFENSE AGAINST HATE CRIMES,
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, LOCALLY
HERE IN OUR REGION.
BUT WHAT WE FACE IS NOT IN
ISOLATION TO THE GEOPOLITICS OF
THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.
GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE AS A
LARGE MINORITY COMMUNITY, LARGE
SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY, DO
DIRECTLY HAVE INDIVIDUALS WITH
FAMILY MEMBERS AND FOLKS WHO ARE
NOT NECESSARILY CITIZENS OF THE
UNITED STATES YET BUT WHO DO
REQUIRE TO GO BACK HOME.
THERE'S AN ABSOLUTE AND PERTANT
NEED.
AS MUSLIM COMMUNITY MEMBER IN
THE CITY OF REDMOND I CAN
ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THAT
RHETORIC HAS ALREADY IMPACTED US
HERE LOCALLY IN OUR REGION.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM
COMMUNITY DO FEEL UNSAFE BECAUSE
OF THE LANGUAGE THAT IS BEING
SPREAD, BECAUSE OF THE HATRED,
BECAUSE OF THE BIGOTRY THAT'S
BEING PERPETUATED.
SO I ASK AND I URGE THAT THIS
COUNCIL PLEASE DO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH AN ALREADY
TACKED COMMUNITY.
YESTERDAY WE SAWEN EXPANSION OF
OUR MUSLIM TRAVEL BAN.
THIS RESOLUTION, IN FACT, IS A
STATEMENT AGAINST WHAT'S
HAPPENING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL,
AT THE GEOPOLITICAL LEVEL AND
STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
COMMUNITY HERE.
SO I URGE YOU TO PLEASE PASS
THIS RESOLUTION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> ARETHA, COULD YOU PLEASE
READ INTO THE RECORD THE THREE
NAMES YOU ALREADY MENTIONED, AND
THE THREE NAMES THAT WILL
FOLLOW.
>> THE NEXT NAME IS RAHM.
AFTER THAT IS CHIMPAD.
THEN FOLLOWING WILL BE ATUL.
MICHAEL PARKER.
AND PADMA.
>> WONDERFUL.
WELCOME.
>> SHE WAS BEFORE ME.
>> PADMA.
I'M SORRY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS PADMA.
I'M SPEAKING AS A GROUP HERE.
I LOVE SEATTLE.
I DID MY UNDERGRAD, MASTER'S,
WORKED IN SEATTLE AND PAY TAX TO
THE CITY.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S RESOLUTION ON
31926.
IT IS TOTALLY MISLEADING,
IRRELEVANT, AND OPPOSES BASIC
HUMAN RIGHTS.
I'M HERE TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE
ON BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS WHICH WERE
VIOLATED ON A FLIGHT.
A FEW YEARS AGO MY HUSBAND AND I
FLEW FROM SAUDI ARABIA TO BOMBAY
DUE TO FAMILY EMERGENCY.
WE HAD TO TAKE THE IMMEDIATE
AVAILABLE AIRLINES AND GOT INTO
THIS UNFORTUNATELY, TOTALLY
DISCRIMINATED SITUATION.
OUR HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE AS WE
BOARDED THE FLIGHT, AND IT
FINALLY ENDED ONCE WE BOARDED
THE FLIGHT TO BOMBAY.
OUR FEELINGS WERE TERRIBLY HURT.
WE WERE INSULTED IN MANY
SITUATIONS, THEY DISPLAYED
ABSOLUTE HATRED IN EVERY WAY
THEY COULD.
WE WERE THE ONLY TWO INDIANS ON
THE FLIGHT AND PUT IN A STATE OF
FEAR, JUST BECAUSE WE WERE
HINDUS AND VEGETARIANS.
WE WERE DENIED THE VEGETARIAN
MEAL, RUDELY TOLD WE HAVE NO
SUCH THING, AND CAN OFFER ONLY
NON-VEGETARIAN.
WITH THE FELLOW PASSENGERS, THE
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS LOVED
CONVERSING SARCASTICALLY OFF AND
ON, INSULTING HINDU VALUES,
TRADITIONS, AND WAYS OF WORSHIP,
EVEN AT THE TRANSIT LOUNGE.
THEIR RESPONSE WAS, JUST ONE DAY
IT'S OKAY TO EAT MEAT.
IT WAS A TOTAL DISPLAY OF PURE
ANIMOSITY TOWARD HINDUS, ON
VEGETARIANISM, BECAUSE WE
CONTINUE OUR FAITH ON NOT TO
EAT.
HAVING FACED THIS HORRIFYING
SITUATION, ONE CAN IMAGINE THE
KIND OF BRUTALITY THESE 37,000
MINORITY PEOPLE HAVE GONE
THROUGH EACH AND EVERY DAY OF
THEIR LIVES IN ALL THREE ISLAMIC
COUNTRIES, PAKISTAN,
AFGHANISTAN, AND BANGLADESH.
MY CONCLUSION IS DESERVING
MINORITIES A BASIC RIGHT TO
LIVE.
DO WHAT'S NEEDED FOR SEATTLE AND
THE UNITED STATES.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
>> THANK YOU, PADMA.
AND THE MICROPHONES WILL BE CUT
OFF AT THE END OF THE PERIOD AND
I REALLY APPRECIATE FOLKS WHO
ARE DOING THIS AS A SHOW OF
SOLIDARITY TO KEEP US MOVING
FORWARD.
THIS AT THE END, IF YOU SUPPORT
IT, THAT WILL KEEP US MOVING.
WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR
WAITING.
RAHM?
>> I'M PART OF A GROUP SO I'M
SPEAKING FOR MY PEEK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
AS SOMEBODY WHO DOES BUSINESS IN
THE CITY, I URGE YOU TO VOTE
AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TWO OF
THEM.
THERE'S AN ALLEGATION THAT CAA
IS GOING TO DEPRIVE OVER 200
MILLION-PLUS MUSLIMS OF INDIA OF
THEIR CITIZENSHIP.
THAT IS FALSE.
THAT IS CATEGORICALLY FALSE.
CAA HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
INDIAN CITIZENS.
NOT ONE INDIAN WILL LOSE HIS OR
HER CITIZENSHIP BECAUSE OF CAA.
IF THAT WAS THE CASE, I'D BE ON
THE OTHER SIDE PROTESTING THEIR
RIGHTS.
NOT A SINGLE INDIAN CITIZEN WILL
LOSE THEIR CITIZENSHIP.
NUMBER 2, CAA ALLOWS FOR
EXPEDITED, FAST TRACK
NATURALIZATION OF GOVERNMENT
SPONSORED PERSECUTED MINORITIES
FROM THREE COUNTRIES.
THE KEYWORD IS GOVERNMENT
SPONSORED PERSECUTION.
AND IN THIS THREE COUNTRIES,
IT'S ONLY CHRISTIANS, HINDUS,
SIKHS, AND BUDDHISTS.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
PERSECUTED, THEY'RE CONVERTED,
THEY'RE MURDERED.
THEY LACK EVEN THE BASIC
NECESSITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I ASK YOU, DID THEY DESERVE
TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THEIR
RELIGION?
ARE THEY THE CHILDREN OF A
LESSER GOD?
NO, MS. SAWANT.
THOSE REFUGEEES DESERVE NO LESS
THAN YOU.
THEY'RE PART OF THE ONE
HUMANITY.
IT'S ALSO ALLEGED THAT CAA IS
DISCRIMINATORY AND FASCIST
BECAUSE EVERY RELIGIOUS GROUP IS
NOT COVERED BY THIS LAW.
AGAIN, I'M SORRY, THAT IS THE
HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY.
I'M SURE ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE OF
THE LAUTENBURG AMENDMENT SIGNED,
GIVING FAST TRACK ACCESS INTO
THE UNITED STATES FOR PERSECUTED
MINORITIES WITHIN IRAN.
GUESS WHAT?
IT'S JEWS, CHRISTIANS, AND BAHIS
ARE COVERED.
MUSLIMS ARE NOT.
THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO
GOVERNMENT SPONSORED
PERSECUTION.
I ASK YOU, IS PRESIDENT OBAMA A
BIGOT BECAUSE OF THIS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SO MS. SAWANT, HE'S NOT A
BIGOT.
THIS RESOLUTION IS BIGOTED.
>> OKAY.
APPRECIATE IT.
THE NEXT PERSON IS CHAMPAD.
AND AS A REMINDER TO FOLKS, IF
YOU'RE COMING UP AS GROUPS, THE
FOLKS WHO ARE WITH YOU CAN'T
ALSO SPEAK LATER ON.
SO THEY'RE MAKING A DECISION TO
SPEAK AS WELL.
>> I'M IN A GROUP.
SORRY.
HI.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
DEAR COUNCILMEMBERS AND
EVERYONE, I'M A BANGLADESHI
HINDU.
I CAME HERE TO SHOW SOME FACTS.
IN 2001, THE PARTY CAME TO POWER
IN BANGLADESH.
AS SOON AS THEY CAME TO POWER,
RAMPAGE OF PERSECUTION STARTED
AGAINST MINORITY.
12 YEARS OLD, A HINDU GIRL WAS
GANG RAPED AND HER HELPLESS
MOTHER WAS CRYING, PLEASE RAPE
HER ONE BY ONE.
SHE'S TOO YOUNG.
OTHERWISE SHE WILL DIE.
DURING THAT TIME, 10,000 RAPE
CASES WERE DOCUMENTED IN
BANGLADESH.
IMAGINE THE SCENARIO OF
MINORITIES IN THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY.
SIMILAR THINGS HAPPENED IN 1990
AS WELL.
I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED,
EXPERIENCED THOSE HORRIBLE DAYS
IN 2001 WHERE WE FEEL HOSTILE IN
OUR OWN COUNTRY.
AS WE CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ON
SOCIAL MEDIA OR ANYWHERE.
THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSING CAA, I
JUST WANTED TO ASK THEM A SIMPLE
QUESTION.
DID THOSE POOR PERSECUTED
MINORITIES WHO WERE ALREADY
STAYING IN INDIA FOR 20 TO 30
YEARS, DID THEY GET INDIAN
CITIZENSHIP?
YES OR NO?
IF THE ANSWER IS NO, THEN CAA IS
A POLICY MADE BY INDIAN
GOVERNMENT FOR POOR PERSECUTED,
TO GIVE CITIZENSHIP TO JEWS
DURING WORLD WAR II.
WHY MUSLIMS ARE NOT INCLUDED?
BECAUSE PERSECUTED MUSLIMS DON'T
WANT TO GO TO INDIA.
I HAVE BANGLADESH.
THEY ALSO FACE PERSECUTION.
THE PERSECUTED WENT TO IRAN.
BANGLADESH GIVES SHELTERS TO 5
MILLION ROHINGYAS.
EUROPE AND U.S. ALSO GIVE ASYLUM
TO ROHINGYAS.
BUT THESE POOR PERSECUTED
MINORITIES FROM BANGLADESH,
AFGHANISTAN THEY HAVE NO PLACE
TO GO EXCEPT INDIA.
CAN YOU SHOW ME ANY POOR
PERSECUTED MINORITIES, ANYWHERE
úIN THE WORLD EXCEPT INDIA?
THE ANSWER IS NO.
I REQUEST EVERYONE TO TAKE
DECISION BASED ON THIS SCENARIO.
>> ARETHA, PLEASE READ THE NEXT
THREE NAMES.
>> THE NEXT THREE NAMES ARE
ATUL, MICHAEL.
>> I'LL SPEAK AS A GROUP.
>> OKAY.
LET ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK.
HAS YOUR NAME BEEN CALLED, SIR?
>> YEAH, MICHAEL PARKER.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
I WAS JUST MAKING SURE BECAUSE I
THOUGHT YOU WERE PART OF THE
PREVIOUS GROUP.
>> SPEAKING AS A GROUP.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MY RESPECTS TO ALL.
I WORK IN SEATTLE SINCE 2001.
IT'S MY PLEA TO YOU ALL.
INDIA CAA IS A PATH TO
CITIZENSHIP.
NOW WHO ARE THEY?
THE ISLAMIC NATIONS OF PAKISTAN
AND BANGLADESH HAD 23% OF THE
POPULATION OF THE RELIGIOUS
MINORITY.
TODAY THESE NUMBERS DWINDLEDED
IN PAKISTAN TO LESS THAN 3%.
I WANT TO ASK COUNCIL, HOW DO
YOU THINK THEY LOST 20% OF THE
MINORITY POPULATION?
INDIA PROUDLY GREW ITS
POPULATION FROM 15% TO 22%
DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME.
I WANT TO ASK COUNCIL, HOW MANY
PRIME MINISTERS AND PRESIDENTS
DID PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH HAVE
THAT BELONG TO MINORITY
COMMUNITY, WHILE INDIA HAD
SEVERAL PRESIDENTS, PRIME
MINISTERS, AND TOP LEADERS FROM
SIKH, CHRISTIAN, AND MUSLIM
COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO ASK COUNCIL, DO YOU
KNOW HOW MANY RELIGIOUS MINORITY
PEOPLE ARE KILLED, JAILED, AND
PUNISHED UNDER THE LAWS?
DOES THAT NOT TELL US A GLARING
STORY ON PAKISTAN'S MINORITY
RIGHTS?
HENCE I URGE THE COUNCIL TO BE
LASER FOCUSED ON THE LAWS, ITS
INTENTIONS, AND NOT GET TAKEN
AWAY WITH ANY PRECONCEIVED
NOTIONS OF INDIA'S LEADERS OR
NEWS ARTICLES.
CAA
SEATTLE CANNOT BE ON THE WRONG
SIDE OF THE HISTORY.
PLEASE DON'T WITH THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARCHINA.
>> AS SOMEONE WHO DOES BUSINESS
IN SEATTLE AND TAKES PRIDE IN
SHOWING SEATTLE TO VISITING
FRIENDS AND FAMILY, I ASK YOU TO
OPPOSE 31926.
PAKISTAN WAS CREATED FROM
UNDIVIDED INDIA IN 1947 AS PER
THE DESIRE OF THE LEADER OF THE
MUSLIM.
MUSLIMS CROSSED OVER TO PAKISTAN
AND MANY HINDUS, SIKHS,
CHRISTIANS AND OTHERS CROSSED
OVER INTO THE NEWLY DIVIDED
INDIA.
SOME OF THEM WERE UNABLE TO
CROSS INTO INDIA.
TODAY THEM MAHATMA GANDHI SAID,
AND I QUOTE, IF THEY FEEL UNSAFE
AND WISH TO COME TO INDIA IN THE
FUTURE, THEY CAN COME AT ANY
TIME WITHOUT HESITATION.
IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE
THEM JOBS, SHELTER, CITIZENSHIP,
AND A RESPECTABLE LIFE.
END QUOTE.
DEAR COUNCILMEMBERS, ALL THE CAA
DOES IS FULFILL THAT OVERDUE
PROMISE.
MS. SAWANT'S RESOLUTION
CONVENIENTLY IGNORES THIS TRUTH.
FROM 1941 TO 2015, THE HINDU
POPULATION IN PAKISTAN, FOR
EXAMPLE, HAS DWINDLED FROM 15%
TO LESS THAN 3% DUE TO RAPE,
FORCED CONVERSIONS AND OTHER
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
IN BANGLADESH --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MICHAEL, APPRECIATE YOUR
PATIENCE.
THANK YOU, MA'AM.
YOUR TIME IS COMPLETE.
I'M SORRY.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN MR. RAHM
BEFORE.
YOU HAVE THREE PEOPLE.
IT'S WELCOME AS A GROUP BUT IT
HAS TO BE THREE SEPARATE PEOPLE
AND PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN
THEIR TIME TO COME UP.
GO AHEAD, MICHAEL.
RIGHT AFTER ARETHA -- WHAT'S
THAT?
>> I'M HERE AS A GROUP.
>> CAN YOU SHOW ME WHO THAT IS?
OH, THAT'S A SHAME.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU SPEAK AS A
GROUP, BUT I WANT TO BE REALLY
CLEAR WITH FOLKS.
THE GROUP IS INTENDED TO ALLOW
MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO SPEAK.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE TO
SAY AND I'M SORRY THAT THAT WAS
NOT CLEAR.
BUT ONLY THE THREE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE NOT COME UP BEFORE CAN COME
UP AND SPEAK AS A GROUP.
WE'RE ALSO HAPPY TO TAKE WRITTEN
TESTIMONY.
ARETHA, CAN YOU READ THE THREE
PEOPLE TO COME UP AFTER MICHAEL?
>> AFTER MICHAEL WILL BE PADMA
AYALA, SHIVA -- I CANNOT SAY THE
LAST NIGHT.
AND ASHISH.
>> OKAY.
MICHAEL, GO AHEAD.
>> HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBERS,
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND SHARE
MY PERSONAL OPINION AND
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
AND IT MAY BE UNIQUE TO ALMOST
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
BASICALLY I HAVE THREE DIRECT
IMMEDIATE RELATIVES PUT INTO
INTERNMENT CAMPS HERE IN
WASHINGTON JUST FOR BEING
JAPANESE-AMERICANS.
SO IT HITS HOME WHEN I HEAR
ABOUT MINORITIES SUFFERING.
ALSO I WORKED WITH NASA, THE
NATIVE AMERICANS STUDENTS
ASSOCIATION IN OREGON TO BUILD
THEIR COLLEGE.
I'VE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO
INDIGENOUS STRUGGLE AND TO HELP
MAKE UP FOR THE DEBT.
SO BASICALLY I WENT TO INDIA TO
SEE THE CONDITION OF THESE
BANGLADESHI REFUGEES FOR MYSELF.
I WANTED TO SEE ON THE GROUND
WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH.
WHAT WAS THEIR EXPERIENCES.
AND I WAS HORRIFIED TO SEE
THEY'RE TOTALLY NEGLECTED AND
THEY HAVE NO LAND SO THEY BUILD
HOMES HANGING OVER SEWAGE
CANALS.
I ASKED THEM WHERE'S AMNESTY?
WHERE'S THE UNITED NATIONS?
WHERE'S THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT?
NO ONE IS HELPING THEM.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO
ANYTHING TO HELP THEM.
WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS BILL, IT
WAS THE FIRST RAY OF HOPE IN
THEIR LIVES THAT NOW THEY'RE
GETTING FULL CITIZENSHIP, LIKE
EVERY OTHER INDIAN IN THE
COUNTRY OF INDIA.
SO FOR ME, IT WAS GREAT NEWS AND
IT TOUCHED MY HEART.
THEN WHEN I STARTED SEEING THE
PROTESTS AND ALL THAT, I WAS
CONFUSED ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S
HERE AND THEY'RE VERY SINCERE IN
THEIR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS.
I HAVE GOOD NEWS TO SHARE WITH
ALL OF YOU.
THE FACT IS IN 2015, THE
GOVERNMENT GAVE ALMOST 15,000
BANGLADESHI MUSLIMS CITIZENSHIP.
IN INDIA IN 2015, YEARS BEFORE
THIS CAA BILL CAME ABOUT.
THESE RUMORS AND THESE LIES
GOING ON IS FALSE.
ALL OF YOU, THIS IS GOOD NEWS.
IT'S SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
THE NEXT PERSON IS PADMA.
GO AHEAD, PADMA.
>> IS THIS ALLOWED?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND I'M HERE TO
EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO
RESOLUTION 31926.
MY NAME IS PADMA.
I'M THE DAUGHTER OF A LABOR
UNION LEADER WHO DEDICATED HIS
ENTIRE LIFE FOR THE POOR.
ALONG WITH US LIVED MANY MUSLIMS
AND CHRISTIANS.
YES, I DO COME FROM THE
GRASSROOTS.
BEFORE I SPEAK ABOUT THE CAA, I
WANT TO QUOTE WHAT MAHATMA
GANDHI ONCE SAID.
MINORITIES OF PAKISTAN WHO DO
NOT WISH TO LIVE THERE CAN COME
TO INDIA.
IT IS THE DUTY TO ENSURE A
NORMAL LIFE FOR THEM.
I'M NOT QUOTING GANDHI BECAUSE
HE'S FATHER OF THE NATION.
HE'S AN INSPIRATION TO MANY BUT
I'M QUOTING GANDHI BECAUSE WHEN
THE ENTIRE NATION WAS
CELEBRATING INDIA'S FIRST
INDEPENDENCE DAY, GANDHI WAS
WORKING AT THE EAST PAKISTAN
BORDER, IMMERSED IN SAVING THE
LIVES OF MINORITY HINDUS.
THE CAA IS A SIGN OF
HUMANITARIAN VALUES.
IT IS AN EXTENSION TO INDIA.
GIVING ASYLUM TO THE PERSECUTED
MASSES.
IN THE PAST, INDIA GAVE ASYLUM.
PERSECUTED IN THE 8TH CENTURY
AND MANY TIMES JEWS.
I'M SURE COUNCIL, YOU WILL AGREE
WITH ME THAT TO UNDERSTAND A
PROBLEM, THE COUNTRY NEEDS A
DEEPER PREVENT AND IF THE
COUNCIL CANNOT INVEST SUCH TIME,
IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL NOT FALL
PREY TO THE PEOPLE'S GREED FOR
POWER.
LASTLY, YOUR VOTE IS A VOTE
AGAINST CITIZENSHIP.
>> THE NEXT PERSON IS SHIVA.
AND AGAIN, I'D REMIND FOLKS,
WE'RE LOSING TIME FOR PEOPLE TO
SPEAK WHEN YOU DON'T DO THIS.
>> I WORK IN SEATTLE AND I'M
AGAINST 31926.
I'M READING FROM THE UNITED
NATIONS' REPORT ON PAKISTAN IN
2019.
PAKISTAN PORTRAYED RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES AS SECOND CLASS
CITIZENS.
CHRISTIANS AND HINDUS WERE IN
ABLE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND
GIRLS, EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS ARE
KIDNAPPED, KILLED, OR FORCED TO
MARRY MUSLIM MAN.
INDIA IS GIVING A LIFE OF
DIGNITY TO SUCH MINORITIES WHO
WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SKIP
PAKISTAN.
UNFORTUNATELY MS. SAWANT HAS NO
REGARD AS THEY ARE NOT HER BANK.
SHE'S FEEDING HER POLITICAL
AMBITIONS ON THE BACKS OF
MINORITIES.
IN FACT, THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE
TODAY WHO ARE FROM BANGLADESH
AND PAKISTAN AND THEY'RE
PRETENDING THEY'RE FROM INDIA
AND NOT HINDUS.
I HOP YOU DON'T WANT TO FALL
FOR THAT CRAP.
>> THANK YOU.
ARETHA.
CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT
THREE NAMES?
THE NEXT THREE NAMES, PLEASE.
>> YES.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE WILL BE
JUGDAY, SANDISH.
>> AS WE DO SO, I WANT TO
REMIND FOLKS, YOU'RE HERE TO
TESTIFY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
WE WELCOME ANY PERSPECTIVE.
WE DO NOT WELCOME ATTACKS ON
INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS.
I WANT TO REINFORCE THAT AND
WE'LL HAPPILY HERE ANY
CONVERSATION ABOUT POLICY.
NO APPLAUSING TODAY.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH AS
FAST AS WE CAN AND NO BOOING.
SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCE THAT.
JADESH?
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, MY NAME IS
JADESH, AND I'M AGAINST THE
RESOLUTION 31926.
ORGANIZING MANY MEETINGS WITH
GREATER SEATTLE BUSINESS
LEADERS, WITH SEVERAL
AMBASSADORS OF INDIA TO THE U.S.
AS THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD
MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF
SEATTLE, WE PARTNERED WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO ORGANIZE FOR
ALMOST SIX YEARS.
IN MY HUMBLE OPINION,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS A LOT
OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT CAA
UNFORTUNATELY.
CAA DOES NOT TAKE AWAY THE
CITIZENSHIP OF ANY INDIAN
CITIZEN, INCLUDING 200 MILLION
CITIZENS.
IT IS SIMILAR TO THE LAUDENBURG
ACT.
NRC
RULES FOR THE COUNTRY.
IT'S A NORMAL PROCESS TO
REGISTER INDIVIDUALS' NAMES.
CITIZENSHIP OF ANY PERSON IS
DECIDED ON THE CITIZENSHIP RULES
ON 2009.
SEATTLE HAS A HISTORY OF
CRIMINAL HARMONY.
THE RESOLUTION MAY ACT --
CERTAIN RESOLUTION ALSO HAVE
DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE HINDU RELATIONS.
AND SEATTLE HAS CHALLENGING
ISSUES RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
AFFORDABILITY, CRIME, SAFETY.
I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THOSE
ONES.
I STRONGLY URGE ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS --
>> APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE, SHIVA.
>> I'M IN A GROUP.
>> OKAY.
AND YOU'RE SHIVA?
>> YEAH.
I'M SHIVA.
CAN I START?
>> PLEASE.
>> SO I'M SHIVA.
I OPPOSE THIS RESOLUTION.
WORKING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR
OVER A DECADE NOW, IT'S COMMON
FOR ME TO WITNESS HOMELESS
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.
MANY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
DRUGS.
IT'S A COMMON SCENE FOR ME.
MAKING ME PONDER EVERY DAY.
SHOULDN'T OUR FOCUS BE SEATTLE'S
OWN PROBLEM.
THE EMOTIONALLY CHARGED
OPPOSITION IS INDULGING IN SHEER
FEAR MONGERING.
I SEE FEEDING OFF MISCONSTRUED
CONJECTURE LEADING TO FEAR
MONGERING AND HATRED.
POTENTIALLY LEADING TO UNREST,
THE SAME KIND OF UNREST WHICH WE
SAW IN INDIA WHERE WE SAW PLANES
TORCHED -- THE POPULATION OF
MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN AND
BANGLADESH WENT DOWN FROM 23% TO
UNDER 2%.
A MASSIVE CLEANSING OF
MINORITIES AND MILLIONS, WHICH
MEANS EITHER THEY WERE CONVERTED
OR THEY WERE MIGRATED, WHICH I
DON'T KNOW WHICH COUNTRIES ARE
WELCOMING THEM, OR THEY WERE
ELIMINATED.
POLITICALLY SPEAKING, ANY
REMAINING MINORITIES IN THIS
COUNTRY WOULD PERISH IN A FEW
YEARS FROM NOW IF NO ACTION IS
TAKEN.
IF THIS TREND CONTINUES, WHAT
WOULD BE THE ANSWER THE COUNCIL
HAS WHEN IT BECOMES ZERO IN
THOSE COUNTRIES.
SECTION 5 OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP
LAW CURRENTLY ALLOWS ANY MIGRANT
FROM ANY NATION TO COME TO
INDIA.
ALL THIS LAW DOES IS FAST TRACK
CITIZENSHIP FOR PERSECUTED
MINORITIES AND NOTHING MORE.
IT'S FAST TRACKING IT FROM 11
YEARS TO 12 YEARS TO SIX YEARS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SANTOSH.
>> I'M A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT FOR THE LAST
35 YEARS.
ACTUALLY 50 YEARS.
I'M AGAINST THE RESOLUTION, AND
I HAVE A FEW POINTS TO MAKE.
FIRST, IN TODAY'S GATHERING,
YOU'LL NOTICE THE BANNERS
SAYING GENOSIDE IN INDIA.
1950, MADEHINDUS MAKE ONLY 65%
OF THE
POPULATION.
THAT'S POINT ONE.
THE OTHER MAJOR POINT IS INDIA
HAS HAD SEVERAL MILLION PEOPLE
ARRIVING OVER THE LAST, LET'S
SAY 50 YEARS.
THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE CONSIST OF
TWO GROUPS.
GROUP A, WHO ARE A FEW HUNDRED
THOUSAND.
THERE ARE THE PERSECUTED
NON-MUSLIM POPULATION FOR WHICH
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS LAID
ITS ACT WHICH IS THE FAST TRACK
CITIZENSHIP TRACK.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
THAT'S YOUR TIME.
COUNCILMEMBERS, WE'VE HIT THE
END OF OUR 20-MINUTE TIME
PERIOD.
I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR THE
COUNCIL'S INDULGENCE.
IF IT PLEASES THE COUNCIL, I'D
LIKE TO SUGGEST WE CONTINUE TO
HEAR POLITIC COMMENT FOR ANOTHER
20 MINUTES.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION FOR THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BEING
EXTENDED ANOTHER 20 MINUTES,
I'LL SAY 22 MINUTES TO GET US
EXACTLY TO 3:00 P.M., I'D LIKE
TO ENTERTAIN THAT SUGGESTION.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, AND A
THUMBS UP.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
WE'RE HEARING NO OBJECTION.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
EXTEND THE COUNCIL COMMENT
PERIOD FOR ANOTHER 22 MINUTES TO
3:00 P.M.
ARETHA, PLEASE READ
INTO THE RECORD THE NEXT THREE
PEOPLE AND I KNOW WE HAVE ONE
PERSON ON THE DOCKET TOO.
>> THE NEXT PERSON UP IS
LAVONIA.
AFTER LAVONIA WILL BE RINCAT,
GUREA, AMRIT SINGH.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
LAVONIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND PATIENCE.
YOUR TIME IS STARTING.
GO AHEAD.
>> GREETINGS OF PEACE.
I'M LAVONIA, EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN.
SEATTLE
HAS
MAJOR DRUG AND HOMELESS PEOPLE
PROBLEMS.
AND WE HAVE VIOLENCE ON THE
ROADS AND GUN SHOOTINGS.
EVERY DAY WE LOOK AT THEM AND
WONDER WHAT SEATTLE COUNCIL IS
DOING, OKAY?
YOUR RESOLUTION WON'T AFFECT
INDIA.
IT AFFECTS US, THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE LIVING IN SEATTLE.
YOU SHOULD BUILD BRIDGES, NOT
BURN THEM.
OKAY?
YOU ARE DIVIDING AMONG US.
AND SEATTLE WAS DECLARED AS A
SISTER CITY A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND IT WOULD AFFECT BUSINESS AND
TRADE WITH INDIA.
AND INDIA GAVE $80,000.
GANDHI STATUE TO WASHINGTON AS A
GIFT.
WE WERE WORKING 15 YEARS TO GET
INDIAN CONSULATE IN SEATTLE.
IF YOU PASS, YOU DEPRIVE US THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
AND I WOULD ASK ONE QUESTION.
BECAUSE IF YOU DEPRIVED INDIA
WILL GIVE YOU BIRTH.
WHAT IF THE GUARANTEE TOMORROW
YOU DON'T DEPRIVE UNITED STATES.
ANSWER ME, PLEASE.
>> OKAY.
THE NEXT PERSON IS VENKAD.
>> I'M A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
SINCE 1997.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT MY CASE
AGAINST RESOLUTION 31926.
RESOLUTION IS BASED ON BLATANT
LIES AND AN ATTEMPT TO MISLEAD
THE SEATTLE CITY AS WELL AS THE
COMMUNITY FOR ULTERIOR MOTIVES.
LET ME START OUT BY SAYING THAT
INDIA PARTITIONED IN 1947.
INDIA'S FOUNDING FATHER, MAHATMA
GANDHI, PROMISED THE MINORITIES
OF PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH,
WHICH USED TO BE EAST PAKISTN,
THAT IF THE MINORITIES IN THOSE
COUNTRIES FELT UNSAFE, THEY
COULD ALWAYS RETURN BACK TO
INDIA.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF
THE ATROCITIES HAPPENING IN
PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH.
ON JANUARY 26TH OF THIS YEAR,
JUST A WEEK AGO, A MINORITY
PAKISTANI WOMAN WAS ABDUCTED
FROM HER WEDDING CEREMONY,
FORCIBLY CONVERTED TO ISLAM, AND
MARRIED OFF TO A MUSLIM MAN.
THE PAKISTAN HUMAN RIGHT
COMMISSION STATED THIS IS NOT AN
ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT SAYS THAT OVER THE LAST 15
YEARS, 7500 CASES HAVE BEEN
REPORTED JUST IN THE PROVINCE
AND THE NATIONAL SCORE RUNS INTO
TENS OF THOUSANDS.
IT'S DWINDLED BY 8X OVER THE
LAST 50 YEARS.
IN BANGLADESH, BY 3X.
THAT'S NOTHING BUT GENOCIDE.
THAT'S NOTHING BUT ETHNIC
CLEANSING.
31926 IS BASED ON COMPLETE LIES.
IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY
CITIZENSHIP OF THE 200
MILLION-PLUS INDIAN MUSLIMS HAS
IT'S BEEN CODED.
INDIA DOESN'T STOP MUSLIMS FROM
OTHER COUNTRIES OR ANYBODY ELSE
FROM ACQUIRING CITIZENSHIP.
IN FACT, THE MOST FAMOUS
BOLLYWOOD SINGER WAS BORN IN
PAKISTAN AND AWARDED THE HIGHEST
CIVILIAN AWARD ONE CAN GET FOR
EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC.
THIS RESOLUTION IS BLATANT LIES.
IT'S BEING BROUGHT UP TO PROMOTE
DIVISIVENESS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'D STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU ALL TO
REJECT IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GURU, IS THAT YOU?
HELLO.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M ACTUALLY AMRIT SINGH AND I'M
FROM NATIONAL FOUNDATION OF
INDIAN ASSOCIATION AND
I HAVE
BEEN LIVING HERE IN THE SEATTLE
AREA FOR THE LAST ABOUT 41
YEARS.
I LIVED IN SEATTLE BUT NOW I
HAVE A BUSINESS IN SEATTLE.
THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF
CITIZENS ARE NOT DISCRIMINATORY
TO ANY MINORITIES.
CAA GIVES THE LEGAL STATUS TO
THOSE MINORITIES LIVING IN
INDIA.
BEFORE 2015 FROM ISLAMIC STATES,
HINDUS, SIKHS, CHRISTIANS AND
OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN
CONSTANTLY EITHER CONVERTED
FORCIBLY OR SIMPLY KILLED.
INDIA, UNLIKE ANY OTHER COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD IS THE ONLY COUNTRY
THAT GIVES PROTECTION TO THE
MINORITIES THROUGH CAA.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME GOOGLE
RESEARCH.
THE MEDIA ADVISOR TO THE
PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN FROM 2008
TO 2012.
SHE WRITE IN HER BOOK, BASICALLY
THE NON-MUSLIMS IN 1947 COMPRZ
COMPRISED OF 23% OF THE
POPULATION.
BY 2011, IT'S GONE DOWN TO 3.7%.
IN BANGLADESH, NON-MUSLIM
COMPRISED OF 22% OF THE
POPULATION AND THEIR SHARE IN
2011, 7.8%.
CAA BENEFITS OVER 31,000 HINDUS,
SIKHS, CHRISTIANS, PARSIES BY
GRANTING THEM LEGAL STATUS.
INDIA IS THE LARGEST DEMOCRACY.
THOSE WHO ARE --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I ACCIDENTALLY MISSED GURU.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> AS AN IMMIGRANT CITIZEN OF
THIS COUNTRY FOR THE LAST 12
YEARS, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST
THE RESOLUTION BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
THE COUNCIL MUST GO THROUGH TO
UNDERSTAND THE CAA AND NRC
BEFORE MAKING A CALL.
THE CAA IS BASED ON THE ACT OF
1946 AND THE CITIZENSHIP ACT OF
1955.
AND ABOUT SIX SUBSEQUENT MONTHS
IN 1996, 2003, 2005, 2019.
BUT
AS THE NRC IS BASED ON AN ACT
CALLED THE ACT, ILLEGAL MIGRANTS
DETENTION ACT OF 1983.
I HOPE THE COUNCIL TOOK THE TIME
TO READ, UNDERSTAND, AND
ASSIMILATE THESE ACTS BEFORE
DECIDING TO HEAR THE RESOLUTION.
IF NOT, IT RUNS THE RISK.
THERE ARE THREE KEY QUESTIONS
FOR THIS COUNCIL THAT I WANT TO
PROPOSE.
WHAT ARE YOU BASING IT ON?
LOSS OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST
DEMOCRACY?
OR NEWSPAPER AT YOUR LOCAL
COFFEE SHOP?
WHO ARE THE REAL MINORITIES
YOU'RE SUPPORTING?
ONE AGREED TO BY THE SUPREME
COURT OF THE SOVEREIGN NATION OR
ONE INVENTED BY THE MEDIA?
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPORTING?
LARGEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD
OR MASQUERADING ITSELF AS
LIBERALISM.
THE RESOLUTION STARTS WITH --
ASK YOURSELF
IF IT IS WRONG FOR A COUNTRY TO
DO THE SAME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> THEY WERE ABDUCTED, RAPED,
AND FORCIBLY CONVERTED IN
PAKISTAN.
A MEDICAL STUDENT WAS BRUTALLY
MURDERED AFTERWARDS.
THESE ARE JUST THREE NAMES OUT
OF OVER 1,000 GIRLS FROM HINDU,
SIKH, CHRISTIAN, JEWISH, AND
THESE COMMUNITIES THAT FACE THE
SAME FATE OR ARE SOLD INTO THE
CHINESE FLESH TRADE.
DEAR COUNCILMEMBERS, IMAGINE
YOURSELF OR YOUR DAUGHTERS IN
THEIR PLACE.
WASHINGTON STATE IS AMONG TOP 10
IN SETTLING REFUGEES.
CAN WASHINGTONIANS IN GOOD
CONSCIOUS DENOUNCE.
A VOTE AGAINST CAA IS A VOTE
AGAINST HUMANITY.
PLEASE REJECT RESOLUTION.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK.
>> AS WE STARTED WITH THE
COUNCIL, WE'VE ASKED INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE ELECTED TO COME TO THE
MICROPHONE.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER FROM THE CITY OF
MUKILTEO.
IF THE COUNCILMEMBER IS HERE,
THEY'RE WELCOME TO COME UP TO
THE MICROPHONE.
WELCOME, COUNCILMEMBER.
AFTER THAT I'LL READ THE NEXT
THREE ITEMS.
DEEPRA AND GROUP.
ANILA AND GROUP.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING
ME THE CHANCE.
I'M SORRY.
GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, I JUST WANT
TO START.
I'M GOING BACK SO MANY YEARS,
WHAT HAPPENED IN INDIA.
INDIA USED TO BE CONTROLLED BY
OTHER MUSLIMS AND THE MUSLIMS
BUILD BASICALLY INDIA.
I'M TELLING YOU.
>> SIR, JUST ONE SECOND.
EVERYBODY, WE'VE BEEN REALLY
GOOD -- COUNCILMEMBER, ONE
SECOND, PLEASE, COUNCILMEMBER.
EVERYBODY, WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
YOU'VE BEEN REALLY GREAT ABOUT
LETTING FOLKS TALK SO FAR.
SO PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> MUSLIMS, HINDUS, SIKH, AND
EVERYBODY.
THEN WE BUILD TAJ MAHAL.
WHO BUILT THE TAJ MAHAL?
STARTED WITH THE PERSON WHO HAS
TWO DEGREES AND PUTTING THE
MUSLIMS DOWN.
THIS IS VERY UNFAIR.
SO TODAY WE ARE HERE.
WE LEFT OUR JOBS.
WE LEFT OUR HOME.
WE ARE HERE TO ASK SOMETHING.
IT'S CALLED EQUALITY.
SO WE ARE HERE TO ASK EVERYONE
HERE IN THE COUNCIL TO GIVE US A
CHANCE.
LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAME
FROM FAR PLACES.
WHY?
IF SOMETHING IS HAPPENING, IT
SHOULD HAPPEN TO EVERYONE.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO INDIA,
IT SHOULD HAPPEN HERE THE SAME
WAY.
TODAY WE ARE SUFFERING.
WE SHOULD HELP EVERYONE
INCLUDING MUSLIMS, SIKH, HINDUS,
EVERYONE.
LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN
INDIA.
WHY?
PEOPLE COME AND GO.
WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE.
PRESIDENTS COME AND GO.
OUR VALUES SHOULD REMAIN THE
SAME.
TODAY WE ARE HERE IN
TOGETHERNESS.
HERE TO BRING PEACE AND JUSTICE
TO EVERYONE.
WE SHOULD GIVE CHANCE TO ALL THE
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO LIVE
PEACEFULLY.
ADD MUSLIMS.
ADD EVERYONE.
ADD EVERYONE, PEOPLE WHO DESERVE
CITIZENSHIP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KHAN.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND
YOU'RE WELCOME TO SEATTLE ANY
TIME.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
WE HAVE DEEPRA AND GROUP.
MA'AM, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
READING.
DEEPRA AND GROUP.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DEEPA.
I'M HERE WITH THE COALITION OF
SOUTH ASIANS WHO HAVE COME TO
ASK YOU TO VOTE YES -- [ CROWD
TALKING ]
>> EVERYBODY -- OKAY.
FOLKS, WHAT I'VE DONE -- ALL
RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHUT THIS
DOWN.
WE'VE HAD 50 MINUTES OF
INDIVIDUALS COMING IN AS GROUPS.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS GET AS
MANY PEOPLE IN AS POSSIBLE.
I WILL ASK THOSE WHO ARE BEING
DISRUPTIVE TO LEAVE IF WE HAVE
TO.
WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS A
LIST OF GROUPS THAT HAVE COME.
I'VE READ THREE GROUPS.
I HAVE READ THREE GROUPS.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE
LIST.
I KNOW.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ALREADY
ENTERTAINED 50 MINUTES.
WE WILL END PUBLIC TESTIMONY IF
THESE THREE GROUPS GO FORWARD.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THREE
GROUPS, FOLKS.
I'M COMING BACK TO THE LIST.
AT THIS POINT -- [ CROWD
TALKING ]
>> CAN YOU PLEASE LISTEN TO THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> EVERYBODY, I HAVE TRIED, I
HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SURE WE GET
THROUGH THIS LIST.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OVER 100
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.
WHAT I'VE DONE IS I'VE ALLOWED
FOR THE FIRST TWO FULL SHEETS TO
HAPPEN.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF
FOLKS WHO ALSO SIGNED UP
DOWNSTAIRS.
AND I'VE ASKED THREE GROUPS TO
COME UP TO REPRESENT AS A GROUP.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THOSE
THREE GROUPS.
WE'LL DO THOSE THREE GROUPS AND
WE'LL RESUME WITH THE LIST AS
LONG AS WE CAN.
THE ALTERNATIVE IS THAT WE END
PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE
A RECESS.
I'LL TAKE A 5-MINUTE RECESS.
>> EVERYBODY, I APOLOGIZE FOR
THE DELAY.
I UNDERSTAND FOLKS WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROCESS I
OUTLINED.
SO LET ME GET THROUGH THE NEXT
FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS WITHOUT
INTERRUPTION, PLEASE.
MY INTENT WAS TO TRY TO GET
THROUGH AS MANY PEOPLE AS
POSSIBLE.
AND IN DOING SO, ALLOW GROUPS TO
HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME.
I LOOKED FOR ITEMS ON THE NAMES
THAT HAD GROUPS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT CAUSED
FRUSTRATION BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN LINED UP FOR A LONG
TIME.
I DO WANT TO HEAR FROM AS MANY
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS ASK
FOR OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO
CONSIDER EXTENDING PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES.
I'LL GO BACK TO THE LIST WHICH
DOES APPEAR TO BE INDIVIDUALS.
I APOLOGIZE TO THE GROUPS THAT
HAVE ALSO SIGNED UP THAT ARE NOT
ABLE TO SPEAK TODAY.
I WILL HAVE TO CUT OFF PUBLIC
COMMENT AT 15 MINUTES.
I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED
HUNDREDS OF E-MAILS.
AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
WAITING DOWNSTAIRS, I KNOW THAT
YOU ALSO HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME
TO COME UPSTAIRS AND SO MY
INTENT WAS TO TRY TO GET SOME
FOLKS FROM DOWNSTAIRS AS WELL
UP.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE THE LIST, I'LL
READ THROUGH FOR THE NEXT 15
MINUTES.
I'LL GO BACK TO THE INDIVIDUALS
WHO WERE NEXT ON THE LIST AND
NOT SEARCH FOR THE GROUPS.
IT WAS MY INTENT TO GET GROUPS
UP.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE FOLKS
WHO AREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK TODAY.
WITH THAT, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES,
I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR YOU TO
EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
ANOTHER 15 MINUTES TO 3:18.
HEARING NO OBJECTION -- DID YOU
HAVE A COMMENT?
>> YES, AS LONG AS PROPER
DECORUM IS PUT IN PLACE, NO
SHOUTING, NO JEERING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOOD DECORUM
FOR THE REMAINING 15 MINUTES.
>> WE APPRECIATE
THAT.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS EXTENDED 15
MINUTES TO 3:19.
I RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN LEWIS, WE
ARE GOING TO GET TO THE ITEMS
BEFORE THE 4:00 P.M.
PERIOD.
I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION
AND I'D LOVE TO TAKE YOUR
WRITTEN COMMENT BECAUSE I'M
GOING TO GO BACK TO THE LIST OF
INDIVIDUALS.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE TO SPEAK
ARE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- WOULD
YOU MIND READING THE NEXT
INDIVIDUALS?
>> BAKTI.
NUMBER 17, 18, AND 19.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS BAKTI.
I REQUEST YOU TO VOTE NO FOR
KSHAMA SAWANT'S RESOLUTION.
I HAVE MAINTAINED SOURCES OF
INFORMATION THAT I'M ABOUT TO
SHARE HERE.
I'M GOING TO READ THE NAMES,
SIMPLY READ THE NAMES OF THE
GIRLS OF MANAGEABLE AGE FROM THE
COUNTRIES COVERED BY CAA.
THESE GIRLS WERE ABDUCTED,
FORCIBLY CONVERTED, OR FORCIBLY
MARRIED ONLY BECAUSE THEY BELONG
TO MINORITY IN THOSE COUNTRIES.
NUMBER ONE, JAMA, AGE 12.
NUMBER 2, AGE 19.
NUMBER 3, AGE AROUND 20.
PLACE, PAKISTAN.
NUMBER 4, NAME, JAJIT.
AGE, AROUND 20.
PLACE, PAKISTAN.
NUMBER 5 --
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR WRITTEN
COMMENT.
THE NEXT PERSON, SHASHI.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I'M SHASHI SINGH.
AND I AM HERE TO OPPOSE MS.
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION 31296
AGAINST CAA, NRC AND INDIA.
THE CAA PROVIDES FALSE
CITIZENSHIP TO PROSECUTED PEOPLE
OF MINORITIES FROM INDIA'S THREE
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES WHO HAVE
BEEN LIVING IN INDIA BEFORE
DECEMER 21ST, 2014.
THEY WERE LIVING IN THOSE
COUNTRIES WITHOUT BASIC HUMAN
RIGHTS.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF INDIA'S
OPPOSITION PARTIES.
RIGHT NOW THE NRC HAS
IMPLEMENTED ONLY IN STATE OF
INDIA ON SUPREME COURTS ORDERED
AND SUPERVISION.
I REQUEST THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
CAA --
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
THE NEXT PERSON IS -- SIR, WE'RE
ONLY DOING ONE MINUTE SO WE CAN
GET THROUGH AS MANY PEOPLE IN
THESE 15 MINUTES.
>> I WORK IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NRC WAS CARRIED OUT IN 1984,
ASOM
I'M LISTING THE FOLLOWING 24
DOCUMENTS PROVIDING PROOF OF
CITIZENSHIP.
1951.
LAND RECORDS.
CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATE, REFUGEE
CERTIFICATE, PASSPORT, ANY
GOVERNMENT ISSUED LICENSE OR
CERTIFICATE, GOVERNMENT SERVICE,
EMPLOYMENT, COURT RECORDS
PROCESSES.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE
ABOVE DOCUMENTS, COMMON
DOCUMENTS.
THERE ARE TRIBUNALS IN COURT I
CAN APPEAL TO.
THERE IS A PETITION SIGNED BY
OVER 11,000 INDIAN AMERICANS
ASKING YOU TO REJECT THIS
RESOLUTION WHICH DOESN'T EVEN
CONCERN YOUR TAX PAYING
CONSTITUENTS.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT.
ARETHA, COULD YOU READ THE NEXT
THREE PEOPLE, PLEASE?
>> YES.
THE NEXT NAMES ARE MONOTAR.
>> OKAY.
DO WE HAVE MANOKAR?
THANK YOU.
>> NAMASTE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE
RESOLUTION AND MY PERSONAL
BELIEFS.
THE RESOLUTION 31926 IS DEEPLY
FLAWED, MISGUIDED, AND WILL
NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
NOT ONLY SHOULD THE COUNCIL DROP
THIS RESOLUTION, I REQUEST
COUNCIL TO SUPPORT INDIA CAA
BECAUSE IT PROTECTS PEOPLE,
GRANT THEM THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
THEY NEED AND PERSECUTED IN
THEIR HOME COUNTRY.
PLEASE, KINDLY HELP OUR EXTENDED
FAMILY, FRIENDS, BROTHERS AND
SISTERS WHO ARE IN DEEP NEED,
OPPOSING THE RESOLUTION 31926.
>> THANK YOU.
KAMIR.
AND THE NEXT THREE?
GO AHEAD.
>> NAMASTE, EVERYONE.
I'M LIVING IN SEATTLE IN THE
LAST 10 YEARS.
I REQUEST HONORABLE
COUNCILMEMBERS TODAY TO REJECT
RESOLUTION 31926.
CAA CITIZENSHIP FAST TRACK FOR
MINORITIES WHO ARE PERSECUTED IN
PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, AND
AFGHANISTAN.
CAA DOES NOT TALK ABOUT
CITIZENSHIP FOR ANYONE IN
GENERAL.
NRC IS ALSO MENTIONED IN THE
RESOLUTION.
SO NRC IS MANDATED BY THE
SUPREME COURT.
IT'S NOT BY THE GOVERNMENT BUT
BY THE COURT OF INDIA ITSELF IN
THE STATE.
SO THE STATE WILL KNOW CLEARLY
WHO THE CITIZENS ARE AND THEREBY
HELPS THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE
ALL THOSE BENEFITS AND SUBSIDIES
TO THE STATE CITIZENS SO THEY
ALL ENJOY ALL THE BENEFITS LIKE
ANYBODY ELSE.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
APPRECIATE IT.
NEXT.
GO AHEAD, SIR.
MILEN.
RAMA.
>> MY NAME IS --
>> OKAY.
>> I'M A COUNCILMEMBER.
I SUPPORT SEATTLE AS A WELCOME
CITY TO ALL.
I'M A DISTRICT 7 WORKER.
I SUPPORT
SEATTLE AS A WELCOMING CITY TO
ALL.
I ASK YOU TO WORK NOW ON THIS
RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF THE
FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
QUESTION NUMBER 1: ARE YOU 100%
SURE THAT THIS RESOLUTION MAKES
FACTUALLY CORRECT STATEMENTS ON
WHICH YOU CAN PUT YOUR OWN
CREDIBILITY ON THE LINE?
QUESTION NUMBER 2: HAS THE
COUNCIL HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW
THE HISTORY OF INDIA, ITS
CULTURE, AND HOW IT SHAPED
PEOPLE'S SENTIMENTS.
QUESTION NUMBER 3: HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS TO UNDERSTAND THE
NECESSITY OF INDIA'S
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ACT.
AND QUESTION NUMBER 4, ARE YOU
SURE THAT THE COUNCIL IS NOT BE
PLAYED BY EXTREMIST IDEOLOGY?
PLEASE SAY NO.
>> THANK YOU.
RAMA.
>> I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I
BELIEVE IN HUMANITY AND IT IS MY
RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW
SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR ALL
THOSE MILLIONS OF PERSECUTED
MINORITIES WHO ARE ALREADY
KILLED BRUTALLY.
THOSE WHO ESCAPED PERSECUTION.
INDIA HAS TAKEN THE STEP TO
EMBRACE THEM ON A BETTER LIFE.
THAT IS A SYMBOL OF TRUE INDIA.
EVERY CITIZEN IS TREATED WITH
DIGNITY.
MINORITY POPULATION HAS BEEN
PERSECUTED.
IT IS MAY MORAL RESPONSIBILITY
TO OPPOSE THE RESOLUTION AND I'M
HERE WITH THE BELIEF THAT THE
HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBERS WILL
SAY FACTS AND NOT SPREAD LIES.
>> THE NEXT THREE PUBLIC
SPEAKERS, ARETHA?
>> ANU, RAHUL, AND MANOHAR.
>> AND THOSE LAST TWO FOLKS,
WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE MINUTE FOR
EVERYBODY HERE.
GO AHEAD, SIR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITIZENS OF
SEATTLE.
I'M HERE TO REJECT THE
RESOLUTION WHICH IS AGAINST CAA
AND THE PERSECUTED MINORITIES.
AFTER GATHERING ALL THE THOUGHTS
HERE, ALL THE FOLKS PRESENT
HERE, I'M ACTUALLY LEFT WITH
ONLY THIS PIECE OF PAPER WHICH
IS NOT A FACEBOOK POST.
THIS IS A REALITY CHECK OF
WHAT'S GOING ON.
AS WE SPEAK, MANY OF THE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SISTERS,
DAUGHTERS, AND MOTHERS ARE BEING
PERSECUTED EVEN NOW.
IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT'S DONE
AND TESTED.
IT'S STILL ONGOING AND THIS IS
THE FATE OF MANY OF THE
NONHINDUS.
FATE OF NON-MUSLIMS IN PAKISTAN.
THIS IS A RECRUITMENT PROGRAM
FROM PAKISTAN THAT ALLOWS ONLY
NON-MUSLIMS TO BE ON THE PART OF
SANITATION WORKERS OR SWEEPERS
OR CLEANERS.
SO THIS IS THE REALITY THAT
WE'RE ACTUALLY OPPOSED TO AND WE
WANT TO PROTECT THOSE
MINORITIES.
THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
GOD BLESS HUMANITY.
>> HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBERS,
I'M WORKING IN SEATTLE.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE ONE THING.
HE TOLD ME, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE
CITIZENS WHO WILL LOSE
CITIZENSHIP BECAUSE OF CAA,
INCLUDING MUSLIMS, LGBT, THE
NUMBER IS ZERO.
THROUGH AUTHENTIC SOURCES IT IS
ESTABLISHED THAT THE DETAILS IN
THE RESOLUTION ARE INCORRECT.
AS A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN AND TAX
PAYING CITIZEN, I WOULD URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO FOCUS ON
CURRENT BURDENING ISSUES IN
SEATTLE.
CAN WE SOLVE THE ISSUES?
CAN WE IMPROVE LIVING CONDITION
OF HOMELESS AND NEEDY?
THAT WILL JUSTIFY MY TAX MONEY.
THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY WILL ALWAYS
BE WELCOMING CITY TO EVERYONE.
BUT SUCH RESOLUTIONS SPREAD FEAR
BASED ON THE LIES.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE WRITTEN
TESTIMONY.
ARETHA, THE NEXT THREE NAMES,
PLEASE.
>> NUMBER 27, MANOHAR.
GASHA.
ANEYA.
SORRY.
I CAN'T READ THE HANDWRITING.
>> ONE MORE.
>> SIDESH.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
I'M ASSOCIATED WITH THE CULTURAL
ASSOCIATION HERE IN SEATTLE.
>> SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER.
THERE YOU GO.
>> SO I'M HERE TO OPPOSE KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION 31926.
I SUPPORT INDIA'S CAA, ONE OF
THE BEST HUMAN RIGHTS ACTS
PASSED IN THAT REGION.
CAA IS EXACTLY WHAT MAHATMA
GANDHI, WHO IS THE WORLD'S
GREATEST HUMAN RIGHTS CHAMPION.
SOON AFTER INDEPENDENCE, AT THAT
TIME MAHATMA GANDHI SAID INDIA
SHOULD ACCEPT AND GIVE
CITIZENSHIP TO ANY RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES FROM PAKISTAN.
AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE ALL THE
OTHER, SINCE THAT TIME, THERE
ARE SEVERAL POLITICAL LEADERS
WHO ALSO PROPOSE THE SAME THING
SINCE THEN.
SO CAA IS PASSED BY INDIAN
PARLIAMENT WHICH IS THE WORLD'S
GREATEST DEMOCRACY WITH A
MAJORITY OF 4:1.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
MANUHAR.
OKAY.
YOU'RE NEXT.
>> I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR
YOU GUYS.
DO YOU GUYS REALLY HAVE SO MUCH
TIME TO UNDERSTAND THOUSANDS OF
YEARS OF HISTORY OF INDIA, WHAT
HAPPENED, AND THEN
INTELLECTUALLY WORK ON THE
RESOLUTION WITH PURE CONSCIENCE?
I DON'T THINK SO.
I WANT SEATTLE TO BE IMPROVED
AND I WANT MY CITY TO BE MADE
BETTER.
WHY ARE WE HERE TALKING ABOUT
SOME DIFFERENT -- BIGGEST
DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD AND
DISCUSSING WHAT THEY SHOULD DO?
WHY SHOULD WE POKE OUR NOSE IN
THERE?
WHEN WE HAVE SIMILAR LAWS.
I HAVE FEW MORE THINGS.
WHY ARE WE HERE WASTING SO MANY
TAXPAYERS MONEY AND TALKING
ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION WHICH IS
NOT GOING TO PRODUCE ANYTHING
YOU DON'T HAVE LEGAL AUTHORITY
DEFINITELY AND WHO GIVES YOU
MORAL AUTHORITY TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BIGGEST
DEMOCRACY.
SOLVE MY PROBLEMS AT HOME.
AND STOP WASTING TIME.
>> GO AHEAD, SIR.
>> I'M HERE TO SUGGEST THE
COUNCILMEMBERS STRONGLY OPPOSE.
I HAVE A FEW POINTS TO SHARE
WITH YOU.
NUMBER ONE, AFTER CAA CAME TO
EXIST, TWO PAKISTANI MUSLIM
WOMEN GOT CITIZENSHIP.
THE SECOND PART I'D LIKE TO
POINT HERE, HAS TO FLEE PAKISTAN
IN SIX MONTHS BECAUSE
MINORITIES.
IF CAA WAS THERE, A CITIZEN IN
INDIA.
SO
I STRONGLY SUPPORT CAA AND I
REQUEST THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
OPPOSE.
>> GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> SADISH.
I OPPOSE MS. SAWANT'S RESOLUTION
OF 31926.
IT HAS COMPLETELY BASED -- IT
DOES NOT HAVE SINGLE ORDER OF
EXCLUSION.
IT GIVE CITIZENS RIGHTS TO
PERSECUTED MINORITY WHOSE ARE
WAITING FOR JUSTICE FOR OVER 70
YEARS.
BASIC QUESTION TO ASK IS DOES
THE SCOPE OF CAA EXTEND TO
APPLICATION?
NO, NOT AT ALL.
CAA HAS A CUT-OFF DATE.
DECEMBER 2014.
IT IS ILLOGICAL, MISGUIDED.
THEIR MOTIVATION OF THE
PERSECUTION.
VICTIMS HAS NO SAY IN THIS
PROCESS.
SEATTLE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS.
SO COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE TO SPEND
THEIR RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S
MANY PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP WHO
DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TESTIFY
TODAY.
TO THOSE LISTENING DOWNSTAIRS
AND THOSE IN THE ROOM, WE
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION
EARLIER.
THIS IS MY ATTEMPT TO TRY TO GET
AS MANY PEOPLE HURT AS POSSIBLE.
TO MY COLLEAGUES, APOLOGIES FOR
HAVING TO TAKE AN INTERMISSION
SO WE CAN HEAR AS MANY PEOPLE AS
POSSIBLE.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS.
I WILL WARN FOLKS THOUGH, AS WE
MOVE FORWARD WITH TODAY'S
AGENDA, I KNOW THERE IS GOING TO
BE A VOTE ON THIS TODAY AND
THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO
ARE SUPPORTIVE AND NOT
SUPPORTIVE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN
HEAR THE PROCESS.
IF THERE'S ANOTHER DISRUPTION
LIKE THE ONE WE HAD EARLIER,
I'LL HAVE TO ASK FOR THE ROOM TO
BE CLEARED.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHOW SUPPORT
OR DISAPPROVAL IN THE HAND
MOTIONS YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
BUT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THE
REST OF TODAY'S AGENDA.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
UNDERSTANDING.
I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO
PUBLICALLY TESTIFIED.
AND TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T, I LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM YOU
AS YOU CONTINUE TO SEND E-MAILS
AND COMMUNICATE WITH US AND
APOLOGIES YOU DID NOT HAVE A
CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY.
PLEASE READ INTO THE ITEM THE
REPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL.
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER 1.
>> PAYMENT OF BILLS.
COUNCIL BILL 119737.
THE WEEK OF JANUARY 20TH, 2020
THROUGH JANUARY 24TH, 2020 AND
ORDERING THE PAYMENT THERE OF.
>> COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I MOVE
TO PASS COUNCIL BILL 119737
WHICH IS JUST PAYMENT OF BILLS.
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
THAT THE BILL PASSED.
ANY COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL IN THE PASSAGE OF BILLS.
[ ROLL CALL ] SIX IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSE.
>> PASSED AND THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT.
PLEASE READ THE REPORT TO CITY
COUNCIL, ITEM NUMBER 1.
>> THE REPORT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, RESOLUTION 31926,
REAFFIRMING SEATTLE AS A
WELCOMING CITY, EXPRESSING THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S
SOLIDARITY WITH SEATTLE'S SOUTH
ASIAN COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF
RELIGION AND CASTE, AND OPPOSING
INDIA'S NATIONAL REGISTER OF
CITIZENS AND CITIZENSHIP
AMENDMENT ACT.
>> THIS HAS BEEN INTRODUCED BY
COUNCILMMBER SAWANT.
I'LL ASK YOU TO DO AN INTRO TO
THIS.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
MOSQUEDA.
I WANT TO MAKE SEVERAL REMARKS
AND I APPRECIATE IN ADVANCE MY
COLLEAGUES BEARING UP WITH THAT.
I WANT TO ADD AS YOU SAID, THAT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS AN
AMENDED VERSION OF IT WHICH I'M
GOING TO SUPPORT.
BUT BEFORE THAT, I WANT TO MAKE
THESE COMMENTS AND ALSO IF YOU
WOULD LET ME MAKE SOME CLOSING
REMARKS AFTER OTHERS HAVE
SPOKEN.
>> HOPING WE CAN HAVE THE
MAJORITY OF THE COMMENTS AT THE
END FOR THE CLOSING IF POSSIBLE.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
BY APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION,
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
SHOW THAT THESE LEGISLATIVE BODY
WILL STAND WITH THE WIDESPREAD
PROTEST MOVEMENT, COURAGEOUSLY
FACING BRUTAL OPPRESSION
THROUGHOUT INDIA AGAINST A
NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZENS,
THE NRC, AND THE CITIZENSHIP
AMENDMENT ACT, THE CAA, WHICH IN
TANDEM WITH EACH OTHER, THREATEN
TO STRIP AWAY THE BASICRECTOMIES
BASIC RIGHTS OF
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
CITY COUNCIL WILL GO ON THE
RECORD OPPOSING RELIGIOUS
PERSECUTION AND ISLAMOPHOBIA,
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
THE HINDU FUNDAMENTALIST REGIME
OR THE BJP AND PRIME MINISTER.
BY APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION,
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL SHOW THAT
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIGHT
AGAINST THE RIGHT WING AND
BIGOTED AGENDA IS NOT SEPARATE
FROM, BUT IN FACT INEXTRICABLY
LINKED WITH THE STRUGGLE OF
AMERICAN PROGRESSIVES AGAINST
THE BIGOTED AGENDA OF TRUMP AND
RIGHT WING REPUBLICANS, THAT WE
CANNOT FIGHT TRUMP'S ISLAM
OPHOBIC AGENDA IF WE DON'T
OPPOSE THE RISE OF THE FAR RIGHT
GLOBALLY.
THE TRAVEL BAN INCLUDES SIX
ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES.
BY APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION,
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL URGE THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO
SUPPORT LEGISLATION FOR ADOPTING
POLICIES THAT ARE DISCRIMINATORY
TO MUSLIMS, WOMEN, INDIGENOUS,
AND LGBTQ PEOPLE.
BY APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION,
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DRAW A
HISTORIC LINE IN THE SAND,
RECOGNIZING THE OMINOUS
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE NRC AND
THE CAA, AND THE EARLY NUREMBERG
LAWS ENACTED BY THE THIRD REICH
IN 1930s GERMANY.
RECOGNIZING THE CREDIBLE NEWS
REPORTS OF THE REGIME HAS
ALREADY PUT MANY PEOPLE IN A
STATE OF ASSAM
IN DETENTION CENTERS AND PRISONS
ARE BEING BUILT AS WE SPEAK.
[ CROWD SPEAKING ]
>> AS A REMINDER TO FOLKS BOTH
IN THE ROOM AND FOLKS DOWNSTAIRS
IN THE VIEWING AUDIENCE, I KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO HEAR THE DETAILS.
SO PLEASE CONTINUE WITH YOUR
HAND MOTIONS.
I AM LOOKING AT YOUR COMMENTS.
AND FOLKS DOWNSTAIRS THAT WE
CAN'T SEE, PLEASE ALSO RESPECT
THE FOLKS WHO WANT TO HEAR THE
COMMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING SO
WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE
CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
MOSQUEDA.
BEFORE THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS
AND DEATH CAMPS, THE NAZIS
ENACTED THE NUREMBERG LAWS
INCLUDING THE REICH CITIZENSHIP
LAW WHICH REDEFINED GERMAN
CITIZENSHIP TO EXCLUDE JEWISH
PEOPLE.
THE RESULT WAS THE ISOLATION OF
JEWISH COMMUNITIES, MAKING THEM
AN INCREASINGLY EASY TARGET FOR
SCAPEGOATING.
THE CAA AND NRC HAVE OMINOUS
ECHOES OF THESE LAW.
AS THE BOARD OF THE DIRECTORS OF
THE RECONSTRUCTIONIST JEWISH
COMMUNITY SAID IN THEIR
STATEMENT SUPPORTING THIS
RESOLUTION, QUOTE, WITHIN LIVING
MEMORY, POLICIES CLOSELY
PARALLEL TO THESE WERE AMONG THE
FIRST STEPS TAKEN BY THE NAZI
GOVERNMENT OF GERMANY IN THE
1930s AND ARE NOW RECOGNIZABLE
AS THE INITIAL STEPS TO THE
HOLOCAUST.
POLICY SUCH AS THIS IN CENTURIES
OF SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION OF
JOOUSTZ JEWS.
FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE US,
TAKING A STAND AGAINST DANGEROUS
POLICIES THAT HAVE OUTLINES IN
THEM ONLY COMES WHEN IT IS
CONVENIENT AND THERE'S NO
POLITICAL COURAGE INVOLVED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO EACH ONE OF US
UP HERE TAKING THE MORALLY
CORRECT ACTION TODAY BY VOTING
YES.
IT IS IRONIC FOR THE REGIME THAT
WHILE THEY'RE ATTEMPTING A
DEEPLY DIVISIVE TACTIC, IT HAS
ENDED UP UNIFYING INDIANS AND
INDIAN IMMIGRANTS IN A WAY THAT
I HAVEN'T SEEN IN MY OWN
LIFETIME.
>> PLEASE CONTINUE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
HAND MOTIONS ONLY, PLEASE.
>> I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
HUNDREDS OF SEATTLE'S INDIAN
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
HELPED DRAFT AND PUSH FOR THIS
RESOLUTION.
IT'S BEEN A REAL MOVEMENT FROM
ALL PARTS OF THE INDIAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY.
HINDUS, MUSLIMS, BUDDHISTS,
SIKHS, ACROSS ALL CASTES FROM
INDIA HAVE COME TOGETHER TO
VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION TO THESE
DISCRIMINATORY AND UNJUST LAWS.
I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO COMMEND
THE COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP OF
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE
SEATTLE REGION BECAUSE I KNOW
HOW MUCH COURAGE IT TAKES FOR
PEOPLE FROM OPPRESSED CASTES TO
SPEAK OUT, EVEN OUTSIDE INDIA,
GIVEN HOW ENTRENCHED THE SYSTEM
IS, EVEN IN INDIAN COMMUNITIES
OUTSIDE INDIA.
I THANK CONGRESSWOMAN JAYAPAL
FOR USING HER POSITION TO SPEAK
OUT AGAINST THE TRAGEDIES IN
KASHMIR AND I KNOW SHE'LL BE
SPEAKING OUT ON THE CAA AND NRC
ISSUE AS WELL.
I THANK REDMOND COUNCILMEMBER
KHAN FOR COMING HERE AND
SPEAKING UP IN FAVOR OF THE
RESOLUTION.
I THANK LEADERS AND THE MUSLIM
ASSOCIATION OF PUGET SOUND
OR M.A.P.S.
AND MANY OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE SENT
STATEMENTS STRONGLY URGING THE
COUNCIL PASS THIS RESOLUTION,
INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, ONE AMERICA,
THE CITY OF SEATTLE LGBTQ
COMMISSION, THE COUNCIL ON
AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS.
THE GROUP OF 42 CIVIL AND HUMAN
RIGHTS
>> -- ISLAMIC CENTER.
OUR MOVEMENT HERE IN THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST SENDS A
MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY TO THE
YOUNG PEOPLE, STUDENTS AND
WORKERS ALL OVER INDIA WHO ARE
FIGHTING BACK WITH MASS ONGOING
DEMONSTRATIONS ON UNIVERSITY
CAMPUSES.
SPECIAL MENTION OF THE STUDENTS
-- AND THE PEACEFUL OCCUPATION
OF SHAHEEN BOG.
ON JANUARY 8th THERE WERE
UNITED PROTESTS AND STRIKES
ACROSS INDIA AGAINST THESE
AUTHORITARIAN LAWS AND THE
ECONOMIC POLICIES OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
THIS WAS THE LARGEST STRIKE
EVER IN GLOBAL LABOR HISTORY,
THE BLOOMBERG NEWSPAPER
REPORTING THAT 250 MILLION
PEOPLE FROM BANKS AND TRANSPORT
SERVICES IN THE CITY, TO
FARMERS IN RURAL AREAS, STOPPED
WORK TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
STRIKE.
IT IS TELLING, THAT VIRTUALLY
NO ONE WHO SPOKE AGAINST THE
RESOLUTION HAD ANYTHING TO SAY
ABOUT THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF
CITIZENS.
LAS YEAR IN THE INDIAN STATE
OF ASSAM THEY CREATED AN
UPDATED REGISTER OF CITIZENS,
NRC.
PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO PROVE
THEY WERE INDIAN CITIZENS, AND
IF ONE HAD EVEN A MODICUM OF
HONESTY, ONE WOULD HAVE TO
CALL THE DOCUMENTATION
REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE NRC
ABSURD ON THE FACE OF IT, AND
ONLY LOGICAL WHEN YOU SEE THAT
IT SEEKS TO FULFILL THE
SPECIFIC AGENDA OF CITIZENSHIP
RIGHTS FROM NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.
THE DAN STRAUSS D -- NRC
REQUIRES IF YOU WERE BORN
BEFORE 1971 LIKE MYSELF, IF
YOU WERE BORN AFTER 1971 LIKE
MYSELF, IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU
ARE YOUNGER THAN 48 YEARS OLD
YOU MUST HAVE PRE-1971
DOCUMENTS WITH YOUR PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS NAME ON IT
DOCUMENTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH
YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.
ACCORDING TO THESE RULES,
SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF WHO WAS
BORN AFTER 1971, WOULD ACTUALLY
BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT FOUND
THROUGH THE PILOT PROJECT THEY
DID IN THE NORTHEASTERN STATE
OF ASSAM IS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO
CARRY OUT THE NRC WITHOUT --
LARGE NUMBER OF HINDUS STATELESS
-- DIRECTLY ON MUSLIM INDIANS.
THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE
CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT AT THE
CAA WHICH GIVES CITIZENSHIP
WITHOUT DOCUMENTS TO PEOPLE OF
SOME RELIGIONS, INCLUDING
HINDUS, BUT SPECIFICALLY NOT
TO MUSLIM PEOPLE.
BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO HAVE A
HINDU NAME, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T
HAVE THE DOCUMENTS, EVEN THOUGH
I WAS BORN AFTER 1971, I WAS
TOLD MY CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE
NRC DESPITE NOT HAVING
DOCUMENTATION.
THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THAT THE
CAA IS A HUMANITARIAN ACT AND
THE NRC IS NOTHING TO WORRY
ABOUT.
BUT THE EXPERIENCE IN ASSAM
PROVES OTHERWISE.
ALSO IF THE CAA WERE TRULY
ABOUT REFUGEES , -- INSTEAD OF
RETROACTIVELY APPLYING TO
PEOPE WHO IMMIGRATED BEFORE
2014?
IF THE CAA ALLOWS -- FOR
OPPRESSED RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, WHY
DOES IT OVERLOOK THE OPPRESSION
OF THE SHIA AND MUSLIM
POPULATION IN THOSE COUNTRIES?
WHY DOES IT EXCLUDE PERSECUTED
MINORITIES AND OTHER REGIONS?
PEOPLE WHO ARE PREDOMINANTLY
MUSLIM WHO ARE FACING GENOCIDE
IN MY MR, AND SRI LANKA WHO HAS
THE LARGEST REFUGEE GROUP
INSIDE INDIA.
OUR MOVEMENT TRULY SUPPORTS THE
RIGHTS OF ALL REFUGEES
REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELIGIONS.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT OVERT
RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION.
I WILL CLOSE MY COMMENTS FOR
NOW AND WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT
AT THE END.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J. LEWIS.
THIS IS THE FIRST MORNING, I
WILL GIVE TWO WARNINGS, I'VE
GIVEN A PRECURSOR.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS,
PLEASE CONTINUE TO USE YOUR
HAND GESTURES AS YOU HAVE SO WE
CAN CONTINUE TO GET THROUGH
THIS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE
YOUR AMENDMENT?
>> THANK YOU MADAM AND
PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
I SEEK TO INTRODUCE AN
AMENDMENT, THE ONLY ONE THIS
AFTERNOON.
TO RES 31926, I BELIEVE IT HAS
BEEN CIRCULATED FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO CONSIDER AND
REVIEW.
IT ADDS ONE CLAUSE IN SECTION 2
OF THE RESOLVE SECTIONS TO
CHANGE THE LANGUAGE -- RATHER
TO ADD LANGUAGE FOR US TO BE
CALLING ON CONGRESS TO TAKE
ACTION IN RESPONSE TO OUR
RESOLUTION RATHER THAN JUST
SENDING WHAT WE ARE SENDING TO
THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT.
THE BASIS FOR THAT REQUEST IS I
TEND TO THINK WHEN WE ENGAGE IN
THESE RESOLUTIONS THAT INVOLVE
THINGS OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE I THINK
IT IS MORE IN OUR WHEELHOUSE
WHEN WE ARE CALLING ON OUR
FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE
CHARGED WITH NEGOTIATIONS WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES, INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS, TO TAKE THE FORMAL
ACTION RATHER THAN US OURSELVES
TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH THE
MODI GOVERNMENT.
I THINK THIS AMENDMENT HELPS US
TO CAPTURE THE SAME ATTITUDE AS
THE UNDERLYING RESOLUTION BUT
JUST MAKING SURE WE ARE
TARGETING IT TOWARDS FOLKS THAT
ARE IN THE POSITION TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I WOULD ADD, THIS MIGHT HAVE
BEEN A GOOD AMENDMENT FOR A --
CONGRESSWOMAN PAUL HAS BEEN
LEADING ON SEVERAL ISSUES IN
THE HOUSE ON THIS.
I THINK ACTUALLY THIS IS A
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BE
RECEIVED PROBABLY WELL BY
CONGRESSMAN PAUL.
THAT IS THE BASIS OF THE
AMENDMENT AND I DO SO MOVE IT.
>> IN ADVANCE OF MOVING THE
AMENDMENT, LET ME PUT THIS ON
THE DOCKET FOR OFFICIAL
CONSIDERATION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ADOPT RES
31926, IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
THAT THE RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION,
IF YOU CAN DO THAT AGAIN FOR
ME.
>> I DO SO MOVE MY AMENDMENT,
úAMENDMENT ONE, FROM RES 31926
TO BE CONSIDERED.
>> HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
THAT RESOLUTION BE AMENDED AS
PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE?
SEEKING NONE, I LOOKED TO HAVE
US VOTE ON THIS.
úALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE
AMENDMENT AS OUTLINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J. LEWIS
VOTE AYE AND RAISE YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSE?
NONE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS?
NONE.
THERE ARE FIVE AYE'S AS I SEE
IT UP HERE THAT MEANS THE
MOTION CARRIES, THE RESOLUTION
IS ADOPTED.
I'D LIKE TO NOW SEE IF THERE'S
ANY -- I'M SORRY NOT THE
RESOLUTION, THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE
PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THE ROOM.
THE AMENDMENT HAS BEEN ADOPTED
TO THE MOTIONS.
THE AMENDED RESOLUTION, RES
31926, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED .
>> I HAVE A COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY J. MORALES.
>> LAST WEEK THIS BODY PASSED A
RESOLUTION THAT OFFERED A
GENERIC CONDEMNATION OF ALL
CURRENT AND FUTURE OPPRESSION
HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.
I OPPOSE THAT RESOLUTION, EVEN
THOUGH IT DID KNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE IS OPPRESSION HAPPENING
IN INDIA, IT WAS IN REFERENCE
TO THIS RESOLUTION.
AS A MEXICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IT
IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME NOT TO
SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE TRAGEDY
THAT IS HAPPENING ON OUR
SOUTHERN BORDER AGAINST
FAMILIES WHO ARE DESPERATE TO
FIND A BETTER WAY OF LIFE.
IT IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE NOT TO
SPEAK AGAINST TARGETING ON OUR
NORTHERN BORDER NOW AS WE KNOW
FOLKS ARE BEING TARGETED FOR
BEING MUSLIM AS THEY COME INTO
THIS COUNTRY.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT AS A JEW
THAT PASSED ON THE ANNIVERSARY
OF AUSCHWITZ.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO STAND UP FOR
-- INDIA IS A SECULAR COUNTRY
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT EVERY
COMMENT I HEARD TODAY, MOST OF
THE COMMENTS I HEARD TODAY HAD
AN UNDERTONE OF RELIGIOUS
INTOLERANCE.
I THINK WE NEED TO SPEAK UP
AGAINST THAT.
A PROGRAM THAT DETAINS PEOPLE
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH, LIKE
OUR OWN SHAMEFUL MUSLIM MAN'S
MUST BE REJECTED.
AS ELECTED LEADERS IN OUR
COMMUNITY WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO SPEAK UP AGAINST OPPRESSION
REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT IS
HAPPENING.
I DO WANT TO READ A QUICK
PARAGRAPH FROM A LETTER WE
RECEIVED FROM ONE AMERICA THIS
MORNING, FROM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR RICH STOLTZ.
IT SAYS "I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS
BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AS TO
WHETHER UNBINDING RESOLUTIONS
CONDEMNING OPPRESSION AND OTHER
PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE WORTH
THE COUNCILS TIME.
TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT AMERICA
WORKS WITH THESE ISSUES ARE
EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HOME.
RESOLUTIONS LIKE THESE PROVIDE
A VITAL OPPORTUNITY TO
DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMUNITIES
MATTER AND THE WORLD IS TAKING
NOTICE OF THEIR PLATE.
AND FOR THIS RESOLUTION THERE
IS AN OBVIOUS PARALLEL TO THESE
LAWS AND WHAT THE CURRENT U.S.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE IN ITS
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
ENSURE THAT OUR OWN
CONSTITUTION IN THIS COUNTRY
PROTECTS PEOPLE FROM
DISCRIMINATION ESPECIALLY IF
THEY ARE SEEKING REFUGE.
AND AS AN ELECT A LEADER I
THINK IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO
SPEAK UP WHEN WE SEE TRAGEDIES
HAPPENING ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THIS RESOLUTION URGES INDIA,
THE LARGEST DEMOCRACY IN THE
WORLD, TO UPLOADED SECULAR
CONSTITUTION AMBERJACK --
POLICIES.
I TEND TO SUPPORT IT."
>> THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS?
YES COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J.
LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT
PRO TEM.
WHEN THIS PREVIOUSLY BECAME
BEFORE THE COUNCIL, HAVING DONE
MY OWN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
COMING HAVING ACCEPTED A
CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF EMAILS
FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON THIS FROM
THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW I AM
PREPARED TODAY TO VOTE IN FAVOR
OF THIS RESOLUTION AS IT HAS
BEEN AMENDED.
IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M PROBABLY NOT
GOING TO GET ELECTED TO THE --
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT IN
LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE MORE AND
LOOKING INTO IT MORE IN DEPTH A
LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT I AM
VERY FAVORABLY DISPOSED TO HAVE
REACHED SIMILAR CONCLUSIONS ON
THE CAA IS WHAT THE RESOLUTION
HAS ADOPTED . THE ECONOMIST, OF
WHICH I FOLLOWED THE EDITORIALS
VERY CLOSELY TOO, HAS
EDITORIALIZED AND OPINED
AGAINST THE CAA.
YOU KNOW I DID NOT RUN FOR
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS
RESOLUTIONS REGARDING
INTERNATIONAL MATTERS, I DO NOT
INTEND IN MY OWN PRACTICE HERE
ON THE -- TO PROPOSE
RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS.
BUT THE QUESTION HAVING BEEN
POSED TO ME, THE PEOPLE OF
DISTRICT 7 DID SEND ME HERE TO
VOTE AND OFFER A POSITION WHEN
THEY DO COME BEFORE ME.
THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION FOR ME
THEN TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION
AND CALL THE CAA WHAT IT IS, I
WILL THEREFORE BE VOTING IN
FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION TODAY ,
AND I THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
ANDREW J. LEWIS.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT I
BELIEVE YOU WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE
US OUT?
I WILL ALSO JUST GO AHEAD AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAS BEEN
IMPORTANT, FOR MY PERSPECTIVE,
AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE RAISING ISSUES THAT
ARE OF SIGNIFICANCE BOTH HERE
AT HOME, NATIONALLY, AND
INTERNATIONALLY.
HAVING BOTH INTELLECT DID FOR
THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND ALSO
PREVIOUS TO THAT BEING AN
ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND
LABOR STANDARDS FOR WORKING
FAMILIES, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
-- RESOLUTIONS.
EVEN IF IT IS NOT WITHIN THE
CONFINES OF THE BORDERS OF THE
MUNICIPALITY THAT'S BEING
CONSIDERED.
WE HAVE HAD CITIES, STATES,
CONGRESS TAKE UP RESOLUTIONS
CONDEMNING INJUSTICE AT MANY
DIFFERENT LEVELS, AND I WOULD
WELCOME ANY COUNTRY WHO WANTS
TO RAISE QUESTIONS, CONDEMN
U.S. POLICIES OF INCARCERATING
CHILDREN, OF SEPARATING
FAMILIES, OF ENACTING WARS OF
AGGRESSION, OF PURSUING
OPPRESSION AND OCCUPATION IN
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, I
WELCOME THAT TYPE OF CRITICISM
WHEN IT IS IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RAISE CONCERNS WHEN WE SEE
INJUSTICE IN OTHER COUNTRIES,
OR IN OTHER AREAS, EVEN HERE IN
SEATTLE OUR WORDS HAVE AN
IMPORTANT IMPACT ACROSS THE
GLOBE AND ALSO LOCALLY.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MANY
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU
HAVE MENTIONED AND ALSO SAY TO
FOLKS WHO BOTH TESTIFIED TODAY
AND WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN,
WE DID RECEIVE YOUR MESSAGES,
AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME TO
SPEAK.
WE ALSO HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
ORGANIZATIONS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
MENTIONED , INCLUDING
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO
SPEAK, INCLUDING THOSE
DOWNSTAIRS, I UNDERSTAND YOU
HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME
TO SPEAK, BUT THOSE WHO DID
NOT GET TO SPEAK AND THOSE
DOWNSTAIRS, AND I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD.
THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT
COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J. LEWIS
MENTIONED TO CONGRESSWOMAN
JAYA PAUL, -- I ENCOURAGE FOLKS
TO LOOK AT THE WASHINGTON POST.
A PIECE PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER
23rd WHERE SHE ARTICULATES THE
CONCERNS AROUND THE CAA AND THE
NRC.
SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL
PUSHING A CERTAIN RESOLUTION,
THIS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT THAT
WE HAVE HEARD FROM AND ALSO AT
THE NATIONAL LEVEL WE KNOW
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
RAISED THIS ISSUE.
I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
RESOLUTION, I LOOK FORWARD TO
YOU CLOSING US OUT, AND WE WILL
MOVE TO A VOTE.
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT TERESA
MOSQUEDA , ESPECIALLY FOR
RECOGNIZING THIS IS NOT
SOMETHING COMING FROM AN
INDIVIDUAL COME UP IT ALSO FROM
A GREAT COMMUNITY EFFORT.
I APPRECIATE FEEDBACK FROM
YOURSELF AND COUNCILMEMBERS --
AND COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J.
LEWIS.
-- I ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT
SUCH RESOLUTIONS, AS IMPORTANT
AS THEY ARE, WILL NOT BE
SUFFICIENT TO DEFEAT THE MODI
AND -- AND TRUMP AGENDA.
AS WE ALL HAVE ECHOED ABOUT HOW
DO WE DEFEAT TRUMP?
THERE ARE LOTS OF SIMILARITIES,
TRUMP AND MODI HAD A JOINT --
IN TEXAS.
ISLAMOPHOBIA HAVE MAJORITY
SUPPORT BEHIND THEIR COUNTRY
BUT BECAUSE OF THE COMPLETE
FAILURE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT TO
ADDRESS THE PEOPLE.
PEOPLE -- VOTED FOR THEM IN THE
ELECTIONS LAST YEAR --
>> THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL
WARNING.
THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL
WARNING.
>> PRESIDENT PRO TEM I WOULD
SUPPORT YOU CLEARING THE
CHAMBER.
>> GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER --
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> PEOPLE ACTUALLY VOTED FOR
THEM IN THE ELECTIONS LAST YEAR
BECAUSE THEY SAW NO ALTERNATIVE
--
>> ALL RIGHT.
DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE?
>> AFTER DECADES OF OPEN
CORRUPTION --
>> ALL RIGHT, THE CHAIR HAS
ASKED THE MEETING TO COME TO
ORDER AND ORDER HAS NOT BEEN
RESOLVED.
IF WE DO NOT RESOLVE THIS AND
COME TO ORDER THE ROOM WILL BE
CLEARED.
I KNOW FOLKS WANT TO HEAR THIS.
ROOM WILL BE CLEARED OR
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ASKED TO
LEAVE.
IF THERE IS SECURITY PRESENT --
OKAY COUNCILMEMBER PLEASE
CONTINUE.
SECURITY GUARDS I WILL ASK THAT
THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE YELLING
PLEASE BE REMOVED FROM THE
ROOM.
IF THEY COMPLY THEY ARE WELCOME
TO STAY.
OKAY COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT.
>> PEOPLE ENDED UP VOTING FOR
THEM BECAUSE THEY SAW NO
ALTERNATIVE.
AFTER DECADES OF -- BY THE
INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS PARTY
--
>> IT'S OKAY, CONTINUE.
[ CROWD SHOUTING é
>> YOU WON'T HAVE TO CLEAR THE
ROOM, I THINK THEY ARE LEAVING
ON THEIR OWN.
[ CROWD SHOUTING ]
>> PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR OWN
INITIATIVE TO LEAVE.
THANK YOU FOR --
>> SIR --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME FOLKS
HAVE DECIDED TO LEAVE, THEY ARE
WELCOME TO LEAVE.
FOLKS WHO ARE WILLING AND
INTERESTED IN HEARING THE REST
OF THESE COMMENTS ARE WELCOME
TO STAY.
THOSE WHO ARE BEING
DISRUPTIVELY APPRECIATE THEM
WALKING OUT ON THEIR OWN ACCORD
BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH
THIS.
WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MORE
MINUTES AND WE HAVE TO GET TO
THIS LAST ITEM.
IF YOU WANT TO WRAP US UP THAT
WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
OKAY.
SECURITY?
AT THIS POINT WE GREATLY
APPRECIATE THOSE WHO HAVE
STAYED IN THE AUDIENCE, FOR THE
VIEWING AUDIENCE, SOME
INDIVIDUALS HAVE CHOSEN TO
LEAVE.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND I
SECURITY TO ASK THE FOLKS WHO
ARE STILL BEING DISRUPTIVE TO
GET OUT OF THE ROOM.
COUNSEL COLLEAGUES THE SPONSOR
OF THE RESOLUTION HAS ASKED
THAT WE GO AHEAD AND CONSIDER
THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF US.
AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO ASK
YOU IS THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
-- ALL OF THOSE -- ALL OF THOSE
IN FAVOR OF ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED PLEASE
VOTE AYE.
>> AYE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ANY ABSTENTION?
SO NO ABSTENTIONS AND NO
OPPOSITION, THERE WAS 5 VOTES
IN FAVOR.
THE MOTION CARRIES, THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
AND AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE
ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
WE ARE GOING TO ITEMS 3-7.
ITEMS 3-7. CAN I SKIP THAT?
OH I CAN'T SKIP IT.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY DO ITEM
NUMBER TWO BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND
THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE
ADDENDA AGENDA THAT WAS
SUGGESTED.
-- PLEASE READ THE REPORT.
OKAY GOT IT, LET'S DO THAT.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A HARD TIME
DEADLINE FOR A COLLEAGUE WHO
NEEDS TO LEAVE AT 4:00, I'D
LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE HOLD ITEM
2 AFTER CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS
3-7, WE WILL COME BACK TO ITEM
2 AT THAT TIME.
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE,
PLEASE READ ITEMS 3-7 INTO THE
AGENDA.
>> AGENDA ITEMS 3-7,
APPOINTMENTS 1533 THROUGH 1537,
REAPPOINTMENT OF TARA
HENRIKSEN, FRITZ CHESS , BRAD
MIDDLETON , KURT HOWELL LUSTIG
AND HUGO SOTELO -- AND
REAPPOINTMENT FOR THE FIRE
ADVISORY BOARD 2022.
THESE APPOINTMENTS BE
CONFIRMED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J.
LEWIS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO
THESE APPOINTMENTS?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
AS FOLKS ARE AWARE
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD IS
NOT HERE TO JOIN US TODAY,
COUNCILMEMBER M. LORENA
GONZALEZ IS ALSO ABSENT.
AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE I
FILL IN ON THIS MATTER TODAY.
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO.
THERE ARE SOME WHO SERVED PRIOR
ON THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION.
THE FOLKS WHO SERVE ON OUR
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE THE
LIFE BOARD LIFEBLOOD OF CIVICS
IN THE CITY.
I'M REALLY PROUD TO FORMALLY
MOVE FOR ITEMS 3-7, THE
APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS
OF TARA HENRIKSEN, FRITZ
CHESS, KURT HOWELL LUSTIG,
BRAD MIDDLETON, AND HUGO
SOTELO.
AS COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSON
AND TAMMY J. MORALES CAN
ATTEST WE HEARD ABOUT THEIR
SERVICE AT THE COMMITTEE
MEETING AND IT'S REALLY GOOD TO
KNOW WE HAVE SUCH GOOD FOLKS
WHO ARE ON THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT ADVISORY BOARD.
SO, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE
CONFIRM THEM AND WOULD MOVE THE
APPOINTMENTS.
>> WONDERFUL.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED THAT WE
CONFIRM THE NOMINEES IN ITEMS 3-
7. THOSE IN FAVOR OF CONFIRMING
APPOINTMENTS 1533-1537 PLEASE
VOTE AYE AND RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> AYE . ANY ABSTENTION'S?
SEEING NONE THE VOTES ARE
CONFIRM.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS.
LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM 2. PLEASE
READ THE REPORT INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2 -- TERMINATION
OF RESIDENTIAL RENTAL
TENDENCIES -- AMENDING SECTION
22.206 -- THE BILL PASSED AS
AMENDED.
>> WONDERFUL, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> I VOTE WE MOVE IT UNTIL
FEBRUARY 10, 2020.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED, I WILL
SECOND THAT.
MAY I SECOND THAT?
OKAY, GREAT.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
THAT WE HOLD THE BILL UNTIL
FEBRUARY 10, 2020.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS?
NO?
PLEASE COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES.
>> MAY I ASK WHY?
I'D BE INTERESTED IN VOTING, I
FEEL LIKE WE HAVE DISCUSSED
THIS BILL. ARE THERE
ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
FORTHCOMING THAT WE NEED TO
ANTICIPATE?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY J. MORALES, I SEE HEADS
NODDING THIS WAY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> I MYSELF HAVE A NUMBER OF
AMENDMENTS TO BRING FORWARD AND
I WILL BE SHARING THAT WITH
YOUR OFFICE SHORTLY.
I BELIEVE THIS BILL HAS A
LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE IS READY
FOR FULL COUNSEL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT?
>> I WILL QUICKLY ADD IN
RESPONSE TO COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
J. MORALES 'S QUESTION, WE DID
HAVE A VERY ENERGETIC AND
THOROUGH DISCUSSION -- ON
JANUARY 23rd, IN FACT THE
LEGISLATION THAT WE DISCUSSED
WAS ITSELF AN AMENDED VERSION
BASED ON FEEDBACK WE ALREADY
RECEIVED FROM RIGHTS ADVOCATES
AND -- LANDLORDS.
-- I WOULD REALLY URGE THE
COUNCIL OFFICERS TO SEND US THE
AMENDMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
SO WE HAVE TIME TO REVIEW THEM.
>> WONDERFUL, I APPRECIATED THE
DIALOGUE THIS MORNING AS WELL
AT COUNSEL BRIEFING.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A
FRIENDLY REQUEST TO HOLD AND I
APPRECIATE THE COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES WORKING TOGETHER ON
THIS, AND I APPRECIATE THE
QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY J. MORALES.
WE ARE ALL INTERESTED IN SEEING
THE LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN
WORKED UP AND FROM THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL HANDS I
SEE REQUESTING TO COMMENT, IT
HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
HOLD THE BILL UNTIL FEBRUARY
10, 2020.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF HOLDING
THE BILL PLEASE VOTE VOTE AYE
AND RAISE YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSED?
ANY ABSTENTION'S?
MADAM CLERK IT APPEARS THERE
ARE 6 VOTES IN FAVOR OF HOLDING
THE BILL UNTIL FEBRUARY 10,
2020.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COUNSEL BILL 119726 WILL BE
HELD UNTIL THAT TIME.
COUNSEL COLLEAGUES THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.
THIS IS MY FIRST DAY BACK FROM
LEAVE AND ACTING AS PRESIDENT
PRO TEM, APPRECIATE YOUR
WORKING WITH ME TO GET THROUGH
THIS FULL AGENDA.
[ APPLAUSE ] BUT BEFORE WE WRAP
UP, BEFORE WE WRAP UP, COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES ARE THERE ANY MORE
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL?
>> -- THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING THAT
AND IT WILL BE CIRCULATED.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SORRY FOR
ANY ROUGH START TO THE YEAR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU AS WE TAKE ON MORE
IMPORTANT ISSUES THIS YEAR.
WITH THAT, TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL
IS ADJOURNED.