>> STRAUSS PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
>> HERE
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> HERE
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
>> HERE
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
>> HERE.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> FOR PRESENTATIONS I AM NOT
AWARE OF ANY PRESENTATIONS SO
MOVING ON TO APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES, THE MINUTES OF CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS OF MAY 4, 2020
HAVE BEEN REVIEWED IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION THE MINUTES WILL
BE SIGNED, HEARING ON THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED AND I
ASKED THE CLERK TO AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES.
ADOPTION OF THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR, I AM GOING TO MOVE TO
ADOPT THE PROPOSED INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR.
>> SECOND.
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A
PROPOSED BILL THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE FOR INTRODUCTION
OF REFERRAL TO THE COUNCIL NOT
ON THE PUBLISHED CALENDAR NOR
WAS IT DISTRIBUTED BY 5:00 P.M.
FRIDAY SO BEFORE THE MOTION CAN
BE MADE TO AMEND THE COUNCIL
WILL RELATE INTO CIRCULATION OF
THE BILL SO THERE IS NO
OBJECTION THE COUNCIL ROOM WILL
BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW
CONSIDERATION OF A BILL FOR
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL NOT
DISTRIBUTED BY 5:00 P.M.
ON FRIDAY.
THE COUNCIL ROLE IS SUSPENDED
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL
AMEND TO THE REFERRAL CALENDAR.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND THE
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION BY
INTRODUCING COUNSEL BILL 119791
ENTITLED ORDINANCE RELATED TO
THE CITY RESPONSE TO THE 2020
COVID-19 CRISIS AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126000 WHICH ADOPTED
THE 2020 BUDGET. IN THE BUDGET
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND
ESTABLISHING IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE BY A 3/4 OF VOTE
OF COUNCIL AND REFERRING TO
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
HUMAN AND?
AMENDMENT?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE AMENDMENT?
>> STRAUSS AYE HERBOLD AYE
JUAREZ LEWIS AYE MORALES AYE
MOSQUEDA AYE PEDERSEN AYE
SAWANT AYE PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
AYE . EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AN
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS AMENDED.
ATTORNEY FOR THE COMMENTS ON
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AS AMENDED?
GREAT.
HEARING NO OTHER COMMENTS I
WILL ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE
CALL HER ROLE ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AS AMENDED.
>> STRAUSS
>> AYE
>> HERBOLD
>> AYE
>> JUAREZ
>> AYE
>> LEWIS
>> AYE
>> MORALES
>> AYE
>> MOSQUEDA
>> AYE
>> PEDERSEN
>> AYE
>> SAWANT
>> AYE
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> ADOPTED AS AMENDED, OKAY WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT AND AGAIN COLLEAGUES IF
YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING AND YOU
HAVE NOT MUTED I ASK THAT YOU
MUTE SO WE DON'T HEAR AMBIENT
NOISE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER, THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS SET AT 20 MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE
MINUTE TODAY.
AS WE HAVE A LARGE VOLUME OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE TO HEAR FROM AS
MANY AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE WILL ADJUST THE CLOCK ON
THE SCREEN, EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK TO US.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND THE ORDER IN WHICH THE
REGISTERED ON THE WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO DO SO
YOU CAN GO TO THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE TO DO SO AT SEATTLE
DODGE YOU WILL BE/COUNCIL.
THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON
TODAY'S PUBLISHED AGENDA.
STAFF ON MUTE THE APPROPRIATE
MICROPHONE AND THE AUTOMATIC
PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED
WILL BE THE QUEUE THAT IT IS
THEIR TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND REFERENCE THE ITEM YOU
ARE ADDRESSING.
PUBLIC, SHOULD RELATE TO AN
ITEM ON THE AGENDA, THE
INTRODUCION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR FOR THE 2020 WORK
PROGRAM.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, WHEN THE SPEAKER
HEARS THE TIME WE ASK THAT YOU
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENT BY THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME AND THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE
AUTOMATICALLY MUTED TO ALLOW US
TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED PUBLIC
COMMENT WE ASK THAT YOU
DISCONNECT AND IF YOU PLAN TO
FOLLOW THE MEETING WE ASK THAT
YOU DO SO VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL
OR THE LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED
ON THE PUBLISHED AGENDA.
ONCE AGAIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD S NOW OPEN AND I WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST PERSON.
20 MINUTES TEXAS TO TO JACK 28,
THE FIRST SPEAKER EMILY
MacARTHUR.
>> HELLO I AM A DISTRICT 2
RESIDENT AND RENTER AND I'M IN
FRONT OF CITY HALL THE 25 OTHER
CARS A DOZEN BICYCLISTS AND
PEOPLE ON FOOT DEMANDING CITY
COUNCIL REVERSED THE DECISION
TO SHAMEFULLY CANCEL DISCUSSIONS
ON TAX AMAZON.
PASSING EMERGENCY FUNDING
RELATED TO THIS COVID EMERGENCY.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND
I REJECT ON HENRY PREMISE THAT
MONEY RELATED TO COVID IS NOT
COVERED RELATED LEGISLATION IT
IS RIDICULOUS AND ABSURD AND
THIS DECISION NEEDS TO BE
REVERSED IMMEDIATELY.
THERE IS A TRIPLE EMERGENCY
PEOPLE ARE FACING.
I KNOW MY HOUSE IS STRUGGLING
TO PAY RENT, FACING JOBLESSNESS.
HOW ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS?
ARE THE BILLIONAIRE BACKERS WHO
HELPED GET THE MAYOR ELECTED,
NOW THEY ARE NOT.
THAT'S WHO WE SHOULD BE TAXING.
>> TANK YOU MOVING ON TO THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
WHO IS MARILYN YIM.
>> MY NAME IS MARILYN YIM I'M
URGING YOU TO VOTE NO LIKE
MANY SMALL LANDLORDS WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH TENANTS SINCE
THE CRISIS OFFERING RENTAL
PAYMENT PLANS THE PAYMENT PLAN
BILL DOES NOT ANTICIPATE THIS
AND WILL INVALIDATE THESE
AGREEMENTS WHEN IT SIGNED BY
THE MAYOR, WE CANNOT CARRY THE
BURDEN OF WAITING 24 MONTHS TO
BE MADE WHOLE.
NOW SMALL PROPERTY OWNER CAN
AFFORD TO GO A FULL YEAR WITHOUT
TAKING CARE OF OTHER COSTS.
REGARDING THE BAN ON EVICTION
HISTORY AND RECTAL SCREENINGS
PEOPLE AFFECTED BY COVID WILL
NOT HAVE A HISTORY THROUGH NEXT
SPRING, THERE IS NO NEED TO
PASS THIS AT THIS TIME WHEN
THERE ARE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE
ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE
PROTECTED ARE THOSE WHO CHOSE
NOT TO PAY THEIR RENT.
IT IS UNFAIR TO ENFORCE PAYMENT
PLANS FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT
TO PAY FOR THE HOUSING, IT'S
QUESTIONABLE IF THIS CAN BE
CONSIDERED LEGAL BECAUSE IT'S
NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL AFTER THE
EMERGENCY IS OVER.
PLEASE PROVIDE RENTAL
SUBSIDIES, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS JENNIFER --
>> CONCERN THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL.
GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS I AM CONCERNED THE CITY
COUNCIL IS USING THE PANDEMIC
SHUTDOWN AS A MEANS TO
IMPLEMENT DANGEROUS HOUSING
LAWS CREATING OPEN-ENDED RELIEF
OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
THAT NO BUSINESS CAN AFFORD.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SAID
DURING THIS TIME PERIOD HE CAN
ONLY TAX LEGISLATION NECESSARY
AND ROUTINE LIKE PAYING BILLS
OR THOSE THAT ARE NEEDED TO DO
WITH THE OUTBREAK, THE CITY
COUNCIL PROPOSED BILL 119787
ND 119788 ARE NOT NECESSARY
NOR ROUTINE AND ARE NOT NEEDED
TO DEAL WITH THE OUTBREAK SO
CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AT THIS
TIME.
EVERY LET'S IMPLEMENT IT HAS A
COST THAT IS PASSED TO
RESIDENTS FOR EXAMPLE
UNIVERSALLY BANNING EVICTIONS
IMPLEMENTING THE FIRST ENTIRE
PROCESS AND NOW THE ABILITY TO
SCREEN TENANTS FOR PRIOR
EVICTIONS RESULTS IN HIGHER
RENT, I URGE YOU NOT TO PASS
119787 AND 119788, THEY ARE
BAD FOR TENANTS AND VETS FOR
THE CITY.
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE WORKING
WITH HOUSING PROVIDERS INSTEAD
OF BUILDING BARRIERS THAT
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE RENT.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS NEIL
WILSON.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS NEIL WILSON
I AM AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL
PROVIDER I TESTIFIED LAST WEEK
ASKING COUNCIL TO STOP USING
INACCURATE INFORMATION TO
SUPPORT LEGISLATION, WHETHER
IT'S MISSTATING NATIONAL RENT
COLLECTION NUMBERS OR RIDING A
SIX MONTH EVICTION MORATORIUM
KNOWING IT'S EFFECTIVELY A 12
MONTH MORATORIUM, SEATTLE CALLS
ITSELF A RESIDENT INNOVATIVE
CITY COLLABORATING FROM 2015
AND TO TODAY'S BILLS. THIS IS
NOT PROGRESSIVE OR INNOVATIVE.
IT REFLECTS LEGISLATION NOT
REPRESENTATION.
ONCE AGAIN I ASK YOU TO PLEASE
GIVE INDEPENDENT LANDLORDS A
VOICE AT THE TABLE ALONG WITH
THE PRESENT TENANT ADVOCATES,
CITY LEADERS SHOULD BE BRINGING
TESTS AGAINST REAL DATA,
CREATING INNOVATIVE POLICIES
NOT OLD IDEAS THAT ARE
DRASTICALLY UNFAIR FOR REGULAR
CITIZENS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, NEXT
SPEAKER IS WILLIAM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS WILLIAM AND I AM A
HOUSING PROVIDER WITH A FEW
RENTALS.
I'M ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER
THESE ORDINANCES TODAY.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALREADY SOLD
SEVERAL RENTALS IN THE CITY DUE
TO LIMITS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED.
THE COUNCIL IS DIRECTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR PUSHING UP RENT
BY REDUCING SUPPLY, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALES WRITES IN A
LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S ADVICE ON WHAT THE
COUNCIL CAN AND CANNOT PASS,
THIS IS NEITHER ROUTINE OR
NECESSARY NOR IS IT TO DEAL
WITH THE OUTBREAK WHEN YOU
CLEARLY HAVE AN EVICTION RECORD
THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BAN.
FORCING SMALL LANDLORDS TO TAKE
LOW INTEREST LOANS IS AN
UNDERTAKING AND ASKING YOU TO
UPHOLD HER OATH OF OFFICE NOT
TO BREAK THE CONSTITUTION BY
PASSING THESE ORDINANCES AND
STOP DOING THINGS TO FORCE UP
RENT.
>> NEXT UP IS ALICIA LEWIS.
PLEASE START THE TIMER.
ALICIA LEWIS?
OKAY WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ALONG
SINCE I DO NOT HEAR HER PRESENT
SO GO TO THE NEXT CALLER.
THE NEXT CALLER.
>> HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON CAN YOU
HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY HELLO I AM HERE TO
SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE I HAVE
NO WORDS TO EXPRESS MY ANGST
AND AVERAGE THE COUNCILMEMBERS
GONZALEZ AND HERBOLD TO GO HIDE
INSTEAD OF FACING AND
ADDRESSING THE ISSUE AT HAND.
WAS KNOWN TO GIVE GRAND FEET TO
THE WHO'S WHO OF ROME, THE CITY
POOR WOULD BE BURNED AT THE
STAKE'S TO ELIMINATE THE
EVENING, THE HISTORIAN PACIFISTS
ASKED US TO THINK NOT ABOUT HIM
BUT HIS DEATH WONDERING WHAT IT
TOOK TO ENJOY FOOD DRINK AND
DRAMA WHILE EACH HAVE THEIR OWN
WENT INTO PLAY YOU HAVE A
SIMPLE CHOICE.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT OR YOU GO DOWN
IN HISTORY AS ONE OF NERO'S
DEATHS.
>> NEXT UP IS JESSICA.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU MY NAME IS
JESSICA I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 3 WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT I AM PART OF THE PASS
AMAZON MOVEMENT AND I WAS SAD
TO LEARN THERE WILL BE NO VOTE
ON THE LEGISLATION UNTIL MAYBE
JUNE.
I DO THINK THIS TAX AMAZON
LEGISLATION IS EMERGENCY
RELATED TO COVID-19 BECAUSE
THERE IS THE PROVISION FOR
INTER FUND LOAN TO PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE CASH ASSISTANCE TO AT
LEAST 100,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THIS EMERGENCY.
SO I THINK AT LEAST WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
STRUGGLING.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS ALWAYS
AN EXCUSE NOT TO TAX BIG
BUSINESS, I THINK WE JUST NEED
TO DO IT, SOMEONE HAS TO PAY
FOR THIS CRISIS, BIG BUSINESS
HAS THE MONEY SO LET'S HELP
PEOPLE UTILIZE THIS RESOURCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER IS
LESLIE.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A FEW
RENTALS WE PROVIDE AT BELOW
MARKET RATES AND WE ARE ASKING
YOU TO VOTE NO ON BILL 119787
AND 119788.
PLEASE FOCUS ON RENTAL
ASSISTANCE NOT UNCONTROLLABLE
LEASES, WE ARE IN CLOSE TOUCH
WITH RENTERS AND ARE WORKING
WITH THEM.
SMALL-SCALE HOUSING PROVIDERS
OCCUPY A VALUABLE NICHE IN THE
CITY AND WE ARE BEING TREATED
LIKE CORPORATIONS, WE KNOW THE
TENANTS AND THEIR SITUATIONS
AND WE ARE FLEXIBLE.
WE DON'T HAVE RESERVES BECAUSE
RENT IS LOW, WE OFFER DISCOUNTS
TO VULNERABLE TENANTS, ONE
WHOSE BUSINESS WAS SHUTTERED
REFUSED TO TAKE IT SAYING IT IS
THE GOVERNMENT JOB TO COVER
THIS, HE MANAGED TO GET A LOAN
TO COVER HIS EXPENSES BUT I
WORRY FOR HIM TAKING ON MORE
DEBT, I CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WE RENTER.
AT ONE OPEN HOUSE ONE
PERSPECTIVE RENTER ASKED WHAT
THE CATCH AND I TOLD HIM THERE
WAS NOT BUT HE WORRIED THE
APARTMENT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE
TRUE.
WE ARE JEOPARDIZED BY YOUR
REGULATIONS.
PLEASE INCLUDE US IN YOUR
DECISION-MAKING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I AM AN ORGANIZER WITH THE
TENANT EDUCATION ORGANIZATION.
I AM VOICING SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 119787 AND 119788,
RENTERS KNOW THAT GRADING HOUSE
OR SECURITY LEADS TO BETTER
COMMUNITIES AND AN EVICTION CASE
CAN FOLLOW YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR
LIFE AS A RENTER AND MAKE IT
DIFFICULT TO FIND A NEW HOME,
MOST TENANTS BECAME HOMELESS IN
OF REPORT 37% WERE AND SHELTER,
25% WERE IN A SHELTER AND
ANOTHER 25% WERE WITH FAMILY OR
FRIENDS.
THIS WOULD ESCALATE THE CURRENT
HEALTH CRISIS BUT THE BILL
WOULD MITIGATE EFFECTS TO MAKE
IT EASIER FOR EVICTED PEOPLE TO
FIND NEW HOMES.
42% OF THOSE INTERVIEWED HAD TO
LEAVE SEATTLE AS A RESULT OF
THEIR EVICTION.
IF WE DO NOT TAKE ACTION THIS
CRISIS WILL PUSH MORE PEOPLE
OUT OF THIS ESPECIALLY LOW
INCOME PEOPLE, WE HAVE A DUTY
TO FIGHT FOR NEIGHBORS TO STAY
IN THEIR HOMES AND STAY HEALTHY.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON 119787 AND
119788.
>> NEXT UP IS EDMUND.
>> HI I RUN THE HOUSE AND JUST
AS PROJECT FOR THE KING COUNTY
BAR ASSOCIATION AND I'M ASKING
YOU TO PASS CB 119787 AND
119788 I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND THE
MEALS PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR
TENANTS DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES
BEYOND THE CONTROL RIGHT NOW
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ASSISTANCE
FOR TENANTS FALLING BEHIND AND
CURRENTLY THE LARGEST PROGRAMS
ARE UNITED WAY, HOMEBASE IS
BACKLOG BY 5000 HOUSEHOLDS AND
I WAS AFTER WE KEPT THE
APPLICATION PROCESS OPEN FOR 48
HOURS.
THIS IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE
TENANTS WILL BE ABLE TO CATCH
UP ON THE RENT AND THE FACT
THAT WE DON'T HAVE OTHER NEEDS
FOR THEM AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES YOUR BILL IS IMPORTANT
WANT TO CORRECT INACCURATE
ASSERTIONS THAT THIS IS
UNNECESSARY AS IT PROVIDES
PROTECTION FOR TENANTS EVICTED
FOR REASONS OTHER THAN RENT AND
WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF TENANTS
ON THE HOTLINE UNABLE
>> THANK YOU EDMUND FOR COMING
IN.
A QUICK REMINDER FOR FOLKS WHO
ARE LISTENING AND WAITING FOR
THEIR TURN.
ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ARE ONLY DOING ONE MINUTE
TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE ABOUT 45
PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO GET PUBLIC
TESTIMONY SO GET YOUR PENCIL
SHARPENER AND AND START EDITING
YOUR COMMENTS NOW.
NEXT IS LAURA LOW.
>> HELLO SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I BEEN A RENTER IN DISTRICT 7
SINCE LAST APRIL BEFORE THAT IN
THE U DISTRICT SINCE 2009.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF CB
119787 AND 119788.
I VOLUNTEER WITH THE ORGANIZING
COLLECTIVE HOSTING TENANT
RIGHTS EVENTS AND WE OFTEN HEAR
THE STORIES OF RENTERS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOUSING AND
SECURITY ISSUES AND BECAUSE OF
THAT BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
HEALTH STRUGGLES NOW WITH THIS
NEW LEVEL OF HOUSING EMERGENCY
THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE WAY
BEYOND EXPIRATION DATES WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT HERE WE REALLY
NEED THESE PROTECTIONS.
THE COUNCIL HAS INDICATED YOU
UNDERSTAND THE POWER IMBALANCE
THAT EXISTS AND I APPLAUD THE
CITY FOR NOT LETTING PEOPLE NOT
AT RISK TO LOSE THEIR PRIMARY
RESIDENCY AND THOSE OR SET THE
AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO
FOLKS ON THE SAME LINE.
REVEREND ANGELA AND SISTER.
>> THANK YOU.
72 FAITH LEADERS AND US
ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADOPT AND PASS
THE TAX AMAZON LEGISLATION, THE
CITY IS FACING A TRIPLE
EMERGENCY AND WHEN WE HAVE AN
EMERGENCY WE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL
WE HOPE THE EMERGENCY IS OVER
BECAUSE IT GETS BIGGER.
WE SHOW REAL LEADERSHIP AND DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP THE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
FEW IF ANY CITY COUNCILS HAVE
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO
MUCH GOOD, HISTORY WILL JUDGE
IF WE AS A CITY AND CITY
COUNCIL IN TIMES OF CRISIS TOOK
CARE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AND
WORKING PEOPLE.
MAKE CHILDREN PROUD THAT WE DID
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE RATHER THAN
NOTHING.
ADOPT AND PASS THE TAX AMAZON
LEGISLATION AS IS NOW, THANK YOU
AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
PEACE BE WITH YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS JOHN WISDOM.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU.
I'M ASKING COUNCIL TO THINK OF
SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS LIKE
MYSELF WHO ARE SPEAKING TODAY
AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE FINANCIAL
NEEDS AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
JUST LIKE YOU THE MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TRY TO
IMAGINE A SCENARIO IN WHICH YOU
WOULD BE ASKING A RETIREE LIKE
ME WHO DEPENDS ON RENTAL INCOME
TO FORGO THAT INCOME FOR SIX
MONTHS OR MORE FOR THE BENEFIT
OF SOMEONE WHO IS EMPLOYED AND
HAS THE ABILITY TO PAY.
THE EVICTION BAN AND THESE
ORDINANCES UNDER CONSIDERATION
WOULD DO JUST THAT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CONTINUE WITH LEGISLATION THAT
THREATENS AND SACRIFICES THE
SECURITY OF MY INCOME I AM
ASKING THAT EACH OF YOU PLEDGE
TO MAKE THE SAME SACRIFICE FOR
THE DURATION OF THE EVICTION BAN
BY DONATING YOUR SALARY TO A
RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUND UNTIL
THE PLAN IS OVER.
WILL YOU MAKE THAT PLEDGE?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LEANNE.
>> THANK YOU.
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE CALLING
INTO STRONGLY ASK YOU TO OPPOSE
ANY LANDLORD ASK LIKE THE RENT
AND MORTGAGE CANCELLATION ACT
COSPONSORED BY THE CONGRESS
ONE, WE ARE AN OLDER RETIRED
COUPLE AND RIHANNA SMALL RENTAL
HOME IN SEATTLE WITH AN AVERAGE
RENT OF $1300 PER MONTH.
WE HAVE NO PENSION SO THIS
RENTAL INCOME IS IN EFFECT OUR
RETIREMENT PENSION.
CANCELING RENT FOR ALL TENANTS
REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY
WOULD LEAVE US WITH
EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH BILLS AND
NO INCOME TO COVER THEM, WE ARE
OPEN TO RENT MODIFICATION
POTENTIALLY BUT CURRENTLY WE
ARE PAYING ANNUAL CITY SEATTLE
CITY PROPERTY TAXES OF $11,000
GROWING BY 12% PER YEAR AND
TOTALING OVER 35,000 ANNUALLY
FOR ALL THE UTILITIES AND
INSURANCE MANAGEMENT FEES,
CLEANING MAINTENANCE AND
REPAIRS.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE MORTGAGE.
>> NEXT IS DANIEL.
>> HI THIS IS DANIEL I AM A
SOFTWARE ENGINEER AND A LIVE IN
THE SEATTLE DISTRICT 1 HERE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF TAXING
AMAZON AND PASSING AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
ONE OF THE BIG RISKS THAT HAS
BEEN PUT AROUND IS THAT JOBS
WOULD GO AWAY.
I WANT TO POINT OUT I THINK
SEATTLE, WE ARE IN A UNIQUE
POSITION AMONG OTHER CITIES IN
THE COUNTRY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE STOCK PRICES
OF ALL OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS,
THEY HAVE ALL GONE MORE OR LESS
BACK TO NORMAL FROM THE RECENT
CRASH OF A FEW MONTHS AGO AND
THAT IS A SIGN THAT THERE'S
GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUNDS AND
A LOT LESS RISK TO THEIR
COMPANIES.
THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS THESE
COMPANIES WILL NOW MOVE BECAUSE
THERE IS A HUGE TALENT POOL,
MYSELF INCLUDED WOULD RATHER
WORK IN SEATTLE THAN ELSEWHERE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES WE HAVE
QUITE A FEW MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
I'M GOING TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WHICH IS ABOUT
TO EXPIRE, I'M GOING TO EXTEND
IT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20 MINUTES
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTIONS SO
HAT WOULD TAKE US TO
APPROXIMATELY 2:50 P.M.
HEARING AND SEEING NO OBJECTION
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE EXTENDED.
WE WILL NOW HEAR NEXT FROM KATE
RUBIN.
>> I I AM KATE RUBIN THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE HOUSING JUSTICE
EDUCATION ORGANIZATION AND I'M
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 119787 , THIS PANDEMIC'S
ESPECIALLY SCARY FOR RENTERS
WHO MAY BE FACING EVICTION UPON
THE END OF THE MORATORIUM.
THIS PANDEMIC IS UNPRECEDENTED
AND A GLOBAL CRISIS.
WE SHOULD BE TREATING EVICTIONS
AS A TEMPORARY PROBLEM RATHER
THAN ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE
PERMANENT CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE
AN EVICTION CASE ON RECORD EVEN
IF YOU COME TO TERMS WITH YOUR
LANDLORD IT CAN FOLLOW YOU
THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE AS A
RENTER.
WE NEED TO FIGHT AND PROTECT
NEIGHBORS SO THIS MEANS WE NEED
TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS TEMPORARY
AND SHOULD NOT BE FOLLOWING
RENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE
OF THEIR LIFE.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS NICO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS
MY NAME IS NICO GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS AT THE HOUSING
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON.
WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP OR 5000
HOUSING PROVIDERS. THESE
PROVIDE EMERGENCY ORDERS ON
EVICTIONS -- WE STAND READY TO
WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO
DEVELOP POLICIES TO ADDRESS THE
FINANCIAL CRISIS BEING FELT WE
CANNOT SUPPORT 119787 AND
119788, THIS BILL CONTAINS NO
NEXUS BETWEEN THOSE AFFECTED BY
LOSS OF INCOME DUE TO COVID-19
AND THE NEED FOR INSTALLMENT
PLAN PROTECTIONS, UNDER THE BILL
RENTAL PAYMENTS COULD BE PAID
IN INSTALLMENTS FOR UP TO ONE
YEAR NO MATTER WHAT THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TENANTS
ARE.
RESULTING IN LOSS OF INCOME
CANNOT CHOOSE TO PAY PAST-DUE
OR NEGLECT OR NEWLY CREATED
FURTHERMORE
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND.
NEXT LOGAN SWAN.
>> I MY NAME IS LOGAN SWAN I AM
AN IRONWORKER.
I'M CALLING BECAUSE I SUPPORT
THE TAX AMAZON LEGISLATION AND
I THINK IT'S DISGUSTING THE
CITY COUNCIL IS TRYING TO
OBSTRUCT IT, SEATTLE WAS
LEADING THE NATION IN
UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE YEAR PRIOR
TO THE PANDEMIC AND SINCE THE
OUTBREAK IT IS LEADING IN
UNEMPLOYMENT WHICH IS CLEARLY
AN EMERGENCY FOR JOBS FOR
WORKING PEOPLE, UNION WAGE
PAYING JOBS, THERE WAS A STATE
EMERGENCY FIVE YEARS AGO OVER
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BY CITY
HALL AND CITY COUNCIL AND
OBVIOUSLY THE COVID CRISIS
WHERE WORKING FAMILIES NEED
RELIEF.
COMMON EMERGENCIES, EMERGENCY
WITH EMPLOYMENT, EMERGENCY IN
HOUSING, A PANDEMIC EMERGENCY,
ALL OF THESE ARE EMERGENCIES SO
TO ACT AS IF THIS LEGISLATION
IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE CURRENT
SITUATION IS INCREDIBLY
DISHONEST AND IS JUST
MANEUVERING.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JACOB SHEER.
>> THANK YOU MY NAME IS JACOB
SHEER AND CURRENTLY LAID OFF
FROM MY JOB AS A BOOKSELLER AND
I'M A MEMBER OF THE NEWLY
FORMED BOOK WORKERS UNION AND
I'M IN DISTRICT FOR RENTER AND
THEN CALLING ON COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO HOLD A VOTE FOR
THE TAX AMAZON LEGISLATION.
I'M CALLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
SUFFERING WORKING ACROSS THIS
CRISIS AND NOT TO ADDRESS WITH
LEGAL MANEUVERING BUT WITH THE
EXACT ACTION OUTLINED IN THE
TAX AMAZON BILL, DIRECT
FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR WORKING
HOUSEHOLD IMPACTED BY COVID-19
IMMEDIATE INVESTMENT IN HOUSING
AND CREATING THOUSANDS OF UNION
JOBS IN A WAVE OF UNPRECEDENTED
NUMBER EMPLOYMENT.
WE HAVE SEEN TEMPORARY EVICTION
MORATORIUMS BUT NONE OF THE
STEPS WE HAVE SEEN TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THAT COVID-19 WILL BE
WITH US FOR YEARS AS A PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY AND AS AN
ECONOMIC CRISIS, THERE CAN BE
NO TEMPORARY MEASURES WE NEED A
SERIOUS AND LONG-TERM COMMITMENT
. ALEX PEDERSEN YOUR CHOICES
CLEARED YOU CAN EMBRACE A
FAILED POLICY THAT WILL LEAD,
--
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS DANA FRANK.
>> HI I AM DANA FRANK AND I'M A
BLACK WOMAN THAT HAS BEEN A
HOUSING PROVIDER FOR 35 YEARS
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT,
HISTORICALLY NOBODY CARED ABOUT
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE HAD TO
FIGHT ALONE TO PROVIDE QUALITY
SAFE HOUSING.
I HAVE FACED GUNS GANGS DRUGS
ROBBERIES DURING MY HISTORY AS
A HOUSING PROVIDER AND NOW THAT
THIS AREA IS GENTRIFIED I FEEL
THIS IS BEING REPACKAGED
BIGOTRY FORCED ON ME AS A
PROPERTY OWNER.
FROM EXPERIENCE I KNOW ONE BAD
TENANT CAN DESTROY A COMMUNITY
CAUSING TENS OF THOUSANDS IN
DAMAGES AND PUTTING OTHERS AT
RISK.
IF THE COUNCIL PASSES THESE
BILLS HE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE
IT HARDER ON THE TENANTS YOU
CLAIM YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP,
HOUSING PROVIDERS WILL RAISE
THE BAR AND INCREASE APPROVAL
REQUIREMENTS.
IF SOMEONE IS OBVIOUSLY ON METH
AND HAS BEEN EVICTED AND IS A
MEMBER OF A GANG AND APPEARS
WITH FIRST MONTH'S RENT I WOULD
NOT PUT OTHER RESIDENTS AT RISK.
THE DRUG ADDICTION PROBLEM ON
THE STREET IS NOT THE HOUSING
PROVIDER PROBLEM AND WE SHOULD
NOT BE FORCED TO RENTER
PREVIOUSLY EVICTED RENTERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND.
NEXT IS AVA METZ.
>> HELLO I AM A RENTER AT
DISTRICT 2 AND MEMBER OF
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE AND I
SUPPORT THE RENTER RIGHTS BILL
THAT WILL BE VOTED ON TODAY. I
WANT TO SPEAK TO HOW SHAMEFUL
IT IS THAT THE CITY OF
DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT LED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS GONZALEZ AND
HERBOLD ARE USING THE PANDEMIC
AS AN ORDER TO DEFEND BIG
BUSINESS, THIS IS A
DISINGENUOUS MOVE, WHERE THE
CONCERNS OF LEGALITY BACK IN
2018 WHEN THE ESTABLISHMENT
HELP COUNCILMEMBERS VIOLATE THE
OPEN PUBLIC ACT TO COLLUDE AND
REPEAL THE FIRST AMAZON TAX AND
WERE FORCED TO SETTLE A LAWSUIT
USING TAXPAYER MONEY, WE HAVE
NOT RELIED ON THE ESTABLISHMENT
TO ACT SO FOR ORGANIZING A
THIRD ACTION CONFERENCE THIS
SATURDAY AT 2:00 P.M.
ON ZOOM AND I WANT TO INVITE
REPORTERS TO COME AND DISCUSS
THE WAY FORWARD.
>> OKAY NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN.
>> IS JOHN AVAILABLE?
>> OKAY, IT IS NOT LOOK LIKE
JOHN IS AVAILABLE SO WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE TO DANIEL SWANSON.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS DANIEL AND
I WORK AT A SMALL BUSINESS IN
DISTRICT FOR AND I'M SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF THE TAX AMAZON
LEGISLATION, IT IS LONG OVERDUE
WE INVEST IN THE WORKING CLASS
IMMEDIATELY WITH THE TAX AMAZON
LEGISLATION YOU HAVE A CHANCE
TO DO BOTH.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GENERATE IMMEDIATE AID FOR
FAMILIES STRUGGLING MOST CREATE
34,000 NEW JOBS OVER THE NEXT
DECADE AND BEGIN FUNDING FOR
SEATTLE.
INSTEAD IT SEEMS COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE TAKING THIS HISTORIC
OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THE WORKING
CLASS TWICE IN THEIR ATTEMPTS
TO DENY SEATTLE'S MEASURES THAT
HE NEEDS TO BRING RELIEF TO THE
WORKING CLASS WE ARE FACING A
TRIPLE EMERGENCY PANDEMIC
HOUSING CRISIS AND RECESSION.
SITTING ON A PLANE HAS
SKYROCKETED AS BILLIONAIRE
WEALTH HAS INCREASED, IT IS
TIME TO PASS LEGISLATION NOW IS
NOT THE TIME TO CAPITULATE -- I
HEARD SEATTLE COUNCIL TO
RECONSIDER POSTPONING AND I
URGE ANYONE LISTENING TO GET
INVOLVED BECAUSE THE FIGHT DOES
NOT END WITH THIS DECISION.
>> NEXT SPEAKER BRENDAN
McGOVERN.
>> HELLO THIS IS RENDON I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4. I AM A
RENTER OUTSIDE WITH THE TAX
AMAZON PROTEST BECAUSE IT IS
SHAMEFUL WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS
DONE IN THIS EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION.
IN 2018 WHEN THEY REPEALED
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO VOTE TO
REPEAL THE TAX THAT WAS NOT A
LOT OF DEMOCRACY THEN.
SO THESE EXCUSES, THAT THEY
CANNOT PERFORM DEMOCRACY OR
THAT THIS IS NOT EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION IS COMPLETE BALONEY
AND I URGE THEM TO RECONSIDER.
THANK YOU.
I AM IN FAVOR OF THE TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT.
>> OKAY NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING
TO BE DANIEL WEIGHING.
>> I AM A STUDENT, HIGH, I
MUSTERED AT DISTRICT FOR PART
OF THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
I SUPPORT THE TENANT ADVOCATES
ON THE CALL AND PROPOSE
PROTECTIONS LIKE 119787 BEING
DISCUSSED.
I'M CALLING YOU TO EXPRESS MY
DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE COUNCIL
PARTICULARLY HERBOLD AND
GONZALEZ . I THINK IT WAS PUT
WELL THAT THE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT
FEEL LIKE A SHALLOW GOVERNMENT
TRANSPARENCY ARGUMENT BEING USED
AS POLITICAL COVER FOR THOSE
WHO DON'T WANT TO TAX BIG
BUSINESS, WE KNOW THESE COUNCIL
MEMBERS VOTED TO REPEAL IN 2018
AND IT IS HARD TO TAKE CONCERNS
FOR THIS SERIOUSLY WHEN THEY
WERE SUED FOR VIOLATING THE
SME ACT AND DISCUSSING THE
REPEAL TO THE HEAD TAX IN 20
AND USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PAY
A SETTLEMENT FOR THOSE LAWSUITS,
TAX AMAZON WILL FIGHT FOR
TAXATION IN SEATTLE AND RECALL
ON CITY COUNCIL AND CITY
GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW ONLINE
SIGNATURES FOR THESE
INITIATIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS HANNAH.
>> HI MY NAME IS HANNAH AND I
AM A RENTER AND PART OF THE TAX
AMAZON MOVEMENT.
WE URGENTLY NEED THIS
LEGISLATION TO BE PASSED
WITHOUT WATERING IT DOWN.
IT IS RIDICULOUS THE COUNCIL
HAS DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE
MEETINGS ON THIS BILL, WE ARE
FACING A CRISIS NOT ONLY A
PUBLIC HEALTH BUT HOUSING AND
JOBS, A SOLUTION THAT BRINGS IN
PROGRESSIVE TAX REVENUE FROM
THE LARGEST CORPORATIONS THAT
HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
IT IS THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE
LOBBY THIS TAX LARGE
CORPORATIONS OPERATING IN
SEATTLE AND TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS
THE WIDER CRISES OF ON
AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY THAT
WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO BE
EXACERBATED BY THE RECESSION.
TO NOT OPEN UP THIS NEW SOURCE
OF TAX REVENUE BY ANY RELIEF
FOR THE CRISIS WOULD BE COMING
FROM FURTHER AUSTERITY DOWN THE
LINE BY WHICH I MEAN CUTS TO
VITAL PROGRAMS.
WE CAN'T LET THE WORKING CLASS
PAY FOR THE CRISIS, WE NEED TO
TAX BIG BUSINESS AND I SUPPORT
THE RUNNER RIGHTS BILL TODAY
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBERS
HERBOLD.
>> NEXT UP IS AIDAN.
>> HELLO I AM SPEAKING ABOUT
COUNCIL BILL 119788.
A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN THE CITY
COUNCIL PASSED THE WINTER
EVICTION LEGISLATION AND THE
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT
CAME WITH THAT, THE MOM-AND-POP
LANDLORDS WERE THOSE WHO SPOKE
UP AND TALKED ABOUT THE DANGERS
AND THE PITFALLS.
IF THEY CANNOT COLLECT RENT
THEY CANNOT MAINTAIN SAFE
BUILDINGS.
YOU ARE BACK AGAIN WITH NEW
LEGISLATION AND THE MOM-AND-
POP'S COME BACK AGAIN AND TALK
ABOUT THE SAME DANGERS.
WHERE ARE THE PUBLIC HOUSING
PROVIDERS?
WEARS DESK, WHERE IS LEVI WHERE
IS COMPASS WHERE'S THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING?
WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE AFRAID OF?
WHY WON'T YOU SPEAK UP?
YOU RISK THE SAME DANGERS.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT PERSON IS
GRAYSON.
>> HI I AM A RENTER SPEAKING ON
THE TAX AMAZON AND BIG BUSINESS
, I SUPPORT THE RENTER RIGHTS
BILL.
I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND
UPSET AT THE DECISION OF THE
COUNCIL TO CANCEL THESE
MEETINGS GOING FORWARD USING
THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT
THESE ARE MORE DEMOCRATICALLY
AVAILABLE THAN THEY EVER HAVE
BEEN BEFORE OVER ZOOM AND I
FIND IT A ABDICATION OF
RESPONSIBILITY TO REFUSE TO
VOE ON THE LEGISLATION THAT
COULD SAVE THE LIVES OF
THOUSANDS.
INSTEAD THIS WILL ALLOW THE
PANDEMIC TO EXACERBATE THE
CRISIS OF AFFORDABILITY THAT
WAS PUSHING WORKING PEOPLE OUT
OF SEATTLE BE FOR COVID-19.
IT IS CITY COUNCIL DROPPED TO
RESPOND TO THIS EMERGENCY,
WORKING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IF BIG BUSINESS IS
FORCED TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE,
WE WILL BE ASKED TO SWALLOW THE
AUSTERITY BUT INSTEAD WITH
RAISED TAXES AND CUTS ON PUBLIC
SERVICES AND THE CARAVAN IS IN
CITY HALL RIGHT NOW.
TAX AMAZON AND BIG BUSINESS, DO
YOUR JOBS AND GIVE US A VOTE.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS YOUR VON
HUBBARD.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS, I AM A
SEATTLE NATIVE AND A RENTER, BE
FOR COVID-19 I WORKED OVER 40
HOURS TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY AND
I WAS STILL LOW INCOME SO
SEATTLE HAS NOT BEEN AFFORDABLE
AND I HAVE SEEN SEATTLE OVER
THE YEARS GAIN WEALTH AND MANY
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT
OF THEIR HOMES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES
AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND
THIS IS NOT A HANDOUT.
THIS IS A WAY TO HELP KEEP
FAMILIES FROM BECOMING HOMELESS.
SOME OF THEM ARE LAID OFF
WAITING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT WEATHER
THE FINANCIAL NEEDS ARE GOING
UP.
YOU CAN HELP KEEP FAMILIES ON
THEIR FEET REQUIRING LANDLORDS
TO OFFER NEW LEASES TO PREVENT
DISCRIMINATION, IT'S HARD TO
FIND HOUSING AFTER YOU ARE
EVICTED AND THINK OF STUDENTS,
THERE IS DATA THAT SHOWS
CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE
SIGNIFICANT HOMELESSNESS HAVE
OR ARE NOT DOING AS WELL AS
THEIR PEERS AND READY TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO SUPPORT LANDLORDS.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER IS
SABRINA ARGYLE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON THIS IS
SABRINA ARGYLE I AM A RENTER IN
KING COUNTY ADDRESSING ITEM CB
119788.
T IS IMPORTANT IN THIS TIME WE
ARE GOING THROUGH THAT ALL
RENTERS REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR
LACK THEREOF DURING THIS
PANDEMIC HAVE A SAFE HOME.
ALLOWING RENTERS A YEAR TO MAKE
PAYMENT PLANS TO THEIR LANDLORDS
WITHOUT WORRY OF THE CREDIT
BEING AFFECTED IS TRULY
IMPORTANT.
LANDLORDS AND RENTAL
CORPORATIONS NEED TO OFFER NEW
LEASES TO PREVENT
DISCRIMINATION.
HOUSING IS HARD ENOUGH IN
SEATTLE BUT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
OF KNOWLEDGE CREATION THE WORRY
OF LOSING ONE'S HOME SHOULD NOT
WEIGH ON THEM.
ANY PERSONS MIND.
I WOULD HOPE AT SOME POINT THE
COUNCIL WAYS IN, MANY FAMILIES
WILL BE DISPLACED DUE TO THE
RENTAL HOMES BEING BOUGHT BY
DEVELOPERS AND DEMOLISHED TO
CREATE MILLION-DOLLAR TOWNHOMES
AND CONDOS.
NEW LEASES SHOULD BE OFFERED
AND NO ONE SHOULD BE DISPLACED
DUE TO MULTIMILLION DOLLAR
PROJECTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT PERSON
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS CAROLYN
RILEY PAIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I THE PRESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE
KING COUNTY BRANCH OF THE
NAACP, THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
NAACP OPPOSES THE CITY AND
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MOSES TO
RELEASE POLICE FROM REMAINING
CONTENT TO CREATE OVERSIGHT, WE
WILL WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH
THE OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
TO RESPOND IN OPPOSITION TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED
FROM OVERSIGHT. ACCOUNTABILITY
AND SEATTLE POLICE ALSO DEAL
WITH CONTRACTS MEANING COURT
MANDATED OVERSIGHT IS VERY MUCH
NECESSARY.
THE CONTRACT APPEALS PROCESS AS
IN THE CASE OF THE OFFICER FROM
2014 TELLS US THAT IT IS VERY
MUCH NEEDED, THE CITY HAS YET
TO ADDRESS THE NEPOTISM IN THE
POLICE UNION CONTRACT THAT
ALLOWS FOR OFFICES #>> THANK
YOU, THE NEXT PERSON TO SPEAK IS
GINA OWENS.
>> HELLO THIS IS GINA OWENS I
AM A MEMBER OF WASHINGTON
COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK AND I
AM HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE
PAYMENT PLANS 119762. I AM
ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER
THAT PEOPLE ARE LOSING JOBS AND
THEIR INCOME THROUGH NO FAULT
OF THEIR OWN DURING THIS COVID
PANDEMIC.
PAYMENT PLANS ARE ESSENTIAL AND
I'M ASKING THAT THE COUNCIL
CONSIDER EXTENDING A ONE YEAR
AFTER PANDEMIC LIFTED FOR A
TIME FOR PEOPLE TO RECOVER AND
REBUILD FOR THE PAYMENT PLANS.
WE ARE NOT ASKING NOT TO PAY
RENT, WE ARE ONLY SAYING THAT
LANDLORDS GET THEIR MONEY IN
INSTALLMENT PLANS SO IT'S NOT
LIKE THEY WON'T GET PAID.
PAYMENT PLANS HELP PREVENT
LANDLORDS FROM BEING ABLE TO
REPORT TO COLLECTIONS RESULTING
IN UNNECESSARY JUDGMENT ON
RENTERS FACING
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT IS COCO WEBER.
>> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO
ME.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4
AND A SEATTLE RESIDENT OF 16
YEARS, I'VE BEEN A STUDENT AT
WASHINGTON VOLUNTEERING AND
COUNSELING AND A TEACHER AND
ARTIST.
I'M CURRENTLY IN AN ART
COLLECTIVE.
HAVE SEEN FRIENDS MOVING TO
THEIR CARS TURNING TO COUCHES
OR BE FORCED TO LEAVE THE CITY.
IT IS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IT IS
MY LGBTQ FRIENDS BLACK AND
BROWN WOMEN OF COLOR WHO ARE
BEING PUSHED OUT.
THE CITY HAS BEEN NOT
PROTECTING RENTERS IN THIS
VULNERABLE TIME.
BEYOND PAYMENT PLANS WE NEED
RENT RELIEF.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
RECONSIDER PUTTING THE TAX
AMAZON BILL ON THE TABLE.
WE ALSO NEED AFTER THIS CRISIS
TO NOT JUST BE PUNISHED FOR
HAVING ASKED FOR RELIEF WE NEED
TO BE SURE WE CAN RENEW LEASES,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE
A SAFEGUARD IN PLACE SO THEY
ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE LIVING IN
THE CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT SPEAKER
IS
>> HELLO I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 4 AND STUDENT AT
UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF CB
119787 AND 119788.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY
EVICTION RECORDS ARE LIKELY TO
MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO
GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND INTO
HOUSING.
IN THE CITY WE WERE ALREADY IN
HOUSING CRISIS BEFORE COVID-19
AND NOW WE HAVE AN EXTRA
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE
VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
STAY SAFE AND HOUSED DURING
THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
I AM A 10 YEAR MENTOR IN
DISTRICT 4 THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT,
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF CB 119787
AND CB 119788.
URGING COUNCIL TO SEEK
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND VITAL
PROGRAMMING STARTING WITH
TAXING BIG BUSINESS.
IF WE DO NOT CREATE LEGISLATION
FOR BACK RENT EVICTIONS THAT
ARE CERTAIN TO OCCUR DUE TO
LOSS OF INCOME AND WORK TO
REGULATE HOW LANDLORDS PROVIDE
TENANTS BEHIND IN RENT
ACCESSIBLE REPAYMENT TERMS
UNNECESSARY HARM WILL BE CAUSED.
I LIVED IN SEATTLE'S NINE YEARS
10 MONTHS AND 11 DAYS IN THE
SAME HOUSE I DID AS THE FIRST
DAY I MOVED TO SEATTLE IF MY
BACK RENT WAS DUE TODAY I WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO COVER IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ASSUMPTION
RENTERS DON'T HAVE TIES TO
SEATTLE AND THAT THIS WILL
CAUSE NEGATIVE DURATIONS TO THE
COMMUNITY, I ASK THAT ARE
HOUSEHOLDS BEING THE PLACED --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING HIM.
THE NEXT PERSON IS JOELLE KRAFT.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR TAKING MY
CALL MY NAME IS JOELLE KRAFT
AND I'M CALLING REGARDING
COUNCIL BILL 119787.
I LIVED IN WASHINGTON STATE MY
ENTIRE LIFE AND I HAVE BEEN A
HOMEOWNER AND A RENTER AND I'M
ASKING YOU TO PASS THIS BILL
BECAUSE PAYMENT PLANS ARE GOING
TO PREVENT EVICTIONS AND
REQUIRING LANDLORDS TO OFFER
NEW LEASES WILL PREVENT
DISCRIMINATION AND PEOPLE
HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND
KNOWING THAT PEOPLE CANNOT
LEAVE THEIR HOMES, PAYMENT
PLANS WILL PREVENT THE LANDLORD
FROM PROVIDING DEBT TO
COLLECTIONS.
AND HE GIVES THE TENANT MORE
TIME TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET
AND STAY IN THEIR HOME.
RIGHT NOW AND AS YOU KNOW IT IS
HARD TO FIND A NEW PLACE WHEN
YOU ARE EVICTED IT IS LIKE A
BANKRUPTCY ON YOUR CREDIT AND
IT STAYS FOREVER.
ALSO THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THE
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IF WE DO
NOT KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH PLEASE PASS CB
119787 AND THANK YOU FOR
TAKING MY CALL.
>> COLLEAGUES WE HAVE NOW HEARD
PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR ABOUT 40
MINUTES.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSEOUT PUBLIC COMMENT AND
BEGIN OUR AGENDA.
I APOLOGIZE TO THOSE WHO CALLED
IN AND WERE WAITING BUT DID NOT
GET A CHANCE, BUT WE DO HAVE
SEVERAL ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON
THE AGENDA AND WE H█AVE BEEN
GOING 40 MINUTES SO I'M GOING
TO CLOSE OUT THE PERIOD OF
PUBLIC COMMENT AND WILL MOVE TO
THE PAYMENT OF THE BILLS.
IF THE CLERK WOULD PLEASE READ
THE TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119787 CLAIMS
OF APRIL 27, 2020 THROUGH MAY
1, 2020 AND ORDERING PAYMENT
THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU MOVING TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 119 79 IS THEIR
SECOND?
>> MOVED AND SECONDED ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS?
>> WITH THE CORRECT PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> STRAUSS
>> AYE
>> HERBOLD AYE JUAREZ AYE
LEWIS AYE MORALES AYE
MOSQUEDA AYE PEDERSEN AYE
SAWANT AYE PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
AYE
>> NINE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN PLEASE AFFIX MY%
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
COMMITTEE REPORTS WILL LOOK
LIKE PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 1
THE SHORT TITLE TO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, COUNCIL BILL
119787 RELATING TO THE USE OF
EVICTION RECORDS REGULATING THE
USE OF EVICTION HISTORY IN
RESIDENTIAL HOUSING PIVOTING
LANDLORDS FROM CONSIDERING
EVICTIONS RELATED TO COVID-19
DURING AND AFTER THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
>> THANK YOU, IF YOU'RE NOT
SPEAKING PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK TO
MAKE SURE YOU ARE MUTED SO WE
DO NOT HEAR AMBIENT NOISE.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
TO PASS COUNCIL BILL 119787 IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO PASS
THE BILL, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
YOU ARE THE SPONSOR AND I WILL
GO AHEAD AND HANDED OVER TO YOU
FOR MARKS.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON COLLEAGUES.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN TALKING FOR
WEEKS AND WEEKS ABOUT THE
CRISIS THAT IS COVID-19 AND WE
KNOW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
WASHINGTONIANS HAVE FILED FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT, A GROWING NUMBER
CANNOT AFFORD BASICS LIKE FOOD
OR RENT AND MANY TENS OF
THOUSANDS ARE RIGHT HERE IN
SEATTLE.
WE KNOW THAT THE SPECTRUM OF
THIS CRISIS ONE NONE OF US
COULD PREDICT SHOULD NOT HAUNT
PEOPLE FOR THE REST OF THEIR
LIVES SO THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
DO TWO THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT
DOES NOT HAPPEN.
THE FIRST IS THAT A BARS
LANDLORDS FROM DENYING HOUSING
TO TENANTS WHO HAVE FACED
EVICTION DURING THE EMERGENCY
AND FOR SIX MONTHS FOLLOWING
THAT.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS
EXCLUDES EVICTIONS THAT WOULD
RESULT FROM THE THREAT TO THE
HEALTH OR SAFETY OF NEIGHBORS,
THE LANDLORD, OR TENANT OR
LANDLORD HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.
SO WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE
CALL IN EXPRESSING CONCERN AND
WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE KINDS
OF EVICTIONS ARE EXCLUDED, THE
SECOND THING IS A PROVIDES CAUSE
FOR ORDER LIMITED DISSEMINATION
WHICH WOULD HIDE EVICTION FROM
A TENANT SCREENING COMPANY AND
THAT IS SOMETHING WE KNOW IS
IMPORTANT TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM
LOSING HOUSING OPTIONS.
ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE ECONOMIC
SHOCK OF THE MASS UNEMPLOYMENT
THAT WE HAVE.
WE KNOW WHEN THE MORATORIUMS END
PEOPLE WILL BE OUT OF WORK
STILL, THIS WILL NOT BE GETTING
BETTER OVERNIGHT SO WE'RE
TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE
ARE PROTECTING PEOPLE LONG-TERM
UNTIL PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET
BACK ON THEIR FEET AND WE KNOW
THAT THESE EVICTIONS AND
UNLAWFUL DETAINER'S CAN FOLLOW
POPLE AROUND.
IT MIGHT BE CLEARED FROM YOUR
CREDIT REPORT FOR SEVEN YEARS
BUT ALTERED THE STREAM COMPANY
HAS TO DO IS LOOK THAT UP IN
THE SUPERIOR COURT WEBSITE AND
IT CAN STILL BE FOUND SO THIS
IS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE PROTECTING FOLKS WHO ARE IN
FINANCIAL CRISIS DURING THIS
EPISODE AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE
THAT PROTECTION LONG-TERM.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES I KNOW
YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT YOU WOULD
LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND
ASK THAT YOU PUT YOUR AMENDMENT
ON THE TABLE AND WE WILL
CONSIDER THE AMENDMENT AND THEN
WE CAN OPEN IT UP FOR DIALOGUE
ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
>> SO I MOVED TO AMEND COUNSEL
BILL 119787 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT ONE ON THE AGENDA.
>> THE SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO ADDRESS THE
AMENDMENT.
>> SURE, THIS IS REALLY
CLEANING UP THE TITLE OF THE
BILL SO IT MAKES THE ORIGINAL
LANGUAGE OF THE SECTION TITLE
MORE ACCURATE AND CONFORMS THE
NEW TEXT REGARDING, SORRY
THAT'S AMENDMENT TWO.
THE FIRST IS A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT TO CLEAN UP THE
LANGUAGE.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT ONE WHICH
HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A
TECHNICAL CLEANUP AMENDMENT?
OKAY WITH THE CURRENT PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENT ONE?
>> HERBOLD AYE , HERBOLD , AYE
, JUAREZ HERBOLD AYE , LEWIS,
AYE, MORALES, AYE, MOSQUEDA,
AYE, PEDERSEN
>> AYE
>> SAWANT
>> AYE
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A SECOND
AMENDMENT SO I WILL PASS IT
OVER TO YOU TO MAKE THE MOTION.
>> I MOVE THAT WE, THAT WE AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 119787 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT TWO ON
THE AGENDA.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT TWO.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO ADDRESS IT.
>> THIS AMENDMENT ADDS A
REBUTTAL PRESUMPTION IN FAVOR
OF A TENANT IF A LANDLORD DOES
SEE THE EVICTION INFORMATION
AND TAKES ADVERSE ACTION
AGAINST THE TENANT AS A RESULT
OF THE INFORMATION.
>> OKAY.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT TWO? IT
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
SO I WILL ASK THAT THE KIRK
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TWO.
STRAUSS , AYE , HERBOLD AYE ,
JUAREZ AYE, LEWIS AYE ,
MORALES AYE
>> MOSQUEDA AYE, PEDERSEN NO
SO SAWANT AYE , PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AYE
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, 10 POST.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH THE MOTION
CARRIES THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED.
I BELIEVE THAT IS THE END OF
THE AMENDMENTS I AM AWARE OF.
SO NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME
COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THOSE
COMMENTS, I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES , BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE
SET UP TO BE EXTREMELY UNFAIR
TO RENTERS AS WE HEARD FROM
SOME RENTERS, FOR EXAMPLE IF
YOUR TAKE INTO EVICTION COURT
UNFAIRLY AND A JUDGE RULES
THERE'S NO REASON TO EVICT YOU
MAYBE IT WAS DISCRIMINATION,
MAYBE THERE WAS NO JUST CAUSE,
REGARDLESS IT IS INCLUDED IN
YOUR RENTAL HISTORY AND IT CAN
BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO
GET HOUSING AS A RESULT AND
FOLLOWS YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR
LIFE.
RENTERS CAN APPEAL TO HAVE
THESE FALSE EVICTIONS REMOVED
FROM THEIR RECORD HISTORY BUT
MUST DO SO WITH EVERY
BACKGROUND CHECK COMPANY.
IDEALLY THE CODE WOULD REFUSE
úTO GIVE OUT EVICTIONS RECORDS
TO BACKGROUND CHECK COMPANIES
UNLESS THOSE ARE APPROVED BY
THE JUDGE.
THIS LEGISLATION INSTRUCTS
LANDLORDS THEY MUST NOT USE
EVICTION RECORDS DURING THIS
EMERGENCY AGAINST RENTERS, THEY
SHOULD NOT ANYWAY BECAUSE
EVICTIONS ARE PROHIBITED DURING
THIS EMERGENCY BUT AS I SAID
THE BACKGROUND RULES EXIST.
OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE
DIFFICULTY WITH ENFORCEMENT AND
ULTIMATELY WHAT SEATTLE NEEDS
IS AFFORDABLE BACKGROUND CHECKS
SO RENTERS CAN CORRECT CALLS
AND EVICTION RECORDS ON THEIR
BACKGROUND CHECKS. IN THE
MEANTIME, I AM HAPPY TO VOTE
YES ON THIS EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AGAIN FOR ANYBODY ELSE
WHO WANTS TO SPEAK IF YOU CAN
RAISE YOUR HAND I WILL PUT YOU
IN THE QUEUE.
>> THANK YOU I WILL TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE MY
STRONG SUPPORT FOR INCREASING
THE AMOUNT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE
THAT WE CAN PROVIDE PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN WE
ARE ABLE TO INVEST IN RENTAL
ASSISTANCE WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP
PEOPLE IN PLACE AND KEEP
EVERYONE IN THE ECONOMIC CHAIN
MADE FULL, SO AGAIN REITERATING
I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS
LEGISLATION AND WE ALSO NEED TO
FOLLOW-UP WITH ADDITIONAL
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR THE
IMPORTANT REMINDER.
WE HAVE ALREADY ADDED MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND CERTAINLY NOT
IMPLYING THAT IS GOING TO MEET
THE SCALE OF THE NEED BUT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE ADVOCATING FOR THOSE
DOLLARS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN IS NEXT
AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYBODY
ELSE RAISE THEIR HAND SO IF YOU
WANT TO NOW IS THE TIME.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
SPONSOR OF THIS BILL
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND THE
HARD WORK OF HER STAFF COME I
BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO
POINT OUT TO THE PUBLIC THIS
BILL HAS VERY GOOD INTENTIONS.
HE WAS JUST INTRODUCED SEVEN
DAYS AGO.
I BELIEVE THAT'S NOT ENOUGH
TIME TO CONSIDER ALL THE
RAMIFICATIONS OF THE
LEGISLATION.
IT WOULD ALSO BE AN EFFECT FOR
AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE
MAYOR WILL END THE EMERGENCY
DECLARATION.
SO I'M PROUD TO JOIN MY COUNSEL
MY COLLEAGUES ON A COUPLE OF
EVICTION PREVENTION MEASURES,
THE WINTER EVICTION MORATORIUM
AND THEN RECENTLY LAST WEEK THE
RESTRICTING TO ALLOW DEFENSE
FOR SIX MONTHS AFTER THE MAYOR
EVICTION MORATORIUM ENDS AND
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT SO
THE LEGISLATION PASSED LAST
WEEK WAS FOR SIX MONTHS AFTER
THE MAYOR'S EVICTION MORATORIUM
ENDS.
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US WOULD
BE SIX MONTHS AFTER THE
EMERGENCY DECLARATION.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE
EMERGENCY DECLARATION WILL END.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IT COULD GO
ON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
THE REASON IS, IT'S LIKELY THE
MAYOR WILL KEEP THAT IN PLACE
LONGER THAN HER EVICTION
MORATORIUM BECAUSE THE
EMERGENCY DECLARATION WILL
ENABLE US TO GET REIMBURSED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR A
LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
SO I AM UNCOMFORTABLE ALSO IN
INVOKING THE CITY CHARTER
LEGISLATIVE EMERGENCY CLAUSE
WHERE IT SAYS IT'S NECESSARY
FOR THE IMMEDIATE PRESERVATION
OF THE PUBLIC PEACE HEALTH OR
SAFETY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO
IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS OR MORE
IF WE THINK IT THROUGH EVEN
FURTHER AND HAD MORE DATA ABOUT
THE SITUATION IS GOING TO BE
FOR TENANTS, FOR THE RELIEF
PACKAGE IS AND WHEN THE
DECLARATION WILL END.
AGAIN I WANT TO THING THANK MY
COLLEAGUE AND MAKING HER STAFF
AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT IS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> I WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES
IN THE COUNCIL IN THANKING
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THIS
LEGISLATION, I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT
THE USE OF EVICTION HISTORY AS
AN INDICATOR OF GOOD TENANCY IS
CONTROVERSIAL.
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IT
IS PREMISED ON THE BELIEF ABOUT
TENANTS BEHAVE UNDER NORMAL OR
NONPANDEMIC CONDITIONS.
AS WE ALL HAVE RECOGNIED IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT
EMERGENCY, TENANTS ARE FACING
UNPRECEDENTED CIRCUMSTANCES AND
HOW THEY BALANCE FINANCIAL
OBLIGATIONS IN THESE
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES ARE NOT A
GOOD INDICATOR OF WHETHER OR NOT
THEY'RE GOING TO BE A GOOD
TENANT.
THERE WAS SOME COMMENT ON
BEHALF OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY
EARLIER, QUESTIONING WHETHER OR
NOT THIS LEGISLATION HAD
RECEIVED THE LAW DEPARTMENT
REVIEW. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT
THAT IT HAS AND I FIND THAT THE
ANALYSIS WITHOUT DIVULGING THE
ANALYSIS IS REASSURING ON OUR
ABILITY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD,
TO MOVE THE LEGISLATION FORWARD
AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THERE
úWERE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
BEING CONSIDERED EARLY ON THAT
WOULD'VE BEEN CLEANUP AMENDMENTS
UNRELATED TO THE CRISIS AND THAT
THE AMENDMENT SPONSORS AGREED
TO WITHDRAW THOSE YOU KNOW
REALLY HOUSEKEEPING CLEANUP
AMENDMENTS BECAUSE THOSE
AMENDMENTS WERE NOT RELATED TO
THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
AND FINALLY I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IN
PRACTICE HOW THESE ORDERS OF
LIMITED DISSEMINATION ACTUALLY
WORK AND THAT IS WHY THE BILL
ITSELF HAS TWO PARTS.
ON ONE HAND IT NOTIFIES THE
COURTS WHAT WE HOPE THEY WILL DO
WHEN THERE ARE REQUESTS FOR
LIMITED DISSEMINATION ORDERS.
THAT IS THE ABILITY OF EVICTION
RECORDS TO SHOW UP ON SCOUTING
REPORTS.
THIS IS A FALLBACK THE
PROHIBITION ON THE PART OF
LANDLORDS IN USING THIS
INFORMATION AND THE REASON WHY
THAT'S NECESSARY IS BECAUSE THE
PRACTICE OF THE COURTS IN
MAKING DECISIONS AROUND LIMITED
DISSEMINATION ORDERS HAS REALLY
BEEN INCONSISTENT AND THERE HAS
NOT BEEN AN APPELLATE CASE ON
THIS SO THE COURTS ARE NOT
CONSISTENT ON IT.
SPECIFICALLY IT'S IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE ENTIRE RIGHT TO
ASK FOR LIMITED DISSEMINATION
ORDER AND THE OBLIGATION OF
COURTS TO CONSIDER IT IS A
DISCRETIONARY DECISION ON THE
PART OF THE JUDGES.
SO THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION HANGS WELL
TOGETHER WITH ITS TWO PARTS AS
WELL AS IN COORDINATION WITH
THE LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE
GOING TO BE HEARING NEXT AS
WELL AS THE TENANT WRITE
LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED
LAST WEEK.
>> TAKE YOU SO MUCH, NEXT IS
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL START MY COMMENTS BY
SAYING I WILL BE VOTING FOR
THIS LEGISLATION AND I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD . IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT RENTERS WERE
GOING TO BE COMING OUT OF THIS
COVID-19 CRISIS NOT BE IN A
POSITION WHERE HAVING AN
OTHERWISE GOOD RECORD IS
BLEMISHED BY SOMETHING THAT MAY
OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.
WITH THEIR ABILITY TO PAY RENT
DURING THIS PERIOD. I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION AND A
SUPPORTIVE VOTING FOR IT BUT I
WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO USE
MY COMMENTS TO DO A BROAD CALL
TO ACTION TO LANDLORDS AND
TENANT WRITE ADVOCATES WHO
TUNED INTO THIS AND I
APPRECIATE THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT
. I WANT TO SAY THAT OUR
COUNCIL REMAINS COMMITTED AS
INDICATED EARLIER IN THE
SESSION TO PROVIDING ROBUST
COMPREHENSIVE AND EXPANSIVE
RENT SUPPORT.
THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD
TENANTS STAY IN PLACE THAT WILL
MAKE LANDLORDS HOLE AND PAY
THEIR BILLS AND PAY THEIR
MORTGAGES.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO REALIZING
THAT AND AS THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT INDICATED EARLIER WE
HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT
WE HAD BUDGETED FOR INITIALLY
IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
SUPPORT, CONGRESS ACCORDING TO
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS
CONSIDERING ANOTHER ROUND OF
FEDERAL STIMULUS AND
INVESTMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHOUT OUT TO
ALL THE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
WHO HAVE CALLED IN TO DO
ADVOCACY ON THIS TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE REACHING OUT TO YOUR
MEMBER OF CONGRESS, TO YOUR
SENATORS, TO PUSH TO MAKE SURE
WIDESCALE RENT RELIEF OR SOME
KND OF DIRECT PAYMENT PLAN TO
PEOPLE AS PART OF THAT NEXT
LEVEL OF FEDERAL RELIEF.
ALL OF US RECOGNIZE THAT IS
ULTIMATELY WHAT WE NEED TO DO
TO GET THROUGH THIS BUT IN THE
MEANTIME THERE NEED TO BE
PROTECTIONS TO MAKE SURE
RENTERS ARE NOT BURDENED BY
THINGS THAT HAPPEN DURING THIS
EVENT OF GREAT DEPRESSION LEVEL
PROPORTIONS AND THESE ARE NOT
REGULATIONS OR HINDRANCES THAT
WE ARE ENACTING IDLING, WE ARE
DOING IT IN RESPONSE TO AN
UNPRECEDENTED SINCE THE TIME OF
THE 1930S LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
AND INSECURITY.
SO JOIN ME IN MAKING SURE WE GO
TO CONGRESS TO SAY WE NEED A
LARGE-SCALE RELIEF IN THE NEXT
PACKAGE THAT SHOULD BE COMING
OUT LATER THIS SPRING TO MAKE
SURE RENTERS AND LANDLORDS GET
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO GET
THROUGH THIS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR
LEWIS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ON THE BILL?
OKAY SEEING NONE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AS WE USUALLY PRACTICE
THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THE BILL
GETS THE LAST WORD SO THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS I THINK YOUR REMARKS ARE
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THIS IS
UNPRECEDENTED.
WE ARE SEEING LEVELS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT, A SCALE OF CRISIS
WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN A COUPLE OF
GENERATIONS NOW.
SO WE KNOW THE MORE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IS IMPORTANT AS
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS SAID
THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL ACTION
NEEDED.
OUR REPRESENTATIVE IS ADVOCATING
FOR PAYMENT PROTECTION.
PAYCHECK PROTECTION FOR ALL
WORKERS.
SO THAT THEY CAN COVER THEIR
BILLS SO WE DO NEED TO KEEP
ADVOCATING AT EVERY
JURISDICTIONAL LEVEL TO ENSURE
EVERY CITY STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS DOING ALL THEY
CAN TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
I WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT AS
COUNCLMEMBER HERBOLD MENTIONED
WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON A FEW
DIFFERENT KINDS OF AMENDMENTS.
THE IDEA OF EXCLUDING SMALL
LANDLORDS IS SOMETHING WE
TALKED ABOUT BUT WHAT WE ARE
DOING IS TRYING TO PROTECT
PEOPLE FROM BEING EVICTED AND
HAVING A STAIN ON THE RECORD
AND WHEN YOU HAVE LOST YOUR
JOB, WHEN YOU CANNOT AFFORD RENT
IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOUR
LANDLORD IS YOUR ROOMMATE IN A
SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AND YOU'RE
RENTING A ROOM FROM THEM OR IF
YOUR LANDLORD IS A BIG PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT COMPANY, THE FACT IS
YOU DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO PAY
RENT SO YOU DESERVE THE SAME
PROTECTION REGARDLESS OF THE
SIZE ARE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR
LANDLORD.
SO I WANT TO THANK OUR COLLEGE
FOR THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE
BEEN HAVING.
I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AND
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TALK TO
THIS WITH YOUR CONCERNS AND
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AS WE DO
TAKE ONE MORE STEP TO MAKE SURE
RENTERS IN THE CITY ARE
PROTECTED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR THOSE
REMARKS.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDES TO BE ON
THIS ITEM SO I WILL ASK THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL AS
AMENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AYE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AYE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AYE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AYE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AYE
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN NO,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AYE
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AS AMENDED IN THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT AND I ASKED THAT THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION.
OKAY FOLKS WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
ALONG.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS TODAY.
PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD.
CLERK YOU MAY BE ON MUTE.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2 COUNCIL BILL
119788 ORDINANCE RELATING TO
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL AGREEMENTS
ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL TENANTS TO
PAY RENT IN INSTALLMENTS WHEN
THE TENANT IS UNABLE TO TIMELY
PAY RENT DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
AND ESTABLISHING AN IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE ALL BY A 3/4 VOTE
OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU MADAME CLERK I
WILL MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
119788 A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO PASS
THE BILL, THIS IS A BILL I HAVE
SPONSORED SO I'M GOING TO MAKE
A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN I WILL
OPEN IT UP FOR ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS.
TODAY WE HAVE THIS BILL BE
FORCED TO ENSURE MORE
FLEXIBILITY AND TIME FOR MORE
HOUSEHOLDS THAT MAY NEED TO
STAY HOUSED THE WILL DEFINITELY
NEED TO STAY HOUSED AS WE ENTER
WEEK 11 OF THIS PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY.
MANY CONSTITUENTS HAVE FOUND
THEMSELVES LAID OFF OR WITH A
LOSS OF INCOME AND ARE STILL
WAITING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS TO COVER HOUSEHOLD
EXPENSES.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR OTHER
FORMS OF RELIEF SUCH AS THE
CARES ACT TO PROVIDE CASH IN
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO TENANTS
AND SMALL LANDLORDS, THIS BILL
WILL ENABLE MORE HOUSEHOLDS TO
ENTER INTO PAYMENTS WITH THEIR
LANDLORDS AND I WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
LANDLORDS WHO ALREADY HAVE THIS
PRACTICE IN PLACE. IT IS
CONSIDERED THE INDUSTRY'S BEST
PRACTICE AND MANY GOOD
LANDLORDS ARE ENGAGING IN THAT
BEHAVIOR BUT THERE ARE MANY
THAT ARE NOT.
THIS BEST PRACTICE AGAIN IS TO
VOLUNTARILY ENTER INTO PAYMENT
PLANS, WE WANT TO ENSURE THE
GREATEST NUMBER OF TENANTS HAVE
ACCESS TO THIS BEST PRACTICE
AND THAT THIS LEGISLATION
ULTIMATELY WILL MANDATE THAT
THEY PARTICIPATE IN THAT BEST
PRACTICE.
THIS BILL WOULD PROHIBIT LATE
FEES OR INTEREST OR OTHER
CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH LATE
PAYMENT OF RENT WHICH WOULD
APPLY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF
CIVIL EMERGENCY AND FOR SIX
MONTHS AFTER THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS IS OVER, THE GOVERNOR
HAS EXTENDED EXPANDED EVICTIONS
ORDERS WITH SIMILAR PROTECTIONS
AND I BELIEVE THIS BILL
COMPLEMENTS THE PROTECTIONS FOR
RENTERS IN THE GOVERNMENT
MORATORIUM.
IWANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT
OF INSPECTION AND CONSTRUCTION,
WASHINGTON CAN AND THE
WASHINGTON MULTI FAMILY HOUSING
ASSOCIATION LANDLORDS AND
PROPERTY OWNERS FOR THEIR
FEEDBACK AND INSIGHTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGISLATION
FOR SOMETHING VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AND SIMPLE
ALLOWING TENANTS FLEXIBILITY
THAT THEY NEED TO STAY IN THEIR
HOMES IN THE EVENT THEY FALL
BEHIND ON RENT.
THIS IS A COMMONSENSE SOLUTION
TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR TENANTS
AND LANDLORDS TO COME TO AN
AGREEMENT MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
TO BOTH OF THEM THAT WILL
PROMOTE HOUSING STABILITY AND
THAT WILL ULTIMATELY CREATE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY
IN PLACE FOR AS LONG AS
POSSIBLE.
I WAS PLEASED WHEN I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION THAT THE
IMPLEMENTED A SIMILAR EFFORT
STATEWIDE AND I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO FOLLOW-UP
ON THAT PARTICULAR ROUTE AND DO
THE SAME RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR
SUPPORT OF THIS PARTICULAR BILL
, I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT
AND CREATES A REALLY RICH
ECOSYSTEM FOR RENTERS WHO ARE
REALLY SEEKING A LITTLE BIT
MORE TIME AND A LOT MORE
SUBSTANCE TO STAY HOUSED.
WITH THAT BEING SAID I AM HAPPY
TO OPEN IT UP TO COLLEAGUES IF
THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ FOR
PUTTING THIS FORWARD.
I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER
COLLABORATION IN DEVELOPING
THIS LEGISLATION COLLABORATION
THAT LED TO SOME UNFORTUNATE
DELAYS BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR
DOING SO.
SOME OF THE CHANGES IN THE NEW
VERSION RELATE SPECIFICALLY TO
MODIFY THE REASON FOR WHICH A
TENANT CAN USE THE PAYMENT PLAN.
CHANGING THE REQUIREMENT TO
REINTRODUCE IT AND THIS WAS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE
VERY DIFFICULT TO ASK A JUDGE
TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER
OR NOT A NONPAYMENT OF RENT
EVICTION IS THE RESULT OF COVID-
19.
AND SO MAKING THE CHANGE IN THE
ORDINANCE LIFTS THAT BARRIER
FOR THE COURTS AND HELPS
TENANTS IN DOING SO.
BUT AGAIN THAT REQUIRED THE
PATIENCE OF THE BILL SPONSOR TO
DO SO AND OUR COUNSEL PRESENT
IS ALWAYS PATIENT WITH US SO I
WANT TO THANK HER FOR OTHER
ELEMENTS RELATED TO LATE FEES
AND ATTORNEY FEES AND COURT
COSTS.
THAT IS VERY HELPFUL AND I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE SOME OF THE
COMMENTS THAT THE SPONSOR MADE
WHICH IS RELATED TO THIS JUST
BEING A COMMONSENSE PATH
BETWEEN AN EVICTION MORATORIUM
WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO IF THEY ARE
SHORT ON RENT BUT NOT PAY RENT
AND PAYING THE FULL RENT.
WHEN THE MAYOR PROPOSED OR
EVICTION MORATORIUM IN THE FAQ
QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, ONE OF
THE PIECES OF GUIDANCE FOR
TENANTS WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY IS TO
ENCOURAGE TENANTS TO WORK ON
DEVELOPING A PAYMENT PLAN FOR
PARTIAL PAYMENTS.
IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY OWED AT THE END OF THE
MORATORIUM.
THIS PUTS INTO ORDINANCE, A
POLICY A WAY TO DO THAT AND
AGAIN I THINK IT IS A
COMMONSENSE APPROACH EXPRESSING
OUR EXPECTATIONS THAT LANDLORDS
SHOULD ACCEPT PARTIAL PAYMENT
BECAUSE IT'S GOOD FOR BOTH
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS SO THANK
YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR
PARTNERSHIP ON THIS BILL AS
WELL AND I HAVE APPRECIATED
BENEFITING FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF FOR
THE HARD WORK ON THIS BILL, WE
HAVE PLENTY OF NOTICE TO THINK
ABOUT THIS ONE SO WE APPRECIATE
THAT.
DID HAVE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS.
JUST WANT TO CONFIRM FOR THE
RECORD, IF THERE IS A RENTAL
AGREEMENT, PAYMENT PLAN IN
EFFECT BETWEEN A TENANT AND
LANDLORD THAT IS FULLY EXECUTED
ALREADY, WITH THIS LEGISLATION
PREEMPT THAT OR SUPERSEDE THAT
OR WOULD IT STILL BE IN PLACE?
>> THIS IS NOT DESIGNED TO
PREEMPT ANYTHING, IT WOULD
PROVIDE A MINIMAL FLOOR'S WITH
THE EXISTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE LANDLORD AND TENANT IS MORE
STRICT OR HARSH FOR EXAMPLE I
SHOULD SAY YOU KNOW NOT AS
BENEFICIAL FOR THE TENANT AS THE
ORDINANCE THEN THE ORDINANCE
WOULD COME INTO EFFECT.
>> OKAY ALL RIGHT I DID NOT
KNOW THAT.
I THOUGHT IF THERE WAS A
WRITTEN AGREEMENT IN PLACE THIS
WOULD NOT SUPERSEDE IT BUT IT
SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD IF IT IS
NOT AS BENEFICIAL FOR THE
TENANT.
>> ACCORDING TO COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF AGAIN IT DOES NOT PREEMPT
EXISTING AGREEMENTS.
>> OKAY THANK YOU.
JUST WANTED TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW IN MY REMARKS FOR THE
PREVIOUS BILL, MY CONCERN IS
THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE
EMERGENCY DECLARATION WILL END,
YOUR PREVIOUS BILL WAS SIX
MONTHS AFTER THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM WHERE THIS IS SIX
MONTHS AFTER THE EMERGENCY
DECLARATION AND SINCE THAT MAY
GO ON FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME
I DID NOT KNOW IF HELP FOR THE
PUBLIC AND FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND
WHY THEY ARE DIFFERENT IN A
STARTING POINT IN THE
LEGISLATION.
>> I THINK AS YOU MENTIONED
THESE THINGS ARE NOT DONE WITH
PRECISION AND IT'S A LITTLE
UNCLEAR TO US WHEN THE
MORATORIUM IS GOING TO END.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CREATES SOME
UNCERTAINTY BUT THE REALITY IS,
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER INTO A
TRULY BENEFICIAL RENTAL
AGREEMENT IS A VALID POLICY
PRIORITY REGARDLESS OF THE
TIMING.
SO AGAIN I THINK ORIGINALLY WE
THOUGHT ABOUT STARTING THAT
POINT SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT AT
THIS JUNCTURE IT MAKES MOST
SENSE TO ALLOW THE GREATEST
POSSIBLE PERIOD OF TIME FOR
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS TO ENTER
INTO A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
AGREEMENT TO ALLOW LANDLORDS TO
GET THEIR RENT AND FOR RENTERS
TO PAY THEIR RENT AND AVOID
EVICTION.
SO AGAIN AS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD DESCRIBED THIS IS THAT
MIDDLE GROUND AREA.
SO WE HAVE EXTREMES IN THE
LANDLORD AND TENANT LAW NOW,
ONE EXTREME IS EVICTION, YOU
LOSE YOUR HOUSING, THE OTHER
OPTION IS DON'T PAY YOUR RENT
AND WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A
PATHWAY FORWARD THAT SAYS FOR
THOSE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS WHO
AGREE THAT RENT NEEDS TO BE PAID
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S THE VAST
MAJORITY OF FOLKS, WE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THEM TO COME UP WITH A
PATHWAY TO DO SO.
SO THIS CODIFIES THAT INTENT
AND OPPORTUNITY FOR LANDLORDS
AND TENANTS TO AGREE WITH EACH
OTHER ABOUT WHAT THE RENTAL
REPAYMENT PLAN IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
OKAY.
SO I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT
DEBATE.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE
ONGOING ATTENTION IN THIS AREA
AND AGAIN I SAID THIS DURING
BRIEFING BUT I WANT TO THANK
CENTRAL COUNCIL STAFF AND MY
OFFICE FOR BEING STELLAR ON
THIS POLICY ISSUE AND REALLY
WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE AS
PIECES WERE MOVING AT THE STATE
RELATED TO THE PROCLAMATION
ABOUT RENTAL PAYMENT PLANS
STATEWIDE AND OUR VERSION OF
THE BILL THAT WE WERE NOT
RUNNING INTO AREAS OF CONFLICT
POTENTIALLY.
ALSO I WANT TO THANK THE
EXECUTIVES FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN
MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AS WELL
AND I HAVE BEEN GRATEFUL FOR
THE COOPERATION.
ON UNDERSTANDING ENFORCEMENT
ISSUES AT PLAY AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO SIGNING THIS INTO
LAW PRETTY QUICKLY AS HAS BEEN
INDICATED.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID I WILL
ASK THAT THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE PLEASE ON THE PASSAGE
OF THE BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AYE ,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AYE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AYE
, NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OF POST.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COLLEAGUES.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN AND ASKED THAT THE
CLERK OF FIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO AGENDA
ITEM 3 WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE SHORT TITLE OF THE
BILL INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM 3 COUNCIL BILL 11 975
RELATED TO FUNDING FOR HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS ADOPTING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE 2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
TO THE 2018 THROUGH 2022
CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND
AUTHORIZING ITS SUBMISSION TO
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH I WILL
MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
119785 IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 11 975,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO YOU TO ADDRESS
THE BILL FIRST.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THIS
BILL ADOPTS THE ANNUAL ACTION
PLAN DETAILING HOW THE CITY
WILL SPEND ITS ANNUAL
ENTITLEMENT OF FOUR FEDERAL
GRANTS, THE BLOCK GRANT THE
HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE
WITH AIDS EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS
GRANT AND THE HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
I DO HAVE AN AMENDMENT WOULD
YOU LIKE ME TO MOVE THE
AMENDMENT SO WE CAN DISCUSS THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE I TALK ABOUT
THE REST OF THE LEGISLATION?
>> SURE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADDRESS THE BILL AS AMENDED I
HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING THAT SO
GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION AND
WE WILL DO IT THAT WAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH I MOVED
TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 119785
ATTACHMENT ONE BY SUBSTITUTING
VERSION 2 FOR VERSION 1 A.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
ATTACHMENT 1 TO SUBSTITUTE FOR
VERSION 2. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
ADDRESS THE SUBSTITUTE VERSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES AS YOU RECALL LAST
MONDAY WE HELD THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON THE BILL A DRAFT OF
THIS PLAN BASED ON BEST
ESTIMATES FOR HOW MUCH FUNDING
WE WOULD RECEIVE.
IN THE 2020 ADOPTED BUDGET WAS
HEARD IN DECEMBER 2019 THE
AMENDED VERSION SHOWS WE HAVE
RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE ACTUAL
GRANT AMOUNTS SO COUNCIL HAS
PUT FORWARD THE ADOPTED VERSION
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS
INCLUDES THE PLAN FOR SUBMITTAL
TO HOUSING FOR THE HUD
DEPARTMENT.
ONE SMALL TECHNICAL PIECE
INCLUDED IS THE PLAN THAT
WHATEVER JOY TRANSMITTED HAS
BEEN UPDATED BY THE EXECUTIVE,
WE HAVE THE PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE
IN FRONT OF US REFLECTING THE
LATEST INFORMATION ON THE GRANTS
AND THE PROJECTS THEY SUPPORT,
THIS PLAN INCLUDES $25 MILLION
WORTH OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE INCLUDING 3.4
MILLION FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER
OPERATIONS AND CASE MANAGEMENT
TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING, 7.8 MILLION TO PROVIDE
HOUSING FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH
AIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 1
MILLION TO IMPROVE FIRE SAFETY
AND SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
AND 6.4 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PRESERVATION AND
DEPLOYMENT.
2.8 MILLION FOR SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION.
MOST OF THESE FUNDS WERE
INCLUDED IN THE 2020 BUDGET
THIS PLAN REFLECTS WE RECEIVED
MORE GRANT FUNDING THAN
EXPECTED, THE FUNDS WERE ADDED
TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAM AND SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION FUND, I APPRECIATE
PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC
HEARING LAST WEEK AND THE
AMENDED VERSION IN FRONT OF YOU
REFLECTS THESE CHANGES
DESCRIBED.
>> OKAY THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA LOOKS
LIKE WE HAVE A QUESTION OR
COMMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> A COMMENT, I REALLY WANT TO
EXTEND MY THANKS TO THE
SPONSORS, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING FOR INCLUDING
ADDITIONAL FUNDS , $1.8 MILLION
FOR CAPITAL FINANCING RELATED
TO THE REHABILITATION OF 34
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL
HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS. THIS IS HOUSING
OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AND
THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL FUNDING
FOR THEIR ABILITY TO CONTINUE
TO MANAGE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN THEIR PORTFOLIO SO THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED
SUBSTITUTE?
OKAY WITH YOU ON LET'S GO AHEAD
AND VOTE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
SUBSTITUTE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
SOUTH TO TO ATTACHMENT ONE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS , AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, AYE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AYE.
NINE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH THE MOTION
CARRIES IN THE SUBSTITUTE IS
ADOPTED ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
HOLD ON LET ME CHECK WITH OTHER
FOLKS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE PRIME
SPONSOR SO YOU GET THE LAST
WORD ANYONE OTHER THAN
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WITH A
COMMENT ON THE BILL BEFORE I
HANDED OVER TO THE?
COUNSEL NUMBER COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA PLEASE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO ALL CENTRAL STAFF AND
DEPARTMENT STAFF IN THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING AND OUR CENTRAL
STAFF AND A HUGE NOTE OF
APPRECIATION FOR ERIN HOUSE IN
MY OFFICE TRACKING THIS ISSUE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE
MOVE FORWARD.
THIS IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF
LEGISLATION FOR US TO ADVANCE
AND BEING ABLE TO DO SO REMOTELY
HAS MEANT WE NEEDED TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH COLLEAGUES TO MAKE
SURE YOU KNEW WHAT WAS IN THE
BILL AND THE URGENCY OF PASSING
IT TO DURING THIS TIME SO WE
CAN RESPOND TO THE CRISIS AND
ALSO DO GENERAL DO DILIGENCE SO
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO
INCLUDE IT FOR TODAY'S VOTE AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND
YOUR STAFF WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
OKAY WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AYE ,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AYE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AYE
>> NINE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN AND I
ASK TO PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT?
I WAS NOT THINKING THANKING THE
LEAD ON THE BILL FOR US SO
THANK YOU TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF
FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, APOLOGIES
AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
CHIME IN AND ADD THAT PIECE.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM FOR DIG INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM FOR DIG
APPOINTMENT 01576 APPOINTMENT
OF JENNIFER E LEE AS MEMBER
COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE WORKING
GROUP FOR A TERM TO DECEMBER
31, 2021.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH I WILL
MOVE TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENT 1576
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
MOVED AND SECONDED TO CONFIRM
THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON YOU ARE THE SPONSOR SO
HANDED OVER.
>> THANK YOU AS CHAIR OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITY
COMMITTEE WHICH INCLUDES
TECHNOLOGY IT FALLS INTO MY
PURVIEW TO ADVANCE THE CITY
COUNCIL APPOINTMENT TO THE
COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE WORKING
GROUP.
THE COUNCIL TAKES THIS ACTION
PURSUANT TO THE SURVEILLANCE
ORDINANCE, I CONSULTED WITH
STAFF THE CITY INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, CITY
ATTORNEY, I AM PLEASED TO
ADVANCE THE APPOINTMENT OF
JENNIFER LEE FROM THE ACLU OF
WASHINGTON.
CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE ACLU
TECHNOLOGY AND LIBERTY PROJECT
MANAGER.
AS YOU MAY RECALL THE COUNCIL
AMENDED THE SURVEILLANCE
ORDINANCE IN 2018 TO REQUIRE
REVIEW OF EACH SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT FOR COMMUNITY
SURVEILLANCE WORKING GROUP.
MADE UP OF SEVEN INDIVIDUALS,
FIVE OF WHOM MUST REPRESENT
GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY SUBJECT TO
DISPROPORTIONATE SURVEILLANCE
INCLUDING SEATTLE'S DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES, RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES AND GROUPS CONCERNED
WITH PRIVACY A PROTEST.
THIS APPOINTMENT, JENNIFER LEE
HAS AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME HIGHLY
EXPERIENCED IN THIS AREA.
I HOPE THAT YOU SUPPORT HER
TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU COUNCILMEMBER ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS ON THE APPOINTMENT?
HEARING NO COMMENTS WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AYE ,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AYE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AYE
>> NINE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APPOINTMENT IS CONFIRMED.
WE HAVE ONE LAST ITEM AND THAT
IS IN THE CATEGORY OF OTHERS
BUSINESS.
WE HEARD FROM COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ THIS MORNING SO I WILL
HANDED OVER TO HER TO REMIND US
AS TO WHAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON
SHORTLY.
>> THANK YOU, AS I SHARED THIS
MORNING FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 8 I
CIRCULATED A LETTER OF SUPPORT
FOR THE NATIONAL URBAN INDIAN
FAMILY COALITION.
WE ARE IN LINE TO RECEIVE SOME
MONEY FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
OF CITIES AND IN ORDER TO DO
THAT WE NEED TO RESPOND TO THE
RAPID RESPONSE GRANT IN WHICH
WE NEED TO HAVE A LOCAL LETTER
OF SUPPORT.
I APOLOGIZE THAT IS MY DAUGHTER
MOWING THE LAWN AND SHE CHOSE
TO GO BY THE WINDOW.
AWESOME.
SO IS THE GRANT APPLICATION WAS
APPROVED THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF
CITIES REQUESTED THIS LETTER
THEREFORE AM ASKING THE SUPPORT
OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SIGN THE
LETTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE LETTER
PROPOSED TO BE SIGNED BY THE
COUNCIL? SEEING AND HEARING ON
I WOULD ASK THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ AND THE LETTER RELATED
TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF
CITIES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AYE
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AYE
SO, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AYE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AYE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AYE
.
>> NONE OPPOSED, NINE IN FAVOR.
>> IT IS SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ YOU GOT UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
>> YES AND THANK YOU AND FOR
ALL OF YOU OUT THERE THAT WAS
MY MOTHER'S DAY GIFT, MY MOTHER
IS MOWING MY LAWN.
>> THAT IS GREAT, I'M GLAD THEY
ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THEIR
COMMITMENT TO MOW YOUR LAWN.
THOSE ARE GOOD DAUGHTERS.
OKAY COLLEAGUES ANY OTHER
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL?
THAT IS THE LAST ITEM OF
BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA, THEN IT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MAY 18 IS
SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MAY 18,
2020 AT 2:00 P.M., UNTIL THEN
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU.