>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.
THE JULY 6TH, 2020 MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:00 P.M.
WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
AND FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, AS
OUR REMAINING COLLEAGUE SHOWS
UP, I'LL BE SURE TO MAKE THAT
ANNOUNCEMENT.
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE SILENT, THE
CITY COUNCIL ANTICIPATES
CONTINUING THIS PRACTICE THROUGH
JULY 10TH, 2020.
THE COUNCIL RULES WILL NEED TO
BE SUSPENDED.
SO I WILL BE MOVING TO SUSPEND
THE COUNCIL RULES TO ALLOW THE
COUNCIL TO CONDUCT THE MEETINGS
REMOTELY THROUGH JULY 10TH.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO LET COUNCILMEMBERS HOLD
REMOTE MEETINGS AND PARTICIPATE
THROUGH JULY 10TH, 2020.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD REMOTE
MEETINGS AND PARTICIPATE
ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH JULY
10TH.
MOVING ALONG TO PRESENTATIONS,
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS NOW
JOINED US ON THE LINE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
PRESENTATIONS.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY
PRESENTATIONS.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
THERE ARE NO MINUTES FOR
APPROVAL TODAY.
ADOPTION OF THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE PROPOSED
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN UP
THE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR ITEMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA, INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR, AND COUNCIL'S
2020 WORK PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
CONTINUING TO BE PATIENT WITH US
AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN HOW TO
OPERATE THIS SYSTEM IN REAL TIME
AND NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AND
IMPROVEMENTS AND WHATNOT.
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO FINE TUNE THIS REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PROCESS AND LOOKING FOR
NEW FEATURES THAT ALLOW FOR
ADDITIONAL MEANS OF PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION IN OUR COUNCIL
MEETINGS.
IT DOES REMAIN THE COUNCIL'S
STRONG INTENT TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT REGULARLY INCLUDED IN
OUR MEETING AGENDAS.
OF COURSE WE CONTINUE TO RESERVE
THE RIGHT TO END OR ELIMINATE
THESE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AT
ANY POINT IF WE DEEM THE SYSTEM
IS BEING ABUSED OR IS UNSUITABLE
FOR ALLOWING OUR MEETINGS TO BE
CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND A
MANNER IN WHICH WE'RE ABLE TO
CONDUCT OUR NECESSARY BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE TODAY'S PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING IS SET TO BE 20
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL BE
GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
I THINK AT LAST COUNT WE HAD
ABOUT 72 TO 75 SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP.
SO I DO EXPECT THAT WE WILL
EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
HOWEVER, FOR NOW, WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND LEAVE IT AT 20 MINUTES.
WITH EACH SPEAKER HAVING ONE
MINUTE.
AT THAT TIME, AT THE CONCLUSION
OF THE 20 MINUTES, I WILL LOOK
TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, I'M ASSUMING, WOULD BE
EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER 40 MINUTES
TO ALLOW FOR 60 TOTAL MINUTES OF
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
WE WILL ON THE SECOND PHASE GO
DOWN TO 45 SECONDS INSTEAD OF
ONE MINUTE, SO FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO FIND YOURSELVES REGISTERED
WITH A NUMBER BEYOND NUMBER 20,
START WHITTLING DOWN YOUR
REMARKS NOW, NARROWING DOWN YOUR
REMARKS DOWN NOW TO 45 SECONDS
IN LENGTH.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE HAVE CLOSE
TO 80 SPEAKERS CALLING ON THE
SAME SUBJECT AND IN ORDER TO
MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE,
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THESE
MODIFICATIONS TO OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
20 MINUTES AT ONE MINUTE EACH
SPEAKER.
WE'LL THEN SHIFT OVER TO 40
MINUTES AT 45 SECONDS, EACH
SPEAKER, FOR A TOTAL OF 60
MINUTES I'LL CALL ON EACH
SPEAKER BY NAME AND IN THE ORDER
IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU'VE NOT YET REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CAN
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF PUBLIC
COMMENT BY GOING TO
SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
ALWAYS LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE, AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF "YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED" IS THE SPEAKER'S
CUE TO SPEAK.
AS A REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR, OR THE
COUNCIL'S 2020 WORK PROGRAM.
SPEAKERS ARE GOING TO HEAR A
CHIME WHEN THEY HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT OF THEIR ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WE'D
ASK THAT YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE
AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, PLEASE
DO SO VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL AND
CHANNEL 21 OR ANY ONE OF THE
LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST.
IT IS 2:06 P.M.
WE'LL GO UNTIL
2:26 P.M.
AT ONE MINUTE A PIECE.
AND THE FIRST SPEAKER IS DANIEL
CAVANAUGH FOLLOWED BY SEAN
BUTTERFIELD.
>> HEY.
MY NAME IS DAN.
I'M A NURSING STUDENT AND A
RENTER IN THE CD, AND I'M
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE
AMAZON TAX WITH NO SUNSET
CLAUSE.
I WANT TO THANK THE 30,000
PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THE BALLOT
PETITION FOR MAKING THIS VICTORY
POSSIBLE AND I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE FOR TAKING
THE LEAD ON THIS AS WELL AS
EVERYONE ELSE IN THE TAX AMAZON
COALITION.
AND YOU KNOW, TODAY SHOWS THAT
WHEN WE MAKE BOLD DEMANDS, GET
ORGANIZED, AND FIGHT, WE CAN WIN
BIG.
BUT ANOTHER FUNNY THING THAT
HAPPENED IS AFTER WE WIN, THE
ESTABLISHMENT LIKES TO PRETEND
THAT IT WAS THEIR IDEA ALL
ALONG.
THEY SAY OH, THIS TAX ISN'T AN
AMAZON TAX.
THEY CALL IT BY SOME OTHER NAME.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS WOULD
NOT BE BEING DISCUSSED IF IT
WEREN'T FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
VOLUNTEERED AND SIGNED TO TAX
AMAZON.
EVERYONE SHOULD COME TO THE TAX
AMAZON ACTION CONFERENCE ON
WEDNESDAY TO PARTICIPATE IN
DEMOCRATIC DISCUSSION ON OUR
VICTORY AND WHAT'S NEXT.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS SEAN BUTTERFIELD,
FOLLOWED BY GABE PELLEY.
>> WHEN THIS COUNCIL PASSED A
MUCH WEAKER TAX IN 2018 BEFORE
REPEALING IT IN A COWARDLY
ABDICATION FOR CORPORATE POWER,
WE PROMISED WE'D BE BACK FOR
MORE.
HERE WE ARE, BIGGER AND STRONGER
THAN BEFORE THAN WE WERE TWO
YEARS AGO DESPITE THE ORGANIZING
LIMITATIONS OF THE PANDEMIC,
DESPITE BIG BUSINESSES WITHERING
ATTACK ON ACTIVISTS, AND DESPITE
AMAZON'S UNPRECEDENTED FINANCIAL
INTERFERENCE IN LAST YEAR'S
ELECTIONS.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON, WHO
AMAZON SUPPORTED OVER HIS BLACK
SOCIALIST CHALLENGER, IT VOTED
AGAINST THE CLEAR WILL OF THE
ELECTORATE.
WHAT I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU TODAY
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS WHY
YOU'RE OUT HERE DOING THEIR
BIDDING STILL CONSIDERING THE
REINTRODUCTION OF A SUNSET
CLAUSE.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING WEDNESDAY
WHEN YOU VOTED DOWN THE
AMENDMENT TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL
THOUSAND HOMES TO PREVENT
GENTRIFICATION AND GREEN NEW
DEAL PROGRAMS WHICH ARE IDEAS
YOU ALL LIKE TO SUPPORT EXCEPT
WHEN IT ACTUALLY COMES TO
PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE YOUR
MOUTHS ARE.
TAX NOW WITHOUT A SUNSET CLAUSE
AND STAND WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES
TO BUILD THE HOUSING WE NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS GABE PELLEY,
FOLLOWED BY JASLIN.
>> I'M A VOLUNTEER, AMAZON
CAMPAIGN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL
FINALLY PASSING THE TAX TODAY,
BUT I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE
CREDIT IS DUE.
THE INCREDIBLE STRENGTH OF OUR
MOVEMENT, OVER 30,000
SIGNATORIES, HUNDREDS OF
VOLUNTEERS.
MANY PEOPLE ASK ME HOW CAN WE
CHALLENGE THE HABIT OF BIG
BUSINESS?
IT'S A RESOUNDING ANSWER THAT
WILL ECHO ACROSS THE COUNTRY
JUST LIKE THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE.
FOR OTHER ACTIVISTS AND CITIES
LOOKING TO FOLLOW SEATTLE, ONE
IMPORTANT LESSON IS OUR ACTIVE
GRASSROOTS CONFERENCES.
WE DISCUSS AND VOTE ON THE
DEMANDS AND HOW TO FIGHT FOR
THEM, INDEPENDENT OF CORPORATE
BACKED POLITICIANS.
OUR NEXT ACTION CONFERENCE IS
TAKING PLACE ON ZOOM THIS
WEDNESDAY THE 8TH AT 6:00 P.M.
WE'LL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO
FILE OUR BALLOT INITIATIVE BASED
ON WHAT THE COUNCIL PASSES TODAY
AND DISCUSS HOW WE CAN CARRY
THIS FORWARD.
RSVP TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT
UP IS JASLYN FOLLOWED BY
AVA.
>> HELLO.
I LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL AND I'M
CALLING TO REQUEST THAT YOU
DECREASE THE SPD'S BUDGET BY AT
LEAST 50%.
SINCE MAYOR DURKIN'S EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND THE REOCCUPATION,
THEY'VE BEEN EMBOLDENED TO BE
MORE CRUEL THAN EVER.
THEY'RE ASKING CAPITOL HILL
RESIDENTS FOR PROOF OF
RESIDENCE, TRYING TO INTIMIDATE
US.
SOME HAVE BEEN MOCKING THE
PROTESTER WHOSE HAVE DIED ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
I'M AFRAID THIS WILL ENCOURAGE
MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST THE
PROTESTERS.
IT'S CRUEL, IT'S UNUSUAL, AND
IT'S CLEAR THEY HAVE TOO MUCH
TIME AND TOO MUCH MONEY.
MANY OF THE SPD ARE WEARING
MASKS, USING CHEMICAL WEAPONS
AGAINST PROTESTERS, SO WHO DO
THEY LISTEN TO?
WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO BREAK
THE LAWS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
ENFORCED?
I'M ASKING YOU TO HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE IMMEDIATELY AND
DECREASE THE BUDGET BY 50%.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK ON THIS MATTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS AVA FOLLOWED BY
LOGAN.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS EVA METS.
I'M ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN
TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
INCLUDING COLLECTING 30,000
SIGNATURES ON INITIATIVE 131.
WE NEED TO BE CLEAR THAT TODAY'S
HISTORIC VOTE IS HAPPENING
ENTIRELY BECAUSE OF THE
MOVEMENT.
IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THAT MANY OF
THE SAME FORCES BEHIND SEATTLE'S
LANDMARK VICTORY FOR THE $15
MINIMUM WAGE AGAIN PLAYED A
LEADING ROLE IN THE FIGHT TO TAX
AMAZON INCLUDING SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT.
IN BOTH CASES, WE'VE SHOWN WHAT
WE CAN WIN IN CITY HALL IS BASED
ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR
MOVEMENTS.
IN BOTH CASES, MANY ARGUMENT WE
SHOULDN'T ANTAGONIZE BIG
BUSINESS AND INSTEAD SHOULD TRY
TO BROKER A DEAL.
IN BOTH CASES, WE COMPLETELY
REJECTED THIS APPROACH.
WE KNOW UNDER CAPITALISM, BIG
BUSINESS AND PEOPLE'S INTEREST
ARE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED.
THROUGHOUT THE STRUGGLE WE BASED
OUR POWER ON THE ORGANIZATION OF
THE WORKING CLASS, NOT ON TRYING
TO NEGOTIATE BACK ROOM DEALS,
PASS THE AMAZON TODAY, NO
DELAYS, NO CORPORATE LOOPHOLES.
WHEN WE FIGHT, WE CAN WIN.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS LOGAN SWAN
FOLLOWED BY DANIEL SWANSON.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS LOGAN SWAN.
I'M A RANK AND FILE UNION IRON
WORKER OUT OF LOCAL 86 SEATTLE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
CONGRATULATIONS IN SOLIDARITY TO
OUR MOVEMENT.
THOUSANDS OF WORKERS AND YOUTHS
WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN BY BUILDING
OUR MOVEMENT TO TAX AMAZON AND
MANY THANKS TO THE COUNCIL
OFFICE OF KSHAMA SAWANT FOR
HELPING TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN
THIS STRUGGLE.
LIKE OUR SUCCESSFUL FIGHT FOR A
$15 MINIMUM WAGE, OUR VICTORY
TODAY WILL SEND A MESSAGE TO
WORKERS AND YOUTH ACROSS THE
úCOUNTRY THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO
ACCEPT UNEMPLOYMENT,
UNAFFORDABLE CITIES AND POVERTY,
BECAUSE WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN.
LET'S TAKE THIS BIG WIN FORWARD
AND REJECTING AUSTERITY THROUGH
PEOPLE'S BUDGET, DEFUND SPD, NOT
WORKING PROGRAMS WORKING
FAMILIES NEED.
WE COLLECTED 30,000 SIGNATURES
IN A MONTH DESPITE A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC AND A SCANDALOUS
REJECTION BY THE STATE TO ACCEPT
DIGITAL SIGNATURES FROM
NEIGHBORS EXCITED TO MAKE BIG
BUSINESS PAY FOR THEIR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.
WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO TAKE OUR
INITIATIVE TO THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT IF YOU TRY TO WATER THIS
DOWN, OUR AMAZON TAX, LIMIT IT
WITH A SUNSET CLAUSE.
NO DELAYS.
NO WATERING DOWN.
NO SUNSET CLAUSE.
>> OKAY.
NEXT UP IS DANIEL SWANSON
FOLLOWED BY EMILY McARTHUR.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS DANIEL AND I'M A
RENTER AND WORKER IN DISTRICT 4.
I'M HERE TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO
PASS THE STRONGEST VERSION OF
THE AMAZON TAX, WITH NO WATERING
DOWN, NO SUNSET CLAUSE, NO
DELAY.
THE FACT COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING
A TAX ON BIG BUSINESS IS
COMPLETELY A PRODUCT OF THE
HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
WHO HAVE BUILT PRESSURE THROUGH
THE AMAZON TAX BALLOT
INITIATIVE.
OVER 30,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED
OUR BALLOT INITIATIVE IN ONLY A
MONTH, EXPRESSING THEIR SUPPORT
FOR A PERMANENT TAX ON BIG
BUSINESS TO FUND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND GREEN NEW DEAL JOBS
PROGRAM.
PASSING THE AMAZON TAX TODAY
WILL ABSOLUTELY BE A VICTORY FOR
OUR WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT, LED
BY COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
AND SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE MEETING AT
OUR ACTION CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY.
WE'LL DEMOCRATICALLY DECIDE WHAT
TO DO WITH THE SIGNATURES AND
WHAT TO DO NEXT IN THIS
MOVEMENT.
ALSO DEFUND THE SPD BY AT LEAST
50%.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS EMILY MACARTHUR
FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS EMILY.
I'M A DISTRICT 2 RENTER.
AND I'VE TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF
SEATTLEITES AND THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT
OF THIS CITY DUE TO THE HIGH
COST OF LIVING WHO SUPPORT A
STRONG AMAZON TAX.
THESE PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING THAT
AMAZON AND OTHER BIG BUSINESS
WHO HAVE PROFITED OFF THIS
PANDEMIC, WHO INSULT THEIR
WORKERS AND DENY THEM HAZARD
PAY, PAY A TAX TO ENSURE OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE AND INVEST
IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
AS WELL AS WORKING CLASS
FAMILIES.
WE DEMAND NO LOOPHOLES, NO
SUNSET CLAUSES.
THIS VICTORY NEEDS TO SPREAD
STATE AND NATIONWIDE, NOT ON
SOME MYTHICAL PROMISE OF A
REGIONAL SOLUTION THAT WILL COME
PROBABLY NEVER.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE INSPIRING
VICTORY THAT WE WIN HERE TODAY.
WORKING PEOPLE IN THIS STATE
HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR
PROGRESSIVE TAXATION SINCE THE
1930s.
A SUNSET CLAUSE WOULD BE AN
INSULT TO THAT MOVEMENT AND IT
WOULD BE AN ATTACK ON THE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
FOUGHT IN THE MIDST OF A
PANDEMIC FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND
FOR BIG BUSINESS TAX.
JUSTICE FOR SUMMER TAYLOR.
WE DEMAND DEFUNDING OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE AND WE'RE COMING
FOR BEZOS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS MATTHEW FOLLOWED BY
PAIGE.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW.
I'M A SOFTWARE ENGINEER HERE IN
SEATTLE.
I URGE EVERY COUNCIL PERSON TO
VOTE YES, PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR AN
AMAZON TAX HAS BEEN THROUGH THE
ROOF.
IT'S BEEN OBVIOUS TO EVERYBODY
IN THE CITY FOR YEARS WHY SUCH A
SMALL GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS HAS TO
DO THE WORK OF JOINING THE CITY
COUNCIL TO THE ACTUAL MEANS OF
THE PEOPLE THEY CLAIM TO
REPRESENT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR REMOVING THE
SUNSET CLAUSE.
THE SUNSET CLAUSE IS NOTHING
SHORT OF ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ON A
LEGISLATION.
LET THE OPPOSITION DO THE WORK
IN REPEALING IT.
TO PROVE AGAIN THEIR MASSIVE
EFFORT FOR A FAIR TAX STRUCTURE
IN THIS CITY.
THE HOUSING CRISIS DIDN'T START
10 YEARS AGO AND THE LEGISLATION
ALONE WON'T FIX IT.
THE REPORT ON HOMELESSNESS IN
SEATTLE STATES THAT KING COUNTY
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO SPEND AND I
QUOTE, $450 MILLION TO $1.1
BILLION PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT 10
YEARS --
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS PAIGE SPICER FOLLOWED
BY ALICIA LEWIS.
>> MY NAME IS PAIGE SPICER AND
I'M IN DISTRICT 6.
I'M REQUESTING THE ENTIRE CITY
COUNCIL DO THE RIGHT THING AND
PASS IT TODAY.
DO NOT WAIT.
WE WILL NOT RECOVER WITHOUT BIG
BUSINESS BEING TAXED ESPECIALLY
IN SEATTLE WITH THE NATION'S
MOST PROGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM.
I WITNESSED THE ATROCIOUS
MANAGEMENT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THE UNDERLYING EMPLOYEE DATA
THAT CONTRADICTS ALL OF THEIR
SEEMINGLY POSITIVE STATISTICS
AROUND A QUULT AND HAVE BEEN A
LIFELONG RESIDENT OF KING COUNTY
AND WATCHED AMAZON DESTROY SMALL
BUSINESSES, DESTROY THE HOUSING
MARKET, AND PUSH LIFELONG
RESIDENTS OUT OF THE CITY.
THEY MUST SUPPORT THE CITY THAT
SUPPORTS THEM.
PASS THE PAYROLL TAX TODAY WITH
NO SUNSET CLAUSE.
JENNY DURKIN HAS FAILED US AND
WE DEMAND SHE IMMEDIATELY
RESIGN.
MOLLY CLARK BADGE NUMBER 5677,
ACCOUNTABLE FOR ATTEMPTED
VEHICULAR ASSAULT ON PROTESTERS,
AND THAT SHE IMMEDIATELY BE
FIRED FROM THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
ALSO I DEMAND THAT WE DEFUND SPD
BY AT LEAST 50%.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS ALICIA LEWIS,
FOLLOWED BY JOSH.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS ALICIA LEWIS.
I'M A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND I'VE BEEN ACTIVE
IN THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S NOT
SURPRISING, THOUGH IT'S STILL
SHAMEFUL THAT THE DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT IS TRYING TO TAKE
CREDIT FOR THE AMAZON TAX EVEN
THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING IT
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
WHEN OUR GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FIRST
LAUNCHED THE FIGHT FOR AN AMAZON
TAX IN SEATTLE EARLIER THIS
YEAR, CORPORATE DEMOCRATS IN
OLYMPIC IMMEDIATELY HATCHED A
SCHEME TO BAN THEM.
IF OUR UNIT HADN'T MOBILIZED TO
DEFEAT THE BAN, WE WOULDN'T BE
DISCUSSING THE LEGISLATION
TODAY.
THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT WAS
LOOKING FOR EVERY EXCUSE TO
DELAY A VOTE UNTIL IT BECAME OUR
MOVEMENT WAS TOO POWERFUL TO BE
IGNORED.
THIS AMAZON TAX IS ABSOLUTELY
DUE TO OUR MOVEMENT'S VICTORY.
AND WORKING PEOPLE AND
SOCIALISTS AND ACTIVISTS WHICH
PRESSURED THE ESTABLISHMENT INTO
TAKING ACTION AND WE'RE READY TO
FIGHT AGAINST ANY UNDERHANDED
ATTEMPTS AT A SUNSET CLAUSE OR
DELAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS JOSH FOLLOWED BY
JOSEPH.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JOSH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR
YOUR VOTE LAST WEDNESDAY ON
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS AND
WITHOUT A SUNSET CLAUSE.
AMONG THE OVER 3,000 UNITS OF
HOUSING THIS WILL CREATE, PLEASE
INCLUDE THE 1,000 NEW HOMES IN
THE CENTRAL AREA FOR RESIDENTS
DISPLACED DUE TO GENTRIFICATION
AND RACIST POLICIES THAT'S
CALLED FOR AN ESSENTIAL AREA
HOUSING PLAN.
PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S AMENDMENT.
WE NEED IT FOR THE RESIDENTS TO
HELP THEM STAY HOME AND STAY
SAFE.
PLEASE USE SOME OF THE FEDERAL
CARES ACT FUNDING AND THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF SHELTER GRANT
FUNDING TO ADD 20 NEW TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES TO GET 1500 TO 2,000
MORE PEOPLE INSIDE INCLUDING 10
VILLAGES IN THIS YEAR'S
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET AND 10 MORE
VILLAGES IN THE CITY'S 2021-22
BUDGET.
PLEASE REALLOCATE THE MASSIVE
$400 MILLION SPD BUDGET AND
REINVEST AT LEAST HALF OF THESE
FUNDS INTO BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED
INVESTMENTS SUCH AS HOUSING,
EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS JOSEPH FOLLOWED BY
HANNAH.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JOE.
I LIVE IN D6.
I'M A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE, UAW, AND I'M A
MUSIC TEACHER.
AND I WANT TO ECHO WHAT FOLKS
HAVE SAID ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF
THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
THE THOUSANDS OF US THAT WERE
INVOLVED AND ENFORCING AND
PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE ON AND PASS A
TAX.
THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING
TODAY WERE IT NOT FOR OUR
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT.
THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT WAS MET
WITH OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AT THE
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST
BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW THAT AMAZON
AND BIG BUSINESS ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR RACIST GENTRIFICATION IN OUR
CITY AND IT'S A COMMON SENSE
ANTI-RACIST DECISION TO TAX THE
RICH TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
NOW.
PASS THE AMAZON TAX TODAY
WITHOUT WATERING IT DOWN IS A
CONCRETE WAY OF SAYING BLACK
LIVES MATTER AND SHAMEFULLY
INTRODUCING ANY SORT OF SUNSET
CLAUSE WOULD BE SAYING SOMETHING
LIKE IN FOUR OR TEN YEARS, BLACK
LIVES AND BLACK FOLKS HAVING
HOMES IN OUR CITY NO LONGER
MATTER TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOW.
NO SUNSET CLAUSE.
OUR MOVEMENT IS WATCHING.
WORKING PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS HANNAH FOLLOWED BY
ELLEN.
>> HI.
I'D LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT MANY
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID
HERE.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE AT ALL
DISCUSSING AN AMAZON TAX IS
ENTIRELY DUE TO OUR GRASSROOTS
WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT WHICH HAS
BEEN LED BY SOCIALISTS LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S OFFICE
AND SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.
IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR MOVEMENT
COLLECTING OVER 30,000
SIGNATURES FOR INDEPENDENT
INITIATIVE THAT THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT HAS BEEN
PRESSURED.
RAISED NEARLY $180,000 THROUGH
THOUSANDS OF SMALL DONATIONS
FROM WORKING PEOPLE WITH A
MEDIAN DONATION OF ONLY $27.
UP AGAINST THE UNLIMITED
RESOURCES OF BIG BUSINESS AND
THEIR COLLABORATION WITH THE
BUSINESSES THAT REPRESENT THEM,
IT'S ONLY THROUGH WORKING CLASS
SOLIDARITY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
WIN.
THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON
WHO GOT ACTIVE AND HELPED BUILD
THIS TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
LET'S KEEP THE EXTRA $40 MILLION
PER YEAR.
NO SUNSET CLAUSE.
NO DELAY ON THE VOTE.
WE'RE PREPARED TO TAKE THIS TO
THE BALLOT IF COUNCIL BACKS DOWN
FROM VOTING YES OR WATERS THE
AMAZON TAX DOWN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ELLEN ANDERSON
FOLLOWED BY LUCAS.
>> I'M ELLEN ANDERSON IN
DISTRICT 2.
I'M CALLING TO ECHO THE CALL OF
SEATTLEITES ACROSS THE CITY
DEMANDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
PASS THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE
AMAZON TAX.
ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TAX
AMAZON MOVEMENT ON FORCING THE
DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT TO PUT
FORWARD A TAX.
DURING THIS CRISIS WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE IT HAS NO LOOPHOLES,
NO SUNSET CLAUSE, AND MAKING
SURE IT IS WORKING FOR THE
PEOPLE NOT THE CORPORATIONS WHO
HAVE BEEN PULLING IN PROFITS
HAND OVER FIST AT THE COST OF
WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT THE MONEY
WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.
WE'RE SICK OF CONSTANTLY HEARING
YOU VERBALLY SUPPORTING THINGS
THAT TAX AMAZON WOULD GIVE TO
THE CITY WHILE VOTING FOR A
WATERED DOWN SUNSET CLAUSE AND
THEN THANKING EACH OTHER FOR ALL
THE HARD WORK THAT THE MOVEMENT
HAS DONE.
YOUR THANK-YOUS MEAN NOTHING TO
WORKING PEOPLE.
WE DEMAND HOUSING NOW.
>> NEXT UP IS LUCAS FOLLOWED BY
MAYA.
>> I'M LUCAS, A UNION MEMBER
WITH 4121, 350 SEATTLE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE JUMP START LEGISLATION.
THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THIS
MEASURE WILL BE INVALUABLE TO
THOSE STRUGGLING MOST.
I URGE ANY AMENDMENT THAT ADDS
REVENUE GENERATION TO THE
INITIATIVE BE ACCEPTED AND
PASSED TO THE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN PARTICULAR THE AMENDMENTS
THAT PUT ASIDE FUNDING FOR GREEN
NEW DEAL INITIATIVES WILL BE
VITAL FOR REVITALIZING OUR CITY
IN THE MIDST OF THIS ECONOMIC
CRISIS.
THE NEED FOR RELIEF HAS BEEN
ARTICULATED BY THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS
AND THE COUNCIL MUST ACT NOW TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT THOSE MOST
VULNERABLE WILL BE FIRST SERVED
BY OUR CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS KAREN TAYLOR.
I'M SORRY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO MAYA
GARFINKAL FIRST THEN WE'LL HEAR
FROM KAREN TAYLOR.
>> HI, MAYA GARFINKLE,
ORGANIZER.
WE NEED TO TAX AMAZON WITHOUT A
SUNSET CLAUSE AND DEFUND SPD BY
50%.
50,000 MAY FACE EVICTION.
WHAT DO WE WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK
LIKE?
A GHOST TOWN WHICH THE
WEALTHIEST FEW CAN AFFORD WHO
CYCLE IN AND OUT EVERY FEW
YEARS?
OR DO WE WANT COMMUNITIES WHO
FIGHT FOR THEIR CITY AND TAKE
CARE OF EACH?
MANY OF THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN
FORCED TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF
COWARDICE.
IF YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE AMAZON
TAX AND DEFUNDING SPD YOU'RE
SIMPLY PAYING LIP SERVICE
WITHOUT ACTUALLY FIGHTING TO
MAKE SURE LOW INCOME BLACKS AND
OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR RENTERS
ARE ABLE TO STAY IN SEATTLE.
TAX AMAZON, DEFUND SPD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS KAREN TAYLOR FOLLOWED
BY ROSIE DANIELS.
>> HI THERE.
THIS IS KAREN TAYLOR.
I'M CALLING BECAUSE IT'S FINALLY
THE TIME WHEN YA'LL CAN DO THE
THING THAT WE SPENT ALL THIS
TIME.
I SHOULD GET PAID.
I'M DOING THIS CONSTANTLY.
AND FINALLY, THERE'S SOME RESULT
FROM THAT AS MORE AND MORE AND
MORE PEOPLE GET DESPERATE AND
MORE AND MORE POWERFUL.
SO PLEASE PASS THE STRONGEST
POSSIBLE TAX AND THANK YOU FOR
FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY DOING
WHAT WE'VE ASKED OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KAREN, FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS ROSIE DANIELS
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS ROSIE.
I'M A DISTRICT 3 RENTER AND PART
OF THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
IT'S BEEN A HUGE HONOR TO
ORGANIZE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT
PEOPLE IN THIS MOVEMENT.
MANY WHO ARE GETTING ACTIVE FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
WHY ARE WE ALL JOINING TOGETHER?
IT'S BECAUSE FROM YEARS OF
BUDGET CUTS TO THE CORONAVIRUS
CRISIS, THE INCREDIBLE COURAGE
PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN DURING THE
BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST, WE
KNOW THAT THE CITY ISN'T GOING
TO RUN THE WAY IT USED TO.
WORKING PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THAT
ANYMORE.
WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR SOMETHING
BETTER.
YOU SEE IT TOO, COUNCIL.
IN NO UNIVERSITY WOULD YOU BE
CONSIDERING AN AMAZON TAX WERE
IT NOT FOR THE STRENGTH OF OUR
MOVEMENT AND THE FACT WE'RE
FULLY PREPARED TO TAKE THE
AMAZON TAX TO NOVEMBER'S BALLOT
IF YOU DON'T PASS SOMETHING
STRONG ENOUGH.
AS A CITY WE MUST ALSO DEFUND
SPD BY 50%.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE NEXT PERSON IS JESSICA
FOLLOWED BY KIRA.
>> HI.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JESSICA.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3 AND
HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING WITH THE
TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
I'M URGING YOU TO MAKE SURE
THERE'S NO SUNSET CLAUSE IN THIS
BIG BUSINESS TAX AND ALSO THAT
IT BE THE STRONGEST TAX WE CAN
POSSIBLY HAVE.
I'D PREFER IT TO RESEMBLE THE
ONE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
MORALES ORIGINALLY CAME UP WITH.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THE FIRST 1,000 HOMES BUILT IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TO OFFSET
THE RACIST GENTRIFICATION THAT
CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE THAN
THAT.
THAT'S A GOOD START.
PLEASE KEEP OUT ANY CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES AND WE NEED GREEN NEW
DEAL MODIFICATIONS AS WELL.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NOT GOING
TO BE HAPPENING HERE.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK TWICE
ABOUT THAT AND ALSO PLEASE
DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50%.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
IT IS 2:28 P.M.
WE HAVE GONE
FOR ABOUT 22 MINUTES.
SO I AM GOING TO SEEK TO EXTEND
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 40
MINUTES OR APPROXIMATELY UNTIL
3:10 P.M.
IS THERE ANY
OBJECTION TO THIS EXTENSION?
>> THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS EXTENDED UNTIL
ABOUT 3:10 P.M.
WE'RE GOING TO
CHANGE THE CLOCK NOW FROM ONE
MINUTE TO 45 SECONDS AGAIN WITH
THE PURPOSE FROM HEARING FROM AS
MANY PEOPLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN
THIS AFTERNOON.
SO THANK YOU TO I.T.
FOR MAKING
THAT QUICK.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
I'M GOING TO POP BACK UP TO THE
TOP LIST.
IT APPEARS OUR LEGISLATIVE I.T.
DEPARTMENT HAS MATCHED SOME
NUMBERS OF FOLKS WHO WERE
SHOWING UP ON MY LIST AS NOT
PRESENT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK UP TO
SPEAKER NUMBER 3 WHO IS ISABEL
KERNER THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM KIRA
AND UMA.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT
WEIR ALREADY SPENDING $100,000
TO $150,000 FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL
ON OUR STREET.
IT HASN'T WORKED.
OUR BUDGET IS $6.5 BILLION THAT
YOU KEEP SAYING YOU NEED MORE
MONEY.
MORE THAN A YEAR AGO I PROPOSED
THE SOLUTION, UNLIKE THIS JUMP
START IDEA TO PARTNER WAS
ACTUALLY A PLAN.
THE SOLUTION AIMED TO HELP
THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ON
SEATTLE'S STREETS, MAJORITY OF
WHOM ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR BY
PROVIDING SERVICES TAILORED TO
EACH INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE NEEDS
ALONG WITH JOB TRAINING,
EMPLOYMENT, AND A MESSAGE EARN
AND SAVE MONEY TO EARN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SPD WILL NOT NEED SUCH A HIGH
BUDGET IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SOLVE
THE CRISIS.
THERE FOR I DO NOT SUPPORT
TAXING AMAZON.
I SUGGEST WORKING WITH AMAZON.
>> NEXT UP IS KIRA FOLLOWED BY
UMA.
>> I'M A D3 RENTER AND MEMBER
OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.
IN THE PAST MONTH I HELPED OUR
MOVEMENT GATHER OVER 30,000
SIGNATURES FOR OUR TAX AMAZON
BALLOT INITIATIVE.
20,000 OF THOSE SIGNATURES WERE
GUARDING AT THE JUSTICE FOR
GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST AND THIS IS
NOT A COINCIDENCE.
EVEN IF THE EIGHT CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS WHO VOTED NO ON BUILDING
1,000 HOMES IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT LAST WEDNESDAY FAILED
TO SEE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
SAYING BLACK LIVES MATTER AND
MAKING SURE THAT WORKING CLASS
BLACK PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY
CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THIS CITY,
PEOPLE OUT AT THE PROTEST DO
UNDERSTAND THAT RACISM IN OUR
CITY DOESN'T START AND END WITH
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY
DEFUND THEM BY 50% AT LEAST.
IN FEBRUARY A UW STUDY FOUND
BLACK PEOPLE IN KING COUNTY ARE
SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE
EVICTED THAN WHITE ADULTS.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
UNDERSTAND RACIAL JUSTICE MUST
INCLUDE HOUSING JUSTICE.
AS EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS
STATED BLACK LIVES MATTER, I
HOPE YOU SEE THAT TOO.
>> NEXT UP IS UMA FOLLOWED BY
SANDY NELSON.
>> HELLO.
I'M A TECH ENTREPRENEUR IN
SEATTLE.
I WANT EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
TO PASS THE BUDGET COMMITTEE'S
AMAZON TAX TODAY WITHOUT
WATERING IT DOWN, WITH NO SUNSET
CLAUSE, NO LOOPHOLES AND NO
FURTHER DELAYS.
IT WOULD TAX BIG BUSINESS
PERMANENTLY BEGINNING
IMMEDIATELY, TO FUND COVID
RELIEF, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
THE GREEN NEW DEAL.
BY PASSING THE TAX, END THE
RACIST GENTRIFICATION AND MAKE
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
YOU SHOWED SIGNS TO THE WORLD BY
PASSING A $15 MINIMUM WAGE.
I URGE YOU, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MAKE HISTORY BY
LISTENING TO THE 30,000
SIGNATURES AND OTHERS IN THE
GRASSROOTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS SANDY NELSON FOLLOWED
BY DAVID.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS SANDRA NELSON AND I'M
DIRECTOR OF PRIM ABC CHILDCARE
CENTER IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE AND
A MEMBER OF THE KIDS FIRST
WASHINGTON.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT JUMPSTART
SEATTLE BECAUSE WE NEED GRANTS.
SINCE MARCH 20, WE HAVE BEEN
OPEN ONLY TO CHILDREN OF
ESSENTIAL AND FIRST LINE
WORKERS.
WE HAVE JUST REOPENED OUR CENTER
TO OUR OTHER FAMILIES THIS MONTH
IN WHICH 80% ARE ON CHILDCARE
SUBSIDIES AND WE'RE SEEING A
VACANCY RATE OF 30% BECAUSE MANY
OF OUR FAMILIES HAVEN'T GONE
BACK TO WORK.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GET US
GRANTS SO WE CAN KEEP THE
CENTERS OPEN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS DAVID FOLLOWED BY
ALICE.
>> HI.
I'M DAVID, LIFELONG SEATTLEITE
AND I'M ADDRESSING COUNCIL BILL
11980.
SPENDING HAS ONLY INCREASED YEAR
AFTER YEAR WITH LITTLE OR NO
RESULTS WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES
SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS AND
HOUSING.
WE'VE YET TO SEE A REALISTIC
APPROACH THAT STARTS WITH FISCAL
ACCOUNTABLE.
GROUPS BROUGHT MULTI-DISTRICTS
POINTS OF VIEW AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HOW OUR TAX
DOLLARS ARE SPENT.
I'M ALARMED THAT THE COUNCIL
BILL WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE BY MEANS OF A VOTE ON
THE BALLOT.
THIS IS AGAINST THE BILL TO HAVE
THEIR VOICES HEARD.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO AMEND
THIS TAX AND ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO
USE THEIR VOICE VIA THE BALLOT
BOX.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS ALICE, FOLLOWED BY S.
>> THIS IS ALICE LOCKHART,
ORGANIZER WITH 350 SEATTLE.
AFTER CENTURIES OF INEQUALITY
AND STRUCTURAL RACISM AND
DECADES OF REGRESSIVE TAXES,
WE'RE NOW IN A MOMENT OF
UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS AND
UNPRECEDENTED NEED AND
UNPRECEDENTED AWAKENING TO THAT
NEED.
COUNCIL, YOU TRULY CAN GO MUCH
BOLDER RIGHT NOW.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT AMENDMENTS
20 AND 20C, TAXING OUR BIGGEST
BUSINESSES AND MOST OVERPAID
EXECUTIVES JUST A LITTLE BIT
MORE.
WE ALSO SUPPORT ACCEPTING
NONPROFIT HEALTHCARE AND ENDING
THE SUNSET AND SO-CALLED LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD CAUSES THAT COULD
HOBBLE THIS LEGISLATION WHEN
IT'S STILL VERY MUCH NEEDED.
WE NEED THIS RELIEF RIGHT NOW SO
PLEASE NO ON THE WHOLE BALLOT
MEASURE IDEA.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS S. FOLLOWED BY
BRENDA.
>> HI.
I AM A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 5
AND I'M A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE
SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL WHOSE
MEMBERSHIP SPANS DISTRICTS 4 AND
5.
I SPEAK HERE ENTIRELY IN
PERSONAL CAPACITY.
SINCE I BECAME PART OF A
MULTI-RACIAL COALITION, AND TO
REMIND OUR COUNCILMEMBERS IN
DISTRICTS 4 AND 5 THAT BEYOND
WINDEMERE [ INAUDIBLE ] AS AN
ECONOMIST I FEEL GAS LIGHTED AND
INSULTED WHEN CANCELING HOUSING.
NOW DO NOT VOTE FOR THE VERY
TAX, VOTE FOR THE TAX, GET THE
REVENUES, FOLLOW UP ON YOUR
PROMISES TO US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN.
NEXT IS BRENDA FOLLOWED BY
BEATRICE.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS BRENDON, RENTER IN
DISTRICT 4, MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNAIVE, AND I'VE BEEN
ACTIVE IN THE TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT FOR THE PAST FEW
MONTHS.
IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY INSPIRING
TO HEAR SO MANY -- TO TALK TO
THOUSANDS OF VOTERS TO HEAR HOW
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT IS FOR OUR
BIG BUSINESS TAX.
IF BLACK LIVES MATTER THEN
INVEST IN BLACK COMMUNITIES BY
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOMES AND
DON'T END IT WITH A SUNSET
CLAUSE.
WE PUT A SUNSET CLAUSE.
RACIAL JUSTICE IS HOUSING
JUSTICE.
SHAME ON ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO VOTED AGAINST BUILDING 1,000
HOMES.
VOTE YES ON THE AMAZON TAX.
NO TO SUNSET CLAUSE.
DEFUND SPD BY 50%.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS BEATRICE FOLLOWED BY
SUJATA.
>> HI.
I'M A DISTRICT 6 RENTER.
I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THE
COUNCIL DIDN'T SUPPORT AN
AMENDMENT TO BUILD A THOUSAND
HOMES IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
WHICH WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY
BENEFIT BLACK WORKING CLASS
PEOPLE.
SHAME ON EVERY COUNCILMEMBER WHO
TWEETED BLACK LIVES MATTER BUT
REFUSES TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY
TO SAVE BLACK LIVES.
YOU OWE IT TO THE WORKING CLASS
OF SEATTLE.
HOW DARE YOU PRETEND TO SUPPORT
BLACK LIES OTHERWISE.
I'M ALSO HERE TO URGE YOU TO NOT
PASS A SUNSET CLAUSE ON THIS
BILL.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE TAX
AMAZON MOVEMENT'S VICTORY, NOT
THE VICTORY OF CORPORATE
DEMOCRATS.
WE DEMAND PERMANENT WELL FUNDED
SOCIAL HOUSING.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS SUJATA FOLLOWED
ANGELEE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M A VOLUNTEER FOR THE
COALITION OF SEATTLE INDIAN
AMERICANS.
OUR GROUP FOLLOWS THE LEAD OF
THE KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW
COALITION.
I'M HERE TO INSIST THE COUNCIL
PASS THE AMAZON TAX WITH NO
DELAYS AND NO WATERING DOWN, AND
MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP THE
SUNSET CLAUSE OUT.
WE NEED A PERMANENT TAX ON BIG
BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
MAKE BLACK LIVES MATTER BY
PASSING THIS TAX AND MEET
FURTHER DEMANDS OF THE KING
COUNTY COALITION TO BEGIN TO END
RACIST GENTRIFICATION AND LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, AS NEXT STEP, YOU
MUST IMPEACH MAYOR DURKIN FOR
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
TERRORISM ACTIONS ON THE
PROTESTERS IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ANGELIE FOLLOWED BY
TIMOTHY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF JUMP
START SEATTLE BECAUSE WE NEED
DIRECT GRANTS.
OUR CENTER HAS REMAINED OPEN
SINCE COVID-19 ARRIVED AND
OPERATING DURING THIS PANDEMIC
MEANS A LOT OF EXTRA COSTS.
THE LARGEST COST WE FACE IS DUE
TO STAFFING, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
WE INSIST THAT STAFF SAY HOME IF
THEY HAVE ANY COLD SYMPTOMS.
WE NEED TO BRING IN SUBSTITUTES
OR BRING IN OVERTIME TO COVER
SHIFTS.
WE'RE PAYING DOUBLE.
WE'RE PAYING SICK TIME TO STAFF
WHO MUST QUARANTINE.
WE WILL REMAIN A PILLAR OF
SUPPORT TO OUR COMMUNITIES BUT
WE NEED FINANCIAL HELP.
PLEASE VOTE YES TO JUMP START
WASHINGTON.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS TIMOTHY.
TIMOTHY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M PRESIDENT OF UW PHYSICIANS,
A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, PART
OF UW MEDICINE, MADE UP OF
PHYSICIANS PROVIDING CARE AT UW
MEDICAL CENTER, VALLEY MEDICAL
CENTER, AS WELL AS SEATTLE
CANCER CARE ALLIANCE AND SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
PROVIDING CRITICAL SAFETY NET
CARE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT
UNCOMPENSATED CARE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
AMENDMENT WOULD PROVIDE PARTIAL
EXEMPTION TO THE TAX THOUGH
BENEFIT THE CONTINUED PRACTICE
OF UW PHYSICIANS AT A CRITICAL
TIME SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE
COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF THIS
AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS HOWARD FOLLOWED BY
THERESA.
>> HI.
THIS IS HOWARD FROM LOWER QUEEN
ANNE.
THE TERROR UNLEASHED ON
PROTESTERS OVER THE LAST FEW
DAYS BY SPD IS PART OF AN
UNRELENTING AND WORSENING
PATTERN.
I WARNED ABOUT THIS WHEN COUNCIL
ATTEMPTED TO BAN SPD'S WEAPONS.
RATHER THAN BANNING THEIR ACTUAL
PRACTICES A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THE COUNCIL MUST NOW DO TWO
THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY POLICE
POSITION HAS AVOIDED.
CALL FOR BROAD PUBLIC COMMUNITY
MEETINGS TO ADDRESS POLICE
VIOLENCE.
AND TWO, CONFRONT A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN WHAT CROWD CONTROL MEANS
AND ENABLING FREE SPEECH
ACTIVITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS THERESA FOLLOWED
BY ROBERT.
>> HI.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR YOUR VOTE
LAST WEDNESDAY ON PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE.
WE SPOKE YESTERDAY WITHOUT A
SUNSET CLAUSE.
ALSO PLEASE SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
AMENDMENT TO THE CD119816 TO ADD
TO THE VILLAGES WHERE THE NEED
IS GREAT ESPECIALLY DURING
COVID-19.
THANKS.
GOING FORWARD, PLEASE CONSIDER
INCLUDING THE 1,000 NEW HOMES IN
THE CENTRAL AREA FOR RESIDENTS
AS OUTLINED IN THE LETTER YOU
RECEIVED FROM THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN FAITH LEADERS AND
FINALLY, PLEASE ADD 20 NEW HOUSE
VILLAGES, TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BYE-BYE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ROBERT FOLLOWED BY
DANIEL.
>> HELLO.
I'VE BEEN A HOMEOWNER IN
DISTRICT 4 FOR MORE THAN 20
YEARS.
APPROVE THE PAYROLL TAX WITH NO
SUNSET CLAUSE OR BALLOT
INITIATIVE.
I'M A WELL PAID TECH WORKER.
WE ARE NOT LAYING OFF PEOPLE.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO HIRE AND
THRIVE SO WE CAN EASILY AFFORD
TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITIES THAT ATTRACT THE
EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE OUR BUSINESS
POSSIBLE AND ASSURE THEY CAN
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE WITHOUT
HAVING BOUGHT A HOUSE 20 YEARS
AGO.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO FORCE
COMPANIES TO RELOCATE OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS DANIEL FOLLOWED BY
DANIEL SIMS.
>> I'M A STUDENT IN DISTRICT 4
AND A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
LAST WEDNESDAY WAS AN INCREDIBLE
VICTORY FOR THE MOVEMENT.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN VOTED TO
FUND NEW GREEN INITIATIVES.
IT IS OVER THREE TIMES THE SIZE
OF THE ORIGINAL HEAD TAX THAT
GOT WATERED DOWN AND REPEALED IN
2018.
THE REASON FOR THIS DISPARITY IN
OUTCOMES IS NOT THAT THE TAXES
ARE WRITTEN OR STRUCTURED
DIFFERENTLY OR THAT OUR ELECTED
POLITICIANS FINESSED AN
AGREEMENT WITH BIG BUSINESS.
IT'S THE STRENGTH OF THE
MOVEMENT THAT COLLECTED 30,000
SIGNATURES IN A MONTH AND SHOWED
BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE WERE TIRED
OF THIS PROGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM.
IF THE AMAZON TAX IS NOT PASSED
TODAY WITH NO SUNSET CLAUSE,
REMEMBER THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE
EXISTS AND WE MADE IT HAPPEN.
AND DEFUND SPD ALREADY.
JESUS CHRIST.
>> OKAY.
NEXT UP IS DANIEL SIMS FOLLOWED
BY KEVIN.
>> I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 8.
I STAND BY MOVEMENT OF
COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT, I'M VERY
PROUD OF THEM FOR GETTING THE
30,000 SIGNATURES FOR THE BALLOT
TO BE ON.
AND IF BLACK LIVES TRULY MATTER,
WE NEED TO TAX AMAZON.
WE NEED TO TAKE THE WEALTH FROM
THEIR POCKETS AND PUT IT BACK
INTO THE COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TO FUND CHILDCARE,
HOUSES, SOCIAL SERVICES,
EDUCATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
MENTAL HEALTH, TAKE IT AWAY FROM
THE WEALTHY AND GIVE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS KEVIN FOLLOWED BY
ERIC.
>> HI.
THANKS.
I'M A RENTER FROM DISTRICT 6.
I WORK IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, AND I HAVE ALSO
FORMERLY WORKED FOR AMAZON.
I CAN TELL YOU THESE BIG
COMPANIES WILL NOT COME TO THE
TABLE WILLINGLY.
YOU HAVE TO DRAG THEM KICKING
AND SCREAMING.
I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE TAX
AMAZON MOVEMENT FOR COLLECTING
30,000 SIGNATURES IN A MONTH AND
I'D ALSO URGE THE COUNCIL TO
PASS THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE
VERSION OF THE LEGISLATION
WITHOUT DELAYS AND SIMILARLY I
WOULD REQUEST THAT ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PUBLICLY COMMIT
TO DEFUNDING SPD BY 50%.
THE PUBLIC WILL BACK YOU ON
THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS ERIC FOLLOWED BY
LISA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M IN DISTRICT 3.
I'D LIKE TO URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO PASS THE AMAZON TAX
WITH NO LOOPHOLES, NO SUNSETS,
NO MORE CONCESSIONS TO BIG
BUSINESS AND NO GOING BACK ON
THIS DECISION LIKE IN 2018.
ALSO, SPD OFFICER MOLLY JT
CLARK, BADGE 5677, NEEDS TO BE
REMOVED FROM THE FORCE FOR
TRYING TO RUN DOWN PROTESTERS
THE SAME NIGHT SUMMER TAYLOR WAS
RUN DOWN.
FOR FAILURE TO LEAD AND TO
CONTROL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHICH IS GROSSLY OVERPAID.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
LISTENING, IT'S ABOUT 2:26 P.M.
WE HAVE UNTIL ABOUT 3:10 P.M.
AND WE ARE WELL OVER HALFWAY
THROUGH THE LIST.
I'M ABOUT TO CALL ON SPEAKER 53.
GETTING CLOSE TO THE END HERE OR
CLOSER TO THE END.
NEXT UP IS LISA SMITH FOLLOWED
BY JOSIE M.
>> MY NAME IS LISA SMITH,
DISTRICT 2.
FIRSTLY, THIS COUNCIL SHOULD
SUPPORT THE MEASURE TO TAX
AMAZON WITHOUT A SUNSET CLAUSE,
TO ADDRESS RACIST GENTRIFICATION
AND FUND HOUSING FOR BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE AND JOBS.
AND TO VOTE AND SUPPORT OF
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BY AT LEAST
50%.
I'D LOVE TO LISTEN TO THEIR
KITCHEN TABLE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE.
SECONDLY, I'VE CALLED IN TO CALL
OUT THE HYPOCRISY OF MAYOR
DURKIN, GOVERNOR INSLEE, AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL FERGUSON.
WHILE NUMBER 45 IS A DISGRACE
AND A RACIST WHO SPEWS HATEFUL
RHETORIC, THEY ARE EXTREMELY
HYPOCRITICAL.
THEY ARE THE EPITOME OF THE POT
CALLING THE KETTLE, THE BLACK
CITIZENS VOTERS OF THE STATE ARE
BEING MURDERED BY THE POLICE.
THERE ARE NO HASHTAGS FOR HATE
CRIME SURVIVORS.
GOVERNOR INSLEE, IT'S TIME FOR
YOU TO INVESTIGATE --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS JOSIE FOLLOWED BY
NINDU.
>> THIS IS JOSIE M, DISTRICT 1.
I'M CALLING TO SAY TAX AMAZON,
NO SUNSET CLAUSE, AND WE NEED TO
DEFUND AND DERADICALIZE OUR
POLICE.
WE SAW OVER THE WEEKEND CITIZENS
BEING DEMANDED TO SHOW THEIR
I.D.
WHILE
AT THE SAME TIME
THE POLICE PROVIDED A WHITE
SUPREMACIST GROUP WITH
PROTECTION WALKING THROUGH THE
AREA OF THE FORMER C.H.O.P.,
ARRESTING PROTESTERS WHO ARE
ANGRY THAT NAZIS WERE WALKING ON
THEIR STREETS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE POLICE BECOME A
RIGHT WING GANG AND DEFUNDING IS
IMPORTANT BUT WE HAVE TO
CONSIDER WHERE'S THAT HATE GOING
TO GO WHEN THEY'RE DEFUNDED.
WE NEED TO HAVE AN ACTIVE
PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICE
ARE NOT GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY
WITH EXTREMIST MINDSETS.
>> NEXT UP IS INDU FOLLOWED BY
MATTHEW.
>> HI.
I INSIST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
PASS THE BUDGET COMMITTEE'S
AMAZON TAX.
NO DELAYS AND NO WATERING DOWN.
PLEASE KEEP THE SUNSET CLAUSE
OUT.
WE NEED A PERMANENT TAX ON BIG
BUSINESS.
BE SURE YOU MEAN IT WHEN YOU SAY
BLACK LIVES MATTER BY PASSING
THIS TAX AND END RACIST
GENTRIFICATION.
I ALSO WANT MAYOR JENNY DURKIN
TO REDESIGN FOR HER MORAL
FAILURE IN ORDERING A MILITARY
STYLE VIOLENT ATTACK BY SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE DURING
PEACEFUL PROTEST AND SOLIDARITY
OF BLACK LIVES MATTER AND DEFUND
SPD.
THAT'S THE LEAST YOU CAN DO TO
TERRORISTS AND MURDERERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS MATTHEW SMITH
FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS MATT SMITH.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 2.
I'M A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
úAND I ALSO WORK FOR AMAZON AS A
CARGO HANDLER FULL-TIME.
I'M LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHER
AMAZON WORKERS IN SEATTLE.
I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE
AMAZON TAX MOVEMENT.
I'M ONE OF 30,000 VOTERS WHO
HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION TO GET
AN AMAZON TAX ON THE BALLOT.
WE'RE PREPARED TO FIGHT ALL THE
WAY TO NOVEMBER.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE OF THE
STRENGTH OF THIS MOVEMENT WE'RE
EVEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION
TODAY.
SINCE MARCH 1ST, JEFF BEZOS HAS
INCREASED HIS WEALTH BY $60
BILLION.
AMAZON'S STOCK PRICE HAS
SKYROCKETED BUT AMAZON WORKERS
LIKE ME HAVE NOT SEEN THAT
WEALTH AND NEITHER HAS OUR
COMMUNITY.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO STAND WITH
WORKING PEOPLE, STAND WITH
RENTERS, STAND WITH PEOPLE OF
COLOR, AND NOT JEFF BEZOS AND
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
PASS THE AMAZON TAX WITHOUT A
SUNSET CLAUSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS GABRIEL.
THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM WALKER.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS GABRIEL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3 AND
RENTER IN CAPITOL HILL.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME GIVING
PUBLIC COMMENT AND GETTING
INVOLVED.
I THINK THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT
HAS SHOWN ITS STRENGTH IN
GETTING CITIZENS LIKE ME ENGAGED
WHEREAS THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T.
AS A SENIOR SOFTWARE TECH, I CAN
SAY IT'S A MYTH THAT TECH
WORKERS DO NOT SUPPORT THIS TAX.
THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THE
PEOPLE AND TECH WORKERS IS FOR
THIS TAX AND I URGE THE
COUNCIL'S VOTE FOR IT WITHOUT
DELAY, WITHOUT LOOPHOLES, AND
WITHOUT SUNSET CLAUSE.
I FIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS WALKER THOMAS
FOLLOWED BY DICK SCHWARTZ.
>> I'M CALLING IN TO QUICKLY
SAY YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO TAX
AMAZON, NO MORE GAMES, NO MORE
SUNSET CLAUSES.
FUND WORKER AND HOMELESS
SERVICES.
IT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED.
IT'S RIDICULOUS YOU'D EVEN
CONSIDER NOT TAXING TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT.
ALSO I LIVE RIGHT BY THE EAST
PRECINCT IN CAPITOL HILL.
THE POLICE ARE TREATING IT LIKE
A WAR ZONE.
THEY'RE HARASSING PEOPLE ON THE
WAY TO WORK.
THEY'RE MACING PEOPLE.
WE'RE BEGGING YOU TO DEFUND
THEM.
PLEASE, I BEG YOU DEFUND THEM
50% AT LEAST.
WE DO NOT NEED THIS.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS DICK, THEN WE'LL HEAR
FROM DANIEL.
>> THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS
A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
IT WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY'S
ECONOMY AND CITIZENS IN YEARS TO
COME.
THE NEW MONTH AND DETAIL HAS
BEEN LOST AND THE HOOPLA THAT
HAVE CHARACTERIZED THE CAMPAIGN
TO ENACT IT.
30,000 SIGNATURES REPRESENTS 4%
OF THE CITY'S POPULATION.
MS. SAWANT HAS PLEDGED TO PURSUE
THE ISSUE AS A BALLOT INITIATIVE
IF COUNCIL DOESN'T PASS IT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD
HAPPEN.
AN ISSUE THAT GENERATES SO MUCH
CONTROVERSY AND SO MANY UNKNOWN
IMPLICATIONS SHOULD NOT BE
ENACTED WITHOUT THE STAMP OF
APPROVAL OF THE MAJORITY OF THE
CITY'S RESIDENTS.
IT DESERVES A BROAD PUBLIC
AIRING.
IT SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE
CITY'S 780,000 RESIDENTS, NOT
NINE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUBJECT
TO PRESSURE ANY NUMBER OF
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS DANIEL HEPNER
FOLLOWED BY BRENT.
>> MY NAME IS DANIEL.
I'M AN ENGINEER LIVING IN
DISTRICT 6.
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PAYROLL
TAX.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING INCLUDED
IN THE PROPOSED EXPENDITURES.
THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT GOING ON THE BALLOT ONLY
PROVIDES 1/4 OF THE SERVICE OLD
ONE.
BETWEEN 2008 AND 2016 LOWERING
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED WAS THE
BIGGEST SOURCE OF EMISSIONS
REDUCTION IN SEATTLE WHILE OTHER
CITIES SAW A DROP IN RIDERSHIP.
CUTTING PUBLIC TRANSIT WILL UP
END THAT PROGRESS THE CITY HAS
MADE ON DECREASING VEHICLE MILES
TRAVELED AND INCREASING EQUITY.
TRANSIT SHOULDN'T BE IGNORED,
ESPECIALLY AS ITS COST IS A DROP
IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO THE
OTHER VERY IMPORTANT NEEDS THAT
THE CITY HAS.
>> NEXT UP IS BRENT FOLLOWED BY
THOMAS.
>> HI.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 4.
I SUPPORT TAXING BIG BUSINESS
WITH NO DELAYS AND NO WATERING
DOWN AND NO SUNSET CLAUSES.
SINCE MOVING TO SEATTLE FIVE
YEARS AGO, I'VE BEEN LIVING
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND I'VE
COME CLOSE TO BEING HOMELESS
MYSELF TWICE.
I WAS FORTUNATE I'VE NOT BECOME
HOMELESS BUT HOMELESSNESS IS
OBVIOUSLY RAMPANT IN SEATTLE AND
I VIEW IT AS AN INTOLERABLE
SITUATION THAT HAS BEEN SOMEHOW
NOT BEEN RESOLVED YET AND THIS
IS ONE STEP IN THAT DIRECTION
BUT WE NEED MANY MORE STEPS.
AND I'M AFRAID THAT THE CURRENT
CRISIS HAS EXASPERATED.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS THOMAS FOLLOWED BY
CHRISTINA.
>> MY NAME IS THOMAS MEEKS.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE
PROGRAM.
I'M ALSO CALLING BECAUSE
LISTENING TO THE COUNCIL
BRIEFING THIS MORNING IT WAS
VERY OBVIOUS THAT MOST OF THE
COUNCIL IS DISGUSTED AND
DISMAYED AND IT LEAVES ME WITH
THE QUESTION OF WHY THE COUNCIL
ISN'T MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S OBVIOUS SHE'S TOLD US WHO
SHE IS.
WE NEED TO BELIEVE HER.
IT'S OBVIOUS NOTHING IS GOING TO
CHANGE UNTIL EXTREME POLITICAL
PRESSURE IS PLACED ON HER TO
MAKE THE SITUATION CHANGE.
PEOPLE HAVE DIED.
IT'S TIME TO GET REALLY SERIOUS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS CHRISTINA FOLLOWED BY
ANNA.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA AND I'M ON
THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE
WORKING PARTIES.
I'M ASKING YOU PASS THE JUMP
START LEGISLATION WITH NO
SUNSET.
YOU ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT
GENTRIFICATION BECAUSE NOT ONLY
DOES AMAZON DRIVE GENTRIFICATION
BUT THE COUNCIL ALSO HAS HAD A
HUGE ROLE.
THIS WEEKEND I LEARNED ABOUT A
PROGRAM FROM THE EARLY '90s
CALLED THE WEED AND FEED PROGRAM
WHICH BLACK FOLKS WERE FIGHTING
BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING
TO BASICALLY DECIMATE THE
COMMUNITY BACK THEN WHICH IS
ULTIMATELY DID.
AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY NOW TO REALLY THINK
ABOUT REVERSING THAT.
SO YES, PLEASE DEFUND THE
POLICE, FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF
BLACK-LED ORGANIZATIONS TO
REINVEST THE MONEY THOUGHTFULLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS ANNA.
>> I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO
VOTE YES ON JUMP START SEATTLE.
WE'VE BEEN IN AN ONGOING HOUSING
CRISIS.
BEFORE US IS AN UNFOLDING
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND MORAL
CRISIS.
AS WE LOOK AT HOW WE CAN
RECOVER, I URGE YOU TO REMAIN
STEADFAST.
IT MUST INCLUDE DEFUNDING
POLICE.
THANK YOU AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS LIZ.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M HERE FROM INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, A
FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH
CENTER WITH 11 SITES AROUND
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE JUMP
START SEATTLE PAYROLL TAX AND
AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE
NONPROFIT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
WE ASK YOU FULLY CONSIDER THE
WORK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS DO
TO SERVE OUR CITY'S MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND ENSURE
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS HAVE A
CLEAR AND FULL EXEMPTION FROM
THESE ORDINANCES.
NONPROFIT HEALTH CENTERS ARE
CRUCIAL ACCESS POINTS FOR PEOPLE
SEEKING HIGH QUALITY AND
AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE.
PRIOR TO COVID, OVER 60% OF OUR
PATIENTS WERE ON MEDICAID AND
11% HAD NO INSURANCE AT ALL BUT
WE NOW OPERATE OUR CLINIC AT A
SEVERE LOSS.
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR GENERAL
LOSSES HAS YET TO BE SECURED AND
THE EXTRA TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS PAID OVER EACH OF THE
NEXT FEW YEARS WILL BREAK ICHS
WITH UNAFFORDABLE EXPENSES ON
TOP OF THESE FINANCIAL LOSSES.
>> THANK YOU, LIZ, FOR CALLING
IN TODAY.
PLEASE DO FEEL FREE TO SEND US
THE REST OF YOUR REMARKS.
I KNOW 45 SECONDS IS NOT ENOUGH
FOR YOU TO GET EVERYTHING OUT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR FLEXIBILITY ON
THE LINE.
IT'S 2:59 P.M.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE
WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM
EVERYBODY WHO SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT AND I THINK
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM AS MANY
FOLKS AS POSSIBLE.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS KHAN.
I'M PART OF SEATTLE
INDIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL.
I'M CALLING TO ASK THE CITY
COUNCIL TO PASS THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE AMAZON TAX.
WITHOUT ANY DELAYS AND NO
WATERING DOWN, PLEASE.
PLEASE KEEP THE SUNSET CLAUSE
OUT.
WE NEED PERMANENT TAX ON BIG
BUSINESSES.
BLACK LIVES MATTER BY PASSING
THE STRONG TAX TO END RACIST
GENTRIFICATION.
DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50%.
AND NO MORE SPD TRAINING IN THE
STATE OF ISRAEL AND FINALLY
MAYOR DURKIN MUST RESIGN NOW.
THANK YOU.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS HENRY FOLLOWED BY
JACOB.
>> MY NAME IS HENRY.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3.
I'M HERE TO ASK COUNCIL TO PASS
THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX.
PUBLIC HEALTH, HOUSING, JOBS,
AND INCOME.
THERE'S NO WAY THE CITY CAN
RECOVER AND CREATE REVENUE
WITHOUT TAXING BIG BUSINESS,
ESPECIALLY WITH US HAVING ONE OF
THE REGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEMS.
THE TAX RATE IS MODEST AND ONLY
APPLIES TO THE TOP 2% OF
BUSINESSES BUT WOULD BE
LIFE-SAVING FOR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WHO ARE OUT OF JOBS OR
FRONT LINE WORKERS RISKING THEIR
LIVES EVERY DAY.
IT WOULD HELP FUND THE GREEN NEW
DEAL, CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND ASSISTANCE FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE.
IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY TO CARE
ABOUT ITS PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS
MORE THAN BIG BUSINESSES.
I ASK YOU PASS THIS BILL AS IS,
NO DELAY, NO POISON PILLS, NO
SUNSET CLAUSE.
PEOPLE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
INCOME ASSISTANCE, AND UNION
JOBS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS JACOB FOLLOWED BY
JORDAN.
>> I'M A RESIDENT OF WASHINGTON
STATE.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE
AMAZON TAX FOR A COUPLE OF
REASONS.
ONE, FOR MOST OF US, WE HAVE TO
COME UP WITH AN ACTUAL PLAN TO
MAKE THIS WORK.
WE HAVE TO FUND THINGS FROM
BUSINESSES LIKE AMAZON IN ORDER
TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE, GIVING
THAT A VOICE TO THE PEOPLE AND
TO SET UP DIFFERENT OPTIONS SO
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AREN'T
RESPONDING TO NON-EMERGENCY
ISSUES.
I YIELD.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS JORDAN AND THEN WE
WILL HEAR FROM TIM.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JORDAN QUINN.
I'M A VOTER AND RENTER IN
DISTRICT 2.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY, HUGE
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT AND
ALL THE ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE
FOUGHT FOR THIS VOTE ON THE
AMAZON TAX.
THE ONLY REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY
IS BECAUSE OF THE COUNTLESS
HOURS OF SIGNATURE GATHERING AND
PROTESTING AND ALL OF THE ACTION
CONFERENCES OF OUR MOVEMENT THAT
I WENT TO, I SAW KSHAMA EVERY
TIME.
I SAW TAMMY.
AND NOT A SINGLE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER WITH A
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, BRINGING
TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS, WHAT OUR
MOVEMENT FOUGHT FOR THIS WHOLE
TIME.
IT SHOWS THE STAKEHOLDERS OF
JUMP START SEATTLE.
I URGE YOU TO PASS THE AMAZON
TAX WITHOUT ANY LOOPHOLES, NO
SUNSET CLAUSE.
IF BLACK LIVES ACTUALLY MATTER
THEN ACTUALLY --
>> NEXT UP IS TIM AND THEN
AFTER TIM WE'LL HEAR FROM
ALEXANDRA.
HELLO?
DO WE HAVE NEXT SPEAKER
CUED UP, I.T.?
>> I HAVE TIM LISTED AS READY
TO SPEAK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.
IS THERE A TIM
EYMAN ON THE PHONE?
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG.
GOING ONCE.
GOING TWICE.
GOING THREE TIMES.
ALL RIGHT.
WE DON'T HAVE A WINNER HERE SO
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
ALONG.
NEXT UP IS ALEXANDRA.
>> HELLO.
I'M A DISTRICT 1 RENTER, MENTAL
HEALTH COUNSELOR, AND SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER.
THIS SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER.
BEZOS IS GOING TO BE THE WORLD'S
FIRST TRILLIONAIRE.
ISN'T REPARATIONS NEEDED TO THE
BLACK COMMUNITY FOR CENTURIES?
BE PART OF THE HEALING OF OUR
NATION.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
FILL YOUR HEART.
FILL YOUR BODY.
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.
YOU KNOW THE TRUTH.
WE CAN REALLOCATE FUNDS TO
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE
HEALTH AND EDUCATION AND SAFETY.
AND DEFUND THE VIOLENT RACIST
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DO AS RIGHT WHEN OUR MOST
VULNERABLE THRIVE, WE ALL
THRIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE WATCHING YOU AND COUNTING
ON YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY.
NEXT UP IS MELINDA FOLLOWED BY
AIDEN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MELINDA
GONZALEZ.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU WE THE
PEOPLE ELECTED YOU.
THEREFORE YOU WORK FOR US.
FIRST, FAILING TO SUPPORT THE
1,000 NEW HOMES IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT IS SHAMEFUL.
SECONDLY, DEFUNDING THE POLICE
FAILS TO ADDRESS THE REAL ISSUE
THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS WE HAVE
ARE COMPLETELY SUBPAR.
AT ONLY 672 HOURS OF TRAINING TO
BE A COP, HAIR DRESSERS GET 260%
MORE TRAINING ON AVERAGE.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE LEGALLY
ALLOWED TO DENY APPLICANTS WITH
HIGHER THAN AVERAGE IQ.
THIS RULING WAS UPHELD SEVERAL
TIMES IN COURT.
THIS IS DISGUSTING KNOWING THERE
ARE STRONG TIES BETWEEN
VIOLENCE.
ABOLISH THE POLICE.
FUND SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO
SUCCESSFULLY DO THESE JOBS EVERY
DAY.
CHARGE ALL OFFICERS AS CITIZENS.
NO IMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MELINDA, FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS -- I'M SORRY.
JUST LOOKING THROUGH MY LIST
HERE.
LOOKS LIKE NEXT UP IS AIDEN
FOLLOWED BY BARBARA.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZON TAX
PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT
FOR, AND YOU HAVE LISTENED TO.
PLEASE DO THIS NOW WITHOUT A
SUNSET.
MAKE SURE THERE'S FUNDING FOR
THE GREEN NEW DEAL, PROMISE TO
FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE HOUSING
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, ET
CETERA.
[ INAUDIBLE ] HALF AGAIN LARGER
FOR 300 MILLION.
YOU NEED AS MUCH MONEY AS
POSSIBLE FOR ALL THE NEEDS IN
THIS CITY BUT THE HIGHEST
POSSIBLE IS GOOD.
PLEASE DEFINANCE DPD50%.
MAKE SURE OFFICER MOLLY CLARK IS
FIRED BEFORE SHE KILLS SOMEONE.
FREE ALL PROTESTERS WITH NO
CHARGES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS BARBARA FOLLOWED BY
JACK.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS BARBARA FINNEY.
I LIVE IN D5 AND I'M A VOLUNTEER
IN THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
COUNCIL PASSED THE AMAZON TAX
TODAY.
NO DELAYS.
NO WATERING DOWN.
NO SUNSET CLAUSE.
WE NEED A PERMANENT TAX ON BIG
BUSINESS.
BEGIN TO END THE RACIST
GENTRIFICATION IN SEATTLE.
FUND THE BUILDING OF 1,000
AFFORDABLE HOMES.
THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.
IT'S A START.
IT'S A BIG, BIG VICTORY FOR THE
TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
I THANK COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT, HER OFFICE, SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE, AND ALL WHO HAVE
WORKED SO HARD ON THE TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT.
TAX AMAZON.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50%.
AND MAYOR DURKIN, RESIGN.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS JACK FRANCIS.
THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM CHARLES.
>> HI.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR
THE TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT.
$240 MILLION A YEAR IS NOT
ENOUGH.
JEFF BEZOS IS ONE OF THE RICHEST
MEN IN THE WORLD.
AMAZON IS THE REASON WHY.
HE IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HE
MAKES THAT MUCH MONEY.
HE'S GAINED BILLIONS AND
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC.
THERE IS NO REASON THAT THEY
CANNOT AFFORD A TAX OF $1
BILLION PER YEAR.
FUNDING THE NEW GREEN DEAL.
DO NOT WATER DOWN THIS TAX.
WE WILL TAKE THIS TO THE BALLOT
AND WE WILL SUCCEED IN OUR
MISSION.
DEFUND SPD.
CHARGE THEM FOR WAR CRIMES.
I DO NOT KNOW IF SOME OF YOU ARE
AWARE BUT NAZIS WERE GASSING
PRISONERS.
DEFUND THE SPD.
KICK MAYOR JENNY DURKIN OUT.
KICK CHIEF BEST OUT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS CHARLES.
THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM MARLO.
>> HELLO.
I'M A RENTER IN B7 AND SOFTWARE
ENGINEER.
I'M A PCO FOR THE DISTRICT 36
DEMOCRATS.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE
TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT TODAY.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS AND THE
MONEY WE RECLAIM BY DEFUNDING
SPD BY AT LEAST 50% SHOULD BE
GIVEN TOWARD REBUILDING AND
DEGENTRIFYING THE HOUSING
COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE,
SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON HOW
BADLY THESE CRISES OF
CORONAVIRUS AND POLICE BRUTALITY
HAVE DEVASTATED THE BLACK
POPULATION IN OUR CITY AND I ASK
THAT MAYOR JENNY DURKIN BE
IMPEACHED OR FORCED TO RESIGN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS MARLO.
>> I THIS IS MARLO IN DISTRICT
2 AND I SUPPORT THE STRONGEST
PROPOSAL OF THE AMAZON TAX.
AS A MIXED RACE BLACK AND
DISABLED PERSON ON A SEVERELY
MINIMAL FIXED INCOME, I FACE
IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES AROUND
ACCESSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAMS WHILE ALSO LIVING NEAR
THE SPECIALIZED HEALTH AND
SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN SEATTLE I
NEED, WHILE NAVIGATING PUBLIC
SPACES SAFELY TO GET THERE.
I ALSO SUPPORT FIRING MAYOR
DURKIN FOR HER RECKLESS AND
ASSAULTING LEADERSHIP.
DEFUND THE POLICE AND CENTER THE
VOICES OF BLACK, BROWN,
DISABLED, HOMELESS, AND LOW
INCOME PEOPLE IN EVERY STEP OF
YOUR DECISION-MAKING FOR
RESTORATIVE AND RESTITUTIONAL
INVESTING THOSE FUNDS BACK INTO
THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO FREE ALL DETAINED
PROTESTERS AND DO SO WITHOUT
CHARGES.
ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I RELINQUISH MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOING TO DO A QUICK REVIEW OF MY
PUBLIC COMMENT SHEET HERE TO SEE
IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS
SHOWED UP AS PRESENT SINCE WE
HAVE STARTED OUR MEETING.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE -- LOOKING AT
NOTES HERE ABOUT THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS SOME
KIND OF TECHNICAL CHALLENGES OR
CHALLENGES IN GENERAL WITH ONE
OF THE SPEAKERS THAT I CALLED ON
EARLIER SO WE'RE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND CALL ON HIM AGAIN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER AND THE LAST
SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR TODAY
BEFORE THE CLOSE OF PUBLIC
COMMENT IS TIM EYMAN.
>> MY NAME IS TIM EYMAN.
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
WASHINGTON STATE.
I ADAMANTLY OPPOSE THE SOCIALIST
SAWANT JOB KILLING JOBS TAX.
IT'S ONLY GOING TO EXTEND THE
ECONOMIC CALAMITY THAT INSLEE'S
LOCKDOWN HAS ALREADY INFLICTED
ON STRUGGLING WORKING FAMILIES
AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO HURT THE
VERY PEOPLE THAT SAWANT CLAIMS
SHE WANTS TO HELP.
KSHAMA SAWANT, YOU SHOULD BE IN
JAIL.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE BEHIND THAT
MICROPHONE.
YOU'RE A LIMOUSINE SOCIALIST.
BUT YOUR IDEAS HAVE NOT WORKED
IN STATE HISTORY, IN WORLD
HISTORY.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE
IDEA THAT YOU THINK SOMEHOW
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DRIVE OUT
ALL THESE EMPLOYERS OUT OF THE
CITY.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DESTRUCTIVE
IDEAS.
YOU'RE GOVERNOR SAWANT, MAYOR
SAWANT, NOT A CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER, YOU'RE RUNNING THE WHOLE
SHOW.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER WHO
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY.
I'M GOING TO LOOK ONE MORE TIME
ON MY PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN-IN
SHEET.
JUST LET IT BE KNOWN WE WELCOME
ANYONE TO PROVIDE US WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL
WHERE WE TRULY BELIEVE IN
DEMOCRACY AND WANT TO HEAR
VOICES AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
WHO CALLED IN AND THE
OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF FOLKS WHO
CALLED IN TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE JUMPSTART SEATTLE PROPOSAL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT
DISCUSSION IN A FEW MOMENTS.
LOOKS LIKE NOBODY ELSE IS HERE.
I'D LIKE TO ASK I. T. TO PLEASE
CONFIRM THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY
OTHER FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY.
I'M NOT HEARING THAT WE HAVE ANY
OTHERS SIGNED UP SO WE'RE READY
TO GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH OUR
BUSINESS AGENDA TODAY, FOLKS.
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS.
I'D ASK THE CLERK PLEASE READ
THE TITLE UNDERSTOOD THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119817,
APPROPRIATING MONEY TO PAY
CERTAIN AUDITED CLAIMS FOR THE
WEEK OF JUNE 22, 2020 AND
THROUGH JUNE 26, 2020.
>> I WILL MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL
BILL 119817.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
THAT THE BILL PASS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> [ CALLING NAMES ]
>> CAN YOU PLEASE CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ONE MORE
TIME?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> GIVE HIM JUST A MOMENT.
HE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
>> HI.
>> TRY AGAIN.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> YES.
AYE.
>> OKAY.
AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> THAT'S NINE IN FAVOR.
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, FOLKS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DIG
INTO COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL.
WE'LL START WITH AGENDA ITEM 1.
I'D ASK THE CLERK PLEASE READ
THE SHORT TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM 1
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1.
COUNCIL BILL 119814.
RELATING TO THE FUNDING FOR
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ADOPTING A
SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE 2019 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE
2018-2022 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'LL MOVE TO PASS COUNCILMEMBER
119814.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO PASS THE BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU ARE
THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THIS LEGISLATION
DISAPPOINTMENTS AMENDMENTS TO
THE CITY'S ACTION PLAN TO DETAIL
HOW THE CITY WILL SPEND
APPROXIMATELY $8.9 MILLION IN
FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOCATED THROUGH
THE CITY FOR COVID RESPONSE
INCLUDING ESG, AND HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES.
THESE FUNDS WERE APPROPRIATED
THROUGH THE COUNCIL ORDINANCES
PASSED IN MAY.
FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE
DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF HOUSING,
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TO PREVENT, PREPARE, AND RESPOND
TO THE CORONAVIRUS.
THESE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT
EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
GRANT PAYMENTS TO SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
IN ORDER TO ENTER INTO GRANT
INGREDIENTS WITH H.U.D.
AND
RECEIVE THE FUNDS, WE'VE BEEN
DIRECTED TO AMEND OUR CURRENT
ANNUAL ACTION PLANS FOR THESE
APPROPRIATIONS.
YOU WILL NOTE WE'VE APPROVED THE
2020 ACTION PLAN IN MAY HOWEVER
SINCE THE AGREEMENTS FOR THE
2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN HAVE NOT
YET BEEN EXECUTED BY HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE 2019
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN IS STILL OUR
CURRENT PLAN AND THEREFORE WE
MUST USE THAT PLAN TO RECEIVE
THESE H.U.D.
COVID EMERGENCY
FUNDS.
LAST WEEK WE HELD A PUBLIC
HEARING ON MONDAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE FOLKS WHO
TESTIFIED ON THAT.
THIS LEGISLATION IS CONSIDERED
PART OF THE BUDGET REBALANCING
PACKAGE.
HOWEVER, IT'S SCHEDULED FOR A
VOTE TODAY.
BECAUSE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS
TO THE ANNUAL ACTION PLANS ARE
REQUIRED BEFORE THESE FUNDS CAN
BE DISTRIBUTED.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE
BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR
FOLKS BOTH IN OUR RENTER
COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS TO THE
FOLKS PROVIDING RENTAL HOUSING
TO RENTERS THAT THIS AMENDED
PLAN CLEARLY STATES THE $1.4
MILLION THAT THE COUNCIL
PREVIOUSLY MOVED AWAY FROM
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TOWARD SHELTER
WILL BE SPENT ON RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
THIS PLAN WILL HELP ENSURE THAT
DESPERATELY NEEDED RESOURCES FOR
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND
RENTAL ASSISTANCE ARE RESTORED.
I THINK AS WE ORIGINALLY
INTENDED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE
BILL?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I WOULD ASK THAT
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ CALLING ROLL ]
NINE IN FAVOR.
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
OKAY, FOLKS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
ON TO ITEM 2.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
AGENDA ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2, COUNCIL BILL
119116, RELATING TO THE CITY'S
RESPONSE TO THE 2020 COVID-19
CRISIS, AMENDING ORDINANCE
126000, WHICH ADOPTED THE 2020
BUDGET, ACCEPTING FUNDING FOR
THE NON-CITY SOURCES, CHANGING
APPROPRIATIONS TO VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS AND BUDGET CONTROL
LEVELS, AND FROM VARIOUS FUNDS
IN THE BUDGET, DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY, AND ESTABLISHING AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE, ALL BY
3/4 OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL PASS AS AMENDED
THE COUNCIL BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
READING INTO THE RECORD, MADAM
CLERK.
SO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM.
BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, MADAM
CLERK, DO I NEED TO MOVE FOR THE
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL?
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE UP WHICH
IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
BILL PASSES AMENDMENT.
>> DO I NEED TO MAKE A FORMAL
MOTION?
>> NO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WHO IS COSPONSOR OF THIS
ORDINANCE.
THIS WOULD ACCEPT AND
EAPPROPRIATE $13 MILLION IN
EMERGENCY HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS FUNDS FOR COVID
FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
THIS LEGISLATION ACCEPTS AND
APPROPRIATES THAT FUND THAT CAME
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
ON MARCH 27TH.
AS I EXPRESSED LAST WEEK
DISAPPOINTMENT THAT WE'D BEEN
SITTING ON THESE FUNDS FROM THE
STATE FOR SO LONG.
WE'VE BEEN EAGERLY AWAITING THIS
ORDINANCE WHICH PROPOSES
SPENDING FOR THE GRANTS TO SPEND
AS THE EMERGENCY THAT COVID IS
PRESENTING TO FRONT LINE
PROVIDERS AND VULNERABLE HOUSING
IN HOMELESS POPULATIONS.
WE MOVED AS QUICKLY AS WE
POSSIBLY COULD TO GET THESE LONG
AWAITED FUNDS OUT THE DOOR.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW VALLEY
IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
IT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR HOUSING
OPERATIONS, DOLLARS THAT WILL
NOW BE AVAILABLE -- THAT WOULD
HAVE COME THROUGH REVENUES FROM
THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TAX WHICH
IS NOW BEING DRAMATICALLY
AFFECTED BY THE IMPACTS OF THE
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
IT'S CRITICAL WE GET FUNDING TO
THE HOUSING OPERATORS.
IT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR FOOD
DELIVERY FOR THE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SITES AND
INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THOSE
HOMES.
IT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR
SUBSTANTIAL UNEXPECTED
ADDITIONAL COVID-RELATED COSTS
INCURRED BY OUR SHELTER AND
HYGIENE SHELTER AND HOUSING
PROVIDERS AND WE NEED TO GET
THESE DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR SHELTER
DEGENTRIFICATION AND HYGIENE
SERVICES AND FUNDING FOR SENIOR
FOOD AND MEAL DELIVERY PROGRAMS.
CENTRAL STAFF PROVIDED A
PRESENTATION ON THIS LEGISLATION
AT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE ON
WEDNESDAY AND I'M ENTHUSIASTIC
ABOUT THIS.
THANKS AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, FOR YOUR ONGOING WORK
WITH US ON THIS LEGISLATION.
WISH WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
GET IT OUT THE DOOR IN MARCH AND
HERE WE ARE GETTING IT OUT AS
FAST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK
FROM THOSE PROVIDERS AS SOON AS
THEY GET THOSE DOLLARS IN HAND
AND EVEN WE KNOW IT'S NOT
ENOUGH.
HAPPY TO SEE THESE DOLLARS BEING
ALLOCATED NOW.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOR THE INTRODUCTION
OF THE BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD AS
COSPONSOR?
>> JUST ECHO THE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE URGENCY OF DPETH THESE FUNDS
OUT.
WE KNOW THAT PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN
DIPPING INTO THEIR OWN RESERVES
TO COVER THE SIGNIFICANT
EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH SERVING
POPULATIONS OF PEOPLE DURING
COVID-19 AND PROVIDING SERVICES
IN A WAY THAT THEY COULD NOT
HAVE PLANNED TO WHILE MAKING
EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS TO PROVIDE
FRONT LINE CARE AND SERVICES TO
PEOPLE HIT HARDEST BY THE PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY AND ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN.
SO, AGAIN, REALLY APPRECIATE
BUDGET CHAIR MOSQUEDA'S
COMMITMENT TO MOVING THIS
QUICKLY RATHER THAN HAVING THIS
BE PART OF THE BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL PROBABLY
TAKE US THROUGH EARLY AUGUST IN
FINALIZING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS
ON THE BUILD BEFORE WE CALL IT
TO A VOTE?
SEEING NONE, I JUST WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
MOSQUEDA FOR THEIR JOINT WORK ON
THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
REALLY IMPORTANT EFFORT HERE AND
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD AS SOON AS
WE POSSIBLY COULD.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND CLOSE THAT DEBATE AND
I WOULD ASK THAT THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] NINE IN FAVOR.
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WOULD SIGN IT.
I ASK THE CLERK AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
NEXT UP IS ITEM 3.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 3 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 3.
COUNCIL BILL 119110.
RELATING TO TAXATION, IMPOSING A
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX ON PERSONS
ENGAGING IN BUSINESS IN SEATTLE,
ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 5.38 TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL PASS AN AMENDED
COUNCIL BILL, MOSQUEDA, HERBOLD,
GONZALEZ, LEWIS, MORALES,
SAWANT, STRAUSS IN FAVOR AND
JUAREZ AND PEDERSEN OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CLERK.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AND
LISTENING IN ON OUR
CONVERSATION, I'M GOING TO TRY
TO SORT OF PUT THIS INTO REGULAR
FOLK PARLANCE SINCE THERE'S A
LOT OF RULES IN ORDER AND
PROCEDURE IN PLACE.
ITEM 3 AND ITEM 4 ARE BOTH
THE -- I BELIEVE ITEM 4.
YES.
BOTH ITEMS RELATED TO THE JUMP
START SEATTLE PROPOSAL THAT
WOULD IMPOSE A PAYROLL TAX ON
CERTAIN BUSINESSES IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
LOOKING AT THE JUMP START
SEATTLE PROPOSAL.
REALLY PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE
COSPONSORS OF THAT BILL AND
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO KICK OFF
THE CONVERSATION.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING, ITEM
3 AND 4 ARE RELATED TO JUMP
START SEATTLE PROPOSALS WHICH
ARE THE PAYROLL TAX
CONSIDERATIONS.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HAND IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
WHO AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE IS
GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM AND I
BELIEVE THERE ARE SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS THAT WE WILL WORK
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON, ONE
BROUGHT BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, ANOTHER BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS THAT WILL
REQUIRE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO CLOSE
OUT DEBATE ON AGENDA ITEM 3 AND
TAKE A VOTE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WAS
HOPING TO BE ABLE TO SET OUT A
LITTLE BIT OF A ROADMAP FOR BOTH
YOU COLLEAGUES AND THOSE
WATCHING ON THE TV JUST TO
ORIENT US ALL IN THIS ZOOM WORLD
THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN AS TO
WHAT THE ORDER OF BUSINESS IS
GOING TO BE.
FIRST WE'LL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
SHE HAS AN AMENDMENT TO MAKE.
WE'LL THEN HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WHO ALSO HAS
AN AMENDMENT THAT WILL REQUIRE
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.
THEN WE'LL OPEN UP THE -- AFTER
TAKING VOTES ON THOSE
AMENDMENTS, WE'LL OPEN UP THE
DISCUSSION AND DEBATE ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
AND THEN WE'LL DO A FINAL ROLL
CALL.
WITH THAT BEING SAID,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
IF IT PLEASES THE PRESIDENT, I
HAVE A FEW OPENING COMMENTS THEN
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO BRING
FORWARD THE AMENDMENT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, WE'RE IN THE
MIDST OF A PUBLIC HEALTH
PANDEMIC AND AN ECONOMIC CRISIS.
AND JUMP START IS PART OF THE
REMEDY.
THIS IS PART OF THE ANTIDOTE
NEEDED TO RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS OF COVID AND THE
ECONOMIC INSTABILITY THAT COVID
HAS EXPOSED IN OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY.
JUMP START IS PART OF THE
SOLUTION NEEDED TO DEEPLY INVEST
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT, AND A MORE
RESILIENT ECONOMY.
JUMP START INJECTS RESOURCES
INTO THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET HARM
BY DECADES OF UNDERFUNDING AND
HOUSING, HEALTH SERVICES,
SUPPORT FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
JUMP START INVESTS IN OUR
FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR
SHOPS AND LOCAL ECONOMY.
IT WILL HELP SEATTLE SURVIVE THE
CRISIS OF COVID AND EMERGE
STRONGER AND MORE EQUITABLE.
EVERY DAY EACH OF OUR OFFICES IS
RESPONDING TO CALLS AND EMAILS
AND WE SEE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY
EVERY DAY CONCERNED THAT THEY
CANNOT PAY FOR GROCERIES FOR
THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN.
THEY CANNOT PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A
JOB.
WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS FROM
BUSINESS OWNERS THAT THEY DIDN'T
GET A PENNY FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY AMONG
BLACK OWNED BUSINESS OWNERS WHO
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY EXCLUDED
FROM GETTING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.
WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS FROM SHOPS
ABOUT THEIR INABILITY TO PAY
VENDORS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO
REVENUES IN APRIL AND MAY AND
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
ASSURANCES THAT THEY CAN HAVE
MONEY IN HAND SO THEY CAN PAY
STAFF AND START HIRING PEOPLE
AGAIN SO THEY CAN PAY RENT AND
OPEN THEIR SHOPS AGAIN.
WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS REPEATEDLY
FROM MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WHO
HAVE BEEN LEADERS ON FIGHTING
FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES,
THAT IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
WERE INTENTIONALLYALLY LEFT OUT
OF
THE FEDERAL SUPPORT.
THEY ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND
HELP OUR ECONOMY RUN.
WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE
FISCAL CLIFF THAT WILL BE
PRESENTING ITSELF NEXT YEAR IN
OUR BUDGET IF WE DO NOT HAVE
REVENUE IN HAND TO BACK THOSE
EMERGENCY FUNDS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CLIFF
THAT CAN MAKE IT QUITE LIKELY
THAT LIBRARIES WOULD CLOSE, THAT
PARKS WOULD CLOSE, THAT THERE
WILL BE PROBLEMS WITH ACCESSING
CHILDCARE, CORE GOVERNMENT
SERVICES THAT WITHOUT ADDITIONAL
REVENUE WE WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH
FUNDS TO BACK EMERGENCY FUNDS.
WE'VE HEARD THE ONGOING CONCERNS
ABOUT THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, THE LACK OF SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING THAT HELPS GET FOLKS ON
THEIR FEET AND GET THEM HOUSED,
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY AND
RESILIENCY FOR OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
THIS IS THE PROMISE OF JUMP
START, TO INVEST IN OUR
COMMUNITY, INVEST IN HOUSING,
CHILDCARE, INVEST IN SMALL
BUSINESSES, SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS
AND REFUGEES, SUPPORT WORKING
FAMILIES.
THIS IS NOT ONLY THE REMEDY FOR
THE EMERGENCY THAT IS COVID BUT
IT HELPS US CORRECT AN UPSIDE
DOWN TAX CODE.
WITHOUT JUMP START, WE'RE FACING
A CRISIS OF AN UNPRECEDENTED
SCALE AND IT'S NOT GOING TO END
ANY TIME SOON.
WE KNOW IN WASHINGTON STATE
WE'RE NOT ALONE BUT 1.2 MILLION
WORKERS HAVE ALREADY FILED FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND THE
NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW
ESPECIALLY WITH UNCERTAINTY AS
WE SEE THE NUMBERS OF COVID
CASES CONTINUING TO GROW.
IN THE MIDST OF THIS CRISIS,
LARGE COMPANIES ARE CONTINUING
TO DO WELL.
THEY'RE STILL PAYING
THREE-FIGURE SALARIES IN SOME
CASES.
IN SOME CASES, EVEN AS HIGH AS A
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
WE'RE ASKING THEM THROUGH THIS
JUMP START PROPOSAL TO
CONTRIBUTE, CONTRIBUTE A SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF THOSE PROFITS TO
SAVING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
INVESTING IN NEIGHBORS AND
FAMILIES SO THEY CAN IN TURN
INVEST IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND
WE CAN COME OUT STRONGER.
WE KNOW ONE THING FOR SURE,
BASED ON THE LAST 10 YEARS AND
OUR DATA ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE
CANNOT STARVE OUR WAY OUT OF
THIS RECESSION.
DATA FROM THE GREAT RECESSION
SHOWED US THAT IN THE CITIES AND
IN THE STATES THAT TRIED AN
AUSTERITY BUDGET, IT DID NOT
WORK.
IT ACTUALLY MADE ECONOMIES
WEAKER.
SO WE KNOW ONE THING.
WE CANNOT STARVE OUR WAY OUT BUT
WE CAN GROW OUR WAY OUT OF A
RECESSION.
WE KNOW AN ALL CUTS BUDGET IS
NOT A SOLUTION.
EVEN MORE OF THE CRITICAL
PROGRAMS THAT CONSUMERS AND
FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
RELY ON TO WEATHER THE STORMS.
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE
WORKING, CREATES JOBS AND
INJECTS MORE PEOPLE INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE AN AVOID AN ALL CUTS
AUSTERITY BUDGET, OUR ECONOMY
CAN REBOUND FASTER WHICH IS GOOD
FOR BUSINESSES AND WORKERS BUT
ALSO WHEN WE DO IT THROUGH THE
LENS JUMP START HAS PROPOSED, IT
DOESN'T MEAN GOING BACK TO
BUSINESS AS USUAL.
IT MEANS INVESTING IN A MORE
RESILIENT AND MORE EQUITABLE
ECONOMY.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE BILL IN
FRONT OF US TODAY.
JUMP START SEATTLE WILL PROMOTE
HEALTH, CREATE JOBS, AND SAVE
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND IT'S NOT
JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT'S THE ECONOMICALLY SOUND
THING TO DO.
IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC,
HOUSING INSECURITY ISN'T JUST A
MORAL CRISIS.
IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
EXPANDING NUTRITION SERVICES AND
VOUCHERS WILL HELP STRUGGLING
PEOPLE PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN ACCESS
GROCERIES.
IT'S NOT JUST GOOD FOR FAMILIES.
THAT'S GOOD FOR THE LOCAL
ECONOMY.
THAT'S ALSO GOOD FOR THE HEALTH
OF OUR LOCAL POPULATION.
THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE
CAN PUT MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS
THAT WILL IN TURN SPEND IN LOCAL
BUSINESSES.
WE ARE TRYING TO RIGHTSIDE UP
OUR UPSIDE DOWN TAX CODE AND
WHEN WE DO IT, EVERYONE BENEFITS
FROM THE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS, NOT
JUST SOME PEOPLE.
THESE TWIN HEALTH AND ECONOMIC
CRISES HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON
PEOPLE OF COLOR ESPECIALLY AMONG
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND THE
LATINO COMMUNITY.
DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL
BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY FOR THE
NINE OUT OF TEN BLACK OWNED
BUSINESSES THAT APPLIED FOR LESS
THAN $20,000 OF FUNDS DIDN'T GET
A PENNY BECAUSE THEY WERE
DISTRIBUTED THROUGH TRADITIONAL
LENDING INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE A
LONG RACIST HISTORY OF RACIST
LENDING PRACTICES.
AND WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
WE CAN CHANGE THAT BY PROVIDING
DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO THOUSANDS,
THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED
FAMILIES, THOUSANDS OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS AND WORKERS
RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY.
AND WE CAN HELP MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO WERE LEFT OUT OF
THESE FUNDS GET ACCESS TO WHAT
SEATTLE IS DOING RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO THANK FOLKS WHO HAVE
BEEN TESTIFYING NOT JUST IN THE
LAST THREE MONTHS BUT FOR YEARS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR
US TO INVEST IN OUR WHOLE
COMMUNITY, WORKING FAMILY, SMALL
BUSINESSES, OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR ICE
CREAM SHOPS AND LOCAL COFFEE
SHOPS CAN SURVIVE, YES.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
STOP GETTING PUSHED OUT OF THE
CITY, ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING
IT THROUGH EQUITABLE INITIATIVE.
WHEN PEOPLE GET A JOB BACK, IT'S
A GOOD JOB, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO
HAVE SUSTAINABILITY AND THEY'RE
ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK AND HAVE
ACCESS TO CHILDCARE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL
CONTEMPLATES.
THIS BILL PROVIDES CERTAINTY,
úPREDICTABILITY, AND STABILITY.
FOR FAMILIES, FOR CHILDREN, FOR
IMMIGRANTS, FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, BECAUSE IT'S BAKED
INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING
LEGISLATION FOR MUCH OF THE TIME
I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL GOING BACK
TO A YEAR.
IT'S ALSO BEEN THE ONGOING
CONVERSATION FOR THE LAST FOUR
OR FIVE MONTHS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS
MORALES AND SAWANT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL FOR ALL
OF YOUR FEEDBACK AND INPUT ON
THE LEGISLATION AS I MENTIONED
THIS MORNING DURING COUNCIL
BRIEFING, EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE
OUR FINGERPRINTS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU TO REPRESENTATIVE FOR
THE WORK SHE DID IN THE HALLS OF
OLYMPIA.
WE BUILT ON THOSE PROPOSALS,
BOTH THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL FROM
SAWANT AND MORALES AND FROM THE
PROPOSAL FROM REPRESENTATIVE.
AND WE DID THIS BY PULLING
PEOPLE TOGETHER.
WE DIDN'T JUST START FROM
SCRATCH.
WE DID THIS BY PULLING PEOPLE
TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE MORE
PEOPLE HAD THE CHANCE TO WEIGH
IN ON LEGISLATION IN OLYMPIA AND
MAKE IT WORK FOR SEATTLE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF
JUMP START.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBERS
MORALES AND SAWANT FOR YOUR
ONGOING WORK AND DIALOGUE WE'VE
HAD.
THAT DIALOGUE I THINK HAS
IMPROVED THE LEGISLATION IN
FRONT OF US.
WITHOUT ALL THE COMMUNITY THAT
HAS BEEN CALLING ON US TO
RIGHTSIDE UP OUR UP SIDE DOWN
TAX SYSTEM, I DON'T THINK WE'D
BE HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THIS IS
JUST THE BEGINNING.
AS WE TRY TO FIND REMEDIES TO
THE COVID CRISIS, THIS IS ONE
REMEDY IN A LARGER SCALE
LEGISLATION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO
GO AHEAD AND MOVE COUNCIL BILL
AS PRESENTED TO INCLUDE VERSION
3 OF AMENDMENT 1 THAT I
DISTRIBUTED RECENTLY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
SO IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT
MOTION?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 1.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, THIS
AMENDMENT IS DISTRIBUTED WITH
OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR HIS FEEDBACK ON THIS
LEGISLATION, ALONG WITH A
HANDFUL OF OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT HOW
DO WE ADDRESS CREATING CERTAIN
CONDITIONS THAT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE FOR NONPROFIT
HEALTHCARE ENTITIES?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK.
APPRECIATE THE ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD THERE.
AT THE ON SET I WANT TO SAY I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT ANY EXEMPTIONS.
THE AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF US IS
CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO RESPOND TO
SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE HEARD.
TODAY THE PERSON WHO CALLED IN
WAS EXPRESSING THE UNANTICIPATED
COSTS SPECIFICALLY DUE TO COVID
THAT ARE EXPECTING CERTAIN
SECTORS OF THE NONPROFIT
HEALTHCARE SECTOR.
WE WANTED TO CAREFULLY RESPOND
TO THOSE CONCERNS THAT WERE
BROUGHT UP.
THE LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US
WAS CAREFULLY CRAFTED BASED ON
SOME FEEDBACK.
I WANT TO THANK FOLKS FROM
KAISER, FROM FRED HUTCH, AND
FROM SEATTLE CHILDREN'S FOR
THEIR FEEDBACK AS WE TRY TO
THINK ABOUT A CAREFULLY CRAFTED
AMENDMENT.
NOTE WHILE NONPROFIT HOSPITALS
GENERALLY ARE CONSIDERED
CHARITIES BY THE INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE, MANY NONPROFITS
HAVE REVENUES IN THE BILLIONS.
IN MANY WAYS THEIR PEERS ARE
LARGE CORPORATIONS.
SO THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU
ATTEMPTS TO FIND AN EQUITABLE
SOLUTION TO REBUILDING OUR
ECONOMY IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT
FURTHER SUBSIDIZE AND
DEPRIORITIZE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
INSTEAD WHAT THE AMENDMENT IN
FRONT OF YOU SUGGESTS IS THAT AS
SEATTLE'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN
IS BUILT AROUND JUMP START, WE
SHOULD ADDRESS NONPROFIT
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ACCORDINGLY
AND MAKE SURE THAT CERTAIN
ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES AND MAKE SURE
THAT THERE ARE CONTRIBUTIONS
COMING N.
THIS AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF US
CONTEMPLATES PAYMENTS MADE ON
SALARIES OVER $400,000 AND I'M
HOPING THIS CAREFULLY CRAFTED
STOPED AMENDMENT HELPS MEET SOME
OF THE NEEDS WE'VE HEARD IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COSPONSORSHIP.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT 1?
OKAY.
I SEE A COUPLE HANDS.
I LOST TRACK OF WHICH ONE WENT
UP FIRST.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS THEN
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MY REMARKS WILL BE FAIRLY BRIEF.
I DO JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE OF BEING ABLE TO
COSPONSOR THIS AMENDMENT WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR HER
LEADERSHIP AND GUIDING THROUGH
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION AND
MAKING SURE WE CAN DEVELOP A
VERY SPECIFIC AND TIMELY
EXEMPTION FOR A LOT OF OUR
NONPROFIT HEALTHCARE PARTNERS
WHO ARE REALLY ON THE FRONT
LINES OF HELPING THE REGION AND
EVEN THE NATION IN THE CASE OF
SOME OF OUR RESEARCH FOCUSED
NONPROFIT PROVIDERS IN
RESPONDING TO THE ONGOING COVID
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
I THINK THAT THIS EXEMPTION DOES
A GOOD JOB AT RECOGNIZING THAT
WORK, RECOGNIZING THE ADDED
BURDEN AND THE ADDED COST THAT
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASSUMING
TO REALLY COMBAT THE EXPANSION
OF COVID.
IT DOES LOOK LIKE, LIKE WE'VE
DISCUSSED THIS MORNING, WE'RE IN
FOR A VERY LONG FIGHT ON
COVID-19.
IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ABATING
AS QUICKLY AS WE THOUGHT IT
WOULD.
AND WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO NEED
TO MAKE SURE THOSE NONPROFIT
PARTNERS STAY STRONG IN THE
FIGHT AND WE CONTINUE TO BE GOOD
PARTNERS WITH THEM IN HELPING
THEM CONFRONT THIS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING IN
FAVOR OF IT AND SIMILARLY, WANT
TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AT SIU1199
AND OUR PARTNERS AT THE
NONPROFITS THEMSELVES AT KAISER
PERMANENTE, AT CHILDREN'S, AT
FRED HUTCHISON FOR THEIR WORK
AND HELPING MAKE SURE WE CAN
FRAMEWORK FOR SOMETHING THAT IS
FOR THE MOMENT.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT FIRST AND
THEN A QUESTION ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT.
AS I UNDERSTAND THIS AMENDMENT,
IT WOULD EXEMPT SALARY EXPENSE
TAXATION AT NONPROFIT HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS AND RESEARCH ORGs BUT
NOT AS NONPROFIT SERVICE
PROVIDERS, INCLUDING NONPROFIT
SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ARE NOT
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WHO HAVE
BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF
RESPONDING TO CORONAVIRUS OVER
THE PAST MONTHS SUCH AS A
NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPERATOR, SHELTERS, FOOD
DELIVERY, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS,
AND MORE.
LAST WEEK THERE WAS SUCH AN
AMENDMENT PROPOSED TO MORE
BROADLY IMPACT NONPROFIT
PROVIDERS AND DESPITE THE HEROIC
EFFORTS OF THE FOLKS WHO WORK AT
THESE NONPROFIT PROVIDERS LARGE
AND SMALL, I'VE NOT HEARD FROM
THIS GROUP OF PROVIDERS ASKING
TO BE EXEMPTED DESPITE THE
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSE THEY'VE
BEEN OCCURRING AND DESPITE THE
EXPECTATION THEY'LL CONTINUE TO
MEET A HEIGHTENED NEED FOR THE
REST OF THIS YEAR AND INTO NEXT.
SO I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED
THAT WE ARE BASICALLY SAYING ONE
KIND OF WORK, ONE KIND OF
NONPROFIT WORK SHOULD BE EXEMPT
AND THE BROADER NONPROFIT
PROVIDER COMMUNITY HAS NOT MADE
THE ARGUMENT THAT THEY SHOULD BE
EXEMPT.
AND I THINK THERE'S AN EQUITY
IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT.
WE KNOW THAT LARGER NONPROFITS,
HEALTHCARE NONPROFITS IN
PARTICULAR INCLUDING HOSPITALS
AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS ARE
MORE LIKELY TO BE LED BY WHITE
PEOPLE AND MEN WHILE SMALLER
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING MANY
SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE MORE
LIKELY TO BE LED BY WOMEN AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I'M CONCERNED THE EFFECT OF THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT IT
WHILE ORGANIZATIONS MORE LIKELY
TO BE WHITE AND MALE-LED, THEIR
ORGANIZATIONS WOULD RECEIVE AN
EXEMPTION.
AND MY QUESTION ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT ITSELF RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO CLAUSE C IN THE
DEFINITION OF A NONPROFIT
HEALTHCARE ENTITY.
AND CENTRAL STAFF HAS DECLINED
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR SECTION AND HAS
ENCOURAGED US TO DIRECT
QUESTIONS BACK TO THE SPONSOR.
AND SPECIFICALLY THE QUESTION IS
WHAT IS A PREDOMINANTLY
CAPITATED PROVIDER GROUP?
I'M TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF
WHAT TYPE OF ORGANIZATION IS
MEANT TO BE TARGETED OR BY THIS
LANGUAGE, BECAUSE AS I
UNDERSTAND, C WOULD BROADEN THE
EXEMPTION TO A TYPE OF PROVIDER
THAT I'M NOT QUITE UNDERSTANDING
THE DESCRIPTION OF THAT TYPE OF
PROVIDER.
>> WHICH ONE OF THE SPONSORS
WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT ONE?
>> I WOULD DEFER TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
AND IN PARTICULAR TO "C" OF THE
EXEMPTION, THAT IS AN ODD
PHRASE, AND I'M SAYING THAT AS A
LAWYER WHO WOULD NOT HAVE
ENCOUNTERED THAT PHRASE UNTIL
WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON
THIS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WOULD
APPLY TO KAISER PERMANENTE,
BASED ON THEIR COOPERATIVE HMO
STATUS THAT IS LIKE MORE UNIQUE
IN SURGICAL TERM FOR THE UNIQUE
AREA THAT KAISER PERMANENTE
FALLS INTO AS A COOPERATIVE
PROVIDER.
AND THAT LANGUAGE WAS WORKED ON
WITH OTHER STAKE HOLDERS WHO
VERIFIED THAT THAT INDEED IS THE
PROVIDER WHO WOULD BE INCLUDED
BASED ON THAT LANGUAGE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
PLEASE.
YOU ARE ON MUTE.
THERE YOU GO.
>> SO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
THANK YOU FOR THE POINTS YOU'RE
RAISING.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THAT
PHRASING AS WELL BUT I THINK FOR
ME, THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT
PART OF THE APPEAL OF THIS
ENTIRE PACKAGE FOR ME IS THAT
RATE SPECIFICALLY FOR HIGHER
INCOME EARNERS, FOR HIGHER
EARNERS, IN MY MIND IT SORT OF
ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR A SERIES
OF EXEMPTIONS, PARTICULARLY
NONPROFITS SINCE I THINK WHEN
MOST OF US THINK ABOUT A
NONPROFIT, LOWER WAGE WORKERS,
FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND SORT OF
THE THINGS THAT COME WITH THE
STANDARD CORPORATION.
BUT WE KNOW HEALTHCARE IN
PARTICULAR, MOST HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS, EVEN IF THEY'RE A
NONPROFIT STILL CAN GENERATE
SIGNIFICANT REVENUE.
NONPROFIT IS A TAX STATUS.
IT'S NOT A BUSINESS PLAN.
THE CEO OF PROVIDENCE I THINK
MAKES SOMETHING LIKE $10
MILLION.
SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
AMENDMENT AND I THINK THAT THE
LANGUAGE THAT IS ALREADY IN THE
BILL IS STRUCTURED IN SUCH A WAY
THAT IT PROTECTS ORGANIZATIONS
WHO DO HAVE LOWER WAGE WORKERS
IN THEIR MIDST TO INCLUDING
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS SO THOSE
FOLKS AREN'T PUT IN JEOPARDY
WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR
BARGAINING BUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE
MAKING HIGHER WAGES CAN BE
INCLUDED AND SO WE DON'T LOSE
REVENUE FOR THREE YEARS WITH
THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT.
JUST WANT TO SIGNAL THAT I WILL
NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT 1?
OKAY.
I WILL CLOSE OUT DEBATE BEFORE
WE CALL THE VOTE ON THIS.
I WILL ALSO NOT BE SUPPORTING
THIS PARTICULARLY AMENDMENT.
I FIND IT UNFORTUNATELY
INCONSISTENT WITH MY POSITIONS
ON THINGS LIKE MEDICARE FOR ALL,
FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH REALLY CENTER
US ON BUDDING UP WITH THE
REALITIES THAT THE HEALTHCARE
INDUSTRY IS A FOR-PROFIT
INDUSTRY.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH
HOW HEALTHCARE IS DELIVERED
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND SO FOR ME, I FEEL LIKE IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE TIERS HAVE
BEEN SENT IN JUMP START SEATTLE
IN SUCH A WAY TO INHERENTLY
DISTRIBUTE EQUITY AMONGST
ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY NOT BE
PAYING OUT IN THESE GOLDEN
PARACHUTES TO THEIR CEOs AND
OTHERS, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF
MONEY.
THE CEO OF PROVIDENCE IS MAKING
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN SALARY.
I THINK THAT'S TRUE FOR A LOT OF
OTHER HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT HAVE
IRS TAX EXEMPT STATUS BUT ARE
NONETHELESS MAKING QUITE A BIT
OF MONEY.
ON TOP OF THAT, WE KNOW THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DONE A
SIGNIFICANT BAIL-OUT AND
CONTINUES TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN
CONTINUING TO DO A MORE
SIGNIFICANT BAIL-OUT OF THE
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY WHERE MANY
OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE LIKE PROVIDENCE AND
OTHERS WHO TECHNICALLY HAVE
NONPROFIT STATUS STAND TO LIKELY
GET MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
MORE DOLLARS THAT WE DON'T HAVE
CONTROL OVER HOW THEY WILL
ALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS BETWEEN
HEALTHCARE, DELIVERY SERVICE
MODELS AND EXECUTIVE PAY ROLLS.
SO I FEEL REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE
VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS
AMENDMENT AT THIS POINT NOT
KNOWING MORE ABOUT THOSE
PARTICULAR DETAILS AND IN LIGHT
OF MY DEEP PROFOUND BELIEF THAT
AS A SYSTEM, OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE FOR
PROFIT AND NOT FOR THE FULL AND
MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE
WHO DESPERATELY NEED HEALTHCARE
SERVICES IN OUR CITY.
SO I WILL BE UNFORTUNATELY NOT
ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE CLOSE
OUT THE DEBATE FROM THE
SPONSORS?
OH, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR THIS
AMENDMENT.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S AN
EXEMPTION ABOUT EXEMPTING
NONPROFITS AND THEN THERE WAS A
DISCUSSION ABOUT HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS DURING COVID.
SO JUST FOR I BELIEVE THIS
AMENDMENT, CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
BUT I BELIEVE THIS AMENDMENT IS
FOR THE ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS
AND THE SUNSET CLAUSE HAS BEEN
REMOVED FROM THE OVERALL
ORDINANCE.
SO THIS WOULD BE REALLY FOCUSED
ON THOSE PROVIDING HEALTHCARE
DURING COVID.
I THINK IT INCLUDES SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S.
IT INCLUDES THE HUTCH.
INCLUDES CANCER CARE ALLIANCE.
I THINK WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM
THIS OR WHERE THIS EXEMPTION
WOULD HELP THE ORGANIZATION.
SO THIS WAS PUT TOGETHER
CAREFULLY BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING
IT.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY.
LOOKS LIKE WE CAN CLOSE OUT
DEBATE ON AMENDMENT 1.
SO I AM GOING TO ASK THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENT 1.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> HERBOLD.
>> NAY.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> NO.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> NAY.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> NAY.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, FOUR OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE MOTION CARRIES IN A 5 TO 4
VOTE AND AMENDMENT 1 IS ADOPTED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS HAS ANOTHER AMENDMENT,
AMENDMENT 2.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
MOVE TO THAT POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT.
SO 2ND BASE LEWIS, YOU'LL FIRST
NEED TO REQUEST SUSPENSION OF
THE RULES FOR AMENDMENT 2.
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO YOU
TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I DO SO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE
COUNCIL RULES TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT 2 THAT WAS NOT
DISTRIBUTED BY 12:00 NOON AND
WOULD ASK IF THERE'S A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS A SUSPENSION OF COUNCIL
RULES TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT 2
THAT WAS NOT DISTRIBUTED BY
NOON.
THERE HAS BEEN A SECOND.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE
COUNCIL RULE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
EIGHT IN FAVOR.
ONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT SUSPENSION OF THE RULES HAS
BEEN GRANTED.
SO THE RULE IS SUSPENDED.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU MAY NOW
PROCEED WITH FIRST MAKING THE
MOTION FOR US TO DEBATE AND
CONSIDER YOUR PROPOSED
AMENDMENT.
>> I MOVE TO AMEND AS RECENTLY
DISTRIBUTED.
>> IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 2.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU ARE THE
PRIME SPONSOR OF THIS AMENDMENT
SO YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER
TO ADDRESS AMENDMENT 2.
>> YES.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
SO I
DO THINK THAT IT IS STILL
IMPORTANT TO AT LEAST HAVE A
DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT THE
REINSTITUTION OF SOME KIND OF
SUNSET CLAUSE TO REAFFIRM THE
COMMITMENT OF THIS COUNCIL TO
EVENTUALLY TRANSITIONING TO
REGIONAL REVENUE OPTIONS AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO MAINTAINING OUR
OWN PAYROLL TAX AND PERPETUITY.
I DID NOT PARTICULARLY CARE FOR
A 10-YEAR SUNSET CLAUSE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO SOON.
I THOUGHT IT COULD PUT IN
JEOPARDY SOME WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE UNDER THIS LEGISLATION,
POSSIBLY ENTERING INTO CERTAIN
BONDING OR CAPITAL COMMITMENTS.
THIS PROPOSAL COULD CREATE A
20-YEAR SUNSET CLAUSE.
THE HOPE WOULD BE THAT IN THAT
TIME, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
TRANSITION AS A STATE AND A
REGION TO SOME REGIONAL
ALTERNATIVE TAX.
I HAVE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE
IN THE FUTURE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL 20 YEARS FROM NOW TO
REEXTEND, RENEW, OR EXPAND ON
THIS TAX IN THE EVENT THAT SUCH
REGIONAL SOURCES OF REVENUE DO
NOT EXIST AT THAT TIME.
I THINK THAT TIMELINE
ACKNOWLEDGES -- WE HAD TIM EYMAN
CALL IN AND COMMENT EARLIER ON
THE LEGISLATION, MAKING IT CLEAR
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE
STATE OPPOSED TO A CONVERSATION
AROUND PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SO I
UNDERSTAND IT'S A HEAVY LIFT TO
GET THAT OUT OF OLYMPIA.
BUT MY HOPE IS ON A 20-YEAR
TIMELINE, THAT'S MORE REALISTIC
THAN A 10-YEAR ONE.
IT WON'T PUT IN JEOPARDY THE
INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING NOW NOR
UNDERCUT THE URGENCY OF THIS
PROPOSAL SO I WOULD MOVE THAT WE
INSTITUTE THIS COMPROMISED
SUNSET AS ENUMERATED OUT IN THE
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT 2?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU.
I OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE
THIS AMENDMENT ATTEMPTS TO BRING
BACK A SUNSET CLAUSE EVEN THOUGH
THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET
COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY VOTED FOR
MY AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE THE
SUNSET CLAUSE.
20 YEARS MAY SOUND LIKE A LONG
TIME TO POLITICIANS WHO ARE NOT
DOING THE HARD WORK OF BUILDING
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENTS, GETTING
THEIR BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS TO
BUILD FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
20 YEARS MAY SOUND LIKE A LONG
TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
STRUGGLING, I'M TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SEATTLE WHO
FOUGHT
FOR COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS TO SAY
20 YEARS FROM NOW I HOPE
SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.
IS THAT WHAT YOUR HOPE IS BASED
ON?
THE FACT THAT NOTHING WAS DONE
BY REGIONAL AND STATE POLITICAL
OFFICIALS.
THEY GIVE HANDOUT TO HAND OUT
TO BIG CORPORATIONS AND
EXECUTIVES COMPLETELY TONE DEAF
TO BRING THIS AMENDMENT AT THE
LAST SECOND WHEN THE PUBLIC
CAN'T SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS
PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN.
VERY CLEARLY AGAINST ANY KIND
OF CLAUSE.
THIS AMENDMENT, IF THIS
AMENDMENT GOES THROUGH IT WILL
MAKE SURE THE TAXES ARE
DRAMATICALLY REPEALED.
NOT THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY
CONDITIONS PLACED ON IT.
I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT ON
PROGRESSIVE REVENUES.
THERE IS NO MITIGATING ASPECT
ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT AT ALL.
AS FAR AS WHAT NEEDS TO BE, WHY
NOT THE SALES TAXES TO WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE.
PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
WHY NOT PROPERTY TAXES THAT
MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR WORKING-
CLASS AND MIDDLE-CLASS
HOMEOWNERS TO KEEP THEIR HOMES?
WHY NOT A SUNSET CLAUSE ON
TAXES AND STRUGGLING SMALL
BUSINESSES.
I AM STUNNED THIS DASHED
DESPITE ALL THE RHETORIC THAT
THE SUNSET CLAUSE IS BACK
AGAIN.
THE SUNSET CLAUSE IS ONLY BEING
PROPOSED TO ONE OF THE ONLY
TAXES THAT WORKING PEOPLE DO
NOT HAVE TO PAY.
SMALL BUSINESSES DO NOT HAVE TO
PAY.
POLITICIANS WILL GO TO SUCH
LINKS THROUGH A SUNSET CLAUSE.
IT SHOWS WHICH SIDE THEY ARE
ON.
THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE YES.
OUR MOVEMENT HAS GATHERED
30,000 SIGNATURES TO PUT THIS
ON THE BALLOT.
THAT IS A REAL THREAT.
A REAL THREAT TO BIG BUSINESS.
THAT IS WHY THIS IS GOING
THROUGH.
THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.
THIS AMENDMENT IS BEING BROUGHT
FORWARD FOR A SUNSET CLAUSE, IT
SHOWS THE LINKS TO WHICH THE
ESTABLISHMENT POLITICIANS WILL
GO THROUGH.
I ABSOLUTELY PLEDGE IF THIS
AMENDMENT PASSES, THEN WE WILL
IN OUR MOVEMENT DO EVERYTHING
IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE FIGHT AGAINST THE
ESTABLISHMENT.
I WILL ALSO SAY PUTTING THIS
KIND OF SUNSET CLAUSE IN SUCH A
PROGRESSIVE -- WE ARE ABLE TO
WIN YOU HARD-WORKING PEOPLE WHO
SPENT ALL OF YOUR WEEKENDS AND
ALL OF YOUR WORK WAKING HOURS
ASIDE FROM YOUR WORK AND FAMILY
TO BUILD THIS MOVEMENT.
YOU WILL HAVE TO DO IT IN
ANOTHER 20 YEARS.
WE NEED FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE FOR
SOCIETY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
WHAT ELSE HAS ANY COMMENTS
PLEASE FILL FREE TO INDICATE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , PLEASE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
ALTHOUGH I RECOGNIZE IN PAST
MEETINGS THERE WAS AN
IMPORTANCE FOR A SUNSET CLAUSE.
AND THE POTENTIAL TO BRING
USEFUL PRESSURE TO BEAR ON
OTHER JURISDITIONS.
AS A WAY TO ENCOURAGE
LEGISLATORS AND BUSINESS
STAKEHOLDERS TO WORK TOWARDS
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
SPECIFICALLY A REGION SOURCE.
LAST WEEK AND THE COMMITTEE WE
SETTLED THE ISSUE.
IT WILL PROVIDE A SIMILAR LEVEL
OF FUNDING.
I FELT LIKE WE RESOLVED THIS
ISSUE.
IN OUR COMMITTEE MEETING.
THE AMENDMENT THAT WE PASSED IN
THE COMMITTEE I BETTER
ADDRESSES AND SETTLES THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH THE COUNCIL
WOULD SUPPORT ENDING THIS
SPECIFIC TAX.
I DON'T BELIEVE A 20 YEAR
SUNSET CLAUSE PROVIDES ANY
ADDITIONAL PRESSURE THAT IS NOT
ALREADY ADDRESSED TO THE
AMENDMENT PASSED LAST WEEK TO
THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
>> LAST WEEK I MODEL FOR A
SUNSET CLAUSE DUE TO MY
HESITANCE REGARDING THE LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD LANGUAGE.
I DID THINK THE 10 YEARS WAS
TOO SHORT.
IN PARTICULAR THERE ARE ASPECTS
OF THIS BILL THAT ARE TIED TO
20 YEAR FUNDING SEGMENTS.
ESPECIALLY IN REGARDING
HOUSING.
A FUTURE COUNSEL WILL BENEFIT
FROM EVALUATING THE TAX IN 20
YEARS.
TO UNDERSTAND IF IT NEEDS TO BE
RAISED OR LOWERED OR ADJUSTED.
I'M SUPPORTING A 20 YEAR SUNSET
RATHER THAN THE 10 YEAR SUNSET.
THE 20 YEAR SUNSET IS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPENDING
PLAN.
THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED
AND WE WILL VOTE ON.
WHILE JUMPSTART SEATTLE IS
DIFFERENT THAN PROPERTY TAX AND
SALES TAX LEVIES WHICH ARE PUT
TO THE BALLOT, THEY ALSO HAVE
RENEWALS WHICH SUNSET CLAUSE IS
UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME.
THERE ARE SUNSET CLAUSES IN THE
SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX.
WHILE THESE JUMPSTART PROPOSALS
ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE LEVY WE
HAVE NEAR THE PROCESS FOR
JUMPSTART SEATTLE.
INCLUDING RATES AND SERVICES
RENDERED TO OUR CITY AND OUR
COMMUNITY.
THAT HAS BEEN IN A 20 YEAR
SEGMENT.
IN 20 YEARS WE WILL NEED TO
REASSESS THE RATES AND CREATE A
NEW SPENDING PLAN TO BE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSAL.
SUNSET COULD JUST BE AS EASILY
WORDED AS A RENEWAL.
THIS AMENDMENT FITS INTO THE
NEARLY TAILORED NATURE OF THIS
BILL.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK BEING PUT
FORWARD ON THIS.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THE BILL?
EXCUSE ME, ON THE AMENDMENT.
>> JUST BRIEFLY I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS.
I DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO A
-FOR-TAT ABOUT WHOSE SIDE I AM
ON.
TRYING TO APPROACH THIS WITH
COMMON SENSE.
IMB AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
IF WE HAVE A 20 YEAR SUNSET THE
FURTHER OUT THE SUNSET IS THE
LESS VOLATILE IT IS.
IT GIVES US A 20 YEAR WINDOW IF
YOU WILL.
TO PLAN.
HOPEFULLY WITHIN 20 YEARS, WHEN
I AM 80 THIS STATE WILL HAVE
PROGRESSIVE TAXES IN PLACE.
NOT ONLY ON INCOME, BUT
CERTAINLY HOPEFULLY ON THE TAX
THE CITY WILL PROBABLY PASS
TODAY.
WITH THAT I WILL SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> PERHAPS THE ONLY -FOR-TAT I
WILL GET INTO IS TO SAY I WILL
ONLY BE 63 YEARS OLD IN 20
YEARS.
COUNCILMEMBER --
>> COLLEAGUES I HAD A LOT OF
CONCERNS WITH THE INITIAL
TENURE THAT I DID INCLUDE IN
THE DROP BILL.
BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE FEEDBACK
WE RECEIVED FROM PEOPLE WHO
WERE WORKING ON LEGISLATION AS
WELL.
THE POINT THAT HAS BEEN MADE
WITH CONCERNS ARE VERY WELL
TAKEN.
I HAVE BEEN CLEAR THAT MY MAIN
CONCERN WAS THAT IT COULD
POTENTIALLY UNINTENTIONALLY
LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO DO
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
WHICH REQUIRES IN MANY CASES A
20 YEAR FUNDING COMMITMET.
BECAUSE THIS IS AT LEAST 20
YEARS.
I HOPE IT TO BE CONSIDERED A
RENEWAL.
OR IMPORTANTLY THAT THERE WILL
BE MORE STATE-LEVEL ACTION THAT
IS TAKEN.
AND GET US TO A MORE EQUITABLE
TAX PROPOSAL.
I WILL SUPPORT A 20 YEAR.
THAT IS THE MINIMUM GIVEN THAT
THIS IS NEEDED FUNDING.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THIS PROPOSED
AMENDMENT?
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY
SOMETHING.
HE SAID HE WANTS A FUTURE
COUNSEL.
IT JUST SAYS FROM A BUSINESS
SHALL -- AFTER DECEMBER 31.
THIS IS A REMOVING OF THE TAX
IN 20 YEARS.
IT WILL BE PUT ON THE FUTURE
COUNSEL.
THERE'S SO MUCH EVIDENCE THAT
COUNSEL WILL DO THE RIGHT
THING.
WHAT WAS SAID IS NOT SOMETHING
IN THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THAT IS THE SAME LANGUAGE
THAT IS USED IN THE BENEFIT
DISTRICT.
THE TAXED WHICH IS LEVIED.
IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY STATED
NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED.
WE ARE BRINGING IT UP THIS WEEK
TO BE RENEWED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS
BILL.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT TWO.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WILL HAVE
THE LAST WORD ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE
FOR THE CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO SIGNAL THAT
UNFORTUNATELY WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT
EITHER.
I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE
SENTIMENT FOR WHICH THIS IS
BROUGHT FORWARD.
AND JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT
OF CLARIFICATION TO THE GENERAL
PUBLI.
ANY COUNCILMEMBER AT ANY TIME
AT ANY COUNSEL AT ANY TIME CAN
INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REPEAL
AND AMEND OR MODIFY ANY
ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE PASSED
IN THE PAST.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SUNSET I
STILL THINK WHETHER THIS
AMENDMENT PASSES OR NOT FUTURE
COUNSEL'S WILL NOT HAVE THEIR
HANDS TIED ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER.
AS IT RELATES TO FUTURE POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS ON THIS REVENUE
PROPOSAL OR ANY OTHER REVENUE
PROPOSAL FRANKLY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID I WILL
HAND IT BACK OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
WHO CAN CLOSE OUT DEBATE.
IF HE WISHES.
I WILL CALL THE ROLL OR HAVE
THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> I WILL BE BRIEF IN CLOSING
IT OUT.
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE
CRITICAL FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS.
IN REGARDS OF THE OVERALL
CONTENT.
I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE
HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO
WEIGH IN ON THIS HEARING.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON
IT.
I WOULD SAY I ACTUALLY AM,
MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE I WILL ONLY
BE 50 YEARS OLD IN 20 YEARS.
WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO GET
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE FROM
OLYMPIA ON A REGIONAL BASIS.
WE SAW AN INITIAL GLIMPSE OF
THAT.
I ENGAGE IN A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE
CONTINUE TO THINK OF OURSELVES
AS A REGIONAL PARTNER.
THIS AMENDMENT SIGNALS AND
CENTERS THAT IDEA THAT WE ARE
COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER
WITH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE
TO COME UP WITH COMPREHENSIVE
REVENUE PROPOSALS.
HAT DO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SCALING OUR BENEFIT ACROSS THE
BORDERS.
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING
RESPONSIVE.
AND SPREADING THE BURDEN QUITE
FRANKLY.
ACROSS THE REST OF THE COUNTY
AND THE REST OF THE STATE.
TO I THINK IT WILL HAPPEN FAST?
NO.
WHICH IS WHY I WOULD NOT
SUPPORT A 10 YEAR SUNSET AND
NOW I AM PROPOSING A 20 YEAR
SUNSET.
WE JUST ASK WE CALL THE
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU CUSTOMER BILL
LEWIS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID I WOULD
ASK THAT KIRK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
TWO.
>> LEWIS?
MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
PEDERSON?
SAWANT?
>> THEY.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES.
AMENDMENT TWO IS ADOPTED.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
THIS IS THE NEXT VOTE.
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL AS
AMENDED.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS
AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
COUNCILMEMBER WARREN IS JUAREZ
WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.
SHE WILL LET ME KNOW AT WHAT
POINT SHE WOULD LIKE TO DO
THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPONSOR THIS LEGISLATION.
MOSQUEDA AND GONZALES AND
HERBOLD AND STRAUSS.
I DO THINK THAT WE CANNOT WAIT
ANY LONGER.
WE ARE FACING SO MANY DIFFERENT
FRONTS.
I THINK FIRST I WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
PROCESS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA UNDERTOOK THIS SPRING.
UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
AND WAS ABLE TO COBBLE TOGETHER
A COALITION OF LABOR AND SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS AND NONPROFITS
AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.
TO UNITE ALL OF US IN OUR
COMMON CAUSE.
THE MASSIVE INEQUITABLE
STRUGGLES WE ARE FACING WILL
NOT YIELD UNTIL WE HAVE SOME
KIND OF SIGNIFICANT PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE PACKAGE IN FRONT OF US.
THAT WILL RISE TO THE AMBITIONS
OF THE SCOPE OF OUR PROBLEMS.
THIS PACKAGE DOES GET THERE., I
AM COMMITTED TO A REGIONAL
APPROACH AS I TALKED EARLIER
úDURING THE DISCUSSION WITH THE
SUNSET CLAUSE.
WE CANNOT WAIT FOR OLYMPIA TO
ACT TO PROVIDE THIS RELIEF.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE GOOD
NEWS AND OTHER TIMES.
WE SAW LAST WEEK THERE WAS AN
INCREASING KANE COUNTY OF
PEOPLE ENTERING HOMELESSNESS.
THEINCREASE WAS EXCEEDING THE
RATE OF EXIT.
WE SAW THOUSANDS OF OUR
NEIGHBORS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.
DUE TO THE COVID CRISIS.
IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY WERE
BURDEN BEFORE THEY ARE NOW
INCREASINGLY INSECURE AND
BEYOND WHERE THEY WERE PRIOR TO
THE NEW AND COMPLETELY
UNPRECEDENTED EMERGENCY IN MY
LIFE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE
OF MANY OF MY FRIENDS.
WE REALLY ARE IN A POSITION
WHERE THE CALVARY WILL NOT COME
OVER THE HILL.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE WILL
BE A SPECIAL SESSION
LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A COMPLETE APPLICATION
OF ANY KIND THE DUTY OR
RESPONSIBILITY FROM OUR FEDERAL
EXECUTIVE.
FEDERAL LEADERSHIP FROM THE
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY
ABSENT.
WE NEED TO STEP IN AND RAISE
THIS REVENUE.
I APPRECIATE THAT THIS FOLLOWS
ON THE MODEL OF HOSPITAL 2907.
ONLY TARGETING PHYSICIANS
POSITIONS AT LARGE . LARGE AND
SUCCESSFUL CORPORATIONS THAT
MAKE OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
MONEY.
I APPRECIATE THAT WE MADE A
COUPLE OF SURGICAL EXEMPTIONS.
TO MAKE SURE THE TAX DOES NOT
FALL ON FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE
FRONT LINE OF THE CURRENT
PUBLIC HEALTH.
ISSUE.
THAT WE ARE FACING WITH COVID-
19.
I'M APPRECIATIVE THERE WILL BE
A MASSIVE MULTIPLIER TO THIS.
WE ARE PASSING THIS REVENUE
PACKAGE TO BUILD.
TO BUILD HOUSING AND SUPPORT
PEOPLE AND TO STAY IN THEIR
HOUSE.
TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS.
AT A TRULY UNPRECEDENTED SCALE.
I CAN SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY THIS
WILL HELP US MOVE TOWARDS OUR
GOAL OF MEETING ARE WRITING THE
WRONG OF OUR LONG TIME
SHORTFALL IS SHORT OF HOUSING
AND MAKING SURE WE ARE IN A
POSITION TO MEET THE
OBLIGATION.
WITH THAT I WANT TO TURN IT
OVER.
I AM PROUD TO VOTE FOR THIS
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
NEXT UP IN THE QUEUE IS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
FOR THOSE ON VIDEO PLEASE DO
RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE BUZZARD
CHAIR FOR OUR CONVERSATIONS AND
DISCUSSIONS.
EVEN TODAY'S DISCUSSIONS YOU
AND I HAD OFF-LINE.
AND THE EXPERIENCE AND
ENTHUSIASM YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO
THE CITY COUNCIL.
I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK WAS
DEDICATED TO THIS EFFORT NOW
AND BACK IN THE FALL OF 2017.
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST WEEK
I DO SUPPORT A PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE TAX.
I DO SUPPORT A TAX ON
CORPORATION.
I SUPPORTED A COUNTYWIDE
REGIONAL APPROACH AND A
STATEWIDE APPROACH.
TO THE PROGRESSIVE TAX
SOLUTION.
I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL.
OUR CITY IS SAFE FROM THE
PANDEMIC.
AND AN ECONOMIC RECESSION THAT
THIS COUNTRY HAS NEVER SEEN THE
LIKES OF.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS THE SHORT
NOTE TO YOU, THE CALVARY IS NOT
A WELCOME SIGN.
NO ECONOMISTS AND NO POLITICIAN
AND NO POLICY ACADEMIC OR
EXPERT CAN FORECAST WHEN THE
CHALLENGES WILL AND.
WE DO NOT KNOW THE DEPTH OR THE
LENGTH OF THE DURATION OF THIS
PANDEMIC AND FIELD RECESSION.
THERE IS NO JOBS TO BUILD A
STIMULUS PAD PACKAGE FOR GROWTH.
IN MAY 2020 PORTLAND VOTERS
APPROVED AN INCOME AND A
BUSINESS TAX FOR HOMELESSNESS
OR BUSINESS.
THE SUNSET CLAUSE FOR 2030.
OREGON'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS
14% AND SEATTLE'S IS AT 16%.
SEATTLE HAS A WELL-ESTABLISHED
DEMOCRATIC TRADITION OF GIVING
úVOTERS THE FINAL SAY.
YOUR VOTERS HAVE APPROVED OVER
11 CITY LEVELS TO HEALTH
EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION TO
PARKS.
VOTERS HAVE SUPPORTED OVER SIX
COUNTYWIDE LEVIES.
AS YOU ALL KNOW IN 2006 VOTERS
APPROVED A SMALL LOCAL PAYROLL
TAX ON BUSINESSES AS PART OF
BRIDGING THE GAP TRANSPORTATION
MEASURE.
I SHARED THIS NIGHT AND LECTURE
BETWEEN LOVING TAXES.
IS A TESTAMENT THE STANDARD
MOTORS ARE SMART CARING AND
GENEROUS.
AGAIN NO ONE IS AGAINST TAXING
CORPORATIONS OR PROGRESSIVE
TAX.
THAT'S HOW WE GET THERE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY I TRUST
THE VOTERS OF SEATTLE TO TAX
CORPORATIONS SO WE CAN IMAGINE
A NEW ECONOMY AND NOT BE FACED
WITH ANOTHER DIFFICULT CHOICE
TO REPEAL THIS TAX AS WE DID IN
2018.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
>> THE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT GOT
ADDED TO THIS BILL.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM
THE HISTORIC NATURE OF WHAT WE
ARE ABOUT TO PASS HERE.
WE KNOW THAT THE CITY TAKES A
CRUCIAL STEP TO EMBRACE EQUITY.
AND REJECTED CORPORATE
INFLUENCE OVER OUR TAX
POLICIES.
TODAY THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
IS BOLDLY LEADING TO CREATE A
MORE EQUITABLE WAY TO FINANCE
PUBLIC SERVICES.
WE CHALLENGE ELECTED OFFICIALS
AT THE STATE LEVEL.
TO JOIN US IN CHOOSING
INVESTMENT POSTERITY.
BYPASS IN THE PROPOSAL WE WILL
SHIFT SOME OF THE BURDEN FROM
INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS TO THE
WEALTHIEST CORPORATIONS IN THE
CITY.
NEXT WEEK WE WILL FINALIZE THE
PLAN FOR HOW WE INVEST.
WE WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT
RELIEF FOR RENTERS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES.
FOR IMMIGRANTS AND OTHERS
IMPACTED BY THE COVID CRISIS.
THIS STRUCTURAL CHANGE WILL
ALSO ALLOW US TO RETHINK OUR
SOCIAL SPENDING.
SO WE CAN IMPROVE OUR
POPULATION HEALTH AND IMPROVE
COMMUNITY CONDITIONS, AND BEGIN
TO REVERSE INTERGENERATIONAL
POVERTY IN THE CITY.
SIX MONTHS AGO TODAY I WAS
SWORN IN TO BEGIN SERVING THE
PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 2. I WILL
SAY MY FIRST SIX MONTHS HAVE
BEEN A LITTLE EXTRA.
I WANT TO TAKE MY STAFF FOR
THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO
KEEP OUR OFFICE ACCOUNTABLE TO
OUR BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH
COMMUNITIES AND EVERYTHING THAT
WE DO.
TAXATION, ZONING, UTILITIES,
PARKS, EDUCATION, GREEN
ECONOMIES, AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS HOW WE DEMONSTRATE THAT
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
FOR ALEXIS TURLOCK, DEVON
SILVER NEAR AND OUR STAFF, SIX
MONTHS INTO OUR FIRST TERM IN
OFFICE WE ARE VOTING ON MAJOR
LEGISLATION THAT WILL IMPROVE
THE LIVES OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
YOUR WORK HAS HELPED US GET
HERE.
I'M EXCITED TO VOTE YES TODAY
ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF
DISTRICT 2. I WANT TO THANK OUR
COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU MEMBER
COUNCILMEMBER'S MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU.
TODAY'S VOTE TO PASS AN AMAZON
TAX IN SEATTLE IS A HISTORIC
VICTORY FOR WORKING PEOPLE.
THIS VICTORY WAS HARD-FOUGHT
AND IT WAS HARD ONE.
BY A MOVEMENT THAT WOULD NOT
GIVE UP.
AND FACE DOWN A SEEMINGLY
ENDLESS SERIES OF OBSTACLES
FROM THE SHAMEFUL ATTEMPTS OF
DEMOCRATS DASHED TO UNFOUNDED
DELAYS IN THE CITY COUNCIL TO A
PANDEMIC AND LOCKDOWN AND WHICH
PREVENTED SIGNATURE GATHERING.
TO RELENTLESS ATTACKS IN THE
CORPORATE MEDIA IN SEATTLE AND
NATIONALLY.
WE ARE WINNING BECAUSE OF THE
DETERMINATION OF WORKERS AND
SOCIALISTS.
TO SMASH ALL OBSTACLES AND TO
FIND A PATH TO VICTORY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRASS
ROOTS TAX AMAZON CAMPAIGN.
LED BY THE COALITION THAT
INCLUDED MY ORGANIZATION
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.
AND MANY PROGRESSIVE
ORGANIZATIONS AND UNIONS.
TODAY'S VOTE COMES EIGHT MONTHS
AFTER WORKING PEOPLE WRONGLY
DEFEATED AMAZON IN THE
ELECTION, AND TWO YEARS AFTER
AMAZON AND THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE BULLIED CITY COUNCIL
WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE
COUNCIL SHAMEFULLY REPEALING
THE 2018 AMAZON TAX.
NOW JEFF BEZOS AND HIS
BILLIONAIRE FRIENDS ARE WISHING
THEY COULD CALL A DO OVER AND
HAVE THE MODEST 2018 TAX BACK.
THE NEW TAX ON SEATTLE'S
WEALTHIEST BUSINESSES IS FOUR
TIMES LARGER.
EVERY PENNY IS NEEDED.
FAR MORE, IN FACT, TO STOP THE
RACIST GENTRIFICATION SKYHIGH
RENTS AND HOMELESSNESS IN THE
CITY WITH A MASSIVE EXPANSION
OF PUBLICLY OWNED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND JOBS.
THIS AMAZON TAX AS A HOUSING
AND JOBS BILL.
IT IS NO ACCIDENT.
THIS COMES IN THE MIDST OF THE
HISTORIC BLACK LIVES MATTER
REBELLION.
IN SEATTLE TAX AMAZON WAS
WIDELY TAKEN UP FOR THE JUSTICE
AND THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.
WE GATHERED 20,000 SIGNATURES
IN 20 DAYS.
>> THE BIGGEST PROGRESSIVE WHEN
IN SEATTLE.
SOCIALIST AND LABOR UNION LED
THE WAY ON THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE
WE CAN INSPIRE WORKING PEOPLE
AND YOUTH NATIONALLY AND
GLOBALLY IN THIS CRUCIAL FIGHT
AGAINST THE BILLIONAIRE CAUSE.
WHICH IS ATTEMPTING TO FORCE
WORKING PEOPLE TO STAY WITH THE
CURRENT CRISIS OF CAPITALISM
WITH MASSIVE BUDGET CUTS.
OUR RALLYING CRY NATIONALLY
MUST BE KNOWN.
WE MUST REJECT ATTEMPTS OF
CORPORATE MEDIA.
NOW THOSE DESPERATELY WANT TO
SPEND A NARRATIVE TO DISCOURAGE
WORKING STRUGGLE AND
EMPOWERMENT PICKED AMAZON TAX
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
QUOTE ON QUOTE SALARY OF
ESTABLISHED POLITICIANS.
IT HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH A
SELF ORGANIZATION OF WORKING
PEOPLE.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND MAYBE
KNELT BY THOUSANDS DISCUSSED
AND VOTED.
WE DID NOT WIN EVERYTHING WE
WANTED.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE SUNSET
CLAUSE.
DISAGREE WITH OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS ON WATERING DOWN
THE LEGISLATION I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SUPPORT AND
VOTES FOR THE PASSAGE OF THIS
AMAZON TAX.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR HER SUPPORT.
WE MUST BUILD ON OUR MOMENTUM.
THE MOVEMENT TO TAX AMAZON AND
BIG BUSINESS TO FIND HOUSING
AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES IS
NEEDED EVERYWHERE.
WE MUST ACTIVELY SPREAD IT.
HERE IN SEATTLE WE WILL NEED TO
IMMEDIATELY TAKE THIS ENERGY
TOWARD THE RELEASE OF ALL
ARRESTED PROTESTERS WITHOUT
CHARGES.
TO DEFEND THE SEATTLE POLICE BY
AT LEAST 50%.
AND TO WIN AT LEAST 1000
QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOMES IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT FOR BLACK
WORKING FAMILIES.
THE STRUGGLE FOR BLACK
LIBERATION WILL ALSO MEAN
CAMPAIGNING FOR ELECTED
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT BOARDS.
THE MOMENT WAS CLEAR EYED ABOUT
NAMING THE REAL FORCE AND
PULLING THE STRINGS.
FOR THOSE WATCHING FROM OUTSIDE
SEATTLE DON'T LET ANYONE TELL
YOU IN YOUR FIGHT TO TAX BIG
BUSINESS IN YOUR CITY THAT YOU
ARE BEING DIVISIVE.
CLASS STRUGGLE IS WHAT GETS THE
GOODS.
CONTEST HERE AND NOW BUT
EVERYWHERE AND ALWAYS.
THE MOST BASIC NEEDS OF WORKING
PEOPLE.
INTERNATIONALLY -- I HAVE A
MESSAGE FOR JEFF BEZOS AND HIS
CLASS.
IF YOU ATTEMPT AGAIN TO
OVERTURN THE AMAZON TAX,
WORKING PEOPLE WILL GO ALL OUT
IN THE THOUSANDS TO DEFEAT YOU.
WE WILL NOT STOP THERE.
YOU CAN SEE WE ARE FIGHTING FOR
FAR MORE THAN THIS TAX.
WE ARE PREPARING THE GROUND FOR
A DIFFERENT KIND OF SOCIETY.
A FEW, JEFF BEZOS, WANT TO
DRIVE THE PROCESS FORWARD BY
LASHING OUT AGAINST US IN OUR
MODEST DEMANDS, THEN SO BE IT.
WE ARE COMING FOR YOU AND YOUR
ROTTEN SYSTEM.
WE ARE COMING TO DISMANTLE THIS
DEEPLY OPPRESSIVE RACIST AND
SEXIST, VIOLENT AND UTTERLY
BANKRUPT SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM.
>> THANK YOU MEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
I THINK THERE IS LOTS OF THINGS
TO GO AROUND.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR PROPOSING A
STRUCTURE THAT WAS DIFFERENT
FROM THE 2018 EMPLOYEES HOURS
TAX.
BECAUSE THE NEW PROPOSAL WAS
NARROW AND TAXED, AND TAXES THE
ONLY LARGEST BUSINESSES PAYING
THE HIGHEST SALARIES WHICH I
BELIEVE IS MOST DRIVING OUR
CITY'S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
IT'S MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO
ENACT THIS VERSION OF THE
MEASURE RATHER THAN VOTING TO
PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
AS I HAD SAID I WAS CONSIDERING
VOTING TO DO.
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT A MODEL
THAT LOOKED MORE LIKE THE
EMPLOYEE HOURS TAX.
I ONLY SAY THIS TO SAY I THINK
THERE IS LOTS OF THINGS TO GO
AROUND AND LOTS OF CREDIT.
TO BE SHARED.
AGAIN, THIS MODEL REPRESENTS
THE SAME TAX STRUCTURE THAT THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS FORCED
TO SUPPORT WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED
AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
I HOPE THEIR POSITION ON OUR
TAX IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
POSITION THEY HAVE TAKEN ON
STATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
HAVE ALLOWED FOR A REGIONAL
TAX.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUR
CITIES AND STATES UPSIDE DOWN
TAX CODE.
WERE SEATTLE RESIDENTS ARE
STRUGGLING ON THE SMALLEST
INCOMES.
THEY PAY SIX TIMES MORE IN
TAXES AS A PERCENT OF THEIR
INCOME.
THIS HELPS US RAISE MORE FRIEND
FUNDS FOR FUTURE INVESTMENTS.
WITHOUT BURDENING SEATTLE
RESIDENTS.
WITH THIS REVENUE WE CAN INVEST
N COVID RELIEF AND RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
CAN HELP SEATTLE WORKERS WHO
HAVE LOST JOBS OR HOURS DUE TO
THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
WE CAN HELP IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE HOUSEHOLDS THAT MAY BE
INELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL RELIEF
PROGRAMS.
PEOPLE ARE LIVING AND SHELTERED
IN THE BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST
IMPACTED BY COVID-19.
WE CAN AND MUST MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN SEATTLE'S
RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN LINE WITH
THEIR VALUES.
IT WILL HELP SPEED OUR
COMMUNITIES RECOVERY.
AGAIN, WE WILL FINALLY TAKE A
STEP TOWARDS ADDRESSING OUR
UPSIDE DOWN TAX CODE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK
ON THIS BILL.
A WELL TAILORED PROPOSAL.
CRITICS ARE STRAINING TO COME
UP WITH POLITICAL ARGUMENTS
AGAINST IT.
THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE
BILL ARE THAT IT ADDRESSES GAPS
THAT OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
HAVE NOT PROVIDED.
I HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AND
SMALL BUSINESSES ALIKE AND THE
NEED FOR CHILDCARE.
FUNDING FOR IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED
SUPPORT FROM OTHER LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT.
AND IMPORTANTLY THE SMALL
BUSINESS STIMULUS IS CRITICAL
ASPECTS OF THIS BILL.
THE PROPER CYBORGS THAT ALLOW
THE SOLUTION TO SCALE TO A
COUNTYWIDE REGIONWIDE, IF THE
STATE IS ABLE TO DO SO A
STATEWIDE SOLUTION.
THIS BILL AND MANY DEFINITIONS
WERE DERIVED FROM THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO
HAS LED IN THIS EFFORT.
ESPECIALLY TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND SPENDING HOURS IN
HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH MY
TEAM.
I COULDN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
ALL OF YOUR WORK AND ALL OF THE
SPONSORS.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON?
>> TODAY IT APPEARS THE
MAJORITY OF OUR CITY COUNCIL
WILL VOTE TO APPROVE THIS NEW
TAX ON LARGE SEATTLE EMPLOYERS.
THIS NEW TAX WILL BE IN
ADDITION TO THE BUSINESS AND
OCCUPATION TAXES AND PROPERTY
TAXES AND BUSINESS LICENSE FEES
PAID BY SEATTLE EMPLOYERS.
I WANT TO THANK AND COMMAND OUR
BUDGET CHAIR COUNCILMAN
MOSQUEDA.
SHE PUT TOGETHER A MORE
TARGETED PROPOSAL AND WORKED
IN A OPEN AND COLLABORATIVE WAY
WITH MANY OF US HERE ON THE
CITY COUNCIL.
AND THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY TO
INCORPORATE VARIOUS IDEAS TO
IMPROVE HER ALREADY THOUGHTFUL
TAX-AND-SPEND PACKAGE.
I APPRECIATE WHY MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES WILL VOTE YES TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
THOUSANDS OF CONSTITUENTS WHO
TOOK THE TIME TO PROVIDE INPUT
ON THIS.
AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION AND
CONSULTATION WITH MY
CONSTITUENTS OF MY STRONG
CONCERNS REMAIN.
I REPRESENT A DISTRICT THAT HAS
A VARIETY OF VIEWS ON ISSUES.
THAT MAKES MANY VOTES
DIFFICULT.
PASSION AND PLEAS FROM ALL
SIDES OF COMPLEX ISSUES.
LATER TODAY I WILL POST A
LONGER STATEMENT ON MY BLOG
EXPLAINING MY VOTE.
FROM NOW?
I AM NOT PLANNING TO CHANGE MY
VOTE FROM THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.
READER THIS MONTH I WILL LIKELY
VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE SHORT-TERM
COVID RELIEF BILL FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
THIS WILL TAP OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY FUND AT
AMOUNTS HIGHER THAN PROPOSED BY
OUR MAYOR.
CONSISTENTLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF
RELIEF PACKAGES AND REGULATORY
CHANGES TO HELP THOSE IMPACTED
BY THE COVID CRISIS.
THE TAX-AND-SPEND PACKAGE IS
BEFORE US TODAY ARE LONG-TERM
POLICIES THAT REQUIRE INITIAL
CONSIDERATIONS.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE I AM
CONCERNED IT PENALIZES ONLY
SEATTLE EMPLOYERS.
IT IS NOT A REGIONAL SOLUTION.
I AM CONCERNED THAT COMPANIES
ROVIDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
JOBS TO OUR RESIDENTS MAY LEAVE
THE CITY.
AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
SUPPORT THE LARGER EMPLOYEES
COULD ALSO BE NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED.
I AM CONCERNED IT DOES NOT
EXEMPT ALL NONPROFITS.
I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT
TODAY FOR THE HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THE
SPENDING PLAN, WE ARE IN A
POSITION NOW TO ENACT THE NEW
TAX WITHOUT KNOWING THE FULL
DETAIL OF HOW WE WOULD SPEND
THE MONEY.
THE VERSION OF THE SPENDING
PLAN IN FRONT OF US TODAY HAS
REMOVED MANY OF THE KEY DETAILS.
A PREVIOUS MORE DETAILED
VERSION OF THE SPENDING PLAN
WAS BETTER AND MORE TARGETED
AND MORE SPECIFIC.
I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A
SITUATION WHERE IT'S TAX FIRST
AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ NOTICED
THIS DOES NOT GIVE VOTERS A
CHOICE.
SENDING A LARGE TAX AND SPEND
PROPOSAL TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT
FOR VOTERS TO DECIDE WHAT BEEN
CONSISTENT WITH OTHER LARGE TAX
MEASURES AND WILL PROVIDE MORE
TIME TO SEE WHETHER THE ECONOMY
IS RECOVERING AND WHETHER OUR
STATE GOVERNMENT CAN PASS A
BETTER MEASURE FOR REVENUE.
UNFORTUNATELY IDEA WAS REJECTED
AT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK.
I FEEL WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB
LOOKING FOR SAVINGS IN OUR
EXISTING BUDGET LARGE SALARIES
THERE IN THE POLICE BUDGET ARE
ALSO IN CITY DEPARTMENTS AS
NOTED IN THE RECENT
INVESTIGATION BY FORBES
MAGAZINE PUBLISHED ON JUNE 23.
THE LESSONS LEARNED AS WE DIVE
INTO THE POLICE BUDGET SALARIES
CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
SO WE EXPAND THE FULL SERVICES
AND NOT GOVERNMENT SALARIES.
TO ME THAT IS NOT AUSTERITY BUT
SUSTAINABILITY.
WHEN A PROGRESSIVE TAX.
WE NEED OUR STATE GOVERNMENT TO
ACT.
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CITY I HOPE
MY CONCERNS ARE JUST CONCERNS
AND WILL NOT ACTUALLY OCCUR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES IN THE MAYOR TO
CREATE A SUSTAINABLE TAX AND
SPENDING PATH AS PART OF OUR
FALL BUDGET DISCUSSIONS FOR
2021 BUDGET.
I HOPE THE PUBLIC TODAY SEES
NOT DIVISION OR DISPUTE AMONG
THE COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT DEBATE
AND DISCUSSION.
I BELIEVE THE WHOLE PROCESS HAS
MADE OUR CITY COUNCIL STRONGER.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I THINK
HER ON HER HARD WORK AND
CONGRATULATE HER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDES COMMENTS
FROM EVERYONE.
AS USUAL WE WILL END THE
COMMENT WITH THE HEARING FROM
THE PRIME SPONSOR WHO DISCOUNT
COUNCILMEMBER -- 126 HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REENGAGE ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.
STILL UNDERSTAND.
WE BELIEVE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS
TO NOT JUST PASS THE FORMER
ITERATION OF A TAX ON BIG
BUSINESS, BUT TO UNFORTUNATELY
HAVE TO REPEAL THE LAW.
I APPRECIATE THE PROCESS HERE.
AND YOUR STAFF'S WILLINGNESS, I
WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO
YOUR OFFICE.
WHO HAS BEEN SPENDING COUNTLESS
NUMBERS OF HOURS ON THE PHONE.
WITH MANY SHAREHOLDERS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE
THE HARD WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR
STAFF HAVE PUT IN ON THIS
IMPORTANT PROPOSAL.
I THINK THIS IS A SMART
APPROACH.
I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT
APPROACH.
I THINK THERE IS PROBABLY NO
OTHER TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.
WHERE WE HAVE A TRIPLE CRISIS
ON OUR HANDS.
FOR US TO NOT ONLY CONSIDER
THIS, BUT TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE A
NINE-MEMBER BODY THAT WAS
ELECTED BY DISTRICTS AND FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND I
CITYWIDE.
WE WERE ELECTED TO MAKE TOUGH
DECISIONS AND TO DIG INTO THE
POLICY WORK.
TO IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT POLICY
ISSUES AND TO IDENTIFY
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THOSE
ISSUES.
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I
THINK NOW AT THIS POINT GIVEN
THE TRIPLE CRISIS I THINK THAT
THE POLITICAL WINDS HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED ACROSS
THE CITY.
OUR CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE
CITY WANT US TO TAKE ACTION NOW
AS OPPOSED TO HUNTING TO A
BALLOT ISSUE.
I FEEL MORE THAN COMFORTABLE
SHOWING UP TODAY IN THIS
COUNCIL MEETING TO VOTE YES ON
JUMPSTART FOR SEATTLE, AND TO
BE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I AM
ONE OF THE COSPONSORS OF THIS
PROPOSAL.
I JUST WANT TO COMMEND
EVERYBODY FOR THE HARD WORK
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.
ALL THE FOLKS ON THE OUTSIDE
WHO HAVE BEEN EMAILING US.
AND TAGGING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
ABOUT WHY THEY THINK THIS IS
IMPORTANT.
ALL THE CALLS THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
PART OF THE RECORD, SHOWS TO
ME, THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS
EXPECT US TO TAKE ACTION.
AS THEY ARE ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES ON THE CITY
COUNCIL.
I WILL BE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO
CAST A YES VOTE IN FAVOR OF
THIS, I'M JUMPSTART SEATTLE,
AND THE NEXT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION WE WILL CONSIDER.
WITH THAT BEING SAID I WILL
CLOSE OUT THE DEBATE.
BY ASKING COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA TO GIVE CLOSING
REMARKS BEFORE WE CALL THE
ROLE.
>>
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IN CITY OF
SEATTLE THIS IS A HUGE WIN.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
ONGOING FEEDBACK.
AS WE HAVE TOGETHER RESPONDED
TO THE CRISIS THAT IS COVID.
TO INVEST IN OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITY AND TO INVEST IN
HISTORIC AMOUNTS OF FUNDING FOR
OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAS BEEN
AFFECTED BY DISPLACEMENT.
AND TO MAKE SURE THOSE THAT ARE
THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THIS
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS HAVE THE
CARE THEY NEED.
THIS IS ABOUT CARING FOR
SEATTLEITES NOW AND INTO THE
FUTURE.
WE TOGETHER ARE MAKING HISTORY.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
YOUR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK.
AND YOUR AMENDMENTS.
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
ESPECIALLY LAST WEEK.
AS WE CORRECTED THE BASE OF
THIS PROPOSAL.
WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT I AM
INCREDIBLY PROUD OF AND
INCREDIBLY PROUD THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS LEADING YET AGAIN.
HERE TODAY WE HAVE BALANCED
LABOR PROTECTIONS WITH
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRIORITIES.
WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO MEET
URGENT NEEDS DUE TO COVID-19.
INVEST IN HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE NOT SHIED AWAY FROM
SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS.
WITH YOUR VOTE TODAY WE WILL
DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS
PRESENTED AND EXPOSED BY COVID.
WE ARE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES
AND DOING THE WORK AND WE ARE
LEADING BYPASS AND JUMP
SEATTLE.
NONE OF US, NONE THE
COUNCILMEMBERS OR THE VOTERS IN
SEATTLE, NO ONE EXPECTED TO
COME INTO 2020 THE ISSUES WE
ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
COVID PRESENTING A MASSIVE
PUBLIC HEALTH DEADLY PANDEMIC
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE TYPE OF DEPRESSION THAT WE
WILL SOON BE FACING IS NO
LONGER GOING TO BE CONSIDERED A
RECESSION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE MUST SHIFT OUR PRIORITY.
WE MUST SHIFT TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE INVESTING.
AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY LEFT OUT AND THOSE
THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
JUMPSTART SEATTLE PROVIDES THAT
ALTERNATIVE TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE THE FUNDING NEEDED TO
RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO THE
COVID CRISIS AND MAKE SURE
THERE IS NOT A BUDGET THAT
LANDS IN OUR LAP THIS FALL.
MORE IMPORTANTLY IT INVEST IN
THE LONG-TERM FUNDING THAT WE
NEED.
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
TO INVEST IN HOMES AND SHELTER
THOSE WHO ARE LIVING.
AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR HER WORK.
WE WILL HAVE CONVERSATIONS IN
THE LONG RUN ABOUT EDI AND THE
SPENDING PLAN.
THANKS AGAIN TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR ALL THE WORK SHE HAS
BEEN BRINGING TO THE COUNSEL
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS ON
PUSHING FOR PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE.
WE WILL CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATIONS IN THE NEXT WEEK
ABOUT NEW INVESTMENTS AND
MAKING SURE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAT IS GEOGRAPHICALLY
LOCATED ACROSS SEATTLE.
TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS
HISTORIC INVESTMENT AND
DISPLACEMENT FROM COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR AND THE NEED OF
HOUSING.
TODAY WAS JUST SUPPORT.
WE ARE PASSING PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD FROM
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD SMALL BUSINESSES.
FROM THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR
FOOD ACCESS.
TOGETHER TODAY WE ARE LEADING
LIKE WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
WE ARE TAKING DIRECTION FROM
COMMUNITIES.
JUST LIKE YOU HAVE IN PAST
COUNCILS PASSED $15 MINIMUM
WAGE AND SECURE SCHEDULING.
THOSE ISSUES RIPPLED THROUGHOUT
OUR COUNTRY.
I'M HOPING THE SAME WILL HAPPEN
TODAY.
WERE LEADING LIKE WE DID IN THE
HOTEL WORKER PROTECTIONS.
CITY AFTER CITY CONTINUES TO
CALL US TO SAY HOW DID YOU DO
IT AND HOW WAS IT DONE?
I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS
THAT WERE MADE BEFORE.
OTHER CITIES THAT ARE LOOKING
TO PASS PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND
RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WASHINGTON STATE HAS GROUND TO
MAKE UP FOR.
WE ARE HOPING TODAY WE CONTINUE
TO SHOW THE LEADERSHIP ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND LEGISLATING
SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND
SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
LEFT OUT.
RESPONDING TO THE MOMENT OF
CRISIS AND INVESTING OF AREAS
THAT HAVE HAD HISTORIC
INVESTMENT.
WE ARE ASKING AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL AS A GOOD PARTNER, A
PARTNER WITH THE STATE AND THE
COUNTY.
THIS IS A SMALL COMPONENT OF
THE LARGER SOLUTION.
JUMPSTART SEATTLE WE INVEST IN
OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
A LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THIS IS HOW WE EMERGE.
STRONGER AND MORE EQUITABLE.
A FEW THINK IS BUT I WANT TO
PROVIDE AND THEN I WILL STOP
THE COMMENT.
I WANT TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF.
YOU HAVE SENT MESSAGES AND
EMAILS.
I MAKING SURE ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS IDEAS WERE
VETTED AND DRAFTED.
TO KEEP THE LEGISLATION IN
FRONT OF US.
TO MAKE SURE OUR VALUES AND
PRIORITIES WERE INCLUDED.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DO THIS WITHOUT ALL OF YOUR
WORK.
THANK YOU.
WE HOPE YOU HEAR OUR
APPRECIATION AND ARE ABLE TO --
I WANT TO THANK PATTY AND
KIERSTEN FOR THEIR PATIENCE AS
WE WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THE
AGENDAS FOR OUR MEETINGS THAT
ARE ONGOING.
AND FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT
WAS PROVIDED TO US FROM THE
LEGISLATURE DEPARTMENT.
THANKS TO MONICA EMILLIA AND
JODI.
WITHOUT YOU WE WOULD BE OUT OF
ORDER ALL THE TIME.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US WITH
THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS.
THANKS FOR PUTTING IN EXTRA
WORK TO MAKE SURE THE JUMPSTART
PLAN INCLUDING THE DETAILED
PLAN THAT WE WILL VOTE ON NEXT.
THERE IS A DETAILED SPENDING
LAN.
THAT ONLY HAS ORDINANCE WE ARE
VOTING ON TODAY, BUT WILL BE
FOLLOWED UP WITH A RESOLUTION
MUCH LIKE WE HAVE IN PREVIOUS
EFFORTS RELATED TO LEVIES.
TO BEING MORE SPECIFIC.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANKS TO OUR IT DEPARTMENT.
FOR HOW YOU ARE DOING TO HELP
US KEEP WORKING REMOTELY.
AND MAKING SURE THE PUBLIC
CONTINUES TO TESTIFY.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO
CONTINUED TO TESTIFY WHICH I
WILL GET TO IN A SECOND.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES.
TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORIC
MOMENT WE ARE IN.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE HOW
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IT IS FOR
US TO TAKE AWAY THE HISTORICAL
WIN THAT IS TODAY BY VOTING ON
JUMPSTART SEATTLE.
THANKS AGAIN TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND MORALES.
FOR THE ITERATIONS OF THE BILL
THAT YOU INTRODUCED.
WE HAVE CAREFULLY PULLED FROM
EACH OF THESE PIECES TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE DANCING STRONG
LEGISLATION TODAY.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY TEAM.
I KNOW YOUR WORK HAS BEEN
RECOGNIZED BY EVERY
COUNCILMEMBER.
AND THE STAFF.
THANK YOU.
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS EFFORT.
TAKE YOU TO MY INCREDIBLE TEAM.
AARON HOUSE.
I KNOW I AM GOING LONG.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT
SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNSEL
COMMITTEE AND A HANDFUL OF
ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT BE
SO KIND TO ALLOW ME A FEW MORE
MINUTES.
THE ACTION NETWORK IN THE
MENNONITE CHURCH.
INTERFACE TASK FORCE ON
HOMELESSNESS.
THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GRIDDLE
GREATER SEATTLE.
TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND
MOBILITY ORGANIZATION.
CAFC RED, THANK YOU TO THE
COMMUNITIES.
CHILDCARE RESOURCES AND NFC.
BEAVER HOOD HOUSE.
LIFELONG AIDS AND QUEEN AND
HEALTH LINE.
POVERTY ACTION.
UDUB WH.
THE LABORERS AND PAINTERS AND
IRONWORKERS.
AND THE WASHINGTON NIGHTLIFE
MUSIC ASSOCIATION.
ALSO I WANT TO THANK -- AND
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
ORGANIZATIONS.
LOW INCOME HOUSING.
YOUTH CARE AND NIGHTWATCH.
LAKE CITY PARTNERS.
THE COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS
AND REAL CHANGE.
THANK YOU TO SEATTLEITES WHO
ARE STRUGGLING WHETHER
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED.
WHETHER YOUR BUSINESS IS CLOSED
OR JUST REOPENING.
WHETHER YOU ARE MISSING HUGS OR
HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.
I KNOW YOU'RE WRAPPING YOUR
HEAD AROUND THIS POLICY RIGHT
NOW AND IT IS A LOT.
IT IS A HUGE WIN.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE
YOUR FAMILY IS MAKING ENDS
MEET.
WE ARE HERE IN THE MEANTIME
WORKING ON THIS POLICY,
JUMPSTART SEATTLE.
TO MAKE SURE COMMUNITIES ACROSS
SEATTLE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE
ACCESS TO CORE SERVICES AND
CORE PROTECTIONS LIKE HOUSING.
úWE ARE INVESTING IN THE LONG-
TERM.
SO WE ARE CREATING A MORE
UNITED AND A MORE RESILIENT AND
EQUITABLE SEATTLE AS WE RECOVER
FROM THE COVID CRISIS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT CLOSES OUT OUR DEBATE.
I WILL ASKED THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL AS AMENDED.
>> HERBOLD?
JUAREZ ?
>> NO.
>> LEWIS?
>> AYE
>> PEDERSON ?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
7 IN FAVOR IN 2 OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED
IN THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
I WILL ASKED THE CLERK TO A
FIXED THE SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
ITEM 4 THIS IS OUR LAST AGENDA.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
I ASKED THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 4 INTO THE RECORD.
>> 119111.
ESTABLISHING AND EXTENDING
FUNDS FOR PROPOSE USE OF THE
PROCEEDS GENERATED FROM THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX.
COUNSEL BILL WELD 19 810.
A NEW SECTION -- THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASSES
AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAD IN FRONT OF US
LEGISLATION THAT INCLUDES THE
CATEGORIES OF SPENDING.
THIS IS CRITICAL FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO PASS TODAY.
SO THAT WE CAN COUPLE THIS
REVENUE PROPOSAL.
WITH THE TAX PACKAGE.
TO TALK MORE ABOUT INVESTMENTS
IN THE UPCOMING WEDNESDAY
MEETING.
NOT THIS WEDNESDAY BUT THE
FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY.
TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE
SPECIFICS IN TERMS OF WHAT
ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO
KNOW EXACTLY WHICH AMENDMENTS
TO ADVANCE WITHOUT KNOWING THE
UNIVERSE OF DOLLARS FROM THIS
CONVERSATION.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT
THAT COMPLETELY RIGHT.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN
THIS ALLOWS US TO TALK ABOUT A
CATEGORY SPENDING PLAN.
AND TO THEN WORK IN GREATER
DETAIL.
MUCH LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH
OTHER LEVEES IN THE PAST.
WE FOLLOWED IT UP WITH VERY
DETAILED SPENDING PLANS TO
COMPLEMENT THE CATEGORIES OF
SPENDING.
I WILL ALSO TAKE A QUICK MINUTE
TO ADD TO THE THANK YOU'S I
SAID A MOMENT AGO.
WE WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION
TO HAVE MONEY TO SEND WITHOUT
ALL THE ONGOING FEEDBACK THAT
WE GOT FROM THE ROBUST
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LISTED
BEFORE WHO WERE PART OF A VERY
BROAD COALITION.
I WANT TO THANK THE BUSINESS
LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING
TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE TAX
PROPOSAL.
SO THAT WE DO HAVE NOT ONLY THE
BOAT THAT JUST HAPPENED TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, BUT ALSO
TAKE SURE WE HAVE THE ABILITY
TO INVEST IN CRITICAL PROGRAMS
LIKE SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES.
WHICH WE WILL REINVEST INTO
LARGER BUSINESSES.
THOSE FOLKS PROVIDED A LOT OF
FEEDBACK.
THANKS AGAIN TO RICHARD FOR THE
ONGOING FEEDBACK.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT.
VARIOUS WAYS TO RAISE
SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO GET MONEY
INTO THE HANDS TO THOSE WHO ARE
HURTING.
INCLUDING NEEDING HOUSING AND
FOOD ASSISTANCE.
I WAS REMISS TO NOT MENTIONING
THEM BEFORE AND WANTED TO SAY
THAT.
THAT IS MY CLOSING COMMENT.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
ON THE BILL?
OKAY IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO
OTHER COMMENTS ON THE BILL.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS
APPROACH.
I THINK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR PUTTING IT
FORWARD.
WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
STRUCTURING THIS ORDINANCE IN
THIS WAY TO ALLOW FOR MORE
THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION.
AROUND A SPECIFIC POTENTIAL
SPENDING.
WE APPRECIATE THIS STRUCTURE
AND THIS DIRECTION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WILL ASKED THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.
>> HERBOLD?
JUAREZ?
LEWIS?
MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
PEDERSON?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
8 IN FAVOR AND 1 OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES.
I ASKED THE CLERK TO AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE.
OTHER BUSINESS, IS THERE ANY
OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
SEEING NO OTHER BUSINESS THIS
CONCLUDES THE BUSINESS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA THE NEXT CITY
COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JULY
13 2020 AT 2 PM.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ONCE
AGAIN COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
AND HER TEAM AND OF COURSE
MOST IMPORTANTLY EVERY SINGLE
SEATTLEITE WHO HAS BEEN
EMAILING US AND CALLING US AND
ENGAGING WITH US ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF PASSING JUMPSTART
SEATTLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMING
WEEKS OF CONVERSATION HOW WE
WILL ALLOCATE AN APPROPRIATE
THE FUNDING.
ALSO THREW IN EQUITABLE LENS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S HARD
WORK TODAY AND OVER THE LAST
FEW WEEKS.
TWO INTO THE HARD WORK THAT
LAYS IN FRONT OF US OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
IS JULY 23, 2020 AT 2 PM.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY
WONDERFUL AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.