>>> ♪
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>> WAREZ.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, MUCH BETTER WORK, WE WILL
NOTE WHEN THE COUNCILMAN JOINS
US.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THE FIRST
PARTS OF THE AGENDA.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY
PRESENTATIONS, TODAY.
WE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES
OF NOVEMBER 16th, 2020.
THEY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
WILL THE CLERK THESE ETHICS MY
SIGNATURE? ADOPTION OF THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR, IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION
WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD LIKE TO
NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS NOW JOINED US.
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT IS A THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN
THE PUBLIC COMMENT CREATED FOR
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND THE COUNCILS 2020
WORK PROGRAM.
I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR
ONGOING PATIENCE AND
COOPERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO
REMOTE -- OPERATE THIS REMOTE
SYSTEM.
WE WILL HAVE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT INCLUDING REGULARLY ON
MEETING AGENDAS.
HOWEVER, AS A REMINDER, THE
CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO ELIMINATE THESE AT ANY TIME
IF WE BELIEVE THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED OR NO LONGER
SUITABLE FOR MEETINGS TO BE
CONDUCTED, EFFICIENTLY.
I WILL MODERATE THE COMMENT IN
THE FOLLOWING MANNER, TODAY.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS SCHEDULED
TO BE 20 MINUTES.
HOWEVER, COLLEAGUES, I WOULD
LIKE TO COME ON THE FRONT END,
EXTEND IT TO A TOTAL OF 30
MINUTES WITH EACH SPEAKER
HAVING ONE MINUTE RATHER THAN
TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, IT
WILL BE EXTENDED TO 30 MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT IS EXTENDED TO
30 MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK, TODAY.
I WILL CALL EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME.
I WILL USE THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE WEBSITE.
IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK, YOU CAN SIGN UP BY GOING
TO THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE THAT
IS SEATTLE.GOP.
ONCE I CALLED THE SPEAKERS
NAMES, THEY WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND THE
COLLAR WILL HEAR AN AUTOMATIC
PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTE
IT.
ONCE YOU HAVE HEARD YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTE IT, THAT IS YOUR
TURN TO SPEAK.
YOU MUST FIRST PRESS STAR SIX
BEFORE SPEAKING.
PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME BEFORE
SPEAKING.
AT ABOUT 10 SECONDS, THE
SPEAKER WILL HEAR A CHIME.
THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS TO WRAP UP YOUR
COMMENTS.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DO SO SO
WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
IF THE SPEAKER DOES NOT ENTER
THEIR TIME, WE WILL CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE.
IF YOU CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE
MEETING, DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR THE OPTIONS ON THE
AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW OPEN.
WE WILL GO UNTIL 2:35 P.M.
AGAIN, FOR THOSE WHO ARE
WAITING TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT,
YOU WILL HAVE A PROMPT OF YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTE IT.
YOU WILL PRESS STAR SIX.
YOU WILL HEAR THAT AFTER YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTE IT.
THE FIRST SPEAKERS FOR TODAY.
>> HELLO, I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT IV.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED
THE BUDGETARY AMENDMENT FOR
TENANT EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND
ORGANIZING.
SEATTLE IS A PROUD ENDORSER OF
THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET.
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, THEY
WERE EXPERIENCING A HOME WAS AN
EDUCATION CRISIS WITHOUT ACTION
FROM CITY COUNCIL.
SEATTLE WOULD SEE GREATER
DISPLACEMENT AND HELPLESSNESS
OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO
DEFUND SO WE CAN INVEST IN
BLACK COMMUNITIES.
THESE QUESTIONS ARE NOT
UNRELATED, RATHER WITHOUT
DEFUNDING, THEY ARE ACTIVELY
PRIORITIZING VIOLENCE AND
DISPLACEMENT.
THE FUNDING BY 50% IS NOT A
MISLEADING SLOGAN.
IT IS A CONCRETE POLICY THAT
CITY COUNCIL CAN AND SHOULD
ENACT TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS AND
CARE ABOUT COMMUNITIES, WE NEED
TO DEFUND THEM BY 50% AT LEAST,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS JUSTIN, FOLLOWED BY
AVA.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JUSTIN.
I AM A DISTRICT V RENTER. THIS
BUDGET, AS I UNDERSTAND,
REDUCES THE COMPLETELY BLOATED
POLICE BUDGET BY ABOUT 9%.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE
URGENT COMMUNITY NEEDS LIKE $30
MILLION FOR ANTI-LEGISLATION
EFFORTS THAT WILL HELP ADDRESS
THE ROOT CAUSES OF ANY CRIME IN
THE CITY AND ADDRESS URGENT
NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS VICTORY WAS TAKEN BY THE
FORCE OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER
OVEMENT ALONG WITH THE HELP OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. SHE
HELPED TO ORGANIZE.
HOWEVER, THIS NINE PREVENT
REDUCTION IS NOT THE 50% THAT
THE MOVEMENT DEMANDED.
IT WAS FALSELY PROMISED BY THE
COUNCIL DEMOCRATS.
IN THE FUTURE, THE MOVEMENTS
CANNOT CONTINUE TO RELY ON AND
NEGOTIATE WITH DEMOCRATS AS
STRATEGY INCLUDED NEGOTIATING
DOWN FROM 50% TO NO NEW COPS
INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO BUILD
PRESSURE TO FORCE THE
COUNCILMAN TO ADOPT THE
CONCRETE LEGISLATION FOR AN
ACTUAL 50% REDUCTION.
FINALLY, --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS A.
>> HELLO, THIS BUDGET COULD NOT
BE FURTHER THAN WHAT WE NEED
FOR NOW.
I SHOULD BE CLEAR, THIS WAS NOT
THE ONLY OPTION IN THE BUDGET,
THIS YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOME MEMBERS
WANT IS THE ONLY MEMBER WHO
KEPT HER PROMISE TO DEFUND THE
POLICE BY 50% IN THESE
COMMUNITIES.
ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT A LOT
OF DEMOCRATS AT CITY HALL WERE
WILLING TO SUPPORT
FOR TAXES THIS SUMMER AND STOP
ALL THE BUDGET CUTS.
THIS IS THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT, WHICH
WAS STARTED AFTER COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TOOK OFFICE IN 2014 AS A
SOCIALIST . WE HAVE GOTTEN TENS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND MUCH MORE.
THIS YEAR, IT WAS THROUGH
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING THAT WE
HAD GAMES LIKE ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT FUNDING, THE
ADVISORY BOARD, AND FUNDING FOR
THE TOWN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS DANIEL.
>> HELLO.
I AM DANIEL. I AM A STUDENT.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT
THIS NEW BUDGET IS THAT THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MANAGED TO WIN
$4.2 MILLION FOR TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, INCLUDING ONE SELF
MANAGED VILLAGE.
THIS IS A HUGE VICTORY IN A
CITY THAT HAS A PROVEN TRACK
RECORD OF TREATING IT'S ALMOST
LIKE GARBAGE.
WE KNOW FROM YEARS OF STRUGGLE
THAT THE CITY REFUSES TO STOP
THE SWEEPS OF HOMELESS AND
CHEMNITZ.
WITHOUT INDEPENDENT ORGANIZING
WITH THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET, THE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, LET ALONE
CITY CAMPUSES WOULD NOT EXIST
AT ALL.
I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE,
EARLIER IN THE BUDGET SEASON,
IT MOSTLY HOLDS TRUE, THE FINAL
BUDGET THAT CITY COUNCIL VOTED
ON IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO
WORKING PEOPLE.
WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC AND
RECESSION.
PEOPLE ARE ALREADY WORKING FROM
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
AT THE SAME TIME, AMAZON HAS
RECORD PROFITS.
IT IS WITHIN THIS CONFIDENCE
THAT WE CUT OVER $200 MILLION
AND THINK ABOUT ORDINARY PEOPLE
COME A HOUSING, COMMUNITY
CENTERS.
WHEN COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
ENACTED A TINY INCREASE, IT WAS
VOTED DOWN.
THIS IS REPEATING TO BE --
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS CASTILLE FOLLOWED BY SAM
.
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH, KEEPING YOUR PROMISE TO
DEFUND BY 50% AND INVEST IN
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES --
PERSONALLY, EVERYONE RECEIVED
SUPPORT.
I APPRECIATE HOW YOU ARE
FIGHTING TOGETHER WITH THE
FIGHTING MOVEMENT OF THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET AND SOLIDARITY
BUDGET ACT THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
VICTORY LIKE PUTTING BACK 30
MILLION CERTIFICATION AMERICA
-- TRIED TO TAKE AWAY --
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
COMMUNITY AND THE FUNDING FOR
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES -- AT THE
SAME TIME, BOTH OF US RECOGNIZE
THAT EVEN THOUGH WE WANT
IMPORTANT THINGS, IT IS NOT
DEFUNDING THE POLICE -- THERE
ISN'T GOING TO -- BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE NOT BEING
PRIORITIZED.
HIS BUDGET WOULD NOT HAVE COME
FORWARD PRESENTING MY BROTHER
FROM BEING KILLED WHILE BEING
GOING THROUGH A MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS.
THIS IS SHAMEFUL.
WE NEED A STRONG MOVEMENT.
WE NEED -- DEMOCRATIC
POLITICIANS WHO ARE UNWILLING
TO TAKE THEM ON AND SERVE THE
INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY,
SHAMEFUL!
>> NEXT UP IS SAM WISE FOLLOWED
BY KYLE GRAHAM.
>> HI.
I AM SAM WISE.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT V. I
AM CALLING FOR YOU TO DEFUND
THE POLICE BY AT LEAST 50%, AND
TO WORK TOWARDS A TOTAL
ABOLITION OF THE POLICE IN THE
FUTURE.
THE POLICE DO NOT PREVENT
CRIME.
THEY SIMPLY REACT TO IT AND
BRUTALIZE THE MOST VULNERABLE
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU NEED TO DEFUND THE POLICE,
AND INVEST THAT MONEY INTO
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
. SEVEN OUT OF NINE OF YOU
PROMISED TO DEFUND THE POLICE
BY 50%, AT LEAST. ONLY ONE OF
YOU IS LOOKING TO KEEP THAT
PROMISE.
YEAH.
I SAVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS KYLE, FOLLOWED BY SCOUT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KYLE
GRAHAM.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT
7 AND A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
I LIVE IN LOW INCOME HOUSING
AND HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE
TENANTS WHO WERE DRIVEN OUT OF
THE CITY.
I AM EXCITED AT THE HARD WORK
TAKING WORK OF THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET, WORKING ALONGSIDE
SEATTLE TENANTS UNION AND THE
COUNCIL OFFICE, WE HAVE ONE
SOME VICTORIES AT HALF 1
MILLION PER OUTREACH PER
ORGANIZING.
THIS IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.
LANDLORDS HAVE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO WORK WITH.
TENANTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
ORGANIZE TO FIGHT THE WAVE OF
EVICTIONS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT
WHILE DEMOCRATS ARE PROPOSING A
BUDGET THAT CUTS PROGRAMS AND
PUSHES THE BILL ONTO WORKING
PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.
I AM STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE AS
AN UBER DRIVER.
WE CANNOT COUNT ON DEMOCRATS TO
SUPPORT THE WORKING PEOPLE.
WE NEED WORKING-CLASS MOVEMENTS
LIKE THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET AND
MORE SUPPORT.
>> NEXT UP IS SCOUT FOLLOWED BY
A MEAL YET.
>> HELLO, COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS SCOUT.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 7. I
HAVE BEEN EMAILING YOU, MAKING
PUBLIC COMMENTS OF PUBLIC
SUPPORT SINCE JUNE, I AM
SPEAKING ABOUT THE 2021 BUDGET
VOTE.
ALONG WITH OTHERS, I HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL ACTIONS AT
HAVE TAKEN PLACE EVERY DAY
SINCE MAY.
WE ARE ASKING FOR SOLIDARITY
BUDGET.
BACK IN JUNE, SEVEN OF YOU
COLLECTIVELY COMMITTED TO
DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY
50% AFTER LISTENING TO THE
VOICE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND
MASSIVE COMMUNITY PRESSURE TO
DO SO.
AFTER ALL THE PRESSURE FROM THE
COMMUNITY, IT SHOULD BE CLEAR
THAT WE DO NOT APPROVE OF
EXPANDING THE FORCE BEYOND ITS
CURRENT SIZE, WHICH YOU VOTED
FOR, LAST WEEK.
A MEASURE THAT TAKES PLACE TO
TRANSITION THE CITY AWAY FROM
INVESTING IN ANTI-BLACK
POLICING.
WHY WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO HIRE
MORE COPS AFTER COMMITTING TO
DEFUND THE POLICE BY AT LEAST
50%?
I ASK THAT YOU SHIFT 9 MILLION
MORE DOLLARS AWAY FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PREVENT
THE HIRING OF NEW POLICE
OFFICERS, NEXT YEAR.
I ASK THAT YOU ACTUALLY DEFUND
50%!
>> NEXT UP IS AMELIA, FOLLOWED
BY WALKER THOMAS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS AMELIA. I AM
AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST IN SEATTLE.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I AM A
LITTLE BUSY, RIGHT NOW.
I'M FRUSTRATED TO HAVE TO BE
CALLING IN TO URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN THE PROMISE
TO DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50%.
I HAVE STUDIED CAUSE SPECIFIC
MORTALITY IN THIS COUNTY,
EXTENSIVELY.
I CAN TELL YOU, AS A
PROFESSIONAL, THAT THE POLICE
ARE DANGEROUS TO ALL OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS COST-EFFECTIVE AND LIFE-
AFFIRMING TO INSTEAD FIND
SOLIDARITY BUDGETS AND
COMMUNITY EVERYTHING.
PLEASE, PLEASE DEFUND THE
POLICE!
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT IS WALKER THOMAS,
FOLLOWED BY JOHN ADAMS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS WALKER.
I WORK IN DISTRICT III.
I WORK IN HOMELESS SERVICES.
I ACTUALLY WORK IN A HOMELESS
SHELTER DOWNTOWN.
I'M CALLING IN TO REMIND THE
CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY SAID
THEY WERE GOING TO DEFUND THE
POLICE I 50%.
THAT MEANS WHAT IT MEANS.
THE MONEY ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO
GO TO HOMELESS SERVICES, RIGHT
THIS VERY SECOND.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A COVID
CRISIS.
PEOPLE ARE DYING.
THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE
STREETS.
I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT.
THERE ARE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES,
THOSE ARE GOOD, BUT THEY ARE
NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE
STREET, IMMEDIATELY.
THAT MONEY NEEDS TO COME FROM
THE COPS WHO ARE ONLY -- NOT
ONLY HELPING WITH -- NOT
HELPING WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT
THEY ARE MAKING IT WORSE.
HE PROMISED TO EVERYONE ON THIS
CALL.
>> NEXT IS JOHN ADAMS, FOLLOWED
BY THE TINA.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. I'M SURE
YOU HAVE HEARD THIS 1 MILLION
TIMES ALREADY, BUT I WILL
REMIND YOU, AGAIN.
THE POLICE IS PROPORTIONATELY
HURT PEOPLE OF COLOR, NOT ONLY
KILLING, JAILING, FINANCIAL
BURDENING, WHEN PROTESTERS CALL
ON THE POLICE ABOUT VIOLENCE,
THEY ARE VIOLENTLY SUPPRESSED.
THEY ARE PREDICTABLY
DISPROPORTIONATELY BIASED.
IF THERE IS A WHITE SUPREMACIST
GROUP TO COUNTER PROTEST, SPD
PROTECTS THE WHITE SUPREMACIST
GROUP, VIOLENTLY.
IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO ALL OF US
THAT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS A VIOLENT
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.
VOTING TO KEEP THEM FULLY
FUNDED IS A WHITE SUPREMACIST
ACT.
DEFUNDING BY 50% WOULD BE A
MODEST STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
THINK OF WHAT YOU COULD DO WITH
ALL THAT MONEY.
THAT IS IT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS LaTINA.
>> AFTER THE EVENTS OF THE PAST
SUMMER, EVENTS WERE BRUTALIZED
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY
CONTINUE TO HAVE A CRUEL,
VINDICTIVE FORCE FOR THE PEOPLE
THEY SAY THEY PROTECT, IT IS
ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT WE DEFUND
THE POLICE AT OUR OWN PERIL.
THEY HAVE RADICALIZED AND
DECIMATED ANY FAITH I HAD IN
THE INTEGRITY, HUMANITY OR
SENSITIVITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE ENTIRE CITY IS WATCHING.
YOUR ACTIONS IN THIS MOMENT
WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF OUR
CITY.
SUPPORT CALLS TO DEFUND BY 50%,
AT LEAST.
THE CITY'S VERY SOUL IS AT
STAKE, THANK YOU, I YIELD MY
TIME.
>> NEXT UP IS HOWARD GAIL,
FOLLOWED BY FRED.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HOWARD GAIL,
DISTRICT 7, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, YOU ASKED FOR PEOPLE TO
STOP GRANDSTANDING AND
SLOGANEERING TO CREATE REAL
CHANGE.
IS IT THE GRANDSTANDING AND
SLOGANEERING FOR COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO DEFENSIVELY CLAIM
SEATTLE HAS THE BEST POLICE
ACCOUNT ABILITY SYSTEM IN THE
LAST 3 1/2 YEARS DEMONSTRABLY
PROVED OTHERWISE A SYSTEM YOU
YOURSELF VOTED TO UNDERCUT IN
2018, AND WHEN JUST A FEW DAYS
AGO, THE COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST
EITHER CONSIDERING POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY DESPITE NUMEROUS
CITIES HOLDING FOR JUST THAT
EARLIER THIS MONTH, YOU WANT
GRANDSTANDING AND RHETORIC, HOW
ABOUT INSTEAD OF SPENDING THIS
MORNING TO SPENDING THE CUT,
YOU TALK ABOUT THE MONEY SPENT
IN OVERTIME ALONE BEATING AND
ARRESTING PEOPLE IN JUNE AND
JULY ALONE, THE MILLIONS OF
WASTE IN POLICE ACADEMY WHICH
IS A MEASURE OF JUSTICE -- RYAN
SMITH, TERRY KALER AND DOZENS
OF OTHERS WERE KILLED BY SPD.
THERE'S OVER $40 MILLION YOU
COULD HAVE DISCUSSED, TODAY,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS FRED, FOLLOWED BY --
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS FRED.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7.
I URGE YOU TO NOT SUCCUMB TO
REACTIONARY FORCES, DO NOT
SQUANDER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING OVER -- LONG OVERDUE
CHANGE.
MAINTAIN WHAT IS CALLED LAW AND
ORDER FOR FAR TOO LONG.
IN SEATTLE, WE EMPLOY AN
EXPENSIVE POLICE FORCE TO
PROVIDE A PECKING ORDER IN
SOCIETY.
WE RELY PRINCIPALLY ON ROUGH
MEN TO SOOTHE THE SLEEP OF ONLY
SOME OF US.
IT HAS TO CHANGE.
PLEASE, FREEZE POLICE HIRING
FOR ALL THE COMING YEARS.
USED 2021 TO GET CONSENSUS OF
WHERE WE ARE IN THE TRANSITION
PLAN.
WE CANNOT REACH THE CONSENSUS
WITHOUT NVOLVING ALL THE
STAKEHOLDERS.
THE COMMITTEE WITH
REPRESENTATION FROM COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, THE MAYOR, THE
CITY COUNCIL, POLICE RANK AND
FILE, YES THERE ARE SOME.
POLICE MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE
FORMED.
THE CITY SHOULD BE GUIDE BY
POLICE REFORM EXPERTS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS --
>> HELLO.
I AM A MEMBER OF 4121 AND
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.
I'M CALLING TO CONGRATULATE
EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET CAMPAIGN,
ALONG WITH THE OFFICE FOR
WINNING THIS BUDGET.
WHILE CORPORATIONS HAVE SEEN
PROFITS SKYROCKET DURING THIS
CRISIS, THE MAYOR PROPOSED $230
MILLION IN AUSTERITY MEASURES
AGAINST WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE IN
THE CITY.
IT WAS BECAUSE OF OUR PEOPLE'S
BUDGET MOVEMENT WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOUGHT
WITH THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CUT
THE BUDGET BY ONE THIRD.
WE ACHIEVE THIS BECAUSE OF THE
FIGHTING APPROACH.
WE DON'T TAKE TO DO BECAUSE HER
BUSINESS LEADERS BEHIND THE
MOVEMENT.
WE SKIP TO THE DEMANDS THAT
COME FROM THE MOVEMENT AND
FIGHT FOR THEM.
LASTLY, NOT A SINGLE COUNCIL
MEMBERS STOOD WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IN THE
MOVEMENT, DESPITE INCREASED
TAXES IN THIS CRISIS.
STILL, THIS IS WHAT SAVED US
FROM WORSE AUSTERITY.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE HUNDREDS
OF WORKING PEOPLE WHO
PARTICIPATED, WE WOULD HAVE
NEVER WON THE $200 MILLION TAX
ON AMAZON, WHICH THE CITY IS
NOW USING TO STAVE OFF THE
WORST CUTS TO PUBLIC --
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS DUSTY BAKER.
THEN, WE WILL GO BACK UP THE
LIST TO THE PERSON WHO IS
LISTED AS PRESENT.
DUSTY BAKER, THEN LOGAN SWAN.
>> I AM CALLING TO DEMAND THAT
YOU FOLLOW YOUR PROMISE TO PUT
A HIRING FREEZE ON SPD AND CUT
THE BUDGET BY 50%.
WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY CLEAR,
WE HAVE HAD DIRECT
CONVERSATIONS AND IN PUBLIC.
YOU HAVE NEVER LISTENED.
AFTER A LONG HISTORY OF BRUTAL
VIOLENCE AND GLEEFUL DISREGARD
FOR HUMAN LIFE, ESPECIALLY IN
THE LAST SIX MONTHS, YOU ARE
ABOUT TO VOTE TO HIRE 100 MORE
COPS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN SLEEP
AT NIGHT AFTER LYING IN THE
FACE OF DAILY HARASSMENT OF
GETTING BEATEN BY THE POLICE
JUST PROTESTING AGAINST THEM.
THE PROTESTERS -- YOU ARE
SAYING LOUD AND CLEAR, YOU
DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, YOUR PROMISES AND
WORDS ARE EMPTY, YOU ARE
COMPLETELY UN-ACCOUNTABLE.
SAYING THIS MORE THAN A MONTH
AFTER THEY PUT A PROTESTER IN
CRITICAL CONDITION AND LIED
ABOUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SPD
ALWAYS PROTECTS VIOLENT WHITE
SUPREMACIST GROUPS.
BY THE WAY, THE SUGGESTION TO
DEFUND -- IT IS FALSE,
INSULTING, AND FRANKLY RACIST
TO SAY THAT WE ARE ENTITLED AND
PRIVILEGED FOR BEING ANGRY WHEN
YOU DON'T SHOW YOUR FACE --
>> NEXT UP. DO WE HAVE LOGAN ON
THE LINE?
>> LOGAN IS ON THE LINE.
>> NO LOGAN?
>> LOGAN IS ON THE LINE.
HE HAS NOT UNMUTED HIMSELF.
>> YOU NEED TO HIT STAR SIX.
>> HELLO.
YES, MY NAME IS LOGAN.
I WORK OUT OF SEATTLE.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, REALLY, WE ARE
AT THE POINT THAT IT IS
SHOCKING TO ME, YOU KNOW, WE
HAD SEVEN OUT OF NINE, A
MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS,
YOU KNOW, PLEDGE TO DEFUND SPD,
THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WITH
UNPRECEDENTED AUSTERITY YOU
KNOW, FOR THE BUDGET BEING
PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR, YOU
KNOW, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS WE
WERE GOING BACK TO WORK, WE
DIDN'T HAVE TENS OF THOUSAND
PEOPLE IN THE STATE, YOU KNOW,
THERE WAS ONE COUNCILMEMBER
WITH THE DEMAND.
YOU KNOW, THE PRESSURE TO HAVE
AN AUSTERITY BUDGET.
ANTI-WORK OR ANTIUNION
AUSTERITY BUDGET, YOU KNOW,
REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FORCED
WITH DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL.
THERE WERE PUSHING FOR
AUSTERITY.
THE ONLY VOICE AGAINST IT FOR
THE ELECTED COUNCIL IT'S --
THAT CAN TAKE MONEY FROM
DICTATORS. AS A BUILDING
APPROACH, YOU KNOW, BUT, THERE
IS STILL, YOU KNOW, OVER $100
MILLION IN REQUEST --
>> NEXT UP IS CAROL LENA ALONSO
FOLLOWED BY ORLANDO MANWELL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CAROL LENA, I AM THE
CASE MANAGER FOR THE OUTREACH
AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.
I AM HERE, AGAIN AT THIS
MEETING BECAUSE THE INDIANS
UNDER WANTS TO BE PART OF THE
INITIATIVE SO WE CAN GET A
LARGER BUILDING TO BETTER SERVE
OUR CLIENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU ARE
THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GET IN CONTACT
WITH YOU.
WE TRIED CONTACTING YOUR OFFICE
FOR MONTHS, NOW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE
DIFFICULT TIMES, BUT WE NEED TO
SPEAK WITH SOMEONE, PLEASE.
THIS COULD BE A WIN-WIN.
HOELESSNESS IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN SEATTLE.
WE ARE AN AGENCY THAT PROVIDES
SERVICES, RESOURCES FOR CLIENTS
WHO ARE NOT SHELTERED.
WITH SUCCESS IN TRANSITIONING
MANY OF THESE PEOPLE INTO HOMES
AND STABLE ENVIRONMENTS, THAT
IS WHY WE ARE APPROACHING YOU,
WITH URGENCY.
IN RELATION TO OBTAINING A
LARGER SPACE, EACH YEAR,
NUMBERS GROW.
THE SPACE GETS SMALLER AND
SMALLER.
WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR
CLIENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
YOU'RE MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT UP IS
ORLANDO, FOLLOWED BY COCOA.
>> HELLO.
I REALLY DON'T THINK IT WOULD
BE POSSIBLE TO BE HORRENDOUSLY
GHASTLY BY AN ENTIRE CITY
COUNCIL, BUT HERE WE ARE.
AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF
PEOPLE PROTESTING NATIONWIDE
AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY AND
AFTER EACH ONE OF YOU MEETING
WITH US, THE PEOPLE YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT,
PROMPTING US THAT YOU WOULD
VOTE TO STAND BY YOUR
COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE
BLACK COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE THE
SHEER MALICE TO COMPLETELY TURN
YOUR BACK ON US AND CHOOSE TO
HIRE 100 POLICE OFFICERS NEXT
YEAR?
IS THIS SOME KIND OF NIGHTMARE?
NO.
THIS IS SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
WHAT HAPPENED, TERESA?
WILL YOU BE -- NEXT TIME YOU
COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND SPEAK
WITH YOU, DEBORAH, IT IS GOOD
FOR YOU TO CALL TO DEFUND SPD,
OR STAND UP FOR THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS
BUDGET MEETING LEAVES US IN A
WAY THAT DOES NOT LEAVE THE
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS -- A
FEELING OF VITRIOL.
THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] INVEST
IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
THE PRESSURE IS ON Y'ALL.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT IS COCO WEBER
FOLLOWED BY KATIE NEUNER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSEL.
I WOULD LIKE TO IMPRESS UPON
YOU THAT EVEN TODAY AS THE CID
MUTUAL AID IS TRYING TO FEED
OUR OWN HOUSE NEIGHBORS IN THE
PARK, THERE HAS BEEN A THREAT
FROM THE CITY THAT THEY CANNOT
DO THIS.
IN THE PAST, THESE THREATS HAVE
BEEN PACKED -- BACKED BY POLICE
PRESENCE, TAKING OVER AND
STOPPING YOUR CONSTITUENTS FROM
TAKING CARE OF OUR OTHER
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT
BEEN CARED FOR BY THE CITY.
THE POLICE HAVE VIOLENTLY
ATTACKED YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
THE POLICE HAVE UNJUSTLY
ARRESTED AND EATEN, BRUTALIZED
YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN A MANNER
THAT IS AGAINST THE GENEVA
CONVENTION.
MY GROUP IS COLLECTING TENTS
AND CLOTHES SO WE CAN HAVE OUR
CONSTITUENTS NOT FREEZE.
WE NEED TO DEFUND SPD AND TAKE
CARE OF THE COMMUNITY.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT UP IS KATIE, FOLLOWED
BY ELANA.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KATIE
NEUNER.
I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN
SEATTLE.
I AM JUST CALLING YOU TO URGE
YOU TO PASS THE BUDGET YOU HAVE
WORKED SO HARD ON, 17.3%,
DEFUNDING SPD, I WANT TO REMIND
YOU THAT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.
ALTHOUGH IT IS A HISTORICAL
START, IT IS GOING TO JUST BE
THE BEGINNING.
WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN
DEFUNDING BY AT LEAST 50% AND
100%, EVENTUALLY.
WE NEED TO INVEST THAT MONEY IN
THE YOUTH.
THE YOUTH WILL BECOME EXACTLY
WHAT WE ARE, ADULTS.
IF THEY ARE NOT GIVEN THE
RESOURCES, THEY WILL DEAL WITH
THINGS LIKE HOMELESSNESS AND
DRUG ADDICTION, WE DON'T NEED
ANOTHER CHANCE.
WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. IF IT DOESN'T
START TODAY, THEN, IT'S ON OUR
HANDS, HONESTLY.
THAT IS THE TRUTH.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME,
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS ALANA, FOLLOWED
BY JESSE.
>> I THINK WE LOST A COLOR,
THERE.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE LOST ALANA.
>> LET'S HEAR FROM JESSE AND
THEN RUBY.
>> WE LOST THAT ONE, TOO.
>> WE LOST JESSE?
OKAY, WE WILL GO TO RUBY,
FOLLOWED BY BRIAN.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS RUBY.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT IV.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE TO
DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50%.
PLEASE DON'T -- POLICE DON'T
PREVENT CRIME.
THEY HARM EVEN MORE.
YOU ARE ACTIVELY SUPPORTING
MURDERERS AND PEOPLE TO
BRUTALIZE POOR COMMUNITIES,
BLACK COMMUNITIES, INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES, AND PROTESTERS FOR
THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
WE WILL NOT STOP DEMANDING
JUSTICE UNTIL YOU VOTE TO
DEFUND BY 100%.
PLEASE VOTE TO INVEST REAL
MONEY INTO HOUSING, HEALTHCARE
AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
BEEN HARMED BY POLICE VIOLENCE.
VOTE TO DEFUND SPD, TODAY.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS BRIAN CLARK.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ALANA
BACK WITH US.
SO, BRIAN, THEN ALANA.
>> HELLO, COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS BRIAN.
I AM A HOMEOWNER.
THIS SUMMER, YOU COMMITTED TO
DEFUNDING SPD BY 50%.
YOU SAID WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL
NOVEMBER TO SEE CUTS IN THE
2021 BUDGET.
WHO YOU ARE, ONCE AGAIN,
FAILING TO MEET YOUR
COMMITMENT.
IF YOU LIKE YOU ARE SHUFFLING
PAPERWORK IN FORECASTS.
YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE VIOLENT.
THEY WERE RANKED IN THE CITY
ALL SUMMER.
HEADS WERE BEATEN.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] IF THEY WERE
REFUNDABLE, THEY WOULD BE
REFORMD BY NOW.
THIS MORNING'S MEETING CENTERS
AROUND [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. WE
ARE TALKING PENNIES WHEN WE
SHOULD TALK DOLLARS.
WE SHOULD REINVEST THIS MONEY
INTO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WE
CAN BUILD TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY.
FOLLOW THE LEAD OF POPULAR
ORGANIZATIONS, BLACK LIVES
MATTER PROVED IT.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT IS ALANA, FOLLOWED BY
JAMIE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS IVANA.
PLEASE DEFUND BY 50% OF THE
BUDGET.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION
THE COMIC, EARLIER, SAYING
DEFUND THE POLICE WITH AN EMPTY
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] ONLY
INDICATIVE OF WHAT YOU THOUGHT
IT WAS.
I ASSURE YOU, WHEN PEOPLE WERE
GETTING HARASSED IN THE
STREETS, THEY WERE QUITE
SERIOUS.
IS NOT PRIVILEGED OR ENTITLED
TO ASK FOR THE BARE MINIMUM,
THE POLICE TO STOP KILLING US.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] WE TRUST THAT
YOU WOULD DO WHAT YOU PROMISED,
TO DEFUND BY 50%, INSTEAD, YOU
WENT BACK ON THOSE PROMISES.
THAT HURTS.
MEANWHILE, YOUR NEW BUDGET IS
DEFUNDING SO MANY OTHER
CRITICAL DEPARTMENTS, THINGS
THAT ACTUALLY KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
YOU AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
SEATTLE TOLD ORGANIZERS THAT
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW [
INDISCERNIBLE ] DURING COVID
WHILE THEY ARE SPONSORING THEIR
OWN PROGRAM ON THE 26 AND 27th.
PEOPLE HAVE ORGANIZED A WAY TO
GET PEOPLE THROUGH [
INDISCERNIBLE ] .
>> NEXT IS JAMIE, THEN WE WILL
HEAR FROM CELINE.
THAT MIGHT BRING US TO THE
CONCLUSION OF THE 30 MINUTES
ALLOTTED TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES.
JAMIE PAUL?
IS JAMIE ON THE LINE?
>> YES.
>> JAMIE, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU
PRESS STAR SIX BEFORE WE CAN
HEAR YOU.
>> CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, NOW, GO
AHEAD.
>> HEY, I AM JAMIE.
I AM CALLING TO ASK YOU GUYS TO
DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST 50% ON
THE WAY TO ABOLITION.
OUR BLACK AND BROWN AND
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FUND THE
POLICE STATE.
WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM,
EMPHASIZE THEIR VOICES AND
LISTEN TO WHAT THEY NEED.
THEY GENERALLY JUST WANT EQUITY
AND TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE TO
BE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE IN THE
COMMUNITIES.
WE REALLY NEED TO AMPLIFY THE
VOICES AND LISTEN TO EXACTLY
WHAT THEY WANT.
DEFUND SPD BY 50% OF THE FUND
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, EVERYONE
WOULD FEEL SAFE AND WARM AT
NIGHT.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
THE LAST SPEAKER FOR TODAY IS
CELINE.
>> HELLO, CELINE RUSSO,
DISTRICT I. THIS IS A COMMENT
ON THE BUDGET IN GENERAL, MOST
SPECIFICALLY THE PROMISE TO
DEFUND SPD BY 50%.
I AM A WHITE MIDDLE-CLASS
FEMALE.
I KNOW THE COPS WILL NOT KEEP
ME SAFE.
THEY WILL NOT KEEP MY BLACK,
INDIGENOUS AND ROUND FRIENDS
AND NEIGHBORS SAFE.
THIS IS A PROVEN FACT.
YOU KNOW IT DOES KEEP ME SAFE?
THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE
WORKING TO REINTEGRATE
INCARCERATED PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE
HOMELESS, CREATIVE, HEALTHY
OUTLETS AND HELPING SURVIVORS
OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.
THESE ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT NEED FUNDING.
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF SEEING
TAX MONEY DUMPED INTO INEPT,
WASTEFUL SPENDING.
THAT IS SPD.
THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER USES,
HIGHLIGHTED MULTIPLE TIMES BY
MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON THIS CALL.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND
LEARN FROM THE SMART BLACK
PEOPLE THAT TIRELESSLY TRY TO
EDUCATE US.
THEY KNOW THE SOLUTIONS THAT
WORK.
WE WILL NOT STOP GRANDSTANDING
AND SHOUTING UNTIL YOU DO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, THAT DOES TAKE US
TO THE FULL 30 MINUTES OF
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING --
AFTERNOON, PARDON.
I APOLOGIZE TO THOSE WHO WE
WERE UNABLE TO GET TO.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LOT OF
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
I DID EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR.
I ALLOTTED ONE MINUTE FOR EACH
SPEAKER IN ORDER FOR US TO HEAR
FROM MORE PEOPLE.
APOLOGIES TO THOSE THAT WE WERE
UNABLE TO GET TO.
THANKS TO THOSE WHO CALLED IN
AND WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE US
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
DIG INTO THE ITEMS, FIRST IS
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS, WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE READ THE TITLE?
>> THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 6, 2020,
AND ORDER AND PAYMENT THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.
I MOVED TO COUTTS -- PAST THE
COUNCIL BILL.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO PASS THE BILL.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA ?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
úWILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
>> COMMITTEE REPORTS, WE WILL
START WITH THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE, IT CONSISTS OF 38
ITEMS TODAY.
TO HELP US MOVE ALONG, I WILL
ASK THE CLERK TO READ A GROUP
OF ITEMS INTO THE RECORD.
BUT, WE WILL VOTE ON EACH ITEM
WITHIN THAT GROUP, SEPARATELY.
WE WILL NOT BE VOTING ON THE
WHOLE GROUP EVEN THOUGH THERE
IS READING IT AS A GROUP.
WE WILL BE TAKING INDIVIDUAL
VOTES ON EVERY ITEM.
SO, COUNCILMEMBERS ARE GOING TO
BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE COMMENTS ON EACH ITEM
BEFORE I ASK THE CLERK TO CALL
THE ROLE.
WE ARE THEN GOING TO PAUSE FOR
GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE 2021
ADOPTED BUDGET WHEN WE REACH
ITEMS 35 AND 36 ON OUR AGENDA.
SO, ITEMS 35 AND 36 ON THE
AGENDA ARE THE CLERK FILE OF
COUNSEL CHANGES TO THE BUDGET
AND CIP, AND THE BUDGET
ADOPTION ORDINANCE.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND MY
COLLEAGUES, ITEMS 35 AND 36 ARE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY
GENERAL COMMENTS YOU HAVE ABOUT
THE OVERALL BUDGET THE COUNCIL
IS SET TO VOTE ON THIS
AFTERNOON ONCE WE GET TO ITEMS
35 AND 36.
I WILL PAUSE RIGHT AT ITEM 35
AND 36, ASK FOR GENERAL
COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET, AND WE
WILL VOTE ON EACH ITEM,
INDIVIDUALLY, BY HAVING THE
CLERK CALL THE ROLE.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, THE FIRST
GROUP OF ITEMS BEING READ INTO
THE RECORD, I'M GOING TO
RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA TO PROVIDE A BRIEF
REPORT.
AGAIN, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON
THE RECORD, YET.
THIS IS JUST A CERTAIN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME FRAMING
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
CALLING UP THE GROUPS AND THE
INDIVIDUAL ITEMS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
FRAME THIS DISCUSSION.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
WE START THIS YEAR WORKING ON
THE BUDGET.
THIS IS THE SECOND BUDGET OF
THE YEAR.
IT'S ALWAYS A TOUGH TIME WHEN
WE ENGAGE IN THE BUDGET.
YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK ALONG
WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US TO
INFORM OUR BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS.
WE KNOW THAT FROM THE SUMMER
TRANSITIONING INTO FALL, WE
NEEDED TO REGROUP AND THINK
ABOUT HOW WE CREATED A BUDGET,
TOGETHER, COLLECTIVELY.
WE WORKED ON SEVERAL GOALS
WITHIN OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS BUDGET PROCESS WAS
ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT AND
PRODUCTIVE.
WE CREATED TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCESS TO THE BUDGET PROCESS
AND A HUGE THANK YOU AGAIN TO
THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM FOR
MAKING THOSE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
OF YOU AND TO THE MEMBERS OF
THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
WE ENSURE THAT THE GENERAL
BUDGET PRIORITIZED AND
RESPONDED TO OVERLAPPING CRISES
THAT WE FACED.
ANYONE OF THESE CRISES ALONE
WOULD HAVE DEMANDED THAT WE
STEP UP.
YOU DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO
RESPOND TO THE MULTIPLE CRISES
IN FRONT OF US.
WE INSERTED VALUES INTO THE
BUDGET AS GUIDING PRINCIPLES,
FOCUSING ON EQUITY AND ECONOMIC
RECOVERY, KEEPING SEATTLE
HEALTHY, SAFE AND HOUSED.
WE SUPPORTED THE DEPARTMENTS
WORK BY MAKING SURE WE
PROTECTED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO
PROVIDE VITAL PUBLIC SERVICES
DURING THIS DOWNTURN.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE DONE A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT
I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF.
I WILL SAVE MY THINKINGS FOR
THE END.
I WILL AGAIN REITERATE THE
IMPORTANCE OF US WORKING
TOGETHER.
YOU PUT YOUR TIME, FAMILY AND
COMMUNITIES ON HOLD.
YOU PRODUCTIVELY WORK ON THE
BUDGET.
YOU DIDN'T ENGAGE IN DEBATING
ITEMS VIA THE PRESS.
WE REALLY ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES
ON SOME TOUGH ISSUES.
WE ENGAGED WITH EACH OTHER TO
TRY TO JUGGLE A VERY MUCH
IMPORTANT PRIORITIES -- TRY TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE ALL
THOSE PRIORITIES BALANCED AND
IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE TEENS
AND OFFICE -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
SPECIFICALLY, THE CENTRAL STAFF
TEAM WHO HAVE JUST DONE A
TREMENDOUS JOB IN HELPING ALL
THESE PRIORITIES BE VERY WELL
REFLECTED WITH EACH OF THEM
FINE-TUNING THEMSELVES -- I
WILL SAVE SOME OF THE THANK
YOU'S FOR LATER.
I WANT TO THANK [ INDISCERNIBLE
] AND THE TEAM WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL
THESE ITEMS FIT WELL TOGETHER
AND THAT WE HAVE OFFERED A
PROPOSAL THAT WE CAN BE PROUD
OF, TODAY.
WITH THAT, PRESIDENT, I WILL
SAVE THE REMAINDER OF MY
COMMENTS UNTIL [ INDISCERNIBLE
].
>> THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE FRAMING
REMARKS.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, WE WILL GO
AHEAD AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
VOTING ON SOME OF THE VARIOUS
BILLS RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
WE HAVE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
PUBLIC, SPENT THE BETTER HALF
OF EIGHT WEEKS DISCUSSING MANY
OF THE BILLS AND LEGISLATIONS
THAT WERE ABOUT TO ROLL RIGHT
THROUGH.
AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, THE CLERK IS
GOING TO READ THESE ITEMS IN A
GROUP.
WE WILL TAKE A VOTE ON EACH
INDIVIDUAL ITEM.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR YOU TO MAKE COMMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS OR WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING FOR THE
ROLE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET
STARTED.
I LEFT THE CLERK TO PLEASE READ
THE SHORT TITLES OF ITEMS ONE
THROUGH SIX INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
SIX, AUTHORIZING 2028
ACCEPTANCE OF HONEY FROM NON-
CITY SOURCES, COUNSEL BILL 119
10, AND ORDINANCE 126000 WHICH
ADOPTED THE 2020 BUDGET THE
COMMUNITY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU
PASS THE BUDGET.
COUNSEL BILL 11911 ANY ORDINANCE
1600 WHICH ADOPTED THE 2020
BUDGET, COMMUNITY RECOMMENDS
THE BILL PASSES AMENDED.
314-462-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET,
THEY RECOMMEND THAT IT BE
PLACED ON FILE.
34 463, COUNSEL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM, THE COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDS THE FILE BE PLACED
ON FILE.
AND, COUNSEL BILL 119912,
RELATED TO THE 2021 BUDGET,
THEY RECOMMEND THAT IT PASS.
>> I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A
MOUTHFUL.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
COLLEAGUES, THESE ARE ITEMS ONE
THROUGH SIX, AGAIN, PIECES OF
LEGISLATION WE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS DURING
THE VARIOUS WEEKS IN THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE.
ALL OF THESE ITEMS WERE
UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED IN THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE,
RECEIVING A FULL COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION FOR CITY COUNCIL
PASSAGE, TODAY.
SO, AGAIN, FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE PUBLIC, NOTHING
CONTROVERSIAL EXISTS IN THESE
RESPECTIVE BILLS.
SO, ITEM NUMBER ONE, ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER ONE, COUNSEL BILL 119909?
HEARING NO COMMENTS ON THE
BILL, WILL THE CLERK CALLED
ROLE IN THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> MORALE IS?
PEDERSON?
SAWANT?
>> STRAUSS? EXCUSE ME,
MOSQUEDA?
>> JUCEZ?
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> YOU THREW ME OFF, DEPUTY
CLERK.
I WAS LIKE, WHOA.
>> THE BILL PASSES.
WILL YOU PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF?
AGENDA ITEM 2 HAS ALREADY BEEN
READ INTO THE RECORD.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
AGENDA ITEM 2, COUNSEL BILL 119
910?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> MORALES?
MORALES?
>> WE DO NOT HAVE AUDIO ON YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
SHE'S GIVING YOU A YES.
>> THANK YOU.
MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSON?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> JUCEZ?
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
AGENDA ITEM 3 HAS ALREADY BEEN
READ INTO THE RECORD.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
BILL, WHICH IS AGENDA ITEMS
319911? HEARING NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
PEDERSON?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
HERBOLD?
JUAREZ?
LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT.
THE CLERK PLEASE FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
>> MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER FOUR? ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON CLERK FILE 3144 62,
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
PLACING THE CLERK FILE ON FILE.
>>SEVEN?
MOSQUEDA?
PEDERSEN?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
HERBOLD?
HEARING NO OBJECTION,?
LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
IT IS PLACED ON FILE.
AGENDA ITEM 5, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON THE CLERK FILE,
314463 AGENDA ITEM 5? HEARING
NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, WITH
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
IN PLACING THE FILE ON FILE?
>>, SAWANT, STRAUSS , HERBOLD,
JUAREZ, LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
IT IS APPROVED AND PLACED ON
FILE.
ITEM 6, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON COUNSEL BILL 11991 TO AGENDA
ITEM 6? HEARING NO COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
PEDERSON?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
HERBOLD?
JUAREZ?
LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES? NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF?
ALL RIGHT, VICTORY, FIRST
GROUP, COMPLETED.
MOVING NOW TO THE SECOND GROUP.
WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEMS
SEVEN THROUGH 11?
CANCEL BILL 119913 RELATED TO
FEES AND CHARGES FOR PERMITS
úFOR THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION. THE COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDS THAT THE BILL
PASSED.
THE NEXT, ESTABLISHING THE 2021
THROUGH 2022 SCHEDULE.
THE COUNTY RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
NEXT, AUTHORIZING AND ACCEPTING
THE FUND SUPPORT FOR CITY
COUNCIL, THEY RECOMMEND THAT
THE BILL PASS.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] IN FAVOR --
COUNSEL BILL 119 915 IS RELATED
TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.
THEY RECOMMEND THE BILL PASS.
COUNSEL BILL 119916 AND
ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] THE BILL
PASS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, FOR
READING THOSE INTO THE RECORD.
COLLEAGUES, WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF AGENDA ITEM 9, THE
RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE
RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THESE
ITEMS WE ARE ABOUT TO CONSIDER
AND VOTE ON WERE ALL PAST
UNANIMOUSLY -- AGENDA ITEM 9.
AND SO, I SUSPECT THAT THERE
MAY BE COMMENTS ON THAT
PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM WHEN I
CALL FOR THEM.
FOR NOW, WE ARE GOING TO GO
THROUGH EACH ITEM, LIKE WE DID
IN THE FIRST GROUP.
THE FIRST ONE IS AGENDA ITEM 7.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
AGENDA ITEM SEVEN?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
PETERSON?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
HERBOLD?
WAREZ?
LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
ITEM 8, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON 119914, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
EIGHT?
HEARING NONE, WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
PETERSON?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
HERBOLD?
JUAREZ?
LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL YOU PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 9, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON RESOLUTION 319 75?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THIS GIVES THE CITY THE
AUTHORITY TO DO BUDGET CUTS TO
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT LARGER
THAN WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE
LEGALLY BE ALLOWED.
I HAVE ARGUED THAT THIS IS
CUTTING ESSENTIAL FUNDING FROM
SEATTLE PARKS AND REGULATION.
SHOCKINGLY, SOME HAVE CLAIMED
THAT THESE CUTS DO NOT EXIST.
IF THE CUTS DON'T EXIST,
COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD NOT HAVE
ANY REASON FOR THIS BILL MAKING
THE CUTS TO BE LEGALLY ALLOWED.
IN THE BUDGETARY MEETING LAST
THURSDAY IN MY OFFICE, THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT FOUGHT
FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO
INCREASE THE TAX RATE TO
PREVENT ALL BUDGET CUTS ACROSS
THE CITY.
IF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD
SUPPORTED THAT, THIS BILL
AUTHORIZING CUTS WOULD NOT HAVE
TO BE NECESSARY.
UNFORTUNATELY, NO OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER VOTED YES ON THAT
APPROACH.
WHILE THIS BILL IS ONLY
NECESSARY TO EXCUSE THE CUTS TO
THE GENERAL POINT OF REALITY
IS, THERE ARE MORE DRASTIC CUTS
TO OTHER PARTS OF FUNDING.
THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
BUDGET CUTS.
MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR IT.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
BILL, AUTHORIZING CUTS TO
COMMUNITY CENTERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION,
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALLABLE
ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION?
>> MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
PETERSON?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
HERBOLD?
JUAREZ?
LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WITH A CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON
COUNSEL BILL 119915, AGENDA 10?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WITH A CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
PETERSON?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
HERBOLD?
JUAREZ?
LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU.
THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WITH A CLERK THESE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
ITEM NUMBER 11, LET'S SEE.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
COUNSEL BILL 119916, AGENDA
ITEM 11?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS AN INCREASE
IN WASTEWATER THAT HAS PASSED
THROUGH FROM KING COUNTY.
WE DO HAVE A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT WAS
APPROVED TO LOOK DEEPER INTO
THIS ISSUE WHERE RATES FROM
KING COUNTY ARE PEST DIRECTLY
ON TO SEATTLE.
I WILL RELUCTANTLY BE VOTING
YES ON THIS.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH
CHOICE BECAUSE THEY ARE PASSED
THROUGH.
WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO THIS
FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE APPRECIATE THAT REMINDER,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
119916?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WITH A CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
OKAY, WE JUST MADE IT THROUGH
GROUP NUMBER TWO.
NOW, WE ARE GOING TO GROUP 3.
THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLES OF ITEMS 12 THROUGH 16
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEMS 12 THROUGH 16,
119917, RELATED TO THE SEATTLE
CENTER, THEY RECOMMEND THE BILL
PASS.
NEXT, RELATED TO THE FINANCING
OF THE SEATTLE FINANCING
ORGANIZATIONS, THEY WERE
COMMENDABLE PASS.
NEXT, RELATING TO CONTRACTING
INDEBTEDNESS, THEY RECOMMEND
THAT THE BILL PASS AS AMENDED.
COUNSEL BILL 119920, THE
ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THAT THE BILL PASS.
COUNSEL BILL 119921 BELIEVES
THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE -- THEY RECOMMEND
THAT IT PASS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, FOR
READING THOSE INTO THE RECORD.
IT IS CONSIDERED IN THIS BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
WE ARE ALL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED
OUT OF COMMITTEE OUT OF THE
COUNCILS CONSIDERATION AND
FINAL ACTION, TODAY.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH
AGENDA ITEM 12.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
COUNSEL BILL 119917, AGENDA
ITEM 12?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WITH A CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES.
WITH A CLERK THESE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
ITEM 13, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON COUNSEL BILL 1199 18, AGENDA
ITEM 13?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK THESE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES.
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 14, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON COUNSEL BILL 119 919, AGENDA
ITEM 14?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WITH A CLERK PLEASE AFFIX BY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 15, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON AGENDA ITEM 15?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WE PLEASE
CALL THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
>> ITEM 16, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON COUNSEL BILL
119921, AGENDA ITEM 16?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
WE PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION?
ITEMS 17 THROUGH 21, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLES OF ITEMS 17 THROUGH 21
INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEMS 17 THROUGH 21, COUNSEL
BILL 119922, RELATED TO THE
DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF SEATTLE,
THEY RECOMMEND THAT THE BILL
PASS.
COUNCILMAN 119923, THE
WASTEWATER, THEY RECOMMEND THAT
IT PASS.
COUNSEL BILL 119924, RELATED TO
THE SOLID WASTE SYSTEM OF
SEATTLE, COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THE BILL PASS.
COUNSEL BILL 119925 MEANS THE
MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM -- THEY
úRECOMMEND THAT IT PASS.
FINALLY, THE SYSTEM OF SEATTLE,
IT RECOMMENDS THAT IT PASS.
>> THANK YOU.
MADAM CLERK, AGAIN, COLLEAGUES
IN THE GROUPING OF AGENDA ITEMS
17 THROUGH 21, THESE ARE PIECES
OF LEGISLATION THAT WERE
DISCUSSED DURING THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, ALL OF THEM PASSED
OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, UNANIMOUSLY FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY
COUNCIL, TODAY.
SO, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START
WITH AGENDA ITEM 17.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS
COUNSEL BILL, AGENDA 17?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 18.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
COUNSEL BILL -- AGENDA ITEM 18?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WITH A CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 19, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON COUNSEL BILL 119924, AGENDA
ITEM 19?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 20, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON AGENDA ITEM 20?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 21, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON COUNSEL BILL 119926, AGENDA
ITEM 21?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
NEXT GROUPING, ITEMS 22 THROUGH
29, WITH A CLERK PLEASE READ
THE SHORT TITLE OF ITEMS 22
THROUGH 29 INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEMS TWO THROUGH 29, 119947
RELATING TO THE FINANCING OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, COUNSEL BILL
119928 LEADING TO TAX REVENUE,
31 976 MODIFYING FINANCIAL
POLICIES FOR THE ARTS AND
CULTURE FUND, THE COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDS THAT THIS BE
ADOPTED.
COUNSEL BILL 119929 RELATING TO
PARKING CHARGES, THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS.
COUNSEL BILL 119930 RELATING TO
ADJUSTING THE NINE-YEAR MOVE
FOR COMMITTEE AMOUNTS, BILL [
INDISCERNIBLE ] RELATED TO
TAXATION, THE BILL RECOMMENDS
PAST -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
APPROVING INTEREST RATES SET BY
SEATTLE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT
SYSTEM BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
FOR 2021, THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE RESOLUTION BE
ADOPTED.
RESOLUTION 31978 -- EXCUSE ME,
AMENDING RESOLUTION 31334,
ESTABLISHING THE CITY COUNCIL'S
INTENT TO FUND THE SEATTLE
CITY'S EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
SYSTEM.
THEY RECOMMEND THAT IT BE
ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, WE WILL VOTE
ON ITEMS 22 THROUGH 29.
THESE WERE ALL CONSIDERED IN
THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE AND
WERE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED ON
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT THESE LEGISLATIVE
BILLS OR RESOLUTIONS DURING
TODAY'S COUNSEL.
SO, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
COUNSEL BILL 119 947, AGENDA
ITEM 22?
HEARING NONE, WITH A CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 23, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON COUNSEL BILL 119928, AGENDA
ITEM 23?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WE PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE COUNSEL OF
THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
THESE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
OKAY, ITEM 24, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEM 24?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON MY
BEHALF.
ITEM 25, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON COUNCIL BILL 119929 , AGENDA
ITEM 25?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 26, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON COUNCIL BILL 119930, AGENDA
ITEM 26?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 27, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON AGENDA ITEM 27?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 28, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
ON RESOLUTION 31977, AGENDA
ITEM 28?
WITH A CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WITH A CLERK PLEASE ASSIGN MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
RESOLUTION 31978, AGENDA ITEM
29?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WITH A
CLERK THESE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS ADOPTED.
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE.
NEXT GROUPING, AGENDA ITEMS 30
AND 31, WITH A CLERK PLEASE
READ THE SHORT TITLES OF ITEMS
30 AND 31 INTO THE RECORD?
AGENDA ITEMS 30 AND 31 --
>> COUNCIL BILL 119933,
CREATING AN OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, THE COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDS THAT THE BILL PASS
AS AMENDED.
COUNCIL BILL 119949 LINKED TO
AN ORGANIZATION OF CITY
GOVERNMENT CREATING A NEW
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATION CENTER.
THEY RECOMMEND THE BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
ALL RIGHT, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
30, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
COUNCIL BILL 119933, AGENDA
ITEM 30?
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO MAKE A FEW SHORT
COMMENTS ABOUT THIS.
I AM LISTED AS THE SPONSOR ON
THIS ONE.
THIS LEGISLATION CREATES A NEW
DEPARTMENT, THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHICH HAS
BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT LIKE OTHER
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS,
THE RECTOR OEM WILL BE
NOMINATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL,
CURRENTLY OEM IS BEING RUN BY
INTERIM DIRECTOR LAWRENCE
NELSON.
WE WANT TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF
FOR THEIR EFFORTS ON THIS
PARTICULAR PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THE ONE THAT FOLLOWS, I THINK
THERE WERE SOME IMPORTANT
TECHNICAL CHANGES TO COUNCIL
BILL 1199 33 THAT LISA WAS
ABLE TO CATCH REGARDING THE
STATUTORY AUTHORITY, THE
DIRECTOR OF THIS OFFICE, TO
MAINTAIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
STANDARDS OF SEATTLE, SO, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HUMBOLDT FOR YOUR SPONSORSHIP
OF THAT ITEM.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WITH A CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM 31, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON COUNCIL BILL
119949, AGENDA ITEM 31?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, I REALLY WANT TO
THANK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
COUNCIL FOR HEARING THE CALL OF
WHAT I SEE AS A WORKFORCE VISION
FROM THE HUNDRED OR SO PARKING
ENFORCERS THAT WERE AN
IMPORTANT DRIVING FORCE FOR
THIS NEW COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATION CENTER, INCLUDED
IN THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATION CENTER, IT WOULD
NOT ONLY BE 911 DISPATCH AS
PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR, BUT
ALSO, THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS WITH THE GOAL OF
HAVING THOSE FUNCTIONS
TRANSFERRED BY JUNE 1st, 2021.
THE PEO'S, THE PUBLIC
ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE ENFORCED
BY JUNE 1st, 2021.
I'M SORRY, THE 911 DISPATCH
WOULD BE 30 DAYS AFTER THE
EXECUTIVE RECEIVES THE
NECESSARY ORIGINALITY AGENCY
IDENTIFIER.
THESE ARE ACCESS PERMISSIONS
FOR THE 911 COMMUNICATION
CENTER OR, JUNE 1st, 2021.
WHICHEVER IS FIRST.
THEY ALSO REQUEST THAT THE
EXECUTIVE REPORT BY THE END OF
THE FIRST QUARTER ON THE COST
EFFECTIVENESS AND FEASIBILITY
OF PROVIDING PARKING
ENFORCEMENT.
OFFICERS ACCESS TO THEIR CAR
CHARGING STATIONS, AND
ADDITIONAL STAFF, A BUDGET
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT
THE EXPANSION OF THE PARKING
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
RESPONSIBILITIES AS FOLLOWS.
MANAGING TRAFFIC AT LIGHTED
INTERSECTIONS, RED LIGHT CAMERA
AND SCHOOL ZONE ENFORCEMENT,
RESPONSE TO NONINJURY
COLLISIONS, RESPONSE TO AND
REPORTING ON MINOR THEFTS AND
CAR BREAK-INS, AS WELL AS
CERTAIN TRAFFIC CONTROL
FUNCTIONS LIKE FLAGGING AT
CONSTRUCTION SITES OR LOCATIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR EVENTS.
LASTLY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER WOULD BE
NOMINATED BY THE MAYOR AND
CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
AND SUBJECT TO REAPPOINTMENT
AND RECONFIRMATION EVERY FOUR
YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS STILL A LOT
OF WORK BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE OF
2021 TO MAKE THESE TRANSFERS
HAPPEN.
SOME OF THAT WORK IS BEING
DONE, I KNOW, WITHIN THE CITY'S
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM OF WHICH
COUNCIL HAS BEEN INVITED TO
PARTICIPATE.
REALLY, AGAIN, I AM EXCITED AND
INSPIRED BY THE VISION THAT WAS
BROUGHT TO US BY A MAJORITY
PORTION OF THE SEATTLE'S
WORKFORCE.
IS REALLY CENTERED ON THEIR
DESIRE TO HEAR THE CALL OF
THEIR COMMUNITY, TO IDENTIFY
WHAT FUNCTIONS THAT ARE
COMPLETED BY CITY EMPLOYEES --
THAT COULD BE COMPLETED BY CITY
EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT SWORN
OFFICERS.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CHAIR, SO THIS, THIS
LEGISLATION DOES A LOT.
I WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
I DID JUST WANT TO STATE FOR
THE RECORD, I ALSO SUPPORTED
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS
SUPPORTED BY THE DIRECTOR TO
HAVE PARKING ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS TO GO INTO THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
I FEEL THAT THAT IS ALSO A
VALID PLACE FOR THEM TO BE
HOUSED.
ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO SAVE
MONEY AND ENABLE THOSE WHO ARE
NOT ARMED TO DO THIS TYPE OF
WORK AND BE MORE INVOLVED IN
MANAGING TRAFFIC SITUATIONS.
I SUPPORT THE OVERALL CONCEPT
OF THIS SHIFT, AND WILL END UP
SUPPORTING THIS BILL AND
SUPPORTING PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR
ON THIS, THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, I WAS HAPPY THIS
WAS INCLUDED IN THE FINAL
PACKAGE.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD READ MOST
OF THE CRITERIA THAT CAME ALONG
WITH THE MOVE.
I WILL BE VERY INTERESTED IN
FOLLOWING UP AS WE RECEIVE
REPORTS AND ADVANCE THE JUNE
DATE TO MAKE SURE THE
QUESTIONS WE HAVE ASKED
SPECIFICALLY AROUND
INFRASTRUCTURE EFFICIENCIES AND
COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF HAVING
THESE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] ARE
REPORTS THAT COME BACK TO THE
COUNCIL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU AND THE MEMBERS WHO
ARE AFFECTED BY THIS POTENTIAL
CHANGE, SO WE CAN HAVE
ADDITIONAL COLLABORATION WITH
FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE AS WE THINK
ABOUT THE SHIFT.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
COUNCIL BILL 119 AGENDA ITEM
31?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WITH A CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
YES.
PEDERSON?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS?
HER BOLTS?
WHY RISE?
LEWIS?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
NEXT GROUPING, ITEMS 32 THROUGH
34, WITH A CLERK PLEASE READ
THE SHORT TITLES OF ITEMS 32
THROUGH 34 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEMS 32 THROUGH 34,
RELATING TO THE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFITS, THE COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDS THAT IT PASS AS
RECOMMENDED, MANY ARE IN FAVOR,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS
OPPOSED WITH AN ABSTENTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE NEXT BILL PASS.
HOUSERVILLE 119937, THE
COMMUNITY RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
OKAY.
AGENDA ITEM 32, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON COUNCIL BILL 119951
, AGENDA ITEM 32?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, THEN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> SORRY, JUST ONE SECOND.
YES.
THIS BILL INCREASES THE VEHICLE
LICENSE FEE, ALSO KNOWN AS CAR
DAFT BY $20 TO FUND
TRANSPORTATION.
CAR TAGS ARE ONE OF THE MOST
DEEPLY REGRESSIVE AND PUNISHING
TAXES IN SEATTLE.
I KNOW MANY -- HAVING CAR TAGS
WILL ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD
IMPACT AGAINST CAR EMISSIONS
WHICH ARE ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT FACTORS IN REDUCING
CARBON EMISSIONS AND ACTUALLY
TAKING SEATTLE TOWARDS ZERO
MISSIONS.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR
POWER TO REDUCE ADMISSIONS AND
TAKE THEM TO 0. IN REALITY, IF
YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS, WHAT
ENDS UP HAPPENING IS, IT
PUNISHES THAT SECTION OF
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE WHO END UP
HAVING TO RELY ON THEIR VEHICLE
JUST TO GET TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD
AND THROUGH THEIR DAYS,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MANY OF THEM
ARE BEING PUSHED FARTHER AND
FARTHER AWAY FROM THEIR PLACE
OF BUSINESS.
YES, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THERE
IS A BIG SECTION OF OUR POOR
AND WORKING-CLASS NEIGHBORS WHO
CANNOT AFFORD CARS.
THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THEM.
THIS IS IGNORING THE FACT THAT
DEEPLY REGRESSIVE TAXES ARE
ACTUALLY PUNISHING TO THE
FOREIGN, LOW INCOME AND WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED.
WHAT HAPPENS IS, LITERALLY,
WHEN POOR PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD
TO PAY THEIR CAR TAGS, TO GET
HER LICENSE IS REVOKED, OFTEN
GET ARRESTED FOR DRIVING
WITHOUT A LICENSE.
AS I MENTIONED IN THE COMMITTEE
MEETING, WHEN I WAS ARRESTED
DURING A DIRECT ACTION
DEMONSTRATION FOR THE $15
MINIMUM WAGE IN 2014, I WAS
HELD OVERNIGHT IN A JAIL CELL
WITH LOW INCOME, FOR WOMEN, WHO
HAD ONE IN ALL BEEN ARRESTED
BECAUSE OF POVERTY -RELATED
TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS, INCLUDING
UNPAID CAR TAX.
THERE IS ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE,
BUT IT IS VERY MUCH IN LINE
WITH STATISTICAL EVIDENCE OF
HOW THIS IMPACTS ORDINARY
PEOPLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN I MOVED TO
REPLACE THE REGRESSIVE CAR FEE
WITH A MICROSCOPIC INCREASE IN
THE AMAZON TAX ON PANDEMIC
PROFITEERING CORPORATIONS,
EVERY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS
VOTED NO.
WHEN GIVEN THE CHOICE, ALL EIGHT
COUNCILMEMBERS, ALL DEMOCRATS,
SUPPORTED THE REGRESSIVE TAX ON
WORKERS RATHER THAN A TAX ON
BIG BUSINESS.
NOW, THE ONLY OPTIONS ARE TO
SUPPORT THE REGRESSIVE TAX OR
LOSE ESSENTIAL TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING.
I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT GOING TO
SUPPORT ANY LOSS IN
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.
I WILL VOTE YES ON THIS BILL, I
WANT TO REGISTER THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL DID HAVE A BILL OF -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] TRACY REFUSED
TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON?
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS 119951 ABOUT THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
RELATED TO THE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT, VEHICLE
LICENSE FEES.
THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME.
I HAD WANTED THE MONEY TO GO
STRAIGHT TO BRIDGE MAINTENANCE.
THIS -- SO, THE COUNCIL BUDGET
ACTION TOOK SEPARATELY WAS TO
HAVE IT GO DIRECTLY TO BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE.
THAT FAILED ON A 4 TO 5 VOTE,
THE ALTERNATIVE PASSED A 5 TO 4
VOTE TO HAVE A PROCESS TO
DISCUSS THAT AND SEE WHAT THE
USES OF FUNDS SHOULD BE.
SO, I WANT TO HELP TO SHEPHERD
THIS PROCESS IN A GOOD-FAITH
MANNER.
THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES OF
TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT WE WILL BE HAVING A
BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
I DID -- I WAS ON THE RECORD,
WEEKS AGO, SAYING I WOULD
SUPPORT AN INCREASE TO THE
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.
I WANT TO HONOR THAT AND MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS A TOUGH ISSUE.
I WILL GO ON THE SIDE OF VOTING
IN FAVOR OF IT BECAUSE WE WANT
TO GET THE CLOCK STARTED ON
COLLECTING THIS REVENUE BECAUSE
WE CAN PUT IT TO GOOD USE,
COLLECTIVELY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE
THOSE COMMENTS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
THEN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THEN
--
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE
DONE TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.
I APPRECIATE THOSE WORKING IN
OUR OFFICE, PRESIDENT GONZALES
IS INCLUDED.
I WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE
BILL AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES,
WORKERS AND LABORERS WILL HAVE
A SEAT AT THE TABLE AS WE LOOK
AT THE DATA FOR DETERMINING
WHERE THE INVESTMENTS GO --
UNDERSCORE MY COMMENTS FROM
EARLIER, RECOGNIZING THERE IS A
LOT OF SHARED PRIORITIES WHEN
WE LOOK AT INFRASTRUCTURE
RELATED TO BRIDGES THAT FORM US
IN HAND, BIKERS, PEDESTRIANS TO
USE THESE BRIDGES.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
CONVERSATION AND HAVING A DATA-
DRIVEN ANALYSIS TO REALLY POINT
US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN
THE SHORT FRAME TIME WE HAVE
BALANCED BACK.
THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE
, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING MORE INFORMATION FROM
YOU ALL VERY SOON, THINK IT WAS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO PULL
FOLKS TOGETHER AND THANKS AGAIN
TO OUR FRIENDS FOR BEING PART
OF THAT DISCUSSION ALONG WITH [
INDISCERNIBLE ] BECAUSE -- AND
WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY
COMING TOGETHER, SOON.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THEN
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I WILL BE BRIEF.
I VOTED FOR THIS PREVIOUSLY IN
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, CERTAINLY
, WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE
INITIAL PROPOSAL ON THE
DEDICATION OF THESE RESOURCES
FOR BRIDGE MAINTENANCE DID NOT
GO THROUGH.
I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR,
AGAIN, TODAY.
BUT I REMAIN COMMITTED THAT IF
NOT THIS FUNDING RESOURCE AT
THE END OF THE STAKEHOLDER
PROCESS, THIS COUNCIL
CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO
FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO
MEET THE MAINTENANCE FUNDING
GOALS OUTLINED IN THE RECENT
AUDIT.
THIS SHOULD STILL BE CONSIDERED
A POTENTIAL SOURCE AS WE GO
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS TO
DETERMINE WHERE SOME OF THESE
RESOURCES CAN GO.
BY VOTING, TODAY, I AM
AFFIRMING THAT THAT IS A
PROCESS THAT SHOULD GO FORWARD,
AND WE SHOULD HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE ARE
GOING TO MAKE THESE IMPORTANT
INVESTMENTS.
WITH THAT, I WILL BE VOTING IN
FAVOR.
I APPRECIATE THE MOMENT TO MAKE
THOSE REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> JUST TRYING TO KEEP THINGS
INTERESTING, HERE, COUNCIL
MEMBERS VOTED 5 TO 4 TO
SUBSTITUTE A VERSION THAT
ADOPTED [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. I AM
A COSPONSOR OF THIS.
AT THE TIME, THE VOTE WAS TO
REMOVE THE SPECIFIED FUNDING
FOR BRIDGE MAINTENANCE.
INSTEAD, IN THIS VERSION, A
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS WOULD
DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR USE OF
THE FUNDS.
I VOTED NO ON THE REVISED
PROPOSAL, BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED
THAT THE COUNCIL IS HANDING THE
DECISION OF WHETHER WE SHOULD
PROVIDE FUNDING NECESSARY TO
IMPLEMENT AUDITOR
RECOMMENDATIONS TO A
STAKEHOLDER GROUP MIGHT DECIDE
THAT THE FUNDS SHOULD BE USED
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
I BELIEVE IT IS UP TO THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO MAKE
THE TOUGH DECISIONS ON HOW TO
IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE CITY AUDITOR.
SOMETIMES, THAT MEANS FUNDING
ITEMS THAT THERE ARE COMPETING
NEEDS FOUR.
DOING SO BECAUSE THE AUDITOR
HAS IDENTIFIED IT AS CRITICAL,
I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS
PRACTICE CREATES A TROUBLING
PRECEDENT THAT UNDERMINES 3.40
3.50 WHICH READS, UNDER -- IT
IS CITY POLICY TO FOLLOW UP ON
REPORTS BY THE CITY AUDITOR.
FOLKS MIGHT ARGUE, WELL, WE CAN
FIND OTHER FUNDS TO FOLLOW UP
ON AUDIT REPORTS BY THE CITY
AUDITOR.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
MOVE LEVY GOES THROUGH 2024.
THE COUNCIL WILL NOT HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS FUNDING
UNTIL THAT TIME.
THE OPTIONS FOR DEDICATED
TRANSFER FUNDING TO ADDRESS
MAINTENANCE ON OUR CRITICAL
BRIDGES IS LIMITED.
THE 2015 MOVE LEVY WAS SET UP A
LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE
PREVIOUS BRIDGING THE GAP LEVY.
THE PREVIOUS LEVY DEDICATED A
HIGHER PORTION OF FUNDS TO
MAINTENANCE THAN THE NEW LEVY
DOES.
THE MOVE LEVY STARTED MOVING IN
A DIRECTION AWAY FROM
MAINTAINING CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TOWARDS
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE WILL NOT HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO FOR SOME
TIME.
THE MAYOR, AS WE ALL KNOW,
CHOSE TO PROCEED WITH THE
REPAIR FOR THE BRIDGE.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH
THIS DECISION, IN PART DUE TO
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER CAPITAL
COSTS AND THE TIME IT REQUIRED
TO BUILD A NEW BRIDGE.
THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE COST
WILL BE HIGHER FOR THE SEATTLE
BRIDGE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE
THAT I AM GOING TO BE
CONTINUING TO WEIGH IN ON.
AGAIN, AS I SAID, TO KEEP
THINGS INTERESTING, HERE, I
WILL WORK CONSISTENTLY WITH MY
COMMITTEE VOTE AND NOT SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION, THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA , AND
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WANTED TO
MAKE A COMMENT?
I SEE NONE, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM ALWAYS
ERVOUS WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO
KEEP THINGS INTERESTING.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT
WERE MADE.
I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD,
EARLIER, ABOUT SUPPORT FROM THE
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES, I
WANTED TO THANK THE IRON
WORKERS, THEY SEND IN A LETTER
THAT SAID THAT THEY SUPPORT THE
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE BUT WE ALSO
UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR
OVERSIGHT.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] WE ARE
EXCITED TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE.
WE ARE EXCITED TO WORKING WITH
YOU.
THAT'S THE PIECE I WANTED TO
READ AND FOR THE RECORD AND
THINK OUR FRIENDS IN THE LOCAL
TRADES AND BE SURE THAT THE
COMMENT GOT RECORDED FOR THE
RECORD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE
COMMENTS AND CONVERSATION.
WE HAD A REALLY PROTECTIVE
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT THAT LED TO THIS
FINAL COUNCIL BILL.
I WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, I
DO THINK THE ORIGINAL SPONSORS,
PEDERSON, LEWIS AND HERBOLD .
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COMMENTS
THAT THIS IS AN INCREASE IN THE
LICENSE FEE.
IT'S ACTUALLY A DECREASE IN THE
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.
FOLKS THROUGH THE END OF THE
YEAR WILL BE PAYING $80.
THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE
STARTING IN 2021, THAT WILL BE
REDUCED TO A TOTAL OF $40.
THIS IS NOT AN INCREASE IN THE
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
RECORD WAS CORRECT WITH REGARD
TO THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
SECONDLY, I CONTINUE TO HEAR
AND APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S COMMENTS AROUND THE
QUESTION ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDER
PROCESS.
AND THE RELEVANCE TO POLICY
DECISIONS BY THE COUNCIL IN
SHORT ORDER, RELATED TO HOW WE
ARE GOING TO SPEND THE DOLLARS.
I WOULD BE COMMITTED TO MAKING
SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BENEFIT
OF THE STAKEHOLDER INFORMATION.
OF COURSE, AT THE END OF THE
DAY, IT IS UP TO CITY COUNCIL
TO MAKE BUDGET APPROPRIATION
AUTHORITIES WITHIN OUR CHARTER
MANDATED DUTIES.
AGAIN, THERE WILL BE
RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT NOT
MANDATES COMING OUT OF THE
STAKEHOLDER GROUP.
I THINK THAT WE WILL BENEFIT
FROM HAVING THE STAKEHOLDER
GROUP COME TOGETHER AND TAKE A
LOOK AT BEST USE OF THESE
DOLLARS.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE
LICENSE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN
LARGELY DEDICATED TO TRANSIT
PURPOSES AND NOT TO BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE.
BUT, WE HAVE A NEW SET OF
INFORMATION FOR US THAT DOES
PROVIDE US WITH ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AROUND THE NEED TO
TAKE CARE OF OUR BRIDGES AS
SORT OF A BASIC PART OF OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CONNECTS
BUSES AND CYCLISTS AND
PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLE
USERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION.
SO, I HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO
HAVE THAT ABBREVIATED
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THAT WILL
YIELD US SOME RICH INFORMATION
THAT WE CAN CONSIDER IN OUR
DELIBERATIONS AS WE WORK TOWARDS
SHAPING A PLAN.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS
MENTIONED CITY RESOURCES
RELATED TO CONSTANT REVENUE
STREAMS FOR BRIDGE MAINTENANCE
-- I ALSO JUST THINK THAT WE
WOULD BE REMISS NOT
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ALSO HAVE
SOME GREAT MEMBERS OF
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, FOR
EXAMPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN
CHAMPIONING FUNDING AT THIS
LEVEL, ESPECIALLY THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE, I WANT TO THANK
THE CONGRESSMAN FROM OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, HERE,
IN PARTICULAR, WHO WAS JUST
LAST WEEK ABLE TO SECURE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE, AND I THINK
THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE -- I
HOPE, NOW, WITH A NEW
ADMINISTRATION, MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH FEDERAL DELEGATION
TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR
FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR -- FOR THIS
PARTICULAR NEED TO SERVE A LONG-
TERM STRATEGY.
I MEAN, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK
THAT WE CAN DO, HERE.
THE LEGAL LICENSE FEE GIVES US
$7.2 MILLION A YEAR.
THE NEEDS RELATED TO BRIDGES IS
A TOTAL OF $100 MILLION.
WE CERTAINLY NEED A LOT MORE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO REALLY
MEET THE MINIMAL NEED, WHICH I
UNDERSTAND THE AUDITOR
IDENTIFIED IS $3.4 MILLION.
I THINK WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO
FIGURING THIS OUT INTO MAKING
SURE THAT WE CAN BALANCE ALL OF
THE NEEDS RELATED TO OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUTWORK --
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL OF
YOU ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I THINK, I DON'T SEE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, HERE.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE UP
DEBATE.
I WILL ASK THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.
>> MORALES?
>> HERBOLD?
>> JUAREZ?
LEWIS?
PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES, THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
ITEM NUMBER 33, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON COUNCIL BILL
119936, AGENDA ITEM 33?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK THESE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
AGENDA ITEM 34, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON COUNCIL BILL 119936
-- 7? AGENDA 34?
WE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
OKAY.
WE HAVE ARRIVED AT AGENDA ITEMS
35 AND 36, AS I MENTIONED AT
THE TOP OF THE AGENDA, THESE
ARE THE MAJOR BUDGET ACTIONS
RELATED TO THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL BUDGET AS AMENDED
DURING THE COMMUNITY PROCESS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY -- IF
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED
IN MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT THE
BUDGET AS A WHOLE, THIS WOULD
BE THE TIME TO DO THAT.
BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE
CLERK READ THESE ITEMS INTO THE
AGENDA, I DID WANT TO MAKE
NOTE, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
CLERK'S OFFICE, THE BUDGET
DOCUMENTS THAT WERE APPROVED AT
THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
WERE NOT ABLE TO BE UPDATED AND
PRELOADED INTO TODAY'S CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
SO, COUNCIL BILL 119938 AND
THE OTHER RECORDS -- LET'S SEE,
IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
SO, AGAIN, FOLKS, THESE
MATERIALS WERE NOT UPLOADED
WHEN THE AGENDA WAS PUBLISHED,
BUT ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE.
SO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
TAKING A LOOK, AGAIN, AT CLERK
FILE 314464, THAT IS UPDATED.
IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE
PUBLISHED AGENDA, SAME FOR
COUNCIL BILL 119938, SO FOR
BENEFIT OF MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, THESE DOCUMENTS ARE NOW
UPLOADED AND AVAILABLE ONLINE
FOR VIEWING.
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, FOR
EACH OF YOU, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS
-- OKAY?
SO, I WILL HAVE THE CLERK READ
ITEMS 35 AND 36 INTO THE RECORD.
>> EXCUSE ME, AGENDA ITEMS 35
AND 36, CITY COUNCIL CHANGES TO
THE 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET AND
THE 2021 AND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE
COMMUNITY RECOMMENDS THAT IT BE
APPROVED AND FILED, COUNCIL
BILL 119938 ADOPTING A BUDGET
INCLUDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM AND POSITION
MODIFICATIONS FROM THE CITY FOR
2021 -- EXEMPT FROM [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THAT THE BILL PASS
AS AMENDED, COUNCIL MEMBERS
ARE IN FAVOR, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT IS OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
AS CHAIR OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE NEXT TWO
ITEMS.
THEN, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO
COMMENTS BY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
BEFORE I TAKE UP EACH ITEM,
INDIVIDUALLY.
AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
COMMENTS RELATED TO THE 2021
BUDGET AS AMENDED BY THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE, NOW IS THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO GET INTO
THE QUEUE IN ORDER TO MAKE
COMMENTS, GENERALLY, ABOUT THE
BUDGET.
I WILL, AFTER EVERYONE HAS MADE
COMMENTS, WE WILL TAKE VOTES ON
THE CLERK FILE, FIRST.
THEN, ON THE COUNCIL BILL.
I WILL BE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS WHEN I CALL UP EACH
INDIVIDUAL ITEM.
AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE
COMMENTS, NOW IS THE TIME.
YOU DO IT ON THE CLERK FILE AND
THE COUNCIL BILL, ONCE WE
CLOSE OUT COMMENTS AND DEBATE,
WE ARE JUST GOING TO GO
STRAIGHT INTO VOTING ON EACH
ONE OF THESE ITEMS.
WE WILL NOT OPEN UP FOR COMMENTS
ONCE I CALL THEM UP FOR A VOTE.
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
YOU ARE FIRST UP.
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU FEEL MOVED
TO MAKE COMMENTS, PLEASE RAISE
YOUR HAND SO I CAN BEGIN A LIST
IN THE ORDER THAT I SEE FOLKS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DO HOPE FOLKS FEEL MOVED TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE PIECES
YOU HAVE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET
. I WILL MAKE SOME OPENING
COMMENTS.
AT THE END, IF THERE ARE PIECES
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HIGHLIGHTED,
I WOULD LOVE TO SUMMARIZE A FEW
ADDITIONAL PIECES FOR WE CLOSE
OUT.
I WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN.
I AM MOVED.
I AM MOVED BY THE TESTIMONY AND
MOVEMENTS HAVE ALL SEEN
MANIFEST ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
I AM MOVED BY THE URGENT NEED
TO ACT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE
THE SERVICES AND HOUSING AND
HEALTH SERVICES THEY NEED IN
ORDER TO SUSTAIN THIS PANDEMIC.
I AM MOVED BY THE URGENCY TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR WORKERS AND
SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE THE
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED SO THEY
CAN CONTINUE TO OFFER SERVICES,
AND THERE WILL BE EMPLOYMENT
FOR WORKERS AS WE RECOVER FROM
THIS CRISIS.
I MOVED TO DO THIS WORK BECAUSE
ALL OF YOU HAVE STEPPED UP IN
SO MANY WAYS THIS YEAR TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE DONE THE WORK
OF BUDGETING THROUGH A RACIAL
JUSTICE LENS, AND WE HAVE COME
TOGETHER IN THIS TIME THAT
REQUIRES US TO ACT OUTSIDE OF
OUR COMFORT ZONE AND PUSH THE
BALANCE IN TERMS OF WHAT
COUNCIL HAD PREVIOUSLY
CONSIDERED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY
AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET.
THIS WAS NO EASY TASK.
WHEN IT CAME TO ECONOMIC
DOWNTURNS , WE ARE BACK TO BACK
MEETINGS AND PASSING THE
JUMPSTART PROGRESSIVE TAX
REVENUE, IT IS A REALLY
INCREDIBLE LIST OF THINGS THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACT
UPON IN A VERY SHORT TIME.
AND, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
WORK TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY
HAS THE SERVICES HE NEEDS.
NOW, THANKS TO YOUR WORK,
THANKS TO HELP AND LEADERSHIP
AS WELL, WE HAVE $40 MILLION IN
RESERVES THAT WE KNOW WE WILL
IMMEDIATELY NEED TO BEGIN
LOOKING AT AS WE HELP THOSE WHO
ARE DEALING WITH A THIRD WAVE
OF COVID, AND THE UNEXPECTED
NATURE OF THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
THAT WILL MANIFEST IN 2021.
THIS WILL BE A ROBUST PROCESS.
WE WANT TO LEAVE THAT EFFORT,
MANY OF WHOM, WE HAVE ENGAGED
WITH OVER MONTHS TO CREATE THE
PROGRESSIVE TAX PROPOSAL.
WE CAN IDENTIFY WAYS TO REFUND
OR REBUILD THE ORIGINAL
SPENDING PLAN THAT WAS PLANNING
TO INVEST UP TO $89 MILLION IN
ASSISTANCE FOR COVID RELIEF.
WE KNOW THAT THE CRISIS IS
URGENT.
WE HAVE INVESTED IN MANY WAYS
THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND
PREPARATION FOR THE WORST YET
TO COME.
YOUR COUNCIL, YOUR CITY IS
WORKING FOR YOU.
WE ARE STEPPING UP TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE IS A HAND TO HOLD
THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, AND THE
UNCERTAINTY THAT THE PANDEMIC
IS IMPOSING ON OUR HEALTH AND
OUR LIVELIHOODS OVER THE NEXT
YEAR, I AM REALLY PROUD -- I AM
REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK WE
HAVE DONE TOGETHER.
I SAY THAT IN THE SAME BREATH
WHERE I SAY I KNOW WE HAVE MUCH
MORE WORK TO DO.
THIS MORNING'S CONVERSATION,
THE LAST TWO MONTHS WORTH OF
CONVERSATION, THE CONVERSATION
SINCE JUNE AND MAY AND
PREVIOUSLY IN THE SPRING OF
THIS YEAR -- WE KNOW THERE IS
TREMENDOUS WORK THAT MUST BE
ACCOMPLISHED, TOGETHER.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE
DEMANDING MORE OF THEIR
ELECTIVES.
WE NEED TO BE BOLD AND
COURAGEOUS.
WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING
OURSELVES OUT OF OUR COMFORT
ZONE.
E HAVE DONE THAT IN MANY WAYS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEED TO DO
SO IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS.
IN THIS BUDGET, YOU WILL SEE
THE WAYS IN WHICH WE HAVE
WORKED TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY
INVESTMENTS IN NOT JUST
RECOVERY, BUT A MORE EQUITABLE
RECOVERY, RECOGNIZING WE SHOULD
NOT GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS
WERE BEFORE, WHEN SO MANY AT
THE BOTTOM HAD SO LITTLE, AND
JUST A FEW AT THE TOP IN THIS
CITY HAD SO MUCH.
WE WANT A MORE EQUITABLE
RECOVERY.
THAT IS WHAT JUMPSTART
PROGRESSIVE PAYROLL TAX BEGINS
TO DO.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN MAKING SURE
THAT MORE WORKING FAMILIES AND
MORE SMALL BUSINESSES CAN
SUSTAIN THIS CRISIS BY HAVING
ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESS
SUPPORT RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PREVENTION FOOD ASSISTANCE
CHILDCARE -- YOU ALL MADE IT
POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE
GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND
ECONOMIC STABILITY, WHICH ALSO
HELPS OUR HEALTH.
BECAUSE WHEN WE LIVE IN CHRONIC
POVERTY OR GENERATIONAL
POVERTY, OR ON THE CUSP OF NOT
BEING ABLE TO PAY OUR RENT, OR
PAYING FOR OUR PROPERTY, IF YOU
HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS, THAT
CHRONIC STRESS ALSO HURTS YOUR
PHYSICAL HEALTH.
RIGHT NOW, WE NEED EVERYONE TO
BE HEALTHY.
WE HAVE INVESTED INDIRECT
MEASURES TO MAKE US HEALTHY AS
A CITY.
WE MADE SURE THAT THERE ARE
HANDWASHING FACILITIES AND
GARBAGE CLEANUP.
THE MAJOR FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO
GOOD, HIGH QUALITY FOOD THROUGH
A PROGRAM -- WE ALSO MAINTAINED
COMMITMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE IS ACCESS TO ETHNICALLY
DIVERSE FOOD ACROSS OUR CITY
FOR THE MOST DIVERSE
POPULATIONS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE
INVEST THROUGH A RACIAL EQUITY
LENS AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE
STAYING HEALTHY REQUIRES FOOD
AND A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
WE SAID REPEATEDLY IN THIS
BUDGET THAT IN ORDER TO STAY
HEALTHY, YOU HAVE TO STAY HOME,
THAT IS THE MANDATE.
FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY
DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO CALL
HOME.
THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO CALL
HOME, EVEN FOR ONE NIGHT.
OUR SHELTERS ARE AT CAPACITY.
THE CRISIS OF LIVING WITHOUT
THE ABILITY TO HAVE SHELTER IN
THIS MOMENT IS MANIFESTING
ITSELF.
EVERY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS,
EACH ONE OF US AS
COUNCILMEMBERS, EVERY RESIDENT
ACROSS THE CITY HAS SEEN THE
CONSEQUENCE OF YEARS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YEARS OF
NONSUFFICIENT INVESTMENT AND
SHELTER SERVICES AND THE HUMAN
SERVICES NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS AND
ARE HOUSING EFFORTS FOR THOSE
WHO ARE LIVING ON SHELTERED IN
OUR CITY ARE SUFFICIENT.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING THAT
PLAY OUT WITH MORE PEOPLE
LIVING IN TENTS, MORE PEOPLE
SLEEPING IN DOORWAYS.
THIS BUDGET MAKES HISTORIC
INVESTMENTS IN HELPING THOSE
WHO ARE LIVING ON SHELTERED IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO NOT ONLY HELP ENSURE
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO NECESSARY
RESOURCES, BUT HELP GET THEM
SHELTERED AND INSIDE.
THAT IS WHAT I AM REALLY PROUD
ABOUT IN THIS BUDGET. WE
INVESTED IN TINY HOMES.
WE INVESTED IN HOTEL
SHELTERING.
WE INVESTED IN NON-CONGREGANT
SHELTER OPTIONS.
EVEN THE HOMELESS SERVICE
PROVIDERS THEMSELVES SAID THAT
THE OLD WAYS OF CONGREGATE
SHELTERS ARE JUST NOT WORKING.
THERE IS MORE HUMANE WAYS AND
HOLISTIC WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE
GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
OUR BUDGET MAKES THOSE HISTORIC
AND NECESSARY INVESTMENTS.
WE ARE INVESTING INDIRECT
HOUSING AS WELL.
WE ARE DOING IT THROUGH THE
LENS OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY
NEEDS.
EVERYTHING FROM MAKING SURE THE
FOLKS AT AFRICA TOWN HAVE THE
PREDEVELOPMENT CAUSE THEY NEED
TO INVEST IN THE SHELTER
SERVICES THAT WILL NEED THE
SUPPORT OF PERMANENT HOUSING TO
MAKING SURE THAT OUR FRIENDS AT
AURORA COMMENTS HAVE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THEY HAVE BEEN
ASKING FOR FOR SO LONG.
WE MADE SURE THE $37 MILLION WE
COMMITTED TO 2 YEARS AGO
THROUGH THE SALE OF PUBLIC LAND
AT [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IS
MAINTAINED SO $30 MILLION GOES
DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITIES AT
THE HIGHEST RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT.
THAT IS A COMMUNITY OF COLOR
POPULATION.
WE WANT TO WELCOME NEW
NEIGHBORS COMING INTO OUR CITY
AND BE A WELCOMING CITY JUST AS
MUCH AS WE WANT TO PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.
THIS BUDGET MAKES THOSE
INVESTMENTS.
IT IS INVESTING IN HOUSING.
WE KNOW WE NEED MUCH MORE THAT
WILL REQUIRE US TO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND
ALSO AT THE STATE.
I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT A
40 YEAR HISTORIC LOW IN HOUSING
INVESTMENTS FROM OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THESE ISSUES OF HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS, THE CRISIS OF
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE
LACK OF ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE
SERVICES CANNOT BE ADDRESSED AT
THE CITY LEVEL, ALONE.
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE
PARTNERSHIP WE COULD
POTENTIALLY HAVE WITH A NEW
WOOD MINISTRATION TO INVEST IN
HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER
SERVICES.
FOLKS, IN THIS BUDGET, WE HAVE
MADE STRIDES TO ACTUALLY
INVESTING IN A GREEN NEW DEAL.
THIS MAKES SURE PEOPLE HAVE
ACCESS TO SIDEWALKS FROM 45th
AVENUE TO SOUTH PARK SIDEWALKS,
PEDESTRIAN WAYS, BIKE FRIENDLY
AVENUES, SO PEOPLE ARE NOT IN
THE STREET, WE ARE CREATING
PROTECTIVE BIKEWAYS ACROSS THE
CITY, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT
THE GREEN NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS
THAT YOU ALL APPROVED THROUGH
THE JUMPSTART PROGRESSIVE TAX
LEGISLATION HAS THE ON RAMP FOR
2022.
WE INVESTED IN MAKING SURE THE
DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY HAVE
THE ABILITY -- AND THE
ENVIRONMENT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
ACTUALLY RAMP UP FOR THE GREEN
NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS BY ALSO
MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE
PERSONNEL DIRECT TITLES THAT
INCLUDE GREEN NEW DEAL LABELS
SO WE ARE GETTING PREPARED FOR
THE CITY, AND WE ARE DOING
MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN MAKING
SURE THAT OUR BUILDINGS ARE
ENERGY EFFICIENT.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VALUES AS
A COUNCIL REPRESENTED IN A CITY
BUDGET -- WE MADE TREMENDOUS
CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET
THAT CAME DOWN.
I THINK, AS FOLKS GO THROUGH
BUDGET, AND I HOPE YOU DO,
THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE WORK
OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, YOU
NOW HAVE EXCELLENT TUTORIALS ON
THE SCREEN TO SHOW YOU THERE IS
COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BUDGET.
I HOPE YOU WILL COME THROUGH IT
IN SEE THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS
COUNCIL HAS NOT ONLY STEPPED UP
TO LEAD IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS
THAT IS THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
AND COVID PANDEMIC, THE WAYS
IN WHICH THESE INVESTMENTS ARE
CENTERING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS
TO REFRAME SUSTAINABILITY AND
SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE ARE
INVESTING IN AREAS THAT HAVE
BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERFUNDED
IN THE PAST.
LET'S LIFT THOSE ITEMS IN THIS
BUDGET UP AND RECOGNIZE WHAT WE
HAVE DONE AND WHERE WE STILL
NEED TO GO.
I AM REALLY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK AS IT COMES TO
SAFETY.
I WANT TO REITERATE THE
IMPORTANT WORK WE HAVE ALL DONE
AND THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE
EVENT.
THIS COUNCIL SET OUT TO DO
THREE THINGS THIS YEAR.
SHRINK THE SPD'S BUDGET IN
AREAS WE KNEW WE ASKED OUR
OFFICERS TO STEP INTO AREAS OF
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND CASE
MANAGEMENT THAT WE SHOULD
ACTUALLY BE DOING THROUGH THE
COMMUNITY.
YOU ALL HAVE DONE THAT IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY,
WE HAVE HELPED SHRINK AREAS
WHERE WE KNEW THOSE SERVICES
COULD BE BETTER SERVED IN
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND A
STANDALONE DEPARTMENT OR
COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS -- YOU
ALL HAVE MADE THOSE REDUCTIONS
POSSIBLE.
WE SET OUT TO INVEST IN
COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES.
WE ARE INVESTING -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] -- HISTORIC
AMOUNT IN PARTICIPATING BUDGET
PROCESS THROUGH THE TASK FORCE
BY MAKING SURE THAT THE 10
MILLION WE COMMITTED TO EARLY
THIS YEAR GETS DIRECTLY OUT TO
COMMUNITIES -- 12 MILLION,
ACTUALLY -- YOU ALL MADE THAT
POSSIBLE.
THE THIRD THING IS, WE HAVE
COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT
WE ARE NOT GROWING THE SIZE OF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WE
ALSO SEEK TO INCREASE THE SIZE
AND CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
WE HELPED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SCALING UP COMMUNITY-BASED
POGROMS AND SERVICES,
ALTERNATIVES FOR ADDRESSING
HARM, AND MAKING SURE THAT
THERE IS A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
PROGRAM FOR BLACK GIRLS AND
YOUNG WOMEN AND LACK CLEAR
TRANS YOUTH.
THERE ARE SO MANY PIECES I WILL
LET ALL OF YOU HIGHLIGHT IN
ADDITION TO THE WAYS IN WHICH
YOU HAVE HELPED PULL OUT MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES FROM
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY
MODELS AND REALLY MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY
BEING TREATED BY THOSE WHO HAVE
THOSE MENTAL-HEALTH SKILLS AND
OUR FIREFIGHTERS -- WE HAVE
LIFTED UP SO MANY INVESTMENTS
AND I WILL SUMMARIZE ON SOME OF
THOSE PIECES AND TALK ABOUT THE
WAYS IN WHICH WE SCALE OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT BY MAKING SURE THAT
THEY HAVE TRAUMA INFORMED
COUNSELING BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY
HARD AND THAT THEY HAVE THE
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO SCALE
IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR.
I WILL TRY TO NOT BE ANY MORE
LONG-WINDED!
JUST TO SAY THANK YOU, IT HAS
BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE
TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AND I
WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT
GET A GOOD THANK YOU IN, MR.
PRESIDENT, SO I DON'T MISS THE
END, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MY
TEAM [ INDISCERNIBLE ] STAFF TO
OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE AND [
INDISCERNIBLE ] ALONG WITH OUR
NEW INTERN . ALSO, THANK YOU TO
THE CENTRAL -- CENTRAL STAFF
BUDGET TEAM -- COULD NOT DO
THIS WORK -- I AM IN AWE EVERY
DAY OF THEIR SKILLS, PATIENCE
AND TALENT -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
AND EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE
CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALL OF YOUR
EXPERTISE, HOURS, CAREFUL
ANALYSIS AND THE WORK THAT YOU
HAVE DONE ON EACH ONE OF THESE
BUDGET ELEMENTS.
THE ENTIRE CENTRAL STAFF HAS
REALLY BEEN THE HEROES BEHIND
HOW WE MADE THIS BUDGET BALANCE
BECAUSE LET'S REMEMBER WE
RECEIVED A BUDGET WITH $3
MILLION IN RESERVES, YOU ALL
HELPED US BUILD THAT BACK UP TO
$40 MILLION AND THEY HAD A HUGE
PART IN THAT.
THANKS AGAIN TO THE CLERKS WHO
ALWAYS KEEP THE SHOW RUNNING
SMOOTHLY, THE I.T.
SYSTEM HAS ENABLED THIS VIRTUAL
DELIBERATIONS TO TAKE PLACE,
AND TO THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
PARTNERS WHO MAKE SURE THAT
INFORMATION IS STREAMED LIVE
AND ARCHIVED FOR YOU.
THANKS AGAIN TO COMMUNITY
PARTNERS WHO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY LETTERS
-- CALLS, WE HEAR YOU, WE SEE
YOU.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE TAKE
ADDITIONAL STEPS TO HELP MAKE
SURE OUR CITY IS HEALTHY,
HOUSED AND SAVED ON A ROAD TO A
MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY -- IT
HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE AND IT'S
BEEN AN HONOR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WRAPPING THIS
UP WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE THINK
ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS THAT LAY
AHEAD OF US!
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
I GOT A MESSAGE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS.
I JUST SAW COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD'S HAND GO UP, TOO.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I AM
HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
IF NOT, I CAN MOVE ON.
, PLEASE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WON'T BE TOO LONG!
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.
WE HAVE HAD HEATED DEBATE OVER
THE PAST FEW MONTHS AS WE
NAVIGATE A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS
OUR ECONOMIC REALITIES.
WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO DELIVER
FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE.
SO, AND I WANT TO SAY, THANKS
TO THE WORK THIS SUMMER TO PASS
THE JUMPSTART LEGISLATION, WE
HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR
COVID RELIEF, AND WE ARE ABLE
TO PREVENT THE KIND OF
AUSTERITY BUDGET WE WERE ALL
FEARING AS WE MOVED INTO [
COUNCIL MADE SIGNIFICANT
STEPS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
TOGETHER IN 2021.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
EXTRAORDINARY ORGANIZING AND
ADVOCACY OF FRONT-LINE WORKERS,
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND
ADVOCATES, I AM PROUD OF THE
WORK WE HAVE DONE, TOGETHER, AS
A COUNCIL.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I FEEL PROUD
THAT I WAS ABLE TO USE THIS
VERY PRIVILEGED POSITION TO
BRING THE VOICES OF DISTRICT TO
INTO THE HALLS OF POWER.
THIS COUNCIL LISTENED AND
THROUGH THIS PROCESS, REALLY
DELIVERED BY ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS, DISMANTLING AND
REPLACING THE NAVIGATION TEAM,
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A
MORE HUMANE AND RESPONSIVE
APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS
ENGAGEMENT, THE HOPE PROGRAM
WILL BE EXPERT LED, IT WILL
EXPAND OUTREACH TO UN-HOUSE
NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE CITY, IT
WILL FINALLY OFFER INVESTMENTS
IN HOTELS TO ENSURE NON-
CONGREGANT SHELTER, ESPECIALLY
RIGHT NOW DURING COVID.
WE ALSO EXPANDED CITY HYGIENE
SERVICES FOR ON HOUSE NEIGHBORS
WITH 63 NEW PUBLIC SINKS
COMING, REGULAR TRASH PICKUP
FOR RESIDENTS OF ENCAMPMENTS.
WE COMMITTED $30 MILLION TO A
NEW PARTICIPATORY BUDGET
PROCESS THAT WILL PRIORITIZE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTEREST IN
HOW THE COMMUNITY SAFETY
RESOURCES ARE SPENT.
WE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN
SHIFTING HOW WE FUND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WITH THIS 2021 BUDGET PROPOSAL,
WE ARE INVESTING IN
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING, AS
WAS ALREADY MENTIONED, SAFETY
COORDINATORS, HEALTH EXPANSION,
WE ARE CUTTING $6 MILLION IN
VACANCY SAVINGS AND ADDING 2
MILLION MORE, THIS MORNING.
SO, I THINK -- WILL SAY, AGAIN,
INCREASING POLICE STAFFING
WRONGLY PRESUMES THAT THEY CAN
FILL THE ROLES OF NURSES AND
SOCIAL WORKERS AND HOUSING
SPECIALISTS.
OUR COMMITMENT THIS MORNING IS
A STRONG INDICATION OF THE WORK
WE HAVE DONE AND THE WORK WE
úKNOW WE STILL HAVE TO DO.
AS I SAID BEFORE, I DO NOT
BELIEVE THERE IS NO RESEARCH TO
PROVE MORE OFFICERS ON CONTROL
EQUALS COMMUNITY SAFETY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW THAT
2020 HAS BEEN REALLY HARD FOR
OUR NEIGHBORS FOR SO MANY
REASONS, I AM EXCITED THAT WITH
TODAY'S VOTE WE REJECTED THE
PREMISE THAT MORE OFFICERS
EQUALS MORE SAFETY.
THIS BUDGET WOULD MARKET AN
IMPORTANT TURN, INVESTING IN A
NEW PARADIGM, HEALTH AND
SAFETY.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
ALSO, I WANT TO THANK SOUTH AND
ADVOCATES, FOLKS IN D2 WILL SEE
$7 MILLION IN MOBILITY
INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING SIDEWALK
REPAIRS -- THE BEGINNING OF
CONSTRUCTION OF THE GEORGETOWN
TO SOUTH PARK TRAIL, THREE
ADDITIONAL OUTREACH WORKERS
WILL SUPPORT WORKERS IN THE
SOUTH END, AND THE $550,000
INVESTED IN THE RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE PILOT PROGRAM AT SOUTH
END SCHOOLS.
I DO WANT TO THANK AS WELL
EVERYONE IN OUR LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING ME
NAVIGATE WHAT HAS BEEN AN
EXTRAORDINARILY CRAZY YEAR.
THE NEW COUNCILMEMBER -- I HAVE
BEEN REALLY THANKFUL TO THE
POLICY AND BUDGET EXPERTISE ON
THE CENTRAL STAFF.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT
OUT TO GREG DOSS.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO CLONE THAT
GUY SO HE CAN TAKE A BREAK.
HE HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD ON
ALL OF OUR BEHALF'S, THANK YOU
TO GREG AND ALL OF THE CENTRAL
STAFF, THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
TO THE IDEAS INTO EASILY
UNDERSTANDABLE VISUALS THAT
MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS
THE WORK WE ARE DOING.
CITY CLERKS MORE THAN ONCE HELP
SET ME STRAIGHT ON PROCEDURAL
RULES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OF COURSE, THE FOLKS IN I.T.
HAVE HELPED ALL OF US LEARN HOW
TO NAVIGATE NEW PLATFORMS, HOW
TO DO MICROPHONE CHECKS, HOW TO
DEAL WITH AND WITH CONSTRAINTS,
THANK YOU ALL FOR REALLY
STEPPING UP IN THIS NEW VIRTUAL
WORLD.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES AND STAKEHOLDERS,
ESPECIALLY MY CONSTITUENTS IN
DISTRICT 2, THAT IS BUDGET
PROPOSALS, PUSHED US TO STRETCH
OUR THINKING, WHO CONTINUE TO
HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR
DELIVERING ON OUR COMMITMENTS
TO BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE
SEATTLE.
FINALLY, I HAVE TO THANK MY
STAFF, CLEARLY THE BUDGET [
INDISCERNIBLE ] OF MY STAFF.
WE ARE ALWAYS INCLUDING YOUNG
PEOPLE IN DELIBERATIONS.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] WHO MAKES
SURE WE DO THE SAME FOR
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.
KEISHA FARMER WHO IS ALWAYS
MAKING SURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES ARE
BEING MET, AS WELL AS OUR
INTERNS -- THEY HAVE ALL BEEN
ROCK STARS AT MANAGING THESE
PROCESSES WHILE ALSO WORKING
HARD TO KEEP UP WITH
CONSTITUENT CALLS.
WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SO
MUCH THIS YEAR, REALLY PROUD OF
THIS TEAM, REALLY PROUD OF THE
WORK WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO,
THIS YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, NEXT IN THE QUEUE IS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, OVERALL
STATEMENTS, THEN I WANT TO LIFT
UP SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL
BUDGET ACTIONS AS WELL.
IN RESPONSE TO WIDESPREAD
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY, IN RESPONSE TO THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD LAST
SUMMER, GENERATIONS OF ACTIVISM
PRIOR TO THAT IN THE FACE OF
INJUSTICE AND HARM AT THE HANDS
OF POLICE OFFICERS, THE COUNCIL
BEGAN WORK ON A NEW APPROACH
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AN APPROACH THAT DOES NOT
ASSUME THAT MORE OFFICERS MEANS
MORE SAFETY.
THIS BUDGET CHARTS THE NEXT
STEPS WHICH WILL CONTINUE INTO
2021 AND BEYOND.
THE BUDGET INCLUDES
UNPRECEDENTED --
>> -- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
A TOTAL OF OFFICER POSITIONS --
IN THE ADOPTED 2020 BUDGET,
TODAY, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
ACTED TO ADJUST THE FUNDING IN
LINE WITH POSITIONS THAT SPD
WILL BE ABLE TO FILL BASED ON
UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON
SEPARATIONS WITH FUNDING FOR
1300 43 FTEs WITH A REQUEST FOR
AN ADDITIONAL 35 OUT OF ORDER
LAYOFFS.
COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED A CLEAR
DESIRE FOR UP-TO-DATE
INFORMATION WITH MONTHLY
UPDATES ON SPD STAFFING AND USE
OF OVERTIME AS WELL AS
REPORTING ON TRAFFIC STOPS,
INCLUDING RACIAL DISPARITIES
AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON TRAINING
AND POLICY CHANGES TO ADDRESS
THIS.
AS FAR AS THE VALUE OF THE SPD
TRANSFERS AND CUTS, THE 911 AND
PEO TRANSFER AND THE TRANSFER
OF VICTIM ADVOCATES TO HSD,
TOTAL $37 MILLION REDUCTION IN
THE SPD BUDGET, AND THE SPD
STAFFING AND RELATED CUTS
DIRECTLY TO SPD IS UP TO $42
MILLION, INCLUDING [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. THAT IS NEARLY
AN $80 MILLION REDUCTION IN
THE SPD BUDGET.
AGAIN, INCLUDING PROVISOS,
TRANSFERS AND CUTS.
THE BUDGET ITSELF FOLLOWS
REIMAGINE COMMUNITY SAFETY,
REBUILD AND SCALE UP
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING.
IT ENSURES THE COMMITMENTS MADE
IN PREVIOUS YEARS ARE HONORED.
IT FUNDS WHAT WAS 10 MILLION IN
INVESTMENTS TO COMMUNITY SAFETY
THAT COUNCIL PROVIDED IN 2020
AND THIS MORNING WE ADDED AN
ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION AS A
RESULT OF THE ADDITIONAL $2
MILLION CUT IN COMMITTEE THIS
MORNING.
THIS WILL RESULT IN $12 MILLION
FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT TO GET OUT THE DOOR,
FOLLOWING A COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS TO INFORM
THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR
THESE FUNDS, AND EXPECTS TO
MAKE AWARDS BY QUARTER ONE,
2021.
IT CLARIFIES THAT INVESTMENTS
SHOULD MOVE THE CITY'S
COMMUNITY SAFETY, STRATEGY
TOWARDS A PUBLIC HEALTH
CENTERED HARM REDUCTION MODEL
OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, CRIME
PREVENTION, AND IN ALIENATING
THE HARM CAUSED BY THE LEGAL
SYSTEM TO INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED.
THE BUDGET ALSO RESTORES OVER
$1 MILLION TO THE SEATTLE
OFFICE FOR RIGHTS FOR
ORGANIZATIONS PURSUING
ALTERNATIVES TO OR ADDRESSING
HARMS CAUSED BY THE LEGAL
SYSTEM THAT WERE AWARDED GRANT
FUNDING THROUGH THE 2020
COLLABORATIVE GRANT MAKING
PROCESS.
THIS WAS THE RESULT OF YEARS OF
ADVOCACY BY COMMUNITY GROUPS
THAT RESULTED IN THE COUNCIL
UNANIMOUSLY PASSING A
RESOLUTION FOR ZERO YOUTH
DETENTION IN 2015.
THE FUNDS WERE MEANT TO BE AN
ONGOING ANNUAL INVESTMENT.
IT RESTORES THE $30 MILLION TO
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUNDS TO
ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT IN AREAS
WITH SIGNIFICANT RISKS.
THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IN THIS
AREA.
IT PROVIDES MONEY FOR A
BUDGETING PROCESS THAT WILL
PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC
SAFETY MODELS AND PROGRAMS
BUILDING ON THE 3 MILLION THAT
COUNCIL PROVIDED IN 2020 FOR
COMMUNITY RESEARCH INTO
COMMUNITY SAFETY WHICH IS
CURRENTLY UNDERWAY THROUGH THE
BLACK BRILLIANCE PROJECT.
THIS BUDGET ACCENT IS FUNDED
BY CUTS FROM 2021.
I THINK WE ALL -- ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO INTRODUCED
REDUCTIONS CAN REALLY TAKE A LOT
OF PRIDE IN THAT THOSE ACTIONS
HAVE LED TO THIS $30 MILLION
FOR PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
AS FAR AS SOME OTHER ACTIONS
THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO
THIS BUDGET, I WANT TO LIFT UP
FUNDING TO REVERSE CUTS OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT EXAMS AND
REVERSE A CUT OF 20 OFFICERS --
I'M SORRY, 20 FIREFIGHTERS FROM
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECRUIT
CLASS, ADDING FUNDING TO THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FUND --
EXTRA DEFIBRILLATORS, DEVICES
AND BALLISTIC SETS -- MAKING
SURE WE ARE DOING A BETTER JOB
TRACKING OVER TIME AND OFF-DUTY
WORK -- WORKING TO FUND THE
SOUTH PARK PUBLIC SAFETY
COORDINATOR, AND ALSO, WORKING
TO ENSURE THAT WE GET GOOD
REPORTING ON THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE, REPAIR WORK, AS WELL AS
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECONNECT
WEST SEATTLE PROGRAM WHICH IS
AS DOT'S MITIGATION PROGRAM TO
FUND PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THE
IMPACTS OF WEST SEATTLE DETOURS
ON COMMUNITIES LIKE HIGHLAND
PARK AND SOUTH PARK.
WE FUNDED RESOURCES FOR THE
LANDLORD LIAISON PROGRAM, WE
ADDED FUNDS TO MAINTAIN FAMILY
RAPID HOUSING CASELOADS TO MAKE
SURE FAMILIES DON'T DEFILE BACK
INTO HOMELESSNESS.
WE RESTORED FUNDING FOR THE AGE
FRIENDLY SEATTLE PROGRAM.
WE INCLUDED FUNDING BOTH TO
PERMIT CONTRACTING WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH FOR SERVICES RECOMMENDED
BY THE 2016 HEROIN AND
PRESCRIPTION OPIATE ADDICTION
TASK FORCE AS WELL AS INCREASED
FUNDING FOR SERVICES AND HARM
REDUCTION PROGRAMS AT SOCIAL
SERVICE AGENCIES THAT SERVE
PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS DAILY
ALLOWING THEM TO EXPAND HOURS
INCREASE STAFF EXPAND
ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS.
WE ALSO INCLUDED FUNDS FOR
ALTERNATIVES, SPECIFICALLY, --
I'M SORRY, I'M LOSING TRACK,
HERE.
WE INCLUDED FUNDS FOR OUTREACH
FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WITH SOME
GEOGRAPHICALLY FOCUSED SERVICES
WITHIN DISTRICT I. I ALSO WANT
TO SHOUT OUT THAT THE WEST
SEATTLE LONGHOUSE PROJECT IS
FULLY FUNDED IN THIS PROJECT
WITH $2.8 MILLION TO BE
INCLUDED FOR THE FUNDING IN
ADDITION TO THE FUNDING THAT WE
THE COUNCIL PROVIDED LAST YEAR
-- WE ALSO PROVIDED FUNDING FOR
THE SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER
ACADEMY AND LASTLY, I SHOULD
HAVE SPOKEN TO THIS DURING ITEM
414 -- WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE VIEWING PUBLIC KNOWS THAT
WE ALSO ACTED ON LEGISLATION,
APPROVING ISSUANCE OF BONDS,
INCLUDING AN AUTHORIZATION FOR
100 MILLION IN BOND FINANCING
FOR THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
THE COUNCIL EARLIER ADOPTED A
$70 MILLION LOAN TO PROVIDE
SHORT-TERM FUNDING FOR THE
BRIDGE AND RELATED WORK.
THE BOND WILL PAY BACK $70
MILLION TO THE INTERNAL FUNDING
SOURCE AND PROVIDE 30 MILLION
IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
MANY, MANY THANKS TO MY
COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY TO THE
DIVISION AND LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WHO HAD
AN AUSTERITY BUDGET.
THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF
CENTRAL STAFF AND MY STAFF , [
INDISCERNIBLE ] AND AS WELL,
MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE
ACTIVISM OF DECRIMINALIZED
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY, THE TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO
CONTACTED MY OFFICE AND MARCHED
THE STREET AND TESTIFIED IN
MANY HOURS OF COUNCIL PUBLIC
COMMENT -- AGAIN, THIS WORK IS
JUST BEGINNING.
I COMMIT TO CONTINUE TO WALK
WITH YOU IN THIS EXERCISE IN RE-
ENVISIONING HOW WE CAN PROMOTE
A STRUCTURE FOR MORE COMMUNITY
SAFETY THAT BENEFITS OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU!
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THEN, COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT IS THE LAST PERSON WHO
INDICATED SHE WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK . IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO,
LET ME KNOW.
GOT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THEN
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> I WILL BE VOTING YES, BUT
VOTING NO ON THE BUDGET AS A
WHOLE.
I AM VOTING YES ON ITEM 35 AND
NO ON ITEM 36 WAS IS THE BUDGET
AS A WHOLE.
I WANT TO CONVERSE FIRST CONVEY
MY THANK YOU FOR THE STAFF ON
THE PROPOSALS FROM MY OFFICE
AND THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] THANK YOU
ALL.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS AND SOCIALISTS WHO
WORK IN MY COUNCIL OFFICE, TO
ALL THE ORGANIZERS AND
SOCIALISTS WHO ARE INCLUDED AND
ALL THE ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET MOVEMENT.
AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, SINCE
2014, THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
MOVEMENT AND THIS YEAR ALONG
WITH THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET HAS
IMPORTANT VICTORIES FOR WORKING
PEOPLE.
WE RESTORE FUNDING FOR THE
GREEN NEW DEAL AND THE $30
MILLION ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUND,
BOTH UNFILLED PROMISES FROM THE
MAYOR.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS FOR RENTER RIGHTS
ORGANIZING IN DEFENSE, MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS FOR 3 NEW TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND FUNDING AND SHARE
SELF-MANAGEMENT VILLAGES AND
FUNDS FOR 24-HOUR HOMELESS
SHELTERS.
WE GOT THE BEGINNING STEPS TO
TRANSFER BACKGROUND CHECK
LEGISLATION AND STANDARD LEASE
LEGISLATION ORGANIZE -- MY
OFFICE WILL BE BRINGING NEXT
YEAR, IF PASSED, WILL HAVE A
MAJOR IMPACT ON RENTERS RIGHTS.
WE GOT THE INITIAL
PREDEVELOPMENT FUND FOR PROJECT
DEVELOP A FULL CITY BLOCK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE HEART
OF THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
OVER THE SUMMER, TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLOODED THE
STREETS OF SEATTLE, OVER 20
MILLION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO
PROTEST PERVASIVE AND ONGOING
POLICE VIOLENCE.
THESE PROTESTS ALSO CAPTURED
THE FRUSTRATION WITH A SOCIETY
THAT OFFERS LITTLE TO THE
MAJORITY OF WORKING PEOPLE AND
USE, A SOCIETY THAT IS RIDDLED
WITH CRISES, THE PANDEMIC, THE
RECESSION, AT EIGHT DEAD-END
ECONOMY FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE.
IT WAS A REAL TESTAMENT TO THE
POWER OF THE MOVEMENT IN THE
SUMMER THAT SEVEN OF THE NINE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
COMMITTED TO DEFUNDING THE
POLICE BY 50% AT THAT TIME.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE SPEAKING UP FROM THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET AND THE
SOLIDARITY PROJECT.
BECAUSE THE MOVEMENT HAS AN
UNWAVERING VOICE THROUGH MY
OFFICE, WE HAVE NOW ONE $31
MILLION OR 8.2% REDUCTION IN
THE POLICE BUDGET, NOT COUNTING
THE MECHANISMS LIKE MOVING THE
COST OF PARKING ENFORCEMENT
FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE SHOULD NOT HONESTLY
REPRESENT ACTUAL CUTS.
THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
REDUCTION ARE TRANSLATING INTO
AVAILABLE DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
BUT, TAKEN AS A WHOLE, THE
BUDGET THE DEMOCRATIC
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE GOING TO
APPROVE, TODAY, IS A BUDGET
THAT DEEPLY FAILS WORKING
PEOPLE AND MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING WORKING-
CLASS AND POOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC,
FIGHTING COVID INFECTIONS, IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE WORST
RECESSION FOR THE WORKING
PEOPLE SINCE THE GREAT
DEPRESSION, DEMOCRATIC
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE CARRYING
OUT BRUTAL AUSTERITY.
IT IS TO THE CITY COUNCILS
BUDGET REDUCES THE SIZE OF THE
CUTS PROPOSED IN THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET, BUT STILL, THE COUNCIL
IS ALLOWING ALMOST $200 MILLION
TO BE CUT FROM AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, BUS HOURS, PARKS AND
LIBRARIES, FUNDING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN CUT
FOR 131 MILLION IN 2020 TO ONLY
84 MILLION IN 2021, A CUT OF
OVER A 3rd TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, WHILE HOMELESSNESS
BALLOONS OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS
THE CITY.
FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION HAS
BEEN CUT BY ALMOST $100
MILLION.
THOSE CUTS INCLUDE MILLIONS FOR
BUSES AND TENS OF MILLIONS FOR
ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE AND
CONSTRUCTION OF OUR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
STARTING IN APRIL, THE VOUCHER
PROGRAM THAT THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES HAVE WILL EXPIRE.
FOR OVER TWO MONTHS, MY COUNCIL
OFFICE AND WORKING PEOPLE
ORGANIZING THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
ASKED COUNCIL MEMBERS, WILL YOU
MAKE BIG BUSINESS PAY FOR THE
CRISIS, OR PUT THE BURDEN ON
úWORKING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR?
WE KNOW THE ANSWER, NOW,
UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT A
SURPRISING ONE.
THIS IS PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR
THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT,
NOT ONE SINGLE DEMOCRATIC
COUNCILMEMBER WAS WILLING TO
SUPPORT THE PEOPLE ON THIS
BUDGET.
MY OFFICE'S PROPOSAL TO APPROVE
A TINY INCREASE IN THE AMAZON
TAX THAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED ALL
OF THE BUDGET CUTS --
CORPORATIONS LIKE AMAZON AND
STARBUCKS HAVE JUST REPORTED
STAGGERING THIRD QUARTER
PROFITS.
AMAZON ALONE HAS MADE $11.5
BILLION, BILLION, WITH A B,
DOLLARS IN PROFITS SINCE APRIL.
IN OTHER WORDS, THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC SO FAR, INSTEAD OF A
TINY INCREASE IN THE TAX ON
THESE PANDEMIC PROFITEERS, THE
DEMOCRATS ARE CHOOSING TO PUT
THE BURDEN OF THE CRISIS ON
ORDINARY PEOPLE.
DEMOCRATIC COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
SHOCKINGLY CLAIMED THAT THIS IS
AN ANTI-AUSTERITY BUDGET, BUT
THAT IS SIMPLY A LIE.
THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET
DOES REDUCE SLIGHTLY THE SIZE
OF AMBITIOUS CUTS REPOSED IN
THE BUDGET, BUT THERE ARE
STILL, AS I SAID, ALMOST $200
MILLION BEING CUT.
THEY MADE THE BOLDFACE CLAIM,
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NO CUTS
TO PARKS, WHILE AT THE SAME
TIME, JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO,
VOTING FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT
GIVES THE CITY THE LEGAL
AUTHORITY TO CUT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE
INTRODUCTION TO THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET SAYS MacCORMACK
SPENDING REDUCTIONS WERE
NECESSARY".
THIS IS HOW BIG BUSINESS AND
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT HAS
ALWAYS OPPOSED RECESSIONS.
YOU WILL CATCH THEM EITHER
ENGAGING IN'S VACATION,
PRETENDING THE BUDGETS CUT
DON'T EXIST, OR CLAIMING THAT
THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO
DRACONIAN CUTS FOR PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESSENTIAL
SERVICES WHILE THE BIGGEST
CORPORATIONS CONTINUE TO ABSORB
THE RECORD PROFITS.
PART OF MY JOB, AS AN ELECTIVE
REPRESENTATIVE OF WORKING
PEOPLE AND AS A SOCIALIST CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER IS TO EXPOSE THE
LIES OF THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CLAIM THAT
THIS IS AN ANTI-AUSTERITY
BUDGET IS THE LATEST SUCH
BLATANT FALSEHOOD.
IT IS TRUE THAT THE COUNCILS
BUDGET AMENDMENTS, WHICH I
SUPPORTED, HAVE PREVENTED THE
BUDGETARY LAYOFFS OF CITY OF
SEATTLE WORKERS, BUT THAT IS
ONLY BECAUSE THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF BUDGET CUTS DEFER
OR ELIMINATE PUBLIC WORKS LIKE
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROJECTS THAT THE CITY
CONTRACTS OUT TO BE DONE BY
WORKERS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY
EMPLOYED BY THE CITY.
EVEN A SIMPLE CALCULATION SHOWS
CLEARLY THAT THESE CUTS WERE
RESULTS IN HUNDREDS OF LAYOFFS
AND CANCEL JOB CREATIONS, IF
NOT MORE, IF INTERN WOULD
DEEPEN THE RECESSION.
WE NEED TO BE EXPANDING PUBLIC
JOBS PROGRAM LIKE IN THE NEW
DEAL THAT THE LABOR MOVEMENT
LED BY SOCIALISTS RUN IN THE
1930s BY PUTTING FEROCIOUS
PRESSURE ON FDR.
WE DO NOT NEED TO/PUBLIC
INDUSTRIES.
WE NEED INFRASTRUCTURE
MAINTENANCE.
AS THE MOVEMENT HAS SAID,
AUSTERITY BUDGETS ARE ANTI-
WORKER, ANTIUNION, AND ANTI-
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE CREDIT COUNCILMEMBERS EVEN
REFUSE TO SUPPORT OUR MOVEMENTS
TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION FOR AN
ELECTED COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT
BOARD, BUT POWER TO HOLD THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABLE, EVERY
SINGLE DEMOCRAT VOTED AGAINST
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS IS THE EIGHTH TIME I AM
VOTING ON SEATTLE CITY BUDGET.
NEVER BEFORE HAVE THERE BEEN
MORE LESSONS FOR THE ACTIVISTS
AND ORGANIZERS OF SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
REVEALED THIS YEAR.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, IT HAS BEEN
MOVEMENTS THAT MAKE PROGRESSIVE
CHANGE, NOT THE MACHINATIONS OF
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT,
NOT ELECTING THE SMARTEST
TECHNOCRATS, NOT THE
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
REAL CHANGE IS DRIVEN BY THE
BALANCE OF POWER IN SOCIETY AS
A WHOLE HIM AND PARTICULARLY,
THE ORGANIZED PROCESS OF THE
WORKING CLASS WAS THERE TO
FIGHT.
TWO YEARS AGO, I WAS THE ONLY
KNOWN AS THE COUNCIL APPROVED
THE POLICE CONTRACT ROLLING
BACK ACCOUNTABILITY AND
INCREASED FUNDING TO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY
TENS OF MILLIONS.
LAST YEAR, WITH JUST ME VOTING
NO, ALL DEMOCRATS THEN PASSED A
SPECIAL BILL TO PROVIDE HIRING
BONUSES FOR NEW POLICE OFFICERS.
NOW, AFTER THE JUSTICE FOR
GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT, MANY OF
THE SAME COUNCILMEMBERS VOTED
IN FAVOR OF $31 MILLION OF
REDUCTION IN POLICE BUDGET.
WHAT MADE THE DEMOCRATS TAKE
THIS LIMITED STEP WAS THE
PRESSURE OF THE MOVEMENT.
SIMILARLY, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR
THE POWERFUL TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT OVER THE SUMMER, THERE
WOULD BE ADDITIONAL $240
MILLION OF HOPE IN THE BUDGET.
IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2020, THE
TAX AMAZON MOVEMENT MOBILIZED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND
ORGANIZERS.
WE HAD MASS ORGANIZING
CONFERENCES WHICH ELECTED A
COORDINATING COMMITTEE THAT WAS
HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE RANK
AND FILE WHERE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS VOTED DEMOCRATICALLY ON
BOTH POLICY AND THE STRATEGY TO
WIN.
THOSE VOLUNTEERS CREATED 30,000
SIGNATURES ON THE TAX AMAZON
BALLOT INITIATIVE.
WITH THE THREAT OF A BALLOT
INITIATIVE HANGING OVER THEIR
HEADS, BIG BUSINESS AND THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT, WE WON
THE HISTORIC LEGISLATION.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MIGHT
HAVE NOTICED THAT I NEVER USE
THE PHRASE JUMPSTART TO REFER
TO THE AMAZON TAX.
THAT LANGUAGE IS DESIGNED AND
APPROVED BY BIG BUSINESS TO TRY
AND A RACE THE GRASSROOTS
MOVEMENT FROM THE HISTORY OF
OUR VICTORY.
YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURES AND
VIDEOS OF THE TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT AND HUNDREDS ARE
DISSIPATING IN MEETING AFTER
MEETING.
THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF A
MOVEMENT CALLED JUMPSTART.
THERE WAS NO SUCH MOVEMENT.
EARLIER, A WATERED-DOWN
PROPOSAL PASSED WITH PRESSURE
FROM OUR MOVEMENT.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE
RECOGNIZE THE VITAL LOWER PART
OF THE MOVEMENT WHICH OTHERWISE
WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
IF WE AS WORKING PEOPLE DO NOT,
THEN OUR FUTURE DEMANDS WILL
FAIL.
WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE AND CLAIM
EVERY VICTORY THAT THE
GRASSROOTS WIN.
I WILL VOTE FOR EVERY
PROGRESSIVE BUDGET IN THIS
BUDGET.
THOSE VICTORIES CONTINUE TO BE
ON THE MARGINS OF THE BUDGET
WHILE THE MAJORITY OF THE
BUDGET IS AN AUSTERITY BUDGET
FACING THE COVID EMERGENCY,
CLIMATE EMERGENCY, HOMELESSNESS
EMERGENCY, AND ECONOMIC
RECESSION ONTO THE SOLDIERS --
SHOULDERS OF REGULAR PEOPLE
INSTEAD OF THE BIG BUSINESS AND
THE RICH.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
BRUTAL AUSTERITY BUDGET.
OUR MOVEMENT NEEDS TO CARRY
FORWARD SERIOUS LESSONS FROM
THIS YEAR AND COME BACK NEXT
YEAR TO FIGHT RENEWED BATTLES
FOR THE RELIEF AND GUARANTEED
JOBS PROGRAM TO CANCEL RENT AND
MORTGAGES FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY
COVID TO DEFEND THE AMAZON TAX
AGAINST WHAT WOULD BE ROUND TWO
OF ATTEMPTS BY THE DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT TO PASS A
STATEWIDE BAN ON BIG BUSINESS
TAXES, AND FOR AN ELECTIVE
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT BOARD WITH
FULL POWERS TO HOLD POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE.
TO GET ANY OF THIS, WE WILL NEED
MOVEMENTS AND THE LEADERSHIP OF
THE MOVEMENTS WILL NEED TO BE
INDEPENDENT OF THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT.
>> OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I THINK
YOU WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND TO SOME OF THOSE
COLORFUL COMMENTS? I AM HAPPY
FOR THAT TO ALLOW TO HAPPEN.
I HAVE THREE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE
QUEUE.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, I'M
HAPPY TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO, THIS PROUD DEMOCRAT IS
HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE --
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF
THE FOLKS WHO REALLY ORGANIZED
TO PASS BUT JUMPSTART
PROGRESSIVE PAYROLL TAX.
I RECOGNIZED THE MOVEMENT OF
THE TAX AMAZON FOLKS AND [
INDISCERNIBLE ] BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THIS, NO QUESTION.
LET'S REMEMBER THE ENTIRE
COALITION THAT CAME TOGETHER
FROM JUMPSTART THAT INCLUDED
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WORKERS
OF COLOR, INCLUDED SMALL
BUSINESSES, THIS IS IMPORTANT
TO REMEMBER.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
TO SAY WHY ANYTHING RELATED TO
JUMPSTART WAS DRAFTED BY BIG
BUSINESS, NOT TRUE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.
WE HAVE INTEGRITY, AS WE TALK
ABOUT IT, WE RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS WAS PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER
TO BUILD ON YEARS OF ADVOCACY
THAT I HAVE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT WE PASSED SOMETHING
COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNCIL THAT
DID BRING 214 MILLION.
WE DID THIS WITH A BROAD
COALITION THAT HELPED COME UP
WITH NOT JUST THE NAME, BUT THE
ENTIRE PUZZLE.
I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD THAT THAT
WORK IS SOMETHING THAT NO LARGE
BUSINESS SUPPORTED BY ANY
MEANS, NOR, WERE THE WORK OF
HOUSING ADVOCATES, GREEN NEW
DEAL ADVOCATES -- THE FOLKS WHO
FOUGHT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES, ALL THE PIECES WE GOT
IN THERE -- IT IS A REALIZED
EFFORT.
I DON'T WANT THEIR WORK TO BE
ERASED BY ONE PERSON'S WORDS.
SO, THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE
WHO DID WORK ON PASSING THE
JUMP START PROGRESSIVE PAYROLL
TAX.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER,
FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
IN THE QUEUE, WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT AND
COLLEAGUES.
I AM REALLY PROUD TO SEE THIS
BUDGET BEFORE US, INCLUDING MY
PRIORITIES FOR ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS, ADDRESSING
CLIMATE CRISIS, AND INVESTING
IN TREES -- INCREASING OUR
ACCESS TO TRANSIT, AS WELL.
I JUST WANT TO START OFF I
SAYING I WASN'T GOING TO
MENTION THIS, BUT I AM REALLY
GLAD THAT WE ELIMINATED THE
LAYOFF OF CITY EMPLOYEES,
EXPANDED HOUSING FOOD AND
EXPANDED HOUSING TO RESIDENTS.
THE BUDGET PREVENTS US FROM
AUSTERITY -- RESTORATIONS ARE
INCLUDED TO STOP CUTS FOR
GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
PUBLIC WORKERS PROVIDE THOSE.
EVERY BUDGETARY LAYOFF WAS
PLANNED HAS BEEN REPLENISHED.
WE ENSURE THAT THE CORE
SERVICES IN CRITICAL AREAS,
ESPECIALLY TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE IN TIMES OF CRISIS,
ARE INVESTED IN.
WE CONTINUE THOSE CORE
GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN CRITICAL
AREAS.
THE COUNCILS BUDGET TAKES THE
ANTI-AUSTERITY APPROACH.
IT GOES BACK ON PROPOSED CUTS.
IT EVEN GOES BACK TO RESERVES
TO THE GREAT RECESSION AND
RESERVED LEVELS, EMERGENCY
RESERVES JUST AS JUMPSTART PLANS
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]. I'M PART OF
THE OVERALL WORK . I WASN'T
EXPECTING TO MAKE THOSE
COMMENTS.
I AM PROUD TO STAND BY THEM.
REGARDING FOOD ACCESS, I AM
REALLY GLAD THAT THIS BUDGET
HAS IMPROVED THE FRESH BOOKS
PROGRAM, WE DECREASED THE
WAITLIST, INCREDIBLY.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE EMERGENCY
FOOD ASSISTANCE THAT IS MOVING
FASTER THAN EXPECTED.
ALSO, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIES ARE
DIRECTLY TO SUPPORT FARMERS
MARKETS BRINGING THE FARM TO
OUR MARKET IN THE CITY, ADDING
TO OED FOR THE SPECIAL EVENTS
PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT THOSE
FARMERS MARKETS WORK IS
ACCOMPLISHED.
REGARDING MY PRIORITIES FOR
TENANTS, ADDING MONEY FOR
OUTREACH EDUCATION SERVICES,
NOT ONLY ADDING THOSE DOLLARS
FOR EDUCATION SERVICES, WE
ADDED STAFF FOR THE OUTREACH
PROPERTY ON THE ASSISTANCE
GROUP.
ALSO, WITH SETTING THE
REPORTING GUIDELINES TO ENSURE
THE PROCESS TIMES IMPROVE OVER
THIS NEXT YEAR, FOR
HOMELESSNESS, BRINGING
HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH SERVICES
TO DISTRICT VI AND OTHER
DISTRICTS ACROSS THE CITY,
INCREASING FUNDING FOR MOBILE
CRISIS TEAMS, WE ARE ON THE
FIRST RIGHT WERE SPONSORS FOR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 911 CALLS,
INCREASING OUTREACH ACROSS THE
CITY TO INVEST UPSTREAM AND
DECREASED 911 CALLS FOR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THAT IS WHAT
IS OFTEN CALLED A DISTURBANCE.
BUDGETING OVER INVESTING AND
HOUSING OVER APPROPRIATE
SHELTER, WE KNOW THAT OUTREACH
IS ONLY AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE
RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
FOR CLIMATE, THE BUDGET
PROPOSAL AMENDMENT -- THANK YOU
TO EVERYONE INVOLVED, RESTORING
THE CLIMATE PFIZER POSITION, WE
ALSO HAVE UTILITIES TO EXPLORE
THE EXPANSION OF THE UTILITIES
PROGRAM.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR COUNCILMAN
PEDERSON STAKING OUT
LEGISLATIVE INTENT AS WELL AS
PARTNERING WITH HIM FOR TRANSIT
ON THE TRANCE I MULTI MODE OF
CORE DOOR, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
-- THANK YOU TO EVERYONE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] . OUTREACH IS
NOT A ONE-TIME EXPERIENCE.
IT IS A RELATIONSHIP.
OVERALL, FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC
RECOVERY, HEALTH, COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND ADDRESSING THE
CLIMATE CRISIS.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
THANK THE CHAIR FOR SHEPHERDING
THIS PROCESS.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS
WITHOUT CENTRAL STAFF.
A BIG THANK YOU TO -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] IF I MISSED
SOMEONE, I WILL BE IN A LOT OF
TROUBLE.
FOR CLERKS, [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
OF COURSE, WE COULD NOT DO THIS
IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITHOUT
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY -- EN --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] WE CANNOT DO
THIS -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I
COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS
WITHOUT YOU.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
HARD WORK IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED
YEAR, THIS BUDGET ADDRESSES
IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND INVESTS IN
THE FUTURE.
I'M EXCITED TO STAND WITH YOU,
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
AND COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WILL BE BRIEF IN MY REMARKS!
I WANT TO START AT THE TOP.
FOLLOWING COLLEAGUES IN
THANKING EVERYBODY AT THE LEDGE
DEPARTMENT WHO WAS ABLE TO
BRING THIS TOGETHER AND BRING
THIS BUDGET TOGETHER IN A
PROFESSIONAL AND PROGRESSIVE
WAY FOR THE FINAL PRODUCT WE
HAVE ENDED UP WITH.
I WANT TO, AT THE TOP, THINK MY
STAFF, WITHOUT YOU GUYS, I CAN
DO THIS WORK.
I WANT TO, AT THE TOP, THANK MY
STAFF IN PIVOTING TO TALKING
ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC ITEMS, I
WANT TO START AT THE TOP BY
RECOGNIZING A RECENT COMMENT
THAT I THOUGHT REALLY SUMMARIZED
THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL
OVER THIS DIFFICULT YEAR.
THIS STARTED OFF WITH, EVERYONE
LOVES TO DUNK ON THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL.
BUT, WHEN EVERYONE WAS FIDDLING
AROUND, WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE
TO DO SOME COVID-19 RELIEF,
SEATTLE ACTED.
I THINK WE COULD ALSO APPLY
THAT, SIMILARLY, TO
RESTRUCTURING PUBLIC SAFETY IN
A MORE EQUITABLE WAY, OR
TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT EVEN
IN TIMES OF CRISIS, WE ARE
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE ON
CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND A GREEN
NEW DEAL, OR MAKING SURE WE ARE
STILL ADVANCING TAX EQUITY WHEN
A LOT OF CRITICS TOLD US WE
COULD NOT PASS JUMPSTART, WE
SHOULDN'T PASS JUMPSTART, THIS
COUNCIL ACTED.
THAT ACTION HAS ALLOWED US TO
RESPOND TO THE MYRIAD OF CRISIS
AND CHALLENGES 2020 HAS PUT IN
OUR WAY.
I DO WANT TO COMMENT ON A
COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I AM
PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT FOR
DISTRICT 7. DISTRICT 7,
OVERWHELMINGLY MAJORITY RENTER,
WE INCREASED RENTER SUPPORT.
I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCILMEMBER.
YOU WERE PROUD TO SPONSOR
REPRESENTATION FOR RENTERS.
INCREASED SUPPORT FOR RENTERS,
INCREASED INFORMATION AND
WORKSHOPS SO RENTERS KNOW THEIR
RIGHTS, WHICH IS MORE CRITICAL
THAN EVER.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE 545
ADDITIONAL SHELTER SPACES THAT
WE WILL BE PUTTING IN OUR SYSTEM
, ALMOST A 20% INCREASE IN
TRANSITIONAL SHELTER, JUST FOR
THE RECORD, THOSE ARE SHELTER
SPACES WITH FOUR WALLS AND A
DOOR THAT LOCKS.
SHELTER SPACES GUARANTEE
DIGNITY AND PRIVACY TO THE
PEOPLE WHO STAY IN THEM,
SHELTER SPACES HAVE NEVER BEEN
MORE NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE NOT
ONLY TO HAVE THAT QUALITY OF
LIFE THAT SO MANY OF US TAKE
FOR GRANTED, BUT ALSO TO BE
ABLE TO SECURE, REPLACE AND
RESPOND TO THE DYNAMICS OF THE
COVID EMERGENCY.
TO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR THOMAS
STREET IN DISTRICT 7, A
CRITICAL INVESTMENT FOR EAST-
WEST CONNECTIONS FOR BIKES AND
PEDESTRIANS IS SOMETHING I AM
VERY HAPPY TO CARRY THE TORCH
FOR, CONTINUING TO WORK WITH MY
PREDECESSOR AND THE WORK OF
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. IT IS A
FORMER POSITION AS A
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT IN THIS
DEPARTMENT.
THE PRESERVATION OF CRITICAL
POSITIONS IN THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE THAT WILL
GUIDE OUR RECOVERY RELATED TO
NIGHTLIFE, RELATED TO MARITIME
JOBS, RELATED TO FARMERS
MARKETS, THESE ARE CRITICAL
INVESTMENTS.
OF COURSE, THE SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENTS TO SCALE AND EXPAND
POLICE ALTERNATIVES AND TO RE-
ENVISION AND EXPAND THE ROLE OF
PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO
BE MORE OF A CIVIL SERVICE
OFFICER IN LINE WITH MODELS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY AND A LOT OF
OTHER CITIES IN THE UNITED
STATES AND WESTERN EUROPE HAVE
ADOPTED.
THERE IS STILL MORE WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I JUST WANT TO FINISH BY SAYING
, IF 2020 WAS A YEAR WITH LOTS
OF CHALLENGES, IT IS MY HOPE
THAT WE ARE SETTING THE STAGE
FOR A 2021 THAT WILL SEE
SEATTLE BOUNCE BACK AND A
SIGNIFICANT AND STRONG WAY
BASED ON THE ASSETS WE ARE
PUTTING INTO THE COMMUNITY
THROUGH THIS BUDGET.
WE WILL HAVE A SERIOUS AND
DETERMINED ADMINISTRATION IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., WITH THE
INCOMING BIDEN/HARRISON
MINISTRATION WILL BE A PARTNER.
FINALLY, WE CAN HAVE A FEDERAL
POLICY THAT GRAPPLES WITH THIS
VIRUS IN A SERIOUS WAY.
WE WILL HAVE A LEGISLATIVE
SESSION FROM OUR PARTNERS IN
OLYMPIA THAT WILL FINALLY GET
MORE RESOURCES FROM THE STATE
IN PLAY TO ASSIST OUR EFFORTS
NOT ONLY IN THE COVID AND
ECONOMIC RESPONSE, BUT ALSO IN
A PROGRESSIVE NEW LEGISLATION
THAT ONLY THE STATE LEGISLATURE
CAN PASS TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE
COUNCIL'S ACTIONS ON BUILDING A
NEW SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SAFETY
THAT IS EQUITABLE AND
RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY DEMAND.
OF COURSE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
NEGOTIATE A NEW CONTRACT WHICH
WILL BE EXPIRING AT THE END OF
THIS YEAR, WHICH WILL DOMINATE
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- THESE
THINGS GIVE ME HOPE.
WE CAN REALLY SET THE STAGE
WITH THIS BUDGET.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP I
LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON THIS,
TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PREPARING FOR
THE STAGE OF OVERSIGHT AND
IMPLEMENTATION.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOOD
TEAM, HERE, NOT ONLY IN TERMS
OF COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL,
BUT ALSO THE CENTRAL STAFF AND
EVERYONE ELSE IN THE LEDGE
DEPARTMENT WITH THAT, I HAVE NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON
THIS!
>> IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE COMMENTS, PLEASE DO LET ME
KNOW.
WE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE
RULES.
THE COUNCILMAN WILL HAVE THE
LAST WORD TO CLOSE OUT DEBATE
FOR TODAY.
>> THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM FOR
THE BUDGET PROCESS, THANK YOU
TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO
WORKED ON THIS BUDGET, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF FOR THEIR HARD
WORK, ALSO CITY CLERKS AND
SEATTLE CHANNEL FOR PUTTING US
ON TV TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS. I WANT TO THANK
MY TEAM, [ INDISCERNIBLE ] AND
ALL THE CONSTITUENTS WHO
CONTACTED OUR OFFICE,
FINALIZING A BUDGET FEELS LIKE
A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THIS YEAR'S
CHALLENGES, PANDEMIC,
RECESSION, RACIAL RECKONING,
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, SEATTLE
BRIDGE CLOSER, ANTAGONISTIC
TRUMPET MINISTRATION I BELIEVE
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MY
CONSTITUENTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE
BOTH -- SOME OF THE CONCERNS --
NO BUDGET IS PERFECT.
A BUDGET WITH POSITIVES AND
NEGATIVES IS A RESULT.
PEOPLE ARE YEARNING FOR A
FUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT.
IF IT DOESN'T PASS, NOTHING
GETS DONE.
AFTER WEIGHING BOTH, I WILL BE
VOTING YES, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CALLS FOR
COLLEAGUES?
NOPE!
>> THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS TO ADD.
WE ARE SPENDING TIME
HIGHLIGHTING THE PRIORITIES WE
HAD IN MY OFFICE AROUND CLIMATE
RESILIENCE, DIRECTING
INVESTMENTS TOWARDS BY POP
COMMUNITIES, INCREASED HOUSING,
AROUND RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
FOLKS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES AND
OF COURSE MUCH OF THE WORK
RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY HAS
BEEN DISCUSSED BY COLLEAGUES,
SO I'M NOT GOING TO BELABOR
THOSE POINTS.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
CHAIRMAN FOR A VERY DIFFICULT
JOB, HERE.
WHEN SHE WAS TALKING TO ME AS A
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
ADVOCATING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE THE BUDGET CHAIR, I DON'T
THINK SHE DID THAT EFFICACY
REALIZING THAT WE WERE GOING TO
BE FACING A MASSIVE ECONOMIC
RECESSION AND A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
AND IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF IT,
A RACIAL RECKONING THAT HAS
SHAKEN THE WORLD, INCLUDING
OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
IN THAT REGARD, HUGE THANKS TO
THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF,
CLERKS OFFICE, COMMUNICATIONS,
AND, YES, EVEN THE HR AND
OPERATIONS FOLKS WHO KEEP US
RUNNING QUIETLY IN THE
BACKGROUND.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR THE
WORK YOU HAVE DONE DURING THESE
TRYING TIMES.
I AM NOT GOING TO BELABOR ANY
OF MY PRIORITIES!
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I WANTED TO, IN THE SPIRIT OF
KEEPING THINGS INTERESTING -- I
WANTED TO READ YOU ALL A QUICK
LITTLE HAIKU THAT MY OFFICE
WROTE THAT CAME TO YOU AND
EVERY -- Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB,
YOU KNOW WHO THE GREAT WORM ARE
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] .
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU
HAVE THE LAST WORD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL SAY THANKS AGAIN.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A
PRIVILEGE.
IT IS NOT OVER THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
I KNOW THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE
THIS YEAR AND INTO NEXT YEAR
AND INTO DELIBERATION.
I DO WANT TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE BUDGET
DIRECTOR FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK
AND TIME WITH STAFF THAT HE HAS
MADE AVAILABLE TO US,
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT
THE CITY OFFICE HAS DONE.
I WANT TO READ INTO THE RECORD
THE NAMES OF ALL THE CENTRAL
STAFF, I KNOW THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ALREADY
MENTIONED A NUMBER OF THINGS!
BUT, [ INDISCERNIBLE ] AND
ANYBODY ELSE I MISSED -- PATTY
DESERVED A HUGE SHUT OUT FOR
GETTING US READY, EVERY DAY,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK TO MAKE IT [
INDISCERNIBLE ] AS POSSIBLE.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, MUCH
MORE WORK TO COME, THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, FOR
THOSE CLOSING REMARKS.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE WILL
MOVE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF
OUR AGENDA.
WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY THROUGH
ITEMS ONE THROUGH 34.
WE ALL KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE
A LITTLE BIT OF A PAUSE WITH
ITEMS 35 AND 36 AS USUAL.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR
YOUR COMMENTS AND FOR ENGAGING
IN THIS CONVERSATION. ITEMS 35
AND 36, FOLKS, I AM GOING TO
NOW ASK THAT THE CLERK ALLOW US
TO CONTINUE WITH VOTING ON
THESE TWO ITEMS.
THE FIRST ON THIS AGENDA, WITH
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
IN APPROVING THE CLERK FILE ON
FILE?
>> MORALES?
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> SAWANT?
>> JUAREZ?
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION CARRIES
ON THE CLERK FILE IS APPROVED
AND PLACED ON FILE.
ITEMS 36?
THIS IS ITEM 36 WE HAVE ALREADY
HAD DEBATE, AS I MENTIONED.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
IN THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
WILL YOU PLEASE SIGN THE
LEGISLATURE ON MY BEHALF?
WE HAVE A FEW MORE ITEMS TO GET
THROUGH BEFORE WE ADJOURN.
AS A REMINDER, WE STILL HAVE A
PARKS DISTRICT MEETING.
>> PRETTY EXCITING STUFF, NOW
WE ARE TALKING.
>> NOW I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION.
WE HAVE A PARKS DISTRICT
MEETING, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
FULL COUNCILS.
KEEP THAT IN MIND.
PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT
REMINDER BEFORE THE COMMENTS
STARTED.
NOBODY WOULD KNOW WHAT WE WERE
DOING IF I.T.
WAS NOT HELPING US WITH THIS.
ITEMS 37 THROUGH 37 AND 38 --
WE PLEASE READ THOSE INTO THE
RECORD THEY RECOMMEND THAT THE
BILL PASSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON
119939 ITEM 37 ON THE AGENDA?
WE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
OKAY, ITEM 38, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS 38?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALES?
>> YES.
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CHAIR PASSES, WILL YOU
PLEASE AFFIX SIGNATURE TO
LEGISLATION ON
>> HEARING NONE, GREAT FULLY,
COLLEAGUES, THIS JUST CONCLUDES
THE ITEMMINGS OF BUSINESS ON
TODAY'S VERY FULL AGENDA.
OUR NEXT REGULAR ALREADY LAY
SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING IS ON
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 AT
2:00 PM.
THE COUNCIL, AS I JUST
MENTIONED A FEW MITTS AGO, WILL
MEET AS BOARD MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE'S PARK DISTRICT SHORTLY
AFTER WE ADJOURN FROM THIS
MEETING.
COUNCILMAN JUAREZ, HOWLE HOW
LONG WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADJOURN
BEFORE RECONVENING?
>> I ORIGINALLY SAID 15, BUT I
THINK 10 MINUTES.
WE RAN A LITTLE BIT LATE THIS
EVENING.
LET'S SAY THAT WE'LL CONVENE AT
5:10 PM AS BOARD MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE PARK DISTRICT WHICH IS
CHAIRED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
SO, FOR NOW, WE ARE ADJOURNED
WITH FULL COUNCIL AND I WILL
SEE YOU ALL IN ABOUT TEN
MINUTES.