THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING
US.
IT'S BEEN A FEW DAYS SINCE THE
CHIEF AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
TALK TO YOU.
AND NOW THAT WE'RE IN PHASE 1.5
OF OUR RESPONSE TO COVID, I'M
HAPPY TO WELCOME A SMALL
SOCIALLY DISTANCED GROUP BACK
HERE IN THE ROOM.
A LOT'S HAPPENED IN OUR CITY.
NOT JUST OVER THE LAST TWO
WEEKS BUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
MONTHS.
EVER SINCE FEBRUARY 28th WHEN
OUR CITY BECAME THE EPICENTER
FOR COVID AND THE FIGHT AGAINST
COVID.
I AGAIN WANT US ALL TO REMEMBER
THAT THE SPARK THAT STARTED THE
NATIONAL DIALOGUE WE ARE HAVING
TODAY ON POLICING, ON SYSTEMIC
RACISM, AND HOW TO BUILD TRUE
EQUITY WAS BECAUSE OF THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
MR. FLOYD WAS PUT TO REST
YESTERDAY AND HIS FAMILY AND
LOVED ONES SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY
ABOUT THE NEED TO STOP OUR
NATIONAL PAIN.
OUR OWN CITY HAS EXPERIENCED
GREAT PAIN.
MUCH OF IT BECAUSE FOR
GENERATIONS, WE HAVE FAILED TO
ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS
AND RACISM THAT HAS AFFECTED SO
DEEPLY THE LIVES OF GENERATIONS
OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE
PROTESTS ON CAPITOL HILL.
BUT FIRST, SEATTLE.
WE ARE A PASSIONATE CITY.
WE DEMAND JUSTICE.
WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF
CHANGE.
AND I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO
DISTRACT OUR CITY FROM THE WORK
THAT HAS TO BE DONE AND WILL BE
DONE.
SEATTLE IS DEMANDING A JUSTICE
SYSTEM THAT IS ACTUALLY JUST.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE WILL
REQUIRE DEEP, DEEP WORK WITH
COMMUNITY AND WITHIN OUR
SYSTEMS OF POLICING AS WELL AS
EVERY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
INSTITUTION.
WE ARE A CITY THAT DEMANDS
STRONG ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FOR ALL
POLICE ACROSS AMERICA.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO REIMAGINE
AND RETHINK POLICING AND HOW WE
DIRECT OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND HOW WE ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FOR OTHER
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS LIKE
EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND
ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM AND POLICE
REFORM FOR DECADES.
WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS,
BUT THERE IS STILL SO FAR TO
GO.
WE
SHOULDERING THE GREATEST
FINANCIAL BURDEN.
WE ALSO NEED A UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT
RESTORES THE CIVIL RIGHTS
DIVISION TO ITS CRITICAL ROLE
IN AMERICA.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I'VE
BEEN DOING IN THE LAST TWO
WEEKS AND WHAT I PLAN TO
CONTINUE TO DO.
I WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH
COMMUNITY TO LISTEN.
MY FOCUS AS MAYOR WILL REMAIN
ON HOW WE WORK TO MAKE SEATTLE
A MODEL FOR ADDRESSING THE
INEQUITIES THAT THE PANDEMIC
AND THESE LAST TWO WEEKS HAVE
MADE IMPOSSIBLE TO DENY.
CAL ANDERSON PARK AND CAPITOL
HILL HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES A
PLACE FOR FREE SPEECH AND
COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN GOING TO CAPITOL HILL
FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.
AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED, HUNG
OUT, AND BEEN WITH COMMUNITY,
MANY, MANY TIMES.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I KNOW
THERE'S THE ACRONYM THAT IT'S
AN AUTONOMOUS ZONE.
IT'S BEEN AUTONOMOUS MY WHOLE
LIFETIME.
ANYONE THAT KNOWS CAPITOL HILL
KNOWS THAT TO BE TRUE.
I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR FOR
MYSELF, THE CITY, AND CHIEF
BEST, THE FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS MUST BE
PROTECTED AND PROTESTERS MUST
FEEL SAFE WHEN EXPRESSING THEIR
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, WE'VE
HAD PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS
ACROSS THE CITY.
WE HAD AN AMAZING DEMONSTRATION
AT RAINIER BEACH AND OTHELLO
WHERE THOUSANDS TURNED OUT.
WE EXPECT ADDITIONAL MARCHS AND
A STRIKE TOMORROW LED BY BLACK
LIVES MATTER, CHIEF BEST, CHIEF
SKOGINS OUR DIRECTOR OF OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES HAVE BEEN ON SITE ON
CAPITOL HILL SINCE 6:00 A.M.
TODAY, SINCE 6:00 A.M.
TUESDAY MORNING MAKING SURE THE
COMMUNITY IS SAFE.
TALKING TO PROTESTERS, TALKING
TO RESIDENTS AND COMING UP WITH
A PLAN FOR CAPITOL HILL GOING
FORWARD.
CLEARLY, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR
PRESIDENT WANTS TO TELL A STORY
ABOUT DOMESTIC TERRORISTS WHO
HAVE A RADICAL AGENDA AND ARE
PROMOTING A CONSPIRACY AND FITS
HIS LAW AND ORDER INITIATIVES.
IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
LAWFULLY GATHERING AND
EXPRESSING FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS, DEMANDING WE DO BETTER
AS A SOCIETY AND PROVIDING TRUE
EQUITY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
IS NOT TERRORISM, IT IS
PATRIOTISM.
THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE
AUTHORITY AND GOVERNMENT IS
FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO WE ARE AS
AMERICANS.
WE DO NOT NEED ANYONE,
INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, TO TRY
TO SEW FURTHER DIVIDE, FURTHER
DISTRUST, AND MISINFORMATION.
THE THREAT TO INVADE SEATTLE,
TO DIVIDE AND INCITE VIOLENCE
IN OUR CITY IS NOT ONLY
UNWELCOME, IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL.
AND FOR THE THOUSANDS OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN ON
CAPITOL HILL, MANY OF THEM,
WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS, A PAINTING
OF BLACK LIVES MATTER ALONG
PINE STREET.
FOOD TRUCKS, SPAGHETTI POT
LUCKS, TEACH-INS.
MOVIES, FREE GRANOLA BARS.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PASSION.
AND I KNOW SOME OF THAT PASSION
IS ASKING ME, CHIEF BEST, AND
THE CITY TO DO BETTER.
TO DO DIFFERENTLY.
WE'VE HEARD THOSE CALLS.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ON
CAPITOL HILL TO SEE WHAT THEY
NEED.
CHIEF SKOGINS AND MY OFFICE
HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH
ORGANIZERS AND TRYING TO ENSURE
WE GET INGRESS AND EGRESS THE
DELIVERY OF CITY SERVICES AND
ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION.
THE CHIEF WENT TODAY TO THE
PRECINCT TO ASSESS ITS
CONDITION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE
NEEDS OF OUR BUSINESSES AND OF
THE APPROXIMATE 500 RESIDENTS
WHO LIVE, PLAY, AND DEMONSTRATE
AT CAL ANDERSON PARK.
AND WHILE I FRANKLY HATE TO
GIVE HIM AIR TIME, I DO WANT TO
ADDRESS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
STATEMENTS ABOUT SEATTLE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THIS
PRESIDENT WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND
IS THAT LISTENING TO COMMUNITY
IS NOT A WEAKNESS.
IT IS A STRENGTH.
A REAL LEADER WOULD SEE
NATIONWIDE PROTESTS.
THE GRIEF IN SO MANY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
PARTICULARLY OUR BLACK
COMMUNITIES AND THE CALL TO BE
AN ANTI-RACIST SOCIETY AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A
BETTER NATION.
I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR, AS I
STATED PREVIOUSLY, IT IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL TO
SEND MILITARY TO SEATTLE.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, YOU
CAN TAKE THE WORD OF A LINE OF
HIGHLY DECORATED GENERALS WHO
HAVE SAID SO AND HAVE REBUKED
HIM.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH GOVERNOR
INSLEY AND TOGETHER, WE WILL
ASSURE THE PEOPLE THIS WILL NOT
BE HAPPENING.
MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY ARE AFRAID
THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES SAID IT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO
TRUST WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES SAYS.
BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THERE
IS NO IMMINENT THREAT OF AN
INVASION IN SEATTLE.
BUT JUST AS WE DID AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS PANDEMIC, AND
AS WE HAVE DONE BEFORE, WE WILL
NOT WAIT FOR A CHANGE IN
WASHINGTON FOR SEATTLE TO ACT.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO
DO.
TRUST HAS BEEN BROKEN AND IT
MUST BE REBUILT.
PEOPLE'S VOICES HAVE BEEN
DROWNED OUT DURING THIS TIME.
AND FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS,
WE HAVE ALLOWED A SYSTEM TO
BUILD AND PROMOTE RACISM TO
CONTINUE TO BENEFIT US.
THAT WILL TAKE YEARS TO
DISMANTLE.
BUT WE MUST START IMMEDIATELY.
AND I BELIEVE THE REST OF
SEATTLE IS READY TO GET TO
WORK.
I ALSO WANT TO GET BACK TO WHY
WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE
CONVERSATION OUR COMMUNITY
NEEDS TO BE HAVING.
WE CAN'T LOSE THIS MOMENT FROM
BLACK LIVES MATTER TO THE
ORGANIZERS ON CAPITOL HILL TO
OTHERS.
PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING CHANGE AND
WE NEED TO LISTEN.
CHANGE AT THE CITY, INCLUDING
SPD, CITY COUNCIL, CITY
ATTORNEY, AND ME.
CHANGE ON POLICING, EDUCATION,
HEALTH CARE, AND CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
CHANGE AT THE COUNTY.
CHANGE AT PUBLIC HEALTH.
CHANGE AT THE STATE.
WE ARE SEEING MOVEMENT IN WAYS
WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN DECADES.
AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
THIS CHANGE HAS TO BE CENTERED
ON THE VOICES OF COMMUNITY AND
WHAT PEOPLE NEED.
WE MUST EMPOWER COMMUNITY.
I REMAIN COMMITTED TO LISTENING
AND TO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY.
INCLUDING THE ORGANIZERS ON
CAPITOL HILL TO REIMAGINE HOW
WE DO THINGS AS A CITY.
HOW DO WE REINVEST IN COMMUNITY
TO ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS
? EDUCATION?
AND TRUE ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OFF
SOME OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE.
FROM FREE CHILD CARE TO TWO
YEARS FREE COLLEGE FOR EVERY
PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO
JOBS FOR OUR YOUTH.
TO REFORMS IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD THOSE
PROGRAMS AND TO MAKE SEATTLE A
MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE PLACE.
AND WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO
FUND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS SO
THAT MORE MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS ARE ON TRACK TO
REPLY TO WHEN PEOPLE NEED THEM.
I'VE SAID IT SO MANY TIMES OVER
MY CAREER, WHEN PEOPLE CALL
911, WE NEED TO SEND THEM THE
HELP THEY NEED.
THAT'S NOT ALWAYS A POLICE
OFFICER, AND MANY TIMES ISN'T.
WE HAVE TO REIMAGINE OUR
RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY AND WHAT
THEY NEED IN TIMES OF CRISIS.
OUR EFFORTS GOING FORWARD
INCLUDE INVESTMENTS AND
REIMAGINING WHAT WE NEED TO DO
WITH THOSE INVESTMENTS AND
PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO
INCARCERATION AND ARRESTS.
THIS YEAR WE WILL INVEST $100
MILLION IN NEW COMMUNITY BASED
PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE BLACK
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE
INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
OVER THE LAST WEEK, AND
INCLUDING THIS AFTERNOON, MY
OFFICE AND I HAVE PRIORITIZED
HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND RESIDENTS
ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY WANT TO
SEE IN THE CITY.
AND ABOUT HOW THEY BRING THEM
ABOUT.
SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE
VERY DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL.
BUT THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION
HAS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR US
TO MOVE FORWARD.
IN MANY WAYS, THE TEST IS THE
MORE UNCOMFORTABLE IT IS FOR ME
AS MAYOR, PROBABLY THE MORE
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR IT TO
HAPPEN.
WE'RE WORKING ON A RANGE OF
PROPOSALS ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD
FROM COMMUNITY TO DISMANTLE
SYSTEMIC RACISM.
BUT IT CAN'T COME FROM THE TOP
DOWN.
WITH US DICTATING WHAT
COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ACT.
CHIEF BEST WILL ADDRESS YOU
NOW.
I WANT TO TURN THIS OVER TO
HER, I WANT TO THANK HER FOR
ALL OF HER WORK OVER THE LAST
FEW WEEKS.
I KNOW SHE AND HER DEPARTMENT
LEADERS AND HER OFFICERS HAVE
BEEN WORKING SO HARD.
AND THEY WORKED TO ADJUST THE
IMPROVE EVERYDAY.
AND ULTIMATELY, I KNOW THAT
THEY ARE GUIDED BY DOING ALL
THEY CAN FOR THE BUSINESSES AND
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MAYOR.
I'LL START WHERE YOU LEFT OFF.
THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING
VERY HARD.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS.
THAT I HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE
WORK MAKING SURE WE ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THIS MORNING AS YOU KNOW I HAD
SEVERAL OF MY COMMAND STAFF
ENTER THE EAST PRECINCT TO SEE
WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE THERE.
WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING FROM A
POSITION OF TRUST AND
DEESCALATION.
THE DEMONSTRATORS MADE IT CLEAR
THE CONFLICT WITH THE FENCING
PREVENTING THEM FROM MARCHING.
SO WE MOVED IT.
I WANT TO ALLOW PEACEFUL
DEMONSTRATIONS AND RESOLVE
EVERY SITUATION WITH FULL
AWARENESS THAT SOMETIMES THERE
ARE CLEAR THREATS TO THE
FACILITIES.
A PRECINCT BURN IN MINNEAPOLIS.
A HEADQUARTERS WAS RANSACKED IN
PORTLAND.
ARSON AND LOOTING IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE.
BULLETINS FROM THE FBI.
AND CANTS AT THE EAST PRECINCT
OF BURN IT DOWN.
WE TOOK DOWN THE BARRICADES ANY
WAY.
BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED TO
ESTABLISH TRUST.
INSTEAD OF MARCHING, THE
PROTESTERS AFTER COMPLAINING
ABOUT POLICE BARRICADES,
ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN
BARRICADES.
SO THE STREETS THAT WE WANTED
TO BE CLEAR, NOW THEY'RE NO
LONGER CLEAR.
SPD HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES
TO THE ENTIRE EAST PRECINCT AND
TO THE CITY.
THE ACTIONS OF A SMALL GROUP
CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT DEPRIVE
AN ENTIRE SEGMENT OF OUR
COMMUNITY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICES.
IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE SPD NOT
HAVING ACCESS TO THE PRECINCT,
RESPONSE TIMES FOR CRIMES IF
PROGRESS WERE OVER 15 MINUTES.
ABOUT THREE TIMES AS AS LONG
LONG AS THE AVERAGE OF EVERY
YEAR IF IT'S YOUR MOTHER,
SISTER, COUSIN, NEIGHBOR'S KID,
BEING RAPED, ROBBED,
ASSAULTED, AND OTHERWISE
VICTIMIZED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
HAVE TO REPORT THAT IT TOOK THE
POLICE THREE TIMES LONGER TO
GET THERE TO PROVIDE SERVICES
TO THEM.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT AMOUNT
OF TIME COULD PREVENT SOMEONE'S
LIFE AND PREVENT A VIOLENT
ATTACK.
IT WAS NEVER AN OPTION TO HAVE
RESIDENTS OF THE PRECINCT, MANY
OF WHOM ARE MEMBERS OF OUR MOST
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES BY THE
WAY.
WAITING FOR EXTRA LENGTH OF
TIME FOR AN OFFICER TO ARRIVE
TO A VIOLENT CRIME IN PROGRESS.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDS OPEN AND READY TO ENGAGE
IN DIALOGUE AND ACTION ABOUT
HOW WE CAN ADDRESS INEQUALITIES
AND RACISM IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE ALL KNOW THAT OVER HISTORY
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CRIED OUT FOR
JUSTICE WHEN THEY'VE BEEN
BLACK, WHEN THEY'VE BEEN
LATINO, WHEN THEY'VE BEEN LGBTQ
OR ASIAN, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE
OFTEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF GOOD
AND OFTEN PERPETUATING THE
STATUS QUO.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
HISTORY, A LONG HISTORY OF
ABUSES.
YOU KNOW, I FOR ONE,
SPECIFICALLY AM IN TUNE WITH
SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, THAT
DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T CONTINUE
TO EVOLVE AND CHANGE AND DO
BETTER.
AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING
THAT.
AND I CALL ON ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES AS WELL.
ACROSS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
PROSECUTORS, JUDGES AND OTHER
ELECTED OFFICIALS, SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS TO JOIN US WITH
COMMUNITY IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS A PART
OF THE CONVERSATION.
EVERYONE SHOWS -- EVERYONE HAS
COME OUT AND THEY'VE BEEN
PARTICULARLY CONCERNS ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, WHAT THE DEATH AND
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD
REPRESENTS.
WHAT IT REPRESENTS IS A HISTORY
OF BLACK MEN DYING AT THE HANDS
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
UNPROVOKED OR SOMETIMES DEEMED
AS UNPROVOKED WAYS.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE THROW
THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH
WATER.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT
PART IN THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T
DO BETTER.
AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT MANY
OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN YOUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT WANT TO DO
BETTER AND WANT TO HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
I'VE SERVED HERE FOR 28 YEARS.
I LOVE SEATTLE.
I LOVE THE DEPARTMENT.
I LOVE OUR COMMUNITY.
MY DAUGHTER, MY SON-IN-LAW, AND
MY NEPHEW WERE AT THOSE
PROTESTS.
HAVE BEEN AT THE
DEMONSTRATIONS, BOTH GOOD AND
BAD ENDINGS THAT IS.
AND THEY PARTICIPATE.
I CARE.
MY FAMILY CARES.
THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO
US.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT
RIGHT.
WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE SOME DEEP
EXAMINATION OF WHAT BROUGHT US
TO THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO
WEEKS.
IT'S TIME NOW TO PURPOSEFULLY
HEAL.
TO HAVE RECONCILIATION AND TO
MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
WE MUST DO THIS FOR GEORGE
FLOYD AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS
OF POLICE AND WE ALSO MUST DO
IT FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS
SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF
INJUSTICE.
AND WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT ALL
OF OUR OFFICERS ARE ON BOARD
WITH MOVING FORWARD.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO WORK WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT REALLY ARE
ENGAGED AND WANT IT TO BE
BETTER AND WANT THERE TO BE A
BETTER SOCIETY.
SO ON THAT NOTE, I GUESS IT'S
OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.
AND YOU'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
>> YES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU,
CHIEF, THE WAY WE'LL BALANCE
THIS IS WE'LL HAVE TWO
QUESTIONS IN THE ROOM.
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE ONE FROM
THE WEBEX PORTAL.
I OPEN IT UP TO THE ROOM AND
THE MAYOR AND CHIEF TO
ACKNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS IN THE
ROOM.
>> CHRIS.
>> SO CHIEF, YOU STOOD HERE ON
FRIDAY AND YOU SAID IT WAS
GOING TO BE YOUR DECISION AND
YOUR DECISION ALONE TO USE TEAR
GAS.
TEAR GAS WAS DEPLOYED ON SUNDAY
YOU RELEASED A VIDEO TODAY TO
SAY THAT IT WAS NOT YOUR
DECISION TO CLOSE THE EAST
PRECINCT.
SO WHO IS MAKING TACTICAL
DECISIONS RIGHT NOW FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> SO A COUPLE OF THINGS,
CHRIS, THOSE ARE TWO VERY
DIFFERENT INCIDENTS FOR THE
TEAR GAS, IT WAS MY DECISION.
I THINK I PREFACED THAT.
I MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE
DID NOT WANT TO USE ANY OF THE
PEPPER SPRAY, FLASH BANGS,
FLASH BALLS OR TEAR GAS WE
SUSPENDED THE USE FOR 30 DAYS
UNLESS IT WAS A LIFE-SAFETY
SITUATION AND THAT WAS THE
EXEMPTION.
I WAS KEEPING ABREAST OF WHAT
WAS HAPPENING IN THE PRECINCT.
THEY HAD A SHOOTING EARLIER IN
THE DAY.
AT SOME POINT, IT GOT UNRULY.
THERE WAS A MAN WITH A GUN IN
THE CROWD THE OFFICERS FELT IT
WAS A LIFE SAFETY SITUATION
BASED ON WHAT WAS OCCURRING.
AND I OWNED THAT DECISION.
I MADE THAT DECISION.
AND I WILL OWN ANY DECISION I
THINK IS IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF EVERYONE'S PUBLIC SAFETY.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT WHAT WILL BE USED IN THE
FUTURE.
AND I HOPE THEY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS BUT I OWN THAT
DECISION.
IN REGARDS TO THE PRECINCT, WE
WERE LOOKING AT WE OPENED UP
THE ROADS, WE HAD DECIDED TO
PUT SOME SAFETY MEASURES AROUND
THE PRECINCT TO PROTECT IT.
WE WERE ASKED TO DO AN
OPERATIONAL PLAN IN CASE WE
NEEDED TO LEAVE.
WE GOT AN UPDATE THAT THERE WAS
THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE OF
COURSE.
IF THE PRECINCT GOES DOWN IN
FIRE THE WHOLE BLOCK COULD
POTENTIALLY BE BURNED UP.
AS WE WERE MOVING THINGS OUT,
THE DECISION WAS MADE TO, YOU
KNOW, AS OFFICERS WERE TAKING
THINGS OUT OF THE PRECINCT,
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COME BACK
IN THE PRECINCT.
AND MANY OF THEM DID NOT.
SO WE'RE STILL GOING TO
EVALUATE EXACTLY THE PINPOINT
OF WHY THAT CHANGED.
BUT IT DIDN'T COME FROM ME.
SO WE'LL REVIEW ALL OF IT.
WE'RE LOOKING INTO ALL OF IT,
CHRIS, TO SEE WHERE IT CAME
FROM.
.
>> WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE TO
GET THROUGH, CHRIS, WE'LL GET
BACK TO YOU.
>> DAVID.
THEN TWO ON THE PHONE.
THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
>> WELL I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE
CAPITOL HILL ZONE.
WHAT'S THE PLAN?
HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO LET
IT STAY THERE?
INDEFINITELY?
PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO TURN THE
EAST PRECINCT INTO A COMMUNITY
CENTER?
IS THAT ON THE TABLE?
>> THE CAPITOL HILL AREA IS, IN
FACT, SOME OF MY FAMILY IS UP
THERE RIGHT NOW.
I THINK IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED BY
THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS AS
WHAT IT IS NOT.
IT'S NOT AN ARMED MILITIA NO-GO
ZONE.
IT'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE
THERE.
WE'VE HAD ONGOING
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM WITH
THE BUSINESS WITH THE
RESIDENTS.
AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE FIND
SOME WAY FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE
TO PROTEST PEACEFULLY WHILE
ALSO GETTING INGRESS AND
EGRESS.
WE'VE HAD BLOCKS OF SEATTLE IN
CAPITOL HILL SHUT DOWN EVERY
SUMMER FOR EVERYTHING FROM
BLOCK PARTY TO PRIDE.
THIS IS REALLY NOT THAT MUCH OF
AN OPERATIONAL CHALLENGE.
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS
FEEL SAFE.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT
FORWARD.
>> ARE THEY GOING TO TRY TO
MOVE BACK TO THE EAST PRECINCT.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THEM MOVING
IN.
WE DID THE ASSESSMENT TODAY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING
ASSESSMENT ABOUT WHEN IT WOULD
BE SAFE AND APPROPRIATE FOR
THEM TO MOVE IN THERE.
INCLUDING RESPONSE TIMES AND
THE LIKE.
WE DON'T WANT TO INTRODUCE
ADDITIONAL FLASH POINTS THE
CHIEF MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHEN
WE HAD DISCUSSIONS LAST WEEK
THAT IT WAS CLEAR THAT THOSE
BARRIERS WERE THE FLASH POINT
AND NEEDED TO BE REMOVED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE MOVING
FORWARD SPD IS IN THE PLANNING
FOR CAPITOL HILL.
>> OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM ANNA
SKY, KIRO RADIO.
ANNA, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
ANNA?
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> SORRY.
THERE WE GO.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> FOR CHIEF BEST, CAN YOU
SPEAK TO ANY LEGITIMATE REPORTS
WHERE THERE'S BEEN EVIDENCE
FOUND OF PEOPLE WITH ARMS
EXTORTING BUSINESSES OR
RESIDENTS IN WHAT'S KNOWN AS
THE CAPITOL HILL AUTONOMOUS
ZONE AND FOR THE MAYOR, IF
YOU'VE MET WITH PROTESTERS UP
THERE?
>> I HAVE NOT MET WITH THE
PROTESTERS THAT ARE ON CAPITOL
HILL RIGHT NOW.
I'LL LET THE CHIEF ADDRESS THE
REPORTS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE
HAVE BEEN SOME OCCASIONS OF
SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE,
VANDALISM, A FIGHT, BUT THERE'S
NOT BEEN ANY SERIOUS INCIDENTS
THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED.
BUT I'LL LET HER CONFIRM THAT.
>> HI, HANNAH, YEAH, WE HAD
HEARD THROUGH FOLKS AN
ECTOTALLY THAT THESE THINGS
WERE OCCURS.
CHIEF NOLETTE GAVE A PRESS
CONFERENCE AND ASKED IF ANYBODY
EXPERIENCED THAT AND REPORTED
IT THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE WE
TAKE A REPORT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY FORMAL
REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING OTHER
THAN PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED IT
THROUGH NEWS MEDIA, SOCIAL
MEDIA POSTS BUT NO ONE HAS COME
FORWARD FOR A POLICE REPORT.
IF THAT DOES HAPPEN, WE'RE
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE IF THEY'VE
EXPERIENCED THAT TO NOTIFY US
AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON IT.
BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENED
AFFIRMATIVELY.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF, THANK YOU
MAYOR.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM BRANDI
CRUZ, Q 13.
BRANDI, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THIS IS FOR THE MAYOR.
THE CHIEF IS FREE TO WEIGH IN.
THE CHIEF SENT A VIDEO TO HER
OFFICERS TODAY THAT WAS QUICKLY
LEAKED TO THE PUBLIC.
SHE MADE IT CLEAR SHE WAS NOT
HAPPY WITH THE DECISION MADE TO
-- FOR ALL INTENTS AND
PURPOSES, ABANDON THE PRECINCT
AND MAYOR, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
WHO CAN MAKE THAT DECISION IF
SHE'S NOT THE ONE WHO MADE IT.
AND SHE SAID IT WAS CLEAR THE
CITY QUOTE RELENTED TO SEVERE
PUBLIC PRESSURE.
SO MAYOR, CAN YOU COMMENT ON
THE FACT THAT THE CHIEF MADE IT
CLEAR TO OFFICERS TODAY THAT
SHE DID NOT AGREE WITH THIS
DECISION?
AND DID YOU RELENT TO PUBLIC
PRESSURE?
>> SO TO TAKE IT IN STEPS, ONCE
THE DECISION TO REMOVE THE
BARRIERS WAS MADE, THERE WAS
STILL THE OPERATIONAL THREAT OR
POTENTIAL THREAT TO THE
PRECINCT ITSELF.
WHICH INCLUDED INTELLIGENCE
THAT THERE MIGHT BE A THREAT OF
FIRE.
THERE WAS AN ASSESSMENT MADE
TOGETHER WITH CHIEF SKOGINS AND
THE COMMAND STAFF AS TO WHAT
THE IMPACTS WOULD BE NOT JUST
ON THE PRECINCT BUT THE WOOD
FRAME BUILDINGS AROUND THAT
THAT HAD AS MANY AS 500
RESIDENTS.
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IF THAT
WAS THE THREAT THAT MAINTAINING
PEOPLE INSIDE THE BUILDING
WOULD BE DANGEROUS AND THEY
EXECUTED AN OPERATIONAL PLAN TO
REMOVE ANYTHING THAT WAS OF
VALUE, FILES, EQUIPMENT,
AMMUNITION, WEAPONS, AND THE
LIKE, AND THAT WAS AN ITERATIVE
DECISION MADE DURING THE DAY
RESULTING FROM THE FLUID EVENTS
OF THE TIME ONCE IT WAS
DETERMINED THAT THE BARRIERS
WERE GOING TO BE REMOVED.
SO THAT WAS A DECISION MADE IN
CONCERT WITH COMMAND STAFF AND
OTHERS ON THE GROUND.
AND AS THE CHIEF SAID, WE'LL BE
LOOKING AT THAT.
I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT
DECISION.
I THINK IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
REMOVING THE BARRIERS WAS
CRITICAL TO REMOVING THE FLASH
POINT.
AND IF THERE WERE THE SAFETY
CONCERNS FOR PEOPLE IN THE
BUILDING OR THE EQUIPMENT.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE EQUIVALENT
OF ABANDONING THE STATION.
AT THIS POINT, AGAIN, THE CHIEF
WENT IN THIS MORNING TO ASSESS
THE STATUS OF IT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE NOT CREATING THE SAME
SITUATION WE HAD FOUR DAYS AGO
WHICH WE SUCCESSFULLY HAVE
REMOVED FROM REMOVING THAT
POINT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN
PROTESTERS AND THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
.
>> BASICALLY, YOU JUST SAID
THAT YOU'RE NOT ABANDONING THE
STATION.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS
ABANDONED BECAUSE EVERYBODY
LEFT IN A HURRY.
MY QUESTION IS, GIVEN WHAT THE
CHIEF JUST BASICALLY LAID OUT A
CASE FOR RETURNING OFFICERS TO
THE STATION WITH THE DELAY IN
RESPONSE CALLS.
WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD?
WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD FOR
OFFICERS TO RETURN BACK TO THAT
PRECINCT SO THAT THOSE RESPONSE
CALL TIMES WILL GO DOWN?
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE A
DISCUSSION WITH THE CHIEF.
SHE'S THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
IF SHE WANTS TO RETURN
OPERATIONS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
RECREATE THE ENTIRE CYCLE THAT
WE JUST WERE ABLE TO
DISRUPTION.
BY REMOVING THE BARRIERS, WE
DISRUPTED THAT UNFORTUNATE
CYCLE THAT WE SAW OVER A PERIOD
OF THREE DAYS.
AND WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD IN
THE SAME WAY.
SO THE CHIEF TOGETHER WITH
RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORHOOD,
COMMUNITY, AND A NUMBER OF CITY
DEPARTMENTS ARE LOOKING AT HOW
WE ADDRESS A WHOLE RANGE OF
THINGS ON CAPITOL HILL.
.
>> WILL ANY OF THOSE OFFICERS
WANT TO COME BACK?
>> THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC DATE.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO THINGS IN A
WAY THAT'S RESPONSIBLE.
AND THAT ADDRESSES THE REAL
LIFE SITUATION ON THE GROUND.
AND AS EVERYONE HAS SEEN OVER
THE LAST WEEK, WHEN POLICE DO
THEIR JOBS, IT'S NEVER A STATIC
SITUATION.
AND SO THE CHIEF OF POLICE
WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE REST
OF THE DEPARTMENTS IS GOING TO
COME UP WITH AN OPERATIONAL
PLAN THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT
WE MOVE FORWARD APPROPRIATELY.
.
>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT
NOW?
AS FAR AS PEOPLE SAY THERE HAVE
BEEN SMALL CHANGES MADE AS FAR
AS HOW TO RESPOND TO PROTESTS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT PEOPLE
REALLY WANT TO HEAR WHAT'S THE
SYSTEMATIC CHANGE THAT THE CITY
IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW TO MAKE
A MEANINGFUL IMPACT?
>> SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK THAT'S THE FOCUS OF
WHAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.
THE UNFORTUNATE THING ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT'S TWEETS AND OTHERS
IS IT'S DISTRACTING US FROM
WHAT WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON.
AND LISTENING TO COMMUNITY, I
THINK THERE'S A RANGE OF THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO DO.
I WANT TO REALLY CENTER THE
VOICE OF COMMUNITY.
BUT WE HAVE UNDER FUNDED ALL OF
THE SYSTEMS THAT COMMUNITY
NEEDS TO THRIVE AND BE HEALTHY.
AND THAT STARTS WITH GOOD
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND
PRENATAL CARE.
IT MEANS THAT OUR FREE PRE-K IS
JOINED WITH OTHER PROGRAMS SO
FAMILIES ARE HOLISTIC.
IT MEANS K THROUGH 12, WE NOT
ONLY CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP
BUT WE REALLY LOOK AT WHERE
THOSE HEALTH SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
WE CAN HAVE WITH STUDENTS,
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE
STUDENTS GETTING INTO TUNNEL,
TO MAKE SCHOOL A PIPELINE TO
OPPORTUNITY AND NOT
INCARCERATION, SO WE'LL
CONTINUE WITH PROGRAMS LIKE OUR
FREE COLLEGE, BUT WE WANT TO
CONNECT THAT UP WITH JOBS FOR
EVERYBODY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
REALLY INVESTING IN ALL OF
THOSE THINGS IN OUR SOCIETY
THAT HAVE HELD PEOPLE BACK
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN
FAIR.
.
>> THE PROTESTERS HAVE SAID
THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE
ON UNLESS SPD'S BUDGET IS CUT
BY 50%.
I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT
RIGHT NOW.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOUR
BUDGET SUPPORTS THAT?
AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT 82% OF
THE BUDGET COMES FROM PERSONNEL
AND OVER TIME COSTS ALONE, IS
THAT CALL EVEN POSSIBLE?
.
>> SORRY, I'M HAVING TROUBLE
HEARING YOU.
>> SORRY I'M HAVING TROUBLE
HEARING YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ].
>> LOOK, I'VE MADE IT VERY
CLEAR I THINK OUR PROTEST IS
REIMAGINING THE SERVICES IN
COMMUNITY AND I DON'T THINK
IT'S RESPONSIBLE TO SUGGEST
THAT WE'LL CUT 50% OF OUR
OFFICERS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CHANGE THE FOCUS ON, SO WHEN
PEOPLE CALL 911 THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE A POLICE
OFFICER SHOW UP.
AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE
REQUIRED NOW TO DO JOBS THAT
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE
DOING.
WE HAD OVER 17,000 CRISIS CALLS
LAST YEAR.
WE NEED A SYSTEM THAT IF
SOMEONE IS IN CRISIS, THE FIRST
RESPONSE IS FROM CRISIS
INTERVENTION TEAM, A HEALTH
CARE TEAM, A MENTAL HEALTH
TEAM.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF
THERE'S A CONFLICT IN FAMILY
THAT IS BETWEEN A YOUNG PERSON
AND THEIR PARENT OR THEIR
GRANDPARENT, IT ISN'T ALWAYS
POLICE THAT SHOW UP.
IT CAN BE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS
THAT FAMILY AND CAN DIFFUSE AND
DEESCALATE THAT SO WE HAVE
FEWER KIDS GOING INTO
INCARCERATION.
I WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE PUT
MORE AND MORE WORK ON POLICE
OFFICERS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
HAVE IN OTHER PLACES SO THAT
POLICE OFFICERS CAN HAVE THEIR
ENERGIES TO RESPOND TO THOSE
THINGS THAT TRULY ARE A GREAT
PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED A COP
TO SHOW UP.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE A RANGE
OF SYSTEMS AND WE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN
A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> THEY'R SAYING TO CUT 50% OF
THE BUDGET.
>> YOU CAN'T CUT THE BUDGET
WITHOUT CUTTING THE POLICE
OFFICERS.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BUDGET
REPRESENTS.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE CHIEF.
WE'VE BEEN ASKED IN OH FORMS.
ARE YOU GOING TO RESIGN?
IS THE CHIEF GOING TO RESIGN?
THE ANSWER IS NO AND NO.
WE THOUGHT ABOUT A THELMA AND
LOUISE MOMENT.
BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING HERE.
WE'RE HERE.
WE HAVE WORK TO DO.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
THESE ARE NOT EASY DAYS.
BUT NEITHER OF US SIGNED UP FOR
EASY JOBS.
WE'RE READY TO TACKLE THE
CHALLENGES, LISTEN TO
COMMUNITY, AND MOVE FORWARD
TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF THAT
CONCLUDES TODAY'S PRESS
CONFERENCE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.