.
>>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FOR WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER
22nd, 2020, MEETING ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE.
PLEASE LET'S CALL THE
MEETING TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:35 A.M.
I'M LISA HER
BOLD, CHAIR OF COMMITTEE.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD.
>> HERE.
>>> TODAY'S AGENDA, WE'LL BE
COVERING APPOINTMENTS TO THE
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT.
WE'LL HEAR AMENDMENTS TO THE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CODE
AND REPORTS REGARDING COURT
IMPOSED MONETARY SANCTIONS IN
THE COURT.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER
PROGRAM, THE COLEAD PROGRAM, AND
AN UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO
IMPLEMENT SAFE CONSUMPTION
PROGRAMS.
AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, NO
OBJECTION TO THE AGENDA.
IT WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL TRANSITION
TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE 15 MINUTES ON PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE AGENDA.
BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, WE ASK THAT EVERYBODY BE
PATIENT AS WE LEARN TO OPERATE
THIS NEW SYSTEM IN REALTIME.
I'LL BE MODERATING THE PERIOD IN
THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
EACH SPEAKER GIVEN TWO MINUTES
TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE ORDER WHICH THEY
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK AND WOULD LIKE TO, SIGN UP
BEFORE THE END OF THE PUBLIC
HEARING AT THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S
NAME, YOU NEED TO PRESS "STAR,
6" TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
STATE YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM IN
WHICH YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WRAP UP
YOUR COMMENTS.
IF NOT, SPEAKERS WILL HAVE THEIR
MIC MUTED AFTER TEN SECONDS TO
ALLOW US TO TAKE THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM
THE LINE.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THE MEETING, YOU CAN
DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE CHANNEL OR
THE LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE
OVER TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I'M GOING TO READ NAMES
INTO THE RECORD.
WE WILL START WITH JUDGE ADAM
EISENBERG, FOLLOWED BY JUDGE
FAYE CHESS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
HER BOLD.
THIS IS ADAM.
I'M ONE OF THE JUDGES IN
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT.
I'M VERY EXCITED AND PLEASED BY
THE MAYOR'S NOMINATION OF
CATHERINE MCDOWALL TO BECOME OUR
NEWEST BENCH MATE.
I'M CONFUSED BY THE
TECHNOLOGY.
I APOLOGIZE.
ANYWAY, COUNCILMEMBERS, I
WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT
CATHERINE MCDOWALL HAS BEEN IN
THE COURT FOR THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS.
SHE'S SUPER SMART.
SHE'S VERY COMMITTED TO CHANGING
THE COURT SYSTEM TO MAKE IT MORE
FAIR.
SHE AND I WORK TOGETHER ON A
REGULAR BASIS AND FREQUENTLY
DISCUSS CASES TOGETHER.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSED BY
HER KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW AND HER
COMPASSION AND EMPATHY FOR THE
PEOPLE IN FRONT OF HER.
AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION
PROJECT AND OTHER PROGRAMS WE'RE
DOING IN THE COURT THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO, YOU KNOW, ENFORCE
HARM REDUCTION CONCEPTS AND HELP
PEOPLE SO THEY DON'T RETURN TO
THE COURT SYSTEM.
I KNOW SHE'S VERY COMMITTED TO
THE CHANGES THAT THE REPORT
SUGGESTED.
AND I'M JUST SUPER, SUPER
EXCITED THAT SHE WILL HOPEFULLY
BE JOINING OUR BENCH.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING HER
NOMINATION.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE
SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND HAVE A
GREAT DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT JUDGE FAYE CHESS, FOLLOWED
BY RELBY FREE.
JUDGE CHESS, ARE
YOU WITH US?
YOU WANT TO HIT STAR 6.
I THINK YOU'RE ON
MUTE.
HELLO?
JUDGE CHESS?
.
>>> SHE'S STILL MUTED.
SHE NEEDS TO GET REMINDED
ABOUT THE STAR 6.
>> JUDGE CHESS, YOU HAVE TO HIT
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
JUDGE CHESS?
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR ME,
BUT YOU NEED TO HIT STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE.
ARE YOU THERE?
ERIC, CAN WE -- IS
IT POSSIBLE TO MOVE ON WHILE
SOMEBODY IS STILL TRYING TO --.
>> YES, IT IS.
IN THE PAST, I THINK WE
COULD COME BACK TO THEM.
MAYBE DO A COUPLE OF THREE --
OH, THEY'RE ON NOW.
>> SHE'S SUPER SMART.
SHE'S VERY COMMITTED --.
>> THAT'S ADAM.
>> IT'S NOT WORKING.
THAT'S A REPLAY.
>> HELLO?
.
>> JUDGE, TURN OFF YOUR LIVE
STREAM IN THE BACK.
.
>> LOOKS LIKE WE LOST HER.
>> WE LOST THE CALLER.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ELLA KAPLAN.
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
.
>> WE CAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YEAH.
OF COURSE.
MY NAME IS ELLA KAPLAN, AND
I AM SPEAKING FOR THE FUNDING
TODAY.
I AM A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON STUDYING THE
COMPARATIVE HISTORY OF IDEAS AND
MICROBIOLOGY AND A MEMBER OF THE
STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG
POLICY.
WE AIM TO REFORM LOCAL JUDGE
POLICIES AND WE ARE HEAR TO
COMMUNICATE OUR SUPPORT.
MAKING DRUG POLICY BETTER IS
CRITICAL AND NEVER SO IMPORTANT
AS DURING COVID.
THE WORK THEY
DO TO REFORM THE DRUG POLICY IS
NOTABLE TO ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE
OF MY FAMILY BACKGROUND.
MY GRANDPARENTS FOSTERED AND
ADOPTED SEVEN CHILDREN.
THE DRUG EPIDEMIC IMPACTED US,
AND THIS IS ONE PUBLIC HEALTH
APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE
EPIDEMIC.
THIS COUNCIL LED THROUGH
ALLOCATING FUNDING AND HAS BEEN
BOLD AND INVOLVED IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND THE CRITICAL
STRATEGY.
I'M URGING YOU TO TRANSMIT THE
FUNDING TO THE CITY'S PUBLIC
HEALTH CONTRACT TO RESOURCE THE
AGENCIES FOR IMPLEMENTING IT.
YOUR LEADERSHIP IS APPRECIATED
AND WE URGE YOU TO MAKE ONE LAST
PUSH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE HAVE RONNA, FOLLOWEDLY
JASMINE.
RONNA?
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M CALLING THE COMMENT ON
THE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
IF THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT
THE LESSON YOU WANT TO TEACH
SEATTLE YOUTH TODAY.
YOU'RE TELLING THEM WE CAN RAISE
OUR VOICE, PRACTICE OUR RIGHT TO
PROTEST, THINK CREATIVELY,
EXECUTE STRATEGICALLY,
STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES AND
ESTABLISH NEW ONES.
SOMEHOW NONE
OF THAT WILL MATTER.
WE CAN GATHER THE NUMBERS AND
SHAKE HANDS WITH THE COUNCIL,
BUT YOU'LL CRUMBLE.
LIKE OTHERS BEFORE YOU, YOU'LL
FOLD IN THE FACE OF RACISM,
GREED, AND POLITICAL COMPLACENT
SI.
THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OUR
STORY AND OUR REALITY.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO
PIVOT THE COLLECTIVE JOURNEY IN
A NEW DIRECTION, EVEN JUST
SLIGHTLY.
I URGE YOU TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
I URGE YOU TO INVEST IN THE TRUE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR ALL
COMMUNITIES.
I URGE YOU TO STAND FIRMLY FOR
BLACK LIVES AND OVERRIDE THE
MAYOR'S VETO.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> JAZLYN, FOLLOWED BY LUCAS.
.
>> HELLO.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHAT THE
PREVIOUS CALLER SAID SO
BEAUTIFULLY.
I'M CALLING TO REQUEST YOU
UPHOLD YOUR COMMITMENT TO
DEFUNDING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S 2020 BUDGET AND
REINVEST THE MONEY TO
COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS.
THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO
FIGHT FOR BLACK LIVES AND CREATE
SYSTEMS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
ALL OF US.
I'M CALLING TO REMIND THE
COUNCIL OF THE PROMISES YOU MADE
IF THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO
THIS.
PLEASE OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S VETO
AND UPHOLD YOUR PROMISES.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU.
LUCAS, FOLLOWED BY MARA.
LUCAS, IF YOU
HAVEN'T HIT STAR 6, YOU NEED TO
DO SO TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
LUCAS, IT SHOWS
YOU'RE TALKING, BUT YOU'RE
MUTED.
>> AM I UNMUTED NOW?
.
>> PERFECT.
THANK YOU.
.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M LUCAS, AND I'M A STUDENT OF
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
STUDYING NEUROSCIENCE.
I'M A
MEMBER OF THE CHAPTER OF
STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG
POLICY.
MAKING DRUG POLICY BETTER IS
CRITICAL.
SUPERVISED SERVICES AND POLICY
ARE IMPORTANT.
AS A RESIDENT OF THE U DISTRICT,
I HAVE SEEN HOW THE DRUG POLICY
FAILED THE MOST VULNERABLE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
IN MY PRIVILEGED POSITION AS A
STUDENT WITH A LIFE IN SEATTLE,
I WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT
TAKES CARE OF ALL OF THE
RESIDENTS AND ENSURE A SAFER AND
HEALTHIER LIFE FOR ALL.
PARTNERING WITH THE
ORGANIZATIONS TAKING STRIDES TO
MAKE THIS A REALITY, THE PLAN
NEEDS ONE MORE PERSON ON THE
CITY COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT THE
PROJECT TO BUILD A BETTER
COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF US.
THE COUNCIL HAS LED BY
ALLOCATING FUNDING AND BOLD TO
EVOLVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
ONE OF THE LARGEST
INTERSECTIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY
ARE DRUG POLICIES.
TO MAKE IT EQUITABLE AND SUPPORT
THE VULNERABLE MEMBERS, THIS IS
ONE CRITICAL STRATEGY.
THE APPROACH TO SCS TO INTRODUCE
SAFER CONSUMPTION SERVICES WHERE
THE PLACES THAT PEOPLE RECEIVE
SERVICES IS A LOGICAL APPROACH.
BY COLOCATED THE SERVICES, WE
CAN MAKE THE CONSUMPTION MORE
SAFE AND LESS IMPACTFUL TO
COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
TODAY, I'M URGING YOU TO
TRANSMIT THE FUND TO GO THE
CITY'S PUBLIC HEALTH CONTRACT TO
RESOURCE AGENCIES.
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS HAS BEEN
APPRECIATED AND WE URGE ONE LAST
PUSH.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARA,
FOLLOWED BY CINDY PIERCE.
.
>> HI.
I'M A LONG-TIME SEATTLE
RESIDENT.
I WENT TO UNDERGRAD AND LAW
SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
I SPECIALIZE THE CIVIL RIGHTS
PROTECTION.
I SUPPORT THE WORK OF KING
COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND
DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE.
I AM CALLING SPECIFICALLY ON ALL
OF YOU, IN PARTICULARLY, THE
WHITE COUNCILMEMBERS LISTENING
WHO HAVE LOST THE COURAGE TO DO
WHAT'S RIGHT IN THIS MOMENT.
THE REDRESS THE YEARS OF
ANTIBLACK INDIVIDUAL POLICY
DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE ALL
MADE, THAT YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED
TO, AND THAT YOU NOW HAVE THE
MINIMUM RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE REDRESS FOR.
OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S ANTIBLACK
VETO TO STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE
OF HISTOY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO FRAME THE
CALLS TO DIE VEST FROM POLICING
AND REINVEST IN THE
COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS.
THAT IS A FACT.
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES ARE OWED TRILLIONS
FOR EXPLOITED LABOR, POLICE
VIOLENCE, ECONOMIC EXCLUSION,
DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING
PRACTICES, AND MORE.
AFTER THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT, THE
CONDITIONS FOR THE COMMUNITIES
ARE ON A TRAJECTORY TO WORSEN.
AGAINST THE BACKDROP, THE
COMMUNITIES MOBILIZE TREMENDOUS
SUPPORT TO DEMAND TRUE
INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY
SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR ALL OF
US AND AT MINIMUM DON'T KILL US
WITH OUR OWN MONEY.
IN THE FACE OF THAT, AN ENTIRELY
NONBLACK SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
HAS SEEMINGLY CRUMBLED TO A
WEALTHY WHITE MAYOR.
THIS IS NOT A NORMAL VOTE.
THIS IS NOT A NORMAL TIME
PERIOD.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU
HAVE RIGHT NOW TO SHOW PEOPLE
THAT YOU WILL STAND ON THE RIGHT
SIDE OF HISTORY.
>> AND IF YOU DON'T, WE'RE GOING
TO COME AT YOU AND ALL OF Y'ALL
ARE GOING TO GET OUT.
>> CINDY PIERCE IS NEXT FOLLOWED
BY TARA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS CINDY.
AND AS A SEATTLE RESIDENT FOR
OVER 40 YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED
THIS CITY CHANGE AND NOT FOR THE
BETTER.
AS A CITY WHERE WE RAISED
OUR CHILDREN, ENJOYED OUR PARKS
AND OTHER OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES,
IT'S EMBARRASSING TO CALL THIS
PLACE HOME.
AS AN ASSOCIATE OF A
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY ALLIANCE, WE
HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE HOMELESS
CRISIS AND OTHER SAFETY AND
HEALTH ISSUES.
WE USED TO GO OUT AND SPEAK
WITH THE ADDICTS.
WE NO LONGER CAN.
IT'S TOO DANGEROUS.
YOU AS A COUNCIL HAVE DECIDED TO
LISTEN TO A LOUD MINORITY WHEN
IT COMES TO POLICE FUNDING.
WE WANT TO LIVE IF A SAFE CITY.
WE DON'T FEEL SAFE NOW.
WITH ALL OF THE SHOUTING,
LOOTING, AND PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
WE NEED LAW AND ORDER HERE.
AND WE NEED IT NOW.
UTILIZE OUR TRAINED POLICE.
DON'T REPLICATE IT WITH SOCIAL
WORKERS AND BIGGER BUDGETS.
THE NONPROFIT YOU FUND HAVE NOT
SHOWN THAT THEY CAN SUCCEED IN
THEIR CURRENT DUTIES, MUCH LESS
TAKE ON MORE.
WHERE IS THAT DATA THAT THE LEAD
PROGRAM HASN'T PROVIDED US AND
THE REACH INDIVIDUALS WHO GO OUT
AND WORK WITH THE HOMELESS?
WHERE IS THE DATA?
BE SMART.
DON'T MAKE SEATTLE A
LAUGHING EXAMPLE OF FAILURE.
KEEP FUNDING OUR POLICE.
DO NOT DEFUND.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TARA
REAGAN, FOLLOWED BY KEYSHAWN
TURNER.
.
>> HI.
I WORK IN PEDIATRICS.
I'M IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'M CALLING TALKING TO
THREE COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT THE
REBALANCING OF TH 2020 BUDGET.
I'M ASKING YOU TO HOLD THE
LINE AND OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S
VETO TO ENSURE THE DIVESTING
STARTS NOW.
ALONGSIDE CRUCIAL REINVESTMENTS
IN BLACK COMMUNITY.
THE SEATTLE PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN TO
THE STREETS AND ASKED THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO PLEASE
REPRESENT OUR NEEDS OF MORE
SAFETY, MORE COMMUNITY MIND, AND
SPD HAS SHOWN THEY CANNOT DO
THAT.
THEY CANNOT KEEP US SAFE.
THEY CANNOT SUPPORT COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THAT ARE VULNERABLE.
I HAVE TALKED TO ALL -- CALLED
IN AND TALKED TO THESE MEETINGS
SO MANY TIMES.
THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, YOU
HAVE ALL KIND OF EXPRESSED
SUPPORT FOR REINVESTINGS IN
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF
YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR
CONSTITUENTS.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR
OVER 100 DAYS NOW.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN
PEDIATRICS, I CARE ABOUT THE
FUTURE AND I WANT YOU TO CARE
TO.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO
CAUSE THE CHANGES.
PLEASE DON'T GO BACK ON WHAT YOU
PROMISED US.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU'RE
WORKING FOR US.
YOU'RE WORKING FOR OUR FUTURE.
I'M ASKING TO LISTEN TO
YOUR HEART AND CONSIDER THE
FUTURE AND SEE THAT SPD HAS
BRUTALIZED CHILDREN ON THE
STREETS.
A NEIGHBOR OF MIND, THEY TEAR
GASSED THEIR BABY.
THEY PEPPER SPRAYED A CHILD.
THIS IS NOT THE SAFE SEATTLE.
WE NEED -- SOMETHING NEEDS TO
CHANGE.
PLEASE OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S
VETO.
PLEASE INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
.
>> THANK YOU.
TURNER.
AND THEN DON LUCAS.
.
>> HELLO.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU GUYS
SOMETHING.
HERE'S ONE THING, FIRST AND
FOREMOST.
WHY HAS THE CITY TAKEN THE BLACK
LIVES MURAL OFF OF THE STREET?
THAT WAS FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE
PEOPLE.
THE CITY NEEDS TO STOP TRYING TO
HIJACK STUFF.
IF YOU REDO IT AS A CITY, THAT
MEANS NOTHING.
THAT WAS FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE
PEOPLE.
THIS IS FOR THE CITY, BY THE
CITY.
BY THE CITY THAT AIN'T DOG
NOTHING FOR US.
NOTHING AT ALL.
I'M ON THE ZOOM CALL TOO.
I CAN SEE YOU GUYS TOO, JUST SO
YOU KNOW.
WHY ARE WE STILL IN THIS
POSITION?
I ENDED UP WITH 13 STITCHES IN
MY HEAD FOR WHAT?
IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC
SAFETY?
I BET.
IN THE ENTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, I
HAD 13 STITCHES IN MY HEAD.
OKAY.
WELL, IN THE PROCESS OF ME
GETTING THE 13 STITCHES, I SAT
IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A KID WHO
HAD HIS HANDS BLOWN UP IN ONE OF
THE SPD FLASH BANGS.
HANDS LITERALLY BLOWN UP.
WHO IS PROTECTING WHO HERE?
WHAT IS SPD DOING FOR US?
WHAT ARE THEY DOING BESIDES
VICTIMIZING AND BRUTALIZING US.
I CAN'T NAME ONE TIME THEY HAVE
DONE ANYTHING GOOD OVER THE PAST
100 DAYS.
OR EVER FOR THAT MATTER.
WHY DO WE KEEP CONSTANTLY
GIVING THEM THE POWER TO DO
THIS?
YOU GUYS AS A COUNCIL ARE
PUBLIC FREAKING SERVANTS.
AND WE ARE THE PUBLIC.
SO SERVE US.
I THINK OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS,
I THINK THIS IS HAPPENING MAYBE
TWO OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
REACHED OUT SINCE WHAT HAPPENED.
AND THAT'S SAD.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU GUYS ON THE
COUNCIL, AND THAT'S SAD.
BUT THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR
THERE.
HUNKER DOWN.
DON'T LET DURKAN OR DIAZ PUNK
YOU GUYS OR INTIMIDATE YOU GUYS.
DO WHAT THE CITIZENS NEED YOU TO
DO AND DEFUND SPD.
.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE DON LUCAS NEXT
FOLLOWED BY HOWARD GAIL.
.
>> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
.
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
HELLO, COUNCIL.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
MY COUNCIL PERSON IS
MORALES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON
DEFUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA.
I LIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
AND A BLOCK FROM THE UNION
GOSPEL MISSION.
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE
MISSION ARE TENTS LINED UP ON
THE SIDEWALK.
I USE I WHEELCHAIR TO GET
AROUND.
IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THAT SIDE
OF THE STREET, I HAVE TO GO INTO
THE BUS LANES TO GET BY.
THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE -- I
HAVE TRIED REACHING OUT OF THE
MAYOR AND ALSO TO MY CITY
COUNCIL PERSON.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE.
I'M ASKING YOU PLEASE DO
NOT DEFUND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED THE POLICE ON OUR SIDE.
NOT ONLY FOR VIOLENT
CRIMES, BUT ALSO FOR THE CRIMES
THAT ARE HAPPENING INSIDE OF
THIS ENCAMPMENT ACROSS THE
STREET FROM THE UNION GOSPEL
MISSION.
THEY ARE SELLING ALCOHOL,
THEY ARE ALSO SELLING DRUGS.
SO PLEASE, DO NOT DEFUND
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
HOWARD GAIL, FOLLOWED BY
GRIFFIN BIRD.
.
>> HI.
THIS IS HOWARD GAIL FROM
LOWER QUEEN ANN, DISTRICT SEVEN,
SPEAKING ON POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
OR ACTUALLY THE LACK
THEREOF.
THIS FRIDAY, LAST FRIDAY,
THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY RELEASED ITS
FIRST MAJOR REPORT OF A VERY
TINY FRACTION OF THE 117 DAYS.
THE LPA IGNORED THE MOST ABUSES.
THE PEPPER SPRAYING OF THE CHILD
IN RESPONSE TO A POLICE OFFICER
GRABBING A RIOT STICK IT SAID
WAS APPROPRIATE.
THEY DETERMINED IT WAS WITHIN
POLICY, AND HE ALSO MADE NO
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.
SOMETHING HE CAN DO WHEN
POLICIES HAVE DISASTROUSOUT
COMES.
AND THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT
THAT THIS ASSAULT BY THE POLICE
FOLLOWS THE SAME PATTERN AS THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THE DANGEROUS
POLICE INTERACTIONS.
A FAILURE TO DEESCALATE AND NO
ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL CROWDS.
AT THE LAST MEETING, THE
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ CLAIMED
THAT PEOPLE ARE DISPARAGING THE
POLICE SYSTEM FOR POLITICAL
REASONS.
THE FACTS ON THE GROUND DAY
AFTER DAY FOR 117 DAYS INDICATE
THE FAILURE OF THESE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS.
THE ONLY PERSON HIDING BEHIND
POLITICS IS THE COUNCILMEMBER.
IN WTO, WE HELD OVER 18 HOURS OF
MEETINGS.
21 YEARS LATER, WE HOLD NO
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND HAVE NO
PLANS.
PLEASE, I BEG YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS, RECOGNIZE THE
SEVERE FAILURES OF THE SYSTEM.
WE NEED COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY
INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY-BASED
ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> THANK YOU.
GRIFFIN BIRD, FOLLOWED BY
RYANHEART.
>> HI.
I'M AN ECONOMICS MAJOR AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF
STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG
POLICY AND A STRONG SUPPORT
EVERY OF YES TO SPS.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL IS OVERWHELMINGLY
SUPPORTED SO FAR.
TODAY, I ASK YOU TO CONTINUE THE
SUPPORT.
THE LITERATURE REVIEW SHOWS
OVERWHELMINGLY SPS MAKES DRUG
USE SAFER, MAKES TREATMENT AND
RECOVERY MORE LIKELY, AND MAKES
COMMUNITIES HEALTHIER.
LIVING ON THE AVENUE, I KNOW
THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD SEE
IMMEDIATE BENEFITS FROM EASY
ACCESS TO SUPPORT US.
ADDITIONALLY, DESPITE THE COST,
WE KNOW THAT THE SAVINGS CAN BE
IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM AS A
DIRECT RESULT OF THE
IMPMENTATION AND A NET POSITIVE
FOR SEATTLE AND THE GREATER KING
COUNTY AREA.
THAT IS WHY THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE HAVE LARGELY SUPPORTED
THIS IDEA AND WHY CITY COUNCIL
HAS SUPPORTED IT SO FAR.
THE FUNDING IS ALLOCATED, THE
EVIDENCE IS THERE, THE PEOPLE
SUPPORT IT, AND WE KNOW IT
WORKS.
PLEASE TAKE THE LOGICAL STEP AND
APPROVE THE FUNDS.
ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
ADD ON MY SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO
CALLED IN TO ASK FOR YOU TO HOLD
UP THE PROMISE OF DEFUNDING SPD.
THANK YOU.
>>
.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M STUDYING ECOLOGICAL
RESTORATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
VRMENT I AM A MEMBER OF THE
STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG
POLICY.
AND THERE IS A LONG LINE OF
ADDICTION IN MY FAMILY.
ASK WITH THAT, A LONG LINE OF
GRIEF.
I AM BLESSED THAT I HAVE NEVER
LOST A FAMILY MEMBER TO AN
OVERDOSE, BUT I CANNOT EXPRESS
THE ANGUISH OF SEEING MY SISTER
GROW THINNER AND WEAKER UNTIL I
WORRIED EACH TIME I HUGGED HER
GOOD-BYE WOULD BE THE LAST.
MY FATHER LOST HIS CAREER AND
ALL OF MY STEP SIBLINGS HAD TO
ATTEND REHAB.
MY FAMILY HAD PEOPLE TO RELY ON.
THIS IS WHY I STRONGLY URGE YOU
TO SAY YES.
NOT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES HAVE HOMES TO RETURN
TO OR LOVED ONES TO SUPPORT
THEM.
SAFE CON SUFRMS SITES PROVIDE A
REFUGE.
THERE IS NO BUDGET FOR HUMAN
LIVES.
>> THANK YOU.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS
JENNIFER.
.
>> HELLO.
YOU CANNOT AND MUST NOT ALLOW
SCS SITES TO BE IMPLEMENTED
EITHER STAND ALONE OR BLENDED
INTO OUR EXISTING PROVIDER
SYSTEM.
INSTEAD, THE APPROPRIATE USE OF
FUNDS SHOULD BE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND
SERVICES.
ASK YOURSELF, DID TRAVIS, ONE OF
THE REPEAT OFFENDERS NEED A SAFE
SPACE?
BESIDES THE LEGAL CHALLENGE
WHICH WILL BE FILED, I IMPLORE
YOU TO USE THE FUNDS TO STOP THE
HUMAN SUFFERING.
FIRST RESPONDERS, BUSINESS
OWNERS, AND CITIZENS ACROSS THE
CITY CARRY THE LIFE-SAVING DRUG
NARCAN.
THE NEED IN THE CITY IS NOT TO
FUND THE DUG CONSUMPTION SITES.
THE NEED IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
SERVICES.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU
DEFEND, NOT DEFUND, THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PLEASE
ALLOW THE NAVIGATION TEAM TO
COME BACK AND DO THEIR JOB.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THE
JUDGE CHESS BACK ON THE LINE FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS
PRESENT WHO WASN'T EARLIER.
ALICIA.
JUDGE, CAN YOU JOIN US?
>> YES.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
MY PHONE WENT COMPLETELY OFF.
>> WE'RE GOOD NOW.
>> OKAY.
SO HI.
I'M JUDGE FAYE CHESS.
AND I'M WITH THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT.
I'M HEAR TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT -- I'M
SORRY, OF CATHERINE MCDOWALL.
I WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS
JUST TO SAY THAT I LOOK FORWARD
TO HER BEING AN ALLY IN SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT.
OUR COURT IS ON THE MOVE TO DO
SOME FUNDAMENTAL AND SOME
DYNAMIC CHANGES IN THE WAY WE
HANDLE CASES.
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE
FACT THAT OUR COURT AND MANY
COURTS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE
BEEN SEEN AS INSTITUTIONS WHERE
DISCRIMINATION OCCURRED.
SHE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE
WORK WE'RE DOING, SUCH AS
COMMUNITY COURT.
IN THE TIME I HAVE KNOWN HER,
WHEN I JOINED THE COURT, I HAVE
FOUND HER TO BE ALINED WITH THE
WORK, ENTHUSIASTIC, AND
COMMITTED TO NOT JUST JUSTICE,
BUT EQUAL AND FAIR JUSTICE.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL SUPPORT
THE NOMINATION OF HER NAME TO
THE BENCH.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HER
BEING MY COLLEAGUE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT.
AND THEN OUR LAST SPEAKER, TRULY
OUR LAST SPEAKER, IS ALICIA
CRAWLEY.
>> HELLO.
GOOD MORNING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I HAD A TECHNICAL ISSUE
EARLIER.
I'M A LONG-TIME SEATTLE
RESIDENT.
I WAS BORN HERE AND LIVED HERE
FOR ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE.
CURRENTLY A DISTRICT ONE
RESIDENT IN WAS SEATTLE.
I WANT TO ECHO THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT
ENCOURAGING YOU AND URGING YOU
TO OVERRIDE -- VOTE TO OVERRIDE
THE MAYOR'S VETO THIS AFTERNOON.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
OVERFUNDED, INEFFECTIVE, AND OUT
OF CONTROL POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT I HAVE WITNESSED HARASS AND
BRUTALIZE AND TERRORIZING AND
ARRESTING INNOCENT PEOPLE AND
PROTESTERS INCREASINGLY OVER THE
LAST FOUR MONTHS.
IT'S AN OBSCENE WASTE OF BUDGET
AND OUR GROSSLY IMBALANCED
BUDGET.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO
START THE WORK WITH A CRUMB, A
TINY FRACTION OF WHAT THIS
COUNCIL PROMISED TO SUPPORT AND
VOTE FOR IN DEFUNDING OUR SPD
AND REINVESTING THE FUNDS INTO
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
MOVING FORWARD.
AND THAT WORK, YES, IT CAN START
NEXT YEAR WITH MORE PLANNING,
BUT IT NEEDS TO START NOW.
AND RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT
OVERRIDING THE BILL, IT WOULD
TAKE THE COUNCIL'S PREVIOUS
COMMITMENT TO DEFUNDING AND
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY INTO A
BILL THAT DOES NOT REDUCE THE
SIZE OF SPD, DOES NOT TAKE AWAY
ANY FUNDING FROM SPD.
EVEN THE $3.5 MILLION WOULD BE A
SIGNIFICANT START IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
WE CANNOT KEEP THE NAVIGATION
TEAM IN PLACE.
PLEASE OVERRIDE THIS.
I SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW.
PLEASE VOTE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC
SAFETY SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR
ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT IS OUR LAST SPEAKER
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND WE CAN MOVE ON --.
>> EXCUSE ME.
THERE IS ONE MR. SPEAKER THAT
JUST POPPED ON.
.
>> AND I HAVE CLOSED -- CAN YOU
READ THE PERSON'S NAME?
I HAVE CLOSED MY SHEET.
PRESIDENT.
>> YES.
RAIN DO Z IER.
REMEMBER, PRESS STAR 6 TO
ALLOW YOURSELF TO SPEAK.
.
>> RAIN?
PUSH STAR 6.
.
>> YOU'RE VERY QUIET.
>> HELLO?
.
>> YES.
THERE YOU GO.
.
>> CAN I SPEAK NOW?
.
>> YES, PLEASE.
GO AHEAD.
.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
TAKING THIS TIME TO LISTEN TO
ME.
I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT A
COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, NOT ONLY DEFUNDING
POLICE ISN'T JUST A NEGATIVE,
IT'S ALSO A POSITIVE.
IT WILL PROVIDE MONEY TO DO
COMMUNITY RESEARCH PROJECTS,
WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT
AS WE BEGIN A BUDGET PROCESS.
AND ALSO, IT WILL HELP
ENGAGE COMMUNITY IN PRIORITIZING
NEEDS.
I'M A SOCIOLOGIST AND I'M
EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
THIS PROGRAM.
BUT ALSO, I WANT TO SPEAK
PERSONALLY.
I LIVE ON CAPITOL HILL.
AND I WAS ASSAULTED A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AGO HERE BY A SEVERELY
MENTALLY ILL PERSON IN FRONT OF
MY HOUSE ON 17th.
AND IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO
CALL THE POLICE.
I DID BECAUSE I FELT HE COULD
ACTUALLY KILL SOMEBODY.
BUT WHEN THEY HEARD I
WOULDN'T PRESS CHARGES, THEY
JUST HUNG UP AND NEVER SHOWED
UP.
MY FIRST THOUGHT BEFORE I WENT
TO URGENT CARE WAS WHY DON'T WE
HAVE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING?
WHY ISN'T THERE A TEAM I CAN
CALL WHEN SOMEONE IS HAVING A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
WE NEED TO ALLOCATE FAR MORE
MONEY TO THIS SORT OF ISSUE THAT
IS HELPING SUPPORT SEVERELY
MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE
ADDICTIONS.
THE POLICE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE TO
DO THAT.
I AM URGING YOU TO OVERRIDE THE
MAYOR'S VETO.
WE NEED THIS MONEY FOR MORE
POSITIVE APPROACHES TO PUBLIC
SAFETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
MOVING OVER TO THE AGENDA.
ALEX, CAN YOU PLEASE READ
THE FIRST ITEM INTO THE AGENDA?
>> ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPOINTMENT
01638, APPOINTMENT OF DOOR THINK
YEE LEGGETT.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE JOINED BY AN DEE I CAN'T
SCHEELE.
AND DIRECTOR SCHEELE
WILL SPEAK TO THE PURPOSE OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION.
AND THEN AFTER SHE'S
DONE GIVING AN OVERVIEW OF THE
COMMISSION, NEWELL ALDRICH FROM
MY OFFICE WILL INTRODUCE THE
APPOINTMENT.
THIS IS A COUNCIL APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU.
DIRECTOR SCHEELE.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
.
>> YES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
HELLO.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION.
I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE THE
COMMISSION IN ADVANCE OF THE
CITY'S CONSIDERATION OF DOROTHY
YEE LEGGETT FOR APPOINTMENT TO
COMMISSIONER.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION IS A
THREE-MEMBER IMPARTIAL QUASI
JUDICIAL BODY TO WHICH THE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL EACH APPOINT A
MEMBER AND THE EMPLOYEES ELECT
THE THIRD MEMBER.
COMMISSIONERS SERVE FOR THREE
YEARS.
THE LAW AND THE CODE REQUIRE THE
CITY TO MAINTAIN A PUBLIC SAFETY
CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM AND A
COMMISSION TO OVERSEE THE
CLASSIFICATION AND MERIT-BASED
CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEMS FOR POLICE
AND FIREFIGHTERS.
AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION OF
ENTRY LEVEL AND PROMOTIONAL
EXAMS FOR FIRE AND POLICE,
MAINTAINING PROMOTIONAL AND
HIRING REGISTERS FOR THE
EMPLOYEES.
AND THEY HEAR APPEALING
REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
ORDINANCE.
THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REGARDING
THE ORDINANCE OR ITS
ADMINISTRATION.
AND THEY PRESIDE AS A NEUTRAL
PANEL OVER QUASI JUDICIAL
HEARINGS ON APPEALING OF SERIOUS
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE
FOR CONSIDERING THE APPOINTMENT
OF MISS LEGGETT.
I BELIEVE SHE WILL BE A BENEFIT
TO THE COMMISSION, THE CITY, AND
THE EMPLOYEES IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEWELL, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE
A QUICK OVERVIEW?
AND THEN WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO
MISS LEGGETT TO TALK ABOUT HER
INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE
COMMISSION.
>> YES.
DOROTHY YEE LEGGETT HAS A WIDE
VARIETY OF LEGAL AND POLICY
EXPERIENCE ON THE FEDERAL,
STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS IN AREAS
INCLUDING WORKER'S COMP
ACCUSATION AND FAMILY LAW.
SHE SERVES AS STAFF ATTORNEY FOR
THE EAST SIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AND AS SURVIVORS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HOSTS LEGAL
CLINICSES AND ADVISES ON
IMMIGRATION AND FAMILY LAW.
AS STAFF COUNSEL TO THE
CALIFORNIA STATE COMPENSATION
INSURANCE FUND, SHE CONDUCTED
INVESTIGATIONS AND LEGAL
RESEARCH OF STATE REGULATIONS
AND CASE LAW AND MADE OVER 500
APPEARANCES BEFORE THE WORKERS
COMPENSATION APPEALS COURT.
SHE SERVED AS A POLICY
ANALYST IN THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING
BEST PRACTICE CASE STUDIES AND
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
STANDARDS.
SHE HAS A J.D.
FROM LOYOLA LAW
SCHOOL AND A MASTER OF PUBLIC
POLICY DEGREE.
SHE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE CENTER
OF CHILDREN'S JUSTICE, THE
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS PROJECT,
FAMILIES OF SEATTLE, AND THE
KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
DOROTHY, YOU WANT TO JUST
GIVE US A FILL IN THE BLANKS
WHAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD YET AND
WHY YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PLAYING
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE AT
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT TIME?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR THE
LAST NINE YEARS.
THIS IS MY FIRST PUBLIC SERVICE
APPOINTMENT.
I HAVE ALWAYS HAVE AN INTEREST
IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
AS NEWELL MENTIONED, I WORKED AS
A POLICY ANALYST BOTH AT THE
STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS OF
MY PRACTICE, I WORKED IN A QUASI
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY SUBJECT TO
CIVIL SERVICE RULES.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE RULES AND
PROCEDURES IN HIRING, FIRING,
AND PROMOTION.
I BECAME AN ATTORNEY BECAUSE I
WANTED TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS
DIRECTLY AND HELP PEOPLE WITH
THEIR PROBLEMS.
THAT'S WHY I AM A CIVIL LEGAL
AID ATTORNEY WORKING WITH
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VOOIRS AND LOW
INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN KING
COUNTY.
I AM INTERESTED IN WORKING FROM
THE COMMISSION BECAUSE I
STRONGLY BELIEVE IN FAIRNESS AND
THE ADMINISTRATION OF DUE
PROCESS AND EMPLOYMENT.
I'M COMMITMENTED TO MAKING SURE
THAT THE RULES AND POLICIES ARE
FAIRLY APPLIED APPROPRIATELY FOR
ALL POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL.
AND AS YOU SEE BY MY
RESUME, I HAVE A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE APPEARING BEFORE
JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
BOARDS AND I UNDERSTAND THE
HEARING AND APPEALS PROCESS.
I BELIEVE THAT I CAN BE FAIR AND
IMPARTIAL IN THE APPEALS THAT
COME BEFORE ME AND INTERPRET AND
APPLY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS
CONSISTENT WITH COMMISSION
POLICIES, PERSONNEL RULES,
MUNICIPAL CODES, AND THE RCWs.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR
CONSIDERING MY APPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHETHER OR
NOT ANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
SEEING NONE.
LET'S JUST MOVE ON TO THE
APPOINTMENT.
I WANT TO, AGAIN, HIGHLIGHT THAT
THE PARTICULAR COMMISSION IS
IMPORTANT NOT JUST WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF THE DISCIPLINARY
PROCESS AND THE ROLE THAT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION PLAYS IN THAT
PROCESS, BUT IT IS A BODY THAT
THE EFFORTS OF THE PART OF THIS
COUNCIL TO LOOK AT WAYS OF
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF POLICE
OFFICERS IN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY POLICE
OFFICERS WHO MIGHT HAVE A
HISTORY OF DISCIPLINARY
VIOLATIONS THAT MAKE THEM LESS
ABLE TO FULFILL THE ROLES OF
THEIR JOB AS POLICE OFFICERS
BECAUSE OF THEIR PRESENCE ON A
BRADY LIST.
AND THE APPLICABLE RULE THAT
ALLOWS FOR OUT OF LINE -- OUT OF
ORDER VETOES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH
DIRECTOR SCHEELE AS WELL AS THE
COMMISSION.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
ASSISTANCE THAT THE COMMISSION
AND YOU IN PARTICULAR, DOROTHY,
CAN OFFER IN NAVIGATING THESE
ISSUES MOVING FORWARD.
SO WITH THAT, SEEING NO
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I
WILL MOVE TO PASS APPOINTMENT OF
01638 AND SEND IT TO FULL
COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER
29th.
DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ROLL CALL?
>> HER BOLD?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNTERMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
ZERO OPPOSED.
ONE ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AGAIN.
>> WE'LL BE MOVING THIS ON TO
FULL COUNCIL ON TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 29th.
REALLY, AGAIN, LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING MORE CLOSELY
WITH YOU AS THE MONTHS CONTINUE
RELATED TO OUR EFFORTS AROUND
REIMAGINING POLICING AND THE
ROLE THAT THE COMMISSION CAN
PLAY IN HELPING US NAVIGATE
THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION.
>>> ALEX, READY ITEM TWO.
>> APPOINTMENT 01639,
APPOINTMENT OF CATHERINE
MCDOWALL AS THE COURT JUDGE
POSITION ONE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO FIRST, WE'LL RECEIVE
FROM MICHELLE CHEN SOME
BACKGROUND ON THE PROCESS THAT
LED TO THE SELECTION OF
CATHERINE.
AND WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM
PRESIDING JUDGE WILLIE GREGORY,
WHO WILL SHARE WITH US A FEW
WORDS OF SUPPORT AS WELL.
BUT I BELIEVE WE ARE KICKING IT
OFF WITH MICHELLE, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE CHEN.
I'M THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
LEGAL COUNSEL.
AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
LEADING THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT
PROCESS.
THANK YOU, KOUNGS MEMBER HER
BOLD FOR TAKING UP THIS VERY
IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S
LEADERSHIP FOR HELPING TO
SHEPARD THIS CRITICAL
APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE CURRENT
VACANCY, POSITION ONE, ON THE
SEATTLE COURT.
I WILL SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE MAYOR'S
APPOINTEE.
PER CITY ORDINANCE 121698, THE
MAYOR INVITED AND CONVENED
MEMBERS OF SEVERAL LOCAL
MINORITY BAR ASSOCIATIONS, THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER ASSOCIATION.
THE JUDICIAL EVALUATION
COMMITTEE WAS COMPRISED OF THE
FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE CITY OWES A DEBT OF
GRATITUDE FOR THEIR TIME AND
PUBLIC SERVICE IN EVALUATING THE
JUDICIAL APPLICANTS.
I WANT TO THANK JAMES JOHNSON,
PRESIDENT OF THE LAUREN MILLER
BAR.
ADRIAN AW WATT.
SHAINA ISRAEL.
BETTY CRUMB, BOARD MEMBER OF
WASHINGTON WOMEN LAWYERS.
CHERYL LEE, PAST PRESIDENT OF
THE KOREAN AMERICAN BAR
ASSOCIATION.
STEPHANIE, ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEY.
LEGAL DIRECTOR OF THE
PUBLIC DEFEND'S ASSOCIATION AND
COCHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION.
THE CITY RECEIVED 14
APPLICATIONS TOTAL AND THE
JUDICIAL EVALUATION COMMITTEE
INTERVIEWED SIX CANDIDATES AND
FORWARDED THREE FINALISTS FOR
THE MAYOR TO CONSIDER.
THE MAYOR HAS APPOINTED
PROTESTIMONY JUDGE CATHERINE
MCDOWALL.
SHE IS NO STRANGER TO THE BENCH.
IN FACT, SHE HAS SERVED THE MUNI
COURT FOR SEVEN YEARS AND HAS
PRESIDED OVER ALL OF THE
SPECIALTY COURTS AND THE VARIOUS
CALENDARS.
JUDGE MCDOWALL IS SO RESPECTED
FOR HER KEEN LEGAL MIND AND HER
ABILITY TO MANAGE THE COURTROOM
THAT EVEN AS PRO TEM, THE
SITTING JUDGES ASSIGNED HER TO
SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX JURY
TRIALS CONNECTED IN MUNI COURT.
AS YOU KNOW, IS COURT IS THE
PEOPLE'S COURT WITH A HIGH
VOLUME OF CASES AND FOR MANY
PEOPLE, IT IS THEIR ONLY
INTERACTION WITH THE COURT
SYSTEM.
PRO TEM JUDGE MCDOWALL HAS
A REPUTATION FOR THE HIGHEST
INTEGRITY AND BRINGS
DEMONSTRATED EMPATHY AND RESPECT
FOR ALL THOSE WHO ENTER HER
COURTROOM.
I ORDINANCE I CITED EARLIER
EXPLICITLY REQUESTS THAT THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER
THE LOCAL BAR RATINGS.
PRO-TEM JUDGE MCDOWALL WAS RATED
BY THE KING COUNTY BAR
ASSOCIATION AS WELL QUALIFIED.
THE WASHINGTON WOMEN LAWYERS
RATED HER EXCEPTIONALLY WELL
QUALIFIED.
AND THE LAUREN MILLER BAR
ASSOCIATION RATED HER QUALIFIED.
IN ADDITION, ALL MEMBERS OF THE
JUDICIAL EVALUATION COMMITTEE
SIGNED A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF
HER APPOINTMENT TO THE BENCH,
WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR
PACKET.
BECAUSE SHE DEMONSTRATED TO THE
COMMITTEE THAT SHE WOULD SERVE
THE COURT AND THE PUBLIC WELL
WITH HER JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE,
OPEN MINDEDNESS, IMPARTIALITY,
AND WILLINGNESS TO LEARN AND
INNOVATE REFORMS OF THE COURT'S
PROCESSES AND ADDRESS SYSTEMIC
RACISM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
FINALLY, WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT
OUR CURRENT SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT BENCH IS DIVERSE BOTH IN
EXPERIENCE AND DEMOGRAPHICS.
THERE ARE THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN
JUDGES, ONE ASIAN AMERICAN
JUDGE, ONE WHO IDENTIFIED AS
LGBT COMBSHGSQ.
HER APPOINTMENT WILL MAKE THE
BENCH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
RECENT HISTORY MAJORITY WOMEN
JURISTS WITH FOUR WOMEN AND
THREE MEN.
GIVEN THE MOMENT WE ARE IN
HISTORY AND THE FACT THAT OUR
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT IS
IMPLEMENTING REFORMS AND DEALING
WITH THE SEVERE BACKLOG FROM THE
COVID CLOSURES, WE BELIEVE PRO
TEM JUDGE MCDOWALL IS IMMINENTLY
QUALIFIED.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SPEEDY
CONFIRMATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO PRESIDING
JUDGE WILLIE WILL GREGORY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
PRESIDING JUDGE GREGORY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO
JOIN US.
.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
GOOD MORNING.
I AM ALSO VERY EXCITED
ABOUT WELCOMING MY FRIEND,
CATHERINE MCDOWALL, TO THE
BENCH.
WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER BEFORE
SHE WAS A PRO TEM JUDGE AND
BEFORE SHE DECIDED TO BECOME A
JUDGE, WE SPOKE ABOUT HER
WANTING TO BE A JUDGE.
AND BASICALLY, SHE TOLD ME THE
REASON SHE WANTED TO BE A JUDGE
IS BECAUSE SHE WAS A PROSECUTOR
BEFORE.
AND SHE WANTED TO HAVE A SPOT ON
THE BENCH WHERE SHE COULD SEE
THINGS FROM BOTH SIDES AND USE
HER INTELLIGENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
TO HELP PEOPLE OUT.
SHE HAS DONE NOTHING BUT DO THAT
AS A JUDGE ON OUR BENCH.
AND SHE HAS SERVED AS A PRO
TEM JUDGE.
THAT'S A JUDGE THAT COVERS FOR A
JUDGE WHEN WE'RE SICK OR ON
VACATION.
AND ACTUALLY, JUDGE MCDOWALL IS
COVERING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE TWO
JUDGES ARE ON VACATION.
AND JUDGE MCDOWALL, I SPOKE TO
THE STAFF, AND SHE SAID THAT
WHEN JUDGE MCDOWALL IS CALLED,
SHE ANSWERS THE CALL TO SERVE US
AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF JUDGE
CATHERINE MCDOWALL.
IF I LAX AND CALL HER CAT,
FORGIVE ME.
WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG
TIME.
YOU'LL BE JOINING THE COURT IN A
PERIOD OF PROFOUND CHANGE.
I HAVE REMARKS HERE FOR YOU
AND FOR THE CITY.
THE COVID-19 CRISIS HAS
BEEN A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR OUR
COURT.
THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC,
WE PRIORITIZED THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE COURT PARTICIPANTS
AND WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TO
ADJUST THE PROCESSES.
HOWEVER, THIS EXTENDED COURT
CLOSURE RESULTED IN A
SIGNIFICANT CASE AND HEARING
BACKLOG.
WE CONTINUE AT THIS COURT
TO ADAPT AND THINK DIFFERENTLY
ABOUT OUR WORK TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY IN NEW WAYS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE
WITNESSED ONE DEATH AFTER
ANOTHER REPLAYED OVER THE NEWS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT AHMAUD ARBERY,
BREONNA TAYLOR, AND GEORGE
FLOYD.
AND THE CALLS FOR EQUITY
AND IMMEDIATE AND PROFOUND
CHANGE AROUND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEMS.
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT HAS A
DEEP COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY
AND EQUALITY AND ACT BLT.
BUT WE TOO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO
THE HARMFUL IMPACTS LEVIED ON
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE, I
CHALLENGED THE JUDGES AND OUR
STAFF TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES
INTO AN EQUITABLE COURT WHERE
INDIVIDUALS LEAVE BETTER THAN
WHEN ENTERED AND ENSURE THE
PEOPLE WHO ENTER OUR COURTHOUSE
ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND
FEEL THEY WERE HEARD.
OUR TRANSFORMATION BEGINS BY
LISTENING TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED
THEY WERE HARMED, INCLUDING IN
THE COURT PROCESS.
WE HAVE ADOPTED THREE GUIDEN
PRINCIPLES TO DRIVE US FORWARD.
ONE, ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO
GUIDE COURT PROGRAMS F. TWO.
ELIMINATE THE DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACTS.
COLLABORATE WITH THE STAKE
HOLDERS TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM
AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES.
WE'RE CONVENING RESTORATIVE
HEALING CIRCLES WITH LOCAL
COMMUNITY GROUPS TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS AND CREATE CHANGE.
IMPLEMENTING SEATTLE
COMMUNITY COURT, A
TRANSFORMATIVE HARM REDUCTION
APPROACH TO PRETRIAL JUSTICE FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW LEVEL CASES
RELEASED FROM CUSTODY AND
CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY-BASED
SERVICES.
WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE
ALL CRIMINAL FINES AND FEES,
SUCH AS THE PROBATION
SUPERVISION FEE THAT WE ARE NOT
OBLIGATED TO IMPOSE.
AND THE COURT WILL
IMPLEMENT MY ORDER THAT CURRENT
AND FUTURE WARRANTS OF ALL
NON-DUI CASES FOR RELEASE SO
THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT SIT IN JAIL
FOR LOW LEVEL MISDEMEANOR
WARRANTS.
I BELIEVE THERE IS A PATH
FORWARD TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES
WITH PRO TEM CATHERINE MCDOWALL
AND BUILD A LEGAL SYSTEM THAT
PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF ALL
COMMUNITY.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN A NEW ERA
OF THE COURT, JUDGE MCDOWALL
WILL BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO
THE BENCH.
SHE HAS SERVED ON THE COURT FOR
SEVEN YEARS.
AND SHE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL
JUDGE.
SHE'S KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE
LAW AND SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED ON
A DAILY BASIS COMPASSION AND
EMPATHY TO THE PEOPLE THAT
APPEAR BEFORE HER.
I AND MY BENCH MATES LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER.
AGAIN, I SUPPORT JUDGE CATHERINE
MCDOWALL.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO
YOU, JUDGE MCDOWALL, I WANT TO
THANK YOU, JUDGE GREGORY, FOR
THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT YOU MADE
LAST WEEK.
AND THIS IS NEWS BREAKING STUFF,
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU USING
THE APPOINTMENT OF PRO TEM JUDGE
MCDOWALL TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE
COMMITMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE,
NOT ONLY THE COMMITMENTS RELATED
TO A NEW COMMUNITY COURT,
APPARENTLY, THE ONLY COMMUNITY
COURT IN THE NATION THAT ALLOWS
INDIVIDUALS TO MAINTAIN THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND
DOESN'T SCREEN PEOPLE OUT
BECAUSE OF CRIMINAL HISTORY.
AND ALSO YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT
YOU INTEND TO ELIMINATE ALL
CRIMINAL FINES AND FEES SUCH AS
THE PROBATION SUPERVISION FEE
THAT YOU'RE NOT STATUTORILY
OBLIGATED TO IMPOSE.
AND FINALLY, A SIGNIFICANT, I
THINK, POLICY CHANGE FOR THE
COURT RECOGNIZING THAT CURRENT
AND FUTURE WARRANTS ON NEARLY
ALL NON-DV, NON-DUI CASES BE
ELIGIBLE FOR PERSONAL
RECOGNIZANCE RELEASE SO THAT
PEOPLE WILL NOT SIT IN JAIL FOR
LOW LEVEL MISDEMEANOR WARRANTS.
SO REALLY I WANT TO LIFT UP THAT
COMMITMENT FROM THE COURT.
I THINK THIS IS, AGAIN, NEWS
BREAKING STUFF.
AND JUST WANT TO HEAR YOU
SAY IT ONCE AND SAY IT TWICE IN
THE HOPES THAT THIS
TRANSFORMATION OR STEP TOWARD
TRANSFORMATION IS EMBRACED AND
RECOGNIZED BY THE BROADER
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> AND WITH THAT, LET'S HAND IT
OVER TO PRO TEM JUDGE MCDOWALL.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO MIS-CHEN MISS CHEN
AND JUDGE
GREGORY FOR THE KIND REMARKING
AND THE MAYOR FOR THE HONOR OF
THIS APPOINTMENT.
AND TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS, I
KNOW IT'S A BUSY WEEK AND I
APPRECIATE THE TIME.
BY WAY OF PERSONAL BACKGROUND, I
WAS BORN IN A SUBURB OF
CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND ATTENDED
LAW SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
VIRGINIA.
IT WAS THERE THAT I MET MY
NOW HUSBAND, JOHN, WHO IS A
LIFELONG SEATTLE RESIDENT.
AFTER LAW SCHOOL, I WORKED
IN A LAW FIRM IN WASHINGTON D.C.
IN PRIVATE PRACTICE DOING LARGE
CORPORATE LITIGATION.
AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS, JOHN
CONVINCED ME THIS WAS THE BETTER
WASHINGTON AND I MOVED HERE IN
1997.
ALTHOUGH I FELT CHANNELLED
AND INTERESTED IN MY WORK IN
PRIVATE PRACTICE, I FOUND MYSELF
FEELING UNFULFILLED.
WHEN I MOVED TO SEATTLE, I CHOSE
TO INTEREST PUBLIC SERVICE AND
WORKED AT THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
AFTER 11 YEARS OF SERVING THE
PEOPLE OF KING COUNTY, I TOOK
TIME TO FOCUS ON FAMILY AND ON
MY COMMUNITY.
DURING THAT TIME, MY PUBLIC
SERVICE CONTINUED THROUGH
CHARITY WORK AND COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT.
AFTER ABOUT FOUR YEARS, I
RETURNED TO WORK PART TIME
SERVING AS A PRO-TEM IN COURT
AND KING COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
AND OCCASIONALLY AT JUVENILE
COURT.
I HAVE WORKED HARD TO IMPROVE MY
SKILLS AS A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL
JURIST.
I STRIVE TO CONSISTENTLY LISTEN
TO PEOPLE WHO APPEAR BEFORE ME
WITH AN OPEN MIND.
THE EVENTS OF THIS YEAR
HAVE FORCED COURTS IN OUR STATE
TO HANDLE TWO PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISES.
THE FIRST, OBVIOUSLY, THE
LOGISTIC CHALLENGES OF HANDLING
COURT BUSINESS DURING A GLOBAL
HEALTH CRISIS.
THE SECOND IS OF COURSE THE
CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT
PROBLEM OF SYSTEMIC RACISM.
THESE CRISISES CREATED AN
ENVIRONMENT FOR CHANGE, AND ALSO
PROVIDED THE MOMENTUM FOR
CHANGE.
AS YOU HEARD FROM JUDGE GREGORY,
THE JUDGES ON THE COURT HAVE
ALREADY DEMONSTRATED A
WILLINGNESS TO EVALUATE COURT
PROCEDURES AND DEVELOP NEW
PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES.
THESE EVENTS OF THIS YEAR, ALONG
WITH THE PROGRESSIVE OPTIMISM OF
THE JUDGES THAT SERVE ON THE
COURT INSPIRED ME TO RETURN TO
WORK FULL TIME AND APPLY FOR THE
OPEN POSITION ON SEATTLE MU NIS
PAL COURT.
I AM COMMIT IF I AM CONFIRMED, I
WILL WORK DILIGENTLY WITH MY
COLLEAGUES TO EFFECT REFORM AND
DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THE
LEGAL SYSTEM.
AWAY FROM THE LAW, I AM INVOLVED
STILL IN MY COMMUNITY.
AND I AM COMMITTED TO PUBLIC
SERVICE.
IF I AM CONFIRMED AS JUDGE, I
INTEND TO BUILD ON THESE
CONNECTIONS AND CONDUCT OUTREACH
IN ORDER TO EDUCATE THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT THESE IMPORTANT
CHANGES HAPPENING AT THE COURT.
MY HOPE IS THAT THIS OUTREACH
ALONG WITH THE REAL CHANGES THAT
HAVE STARTED WILL HELP REBUILD
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR COURT
SYSTEM ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES IN
THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU.
AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ASK THE NOMINEE?
BEFORE MOVING ON, I DO WANT
TO UNDERSCORE THAT THE
APPOINTMENT PROCESS AS DESCRIBED
BY MICHELLE CHEN EARLIER IS
DESIGNED TO PROMOTE MAXIMUM
INDEPENDENCE FROM THE APPOINTING
AUTHORITY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THERE IS THIS
REQUIREMENT FOR THERE TO BE A
EVALUATION COMMITTEE THAT MAKES
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MOST
HIGHLY RATED INDIVIDUALS BEING
INTERVIEWED.
AND THAT EVALUATION COMMITTEE
MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
MAYOR OF THE TOP THREE
INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY HAVE
RATED.
AND AS MICHELLE MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE DO HAVE A LETTER IN
THE RECORD SIGNED BY
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
WASHINGTON WOMEN LAWYERS, THE
ASIAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF
WASHINGTON, THE LAUREN MILLER
BAR ASSOCIATION, LAW OF
WASHINGTON, THE KOREAN AMERICAN
BAR ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON,
THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION.
AN INDIVIDUAL WRITING OF BEHALF
OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION AND THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION.
AS WELL AS THE SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO THE APPOINTEE PRO TEM
MCDOWALL COMES VERY HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.
AND WAS VETTED THROUGH THE
PROCESS THAT IS, AGAIN, INTENDED
TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND THE
TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS
ITSELF.
SO WITH THAT, IF THERE ARE
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, SEEING
NONE.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO PASS
APPOINTMENT 01639.
I MOVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> KOENS MEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
AGAIN, THREE IN
FAVOR, NO OPPOSED, ONE ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ,
IS THAT YOU?
.
>> NO, SORRY.
THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
NOT COUNCIL PRESIDENT LEWIS.
I WANTED TO BRIEFLY CONGRATULATE
JUDGE MCDOWALL ON THE SUCCESSFUL
VOTE TO PUT HER NOMINATION
FORWARD.
I WANTED TO JUST PERSONALLY
SHARE THAT AS AN ATTORNEY, I
HAVE APPEARED IN FRONT OF JUDGE
MCDOWALL AND I KNOW HER TO BE A
CONSCIENTIOUS, DILIGENT, AND
IMPOTENTIAL JURIST AND LEADER IN
THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
HER ON THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY
COURT, ON DIVERSION, ON MAKING
SURE THAT WE ACONSPIRE TO HAVE A
COURT WITH THE MOST PROGRESSIVE
PRACTICES IN THE COUNTRY.
AND NOW THAT WE HAVE OFFICIALLY
SENT HER FORWARD TO FULL
COUNCIL, I WANTED TO MAKE THE
BRIEF COMMENTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
HER IN THIS NEW CAPACITY AND
APPRECIATE HER SERVICE AND
WILLINGNESS TO BE NOMINATED AND
TAKE ON THIS NEW ROLE.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS APPOINTMENT WILL MOVE
ON TO FULL COUNCIL ON TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 29th.
AND YES, I ABSOLUTELY ECHO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S GRATITUDE
FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE,
AS WELL AS CONGRATULATIONS TO
YOU FOR THIS NEW ROLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ALEX, READ ITEM THREE
INTROO THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119893.
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CODE
EXPABDING THE DEFINITION OF,
QUOTE, REPORT IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
ORDINANCE AND AMENDING SECTION
42805 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE.
.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALEX.
SO THIS BILL BEFORE US
AMENDS THE WHISTLEBLOWER
PROTECTION CODE TO PROVIDE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION TO
EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT IMPROPERLY
GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL.
IT DOES SO BY AMENDING THE
DEFINITION OF REPORT IN THE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CODE.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHO WANTS
TO KICK IT OFF.
MAYBE I WILL DEFAULT TO LISH
WHITSON TO PRESENT?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
YOU BASICALLY SAID WHAT I WAS
GOING TO SAY.
THE BILL IS FAIRLY SIMPLE.
IT ADDS REPORTS OF IMPROPER
GOVERNMENTAL ACTION BY THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF RETALIATION AGAINST AN
EMPLOYEE FOR THE REPORT TO THE
OIG OCCURS, THEY WOULD HAVE
RECOURSE TO THE PROCESS.
AMY THAI AND MARY DORY ARE HERE,
AND WAYNE BARNETT TO PROVIDE
BACKGROUND ON THE OIG PROCESS
AND THE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
PROCESS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
SO FOR OUR FRIENDS FROM THE
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL,
CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO
THE NEED FOR THIS CHANGE IN THE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CODE?
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS AMY TSAI, DEPUTY
INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE OFFICE
OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.
ONE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT
WE EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE
LEGISLATION.
WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF IT.
IN REGARDS TO THE NEED, THE OIG
WILL CONDUCT AUDITS OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
OVERSITE OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE WILL INTERVIEW PEOPLE AND
PEOPLE WILL WANT TO TELL US
THINGS.
THEY WANT TO COME FORWARD.
ONE BARRIER TO THEM COMING
FORWARD IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE
NOT COVERED UNDER THE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CODE.
THERE ARE OTHER PROTECTIONS AND
MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT THEM.
BUT THIS IS A CRITICAL PIECE.
SO THAT'S THE QUICK ANSWER.
AND THEN IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER
FOLLOW-UP FOR THAT, WE HAVE MARY
DORY FROM THE AUDITING STAFF
HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT
SITUATIONS AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU
MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU, AMY.
MARY, I GUESS OPEN ENDED
QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
TO ADD ABOUT THE KINDS OF
SITUATIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE
ARISEN IN PREVIOUS WORK OF THE
OIG OFFICE THAT MAYBE IN THE
PAST MIGHT HAVE GIVEN RISE TO
THE NEED FOR THIS KIND OF
LEGISLATION OR THAT YOU SEE
LOOKING FORWARD INSTANCES WHERE
THIS KIND OF PROTECTION WOULD BE
USEFUL?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
YES.
SO IN OUR AUDITS, WE DO A LOT OF
DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE LOOK AT DOCUMENTATION, DATA.
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS MAY
HAVE GONE WRONG, HAVING PEOPLE
COME FORWARD AND TALK TO US
ABOUT THINGS THAT MAY HAVE
HAPPENED SOME TIME AGO OR THINGS
NOT CAPTURED IN THE WRITTEN
PUBLIC RECORD IS CRITICAL FOR
OUR WORK AND HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN
THE PAST.
IN THE K-9 REPORT, SO MUCH OF
THE INFORMATION, IT WAS CRITICAL
TO HAVE EMPLOYEES FEEL
COMFORTABLE HONESTLY SHARING
ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE
UNIT.
WE HAVE HAD ISSUE INS THE PAST,
I CAN THINK OF ONE PARTICULAR
ONE.
WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE WHO ALLEGED
THAT THE PARTICULAR ISSUE WE
WERE LOOKING INTO HAD OCCURRED
BEFORE AND OCCURRED BEFORE MORE
SEVERELY.
THEY SAID THEY HAD A BOX OF
DOCUMENTATION IN THEIR PERSONAL
POSSESSION AT HOME THAT WOULD
PROVIDE EVIDENCE THAT THEY FELT
UNCOMFORTABLE COMING FORWARD
WITHOUT THE WHISTLEBLOWER
PROTECTIONS BECAUSE THEIR
PERSONAL SITUATION WAS
PRECARIOUS ENOUGH THAT THEY
COULDN'T ENDURE THE RETALIATION.
THEY ENDED UP NOT FEELING
COMFORTABLE SHARING THE
DOCUMENTATION WITH US.
IN MANY CASES, WE ARE ABLE TO
ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP AND
PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING
WITH US.
FOR THE OCCASIONS THAT PEOPLE
WANT THE ADDITIONAL PROTECTION,
IT WOULD HELP OUR WORK GREATLY.
>> IT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND
SORT OF THE REAL WORLD
IMPLICATIONS OF THESE REALLY
IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS THAT WE
OFFER PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO SERVE
ON BEHALF OF TAXPAYERS IN OUR
CITY.
AND I THINK IN ORDER FOR US
TO EXPECT FROM THEM BEHAVIOR OF
THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY, WE HAVE
TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
OFFERING PROTECTIONS TO THEM AS
WELL.
AND I THINK MAYBE THAT
MIGHT BE -- I'M NOT SEEING
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE COUNCIL.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR
BARNETT FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
HE MAY HAVE AS THE HEAD OF THE
AGENCY THAT WORKS TO ENFORCE OUR
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CODE.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WOULD MAKE TWO BRIEF
COMMENTS.
THE FIRST IS SO EXPLAIN THE
REASON OIG IS NOT COVERED IN THE
LAW RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THE
AGENCY WAS CREATED AFTER THE
LAST TIME WE AMENDED THE LAW.
THIS IS MORE OF A TECHNICAL
CHANGE THAN ANYTHING TO UPDATE
THE LAW TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A
NEW AGENCY.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CODE IS
TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO COME
FORWARD WITH INFORMATION THAT
THEY HAVE ABOUT IMPROPER
GOVERNMENT ACTIONS.
OIG IS AN AGENCY CREATED TO ROOT
OUT THE IMPROPER ACTIONS IN SPD.
IT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE
WORLD TO ADD THEM.
THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR
BARNETT.
COUNCILMEMBERS, DOES ANYBODY
HAVE A QUESTION THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO ASK REGARDING THE IMPACT
OF THE BILL?
ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NO QUESTIONS.
I MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
119893.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ALEX, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL?
.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
FOUR IN FAVOR AND NO
OPPOSED.
.
>> THANK YOU.
THE COUNCIL BILL WILL GO TO FULL
COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER
29th.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING
THIS IMPORTANT REFORM FORWARD.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF
THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING
IN THIS TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE EMPOWERED
TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY AND
ETHICS.
REALLY, AGAIN, APPRECIATE
YOU IDENTIFYING THIS SMALL BUT
IMPORTANT CHANGE THAT WE ALL CAN
MAKE TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT.
ALEX, CAN YOU READ ITEM NUMBER
FOUR INTO THE AGENDA.
>> ITEM NUMBER FOUR, ANALYSIS OF
COURT-IMPOSED MONETARY SANCTIONS
IN SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT.
>> GREAT.
WHO DO WE HAVE JOINING US TODAY?
EIGHT NUMBER FOUR.
CAN WE DO A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS FOR PRESENTERS ON
THIS ITEM?
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
AIM CAEDMON CAHILL FROM THE
SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING I'M PROFESSOR
ALEXIS HARRIS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY.
>> GREAT.
>> AND PROFESSOR FRANK EDWARDS
FROM THE RUTGERS SCHOOL OF
CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU.
AND SO THIS WAS A REPORT THAT I
KNOW THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
WORKED WITH DR. HARRIS AND
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT IN
MOVING FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND TO PROVIDE
BEFORE WE JUMP IN?
.
>> SURE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> REALLY BRIEFLY.
THIS REPORT WAS GENERATED
IN RESPONSE TO A 2016 COUNCIL
RESOLUTION THAT ESTABLISHED THE
ROUND TREE GROUP AND REQUESTED
AN INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT OF
THE CITIES IMPOSITION IN
COLLECTION OF FINES ASK AND FEES
FOR CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS AND
INFRACTIONS AND THEIR IMPACT.
IN 2017, WE REACHED OUT TO
DR. HARRIS, A LOCAL AND NATIONAL
EXPERT IN RESEARCHING AND
EVALUATING SANCTIONS IN THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
DR. HARRIS IS THE AUTHOR OF "A
POUND OF FLESH, MONETARY
SANCTIONS AS PUNISHMENT FOR THE
POOR."
DATA WAS PROVIDED BY SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT'S RESEARCH
PLANNING AND EVALUATION GROUP.
AND WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
WORK THAT SMC DID TO SUPPORT THE
PROCESS AND THE WORK OF
DR. HARRIS AND DR. EDWARDS IN
CREATING THE REPORTED AND
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
I'LL PASS IT ON TO DR. HARRIS
AND DR. EDWARDS TO PRESENT THE
REPORT AND THEIR FINDINGS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO
PRESENT THE REPORT.
AND THANK YOU, CAEDMON, FOR ALL
OF THE SUPPORT.
WE'LL JUMP IN QUICKLY AND DO A
QUICK RUN THROUGH THE FINDINGS
AND TALK ABOUT A SUMMARY OF THE
FINDINGS AND TALK ABOUT THE
POLICY IMPLICATIONS.
SO THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS WE SET
OUT TO ANALYZE WERE THE EXTENT
AND CHARACTERISTICS OF UNPAID
DEBT RELATED TO SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT.
ASK TO LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF THE
FINES AND FEES ON PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT AFFORD THEM.
AND WE WANTED TO EXPLORE RACIAL
DISPARITIES IN TRAFFIC AND
NONTRAFFIC INFRACTIONS AND A
BROADER COMPARISON OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE LEGAL PROFESSION WITH
OTHER CITIES IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
MONETARY SANCTIONS, WE ARE
DEFINING OR TREATING THEM AT ALL
INCLUSIVE OF ALL FINANCIAL DEBT
IMPOSED BY THE COURT BECAUSE OF
A CHARGE OR INFRACTION.
WE INCLUDE HERE TRAFFIC
CITATIONINGS AND COURT FINES AND
FEES.
THE DATA WERE CITED OR CONVICTED
CASES BETWEEN 2000 AND 2017.
AND FRANK EDWARDS CONDUCTED
THE AAL LIS USING OUR
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE.
AND DID COMPARISONS TO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS USING THE DATA
FROM THE OFFICER OF THE COURT
AND LFO SENTENCING IN
MUNICIPALITIES BETWEEN 2000 AND
2014.
FRANK WILL RUN US THROUGH THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEBT.
>> THANKS.
AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAVING US
HERE TO SHARE THE FINDINGS
TODAY.
I'LL START BY TALKING
THROUGH THE CHANGES OVER TIME IN
THE CASE LOAD OF SMC.
SO WE SEE HERE THAT CASES HAVE
BEEN TRENDING DOWNWARD IN TERMS
OF THE VOLUME OF CASINGS, THE
BOTTOM PLOT, AND THE AMOUNT OF
CASES PER CAPITA, THE TOP PLOT.
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE
TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS IN 2017, 83%
OF THE TRAFFICMENT.
8% NONTRAFFIC.
2% CRIMINAL TRAFFIC.
AND 1% DUIs.
AS THE POPULATION INCREASED, THE
TREND LINE CONTINUED TO GO DOWN.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND HERE WE LOOK AT --
FREQUENTLY AFTER SENTENCING, THE
DEBT LOAD IS ADJUSTED DOWNWARD.
THINK ABOUT MEASURING THE LOADS
IN TERMS OF ORIGINAL ORDER, THE
ORDER AFTER THE COURT ADJUSTED
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED, AND WHAT
WAS PAID BY THE DEBTOR.
FOR TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS THE
MAJORITY OF THE DEBT IS FOR
TRAFFIC INFRKSS.
HALF OF THE ORDERED AMOUNT WAS
PAID BY THE TIME OF DATA
COLLECTION.
AND SO WE SEE A BIG ADJUSTMENT
DOWNWARD ON THE INFRACTION
TRAFFIC.
FOR THE CRIMINAL NONTRAFFIC AND
OTHER INFRACTIONS, THE ADJUSTED
AMOUNT DIPS.
SMC IS ADJUSTING THE FORMS OF
DEBT DOWNWARD TYPICALLY.
FOR CASES OTHER THAN INFRACTION
TRAFFIC CASES IT'S ADJUSTED DOWN
QUITE A BIT MORE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND HERE IS THE AVERAGE AMOUNTED
ORDERED ADJUSTED AND PAID FOR
VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF LFOs IN
CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CASES.
SO THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF
ADJUSTMENT COMES ON FINES.
THE INITIAL -- THIS IS THE
AVERAGE AMOUNT FOR A CRIMINAL
TRAFFIC CASE.
AND A HUGE DOWNWARD
ADJUSTMENT IN THE INITIAL AMOUNT
OF FINES.
LOWER REDUCTIONS IN THE INITIAL
SENTENCED AMOUNT FOR OTHER
CATEGORIES OF LFOs.
NEXT SLIDE.
SIMILAR FOR CRIMINAL NONTRAFFIC
CASES.
DRAMATIC REDUCTIONS FOR THE
INITIAL FINE ORDERED.
BUT WE SEE A SMALLER
REDUCTION IN THE INITIAL ORDER
FOR OTHER CATEGORIES OF LFOs.
AND THE AMOUNT THAT'S COLLECTED
FROM THE ADJUSTED ORDER IS
TYPICALLY A FRACTION OF THE
ADJUSTED AMOUNT.
IN MOST CASES, BY ABOUT
50%.
HERE'S THE AVERAGE AMOUNTS
ORDERED, ADJUSTED, AND PAID FOR
NONTRAFFIC INFRACTONS.
MUCH LOWER LEVELS OF REDUCTION
FOR THESE THAN IN THE CRIMINAL
CASES.
WE SEE MUCH LOWER LEVELS OF
ADJUSTMENT TO THE ORDERS
INFRACTIONS.
NEXT SLIDE.
SIMILARLY FOR TRAFFIC
INFRACTIONS.
BOTH NONTRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC
TYPICALLY HAVE LOWER LEVELS OF
ADJUSTMENT RELATIVE TO THE
CRIMINAL CASES.
WE SEE A HIGHER INITIAL ORDER IN
THE CRIMINAL CASES, BUT MUCH
STEEPER REDUCTIONS THERE THE
INITIAL ORDER AMOUNT WHERE THE
TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS AND
NONTRAFFIC ARE REDUCED BY LESS.
AND THESE ARE DATA CURRENT
THROUGH 2017.
THE RECENT CHANGES IN THE
INFRACTIONS.
NEXT SLIDE.
HERE WE LOOK AT THE AGE OF
ACCOUNTS BY CLOSING DATE.
WE THINK ABOUT FROM THE DATE OF
OPENING, HOW LONG DID A CASE
TAKE TO CLOSE?
UNSURPRISINGLY, THE INFRACTION
CASES CLOSED FAR QUICKER THAN
THE CRIMINAL CASES.
CRIMINAL CASES TENDED TO REMAIN
OPEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITH
SOME CASES REMAINING OPEN FOR AS
LONG AS TEN YEARS.
INFRACTION CASES HAD A
RELATIVELY SHORT AGE.
NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT
INEQUALITIES IN SMC DEBT BY RACE
AND ETHNICITY IN SEATTLE.
HERE, WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF
CASES WITH MONETARY SANCTION
STENGSED AS A FUNCTION OF THE
SIZE OF SEATTLE'S POPULATION FOR
RACE AND ETHNICITY FOR 2017.
THE PINK BAR IS THE TOTAL
POPULATION.
THE YELLOW, GREENISH BAR
REPRESENTS THE AMERICAN INDIAN
AND ALASKA NATIVE.
BLUE FOR BLACK.
THE PURPLE FOR LATIN X
POPULATIONS.
AND THE MAGENTA FOR WHITE.
ACROSS THE BOARD, PER CAPITA,
BLACK RESIDENTS IN SEATTLE ARE
SENTENCED TO LFOs AT HIGHER
RATES.
THIS IS HOW MANY CASES PER 1,000
PEOPLE ARE THERE.
IN THE CITY AND BLACK PEOPLE
HAVE FAR HIGHER LEVELS OF DEBT
HOLDING FROM SMC THAN OTHER
GROUPS.
AMERICAN INDIANS AND
ALASKA NATIVES HAVE HIGH LEVELS
OF DEBT BURDEN FOR NONTRAFFIC
INFRACTION CASES.
AND THIS IS KIND OF
INTERESTING FUNCTION OF HOW THE
COURT IS HANDLING THE CASES.
WHEN WE LOOK AT SENTENCING, WE
DON'T SEE DRAMATIC DIFFERENCES
IN TERMS OF THE INITIAL ORDERS
AND ADJUSTED AMOUNTS ACROSS
GROUPS.
WHAT THIS SUGGESTS IS WHAT IS
DRIVING THE DISPARITIES IN THE
COURT IS THE FRONT DOOR.
IT'S ENFORCEMENT DECISIONS BY
THE SPD AND OTHER AGENCIES IN
TERMS OF WHO COMES IN CONTACT
WITH THE COURT.
ONCE IN THE COURT, LARGELY
EQUITABLE SENTENCING BY CASE
TYPE.
AND IF WE CONVERT THIS INTO
A RATIO OF DEBT, SO WE'LL TAKE
THE TOTAL DEBT LOAD, DIVIDE
THOSE BY THE SIZE OF THE
POPULATION OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, WE SEE RACIAL
INEQUALITIES.
SO THE DEBT LOAD FOR BLACK
SEATTLE RESIDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE,
DRIVING WITH A LICENSE SUSPENDED
IN THIRD DEGREE IS SIX TIMES
HIGHER THAN FOR WHITE SEATTLE
RESIDENTS.
WE SEE THE INEQUALITIES ACROSS
THE BOARD FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF
VIOLATIONS THAT SMC HANDLES, WE
HAVE HIGHER LEVELS OF DEBT LOAD
FOR THE BLACK RESIDENTS THAN FOR
THE WHITE RESIDENTS.
HIGHER LEVELS OF DEBT LOAD FOR
DWS3 CASES FOR AMERICAN INDIANS
AND ALASKA NATIVES AS WELL.
NEXT, WE TURN TO THINKING
ABOUT THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES
OF POTENTIAL DEBT HOLDINGS.
WE MERGED THE DATA TO THE DATA
ON THE OFFICE OF THE COURTS TO
MATCH PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEBT
THROUGH THE SMC TO RECORDS FOR
SUPERIOR COURT SENTENCING TO SEE
WHO WAS INCARCERATED THROUGH THE
COURT SENTENCE.
HERE, THE LEFT COLUMN IS WOMEN'S
PROBABILITY OF BEING
INCARCERATED AFTER PAID OR
UNPAID TRAFFIC INFRACTION.
AND WE SET THOSE TO BE $175
ARBITRARILY BASED ON A
REGRESSION PREDICTION.
IN THE RIGHT, WE HAVE NET.
THE BASIC QUESTION IS WHAT
PROPORTION OF DEBTERS WERE
SENTENCED TO INCARCERATION
THROUGH A SUPERIOR COURT AFTER
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT.
THIS ISN'T SAYING THIS IS A
CAUSE OF THE DEBT, IT'S ASKING
THE PROPORTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO
OWED DEBT LATER ENDED UP
INCARCERATED.
FOR TRAFFIC INFRASHGSS, BLACK
MEN IN SEATTLE WITH A TRAFFIC
INFRACTION PAID IN FULL HAD A
3.2%.
AND BLACK MEN WITH UNPAID
INFRACTIONS HAD A 10.3% WHO WERE
INCARCERATED WITH UNPAID TRAFFIC
INFRACTIONS.
FOR CRIMINAL NONTRAFFIC, IF IT
WAS PAID IN FULL FOR BLACK MEN,
3.9% FOR LATER INCARCERATION.
AND CRIMINAL NONTRAFFIC CASES,
25.7% RATE OF LATER
INCARCERATION.
MUCH HIGHER LEVELS FOR BLACK MEN
THAN FOR WHITE MEN.
NEXT, SO THE DWL IN THE
THIRD DEGREE IS A KEY VECTOR
THROUGH WHICH THE LOW LEVEL
SANCTIONS CAN TURN INTO CRIMINAL
CHARGES.
THE UNPAID TICKETS CAN LEAD TO
LICENSE SUSPENSION.
IF YOU ARE PULLED OVER AND
TICKETED, THAT IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
SO WE HAVE ABOUT 2.3%
SIMILAR ANALYSIS TO THE LAST ONE
BASED ON PREDICTIONS.
AND 2.3% OF BLACK MEN WHO
RECEIVE TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS CAN
EXPECT TO BE CHARGED WITH AT
SOME POINT, COMPARED TO 0.4% OF
WHITE MEN.
AND LATIN AND NATIVE AMERICAN
ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE CHARGED
WITH IT FOLLOWING AN LFO.
0.8% OF LATIN MEN.
THIS IS ONE OF THE KEY VECTORS
THROUGH WHICH THE LOW LEVELS
CONTACTS WITH THE COURT CAN TURN
INTO CRIMINAL CONTACTS WITH THE
COURT BASED ON INABILITY TO PAY.
AND WE'LL COMPARE SEATTLE TO
OTHER JURISDICTIONINGS IN THE
STATE.
AND HERE, WE HAVE THE MAP,
THESE PLOTS GROUPED INTO TYPES
OF CITIES IN SEATTLE BY
POPULATION SIZE.
SO THE TOP LEFT CORNER IS CITIES
WITH POPULATION LESS THAN
10,000.
AND THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER IS
SEATTLE.
THE CITIES ON THE LEFT, THOSE
ARE THE CITIES WITH THE
POPULATION.
AND HERE, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
COMPARING THE ADJUSTED DEBT,
THAT'S AFTER THE COURT ADJUSTED
IT FOR MUNICIPAL COURTS ACROSS
TYPES OF CITY BY POPULATION SIZE
IN THE STATE TO GET A SENSE OF
VARIATION.
AND SEATTLE IS FAR LOWER IN
TERMS OF THE ADJUSTED DEBT LOAD
HELD BY THE RESIDENTS THAN OTHER
CITIES IN THE STATE, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF TRAFFIC
INFRACTIONS.
FOR SEATTLE, THEY ARE SIMILAR TO
LEVELS OF TRAFFIC INFRACTION FOR
OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF AN UPWARD TREND
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE
BEING OBVIOUS FOR THE MID SIZED
AND SMALL CITIES.
SEATTLE IS ORDERING LOWER LEVELS
OF DEBT FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT
THAN OTHERS.
AND HERE WE LOOK
AT THE CASES PER 1,000 BY TYPE
BY 2014.
THIS IS THE LATEST YEAR WE HAVE
THE COMPARABLE INFORMATION.
WE
CAN THINK OF THIS AS THE CASES
OUT THERE RELATIVE TO THE
POPULATION SIZE.
SEATTLE IS IN THE SAME RANGE AS
OTHER JURISDICTIONS FOR TRAFFIC
INFRACTIONS AND NONTRAFFIC
INFRACTIONS.
WE SEE FAR LOWER CASES PER 1,000
FOR CRIMINAL CASES THAN WE DO IN
OTHER COURTS.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND HERE WE LOOK AT SENTENCING.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LFO
SENTENCED TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO
CAME THROUGH SMC RELATIVE TO
OTHER COURTS FOR VARIOUS CLASSES
OFFENSES TO GET AN APPLES TO
APPLES COMPARISON OF THE DEBT
ORDERED ACROSS THE DIFFERENT
COURSES.
MY APOLOGIES.
KNOCKING MY WHITE BOARD OVER.
AND TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS, SEATTLE
IS SIMILAR TO OTHERS.
AND NONTRAFFIC, SLIGHTLY LOWER.
WE SEE LARGE DIFFERENCES ON DUI
ORDERS AND CRIMINAL NONTRAFFIC
ORDERS.
SEATTLE IS ORDERING FAR LOWER
DEBT AFTER ADJUSTMENT ON
CRIMINAL NONTRAFFIC AND DUI
CASES THAN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
CRIMINAL TRAFFIC AND INFRACTIONS
TRAFFIC APPEAR RELATIVELY
SMALLER.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> FRANK DID A MASTER CLASS ON
THAT.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE FIVE MAIN POINTS.
ONE IS
THAT THERE'S BEEN A REMARKABLE
DECLINE IN CASES INTO 2000 AND
2017.
SECOND, PEOPLE SENTENCED TO
CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CASES HAD
ACCOUNTS OPEN FOR LONGER PERIODS
OF TIME COMPARED TO OTHER TYPES
OF CASES.
FOR EACH CLASS OF CASE, BLACK
MEN AND WOMEN ARE SIGNIFICANTLY
MORE LIKELY THAN THEIR PEERS TO
BE SENTENCED TO INCARCERATION
THROUGH WASHINGTON STATE
SUPERIOR COURTS FOLLOWING A PAID
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT LFO.
AND FOR EACH CLASS OF CASE,
BLACK MEN AND WOMEN ARE MORE
LIKELY TO BE SENTENCED TO
INCARCERATION THROUGH WASHINGTON
SUPERIOR COURT FOLLOWING AN
UNPAID SMC.
AND FIFTH, PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE
A HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF WHITE
PERSON TO BE CHARGED FOLLOWING A
SENTENCE.
THIS IS PRONOUNCED FOR BLACK
DRIVERS IN SEATTLE.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SORT OF
ATTACH ON TO WHAT JUDGE GREGORY
OUTLINED.
THE JUDGES SHOULD CONTINUE TO
ASSESS THE INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY
TO PAY IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE SUGGEST THAT JUDGES WEIGH THE
DISCRETIONARY COSTS WHEN PEOPLE
HAVE LITTLE TO NO CURRENT
ABILITY TO PAY.
POLICIES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTERROGATE
THE NECESSITY FOR ADD ON
PERSONALITIES FOR INTEREST,
DEFAULT PENALTIES, DEFERRING
FEES.
AND STATE POLICY SHOULD DECOUPLE
THE NONPAYMENT FROM CRIMINAL
MANNERS AND THE SUSPENSION OF
DRIVER'S LICENSE.
THIS IS KEY AND HAPPENING
NATIONALLY AT THIS MOMENT.
AND STATE AND LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS SHOULD CONDUCT
REGULAR MONITORING AND ANALYSIS
OF THE SENTENCING AND
COLLECTIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF
ADDRESS REALLY QUICKLY JUDGE
GREGORY'S POLICIES.
THEY'RE VERY, VERY POWERFUL.
BUT THERE'S TWO IMPORTANT
CAVEATS TO RECOGNIZE.
ONE IS THAT THERE'S A MANDATORY
$250VPA FOR A MISDEMEANOR.
ONLY THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED BY
THE STATE CHANGING THOSE.
AND SO THAT'S STILL A KEY
BARRIER.
AND ALSO AS FRANK ILLUSTRATED,
IT APPEARS THAT SMC JUDGES ARE
ADDRESSING THE INABILITY TO PAY
AND LOWERING INITIAL SENTENCING
AMOUNTS.
BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE
IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE
COMMUNITY WITH POLICE CITATION
AROUND TRAFFIC.
AND THAT NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION
WITH SMC AND SPD WITH HOW THE
CITATIONS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED
AND GIVING DISPROPORTIONATELY TO
BLACK DRIVERS IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU BOTH DR. HARRIS AND
DR. EDWARDS FOR THAT CONCISE AND
THOROUGH PRESENTATION.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE FOLLOW-UP
AS IT RELATES TO WHAT APPEARS TO
BE A NECESSARY CONVENING OF
STATE COURTS AND LEGISLATURE
LATE TORS AS IT RELATES TO SOME
OF THE FINDINGS THAT THIS REPORT
MAKES AROUND DWLS3.
AND JUST GENERALLY AROUND
REQUIRED FINES THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CAN'T WAIVE BECAUSE
OF STATE LAW?
>> RIGHT.
IN 2018, WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE PASSED 17A3 WHICH
DID DRAMATICALLY ALTER THE
LANDSCAPE OF LFOs AND GAVE
JUDGES THE DISCRETION THAT THEY
COULD NOT IMPOSE NONMANDATORY
FINES AND FEARS TO PEOPLE DEEMED
INDIGENT.
THAT WAS CRUCIAL.
BUT I THINK GIVEN THE DATA AND
THE DISPARITIES, THOSE SAME TYPE
OF STANDARDS SHOULD BE APPLIED
TO THE MANDATORY $250 FOR A
MISDEMEANOR AND $500 FOR A
FELONY.
EITHER IT APPLIES AND JUDGES
WILL HAVE DISCRETION WITH THE
COSTS.
OR THE LEGISLATURE DO AWAY WITH
CALLING THEM MANDATORY IN TOTAL.
AND FURTHER DISCUSSIONS
AROUND DECOUPLING ANY NONPAYMENT
OF COURT IMPOSED FINES AND FEES
WITH THE LOSS OF A DRIVER'S
LICENSE.
IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE FOR
PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR DRIVER'S
LICENSES WHEN THEY NEED TO GET
TO WORK TO PAY THE FINES AND
FEES.
THAT'S EVIDENCE ACROSS THE
NATION WITH HOW THE LEGISLATURES
ARE AMENDING THE STATUES.
>> AND THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION TO
CAEDMON CAHILL.
IS THIS AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE
FLAGGED FOR THE OFFICE OF
INTER-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR
OUR UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE
>> WE HAVE NOT YET.
>> CAN I SUGGEST THAT WE DO SO?
.
>> YES.
>> AND I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO
PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY THAT
WOULD BE USEFUL.
AND MAYBE WORK TO DO SOME
FOLLOW-UP TO THE REPORT.
MAYBE JOINED BY THE COURT.
AND ASK FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP TO HELP MAYBE CONVENE
SOME SORT OF A ROUND TABLE TO
TALK ABOUT CONTINUING SOME OF
OUR BEST PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE
IN SEATTLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE
AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ALSO
MAKING THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO
FURTHER DRIVE DOWN THESE HIGH
DEBT RATIOS BY COMMUNITIES
RESULTING FROM OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
COUNCILMEMBERS, DOES
ANYBODY HAVE ANY --
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT.
I'M GOING TO ASK -- WELL,
MAYBE I DON'T NEED TO ASK YOU TO
GO BACK TO THE DATA CHARTS, BUT
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE
OF THE FRONT DOOR THAT YOU
MENTIONED THAT'S A CONTRIBUTOR
TO THE PROBLEM HERE.
I'M INTERESTED PARTICULARLY IN
UNDERSTANDING AGAIN THE
FREQUENCY OF CITATIONS FOR BLACK
DRIVERS.
AND, I MEAN, IT LEADS ME TO
THE NEXT QUESTION, WHICH IS HOW
MANY OF THOSE ENCOUNTERS DON'T
END WITH A CITATION, BUT END IN,
YOU KNOW, A MUCH MORE DRAMATIC
AND HARROWING EXPERIENCE.
AND SO I GUESS PART OF MY
QUESTION IS ALSO DO YOU HAVE
SUGGESTIONS, DR. HARRIS, YOU
MENTIONED TALKING WITH SPD ABOUT
WHY IS IT THERE IS A CLEAR
DISPROPORTION ABOUT WHO THEY
CITE?
AND DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT KIND OF -- IS THAT A
POLICY CHANGE, IS THAT A
CONVERSATION WITH SPD ABOUT THE
PRACTICE AND HOW WE ADDRESS THIS
PROBLEM WHICH IS CREATING
PROBLEMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> RIGHT.
APPEARS FROM THE ANALYSIS
THAT POLICING IN THE COMMUNITY
LEADS, IF YOU WILL, A GATEWAY
DRUG FOR PEOPLE TO GET IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JAIL
AND INCARCERATION AND LONG-TERM
DEBT.
FRANK HAS DONE A NATIONAL
ANALYSIS ON POLICE STOPS AND
OUTCOMES.
I'LL LET HIM ADDRESS THAT.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD
QUESTIONS HERE.
AND I THINK THE EVIDENCE FOR SMC
IS RELATIVELY CLEAR THAT THE
INEQUITIES WE'RE SEEING IS NOT A
FUNCTION OF COURT DECISION
MAKING NECESSARILY IN TERMS OF
THE SENTENCE.
IT'S THE HITS BY SPD AND OTHER
ENFORCEMENT.
THAT SAID, DEBT LOADS ARE FELT
UNEVENLY.
A $250 DEBT TO ONE PERSON FEELS
DIFFERENTLY THAN TO ANOTHER
PERSON.
DESPITE THE FACT IT'S EQUITABLE
SENTENCING, IT'S STILL
INEQUITABLOUT COMES.
THERE ARE PROCESSING POINTS TO
THINK ABOUT.
BUT THEY ARE GOOD QUESTIONS IN
TERMS OF POLICE CONTACT AND
CITATIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE
GREAT DATA ON THESE THINGS.
SPD, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE KINDS OF
DATA WE WOULD NEED TO CONDUCT
THAT.
AND OFFEN TIMES, WHEN A STOP
OCCURS WHERE A CITATION ISN'T
ISSUED, WE DON'T HAVE THE
INFORMATION ON IT AS RESEARCHERS
N. THE CASES WHERE THE POLICE
ARE SEEING SOMEONE AND CHOOSING
NOT TO HAVE AN INTERACTION OR
NOT REGISTERING A CITATION, WE
DON'T SEE THOSE.
THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN
POLICING.
SO THERE'S BIG COMPLICATED
QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF HOW WE
ACCURATELY MEASURE THE BIAS IN
POLICING.
THIS DATA IS SHOWING THERE IS
CLEARLY A BIAS IN SEATTLE.
>> FRANK IS BEING HUMBLE.
HE RECENTLY HAD A PAPER
PUBLISHED THAT LOOKS AT NATIONAL
DATA ON MORTALITY AND POLICE
ENCOUNTERS.
YOU WANT TO SUMMARIZE THAT?
>> SURE.
ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WE
PUBLISHED A PAPER THAT SHOWED
THAT BLACK AND INDIGENOUS BLACK
MEN AND WOMEN ARE AT A HIGHER
RISK OF BEING KILLED BY THE
POLICE THAN THEIR PEERS.
THIS IS A CLEAR FUNCTION OF
RACIAL INEQUALITY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND THERE'S SUB NATIONAL
REGIONAL PATTERNS.
THE WEST COAST IN PARTICULAR HAS
HIGHER LEVELS OF POLICE VIOLENCE
TOWARD BLACK PEOPLE THAN OTHER
PARTSOVER THE COUNTRY.
THE DATA PROBLEM WITH THINKING
ABOUT LFOs AND FINES AND FEES IS
A LARGER DATA PROBLEM THAT ALSO
APPLIES TO THINKING ABOUT USE OF
FORCE AND THINKING ABOUT
ENCOUNTER RATES AND THINKING
ABOUT WAYS THAT WE COULD REDUCE
LEVELS OF ABUSE OF FORCE.
AND I THINK BROADLY,
CONSIDERATIONS TO THINK ABOUT
REDUCING POLICE CIVILIAN
REACTION.
AND BROADLY THINKING IN TERMS OF
WAYS TO LIMIT THE INTERACTION OF
THE POLICE WITH THE COMMUNITY
BOTH THROUGH ROUTINE TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER KINDS OF
ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES WOULD
HAVE CLEAR EFFECTS ON DEBT LOAD
AND HAVE LIKELY EFFECTS ON
LEVELS OF POLICE CIVILIAN
VIOLENCE.
>> SO THE CITATIONS ABILITY OF
POLICE TO GIVE THE CITATIONS AND
OVER SURVEILLANCE IN PLAQUE AND
BROWN COMMUNITY LEAD TO THE
CONTACTS.
AND THE WARRANTS CONTACTED TO
INABILITY TO PAY THAT ARE GIVEN
TO PEOPLE SET OFF THE UNCOUNTERS
AS WELL.
>> DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP?
.
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
I AM GOING TO BET YOU $10 THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE A
SUBSCRIPTION TO THE JOURNAL.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET A
COPY OF THIS PAPER?
THANK YOU.
.
>> AND I WOULD APPRECIATE A
FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION AROUND
THE DATA PIECE THAT YOU
REFERENCED AND WHETHER OR NOT
THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN WORK
WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
GET MORE OF THAT INFORMATION.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BOTH
ANALYSIS AND POLICY REFORM
EFFORTS THAT WE COULD WORK
TOGETHER ON WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY
POSITIVE, FORWARD STEP.
AND I AM INTERESTED IN SEEING
WHAT THE CITY AND THE COURT CAN
DO ABOUT SPEARHEADING THIS
CONVERSATION AS WELL.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, I WANT TO THANK YOU
GUYS FOR PROVIDING A VERY
CONCISE REPORT.
YOU COVERED A LOT OF GROUND.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND WE'LL -- IT'S GREAT TO
SEE EVERYBODY.
AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
ITEM ON THE AGENDA: .
>> ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER
PROGRAM IMPMENTATION.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
SHIFTING OTHER TO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY
SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM
EVERYONEMENTATION.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE ASSISTANT
CHOOEF HIRJAK.
AND THIS IS JUST AS A QUICK
BIT OF BACKGROUND, IN THE 2017
BUDGET PROCESS, ENACTED BY THE
COUNCIL IN 2016, I AMONG OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS COSPONSORED A
PROPOSAL TO BRING BACK THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER
PROGRAM THAT HAD BEEN IN
OPERATION FOR 33 YEARS.
UNTIL 2004 WHICH IT WAS
ELIMINATED DUE TO BUDGET CUTS.
IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COSPONSOR THE
LEGISLATURE WITH THE 2016 VOTE.
AND I AM REALLY EXCITED OF
THE DEPARTMENT'S USE OF UNSWORN
OFFICERS TO PRIORITIZE THE
RESPONSE TO NONEMERGENCY
SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO FREE UP THE
POLICE OFFICERS TO BETTER
RESPOND TO 911 CALLS.
THEY CAN AS WITH MEDIATING
DISPUTES, FOLLOW-UP CALLS FOR
NONEMERGENCY SERVICES, HELP THE
RESIDENTS NAVIGATE THE SERVICES
AND SUPPORT PROGRAMMING FOR AT
RISK YOUTH AND ATTENDING
COMMUNITY-HOSTED EVENTS.
AND HELPING TO MEDIATE CIVIL
ISSUES SUCH AS LANDLORD AND
TENANT ISSUES.
LAST YEAR, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ANNOUNCED THE PLAN TO ENACT THE
COUNCIL'S 2016 LEGISLATION AND
RELAUNCH THE COMMUNITY SERVICE
OFFICER PROGRAM.
WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE
COUNCIL ADOPTED A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT REQUESTING AN
UPDATE.
AND WE'RE HERE TO GET THAT
IMPMENTATION UPDATE.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE SPD
PRESENT.
APOLOGIES FOR NOT DOING SO
EARLIER IF THE YEAR.
LIKE MANY THINGS, IT WAS DELAYED
DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND THE NEED
TO REVISIT THE 2020 BUDGET.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO HAVE
ASSISTANT CHIEF HIRJAK HERE WITH
US TODAY TO PRESENT THIS
LONG-AWAITED REPORT.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT
OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF HIRJAK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN HER
BOLD.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I WANT TO THANK AS WELL AS
COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD, THE
OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE FOR
HAVING ME HERE TO DISCUSS THE
STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE
OFFICER PROGRAM, MORE COMMONLY
KNOWN AS THE CSO PROGRAM.
I'M STEVE HIRJAK.
AS COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD LET
YOU KNOW, I'M THE ASSISTANT
CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE
COLLABORATIVE POLICING BUREAU.
THE UNIT FALLS UNDER MY BUREAU
OF POLICING.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE AS
WELL AS THE PRIOR INCARNATION OF
THE COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE
COUNCIL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE
CSO PROGRAM.
I CAME ON SPD IN 1993.
SO AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED THE
CITY FOR 27 YEARS, I FONDLY
REMEMBER THE ASSISTANCE OF THE
FORMER CSOs AND A COUPLE OF
FRIENDSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO
FORMERLY SERVED THE CSOs FOR THE
CITY.
BUT THE ASSISTANCE THE FORMER
CSOs SUPPLIED TO THE CITY AND
THE DEPARTMENT BACK THEN AS A
BRAND NEW PATROL OFFICER, I WAS
VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE CSO'S
ASSISTANCE WITH SUCH THINGS AS
LANDLORD AND TENANT DISPUTES,
TRAINING, ASSISTANTING THE
POLICE CALLS INVOLVING CHILD
PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND
NUMEROUS OTHER TYPES OF
INTERACTIONS IN WHICH THEY
PROVED INVALUABLE IN ASKING AS A
PATROL OFFICER.
HAVING SAID THAT, TIMES HAVE
CHANGED.
AND WHAT WE NEED THEM FOR HAS
CHANGED AS WELL.
BUT THE NEED FOR THEM AS A
RESOURCE HAS NOT.
THANK FOR BRINGING THEM BACK.
AS COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD
MENTIONED, GING IN 2017, WE
WORKED WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS TO CONDUCT A RACIAL
EQUITY ANALYSIS AND EXTENSIVE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND REHEARD CLEARLY FROM ALMOST
EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMUNITY
WHAT PEOPLE HOPE FOR IN THE NEW
CSO PROGRAM.
SO BEFORE I MAKE MYSELF
AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS TO THE
COUNCIL HERE, I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT SOME COMMON QUESTIONS
OR AN FAQ WAS ADDRESSED ON THE
FRONT END.
THE CSOs REPORT TO TWO CIVILIAN
SUPERVISORS AND ONE SPD
SERGEANT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 12CSOs, NOT
COUNTING THE SUPERVISORS.
THEY WEAR A SOFT UNIFORM.
THIS IS BASICALLY A POLO SHIRT
IN BABY BLUE TO DIFFERENTIATE
THEM FROM SWORN POLICE OFFICERS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO THE
PUBLIC IT'S CLEAR THEY'RE NOT
APPROACHING A SWORN POLICE
OFFICER, BUT RATHER A COMMUNITY
SERVICE OFFICER.
THE UNIFORM CHOICE OF A POLO
SHIRT IS ALSO -- IT'S VERY
APPROACHABLE AS OPPOSED TO, YOU
KNOW, MORE FORMALIZED MILITARY
STYLE OR PARA MILITARY STYLE
UNIFORM.
WE HAD OVER 1,000 APPLICANTS FOR
THE PROGRAM.
AND WE HIRED THESE
APPLICANTS FROM A VERY DIVERSE
POOL.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE
GROUP OF PERSONNEL WE HAVE
HIRED.
UNFORTUNATELY, COVID HAS
IMPACTED OUR ABILITY TO
COMPLETELY FILL THE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE THREE VACANCIES
CAUSED BY THE HIRING FREEZE WHEN
COVID STRUCK US WITH THE HIRING
FREEZE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SO THEY OFFICIALLY BEGAN
WORK OR EMPLOYMENT ON APRIL 15th
OF THIS YEAR.
BEFORE GOING OUT IN PUBLIC,
THEY RECEIVED EXTENSIVE TRAINING
IN THINGS SUCH AS SOCIAL WORK,
DEESCALATION, CONFLICT
RESOLUTION, CONFLICT MEDIATION,
CRISIS INTERVENTION, CLASSES ON
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND
CULTURAL COMPETENCY.
WE SUBMITTED A REPORT, I
BELIEVE LAST WEEK TO THE COUNCIL
THAT HAS MORE COMPREHENSIVE LIST
OF THE TRAINING.
IT WAS AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF THE
TRAINING.
UNFORTUNATELY, COVID HAS
INTERFERED WITH A FEW OF THOSE
POINTS THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE
DUE TO RESTRICTIONS ON IN-PERSON
GROUP TRAINING.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING
TO WORK ON AND BE FLEXIBLE WITH.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE WANT TO
GET VALUE OUT OF THE PROGRAM.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN SERVING THE
CITY OUT IN PUBLIC ON FOOT OR IN
VEHICLES GOING OUT AND THE
MAJORITY OF THE TIME IS SPENT
OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THEY
CAN INTERACT WITH MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC.
SO THEY HAVE ONGOING
PROJECTS THEY ARE WORKING ON, AS
WELL AS BEING DISPATCHED BY THE
911 SYSTEM TO BE SENT TO RADIO
CALLS.
OR SOMETIMES THEY RECEIVE DIRECT
CALLS STRAIGHT TO THEIR OFFICE
TO AS WITH COMMUNITY PROBLEMS.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY
CLOSELY WITH OUR CIVILIAN CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATORS TO HELP
IMPLEMENT CRIME PREVENTION
STRATEGIES AND INFORMATION
SHARING.
ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WHEN I
SPOKE TO THE SUPERVISORS ABOUT
SOME OF THE PROGRESS THEY HAVE
MADE, THEY HAVE A TRAINING IN
CRIME PREVENTION FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WOULD GO OUT
AND TALK THE A GROCERY STORE
OWNER WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF THEFT
OR CALLS FOR SERVICE AND KIND OF
GET EYES ON AND BUILD THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TRUST.
THAT'S ONE OF THE PRIMARY GOALS
OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER
PROGRAM.
ESTABLISH WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS
PATTERNS BASED ON THEIR
TRAINING.
AND CONNECT THE, SAY, BUSINESS
OWNER OR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP
LEADER WITH OUR CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATOR IN ORDER TO GET A
MORE ROBUST CRIME PREVENTION FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ASSESSMENT.
SO WE SEE INTEGRATION AND
SYNERGY IN THE WAY WE DEPLOY THE
CSOs.
CURRENTLY, SHE STAFF TWO SHIFTS
FROM 7:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL
8:00 AT NIGHT.
THE COVERAGE HAS BEEN EXPANDED
TO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITH THE
EVENT IMPMENTATION OF SHIFTS.
WE HAD PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED YOU
WE WOULD DO SIX DAYS A WEEK.
I NEED TO NOTIFY THE COUNCIL WE
ARE EMPLOYING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
NOW.
THEY DO NOT WORK HOLIDAYS.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING OUT
OF THE SPD HEADQUARTERS ON THE
FIFTH FLOOR.
THEY HAVE THREE PRIMARY
CATEGORIES OF WORK THAT THEY'RE
WORKING ON.
THAT BEING RESOURCE
CONNECTION AND GUIDANCE FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
YOUTH DIVERSION AND YOUTH
SERVICES.
AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
EDUCATION.
AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY,
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AS IT HAS
WITH EVERYTHING, IMPACTED THE
PLANNED DEPLOYMENT.
15 OF THE PLANNED 18 WERE HIRED.
BUT WE COULDN'T FILL OUT THE
REMAINING SPOTS.
CURRENTLY, WE PLAN TO LEAVE
THOSE POSITIONS UNFILLED DUE TO
THE HIRING FREEZE AND THE BUDGET
CONCERNS AT THE MOMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, THE COVID
PANDEMIC HAS ALSO IMPACTED SOME
OF THE DELIVERY OF SOME OF OUR
SUPPLIES.
THERE WAS IMPACTS TO SOME OF,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNIFORMS OR
DELAYED DELIVERY OF THE
VEHICLES.
THE FORD FACTORY SLOWED DOWN
PRODUCTION OF THE VEHICLES.
THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY
UNEXPECTED IMPACTS FROM THE
PANDEMIC.
WE COULD NOT INITIALLY
COMPLETELY ALL OF THE TRAINING.
SO THE NAME OF THE GAME
CURRENTLY IS TO BE ADAPTIVE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE
EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE PROVEN TO BE
EXCEPTIONALLY ADAPTABLE AND
FLEXIBLE WITH TRYING TO FIND
CURRENT VALUE BEFORE WE CAN GET
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND SEE THE
RESULTS OF REDEPLOYING THE
RESOURCE FROM HISTORY.
CURRENTLY, SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE IS
THEY FOUND THROUGH COMMUNITY
MEETINGS THAT THERE WAS A GREAT
LOGISTICS PROBLEM WHERE THE FOOD
BANKS GETTING FOOD TO SOME OF
THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS WITH
THE SHUTDOWN AND PEOPLE ORDERED
TO STAY AT HOME.
AND SOME OF THE TRANSIT SERVICES
BECAME FEAR POINTEDS FOR PEOPLE
NOT WANTING TO EXPOSE THEMSELVES
TO COVID-19 ON, SAY, PUBLIC
TRANSIT SUCH AS BUSES.
SO THE CSO SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO
AS THE FOOD BANKS WITH
DELIVERING FOOD WEEKLY.
THEY CHECK IN TO SEE THE NEED
AND IF THERE'S ANY HIGH NEED
AREAS WHERE THEY CAN GET THE
FOOD OUT.
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WEEKLY
SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN OF THE
STREET ASKING WITH THAT.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING
HEAVILY IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THEY GO OUT ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AND
ENGAGE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
WITH THE DRIVE BYES FOR THE
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT, EMPHASIZING
PLACES SUCH AS NURSING HOMES OR
PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE LESS
MOBILITY TO GET OUT AND HAVE
SOCIAL INTERACTION.
I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE MADE
NUMEROUS CONTACTS IN CITY PARKS
TRYING TO BOTH ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY AND GET FEEDBACK.
BUT ALSO REMINDING PEOPLE OF
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
AND IN MANY CASES, THE NUMBERS
ARE AT LEAST 80 MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC THAT THEY PROVIDE MASKS
TO TO AS WITH THE SOCIAL
DISTANCING GUIDELINES.
THEY HAVE ATTENDED VIRTUAL
MEETINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE
MET WITH THE C.I.D.
VIRTUAL ZOOM
MEETING TO GET PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE PROVIDED TRANSPORT FOR
PEOPLE IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS
SUCH AS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WITH A
DISABLED VEHICLE WHERE A FAMILY
COULDN'T GET HOME.
THEY HAVE PROVEN INVALUABLE IN
THAT RATHER THAN HAVING AN
OFFICER WITH A MARKED PATROL CAR
AND A PRISONER COMPARTMENT
TRANSPORT SOMEONE HOME.
SO MOVING FORWARD, I KNOW THAT
CHIEF DIAZ AND I BOTH SEE THE
CSOs AS AN IMPORTANT PART IN
REENVISIONING POLICING.
TO THAT END, THE CSOs HAVE
PROVIDED HANDOUTS AND LINKS TO
THE REMAEJEN POLICE SURVEY AND
GETTING THE PUBLIC TO INCREASE
THE PARTICIPATION IN THE SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEY.
SO I AT THIS POINT, THAT'S
REALLY WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU.
AND I COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR
QUESTIONS NOW.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
OVERVIEW.
QUICK QUESTION WHILE MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCILARE
DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THEY
HAVE QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT HAS
BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME AS
IT RELATES TO THE
REESTABLISHMENT OF THE CSO
PROGRAM RELATES TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE PROHIBITION
AGAINST LAND LORD LOCKOUTS
OUTSIDE OF A COURT ORDER OR
UTILITY SHUTOFFS.
AND FOR MANY YEARS, THERE'S BEEN
SORT AFTER MANY YEARS -- AS LONG
AS I HAVE BEEN AT CITY HALL AND
BEFORE THAT AT THE TENANT'SUP I
DON'T KNOW.
THERE'S BEEN A VOLLEYING BACK
AND FORTH BETWEEN THE CODE
ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.
MANY OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.
AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER
WHO ENFORCES THAT PROHIBITION
AGAINST LOCKOUTS AND UTILITY
SHUTOFFS.
THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE HAS
DONE IT ON OCCASION.
AND FRANKLY, THE TIME WHEN IN MY
OPINION IT FUNCTIONED BEST WAS
WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO REFER THESE
TO CSOs WHEN THE OLD CSO PROGRAM
WAS UP AND RUNNING.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM, AND WE
DON'T HAVE TO DO IT NOW, BUT I
WANT TO CONFIRM THERE'S A CLEAR
LINE FOR TENANTS OR TENANT
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE
AWARE OF UNLAWFUL LOCKOUS OR
UTILITY SHUTOFFS TO THE CSOs TO
BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A CIVIL
ISSUE SUCH AS THAT.
.
>>> I WAS SPEAKING HISTORICALLY.
HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY
IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE OF THE COVID
IMPACTS OF GETTING THIS UP AND
RUNNING AND UP TO SPEED.
THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT
IS UP FOR DISCUSSION BUT IS
CURRENTLY NOT IMPLEMENTED.
>> AGAIN, HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME
AND THE COUNCIL WHEN WE PROVIDED
THE FUNDING.
I THINK THIS FUNCTION WAS CALLED
OUT IN OUR BUDGET ACTION AS A
HIGH PRIORITY.
FOR THE CSOs.
LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU
MORE ABOUT THAT.
AND COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, DOES
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHIC DEPLOYMENT
OF CSOs?
THERE WAS SOME TALK PRIOR TO
IMPMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM OF
WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS GOING TO
BE A CENTRAL DEPLOYMENT OR A BY
PRECINCT DEPLOYMENT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOUGH THE
CSOs ARE CENTRALLY LOCATED AT
THE SEATTLE JUSTICE CENTER, THEY
ARE EVENLY DEPLOYED TO THE
PRECINCTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IS THAT MORE OR LESS
CORRECT?
>> THEY ARE CENTRALIZED.
THAT PART IS CORRECT.
WE WANTED TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE IN
THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO
AREAS OF NEED.
SO THEY'RE CURRENTLY NOT LIMITED
BY GEOGRAPHY.
FOR EXAMPLE, ASSIGNED
PERMANENTLY TO A NORTH PRECINCT
OR A SOUTHWEST PRECINCT.
BUT THEY ARE LIAISONS WITH THE
PRECINCTS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE
ISSUES ARE AND ATTEMPTING TO AS
THEM AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO
AS WITH GAPS WITH THE PATROL
RESOURCES WITH EACH OF THE
PRECINCTS.
IF WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE
SOMETHING BIG AT AL KIE, WE
MAINTAIN THE FLEXIBILITY BY
BEING CENTRALIZED TO DEPLOY THE
RESOURCES TOWARD SOMETHING GOING
ON OR ACUTE AT THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
I HAVE A QUESTION.
PART OF THE REPORT RESPONSE
DISCUSSES THE KIND OF ROUTINE
PATROLS THAT THE CSOs GO THROUGH
IN COMMUNITY AND SPECIFICALLY
TALKS ABOUT HAVING CONVERSATIONS
WITH BUSINESSES THAT ARE
EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN ABOUT
CRIME IN THE AREA AND HOW TO
REPORT CRIME.
CAN YOU JUST WALK US THROUGH --
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE PROCESS IS FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS, PARTICULARLY THESE
KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS, TO REPORT WHEN
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING.
IF THEY'RE SPEAKING WITH A
COMMUNITY RESOURCE OFFICER
FIRST, WHAT IS THE HANDOFF,
MAYBE, TO ANOTHER OFFICER, AND
WHAT IS THE PROCESS THEY CAN
EXPECT FOR FOLLOW THROUGH?
AND I'M ASKING BECAUSE I HAVE
HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT MY
DISTRICT IN CHINA TOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, THE
MOUNT BAKER, LIGHT RAIL AREA, IN
RANIER BEACH CALLING TO ASK FOR
SUPPORT.
THERE'S CAR BREAK INS, SHOOTINGS
HAPPENING.
SOME OF THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
THERE CAN BE AN IMMEDIATE
RESPONSE TO.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING FAR WITH
GETTING ASSISTANCE AND
UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW TO
RESOLVE IT.
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF WHAT NEIGHBORS CAN
EXPECT WHETHER THEY'RE TALKING
TO A CSO OFFICER OR A REGULAR
OFFICER AND HOW THAT RESPONSE IS
SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT THAT
YOU ADDED THERE BETWEEN SWORN
OFFICER AND A CSO.
I'LL START WITH THE CSO.
FOR EXAMPLE, A COMMUNITY WHERE
YOU HAVE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
THAT MAY BE LESS FAMILIAR WITH
THE 911 SYSTEM AND INTERACTING
WITH POLICE.
WHEN WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT FROM A CSO, WE COULD
HAVE A SITUATION, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHERE THE CSO COULD EXPLAIN WITH
A THRESHOLD FOR A CRIME IS
VERSUS A NUISANCE, WHAT THE
OBLIGATION OF THE BUSINESS OWNER
IS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CODE THAT
REQUIRES THAT THEY CLEAN UP
TAGGING VERSUS, YOU KNOW,
EXPECTING THE CITY TO CLEAN UP
THE TAGGING.
IN SOME CASES, THE CITY HAS
SUPPORTED.
BUT THAT TYPE OF
DIFFERENTIATION.
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS, FOR
EXAMPLE, THEY CAN EXPLAIN THE
FLOW OF A PATROL OFFICER TAKING
A REPORT THAT IS THEN FORWARDED
TO, FOR EXAMPLE, A PRECINCT
DETECTIVE THAT FOLLOWS UP ON
PROPERTY CRIMES, LIAISING
BETWEEN THE SUPERVISOR ABOUT
WHERE THE CASE IS GOING TO GO
AND FOLLOWING UP ON LEADS LIKE
THAT, WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE
DETECTIVE CONTACT, WHAT TYPE OF
THINGS THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT A
RECURRENCE SUCH AS LIGHTING OR,
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ISSUES.
HOWEVER, WE ARE, TO PUT A FINE
POINT ON IT, WE ARE TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ISSUES
WHILE ACTUALLY REFERRING THOSE
TO THE CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATORS CERTIFIED IN THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ISSUES FOR
CRIME PREVENTION.
THEY CAN DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS
AND GET A FEEL FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND CREATE A
CONSTANT POINT OF CONTACT.
WITH A 911 CALL, YOU GET THE
AVAILABLE OFFICER THAT CAN MAKE
IT OUT.
SO YOU MAY SEE A DIFFERENCE IN
TODAY I GOT OFFICER X, AND THEN
ON OFFICER X'S WEEKEND, NOW I
HAVE OFFICER Y, A RELIEF OFFICER
FOR THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OFFICER
X IS NORMALLY GONE.
THEY ARE WORKING TOWARD -- WE
ARE WORKING FORWARD GETTING THEM
FULLY ENGAGED WITH THE
PRECINCTS.
BUT SUPPLEMENTS THAT WITH THE
CSOs AND THEIR ABILITY TO FOLLOW
UP AND SPEND MORE TIME.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES I CAN THINK
OF IS A GROCERY STORE IN SOUTH
END WHERE THERE WAS FREQUENT 911
CALLS.
AND AN OFFICER DUE TO CALL
LOAD MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
INVEST THE TIME WITH THE STORE
MANAGER.
WHERE THE CSO CAN SIT FOR A
COUPLE OF HOURS AND ENGAGE AND
MONITOR FOR A GREAT DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THEM WOULD BE AN OFFICER
MAY HAVE A DUTY TO ACT WHEN THEY
WITNESS SOMETHING IN FRONT OF
THEM.
WHERE THE CSO NOT BEING A SWORN
OFFICER CAN CONTINUE TO WATCH
FOR THE PATTERN AND ENGAGE AND
GET THE CITIZEN PERSPECTIVE OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING.
TO ROUND OUT THE ANSWER, WHEN A
911 CALL COMES IN, IT'S BASED ON
THE CURRENT CALL LOAD AT THE
TIME, BASED ON THE EMERGENCY
LEVEL OF THE CALL, FOR EXAMPLE,
A SHOOTING ABOVE A TAGGING CALL.
AND THE RESOURCES MAY OR
MAY NOT GET THERE IMMEDIATELY.
THEY MAY, YOU KNOW, GET
THIS SEPARATE FROM ANOTHER
OFFICER THAT'S GOING TO A
DIFFERENT ONE AND NOT
IMMEDIATELY SEE THAT THERE MAY
BE A TIE IN BETWEEN ISSUES UNTIL
FURTHER DOWN THE CHAIN.
A CSO SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE
ONGOING ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY
AOPPOSED TO THREE DIFFERENT SETS
OF OFFICER GOING TO THREE
PROPERTY CRIMES DISCOVERED AT
DIFFERENT THINGS.
AT A SEAHAWKS GAME, 100 PEOPLE
GOT THE CAR BROKE INTO.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SORRY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR THOROUGH
ANSWER.
WE DO NEED TO WRAP UP.
WE'RE QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF
TIME AND WE HAVE TWO MORE ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA.
I APPRECIATE YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO COME AND PRESENT TO US
ABOUT THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM THAT
COUNCIL IS VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE
OF.
AND DO COME AND SPEAK WITH US
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>>> ITEM NUMBER SIX.
ALEX, PLEASE READ ITEM SIX.
>> SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S KICK IT OFF WITH A QUICK
ROUND OF INTRODUCTIONS FROM THE
PRESENTERS.
>> CHAIR HER BOLD, I THINK IT
WOULD BE GREAT IF -- MY NAME IS
JESSE RAWLINS.
I'LL BE LEADING THE PRESENTATION
TODAY.
I WAS WONDERING IF BRAD FINEGOOD
FROM PUBLIC HEALTH COULD GO
FIRST?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> TO GROUND US IN SOME OF THE
OVERDOSE RATES HERE IN SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTY.
>> SOUNDS LIKE A SOUND PLACE TO
BEGIN.
.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS BRAD FINEGOOD.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HER
BOLD AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
I AM WITH PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE
KING COUNTY.
I WAS ONE OF THE COCHAIRS OF THE
HEROIN AND OPIATE COUNCIL.
I AM GOING TO SHARE THE DATA
POINTS WITH COUNCIL TODAY, IF I
CAN GET MY TECHNOLOGY WORKING
RIGHT.
LET'S SEE HERE.
MY APOLOGIES.
CAN EVERYONE SEE
MY SCREEN NOW?
.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY.
SO BRAD FINEGOOD, JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF THE GENERAL
OVERDOSE NUMBERS IN KING COUNTY.
OVERDOSES CONTINUE TO RISE
AND THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO RISE
YEAR OTHER YEAR SINCE WE HELD
OUR TASK FORCE IN 2015.
THE BIGGEST CATEGORY THAT
HAS CONTINUED TO ARISE IS THE
PEOPLE WHO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
DIED OF OVERDOSES THAT HAVE
MULTIPLE DRUGS IN THEIR SYSTEM.
WE'RE SEEING A CONTINUING
COMPLEXITY OF OVERDOSE NUMBERS,
OVERDOSE DEATHS, AND PEOPLE WHO
ARE USING DRUGS THAT HAVE
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.
SO YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE
ARE TWO NUMBERS THAT ARE GOING
UP DRASTICALLY IN THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE -- THIS IS WHERE CERTAIN
DRUGS ARE INVOLVED IN PEOPLE'S
SYSTEM.
AND I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK AT A
LATER TIME TO TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT.
BUT THE TWO MOST PROMINENT DRUGS
ON THE RISE IN PEOPLE'S SYSTEMS
THAT HAVE LED TO OVERDOSE DEATHS
ARE METHAMPHETAMINE AND
FENTANYL.
FENTANYL VERY MUCH SO COUNTY
WIDE.
HEROIN AND METHAMPHETAMINE MUCH
MORE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN
OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
SO HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF
NUMBERS AND GEOGRAPHIC IMPACTS
OF OVERDOSE DEATHS.
FENTANYL OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE
MORE PREDOMINANT IN THE OUTLYING
CITIES OF THE COUNTY.
WHERE 40% OF FENTANYL-
FENTANYL-INVOLVED DEATHS ARE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND ALMOST 60% IS IN THE REST OF
THE COUNTY.
NON-FENTANYL-INVOLVED OVERDOSE
DEATHS, PRIMARILY WITH HEROIN
AND METHAMPHETAMINE, THOSE
CONTINUE TO SEE SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND THAT CONTINUES TO BE VERY
MUCH CLUSTERED IN THE URBAN
CORE.
THAT IS MY QUICK UPDATE.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO
SHARE TIME WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> THANK YOU, BRAD.
SO WHAT'S THE PROPOSAL?
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
RECOMMENDED MODEL HAS SHIFTED
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO
TALK ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S
NEW IN THE CAMPAIGN AND THE
PROPOSAL THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO
TO SUPPORT FUNDING WITH THE
FUNDING THAT THE CITY HAS PUT
ASIDE FOR THIS PURPOSE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HER BOLD.
AND THANK YOU, BRAD, FOR GIVING
US THAT INFORMATION ON LOCAL
STATISTICS AROUND OUR OVERDOSE
CRISIS.
SO I WANTED TO START OFF
WITH INTRODUCTIONS.
WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION
TODAY FROM YES TO SAFE
CONSUMPTION SPACES PRESENTING ON
THE LOCAL STRATEGIES FOR
IMPLEMENTS SCS.
I'M JESSE RAWLINS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND FOR
BEING HERE.
MY NAME IS JESSE RAWLINS.
AND I'M THE PUBLIC POLICY
MANAGER AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
ASSOCIATION.
AND I WILL LET MARK INTRODUCE
HIMSELF NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M MARK KOOKS, AN ATTORNEY WITH
THE ACLU OF WASHINGTON AND A
MEMBER OF THE CAMPAIGN.
>> AND THEN IF WE COULD HAVE
DR. WATERS.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS RICHARD WATERS, A
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN SPEAKING
ON MY OWN.
I WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS
AND THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THEN MICHAEL?
>> GOOD MORNING.
MICHAEL ANYONE NINBURG, THE
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF HEPATITIS EDUCATION.
>> AND THEN LASTLY, LISA.
.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
I'M A LONG-TERM NORTH SEATTLE
RESIDENT.
A MOTHER, A HOMEOWNER, AND
COFOUNDER OF AURORA COMMONS HERE
IN NORTH SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
INTRODUCING YOURSELF.
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY
EFFICIENT WITH OUR PRESENTATION
TODAY AND HIT HIGH LEVELS AND
TRY TO LEAVE TIME AT THE END FOR
QUESTIONS.
SO WE'RE KIND OF GOING TO
GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OUR
YES TO SCS TIME LINE.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR
LOCAL STRATEGY FOR SCS
IMPMENTATION.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OTHER TO MARK TO START US OFF
WITH OUR TIME LINE OF SCS HERE
IN SEATTLE KING COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU, JESSE.
AND APOLOGIES IF THERE'S
DOG BARKING NOISE.
SO WE ACTUALLY JUST HIT THE
FOUR-YEAR ANNIVERSARY LAST WEEK
FOR WHEN THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
OPIATE TASK FORCE RELEASED ITS
FINDINGS.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO.
BUT THE NEED IS STILL THERE.
AND WE ARE STILL COMMITTED TO
TRYING TO GET THIS PUBLIC HEALTH
INTERVENTION IMPLEMENTED.
SHORTLY AFTER THE REPORT CAME
OUT, THE KING COUNTY BOARD OF
HEALTH ENDORSED THIS PRACTICE.
WE GOT A RESOLUTION IN 2017 THAT
PUT THIS ON VERY STRONG LEGAL
FOOTING.
WHICH LED INTO BUDGETARY
DECISIONS, WHICH I THINK JESSE
WAS GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE
DETAIL ON.
>> YEAH.
WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS
BODY HAS SHOWN A LOT OF
LEADERSHIP AROUND SCS.
IN PARTICULAR IN 2018 THROUGH
Y'ALL'S BUDGET AUTHORITY
ALLOCATED $1.3 MILLION.
AND THEN IN 2019, ALLOCATED AN
ADDITIONAL $100,000.
IN 2020, CHAIR HER BOLD IN BEING
BRILLIANT IN THE LEGISLATIVE
DETAILS FOUND THAT THE $100,000
ALLOCATED WAS NOT INCLUDED IN
THE FINANCE.
I APPRECIATE CHAIR HER BOLD WITH
MARRYING THE TWO.
>> AND ALL CREDIT GOES TO
CHRISTINE IN MY OFFICE FOR
FINDING THAT OVERSIGHT.
>> SO MOVING ALONG, SO AS YOU
KNOW, THE -- WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
PUSHING FOR IS WE HAVE
HISTORICALLY TALKED ABOUT
IMPLEMENTING TWO PILOT SCSs.
ONE IN SEATTLE AND ONE IN KING
COUNTY.
THAT'S WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDED.
AND MUCH OF THAT ADVOCACY
WAS AROUND A STAND ALONE SITE.
AND WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TO
DISCUSS AN INVOLVED STRATEGY FOR
IMPLEMENTING SCS.
THE STRATEGY IS IMPLEMENTING
SUPERVISED OR SAFER CONSUMPTION
SERVICES THAT SERVE PEOPLE WHO
USE DRUGS.
SO WHAT WE KNOW
ACTUALLY IS THAT UNSAFE OR
UNSUPERVISED CONSUMPTION ALREADY
OCCURS AT MANY OF THE LOCATIONS.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR
SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO UNSAFE AND
UNSUPERVISED CONSUMPTIONS
ALREADY HAPPENING AT THESE
LOCATIONS, 80% OF SURVEY
RESPONDENTS IN THE MOST RECENT
SYRINGE PROGRAM SURVEY, 880%,
AGAIN, ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD USE
THE SCS SERVICES.
IN 2016, 15 MONTHS AFTER THE
CITY STARTED ITS NEEDLE
COLLECTION PILOT, OVER 5,000
NEEDLES WERE REMOVED FROM PUBLIC
SPACE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE HAVE
BEEN -- SINCE THE TASK FORCE
MADE ITS RECOMMENDATION, 754
PEOPLE IN INSIDE SEATTLE HAVE
DIED FROM FATAL OVERDOSES.
WHAT'S SUPER FASCINATING IS THAT
14% OF COUNTY-WIDE OVERDOSE
RATES WITH AFFECTED BY PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND COMPARING THAT TO THE TOTAL
POPULATION, 0.5% OF KING
COUNTY'S POPULATION IS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
SO THAT'S 14% VERSUS 0.5%.
SO AGAIN, JUST HIGHLIGHTING THE
DISPROPORTIONATE OVERDOSES AND
HOW SCSs WOULD BE A BENEFICIAL
APPROACH FOR THE VULNERABLE
FOLKS THAT USE DRUGS.
SO NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO MARK TO TALK JUST A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LEGAL
LANDSCAPE OF SCS.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.
JUST WANTED TO KIND OF
POINT BACK TO THE 2016 TASK
FORCE REPORT WHICH REALLY DID,
YOU KNOW, TRY TO DELVE INTO THE
LEGAL QUESTIONS THALGD COME BE
OPENING UP THIS TYPE OF
INTERVENTION.
THE BIG THING TO REMEMBER IS
THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC
HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY
REGULATION THAT LEGALLY
SPEAKING, THOSE ARE LOCAL AND
STATE ISSUES AND NOT FEDERAL
ISSUES.
AND THE LAW IS QUITE CLEAR
THAT, YOU KNOW, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND STATES DON'T
NEED TO BE IN STEP IN FEDERAL
LAW.
AND YOU KNOW, EXAMPLES OF
THAT IS THINGS LIKE NEEDLE
EXCHANGES OR MARIJUANA LAWS.
THERE ARE MUCH MORE CLEAR
CUT FEDERAL DRUG CRIMES
HAPPENING IN SEATTLE EVERY DAY,
THOUSANDS OF TIMES, WHEN PEOPLE
ARE PURCHASING MARIJUANA, WHICH
CONTINUES TO BE AN ILLEGAL
FEDERAL CRIME.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO IMPLEMENTING
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A DRUG
CRIME AT ALL BASED ON THE
FEDERAL CRACK HOUSE STATUTE.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE WHEN PEOPLE
RAISE THE SPECK TOR OF FEDERAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A REASON NOT
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
SO REALLY JUST WANTED TO
REMIND THIS BODY THAT YOU HAVE
GREAT AUTHORITY WHEN IT COMES TO
REGULATING ISSUES OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND
FEEL STRONGLY THAN A CONSUMPTION
SPACE FITS IN THAT.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A REALLY
GOOD EXAMPLE, I WOULD POINT TO
THE SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEYS BRIEF
THAT WAS FILED RECENTLY IN THE
CASE OUT OF PHILADELPHIA THAT
WAS LOOKING AT THESE EXACT
ISSUES.
IN THAT CASE, WHICH IS STILL
ONGOING AND NOT BINDING ON
SEATTLE, THE JUDGE MADE QUITE
CLEAR THAT THIS NOTION THAT A
CONSUMPTION SPACE VIOLATING
FEDERAL LAW IS NOT CORRECT.
THE INTENT OF THE FACILITIES IS
PUBLIC HEALTH AND TO CONNECT
PEOPLE WITH TREATMENT AND
SERVICES, NOT TO FACILITATE DRUG
CRIMES.
I WOULD REITERATE THERE IS VERY
STRONG LEGAL GROUND FOR THE
FACILITIES.
AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE SHOULD
MOVE FORWARD.
IT'S BEEN MUCH TOO LONG.
THE MONEY HAS BEEN SITTING THERE
ARE IF YEARS.
PLEASE PUT IT TO GOOD NEWS.
>> AND JUST A PUT A FINER POINT
ON MARK, THANKS AGAIN, IS THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS KIND OF
CONTINUOUSLY AND HISTORICALLY
ADVANCED POLICIES IN DEFINEMENT
WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ASK THAT
SUCH POLICIES BE PUSHED FOR
VULNERABLE FOLKS THAT USE DRUGS
AS WELL.
SO NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
DR. WATERS TO GIVE HIS
PERSPECTIVE AROUND HEALTH CARE
COMPONENTS WITH SCS.
>> THANKS, JESSE AND MARK.
AND THANKS TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR HAVING US.
FROM A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
PERSPECTIVE, I FULLY SUPPORT
HIS.
IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC
HEALTH.
AND IT SHOULD BE CONCEPT LIESED
AS A STRATEGY TO REDUCE DRUG USE
OVERALL.
WE HAVE NEEDLE EXCHANGES THAT
ARE A PROVEN INTERVENTION TO
REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION OF VIRAL
HEPATITIS OR HIV.
AND THE FOLKS MOST VULNERABLE,
SCS CONTINUES THIS AND CAN
REDUCE THE RISKS FURTHER.
REDUCING FATAL OVERDOSES AND
ALSO FURTHER REDUCING VIRAL
HEPATITIS SPREAD, HIV, AND
COSTLY TO HUMAN HEALTH AND
HEALTH CARE COSTS, DANGEROUS
BACTERIAL INFECTIONS, THE HEART
VALVE INFECTIONS, HAS POTENTIAL
TO IMPROVE THOSE.
AND EXISTING
SITES, THERE CAN BE PATHWAYS TO
ACCESS THE DRUG TREATMENT
PROGRAMS.
THAT'S EXCITING AND WILL BE
POTENTIALLY VERY EFFECTIVE AT
REDUCING OVERALL DRUG USE IN THE
LONG TERM.
SOME MAY LAMENT THIS IDEA AND
SAY WHY DON'T WE GO ALL IN ON
DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND SKIP
THE IDEA OF A SAFE CON SUFRPS
SITE.
THAT MISS THE IDEA THAT BUILDING
TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS OVER THE
LONG TERM IS KEY AND ESSENTIAL
FOR KIND OF DURABLE ENGAGEMENT
INTO DRUG REDUCTION PROGRAMS AND
TO KIND OF DECREASE HARM.
SO I THINK THESE COMPLEMENT EACH
OTHER.
AND CERTAINLY, THE KIND OF OTHER
BENEFIT IS BRINGING EXISTING
DRUG USE THAT IS ALREADY
HAPPENING IN SAFE, AD HOC DRUG
CONSUMPTION SPACES.
INDOORS, OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE,
TO PLACES THAT ARE SAFE AND
WELCOMING, AND AGAIN, CAN
IMPROVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
CLIENTS WE ALREADY SERVE.
THANK YOU.
>> AND WHILE WE'RE TRANSITIONING
TO THE LAST SLIDE INTRODUCING
LISA AND MICHAEL, I WILL ALSO
ADD THAT THE CITY EXECUTIVE HAS
KIND OF CONTINUED TO LABEL
BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AROUND MOVING
FORWARD WITH SCS.
AND SO WE DON'T FIND THOSE
BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AS LEGITIMATE
WITH THIS EVOLVED STRATEGY.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT
FOR IMPLEMENTING SCS AT EXISTING
SOCIAL SERVICE LOCATIONS.
WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO PROVIDERS
VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THEIR
INTEREST IN IMPLEMENTING THE SCS
AT THEIR SOCIAL SERVICE
LOCATIONS.
LISA AND MICHAEL.
>> OKAY.
BEFORE WE TRANSITION, I JUST
WANT TO -- BECAUSE IT IS 11:59
AND SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE
RUNNING OFF TO ANOTHER COMMITTEE
MEETING, I WANTED TO GIVE THE
COUNCILMEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ASK QUESTIONS AT THIS JUNCTURE.
>> GREAT.
>> JUST TAKING A PAUSE FOR A
MOMENT.
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE.
GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
>> MICHAEL OR LISA, WOULD Y'ALL
LIKE TO TALK?
>> SURE.
I CAN GO.
YES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
I AM HERE TO UNABASHEDLY PLEAD
WITH YOU TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO
SCS.
I KNOW WITH MY WHOLE HEART
AND 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
ACCOMPANYING FOLKS LIVING
UNSHELTERED, ENGAGING IN
SURVIVAL, SEX WORKERS, CONSUMING
DRUGS, THIS IS THE MORAL THING
TO DO.
WHAT I WITNESS EVERY DAY
ARE 60 TO 125 UNIQUE RESILIENT
CITIZENS OF YOUR CITY WHO DO NOT
WANT TO DIE, BUT RATHER WANT
DESPERATELY TO LIVE AND MAKE
MEANS OF THEIR LIVES.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT
IS BEHIND OUR WALLS, EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF US ON THIS CALL, IS
HURTING AT TIMES AND LONELY AT
TIMES.
ONLY WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
HIDING HOW WE COPE BEHIND FOUR
WALLS.
AND THE PRECIOUS FOLKS WHO NEED
SCS DO NOT HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE.
THEY'RE OUTDOORS AND PUSHED MORE
AND MORE AWAY FROM OUR SOCIETY
AND ABSOLUTELY TOLD AND TREATED
AS THOUGH THEY ARE EXPENDABLE.
WHAT WE ARE SAYING TO YOU NOW IS
SAFE CONSUMPTION SPACES WITH
PLACES LIKE AURORA COMMONS THAT
ENGAGE AND CONTEXT YULIZE
STORY-DRIVEN CARE.
FOLKS ARE THREAT WHERE THEY ARE
AND TREATED AS IF THEY MATTER.
IN THE SPACES, THE FOLKS CAN
COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND
ACCESS COMPREHENSIVE CARE IN A
WAY AND AT PLACES THEY FEEL SAFE
AND NOT CONDEMNED.
I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR, THE
SCS COLAEKTED IN PEOPLE'S
COMMUNITIES IS NOT ONLY A
KINDNESS, BUT IT IS THE RIGHT
PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE WE NEED.
I HAVE SEEN THIS WORK FIRSTHAND.
FUNDING THIS WILL NOT ONLY
PREVENT HUNDREDS OF UNNECESSARY
PREVENTABLE DEATHS OF PRECIOUS
PEOPLE, IT WILL MAKE THE
COMMUNITIES SAFER.
MY OWN YOUNG CHILDREN'S PARKS
SAFER.
AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE
KINDNESS THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, LISA.
MICHAEL, DO YOU WANT TO BRIEFLY
TALK ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND
HOW YOU COULD POSSIBLY
INCORPORATE THE FUNDING AT
HEPATITIS EDUCATION PROJECT?
>> YES.
I WOULD LOVE TO.
THANK YOU, LISA, AND EVERYONE
ELSE.
I THINK THERE'S UNDERSTANDING
THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE THAT HAS
NOT BEEN ALLOCATED.
AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
OURS, LIKE AURORA COMMONS WHERE
WE DO THINGS LIKE PROVIDE
NOLOXONE.
AND OUR PARTICIPANTS, 75% OF
WHOM REPORT LIVING HOMELESS IN
THE LAST YEAR, REVERSED 650
OVERDOSES IN 2019.
SO WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO REALLY
MAKE THIS PROBLEM BETTER.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE
SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION, IT'S
ABOUT AS DR. WATERS SAID GETTING
PEOPLE OTHER SERVICES THAT THEY
WANT OR NEED.
WE PROVIDE A LOW BARRIER
ORPHAN PROGRAM AT HEP.
WE DO TESTING AND CARE FOR
HEPATITIS AND HIV.
AND WE GET PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
GETTING THE SERVICES ANYWHERE
ELSE, THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
I WOULD ALSO STRONGLY URGE YOU,
CHAIR HER BOLD, TO DO WHAT YOU
CAN TO RELEASE THESE FUNDS TO
ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN ACTUALLY
PUT THEM TO WORK AND PREVENT
SOME OF THOSE 754 OVERDOSE
DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE
THE MONEYS WERE ORIGINALLY
ALLOCATED.
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC THAT THE COUNCIL
HAS ALLOCATED THESE RESOURCES.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY
UNDER OUR CURRENT ALLOCATION AS
IT HAS BEEN STRUCTURED, WE DON'T
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RELEASE
THEM.
I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE
RECENT PROGRAM PROPOSAL HAS BEEN
SENT TO HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR
JASON JOHNSON WITH THE REQUEST
FOR FEEDBACK.
I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THE LAW
DEPARTMENT PROVIDE WRITTEN
FEEDBACK AS WELL.
BUT I WANT TO JUST CLARIFY
THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN TRY TO
FACILITATE A WILLINGNESS ON THE
PART OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECTOR TO RELEASE IF FUNDING.
BUT ABSENT ANOTHER STRATEGY, THE
ABILITY -- THE DECISION MAKING
WILL BE WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECTOR AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
NOW, IF THERE IS ANOTHER
APPROACH THAT YOU THINK THAT THE
COUNCIL SHOULD BE CONSIDERING IN
ORDER TO GET THESE DOLLARS THAT
WE HAVE ALLOCATED OUT THE DOOR,
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
HEAR THAT AS WELL.
>> CHAIR HER BOLD, YOU'RE THE
GENIUS HERE, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FURTHER
ACTION WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MOVE
THE FUNDS FROM FINANCE GENERAL
TO THE BCL WHERE THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CONTRACT IS.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND SO THERE COULD BE SOME
NECESSARY FURTHER ACTION.
BUT YOU ARE CORRECT, WE URGENTLY
NEED THE MAYOR TO SPEND THE
DOLLARS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
AGAIN, AS MENTIONED, WE
HAVE SHARED THE PROPOSAL WITH
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND HAVE OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR A RENTIVE FROM HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT THE TALK
WITH US ABOUT HOW TO MOVE
FORWARD THIS BUDGETARY PRIORITY
OF THE COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, GIVEN
THAT I THINK THE RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR ALLOWING AGENCIES WHO
ALREADY PROVIDE THESE TYPES OF
SERVICES, TREATMENT SERVICES, TO
ALSO DO SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION
IS REALLY SMART WAY TO GO, GIVEN
THE DIFFICULTIES AROUND PURSUING
SORT OF A BRICK AND MORTAR
STRATEGY.
SO APPRECIATE
UNDERSTANDING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE -- I THINK WE
INTENDED TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM
PUBLIC HEALTH WITH US?
>> THAT WAS BRAD FINEGOOD WHO
SPOKE.
>> FANTASTIC.
IS BRAD STILL WITH US?
>> YES, MA'AM.
>> SO APPRECIATE THE BACKGROUND
ON OVERDOSES.
CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO
WHETHER OR NOT THE SUPERVISED
CONSUMPTION SERVICES PROPOSAL IS
IN FACT ALINED WITH THE TASK
FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS?
.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
AND ASSISTANT ONE OF THE
COCHAIRS OF THE TASK FORCE, WE
RECOMMENDED SUPERVISED
CONSUMPTION SPACES IN A MINIMUM
OF TWO PLACES IN KING COUNTY.
SO THE PROPOSAL PUT FORTH TODAY
IS ALINED WITH WHAT THE TASK
FORCE RECOMMENDED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
.
>> THANK YOU.
IF YOU DON'T MIND TAKING DOWN
THE SLIDE SO I CAN SEE MY
COLLEAGUES.
GREAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ANY CLOSING
THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS.
I DO KNOW THAT MANY OF US
HAVE A COMPETING MEETING THAT
STARTED SEVEN MINUTES AGO.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY
PUBLICLY, I DON'T KNOW IF MY
STAFF HAVE REACHED THE
PRESENTERS FOR THE CO-LEAD
PRESENTATION.
I FEAR THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO REACH EVERYBODY BECAUSE
I DO SEE THE ICONS FOR SOME
FOLKS STILL ON THE ZOOM CALL.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
ADJOURN THE MEETING.
AND I'M GOING TO WORK TO SEE IF
I CAN FIND SOME OTHER TIME FOR
CO-LEAD PRESENTERS TO BRING BACK
THEIR PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR COUNCILMEMBERS TO HEAR IT
BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE BUDGET
CYCLE.
AND SO I'M LOOKING AND HOPING
FOR MAYBE SOME TIME ON A MONDAY
MORNING BRIEFING AGENDA SOMETIME
SOON.
AND IF I'M SUCCESSFUL, YOU WILL
HAVE THE AUDIENCE OF NINE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS RATHER THAN
FOUR.
SO FINGERS CROSSED.
AND MY APOLOGIES FOR RUNNING
LONG.
>> THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER HER
BOLD.
WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT AND
LOVE THE AUDIENCE OF ALL NINE.
>> THANK YOU.
LOVE YOUR FLEXIBILITY.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, THEN IT IS
NOW 12:09 P.M.
AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.