>>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE,
JANUARY 5, 2021 MEETING OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO ORDER, IT IS TO: ONE P.M.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.
WE ARE GOING TO START OFF
TODAY'S BUSINESS WITH
PRESENTATIONS.
AS I MENTIONED THIS MORNING
DURING COUNSEL BRIEFING I DO
HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
-- THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE US
PRESENT THIS MORNING. AND TO
OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS
BEFORE SUSPENDING THE RULES TO
ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION.
I AM HONORED TO BRING THIS
PROCLAMATION FORWARD TO HONOR
-- AS THE PROCLAMATION NOTES
THAT WE CIRCULATED LAST WEEK,
HE IS A TREMENDOUS -- IT MAKES
ME VERY EXCITED TO CELEBRATE
SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT DECADES
ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND WOMEN IN
WASHINGTON STATE AND OF COURSE
HERE IN OUR OWN CITY.
LOUISE IS A TRAILBLAZER AND
FIERCE CHAMPION FOR THE CAUSES
THAT SHE BELIEVES IN.
WE ARE A BETTER CITY STATE AND
COUNTY BECAUSE OF LOUISE, I
HAVE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH
LOUISE AND HAVE APPRECIATED HER
THOUGHTFUL APPROACH AND
APPRECIATION TO NUANCES OF HOW
WE PURSUE PROGRESSIVE CHANGE
AND HOW WE IMPLEMENT THAT
PROGRESSIVE CHANGE FOR THE
BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO COUNT
LOUISE AS A MASSIVE GIANT UPON
WHOSE SHOULDERS WE STAND ON IN
THE AFTERMATH OF HER
RETIREMENT.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS RETIREMENT
AND THAT LOUISE WILL IN THE
TRUE SPIRIT OF WHO SHE IS,
CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO
BE A TRAILBLAZER AND FIERCE
CHAMPION AS WE HAVE KNOWN HER
TO BE.
PERSONALLY I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF G
SBA FOR REACHING OUT TO US, IT
WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH
MATT LANDERS AND OTHERS ON THE
BOARD IN PULLING FORWARD THIS
PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE
JANUARY 31 AS THE OFFICIAL DAY
OF LOUISE, AND I ALSO WANT TO
THANK LOUISE FOR ALL OF HER WORK
IN G SBA'S COMMITMENT TO NOT
ONLY LIFTING UP THE VOICES OF
LGBTQ COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUT TO
REALLY CENTER RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND EQUITY EVEN WITHIN
THAT CONSTRUCT, I HAVE BEEN SO
TREMENDOUSLY IMPRESSED WITH
MANY OF THE SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAMS THAT NOT ONLY FOCUS ON
YOUTH OF COLOR WHO IDENTIFY AS
LGBTQ, BUT EVEN WITHIN THAT
POPULATION, GOING AS FAR AS
HELPING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS
HAVE A TRUE OPPORTUNITY TO
THRIVE AND BE SUCCESSFUL AND
HAVE OPPORTUNITY AND COMMUNITY.
I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
WORK OF LOUISE BUT I AM ALSO
GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK IN G SBA
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION TO
OUR GUEST HERE TODAY WHO IS HAS
SHOWN UP ON THE BEHALF OF
LOUISE SINCE THIS PROCLAMATION
úWILL BE PRESENTED TO HER AS A
SURPRISE AT HER PARTY LATER ON
THIS WEEK.
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES IN ORDER TO
ALLOW MARK TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF
LOUISE AND TO PROVIDE SOME
REMARKS.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED,
MARK, WELCOME TO THE CITY
COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING.
I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
HANDED OVER TO YOU TO ALLOW YOU
TO PROVIDE SOME REMARKS TO THE
CITY COUNCIL, THANKS FOR BEING
WITH US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, FOR ORGANIZING THIS
PROCLAMATION AND HONORING
LOUISE WHO HAS REALLY BEEN SUCH
A LEADER IN MAKING AN IMPACT ON
CIVIL RIGHTS AND [
INDISCERNIBLE ] -- SHE HAS
SERVED DECADES OF WORK FOR MANY
ORGANIZATIONS BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY FOR US AS 19 YEARS
OF BEING OUR CEO AND PRESIDENT.
AS YOU SAID WE KNOW WE ARE NOT
GOING TO SEE THE LAST OF HER,
SHE IS GOING TO -- AND WE ALL
LOOK FORWARD TO HER NEXT
CHAPTER, BUT THIS IS A
WONDERFUL HONOR, WE THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
SERVICE AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU MARK FOR THOSE
REMARKS AND THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AND BEING WILLING HERE TO BE
HERE VIRTUALLY TO ACCEPT THE
PROCLAMATION.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OTHER
ITEMS OF BUSINESS I WANT TO
OPEN UP THE FLOOR TO MY
COLLEAGUES WHO MIGHT ALSO HAVE
SOME COMMENTS THAT THEY WANT TO
HAVE ADDED TO THE RECORD.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
COLLEAGUES?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE
YOU BRINGING FORWARD THIS
PROCLAMATION WITH OUR GOOD
FRIENDS AT G SBA.
IT PROBABLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING
BUT IF THERE WAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE
LARGE CELEBRATION FOR THE
INCREDIBLE WORK AT G SBA AND --
I WOULD BE THERE, AND I COME TO
THAT SORT OF CELEBRATION AND
PARTNERSHIP AS A LONGTIME LABOR
ADVOCATE WORKING FOR THE AFL-
CIO WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE TO
SPEAK WITH LOUISE AND WE WORKED
ON MINIMUM WAGE AND SICK LEAVE
STATEWIDE AND PAST -- WITH
SUPPORT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
WHEN WORKERS HAVE MORE MONEY IN
THEIR POCKET AND COMMUNITIES
HAVE THE ABILITY TO EARN MORE
OF A WAGE THAT BENEFITS OUR
SMALLEST BUSINESSES, PEOPLE
SPEND IT IN THEIR SMALLEST
LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS, AND --
ACROSS THE STATE WITH HER
INCREDIBLE WORK, SPECIFICALLY
HERE IN SEATTLE WHERE YOU ALL
HAVE AN INCREDIBLE LEADER WHO
HAS SHOWN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO
LIFT UP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
AND REALLY SHOW HOW THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE -- SO YOU ALL
ARE IN GREAT HANDS I KNOW AT G
SBA BUT I WANT TO SEND A NOTE
OF APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE
WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE OVER THE
YEARS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
DIVERSE COALITIONS TO ADVANCE --
AND WE ARE ALL BETTER FOR IT,
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
MARK FOR BEING WITH US ONCE
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR HER
TREMENDOUS WORK WHICH WE
DOCUMENTED IN THE PROCLAMATION,
WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT SHE IS
GOING TO BE CELEBRATED THIS
WEEKEND, AND AS SHE MENTIONED,
YOU WOULD SEE MANY OF US AT THAT
CELEBRATION BUT FOR THE
REALITIES OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT
WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR
ONGOING WORK TOGETHER WITH G
SBA UNDER ITS NEW LEADERSHIP ON
MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT I KNOW
WE SHARE A COMMON CAUSE ON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I KNOW
SHE WILL BE DEEPLY MOVED BY
THIS, IT IS VERY NICE.
>> OUR THANKS TO MATT AS WELL
FOR REACHING OUT TO US AND --
IN MY OFFICE WHO WORKED WITH G
SBA TO GET THIS DONE.
THANK YOU, TAKE CARE.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON OUR
AGENDA, FIRST IS THE APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES AND -- HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS THE MINUTES WILL
BE SIGNED, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE MINUTES?
AS YOU HAVE HEARD THIS MORNING
DURING COUNCIL BRIEFING, --
MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD HAD SOME
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTRODUCTION
-- SO I WILL MOVE FOR THE
ADOPTION OF THE INSTRUCTION OF
THE REPORT CALENDAR AND --
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTRODUCTION
OF THE REFERRAL CALENDAR.
I MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE
CALENDAR, IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED,
I AM GOING TO HANDED OVER TO
YOU SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR
MOTION TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND -- AND BY
REFERRING TO THE APPOINTMENTS
TO -- THE APPOINTMENTS ARE AS
FOLLOWS --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, IS THERE
A SECOND?
GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
AMENDMENT, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDMENT TO THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS AMENDED,
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE AMENDED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
AMENDED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR -- I
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THEIR ONGOING PATIENCE AND
COOPERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO
OPERATE -- AS A REMINDER THE
CITY COUNCIL RIVER RESERVES A
RIGHT TO -- I WILL MODERATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
TODAY IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE 20
MINUTES, I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND SEEK TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR A TOTAL OF
30 MINUTES AT THE TOP OF THE
AGENDA GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF
SPEAKERS WE HAVE SIGNED UP, BUT
I WILL ALSO BE ADJUSTING THE
AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOTTED TO EACH
SPEAKER TO BE ONE MINUTE AND 30
SECONDS AS OPPOSED TO A TOTAL
OF 2 MINUTES.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
ADJUSTED TO LAST A TOTAL OF 30
MINUTES TODAY.
AGAIN COLLEAGUES THIS PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL LAST 30
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE AND 30
SECONDS TO SPEAK, I WILL CALL
ON EACH SPEAKER BY NAME IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
TO SPEAK ON THE WEBSITE.
-- THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
ALSO LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
-- AND IN ORDER TO BE HEARD BY
US, THE SPEAKER MUST PRESS á6
BEFORE BEGINNING TO SPEAK, BUT
AFTER THEY HAVE HEARD THE Q
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UN MUTED.
AS A REMINDER PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, OR -- IN ABOUT 10
SECONDS SPEAKERS ARE GOING TO
HEAR A TIME, THAT MEANS YOU
HAVE EXACTLY 10 SECONDS TO
BEGIN WRAPPING UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THERE
PUBLIC COMMENTS, THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NECK
SPEAKER ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT WE ASK THAT
-- I AM NOW GOING TO OPEN UP
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND
WE WILL BEGIN BY CALLING THE
FIRST THREE SPEAKERS ON THE
LIST, AGAIN, FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO ARE WAITING TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL, PLEASE REMEMBER TO
PRESS á6 AFTER YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN UN
MUTED.
THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS ARE
CLAIRE IRELAND, FOLLOWED BY
FAYE GUENTHER, AND THEN TAYLOR
FARLEY.
CLAIRE, WELCOME.
CLAIRE IF YOU ARE WITH US, YOU
WANT TO HIT á6 SO WE CAN HEAR
YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
CLAIRE IRELAND AND I AM
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF HAZARD PAY
FOR FRONT-LINE GROCERY WORKERS,
WHEN I GO TO WORK I HAVE TO
REGULARLY WEIGH THE RISK OF --
OR RISK INCREASING TENSION AND
HAVING THAT CUSTOMER BLOWUP, IT
IS MENTALLY EXHAUSTING BUT I DO
NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF STAYING
HOME.
I HAVE TO ATTEND MY LOW PAY
JOBS SO THAT PEOPLE IN BETTER
POSITIONS CAN AFFORD TO STAY
HOME.
-- SUPPORT FOR MANAGEMENT IS
MINIMAL.
OUR EMPLOYERS WILL SAY
APPRECIATION PAY IS NO LONGER
NECESSARY BECAUSE -- THAT THIS
IS SIMPLY UNTRUE.
I URGE -- TO SHOW US THAT OUR
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TRULY VALUED,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS FAYE,
FOLLOWED BY TAYLOR FARLEY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS FAYE
GUENTHER, REPRESENTING
THOUSANDS OF -- I AM SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF EMERGENCY HAZARD
PAY.
GROCERY WORKERS HAVE RISKED OUR
LIVES FOR ALL OF US.
-- AS WE RACE AGAINST TIME TO
GET VACCINATED EVERYTHING IS
DIFFERENT NOW FOR OUR GROCERY
STORE WORKERS.
AT HOME AT WORK AND IN THE
COMMUNITY.
AT HOME GROCERY STORE WORKERS
HAVE BEEN IN CONTINUE TO GO TO
WORK EVERY DAY, MANY WITH A DEEP
FEAR IN THEIR HEART THAT THEY
WOULD GET SICK, EVEN DIE, OR
UNTHINKABLY BRING COVID-19 HOME
TO THOSE THEY LOVE.
EVERY DAY BEFORE HUGGING A
FAMILY MEMBER AT HOME GROCERY
STORE WORKERS ACROSS THE PUGET
SOUND MUST REMOVE THEIR
POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED
CLOTHES AND SHOWER.
AT WORK GROCERY STORE WORKERS
ARE EXPECTED TO DO MORE THAN
EVER BEFORE.
MORE INTERACTIONS WITH
CUSTOMERS WHO ARE STRESSED OUT,
ISOLATED, AND SOME HOSTILE
ABOUT WEARING A MASK.
THE INCIDENTS OF WORKERS BEING
SPIT ON SCREAMED AT AND
PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED ARE ON THE
RISE.
IN THE COMMUNITY, GROCERY
STORES ARE THE HUB.
COMMUNITIES ARE STRUGGLING AND
THE GROCERY STORE IS THE ONLY
PLACE TO GET WARM, WASH HANDS,
AND USE THE FACILITY.
-- THE SACRIFICES MADE BY
GROCERY STORE WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES IS INSPIRING,
HEARTWARMING --
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US,
I APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY.
NEXT UP IT IS TAYLOR FARLEY
FOLLOWED BY -- AND THEN AMY
FIELDS.
TAYLOR, WELCOME.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU.
I AM PROGRAM MANAGER AND
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT LGBTQ
ALLY SHIP.
WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE
HAZARD PAY ORDINANCE.
THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY IS
OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO US
AND THE IMPACT ON THE LGBTQ+
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN GREATER ON
THEM THAN THEIR HETEROSEXUAL
COUNTERPARTS.
LGBTQ+ PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY
TO HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESSES THAT
MAKE THEM MORE VULNERABLE,
THEREFORE LGBTQ+ GROCERY
WORKERS ARE EVEN MORE AT RISK
FOR TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-
19, AND THE GROCERY WORKERS ARE
WORRIED THAT THEY ARE COMING IN
CONTACT WITH COVID-19 BECAUSE
THEY ARE WORKING ON THE
FRONTLINE WITH COMMUNITY EVERY
DAY TO PUT THEIR FAMILIES AND
THEMSELVES AT RISK WHILE
COMPANIES ARE MAKING A PROFIT.
WORKERS IN THOSE JOBS DID NOT
SIGN UP TO BE PUT IN HARM'S
WAY, GROCERY WORKERS ARE
ESSENTIAL AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO
FOOD FOR THE REST OF THE
POPULATION, HAZARD PAY HELPS
RETAIN -- AND TO HELP FEEL
SUPPORTED AS THEIR HEALTH RISKS
ARE GREATER IN THIS LINE OF
WORK.
HAZARD PAY COMPENSATES GROCERY
WORKERS ACCORDINGLY TO THE RISK
OF THE WORK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
NEXT UP IS CHARLIE FOLLOWED BY
AMY FIELDS AND THEN DAVID.
CHARLIE, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON
CITY COUNCIL.
I AM WITH THE -- WE REPRESENT
MORE THAN 150 OF THE KING
COUNTY COMMUNITIES.
WE SUPPORT HAS A PLAY FOR THE
HAZARD PAY FOR THE DURATION OF
THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN
COUNT ON YOUR VOTE TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION.
WE ARE BASICALLY A YEAR INTO
THE PANDEMIC, ALL OF US, OUR
LIVES HAVE CHANGED IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS, IN ALMOST EVERY
WAY.
LOOK AT HOW WE ARE HAVING THIS
CITY COUNCIL HEARING VIRTUALLY.
WE HAVE MADE THESE CHANGES TO
PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND THAT OF
OUR FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITY,
BUT ESSENTIAL WORKERS LIKE
THOSE IN GROCERY STORES HAVE
NOT HAD THE LUXURY OF WORKING
FROM HOME AND PROTECTING
THEMSELVES.
THEY HAVE GONE TIRELESSLY FOR
MONTHS RISKING THEIR LIVES TO
SERVE US, AND WHO HAS PROFITED?
FRED MYERS, SAFEWAY, Q OC,
KROGER, AND OTHERS HAVE MADE
MILLIONS.
THE CEOS ARE DOING FANTASTIC,
BUT THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO
TAKE ON THE RISK TO SERVE US,
THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANYTHING,
SO 4 DOLLARS PER HOUR HAZARD
PAY IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO,
THE COMPANIES CAN AFFORD IT,
AND FRANKLY THEY SHOULD BE
HAPPY TO PAY IT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
APPRECIAE IT.
NEXT UP IS AMY FIELDS FOLLOWED
BY DAVID AND THEN CATHERINE.
AMY, WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS AMY FIELDS, I AM
ADDRESSING THE SUBJECT OF
HAZARD PAY, I AM A GROCERY
WORKER, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK OUT ON THIS URGENT LIFE-
AND-DEATH MATTER.
IF YOU PASS HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS, IT WOULD SHOW
THAT THE CITY HAS DEEPLY RESPECT
FOR THE WORKERS WHO GO TO WORK
EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE FED AND HAVE
ACCESS TO THEIR MOST BASIC
NEEDS.
WE HAVE WITNESSED THE LARGEST
GROCERY EMPLOYERS GET RICHER
AND RICHER DURING THIS PANDEMIC
, OUR APPRECIATION PAY WOULD
STOP AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS,
EMPLOYER PROFITS HAVE CONTINUED
TO SKYROCKET BUT OUR EMPLOYERS
ARE NOT REWARDING THE WORKERS
ON THE FRONT LINES RISKING
THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY WHEN THEY
GO TO WORK.
PLEASE PASS HAZARD PAY FOR
FRONTLINE GROCERY WORKERS.
IT WOULD BE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF THE PART WE HAVE PLAYED IN
CREATING THEIR WINDFALL
PROFITS, IT WOULD BE A VOTE OF
CONFIDENCE IN OUR HARD WORK,
AND IT WOULD SHOW US THAT YOU
CARE.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART.
>> THANK YOU AMY FOR CALLING.
NEXT UP IS DAVID, FOLLOWED BY
CATHERINE AND THEN SHANE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS DAVID AND I AM
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF HAZARD
PAY.
I WORK AT THE WESTWOOD VILLAGE
Q OC'S PICKUP DEPARTMENT AT BUT
IN MANY WAYS I HAVE BEEN
FORTUNATE BOTH MYSELF AND MY
PARTNER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD
DOWN WORK AND MEET OUR BASIC
NEEDS.
ALL OF THIS WOULD CHANGE IF I
GOT SICK.
MY PARTNER IS A TYPE I
DIABETIC, AND SHE HAS BEEN ABLE
TO CONTINUE WORKING ONLY
BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO
WORK REMOTELY FROM OUR ONE-
BEDROOM APARTMENT.
IF THE VIRUS WERE TO ENTER OUR
HOME SHE WOULD MOST LIKELY NEED
TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR AN
EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
MY PAYCHECK WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH
TO COVER OUR REGULAR BILLS LET
ALONE ANY COSTS FOR OUR MEDICAL
TREATMENT.
THE BURDEN OF KEEPING US SAFE
WOULD FALL ON OUR EXTENDED
COMMUNITY.
ADDING HAZARD PAY WOULD BRING
MY PAYCHECK IN LINE WITH THE
LIVING WAGE IN SEATTLE, IT
WOULD ALLOW ME TO SAVE FOR THE
WORST-CASE SCENARIO AND HELP TO
MITIGATE THE COMMUNAL COST THAT
WOULD RESULT SHOULD I GET SICK.
Q OC AND KROGER TELL US TO LOVE
LOCAL, RESTORING HAZARD PAY
WILL ALLOW THEM TO LIVE UP TO
THAT COMMITMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, NEXT UP IS CATHERINE,
FOLLOWED BY SHANE AND THEN
PATRICK.
CATHERINE, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM THE
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR AND
LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE
WASHINGTON FOOD INDUSTRY -- YOU
HEARD FROM -- AND I AM HERE TO
ECHO THE MESSAGE, PLEASE OPPOSE
COUNCIL BILL 119990. -- SEATTLE
HAS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO
RUN A BUSINESS HERE, ONE OF OUR
MEMBERS HAD TO SHUT DOWN THIS
YEAR DUE TO THE HOSTILE
BUSINESS CLIMATE.
-- COVID-19 HAS LOWERED THE
PROPHET TO ABOUT HALF A
PERCENT.
THE BILL IS EFFECTIVE FOR THREE
YEARS WHICH INCLUDES A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF TIME
AFTER THE PANDEMIC IS SUPPOSED
TO END.
IT TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND
DOES NOT TAKE INTO EFFECT THE
WORK WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE
THAT -- MY MEMBERS IN
PARTICULAR ARE LOCAL STORES, WE
ARE LOCATED HERE IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST AND ARE NOT TRADED ON
THE STOCK MARKET, THIS CAN HAVE
FAR-REACHING IMPACT WHICH
INCLUDES -- BECAUSE OF THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THE EXTRA 4
DOLLARS WILL COST.
--
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO CALL IN TODAY,
APPRECIATE IT.
NEXT UP IS SHANE, FOLLOWED BY
PATRICK, AND THEN SAM. SHANE,
WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TODAY IN FAVOR OF
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS.
MY BIGGEST FEAR OF THE PANDEMIC
CAME TRUE, I TESTED POSITIVE
FOR COVID-19 AS DID MY FIANCC
AND MY FOUR CHILDREN.
THANKFULLY WE ALL RECOVERED BUT
IT GOES TO SHOW THE RISK AND
SACRIFICE I MAKE BY GOING TO
WORK EVERY DAY.
THE COMPANIES WE WORK FOR ARE
MAKING WINDFALL PROFITS WHILE
DOING THE BARE MINIMUM TO KEEP
US SAFE.
THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE TO NO
CONTACT TRACING, AND I TRULY
BELIEVE THAT IF I HAD BEEN MORE
WELL-INFORMED I MAY HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO PREVENT MY CHILDREN
FROM GETTING COVID-19.
THE PROPOSED HAZARD PAY IS A
REASONABLE SHOW OF RESPECT FOR
GROCERY WORKERS THAT WILL HELP
US PAY FOR CHILD CARE, PAY FOR
POTENTIAL MEDICAL BILLS AND
KEEP OUR FAMILY FED.
úAS WELL AS REMINDING THE CEOS
THAT US ON THE FRONT LINES
MAKING THE SACRIFICES ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PROFITS.
PLEASE PASS THIS ORDINANCE THAT
THE CITY STANDS WITH THE
WORKERS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY
RUNNING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
NEXT UP IS PATRICK KING,
FOLLOWED BY SAND, AND THEN
TAYLOR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
PATRICK KING, I AM SPEAKING IN
FAVOR OF -- IT IS STUNNING THAT
THE INITIAL HAZARD PAY PASSAGES
HAD NO FORESIGHT AS TO THE
ONGOING NATURE OF THE PANDEMIC,
THEY WANTED TO -- WHEN WE HAD A
CONFIRMED CASE IN OUR STORE
RECENTLY WE HAD TO PUSH TO
CONDUCT CONTACT TRACING.
-- THERE ARE ALSO ONGOING
ISSUES WITH STORE CAPACITY, I
KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT IS NOT
BEING KEPT AT 25%.
WHO DO WE PRIORITIZE IN -- WHO
HAVE SHOWN REAL SOLIDARITY BY
HOLDING DOWN WAGE JOBS?
THIS WOULD SET AN IMPORTANT
PRECEDENT FOR ALL WAGE WORKERS.
WE DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU CALL
US, AND WE REFUSE TO BE TREATED
AS NECKER SERI -- NECESSARY
SACRIFICES.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
NEXT UP IS GOING TO BE SAND,
FOLLOWED BY TAYLOR AND THEN
COLTON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TO
SHOW MY STRONG SUPPORT IN
ADVANCING HAZARD PAY FOR
GROCERY WORKERS.
I HAVE BEEN A GROCERY WORKER
FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE DECADES
IN THE SAME Q OC IN WESTWOOD
VILLAGE.
I WANT TO THANK THIS COUNSEL
FOR THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF
THINGS YOU HAVE DONE TO ENRICH
THE LIVES OF A LOT OF US REGULAR
PEOPLE.
IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF EVERYDAY
PEOPLE TO MAKE WHAT LIFE IS
ABOUT, AND IT TAKES ALL KINDS
OF PEOPLE TO MAKE THE WORLD GO
AROUND. I HAVE SEEN THE GOOD,
THE BAD, AND THE UGLY WORKING
IN MY STORE, RIGHT NOW WE ARE
FACING ONE OF THE UGLIEST,
SCARIEST TIMES I HAVE EVER
SEEN, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT
BETTER IS COMING.
WE RECEIVED HAZARD PAY FOR
APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AND
THEN ALSO SOMETHING CALLED
APPRECIATION PAY, WHICH IS
$100, WHICH WE ALL APPRECIATED,
BUT IT WAS ON A CARD, SOME
PEOPLE'S APPRECIATION PAY WAS
COMPROMISED, THEY ALSO GAVE US
$1000 BONUS MILES FOR GAS, NOT
EVERYBODY DRIVES, SO IF YOU DO
NOT, YOU CANNOT UTILIZE THAT.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
COWORKERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE
WILL TO COME AND SAY SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS, SO I AM HAPPY TO
HAVE THIS PLATFORM TO COME AND
SPEAK UP ON BEHALF OF THEM.
WE HAVE COME TO WORK EVERY DAY
TO DO OUR JOBS AND PROVIDE OUR
COMMUNITIES THE THINGS THAT WE
NEED, SO WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR
HAZARD PAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS TAYLOR, FOLLOWED BY
COLTON PETERSON AND THEN
JONATHAN BLACKWOOD.
TAYLOR, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR
HAVING ME HERE TO SPEAK IN
FAVOR OF HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY
WORKERS.
I WORK AT THE Q OC IN -- I
STARTED WORKING IN THE
STARBUCKS IN MY STORE IN MARCH
RIGHT AS THE PANDEMIC STARTED.
WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
COMING INTO WORK EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE SEEN MANAGERS GET
PUNCHED IN THE FACE FOR
ENFORCING MASK MANDATES, AND WE
HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN TWICE IN
ONE DAY.
SOCIAL DISTANCING IS ALWAYS AN
ISSUE.
THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO HARM IS
BIG.
WE ARE HUMANS, WE NEED
SECURITY, COMPASSION, LOVE, TO
ME THE QUESTION IS DO WE CHOOSE
TO START SHOW -- WE WILL SHOW
UP TO WORK NO MATTER WHAT AS WE
HAVE ALWAYS DONE AS AN ACT OF
SERVICE FOR THE GREATER GOOD,
BLESSED ARE THE HUMBLE FOR THEY
SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH, VOTE
HOW YOU WANT, YOU KNOW WHAT THE
RIGHT CHOICE IS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY AND SHARING YOUR STORY.
NEXT UP IS COLTON PETERSO
FOLLOWED BY JONATHAN BLACKWOOD
AND THEN -- COLTON, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF HAZARD
PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR PCC
SINCE MARCH 2020, RIGHT BEFORE
THINGS SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.
I AM IN CHARGE OF CUTTING AND
DISPLAYING CHEESES AT MY STORE.
AS MUCH AS I LOVE COMING TO
WORK, I WOULD BE LYING IF I
SAID THAT THE RISK DID NOT
SCARE ME.
WHEN I TOOK THIS MARKET JOB IN
MARCH -- ONE OF OUR COWORKERS
RECENTLY CONTRACTED COVID-19 IN
DECEMBER IT WAS A SCARY TIME AT
OUR STORE THANKFULLY NOBODY
ELSE WAS AFFECTED I KNOW WHAT
IT IS LIKE TO BE IN A SITUATION
IN LIFE WHERE -- I DID NOT
THINK WORKING IN THE GROCERY
INDUSTRY I WOULD HAVE TO ENDURE
THE SAME TYPE OF DANGEROUS
SITUATION.
MANY OF US ARE FACED WITH THE
SAME RISKS DAY IN AND DAY OUT,
WE NEED HAZARD PAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
>> NEXT UP IS JONATHAN
BLACKWOOD, FOLLOWED BY HOLLY,
AND THEN BRITNEY.
JONATHAN, WELCOME.
JONATHAN JUST MAKE SURE YOU HIT
á6.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE HAVING
DIFFICULTY CONNECTING WITH
JONATHAN.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE DOWN
THE LIST TO HOLLY, WE WILL COME
BACK UP TO JONATHAN IN A
MOMENT, BUT LET'S HEAR FROM
HOLLY NEXT.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL -- APPRECIATE THE
CHANCE TO COMMENT TODAY.
THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU DOES
UNFORTUNATELY INTERVENE BY --
THE HIGHER TEMPORARY WAGE
INCREASE WILL ONLY APPLY TO SOME
RETAIL WORKERS IN THE CITY BUT
NOT ALL RETAILERS.
THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT COVER
TO REMAIN OPEN DURING THIS TED
PANDEMIC LIKE DRUGSTORES LIKE
WALGREENS AND RITE AID OR THE
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CHECKING OUR
OPEN BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE COMPLYING WITH
SAFETY PROTOCOL.
GROCERY STORES HAVE INVESTED
SIGNIFICANTLY TO PROTECT OUR
WORKERS AND SHOPPERS AS WELL AS
WE HAVE PROVIDED EXTRA PAY AND
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES.
OUR LOCAL GROCERS ARE FACING A
NEW HOST OF EXPENSES FROM PPE
AND -- TO CONTINUE TO THE --
WORKERS WITHIN SEATTLE
CURRENTLY BENEFIT FROM THE
HIGHEST WAGE RATE -- A RUSHED
BOAT ON THESE PROPOSALS IS
PREMATURE AND WE URGE YOU TO
NOT ADVANCE IT TODAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN, IT
LOOKS LIKE JONATHAN BLACKWOOD
IS NO LONGER PRESENT, IF HE
DOES CALL BACK AND WE WILL BE
SURE TO MAKE SPACE FOR JONATHAN
TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
NEXT UP IS -- WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL, I AM
CALLING AS A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 7 TWO EXPRESS MY
PERSONAL SUPPORT FOR -- THESE
WORKERS LITERALLY PUT
THEMSELVES IN HARMS WAY EVERY
SINGLE DAY TO PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE IN ADDITIONAL -- THE VERY
LEAST THAT WE CAN DO AS A
COMMUNITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT
ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED.
FURTHER WITH GROCERY PROFITS
RISING DRAMATICALLY -- RECEIVE
THEIR FAIR SHARE, SO THANK YOU
IN ADVANCE FOR PASSING THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS JOE FOLLOWED BY
SARAH AND THEN --
>> IT IS ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE AND
HONOR TO SPEAK WITH THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL.
I DO SUPPORT THE GROCERY WAGE
INCREASE, BUT I AM -- ABOUT THE
COMMENTS MADE THIS MORNING
ABOUT COUNCIL BRIEFING. I
CONDEMN ALL THREATS SENT TO
COUNCILMEMBERS INCLUDING --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS SARAH, FOLLOWED BY
ALAYNA PEREZ.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL.
MANY TIMES THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL HAS SHOWN VISIONARY
LEADERSHIP, I THINK ABOUT 2011,
WHEN WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST --
I WORKED WITH -- AT THAT TIME,
BOTH WHO ARE IN FRONT OF ME
TODAY.
AND 24 TEENS MINIMUM WAGE LAW,
SCHEDULING, I COULD GO ON,
THESE WERE NOT JUST VICTORIES
FOR WORKERS, THEY ARE VICTORIES
FOR NON-YOU -- NONUNION WORKERS
-- WE WERE ABLE, HOW DO YOU
ENFORCE THIS QUESTION MARK WE
CREATED AN OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS WHO KNOWS HOW TO
ENFORCE LABOR LAWS.
WE HAVE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN
PASSED THAT -- THERE HAS BEEN A
LOT OF GREAT GROUNDWORK THAT
HAS BEEN LAID THAT ALLOWS US TO
PASS THIS WAS WITH SUCH URGENCY.
JUST TO NOTE THIS NEW VARIANT
IS SPREADING, PUBLIC HEALTH IS
TELLING FOLKS TO DOUBLE MASK
AND LIMIT THE TIME YOU SPEND IN
GROCERY STORES TO 15 MINUTES,
NOT AN OPTION FOR FOLKS WHO
WORK THERE.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
AND FOR REMINDING US OF ALL OF
THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE HAVE
DONE TOGETHER IN ORDER TO LIFT
UP WORKERS AND CREATE A
STRONGER ECONOMY.
OUR LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR
TODAY IS ALAYNA PEREZ.
WELCOME.
>> LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THANK
YOU.
I AM HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH
GROCERY WORKERS TO ASK YOU TO
PLEASE PASS THE EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION.
WE ARE PASSING THE GREEN ONE
YEAR MARK FROM WHEN COVID-19
HIT HOME HERE IN SEATTLE.
IT IS CONTINUING TO SPREAD AND
DISPROPORTIONATELY KILL PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
LATINOS IN WASHINGTON STATE
SUFFER FOUR TIMES THE DEATH
RATE OF WHITE WASHINGTONIANS.
ONE REASON IS BECAUSE THEY ARE
OVERREPRESENTED IN LOW-WAGE
ESSENTIAL JOBS.
BIG GROCERY EMPLOYERS HAVE A
UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY -- THEY
HAVE RAKED IN TENS OF BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN PROFITS DURING
THIS PANDEMIC.
AND BECAUSE GROCERY STORES ARE
OFTEN THE LAST STOP BETWEEN
SEEING THE DOCTOR AND GETTING
TESTED FOR COVID-19 AND HEADING
HOME TO QUARANTINE.
FOLKS FEELING SYMPTOMS WHETHER
IT BE THE FLU OR COVID-19 OR THE
COMMON COLD, STAY AWAY FROM
PUBLIC SPACES, BUT WE KNOW THAT
DOES NOT HAPPEN.
WE MIGHT STILL MAKE THAT QUICK
ESSENTIAL RUN TO A GROCERY
STORE TO PICK UP MEDICINE FOOD
OR SUPPLIES.
GROCERY WORKERS HAVE EARNED
THIS HAZARD PAY, IT DOES NOT
LESSEN THE RISK THEY FACE, BUT
IT ACKNOWLEDGES IT AND IT
OFFERS THEM THE RESOURCES THEY
NEED TO COPE WITH THE
ADDITIONAL BURDEN THEY AND
THEIR FAMILIES FACE, PLEASE
VOTE YES.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO CALL IN TODAY.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE
BOTH SIGNED UP AND SHOWING UP
AS PRESENT ON THE LIST SO WE
WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT THE
PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
Q THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING FOR
THE EXTRA TIME. LET'S GO AHEAD
AND BEGIN ON OTHER ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA, FIRST
UP IS PAYMENT OF THE BILLS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE INTO THE RECORD?
>> --
>> I MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
11991, IS THERE A SECOND?
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NO COMMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE BILL ON MY BEHALF?
ON BEHALF OF THE TRANSPORTATION
AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>>ONE -- COUNCIL BILL 119980,
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT;
AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF
THE STATUTORY WARRANTY DEED FOR
THE "GLACIER VIEW RANCH
PROPERTY" IN SKAGIT COUNTY,
WASHINGTON; PLACING SAID LAND
UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE
CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT; AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> AS WITH ALL OF THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US THIS
AFTERNOON FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE, THIS COUNCIL BILL
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
THIS COUNCIL BILL AUTHORIZES
THE HEAD OF SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
TO ACCEPT -- FOR WILDLIFE
HABITAT MITIGATION PURPOSES.
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT RECEIVED THE
LONG-TERM LICENSE FROM THE CITY
GOVERNMENT FOR THIS
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT.
IN ONE OF THE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENTS INCORPORATED INTO
THAT LICENSE, CITY LIGHT AGREED
TO PURCHASE -- AGAIN IT WAS
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY OUR
COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT,
ARE THER ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE BILL, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 119980?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE BILL ON MY BEHALF?
ITEMS 2 AND 3, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEMS 2 AND 3 INTO
THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 01721,
REAPPOINTMENT OF JOHN PUTZ AS
MEMBER, CITY LIGHT REVIEW
PANEL, FOR A TERM TO SEPTEMBER
30, 2022.
APPOINTMENT 01722, APPOINTMENT
OF SANDRO R. PANI AS MEMBER,
SEATTLE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD,
FOR A TERM TO AUGUST 2, 2022.
>> I AM GOING TO HAND IT OVER
TO YOU TO GET THE COMMITTEE'S
REPORT.
>> THE CITY LIGHT REVIEW PANEL
PROVIDES SUPPORT TO OUR
ELECTRIC UTILITY ON ITS
STRATEGIC PLANS AND UTILITY
RATE PROPOSALS PRIOR TO ACTION
BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
BOTH OF THESE APPOINTMENTS FOR
THE REVIEW PANEL ARE WELL-
QUALIFIED AND OUR
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
HAVING ALL POSITIONS FILLED IS
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS THE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT ENTERPRISE
REPAIRS IT'S CITY PLAN AND RATE
ORGANS FOR -- BECAUSE SEATTLE
IS A HIGH-COST CITY, THEY NEED
TO PAY UTILITIES, I AM EAGER TO
SEE OUR UTILITIES STRIVE TO
RATES AS LOW AND AFFORDABLE AS
POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT,
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THESE APPOINTMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
1720 AND 1721?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES, AND THE APPOINTMENTS
ARE CONFIRMED.
ITEMS 4 THROUGH 6, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEMS
4 THROUGH 6 INTO THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 01722,
APPOINTMENT OF SANDRO R. PANI
AS MEMBER, SEATTLE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A TERM TO
AUGUST 2, 2022.
APPOINTMENT 01723, APPOINTMENT
OF EMILY WALTON PERCIVAL AS
MEMBER, SEATTLE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A TERM TO
AUGUST 2, 2022.
APPOINTMENT 01724,
REAPPOINTMENT OF ANDREW P.
MARTIN AS MEMBER, SEATTLE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A
TERM TO AUGUST 2, 2022.
>> ONCE AGAIN, THESE ARE
APPOINTMENTS COMING FROM YOUR
COMMITTEE, SO I WILL HAND IT
OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, I WILL SPEAK TO
ALL THE TRANSPORTATION RELATED
APPOINTMENTS RIGHT NOW FOR
EFFICIENCY AND TO PROVIDE A BIG
PICTURE FOR EVERYBODY.
TODAY WE HAVE NINE PEOPLE AND
WE WILL BE VOTING SEPARATELY ON
EACH BOARD, WE HAVE NINE
APPOINTMENTS TO TRANSPORTATION
RELATED ADVISORY BOARDS, THREE
FOR TRANSIT, TO FOR BIKES, ONE
FOR PEDESTRIANS AND ONE FOR
SCHOOL TRANSIT SAFETY.
WE HAVE THESE SEPARATE ADVISORY
BOARDS, OVER ZOOM, MEMBERS OF
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
WERE ABLE TO MEET AND ASK
QUESTIONS OF ALL THE NEW
APPOINTEES, I BELIEVE THE
APPLICANT'S CAME ACROSS AS WELL
QUALIFIED, DEEPLY INTERESTED IN
THESE IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES, THEY ALSO INDICATED
OPEN-MINDED AND BALANCED VIEWS
IN TRANSPORTATION TO HELP US
BREAK DOWN THE DIFFERENT SILOS
IN EACH MODE AND SEE A BIGGER
PICTURE OF AN INTERIM CONNECTED
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT CAN
KEEP US MOBILE WHILE WE STRIVE
TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THE COMMUNITY UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDED ALL OF THESE
APPOINTMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT
FOR ALL OF THESE APPOINTMENTS,
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AS IT RELATES TO THESE THREE
APPOINTMENTS, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE PLAN
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
APPOINTMENTS 1722 THROUGH 1724?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APARTMENTS ARE CONFIRMED.
ITEMS 7 THROUGH 9, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEMS 7
THROUGH 9 INTO THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 01725,
REAPPOINTMENT OF KASHINA GROVES
AS MEMBER, SEATTLE BICYCLE
ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A TERM TO
AUGUST 31, 2022.
APPOINTMENT 01726,
REAPPOINTMENT OF MEREDITH HALL
AS MEMBER, SEATTLE BICYCLE
ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A TERM TO
AUGUST 31, 2022.
APPOINTMENT 01727,
REAPPOINTMENT OF PATRICK W.
TAYLOR AS MEMBER, SEATTLE
BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A
TERM TO AUGUST 31, 2022.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THESE
APPOINTMENTS BE CONFIRMED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE REPORT WAS ALREADY PROVIDED
FOR THESE PARTICULAR
APPOINTMENTS, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THESE
APPOINTMENTS?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE APPOINTMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
APPOINTMENTS 1725 THROUGH 1727?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APPOINTMENT ARE CONFIRMED.
ITEMS 10 AND 11, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEMS 10 AND 11
INTO THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 01728,
APPOINTMENT OF JENNIFER LEHMAN
AS MEMBER, SEATTLE PEDESTRIAN
ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A TERM TO
MARCH 31, 2022.
APPOINTMENT 01729, APPOINTMENT
OF EMILY A. MANNETTI AS MEMBER,
SEATTLE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY
BOARD, FOR A TERM TO MARCH 31,
2022.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THESE
APPOINTMENTS BE CONFIRMED.
ú>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN HAS
ALREADY PROVIDED THE REPORT ON
THESE APPOINTMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS QUESTION MARK HEARING
NONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF THESE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> -- I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS
HAPPENING.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES AND THE APPOINTMENT ARE
CONFIRMED.
ITEM 12, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 12 INTO THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 01730,
APPOINTMENT OF PEACHES THOMAS
AS MEMBER, SEATTLE SCHOOL
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, FOR A
TERM TO MARCH 31, 2023.
>> AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON HAS ALREADY PROVIDED
REMARKS ON THIS APPOINTMENT,
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED
APPOINTMENT?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 1730?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
APPOINTMENT IS CONFIRMED.
ITEMS 13 THROUGH 18, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEMS 13
THROUGH 18 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGAIN, THE REPORT HAS
ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED ON THESE,
THEY HAVE NOT BECAUSE THOSE
WERE TRANSPORTATION RELATED,
THIS IS NOT, SO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, I AM GOING TO HAND IT
OVER TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN
GIVE THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON
THESE ADVISORY BOARD
APPOINTMENTS.
>> TODAY WE HAVE SIX
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD, ALL
OF THESE APARTMENTS WERE
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE WHICH ALSO COVERS
TECHNOLOGY ISSUES SUCH AS OUR
MISSION TO ACHIEVE INTERNET FOR
ALL.
THIS IS -- THEIR MISSION
INCLUDES ENCOURAGING AND
PROMOTING AFFORDABLE AND
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
WHICH IS VITAL FOR EDUCATION
JOBS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND MUCH
MORE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THESE NEW MEMBERS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS TO ACHIEVE
INTERNET FOR ALL.
>> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THESE APPOINTMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES AND THE OPPONENTS ARE
CONFIRMED.
MOVING NOW TO THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE REPORT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 19 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 119990, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
EMPLOYMENT IN SEATTLE;
ESTABLISHING LABOR STANDARDS
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION FOR GROCERY
EMPLOYEES WORKING IN SEATTLE;
AMENDING SECTIONS 3.02.125 AND
6.208.020 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE; DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY; AND ESTABLISHING AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE; ALL
BY A 3/4 VOTE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASSED AS AMENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU
ARE THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
AND ALSO THE PRIME SPONSOR, SO
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU TO
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BEFORE
I BEGIN MY REMARKS, WOULD IT BE
APPROPRIATE TO MOVE A
SUBSTITUTE FIRST, WITH YOUR
INDULGENCE, I WILL TRY TO WING
IT --
>> I AM ALSO NOTICING THAT I DO
NOT HAVE THAT IN MY SCRIPT, SO
I APOLOGIZE.
WHY DON'T YOU SPEAK TO THE BASE
BILL, AND THE SUBSTITUTE
VERSION, AND WHILE YOU ARE
DOING THAT, I WILL ASK THAT THE
CLERKS SEND YOU AND ME THE
APPROPRIATE PROCEDURAL LANGUAGE
SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS IN
FRONT OF US PROCEDURALLY, SO I
THINK IT IS OKAY FOR YOU TO
SPEAK TO THE SUBSTITUTE AND THE
UNDERLYING BILL, AND THEN WE
WILL THEN GO THROUGH THE
PROCEDURAL MOTIONS AS A
SUBSTITUTE AND I ASKED THE
CLERK TO SEND US THAT LANGUAGE
WHILE YOU ARE DOING THAT.
>> IT TAKES A TEAM EFFORT HERE,
I APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR INDULGENCE
WITH US.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY REMARKABLE
LAST FEW WEEKS, AS WE HAVE
HEARD FROM FRONT-LINE STORIES,
FROM WORKERS THEMSELVES IN
GROCERY STORES, STOCKING
SHELVES, PEOPLE WHO ARE
CHECKING OUT OUR GOODS AT THE
CHECK STAND.
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING 24
SEVEN, WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT
AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF COVID-
19.
THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO
WORK FROM HOME LIKE MANY OF US
HAVE.
THOSE OF US ON THE ZOOM, THE
VAST MAJORITY OF US HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME AND BE
ABLE TO FOLLOW THE STATE STAY
HEALTHY AND STAY HOME
ORDINANCE.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN
ORDER TO HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD
OF COVID-19.
BUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
STOCKING THE SHELVES AND MAKING
SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TOILET
PAPER AND PAPER TOWELS AND
ENOUGH PRODUCE TO TAKE HOME TO
OUR FAMILIES, THEY HAVE BEEN
GOING IN TO WORK EVERY SINGLE
DAY AND WE APPRECIATE THEM, IN
FACT EMPLOYERS INITIALLY
APPRECIATED THEM, OFFERING
HAZARD PAY, HERO PAY, THEY HAVE
IN MANY CASES STEPPED UP TO
CALL THEM THE TRUE HEROES ON
THE FRONT LINE, BUT QUICKLY
THAT HERO PAY WENT AWAY, BUT
THE HAZARD HAS NOT GONE AWAY,
AND AS WE HAVE HEARD TODAY, IN
OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY, THE
HAZARD HAS ONLY BEEN
INCREASING.
THE MORE CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY
STRAND OF COVID-19 IS PRESENT
IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN
SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON STATE
AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE ALSO KNOW ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO GET THE VACCINE OUT
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE BUT WE DO
NOT YET HAVE IT DISTRIBUTED
WIDELY INTO OUR COMMUNITY SO
FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING INTO
GROCERY STORES HAVE THE MASK
BELOW THEIR NOSE OR BELOW THEIR
CHIN OR ARE PUTTING GROCERY
STORE WORKERS LIVES AT RISK.
GROCERY STORE WORKERS DESERVE
HAZARD PAY TODAY.
IT IS MY HONOR TO WORK WITH ALL
OF YOU TO BRING FORWARD ANOTHER
PIECE OF LEGISLATION AS WE HAVE
DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR TO
TRULY TRY TO PROTECT THOSE ON
THE FRONT LINE AND RECOGNIZE
THE INCREDIBLE DANGER OUR FRONT-
LINE WORKERS ARE IN WHO ARE
HELPING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFE, HEALTHY, AND FED.
AND RIGHT NOW THAT PAY AND
PROTECTION NEEDS TO BE OFFERED
TO GROCERY STORE WORKERS HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I AM INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE
ABLE TO DO THIS WITH THE
SUPPORT OF OUR COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES FROM THE HOUSING AND
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO
UNANIMOUSLY PASS OUT COUNCIL
BILL 119990.
THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT WE HAVE HEARD TODAY, FROM
THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED ON THE
FRONT LINES TO SAY THAT THEY
HAVE SIGNED UP TO WORK IN
GROCERY STORES BECAUSE THEY
WANTED TO.
MANY OF THEM ARE STILL EARNING
MINIMUM WAGE BUT LIKE TO GO TO
WORK.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC,
THEY ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE
CUSTOMER SHOPPING COUGHING,
UNMASKED, STANDING NEXT TO
THEM, AND EVERY DAY THEY ARE
ASKING IF THEY ARE BRINGING
SOMETHING HOME TO THEIR FAMILY,
HAVE I CAUGHT SOMETHING MYSELF?
YOU HAVE HEARD THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY OF WORKERS WHO HAVE
BEEN TRAINED TO COME HOME AND
TAKE OFF THE CLOTHES THAT THEY
WEAR TO WORK JUST LIKE WE HAVE
HAD TO TEACH AND TRAIN
FARMWORKERS TO TAKE OFF THEIR
CLOTHING FOR FEAR THAT THEY ARE
GOING TO BE CONTAMINATING
PESTICIDES AND TRANSMITTING
THOSE PESTICIDES TO THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF SITUATION
THAT THE WORKERS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ARE CURRENTLY DEALING
WITH AND THEY DO NOT HAVE
HAZARD PAY RIGHT NOW.
IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE THAT
GROCERY WORKERS FACE EXTREMELY
HIGH RISK OF EXPOSURE TO
CORONAVIRUS AND ALONG WITH IT
THE MENTAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
IMPACTS THAT COME WITH THAT
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE.
AS I NOTED LAST WEEK AND
EARLIER THIS MORNING, ONE STUDY
OF GROCERY WORKERS IN BOSTON
FOUND THAT 20% OF THOSE WORKERS
TESTED POSITIVE DESPITE HIGH
USE OF MASKS.
THAT IS ABOUT A FIVE TIMES
HIGHER RATE OF EXPOSURE TO
COVID-19 AND CONTRACTING IT
THEN THOSE WHO ARE WORKING ON
GROCERY STORE FLOORS EXPOSED TO
VARIOUS CUSTOMERS DAILY, AND AS
YOU HEARD FROM -- AND OTHERS
WHO TESTIFIED TODAY, WITH THE
MORE RECENT ADVICE TO TELLING
PEOPLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF
GROCERY STORES WITHIN 15
MINUTES, THERE IS NO POSSIBLE
WAY THAT A GROCERY STORE WORKER
WHO HAS A SIX HOUR SHIFT CAN
ONLY BE EXPOSED FOR 15 MINUTES.
IT IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION AND
WE ALSO NEED THOSE WORKERS, WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON THEM
FOR THE SUPPLY OF FOOD TO MAKE
SURE OUR MOST VULNERABLE WHO
CANNOT GO ONLINE AND GROCERY
STOP ONLINE LIKE I DO, SO MANY
PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
THE INTERNET LIKE THAT, AND
SOME IN OUR ELDERLY COMMUNITY
AND WHO HAVE VULNERABLE HEALTH
CONDITIONS, THEY ARE NOT ABLE
TO GO AND BUY ONLINE, AND WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY IN THOSE STORES HAVE
THE ABILITY TO BE RECOGNIZED
FOR THE INCREDIBLY HARD WORK
THAT THEY DO BECAUSE THOSE
WORKERS ARE PROVIDING THE MOST
URGENT AND NEEDED RESOURCES,
SERVICES, AND GOODS TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU,
AND I THINK I WILL SAVE SOME OF
MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE URGENCY
IN PART OF MY CLOSING COMMENTS,
BUT WITH THAT, WE ARE AGAIN
SHOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO BOTH
CARE FOR THOSE ON THE FRONT
LINE AND THOSE WHO THEY CARE
FOR, THIS IS ABOUT THE HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING OF GROCERY STORE
WORKERS AND THE POPULATION'S
HEALTH AS WELL.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR
ENTIRE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING,
AND HAZARD PAY IS ONE ELEMENT
AND RECOGNIZING THE WAY THAT
OUR GROCERY STORES ARE PART OF
OUR RESPONSE AS WE SEARCH FOR
SOLUTIONS TO THE PANDEMIC,
WITHOUT THAT SOLUTION YET IN
HAND, WE HAVE TO STEP UP AND
HONOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO
WITH HAZARD PAY TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, AND I SENT YOU A
QUICK MESSAGE, I THINK THE
SUBSTITUTE YOU WERE REFERRING
TO WAS A SUBSTITUTE THE
COMMITTEE CONSIDERED ON FRIDAY,
WHICH WE VOTED OUT OF
COMMITTEE, AND THAT WAS SUBJECT
TO SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, SO
UNLESS THERE IS ANOTHER
SUBSTITUTE WE ARE NOT AWARE OF
SINCE FRIDAY, WE DO NOT NEED TO
DO ANY MORE PROCEDURAL VOTES IN
FULL COUNSEL TODAY.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, JUST A LITTLE PARDON
TO THE VIEWING PUBLIC FOR THE
PROCEDURAL SNAFU, BUT WE WERE
ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND WE
ARE GOOD TO GO, THE SUBSTITUTED
VERSION OF THE BILL THAT THE
COMMITTEE CONSIDERED ON FRIDAY
IS WHAT IS BEFORE THE FULL
COUNSEL TODAY FOR OUR
CONSIDERATION, THERE ARE NO
OTHER AMENDMENTS OR
SUBSTITUTIONS THAT I AM AWARE
OF, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
CONTINUE DEBATE ON COUNCIL BILL
11 9990. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL
AS DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA?
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ,
AND THEN -- GO AHEAD.
>> I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT AND
COSPONSOR THIS LEGISLATION, IT
WILL BRING MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF
TO THOUSANDS OF GROCERY WORKERS
IN SEATTLE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO -- AND THE
LABOR MOVEMENT WHO HAVE
ORGANIZED, ADVOCATED FOR, AND
PUT FORWARD THIS DEMAND FOR
COVID-19 HAZARD PAY.
AS WE HEARD FROM THE UNION
GROCERY WORKERS, DO NOT HAVE
THE OPTION OF WORKING FROM
HOME, THEY ARE INSIDE THE
STORES FOR MANY HOURS A DAY,
AROUND PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE
-- WHO MAY HAVE COVID-19.
MANY HAVE GOTTEN SICK, AND MANY
HAVE DIED.
THE GROCERY WORKERS DESERVE
THIS EXTRA PAY, AS DO ALL FRONT-
LINE WORKERS.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS
WRITTEN TO MY OFFICE AND
PROVIDED PUBLIC TESTIMONY TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SEEN IN
OTHER INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES
THAT ARE LESS UNIONIZED OR NOT
UNIONIZED, WORKERS WHO DESERVE
SIMILAR COVID-19 HAZARD PAY
BEING DENIED PAY OR BEING GIVEN
SOME BUT NOT ENOUGH AND THEN
HAVING IT UNILATERALLY TAKEN
AWAY BY BILLIONAIRE BOSSES, IT
SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE OF BEING
ORGANIZED IN A UNION.
I URGE ALL FRONT-LINE WORKERS
WHO ARE FOLLOWING THIS
LEGISLATION THAT IT TAKES
ORGANIZING TO WIN THINGS LIKE
HAZARD PAY.
WE WIN WHEN WE ARE ORGANIZED.
MOST GROCERY WORKERS IN THE
SEATTLE AREA BELONGED TO UFC W,
SO THEY HAVE A TYPE OF
COLLECTIVE POWER THAT IS --
THAT IS WHY I URGE YOU TO FORM
UNIONS AND FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS
COLLECTIVELY.
THE HISTORY OF THE LABOR
MOVEMENT SHOWS HOW ORGANIZING A
UNION IN THE WORKPLACE IS
AGAINST ALL ODDS AND IT REQUIRES
-- WE STAND AT THE READY TO
SUPPORT YOU AND WORK ALONGSIDE
YOU AND YOUR UNIONS IN YOUR
EFFORTS SO THAT WE CAN WIN
HAZARD PAY FOR ALL WORKERS
STRUGGLING UNDER THE DUAL
WEIGHT OF COVID-19 AND THE
CAPITALIST RECESSION.
I AM ALSO HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE
AMAZON WORKERS WHO -- THEY FACE
A VERY TOUGH BATTLE AHEAD, AND
WE MUST SUPPORT THEM, IN FACT
WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW
SHAMEFULLY THE CORPORATION IS
SAYING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE AN
IN PERSON VOTE KNOWING THAT
THIS COULD DEPRESS TURNOUT
DURING COVID-19.
I RECOGNIZE THAT UNDER THIS
LEGISLATION THE COUNCIL WILL BE
VOTING ON TODAY, HAZARD PAY
WILL BE EVALUATED AGAIN IN A
FEW MONTHS, I HOPE THAT THE PAY
WILL BE MADE PERMANENT AND I
STAND WITH ALL UFC W MEMBERS IN
FIGHTING FOR THIS.
-- NOTED LAST WEEK, GROCERY
CHAINS HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE
LARGEST PROFIT WINDFALLS IN THE
PANDEMIC WHILE WORKERS HAVE
FACED NEW HAZARDS EVERY DAY.
HE NOTES THAT COSTCO'S PROFIT
IS UP 19% TO $3.4 BILLION,
PROFITS AT KROGER HAVE DOUBLED
TO $9.7 BILLION, PROFITS OF
ALBERTSON'S ARE NOW OVER $1
BILLION, A 270% INCREASE.
I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT WE NEED
TO KEEP -- WE SEE THAT UNDER
THE TREMENDOUS PRESSURE THAT
SMALL BUSINESSES AND
COOPERATIVES COME UNDER IN THE
SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM, THEY ARE
FACING INCREASED PRESSURES TO
GET CORPORATIZED.
THERE IS A NEW CEO WHO IS
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF KROGER.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GET
ORGANIZED, BUILDING A FIGHTING
LABOR MOVEMENT -- I
CONGRATULATE THE MEMBERS AGAIN
FOR THEIR WORK, LEADERSHIP IN
PUSHING THIS -- I LOOK FORWARD
TO VOTING FOR IT AND LOOK
FORWARD TO JOINING WITH OTHER
FRONT-LINE WORKERS WHO ARE
ORGANIZING TO MAKE SIMILAR
DEMANDS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
NEXT IN THE QUEUE IS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> AS I MENTIONED IN BRIEFING
THIS MORNING, I WILL
ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THIS,
AND I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT IT ACKNOWLEDGES
THOSE WHO PUT THEMSELVES ON THE
FRONT LINES EVERY DAY SHOULD BE
COMPENSATED FOR THE WORK THAT
THEY ARE DOING.
OUR ABILITY TO FEED OUR
FAMILIES REQUIRES GROCERY
WORKERS SHOWING UP EVERY DAY TO
STOCK SHELVES AND SET UP
PRODUCE DISPLAYS AND CHECK US
OUT.
NOW THEY ARE MORE FREQUENTLY
CLEANING SURFACES, AND THEY ARE
REALLY IN UNCONTROLLED
ENVIRONMENTS AND INTERACTING
WITH THE PUBLIC FOR MOST IF NOT
ALL OF THEIR SHIFT.
I WANT TO THANK THE GOOD FOLKS
AT UFC W 21 FOR ADVOCATING FOR
THESE WORKERS AND ENSURING THAT
THEY ARE PAID FOR THE EXTRA WORK
THEY ARE DOING WHILE THEY KEEP
OUR COMMUNITIES FED AND HELP
KEEP US HEALTHY.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
THE LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
AFTER REVIEWING, AFTER RAPIDLY
REVIEWING AND RESEARCHING THE --
I HAVE DECIDED TO SUPPORT IT.
I HAVE CONSULTED WITH BOTH
LABOR AND EMPLOYERS.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I
THINK THIS LEGISLATION MOVED
FAST, TO HEAR THE LEGISLATION
ON FRIDAY COMMITTEE AND THEN
ADOPTED ON A MONDAY CAN MAKE IT
DIFFICULT FOR SOME TO REVIEW IT
THOROUGHLY, AT THE SAME TIME I
RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE IN THE
MIDST OF A PUBLIC HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC EMERGENCY, THEREFORE I
DO NOT WANT TO FURTHER DELAY
THE TEMPORARY PAY BOOST THEY
SHOULD BE RECEIVING UNTIL BOTH
SHOTS OF THE VACCINE ARE
ADMINISTERED TO EVERYONE, SO I
WILL BE VOTING YESTERDAY.
>> THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT,
VERY EXCITED TO BE VOTING FOR
THIS LEGISLATION TODAY, HAPPY
TO BE A COSPONSOR.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LIFT
UP THE GREAT ORGANIZING WORK
THE UFC W HAS DONE TO GET US TO
THIS POINT TODAY, LIKE I SAID
DURING BRIEFING, I HAVE SEEN
THE CHECKERS AT MY LOCAL
GROCERY STORE PLOW OR PROUDLY
WEARING THE SWAG FOR THIS
CAMPAIGN, PROUDLY CALLING ME
AND SENDING ME EMAILS, AND THAT
IS SOLIDARITY, THAT ORGANIZING
MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
WE MAY BE THE POLICYMAKERS BUT
IT IS THAT ORGANIZING THAT
HELPS GET THIS POLICY OVER THE
FINISH LINE, SO I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF THE WORK THAT UFC W AND
OUR OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT HAVE DONE
TO GET US TO THIS POINT, BUT I
ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND THE
WORK WE DID LAST YEAR ON
SIMILAR LEGISLATION FOR WORKERS
IN THE APP BASED ECONOMY. THESE
ARE NOT GIGS, THEY ARE
LIVELIHOODS, AND IT IS NOT A
GIG ECONOMY, IT IS THE ECONOMY,
IT IS HOW WE DELIVER GOODS AND
SERVICES NOW IN THIS
TECHNOLOGICAL AGE AND IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT AS TECHNOLOGY
CHANGES, LIVING STANDARDS KEEP
UP WITH THAT WORK.
TO THAT EXTENT, IT IS A VERY
LOGICAL POLICY TO PURSUE, THAT
WE EXTEND THE SAME HAZARD PAY
CONSIDERATIONS TO THE FOLKS WHO
ARE WORKING IN OUR SUPERMARKETS
AND ON THE FRONT LINES AND
PROVIDING THIS ESSENTIAL
SERVICE DAY IN AND DAY OUT,
INTERACTING WITH MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND GOING HOME TO THEIR
FAMILIES HAVING EXPOSED TO
THEMSELVES TO THE POTENTIAL
HAZARDS OF BEING IN A POSITION
TO HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR SERVICE
AND THEIR SACRIFICE SO I AM
HAPPY TO VOTE FOR THIS TODAY,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
ABLE TO GET THIS RELIEF OUT
THERE.
>> THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
>> VERY QUICKLY, I APPRECIATE
THE COMMENTS OF ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND I APPRECIATE AND
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON FOR HIS WEIGHING THE
NEED TO ACT QUICKLY AS RELATES
TO THIS BILL WHILE ALSO
RECOGNIZING THAT ACTING QUICKLY
IS NOT ALWAYS IDEAL, BUT IN
THIS CASE WHEN WE ARE ACTUALLY
PASSING HAZARD PAY THAT IS --
IT IS NECESSARY.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S LEADERSHIP IN THIS
AREA OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS AND ALSO IN RESPONDING
TO COVID-19 RELATED WORKFORCE
IMPACTS, I APPRECIATE WORKING
WITH COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ON THE
HAZARD PAY LEGISLATION FOR FOOD-
BASED OR APP -BASED FOOD
DELIVERY DRIVERS, I WISH WE
COULD REQUIRE HAZARD PAY FOR
ALL OF OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS,
AND I AM REALLY GRATEFUL TO THE
WORK THAT ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE
DOING, PUTTING THEMSELVES IN
HARMS WAY, PARTICULARLY AS IT
RELATES, AND AS WE ARE
EXPRESSING WITH THIS
LEGISLATION, MAKING SURE THAT
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE
ABLE TO FEED THEMSELVES AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
AND AGAIN, THE FACT THAT THIS
IS AN AREA OF OUR ECONOMY THAT
IS SEEING WINDFALL PROFITS
DURING COVID-19, BECAUSE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS PART OF THE
MARKET IN THE SHIFT IN CONSUMER
PRACTICES, AN AVERAGE OF $17
BILLION IN PROFITS IN THE 1st
QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, AS
OPPOSED TO LAST YEAR, ACCORDING
TO BROOKINGS.
IS HAZARD PAY RECOGNIZES THE
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS OF THIS
WORK, IT HELPS RETAIN EMPLOYEES
TO COPE KEEP STORES RUNNING
SAFELY. AND IT HELPS THEM AFFORD
CHILDCARE AND DEAL WITH THE
PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL RISKS OF
THE WORK, FINDING OPTIONS THAT
CAN LIMIT RISKS TO FAMILY
MEMBERS AND MORE.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES
WERE PREVIOUSLY CLOSED BY ORDER
OF THE GOVERNOR, NURSERY
WORKERS ARE THE ABSOLUTE
ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHOSE
COMPANIES HAVE PROFITED
HANDSOMELY BY THE SHIFT OF
CONSUMERS DURING THESE TIMES,
AND OUR GLOBE DEALING AND OUR
NATION'S ECONOMY DEALING WITH
COVID-19, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL
FROM ANY OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES?
I WILL SAY A FEW WORDS QUICKLY.
I AM GOING TO START OFF WITH A
NOTE OF GRATITUDE TO THE CHAIR
OF OUR FINANCE AND COUNSELING
COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOR BEING THE
CHAMPION AND THE PRIME SPONSOR
OF THIS LEGISLATION.
I KNOW YOU DID A LOT OF WORK IN
PREPARATION TO ADVANCING THIS
LEGISLATION.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SOME
OF THAT PRELIMINARY WORK THAT
PREDATED THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL OF THE LEGISLATION IN
OUR DEBATE IN COMMITTEE TODAY
TO SHOW FOLKS THAT THERE WAS
SOME THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATION
BEHIND THE ORDINANCE AND
CRAFTING THE POLICY THAT I
THINK WAS CRITICAL TO
INFLUENCING THE SUBSTITUTE BILL
THAT WE CONSIDERED AND APPROVED
AND RECOMMENDED THE FULL
COUNCIL APPROVED IN THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE THIS LAST
FRIDAY.
SO THANK YOU, AND TO YOUR TEAM
MEMBERS FOR THE HARD WORK THAT
I KNOW YOU ALL PUT INTO THIS
LEGISLATION TOGETHER WITH OUR
COUNSEL ESSENTIAL STAFF WHO IS
NO STRANGER TO THE LABOR
STANDARDS, DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE
FOR HER WORK AS WELL.
I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP
APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE FOR
THE LEADERSHIP AND THE MEMBERS
OF U.S. CW LOCAL 21, THEY HAVE
BEEN SCREAMING FROM THE HIGHEST
POINTS OF ANY TOWER THEY COULD
FIND, TALKING ABOUT THE
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
THAT THEIR MEMBERS AND OTHER
NON-REPRESENTED FOLKS
EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY, GOING INTO
THEIR JOB THAT IS AT A GROCERY
STORE.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE
SPENT MUCH TIME ORGANIZING
WORKERS IN THIS SPACE, THAT
THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB
IN MAKING SURE THAT WE AS
POLICYMAKERS ARE HEARING
DIRECTLY FROM IMPACTED WORKERS,
AND FROM THEIR MEMBERS WHO HAVE
BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19 IN
GROCERY STORES AND WHO HAVE
SURVIVED AND -- I AM REALLY
DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE FOR THEIR
ONGOING COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY ARE CENTERING THEIR
MEMBERS AND MAKING SURE THAT
THE POLICYMAKERS UNDERSTAND WHY
THE POLICY CHOICES WE MAKE ARE
SO IMPORTANT.
THAT IS WHY I AM ALSO
APPRECIATIVE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN MADE THE REMARKS HE
MADE IN REGARD TO WEIGHING THE
NEED TO PASS THIS WITH A SENSE
OF URGENCY AS OPPOSED TO
PURSUING A LONGER DELIBERATIVE
PROCESS, WE HAVE CONSIDERED
MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION VERY
QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, EVERYTHING
FROM DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE TO
MODIFICATION OF -- TWO
ADDITIONAL LABOR STANDARDS AND
PRACTICES AS IT RELATES TO
OTHER CATEGORIES OF WORKERS,
AND I THINK THIS IS STILL A
PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE ARE
EXPERIENCING A LOT OF NEAT AND
URGENCY TO ACT QUICKLY TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE BEING FLEXIBLE
AND NIMBLE IN MEETING THE NEEDS
TO A CRITICAL WORKFORCE IN OUR
CITY.
SO I AM REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE
CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION AND
TO BE LISTED AS A COSPONSOR OF
IT.
I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE
WINDFALL CORPORATE PROFITS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE BY MANY OF THE
GROCERS IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME,
AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT
CONSUMERISM HAS REALLY SHIFTED
IN A WAY THAT HAS FUNNELED
CONSUMPTION OF FOOD TOWARD
EVERY SINGLE GROCERY STORE THAT
IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY.
THAT IS BECAUSE OUR RESTAURANTS
ARE CLOSED FOR THE MOST PART,
IT IS BECAUSE OUR BARS ARE
CLOSED FOR THE MOST PART, IT IS
BECAUSE THE PLACES THAT WOULD
NORMALLY BE FREQUENTED BY
PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE GROCERY
CONTEXT NO LONGER EXIST IN SOME
INSTANCES, SO GROCERY STORES
ARE THE PLACE WHERE ALMOST
EVERYONE, IF NOT EVERYONE IN
OUR COMMUNITY GOES TO.
THAT MEANS MORE VOLUME AND
HIGHER EXPOSURE.
AND MANY OF THE STUDIES THAT WE
HAVE SEEN THAT TALK ABOUT THE
RISK OF EXPOSURE, TALK ABOUT
THE RISK OF EXPOSURE FROM THE
CUSTOMER PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE
CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE, AND IN
ONE REPORT THAT I RECALL
SEEING, IT TALKED ABOUT THE
RISK OF EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 BY
SIMPLY BEING INSIDE A GROCERY
STORE WAS 80% HIGHER THAN IN
ANY OTHER SETTING, WHETHER IT
BE A RESTAURANT, OUTDOOR DINING,
OR AN OUTDOOR PARTY, THAT IS AN
ASTRONOMICAL RISK FROM A
CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE, NOW
IMAGINE WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD
BE IF WE WERE LOOKING AT THE
EXPOSURE TO RISK, AT THE RISK
TO EXPOSURE FROM COVID-19 FROM
THE WORKER PERSPECTIVE, FROM
THE GROCERY STORE WORKER
PERSPECTIVE, IT WOULD BE
ASTRONOMICALLY HARD, IT IS
ASTRONOMICALLY LARGE.
I THINK THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY
NEEDED PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE,
AND WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION
WHERE WE CAN SHUTDOWN OUR
GROCERY STORES, THEY ARE THE
ONLY THING LEFT IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO
AND FIND FOOD IN THE ABSENCE OF
A DIFFERENT ECONOMIC MODEL THAT
IS SAFE AND AVAILABLE FOR
PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE IS A HAZARD IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT AND THAT WORKERS
NEED TO BE COMPENSATED TO FEEL
THAT THEY ARE RESPECTED AND
THAT THEIR ROLE IN THIS
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 IS SEEN
AND DIGNIFIED, AND I AM SO
PROUD TO BE ABLE TO STAND WITH
ALL OF YOU COLLEAGUES, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE MEMBERS OF THE
U.S. CW LOCAL 21 AND ALL THE
LOCAL GROCERY STORE WORKERS IN
MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE A
STRONG STAND HERE AND SAY YES
TO HAZARD PAY AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE
THESE POLICIES THAT WILL REALLY
MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
FOR PEOPLE IF THEY DO FIND
THEMSELVES IN AN UNFORTUNATE
SITUATION OF BEING EXPOSED, OR
IN JUST THE BASIC MODE OF
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MAKE ENDS MEET WHILE ALSO
TRYING TO STAY SAFE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I AM
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE
MY REMARKS AND SEE IF ANYONE
ELSE HAS ANY REMARKS, AND IF
NOT, WE ARE GOING TO HAND IT
OVER TO THE PRIME SPONSOR,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, FOR
CLOSING REMARKS.
YOU HAVE THE LAST WORD, TAKE US
HOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMENTS
TODAY, YOUR INCREDIBLE
DELIBERATION OF THIS IMPORTANT
TOPIC, AND AS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
HAVE NOTED, THE WAY YOU HAVE
STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE MUCH
NEEDED RELIEF TO FRONT-LINE
WORKERS THROUGHOUT THIS
PANDEMIC, THIS IS ONE
ADDITIONAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
AS WE SERVE TO PROTECT THE
PUBLIC IN THE BROADER PUBLIC
HEALTH AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE FRONT-LINE WORKERS ARE
HAVING THEIR WORKPLACES
RESPECTED AND THAT WE ARE
RECOGNIZING THE HAZARD IN WHICH
MANY OF THESE FRONT-LINE
WORKERS ARE FACING EVERYDAY.
THE HAZARD PAY ORDINANCE THAT
WE ARE ABOUT TO PASS WILL -- IT
ENCOURAGES THEM TO CONTINUE
THEIR VITAL WORK IN OUR SUPPLY
FOODCHAIN, AND THIS IN EXCHANGE
SUPPORTS THE WELFARE AND THE
HEALTH -- MAKING A CHOICE
BETWEEN KEEPING A JOB AND
PROVIDING FOR A CHILD FOR
EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE A
SITUATION THAT ANY WORKER IS
FACING, MAKING A CHOICE BETWEEN
GOING TO WORK AND PUTTING
YOURSELF IN HARM'S WAY SHOULD
NOT BE SOMETHING THAT ANY
FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO
EXPERIENCE, BUT THIS IS THE
EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW OF GROCERY
STORE WORKERS IN SEATTLE.
I MENTIONED AN EXAMPLE OF A FEW
WEEKS AGO AS WE BEGAN TO
DELIBERATE THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION WHICH REALLY
UNDERSCORED FOR ME THE URGENCY
OF WHY WE NEED TO ACT NOW AND
ACT IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK I WAS
TOLD ABOUT A STORY OF A LOCAL
GROCERY STORE WORKER WHO HAS A
CHILD, AND SHE WORKS HERE IN A
GROCERY STORE IN SEATTLE.
SHE MADE AN IMPOSSIBLE DECISION
TO BE ABLE TO KEEP HER JOB, IN
ORDER TO KEEP HER JOB, SHE
NEEDS CHILDCARE, BUT BECAUSE
SHE COULD NOT AFFORD ANY OF THE
CHILDCARE IN HER LOCAL AREA,
SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING TO
LAKEWOOD, DROPPING HER CHILD
OFF, AND GOING TO SEATTLE TO DO
HER SHIFT AT A LOCAL GROCERY
STORE, DRIVING BACK TO PICK UP
HER KID, AND SLEEPING IN THEIR
CAR.
BECAUSE SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE
RESOURCES THAT SHE NEEDED TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD CHILDCARE AND TO
PAY RENT.
THIS IS THE SITUATION THAT OUR
FRONT-LINE WORKERS ARE BEING
PLACED IN, IN ADDITION TO BEING
IN HAZARDS WAY EVERYDAY.
WHEN I HEARD THAT STORY, THERE
ARE SO MANY ISSUES THAT I KNOW
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS TO ADDRESS
THE UNDERLYING INSECURITY OF
THAT SITUATION, BUT I KNEW THAT
WE COULD ACT.
WE COULD ACT AND PROVIDE HAZARD
PAY, TO RECOGNIZE THE HAZARD
THAT THIS EMPLOYEE IS IN EVERY
DAY, AND HOPEFULLY THAT
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION WILL
HELP TO ENSURE THAT IT IS NOT
JUST CHILDCARE, BUT ALSO
GREATER STABILITY AND ACCESS TO
HOUSING.
THESE ARE THE SITUATIONS THAT
WE FIND OUR WORKERS IN SEATTLE
FACING.
GROCERY STORE WORKERS FACE
SERIOUS RISK OF COVID-19
INFECTION AND THE LEAST WE CAN
DO IS PROVIDE THEM WITH ACCESS
TO VACCINES AND THE CITY
COUNCIL ACTING TODAY MAKING
SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO
ACCESS HAZARD PAY.
YOU HEARD THE STORY FROM MAGGIE
WHO TESTIFIED DURING LAST
WEEK'S HEARING AND AGAIN THIS
MORNING, WHERE WORKER AFTER
WORKER TESTIFIED ABOUT THE
HAZARDS THEY ARE FACING
EVERYDAY.
ONE PERSON SAID I COME TO WORK
úEARLY EVERY DAY, CRYING
ALREADY, SHAKING WITH ANXIETY
OVER HAVING TO DEAL WITH
UNMASKED CUSTOMERS AND THE RISK
OF CONTRACTING COVID-19.
ONE PERSON SAID I DID NOT SIGN
UP TO SACRIFICE MYSELF TO KEEP
THE COMMUNITY FED DURING THE
WORST PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN
MY LIFETIME.
BUT THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING,
AND I AM ASKED TO DO THIS ON
THE SAME PAY WHEN THE GREATEST
RISK I FACED LAST YEAR WAS
CROSSING THE PARKING LOT AT THE
END OF MY SHIFT.
THE TREMENDOUS RISK THAT
WORKERS ARE FACING, THE HAZARD
THEY ENCOUNTER EVERY DAY DURING
COVID-19, AND AS MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE MENTIONED, THE ADDITIONAL
WORK THEY ARE TAKING ON TO
CLEAN OUR GROCERY STORES AND --
NEEDS TO BE REWARDED.
UP AND DOWN THE WEST COAST,
CITIES, JURISDICTIONS ARE NOT
ONLY FOLLOWING SUIT, SOME OF
THM HAVE ALREADY ACTED ON THE
VERY TYPE OF LEGISLATION WE ARE
CONSIDERING TODAY.
THE CITY OF BERKELEY HAS
ALREADY PASSED LEGISLATION OF A
5 DOLLARS PER HOUR HAZARD PAY.
THE CURRENT SCHEDULE IN FRONT
OF US FOR THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES WHICH IS TAKING -- WITH
A POTENTIAL VOTE ON -- AND
THOSE CITIES JUST LIKE SEATTLE
ARE NOT DOING THIS OVERNIGHT.
I WILL ALSO REFLECT ON THE
TIMELINE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
WE BEGAN HEARING ABOUT THE WAVE
OF INTEREST ACROSS THE WEST
COAST AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY TO ENACT HAZARD PAY
PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAY BREAK, AND
I BEGAN BY ASKING QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT THE DATA SHOWS TO
TRY TO GET STORIES AND A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING FOR FRONT-LINE
WORKERS THEMSELVES.
WE BEGAN THE RESEARCH WITH THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS AND
OUR ESSENTIAL STAFF IMMEDIATELY
WHEN WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS
POTENTIAL FOR PASSING THIS AND
OTHER CITIES AND JURISDICTIONS
AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK -- TO HAVE A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING FROM THE
QUALITATIVE STORIES THEY HAVE
BEEN RECEIVING IN ADDITION TO
THE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS THAT
HAD BEEN PROVIDED.
I MENTIONED THE OCTOBER 2020
BOSTON STUDY THAT FOUND THAT
GROCERY STORE WORKERS HAD
ENCOUNTERED COVID-19 RATES FIVE
TIMES HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
THIS IS THE DATA AND THE
ANALYSIS THAT WENT INTO --
EARLY IN JANUARY WE BEGAN
WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS ALSO IN
CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND I WANT TO THANK
THEM FOR THEIR ONGOING
EXPRESSED SUPPORT, TO TAKE A
LOOK AT WHAT THE POLICIES AND
DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE.
AND WE CRAFTED THIS INITIALLY
WITH FEEDBACK NOT JUST FOR --
BUT ALSO BY MAKING SURE THAT WE
REACHED OUT TO THE GROCERS.
ALSO REACHING OUT ULTIMATELY TO
THE CHAMBER TO GET FEEDBACK
AGAIN, NOT NECESSARILY
SIGNALING SUPPORT BUT WANTING
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT
FEEDBACK SO THAT WE COULD
BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THESE
POLICIES COULD BE APPLIED.
IT IS THE TYPE OF DELIBERATIVE
WORK MY OFFICE DOES, AND WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ACTED WITH URGENCY AS MUCH AS
WE ALSO MAINTAINED OUR
COMMITMENT TO WORKING WITH
DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS TYPE OF CONVERSATION
CANNOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE
DETAILS RIGHT, SO FOR EVERYBODY
WHO HAS BEEN PROVIDING
FEEDBACK, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
WORK WITH US ESPECIALLY AS WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A MATTER
OF LIFE AND DEATH, THIS IS A
MATTER OF HOW WE ARE EXPECTING
-- TO HELP US AS A BROADER
POPULATION TO HAVE ACCESS TO
FOOD AND ESSENTIALS AT OUR
GROCERY STORES.
AND WE HAVE ACTED WITH URGENCY
TODAY.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK
THAT YOU HAVE ALL DONE, AND I
EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR MY
COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK
THAT YOU HAVE DONE AT UFC W 21
AND -- I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED
800 EMAILS IN SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION OVER THE LAST FEW
WEEKS, SO THANK YOU FOR WRITING
IN.
I CANNOT THANK MY STAFF ENOUGH
FOR ALL OF THE DELIBERATIVE
WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE.
-- THANKS AGAIN TO -- AND OUR
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AS WELL AS
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND OF COURSE THANK YOU TO THE
GROCERY STORE WORKERS, WE KNOW
THAT THIS IS IMMEDIATE
RECOGNITION OF THE HAZARD YOU
ARE IN, AND IMMEDIATE
APPRECIATION AND -- I AM HOPING
FOR BETTER DAYS, THE VACCINE IS
ON THE HORIZON, BUT THANK YOU
FOR ALL STANDING UP AND --
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE CLOSING
REMARKS, WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND CONSIDER DEBATE
CLOSED NOW ON THIS BILL, AND WE
ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
TO A ROLLCALL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF BILL
119990.
YOU MIGHT BE ON MUTE.
>> THERE MIGHT BE SOME
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, SO I
WILL JUMP IN.
>> WE ARE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW, GO
AHEAD.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES, AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, AND
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE
MEMBERS OF UFC W LOCAL 21, AND
ALL OF THE FRONT-LINE GROCERY
STORE WORKERS WHO ARE HUSTLING
EVERY DAY IN OUR CITY TO MAKE
ENDS MEET AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO
THE FOOD THAT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO SURVIVE DURING THE
PANDEMIC, I HOPE THAT THIS
HAZARD PAY GOES A WAYS TOWARDS
HELPING YOU SURVIVE THIS
PANDEMIC AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
OKAY, THAT DOES BRING US TO THE
END OF THE AGENDA, IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL?
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THIS
DOES CONCLUDE THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
COUNCIL MEETING IS ON FEBRUARY
1 2021. I HOPE THAT YOU ALL
HAVE A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON, AND
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT BE
IN WEST SEATTLE -- AND I FEEL
LIKE I NEED TO CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN SO THAT
THE VIEWING PUBLIC HAS THE
BENEFIT OF SEEING BERNIE
SANDERS SITTING BEHIND HIM,
WHICH WILL BE A HIGHLIGHT FOR
ME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HANGING
WITH US, AND FOR ANOTHER LONG
MEETING, I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR CONTINUING YOUR HARD
WORK IN THESE TRYING TIMES,
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE
ADJOURNED, THANK YOU SO MUCH.