THE MEETING.
HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
APRIL 5th, 2021 MEETING WILL
NOW COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:00 P.M.
OF THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> HER MOST?
>> JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER STOUTS WILL BE
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING AND
FROM THE APRIL 19, 2021 MEETING.
HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER STROSS IS EXCUSED
FROM TODAY'S MEETING AND BE
APRIL 19th MEETING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WARS HAS A
PROCLAMATION HONORING
MARCELLA'S TURNER FOR HIS
SERVICE AS CHIEF LIBRARIAN.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WILL
FIRST PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION
AND THEN I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR
FOR COMMENTS.
AFTER THAT WE WILL SUSPEND THE
ROLES TO ALLOW OUR GUEST TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AND
PROVIDE COMPLIMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON COLLEAGUES.
I AM PRESENTING A PROCLAMATION
SIGNED LAST MONDAY, MARCH 29th,
BY BOTH MAYOR DURKAN AND ALL OF
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO HONOR
THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN, MR. TURNER
FOR HIS 10 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SEATTLE IS A CITY OF READERS.
THE LIBRARY CIRCULATED OVER 12
MILLION BOOKS AND MATERIALS.
THERE WERE OVER 17 MILLION
VISITS AND THAT YOU'RE ALONE.
IN MY CHAIR, I HAVE HAD THE
HONOR OF WORKING WITH HIM
CLOSELY ON LEGISLATION RELATED
TO OUR 26 LIBRARIES AND ONLINE
SERVICES.
I HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND HIS
TENACITY TO MAKE EQUITY THE DNA
OF OUR LIBRARY SERVICES TO HIS
PATRONS.
CHIEF LIBRARIAN TURNER MATED HIS
MISSION TO ENSURE ACCESS TO
COMMUNITIES AND STUDENTS.
WE SAW THIS IN 2019 WITH A
SEVEN YEAR, $219 MILLION
LIBRARY LEVY LEGISLATION.
HE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
THIS WAS A RENEWAL TO CONTINUE
AND BUILD UPON STRENGTHS OF OUR
LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THE LEVY RENEWAL WAS PLACED ON
THE BALLOT BY THE COUNCIL AND
VOTERS APPROVED IT WITH A
WHOPPING 23%.
THEREBY SHOWING THAT OUR
LIBRARY SYSTEM IS HIGHLY
VALUED.
MT'S HOLE STATEMENT WAS PROVEN
RIGHT AND I STILL LEARNED A FEW
TIMES, LIBRARIES ARE THE
PUBLIC'S UNIVERSITY.
THAT IS OUR MODEL.
THANK YOU, MT. AS CHIEF
LIBRARIAN, MT WAS ALSO FORWARD-
LOOKING.
HE WORKED HARD TO BUILD A
SYSTEM.
OFTEN TIMES WHEN TALKING ABOUT
LIBRARIES, WE IMAGINED HAVING
OUR LIBRARY CARD AND CHECKING
OUT A NEW BOOK.
IN ADDITION TO THIS SERVICE,
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OFFERS
A WIDE RANGE OF ADDITIONAL
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDING
SPECIAL EXHIBITS, CLASSES AND
RESOURCES.
BECAUSE OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES, OUR ELDERS NEED TECH
SUPPORT CAN SIGN UP FOR A CLASS
TO EASILY LEARN HOW TO USE THE
COMPUTER OR A CELL PHONE.
BECAUSE OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY'S, ANYONE CAN SIGN UP
FOR A CLASS TO LEARN A NEW
SKILL, TO BOLSTER THEIR RESUME.
CHILDREN CAN GET TUTORING AND
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES CAN GET
ASSISTANCE WITH ENGLISH-
SPEAKING SKILLS.
THE ARRAY OF PROGRAMS ARE WHAT
MAKES SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE LIBRARY OF THE 21st CENTURY
AND WE CAN AGAIN THINK MT FOR
THIS.
LAST YEAR, SEATTLE PUBLIC
LBRARY WAS AWARDED THE
PRESTIGIOUS 2020 LIBRARY OF THE
YEAR AWARD BY THE GILL LIBRARY
JOURNAL.
SEATTLE WAS HONORED BECAUSE OF
THE LIBRARY'S WORK TO REACH
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES,
INCLUDING LOW INCOME CHILDREN,
THE INSECURELY HOUSED, AND
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.
SINCE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE ALL
SEEN -- I'M SORRY, WE HAVE SEEN
ALL CITY OFFICIALS ADJUST TO A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
I WITNESSED SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY'S INHERENT NEW
RESPONSIBILITIES TO RESPOND TO
OUR GROWING HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN
WAYS THAT HAVE SHIFTED AND
INCREASED THE SCOPE OF THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES.
THEY RESPONDED TO THAT CRISIS.
MT DID NOT HESITATE TO OPEN
BATHROOMS DURING OUR COVERT
LOCKDOWN FOR NON-PATRON USE .
DURING QUARANTINE, MT IT
DIRECTED STAFF TO EXPAND ONLINE
AND CURBSIDE PICKUP.
TO ALLOW PIGEONS AND STUDENTS
TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION.
INDEED, MT IS A ROLE MODEL FOR
MANY PUBLIC SERVANTS, INCLUDING
THE.
I ASK ALL OF YOU TO REMEMBER
THAT WE BENEFIT FROM HIS
ARTWORK AND WE HAVE BENEFITED
FROM HIS HARD WORK, TO THE BEST
OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF
TIMES.
WHILE THIS PROCLAMATION DETAILS
PHENOMENAL -- THE PHENOMENAL
CONTRIBUTION OF MT'S
CONTRIBUTIONS AND TENURE HERE
IN SEATTLE, I WOULD LIKE TO
READ THE LAST THREE LINES INTO
THE RECORD.
WHEREAS MR. TURNER, HAS
ACCEPTED A POSITION AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF
LIBRARIAN FOR THE CHARLOTTE
MECKLENBURG LIBRARY IN
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND
WILL BE SORELY MISSED IN
SEATTLE, AND MAINLY BY ME.
I JUST THREW THAT PART IN.
WHEREAS MR. TURNER'S LAST DAY
WAS MARCH 31st HIS LEGACY OF
KINDNESS AND FIERCE ADVOCACY
FOR ACTIVITY WILL REMAIN A
CORNERSTONE OF OUR LIBRARY FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME.
NOW, THEREFORE THE MAYOR AND
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
PROCLAIM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31st,
2021, TO BE MARCELLUS TURNER
DAY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE
TO CLOSE MY PRESENTATION WITH A
SHORT VIDEO.
MAY I PRESENT?
>> SURE.
>> STEPHANIE SHOULD BE DOING
SOMETHING.
>> I WASN'T ADVISED OF A VIDEO
PRESENTATION SO I CAN'T HELP
YOU.
>> I THOUGHT YOU KNEW.
HERE WE GO.
LET ME GO ON.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
MARCELLUS, WE READ A 2020
ARTICLE WHERE YOU SAID YOUR
FAVORITE AUTHOR IS DAVID.
HE IS A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND
WRITER OF OVER 40 NOVELS.
WE REACHED OUT TO HIM AND HE
HAS A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR YOU
TODAY.
STEPHANIE, START THE VIDEO.
>> HI, MARCELLUS TURNER.
I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A FAN.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE
LEAVING THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY SYSTEM AND YOU'RE
MOVING TO CHARLOTTE.
YOU HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS IN
SEATTLE, ELIMINATION OF FUNDS
WHICH IS TERRIFIC COMMUNITY
OUTREACH.
WHICH IS WHAT LIBRARIES ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.
RACIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL AND
GREATER ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY
SYSTEM, WHICH IS CRITICAL.
I GREW UP IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
IN THE 1960s AND 1970s WAS
HIGHLY SEGREGATED AT THE TIME.
I COULD HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE
FAR DIFFERENT THAN I AM TODAY.
I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TRAVEL WHEN I WAS A KID BUT I
SAW THE WORLD THROUGH BOOKS.
WHICH SAVED ME FOR BOTH PUBLIC
LIBRARIES AND BOOKS.
I READ ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WERE
NOT LIKE ME.
WE ALL SHARE THAT CORE LEVEL OF
HUMANITY.
I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT
LESSON MY ENTIRE LIFE.
IT MAY BE A FAR DIFFERENT
PERSON THAN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
IN WHICH I GREW UP IN.
FOR ME, YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT LIBRARIANS
REPRESENT TO ME.
THEY CHANGED MY LIFE IN VERY
POSITIVE WAYS.
YOU HAVE THIS SUPERHUMAN POWER
WHERE YOU CAN MAKE OTHER
PEOPLE'S LIVES FULLER AND
RICHER AND BETTER.
SEATTLE WILL MISS YOU MY FRIEND.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS GO TO
CHARLOTTE AND WORK YOUR MAGIC
DOWN THERE.
THEY WILL BE BETTER FOR IT AND
SO WILL YOU.
SO, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE
DOING.
KNOW ONE MARSALIS, YOU HAVE A
FAN IN ME.
>> ISN'T THAT SWEET?
THANK YOU, AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT I WILL TURN MY
PRESENTATION OVER TO YOU AND
THEN I WILL WAIT FOR CLOSING --
A FEW CLOSING REMARKS.
>> SURE.
THAT WAS A GREAT VIDEO.
THANKS FOR SHARING IT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS
BEFORE WE SUSPEND THE RULES?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I AM SO THANKFUL FOR
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'
LEADERSHIP ON THIS COMMITTEE
AND ALWAYS GIVING PRAISE TO MT.
I HEARD YOUR INITIALS THE FIRST
TIME WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO
SERVE WITH HER ON ONE OF MY
FIRST COMMITTEES.
JUST ALL OF THE PRAISES WELL-
DESERVED.
ONE I REALLY WANTED TO LIFT UP
HIS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
WORKED WITH YOU IN THE BUDGET
OVER THE LAST, ESPECIALLY THE
LAST TWO YEARS.
REALLY YOUR OUTSTANDING
COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT
THE WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINE
HAVE THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
YOU RESPONDED TO THOSE SERVICES
BY MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO
HAD SIGNED UP TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
SERVICE THROUGH LIBRARIES HAD
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO TAKE ON
THE CHALLENGES THAT LIBRARIES
WERE OBSERVING.
RECOGNIZING THAT YOU ALL HAVE
STOOD UP IN MANY WAYS TO SERVE
OUR CENTERS WHEN WE SHOULD BE
OFFERING MORE HOUSING AND DAY
SERVICES ACROSS OUR CITY, THAT
YOUR LIBRARIES ENDED UP BEING
THAT RESOURCE AND WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WORKING
IN THE LIBRARIES FELT SAFE AND
THEY HAVE RESOURCES TO REFER
PEOPLE TO.
SO, I JUST REMEMBER THE WAY IN
WHICH YOU TALKED ABOUT THOSE
WHO WORK IN LIBRARIES NEEDING
ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO PROVIDE
YOUTH WITH THE SERVICES THEY
NEED.
CONNECTIONS TO HOUSING, MAKING
SURE THEY FELT SAFE AND THE WAY
YOU CENTER TO WORK ON WHAT THE
WORKERS WERE EXPERIENCING
REALLY WAS A TREMENDOUS, TRULY
IMPRESSIVE, AND WHAT A COOL WAY
TO HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
WITH THIS OFFER.
HAPPY TO BE HERE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
CELEBRATE YOU IN YOUR NEXT
ADVENTURE.
BIN COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS?
>> I WOULD ALSO ECHO DEEP
GRATITUDE TO YOU, MT FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO THE CITY.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I'VE REALLY APPRECIATED ABOUT
YOU IS JUST YOUR HONESTY AND
YOUR EARNEST DESIRE TO ALWAYS
BE SUCH A STRONG SERVANT LEADER
FOR THOSE WHO NEED ACCESS THE
MOST TO OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
THAT CAME THROUGH FOR ME IN A
COUPLE OF WAYS THAT WE GOT TO
WORK TOGETHER.
ONE WAS ON EXPANDING THE
LITERACY PROGRAM AND,
PARTICULARLY FOR NON-ENGLISH
SPEAKERS AT THE LIBRARY.
TO BE ABLE TO BAKE THAT INTO
THE EXISTING LIBRARY LEVY TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A ACTUAL
STREAM OF REVENUE GOING INTO
THOSE REALLY POPULAR LITERACY
PROGRAMS THAT TEACH PARENTS HOW
TO BE BETTER PARENTS, AND KIDS
HOW TO READ AND CONNECT WITH
EACH OTHER.
THAT WILL LEAVE I THINK A
REALLY LONG LASTING LEGACY FOR
OUR YOUNGER LISTENERS AND FOR
THEIR PARENTS WHO REALLY RELY
ON THOSE SERVICES TO IMPROVE
THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THAT EFFORT.
THEN, THE OTHER WONDERFUL
MEMORY I HAVE OF BEING ABLE TO
CONNECT WITH YOU IS WHEN WE
WERE DOWN AT THE SOUTH PARK
LIBRARY WITH LIKE ABOUT 20 KIDS.
THIS WAS IN PRE-COVID TIMES.
THIS WAS NOT RECENT.
TO HAVE THEM EXPERIMENT WITH
ROBOTICS AND USING OUR LIBRARY
IN CREATIVE WAYS, NOT JUST FOR
READING.
NOT JUST FOR STUDYING.
NOT JUST FOR LEARNING, BUT FOR
HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTATION IN
LEARNING AND BEING SORT OF
CAPTURED IN THAT MOMENT.
BY THE INNOVATION OF THOSE
LITTLE ROBOTS.
WHILE STILL ENJOYING THEIR
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IT WAS A REAL JOY.
JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE
INNOVATOR THAT YOU ARE, AND HOW
YOU THINK ABOUT LIBRARIES
REALLY BELONGING TO THE
COMMUNITY AND BELONGING TO THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THOSE
COMMUNITIES CHARLOTTE IS VERY
LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU FOR
AS LONG AS WE DID.
I KNOW YOU WILL LEAVE AN
EQUALLY REMARKABLE IMPRESSION
AND LEGACY FOR THOSE CHILDREN
AND THOSE FAMILIES IN CHARLOTTE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, DID YOU
WANT TO MAKE REMARKS NOW OR
AFTER MT SPEAKS?
>> I WILL LET MT SPEAK.
>> OKAY FOLKS.
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THE RULES
BE SUSPENDED SO THAT WE CAN
HEAR FROM OUR GUEST OF HONOR.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL'S RULES ARE SUSPENDED.
INSIDE.
TO ALLOW MARCELLUS TURNER TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AND
PROVIDE REMARKS.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND
MT, WELCOME AGAIN TO THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
YOU FOR SOME REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS INDEED AN HONOR AND I
DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START.
SO MANY THINGS I DON'T WANT TO
START LEAVING OUT, SO I'LL START
WITHOUT THINGS I DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE OUT.
GO, CAN ZEIGER.
I WILL BE ROOTING FOR THEM IN A
COUPLE HOURS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THAT'S.
I HAVE FINGERS CROSSED AND
EVERYTHING HOPING FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
DAVID, THAT WAS A SURPRISE.
THAT WAS A BIG SURPRISE.
I LOOKED AT HIM AND I SAID THAT
REALLY LOOKS LIKE DAVID.
I WONDER WHAT THEY ARE DOING
WITH HIM IN THAT SCREENSHOTS.
THAT WAS A SURPRISE AND I ONLY
HOPE THAT WHENEVER I HAVE A
CHANCE TO MEET HIM THAT HE WILL
REMEMBER DOING THAT VIDEO FOR
ME.
SO, I WILL REMIND HIM FOREVER
AND I'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
SOME WAY TO GET A CLIP OF
THAT'S.
I'VE NEVER HAD AN AUTHOR SAY MY
NAME SO MUCH.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT'S A WONDERFUL SURPRISE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I DID NOT EXPECT THIS 9 1/2
YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T EVEN
EXPECT IT AS RECENTLY AS NOW,
BUT IT IS INDEED AN HONOR TO BE
ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COUNCIL.
I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH EACH
ONE OF YOU, EVEN WHEN YOU WERE
SENDING THE PATRON COMMENTS AND
COMPLAINTS, I WAS BAD TO SEE
THEM.
IT JUST REALLY SHOW THE RESPECT
THAT YOU HAD FOR THE OFFICE OF
THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN TO REFER
THEM TO US TO WORK WITH AND
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SERVED EACH
OF YOUR DISTRICTS IN THE ENTIRE
CITY WELL.
AS CHIEF LIBRARIAN.
I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU'VE
JUST BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL
TO WORK WITH.
SUCH A JOY.
YOU ARE VERY REAL AND I'VE
ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT FROM
BEGINNING TO END.
EACH OF YOU HAVE WONDERFUL
OFFICE STAFFS WHO HAVE ALWAYS
BENEFITED.
I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE DONE SOME GREAT WORK,
AND I SHOULD ALSO APOLOGIZE.
I'M STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE WE
VERSUS THEY.
I'M STILL SORT OF A WE WHEN I
SPEAK OF SEATTLE.
I AM A THEY RIGHT NOW.
WHEN I WAS AT SEATTLE PUBLIC,
WE DID SOME WONDERFUL THINGS TO
ALWAYS SUPPORT OTHER COUNCILS.
THAT CANNOT BE LOST AND YOU
WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR
LIBRARY.
YOU KNEW A GOOD PRODUCT WHEN
YOU SAW IT AND KNEW THAT OUR
LIBRARIES WERE WORKING.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT EVERY
TIME YOU TOOK TO THE MAT TO
SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF TO DEFEND
THE LIBRARY.
TO THINK ABOUT THE GOOD THAT WE
DO.
THAT IS REALLY APPRECIATED.
MY TIME AT SEATTLE WAS A GREAT
9 1/2 YEARS.
I THINK WE DID SOME GREAT
THINGS BUT I KNOW YOU'RE IN
WONDERFUL HANDS.
BECAUSE OF THAT I WILL NOT BE A
DIRECTOR FROM THE GRAVE.
WHEN I LEAVE, I AM GONE.
YOU WILL NOT HEAR ME SAYING OH,
I WISH THEY WOULD DO THIS.
I AM QUITE CONFIDENT THAT I
WILL READ ABOUT SEATTLE PUBLIC
DOING GREAT THINGS AND
HOPEFULLY OUR PATHS WILL CROSS
AGAIN.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU WHEN I
COME BACK TO VISIT, WALKING
THROUGH PIKE PLACE MARKET.
GOING TO MANY OF THE GREAT
THINGS THAT ARE IN SEATTLE, I
HOPE I SEE YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANKS, MT. WONDERFUL
REMARKS.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, BRING US
HOME.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM REALLY, REALLY SAD THAT
MARCELLUS IS LEAVING.
HE LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME
THAT HE WAS LEAVING AND I ASKED
TO MEET WITH HIM AND HE SAID
NO.
ANYWAY, I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING
WITH YOU SO MUCH, MARCELLUS.
I LIKE WORKING WITH THE NEW
PEOPLE, BUT YOU ARE MY
FAVORITE.
I HOPE THEY ARE LISTENING.
IT HAS JUST BEEN A JOY SINCE I
INHERITED THE COMMITTEE IN
2016.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK
TOGETHER.
I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED YOUR
SENSE OF HUMOR AND YOUR
KINDNESS.
I WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS LAUGH
WHEN WE ARE AT THE LIBRARY AT
LANG CITY AND YOU SAW A BIG
SQUIRREL AND YOU THOUGHT IT WAS
A RAT.
I SAID I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES
ON IN NORTH CAROLINA, BUT OUR
RATS DON'T GET THAT BIG.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT
MEMORIES LIKE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ SAID WHEN YOU HAD ME
READ TO THE KIDS AT A COUPLE
LIBRARIES.
I RAISED MY KIDS, I DON'T WANT
TO DO THIS AGAIN.
ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO MISS YOU
SO MUCH.
I'M GLAD THAT SINCE 2016 WE DID
ALSO BECOME VERY GOOD FRIENDS.
IT IS AN GOODBYE, THERE
ACTUALLY ISN'T A WORD FOR
GOODBYE, IT IS SEE YOU.
I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN.
I MISS YOU, MY FRIEND.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AGAIN, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD
JOURNEY MT, AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO STAYING CONNECTED.
NOT WITH YOU AS SORT OF A
ZOMBIE CHIEF LIBRARIAN, BUT
JUST AS A HOPEFULLY STILL
LONGTIME BOOSTER OF SEATTLE AND
THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU WERE
ABLE TO DO HERE WHILE WE HAD
YOU FOR 9 1/2 YEARS.
IT'S KIND OF REMARKABLE TO ME
THAT IT WAS 9 1/2 YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW
ENDEAVORS.
OUR BEST WISHES FOR YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PEOPLE
OF CHARLOTTE.
ARE RIGHT FOLKS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO
OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
FIRST UP IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
MARCH 29, 2021 HAVE BEEN
REVIEWED.
THERE IS NO OBJECTION.
THE MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNS.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE
WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL'S
PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THEIR ONGOING PATIENCE AND
COOPERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO
OPERATE THIS REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENTS IS SOME.
IT REMAINS A STRONG INTENT TO
HAVE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULARLY INCLUDED ON MEETING
AGENDAS, HOWEVER AS A REMINDER
THE CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE
RIGHT TO END OR ELIMINATE THESE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AT ANY
POINT IF WE DEEM THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED OR IS NO LONGER
SUITABLE FOR ALLOWING OUR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTING
EFFICIENTLY AND.
I WILL MODERATE IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS 20
MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTER TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
SO, WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A
LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
PREREGISTERED, BUT ARE NOT
CALLED UPON BECAUSE THEY APPEAR
AS NOT PRESENT ON MY END.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO ADD A
LITTLE MORE TO THESE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS TO
HOPEFULLY CLEAR UP ANY
CONFUSION MOVING FORWARD.
AS A REMINDER, EACH SPEAKER
MUST CALL IN TO PUBLIC COMMENT
FROM THE PHONE NUMBER USED FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTRATION.
EACH SPEAKER, USING THAT SAME
PHONE NUMBER, MUST DIAL INTO
THIS MEETING WITH THE SAME
PHONE NUMBER, I.D., AND
PASSCODE, THAT WAS SENT TO YOU
UPON CONFIRMATION.
OF YOUR REGISTRATION.
SO, THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE
GENERAL MEETING LISTEN LINE
CALL IN INFORMATION.
IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY, BUT CALLED INTO
THE LISTEN LINE INSTEAD OF THE
I.D.
AND PASSCODE EMAILED TO YOU IN
YOUR CONFIRMATION, THEN YOU
WILL APPEAR ON MY SPREADSHEET
AS NOT PRESENT AND THEREFORE
UNABLE TO BE CALLED ON FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
AGAIN, I WILL CALL ON EACH
SPEAKER BY NAME AND IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE WEBSITE.
I WILL CALL ON SPEAKERS EVEN IF
THEY APPEAR AS NOT PRESENT.
IF YOU HEAR ME SAY YOUR NAME
AND THE FACT THAT YOU APPEAR ON
MY END AS NOT PRESENT, PLEASE
TAKE A MOMENT TO CONFIRM THAT
YOU ARE CALLING INTO THE
MEETING I.D.
WITH THE PASSWORD PROVIDED TO
YOU IN YOUR CONFIRMATION WITH
THE EXACT PHONE NUMBER YOU USED
TO PREREGISTER.
IF YOUR STATUS CHANGES FROM NOT
PRESENT TO PRESENT BEFORE THE
CONCLUSION OF TODAY'S PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD I WILL CALL ON
YOU.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT
HOME OR ON THE LISTEN LINE, IF
YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY GOING
TO THE WEBSITE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS ALSO
LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKERS NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND YOU
WILL HEAR AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT
OF YOU HAVE BEEN UN-MUTED.
THIS WILL BE YOUR Q2 PRESS STAR
SIX AND THEN BEGIN SPEAKING.
AFTER YOU PRESS STAR SIX,
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME, AND THE ITEM THAT YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
AS A REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
OR, THE WORK PROGRAM.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE TIME WE ASKED
THAT YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DON'T END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE LANDED THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
BETA.
WHAT YOU COMPLETED YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
DISCONNECT THE LINE AND IF YOU
PLAN TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS
MEETING YOU CAN DO SO BY A
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE LISTING
OPTIONS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
ALL RIGHT.
PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST UP IS
HOWARD GALE, FOLLOWED BY --
>> HELLO.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
DISTRICT 7 COMMENTING AS ALWAYS
ON CONTINUING POLICE ABUSE AND
FAILED POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
OCTOBER 7, 2020.
THAT IS THE DAY UPON WHICH ALL
THE HORRIBLE ABUSE LEADING UP
TO THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE BY SPD
OFFICERS COMPLETELY ESCAPES
ACCOUNTABILITY AS WE PASSED THE
180 DAY MARK FOR INVESTIGATION
AND DISCIPLINE.
THE LESSON LEARNED BY THE SPD.
IF YOU ENGAGE IN ABUSE AND
MASSIVE INFRINGEMENT OF FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS, DO SO IN AN
OVERWHELMING MATTER WHICH
SWAMPS WHATEVER TINY BIT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY THE SYSTEM EVEN
PRETENDS TO AFFORD.
MORE THAN 10 MONTHS AFTER THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, AND
FOUR PEOPLE KILLED BY THE SPD
DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THE
COUNCIL HAS CONSISTENTLY FAILED
TO DELIVER ON POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
ALL OF THE OVERSIGHT BODIES,
DOPA, THE CDC, AND THE OIG HAVE
FAILED TO EVEN SUGGEST CHANGES
IN POLICIES THAT CAN GUARANTEE
THESE ABUSES WILL NOT HAPPEN
AGAIN.
FOR ONLY TWO ACCOUNTABILITY,
NOT ROUTINELY VIOLATED POLICY
CAN GUARANTEE COMMUNITY SAFETY.
THE OVERSIGHT BODIES IN THE
COUNCIL'S LACK OF ACTION WILL
GUARANTEE MORE POLICE ABUSE IN
THE WEEKS TO COME AS BLACK
LIVES MATTER PROTESTS WILL
RESUME WITH THE CONCLUSION OF
THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER TRIAL
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
MURDER JUST WEEKS AWAY THIS IS
ON THE IMMEDIATE HORIZON.
HOW CAN YOU IGNORE IT?
AS WE APPROACH THE ONE-YEAR
MARK POST GEORGE FLOYD, IT IS
CLEAR THE COUNCIL WILL NOT
DELIVER ON HIS PROMISES OF 50%,
OR ANY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF THE
FUNDING, NOR PROMISE TO LIMIT
THE WEAPONS USED BY THE SPD TO
ABUSE US.
100% ACHIEVABLE BY YOU NOW.
FULL CIVILIAN CONTROL OF POLICE
OVERSIGHT MOVING BEYOND POLICE
INVESTIGATING POLICE IN A FIELD
THE ARCHETYPE SYSTEM.
IT IS HAPPENING IN NASHVILLE,
OAKLAND, PORTLAND, OREGON AND
OTHER CITIES.
WHY DON'T WE DESERVE THAT HERE?
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO EVERYONE.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER
BEING A PART HERE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
MY GOAL HERE TODAY IS TO TALK
ABOUT THE PAYOFF CAMPAIGN AND
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S GOAL
IN IMPROVING OPPORTUNITY FOR
GATE WORKERS.
MY GOAL IS TO PROVIDE YOU --
PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE KIND OF
STRUGGLES THAT WE DEAL WITH,
AND WHY IT MATTERS SO MUCH TO
US.
I BE REAL QUICK.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT A COUPLE
YEARS AGO I WAS AT A REAL LOW
POINT IN MY LIFE.
MEDICAL SCHOOL DIDN'T WORK OUT
FOR ME.
I ENDED UP IN THE GIG ECONOMY.
IT REALLY HELPED ME OUT BECAUSE
I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY BUILD UP
MY SELF-ESTEEM AND ALSO HAVE A
POSITIVE IMPACT IN MY COMMUNITY.
BUILD UP MY CONFIDENCE.
I MOVED TO SEATTLE AND ENDED UP
DOING SOUL-SEARCHING AND ENDED
UP GOING TO BOOT CAMP.
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING THIS YEAR.
MY CONCERN THAT I WANTED TO
SHARE WAS THAT I FEEL REALLY
SCARED THAT I COULD LOSE MY
INCOME AT ANY TIME BECAUSE
THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL
INSTANCES OVER THE YEARS WHERE
MY GIG RIDESHARE ACCOUNTS GO
OFF-LINE.
EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OVER 6000
RIDES AND I'M A PERFECT FIVE-
STAR RATING.
SOMEBODY COULD REPORT ME FOR
SOMETHING LIKE MAYBE THEY SAID
MY CAR SMELLED LIKE A JUG.
IT COULD BE ANYTHING.
SO MANY REASONS.
RECENTLY I GOT A TICKET ON THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE WHILE I WAS
ON GIG ECONOMY.
THAT REALLY SCARES ME THAT I
COULD GO OFF-LINE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
THAT.
SO, I INCURRED THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO PASS BILLS THAT CAN
HELP US AND OUR SITUATION THIS
YEAR.
ALSO, I'LL JUST SAY THAT ONE
LAST THING IS THAT I KNOW WE'VE
GOTTEN A BIG PAY INCREASE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL.
THAT HAS REALLY HELPED A LOT.
THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE --
>> THANK YOU.
>> YES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING
US TODAY.
I AM ONE OF THE GIG WORKERS
THAT WORK WITH INSTACART.
ALSO A MEMBER. THE MAIN REASON
WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE AS A
GIG WORKER, WORKING WITH
INSTACART FOR A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME, IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF
TIME BEFORE WE CAN KEEP THIS UP
ANYMORE.
WE ARE GETTING PAID WAY LESS
THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE.
MAINLY THE PANDEMIC IS ALLOWING
THESE TYPE OF GIG WORKERS, OR
GIG WORKER PLATFORMS, TO TAKE
MORE ADVANTAGE OF US SINCE THE
DEMAND IS A WHOLE LOT HIGHER.
THEY KNOW THAT A LOT OF US HAVE
LOST OUR JOBS ARE THAT WE NEED
ADDITIONAL INCOME TO MAKE ENDS
MEET.
THEREFORE, THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF US BY GIVING US -- THEY DO
GIVE US WORK BUT THEY DECREASE
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE
MAKE AN HOUR FOR MOST OF THE
GIG JOBS.
ANOTHER BIG REASON IS THAT IT
HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO PAY, YOU
KNOW PUT FOOD IN OUR KIDS'
MILES.
A LOT OF US BRING OUR KIDS WITH
US DURING THIS TO BE THE GOOD
WORK.
THE AMOUNT IS SO LOW WE CAN'T
EVEN AFFORD CHILDCARE.
IT BASICALLY PAYS SEVEN DOLLARS
PER JOB.
SEVEN DOLLARS PER JOB WHEN YOU
HAVE FOUR KIDS AND YOU ARE A
SINGLE MOM IS NOT ENOUGH.
ON TOP OF THAT, WHERE USING OUR
OWN RESOURCES.
WE USE OUR VEHICLES, WHICH MEANS
WE NEED MORE TIRE REPLACEMENT.
WE NEED MONEY TO REPLACE OUR OIL
AND HAVE OIL CHANGES.
NOT TO MENTION GAS, WHICH IS
CONSTANTLY GOING UP.
FOR EXAMPLE, I EVEN GOT IN A
CAR ACCIDENT.
IT IS NOT LIKE THESE GIG JOBS
PAY FOR INSURANCE.
WE NORMALLY PAY OUR OWN
INSURANCE.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
SEVEN DOLLARS IS NOT ENOUGH.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL, CAN YOU
HEAR?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOUR.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, THE HOMELESS
CRISIS IS ONGOING FOR VETERANS
WHO ARE ALSO CIVILIANS THAT ARE
BEING FORGOTTEN, FORSAKEN AND
DENIED THE SAME ASSISTANCE IN
GETTING OFF THE STREETS THAT
THE REPEAT OFFENDING SERIOUS
CRIMINALS DOWN IN PIONEER
SQUARE AND CHINATOWN ARE
OFFERED.
WHICH IS A MOTEL.
WE NEED 10% TO 33% OF THE $12
MILLION IN FEDERAL REIMBURSABLE
HOMELESS CRISIS MONEY TO BE
SENT TO THE KING COUNTY VETERAN
HOUSING PROGRAM IN THE FORM OF
A DEBIT CARD TO ALLOW VETERANS
TO APPLY ONLINE FOR HOUSING.
THERE IS A TECHNICAL GLITCH DUE
TO AN INTEROFFICE RULE CHANGE
THAT CAUSED VETERANS TO BE
DISSEMINATED AGAINST BY
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
ANTIQUATED OFFERINGS OF A CHECK
FOR MOVING COSTS DURING COVID
IS NOT ALLOWED.
ALL THE VETERANS NEED IS A
DEBIT CARD TO BE ABLE TO APPLY
FOR HOUSING ONLINE.
BECAUSE OF THIS LACK OF FUNDS
FOR A DEBIT CARD, VETERANS ARE
FORCED BACK INTO THE STREET
BECAUSE NO FUNDS FOR MOTEL
EXTENSIONS ARE OFFERED WHILE
SOME OF THEM ARE STILL DISABLED
AND NEEDING TO BETTER CARE FOR
THEMSELVES THAT REQUIRES A HOME
WITH BATHTUBS TO REHEAT THEIR
ACHILLES AND ICE AFTER
STRETCHING WITH LOTS OF REST
AND ELEVATION.
THE DEMOCRATS GOT ALL THE COVID
HOMELESS CRISIS MONEY AND THE
VETERANS NEED SOME OF IT TO BE
SHARED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE
MAYOR.
PLEASE SHARE A PROPER
PERCENTAGE OF THE $12 RIGHT
AWAY.
I'M SUFFERING AN INJURY I CAN'T
TAKE HER UP PROPERLY IN THE
KING COUNTY DA SAYS THERE IS NO
MONEY.
WASHINGTON STATE'S VA WON'T
HELP BECAUSE I SAY KING COUNTY
IS ALREADY HELPING ME, WHICH
THEY CAN'T.
THEY COULD.
HOLD ON.
I'M GETTING CUT OFF, WHAT THE --
>> WE CAN STILL HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
SOMEBODY ELSE IS CALLING THE IN.
I WAS JUST HOPING THAT INSTEAD
OF HAVING SOME OF THE STAFF
TELLING US THEY'RE GOING TO
CIRCLE BACK TO THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE, MAYBE WE COULD ADDRESS
SOME OF THE ONGOING CRISES AND
REDIRECT SOME OF THAT MONEY TO
THE KING COUNTY VETERAN'S.
I THINK IT IS SOCIAL SERVICES
FOR VETERANS FAMILIES.
KAISER BIRCH.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO.
I'M AN ON-DEMAND GIG WORKER ON
GRUBHUB IN SEATTLE AND A MEMBER
OF THE PAY UP CAMPAIGN.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHY GIG
WORKERS NEED LAWMAKERSTO RAISE
OUR PAY AND SET STANDARDS FOR
THIS EMERGING AND EXPANDING
INDUSTRY.
BYPASSING THE PAYOUT POLICY
THIS YEAR.
I STARTED DOING GIG WORK
BECAUSE OF BACK INJURIES.
IT HAS RENDERED ME PARTIALLY
DISABLED.
I AM TOO DISABLED TO WORK FULL-
TIME, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO QUALIFY
FOR STATE OR FEDERAL HELP.
ALTHOUGH IT IS ILLEGAL TO,
TRADITIONAL EMPLOYERS WILL NOT
EMPLOY SOMEONE WHO NEEDS MINOR
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS.
I HAVE STOPPED TRYING.
GIG WORK IS THE ONLY INDUSTRY
THAT ALLOWS ME THE FLEXIBILITY
TO SET MY OWN WORK HOURS WHILE
WORKING AT A PACE AND INTENSITY
THAT I'M PHYSICALLY COMFORTABLE
WITH.
GIG WORK IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF
INCOME.
I ALSO DON'T EARN ENOUGH TO GET
BY.
GRUBHUB USED SOME SORT OF
CRYSTAL BALL METHOD TO
DETERMINE WHAT AN ORDER IS
WORTH.
I CAN MAKE AS LITTLE AS A FEW
DOLLARS PER ORDER.
ACTUALLY GRUBHUB ARE TRYING TO
UNDERMINE THE FLEXIBILITY AND
PAPER ORDER THAT I DEPEND ON.
MY RATING CAN BE LOWERED FOR
VARIOUS REASONS BY GRUBHUB,
OFTEN REASONS I HAVE NO CONTROL
OVER.
A LOWERED RATING RESULTS IN
LOWER PAYING ORDERS.
THUS DECREASING MY PAPER WE
NEED SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO
PASS THE PAYOUT POLICY FOR GIG
WORKERS.
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DISPOSABLE,
AND SHOULD NOT BE EXPLOITED.
GIG WORKERS SHOULD BE AFFORDED
THE SAME RIGHTS AND DIGNITIES
OF TRADITIONAL EMPLOYEES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, GO AHEAD.
>> I AM A GIG DRIVER, GIG WORKER
IN THE SEATTLE AREA.
BASICALLY NORTHERN KING COUNTY.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY DONE A
LOT OF -- MADE A LOT OF
PROGRESS AND CONCESSIONS TOWARD
GIG WORKERS.
AND CONCERNED THAT THE CURRENT
BILL THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED
THAT WOULD FOCUS ON INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS, WHILE NOT HARMFUL,
DOESN'T REALLY DO ENOUGH.
IT ISN'T REALLY DIRECTLY
RELATED TO WHAT WE NEED.
THE RIGHTS TO NEGOTIATE
CONTRACTS IS GREAT AND
EVERYTHING, BUT THOSE CONTRACTS
ARE ONLY AS USEFUL AS THE LAWS
ARE FOR -- IF I'M NOT ENTITLED
TO HIGHER PAY, THEN IT DOESN'T
MATTER.
EVEN IF I AM ENTITLED TO MY
CONTRACT, THAT IS NOT GOING TO
NECESSARILY BE GOOD.
I THINK BASICALLY WHAT I'M
SAYING IS THE CITY NEEDS TO
FOCUS ON THE PAY UP LAWS.
PAY UP POLICIES INSTEAD OF THIS
BIG INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
RIGHTS STOP.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING
THAT SEATTLE HAS DONE.
THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE A LOT OF
CONCESSIONS.
WE CAN STILL GO FURTHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M DONE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING AND.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM IN SEATTLE.
WE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR
MORE THAN A YEAR TRYING TO GET
OUR PAY UP STUFF PAST.
WE ARE NOT SEEING ENOUGH MOTION
FORWARD.
THE RECENT THINGS THAT THE
SEATTLE COUNCIL PASSED FOR SICK
LEAVE AND THAT, A COUPLE THINGS
WE DID LAST YEAR.
THOSE WERE AWESOME.
THEY WERE FOR EMERGENCY
MEASURES.
WE NEED SOMETHING THAT IS A
PERMANENT THING.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO GO BACK TO
BUSINESS AS USUAL ONCE THIS
COVID THING HAS BEEN DEEMED
DONE.
SO, WE NEED SOMETHING ON THE
BOOKS WHERE IT ACTUALLY HELPS
GIG WORKERS.
THAT'S A FLOOR THAT IS HIGH
ENOUGH THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING
LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE.
WE NEED TO BE MAKING OVER
MINIMUM WAGE.
OUR EXPENSES ARE HUGE.
WHEN I POPPED FOUR TIRES IN ONE
YEAR ON SEATTLE POTHOLES, I
PAID TO THOSE TIRES.
WHEN I HAD TO DO AN EXTRA
INSURANCE RIDER TO WORK ON LYFT
ON MY PERSONAL INSURANCE, I
PAID FOR THAT.
WHEN I HAD TO GET A SEATTLE
BUSINESS LICENSE, I PAID FOR
THAT.
MY GAS, I PAY FOR THAT.
THE DEPRECIATION ON MY CAR.
I'M PAYING FOR THAT.
ALL THESE THINGS, WE ARE PAYING
FOR.
WE ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH TO
COVER OUR EXPENSES AND HAVE
ENOUGH TO LIVE.
TO DEMONSTRATE THAT, I'M SORRY
WE DON'T HAVE A PICTURE HERE,
SO I'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU.
RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING AT
ZIPPERS.
LITTLE HANGING BAGS.
MR. HEATER AND A PROPANE TANK
BECAUSE I'M IN A TENT.
I'M HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THESE
APPS RACED TO THE BOTTOM.
I DID NOT MAKE ENOUGH TO EVEN
PAY FOR MY ONLY $600 ROOM.
I AM NOW HOMELESS.
THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION.
WE NEED YOU ALL TO REALLY GET
ON THIS AND GET US SOME
PERMANENT CHANGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
KIMBERLY AND SHARING YOUR STORY
WITH US.
COLLEAGUES, THAT DOES CONCLUDE
ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
SIGNED UP AND PREREGISTERED FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
DEAL WITH OTHER ISSUES.
OTHER BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA.
>>> FIRST UP IS PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS.
COUNCIL BILL 120023.
AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING
MONEY TO PAY CERTAIN AUDITED
CLAIMS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH
22nd, 2021 THROUGH MARCH 26th,
2021 ORDERING THE PAYMENT
THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I MOVED TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120023.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> IT HAS BEEN SECONDED.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> SO WANT?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
MIKE AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE?
THERE ARE NO COMMITTEE REPORTS
SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
STRAIGHT TO OTHER BUSINESS.
COLLEAGUES, I HAVE ONE ITEM OF
OTHER BUSINESS AS DISCUSSED
DURING THIS MORNING'S COUNCIL
BRIEFING.
SIGNATURES WILL NEED TO BE
AFFIXED TO THE LETTER THAT WAS
MENTIONED AT TODAY'S MEETING
BICARB.
I'LL ADDRESS THE LETTER FIRST.
I WILL THEN CALL FOR ANY
QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS AND THEN I WILL ASSESS
THE CLERK TAKE A ROLL CALL ON
THOSE MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE THEIR NAMES ADDED TO THE
LETTER.
AGAIN, PER THE DISCUSSION THIS
MORNING WITH THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT OUR
NAMES TO A LETTER CALLING TO
DEDICATE $400 MILLION OF ONE-
TIME FEDERAL FUNDS TOWARDS
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
INVESTMENTS AS BUDGET
NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN
OLYMPIA TO RECONCILE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE
AND SENATE BUDGETS.
ARE ASKED TO OUR STATE LEADERS
AND GOVERNOR INSLEE OFF BY OF
THIS LETTER IS TO DEDICATE $400
MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO USE IN
ORDER TO BE NIMBLE AND
RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES FOR HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS.
THIS ASK IS IN ADDITION TO THE
MINIMUM $300 MILLION OF
PROPOSED FUNDING ACROSS THE
GOVERNOR, HOUSE AND SENATE
BUDGETS IN THE HOUSING TRUST
FUND ENHANCED SHELTER CAPACITY
BRANDT. HERE IN SEATTLE WE HAVE
REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ACQUIRE
MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS AT A
REASONABLE COST.
THESE ARE BUILDINGS THAT ARE
ALMOST COMPLETE OR READY TO
OPEN THEIR DOORS NOW, MEANING
WE CAN MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE
STREETS, OUT OF OUR PARKS, AND
OUT OF OUR GREEN SPACES, AND
INTO HOUSING IN THE COMING
MONTHS, RATHER THAN WAIT YEARS
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROJECTS TO BE DEVELOPED,
PERMITTED, AND BUILT.
THIS ACTION, IF TAKEN BY OUR
STATE LEADERS, COULD MEAN WE
COULD SEE MORE THAN 2600
INDIVIDUALS HELPED IN THE NEXT
SIX MONTHS.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU AGREE, WE
JUST SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD ANY
MORE DELAYS ON ACTING ON THE
HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS.
I HOPE YOU JOIN ME IN ASKING
THAT OUR STATE LEADERS ACT FOR
WASHINGTON STATE CITIES AND
COUNTIES IN BUDGET
RECONCILIATION AND I WOULD
INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN ME,
ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER LOCAL
ELECTED LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE
WHO HAVE FULLY COMMITTED TO
SIGNING THIS LETTER.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BEFORE I
REQUEST THE COURT CALL THE
ROLL?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I WILL TRY TO REITERATE A FEW
OF THE POINTS I MADE THIS
MORNING BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR CONTEXT.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO MANY OF
THE STEPS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
TAKEN OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
THIS IS A COMPLEMENTARY PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE
ASKING FOR FROM THE STATE
PARTNERS.
TO COMPLEMENT AND EXPAND UPON
STRATEGIES THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS LED ON.
NOT A MATTER OF THE COUNCIL.
BEING INACTIVE, WAITING FOR
SOMEBODY ELSE TO STEP UP.
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF INACTION
OR FAILURE.
THIS IS A MATTER OF US
RECOGNIZING THAT THIS ISSUE IS
FAR BIGGER THAN OUR BORDERS,
AND WE NEED STATE PARTNERS AND
THANKFUL TO HAVE FEDERAL
PARTNERS, TO HELP US ADDRESS
THE CRISIS.
WE HAVE, THROUGH THE CITY
COUNCILS WORK, AND I WAS PART
THAT SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION,
ACTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
OFFICE OF HOUSING HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
STRATEGIC ACQUISITION WHEN
PROPERTIES BECOME AVAILABLE SO
THAT WE CAN PURCHASE HOTELS,
APARTMENTS, MULTIFAMILY
STRUCTURES, AND DO SO WITH
URGENCY.
WE PASSED THAT IN 2018 AND WE
ARE SEEING THAT LEGISLATION BE
USED THIS YEAR TO PURCHASE
PROPERTY.
THIS IS PART OF THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD
WITH THE REGIONAL HOUSING
AUTHORITY.
WE HAVE TALKED TO OUR REGIONAL
PARTNERS HERE ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF PURCHASING
PROPERTIES SO THAT WE CAN HOUSE
PEOPLE, WHETHER IT IS SHELTERS,
WHERE IT IS LONG-TERM HOUSING
SOLUTIONS, AND TO DO THAT AS A
GOOD WAY OF BEING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SMALL
LANDLORDS AS WELL.
OR, PROPERTY DEVELOPERS WHO DO
NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE WITH DEVELOPING THOSE
PROPERTIES ANY LONGER.
WE DON'T WANT THERE TO BE
DERELICT PARTNERS IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS.
MAKING SURE WE ARE PURCHASING
THESE PROPERTIES QUICKLY AND WE
HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO
REPLENISH REVOLVING FUNDS IS
CRITICAL.
I WANT TO OFFER THAT CONTEXT AS
PART OF OUR ONGOING DISCUSSIONS
HERE IN THE CITY TO REALLY PUSH
BACK ON ANY NARRATIVE THAT WE
ARE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE
TO STEP UP.
WE HAVE, IN MANY WAYS, STEPPED
UP TO THE PLATE.
THE CRISIS IS FAR BIGGER THAN
WE CAN CATCH UP WITH EVEN
BEFORE COVID, AND NOW DURING
COVID AND SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE
LOSE THEIR LIVELIHOODS, MORE
PEOPLE ARE FALLING INTO
HOMELESSNESS.
WE MUST ASK WITH URGENCY TO
EXPAND UPON WHICH THE CITY
COUNCIL HAVE PUT INTO PLAY,
INCLUDING THE $135 MILLION THAT
ARE PART OF JUMPSTART'S REVENUE
THAT WILL BEGIN COMING TO THE
CITY NEXT YEAR.
WITH THAT CONTEXT IN MIND, AND
WITH THE STRONG LEADERSHIP OF
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IN
BRINGING THIS LETTER FORWARD,
AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OIR
AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE
STATE, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SIGN
ON.
I HOPE THAT CONTEXT IS HELPFUL
TO SHOW HOW WE ARE CONTINUING
TO WORK FOR ADDITIONAL
PARTNERS, AND HAVE THEM AND
WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW
LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE CITY AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURE EFFECT TO THE LETTER
FROM THE OFFICE OF INTERIM
GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
HEARING NONE, COLLEAGUES, THIS
DOES CONCLUDE THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING IS ON MONDAY, APRIL 12,
2021 AT 2:00 P.M.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A
GENDER FULL AFTERNOON.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.