>>> THE JULY 19, 2021 MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> SAWANT?
>> HERE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> HERE. .
I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY
PRESENTATIONS THIS AFTERNOON SO
WE WILL MOVE TO APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING OF JULY 12, 2021 HAVE
BEEN REVIEWED. IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, THE MINUTES WILL BE
SIGNED.
WILL THE CLERK LISA FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES?
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 ABDUCTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL OPEN AT THE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. I THINK
EVERYONE FOR THEIR ONGOING
PATIENTS AS WE CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THIS REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT SYSTEM.
IT IS REGULARLY INCLUDED ON
MEETING AGENDAS HOWEVER AS A
REMINDER THE CITY COUNCIL
REMINDS EVERYONE WE HAVE THE
RIGHT TO END THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IF IT IS NO LONGER
ALLOWING OUR MEETINGS TO BE
CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY.
I WILL DO SO IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS SLATED TO LAST A
TOTAL OF 20 MINUTES WITH EACH
SPEAKER ORIGINALLY BEING
PROVIDED TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
IN ORDER TO HEAR FROM AS MANY
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TODAY, I AM
GOING TO ASK IF I CAN EXTEND
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FROM
20 MINUTES TO A TOTAL OF 30
MINUTES WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
FOR THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTERS
THAT HAVE CALLED IN, THERE IS A
CHANCE WE MAY NOT GET TO YOU AS
A RESULT OF EVEN THIS EXTENSION
. IF WE DO NOT GET TO YOU,
THERE IS STILL A WAY FOR YOU TO
SUBMIT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT TO
THE CITY COUNCIL IN ADVANCE.
YOU CAN EMAIL ALL NINE OF US AT
COUCIL.SEATTLE.GOV IF WE DO
NOT GET TO YOU.
IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH A
NUMBER BEYOND A NUMBER 30, I
WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO
EMAIL THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO
US RIGHT NOW AT
COUCIL@SEATTLE.GOV . COLLEAGUES
, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
EXTENDED TO 30 MINUTES. HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS, TODAY'S PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS EXTENDED TO A
TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS, YOU WILL BE CALLED
UPON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU
REGISTER TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER USED FOR THIS
REGISTRATION AND USING THE
MEETING PHONE NUMBER I.D.
AND PASSCODE THAT WAS EMAILED
TO THEM UPON CONFIRMATION.
THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE
GENERAL LISTEN LINE.
CALLERS, IF YOU ARE CALLING TO
GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT, DOUBLE
CHECK RIGHT NOW THE NUMBER YOU
ARE USING IS THE NUMBER YOU
USED TO REGISTER AND THAT YOU
ARE CALLING INTO THE MEETING
PHONE NUMBER WITH THE I.D.
AND PASSCODE PROVIDED TO YOU ON
CONFIRMATION. IF YOU HAVE
CALLED INTO THE GENERAL MEETING
CALL LINE INFORMATION, YOU MAY
SHOW UP ON MY END AS NOT
PRESENT.
I WILL NONETHELESS CALL YOUR
NAME IN THE HOPE YOU ARE
LISTENING AND ARE ABLE TO
CORRECT THAT ERROR AND CALL
INTO THE APPROPRIATE
INFORMATION WITH THE NUMBER YOU
USED TO REGISTER.
I WILL CALL ON YOU BY NAME IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU HAVE
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED YET,
YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END
OF PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOING TO
OUR WEBSITE.
YOU CAN EMAIL THE COUNCIL AT
COUCIL@SEATTLE.GOV , AS I
MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY.
ONCE I CALLED YOUR NAME, STAFF
WILL UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE AND
YOU WILL HEAR THE AUTOMATIC
PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON
MUTED.
THIS WILL BE YOUR Q THAT IT IS
YOUR TURN TO PRESS STAR SIX AND
THEN BEGIN SPEAKING.
AGAIN, AFTER YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT YOU HAVE BEEN ON MUTED,
PRESS STAR SIX AND BEGIN
SPEAKING.
START BY STATING YOUR NAME, THE
ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING, AND AS
A REMINDER YOUR COMMENT NEEDS
TO RELATE TO AN ITEM ON TODAY'S
AGENDA, OR THE COUNCIL'S WORK
PROGRAM.
IN 10 SECONDS YOU WILL HEAR A
CHIME.
THAT TIME IS YOUR Q YOU HAVE
EXACTLY 10 SECONDS LEFT OF YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME AND WENT TO HEAR
THAT CHIME, I WOULD ASK YOU
BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
IF YOU DO NOT END YOUR COMMENT
AT THE END OF YOUR ONE MINUTE
PROVIDED TODAY, YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
COMMENT, DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE AND YOU MAKE CONTINUE TO
FOLLOW THIS MEETING ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN.
AGAIN, WE WILL START WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PRESS STAR SIX.
THAT IS STAR SIX. IT IS TO: 07
P.M.
AND WE WILL GO UNTIL
APPROXIMATELY 2:37 P.M.
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS I HAVE
ON MY LIST ARE PETER, FOLLOWED
BY HOWARD DALE.
PETER, WELCOME.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS PETER CONDON. I AM
CALLING TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT
LEGISLATION FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THOSE
COMMITTING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
THERE IS VIOLENCE AND RACISM.
THEY ARE UNDER COURT
SUPERVISION FOR EXCESSIVE FORCE
AND RACIALLY BIASED POLICING
COMMONLY REFERRED TO.
I HAVE NO FAITH IN THEIR
ABILITY ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE
ROOT CAUSES OF POLICE VIOLENCE.
LAST YEAR 12,000 COMMUNITY
MEMBERS DEMANDED THE CITY
COUNCIL D FROM THE POLICE BY %
50%.
WE SHOULD SUPPORT THE DEMAND BY
MAKING THE TRAININGS ILLEGAL.
THOSE TRAININGS HAVE RESULTED
IN REAL HARM FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
RACISM POLICING DOES NOT MAKE
US SAFE.
INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES MAKE
US SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN
SEATTLE AND THE REST OF THE
WORLD.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD
GAIL.
HOWARD, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
HOWARD GAIL.
ANYTHING APPROACHING 50 OR EVEN
25% OF THE COUNCIL HAS FAILED
TO CONSIDER IMPROVING POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY WHILE WITNESSING
A POLICE FORCE THAT BEATS AND
INJURES DOZENS.
THE COUNCIL HAS FAILED TO DEMAND
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE REPEATED
MURDERS OF PEOPLE IN MENTAL
HEALTH CRISES.
THE COUNCIL HAS FAILED TO BAN
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS THAT ARE
FREQUENTLY ABUSED BY POLICE.
AMID ALL OF THESE FAILURES,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS
LEWIS AND HERBOLD VOTED TO
UNDERCUT A PROTESTER'S RIGHT TO
SUE THE CITY WHEN THEY ARE
HARMED BY THE VERY WEAPONS THE
COUNCIL REFUSES TO OUTRIGHT
BAN.
BY ALLOWING SPD TO AVOID
RESPONSIBILITY BY SAYING THE
PROTESTER WAS ENGAGED IN
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
OUTRAGEOUSLY MISINFORMED THE
PUBLIC CONCERNING THE
IMPORTANCE OF A LONG-STANDING
NEED FOR A SEPARATE RIGHT OF
ACTION TO GIVE REFINED AND CITY
LAW.
WE NEED FULL CONTROL OVER THE
POLICE.
>> NEXT UP IS KATIE. KATIE,
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
MY NAME IS KATIE AND I AM THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT MLK LABOR
AND I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS
OUR SUPPORT FOR THE JUMPSTART
FUND LEGISLATION BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. THE
JUMPSTART LEGISLATION WAS A
DEAL THAT WAS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN
BUSINESS, LABOR, ENVIRONMENTAL,
AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. WITH AN
ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROGRAM
FUNDED BY PROGRESSIVES.
IN UNIONS WE NEGOTIATE
CONTRACTS FOR WORKERS AND IN MY
TIME AND LABOR, I HAVE BEEN
PART OF MANY CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS.
THESE ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER AND ENSURE.
THIS LEGISLATION SIMPLY ENSURES
THE BILL IS GOOD THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL PROMISED
TO PEOPLE WITH THE JUMPSTART
LEGISLATION IS IN FACT WHAT WE
ARE GETTING.
TO DO ANYTHING ELSE IN MY LINE
OF WORK WOULD BE BARGAINING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KATIE.
NEXT UP IS SHAMIR TANA. WELCOME
.
>> HI. MY NAME IS SHAMIR TANA
AND I AM FROM A DISTRICT 7. I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL
FOR SPD TO TRAIN WITH ANY OTHER
COUNTRY THAT VIOLATES HUMAN
LAWS AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
WE KNOW THERE IS VIOLENCE,
RACISM, AND EXCESSIVE FORCE.
TRAININGS WITH ISRAEL
SPECIFICALLY, 73 YEARS ILLEGAL
MILITARY OCCUPATION.
THEY KILLED HUNDREDS OF
PALESTINIANS INCLUDING SO MANY
CHILDREN.
THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE LAST THING
THAT SHOULD EVER BE CONSIDERED.
LAST YEAR 12,000 COMMUNITY
MEMBERS DEFUNDED SPD BY 50%.
THIS BILL CUTS BACK ON MILITARY
TRAINING AND PUTS PEOPLE IN
DANGER.
THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THE
LEGISLATION.
I ASK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED
LEADERSHIP TO PUSH US THROUGH
WITHOUT DELAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS JARED BROWN.
JARED, WELCOME.
>> HI.
THANKS.
I AM JARED AND I LIVE IN
SEATTLE.
I AM CALLING BECAUSE I'M A
PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL AND I AGREE
POLICE VIOLENCE OFTEN GOES TOO
FAR, HOWEVER THIS PROPOSAL IS
NOT THE ANSWER.
ON THE CONTRARY, IT GIVES
RIGHTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS
WHILE PROVIDING TRAINING THAT
CAN DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS AND
TRAGEDIES.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION STATES
IT IS PROHIBITED FROM WORKING
WITH THE SPD. IN 2018 THE U.S.
WITHDREW MEMBERSHIPS DUE TO ITS
CORRUPTION AND THE PERVERSION
OF ITS PURPOSE.
NOW SEATTLE WANTS TO RELATE ITS
OWN MORAL AUTHORITY TO HIS
ORGANIZATION?
CURRENT MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES
CHINA, RUSSIA, AND VENEZUELA.
THE 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS
REVEAL THE FOLLOWING, KILLINGS
IN RUSSIA, FORCED APPEARANCES
IN VENEZUELA. THIS ORDINANCE
GRANTS THE TOP HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSERS TO DECIDE WHO --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP, DAVID.
>> REJECT THE EXCHANGE
úLEGISLATION.
IT WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH THOSE
GOALS AND INSTEAD WILL DEPRIVE
AS PD FROM TOOLS AND RESOURCES
THEY NEED TO REDUCE POLICE
VIOLENCE.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION STATES
THOSE COMMITTING VIOLATIONS ARE
PROHIBITED FROM WORKING WITH SPD
. THE U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
HAS A STANDING AGENDA ITEM.
THE ONLY COUNTRY SPECIFICALLY
TARGETED AT THAT MEETING, NOT
EVEN MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS
LIKE CHINA, CUBA, PAKISTAN,
SAUDI ARABIA, SUDAN, AND SYRIA
ARE SUBJECTED TO SUCH
TREATMENT.
POLICE DEAL IN INCREDIBLY HIGH
STRESS SITUATIONS AND ARE
INCREDIBLE AT AVOIDING
VIOLENCE.
HELP SPD REDUCE VIOLENCE WHILE
FIGHTING CRIME.
WE WILL NOT DEPRIVE THE SPD OF
TOOLS. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
REJECT THIS PROPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS DAVID FOLLOWED BY
ISABEL.
DAVID, WELCOME.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS DAVID AND I AM A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
I AM A CONSTITUENT IN DISTRICT
5 AND I'M CALLING TO ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT TO SUPPORT
LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM
COUNTRIES THAT ARE COMMITTING
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
A SAFE AND HEALTHY SEATTLE MUST
BE GROUNDED IN RESPECT FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ALL
PEOPLE.
AS PD HAS DOCUMENTED PIRATES OF
RACISM AND UNDER COURT
SUPERVISION FOR EXCESSIVE FORCE
AND RACIALLY BIASED POLICING.
WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON MAKING
SEATTLE SAFER AND WE SHOULD NOT
BE SPENDING MONEY TO TRAIN WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES VIOLATING HUMAN
RIGHTS.
INVESTIGATING IN COMMUNITIES
MAKES US SAFE.
AND MUST BE LEGAL TO TRAIN WITH
ANY MILITARY AND POLICE FORCE
THAT VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS.
AFTER THE BRUTAL KILLING OF
GEORGE FLOYD, FURTHER
MILITARIZING OUR POLICE IS ANTI-
BLACK AND HURT OUR COMMUNITIES.
I AM URGING ALL CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, ESPECIALLY LISA
HERBOLD TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND.
NEXT UP IS ISABEL FOLLOWED BY
AISHA.
ISABEL, WELCOME.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS ISABEL AND IME
DISTRICT 3 RESIDENT AND PROUD
PALESTINIAN. I AM CALLING TO
SUPPORT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND POLICE AND
MILITARY FORCES IN COUNTRIES
WITH DOCUMENTED ABUSES OF HUMAN
RIGHTS. THIS SHOULD BE A NO-
BRAINER FOR ANY COUNCILMEMBER
THAT SUPPORTS THE HUMAN RIGHTS
OF ALL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD TO SUPPORT THIS BILL AS
THERE IS NO REASON SEATTLE
SHOULD BE SPENDING CITY
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT VIOLATIONS
OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.
ISRAEL IS THE SECOND MOST
FREQUENT DESTINATION WHERE THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS
VISITED FOR TRAINING.
ISRAEL IS TRAINING AS PD WITH
TACTICS FOR 73 YEARS OF
MILITARY OCCUPATION AND
OPPRESSION OF PALESTINIANS.
NUMEROUS HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE U.N.
HAVE NAMED A PART-TIME STATE
AND CRIMES INCLUDE FORCIBLE
TRANSFER, RACIAL PROFILING, AND
PERSECUTION, SEGREGATION,
VIOLENT PROTESTS AND MORE.
THERE IS NO WAY TO JUSTIFY
SENDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO COUNTRIES SUCH AS ISRAEL AND
I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
UP NEXT IS AISHA, FOLLOWED BY
CAROLYN.
AISHA, WELCOME.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS AISHA AND I AM A
PALESTINIAN AND RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 5 IN SEATTLE.
I AM CALLING TO URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO STOP AND
PROHIBIT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FROM TRAINING AND
EXCHANGING WITH COUNTRIES
COMMITTING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
AFTER THE BRUTAL KILLING OF
GEORGE FLOYD AND WITNESSING THE
BLM UPRISING, ANY FURTHER
MILITARIZATION SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED ANTI-BLACK AND YOU
CAN CLEARLY SEE THIS.
WE KNOW A SAFE AND HEALTHY
SEATTLE MUST BE GROUNDED IN OUR
CITIES RESPECT FOR THE HUMAN
RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ALL
PEOPLE.
AS PD HAS ALREADY SHOWN
DOCUMENTED PATTERNS OF RACISM
AND UNDER COURT SUPERVISION FOR
RACIALLY BIASED POLICING.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON MAKING
SEATTLE MORE SAFE AND WE SHOULD
NOT BE SPENDING MONEY TO TRAIN
WITH OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE
VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS.
I AM URGING ALL CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, ESPECIALLY LISA
HERBOLD TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION. WE MUST REALLOCATE
THE SPENDING TO COMMUNITIES AND
SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND
EDUCATION.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE
HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE AND AROUND THE WORLD.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
UP NEXT, CAROLYN HATHAWAY.
CAROLYN, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS CAROLYN HATHAWAY AND
THE SPD TRAINING PROPOSAL IS
DANGEROUS HERE IN SEATTLE AND
OUR COMMUNITY.
WHILE IT SUPPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS,
THIS BLAMES ISRAEL FOR HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DECISIONS THAT
THE SPD HAS MADE OVER MANY
YEARS . WHEN LEADERS TARGET
ISRAEL, EXTREMISTS TARGET JEWS .
THEY ARE FACING INCREASING
ATTACKS BY ANTI-SOMATIC
EXTREMISTS.
POLICE HAVE BEEN ESCORTING
CHILDREN INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS.
EXTREMISTS JUSTIFY IN THEIR
HATEFUL ATTACKS WHEN LEADERS
LIKE YOU EMPOWER THEM.
RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, ISRAEL AND
TRY 25 ARE SYNONYMOUS TO SOME
PEOPLE.
AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT THE
SHOOTING AND MURDERS OF THE
FIVE WOMEN AT THE SEATTLE
JEWISH FEDERATION.
LEES DO NOT ADD FUEL TO THIS
HATRED GROWING IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
UP NEXT, KATIE WILSON WHO IS
CURRENTLY SHOWING UP AS NOT
PRESENT.
KATIE, IF YOU'RE LISTENING,
PLEASE CHECK THAT NUMBER.
NEXT UP IS AB.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS AB. WE
BELIEVE THERE ARE SOLUTIONS FOR
A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.
WE NEED THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
TOGETHER WE HAVE A BROAD
ORGANIZATION. THE PANDEMIC HAS
TESTIFIED THEY NEED AND WE ARE
EAGER TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE
COMMUNITY.
WE MUST THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE.
THIS IS SOMETHING BEYOND
RECOVERY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT DeSHAWN, FOLLOWED BY
JOSHUA.
SEAN, WELCOME.
>> HI.
THIS IS SEAN VAN EYCK.
I AM CALLING AS AN OLDER
RESIDENT IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND AS THE COCHAIR OF SEATTLE
CITY UNIONS, THE LARGEST CITY
EMPLOYEES. I AM CALLING IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE JUMPSTART
SEATTLE SPEND PLAN.
I BELIEVE IT IS THE RIGHT THING
TO DO.
IT REPRESENTS EQUITABLE RECOVERY
. REPRESENTS ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC AND
I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE IN
SUPPORT OF IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IT TODAY.
KATIE WILSON FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA
SIMPSON. KATIE, WELCOME.
>> HI. THIS IS KATIE WILSON
SPEAKING, REPRESENTING THE
TRANSIT UNION.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT CREATING A
DEDICATED JUMPSTART FIND TO
MAKE SURE REVENUE FROM THE
BUSINESS TAX ACTUALLY GO TO FUND
WHAT THE COUNCIL PROMISED . A
BROAD COALITION CAME TOGETHER
AROUND JUMPSTART BECAUSE WE
AGREED ON WHAT IS MOST NEEDED,
COVID RELIEF, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AND GREEN NEW DEAL
INVESTMENTS.
WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
FOLLOW THROUGH ON HIS
COMMITMENT TO TACKLE TWO OF THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING OUR
CITY, THE HOUSING AND CLIMATE
CRISIS.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE
YOU WILL SUPPORT THESE FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
UP NEXT IS JOSHUA SIMPSON,
FOLLOWED BY BLAIR.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JOSHUA SIMPSON AND I
AM A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
DISTRICT FOR.
I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM TRAINING WITH COUNTRIES
THAT ARE COMMITTING HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES.
WE NOTE A SAFE AND HEALTHY
SEATTLE, SPD HAS SHOWN
VIOLENCE AND RACISM.
WE HAVE RACIALLY BIASED
POLICING.
THERE IS NOTHING SPD NEEDS TO
LEARN FROM AN ARMY AFTER A 73
YEAR LONG MILITARY OPERATION.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON MAKING
SEATTLE FAVOR WE SHOULD NOT BE
SPENDING MONEY TRAINING WITH
COMPANIES VIOLATING HUMAN
RIGHTS.
IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO TRAIN
WITH ANY MILITARY AND POLICE
FORCE THAT VIOLATES HUMAN
RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS BLAIR, FOLLOWED BY
MARY. BLAIR, WELCOME.
>> LAYER, IF YOU ARE WITH US,
REMEMBER TO HIT STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI.
THIS IS BLAIR.
I AM CALLING TO OPEN WEST GREEN
WAY LAKE NORTH. WE HAVE A
PETITION CIRCULATING WITH OVER
3500 RESIDENTS IN THE AREA THAT
WANT TO SEE THIS ROAD OPEN.
HAVING IT CLOSED HAS CAUSED AN
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC.
11,000 PLUS CARS ROAD ON THIS
ROAD PER DAY AND SOMETIMES MORE
DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC PATTERNS.
AT THIS POINT, THE ROAD HAD
CAUSED INCREDIBLE HARDSHIP FOR
PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO GET TO
THE LAKE.
IT IS CLOSED OFF.
COMMUNITIES LIKE GREEN LAKE
CANNOT ACCESS BUSINESSES ON
46th STREET AND OTHER BUSINESSES
CAUSING A LOT OF STRESS FOR
THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE
ALREADY HAD HARDSHIPS FROM, YOU
KNOW, COVID. I AM URGING THE
CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE --
>> THANKS FOR CALLING AND.
NEXT UP IS MARY FOLLOWED BY BEN.
MARY, WELCOME.
>> AS THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, WE
OPPOSED THE ORDINANCE
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT REGARDING SPD'S LAW
ENFORCEMENT WORK WITH OTHER
COUNTRIES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN ISRAEL.
THIS HAS SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
ACCORDING TO THE BILL, THERE
ARE DOZENS OF COUNTRIES
RESTRICTED FOR PARTNERING WITH
SEATTLE PD INCLUDING BRITAIN,
FRANCE, ITALY, CHINA, AND EVEN
THE U.S..
HOW CAN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
SHARE INTELLIGENCE AND DO ITS
DAY TO DAY BUSINESS?
IN THE WAKE OF 9/11, U.S. LAW
ENFORCEMENT SOUGHT EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN BEST
PRACTICES RESPONDING TO
TERRORIST ATTACKS AND BUILDING
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
SINCE 2004, THEY HAVE BROUGHT
SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
ISRAEL CONSISTING OF
PRESENTATIONS AND ONE FOR
PALESTINIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MARY, FOR CALLING
IN.
NEXT UP IS BEEN, FOLLOWED BY
ROBERT.
BEN, WELCOME.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BEEN AND I AM
A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO
EVERYONE BECAUSE OF THE LAST
SPEAKER BECAUSE OF THEIR UTTER
LIES TO YOU TODAY.
BASICALLY BY ALLOWING SEATTLE
PD TO TRAIN IN ISRAEL, WE ARE
ALLOWING THEM TO TRAIN WITH ONE
OF THE BIGGEST HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSERS IN THE WORLD AND IT HAS
BEEN SAID BEFORE BUT WE DO NOT
NEED A MORE MILITARIZED POLICE
IN SEATTLE BUT RATHER REINVEST
INTO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE
SAFETY OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
THAT SHOULD BE PARAMOUNT RATHER
THAN CONTINUED RACIST POLICE
EXCHANGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS ROBERT, FOLLOWED BY
DIANE.
ROBERT, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS ROBERT, A LONGTIME
SEATTLE RESIDENT.
I AM CALLING TO REJECT THE ANTI-
ISRAEL RESOLUTION.
THIS RESOLUTION IS DESIGNED TO
FURTHER DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITY
AND ITS ULTIMATE EFFECT IS TO
INCREASE ANTI-SEMITISM.
IT WILL DO NOTHING FOR SOCIAL
JUSTICE. IT IS PART OF A
NATIONAL ANTI-ISRAEL CAMPAIGN
THAT WRONGFULLY SEEKS TO TIE
ISRAEL TO THE UNITED STATES
POLICE ACTION AGAINST
MINORITIES.
LET'S BE CLEAR.
ISRAEL TRAINED POLICE IN
RESPONDING TO TERROR
EMERGENCIES.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
AMERICAN POLICING OF MINORITIES
. UNFORTUNATELY ISRAEL HAS
REMARKABLE EXPERTISE GIVEN ALL
OF THE TERROR INCIDENTS
DIRECTED AT THEM. I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS HATEFUL
DIVISIVE RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP, DIANE FOLLOWED BY ERIC.
>> HELLO THERE.
I AM A LOCAL DISTRICT 5
RESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE
DEADLY EXCHANGE CAMPAIGN. I AM
ALSO JEWISH AND ISRAELI AND
THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT THE
EXCHANGE LEGISLATION.
WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE AWAY
FROM MILITARIZED POLICING. IT
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE THAT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SHOULD TRAIN WITH ANY FOREIGN
COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY COUNTRIES
THAT VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS.
THERE IS NO LOGICAL COMMON
SENSE THAT THE SEATTLE PD
SHOULD BE ENGAGING IN ANY OF
THESE TRAININGS.
ESPECIALLY ISRAEL, WHICH HAS
REPEATEDLY VIOLATED HUMAN RIGHTS
FOR PALESTINIANS. IT IS NOT
ANTI-SOMATIC TO PUSH BACK
AGAINST VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS. THIS TARGETS ANY
COUNTRY AND IS NOT SPECIFIC TO
ANY ONE COUNTRY.
THIS SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER. WE
INVITE ALL OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO PLEASE SIGN
ONTO THIS BILL AND PASS IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ERIC, FOLLOWED BY
JEREMY. ERIC, WELCOME.
ERIC, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, JUST
PRESS STAR SIX SO WE CAN HEAR
YOU.
OKAY, WE ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO
HEAR YOU, ERIC.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK YOUR
ACTUAL PHONE ISN'T ALSO MUTED.
ONE MORE TIME, STAR SIX. OKAY.
I AM STILL NOT ABLE TO HEAR ERIC
. OH, THERE YOU GO. GO AHEAD,
ERIC.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ERIC AND I AM A
MEMBER OF SEATTLE GREEN LAKE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET GREEN LAKE
OPEN TO TRAFFIC ASAP OVER 3500
RESIDENTS SIGNED A RECENT
PETITION. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
MEETING WITH OUR COMMUNITY LAST
WEEK AND TRYING TO GET THIS
ROAD REOPENED.
HE INDICATED HE HAS REACHED OUT
TO S.MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY
HAVE IGNORED HIM AND IGNORED
HIS CALLS.
THEIR HURTING OUR CONSTITUENTS.
PLEASE GET THIS ROAD OPEN.
CONDITIONS HAVE MOSTLY PASSED
BUT THEY ARE KEEPING A CLOSE
FOR DIFFERENT REASONS AND IT IS
MAKING THE PARK LESS ACCESSIBLE
TO THOSE OF US WITH LIMITED
MOBILITY, TO PARENTS WITH
CHILDREN, AND PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
AFFORD TO LIVE NEAR THE PARK.
BY CLOSING THE ROAD YOU ARE
DENYING US ACCESS TO THIS GREAT
CITY RESOURCE.
I BEG YOU ALL TO HELP US GET
THIS REOPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
ERIC.
UP NEXT IS JEREMY VOSS. JEREMY,
WELCOME.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JEREMY VOSS. I AM A
JEWISH RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 2.
I GREW UP IN THE COMMUNITY AND
I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE
LEGISLATION BANNING SPD FROM
DOING TRAINING WITH FOREIGN
MILITARY AND POLICE FORCES
RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES.
THE TRAINING BETWEEN ISRAEL NOT
ONLY IMPLIES THAT OUR
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS AND LOOKS
UP TO THE WAY THESE FORCES
TREAT FIRST NATIONS AND OTHER
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, SUCH AS
PALESTINIANS.
WE ARE SPENDING RESOURCES WHEN
WE SHOULD BE TRANSFERRING SPD
AND IT ENABLES MORE UNSAFE AND
MILITARIZED ENVIRONMENTS FOR
SEATTLE.
IT IS VERY COMMON SENSE FOR
LEGISLAION. I AM ASKING YOU
ALL TO SUPPORT IT. ALSO
EQUATING ISRAELI COPS IN THE
MILITARY AS MEANS OF THIS
LEGISLATION, IT IS PRETTY
OFFENSIVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
UP NEXT IS JUST COLIC. JESS,
WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JUST AND I AM AN
ORGANIZER AND A RESIDENT. I AM
SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THE PROPOSED JUMPSTART FUND,
COUNCIL BILL 120118.
I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES EARLIER ON THIS CALL
AND IT JUMPSTART SEATTLE IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SEATTLE'S
WELL-BEING.
IT PAVES THE WAY FOR THEIR DEAL
WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CLEAN
ENERGY, AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
ALL THINGS THAT REDUCE OUR
CLIMATE POLLUTION WHILE CREATING
JOBS AND A HEALTHIER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
CREATING A JUMPSTART REVENUE
FUND WILL KEEP SEATTLE ON
TRACK.
BY ALLOWING SPENDING, WE CAN
PRIORITIZE THE 2020 LEGISLATION
AND ENSURE INVESTMENTS ARE
ACCOUNTABLE TO COMMUNITIES WHO
ARE MOST IMPACTED BY CLIMATE
CHAOS.
WE ARE TAKING CONCRETE STEPS
TOWARD THE HEALTHY FUTURE FOR
ALL.
PLEASE VOTE YES TO ESTABLISH
THE FUND.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
UP NEXT IS SHELBY HANDLER.
SHELBY?
>> HI THERE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME IS SHELBY HANDLER AND I
AM A JEWISH RESIDENT CALLING
FROM DISTRICT 2. I AM CALLING
ON CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT SPD
FROM TRAINING WITH COMPANIES
CREATING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
. WE SHOULD STOP SPENDING
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT NATIONS
THAT VIOLATE NATIONAL LAW.
INSTEAD WE SHOULD INVEST IN
BLACK COMMUNITIES AND AS A
JEWISH RESIDENT OF SEATTLE, I
KNOW THAT INVESTING IN
COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED WOULD
REALLY MAKE US MORE SAFE, NOT
INVESTING IN MILITARIZED
POLICING OR EXCHANGING WORST
PRACTICES. WHEN WE RESIST WHITE
SUPREMACY, WE RESIST ANTI-
SEMITISM.
IT IS JUST THAT TEMPLE.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD NOT HARM
JEWISH COMMUNITIES ANYWHERE.
IT WOULD PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS
OF ALL PEOPLE IN SEATTLE AND
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
PROHIBITING SPD CONTINUING
WITH TRAINING.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
UP NEXT IS HANS, FOLLOWED BY
BRITNEY.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS HANS AND I AM A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE AND A
CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I ASKED FOR SUPPORT TO PROHIBIT
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM TRAINING WITH COUNTRIES
CREATING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
A SAFE AND HEALTHY SEATTLE MUST
BE GROUNDED IN THE DIGNITY OF
ALL PEOPLE.
SPD HAS ALREADY SHOWN
DOCUMENTED PATTERNS OF VIOLENCE
AND RACISM AND ARE UNDER COURT
SUPERVISION OF EXCESSIVE FORCE
AND RACIALLY BIASED POLICING.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON MAKING
SEATTLE MORE SAFE AND TRAIN
WITH OTHER COUNTRIES WHO AREN'T
VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
MAKES US SAFE. IT SHOULD BE
ILLEGAL FOR SPD TO TRAIN WITH
ANY MILITARY AND POLICE FORCE
THAT VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS .
EVERY PERSON IN SEATTLE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF
VIOLENT POLICING.
WE SHOULD GO ABOUT OUR LIVES
WITHOUT INVASIVE AND
UNCONSTITUTIONAL SURVEILLANCE.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE
HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE AND AROUND THE WORLD.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
UP NEXT IS BRITNEY, FOLLOWED BY
JOHN GRANT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY IN
SUPPORT OF THE JUMPSTART
LEGISLATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
COUNCIL FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
GETTING IT PASSED TODAY.
IT DEMONSTRATES THE COMMITMENT
AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL
COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN THIS
WORK FOR A LONG TIME.
I AM REALLY GLAD TO SEE ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
UP NEXT IS JOHN GRANT.
JOHN, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JOHN GRANT FROM THE
LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
COUNCIL BILL 120118 , THE
JUMPSTART FUND.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SUPPRESS OUR
SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN THAT WAS
METICULOUSLY RESEARCHED. I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR ORGANIZING THE BIG BUSINESS
TAX.
THIS PROPOSAL IS NOTHING SHORT
OF HISTORIC.
FOR MANY OF US THAT HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, THE PROGRESSIVE TAX TO
BRING A PORTABLE HOUSING TO
SCALE HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF
A DREAM BUT TODAY WE CAN MAKE
IT A REALITY.
THE NEED IS MORE HIGHLIGHTED BY
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING WHERE
THERE ARE ONLY $20 MILLION MADE
AVAILABLE FOR NEW HOUSING
PROJECTS BUT OVER 122 MILLION
IN APPLICATION REQUEST.
USING JUMPSTART AND OTHERS, WE
NEED TO INCREASE BY $50 MILLION
FOR A TOTAL OF $70 MILLION.
IF THE CITY DOESN'T ACT, WE
RISK --
>> THANKS FOR CALLING IN TODAY.
MATT FOLLOWED BY ANDREA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
ONE OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT
WORKED WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, I AM CALLING IN TODAY
IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL
120118 AND THE DEDICATED FUNDS
FOR JUMPSTART.
WE VERY MUCH VIEW THIS BILL AS
A FORM OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY THAT THE FUNDS
GENERATED FROM THE JUMPSTART TAX
WILL IN FACT BE USED FOR GOALS
SUCH AS THE GREEN NEW DEAL,
HOUSING, AND OTHER PUBLIC
RELIEF.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL'S
VOTE. THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD
DAY.
>> THANKS FOR CALLING AND.
NEXT UP IS ANDREA FOLLOWED BY
AIDAN CAROL.
>> HI, COUNCILMEMBERS . MY
NAME IS ANDREA AND I AM A
CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT 7. I AM
SOMEONE WHO REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY ONES TO SAY THAT I AM IN
SUPPORT OF THE EXCHANGE OF
SEATTLE AND OTHER MILITARY
COUNTRIES THAT VIOLATE HUMAN
RIGHTS.
OTHER COUNTRIES ALSO WILL BE
BANNED FROM IT.
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
IT IS NOT ANTI-SOMATIC TO ASKED
TO WITHHOLD THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE
HERE AND IN PALESTINE, NOT TO
MENTION THEY HAVE GOTTEN
MILITARY TRAINING.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
THAT SPEAKS FOR OUR SAFETY.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT LOOKS LIKE AIDAN CAROL IS NO
LONGER PRESENT. AGAIN, FOR
THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
CALLED UPON YET, WE ARE AT THE
END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
. I HAD EXTENDED IT FROM 20
MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES AND WE
HAVE HEARD FROM ALMOST 35 FOLKS
TODAY.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 30
INDIVIDUALS.
I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT THE PERIOD OF PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR TODAY. AGAIN, FOR
THOSE OF YOU THAT I WAS NOT
ABLE TO REACH, I STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND YOUR
COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT
COUCIL@SEATTLE.GOV . THERE ARE
SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT STILL
WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS PROPOSED
DRAFT LEGISLATION.
THAT IS NOT UP FOR FINAL ACTION
TODAY AND HAS NOT CONSTITUTED
COMMITTEE PROCESS SO THERE IS
TIME TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ON
THE LEGISLATION.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO THAT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT THE PERIOD
OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND MOVE INTO
OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
>>> FIRST UP IS PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE?
>> 120125, APPROPRIATING MONEY
TO PAY CERTAIN AUDITING CLAIMS
FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 5th 2021
THROUGH JULY 9th, 2021 AND
ORDERING THE PAYMENT THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
I MOVED TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120125. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. HEARING NO COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
REAL?
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSED.
>> PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
TE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 1?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120123,
RELATED TO TAXATION DELAYING
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
HEATING OIL TAX ON HEATING OIL
SERVICE PROVIDERS UNDER CHAPTER
5.47 OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE AND DELAYING THE DATE OF
THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
AND ENVIRONMENT'S FIRST ANNUAL
HEATING OIL TAX PROGRAM STATUS
REPORT.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO PASS
THE BILL, I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, WHO
IS THE COUNCIL OF THE BILL TO
ADDRESS THE ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THIS BILL WOULD DELAY THE
EFFECTIVE DATE ON THE HEATING
OIL TAX. COLLEAGUES MAY
REMEMBER IN RESPONSE TO
COMMUNITY CONCERNS ON THE
IMPACT OF THIS TAX AND
PARTICULARLY LOW AND MIDDLE
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS DURING COVID,
WE DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION LAST
AUGUST, DELAYED THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 21st, 2021.
ANOTHER REASON FOR THE DELAY
WAS RELATED TO WASHINGTON'S
POLLUTION LIABILITY INSURANCE
AGENCIES NEW HEATING OIL LOAN
AND GRANT PROGRAM.
WHAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED AS A
GRANT PROGRAM LAST YEAR NOW
SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE GOING
TO A LOAN PROGRAM AND SO
REPLACING THESE OIL TANKS CAN
COST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS. FOR LOW INCOME
FAMILIES, THIS IS A REAL
CHALLENGE NO MATTER HOW EAGER
THEY MAY BE TO PARTICIPATE IN A
CONVERSION.
JUNE 1st OF THIS YEAR, THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
PROVIDED AN UPDATE TO THE
HEATING OIL LOAN PROGRAM AND
BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM
CUSTOMERS AND OTHERS, AND
BECAUSE THOSE FINAL RULES HAVE
NOT YET BEEN PUT IN PLACE, OEC
IS PROPOSING WE DELAY ANOTHER
SIX MONTHS BEFORE THIS TAX
BECOMES IN EFFECT.
THAT IS THE BILL THAT IS PUT
BEFORE YOU.
I DO WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF
174 AND OTHER LABOR PARTNERS
THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME ABOUT
THIS BILL.
MANY OF THEIR MEMBERS WOULD
THEMSELVES BE SUBJECT TO THIS
AND ARE FRANKLY NERVOUS ABOUT
THE IMPACTS OF HAVING TO, YOU
KNOW, PAY THE TAX THAT WOULD BE
PASSED ON TO THEM AND BEAR THE
COST OF MAKING THESE KINDS OF
CONVERSIONS RIGHT NOW WITHOUT
ASSURANCE ON THE KIND OF
SUPPORT THAT THEY WOULD BE
WILLING TO GET.
THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS
DELAY AS WE ASSESS OTHER
FUNDING STREAMS AND WAIT FOR
THE FINAL RULE CHANGES.
THAT IS WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY.
I AM RECOMMENDING PASSAGE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS
LEGISLATION TO DELAY THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HEATING
OIL TAX THAT MAYOR DURKAN FIRST
PROPOSED A YEAR AND HALF AGO.
THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY IS A
THREAT TO ALL OF HUMANITY AND
WE MUST HAVE A SERIOUS AND
INTERNATIONALIST APPROACH TO
ENDING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
AND IN THIS CASE UNFORTUNATELY
THE HEATING OIL TAX IS NOT A
SERIOUS APPROACH.
YES, HEATING OIL IS A TERRIBLE
FUEL BUT THE REALITY IS PEOPLE
IN SEATTLE DO NOT NEED A TAX TO
NOTIFY THEM TO SWITCH AWAY FROM
HEATING OIL.
IT IS EXPENSIVE, DIRTY, AND
INCONVENIENT.
THE MAIN REASON PEOPLE STILL USE
OIL BURNING HEATERS IN SEATTLE
IS WHEN THEY'RE SIMPLY UNABLE
TO AFFORD TO SWITCH TO
SOMETHING BETTER, IDEALLY
ELECTRICITY.
MY OFFICE DISCUSSED WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND CONFIRMED
WITH THEIR OUTREACH, THEY FOUND
IT IS OVERWHELMINGLY POOR AND
WORKING-CLASS HOUSEHOLDS THAT
HAVE OIL HEATERS.
THERE SWITCHING TO OTHER FORMS
OF HEATERS WHEN THEY HAVE THE
MEANS TO DO SO.
ULTIMATELY THAT MEANS THE
PROPOSED CLIMATE SOLUTION IS
YET ANOTHER REGRESSIVE TAX,
WHICH IS NOT A SURPRISE. IT IS
VERY DANGEROUS.
NOT ONLY DOES THE TAX HAVE A
VERY SMALL IMPACT ON THE
CLIMATE, IT ALSO ADDS TO THE
FALSE NARRATIVE OF BLAMING
CONSUMERS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE
FOR THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY THAT
LED TO THE BIG BUSINESSES
RESPONSE FOR GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS.
WE NEED THE OPPOSITE.
WE NEED MEASURE THAT WILL
ACTUALLY CHANGE THE WAY
CORPORATIONS ARE FUNCTIONING
AND ULTIMATELY WHAT WE NEED IS
A CLIMATE JUSTICE MOVEMENT
NATIONWIDE AND INTERNATIONALLY
THAT CAN TAKE FOSSIL FUEL
COMPANIES INTO DEMOCRATIC
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP. WE NEED TO
FIGHT FOR POLICIES ON THE WAY
TO ACHIEVING ALL OF THOSE
LARGER GOALS WHICH FRANKLY ARE
URGENTLY NEEDED. THAT IS WHY THE
AMAZON TAX MOVEMENT FOUGHT BIG
BUSINESSES TO FIND A NEW
AGREEMENT FOR SEATTLE TO MAKE
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE
FOR WEATHERIZATION AND TO GET
AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.
IT INCLUDES A SUBSTANTIAL 20
MILLION CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT PAID FOR BY TAXES ON
BIG BUSINESSES, NOT ON WORKING
PEOPLE.
OF COURSE $20 MILLION IS FAR
LESS THAN IS NEEDED BECAUSE THE
AMAZON TAX WAS SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCED WHEN IT WAS REBRANDED
AS JUMPSTART AND AN ATTEMPT TO
MINIMIZE THE GRASSROOTS
MOVEMENT.
IF ORGANIZERS ARE MOTIVATED TO
TRY TO INCREASE THE AMAZON TAX
NEXT YEAR TO EXPAND INVESTMENTS
FOR DEALING WITH THE CLIMATE
CRISIS, THEN WE SHOULD
ABSOLUTELY BE FIGHTING FOR
THAT.
MY OFFICE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE
STANDING WITH THEM. THE CITY
NEEDS TO SUPPORT THE PIPELINE
MOVEMENT'S DEMAND TO BOYCOTT
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND
INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT FUND
FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF
POLICIES THAT WE NEED TO DO IN
THE HERE AND NOW.
MY OFFICE ASKS THE CHAIR RIGHTS
COMMITTEE TO PREPARE
LEGISLATION TO EMPOWER THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD
TO REVIEW AND RANK FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE
COMPANIES APPLYING FOR CITY OF
SEATTLE GRANTS.
IT IS BIG BUSINESS TO CONTROL
THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR
SOCIETY AND CAPITALISM.
WE MUST BUILD A MOVEMENT TO
MAKE THEM PAY FOR THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THIS CRISIS.
I WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS
BILL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD?
>> NOPE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSED.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM TWO INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, COUNCIL
BILL 120113 RELATING TO THE
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROPERTY
TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU
ARE THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE
AND I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU
TO PROVIDE THE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I APOLOGIZE, COLLEAGUES.
MY INTERNET IS UNSTABLE SO I AM
USING MY PHONE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120113 IS THE
COVID EXTENSION LEGISLATION
THAT NARROWLY RELATES TO
PROJECTS WHOSE TIMELINES HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.
THE MULTI FAMILY TAX EXEMPTION
PROGRAM PROVIDES TAX EXEMPTIONS
IN EXCHANGE FOR AFFORDABLE AREA
UP TO 80% MEDIAN INCOME IS TO
BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW FAMILY
RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
THE STATE LEGISLATOR MADE
SEVERAL CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM
TO ASSESS A RANGE OF PROGRAM
ISSUES.
THIS LEGISLATION FOLLOWS UP ON
STATE CHANGES WITH A NARROW BY
PROJECT IMPACTED BY COVID.
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING ANOTHER
ROUND IN AUGUST TO A STENT TO
OTHER PROGRAMMATIC UPDATES
INCLUDING AUTHORIZING EXTENSION
PROGRAMS THAT ARE EXPIRING IN
THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE WILL KEEP THOSE UNITS
AFFORDABLE.
THIS LEGISLATION TODAY IS
NARROWLY FOCUSED ON A SMALL
HANDFUL OF PROJECT IMPACTED BY
COVID AND THEREFORE NEED
ADDITIONAL TIMELINE TO BE
COMPLETED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. ARE
THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE BILL, WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF?
ITEM 3. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 3 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 3, COUNCIL BILL
120118 RELATED TO CREATING A
FUND FOR PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
REVENUES, ADDING A NEW SECTION
5.3 8.055 TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
GUIDELINES FOR EXPENDING
PROCEEDS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I WILL
HAND IT BACK OVER TO YOU. I
KNOW YOU ARE HAVING TECHNICAL
CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW BUT WE CAN
HEAR YOU AND SEE YOU LOUD AND
CLEAR.
FEEL FREE TO TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES I WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY FOR CALLING IN TODAY
TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR
COUNCIL BILL 120118, CREATING
THE JUMPSTART SEATTLE FIND.
THIS IS A COMMITMENT OF THE
JUMPSTART SEATTLE LEGISLATION
WE PASSED LAST YEAR AND HAS
BEEN WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
THE JUMPSTART TAX MEANT THIS
YEAR THERE WAS NO LAYOFFS OR
DEEP CUTS TO CITY SERVICES.
YOU WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE MORE
SERVICES DURING COVID.
WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO INVEST IN
ECONOMIC RESILIENCY DIRECT
INVESTMENTS INTO HARD-WORKING
FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES,
AND THIS FOLLOWS ON THE VICTORY
FOR SEATTLE'S JUMPSTART FUND
FOR A NOTABLE RULING THAT MEANT
SEATTLE'S JUMPSTART LEGISLATION
WAS SOLID. IN 2022, AS COUNCIL
PAST OUR SPENDING PLAN IS
FOCUSED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
GREEN NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS, AND
ECONOMIC RESILIENCE.
SUBSEQUENT BUDGETS HAVE
CENTERED ON -- ALL BUDGETS HAVE
CENTERED ON WHAT WE HAVE LANDED
ON, HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS,
DIRECT AID.
MANY IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS WE
ARE MAKING IN THE UPCOMING
YEARS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
COVID HAVE REALLY HELPED CENTER
OUR POLICY INVESTMENTS AND HOW
TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE
RECOVERY AND HOW WE HOUSE MORE
SEATTLEITES AND HOW WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CREATING A GREENER
ECONOMY.
WE TOOK ADVANCEMENTS IN THIS
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF YOU TO
ACCOMPLISH TWO GOALS. NUMBER
ONE, CREATE MORE TRANSPARENCY
BY CREATING A FUND TO TRACK
EXACTLY HOW THE REVENUE ALIGNS
WITH THE ACTUAL REVENUE.
AGAIN, THE ESTIMATE ON THE
CONSERVATIVE SIDE ARE EXPECTED
TO BRING IN OVER $213 MILLION
EACH YEAR, WHICH IS LIKE
RECEIVING AN AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN TWICE EACH YEAR FOR THE
NEXT 20 YEARS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION,
BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE
THOSE PROJECTIONS ARE ALIGNING
WITH WHAT THE ACTUAL REVENUE IS
SO WE CAN HAVE A STRONG SPEND
PLAN.
THE SECOND THING THIS
LEGISLATION DOES, IT HELPS MAKE
GOOD ON THE LARGE COALITION
PROMISES THAT STOOD BEHIND THIS
PROPOSAL AND HAVE WORKED
TOGETHER TO CREATE A STRONG
SPEND PLAN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE
ADDED TO OTHER CORE INVESTMENTS
IN OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR
COMMUNITY WILL BE MAKING IN THE
UPCOMING BUDGET. IT IS IN
ALIGNMENT WITH OUR TRANSPARENCY
AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING
THE MOST VULNERABLE, WE ARE
INTENDING TO MAKE SURE THIS
JUMPSTART DOLLARS GO TO EXACTLY
WHAT WE NEED. AS AN IMPORTANT
REMINDER, THE CATEGORIES IN OUR
PLAN INCLUDES 62% OF THE FUNDS
GOING INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
FAMILIES AT 30%.
9% IS GOING INTO EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT.
9% IS GOING TO GREEN NEW DEAL.
50% TO ECONOMIC AND THE
REMAINING 5% IS GOING INTO THE
GENERAL FUND FOR ADMINISTRATION
OF THE PROGRAM.
AFTER WE CONSIDER THE BILL, I
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR UNANIMOUS
PASSAGE OF THE SPEND PLAN LAST
JULY.
THIS QUANTIFIES THAT IMPORTANT
STEP AS WE PREPARE FOR 2022.
MADAM PRESIDENT, AS I DISCUSSED
THIS MORNING, WE READY FOR
THAT.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP
THE AMENDMENT NOW AND IF OTHERS
WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS AS
AMENDED, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
DO THAT ALL IN ONE SWOOP.
LET'S TAKE UP THE AMENDMENTS.
YOU DID SPEND SOME TIME ON IT
THIS MORNING.
FOLKS WILL BE PRETTY READY TO
GO.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ITEM 1. THEN
WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, META-PRESIDENT.
I MOVE TO AMEND 120118 AS
DISCUSSED THIS MORNING.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I WILL HANDED
BACK TO YOU TO WALK US THROUGH
THAT AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT ON
THE AMENDMENT AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, AS I
MENTIONED THIS MORNING THIS
ACCOMPLISHES TWO THINGS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SENDING
AROUND THAT MEMO THAT
SUMMARIZED AT.
FIRST, EXPRESSING THE COUNCILS
DEPEND FOR THE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, WE HAVE VARIOUS GROUNDS
OF THE FUNDS AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE DOLLARS ARE
APPROPRIATED TO DEVELOPMENT IN
THE 2022 BUDGET. RECOGNIZING
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES THANKS TO
JUMPSTART TO RAMP UP OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
CURRENT MARKET. WE SHOULD BE
ACTING ON THIS NOW.
IT WAS ALSO NOTED IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT NOTES AS WELL, SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT.
WERE WORK IS TO COME.
THANK YOU TO LEWIS, SAWANT, AND
GONZALEZ FOR WORKING WITH OUR
OFFICE ON THAT.
THE SECOND THING IS DOES, IT
CLARIFIES THE 2021 JUMPSTART
REVENUE BILL WILL BE DEPOSITED
INTO THE GENERAL FUND. THAT IS
BEING CREATED WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
AS RICK RESTED, THIS ADDITIONAL
CLARIFICATION WILL MAKE SURE
OUR LEGISLATIVE INTENT WAS CLEAR
AND COLLEAGUES, THIS IS VERY
MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE
ALREADY AGREED TO.
THE 2020 AND 2021 DOLLARS WENT
INTO INVESTMENTS FOR COVID
RELIEF AND CORE GOVERNMENT
SERVICES. I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE THIS IS IN A LINE
WITH WHAT OUR ORIGINAL INTENT
WAS.
THANKS AGAIN TO DIRECTOR GLENN
LEE THAT HAS BEEN LEADING THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AS WELL
AS CITY BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR
HELPING TO WORK WITH US AND WE
ARE HAPPY TO HAVE IT INCLUDED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT LOOKS
LIKE WE HAVE ONE HAND RAISED.
I WILL CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDET
AND THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA
FOR PUTTING FORTH THIS AMENDMENT
. YOU ADDED MONEY TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
I KNOW THE RECITAL DOES NOT
HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS IN IT,
WHICH IS GOOD.
I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL MY
INTEREST IN HAVING ANY
ADDITIONAL FUNDING GO TO THE
EXTENT IF POSSIBLE THOSE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THOSE ON THE LOWER END OF THE
SCALE, SINCE WE ARE IN THIS
CRISIS NOW, I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT MONEY IS TARGETED TO
THE LOWEST INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION?
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE AMENDED BILL IS BEFORE
THE COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
EXCITED FOR THIS LEGISLATION TO
PASS AND I HAVE TWO COMMENTS TO
MAKE, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT LAST YEAR FOR
THE PLANNED.
JUST AS A REITERATION ABOUT
THIS COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR
MOST VULNERABLE WITH THESE
JUMPSTART FUNDS.
AS A REMINDER, 62% OF THE
JUMPSTART FUNDS GO TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCLUDING
HOUSING SERVING HOUSEHOLDS AT
OR ABOVE 30% NEEDED INCOME, A
PORTION IS SET ASIDE FOR
COMMUNITY FOCUS ACQUISITION AND
HOUSING TO ADDRESS
DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AND
POLICIES SUCH AS REDLINING AND
RESTRICTING AND MAKING SURE
THERE ARE MORE FIRST TIME HOME
OWNERSHIP OPTIONS ESPECIALLY
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SUFFERED
DISPLACEMENT.
THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A
DISPROPORTIONATELY POSITIVE
IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WHO
ARE IMPACTED AT THE LACK OF
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND HIGHER RATES OF
HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE.
THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BENEFIT
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED,
SPECIFICALLY BLACK ADULTS, 28%
HOMELESS HOUSEHOLD POPULATIONS
IN OUR CITIES RIGHT NOW, THAT
IS MORE THAN QUADRUPLED THE
PERCENTAGE IN KING COUNTY AND
IN KING COUNTY, LIKE ADULTS ARE
EVICTED AT 5.5 TIMES MORE OFTEN
THAN WHITE ADULTS.
51% OF WHITE HOUSEHOLDS OWN
THEIR HOMES, WHILE 25% OF
HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS AND 24% OF
BLACK HOUSEHOLDS ARE, ON THEIR
HOMES.
WE SEE THESE RATES OF HOME
OWNERSHIP AND WHO IS BEING
AFFECTED BY POSSIBLE EVICTIONS
TO COME AND WE KNOW THESE
DISPARITIES HAVE ONLY BEEN
EXACERBATED BY COVID-19.
9% OF THE FUNDING, FOR PROJECTS
ADVANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY,
PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT,
MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS BY
BUILDING HOUSING AND CHILD
CARE, SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL.
9% GOES INTO GREEN NEW DEAL
PRIORITIES TO TRANSITION FOLKS
OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS IN OUR
HOMES SO MORE HOMEOWNERS ARE
ABLE TO STAY IN PLACE.
AND INVEST IN JOB TRAINING
OPTIONS FOR TRANSITION WITH
SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON OUTREACH
TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR GOOD
GREEN UNION JOBS AND THIS,
AGAIN, HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT FOR OUR -- WE ARE
EXPERIENCING THE HIGHEST RATES
OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES, THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY HEAT WAVES
SHOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN
PREVIOUSLY REDLINED AND ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED --
EXPOSED TO ALL TYPES OF AIR
POLLUTION.
WE CAN MAKE INVESTMENTS BY
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE OUTLINED
HERE IN THE JUMPSTART SEATTLE
PROPOSAL, AND I AM EXCITED TO
SEE THIS LEGISLATION MOVE
FORWARD WITH A HEAVY INVESTMENT
ON EMPHASIS.
LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
GREATER DIVERSITY AMONG OUR
LOCAL ECONOMIES SO WE IMPROVE
THE OVERALL STABILITY.
THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT
COMPONENTS IN THIS LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD HAPPEN TODAY, ONE IS
IT INCLUDES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT
THE FUNDS IF THERE IS
INCREDIBLE SHORTFALLS IN OUR
PROJECTED COVID-19 BASELINE
PROJECTIONS FOR REVENUES IN
2022 AND BEYOND, THAT IS SMART
TO DO BUDGETARY LEAKS AND HELPS
SET US UP FOR BOTH SUCCESS WITH
OURS AND PLAN AND THE CASE WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE
FLEXIBLE.
AND WE HAVE ALSO HELD
LEGISLATION WITH THE EXACT
LANGUAGE THAT OUR COUNCIL
PASSED LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS A
DESIRE TO SET UP AN OVERSIGHT
BOARD WITH THE INCLUSION OF
COMMUNITY AT THE TABLE, SO THAT
THERE IS UPDATES TO COUNSEL AND
A DIRECT OVERSIGHT COMPONENT TO
MAKE SURE THESE DOLLARS ARE
BEING SPENT IN THE RIGHT WAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION, THIS BILL IS
INCREDIBLE AND SETS UP THE
SYSTEM SO WE HAVE GREATER
EQUITY AND ACCESS TO THESE
DOLLARS.
>> THAT CLOSES OUT DEBATE AND
DISCUSSION ON THE BILL AS
AMENDED, SO I'M GOING TO ASK
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL WALL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE AMENDED BILL.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
GENTRY SEVEN
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
PLEASE FIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 4
INTO THE RECORD.
>> THE GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
, THE AGENDA ITEM 4, COUNSEL
BILL 120120, RELATED TO CITY
EMPLOYMENT OF PUBLIC RECORDS
OFFICERS RETURNING POSITIONS TO
THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM AND
AMENDING SECTION 4.1 3.010 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE BILL PASSED.
>> AS CHAIR I WILL PROVIDE
REPORT AND ASK IF THERE ARE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL
BEFORE WE CALL TO ROLL.
AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THIS
BILL WOULD GIVE CIVIL SERVICE
STATUS TO THE FIVE OBLIGATE
DISCLOSURE OFFICERS WHO
PROCESSED THE PUBLIC RECORDS
REQUESTS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, INCLUDING
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT, AND THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THIS LEGISLATION WAS DEVELOPED
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY
ATTORNEY AFTER ENGAGEMENT WITH
THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
IT IS INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES
ARE SHIELDED FROM UNDUE
POLITICAL INFLUENCE WHILE
CARRYING OUT DUTIES.
THE LEGISLATION IS AN IMPORTANT
STEP TOWARDS PROTECTING
TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE PROCESS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE REQUEST IS
DIRECTED AT AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL.
THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THIS
BILL ENTER PRESENTATIONS FROM
OUR COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AND
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THAT
THE COUNSEL BILL BE ADOPTED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL AND I WOULD
LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US IN VOTING
TO ADOPT THIS LEGISLATION.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
LEGISLATION, I THINK THIS IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF
TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, IT IS EASY FOR
ME, I THINK IT IS EXCITING TO
SEE HOW THIS BILL IS IN
ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT KING COUNTY
AND WASHINGTON STATE HAVE DONE,
AND PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH A
GREATER SENSE OF TRUST ABOUT
HOW WE BOTH MAKE POLICY
DECISIONS BASED ON THOSE
BUDGETARY REPORTS WE HAVE SEEN,
I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT
HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS
LEGISLATION TO CREATE BETTER
CONFIDENCE WITH THE CITY AT
HELP US CREATE STRONGER
FINANCIAL DECISIONS GOING
FORWARD.
APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU HAVE
DONE AND THANKS TO YOUR TEAM AS
WELL AS YOU CONSIDER THIS
LEGISLATION, IT MAKES A LOT OF
SENSE, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU.
>> I THINK YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT AGENDA ITEM 5, WE ARE ON
FOUR RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS ON THE
CIVIL SERVICE BILL, BUT --
>> SORRY.
>> DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
OKAY, SO, ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
HEARING ON, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL WALL.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE..
WILL CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 5 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 5, COUNSEL BILL
120120 -- 120124, CREATING AN
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND REVENUE
FORECASTS.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A
BYPASS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE, I WILL
PROVIDE THE REPORT AND HAPPY TO
OPEN IT UP TO ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL.
I AM EXCITED TO BE VOTING ON
THIS LEGISLATION TODAY AFTER
NEARLY NINE MONTHS OF
COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH
THE EXECUTIVE TO DEVELOP THIS
LEGISLATION, I BELIEVE
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC AND REVENUE FORECAST
WILL CREATE A MORE OPEN,
TRANSPARENT, AND ROBUST CASTING
PROCESS THAT WILL ENHANCE BOTH
THE COUNCIL'S AND THE PUBLIC
ACCESS TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF
THE CITY'S BUDGETARY FORECAST.
THE IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD ALSO
IMPROVE THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN
FUTURE COUNCILS AND FUTURE
MAYORS BY BUILDING A STRONGER
FOUNDATION OF TRUST AND BALANCE
BETWEEN THE BRANCHES AS IT
RELATES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE CITY'S BUDGET PRIORITIES.
THERE ARE TWO PERMANENT EVENTS
THAT HIGHLIGHTED, FOR ME, AND
MANY OTHERS, HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THOSE EVENTS PROMPTED ME, MY
STAFF, AND CENTRAL STAFF TO
LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE MODELS FOR
HOW GOVERNMENTS AND PARTIES
DEVELOP BUDGET FORECASTS, AND
BOTH WASHINGTON STATE AND KING
COUNTY UTILIZE INDEPENDENT
FORECASTING OFFICES THAT ARE
OUTSIDE OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND
EXECUTIVE RANGES.
KINGMAN COUNTY ONE SO FAR AS TO
PURSUE A VOTER APPROVED
AMENDMENT IN 2008, IN ORDER TO
CREATE THEIR OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS.
ULTIMATELY, BASED ON MINE AND
CENTRAL STAFF'S REVIEW, WE AT
THE CITY COUNCIL ARE ABLE TO
ESTABLISH OUR OWN INDEPENDENT
OFFICE IN A MANNER CONSISTENT
WITH OUR CITY CHARTER AND THE
LEGISLATION WE ARE VOTING ON IS
REFLECTIVE OF ALL OF THE
FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S REVIEW AND
THEIR LEGAL ADVICE.
UPON ITS CREATION, THE ECONOMIC
REVENUE FORECAST OFFICE WOULD
PROVIDE INDEPENDENT FORECASTS
AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS,
FULFILLING THE POLICY INTENT OF
THE COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION THIS
COUNSEL PREVIOUSLY TOOK AND
THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2021
BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED.
IT WOULD ALSO CONSIST OF 3 1/2
FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS THROUGH A
COMBINATION OF NEWLY CREATED
POSITIONS AND TRANSFER
POSITIONS FROM OUR CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AND TO FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
THIS WOULD BE HEADED BY A
DIRECTOR WHO WOULD BE HIRED BY
AND REPORT TO A NEW FORECAST
COUNSEL COMPRISED OF THE MAYOR,
THE CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR, THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND COUNCIL
BUDGET CHAIR OR THEIR RESPECTIVE
DESIGNEES.
THE FORECAST COUNSEL WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING
OVERSIGHT OF THE NEW OFFICE AND
FOR APPROVING THE FORECAST.
THE GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE DID HAVE A
CONVERSATION AND PRESENTATION
ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSED
PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THE
COUNSEL BILL BE PASSED AND
ADOPTED BY THE FULL COUNCIL.
LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO JOIN US IN VOTING TO ADOPT
THIS LEGISLATION.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
COUNSEL STRAUSS.
>> I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY, I THINK THIS
IS A SMART CHOICE TO REMOVE,
TO CREATE AN, A FORECAST OFFICE
THAT IS NOT TIED TO EITHER THE
EXECUTIVE OR COUNSEL, I AM
GOING TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO
REALLY SHARE KUDOS TO THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE LAST YEAR DURING
THE RECESSION AND REOPENING OF
OUR ECONOMY, BECAUSE AS
COMPARED TO THE STATE LEVEL,
THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE REALLY
DID AN AMAZING JOB OF MAKING
ACCURATE DEPICTIONS WE COULD
WORK OFF OF COMPARED TO THE
STATE THAT HAD A BIGGER DROP
AND A BIGGER REBOUND, SO I KNOW
THAT WE HAVE THE TOOLS AND I
KNOW OUR CITY BUDGET OFFICE IS
DOING GREAT WORK AND I THINK
THIS NEW LEGISLATION IS THE
NEXT GREAT STEP, THANK YOU.
>> REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> JUST REALLY QUICKLY, ALSO
WANTED TO THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALES, FOR MOVING
FORWARD.
THE INTENT THE COUNSEL
EXPRESSED TO YOUR LEADERSHIP
DURING THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS
LAST YEAR TO CREATE THIS
INDEPENDENT OFFICE, THIS IS, I
THINK, CONSIDERED A BEST
PRACTICE, AND REALLY APPRECIATE
KNOWING THAT, MOVING FORWARD,
WHETHER OR NOT IT IS, AT TIMES,
WHEN THERE ARE INCREASED
REVENUE FORECASTS OR POTENTIAL
REDUCTIONS IN REVENUE, THAT THE
COUNCIL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO
THAT INFORMATION AS OPPOSED TO
THE CURRENT PRACTICE WHERE
OFTEN WE FIND IT OUT AT THE
SAME TIME, WHEN THERE ARE
BUDGET PROPOSALS TO CUT OR ADD.
IT WILL ALLOW US AS THE BODY
TAT IS MOST RESPONSIVE,
ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC TO GIVE
INPUT TO THOSE BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> I WANTED TO ALSO EXPLAIN MY
SUPPORT FOR THIS NEW OFFICE,
THERE WERE SOME ARTICLES
WRITTEN ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL
RECENTLY THAT DELL WOULD INTO
LEGAL ISSUES AND LOOKING AT THE
CITY CHARTER, I THINK THAT WAS
HEALTHY TO RAISE THESE ISSUES,
I DID ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, GOT
ADDITIONAL COMFORT WITH THAT
ASPECT OF IT FROM A PRACTICAL
STANDPOINT, HAVING WORKED FOR A
BUDGET CHAIR MANY YEARS AGO,
THE TIMING OF THESE FORECASTS
IS ALSO, IT HAS BEEN A SOURCE
OF FRUSTRATION, SO, I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE BOTH
BRANCHES COLLABORATING ON THIS
DATA ABOUT WHAT THE REVENUES
ARE GOING TO BE, HOW WE ARE
PREDICTING THEM AND HAVING THAT
INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME,
SO THAT THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
ISN'T SITTING AROUND WAITING,
WHEN IS THIS INFORMATION GOING
TO COME SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT
HOW TO MAKE DECISIONS SINCE WE
ULTIMATELY HAVE TO ADOPT THE
BUDGET AND DECIDE WHETHER TO
AMEND IT.
I WAS REALLY PLEASED WHEN YOU
BROUGHT THIS PROPOSAL UP, THE
MORE DUE DILIGENCE I HAVE DONE,
IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE
GOOD FOR THE CITY THAT WE HAVE
THIS INFORMATION AT THE SAME
TIME, BOTH EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT
FORWARD.'S
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED, I WILL GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE THIS OUT, I THINK COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN STOLE THE WORDS
RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH, THAT IS
THE NOTE I WANTED TO END ON, I
THINK THAT, AS THE BUDGET
APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY, IT HAS
SEEMED ODD TO ME IN THE SIX
YEARS I HAVE SERVED ON COUNSEL
TOO OFTEN TIMES FEEL LIKE WE
ARE CAUGHT ON THE BACK OF OUR
HEELS WHEN RECEIVING REVENUE
FORECAST CHANGES IN THE MIDDLE
OF, AND SOMETIMES TOWARDS THE
END OF OUR BUDGETING PROCESS.
I THINK THIS BILL WILL ALLOW
FOR MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
INFORMATION AND TO MORE TIMELY
ACCESS TO RELEVANT INFORMATION,
A WAY THAT WILL REALLY ALLOW
AND FACILITATE THE COEQUAL
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT TO
REALLY FUNCTION LIKE EQUAL
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT BOTH OF US HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY
FULFILL OUR DUTY AND OBLIGATION
AS BOTH THE BUDGET PROPOSER AND
THE BUDGET ADOPTERS FOR THE
CITY GOVERNMENT, SO I AM
EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ADVANCE THIS BILL AND
APPRECIATE THE ONGOING SUPPORT
OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE EFFORT
TO ADVANCE THIS IMPORTANT,
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
WANT TO THANK, DID WANT TO THANK
CODY IN MY OFFICE FOR ALL OF
HIS HARD WORK, AS WELL AS ALLIE
AND TOM AND ALSO, OF COURSE,
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATIVE
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE WITH THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE AND OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE TO
COME UP WITH THE SHARED PLAN
AND VISION ON HOW THIS CAN BE
ACHIEVED IN A WAY THAT FULFILLS
BOTH THE EXECUTIVES' DESIRES
AND OURS AS WELL.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING
TO CLOSE OUT DEBATE AND ASKED
THAT THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE
IN THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
WILL THE COURT PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
ALL RIGHT, HEARING THEM,
COLLEAGUES, THIS CONCLUDES THE
ITEMS OF BUSINESS ENTITY'S
AGENDA, OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR
MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 AT 2:00
P.M.
I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A
WONDERFUL AFTERNOON. THANK YOU.