.
>> JUNE 8, 2021 MEETING OF
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
I AM LISA HERBOLD.
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[ ROLL ].
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE WILL BE
HEARING THREE ITEMS.
FIRST IS A ROUND TABLE WITH
CITY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO
DISCUSS CRISIS RESPONSE
CONTINUUM THAT IS CURRENTLY
OPERATING IN SEATTLE WITH AN
EMPHASIS ON THOSE THAT RESPOND
TO LOW LEVEL CRIMES AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.
THIS IS PART OF THE COUNCIL'S
WORK TO REIMAGINE COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND BETTER UNDERSTAND
POSSIBILITIES OF NONARMED
RESPONSES.
WE HAVE PARTICIPANTS FROM THE
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICE
MOBILE CRISIS TEAM LEAD, IS
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
RESPONSE UNIT, HEALTH ONE,
CRISIS CONNECTIONS.
WE'LL HEAR PRESENTATION FROM
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT ON THE ALL HAZARDS
MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE AND THEN
FINALLY WE WILL HEAR
PRESENTATION FROM THE COUNCIL'S
OWN COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF ON
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
REALIGNMENT WORK HE HAS BEEN
PURSUING.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO APPROVAL OF
THE AGENDA.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
WE'LL BE MOVING INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WILL MODERATE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD SO EACH SPEAKER IS GIVEN
TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO DO SO,
YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END
OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT HEARING
BY GOING TO THE WEBSITE.
THE LINK IS LISTED ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
WHEN I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
YOU WILL HEAR A PROMPT.
ONCE YOU HAVE HEARD THAT
PROMPT, YOU WILL NEED TO PRESS
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
PLEASE BEGIN BY SPEAKING,
SAYING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
YOU WILL HEAR TIME WHEN TEN
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME AND ONCE THE
SPEAKER HEARS THE CHIME, WE ASK
YOU TO BEGIN TO WRAP UP THEIR
COMMENTS.
IF THEY DO NOT FINISH, THE MIC
WILL BE MUTED AFTER TEN SECONDS
TO ALLOW US TO HEAR FROM THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED PUBLIC
COMMENT PLEASE DISCONNECT.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING, DO SO VIA SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR LISTENING OPTIONS
LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
THERE ARE 15 PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IN ORDER TO ALLOW AS MANY
SPEAKERS AS POSSIBLE TO SPEAK,
THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.
I WILL SUSPEND RULES TO ALLOW
ADDITIONAL TEN MINUTES FOR
TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES OF PUBLIC
COMMENT.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, PUBLIC
COMMENT HAS BEEN EXTENDED.
WE WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO THE
SPEAKERS.
WE WILL START WITH HOWARD GAYLE
FOLLOWED BY DES CHAFFON.
HOWARD.
HOWARD, IF YOU HAVE NOT HIT
STAR 6.
>> THE PROMPT WAS LATE.
GOOD MORNING.
FIRST AGENDA ITEM INVOLVES
PRESENTATION FROM SPD'S CRISIS
RESPONSE UNIT.
THEIR FIRST POWERPOINT STATES
THAT THE CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT'S
MISSION IS "TO BE REGARDED AS
INVALUABLE DEPARTMENT RESOURCE
WHICH SAFELY AND APPROPRIATELY
ADDRESSES INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCING PRESENT OR RECENT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS AND
PROFICIENTLY NAVIGATE SYSTEMS
OF CARE TO REDUCE LIKELIHOOD OF
HARM."
HOW DID THIS WORK FOR MIKE
CHIN, JACKSON, CODY, LARRY
ANDREW FLYNN, SAM SMITH,
MICHAEL TAYLOR, LYLES,
RODRIGUEZ, RYAN SMITH, HARRY
CABLE AND FOUR MONTHS AGO DEREK
HEY DEN?
THEY WERE SUFFERING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS WHILE HOLDING A
KNIFE, PIECE OF METAL, OR
BROKEN BOTTLE.
ALL WERE KILLED BY THE SPD
SINCE OVERSIGHT OF REFORM IN
LESS THAN NINE YEARS.
PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED THEIR
LOVED ONES' MURDER AND THAT
THEY WERE KILLED IN SEATTLE
WHERE INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN AND
REMAIN IMPOSSIBLE.
THEY HAVE DEEMED ALL LAWFUL AND
PROPER OR HAS NOT COMPLETED OR
ATTEMPTED INVESTIGATION INTO
THE KILLING.
TWO WEEKS AGO THE STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED
THREE POLICE OFFICERS HAD BEEN
CHARGED IN LAST YEAR'S MURDER,
CHARGES ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE
OFFICIALS PAID ATTENTION.
THEY CARED AND FORMED AN
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.
THESE ARE THE THINGS NOT
HAPPENING IN SEATTLE AND ARE
PURE IMPOSSIBLE GIVEN EMBRACE
OF THE DELUSION THAT SEATTLE
HAS BEST ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
IN THE COUNTRY.
TODAY YOU WILL DISCUSS ANOTHER
DELUSION THAT CRISIS RESPONSE
UNITS WORKS.
I INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN TO
CREATE 100% CIVILIAN OVER SIGHT
IN INVESTIGATION OF POLICE BY
GOING TO SEATTLESTOP.ORG.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS DEZ CHAFFON
FOLLOWED BY BUANA.
>> HELLO CITY COUNCIL.
I AM DEZ, AND I AM SPEAKING ON
DECRIMINALIZED NATURE IN
SEATTLE.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM
AS AN AVID SUPPORTER OF
DECRIMINALIZATION SET ON
CHANGING WASHINGTON STATE AND
UNITED STATES DRUG POLICIES
WHICH HAVE BEEN SET IN PLACE BY
THE WAR ON DRUGS.
OUR SYSTEMS CONTINUE TO
IMPRISON PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM
A VARIETY OF MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND DENIES ACCESS TO
FOOD, SHELTER, AND HEALTHCARE
LEADING TO SELF SOOTHE WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
THEY ARE CRIMINALIZED FOR IT.
THIS VICIOUS CYCLE CONTINUES
AND OUR SOCIETY NO LONGER HAS A
PLACE FOR PROHIBITION LAWS.
I URGE YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
ADOPT DECRIMINALIZE NATURE
SEATTLE'S RESOLUTION SWIFTLY TO
BRING HEALING TO THE HEARTS AND
MINDS OF SEATTLE CITIZENS AND
WHEN THE MOMENTUM MOVES
FORWARD, I HOPE
DECRIMINALIZATION IS AVAILABLE
ACROSS THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
SOME THINGS CANNOT CHANGE.
BUT UNTIL YOU TRY, YOU WILL
NEVER KNOW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS JULIE BUANA FOLLOWED BY
SHAMIR TOMA.
JULIE.
>> HELLO.
I AM ADDRESSING CRISIS RESPONSE
UNIT AND GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY.
I AM HERE AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE BECAUSE I ALONG WITH
THOUSANDS OF OTHER PROTESTERS
THAT HAVE BEEN PROTESTING
POLICE VIOLENCE IN THE PAST
YEAR FEEL UNSAFE.
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEEL
UNSAFE.
OUR HOUSE LESS COMMUNITY
MEMBERS FEEL UNSAFE.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LGBTQIA
PLUS COMMUNITY FEEL UNSAFE.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH
DISABILITIES WHO MAY SUFFER
MENTAL HEALTH CRISES FEEL
UNSAFE.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEEL UNSAFE
BECAUSE THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE, PEOPLE
WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT AND
SERVE US, TARGET AND BEAUTY
ALLIES US.
PROTESTERS ARE SPRAYED WITH
CHEMICAL WEAPONS, CRUELLY
INHUMANELY TARGETED DURING
SWEEPS AND FOLKS IN LGBTQAI
PLUS COMMUNITY IS TARGETED.
THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CRISES
ARE ROUTINELY HARASSED, KILLED
BY SPD.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM DOES
NOT WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IF
WE ALLOW THE CURRENT SYSTEM TO
CONTINUE.
AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WE MUST
CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
THAT HELPS US FEEL SAFE, AN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT IS
ACCOUNTABLE TO US.
GO TO SEATTLESTOP.ORG TO FIND
OUT HOW WE CAN CREATE FULLY
CIVILIAN EYED POLICE OVERSIGHT
BOARD WITH INVESTIGATIVE POWER
AND DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY THAT
HELPS KEEP US SAFE.
AGAIN THAT'S SEATTLESTOP.ORG.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAMIR FOLLOWED
BY THOMPSON WILEY.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS SHAMIR.
I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 7.
I AM CALLING IN RESPONSE TO THE
CHIEF PLAN BEING PRESENTED
TODAY.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON THREE
POINTS.
FIRST, WE NEED TO REDUCE
FOOTPRINT OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM AND WAY IT HARMFULLY
IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES
DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK,
INDEJESUS NEWS PERSONS OF
COLOR.
WE NEED TO STOP DIVERTING MONEY
FROM DEFUNDING SPD TO EXPANSION
OF THE ATTORNEYS OFFICE,
VIOLATES SPIRIT OF THE DEFUND
MOVEMENT.
TWO ON MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES
FOCUS ON INCREASING ACCESS TO
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND
LIVELIHOOD, NOT MORE
INTERACTION WITH CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM.
THREE, THIS INTERVENTION IS
GUIDED BY CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM'S FRAMEWORK THAT
PRIORITIZES SYSTEM NEEDS, NOT
NEEDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SERVICES SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE
BECAUSE THEY'RE NEEDED FOR
PEOPLE TO SURVIVE, HEAL,
THRIVE, NO THE BECAUSE WE NEED
TO SURVEIL AND MONITOR PEOPLE.
THAT MEANS UP STREAM SOLUTIONS
FOR WELL BEING OF POOR AND
VULNERABLE AND NOT ONES THAT
REQUIRE CONTACT WITH CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS THOMPSON WILEY FOLLOWED
BY MADE BARTHOLOMEW.
TRAVONA.
>> HELLO.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2,
CALLING IN TODAY IN RESPONSE TO
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
STRATEGIC PLAN.
I AM URGING YOU TO REDUCE
FOOTPRINT OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM IN THE WAYS IT HARMFULLY
IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES, BLACK
INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR,
TRANS, NONBINARY, DISABLED.
I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE
OPPRESSIVE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM AND EFFECTS WERE LONG
LASTING.
THIS INCLUDES CITY ATTORNEYS
OFFICE DIVERTING MONEY FROM
DEFUNDING SPD TOWARD EXPANSION
OF CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE TO %
CONDUCT RISK ASSESSMENTS
VIOLATES SPIRIT OF THE DEFUND
MOVEMENT.
SHRINKING CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
IS THE GOAL IN BUILDING
COMMUNITY CAPACITY FOR
RESPONDING TO CRISIS.
THE NATURE OF THE MISDEMEANOR
OFFENSES ARE THEY ARE MAJORITY
CRIMES SUCH AS THEFT, POVERTY,
ARISE FROM UNMET NEEDS.
AS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN IN
SEATTLE I HAVE CONSISTENTLY
SEEN POOR FOLKS JAILED BECAUSE
OF POVERTY.
I HAVE SEEN A MOTHER JAILED FOR
STEALING FOOD FOR HER CHILDREN.
THAT MOTHER NEEDED SERVICES,
NEEDED A SYSTEM THAT RELIES ON
SERVICES OVER INCARCERATION.
THE SOLUTION IS TO INCREASE
ACCESS TO BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS
AND LIVELIHOOD, NOT ENFORCE
SAME SYSTEMS THAT MAKE PEOPLE
VULNERABLE TO BEGIN WITH.
90% OF THE MISDEMEANOR
POPULATIONS ARE CONSIDERED
INDIGNANT AND UTILIZE PUBLIC
DEFENSE.
IN TIMES OF CHANGE, WHO WE TAKE
CARE OF IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT ALL
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE
VALUABLE.
I SEE DRIVING WITH SUSPENDED
LICENSE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T
ABLE TO PAY COURT FEES AND WERE
THE SOUL BREAD WINNER FOR THEIR
FAMILY.
ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY
SHOULD BE VALUED.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY
LED ALTERNATIVES BASED ON HARM
REDUCTION AND NOT BE THROWN IN
CAGES.
>> THANK YOU.
SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS IF WE
DIDN'T GET ALL OF THEM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MADE
BARTHOLOMEW FOLLOWED BY BEN.
MADE.
>> HI.
I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 6
IN SEATTLE.
AS A CONCERNED CONSTITUENT OF
THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THE
CITY, I AM ASKING YOU TODAY TO
ENACT DECRIMINALIZE NATURE
SEATTLE ORDINANCE TO
DECRIMINALIZE PSYCHEDELICS IN
SEATTLE.
I HAVE A HISTORY WITH
ADDICTION.
IN LATE TEENS PAIN FROM
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA THAT I
DEVELOPED ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR.
I WAS CHAIN SMOKING CIGARETTES,
FORMED ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY AND
ALSO AN EATING DISORDER.
SESSIONS ALONG WITH INTEGRATION
WORK HAS ALLOWED ME TO OVERCOME
MOST OF MY ADDICTION.
MY EXISTENCE IS LIVING PROOF
THAT PSYCHEDELICS CAN BE USED
FOR TOOLS FOR HEALING AND SELF
IMPROVEMENT.
THE CITIZENS DESERVE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO
THE TOOLS.
WALKING IN THE STREETS OF
SEATTLE IT IS CLEAR MENTAL
HEALTH AND ADDICTION IS AN
ISSUE AND SOCIETY NEEDS TO DO
BETTER AT HELPING THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE HERE REGARDLESS OF
INCOME OR IDENTITY.
ENACT THIS ORDINANCE AND ALLOW
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO BECOME
ACCESSIBLE REALITY FOR THOSE
WHO NEED IT MOST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BEN
FOLLOWED BY JODY THOMAS.
BEN.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
3, SPEAKING ON BEHALF.
DECRIMINALIZE ASIAN MEANS
VETERANS WITH CRIPPLING PTSD
CAN SEEK THERAPIES.
DECRIMINALIZATION MEANS OPIOID
ADDICTS CAN SEEK EFFECTIVE
MEANS OF OVER COMING ADDICTION
WHEN OTHER METHODS FAILED THEM.
IT MEANS GETTING RID OF
OUTDATED DRUG LAWS THAT HAVE
ONLY PROVEN TO FILL JAILS.
NOT DECRIMINALIZING IS TELLING
VETERANS WE ARE NOT INTERESTED
IN EXPLORING OPTIONS AND WOULD
PREFER TO THROW THEM IN JAIL.
IT MEANS FOLKS WITH TERMINAL
ILLNESSES THAT WANT TO SOOTHE
THEIR PAIN HAVE TO RISK SAFETY
BY BUYING DRUGS OFF THE STREET
AND RISKING ADDRESS.
WE CAN'T PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY
OUTREACH TO FOLKS FAILED BY
ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND
PHARMACEUTICALS WHO WANT TO
BETTER THEMSELVES.
PSYCHEDELICS HAVE HEALED MY
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.
I WOULD NOT KNOW WHERE I WOULD
BE WITHOUT THE MEDICINE.
LET OTHERS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
WE CAN DO BETTER, SEATTLE.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS JODY THOMAS FOLLOWED BY
PENNY GRADY.
>> I AM 56 AND CEO OF A SMALL
START UP.
I AM REACHING OUT IN SUPPORT OF
DECRIMINALIZING PSYCHEDELICS.
AS SURVIVOR OF CHILDHOOD AND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE I SUFFERED
WITH FIBROMYALGIA, ANXIETY,
ADDICTION TO PRESCRIBED MS,
BINGE DRINKING ALCOHOL
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
CONVINCING RESEARCH LED ME TO
SEEK PSYCHEDELICS.
SERENITY, SELF LOVE REPLACED
ANXIETY.
FIBROMYALGIA, ALCOHOL CRAVINGS,
MS ARE GONE.
I HEALED WOUNDS, REPAIRED MY
MARRIAGE, NOW LIVE A LIFE OF
JOY AND GRATITUDE.
THESE PLANT MEDICINES CAN HEAL
HUMANITY.
IMAGINE WHAT A HEALED
EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT
COMMUNITY CAN DO.
IT STARTS WITH US.
TAKE THE LEAD BY ACCEPTING THIS
MOVEMENT.
THE MODEL IS THE SUREST WAY TO
REACH THE MASSES.
MANY OF US ARE CAPABLE OF
HELPING FRIENDS AND FAMILIES
USING LEARNED HARM REDUCTION
METHODS.
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS YOU
PROCEED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS O GRADY
FOLLOWED BY NIKITA OLIVER.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS PENNY.
I AM A WHITE HOMEOWNER IN
DISTRICT 6. I AM CALLING IN
RESPONSE TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN
BEING PRESENTED TODAY.
I STAND WITH THE GOAL OF
SHRINKING CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
AND BUILDING UP COMMUNITY
CAPACITY FOR RESPONDING TO
CRISIS AND HUMAN NEEDS AS THE
ALTERNATIVE.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT EXPANSION
OF THE CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE TO
CONDUCT RISK ASSESSMENTS.
MONEY DIVERTED FROM POLICING TO
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
KEEPS US INVESTED IN HUGE
FOOTPRINT OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM.
I APPRECIATE DIRECTION OF
INTERCEPT ZERO WITH SUPPORT OF
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AS AN
EXAMPLE OF ALTERNATIVE THAT
DOESN'T REQUIRE CONTACT WITH
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
UNFORTUNATELY THE FRAMEWORK
OVER ALL PRIORITIZES SYSTEMS
NEED RATHER THAN NEEDS OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I SPEAK FOR KEEPING EMPHASIS ON
BASIC HUMAN NEEDS AND DIGNITY.
USING TERMS LIKE CRIME
REDUCTION AND PREVENTING
RECIDIVISM TO EASILY SLIDE INTO
THE THINKING THAT THESE ARE
PRIMARY MOTIVES FOR OFFERING
SERVICES RATHER THAN CENTERING
BASIC DIGNITY OF HUMANS AND
NEED FOR THRIVING COMMUNITY.
THIS REPLICATES LOGIC OF THE
SYSTEM'S CRIMINALIZED
PATHOLOGIZED IMPACTED
INDIVIDUAL BEFORE THEY ARE
DEEMED DESERVING OF SERVICES.
SERVICES SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE
BECAUSE THEY ARE NEEDED FOR
PEOPLE TO SURVIVE HEAL AND
THRIVE, NOT OUT OF NEED TO
SURVEIL AND MONITOR.
WE NEED MORE UP STREAM
SOLUTIONS THAT REFLECT THE
RESPONSIBILITY IN CARING FOR
WELL BEING OF POOR VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES.
I URGE YOU TO KEEP WORKING TO
FURTHER REDUCE FOOTPRINT OF THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN ALL
ITS FORMS AND WAYS IT HARMFULLY
IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK
INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS NIKITA OLIVER
FOLLOWED BY LA TONYA SEVERE.
>> GOOD MORNING SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
I AM STARTING BY SAYING
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT
YOU WILL DO TODAY I THINK ARE
GOOD AND ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THE COMMUNITY THAT A FEW YEARS
AGO ADVOCATED FROM ONE OF THE
CITY'S JAIL CONTRACTS.
THAT BEING SAID PART OF
ADVOCACY WAS TO SEE FOOTPRINT
OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM BE
STRONG AND BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
WAYS IN WHICH THE SYSTEM HARMS
AND IMPACTS LIVES ESPECIALLY
BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF
COLOR QUEER AND TRANS AND
DISABLED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE SYSTEM INCLUDES CITY
ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND DIVERTING
MONEY TOWARD EXPANSION OF THE
ATTORNEYS OFFICE TO CONDUCT
RISK ASSESSMENT VIOLATES THE
SPIRIT OF OUR MOVEMENT.
WE ARE ADVOCATING THAT YOU
SHRINK THE SIZE.
NATURE OF MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES
ARE MARRY MAJORITY CRIMES OF
POVERTY AND SOLUTION IS TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO HUMAN RIGHTS
AND LIVELIHOODS NOT TO
REINFORCE THE SYSTEM THAT'S
MADE PEOPLE VULNERABLE.
90% OF MISDEMEANORS, FOLKS
BEING DECRIMINALIZED AS
MISDEMEANORS ARE CONSIDERED
INDIGENT.
THAT REALLY WILL DECREASE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
I HOPE AT SOME POINT WE GET TO
HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THAT WERE PART OF THE TASK
FORCE BECAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE
THEIR OWN RECOMMENDATIONS AND
HOPE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
AND SAME FORMAT TO SHARE THEIR
THOUGHTS AND WISDOM WITH THE
COUNCIL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS LA TONYA SEVERE
FOLLOWED BY CONNER WATERS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM A 39-YEAR-OLD BLACK QUEER
NONBINARY PERSON RENTING IN D2.
I AM ALSO COLEAD OF THE BLACK
BRILLIANCE RESEARCH PROJECT
WHICH WORKED WITH OVER 100
COMMUNITY RESEARCHERS WHO WERE
PRIMARILY BLACK AND BROWN.
THIS INCLUDED VOICES OF
THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
BUDGETING PROCESS.
I AM CALLING TO RESPOND TO THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM STRATEGIC
PLAN BEING PRESENTED TODAY.
I APPRECIATE SEEING THE BLACK
BRILLIANCE RESEARCH PROJECT AND
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING MEGIAED
INVESTING MORE MONEY INTO CITY
ATTORNEYS OFFICE IS AT ODDS
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS COMING OUT
OF THE RESEARCH.
COUNCIL SHOULD BE REDUCING
FOOTPRINT OF THE CRIMINAL
PUNISHMENT SYSTEM AND WAYS IT
IS HARMFULLY IMPACTING PEOPLES
LIVES DISPROPORTIONATELY.
DEFINITE BASED MODELS LIKE
TRAUMA INFORMED LENS.
WE NEED GENUINE TRAUMA FORMED
INTERVENTIONS THAT SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE.
TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH
ASSUMES NOBODY IS INHERENTLY
VIOLENT OR ABUSIVE.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY
OUR SURROUNDINGS AND LEARN TO
COPE IN WHATEVER WAYS WE COULD.
SOME OF THE TRAUMA RESPONSES
HAVE DEVELOPED INTO PATTERNS OF
BEHAVIOR THAT MAY CAUSE FURTHER
HARM TO OTHERS AROUND US.
BEING TRAUMA INFORMED MEANS WE
LOOK AT EACH PERSON'S STRUGGLES
THROUGH A TRAUMA LENS WHICH IS
DISTINCT FROM JUDGMENTAL
PUNITIVE MODELS THAT CONSIDERS
HARMFUL ACTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS
AT THE FAILURES OF CHARACTER
THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED WITH
PUNISHMENT.
FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH
PERSPECTIVE METRICS UTILIZED BY
RISK NEEDS RESPONSE MODEL ARE
DEFICIT
BASED.
FOCUSING ON PRIOR INTERACTIONS,
LACKS TRAUMA INFORMED LENS, ARE
NOT STRENGTH OR ASSET BASED
CRITERIA WHICH RECOGNIZE, DRAW
FROM, STRENGTHEN AN
INDIVIDUAL'S RESOURCES AND
CAPACITY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS CONNER WATERS FOLLOWED
BY VALERIE SHORET.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY IN A I AM IS CONNER WATERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6. I WILL BE
COMMENTING ON RESOLUTION TO
DECRIMINALIZE IN SEATTLE AND
SPEAKING AS A MEDICAL STUDENT
AND SOON TO BE NATURO PATHIC
DOCTOR.
AS PART OF THE DECRIMINALIZE
NATURE SEATTLE GROUP I AM
HOPING YOU WILL SIGN THE LETTER
TO THE TASK FORCE IN SUPPORT OF
ORDINANCE TO DECRIMINALIZE
PSYCHEDELICS IN SEATTLE.
I WORK WITH PATIENTS WHO HAVE
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND I
HAVE EXPERIENCED BOTH MYSELF.
I KNOW ANECDOTALLY FOR MY
PATIENTS AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCE
THAT THE THERAPIES CAN PRODUCE
A LIFT MOOD USED IN A
REASONABLE MANNER AND SAFE
ENVIRONMENT.
I KNOW FROM MEDICAL TRAINING
THIS HAS GROUNDING IN RESEARCH
AROUND BOTH ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION AS WELL AS END OF
LIFE CARE.
A NOTABLE STUDY FOUND TWO
DOSING SESSIONS PAIRED WITH
SERIES OF PSYCHOTHERAPY
IMPROVED SIGNIFICANT MEASURES
IN DEPRESSION SCORES.
I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN
HEALTHCARE AND EMERGENCY
MEDICINE THAT SEATTLE SUFFERS
FROM SUICIDE RATES FAR ABOVE
OTHERS IN U.S.A.
SEASONAL DEFECTIVE DISORDER.
I SPECULATE ACCESS TO
PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE WITHOUT
FEAR OF LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS
COULD EMPOWER CITIZENS TO BE
PROACTIVE IN HEALTHCARE.
INCREASING NUMBER OF CLINICIANS
ARE HOW TO GUIDE PATIENTS ON
SAFE USE AND THIS COULD
REVOLUTIONIZE OUTCOMES IN
MENTAL HEALTHCARE.
MAKE A BOLD AFFIRMING STATEMENT
FOR THE HEALTH OF CONSTITUENTS
BY SUPPORTING DECRIMINALIZATION
OF PSYCHEDELICS IN SEATTLE.
REDUCES HARM AND OPENS NEW
OPTIONS FOR HEALTHCARE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS VALERIE SHORET FOLLOWED
BY BILL ROBERTS.
>> HI.
GOOD MORNING.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. I WILL BE
INTERESTED TO HEAR DISCUSSION
ABOUT SPD AND CRISIS RESPONSE
BUT I SUSPECT IT WILL OMIT
MENTION OF THE MANY IN MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS KILLED BY SPD.
SHOOTING OF DEREK HAYDEN ON THE
WATER FRONT IN FEBRUARY IS ONE
EXAMPLE OF A CRISIS INCIDENT
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED
DIFFERENTLY AND IF IT HAD BEEN,
IT WOULD HAVE SAVED A LIFE.
THE POWERPOINT ATTACHED TO
TODAY'S HANGEN TODAY,
POWERPOINT THAT WILL ACCOMPANY
TODAY'S SEEMS ASPIRATIONAL AND
NOT BASED ON REALITY OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING WHEN POLICE ARE
CALLED TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE IN
CRISIS.
TO BE HONEST THAT DISCONNECT
MAKES ME FEEL SICK.
I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT OUR
CURRENT SYSTEM OF CRISIS
RESPONSE TO PEOPLE IN MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS IS WOEFULLY
INADEQUATE AND INCREASES HARM.
THAT'S MY FAMILY EXPERIENCE AND
THINKING ABOUT IT HAS REALLY
MADE ME FEEL ILL.
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEEN
HAPPENING WHEN SPD ENCOUNTERS
PEOPLE IN CRISIS WE NEED REAL
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY TO SHINE
A LIGHT ON THE PRACTICE.
GO TO SEATTLESTOP.ORG FOR MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT BILL ROBERTS IS SHOWING AS
NOT PRESENT.
WE'LL GO TO ELAINA LESSON.
>> HELLO.
I AM CALLING IN TO ADDRESS THE
PRESENTATION ABOUT THE CRISIS
RESPONSE BUT ALSO SPECIFICALLY
TO ADDRESS SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT POLICE CHIEF.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE ARE
YOUR TEXT MESSAGES?
YOU WERE ONE OF THE SEVERAL
INCLUDING SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF
AND HOW CAN WE TRUST ANYTHING
YOU SAY IN A MEETING LIKE THIS
WHEN YOU REPEATEDLY HAVE SHOWN
TO DELETE TEXT IN HIS SOME OF
THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENTS.
IN ADDITION I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THAT THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS INCREDIBLY
COMPLACENT WITH SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S BAD RESPONSE FOR
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AMOUNT OF TIMES DECLINED TO
RESPOND TO SOMEONE
EXPERIENCING, SOMEONE
UNCONSCIOUS OR SOMEONE
EXPERIENCING DRUG ISSUE HAS
DIRECTLY LED TO PART OF THE
REASON PEOPLE DON'T TRUST
CALLING 911.
IT'S REALLY CRITICAL AND LEADS
TO DEATH OF PEOPLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY FOR EVERYONE CALLING
ABOUT THE CRITICAL CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM PLAN AND
TRANSFERRING MONEY TO SEATTLE
CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND WITH
DEFUND SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR LAST SPEAKER WHO IS
INDICATING AS PRESENT IS A
PERSON WHO IS SIGNED IN AS
MERRIAM WITH NO LAST NAME.
MERRIAM.
>> HI.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6.
I AM CALLING TO URGE YOU TO
REDUCE OF SPD NOT ONLY IN OUR
CITY IN GENERAL BUT
SPECIFICALLY WHEN APPROACHING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CRISIS.
THE POWERPOINT THAT IS
CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE AGENDA
IS GREAT IN NATURE.
THAT WILL NEVER EVER HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY
RESOURCES WHEN APPROACHING
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AND IT
SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT BE GOING
THROUGH A VIOLENT RACIST POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THERE ARE AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF
DOCUMENTED CASES THROUGH OPA,
GENERAL POPULATION, WHERE WE
ARE WELL AWARE THAT SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT ABLE
TO HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS, NOT
EVEN THREE MONTHS AGO THEY
MURDERED DEREK HAYDEN WHO WAS
EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS.
OFFICERS ARE NOT TRAINED.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE RESPONDING
TO THESE CRISES.
WE DO HAVE THE FIRE CHIEF ON
THE AGENDA TODAY AND WOULD LOVE
TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE
TEXT MESSAGES.
NO ONE IN THIS COUNTY TRUSTS
YOU ANYMORE.
HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
TELL THE TRUTH.
ABOLISH SPD.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> OKAY.
WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S
PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WILL MOVE
INTO THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
AS MENTIONED, FIRST ITEM ON THE
AGENDA IS A CRISIS RESPONSE
CONTINUUM ROUND TABLE.
WE ARE JOINED BY THE FIRE CHIEF
HAROLD SCOGGINS AND JON
EHRENFELD.
WE ARE JOINED BY LIEUTENANT
PISCONSKI HEADING UP A SEPARATE
UNIT FROM THE REST OF SPD.
WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.
WE'LL HEAR FROM NEIL OLSON,
NICOLE DAVIS, MICHELLE MCDANIEL
FROM CRISIS CONNECTIONS.
TIARRA DEARBONE WITH PUBLIC
DEFENDER ASSOCIATION, BRANDI
FLOOD WITH REACH AND MAGGIE
HOST NICK WITH THE DOWNTOWN
EMERGENCY CENTER'S MOBILE
RESPONSE TEAM AND OF COURSE AMY
GORE WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
I WILL MAKE A FEW OPENING
REMARKS AND THEN I WILL HAND IT
TO CENTRAL STAFF.
FOLKS, UNDERSTAND THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, EVERYBODY WHO IS PART
OF THE EXISTING CRISIS RESPONSE
CONTINUUM AS WE ARE HEARING
ABOUT TODAY, THIS IS OUR
EXISTING CONTINUUM, HAS BEEN
ASKED TO ANSWER A COUPLE
QUESTIONS.
ONE, WHAT DO YOU DO BEST?
WHO DO YOU SERVE BEST?
WHAT WE ARE SEEKING TO DO IS
SEEKING TO HAVE DISCUSSION
ABOUT CURRENT CRISIS CONTINUUM
SO WE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT GAPS
WITHIN THAT CONTINUUM AND
CONTINUE THE COUNCIL'S WORK TO
THOSE GAPS.
I AM GOING TO IN MY OPENING
REMARKS DRAW LIBERALLY FROM AN
OCTOBER 20 ARTICLE FROM THE
CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS ON
THE COMMUNITY RESPONDER MODEL.
THE ARTICLE EXPLAINS THAT IN
CITIES ALL OVER U.S., POLICE
HAVE BEEN MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR
MUCH MORE THAN ENFORCING THE
LAW.
INCREASINGLY THEY'RE EXPECTED
TO SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IN THE
COMMUNITY FROM RESOLVING NOISE
COMPLAINTS, REVERSING
OVERDOSES, DEESCALATING
BEHAVIORAL CRISES.
YET THESE CAN RESULT IN
UNNECESSARY USES OF FORCE,
JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT,
OTHER ADVERSE OUTCOMES FOR
CIVILIANS AS WELL AS PUT A
STRAIN ON PUBLIC SAFETY
RESOURCES.
THE HARMFUL EFFECTS FROM
INTERACTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN FELT
EQUALLY BY ALL.
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE
EXPERIENCED HEAVY POLICE
PRESENCE, HIGH RATES OF ARREST,
HARSH ENFORCEMENT.
THE GROWTH HAS NEGATIVELY
AFFECTED PEOPLE WITH BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH DISORDERS AND
DISABILITIES WHOSE MEDICAL
CONDITIONS ARE TOO OFTEN
TREATED LIKE A CRIME.
ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATIONS OF CHIEFS OF
POLICE, THEY SAY MERE PRESENCE
OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE,
OFFICER IN UNIFORM AND/OR A
WEAPON, POTENTIAL TO ESCALATE A
SITUATION WHEN A PERSON IS IN
CRISIS.
EVER EXPANDING ROLE OF THE
POLICE HAS HAD NEGATIVE IMPACT
ON OFFICERS THEMSELVES, MANY OF
WHOM HAVE ATTESTED TO HAVING
TOO MUCH ON THEIR PLATE.
A QUOTE FROM A RETIRED MAJOR
NEIL FRANKLIN WHO SERVED AS
HEAD OF TRAINING FOR BALTIMORE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LIKE
QUOTES I HAVE OFFERED FROM
OTHER POLICE OFFICERS IN THE
PAST.
THIS ONE SAYS EVERY TIME 911
RECEIVES A CALL, IT IS
CURRENTLY JOB OF POLICE TO
RESPOND.
BUT MANY CALLS DON'T INVOLVE A
CRIME.
WHEN THEY DO, MANY OF THE
CRIMES ARE MINOR AND RELATED TO
QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES SUCH AS
HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH
DISORDERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
WE NEED TO STOP EXPECTING
POLICE TO DO SOCIAL WORK AND
SEND RIGHT TRAINED
PROFESSIONALS FOR LOW LEVEL
CRIMES AND NONCRIMINAL CALLS
FOR SERVICE.
THE INSURANCE IT I FUTURE OF
JUSTICE CONDUCTED IN DEPTH
ANALYSIS OF 911 DATA FROM FIVE
CITIES INCLUDING SEATTLE AND
FOUND NONEMERGENCY INCIDENTS
NATIONWIDE WERE MOST FREQUENT
TYPE OF CALL FOR SERVICE TO
911.
SHARE OF LOW PRIORITY NONURGENT
CALLS WAS 45% IN SEATTLE.
MEDIUM PRIORITY NONLIFE
THREATENING INCIDENTS COMPRISED
BASICS IN SEATTLE.
PRIORITY LIFE THREATENING
EMERGENCIES MADE UP SMALLEST
PORTION OF 911 CALLS IN
SEATTLE, 18%.
RELYING ON POLICE TO HANDLE LOW
LEVEL CALLS FOR SERVICE NOT
ONLY HAS CONSEQUENCES THAT I
NAMED EARLIER BUT IT ALSO CAN
RESULT IN NEGATIVE POLICE
INTERACTIONS THAT NOT ONLY
AFFECT RESIDENTS' HEALTH AND
WELL BEING BUT CAN ERODE PUBLIC
TRUST IN POLICING.
LOSS OF TRUST CAN HAVE SERIOUS
RAMIFICATIONS INCLUDING
REDUCTION IN LIKELIHOOD
RESIDENTS WILL REPORT CRIME TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT MAKING IT
HARDER FOR OFFICERS TO PREVENT
AND SOLVE CRIMES.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF WHO
CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
COUNCIL ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN
THAT HAVE SORT OF CREATED
FOUNDATION FOR THIS DISCUSSION
AS WELL AS SOME OTHER WORK THAT
THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
THANK YOU CHAIR HERBOLD FOR THE
INTRODUCTION.
MY NAME IS AMY GORE.
WE HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO
PROVIDE BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
FOR THE ROUND TABLE TODAY.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
EAGER TO HEAR FROM THE
PANELISTS SO I AM GOING THROUGH
THESE SLIDES QUICKLY BUT WE ARE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
THAT YOU HAVE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL
TO GROUND TODAY'S DISCUSSION IN
SOME OF THE RECENT ACTIONS
COUNCIL HAS TAKEN RELATED TO
SCALING UP ALTERNATIVES TO
ARMED POLICE RESPONSE.
AS YOU RECALL IN AUGUST 2020
COUNCIL PASSED RESOLUTION 31962
WHICH WAS BASED ON 2020
BLUEPRINT FOR POLICE DIVESTMENT
AND COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT FROM
DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND
EQUITY NOW.
RESOLUTION OUTLINED SEVERAL
ACTIONS COUNCIL INTENDED TO
PURSUE INCLUDING CREATING A NEW
CIVILIAN LED DEPARTMENT WITH A
BROADER APPROACH TO PUBLIC
SAFETY, REQUESTING THAT THE
CHIEF OF POLICE UNDER TAKE 911
CALL ANALYSIS, WORKING TO
DETERMINE ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES
THAT SHOULD BE DEPRIORITIZED
BASED ON DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES.
SHORTLY THERE AFTER MAYOR
ISSUED 202010 WHICH INCLUDED
ADDITIONAL STOPS TO ANALYZE AND
DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES TO CURRENT
POLICE RESPONSE SYSTEM.
IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION,
COUNCIL HAS TAKEN NUMBER OF
BUDGETARY ACTIONS RECENTLY TO
EXPAND THE NONSPD RESPONSE.
FOR EXAMPLE AS PART OF THE 2020
BUDGET REVISIONS COUNCIL
AUTHORIZED NONSPD REFERRALS TO
LEAD, FUNDED PROCESS FOR
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
INVOLVED IN NONSPD RESPONSE,
REQUESTED SPD CIVILIANIZATION
REPORT AND FUNDED SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE
WITH $4 MILLION AND ADDITIONAL
12 MILLION FOR CAPACITY
BUILDING FOR COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON
ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO
PUBLIC SAFETY.
IN THE 2021 BUDGET COUNCIL
PROVIDED FUNDING FOR EXPANSION
OF HEALTH 1, MADE INVESTMENTS
AND CRISIS CONNECTIONS AND
COMMUNITY RESPONDERS AS WELL AS
EXPANSION OF DESC MOBILE CRISIS
TEAM.
THE BUDGET CREATE NEW SAFE
THRIVING COMMUNITIES DIVISION
AT HSD AND INCLUDED OVER 28
MILLION FOR PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING AND 29.9 MILLION FOR
INVESTMENTS REPRESENTED BY
EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES
INITIATIVE TASK FORCE WHICH WE
JUST STARTED HEARING ABOUT AT
THE END OF LAST WEEK.
THERE ARE SEVERAL EFFORTS TO
BUILD OFF OF THE ACTIONS AND
INVESTMENTS AND PREPARE NEXT
STEPS.
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE ALL
WORKING ON ANALYZING 911 CALL
DATA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
DEMAND FOR SERVICES TO
DETERMINE WHAT TYPES OF
RESPONSES ARE NEEDED AND AT
WHAT SCALE.
IN ADDITION COUNCIL HAS UNDER
TAKEN CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
REALIGNMENT PROJECT WHICH YOU
WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT LATER IN
THIS MEETING.
COUNCIL CONTINUES TO WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS PARTICULARLY
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH
CRIMINAL LEGAL REALIGNMENT TASK
FORCE AND WHICH AS YOU ARE
AWARE WAS OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY
FOLKS BOTH CITY STAFF AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT NONPOLICE RESPONSE
MODELS USED IN COMMUNITIES
AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ALSO WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON DEBRIEFING
FROM THE SPRINT MEETINGS
THROUGH DEBRIEFS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
LEWIS.
THERE IS EXECUTIVE WORKING
GROUP WHICH MEETS TO DISCUSS
THE VARIOUS INITIATIVES AND
PROVIDE COORDINATION AND DATA
SUPPORT.
AS EFFORTS CONCLUDE NEXT STEPS
ARE TO REVIEW AND EXAMINE 911
CALL ANALYSES CURRENTLY
UNDERWAY.
THE SECOND, TO DETERMINE DEMAND
FOR CALLS THAT COULD BE
DIVERTED TO UNARMED RESPONSE.
TO IDENTIFY GAPS WITHIN THE
CURRENT SERVICE CONTINUUM AND
EXAMINE POTENTIAL LABOR OF
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES.
ALL THIS WILL HOPEFULLY LEAD TO
COORDINATED INVESTMENTS AND
ALTERNATIVES IN DEVELOPMENT OF
OPERATIONAL PROTOCOLS NEEDED TO
SUPPORT CONTINUUM OF SERVICES.
NEXT SLIDE.
MORE SPECIFICALLY NEXT STEPS
FOR COUNCIL INCLUDE
PRESENTATION FROM EXECUTIVE
WORKGROUP ON DATA ANALYSIS
UNDERWAY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
MADE PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE
ORDER 2020-10.
GREG AND I ARE PREPARING A MEMO
ON VARIOUS COMPONENTS INCLUDING
DATA ANALYSIS, BEGANS ANALYSIS,
POTENTIAL FOR COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER.
OUR GOAL IS FOR THIS TO BE
PRESENTED LATER IN THE SUMMER
SO COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE
INFORMATION AS THEY'RE
PREPARING TO MAKE INVESTMENT
DECISIONS AS PART OF THE 2022
BUDGET.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR BRIEF
OVERVIEW BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AMY.
WE WILL PAUSE TO SEE IF COUNCIL
MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS.
IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE
DISCUSSION.
WE WILL HEAR FROM DESC AND THEN
FROM LEAD AND THEN THE CRISIS
RESPONSE COMMUNITY AND HEALTH 1
AND THEN WE'LL WRAP UP WITH
CRISIS CONNECTION.
THE THING I MENTIONED, WE'VE
BEEN ASKING FOLKS TO FOCUS ON,
WHAT GAPS YOU SEE IN THE --
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN CRISIS
RESPONSE CONTINUUM?
WHAT CAN YOU DO BEST?
WHO DO YOU SERVE BEST?
THEN FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
WHAT GAPS DO YOU SEE IN CRISIS
RESPONSE CONTINUUM?
WE'LL HEAR A GO AROUND ON THE
FIRST QUESTION.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN CRISIS
RESPONSE CONTINUUM?
WHAT DO YOU DO BEST?
WHO DO YOU SERVE BEST?
THEN WE WILL GO AROUND AGAIN
AND ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION.
I WANT TO SAY FOR MY
PARTICIPATION IN THE WHAT WORKS
SPRINT EFFORT THAT MANY FOLKS
FROM THE COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
PARTICIPATING IN, AN ISSUE THAT
REALLY COMES TO FOR ME THAT OUR
FRIENDS AT REACH AND LEAD HAVE
BEEN REALLY DOING A GOOD JOB OF
BEING AT THE FOREFRONT IS THE
CONCERN THAT A 911 TRIGGERED
SYSTEM THAT HAS SOME CONCERN,
EVEN THAT TIME OF SYSTEM, AN
ARMED RESPONSE WILL BE SENT
DISPROPORTIONATELY TO PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
SIMILARLY THERE IS THE CONCERN
THAT IF WE HAVE A SYSTEM
OUTSIDE OF 911, THAT PEOPLE
WILL CALL FOR THE NONARMED
RESPONSE FOR PEOPLE IN MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS OR OTHER
NONCRIMINAL NEEDS
DISPROPORTIONATELY BENEFITING
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
SO THAT IS REALLY FOR ME A
QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT BUT
I KNOW WILL COME UP IN THE
THREAD THROUGH THE
PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
SO LET'S KICK IT OFF.
WHEN YOU ANSWER SORT OF THE
FIRST QUESTION, IF YOU CAN JUST
BE SURE THAT YOU STATE YOUR
NAME AND ORGANIZATION, THAT
WOULD BE GREAT.
QUESTION ONE, WHAT IS YOUR ROLE
IN CRISIS RESPONSE CONTINUUM?
WHAT DO YOU DO BEST?
WHO DO YOU SERVE BEST.
MAGGIE.
>> THANKS, LISA.
WHO DO WE SERVE?
WE SERVE FOLKS THAT ARE IN
CRISIS.
I HAVE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
DEFINE WHAT CRISIS IS VERSES
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EMERGENCY.
SO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS IS
A TURNING POINT OF A CONDITION
OR SITUATION SOMEBODY IS IN, A
TIME WHEN A DIFFERENT OR
IMPORTANT DECISION MUST BE
MADE.
SO SORT OF EVERYBODY IN THE
COUNTY THROUGH THE MOBILE
CRISIS TEAM AND WE WORK IN
COORDINATION WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AS REFERENT FIRE,
DESIGNATED RESPONDERS WHICH ARE
FOLKS THAT CAN TAKE RIGHTS AND
PUT FOLKS IN THE HOSPITAL.
CRISIS CONNECTIONS.
GET REFERS FROM INDIVIDUALS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, MAGGIE.
MOVING ONTO THE SECOND FOR
ANSWERING THAT FIRST QUESTION,
TIARRA DEARBONE AND BRANDI
FLOOD.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THERE ARE A COUPLE POINTS I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT OUR
ROLE IN THIS.
PROVIDE PAST FOR COMMUNITY
REFERRALS, WE HAVE BEEN
RESPONSE FOR MANY OF THE LOW
LEVEL LAW VIOLATION CONCERNS.
SO WE REALLY HAVE BEEN PUTTING
IN EFFORT TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH
BUSINESSES, WITH OTHER SOCIAL
SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO MAKE REFERRALS TO
THE PROGRAM FOR THINGS LIKE
SUBSTANCE USE, SEX WORK, LOW
LEVEL THEFT, THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS, DEFINITELY PROPERTY
CRIMES, THAT SHOULD HAVE
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE DOING
THIS WORK IF CAPACITY ALLOWS.
IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO
RESOURCES PREVENTS THE PEOPLE
FROM EVENTUALLY ENTERING CRISIS
IF THEY HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS
SUPPORTIVE OF THEM, THEY'RE
RECEIVING SERVICES NEEDED TO
MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND
PREVENTING THE NEED TO ENGAGE
IN LAW VIOLATIONS IN ORDER TO
SURVIVE.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ROLE HERE IS
THE COLLABORATION WITH ALL THE
OTHER AGENCIES.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY
SEE OURSELVES IN PRE AND POST
CRISIS.
IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
THAT PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED
IMMEDIATELY INTO LONGTERM CARE
THAT WILL FOLLOW AN INDIVIDUAL
PROVIDING THE CARE THAT THEY
ACTUALLY NEED TO MEET BASIC
NEEDS AND TO ADDRESS THAT SORT
OF BEHAVIOR WITHOUT USING
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
I AM GOING TO PASS TO BRANDIE
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO BEST
AND WHO WE SERVE.
REALLY AS SERVICE PROVIDER FOR
THE INDIVIDUALS, THAT'S THE
ROLE SHE'S IN CHARGE OF.
>> THANKS.
I AM DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
JUSTICE FOR REACH AND WE MANAGE
CLINICAL SIDE OF THE CONTRACT
WORKING WITH CASE MANAGERS
PROVIDING LONGTERM INTENSIVE
CASE MANAGEMENT TO THE CLIENTS
WE SERVE.
MY ROLE IS TO SHOW UP FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH A WIDE RANGE
OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES IN
THE INTERSECTION OF CRIME THERE
FOR THE FOLKS.
WHAT WE DO BEST IS SERVE PEOPLE
WITH SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA, PEOPLE
OF COLOR, BLACK FOLKS,
UNHOUSED, PEOPLE USING
SUBSTANCES, PEOPLE WHO JUST
BECAUSE THEIR TRAUMA AND MAKING
CRIMES OF POVERTY AND SUBSTANCE
USE, WE SHOW UP AT THE
INTERSECTION FOR THEM BECAUSE
EVEN WITH ALTERNATIVE LINE,
POLICE WILL STILL BE CALLED FOR
THE PEOPLE JUST BY THE POINT OF
VIEW AND BIAS OF THE CALLER AND
THE FACT THAT A CRIME IS
HAPPENING.
I THINK MISS THOMPSON SAID IT
BEST.
THE WOMAN WHO SHOWED UP
STEALING FOR FOOD, THOUGH IT IS
A CRIME OF POVERTY AND
SHOULDN'T BE A CRIME, IT IS
STILL A CRIME.
SO POLICE WILL SHOW UP IN THAT
INCIDENT.
WHAT WE DO BEST IS SHOW UP FOR
THE FOLKS AND SERVE THEM
LONGTERM.
EVERYTHING FROM CONNECTING
PEOPLE TO FAMILY, HELPING
PEOPLE NAVIGATE THROUGH
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
I KNOW WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM BUT I
CAN'T LEAVE THOSE PEOPLE BEHIND
AS THEY'RE TRYING TO REMOVE THE
BARRIER WHICH CAN BE DIFFICULT
WHEN YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT
TRAUMA, DIAGNOSED MENTAL
HEALTH.
WE ARE HELPING CONNECT PEOPLE
TO HOUSING.
OUR HOUSING SYSTEM IS NOT
GREAT.
THERE ARE REALLY NO OPTIONS BUT
WE WORK HARD TO MAKE
CONNECTIONS AND WORK THROUGH
ASSURANCES TO GET PEOPLE
HOUSED.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HAD
HOUSING BEFORE CONNECT TO
ROBUST SERVICES.
IF WE HAVE ROBUST SERVICES TO
MEET NEEDS OF FOLKS WE MIGHT
HAVE LESS CRIME IN COMMUNITIES
AND WE WOULD HAVE LESS POLICE
SURVEILLANCE AND POLICE POWER
IN COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM
LIEUTENANT ERIC PISCONSKI WITH
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
RESPONSE UNIT.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN THE CRISIS
CONTINUUM, I THINK ALL THREE
THAT SPOKE PREVIOUSLY DEFINED
WHAT OUR ROLE IS.
WE ARE THE SAFETY NET, CATCH
ALL.
THERE AREN'T RESOURCES THAT
PEOPLE CAN DIRECTLY CONNECT
WITH AND SO THE DEFAULT BECOMES
911.
THAT IS KIND OF OUR ROLE.
AS 911, WE DON'T HAVE THE
OPTION TO NOT GO.
SOMEONE CALLS 911 AND WE HAVE
TO RESPOND, EVEN IF AT THE
HEART OF THE MATTER WE
INHERENTLY KNOW THIS IS NOT A
POLICE ENGAGEMENT RESPONSE.
THIS IS NOT A CRIME OR IT IS
SUCH A LOW LEVEL OR AS POINTED
OUT, A CRIME OF POVERTY, WHAT
IS THE ACTION THAT WE ARE GOING
TO TAKE?
WE HAVE TO RESPOND REGARDLESS.
SO OUR ROLE IS CERTAINLY WITHIN
CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT AND
COUNCILMEMBER AS YOU ARE
POINTED OUT WE ARE SPECIALITY
UNIT WITHIN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
SO THERE ARE TWO CONVERSATIONS
THERE OF WHAT IS THE OVERALL
911 RESPONSE WHEN SOMEONE CALLS
AND PATROL OFFICERS ARE GOING
TO RESPOND TO CALL VERSES
CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT
SPECIFICALLY IN OUR ROLE, IN
OUR CAPACITY.
IT IS REALLY TO TRY AND TAKE
THAT HOLISTIC APPROACH, TRY AND
COME IN, STABILIZE AN ACUTE
SITUATION AND THEN MAKE
REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS
AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR MOST
APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND FOLLOW
UP.
NOT LOOKING FOR NECESSARILY A
CRIMINAL APPROACH TO IT OR A
LAW ENFORCEMENT APPROACH TO IT
BUT REALLY REDIRECTING FOLKS
BACK TO THE MORE APPROPRIATE
COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES OUT
THERE.
THAT'S DEFINITELY OUR ROLE AND
MISSION AS A UNIT, BROADER
WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE TRY AND BASE OUR TRAINING
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS OF
REALLY AMPLIFYING WHAT
COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE THAT
ARE OUT THERE AND UNDERSTANDING
WHAT OUR ROLE IS OF AGAIN THAT
DEFAULT.
PEOPLE CALL 911.
BUT WE ARE NOT CASE MANAGERS.
WE ARE NOT LONGTERM CARE
PROVIDERS.
WE ARE NOT ACUTE CARE PROVIDERS
FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING A VARIETY OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES WHICH
COULD BE MENTAL HEALTH OR
SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR ANYTHING
ALONG THAT SPECTRUM AND REALLY
TRYING TO LEVERAGE SERVICES
THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY
WHETHER CITY BASED OR COUNTY
BASED AND GO FROM THERE.
THAT'S OUR ROLE AND WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT.
WHAT DO WE DO BEST?
WHO DO WE SERVE BEST?
AS CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT, OUR
GOAL IS TO FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS
THAT ARE MAYBE DISPROPORTIONATE
UTILIZERS OF THE 911 SERVICES
TO SEE IF WE CAN AGAIN REDIRECT
THEM BACK TO MORE IMPORTANT
SERVICES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
REDUCE NUMBER OF PATROL
RESPONSES THAT MIGHT BE OUT.
IF THE 911 CALL COMES IN, IF WE
CAN REDUCE NUMBER OF 911 CALLS
ASSOCIATED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL,
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY THEY CAME
IN.
ABOUT YOU IF WE CAN REDUCE,
PATROL IS NOT RESPONDING TO
THOSE AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS
BETTER ENGAGED WITH THE
SERVICES, THAT'S NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY ALONG WITH THOSE THAT
ARE PRESENTING IMMINENT
LIKELIHOOD OF HARM.
THAT'S REALLY OUR FOCUS
ESPECIALLY AS CRISIS RESPONSE
UNIT.
IF YOU HAVE THAT INDIVIDUAL
THAT IS ACTIVELY SUICIDE AL,
ACTIVELY PUTTING THEMSELVES IN
A STATE OF HARM, HOW CAN WE TRY
AND STABILIZE THAT SITUATION
AND THEN AGAIN CONNECT THE
INDIVIDUAL BACK TO THE MOST
APPROPRIATE RESOURCES?
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT -- I APOLOGIZE THE WAY WE
HAVE LAID OUT THE QUESTIONS.
IT MAY NOT FEEL CONDUCIVE TO
SHOWING YOUR SLIDES.
MAGGIE YOU HAD A SLIDE AND
LIEUTENANT YOU HAD SOME SLIDES
AS WELL.
I KNOW FOR A COUPLE PERHAPS FOR
THE CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT AS
WELL AS MOBILE CRISIS TEAM, THE
DEPARTMENT PAIRS WITH MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS FROM DESC IN
THE INSTANCE OF THE CRISIS
RESPONSE UNIT, I BELIEVE.
AND THEN THERE IS ALSO A
REQUIREMENT FOR MOBILE CRISIS
TEAM TO BE DISPATCHED THROUGH
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IF YOU CAN MAYBE TOUCH A LITTLE
BIT ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE ARE VERY UNIQUE HERE IN
SEATTLE AND WITH CRISIS
RESPONSE UNIT, WE FOLLOW WHAT'S
CALLED A CORESPONDER MODEL.
THAT'S HOW WE DEPLOY.
THAT IS TAKING A MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL AND PUTTING THEM
IN A CAR WITH A SPECIALLY
TRAINED POLICE OFFICER.
WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND OUT TO
BOTH IN PROGRESS CALLS TON A
PATROL RESOURCE IN SUPPORT OF
THAT BECAUSE THE VOLUME OF
CRISIS CALLS THAT COME THROUGH
SEATTLE AND THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT ARE AROUND ABOUT
10,000 A YEAR.
OUR SMALL NICHE GROUP CANNOT
POSSIBLY RESPOND TO EVERY
SINGLE ONE.
WE TRY AND RESPOND TO ASSIST
PATROL WITH A MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL AND A POLICE
OFFICER AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE
OF THAT WOULD BE ALL THE
REPORTS THAT GET WRITTEN COME
THROUGH OUR UNIT.
THEN WE DO TRIAGE IN
CONJUNCTION WITH MHPs TO BE
ABLE TO DETERMINE IS THERE
VALUE ADDED?
IS THERE ADDITIONAL FOLLOW UP
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
REACHING TO CASE MANAGERS OR
SERVICE PROVIDERS, MAKING A
WARM HAND OFF.
ONE OF YOUR CLIENTS HAD
INTERACTIONS OVER THE WEEKEND
OR OVER THE LAST WEEK, MIGHT
WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM
BACK IN, MAYBE REENGAGE THEM
WITH THOSE SERVICES.
WE ARE TRYING TO HANDLE BOTH
ENDS OF THAT EQUATION WITHIN
OUR UNIT AND THEN YES WITH THE
ABILITY OF THE MOBILE CRISIS
TEAM IT IS A TREMENDOUS
RESOURCE WE HAVE AT OUR
DISPOSAL.
IT IS COUNTY WIDE.
BUT WE ARE SPOILED WITH SEATTLE
BEING THE SEAT THAT THEY ARE
DOWN THE STREET AND ARE LOCAL
FOR US.
WE HAVE HAD A STRONG
RELATIONSHIP WITH MAGGIE AND
HER GROUP AND DESC IN GENERAL
WHO OVERSEES MOBILE CRISIS TEAM
AND CRISIS SOLUTION CENTER,
CRISIS DIVERSION FACILITY, THAT
WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE DIRECT
REFERRALS IN THE FIELD.
ANY OFFICER CAN MAKE A DIRECT
REFERRAL IN THE FIELD TO THE
MOBILE CRISIS TEAM AND HAVE
THEM RESPOND OUT TO A CALL THAT
AN OFFICER DOES NOT NEED TO
ACTUALLY WAIT FOR.
IF AN OFFICER RESPONDS TO A
SITUATION, DETERMINES SOME TYPE
OF BROAD CRISIS ISSUE GOING ON,
THERE IS NO REAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT ROLE HERE.
OFFICERS CAN MAKE THE CALL FROM
THE FIELD TO MOBILE CRISIS TEAM
TO THE TUNE OF WE ARE IN THE
500, 600 A YEAR WHERE OFFICERS
ARE MAKING DIRECT REFERRALS TO
MOBILE CRISIS TEAM.
THEN FOLKS FROM MAGGIE'S TEAM
RESPOND TO THE FIELD AND
CONNECT THEM WITH A PLETHORA OF
SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
WE REMOVED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASPECT WHICH IS A GREAT OPTION.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE FIVE
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
FIVE FULL TIME OFFICERS, A
SERGEANT THAT OVER SEES THE
GROUP, THE MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS ARE CONTRACTED
THROUGH DESC AND THAT IS
MANAGED BY HUMAN SERVICES
DIVISION.
THERE IS A FIREWALLING BETWEEN
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MHPs SO
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN REPORTING.
THEY ARE EMPLOYEES OF DESC AND
THAT'S A CONTRACTED SPOT.
THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL FOR
APPROVING THAT FUNDING A COUPLE
YEARS AGO, A YEAR AND A HALF
AGO NOW.
SO THAT EXPANDED US TO THE FIVE
MHPs.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, MAGGIE DID
YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO
ADD HERE?
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND
OPPORTUNITY.
OUR MOBILE CRISIS TEAM LIKE
ERIC SAID ARE COMPRISED OF
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
ONCE WE GET THE CALL FROM FIRE,
POLICE, DCR, CRISIS
CONNECTIONS, WE SEND MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO ASSESS
FOR RISK.
RISK IS WHAT WE CONSIDER
EMERGENCY WHERE SOMEBODY IS NOT
ABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES OR
MAKE DECISIONS OR ARE A THREAT
TO THEMSELVES OR THE COMMUNITY.
OFTEN IN THESE CASES, WE WILL
WORK IN COORDINATION WITH THE
POLICE AND GET THEM TO THE
HOSPITAL WHERE THEY CAN BE
ASSESSED BY OUR DESIGNATED
CRISIS RESPONDERS.
UP TEN WHEN MOBILE CRISIS TEAM
DOES RESPOND, WE ARE SEEING
FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE CRISIS,
ARE NEEDING TO MAKE A DIFFERENT
DECISION IN THE MOMENT.
THESE MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES, TALK WITH
PEOPLE, GET THEM TO HIGHER
LEVEL OF CARE IF NEEDED.
ERIC REFERRED TO THE DIVERSION
FACILITY WHICH IS A 72 HOUR
STABILIZATION PROGRAM.
MOSTLY WHAT THE MOBILE CRISIS
TEAM DOES IS MOVE THE
INDIVIDUAL AWAY FROM THE FORMAL
INSTITUTION OF POLICING AND
FIRE DCRs AND INTO THE HANDS
OVER TIME TO OTHER OUTREACH
AGENCIES OR AGENCIES THAT CAN
PROVIDE LONGTERM CASE
MANAGEMENT CONNECTION BACK TO
COMMUNITY, FAMILY, ETC.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE I MOVE ON, I WANT TO --
CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG.
DESC MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM IS
FOCUSED ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT
REFERRAL WHERE THERE IS NOT A
NEED FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESPONSE WHEREAS CRISIS
RESPONSE UNIT IS FOCUSED ON
BRINGING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
EXPERTS TO INSTANCES WHERE
THERE IS A PERCEIVED THREAT TO
SELF OR OTHERS.
WE HEARD FOLKS IN PUBLIC
COMMENT REFER TO THE
UNFORTUNATE DEATH OF DEREK
HAYDEN AT THE HANDS OF POLICE
OFFICERS.
THAT WAS NOT A CRISIS RESPONSE
UNIT RESPONSE.
SOME OF THOSE OFFICERS MAY HAVE
CRISIS RESPONSE TRAINING.
SPD WORKS HARD TO ENSURE THAT
ITS OFFICERS HAVE CRISIS
TRAINING BUT THAT WAS NOT
CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT TRAINING.
AGAIN THIS EXERCISE TODAY IS
ABOUT OUR CONTINUUM AND WHERE
THERE ARE GAPS.
I KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS IN THE
COMMUNITY, WE RECENTLY HEARD
FROM MOTHERS FOR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY WHO HAVE A LOT
OF CONCERN THAT OUR CRISIS
RESPONSE UNIT RUN OUT OF SPD TO
RESPOND TO PEOPLE IN MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS WITH BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH EXPERTISE, THAT THAT
UNIT IS NOT FUNCTIONING IN THE
WAY IN VISION BECAUSE OF THE
STAFFING SHORTFALLS SPD IS
EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN
TALKING ABOUT A CONTINUUM, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT A CONTINUUM
THAT RESPONDS TO PEOPLE ACROSS
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT NEEDS AND
OTHER EFFORTS TO TRY TO GET
THAT RIGHT.
SO NEEDS DO NOT GO UNMET OR ARE
NOT MET WITH THE WRONG
RESPONSE.
LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE
QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES.
IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO HEALTH
1. SCOGGINS AND JON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
I AM PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
I OVERSEE OUR MIH PROGRAM WHICH
INCLUDES HEALTH 1 TEAM.
HEALTH 1 IS A MULTI
DISCIPLINARY FIELD OUT OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT STAFFS TWO
UNITS WITH SPECIALLY TRAINED
FIREFIGHTERS AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT CASE MANAGERS.
WE TAKE RESPONSES IN A NUMBER
OF WAYS.
WE ARE DIRECTLY DISPATCHED BY
911 CENTER ON MINOR INJURE
FALLS, WELFARE CHECKS.
WE RESPOND TO OPERATIONS IN THE
FIELD WHEN THEY IDENTIFY THE
NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE THAT'S NOT POLICE OR
FIRE DISPOSITION.
WE ALSO DO QUITE A BIT OF
PROACTIVE OUTREACH AND FOLLOW
UP WITH ESTABLISHED CLIENTS.
THERE ARE SORT OF THREE GENERAL
CATEGORIES CLIENTS FALL INTO IN
HEALTH 1. ONE IS PEOPLE AGING
IN PLACE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN SOME MANNER
OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OR
SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRISIS AND
THIRD IS PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM
THE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF
HOMELESSNESS OR EXTREME
POVERTY.
OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE VERY MUCH
OVERLAPPING CATEGORIES.
AS FAR AS BEHAVIORAL CRISIS
RESPONSE, WE PRIMARILY FOCUS ON
THE LOWER TO MID TIER OF THE
CRISES.
WE ARE NOT ABLE DUE TO STAFFING
TO INTERVENE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
VIALEN, POTENTIALLY VIAL EL
NINO, PSYCHOTIC, UNABLE TO
ENGAGE, TYPICALLY WE WOULD LET
POLICE UNITS TAKE A LEAD.
WE SEE LOWER LEVEL BEHAVIORAL
CRISIS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
INTOXICATION, DEPRESSION,
ANXIETY, EVERYTHING ON THAT
CONTINUUM.
I THINK WHAT WE DO WELL IS ACT
AS REFERS AND CONNECTORS WITH
OTHER RESOURCES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO
EMPHASIZE IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE
ENCOUNTERED WITH CRISIS IN THE
FIELD THESE ARE EXTREMELY
COMPLEX CASES.
IT IS RARE FOR THE INSTANCES TO
BE RESOLVED, FOR LACK OF A
BETTER WORD, VIA SINGLE
ENCOUNTER WHETHER THAT IS
POLICE, FIRE, OR COMMUNITY
GROUP.
THE INDIVIDUALS TYPICALLY NEED
A FAIR AMOUNT OF FOLLOW UP AND
REFERRAL, SHORT TERM CASE
MANAGEMENT, MAKING REFERRALS TO
PARTNERS SUCH AS CRISIS
CONNECTIONS, WASHINGTON STATE
LONGTERM CARE SYSTEM, DESC HOST
TEAM, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
HOMELESS SERVICES, ETC.
WE ACT AS BRIDGE AND
FACILITATOR.
WE ARE CITY WIDE, HAVE A
PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A
PARTICULAR NEED BY BEING UNDER
RESOURCED, UNDER REPRESENTED.
WE HAVE A HIGH CALL VOLUME AND
RESPOND WITH COMPASSIONATE
LENS.
WE SEE OURSELVES AS THE BRIDGE
BETWEEN INITIAL MOMENT OF
CRISIS THAT OFTEN BEGINS WITH
911 CALL AND BRIDGE TO OTHER
SERVICES.
WE ARE EXTREMELY OPEN-ENDED IN
OUR CAPACITY SO WE DON'T HAVE
TO TAKE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL.
WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE YOU TO A
PARTICULAR CLINIC.
ON EACH CALL THE CREW IS ABLE
TO TALK WITH THE CLIENT AND
COLLABORATIVELY COME UP WITH
THE BEST SOLUTION WHETHER IT'S
TAKING TO CRISIS SOLUTION
CENTER OR BACK HOME OR TO A
CLINIC OR REFER YOU TO A
PROGRAM.
THEY DO VERY OPEN-ENDED PROBLEM
SOLVING EACH TIME.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
MUCH LIKE FOCUS OF HEALTH ONE
NOT JUST ON CRISIS RESPONSE BUT
ALSO IN FOLLOW UP, I WANT TO
FLAG THAT ESC ALSO HAS A
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN FUNDED BY
COUNSEL I WILL.
I BELIEVE IT IS A PILOT AT THIS
POINT, BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE TEAM
THAT HAS BOTH TRIAGE AND HOT
LINE NUMBER.
THEY WORK ON NOT JUST
RESPONDING TO CRISIS BUT DOING
POST CRISIS WORK TO CREATE
LINKS IN THE COMMUNITY, BUILD
LONGTERM
HOUSING, CASE MANAGEMENT,
WANTING TO FLAG AS WELL THAT WE
HAVE IN THE CONTINUUM CITY
RESPONSE FOCUSED ON CRISIS
RESPONSE AND FOLLOW UP AS WELL
AS THE CITY RESPONSE AS WELL.
BRANDIE I BELIEVE YOU HAD A
QUESTION OR COMMENT.
>> I HAD ONE COMMENT.
I WANTED TO DEFINITELY STATE
THAT WE HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS
THE COMMUNITY HAS ABOUT CRISIS
RESPONSE.
FOR US THIS YEAR MORE THAN 80%
OF REFERRALS CAME FROM THE
COMMUNITY AND MEMBERS WHO SAID
THEY ARE COMMITTING CRIMES BUT
WE DON'T WANT TO CALL THE
POLICE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE CITY THAT HAVE CALLED US TO
DO OUR OWN SERVING PEOPLE
BEFORE POLICE ARE CONTACTED
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THOSE
CONCERNS.
THE WHOLE YEAR WE HAVE GOTTEN
MAYBE TWO POLICE REFERRALS BUT
THE MAJORITY COME FROM
COMMUNITIES.
WE DON'T GO IN TO SERVE FOLKS
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE GO WITH OUR OUTREACH WORK.
A LOT OF TIMES WE ALREADY KNOW
THE PEOPLE THROUGH HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM ALSO RECEIVING INQUIRIES
FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO
CALL 911.
I AM INCREASINGLY REFERRING
PEOPLE TO CRISIS CONNECTIONS.
WITH THAT, WE WILL TURN TO OUR
TEAM AT CRISIS CONNECTIONS TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
QUESTION OF WHAT YOUR ROLE IS
AND WHAT YOU DO BEST AND WHO
YOU SERVE BEST.
>> THANK YOU.
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL
OPERATIONS FOR CRISIS
CONNECTIONS.
CRISIS CONNECTIONS DOES QUITE A
BIT.
WE OPERATE AT A STATE LEVEL,
HAVE LINES AND SERVICES ACROSS
WASHINGTON STATE SUCH AS WARM
LINES FOR FOLKS WHO ARE LONELY,
DEPRESSED, ISOLATED.
IT IS STATEWIDE FOR TEENS IN
CRISIS OR WHO NEED EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT.
IT OPERATES WITH CHAT, WITH
PHONE CALLS, STAFFED BY TEENS
WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OR WHO
OFFER CONCERNS.
THE HELP LINE IS FOR FOLKS WITH
ADDICTIONS LOOKING FOR
RESOURCES.
AS FAR AS CRISIS INTERVENTION
THE PURPOSE OF THE
CONVERSATION, WE HAVE BEEN IN
OPERATION SINCE 1964 AS
REGIONAL CRISIS HOT LINE.
CRISIS CONNECTIONS KIND OF
OPERATES LIKE CENTER OF THE
CRISIS WEB.
WE GET CALLS FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT LOOKING FOR
INFORMATION.
WE GET CALLS FROM COMMUNE
MEMBERS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR
BROTHER, SCISSOR, LOVED ONES.
WE GET CALLS FROM FOLKS WANTING
TO SPEAK TO A TRAINED
VOLUNTEER.
WE GET CONTACTS FROM THE ENTIRE
CONTINUUM OF CARE.
WE OPERATE THAT HUB MODEL WITH
A REALLY ROBUST VOLUNTEER
MODEL.
CRISIS CONNECTIONS HAS ABOUT
330 TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE,
WORK, EAT, SLEEP IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THEY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME ON
THE CRISIS LINE.
OUR GOAL IS TO RESOLVE AT THE
LOWEST LEVEL POSSIBLE.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE
NEGATIVE INTERACTIONS WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
WE DON'T WANT TO CLOG THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM.
A LOT OF CALLS ARE HANDLED ON
THE PHONE WITH TRAINED
VOLUNTEER.
THERE IS NO POLICE DISPATCH, NO
MOBILE CRISIS TEAM DISPATCH.
WE ARE HANDLING CALLS WITH
COMPASSIONATE MOBILE SUPPORT.
WE HAD 8,000 CALLS LAST MONTH.
AVERAGE RESPONSE WAS 8 SECONDS.
WE ARE HERE 24/7.
WE WANT THE CALLS.
WE WANT TO SPEAK TO THOSE
FOLKS.
WE ARE ALTERNATIVE TO POLICE
RESPONSE, TO ARMED RESPONSE.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRIAGE
CALLS TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL
OF CARE.
WHETHER THAT'S LET'S GET THE
PERSON TO THE ER, GET AN
AMBULANCE, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
LET'S GET A SAFETY APPOINTMENT
THAT INVOLVES FRIENDS OR FAMILY
MEMBERS.
WE OPERATE UP AND DOWN THAT
RESPONSE SYSTEM.
WE DO QUITE A BIT OF PREVENTION
WORK.
WITH HE DO SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE
SUPPORT GROUPSGRIEF AND LOSS
FOR THOSE WHO SURVIVE SUICIDE.
WE ARE KNEE DEEP IN CRISIS AND
WANT TO SERVE THESE FOLKS.
WE WANT TO TALK TO THEM.
WE WANT TO HELP THEM.
I WILL LET NICOLE SPEAK DEEPER
INTO THE CRISIS SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
SHE DOES A LOT MORE OF THE DAY
TO DAY OPERATIONS.
>> I AM NICOLE DAVIS.
I RUN CRISIS LINES.
WE REALLY ARE A HUB OF
INFORMATION FOR PROVIDERS AND
LINKAGE.
WE HAVE CONNECTIONS INTO THE
SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, IF THEY HAVE A HISTORY
OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT.
IF SOMEBODY IS ENROLLED WE CAN
GET THEM CONNECTED TO CURRENT
PROVIDERS.
WE CAN CONNECT POLICE AND
MOBILE CRISIS TEAM THEIR
PROVIDERS FOR MORE CONTINUATION
OF CARE, BETTER RESPONSE BY
PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEM.
WE HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
WITH DESIGNATED CRISIS
RESPONDERS, MOBILE CRISIS TEAM.
WE MANAGE LINKAGE FOR THEM
ACROSS THE STATE AND STRONGLY
IN THE COUNTY FOR MANY YEARS.
WE HAVE THE COUNTRY TO OVER THE
LAST YEAR AND A HALF TO HAVE A
PROJECT CALLED ONE CALL WHICH
IS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, TO BE
ABLE TO CALL AND GET THE
RELEVANT INFORMATION, IF
SOMEBODY HAS BEEN IN THE SYSTEM
BEFORE.
IT'S ANSWERED 24 HOURS A DAY BY
A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN.
WE OFFER PROBLEM SOLVING,
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW FIRST
RESPONDERS CAN POTENTIALLY HAVE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS
THEY'RE FACING SOMEBODY IN THE
COMMUNITY WHO IS EXPERIENCING
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.
IT'S A REALLY GREAT SYSTEM WITH
VOLUNTEERS WHO COME IN
ENERGIZED AND READY TO OFFER
CALLERS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND
OF COURSE MONITORED BY A SET OF
REALLY COMMITTED STAFF TO
MAKING SURE EVERYBODY GETS
LINKED AND CONNECTED TO
SERVICES THAT THEY ARE NEEDING.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S DO ANOTHER ROUND OF
DISCUSSION AROUND THE SECOND
QUESTION WE HAVE HERE.
OPENING IT UP TO ASK WHAT GAPS
YOU SEE IN THE CRISIS RESPONSE
CONTINUUM, WHETHER OR NOT THERE
ARE POPULATIONS NOT WELL
SERVED, WHAT RACIAL EQUITY
CONCERNS FOLKS HAVE, GAPS IN
SCALE, PATIENT ISSUES THAT NEED
TO BE RESOLVED, COORDINATION
DISPATCH OR ANYTHING ELSE I MAY
NOT HAVE FLAGGED HERE AS A GAP
THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER
TO ADDRESS.
WE CAN START AGAIN WITH MAGGIE.
>> THANK YOU.
IN OUR CONTINUUM, WE SEE PEOPLE
ON THE WORST DAY OF THEIR LIVES
AND GET THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED
TO GO.
WE MOVE THEM DOWN THE CONTINUUM
OF CRISIS INTO OUTREACH AND ONE
OF THE MAJOR GAPS IS
COORDINATION BETWEEN THIS
SYSTEM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
ALL COORDINATING OUR SERVICES
AND DOING SOFT HAND OFFS, THAT
KIND OF THING.
SO THAT IS A GREAT NEED.
THE OTHER IS MAKING SURE THAT
INDIVIDUALS ARE GETTING TO
THEIR COMMUNITIES, THAT THEY'RE
BEING SERVED BY PEOPLE THAT
LOOK LIKE THEM, THAT VALUE
THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR
BELIEFS.
WE CERTAINLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH
PROGRAMS TO SERVE EVERYBODY
THAT HITS THE CRISIS SYSTEM.
BETWEEN THE MOBILE CRISIS TEAM
AND CRISIS DIVERSION FACILITY,
WE SEE ABOUT 4,000 CALLS A YEAR
AND SINCE STARTING, WE HAVE
SEEN 28,000 PEOPLE WE HAVE MADE
CONTACT WITH.
SOME OF THE FOLKS ARE COMING
THROUGH THE SYSTEM TIME AND
TIME AGAIN WHICH SPEAKS TO,
PART OF IT IS RELATIONSHIP AND
PART OF IT IS SOMEBODY NEEDS TO
HAVE A COUPLE HITTING THE
CRISIS SYSTEM A COUPLE TIMES.
BEING ABLE TO HAND THEM TO
AGENCY PARTNERS THAT ARE
CULTURALLY COMPETENT THAT HONOR
SOMEBODY'S RECOVERY THROUGH
HARM REDUCTION, TRAUMA INFORMED
CARE AND STRENGTH BASED.
>> THANK YOU.
LEAD AND REACH.
BRANDIE.
>> THANK YOU.
I KNOW IT MAY LOOK LIKE THERE
ARE A LOT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS
AND A LOT OF ALTERNATIVES TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT
THERE IS A LOT OF FOCUS ON
TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO
RESPOND FOR THINGS THAT ARE NOT
CRIMES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS
BEEN RESPONDING TO, WHICH IS
GREAT.
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE
ARE AT THE INTERSECTION OF
CRIME AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OR
POVERTY.
SO OUR FOCUS REALLY IS ON
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IMPACT THE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF ENGAGING
IN LAW VIOLATIONS, USUALLY A
GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
INVISIBLE OR PUSHED INTO
MARGINS, INDIVIDUALS NOT
CONNECTED TYPICALLY TO
SERVICES, INDIVIDUALS
CONTINUALLY CRIMINALIZED OVER
AND OVER BECAUSE OF
EXPERIENCING POVERTY.
THE LONGTERM CASE MANAGEMENT
REALLY IS IMPORTANT HERE
BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY NEED TO
BUILD WHAT HAPPENS UP FRONT,
LIKE WHAT IS THE RESPONSE, BUT
HOW IS THAT PERSON TAKEN CARE
OF IN THE FUTURE?
HOW IS THE PERSON'S REAL NEEDS
ADDRESSED?
HOW ARE CRONIC CONDITIONS
ADDRESSED?
SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCING INCARCERATION OVER
AND OVER FOR 20, 30, 40 YEARS.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR
DECADES, EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER, UNMET BEHAVIORAL
NEEDS FOR YEARS AND NEED
LONGTERM INTENSIVE CARE TO
PREVENT CRISES FROM COMING UP
AGAIN FOR THE SAME INDIVIDUAL
AND IN ORDER TO PREVENT PEOPLE
FROM CALLING 911 ON THE
INDIVIDUALS.
WE FINALLY ALSO HAVE A
COMMUNITY THAT HAS INCREASED
DESIRE IN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
TO CRIME.
LIKE WE HAVE BUSINESSES, HAVE
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE INDIVIDUALS
TRYING TO ASK US TO RESPOND FOR
CRIME.
THEY'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
FINALLY WANT AN ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE, WANT TO LEAN TO THOSE
KIND OF RESPONSES.
WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
DO IT.
IT'S NEVER BEEN TO SCALE THE
WAY IT NEEDS TO BE AND NOW WE
HAVE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH AND
DESIRE FOR LEAD RESPONSE AND
LEAD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO
EXPAND LIKE THAT.
IT IS SAD TO BE IN THE WORK AND
SEEING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO
BELIEVE IN A RESPONSE THAT WE
HAVE BELIEVED IN FOR SO LONG
AND PEOPLE FINALLY WANT TO USE
IT AND WE ARE STARTING TO TURN
PEOPLE AWAY OR STARTING TO HAVE
TO SAY NO OR HAVING TO REALLY
PRIORITIZE ACCEPTING ONLY A
SMALL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S SAD AND EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT WORK.
THIS IS EVEN AFTER THE COUNCIL'S
2019 SLIDE TO BRING LEAD TO
SCALE BY 2023.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE AFTER THE PAST YEAR,
BRINGING LEAD TO SCALE.
BUT THERE IS EXTREMELY
INCREASED DEMAND AND NOT ENOUGH
RESOURCES TO MEET THAT DEMAND.
I WILL PASS IT TO BRANDIE.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GAPS,
WE KNOW FOR SURE IN AMERICA
THAT THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A
VICIOUS THING THAT'S IMPACTED
MANY PEOPLE.
IN MY OWN LIVING EXPERIENCE I
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED WITH FAMILY
AND LOVED ONES.
WE ARE DEALING WITH THAT
AFTERMATH.
PEOPLE WILL BE DEALING WITH
THAT FOR 20 YEARS.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A ONE TIME
CRISIS STOP.
IT HAS TO BE LONGTERM CASE
MANAGEMENT.
WE KNOW THE PEOPLE ARE NOT
PRIORITIZED FOR HOUSING AT THE
RIGHT RATE, THE LEGAL STUFF,
WITH EVEN GETTING SERVICES.
I AM PARTICULARLY TALKING ABOUT
BLACK FOLKS.
THEY DON'T EVEN FIT INTO GAPS
OF OTHER HOMELESS AND
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS TO GET HELP.
THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN GET HELP
IS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION
WHERE CRIME IS HAPPENING ABOUT
YOU IS RACIST IN ITSELF.
WE ARE WITH THEM FOR THAT
LONGTERM.
WE NEED TO BE TAKEN TO SCALE,
TO BE IN MORE COMMUNITIES,
DISCUSSING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
DO THIS COMMUNITY REFERRAL IN A
REAL WAY FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.
WE HAVE TO DO THIS.
EVEN THOUGH AS A COUNTRY WE
RECOGNIZE HOW THE WAR ON DRUGS
HAS BEEN RACIST WE HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO RECTIFY THAT WITH
GIVING ROBUST SERVICES TO BE
SUSTAINABLE AND REINTEGRATE.
WHEN I SEE THAT GAP YOU HAVE TO
HAVE THE OVER LAY OF ANALYSIS,
LONGTERM SERVICES, SERVICES
THAT CONNECT THEM TO
SUSTAINABLE THINGS LIKE
HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH,
HEALTHCARE, LEGAL SYSTEM.
THAT HAS TO BE BEYOND CRISIS
RESPONSE.
>> THANKS.
LIEUTENANT.
>> YEAH.
A LOT OF REALLY POIGNANT THINGS
BROUGHT UP BY THE PREVIOUS
THREE.
WE SEE A LOT OF THOSE SAME
ISSUES THAT WE ARE
ENCOUNTERING.
SCALE IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE.
AS I HAD MENTIONED, AT THE
CURRENT RATE, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN 10,000
CRISIS CALLS A YEAR THAT WE ARE
RESPONDING TO.
THE MATH WORKS OUT TO ABOUT 26
A DAY.
WE HAVE FIVE TEAMS.
THERE IS JUST NO WAY TO
APPROPRIATELY RESPOND WITH THAT
CAPACITY, TO BE OUT THERE ON A
24/7 BASIS.
WE ARE MANAGING THAT WITH
SMOKING MIRRORS, WITH A LOT OF
JUST DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH
THE RESOURCES THAT WE'VE GOT.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING, EVEN WITH
THOSE FIVE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING
SHORT STAFFING ISSUES NOW AS
WELL.
WE ARE NOT EVEN AT OUR FULL
CAPACITY OF WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE.
SOME GAPS THERE.
IF THERE WANTS TO BE SOME
APPROACH IN APPLYING THAT.
I WAS JOTTING SOME NOTES DOWN.
WITH THE ALTERNATIVES AND
HAVING NONPOLICE RESPONSES TO A
LOT OF THE TYPES OF CALLS, WE
ACTUALLY SEE A HIGH PERCENTAGE
OF CRISIS CALLS THAT GET
GENERATED FOR THE DEPARTMENT
THAT BECOME 911 CALLS ARE
COMING FROM THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS SHELVES.
WHETHER THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING FACILITIES, VARIOUS
CASE MANAGERS, FACILITIES THAT
MIGHT BE OFFERING SERVICES,
STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE EXTREMELY LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF CRISIS CALLS THAT
ARE BEING GENERATED BY SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
THAT REALLY PUTS THINGS IN A
QUANDARY BECAUSE IF THE
QUESTION IS HOW DO WE NOT HAVE
POLICE RESPOND AND INSTEAD WE
HAVE ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS GIVING THAT RESPONSE?
BUT THEY'RE THE ONES CALLING
911 NOW TO COME AND CONNECT
WITH THEIR CLIENTELE.
SO WE KIND OF GET INTO A
CIRCULAR CONVERSATION THERE A
LITTLE BIT, EXCUSE ME, OF WHAT
THE RESPONSE IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE AS A WHOLE FROM THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT.
AS A DEPARTMENT, AS SOME OF YOU
ARE AWARE, SOME OF YOU MIGHT
NOT BE, WE ACTUALLY TRACK --
EXCUSE ME.
I HAD TO TRY AND CLEAR MY
THROAT.
WE TRACK CRISIS INTERACTIONS.
IN THERE WE HAVE A LOT OF CHECK
BOXES THAT ARE RELATED TO
EVERYTHING FROM THE OBSERVABLE
WORDS, ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS OF
THE INDIVIDUAL, SO A AN OFFICER
MIGHT BE ENCOUNTERING.
THEN TO THE CLOSING END OF WHAT
THOSE DISPOSITIONS ARE.
SO WAS IT A REFERRAL TO
SERVICES?
WAS IT INVOLUNTARY OR VOLUNTARY
TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL?
WAS IT AN ARREST?
WHAT ARE THOSE POSSIBLE
DISPOSITIONS THERE?
NOW WE ARE SIX PLUS YEARS INTO
TRACKING THAT SO WE ARE CLOSING
IN ON 60,000 CRISIS TEMPLATES
THAT WE HAVE DATA ASSOCIATED
WITH AND WE TRACK AT A LESS
THAN 10% ARREST RATE.
SO FAR ALL OF THE CRISIS CALLS
OCCURRING, WE ARE IN THE NINISH
PERCENTAGE OF THOSE ENCOUNTERS
THAT END IN ARREST.
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR
ALTERNATIVES AND NOT TAKING A
TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESPONSE TO INDIVIDUAL
EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ISSUES BUT TRYING TO RECONNECT
THEM TO THOSE OTHER SERVICES.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, ACCESSES,
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS AND
STAKEHOLDERS OUT THERE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER THE AMOUNT OF
TRAINING OR BODIES THAT WE GET,
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PARTNERS
TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT FOLKS
BACK
TO, YOU GET TRADITIONAL
RESPONSE OF TAKE SOMEONE TO THE
HOSPITAL, TAKE THEM TO JAIL, OR
WALK AWAY.
THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL, BEING ABLE TO
CONNECT THEM BACK TO SERVICES.
WE CAN'T HAVE SUCCESS UNLESS WE
HAVE TREMENDOUS PARTNERS THAT
MANY OF THEM HERE ARE JOINING
US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
FOLKS FROM HEALTH 1.
>> SURE.
I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT
TIARRA, BRANDI, AND THE
LIEUTENANT SAID.
I THINK I WOULD FLOAT THIS ON
TWO.
THE FIRST IS LIKE WITH RESOURCE
CONNECTIONS, PARTICULARLY WHAT
ARE BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATIONS,
WHERE CAN WE TAKE SOMEONE
THAT'S NOT JAIL, ED.
WHAT COMES TO MIND IS THE
CRISIS SOLUTION CENTER BUT
OBVIOUSLY THEIR CAPACITY IS
LIMITED.
WE WOULD LIKE MORE RESOURCES
LIKE THAT AND PARTICULARLY MORE
WALK IN PRIMARY CARE AND URGENT
CARE CLINICS THAT OPERATE ON
FQHC MODEL WHERE THEY TAKE ANY
PATIENT REGARDLESS OF ABILITY
TO PAY.
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US NO YOU
TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH
COMPOUNDING MEDICAL RESOURCES.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS HAVE
NO AVAILABILITY.
WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
FOR DESC'S NEW CLINIC THEY'RE
OPENING.
WE REALLY I THINK NEED MORE OF
THAT.
DAY CENTERS, PSYCHIATRIC URGENT
CARE FACILITIES, ANYTHING WHERE
WE CAN GET WRAP AROUND HOLISTIC
CARE, THE OTHER ONE, STARTING
TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE A
911 OR NEXT YEAR 988 DISPATCH
ABLE CIVILIAN FOR QUALITY OF
LIFE ISSUES, FOR THINGS WHERE
WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED SPD
PATROL UNIT OR SFD FIRE TRUCK
TO COME.
I THINK WE HAVE SEEN CLEARLY
THAT THE MODEL IS DO-ABLE.
I DON'T THINK IT IS
THEORETICAL.
I THINK IT CAN BE DONE SAFELY
AND EFFECTIVELY AND YOU GET A
CONTINUUM OF CARE BASICALLY
STARTING WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS THROUGH FIRE, POLICE,
RESPONDER MODELS.
I THINK FROM WHAT WE HAVE HEARD
ON OUR END, THERE IS QUITE A
BIT OF INTEREST IN THAT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
I THINK THE REALLY EXCITING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESOURCES
SUCH AS LEAD, DESC, REACH AND
PERHAPS MORE LOCAL GEOGRAPHIC
RESOURCES BEFORE YOU EVEN GET
TO THE UNIFORMS OF POLICE AND
FIRE.
I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY
ASPIRATIONAL BUT I WOULD
CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE THAT AT
SOME POINT IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SEGWAY TO
CRISIS CONNECTIONS.
MAYBE YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF 988.
I WANT TO AGAIN, FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC, BECAUSE OF THE
GAPS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT
NOW, IF SOMEBODY IN THE PUBLIC
WANTS TO CALL SOMEBODY AND
WANTS TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT
A UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER IS
NOT GOING TO COME BECAUSE THERE
IS NO GUARANTEE HEALTH ONE WILL
BE ABLE TO GO, UNLESS IT IS
FLAGGED IN A PARTICULAR WAY
THAT RESULTS IN 911 SENDING
HEALTH ONE.
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT
CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT WITH
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IS
GOING TO GO BECAUSE OF THE
CAPACITY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE
HEARD FROM LIEUTENANT
PISCONSKI.
FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO CALL
SOMEBODY AND BE GUARANTEED
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET A
RESPONSE OF POLICE OFFICERS
RIGHTS NOW CRISIS CONNECTIONS
IS WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.
SO THAT'S WHY I AM ALSO EXCITED
TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
HOW THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO GROW
WITH 988.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE
IMPRESSION THAT BECAUSE WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT CRISIS RESPONSE
SYSTEMS THAT -- THE FOUNDATION
OF THE CONVERSATION IS ABOUT
THE GAPS, WHAT'S MISSING.
THE ARTICLE THAT I READ FROM
EARLIER SAID IN THEIR ANALYSIS,
AND THIS IS JUST 911 CALLS,
DOESN'T COUNT INSTANCES WHERE
911 ISN'T CALLED, BUT IN
ANALYSIS OF 911 CALLS, 38%
COULD BENEFIT FROM ALTERNATIVE
COMMUNITY RESPONSE.
AGAIN, THAT SAYS TO ME THAT
THERE IS A LOT OF GROWING THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE SYSTEM.
>> 988 IS A VERY LARGE TOPIC.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WILL
ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION.
WERE DO WE SEE THE GAPS?
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ONE
CALLED PILOT TAUGHT US IS THERE
IS ROOM FOR CRISIS CONNECTION
WORKING CLOSE WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
WE FOUND THAT TO BE EFFECTIVE.
WE THINK WE CAN DO MORE.
WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT FUNDING
FOR THE PROGRAM RUNNING OUT AND
MAKING SURE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS
THIS AS RESOURCE, THAT THEY
KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
US AND HOW TO INTERACT WITH
FOLKS WITH A BEHAVIORAL OR
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
WE WANT KIND, COMPASSIONATE,
ACCURATE RESPONSE.
WE DON'T EXPECT COPS TO BE
SOCIAL WORKERS OR EXPECT SOCIAL
WORKERS TO BE COPS.
THERE IS A BRIDGE WHERE WE CAN
HELP NAVIGATE THOSE BETTER AND
I THINK ONE CALL IS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY.
IN RELATION TO 988, ONE OF THE
THINGS CRISIS CONNECTIONS DOES
THAT I DIDN'T TOUCH ON EARLIER
IS WE ARE A LIFE LINE CENTER.
THERE IS NATIONAL SUICIDE
PREVENTION LIFE LINE.
IT'S A 1-800 NUMBER.
THAT COMES DOWN TO LOCAL
CONTACT.
CRISIS CONNECTION IS ONE.
WE ANTICIPATE WE WILL CONTINUE
TO BE IN THE NETWORK OF
PROVIDERS LONGTERM.
988 IS THE TRANSITION FROM THE
1-800 NUMBER TO A THREE DIGIT
NUMBER.
IT'S FEDERAL LAW AND WILL BE
OUT IN JULY OF 2022.
ABOUT 400 DAYS UNTIL THIS GOES
LIVE.
THE LEGISLATURE ALSO PASSED A
BILL 1477 THAT PUTS FUNDING
INTO THE SYSTEM.
THANK YOU TO ANYONE WHO
ADVOCATED ON THAT.
GREAT JOB.
IT WILL HELP WITH INCREASING
COMMUNITY RESPONSE SIDE OF
THINGS WITH MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS
AND WILL MORE FUNDING INTO THE
SYSTEM FOR CONTACTS AND THEIR
HUBS.
ONE WILL LIKELY BE CRISIS
CONNECTIONS.
IT WILL ENABLE BED TRACKING.
IT WILL ENABLE TRACKING LIVE OF
MOBILE CRISIS TO COMMUNITIES SO
WE CAN GET THEM DISPATCHED TO
MOST APPROPRIATE LOCAL CRISIS
TEAM OUT THERE.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF
SYSTEM UPGRADES, A LOT OF
UPGRADES TO TECHNOLOGY,
INCREASES TO STAFF, TRYING TO
BUILD A SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED
IN A WAY TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF
911 SYSTEM AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH RESPONSE SYSTEM.
OUR LIFE LINE CONTRACT HAS BEEN
FUNDED ABOUT $1,500 A YEAR
WHICH IS JUST, YOU CAN'T
OPERATE ON THAT.
THAT'S NOT A LIFE LINE'S FAULT.
THERE JUST WASN'T FUNDING IN
THE SYSTEM.
THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AND WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SCOPE OF
WORK SO WE CAN RESPOND TO
ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.
>> THANK YOU, NEIL.
LOOKING AT THE PANEL INCLUDING
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE THERE
QUESTIONS WE WANT TO ASK OF
PANELISTS?
ARE THERE CLOSING THOUGHTS
PANELISTS WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE TOUCH UPON?
AGAIN, THIS IS A REALLY BIG
CONVERSATION.
I AM REALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT
WE HAVE THE TIME TODAY BUT I
THINK IT IS ONE OF MANY
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE HAVING BEFORE WE GET
RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM
THE EXECUTIVE WORK.
>> I DID HAVE ONE THING TO ADD
THAT I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH.
IN CREATING ALTERNATIVE LINE,
IF WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THE
NUANCE OF CRIME AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH, IT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL
TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IN
PARTICULAR BLACK COMMUNITIES.
IF I DON'T LAY ANYTHING ELSE
DOWN FOR PEOPLE TO PAY
ATTENTION TO, HOW WE ARE GOING
TO SERVE THE POPULATION THAT
ARE COMMITTING CRIMES,
SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE DEALT
WITH A HEAVY HAND.
>> THANK YOU, BRANDIE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH
US.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS IS A
SURPRISE.
WE KNOW ACROSS THE CITY WE'VE
GOT A LOT OF NEED.
I WANT TO RESPOND TO WHAT
TIARRA AND BRANDIE WERE SAYING.
I HAVE CALLED LEAD OFTEN TO
COME TO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS
IN MY DISTRICT.
CONSTITUENTS ACROSS SOUTH
SEATTLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
SUPPORT.
THEY DON'T WANT TO CALL THE
POLICE BUT THERE ARE MORE AND
MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGAGING IN
DRUGS.
WE FIND BULLETS UNDER MOUNT
BAKER LIGHT RAIL STATION.
WE KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF
CHALLENGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE.
AND THE REALITY IS THAT THESE
PROVIDERS ARE TAPPED OUT.
TIARRA WAS KIND ENOUGH TO MEET
WITH SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS
IN THE AREA BUT ALSO HAD TO SAY
WE JUST CAN'T COME BACK TO
PROVIDE THE KIND OF SERVICE WE
WOULD LIKE TO DO.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS, AS SOMEBODY
WAS SAYING, CONTINUUM OF CARE
IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO GET MORE
HOUSING IN PLACE BUT ALSO KNOW
THAT PEOPLE NEED HELP
DESPERATELY AND I THINK AS A
CITY, IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED
SO OUR NEIGHBORS ARE CARED FOR,
WHETHER IT IS FROM THEIR OWN
PRIVATE MEDICAL PROVIDER OR
FROM EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PROVIDERS LIKE YOU FOLKS.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I JUST WANT TO SAY WE HEAR YOU
AND KNOW THAT YOU NEED MORE
SUPPORT IN ORDER TO DO YOUR
WORK BETTER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE ARE
HAVING IT, BE IT IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE, SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS, ALL
ROADS LEAD TO SOME OF THE SAME
SYSTEMS ANALYSES, QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO FLAG, NOT A QUESTION,
JUST A COMMENT ON OUR
CONVERSATION TODAY FOR
STRATEGIC PLANNING GOING
FORWARD AND HOW WE BUILD AND
DESIGN A NEW SYSTEM TO
ACCOMMODATE THE NEED THAT WE
SEE WHEN WE ARE OUT IN THE CITY
AND FROM THE CONSTITUENTS THAT
WE HEAR FROM AS COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THAT WE NEED TO THINK
OF PROACTIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING
WORK THAT LEAD HAS BEEN DOING
AS A LEG OF THE STOOL OF OUR
OVERALL SYSTEM OF PUBLIC
SAFETY.
I THINK HISTORICALLY THERE HAS
BEEN THIS TENDENCY TO REALLY
SORT OF LIMIT IT.
THERE IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS THE POLICE.
THERE ARE HOSPITALS.
THEN THINGS LIKE LEAD ARE THESE
PERIPHERAL SORT OF NICHE PLANS
ON THE SIDE LINES OF SOME OF
THESE SYSTEMS.
WHAT'S CLEAR HERE TO BUILD ON
THE WORK THAT COUNCIL HAS
CHARTED OUT IS LEAD SHOULD BE
RESOURCED AND PLANNED AROUND AS
FULL LEG OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
CHAIR, STOOL, WHATEVER ANALOGY
YOU WANT TO USE.
IT IS INDISPENSABLE,
INDEPENDENT, PROACTIVE
COMPONENT OF THIS WORK THAT
CAUSES A LOT OF DOWNSTREAM
BENEFITS WHEN IT IS ADEQUATELY
SCALED AND RESOURCED.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO
MAKING THAT OR CONTINUING WORK
AS A COUNCIL TO BUILD THAT AS A
STANDING BUDGET PRIORITY.
FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM
PROVIDER PARTNERS THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WILL BE OUTCOME
DETERMINE TOUCH FOR CAPACITY
BUILDING AND FOR GETTING
THROUGH THE CONSTANT REFRAIN WE
HAVE HEARD WHICH IS IF WE HAVE
TO SCRAMBLE FOR OUR MONEY EVERY
BUDGET CYCLE EVERY SINGLE YEAR,
WE CAN'T FOCUS ON WORK AND
FOCUS ON BUILDING CAPACITY.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE
INVESTING IN TO BE SURE THAT
THAT LEG OF THE STOOL ISN'T
WOBBLY, THAT IT IS STRONG, THAT
WE CAN DEPEND ON IT AND THAT IT
WILL HAVE BENEFITS FOR ALL THE
OTHER ACTORS DOING EMERGENCY
RESPONSE BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST
RESPONDING TO LESS NEED IN THE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE DEALT
WITH IT UP STREAM IN A
PROACTIVE CULTURALLY COMPETENT
WAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT
EVERYONE SHARED TODAY AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORK
TO MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
YES, THIS IS PART OF AN ONGOING
DISCUSSION.
I THINK FOUNDATIONAL TO THE
DISCUSSION AS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS SAID IS TO CONSIDER THE
FOLKS WE HAVE HERE AS PARTS OF
CONTINUUM, AS PART OF A
CONTINUUM THAT WE NEED TO
ADEQUATELY RESOURCE IN ORDER TO
ADJUST THE NEEDS BUT ALSO IN
ADEQUATELY LOOKING AT WAYS TO
OPERATIONALIZE WHAT WE ARE
RESOURCING IN A WAY THAT
ADDRESSES GATESSEST NEEDS OF
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN POORLY
SERVED BY THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING
WITH US TODAY AS WELL AS YOUR
IMPORTANT WORK ON BEHALF OF
PEOPLE WHO NEED YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT.
MOVING ON, CLERK, CAN YOU READ
THE ITEM INTO THE AGENDA.
>> 2021 SEATTLE ALL HAZARDS
MITIGATION PLAN.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX.
WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO DO A LIGHT
TOUCH ON THIS BECAUSE THIS
PANEL WILL BE BACK BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE AT THE
NEXT MEETING.
SO WE WILL HEAR FROM CURRY
MAYER TO DO A QUICK BRIEFING OF
WHAT'S IN THE PLAN AND WHAT WE
CAN EXPECT COMING BACK TO US IN
A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COMMITTEE CHAIR AND
COUNCIL PERSON HERBOLD FOR
HAVING ME AND ALSO TO THE REST
OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
YOUR INTEREST IN THE HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN.
I AM ABOUT TO SHARE MY SCREEN
HERE.
I JUST HAVE A FEW SLIDES TO
SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.
SO I WILL BRING THAT UP.
BUT I WANTED TO SAY IN THE
MEANTIME ALSO THAT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN IS
REALLY DUE TO MY TEAM MEMBERS
AND MOST ESPECIALLY ERICA LUND
WHO IS THE EXPERT ON THE PLAN.
SHE'S HERE TODAY.
I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
AND KUDOS AND CONGRATULATIONS
TO ERIKA LUND.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PLAN
HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN SEE MY
SCREEN.
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> GOOD.
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN IS A
VERY LARGE COMPREHENSIVE
DOCUMENT THAT GIVES ALL KINDS
OF DETAILED INFORMATION FIRST
OF ALL ABOUT THE TYPES OF
HAZARDS THAT WE FACE IN
SEATTLE.
SO WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A
HAZARD IMPACT AND VULNERABILITY
ASSESSMENT.
IT LOOKS AT ALL THE HAZARDS WE
MIGHT FACE AND THEN WHAT ARE
THE ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE TO
MITIGATE THOSE?
IT'S SHOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN
THAT THE MORE YOU INVEST IN
MITIGATION IN TERMS OF ACTION,
THE MORE MONEY YOU SAVE IN
RESPONSE OR WHEN THERE IS SOME
KIND OF INCIDENT IMPACT.
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ONE
OF THOSE THINGS WE CAN DO UP
FRONT IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE
COMMUNITY SAFER.
THERE WERE MANY DEPARTMENTS
ENGAGED IN THIS WORK.
IT ALSO COORDINATES WITH A
NUMBER OF OTHER CITY WIDE PLANS
AND ALSO CODES, FUNDING LEVEES.
ALSO THERE IS EVOLVING
INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY-LED
INVESTMENTS IN THIS UPDATE.
WE HAVE ALSO ADJUSTED CRITERIA
TO REFLECT VALUES FOR THE RSJI
INITIATIVES, COLLABORATION WITH
THE COMMUNITY, WHAT RESONATES
BEST WITH THEM, AND ALSO OTHER
BENEFITS THAT I WILL HIGHLIGHT
FOR YOU HERE.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT THE PROCESS FOR THIS IS
THAT ONCE WE GET COMMUNITY
INPUT AND LOOK AT HOW WE ARE
BEST SERVING AND ACTUALLY
MITIGATING HAZARDS IN SEATTLE
TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY,
THEN IT GOES TO THE MAYOR AND
SHE HAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED
IT AND THEN HERE TO ALL OF YOU
COUNCIL, IT WILL SOON BE
UPLOADED INTO THE DATABASE AND
IT WILL GO TO THE STATE AND
ULTIMATELY TO FEMA.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IT GO TO
FEMA BECAUSE WE ARE ELIGIBLE AS
A CITY TO APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL
GRANTS AND WILL ACTUALLY
RECEIVE MORE MONEY IF WE HAVE
AN APPROVED HAZARD MITIGATION
PLAN.
WHAT DO WE PLAN TO DO IN THE
FUTURE?
WELL, THERE ARE 47 MITIGATION
PROJECTS IN THE UPDATED VERSION
OF THE PLAN.
WE ARE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PAST
STUDIES, ESPECIALLY MORE
SEISMIC RETROFITTING OF ALL
KINDS OF STRUCTURES HERE IN
SEATTLE, BRIDGES, DAMS,
RESERVOIRS, RETAINING WALLS,
HISTORIC LIBRARIES.
THEN ALSO AS I MENTIONED WE ARE
INTEGRATING HAZARD MITIGATION
POLICIES INTO OUR NEXT
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE WHICH
HAS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN
THE CITY.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT
DESIGNING SOME INFRASTRUCTURE
TO PROTECT FROM SEA LEVEL RISE
AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND
HOW CAN WE BEST SAFEGUARD THEIR
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE LOOKING AT REPLACING
RETAINING WALL ON NORTH GATEWAY
AND AS I MENTIONED, SEISMIC
UPGRADES ARE ALWAYS A BIG TOPIC
THAT I KNOW YOU ARE ALL VERY
AWARE OF.
ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET
COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE PLAN AND
WE ARE STILL DOING SOME OF THAT
NOW AS WE SPEAK.
SOME OF THE RESULTS WE GOT BACK
SHOW THAT EARTHQUAKES ARE
HAZARD OF GREATEST CONCERN
WHICH IS NOT A SURPRISE TO
ANYONE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOK AT
WHEN DOING OUR PLANNING IN
EXERCISING AND TRAINING WITH
EARTHQUAKES IS THERE IS ALWAYS
CASCADE OF OTHER TYPES OF
EVENTS THAT OCCUR BECAUSE OF
THE EARTHQUAKE.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EARTHQUAKE,
YOU ARE NOT REALLY JUST LOOKING
AT THE ONE HAZARD BUT ALL THE
OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN AS A
RESULT OF THE EARTHQUAKE.
POWER OUTAGES, FIRES, BLOCKED
ROADWAYS WHICH IMPACTS RESPONSE
VEHICLES, ALL THOSE KINDS OF
TINGS, WILL COME OUT WHEN WE
START DOING PLANNING AND
LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER
EARTHQUAKES.
THE COMMUNITY WAS MOST
CONCERNED WITH HOW ARE WE
PROTECTING CRITICAL FACILITIES,
FACILITIES THAT SUPPORT HEALTH
AND MENTAL HEALTH IN
PARTICULAR, HOMELESS AND
EMERGENCY SHELTERS FOR
EVERYBODY, FOOD BANKS AND ALSO
OF COURSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND WHICH OF THE HOUSING UNITS
ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO DISASTER
AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AS
WELL.
SO TO DATE, I KNOW THIS IS A
LITTLE HARD TO SEE, BUT YOU
WILL GET A COPY.
SO YOU WILL HAVE THE DETAILS IN
FRONT OF YOU.
THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE
HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED IN.
LEAD DEPARTMENT FOR EACH OF THE
PROJECTS AND THE PRINCIPLE
BENEFICIARIES IN TERMS OF
ORGANIZATIONS OR DEPARTMENTS
FROM SEATTLE.
WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED EXCESS OF
$23 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR PROJECTS AND PLANNING.
WE HAVE THREE APPLICATIONS
PENDING THAT ARE RELATED TO
SEISMIC RETROFITTING AND THAT
WILL TOTAL ANOTHER $21 MILLION.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE ARE VERY
PROUD OF THIS EFFORT AND IT
REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR A
LOT OF SEGMENTS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
NEXT STEPS AS I MENTIONED IS
FOR YOU TO APPROVE, COUNCIL TO
HAVE THEIR APPROVAL ONCE YOU
HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT
IN ADDITION TO MY BRIEFING HERE
AND THEN IT WILL GO TO THE
STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
DIVISION AND THEN OF COURSE
ONTO FEMA FOR OFFICIAL
APPROVAL.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A
BRIEF IDEA OF HOW MANY
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ACROSS
THE CITY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
THE EFFORT.
IT IS A CITY WIDE EFFORT.
AS YOU SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT
GROUPS AND DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED
IN THIS WORK.
THAT HELPS US MAKE SURE THAT WE
REACH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN
DIFFERENT AREAS AND WITH
DIFFERENT NEEDS ACROSS THE
CITY, SO WE DO THE BEST JOB OF
MAKING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
THAT WILL DO THE MOST GOOD FOR
THE MOST PEOPLE.
THAT IS THE END OF MY OVERVIEW.
SO I AM HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS
AND THEN ALSO AS I MENTIONED,
ERIKA IS ALSO HERE IF YOU HAVE
MORE SPECIFIC.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM INTERESTED IN THE
EARTHQUAKE SLIDE.
AS A CITY SURROUNDED BY WATER
AND BRIDGES THAT WOULD VERY
LIELY COLLAPSE AND KNOWING
THAT IN ANY GIVEN GROCERY
STORE, THERE MIGHT BE THREE
DAYS WORTH OF FOOD, CAN YOU
TELL US WHAT THE PLAN IS?
WE HAVE ALL BEEN TOLD THAT
PREPARING FOR THREE DAYS ON
YOUR OWN IS NOT NEARLY
SUFFICIENT.
WE SHOULD BE PLANNING TO BE ON
OUR OWN FOR TWO WEEKS IN THE
EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE BECAUSE
CRISIS RESPONSE FOLKS WILL BE
DEALING WITH THE CRISIS.
SO WE NEED FOOD AND WATER AND
ALL OF THAT FOR TWO WEEKS.
>> YEAH.
>> AND GROCERY STORES DON'T
CARRY THAT MUCH FOOD.
WHAT'S THE PLAN?
>> I CAN HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE
THINGS.
FIRST, KUDOS TO YOU FOR KNOWING
THAT.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S GREAT.
ALSO YOU CAN HELP WITH MAKING
SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THREE
DAYS IS NOT ENOUGH.
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT US BEING
CLOSE TO THE WATER IS THAT
UNLIKE IF WE WERE AT THE OPEN
OCEAN WHERE THERE WOULD BE A
TSUNAMI, BECAUSE WE ARE A
LITTLE BIT PROTECTED BY THE
SOUND, WE WILL HAVE WATER
DAMAGE AND HIGH WAVES AND WHAT
NOT BUT WE WILL NOT HAVE
TSUNAMI THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS
CITY OF SEATTLE.
SO THAT'S GOOD.
ONE OF THE RECENT THINGS WE ARE
DOING TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE HELP
PEOPLE WITH AREAS OF THE CITY
THAT ARE CUT OFF FROM ONE
ANOTHER?
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CONCEPT
CALLED ISLANDING.
BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL DISASTER
OF THE EARTHQUAKE, THE WAYS
THAT THAT DAMAGE CUTS OFF
SECTIONS OF THE CITY BECAUSE
THE FREEWAY COLLAPSED HERE OR
YOU CAN'T GO OVER THIS BRIDGE.
SO THEY'LL BE INDIVIDUAL
ISLANDS, NOT ISLANDS SURROUNDED
BY WATER BUT CUT OFF FROM OTHER
AREAS OF THE CITY.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF
THINGS.
THIS IS BRAND NEW, SO WE ARE
STILL IN THE EARLY PLANNING
STAGES.
ONE, HELPING THE COMMUNITY
UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE?
OF COURSE WE CAN'T SAY HOW THE
DAMAGE WILL BE BUT WE CAN HAVE
A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.
WE KNOW WHERE FREEWAY OVER
PASSES AND WHAT NOT ARE.
LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN
STRATEGICALLY PREPOSITION CITY
RESOURCES SO THEY CAN HELP IN
PLACES THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO DRIVE TO ANOTHER SECTION OF
THE CITY.
THAT'S ONE PART.
WE ARE DOING THAT WITH CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
THEN ALSO HELPING THE COMMUNITY
UNDERSTAND AND CONNECTING WITH
COMMUNITY EFFORTS WORKING ON
PREPAREDNESS OR COMMUNICATIONS.
WE CAN SAY THIS IS LIKELY TO BE
YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD BASED ON
THE DAMAGE OF THE EARTHQUAKE,
WHAT ARE THINGS YOU AS A
COMMUNITY CAN DO TO HELP EACH
OTHER WHILE YOU ARE STILL
DISCONNECTED?
SO WE ARE JUST STARTING TO LOOK
AT THAT.
WE ARE TALKING WITH OTHER
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
TALKING WITH OTHERS ABOUT WHAT
ARE BEST WAYS WE CAN MITIGATE
THIS, KNOWING WHERE FIRE
DEPARTMENTS ARE, SO THEY CAN AS
MANY HUBS, NOT FIRE
DEPARTMENTS, WHERE THE FIRE
STATIONS ARE.
SO IF THOSE COULD BE MINI HUBS.
WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE
ALREADY IN THE AREAS AND WHAT
DO WE NEED TO STORE, EITHER
SUPPLIES, SHELTER CAPACITY,
SHELTER SUPPLIES, THOSE KIND OF
THINGS.
THAT EFFORT IS UNDERWAY NOW.
THE OTHER THING WE ARE DOING IS
HELPING FIRST CITY DEPARTMENTS
AND TEAMS UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAD
TO RESPOND AFTER EARTHQUAKE OR
HELP THE CITY IN SOME WAY BASED
ON YOUR JOB HOW WOULD YOU GET
HERE WITHOUT CROSSING A BRIDGE
OR WITHOUT CROSSING A BODY OF
WATER?
IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
IT WILL TAKE PEOPLE LONGER.
BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE WAYS
WE WILL COMMUNICATE POST
EARTHQUAKE SO WE MAKE SURE WE
GET SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND
MAKE SURE WE CAN GET HELP TO
THE MOST PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
SO A NUMBER OF THOSE EFFORTS IN
THE EARTHQUAKE PLANNING AREA
ARE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.
IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING, I
WILL SAY IT LIKE THAT, FOR ME
TO PIVOT AND FOCUS ON
EARTHQUAKES INSTEAD OF JUST
TALKING ABOUT COVID.
SO WE ARE VERY ENGAGED IN THE
WORK.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER SUGGESTIONS
OR WANT TO HELP WITH COMMUNITY
OUTREACHAND GETTING THE
COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND OTHER
THINGS WE ARE DOING, I WOULD
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> CAN YOU, HIGH LEVEL, EXPLAIN
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL
HAZARDS MITIGATION PLAN AND
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS PLAN?
>> YES, SURE.
ALL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
LOOKS AT ALL OF THOSE HAZARDS
THAT SEATTLE MAY BE VULNERABLE
TO.
AND WE RANK THEM.
EARTHQUAKE PLAN IS ALL ABOUT
EARTHQUAKES.
WHILE OTHER HAZARDS MAY ALSO
HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THE
EARTHQUAKE, THERE ARE PECULIARS
FOR OTHER TYPES OF HAZARDS THAT
MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN
EARTHQUAKE AN EX WHICH FOCUSES
ON THAT.
THIS IS MORE COMPREHENSIVE,
RANKS HAZARDS, AND TIES ACTIONS
TO THOSE PARTICULAR HAZARDS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
APPRECIATE THAT.
OTHER HANDS RAISED?
CAN YOU LET US KNOW WHEN WE CAN
EXPECT TO RECEIVE THE
RESOLUTION AND DRAFT PLAN?
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE TO GIVE US A PREVIEW.
>> YOU BET.
OF COURSE.
IT SHOULD BE SHORTLY.
I DON'T KNOW, ERIKA, IF YOU
HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE TIME
FRAME.
IT WAS APPROVED BY THE MAYOR A
LITTLE WHILE AGO.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT IS
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE
NOW.
>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
WE DID DRAFT RESOLUTION AND
SENT THAT ON.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST STILL IN
PROCESS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO FLAG HERE THAT AS
PART OF THE ADOPTION OF THE ALL
HAZARDS MITIGATION PLAN, I
REALLY APPRECIATE DIRECTOR
MAYER, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SPEAK TO A GROUP OF GEORGETOWN
RESIDENTS WHO ARE REALLY
INTERESTED IN ENSURING THAT
THERE IS ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT
COMMUNITY AROUND POTENTIAL
HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH
POTENTIAL AIRPLANE CRASHES, JET
CRASHES AND MAYBE LOOKING FOR
SOME WAY TO LIFT UP THEIR
ASPIRATIONS THAT OEM DO WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY IN AN
EVIDENT TO MITIGATE THEIR
CONCERNS AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS
OF HAZARDS THAT THAT COMMUNITY
EXPERIENCES.
>> I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT.
I AM MEETING WITH KING COUNTY
AIRPORT DIVISION DIRECTOR TODAY
TO TALK ABOUT THINGS WE CAN DO
TO SPECIFICALLY HELP
GEORGETOWN.
>> REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> YEAH, YOU BET.
>> NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS,
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON FOR
THE COUNCIL'S ACTION OR THIS
COMMITTEE'S ACTION ON THE PLAN.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME
GIVING US A PREVIEW.
>> YOU BET.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
AND KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU FOR
LOOKING AT MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES.
THAT'S ADMIRABLE.
I HAVE SOME OF THAT IN MY
FAMILY, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT YOU ARE TAKING A LOOK.
THAT'S AWESOME.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING
FOR ALTERNATIVES TO 911
RESPONSE FOR THOSE ISSUES,
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOVED ONES AND
FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
APPRECIATE THAT PERSPECTIVE
FROM YOU AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
TAKE CARE.
BYE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CAN WE READ FINAL ITEM OF THE
AGENDA.
>> CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
STRATEGIC PLAN.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, WE WILL HAND IT OVER
TO CARLOS LUGO WITH COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF JUST AS SOME
OPENING REMARKS.
THIS ITEM IS A PRESENTATION ON
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
ALIGNMENT AS PART OF THE 2019
BUDGET UNDER LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ,
ACTIONS TO FUND A TERM LIMITED
POSITION IN OUR DEPARTMENT AND
ALSO A PERMANENT POSITION IN
THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS SO
WE CAN COORDINATE STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT AROUND TO REALIGN
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
THE ACTION REQUESTED A
STRATEGIC PLAN, IMPLEMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED TO CITY
ABOUT THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
IN ORDER TO REDUCE HARM
CAUTIONED BY CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM AND PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITIES WHO INTERACT WITH
IT.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS ONE OF
TWO THAT WE EXPECT FROM THIS
BODY OF WORK.
THE SECOND IS A REPORT.
A WORKGROUP COMPRISED OF 9
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY
THE CITY'S LEGAL SYSTEM.
OVER THE LAST YEAR THEY'VE MET
REGULARLY DEEMED BY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF AND OFFICE FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS, RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
ALIGNMENT.
WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND
MEMBERS OF THE WORKGROUP ABOUT
THE REPORT AND UNDERSTAND THAT
THE TASK FORCE IS IN THE
PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE
REPORT.
ITNOT READY.
WHEN IT IS READY, I HOPE THAT
WE CAN HAVE THEM PRESENT IT IN
COUNCIL AS WELL.
WITH THAT, WE'LL HAND IT OVER
TO CARLOS.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I START OFF BY SAYING I AM VERY
EXCITED TO BE PRESENTING FOR
THIS CULMINATION OF TWO YEARS
OF WORK.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I AM CARLOS LUGO WITH COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
LET ME SHARE MY SCREEN AND WE
CAN GET STARTED HERE.
I AM PRESENTING ON REALIGNING
THROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH.
THIS IS CULMINATION OF TWO
YEARS OF WORK WHICH COMPRISED
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AS YOU
SAID, A MIXTURE OF NOT ONLY
ACADEMIC ANALYSIS AND ACADEMIC
DEEP DIVE WHICH I AM PRESENTING
BUT ALSO PARTNERSHIP WITH
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS TO
ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE
SYSTEM.
WHAT I PRESENT TODAY FOCUSES
MORE ON THE ACADEMIC PIECE.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THE WORKGROUP
ITSELF WILL BE PRESENTING THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH ONCE THAT
REPORT IS READY.
TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND
AS TO MY APPROACH, I REALLY
STARTED OFF WITH THE IDEA OF
MAKING SURE THAT I WAS NOT ONLY
RESPONSIVE TO WHAT COUNCIL
ASKED IN THE COUNCIL BUDGET
ACTIONS THAT CREATED THIS
POSITION IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT
PREVIOUSLY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITY
TERNING CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
BUT ALSO WITH THE IDEA THAT WE
HAVE HAD ENGAGEMENTS WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THE PAST
EIGHT TO TEN YEARS SPECIFICALLY
LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
THIS PROJECT STARTED OFF WITH
LOOKING AT WHAT HAS BEEN PULLED
TO US AS THE CITY OVER THE PAST
EIGHT TO TEN YEARS BY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
STARTING THAT, I STARTED REALLY
LOOKING AT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
THAT I WANTED ANSWERED RELATED
TO THIS REALIGNMENT PROJECT.
SO GOING THROUGH A REVIEW OF
THE EIGHT TO TEN YEARS OF
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
ENGAGEMENT REPORTS, KING COUNTY
REPORTS, COMMUNITY PRODUCED
DOCUMENTS CONCERNING CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM REALIGNMENT, I WAS
ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND FIND
ANSWERS RESPONSIVE TO THE
STARTING QUESTIONS I HAD.
BEING ABLE TO THEN GROUP THE
QUESTIONS INTO ONE DOCUMENT
REALLY GAVE US A CLEAR PICTURE
OF WHAT WERE THE REOCCURRING
THEMES THAT COMMUNITY HAS TOLD
US AS THE CITY, COUNTY OVER AND
OVER AGAIN OVER EIGHT TO TEN
YEARS.
PULLING THOSE OUT AND BEING
ABLE TO COMPILE THEM I CREATED
COMMUNITY'S GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
THESE REALLY WERE THAT.
THEY WERE THE GUARD RAILS TO
THE REST OF THE RESEARCH I DID,
REALLY THE GUIDING STAR IF YOU
WILL, AS THIS REALIGNMENT
PROJECT DEVELOPED AND EVOLVED.
AS YOU MENTIONED COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, WILL ALSO BE
PRESENTING FINDINGS.
I WON'T TOUCH UPON THIS TOO
MUCH BECAUSE OF COURSE THEIR
REPORT WILL HAVE MORE
INFORMATION AND MORE DETAIL AS
TO THE PROCESS AS WELL AS
OUTCOMES.
I WILL GO RIGHT INTO THE
ACADEMIC AND SITS PART --
ANALYSIS PART.
USING THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES,
I WENT IN AND DID A LOT OF
RESEARCH AS TO BEST PRACTICES,
TALKED TO CRIMINAL LEGAL
EXPERTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
REALLY TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
WERE MODELS, WHAT WERE THEORIES
IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE THAT WERE
RESPONSIVE TO WHAT COMMUNITY
HAS TOLD US THROUGH COMMUNITY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
WHAT I ENDED UPCOMING UP WITH
WAS CENTERING ON THE MODEL AND
REALLY TAKING RISKS NEED AND
RESPONSIVITY MODEL OR RNR, THAT
IDEAS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
USED IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM AND REALLY EXPANDED THAT
TO REORIENT THE SYSTEM AROUND
THESE EVIDENCE-BASED IDEAS THAT
WERE IN LINE WITH WHAT
COMMUNITY HAS ASKED US.
WHAT I AM PRESENTING TODAY IS A
NEW WAY OF USING RESEARCH AND
REALLY EXPANDING THAT FROM THE
LIMITED CAPACITY WHERE IT'S
BEEN USED BEFORE TO AGAIN
REORIENTING ENTIRE SYSTEM
AROUND SOMETHING THAT IS NOT
BASED ON PUNITIVE MEASURES AND
IS BACKED BY EVIDENCE BASED
PRACTICE AND RESEARCH AND AGAIN
INVOLVES WHAT COMMUNITY HAS
TOLD US, REALLY CENTERS THAT IN
THIS WORK.
THE RNR MODEL IN SHORT IS
ROOTED IN BEHAVIORAL
PSYCHOLOGY, ADDRESSING CAUSES
OF CRIME THROUGH REDUCTION
THROUGH WHAT RESEARCHERS CALL CR
IMINOGENIC NEEDS.
HIGHLIGHTED PRINCIPLES WITHIN
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED
PRACTICES TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.
THE PRINCIPLE STATES SERVICES
AND INTERCONVENIENCES SHOULD BE
MATCHED ON INDIVIDUALS' RISK TO
REOFFEND.
THIS IS REALLY FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE, PROVIDING SERVICES IS
EXPENSIVE.
IT IS RESOURCE INTENSIVE.
ENSURING THAT WE ARE TARGETING
LIMITED RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT
WILL MAKE MOST SENSE IS GOING
TO GET THE BEST BANG FOR THE
BUCK.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, RESEARCH
TELLS US WHEN LOOKING AT
APPLYING INTERVENTIONS, IF WE
END UP MIXING FOLKS FROM
DIFFERENT RISK LEVELS, SOMEONE
THAT IS FOR EXAMPLE HAS A HIGH
RISK OF BECOMING INVOLVED IN
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
REPEATEDLY AND WE MIX
PROGRAMMING WITH FOLKS LOW RISK
IT CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT LOW
RISK FOLKS AND MAKE IT MORE
LIKELY THAT THEY WILL CYCLE
THROUGH THE SYSTEM AS WELL.
A LOT OF THIS IS LOOKING AT HOW
WE REDUCE HARM THAT THE SYSTEM
CAUSES WHILE BEING MORE
EFFECTIVE THAN WE ARE NOW IN
ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY.
NEED PRINCIPLE STATES
INTERVENTION SHOULD FOCUS ON
ADDRESSING ADDRESSING CRIMON
GENIC NEEDS.
I WILL GO THROUGH THOSE.
THE SPECIFIC RESPONSIVITY
PRINCIPLE WHICH AS RNR
PROGRESSED AND EVOLVED I THINK
REALLY REFLECTS A LOT OF THE
VALUES WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN
SEATTLE CONCERNING CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM REALIGNMENT IN THE
PAST FEW YEARS.
SERVICES SHOULD BE IN A WAY
THAT SHOULD BE RESPONSIVE,
BUILDING ON STRENGTHS, REDUCING
BARRIERS FOR FULL PARTICIPATION
AND TREATMENTS, DELIVERING
EARLY AND OFTEN ON MATTERS OF
PERSONAL INTEREST AND STARTING
WHERE THE PERSON IS AT.
THESE ARE THE MISDEMEANOR RISK
NEED FACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS TO WHAT INCREASES
AN INDIVIDUAL'S PROPENSITY OF
ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
WHEN THAT WAS ORIGINALLY
CREATED IT FOCUSED ON FELONY
SYSTEM THAT IN NEW YORK THEY
ENDED UP DOING ANALYSIS IN THE
STUDY OF MISDEMEANOR NEEDS IN
THE MISDEMEANOR POPULATION.
THEY FOUND THERE WAS LARGE
OVERLAP BETWEEN THE TWO WITH
ONE EXCEPTION, HOMELESSNESS OR
HOUSING INSECURITY.
THAT WAS FOUND TO BE VERY
RELEVANT TO FOLKS GOING INTO
THE MISDEMEANOR SYSTEM, NOT SO
MUCH THE FELONY SYSTEM.
MOST, EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST ONE,
ARE DYNAMIC.
THE FIRST IS STATIC.
BUT THE REST BECAUSE THEY ARE
DYNAMIC MEANS WE AS GOVERNMENT,
AS A CITY, CAN APPLY
INTERVENTIONS AND HAVE
RESPONSES THAT ALTERNATIVELY
COULD MAKE THINGS READY AND
REDUCE NEEDS LEADING TO FOLKS
BEING LESS LIKELY TO BE
INVOLVED IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM OR
A LOT OF TIMES, ACTIONS THAT WE
TAKE IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM CAN
NEGATIVELY IMPACT THESE NEEDS
AND MAKE IT MORE LIKE WILL I
THAT FOLKS CYCLE THROUGH THE
SYSTEM AND GET CAUGHT IN THIS
REVOLVING DOOR AS WE HAVE SEEN
PARTICULARLY IN A LOT OF HIGH
BARRIER INDIVIDUAL WORKING
MEETINGS THAT THE MAYOR HAD PUT
IN PLACE A FEW YEARS BACK.
AS AN EXAMPLE, I WILL LEAVE
THIS HERE.
I DON'T NEED TO READ IT.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW
ACTIONS THE CITY TAKES OR ANY
CITY WORKING ON CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM ISSUES, SHOWS THAT THE
ACTIONS WE TAKE CAN NEGATIVELY
IMPACT SO MANY ASPECTS OF A
PERSON'S LIFE AS THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
THIS IS FROM 2018.
IT DOES A GOOD JOB EVER
ENCAPSULATING HOW ITTHAT EVEN
THREE DAYS OF JAIL CAN IMPACT
SO MANY ASPECTS OF THIS
INDIVIDUAL'S LIFE.
YOU CAN SEE TIES BETWEEN
INCREASED RIGHT THERE WHERE
TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS,
JOBS, RELATIONSHIPS,
POTENTIALLY LOSING CUSTODY OF
THEIR CHILDREN.
HOW IS RNR DIFFERENT FROM
TRADITIONAL RESPONSES?
WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME AS I
MENTIONED IS RNR HAS PRIMARILY
BEEN USED IN PRISONS TO LOOK AT
PRISON TYPE OF PROGRAMS FOR
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SENTENCED.
THAT SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT THIS I WOULD SAY
FALL SHORT OF IN TERMS OF WHAT
THE RESEARCH TELLS US.
WHEN TAKING SOMEONE FROM THEIR
FAMILY AND PUTTING THEM IN A
SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE IN
PRISON, IN JAIL, AWAY FROM PRO
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, WE ARE
MAKING THINGS WORSE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY WHEN YOU LOOK
AT WHAT RESEARCH SAYS AND GO
INTO SOURCE MATERIAL OF WHAT
THE AUTHORS THAT CREATED THE
RISK HAVE SAID, THEY'VE
HIGHLIGHTED THAT COGNITIVE
BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND HUMAN
SERVICES ARE MORE EFFECTIVE.
IT IS THROUGH HUMAN CLINICAL
SOCIAL SERVICES THAT THE MAJOR
CAUSES OF CRIME CAN BE
ADDRESSED AND LASTLY THAT
TREATMENT IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN
COMMUNITY SETTING THAN A
HARSHER ONE.
THE ARGUMENT I AM MAKING IS RNR
IS A VIABLE MODEL TO REALIGN
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AROUND,
JUST HASN'T BEEN USED
APPROPRIATELY IN A WAY THAT HAS
GREATEST AMOUNT OF IMPACT.
SO THE OTHER THING THAT LOOKING
AT THE MODEL ALLOWS US TO DO IS
WE CAN SHIFT THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM INTO ONE THAT'S REALLY
BASED ON A PUBLIC HEALTH MODEL.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS
RECOMMENDATIONS OR AT LEAST THE
PROCESS THAT THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION HAS USED IN THE
CAMPAIGN FOR VIOLENCE
PREVENTION.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE BRIEFLY
BUT YOU SEE DEFINING PROBLEM
THROUGH INFORMATION, ELECTION,
ANALYSIS.
I WOULD ARGUE WE HAVE LARGELY
DONE THAT AT THIS POINT IN THE
CITY LOOKING AT WHAT WE NEED TO
DO, WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM?
SOLUTIONS AND RESPONSES.
WHAT ARE PROBLEMS AND
SHORTFALLS?
I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE
PRESENTATIONS EARLIER THIS
MORNING I THINK DID A WONDER IF
YOU WILL JOB OF TOUCHING ON
SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT NEED
TO BE ADDRESSED.
SECONDLY, ESTABLISHING WHY
VIOLENCE IN W.H.O.'S CASE OR IN
OUR CASE MISDEMEANOR VIOLENCE,
FACTORS THAT CAN BE MODIFIED
THROUGH INTERVENTION.
THIS IS WHERE HEART OF THE RNR
MODEL COMES INTO PLAY.
IT TELLS US WHAT THE FACTORS
ARE AND GIVES US A PLAN THAT WE
CAN USE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE
INTERVENTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THEY ARE
ADDRESSING NEEDS IN A POSITIVE
WAY OR ALTERNATIVELY IN A
NEGATIVE WAY.
RIGHT NOW WHERE I SEE US BEING
IS STEP THREE, FINDING OUT
VIOLENCE OR MISDEMEANOR CRIME
BY DESIGNING, INTERVENING,
EVALUATING INTERVENTIONS.
THAT'S WHAT I AM ATTEMPTING TO
DO WITH THIS AS WELL AS THE
LARGER WORK.
MONITORING AND EVALUATING
IMPACT ON THE RISK FACTORS.
AS WE ARE SHIFT TOGA PUBLIC
HEALTH MODEL, THERE ARE OTHER
PUBLIC HEALTH TOOLS THAT WE CAN
USE TO DESIGN THESE
INTERVENTIONS AND MAKE SURE
THEY'RE APPROPRIATELY TARGETING
INDIVIDUALS AT APPROPRIATE
PLACES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM.
WHAT I AM SHOWING HERE AT THE
TOP OF THE SCREEN, THIS MODEL
WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED TO LOOK
AT THE POINTS OF INTERCEPTION.
IT'S WHY IT IS INTERCEPT MODEL.
FOLKS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL
HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER, GO THROUGH THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
EACH OF THE POINTS OF
INTERCEPTION, THE IDEA IS THEY
ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE OFF
RAMPS SO WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE
FROM THE MORE PUNITIVE SYSTEM
IN TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS CAUSES
THAT BROUGHT THEM INTO THE
SYSTEM TO BEGIN WITH IN A
NONPUNITIVE TYPE OF WAY.
úIN THIS REPORT WHAT I FOCUSED
ON IS INTERCEPT ONE WHICH IS
INITIAL INTERACTION WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT OR 911 SYSTEM.
INTERCEPT 2 IS INITIAL COURT
HEARINGS AND CONCLUDE TALKING
ABOUT INTERCEPT ZERO.
THERE IS A REASON AND I WILL
GET TO IT LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION.
IN TERMS OF INTERCEPTING
RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT I AM
LOOKING AT IS INCREASING AND
CERTAINLY THERE ARE MORE THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL INVESTED IN
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST FEW
YEARS.
THIS MORNING I THINK WE HEARD
ABOUT SOME FANTASTIC
PROGRAMMING.
THE OTHER PORTION IS IN MAKING
SURE WE ARE UPDATING EMERGENCY
DISPATCH PROTOCOL SO WE CAN
EXPAND USE OF ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSES.
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THROUGH SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS
GUILD COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY QUOTE
UNQUOTE OWNS BODY OF WORK
RELATED TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISES.
THIS MEANS IF SOMEONE CALLS 911
AND REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FOR
SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM AN
EPISODE BECAUSE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT OWNS THAT BODY OF
WORK, THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE THE
FIRST RESPONDERS THERE WHICH WE
FLOW CAN LEAD TO UNFORTUNATE
INCIDENCES AND EVEN DEATH OF
FOLKS EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISES.
BEING ABLE TO EXPAND USE OF
ALTERNATIVES WOULD ALLOW THE
CITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE
BEST USE OF THE INVESTMENTS
THEY HAVE MADE.
SECONDLY, LOOKING AT POLICING
PRACTICES.
THIS ADDRESSES RECOMMENDATIONS
MADE NOT ONLY BY THE CITY'S
REENTRY WORKGROUP.
THIS IS ONE OF THEIR TOP
RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT ALSO AS I MENTIONED,
GUIDING PRINCIPLES TALKS ABOUT
THIS A LOT, THIS IS IN LINE
WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
COMMISSION ON 21st CENTURY
POLICING WHICH ALSO RECOMMENDED
THAT WE LOOK AT APPLYING
ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS SUMMONS
FOR ARRESTS FOR MISDEMEANOR
CRIMES.
AS AN EXAMPLE WHAT I CAN
HIGHLIGHT IS CITY OF NEW
ORLEANS IN 2008 PASSED
ORDINANCE THROUGH CITY COUNCIL
WHICH ESSENTIALLY MANDATES
OFFICERS USE ARREST
ALTERNATIVES FOR MOST CASES
EXCEPT WHERE THERE IS A
SITUATION WHERE THE OFFICER
FEELS IT IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY.
THE OFFICER WOULD NEED TO BE
ABLE TO LIST THE REASONS WHY IT
IS THAT CIRCUMSTANCE WARRANTED
ARREST VERSES ALTERNATIVE.
THIS REALLY LOOKS AT IN
INTERCEPT 1 WHAT WE CAN DO TO
REDUCE THE HARM THAT THE SYSTEM
CAUSES BY NOT NEGATIVELY
IMPACTING THESE CRIMINO GENIC
NEEDS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
IN INTERCEPT 2, RECOMMENDATIONS
I PUT FORWARD IN MY REPORT ARE
FOCUSED ON TWO ASPECTS.
ONE IS PRETRIAL DETENTION AND
SECOND IS IN DIVERSION.
THE FIRST WITH PRETRIAL
DETENTION, WE KNOW PRETRIAL
DETENTION THROUGH THE USE OF
CASH FAIL SYSTEM NOT ONLY
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS
INDIVIDUALS FROM THE
COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO HAS
INFERIORNESS IN IT BECAUSE BAIL
ISN'T CASH BAIL.
IT RELIES ON A PERSON'S ABILITY
TO PAY TO BE ABLE TO BE
RELEASED.
SO THIS WOULD REALLY AGAIN GO
TO THE HEART OF HOW DO WE
REDUCE HARM THAT THE SYSTEM
CAUSES THROUGH PUNITIVE
MEASURES.
RECOMMENDATIONS PROMOTE
COMMUNITY BASED PRETRIAL
RELEASE.
THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY RECOMMENDED
BY BAIL REFORM GROUP WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF YOUR
INITIATIVES.
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT IN THE
REPORT WAS OPEN TO THE IDEA.
ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD BE TO HAVE
A COMMUNITY BASED GROUP BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO HELP THE
INDIVIDUAL STAY OUT OF TROUBLE
AND ENSURE THEY GET TO THEIR
HEARINGS SO THINK DON'T MISS
IT, DON'T HAVE A WARRANT OUT
FOR THEIR ARREST WHICH CAN LEAD
TO INCARCERATION.
WHAT THE THESE GROUPS DO WITH
PROPER FUNDING OR COULD DO
WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE CHILDCARE
FOR A WORKING PARENT THAT
NEEDED TO GET TO COURT.
IT COULD BE LOOKING AT
TRANSPORTATION, IF THAT'S ONE
IMPEDIMENTS.
A CASE CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS
MAKING SURE THEY'RE IN TOUCH
WITH THE INDIVIDUAL THROUGH
PHONE, E-MAIL, THOSE TYPES OF
MEDIUMS JUST TO BUILD THAT
CONNECTION AND REMIND THE
INDIVIDUAL ABOUT THE UPCOMING
COURT DATE.
AGAIN BE SURE THEY HAVE
WHATEVER THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO GET THERE AND AVOID THE
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT CAN
COME.
THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS
ELIMINATING BURDEN OF CASH BAIL
BY CREATING OR FUNDING
COMMUNITY BAIL FUND.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY
OF NEW YORK THROUGH THEIR
COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO DO A FEW
YEARS BACK.
THEY CREATED WHAT THEY CALLED
LIBERTY FUND PRECISELY TO BAIL
FOLKS OUT JAIL FOR MISDEMEANOR
OFFENSES.
MORE LOCALLY SINCE WE ARE HERE,
KING COUNTY PUT OUT RFP A
COUPLE YEARS BACK TO CONTRACT
FOR COMMUNITY BAIL FUND EXACTLY
FOR THAT EXPRESS PURPOSE.
MULING BEYOND BAIL, THE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION IS TO LOOK AT
REALLY EXPANDING DIVERSION
ALTERNATIVES PARTICULAR AT THE
PREFILING STAGE OR EVEN THEIR
UP STREAM WHERE POSSIBLE AT THE
ARREST SO YOU CAN REDUCE THE
COSTS BUT STILL HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY WITH VIOLATIONS.
WE CAN DO THIS BY EXPANDING
ALTERNATIVES WE HAVE NO YOU AND
CERTAINLY WHEN WE LOOK AT
PROGRAMS SUCH AS LEAD PROGRAM,
FAMILIAR FACES INITIATIVE WE
HAVE IN PARTNERSHIP, THEY
ADDRESS THE NEEDS IN A WAY
THAT'S SHOWN A LOT OF SUCCESS.
BUT WHAT WE COULD DO IS MAKE
SURE WE ARE USING VALIDATED
RISK NEEDS ASSESSMENTS SO WE
CAN MATCH INDIVIDUALS WITH
APPROPRIATE LEVEL AND TYPE OF
SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE SURE
THEY STAY OUT OF THE SYSTEM.
THE RECOMMENDATION ON THIS
PORTION WOULD BE TO DO
VALIDATED RISK NEED ASSESSMENT
AT THE PROSECUTOR STAGE BUT
PREFERABLY THROUGH A COMMUNITY
BASED PARTNER THAT WOULD BE
ABLE TO ADMINISTER ASSESSMENTS
IN A COMMUNITY SETTING AND THEN
IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CITY
ATTORNEYS OFFICE, BE ABLE TO
DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE
DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR THE
INDIVIDUALS.
REALLY WITH THE IDEA OF GOING
AWAY FROM PROSECUTION AND
HARMFUL INCARCERATION.
ECHOING WITH A SOME
PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING
SAID, WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT
INCREASING FUNDING FOR SOCIAL
SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
WHICH HAS EVIDENCE BASED
RESEARCH SHOWING IT DOES
DECREASE RECIDIVISM
PARTICULARLY IN FOLKS LIKELY TO
FILTER IN AND OUT OF THE
SYSTEM.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE HAVE
WONDERFUL DIVERSION PROGRAMS IN
CITY AND KING COUNTY.
ONE OF THE ISSUES I HAVE SEEN,
AND I THINK WE HEARD
THANKSGIVING MIRACLE MORNING,
THERE IS CAPACITY LIMITATIONS
FOR SUPPORT SERVICES THAT THEY
WORK TO HAVE PEOPLE ENROLL IN
OR THEY CAN RECOMMEND FOR FOLKS
GOING THROUGH THESE.
WE DO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF SPACES
FOR EXAMPLE FOR NOT ONLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT ALSO
SUBSTANCE USE DESIGNATED ORDER
TREATMENT.
ABSENT THE CAPACITY TO ENROLL
FOLKS IN THOSE NEEDED TREATMENT
PROGRAMS, WE ARE REALLY LIMITED
IN WHAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF
DIVERSION AND BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS CRIMINO GENIC NEEDS IN
A WAY THAT'S HUMANE AND
ULTIMATELY WILL BE MORE
EFFECTIVE THAN THE SYSTEM WE
HAVE NOW.
>> I WANT TO TAKE A QUICK
PAUSE.
I WANT TO FLAG AS IT RELATES TO
DIVERSION, PREFILING DIVERSION
NO LONGER REQUIRES ANY
INTERACTION WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO
FACILITATE THE DIVERSION.
THE FOLKS WHO DO THAT WORK, YOU
MENTIONED LEAD, CONSIDER
SHELVES INTERCEPT ZERO PROGRAM.
I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
CERTAINLY THERE IS MORE DETAIL
IN WRITTEN REPORT.
I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT
OUT.
THIS IS REALLY JUST A GENERAL
OVERVIEW.
YOU ARE RIGHT.
WHAT LEAD HAS DONE IS EXPAND TO
INTERCEPT ZERO FOCUS WHICH GOES
TO WITH A WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HERE.
WHEN IT WAS FIRST CREATED IT
LOOKED AT INTERCEPT DOLLARS ONE
THROUGH FIVE.
IT FOCUSED ON WHAT WE CAN DO IN
DIFFERENT STAGES TO ADDRESS
FOLKS GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
LATER ON AS RESEARCHERS LOOKED
AT THE WORK AND THE IDEA
EVOLVED THEY CREATED INTERCEPT
ZERO.
THIS IS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS
NEEDS BEFORE FOLKS GET
INVOLVED.
THIS IS REALLY TALKING ABOUT
PREVENTION AND MAKING SURE WE
ARE TAKING STEPS TO REDUCE THE
NEED.
INTERCEPT ZERO IS REALLY THE
HERO SO TO SPEAK.
IF THE CITY STARTS IMPLEMENTING
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND
OF COURSE WE DO HAVE JAIL
CONTRACT WITH KING COUNTY, BUT
IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO
CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS AND
REDUCE SPENDING ON THE JAIL
CONTRACT WHICH AT THIS POINT IS
AROUND 18 TO $20 MILLION A
YEAR, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO BE
ABLE TO USE SAVINGS FROM THAT
TO BE ABLE TO PUT INTO OTHER
PROGRAMMING.
WE WOULD SEE REDUCTION IN
ARRESTS AND ATTENTION WITH THE
PRETRIAL.
THIS IS TO REINVEST THE SAVINGS
TO HISTORICALLY UNDER RESOURCED
COMMUNITIES WHERE WE SEE THE
MOST NEED.
CERTAINLY THE BLACK BRILLIANCE
PROJECT I THINK LAID OUT A
VISION FOR HOW PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING COULD WORK.
THE IDEA WOULD BE TO LOOK AT
WHAT ARE INVESTMENTS IN
PROGRAMS THAT COULD REDUCE
NEEDS TO REDUCE THE USE OF THE
SYSTEM.
REALLY IF LOOKING AT MORE UP
STREAM SOLUTIONS, WE NEED TO
LOOK AT DIVERSE CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE
RESEARCH SHOWS US THAT ACES ARE
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES WHICH CAN
CAUSE TOXIC STRESS IN CHILDREN
AND REPEATED EXPOSURE TO TOXIC
STRESS AS THEY GROW CAN HARM
THEIR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.
AS THEY EXPERIENCE HIGHER
LEVELS OF ACES WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN IS CHILDREN STRUGGLE TO
LEARN, STRUGGLE TO COMPLETE
SCHOOLING AND ARE AT HIGHER
RISK OF BECOMING INVOLVED IN
CRIMINAL JUVENILE LEGAL SYSTEM.
PREVIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORY IS
ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT WE CAN
USE TO PREDICT PROPENSITY FOR
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
INVOLVEMENT.
FURTHER THAN THAT, WE SEE THAT
TE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
FOR EXAMPLE HAVE NOTED THAT
ADULTS WHO EXPERIENCE HIGHER
LEVELS OF ACES MAY FACE
INCREASED EMPLOYMENT STABILITY,
LEAVING FINANCES, JOBS,
FAMILIES AND WILL HAVE IMPACT
ON CHILDREN WHO BECAUSE OF THAT
CAN EXPERIENCE THEIR OWN ACES
AS A REULT.
THIS IS WAY TO STOP THE
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA AND
WHAT WE SEE WITH A LOT OF THIS
BEING FOLKS THAT HAVE
DEPRIVATION AND HAVE IT PASSED
TO THEIR CHILDREN AND REALLY DO
SEE WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH THE
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.
TALKING ABOUT HOW THESE ACES
CAN IMPACT, THERE HAVE BEEN
STUDIES THAT LOOK AT THE NUMBER
OF ACES THAT FOLKS THAT HAVE
BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME HAVE
RELATIVE TO FOLKS THAT HAVE
NOT.
WHAT WE SEE IN THE RESEARCH IS
THAT FOLKS THAT ARE ADULTS,
PARTICULARLY ADULT MALES
CONVICTED OF A CRIME, REPORTED
FOUR TIMES AS MANY ADVERSE
CHILDHOOD EVENTS AS ADULT MALES
IN THE NORMATIVE SAMPLE.
BACK TO PREVENTION AND MAKING
SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING THE
CAUSES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE
WILL BE THE WAY TO REDUCE THE
USE OF THE SYSTEM.
WHAT THIS WILL LOOK AT IS
CHILDCARE, HEALTH AND MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT
SERVICES, EARLY EDUCATION
PROGRAMS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS
WELL.
IN MY LAST SLIDE, I WON'T GO
INTO THIS IN MUCH DETAIL
BECAUSE IT IS INCLUDED IN THE
REPORT.
ONE OF THE FINAL PIECES COUNCIL
ASKED ME TO LOOK AT AS I WAS
ENGAGING IN THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM
REALIGNMENT WORK.
IF THE CITY MOVES FORWARDS WITH
IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS,
KEEPING IN MIND GUIDING
PRINCIPLES, ONE OF THE MAIN
ONES WAS ENSURING ANY TYPE OF
WORK SUCH AS THIS IS INVOLVING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST
IMPACTED BY THE SYSTEM AND
ASSURING WE'RE TAKING THEIR
CONSIDERATIONS INTO THE
PLANNING AND INTO THE
EXECUTION.
THESE ARE JUST THE
RECOMMENDATIONS I WOULD HAVE ON
RECREATING CJCC.
THIS IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW
BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE LIMITED
TIME.
THE REPORT ITSELF GOES INTO A
LOT MORE DETAIL AS TO RESEARCH,
METHODS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE.
BEFORE I CLOSE, THE LAST THING
I WILL SAY IS AS I ENGAGED IN
THIS WORK, ONE OF THE THINGS I
MADE SURE TO DO APART FROM
HAVING THE FIDELITY TO A
COMMUNITY AS TOLD TO US IN THE
PAST WAS ALSO REACHING OUT TO
FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT NATIONAL
LEVEL INSTITUTIONS WORKING ON
THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH AND THESE
TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS.
ONE THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
IS I DID SPEAK WITH SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTS AT
ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY COMMEND THIS AS REFLECTIVE
TO JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM AND
REALIGNMENT.
WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU CARLOS.
WE'LL SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
RAISED HANDS HERE.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
YOU HAVE DONE, CARLOS.
COUNCILMAN MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
CARLOS, THANK YOU FOR THIS.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
YOU ARE DOING HERE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A
LOT WITH COMMUNITY AND
COMMUNITY TASK FORCE AS WELL.
YOU MENTIONED POSSIBLY USING,
IF WE ARE ABLE TO REDUCE
SPENDING ON THE JAIL CONTRACT,
USING IT TO SUPPORT SOME
INVESTMENTS WE NEED IN THE
INTERCEPT ZERO KINDS OF
ACTIVITIES, I WOULD BE
INTERESTED TO KNOW YOUR
THOUGHTS ABOUT WHY NOT ALSO
DIVERTING FUNDS, USING FUNDS WE
ARE DIVERTING FROM SPD RATHER
THAN INTO CITY ATTORNEYS
OFFICE, IF WE ARE REALLY TRYING
TO SHRINK THE WHOLE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM, USING THOSE
RESOURCES AS WELL INTO
INVESTING IN THIS INTERCEPT
ZERO TYPE OF ALTERNATIVES.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
HONESTLY MY ANSWER IS WE
ABSOLUTELY SHOULD DO THAT.
IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT
SPENDING, MY RECOMMENDATION
WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT NOT ONLY WHAT
CAN WE DO UP STREAM BUT ALSO
HOW CAN WE USE FUNDS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE SYSTEM WE HAVE
NOW IS ALSO ADDRESSING THESE
NEEDS IS NOT PUNITIVE.
AS WE SEE A MOVE AWAY FROM
FUNDING SOME OF THESE SERVICES
THAT WE CURRENTLY FUND SUCH AS
SAY THE POLICE AT THE LEVEL
THAT WE ARE PARTICULARLY WHEN
TALKING ABOUT OVER TIME
SPENDING, TALKING ABOUT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISES FOR
INSTANCE AND THERE WOULD BE DUG
SAVINGS FOR THAT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES TO
ARREST, THAT IS A SELLING POINT
AS A POTENTIAL COST SAVING
MEASURE IRE.
IF WE DO EMPLOY THESEOFFICERS
TIME IS REDUCED IN TERMS OF HOW
LONG THEY'RE AT THE STOP OR
ENGAGING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL
VERSES WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE
ARE TAKING THEM TO JAIL IN THE
BOOKING PROCESS.
THAT CAN SEE ADDITIONAL COST
SAVINGS.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO LOOK
AT HOW WE CAN USE THE SAVINGS
TO NOT BRING NEW MONEY IN BUT
TO REALLY TAKE FROM ONE PART
AND PUT IT INTO SOMETHING WE
KNOW WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND
LESS HARMFUL.
>> JUST TO RESPOND TO SOME OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT I THOUGHT I
HEARD AROUND THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE
RECOMMENDATIONS I SAW ABOUT.
ARE THERE OTHER INVESTMENTS
THIS REPORT RECOMMENDS?
>> THERE IS.
RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT WE HAVE
OUR SYSTEM SET UP AND LARGELY
TALKING TO OUR CITY ATTORNEYS
OFFICE AND LOOKING AT RESEARCH,
LOOKING AT WHAT THEY HAVE PUT
OUT, ONE OF THE IMPEDIMENTS WE
WOULD HAVE IS IT CURRENTLY
TAKES CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE
ABOUT 187 DAYS TO MAKE FILING
DECISIONS.
THE PROBLEM IS RESEARCH ALSO
TELLS US THAT THE GREATER
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT LAPSES
BETWEEN THAT INITIAL
INTERACTION WITH A POLICE
OFFICER AND ESPECIALLY IF
TALKING ABOUT NOT TAKING FOLKS
TO JAIL BUT USING ALTERNATIVES
TO ARREST, MORE TIME THAT
LAPSES BETWEEN THAT INTERACTION
AND FIRST COURT DATE INCREASES
LIKELIHOOD THAT FOLKS WILL HAVE
A FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR COURT.
SO PART OF WHAT I MENTIONED IN
THE REPORT WHICH WOULD BE THE
ONE ASPECT WHERE WE COULD
INCREASE THE SYSTEM WOULD BE
LOOKING AT TAKING SOME OF THE
FUNDS SAVED FROM POTENTIALLY
POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUTTING
THOSE INCITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE
TO EXPAND NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS
THEY HAVE FOR THE EXPLICIT
PURPOSE OF MAKING DECISIONS AT
A FASTER RATE AND THAT COULD BE
PROVISO SO IT IS NOT USED FOR
PROSECUTION, ONLY USED FOR
DIVERSION DIVISION WITHIN THE
CRIMINAL DIVISION OF THE CAO.
REALLY LIMITING USE OF FUNDS IN
A WAY THAT'S NOT PUNITIVE BUT
THAT INCREASES LIKELIHOOD THAT
FOLKS AREN'T GOING TO GET FTAs
AND HAVE PUNITIVE RESPONSES
THAT COME WITH HAVING THE
WARRANTS OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE JUST
LOST OUR QUORUM.
I THINK WE GOT TO THE END HERE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR
WORK, CARLOS AND THE WORK OF
FOLKS AT SOCR AND OF COURSE THE
MANY, MANY YEARS AND HOURS PUT
IN BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THE WORKGROUP
AS WELL AS THEIR LIVED
EXPERIENCE AND I THINK THE
TITLE OF YOUR REPORT, REMIND ME
WHAT IT IS, CARLOS.
I THINK IT DOES A NICE JOB OF
HONORING THAT.
>> THE TITLE IS REALIGNING
SEATTLE'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
THROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH,
INTERSECTION BETWEEN COMMUNITY
WISDOM AND EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THE NEXT MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 22.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS?
GREAT.
IT IS 12:11 P.M., AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.