GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THE FEBRUARY 9, 2022 MEETING ON
THE SADDLE CITY COUNCIL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
TECHNOLOGY AND CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:33 A.M.
AND I'M SARA NELSON, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL.
>> JUAREZ?
SAWANT?
STRAUSS
HERBOLD?
SHARON NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR ARE PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS A
HEALTH ISSUE GOING ON AND WILL
NOT BE ATTENDING.
SHE COULD BE JOINING LATE AND
WE WILL WATCH OUT FOR HER
POSSIBLE ATTENDANCE.
LET'S MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF
THE G END UP.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
THERE IS A DOCUMENT THAT WILL
BE AVAILABLE ON THE RECORD AND
WE CAN HAVE THAT EXPLAINED, TO
A GREATER EXTENT WITH MANY
THINGS THAT YOU WILL HEAR TODAY
BEING AVAILABLE SHORTLY FOR
PUBLIC VIEWING.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND I
THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR
PATIENCE AND COOPERATION AS WE
OPERATE THIS REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT SYSTEM.
I WILL MODERATE IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS UP
TO 20 MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER
HAS UP TO ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE MORE THAN 20 AND IT'S
POSSIBLE WE COULD NEED TO EXTEND
THAT A BIT.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ONLINE AND EACH SPEAKER MUST
CALL IN FROM THE PHONE NUMBER
PROVIDED WHEN REGISTERED AND
USE THE I.D.
AND PASSCODE.
IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL
MEETING LINE LISTED ON THE
AGENDA AND IF YOU DID NOT
RECEIVE EMAIL CONFIRMATION,
PLEASE LOOK IN YOUR SPAM OR
OTHER EMAIL FOLDERS.
IN ADDITION, FOR A REMINDER, I
WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE ORDER THEY
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED BUT
WOULD LIKE TO DO SO, SIGN UP
BEFORE THE END OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENT HEARING BY GOING TO THE
COUNCIL WEBSITE AT SEATTLE.GOV-
COUNCIL.
IT'S LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
WHEN I CALLED THE NAME OF THE
SPEAKER, STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
MICROPHONE AND A PROMPT THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE THE
SPEAKER'S QUEUE THAT IT IS
THEIR TURN AND THEN THE SPEAKER
MUST PRESS STAR SIX TO BEGIN
AND WE WILL HEAR THAT REMINDER
OVER AND OVER A BIN STATE YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING AND THE SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN THE 10-
SECOND MARK COMES UP AND WHEN
YOU HEAR THAT TIME, PLEASE WRAP
UP AND IF THEY DO NOT STOP THE
COMMENTS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE
ALLUDED FOR ALL PEOPLE TO
SPEAK.
WHEN YOU CONCLUDE, WE ASK THAT
YOU DISCONNECT AND THEN IF YOU
WANT TO FOLLOW THE MEETING, DO
SO VIA THE SEATTLE CHANNEL OR
THE LISTENING OPTIONS ON THE
AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WE BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS á SIX
AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT THAT
YOU'VE BEEN UNMUTED.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS RANDY
BANNEKER FOLLOWED BY PETE
HANNING.
GO AHEAD, RANDY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IS
THE AUDIO WORKING?
>> IT IS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR
CONVENING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESS AND PUBLIC
SAFETY.
AS YOU KNOW, SEATTLE IS A CITY
OF UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS MADE
MORE ENGAGING BY THE BUSINESSES
IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY,
THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE SPIRIT
OF INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY THAT
HAS BEEN SUSTAINED ON A
MULTITUDE OF NATIONAL GLOBAL
GLANDS IN OUR REGION.
BEING THE PLACE WHERE THIS
HAPPENS IS VERY GOOD BECAUSE IT
OFFERS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO
US AND OUR KIDS AND FOR
BUSINESSES TO PROSPER, THEY
NEED SECURITY WELCOMING TO THE
CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR THE
PLACES OF BUSINESS.
PLEASE CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE
COMMENTS YOU HEAR FROM THE
PANEL AND HELP THEM WITH THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES THAT
LIMIT THEIR RECOVERY AND OUR
STATE'S RECOVERY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT, WE HAVE PETE FOLLOWED BY
MATTHEW HUMPHREY.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING MADAM CHAIR AND
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS AND THANK
YOU FOR HOSTING THIS IMPORTANT
MEETING.
MY NAME IS PETE HANNING AND I
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS
MORNING ABOUT NIGHTLIFE AND
PUBLIC SAFETY.
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING,
NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT HAS
BEEN A VITAL PART OF SEATTLE'S
FABRIC.
WE ARE AT A SCARY INFLECTION
POINT.
THE NIGHTLIFE ECONOMY NEEDS
SUPPORT.
OUR GUESTS AND EMPLOYEES FEEL
UNSAFE AND OUR BUSINESSES HAVE
BEEN REPEATEDLY BROKEN INTO AND
VANDALIZED.
WE KNOW A VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE
ECONOMY IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A
SAFE AND ALIVE CITY.
EACH PRECINCT WITHIN OUR CITY IS
MULTITUDES OF ENTERTAINMENT
ZONES.
WE HAVE A NEW AND EMERGING
NIGHTLIFE COMMUNITY IN THE SoDo
THAT IS BOTH EXCITING AND
TENUOUS.
WITHOUT INTENTIONAL SUPPORT, IT
COULD FALTER.
I URGE THE CITY TO LOOK AT THE
NIGHTLIFE ECONOMY AS PART OF
THE TOOLS THAT WE CAN USE TO
PULL OURSELVES OUT OF THIS AND
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
YOUR GENUINE SUPPORT FOR THE
COUNCIL LOOKING AT THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AS THE ADVERSARY.
THIS DYNAMIC MUST CHANGE AND WE
NEED HELP AND WE ARE A VITAL
PART OF WHAT MAKES SEATTLE
SPECIAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, PETE AND THE NEXT
SPEAKER IS MATTHEW HUMPHREY
FOLLOWED BY NICK GLAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I
MATTHEW HUMPHREY AND I'M
SPEAKING ON THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE SINCE 2005.
I'M IN THE ROOSEVELT
NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN THE PAST
TWO YEARS MY BUSINESSES HAVE
BEEN BURGLARIZED AND SHOPLIFTED
FROM FOR THOSE THAT APPEAR TO
HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES,
COSTING ME OVER 25,000 DOLLARS'
WORTH OF DAMAGE AND LOSS.
I LOST COVERAGE WITH MY FIRST
INSURANCE AND HAD DIFFICULTY
FINDING COVERAGE BECAUSE MY
BUSINESSES ARE IN SEATTLE.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED SHOPLIFTING
AND MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO OUR
PROPERTIES.
44 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND
I PAY A CONSIDERABLE TAX BASE.
I'M NOT EVEN CONSIDERING THE
MOST BASIC SECURITY I WOULD
EXPECT IN A CITY LIKE SEATTLE.
OWNERS ARE SUFFERING
FINANCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AS
WE TRY TO RETURN AND REBUILD
AFTER COVID.
PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO
CREATING REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR
THESE CRIMINALS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE NOW UP TO NICK GLAD AND
THEN MICHAEL. NICK?
REMEMBER TO PRESS á SIX,
PLEASE.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
MY NAME IS NICK GLAD AND I'M
THE OWNER OF A BREWERY IN THE
DISTRICT ON 45th AND EIGHTH. I
WANT TO CALL IN BECAUSE WE ARE A
SNARL.
SADNESS AND HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING WITH SECURITY.
WE'VE BEEN IN OUR SPACE SINCE
AUGUST AND HAVE ADDED THREE
ATTEMPTED BREAK-INS, FOR
BROKEN'S, COUNTLESS GRAFFITI,
HUMAN EXCREMENT AND NEEDLES, ET
CETERA.
WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT BUT THE
MOST TRAGIC THING IS WE'VE HAD
MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF MENTALLY
ILL AND DRUGGED OUT INDIVIDUALS
THREATENING STAFF AND
CUSTOMERS.
WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE STAFFING
OUR BUSINESSES AT THE NORMAL
HOURS WE WERE PLANNING.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS
TREMENDOUS.
THERE IS A VERY REAL FEAR OF
OUR EMPLOYEES, EVERY DAY COMING
AND NOT KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN
. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE ABOUT
1.5 BLOCKS FROM A VERY LARGE
ENCAMPMENT ENCAMPMENT.
I CAN UNQUIVOCALLY SAY A LOT
OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE ARE
DIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT
ENCAMPMENT AND SEATTLE HAS A
GENERAL FAILURE TO SUPPORT
THESE INDIVIDUALS AND MERCHANTS
IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY NAOMI
LEWIS.
>> I'M MICHAEL MULLANEY AND I
MEAN DISTRICT 3. I'M EXPRESSING
CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMITTEE
MEETING NOT BEING IN THE
APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR DISCUSSION
OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE CITY ALREADY HAS PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
PANEL AND INSTEAD OF
DUPLICATING THAT WORK, THE
COMMITTEE SHOULD FOCUS ON
INVESTING IN THE BIPOC
COMMUNITY TO ENSURE EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ASSISTING
BUSINESSES STRUGGLING THROUGH
TWO YEARS OF REDUCED TRAFFIC
DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND
PREVENTING LARGE TECHNOLOGY
COMPANIES FROM SQUEEZING
BUSINESSES BY TAKING A LARGER
PERCENTAGE IN FEES AND ENSURING
BUSINESSES AREN'T DISPLACED BY
RISING RENTS.
ALSO, PROTECTING WORKERS FROM
WAGE THEFT.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS NAOMI, FOLLOWED BY
JENNIFER AND SHANE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS NAOMI LEWIS AND I'M
THE OWNER OF LUMINOUS LABS,
FACIAL STUDIO ON UNIVERSITY AND
47th AND I'VE BEEN OPEN TWO
MONTHS AND WAS RECENTLY ROBBED
OF ALL MY PRODUCTS AND
EQUIPMENT.
I ALSO OWN A SPOT IN CAPITAL
HILL THAT HAS BEEN IN OPERATION
FOR 20 YEARS.
ND NO STRANGER TO THE CRIME
AND VIOLENCE IN THIS CITY.
HOWEVER, WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING
IN THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
SHOULD BE DECLARED A DISTRICT
EMERGENCY CRISIS.
WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF
POLICE AND SAFETY OFFICERS
WALKING THE BEAT EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
THE CITY COUNCIL MAY HAVE
WALKED UP AND DOWN THE AVENUE
TO ASSESS THE SITUATION WITH
BROKEN WINDOWS AND GRAFFITI,
BUT THAT IS ONLY SCRATCHING THE
SURFACE.
THE ALLEYS ARE COVERED IN
NEEDLES AND GARBAGE AND THEY
ARE DARK AND INVITING FOR
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
THE WORKERS DON'T WANT TO BE IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WE ARE VITAL
FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SHOULD BE
LOOKED AFTER LIKE ANY OTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD ON A DAILY BASIS.
I'M FEARFUL FOR MY TEAM'S
SAFETY.
WE OPERATE WITH PANIC BUTTONS,
MACE, TASER AND A GUARD DOG.
NOBODY SHOULD OPERATE THIS WAY.
I INVADE SARA NELSON TO SPEND A
WHOLE DAY WITH ME TO EXPERIENCE
THE ESSENCE OF THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JENNIFER AND THEN SHANE
CLYBURN.
WE WILL BE MUTING AT ONE MINUTE
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS
ON OUR LIST AND I'M SORRY ABOUT
THAT, BUT GO AHEAD.
JENNIFER?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER AND I'M THE
DIRECTOR FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD
FARMERS MARKET.
WE ORGANIZE MARKETS IN THE
SEVEN DENSELY POPULATED SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
EACH WEEK WE ARE FACED WITH
HARASSMENT AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND OVERDOSE CRISES.
IN THE PAST MONTH WE'VE HAD TWO
ASSAULTS ON MEMBERS WHO ARE NO
MATCH FOR A PERSON NAVIGATING
THE FOG OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
REGARDLESS OF TRAINING OR
RESOURCES I'VE PUT IN THEIR
HANDS.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE
SOLUTIONS PRESENTED TODAY WHILE
SEATTLE GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH
THE ROOT CAUSES AFFECTING OUR
COMMUNITY.
I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO SERIOUSLY
CONSIDER THE QUESTIONS AND
COORDINATE FOR THOSE THAT ARE
STRUGGLING TO OBTAIN SERVICES
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THEY
NEED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR
WORKING TO IMPROVE THE
COMMUNITY WE ALL SHARE.
>> THANK YOU.
SHANE CLYBURN FOLLOWED BY GAIL
AND THEN MALIK AND THEN
JONATHAN.
GO AHEAD.
>> REMEMBER TO PRESS á SIX TO
SPEAK.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> SORRY.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME TO BEGIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SHANE, WHERE HAVING A HARD
TIME.
>> SORRY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
GO AHEAD.
>> SORRY.
IT WAS SWITCHING ME BACK-AND-
FORTH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I MANAGE THE DISTRICT MARKET
FOR THE SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD
FARMER MARKETS WITH JENNIFER
AND I LIVE IN THE SIXTH
DISTRICT.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE
MARKETS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE
IN INCIDENTS INVOLVING PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. A
FEW WEEKS AGO, I WAS PHYSICALLY
ASSAULTED WHILE STANDING
BETWEEN ONE OF THE MARKET
VENDORS AND A MAN HERE TO TALK.
I WASN'T INJURED AND NEITHER WAS
THE VENDOR OR ANYONE NEARBY BUT
I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE
PUBLIC SAFETY CONVERSATIONS ARE
FOCUSED ON CRIME REDUCTION AT
THE EXPENSE OF SUPPORT FOR
PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS OF
SEATTLE.
SECURITY IS IMPORTANT BUT WE
NEED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
THE MAN WHO ATTACKED ME WAS NOT
A HARDENED CRIMINAL AND I'M NOT
ANGRY WITH HIM.
HE AND OTHERS NEED HELP
INCLUDING STABLE HOUSING AND
ACCESS TO CARE BUT I HOPE
SOLUTIONS WILL INCLUDE THE
SUPPORT TO HELP THOSE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
WE WANT SEATTLE TO BE SAFER FOR
EVERYONE TO INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR
THE MOST VULNERABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MALIK AND THEN JONATHAN
FLEMING.
>> ARE YOU THERE?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I OWN AND RUN GARGOYLE
STATUARY AND IT'S ON UNIVERSITY
WAY FOR THE LAST 29 YEARS AND
IT HAS BECOME VERY UNSAFE AND
UNSTABLE OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS.
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, MY
NEIGHBORS IN MY BUILDING HAVE
BEEN BROKEN INTO AND
VANDALIZED.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, I HAD HEROIN
NEEDLES PUT THROUGH MY MAIL
SLOT WHICH I STEPPED INTO AND
LUCKILY DID NOT STAB MYSELF.
EVERY DAY WE DEAL WITH PEOPLE
VISIBLY HIGH ON DRUGS AND
MENTALLY UNSTABLE AND WE
CONSTANTLY FEEL UNSAFE.
WE HAVE HAD OUR WINDOWS
VANDALIZED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER
THE PAST YEAR.
WE ARE FEARFUL TO MAKE CHANGES
BECAUSE WE KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN
AGAIN.
WE NEED MORE OFFICERS AND
PATROLS ON REGULAR BASIS AND
SOCIAL SERVICES TO HELP THE
MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS
PEOPLE LIVING ON THE AVENUE AND
CAUSING TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY
HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER, WE SHOULD
BE DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS
ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE ARE NOT TRAINED TO DEAL WITH
DRUG ATTICS AND THE MENTALLY
ILL AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO
SUPPORT US.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME WE'VE
BEEN IN BUSINESS AND I'VE NEVER
SEEN THINGS SO BAD.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS AND
THAT IS IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
NEXT, WE HAVE JONATHAN FLEMING
AND THEN SHAWNA McMAHON AND
THEN PETER.
.
>> I'M JONATHAN FLEMING AND I'M
HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SAFETY
ISSUES IN PIONEER SQUARE.
WE ARE ACROSS FROM THE FIRE
STATION ON SECOND AVENUE AND
OUR STORY ISN'T MUCH DIFFERENT
WITH REGARD TO COVID-19 BUT I'M
HERE TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES IN
PIONEER SQUARE AND THE IMPACT
ON OUR BUSINESS.
WE'VE SEEN INCREASES OF THEFT,
VANDALISM, GENERAL AGGRESSION
AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD OUR TEAM AND
GUESTS.
WE'VE DEALT WITH MULTIPLE BREAK-
INS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN VANDALIZED ON
MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND HAVE
CABINETS TOSSED WHILE WE WERE
RUNNING FOOD TO A TABLE.
WE HAD OUR OUTSIDE FURNITURE
STOLEN.
WE HAVE MORE ISSUES THAN TIME
TO TELL AND IT HAS A SEVERE
IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESS BUT
THERE WAS A DECLINE IN REVENUE
DURING DINNER HOURS AND WITHOUT
CHANGE, WE FEAR IT WILL GET
WORSE.
THERE IS A STIGMA THAT PIONEER
SQUARE SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
THEY ARE ENTERING RETAIL
STOREFRONTS ALL OVER THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S TIME TO
ACTION FOR SEATTLE OR OTHERWISE,
MORE STOREFRONTS WILL BE EMPTY.
FOR THE BUSINESS TO SURVIVE, WE
NEED PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE COMING
TO WORK.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
LET'S SEE -- ANYBODY WHO WASN'T
ABLE TO FINISH THEIR COMMENTS
IS WELCOME TO SEND THEM IN AND
WE WILL MAKE SURE THEY ARE
AVAILABLE AND ON PUBLIC RECORD.
OKAY.
SHAWNA McMAHON AND THEN PETER
AND THEN MICHELLE KENNY.
>> GO AHEAD, PETER.
PRESS á 6.
>> SORRY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS SHAWNA'S TURN,
FIRST.
GOOD MORNING.
>> HOLD ON.
I APOLOGIZE, SHAWNA.
ARE YOU AVAILABLE?
>> SHAWNA IS LISTED AS NOT
PRESENT.
>> GO AHEAD, PETER.
>> THANK YOU AND HELLO.
I'M A DISTRICT 6 RESIDENT AND A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND I'M
CALLING TO SAY THAT THE CITY
SHOULD NOT BE RESPONDING TO
SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY AND THE
LACK OF THIS WITH BLAMING
INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS.
RECIDIVISM IS NEARLY GUARANTEED
WHEN PEOPLE ARE FORCED INTO THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND LATER
RELEASED TO AN UNCHANGED OR
WORSE AND ECONOMIC SITUATION.
TO PREVENT HARM, THIS COMMUNITY
SHOULD FOCUS ON EQUITABLE
COMMUNITY LED INVESTMENTS AND
NOT ON NOTIONS OF INCREASED
POLICE AND COME ONLY OPERATING
BY THREATENING OR PERPETRATING
VIOLENCE.
YOU SHOULD CENTER THE INJUSTICE
IS THAT LOW INCOME RESIDENTS
FACE LIKE WAGE THEFT AND WORK
ON GETTING BASIC NEEDS MET.
IN THE MEANTIME, I WOULD RATHER
STABILIZE THEM AND LET BUSINESS
OWNERS HAUL THEMSELVES UP BY
THEIR BOOTSTRAPS.
WE SHOULD NOT BASE POLICIES ON
A HAND SELECT FEW BUSINESS OWNER
OPINIONS.
I DO NOT LIKE THAT PUBLIC
DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON THIS
DISCUSSION TODAY WHICH WILL
PRIORITIZE THE PROFITS OF
CAPITAL OWNERS SITTING AT THE
TABLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND NEXT,
MICHELLE AND THEN DAVID HAYNES.
MICHELLE IS NOT PRESENT.
>> I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND
COFOUNDER OF SEATTLE COFFEE
WORKS.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, OUR CAFCS
WERE BROKEN INTO AND SET ON
FIRE.
OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPIT ON,
PUNCHED IN THE FACE AND
STOMPED.
WE ARE HAVING MORE DIMINISHED
BEHAVIOR WITH LESS MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT AND PATROLS ON THE
STREET.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE WITH
HUMANITY AND COMPASSION.
WE KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND MOST OF
THEM, INCLUDING THOSE LIVING ON
THE STREETS DO NOT COMMIT THESE
BAD BEHAVIORS.
LET'S NOT BLAME AN ENTIRE GROUP
FOR THE PROPERTY DAMAGE.
INSTEAD, PLEASE PUT GOVERNMENT
MONEY INTO GRANTS TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES TO REBUILD,
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN
THE VICTIMS OF ONGOING ASSAULT.
WE'VE SPENT THOUSANDS OF
UNREIMBURSED DOLLARS AT A TIME
WHEN THE REVENUE IS DOWN MORE
THAN 50% FOR TWO YEARS.
INSTEAD OF BLAMING UNHOUSED
PEOPLE, WE'VE ASKED THE WELL-
OFF PEOPLE TO TURN OFF
COMPUTERS, GET OUT OF THEIR
HOUSES AND COME DOWN TOWN TO
THEIR LOCAL SHOPPING DISTRICT
AND WALK AROUND AND MAKE EYE
CONTACT.
SMILE AND LAUGH.
>> THANK YOU AND THEN WE HAVE
DAVID HAYNES FOLLOWED BY LOIS
AND JIM.
>> DAVID HAYNES AND I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 7 AND I'M WITNESS TO
EVIL CRIMINALS TAKING OVER
PIONEER SQUARE PARK IN THE
INTEREST OF THE NEW RESTAURANT
EVERY NIGHT CONDUCTING CIVIL
WAR ON THE COMMITTED AND COMPS
ARE NOT EVEN TRAINED PROPERLY.
ALWAYS QUICK TO HAVE EXCUSES
WHY THEY CAN'T AND WON'T ARREST
EVIL CRIMINALS RUINING
DOWNTOWN.
THE MAJORITY OF THE CRISIS IS
DIRECTLY LINKED TO CITY
COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, THE U.S.
ATTORNEY, THE POLICE AND A
FEDERAL JUDGE SIGNING OFF ON
UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICE REFORM
AND EXEMPTING DRUG PUSHERS FROM
JAIL AND DESTROYING LIVES DAILY
DUE TO CRACK, METH AND HEROIN.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY INEPT SABOTAGING
UNQUALIFIED POLITICAL POLICE
CHIEF DOES MORE FAVORS FOR THE
CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD WITH HIS
LEADERSHIP AND THE LAW-ABIDING
COMMUNITIES.
THE POLICE CHIEF THINKS IT'S
MORE IMPORTANT TO RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING AND LAW-ABIDING
CITIZENS BEING PILOTED BY THE
COMMUNITY TO BELIEVE THE REAL
PROBLEM IS HOMELESSNESS.
THEY GET BLAMED FOR THE PAYDAY
FOR COPS WHILE THEY NEVER
DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION.
.
>> HELLO MADAM CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I OWN A SMALL ICE CREAM SHOP IN
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND ON
BALLARD ON CAPITOL HILL.
I SPEAK UP BECAUSE OF THE
SAFETY OF MY STAFF AND
CUSTOMERS AND THE VIBRANCY OF
MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS THREATENED.
I'VE BEEN HERE 16 YEARS AND
NEVER FELT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY
STAFF AND NEIGHBORS AS I DO
NOW. A
FEW LATE-NIGHT BUSINESSES ON MY
BLOCK ARE CONSIDERING CLOSING
EARLIER AND WE ARE NOT EVEN
BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC HOURS OF
OPERATION.
WE HAD KNIVES AND BROKEN BOTTLES
BRANDISHED.
WINDOW AND GLASS IS BROKEN.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE EVERYTHING
STOLEN AND WHEN WE ARE
ASSAULTED, WE FEEL MARGINALIZED
AND UNWANTED.
THEY QUESTION THE EXISTENCE OF
OUR BUSINESS.
THE FUTURE, WE NEED A SAFE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND A THRIVING
BUSINESS SEGMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JIM KAREN'S AND THEN MOW CON.
JIM, ARE YOU THERE?
PRESS á 6, PLEASE.
OKAY.
IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE
JOINING OR SPEAKING, WE WILL
COME BACK TO YOU.
LET'S HEAR FROM MOE CON PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M THE THIRD-GENERATION OWNER
OF CEDAR'S RESTAURANT IN THE U
DISTRICT AND WE'VE NEVER SEEN,
OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS THIS
BUSINESS HAS BEEN AROUND, WE'VE
NEVER SEEN THE U DISTRICT IN
ITS CURRENT STATE.
WE HAVE FECES AT OUR DOOR THAT
WE CLEAN UP ALMOST ON A WEEKLY
BASIS AND WE HAVE NEEDLES AND
CUSTOMERS BEING BLOWN SMOKE ON
AND STAFF DEALING WITH
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VERY, VERY
VIOLENT AND ON DRUGS.
SO, WHAT WE NEED IS OUR POLICE
OFFICERS AND OUR SOCIAL WORKERS
TO HAVE MORE OF A STRONG
PRESENCE IN THE U DISTRICT
RIGHT NOW.
I BELIEVE WE CAN DO THIS IF WE
CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND COME
TO AN ADEQUATE SOLUTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR LAST THREE PRESENTERS ARE
JUSTIN VOGEL, AURORA BENNETT
AND LENA.
>> THIS IS JUSTIN VOGEL.
WE RUN AND OPERATE LOCATIONS
WITH HEALTH AND BEAUTY AND
SUGARPLUM AND THE U DISTRICT
AND BALLARD AND DOWNTOWN.
WE HAVE BEEN TREATED VERY
POORLY IN REGARD TO LOTS OF
HOSTILITY AND HAVING OUR STAFF
ACCOSTED.
A LOT OF SIMILAR COMMENTS HAVE
BEEN SAID BY THE BUSINESS
OWNERS AND THE RESIDENTS IN
NORTH SEATTLE AND THE SEATTLE
MARKET, IN GENERAL.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE LANDLORDS
THAT DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING
ABOUT SAFETY AND THEY SAY THAT
WE HAVE TO EXTERNALIZE IT AND
PAY FOR IT OURSELVES.
THE MARKET, IN GENERAL, HAS
MADE IT THAT WE HAVE HEAVILY
QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT SEATTLE
IS GOING TO BE THE LONG-TERM
PLACE THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE
TO BE AT.
WE'VE ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO
REALLY REVIEW THE POLICE AND
SAFETY AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
SO WE CAN GET A SAFE CITY.
WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT, WE HAVE DONNA HOLLOWAY.
>> EXCUSE ME.
HAS AURORA BENNETT SPOKEN?
>> NO.
THAT'S ME.
HI.
I'M A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE AND I GREW UP HERE AND
HAVE MANAGED MY FAMILY'S
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY IN
THE LAST 10 YEARS AND WE'VE
BEEN ACTIVE 40 YEARS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LOW INCOME AND
AFFORDABLE RENTALS IN THE SOUTH
SEATTLE AREA AND WE'VE ALWAYS
FELT LIKE OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE
BEEN THE DUMPING GROUNDS FOR
ISSUES IN THE CITY BUT IT'S
RAMPANT IN MOST NEIGHBORHOODS
THESE DAYS.
THE NEWEST RESULT OF CRIME IN
OUR CITY IS THE REDLINING
TAKING PLACE WITH OUR
INSURANCE.
WE'VE LOST COVERAGE AND HAD TO
SEEK OUT NEW COVERAGE AND WE
ARE TOLD WE WOULD LOSE COVERAGE
NEXT YEAR AND THAT IS JUST FOR
BEING IN SEATTLE.
WE KNOW THAT NEXT YEAR, BY
LOSING FURTHER COVERAGE, WE HAVE
NOWHERE TO GO WHEN WE HAVE
THESE INSTANCES.
WE REALLY QUESTION HOW SMALL
BUSINESSES WILL EXIST IN
SEATTLE IF THE CITY IS NOT
TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE
ISSUES. WE OFFER BASIC HUMAN
NEEDS TWO PEOPLE THAT NEED LOW
INCOME HOUSING AND WE DO OUR
BEST BUT WE NEED MORE SUPPORT
AND WE HOPE ALL OF OUR TENANTS
CAN REMAIN SAFE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE SLIGHTLY EXTENDED THE
20 MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR THESE
PUBLIC COMMENTS BUT THERE ARE
JUST THREE MORE PRESENTERS.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC, AND PERIOD WILL BE
EXTENDED ABOUT THREE MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, WE WILL
CONTINUE WITH THE LAST
SPEAKERS.
LENA AND THEN DAN AND THEN DON
HAL AWAY AND WE WILL CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
GO AHEAD, LENA, STAR SIX.
YOU ARE LISTED AS PRESENT,
PLEASE PRESS á6 OR WE WILL MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
OKAY.
LET'S PUT THE HOLD ON LENA AND
WE WILL GO TO DAN AND THEN
DONNA HOLLOWAY.
>> THIS IS DAN CROOKSTON AND
I'M THE OWNER AND BALLARD AND I
ADD MY CONCERN AROUND THE
SERVICES THAT NEED TO BE
PROVIDED AND MY CONCERN THAT
THE CEO OF THE HOMELESSNESS
AGENCY IN KING COUNTY ISN'T
HERE ON THE CALL WITH US OR IF
HE IS GOING TO BE GETTING THE
MINUTES FROM THIS PARTICULAR
MEETING, SO THAT HE HEARS THESE
CONCERNS, AS WELL.
THERE IS A PROFUSE AMOUNT OF
HUMAN FECES, NEEDLES AND
CLEARLY FOLKS THAT NEED HELP.
I HOPE THIS CONDITION WILL BE
HELPED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DONNA HOLLOWAY, PLEASE.
PRESS á6.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS DONNA HOLLOWAY AND
THANKS FOR MAKING TIME FOR ME.
I HAVE LIVED IN GEORGETOWN FOR
20 PLUS YEARS AND I'VE OWNED
SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE
GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
BOARD.
I'VE BEEN PUT OUT OF BUSINESS
FOR FIVE WEEKS AND I'VE BEEN
THREATENED WITH A HATCHET AND
MACHETE BY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
BEEN ARRESTED AND THEN
REPEATEDLY RELEASED.
I'M HEARING WHAT A LOT OF
BUSINESS OWNERS ARE TALKING
ABOUT, WHERE MANY OF MY
NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES HAVE
THEIR LEASE COMING UP FOR
RENEWAL AND ARE NOT GOING TO
RENEW IN SEATTLE.
I'M CONCERNED THAT VACANCIES
WILL INCREASE.
THIS CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE
ACTION TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS,
BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE
UNHOUSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL GIVE ONE MORE
OPPORTUNITY FOR LENA TO SPEAK
OR WE WILL JUST CLOSE THE
MEETING.
ARE YOU AVAILABLE?
STAR SIX, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS CLOSES THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE
THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM A SELECT
FEW BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE CITY
AND WE WILL SPEAK FOR OTHERS
THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM WITH
BUSINESS OWNERS CALLED AND
EMAILED TO OUR OFFICE.
LET'S GO TO THE ITEM OF
BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ITEM ON THE AGENDA INTO THE
RECORD?
>> ITEM 1, A ROUNDTABLE
DISCUSSION ON SMALL BUSINESS
PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION, ONLY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL INTRODUCE THE PANEL
PRESENTERS IN A MOMENT BUT I
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
TAKING THE TIME.
I UNDERSTAND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ARE REALLY BUSY AND IT'S
HARD TO MAKE TIME TO MAKE
TESTIMONY AT THESE COUNCIL
MEETINGS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE 75
PEOPLE THAT HAVE WRITTEN OUR
OFFICE AND MANY COUNCILMEMBERS
THAT HAVE GOTTEN SOME OF THESE
SAME LETTERS. I
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.
THESE ARE FOLKS ALL OVER THE
CITY VOICING SIMILAR AND VERY
PARTICULAR CONCERNS.
FINALLY, THOSE WHO HAVE SHOWED
US THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAVE TAKEN WALKING TOURS IN
COLUMBIA CITY AND THE U
DISTRICT AND BELLTOWN AND WE'VE
HEARD FROM NOT JUST BUSINESS
OWNERS, BUT NONPROFITS, ART
VENUES STRUGGLING WITH MANY OF
THE SAME INTERESTS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.
I AM HEARING AND LISTENING TO
YOU.
LET ME BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS A
CRISIS.
THESE ISSUES THAT WE ARE
HEARING ARE ESCALATING AND THEY
ARE INTENSIFYING AND BECOMING
BRAZENLY DISRUPTIVE TO
BUSINESSES AND DANGEROUS TO
STAFF AND CUSTOMERS.
I WANT TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF
IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE AND
THE URGENCY THAT WE HEAR THESE
STORIES AND THINK ABOUT SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS WE CAN MAKE
RIGHT NOW.
WE ALL KNOW THAT CRIME IS A
HUGELY COMPLEX ISSUE AND EVEN
HAVING MORE OFFICERS ON THE
STREET WON'T CUT IT BECAUSE
EVEN BEFORE THERE WAS SUCH A
STAFFING SHORTAGE, THERE DID
NOT SEEM TO BE ENOUGH TO START
ADDRESSING RISING CRIME WELL
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.
I WANT TO THANK MAYOR HARRELL
AND CHIEF DIAZ AND SCOGGINS FOR
PARTICIPATING IN THE PRESS
CONFERENCE LAST WEEK WHERE THE
EXECUTIVE MADE CLEAR THE
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THEM AND, PERHAPS,
OUR CITY ATTORNEY, TO PUT
THINGS IN PLACE THAT CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW.
I WAS STRUCK WHEN MY STAFF WAS
TALKING TO BUSINESSES AND
NONPROFITS IN OUR TOURS AND
INDIVIDUALLY AND WITH PHONE
CALLS, ET CETERA.
YES, THERE IS PROPERTY DAMAGE
AND BREAK-INS AND REPEAT
VANDALISM, ARSON.
THESE THINGS ARE CREATING
SITUATIONS THAT THESE
BUSINESSES ARE THINKING THERE IS
ALMOST NO WAY TO REMAIN VIABLE
IN OUR CITY.
ONE COMMON THREAD IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS IS THAT THIS IS
NOT JUST ABOUT PROPERTY. THESE
SMALL EMPLOYERS HAVE MENTIONED
ASSAULTS ON THEIR EMPLOYEES AND
THREATS AND ENTERING WITH
GUNPOINT.
I WANT TO REFINE OR NUANCE THIS
TOPIC BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT
BUSINESS OR PROPERTY CRIME.
IT'S ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME.
THAT IS ANOTHER REASON I AM
RAISING THE URGENCY. THE IMPACT
ON HUMAN BEINGS.
I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT AND
RESPOND A LITTLE BIT TO THE
COMMENTERS THAT QUESTION WHY WE
ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IN
THIS COMMITTEE.
WE'VE RECEIVED EMAILS THAT ARE
SAYING THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD BE
FOCUSED ON INVESTING IN THE
BIPOC BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO
ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
CAPITAL, ASSISTING BUSINESSES
STRUGGLING FROM TWO STRAIGHT
YEARS OF REDUCED CUSTOMER
TRAFFIC DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND
ENSURING BUSINESSES ARE NOT
DISPLACED BY HIGHER RENT, ET
CETERA.
THOSE ITEMS ARE IN MY 2022 WORK
PLAN THAT WILL BE FINALIZED
VERY SOON AND WE ARE NOT, NOT
FOCUSING ON THESE ISSUES.
HOWEVER, BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING
AND WE'VE RECENTLY HEARD THAT
OUR OFFICE HAD PEOPLE TALKING
ABOUT VACATING TOMORROW AND THEY
CITE RISING CRIME AND THREATS TO
EMPLOYEES AS THE REASON THEY ARE
LEAVING.
WE ARE LOSING BUSINESSES AND
THEIR TAX REVENUE AND WE ARE
LOSING GATHERING PLACES THAT
ARE THE NODES OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES
AND WE ARE LOSING JOBS.
WE ARE LOSING LIVELIHOODS.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS KEY TO
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND THAT IS
PRECISELY WHY WE ARE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION IN THIS COMMITTEE.
I WILL BE WORKING WITH
COLLEAGUES WHO WANT TO DIG IN
ON THE WAYS THAT THE THINGS WE
HEAR TODAY ARE RELEVANT TO
THEIR COMMUNITY AND I WELCOME
COLLABORATION WITH THEM AND WITH
THE EXECUTIVE, TO COME UP WITH
SOLUTIONS IN THE VERY NEAR TERM
THAT CAN HELP.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT CRIME IS AN
EXTREMELY COMPLICATED ISSUE AND
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ARREST OUR
WAY OUT OF THIS ISSUE, EVEN IF
WE HAD AN ADEQUATELY STAFFED
SPD DEPARTMENT. I
WOULD LIKE TO NOW TURN IT OVER
TO OUR EMCEE, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP.
HE WILL CALL ON PANELISTS TO
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND THEN
RUN US THROUGH THE AGENDA THAT
WE'VE GOT BEFORE US.
THERE WILL BE AMPLE TIME FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO ASK QUESTIONS
AND MAKE COMMENTS.
THIS IS A SESSION WHERE WE ARE
TRYING TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATION AROUND THINGS WE
CAN DO RIGHT NOW AND THESE ARE
THE EXPERTS ON THE FRONT LINES
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE
CITY AND THAT'S WHY I'M GETTING
A SEAT AT THE TABLE, TO HAVE
THEIR EXPERTISE GOING FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I AM PASS THE BATON
TO DON BLAKENEY.
TAKE IT FROM THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR
NELSON.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THE OTHER
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TAKING THE
TIME TO HEAR THIS IMPORTANT
DISCUSSION ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT
RELATED TO THE CRIME WE'VE BEEN
HEARING ABOUT AND THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES WE ARE
EXPERIENCING IN SEATTLE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND OUR BUSINESS
DISTRICT.
SHARING THEIR STORIES, IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE ELEVATE THIS
AND A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE REPRESENT THE DISTRICT
ALONGSIDE THE UNIVERSITY
CAMPUS. I
FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION AND
THANK OUR PANELISTS FOR TAKING
TIME TO JOIN US AND TO SHARE
THEIR EXPERIENCES FROM THE PAST
YEAR.
I WILL READ THROUGH WHO IS
JOINING US AND AS PEOPLE GET
THEIR TURN TO SPEAK, THEY CAN
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES MORE
THOROUGHLY.
FROM PIONEER SQUARE, WE HAVE
LISA HOWARD AND WE HAVE TARIQA
WATERS FROM MARTYR SAUCE AND
FROM WEST SEATTLE, WE HAVE DAN
AUSTIN, THE OWNER OF PEEL &
PRESS AND THE OWNER OF
MARINATION, KAMALA SAXTON.
WE HAVE THE OWNER OF FIJI
BAKERY, SUSIEN LEE AND FROM
BALLARD, WE HAVE MIKE STEWART
WITH A VALID ALLIANCE AND WE
HAVE OSCAR VE;ASCO-SCHMITZ, THE
OWNER OF DOCKSIDE CANNABIS AND
THEN WE HAVE AARON GOODMAN FROM
SoDo AND WE HAVE JUSTIN
PRITCHETT, THE GENERAL MANAGER.
EACH HAS THEIR OWN STORY TO
ILLUSTRATE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
THEY ARE SEEING FROM REPEATED
CRIME AND UNADDRESSED
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES.
WE WILL SHARE A SERIES OF
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CITY TO
CONSIDER THE AIM TO ADDRESS THE
IMPACT WITH THE GAPS WE SEE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
I THANK COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
FOR HER ATTENTION AND FOR
HAVING US TODAY.
WE BEGIN THIS DISCUSSION AND I
WILL HAND THE MICROPHONE TO LISA
HOWARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
THE ALLIANCE AT PIONEER SQUARE
AND I ASKED THE PANELISTS TO
KEEP THEIR REMARKS AT THREE
MINUTES SO WE HAVE TIME FOR
DISCUSSION.
>> THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE
CITYWIDE REPRESENTATION FROM
EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT AND WE
HAVE NO ONE RIGHT NOW, NOT ABLE
TO GET ANYONE FROM DISTRICT 5
BECAUSE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HAS IT COVERED.
JUST KIDDING.
I WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT IS ONE
DISTRICT NOT REPRESENTED IN
THIS PANEL TODAY.
GO ON.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
LISA HOWARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR PIONEER SQUARE. I
WISH WE WERE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A
NORMAL SENSE.
THE PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TO BRING
RECOVERY TO OUR BUSINESS
DISTRICTS, SUPPORTING THE
EXISTING BUSINESSES AND THE
INDIVIDUAL DEI WORK TO ENSURE
THAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE
LISTENING, LEARNING AND GROWING
AND CREATING A WELCOMING
COMMUNITY FOR ALL.
BUT, WE ARE NOT.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW THE
ISSUES HAVE PERPETUATED THE
COVID-19 ACUTE IMPACT ON
SEATTLE'S WELL-BEING.
WE ARE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
AND HEARING THAT PIONEER SAFETY
IS THEIR TOP CONCERN.
LAST WEEK, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL,
ONE OF HUNDREDS OVER THE LAST
TWO YEARS.
SOME ARE ANGRY AND SOME ARE SAD
BUT THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME
TONE.
HERE IS A QUOTE FROM IT.
AS MUCH AS WE LOVE THE CITY AND
PIONEER SQUARE, WE ARE NOT ABLE
TO STAY DUE TO THE SAFETY AND
CONCERN FOR OUR STAFF.
AS A COMMUNITY, THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC ON THE RIOTS AND THE
RISING CRIME, THE CITY AND AREA
IS NOT ATTAINABLE TO RUN A
NORMAL BUSINESS.
AFTER FOUR YEARS IN PIONEER
SQUARE, WE MADE THE PAINFUL
CHOICE TO LEAVE.
IT'S THE SECOND LOWEST
OCCUPANCY RATE WITH THE DAYTIME
WORKFORCE FOOT TRAFFIC DOWN 79
BEN PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS AND
MAJOR EMPLOYERS SIGNAL IS NOT
THE PANDEMIC KEEP WAY BUT IT IS
THE ABILITY TO KEEP EMPLOYEES
SAFE.
COMPANY LEADERS AND GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES HAVE PUBLICLY SPOKEN
ABOUT THREATS TO SAFETY
DIRECTLY TO THE MEDIA.
WE ARE LOSING PUBLIC SPACES AND
ECONOMIC VITALITY.
WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE RESULTS
SHOW THAT THROUGH SEPTEMBER,
850 INCIDENTS OF ASSAULTS,
PROPERTY CRIME AND THEFT WITH
36 OWNERS REPORTING THE
COLLECTIVE CAUSE TO BE OVER
$190,000 AND OVER HALF THE
RESPONDENTS SAID CRIME
INCREASED FROM 2020 THROUGH 2021
AND 71'S AND EMPLOYEES FEEL
UNSAFE AND 82% FEEL CUSTOMERS
ARE UNSAFE.
I HOPE WE CAN WORK TO BUILD A
WELCOMING AND EQUITABLE CITY WE
WANT TO SEE AND THOSE THAT
STAYED TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE
BUILT NEED YOUR HELP NOW MORE
THAN EVER.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
GALLERY OWNER, A TWO.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
YEAH, I WILL JUST START AND I
FEEL LIKE I'M JUST GOING TO
ECHO A LOT OF POINTS MADE.
MY NAME IS TARIQA WATERS AND I
RUN THE MARTYR SAUCE ART
GALLERY AND THE POP ART MUSEUM
ON SOUTH JACKSON STREET.
I'VE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
10 YEARS AND THE STORIES ARE
NOT UNLIKE EVERYONE'S.
MY BUILDING HAS BEEN BROKEN
INTO MULTIPLE TIMES.
MY PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
HAS BEEN PUT ON THE LINE MORE
TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.
HUMAN WASTE AND LOOKED AND I
WANT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT
I'M NOT FOCUSING ON A
PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC OF
FOLKS, ESPECIALLY WITH REMOVING
HUMAN WASTE.
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH FOLKS
FROM OUTSIDE SEATTLE COMING IN,
ESPECIALLY BEING SO CLOSE TO THE
STADIUM.
I'VE ALSO BEEN THREATENED WITH
RACIAL SLURS AND WEAPONS.
DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS WITH MY
STAFF, I CAN ONLY OPERATE BY
APPOINTMENT-ONLY.
IT'S A LITTLE DISHEARTENING, AT
THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY WITH
HAVING TO -- WAS TRYING TO STAY
OPTIMISTIC AND STAY ON THE
POSITIVE SIDE AND USE ART AS A
WAY TO BRING LIGHT AND JOY TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU WANT
FOLKS TO ENJOY THE WORK BUT
THAT'S NOT WHAT I HAVE 90% OF
THE TIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, YEAH -- I WILL KEEP MY
REMARKS SHORT AND SWEET.
I'M SURE WE WILL TALK MORE
ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS AS WE GO
ALONG.
IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT AND I
REALLY HOPE THAT THIS STARTS TO
TURN IN A WAY WHERE I CAN
CONTINUE TO INVEST IN MY WORK.
IT'S ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND I LOVE IT AND
I REALLY DO -- I REALLY DO
CHAMPION THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
ONGOING AND I WANT TO SEE THE
BEST FOR SEATTLE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE
YOUR PERSPECTIVES FROM PIONEER
SQUARE AND I WILL TURN TO WEST
SEATTLE IN DISTRICT 1 WITH DAN
AUSTIN, THE OWNER OF PEEL &
PRESS, THE WEST SEATTLE
CHAMBER.
DAN?
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THE WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE AND THE SEATTLE
RESTAURANT ALLIANCE, I JUST WANT
TO -- I DON'T WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE SAME THINGS OVER AND
OVER, BUT I WANT TO SHARE A
COUPLE OF EXPERIENCES.
IT WAS NOT AN UNHOUSED
INDIVIDUAL AND PEOPLE THINK WE
WILL FOCUS ON DRUG ISSUES ON
THE HOMELESS BUT THIS PERSON
LIVES IN A PRETTY NICE HOUSE NOT
FAR FROM ME AND WAS OUT ON BAIL
AND BROKE AT MY RESTAURANT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND
CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE AND WAS
ARRESTED AND WAS ALREADY OUT ON
BAIL FOR ANOTHER BREAK-IN AND
WHILE ON BAIL FROM MY BREAK IN,
CONTINUED BREAKING INTO ANOTHER
THREE OR FOUR BUSINESSES AND
ONE INVOLVED SWAT HAVING TO BE
CALLED TO WESTWOOD BECAUSE A
GUN WAS STOLEN DURING A BREAK
IN. A
RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT'S
REPETITIVE.
TO GO OUT AND VICTIMIZE AND
EVERY TIME I WATCHED ANOTHER
BUSINESS GET VICTIMIZED, I FELT
VICTIMIZED AND IT WAS
HEARTBREAKING TO CONSISTENTLY
HAVE THAT PAIN ON ME AND TO SEE
OTHER VICTIMIZED BUSINESSES.
SOME PEOPLE WONDERED WHY WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT IT IN THIS
COMMITTEE. THIS PUBLIC SAFETY
PIECE WITH EMPLOYEES,
RESTAURANTS ARE INCREDIBLY
TOUGH TO GET STAFFED AND
TALKING WITH PEOPLE THROUGH THE
SEATTLE RESTAURANT ALLIANCE,
PEOPLE FEEL SAFE COMING TO WORK
IN DOWNTOWN AND OTHER AREAS AND
IT IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO
ACCEPT HIS OR OPEN PATIO
SECTIONS, OR WHATEVER.
IT'S KEEPING SALES DOWN DURING
A TIME WERE GOING FOR ANY SALES
WE COULD POSSIBLY GET. I
WAS BROKEN INTO TWICE IN THE
FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC ON
THOSE BREAK-INS WERE NOT
COVERED BY INSURANCE BECAUSE
THEY WERE BELOW THE THRESHOLD.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE FROM ME
BEING BREAKEVEN TO LOSING
MONEY.
WE'VE WORKED HARD TO BREAK EVEN
AND ANY HOPE OF BEING
FINANCIALLY SOLVENT WAS TAKEN
OUT THAT YEAR.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY PIECE FOR OUR STAFF AND
TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
I'M NOT SAYING WE NEED MORE
ARMED OFFICERS, BUT WE NEED
PEOPLE ON THE STREETS TO HELP.
WE HAD SOMEBODY MOVE IN UNDER
THE DECK WITH A CAMPING STOVE
AND THE POLICE WOULDN'T COME
OUT BECAUSE I HAD ASKED HIM TO
LEAVE BEFORE THEY SENT SOMEBODY
OUT AND THAT PERSON WAS IN A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
WE COULD HAVE BURNED DOWN OF
THE BUILDING AND TAKEN OUT SIX
BUSINESSES.
WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.
MY STAFF AND RESTAURANT
WORKERS, WE ARE NOT TRAINED TO
DEAL WITH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES.
WE WANT TO BE COMPASSIONATE AND
WE NEED SUPPORT TO HAVE
BUSINESSES THRIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KAMALA
SAXTON.
>> I'M KAMALA SAXTON, ONE OF
THE OWNERS OF MARINATION WITH
LOCATIONS IN WEST SEATTLE AND
COLUMBIA CITY.
WE HAD A LOCATION AT CAPITOL
HILL THAT WE HAVE CLOSED SINCE
THE PANDEMIC.
I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 2 AND OF SEATTLE AND I
LOVE BEING A BUSINESS OWNER IN
SEATTLE.
WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE
2009 AND CURRENTLY EMPLOY 70
PEOPLE AND PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC, WE EMPLOYED 120
PEOPLE.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS -- AND YOU
WILL HEAR THIS STORY OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN BROKEN
INTO, PROPERTY DAMAGE, THEFT,
WE'VE BEEN THREATENED BY
INDIVIDUALS BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THOSE THINGS CAN
GET REPLACED.
WE CANNOT REPLACE THE SAFETY
THAT MY EMPLOYEES FEEL AND THE
SAFETY THEY DON'T FEEL, THE
SAFETY OF OUR GUESTS AND
INDIVIDUALS THAT CAUSED THE
DAMAGE OR COMMITTED CRIMES IN
OUR BUSINESSES.
THEIR SAFETY IS IMPORTANT TO US
AND COLLECTIVELY, OUR GOAL AS A
BUSINESS AND MY GOAL IN THIS
CALL AND THE WORK I DO IS TO
COLLECTIVELY WORK WITH ALL
STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS CITY TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO REGAIN THAT
SENSE OF SAFETY BECAUSE WE ARE
LOSING EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME
RETAINING EMPLOYEES AND
RECRUITING EMPLOYEES.
IF WE CANNOT CREATE A SENSE OF
SAFETY, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO,
WE CANNOT RETAIN EMPLOYEES THAT
WE DESPERATELY NEED.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO FIGURING OUT
A COLLECTIVE WAY THAT WE CAN
KEEP ALL STAKEHOLDERS SAFE.
THAT THINK YOU.
THAT IS HELPFUL.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT
ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR SUPER SIX, A
GREAT RESTAURANT.
I WANT TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO
THE LITTLE SAIGON AREA THAT
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT.
WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON AND
THAT IS THE INTERSECTION OF
DISTRICTS ONE, TWO AND THREE.
IT'S BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE.
THANK YOU, QUYNH PHAN.
TELL US WHAT YOU ARE
EXPERIENCING.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO
TALK ABOUT THIS.
MY NAME IS QUYNH PHAN,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LITTLE
SAIGON.
WE'VE BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT AND
THE STORIES HAVE NOT BEEN
GREAT.
THE PRESUMPTION OF SAFETY, AS
YOU'VE HEARD, IS AT A LEVEL
WHERE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, FOLKS
DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.
PRE-PANDEMIC, WE HAD HIGH
VACANCY RATES AND NOW, WITH NEW
DEVELOPMENTS, AS WELL, WE
CANNOT BRING IN NEW BUSINESSES.
WE'VE HAD BROKERS AND PEOPLE GO
TO THE NONPROFIT, VERY SMALL
STAFF, ASKING US FOR HELP IN
RECRUITING BUSINESSES.
WHEN THE BUSINESSES COME AND
LOOK AT THE NICE SPACES, THEY
ASSUME IT'S GREAT UNTIL THEY
SPENT TIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THEN THEY JUST PIECE OUT.
THEY DON'T WANT TO INVEST HERE.
THE ISSUES AT 12th AND JACKSON
ARE VERY COMPLEX.
I HAVE TO SAY IT'S A
COMBINATION OF VARIOUS PEOPLE
FROM VERY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS,
FROM PLACES FROM OUTSIDE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALSO, PEOPLE
FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN THIS
PLACE WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO ANYMORE AND THE
BUSINESSES WANT TO TAKE MATTERS
INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AND I FEAR
FOR THEIR LIVELIHOODS, AS WELL.
WE ARE LUCKY, IN THE SENSE THAT
WE HAVE HAD THESE STRUGGLES FOR
MANY YEARS AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE
ESTABLISHED THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COORDINATOR AND THERE ARE
COMMUNITY-ORIENTED EFFORTS TO
WORK TOWARD SAFETY IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE COMMUNITY WALKS AND FOLKS
TAKING ON THESE STRATEGIES ARE
AT A TIPPING POINT WHERE THEY
CANNOT TAKE ON AND CONTINUE TO
DO THAT BECAUSE THEY FEAR FOR
THEIR LIVES, AS WELL.
WE'VE SEEN MANY SHOOTINGS ON
12th AND JACKSON, AS A RESULT OF
THE BLOCK MARKET AND MANY, MANY
OVERDOSES.
THIS IS SOMETHING I DON'T WANT
OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO SEE EVERY DAY.
IT SHOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THEY
EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY.
I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THIS
CONVERSATION AND THINK ABOUT
BOTH ACCOUNTABILITY ON VARIOUS
LEVELS AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE
OUR COMMUNITY IS RIGHT NOW, NO
ACCOUNTABILITY ON ANY SIDE AND
THERE NEEDS TO BE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE DID HAVE FIJI
BAKERY JOIN US AND SHE IS IN
THE WAITING ROOM IF SHE COULD
GET ELEVATED, THE OWNER OF FUJI
BAKERY AND THE DISTRIBUTION
CENTER.
BEEN AROUND FIVE OR SIX YEARS
AT THIS POINT.
ARE YOU WITH US IN THE PANEL?
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE HERE.
CAN YOU UNMUTE?
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> I HAVE THE FUJI BAKERY AND
THERE ARE TWO LOCATIONS.
BOTH LOCATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE HAD CHALLENGES LIKE WAS
MENTIONED IN THIS MEETING RIGHT
NOW.
YOU KNOW, ATTEMPTED BREAK-INS
AND OUR DELIVERY VEHICLES ARE
VANDALIZED.
JUST THIS MORNING, WE HAD
GRAFFITI OVER OUR DELIVERY
VANS.
TOP FROM THE PANDEMIC
CHALLENGES, FINDING PEOPLE WE
NEED TO WORK IN THE FOOD
INDUSTRY.
THE I.D.
SOURCING'S, ALL THIS THIS YEAR.
OUR GLASS HAS BEEN BROKEN.
FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, I CAN
REMEMBER THAT.
THESE ARE BREAK-INS WITH SOCIAL
MEDIA.
THESE ARE VANDALISM, BREAKING
IN FOR NO REASON.
THEY DON'T ANYTHING.
THEY JUST DO THAT AND IT MAKES
EMPLOYEES FEEL EXTREMELY
UNSAFE.
YOU KNOW, THE POLICE -- NOT
THAT THEY DON'T CARE -- THEY
HAVE NO TOOLS TO DO ANYTHING,
THE POWER TO DO ANYTHING.
PRETTY MUCH, WE JUST FILE A
FORM ONLINE AND IT HAS BEEN
VERY FRUSTRATING AT EVERY
LEVEL.
I ALMOST WOULD OPEN ANOTHER
LOCATION NOW, BUT I CAN'T DO IT
IN SEATTLE.
IT'S NOT A CITY THAT HAS BEEN
VERY SUPPORTING OF SMALL
BUSINESSES.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
PERSPECTIVE.
I WANT TO MOVE THIS ALONG TO
ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
BALLARD AND WE HAVE MIKE
STEWART TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE
SEES AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM
OSCAR VELASCO-SCHMITZ.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN
AND MADAM CHAIR FOR PULLING
THIS MEETING TOGETHER AND GOOD
MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M MIKE STEWART, THE
ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING
HUNDREDS OF VISITORS AND THE
DOWNTOWN BALLARD CORE.
THE RAPID GROWTH OF CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY AND BALLARD IS REAL
AND IT IS HAVING A SIGNIFICANT
ECONOMIC IMPACT UPON THE LOCAL
AND INDEPENDENT RETAIL SHOPS,
RESTAURANTS AND OTHER BUSINESS
TYPES.
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS,
BALLARD BUSINESS OWNERS AND
STAFF HAVE ENDURED REGULAR
MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY CRIMINAL
ACTS THAT GO UNCHECKED AND
EXPERIENCE LONG 911 RESPONSE
TIMES IF THE SEATTLE POLICE ARE
EVEN ABLE TO RESPOND AT ALL.
WE HEAR FROM BUSINESS OWNERS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CALLING
911 EACH TIME THEY WITNESS A
CRIME AND THEY STOP CALLING ALL
TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY FEEL
CALLING THE POLICE AS AN
EXERCISE IN UTILITY -- IN
FUTILITY, ONE BUSINESS STATED.
THERE IS A FEEDBACK LOOP OF
REPORTING ON THE NONEMERGENCY
LINE.
THE NUMBER OF 911 CALLS THAT
WERE RECORDED ARE GROSSLY UNDER
ESTIMATED AND IT'S NOT A TRUE
REFLECTION OF THE ACTUAL
NUMBERS OF CRIMES IN THE CITY.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HEAR NOT
ONLY FROM PANELISTS, BUT FROM
THE CALLERS ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY
HAPPENING.
I WANT TO SHARE STATS AND
EXAMPLES OF WHAT BALLARD
BUSINESSES ARE EXPERIENCING,
BASED ON DATE OF THE BALLARD
ALLIANCE HAS CREATED FROM
OCTOBER 2021 AND EARLY FEBRUARY
THIS YEAR.
THE FASTEST POLICE RESPONSE
TIME WAS 12 MINUTES AND THE
SLOWEST WAS SEVEN HOURS.
THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME WAS
1.5 HOURS.
ON JANUARY 30, AN EMPLOYEE OF A
BALLARD BUSINESS WAS THREATENED
BY A MAN WITH A TWO-FOOT LONG
SILVER POOR WITH A SIX-INCH
SERRATED KNIFE ATTACHED.
THE ASSAILANT TOLD THE
EMPLOYEE, I'M GOING TO BLANK
KILL YOU.
THE BUSINESS OWNER WAS
THREATENED BY AN INDIVIDUAL
WIELDING A LARGE BRANCH AND HAD
TO BE WRESTLED AWAY FROM THE
PERPETRATOR. A
COFFEE SHOP HAD A STORE KICKED
IN WITH THE ESTIMATED COST OF
$2500 IN REPAIRS AND
REPLACEMENTS.
A BREAK-IN AND ROBBERY LAST
YEAR AT A LOCAL HANDMADE JEWELRY
SHOP RESULTED IN A LOSS OF
NEARLY $20,000.
FINALLY, I HAVE PERSONALLY
SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS -- AND I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS
SPENT CLOSE TO AS MANY, AS
WELL.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WORKING
WITH THE COMMUNITY SYSTEM WITH
COUNTLESS REPEAT OFFENSES. LAST
YEAR SHE PLED GUILTY TO
ASSAULTING A CARETAKER OF A
LOCAL CHURCH IN OUR DISTRICT
WITH A BRASS PIPE AND SHE WAS
RELEASED TO THE STREET LATE
LAST SUMMER AND CAME TO BALLARD
AND BEGAN HER PATTERN OF
HARASSMENT VIRTUE WAS ARRESTED
IN DECEMBER FOR VIOLATION OF
THE ANTI-HARASSMENT ORDER AND
AT THE SAME TIME FACES NEARLY
10 ADDITIONAL MISDEMEANOR
CHARGES.
WERE IT NOT FOR MY EFFORTS ON
THE EFFORTS OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER AND THE VICTIMS
IN THE CASE, I HAVE NO DOUBT
THIS SITUATION WOULD CONTINUE
UNCHECKED, PUTTING THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY AT RISK.
WRAPPING UP, IN BALLARD, OUR
BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE MADE IT
THROUGH SEVERAL WAVES OF THE
PANDEMIC, BUT NOT WITHOUT COST
AND CONCERN ABOUT POTENTIAL
IMPACT OF ANOTHER VARIANT.
THEY SIMPLY CANNOT ABSORB THE
ADDED COST OF REPLACING SMASHED
WINDOWS, INSTALLING EXPENSIVE
SECURITY SYSTEMS OR HIRING
PRIVATE SECURITY, LET ALONE
OPERATE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
THE EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS ARE
AT RISK FOR THEIR PERSONAL
SAFETY.
>> I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
OSCAR.
>> MY NAME IS OSCAR VELASCO-
SCHMITZ AND I RAISE A FAMILY IN
SEATTLE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
AND I PARTICIPATE WITH THE
PRECINCT ADVISORY COUNCIL.
I OPERATE BUSINESSES IN SoDo,
THE FREMONT AND BALLARD
CORRIDOR AND ALMOST IN DISTRICT
5, ACROSS FROM DISTRICT 5 AT
85th AND AURORA, NORTH OF GREEN
LKE AND OWN AND OPERATE AT
150th AND AURORA ON THE
SHORELINE.
IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF
PARTICIPATION THAT ALL OF OUR
BUSINESSES ARE HERE TODAY AND
EXPERIENCING NOT JUST VANDALISM
, BUT REAL CRIME WITH FIREARMS.
OUR BUSINESS IS IN A UNIQUE
POSITION THAT WE CANNOT ACCEPT
CREDIT CARDS, GIVEN THE STATUS
OF CANNABIS, FEDERALLY.
VISA AND MASTERCARD WILL NOT
ALLOW THE PROTOCOLS AND IT
PREVENTS CRIMINALS THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO GET
THEIR HANDS ON VERY VALUABLE
ITEMS LIKE PAPER MONEY OR
VALUABLE PRODUCTS WITH STREET
VALUE.
I WANT TO ECHO THE VOICES OF
THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THE LIVES
AND LIVELIHOODS OF NOT JUST OUR
EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS, BUT
EVERYBODY THAT HAS A TANGENTIAL
RELATION TO THIS BUSINESSES,
WHETHER ON THE STREET OR THE
ELDERLY THAT COME IN AS
PATIENTS TO OUR BUSINESSES.
I DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TO THIS.
THESE ARE SYMPTOMS OF A LARGER
BREAKDOWN IN OUR CIVIL SOCIETY.
WE ALL KNOW THIS AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. SOME OF THE
MITIGATING FACTORS WE'VE TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT ARLENE INCREASED
LIGHTING, INCREASED SECURITY
AND HARDENING OF OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ROLE
DOWNS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THESE COME AT
A COST AND WE HAVE TO BALANCE
THAT COST WITH BEING ABLE TO
PROVIDE A LIVING WAGE TO OUR
EMPLOYEES, TO PROVIDE GOODS AND
SERVICES TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND
COMMUNITIES.
AT SOME POINT, WE WILL REACH A
BREAKING POINT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO
MOVE OUT OF SEATTLE TO OPERATE
OUR BUSINESSES BECAUSE THE
LICENSES WE OPERATE UNDER, THE
LIQUOR AND CANNABIS BOARD, ARE
DELEGATED TO A GIVEN
JURISDICTION.
WE CAN'T JUST SAY WE ARE MOVING
TO THE SUBURBS AND LEAVE
SEATTLE.
WE DON'T WANT TO.
WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S
A WONDERFUL CITY THAT HAS A
VARIETY AND DIVERSITY OF
VIEWPOINTS.
WE ARE AT OUR WIT'S END.
WE'VE HAD BURGLARIES AND WITH
THE PRODUCTS AND OTHER THINGS,
THEY CAN BE REPLACED, BUT LIVES
CANNOT.
WE THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THIS
FORUM AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CHATTING ABOUT WHAT OTHER STEPS
WE CAN TAKE.
>> I KNOW YOU HAVE A SPOT IN
SoDo AND WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM
ERIN GOODMAN.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
ERIN GOODMAN FROM SoDo AND I'VE
COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL MANY
TIMES IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS
TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES IN SoDo.
IN PREPARING MY COMMENTS, I
REVIEWED PAST STATEMENTS AND IT
IS SO FRUSTRATING THAT I COULD
HAVE PULLED OUT ANY ONE OF
THOSE PREVIOUS SPEECHES AND
GIVEN IT TODAY.
THE ISSUES AFFECTING PUBLIC
SAFETY IN SoDo REMAIN THE SAME.
THE SEVERITY, FREQUENCY AND
IMPACT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE.
IN 2015, WHEN I SPOKE ABOUT A
BUSINESS BROKEN INTO FOUR TIMES
IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH, I
COULDN'T IMAGINE I WOULD BE
HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO TELL
YOU I'M A BUSINESS IN SoDo
BROKEN INTO MORE THAN 20 TIMES
IN A SINGLE MONTH.
SoDo BUSINESSS, THE EMPLOYEES
AND CUSTOMERS DEAL WITH SMASHED
WINDOWS, ORGANIZE DRUG MARKETS,
VEHICLE VANDALISM ARSON,
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AND THREATS
ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE ARE LARGELY AN INDUSTRIAL
DAILY BUSINESS, SPREADING OUT
OVER ACRES WITH OPERATIONS,
TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENTS OUTSIDE
THE TRADITIONAL BUILDING.
EVEN A TRADITIONAL BUILDING
STRUCTURE HASN'T KEPT SOME OF
OUR BUSINESSES SAFE AND THE
METHODS OF ENTRY ARE GETTING
MORE DARING EVERY DAY AND
HARDER TO GUARD AGAINST.
ALONG WITH THE NORMAL BROKEN
WINDOW WITH THIS, WE'VE SEEN
THIEVES CUTTING HOLES TO GAIN
ENTRY.
THERE ARE NEW CAMERA AND ALARM
SYSTEMS, NEW FENCING AND
INSTALLING BETTER LOCKS AND
DOORS AND WINDOWS, THEY HAVE
BEEN UNABLE TO KEEP THIEVES OUT
OF THEIR BUSINESSES.
IN SoDo, METAL THEFT DRIVES THE
BURGLARIES AND IN THE
INDUSTRIAL AREA, WE HAVE A LOT
OF METAL.
COPPER PIPES, WIRES,
MANUFACTURERS THAT USE THESE
ITEMS TO MAKE ESSENTIAL
PRODUCTS AND TO THE HUNDREDS OF
TRUCKS THAT MOVE GOODS AROUND
OUR CITY AND ACROSS OUR REGION.
WHAT IS MOST FRUSTRATING ABOUT
THIS SITUATION IS THAT WE KNOW
THE NAME OF THE MOST PROLIFIC
METAL THIEF.
HE WAS CAUGHT IN THE ACT AND
CHARGE FOR THE PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE FILED FELONY CHARGES AND
BECAUSE OF HIS CRIMINAL
HISTORY, RECOMMENDED HE REMAIN
IN JAIL UNTIL HIS HEARING.
THE JUDGE RELEASED HIM AND HE
WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA LESS THAN
48 HOURS AFTER HIS RELEASE,
BURGLARIZING THE VERY SAME
BUSINESS HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED
IN.
HE IS SUSPECTED IN AT LEAST A
DOZEN OTHER BURGLARIES AT
NEARBY SoDo BUSINESSS THAT
FOLLOW HIS M.O.
HE FAILED TO SHOW FOR
POSSESSION OF A STOLEN VEHICLE
AND FOR THE JANUARY 20th
HEARING ON THE BURGLARY
CHARGES.
TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT, JUST ONE
OF THESE BURGLARIES, THE LOSS
TO THE BUSINESS IS IN EXCESS OF
$20,000.
WE KNOW HIS NAME AND HE HAS
FELONY WARRANTS OUT FOR HIS
ARREST AND WE STILL CAN'T GET
HIM OFF THE STREETS.
I HAD TO BE MUCH MORE ACTIVELY
INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS IN A WAY
AND NEVER NEEDED TO.
I'VE SPENT HOURS TALKING TO
BUSINESSES, COLLECTING VIDEO
AND COORDINATING TO TRY TO GET
THIS SYSTEM TO WORK AND TO GET
THIS THREAT OFF THE STREETS.
OUR BUSINESSES NEED HELP AND I
NEED HELP TO HELP OUR
BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR
PERSPECTIVES FROM SoDo AND I
NOW TURN TO DISTRICT 2,
COLUMBIA CITY WITH JUSTIN
PRITCHETT TO TALK ABOUT THE
EXPERIENCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
REAL QUICK, I DON'T REALLY WANT
TO GO INTO TOO MUCH DEPTH
ECHOING WHAT EVERY OTHER
BUSINESS OWNER IS SAYING.
WE'VE BEEN FACED WITH TREMENDOUS
DIFFICULTIES OVER THE PANDEMIC.
THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE CLOSE TO
THE PUBLIC ON LAST YEAR WE
OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN
FEBRUARY.
AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW WITH MOVIE
THEATERS, WE ARE BUSY WITH THIS
COMING IN.
WE WERE BROKEN INTO IN AUGUST
OF LAST YEAR AND IT CAUSED
$6000 TO REPLACE ALL THE DOORS
ON THE OUTSIDE. TWO WEEKS LATER,
WE HAD A REALLY BIG MOVIE COME
IN AND WE WERE BROKEN INTO
AGAIN.
IT COST US A LOT OF MONEY AND
WE WERE DOWN A FEW DAYS, AS
WELL.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED WORKING
ON LIMITED HOURS ON THE
GOVERNOR'S POLICIES BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC.
WE'VE HAD LIMITED CAPACITY OF
PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR THEATER
AND THAT MEANS OUR REVENUE IS
DOWN EVEN MORE JUST FROM THE
COVID ASPECT.
THAT ON TOP OF THE CLOSED
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WE'VE HAD
PEOPLE IN FRONT OF A BUS STOP
IN FRONT OF OUR DOORWAY.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE ABLE TO YELL
AT OUR CUSTOMERS AND WE'VE HAD
SOMEONE PUNCH ONE OF OUR
CUSTOMERS BEFORE.
WE'VE HAD THINGS SPILLED ON
CUSTOMERS, SAYING THEY'RE GOING
TO KILL THEM AND WE'VE HAD
CUSTOMERS RUNNING IN FEAR INTO
OUR THEATER.
WE NOW HAVE OUR DOORS LOCKED
AND WE INVITE PEOPLE IN ONE AT
A TIME SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE
KEEP THE SAFETY OF OUR GUESTS
IN THE BUILDING.
I'VE GOTTEN PHONE CALLS OF
RACIAL THREATS AND AS WELL,
PHYSICAL THREATS THAT THEY
WOULD SHOOT US BECAUSE WE
DIDN'T ANSWER THE PHONE AND
WEREN'T OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS UNIQUE TO
A MOVIE THEATER BECAUSE WE
ACTUALLY ARE -- WE ARE USUALLY
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK BUT WE
HAD TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
TIMEWE ARE OPEN. THIS ACTUALLY
DOES PERTAIN TO WHAT THIS
COMMITTEE IS FOR, TOO.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS I'M
TRYING TO BE THE OWNER OF THE
ARK LODGE.
WE HAVE A PLAN TO BUY THE
BUILDING SO WE ARE ABLE TO STAY
IN THE COMMUNITY WE'VE BEEN IN
THE LAST 10 YEARS.
MY FAMILY CAN THEN KEEP IT GOING
WITH A PERSON OF COLOR, I THINK
THAT I'VE HAD STRUGGLES, AS FAR
AS EQUALITY AND BEING ABLE TO
FINANCE AND EVERYTHING.
A LOT OF GROUPS THAT ARE BIPOC,
THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GRANT
WRITERS AND TO GRANT WRITING
AND STUFF.
I'M A SINGLE PERSON THAT IS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
FOR ME TO GET FINANCIAL HELP,
I'M COMPETING WITH
CONGLOMERATES.
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE EQUALITY
OF BRINGING PEOPLE TO LOOK AT
THE SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE GRANT
WRITERS.
THEY ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING
SPECIAL.
I CAN GENERATE A LOT OF REVENUE
AND WE HAD PLENTY OF EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE 300. WE CAN'T ENSURE WE
WILL HAVE THE SAME THING WHEN
THEY LEAVE FROM OUR BUSINESS TO
GO TO THEIR CARS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE COUNCIL
SHOULD REALLY LOOK TO DO IS
MAKING IT WHERE METAL RECYCLING
IS SOMETHING THAT BUSINESSES
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
YOU HAVE TO OWN A BUSINESS TO
RECYCLE METAL.
IN CALIFORNIA, YOU HAD TO HAVE
A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
IN VIRGINIA, ANYTHING OVER A
CERTAIN AMOUNT, YOU HAD TO
PRESENT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE
AND YOU HAD TO WAIT A WEEK
BEFORE YOU COULD COLLECT THE
MONEY.
THAT RATE, THE BUSINESSES THAT
ARE BROKEN INTO CAN MAKE SURE
YOU GET THEY GET THE METAL BACK
TO THE PROPER PEOPLE INSTEAD OF
JUST BENEFITING CRIMINALS. HOLD
THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO REDUCE THE
CRIME EVERYWHERE ELSE.
THANK YOU.
BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT
INFORMATION.
I WILL GO LAST AND I WON'T TAKE
TOO LONG BECAUSE WE HAD EIGHT
COLORS FROM THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
THEY WERE SEEING, INCLUDING A
BUSINESS THAT LOST ALL THEIR
INVENTORY, A BEAUTY SUPPLY
STORE.
REALLY TRAGIC, HONESTLY.
YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GIVE A
COUPLE OF STATISTICS FROM OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS.
WE HAVE 150 FOOD AND SERVICE
BUSINESSES HERE AND THE
MAJORITY ARE OWNED BY WOMEN AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT WITH THE
PANDEMIC, WE LIVE AND DIE WITH A
POPULATION OF THE STUDENTS AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
WE WERE THE FIRST AND MOST HARD-
HIT NEIGHBORHOODS DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
UW WENT ONLINE TO TEACH CLASSES
AND THAT WAS THE IMMEDIATE
IMPACT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR CUSTOMERS DRIED UP RIGHT
AWAY AND WE WERE ONE OF THE
FAST TO COME BACK BECAUSE WE
HAD A LIGHT RAIL STATION OPEN
AND STUDENTS CAME BACK TO
CAMPUS.
THERE WAS HOPE IN THE AIR AND
WE HAD LINES AT RESTAURANTS
AGAIN, SUPER EXCITING.
THEN, TO SEE THIS ESCALATION
THROUGH THE FALL AND THE WINTER
OF THE ISSUES WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT, IT PUTS A DAMPER ON THAT
RECOVERY AND MAKES IT EVEN
HARDER.
THE PAST FEW WEEKS, ALONE,
WE'VE SEEN 25 STOREFRONTS GET
BROKEN WINDOWS AND SOME OF THAT
IS FROM FOLKS WITH BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH DISORDERS AND THEY GET
INTO ALTERCATIONS WITH THE
BUSINESS OWNER.
SOME IS SMASH-AND-GRAB IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND PEOPLE
TAKING MERCHANDISE OR CASH.
THAT CAN HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE
TO A SINGLE BUSINESS AND THAT'S
TRAGIC.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT SEVERAL
RANDOM ASSAULTS AND HIGH
PROFILE ROBBERIES, INCLUDING
THREE CARJACKINGS OVER THE LAST
WEEK.
WE'VE SEEN -- WE LEARNED ABOUT
BUSINESSES NOT GETTING INSURANCE
TO COVER THE ISSUES THEY ARE
SEEING OR HAVE BEEN TOLD THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IS TOO RISKY FOR
INSURANCE POLICIES.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING VERSION
OF REDLINING THAT OUR
BUSINESSES ARE EXCLUDED FROM
THOSE POLICIES.
WE WITNESSED OVER 40 ARSON
ATTEMPTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD,
MOSTLY IN OUR ALLEYS WITH
DUMPSTERS ON FIRE AND
COMPLETELY MELTING TO THE
GROUND.
SOME HAVE CUT ADJACENT
BUILDINGS ON FIRE.
WE LOST BUILDING FROM PEOPLE
LIVING AT THE SEVEN GABLES
THEATRE, THE HISTORIC BUILDING
THAT CAUGHT FIRE OVER A YEAR
AGO AND WE LOST THAT BUILDING.
COUNTLESS HOURS OF STAFF TIME
WORKING ON CONNECTING DOTS AND
WORKING WITH CITY PALM PARTNERS
AND THEY CAME FOR A WALK TO
HEAR ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND PEDERSEN WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY AND
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE CHIEF OF
POLICE.
THERE IS A GENUINE INTEREST TO
DIG INTO THESE ISSUES AND I
THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT THERE IS
A LACK -- WE'VE HEARD ABOUT
REPEATED ISSUES AND THE LACK OF
COORDINATION BETWEEN VICTIMS
AND CITY RESOURCES COMPOUNDS
THE IMPACT FOR GEOGRAPHIC-
SPECIFIC AREAS.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE LACK OF
PREVENTION STRATEGIES WITH
SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROBLEM-
SOLVING HAVE THE OUTSIDE IMPACT
ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE'VE
HEARD THE LACK OF SPD CAPACITY
IS FELT DRAMATICALLY IN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
AT THE UNIVERSITY WE HAD A FOOT
PATROL UP UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO
AND THE MINUTE IT LEFT, IT FELT
DIFFERENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND WE'VE SEEN ESCALATION WITH
THESE ISSUES.
SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE TALKING
ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PARTICULARLY
BURNABLE AND HAD REQUIRED
DIFFERENT STRATEGIES AND
SOMETHING APPLIED ACROSS THE
CITY.
WE ARE HERE TODAY AND WANT TO
TALK ABOUT A SET OF SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CITY TO
CONSIDER WITH THE IMPACT IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THIS SPRING
AND YOUR, THE RECOMMENDATIONS
ARE NOT MEANT TO BE EXHAUSTIVE,
BUT THEY ARE MEANT TO BE
PRAGMATIC AND MEANT TO ADDRESS
THE GAPS WE SEE AND OUR
COMMUNITY AND THE
RECOMMENDATIONS LOOK TO FOCUS
ON THE CHAOS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE ARE
SEEING AND OFFER COORDINATION
AND FOLLOW-UP AND
ACCOUNTABILITY WITH A PATH
FORWARD TO WORK ON THESE THINGS
TOGETHER.
I WILL START OFF BY SAYING THAT
THIS IDEA OF COORDINATION IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD A
RECOMMENDATION AND WE HAVE
COMMUNITY SAFETY HUB
COORDINATORS IN NEIGHBORHOOD
DISTRICTS.
THIS IS THE TIME WERE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND VOLUNTEERS
AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE TRYING
TO UNDERSTAND IF ONE PERSON IS
BREAKING INTO FIVE BUSINESSES
OR AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS HAS LOST TOUCH
WITH THEIR CASE MANAGER AND GETS
AGGRAVATED BECAUSE THEY GET
INTO AN ALTERCATION WITH A
CUSTOMER AND SOMETHING BAD
HAPPENS.
THIS STUFF HAPPENS DAY IN AND
DAY OUT BUT THERE IS NO PERSON
ON THE CITY SIDE THAT HAS THE
CAPACITY OR HAS BEEN ASKED TO
FOCUS ON THIS.
WE THINK THERE ARE HIGH LEVELS
OF CHAOS AND INCIDENTS IS
IMPACTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND
CUSTOMERS AND WE SEE THERE IS A
ROLE FOR COORDINATION.
THE SAFETY HUB COORDINATOR COULD
UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES LIKE THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT TO HAVE AN
IMPACT BY CONNECTING DOTS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE WITH THIS PERSON LIVE?
TO BE DETERMINED.
MAYBE THIS PERSON COULD SHARE
INFORMATION WITH THE POLICE AND
WORK WITH THE OUTREACH PARTNER
TO TRACK DOWN SOMEONE THAT
COULD SWITCH NEIGHBORHOODS AND
ISN'T ON THE RADAR TO GET THE
HELP THEY NEED.
THAT LEVEL OF PERSONAL
UNDERSTANDING MAKES A HUGE
DIFFERENCE WITH COMMUNITY BASED
SOLUTIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND
THE PERSON DOESN'TNEED TO
CARRY A GUN OR WEAR A BADGE BUT
COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT AND
HELP DIFFERENT AGENCIES LOOKING
AT THIS ISSUE TO HAVE A DEEPER
IMPACT.
ALONG THE SAME LINES, TO HAVE
THIS PERSON HAVE THAT CROSS
JURISDICTION AUTHORITY, WE NEED
A DEDICATED PERSON IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO FOCUS ON
CRIME AND STREET-LEVEL
DISORDER.
THESE ISSUES ALWAYS COME DOWN
TO A CONVERSATION BETWEEN HST,
HUMAN SERVICES, SEATTLE POLICE,
THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND
OUR CONTRACTS WITH OUTREACH
WORKERS WITH TREATMENT
SERVICES.
OR, JUST NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH,
DEPENDING ON A CITY PROJECT
THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED IN.
THESE DEPARTMENTS HAVE
INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT MISSIONS
AND THE OVERWHELMING PRIORITIES
FOR EACH LINE OF BUSINESS BUT
WE NEED THAT LEVEL OF CROSS
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION TO
MAKE PROGRESS ON THESE ISSUES
WHEN WE SEE SOMETHING SYSTEMIC
THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
I WILL TAKE IT OVER TO MIKE
STEWART FOR THE IDEA ABOUT HIGH
VISIBILITY FOOT PATROLS.
MIKE?
>> THANK YOU.
>> SORRY.
WE ARE GOING INTO IN DEPTH IN
SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
BUT I WANT TO HAVE A BRIEF
MOMENT IF THERE ARE
COUNCILMEMBERS WITH ANY
PARTICULAR QUESTIONS OR WANT TO
MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE WE MOVE
ON.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS YOU WILL BE
HEARING WILL BE POSTED ON THE
SEATTLE LEGISTAR HOMEPAGE AND
ON MY WEBSITE AND THEY WILL BE
REFERENCED IN LINKS AND SOCIAL.
WHAT YOU HEAR WILL BE AVAILABLE
FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU.
GO ON, MIKE.
NO, COUNCILMEMBER CHARLES
STRAUSS.
SORRY.
>> THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE
HEAR YOU AND THAT I'M NOT
INSULATED FROM WHAT YOU'VE
DESCRIBED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH MANY SMALL
BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IN BALLARD,
BUT ACROSS D6.
WE NEED MORE RESPONSE AND JUST
POLICE AND POLICE TIME CAN BE
FOCUSED ON CRIME.
THAT'S THE ASPECT OF THE POLICE
BECAUSE WE NEED MORE MENTAL
HEALTH FIRST RESPONDERS AND
MORE CSO'S AND NEIGHBORHOOD
COORDINATION.
I WAS HAPPY TO CHAMPION TO
UNDERSTAND WE NEED MORE OF THEM
AND MORE DEDICATED TO OUR CITY.
I'M CLEARLY AWARE THAT WE HAVE
ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN
OUR CITY AND SOME OF IT IS
HIDING BEHIND HOMELESSNESS.
IT'S VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT WE
NEED TO INTERRUPT ORGANIZED
ENTERPRISE AND BEHAVIOR AND
STAND UP FOR THE VERSION OF THE
PROGRAM AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS WITH ADEQUATE
SHELTER AND THE TIME AND
RELATIONSHIPS IT TAKES TO GET
FOLKS INSIDE.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT AND
I'VE HEARD IT'S A PLEASURE TO
GET TO WORK WITH MANY OF YOU
AND I WILL CONTINUE WORKING
WITH YOU.
FOR ALL OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS, WE
CAN GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
GO AHEAD, MIKE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
CONTINUING WITH A COUPLE WITH
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO ELEVATE,
AS DON MENTIONED.
HIGH VISIBILITY FOOT PATROLS
AND NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS NEED THE FOOT PATROLS
AND DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO
BE SWORN OFFICERS WITH A BADGE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXAMPLES TO
PULL FROM.
THESE TAMS WOULD REMAIN IN
SPECIFIC, HIGH TRAFFIC
GEOGRAPHIES AND COULD BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST WITH
THE COMMUNITY AND MORE
SPECIFICALLY, HERE ARE THINGS
THEY COULD DO.
WITH THE FOOT PATROLS, THEY
WOULD REESTABLISH A WALKING
FOOT PATROL WITH NEIGHBOR
DISTRICTS, FIRST AND FOREMOST
ON THE POTENTIAL TO DE-ESCALATE
THE MILD TO MODERATE CRISIS
SITUATIONS WITHOUT THE
INVOLVEMENT OF SPD AND WHEN IT
HITS THAT POINT, WE NEED OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO
ASSIST.
BRING IN HUMAN RESOURCES TO
PROBLEM SOLVE OR SUPPORT WHEN
NECESSARY.
HIGH VISIBILITY JACKETS WITH
PRESENCE AND WITH RELATIONSHIPS
TO BUILD TRUST WITH COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS WHILE PROVIDING AN
UNARMED SAFETY SOLUTION.
SPOT TRENDS AND ISSUES
REQUIRING FURTHER INVESTIGATION
IN A COORDINATED RESPONSE AND,
POTENTIALLY, OFFER A GREAT
RECRUITING GROUND FOR SPD TO
ADDRESS THE ONGOING FEELING OF
ABANDONMENT AND CHAOS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS.
THIS POSITION, THIS ROLE COULD
WORK VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH
THE COMMUNITY SAFETY HUB
COORDINATORS DON REFERENCED
EARLIER AND MOST CERTAINLY WITH
BUSINESS DISTRICT LEADERSHIP,
S WELL.
THE SECOND PIECE IS SPD
EMPHASIS PATROLS.
IT BEARS MENTIONING THAT THE
STRATEGIES WE'VE OUTLINED THUS
FAR CAN PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE
LOWER COST AND FASTER TO SCALE
STRATEGY THAT WILL ENHANCE
PUBLIC SAFETY IN NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
BY NO MEANS DO THEY COMPLETELY
REMOVE THE DIRE NEED FOR
SUPPORT FROM SEATTLE POLICE.
C1
.
>>> AND BREAK THAT PATTERN.
BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE REALLY
AREN'T A LOT OF MECHANISMS
AVAILABLE TO DISRUPT CRIMINAL
PATTERNS AND A COMBINED
APPROACH OF SPF EMESIS WITH
THESE NEW RESOURCES WE THINK
WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT
POSITIVE IMPACT FOR OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS AND AT A
BASIC LEVEL, INTERRUPTING
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BEFORE IT
HAPPENS ALLOWS US TO REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF ARRESTS
INCARCERATIONS, IT LIMITS SPF
INVOLVEMENT ON LOWER LEVEL
CRIMES AND REDUCES THE STRAIN
ON ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
SO THANK YOU.
I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, DON.
>>> THANK YOU, MIKE.
NOT HE EVERYTHING CAN HAPPEN
BEFORE WE GET TO THE IMPACTS WE
SEE.
SO SOMETHING SHE HAS BEEN
EXPERIMENTING WITH THE SUPPORT
OF THE CITY MAYBE WE COULD
EXPAND THIS YEAR TO HELP
BUSINESSES GETTING VANDALIZED.
>>> THE IDEA WE ARE BRINGING
YOU TODAY IS THE BROKEN WINDOW
AND DAMAGED STORE FRONT FUND.
WITH NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS SEEING A MAJOR
INCREASE IN VANDALISM BROKEN
STOREFRONT WINDOWS AND DOORS AS
WELL AS LATE NIGHT SMASH AND
GRAB BURGLARIES, WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A PROGRAM
TO PLAY A ROLE IN FUNDING THOSE
REPAIRS.
THE BROKEN WINDOW FUND IS THE
PROGRAM THAT THE ALLIANCE HAS
BEEN IMPLEMENTED ABOUT A YEAR
AGO.
TO MUCH SUCCESS WITH OUTSIDE
FUNDING AND O ED RECENTLY
MATCHED DOLLARS TO GIVE OUT
DOZENS OF WINDOW FACADE AND
REPAIR GRANTS.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR MOST
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS PEOPLE HAVE
A TRUE APPRECIATION FOR.
IT IS A MAJOR COST FOR OWNERS
TO ABSORB AND ON TOP OF ANY
STOLEN CASH OR MERCHANDISE AND
IT IS A
STRAIGHTFORWARD EASY TO
IMPLEMENT IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SOME OF THESE ISSUES INTERSECT
WITH THE BACK END OF THE
INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
I THINK.
>> YOU HEARD FROM SEVERAL FOLKS
TODAY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF
INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY AND
ACCESS IN SEATTLE.
AND I HAD HEARD A NUMBER OF
ANECDOTAL STORIES.
BUT ALSO HAVE DOM TO UNDERSTAND
THAT MANY TIMES BUSINESSES
ROUTINELY CHOOSE NOT TO REPORT
CRIMES BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID
OF LOSING THEIR INSURANCE OR
THAT THEIR RATES WILL INCREASE
ASTRONOMICALLY.
SO SOME OF THE STORIES
BUSINESSES TOLD ME IN 2019 THEY
HAD 10 COMPANIES TO CHOOSE FROM
BUT NOW THEY ONLY HAVE THREE
AND THE OFFERED INSURANCE IS
WAY MORE EXPENSIVE WITH MUCH
HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES.
ONE OF THE BUSY SPOKE TO NOW
DOES NOT REPORT TO INSURANCE
FOR ANYTHING UNDER $30,000 IN
DAMAGE AND THIS IS NOT A LARGE
BUSINESS.
>> IN THE DISTRICT AS DON
MENTIONED BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN
TOLD THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR
INSURANCE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY
OPERATE IN THE DISTRICT AND IT
IS NOT A SAFE AREA.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
ACCESS TO INSURANCE IS A KEY
PART OF RUNNING A BUSINESS.
AND WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT
YOU KNOW, THESE ANECDOTAL
STORIES TELL US A LOT, BUT WE
DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE PICTURE.
THE CITY NEEDS TO STUDY THIS
ISSUE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACTS OF OUR CURRENT PUBLIC
SAFETY CRISIS ON SMALL BUSINESS
FORD BUILT AND ACCESS.
A STUDY COULD LOOK AT INSURANCE
RATES AND AVAILABILITY ACROSS
THE CITY AND TEST FOR
GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY ACROSS
NEIGHBORHOODS AND ANY
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDENS BEING
PLACED ON SMALL BUSINESSES,
SPECIFICALLY BUSINESSES OWNED
BY WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
>> THANK YOU, ERIN FOR SHARING
THAT.
>>> I'M GOING TO HAND IT BACK
TO COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
THESE WERE OUR IDEAS WE PUT
FORWARD.
WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION NOW
AND HEAR OTHER IDEAS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING US HAVE
THE FLOOR HERE TODAY AND TO
SHARE THESE EXPERIENCES AND
IDEAS WITH YOU AT YOUR
COMMITTEE.
YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> I WANTED TO FOLLOW-UP ON
WHAT ERIN SAID FOR TWO REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE THERE IS A
MISPERCEPTION THAT PROPERTY
CRIME IS NOT ON THE RISE, IT IS
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT
REPORTING PRECISELY BECAUSE WE
DON'T WANT OUR PREMIUMS TO GO
UP OR LOSE OUR COVERAGE ALL
TOGETHER.
SO THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL
PROBLEM AND I WANT TO, AND I
THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD IDEA.
ALSO I WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT
THAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
A BROKEN WINDOW, I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH THAT,
I MEAN THE PUBLIC KNOWS HOW
MUCH IT COSTS TO REPLACE THAT,
BUT IT IS AT LEAST $1200.
AND IT GOES UP FROM THERE.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS REPEATEDLY TO
A BUSINESS, THAT IS A LOT OF
MONEY.
SO IN ISOLATION, FOLKS MIGHT
NOT THINK THAT IS A BIG DEAL,
BUT THAT IS EXPENSIVE.
IT TAKES TIME.
AND IT CREATES YOU KNOW, A LACK
OF SECURITY UNTIL THAT WINDOW
IS FIXED.
IN ADDITION THERE IS A GLASS
SHORTAGE.
AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE HAVE A
PLYWOOD EXPLOSION IN PLYWOOD
PRICES AND ALSO SHORTAGE.
WE TOURED BELL TOWN AND ALL THE
WINDOWS AT PATAGONIA WERE
BROKEN.
THEY REPLACED THEM WITH HIGH
CARBON WINDOWS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS
BULLETPROOF.
BUT THAT IS REALLY EXPENSIVE.
SO I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT
FOR TWO REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE REPORTING
IS NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE PEOPLE
AREN'T SUBMITTING CLAIMS IF
THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
AND I'M GOING TO PLEASE INDULGE
ME FOR THIS ONE IDEA RELATED.
THIS IS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT AN
IDEA THAT I HAVE THOUGHT OF
THIS YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T
REPORTING THROUGH THE
TRADITIONAL GOING TO THE OTHER
LINE FORM AT SPD, OR IF IT IS
ABOVE A CERTAIN VALUE, THEY
MUST CALL AN OFFICER TO TAKE A
STATEMENT AND THAT CAN TAKE
MANY, MANY HOURS.
I BELIEVE A BIG THING WE COULD
DO IS TO ADD A SECTION ON OUR
FIND IT FIX IT, SO THAT THESE
REPORTS CAN BE, SO THEY CAN AT
LEAST BE DOCUMENTED IN AN EASY,
FAST WAY THAT THERE COULD BE
DOCUMENTATION REGARDLESS OF THE
COST OF THE CRIME.
BUT THAT THAT WILL PROVIDE
INFORMATION TO THE DEPLOYMENT
OF OFFICERS AND IT WILL HELP
WHAT OTHER LIAISONS WE MIGHT
HAVE AT THE CITY TO REALLY
TRACK WHAT IS GOING ON.
SO I'M GOING TO PUT THAT
FORWARD.
I HAVE HEARD THIS HAS BEEN
POSITIVELY RECEIVED BY SOME OF
YOU.
THAT IS JUST ONE IDEA I CAME UP
WITH ALL BY MYSELF THAT COULD
ALSO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF
MAKING SURE THAT WE RAISE THE
VISIBILITY OF THIS ISSUE.
OKAY.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
AND WE WILL GO INTO, DON, IF
I'M CORRECT, A QUESTION-ANSWER
PERIOD?
SO WOULD ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION?
OR WOULD ANY OF THE PANELISTS
LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING OR TALK TO
EACH OTHER.
>>> YES, COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORA
JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING THIS TIME, I HAVE BEEN
ON COUNCIL SIX YEARS AND I
DON'T THINK WE HAVE EVER HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY, PARTICULARLY,
SINCE WHAT WE HAVE ALL DEALT
WITH THIS SINCE 2020 OF THE
PANDEMIC, A RECESSION IN THE
SOCIAL UPHEAVAL.
AND I THINK THE PANDEMIC REALLY
WE REVEALED AND PEELED BACK THE
INADEQUACY AND INEQUALITY THAT
WE SEE.
IN RESPECT TO YOUR COMMITTEE
FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND
TAKING NOTES, I TRULY DO
BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD
BE AND WE CANNOT PRETEND IT
DOESN'T EXIST THAT PUBLIC
SAFETY IS A CORE ELEMENT OF
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM BUSINESS AND
HIS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM
BUSINESSES NOT JUST FROM THE
PANDEMIC BUT ALSO FROM THE NOT
ALL PROTESTERS AND SOME
PROTESTERS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE
TO THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
TO THE TUNE OF WELL OVER
$400,000.
AND TO BUSINESSES.
AND SO I AM JUST GRAD THAT WE
ARE PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR BUSINESSES SPEAK, AND NOT
BE QUICK TO DEMONIZE THEM AND
DEMORALIZE THEM OR ACCUSE THEM
OF CRIMINALIZING OR UNSHELTERED
RELATIVES.
AS BUSINESS OWNERS BIG AND
SMALL THEY ABSORB THESE COSTS
AND INSURANCE DON'T ALWAYS PAY
FOR THESE COSTS.
I KNOW JUST FROM THE DISTRICT
AND GREENWOOD AND OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT IT IS A
SHAME FOR US TO WALK THROUGH
OUR CITY AND SEE BOARDED,
BROKEN WINDOWS, BOARDED UP
WINDOWS, EMPTY BUILDINGS,
VACANCIES, WHEN I USED TO CHAIR
THE WATERFRONT, WE KNOW THEIR
WATERFRONT AND THE BUSINESS IS
A MAGNET FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR BUSINESSES AND
JOBS AND HOTELS AND RETAIL AND
TOURISM.
SO NORMALLY, IF THIS WAS FOUR
YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE BEEN
QUESTIONING WHY ARE WE KIND OF
DOING PUBLIC SAFETY WITHIN THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REAL
AREIGN IN?
BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE NOT
BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND
OUR CITY WHEN WE DON'TND THAT
THOSE TWO ARE LINKED AND THAT
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND THAT WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND I PARTICULARLY
LIKED, I'M SORRY IF I FORGET
YOUR IN MY OPINION, THE YOUNG
WOMAN WHO OWNS THE ART GALLERY
THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO HAVE IF THE TRAFFIC,
AND CLEAN DOORWAYS, AND JUST TO
PROVIDE, NOT JUST THE
RESTAURANT AND ALSO HEARING
FROM THE FOLKS ABOUT HOW THERE
WAS A TIME THAT SEATTLE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE NIGHT LIFE WAS
A THING.
IT WAS A PLACE TO GO.
PEOPLE DON'T GO DOWNTOWN ANY
MORE.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU, AGAIN, WHEN
WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS,
PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO SAY OH, IT
IS JUST BUSINESS.
AND YOU ARE CRIMINALIZING THE
UNSHELTERED AND YOU DON'T CARE.
BUT WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM ALL
OF YOU AND ALSO THE PEOPLE HAVE
CALLED IN, IS THAT WE CAN DO
BOTH.
WE LITERALLY CAN ATTACK THE
ROOT CAUSES OF THESE ISSUES,
AND WE CAN UPLIFT, SUPPORT AND
EMPOWER OR BUSINESSES.
BIG AND SMALL.
SO I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE HAVING
AN HONEST, CANDID CONVERSATION
WITHOUT IMPUGNING THE INTEGRITY
OF OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES,
WITHOUT NAME CALLING, WITHOUT
BRINGING UP THE PAST ABOUT WHO
VOTED FOR WHAT, WHEN.
THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE A FEW
DAYS AGO ABOUT WHEN WE PASSED
THE JUMP START TAX.
AND I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE
THAT VOTED NO.
NOW, I DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO
ALL THE DETAIL YESTERDAY, BUT
ONE OF THE REASONS I VOTED NO,
NOT BECAUSE I WAS AGAINST THE
TAX ITSELF, BUT I WANTED IT TO
GO TO THE VOTERS.
SO I'M HOPING THAT, AND THANK
YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIR THAT
YOU ARE PROVIDING A SPACE, A
SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO SAY
THIS IS WHY I DID WHAT I DID,
THIS IS WHY I VOTED THE WAY I
VOTED.
AND ALSO, BUSINESSES, WE HEAR
YOU.
WE HEAR YOU.
AND WE HAVE PARTICULAR TOOLS IF
YOU WILL IN OUR TOOLBOX.
AND A LOT OF YOU, OF WHAT YOU
SHARED THAT, WHAT WE CAN DO TO
KEEP DOWNTOWN SAFE AND OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE LAKE CITY
WAY, LIKE NEGOTIATE GATE, LIKE
AURORA.
IT IS REALLY COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON THAT HAS TAKEN THE LEAD,
THAT THAT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE
TOP THREE ISSUES OUR CITY HAS
TO BE HONEST ABOUT.
I KNOW DON HAS BEEN IN THE
TRENCHES FOR A LONG TIME.
IT IS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU
AGAIN, LISA FROM APPLIANCE FOR
OPINION NEAR SQUARE.
WORKING WITH THE POOR, FRIEND
OF THE WATERFRONT, WORKING WITH
NORTHGATE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THE
BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.
WE NEED BUSINESSES AND
BUSINESSES NEED PEOPLE TO, THEY
NEED THEIR STAFF AND THE
BUSINESS TO FEEL SAFE.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
THAT PROVIDE THE JOBS AND IF WE
DON'T HAVE THAT, AND IF WE GET
INTO THIS MODE OF, I DON'T EVEN
KNOW A GOOD WAY TO SAY IT.
BUT I GUESS WITH I HAVE SEEN IS
IF WE GET IN THIS MODE OF BEING
RETALIATORY AND PUNITIVE TO
PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE ON THE
STREET, I WAS DOWNTOWN SATURDAY
NIGHT, NOT VERY LATE.
AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I
DON'T GO TO THE MARKET ANY MORE
UNLESS IT IS SATURDAY IN BROAD
DAYLIGHT.
AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT
TO SAY THERE ARE ONLY BAD
PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
I'M SAYING IT HAS BECOME A REAL
SAFETY ISSUE.
AND I DON'T THINK THE DOWNTOWN
CORE CAN SAY IT ANY LOUDER.
AND I THINK BEING A PROPONENT
OF THE CHAMBER OF BUSINESS
DOESN'T MAKE YOU ANTILABOR.
I SAID YESTERDAY, I'M SURE
EVERYBODY HEARD.
WE ARE A LABOR DOWN BUT WE ARE
ALSO A BUSINESS TOWN.
THERE IS A REASON WHY WE HAVE
AMAZON AND MICROSOFT AND
STARBUCKS AND ALL THESE
INNOVATIVE BUSINESSES HERE.
I THINK IF WE CAN ALL JUST BOG
TALK ABOUT IT, MOVE FORWARD,
HOW DO WE DO THAT?
HOW DO WE INCREASE POLICE
PRESENCE TO STOP CRIME BEFORE
IT HAPPENS IN HOW DO WE
INCREASE BUSINESSES TO MEET
PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT WITH
ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH?
I TELL YOU, GOING TO WORK IT
BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE ALL
THOSE TENTS ALONG THIRD AND
ALONG FIFTH.
I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND THEY
ARE NOT THERE.
WE SEE THEM, EVERY DAY.
SO I'M GLAD THAT MADAM CHAIR
THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING A SPACE
FOR US TO TALK HONESTLY AND
OPENLY AND CANDIDLY AND THAT WE
CAN ACTUALLY HAVE CIVIL
DISCOURSE AND WE CAN AGREE TO
DISAGREE.
BUT I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE
THAT CALLED IN, AND I
APPRECIATE THE PANEL THAT YOU
PUT TOGETHER.
BECAUSE I THINK IN THE SIX
YEARS I HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I
HAVE NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR FROM ALL THE
BUSINESSES.
AND SO THANK YOU.
>> AND THAT, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, IS WHY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ IS OUR
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE
COMMENTS.
AND I SEE THAT DAN AUSTIN HAS
HIS HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION AND
THIS IS SOMETHING, I LIKE THE
IDEA OF THE COMMUNITY HUB
COORDINATOR AND SOME SORT OF
STREET TIME TEAM TO BE ABLE TO
BE IN THE AREA AS A FOOT
PATROL.
I WOULD LEAK TO POINT OUT I'M
NOT SURE WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
BUT ABOUT FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO,
OUR BUSINESS LICENSE WENT UP BY
ROUGHLY 400-DOLLAR TO $500 WITH
A PROMISE OF 200 ADDITIONAL
POLICE OFFICERS.
AND WE HAVE PAID IT EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE HAD CONTINUOUSLY LESS
AND LESS POLICE OFFICERS.
THAT WAS A SPECIFIC TAX PUT ON
THE BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT 200
OFFICERS FOR SAFETY.
WITH THIS FOOT PATROL IDEA,
THIS BUSINESS DISTRICT, WALKING
PATROL, THE BUSINESSES ARE
ALREADY PAYING DEDICATED MONEY
TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO POLICE
OFFICERS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
THEM.
THERE IS MONEY PAID SUPPOSED TO
BE FOR POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH
EVEN IF WE COULD GET THERE WE
CANNOT HIRE AS MANY AS WE NEED
IN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR
úYEARS.
I THINK IT IS A REALLY GOOD
DEDICATED SOURCE OF FUNDING TO
PUT INTO THESE PROGRAMS.
AND THAT MONEY IS THERE.
IT WAS DEDICATED TO AT THAT
TIME POLICE.
LET'S CALL IT PUBLIC SAFETY
NOW.
A SPECIFIC INCREASE TO
BUSINESSES.
WE PUT THE MONEY IN, WE DIDN'T
GET THE SERVICE WE PAID FOR.
I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
THAT FUND IS THERE, WE HAVE
BEEN PAYING FOR IT.
WE HAVE BEEN SEEN THE BENEFIT
FROM IT.
MAYBE WE CAN FIND OUT HOW MUCH
MONEY THAT EXACTLY AND MOVE
THAT OVER INTO THESE NEW IDEAS.
BUT THE FUNDING IS THERE.
WE DON'T NEED A NEW TAX FOR IT.
IT EXISTS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT
INSIGHT.
I REMEMBER THAT THE SEATTLE
CHAMBER DID SUPPORT THAT.
BUSINESSES TAXING THEMSELVES
FOR ADDITIONAL OFFICERS IN
2018.
THAT'S CORRECT.
AND I HADN'T REMEMBERED THAT.
SO I WILL FOLLOW-UP ON THAT
ONE.
I WANTED TO MENTION THAT YOU
KNOW, YOU'LL HAVE, THE BUSINESS
OWNERS HERE HAVE BUSINESSES TO
RUN AND THE DIRECTORS, YOUR THE
PORTFOLIO OF THE WORK THAT YOU
ARE MANDATED TO DO, IS FAIRLY
NARROW.
AND YOU ARE PERFORMING THE ROLE
THAT CITY AGENCIES SHOULD BE.
AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR
NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR AT O ED TO
SORT OF DO THE MATCHMAKING
FUNCTIONS OF YOU KNOW, FINDING
BYS SPACES AND I JUST AM TRYING
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT A
LOT IS RIDING ON YOU AS WELL AS
YOU REPRESENT ALL OF THESE
CONCERNS.
THIS WASN'T IN YOUR JOB
DESCRIPTION.
AND I BELIEVE THE CITY CAN DO
MORE.
AND STARTING WITH FORWARDING
AND ADVANCE AND GO PROMOTING
SOME OF THESE IDEAS.
WHO ELSE HAS A QUESTION?
I SEE THAT OSCAR DOES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE WINDOW
REPLACEMENT FUN, WINDOWS CAN BE
BROKEN AND REBROKEN AND
REBROKEN AGAIN.
SO IN TERMS OF HARDENING SOME
OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE,
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
CONSIDER A FUND TO PROVIDE ROLL
DOWN PROTECTION FOR SOME OF
THESE STORE FRONTS.
IT IS COMMON IN LARGE CITIES
ACROSS THE WORLD TO BE ABLE TO
PROTECT STORE FRONTS FROM
PEOPLE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE
BREAK IN, CAUSING NUMEROUS
HEADACHES AND EXPENSES AND
TROUBLES FOR ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THOSE, I KNOW THOSE
EXIST.
MY COMPANY FREMONT BREWING HAS
ONE OF THOSE.
ARE THEY DIFFICULT TO GET
PERMITTED?
>> I COULDN'T TELL YOU.
WE HAVE THEM INSTALLED ON THE
INTERIOR OF OUR BUSINESSES.
AND WE HAVE OTHER MITIGATING
INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT I COULDN'T TELL YOU IF THEY
ARE DIFFICULT TO PERMIT OR NOT.
>> GOT IT.
I SEEM TO REMEMBER A SNAFU WHEN
WE TRIED TO DO IT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>>> JUSTIN?
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, DID I NOT
NOTICE IF QUINN OR JUSTIN HAD
THEIR HAND UP.
DID ANYONE ELSE SEE?
>> I DID HAVE MY HAND UP.
>> OKAY.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY JUST
FOLLOWING UP WITH WHAT WAS JUST
SAID, ROLLING GATES WOULD
DEFINITELY BE GREAT.
THE MAIN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE,
BECAUSE WE ARE A HISTORIC
DISTRICT, WE CAN'T HAVE BARS.
WE CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING ON OUR
DOORS OR IN FRONT.
BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY IS
SOMETHING THAT IT MAKES IT
WHERE IT IS LESSEN SIGHTING AND
SO IT PRESENTS A BAD EMMANUEL.
SO THAT IS WHY IN ALL COLUMBUS
CITY WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.
WITH CAN'T EVEN HAVE NEON
LIGHTS.
SO THE OTHER ISSUE THAT, IT
TOOK US LIKE ALMOST THREE
MONTHS TO REMOVE THE BENCH
RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR BUSINESS.
BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE
WERE STANDING AND HARASSING
PEOPLE.
I DO THINK THE TIME FOR FIX IT
IS A GREAT IDEA.
BECAUSE THAT IN COORDINATION
WITH THE SLIDING DOORS, WITH
THE DOOR FIX IT, PRESENTED
WOULD BE A GOOD COMBINATION OF
THE TWO.
SO WE HAVE THE FUND AND FIX IT
AND THEN COORDINATE WITH THE
FUND FOR THE DOOR REPLACEMENT,
WHERE MAYBE EVEN THE CITY JUST
TAKES OVER THAT WHOLE
REPLACEMENT FOR SMALLER
BUSINESSES.
>> GREAT IDEA.
THANK YOU.
>>> QUINN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>>> YES, I WAS JUST GOING TO
SAY THAT THE CHINATOWN IDEA IS
ALSO A HISTORIC DISTRICT AND IT
IS NOT PREFERRED TO PUT UP
GATES.
BUT IF THERE IS SOMETHING
URGENT LIKE THIS, I THINK THEY
WOULD BE MORE LENIENT ON IT.
BUT THAT WOULD NEED CITY
SUPPORT.
>> THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT IS, IN ADDITION TO
THE CITY COORDINATION, I'M ALSO
URGING BETTER COORDINATION
ACROSS I THINK COUNTY.
THAT IS A BIG ONE FOR US,
MAINLY BECAUSE SOME OF OUR
ISSUES ARE EVEN LIKE STATE AND
FEDERAL.
WE HAVE HUGE EBT, FRAUD AND IT
HAS BEEN AN UP AND DOWN BATTLE
FOR MANY YEARS.
WE HAD A BIG WHAT IS IT?
BREAKDOWN AND NOW IT IS BACK
WITH A VENGEANCE.
KING COUNTY IS NOT REALLY
PLAYED A ROLE IN ANY OF THAT.
THE STATE HASN'T PLAYED A ROLE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE AND HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT.
JUST BETTER COORDINATION OR AT
LEAST BETTER MORE EFFORT PUT
INTO WORKING WITH KING COUNTY
AND OUR STATE LEGISLATION
AROUND SOME OF THOSE LARGER
CRIMES.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ KNOWS ABOUT
INTERGOVERNMENT RELATIONS ON
THAT.
BUT WE COULD, THAT IS A GOOD
THING TO FOLLOW-UP ON.
>>> TERIKKA, YOU HAVE YOUR HAND
UP IN.
>>IA, I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO
THE HISTORICAL COMPONENT AS
WELL AND JUST THE LIMITATIONS
WITH RUNNING A BUSINESS.
AND BUILDING THAT IS OVER 120
YEARS OLD.
AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY
SECURE IT.
NIGH NEIGHBORS AND I. WHEN I
SAY NEIGHBORS, OTHER BUSINESS
OWNERS IN MY BUILDING, WE HAVE
TRIED TO COME UP WITH MULTIPLE
SOLUTIONS TO SECURE JUST NOT
EVEN JUST A BUILDING, ALMOST A
BLOCK, JUST IN INVESTING
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
SECURITY SYSTEMS AND EXPANDING
KNOWING WHAT THE PREVIOUS
BUSINESS HAD GONE THROUGH WITH
MULTIPLE SMASH AND GRABS
ENTERING IN THROUGH THE
DRYWALL, THROUGH THE ALLEYWAY.
I HAD TO JUST GET CREATIVE WITH
JUST OTHER WAYS OF TRYING TO
DISTRACT AND YOU KNOW, JUST TRY
NOT TO MAKE IT LOOK TOO
ENTICING FOR FOLKS TO DO
WHATEVER THEY ARE GOING TO DO.
SO YEAH.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD IF THERE
IS ANY KIND OF PROVISIONS THAT
COULD BE MADE FOR BUSINESSES
BEING HELD IN HISTORIC
DISTRICTS.
>> THAT YEAH I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO ADD.
I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT
THERE.
THAT IS AN ISSUE.
>> GOT IT.
I NOTICE COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
WAS WRITING NOTES ON THAT.
I THINK THAT YOUR POINT ON
HISTORIC DISTRICTS LUCKY YOU.
BUT MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING WE
CAN EXPEDITE.
>>> OSCAR?
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I HAD SOMETHING ELSE.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
PREVENTION MEASURES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT
ANYBODY HAS TO SAY ABOUT
VIOLENT CRIME WITH FIREARMS AND
WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT.
IT IS NOT AN EASY TOPIC TO TALK
ABOUT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT.
AND IT IS, IT IS A REAL AND
PRESENT DANGER IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
NOT TO PUT PEOPLE ON THE SPOT.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS
TRUE AND REAL AND THAT WE ARE
HAVING TO FACE.
I JUST DON'T, I DON'T HAVE
ANSWERS.
I DON'T EXPECT ANYBODY TO HAVE
SOME KIND OF A PANACEA TO
ADDRESS THIS.
BUT ANY IDEAS FROM, FROM FOLKS
FROM COUNCIL OR ANY OTHER OF
THE ASSOCIATIONS FROM THE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE FACING
THESE CRIMES AT THE MOMENT?
IT IS QUITE TROUBLING.
>>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
DID YOU TAKE OFF YOUR MIC?
>> I DID.
OSCAR, I KNOW THAT WAS PROBABLY
A LITTLE BIT, I CAN'T FIND YOU
ON MY PANEL.
THERE YOU ARE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE ONE THING
ABOUT BEING ON SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON
UNDERSTANDS THIS AS WELL.
FORMERLY WORKING FOR COUNCIL
MEMBER CON LYNN WHEN SHE WAS A
CHIEF OF STAFF FOR HIM.
CRIME AND VIOLENCE, WE ALL KNOW
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT SO I
CAN PREFACE IT.
YOU KNOW, IT IS NEVER GOING TO
GO AWAY.
BE LYING TO YOU AS AN OFFICIAL
OR ELECTED TO SAY OH, YOU KNOW,
WE ARE GOING TO BRING DOWN
CRIME 30%.
IT IS NOT.
THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A
HUMAN CONDITION WITH ADDICTION,
MENTAL HEALTH, POVERTY, THOSE
THINGS ARE NEVER GOING TO GO
AWAY.
WHAT WE CAN DO WE ARE LOOKING
AT WITH THE HELP OF MAYOR IS
HOW WE STAFF OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO REDIRECT
FUNDS TO PROGRAMS TO GET AWAY
FROM SO PEOPLE DON'T FIND
THEMSELVES IN THE PIPELINE IN
THE SYSTEM.
BUT THAT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME.
I THINK PEOPLE THOUGHT WHEN
SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WHEN
WE REDIRECTED FUNDS FROM THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
THESE WHAT THEY CALL UPSTREAM
PROGRAMS, JUST OVERNIGHT, IT
WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT IS NOT.
WE MADE A REAL POLICY DECISION
LIKE MANY CITIES, MINNEAPOLIS,
L.A., PORTLAND, SAN FRANCISCO,
A LOT OF CITIES.
TO LOOK AT COMMUNITY POLICING
DIFFERENTLY.
AND WE SHOULD.
THE WAY OUR SYSTEMS WORK IN THE
PAST FOR POLICING, WERE
ARCHAIC, AND RACIST, QUITE
FRANKLY, AND BASIS FROM THE JIM
CROWE ERA.
I KNOW I'M GETTING A LITTLE
DEEP HERE TO GET BACK TO YOUR
QUESTION, OSCAR.
I GUESS I'M GOING TO ASK YOU BE
A LITTLE BIT PATIENT WITH US.
THE MAYOR HAS BEEN THE MAYOR
FOR SIX WEEKS.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON HAS ONLY
BEEN HERE FOR SIX WEEKS.
WE ARE ALL TRYING TO GET UNDER
THE NEW LEADERSHIP WORKING WITH
THE EXECUTIVE.
I THINK WE CAN PROMISE YOU
THAT.
THAT AT LEAST FOR MIA AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MEET WITH
THE MAYOR ONCE A WEEK, I THAT
YOU CAN TO CHIEF OF POLICE ONCE
A WEEK.
I GET REPORTS FROM CHIEF DIAZ
ONCE A WEEK.
WE WORK WITH HSD.
WE WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND OF COURSE WE
HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS ON
THE REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY.
SO, I MEAN, AS A FORMER JUDGE
AND PUBLIC DEFENDER, I'LL JUST
BE FRANK WITH YOU.
YOU ARE RIGHT.
THERE IS NO ANSWER TODAY.
I DON'T THINK, UNLESS SOMEONE
HERE HAS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T
KNOW, THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE
OVERNIGHT OR EVEN THE NEXT 30
DAYS HOW WE STOP?
OF THE MOST VIOLENT CRIME.
I THINK SOME OF YOU SAW WHICH I
COULD ONLY WATCH A COUPLE OF
TIMES THE POOR WOMAN WHERE THE
MAN JUST PICKED UP A BAT AND
HIT HER IN THE HEAD.
THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT
HERE FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE
BORN AND RAISED HERE.
BUT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.
AND SO, I THINK HAVING THESE
DISCUSSIONS AND HAVING MADAM
CHAIR NELSON KEEP HAVING THESE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BUSINESS AND
THE VIOLENCE THAT GOES ON, WHAT
I ALSO HEAR FROM THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IS THAT THEY WANT
COMMUNITY POLICING.
THEY WANT THEIR SMALL
BUSINESSES TO BE SAFE.
THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO BE
PROTECTED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF NOT HAVING 911 SHOW UP.
AND I KNOW THESE CONVERSATIONS
ARE DIFFICULT.
AND PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO COME
OUT AND REALLY SAY HOW THEY
FEEL, BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID
THEY ARE GOING TO BE CALLED A
RACIST OR THAT THEY ARE GOING
TO BE DEMONIZED.
BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO GET OUR
ARMS AROUND THE ISSUE, OF
CRIME, POVERTY, THE ROOT
CAUSES, PUBLIC SAFETY,
COMMUNITY POLICING, WE HAVE TO
BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS OUT
THERE.
SO WE ARE HOPING WITH THE MAYOR
AND THE CHIEF DIAZ AND THE CITY
COUNCIL, AND OUR NEW CITY
ATTORNEY, MISS ANN DAVIDSON, WE
CAN START LOOKING AT TAKING OUT
THE BAD ACTORS HURTING OUR
CITIES AND BUSINESSES AND
PEOPLE AND RELATIVES AND
HOPEFULLY GET BACK ON TRACK.
I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU,
OSCAR ON WHAT IS GOING TO STOP
PEOPLE GETTING A GUN AND COMING
INTO YOUR STORE.
AND TO BE FRANK WITH YOU, I
DON'T BELIEVE HIRING WAY MORE
POLICE OR ADDRESSING EVERY
ISSUE WITH A GUN AND A BADGE
WORKS, EITHER.
WE KNOW WHO GETS AFFECTED THE
WORST.
IT IS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THEY GET KILLED.
WE JUST SAW THAT ON THE NEWS
WITH THE NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.
BUT I WANT TO KEEP HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
I HAVE SEEN ALL YOUR NAMES, I
HAVE SEEN YOUR FACES IN
DIFFERENT PLACES.
AND I'M HONORED THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON IS GETTING THIS
ALL TOGETHER AND I HOPE THIS
BECOMES A REGULAR THING THAT WE
HEAR YOUR VOICES.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T QUITE
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BUT I WANT
YOU TO KNOW I HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
POINTING OUT WITH ALL THE
MEETINGS YOU HAVE THE UNIQUE
VULNERABILITY OUR RETAIL
BUSINESSES ARE IN.
ESPECIALLY WITH GUN VIOLENCE.
I DID HEAR WHAT YOU SAY.
I AGREE WITH YOU.
THESE ARE ALL SYMPTOMS OF A
MUCH LARGER ISSUE.
SO FOR NOW, WE NEED TO HARDEN
AND BECOME, UNFORTUNATELY,
BECOME NOT AS SOFT A TARGET FOR
PEOPLE THAT WOULD DO OUR
EMPLOYEES OR CUSTOMERS HARM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I DON'T YEAH AND BEING
REMINDED ABOUT THE RESOURCES
THAT WERE ALLOCATED FOR HIRING
MORE OFFICER, MAYBE WE CAN USE
SOME OF THAT FOR ANOTHER BUY
BACK.
BOYING BACK GUNS AT A PRICE
THAT COULD BE SIGNIFICANT TO
ACTUALLY GIVE THEM UP.
BUT THAT IS JUST YOU KNOW, I
SHOULD NOT BE BRAINSTORMING
LIVE HERE.
TARIK CA, YOU HAD ONE MORE
THING, OH MIKE HAS METRIC TON
MORE THING AND THEN WE SHOULD
WRAP IT UP.
GO AHEAD.
>> I'LL YIELD TO TARIK CA,
BECAUSE I WANTED TO DO A VERY
BRIEF WRAP-UP.
>>> I WAS JUST GOING TO BRIEFLY
ADD TO THE MORE POLICING AS A
METHOD OF SECURING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND TO JUST ADD SPECIFIC POINTS
TO ME A BLACK OWNED BUSINESS IN
PIONEER SQUARE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANY
OTHER BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN
PIONEER SQUARE.
BUT MY STAFF IS BLACK AS WELL.
SO SOMETIMES I GET NERVOUS
ABOUT PROFILING AND A HEAVY
POLICE PRESENCE.
ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
DIE NAM KNICKS OR THE COMMUNITY
AT LARGE.
AND I HAVE BEEN HERE LIKE I
SAID FOR 10 YEARS AND I'M STILL
MET WITH.
I DIDN'T KNOW.
STREET LEVEL CRIME AND
DISORDER.
HIGH VISIBILITY PATROLS IN
NEIGHBORHOOD.
SPD EMESIS PATROLS, BROKEN
WINDOW FUNDS, SMALL BUSINESS
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS STUDY.
SO WE ARE EXCITED TO BE WORKING
WITH YOU IN THE WEEKS AHEAD TO
START MOVING THESE THINGS
FORWARD IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
AND ALSO, I THINK PERHAPS ONE
OF THE MOST HOPEFUL THINGS I
TAKE AWAY FROM THIS
CONVERSATION, CHAIR NELSON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ AND I
KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS HAS
HAD TO JUMP TO ANOTHER MEETING,
YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THIS
MEETING, YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR
ABILITY TO LISTEN TO US, WE
FEEL HEARD TODAY.
AND THAT IS GREAT.
AND WE ARE JUST EXCITED TO WORK
WITH YOU AND SEE IF WE CAN'T
BEGIN MOVING THESE THINGS
FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
>>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL THE NICE THING ABOUT BEING
A COUNCIL MEMBER IS I GET THE
LAST WORD TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
COMING.
I KNOW THIS TOOK A LOT OF WORK
TO PULL TOGETHER.
AND SO, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU
HAVE DONE.
I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY
GRATITUDE TO KATE NOLAN, WHO
COOKS MY COMMITTEE AND JEREMY
MOON MY CHIEF OF STAFF WHO WAS
LEAD ON THIS PROJECT.
AND IT IS ALSO HIS BIRTHDAY.
SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND KEEP THE
COMMUNICATION COMING.
MY OFFICE WILL RESPOND.
AND ONWARD.
HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY,
WE CAN ELEVATE SOME OF THIS
CREATIVITY AND COME TO SOME OF
THESE AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF
THESE ACTIONS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BYE BYE.
EVERYBODY.
OH, WAIT, I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY
THE OFFICIAL THING.
>> THIS CONCLUDES THE FEBRUARY
9 MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY AND CITY
LIGHT COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT MIGHT AT THE MEETING
IS FEBRUARY 23 AT 9:30.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, WE WILL ADJOURN.
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.
GOODBYE.