>>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE
DELAY IN STARTING THIS
COMMITTEE.
JUST TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR
THE DELAY, AS I'M SURE
EVERYBODY KNOWS BY NOW, THE
SUPREME COURT JUST DELIVERED
THEIR RULING OVERTURNING ROE v.
WADE ABORTION RIGHTS
COMPLETELY.
AND SO MY OFFICE HAD TO
URGENTLY GET TO WORK IN TERMS
OF RESPONDING TO THIS
UNFORTUNATELY AND UTTERLY
SHAPEFUL RULING.
MY OFFICE WILL BE GIVING A
PRESS CONFERENCE AT NOON ON
THIS ISSUE.
THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE
DELAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S
PATIENCE, ESPECIALLY MY FELLOW
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
THREE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK FOR THE RECORD,
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
JUAREZ HAVE BEEN EXCUSED FOR
TODAY.
BEFORE BEGINNING TODAY, I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY
AS MENTIONED EVERYBODY HEARD
ABOUT THE ROE v. WADE RULING.
AS I SAID, I WILL HAVE MORE TO
SAY ABOUT THAT LATER AT THE
PRESS CONFERENCE AT NOON
OUTSIDE CITY HALL.
I EXPECT THAT TODAY'S COMMITTEE
MEETING WILL BE SHORT.
ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE SEVEN
APPOINTMENTS AND FOR THE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD
NOMINATED BY THE EXECUTIVE, BY
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME
TODAY AND APOLOGIZE TO THE
PRESENTERS TODAY FOR THE DELAYS
IN STARTING THIS COMMITTEE AND
APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE IN
WAITERING FOR THIS.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE DISCUSSION
AND APPOINTMENTS, WE DO HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SPEAKERS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
EACH, THEN THE CLERK OF THE
COMMITTEE WILL READ OUT THE
NAMES.
FOR PEOPLE SPEAKING REMOTELY,
WHEN YOU HEAR YOURSELF
PROMPTED, HIT STAR SIX ON THE
PHONE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND
BEGIN.
THANK YOU.
>> MAY I JUST SAY A WORD?
>> O', COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I ADMIT THAT I AM
PREOCCUPIED BY THE MAGNITUDE OF
THE DECISION THIS MORNING FROM
THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN
ROE v. WADE, AND I'M HAVING
TROUBLE EXPRESSING, AS I'M SURE
MANY PEOPLE ARE, MY OUTRAGE AND
DISAPPOINTMENT AND SADNESS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT
THE LANGUAGE OF THE DISSENT,
WHICH IS UNCOMMONLY PERSONAL, I
THINK SAYS IT BEST.
I JUST WANTED TO READ THAT WITH
SORROW FOR THIS COURT, BUT MORE
FOR THE MANY MILLIONS OF
AMERICAN WOMEN WHO TODAY HAVE
LOST A FUNDAMENTAL
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION.
SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO
WITH SEATTLE?
WE JUST HAVE TO BE SURE OUR
CITY IS A SAFE PLACE THAT FULLY
GUARANTEES THESE RIGHTS AND CAN
HANDLE THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE
COMING TO SEATTLE FROM STATES
THAT WILL IMMEDIATELY OUTLAW
ABORTION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THAT.
>> TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
COMMENT ARE BOTH SIGNED UP IN-
PERSON, ALEX ZIMMERMAN AND
BRIANNA FULLER.
I NEED TO SHARE THE TIMER
SCREEN.
MR. ZIMMERMAN, YOU'RE UP FIRST.
>> IT'S WORKING?
MICROPHONE WORKING?
I CAN'T HEAR MYSELF.
WORKING?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
NO PROBLEM.
I DON'T HEAR BUT IT'S OKAY.
MY QUESTION VERY SIMPLE: WHY
YOU DON'T SHOW MY SIGN WITH IN
MY FACE?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS
HAPPEN?
MAYBE BECAUSE I'M A JEW AND YOU
COUNCIL HAVE LONG HISTORY OF
NOT ANTI-SEMITIC PRINCIPAL BUT
IT'S NOT OKAY WITH ME.
WHAT CAN I DO RIGHT NOW?
YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
ABORTION BUT I DON'T KNOW, CAN
I SPEAK ABOUT ABORTION?
IT'S NOT IN THE AGENDA.
CAN I SPEAK ABOUT ABORTION?
CAN I SPEAK IT?
>> YOU HAVE A MINUTE AND 16
SECONDS.
>> IT'S OKAY, NO PROBLEM.
CAN I SPEAK ABOUT ABORTION?
>> YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT WHATEVER
YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
APPRECIATE IT.
YES, I CANNOT MAKE ABORTION
BECAUSE I HAVE NOT WOMAN
GENITALIA, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS
MEAN.
ABORTION TOTALLY CONFUSE ME
BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WHO MAKE
ABORTION IS WHITE PEOPLE.
WHITE POPULATION RIGHT NOW IN
AMERICA FALLING DOWN.
THE ONLY ONE WHITE RACE, WHAT
IS GO DOWN BECAUSE MORE, NOT
PROPORTIONATELY.
WHITE WOMEN GO FOR ABORTION.
IT'S VERY UNIQUE SITUATION.
IN GOVERNMENT, VERY QUIET ABOUT
THIS.
WHEN YOU COME TO BLACK LIFE
MATTER PROTECTION, YOU KNOW
WHAT THIS MEAN?
EVERYBODY TALK, YEAH, IT'S NOT
PROPORTIONAL, DISCRIMINATION.
BUT WHEN IT COME TO WHITE WOMAN
ABORTION, THIS MEAN NOBODY
QUIET.
MOST ABORTION COMING FROM WHITE
WOMAN, FOR THIS AND WHITE RACE
DOWN.
I SPOKE RIGHT NOW TO EVERYBODY,
TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S
PURE RACISM.
STAND UP, AMERICA.
STOP THIS.
STAND UP, WHITE PEOPLE!
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, MR. FULLER.
>> YES, THANK GOD FOR BEING
HERE.
BUT WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS
PROBLEM WITH THE CITY COUNCIL,
ALL OF Y'ALL FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT COME HERE AND
SPEAK TO ME.
WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU HAVE OVER
WE THE PEOPLE?
YOU DON'T ENFORCE THE OLD
AMERICAN RIGHTS, SIGNED BY
PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON.
AND I'M SO HURT THAT Y'ALL
MAKING ME UNCONSTITUTIONALLY
LAW FOR ARCHIVES, UNDOCUMENTED
ALIEN.
WHAT IS THE POINT MORE TOWARD
THE DISABILITY ACT AND THE ACT
OF 1968 AND 1988.
SO THE STATE MUST YIELD TO
FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
YOU KNOW SEPTEMBER 27, 1983.
THAT PERIOD 1996 AND 1997, NO
ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW WHEN IT
COMES TO THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT AND THE
REHABILITATION ACT, SAWANT.
AND YOU HAVEN'T ENFORCED IT
SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY
COUNCIL.
YOU SAY YOU FIGHT FOR BLACK
FOLKS.
I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD BUT I
DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO
WE THE PEOPLE.
BLACK LIVES MATTER, THIS IS NOT
THE DREAM.
BLACK LIVES MATTER CAN'T
BELIEVE YOU, SAWANT.
>> THAT'S FINAL SPEAKER IN
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE
APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENT
TO THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD.
WE ARE JOINED BY THE OFFICES OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE
APPOINTMENTS.
I WILL READ THE ITEMS INTO THE
RECORD AND THEN WE'LL ASK
PRESENTERS TO INTRODUCE THE
APPOINTMENTS, EUNICE HOW, TERM
APRIL 30th, 2025.
APPOINTMENT OF NINA OLIVIER AS
MEMBERS OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD TERM TO APRIL
30th, 2025.
AND WE HAVE APPOINTMENT FOR THE
FIRST OF HIBO SAHAL AND SECOND
OF KIM WORKMAN, BOTH AS MEMBERS
OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD TO RETURN TO APRIL 30th,
2023.
THEN WE HAVE THE APPOINTMENT OF
PETER HASEGAWA AS MEMBER OF THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD
FOR A TERM TO APRIL 30th, 2025.
WE HAVE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
STEVE GELB AS MEMBER OF THE
BOARD FOR TERM TO APRIL 30th,
2025, THEN REAPPOINTMENT OF
KEITH WEIR AS MEMBER OF THE
BOARD THROUGH APRIL 30th, 2025.
PRESENTERS, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND TAKE IT FROM
THERE.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
WE ARE EXCITED TO GET THESE
POINTS APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS TODAY.
THE GREEN NEW DEAL IS WORKING
TO CREATE JOBS AND ADVANCE
TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO
RENEWABLE ENERGY BY
APPRECIATIZING INVESTMENTS IN
COMMUNITIES DESTROYED OR HARMED
BY ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
INJUSTICES.
IF BOARD IS FOCUSED ON BRINGING
FRONT LINE COMMUNITY VOICES TO
THIS PROGRAM, AND THEY DO THIS
BY RECOMMENDING SYSTEMIC
CHANGES AND BUDGET PRIORITIES
TO THE MAYOR, COUNCIL,
APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER ADVISOR
BOARDS.
THEY ALSO SUPPORT PLANNING AND
COORDINATE EFFORTS OF THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO DO THEIR WORK.
SO I'LL START WITH THE NEW
APPOINTMENTS AND I'LL JUST CALL
ON THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE FOR
THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
AND SHARE ABOUT WHY THEY WANT
TO JOIN THE BOARD.
LET'S START WITH KEN WORKMAN,
AN EXECUTIVE.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR THAT
INTRODUCTION.
HELLO, EVERYBODY.
MY ANYTIME IS KEN WORKMAN.
IN OUR NATIVE LANGUAGE, IT'S.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ,."
I'M CURRENTLY A TRIBAL
COUNCILMEMBER AND LONG-TIME
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
I WAS BORN ON THE SHORES AND
GREW UP WEST OF THE GREEN BELT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT'S AN
HURN TO SERVE ON THE GREEN NEW
DEAL IN THE CAPACITY OF TRIBAL
REPRESENTATIVE.
I'VE RETIRED AND I GRINNING
THIS COMBINATION OF SCIENCE AND
ANCIENT WISDOM THROUGH THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
IN MY CAPACITY AS A TABLE
REPRESENTATIVE, I DO ASK MANY
QUESTIONS AND I HAVE BEEN
INQUIRING.
AND JOBS, JOBS, JOBS KEEPS
COMING UP.
THESE ARE THE THINGS OUR PEOPLE
ARE ASKING FOR.
SO I WOULD OFFER THAT IT'S AN
HONOR TO SERVE ON THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
WITH THAT, I'LL RETURN IT TO
SARA.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT, I'LL HAVE HIBO SAHAL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
INTRODUCTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY.
I AM HAPPY TO BE SERVING AT THE
GREEN NEW DEAL.
I'M FROM SOMALIA AND CAME HERE
NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO.
I LOVE THIS CITY AND PASSIONATE
ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE.
I'M CURRENTLY WORKING FOR A
NONPROFIT.
I'M VERY MUCH PASSIONATE ABOUT
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CLIMATE
JUSTICE.
I WANT TO BE THE VOICE FOR MY
COMMUNITY TO BRING FORTH OUR
ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR
COMMUNITIES.
I'M LOOKING FOR WHAT THE
COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS ARE, AS
WELL AS BRINGING MY FINANCIAL
BACKGROUND AND I WOULD LIKE TO
BRING IN MY WORK EXPERIENCE AS
WELL AS MY EDUCATION AND BE THE
VOICE FOR MY COMMUNITY AND MAKE
CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT
WE LIVE IN SO WE CAN ALL LIVE
IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT WHERE
ALL COMMUNITIES THRIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND NINA OLIVIER, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO GO NEXT?
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS NINA OLIVIER.
I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE
PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR
WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENTIAL
GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
PROGRAM.
I'VE BEEN SERVING AS THE
GREENHOUSE REDUCTION SPECIALIST
AND ALSO SERVE AS THE PROGRAM
COORDINATOR WITHIN OUR
NONPROFIT GREEN BUILDING
ORGANIZATION.
I HAVE A LOT OF PASSIONS AND
GREEN BUILD DESIGN AND PLANNING
AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
MY PASSION FOR THIS WORK GREW
FROM MY EXPERIENCE SERVING AS A
COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
VOLUNTEER FOR THREE YEARS.
I WORKED WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES
TO DEVELOP RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PLANS AND INITIATIVES AND
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
PROGRAMS FOR POPULATIONS MOST
SEVERELY IMPACTED BY CLIMATE
CHANGE.
AND I'M INVOLVED WITH FACING
HOMELESSNESS, THE SEATTLE
NONPROFIT, PARTNERING WITH
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING
THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIUM AND ACTIVE MEMBER ON
THE FORCE AS WELL.
I WANT TO SERVE OF THE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD TO
SUPPORT POLICIES AND
INITIATIVES FOR RENEWABLE
ENERGY BY 2030 WITH THE
EXPERTISE OF BLACK INDIGENOUS,
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS
AND WORKERS MOST IMPACTED BY
CLIMATE CHANGE.
THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE IN THE
GREEN BUILDING, AS LONG AS
PARTICIPATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE AND GREEN BUILDING
INNOVATION, I'M EXCITED AND
WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD WORK
AND SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY-
DRIVEN STRATEGIES TO IMPLEMENT
THE GREEN MU DEAL FOR SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
PETER HASEGAWA?
>> HI, I'M PETER HASEGAWA.
I WOULD BE HONORED TO SERVE ON
THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH WORKERS
IN THE UNIONS SINCE 2006, AND I
CAN DEFINITELY IMAGINE A FUTURE
WHERE THE ECONOMY LOOKS BETTER
FOR WORKERS THAN IT DOES NOW,
AND I WANT TO BE PART OF
HELPING MAKE IT TURN OUT THAT
WAY.
I'M ALSO A PARENT OF A 1-YEAR-
OLD SON, WHO WAS BORN ABOUT A
MONTH BEFORE THE HEAT DOME AND
IT WAS AWFUL IN OUR HOME.
WE DON'T HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING.
SO WE HAD TO GET A HOTEL WITH
AIR-CONDITIONING AND FIND
SHELTER FOR OUR PETS THAT HAD
AIR-CONDITIONING.
IT WAS JUST A REALLY AWFUL
EXPERIENCE.
SO I'M PARTICULARLY CONCERNED,
WANT TO BE SURE FAMILIES ARE
NOT IN THOSE KINDS OF POSITIONS
WE WERE LAST YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PETER.
WE ALSO FOR OUR NEW
APPOINTMENTS, WE HAVE EUNICE
HOW, WHO'S UNABLE TO JOIN US
TODAY.
I'LL READ A SHORT THING ABOUT
EUNICE SHE'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE
COMMITTEE.
SHE'S A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AT
UNITE HERE LOCAL AID, THE
HOSPITALITY WORKERS LABOR
UNION.
SHE'S ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SEATTLE ASIAN-PACIFIC LABOR
ALLIANCE.
SHE BRINGS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE
AND HAS BEEN A STRONG VOICE AND
ALSO PARTICIPANT SO FAR.
SO SHE WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION
TO THE BOARD.
I'M NOW GOING TO MOVE US TO THE
TWO REAPPOINTMENTS, AND I'LL
HAVE A QUICK SLIDE FOR THE TWO
APPOINTMENTS.
SO KEITH WEIR IS AN EXECUTIVE
REAPPOINTEE AND A LABOR UNION
POSITION.
SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF IBEW
LOCAL 46, COVERING ALL CONTRACT
LABOR AGREEMENTS IN SEATTLE AND
KING COUNTY.
HE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT BUILDING
CAREERS, NOT JUST JOBS, AND
WANTS TO ENSURE JOBS COMING OUT
OF THE DEAL WOULD BE GREAT FOR
THE FUTURE.
HE'S DEFINITELY GOT THAT LENS
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM
FOR ANOTHER TERM.
OUR SECOND REAPPOINTMENT IS
STEVE GELB.
STEVE IS ALSO AN EXECUTIVE
REAPPOINTEE IN A POSITION FOR A
WORK FORCE REPRESENTATIVE.
HE'S PROMOTED PROJECTS AND
POLICIES BRINGING BENEFITS
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS JUST ONE ASPECT.
STEVE WORKS WITH MANY DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY CITY
LIGHT, TO BRING GOOD JOBS.
AND HE'S BEEN A TRUE ASSET ON
THE BOARD, AND WE FORWARD TO
HIS CONTINUED PARTICIPATION.
AND I THINK THAT IS IT FOR OUR
APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, SARA.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE POTENTIAL
APPOINTEES WHO HAVE BEEN
PRESENT HERE AND WHO ARE ADDING
THEIR THOUGHTS..
WE'LL FIRST THANK YOU THAT HAVE
BEEN SERVING ALREADY, AND THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN WILLING TO GET ON
THIS UNION DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
ADVOCATING AND MAKING SURE WE
HAVE INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION.
THAT YOU THINK, NINA: THAT'S
WHY THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD IS SO
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE ANY OF YOU
BRING A LOT OF SPECIFIC
EXPERTISE, NOT ONLY COMMUNITY
VOICES IN GENERAL, WHICH IS
ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT, BUT
SPECIFIC EXPERTISE.
FOR EXAMPLE, NINA AGREED TO BE
ON THE BOARD BECAUSE EMISSIONS
ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT.
FROM MAY 12th OF LAST YEAR,
I'VE MENTIONED THIS MANY TIMES
HERE: SEATTLE RESIDENTS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN A
THIRD OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS AND RISING ACCORDING
TO THE MOST GREENHOUSE GAS
INVESTOR, MISSIONS IN BUILDINGS
INCREASED 8% BETWEEN 2016 AND
2018, DRIVEN BY BURNING FOSSIL
FUELS LIKE GAS AND OIL FOR
HEAT, HOT WATER AND COOKING.
THAT'S FROM THE OFFICE'S BLOG.
THE REASON I BRING THIS UP,
BECAUSE I WANTED TO TRY A
GENERAL QUESTION ON THE
APPOINTEES IF YOU WANT TO
RESPOND TO IT.
BUT THE QUESTION I'M ASKING IS,
IT'S REALLY AN OBSERVATION,
THAT THE URGENCY IS JUST
ENORMOUS.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY
OVERSTATE THE THREAT THAT THE
PLANET IS FACING.
THE MOST RECENT REPORT ON THE
IPCC, ENVIRONMENTAL PANEL ON
CLIMATE CHANGE, ONCE AGAIN
GIVES NEW DIRE STATISTICS.
THESE HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE
DIRE WITH EVERY NEW STUDY THAT
WE GET.
AND THINGS ARE NOT GOING IN THE
CORRECT DIRECTION.
SEATTLE IS A MICROSOFT FOR
WHAT'S HAPPENING GLOBALLY.
THINGS ARE GOING IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND IT'S
CONCERNING, JUST REALLY
DANGEROUS.
AND THE STATISTIC ON BUILDING
EMISSIONS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
IT SHOULD BE DECREASING BUT
THEY HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS.
SO HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR ROLE IN
SHAKING THINGS UP?
IT'S NO LONGER A QUESTION OF,
ARE YOU GIVING THESE STATISTICS
TO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND
SAYING, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
IT'S A POLITICAL QUESTION.
HOW DO YOU SHAKE THINGS UP TO
MAKE GOVERNMENTS LIKE SEATTLE,
GLOBALLY, NATIONALLY ACTUALLY
ACT ON THIS?
REALLY IT'S A QUESTION OF
PUTTING POLITICAL PRESSURE AND
HOW DO YOU SEE THE GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD PLAYING A
ROLE IN THAT DIRECTION?
>> GO AHEAD, KEN.
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
FROM A LAY.
, I TALK ABOUT TREES A LOT.
WE KNOW THAT THROUGH SCIENCE,
THAT THE DNA OF THOSE LIVING
THINGS, THE BIOLOGICAL
MATERIAL, IT ENDS UP IN THE
GROUND AND IN THE SOIL THEN
EVENTUALLY IN TREES.
SO WE ALSO NO THAT LARGE TREES
HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF CARBON.
THIS IS NOT THE CURE FOR
REDUCING CARBON, BUT THIS IS A
WAY CARBON CAN BE SEQUESTERED
AND WE RECOGNIZE OUR ANCIENT
ONES ARE IN THE TREES AT A
MOLECULAR LEVEL.
SO REALLY IF WE CAN JUST REMIND
PEOPLE THAT THE PART OF THE
PLANET, NOT SEPARATE FROM IT,
THAT MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO SAY
WHERE PEOPLE WILL TAKE CARE OF
THE PLANET EARTH A LITTLE BIT
BETTER.
SO THANK YOU.
>> NINA?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER FOR YOUR
QUESTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK KEN FOR
YOUR INAS WELL AS YOUR
INFORMATION.
AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT
CURRENTLY THE WASHINGTON STATE
TECHNICAL ADVISOR GROUP ARE
MEETING TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS
TO HELP INFORM WHAT NEW
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDINGS WILL
BE BUILT.
YOU HAVE AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
POINT, THAT MOST OF OUR
BUILDINGS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
30% TO 40% OF GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS.
I'M HOPING THE GREEN NEW DEAL
BOARD WITH EXPERTISE FROM LOCAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TEAM UP WITH
GREEN BUILDING EXPERTS AND
EXPAND PROGRAMS LIKE THE
PRIORITY GREEN INCENTIVES THAT
ARE ALREADY IN PLACE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. AND YOU POSE
THE QUESTION, HOW DO YOU SEE
YOUR ROLE IN SHAKING THINGS UP?
I'M HOPING TO BRIDGE THE GAP
BETWEEN THOSE TWO ENTITIES.
FOLKS STRUGGLING TO GAIN ACCESS
TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO
THIS LABYRINTH OF FANTASTIC
GREEN BUILDERS WE HAVE LOCALLY
HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE, IN
FACT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
HOUSING AWARDS, OUT OF ALL
THOSE AWARDS THAT WERE
PROVIDED, 30% WERE WON BY LOCAL
BUILDERS HERE IN SEATTLE.
WE HAVE ALL THE RESOURCERS AND
BUILDERS THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO
BRIDGING TOGETHER WITH THE
EXPERTISE OF OUR COMMUNITIES
MOST IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
AND THE EXPERTISE OF THE GREEN
BUILDERS AND REMODELERS.
ANYONING BUILDINGS IN THE CITY
ARE TAXING THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, I LOOK
FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THIS MORE
WITH OUR TEAM AND OUR AWESOME
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
HANKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES.
JUST TO NOTE A COUPLE THINGS
QUICKLY BEFORE I TURN IT OVER
TO OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, NINA,
I APPRECIATE YOU NOTING THAT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS VERY MUCH
A KEY COMPONENT OF THE AGAINST
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE FIGHT
FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE AS WELL.
AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE
FIGHTING TO SAVE THE PLANET, SO
MANY OF OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE STRUGGLING JUST TO
HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD,
LET ALONE IN AN AFFORDABLE
MANNER.
AND A POINT KIM MADE EARLIER,
THE QUESTION OF THE JOBS, JOBS,
JOBS.
THAT'S CRUCIAL IF WE ARE TO
HAVE ANY SUCCESS IN BUILDING
THE CITY WIDE, NATIONWIDE AND
GLOBAL MOVEMENT, SUCCESSFUL
MOVEMENT IN SAVING THE PLANET.
THERE ARE NO JOBS ON A DEAD
PLANET.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S NO
HOPE OF BUILDING A UNIFIED
MOVEMENT UNLESS WE CLARIFY THAT
THIS WILL MEAN EASE TO
PRIORITIZE UNION LIVING WAGE
JOBS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE
ALREADY IN THE FOSSIL FUEL
SECTOR AND MAKE DEVELOPING A
CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR WOULD IMPLY
UNION LIVING WAGE JOBS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO
FIGHT FOR SPECIFICALLY, AND WE
ARE GOING TO BRING MANY WORKING
PEOPLE IN.
ACTUALLY JOBS AND THE PLANET GO
TOGETHER.
WE HAVE BOTH OR NEITHER.
IT'S A QUESTION OF WHICH
DIRECTION SOCIETY HEAD.
THAT'S WHY IT'S CRUCIAL THE
GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD
HAS REPRESENTATION FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS, IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS AND THE LABOR UNION.
DO ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS RAISED.
I ASK ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE
WE GO TO THE VOTE, WHICH IS, TO
FUND A NEW DEAL LARGE SCALE
PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE WILL NEED
REVENUES.
THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS
THE ROAD, SO TO SAY.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE WILLING TO
HAVE MORE POLICIES AND TAXES.
DO ANY OF THE APPOINTEES HAVE
ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT WHAT THIS
COULD PLAY TO FIGHT FOR TAXING
BIG BUSINESS IN ORDER TO RAISE
REVENUES FOR GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE?
OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
QUESTION.
I THINK THE WAY TO ADDRESS THAT
ISSUE WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY
INVOLVE THE VOTERS AND THE
COMMUNITIES ON THE ISSUE IN
HAND, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE USUALLY OPPOSED TO RAISING
TAXES ON CONGRESSES. WE HAVE TO
INFORM THE COMMUNITY WHY WE ARE
DOING THIS AND GET THIS SO WE
CAN PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITIES
WHAT THEY NEED.
AND THAT INVOLVES A LOT OF OF
WORK FROM COMMUNITIES AND JUST
INFORMING OUR COMMUNITIES WHY
IT'S IMPORTANT WE NEED THIS
MONEY AND WHY WE ARE VOTING ON
MORE TAXES ON THESE
CORPORATIONS.
IN TERMS OF TAXATION, LOCAL
PEOPLE PAY MORE TAXES THAN
CORPORATIONS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE -- AMAZON
IS GOING TO TAKE THEIR BUSINESS
TO A DIFFERENT STATE.
THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE OF TAX SO WE CAN PROVIDE
A LIVABLE WAGE FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS BUDGET
ON EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE OVERALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE POINTS YOU
MADE, ALL COMPLETELY ACCURATE.
ONE, YOU SAID IT'S UNFAIR
BECAUSE WASHINGTON STATE HAS
THE MOST REGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM,
WHICH MEANS WORKING PEOPLE PAY
MORE OF THEIR INCOMES AS TAXES
AND THE LARGEST CORPORATIONS
AND WEALTHIEST PLAY THE LEAST.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ALSO
OVERPENALIZED, SO THERE'S
POTENTIAL TO BUILD SOLIDARITY
ACROSS WORKING PEOPLE ACROSS
THE STATE AND MANY OF THE SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO PAY TAXES WHILE
THE CORPORATIONS ARE PAYING
NOTHING CLOSE TO THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
AND I AGREE WITH THE POINT THAT
THE WAY TO WIN SUCH TAXES ON
BIG BUSINESS AND THE WEALTHY IS
MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY AND
EXPLAIN WHY WE NEED THIS
TAXATION.
THAT'S WHY THE MARCH SUCCEEDED,
THEY AGREED WE NEED TO TAX BIG
BUSINESSES LIKE AMAZON IN ORDER
TO RAISE REVENUES FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW AFFORDABLE
HOUSING GOES HAND IN HAND WITH
THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE
CHANGE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE
MEMBERS HERE REACHING OUT TO MY
OFFICE ANY TIME, AND ESPECIALLY
THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
BOARD MEMBERS IN YOUR ROLE AS
CLIMATE CHANGE ADVOCATES.
LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING IN
TOUCH WITH YOU AND HAVING YOU
HERE FOR UPDATED DISCUSSION,
ESPECIALLY RELATED TO POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE
VERY MUCH WELCOMED.
IF THERE ARE NO COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I WILL MOVE
THE APPOINTMENTS RECOMMENDED
HERE TODAY.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
CALL THE ROLL.
>> SOB SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL CONFIRM ALL
THOSE APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS AND IT WILL NOW
GO TO THE JULY 5th FULL CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE
APPOINTEES AND STAFF.
AGAIN, APOLOGIES FOR THE
DELAYS.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
YOU'RE NOT EXPECTED TO ATTEND
THE FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO.
IT WILL BE ON ZOOM, NOT IN
PERSON.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
I WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
THANK YOU.