>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING THIS SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE . CARING FOR MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE 2024
BUDGET PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS
THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED TO OUR
AGENDA FOR WEDNESDAY NOT
INCLUDE ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION
ON BUDGET TRANSPARENCY AND
POSSIBLE REVENUE FOR THE
PURPOSES OF DELIBERATION AFTER
WE GET THROUGH TOMORROW'S VOTE.
THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE
RECEIVING HERE TODAY IS VERY
TIMELY BECAUSE WE WILL BE
VOTING ON ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS
TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET
TOMORROW THERE IS 121 PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS IN TOTAL TO THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND
THE PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT AND
THE COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK THAT
WE RECEIVE FROM COMMUNITY HELP
INFORM THE DELIBERATIONS THAT
WE WILL ENGAGE WITH TOMORROW
AND ANY VOTES THAT WE TAKE
TOMORROW RELATED TO 2024, WE
WILL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
ON REVENUE AND FEES AND BUDGET
TRANSPARENCY LEGISLATION
STARTING ON WEDNESDAY, WE WILL
AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE LEGISLATION UP ON
NOVEMBER 30 WITH THE INTENT TO
WRAP THAT UP IN EARLY DECEMBER.
THANKS TO MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT AND MY SINCERE
APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING THERE
IN PERSON I ALWAYS TRY TO
ATTEND IN PERSON WHEN THERE IS
HEARING AND PUBLIC COMMENT, I
AM UNDER THE WEATHER TODAY SO I
WILL BE HERE WITH YOU IN FULL,
WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL
BE ABOUT FOUR HOURS TONIGHT A
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL MAKE
SURE TO GIVE THE CLERKS THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A BREAK AS
WELL, BUT WE HAVE 100 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP REMOTELY AND ABOUT 60
PEOPLE IN PERSON. SO THANK YOU
FOR PRESENTING TONIGHT, YOUR
THOUGHTS AND IDEAS AND WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THROUGH
EVERYONE. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION WE WILL INCLUDE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TONIGHT, NO
OBJECTION IS SEEN. WE DO HAVE
PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING AND
SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY
PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT BUT I
WANT TO OFFER THIS AS A
REMINDER TO YOU AND TO ANYBODY
WHO IS NEW WE WANT TO REMIND
PEOPLE THAT THERE IS A 1 1/2
MINUTE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
COMMENT HERE TONIGHT JUST LIKE
WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. IF
YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE WE
DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND THOSE
TO THE FULL COUNCIL AT
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV, YOU ALL
RECEIVE THAT EMAIL DIRECTLY.
YOU CAN ALSO SEND EMAILS TO OUR
INDIVIDUAL EMAIL ADDRESSES AND
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE
TO SAY BEYOND WHAT A MINUTE AND
A HALF OFFERS SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH . PROVOKES IN PERSON WE
HAVE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
SHARE YOUR SUPPORT FOR ITEMS BY
WAVING YOUR HANDS, I CAN SEE
MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER AS WELL
IN PERSON SO IF YOU SHARE YOUR
HANDS THEN I WILL KNOW IF THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SUPPORT,
VERSUS EITHER APPLAUDING OR
DOING WHEN YOU HEAR SOMETHING ,
THERE IS MANY THINGS THAT WE
ALL LIKE OR MAYBE DISLIKE AND
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED BUT I
PREFER TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR
HANDS VERSUS HAVING ANY AUDIBLE
COMMENTS ABOUT SOME OF THESE
REMARKS IN PERSON IT IS HARD
FOR THAT TO GET PICKED UP BY
THE MICROPHONE SO I VISUALLY
WILL IT BE ABLE TO SEE YOU
DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING
YOUR MIND TO SUPPORT BY DOING
THIS INSTEAD OF APPLAUDING. IF
THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER.
>> I MISSED THE ROLL CALL.
>> LET'S DO THAT ROLL CALL AND
LET'S GET TO IT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT. I CAN SEE FOLKS AS
WELL, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES
AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE
TONIGHT, I KNOW MANY OF US WILL
BE LISTENING AND THIS WILL HELP
INFORM OUR DISCUSSIONS AND
DELIBERATIONS TOMORROW AGAIN A
MINUTE AND A HALF PLEASE AND WE
WILL START WITH MEMBERS OF THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND
THEN WE WILL GO TO IN PERSON, I
BELIEVE WE WILL CALL 10 PEOPLE
AT A TIME SO EACH PERSON WILL
HAVE A CHANCE TO PROVIDE THEIR
FULL MINUTE AND A HALF COMMENTS
AND THEN AS A REMINDER AS WELL
YOU CAN HEAR A DANG OR CHIME
WHEN YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO
WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THAT
CHINA AND MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT INCLUDED BEFORE
WE MOVE ON SO THAT EVERYBODY
CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO BE HEARD
TONIGHT. I WILL CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HERE IN A
MOMENT I WANT TO REITERATE
MEMBERS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY
LISTENING IS MY INTENT TO MAKE
SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE CHANCE
TO BE HEARD TONIGHT SO AGAIN A
MINUTE AND A HALF, AND WE WILL
ALTERNATE 10 ONLINE AND 10 IN
PERSON WITH THE CHANCE TO TAKE
A BREAK FOR THE CLERKS AND
STAFF ON SITE HALFWAY THROUGH.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, I WANT TO LET
EVERYBODY WHO IS THERE FOR
TESTIFYING ON ZOOM OR IN
PERSON I'M NOT FEELING WELL
AND SO BE CAUTIOUS AND NOT
SPREAD GERMS AND GOING TO BE
LISTENING REMOTELY I JUST
WANTED TO EXPRESS MY SOLIDARITY
WITH EVERYONE WHO IS THERE WHO
IS COLLECTIVELY GOING TO BE
DEMANDING A BUDGET THAT BEGINS
TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF
ORDINARY PEOPLE AND
PARTICULARLY I WILL BE EXCITED
TO HEAR FROM OTHER STUDENTS AND
THE WORKERS WHO HAVE COME TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
INCREASING THE AMAZON TEXT TO
SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS
IN PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS. THANK
YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS
AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE
BUT I AM ALSO UNDER THE
WEATHER, I CAN HEAR IT IN YOUR
VOICE AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE
ALL HAVING THE DESIRE TO BE
THERE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY
WHO IS DIALING IN AND I WILL
BE ON SCREEN WITH YOUR THROUGH
HERE THE PUBLIC COMMENT BOTH
REMOTE AND IN PERSON THANKS
AGAIN TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
FOR CONTINUING TO PRACTICE
GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES,
DO WEAR A MASK IF YOU'RE
FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER OR
EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT, SOMETIMES
YOU ARE CONTAGIOUS TWO DAYS
BEFORE YOU FEEL SYMPTOMS. THERE
ARE MASKS PROVIDED ON, OUTSIDE
THE DOORS AS WELL, AND THANKS
AGAIN FOR DIALING AND WE WILL
GET THIS CONVERSATION STARTED I
WANT TO THANK THE CLERKS AS
WELL, PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW AT
ANY POINT IF YOU NEED
ADDITIONAL RAKES OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT AND AGAIN APOLOGIES
TO YOU AND THE TEAM FOR NOT
BEING THERE IN PERSON. I WILL
GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO
YOU IF WE WOULD LIKE TO READ
THE FIRST 10 NAMES REMOTELY AND
THEN DOING THE NEXT 10 NAMES IN
PERSON, THANK YOU EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU, OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER WILL BE CHRIS WOODWARD
AND HIGHTOWER, GO AHEAD CHRIS.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBER
IS MY NAME IS CHRIS WOODWARD,
AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR
PIONEER SQUARE, LOCATED AT A
COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT
SUPPORTS THE DISTRICTS
LONG-TERM VITALITY. FIRST OFF
THANK YOU FOR CREATING THE
PUBLIC HEARING YOU, I
APPRECIATE THE TIME, MY COMMENT
IS BRIEF, AS YOU PREPARE THE
2024 BUDGET, INVESTMENTS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY SO NEIGHBORHOOD
SUCH AS PIONEER SQUARE MUCH
MUST BE SAFE AND WELCOMING TO
ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'M HOPING OR URGING YOU TO
MAINTAIN THE ENTIRE $1.8
MILLION SO WE COULD ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL HELP
PREVENT AND STOP CRIME WHICH
IS IMPORTANT GIVEN THE CITY'S
SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS AND
THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES AUTOMATIC
READERS, GUNSHOT LOCATOR TO
HELP POLICE RESPOND TO CRIME.
IN NEIGHBORHOODS MOST IMPACTED
BY GUN VIOLENCE SO THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR ONGOING
COOPERATION A PIONEER SQUARE
AND I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH MORE
DETAILED COMMENTS LATER.
>> CASTILLO HIGHTOWER AND
FOLLOWED BY MARCUS JOHNSON.
>>
>> MY BROTHER WAS MURDERED BY
SEATTLE POLICE NOT ONLY DID MY
FAMILY HAVE A TREMENDOUS LOSS
OF HIS PASSING BUT WE SUSTAINED
GENERATIONAL HARM BY CONTINUING
TO BE FELT THIS DAY. HARM THAT
WAS DOUBLED IN OUR STRUGGLE TO
BURY HIM HAVE A FUNERAL FOR
HIM, NO ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES AND NO UNDERSTANDING
THIS OCCURRED AND CONTINUES TO
THIS DAY, FOR ME AND OFFICERS
LIKE STEVE WHO MURDERED HIM,
LIKE OFFICERS LIKE KEVIN DAY
WHO MURDERED JUST JANUARY OF
THIS YEAR, HIS FAMILY HAD TO
FUND TO SEND HER BODY BACK TO
INDIA. FOR THE AFFECTED
PERSONS PROGRAM TO BE INCLUDED
IN THE BUDGET, THIS AMENDMENT
FOR THE FIRST TIME ALLOWS
VICTIMS AND FAMILIES NOT
ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DECIPHER
AND SUPPORT . WE ARE NO LONGER
DISENFRANCHISED BY THE VERY
SYSTEM WHOSE EMPLOYEES AND
POLICIES BRUTALIZE US, THE
HUMANE, SEEMS TO BE THE THING
TO DO.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MARCUS JOHNSON AND MARCUS
JOHNSON WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CAMILLE.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBER,
MY NAME IS MARCUS JOHNSON I AM
THE MANAGER ORGANIZATION IS A
NONPROFIT WITH IMPROVEMENT
AREAS I REPRESENT OVER 500
SMALL BUSINESSES ALONG WITH
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS
OF SEATTLE'S UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT. TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR
FOR INVESTMENT IN THE
TECHNOLOGY OF PUBLIC SAFETY
PILOT PROJECT. THIS INCLUDES
THE LIMITED CLOSED-CIRCUIT
TELEVISION SYSTEM AND ACOUSTIC
GUNSHOT LOCATOR SYSTEM AND AN
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER.
WITH THE LIMITED PUBLIC SAFETY
RESOURCES THE CITY HAS TODAY,
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IS A
COMMON SENSE PILOT INVESTMENT
THAT WILL HELP COMMUNITIES BE
SAFER FROM GUN VIOLENCE.
RATHER THAN THE AMENDMENT WHICH
PROPOSES REDIRECTING THESE
FUNDS FOR OTHER USES. THANK
YOU.
>> HI THERE MY NAME IS CAMILLE
I AM PASSING MY COMMENT OFF TO
MY NEIGHBOR ADRIAN.
>> YES MY NAME IS ADRIAN AND I
WANT TO SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED
MORE, WE NEED EDUCATION AND
REHABILITATION MORE
REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR
HOMELESSNESS. AND THAT'S THE
PROBLEM , THE MAJOR PROBLEM OF
OUR COMMUNITY IS THE
HOMELESSNESS AND TRYING TO FIND
HOUSING. AND BE THAT WE HAVE A
SWEETS BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY
EDUCATION OR REHABILITATION
THAT OUR POLICIES, THE ONLY
TIME THAT THE KING COUNTY DOES
A SWEEP OR THE CITY OF SEATTLE
MAJOR GAINS BUT WHAT IS THE
END A GAME TO THAT? THAT'S ALL
I'M SAYING, WHAT IS THE END
GAME? WE NEED A BETTER END A
GAME, WE NEED MORE FUNDING ON
NOT JUST SWEEPS BUT MORE
REHABILITATION TO HELP HOUSING
BECAUSE THAT IS A MAJOR
PROBLEM. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO
IT, THEN WHO WILL? AND ALSO WE
ALSO NEED MORE , WE NEED MORE
INFORMATION ON REHABILITATION.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY, THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEN AND
SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
TORRES, GO AHEAD JEN.
>> GOOD EVENING
COUNCILMEMBER'S MY NAME IS JEN
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT
THE FOOD BANK AND COCHAIR OF
THE SEATTLE'S SERVICES
COALITION. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THE SERVICES EXPRESSED BY THE
SEATTLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
WE APPRECIATE THE SEATTLE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR
MAKING THE INVESTMENT AND
SERVICES BY RECOGNIZING A 7.5%
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT AS WELL AS
THE 2% EQUITY. THANK YOU FOR
ALSO INCLUDING INVESTMENT FOR
FOOD BANKS WHERE THAT
INVESTMENT IS NEEDED SO
CRITICALLY AT THIS TIME. THE
HHS D AMENDMENTS PUT FORWARD BY
YOUR COUNSEL COLLEAGUES OUR
LIFELINE FOR SUSTAINING
CRITICAL SERVICES FOR ALL
SEATTLE RESIDENTS. I URGE YOU
TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT HSD
002005 012013 AND 014. THE
FACT IS WE MUST INVEST AT THE
LEVEL THAT IS REQUIRED TO MEET
THE NEED WE ARE SEEING IN OUR
COMMUNITY. REQUIRING CRITICAL
SERVICES SUCH AS FOOD BANKS,
MEAL PROGRAMS, SERVICES FOR
SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE, SO MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITY ARE BEING CHALLENGED
BY THE POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY,
INFLATION AND A ROLLBACK OF
CRITICAL LIFE-SAVING BENEFITS
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. A BUDGET
RESPECTS OUR VALUES, AND AN
INVESTMENT AND SERVICES IN WAGE
EQUITY MEANS WE VALUE THE
PROGRAMS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE
WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN
OUR COMMUNITIES TO HELP PEOPLE
ACCESS SHELTER, FOOD BANKS,
MEAL PROGRAMS AND OTHER
CRITICAL SERVICES, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBER'S
I AM THE CODIRECTOR OF THE
COALITION AND WE SUPPORT OVER
35 COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TOWARDS GENDER
EQUITY AND A END TO
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. AND
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF HSD 014
AND MANY OF THE OTHER I DON'T
HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME BUT
ALL THE OTHER HSD AMENDMENTS
THAT MY PREVIOUS CALLER
MENTIONED. FOOD BANKS AND
PROGRAMS AND WAGE EQUITY. THE
TWO THAT I'M SPEAKING TO ABOUT
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE TONIGHT
INVEST IN BOTH CRITICAL
SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS AND
ALTERNATIVES TO CRIMINALIZATION
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE CAUSED HARM
IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. THIS
BALANCE IS SO IMPORTANT AND
THESE INVESTMENTS ESPECIALLY IN
COMBINATION REALLY HIGHLIGHT
HOW INCREASING THE CHOICES THE
SURVIVORS HAVE ABOUT HOW TO
RESPOND TO ITS ABUSE,
ULTIMATELY SUPPORTS THEIR
SELF-DETERMINATION AND SAFETY.
ESPECIALLY WANT TO THINK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, MOSQUEDA
AND SAWANT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND I ENCOURAGE THE FULL
COUNSEL SUPPORT. SOME SURVIVORS
CHOOSE TO CALL POLICE AND SOME
SURVIVORS AVOID INTERACTIONS
WITH POLICE. SOME SURVIVORS
WANT TO SEE JUSTICE UNFORTUNATE
TO THE HARM THEY HAVE ENDURED
AND OTHERS WANT THE ABUSE TO
STOP BUT DO NOT WANT THEIR
PARTNER INCARCERATED OR
DEPORTED, THERE ARE LOTS OF
VALID REASONS FOR ALL OF THESE
PROFOUND HARD CHOICES THAT
SURVIVORS ARE FACED WITH, AND
IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE THESE
INVESTMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE
WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES
PEOPLE HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> THINK YOU ARE NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL .
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
OFFICER AT THE MULTI SERVICE
NONPROFIT TOWN GENERATION AND
ALSO HERE REPRESENTING SENIOR
VOICES WITH THE SEATTLE HUMAN
SERVICES COALITION. SPEAKING
TODAY TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL
AMENDMENTS HSD 001, 002 AND
012. TO ENSURE INVESTMENTS AND
WAGES ARE APPLIED CONSISTENTLY
TO ALL HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
RECEIVING CITY FUNDING. I AM
SUPPORTING 005 DIVIDING
FUNDING FOR MEAL PROGRAMS AND
HSD 13 AND 14 TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT FOR HUMAN SERVICES AND
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
CHRONICALLY UNDERPAID AND
OVERWORKED AND HAVE DEDICATED
THEIR LIVES TO CREATING A SAFE,
JUST AND THRIVING ENVIRONMENT
FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN
SEATTLE. THEY ALSO CONTINUE TO
FACE BURNOUT, AND TO BE UNDER
COMPENSATED. WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT
FROM FURTHERING OUR MUCH-NEEDED
SERVICES IN THE LABOR FORCE .
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL
AND MICHAEL WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
JANICE DEGUCCI.
>> I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 6, I AM A UNION CITY
WORKER AT THE SEATTLE LIBRARY
SPEAKING IN A PERSONAL
CAPACITY, I'M CALLING IN TODAY
TO ASK THAT CITY COUNCIL VOTES
IN SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S AMENDMENT TO FUND
CITY WORKERS CONTRACT IN MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. LIBRARY WORKERS
ARE CHRONICALLY UNDERSTAFFED
AND OVERWORKED, WE ARE ON THE
FRONT LINES HELPING OUR
COMMUNITY DEALING WITH HOUSING
INSECURITY AND MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS YET WE ARE CLOSING
BRANCHES ON A WEEKLY BASIS DUE
TO UNDERSTAFFING AND ARE FACING
INCREASED ASSAULTS ON STAFF AT
WORK. THESE ARE SEVERE SAFETY
ISSUES THAT CAN ONLY BE
RESOLVED WITH INCREASED FUNDING
AND RESOURCES TO HIRE MORE
STAFF. IN MANY CITY WORKERS
CANNOT EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE IN
THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE,
COMMUTING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE
CITY FROM EVERETT, RENTON AND
BEYOND. INFLATION HAS COME INTO
OUR WAGES WELL RENT AND HOUSING
COSTS SKYROCKET, BUT OTHERS
MAKE ENORMOUS PROFITS AND WE
CAN'T AFFORD MORE PROPERTY
TAXES AND SALES TAXES, WE KNOW
WHERE THE MONEY IS AND WE NEED
CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE IN FAVOR
OF INCREASING THE AMAZON TAX,
TAXING BIG BUSINESSES WOULD BE
A FRACTION OF A PERCENT TO
THESE CORPORATIONS. THE LABOR
COUNCIL ENDORSED IN THE RECENT
ELECTION AND I'M ASKING YOU,
REALLY SIDE WITH UNION WORKERS
AND INCREASE THE TAX TO FUND
OUR CONTRACTS AND PUBLIC
SCHOOLS OR PROTECT BIG
BUSINESSES AND THEIR PROFITS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JANICE
AND WE WILL GO TO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS.
>> JANICE, GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, THAT EVENING MY NAME IS
JANICE AND I'M EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH
WITH SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES,
RAISING WAGES FOR CHANGING LIFE
CAMPAIGN, WE HELP OVER 12,000
INDIVIDUALS IN SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY FACING LANGUAGE,
CULTURAL AND SYSTEMIC BARRIERS
TO LIVE LONGER, HAPPIER AND
HEALTHIER LIVES. HERE TODAY I
AM HERE TO SPEAK IN THE
INVESTMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES
WORKFORCE AND THE AMENDMENTS
HSD 001, 002 AND 012 TO ENSURE
INVESTMENTS IN WAGES ARE
APPLIED CONSISTENTLY TO ALL
HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS RECEIVING
CITY FUNDING. ONE OF OUR
EMPLOYEES SPEAKS PERSIAN AND
ENGLISH, AND FOR OVER A DECADE
HE WORKED IN HIS NATIVE
AFGHANISTAN FOR INTERNATIONAL
RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS, THE U.N.
AND OTHERS, PEOPLE COME TO SEE
HIM THROUGH THROUGHOUT SEATTLE
AND YET HE HAS A FULL-TIME
SECOND JOB THAT HE DOES AT
NIGHT SO HE CAN EARN ENOUGH TO
SUPPORT HIS FAMILY. HE IS JUST
ONE OF OUR 350 STAFF THAT
SPEAK OVER 40 LANGUAGES THAT
CONNECT PEOPLE TO RESOURCES
LIKE JOBS, HEALTHCARE,
EDUCATION AND HOUSING. BARRIERS
TO INCLUDE THESE INCREASES ALL
HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS CAN
RECEIVE A REAL RAISE AND
SUSTAINABLE ONGOING REVENUE SO
SERVICE PROFESSIONALS LIKE HIM
CAN EARN WAGES COMMENSURATE
WITH THEIR TALENT AND
DEDICATION, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR FIRST IN PERSON PUBLIC
SPEAKER WILL BE AARON GOODMAN
AND THEN ERIN WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY JOEL B 10. AND YOU CAN PICK
EITHER ANY OF THOSE
MICROPHONES.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBER.
IS IT ON? OKAY. I AM NOT AS
TALL AS SOME. GOOD EVENING
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
AARON GOODMAN I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA
REPRESENTING OVER 1200
BUSINESSES AND OVER 45,000
EMPLOYEES IN THE DISTRICT. I AM
HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY SPECIFICALLY TWO ITEMS.
I WILL KEEP THIS SHORT, ONE
PRESERVE ALL FUNDING FOR THE
TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED PUBLIC
SAFETY PILOT PROJECT. WITH OUR
STAFFING AND CAPACITY ISSUES
MAKING IT ESSENTIAL THAT WE TRY
NEW MODALITIES AND TECHNOLOGIES
TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETIES IN
NEIGHBORHOODS MOST IMPACTED BY
GUN VIOLENCE. IT IS TIME FOR US
TO TRY NEW THINGS. AND TWO
PROVIDE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE
FOR BRIDGE AND ROADWAY
INFRASTRUCTURES ALSO PUBLIC
SAFETY. AND IT IS ESSENTIAL
THAT WE INCREASE THE BUDGET TO
THE BARE MINIMAL ANNUAL AMOUNT
IDENTIFIED BY THE BRIDGE AUDIT.
TO AVOID CATASTROPHIC FAILURE
LIKE WE SAW IN THE PAST FEW
YEARS WITH THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE. PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE
NEED TO BE WORKING ON. THANK
YOU .
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DROLL AND NEXT WILL BE THE
TORREY A BEACH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND
CONSIDERATION I AM DROLL AND I
USE ALL PRONOUNS AND I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
MUSEUM IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. I'M
HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR SUPPORT OF
THE ARTS 03 A1 CHINESE-AMERICAN
LEGACY PROJECT ARTS PROJECT
WITH THE MUSEUM FUNDING ITEM ON
THE BUDGET PROPOSAL. AS THE
NATION'S ONLY PAN- ASIAN AND
PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN
MUSEUM IN THE NATION'S ONLY
PAN- ASIAN AND BLACK INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE OF COLOR NEIGHBORHOOD IT
IS AN HONOR AND I MISSION TO
CHAMPION THE HOPE , EQUITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE THAT THE
CHINESE-AMERICAN LEGACY ARTWORK
PROJECT INSPIRES. IN RESPONSE
TO THE RECENT SEPTEMBER 14 HATE
CRIME WE EXPERIENCED WHEN NINE
OUT OF OUR 10 WINDOWS IN OUR
HISTORIC BUILDING WERE SLUDGE
HAMMERED DUE TO ANTI-CHINESE
HATE, WE ARE ALSO FACING
INCREASING AND ACCELERATING
TARGETED ASIAN HATE AT THE
SAME TIME, THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT CLEARLY
AN AMERICAN CULTURAL TREASURE
HAS BEEN LISTED AMONG THE
NATION'S TOP ENDANGERED PLACES
BY THE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRUST.
ULTIMATELY CHINESE-AMERICAN
LEGACY ARTWORK PROJECT SETS THE
COUNTERBALANCE WITH A PERMANENT
LEGACY ARTWORK DESIGNED BY
LOCAL ARTIST STUART LONG THAT
CREATES A COMPLETE HISTORY AS
WELL AS A FIERCE PRIDE OF NOT
ONLY CHINESE AMERICANS OR ASIAN
AMERICANS BUT ALL OF US WHO
CONTRIBUTE AND MAKE UP THE
VIBRANT DIVERSITY OF OUR
BELOVED SEATTLE.
>> I'M SORRY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS VICTORIA BEACH AND VICTORIA
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY I BELIEVE
IT IS YNEZ NELSON.
>> I AM VICTORIA BEACH AND I AM
NOT ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF
BUT FOR MY BLACK COMMUNITY,
ESPECIALLY THE PARENTS THAT
HAVE LOST KIDS TO GUN VIOLENCE,
ARE BLACK KIDS, MY COMMUNITY, I
AM TIRED OF PEOPLE COMING UP
AND SPEAKING FOR US THAT DON'T
LOOK LIKE US OR DON'T LIVE IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SHOOTS
DOWN EVERYTHING ABOUT SAFETY
FOR US, THEY DON'T SPEAK FOR
US. WE NEED TO BE PROTECTED, I
SUPPORT SHOT SPOTTER, WHATEVER
YOU WANT TO CALL IT WHATEVER
THE MAYOR WANTS TO BRING AND TO
KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE , I AM
FOR IT. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE
THAT THINK THEY SPEAK FOR US,
THEY HAVE NOT SAT WITH THE
WEEPING PARENTS, I DON'T SEE
CRYING ANYMORE, I HAVE HEARD IT
AND BEEN TO THE FUNERALS AND I
AM TIRED OF IT, WE NEED HELP.
WE SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING BUT
WE LOSE OUR COMMUNITY. THE
ONES THAT SPEAK FOR US GET TO
GO HOME, THEY DON'T HEAR THE
GUNFIRE, THEY ARE NOT LOSING
ANYONE, THEY GET TO GO TO THEIR
NICE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HEAR
NOTHING, ANOTHER THING IS THE
TRAUMA THAT OUR KIDS HERE,
HEARING THE GUNFIRE, THAT IS
GOING TO BE WITH THEM FOREVER.
SO I WANT YOU COUNCILMEMBERS TO
HAVE SOME INTEGRITY, I HAVE
TALKED WITH YOU ANDREW ABOUT
DOING THE RIGHT THING, PLEASE
DO THE RIGHT THING, SHAME ON
YOU TAMMY MORALES AND HERBOLD
YOU HAVE SHOWN OUR COMMUNITY
THAT YOU DON'T CARE. YOU HAVE
SHOWN US OVER AND OVER AND I AM
SICK OF IT. IT MAY NOT PASS NOW
BUT I GUARANTEE IT WILL AGAIN
WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEW CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE
COMMON SENSE.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER B2 AND THAT WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY REVEREND WALKER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND
APPRECIATE SEATTLE CHANNEL FOR
OFFERING THE CHANCE TO SEE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SO I
APPRECIATE THAT, I WOULD
ENCOURAGE FOLKS THANK YOU FOR
COMMENTING ON BUDGET AMENDMENT
ITEMS AS A REMINDER WE DO TRY
TO REFRAIN AND WANT TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM
REFRAINING FROM THE MOTIVES OF
COUNCILMEMBERS, WE ARE HERE TO
HEAR PERSPECTIVES SO KEEP THE
COMMENTS DIRECTED TO THE BUDGET
ITEMS AND NOT INDIVIDUAL
MEMBERS, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE
IT AND WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ACCOMMODATING THE MEETING AND I
SEE YOU AND I APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION TONIGHT. GO AHEAD.
>> I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR
MORE FUNDING TOWARDS HUMAN
SERVICES IN THE BUDGET. THIS
CITY BUILT ME BUT IT ALSO TORE
ME DOWN, LONG HOURS SPENT ON
HOLD WAITING FOR GOOD NEWS THAT
NEVER CAME, HOPING FOR SHELTER
THAT WAS NEVER BUILT. ON THOSE
CLOSE TO ME RELYING ON THEM,
AND HOW SKID FORGOTTEN, PUSHED
TO THE SIDE, TO BECOME A SINGLE
NUMBER IN A STATISTIC. PLEASE
LANDING ON DEAF EARS UNWILLING
TO LISTEN GETTING AIDS FEELING
POINTLESS, FEELS POINTLESS,
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE
YOU'RE GOING TO SLEEP FOR THE
NIGHT. A LACK OF STABILITY, A
LACK OF CARE IS ALL THE CITY
BROUGHT ME, CRYING ON THE PHONE
WITH A GUY FROM THE HELPLINE
SAID THAT HE CANNOT DO MORE
THAN THROW RESOURCES MY WAY. I
HAVE LOOKED INTO 1 MILLION
TIMES. I KID WHO GREW UP WITH
THE UNDERSTANDING OF SURVIVAL
BUT NEVER CARE WITHIN THE CITY
THAT PROMISED I WOULD BE CARED
FOR. THE CLAIMS THEY ARE TRYING
BUT I DON'T SEE IT. SO I ASK
YOU LISTEN AND SHOW ME THAT THE
CITY CAN DO MORE THAN JUST
BUILD ME UP ONLY TO TEAR ME
DOWN. SHOW ME THE CITY CAN HELP
ME THRIVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS REVEREND WALKER AND WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY RICE AND SOME
REQUEST.
>> MY NAME IS REVEREND HARRIET
WALDEN. SPEAKING IN THAT
CAPACITY TONIGHT, I AM HERE TO
SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET, FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY. THE TECHNOLOGY
ASSISTED IN AND PUBLIC SAFETY
PILOT PROJECT. I BELIEVE WE
LIVE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND
OTHER COMMUNITIES SOMETIMES
NEED TO SPEAKS FOR OURSELVES
AND THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM I
WANT, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKER SAID, WE HAVE SET WITH
MOTHERS WEEPING MOTHERS AND WE
TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HEAR
GUNSHOTS EVERY NIGHT, DOWN IN
CERTAIN AREAS AND WE WANT TO
STOP NORMALIZING VIOLENCE FOR
BLACK PEOPLE. I MEAN IT'S TIME
TO JUST STOP IT AND WE CAN DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT HERE. I
ALSO, SOME OF US REMEMBER WHEN
SEATTLE WAS A KIDS PLACE.
SEATTLE WAS A PLACE WHERE KIDS
HAD GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND IT WAS
LESS VIOLENCE AND ACTUALLY
DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR
CHILDREN AS MUCH AS YOU DO
TODAY SO I THINK WE CAN DO THAT
AGAIN. MAYBE IN THE COMING
YEARS SOME OF THE POLARIZATION
WILL LEAVE AND THAT PEOPLE CAN
WORK TOGETHER TO FORM A CITY
THAT WORKS FOR ALL PEOPLE. AND
ALSO THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES
BUT AGAIN I SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET, PUBLIC SAFETY, I HAVE
SAT WITH MOTHERS AND I HAVE
GONE TO FUNERALS AND PEOPLE WHO
ARE SPEAKING THEY ARE NOT
SPEAKING FOR US. THEY ARE NOT
SPEAKING FOR US. AND THEY NEED
TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THEY HAVE
NOT HAD A LIVED EXPERIENCE AND
THEY TALK ABOUT US BUT THEY
ARE NOT SPEAKING FOR US, THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER B3, FOLLOWED BY
JOELLE KRAFT.
>> HELLO, YES. THIS CITY BUILT
ME SO I REALLY REBUILD IT AND
I URGE YOU TO JOIN ME, SINCE
2020 HOMELESSNESS HAS GROWN BY
12%, AND IT INCREASES, AND
INCREASE IS EVIDENT AND SO IS
THE IMPACT. I AM PRIVILEGED TO
BE HOUSED BECAUSE IT GIVES ME
THE RESOURCES THAT MY UN-HOUSED
PEERS CANNOT GET. ALTHOUGH THE
NUMBER OF HOMELESS YOUTH HAS
DECREASED IT IS STILL , IT
STILL DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM
THE LACK OF HELP WE GIVE THEM.
ONE OF MY PEERS OF ONE OF THE
HARDEST WORKERS WHO IS ON
HOUSED. AND THEY STRUGGLE TO
GET SERVICES. THEY CALL JUST
TO BE HUNG UP ON. THESE
STRUGGLES ARE NOT HELPED BY THE
FACT THAT HUMAN SERVICES ARE
UNDERFUNDED WHICH RESULTS IN
THESE WORKERS NOT BEING PAID
ENOUGH. BASED ON THE NOTION
THAT WE DON'T PAY HUMAN
SERVICES WORKERS ENOUGH WE FAIL
TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED
TO. SO I ASK YOU NOW, PLEASE
OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOELLE
KRAFT AND FOLLOWED BY FINN
FORGER.
>> HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS A LOT
OF YOU KNOW ME VERY WELL
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN COMING TO
THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR
WHAT SEEMS LIKE A DECADE AND
ACTUALLY IS PROBABLY ABOUT THAT
LONG. I AM A LIFELONG
WASHINGTONIAN AND A WORKER
WITH ROVER I'M HERE IN REGARDS
TO THE LEGISLATION OF THE 10
SET FEE FOR OLS, THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE THOSE
OF US WORKERS WHO ARE ON A
BOTTOM NEEDS TO BE PROTECTIVE
AS MUCH AS EVERYONE ON THE CITY
COUNCIL IS AND EVERYONE ELSE IN
WASHINGTON STATE. AND IN THIS
CITY PARTICULARLY. THESE
COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY SHOWN US
THAT THEY WILL BREAK THE LAW AT
ANY CHANCE THEY GET AND THEY'VE
TAKEN MONEY FROM WORKERS AND
THEY HAVE LIED TO THEIR
CUSTOMERS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION LYING AND SAYING IT
WAS A TAX AND IT WAS ON
GROCERIES WHICH WAS ALL A
BLANKET LIE. AND THIS IS URGENT
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE NEW
COUNSEL IS ABOUT TO SEE SOME
MAJOR CHANGES FOLLOWING THIS
LAST ELECTION AND MANY OF
YOURSELVES HAVE TOUTED THAT YOU
ARE PROLABOR AND THIS IS
PROBABLY YOUR LAST CHANCE TO
ADD YOUR LEGACY IN THIS
COUNSEL. AND YOU ARE OUR LAST
CHANCE FOR THIS PROTECTION, WE
NEED THIS NOW. I AM HERE ASKING
THE COUNCIL PLEASE VOTE YES ON
THIS 10 SET FEE AS YOU KNOW WE
KEEP THE COMPANY'S LIGHTS ON
YOU KNOW WE ARE THE ONES THAT
MAKE THEIR ENDS MEET AND WE
NEED TO MAKE ENDS MEET. PLEASE
DON'T TAKE OUT THE PAY
STANDARDS EITHER BECAUSE
WITHOUT THE ENFORCEMENT WE ARE
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS
AND YOU HAVE SHOWN HIGH VOTING
YES FOR THE PAY STANDARD.
>> FOLLOWED BY BOBBY BOURN.
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GET
CLOSER LIKE EAT THE MICROPHONE.
SORRY.
>> OH, THE OTHER ONE. SORRY
ABOUT THAT.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
>> MY NAME IS FINN AND THIS
CITY TOLD ME AND IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT. HUMAN
SERVICES ARE THE TOOLS WE NEED
TO DO THIS BUT WE HAVE FAILED
TO GIVE THEM THE FUNDING THAT
THEY NEED TO HELP US IN THE
WAYS THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO.
BY FOCUSING MORE OF THE BUDGET
ON HUMAN SERVICES YOU CAN HELP
REBUILD THIS CITY, FOOD BANKS,
SHELTERS AND HELP LINES ARE
JUST A SMALL PORTION OF THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR
PEOPLE TO THRIVE. THEY NEED
MORE FUNDING TO CONTINUE. THIS
CITY IS FAILING TO CARE FOR ITS
FUTURE GENERATIONS AND IF YOU
DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP
PEOPLE WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO
SUFFER. STAY TRUE TO YOUR WORD
AND PROVE TO THE CITY OF
STRUGGLING YOUTH THAT YOU ARE
NOT GOING TO ABANDON THEM
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE BOBBY BOURN AND THEN
FOLLOWING BOBBY WE WILL HAVE
ONE MORE IN PERSON BEFORE WE GO
BACK TO REMOTE SO BOBBY AND
THEN IT WILL BE CAT .
>> HELLO COUNSEL MY NAME IS
BOBBY AND I'M A GIG WORKER ON
VARIOUS DELIVERY APPS SUCH AS
JORDACHE, GRUB PUB AND
OVEREATS. I'M HERE TO SHOW MY
SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED FEE
FOR FUNDING OF THE ENFORCEMENT
SEATTLE GIG WORKER ORDINANCE.
THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO ME
BECAUSE I HAVE PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE WITH THESE COMPANIES
NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES. FOR
EXAMPLE, I KNOW OF AT LEAST
TWO COMPANIES THAT I CURRENTLY
WORK FOR THE HAVE NOT BEEN
ABIDING BY THE PS ST ORDINANCE
SINCE IT WAS LEGISLATED. PS ST
HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN
MY ABILITY TO TAKE TIME OFF
WORK WHEN I AM SICK, OR NEED TO
TAKE CARE OF A LOVED ONE WHO
IS. WITHOUT IT I WOULD BE
FORCED TO GO TO WORK WHILE SICK
AND JEOPARDIZE NOT JUST MY OWN
HEALTH BUT THE HEALTH OF THE
PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY. I
WOULD ALSO HAVE TO PUT MYSELF
IN MORE OF A FINANCIAL HOLE NOT
JUST WITH BILLS BUT ALSO WITH
MEDICAL CARE. WE NEED THIS
FUNDING. SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES AND GO AFTER
COMPANIES THAT DO NOT COMPLY.
WE CREATED THESE LAWS AND NOW
IT'S TIME TO GIVE THEM SOME
TEETH. IF NOT THESE COMPANIES
WILL CONTINUE TO ABUSE THE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS THAT
ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THEIR
ORGANIZATION. THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY WHICH INCLUDE SMALL
BUSINESSES SUCH AS RESTAURANTS,
BAKERIES AND COFFEE SHOPS AS
WELL AS THE RESIDENTS LIVING
AND WORKING IN THE CITY DEPEND
ON THE SERVICES THEY NEED ON A
DAILY BASIS. WE SUPPORT THEM
CAN WE COUNT ON YOU TO SUPPORT
US?
>> THANK YOU. ARE LAST IN
PERSON SPEAKER FOR THIS GROUP
IS CATS.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS KAT AND I
AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 2. THIS CITY BUILT
US, WHEN I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE
EVERY DAY FOR NINE MONTHS MY
FAMILY AND I WOULD DRIVE PAST
AND ON HOUSED WOMEN ON THE WAY
HOME FROM SCHOOL. HER CARDBOARD
SIGN MENTIONED HER TEENAGE SON.
ON HOUSED ALONGSIDE HER, ONE
DAY I SAW HER SON INSTEAD OF
HER BEFORE THEY BOTH
DISAPPEARED ALTOGETHER, I HAVE
NOT SEEN THEM SINCE. EVEN AT
THE AGE OF 13 I FEARED FOR THE
HOUSE LIZ MOTHER AND HER SON AS
A FINANCIALLY SECURE AND HOUSED
AMERICAN INDIAN OF WHICH A
DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT ARE
IMPOVERISHED AND ON HOUSED. IN
A CITY WHICH BOASTS ITS ROOTS
WITH NATIVE PEOPLE BY USING OUR
IMAGE AS ITS SEAL, MY FIRST
INSTINCT SHOULD NOT BE FEAR
WHEN AND ON HOUSED FAMILY
DISAPPEARS FROM THE STREETS. I
HAVE GROWN UP WATCHING SWEEPS,
IS THIS THE CITY YOU WANT FOR
US? THE ONLY WAY PUBLIC SAFETY
THAT MEANS POLICE WILL SOLVE
OUR HOMELESSNESS AND GUN
VIOLENCE CRISIS IS BY
DISPLACING AND KILLING ARE ON
HOUSED PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR. THIS IS NOT HUMANE
ACTION AND IT IS NO LONGER TIME
FOR BABY STEPS, WE NEED RADICAL
CHANGES TO THE BUDGET NOW, WE
NEED TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR
HUMAN SERVICES TODAY, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS, OUR
FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER WILL BE
BRIAN AND HE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY MIKE STEWART.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS BRIAN AND
I AM A DISTRICT 3 VOTER AND THE
PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE
PARTNERSHIP COALITION AND I'M
HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
BUDGET AMENDMENT 005 ADDING A
ONE-TIME INVESTMENT $300,000.20
24 FOR FOOD AND OPERATIONAL
EXPENSES FOR MEAL PROVIDERS.
THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, LEWIS AND HERBOLD FOR
THEIR SUPPORT.
>> EACH YEAR MEAL PROVIDERS IN
EVERY DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 5
MILLION EVENTS CULTURALLY
RELEVANT MEALS. AFTERSCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND TINY HOUSE
PROGRAMS. WE HEAR EVERY DAY IN
PIONEER SQUARE, SOUTH PARK AND
MANY FOLKS HOUSED IN ON HOUSED
RELY ON THE NETWORK OF MEALS
PROVIDED FOR EVERY HOT MEAL
THEY EAT DAY TO DAY OR WEEK TO
WEEK. MANY MEAL PROVIDERS ARE
ONE BROKEN FREEZER COMPRESSOR
OR OTHER THINGS TO SCALE BACK
THEIR PROGRAM. MEAL PROVIDERS
WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
PAYING TO FIX BROKEN EQUIPMENT
OR STILL BEING ABLE TO SERVE
LUNCH THAT DAY. IT MEANS THE
PROGRAM THAT PROVIDE FOOD CAN
AFFORD TO PREPARE AND DELIVER
MEALS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER
ALREADY AT THAT SHELTER AND
OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES. WE
ALSO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AND
APPROVE AMENDMENT HST 001, 002,
00 12 AND ALL HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS RECEIVING CITY FUNDING
AS WELL AS HST 13 AND 14
PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR
SURVIVORS WITH GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE. THANK YOU.
>> MIKE STEWART AND MIKE
STEWART WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ANNA POWELL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON CITY
COUNCIL, MY NAME IS WYATT
HOFFMAN AND I AM SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF MIKE STEWART. AN
ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS
HUNDREDS OF VISITORS AND I'M
HERE TO SUPPORT THE TECHNOLOGY
-ASSISTED PUBLIC SAFETY PILOT
PROJECT AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED
BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN
GUN VIOLENCE THAT IS TRENDING
TOWARDS THE HISTORIC HIGH THIS
YEAR AS WELL AS THE HIGH
CONCENTRATION OF GUN AND OTHER
CRIMES COMMITTED AT SPECIFIC
PLACES IN OUR COMMUNITIES SUCH
AS AURORA AVENUE FOURTH AND
THIRD AVENUE DOWNTOWN. WITH THE
SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS
IT'S IMPORTANT THE NEW
STRATEGIES THE EMPLOYEES HELP
SOLVE AND DETER CRIMES. THE
COST OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS
MODEST PARTICULARLY WHEN
MEASURED AGAINST THE COST AND
IMPACTS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND
OTHER CRIMINAL ACTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY THAT THIS PROGRAM
WILL HELP ADDRESS. WHILE THIS
PROGRAM DOES NOT HAVE A DIRECT
EFFECT ON THE BALLARD COMMUNITY
IS A WORTHWHILE PILOT THAT
COULD BE ADOPTED IN THE FUTURE
TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND
LIKE THE RECENT LAUNCH OF THE
CITY'S CARE DEPARTMENT HAD THE
POTENTIAL TO FREE LIMITED
RESOURCES TO ADDRESS NEEDS IN
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS
BALLARD. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
APPROVE THIS ITEM AS ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED, THANK YOU.
>> ANNA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
JEN.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS MY NAME IS
ANNA POWELL AND I WORK FOR
DOOR DASH IN SEATTLE. WE ARE
COMPANY LICENSE AND PROPOSAL
BECAUSE IT IS ACTUALLY A
BACKDOOR TAX THAT SERVES AS
YET ANOTHER DELIVERY COST
INCREASE FOR CUSTOMERS IN
SEATTLE. IN FACT, THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS NOW PASSED AT LEAST
EIGHT NEW REGULATIONS ON
DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANIES IN
THE PAST THREE YEARS. MANY OF
WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT IN 2024.
WE ESTIMATE THE HIGHER THE
AVERAGE DELIVERY COST FOR
SEATTLE FAMILIES WILL BE MORE
THAN FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN THE
AVERAGE DELIVERY COST IN
NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS IF
THE FULL COST OF SEATTLE
REGULATIONS UNDER OPERATIONS
ARE PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMERS.
MORE THAN A QUARTER OF DOOR
DASH DELIVERIES IN SEATTLE WENT
TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IN
2022. THESE HOUSEHOLDS ARE
IMPACTED MOST BY INCREASED
COSTS BECAUSE OF CITY POLICIES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT HIGHER
CONSUMER COSTS MEANS FEWER
ORDERS FOR RESTAURANTS AND
FEWER EARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DASHER'S. NEW FEES ON PLATFORMS
ARE NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH.
INSTEAD THE CITY SHOULD WORK
WITH PLATFORMS TO IMPLEMENT OR
REVISE REGULATIONS AND COSTS
FOR ALL PARTIES. AT A MINIMUM
YOU SHOULD LIMIT THE SCOPE AND
COLLECTION OF THIS BACKDOOR TAX
MAKING IT A TRUE FEE AND TO
PROTECT SEATTLE INDIVIDUALS
THAT RELY ON DELIVERIES, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS JEN, AND
SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MIMI
BAER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JEN AND I
WAS , I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 AND
I WORKED IN NONPROFIT
FUNDRAISING FOR SEVEN YEARS AND
I'M CURRENTLY A GRANT WRITER AT
SOLID GROUND IN DISTRICT 4.
WORKING TO END POVERTY. I'M
CALLING TODAY TO ASK THE
COUNCIL TO STRENGTHEN THE
CITY'S INVESTMENT IN ESSENTIAL
HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS, THE WAGE
INCREASE INCLUDED IN THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET AND STAY
PACKAGE IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST
STEP IN CORRECTING DECADES OF
SYSTEMIC UNDERFUNDING OF HUMAN
SERVICES AND ITS WORKERS. BUT
WE STILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT
THOSE INFLATION AND WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS APPLY CONSISTENTLY
TO ALL HOMELESSNESS AND HUMAN
SERVICE WORKERS. PLEASE PASS
THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ENSURE
CASEY RHA HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE
INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS AND
WAGE INCREASE IN THIS. THEY
SHOULD NOT BE LEFT OUT SIMPLY
WHETHER CONTRACTS LIE, AND ON
A PERSONAL NOTE OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS I HAVE SEEN FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES LEAVE DIRECT
SERVICE NONPROFIT WORK DUE TO
BURNOUT AND UNSUSTAINABLE WAGES
AND SEATTLE CAN'T AFFORD TO
CONTINUE LOSING FOLKS WHO DO
THIS IMPORTANT WORK IN OUR
COMMUNITY SO PLEASE SUPPORT
CRITICAL SERVICES AND ESSENTIAL
WORKERS THAT WE ARE RELYING ON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MIMI BAER, MIMI IS NOT
PRESENT NOW, KATIE J WILL BE
OUR NEXT SPEAKER AND KATIE J
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE
HOME.
>> YOU MAY NEED TO HIT STAR
SIX.
>> WE WILL COME BACK TO KATIE,
IS CATHERINE HOME AVAILABLE?
AND OF COURSE YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU FIRST
ARE GRANTED ACCESS.
>> I SEE BOTH KATIE AND
CATHERINE PLEASANT PRESENT BUT
THEIR PHONES ARE NOT, SO WE
WILL MOVE ON.
>> HERE IS CATHERINE, GO AHEAD.
>> HI, YES. I ACTUALLY NEED
JUST A MINUTE BECAUSE I AM
PULIDO OVER SO CAN I BE THE
NEXT CALLER RIGHT AFTERWARDS SO
I AM NOT DRIVING .
>> IS KATIE BACK ON? OKAY, WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE , HERE IS
KATIE. GREAT KATIE GO AHEAD.
>> UNDER THE GUISE OF
COMPASSION WHEN IN TRUTH THERE
IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH
APPROPRIATE SHELTERS, HOUSING
OR RESOURCES TO MATCH THE
ONGOING NEED. INSTEAD OF
ASSESSING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE
LIVING OUTSIDE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> ONE SECOND KATIE. I THINK WE
NEED TO ASK KATHRYN TO MUTE.
OKAY. LET'S START YOU OVER AND
THEN WE WILL GO TO CATHERINE.
>> GO AHEAD KATIE. A LITTLE BIT
OF BACKGROUND NOISE. YES.
>> SORRY MADAM CLERK IT LOOKS
LIKE WE LOST KATIE.
>> I AM NOT SEEING HER SO WE
WILL GO BACK TO CATHERINE. LET
ME UNMUTE HER, GO AHEAD
CATHERINE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE MY NAME IS
CATHERINE HOME AND I AM THE
WESTERN REGION DEPUTY
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER
THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING
SINCE I AM DRIVING HOME. WE
ARE HERE TODAY TO OPPOSE THE
PROPOSED DELIVERY TAX.
CONSISTENTLY BEEN ON THE RECORD
OPPOSING COST INCREASES FOR
SEATTLE CONSUMERS, THIS
DELIVERY FEE IS YET ANOTHER
INSTANCE OF THE COSTS ON
SEATTLE FAMILIES WHO ARE
ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MANAGE
THEIR BUDGETS, THROUGH A
PERIOD OF RECORD INFLATION IN
SEATTLE, WITH COST OF LIVING
INCREASING A STAGGERING 20% IN
THE PAST THREE YEARS. WE ARE
DISAPPOINTED THAT THE AMOUNT
EXPECTED TO BE RAISED BY THE
PROPOSED FEE EXCEEDS THE
INVESTMENT OF WHAT IS NEEDED TO
IMPLEMENT ALREADY APPROVED
REGULATIONS ON THE ASK BASE
INDUSTRY, INITIALLY THEY
INDICATED ONLY $200,000 NEEDED
TO IMPLEMENT WHILE $800,000
WAS NEEDED FOR ENFORCEMENT BOTH
NUMBERS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE
OVERSTATED YET SOMEHOW THE
AMOUNT HAS BALLOONED TO INCLUDE
MORE LAWS AND OTHER UNRELATED
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES TO
ADMINISTER A SIMPLE LICENSE
FOR A SMALL NUMBER OF
COMPANIES.
>> FURTHER AS WE HAVE STATED
PREVIOUSLY THE ORDINANCE WAS IN
DIRECT VIOLATION .
>> THANK YOU CATHERINE OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS KAREN AND SHE WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY ALEX FEHER.
>> GREETINGS ALL, MY NAME IS
KAREN AND I AM THE DIRECT TOUR
OF ADVOCACY AT MAGIC WHICH IS A
PRIVATE FOUNDATION BASED HERE
IN SEATTLE. MAGIC CABINET IS A
MEMBER OF THE STATE FLAG
CAPACITY COLLABORATIVE, A GROUP
OF PRIVATE FUNDED WORKING IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE
AND TODAY I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THE IMPORTANCE OF WAGE EQUITY
FOR OUR NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS. WAGE EQUITY IS NOT
JUST A BUZZWORD, IT'S A
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT
SPEAKS TO OUR COMMITMENT OF
FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND THE
WELL-BEING OF EVERY MEMBER OF
OUR COMMUNITY. NONPROFIT HUMAN
SERVICE WORK FILLS A CRITICAL
GAP IN DIRECT SERVICE FOR OUR
MOST VULNERABLE, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND AT MAGIC CABINET WE
UNDERSTAND THAT FOSTERING AN
ENVIRONMENT OF PEOPLE PAYING
FOR EQUAL WORK IS NOT JUST A
MORAL IMPERATIVE BUT A
NECESSITY FOR OUR WHOLE
COMMUNITIES SUCCESS. AND OUR
PURSUIT OF WAGE EQUITY, WE HAVE
BEEN REFLECTING ON HOW WE AS A
PRIVATE FOUNDATION CAN BETTER
SUPPORT NONPROFITS AND EFFORTS
TO CLOSE THE GAP AND GRANT
MAKING AND IN IN ADJUSTMENT
INFLATION AND COST OF LIVING
FOR OUR NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS AND I'M PROUD TO SAY
THAT ALONG WITH OUR FELLOW SEC
MEMBERS, WE HAVE BEEN SIGNATORY
FROM A CROSSED THE CONNECTION
WHICH YOU HAVE RECEIVED THAT
UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE. OF
THIS. IN CONCLUSION, I URGE
ALL OF US TO URGENTLY STUDY
THIS MATTER , GOVERNMENT, THE
PRIVATE SECTOR AND FOUNDATIONS
AND LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS HAVE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX
FOLLOWED BY LAUREN FAY.
>>
>> YES. I AM ALSO CALLING AND
REPRESENTING SEATTLE
INDIVISIBLE, I WANTED TO
EXPRESS GRATITUDE AND OF COURSE
ASK FOR MORE FUNDING. SO FIRST
OFF INCLUDING THE 200,000 FOR
ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN THE MOST
RECENT BUDGET, HOWEVER AS WE
SPEAK HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
INCLUDING VULNERABLE GROUPS
LIKE PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS,
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE
SLEEPING OUTSIDE. AND IT IS
HAPPENING WHILE POTENTIAL
SHELTERS ARE VACANT AND
NOTABLE EXAMPLE IS THE FAMILY
SHELTER IN NORTH SEATTLE,
CITY-OWNED PROPERTY, CURRENTLY
UNUSED. WE PROPOSED A
PRACTICAL AND HUMANE SOLUTION.
REQUESTING ALLOCATION TO NOT
ONLY REOPEN THIS NORTH SEATTLE
SHELTER BUT ALSO TO ENSURE
SUFFICIENT OPERATION THAT
FUNDING WOULD PROVIDE VITAL
AND CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR
ASYLUM-SEEKERS, OUR CITY HAS
THE RESOURCES SO LET'S USE SOME
OF THOSE TO UPHOLD THE DIGNITY
AND SAFETY OF THOSE SEEKING A
NEW LIFE AS OUR NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND
MAKE GOOD BUDGETING DECISIONS.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LAUREN FAY AND WE WILL GO
BACK TO TRY KATIE JAY ONE MORE
TIME, GO AHEAD LAUREN.
>> LAUREN YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> THERE WE GO. MY NAME IS
LAUREN FAY AND I'M HERE TONIGHT
REPRESENTING DSD. GRATEFUL TO
SEE THAT MIRROR , MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL AS WELL AS 2% WAGE
INCREASES FOR MANY HUMAN
SERVICE WORKERS. TO MAKE THIS
A REALITY AND TRULY APPLY THE
NEEDED ADJUSTMENTS AND
INCREASES, ENCOURAGE COUNSEL
TO PLEASE PASS AMENDMENT ONE
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND HST TWO THESE
AMENDMENTS WILL TAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROGRAMS IN THE CITY TO RECEIVE
MUCH NEEDED COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENT AND TO MAKE IT AND
SO THEY WILL NOT LOSE GROUND.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT THIS HAS DIRECT POSITIVE
IMPACT ON PROGRAMS WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE THAT SUPPORT
THE CITY'S RESIDENTS AND
WORKERS. ONE OF A HANDFUL OF
ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE WHAT
IS KNOWN AS CONTINUING CARE
MONEY THAT HELPS PROVIDE
HOUSING IN THE CITY FOR PEOPLE
LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AND
EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGIN OF THESE
FUNDS ARE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THEY REMAIN STAGNANT
WHICH MEANS THEY COVER LESS AND
LESS OF OUR COST SO ON UP
UNTIL THIS YEAR THE CITY HAVE
COVERED THESE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENTS KNOWING THAT IN THE
END IT BENEFITS SEATTLE
RESIDENTS AND WORKERS THAT HAVE
THESE AND JUST DUE TO SOME
SWITCHING OF CONTRACT
MANAGEMENT THESE HAVE BEEN LEFT
OUT SO PLEASE VOTE YES ON HSD
AMENDMENTS ONE AND TWO THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK
ON THIS BUDGET.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE
JAY AND IF KATIE IS AND THEN
THE LAST SPEAKER IN THE SESSION
WILL BE THOMAS SCHMIDT.
>> HI THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
TRY AGAIN. MY NAME IS KATIE.
I'M CALLING PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY TO COMMENT THE CARE
TEAM IS JUST A LAZY ATTEMPT TO
RESTRUCTURE SLEEP FOR GREATER
EFFICIENCY UNDER THE GUISE OF
COMPASSION WHEN IN TRUTH THERE
IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH
APPROPRIATE SHELTER HOUSING OR
RESOURCES TO MATCH THE ONGOING
NEED. AND THAT OF ASSESSING THE
NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE AND
IMPLEMENTING AN EQUITABLE
SYSTEM TO PRIORITIZE THEM THE
CITY TOWARDS THEM ALMOST
EXCLUSIVELY, DETERMINING
COMPLAINTS FROM THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AND HOUSED PEOPLE WHO
DEMAND THAT AND HOUSED PEOPLE
BE REMOVED FROM SITE,
REGARDLESS OF THE READINESS, OR
THE CONSEQUENCE FOR BEING
FORCED TO BE DISPLACED. IT
SHOULD NOT BE A MEANS WHEN
MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL RELEASED
IT FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF
ORDINANCE, 126, 896 IT PROVED
THAT OUTREACH COULD BE
INCORPORATED INTO THE
CRIMINALIZATION OF UN-SHELTERED
PEOPLE USING DRUGS. I WILL NOT
COLLECT DATA THAT COULD LATER
CONTRIBUTE TO THE
CRIMINALIZATION OR HARM OF
PEOPLE WHO TRUST ME. WHY WAS
WASTE MANAGEMENT CORRECTED AND
GRANTED ACCESS, I HAVE
RESIGNED FROM CITY CONTACTED
OUTREACH WORK AS A PERSON WHO
BELIEVES DEEPLY IN HARM
REDUCTION AND TRAUMA INFORMED
CARE I CANNOT WORK AS A
CONTRACTOR TO YOU BE USED FOR
SWEEPS. I AM NOT WILLING TO DO
THIS AND STAY TRUE TO MYSELF
AND MY VALUES, AND SHELTERED
PEOPLE HERE.
>> THANK YOU AND OUR LAST
REMOTE SPEAKER FOR THE SESSION
IS THOMAS SCHMIDT.
>> YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS THOMAS
SCHMIDT AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP A NONPROFIT
FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
CRIME PREVENTION. I AM REACHING
OUT TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR
AMENDMENT 001 WHICH IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON. THIS AMENDMENT WILL
HELP SUPPORT A BEAUTIFUL SAFE
PLACE FOR YOUTH INITIATIVE.
WHICH IS AN INNOVATIVE
COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVE THAT
HELPS PRODUCE , THIS AMENDMENT
ALSO HELP SUPPORT OUR SAFE
COMMUNITY CONTRACT WHICH
INCLUDES CONDUCTING CRIME
PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ASSESSMENT
REPORTS. HOTSPOT ORGANIZING,
BUSINESS SAFETY OUTREACH, SAFE
RENTAL PROPERTY WORKSHOPS AND
OUR SIGNATURE IMPACT SAFE
SCHOOLS STUDENT LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON,
MIRELES AND LEWIS FOR
SPONSORING AND COSPONSORING
THIS AMENDMENT. WE URGE ALL
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE
YES ON AMENDMENT CD 0001D TO
ENSURE THAT THESE VITAL
COMMUNITY SAFETY PROGRAMS
CONTINUE, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT IN
PERSON SPEAKER AND WE ARE NOW
ONLINE 6A, IS CARMEN AND SHE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PETER. GO
AHEAD.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS CARMEN AND
I'M A GATE WORKER IN SEATTLE.
COMPANIES DO NOT HAVE AN
INCENTIVE TO ABIDE BY THE
ORDINANCE THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS
VOTED INTO LAW. THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS IS THE ONLY
AGENCY THAT HOLDS COMPANIES
ACCOUNTABLE AND MUST BE FUNDED
BY THE PROPOSED $.10 ORDERED
FEE, WHEN COMPANIES AND THEIR
LOBBYISTS WERE NOT ABLE TO GET
THEIR WAYS THEY REACHED INTO
THEIR POCKETS AND PULLED OUT A
FEW POLITICIANS, IT IS
DISAPPOINTING TO WATCH THIS
COUNCIL OFFER AMENDMENT AFTER
AMENDMENT THAT UNDOES ALL
PREVIOUS NEGOTIATED ITEMS. IT
IS A BETRAYAL TO YOUR
CONSTITUENTS WHO NEGOTIATED IN
GOOD FAITH. COMPANIES AND
THEIR LOBBYISTS ALSO RESORTED
TO LIES AND IN AN EFFORT TO
DISTORT PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS
REGARDING THE NEW LAWS TO PAY
WORKERS FAIRLY. THEY KNOW THAT
THERE IS NO AGENCY THAT WILL
CURTAIL THEIR BEHAVIOR.
COMPANIES CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO
POLICE THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE A
HISTORY OF CHEATING GIG WORKERS
OUT OF TIPS, MILEAGE AND PAY. A
DIME IS A SMALL PRICE TO PLAY.
PLEASE FUND OLS THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARD WITH THE
PROPOSED $.10 PER ORDER FEE.
OLS IS THE ONLY AGENCY THAT
WILL HOLD GIG COMPANIES
ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURE THEY
OBEY THE ORDINANCE THAT THIS
COUNCIL HAS VOTED INTO LAW.
>> PETER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
LYNN.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS,
I AM PETER CONTENT AND I
SUPPORT THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE
INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE AT THE
HANDS OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. I'VE ALSO BEEN
LIVING WITH DEPRESSION FOR OVER
A DECADE. THE IMPACT OF
STATE-FUNDED VIOLENCE ON ME
PERSONALLY HAS BEEN
DESTABILIZING AND DEBILITATING.
POLICING ALLOWS FOR AN
INHUMANE AND UNJUST
DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES WHICH
CAUSES ACTS OF DESPERATION AND
EARLY DEATH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
POLICING KILLS PEOPLE. SHOT
SPOTTER IN PARTICULAR IS
REACTIONARY AND HAS BEEN PROVEN
IN EFFECT IF IN ACHIEVING ITS
STATED GOALS. SHOT SPOTTER
SHOULD NOT BE FUNDED. WE NEED
TO INSTEAD ADDRESS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF HARM IN OUR
COMMUNITY. SOMETIMES THE
SOLUTIONS ARE ONLY TWO CLEAR
AND INSTEAD OF PAYING THE
OFFICER WHO RAN OVER, YOU CAN
INCLUDE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL
SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE. INSTEAD
OF SPENDING MONEY ON SWEEPS
YOU CAN CREATE MORE HOUSING.
YOU CAN AND SHOULD REMOVE THE
HUNDREDS OF GHOST COPS IN THE
BUDGET AND DEFINED SPD BY $31
MILLION. WITH THAT MONEY YOU
COULD FUND A GUARANTEED INCOME,
EVICTION PROTECTIONS, RENTERS
RIGHTS, RAISES FOR HUMAN
SERVICE WORKERS, FOOD SECURITY
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SUPPORT.
COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTERS AND SURVIVOR LED
INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. THANK
YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HERE AND WE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY CLARA.
>> MY NAME IS WAYLON AND I'M
STANDING BEFORE YOU AS A WORKER
AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE
PAYOUT COMPANY, TODAY I WANT TO
SHARE THE INITIATIVE IN
SEATTLE, PROPOSAL FEE AS A
GATE WORKER IN SEATTLE,
DESERVING PROTECTIONS THE
ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE
PROTECTIONS ARE CRUCIAL AND WHY
I'M ADVOCATING FOR THIS AND
IN MY EXPERIENCE, APT COMPANIES
HAVE DEMONSTRATED A CONSENT
ABILITY TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND
DISCARD FOR REGULATIONS THAT
NECESSITATE THE LAWS THAT WE
NOW HAVE IN PLACE, I NEVER KNEW
THE APP HAD BEEN WORKING FOR
THREE YEARS ENOUGH ON THE
ORDINANCE UNTIL OAS REACHED OUT
FOR ME AND SHOWED ME AND HELP
ME GO THROUGH MANY TIMES FOR
THE COMPANY TO DENY AND MISLEAD
INFORMATION IT'S TIME TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
ENFORCEMENT THAT IS ONLY
NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THEIR
BEHAVIORS ADDITIONALLY
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
PARTICULARLY THOSE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE WORKING WASHINGTONS
HAS PROVED TO BE MORE
EFFICIENT IN OUTREACH AND THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STAND ALONE.
THEY HAVE EXISTED IN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RECORD OF
SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTING
WORKERS EXPERIENCED VALIDATION
TO THE NECESSARY RESOURCE. WE
FALL FOR THESE LAWS AND NOW WE
NEED TO ENSURE THEY ENFORCE
THE PROPOSED FEE IS REASONABLE
ESPECIALLY FOR CONCERNS THAT
$14 MILLION HAS ALREADY BEEN
RECOVERED BY THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDS BUT ONLY FROM
SPECIFIC ORDINANCES. THIS FEE
IS CRUCIAL .
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CLARA CAN'T TOUR AND CLARA
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TRINA
HERNANDEZ.
>> HELLO. HELLO. HI, MY NAME
IS CLAIRE AND I AM AN ORGANIZER
WITH GREENWAYS AND I SUPPORT
THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET IN ITS
ENTIRETY AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TWO OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AMENDMENTS. THAT
YOU ARE CONSIDERING THIS WEEK.
FOR FUNDING FOR ACCESSIBLE
MOUNT BAKER AND FOR SOUTH
HENDERSON STREET PROJECTS.
THESE ARE BOTH PROJECTS THAT
ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THE
SOUTH END. PROJECTS THAT LOCAL
COMMUNITIES AROUND THEM HAVE
ADVOCATED FOR FOR YEARS AND
HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD AND
DELAYED. WATERED DOWN AND
IGNORED FOR YEARS AND YEARS
AND YEARS. BOTH PROJECTS WILL
MAKE IT SAFER FOR SCHOOLKIDS TO
GET TO SCHOOL, FOR PEOPLE TO
ACCESS BUSINESS DISTRICTS TO
IMPROVE SAFETY ON AND AROUND
THE MOST DANGEROUS STREETS
WHICH WE HAVE ALSO BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR SAFETY FOR FOR
YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND
YEARS. WHICH ADD VERSUS A
CRASH EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR,
BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN HIT BY
CARS, THERE SOMETIMES MULTIPLE
CRASHES IN THE YEAR, OR IN A
DAY, PEOPLE HURT AND KILLED
WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS EVERY
SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR ON THE
STREET. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO
ADD THAT THE AMENDMENTS FUNDING
BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS BOTH OF
THEM ONLY COVER A VERY SMALL
PORTION OF EACH PROJECT AND
THOSE PROJECTS ADDRESS A VERY
SMALL PART OF THE PROBLEM IN
EACH OF THOSE AREAS. WE NEED
SAFE STREETS IN SOUTH END AND
WE NEED IT NOW, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRINA
HERNANDEZ AND TRINA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY LATANYA SAVARI.
>> MY NAME IS TRINA HERNANDEZ I
WORKED FOR DOOR DASH AND WAS
DEACTIVATED IN OCTOBER OF LAST
YEAR, I AM HERE TO STAND WITH
AND SUPPORT MY FELLOW GIG
WORKERS BECAUSE IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME THAT APPS
FOLLOW AND COMPLY WITH THE LAWS
THAT WE RECENTLY WON IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. WE NEED THESE
LAWS TO BE FOLLOWED AND
RESPECTED BY ALL APPS AND THE
ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE
LAWS ARE FOLLOWED IS TO PROVIDE
FUNDING IN THE FORM OF THE
PROPOSED FEE. ALL GIG WORKERS
NEED A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD TO
BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE APPS,
WE DESERVE TO KNOW WHO IS AND
WHO IS NOT RESPECTING OUR
RIGHTS. WE KNOW FROM MY EXAMPLE
THAT APPS DON'T CARE ABOUT
WORKERS LIKE ME. THEY ARE NOT
GOING TO FOLLOW THE RULES
WITHOUT A MECHANISM THAT WILL
INSURE IT AND THIS MECHANISM
NEEDS TO BE FUNDED FOR THESE
REASONS WE ASK THIS COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT US IN DEMANDING THAT
COMPANIES COMPLY WITH PAYMENT
LAWS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LATANYA
SAVARI AND SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JAKE LAUNDRY.
>> I'M TAKING HER SPOT BECAUSE
I HAVE TO GO TO WORK. I AM
SHANNON CHANG AND PEOPLE POWER
WASHINGTON STANDS WITH THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET COALITION I'M
HERE TODAY SPEAKING IN
OPPOSITION TO SPD 002A. FIVE
YEARS AGO TODAY ON NOVEMBER 13,
2018 I STOOD IN THESE VERY
CHAMBERS ALONG WITH A PACKED
ROOM OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN
OPPOSITION OF A CONTRACT THAT
ROLLBACK ACCOUNTABILITY
MEASURES PASSED BY THE CITY IN
2017. I WAS DISMAYED THE CITY
PASSED THE CONTRACT ANYWAY. WE
HAVE BEEN WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR
THE PAST FIVE YEARS TO SEE IF
WHAT EMERGES FROM THE BLACK BOX
OF NEGOTIATES FOR THE NEXT
CONTRACT WILL BE BETTER. LAST
WEEK'S MO YOU WAS OUR FIRST
LOOK AT HOW THAT IS GOING.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT 4 1/2 MILLION
THROUGH 2024 AND THEN 3.6
MILLION A YEAR ONGOING. THE
GIST OF THIS MO YOU IS A PAYOFF
THIS TO DO LESS WORK. IN A TIME
OF BUDGET SHORTFALLS AND POLICE
UNDERSTAFFING THIS IS AN
UNCONSCIONABLE ASK , THE
FIREFIGHTERS ARE CONSIDERING A
CONTRACT THAT IS A PAY CUT WITH
INFLATION AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH
THE COALITION OF CITY UNIONS
ARE STALLED OVER SIMILAR
ISSUES. OF ALL CITY UNIONS, WHY
DO THEY GET SPECIAL TREATMENT
FOR OTHER CITY WORKERS SUFFER?
UNFORTUNATELY THE TRADE THE
CITY IS MAKING IS EXTREMELY
DISAPPOINTING. THE SPECIFICS OF
THE DISPATCH PILOT THAT GETS
SPELLED OUT IN THIS MO YOU ARE
TROUBLING AS THEY RETAIN A
STRANGLEHOLD OVER EVERY ASPECT
OF THE PROGRAM. WHEN THEY WERE
POURED INTO THE STREETS OF
SUMMER 2020 ASKING FOR
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE IT'S
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T TRUST THEM
TO HANDLE THE TASK. DON'T LET
SPD TAKE MONEY OUT OF OUR
STRETCHED CITY BUDGET THANK
YOU.
>> FOLLOWED BY JAMES .
>> HI MY NAME IS JAKE LAUNDRY.
I AM A CITY OF SEATTLE
STAGEHAND WITH LOCAL 15 WHO IS
PROBABLY PARTIALLY DISABLED
AND IN SUPPORT OF THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET TO FUND
GREATER EARNINGS FOR CITY
WORKERS LIKE ME, BY INCREASING
THE AMAZON TAX BY $60 MILLION
AND BY CUTTING THE SPD BUDGET
BY $31 MILLION. I'VE ALSO DONE
THOUSANDS OF LAST MILE
DELIVERIES AS A GIG WORKERS
SINCE 2017 ON A PART-TIME
BASIS. THEM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT
OF THE OLS FEE IN ITS HIGHEST
AMOUNT POSSIBLE TO FUND THE
ENFORCEMENT OF THESE
PROTECTIONS AGAINST WRONGFUL
DRIVER D ACTIVATIONS AND
VIOLATIONS OF THE PAY STANDARD.
I AM ALSO AGAINST ALL THE
AMENDMENTS BEING PROPOSED TO
NEGATE THIS NECESSARY FEE, FOR
YEARS I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER
WORKERS WHO WERE MISTREATED BY
THESE APPS AND HELP THEM GET IN
CONTACT WITH SEATTLE'S
EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND
EFFECTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS I HAVE SEEN THEM HELP
MANY DRIVERS GET BACK TO WORK
AND I HAVE SHARED IN RECEIVING
THE MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
OF BACKPAY THAT RESULT FROM
THESE INVEST INVESTIGATIONS OF
THE APPS FOR SKIRTING MINIMUM
PAY STANDARDS, SICK PAY RIGHTS
ARE WRONGFULLY DEACTIVATING
DRIVERS. WITHOUT THIS IT BE,
THE NEW PAY APP LAWS WILL HAVE
NO TEETH TO PROTECT GIG WORKERS
FROM TWO OFTEN BIGOTED
ALGORITHMS AND CUSTOMERS WHO
CONCURRENTLY STRIP WORKERS OF
THEIR LIVELIHOODS MUCH TOO
EASILY AND WITHOUT RECOURSE FOR
THE DRIVER VICTIM. I BESEECH
YOU TO PASS THIS FEE AND TO
THE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN THAT IS ON
DISPLAY TODAY ABOUT BEING A
CHAMBER OF PROGRESS. THESE APPS
ARE CHAMBER OF DOOM FOR THIS
ECONOMY IF THEY CONTINUE TO TRY
TO DISMANTLE ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISMS.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JAMES WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY NATALIA McCONNELL.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JAMES, I
HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS, I
AM HERE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
MOSQUEDA FOR SPONSORING THE
BUDGET ACTION FOR THE TENANT
WORK GROUP TO FOCUS ON
PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF SEATTLE RENTERS.
TWO YEARS AGO PROVIDENCE
PURCHASED OUR BUILDING. SINCE
THEN THEY HAVE STEADILY REMOVED
ESSENTIAL BUILDING AMENITIES
AND NEGLECTED SECURITY
MEASURES. BREAK-INS IN HOME
INVASION HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO
PROVIDENCE SINCE FAILURE TO
MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND
ADDRESS REPORTED ISSUES
PROMPTLY. ADDITIONALLY
PROVIDENCE REPEATEDLY
THREATENED MY NEIGHBORS AND ME
WITH EVICTION OVER RENT THAT WE
DID NOT KNOW. PROVIDENCE
ROUTINELY IGNORES OUR REPAIR
REQUESTS AND GRIEVANCE REPORTS
AND HAS REFUSED MEETING
REQUESTS FROM OUR TENANTS
ASSOCIATION. THIS MISTREATMENT
GOES AGAINST THE INTENDED
PURPOSE OF CAL ANDERSON HOUSE,
TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS WITH AIDS , TO
PROVIDE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS WITH AIDS AND
TARNISH THE LEGACY OF CAL
ANDERSON HIMSELF. THANK YOU FOR
TAKING STEPS TO EMPOWER AND
PROTECT US AND SHARING A VOICE
IN SHAPING HER HOUSING RIGHTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND OUR LAST IN
PERSON SPEAKER FOR THIS GROUP
WILL BE NATALIA McCONNELL. AND
THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO PROMOTE
STARTING WITH CHRISTIAN BUT GO
AHEAD NATALIA.
>> I'M TAKING NATALIA'S SPOT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS I
NAME IS CATHERINE HANSEN AND
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE AMAZON TAX TO HELP PAY FOR
SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL
WORKERS IN SCHOOLS. I AM THE
COUNSELOR AT TOPS K8. THIS IS
MY 12th YEAR IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. I HAVE SPENT MANY
YEARS WORKING 14 HOUR DAYS WITH
A CASELOAD OF OVER 1100
STUDENTS. IN MY YEARS, I HAVE
SUPPORTED STUDENTS WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED SHOOTINGS, FAMILY
DEPORTATIONS, HOUSING
INSTABILITY AND WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED PROFOUND NEGLECT
AND ABUSE. I'VE HELPED MANY
SUICIDAL STUDENTS, STUDENTS WHO
SELF HARM AND STUDENTS WITH
NUMEROUS DIAGNOSED AND
UNDIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES. THERE IS AMPLE
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO SHOW
THAT STUDENTS CANNOT LEARN IF
THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL
HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL
CHALLENGES. SCHOOL COUNSELORS,
SOCIAL WORKERS AND NURSES ARE
THE ONLY PEOPLE WITH SPECIFIC
TRAINING TO SUPPORT THESE
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. AND YET WE
ARE THE VERY PROFESSIONALS WHO
ARE THE FIRST TO BE CUT OR
WHOSE FUNDING IS TAKEN AWAY
WHENEVER THERE IS BUDGET
SHORTFALLS. PLEASE HELP US
HELP OUR STUDENTS. BY PROVIDING
THIS CRITICAL FUNDING BY
INCREASING THE AMAZON TASK
TAX, THIS FUNDING IS AN
INVESTMENT IN OUR ENTIRE CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL NOW MOVE
INTO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS, THE
NEXT SPEAKER REMOTELY WILL BE
KRISTIN AND KRISTIN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY HALEY WILLIS.
>> GO AHEAD KRISTIN.
>> HI MY NAME AND I'M RESIDENT
OF DISTRICT 7, I AM CALLING TO
ASK COUNSEL TO SUPPORT A
GUARANTEE OF DEFENDING THE
POLICE TO SECURE HOUSING FOR
THE VULNERABLE. IN SUSTAINABLE
INCOME FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ALL, THE
FUNDING THE POLICE WILL BRING
IN A GUARANTEE OF ALL HOUSING
AND HEALTH NEEDS, AYERS THE
COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE THOSE OF
US WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY
THIS BUDGET AND I DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN LIVE
COMFORTABLY WHILE HER MOST
VULNERABLE FREEZE OUTSIDE IN
THE STREETS, WHAT DO YOU THINK
WILL HAPPEN TO HER LOW INCOME
COMMUNITY WELL PRICES FOR FOOD
AND RENT CONTINUE TO RISE,
WHERE IS THE SUPPORT TO UPLIFT
OUR PEOPLE? GIVE US THE
GUARANTEE OF DEFUNDING THE
POLICE SO THAT ALL MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE CAN THRIVE, WHEN WE
THRIVE, YOU THRIVE AS WELL, YOU
HAVE TO REMEMBER AND REMIND
YOURSELVES OF THAT, I WANT YOU
TO DO YOUR JOBS, I AM TIRED OF
HAVING TO COME IN EVERY YEAR
THING TO THE SAME DEMANDS AND
I'M TIRED OF YOU GUYS NOT DOING
YOUR JOB AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU KEEP GETTING REELECTED
IF YOU DON'T DO YOUR JOB I'M
GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF
YOU GET REELECTED NEXT YEAR,
YOU NEED TO COMMIT TO THE
PEOPLE.
>> PLEASE REFRAIN FROM
SPEAKING ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL
COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU CAN HAVE
ANOTHER 30 SECONDS LEFT IF YOU
HAVE MORE TO SAY PLEASE.
>> NO, JUST DO YOUR JOB. GUIDE
YOURSELVES. STOP BEING SO
GREEDY.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HALLIE WILLIS AND HALLE WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY JOY R.
>> GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS
HALLIE WILLIS. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 6. ALLOWING
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES TO KEEP
AND START MAKING PROGRESS ON
THE TREMENDOUS PAY AND EQUITY
THAT MAKE THESE PROGRAMS GO.
VOTING YES ON HSD ONE AND TWO
AND 805 AND 809. WORKERS HAVE
BEEN DRAMATICALLY UNDER
BUDGETED.
>> HIGH TURNOVER. AND
STRUGGLES WITH A CHANGING
STAFF, AND AN ALARMING NUMBER
OF VACANT POSITIONS. THEY
CANNOT OFTEN HAVE SERVICES .
IT IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT
RAISING WAGES AND WE NEED
PROGRESS NOW. PLEASE VOTE YES
ON THESE AMENDMENTS AND THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS A JOY
R, AND JOY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
KATIE BEESON. GO AHEAD JOY.
>> HELLO?
>> HELLO.
>> HELLO THERE , I AM PASSING
MY PHONE TO MY FRIEND, MICHAEL
WILLIAMS WHO IS SPEAKING FOR
US. HERE HE IS.
>> HELLO, THIS IS MICHAEL.
>> HI MICHAEL, IT'S TERESA
MOSQUEDA FROM CITY COUNCIL DID
YOU WANT TO OFFER PUBLIC
COMMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
TONIGHT?
>> I SAY FUCK THE POLICE.
>> THAT'S ALL I NEED TO SAY.
>> OKAY.
>> IT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED BY
CORTEZ.
>> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL MY NAME IS KATIE BEESON
AND I AM THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR FOR THE WASHINGTON
FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND
I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I AM
IN OPPOSITION FROM THE PROPOSED
DELIVERY FEE. GROCERIES AND
NEIGHBORHOOD STORES CONTINUE TO
STRUGGLE AGAINST THE COST OF
INFLATION. THE COST OF FOOD,
FUEL AND LABOR HAVE ALL
INCREASED AND ARE STORES OF
DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO
KEEP CUSTOMERS COMING BACK.
>> DELIVERIES ARE AN IMPORTANT
WAY FOR STORES TO REMAIN
COMPETITIVE. AS CUSTOMERS ARE
INCREASINGLY COST-CONSCIOUS, OR
LOOKING OR NOT LOOKING TO ADD
ANOTHER COST AND ULTIMATELY
IMPACT ORDERS. WE DO NOT
BELIEVE ADDITIONAL TAXES OR
FEES ARE NEEDED IN FACT WE
ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO
REVISIT THE BUDGET AND
RE-EXAMINE SPENDING PRIORITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN INSISTING
REVENUE. PLEASE REJECT THIS IN
SEATTLE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DIANE CORTEZ AND DIANE WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY MATT G.
>> GO AHEAD DIANE.
>> HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS MY
NAME IS DIANE CORTESE AND I
WORK IN DISTRICT 4, I WORKED AT
SOLID GROUND OF THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER TO FOSTER
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE
LIVING IN POVERTY BUILD THEIR
ADVOCACY SKILLS AND BRIDGE
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND LEGISLATORS. I'M
CALLING TODAY TO ASK FOR THE
COUNCIL STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S
INVESTMENT AND HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS. I APPRECIATE THE
WEIGHT INCREASES BUT IT'S NOT
ENOUGH. I AM A FULL-TIME WORKER
AND HAS DONATED TO ACCESS
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, MONTHS INTO
MY JOB I WAS STILL USING
DISCOUNT UTILITY AND INTERNET
PROGRAMS IT TOOK ME OVER A YEAR
AND A HALF TO PAY MY BACK RENT
FROM THE RELIEF PROGRAM WHICH I
JUST PAID OFF LAST MONTH, I GOT
RELEASED FROM MY STUDENT LOANS
BUT SIX MONTHS INTO MY JOB I
WAS STILL DOING GIG JOBS,
PLEASE DO BETTER FOR SERVICE
WORKERS LIKE MYSELF TRYING TO
BECOME FINANCIALLY STABLE. I'M
ASKING YOU TO APPLY MAXIMUM
INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS TO WAGE
INCREASES FOR ALL HOMELESSNESS
AND HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS THAT
WE CONTINUE TO DO HER JOB,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MATT G AND MATT WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MELANIE X.
>> MATTHEW MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX, THERE YOU GO.
>> ALL RIGHT, CAN YOU HEAR US?
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SHOULD BE
GOOD TO GO.
>> I WILL SPEAK ON HOMELESS
SWEEPS. AS A HOMELESS MAN, I
CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT FEELS
LIKE TO NOT FEEL LIKE A HUMAN
BEING. AS THIS WEEK DOES. BUT
DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL AMERICAN
AT ALL. IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE
NOTHING AT ALL. YOU ARE PUSHED
YOU ARE FORCED IT DOES NOT
MATTER IF YOUR FACE IS RIGHT,
IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW HARD
OF A NIGHT IT HAS BEEN, IT
DOESN'T MATTER THAT YOU TOOK
YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS TO
STACK UP FOR WHAT IS LEFT FROM
TIMES YOU HAVE BEEN SICK. YOU
KNOW, THAT YOUR BAGS ARE
RIPPED, WHAT YOU HAVE IS ALL
THAT YOU HAVE IS SITTING RIGHT
THERE IN FRONT OF YOU. AND IF
YOU CAN'T CARRY IT, IT GOES
INTO THE GARBAGE LIKE IF
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE YOU
DIDN'T EVEN WORK FOR IT, YOU
ARE NOBODY. YOU ARE NOTHING
YOU ARE EXPENDABLE , THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE HOUSED THAT HAVE
SURROUNDED YOU, SAY THAT YOU
LOOK UGLY. AND THEY WANT YOU
GONE RIGHT NOW, THEY DON'T CARE
WHERE YOU ARE GOING BUT I'M OUT
OF HERE. .
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELANIE
AND SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SHARON. MELANIE YOU MAY NEED
TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> I AM GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7 WHO
IS ON HOUSED AND UNDOCUMENTED.
>> RELIABLE FOOD OPTIONS SO
ALFONSO AS I MENTIONED WAS ON
HOUSED AND LIVING IN DISTRICT
7, BUT HE IS UNABLE TO FIND A
JOB. AND AS YOU MAY BE AWARE,
YOU DON'T HAVE AN ID, IT IS
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND WORK
AND FIND HOUSING. AND HE JUST
ASKED ME IF YOU SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENTS FOR FOOD PROGRAMS
AND ALSO TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SHARON AND SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MATT SHREW.
>>
>> HI THERE, I AM CALLING INTO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MORALE
US AND THE AMENDMENT FOR
ADDING 150 K TO THE ARTS BUDGET
FOR A ONE-TIME GRANT AND SO I
AM EXCITED TO SEE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALE US AND COUNCILMEMBERS
LOUIS AND CARSON SUPPORTING
THIS EFFORT , A CAC IS AN
INVALUABLE PART OF THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO
SEE IT THRIVE AT ITS NEW HOME
IN THE BRIGHTVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD,
THE SUSPENDING IS CRITICAL TO
MAKING THIS VISION OF AN
ACCESSIBLE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
A SUCCESS.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MATT TRUE AND MATT WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY CHLOE SIMONE
ALVARADO.
>> MATTHEW MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX.
>> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO
CHLOE SIMONE ALVARADO. AND
CHLOE YOU MADE TO PRESS STAR
SIX. THERE YOU GO.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? WONDERFUL.
MY NAME IS CHLOE SIMONE I LIVE
IN DISTRICT 3 AND I WORK IN
DISTRICT 4 AND I WORK AT SOLID
GROUND IN THE FINANCE
DEPARTMENT, HOWEVER MY FIRST
JOB HERE IN SEATTLE WAS NOT AT
ALL RELATED TO ACCOUNTING, IT
WAS WITHIN THE HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS SUCK HER, I WORKED FOR
THE YMCA OF GREATER SEATTLE AND
IN THAT CAPACITY, I WAS ABLE TO
HELP COUNTLESS YOUTH IN OUR
AREA AND WITHIN KING COUNTY
BUT UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO RISING
COST OF LIVING AND THE SIMPLE
FACT THAT IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE
WITH IN SEATTLE COST ABOUT
$1300 A MONTH IF YOU DON'T
QUALIFY FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING.
I HAD TO LEAVE THAT JOB AND I
HAD TO LEAVE SOMETHING THAT I
TRULY WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT. IN
ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET. AND
SO, I AM HERE TODAY IN MY
CAPACITY AS AN ACCOUNTANT TO
PLEASE ASK THAT YOU ENSURE THAT
KC H RA, CONTINUAL CARE
CONTRACTS AND HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT AND WAGE
INCREASE FOR HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE
LEFT OUT OF THESE BECAUSE THEY
ARE VITAL TO THIS TO BE VIBRANT
CULTURE AND THE WAY THAT IT
OPERATES AND WITHOUT THOSE
PROGRAMS NOT MANY THINGS
WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE FOR SOME
OF MY FRIENDS WHO LIVE HERE
CURRENTLY AND MANY OF MY
FRIENDS ARE EXPERIENCING
BURNOUT, THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK
IN THOSE CAPACITIES. SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MATT TRUE, MATT, I WILL
GIVE YOU ONE MORE SECOND TO
PRESS STAR SIX PLEASE. OKAY WE
MAY COME BACK TO YOU, OUR NEXT
SPEAKER. GO AHEAD.
>> GREETINGS COUNCILMEMBERS, MY
NAME AND I LIVE AND WORK IN
DISTRICT 2 IN REYNA VALLEY AND
I'M ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A CULTURAL EDUCATION WORKSHOP
FOR 38 YEARS RIGHT HERE , I AM
A FULL SUPPORT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, HER
AMENDMENT TO A1 TO ADD TO THE
BUDGET FOR THE AFRICAN CULTURAL
ARTS CENTER, I AM EXCITED TO
KNOW THAT OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS AS
WELL, SO ALL OF THOSE 38 YEARS,
WE HAVE PERFORMED IN SCHOOLS
AND ALL TOO OFTEN COMMUNITIES
AS WE HAVE NEVER HAD OUR OWN
HOME. AFTER 38 YEARS. SO, WE
ARE ASKED TO HAVE YOUR
SUPPORT, AND HAVING A
BRICK-AND-MORTAR THAT IS
PRESENT AND WITH THE
ACCESSIBILITY FOR OUR
PROGRAMMING UP ON THE HILL FOR
CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT AND
PERFORMANCE-BASED, THE
RENOVATION OF THIS EXISTING
SPACE, IS A THRIVING CENTER,
IT WOULD BE ARTISTS WHO LIVE
AND WORK IN SPACES, GALLERY
SPACES, IT WILL ALSO HAVE A
LEARNING CENTER THAT CONTINUES
OUR STUDY OF AFRICAN YOUTH AND
DANCE OF GIRLS IN PROGRAMMING
AND OTHER CRITICAL
CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO
CONTINUE. IT IS A BLACK OWNED
AND OPERATED CENTER OF BLACK
CULTURE THAT HAS GROWN OUT OF
THE . A
>> THANK YOU WE WILL TAKE TO
MARK REMOTE SPEAKERS AND WE
WILL MOVE BACK TO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS, OUR LAST TWO REMOTE
SPEAKERS FOR THIS GROUP WILL BE
ASHLEY SUTTON. FOLLOWED BY
MOLLY X.
>> ASHLEY, AND THEN MOLLY.
>>> IF APPROVED, THIS WOULD BE
THE -- REGULATION PASSED FOR
SERVICES SINCE 2020. DELIVERY
SERVICES BECAME A CRUCIAL
RESOURCE FROM, FOR ALL PEOPLE
FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS. DELIVERY
SERVICES HELP PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND THOSE RELYING
ON FOOD BANKS. SMALL BUSINESSES
AND RETAILERS DEPEND ON THEM TO
REACH CUSTOMERS. BASED ON THE
DATA, THE CITY'S INCOME IS
SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT.
THEREFORE, THERE IS NO NEED TO
IMPOSE ADDITIONAL TAXES AND
FEES. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECONSIDER
ITS CURRENT REVENUE SOURCES.
RATHER THAN IMPOSING ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS ON DELIVERY
SERVICES AND BURDENING SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL
COSTS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>>> AFTER WE CALL ON MOLLY, WE
WILL BE STARTING ON LINE 11 A.
WE WILL TAKE MOLLY REMOTELY AND
THEN WE WILL CHANGE BACK TO IN
PERSON. GO AHEAD, MOLLY.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> MOLLY WE ASK YOU TO TURN
DOWN THE VOLUME BECAUSE THERE
IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ECHO.
>> ABSOLUTELY. SORRY ABOUT
THAT. MY NAME IS MOLLY, I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7 CALLING
IN BEHALF OF OF THE SOLIDARITY
BUDGET. SPECIFICALLY, JUST TO
EMPHASIZE POINTS AROUND HOW
MOBILITY IS A THE CITY.
WORKING WITH TRANSIT AGENCIES
TO PEDESTRIAN EYES STREETS TO
CREATE A SAFER AND HEALTHIER
ENVIRONMENT AND INCREASE PUBLIC
PARSE -- PARK SPACE. BUILDING
A CITYWIDE BIKE NETWORK WITH
ROBUST PROTECTIONS FROM CARS TO
ALLOW COMMUTES WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD, COMMERCIAL AND
EMPLOYMENT CENTERS AND
COLLEGES. ADDING TO THAT,
INCREASED TRANSIT WITH THE GOAL
OF HAVING NO NEED TO LOOK UP
SCHEDULES OR WORRY ABOUT SLOW
CONNECTIONS. INVESTING IN
TRANSIT IS A JOB CREATOR. ALSO
REMEMBERING EQUITABLE . THANK
YOU FOR LETTING ME COMMENT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE IN
PERSON, LINE 11 A, ROBERT
SINGLETON.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
POLICY AND PUBLIC OF --
AFFAIRS. WE BELIEVE HARNESSING
THE POWER OF --. I'M HERE TODAY
TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXPLORE
ALTERNATIVE MECHANISMS. BECAUSE
OF THEIR AGGRESSIVE KNEE JERK
OF THE NETWORK FEE. DELIVERY
FEES LIKE THE ONE PROPOSED FOR
EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE
ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS
MEET. THOSE WHO WORK LATE NIGHT
SHIFTS OFTEN FACED DIFFICULTY
IN SHOPPING FOR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
WERE GETTING A BITE TO EAT.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS
TO TRANSIT --. LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANT
OWNERS RELY ON DELIVERIES TO
STAY AFLOAT. ADDING A DELIVERY
FEE WILL CAUSE CONSUMERS TO
STOP ORDERING. MEANWHILE,
SEATTLE ARTIE HAS THE HIGHEST
TAX RATE IN THE STATE. ALL
WHILE HAVING THE HIGHEST DEGREE
OF ECONOMIC STABILITY IN THE
STATE. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND
TAKING A SLOWER APPROACH AND
HOLDING OFF A NEW REGRESSIVE
TAX BEFORE WE HAVE ALL THE
INFORMATION. THANK YOU
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MILES
AND MILES WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CECELIA. ARE YOU MILES?
>> HE IS GOING TO SPEAK FOR ME.
>> MY NAME IS BERNIE, I AM A
SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT RAINIER
BEACH HIGH SCHOOL. I AM IN
FAVOR OF THE INCREASED FUNDING
TAX FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS,
SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL
HEALTH WARTS. SCHOOL COUNSELORS
AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL
HEALTH WORKERS IN SCHOOLS ARE
ON THE FRONT LINES IN TRYING TO
SERVE THOSE STUDENTS WITH
EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE AND
FIGHTING EVERYDAY FOR EQUITY OF
ACCESS. WE WORK WITH STUDENTS
AT EVERY SPECTRUM OF THE
SOCIOECONOMIC SITUATION IN OUR
CITY. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY WITH THIS TO
ACTUALLY DO WHAT THE STATE HAS
NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO IN OVER 40
YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL
COUNSELOR. OR, IN SCHOOLS. I AM
EXCITED ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE
FUNDING AND EXCITED ABOUT
SEEING SOCIAL WORKERS AND
SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN EVERY
SCHOOL AND DECREASING THE RATIO
OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO
STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING THIS. WE URGE YOU
TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS
FUNDING. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH.
NO LAST NAME, JUST SARAH, LINE
12. GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH. I AM A
PHINNEY RIDGE PARENT WITH THREE
CHILDREN . THEY HAVE COME UP
THROUGH THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM. MY YOUNGEST IS
CURRENTLY A SENIOR IN HIGH
SCHOOL. I AM HERE TODAY TO
URGE THE COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO
THE VOICES OF OUR KIDS, MANY OF
WHOM ARE HERE TODAY. SUICIDE IS
THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN
WASHINGTON AMONG PEOPLE AGES
10-24. 58% OF TEENS ASKED
EXPERIENCE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION
OR BOTH, YET MOST SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO NOT MEET THE
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR
STUDENT TO MENTAL HEALTH STAFF
RATIOS. SIMPLY PUT, WE ARE IN
THE MIDST OF A YOUTH MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS. THIS HAS PLAYED
OUT IN OUR OWN FAMILY. THREE OF
MY KIDS HAVE STRUGGLED WITH
DEPRESSION, TWO WITH ANXIETY,
AND ONE HAS CONTEMPLATED
SUICIDE. I JOIN THEM AND OTHERS
HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO
IMPROVE THE EXPANDED FUNDING
FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND
SUPPORT IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. THE RESEARCH AND
LITERATURE SUPPORTS THAT THESE
SERVICES ARE VITAL AND
LIFESAVING. PERHAPS MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE WHAT OUR
KIDS ARE ASKING US TO DO. I
WANT TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT. OUR FAMILY HAS
BEEN INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO
HAVE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES, NOT EVERY FAMILY IS
SO FORTUNATE.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LINE 13 FROM THE SAME GROUP.
13 B AND THE INITIAL IS C
>> I AM A STUDENT AT FRANKLIN
HIGH SCHOOL AND I COME HERE
BEFORE YOU WITH EVERYONE ELSE
HERE TO DEMAND THAT YOU FUND
$20 MILLION FOR SCHOOL MENTAL
HEALTH COUNSELORS. WE, AS
STUDENTS, NEEDED. WE NEED --
WE NEED YOU TO TAX AMAZON AND
THE RICHEST COMPANIES IN OUR
CITY. THEY CAN FUND THIS NEED
IN SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT
IS EASY, IT IS A VERY, VERY
SMALL TAX. AS YOU CAN SEE,
THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO
NEED IT. AT MY OWN SCHOOL WE
HAVE 1300 STUDENTS FOR ONE
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR. IN
TERMS OF ACADEMICS COUNSELORS,
WE HAVE ONE FOR 400. THIS
SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE IN
SEATTLE. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO
CHANGE IT. I DEMAND THAT YOU
FUND $20 MILLION FOR SCHOOL
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS BY
TAXING AMAZON, THANK YOU. YOU
HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT
TOMORROW AND WE ASK THAT YOU DO
IT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER,
WE ARE MOVING TO LINE 12 A.
THAT BENDS DOWN, YOU WILL WANT
TO MOVE CLOSE TO IT.
>> MY NAME IS SICILIA BLACK AND
MY -- I AM IN DISABLED
WHEELCHAIR USER. I AM
SPECIFICALLY ASKING YOU TO
OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT. STUDY
AFTER STUDY HAVE TOLD US
EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO
ACCOMPLISH OUR CLIMATE AND
VISION ZERO GOALS. WE
DESPERATELY NEED TO INVEST IN A
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
PRIORITIZES PEDESTRIANS AND
MASS TRANSIT. YET, WE CONTINUE
TO DO THE OPPOSITE. MORE THAN
HALF OF OUR SIDEWALKS AND THE
MAJORITY OF OUR CROSSINGS ARE
NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES. EVERY YEAR, A
PROGRAM EXPERIENCES BUDGET
CUTS. SO, WHY ARE WE CONTINUING
TO POUR MONEY INTO MAJOR
MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND
FUNDING SCHOOLS OWN CAMERAS
THAT FAILED TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC
PEDESTRIAN NEEDS. PLEASE
SUPPORT EQUITABLE TRANSIT
RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON MORE
CARS INFRASTRUCTURE AND A
PUNITIVE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
THANKS.
>>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KATHERINE JORDAN.
>>> GOOD EVENING, I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOUTH
PARK SENIOR CITIZENS. I AM HERE
ALONG WITH A FEW OF OUR SENIORS
AND BOARD MEMBERS . DURING THIS
TIME OF BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS,
I ASK THAT OUR VITAL WORK BE
ROBUSTLY SUPPORTED. SEATTLE
SENIOR CENTERS ENCOMPASS SO
MANY OF THE GOALS ESTABLISHED
WITHIN THE CITY'S BUDGET. OUR
WORK INCLUDES PROVIDING HEALTHY
FOOD, ASSISTING WITH SECURE
HOUSING, ENSURING ACCESS TO
PUBLIC HEALTH, AND CONNECTING
TO TRANSPORTATION. WE REPRESENT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PROMOTE
RECREATION, AND BOLSTER PUBLIC
SAFETY. VERY IMPORTANTLY, WE
CREATE SPACES OF COMMUNITY
INCLUSION WHERE CULTURE, RACIAL
EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ARE
EMBODIED IN THE WORK WE DO AND
THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. AS PEOPLE
AGE, MANY FACTORS OF THEIR
LIVES BEGIN TO CHANGE. BODIES
BECOME FRAGILE, MOBILITY
LESSONS AND INCOME BECOMES
LIMITED AND FIXED. MEDICAL
CONCERNS INCREASE. YOU MAY LOSE
YOUR PARTNER OR MOVE FROM YOUR
HOME. ISOLATION CAN BECOME
PROMINENT. FOR THOSE WE SERVE
SENIOR CENTERS PROVIDE A SPACE
FOR BELONGING, A SPACE TO BE
SEEN AND KNOWN. I WANT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING OUR
WORK AS WE EMBODY THE VALUES
AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CITY
BUDGET.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MILES
FOLLOWED BY LORI JACKSON. LORI
OR LARRY?
>>> MY NAME IS CHELSEA THOMAS
AND I AM A SCHOOL COUNSELOR. AS
SCHOOL COUNSELORS, WE ARE
TASKED WITH SUPPORTING NEEDS
FOR ALL STUDENTS. WE ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL AREAS AND
THEY ARE CONNECTED. IF THE
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF
STUDENTS IS NOT CARED FOR, THEY
ARE NOT ABLE TO FOCUS ON
CLASSWORK OR FUTURE DREAMS. IT
IS NOT ATYPICAL FOR MY DAY TO
START IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT
COLLEGE AND END WITH A
CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDAL
IDEATION. SCHOOL COUNSELORS
PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT IN A
MOMENT OF CRISIS. HOWEVER,
WHEN OUR CASELOADS ARE AT 400
STUDENTS OR MORE, WE ARE ONLY
ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS SUPPORT TO
SOME, NOT ALL. I'M GRATEFUL MY
OWN SCHOOL IS IN A GOOD PLACE
DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THE
LEVY PROVIDES IN THE ADDITIONAL
MENTAL HEALTH MONEY PROVIDED BY
THE CITY COUNCIL AND ITS PILOT
PROGRAM. HOWEVER, ALL STUDENTS
DESERVE THE KIND OF SUPPORT WE
ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE AT MY
SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. WE NEED ONE
SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 250
STUDENTS AND ONE FULL-TIME
SOCIAL WORKER IN ALL SCHOOLS
K-12 TO FULLY SUPPORT SEATTLE
STUDENTS AT A TIME WHEN THESE
NEEDS ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
THE AMAZON TAX WILL MAKE THIS
POSSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS TAX AND
SUPPORT THE WELL-BEING OF ALL
OUR STUDENTS.
>>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT
SPEAKER PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, I NAME IS
LARRY JACKSON. I AM SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT OF CUSTOMER SUCCESS
AND ANALYTICS AT SOUND
THINKING, FORMALLY KNOWN AS
SHOTSPOTTER. I THINK WE CAN
ALL AGREE THAT GUN VIOLENCE IN
THE UNITED STATES IS AT
EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS. HARDLY A
DAY GOES BY OR A WEEK GOES BY
WITHOUT SOME MASS SHOOTING, AN
INDICATION OF THAT IN THE
MEDIA. IN MANY CASES, CITIZENS
HAS, HAVE GROWN DESENSITIZED TO
THE SOUND OF GUN VIOLENCE. 80%
TO 90% OF GUN VIOLENCE IN
COMMUNITIES IS NOT REPORTED BY
911. SO, HOW CAN WE TRULY
SERVE, PROTECT AND SUPPORT
THESE COMMUNITIES WHEN WE ARE
AWARE OF ONLY A FRACTION OF THE
GUN ACTIVITY IN COMMUNITIES.
SHOTSPOTTER PROVIDES A VALUABLE
TOOL AND INFORMATION THAT HELPS
AGENCIES RESPOND RAPIDLY TO
GUNSHOT INCIDENTS, BUT
AGGREGATES DATA THAT ALLOWS THE
COMMUNITY TO PARTNER WITH
POLICING AGENCIES TO BRING THE
NEEDED CARE AND SUPPORT OUR
COMMUNITIES NEED TO SURVIVE AND
TO HEAL THEMSELVES. THERE ARE
MANY OPINIONS AROUND GUNSHOT
DETECTION IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT
IS IMPORTANT WE UNDERSTAND THE
FACTS. SHOTSPOTTER IS A
VALUABLE TOOL THAT'S, IN
CONNECTION WITH OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES, PROVIDES A
VALUABLE SERVICE IN PROTECTING
OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN
GRANT. THANK YOU.
>>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM THE CHIEF
STRATEGY OFFICER FOR THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE. I'M
HERE TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF
FULL FUNDING FOR TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES. MANY OF YOU, IN YOUR
DISTRICTS, HAVE LEANED ON LEHI
IN THOSE MOMENTS OF NEED , WHEN
YOU HAVE VULNERABLE FOLKS WHO
ARE POSSIBLY GOING TO BE SWEPT
AND HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. LAST
YEAR, WE SERVED 1200 PEOPLE AND
SHELTERED THEM SECURELY AND
SAFELY. WE NEED TO MAINTAIN
THESE INVESTMENTS IN TINY
HOUSES. I LIKE TO THINK THE
BUDGET CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBER
FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. WE ARE
STILL ABOUT $1.5 MILLION SHORT.
WE KNOW THAT U.S. COUNSEL
MEMBERS HAVE TO MAKE HARD
DECISIONS. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO
MAKE THOSE HARD DECISIONS AND
PRIORITIZE THE FOLKS MOST IN
NEED. YOU HEARD TESTIMONY FROM
OUR CLIENTS, FOLKS WHO HAVE HAD
THEIR LIVES TURNED AROUND
BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO FIND
STABILITY AND SHELTER IN TINY
HOUSES. 50% IN OUR PROGRAM FIND
PERMANENT HOUSING. THESE ARE
FOLKS CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.
THEY GET TO TAKE PART IN MANY
SERVICES. THROUGH THAT THEY GET
PERMANENT HOUSING. WITH ALL
THIS CONSTERNATION ABOUT WHAT
TO DO ABOUT HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENTS, WE HAVE AN ANSWER
CLEAR AS DAY IN FRONT OF YOU.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO FULLY FUND
THIS PROGRAM AND REMIND YOU
THAT SOME OF YOU ARE NOT GOING
TO BE HERE NEXT YEAR TO KEEP
THOSE PROMISES. PLEASE KEEP
THOSE PROMISES THIS YEAR IN
THIS BUDGET AND FULLY FUND TINY
HOUSES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>>> WE ARE GOING BACK TO SARAH
MAY. LINE 15 BE.
>>> MY NAME IS MILES, I AM A
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE STUDENT
UNION. I GO TO FRANKLIN HIGH
SCHOOL. I AM SPEAKING FOR US
STUDENTS IN THE SOUTH END WHO
NEED MONEY DESPERATELY FOR
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS . WE
ARE ASKING YOU TO, INSTEAD OF
FOR YOUR MONEY, FOR THE CITY'S
MONEY INTO PROGRAMS LIKE
SHOTSPOTTER THAT ACTIVELY OVER
POLICE OUR COMMUNITIES AND HAVE
BEEN PROVEN TO NOT WORK AND
HAVE HAD FALSE READINGS, TO
GIVE THAT MONEY TO MENTAL
HEALTH COUNSELORS THAT WILL
ACTUALLY KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFE AND GIVE THE MONEY OF
THINGS LIKE THE AMAZON TAX TO
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS THAT
WILL KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
INCREASE THE AMAZON TAX, GET
RID OF SHOTSPOTTER, USE THE
MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELORS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO
SERVE BLACK AND BROWN YOUTHS
LIKE MYSELF.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CLAIRE.
>>> I AM A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT
CLEVELAND STEM HIGH SCHOOL. I'M
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2. I'M
HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR A
TAX INCREASE TO BE PLACED ON
LARGE BUSINESSES SUCH AS AMAZON
TO FUND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
IN THE FORM OF SCHOOL
COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL SOCIAL
WORKERS. WE ARE ON THE
FRONTLINE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES POST PANDEMIC. THE
NEED FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH
CONTINUES TO GROW AND THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO
ADJUST THE -- ADDRESS THE HIGH
NEEDS. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE
MONEY TO PROPERLY FUND SCHOOL
COUNSELORS AND THE NECESSARY
RATIO OF ONE COUNSELOR TO 250
STUDENTS OR A FULL-TIME SOCIAL
WORKER IN EVERY BUILDING. HIGH
SCHOOL COUNSELORS HAVE 350 TO
400 STUDENTS ON THEIR
CASELOADS. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
OFTEN HAVE TO WORK IN TWO
SCHOOL BUILDINGS TO SUPPORT 800
TO 1000 STUDENTS. SCHOOL
COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS
ARE SPREAD TOO THIN LEADING TO
BURNOUT. THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE
STABLE FUNDING AND PEOPLE TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT STUDENTS NEED.
AS A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN, I
AM TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
LACK OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND THE
VIOLENCE AND STRESS WE ARE
SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IF
YOU WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE AMAZING
STUDENTS HERE. ALSO, THE
TEACHER'S UNION HAS ENDORSED
THIS AMENDMENT, AS WELL.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS 10 --
TIM GRAHAM . IF TIM IS NOT
HERE, WE WILL MOVE ON.
>> I AM THE LEAD ELECTOR OF --
DIRECTOR OF --. I WOULD LIKE TO
SPECIFICALLY RIDGE -- AND --
THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO ADVANCE.
FIRST, WE BELIEVE THAT -- NOT
SHOULDER GIVEN THAT ONLY ONE
OF THE COVERED ORDINANCES
APPLIES TO --. WE ALSO
RECOMMEND THAT THE BILL
CLARIFIED THAT IT IS NOT
INTENDED TO AUTHORIZE NEW AREAS
OF REGULATION BEYOND CHAPTERS
8.37 AND 8.40 IN ADDITION, WE
BELIEVE IT IS REASONABLE TO
AMEND THE BILL TO PROVIDE THE
TREND FOR THE SOLE ABILITY TO
ESTABLISH ORGANIZATIONS THAT --
CONTRACTS WITH. AND LESLIE, TO
PROMOTE GOOD COMPLIANCE
EFFORTS. THANK YOU, I WELCOME
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
AMENDMENT TOPICS WITH YOU AND
ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
JODY NATHAN.
>>> I AM FROM DISTRICT 2 HERE
TO GIVE MY SUPPORT FOR THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET AND TO ASK
YOU TO REJECT FUNDING FOR
SHOTSPOTTER. WITH AT LEAST 32%
OF OUR CITY'S GENERAL FUND
GOING TOWARD CRIMINALIZATION
AND PUNISHMENT, THE ONLY
GUARANTEE IS THAT THE MOST
MURMURED -- MARGINALIZED LACKS
RESOURCES TO SURVIVE. THE
BUDGET HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH
DOLLARS FOR 213 POSITIONS THEY
HAVE NO PLANS TO FULFILL. IS
EVERY DOLLAR GOING TO SPD IS
ONE LESS DOLLAR FOR FOOD
SECURITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR AN
HOUSED AND USED RESIDENT
PLAYERS, GUARANTEED BASIC
INCOME AND ALL THESE THINGS
THAT BRING ABOUT TRUE COMMUNITY
SAFETY. ARE YOU OKAY WITH SPD
BEING PAID UPWARDS OF $9000 IN
OVERTIME? THERE IS A COOKING
SHOW, DOES THAT JUSTIFY PAYING
OVERTIME? THE LAST TIME I
HEARD, THEY WERE TOLD TO STOP
SPENDING MONEY ON OVERTIME.
SEATTLE NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT --.
>>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LINE B, B 18, TAMAR?
>>> SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, I AM
A SENIOR AT INGRAM HIGH SCHOOL.
IN MY TIME HERE, MY FRESHMAN
YEAR WAS ONLINE. MULTIPLE
STUDENTS HAVE DIED. EACH OF
THEIR DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN
PREVENTED WITH MORE SOCIAL
SERVICES. SEEING A MEGA
CORPORATION TRIPLING THEIR
PROFITS WHILE MY FRIENDS ARE
OVERDOSING, KILLING THEMSELVES
AND KILLING EACH OTHER IS A
SLAP IN THE FACE. I DEMAND THAT
ALL DEMOCRATS SUPPORT THE
BUDGET TO INCREASE THE AMAZON
TAX. INGRAM GOT A SMALL AMOUNT
OF SHOOTING -- A SMALL AMOUNT
OF FUNDING AFTER THE SHOOTING.
THAT IS WHY WE MUST FUND
MENTAL HEALTH IN ALL SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. POLITICIANS ARE
DESPERATE TO LEARN ABOUT THE
NEW GENERATION OF VOTERS, WHAT
WE CARE ABOUT AND WE ARE
OFFERING IT TO YOU. THIS IS
WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.
IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
TEENAGERS, YOU KNOW WE ARE GOOD
AT HOLDING GRUDGES. IF YOU TURN
YOUR BACKS ON US, WE WILL
REMEMBER IT. MAN JUST ADD, AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS SURVIVED A
SCHOOL SHOOTING, I DON'T WANT
MORE COPS OR SHOTSPOTTER. SPD
HAS PROVEN THAT THEY MURDER AND
ABUSE CITIZENS OF CERTAIN
COLORS. INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO
THE PEOPLE SAYING WE NEED MORE
COPS, WE ACTUALLY LISTEN TO
PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED GUN
VIOLENCE, LIKE ME! THANK YOU.
WE NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH
FUNDING.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
SHANNON. SHANNON? IS ANITRA
HERE?
>>> GOOD EVENING, I NEDRA
FREEMAN. WOMEN IN BLACK STANDS
ON WEDNESDAY 433 HOMELESS
PEOPLE WHO DIED OUTSIDE OR BY
VIOLENCE IN KING COUNTY.
BRINGING THE TOTAL THIS YEAR TO
300S! 300 HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE
DIED OUTSIDE OR BY VIOLENCE
THIS YEAR. WITHOUT SHELTER,
PEOPLE DIE! WE ARE DESPERATELY
IN NEED OF SHELTER. OPEN THE
RED DOORS OF CITY HALL TO THE
BOTTOM FLOOR OF CITY HALL FOR
WOMEN'S SHELTER. THREE TIMES
THE NUMBER OF WOMEN, HOMELESS
WOMEN HAVE DIED THIS YEAR AS
LAST YEAR. THREE TIMES! YOU CAN
SAVE LIVES. OPEN THE RED DOORS
AND STOP THE SWEEPS. ISOLATION
AND DESPAIR KILL AND SWEEPS
INCREASE ISOLATION AND DESPAIR.
SHELTER, FUND SHELTER, DON'T
FUND SWEEPS. THANK YOU.
>>> WE WILL TAKE TWO MORE
PERSON -- IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
THE NEXT TWO WILL BE JUSTIN AND
NICK, I BELIEVE.
>> JUST AS FOLKS ARE WALKING TO
THE MICROPHONE, I WANT TO NOTE
WE HAVE A RECESS FOR THE CLERKS
SO WE CAN TRY TO DO A RECESS IF
WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT PRIOR
TO GOING BACK TO REMOTE. I JUST
WANT TO T THAT UP IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THAT WITH
YOUR TEAM, AS WELL. I WILL LET
THE PERSON SPEAKING GO AHEAD.
SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY.
>> MY NAME IS JUSTIN, I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 5, IN GREENWOOD. I
SPENT A LOT OF TIME WALKING AND
BIKING EVERYWHERE AND REALLY
APPRECIATE WHEN NEW BICYCLE
LANES ARE PUT IN. THAT SAID, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- REJECTED.
THAT PAVES 87th STREET. THERE
ARE HUNDREDS OF BLOCKS THAT
COULD USE SIDEWALKS WITHIN
GREENWOOD AND THE NORTHERN
AREA, BUT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN
ATTEMPT TO DISPLACE PEOPLE IN
ENCAMPMENTS. I WOULD PREFER TO
SEE HONEST AND EFFECTIVE
SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE
UNDERLYING ISSUES OF
HOMELESSNESS AS WELL AS
SEPARATE SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE STREETS ARE SAFER AND
PROTECTED FROM TRAFFIC. I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO SEE -- REJECTED. I
THINK THAT MANY COULD BE BETTER
SPENT ON ADDITIONAL TRANSIT
SERVICE, THANK YOU.
>>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS NICK
JACQUARD.
>> GOOD EVENING, I AM
REPRESENTING THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION. OUR FOCUS
IS ON STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN
PUBLIC SAFETY, DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION . TO REVITALIZE
DOWNTOWN EFFECTIVELY, WE NEED
TO ADDRESS PERSISTENT PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES. WE URGE YOU
TO SUPPORT THE FULL PACKAGE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENT
INCLUDING CRIME PREVENTION
TECHNOLOGY AND THE CARE TEAM.
ADDITIONALLY, TO ENHANCE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER
TREATMENT WILL ADDRESS THE
URGENT NEED FOR EXPANDED ACCESS
TO CURB RISING OVERDOSE RATES
IN OUR CITY. THIS MEASURE IS A
KEY COMPONENT OF AN
EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER . PLEASE
ADOPT THIS AMENDMENT AS
WRITTEN. $15 MILLION ALLOCATED
FOR THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN AND THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE
ECONOMY AGENDA IS VITAL FOR THE
VITALITY OF OUR ECONOMIC HUB.
WITH RESPECT TO AFFORDABILITY,
CONSIDERING INFLATION, THE
RISING COST OF LIVING AND TAX
INCREASES, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT
THE ABILITY TO AFFORD TO LIVE
IN SEATTLE REMAINS A TOP
CONCERN INSTEAD OF ADDING
ANOTHER FEE ON DELIVERY
SERVICES, EVALUATE THE CURRENT
BUDGET BEFORE JUMPING TO ADDING
FEE BURDENS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FULL CONSIDERATION.
>> I AM ALL RIGHT IF YOU WANT
TO CONTINUE ON WITHOUT BREAKING
FOR ANOTHER HOUR.
>> I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LONG
NIGHT FOR YOU AND THE
COLLECTIVE TEAM. IF YOU'RE OKAY
WITH CONTINUING, THAT SOUNDS
GOOD. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT
TO STEP IN TO READ NAMES.
>> WE WILL MOVE TO REMOTE. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL,
FOLLOWED BY HANNAH.
>>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO COMMENT. I AM -- AM SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF INCLUSION OF THE
AFRICAN CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
INTO THE CITY BUDGET. MY
ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED
DIRECTLY WITH THEM. THEY
MAINTAIN CONNECTIONS TO THE
CULTURAL COMMUNITIES OF AFRICA
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL SEATTLE
RESIDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS
ALSO PROVIDED CRUCIAL ARTS
EDUCATION SERVICES AND PROVIDED
EMPLOYMENT FOR VISITING AND
IMMIGRANT AFRICAN ARTISTS. THE
INFLUENCE IS SEEN AS THE
FOUNDING MEMBER -- WORKS TO
SUPPORT AND GROW THE CREATIVE
ECONOMY FOR ALL RESIDENT
LAWYERS IN FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS
IN SEATTLE. PERSONALLY, I
SUPPORT THIS EFFORT IN
PRESERVING WHAT WE CAN OF OLD
SEATTLE. MANY OF THESE HAVE
BEEN LOST OVER THE YEARS AND
THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAINTAIN SUCH AN EXISTING
CULTURAL AREA WHILE MAKING IT
MORE USEFUL.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HANNAH,
FOLLOWED BY MARCUS. HANNAH,
YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE. MAYBE WE
WILL COME BACK TO HANNAH.
MARCUS, ARE YOU AVAILABLE?
PRESS STAR SIX. YOU GOT IT,
GREAT.
>> THANK YOU! GOOD EVENING,
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I AM
THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF
THE SEATTLE LATINO CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. I AM IN OPPOSITION TO
THE PROPOSED DELIVERY FEE.
ADDING A FEE WILL HAVE NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON HISPANIC OWNED
BUSINESSES. MANY OF WHOM
RELIANT DELIVERIES TO SUSTAIN
THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS
ADDITIONAL COST WILL RAISE THE
PRICE OF DELIVERY WHEN YOU NEED
TO BE DOING THE OPPOSITE. WE
NEED YOU TO FIND INCENTIVES TO
DRAW PEOPLE BACK INTO SEATTLE.
A NEW THEME MAKES NO SENSE.
DELIVERIES SERVE ELDERLY AND
UNDERREPRESENTED OF
COMMUNITIES. I ASK YOU TO
RE-EXAMINE THE BUDGET AND
PRIORITIZE SERVICES THAT
ADDRESS THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS.
DO NOT FORCE BUSINESSES TO
CLOSE AND LEAVE THE CITY. NOW
IS NOT THE TIME TO INCREASE
COSTS. FEES AFFECT THE ECONOMY
AND MEMBERS AND BUSINESSES OF
THE CITY.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
GREG. GREG WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
AMY.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I'M THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF -- AND ALSO --. I
HAVE STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE
--. PASSING NEW LABOR STANDARDS
AND WE URGE YOU TO PASS THE
PROPOSED FEES DRAFTED SO WE CAN
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT AND
ENFORCE POLICIES. AS THE
MANDATE EXPANDS, AGENCIES NEED
MORE SUPPORT. THIS FEE
REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP
FORWARD THAT WILL ENSURE
CONSISTENT, PREDICTABLE
SUPPORT. THE NEED FOR
ENFORCEMENT IN A GIG ECONOMY IS
CLEAR. STATISTICS REFLECT THE
EFFECTIVENESS AS WELL AS A
SUBSTANTIAL NEED FOR ONGOING
PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT IN THE
INDUSTRY. WE URGE YOU TO PASS
THE FEE AS PROPOSED.
>>> IT LOOKS LIKE AMY IS NO
LONGER PRESENT REMOTELY. WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO OLIVER.
YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE. IT LOOKS
LIKE ALL OF OUR -- OLIVER IS
STILL MUTED. THERE IT IS, THANK
YOU!
>> I AM THE CEO OF
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES IN
DISTRICT 1 PROVIDING HOUSING
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE. I AM
PLEASED WITH THE PROPOSED
BUDGET TO BOOST SERVICES IN
OUR AREA. WHILE THESE
INVESTMENTS WILL HELP HOUSING
SERVICES REMAIN INTACT, THEY DO
NOT APPLY TO ALL WORKERS. I AM
HERE TO URGE YOU TO CORRECT
THAT IN THE BUDGET. I AM ASKING
YOU TO ENSURE THAT THE 7.5%
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT AND WAGE
ADJUSTMENT APPLIED TO THE
ENTIRE -- CONTINUUM OF CARE.
WITHOUT ADEQUATE ADJUSTMENTS,
WE WILL LOSE MUCH NEEDED
CAPACITY IN HOMELESS SERVICES.
THIS HELPS US SUSTAIN OUR WORK
ACROSS THE SYSTEM DUE TO
CHRONICALLY LOW WAGES, STAFF
NEED TO WORK TWO JOBS JUST TO
SURVIVE. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DECOMPRESS WHICH
IS CRITICAL TO LONGEVITY IN THE
FIELD. WE CANNOT RISK MORE GOOD
PEOPLE LEAVING THE FIELD. YOU
HAVE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD
APPLY THE 2% WAGE INCREASE TO
STAFF AND OTHER ESSENTIAL
WORKERS.
>>> OUR NEXT TWO SPEAKERS WILL
BE EVAN FOLLOWED BY JOHN.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I WORK AT PLYMOUTH
HOUSING. WE PROVIDE HOUSING TO
MORE THAN 100,000 RESIDENTS IN
OUR CITY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
THE MAYOR'S TEAM, COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND STAFF. WE HAVE SEEN
YOUR INTEREST. THE CITY IS SOON
TO FACE A MASSIVE BUDGET
SHORTFALL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE
SEEN RESULTS FIRSTHAND. AFTER
RECEIVING A GRANT FROM THE
WORKFORCE STABILIZATION FUND,
WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE RATES BY
33%. THEY BRING STABILITY TO
THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS. OUR
RESIDENT PLAYERS HAVE ACCESS TO
TRUSTED RESOURCES. THESE
RELATIONSHIPS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE
WITH INVESTMENT IN OUR STAFF.
THE COST OF BUSINESS CONTINUES
TO GROW. WITHOUT THE INVESTMENT
WE WILL BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN
THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE. WE
URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO SEATTLE
RESIDENTS TO MAKE -- TO FIGHT
HOMELESSNESS AS WELL AS --.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GO
AHEAD.
>> HELLO, ON BEHALF OF THE
WASHINGTON RETAIL ASSOCIATION
AND TESTIFYING OPPOSITION TO
THE PROPOSED DELIVERY FEE.
RETAILERS STRUGGLED TO RECOVER
FROM THE IMPACTS OF THE
PANDEMIC. THIS IS ESPECIALLY
TRUE IN SEATTLE WHERE THE COST
OF DOING BUSINESS CONTINUES TO
INCREASE. EVERYTHING IS MORE
EXPENSIVE TODAY. PLUS,
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME TAKES A
BITE OUT OF EVERY RETAILER IN
SEATTLE. FOR SMALL TO
MEDIUM-SIZED RETAILERS WHO
OPERATE CLOSE TO THE MARGIN,
ANY TAX OR FEE INCREASE CAN
MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE ENDS
MEET. THE COST OF LIVING HAS
SOARED. AS A RESULT, ANYTHING
THAT MIGHT GIVE CUSTOMERS
PAUSE, INCLUDING NEW FEES CAN
IMPACT SALES AND THE EARNINGS
OF GIG WORKERS. WE ASK THAT THE
COUNCIL RE-EXAMINE THE BUDGET
AND PRIORITIZE SPENDING TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF --. WE ASKED THAT
YOU FIND A WAY TO NOT ADD THIS
COST. THANK YOU.
>> YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR
SIX. THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU.
I AM HE RETIRED CAPTAIN WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS A
STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE WORK
THEY ARE DOING. BOTH
PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY,
IT HAS AFFECTED MY LIFE.
RETIRED AFTER 30 YEARS OF
SERVICE, 10 YEARS OF HOMICIDE,
SEVEN YEARS ON A CEASE-FIRE
PROGRAM, IT WAS NOT UNTIL 2012
WHEN WE INTRODUCED SHOTSPOTTER
AND DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES, WE
SAW PROGRESS. WE WERE ABLE TO
HAVE A SUSTAINED REDUCTION IN
VIOLENT CRIME INCOORDINATION
NOT ONLY WITH SHOTSPOTTER BUT
THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS MAKE DIFFERENCES,
DIFFERENT CHOICES IN LIFE.
PERSONALLY SPEAKING, I RETIRED
FROM OPD IN AUGUST 2019 AFTER
30 YEARS OF SERVICE. NEVER ONE
SICK DAY AND NEVER BEING HURT.
TWO YEARS AFTER RETIREMENT, I
WAS ROBBED IN A GAS STATION AND
SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES. AS I LAID
ON THE GROUND WITH 22 BULLET
HOLES, PEOPLE STOOD OVER ME
FILMING. NOT ONE PERSON CALLED
SHOTSPOTTER. I AM ALIVE BECAUSE
SHOTSPOTTER ACTIVATED. THANK
YOU.
>>> WE HAVE TWO MORE REMOTE
SPEAKERS AND THEN WE WILL GO
BACK TO IN PERSON. GO AHEAD,
YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU TO
INCREASE THE AMAZON TAX AND
INSURE A FAIR CONTRACT FOR
WORKERS. EQUITY ISN'T FREE.
ENCOURAGING HIM FRISCIA SURE IS
NOT FREE. LIVING WAGES DON'T
MATERIALIZE OUT OF NOWHERE. IT
COSTS MONEY TO MAKE A CITY
LIVABLE AND THAT MONEY CAN ONLY
COME FROM THOSE WHO HAVE IT.
YOU CANNOT TAX HOMELESS PEOPLE.
EVEN THE MIDDLE CLASS DOES NOT
HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR. THE
MONEY HAS TO COME FROM WEALTHY
CORPORATIONS. WE ARE HAPPY TO
CONTINUE PAYING OUR FAIR SHARE,
BUT CITY RESIDENTS NEED
LIBRARIES AND SAFE STREETS.
THE WEALTHY MUST PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE JUST LIKE THE REST OF US
ALREADY DO. IF YOU DON'T GET
THE MONEY FROM THOSE WHO HAVE
IT, YOU END UP WITH WORKERS
LEAVING BECAUSE THEY CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. WE LIVE IN
ONE OF THE RICHEST CITIES IN
THE COUNTRY, AND ONE OF THE
RICHEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
WE ASK THAT YOU CHOOSE NOT TO
FAIL BUT SUCCEED.
>> OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
PAUL. PAUL, YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOUR
PHONE.
>> GOOD EVENING. CARE TO SHED
SOME LIGHT ON A LITTLE-KNOWN
YET CRUCIAL ASPECT OF OUR
TECHNOLOGY. IN ADDITION TO
REAL-TIME ALERTS TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT, SHOTSPOTTER
COLLECTS VITAL DATA ON THE
LOCATIONS OF GUNFIRE TO INFORM
SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THERE IS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS OFTEN GOES
BEYOND THE VESICLE -- PHYSICAL
VICTIM. WE SHARE THE DATA WE
COLLECT ON WHERE AND WHEN
GUNFIRE OCCURS SO NONLAW
ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES CAN
PROVIDE INTERVENTIONS TO
RESIDENTS IN NEED OF SUPPORT.
WITH TIMELY AND ACCURATE DATA,
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND
ORGANIZATIONS CAN BETTER DIRECT
THEIR RESOURCES TO PREVENT
FUTURE VIOLENCE, ADDRESS THE
CAUSES AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
TO THOSE CONSISTENTLY EXPOSED
TO GUN VIOLENCE. WE CAN INFORM
SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE EQUITABLE
SUPPORT TO STUDENTS MOST IN
NEED. WE WANT TO PROVIDE THESE
INSIGHTS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY
PROVIDE SERVICES. 21 A IS
JULIA.
>>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6 AND A
SUPPORTER OF THE SOLIDARITY
BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL
OUT SUPPORT. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD TAKING A
SURVIVOR LET APPROACH TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE CURRENT
APPROACH LEAVES OUT THE 65% OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS WHO
DO NOT WISH TO WORK WITH THE
POLICE. SUPPORTING SURVIVOR LED
INTERVENTION IS CRUCIAL TO THE
PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC AND
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT
FOR -- WHICH INCREASES THE
JUMPSTART TAX TO PROVIDE
FUNDING FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE
SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH OUT
COMES THAT ARE POSITIVE AND FOR
CULTURALLY SPECIFIC AND
RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING. IT IS
WONDERFUL THAT OUR YOUTH ARE
INVOLVED IN THE CIVIC PROCESS
AND WE OWE IT TO THEM TO LISTEN
TO THEM. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE
TO SUPPORT -- INCREASING THEIR
REACH OF COMMUNITY-BASED GUN
VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAMS.
THEY HAVE SHOWN TREMENDOUS
SUCCESS IN CHICAGO AND I
BELIEVE THEY CAN WORK HERE AS
WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT, GOOD
EVENING.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBERT
FOLLOWED BY AIDAN.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. I AM HERE
TODAY TO TALK TO YOU AS A GHOST
COP FROM DISTRICT 3. I HAVE
BEEN HUNTING THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR YEARS. I
AM SO TIRED. IT IS HARD TO STAY
SPOOKY FOR THIS LONG,
ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM JUST A
CORRUPTED ENTRY IN A
DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET. IT IS NOT
MUCH OF AN EXISTENCE, LET ME
TELL YOU. WHATEVER ANIMATING
FORCE KEEPS ME ALIVE WOULD BE
MUCH BETTER GIVEN TO ACTUAL
PEOPLE, ACTUAL LIVING PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE AND THE THINGS THAT
HELP THEM SURVIVE AND THRIVE
LIKE ALL THE THINGS IN THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET LIKE HOUSING,
TRANSPORTATION, FOOD,
HEALTHCARE, I HEARD THAT ME AND
MY FELLOW GHOST COPS EAT UP $31
MILLION FROM THE BUDGET. THAT
SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT TO PAY
FOR PHANTOM ACCOUNTING
PRACTICES. YOU HAVE THE POWER
TO PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY. IT
IS TIME FOR YOU TO PERFORM THE
EXORCISM TO LAY US TO REST ONCE
AND FOR ALL. REMOVE THE SPECTER
OF DISEMBODIED POSITION
AUTHORITIES. YOU HAVE THE POWER
TO SAY THE MAGIC WORDS WHICH
WILL RELEASE US FOREVER.
PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS AIDAN FOLLOWED BY MELINA.
>>> HELLO, I AM A SENIOR AT
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL. I AM HERE
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF INCREASED
MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING. WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED A TWO HOUR LOCKDOWN
AFTER SHOTS WERE FIRED OUTSIDE
OF THE SCHOOL, HAD OUR
HOMECOMING GAME EVACUATED, HAD
OUR BUSES DIVERTED AFTER A
DRIVE-BY. THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS --. LIKE MANY ISSUES,
TALK IS CHEAP. $20 MILLION
SOUNDS LIKE A BIG NUMBER, BUT
THE KIDS GROWING UP TODAY WILL
CARRY THESE EMOTIONAL AND
PHYSICAL SCARS INTO ADULTHOOD.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE FUTURE OF
THE CITY AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN
TODAY, SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
BY INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH
FUNDING IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS IS
NOT JUST A YOUTH ISSUE. WE ARE
GRATEFUL TO HAVE TWO GARFIELD
GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WITH US
TONIGHT AS WELL IS THE
ENDORSEMENT OF THE TEACHER'S
UNION FOR $20 MILLION FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELINA
FOLLOWED BY TOM.
>> IS THIS GOOD?
>> IT IS.
>> I AM A RENTER, DISTRICT 2. I
AM A MEMBER VOLUNTEER OF
SEATTLE RENTER ORGANIZATION
COUNCIL AND ELDER RENTER
COUNSEL. THANK YOU FOR FUNDING
THE TENANT WORKGROUPS FOR THE
RENTAL OR HOUSING STANDARD AN
ESSENTIAL STEP IN REALIZING THE
ACTUAL OFFICE. IF THIS OFFICE
ALREADY EXISTED BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, THEN ON NOVEMBER 17,
2021, TENANTS WOULD NOT HAVE
HAD TO STAND IN 30 DEGREE
WEATHER ASKING THEIR LANDLORD
WHY THEY WERE STILL WITHOUT
HEAT AND HOT WATER AFTER THREE
MONTHS. NORWOOD NEARLY 1000
TENANTS HAVE HAD TO ORGANIZE
MARCHES TO MAKE PUBLIC THEIR
GRIEVANCES AGAINST THEIR
LANDLORD. NORWOOD THE TENANTS
OF -- HAVE TO COME TODAY TO
GIVE TESTIMONY CONCERNING THEIR
LIVING SITUATION AND THEIR
LANDLORD'S DISREGARD FOR --'S
LEGACY. IF THE STANDARD ALREADY
EXISTED, THESE RENTERS WOULD
HAVE RECOURSE WITHOUT THE ADDED
STRESS OF TRYING TO BE HEARD. I
THANK YOU FOR GETTING THESE
ESSENTIAL STEPS STARTED AND
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE
ACTUAL OFFICE BE REALIZED.
>>> TOM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
LINNEA IS TOM STILL HERE?
GREAT, THANK YOU.
>>> I AM A 35 YEAR RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE, I NOW LIVE IN SEATAC
AS I WAS FORCED OUT BY HIGH
RENTS. THE FIRST THING I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE
SPONSORSHIP OF THE TENANT GROUP
WE SO DESPERATELY NEED.
SECONDLY, THE OTHER THING I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THIS $4.5
MILLION TO COPS FOR SPECIAL
EVENTS. YOU DO LOVE GIVING COPS
MONEY, DON'T YOU? AS FAR AS I
CAN TELL, MOST SPECIAL EVENTS
ARE BASICALLY TRAFFIC CONTROL.
I REALLY DON'T THINK WE NEED
TO GIVE $4.5 MILLION TO TRAFFIC
COPS WHEN WE HAVE SEEN AN
ENTIRE PARADE OF PEOPLE
DESPERATE -- DESPERATELY
SEEKING FUNDS. THE OTHER COURSE
SPECIAL EVENTS ARE PROTESTS AND
DEMONSTRATIONS. WE REALLY HAVE
QUITE ENOUGH COPS MONITORING..
WE DON'T NEED MORE. IF YOU WANT
MONEY FOR THIS KIND OF STUFF,
YOU HAVE A SLUSH FUND. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINNEA,
FOLLOWED BY DANIEL.
>>> I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT
3. FOR A SECOND YEAR, I'M
ASKING YOU NOT TO FUND
SHOTSPOTTER. CCTV DOES NOTHING
TO IMPROVE SHOTSPOTTER'S
ABYSMAL 90% FALSE POSITIVE
RATE. RESOURCES ARE STRAINED
FURTHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO
RESPOND TO FALSE CLAIMS.
INSTEAD OF INCREASING BOTH
PUBLIC SURVEILLANCE AND DEMANDS
ON POLICE RESOURCES, FOLLOW THE
LEADS OF CITIES THAT HAVE
REVOKED THEIR CONTRACTS WITH
SHOTSPOTTER. USE THIS MONEY TO
FUND COMMUNITY SAFETY PROGRAMS
LIKE THOSE OUTLINED IN THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET WHICH I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL
FOLLOWED BY LINDSAY.
>>> GOOD EVENING, I AM A
SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT GARFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL. I AM HERE AS A
PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 AS
WELL IS A PROUD PARENT OF TWO A
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THIS IS MY 11th YEAR AS A
SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND I
ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY JOB. I COULD
NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING BETTER
THAN TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
WITH STUDENTS, SUPPORT THEM,
CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AS
WELL AS MOURN WITH THEM WHEN
THEY LOSE FAMILY MEMBERS OR
HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
I WANT TO COMMUNICATE IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSIGHTS
I HAVE GAINED OVER THE LAST 10
YEARS. SPS IS IN CRISIS AND
CONTINUES TO MAKE BUDGET CUTS
TO AN ALREADY RAZOR THIN SCHOOL
BUDGET. ARE COUNSELING
DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR, WE
EXPERIENCED $80,000 IN CUTS. WE
WERE ALREADY AT THE BARE
MINIMUM. ARE MOST VULNERABLE
STUDENTS ARE THE ONES BEARING
THE BRUNT OF THESE CUTS. WE
NEED CHANGE. HIGH SCHOOL
COUNSELORS ARE IN POSITION TO
SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH A WIDE
RANGE OF ISSUES FROM MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES, GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS AND PLANNING FOR
COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS. I
WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON THE
AMAZON TAX. THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
LINDSAY. LINDSAY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY CAMILLE.
>> GOOD EVENING. I RENT IN
DISTRICT SIX. THE AMENDMENT
WHICH WILL ADD 200,000 GENERAL
FUNDS TO SUPPORT MIGRANTS AND
ASYLUM-SEEKERS NEEDS TO BE
PULLED FROM THE CONSENT
PACKAGE. WE SHOULD HAVE FIGHT
FOR HOUSING FOR IMMIGRANTS AND
ASYLUM-SEEKERS, BUT WE DON'T
WANT TO CREATE SWEEPS WERE
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. WE CAN
BALANCE THE AMENDMENT BY
CHANGING THE FUNDING SOURCE TO
COME FROM THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM
RESULTING IN FEWER SWEEPS
WITHOUT SUCH AN AMENDMENT. I
WANT TO ADD ANOTHER COMMENT
THAT I URGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
INVESTMENT. I CONSTANTLY
EXPERIENCE UNDERFUNDING AND I'M
HARDLY ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF
MYSELF. MY COLLEAGUES AND
FRIENDS ALSO EXPERIENCE THAT.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO FUND THESE
THINGS BEFORE A CRISIS HAPPENS.
I URGE YOU TO SEE HOW YOU MIGHT
BE ABLE TO BOLSTER YOUR BUDGET
IN THOSE AREAS, AS WELL.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
CAMILLE BALDWIN FOLLOWED BY
CAMILLE --.
>> I AM IN DISTRICT 5 AND A
MEMBER OF PEOPLE POWER
WASHINGTON. I SUPPORT THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET. I AM
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF --,
SUPPORTING HOMELESS POPULATIONS
AND STOPPING THE USE OF
SHOTSPOTTER IS IMPORTANT.
SHELTER IS A BASIC NEED. STABLE
HOUSING INCREASES ENGAGEMENT
IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT,
REDUCES RATES OF CRIMINAL
CONVICTIONS AND INCREASES FOOD
SECURITY. BY PROVIDING MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES, WE WILL BE
INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF
GETTING RESIDENT FIRST INTO
PERMANENT, STABLE HOUSING. WE
MAKE THESE RESOURCES AVAILABLE
TO THE MOST VULNERABLE.
SHOTSPOTTER HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO
PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH AND
CITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE
ADDITION OF CCTV CHANGES THE
ABYSMAL FALSE POSITIVE RATE. IN
FACT, RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE
AND IT SHOWS A SIMILARLY
ALARMING FALSE POSITIVE RATE.
SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR
UNHALLOWED RESIDENTS AND
KEEPING SHOTSPOTTER OUT OF
SEATTLE IS VITAL.
>>> WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE IN
PERSON SPEAKER AND WILL MOVE
BACK TO REMOTE. THE LAST
SPEAKER IN THIS GROUP WILL BE
CAMILLE GETS. PLEASE TELL ME
YOUR REAL NAME. YOU CAN PULL
THAT DOWN. START OVER
>> HELLO, I AM A SENIOR ON THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE. MY SCHOOL HAS
RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH
CARE WHICH IS SOMETHING, I AS A
MENTALLY ILL STUDENT, AM
APPRECIATIVE OF. I DO THINK, I
DO NOT THINK MY PEERS OR I
WOULD BE ABLE, WOULD BE ALIVE
TO ATTEND SCHOOL WITHOUT
RESOURCES. MY SCHOOL IS
IMMENSELY UNDERFUNDED ON ALL
FRONTS. IN ORDER FOR US TO STAY
FULLY STAFFED, WE RELY ON
DONATIONS, GRANTS AND SHUFFLE
MONEY AROUND. MULTIPLE TEACHERS
ARE FUNDED BY GRANTS. WE HAVE
TEACHERS WHO ACT OF'S ACADEMIC
COUNSELORS. FUNDING WOULD NOT
ONLY ALLOW STUDENTS AT MY
SCHOOL AND OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO
THRIVE IN AND OUTSIDE OF
SCHOOL, BUT WOULD ALSO LESSEN
THE WORKLOAD OF MY TEACHERS AND
ALLOW FOR US TO EASILY FUND OUR
SCHOOL WITHOUT TAKING MONEY
AWAY FROM OTHER SCHOOL AND
STUDENT NEEDS. THIS SPECIFIC
BUDGET AMENDMENT, THE INCREASE
BY $20 MILLION IS UNANIMOUSLY
ENDORSED BY THE SEATTLE
EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION. THANK
YOU.
>>> NOW, WE WILL MOVE TO TIM
FROM OUR REMOTE CALL LIST. WE
WILL START WITH ANGELA FLEET
FOLLOWED BY RAYMOND MITCHELL.
IF YOU'RE CALLING REMOTE, TO
SPEAK YOU HAVE TO PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
>>> THIS IS AN ONLINE
MARKETPLACE WHO CONNECT PEOPLE
TO COURT TASKER'S OFFER
SERVICES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO LISTEN. NETWORK
COMPANIES SUCH AS TASK RABBIT
ARE FUNDED BY --. IN FACT, THE
MARKETPLACE ALLOWS COMPANIES
TO SET THEIR RATES, ENABLE
CUSTOMERS AND WORKERS TO
COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY. WE
APPRECIATE THE TIME COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND STAFF SPENT
LEARNING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY
AND BUSINESS MODEL. WE HOPE YOU
TAKE OUR CONCERNS UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RAYMOND
MITCHELL. RAYMOND WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY GARY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I
AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
VICTIMS OF FAMILIES OF VICTIMS
OF POLICE VIOLENCE. IT HAS BEEN
ABOUT A YEAR SINCE THE AFFECTED
PERSONS PROGRAM LEGISLATION WAS
PASSED. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED
BY POLICE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE
CITY IS PUTTING THIS VIOLATION
ADDITION -- IS BEGINNING TO
FEEL LIKE THE PEOPLE RUNNING
THE CITY DO NOT WANT TO PUT
THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH
IS. I DON'T WISH TO MAKE
ASSUMPTIONS. YOU ARE HUMAN
BEINGS LIKE ME. YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE THE
QUESTIONS THAT CITIZENS LIKE ME
CANNOT HELP BUT ASK. THE
LONGER THIS GOES ON, THE MORE
IT FEELS DISHONEST AND
INTENTIONAL. IF YOU UNDERSTAND
WHY THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT,
YOU WILL FIGHT FOR IT TO GET
DONE. THE CITY HAS MONEY TO
SPEND ON DEFENDING MURDERERS
AND --. YOU LOOK INTO THINGS
LIKE, IT, IT IS NOT IMPORTANT.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO
TRANSFER THE BODY OF THE WOMAN
THAT -- KILLED BACK TO HER
HOME. THEY HAD TO RESULT TO
CROWDFUNDING, SERIOUSLY? THINK
ABOUT THIS ON A BASIC HUMAN
LEVEL. WHY ARE YOU ONLY WILLING
TO SPEND MONEY TO DEFEND PEOPLE
ON YOUR PAYROLL BUT NOT HELPING
ACTUAL CITIZENS WHEN YOUR
EMPLOYEES HURT US. WHY? PLEASE
KEEP US SAFE!
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GARY
FOLLOWED BY GABRIELLE. YOU MAY
NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX. YOUR.
-- THERE YOU ARE.
>>> I AM GARY LEE, CHAIRPERSON
OF THE -- PUBLIC SAFETY
COUNCIL. I AM REPRESENTING 745
RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND
EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THE --.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE
TECHNOLOGY BUDGET REQUEST.
EARLIER TODAY, I SAID THE
COUNCIL THE SIGNATURES IN
SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST. IS A
COMMUNITY, WE ARE STRONGLY IN
FAVOR OF THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
IN CRIME PREVENTION AND WE
URGE YOU TO FULLY FUND THE
MAYOR'S REQUEST. WE UNDERSTAND
THIS IS A PILOT PROJECT, BUT WE
ALSO HOPE THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL
COME SOON.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GABRIEL
FOLLOWED BY JAMIE.
>>> I AM --. I AM HERE TO SPEAK
IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT TO
REMOVE $1.7 MILLION IN FUNDING
FOR UNPROVEN GUNSHOT DETECTION
TECHNOLOGIES. TODAY IN SEATTLE,
THE PUBLIC'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
POLICE IS ESSENTIAL TO
RESTORING SAFETY IN OUR CITY.
WE MUST FIND SOLUTIONS THAT
BRIDGE GAPS BETWEEN POLICE AND
THE COMMUNITY. WE SUPPORT
IMPLEMENTING TECHNOLOGICAL
SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CRISIS, HOWEVER, IT HAS
BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THIS
TECHNOLOGY IS UNPROVEN AND
FURTHER ERODES PUBLIC TRUST. IF
YOU LOOK AT THE OUTLINED
DOCUMENT, STUDIES DOCUMENTED
EVEN THOSE STUDIES DEMONSTRATE
THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT, IT
DOES NOT SUPPORT THE REDUCTION
OF SHOTS AND VIOLENT CRIME.
PLEASE CONSIDER REMOVING THE
AMENDMENT.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMIE
FOLLOWED BY AMANDA.
>> HELLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF --. IT
HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE
LEGISLATION WAS PASSED TO
CREATE A WORKGROUP THAT WOULD
PROVIDE A RESOURCE TO VICTIMS
OF POLICE VIOLENCE AND THEIR
FAMILIES. I URGE YOU TO PASS
THE AMENDMENT UNDER THE
GUIDANCE OF ACTUAL AFFECTED
PERSONS ALLOWING FOR THE FUNDS
TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN THE WAYS
THEY WOULD BE MOST SUPPORTIVE.
TAKE A MOMENT TO CONSIDER HOW
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE TREATED IF
ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONES WAS
MURDERED BY SPD. IF YOU THINK
YOU OR YOUR FAMILY ARE EXEMPT,
YOU ARE NOT. -- WAS UNIT --
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
PLEASE PASS THE AMENDMENT.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA
FOLLOWED BY JUDY.
>>> I AM A CASE MANAGER IN
SEATTLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
HOUSE. I SUPPORT THE SOLIDARITY
BUDGET. MEANS PROVIDING
HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, FOOD,
DIGNITY AND RESPECT. FIRST,
REMOVE THE GHOST COPS. WHY ARE
WE TELLING PEOPLE THAT THERE IS
NO HOUSING FOR THEM, EXTREMELY
LIMITED TREATMENTS WHILE WE ARE
WASTING $31 MILLION FOR GHOST
COPS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I
ALSO SUPPORT -- WHICH INCREASES
THE REACH OF -- IN KEEPING
SHOTSPOTTER OUT OF SEATTLE.
THIS CITY AND COUNTRY CANNOT
HOLD THE TRAUMA OF ONE MORE
PERSON LOST TO GUN VIOLENCE. IT
AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE. IF YOU
TRULY WANT TO HONOR THE LIVES
LOST IN THE DEEP LASTING PAIN
THAT PEOPLE CARRY AROUND EVERY
SINGLE DAY, INVEST IN SOMETHING
THAT ACTUALLY WORKS,
COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE
REDUCTION PROGRAMS. I WANT TO
POINT OUT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE
ARE SURVIVORS. IF YOU SUPPORT
SURVIVORS, FUND HOUSING, RENTER
PROTECTIONS AND --. ARE NEXT
SPEAKER IS JUDY FOLLOWED BY
AMANDA.
>>> I AM A HOUSING ADVOCATE
WITH THE RAPID REHOUSING
PROGRAM. I AM GLAD WE ARE
TAKING A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION WITH THE PROPOSED
BUDGET ADJUSTMENT. TO KEEP UP
WITH INFLATION AND A 2% WAGE
INCREASE, A MUCH NEEDED
INVESTMENT. OUR TEAM, MOSTLY
FUNDED BY -- WORKS TIRELESSLY
TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE
PLACE TO LIVE. JUST LAST WEEK I
WAS TALKING TO TWO OF MY
COLLEAGUES BOTH WORK SECOND
JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. ONE OF
THEM WORKS A THIRD JOB
OVERNIGHT WITH NO WEEKENDS.
THIS LEADS TO HIGHER LEVELS OF
STRESS AND BURNOUT WHICH LEADS
TO HIGHER TURNOVER AND
ULTIMATELY, INADEQUATE AND
INCONSISTENT SERVICES FOR
CLIENTS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
PASS THE AMENDMENTS . THANK YOU
FOR TAKING A STAND ON WAGE
EQUITY FOR HUMAN SERVICES
WORKERS.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA.
FOLLOWING AMANDA WILL BE
THOMAS. AMANDA, YOU MAY NEED
TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>>> GOOD EVENING, I AM HERE TO
SUPPORT BUDGET AMENDMENT --. WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF STAFF IN THE CITY
AUDITOR. INDEPENDENT AUDITING
PROVIDES OFFICIALS, MANAGERS
AND THE PUBLIC'S WITH
INFORMATION TO IMPROVE
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
FURTHERMORE, THE OFFICE OF
AUDITOR SERVES AN IMPORTANT
ROLE BY PROVIDING AUDITS TO THE
COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
IT ADHERES TO STANDARDS,
LEADERSHIP, STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT
AND RESOURCES TO MEET MANDATES.
-- STRICT REGULATORY
ENVIRONMENT AND GREATER
EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON AUDIT
FUNCTIONS. INCREASE STAFFING
WILL ALLOW THE OFFICE TO
RESPOND MORE PROMPTLY AND
PREPARE --.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS THOMAS.
FOLLOWING THOMAS WILL BE DIANE.
HELLO? GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO.
>> GO AHEAD, PLEASE. PLEASE
VOTE YES ON -- PRESERVING [
INDISCERNABLE ] .
>> MR. HARRINGTON, YOU ARE
CUTTING OUT SEVERELY. WE ARE
ONLY GETTING EVERY THIRD OR
FOURTH WORD.
>> WHY DON'T WE HAVE THOMAS IF
YOU CAN CALL BACK IN ON A
DIFFERENT LINE OR A PLACE YOU
HAVE BETTER RECEPTION WE WILL
COME BACK TO YOU.
>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD
IDEA.
>> MADAM CLERK, BEFORE WE GO
BACK TO THE FOLKS IN PERSON, I
JUST WANT TO AGAIN CALL ON THE
NAMES OF FOLKS NOT PRESENT.
SOME MAY BE WAITING FOR THEIR
NAME TO BE CALLED. IF YOU'RE
NOT LISTED AS PRESENT THEN WE
GO TO THE NEXT ITEM. I'M GOING
TO CALL ALL OF THE PEOPLE
LISTED TO PRESENT WHO ARE NOT
PRESENT SO YOU CAN HEAR YOUR
NAME. THEN WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE
WHO ARE PRESENT WHOSE NAME WAS
CALLED PRIOR TO THAT. ONCE WE
GET TO NUMBER 75, LET'S GO BACK
TO THOSE FOUR WHO ARE PRESENT
AND THEN BACK TO THE FOLKS IN
THE ROOM. JUST FOR THE PURPOSES
OF PEOPLE PLANNING, I WILL LIST
THOSE NOT PRESENT. DOES THAT
SOUND OKAY?
>> YES, I THINK I CAN FOLLOW
THAT. NEXT, WE ARE GOING TO TRY
DIANA, EXCUSE ME DIANE. SHE IS
REMOTE. YOU MAY NEED, THERE YOU
GO, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
>> THANK YOU. HONORABLE COUNCIL
MEMBERS I AM A MEMBER OF THE --
MUSEUM BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I AM
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
AMENDMENT -- ADDING $250,000 TO
THE ARTS AND CULTURE FUND.
THANK YOU FOR THE CHALLENGING
WORK YOU DO TO KEEP SEATTLE
STRONG AND ALIVE WHILE ALSO
HELPING TO ENSURE RACIAL AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. TODAY
IT IS MORE ESSENTIAL THAN EVER.
WE SEE WHY ELSEWHERE IN THE
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD BUT MOST
IMPORTANT RIGHT HERE IN THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT AND SEATTLE AREA. A
HUGE THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS FOR THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT. UNLIKE TACOMA,
SEATTLE HAS NOT YET
APPROPRIATELY RECOGNIZED THE
SHAMEFUL ACTIONS THAT HAPPENED
ALMOST 150 YEARS AGO, THE
EXPULSION OF THE CHINESE FROM
SEATTLE. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO
WORKED FOR PENNIES UNDER
UNTENABLE CONDITIONS PROVIDING
MUCH OF THE LABOR TO REBUILD
OUR CITY AFTER THE GREAT FIRE,
BUILT THE RAILROADS AND SO MUCH
MORE. HARD, HARD LABOR ONLY TO
BE EXPELLED FROM THE TOWN. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD HELP ENSURE THE
CREATION OF A LASTING LEGACY TO
THOSE WHO WERE RUN OUT OF TOWN
ONLY BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF
THEIR SKIN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>>> I'M GOING TO CALL ON THOMAS
HARRINGTON ONE MORE TIME AND
THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO THE
PEOPLE EARLIER THAT WOULDN'T
ANSWER. THOMAS HARRINGTON, ARE
YOU AVAILABLE NOW? THERE YOU
GO, THANK YOU!
>> I AM HERE AND UNMUTE IT, CAN
YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU AND YES, PLEASE
VOTE YES ON ARTS, PRESERVING
THE LEGACY OF THE FORCED
EXPULSION OF CHINESE AMERICANS.
IN 1886 WE RAN THE CHINESE OUT.
IN 1942 WE LOCKED UP THE
JAPANESE. TODAY WE HAVE
FACTIONS WHO WANT TO EXPEL
NONWHITE IMMIGRANTS. THOSE WHO
CANNOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE
CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT, SO WE
MUST TELL THE STORY SO WE
REMEMBER. WE MUST EDUCATE. ART
IS ONE WAY TO TELL A STORY AND
EDUCATE. PUBLIC ART IS
ACCESSIBLE AND DRAWS ATTENTION
WITH SPLENDOR. IT PEAKS WITH
CURIOSITY AND DRIVES US TO
LEARN AND UNDERSTAND. THE
ARTWORK, EXCLUSION, EXPULSION,
IT WILL APPEAL TO MANY. IT
WILL BE A SHOCKING AWARENESS
FOR OTHERS LIKE ME, THIS WHITE
AMERICAN MALE WHO IS IN HIS 50s
BEFORE BEING AWARE OF THE 1886
EXPULSION AND THE GROSS
VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. WE
SHOULD BE TAUGHT THIS IN GRADE
SCHOOL. IN 2015, THE COUNCIL
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING REGRET.
NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT OUR
MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. WE
MUST ENSHRINE THE MEMORY AS ONE
EDUCATIONAL TOOL SO WE ALWAYS
REMEMBER.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
HANNAH. ARE YOU THERE NOW? YOU
NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
>> HI, I AM CALLING ON BEHALF
OF AN UN-HOUSED RESIDENT NAMED
JESSE. SHE SAYS SHE IS CALLING
TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT A
GUARANTEE OF HOUSING AND
SHELTER. MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY
HAVE LIVED ON HOUSED AND
UN-SHELTERED IN SEATTLE AND
THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE HAVE
THE RESOURCES AND THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO HOUSE HUMAN
BEINGS AND OFFER SHELTER IN THE
INTERIM AND NOT OUT BY DAWN IN
THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. I URGE
THE COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE THOSE
OF US WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY
THIS BUDGET. GIVE US THE
GUARANTEE OF HOUSING SO WE CAN
THRIVE. POLICING POVERTY DOES
NOT CREATE SAFETY. PRIORITIZING
A GUARANTEE OF HOUSING IS THE
ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE SAFETY.
WE NEED HOUSING IN ORDER TO
THRIVE.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OLIVER
. YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON DOWN
TO ALLISON. WE SEE YOU ARE
READY.
>>> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. I
AM CALLING TO MAKE, CALLING
TONIGHT TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT
FOR -- TO ENSURE , AS OTHER
SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED TONIGHT,
THAT WE ARE INCLUDING ALL
HOMELESS SERVICE AND HOUSING
WORKERS IN THE REQUIRED 7.5%
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT AND 2%
WAGE ADJUSTMENT THAT THE MAYOR
INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET. THE OVERWHELMING WINNER
IN LAST WEEK'S ELECTION WAS THE
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY. I'M
THRILLED TO SEE THAT 69% OF THE
VOTING PUBLIC, CURRENTLY
147,000 BALLOTS CAST SUPPORTED
THE RENEWAL OF THIS LEVY WHICH
WILL ADD 3100 MORE AFFORDABLE
HOMES AND SUSTAIN 16,000
AFFORDABLE HOMES CREATED
THROUGH THE LEGACY OF THE LEVY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT LEVY
WILL INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HELP THE
LOWEST INCOME RESIDENTSS OF
THOSE LEVY DEPARTMENTS TO
THRIVE IN THEIR STABLE HOMES.
WHAT WE ARE URGING YOU TO DO
WITH THESE TWO ELEMENTS OF THE
BUDGET IS TO ENSURE THE SAME
LEVEL OF INVESTMENT. THANK YOU.
>>> WE WILL MOVE BACK AND TAKE
IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
THE NEXT PERSON ON THE LIST, WE
ARE ONLINE A 26. KATHERINE
HANSEN.
>> I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK,
FOR FOLKS LISTENING, IT SOUNDS
LIKE SOMEWHERE WAITING FOR
THEIR NAME TO BE CALLED. IF NOT
LISTED AS PRESENT, WE MAY HAVE
GONE BY THEM. FOR THE PURPOSES
OF THE FOLKS LISTENING, NUMBER
15, MIMI, DOUG, MICHAEL, IT
DOES LOOK LIKE -- IS PRESENT.
MAYBE WE CAN T THAT UP BEFORE
GOING BACK INTO IN PERSON.
NUMBER 32 ANNA, 34 KATIE
WILSON, 35 MATT, 37 NOEL
HANSEN, 39 DILLON. MICHELLE,
ALAYNA PEREZ, SHE IS NOT GOING
TO TESTIFY. AMY SUMMERS, SHAR
NOT PRESENT, JULIA NOT PRESENT,
KIMBERLY DANIEL BANNON, AND
AND THAT, --. I SEE YOU THERE.
JUST TRYING TO CLEAN UP OUR
LIST. OLIVERWE WILL TAKE SINCE
YOU ARE OFF MUTE WE WILL TAKE
YOU.
>> I AM AN EDUCATOR BORN AND
RAISED IN SEATTLE. WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT WITH THE
RECENT ELECTION OF THE
CORPORATE DEMOCRATS, IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT WE DON'T FOCUS
ON THINGS LIKE THE FACT THAT
EVERYONE IS SO UPSET WITH THE
DEPARTURE FROM WASHINGTON
STATE, WE HAVE THAT BEING
DISCUSSED ALL THE TIME, BUT
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE BEING
DISCUSSED IS THAT THEY ARE NOT
--. WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON
LEVEES. I DO SUPPORT THE $20
MILLION TO INCREASE THE
JUMPSTART TAX FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES TODAY. I ALSO HOPE YOU
SUPPORT THIS AND THAT YOU DO
NOT FUND SHOTSPOTTER IN THE --
POSITIONS AND STAND WITH
SOLIDARITY.