>>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, TODAY IS
FEBRUARY 21, 2023. THE MEETING
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:00
IN THE AFTERNOON. I'M TAMMY
MORALES. I'M SERVING AS COUNSEL
PRESIDENT PRO-TEM TODAY. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO-TEM
MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> SEVEN PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS
AND JUAREZ WILL BE EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THOSE
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE EXCUSED.
PRESENTATIONS. SO AT THIS TIME
I'D LIKE TO INVITE SENIOR
DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL TO PROVIDE
REMARKS AND THE OFFICIAL
DELIVERY OF MAYOR HARRELL'S
2023 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.
>> THANK YOU. DEAR ESTEEMED
COUNCILMEMBER, I'M HERE TO
PRESENT THE OFFICIAL STATE OF
THE CITY ADDRESS. I WANT TO
THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR WORK
IN THE LAST YEAR OF BUSINESS
TOGETHER. WE HAVE HAD A REALLY
FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP IN MOVING
THIS CITY FORWARD AND ALSO JUST
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT WE
WILL DO TOGETHER IN THE NEXT
YEAR. I THINK WHAT WE HEARD
FROM THE MAYOR'S STATE OF THE
CITY ADDRESS IS THAT WITH BOTH
OPTIMISM AND HARD WORK THIS
CITY CAN BE TRULY WHAT WE WANT
IT TO BE, THE CITY OF THE
FUTURE, THE SEATTLE OF THE
FUTURE. AND EACH ONE OF YOU
PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THAT
WORK TOGETHER, SO IT IS WITH A
PROFOUND THANK YOU THAT I
PRESENT TO YOU THE STATE OF THE
CITY ADDRESS AND THAT I JUST
EXPRESS FROM THE EXECUTIVE --
FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE THAT
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NEXT
YEAR TOGETHER, MOVING THINGS
FORWARD FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENIOR
DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL. WE ALL
HEARD FROM THE MAYOR TODAY
ABOUT THE WORK THAT HE'S GOT
PLANNED, HIS VISION FOR THE
CITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE ON
FAST IMPLEMENTATION OF STREET
SAFETY MEASURES, ON GETTING AN
ALTERNATIVE CRISIS RESPONSE
SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING, AND
REALLY SERVING THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE WITH THE URGENCY AND
THE -- KNOWING WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF WORK TO DO.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE
WILL OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. WE HAVE OVER
300 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TODAY, AND
SO I AM GOING TO SHORTEN THE
STANDARD PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
TO 45 SECONDS IN HOPES THAT WE
ARE ABLE TO GET THROUGH
EVERYONE. WE'LL START WITH --
LET'S START WITH THE REMOTE --
SORRY, I KNOW WE DO HAVE ONE
ELECTED OFFICIAL HERE. REDMOND
CITY COUNCILMEMBER CONN IS HERE
IN PERSON OR ONLINE? I DON'T
KNOW THE ANSWER --
>> I THINK THEY'RE AVAILABLE
ONLINE.
>> OKAY, SO IT IS OUR CUSTOM AT
COUNCIL TO BEGIN WITH ELECTED
OFFICIALS, SO I DO WANT TO
WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER CONN
FIRST. AND THEN WE WILL GO
THROUGH TEN REMOTE AND THEN TEN
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS SO THAT WE
CAN ALTERNATE. I BELIEVE WE
HAVE 77 OR SO FOLKS SIGNED UP
IN CHAMBERS, SO WE WILL
ALTERNATE UNTIL WE GET THROUGH
THOSE, AND THEN WE WILL FINISH
WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED
IN REMOTELY. SO MADAME CLERK,
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU TO
PRESENT THE VUX INSTRUCTIONS
FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD,
AND THEN WE WILL BEGIN.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE, WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY, THE CITY OF
FLOWERS, AND THE CITY OF
GOODWILL, BUILT ON INDIGENOUS
LAND, THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
OF THE COSALISH PEOPLES. THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT AND IS
EAGER TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS OF
OUR CITY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
BE A SPEAKER AND PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT YOU MUST REGISTER TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING VIA
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE. HERE'S SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS
ARE COULD UPON IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. EACH SPEAKER
MUST CALL IN FROM THE PHONE
NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN THEY
REGISTERED ONLINE AND USED THE
MEETING ID AND PASS CODE THAT
WAS EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS. A
REMINDER, THE SPEAKER MEETING
ID IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
GENERAL LISTEN LINE MEETING ID
PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA. ONCE
THE SPEAKER'S NAME IS CALLED,
SPEAK EAR'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
UNMUTED, AND AN AUTOMATIC
PROMPT WILL SAY, THE HOST WOULD
LIKE YOU TO UNMUTE YOUR
MICROPHONE. THAT IS YOUR CUE
IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. AT
THAT TIME, YOU MUST PRESS STAR
SIX. YOU WILL THEN HEAR A
PROMPT OF YOU ARE UNMUTED. BE
SURE YOUR PHONE IS UNMUTED ON
YOUR END SO THAT YOU WILL BE
HEARD. AS A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD
BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND
THE ITEM THAT YOU ARE
ADDRESSING. A CHIME WILL SOUND
WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT IN
YOUR ALLOTTED TIME. AS A GENTLE
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED, AND THE NEXT
SPEAKER REGISTERED WILL BE
CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
COMPLETED PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT AND
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND
JOIN US BY FOLLOWING THE
MEETING VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL
BROADCAST OR THROUGH THE
LISTENING LINE OPTION LISTED ON
THE AGENDA. THE COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ELIMINATE
PUBLIC COMMENT IF THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED OR IF THE PROCESS
IMPEDES THE COUNCIL'S ABILITY
TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS ON
BEHALF OF RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY. ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE
THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THESE
PROCEEDINGS OR THAT IS NOT
FOCUSED ON AN APPROPRIATE TOPIC
AS SPECIFIED IN COUNCIL RULES
MAY LEAD TO THE SPEAKER BEING
MUTED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL ASSIST
OUR ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF
ISSUES BEFORE THE COUNCIL. THE
PUB LEK COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER OF THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
OF YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. THANK
YOU, SEATTLE.
>> WHO'S OUR FIRST GUEST
SPEAKER?
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS
COUNCILMEMBER CONN FROM
REDMOND.
>> THANK YOU, THEY'LL UNMUTE
HIM.
>> HER. COUNCILMEMBER? YOU CAN
PRESS STAR SIX?
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY.
>> YES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
ORDINANCE TO BAN CAST
DISCRIMINATION. AS A
COUNCILMEMBER WITH A FAIR
NUMBER OF SOUTH ASIAN
CONSTITUENTS, SOME OF WHOM MAY
BE IN THE ROOM WITH YOU TODAY,
AND AS A SOUTH ASIAN MYSELF I
CAN VOUCH THAT CAST AND CAST
DISCRIMINATION ARE PLEASANT AND
FUNCTIONING IN THE AREA. I'VE
HEARD THE STORIES FROM THE
COMMUNITIES FACING
DISCRIMINATION WITHOUT LEGAL
RECOURSE AND MANY OF THEM HAVE
HAD TO HIDE THEIR CASTS TO
ENSURE THEY DON'T GET
DISCRIMINATED BY DOMINANT CAST
MEMBERS WHO CAN ACT WITH
IMPUNITY. I URGE YOU TO MAKE
CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY AND VOTE
YESTERDAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS PRESENT. IF YOU
COULD HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE, THAT
WOULD HELP US MOVE THROUGH MORE
PEOPLE. BUT OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER THAT IS PRESENT IS
PRASHANT.
>> PRASHAN T IS HERE.
>> PRASHANT IS SIGNED UP
ONLINE.
>> LET'S GO THROUGH THE REMOTE
SPEAKERS FIRST. IF PRASHANT IS
IN CHAMBERS, THEN WE CAN FIND
THAT NAME ON THE SIGN-UP SHEETS
IN CHAMBERS.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> OH, YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES
TODAY ON THE ORDINANCE TO BAN
CAST DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE.
I'M AN INDIAN IMMIGRANT TECH
WORKER AND MEMBER OF THE
ALPHABET UNION. IN MY WORKPLACE
I HAVE FIRSTHAND WITNESSED
CAST-BASED SLURS, ATTACKS ON
TECH WORKERS AND THEIR
ABILITIES HIRING BASED ON
DOMINANT CAST IDENTITIES AND A
GENERAL CULTURE OF FEAR THAT
CAN'T BE REPORTED DUE TO A LACK
OF CAST PROTECTIONS. THIS IS
WHY THIS ORDINANCE WOULD BE A
MAJOR STEP TO HELP
CAST-OPPRESSED WORKERS. PLEASE
VOTE YES TODAY ON THIS URGENT
ISSUE AND DO NOT LISTEN TO
BIGOTED ORGANIZATIONS. STAND ON
THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
>> THANK YOU. SINGH?
>> HI, I THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
THEIR TIME. I'M URGING THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE FOR JUSTICE BY
VOTING NO TODAY. THE FOUNDER OF
EQUALITY LABS HAS INCORRECTLY
IDENTIFIED CAST HERSELF. SHE
CLAIMED TWITTER'S FORMER CEO
WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR HIS
POSITION. THE DAMAGE OF THIS
HATE SPEECH HAS BEEN DONE.
AMERICANS OF SOUTH ASIAN
DESCENT AREN'T -- THIS
ORDINANCE IS ATTEMPTING TO
CREATE A FORMULA IN A SPACE
WHERE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT. THERE IS NO WAY
TO IDENTIFY CAST, AS THE LAB
HAS PROVEN THEMSELVES. I ASK
THE COUNCIL TO OPEN THEIR EYES.
LOOK AT THE PLAYERS BEHIND THIS
ORDINANCE. THIS IS HINDU
PHOBIC. I'M URGING THE COUNCIL
TO VOTE NO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER, OUR NEXT
REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> I PLEAD WITH YOU TO VOTE NO
ON THE CAST ORDINANCE. HERE'S
WHY. THIS IS DISCRIMINATORY. --
HAS SIGNED A PETITION AGAINST
THIS ORDINANCE. WHY THE RUSH TO
BRING IN THIS ILL CONCEIVED
ORDINANCE. WHY THE LAST-MINUTE
CHANGES. HOW IS ANY OF THIS
DEMOCRATIC. I HOPE GOOD SENSE
PREVAILS AND YOU DO WHAT IS
MORALLY CORRECT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ILANA.
>> HI, YES, I'M ILANA, I URGE
THE COUNCIL TO UNANIMOUSLY VOTE
YES ON THE ORDINANCE AND
IMPLEMENT IT WITH NO DELAYS.
I'M WITH EQUALITY LABS, AND I'M
A WHITE, WORKING CLASS STUDENT
FROM A CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND.
THIS ISSUE IS NOT COMPLEX.
CAST-OPPRESSED PEOPLE HAVE
RISKED THEIR SAFETY SO YOU CAN
DO WHAT'S RIGHT. IT'S A GLOBAL
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, AND WE NEED
IMMEDIATE RELEASE IN SEATTLE.
THIS WOULD GIVE SAFETY TO TALK
ABOUT EXPERIENCE WITHOUT FEAR
OF BACKLASH. IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SEATTLE
SAFE FOR EVERYONE. ENSURE
SEATTLE IS A WELCOME CITY TO
ALL. IF YOU BELIEVE IN SOCIAL
JUSTICE, VOTE YES TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, I'M A MEMBER OF THE
INTERFAITH -- THAT DOING SO
WILL LEAD TO DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST THE HINDU COMMUNITIES,
I BELIEVE IT TO BE EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY. DISCRIMINATION FOR
BEING OF HINDU AND SOUTH INDIAN
DESCENT IS ALREADY PROTECTED,
UNLIKE CAST, WHICH DESPITE WHAT
THE OPPOSITION MAY SAY IS NOT
COVERED UNDER THESE CATEGORIES.
THIS WOULD PLACE SEATTLE AT THE
FOREFRONT OF HISTORIC HUMAN
RIGHTS IN THE NATION. I URGE
YOU TO VOTE UNANIMOUSLY YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S BILL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
HAVE YOU PRESSED STAR SIX?
>> YES, I DID.
>> GO AHEAD, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO UNANIMOUSLY
VOTE YES TO INCLUDE CAST. AS
SOMEONE WHO'S A MEMBER OF AN
OPPRESSIVE CAST AND HAVE
WITNESSED FIRSTHAND FOR THE
BETTER PART OF A DECADE
INCIDENTS OF CAST-BASED
DISCRIMINATION AND IN WORK
SETTINGS. THESE ARE CULTURAL
AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE YOU
THINK THAT THEY'RE PART OF OUR
CULTURE WILL WAVE A HINDUPHOBIC
FLAG. IN SOLIDARITY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE YES ON THIS ORDINANCE. I'M
A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL
ACADEMIC COALITION FOR CAST
EQUITY AND HAVE WITNESSED
SEVERAL INCIDENTS AGAINST MY
PIERS IN CLASSROOMS, HOUSING
SITUATIONS, AND MORE. CASTISM
IS A GENDER JUSTICE ISSUE AND
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ISSUE. DON'T
LET SUCH FRAGILITY DETRACT FROM
THAT. THOSE WHO OPPOSE THIS
ORDINANCE HAVE FEVERISHLY
REPORTED THE MOVES WHICH WERE
UNANIMOUSLY CONDEMND BY THIS
COUNCIL ALREADY. YOU KNOW THESE
BIGOTS. YOU'VE STOOD AGAINST
THEM BEFORE.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO. I'M SPEAKING AS A
CAST PRIVILEGED HINDU STUDENT
AT HARVARD. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TO BAN CAST-BASED
DISCRIM NATION. GROWING UP IN
THE UNITED STATES IN A
CAST-PRIVILEGED ENCLAVE I WAS
SHIELDED FROM THE REALITY OF
THE UNITED STATES. INFLUENCED
BY THOSE AROUND ME I TOO
PARROTED THE BIGOTED, UNFOUNDED
POINTS OF THE OPPOSITION. I
HAVE NEVER HAD TO WALK INTO A
ROOM AND WONDER WHETHER I'LL BE
JUDGED FOR MY CAST.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE SAME DOES
NOT RING TRUE FOR SO MANY
CAST-OPPRESSED PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY. AGAIN, I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE, AS A PRACTICING
HINDU WITH CAST PRIVILEGE, IT
IS NOT ON THE SOUTH ASIAN
COMMUNITY TO PASS THIS
ORDINANCE. VOTE YES.
>> LAST SPEAKER, IN THIS
ROTATION, LAST REMOTE SPEAKER
IN THIS ROTATION. AND AFTER
THIS SPEAKER WE'LL MOVE TO TEN
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> HI, AM I AUDIBLE? HELLO? CAN
YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, YOU ARE. GO AHEAD.
>> PERFECT. RESPECTED CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, I STRONGLY URGE
YOU TO VOTE YES. I'M A
CAST-PRIVILEGING HINDU MALE
WITH AN INTERCAST BACKGROUND.
I'M WORRIED THAT THIS WILL
EXCUSE THE COMPLEXITY OF TASKS
FOR CONCRETE ACTIONS THAT WILL
-- IS GENDER DISCRIMINATION
COMPLEX? SURE, BUT WE HAVE
PROTECTIONS AGAINST THOSE, AND
WE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR CAST.
IF YOU STILL BELIEVE IN
SEATTLE'S MISSION, YOU WILL
VOTE YES.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST
SPEAKER, RITA MAHER. IS THERE A
RITA?
>> HELLO, I'M RITA MAHER,
COFOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE SPEE, A LOCAL
NONPROFIT THAT HOSTS THE
LARGEST SOUTH ASIAN FILM
FESTIVAL IN AMERICA. AND WE
ALSO PARTNER WITH NETFLIX AND
ALASKA AIRLINES TO SUPPORT
SOUTH ASIAN FILMMAKERS HERE. I
ASKED THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE AND PLEASE DO NOT
DELAY THIS VOTE AND VOTE TODAY.
THIS IS VERY PERSONAL FOR ME.
ON JANUARY 24th WHEN THE
ORDINANCE WAS PROPOSED, I
PUBLICLY CAME OUT AS AN
ADIWASI. THEY ARE INDIGENOUS
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES WHO FACE
CASTE DISCRIMINATION.
>> THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM PAYNE. IF
WE WANT TO GET THROUGH EVEN A
THIRD OF THE SPEAKERS, WE'LL
NEED TO SPEED IT UP A LITTLE
BIT, PLEASE. SAM, NUMBER TWO.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
SAM. I'M HERE TO URGE COUNCIL
TO VOTE YES FOR THE ANTI-CASTE
ORDINANCE. THANKS FOR REMINDING
ME ABOUT THE URGENCY OF THIS
RESOLUTION. I GREW UP IN A
SOCIALLY SEG GRATED COMMUNITY
IN INDIA AND HAVE BEEN WORKING
IN THE SEATTLE AREA FOR 13
YEARS NOW. THIS RESOLUTION IS
FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. CASTE
DISCRIMINATION EXISTS IN SOUTH
ASIAN COMMUNITIES. 27% OF US
PRACTICE -- AND WE ARE LESS
LIKELY TO GET JOB CALLS BACK,
20% LESS THAN THE -- PEOPLE.
ISN'T THOUSAND YEARS OF
DISCRIMINATION ENOUGH? THIS
NEEDS TO STOP NOW. PLEASE VOTE
YES.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
--
>> JODY, COULD I SUGGEST YOU
CALL A COUPLE FOLKS UP.
>> THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
REVEREND KERRY ANDERSON
FOLLOWED BY JIM ANDERSON.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, KERRY
ANDERSON, PASTOR OF SEATTLE'S
OLDEST BLACK CHURCH AND THE
OLDEST BLACK CHURCH IN THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON. I AM
STANDING WITH OVER 200
ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE
ORDINANCE -- FOR THE HISTORIC
ORDINANCE PROPOSED TO BAN
CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE.
BUT ONLY A TINY LITTLE MINUTE,
BUT OUR DESTINY IS IN IT. I
URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE
PASSING OF THIS ORDINANCE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JIM
HENDERSON FOLLOWED BY MAYA
CAMPBELL. GO AHEAD, PLEASE,
FOLLOWED BY MAYA CAMPBELL.
>> I WAS A PASTOR FOR A LONG
TIME, BUT I WAS IN INDIA. CASTE
IS TO INDIA WHAT SLAVERY IS TO
THE UNITED STATES. SLAVERY IS
APARTHEID, CASTISM IS THEIR
APARTHEID. IN THE WEST IT'S
VIEWED AS FOLKLORE, EVEN
QUAINT. SEATTLE IS A PROUD
HERITAGE OF WELCOMING PEOPLE
FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS BUT
INTELLECTUAL GENIUS DOES NOT
EXCUSE CASTISM. SEATTLE HAS LED
THE WAY IN SO MANY WAYS,
INCLUDING TECH, AEROSPACE, AND
COFFEE, OF COURSE. WE'RE KNOWN
AS LEADERS, BUT WITH THAT
POSITION COMES RESPONSIBILITY.
THE CAST E MASTERS WANT YOU TO
LOOK THE OTHER WAY TO IS AN
IT'S NOT THERE. A CHIEF
ARCHITECT OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF INDIA, THEIR THOMAS
JEFFERSON, SAID CASTE IS NOT --
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MAYA CAMPBELL, AND FOLLOWING
MAYA CAMPBELL IS JOE.
>> I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE YES TO BAN CASTE-BASED
DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE
TODAY. I COME FROM A
CASTE-OPPRESSED COMMUNITY, AND
I'M A MEMBER OF AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA.
I'M REPRESENTING A COALITION OF
30 STRONG CASTE-OPPRESSED
ORGANIZATIONS. I HAVE FACED
CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION WHEN
I WORKED UNDER A MANAGER,
THAT'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THIS IS BEING OPPOSED BY THE
MOST RIGHT WING ORGS. VOTE YES
TODAY. AND TO ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS, DELAY IN VOTE
IS DELAY IN JUSTICE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JOE, JOE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
THE FIRST INITIAL P LAST NAME
MEGNA.
>> MY NAME IS JOE. I'M A
TEACHER AND A MEMBER OF THE
NSEA, PERSONAL CAPACITY, AND
ALSO A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE. I URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO PASS THIS HISTORIC
ORDINANCE TODAY, NO DELAY. FOR
OUR SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO BE FACING
DISCRIMINATION BASED ON A PART
OF THEIR IDENTITY IS
INTOLERABLE AND THIS ORDINANCE
IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN ENDING
THOSE BEHAVIORS. AS AN EDUCATOR
I SEE MY STUDENTS AND THEIR
COMMUNITIES SCARED OF THE
EMBOLDENED FAR RIGHT. AN INJURY
TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL. IT
IS BOTH OUR MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGHT
ALONGSIDE AND IT IS CRUCIAL TO
THE STRENGTH OF OUR MOVEMENTS.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO YEARS AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
FOLLOWED BY RAM. JUST SO THAT
YOU'RE AWARE, BOTH MICS ARE
OPERATING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO
SPEAK AT THE END, YOU CAN SPEAK
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE TOO. GO
AHEAD. OKAY, THE NEXT SPEAKER
IS RAM. RAM KUMAR, AND RAM WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY DR. ISLAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM HERE TO
SAY YES IN SUPPORT OF THE
ORDINANCE. I'M FROM THE
OPPRESSED CASTE BACKGROUND AND
BELONG TO AMERICAN
INTERNATIONAL CENTER. MANY OF
THEM WERE SENT TO HUNDREDS OF
THE PEOPLE. PLEASE DON'T HIRE
SCSD OF CASTE OF INDIA. AND
REQUEST TO THROW STONES. THIS
IS THE PROOF. AND MORE
DISGUSTING -- THIS IS THE TIME
TO SAY YES, BE ON THE SIDE OF
JUSTICE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
DR. ISLAM, FOLLOWED BY SHACK.
>> MR. ALEX PEDERSEN IS OUR
COUNCILMEMBER, AND MY NAME IS
DR. ISLAM. I'VE GOT A LEAKY
HOUSE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
SPENDING LESS THAN $900, BUT
THE CITY INSPECTOR TOLD ME I
HAVE TO BUY, WHICH IS NOT
NECESSARY. NO WATER. THEN SHE
BECAME UPSET AND SHE PUT NO
START WORKING ON MY HOUSE FOR
THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND PUT ME
INTO MY PROPERTY, I LOST $1
MILLION. I NEED YOUR HELP.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS
ROTATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MOST IMHUN TREATMENT. PEOPLE
DEPRIVED FROM THE NATURAL
RESOURCES JUST LIKE EVEN WATER,
AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING
EVEN IN INDIA TODAY. NOW THESE
INDIAN PEOPLE ARE MIGRATING TO
THE U.S. AND BRINGING THE CASTE
WITH THEM. BEFORE ANYTHING BAD
HAPPENS IN THIS COUNTRY, WE
WANT TO PROTECT OUR KIDS, WE
WANT TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES
HERE. AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO
-- THE CHIEF ARCHITECT OF
INDIA'S CONSTITUTION, WHO IS
EQUAL TO LENNEN, MARX, AND
LINCOLN TOGETHER -- LET'S
FOLLOW HIM. PLEASE HOLD AS,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HELLO?
>> GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> HI, COUNCILMEMBERS, I URGE
YOU ALL TO UNANIMOUSLY VOTE YES
ON THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY
KSHAMA SAWANT TO BAN
CASTE-BATIONED DISCRIMINATION
IN SEATTLE CITY WITH NO DELAYS.
I'M A MEMBER OF EQUALITY LABS,
I HAVE EXPERIENCED
MICROAGGRESSIONS WHERE MY LAST
NAME AND BACKGROUND WAS
CONSTANTLY QUESTIONED BY A
COLLEAGUE AT A START-UP. IT IS
APPARENT CASTE DISCRIMINATION
EXISTS. PLEASE DO NOT BE BLIND
SIDED BY THE FAR RIGHT
ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE
VHP, WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO
UNDERMINE --
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I URGE YOU ALL
TO PLEASE VOTE YES ON THE
ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. END THE
CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY
WHERE WE CAN SHED THE ISSUES OF
OUR NATIVE HOMELANDS AND CREATE
A LIFE OF HAPPINESS. WITH CASTE
IN THE WORKPLACE, WE ARE
DEALING WITH ISSUES THAT ARE
PREVENTING US FROM BEING THE
BEST AMERICANS WE CAN BE. WE
DON'T HESITATE TO PUSHBACK
AGAINST RACISM AND SEXISM, AND
CASTE IS RIGHT THERE WITH IT. I
URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES FOR
THIS ORDINANCE THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NINA. NINA. WE HAVE NINA.
>> HELLO, I'M NINA, AND I'M
CALLING IN TO OPPOSE THE CASTE
ORDINANCE. PLEASE VEHEMENTLY
VOTE NO. IT IS BASED ON FAULTY
DATA. ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CLAIM
THEY FACE DISCRIMINATION -- DO
NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT CASTE MEANS.
THE CASTE TROPE IS NOW BEING
USED AS PROPAGANDA, AND I
IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO
DEMONSTRATE FACTS. PLEASE VOTE
VEHEMENTLY NO AGAINST THIS
ORDINANCE. THIS IS COMPLETELY
HINDUPHOBIC. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS OLIVER WILSON. OLIVER WILSON
. IS OLIVER WILSON -- GO AHEAD.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI, MY NAME IS OLIVER, AND I
AM A WHITE, TRANS, AND QUEER
PERSON. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE TO BAN
CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE CITY. I'M A MEMBER OF
EQUALITY LABS, LEVEL OF
MOBILITIZATION AND RESISTANCE
FOR ADDING PROTECTION FOR
CASTE-OPPRESSED PEOPLE SPEAKS
TO THE LEAD OF THESE
PROTECTIONS. OFTENTIMES EQUITY
FEELS LIKE DISCRIMINATION.
PLEASE DON'T LET THOSE
EXPERIENCING FRAGILITY DETRACT
FROM THAT. INSTEAD, PLEASE
CENTER THE MOST MARGINALIZED IN
THE SPACES. IF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS STRIVE TO BE
LIBERAL AND BELIEVE IN SOCIAL
JUSTICE, YOU SHOULD VOTE YES
FOR THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TRISHA. TRISHA.
>> HI, I'M HERE. MY NAME IS
TRISHA, I'M A MEDICAL STUDENT
AND A DOMINANT CASTE HINDU. I
URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES ON THE ORDINANCE TO BAN
CASTE DISCRIMINATION AND
IMPLEMENT IT WITH NO DELAYS.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE COURAGEOUSLY
SPOKEN UP ABOUT THE
CONSEQUENCES AND TRAUMA AND
VIOLENCE THEY ENDURE IN THE
UNITED STATES DESPITE
IMMIGRATING HERE TO ESCAPE
CASTE DISCRIMINATION ABROAD.
BANNING CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE WILL NOT HARM CASTE
DOMINANT FOLKS LIKE MYSELF. --
WHICH THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
CONDEMNED. WE MUST NOT BE
DISTRACTED BY OPPRESSORS LIKE
THE VHP. I URGE YOU, VOTE YET
TODAY TO MAKE HISTORY AND PAVE
THE WAY FOR THE REST OF THE
NATION TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SARAH JAMES. SARAH JAMES.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH JAMES, I AM
A MEMBER OF SOCIALIST AL TERN
THEIVE AND WORKERS STRIKE BACK.
IT'S PLAIN TO SEE WHAT THE
RIGHT MOVE IS AND HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO HAPPEN TODAY WITHOUT
DELAY. THE MASSIVE MOBILIZATION
OF OPPOSITION TO THIS ORDINANCE
SHOWS HOW NEEDED IT REALLY IS.
IF THE OCR IS UNDERFUNDED,
SHOULD ALSO LEGAL
DISCRIMINATION BE SUSPENDED
UNTIL IT'S FULLY FUNDED? WHY
SHOULD CASTE-DISCRIMINATED
PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEIR
RIGHTS. THE TESTIMONIALS YOU'VE
HEARD TODAY PROVE THE NECESSITY
OF THIS. DO THE RIGHT THING
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS, I
URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE
ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. THIS WILL
PROTECT ME AND MY FAMILY
MEMBERS. SOME PEOPLE CLAIM
CASTE IS A CONSTRUCT. AND THEY
CLAIM WE HAVE LEFT CASTE IN
INDIA BUT CASTE GROUPS ARE
PREVALENT HERE. AND THEY CLAIM
EXISTING -- IT'S NOT TRUE.
ENFORCEMENT -- DON'T HAVE
TRAINING OF CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. THAT'S WHY I
STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THIS
ORDINANCE TO PROTECT ME AND MY
FAMILY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
FOR THIS REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> YES. I'M ASKING THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE NO ON
THIS CASTE ORDINANCE BECAUSE I
DON'T THINK THAT THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL OR A TYPICAL
DEPARTMENT IS QUALIFIED TO
ADJUDICATE ON CASTE-RELATED
ISSUES. IT'S A COMPLEX SOCIAL
ISSUE. THERE ARE OVER 200
CASTES IN SOUTH ASIAN
COUNTRIES, AND THEIR
CATEGORIZATION IS BASED ON THE
REGION THEY'RE FROM. WILL WE BE
ASKED TO CARRY A CASTE CARD?
ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
FAMOUSLY MISIDENTIFIED THE
CASTE OF THE FORMER TWITTER
CEO. EVEN THEY CANNOT CORRECTLY
IDENTIFY A PERSON'S CAST, HOW
CAN THEY PREPARE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND DEPARTMENTS TO
CASTE --
>> WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE INTO
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. WE'RE ON
NUMBER 11 --
>> MADAME CLERK, I'M SORRY. I'M
GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO TWO
THINGS. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
CALL UP ALL TEN OF THE NEXT
ROUND OF IN-PERSON SPEAKERS SO
THEY CAN LINE UP AT THE MIC AND
WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR
PEOPLE TO APPROACH. WE'VE GOT A
LOT OF PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING TO
GET THROUGH. AND AFTER THIS
ROUND OF SPEAKERS, WE'RE GOING
TO GO TO 30 SECONDS BECAUSE I
WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE AN
OPPORTUNITY AND WE HAVE A FULL
AGENDA TO TRY TO GET THROUGH.
SO AFTER THIS NEXT ROUND OF
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, WE WILL
REDUCE THE TIME TO 30 SECONDS
AND SEE HOW FAR WE GET. THANK
YOU.
>> OKAY. SO WE ARE GOING TO
CALL FROM THE SHEET THAT'S
NUMBERED 11 THROUGH 20, WHICH
STARTS HERE. NUMBER 15. NUMBER
16. NUMBER 17 . I CAN'T READ
THE LAST NAME, I'M SORRY, IT
STARTS WITH A B I BELIEVE.
NUMBER 18. NUMBER 19. AND
NUMBER 20. SO WE'LL START WITH
NUMBER 11.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AT ASIAN COUNSELING
AND REFERRAL SERVICE. ACR
STANDS IN SUPPORT OF THIS
ORDINANCE. AS AN AGENCY THAT
SERVES 30,000 PACIFIC ISLANDER
AND ASIAN RESIDENTS WE
UNDERSTAND THE NUANCED
SITUATIONS OUR CLIENTS MUST
NAVIGATE. CASTE DISCRIMINATION
IS PRESENT AND A POWERFUL
SYSTEM. WHEN UPPER CLASS HINDUS
CLAIM CASTE IS NONEXISTENT,
IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T
SUFFERED THE HARMS. WHEN THEY
CLAIM CASTE IS NONEXISTENT, IT
IS BECAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR US
TO DISMISS THE VOICES THAN
ADMIT OUR COMPLACENCY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
GO AHEAD.
>> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M
HERE TO SPEAK AND REQUEST ALL
OF YOU TO SUPPORT THE
CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION
LEGISLATION. THE CENTER IS THE
CONSTITUTION I'M REPRESENTING
OUT HERE THAT WORKS WITH
PARENTS AND FAMILIES ON ISSUES
OF EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE TEACH OUR KIDS,
MAKE SURE YOU STAND UP FOR
JUSTICE AT ALL TIMES. TODAY IT
IS INDICATIVE IN THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO'VE COME FROM THE
SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY ON HOW
STRONGLY THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE
THAT WE BELIEVE DEEPLY IN
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. THAT IS MY
-- TO EVERY U.S. CITIZEN IN THE
FIRST AMENDMENT. WE ALSO
BELIEVE THAT THAT SHOULD NOT
BECOME AN INSTRUMENT TO --
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION. SO I
REQUEST EVERYONE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> RESPECTED COUNCILMEMBERS, I
AM A MEMBER OF -- AND A SENIOR
SOFTWARE AT TECH COMPANY. I
URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE
ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY KSHAMA
SAWANT TO BAN CASTE-BASED
DISCRIMINATION. YOU MUST HAVE
REALIZED WHY MANY OF US ARE NOT
MENTIONING THE LAST NAME. IT IS
BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED. SCARED
OF GIVING OUT IDENTITIES AS
VALID. SCARED OF ALL THE
INHUMANE CONSEQUENCES AND
RETALIATION THAT FOLLOWS. WE
ARE SCARED OF BEING LOOKED AT
FROM A DIFFERENT LENS
ALTOGETHER BY OUR PEERS,
NEIGHBORS, AND SUPERVISORS.
EVEN COMING TO THIS STAGE OF
PUBLIC ANNOUNCING OURSELVES HAS
BEEN DECADES OF WORK. TO
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR EXISTENCE AND
--
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE FROM
EQUALITY LABS, AND I HERE AM
ALSO REPRESENTING A COALITION
OF 30 CASTE-OPPRESSED
ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE
COUNTRY THAT REPRESENT HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF CASTE-OPPRESSED
PEOPLE. AND WE ARE UNITED IN
ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL TO VOTE
YES TO BAN CASTE DISCRIMINATION
WITHOUT DELAY. WE HAVE FACED
RAPE THREATS, DEATH THREATS,
GASLIGHTING, DISINFORMATION,
FEAR AND INTIMIDATION IN ORDER
TO COME TO SPEAK TRUTH TO
POWER, IN ORDER FOR US TO TURN
OUR POWER INTO PAIN. WE ARE
ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL TO STAND
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO SHARE OUR
COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM, SHARE
OUR COMMITMENT TO HEAL. AND
HEALING ONLY BEGINS WITH THE
ENDING OF THIS --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, OH, I'M SORRY, WHO'S
NEXT?
>> HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBERS, I
AM THE MEMBER OF -- ME AND MY
MEMBERS STRONGLY CONDEMN THE
CASTE SYSTEM IN NORTH AMERICA.
I URGE A YES AND FULL SUPPORT
TO ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE. OUR
ORGANIZATION WANTS TO CREATE
AWARENESS AND STOP CASTISM IN
NORTH AMERICA. WE TRIED TO
BRING -- LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUT
WE OFTEN FIND THAT BECAUSE
THERE IS NO LEGAL BAN ON CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IT CAN'T --
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE OUR
NEXT SPEAKER -- --
>> HELLO, CASTE DISCRIMINATION
WILL BE BANNED. IT'S JUST A
MATTER OF TIME. THE QUESTION IS
WILL OUR CITY BE ON THE RIGHT
SIDE OF HISTORY OR NOT. WILL
YOUR LEGACIES BE ONE OF
INSPIRING THE NATION OR WILL
YOU GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS
MISSING THIS OPPORTUNITY, EVEN
AFTER COUNTLESS STORIES FROM
THE OPPRESSED, THOUSANDS OF
MESSAGES AND SUPPORT, AND OVER
175 ORGS CALLING ON YOU TO PASS
THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT DELAY.
THE WORLD IS WATCHING, AND I
HAVE FAITH YOU WILL ALL VOTE
YES, BUT WHETHER YOU DO OR NOT,
TODAY IS ONE OF THE FINAL DYING
BREATHS OF THE BEAST OF CASTE
OPPRESSION. OUR MULTIFAITH,
MULTIRACIAL MOVEMENT WILL NOT
GO AWAY. IF THIS PASSES, WE
WILL CELEBRATE WITH YOU. IF
NOT, THE CITY WILL HAVE FAILED
OUR CASTE-OPPRESSED KIN. WE
WILL NOT LET THEM DOWN. WE WILL
CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE UNTIL
CASTE DISCRIMINATION IS NO --
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE -- DID
THIS PERSON ALREADY SPEAK?
>> YES.
>> OR IS THAT YOU?
>> THAT'S THEM.
>> GO AHEAD, THANK YOU.
>> WHO'S UP?
>> HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBERS,
PLEASE VOTE YES BANNING CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL SEATTLE CITY. I'M
SPEAKING AS A HINDI, AND I'M
HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
BANNING CASTE IN SEATTLE CITY'S
DISCRIMINATION POLICY. I HAVE
EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION
MULTIPLE TIMES. I'M REALLY
WORRIED ABOUT MY KIDS AND
COMING GENERATION. THIS IS NOT
INDIAN ISSUE. IT IS COMMON IN
SOUTH ASIA. THIS IS NOT A
RELIGIOUS ISSUE. THIS IS ONLY
THE DISTRACTION. MAJOR
UNIVERSITIES ADDED CASTE AS A
PROTECTED CATEGORY. LET'S MAKE
OUR HISTORY BANNING CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 18. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 18, ALEX.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
ALEX, I LIVE IN QUEEN ANNE, AND
I'M REPRESENTING SEATTLE
INDIVISIBLE. WE'RE ONE OF THE
OVER 175 ORGANIZATIONS THAT
SIGNED THE LETTER. AS A
COMMUNITY, SEATTLEITES PRIDE
OURSELVES ON BEING INCLUSIVE.
PASSING THIS HISTORIC
LEGISLATION WILL SEND A
HISTORIC, POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT
SEATTLE WILL STAND UP FOR
RIGHTS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL. WE
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A
REAL DIFFERENCE AND SHOW THAT
WE ARE A CITY THAT VALUES
DIVERSITY AND PROMOTES SOCIAL
JUSTICE. COUNCILMEMBERS, I URGE
YOU TO PASS THIS HISTORIC
LEGISLATION AND BRING US ONE
STEP CLOSER TO BUILDING A MORE
INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE
SEATTLE. THE SEATTLE WE WANT TO
LIVE IN, WHERE EVERY PERSON IS
VALUED, RESPECTED, AND NO ONE
IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BASED
ON THEIR --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 19. NUMBER 19.
SPEAKER NUMBER 19. YOU CAN PULL
THAT DOWN. PERFECT.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYBODY. HONORABLE
COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM HERE FROM
CBC CANADA URGING YOU TO VOTE
YES ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE
TO BAN CASTE DISCRIMINATION. A
LEGAL BAN ON CASTE
DISCRIMINATION WILL PROTECT
OPPRESSED CASTE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, SUCH AS MYSELF, MY
FAMILY, AND MY CHILDREN, FROM
THE GROSS INJUSTICE WE ENDURE
ON DAILY BASIS AND EVERYWHERE,
NOT ONLY AMERICA. IT'S CANADA
TOO. BECAUSE I HAVE EVIDENCE IN
MY CANADIAN LIFE LAST 30 YEARS.
AS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SAID,
INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT
TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. CASTISM
IS THE WORST --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT IN
PERSON -- THIS IS OUR LAST
IN-PERSON SPEAKER, OUR LAST
IN-PERSON SPEAKER FOR THIS
ROUND.
>> I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A
LEADER OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIC
COALITION FOR CASTE EQUITY, A
NETWORK OF OVER 500 STUDENT,
FACULTY PUSHING FOR -- AND JOIN
INSTITUTIONS LIKE BROWN
UNIVERSITY TO CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY AND UC DAVIS IN
MAKING HISTORY. I STAND BEFORE
YOU AS A QUEER AND TRANS
PERSON. DO NOT BE DERAILED BY
DISINFORMATION AND FRAGILITY. I
STAND BEFORE YOU AS A CASTE
PRIVILEGED -- AND I ASK THAT
YOU DO NOT -- YOU VOTE YES
TODAY AND LET JUSTICE NOT BE
DELAYED, BECAUSE JUSTICE DELAID
IS JUSTICE DENIED. SO VOTE YES
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO
REMOTE SPEAKERS, AND AGAIN,
IT'S -- WE WILL HAVE 30
SECONDS. 30 SECONDS PER
SPEAKER. WE'RE MOVING TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. THE FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER FOR THIS SESSION.
>> I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE YES. OPPOSITION IS FROM
RIGHT WING GROUPS TRYING TO
SILENCE CASTE-OPPRESSED
COMMUNITIES IN THE NAME OF
OPPRESSION. THEY -- VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY TO CONDEMN.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
AND YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI, I'M WORKING AS A
SOFTWARE ENGINEER. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO UNANIMOUSLY
VOTE YES FOR THE ORDINANCE. I
BELONG TO THE HUMAN RACE, BUT I
WAS DISCRIMINATED FOR SOMETHING
THAT WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL, MY
PAST. I WAS HUMILIATED A NUMBER
OF TIMES BECAUSE I WAS A LOWER
CLASS INDIVIDUAL. LET US STAND
TOGETHER AND MAKE HISTORY BY
BANNING CASTE DISCRIMINATION
ONCE AND FOR ALL. PLEASE LISTEN
TO THE VICTIMS AND NOT THE
OPPRESSORS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> YES.
>> IF ANY OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE ON A JURY, CAN THEY
IDENTIFY WHO'S CASTE DOMINANT
AND WHO'S CASTE OPPRESSED? ARE
WE GOING TO USE THE DEFINITIONS
OF A FALLEN POWER BE BINDING ON
U.S. CITIZENS, PRODUCE PAPERS,
THIS ACTION IS UN-AMERICAN AND
WORTHY OF SENATOR McCARTHY. I
URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS
ORDINANCE THAT IS DIVISIVE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR. I WAS
BORN INTO AN OPPRESSED CASTE. I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO UNANIMOUSLY
VOTE YES ON THE ORDINANCE AND
IMPLEMENT IT WITH NO DELAY. I
CAME TO THIS COUNTRY 30 YEARS
AGO, AND IN THAT TIME, SEVERAL
COLLEAGUES HAVE STOPPED COMING
TO MY HOME, EVER SINCE THEY GOT
TO KNOW WHO I AM. THAT IS THEIR
PREROGATIVE, BUT WHEN THAT IS
CARRIED INTO THE WORKPLACE, IT
IS MOST UN-AMERICAN. WE WANT
ALL OF OUR RIGHTS. WE WANT THEM
HERE. WE WANT THEM NOW.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OPPOSING SEATTLE'S RACIST
AND DISCRIMINATORY ORDINANCE
THAT PLANS TO CREATE SPECIAL
MONITORING COMMISSIONS FOR
POLICING US AND DENYING US THE
RIGHTS OF EQUAL PROTECTION, DUE
PROCESS UNDER THE LAW. A CASE
FILED IN SEATTLE FOR CASTE
OPPRESSION -- RADICAL LEFTISTS
OF SEATTLE WORKING WITH
EQUALITY LABS, LIKE
ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH HAVE THE
CONNECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
GO AHEAD.
>> I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE YES ON THE ORDINANCE
PROPOSED BY KSHAMA SAWANT TO
BAN CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION.
THIS WOULD PROTECT THE CASTE OF
PEOPLE IN JOBS WHO ARE BEING
DISCRIMENATED BASED ON THEIR
CASTE. I'VE BEEN ASKED AT MY
WORKPLACE AND AT A JOB
INTERVIEW I WAS ASKED IF I
FOLLOW A DIFFERENT TYPE OF
RELIGION, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH THE JOB POSITION.
THAT'S WHY I URGE TO VOTE YES
ON THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. I'M A MEMBER OF
THE WORKERS UNION, AND I COME
FROM A PRIVILEGED CASTE HINDU
FAMILY THAT HAS BENEFITTED FROM
CENTURIES OF MARGINALIZING. IT
IS EVIDENT FROM THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONIES -- BY EQUALITY
LABS. THIS ORDINANCE IS
NECESSARY FOR CASTE-OPPRESSED
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO ASSERT
THEIR RIGHTS IN COMMUNITIES AND
WORKPLACES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES .
>> HI, MY NAME I'M CALLING TO
URGE THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
TO VOTE NO ON THE CASTE
ORDINANCE. ENFORCEMENT WILL
CAUSE HARM TO THE ASIAN
COMMUNITY. NO ONE SHOULD BE EM
PROURED TO DETERMINE SOMEONE'S
CASTE. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH
GASLIGHTING AND HATE FROM
GROUPS LIKE EQUALITY LABS. I
URGE YOU TO VOTE NO. OUR
FRIENDS AND FAMILY DO NOT WANT
TO LIVE FROM A WORLD OF CASTE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER. GO AHEAD,
SONIA.
>> MY NAME IS SONIA THOMAS, AND
I'M AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT
COLBY COLLEGE. IN OCTOBER 2021
THEY BANNED CASTE. I AM A SOUTH
ASIAN CHRISTIAN. CHRISTIANS ARE
A RELIGIOUS MINORITY IN INDIA,
BUT CHRISTIANS WITH CASTE POWER
CAN STILL PERPETUATE CASTISM.
IN THE SAME WAY,
CASTE-PRIVILEGED RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
CAN STILL PERPETUATE CASTISM. I
THANK YOU ALL FOR VOTING YES ON
THIS ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECT
PEOPLE ACROSS ALL RELIGIONS.
>> THE LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS
ROUND. OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER
FOR THIS ROUND. AND THEN WE'LL
MOVE BACK TO IN PERSON.
>> GOOD EVENING. IMMIGRATION TO
A NEW COUNTRY DOES NOT DISSOLVE
THEIR PREJUDICES FROM THE OLD
COUNTRY. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS
TO RECONCILE WITH GENERAL SIGH
DAL SOCIAL PRACTICES SOME SOUTH
ASIANS BRING, SIMILAR TO HOW
WHITE LANDOWNERS BROUGHT WHITE
SUPREMACY. -- WHILE PEOPLE FROM
A CASTE, QUOTE,UNQUOTE, HIGHER
THAN MINE ACT POORLY TOWARDS
ME.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL CALL THE
NEXT TEN AND YOU CAN LINE UP.
IT'S NUMBERS 21 THROUGH 30. AND
WE'LL START WITH NUMBER 21.
THEN NUMBER 22. NUMBER 25.
NUMBER 26 IS , I BELIEVE.
NUMBER 27. NUMBER 28. NUMBER
29. AND NUMBER 30. BUT WE'LL GO
WITH -- SORRY ABOUT YOUR NAMES,
I REALLY APOLOGIZE. NUMBER 21.
GO AHEAD.
>> MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND WORKERS STRIKE
BACK. THE VHP IS ONE OF THE
MAIN ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE UP
THE FAMILY OF FAR-RIGHT HINDU
FUNDAMENTALIST ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS INCLUDES THE RIGHT WING
REJAIL OF INDIA'S PRIME
MINISTER MODI AND THE VHP. ONE
OF THE THREE ORGANIZATIONS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 2002
MASSACRE. THERE WAS WIDESPREAD
LOOTINGS AND BURNINGS. THEY ARE
A HATE ORGANIZATION. THEY MUST
NOT BE LISTENED TO. YOU HAVE
THE CHANCE TO BE ON THE RIGHT
SIDE OF HISTORY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NUMBER
22. NUMBER 22.
>> HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH.
>> YES.
>> HI, I'M A TECH WORKER FROM
THE BAY AREA. I ONLY HAVE ONE
REQUEST FOR ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS. HOW MANY OF YOU
UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND AND
THE ORIGINS OF THE CASTE? I'M
PRETTY SURE NOT MANY BECAUSE IF
CASTE ISSUE HAS BEEN SO
PREVALENT YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD
SO MANY REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS
FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPRESSED
WITH THAT SYSTEM. SO I URGE ALL
OF YOU MEMBERS TO TAKE MORE
TIME AND GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I'M ON THE BOARD OF CONA, A
HINDU HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION. THIS ORDINANCE
WILL SET UP A PRECEDENCE TO
SINGLE OUT A MINORITY
COMMUNITY, NAMELY THE SOUTH
ASIANS, AND IS BASED ON FALSE
DATA AND DONE BY HATE GROUPS
WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE
DISMANTLING OF HINDUISM. SO I
URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE
NO FOR THIS CASTE ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO. I
STRONGLY URGE ALL SIX OF YOU TO
VOTE NO TO THE COUNCIL BILL
120501. THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS
FLAWED. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE
DID NOT GO THROUGH THE OR NAL
PROCESS. THE SOLE MISSION WAS
TO RUSH BILL. I PERSONALLY HAVE
CALLED THE CITY COUNCIL MANY
TIMES. THE PROCESS IS VERY
LATITUDE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE NO. IT IS SHOCKING TO SEE
THE BLATANT SINGLING OUT OF A
MINORITY COMMUNITY BASED ON
NOTHING BUT UNSUBSTANTIATED
CLAIMS FROM HATE GROUPS WHO
HAVE INTENDED HATE. EQUALITY
LABS IS HINDUPHOBIC AND DOES
NOT REPRESENT ALL SOUTH ASIANS.
COMING FROM THE EDUCATION
BACKGROUND, THE KIND OF IMPACT
THAT IT WILL HAVE ON THE
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND
THE PARENTS WHO ARE SETTING
DOWN YOU WILL REGRET LATER IF
YOU VOTE YES. SO PLEASE DO NOT,
DO NOT VOTE YES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 26.
>> I ASK THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE NO. I'M A BUSINESSMAN AND
EMPLOY PEOPLE IN SEATTLE AND
WASHINGTON. I CLEARLY REQUEST
ALL OF YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
EXACTLY IS A CASTE AND WHAT IS
THE IMPLICATIONS BY VOTING YES
TO THIS BILL. I COMPLETELY
REQUEST YOU TO CONSIDER THIS,
TAKE TIME, THERE IS NO RUSH,
UNDERSTAND IT PROPERLY.
UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATION AND
IMPLEMENT IT AND NOT RUSH.
DON'T JUST GO BY ONE PERSON.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 27.
>> JUSTICE AND LIBERTY FOR ALL.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE ISLAMIC
INTERNATIONAL CENTER. I SABAN
CASTE AND WORK IT. I'M FACING
CASTE DISCRIMINATION FROM THE
AGE OF 5. SHE USED TO TAKE A
SHOWER. IT WAS SUCH A
DISGUSTING THING. AND THE SAME
THING HAPPENING IN THE UNITED
STATES WHEN THEY FIGURED OUT MY
CASTE, THEY OUTCASTED ME.
>> HI. I'M A DALIT HERE IN
SEATTLE. I URGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE THEIR
CONSCIENCE. VOTE YESTERDAY TO
BE AN CASTE DISCRIMINATION.
I'VE EXPERIENCED CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IN COLLEGE, AS A
STUDENT, WHEN I WAS WRONGLY
ACCUSED. I DON'T CELEBRATE
CERTAIN FESTIVALS. IN HOUSE
THING AND MY WORKPLACE.
PROTECT ME AND MY FAMILY AND MY
COMMUNICATE. STAND ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. DON'T
DELAY. VOTE YESTERDAY. THANKS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NUMBER
29, NUMBER 29 .
>> THAT'S THE MESSAGE WE GAVE
TO EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD , AND
WE BELIEVE IN EQUALITY. WE
BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY IS WORN
EQUAL. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE
PERSON BY COLOR OR RACE OR ANY
CASTEISM. SO ON BEHALF OF ALL
THE SIKH ORGANIZATION OF
WESTERN WASHINGTON, I URGE TO
VOTE YES AND BAN THE CASTEISM
. AS A TECH WORKER IN SEATTLE
FROM LAST 15 YEARS, I DO
BELIEVE THERE IS A CAST OF
THEM GOING ON AND KEEP GROWING
UP DAY BY DAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST IN
PERSON SPEAKER FOR THIS ROUND ,
OUR LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER IS .
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE. ON BEHALF OF
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
MUSLIMS IN THIS GREATER SEATTLE
AREA AND IN THE AMERICAN
MUSLIM COUNCIL, I REQUEST YOU
TO VOTE YESTERDAY FOR THIS
ORDINANCE AND STOP THIS
NONSENSE THAT HAS SPREAD IN
INDIA AND NOW IT IS SPREADING
IN, IN AMERICA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE NOW WILL MOVE
TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> AKHIL MANDA, WHO WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY INION, WITH THE
LAST INITIAL N.
>> THANK YOU. YES. FIRST OF
ALL, I'M A LEFTIST. I'M A
MEMBER OF THE DST. BUT I HAVE
TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN
EXTREMELY DISHONEST ATTACK
AGAINST THE HINDU COMMUNITY.
THE STUDY ON THIS FROM EQUALITY
LAST IS DEEPLY FLAWED. IT HAS
BEEN DEBUNKED. AND ALSO, CASTE
IS PROTECTED BY ANCESTRY AS YOU
CAN TELL BY MY LAST NAME, I DO
COME FROM THAT COMMUNITY. I
HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN
EXTREMELY DISHONEST ATTACK.
YOU'RE RUNNING A RACIST
STEREOTYPE THAT HINDERS OUR
CAST IS WHEN THIS IS NOT THE
CASE. WE ARE AGAINST CAST. WE
ARE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT RESPONSE
SPEAKER, LAST INITIAL N. WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY ROSE. GO AHEAD.
>> HI, I'M INDIAN , I'M URGING
YOU TO VOTE YES. THREE YEARS
AGO IN 2020, THIS COUNCIL THAT
UNANIMOUSLY DENOUNCED INDIA'S
DISCRIMINATORY MODELS.
SUPPORTED THESE BIGOTED MODELS,
AND THEY'RE HERE TO OPPOSE THIS
ORDINANCE. AGAIN, THEY WANT TO
SUPPORT BIGOTRY AGAIN. YOU
DON'T HAVE TO SUPPORT BIGOTRY.
STAND UP FOR THE RIGHT THING.
STAND UP FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. VOTE
YES AND VOTE TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE ROSE. ROSE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY. GO AHEAD, ROSE.
ROSE, YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ROSE. I'M A
MEMBER OF SOCIAL ALTERNATIVE OF
WORKERS STRIKE BACK, AND A
RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER OF THE
EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION. I'M
CALLING IN TO DEMAND THAT YOU
VOTE YES TO THE ORDINANCE
BANNING CASTE DISCRIMINATION. I
WORK IN A SCHOOL THAT HAS A
LARGE INDIAN COMMUNITY, BOTH IN
SCHOOLS AND STAFF. AND HEALTH
SECTOR. WORKPLACE IS
EVERYWHERE. ALSO, ANY ARE UNITS
OF THE SWORD THAT THEY HINDU IS
INCORRECT NO RELIGION SHALL BE
EXCUSED OR PUBLISHED TO OPPRESS
OTHERS. ALSO, THE ARGUMENT THAT
CASTE HAS NO VISIBLE MARKERS IS
ALSO A BAD ARGUMENT. PEOPLE
HAVE NO VISIBLE MARKERS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT
EXPERIENCE . THEN BE FOLLOWED
BY. EXCUSE ME. GO AHEAD. WITH
THE LAST NAME B A YOU DH. HE
WILL COME BACK. THE NEXT
SPEAKER IS NICK KIEL , ROCHE.
WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MONTE ,
WITH THE LAST INITIAL K. NICK
KIEL?
>> MY NAME, I'M A ALLY. I URGE
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
UNANIMOUSLY VOTE YES ON THE
ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. THIS CASTE ORDINANCE
WILL HELP PROTECT THOSE FACING
DAILY HARASSMENT AND
DISCRIMINATION. I HIGHLY
REPORTED PERPETRATED BY
MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY. THE
DOMINANT CASTE OPPONENTS TO
THIS ORDINANCE ARE MONGERING
FEAR . PLEASE, COUNCILMEMBERS,
VOTE YES FOR THIS ORDINANCE IF
YOU BELIEVE IN SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MONTY K, AND MONTY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY. GO AHEAD, MONTY.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MONDAY,
AND I MAY CAST DEPRESSED
INDIVIDUAL BIT I URGE THE
COUNCIL, TO UNANIMOUSLY VOTE
YES ON THIS ORDINANCE AND
IMPLEMENT IT WITHOUT ANY DELAY.
THE DOMINANT CASTE RIGHT-WING
OPPONENTS OF THIS ORDINANCE ARE
FABRICATING YEAR-END CONFUSION
TO SILENCE THE JUSTICE FOR
VICTIMS. STRONGLY SUPPORTED
CAA AND RC, WHICH YOU, THE CIT
COUNCIL IT, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY
IN FAVOR OF. LISTEN TO THE
WORDS OF THE OPPRESSED AND
CONSIDER THE MATERIALS
PRESENTED BY THE EXPERTS WITH
AMPLE EVIDENCE. SIDE WITH THE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DALIT. DALIT . AND DALIT
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY --
>> HI. EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> YES. SO I'M TALKING ABOUT
WHOM COUNSEL NUMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT. SHE DOES NOT REPRESENT
ME. PLEASE VOTE NO. AND ALSO ,
WHOM THE PROMINENT CEMENT
NATION QUALITY LABS. EQUALLY
PROBLEM SUPPORT. SO YOU LET
THE CASTE PEOPLE YOUR COMPLETED
GRADE PUSHED. I'M ALSO
WRECKING FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE
I'M ALSO HINDU. SO THEY ARE NOT
BEHIND MY NATURE. THEY ARE
BEHIND MY CULTURE. I ASK EACH
OF YOU THE TIME . I'VE YET TO
HEAR THAT. PLEASE LISTEN TO HER
SAY. I'M SURE I'LL VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> YES. GOOD EVENING. I URGE
THE COUNCIL IT TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE AND IMPLEMENTED
WITH NO DELAYS. CASTEISM AND
DISCRIMINATION EXISTS IN EVERY
PASSAGE IN THE LICE . DESPITE
IMMIGRATING, WE CONTINUE TO
FACE MICRO-AGGRESSIONS IN
SOCIAL AND WORK SETTINGS,
CAUSING CONTINUED TROUBLE. ONLY
THE PRIVILEGED. TO VICTIMS,
AND NOT OPPRESS US LIKE THE
HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION AND
OTHER SIMILAR OPPRESSING
ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
ON THE REMOTE ROUND IS .
>> HI. I URGE YOU -- HI. I
URGE COUNSEL IT TO VOTE YES ON
THE ORDINANCE. I'M AN AMERICAN
CITIZEN FROM INDIA. CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION IS VERY COMMON.
I MOVED TO AMERICA 25 YEARS
AGO. I THOUGHT I LEFT THE CASTE
BEHIND IN INDIA. BUT ONE DAY,
MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME THAT ONE
OF HER FRIENDS SAID THEY WERE
SUPERIOR BY BIRTH. LISTEN TO
THE VICTIMS, NOT THE
OPPRESSORS. VOTE YES. GOOD
DAY. THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL NOW CALL FROM THE
IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT SHEETS
, NUMBERS 31 THROUGH 40. SO
31'S , NUMBER 32. NUMBER 33 IS
BARBARA. NUMBER 34 IS PROMPTLY
KT, I BELIEVE. NUMBER 35 IS
PRESS WALL. NUMBER 36. NUMBER
37. NUMBER 38 . NUMBER 39.
AND NUMBER 40 . SO, WITH NUMBER
31, WE HAVE.
>> EXPECT THAT THE
COUNCILMEMBERS, THIS IS , I AM
DALIT. BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
SAY NO , OR POSTPONE THE VOTE,
BECAUSE THIS COMPLEX ISSUE ,
YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND IN TWO
WEEKS. YOU HAVE TO SPEND SOME
MORE TIME, DO SOME MORE
RESEARCH. FIND OUT HOW MANY
POLICE CASES THERE ARE THERE.
DO YOUR RESEARCH. DON'T JUMP
ON THIS. IF YOU PASTE TOO
MUCH, THAT'S INJUSTICE. PLEASE
DON'T DO INJUSTICE TO US.
PLEASE STOP THIS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NATALIE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS NATALIE
BAILEY. I URGE THE COUNCIL IT
TO VOTE YES ON THIS ORDINANCE
BANNING CASTE DISCRIMINATION. I
WAS HERE IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE
WERE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE,
SPEAKING FOR THE BUDGET
PROPOSAL THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT PROPOSED, AND SINCE WE
DIDN'T EXPAND THE TAX ON
AMAZON, WE'RE CLAIMING THAT THE
-- OCR WON'T BE FUNDED ENOUGH.
I THINK THAT SELF-IMPOSED
AUSTERITY IS NO REASON TO TURN
A BLIND EYE TO DISCRIMINATION
AND OPPRESSION, SO VOTE YES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BARBARA. BARBARA FENNEY.
>> MY NAME IS BARBARA FENNEY,
DELEGATE TO THE MLK LABOR
COUNSEL FOR AFG , LOCAL 31-97
AND MEMBER OF SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE. IN SOLITARY WITH
THE SOCIALIST OFFICE OF KSHAMA
SAWANT ALPHABET WORKERS UNION
UAW LOCAL 4121 ASIAN PACIFIC
AMERICAN LABOR ALLIANCE ,
AFL-CIO, AND THE MOVEMENT IN
SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION TO BAN
CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE, I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES. NO DELAYS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NUMBER
34. NUMBER 34. OKAY. IF NUMBER
34 -- OKAY. ARE YOU --
>> HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBER .
VOTE YESTERDAY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 35.
>> DEAR COUNCILMEMBERS , I'M
REPRESENTING LOCAL NETWORKS,
WHERE WE SUPPORT CAST DEPRESSED
PERSONS , NAVIGATE THE
CHALLENGES TO ACCESS HIGHER
EDUCATION IN THE U.S. AND
ELSEWHERE. OUR STUDENTS FACE
DISCRIMINATION FINDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ON
CAMPUS JOBS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL
FOR THEIR SURVIVAL. THEREFORE,
HOW THEY ARE NOT GIVEN THIS
OPPORTUNITY JUST BECAUSE THEIR
LAST NAME WHICH IS USED TO
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEM. A
BAN ON CASTE IN SEATTLE WILL
NOT ONLY PROTECT OUR STUDENTS,
BUT WILL ALSO PAVE A PATH FOR
SIMILAR FUTURE RESOLUTIONS IN
THE U.S.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 36. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WORK WITH API CHAYA, AN
ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THE
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. I URGED THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES TO THIS
PROPOSED ORDINANCE. THROUGH
OUR WORK WITH SURVIVORS OF ,
WITHIN THE SOUTH ASIAN
COMMUNITY, WE SEE THE IMPACT
OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION WHEN
ABUSE IS USED , CASTE
DISCRIMINATION AND THREATS OF
DEPORTATION .
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER'S NUMBER 37. NUMBER
37, WITH THE LAST INITIAL P.
>> YES. I'M A WRITER AND A
TECH WORKER. PLEASE VOTE
UNANIMOUSLY YES TO BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION WITHOUT DELAY.
BEING A WOMAN OF COLOR,
DOESN'T CALL FOR REMOVAL OF THE
LOSS TO PROTECT THOSE WHO HAVE
TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT?
EVEN TO MAKE A COMPLAINT, THERE
HAS TO BE A LAW. I THINK THE
LAWS THAT PENALIZE THE
DISCRIMINATION ARE IMPORTANT,
AND PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE THOSE
LAWS WHO ARE PRIVILEGED. PLEASE
VOTE YESTERDAY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 38.
>> LIKE MANY OTHERS, I'M
AFRAID TO DISCLOSE MY LAST
NAME BECAUSE OF BEING
IDENTIFIED AND TARGETED MY
DOMINANT CASTE MANAGER. I URGE
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES
ON THE ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION. IT'S A
VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND A
FORM OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY. IT
IS UNACCEPTABLE IN ANY SOCIETY
THAT VALUES FAIRNESS AND
EQUALITY. MANY PEOPLE BELONGING
TO LOWER CASTES FACE EXCLUSION
AND DENIAL OF JOBS BASED ON
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION .
THEREFORE, I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER'S NUMBER 39 . NUMBER
39. OH, OKAY. NOW THEN, WE
HAVE NUMBER 40. OKAY. THAT
WOULD -- THAT WOULD COMPLETE
OUR NUMBERS 31 THROUGH 40, AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM ,
WE'VE HAD 80 IN PERSON SPEAKERS
AND -- I'M SORRY, 40 IN PERSON
AND 40 REMOTE. SO IF YOU NEED
TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, WE'VE NOW BEEN JUST
OVER AN HOUR. LET US KNOW.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT I'M
GOING TO DO IS GO FOR 15 MORE
MINUTES, SO I THINK THAT MIGHT
GET US THROUGH TWO OR THREE
MORE ROUNDS, AND THEN WE WILL,
WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, WE'LL
EXTEND FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION?
>> YES.
>> HOW MANY MORE --
>> JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE, SIR.
JUST A MOMENT. WE HAVE ANOTHER
40 IN PERSON, I BELIEVE. 30 OR
40. AND ANOTHER --
>> WE HAVE SIX MORE IN PERSON,
IN PERSON, WE HAVE 60 MORBID WE
HAVE ALMOST 100 NOW. AND THEN
ONLINE, WE HAVE OVER 200. SO
THAT WOULD TAKE US WELL INTO
FOUR OR FIVE HOURS.
>> YES. SO WE WILL -- DO I
HEAR AN OBJECTION TO EXTENDING
FOR 15 MORE MINUTES?
>> I WOULD JUST -- I DON'T
OBJECT AT ALL, I WOULD JUST
THINK MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> YEAH. I'M GOING TO GO -- I'M
GOING TO GO FOR 15 MORE
MINUTES, AND THEN WE'RE GOING
TO TRY TO ACTUALLY GET TO THE
AGENDA SO WE CAN VOTE ON THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. LET'S
CONTINUE, PLEASE.
>> I TOGGLE FOR THE CASTE, IN
THE CASTE. IF YOU WRITE TO THIS
INDUSTRY, THEY LIKE TO
DISCRIMINATION GOOGLE THE 80
CENTER 4140 243 4445. THEY
LIKE TO THE FORECAST MUSLIM
SHAPE THE BLOOD SUGAR. WE LIKE
TO SHOULD DROP IT THEY LIKE TO
THE MEDICATION ABOUT THE HOUSE.
IF YOU LIKE TO STUDY THE GRADE
OF BRENDA DAVID THE BOOK AND
ASIAN OF THE CASTE. JOB FATHER
PEANUT. IF YOU LIKE TO STUDY
INDIAN CONSTITUTION, THEY LIKE
TO SPEND IT TWO YEARS.
>> THANK YOU. NOW WE'RE , THAT
TIME IS UP. NOW WE'RE MOVING
BACK TO 10 MORE REMOTE
SPEAKERS, I BELIEVE , AND THAT
WILL BE LET OFF BY SANDEEP ,
WITH THE LAST INITIAL C.
SANDEEP C.
>> I REQUEST COUNSEL IT TO VOTE
YES ON ORDINANCE TO BAN CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION. I FACE OF
THE CORPORATE EMPLOYEE IN USA.
THE MY SPOUSE IN SCHOOL GOING
KIDS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE A
TOWN ON VERY SHORT NOTICE. GET
THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE GREAT
RESPONSIBILITY ON THE HISTORIC
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE A
PRIMARY MOVE TO CURE IT CASTE
CANCER. CASTE IS ACROSS THE
REGION , ACROSS GENDERS. PLEASE
VOTE YES UNANIMOUSLY ON THE
CASTE ORDINANCE. PLEASE TAKE A
STAND AND BE A VOICE STARTING
TODAY . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> HELLO. I AM THE INDIA
COUNTRY SPECIALS FOR AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL USA, AND I JUST
WANT TO CHIME IN SAYING THAT
I'M THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
OF THIS RESOLUTION , AND I URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THIS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE
ALWAYS, WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THIS IS
VERY MUCH A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE,
THAT WE LISTEN TO THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED AND THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST. AND SO I URGE YOU TO
JOIN ME IN STANDING IN
SOLIDARITY AGAINST CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. YOU CAN DO IT,
NOT THROUGH WORDS, BUT THROUGH
ACTION, BY VOTING YES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER, THE.
>> HI. I'M SPEAKING AS A CASTE
PRIVILEGED ALLY, AND I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO UNANIMOUSLY VOTE
YES ON THE ORDINANCE WITHOUT
DELAY. IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT
YOU LISTEN TO CASTE OPPRESSED
COMMUNITIES AND THE NEED TO
CREATE SPACES IN A CULTURE THAT
HONORS THE SAFETY AND
OPPRESSION. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO STAND
AGAINST CASTE BIGOTRY. THERE IS
SO MUCH EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT
CASTEISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN
SEATTLE AND THE U.S. WE CANNOT
ALLOW FOR THE GAS LIGHTING OF
DALIT EXPERIENCES. PLEASE VOTE
YESTERDAY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> HEY, HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS.
HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I
FULLY SUPPORT AND URGE ALL
SEATTLE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES ON THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED
BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT,
TO BAN CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. THIS ORDINANCE, CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND GROWING AT A
VERY FAST PACE. WE MUST BE IN
SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
SUBJUGATED FOR CENTURIES IN THE
NAME OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION.
THE COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD HAVE
HUMAN DIGNITY. PLEASE VOTE YES
ON THE ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER IS THE LAST INITIAL L.
>> YEAH. I URGE THE COUNCIL IT
TO UNANIMOUSLY VOTE YES ON THE
ORDINANCE AND IMPLEMENT IT
WITH NO DELAYS. THE DOMINANT
CASTE OF THE ORDINANCE ARE
SUBJUGATING FEAR AND CONFUSION
TO SILENCE THE JUSTICE FOR THE
VICTIMS. THE HINDU AMERICAN
FOUNDATION STRONGLY SUPPORTED
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL . LISTEN
TO THE VOICES OF THE OPPRESSED
. COUNSEL IT MUST LISTEN TO THE
VICTIMS AND NOT OPPRESS US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> ON BEHALF OF INDUSTRY FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS, I URGE CITY
COUNCIL TO UNANIMOUSLY VOTE YES
ON COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
ORDINANCE WITHOUT DELAY. THIS
ORDINANCE WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST HINDU AMERICANS, AND
THE NARRATIVE BY FAR RIGHT
UPPER CASTE ORGANIZATIONS
INTENTIONALLY AND VIOLENTLY
ERASES MANY HUMANS WHO
EXPERIENCE CASTEISM. INSTEAD,
THE OPR WILL BE ABLE TO HELP
RESIDENTS WITH THEIR JUSTICE
WHEN THEY EXPERIENCE CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION. WE URGE
YOU TO LISTEN AND VOTE YES ON
THIS RESOLUTION WITHOUT DELAY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
, THE LAST INITIAL N. IF YOU
ARE NOT AVAILABLE, WE WILL MOVE
ON TO, FOR OUR THIS ROUND,
LAST REMOTE SPEAKER, LAST
INITIAL S.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? I STRONGLY
URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
UNANIMOUSLY VOTE YES TO BAN
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION AND
IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY.
DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC SPACES
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES , I
DO NOT WANT MY DAUGHTER, OR
ANYBODY ELSE, TO FACE THIS
INHUMAN DISCRIMINATION. I
BELIEVE IN EQUALITY. THE CASTE
SYSTEM BRINGS GREATER
INEQUALITY BASED ON BIRTH. THE
CASTE SYSTEM HAS ALREADY
IMPACTED MILLIONS OF LIGHTS
WORLDWIDE. LET'S NOT DO THAT
HERE IN THE USA . LET'S BAN THE
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION .
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO
GIVE YOU THESE -- WE'RE GOING
TO NOW READ FROM OUR NUMBER 41
THROUGH 50 OF OUR IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTERS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, READ
THESE FOR ME. SHE'S GOING TO
READ ALL 10 NAMES, AND THEN
WE'LL CALL THEM IN ORDER.
>> OKAY. THE NAMES ARE . I'VE
READ ALL THE NAMES WERE HEARD.
LET ME JUST READ THE FIRST
NAMES AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.
>> I'M DALIT WORKER LIVING IN
SEATTLE FOR LAST 20 YEARS. I
URGE SEATTLE TO DO WHAT IS
RIGHT. VOTE YESTERDAY. I
DIDN'T CHOOSE WHERE I WAS BORN,
YET I WAS HUMILIATED IN EVERY
STEP OF THE LIFE. MY TEACHER
TOLD ME IT'S BELOW HIS DIGNITY
TO EVEN TOUCH ME, LET ALONE
TEACH ME. I TRAVELED TO THIS
COUNTRY IN SEARCH OF DIGNITY,
AND YET CASTE DIDN'T LEAVE ME.
I WITNESSED DIRECT AND
INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION. IF
THE CITY HAVE PROTECTION FOR
CASTE DISCRIMINATION, I WOULD
AT LEAST COMPLAIN. BAN CASTE.
VOTE YESTERDAY, SO I CAN LIVE A
DIGNIFIED LIFE IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 42.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. I
LIVE AND WORK IN SEATTLE FOR A
MAJOR TECH COMPANY. I URGE ALL
THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES
AND BANS CASTE DISCRIMINATION
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I COME
FROM OPPRESSED CASTE AND HAVE
EXPERIENCED CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IN VARIOUS
FORMS, LIKE COWORKER ASKING
REPEATED QUESTIONS TO NARROW
DOWN MY CASTE. I WAS OUT
CASTED FROM A SOCIAL GATHERING.
I URGE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO
RIGHT. VOTE YES. VOTE TODAY,
AND CREATE A SAFER, AND PROTECT
SEATTLE FOR MY FAMILY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
NUMBER 43.
>> HELLO. I'M FROM CANADA. I
COME HERE FOR THE -- I, I
HUMBLY ADDRESS YOU . SO I'M THE
VICTIM OF CASTE SYSTEM. AND IN
THE LAST EIGHT TO 24, I HAVE
BROUGHT IN THE WRITING I'VE
ALWAYS SAID, NO ANY EVIDENCE.
I HAVE EVIDENCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 44 .
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. I PRESENT
TO AMERICAN SIKH FOUNDATION
PIT IS A SIKH AMERICAN, I URGE
TO EVERYONE, PLEASE VOTE YES.
BAN CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, CASTE
SYSTEM IS SLAVERY SYSTEM, AND
WE DON'T WANT THAT TONIGHT, AND
WE DON'T WANT OUR COUNTRY.
PLEASE BAN CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU!
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 45.
>> YEAH. SO MY, MY NAME , I
URGE YOU , ALL-CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, VOTE YES TO
THIS LEGISLATION. SLAVERY
SYSTEM, CASTE SYSTEM IS SLAVERY
SYSTEM. EVERYBODY BAND
AIRLINE. THIS CASTE SYSTEM IS
LIKE A VIRUS . COVID-19 HIT
BODIES. THIS VIRUS HIT EMOTION.
WHEN EMOTION HITS, YOUR BODY --
YES! SO , SO VOTE CAN SUPPORT .
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
, OUR NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER IS
NUMBER 46, CON HASSAN.
>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM
CON HASSAN. I'M A TECH WORKER,
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AND A
MEMBER OF INDIAN AMERICAN
MUSLIM COUNSEL. I'M HERE TO
URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES . YOUR YES VOTE WILL BE
HISTORIC IN ENDING THE
HUMILIATION , DISCRIMINATION ,
MARGINALIZATION OF OUR
BROTHERS, DALIT BROTHERS AND
SISTERS IN SEATTLE. PLEASE VOTE
YES TODAY, WITHOUT FURTHER
DELAY, AND MAKE SURE IT'S
IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 47 .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M FROM THE
MUSLIM ASSOCIATION OF THE
NORTHWEST. I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES ON THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT
DELAY. IT IS NOT A CONFLICT
ISSUE. IT IS NOT COMPLEX TO
DECIDE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
YOU'VE HEARD TODAY FIRST-HAND
FROM PEOPLE, THIS IS THE DATA.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM DOZENS OF
ORGANIZATIONS , LOCAL AND
NATIONAL, EXPERTS AND
PROFESSORS. YOU DON'T NEED TO
DETERMINE SOMEONE'S CASTE, YOU
WILL NEED TO DETERMINE WHETHER
DISCRIMINATION HAS HAPPENED. BE
THE LEADERS FOR THE NATION, FOR
THE REST OF THE NATION, AND
VOTE YESTERDAY TO MAKE CIVIL
RIGHTS HISTORY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT, OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS NUMBER 48, WITH
THE LAST INITIAL S.
>> HI. I URGE EVERYONE TO VOTE
YES TO THIS ORDINANCE . I WILL
URGE EVERYONE TO VOTE YES TO
THIS ORDINANCE. WE ARE
STRUGGLING A LOT. PLEASE
PROTECT US . GOD BLESS AMERICA.
GOD BLESS EVERYONE. THANK YOU,
EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NUMBER 49 .
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. I LIVE AND
WORK IN SEATTLE. FIRST I WANT
TO MENTION THAT ME AND MY
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STANDING
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
MORE THAN THE LAST 30 SECONDS,
IN FRONT OF YOU TO SPEAK ABOUT
THIS. THAT'S HOW BADLY CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION AFFECTS
US. I URGE ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO UNANIMOUSLY
VOTE YESTERDAY ON THE ORDINANCE
PROPOSED A COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT TO BAN CASTE
BASED DISCRIMINATION INSIDE THE
CITY. BY VOTING US TO BAN CASTE
PRICE DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE, WE WILL BE MAKING
HISTORY. THE FIRST CITY IN THE
FIRST COUNSEL IT EVER.
>> AND THIS WILL BE OUR LAST IN
PERSON SPEAKER FOR THIS ROUND.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES .
CASTE IS A DISEASE IN SOCIETY.
IT'S CARRIED OUT GENERATION BY
GENERATION IN INDIA, AND IT
SHOULD NOT BE CARRIED OUT HERE
IN SEATTLE AND UNITED STATES.
AND BY VOTING YES , YOU ARE
GOING TO GIVE AN ANTIDOTE TO
THIS CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN
SEATTLE. DON'T DELAY. PLEASE
VOTE YES. I REQUEST
COUNCILMEMBERS TO STAND ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF JUSTICE. JUSTICE
DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED, SO
PLEASE VOTE YES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE TIME FOR
I THINK FIVE OR SIX MORE
REMOTE SPEAKERS. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ?
>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND AND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT . I DO WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR CALLING IN TO
SHARE YOUR COMMENTS. I KNOW WE
HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DID
NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY,
BUT WE'VE HAD 75 MINUTES OF
COMMENTS TODAY, AND WE HAVE
HEARD FROM HUNDREDS OF
COMMENTERS. EXCUSE ME, HUNDREDS
OF COMMENTERS OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS IN COMMITTEE AND
FULL COUNSEL. SO I AM GOING TO
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND MOVE
ON TO OUR AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY TAKE THE VOTE ON THIS
BILL. SO I'M GOING TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, AND
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, FOR, FOR PROVIDING AN
ASSIST THERE. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION
, THE CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. SO WE WILL
MOVE ON TO CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR .
ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR
TODAY INCLUDE THE MINUTES OF
FEBRUARY 14th . PAYROLL OF THE
BILL, COUNSEL FOR 120513.
SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS, INCLUDING
FIVE TO THE GOVERNANCE NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS COMMITTEE , FROM
THAT COMMITTEE. SEVEN FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCATION CIVIL
RIGHTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE.
THREE APPOINTMENTS FROM THE
PUBLIC ASSET AND HOMELESSNESS
COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY OF
THESE ITEMS THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM
TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR? I'M
NOT SEEING ANY , SO I MOVE THE
CONSENT CALENDAR BE ADOPTED.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM OR
ELLIS?
>> YES..
>> ALL IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED. WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
FIX MY SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF?
OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE
REST OF THE AGENDA. COMMITTEE
REPORTS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> THE REPORT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM ONE OF
CLERK FILE 314514, THE 2023
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL AND DEPUTY SENIOR MAYOR
-- SORRY , ON TODAY, FEBRUARY
21st, 2023.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO ACCEPT
AND FILE CLERK FILE 314469 . IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ACCEPT AND FILE THE CLERK
FILE IT ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS
THE -- I DON'T SEE ANY. SO
WILL YOU PLEASE , MADAME CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON ACCEPTING THE FILE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MORALES?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES. THE FILE IS
ACCEPTED AND WILL BE PLACED ON
FILE. OKAY. YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 2. WILL
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD ?
>> AGENDA ITEM 2, COUNSEL BILL
120511, AN ORDINANCE RELATING
TO HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING
PROTECTIONS AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION BASED ON AN
INDIVIDUAL MINSKY CASTE, MAKING
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND
AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO PASS
COUNSEL BILL 120511. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, YOU ARE THE SPONSOR OF
THE BILL. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO
ADDRESS THE ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MORALES. IS ALSO A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT LISTED ON THE AGENDA,
WHICH IS DRYLY SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD AND
MYSELF . I'LL MAKE INTRODUCTORY
COMMENTS FOR THE BILL AS A
WHOLE NOW, AND COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WILL THEN MOVE THE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT. WHAT THIS
ORDINANCE ACTUALLY DOES IT'S
VERY SIMPLE. IT INCORPORATES
CASTE IN SEATTLE'S EXISTING
ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAW.
CURRENTLY, SEATTLE'S
ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAW
PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON
THE BASIS OF MANY CATEGORIES,
LIKE AGE, COLOR, DISABILITY,
GENDER IDENTITY. THAT'S JUST A
FRACTION OF THE PROTECTIONS. SO
THE ORDINANCE AMPLY ADDS CASTE
TO THAT LIST, AND BY DOING SO,
PROHIBITS CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION IN THE MANY
DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES WERE
DISCRIMINATION IS BANNED, SUCH
AS EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING,
CONTRACTING, AND ACCESS TO
PUBLIC SERVICES. THIS BILL IS
NOT TECHNICALLY COMPETENT. IT'S
A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION. THE
DISCRIMINATION ACED ON CASTE BE
ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IN SEATTLE
? BUT WHILE SIMPLE, IT IS ALSO
PROFOUND AND HISTORIC. CASTE
IS A SYSTEM OF OPPRESSION THAT
DIVIDES PEOPLE INTO A RIGID
HIERARCHY OF GROUPS BASED ON
BIRTH, WITH THE LOWER GROUPS
FACING SERIOUS DISCRIMINATION,
OPPRESSION, AND EVEN VIOLENCE.
IT ORIGINATES FROM ABOUT 2000
YEARS AGO IN SOUTH ASIA, BUT
REMAINS PERVASIVE TODAY UNDER
CAPITALISM. AROUND THE WORLD,
N ESTIMATED 250 MILLION PEOPLE
BASED CASTE BASED
DISCONNECTION. ALTHOUGH CASTE
IS ALSO ASSOCIATED, IT
TRANSCENDS RELIGIOUS AND
GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES WITH
CASTE DISSEMINATION SHOWING UP
IN CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM, AND
OTHER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES ALL
OVER SOUTH ASIA, IN SOUTHEAST
ASIAN AND AFRICAN COMMUNITIES ,
AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES. CASTE
DISCRIMINATION HAS TRAVELED
INTO DIASPORA COMMUNITIES
AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE
UNITED DATES AND SETTLE.
UNIVERSITY AND COLBY COLLEGE
AND SOME OTHER UNIVERSITIES
HAVE RECENTLY ADOPTED THE
POLICY OF BANNING CASTE
DISSEMINATION ON THEIR
CAMPUSES, A SIMILAR POLICY WAS
ADOPTED LAST YEAR BY THE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM FOR ALL ITS 23 CAMPUSES.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY
SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE
NATION'S LARGEST FOUR-YEAR
PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. THIS
ORDINANCE FROM MY OFFICE IN OUR
MOVEMENT WOULD MAKE SEATTLE
THE FIRST CITY IN THE UNITED
STATES BANNING CASTE
DISCRIMINATION . IF WE WIN THIS
YEAR, IT WILL BE A HISTORIC
VICTORY IN ITSELF, BUT WILL
ALSO BE A BEACON TO CITIES AND
STTES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND
FOR WORKING PEOPLE ELSEWHERE TO
BUILD MOVEMENTS ALSO BEEN THIS
WE NEED TO BE CLEAR, THIS
DISCRIMINATION IS VERY REAL IN
SEATTLE. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL
WEEKS , WE'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE SPEAKING IN PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE HAVE HEARD
GUTWRENCHING STORIES OF
OPPRESSED CASTE PEOPLE FACING
SERIOUS DISCRIMINATION AND
OPPRESSION, AS WELL AS THOSE
WHO WERE CORRECTLY WARY OF THE
CONSEQUENCES OF REVEALING THEIR
CASTE AND REMAINING CLOSETED.
THIS LAST EXPERIENCE IS
AERIALLY REMINISCENT OF LGBTQ
PEOPLE BEING FORCED TO BE
CLOSETED FOR MUCH OR ALL OF
THEIR LIFETIMES OUT OF HERE OF
BEING TARGETED. THERE HAVE BEEN
FOUR HELD AND, MORE THAN 4000
HE MUST SET THE CITY COUNCIL IN
SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND
THE POSITION OF MY OFFICE
URGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE
YES HAS GONE ON 1400
SIGNATURES. MORE THAN 175
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SIGNED ONTO
THIS LETTER, TOO MANY FOR ME TO
GET ABLE TO READ RIGHT NOW, BUT
IT INCLUDES CASTE OPPRESSED
ORGANIZATIONS, DOMINANT CASTE
HINDUS, MUSLIMS, SOCIALISTS,
TECH WORKERS, UNION MEMBERS.
SHABBIR TODAY FELIPE OF THE
HINDUS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH
IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS
ENDORSED SAYS I AM A PROUD
HINDU. I URGE YOU, AS A HINDU
TO , TO VOTE YES ON THE BILL TO
BAN CASTE DISCRIMINATION. THE
ALPHABET WORKERS UNION
REPRESENTING GOOGLE WORKERS HAS
A SUPPORTED IT, AS HAS UAW
4121, THE GRAD STUDENT WORKERS
AT UNION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON IN SEATTLE. AND THE
ALPHABET UNION SAID CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS A WORKER
MIGHT ISSUE. WE ALSO HAVE THE
SUPPORT OF ARIDITY ROY, FAMOUS
WRITER , NOAH CHOMSKY, RENOWNED
LINGUIST, AND CORNELL WEST,
RENOWNED SCHOLAR AND ACTIVIST.
MANY PROFESSORS AND ACADEMICS
FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
STUDY SOUTH ASIA AND CASTE HAVE
WRITTEN TO THE CITY COMES AN IN
SUPPORT OF OUR ORDINANCE. ALSO
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. THE
UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL
REPERTOIRE ON CONTEMPORARY
FORMS OF RACISM , RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA, AND
RELATED INTOLERANCE HAS SENT A
LETTER TO THE COUNCIL IT IN
WHICH SHE SAYS, QUOTE, I AM
WRITING TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT
FOR THE ORDINANCE THAT WOULD
PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE
BASIS OF CASTE I WISH TO REMIND
THE CITY COUNCIL IT OF ITS
RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER
INTERNATIONAL LAW TO PROVIDE
PROTECTIONS AGAINST CASTE BASED
DISCRIMINATION, AS WELL AS TO
ENABLE SAFE PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION FOR CASTE
OPPRESSED INDIVIDUALS IN ALL
PROCESSES TO DEVELOP RELEVANT
POLICIES AND LAWS. THERE'S --
THERE'S MORE I COULD QUOTE FROM
THE LETTER, BUT I, I WON'T BE
ABLE TO. LIKE ANY CHANGE
THROUGHOUT HISTORY TO BRING
ABOUT MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN
SOCIETY, NOT EVERYONE SUPPORTS
THIS ORDINANCE. THE RIGHT-WING
IS COMPLETELY OPPOSED . HAVING
THE RIGHT-WING OPPOSED TO A
PROGRESSIVE LAW THAT WILL HELP
ADDRESS OPPRESSION IS NOTHING
NEW, AND IT ALSO REMINDS US
THAT WE ARE ON THE CORRECT SIDE
OF HISTORY, AND THEY ARE ON THE
WRONG ONE. THE CIVIL RIGHTS
ACT BANNING DISCRIMINATION
BASED ON RACE, RELIGION, , AND
NATIONAL ORIGIN HAD TO OVERCOME
RIGHT-WING OPPOSITION,
LAWSUITS, AND EVEN VIOLENCE.
LGBTQ WRITES CONTINUE TO FACE
LAWSUIT AFTER LAWSUIT . TWO OF
THE THREE RIGHT-WING
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ON
PUBLIC RECORD IN OPPOSITION TO
THIS ORDINANCE OF THE HINDU
AMERICAN FOUNDATION AND THE
COALITION OF HINDUS OF NORTH
AMERICA. IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR
WEBSITE, THE AGENDA, BOTH THESE
EXTREMELY RIGHT-WING
ORGANIZATIONS LOOKS VERY
ALIGNED WITH THE FAR RIGHT
REGIME CURRENTLY IN POWER IN
INDIA, AS MANY OF YOU ALREADY
KNOW. THE REGIME HAS FOUND A
LOT OF COMMON GROUND WITH THE
TRUMP AGENDA AND THE AMERICAN
RIGHT-WING. BOTH OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE COMPLETELY
OPPOSED TO ANY ATTEMPT TO
LOWER CASTE PEOPLE IN THE
UNITED STATES TO FIGHT FOR
THEIR RIGHTS, BUT THAT IS FAR
FROM THEIR ONLY RIGHT-WING
POSITION. BOTH OF THEM HAVE
ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE
HORRIFIC ANTI-MUSLIM,
ANTI-OPPRESSED CASTE,
ANTI-CITIZENSHIP LAWS THAT WERE
ATTENDED BY THE REGIME OVER
THREE YEARS AGO, AND ALMOST
EXACTLY 3 YEARS AGO , THE THEN
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, SOME OF
US WERE THERE, VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF A
RESOLUTION FOR MY OFFICE
CONDEMNING THOSE UNDRESSED
LAWS, AND URGING U.S. CONGRESS
TO SIMILARLY TAKE A POSITION.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
ORGANIZATION THAT IS OPPOSING
OUR MOVEMENT IS THE VHP. VHP
IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT MAKE UP THE VHP , ONE OF
THE MAIN ORDINANCES THAT MAKE
UP THE FAMILY ON THE FAR RIGHT
. THIS QUARTER INCLUDES RING
REGIME OF PRIME MINISTER AND
THE BJP . IT ALSO INCLUDES THE
RSS, WHICH WAS FOUNDED NEARLY
100 YEARS AGO IN 1925 AND IS A
HARDLINE IDEOLOGICAL BACK OF
ALL THE FAR RIGHT HINDU
ORGANIZATIONS. THE VHP WAS
FORMED IN 1964 , AS A SUPPORT
ORGANIZATION FOR THE RSS.
ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS
WATCH, THE VHP WAS ONE OF THE
THREE FUNDAMENTALIST
ORGANIZATIONS CONSIDERED MOST
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 2002
CARNAGE IN THE WESTERN STATE IN
INDIA. THIS WAS A THREE-DAY
KILLING SPREE WHICH LEFT
HUNDREDS OF MUSLIMS DEAD AND
TENS OF THOUSANDS HOMELESS,
SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, AND PLACES
OF WORSHIP OF MUSLIMS WERE
DESTROYED, AND SCORES OF MUSLIM
GIRLS AND WOMEN WERE BRUTALLY
RAPED BEFORE BEING MUTILATED
AND BURNED TO DEATH. THE
REASON I MENTION THIS IS
BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR WHO'S
ON WHICH SIDE OF THIS
ORDINANCE.
>> COUNSEL NUMBER SAWANT?
>> AND WHO IS OPPOSED TO THIS
ORDINANCE, AND THOSE OF US WHO
WANT PROGRESS ARE ON OUR SIDE.
>> COUNSEL MEMBER SAWANT?
>> ONE OF THE TALKING POINTS OF
THE RIGHT-WING HAS BEEN THAT WE
DON'T NEED TO SEPARATE, WE
DON'T NEED SEPARATE PROTECTIONS
FOR OUR, ON CASTE. PROFESSOR
OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOUT ASIAN
STUDIES, HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
LOAD IN SUPPORT OF OUR
ORDINANCE , AND SAID,
UNFORTUNATELY, AS WITH ALL
ADVANCES IN CIVIL RIGHTS, THIS
PROPOSED ORDINANCE HAS ALSO MET
OPPOSITION FROM THOSE WHO ARGUE
THAT CASTE SESSIONS ARE
ALREADY GOVERNED BY
ANTI-DETERMINATION LAW. BUT IN
SIX PROTECTIONS FOR RACE OR
NATIONAL ORIGIN DO NOT
RECOGNIZE THAT OPPRESSED CASTES
ARE A MINORITY WITHIN A
MINORITY. THEY ARE
DISADVANTAGED NOT ONLY BY
RECENT NATIONAL ORIGIN, BUT
ALSO BY CASTE. THIS FORM OF
MULTIPLE DISADVANTAGE CAN ONLY
BE ADDRESSED MAKING CASTE A
SEPARATE PROTECTED CATEGORY.
AND , AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER
CLAIMS THAT THE RIGHT-WING
MAKES THAT I WILL ADDRESS IF
NECESSARY. HOWEVER I WILL STOP
AT THAT POINT. I MAY BE MAKING
CLOSING REMARKS AT THE VERY
END, BUT I WILL , PRESIDENT PRO
TEM, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I
WILL MAKE THE AMENDMENT.
>> SURE. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. BEFORE
YOU BEGIN, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, I DO WANT TO ASK THE
AUDIENCE TO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM
SHOUTING OUT AND COMMENTING .
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC
COMMENT ALREADY, AND WE DO NEED
TO PROCEED IN CHAMBERS, SO
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM COMMENTING
OR SHOUTING OUT AND LET US MOVE
THROUGH OUR AGENDA. PLEASE GO
AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO MOVE
AMENDMENT A VERSION 1 TO
COUNSEL BILL 1205 11.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO JUST
VERY BRIEFLY, THIS AMENDMENT
ADDS LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS TO
SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION, AS
WELL AS REFERENCING THE
CREATION OF AN ACCOMPANYING
CLERK FILE TO HOLD TESTIMONY
SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT
THESE EXPERIENCES TO
DEMONSTRATE THE CITY'S INTEREST
IN PROTECTING ITS RESIDENTS
WITH MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES AS
CASTE OPPRESSED FROM
DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND I DO WANT TO
APOLOGIZE. I DO WANT TO
MENTION, I ASKED COUNSEL
CENTRAL STAFF TO BE HERE IN
CASE FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS. SO
I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. I HAD ASKED THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS TO
PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT
THEIR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THIS
LEGISLATION. THE BILL WAS SENT
TO FULL COUNCIL BEFORE I HAD A
CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MEMO, SO I
DID ASK HER YEAR TO WALK US
THROUGH WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND
TO ANSWER, GIVE, GIVE
COLLEAGUES THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ASK QUESTIONS. SO, BEFORE I
ASKED HER TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL, I WILL ASK IF THERE
ARE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT
PROCESS. I DON'T HEAR ANY.
OKAY. SO , MY APOLOGIES,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. I DO
WANT TO OPEN IT UP -- I THINK
I'VE INTERVIEWED WITH THE
PROCESS HERE, BUT IF THERE ARE
QUESTIONS AS WE'RE MOVING
THROUGH THIS, I DO WANT TO GIVE
HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER
THEM.
>> CAN WE DISPENSE ON THE
AMENDMENT AND GET THAT
HANDLED, AND THEN HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BODY ? YES
THAT'S FINE. OKAY. SO , THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
FOR ADDRESSING THE AMENDMENT.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDMENT A?
>> PRESIDENT MORALES, I WOULD
LIKE TO ADD COMMENTS BUT
>> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY. I'M HAPPY TO BE
COSPONSORING THIS AMENDMENT AS
WAS MENTIONED, THIS IS A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT. IT DOES
NOT CHANGE THE FUNCTION OF THE
ORDINANCE IN ANY WAY. IT ADDS A
FINDINGS SECTION TO THE BILL
AND LINKS TO A CLERK FILE WHICH
COMPILED ACADEMIC RESEARCH ,
STATEMENTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS,
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION. BY
APPROVING THIS AMENDMENT, THE
CITY COUNCIL WILL RECORD
TESTIMONY SUBMITTED TO THE
COUNCIL ABOUT THESE EXPERIENCES
, AND THE CITY'S INTEREST IN
PROTECTING ITS RESIDENTS WITH
MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES AS
CASTE OPPRESSED FROM
DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE AMENDMENT? COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON?
>> THE AMENDMENT MAKES A
FINDING THAT EXISTING
ANTIDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS
DO NOT FULLY ENCOMPASS CASTE
DISCRIMINATION, BUT THAT'S NOT
EXACTLY TRUE. THE CITY'S
EXISTING BAN ON DISCRIMINATION
BASED ON ANCESTRY, WE'VE BEEN
TOLD, VERY LIKELY DOES BAN THIS
TERMINATION BASED ON CASTE ,
AND THAT'S JUST AN ISSUE FOR
THE COURTS TO DECIDE, WHICH IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN
CALIFORNIA, EXAMINING THIS VERY
ISSUE. SO I WILL BE VOTING
AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU. WHEN WE WERE HERE
LAST WEEK, I REPEATED WHAT I
HAD HEARD FROM FOLKS , THAT OUR
NATIONAL ORIGIN , PROHIBITION
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, WOULD
SUFFICE IN THIS, IN THIS CASE,
BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THAT'S
NOT ACTUALLY TRUE, AND THAT'S,
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY THE TIME THAT WE'VE HAD
WITH THIS BILL HAS BEEN VERY
USEFUL FOR ME TO, TO LEARN NOT
JUST ABOUT THE ISSUE, BUT TO
LEARN ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF
EXISTING LAWS . THE REALITY IS
THAT WE DON'T HAVE EXAMPLES OF
CURRENT LAW , SUCCESSFULLY
PROTECTING CASTE , AND THOSE
WHO SUGGEST THAT IT DOES ARE
ACTUALLY ADVANCING AN UNPROVEN
LEGAL THEORY . AND I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ERR ON
THE SIDE OF PROTECTION AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION AND HAVE THAT
LEGAL CLARITY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE WE VOTE.
>> PRESIDENT PRO TEM MORALES?
THANK YOU. I, YEAH, IN ADDITION
TO THE POINTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD MADE,
WHICH I FULLY AGREE WITH, I
WOULD JUST THAT ALSO THAT IT
IS HARD ENOUGH TO PROVE YOU
HAVE TASTE DISCRIMINATION
WITHOUT ALSO HAVING TO WIN A
COURT CASE SHOWING THAT THE
CASTE DISCRIMINATION, THE
DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF
CASTE, ACTUALLY LEGALLY COUNTS
AS RACE OR ANCESTRY OR NATIONAL
ORIGIN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
REALLY, THAT IS THE, THAT IS
THE VALUE OF PASSING THIS KIND
OF ORDINANCE, BECAUSE, BY LAW,
ORDINARY PEOPLE, WORKERS, WILL
HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO TO COURT
AND SAY, SPECIFICALLY, I WAS
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ON THE
BASIS OF CASTE, AND THE LAW IS
ON MY SIDE.
>> OKAY. TAKE YOU VERY MUCH. I
DON'T SEE ANY OTHER COMMENTS,
SO I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT A TO
COUNSEL BILL 120511.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> ASPIRATE
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER BURBLED?
>> ASPIRATE
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>>
>> AYE..
>> COUNCILMEMBER ?
>> NAY.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MORALES?
>> ASPIRATE
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, AND
COUNSEL BARROW ONE TO SURVIVE
ON ONE IS AMENDED IS NOW
BEFORE THE COUNCIL. COLLEAGUES,
ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDED COUNSEL BILL? WELL, I,
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE
COMMENTS BEFORE I HAND IT TO
THE SPONSORS FOR CLOSING
REMARKS, IF I -- NOBODY ELSE
HAS COMMENTS. OH.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. OH
NO. SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. IS THAT HAND FROM
BEFORE?
>> IT IS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO -- I
MEAN, WHATEVER THE QUEUE IS, I
DON'T WANT TO DISRUPT IT.
>> OKAY. I WILL, I WILL ASK
JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS OF
OFFSHORE. WE HAVE THE -- I
THINK 15, 20 PROTECTED CLASSES
IN THE CITY , S FCR IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING ABOUT
15 OF THEM. AND I THINK, BASED
ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE DID
RECEIVE FROM S FCR, WE KNOW
THAT EACH NEW PROTECTED CLASS ,
THEY HAVE TO UPDATE MATERIALS,
THEY HAVE TO ENGAGE WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
BUSINESSES TO SHARE INFORMATION
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. DO
YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE NEEDED IN
ADDITION TO AN INVESTIGATOR TO
HELP SUPPORT THIS WORK?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. AT THIS POINT , WITH
THE MATERIALS THAT THE OFFICE
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS HAS DIVIDED,
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WOULD NEED
ONE FTE AS A BUSINESS LIAISON ,
AND SO THEY WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY NEED MORE
ENFORCEMENT STUFF, BUT HAVING
THAT BUSINESS LIAISON WOULD
ALLOW THAT TO INCREASE
AWARENESS IN LOCAL BUSINESSES
ABOUT WHAT CASTE IS AND HOW
THESE PROTECTIONS WORK SO THAT
BUSINESSES ARE AWARE OF THEIR
OBLIGATIONS, ASSUMING THIS , IF
THIS, THIS ORDINANCE PASSES.
AND SO THAT, TO, TO RETAIN THAT
POSITION FOR AN ONGOING BASIS
WOULD BE 185,000, AND THEN, IN
ADDITION, APOLOGIES, THAT
185,000 ENCOMPASSES BOTH THE
OPPOSITION AS WELL AS ONGOING
OUTREACH . THEY ALSO INDICATED
THAT AN ADDITIONAL 100,000 IN
ONE-TIME FUNDING WOULD BE
NEEDED FOR THINGS LIKE UPDATING
THEIR OUTREACH MATERIALS,
MEDIA, RULEMAKING EFFORTS, AS
WELL AS DOING -- OH, SORRY. AS
WELL AS THE, THE EDUCATIONAL
PIECES THAT GO TOWARDS ANY
SORT OF NEW PROTECTED CLASS
ADDED TO AN ORDINANCE. AND THE
ONE ADDITIONAL THING I'D NOTE
IS THAT THIS, THE , THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE OUTLINED
HERE ARE NOT JUST IN RESPONSE
TO THIS NEW PROTECTED CLASS.
IT'S IN RESPONSE TO SORT OF A
FEW YEARS WORTH OF PIECES OF
LEGISLATION BEING PASSED
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL OUTREACH OR
ENFORCEMENT FUNDS. AND SO THIS
IS A, A WHOLESALE ANALYSIS OF
WHAT KINDS OF RESOURCES THEY
NEED TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY
ENFORCE THIS LEGISLATION. I
JUST ADD -- OH, SORRY, GO
AHEAD.
>> NO, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT
EVEN WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW ,
AND SORT OF THE TIMING OF
BUDGETING , IF THIS ORDINANCE
WERE TO PASS RIGHT NOW WITH
THE CURRENT EFFECTIVE DATE, IT
WOULD, THE MAHER'S OFFICE AND
THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADD ON AND
POTENTIALLY A SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET OR IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET
PROCESS. BUT THOSE FUNDS WOULD
OBVIOUSLY NOT THE AVAILABLE TO
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
UNTIL 2024. THAT BEING SAID,
THEY DID INDICATE THAT EVEN IF
THE, THE ORDINANCE PASSES AS
IS , THEY WOULD STILL
INVESTIGATE THESE CASES, STILL
BE MOVING FORWARD. IT WOULD
JUST CAUSE A LITTLE MORE
PROCESSING TIME IN TERMS OF
THEIR INVESTIGATIONS , AND THEY
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF
THE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND
OUTREACH UNTIL THESE, THE FUNDS
WERE PROVIDED , WHICH WOULD BE
NEXT YEAR.
>> RIGHT. THANK YOU. I THINK ,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS CLEARLY , THE
DEPARTMENT WILL NEED A LITTLE
BIT OF CATCH UP TO UNDERSTAND
THIS. THERE'S ALWAYS A LEARNING
CURVE WHEN THERE'S A NEW CLASS
ADDED . IN 2015, WE HAD JUST
STARTED TALKING AS A CITY ABOUT
GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS,
ABOUT TRANSGENDER ISSUES AND
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE
TRANSGENDER, SO I UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW,
SOME UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
DEPARTMENT WILL NEED. BUT I DO
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION , YOU KNOW, THE
NOTION OF CASTE ME BE NEW TO
THIS COUNTRY, TO MANY IN THIS
COUNTRY, BUT THE IDEA OF
DISCRIMINATION CERTAINLY IS NOT
NEW, OR OF COLORISM, OR OF
RACISM , AND THE, THE
SUBTLETIES OF DISCRIMINATION
KEEP THOSE WHO DON'T SUFFER
FROM IT UNAWARE OF ITS
PERNICIOUS EFFECTS AND THE WAY
THAT IT CAN IMPACT SOME OF OUR
NEIGHBORS , ON THEIR ABILITY TO
PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND
THEIR FAMILIES. SO , YOU KNOW,
I, I DO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION. I AM ALSO ACUTELY
AWARE OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF OUR
CITY DEPARTMENTS TO INVESTIGATE
AND ENFORCE THESE RULES EVERY
TIME WE HAD ANOTHER PROTECTED
CLASS TO THE LIST . SOC ART IS
WORKING THROUGH CLOSE TO 70
INVESTIGATIONS RIGHT NOW ,
AVERAGING, YOU KNOW, NINE
MONTHS TO A YEAR IN ORDE TO BE
ABLE TO CLOSE AN INVESTIGATION.
SO THE TRUTH IS, THEY DO A
TREMENDOUS JOB WORKING THROUGH
THEIR CASELOAD, AND I DO THINK
THAT , IN THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY,
WHETHER IT'S THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET OVER OUR BUDGET PROCESS
LATER THIS YEAR, WE WILL NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ALLOCATING THE RESOURCES TO THE
DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST TO SERVE
THIS LEGISLATION, BUT TO HELP
THEM MEET THEIR CASELOAD
NEEDS, GIVEN THE ADDITIONAL
WORK THAT WE'VE CREATED BY
ADDING NEW PROTECTED CLASSES
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO I
DO INTEND TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'VE GOT
THE BUDGET RESOURCES THAT WE
NEED LATER. I THINK I HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. I DON'T
KNOW IF THAT'S A NEW HAND OR
THE SAME ONE, BUT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WANT TO
ALSO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS
IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE THAT A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
CARE ABOUT , AND THAT A LOT OF,
A LOT OF FOLKS OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE ARE WATCHING OUR
ACTIONS. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
SEATTLE'S ANTIDISCRIMINATION
LAW IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN
FEDERAL OR STATE LAW, AND IT'S
NOT AT ALL UNUSUAL TO UPDATE
SECTIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE
TO ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS AND
PROTECT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
WE'VE DONE SO JUST TWICE IN
JUST THE LAST 15 MONTHS. MOST
RECENTLY , COUNCILMEMBER
MIRELES , IN A BILL THAT I
COSPONSORED, SHE LET ON
INCLUDED THE, AN INDIVIDUAL'S
ACTUAL POTENTIAL PERCEIVED OR
ALLEGED PREGNANCY OUTCOMES AS
A BASIS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION. SIMILARLY ,
COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES, IN
2021, MADE AN AMENDMENT TO , TO
INCLUDE IMMIGRATION STATUS,
GENETIC INFORMATION, AND
HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS
OR MILITARY STATUS AS
ADDITIONAL INCLUSIONS. SO FOR,
FOR THE , WATCHING, VIEWING
PUBLIC AND LISTENING PUBLIC'S
UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVE A, A
LARGE NUMBER OF PROTECTED
CLASSES HERE IN SEATTLE IN OUR
DISCRIMINATION LAW, AND THE
IDEA THAT OUR LAWS CAN'T BE
ENFORCED BECAUSE IT'S NOT
POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY CASTE
AMONG HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT
DIVISIONS IS SIMPLY NOT HOW
THIS LAW IS ENFORCED. NO ONE
NEEDS TO DETERMINE SOMEBODY
MIGHT ESCAPE CASTE TO ENFORCE
THIS LAW IF WE PASS IT. MANY
GROUPS ARE SUBJECT TO
OPPRESSION FROM DOMINANT
IDENTITIES WHERE THE
MARGINALIZED IDENTITY, IT'S
UNCLEAR FROM VISIBLE MARKERS.
JUST LIKE CASTE DOES NOT HAVE
THE VISIBLE MARKERS. SO THE
EXPOSING DISCRIMINATION OFTEN
REQUIRES SELF IDENTIFICATION OF
BEING A MEMBER OF A PROTECTED
CLASS. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO NEED TO
HAVE SOMEBODY, LIKE, MAKING A
LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT
CASTES IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THIS
LAW. ANOTHER THING THAT I'VE
HEARD THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN,
IT'S TAKING ME SOME TIME, AS
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS SAID,
WE WANT TO PROTECT PEOPLE
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION. THAT IS
A NO-BRAINER. BUT I , WHEN I
RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, I WANT
TO LOOK INTO IT TO SEE WHETHER
OR NOT THE INFORMATION I'M
GETTING IS ACCURATE. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT FOLKS HAVE SAID,
SOME, SOME OPPONENTS OF THIS
HAVE SAID IS THAT THIS LAW
SOMEHOW SINGLES OUT HINDUS.
AND TO ME, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN,
I SAID TO MYSELF, WELL, HOW
DOES IT DO THAT? AND THE MORE I
THINK ABOUT IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE
IT'S ANALOGIES TO SAYING THAT
LAWS THAT PROHIBIT GENDER
DISCRIMINATION SINGLES ALL MEN
AS PEOPLE WHO DISCRIMINATE.
THE CENTRAL STAFF MEMO SAYS
VERY CLEARLY THAT CASTE-BASED
DISCRIMINATION IS PRESENT IN
JAPAN, THE MIDDLE EAST,
NIGERIA, SOMALIA, AND SENEGAL.
AND THE FINDINGS IN THE
AMENDMENT THAT WE PASSED TODAY
, AGAIN, CLEARLY SAYS THAT
CASTE TRANSCENDS RELIGIOUS AND
GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES, WITH
CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION
SHOWING UP IN CRYSTALLINE,
MUSLIM, AND OTHER RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITIES ALL OVER SOUTH ASIA
AND IN SOUTH ASIAN AND AFRICAN
COMMUNITIES. SO, AGAIN, I
DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT
SINGLED OUT HINDUS, AND I, I
DON'T THINK WE, WE ARE ,
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT
LIST, THAT DISCRIMINATION IS A
PRACTICE OF THIS ENTIRE GROUP
OF PEOPLE. AND THEN, LASTLY,
IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT, YOU
KNOW, IF WE HAVE A, A SMALL
NUMBER OF OUR POPULATION WHO'S
EXPERIENCING THIS FORM OF
DISCRIMINATION , THAT SOMEHOW,
THAT MAKES IT LESS IMPORTANT,
AND IT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW? SO
MANY OF THE CATEGORIES INCLUDED
IN THIS, IN THIS LAW ARE
CATEGORIES THAT AREN'T USED
VERY FREQUENTLY. FOR INSTANCE,
THE PROHIBITION AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF
POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, OR
BREAST-FEEDING IN PUBLIC. BUT
IT'S COMPLETELY UNFAIR TO TELL
THE PEOPLE WHO DO EXPERIENCE
THIS DISCRIMINATION THAT A LAW
PROHIBITING IT IS UNNEEDED.
AND I AM NOT GOING TO BE A
PERSON WHO SAYS THAT. SO IN
CLOSING, I'M, I'M, I'M VERY,
VERY PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> IN, COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU HAVE
ANOTHER QUESTION OR COMMENT?
NO. OKAY. OKAY. I DON'T SEE
ANY OTHER HANDS. SO ,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT , I WILL
-- SORRY. I, I CAN'T TELL .
>> MY HAND IS UP.
>> OKAY. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO I WANT TO MAKE
THIS VERY CLEAR. CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS ABHORRENT ,
AND I OPPOSE IT. HOWEVER, I'M
CONCERNED THAT DESIGNATING
CASTE AS A PROTECTED CLASS IN
SEATTLE IS LIKELY A RECKLESS,
UNNECESSARY, AND HARMFUL
SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM ABOUT
WHICH WE HAVE NO DATA OR
RESEARCH ON ITS OCCURRENCE IN
SEATTLE. NOW , HEAR ME OUT. I
SAY RECKLESS BECAUSE MY
COLLEAGUES AND I KNOW FULL WELL
THAT THIS LEGISLATION POSES
LEGAL RISK FOR THE CITY AND THE
LIKELIHOOD OF LEGAL CHALLENGES.
IT EXPLICITLY LINKS CASTE
DISCRIMINATION WITH PEOPLE OF
SOUTH ASIAN DESCENT AND
HINDUISM , AND I QUOTE, THE
CONCEPT OF CASTE SYSTEM IS
PRIMARILY ASSOCIATED WITH THE
SOUTH ASIAN REGION, WHERE ITS
EXISTENCE IS LINKED TO THE
RELIGIOUSLY SANCTIONED SOCIAL
STRUCTURE OF HINDUISM. AND
THERE ARE TWO ACT OF COURT
CASES IN CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW ,
AND ONE OF THEM CENTERS ON THE
CLAIM THAT TYING HINDUISM TO
CASTE DISCRIMINATION VIOLATES
THE FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE OF THE
FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE DUE
PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION
CLAUSES OF THE 14th AMENDMENT.
SO THE LAST THING WE NEED IS
YET ANOTHER COSTLY LAWSUIT
POSSIBLY BROUGHT BY A WELL
RESOURCED EMPLOYER IN THE TECH
SECTOR, WHICH IS ALSO CALLED
OUT IN THE RECITALS, BECAUSE WE
, THAT'S EASY TO AVOID, AND WE
DON'T NEED IT. AND THAT IS
RECKLESS, BY GOING FORWARD
WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THAT.
NOW, I ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS
UNNECESSARY BECAUSE WE ALSO
KNOW THAT BECAUSE CASTE
IDENTITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH
RELIGION, RACE, AND NATIONAL
ORIGIN, A CLAIM OF CASTE
DISCRIMINATION COULD BE LODGED
UNDER ONE OF THOSE EXISTING
PROTECTED CLASSES, AND, IN
FACT, THE OTHER ACTIVE COURT
CASE IN CALIFORNIA , WHICH THE
BILL'S SUPPORTERS HAVE CITED,
IS BASED ON THAT EXACT PREMISE.
SO GOOD GOVERNANCE MEANS
CONSIDERING ALL PERSPECTIVES.
AND A LOT OF NEW INFORMATION
HAS COME TO LIGHT RECENTLY
THAT'S NOT REPRESENTED IN THE
DOCUMENTS BEFORE US. WE'VE
RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF EMAILS
FROM CONSTITUNTS OF SOUTH
ASIAN DESCENT, AND MANY OF THEM
STATE THAT, THAT THE CASTE
SYSTEM WAS ABOLISHED IN INDIA
IN 1950, AND ENSHRINING IT AS
A PROTECTED CLASS ONLY
PERPETUATES COLONIALIST AND
RACIST STEREOTYPES.
FURTHERMORE , SINGLING THEM OUT
AS THE PERPETUATES AND VICTIMS
OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION COULD
GENERATE MORE ANTI-HINDU
DISCRIMINATION , AND THE RISK
OF, OF DIFFICULTY -- OKAY. I
WILL SAY THAT AGAIN.
FURTHERMORE, SINGLING THEM OUT
AS THE PERPETUATE HER'S AND
VICTIMS OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION
COULD GENERATE MORE ANTI-HINDU
DISCRIMINATION. AND THE RISK
OF A DIFFICULT TO DISPROVE ,
THE RISK OF A DIFFICULT TO
DISPROVE DISCRIMINATION CLAIM
COULD DISSUADE EMPLOYERS FROM
HIRING SOUTH ASIANS. SO , LIKE
YOU , COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD,
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT FOR
US TO SAY THAT YOUR
DISCRIMINATION IS NOT VALID. I
AM SIMPLY SAYING THAT THERE IS,
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE SAYING THAT, THAT THIS
LEGISLATION COULD WORSEN THE
SITUATION. AND , AND FINALLY ,
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE CONFLICTING
STUDIES ON THE PREVALENCE OF
CASTE DISCRIMINATION NATIONALLY
, WE HAVE NO RELIABLE DATA ON
THE SCOPE OF THE ISSUE IN
SEATTLE. AND IT DOES, I AM NOT
SAYING , I AM NOT SAYING THAT
IT DOES NOT EXIST , BUT WE'VE
BEEN TOLD THAT THAT WOULD BE A
VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION TO
HAVE , AND , AND SO --
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> YEAH?
>> MY APOLOGIES. I'M GOING TO
ASK ONE MORE TIME FOR
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR TO AND IN
CHAMBERS , OR WE WILL HAVE TO
ASK PEOPLE TO BE ESCORTED OUT.
COUNSEL RULES TO PROHIBIT
HOLDING BANNERS, STANDING IN
THE AISLES WHILE WE ARE --
UNLESS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO
SPEAK, AND RIGHT NOW, PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS OVER. WE'RE
REALLY TRYING TO GET THROUGH
THIS BILL SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE ON OUR AGENDA, SO I'M
GOING TO ASK ONE MORE TIME FOR
FOLKS TO END THE DISRUPTIVE
BEHAVIOR AND LET OUR COUNSEL
PROCEEDINGS CONTINUE. PLEASE
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANYWAY,
SO THIS IS NOT LIKE OTHER
STRUGGLES TO CREATE PROTECTED
CLASSES THAT HAVE A LOT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THEM . SO
HERE WE ARE , ABOUT TO VOTE ON
LEGISLATION IN JUST ONE PUBLIC
MEETING TO CREATE A NEW
PROTECTED CLASS FOR CASTE,
WHICH IS A CULTURALLY AND
HISTORICALLY NUANCED CONCEPT
THAT THE SUPER MAJORITY OF US
KNEW NOTHING ABOUT, OR VERY
LITTLE ABOUT, JUST A SHORT TIME
AGO, ABOUT A MONTH AGO. AND
THIS ROOM DEMONSTRATES THAT THE
COMMUNITY IT WILL IMPACT IS
SHARPLY DIVIDED OVER THIS
LEGISLATION, AND I HAVE TO SAY
THAT MIRRORING OPPONENTS AS
NEAR RIGHT-WINGERS IS DEEPLY
INSULTING AND, AND OFFENSIVE.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN AGREE
TO DISAGREE . ANYWAY, JUST
BECAUSE WE CAN DO SOMETHING
DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD , AND
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IN MY
VOTE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS IS
AVOID THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
THAT I HAVE JUST DESCRIBED. I
THOUGHT ABOUT SAYING, WELL,
LET'S DELAY, AND LET'S HAVE,
YOU KNOW, LET'S INSIST ON
HAVING IT GO THROUGH THE, THE
PROPER COMMITTEE PROCESS, BUT
GIVEN THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE
HERE , AND PEOPLE SEEM READY TO
VOTE, I, I TOOK THAT OFF THE
TABLE, AND, BELIEVE ME, THIS IS
-- I -- I DON'T TAKE THIS VOTE
LIGHTLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT
PEOPLE VAIL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT
THIS, BUT I WILL BE VOTING NO.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING
REMARKS ABOUT THE BILL ?
>> YES I DO.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STAND
UP. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DISRUPT
BY STANDING UP. AND ALSO, I
DIDN'T HEAR ANY COUNCILMEMBERS
OBJECT ME WHEN I WAS BEING
HECKLED BY THE RIGHT-WING, SO
LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. THE
RIGHT-WING AROUND THE WORLD
CLEARS LITTLE BIT WE SAW THAT
WITH TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS,
AND WE SEE THAT NOW WITH THE,
THE RIGHT-WING OPPOSITIONS
OPPOSING US, AND ALSO THE
COMMENTS THAT WE JUST HEARD
FROM COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
POINTS THAT THE RIGHT-WING
BRINGS UP IS THAT THERE WILL BE
A THREAT OF LAWSUITS, AND
THAT'S WHY WE SHOULDN'T PASS
THIS. THAT'S WHAT WE JUST
HEARD, ONE OF THE OBJECTIONS,
AND THE REASONS FOR VOTING NO.
WELL, YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT
SAY THAT THERE WILL BE LAWSUITS
ARE THEMSELVES WHO ARE PLANNING
TO PURSUE LAWSUITS. NOBODY'S
FORCING THEM, NOBODY'S HOLDING
A GUN TO THEIR HEAD TO FILE
THESE LAWSUITS. THEY ARE
CHOOSING TO BECAUSE THEY ARE
AGAINST ENDING DISCRIMINATION
AND OPPRESSION. SO OUR
RESPONSE TO THAT, THROUGHOUT
HISTORY, IF THE RESPONSE OF
PROGRESSIVES AND THE LEFT HAD
BEEN WELL, THERE'S GOING TO BE
LAWSUITS, WELL, WHERE WOULD WE
BE? WHERE WOULD WOMEN'S RIGHTS
AND LGBTQ RIGHTS BE IF WE HAD
ACCEPTED THAT ARGUMENT? YOU
KNOW WHAT? IF, IF THE
RIGHT-WING IS THREATENING TO
BRING LAWSUITS, BRING IT ON IS
WHAT WE SAY. AND WE WILL DEFEAT
IT. IN , IN THE NEARLY 10 YEARS
OF OUR OFFICE IN CITY HALL, WE
HAVE WON THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE,
THE AMAZON TASK , A WHOLE HOST
OF RENTERS RIGHTS VICTORIES,
AND MANY OTHER VICTORIES, AND
THE RIGHT-WING, WHETHER IT IS A
FAR RIGHT, THE HINDU FAR RIGHT,
OR IT IS BIG BUSINESS,
BILLIONAIRES LIKE JEFF BASIS,
THEY HAVE TRIED LAWSUIT AFTER
LAWSUIT IN THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, THEY HAVE NOT WON A
SINGLE LAWSUIT TO DATE. AND
THEN, THEN, WHEN A
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON SAYS THAT,
YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, REALLY,
PASSING THIS BAN, IN REALITY,
IF YOU CARE ABOUT OPPRESSED
PEOPLE, YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY NOT
DO IT BECAUSE DOING IT COULD
DISSUADE SOME EMPLOYERS FROM
HIRING SOUTH ASIAN PEOPLE, THIS
IS RANK GAS LIGHTING. YOU KNOW
WHAT THIS REMINDS ME OF? WHEN
WE WERE FIGHTING FOR THE $50 AN
HOUR MINIMUM WAGE, I HAD
CORPORATION AFTER CORPORATION
HAVE THE NERVE TO COME INTO OUR
OFFICE AND SAY, YOU CARE ABOUT
BLACK AND BROWN WORKERS, POOR
WORKERS, LOW INCOME WORKERS,
BUT REALLY, LET ME TELL YOU, IF
YOU PASS $50 AN HOUR, YOU'LL
END UP HURTING THEM, BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW WHAT, THE, WHAT
THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO SAY IS
THAT WE MIGHT, WE MIGHT STOP
EMPLOYING PEOPLE WHO ARE OF LOW
INCOME BACKGROUNDS. AND, FIRST
OF ALL, THAT'S A REALLY VILE
THREAT, AND SECOND OF ALL, NONE
OF THIS EVER HAPPENED . IN
FACT, $50 AN HOUR LIFTED
100,000 WORKERS OUT OF POVERTY
, AND WHAT WE WILL GET IF WE
WIN THIS BAN AGAINST CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS GENUINELY
EMPOWER CASTE OPPRESSED WORKERS
AND OUR MOVEMENT TO FIGHT, TO
WIN LAWSUITS IN THE COURT
AGAINST MASSIVE CORPORATIONS
AND CORPORATE EXECUTIVES LIKE
IN MICROSOFT, IBM, GOOGLE,
FACEBOOK, AND SO ON. THE LIST
GOES ON. WE KNOW THE
EXECUTIVES ARE NOT ON OUR SIDE.
WE KNOW THE MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
AND BILLIONAIRES ARE NOT ON OUR
SIDE, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED THE
SMALL. AND YES, IT IS, I
TOTALLY AGREE WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SAY THAT WE
NEED FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS, AND I INVITE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT FUNDING TO JOIN
ME IN OUR ANNUAL PEOPLE'S
BUDGET CAMPAIGN THAT WE WILL BE
LAUNCHING AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.
FIGHT ALONGSIDE MY OFFICE AND
OUR MOVEMENT TO TAX BIG
BUSINESS AND WEALTHY PEOPLE SO
THAT WE CAN FULLY FUND THESE
DEPARTMENTS. BUT LET'S ALSO BE
CLEAR ABOUT THE DETAILS. THE
MAIN POWER OF THIS HISTORIC
LAW, IF WE WIN TODAY, IS THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION. IN
OTHER WORDS, THE RIGHT FOR
CASTE OPPRESSED WORKERS TO
BRING A DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT
IN THE COURTS. SO YES, THE
DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE
INVESTIGATING. THEY SHOULD HAVE
ENOUGH FUNDING. THAT IS NOT THE
REAL ISSUE. THE REAL ISSUE IS,
NEED, WE NEED THIS LAW ON THE
BOOKS SO THAT, LEGALLY, CASTE
DISCRIMINATION IS OUTLAWED , SO
THAT THAT LAW CAN THEN BE USED
TO TAKE IT TO THE COURTS, AND
WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS. WINNING
IN THE COURTS WILL ALSO REQUIRE
A MOVEMENT. OUR WORK WILL NOT
BE DONE HERE. WE WILL NEED A
MOVEMENT TO WIN , WIN THE
ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAWSUITS IN
COURT, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE OPPOSED THIS LEGISLATION
HAD SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE
NEED TO EXPLAIN IT TO THE
CORPORATE GUYS, YOU KNOW, THEY
DON'T UNDERSTAND CASTE. OF
COURSE THEY UNDERSTAND, BUT
THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN DOING
ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND I WAS
ASKED TODAY, EARLIER TODAY, I
WAS ASKED, BUT IF YOU WANT TO
EDUCATE THE CORPORATE BOSSES?
IN MY RESPONSE TO THEM WAS, YOU
KNOW THE BEST WAY OF EDUCATING
CORPORATE BOSSES IS WIN A
LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM. THAT WILL
EDUCATE THEM OVERNIGHT.
>> AGAIN, YOU KNOW, JUST ON A
SOBERING NOTE FOR OUR MOVEMENT,
LET'S REMEMBER THAT, LET'S
REMEMBER THAT IF WE, IF WE WIN
THIS -- BUT OKAY. I'M GOING TO
ASK THAT THE AUDIENCE COME TO
ORDER. I'VE ASKED A COUPLE OF
TIMES. THE CHAIR'S ASKED THE
MEETING TO COME TO ORDER, AND
ORDER IS NOT BEING RESTORED, SO
WE WILL CLEAR THE ROOM IF WE
CAN'T HAVE ORDER IN THE
CHAMBERS, PLEASE. PLEASE
CONTINUE, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU. SO I WANT TO, I
WANT TO JUST INJECT A SOBERING
NOTE FOR OUR MOVEMENT. IF WE,
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST
ACCURACY. IF WE WIN TODAY, THIS
WILL BE NOTHING SHORT OF
HISTORIC. THIS IS MAKING WAVES
AROUND THE WORLD, NOT JUST IN
THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT'S
ALSO NOT -- OUR WORK WILL NOT
BE DONE. OUR WORK WILL ONLY BE
BEGUN. SO ONCE WE PASSED THIS
LAW, WE WILL NEED TO ACTUALLY
EXERCISE THIS LAW IN THE
COURTS. SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
HERE, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
WATCHING REMOTELY, WE WILL NEED
YOU TO COME OUT WITH US TO
ACTUALLY WIN THOSE LAWSUITS
AGAINST CORPORATIONS IN ORDER
TO BAN, ACTUALLY BAN CASTE
DISCRIMINATION. CASTE
DISCRIMINATION WILL NOT BE
BANNED BY JUST PUTTING A LAW ON
THE BOOKS. THE FIRST STEP, AND
EVEN THAT IS HARD. IT WILL
HARDLY BE THE LAST STEP. I
WANTED TO THANK SO MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TECH
WORKERS, UNION MEMBERS, SOUTH
ASIAN SUPPORTERS OF ALL, OF
ALL RELIGIONS. THE, THE
ORGANIZATION FIT SO MANY OF
YOU, I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY
QUOTE, OR AT LEAST PARAPHRASE,
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT WORD,
BUT PARAPHRASE SOMEONE
CORRECTLY SAID THAT THE FACT
THAT SO MANY OF US WERE HERE
STARTING AT 2:00 A.M. TO GET 30
SECONDS OF TIME TO SPEAK IN
FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL,
THAT SHOWS HOW DEEPLY CRUCIAL
THIS LAW IS FOR ALL OF US, AND
WHETHER WE ARE OPPRESSED CASTE
OR NOT, WE, THOSE OF US WHO ARE
FIGHTING FOR IT, WE DESIRE,
PERSONALLY, WE DESIRE TO LIVE
IN A SOCIETY FREE OF
OPPRESSION. IT'S WHAT WE ARE
FIGHTING FOR. I FREELY DECLARED
THIS. I GREW UP IN A BRAHMIN
FAMILY. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE,
MY FAMILY WAS NOT MUSLIM, BUT I
DID NOT EXPERIENCE CASTE
DISCRIMINATION, BUT I AM
ALONGSIDE EVERYONE ELSE BECAUSE
I ALSO DESIRE, AS A SOCIALIST,
TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY FREE OF
OPPRESSION. DON'T LET THE
RIGHT WING TELL US THAT, OH,
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU
KNOW, TRULY ENDING
DISCRIMINATION HAS REQUIRED
MASS MOVEMENTS LIKE OURS, AND
WE WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT
THIS MOVEMENT. AND ULTIMATELY,
IT REQUIRES ENDING THE
CAPITALIST SYSTEM THAT ACES
ITSELF ON BRUTALLY EXPLOITING
AND DIVIDING THE WORKING CLASS
AND THE POOR AND PROFITIG OFF
DISCRIMINATION AND DEPRESSION.
SO WHEN THEY SAY THAT THIS
ORDINANCE IS DIVISIVE, NO.
THIS ORDINANCE IS ACTUALLY
GOING AWAY FROM DIVISIVENESS
AND DIVISION. IT IS CAPITALISM,
AND ITS OPPRESSIONS, THAT
DIVIDE HUMANITY, AND WE WANT TO
AND THAT DIVISION. WE NEED A
FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT KIND OF
SOCIETY BASED ON EQUALITY,
SOLIDARITY, AND DEMOCRACY, A
SOCIETY RUN BY AND FOR WORKING
PEOPLE , NOT THE BILLIONAIRES.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WE NEED IS
A SOCIALIST SOCIETY. WHILE
THIS LEGISLATION WILL ONLY MAKE
CASTE DISCRIMINATION ILLEGAL ,
AND THAT IS A HUGE DEAL AND
DOES NOT CHANGE THE ENFORCEMENT
OF DISCRIMINATION IN GENERAL,
IT IS NONETHELESS TRULY
GROUNDBREAKING LEGISLATION . AS
I SAID, IT CAN SERVE AS A
BEACON TO CITIES AND STATES
AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND
ULTIMATELY AROUND THE WORLD.
TODAY'S VOTE WILL MAKE HISTORY.
LET'S ALSO MAKE SURE TO
REMEMBER HOW WE GOT HERE. IT
WAS NOT BY POWERFUL PEOPLE
SUPPORTING US. IT WAS BY US ,
RANK-AND-FILE ACTIVISTS,
WORKERS, BUILDING OUR MOVEMENT
TOGETHER INDEPENDENT OF THOSE
POWERFUL FORCES AND IN DEFIANCE
OF THE FAR RIGHT AND THE RIGHT
WING. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
WE'RE READY TO GO FOR A VOTE.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU NEED
TO -- BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
PRESIDENT PRO TEM MORALES. I
JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS -- BUT WAIT, I
CANNOT HEAR -- WAIT.
>> CAN WE -- CAN WE PLEASE
PROCEED IN CHAMBERS? IT WOULD
BE GREAT IF WE COULD TAKE A
VOTE. WE CANNOT DO THAT IF WE
CANNOT HEAR. THANK YOU. PLEASE
PROCEED, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MORALES. I JUST WANTED TO THANK
ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO
SPOKE. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD 'S
EXPLANATION, AND ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON FOR DOING
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH. I FOUND
THE DISCOURSE VERY HELP FULL
IN INFORMING MY VOTE ON THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
COUNSEL BILL 120511?
>> EXCUSE ME, COUNSEL, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO TEM, DID WE MAKE
A MOTION TO ADOPT AND PASS AS
AMENDED? I THINK WE NEED TO
MAKE A MOTION TO PASS AS
AMENDED.
>> DID I SKIP THAT? MY
APOLOGIES. OKAY. OKAY. SO I
MOVE THAT WE PASS COUNSEL BILL
120511 AS AMENDED . IS THERE A
SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. YES? OKAY.
THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> N÷E.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES, AND THE
CHAIR WILL FIND IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 3 INTO THE RECORD?
>> OKAY. I -- MADAM CLERK, CAN
YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. I DON'T
THINK ANYBODY CAN HEAR ME IN
CHAMBERS. I'M GOING TO GIVE IT
JUST A MINUTE . WELCOME BACK
TO CHAMBERS, EVERYBODY. OKAY.
MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> I CAN NOW.
>> THANK YOU. WILL YOU PLEASE
READ ITEM 3 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE, COUNSEL
BILL 120512, AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO WEIGHTS AND
MEASURES CONFORMING CITY
PROVISIONS REGARDING WEIGHTS
AND MEASURES TO STATE LAW
PROVIDING AN ENFORCEMENT
PROCESS UPDATING FEES,
REPEALING REQUIREMENTS FROM
WHITE MASTER LICENSES AND
AMENDING CHAPTER 7.04 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO PASS
COUNSEL BILL 120512. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO PASS THE BILL. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO
ADDRESS THE ITEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CALLING
CENTRAL STAFF'S ANALYST,
EMAILED THE CITY OF SEATTLE ,
COUNCILMEMBERS LAST WEEK IN
ADVANCE OF THE VOTE ON THIS
LEGISLATION. COUNSEL BILL
120512 IN THE CENTRAL STAFF
MEMO, THEY OUTLINED THE WEIGHTS
AND MEASUREMENTS LEGISLATION
THAT IS BEFORE US TODAY. THIS
BILL WOULD UPDATE THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO MOVE US TO
THE METRIC SYSTEM. I'M JUST
KIDDING. THIS BILL WOULD ALIGN
WITH SEVERAL DECADES OF STATE
LAW GOVERNING THE CITY'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE THE
STATE'S REQUIREMENTS FOR
COMMERCIAL WEIGHING AND
MEASURING DEVICES, INCLUDING
STANDARD, INSPECTIONS, AND
TESTING, AND IT'S RECOMMENDED
TO US BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. THIS WOULD BE THE
SECOND TIME THAT SECTION OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE HAS
BEEN REVISED SINCE 1995. IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE WEIGHTS
AND MEASUREMENTS, THERE IS A
DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER STATE
LAWS IN THAT THE CITY IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING
COMPLIANCE FOR STATE LAW , RCW
1994, AS WRITTEN. RATHER THAN
AN ACTING LOCALIZED LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD THEN BE ENFORCED.
IN SHORT, THIS BILL WOULD DO
FOUR THINGS. FIRST, ALIGN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH
CURRENT STATE LAW AND NATIONAL
STANDARDS. SECOND, UPDATE THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE'S OUT OF
DATE FINES AND PENALTIES TO
MATCH THOSE ESTABLISHED BY
STATE LAW, WHICH ACTUALLY
INCREASES THE NET INCREASE
ABOUT $39,000 A YEAR TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. THE THIRD
THING IS THAT IT REMOVES ALL
CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND
AUTHORIZES THE FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE CIVIL
CITATIONS AND/OR PENALTIES, AS
IS DONE BY OTHER FAS
DIVISIONS, FOR MINOR VIOLATIONS
, TYPICALLY RESULTING IN A
WARNING. AND LASTLY, IT
INCORPORATES THE CITY'S
REGULATORY PROVISIONS FOR
ELECTRONIC SCANNERS, WHICH ARE
NOT REGULATED BY THE RCW. WANT
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
CONSIDERING VOTING YES ON THIS.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE'S
OFFICE TO SEND THIS DIRECTLY TO
COUNCIL GIVEN THE FORMALITY
EMBEDDED IN THIS LEGISLATION.
APPRECIATE THAT IT'S BEEN MOVED
FORWARD HERE TODAY, AND WANT TO
THANK THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND
MY OFFICE FOR HER WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION WITH CENTRAL STAFF
AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM,
INCLUDING FOLKS AT FAS AND CBO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE
BILL? I'M SEEING NONE. ANY
FINAL REMARKS, COUNCILMEMBER?
OKAY. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MORALES?
>> YES.
>> ALL IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX THE
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF? OKAY. MOVING ONTO
THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE, ITEM 4, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 4 INTO
THE RECORD?
>> EXCUSE ME. THE REPORT OF THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM 4 RESOLUTION TO
THEIR 83, A RESOLUTION
ESTABLISHING A WATCH LIST OF
LARGE, COMPLEX, DISCRETE
CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL
REQUIRE ENHANCED QUARTERLY
MONITORING REPORTS FOR THE 2023
CALENDAR YEAR. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE CITY COUNCIL
ADOPT AS AMENDED THE
RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO
ADDRESS THE ITEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT PRO TEM. COLLEAGUES,
THE LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US
IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION WE
CONSIDER EVERY YEAR, TO LOOK AT
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WATCH
LIST. WE HAVE DONE THIS SINCE
THE PASSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE
THAT REQUIRED THIS, LISTS TO BE
SENT TO US AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE YEAR, AND I WANT TO THINK,
AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FORMER
COLLEAGUE. THIS LEGISLATION HAS
BEEN IN FRONT OF THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE OVER THE
LAST TWO MEETINGS, AND BY WAY
OF REMINDER, THE ORDINANCE THAT
I JUST MENTIONED THAT WAS
COSPONSORED BY THE MEMBER
HERBOLD WAS BROUGHT TO US IN
TWO 2018 , AND PASSES
RESOLUTION 31853 , RICH
REQUIRED THAT A SMALL LIST OF
CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE
ENHANCED QUARTERLY MONITORING
BE IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL FOR
ITS CONSIDERATION AS DRAFTED
BY THE EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE. THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE PROVIDES A DRAFT
LIST, AND THEN EACH
COUNCILMEMBER IS OFFERED AN
INVITATION TO REVIEW THAT LIST
AND ADD ANY ADDITIONAL PROJECTS
TO THE WATCH LIST THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO SAY FOR ENHANCED
EVALUATION AND MONITORING
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF OUR
CALENDAR YEAR. COUNCILMEMBERS
WERE ALSO INVITED TO SUBMIT ANY
AMENDMENT THAT THEY HAD , AND
TO ALSO JOIN OUR COMMITTEE. I
WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE,
AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
WHO ADDED AN AMENDMENT AS WELL.
THE COMMITTEE VOTED AND
SUPPORTED TWO AMENDMENTS, ONE
FROM COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
ONE FROM COUNSEL NUMBER
HERBOLD, TO THE WATCH LIST. SO
THE AMENDED RESOLUTION IN FRONT
OF US DID PASS UNANIMOUSLY OUT
OF COUNCIL. THE MAYOR, THE
MAYOR AND HIS TEAM HAD
INDICATED THAT THEY WILL CONCUR
WITH THIS RESOLUTION , AS THEY
THINK THAT THIS IS A MANAGEABLE
WATCH LIST. IN ADDITION TO THE
OVERSIGHT THAT IS PROVIDED FROM
THIS CAPITAL PROJECTS WATCH
LIST, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT
SEVERAL OF THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS WITH OVERSIGHT OVER
SUBSTANCE, SUBSTANTIVE PROJECTS
ON THIS WATCH LIST MAY WANT TO
HAVE LENGTHIER PRESENTATIONS IN
THEIR OWN COMMITTEE, AND THEY
HAVE IN THEIR WORK PLAN FOR THE
COMMITTEE ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS
OF HOW THE CITY IS DOING WITH
STAYING ON TIME AND ON BUDGET,
UNDER BUDGET ON THESE PROJECTS.
SO , IN ADDITION TO THE ENTIRE
COUNCIL HAVING A FULL PROJECT
WATCH LIST, WE UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL
PRESENTATIONS IN EACH OF OUR
COMMITTEES ON CERTAIN PROJECTS
THAT THE CHAIR MAY BE
INTERESTED IN. I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
OF THIS LEGISLATION IN FRONT
OF US TODAY, AND, REALLY, TO
THANK CENTRAL STAFF FOR HIS
ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECTS WATCH
LIST IN FRONT OF US. ADAM
SCHAFFER'S FRONT ABO, DAN
NOLTE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR THE WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION, ALONG WITH
SHEPHERDING THIS ON THE SECOND
FLOOR WITH CENTRAL STAFF AS
WELL TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF
THOSE AMENDMENTS INCLUDED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM
PRESIDENT PRO TEM, HOPING FOR A
YES VOTE ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. IT'S A LONG LIST, AND
I HAD ABOUT 14 ITEMS THAT I WAS
CONTEMPLATING , AND MY STAFF
TALKED ME OUT OF ADDING THEM,
SO. WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON
THEM SEPARATELY, AND, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO GETTING UPDATED ON
THIS PARTICULAR LIST AT THE
RIGHT TIME. COLLEAGUES, ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
RESOLUTION OR THE LIST ITSELF?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY. ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA? OKAY. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MORALES?
>> YES.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED.
TWO THANK YOU. THE RESOLUTION
IS ADOPTED AND WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF
OKAY. I THINK WE'RE ON OUR
LAST ITEM , ITEM 5. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 5 IN THE
RECORD?
>> REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ASSETS
AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE ,
RESOLUTION 32084, RESOLUTION
RELATING TO SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION AUTHORIZING THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION TO ACT AS THE
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE AGENT
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE CITY COUNCIL
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL BE
ADDRESSING THIS ON BEHALF OF
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. I BELIEVE
YOU'RE SCHEDULED TO ADDRESS
THIS ITEM?
>> YES, THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT PRO TEM. ON BEHALF OF
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS , HE WANTED
TO REITERATE THAT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT PROVIDED A THOROUGH
PRESENTATION TO THE COMMITTEE
EXPLAINING BOTH THE HISTORY OF
THE STATE RECREATION AND
CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM AND
THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR
THESE APPLICATIONS. COMMITTEE
MEMBER'S QUESTIONS WERE
SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED, AND
THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS PATHOGEN ADOPTION
OF THIS RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION
32084 ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
>> SURE. THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY. COMMITTEE
MEMBER MOSQUEDA, ANY CLOSING
REMARKS? NO? OKAY. VERY GOOD.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
MORALES?
>> YES.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL
THE CLICK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF? OKAY. MOVING ON TO
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. THERE WERE NO ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. THERE ARE NO FURTHER
RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION
OR ADOPTION TODAY. IS THERE ANY
OTHER BUSY THIS TO COME BEFORE
COUNCIL? I AM NOT SEEING ANY
HANDS RAISED. OKAY. IN THAT
CASE, COLLEAGUES, THIS DOES
CONCLUDE THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE ON
FEBRUARY 28th, 2023. THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE
ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.