THE MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, MADAME CLERK, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE.
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD .
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ .
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT. MOVING TO OUR
AGENDA, WE HAVE TWO
PRESENTATIONS. TODAY WE HAVE ON
PROCLAMATION SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
PROCLAIMING APRIL 17, 2023 AS
CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE
DAY. THIS PROCLAMATION WAS
SIGNED LAST WEEK AND TODAY IT
WILL BE PRESENTED. FIRST,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL
PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION AND
THEN I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AFTER
COUNCIL MEMBERS MAKE THEIR
COMMENTS, WE WILL SUSPEND THE
RULES TO ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AND
PROVIDE COMMENTS AS WELL. THAT
BEING SAID, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT
AND WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR BEIN
HERE AND RECEIVING THIS
PROCLAMATION TODAY. TODAY'S
PROCLAMATION HONORS THE 48th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE REGIME
SEIZING THE CAMBODIAN CITY
CAPITAL. THE EVENTS ON THAT DAY
IN 1975 LED TO THE GENOCIDE OF
ABOUT 2 MILLION PEOPLE OVER A
FOUR YEAR PERIOD. NEARLY A
QUARTER OF THE ENTIRE BODY AND
POPULATION. WE COMMEMORATE
THIS DAY BECAUSE OF THE
RESILIENCE OF THE CAMBODIAN
COMMUNITY. THE RESILIENCE, THE
PRIDE, THE POWER THAT THE
COMMUNITY HAS, NOT JUST AROUND
THE GLOBE, BUT RIGHT HERE IN
SEATTLE AND IN WASHINGTON STATE
THE REASON SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
IS TAKING ON THIS PROCLAMATION
TODAY TO HONOR OUR COMMUNITY I
BECAUSE SEATTLE IS HOME TO THE
LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF
CAMBODIAN AMERICANS IN KING
COUNTY. AND, IN COUNTY HAS THE
THIRD HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF
CAMBODIAN AMERICANS IN THE
UNITED STATES. SIGNALING A
MULTIGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY, A
COMMUNITY FULL OF LEADERS AND
ELDERS. THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY.
HERE IN SEATTLE. IN KING COUNTY
AND WASHINGTON STATE. AND
TOGETHER WE RECOGNIZE THE
RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH, PRIDE
AND TENACITY OF THE CAMBODIAN
COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY THAT
HAS WORKED TOGETHER TO RECLAIM
CULTURAL CORNERSTONE NEARLY
EXTERMINATED BY THE REGIME AND
TO UPLIFT THIS COMMUNITY HERE
TODAY WE HONOR THEM WITH THIS
PROCLAMATION FOR ALL OF THE WOR
THEY HAVE DONE ON CULTURAL,
EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT AND
RESILIENCY HERE WITHIN OUR CIT
BORDERS AND WITHIN OUR COUNTY.
IN HONOR OF THE COMMUNITY WHO
ENRICHED ART CITIES CULTURE
THROUGH THEIR OWN, IT IS AN
HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE CAMBODIA
COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO REMEMBER
THIS TRAGIC ANNIVERSARY. TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE MUST
CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM THE PAST
IF WE HOPE TO AVOID EVER
REPEATING IT AGAIN. IN OUR OWN
CD COUNTY, COUNTRY OR ANYWHERE
ON THE GLOBE. I WANT TO THANK
WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW IS A LEADE
IN OUR COMMUNITY, DIRECTOR OF
PARTNERING CHANGE WHICH IS A
BIPOC LEAD AND BIPOC SERVING
COALITION. HOUSED WITHIN THE
EQUITY AND EDUCATION COALITION.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY WHO
REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE TO
SPONSOR THIS PROCLAMATION ON
BEHALF OF A NUMBER OF
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US
TODAY. INCLUDING THE CAMBODIAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF
WASHINGTON, THE LANGUAGE ARTS
ACADEMY, DEPORTATION ADVOCACY
GROUP, EQUITY AND EDUCATION
PARTNERS IN CHANGE PROGRAM, AND
THE BRITISH SOCIETY ALONG
WITH. THANKS TO OUR FELLOW
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THEIR
SIGNATURES , AS YOU ALREADY
HEARD, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS
ALSO SIGNED THIS PROCLAMATION
TODAY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, THE
BROADER CAMBODIAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY, AND TO REMEMBER THE
CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE SO WE CAN AL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS
TYPE OF HATE AND TERROR AND
CONTINUE TO STAY CONNECTED AND
SUPPORT OUR CAMBODIAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE WITH US
THRIVING AND CONTINUING TO PUSH
FOR GREATER COMMUNITY
CONNECTION. MADAM PRESIDENT, W
ARE THRILLED TO HAVE THREE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND A
LARGE NUMBER OF THE COMMUNITY A
WELL WHO ARE HERE TO RECEIVE TH
PROCLAMATION. MADAM PRESIDENT,
WHEN YOU SAY SO I WOULD LOVE TO
BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THEM BEFOR
WE PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS FROM ANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE MOVE
FORWARD? NOT SEEING ANY, IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO ACCEPT
THE PROCLAMATION AND PROVIDE
REMARKS. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE
NAMES AND FOR ME ARE --
CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> WONDERFUL. IF THOSE GUESTS
WOULD LIKE TO COME TO ANY OF TH
MICROPHONES AND MAKE SOME
COMMENTS, AND I ALSO RECOGNIZE
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOLKS FRO
THAT CAN BODY IN COMMUNITY WHO
ARE PRESENT IN THE AUDIENCE. IF
THE FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY WH
ARE HERE TO RECEIVE THE
PROCLAMATION, MADAM PRESIDENT,
IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, THEY CA
STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED BEHIND
THESE PRESENTERS THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR REACHIN
OUT. I WANT TO THANK MELANIE
FOR MY OFFICE WHO WAS ABLE TO
WORK WITH THE BROADER COMMUNIT
IS WELL TO CRAFT THIS
PROCLAMATION AND PARTNERSHIP
WITH ALL OF YOU. MELANIE WILL B
PRESENTING THE PROCLAMATION IN
JUST A MOMENT AS WELL. WELCOME
GUESTS.
>> TESTING. HELLO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL IN THE CITY O
SEATTLE FOR GIVING ME THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I SPEAK
ON BEHALF OF THE CAMBODIAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF
WASHINGTON. TODAY WE GATHER TO
REMEMBER THE 48th ANNIVERSARY
OF THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE. A
TRAGIC EVENT THAT CLAIMED THE
LIVES OF OVER 2 MILLION
CAMBODIANS . IT IS A SOMBER DAY
A DAY OF REFLECTION. A DAY TO
HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO
LOST THEIR LIVES AND TO
RECOGNIZE THE DEVASTATING
EFFECTS IT HAD ON THE CAMBODIN
PEOPLE. AMIDST THE TRAGEDY, TH
DEVASTATION, I SEE THE
RESILIENCY OF MY PEOPLE. HERE
IN WASHINGTON, THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES CONTINUE TO THRIVE ,
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE
FACED. WE HAVE BECOME AN
INTEGRAL PART OF WASHINGTON'S
HELPING PUT WINGS ON BOEINGS
AIRPLANES, WORKING IN
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION,
CONSTRUCTION, AND GOVERNMENTAL
POSITIONS. AND OUR BUSINESSES
HAVE BEEN FEEDING WASHINGTONIAN
AMAZING FOOD, COFFEE, AND
ESPECIALLY DONUTS. I ALSO SEE
THE RISE OF A SECOND GENERATIO
OF CAMBODIAN AMERICANS AS
WITNESSED HERE BY MANY OF OUR
YOUNG LEADERS IN ORGANIZATIONS
MY ORGANIZATION INCLUDED. WE
ARE INSPIRED BY OUR ELDERS , SO
WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING
ELEVATING AND STRENGTHENING TH
CAMBODIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
ACROSS WASHINGTON. AS WE
REMEMBER THIS TRAGIC EVENT, WE
MUST ALSO REMEMBER THAT THE
GENOCIDE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO
SILENCE OUR VOICES AND OUR
CULTURE. BUT TODAY, WE STAND
TOGETHER, STRONG, VIBRANT, AND
RESILIENT . WE ARE PROUD TO BE
CAMBODIAN AMERICAN, AND WE ARE
PROUD TO BE WASHINGTONIANS. IN
CLOSING, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE
THE COUNCIL FOR PROCLAIMING
TODAY IS THE DAY OF REMEMBRANC
. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE NEVER
FORGET THE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRE
48 YEARS AGO. AND WE MUST
CONTINUE TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES , BU
WE ALSO MUST REMEMBER THAT
DESPITE THE TRAGEDY, THE
CAMBODAN PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN
REMARKABLY, REMARKABLE
RESILIENCE. AND WE ARE HONORED
TO HAVE THEM AS PART OF OUR
COMMUNITY HERE IN WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE
ANOTHER SPEAKER? YES WE DO.
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I A
WITH THE LANGUAGE ARTS AND
CULTURE ACADEMY. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
SPONSORING THE PROCLAMATION.
MAYOR HARRELL, AND TO THE FULL
COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AS A
FIRST-GENERATION REFUGEE AND A
SURVIVOR OF THE CAMBODIAN
GENOCIDE, I AM HONORED TO BE
HERE WITH ALL OF YOU ON THIS
SOLEMN LOCATION. APRIL 17,
1975, WAS ONE OF THE DARKEST
TIMES IN HUMAN HISTORY WHERE
NEARLY 2 MILLION SOULS WERE
SYSTEMATICALLY KILLED BY THE
HANDS OF THE REGIME. ON THE
40th ANNIVERSARY, I WOULD LIKE
FOR US TO REMEMBER AND HONOR TH
SOULS LOST, REFLECT UPON THE
HISTORY OF HOW THIS TRAGIC EVEN
TOOK PLACE. AND PAY OUR RESPECT
TO THOSE WHO SURVIVED. ALTHOUG
I WAS VERY YOUNG WHEN WE ESCAPE
FROM CAMBODIA, I STILL REMEMBER
THE FEELING OF HOPELESSNESS AND
FEAR THAT I FELT ON THAT DAY.
TODAY I WANT US TO REMEMBER THE
MANY SOULS LOST . FOR ME
PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE TO
REMEMBER MY OLDER SISTER WHO
PERISHED DURING THE REGIME DUE
TO FORCED LABOR AND
MALNUTRITION. SHE WAS SIX YEARS
OLD. I ALSO WANT TO PAY MY
RESPECTS TO ALL THE SURVIVORS
úAND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COURA
AND RESILIENCY. ESPECIALLY I
WANT TO THANK MY MOM, WHO IS
HERE TODAY WITH ME VISITING
FROM CALIFORNIA . SHE HAD TO
ENDURE HOLDING BACK HER TEARS A
MY SISTER TOOK HER LAST BREATH
IN HER ARMS. I JUST CANNOT
IMAGINE THE KIND OF PAIN MY MOM
HAD TO GO THROUGH. I WANT TO
PAY MY RESPECTS TO MY
GRANDMOTHER , SHE IS 96 YEARS
OLD. SHE WANTED TO COME, SHE I
VISITING AS WELL, BUT COULDN'T.
TILL THIS DAY SHE HAS REMNANTS
OF SHRAPNEL INSIDE HER FROM THE
LANDMINE SHE STEPPED ON WHILE
TRYING TO ESCAPE. MY UNCLE, FO
HIS COURAGE AND WISDOM. HE SNUC
BACK INTO CAMBODIA AND
CORRUGATED ARE ESCAPE. THERE
RESILIENCY GIVES ME THE STRENGT
TO PERSEVERE IN THEIR LOVE
CONTINUES TO INSPIRE ME TO KEEP
SERVING. ALTHOUGH MANY OF US
HAVE ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGES
DURING OUR INITIAL RESETTLEMENT
HERE IN THE U.S., OUR
COMMUNITIES REBUILD
STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY,
RESERVING OUR CULTURE AND
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR
YOUNGER GENERATIONS. WE ARE
MAKING HISTORY ACROSS THE UNITE
STATES. WE HAVE ELECTED
OFFICIALS. WE HAVE COUNCIL
MEMBER WHO BECAME THE FIRST
CAMBODIAN AMERICAN ELECTED TO
OFFICE IN WASHINGTON STATE. IN
2018 WE HAVE THE FIRST
CAMBODIAN AMERICAN WOMAN
APPOINTED AS COMMISSIONER TO TH
GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON ASIAN
PACIFIC AMERICAN AFFAIRS OF
WASHINGTON STATE. AND MOST
RECENTLY, THE FIRST CAMBODIAN
DESIGNATED AS DIGITAL MEDIA
MANAGER APPOINTEE FOR THE
WASHINGTON STATE OFFICE OF THE
GOVERNOR. WE HAVE BUILT CAMBODI
TOWN , SMALL BUSINESSES,
INNOVATED THE DONUT INDUSTRY, W
ARE PROFESSIONALS, RELIGIOUS
LEADERS, EDUCATORS, WRITERS,
ARTISTS, CARETAKERS, BOATERS,
ADVOCATES, AND SO MUCH MORE.
FROM THE DARKEST DEPTHS, OUR
PEOPLE HAVE RISEN. WE ARE
RESILIENT AND MUST BE DEEPLY
COMMITTED TO TAKING ACTION WHER
NEEDED , TO SUPPORT, ADVOCATE,
LOVE, AND UPLIFT ONE ANOTHER. W
MUST ALSO BE COMMITTED TO
PRESERVING THE CAMBODIAN
CULTURE. A RICH AND BEAUTIFUL
CULTURE THAT WAS ONCE ALMOST
OBLITERATED . WE ARE ONLY AS
STRONG AS THE COMMUNITY BEHIND
US. AS FIERCE AS OUR PEERS
ALONGSIDE OF US. AS BRAVE AS
THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US,
AND AS POWERFUL AS A YOUTH WHO
WILL TAKE OUR LEGACY FORWARD.
TODAY'S COMMEMORATION OF THE
CAMBRIAN GENOCIDE GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER AND
BRING AWARENESS SO THAT NEVER
HAPPENS AGAIN. WE MUST ALSO
STAND IN SOLIDARITY AGAINST
HATE, RACISM, INTOLERANCE,
OPPRESSION. WE MUST NEVER FORGE
. AGAIN, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, MAYOR
HARRELL, AND THE FULL COUNCIL
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. WE
APPRECIATE YOU, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
>> DO WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER ?
>> WE DO, SHE'S JUST GOING TO
THE MICROPHONE. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, I AM A COFOUNDER FO
THE ADVOCACY GROUP. ALSO KNOWN
AS H. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA SO MUCH FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND MAKING IT
POSSIBLE TO HAVE CAMBODIAN
úREMEMBRANCE OF THE GENOCIDE
THIS WEEK IN OUR GREAT CITY OF
SEATTLE. THANK YOU ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND MAYOR HARRELL,
PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL AS WELL FO
SUPPORTING THIS PROCLAMATION
WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND REBUILDING AND
HEALING. AS YOU KNOW,
WASHINGTON STATE IS HOME TO THE
THIRD LARGEST APPELLATION OF
CAMBODIANS OUTSIDE OF CAMBODIA.
OUR ARRIVAL IN THE U.S. MARKED
THE LARGEST WAVE TO BE
RESETTLED IN THE U.S. HISTORY.
ALONG WITH VIETNAMESE , LAOTIAN
AND OTHER MINORITY GROUPS FRO
SOUTHEAST ASIA. WE RECOGNIZE
CONFLICT AND GENOCIDE ARE VERY
DIFFICULT TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.
IT IS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT FO
OUR ELDERS, SURVIVORS AND NOW
OUR YOUTH. TO BE ABLE TO TALK
ABOUT THESE EXPERIENCES.
BECAUSE, OUR COMMUNITY SUFFERS
FROM THE HIGHEST, SOME OF THE
HIGHEST RATES OF POST TRAUMATIC
STRESS IN THE COUNTRY. IN THE
2015 STUDY BY PSYCHIATRIC
SERVICES, THEY FOUND THAT 97% O
CAMBODIANS IN OUR COMMUNITY WH
WERE PARTICIPANTS MET THE
CRITERIA FOR POST TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER ALSO KNOWN AS
PSD. THOSE SURPASS THE RATE OF
THE U.S. POPULATION AS A WHOLE
WHICH IS 3.5%. AND U.S. VETERAN
WHICH IS A RATE OF UP TO 30%.
AND MANY OF OUR FAMILIES AS
MENTIONED WERE RESETTLED INTO
UNDER RESOURCED FAILING
COMMUNITIES FACING SOME OF THE
HIGHEST RATES OF POVERTY,
INCARCERATION AND NOW WITH POO
EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, WE ARE
FACING RETRAUMATIZATION WITH
ISSUED DEPORTATIONS. THESE ARE
SOME OF THE HISTORICAL AND
STRUCTURAL HARDSHIPS OUR
COMMUNITIES HAVE FACED. BUT
DESPITE THIS DIVERSITY AND
TRAUMA, CAMBODIANS ARE
RESILIENT. WE ARE DEEPLY
COMMITTED TO TAKING ACTION WHER
WE CAN. TO ADVOCATE, TO LOVE, T
UPLIFT, AND TO WORK WITH AND
BUILD WITH OUR FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW
SEATTLE IS HOME TO OVER 700,00
RESIDENTS IN KING COUNTY. AND
KING COUNTY AS A WHOLE HAS 202
MILLION RESIDENTS . IF YOU CAN
IMAGINE , FOR A SECOND, AND I
APOLOGIZE FOR THIS VISUAL, IF
EVERYBODY IN SEATTLE , IN KING
COUNTY, WHICH IS OVER 60 CITIES
IF ALL OF US PERISHED OVERNIGHT
, OVER 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE JUST
GONE. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN
CAMBODIA BETWEEN 1975 AND 1979.
THIS IS WHY WE FIGHT TO END AL
FORMS OF FAMILY SEPARATION. AS
REFUGEES WE KNOW INTIMATELY THE
COST OF OR, GENOCIDE,
DEPORTATION AND VIOLENCE.
LEARNING FROM THE COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US, THE
RIGHTS, IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS,
WOMEN'S RIGHTS, EVENLY
INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT
AS REFUGEES WE KNOW IT WAS
THROUGH THESE PAST POLICY
EFFICACIES THAT ARE RESETTLEMEN
WAS MADE POSSIBLE. ONE OF THE
VERY LAST SERMONS DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. DELIVERED WAS
TITLED BEYOND VIETNAM. BREAK TH
SILENCE. ALONG WITH ANTIWAR
ADVOCATES, HE ARGUED FOR
UNDERSTANDING AND UNITY AROUND
THE CONFLICT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
AND BOLDLY SPOKE OUT AGAINST TH
INVASIONS AND BOMBINGS OF
CAMBODIA AND LAOS. MANY BLACK
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS IN FACT
FLEW TO BORDER CAMPS IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA TO HELP OUR
COMMUNITY SAFELY EMIGRATE SUCH
AS DIANE NASH. WE UNDERSTAND TH
STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES THESE
LEADERS HAVE FACED IN BRINGING
ABOUT CHANGE. SO WE OWE A GREAT
DEAL TO THE LEADERS, THE CITY,
THE STATE, WHO WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST TO ACCEPT REFUGEES FROM
SOUTHEAST ASIA. AND OUR ALLIES
OR VETERANS WHO HAVE ALSO FOUGH
FOR AND ALONGSIDE OUR
COMMUNITIES. LASTLY, AND MOST
IMPORTANT, APRIL IS ACTUALLY A
MONTH OF CELEBRATION FOR OUR
YEAR. IT WAS MEANT TO BE A HOL
MONTH THAT WAS INTERRUPTED
BECAUSE OF CONFLICT. THE WAR.
IT ALMOST DESTROYED OUR WAY OF
LIFE. IN CAMBODIAN WE SAY,
HAPPY NEW YEAR . SO TODAY WE
TAKE IT BACK, WE WILL CELEBRATE
WE WILL HONOR , AND WE WILL
BUILD WITH ONE ANOTHER . WE CAN
BE PART OF THIS PROGRESS, ALL O
US, LEARNING ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROCLAMATION
AND HISTORY IS A WAY FOR ALL OF
US TO HONOR THIS HISTORY AND
SPREAD AWARENESS OF THE GOAL OF
NEVER AGAIN. ON BEHALF OF OUR
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY, WE
THANK EVERYONE HERE IN THOSE
TUNING IN FOR SUPPORT TODAY. TO
EVERYONE, WE WISH EVERYONE A
HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS AND
PEACEFUL NEW YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT
WILL WALK DOWN, JUST A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO OUR
THREE GUESTS . AND COUNCILMEMBE
, AND ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES WH
FIXED THEIR SIGNATURE TO THE
PROCLAMATION. FOR THE CAMBODIA
GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY WHICH
WAS APRIL 17. SO,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
APPROACHING OUR GUESTS TO
HANDOVER THE PROCLAMATION. I'M
GUESSING YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
PHOTO OP. WE WILL HOLD FOR THAT
WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK ALL
THE FOLKS THAT CAME OUT TODAY T
SUPPORT CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE
REMEMBRANCE DAY FROM 40 YEARS
AGO. SUCH A TRAGIC HISTORY. AND
AS YOU SHARED FROM HER LAST
SPEAKER, MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF BRUTAL
GENOCIDE AND THAT DOESN'T EVER
LEAVE US. THE HISTORICAL TRAUMA
NEVER LEAVES US. IN FACT, THIS
SUNDAY I WILL BE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR AT THE TO LAYLA TRIBE
MEETING WITH ELDERS WHO
EXPERIENCED BOARDING SCHOOLS.
SO THIS ALL KIND OF FALLS
TOGETHER. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, FOR
HAVING THE PROCLAMATION, HAVING
GUESTS, AND GIVING US A DAY TO
REMEMBER WHAT THESE TYPE OF
REGIMES DO TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
SIMPLY TRYING TO LIVE THEIR
LIVES. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO
OUR AGENDA, TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
MADAME CLERK, THE LAST TIME WE
SPOKE YOU SAID THERE WERE 30
REMOTE SPEAKERS AND 24 PEOPLE I
CHAMBERS, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
DO. WE'RE GOING TO START,
EVERYBODY PLEASE LISTEN, ONE
MINUTE, LISTEN FOR THE 10
MINUTE DING IF YOU WILL, WE HAT
CUTTING PEOPLE OFF, ESPECIALLY
REMOTE PEOPLE:. STAR SIX, AS
YOU ALL KNOW. WE WILL START WIT
THE REMOTE PEOPLE FIRST. IS
THAT WHAT I SAID EARLIER? NOW
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER. NO.
LET'S DO THE OPPOSITE. WE HAVE
LESS SPEAKERS IN CHAMBERS.
LET'S START WITH THE IN PERSON
PEOPLE FIRST. AND EVERYBODY IN
CHAMBERS, I NORMALLY DON'T
ANNOUNCE THIS, BUT I WILL NOW,
SINCE I AM A COMPROMISED PERSON
I'M UNDER SUPERVISION FOR LONG
COVID, THAT IS WHY AM NOT OUT
THERE. SO WE WILL START WITH TH
IN PERSON FOLKS. ONE MINUTE.
PLEASE MIND THE CLOCK. BECAUSE
AT ONE MINUTE YOU WILL BE CUT
OFF. AND THEN WE MOVED TO
REMOTE SPEAKERS. WITH THAT,
MADAME CLERK, I'M GOING TO HAND
IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> HELLO SEATTLE, WE HAVE THE
EMERALD CITY. BUILT ON
INDIGENOUS LAND, THE TRADITIONA
TERRITORY OF THE COAST SALISH
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 A VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT, YOU MAY REGISTER TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING VIA
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE. HERE'S SOME INFORMATIO
ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS ARE CALLE
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 USE THE MEETING ID
AND PASSCODE 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 I
IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL
LISTENING LINE MEETING ID
PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA. ONCE A
SPEAKER'S NAME IS CALLED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
UNMUTED AND AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT
WILL SAY, "THE HOST WOULD LIKE
YOU TO UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE."
THAT IS YOUR CUE THAT IT'S YOUR
TURN TO SPEAK. AT THAT TIME, YO
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 YOU'RE
ADDRESSING. A CHIME WILL SOUND
WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOU
ALLOTTED TIME AS A GENTLE
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT. 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 FROM
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND JOI
US BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING VI
SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST OR TH
LISTENING LINE LISTED ON THE
AGENDA. THE COUNCIL RESERVES TH
RIGHT TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC
COMMENT IF THE SYSTEM IS BEING
ABUSED OR IF THE PROCESS IMPEDE
THE COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO CONDUC
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 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 WIL
ASSIST IN OUR ORDERLY
CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. PLEASE REMEMBER TO
PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HEAR
THE PROMPT, "YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED." THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> THE FIRST IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS JESSICA RAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
JESSICA RAY, STEWARD FOR THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN. THAN
YOU FOR HAVING US. I AM HERE
TODAY USING MY LUNCH BREAK TO
PRESENT YOU WITH OUR PETITION
REPRESENTING OVER 6000 CITY
EMPLOYEES. WE DESERVE A FAIR
CONTRACT WITH EQUITABLE WAGES
AND BENEFITS WITH HISTORIC
INFLATION RATES OF THE LAST FEW
YEARS, THAT MEANS A COST OF
LIVING INCREASE SO WE CAN AFFOR
TO LIVE IN THE CITY WE ALL SERV
EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE 1% THAT
WAS OFFERED TO US WAS OFFERED I
THE NAME OF INCREASING RACIAL
AND SOCIAL INEQUITY, THOUGH THE
EFFECTS OF OFFERING SUCH A LOW
COST OF INCREASE IS QUITE THE
OPPOSITE. OUR CONTRACT
REPRESENTS AN INCREDIBLE AND
DIVERSE SPREAD OF PEOPLE SERVIN
OUR COMMUNITY. WE KEEP THE
LIGHTS ON, WE KEEP THE STREETS
CLEAN. WE KEEP THE CITY RUNNING
WE COVER ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF
THE CITY FROM FIRE 2911 DISPATC
TO CITY LIGHT AND BEYOND. WE
PRIORITIZE THE CITY EVERY SINGL
DAY. IT IS TIME THE CITY
PRIORITIZES US ESSENTIAL IN
EVERY DAY WORKERS. THANK YOU.
>> SECOND SPEAKER IS ANN
TIFFANY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ANN AND
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF LOCAL 28
THREE THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRAR
EMPLOYEES. I AM HERE AS A
LIBRARIAN I TIME TO SPEAK TO TH
PETITION FROM THE COALITION OF
CITY UNIONS. AND I WANT TO
MOSTLY JUST A REMINDER THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR OF
SOMETHING YOU ARE ALREADY VERY
FAMILIAR WITH. THAT IS, THAT FO
EVERY VISION YOU HAVE, EVERY
INITIATIVE THAT YOU SPONSOR, AN
EVERY COMMITMENT THAT YOU MAKE
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, IT IS THE 6000 WORKER
OF THE COALITION OF CITY UNIONS
WHO ARE OUT THERE ON THE STREET
MAKING THOSE DREAMS A REALITY.
WE BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY IN THA
WORK, WE SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR
LEADERSHIP, AND WE NEED YOUR
SUPPORT IN RETURN TO ENSURE THA
WE CAN CONTINUE TO AFFORD TO
WORK AS CITY EMPLOYEES CARRYIN
OUT THESE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS.
I LEAVE YOU WITH ONE QUESTION,
AND THAT IS, DO YOU SUPPORT OU
CALL TO ENSURE THAT WAGES KEEP
UP WITH INFLATION FOR CITY
EMPLOYEES? THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CATRINA
HERNANDEZ.
>> I AM A 911 DISPATCHER WITH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I HAVE A
RELATIVELY EASY TIME BE
CONSIDERED A SOCIAL WORKER. WE
WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A CITY
THAT DOESN'T JUST HAVE EXIST
BUT THRIVE. WE DESERVE TO HAVE
PUBLIC SPACES, LIBRARIES, AND W
CAN'T DO THAT AND BE A
PROGRESSIVE CITY WITHOUT FAIR
WAGES. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO TAL
A BIG GAME ABOUT HOW WE ARE
HOLDING PRIVATE INDUSTRY
ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY CAN'T DO
THE THINGS WE ARE SAYING THEY
ARE FAILING TO DO TO PROVIDE FO
WORKERS. I WANT TO LEAVE THIS
WITH YOU SEE YOU CAN TAKE IT
AND HOLD THE FULL WEIGHT OF IT
AND FEEL JUST HOW MUCH SUPPORT
WE HAVE GARNERED AND HOW
IMPORTANT THIS IS TO US. IN SUC
A SHORT TIME. BECAUSE, WE WANT
TO BE HERE AND WE ARE GETTING
PUSHED OUT OF HER OWN CITY. THA
IS NOT WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT
THIS TO BE A CITY, TO LIVE IN
THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.
BEFORE OUR NEXT SPEAKERS COME
UP, I WANT TO SAY WE AND THEY
THE OVERLAPPING GROUPS OF
WORKERS AND TENANTS ALL DESERVE
--
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARSHALL
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWIN
ME TO SPEAK. I THINK TO URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT AND VOTE YES ON
CAPPING RENT LATE FEES AT $10
PER MONTH. NO LANDLORD NEEDS AN
EXTRA $40 PER MONTH. THE
AMENDMENT TO MAKE IT $50 PER
MONTH IS ASININE. WE NEED TO
STOP THE SHAMELESS AMENDMENT,
STOP THE RIDICULOUS FINANCIAL
EXPLOITATION OF RENTERS IN THE
CITY. $50 CAN BE A WEEK OF
GROCERIES, MEDICINE OR GAS FOR
MANY GROCERS AND WE SHOULD NOT
ALLOW LANDLORDS TO EXPLOIT
RENTERS. IT WOULD BE A SIMPLE
STEP TO PROTECT PEOPLE WHO LIVE
HERE, PREVENT FINANCIAL
EXPECTATION IN OUR CITIES
ALREADY TIGHT HOUSING. LET'S NO
MAKE THE BURDEN ON RENTERS OARS
STOP THE RENT EXPLOITATION AND
VOTE YES TO CAP THE RENT FEES A
$10 PER MONTH. YOU KNOW WHAT TO
DO. VOTE AND SUPPORT YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SAM, A
MEMBER OF THE STAGEHAND YOU
LOCAL UNIT 15. I URGE ALL DEMS
ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO REVERSE
THE LATE FEE CAP FROM $10-$50.
WE DEMAND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
VOTE YES ON THE AMENDMENT TO
BRING THE CAP BACK TO $10. I
RECENTLY HAD TO ENDURE A RENT
INCREASE DURING THE TRANSITION
PERIOD THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM
UNDER CHARGED ME. I HAD THE
MONEY BUT THE NEXT DAY I
RECEIVED A 14 DAY NOTICE THAT I
HAD TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE OR BE
FORCIBLY EVICTED. LANDLORDS GET
15 DAY GRACE PERIODS ON THEIR
MORTGAGE PAYMENTS. RENTERS
DON'T. WE HAVE TO FIGHT THIS
HARD JUST TO KEEP THE FEE AT
$10. I HAD THE MONEY FOR THE
DIFFERENCE, BUT I DID NOT HAVE
$50 FOR A LATE FEE , THAT
WOULD'VE BEEN A WEEKS WORTH OF
MEALS. RENTERS NEED TO STAND I
SOLIDARITY WITH EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT SPEAKER .
>> HI, MY NAME IS KATIE WILSON
AND HERE WITH THE TRANSIT RIDER
UNION AND THE STAY HOUSED STAY
HEALTHY COALITION. IN 2021 THE
COALITION CAME TOGETHER TO TRY
TO FIGHT FOR HOUSING SECURITY
DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AN
BEYOND. THE COALITION COMPRISES
OVER 50 COMMUNITY GROUPS, FAIT
GROUPS, LABOR UNIONS, SERVICE
PROVIDERS, ALL COMING TOGETHER
TO TRY TO PASS STRONGER
PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS IN
JURISDICTIONS AROUND KING
COUNTY. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THI
$10 CAP ON LATE FEES. AND ALSO
BANNING NOTICE DELIVERY FEES.
WE ASK THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES
ON THE AMENDMENT TO BRING THIS
LEGISLATION BACK TO ITS
ORIGINAL FORM CAPPING LATE FEES
AT $10. AND, AUBURN AND BURIEN
HAVE BOTH DONE THIS. SEATTLE
CAN TOO. LET'S GET IT DONE.
THANK YOU.
>> ALICIA. ALICIA BURTON.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ALICIA
BURTON AND I AM FROM
NICKELSVILLE. NICKELSVILLE IS
IN FAVOR OF CAPPING RENTAL LATE
FEES AT $10 PER MONTH. I URGE
ALL DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE
REGRESSIVE AMENDMENT THAT WATE
DOWN THE LATE CAPPY FROM $10
PER MONTH TO $50. COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO TAKE HOME $140,000
PER YEAR WHILE POOR PEOPLE
STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
LANDLORDS GET A 15 DAY GRACE
PERIOD. FOR THE MORTGAGE
PAYMENTS. WHAT ABOUT RENTERS?
WE DON'T GET ANY. LET'S VOTE
THE $10 DOWN.
>> PAGE RUBEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
KATE RUBEN. I AM A RENTER LIVIN
IN DISTRICT 2. I AM THE
COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE AND A MEMBER OF THE STA
HOUSED STAY HEALTHY COALITION.
AM ASKING YOU TODAY TO SUPPORT
THE AMENDMENT TO CAP LATE FEES
AT $10. RENTS NOW ARE EXTREMEL
HIGH, SOME RENTERS ARE HANGING
MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR INCOME,
SOMETIMES EVEN THREE QUARTERS O
THE INCOME FOR RENT. WHEN
EMERGENCY CAN MAKE YOU BEHIND
AND HIGH LATE FEES CAN MAKE IT
YOU CAN NEVER GET CAUGHT UP.
FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS EARNING A
LOT OF MONEY HOURLY, $50 MAY NO
BE THAT MUCH. BUT IF YOU ARE A
MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEE AND PAYIN
MOST OF YOUR SALARY TO RENT
ALREADY, GETTING YOUR WAY UP TO
$50 WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY GOT SO
MUCH GOING TO RENT IS NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE. THIS MEANS FOOD FO
YOUR FAMILY OR GAS TO GET TO
WORK OR JUST STAYING BEHIND
FOREVER. THANK YOU.
>> GWENDOLYN HEART.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM A
RENTER IN SEATTLE AND A MEMBER
OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. AM HERE
TO URGE ALL DEMOCRATS AT CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON THE
AMENDMENT TO BRING THE LATE FEE
CAP FOR RENTERS DOWN TO $10 PER
MONTH. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE
MIDST OF A MASSIVE
COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS,
SKYROCKETING RENTS AND SURGING
PRICES FOR SUBSIDIES. RENTERS
ARE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN
THE CITY AND WE ARE PAYING THE
HEAVIEST COST FOR THIS CRISIS.
THANKS TO RENTERS RIGHTS THE
PAST FEW YEARS, WE MANAGED TO
GET FAR BUT THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING. IF YOU WANT TO SAVE
PEOPLE FROM THE SKYROCKETING
RISKS OF BEING FORCED FROM THEI
HOMES WE NEED TO FURTHER THIS
AND FORCED A VOTE ON CITYWIDE
RENT CONTROL WITH NO CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES THAT CAN SAVE PEOPLE
FROM THIS INCREDIBLE BURDEN. I
CALL ON THE DEMOCRATS TODAY, I
KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BENEFITED
FROM YOUR CAMPAIGN, SIDE WITH
THE UNIONS AND THE MAJORITY OF
SEATTLE AND VOTE YES IN THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> ANDREA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
DIRECTING ATTORNEY OF THE TENAN
LA CENTER. AND FOR MARK
COUNCILMEMBER STAFFER AND I
WORKED HARD ON HOUSING POLICY
STUFF, SINCE I WAS 20 HAVE BEE
WORKING ON POLICY STUFF. AT THE
TENANT LA CENTER I-TEAM IS
ENTERED 192 RENTERS CALLS FROM
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THIS TIME
LAST YEAR WE ANSWERED 99. THAT
IS BECAUSE RENTERS ARE
STRUGGLING AND THEY ALL HAVE AN
ISSUE , NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES, W
NEED REASONABLE RENT
RESTRICTIONS ON FEES IN THESE
THINGS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IS
NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT HALF O
OUR CITY IS ABLE TO SURVIVE AND
PROSPER. IS A FORMER LANDLORD,
WHEN I HAD RENTERS THAT WERE
STRUGGLING WITH PAYING RENT ON
TIME, I MOVED IT DUE ON THE
FIFTH. MY GROCERY STORE UIGHURS
WORKERS ARE PAID WEEKLY, I HA
100% ? COLLECTION I PASSED MY
STATE INTO THE AUDITS. THE
HUMANE.
>> DEMETRA
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM WITH
WOMEN IN BLACK LAST WEDNESDAY
WE STOOD FOR ANOTHER 32 PEOPLE
WHO DIED HOMELESS JUSTIN MARC
THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION,
BETWEEN PEOPLE WERE EVICTED AN
WHO DIE ON THE STREETS. A LATE
FEE , BY THE WAY, WE STOOD
WRAPPED UP IN RED TAPE. JUST
LIKE A LOT OF THE EFFORTS.
YEAH. LATE FEES DO NOT
CONTRIBUTE TO PEOPLE PAYING TH
RENT ON TIME. THEY DO
CONTRIBUTE TO PEOPLE BEING
EVICTED INTO DESPAIR AND DYING
. WE NEED A $10 CAP. $50 CAN
MEAN A WEEKS WORTH OF GROCERIES
BEING LATE A DAY --
>> KEN
>> MY NAME IS KEN, I'M WITH
WORKERS STRIKE BACK AND I AM A
RENTER. I URGE THE DEMOCRATS TO
REVERSE THE AMENDMENT FROM A $5
LATE FEE CAP BACK DOWN TO $10.
I HAVE GOT TO ASK WHY $50? IS
THAT THE BEST NUMBER YOU CAN GE
OUT OF SOMEBODY IN HARD TIMES?
I MEAN US RENTERS KNOW THE GAME
IF WE CAN'T PAY THE RENT WE AR
ON THE STREET. THAT LATE FEE IS
JUST NICKEL AND DIMING US. THAT
$50 FOR ME, THAT'S FOOD FOR
WEEK. IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE,
BETWEEN A MEAL AND A PLACE TO
LIVE FOR THE NEXT MONTH, I KNOW
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I'M GOING
TO BE HUNGRY. I GOT TO ASK, IN
THIS CITY, ONE OF THE RICHEST
CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, SO I
ASK, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, STA
WITH US, NOT THE LANDLORDS. BUT
YES.
>> MELINA.
>> HELLO, I AM FROM THE ELDERS
VENTURES ORGANIZATION OF SEATTL
AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. WE
HAVE HEARD HOW THE $10 LATE FE
, IT WAS $50 , IT WAS $10 AND
NOW IT'S $50. IT IS TOO MUCH. I
UNDERSTAND THE IDEA BEHIND
PENALTIES, IT IS SUPPOSED TO
HELP PEOPLE JUST NOT BE LATE ON
THE RENT, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH
THIS KIND OF A PENALTY IS , WHE
IT GETS HIGHER THAN $10, IT IS
TOO MUCH AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH
MORE A PENALTY IS A BECOMES A
HARASSMENT IN AWAY. WHEN YOU
ONLY HAVE MINIMUM WAGE OR
LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY, IT I
NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE ON. FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE $10 IS A LOT TO ME.
WE NEED TO CAP IT. WE NEED TO
CAP IT. IT IS JUST TOO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> NATALIE BAILEY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO MY
NAME IS NATALIE BAILEY, A
SEATTLE RENTER. A MEMBER OF
ALTERNATIVE, WITH WORKERS STRIK
BACK. I URGE ALL DEMOCRATS TO
REVERSE THIS AMENDMENT THAT
WATER DOWN THE FEE FROM $10 A
MONTH TO $50. WE DEMAND COUNCI
MEMBERS VOTE YES ON THE
AMENDMENT TO BRING IT BACK , TH
LATE FEE BACK TO $10 PER MONTH.
I ALSO STAND IN SUPPORT WITH
UNION MEMBERS AND WORKERS
FIGHTING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN
THE CITY. I THINK THIS IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT FIGHT TO BE
WILL TO DO THAT. THE ONLY REASO
WE ARE HERE IS BECAUSE OF THE
STRENGTH OF THE MOVEMENT THAT
HAS WON SO MUCH AND WE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO PUSH THAT FORWARD.WE
CAN'T ALLOW THIS TO BE $50.
IT'S AN ONEROUS AMOUNT. WHEN I
CAN'T REALLY AFFORD AND I THINK
THIS REALLY SHOWS, WHILE I THIN
THE DEMOCRATS WHO SAID THEY HAV
VOTE YES ON THIS, WE NEED A
PARTY OF OUR OWN, WE CAN'T REL
ON THE STRATEGY OF THE
DEMOCRATS, WE NEED TO HAVE A
MOVEMENT THAT WILL FIGHT FOR
RENT CONTROL. THANK YOU.
>> DUNN.
>> I AM ON THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE DRIVERS UNION.
WE ARE AFFILIATED WITH TEAMSTER
117 AND THE FIRST UNION
CONTRACTORS IN UNITED STATES
THANKS TO THE SPORT OF YOU GUYS
I WANT TO ASK YOU TODAY TO
REJECT THE $50 LATE FEE IN FAVO
OF THE $10 LATE FEE. ALTHOUGH
THINK $10 IS ACTUALLY GENEROUS
AND UNNECESSARY. I'VE LIVED IN
THE SAME APARTMENT FOR 22 YEARS
IN 2016 LANDLORD BEGAN A SERIES
OF BIANNUAL AND ANNUAL RENT
INCREASES WHICH MEANS I SPENDIN
$7500 MORE PER YEAR ON RENT
THAT I WAS IN 2016. WHAT THAT
MEANS IS AS AN LIFT DRIVER I
WORK 10-12 WEEKS PER YEAR TO
PAY MY RENT INCREASE. IF MY
LANDLORD NEEDS LATE FEES I THIN
HE CAN FIND THAT [ INDISCERNIBL
] THE RENT INCREASES HE IS
SUBJECTED HIS RENTERS TO THE
LAST SIX YEARS. VERY MUCH.
>> MARGO STEWART.
>> MY NAME IS MARGO. I WORK AND
RENT ON FIRST HILL AND I AM AN
ACTIVIST WITH WORKERS STRIKE
BACK. I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT
THE DEMOCRATS ON THE COUNCIL
REVERSE THE SHAMEFUL AMENDMENT
NICKEL AND DIMING RENTERS BY
RAISING THE LATE KEPT FEE TO
$50. AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, IT'S
BECAUSE OF OUR TENETS MOVEMENT
THAT THIS IS EVEN ON THE TABLE
BUT OF COURSE THE DIFFERENCE OF
$40 MEANS MUCH MORE TO A RENTER
LIKE ME LIVING PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK THAN IT DOES TO A
LANDLORD. THIS IS JUST A REALLY
NEEDLESS CONCESSION TO SOME OF
THE LARGEST LANDLORDS IN THE
COUNTRY MAKING SOME OF THE
HIGHEST PROFIT MARGINS FRANKLY
IN THE WORLD. I ALSO WANT TO
SECOND SOLIDARITY WITH THE CITY
EMPLOYEES, THE 1% RAISE BEING
PROPOSED IS JUST AN OUTRAGEOUS
INSULT. I THINK IT IS ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF CITY DEMOCRATS TRYIN
TO MAKE WORKERS PAY FOR THIS
ECONOMIC CRISIS . WE NEED WAGES
THE KEEP UP AND WE NEED LATE
FEES THAT ARE CRUSHING US WHILE
WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THAT. I
THINK ULTIMATELY WE NEED A
STRONG MOVEMENT AND A NEW PARTY
TO WIN THOSE THINGS.
>> WE HAVE ERIC.
>> I AM ERICK TORRES WITH LOCA
15. AM HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU T
CAP THE RENTAL FEE TO $10. I
WORK FOR THE LH. BUT RIGHT
NOW, I'VE BEEN HURT FOR SIX
MONTHS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO
WORK. I AM BARELY MAKING ,
YOU'RE GOING TO ASK ME TO PAY
AN EXTRA $40 THE CAN ACTUALLY
FEED ME FOR THREE DAYS. RIGHT?
AND LISTENING TO ALL THESE
OTHER PEOPLE OUT HERE, RIGHT,
AND I'M LOOKING AT PEOPLE IN M
NEIGHBORHOOD LIVING IN TENTS ,
RIGHT? I WONDER WHY THEY ARE
INTENSE. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TH
REAL ESTATE MARKET MAKE A LOT O
MONEY, BUT YOU GOT TO COME AFTE
PEOPLE WHO WORK , RIGHT, TO MAK
UP YOUR EXTRA BITS? I DON'T
THINK SO. ANYWAY, THANK YOU.
>> ELLEN ANDERSON.
>> HELLO , I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 2. ORGANIZER WITH
WORKERS STRIKE BACK. I AM HERE
TO URGE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
REVERSE THE INCREDIBLY
REGRESSIVE PRO-CORPORATE
LANDLORD AMENDMENT THAT WATERS
DOWN LATE KEPT FEE FROM $10 ,
$50-$10 PER MONTH. WE DEMAND TH
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE YES O
THIS AMENDMENT TO BRING THE LAT
KEPT FEE BACK TO $10. WOULD YOU
STAND WITH? YOU STAND WITH
RENTERS OR THE LANDLORD LOBBY?
BECAUSE LANDLORDS ARE MAKING
OFTEN HAND OVER FIST WHILE
RENTERS ARE AGGRESSIVELY
STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF
LIVING AS IT IS. I CANNOT
UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD MAKE
THE CHOICE, THE ACTIVE CHOICE T
ADD THIS ADDITIONAL BURDEN TO
YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IN ADDITION
TO THIS, WE NEED TO ORGANIZE TO
FIGHT BACK AGAINST THESE SAME
COST-OF-LIVING AND WHEN BACK I
CONTROL. I ALSO WANT TO SAY I
STAND WITH UNION MEMBERS AND
PCC MEMBERS, THIS ABSOLUTELY HA
A DIRECT TIE. IF YOU SUPPORT
LABOR, IF YOU SUPPORT WORKERS,
YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> EVAN FAIRBORN. SLICK HELLO
MY NAME IS EVAN FAIRBORN. A
MEMBER OF SEIU, SERVICE
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION.
ALSO WORK FOR D SC A LOCAL
NONPROFIT IRKING TO HOUSE
PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREET.
PEOPLE WHO BEAR THE IMMENSE
STIGMA, MARGINALIZATION AND
DISENFRANCHISEMENT FROM THE
HANDS OF GREEDY AND CORPORATE
ELITES. OUR LIVES BEAR WITNESS
TO THE CORRUPTION AND INEQUITY
THAT CONTINUES TO WRAP THIS
NATION AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL
CRITICAL MASS OF EVERYDAY PEOPL
TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE ELITE
RULING CLASS. THE OLIGARCHY AN
ITS HENCHMEN. WE DEMAND COMES
MEMBERS OF VOTE YES ON THE
AMENDMENT TO BRING THE LATE FEE
ON RENT BACK TO A CAP OF $10 PE
MONTH. THE POINT I WISH TO MAKE
HERE TODAY IS TO FOOL. NUMBER
ONE, THIS DOES NOT TAKE ANYTHIN
AWAY FROM THE ALREADY RICH
LANDLORDS. IT MERELY STOPS THEM
FROM FOR LOOT EXPLOITING
STRUGGLING RENTERS. THE LAST
LORDS ARE ALREADY PROFITING.
NUMBER TWO, I WISH TO SPEAK T
COUNCIL FOR LEWIS, IF YOU'RE
GOING TO BE A LABOR DEMOCRAT,
DON'T BETRAY --
>> I BELIEVE IT IS AIDEN?
>> HI, I AM WITH OTHERS
SPEAKING A PERSONAL CAPACITY.
IN DISTRICT 6 WHERE THEY
RECENTLY KILLED SOMEONE
YESTERDAY AFTER THE PRESS
CONFERENCE I SAID TO HIM, ARE
YOU AWARE THAT SWEEPS ARE
CAUSING MASSIVE RISE IN
OVERDOSE DEATHS IN INK ON THE
CAR A QUICK. THIS IS CONTINUING
EMERGENCY I NEED TO KEEP
REMINDING THAT AND IT'S
INSEPARABLE FROM THE LANDLORD
AND TENANT CRISIS. MOST PEOPLE
-- THERE SHOULDN'T BE LATE
FEES, THEY ARE THE KIND OF
THING THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT WORK
BUT A LOT OF INCENTIVES SOME
LIKE THEY WERE CAN ACTUALLY
DON'T. WE NEED RENT CONTROL --
IF YOU WILL FIND OUT THE
EVIDENCE OF THAT IF YOU PASS TH
BILL AGAIN THAT MAYOR HARRELL
VETOED ABOUT INVENTORY
APARTMENTS, QUANTITY AND PRICE,
ALSO --
>> KYLE.
>> MADAME CLERK, WE NEED TO
HAVE THE SPEAKER EITHER SPEAK
UP, WE ARE NOT GETTING A SOUND.
AT LEAST I AM NOT.
>> I WILL RESTART THE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME FROM THIS ON
BETTER?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS KYLE GRANT, A
RENTER AND UBER DRIVER, AND
ACTIVIST IN LOOSES DISTRICT A
FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE IN A LOW
INCOME APARTMENT. I URGE YOU TO
KEEP THE BILLS ORIGINAL $10 CAP
AND REVERSE THE AMENDMENT WATER
IT DOWN. I, LIKE MANY IN MY
BUILDING ARE STILL PAYING
MONTHLY TO COVER MISSED RENT
OVER THE TIME OF THE PANDEMIC.
THIS AMOUNT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY
TO PAY AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO
COME UP WITH THE MONEY CAN COST
ME $100 MORE IN LATE FEES WHICH
CREATES A CYCLE OF DEBT FOR
STRUGGLING RENTERS. A $10 CAP
WOULD RELIEVE PRESSURE ON THOSE
OF US ALREADY STRUGGLING. THAT
$40 IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR
LANDLORDS WHO ARE MAKING INSANE
PROFITS ALREADY. MAYBE IT ISN'T
A LOT FOR YOU, BUT FOR PEOPLE
LIKE ME, THAT AMOUNT CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE FOR THE COST OF
LIVING RISING DUE TO INFLATION.
DURING YOUR LAST ELECTION MY
NEIGHBORS CANVASSED OUR BUILDIN
IN SUPPORT, PEOPLE WE ARE
ORTING, STRUGGLING TO KEEP BILL
PAID. I THINK IF WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO HELP YOU
GET ELECTED THEN YOU SHOULD ALS
BE WILLING TO HELP US OUT AND
KEEP THE LATE FEES CAPPED AT
$10. I ALSO ENCOURAGE SOLIDARIT
AND SUPPORT --
>> NEXT SPEAKER RITA, SORRY FO
NOT PRONOUNCING IT CORRECTLY.
THANK YOU.
>> AM A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
HOUSING AND RESORT EFFORT AT
THE NORTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
ANYWAY, I AM HERE TODAY TO
URGE YOU TO CONTINUE THE STRON
ADVOCACY BY SUPPORTING
LEGISLATION THAT ENFORCES A $10
CAP ON LATE FEES. OTHER CITIE
LIKE AUBURN AND BURIEN HAVE
ALREADY IMPLEMENTED A $10 CAP
AND IT'S TIME FOR SEATTLE TO DO
THE SAME. THE WEALTH DISPARITY
BETWEEN LANDLORDS, EVEN SMALL
LANDLORDS IN THE AVERAGE RENTER
IN SEATTLE IS VAST. THE LOSS O
LATE FEES WILL NOT IMPACT MOST
LANDLORDS AT ALL BUT IT WILL
MAKE A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE FOR
RENTERS. EXCESSIVE FINES AND
FEES ARE WELL KNOWN TO BE
PUNITIVE TOWARDS THOSE ALREADY
IN POVERTY. WE KNOW FROM
EXPERIENCE THAT EXCESSIVE FINES
AND FEES LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS.
AND WITHOUT SHELTER, PEOPLE DIE
>> AMIRA
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. SINCE I
BOUGHT A HOME IN 2015, MEDIAN
RENT PRICES IN SEATTLE HAVE
WRITTEN 50% WITH EVICTION RATE
AND HOMELESSNESS RATES GOING UP
I AM HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH M
NEIGHBORS WHO ARE RENTERS.
BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I ARE
HOMEOWNERS, ARE MAJOR COST OF
SHELTER, MORTGAGE PAYMENT HAS
STAYED THE SAME. WHILE OUR
PROPERTY TAXES HAVE GONE UP WIT
THE VALUE OF OUR HOME, WE CAN
DEDUCT THE ENTIRETY OF THAT COS
ALONG WITH OUR MORTGAGE
INSURANCE AND OTHER TAX
BENEFITS. EVEN THE SMALLEST OF
SMALL LANDLORDS IN OUR CITY HAS
ACCESS TO MANY OF THE SAME AND
SOME ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT
SUBSIDIES AND PROTECTIONS. WHIL
COLLECTING SKYROCKETING RENT
PAYMENTS. THE ARGUMENT THAT
RAISING THE LAKE CAPPED FEE CA
OFFERS MORE BALANCE MAKES NO
SENSE WHEN THE DECK IS ALREADY
STACKED IN FAVOR OF PROPERTY
OWNERS. THE ARGUMENT THE $10 IS
UNSUSTAINABLE MAKES NO SENSE.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SUSTAIN
IT. VOTE YES ON THE $10 LATE
FEE CAP.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 6 AND I'M A HOMEOWNER
AND LENDER. I'M A MEMBER OF TH
STATE OF THE COALITION. PLEASE
YESTERDAY TO CAP LATE FEES AND
VOTE YES ON THE TELLER
AMENDMENT. THE IMPACT OF
PREDATORY FINES AND FEES PUTTIN
INDIVIDUALS IN LONG-TERM DEBT
AND POVERTY IS WELL KNOWN. THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSED
LOWERING CREDIT CARD THE FEES
FOR THE MAXIMUM OF $41 TO EIGHT
DOLLARS. CLEARLY THERE IS A
MATERIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THOSE TWO VALUES FOR SOMEONE WH
IS ALREADY STRUGGLING TO PAY
THEIR BILLS. WE SHOULD DO THE
SAME WITH RENT LATE FEES. AS A
LANDLORD I WANT TO MAKE IT EASY
FOR MY TENANTS TO PAY THE RENT
AND I BELIEVE THAT LATE FEES
ONLY GETS IN THE WAY OF THIS. I
DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE LATE FE
IS AN INCENTIVE FOR THE
MAJORITY OF RENTERS BECAUSE MOS
PEOPLE WHO ARE LATE ON RENT
AREN'T ABLE TO PAY. PLEASE
LISTEN TO THE VOICES HERE TODAY
AND VOTE YES TO CAPPING THE FEE
AT $10. THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST TWO IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS, HARRIET FOLLOWED BY
RACHEL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
HARRIET, AND WITH EAGLES FIELD
NORTHLAKE. I WOULD LIKE TO URGE
ALL DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE
REGRESSIVE AMENDMENT THAT WATE
DOWN THE LATE FEE CAP FROM
$10-$50 PER MONTH. WE DEMAND
COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE YES ON THE
AMENDMENT. DURING THE LATE FEE
CAP BACK TO $10 PER MONTH. I
BECAME HOMELESS BECAUSE OF LAT
FEES I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY
AT A MINIMUM WAGE JOB. THANK
GOD FOR NICKELSVILLE SO I AM
OKAY. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
NOT. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE
THESE RIDICULOUS RATES THEY'RE
HAVING TO PAY. SO PLEASE, ONCE
AGAIN, I WILL ASK YOU TO STAND
WITH RENTERS, NOT THE LANDLORD
LOBBY, AND VOTE YES ON THE $10
PER MONTH CAP ON LATE FEES.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER, RACHEL.
>> MY NAME IS RACHEL, I AM
AFFILIATED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC
SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA. AND LAS
MONTH MY FRIEND WAS MURDERED
BY KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S
BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T AFFORD TO
PAY FEES TOTALING $6000. THIS
WAS IN THE BUILDING THAT WAS
ESSENTIALLY A SLUM WERE SEWAGE
BACKED INTO THE BATHROOM AND
THERE WAS COCKROACHES AND CRACK
IN THE CEILING. REGARDLESS,
LANDLORDS , THE PROPHET IS
APPARENTLY WORTH MORE THAN HUMA
LIVES. OVER 300 PEOPLE DIE IN
THE STREETS FROM HOMELESSNESS
THIS YEAR. WHICH IS A RECORD.
AND, WE HAVE LANDLORDS LEADING
PROPERTY DESPITE THE FACT THA
THERE ARE FOUR HOMES REVERIE AN
HOUSE PERSON. PLEASE CAP FEES A
$10 --
>> WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO REMOT
PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKERS.
>> LET ME SHARE THIS ONE MORE
TIME FOR OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS. D
WE STILL HAVE 24 ON THE LINE,
MADAME CLERK?
>> IT WAS 30, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
>> OKAY. YOU ARE RIGHT. AGAIN,
TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS, ONE
MINUTE PLEASE. AGAIN, I HATE IT
WHEN PEOPLE GET CUT OFF BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT LISTENING FOR THE
CHIME. ALSO, WHEN YOU SPEAK, I
IS ONE MINUTE, LISTEN FOR THE
TRYING, AND PRESS STAR SIX.
OKAY. WITH THAT, GO AHEAD AND
START.
>> OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
ZOE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ZOE. I'M
MEDICAL INDUSTRY WORKER WITH
WORKERS STRIKE BACK. CITY
DEMOCRATS HAVE PUBLICLY
COMMITTED TO BRING BACK THE $1
CAP FOR RENTERS AND I URGE ALL
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT TO DO SO
IT IS DISGRACEFUL TO SEE THE
CITY WITH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS AND EVER-INCREASING
HOMELESSNESS DEMOCRATS ON THE
COUNCIL TRYING TO WRING AS MUCH
PROFIT AS THEY CAN FOR CORPORAT
LANDLORDS OUT OF WORKING-CLASS
AND STRUGGLING PEOPLE. THE POIN
OF THE LEGISLATION SHOULD BE TO
GET STRUGGLING PEOPLE BACK ON
THEIR FEET SO THEY CAN MAKE REN
IN THE FUTURE, NOT PUNISH THEM
AND SEND THEM INTO HOUSING AND
SECURITY. IF YOU FEEL THE SAME
JOY WORKERS STRIKE BACK. WE
BROUGHT THIS LEGISLATION TO THE
TABLE ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR
MOVEMENT. WE NEED TO KEEP
PUSHING FORWARD FOR $10 LATE
FEES AND RENT CONTROL WITH NO
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SONJA.
>> HELLO, I'VE BEEN A PROPERTY
MANAGER FOR MANY YEARS. --
CAPPING THE FEES AT $10 PER
MONTH. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE
NEVER CHARGED A LATE FEE. WE
KNOW RENTERS HAVE INCENTIVE TO
PAY RENT ON TIME, MAINLY THEY
DON'T WANT TO GET EVICTED AND W
WANT GOOD LONG-TERM RENTERS.
BUT, WE CAN'T RELY ON A FEW GOO
LANDLORDS AS PROTECTION FOR
RENTERS BECAUSE THE POWERFUL
LANDLORDS WILL ALWAYS TAKE
EVERY CHANCE THEY GET TO GET
MORE PROFIT FROM THE TENANTS. I
THIS CASE, A LANDLORD LOBBY CAM
TO ITS MEMBERS WITHOUT ANY DATA
TO SUPPORT THE REGRESSIVE
AMENDMENT. I URGE ALL DEMOCRATS
ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO REVERSE
THAT BY VOTING YES TO BEING THE
LAKE CAPPED FEE BACK TO $10 PER
MONTH. I DO APPRECIATE THOSE
WHO ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT.
LANDLORDS ARE NOT STRUGGLING.
THAT IS LAUGHABLE. I CAN SAY
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF
LANDLORDS OUT THERE, --
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY
MacARTHUR.
>> MY NAME IS EMILY, I'M A
RENTER AND RESIDENT OF DISTRIC
2 AND MEMBER OF THE STATE
HOUSE AND STAY HEALTHY COALITIO
AS WELL AS SOCIAL ALTERNATIVES.
IN HERE TO URGE TO VOTE YES O
THE AMENDMENT TO REVERSE THIS
REGRESSIVE ATTACK. THERE IS NO
DATA PROVING THAT $50 MAGICALLY
ENFORCES ON-TIME RENT, THIS IS
PURELY SPECULATIVE. WHAT IS
CLEAR IS THAT $50 IS A LOT OF
MONEY TO WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE.
IT IS ONE WEEK OF GROCERIES IF
YOU ARE UNSNAP, THREE HOURS OF
WORK ON A MINIMUM WAGE WORKER.
LANDLORDS MAKE 30% PROFIT ON TH
WORK THEY DO. GOOGLE, AND
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION MAKES
21% PROFIT. IT IS ABSURD THAT W
SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZING LANDLORD
PROFITS I TRYING TO PASS PRO
LANDLORD LEGISLATION. REVERSE
THIS AMENDMENT, ALL DEMOCRATS
INCLUDING SO-CALLED LABOR
DEMOCRATS SHOULD VOTE YES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GRAEME
DART.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS GRAHAM,
I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE TENANT
LA CENTER CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
SERVICES. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
PASS THE BILL CAPPING RENT LATE
FEES AND TO PASS THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT RETURNING THE CAP TO
MONTHLY $10. TENANTS ALREADY
PRIORITIZE RENT PAYMENTS AHEAD
OF OTHER EXPENSES. IF THEY DON'
PAY RENT ON TIME BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T PAY RENT ON TIME. AND NO
AMOUNT OF DISINCENTIVE IS GOING
TO CHANGE THAT IS GOING TO MAK
THAT MATERIALIZE. ALLOWING $50
IN LATE FEES WILL LEAVE
TENANTS WITH MORE DEBT.
FURTHERMORE 1.5% OF MONTHLY REN
IS VAGUE ABOUT WHETHER OTHER
INCLUDED EXPENSES APPLY . OTHER
CITIES LIKE BURIEN AND AUBURN
HAVE A PLAN, SEATTLE SHOULD
FOLLOW SUIT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AUSTIN
PRICE.
>> MY NAME IS AUSTIN PRICE, AND
CALLING IN TODAY TO URGE ALL
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
TO VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT
WATERING DOWN LATE FEE CAPS FRO
THE DEALERS MONTH. EVERY
ESPECIALLY COUNCILMAN LEWIS ,
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS
TURNAROUND. IS COMPLETELY
RIDICULOUS AS 1 MILLION OTHER
SPEAKERS HAVE SAID. WHICH ARE
GOING TO HEAR MORE OF, WE WOULD
ADD RIDICULOUS LATE FEES ON TO
OF EVERYTHING THE RENTERS HAVE
TO DEAL WITH DURING THIS CRISIS
THE CONSTANT INFLATION, THE
CONSTANT RAISING OF RENTS. I
COULD GO ON AND ON. IS EVERYONE
ELSE HAS. I ALSO WANT TO THROW
IN AS WELL, THE MEMBERS OF THE
CITY UNION STRUGGLING FOR BETTE
PAY RAISES, THE 1% PROPOSED
RACE TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST O
LIVING, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE
ENDED INSULT. THANK YOU ALL FOR
LISTING.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
BARBARA FINNEY.
>> MY NAME IS BARBARA FINNEY, A
HOMEOWNER IN SOLIDARITY WITH
SEATTLE RENTERS. I ORGANIZE WIT
WORKERS STRIKE BACK AND I'M A
DELEGATE TO THE MLK LABOR
COUNCIL FOR AMERICAN FEDERATION
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES LOCAL
3197. WHICH REPRESENTS THE
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT THE
SEATTLE VA. TODAY ON BEHALF OF
LOCAL 3197 I URGE YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, TO VOTE YES ON THE
AMENDMENT TO BRING THE LATE FE
CAP BACK DOWN TO $10 PER MONTH.
THIS IS A LABOR AND WORKERS
ISSUE. AFG URGED THIS COUNCIL
TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO RENTER
IN 2019 IN SUPPORT OF THE RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION. TODAY THE
MESSAGES, CAP LATE FEE ON RENT
AT $10. SOLIDARITY WITH SEATTLE
PUBLIC SECTOR UNION MEMBERS IN
THEIR FIGHT FOR A FAIR CONTRACT
IN SEATTLE, I HOPE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS REVERSES HI
VERY BAD VOTE IN COMMITTEE AND
VOTES TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE $10
CAP. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS TANISHA
ZHANG.
>> I AM CALLING FROM SOLID
GROUND TO VOICE AGENCY SUPPORT
FOR THE VOICE AMENDMENT TO
RESTORE THE $10 LATE FEE CAP.
SOLID GROUND TENANT SERVICES
PROGRAM SUPPORTS 1000 RENTERS A
RISK OF EVICTION EVERY YEAR AND
WE SEE THE HARM UNRELATED
EXCESSIVE LATE FEES CAN HAVE A
RENTERS. FOR EXAMPLE ONE SERVED
A SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILY WERE
BOTH PARENTS LOST THEIR JOBS
AND WHEN HOUSEHOLD STARTED TO
FILE BEHIND ON RENT THE LANDLOR
CHARGE THEM $120 PER DAY LATE
FEES. IT IS CLEAR WE NEED TO
LIMIT EXCESSIVE LATE FEES. AND
FOR RENTERS STRUGGLING TO MEET
THEIR PAYMENTS IN THE FIRST
PLACE, A LATE FEE OF $50 RATHER
THAN $10 DOES NOT CHANGE THEIR
ABILITY TO PAY. A $50 LATE FEE
IS NOT MORE INCENTIVE, IT
PENALIZES OUR MOST MOLDABLE. I
WILL ALSO ECHO A POINT I HEARD
EARLIER ABOUT HOW A PERCENTAGE
FEE CALCULATION OF 1.5% CREATES
CONFUSION AND HOW IT'S
IMPLEMENTED. DOES THIS INCLUDE
PARKING, PET RENT, OTHER FEES?
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LAURA.
>> LAURA?
>> HELLO. YES,
>> YOU ARE ON.
>> OKAY. I'M A LITTLE RUSTY
COME I HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN A
WHILE. PLEASE SUPPORT THE $10
CAP ON LATE FEES AND GO FURTHE
OVER THE COMING MONTHS TO GET
RID OF $75 NOTICES FOR PLANTIN
FLOWERS IN YOUR BALCONY AND
LET'S FIX UP THE ROI PROGRAM TO
GET IT WORKING. BEING A LANDLOR
IS A LUXURY AND BEING A RENTER
IS STRUGGLING TO HAVE A HOME.
FEW TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR
AND HALF ARE LANDLORD ASKED
WHY RENT WAS LATE. BOTH TIMES
IS BECAUSE HE WAS IN A RENTAL I
HAWAII. I MAKE $31 PER HOUR
AND MY CHECK GOES TO HEALTHCARE
COST. I AM RENT BURDEN, THE
ONLY REASON I DON'T LEAVE
SEATTLE IS BECAUSE MY PARENTS
ARE WEALTHY. RENTERS NEED
STABLE HOMES TO STAY HEALTHY
AND KIDS CAN STAY IN THE SAME
SCHOOL FOR THE WILL BEING.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BILLY GRIFFIN.
>> MY NAME IS BILLY GRIFFIN. IS
SEATTLE RESIDENT AND VOTER. I
URGE ALL DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE AMENDMEN
THE WATERS DOWN LATE FEE CAP
FROM $10-$50. THE EXTRA $50
MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO PUT
LANDLORDS AND COULD BE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RENTER
EATING OR FACING EVICTION. IT I
INHUMANE SO-CALLED LABOR
DEMOCRATS WOULD VOTE TO FORCE
PEOPLE INTO THE SITUATIONS AND
CONTINUE TO UPHOLD A SYSTEM THE
CHARGES FEES FOR BEING POOR. BU
YES AN IMMINENT TO BRING LATE
FEES BACK TO $10 PER MONTH.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH JAMES.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH, AND A
WORKERS STRIKE BACK NUMBER AND
A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
HOMEOWNER. I STAND IN SOLIDARIT
WITH RENTERS. THERE IS NO ENOUG
PORTABLE HOUSING. AND
PENNYPINCHING RENTERS ON LATE
FEES IS BLATANTLY
ANTI-WORKING-CLASS. I URGE ALL
CORPORATE DEMOCRATS TO VOTE IN
SUPPORT OF CAPPING RATES LATE
FEES AT $10 INSTEAD OF $50. WE
DEMAND THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS
VOTE YES ON THIS AMENDMENT.
SUPPORT PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS
AND UNION MEMBERS. I CAN'T
BELIEVE THAT THE YOUNGEST MEMBE
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WOULD SCREW OVER HIS PEERS FOR
A NECESSARILY HIGHER CAPS. IT
MIGHT SEEM LIKE NOTHING SOMEON
MAKING OVER $140,000 PER YEAR
BUT MOST OF US , THERE IS NO
REASON FOR THIS INCREASE OTHER
THAN TO LEECH MORE MONEY FROM
WORKING PEOPLE ARE LANDLORD
PROFIT. WE ARE IN AN AFFORDABL
HOUSING CRISIS AND NEED RENT
CONTROL. THE MAJORITY OF
MILLENNIALS, 41% SPEND MORE THA
30% ON THE RENT. THIS CITY IS
EXPENSIVE AND TO JUST SQUEEZE
OUT MORE MONEY FOR NO REASON I
--
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EDIE .
>> I AM A GRAD STUDENT AT U-DU
AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNION FOR ACADEMIC WORKERS.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CAPPING
LATE RENT FEES AT $10. I HAVE
DIRECTLY HEARD FROM GRADUATE
STUDENTS OF THEIR LANDLORDS ,
UNION MEMBERS ARE ALREADY
STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR HOUSING I
SEATTLE, LAST YEAR WE FOUND 80%
OF OUR 1100 RESPONDENTS OF THE
SURVEY PAY MORE THAN 30% OF
THEIR SALARY ON RENT. WE KNOW
THAT IN THE LAST YEAR THIS IS
PROBABLY -- MANY STUDENT
WORKERS LIVE PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK. ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR
HOURS ARE NOT GUARANTEED THREAT
THE YEAR. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT
UNDERSTANDING $10 PER
INFRINGEMENT OF LATE FEES. I
HAVE SEEN EXTREMELY RICH
LANDLORDS , THE SMALL AND
CORPORATE LANDLORDS CHARGE
MEMBERS EXTREMELY HIGH FEES.
AND INCREASE RENT. IN HER
WORSENING HOUSING CRISIS PLEASE
VOTE YES ON $10 PER MONTH LATE
FEE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MASON
GREEN.
>> MASON?
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MASON
GREEN, AS A WORKER STRIKE BACK
ACTIVISTS , RENTER AND STUDENT
ADVOCATE I URGE COUNCIL MEMBER
TO REVERSE THE $50 AMENDMENT O
THE $10 LATE FEE CAP. THIS WOUL
NOT AFFECT MY CURRENT SITUATION
WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY A $50 LAT
FEE ALREADY WITH THE $10
ADDITIONAL PER DAY. RENTERS AN
SEATTLE DEMAND BOLD AND
PROGRESSIVE ACTION TO PROTECT
AND EXPAND THEIR RIGHTS. THIS
LATE FEE CAP WOULD HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE
SECURITY RENTERS IN SEATTLE.
PROTECTS PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO
FACED $200 IN LATE FEES DUE TO
AN EXPECTED EMPLOYMENT AND
TIMING OF PAYCHECKS. THIS AMOUN
OF MONEY IS 20% OF MY MONTHLY
INCOME . AS A STUDENT AND
PUTTING MYSELF THROUGH SCHOOL
AND THIS MONEY IS EXTREMELY
VALUABLE. IT CONTRIBUTES TO MY
DAILY SPEND AND IN THE MOMENT
WORSENS A MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITION I HAVE. I APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DONALD
GOODWIN.
>> I SEE KYLE. DONALD, IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE READY TO GO.
>> BOTTLED, YOU THERE?
>> YES. THIS IS DONALD GOODWIN.
I USED TO BE A MEMBER OF LOCAL
289, LOCAL 587 LOCAL 17. I HAV
WORKED HARD ALL MY LIFE. I DO
OWN TWO RENTALS AND AM NOT
MAKING , I'M NOT A RICH
INDIVIDUAL. HAVING SAID THAT, I
THE LAST TWO YEARS I'VE PUT
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $135,000 AND
$200,000 INTO THE TWO HOMES TO
IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT THE
PEOPLE LIVE IN. THAT WON'T BE
RECOVERED FROM THE RENTAL MONE
I GET FROM THE PEOPLE. IN
JANUARY, 2023, I RAISE THE RENT
$150 FOR THE FIRST RAISE IN
OVER FOUR YEARS. FOR ONE OF THE
HOMES. I THINK A LOT OF
LANDLORDS GOT A BAD REPUTATION
HERE. WHEN I REMODEL THE HOME,
THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE HOM
DID NOT PAY THE RENT. I
OFFERED THEM CHILDCARE AND HALF
OF THEM OTHER STUFF. I LIKE T
SEE THE CITY COUNCIL
>> SORRY FOR CUTTING PEOPLE OFF
AGAIN YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF
THE CHIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BENJAMIN
>> MY NAME IS BEN, AN AFFORDABL
HOUSING PROVIDER IN SEATTLE.
500 APARTMENTS WITH AVERAGE
PORTABILITY OF ABOUT 55% AMI.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE
REASONABLE 1.5% CAP ON LATE FEE
THAT MANY REFERRED TO AS A $50
CAP. AVERAGE RENT IS ABOUT $100
FOR THE APARTMENTS WE OWN AND
MANAGE. 1.5% IS $15. IT DOESN'
MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE IF IT'S 10
OR 50, LEADS TO LATE FEES WHICH
INCREASES OUR COST FOR US AND
OTHERS WHICH LEAD TO HIGHER
CUSTOMER RENTERS AND AFFECT TH
AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. I HAVE DATA ON THIS
AND AM HAPPY TO SHARE IT.
CAPPING THE FEE TO $10 INSTEAD
OF 1.5% REALLY ONLY HELPS THE
MUCH HIGHER LUXURY RENT HOUSING
PROVIDERS. PLEASE CONSIDER THAT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN YOUR EFFOR
TO HELP RENTERS AND HOUSING
PROVIDERS THAT SERVE THEM, THE
COMMENTS IN SOLUTION SUCH AS -
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CASEY
BURTON.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CASEY
BURTON AND I AM SENIOR STAFF
ATTORNEY AT THE TENANT LA
CENTER. AND I AM ASKING THAT
THE COUNCIL PASS A $10 LATE FEE
AND GET RID OF THE OTHER
ARBITRARY FEES. WE KNOW THE
PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING. THAT
INCLUDES STRUGGLING TO KEEP A
ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD. A CAP ON
LATE FEES FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN
SEATTLE, THIS IS A CITY WERE
HALF THE INHABITANTS RENTERS. W
KNOW $10 IS REASONABLE AND
WORKABLE. LOOK AT AUBURN AND
BURIEN. THE RENTAL MARKET HASN'
COME CRASHING DOWN. THE EXTRA
$40 -- THE SAME GOES FOR NOTIC
FEES. I UNDERSTAND THAT LORDS
ARE TRAINED TO RUN A BUSINESS
AND MAXIMIZE PROFIT BUT IT'S NO
UP TO THE COUNCIL TO HELP THEM
SQUEEZE EVERY PENNY THEY CAN OF
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. IT IS
YOUR JOB TO TAKE CARE OF AND
WORRY ABOUT THE HUMAN BEINGS WH
LIVE IN THE CITY. THE PEOPLE WH
LIVE HERE ARE TELLING YOU THAT
THEY NEED A $10 CAP AND A NEED
TO BE FREE FROM ARBITRARY FEES.
IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE
PANDEMIC I SHOULD HOPE WE
LEARNED THE RUG CAN BE PULLED
OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU AT ANY
TIME. WE NEED THESE PROTECTIONS
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN
TAYLOR.
>> PUSH STAR SIX. THERE YOU GO
>> MY NAME IS KAREN TAYLOR. I
AM A RENTER AND I AM DISABLED.
AND I SPENT THREE FOURTHS OF
MY DISABILITY CHECK ON RENT.
RECENTLY OUR FOOD STAMPS WERE
CUT DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE THE
PANDEMIC IS SUPPOSEDLY OVER.
AND THEN, MY FOOD DELIVERY
SERVICE FOR DISABLED FOLKS HAS
STOPPED PROVIDING GROCERIES
ALONG WITH A FEW PREPARED
MEALS. SO I NO LONGER GET FRESH
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. SO, I
HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON
FOOD IN A WAY I DIDN'T BEFORE.
AND SO, PLEASE CAP THE LATE
FEES AT $10. THE $50 IS SO
MUCH TO ME. IT'S NOT JUST LIKE
WEEK OF GROCERIES, IT'S MONEY
AND DESPERATE FOR TO SPEND ON
WHATEVER GROCERIES I CAN. THES
CAP THE $10.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS JACOB.
>> JACOB, STAR SIX. THERE YOU
GO.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JACOB, I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. I SPENT 2.
MONTHS THIS WINTER HOMELESS.
BECAUSE OF LATE FEES ON RENT.
PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN TO $10 PER
MONTH. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY.
ALSO, THE HOMELESS , THE
FACILITY AT 120th IN AURORA
NEEDS SEATTLE CITY LIGHT'S TO
COME UP AND HOOK UP ELECTRICITY
SO THEY CAN OPEN. THANK YOU.
>> AN EXTRA SPEAKER IS QUILL.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS QUILL, A
VCC WORKER AND 3000 MEMBER AND
RENTER IN DISTRICT 1. COUNCIL
MEMBERS NEED TO VOTE YES TO CAP
LATE FEES AT $10 PER MONTH.
RENTERS AND UNION MEMBERS WILL
FORGET HOW YOU VOTE TODAY. IT
IS GROCERY WORKERS, WE HAVEN'T
FORGOTTEN THE MAJORITY OF THIS
COUNCIL VOTED TO CUT OUR PAY BY
FOUR DOLLARS PER HOUR WHEN YOU
REPEALED HAZARD PAY. ONLY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOUGHT FOR
US REPEATEDLY. ON SUNDAY,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS SPOKE AT
THE UNION RALLY, WE CONFRONTED
HIM AFTERWARDS AND HE RAN AWAY
WE ARE NOT GOING TO STAND IDLY
BY AND WRITE OUR COATTAILS TO A
ELECTION. AFTER BETRAYING US.
AND FINALLY, PCC WORKERS MAKE
MINIMUM WAGE. WE ARE FIGHTING
FOR A $25 COST OF LIVING
ADJUSTMENT, AND A SINGLE WAGE
SCALE ACROSS PCC. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS AMY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS AMY AND I'
A SOCIAL WORKER . AND CALLING I
TODAY TO ASK FOR THE COUNCIL TO
PASS THE LATE FEE CAP AND
REVERSE THE AMENDMENT THE RAISE
THE CAP TO 1.5% OR $50. A $10
LATE FEE CAP HAS ALREADY BEEN
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN
OTHER CITIES LIKE AUBURN AND
BURIEN. SEATTLE RENTERS DESERVE
THE SAME PROTECTION. I HAVE SEE
MANY RENTAL LEDGERS WITH
SHOCKINGLY HIGH LATE FEES. THI
PERPETUATES THE CYCLE OF DEBT
THAT CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
FOR TENANTS TO GET OUT OF. LATE
FEES ARE NOT NECESSARY AS AN
INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE T
PAY THE RENT. THE THREAT OF
EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS IS
MORE THAN ENOUGH INCENTIVE.
PLEASE STAND UP FOR RENTERS
TODAY AND PASS THE LATE FEE CA
AT $10 PER MONTH. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOANNA .
>> THIS IS JOANNA. I'M A
LIFETIME SEATTLE RESIDENT.
USUALLY I'M ON THE SIDE OF
EVERYONE WHO IS IN THE ROOM FOR
THE MOST PART, BUT THIS TIME I'
CALLING IS A PROPERTY MANAGER
AND MOST OF MY OWNERS ARE SMALL
OWNERS. HAVE ONE WHO HAS CANCER
I HAVE ONE WHO IS VERY ELDERLY
A LOT OF TIMES THAT IS THEIR
ONLY INCOME. SO IT'S
CHALLENGING TO HEAR PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT BAD LANDLORDS WHEN THEY
CAN BARELY TAKE CARE OF
THEMSELVES. MUCH LESS THE NEED
TO HAVE A PROPERTY MANAGER. OU
TIME IS VALUABLE. OVER TIME IS
VALUABLE. WE KEEP FORGETTING
ABOUT THE TIME IT TAKES FOR
DEALING WITH THE LATE PERSON.
MAYBE HAVE A PROGRAM WHETHER
LATE FEES PEOPLE CAN BE PAYING
LATE FEES TO GIVE TO LANDLORD O
NONPROFIT. IT DOES TAKE TIME
MANAGING ALL OF THIS. ALSO, TH
STATE CAPS A 10% , THERE IS A
10%. BUT YOU KNOW, IT TAKES
TIME. AND PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT
THAT. AND THEY ARE NOT ALL
WEALTHY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
TANYA MOORE.
>> MY NAME IS TANYA MOORE. I
AM THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE SEATTLE. AND CALLING TO
DEMAND AND GRACIOUSLY URGE THA
THE LIMIT FOR $10 AND LATE
FEES BE PUT BACK AND VOTED ON I
THIS AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS
FOCUSING ON STOPPING ARBITRAR
LATE FEES OR OTHER FEES, NOTICE
DELIVERY FEES, FOR TENANTS. WE
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT WE HAVE
BEEN GIVEN IN OTHER TIMES. AND
FOR THOSE RENTERS IN SEATTLE WH
ARE CURRENTLY LIVING AND PAYIN
MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME
FOR RENT, ANYTHING ABOVE $10 I
DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR EXISTENCE
AND THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE A
FLOURISHING AND HEALTHY LIFE IN
SEATTLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
DEVON.
>> HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAM
IS DEVON, AN ATTORNEY WITH THE
TENANT LOSS A. I WANT TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THE
AMENDMENT TO LIMIT THE FEE TO
$10 AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO HOW
POWERFUL THIS LEGISLATION IS FO
TENANTS. A FLAT $10 CAP IS
PRAGMATIC AND PROGRESSIVE. BUT
TO BE CLEAR THERE IS NO STATE
CAP. LANDLORDS CAN CHARGE ANY
AMOUNTS TO TENANTS. I SEE SOME
UNIMAGINABLE FEES CHARGED
BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROTECTION.
BEYOND THAT, I ALSO WANT TO
THINK YOU FOR BANNING NOTICE
DELIVERY FEES. AGAIN THERE IS N
PROTECTION IN STATE LAW. THEY
CAN PRINT OUT A PIECE OF PAPER,
AND THEN CHARGE THEM ANY AMOUNT
FOR THE PRIVILEGE. THIS IS
ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR. BUT THE ACT
IS NOT COVERED BY THE
PROTECTION ACT, I SEE SOME BAD
BEHAVIORS AND PEOPLE GET AWAY
WITH IT. WE NEED YOU. THANK YOU
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHERYL
ANDERSON.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS CHERYL
ANDERSON. ON THE MINORITY HERE
NOT A WEALTHY LANDLORD, TRYING
TO STRUGGLE PAYING RENT OR
PAYMENTS PLUS MY OWN. I WOULD
RATHER GET RENT ON TIME AND
NEVER HAVE TO CLICK THE LATE
FEE. BY HAVING SUCH A LOW LATE
FEE IT'S ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO
NOT PAY THEIR RENT. THE
MORTGAGE, UTILITIES, BILLS,
RENTERS FEES, -- I FEEL A
MINIMUM LATE FEE IS NOT A GOOD
WAY TO HELP THE HOMELESS INTO A
NATION. THE PROBLEMS ARE BIGGE
THAN A SMALL-TIME LANDLORD. I'
LIKE TO SEE IF YOU'RE GOING TO
PASS THIS $10 FOR RENTERS, CAN
YOU GET THE MORTGAGE COMPANY T
CAP OUR FEE AT $100 , $10
INSTEAD OF THE $100. WHERE IS
THE RENT PAID GETTING PAID?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> AN EXTRA SPEAKER IS SHANNON
NEWSOM.
>> SHANNON, STAR SIX. I SEE HE
TILE.
>> HELLO?
>> THERE YOU GO. TRY AGAIN.
STAR SIX. THERE YOU GO.
>> I AM UNMUTED. OKAY. HIGH,
SHANNON, I AM A RENTER.
CURRENTLY LOW INCOME. I SUPPOR
KEEPING THE LATE FEES AT $10
AND THE ARGUMENTS OF OTHER
PEOPLE MAKE SENSE TO ME. I
DON'T NEED TO REPEAT THEM.
>> AN EXTRA SPEAKER IS GWYNETH
>> GWYNETH, STAR SIX. THERE YOU
GO.
>> I'M NOT CALLING INTO DEMAND
ANYTHING. IT SIMPLY NOT TRUE O
LOGICAL THAT RENTERS ARE POOR
AND PROPERTY OWNERS ARE RICH.
ENTERS ARE GOOD AND PROPERTY
OWNERS ARE EVIL. THAT NARRATIVE
IS SET UP OUR ENTIRE CITY OF
HUGE SUPPORTING GROUP , WE ARE
FAMILY WITH SMALL CHILDREN
LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND
HAVE A SINGLE PROPERTY WE RENT.
HUNDREDS OF LIKE-MINDED
PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD NEVER
EVICT A RENTER OVER LATE FEE O
NEVER AT ALL. NECESSARY
DISTINCTION BETWEEN FAMILIES ON
A SINGLE PROPERTY AND SIMPLY
USE THE RENT TO PAY THE
MORTGAGE. WE NEVER ACTUALLY
CHARGE IT. IT'S A GROSS
MISREPRESENTATION THE ALL
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE HORRIBLE
PEOPLE. WE ARE AMONG MANY
OTHERS, REDUCED RENTS DURING
COVID. MY TENANTS, GIVE THEM
WHAT THEY NEED. IT'S
DEMORALIZING THAT WE CAN SELL
TO DEVELOPERS WHO CAN TEAR
DOWN AND BUILD MILLION-DOLLAR
HOUSES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NANCY.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS NANCY. I
HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE OF BEING
HOMEOWNER IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN DISTRICT 2. THIS
DISCUSSION BEFORE THE COUNCIL,
I DECIDED TO LOOK AT MY MORTGAG
STATEMENT. AND FIGURE OUT WHAT
KIND OF LATE FEES I WOULD HAVE
TO PAY I DON'T PAY MY MORTGAGE.
AND IN FACT, I DON'T GET ANY
LATE FEES, THERE'S A 15 DAY
GRACE PERIOD WHICH I THINK ALL
PEOPLE HAVE, AND THE FEE I WOUL
HAVE TO PAY IS ONLY $39, A
ONE-TIME FEE. WE ARE SO
PRIVILEGED AS HOMEOWNERS TO BE
ABLE TO BUY OUR HOMES IN THIS
CITY AS OPPOSED TO RENTING.
FRIENDS ARE MOVING HERE THAT AR
GOING TO RENT IN MY NEIGHBORHOO
A HOMELESS IN MIND FOR TWICE A
MUCH AS I PAY IN MORTGAGE. I
URGE YOU ALL PROBABLY BUYING
YOUR HOMES IF YOU OWE THEM, LOO
AT YOUR BANK STATEMENTS, YOU
HAVE A 15 DAY GRACE PERIOD. YOU
PROBABLY PAY LESS THAN $50 AND
LIMIT THE FEE TO $10. THANK YOU
>> I NEXT SPEAKER IS JAKE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JAKE AND
HAVE BEEN A SEATTLE RENTER FOR
20 YEARS. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT
THE AMENDMENT, TO CAP FEES AT
$10 PER MONTH IS WRITTEN IN THE
PLAN. AND TO BAN NOTICE FEES.
OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE
RECEIVED TWO $75 NOTICE FEES
FOR PREPARING AND GIVING NOTICE
THAT THE PLANTS TO MY BALCONY
-- $75 FOR PRINTING A PIECE OF
PAPER AND TAPING IT TO MY DOOR
TWICE. DESPITE CONTRADICTING M
LEASE, DESPITE CHARGING MONTHLY
RENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF
THE PROPERTY, BEING A LANDLORD
IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A HUMAN
RIGHT. LIKE HOUSING IS. THESE
NOTICE FEES ARE PREDATORY FEES
THAT LANDLORDS SIMPLY CHARGE
BECAUSE THEY CAN IN TODAY'S
MARKET APPEARS TO BE AMPLIFIED
RATHER THAN CORRECTING FOR THEM
FOR THOSE LIVING PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK POSSIBLY SKIPPING TW
WEEKS OF GROCERIES OR VITAL
MEDICATION . LANDLORDS ABUSING
THEIR POWER -- THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT WAS THE
END OF THE REMOTE LIST. IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE TWO MORE
SPEAKERS IN CHAMBERS. THAT ARE
SENT UP TO SPEAK.
>> GREAT, LET'S WRAP IT UP WITH
OUR LAST TWO SPEAKERS IN
CHAMBERS.
>> THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS,
ANGELIQUE FOLLOWED BY ANTHONY.
>> THERE COMING TO THE PODIUM.
>> MY NAME IS ANGELIQUE WILSON.
I AM A NEW RESIDENT HERE IN
SEATTLE. I HAVE COME FROM THE
EAST COAST. HOMELESSNESS, I
HAVE COME TO A PLACE TO WHERE
HAVE STABILITY. I HAVE A GOOD
SOURCE OF RESOURCES THAT I CAN
UTILIZE. I HAVE GROWN MENTALLY
PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. I
HAVE A PUPPY. I AM SO EXCITED.
WITH MY LIFE RIGHT NOW TODAY, 5
YEARS OLD. AND WITH THE RENT
SITUATION THAT THEY HAVE GOING,
I REALLY FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT,
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH
THE $10, SOMETHING TANGIBLE FO
PEOPLE LIKE ME, SO THAT WE DO
NOT HAVE TO FEEL DISCOURAGED
KNOWING THAT FROM ONE MINUTE T
THE NEXT THERE'S GOING TO BE
SOME INCONSISTENCY. I HAVE
SPOKEN WITH SOME OF THE HOMELES
PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM WHY AREN'
THEY INSIDE , AFTER HAVE COME
ALL THIS WAY AND HOW I'VE
BECOME --
>> ANTHONY?
>> THAT IS THE END OF THE
IN-PERSON COMMENTS.
>> OKAY. THAT IS THE END?
OKAY I THOUGHT AUNTIE WAS GOOD
TO SPEAK. ALL RIGHT. OKAY,
FOLKS. IT IS 3:37 AND WE HAVE
JUST FINISHED PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR
AGENDA. THANK YOU ALL OF YOU
WHO CALLED IN AND THOSE OF YOU
WHO CAME IN TO CHAMBERS TO VOIC
YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR OPINIONS
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH THAT
MOVING ON, I'M GOING TO TO, IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED. NOT
HEARING OR SEEING OBJECTION, TH
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. MOVING ON
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
NOT SEEING OR HEARING OBJECTION
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED. NOW
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE
SECTION OF OUR AGENDA TO THE
ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. CONSENT CALENDAR
INCLUDES THE MINUTES FROM APRIL
11, COUNCIL BILL COME UP
PAYROLL BILL, 120545, WE ALSO
HAVE , FROM COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON'S COMMITTEE, THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
TECHNOLOGY, AND CITY LIGHT, 10
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
FILM COMMISSION. THANK YOU
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON FOR
GUIDING US THROUGH THAT AND
HEARING ABOUT EACH APPOINTEE.
AND FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , HAS
THREE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION. S
WITH THAT BEING SAID, OTHER ANY
ITEMS THAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER
LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR? ALL RIGHT.
NOT SEEING OR HEARING ANY
COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE ITEM
REMOVED. I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED IN THE CONSENT
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>>>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES AND LEGISLATION ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF.
MOVING TO COMMITTEE REPORTS,
TODAY WE HAVE THREE. THE FIRST
ONE IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE. MADAME
CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER
ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1. APPOINTMENT
02496.
>> THANK YOU'S MUCH. LET'S SEE
THIS IS REALLY EXCITING , I AM
HAPPY TO SHARE WITH MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES THAT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY
VOTED TO RECOMMEND THE
APPOINTMENT FOR ACTING DIRECTO
OF HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT B
PERMANENT POSITION ON APRIL 11
I HOPE THE REST OF THE COUNCIL
WILL JOIN US. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT. THE HUMA
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS
BEEN WITHOUT A PERMANENT
DIRECTOR SINCE BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, ONE OF THE LARGEST
CONTROLLERS TO SEATTLE AND THE
SAFETY NET, THE 400 EMPLOYEES,
AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS , MORE THAN 200
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT
STRONG AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY'S,
PROMOTE INNOVATION AND ADVANCE
RACIAL EQUITY. LUCKILY, ACTING
DIRECTOR KIM IS WELL FAMILIAR
WITH THE CHALLENGES AND HAS
ALREADY LED THE DEPARTMENT FOR
SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DAYS
OF THE PANDEMIC , OF THE
PANDEMIC INTERCITY. WORKED FO
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR SINCE SEPTEMBER 20 11.
I FOUND ACTING DIRECTOR KIM TO
BE A THOUGHTFUL AND RESPONSIVE
PARTNER AND I WAS PLEASED THAT
SHE WAS WILLING TO STEP UP HER
COMMITMENT WHEN ASKED TO SERVE
IN A PERMANENT ROLE. CLEARLY
PARTNERS FEEL THE SAME. DURING
PUBLIC TESTIMONY WE HEARD A
VARIETY OF VERY POSITIVE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORK SO
FAR. HERE ARE A FEW OF THEM. SH
HAS BUILT STRONGER SYSTEMS AT
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SHE HELPS ORGANIZATIONS NAVIGAT
THOSE SYSTEMS. SHE HAS BEEN
REFERRED TO AS A TRUE ALLY, A
THOUGHTFUL PARTNER, IT HAS BEE
SAID THAT SHE TRULY RESPECTS
COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERS AND
THAT SHE IS READY TO ROLL UP HE
SLEEVES. SHE IS A GOOD
COMMUNICATOR DURING TIMES OF
CRISIS. DIRECTOR KIM LEADS WIT
INTEGRITY. SHE CREATES SPACES T
HAVE HONEST AND SOMETIMES
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS. AND HE
COMMITMENT TO RACIAL JUSTICE
WAS TOLD BY MANY. I APPRECIATE
HER WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE
LEADING AS A CONFIRMED
DIRECTOR. OF COURSE DEPENDING O
THE BOAT OF THIS COUNCIL TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD . COLLEAGUES, I'M GOIN
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY REMAKES IT
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IN REGARDS T
DIRECTOR KIM IS HOPEFULLY THE
NEW DIRECTOR OF HST. HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I AM SORRY
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR?
NOT SEEING ANY, I'M GOING TO LE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , I'M
SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I
DID NOT SEE YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
I'M REALLY EXCITED TODAY TO
CONSIDER DIRECTOR KIM'S FINAL
CONFIRMATION. IT IS BEEN REALLY
GREAT TO WORK WITH DIRECTOR KIM
A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES AROUN
HOMELESSNESS AND OUR PARTNERSHI
WITH THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY. I
APPRECIATED THE TEAM THAT THE
DIRECTOR HAS BUILT AROUND HER
AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING THE STABILITY OF HAVING
PERMANENT DIRECTOR. I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD UNDERSOL
IT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NOT
HAVING A PERMANENT DIRECTOR
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. I THINK I
WAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE TH
PANDEMIC THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN
A PERMANENT DIRECTOR AT THIS
DEPARTMENT. THE STABILITY IS
VERY IMPORTANT. WE ARE VERY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GREAT
NOMINEE TO FILL THIS POSITION
AND AM VERY EXCITED TO CONFIRM
DIRECTOR KIM THIS AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. I JUST WANT TO ADD A HUG
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS WHO BOTH SERVE ON THE
GENERAL HOUSING AUTHORITY AND
OUR BIG MOVE WHEN WE WERE HERE
TO MOVE A LOT OF STAFF FROM HST
OVER TO THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS
NO EASY TASK. THEY'VE BEEN PAR
OF THAT TRYING TO SET UP ALL
THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL OF
THE ISSUES REGARDING
HOMELESSNESS WE'VE BEEN DEALING
WITH. SO THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR THAT.
SEE COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAS
HER HAND A.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. I'
GOING TO TRY THAT AGAIN. THANK
YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. BETTER? I
WANT TO THANK ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR HER
LEADERSHIP IN THE CONVERSATION
WE HAD WITH DIRECTOR KIM. I'M
EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WIT
YOU AND ALL THE PARTNERSHIP WE
HAVE HAD ON CHILD CARE, CHILD
CARE ACCESS OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS. THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOU
TEAM. I WANT TO BRING UP
SOMETHING THAT IS TIMELY. I WA
HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY
AFTER BEING THERE AND
CELEBRATING THE WORKING FAMILIE
TAX REBATE , IT'S TAX THEY, GET
THE WORD OUT TO MORE WORKING
FAMILIES TO GET THEIR TAXES IN.
BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
SIGNING UP FOR THE WORKING
FAMILY TAX REBATE. HANDFUL OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOLD ME THAT
THEY ARE CONTINUING TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE LATINO
COMMUNITY AND NOT BEING SORT O
AMONG THE LIST OF VARIOUS RAC
AND ETHNIC MINORITIES WERE BEIN
ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICE
EARLY. GIVEN THAT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS SUCH A
DIRECT IMPACT ON WORKING WITH
OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, I
WANTED TO JUST PUT THAT ON YOUR
RADAR AS YOU TAKE THE HELM IN
PERMANENT WAY. I HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO
RECOGNIZE THE UNDERCOUNT,
ESPECIALLY FOR COMMITTEES OF
COLOR ACROSS SEATTLE AND TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AS W
SEEK TO GET MORE FUNDS DIRECTLY
OUT THE DOOR TO BIPOC UNITIES
AND THE COMMENTS FROM THE LATIN
COMMUNITY, YOU'RE IN A GREAT
POSITION TO CONTINUE THE STRONG
COMMITMENT AND COMMUNITY LED
PROGRAMMING IN EVERY ASPECT
MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHO IS SERVED
AND WHO SHOULD BE SERVED.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU
AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PU
THAT ON YOUR RADAR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. I'M GOING TO LET THE
SPONSOR HAVE SOME CLOSING
REMARKS BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE.
AND THEN, AFTER THE VOTE, WE
WILL HEAR FROM HER NEW DIRECTOR
KIM. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ,
DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING
BEFORE YOU GO TO VOTE?
>> SURE, I WANT A FEW REMARKS.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
REMARKS WE HAVE RECEIVED IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, ALWAYS WILLING
TO PARTNER TO FIND CREATIVE WAY
TO GET THINGS DONE. INCREDIBLE
INTEGRITY AND UNDERSTANDING O
WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AND
IS ALSO WILLING AND ABLE TO MAK
TOUGH DECISIONS. STRONG VALUES
AND UNDERSTANDING OF ROOT
CAUSES. TANYA KIM IS A LIFELON
LEARNER AND DEDICATED PARENT AN
TRUSTED ADVOCATE FOR MANY SHE
HAS TOUCHED THROUGHOUT HER
CAREER. SAFE SEATTLE WOULD BE
IN GOOD HANDS WITH TANYA KIM A
DIRECTOR OF THIS DEPARTMENT. AS
I MENTIONED -- I WANT TO SHARE
WITH THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES,
THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE REALLY
ENJOYED WORKING WITH DIRECTOR
KIM. SHE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPL
THAT I CAN SAY THAT IN WORKING
WITH HER I HAVE LEARNED A GREAT
DEAL ABOUT MYSELF, ABOUT MY
SHORTCOMINGS. ABOUT MY
STRENGTHS. AND ABOUT HOW TO BE
BETTER LEADER. BECAUSE OF HOW
SHE FOSTERS LEADERSHIP IN
OTHERS, HOW SHE IS A VERY CALM
PERSON IN THE MIDST OF OFTEN
LOT OF CRISIS AROUND US. AND
JUST REALLY , IT'S BEEN SUCH A
PRIVILEGE TO LEARN FROM HER.
>> THANK YOU, I HOPE YOU
REALIZE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS NEVER SAID THAT
ABOUT HERSELF. WONDERFUL
TESTAMENT TO YOUR INTEGRITY AND
LEADERSHIP, LET ME DO THIS, I
DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE WITH HER
HANDS A. WITH THAT, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT.
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND THEN
OPPOSED.
>> GREAT. THE POINT IS
CONFIRMED. CONGRATULATIONS NOW
DIRECTOR KIM, YOU ARE RECOGNIZE
TO MY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF TH
PUBLIC. GO AHEAD.
>> IS ABOUT ME, BUT VERY
DIFFICULT TO SPEAK AFTER THESE
WONDERFUL SPEAKERS. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPRESS TRULY MY HEARTFELT
GRATITUDE TO SOME REALLY
IMPORTANT AND INCREDIBLE
PEOPLE. FIRST I MUST THANK TH
MAYOR AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR FO
THEIR NOMINATION AND SUPPORT. O
COURSE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT , AN
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICE
COMMITTEE CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD , THE STAFF TEAM WHO
SUPPORTED THE PROCESS BEHIND
THE SCENES, THAT INCLUDES FOLKS
FROM HST, THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM
IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND TO
THE LOVES OF MY LIFE, MY
HUSBAND, ALAN LEE, AND MY
CHILDREN , I WAS REFLECTING
WHEN I WAS LISTENING, I HEAR YO
, I HEAR THE FEEDBACK AND THAT
IS THE KIND OF PARTNERSHIP WE'R
GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN,
IF IT IS BEEN AWAY EYE ROLL AND
IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE. THANK
YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK. I HAVE
DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.
IS BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY
THAT I LOVE SO MUCH THAT I
SERVE, IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE
IT IS A CALL OF DUTY FOR ME.
THIS DOES INCLUDE OUR AGES TH
EMPLOYEES, THE PROVIDER
COMMUNITY, THOSE WE CONTRACT
WITH AND THOSE WHO HE WILL
CONTRACT WITH IN THE FUTURE. AS
WELL AS PARTNERS ACROSS THE
REGION. AND THERE ARE MANY
OPPORTUNITIES, I KNOW WE TALKED
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES, BUT THERE
ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
SPACE OF HUMAN SERVICES AND I D
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH AL
OF YOU. I EXPECT PEOPLE WILL
HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT, AN
SO LASTLY, I KNOW WE HAVE A
FULL AGENDA, I JUST WANT TO SAY
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.
I STARTED, AS YOU KNOW, AS A
CONTRACT SPECIALIST HERE AT THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ABOUT
13 YEARS AGO. AND IT'S A
PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO PROBABLY
END MY CAREER AS DIRECTOR HERE
AT THE DEPARTMENT. SO THAT IS
WHY IT TRULY IS A
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR KIM. I
HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU A
A CONTRACTS PERSON. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, SO, I
HAVE TO SAY SPECIAL WORDS, NO
DON'T, I THINK THAT'S IT, ONCE
WE HAVE THE CONFIRMATION AND WE
VOTE, AND ONCE WE LET OUR GUEST
SPEAK WE MOVE ON. CORRECT,
MADAME CLERK?
>> CORRECT.
>> I DON'T NEED TO SIGN
ANYTHING. THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS DIRECTOR KIM.
>> ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO ITEM
NUMBER TWO WHICH COMES OUT OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS EDUCATION,
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, CAN YOU
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER TWO INT
THE RECORD? AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
TWO. COUNCIL BILL 120525,
ESTABLISHING THE RACE AND SOCIA
JUSTICE INITIATIVE AS CITY
POLICY; ESTABLISHING GOVERNANCE
OF THE RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE WITHIN THE OFFICE FO
CIVIL RIGHTS; AUTHORIZING THE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS TO LEAD
THE RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE, AND ADDING NEW
SECTIONS 3.14.941 THROUGH
3.14.945 TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS CITY COUNCIL PASSED
AS AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
BILL CODIFIES ARE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE WHICH
BEGAN AS AN EXECUTIVE INITIATIV
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. IT HAS BEE
A LONG TIME. JUST FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC THIS WILL DO
FOUR MAIN THINGS. IT PERMANENTL
CODIFIES THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE AS WELL. IT
PRIMLY HOUSES THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK AND
OVERSIGHT WITHIN THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS. IT AUTHORIZES THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS TO CREAT
AN ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE WIT
METRICS FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO
ENGAGE IN ENDING RACIAL
DISPARITY IN THE CITY VIA THE
PERMANENT DIVISION OF A RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE DIVISION. I
DETAILS HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES WILL BEGIN
UPDATING OUR CITIES SERVICE AN
EXEMPT SERVICES. I WILL SAY
IS A FORMER SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHT
COMMISSIONER, I WAS INVOLVED IN
THE DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT OF IT
OWN RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
IN THE FEEDBACK WE GOT AT THAT
TIME BOTH INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL, THROUGHOUT THE
PROCESS, REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE
ROLE THAT THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS PLAYS IN PROVIDING EQUA
RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT AND
LEADERSHIP FOR THE CITY . THAT
WAS 2018. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.
IN INTERVENING YEARS WE HAVE
SEEN, UNFORTUNATELY, A RISE IN
HATE AGAINST VARIOUS
COMMUNITY'S. WE HAVE SEEN
WIDENING HOUSING INEQUALITY IN
PLACES THAT CONTINUE TO DEVALUE
WORKERS. WHEN SEATTLEITES ARE
FACED WITH DISCRIMINATION, THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS IS A
PLACE THEY TURN FOR
INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT O
OUR LAWS. AND, IT'S ALSO THE
LEADING FACILITATOR OF OUR
CHANGE TEAM NETWORK , OUR CHANG
TEAMS ARE A GROUP OF CITY STAFF
WERE DEDICATED TO EQUITY WITHI
OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
ENSURING WE ARE ACHIEVING THE
KIND OF OUTCOMES WE SEEK. SO,
TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE
PIONEERS WHO KIND OF PLAYS THAT
TRAIL FOR US AND ALMOST 20 YEAR
LATER ARE BESTOWING THE
RECOGNITION BY MAKING THIS
INITIATIVE CITY LAW. WE ARE
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR PAST
PRACTICES AS A CITY THAT WERE
RACIST OR COULD'VE HAD HARMFUL
EFFECTS ON OUR COMMUNITIES, AND
WE ARE ESTABLISHING POLICIES T
BEGIN TO REPAIR THEM. I WANT T
THANK SEVERAL FOLKS WHO WORKED
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. OUR OWN
CENTRAL STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH OUR OFFICE CLOSELY. SHE HA
BEEN A STALWART SUPPORTER AND
BANDLEADER FOR US IN THIS WORK.
I WANT TO THANK HER PERSONALLY
FOR HER DEDICATION AND
COMMITMENT TO THE CITY. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK MAYOR HARRELL AND
HIS ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR
DEDICATION AND COMPLETION OF HI
LEGACY FROM CITY COUNCIL. I WAN
TO THANK ESPECIALLY DOMINIC
STEVENS AND HIS OFFICE, DRUCKER
SMITH, WHO HELPED US ALONG TH
WAY. OF COURSE I WANT TO THANK
MY OWN STAFF, ALEXIS FOR
EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE TO
BRING THIS BILL TO FRUITION.
COLLEAGUES, I HOPE YOU WILL JOI
ME IN MAKING THIS INITIATIVE
CITY POLICY.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, I WAS
TAKING NOTES. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, OTHER AN
COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR
REGARDING THIS ORDINANCE .
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW THIS IS
PROBABLY A FEELING THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS IS A
FORMER SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSIONER , LIKE MYSELF. BU
IT'S GOOD TO SEE THIS LONG
TALKED ABOUT POLICY FINALLY COM
TO FRUITION. AND FINALLY BE IN
FRONT OF US FOR PASSAGE AND A
VOTE. THIS IS A GOOD IDEA THAT
HAS FINALLY HAVING ITS DAY AND
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE TO BE ABL
TO MOVE ON TO OTHER UNFINISHED
WORK . BUT HAVING THIS IN FRONT
OF US AND HAVING THIS COMPLETED
IS A BIG MILESTONE THAT HAS
TOUCHED THE HANDS OF MANY CIVIL
SERVANTS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND THE COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.
IT'S GOOD TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO
HAVE IT BE CODIFIED AND PART O
OUR PRACTICE. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS BEFORE WE GO TO VOTE?
>> ALL RIGHT, I DO NOT SEE OR
HEAR ANY HANDS OR VOICES FOR M
COLLEAGUES. WITH THAT, MADAME
CLERK, WE YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. GRADUATIONS, THE
BILL PASSES. PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
>>> REPORT OF THE SUSTAINABILIT
AND RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE,
COUNCIL BILL 120541, RELATING T
RESIDENTIAL TENANCY, LIMITING
THE AMOUNT OF FEES CHARGED FOR
LATE PAYMENT OF RENT AND FOR
NOTICES ISSUED TO TENANTS, AND
ADDING A NEW SECTION 7.24.034 T
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO
EXPRESS SOLIDARITY TO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKER
WHO ARE DEMANDING WAGE INCREASE
AND DOUBLE OVERTIME AMONG OTHER
DEMANDS, AND FOR WORKERS
FIGHTING FOR AN INCREASE IN
LIVING WAGE AND FOR FULL
STAFFING AMONG OTHER DEMANDS.
THIS IS THE LEGISLATION THAT
LANDLORDS CAN CHARGE FOR OVERDU
RENT. THE BILL PROHIBITS NOTICE
DELIVERY FEES. OTHER THAN COVID
EMERGENCY MEASURES, THERE ARE
CURRENTLY NO LIMITS TO THE FEES
SEATTLE LANDLORDS CAN CHARGE
RENTERS FOR OVERDUE RENT OR
OTHER SO-CALLED JUNK FEES. SOME
RENTERS HAVE TOLD US THEY'RE
CHARGED UPWARDS OF $250 ONCE
RENT IS OVERDUE. OTHER RENTERS
HAVE EVEN FACED LATE FEES AND
THEN LATE FEE NOTICE DELIVERY
FEES, WHICH IS AN ADDITIONAL FE
THE RENTER HAS TO PAY FOR THE
PRIVILEGE OF GETTING A NOTICE
THEY HAVE TO PAY A LATE FEE.
LATE FEES CAN SUCK RENTERS INTO
A DEBT VORTEX AS NOTED BY THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT, WHICH
PROVIDES FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE
TO RENTERS FACING EVICTION IN
KING COUNTY. RENTERS DO NOT GET
PAID LATE FEES WHEN THEIR
LANDLORDS -- YET RENTERS ARE
REQUIRED BY LAW TO PAY RENT ON
TIME, EVEN WHEN THEIR LANDLORD
FAILS TO COMPLETE REPAIRS, WHIC
HAPPENS EXTREMELY FREQUENTLY,
ESPECIALLY TO WORKING CLASS AND
POOR RENTERS. COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE RECEIVED OVER 1,200 EMAILS
FROM SEATTLE RENTERS URGING THE
TO SUPPORT THIS BILL WITHOUT
LOOPHOLES AND WEAKENING
AMENDMENTS, AND 1,000 PEOPLE
HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION. AS
RENTERS SIGN THE PETITION, MANY
CHOSE TO TELL THEIR PERSONAL
LATE FEE STORIES, WHICH MY
OFFICE COMPILED AND ATTACHED TO
THIS TO THIS LEGISLATION AND
PUBLISHED UP ON OUR BLOG. AS
PROPOSED BY MY OFFICE, IT WOULD
MANDATE A LIMIT ON LATE FEES FO
OVERDUE RENT AT NO MORE THAN $1
IN A MONTH. THE NEARBY CITIES O
AUBURN AND BURIEN HAVE ALREADY
PASSED SUCH A LAW. EXTRA CHARGE
LIKE LATE FEES ARE ON TOP OF TH
OUT-OF-CONTROL RENTS THAT THE
MAJORITY OF OUR CITY'S RENTERS
STRUGGLE TO PAY. COUNCILMEMBERS
LEWIS, NELSON, AND JUAREZ VOTED
FOR AN AMENDMENT TO WATER DOWN
THE RENTER PROTECTIONS IN THE
BILL BY INCREASING THE LATE FEE
CAP TO UP TO $50 FOR RENT
PAYMENT. THE CURRENT VERSION OF
THE BILL CAPS LATE FEES AT $50.
AS PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKERS HAVE
NOTED, THERE IS AN AMENDMENT
LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA AS
PROPOSED AMENDMENT A,
COSPONSORED BY MORALES,
MOSQUEDA, AND MYSELF, THAT WOUL
RESTORE THE BILL TO ITSELF
ORIGINAL VERSION WITH A CAP OF
$10 PER MONTH. AFTER MY
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, I WILL
MOVE THAT AMENDMENT. THE LATE
FEE ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED BY A
LANDLORD PANEL IN COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON'S COMMITTEE, DURING WHIC
THERE WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT
OF MISINFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO
BE CORRECTED FOR THE RECORD. ON
SPEAKER AT THAT COMMITTEE WAS
LANDLORD MARLIN YIM . ONE
LAWSUIT IS TO BLOCK THE FIRST
COME, FIRST SERVE ORDINANCE, AN
THE OTHER IS TO BLOCK THE FAIR
CHANCE HOUSING ORDINANCE, WHICH
STOPS HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
BASED ON CRIMINAL HISTORIES
BEING USED AS A PROXY FOR
DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF
RACE. YIM CLAIMED OVER HALF OF
SEATTLE LANDLORDS HAVE A TOTAL
INCOME OF $75,000 OR LESS ON
AVERAGE. ESSENTIALLY CLAIMING
THAT SEATTLE LANDLORDS MAKE LES
MONEY THAN THE OVERALL AVERAGE
INCOME IN SEATTLE. AS EVIDENCE,
THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY CITED A
2018 STUDY THAT SURVEYED OVER
4,000 LANDLORDS ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCES. THIS CLAIM IS
TOTALLY FALSE. THE QUESTION THA
THE 2018 SURVEY ACTUALLY ASKED
LANDLORDS WAS, QUOTE, WHAT IS
THE AVERAGE TOTAL HOUSEHOLD
INCOME FOR THE TENANTS YOU RENT
TO, END QUOTE. IT IS RENTER, NO
LANDLORDS, WHO MAKE LESS THAN
$75,000 INCOME ACCORDING TO THA
STUDY. IT IS RENTERS, NOT LAND
LORDS, WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO
MAKE ENDS MEET. MY OFFICE
DISCOVERED THE ERROR AND
CONTACTED THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON RESEARCHERS WHO
CONDUCTED THE 2018 STUDY. I
APPRECIATE KYLE CROWDER AT THE
UW FOR CONFIRMING THAT THAT
STATISTIC IS ABOUT RENTER, NOT
LANDLORDS, AND I THANK THE CITY
AUDITOR'S OFFICE FOR EMAILING
ABOUT THE ERROR. THE LANDLORD
LOBBY HAS QUOTED THIS ONE FALSE
STATISTIC NUMEROUS TIMES AS A
BASIS FOR CONCOCTING A STORY
THAT LANDLORDS ARE STRUGGLING T
PAY THEIR BILLS. IN FACT, IT IS
ROUTINE FOR THE LANDLORD LOBBY
TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH
FACT, INCLUDING CIRCULATING OUT
RIGHT LIES, ALL THE WHILE
ACCUSING OUR OFFICE AND RENTERS
OF NOT PROVIDING SUFFICIENT
STATISTICAL EVIDENCE FOR WHY WE
NEED LEGISLATION TO PROTECT
RENTERS. ONE REAL ESTATE COMPAN
SENT ADVICE TO CLIENTS ABOUT HO
TO OPPOSE TODAY'S BILL IN WHICH
THEY SAID, QUOTE, WHICHEVER
SYMPATHETIC HOUSING PROVIDER YO
NEED TO STAND BY YOU FOR
POLITICAL COVER, FIND THEM, END
QUOTE. LANDLORDS WHO OPPOSE
TEMPORRY EVICTION BANS DURING
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC
TURNED AROUND AND MADE RECORD
PROFITS AFTER CLAIMING THAT
EVICTION MORATORIUMS WOULD LEAV
THEM ON THE HOOK FOR BILLIONS O
DOLLARS IN LOSSES. MIDLE
AMERICA APARTMENT COMMUNITIES,
THE LARGEST MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
OWNER IN THE U.S., DOUBLED THEI
PROFITS IN 2021 TO $550 AT THE
HEIGHT OF PANDEMIC-ERA EVICTION
PROTECTIONS. WHILE MANY
LANDLORDS DO NOT CHARGE
PUNISHING LATE FEES, MANY TREAT
LATE FEES AND JUNK FEES AS YET
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT
THEIR RENTERS. AT A NEIGHBORHOO
TABLE MY OFFICE HELD ABOUT THE
LATE FEE LEGISLATION, QUOTE,
THAT'S HOW I MAKE MY MONEY, END
QUOTE. WE HEARD IN PUBLIC
COMMENT ABOUT A LANDLORD SENDIN
A RENTER A NOTICE ASKING FOR
PLANTS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE
PATIO DESPITE THE FACT THAT
PLANTS ON THE PATIO WERE
EXPLICITLY PERMITTED ON THE
LEASE AND THEN CHARGING THE
RENTER $75 FOR THE DELIVERY OF
THAT NOTICE, NOT FOR REMOVING
THE PLANTS, FOR THE NOTICE. THA
IS THE TYPE OF EXPLOITATION THA
THIS LEGISLATION WILL PROHIBIT,
AND I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
VOTE YES. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ, SHOULD I MOVE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT A NOW?
>> NO. WHAT I HAVE TO DO IS I
HAVE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE FLOOR
I THOUGHT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
WAS MOVING THE AMENDMENT?
>> IT'S AN AMENDMENT BEING MOVE
JOINTLY BY COUNCILMEMBERS
MORALES, MOSQUEDA, AND I. AND I
DON'T CARE ABOUT THE ORDER.
>> I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, IF
THAT'S OKAY, WHEN I'M READY.
>> I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE
SCRIPT. I CAN OPEN UP TO THE
FLOOR, AND THEN -- AND IF YOU
WANT, I WANT TO SEE IF THERE AR
ANY COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, IF YOU WANT TO BE THE
ONE TO MOVE IT, SO BE IT. ARE
THERE COMMENTS YET? I WILL HAVE
A COMMENT, BUT I'LL WAIT UNTIL
AFTER COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT MOVE
IT. DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND
MOVE IT?
>> I MOVE PROPOSED AMENDMENT A
AS LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SECOND.
>> AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND MORALE
AND MOSQUEDA. SO WE ARE GOING T
OPEN THE FLOOR ON THE AMENDMENT
AND I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, AN
THEN I'M GOING TO GO FIRST BEIN
--
>> PRESIDENT JUAREZ, SHOULDN'T
ONE OF THE SPONSORS, SHOULDN'T
THE SPONSORS OF THE AMENDMENT
FIRST SPEAK TO THE AMENDMENT?
>> OH, I'M SORRY. I'M GLAD
YOU'RE ENJOYING MY BLANKET.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND THEN I THINK THAT'S
ALL WE GOT. AND THEN I WILL GO
AFTER COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, GO AHEAD
>> THANK YOU.
>> I APOLOGIZE.
>> THAT'S OKAY. COLLEAGUES, I A
PROUD TO SPONSOR THIS AMENDMENT
TO RETURN THE CAP BACK TO THE
$10 PER MONTH AS WAS THE
ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE
LEGISLATION. EXPERTS, ADVOCATES
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I WANT T
THANK FOR ALL OF YOUR EMAILS AN
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR MOVING
THIS BACK AND WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
MOSQUEDA FOR COSPONSORING THE
AMENDMENT WITH ME, AS WELL AS
DEVIN AND OTHERS ON MY STAFF FO
DRAFTING THE AMENDMENT. EARLIER
SHE'S GONE NOW, BUT EARLIER
ANDREA WAS HERE TALKING ABOUT
HOW WHEN SHE WAS A LANDLORD SHE
HAD GROCERY WORKERS WHO PAID
THEIR RENT WEEKLY OR SOME WHO
WOULD PAY TWICE A MONTH, AND IT
JUST MADE ME RECALL, YOU KNOW,
DAYS WHEN I WAS WAITING TABLES %
AND HAD TO CRAM ALL OF MY
DOLLARS INTO A CIGAR BOX AND
HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THE
MONTH THERE WAS ENOUGH TO PAY
RENT. SO I DO WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR THIS CHANGE. WE KNOW THAT
CAPPING LATE FEES AT $10 IS THE
BARE MINIMUM WE CAN DO FOR
RENTERS, GIVEN THE SITUATION
THAT FOLKS ARE IN. THESE ARE
PUNITIVE CHARGES, VERY AN FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HAVING A
HARD TIME WITH HOUSING COSTS.
AND CHARGING $50 OR UP TO $50
FOR SOMEONE WHO'S STRUGGLING TO
PAY RENT DOESN'T SERVE RENTERS,
AND IT DOESN'T SERVE LANDLORDS.
IF SOMEBODY'S HAVING TROUBLE
PAYING RENT ON TIME, IT'S
BECAUSE THEIR HOUSING COSTS ARE
TOO HIGH OR MAYBE THEY DIDN'T
GET ENOUGH HOURS AT WORK LAST
WEEK OR MAYBE THEY'VE HAD A
MEDICAL EMERGENCY. IT'S NOT
BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL
FAST ONE ON THEIR LANDLORDS, AN
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY'RE DOIN
KNOWING THAT EVICTION IS HANGIN
OVER THEIR HEADS. SO ADDING A
FEE ON TOP OF SOMEONE'S RENT
ONLY MAKES THE HOLE THAT THEY
NEED TO DIG OUT OF BIGGER, AND
IT MEANS THAT THEIR RENT WILL
LIKELY STILL NOT GET PAID ON
TIME. THE PROBLEM HERE IS THE
COMMODIFICATION OF SOMEONE
ELSE'S HOUSING. RENTER'S WAGES,
WE KNOW, ARE NOT KEEPING ONE TH
COST OF HOUSING. I THINK RENT
INCREASED SOMETHING LIKE 20%
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT
WAGES ARE NOT KEEPING PACE AND
RENT'S ALREADY EXCEEDING HALF O
INCOME FOR MANY PEOPLE. SO
PEOPLE ARE WORKING TO COVER
THEIR HOUSING COSTS, TO PUT FOO
ON THE TABLE, TO PUT CLOTHES ON
THEIR BACK OR THEIR CHILDREN.
AND PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE
SHOULDN'T PUT PEOPLE IN DEBT OR
JEOPARDIZE THEIR ABILITY TO
REMAIN HOUSED. I'M ASKING FOR
SUPPORT, COLLEAGUES, TO RETURN
THE RENT TO WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY
INTENDED IN THE LEGISLATION AND
CAP IT AT $10 A MONTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER --
OH, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> PRESIDENT JUAREZ, I AM -- WE
ARE ALL COSPONSORS, AND SO I
WOULD ASK THAT YOU LET ME SPEAK
FIRST AS WELL BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
>> OKAY. OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO BE
COSPONSORING THIS AMENDMENT
WHICH, IF PASSED, WHICH I HOPE
IT WILL, WILL BRING THE
LEGISLATION BACK TO THE ORIGINA
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE. THI
-- AND AS I MENTIONED, THIS
WOULD REVERSE THE AMENDMENT THA
WAS PASSED AT THE APRIL 7th
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE, WHICH
INCREASED THE $10 A MONTH CAP O
LATE FEES TO $50 FOR RENT
PAYMENT. POLITICIANS WHO ARE
LOOKING FOR EXCUSES NOT TO STAN
UP AGAINST CORPORATE LANDLORDS
AND BIG BUSINESS TO WIN JUSTICE
FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE OFTEN TALK
ABOUT THEIR LOVE OF DATA. THEY
WILL OFTEN REJECT PROGRESSIVE
MEASURES BY CLAIMING WORKERS
HAVE NOT PRESENTED STATISTICAL
EVIDENCE. WHAT IS STUNNING ABOU
THE $50 CAP THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
NELSON, LEWIS, AND JUAREZ VOTED
FOR IS THAT THEY PRESENTED NO
EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER TO JUSTIFY
INCREASING THE LATE FEE CAP TO
$50. POOR AND WORKING CLASS
RENTERS SHOULD NOT BE NICKELLED
AND DIMED FOR $40 WHICH THEY
DESPERATELY NEED IN ORDER TO PU
FOOD ON THE TABLE. THEY GAVE
EXAMPLES AT OUR COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION OF PEOPLE ON FIXED
INCOMES FOR WHO $40 IS A
SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEIR FOOD
BUDGET. FOR LANDLORDS, THOSE $4
ARE INSIGNIFICANT. THE AVERAGE
NET WORTH OF THOSE WHO OWN A
HOME IN THE SEATTLE AREA, LET
ALONE MULTIPLE RENTAL UNITS, IS
OVER $987,000. MILLIONAIRE
LANDLORDS DO NOT NEED $40 EXTRA
OUT OF RENTER'S POCKETS. THE
LATE FEES ARE NOT NEEDED TO
FORCE RENTERS TO PAY ON TIME.
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
EXPLAINED DURING THE DISCUSS
THAT DURING THE MORATORIUM ON
LATE FEE, IN FACT, 93% OF
RENTERS PAY THEIR RENT BY THE
END OF THE MONTH COMPARED TO
ACTUALLY 92% BEFORE THE
MORATORIUM. IN OTHER WORDS, WHE
LATE FEES ARE PROHIBITED, MORE,
NOT FEWER, REPRESENTERS ARE
PAYING THEIR RENT. RENTERS DE
SIRE TO STAY HOUSED AND AVOID
EVICTIONS AND A BAD RENTAL AND
CREDIT SCORE IS WHAT KEEPS THEM
PAYING RENT ON TIME. THEY HAVE
NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY RENT. A $1
LATE FEE GAP HAS BEEN TESTED AN
PROVEN. BURIEN AND AUBURN BOTH
CAP AT $10, AND IN BOTH CITIES,
RENTERS HAVE CONTINUED TO PAY
THEIR RENT ON TIME. THIS IS
ACTUAL EVIDENCE THAT $10 DOES
NOT ACTUALLY MEAN THAT RENTS
DON'T PAY THEIR RENT ON TIME.
YES, OTHER CITIES AND STATES
HAVE HIGHER, MORE EXPLOITATIVE
LATE FEE CAPS, BUT THAT'S THE
QUESTION, WILL COUNCILMEMBERS
PRIORITIZE THE PROFITS OF LAND
LORDS, DISREGARDING THE
PREPONDERANCE OF DATA AND THE
TESTIMONY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS
OR WILL THEY REPRESENT, YOU
KNOW, LANDLORD GREED OR STAND
WITH TENANTS. ANY COUNCILMEMBER
WHO CLAIMS TO REPRESENT LABOR
SHOULD BE VOTING IN THE INTERES
OF WORKING CLASS RENTERS, NOT
CORPORATE LANDLORDS, AND SHOULD
BE VOTING YES FOR THIS
AMENDMENT. RIGHT AFTER THE APRI
7th COMMITTEE IN RESPONSE TO TH
MASS EMAIL FROM MY OFFICE
INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF THIS
ISSUE, HUNDREDS OF RENTERS URGE
URGED US TO VOTE YES ON THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION FROM MY
OFFICE. I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS T
VOTE YES ON THIS AMENDMENT,
WHICH, YOU KNOW, WILL BRING IN
THE QUESTION OF ALL THE EVIDENC
THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED AND THE
AMENDMENT THAT WAS PASSED IN
COMMITTEE, IN FACT, REPLACED TH
$10 CAP WITH A COMPLICATED
FORMULA THAT COULD RESULT IN
LATE FEES FIVE TIMES HIGHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. OKAY. SO WITH THAT, I
THINK I'M FREE TO SPEAK NOW.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION
AND HAVING IT IN YOUR COMMITTEE
ALSO A BIG THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, WHO WERE
IN COMMITTEE AND DISCUSSED THIS
WE HAD A LOT OF INFORMATION FRO
STCI, CENTRAL STAFF. WE HEARD
FROM THE ADVOCATES, THE
ATTORNEYS, AND WE ALSO HEARD A
LOT FROM OUR PUBLIC THAT CAME
INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL
NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS
AMENDMENT, AND I WILL TELL YOU
WHY. I'M GOING TO UPHOLD MY VOT
THAT I DID IN COMMITTEE, AND TH
INTEGRITY OF MY VOTE ON WHAT IT
WAS BASED ON. AND IT ISN'T JUST
A STUBBORNNESS THAT I VOTED A
PARTICULAR WAY IN COMMITTEE AND
I'M GOING TO STICK TO THAT. I'M
ALWAYS ON TO CHANGING A VOTE IF
INDEED I BELIEVE BASED ON WHAT
HEAR -- AND OF COURSE, PUBLIC
COMMENT -- THAT THERE'S A REASO
TO. AND I DON'T SEE THAT TODAY.
WE HAVE ALWAYS AGREED SINCE DAY
ONE THAT WE NEED A CAP ON LATE
FEES. AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
IS CORRECT THAT AUBURN AND
BURIEN HAVE IMPOSED A $10 CAP.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT REDMOND HAS A
1.5% AND UNINCORPORATED KING
COUNTY HAS A 1.5%. SO THE OTHER
ISSUE WAS, AND WE OWE A THANK
YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
THIS, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ALSO
AGREED WE NEEDED TO ELIMINATE
JUNK FEES. NO FEES FOR
PREPARATION OR DELIVERY OF THE
NOTICE. COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
PROPOSED AND PASSED A SUBSTITUT
BILL IN HER COMMITTEE, WHICH WA
GREAT. WE DID THE WORK, AND
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER IS
SAWANT . IS IT A $10 CAP OR WHA
IS THAT FEE AND WHAT IS THE
CALCULATION AND HOW DO WE GET
THERE. SO I WENT BACK, BECAUSE
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR
WHILE, AND LOOKED BACK AT THE
TIMELINE OF COUNCIL BILL 120541
THAT'S WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.
AND IT ACTUALLY STARTED BACK IN
DECEMBER OF 2022 WITH STCI WHEN
THE DIRECTOR ISSUED AND
SUBMITTED AND GAVE TO US A
REPORT ON A SLIDE FOR THE SMALL
LANDLORD STAKEHOLDER GROUP. IT
WAS A HUGE POWERPOINT WE WENT
THROUGH AND SOME OF THESE ISSUE
WERE RAISED. ON JANUARY 4th,
HOUSE BILL 1124 SPONSORED BY
REPRESENTATIVE PEDERSEN
INTRODUCED A CAP ON A $75 FEE.
AND IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO CAP IT
AND OF COURSE, THAT WAS
HAPPENING IN OLYMPIA. THEN ON
JANUARY 12th, WE RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM THE STATE HOUSE,
STATE HEALTH COALITION, WITH
OVER 30 SIGNATURES. I'M SURE
LIKE MY COLLEAGUES DID, I READ
THE LETTER AND LEARNED MORE
ABOUT LATE -- THE CAP ON LATE
FEES AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE T
SEE HAPPEN. ON JANUARY 20th,
THIS IS THE FIRST OF THREE
MEETINGS ON COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S COMMITTEE. THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, MYSELF,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. WE HAD
PANELISTS FROM THE TENANT LAW
CENTER, AND OF COURSE, BE
SEATTLE. ON JANUARY 26th, WE
LEARNED THAT REPRESENTATIVE
PEDERSEN'S BILL PASSED WITH A
7-5 VOTE FOR A $75 CAP. THIS WA
HAPPENING IN OLYMPIA. SO WE WER
MONITORING WHAT WAS GOING ON IN
OLYMPIA AND ALSO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WAS DOING
IN HER COMMITTEE. ON FEBRUARY
27th, AGAIN, WE BROUGHT UP THE
ISSUE, AND I THINK COUNCILMEMBE
HERBOLD BROUGHT IT UP AS WELL
ABOUT HOUSE BILL 1124 AND ITS
RELATIONSHIP TO CAP FEES. SO WE
DISCUSSED THAT. THEN WE LEARNED
ON MARCH 14th, THAT IT DIED IN
THE HOUSES RULES COMMITTEE,
WHICH WAS UNFORTUNATELY. EVEN
THOUGH SOME PEOPLE WANTED A
LOWER CAP THAN $75. ON MARCH
13th, AND THANK YOU, TED, TED
SENT ALL OF US IN COMMITTEE THE
SUSTAINABILITY RENTERS AND
RIGHTS COMMITTEE DETAILS OF
BURIEN'S $10 PER MONTH CAP,
AUBURN'S $10 PER MONTH CAP, AND
THEN OTHER CITIES AS WELL. ON
MARCH 15th, COUNCILMEMBER SAWAN
WAS ASKED, AND SHE DID, TO DELA
THE VOTE, AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AGREED TO DO THAT, WHICH
GAVE US MORE TIME TO LOOK AT TH
LEGISLATION AND WHAT WAS
HAPPENING. ON MARCH 16th, ASHA,
FROM CENTRAL STAFF, SENT US A
FIVE-PAGE MEMORANDUM, WHICH I
READ, WHICH OUTLINES
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE, THE ISSUES
RAISED TODAY. SHE ALSO AUTHORED
A FISCAL NOTE WHICH YOU ARE ALL
FAMILIAR WITH WHEN WE GET PIECE
OF LEGISLATION AND HAVE
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. ON MARCH
16th, COUNCILMEMBER STAFF --
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S STAFF
SENT TO MY OFFICE ANOTHER EMAIL
WHICH THE WHOLE COMMITTEE GOT,
TALKING ABOUT NOT ONLY AUBURN
AND BURIEN AND REDMOND AND
UNINCORPORATED KING COUNTY BUT
OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AND HOW THEY HANDLE CAPPING LAT
FEES, SO ALL OF US GOT THAT
INFORMATION AS WELL. SO THEN WE
MOVE TO MARCH 17th, WHICH IS TH
SECOND OF THREE MEETINGS. WE HA
SIX PANELISTS, INCLUDING EDMUND
WINTER. HE'S A LAWYER FOR THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT. WE HAD
REPRESENTATIVES FOR BE SEATTLE
AND THE TENNANT'S UNION OF
WASHINGTON AND THREE RENTERS. I
WAS A GREAT MEETING, AND WE
LEARNED A LOT, AND WE GOT TO AS
QUESTIONS. ON MARCH 22nd, WHICH
WAS A WEDNESDAY, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON IN HER COMMITTEE, THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY
CITY LIGHT COMMITTEE, WHOSE
MEMBERS INCLUDE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, MYSELF, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, AGAIN
WE HAD ANOTHER DISCUSSION AND
INFORMATION AND WE HEARD FROM
PRETTY MUCH THE SAME GROUPS, TH
TENANT GROUPS, THE ADVOCACY
GROUPS, THE LAWYERS, LEGAL
SERVICES ABOUT CAP FEES. AND WE
ALSO HEARD FROM, FOR THE FIRST
TIME, AT THE TABLE AS GUESTS
FROM SMALL LANDLORDS. AND WE HA
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS
OF THEM AS WELL. THE FIVE
PANELISTS WERE REPRESENTING THE
SMALL SEATTLE LANDLORDS, AND
THEY INCLUDED AN 11-PAGE
POWERPOINT THAT WAS PRESENTED
WHICH WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT. ON APRIL 7th, WHICH WA
A FRIDAY, THIS WAS OUR LAST
MEETING, THREE OF THREE MEETING
AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
COMMITTEE, AGAIN WE HAD FIVE
PANELISTS, INCLUDING THE LAWYER
FOR THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
REPRESENTATIVES FROM BE SEATTLE
THE TENNANTS UNION OF WASHINGTO
STATE, ONE RENTER, AND ONE
LANDLORD. IT WAS VERY FORMATIVE
CUMULATIVE. COUNCILMEMBER NELSO
INTRODUCED AN AMENDMENT WHICH
MODIFIED COUNCIL BILL 120541 TO
NOT A $10 CAP BUT THE LESSER OF
1.5% OR $50. ONE OR THE OTHER.
THAT AMENDMENT PASSED 3-2. AND
WITH THAT, THE WHOLE COMMITTEE,
ALL FIVE, PASSED THE AMENDED
BILL, 120541, IT PASSED 5-0. SO
THE COMMITTEE, THE ORDINANCE OR
THE LAW THAT'S IN FRONT OF US
NOW WAS PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
AS AMENDMENT 5-0. ON FRIDAY ONE
LAST TIME FROM CENTRAL STAFF WE
GOT A SECOND VERSION TO THE
SUMMARY AND FISCAL NOTE. SO ALL
OF THIS TO SAY IS THAT WE HAVE
HAD FOUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND
NOW A FULL COUNCIL, SO FIVE
MEETINGS ON THIS ISSUE IN WHICH
EVERYBODY AGREES WE NEED A CAP.
AND THE QUESTION WAS WHAT SHOUL
THAT CAP BE. COMMITTEE DECIDED
IT WAS 1.5% OR $50, WHICHEVER I
MORE, AND AS WE KNOW, IT MOVED
FORWARD AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ARE
BRINGING BACK AN AMENDMENT THAT
FAILED IN COMMITTEE. NOW, I'M
NOT ONE TO LIKE IT WHEN
SOMETHING DIES IN COMPLIT
COMMITTEE TO BRING IT BACK TO
FULL COUNCIL. LIKE I SAID, WE'V
BEEN DISCUSSING THIS SINCE AT
LEAST MID-DECEMBER. SO I BELIEV
THROUGH EXTENSIVE CITY AND CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS, NOW FIVE, WE
EXAMINED THOROUGHLY THE
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS ISSUE
MEANS AND WHERE OUR VOTE IS. AN
AGAIN, I'M NOT A FAN OF REVIVIN
AN AMENDMENT THAT DIED IN
COMMITTEE, BUT I CERTAINLY
BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE TH
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT AGAIN T
FULL COUNCIL FOR MAYBE THOSE WH
AREN'T ON THE COMMITTEE. BUT I
PREFER DEFERENCE TO THE
COMMITTEE CHAIR AND THE WILL OF
THE COMMITTEE IN THE HOURS SPEN
DISCUSSING THAT MATTER. AND SO
THAT REASON, AND THE ONLY
REASON, THAT I'M GOING TO STAY
WITH MY VOTE IS BECAUSE I
BELIEVE IN THE COMMITTEE AND TH
PROCESS. I FEEL IT'S
UNFORTUNATE, CERTAINLY THROUGH
COMMITTEE RULES, THAT PEOPLE
FEEL COMPELLED TO IMPUGN THE
MOTIVES AND PERSONAL ATTACKS OF
ANY COUNCILMEMBER. I THINK IT'S
UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE GOING
BACK TO GOING TO PEOPLE'S HOMES
AND BULLYING PEOPLE AGAIN. I
THINK THAT IGNORES THE HUMANITY
AND THE DIGNITY OF PEOPLE, A
DEMOCRACY, AND WHY WE'RE HERE.
AND WE TAKE TOUGH VOTES, BUT
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE BAD
PEOPLE. I DON'T BUY INTO THE
NARRATIVE THAT ALL LANDLORDS AR
BAD OR ALL LANDLORDS ARE GOOD O
ALL RENTERS ARE GOOD OR ALL
RENTERS ARE BAD. I SEE THIS AS
STRONG PIECE OF LEGISLATION THA
WAS AMENTDED BY THE COMMITTEE
AND NOW IS BEFORE US. I DO NOT
HAVE ANY PERSONAL ATTACKS. I'M
NOT CALLING ANYONE NAMES,
WHETHER THEY'RE A PROGRESSIVE A
LIBERAL A DEMOCRAT, A
REPUBLICAN, IT DOESN'T MATTER T
ME. SO THAT IS WHERE I STAND. S
I AM GOING TO STICK WITH MY
ORIGINAL VOTE, AND I WILL NOT B
VOTING YES ON THIS AMENDMENT. S
WITH THAT I'M GOING TO OPEN THE
FLOOR. I'M GOING TO START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. CAN'T HEA
YOU.
>> YES, THAT'S WHAT THE FINGER
MEANS. I'M RUSHING TO FIND THE
BUTTON. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE AS A NONCOMMITTEE
MEMBER THE CHANCE TO DISCUSS
THIS IN FULL COUNCIL. I
UNDERSTAND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ'S RESPECT FOR THE WORK
THAT'S DONE IN COMMITTEE, BUT
NONCOMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE -- I
WOULD NOT WANT TO THINK OF
MYSELF AS SOMEBODY WHOSE JOB AT
FULL COUNCIL IS TO JUST RUBBER
STAMP WHAT COMES OUT OF FULL --
COMES OUT OF A COMMITTEE. SO I
REALLY ACTUALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AS A
NONCOMMITTEE MEMBER. WANT TO SA
THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE REASON
TO REVERSE THIS AMENDMENT HAS
BEEN VERY WELL ESTABLISHED BY
EXACTLY THE STORIES THAT WE'VE
HEARD FROM RENTERS SINCE THE
COMMITTEE VOTE. SUPPORTERS OF
THE AMENDMENT SEEM TO BE
SUGGESTING THAT THE $40
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A $50 CAP AN
A $10 CAP ON LATE FEES IS
INSIGNIFICANT, BUT WHAT I'VE
BEEN HEARINGS IS THAT THE
FAMILIES WHO NEED THE CAP THE
MOST, THAT THE $40 DIFFERENCE I
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PAYING
THE PENALTY AND SOME REALLY
DIFFICULT DECISIONS AS WE HEARD
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, $40 CAN
DECIDE WHETHER YOUR INTERNET
STAYS ON. $40 CAN DECIDE WHETHE
OR NOT YOUR CHILD CAN TAKE
SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS. $40 CAN
DECIDE THE QUALITY OF THE
GROCERIES THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO
BRING HOME. $40 CAN DECIDE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU TAKE THE BUS
OR YOU HAVE TO BUDGET TIME TO
WALK TO YOUR DESTINATION. AND
$40 CAN DECIDE WLOSHLT YOU CAN
GET A PRESCRIPTION FILLED. SO I
REALLY FEEL LIKE THE -- IT IS
PRECISELY THE STORIES THAT WE'V
HEARD AFTER THE COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION THAT HAVE BEST MADE
THE ARGUMENTS FOR WHY WE DO NEE
TO RECONSIDER THIS AND CONSIDER
THE IMPACTS OF $40 IN A MONTH O
A STRUGGLING HOUSEHOLD'S BUDGET
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I INTEN
TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, IF I COULD JUST ADD, O
COURSE, I AM NOT AN ADVOCATE OF
RUBBER STAMPING EITHER. SOMEONE
ELSE HAD THEIR HAND UP, WHERE
ARE THEY? COUNCILMEMBER NELSON,
IS YOUR HAND STILL UP?
>> YES.
>> THERE YOU ARE. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR THAT HISTORY. I
DIDN'T KNOW MUCH OF THAT. SO
BASICALLY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
SAID IN THE APRIL 7th MEETING,
QUOTE, I DON'T THINK THAT
PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
HIGHER FEES IS SOMETHING -- HOL
ON A SECOND -- I DON'T THINK
THAT PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR HIGHER FEES FOR SOMETHING
LIKE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO
SOLVE A PROBLEM FOR LANDLORDS,
END QUOTE. AND TO ME THE PROBLE
IS THAT THE BASE LEGISLATION WA
DEVELOPED WITH VIRTUALLY NO
INPUT FROM HOUSING PROVIDERS IN
SEATTLE. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT
LARGE LANDLORDS, MOM AND POP
LANDLORDS, PRIVATE LANDLORDS,
AND NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSIN
PROVIDERS. AND THAT SAID, THERE
WERE A LOT OF SMEARS AND OPININ
ABOUT THE MOTIVES OF LANDLORDS.
AND SO IF COUNCILMEMBERS HAD
REACHED OUT TO THEM OR LISTENED
TO THEM AS THEY WERE SPEAKING I
MY COMMITTEE, THEY'D KNOW THAT
LANDLORDS DON'T CHARGE FEES TO
MAKE MONEY BECAUSE THEY CHARGE
RENT TO MAKE MONEY. AND THEY DO
THAT SO THAT THEY CAN GENERATE
AN INCOME, YES, THAT IS TRUE,
AND ALSO PAY THEIR OWN BILLS AN
MORTGAGES. AND PRESERVING A
REASONABLE FEE IS A LEGITIMATE
TOOL. SO MY AMENDMENT WAS A
REASONABLE COMPROMISE WHICH
WOULD PREVENT LANDLORDS FROM
CHARGING EXORBITANT UNREGULATED
FEES WHILE ALLOWING A SLIDING
SCALE FEE THAT BETTER REFLECTS
TENANT'S ABILITY TO KEEP THEIR
PROMISE AND PAY THE RENT ON
TIME. SO JUST TO REMIND PEOPLE,
HERE ARE THE REAL NUMBERS. MY
PROPOSAL WOULD COST A TENANT
PAYING $1,787 A MONTH FOR RENT,
$26.80. AND THAT IS THE MEDIAN
RENT THAT IS PROVIDED BY ACS AN
WHAT THE HOUSING LEVY
PRESENTATION WAS BASED ON A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO. SO THAT IS A
LEGITIMATE DATA SOURCE. AND
USING COSTAR'S YEAR TO DATE
DATA, THE AVERAGE RENT FOR A
ONE-BEDROOM IS $1,956. SO THE
FEE WOULD BE $29.30. SO
REGARDLESS OF WHAT DATA SET THA
YOU USE, A TENANT WOULD HAVE TO
BE PAYING MORE THAN $3,300 A
MONTH TO ALMOST HIT THE $50
AMOUNT. THEY'D ACTUALLY PAY
$49.50. SO ALL OF THAT IS TO
BASICALLY SORT OF GET OUR MINDS
AROUND WHAT THIS WILL REALLY
COST PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT PRICE
POINTS IN OUR MARKET. THE BIGGE
ISSUE IS IS THAT UNINFORMED
POLICY RESULTS IN UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. AND THIS POLICY
WILL HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
FOR BOTH HOUSING PROVIDERS AND
TENANTS. BECAUSE IT'S REALLY
TRUE THAT LANDLORDS -- I AM --
LET ME JUST REPHRASE THIS. I'M
TRYING TO AVOID UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. AND I'M TRYING TO
AVOID THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE
VAST MAJORITY OF TENANTS WHO TH
PAY THEIR RENT ON TIME WILL BEA
THE BURDEN OF THE ACTION OF THE
FEW WHO DON'T. HOW THAT WORKS I
LANDLORDS WILL SPREAD THE RISK
TO ALL TENANTS AND LIKELY HAVE
TO -- IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THEY
COULD JUST RAISE THE RENT, I
MEAN, CHARGE THE FEE AS A MATTE
OF COURSE SORT OF AUTOMATICALLY
IF THIS WERE TO PASS. SO
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO LISTENS TO
THOSE SMALL LANDLORDS HEARD THA
MOST DO NOT CHARGE A FEE. WHY?
THEY WANT TO RETAIN THEIR
TENNANTS AND WORK WITH THEM IF
THEY'RE HAVING A BAD MONTH. LIK
I SAID, MOST OF THEM DON'T
CHARGE A FEE, BUT THIS COULD
ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE A BLANKE
IS LATE. SO ANOTHER INTENDED --
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE COULD BE
THAT CAPPING THE FEE SO LOW
COULD JUST GIVE HOUSING
PROVIDERS ANOTHER REASON TO JUS
LEAVE THE MARKET ALL TOGETHER.
MEAN, BECAUSE WE ARE ADDING
ANOTHER REGULATION ON TOP OF
MANY OTHERS THAT COULD JUST MAK
THEIR FINAL DECISION TO LEAVE
THE MARKET, WHICH WOULD LEAVE U
WITH LESS HOUSING IN ALL. SO WE
DO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE DO
-- WHEN WE PASS REGULATIONS, WE
ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE MARKET
REALITY THAT WE COULD BE DRIVIN
UP RENTS OR DECREASING THE
SUPPLY OVERALL. ANYWAY, SO
BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE'RE REALL
JUST SPLITTING HAIRS HERE,
PEOPLE, BECAUSE IN THIS
LEGISLATION WE'RE PROHIBITING
ALL NOTIFICATION FEE, AND IF
ANYONE READS -- HAD READ THE
DOCUMENT THAT I SENT OUT, THAT
BASICALLY LAYS OUT ALL THE RULE
FOR NOTIFYING TENANTS OF ANY
CHANGES TO THEIR LEASE, THEY
WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT THEY CAN'T
JUST BE EMAILED. THEY HAVE TO B
EITHER HAND DELIVERED OR MAILED
AND THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS FOR
THAT. THAT IS WHY PEOPLE USE
PROPERTY MANAGERS AND WE'VE LEF
THAT ISSUE ASIDE IN THIS
LEGISLATION. SO THAT'S NOT EVEN
BEFORE US. ESTABLISHING A CAP I
ITSELF A MAJOR POLICY SHIFT. SO
I JUST THINK THAT THE SPONSORS
OF THIS AMENDMENT AND THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION SHOULD TAK
THAT WIN, AND I WILL BE OPPOSIN
THIS AMENDMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT WE WILL
GO TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
HEY, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, IS
THAT AN OLD HAND. I'M GOING TO
ASSUME IT IS. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, AND THEN WE WILL HEAR
FROM THE SPONSOR. GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAME PRESIDENT. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS
ABOUT REALLY WANTING TO ALLOW
FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT PART OF
THE COMMITTEE TO HAVE A CHANCE
TO WEIGH IN ON THE LEGISLATION
FOR FINAL PASSAGE. I THINK OF
THIS AS SIMILAR TO THE SENATOR
OF THE HOUSE FLOOR WHERE WE
FINALLY GET TO DEBATE OR HAVE A
DISCUSSION AROUND ITEMS THAT
MAYBE WEREN'T IN THE COMMITTEES
THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SIT ON
GIVEN THAT I WAS NOT A MEMBER O
THE COMMITTEE, I THINK THIS IS
GOOD, ROBUST CONVERSATION WE'RE
HAVING TODAY. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AS THE
PRIME SPONSOR OF THE AMENDMENT
IN FRONT OF US FOR HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION TO REINSTATE THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION, WHICH I A
SUPPORTIVE OF. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COSPONSOR THE
AMENDMENT WITH YOU AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE IN SEATTLE ARE IN
LINE WITH WHAT THE CITIES OF
AUBURN AND BURIEN HAVE ALREADY
DONE, WHICH IS CAPPING LATE FEE
AT $10 A MONTH. I WANT TO LIFT
UP SOME OF THE DATA THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ALREADY
SPOKEN TO AND TO REALLY, I
THINK, REITERATE SOMETHING THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SPOKE TO
AS WELL, WHICH IS WE KNOW FROM
THE DATA AND STUDIES THAT
RENTERS CONSISTENTLY PRIORITIZE
PAYING THEIR RENT OVER ALL OTHE
BILLS. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
MENTIONED PAYING RENT BEFORE
MEDICINE, FOR EXAMPLE. BECAUSE
THE PROSPECT OF LOSING YOUR HOM
AND HOUSING, ESPECIALLY, EVEN A
AN INDIVIDUAL OR, EVEN WORSE, A
A FAMILY, AND GOING THROUGH THE
EVICTION PROCESS IS TERRIFYING.
THE PROSPECT AS WELL, THOUGH, O
HAVING UNPAID RENT BE SOMETHING
THAT LEADS YOU TO MOUNTING DEBT
WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO LITERALLY
FALL DEEPER INTO DEBT OR, EVEN
WORSE, INTO HOMELESSNESS, AS WE
HEARD FROM THE FOLKS WHO
TESTIFIED TODAY. SO I KNOW THAT
FOLKS OFTEN WE THINK ABOUT FEES
AS A DETERRENT TO PAYING
SOMETHING LATE. BUT WHEN WE CAP
THIS AT $10 AS THE MAXIMUM
AMOUNT THAT CAN BE ADDED, I
THINK THAT HELPS PREVENT THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE
ALL WANT. WE DON'T WANT THESE
DEBTS TO ESCALATE FOR PEOPLE'S
HOUSING SITUATION TO BE
EXACERBATED AND FOR MORE PEOPLE
TO FIND THEMSELVES IN HOUSING
INSTABILITY OR EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. AS LATE FEES
ACCUMULATE, AS DEBT INCREASES,
IT VERY MUCH HARMS OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY, PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO
GET THEIR CREDIT SCORES UP, AND
MAKES IT HARDER FOR THEM TO FIN
RENTAL UNITS IN THE FUTURE. SO
APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING WE'VE ALREADY SEEN OU
SISTER CITIES IN AUBURN AND
BURIEN TAKE UP, AND THE PASSAGE
OF $10, CAPPING THE LATE FEE TO
$10 IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE
SUPPORTED AND I TOO WILL BE
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AMENDMENT IN
FRONT OF US. THANKS SO MUCH,
MADAME PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ, AND YOU KNOW,
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GREAT
TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE
REEVALUATING THIS ISSUE
POST-COMMITTEE. THESE ARE TOUGH
DECISIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN
FACING. I APPRECIATE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS EARLIER
ABOUT NEVER BEING IN A POSITION
-- AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE
EXACT PHRASING, BUT I THINK TOO
STUBBORN TO CONSIDER CHANGING
YOUR VOTE. AND AFTER VOTING FOR
THIS IN COMMITTEE, AND I STILL
THINK THAT MANY OF THE REASONS
PUT FORWARD WERE SOUND AGAINST
THE 1.5% CAP, AND WE DO HAVE A
NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS IN KING
COUNTY THAT ARE PURSUING THAT A
A PATH, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK FROM PEOPLE
IN MY LIFE WHO I REALLY CARE A
LOT ABOUT THAT DID LEAD ME TO A
REEVALUATION TO AT LEAST
CONSIDER SOME ADDITIONAL
ARGUMENTS AND SEEK OUT SOME
COUNSEL FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
THIS WORLD WHO MIGHT HAVE SOME
INSIGHT THAT WASN'T WITHIN THE
FOUR CORNERS OF OUR COUNCIL
PROCESS. AND ONE CONVERSATION I
HAD WITH MY FRIEND, RYAN WATT,
BOARD MEMBER OF FUTUREWISE AND
SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF
WORK IN THE WORLD OF HOUSING,
HOMELESSNESS, AND LAND USE,
REALLY DID STICK TO ME IN TERMS
OF THE CORE OF WHAT WE'RE REALL
TRYING TO FOCUS ON AND WHAT
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO, WHIC
WAS THAT THE COST TO LANDLORDS
DON'T SCALE WITH THE COST OF TH
UNIT IN THIS REALM OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE BACK END TYPES O
FEES THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING
HERE TODAY. ONE OF MY BIG
MOTIVATING AREAS THAT LED ME TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
AMENDMENT -- AND I DO THINK THA
DEPENDING ON PERSPECTIVE THERE
ARE STILL FAIR CONSIDERATIONS
THAT COULD LEAD TO THE
CONCLUSION THAT THE ABILITY OF
TENANT TO PAY AND THAT THE VALU
OF THE UNIT AND THE MEANS OF TH
TENANT ARE DISPOSITIVE TOWARD
GOING TOWARDS A PERCENTAGE
RATHER THAN A SET AMOUNT AND
WANTING TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUN
OF PROGRESSIVISM BUILT INTO THE
POLICY WHERE A TENANT WHO IS IN
A POSITION TO PAY MORE AND IS
DECLINING TO PAY RENT IS ON THE
HOOK FOR A HIGHER FEE THAN
SOMEONE WHO IS PAYING LESS. I
STILL THINK THAT THAT CAN BE A
REASONABLE PERSPECTIVE FOR
SOMEONE SEEKING TO MAKE AN
AMENDMENT. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE IN
THE INDUSTRY COME DOWN ON THE
CONCLUSION THAT A SET RATE,
GIVEN THAT THE COSTS ARE NOT
SCALEABLE, EVEN THOUGH THE
BURDEN THAT AN INDIVIDUAL TENAN
FEELS MAY BE SCALEABLE, IS THE
BETTER POLICY TO PURSUE WHEN WE
ARE LOOKING AT HOW TO SET CAPS
FOR RENTAL LATE FEE PENALTIES.
AND FOR THAT REASON I DO
RECONSIDER AND WILL SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' AMENDMEN
TODAY AND FOLLOW THE LEAD OF
BURIEN AND AUBURN AND
INCREASINGLY SEA-TAC, WHICH
LOOKS TO BE ADOPTING THIS AMOUN
AS WELL, FROM CONSULTING PEOPLE
IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS OVER THE
COURSE OF THE PAST WEEK AND A
HALF, I WASN'T SENSING ANY
REMORSE FROM COLLEAGUES WHO
SERVE ON THOSE CITY COUNCILS FO
SETTING THE RATE WHERE THEY SET
IT. AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
RECONSIDER. I DO CERTAINLY THIN
AS PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS WE CAN NEVER BE TOO
PROUD TO RECONSIDER SOME OF THE
UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS THAT LED
US TO A PARTICULAR CONCLUSION.
BUT IN THIS CASE, FROM
CONSULTING WITH A BROADER ARRAY
OF COMMUNITY, I DO THINK THAT
THE SET COST RATHER THAN THE
PERCENTAGE IS A REASONABLE
POLICY.
>> THANK YOU. AND I SHOULD ADD
THAT SEA-TAC DID NOT PASS A CAP
BY THE WAY. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, EVEN THOUGH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS THE
PRIME SPONSOR, I'M HOLDING THAT
SPOT TO CLOSE OUT, I'M GUESSING
YOU WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN OR BE
THE ONE TO CLOSE OUT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES MAY HAVE
DECIDED ON.
>> I DO WANT TO SPEAK, I DON'T
CARE WHEN I SPEAK, WHETHER I'M
THE LAST ONE OR NOT. SO IF YOU
WANT ME TO SPEAK NOW, I'LL SPEA
NOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? LET M
SAY THIS, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
YOU DID SPEAK TO THE AMENDMENT,
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO YOU'VE
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, SO WHAT I'M
ASKING IS --
>> I DO WANT TO RESPOND TO THE
POINTS THAT HAVE COME UP. I
THINK THAT'S MY RIGHT. THIS IS
PUBLIC DISCUSSION, AND RENTERS
DESERVE TO HEAR ARGUMENTS.
>> YES.
>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN JUST
LIMIT THE DISCUSSION THAT WAY.
>> OKAY, I'M NOT TRYING TO
LIMIT, AND NO ONE IS CHALLENGIN
YOUR RIGHT, I'M JUST TRYING TO
BE DEFERENTIAL TO THE PRIME
SPONSOR.
>> AND ALSO JUST TO CLARIFY,
THERE ARE NO PRIME SPONSORS,
THERE ARE COSPONSORS TO THE
AMENDMENT. I DON'T MIND IF YOU
WANT TO LET COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES SPEAK LATER, BUT THIS I
JUST BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
BEING FORCED TO VOTE YES ON THI
AMENDMENT -- THERE IS NO PRIME
SPONSOR. I ANNOUNCED THE MORNIN
OF THE COMMITTEE, I SENT A
PUBLIC EMAIL TO MY CONSTITUENTS
THAT MADE IT VERY CLEAR I WOULD
BE BRINGING THE AMENDMENT FROM
MY OFFICE. I AM REALLY GLAD THA
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE SUPPORTING
IT, BUT THIS NARRATIVE OF PRIME
SPONSOR IS INACCURATE. I DON'T
CARE WHO SPEAKS LAST, I JUST
WANT TO SPEAK TO THE ARGUMENTS
BEING MADE.
>> I MEANT NO ILL WILL OR ILL
INTENT ON MY BEHALF, SO WITH
THAT, GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> I'M GLAD TO HEAR SUPPORT FRO
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THIS
AMENDMENT. I THINK THE CREDIT T
IF THIS VOTE, AMENDMENT, IS
ACTUALLY GOING TO PASS AS HAS
BEEN INDICATED, THE CREDIT TO
THIS GOES TO RENTERS RIGHTS
ACTIVISTS, RENTERS THEMSELVES,
AND OUR OFFICE AND ALL THE
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND WORKERS STRIKE
BACK WHO HAVE BEEN SPEAKING UP
SO PROMINENTLY. AS I CLARIFIED,
IT'S NOT ABOUT PRIME SPONSORS,
IT'S ABOUT WHO'S REALLY FIGHTIN
FOR THIS. AND WHEN RENTERS FIGH
AND WORKERS FIGHT AND FORCE
POLITICIANS TO VOTE YES ON
PROGRESSIVE AMENDMENTS OR
PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION, THEN
THE BATTLE STARTS FOR THE
NARRATIVE. THEN IT'S A MATTER O
COOPTING IT AND SAYING
INVISIBLIZING THE OFFICE THAT
FOUGHT THE HARDEST FOR THIS,
BROUGHT THIS UP IN THE FIRST
PLACE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SORT
OF CONVEYING THE MESSAGE TO
RENTERS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE THA
SOMEHOW THIS WAS HAPPENING BY
THE BENEFIT OF CERTAIN
POLITICIANS. COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON SAID THAT THERE WAS NO
INPUT FROM LANDLORDS INTO
DRAFTING THIS LEGISLATION. THER
ARE TIMES WHEN THE INTERESTS OF
RENTERS ARE IN CONFLICT WITH TH
PROFITS OF THEIR LANDLORDS.
HOWEVER, MY OFFICE PROVIDED
MONTHS OF DISCUSSION AROUND THI
LEGISLATION AND THE LANDLORD
LOBBY HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO
ARGUE FOR THEIR PROFITS. THEY
WERE EVEN GIVEN AN EDITORIAL IN
"THE SEATTLE TIMES". RENTERS
DIDN'T GET ANY EDITORIAL IN "TH
SEATTLE TIMES". AND THIS
HAPPENS, THIS EDITORIAL THAT
SUDDENLY APPEARS IN "THE SEATTL
TIMES" HAPPENS ALMOST ANY TIME
RENTERS FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS.
THIS IS, IN FACT, IN SHARP
CONTRAST TO COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON'S AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS
KEPT SECRET FROM MY OFFICE AND
RENTERS UNTIL LESS THAN 24 HOUR
IT WAS BROUGHT TO VOTE. THERE
WAS A LANDLORD AT MY COMMITTEE
TABLE, BUT THEY JUST HAPPENED T
BE SUPPORTING THE LEGISLATION.
BUT THE LANDLORDS WERE
SUPPORTING THE LEGISLATION DON'
COUNT, APPARENTLY, AS LANDLORDS
WHO WERE CONSULTED. WE HAVE TWO
LANDLORDS, ONE STILL IN
CHAMBERS, WHO SPOKE IN FAVOR OF
THE LEGISLATION. THESE ARE
LANDLORDS. I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
SHARING WITH CONSTITUENTS IN
ADVANCE THAT SHE WOULD BE VOTIN
YES ON THIS LEGISLATION AND THE
STRENGTH OF THE EMAIL THAT SHE
SENT. I WOULD ALSO ADD SOME
STATISTICS THAT, YOU KNOW, 39%
OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE SAID THAT
THEY HAVE SKIPPED MEALS IN ORDE
TO MAKE HOUSING PAYMENTS. THAT
IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF WHY THESE
$40 MATTER. AND IN ADDITION TO
THE POINTS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON MADE ABOUT LANDLORDS,
WHICH ARE COMPLETELY UNTRUE,
THAT YES, THEY WERE CONSULTED,
IT'S ALSO STUNNING TO SEE, I
HOPE RENTERS AND WORKING PEOPLE
ARE NOTICING HOW IT DOESN'T
MATTER HOW MUCH EVIDENCE YOU
PRESENT, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW
MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY SAY
THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY -- IT'S
A DEVASTATING SITUATION, WE NEE
SOME CHANGE, IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT YOU DO, HOW STRONG OF A
CASE YOU PRESENT, IT WILL ALWAY
BE CALLED, QUOTE,UNQUOTE,
UNINFORMED POLICY. EVEN THOUGH
THE EXACT SAME POLICY, $10 A
MONTH, IS WORKING WELL IN TWO
FULL CITIES, BURIEN AND AUBURN.
THAT IS MORE EVIDENCE THAN WE
OFTEN HAVE FOR THE POLICIES. AN
YET IT IS BEING CALLED
UNINFORMED POLICY. SO WE SHOULD
POINT OUT HOW IT'S, YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST SO EASILY THAT
POLITICIANS USE DEMOCRATIC
POLITICIANS USE LIES. AND ONE
OTHER POINT IS THIS IDEA, OH, I
WILL BE BAD FOR THE POOREST
RENTERS, TENANTS, BECAUSE --
>> PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> -- THIS IS REMINISCE SENT --
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, CAN YO
-- I JUST, I HAVE A POINT OF
ORDER TO ADDRESS VERY QUICKLY.
AND I'M GOING TO LET YOU FINISH
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU DID A
POINT OF ORDER, WHAT IS YOUR
ISSUE?
>> I BELIEVE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT IS IMPUGNING THE MOTIVES
OF OUR FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS IN
VIOLATION OF RULE 48 -- GENERAL
RULES AND PROCEDURES OF SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL WHICH PROVIDES
THAT, QUOTE, NO CM SHALL IMPUGN
THE MOTIVES OF ANY OTHER CM,
COUNCILMEMBER. AND I DO THINK
THAT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY
ACCUSING ONE LYING IS IMPUGNING
>> OKAY, SO LET ME JUST SAY
THIS. I HAVE THE RULE IN FRONT
OF ME, BECAUSE I ANTICIPATED
THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. SO IN
OUR PROCEDURES, PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURES, NUMBER FOUR, SECTIO
THREE, IT IS TRUE AS
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON READ, NO
COUNCILMEMBER SHALL IMPUGN THE
MOTIVES OF ANY OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER OR SPEAK MORE THA
TWICE EXCEPT FOR EXPLANATION
DURING THE CONSIDERATION OF ANY
ONE QUESTION. ALSO WE HAVE A
TEN-MINUTE RULE. HOWEVER, I'M
GOING TO LET COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FINISH HER POINT, AND
THEN WE ARE GOING TO GO TO A
VOTE. WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, I KNOW THAT YOU
UNDERSTAND THE RULES, OBVIOUSLY
YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL OVER A
DECADE. SO WITH THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, WILL YOU
PLEASE CONTINUE AND FINISH YOUR
REMARKS.
>> THIS IDEA, SPEAKING AS AN
ECONOMIST NOW, THIS IDEA THAT
LANDLORDS WILL RAISE THE RENT
BECAUSE RENTERS RIGHTS
LEGISLATION ARE PASSING IS PURE
FANTASY. THAT IS NOT HOW OR WHY
RENTER'S RENTS ARE RAISED.
LANDLORDS RAISE THE RENT BECAUS
THEY CAN. LANDLORDS GET TO RAIS
RENTS, THAT IS WHY RENTS HAVE
BEEN GOING UP. IN FACT, IF
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON OR ANY
OTHER COUNCILMEMBER IS CONCERNE
ABOUT RISING RENT, THEY SHOULD
SUPPORT THE RENT CONTROL POLICY
THAT I WILL BE BRINGING UP FROM
MY OFFICE. AND JUST LASTLY, I
UNDERSTAND COUNCIL RULES. I ALS
UNDERSTOOD IN MY NEARLY TEN
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT RULES
GO OUT THE WINDOW WHEN IT'S A
QUESTION OF MY OFFICE AND
WORKING PEOPLE AND RENTERS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. OKAY. WITH THAT, MADAME
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT A.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> NO.
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
>> NO.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, SO THE MOTION
CARRIES. THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED, AND THE AMENDED BILL I
NOW BEFORE COUNCIL. ARE THERE
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDED BILL? OKAY,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
I'M NOT ON THE COMMITTEE, SO
APPRECIATE THE TIME TO REVIEW
THIS PROPOSAL AND AMENDMENT.
THERE IS NO CAP ON FEES FOR LAT
RENT PAYMENTS IN SEATTLE, SO
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR RAISING THIS ISSUE I
HER COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS YEAR
I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THE
COMPROMISE CAP THAT CAME OUT OF
COMMITTEE WITH THE SLIDING
SCALE, WHICH IS A TYPE OF CAP
WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER CITIES. IT
SEEMED THAT THE COMMITTEE
PRODUCED A WORKABLE COMPROMISE,
BUT NOW THINGS APPEAR TO HAVE
FLIP-FLOPPED FOR ANOTHER BRAND
NEW POLICY IN SEATTLE FOLLOWING
SO MANY NEW REGULATIONS IMPOSED
ON HOUSING PROVIDERS, I'M UNABL
TO SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL VERSION
WITH THE FLAT $10 CAP OUT OF
CONCERN FOR MOM AND POP
LANDLORDS IN MY DISTRICT. I
WOULD HAVE VOTED YES ON THE
COMMITTEE COMPROMISE, BUT I'LL
BE VOTING NO FOR THIS ORIGINAL
FLAT FEE. IF THE MAYOR DECIDES
TO SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW, I'L
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CITY
GOVERNMENT MONITORING THE
IMPACTS OF ANOTHER REGULATION
AND POTENTIALLY REVISING IT AS
NEEDED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS ON THE AMENDED
BILL THAT IS NOW BEFORE US? DO
NOT SEE ANY HANDS. OKAY,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> WELL, I'M JUST THINKING, THI
IS HOW IT HAPPENS. NOW THAT I'M
ON THE INSIDE I CAN SEE HOW
SEATTLE ENDED UP WITH 20
REGULATIONS IN SIX YEARS. AND
THEY ALL CUMULATIVELY INCREASED
THE COST OF HOUSING AND REDUCED
SUPPLY. BECAUSE THESE SO-CALLED
RENTER'S RIGHTS PIECES OF
LEGISLATION, LIKE THE ONE BEFOR
US, MAY SEEM INSIGNIFICANT IF
YOU HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO TALK TO
LANDLORDS AND HEAR ABOUT THE
REAL LIFE IMPACTS, YOU MIGHT NO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE ACCRETION O
THESE DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE TALKED TO FOLK
-- AND I KNOW THAT SOME
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN
CONTACTED BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS, THE NONPROFIT
PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE. BUT
ANYWAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT TAKIN
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THOSE
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES IS BETTER
THAN THE HEADLINE THAT READS
COUNCILMEMBER SO AND SO VOTES
AGAINST RENTERS OR, AS WAS
MENTIONED, HAVING PROTESTERS
YELLING THINGS IN FRONT OF YOUR
HOUSE. I UNDERSTAND THE
PRESSURE, I GET IT. BUT I JUST
FEEL THAT I -- THE PRINCIPLES
THAT WERE BEHIND THE AMENDMENT
THAT I PUT FORWARD STILL STAND.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE
POINT THAT WE ARE, I BELIEVE,
GOING TO BE PUNISHING THE
COLLECTIVE FOR THE ACTIONS OF
THE FEW, AND I JUST DON'T THINK
THAT'S FAIR. BUT ANYWAY, FOR A
MOMENT I DID ACTUALLY THINK, YO
KNOW, I CONSIDERED CAVING MYSEL
TO THE PRESSURE. BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO BECAUSE I DO CARE ABOU
HOW THIS LEGISLATION WAS
DEVELOPED AND WHAT MOTIVATED ME
TO TRY TO IMPROVE IT AS WE DID
IN COMMITTEE. THAT IS NOW
REVERSED, SO I WILL BE VOTING
AGAINST THIS, ULTIMATELY, THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> OKAY. AND I SEE COUNCILMEMBE
HERBOLD HAS HER HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST WANT
TO BE CLEAR, I'M VOTING FOR WHA
I THINK IS GOOD, IMPORTANT
POLICY. BEFORE GETTING MY DESK
AT CITY HALL, I WAS PROUD TO
WORK WITH THE TENANTS UNION AS
TENANT ORGANIZER AND A COUNSELO
ON PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AS RENTERS I
THIS CITY. DID SO FOR NEARLY
FIVE YEARS, AND TENANTS RIGHTS
HAVE BEEN A CORE ISSUE OF MINE
SINCE COMING TO CITY HALL IN
1998. I BELIEVE WHAT IMPACTS TH
COST OF RENT IN THIS CITY IS TH
MARKET. IT'S WHAT THE MARKET
WILL BEAR. WE KNOW THAT
DEVELOPERS IN OUR CITY HAVE
PREDOMINANTLY BEEN BUILDING
LUXURY HOUSING FOR YEARS. THE
MOST RECENT NUMBERS THAT WE
RECEIVED OUT OF THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING IS ABOUT ALMOST 90% OF
HOUSING BUILT IS LUXURY HOUSING
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE MARKET
WILL BEAR. THAT IS THE RENT THA
PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AS CHAIR O
THE COMMITTEE WITH OVERSIGHT ON
RENTERS ISSUES FOR BRINGING THI
LEGISLATION ALL THE WAY TO
COUNCIL. AND SHE'S DONE SO MUCH
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF RENT
INCREASES AS COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON RAISES AS A LEGITIMATE
CONCERN IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE
HAVE MADE IT SO THAT TENANTS WH
ARE DISPLACED BECAUSE OF LARGE
RENT INCREASES WILL GET
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, LIKE WE
HAVE DONE FOR OVER 25 YEARS FOR
PEOPLE DISPLACED. WE'VE REQUIRE
THAT RENT INCREASES NEED SIX
MONTHS NOTICE. THIS IS A HUGE
STEP FORWARD FROM MY TIME
WORKING WITH FORMER CITY
COUNCILMEMBER NICK WHEN WE WERE
EXCITED TO INCREASE THE NOTICE
FROM WHAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY
ONLY SIX DAYS TO 30-DAY NOTICE.
THESE POLICIES ARE DRIVEN BY TH
LIVES, EXPERIENCES OF RENTERS.
WHEN ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES
LIKE THAT, I WANT TO LISTEN TO
THEIR VOICES, AND I DON'T -- I
FEEL LIKE SUGGESTING THAT
THEY'RE ACTING AGAINST THEIR OW
BEST INTEREST ISN'T FAIR, ISN'T
FAIR TO THE LIVED EXPERIENCES O
FOLKS. I THINK RENTERS WHO ARE
ORGANIZING FOR THESE PRINCIPLES
ARE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT
SORT OF RENT REGULATIONS, WHAT
SORT OF TENANT REGULATIONS WILL
BENEFIT THEM AND ARE NOT GOING
TO SUCCUMB TO FIGHTING FOR
SOMETHING THAT WILL ACTUALLY
HURT THEM. WANT TO JUST ALSO SA
THAT AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY
TO THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AND MORE GENERALLY
AS IT RELATES TO LATE FEES, WE
DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS
THAT LATE FEES REDUCE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF LATE PAYMENT OF
RENT. IN FACT, WE FOUND RECENTL
IN A 2022 ANNUAL REPORT FROM TH
LIBRARY THAT AFTER THE COUNCIL,
IN ITS WISDOM, GOT RID OF
LIBRARY LATE FEES BOOK RETURN
RATES WERE COMPLETELY UNAFFECTE
BY REMOVING THE LATE FEES. SO
CERTAINLY FOLKS HAVE A MUCH
BETTER MOTIVATION OR A GREATER
MOTIVATION TO KEEP A ROOF
OVERHEAD THAN TO KEEP THEIR BOO
BORROWING PRIVILEGES, ALTHOUGH
BEING ABLE TO TAKE OUT A LIBRAR
BOOK IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO I
JUST WANT TO CLOSE SAYING I'M
REALLY EXCITED TO VOTE FOR THIS
ORDINANCE AND THANK EVERYBODY'S
WORK ON IT.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW
COMMENTS. I KNOW WE SAID THIS I
COMMITTEE AS WELL, THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHECKING OUT
A BOOK AND BEING A RENTER. BIG
DIFFERENCE. AND I DON'T THINK I
NEED A STUDY TO TELL ME WHETHER
OR NOT IT WORKS. THAT'S A WHOLE
OTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT LATE
FEES. I WILL SAY THIS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. I THINK
THE CORE OF THE ISSUE HERE
REALLY IS ABOUT RENT OR RENT
CONTROL. AND I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS
WANTED TO BRING THAT TO THE
FOREFRONT. AND I THINK IT'S RIP
FOR A DISCUSSION WHETHER THE
CITY OF SEATTLE OR THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON AND HOPEFULLY OUR
LEADERS ARE LISTENING TO US AND
LOOKING AT THE STATE LAW DOWN I
OLYMPIA. BUT THAT IS FOR ANOTHE
DAY. BUT THAT IS JUST -- THIS I
JUST A BY-PRODUCT OF NO KIND OF
RENT CONTROL OF WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO. SO WE'RE REALLY
NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES ABOUT
HOW WE PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE. BECAUSE YOU
CAN'T GROW MORE LAND. I THINK
WE'VE MADE INCREDIBLE STRIDES
DISMANTLING SINGLE-FAMILY ZONIN
THROUGH RECENT LEGISLATION THAT
PASSED IN OLYMPIA WHERE WE CAN
DO DUPLEXES ANDTRY, THE
TRIPLEXES IN NEIGHBORHOODS. I
THINK THIS IS A GOOD PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. I THINK WE AGREE W
NEED A CAP, THE ONLY ISSUE CAME
DOWN WAS IT 1.5% OR A $10 CAP.
I'M GOOD WITH EITHER ONE. FOR
ME, I'LL TAKE THE WIN ON THAT
EITHER WAY. SO WITH THAT, THANK
YOU, EVERYBODY, AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, SINCE YOU
-- I WILL NOT SAY THE WORD PRIM
-- SINCE YOU ARE THE SPONSOR, D
YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS
BEFORE WE GO TO THE VOTE ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE AMENDED BILL.
>>? I DO, THANK YOU. -- HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT, -- AND ALSO TH
UNIONS WHO STOOD WITH US. I'M
SORRY IF I'M NOT MENTIONING
EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT WAS WIT
US, BUT EVERY SINGLE ONE WAS
IMPORTANT. THANK YOU TO THE
HUNDREDS OF REPRESENTERS WHO YO
TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH YOUR
LATE FEE STORIES, THE THOUSANDS
WHO SIGNED A PETITION, AND THE
DOZENS WHO SPOKE IN PUBLIC
COMMENT, INCLUDING THE LANDLORD
WHO SPOKE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THIS $10 GAP. THANK YOU TO ASHA
FROM CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS O
BEHALF OF RENTERS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. RENTERS
ALMOST NEVER HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO NEGOTIATE THEIR
LEASE BECAUSE VIRTUALLY ALL THE
POWER IS IN THE HANDS OF THE
LANDLORDS, ESPECIALLY IN THE
CASE OF CORPORATE LANDLORDS. FO
A RENTER THE CHOICE IS SIGN THE
LEASE OFFERED OR HOPE TO FIND
ANOTHER PLACE THEY CAN AFFORD
BEFORE BECOMING HOMELESS.
IMAGINE AS A RENTER TRYING TO
TELL YOUR PROSPECTIVE LANDLORD,
OFTEN A CORPORATION, THAT THE
LEASE HAS TOO LARGE A PENALTY
FOR REPRESENT THAT IS NOT PAID
ON TIME. THIS TYPE OF, YOU KNOW
THIS ABILITY FOR WORKING CLASS
RENTERS TO HAGGLE WITH THEIR
LANDLORDS, THIS IS SIMPLY NOT A
REALISTIC OPTION. THIS IS NOT
WHAT HAPPENS. LANDLORDS HAVE TH
POWER OVER THE HOMES OF THEIR
RENTERS, AND THEIR WEALTH ALSO
GIVES THEM POLITICAL POWER
UNLESS RENTERS ARE ORGANIZED. W
CANNOT WAIT FOR DEMOCRATS IN
OLYMPIA TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF
RENTERS. THIS YEAR NO
SUBSTANTIVE RENTER'S RIGHTS BIL
WAS EVEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR A VOTE. EVEN A LOOPHOLE
FILLED BILL TO CAP LATE FEES.
DEMOCRATS CONTROL BOTH HOUSES O
THE LEGISLATURE. DEMOCRATS HOLD
A 58-40 MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE O
REPRESENTATIVES AND A 29-20
MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, AND THE
REFUSE TO FIGHT FOR RENTERS,
INSTEAD UPHOLDING THE GREED OF
RENTERS. DEMOCRATS HAVE
CONTROLLED THE WASHINGTON STATE
GOVERNOR'S MANSIONFOR 30 OF THE
LAST 50 YEARS, THE SENATE FOR 2
YEARS, THE HOUSE FOR 23 YEARS.
THEY HAVE HAD A MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE SINCE 2018 AND IN THE
HOUSE SINCE 2002. SO THIS IS TH
-- AND YET SINCE 1981,
WASHINGTON STATE HAS BANNED ANY
CITY FROM ENACTING RENT CONTROL
WE NEED TO BE CLEAR, RENTERS
NEED MORE RIGHTS, NOT FEWER. IF
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS PASSED THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY IT WILL HELP
REVERSE THIS YEAR'S REGRESSIVE
TREND SET BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND SHOW HOW RENTER
CAN ORGANIZE TO WIN THE RIGHTS
THEY NEED. WORKING CLASS PEOPLE
NEED TO BUILD OUR OWN MOVEMENTS
IF WE HOPE TO WIN RENTER'S
RIGHTS. MOVEMENTS OF THE KINDS
WE HAVE BUILT USING OUR OFFICE
OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS. A
FIGHTING MOVEMENT WILL BE NEEDE
TO WIN RENT CONTROL, TO WIN MOR
THAN THE AMAZON TAX THAT WE WAN
TO TAX WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS TO
FUND MORE PUBLICLY-OWNED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SPECULATIVE
INVESTMENT HAS DRIVEN UP
REALISTIC PRICES TO THE POINT
WHERE IN YOUNG PEOPLE CANNOT
IMAGINE OWNING A HOME IN THEIR
ENTIRE LIFETIME, WHICH HAS A
HUGE IMPACT ON WORKING PEOPLE'S
LIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, A RECENT
ARTICLE IN YAHOO FINANCE FOUND
ON AVERAGE LIFELONG RENTERS NEE
TO SAVE 50% MORE FOR THEIR
RETIREMENT THAN HOMEOWNERS. A
LANDLORD CLAIMING TO BE A
HOUSING PROVIDER IS LIKE A -- I
IS NOT THEIR OWNERSHIP. IT IS
NOT THEIR OWNERSHIP THAT
PROVIDES THE HOUSING. THE FACT
THEY MAKE PROFITS OFF THE BACKS
OF RENTERS AND WORKERS IS A
PRODUCT OF A DEEPLY EXPLOITATIV
SYSTEM THAT TREATS HOUSING AS A
INVESTMENT FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE,
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO
LANDLORD, BIG OR SMALL, HAS THE
RIGHT TO EXPLOIT OUR GOUGE THEI
TENANTS. WE NEED TO TAKE TODAY'
VICTORY FORWARD TO WIN CITYWIDE
RENT CONTROL FREE OF CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES, AND WE NEED TO
CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR PUBLICLY
OWNED AFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDED
BY TAXING THE WEALTHY. BUILT AN
MAINTAINED BY UNION LABOR BEING
PAID LIVING WAGES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER IS
WANT. OKAY, WITH THAT, MADAME
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> NO.
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES A
AMENDED. THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON
IN OUR AGENDA. WE HAD NO ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WE HAVE NO OTHER
RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION AN
ADOPTION TODAY, HOWEVER, UNDER
OTHER BUSINESS WE DO HAVE
SOMETHING. WE HAVE A
CONSIDERATION OF AN APPEAL. THE
CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW CONSIDER
AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL TO THE
EXCLUSION ISSUED TO AVRUM ALEX
TSIMERMAN ON APRIL 11, 2023 --
STANDING AND SELECT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS -- LET ME EXPLAIN THAT
AGAIN. ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
RECEIVED COPY OF THE NOTICE TO
HIM ON APRIL 11th, ALONG WITH
THE GENERAL RULES AND PROCEDURE
OF SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, MOST
NOTABLY SECTION 11, PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION AND ACCESS. AND
INCLUDING SUBSECTION D,
DISRUPTION OF CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
THAT WAS THE NOTICE THAT WAS
HAND DELIVERED. SO TODAY WHAT
I'M ASKING, WE ARE ASKING, IS I
YOU VOTE YES, THAT MEANS YOU
WILL SUSTAIN THE EXCLUSION. IF
YOU VOTE NO, THAT MEANS YOU
GRANT AN APPEAL AND REMOVE THE
EXCLUSION. AND A SIMPLE MAJORIT
VOTE IS NEEDED. SO IN ORDER FOR
ME TO GO FORWARD, THE FIRST
THING I NEED TO DO IS SEE IF
THERE ARE COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES REGARDING THIS
MATTER. OKAY. I DO NOT SEE ANY
HANDS OR HEAR ANYTHING, SO WITH
THAT, MADAME CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
DECISION TO EXCLUDE THIS
INDIVIDUAL FROM ATTENDING
COUNCIL AND STANDING AND SELECT
COMMITTEE MEETINGS THROUGH MAY
8th WHETHER IT SHOULD BE
SUSTAINED. I'M SORRY, I WAS
GOING TO SAY I'M MAKING SURE
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THEIR
VOTE MEANS. I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
CARRIES, AND THE EXCLUSION
REMAINS IN EFFECT. OKAY. SO IS
THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COM
BEFORE COUNCIL BEFORE I MOVE TO
ADJOURN? COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THA
WE JUST CONFIRMED THE FIRST TEN
MEMBERS OF THE FILM COMMISSION
AND THAT IS HAPPY NEWS. AND SO
JUST WANTED TO THANK MAYOR
HARRELL AND McENTIRE FOR THEIR
COOPERATION AND SUPPORT FOR
BRINGING THIS TOGETHER.
CONGRATULATE THE MEMBERS, AND
JEREMY MOON OF MY STAFF WHO
REALLY WORKED THIS HARD. CHRIS
SWINSON? OED AND CHASE OF THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. BIG DAY IN OTHER WAYS AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. THAT WAS QUITE A
COMMITTEE HEARING WHERE WE GOT
TO HEAR FROM EACH MEMBER AND
HOPEFULLY WHEN PEOPLE SET MOVIE
AND THINGS IN SEATTLE, THEY FIL
IT IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
NOT VANCOUVER. ALL RIGHT, SO
WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, THIS DOE
CONCLUDE THE ITEMS OF TODAY'S
BUSINESS. THE NEXT SCHEDULED
MEETING WILL BE HELD ON APRIL
25th. THANK YOU ALL, AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED. HAVE A GOOD
AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.