>> THE MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER. THE TIME IS 2:01.
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT WILL BE EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S MEETINGS. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBERS
MORALES, MOSQUEDA, AND SAWANT
ARE INDEED EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
COUNCIL MEETING. ON TO
PRESENTATIONS, WE HAD TWO
PROCLAMATIONS TO PRESENT. WE
WOULD ORIGINALLY START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, BUT
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WILL STEP
IN TODAY. WE WILL HAND THE
FLOOR OVER TO YOU TO DISCUSS
AND BRING FORWARD THE
PRESENTATION FOR THE MAY 7th TO
13th AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WEEK. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE SOME
GUESTS. I WILL HAND THE FLOOR
OVER TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I AM HAVING TECH
ISSUES, SO I CANNOT SEE ON
ZUNE.
>> WE CAN SEE YOU.
>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.
>> YEAH, YOU HAVE ALL THREE
HERE. YOU HAVE PATIENTS, --
AND KATE SMITH ARE ALL
PRESENT.
>> WONDERFUL. I WILL TAKE A
MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THIS
PROCLAMATION. WE'VE GOT A
PROCLAMATION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WEEK. HE RECOGNIZES
THAT EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS
TO A SAFE , HEALTHY, AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT IS A
CRITICAL PART OF OUR SOCIAL
DETERMINATION OF HEALTH. THE
PROCLAMATION HIGHLIGHS THE
NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
KING COUNTY, AND PROJECTING
THAT BY 2024, NEEDING NEARLY
200,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS. THIS
IS FOR HOUSEHOLDS AT OR BELOW
80% MEDIUM INCOME. IT ALSO
NOTES THE EFFECT OF THE
PANDEMIC ON LOW ARE MODERATE
HOUSEHOLDS. THIS EMPHASIZES
THE BENEFITS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY INCLUDING RESIDENTS,
BUSINESSES, AND -- THIS IS A
CALL TO ACTION FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO RECOMMIT THAT ALL
MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE,
HEALTHY, AND AFFORDABLE HOMES.
IT HIGHLIGHTS THE CRITICAL ROLE
THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAYS
IN CREATING EQUITABLE AND
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, AND
EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR
CONTINUED EFFORT TO ADDRESS
THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. SPEAKING
OFF SCRIPT LITTLE BIT, I HAVE
BEEN VERY FORTHRIGHT WITH
COLLEAGUES AND WITH THE PUBLIC.
THIS IS NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE.
WOULD MIGHT BE SURPRISING, THE
FAMILY THAT I GREW UP IN, THEY
CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE THERE
TODAY. THAT IS HOW MUCH OUR
CITY HAS CHANGED. I AM VERY
PROUD OF THE INVESTMENTS THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING IS MADE IN
THE FREE DEVELOPMENT, WE WILL
HAVE TWO AND THREE BEDROOM
UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO
WORKING FAMILIES. I WILL READ
SOME OF THE RECITALS FROM THIS
PROCLAMATION. ALL PEOPLE SHOULD
HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, SAFE
AND AFFORDABLE HOMES WITH
COMMUNITIES THAT PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITY. WHEREAS STUDIES
HAVE FOUND THAT THE $100
INCREASE IN RENT RESULTED IN A
15% INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS IN
METRO AREAS, AND A 39% INCREASE
IN HOMELESSNESS IN NEARBY
RURAL AREAS. THE CDC RECOGNIZES
SAFE, HEALTHY, AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS A KEY SOCIAL
DETERMINANT OF HEALTH, OUR CITY
INVESTMENTS INTO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ARE CRITICAL TO
BUILDING NOT JUST THE UNITS,
BUT HOMES AND COMMUNITY.
HEALTH RESILIENCE AND COMMUNITY
COHESION. THIS WEEK HAS
PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE AS WE
CONSIDER THE 2023 HOUSING LEVY
RENEWAL LEGISLATION IN THE
SELECT COMMUNITY ON THE -- AND
FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO
PROVIDING RESOURCES, POLICIES
OF WORK, AND POLITICAL WILL TO
SCALE UP OF INCIDENTS
INVESTMENTS. I'M EXCITED TO
PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION
TODAY TO OUR HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND BOARD
MEMBERS VANESSA AND KATE
SMITH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
WILL PASS IT BACK TO YOU. OR IF
OUR GUESTS ARE ABLE TO SAY A
WORD.
>> HOLD ON, HAD TO BACK TO ME.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
FROM OUR COLLEAGUES BEFORE I
MOVED TO SUSPENDABLE'S? I'M
JUST GLAD TO SEE HER HERE. I
SEE HER EVERYWHERE. SO LET ME
DO THIS, LET ME DO THE LEGAL
STUFF FIRST. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE RULES WILL BE
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW OUR GUESTS
TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AND
PROVIDE REMARKS. I'M NOT
HEARING ANY OBJECTION. THE
COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED. I
WILL LET HER INTRODUCE HERSELF
AND YOUR TITLES. WE ARE VERY
HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.
WELCOME, YOU ARE NOW RECOGNIZED
AND HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU, TOO,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR
ANNOUNCING THE PROCLAMATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL CITY
SEATTLE COUNCILMEMBERS. AS
INTRODUCED, I AM PATIENCE, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT . FIRST, I
WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR BEING AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER
ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M
TRULY GRATEFUL FOR YOU
DECLARING THIS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WEEK TODAY. I DO WANT
TO BEGIN WITH THIS POINT.
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT. AS
YOU SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, IT IS A DETERMINANT
FOR LIFE OUTCOMES. YET TODAY,
AS WE STAND IN OUR GREAT CITY,
WE KNOW THAT RESIDENTS ARE
FACED WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED
CHALLENGE IN COFOUNDING HOUSING
THAT THEY CAN AFFORD AND KEEP
WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
RENT IS CONTINUING TO RISE ,
AND IT IS PUSHING SO MANY
PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR
COMMUNITIES. RENTS CONTINUE TO
RISE TO PUSH MANY OF OUR
VULNERABLE INTO HOMELESSNESS.
WE KNOW TOO WELL WHO IS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED. IT
IS THE LOW INCOME FAMILIES,
BLACK , INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR COMMUNITIES. AS A
CITY, WE ARE LOSING OUR
ECONOMIC AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY
OVERALL. I THINK THE BOTTOM
LINE TRULY IS THAT THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEED IS
GREATER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN
IN OUR CITY. IT REQUIRES
BOLDER ACTION. AS DAUNTING AS
THIS CRISIS IS, YOU, WE
COLLECTIVELY, AS WE HAVE WORKED
OVER THE YEARS IN PARTNERSHIP,
NO TRULY WHAT WE NEED , MORE
HOUSING. WE HAVE BEEN TRULY
IMPRESSED BY THE OUTSTANDING
WORK YOU ARE DOING ON THE
SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY PROPOSAL.
WE ARE THRILLED TO PARTNER
WITH YOU ON WHAT WE
CHARACTERIZE AS A GENERATIONAL
INVESTMENT. A GENERATIONAL
INVESTMENT TO THE HOMES THAT
WE DESPERATELY NEED. AN
INVESTMENT IN THE PEOPLE WHO
HELP IN BUILDING THEM. WE
COULDN'T BE MORE HONORED TO
WORK ALONGSIDE YOU THIS
NOVEMBER TO GET THAT ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE. I WANT TO
CLOSE BY JUST REMINDING YOU AS
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT YOU HAVE A
TRACK RECORD OF TAKING STRONG
ACTION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL
THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. THE
IMPRESSIVE WORK YOU ARE DOING
ON THE FRONT LINES TO IT
POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE. I DO WANT TO
HAND IT OVER TO MY
DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS
WHO ARE JOINING ME HERE TODAY.
VANESSA TRAN, ONE OF OUR BOARD
OF DIRECTORS, AND ALSO
REPRESENTING -- AS WELL AS
KATE SMITH, OUR BOARD
PRESIDENT. WITH THAT, I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO VANESSA TO TALK
ABOUT THE THEME OF THE WEEK.
KATE WILL WRAP US UP WITH HOW
YOU CAN ENGAGE.
>> THANK YOU, PATIENCE. I
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS
YEAR'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THEME, WHICH IS HOUSING
EQUITY. THAT IS BECAUSE THEY
ARE RELATED. THIS IS FROM
STRATEGIES THAT -- TO IDEAS
AND PROJECTS THAT ARE BUILDING
WHAT COMMUNITIES NEED TO
THRIVE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS
ALL ABOUT HOUSING EQUITY.
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACTS
ALL OF US. THERE ARE BIG
DISPARITIES IN WHO HAS ACCESS
TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND STABLE
HOUSING. THIS IS LARGE IN
SEATTLE AND IN THE SURROUNDING
AREAS. THERE IS A HIGH COST OF
LIVING AND A HISTORY OF --
THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT
TO HAVE TARGETED POLICIES THAT
CAN AIM TO CLOSE THESE
DISPARITIES. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US THIS WEEK. I WOULD
LIKE TO PASS IT ON TO KATE.
>> THANK YOU, VANESSA. WE
APPRECIATE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S PARTNERSHIP AND
STRONG SUPPORT THROUGHOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEEKS
HISTORY. THIS IS THE EIGHTH
YEAR THAT HTC HAS BEEN
COORDINATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WEEK ACROSS KING COUNTY. THE
GOAL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEEK
IS NOT ONLY TO CALL ATTENTION
TO THE LEVELS OF NEED, BUT
ALSO TO HIGHLIGHT THE POLICY
SOLUTIONS AND MEET INNOVATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE SET. HTC HAS
COORDINATED 16 EVENTS
THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK. THEY
COVER MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I WELCOME
ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US AT THOSE
EVENTS. THEY ARE OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC. YOU CAN FIND THE FULL
CALENDAR EVENTS ON THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEBSITE.
THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AND THE ENTIRE CITY
OF SEATTLE COUNCIL FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU! IT IS GOOD TO SEE
ALL THREE OF YOU. I SEE YOUR
NAMES EVERYWHERE. THANK YOU
FOR SHOWING UP IN THE ZONE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR STEPPING IN FOR THE
COUNCIL NUMBER MOSQUEDA. WE
ALL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO FIX
OUR NAMES TO THE PROCLAMATION.
IF THERE IS ANOTHER TIME WE
CAN HAVE YOU BACK, LET'S DO
THAT. THANK YOU. OPEN
INVITATION!
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT PROCLAMATION. THAT IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD PROCLAIMING MAY, 2023,
TO BE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
MONTH. WITH THAT, I WILL HAND
IT OVER TO COUNCIL NUMBER
HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
FOR ADDING YOUR SIGNATURES TO
THE PROCLAMATION DECLARING MAY
TO BE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
MONTH IN SEATTLE. THROUGHOUT
THE PANDEMIC, I HAVE BEEN
CALLING ATTENTION TO THE CRISIS
OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE SHADOW
PANDEMIC CAUSED BY SO MANY
YEARS OF FEAR, ANXIETY,
ISOLATION. IN 2021, THE
GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY DO TO THE MENTAL
HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF
WASHINGTON'S KIDS. LATER THAT
YEAR, THE NATION'S SURGEON
GENERAL FOLLOWED SUIT. NOTING
THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
FRONT-LINE WORKERS, AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH EATING
DISORDERS HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.
THE RATE OF DEPRESSION ACROSS
THE COUNTRY HAS MORE THAN
TRIPLED, COMPARED TO RATES IN
2017. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
VISITS FOR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
AMONG GIRLS IN 2021 INCREASED
MORE THAN 50% COMPARED TO 2020.
AMERICAN INDIANS, ALASKA
NATIVES, BLACK YOUTH, LGBTQ ,
THEY ALSO FACE A DISTAL
PORTION AT RISK OF SUICIDE. WE
ARE FEELING THE CRISIS IN EVERY
COMMUNITY AND EVERY HOME WHERE
SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING. I WANT
TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
REMIND US THAT ANYONE CAN CALL
988 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS
A WEEK. CONNECT TO A TRAINED
VOLUNTEER WHO CAN TALK, REFER,
AND LISTEN . 988 IS FOR ANYONE
EXPERIENCING EMOTIONAL
DISTRESS, OR ANYONE CONCERNED
ABOUT A LOVED ONE. THE COUNCIL
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
HAS STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL CITY RESOURCES TO
MEET THIS GROWING NEED. THIS
INCLUDES SIGNIFICANTLY
EXPANDING FUNDING FOR MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT FOR SEATTLE
STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS BY AT
LEAST 5 MILLION OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS, CONTINUED
EXPANSION OF THE MOBILE CRISIS
TEAM, FUNDING TO CREATE A DUAL
DISPATCH OF CIVILIAN STAFF TO
RESPOND TO 911 CALLS WITH A
MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AXIS . AND A DEDICATED PHONE
LINE FOR 1st RESPONDERS TO
CONSULT BEHAVIOR HEALTH
EXPERTS PRIOR TO OR WHEN
ARRIVING AT THE SCENE OF A
PLACE, FIRE, OR MEDICAL
EMERGENCY EVENT. I THINK MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE
SHARED MY SENSE OF URGENCY AND
PROVIDED LEADERSHIP IN THIS
AREA OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS. THIS YEAR, -- IS
CELEBRATING MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENESS MONTH WITH THE MORE
THAN ENOUGH CAMPAIGN. IT IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO
COME TOGETHER AND REMEMBER THE
INHERENT VALUE THAT WE EACH
HOLD, NO MATTER WHAT OUR
DIAGNOSIS, APPEARANCE,
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS,
BACKGROUND, OR ABILITY. WE
WANT EVERY PERSON OUT THERE TO
KNOW THAT IF ALL YOU DID WAS
WAKE UP TODAY, THAT IS MORE
THAN ENOUGH. NO MATTER WHAT YOU
ARE INHERENTLY WORTHY OF MORE
THAN ENOUGH LIFE, LOVE, AND
HEALING. SHOWING UP JUST AS
YOU ARE FOR YOURSELF AND THE
PEOPLE AROUND YOU, THAT IS MORE
THAN ENOUGH. JOINING US TODAY,
WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF
PROGRAMS, EDUCATION AND
OUTREACH AT THE NATIONAL
ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS OF
WASHINGTON . MATTHEW WILL BE
ACCEPTING OUR PROCLAMATION AND
SHARING THOUGHTS ON MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. ARE THERE ANY
COLLEAGUES FROM -- COMMENTS
FROM OUR COLLEAGUES BEFORE I
MOVED TO SUSPEND? OKAY. I DO
NOT SEE ANY. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, I WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR RINGING THIS
FORWARD. I WILL SPEAK FOR
MYSELF AND MY AGE GROUP. IT IS
NICE TO LIVE IN AN ERA WHERE
MENTAL HEALTH AND THE
DISCUSSION IS NO LONGER TABOO.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE MENTAL
HEALTH WORK SOCIETY THAT WE
HAVE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS , AND SPEAKING
ALSO OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN
COMMUNITY. IT IS
CULTURALLY-BASED, AND THERE IS
A TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO
HEALING. JUST THE FACT THAT WE
CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. I
THINK THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT THAT
OUT TO ALMOST A SHARPER
DEGREE. I WANT TO THANK YOU.
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU
HAVE NOT LET US FORGET HOW
IMPORTANT THE MENTAL HEALTH
PIECE WAS WHEN WE WERE ALL
BEING SEQUESTERED IN OUR HOMES
ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU FOR
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
WITH THAT, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW OUR
GUEST, MR. MATTHEW CANTOR, TO
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AND
PROVIDE REMARKS. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ. AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WITH ALL
THE AMAZING WORK YOU DO. BEFORE
I MAKE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, I
WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, IF
YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS A
REFERRAL TO RECEIVE MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT, YOU CAN CALL OR
TEXT SEATTLE'S HELPLINE AT
425-298-5935. IF YOU ARE
SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS
IMMEDIATE CRISIS SUPPORT, YOU
CAN CALL 988, OR RETURN TO KING
COUNTY CRISIS ELECTION AT
866-427- 4747 . IF YOU ARE
LOOKING FOR A SUPPORT GROUP,
YOU CAN GO TO -- CLICK ON
SUPPORT RESOURCES, SUPPORT
GROUPS, AND THEN ONLINE
SUPPORT GROUPS. 1 IN 5
SEATTLE LIGHTS IS EXPERIENCING
SOME FORM OF -- ACCORDING TO
THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION,
32% OF ADULTS IN WASHINGTON
STATE REPORTED SYMPTOMS OF
ANXIETY AND/OR DEPRESSION
ALONE. THE REALITY , THESE
NUMBERS ARE PROBABLY LOWER THAN
THE REALITY. NO ONE IS ALONE.
WE CAN BE TOGETHER FOR MENTAL
HEALTH. OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS, OUR LOCAL AFFILIATES
HAVE PROVIDED CONTINUOUS
SUPPORT, BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN
PERSON. I WOULD LIKE TO
ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SEEK THE
SUPPORT YOU NEED. SOMETIMES,
FOR MANY OF US, IT WILL BE
THERAPY, MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELOR, MAYBE IT IS ONE OF
OUR PEER LED SUPPORT GROUPS. IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OURS.
WHATEVER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
YOU NEED , YOU ARE WORTH IT.
THE RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE IS
AVAILABLE ON NAMI.ORG,
SEATTLE.GOV, OR -- WHATEVER
YOU NEED, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY
WORTH IT. WHETHER THAT IS A
SUPPORT GROUP, A CLASS,
DOWNLOAD OUR COLORING GROUP AND
TALK ABOUT EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING. IT IS MADE FOR
CHILDREN, BUT IT IS OKAY IF YOU
WANT TO COVER YOURSELF. WE ARE
REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE
SUPPORT. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT
OUR JUNE 3rd WALKED TO LUST THE
STIGMA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE AMAZING WORK WE HAVE GOTTEN
FROM THIS COMMUNITY AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CANTOR, VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS. I WILL
TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE HERE. THERE IS
SOMEONE TODAY THAT IS WATCHING,
SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY , AND A
FEW OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT
ARE DEALING WITH THE ISSUES OF
MENTAL HEALTH. IN YOUR WORDS
TODAY, THAT YOU ARE WORTHY, YOU
ARE LOVED, AND YOU KNOW I
DON'T ALWAYS LIKE TO USE THESE
KIND OF WORDS, BUT IT IS A SAFE
SPACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I THINK HE KNOWS I'M
TALKING TO HIM. ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, ANYTHING
ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, FOLKS. I'M
TAKING ANOTHER MOMENT OF
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. SOME OF YOU
KNOW THAT ELIZABETH ATKINSON,
OUR CLERK , OUR INTERIM CLERK,
IS LEAVING US. I WANT TO TAKE
THIS MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
GREAT AND FINE WORK OF
ELIZABETH ATKINSON WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH US. SHE HAS
WORKED WITH US FIRST AS A
DEPUTY CITY CLERK. AS OUR
INTERIM CITY CLERK FOLLOWING
HER RETIREMENT, LIZ HAS DONE
AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN A
POSITION THAT DEMANDED
LEADERSHIP, EXPERTISE, AND A
DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND TO ALL
OF US. I THOROUGHLY ENJOY
WORKING WITH HER. I'M REALLY
SORRY SHE IS LEAVING. SHE IS
CURRENTLY SERVING AS PRESIDENT
OF THE WASHINGTON STATE CLERK
ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE BEEN VERY
LUCKY TO HAVE HER. AGAIN, I
WISH YOU COULD STAY. HOWEVER,
SHE HAS ACCEPTED A NEW JOB TO
BE CLOSER TO FAMILY. TODAY IS
HER LAST DAY. ELIZABETH, YOU
ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING,
FAMILY FIRST. I WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE HER WORK AND INVITE
ALL OF YOU TO JOIN ME TO WISH
HER WELL. LIZ, WE APPRECIATE
YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR WORK,
BUT I ALSO REALLY, REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR KINDNESS, YOUR
SENSE OF HUMOR, AND LET ME
TELL YOU, I WISH YOU WEREN'T
GOING, BUT I UNDERSTAND. YOU
WILL BE MISSED, VERY MUCH.
WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY WORDS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY
HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS
REGARDING OUR INTERIM CLERK ,
ELIZABETH ATKINSON. THIS IS HER
LAST DAY HERE IN SEATTLE. OH,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO ECHO
WHAT YOU JUST SAID. WE HAVE
BEEN SERVED WELL BY ELIZABETH
WORKING HERE AS BOTH A DEPUTY
IN THE CITY CLERK. IT IS A SAD
LOSS FOR US. WE UNDERSTAND SHE
IS MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION TO
BE CLOSER TO FAMILY AND
FRIENDS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. OH WAIT,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY, ELIZABETH,
YOU HAVE BEEN THE HEAD HONCHO
CLERK FOR THE MOST TIME SINCE
I'VE BEEN HERE. YOU HAVE
BECOME THE FIXTURE. WHEN YOU
STARTED A YEAR AND A QUARTER
AGO, YOU REALLY ORIENTED ME .
I HAVE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN
YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE OVER ONCE
MONICA LEFT. I AM SORRY TO SEE
YOU GO.
>> I LOVE THAT, HAPPY TRAILS.
THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD DO -- I'M
SORRY. I WILL CLOSE THAT PART
OUT, GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND
THEN WE WOULD DO THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. LET ME
GET SOMETHING FROM THE CLERKS
BEFORE I MAKE ANOTHER
ANNOUNCEMENT. MADAME CLERK,
HOW MANY REMOTE SPEAKERS DO WE
HAVE? AND HOW MANY IN PERSON?
>> WE HAVE 12 REMOTE AND NINE
IN PERSON.
>> OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD
DO. I UNDERSTAND THE CHIEF IS
HERE. I AM GOING TO ASK THAT
WE DO THE NINE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. THEN WE ALLOW
CHIEF FROM THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT TO SPEAK FIRST
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, HE IS A
VERY BUSY MAN. WE WANT TO
WELCOME HIM. THIS IS NUMBER
FIVE ON THE AGENDA UNDER
COMMITTEE REPORTS. IF THERE IS
ANYTHING ELSE ANYONE WANTS TO
SHARE, I WOULD LIKE THE CHIEF
TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE TWO MINUTES
TO SPEAK. WHENEVER YOU ARE
READY, JUST LET US KNOW.
>> IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE? ALL
RIGHT. I'M READY.
>> YOU CAN RAISE IT UP, RIGHT?
MAKE SURE THE GREEN LIGHT IS
ON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT WAR IS -- JUAREZ. I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
THINGS YOU DO EACH AND EVERY
DAY. ALSO, I WANT TO LEAVE A
THANK YOU TO MAYOR HERBOLD,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
BRINGING THIS . THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
TO THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE GO OUT
THE DOOR MANY TIMES EACH AND
EVERY DAY, ALMOST 300 TIMES
EVERY SINGLE DAY TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY. WHERE WE SEE A GAP
AS FAR AS FIREFIGHTERS AND
THEIR SAFETY, IT IS IN SAFETY
WHILE WE ARE SERVING OTHERS.
WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO, IT
WOULD INCLUDE THE FIREFIGHTERS
AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, AN
OBSTRUCTION LEGISLATION. SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT
KNOW, ABOUT 150 TIMES IN THE
LAST 12 MONTHS, WE HAVE HAD TO
CALL SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO THE SCENE TO HELP US SERVE
SOMEONE WHO WAS IN NEED . THAT
COULD BE A FIRE, A MEDICAL
EMERGENCY, AND PLACES ALL OVER
THE CITY. RIGHT NOW, WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN, A FIREFIGHTER
HAS TO PHYSICALLY BE ASSAULTED
BEFORE SPD CAN REALLY HELP
THEM OUT, MAKE AN ARREST, AND
REMOVE A PERSON FROM THE SCENE.
THIS OBSTRUCTION LEGISLATION
WOULD STAND IN THE GAP AND HELP
SPD CREATE A SAFE WORKING
SPACE FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
US. THE WORK THAT WE DO IS
SERVING OTHERS IN THE
COMMUNITY. EVERY TIME WE ARE
INTERESTED IN PROVIDING CARE TO
A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT
COULD COST THEM THEIR LIVES, OR
A FIRE COULD GET BIGGER. YOU
WILL HEAR TESTIMONY FROM SOME
OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THE
EXPERIENCES THEY HAVE FACED OUT
IN THE FIELD. THIS IS A REAL
ISSUE FOR US EACH AND EVERY
DAY. JUST LAST MONTH IN APRIL
ALONE, WE HAD TO CALL SPD TO BE
SEEN 16 TIMES TO HELP US SERVE
SOMEONE THAT WAS IN NEED. IT
COULD BE A CARDIAC ISSUE, A
STROKE, A FIRE. OUR
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN
TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL
FROM ASSAULT, KNIVES HAVE BEEN
POOLED OF THEM, PEOPLE HAVE
TRIED TO ATTACK THE PERSON
BEING SERVED. ALL OF THESE
THINGS ARE VERY REAL
SITUATIONS. WE VIEW THIS AS
STANDING IN THE GAP TO CREATE A
SAFE WORKING SPACE SO WE CAN
SERVE COMMUNITY. THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US. I URGE THE
CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION. TO HELP OUR
FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE TO SERVE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. I
APPRECIATE IN THE LAST EIGHT
YEARS WORKING WITH YOU, I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME
TO SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS
OUR CHIEF OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. AGAIN, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORDS. WE WILL
CERTAINLY KEEP THOSE IN MIND
WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING AND
DEBATING THE COUNCIL BILL THAT
WILL BE BEFORE US, WHICH IS
ITEM NUMBER 5. THANK YOU.
OKAY. WITH THAT, LET'S DO THE
IN PERSON SPEAKERS, AND THEN WE
WOULD DO THE REMOTE. MADAME
CLERK, CAN WE SET THE TIMER
FOR 2 MINUTES. AGAIN, PLEASE
FOLKS, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ,
LISTEN FOR THE BELL. I HATE
CUTTING PEOPLE OFF AT TWO
MINUTES. TRY TO PAY ATTENTION
TO THAT. WITH THAT, I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO YOU TO DO THE
INSTRUCTIONS, AND WE WILL GO
FROM THERE.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, LET ME GET
THIS GOING.
>> ARE WE HAVING TECHNICAL
PROBLEMS?
>> WE ARE, SHOULD WE JUST MOVE
ON TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
>> THAT IS WHAT I'M THINKING.
I WILL JUST SAY WHAT I'VE BEEN
HEARING FOR A LONG TIME. YEAH,
LET'S JUST DO THAT. MANY OF
YOU WHO CALL IN OR IN PERSON,
YOU PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHAT THE
RULES ARE. IT IS BASICALLY,
PLEASE SPEAK TO THE AGENDA.
YOU DON'T NEED TO CALL PEOPLE
NAMES, BE RUDE, BE
DISRESPECTFUL, WE REALLY WANT
TO HEAR FROM YOU. I'M GLAD WE
HAVE PEOPLE THAT CALL IN ,
PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY COME TO
CHAMBERS. WE GENERALLY LISTEN
TO YOU. WE WANT THIS TO BE A
SAFE SPACE. WE WANT THIS TO BE
A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL FREE
TO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS OR
CONCERNS, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR
DISAGREE WITH THEM. AGAIN, IT
IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
PROBABLY THE RULES YOU LEARNED
IN KINDERGARTEN. JUST BE KIND,
SAY WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. WE
ARE LISTENING. WITH THAT,
LET'S START WITH THE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS. YOU CAN START THE
CLOCK AT TWO MINUTES.
>> OUR FIRST IN-PERSON SPEAKER
IS KENNY STEWART.
>> MR. STEWART?
>> GOOD MORNING, PRESIDENT
JUAREZ , AND HONORABLE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A VETERAN
OF THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT, AND
I CURRENTLY WORK AS LIEUTENANT.
I ALSO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF --
27. I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF
COUNCIL BILL 120549. I WANT TO
THANK PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR
HERBOLD AND CHAIR LEWIS FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS
ORDINANCE WILL PROVIDE
MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORT FOR
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER SO WE CAN
PERFORM OUR JOB SAFELY,
EFFECTIVELY, SERVING THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE IN EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN
LIVES ARE AT STAKE. WE NEED
HELP AT THESE SCENES. THIS
WOULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL
TOOL TO CONTROL THESE SCENES.
VIOLENCE AND THE THREAT OF
VIOLENCE AT THESE SCENES, WHICH
IS OUR WORKPLACE, HAS INCREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS IS NOT
ANECDOTAL. WORKING WITH OUR
DEPARTMENT TO CREATE AND
IMPLEMENT A FORMAL ELECTRONIC
ASSAULT AND THREATENING
BEHAVIOR TRACKING SYSTEM.
THESE INCIDENTS ARE ACTUALLY
INCIDENTS OF WORKPLACE
VIOLENCE. AND THEY ARE
UNACCEPTABLE. SEATTLE HAS A
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE POLICY THAT
STATES THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WILL NOT TOLERATE WORKPLACE
VIOLENCE BY OR AGAINST ITS
EMPLOYEES. THIS REPORT SHOULD
BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND DEALT
WITH APPROPRIATELY.
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE EXPERIENCED
MORE THAN 50 INCIDENTS OF THIS
VIOLENCE IN JUST THE LAST SIX
MONTHS. UNDER THIS ORDINANCE,
A PERSON WOULD HAVE TO BE
INTERFERING WITH THE ABILITY TO
PERFORM DUTIES. IT IS NOT
DIRECTED AT PATIENTS WHO
OVERDOSE, BECOME CONSCIOUS, OR
HAVE BECOME COMBATIVE , OR
EXPERIENCING OTHER MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES. IT IS INTENDED TO
HELP JUST THOSE PEOPLE. THIS
ORDINANCE WOULD BE A MUCH
NEEDED STEP FORWARD. THERE ARE
SOME EXAMPLES THAT MY NUMBERS
ARE GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU.
WHEN SECONDS AND MINUTES COUNT,
THESE ACTIONS DELAY US AND
HINDER OUR CARE. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LIAM RONEY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU,
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS , FOR
PUTTING THIS BILL FORWARD. I
HAVE BEEN A SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER
FOR 16 YEARS. I ALSO SERVE AS
VICE PRESIDENT OF SEATTLE
FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 27. I'M HERE
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 120549. THIS CLOSES THE
GAP , A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN THE
RESPONSE MODEL. SOMETIME OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, POLICE
ON SCENE WERE NO LONGER ABLE TO
ESTABLISH AN EFFECT OF
PERIMETER. IT WAS AN
UNINTENDED BYPRODUCT OF OTHER
CHANGES THAT WERE GOING ON. WE
DIDN'T KNOW. WE FOUND THAT
INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH THE TYPES
OF INCIDENTS THAT ARE RECORDED
IN THE ASSAULT BEHAVIOR. I CAN
SPEAK TO HOW I FOUND OUT. I
WAS ALL ON ENGINE TWO, WE GOT
A CALL TO SOMEBODY WHO WAS
REPORTEDLY NOT BREATHING. WE
SHOWED UP, HIS FACE WAS COVERED
IN BLOOD, AND THERE WERE TWO
MEN IN BETWEEN US AND THE
PATIENT, AND THERE WAS A POLICE
ON THE SCENE. I IMMEDIATELY
WENT TO THE PATIENT TO SEE IF
HE HAD AN AIRWAY, IF HE WAS
BREATHING, IF HE HAD
CIRCULATION, WHAT HAD BEEN
DONE. WITH POLICE ON SCENE, I
WAS YELLED AT AND SHOVED OUT OF
THE WAY. IT WAS ASTONISHING.
THE AGGRESSORS FOCUSED ON ME
AND MY PARTNERS, AND THEY WERE
ABLE TO GET THE PATIENT IN THE
BACK OF THE MEDICAL UNIT. WE
WERE ABLE TO APPLY CARE, BUT IT
WAS CHAOTIC. WE HAVE SEEN THAT
CHAOS REPEATED TIME AND TIME
AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE
LAW WE NEED TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
WITH THAT, I THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ROGER WEBER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. EVERYBODY HEAR
ME OKAY? I HAVE WORKED IN --
FOR 23 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN ON
PROBABLY 20,000 RENTS. I'M
ALSO ON HEALTHONE. I MET A LOT
OF COUNCILMEMBERS THERE. TO
SPEAK TO ONE ANTIDOTE, IF YOU
WILL, WE GOT DISPATCHED TO A
PERSON DOWN. WE HEARD THAT
THEY WERE IN BREATHING. MY
PARTNER AND I HOPPED OUT, WORK
MODE , I REMEMBER ALL OF THIS
VERY CLEARLY . THERE WAS I
THINK SEVEN OR EIGHT POLICE
OFFICERS ON THE SCENE, AND
SOME VERY, VERY UPSET
BYSTANDERS. THEY WERE
NECESSARILY ANGRY, THEY WERE
JUST UPSET. THEY WALKED AROUND
EVERY POLICE OFFICER, CAME UP ,
SCREAMED IN MY FACE, AND SHOVED
MY PARTNER , WHO IS TRYING TO
GET THE LIFE BACK ON. SHE
LIVED, I WAS AMAZED WHEN THE
MEDICS GOT BACK TO US, BECAUSE
I COULDN'T WAIT FOR MORE
FIREFIGHTERS TO SHOW UP. I
COULD NOT BELIEVE WATCHING
SOMEONE MOVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE,
WALKING AROUND POLICE OFFICERS
LIKE THEY WEREN'T THERE. LIKE
LIAM SAID, THAT WAS MY
AWARENESS THAT THINGS HAD
CHANGED. I DON'T WANT ANYONE
TO GET IN TROUBLE. I JUST WANT
TO BE ABLE TO WORK. THERE IS
NO ONE MORE VULNERABLE IN THE
CITY THAN A PERSON LAYING ON
THE GROUND. WE DON'T WANT
ANYONE TO GET IN TROUBLE. WE
WOULD JUST LIKE THE POLICE
OFFICERS TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY SO
WE CAN WORK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RAY SIMON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY
COUNCIL. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
RAYMOND SIMON. HOURS FOR
SEATTLE 26 YEARS, 25 YEARS AT
STATION 6 DOWN IN THE CENTER
DISTRICT. ON MORE THAN ONE
OCCASION, THE PEOPLE I HAVE
LIVED WITH FOR 20 YEARS, CALLED
FOR AN EXPEDITED RESPONSE FOR
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS FOR VERY INCIDENT .
ONE IN PARTICULAR, THEY CALLED
FOR AN EXPEDITED RESPONSE. I'M
STANDING BY ON THE ENGINE ON
FIRE RESPONSE. MY JOB IS TO
MAN THE SCENE, MAKE SURE
PROVIDE WATER FOR WHOEVER.
WHEN MY CREW ASKED FOR HELP,
I LEFT MY SEAT TO GO AND ASSIST
THEM, WHICH TOOK ME AWAY FROM
MY JOB. I WAS THE FIRST PERSON
ON THE SCENE. MY FELLOW
COWORKERS HAVE BEEN THREATENED
BY A GENTLEMAN WIELDING A THREE
FOOT STEEL PIPE, SWINGING AT A
FIRE DOOR. WHEN I ARRIVED, HIS
ATTENTION TURNED FROM THEM TO
ME. HE THREATENED TO KILL US
ALL. ESPECIALLY WITH, I'M
GOING TO KILL YOU -- MORE THAN
ONCE. THEY DID DETAIN THIS
GENTLEMAN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES
OR SO, THEN THEY RELEASED HIM
BACK TO THE SCENE WHILE WE WERE
STILL THERE. THEY DID PROVIDE
A SAFE WORKING PLACE FOR US.
THAT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO GO
BACK AND DO MY JOB, OR OUR
FIREFIGHTERS TO GO AND FINISH
DOING THE JOB THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO DO. WITHOUT THAT
ASSISTANCE, WITHOUT THEM BEING
ON THE SCENE, WE ARE UNABLE TO
ASSIST THOSE WHO NEED US THE
MOST. LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID,
WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET IN
TROUBLE, OUR JOB IS TO HELP
PEOPLE IN NEED. WE CANNOT DO
THAT IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE
PROTECTION. I THINK YOU FOR
THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS TO THE FLOOR.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU!
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LATONYA
--
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS TRENT 26.
I AM A RENTER IN D 2. I HAVE
DONE RESEARCH IN SOCIAL AREAS
SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, AND THE
CRIMINAL AND LEGAL SYSTEM. I'M
HERE TO TELL YOU TO VOTE NO ON
THIS BILL. THIS BILL WILL NOT
ONLY FAILED TO PROTECT
FIREFIGHTERS, IT WILL MAKE
THINGS WORSE FOR THEM AND THE
COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE,
PARTICULARLY THE BLACK
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO FACE
DISPROPORTIONATE ARRESTS AND
PROSECUTIONS UNDER THE
EXISTING STATUTE. IF YOUR GOAL
IS TO IMPROVE THE WORK
ENVIRONMENT, THERE ARE MANY
THINGS YOU CAN DO, SUCH AS
TRAINING, MORE STAFFING, BETTER
SCHEDULES, ADJUSTING SYSTEMIC
FAILURES, SUCH AS OUR HOUSING
FAILURE, OUR MENTAL HEALTH
FAILURE, OUR DRUG SITUATION.
THOSE ARE SYSTEMS FAILURES.
CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING THROUGH THESE SITUATIONS
IS NOT GOING TO HELP
FIREFIGHTERS OR THESE PEOPLE.
IT WILL ALSO NOT HELP THE
SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS. YOU ALSO
SHOULD VOTE NO THAT THE
TOOLKIT BE COMPLETED. THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, YOU ALL WORK
FOR, PUT IN PLACE MANY YEARS
AGO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
THINGS YOU DECIDE ON DON'T HAVE
IMPACTS THAT YOU ARE NOT
THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. I
KNOW YOU WANT TO DO WHEN AFTER
YOU VOTE ON IT, BUT THE ACTUAL
TOOLKIT SAYS YOU SHOULD DO IT
EARLY. THE REASON YOU DO THAT,
YOU APPLY IT EARLY FOR THE
ALIGNMENT WITH THE EQUITY GOALS
AND DESIRED OUTCOMES. IT IS
STILL EARLY. YOU PRESENTED THIS
BILL ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, SO
WHY THE RUSH TO EXPAND THE
CRIMINAL CODE YOU ARE DOING
RIGHT NOW? WHICH WOULD RESULT
IN MORE BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS
IN OUR DEADLY JAIL, MIGHT I
REMIND YOU. KING COUNTY JAIL
HAS HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
DEATHS IT HAS EVER HAD IN THE
LAST YEAR. YOU SHOULD SHUT IT
DOWN. I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO. I
WILL ADD, IF YOU CARE ABOUT
MENTAL HEALTH, AS YOU SAID
EARLIER BY MAKING MAY MENTAL
HEALTH MONTH, I RECOMMEND THAT
YOU STOP THIS. THOSE ARE NOT
IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT YOU SAID
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
RENAISSANCE.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
RENAISSANCE. I AM THE DIRECTOR
OF -- AT 350 SEATTLE. I AM AN
ORGANIZER WITH -- I AM THE
SECRETARY OF THE SEATTLE MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. ORGANIZED
COALITION. I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER
OF THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET. I WAS
ONE OF THE LEADERS ON THE
SMOKE CAMPAIGN LAST SUMMER.
I'M ALSO A PART OF THE SHUTDOWN
KING COUNTY JAIL COALITION.
WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT TODAY'S TO VOTE NO ON
COUNCIL BILL 120549. THE
ARGUMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE
OUR ARGUMENTS WE HAVE MADE
BEFORE, ADDITIONAL
CRIMINALIZATION WILL NOT HELP
OUR PEOPLE. I WILL PAUSE FOR A
MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL
OF THE FIREFIGHTERS HERE TODAY
FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. SOME OF YOU AND
YOUR BROTHER AND PROBABLY SAVE
MY MOTHER'S LIFE. I WOULD LOVE
TO SEE SAFE SITUATIONS. I
THINK WE WANT THEM TO BE SAFE,
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO IMPROVE OUR
SAFETY CONDITIONS IN TERMS OF
HOW WE ARE CARING FOR THE
PUBLIC. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
ADDITIONAL CRIMINALIZATION WILL
HELP US GET TO THAT POINT. I
DO NOT REALLY THINK THERE'S
VERY MUCH MORE THAN IS TO BE
SAID OTHER THAN ECHOING WHAT
SHE HAS JUST SAID.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> OKAY, THAT'S IT! WE'RE DONE.
SHUTDOWN THE MIC . MR.
ZIMMERMAN, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED
TO USE LANGUAGE TO ELECTED
OFFICIALS REGARDING THEIR RACE.
I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE MUTED.
CAN I HAVE SECURITY PLEASE MAKE
SURE THAT MR. ZIMMERMAN IS
ESCORTED FROM CHAMBERS? WE WILL
FOLLOW-UP WITH THAT LATER.
WHO'S NEXT, MADAME CLERK?
>> OUR LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS GERALD .
>> THAT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
YES, MY NAME IS GERALD. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY, THIS IS MY FIRST
VISIT IN PERSON TO COUNCIL
CHAMBERS AS SOMEONE THAT MOVED
TO SEATTLE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
I GREW UP IN RURAL VERMONT IN
THE TRADITION OF TOWN MEETINGS.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT FORM OF
GOVERNANCE. I JUST WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY MY GRATITUDE
FOR THE WORK OF THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS, IN PARTICULAR,
THE SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS ON THE AGENDA FOR
CONFIRMATION OF AN APPOINTMENT
TODAY. I ALSO WANTED TO GREET
MY COLLEAGUE , AND ALSO --,
WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD A CHANCE
TO WORK WITH. AND THANKS TO
JANET AND MEREDITH IN THE
OFFICE THERE. ALSO, THIS JUST
CAME UP, THANKS TO MR. CANTOR
FOR HIS WORK WITH NAMI, THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL
ILLNESS. THAT WAS A SURPRISE
FOR ME. MY SISTER IS AN
EDUCATOR. I LOST MY NEPHEW TO
SUICIDE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
THE NAMI PROGRAMS AND
EDUCATORS WERE ESSENTIAL TO
HELP MY FAMILY THROUGH THAT
PROCESS OF GRIEVING, LOSS, AND
ALSO TO GET MY SISTER TO NOW
WORK WITH THAT FOUNDATION AS
AN EDUCATOR AND A VOLUNTEER.
THAT'S ALL.
>> THANK YOU, GERALD. I SEE
THAT YOU ARE NUMBER NINE IN THE
ATTACHMENT PACKAGE FOR THE
LGBTQ COMMISSION. THANK YOU
FOR COMING TO CHAMBERS, AND
WELCOME.
>> OKAY. SO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON
TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST
SPEAKER IS HOWARD GILL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HOWARD
GILL, SPEAKING ON POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC
COMMENT. TWO WEEKS AGO, I
LEARNED THAT THERE ARE
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT
INTENTIONALLY DO NOT LISTEN TO
MY PUBLIC COMMENT. DEMOCRACY IS
AND POSSIBLE WENT THEY REFUSE
TO LISTEN TO CONSTITUENTS AND
CHOOSE TO DISREGARD EFFECTS. IN
OVER FIVE YEARS OF MY MAKING
PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU WILL NOT
FIND A SINGLE CLAIM I HAVE
MADE THAT ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY
DOCUMENTED FACTS, LIKE THE
FACT THAT THE SPD HAS KILLED
MORE PEOPLE IN THE YEARS AFTER
THE CONSENT DECREE THAT WERE
KILLED BEFORE. THE FACT THAT
THIS MONTH WILL BE SIX FULL
YEARS THAT THE POLICE
COMMISSION HAS FAILED TO
FULFILL THE LEGISLATIVE
REQUIREMENTS MANDATED BY THIS
COUNCIL IN RESOLUTION 31753 ,
MOST NOTABLY, THE CPC HAS
FAILED TO PROVIDE MECHANISMS
AT TERMINAL -- FOR THE DEADLY
USE OF FORCE, PROTECTIONS
AVAILABLE TO EVERY OTHER CITY
IN THE STATE EXCEPT SEATTLE,
AND HAS FAILED TO COME UP WITH
A PROCESS, ROUTINELY REJECTED
WITHOUT PROPER INVESTIGATION,
LIKE THE FACT THAT THE
COMMISSIONERS JUST THREE WEEKS
AGO STATED THAT THEY WERE
ABANDONING ANY CONCRETE
PROPOSALS FOR THE PROCESS AFTER
DOING NOTHING FOR 6 YEARS. SIX
YEARS AGO, NINE DAYS AFTER THE
MURDER OF -- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ SAYS, QUOTE, WE WILL
DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY AND NOT
ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THOSE OF YOU WHO
HOLLERED OUT, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO? KEEP DOING THAT,
UNQUOTE. THE SPD WENT ON TO
KILL 50 MORE PEOPLE. OVER HALF
OF THOSE PEOPLE, NOT TO BE
EXACT, HAD EITHER NO WEAPON IN
THEIR HAND, OR WERE
EXPERIENCING A SEVERE MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS WHILE WIELDING A
KNIFE. FACTS ARE HARD TO HEAR.
MAYBE MY PROBLEM IS NOT
HOLLERING OUT ENOUGH, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING? THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT PERSON UP IS PETER.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE PETER IS NOT
PRESENT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO
EDWIN.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> THERE YOU GO!
>> ARE YOU THERE?
>> YUP! YOU'RE THERE!
>> PERFECT. I HAVE 30 YEARS IN
THE -- DEPARTMENT. I WORKED
MOST OF MY DEPARTMENT IN
CAPITOL HILL IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. I AM SPEAKING IN
FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE. SOME
CONCERNS THAT I HEARD EARLIER
DURING A PREVIOUS MEETING, THIS
NOT SERVE TO PREVENT ANYONE
FROM EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO
OVERSEE WHAT WE ARE DOING. IT
WOULD ALLOW WAS ENOUGH SPACE
TO DO OUR JOB AND HELP THOSE
CALLING FOR HELP. IT SIMPLY
WILL NOT ALLOW INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE CONSIDERED BYSTANDERS TO
INTERFERE WITH THE SCENE,
CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION
FOR US. TO DO OUR JOB
RESPECTFULLY. THAT WOULD
PREVENT US FROM REACHING OUR
EMERGENCY SCENE. THESE THINGS
HAPPEN FAR TOO OFTEN. FINALLY,
MOST OF OUR ISSUES DO NOT --
USUALLY, THE ISSUES WE
ENCOUNTER ARE IN THE
COMMUNITIES WE PROUDLY SERVE.
THIS ORDINANCE WOULD ALLOW US
TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT
WITH PROVIDING CARE FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS IN THE STREETS
THAT CALL US FOR HELP. THANK
YOU, PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS
ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOUGLAS
GRAY.
>> I DO NOT SEE --
>> HELLO?
>> YEAH, YOU ARE ON.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL,
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING
ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF AMENDING -- TO PUT
THE CRIME OF OBSTRUCT THING
DASHWOOD DO WE CALL IT?
COUNCIL BILL 120549. I WORK AS
A FIREFIGHTER AND AN AND SEE IN
SEATTLE FOR 19 YEARS. I'M
CURRENTLY SERVING AS A
LIEUTENANT. MY COMPANY AND I
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING
THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF THE
PEOPLE . I SUPPORT AMENDING THE
SMC, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS
CHANGE WILL MAKE MY CREW AND I
ABLE TO DO OUR JOBS BETTER.
IT HAPPENS, EMERGENCY SCENE
SOMETIMES CREATE -- THEY
EXASPERATE CRISIS. PEOPLE LIKE
TO GET INVOLVED. THEY WILL
INTERFERE WITH OUR OPERATIONS
WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO DELIVER
CARE, PROTECT PROPERTY, SAVE
LIVES. I'M TRYING TO THINK OF
ONE GREAT EXAMPLE THAT WOULD
DEMONSTRATE WHY OR HOW THIS
HAPPENS, THAT WE CAN TELL THE
WHOLE STORY, BUT MAYBE SOMEBODY
ELSE HAS A BETTER ONE. I HAVE
BEEN TO FIRES BEFORE WHERE
SOMEBODY TRIED TO KEEP US FROM
GETTING INSIDE TO PUT THE FIRE
OUT. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, OUR
WORLD GETS VERY SMALL. IT GETS
BETTER WHEN PEOPLE THAT ARE
TRAINED TO DEAL WITH
INTERFERENCE ARE ON SCENE TO
HELP US DO OUR JOBS. WE TRAIN
ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, HOW WE
WILL WORK TOGETHER IN RESPONSE
TO DELIVER CARE TO THE PATIENT
IN THE SCENE AND MAKE THE
EMERGENCY BETTER. WE ALMOST
NEVER PLAN ON HOW TO STOP
SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO GET IN OUR
WAY. IF THIS BILL HELPS THEM,
I SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU .
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS --
HIGHTOWER.
>> I AM THE SISTER OF -- WHO
WAS MURDERED BY SEATTLE POLICE
WHILE HE WAS EXPERIENCING A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
SIMILARLY TO THE WAYS IN WHICH
SPD HAS CONTINUED TO BRUTALLY
MURDER RESIDENTS WHILE UNDER
THE DISSENT DEGREE, INCLUDING A
GENTLEMAN EXPERIENCING A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WHO WAS
ATTACKED BY CANINE BEFORE BEING
SHOT TO DEATH, WHOSE NAME THEY
HAVE NOT EVEN BOTHERED TO
ORDER. THEY HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR. TODAY,
THEY HAVE ADDED YET ANOTHER
POLICE OFFICER AS A
COMMISSIONER , CONTINUING THE
SEATTLE TRADITION OF COPS
INVESTIGATING COPS. AS A
COMMISSION, THEY CONTINUE TO
BULLY, SILENCE, AND
SYSTEMICALLY HARM THEM
DIRECTLY BY SPD VIOLENCE TO
HAVE A VOICE, INCLUDING
CREATING A SAFE ENOUGH SPACE
WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMISSION
FOR THE PERSON TO BECOME A
COMMISSIONER THEMSELVES. FOR 5
MONTHS, WHICH ARE CREATED TO
CENTER THE VOICES OF AFFECTED
PEOPLE AND EXPLORE RESOURCES ,
SUCH AS BURIAL EXPENSES AND
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
CREATING AN APPEALS PROCESS FOR
VICTIMS FOR 6 YEARS ONLY TO
BEGIN TALKING ABOUT IT AS A WAY
TO UNDERMINE THE EFFECTIVE
PROGRAM, AND THEN PROPERLY AND
CONVENIENTLY GIVING EXCUSE
AFTER EXCUSE AS TO WHY THERE IS
NO REASON TO EVEN CREATE AN
APPEALS PROCESS TO BEGIN WITH.
THEY WANT TO CALL THEM A MODEL
DEPARTMENT WHEN IN REALITY, WE
ARE CONTINUING TO BE
BRUTALIZED, MURDERED, AND
SILENCED TO ZERO
ACCOUNTABILITY. AFFECTED
COMMUNITIES ARE DENIED ACCESS
TO RESOURCES. THEY ARE
INTENTIONALLY DISMANTLED AND
DELAYED, HOW MUCH DOES IT
REGARD MENTAL HEALTH, AS YOU
ALL JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH
YOU CARE ABOUT IT, HOW MUCH
DOES IT REALLY EXTEND TO
VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE AND
THEIR FAMILIES? AS A SISTER OF
SOMEONE KILLED BY SPD WHILE HE
WAS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS,I SAY --
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS --
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS BJ. I'M
CALLING ABOUT CB 120549. THIS
IS ESPECIALLY WHEN COUNCIL
HASN'T ACTUALLY USED THE
TOOLKIT THAT WAS BUILT . THEY
SET THIS UP FOR A REASON .
THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
FOR THE LEGISLATION LIKE THIS
WHEN THE CITY'S OWN ANALYSIS
HAS SHOWN HOW OBSTRUCTION
CHARGES HAVE BEEN USED TO
EXPRESS -- SUPPRESSED PEOPLE
OF COLOR. THIS WAS NOT AFTER
IT WAS ALREADY PAST. WORKING
FORWARD FROM THE INITIAL
PRESENTATION , AND THE BARE
MINIMUM TO APPLY THE TOOLKIT.
THIS STARTED WITH PROCLAMATION
, NOT JUST APPORTION IT
IMPACTING OF HOUSING,
AFFORDABILITY AND MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS. AGAIN, THAT
IS BASED ON THE CITY'S OWN
SYSTEM SO FAR. COUNCIL WILL GO
AND VOTE TO DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACT THOSE GROUPS,
CRIMINALIZING THEM WITHOUT EVEN
BOTHERING TO APPLYING TO THE
TOOLKIT. AND THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY WOULD
REJECT THIS BILL. I YIELD MY
TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JOHN.
>> THAT AFTERNOON. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOHN.
I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT.
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF COUNCIL
BILL 120549. I AM A -- IN THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OUR
GROUP HERE IN SEATTLE. I SPENT
19 YEARS WITH THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THE MAJORITY OF
WHICH I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE. OUR JOB IS TO TAKE
CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE INJURED,
WHOEVER THEY ARE. I CAN TELL
YOU IN MY TIME , PEOPLE USE TO
GIVE A SPACE, NO MATTER WHAT
THE SITUATION, THERE WAS AN
UNWRITTEN AGREEMENT THAT WE
ALL HAD. ONCE WE SHOWED UP,
SOMEONE WAS HURT, OR SOMETHING
WAS ON FIRE, THAT WE WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO DO OUR JOBS. TO BE
HONEST WITH YOU, IT JUST
DOESN'T HAPPEN AS MUCH AS IT
SHOULD. IT MAKES US -- WE ARE
AFRAID FOR OUR OWN SAFETY. IT
ALSO MAKES THE SITUATION
UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE PATIENT.
I HAD AN ELDERLY WOMAN STRUCK
BY A VEHICLE. AN ELDERLY BLACK
WOMAN. I'M A BLACK MAN MYSELF.
AN ANGRY GROUP SURROUNDED US.
THE PATIENT HAD MINOR INJURIES
AND WANTED US TO HELP HER GET
TO THE STORE AND TO GET BACK TO
HER APARTMENT. THAT IS THE KIND
OF SERVICE WE PROVIDE ALL THE
TIME FOR FOLKS. WE EXAMINED
HER SHE REFUSED TREATMENT. SHE
WANTED TO GO TO THE STORE, GET
HER GROCERIES, AND HAVE US HELP
HER BACK TO HER APARTMENT. THE
ANGER GROUP INSISTED THAT WE
FORCED THIS WOMAN TO ASSIST
TRINA. WE EXPLAINED THAT SHE
DIDN'T WANT TREATMENT, AND IT
IS ILLEGAL FOR US TO FORCE IT
ON SOMEONE WHO WAS IN FAIR
MINE. THEY ANGRILY ACCUSED OUR
MULTICULTURAL CREW OF RACISM.
SHE EXPRESSED THE DESIRE THAT
THEY LEAVE HER ALONE. IN THAT
INSTANCE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
BETTER FOR THE PATIENT SO SHE
COULD RECEIVE THE PATIENT
TREATMENT SHE NEEDED .
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALEX -- ALICE LOCKHART.
>> ALICE? STAR SIX. THERE YOU
ARE.
>> COUNCIL, I'M SORRY. I'M
SPEAKING TO THE SAME BILL AS
EVERYONE ELSE. WITH MANY OF
THE SAME CONCERNS THAT OTHERS
HAVE WITH HIS BILL. MY INITIAL
CONCERN , AND IT STILL EXISTS,
THAT THIS BILL WOULD BE USED
TO -- YOU KNOW, AND HAVE AN
EXCUSE TO FORM A PERIMETER IN
SITUATIONS WHERE YOU OTHERWISE
MIGHT NOT HAVE ONE. THE
INITIAL CONCERN , AFTER
SPEAKING TO FRIENDS WHOM I
RESPECT, NOT THE PRIMARY
CONCERN. THE PRIMARY CONCERN
IS THE LACK OF THE TOOLKIT AND
THE EFFECT OF THIS BILL ON
PEOPLE WHO ARE SUBJECT TO IT,
PARTICULARLY PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE BILL STATES A FULL CHARGE
OF THE OBSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC
OFFICER HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN
USED TO SUPPRESS AND PENALIZE
PEOPLE OF COLOR. THAT SEEMS
LIKE AN ABSOLUTE WE SHOULD DO
THE TOOLKIT FIRST. OTHERWISE,
YOU KNOW, IF IT IS NOT A
SURCHARGE, THEN THE BILL IS
REDUNDANT. IF IT IS, WE NEED
TO VIEW THE TOOLKIT. MOREOVER,
I APPRECIATE THE FRENEMY --
FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS THAT CAME
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
I BELIEVE. WOULD THOSE BE THE
ONLY AMENDMENTS? OR WOULD
THERE BE OTHERS? WE DON'T KNOW.
THEREFORE, I WOULD REALLY
APPRECIATE IT IF COUNCIL COULD
JUST TAKE A BREATH, HOLD ON A
MINUTE, DO THE TOOLKIT , AND
COME BACK TO THIS MORE
INFORMED IN ORDER TO -- THIS
BILL .
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
IS AIDEN CAROL.
>> HI. THIS BILL WOULD NOT BE
AT ALL ABOUT CRIMINALIZING
BEING ESCALATED, THIS WOULD BE
AMENDED -- DOES NOT INCLUDE
PEOPLE IN NEED OF MEDICAL AID.
THAT DOESN'T MATTER.
FIREFIGHTERS CAN CREATE A
SAFETY PERIMETER WITHOUT THE
NEED FOR CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT
FOR REACHING THEIR PERIMETER.
THE CITY CAN HELP THEM DO THAT.
WHILE THIS IS BEING REWRITTEN,
THE RACE AND IN EQUITY
ANALYSIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN FIRST.
THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM
HERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN BE
KEPT OUT OF THE AREA. THIS
COULD RESULT IN GOING TO JAIL.
WE ARE WORKING TO DECREASE,
NOT INCREASE, THE NUMBER. THIS
BILL WOULD DO THE OPPOSITE.
THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT
THAT THEY ARE CRIMINALIZED
ALSO. -- FROM THE SAME
POPULATION EXPRESSING
HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL ILLNESS,
ADDICTION, AND THIS DOESN'T
SOLVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS EVER.
FIREFIGHTERS DESERVE MORE
TRAINING ON HOW TO DEAL WITH
THESE SITUATIONS. WE ALL DO,
BUT ESPECIALLY SERVICES LIKE
FIREFIGHTERS. IT IS CRITICAL
THAT WE REDUCE THE ROLE OF
POLICE WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THE
ONLY TOOL THAT THEY HAVE OUR
PUNISHMENT. THAT DOES NOT SOLVE
PROBLEMS. WHERE IS THE MONEY
FOR THE UPSTREAM INTERVENTION?
I APPRECIATED THE PROCLAMATION
ABOUT SUICIDE AWARENESS. IN
2016, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS
THAT HAS KEPT ME THE WILL TO
LIVE IS TO BE INVOLVED IN
MOVEMENTS FOR JUSTICE. THAT IS
PROBABLY WHY YOU HEAR MY VOICE
SO OFTEN. PUBLIC SAFETY AND
EVERYTHING WE SEE HERE , AS THE
LEGISLATION ADMITS, IT IS
DETERIORATING IN SPECIFIC WAYS
BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL CRISIS
AND WHAT WE NEED TO FIND. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU!
>> AND THAT IS THE END OF THE
LIST, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THANK YOU THOSE THEY CAME TO
CHAMBERS TO GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND THANK YOU TO THE
CALLERS WHO CALLED IN REGARDING
THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THAT
ENDS OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. MOVING
ON IN OUR AGENDA, IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE INTERJECTING
REVEAL -- REFERRAL CALENDAR ,
IT IS AN ADOPTED. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA
WILL BE OBJECTED. ADOPTED.
WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. LET'S GO TO
SECTION G OF OUR AGENDA, THE
ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE THE MINUTES FROM MAY
2nd 2023, WE HAVE COUNCIL BILL
120561 , THAT IS THE PAYROLL
BILL. AND OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS ALWAYS
BUSY, WE HAVE 12 APPOINTMENTS.
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS,
EDUCATION, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND --
COMMITTEE. WE HAVE TWO
PLUMMETS TO THE EDUCATION
PROMISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ,
WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS TO THE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION, THREE TO
THE SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION.
I UNDERSTAND THERE IS ANOTHER
INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS HERE. I'M
SORRY YOU DIDN'T KISS THEIR
NAME. WELCOME. AND WE HAVE
FOUR APPOINTMENTS TO THE
COMMUNITY INVOLVING COMMISSION,
AND ONE APPOINTMENT TO THE
INTERNATIONAL'S THIS OVERVIEW
DISTRICT BOARD. ALL OF THESE
WERE SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. ARE
THERE ANY ITEMS THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR FOR US TO DISCUSS
LATER IN THE AGENDA? ALL
RIGHT. HEARING NONE, NOT SEEN
THEM, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
CALENDAR. WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ?
>> YES!
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU! IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED. I
APOLOGIZE. I'M TRYING TO KEEP
UP HERE. THE CONSENT CALENDAR
IS ADOPTED. WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE ADD THE SIGNATURE TO
THE MINUTES, LEGISLATION, AND
THE APPOINTMENTS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? WE WILL
MOVE INTO COMMITTEE REPORTS. WE
HAVE EIGHT TODAY. WE WILL START
WITH COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'
COMMITTEE. THIS IS FROM THE
EDUCATION, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND
CULTURE COMMITTEE. MADAM CLERK,
COULD YOU PLEASE READ THAT?
>> REAPPOINTMENT OF THE --
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. COUNCIL
BILL 120554, RELATED TO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION ON THE
FAX, A LANDMARK DESIGNATED BY
THE BOARD UNDER CHAPTER 25.12
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL PASSES THE COUNCIL
BILL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR STEPPING IN. THE
FOUR FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I'M HAPPY TO STEP IN FOR MY
COLLEAGUE THIS AFTERNOON. THE
FIRST ITEM IN FRONT OF US ,
COUNCIL BILL 120554 IMPOSING
CONTROLS ON THE FAIRFAX
CONDOS, A LANDMARK THAT WAS
DESIGNATED BY THE PRESERVATION
BOARD. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED ADOPTION OF THIS
ORDINANCE. THE LANDMARK
DESIGNATION WAS NOMINATED BY
THE OWNERS BUILDING. THE
BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN
1903, AND IS LOCATED IN THE
NORTH CAPITAL HILL NEIGHBORHOOD
IN DISTRICT 3. THIS ORDINANCE
WOULD IMPOSE CONTROLS AND -- OF
THE LANDMARK. THE AGREEMENT
HAD BEEN SIGNED BY THE OWNER
AND APPROVED BY THE
PRESERVATION BOARD. THE
CONTROLS IN THE AGREEMENT APPLY
TO THE SITE, THE EXTERIOR OF
THE BUILDING, AND THE MAIN
INTERIOR STAIRWAY, BUT DO NOT
APPLY TO ANY IN-KIND
MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS OF THOSE
DESIGNATED FEATURES. IT WILL
PRESERVE THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS
THAT ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED ON
SITE, AND THE COMMITTEE DID
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THE
ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. I
HAVE NO FURTHER REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE
MOVE FORWARD? NOT SEEING ANY,
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD
LIKE TO ADD BEFORE WE GO TO A
VOTE?
>> NO, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I AM
READY TO VOTE.
>> THANK YOU! WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES. MADAM
CLERK, PLEASE LACE MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WILL
BE IN FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS,
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> DOES THE CLERK NEED TO READ
THE ITEM?
>> I'M SORRY. I'M GETTING AHEAD
OF MYSELF TODAY. YOU'RE RIGHT.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE
READ ITEM TWO IN THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120555,
RELATING TO HISTORIC
PRESERVATION AND IMPOSING
CONTROLS UPON THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON FACULTY CLUB, A
LANDMARK DESIGNATED BY THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD
UNDER CHAPTER 25.12 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT CITY
COUNCIL PASS THE BILL.
>> ALL RIGHT, NOW I CAN SAY IT.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COUNCIL BILL 120555
IS ALSO IMPOSING CONTROLS AND
INCENTIVES ON A BUILDING. IN
THIS CASE, THE FACULTY CLUB, A
LANDMARK THAT WAS DESIGNATED BY
THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION
BOARD. THE COMPANY COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED ADOPTION OF THE
ORDINANCE. THE CLUB WAS BUILT
IN 1960, THE PROPERTY IS
LOCATED ON THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON CAMPUS IN DISTRICT
4. THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN
SIGNED BY THE OWNER AND
APPROVED BY THE LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD. THE
CONTROLS IN THE AGREEMENT APPLY
AT THE SITE, AND THE
COURTYARDS. THE EXTERIOR OF THE
BUILDING AT THE OPEN INTERIOR
VOLUME AND PLAN LAYOUT OF THE
UPPER FLOOR. THEY DO NOT APPLY
TO ANY MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS
OF THOSE DESIGNATED FEATURES.
THIS WILL PRESERVE A BELOVED
COMMUNITY SPACE ON THE CAMPUS
THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS,
STAFF, AND FACULTY. WITH THAT,
THERE IS A UNANIMOUS
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THESE
CONTROLS AND INCENTIVES. I HAVE
NO ADDITIONAL REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS. ANY COMMENTS REGARDING
ITEM NUMBER TWO. ALL RIGHT, NOT
SEEING ANY, MADAM CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THE
BILL PASSES. MADAM CLERK ,
PLEASE FIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. I
WILL HAVE TO EXPLODE ON A
LITTLE BIT HERE. NOW, WE WILL
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE
OUT OF THE PUBLIC ASSETS AND
HOMELESS COMMITTEE. MADAM
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
NUMBER THREE TO THE RECORD.
>> REPORT TO THE PUBLIC ASSETS
AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE,
AGENDA HIM ITEM NUMBER THREE,
COUNCIL BILL 120548 --
AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF
RURAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED IN
KING COUNTY RECORDS. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT CITY
COUNCIL PASS THE COUNCIL BILL.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, THIS IS YOUR COMMITTEE.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THE BILL THAT IS IN
FRONT OF US THAT I ALLUDED TO
DURING BRIEFING YESTERDAY
AFTERNOON AUTHORIZES A LONG
PENDING ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE TRIBE
TO ACQUIRE AND TRANSFER THE
BAKUN BUILDING, WHICH IS
CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE -- OF
WASHINGTON. IT IS USED AS A
SITE BY THE TRIBE AS A CULTURAL
LEARNING CENTER . THIS IS A
VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY. IT
WAS REALLY GREAT TO BE JOINED
IN CHAMBERS BY LEADERSHIP FROM
THE TRIBE, AND TO FINALLY BE IN
A POSITION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD
WITH FAS. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDED BY THE FULL
COUNCIL. I LOOK FORWARD TO
APPROVING IT HERE TODAY. BY
THE COMMITTEE, AND LOOK FORWARD
TO APPROVING IT AT THE FULL
COUNCIL. WITH THAT, THERE ARE
NO ADDITIONAL REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, I WOULD ONLY ADD, THANK
YOU FOR GETTING IT TO THE
FINISH LINE, HOPEFULLY. IT
COULD NOT BE MORE TIMELY SINCE
WE JUST FINISHED THE SUMMIT
AND THE WATERFRONT ARE ON THE
AGENDA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP, GETTING IT IN
YOUR COMMUNITY, OUT OF YOUR
COMMUNITY, AND BACK TO US
TODAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVED TO A
VOTE? OKAY. I DO NOT SEE ANY.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU! MADAM CLERK,
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO
ITEM NUMBER FOUR. THIS WILL BE
COMING OUT OF COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS' COMMITTEE. CAN YOU
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER FOUR IN
THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120559,
RELATING TO THE CURRENT
TAXATION, APPROVING
APPLICATIONS FOR CURRENT
TAXATION OF PROPERTIES LOCATED
AT 4200 BAKER AVENUE
NORTHWEST, AND 2317 SOUTH THE
MINISTRY UNDER THE KING COUNTY
PUBLIC BENEFIT RATING SYSTEM.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
CITY COUNCIL PASS THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. LIKE BILL 120559,
WHICH IS LEGISLATION UNDER THE
COUNTY PUBLIC BENEFIT RATING
SYSTEM. THIS OFFERS A SPECIAL
PROPERTY TAX BENEFIT TO
PROPERTIES THAT ARE PRESERVING
A PORTION OF PROPERTIES AS
PUBLIC OPEN SPACE. IN ESSENCE,
WE GOT THE SAME PRESENTATION
FROM THE AGENCY , AS WELL AS
TESTIMONY FROM THE PROPERTY
OWNER CONFIRMING THAT THESE
PARCELS QUALIFY UNDER THIS
PROGRAM. COUNCILMEMBERS ASKED
A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO
CONFIRM THAT. THERE WAS A
UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION THAT
WE APPROVED. FOR THE RECORD,
THOSE PARCELS ARE 4200 BAKER
AVENUE NORTHWEST AND 2317 SOUTH
NORMAN STREET. EITHER WE
APPROVE THEM AS QUALIFYING FOR %
THE BENEFIT RATING SYSTEM, AND
WE DO RECOMMEND FULL PASSAGE
HERE IN COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. ARE THERE ANY
COLLEAGUES FROM -- REGARDING
THIS LEGISLATION? OKAY. AND
I'M GUESSING YOU ARE SPEAKING
TO IT? YES.
>> YES, I'M DONE.
>> [ LAUGHTER ] OKAY. MADAM
CLERK? YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE BILL PASSES,
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON MY
BEHALF. NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE. MADAM
CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
FIVE INTO THE RECORD?
>> REPORT OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE, COUNCIL BILL 1205
49. AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
THE CITY'S CRIMINAL CODE :
AMENDING THE CRIME OF
OBSTRUCTING A PUBLIC OFFICER TO
INCLUDE OBSTRUCTING
FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRE
DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT CITY
COUNCIL PASS AS AMENDED TO
COUNCIL BILL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF
THIS COMMITTEE. THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS BILL
HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE
MAKING, AS EARLY AS JULY OF
LAST YEAR. WE RECEIVED THE
FIRST LETTER FROM SEATTLE
FIREFIGHTERS UNION IN 2007,
WRITING ABOUT THE INCREASING
DANGEROUS INTERACTIONS
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE HAD IN THE
FIELD. WE HEARD ABOUT SOME OF
THEM TODAY IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE LETTERS WE RECEIVED LAST
YEAR DOCUMENT, FOR INSTANCE,
A FIREFIGHTER BEING HIT WITH A
LARGE ROCK, EXTINGUISHING A
FIRE AT AN ENCAMPMENT . IN
ANOTHER INCIDENT, FIREFIGHTERS
WERE THREATENED BY TWO
INDIVIDUALS WITH WEAPONS, ONE
MADE OUT OF STEEL, AND WERE
FORCED TO RETREAT TO A LOCATION
TO WAIT FOR POLICE BACKUP
BEFORE EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE.
ONCE ON SCENE, AND NOT UNTIL
POLICE RUNS -- WERE ON SCENE
, LATER TRANSPORTED TO BE
TREATED FOR A SEXUAL ASSAULT. A
THIRD LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED
LAST SUMMER REFERENCED A YOUNG
FIREFIGHTER WHO HAD BEEN
ASSAULTED TWICE IN HER FIRST
16 MONTHS IN THE DEPARTMENT,
BEING KICKED IN THE ON AID
RESPONSE, AND SLEPT IN THE
FACE ON A SEPARATE OCCASION.
THESE INCIDENTS HAD -- BEEN
SO ALARMING THAT THE UNION HAS
HAD TO DEVELOP A CRACKING TOOL
FOR ASSAULTS AND BEHAVIOR
TARGETING FIREFIGHTERS WHERE
ONE DID NOT EXIST BEFORE. IN
JANUARY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
SHARED DATA THAT SHOWED THAT
37 PERCENT OF THE REPORTS
INCLUDED PHYSICAL CONTENT, 11%
INCLUDED WEAPONS , BRANDISHED
LIKE THE ANTIDOTE I SHARED
EARLIER. THERE WERE 12 TIMES
IN THAT REPORT WERE WEAPONS
WERE USED IN AT LEAST 10% OF
THE INCIDENTS THAT THE
THREATENING PARTY WAS KNOWN TO
HAVE PRIOR INCIDENTS. THIS WAS
A REPORT WE RECEIVED IN
JANUARY. IT IS NOT AN UP TO
DATE REPORT THROUGH MAY. AFTER
IMPLEMENTING THE TRACKING
SYSTEM, THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
LOCAL 27, THE ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, COUNCIL NUMBER LEWIS
AND I, WE BEGAN COLLABORATION
ON THE ORDINANCE WHICH COULD
CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF
PUBLIC OFFICER IN THE CRIME OF
OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER IN THE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCLUDE
FIREFIGHTERS ALONGSIDE OTHER
CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ALREADY
PROTECT IT BY THIS PARTICULAR
PART OF THE LAW. EMPLOYEES
LIKE BUILDING INSPECTORS, THE
FIRE MARSHAL AND POLICE
OFFICERS ALL ARE PROTECTED BY
THIS PART OF THE MUNICIPAL
CODE. FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER
FIRE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT. THIS
ORDINANCE ALLOWS THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT TO LAWFULLY CREATE
A NECESSARY PERIMETER AT THE
SCENE OF A RESPONSE TO ENSURE
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO
DELIVER THE SERVICES CALLING
FOR. IT IS ACTUALLY A
DE-ESCALATION TACTIC . ONCE
EMPLOYED, IT WILL REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS LIKE
ASSAULT. THEY WOULD RESULT IN
FURTHER ENTANGLEMENT WITH A
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH
THE POLICE OFFICER NEEDED TO
DETAIN SOMEONE. THAT IS THE
INTENT, TO CREATE A BARRIER, A
SAFE SPACE TO REDUCE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF OTHER UNLAWFUL
ACTIVITY. NO EMPLOYEE SHOULD
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR
SAFETY WHILE DOING THEIR JOB,
ESPECIALLY AS THEY DELIVER
LIFESAVING SERVICES IN RESPONSE
TO A 911 CALL. FIREFIGHTERS
ARE CARRYING HEAVY AND
DIFFICULT TO MANAGE EQUIPMENT
TO PUT OUT A FIRE, ARE THEY
ARE NAILED OVER TO RESUSCITATE
A PATIENT. IN THOSE INSTANCES,
THEY ARE PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE. THEY CAN BE IN A
DEFENSIVE POSTURE, BECAUSE THEY
ARE FOCUSED ON THE BIG OR THE
TASK AT HAND. THAT
VULNERABILITY UNFORTUNATELY HAS
BEEN EXPLOITED , CREATING RISKS
, NOT JUST TO FIREFIGHTERS AND
OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT
EMPLOYEES, BUT IT IS ALSO
CREATING RISKS TO THE
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WITH
LIFESAVING CARE. AFTER
RECEIVING FEEDBACK, WE ADOPTED
THE COMMITTEE TO TRACK CHARGES
SO THAT WE CAN WATCH FOR
POSSIBLE RACIAL DISPARITIES AND
OTHER UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES .
TODAY, I WILL BE BRINGING
FORWARD THREE ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS ON BEHALF OF
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WHO WAS
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING .
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD, THANK YOU FIRST OF
ALL FOR STEPPING IN ON THE
AMENDMENTS. THIS IS HOW WE WILL
DO IT NOW. I WILL OPEN THE
FLOOR FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
COMMENT REGARDING THE BASE
LEGISLATION. NOT THE
AMENDMENTS, THE BASE
LEGISLATION. I SEE COUNSELOR
LEWIS, WHO ALSO WORKED WITH YOU
ON THIS MANNER, HAS HIS HAND
UP. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ. WORKING CLOSELY WITH
OUR PARTNERS IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT , AND ALSO OUR
LEADERSHIP IN THE UNION, WE
HAVE VERY DEEP GRATITUDE TO ALL
THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO TURNED OUT
TODAY TO TESTIFY TODAY.
FIREFIGHTER WEBER, I DO
REMEMBER GOING ON THAT ROAD ,
TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THESE
ISSUES YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE
RIDING ALONG IN A SNOWSTORM
TOGETHER. I GOT TO WATCH YOU
HEROICALLY DIG SOMEBODY OUT OF
A TENT THAT HAD COLLAPSED IN
THE PARK. THAT WOMAN'S HAND
ENDED UP BEING SAVED FROM
FROSTBITE BECAUSE OF YOUR
INTERVENTION. I HAVE A VERY
DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE
FIREFIGHTERS WE WORK WITH, WHAT
THEY EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD.
I CAN SAY, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY
SINCE 2019 WHEN I WAS A
CANDIDATE, THESE ISSUES AROUND
FIREFIGHTER ASSAULTS, THE
ISSUES WE WERE DISCUSSING AS A
MATTER OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE.
WHAT HAD BEEN HAPPENING IN 2019
HAS JUST SKYROCKETED BY NOW.
THIS IS IN TERMS OF BEING A
WORKPLACE HAZARD THAT
FIREFIGHTERS ARE UNEXPECTEDLY
BEING EXPOSED TO. THERE IS NO
ONE THING IN FRONT OF US THAT
WILL IMMEDIATELY FIX THIS.
THIS ORDINANCE TODAY, WHILE
HELPFUL IN PROVIDING GUIDANCE
AND TOOLS, IS NOT IN AND OF
ITSELF GOING TO FIX ALL OF
THESE ISSUES IN THESE
SITUATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING
THAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE
EXPERIENCING. IT DOES HELP
CLOSE A REALLY IMPORTANT LOOP
FOR A CERTAIN SUBSET OF THESE
INSTANCES. FIREFIGHTERS ARE AT
THE SCENE WITH POLICE , THEY
ARE BEING OBSTRUCTED FROM
ADMINISTRATING CARE TO A
PATIENT, AND THE POLICE
ESSENTIALLY ARE JUST IN A
POSITION TO TELL THE
FIREFIGHTERS, UNLESS YOU ARE
ASSAULTED, THERE IS REALLY
NOTHING I CAN DO TO INSTRUCT
THE PERSON TO STOP STANDING
BETWEEN YOU AND THE PERSON YOU
NEED TO ADMINISTER SERIOUS
INJURY CARE, OR EVENING
LIFESAVING CARE. TO PREVENT A
FATALITY, OR POTENTIALLY OTHER
USE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
LIKE POTENTIALLY EMERGENCY
ROOMS. IN MANY CASES UNDER THE
CURRENT LAW, WE HAVE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO ARE ASSAULTING
FIREFIGHTERS ENDING UP BEING
LOOKED FOR ASSAULT THREE
ASSAULTING A PUBLIC OFFICER .
THAT DEFINITION DOES CURRENTLY
INCLUDE FIREFIGHTERS WHILE THE
OBSTRUCTION STATUTE DOES NOT.
THIS POLICY WOULD ALLOW , AT
THIS POINT, FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO
BE FULLY WITHIN THEIR RIGHT TO
TELL SOMEONE WHO WAS STANDING
BETWEEN THEM AND SOMEONE THEY
NEED TO TO GIVE CARE TO LET
THEM BUY. THEY HAD TO LEGALLY
LET THEM BY TO ADMINISTER THAT
CARE. WE HEARD A NUMBER OF
EXAMPLES TODAY OF FIREFIGHTERS
TESTIFYING TO VERY SPECIFIC
SCENARIOS WHERE PEOPLE
WILLFULLY DECLINED TO MOVE OUT
OF THE WAY FOR A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT REASONS. THIS HAS
RESULTED IN POTENTIAL SERIOUS
HARM TO PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. I WANT TO ALSO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AT THIS
POINT FOR A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK
WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS
WHO HAVE EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM
AND CONCERN FOR THIS POWER TO
BE ABUSED. THAT IS SOMETHING
WE ALL HAD TO BE VIGILANT FOR.
SOMETHING WE HAD TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION AS LEGISLATURES.
THE AMENDMENTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
MYSELF HAVE WORKED ON WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, IT
GOES TO CLOSING POTENTIAL
LOOPHOLES IN THIS LEGISLATION
THAT COULD USE IT FOR
UNDESIRABLE OUTCOMES. THAT
INCLUDES POTENTIALLY
CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE IN CASES
WHERE TRYING TO ACCESS CARE.
ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS VERY
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THAT
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE BASE
LEGISLATION COULD HAVE ALLOWED
A SCENARIO FOR. WE ARE HAPPY
TO BRING FORWARD A CHAIN TO
MAKE SURE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT CAN HAPPEN, AND TO MAKE
THAT CLEAR. I WANT TO ALSO ADD
THAT THE SEQUENCING OF DOING A
FURTHER ASSESSMENT OF THE RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE,
I DO THINK THIS MAKES SENSE. I
DON'T THINK THE UNDERLYING
POLICY IS SO MUCH THE ISSUE, IT
IS THE EXECUTION AND THE
IMPLEMENTATION THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY BE CONCERNING. I
THINK THE RULE ITSELF, SAYING
YOU CANNOT KNOWINGLY OBSTRUCT
THE FIREFIGHTER FROM GIVING
SOMEONE CARE, THIS IS A RULE
THAT IS UNAMBIGUOUSLY ONE THAT
WE SHOULD ALL SUPPORT. THE
CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING RAISED
BY THE COMMUNITY THAT I THINK
ARE GOOD CONCERNS, WE HAVE AN
AMENDMENT REQUESTING THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, HOW DO WE
ENSURE THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING
THIS IN A WAY THAT IS
ACCOMPLISHING THAT GOAL, BUT
NOT CREATING A METHOD FOR THIS
TO BE ABUSED, ARE USED IN A
WAY TO STIFLE SPEECH, USED IN A
WAY TO CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING POVERTY, OR
MENTAL HEALTH. THAT GOES INTO
THE IMPLEMENTATION. COMING
INTO THE FRONT END, KNOWING
THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS UNION STAND READY
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS PUT IN
PLACE TO KEEP THEM SAFE , ALSO
KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE. NO
ONE SIGNED UP TO BE A
FIREFIGHTER TO PUT THEIR HANDS
ON SOMEONE IN ANGER.
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN PUT IN
THE CONUNDRUM, BEING FACED
WITH SITUATIONS THEY SHOULD BE
FACED WITH. THIS HELPS US MOVE
FORWARD ON THIS. WE NEED TO BE
VIGILANT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
DOWNSIDES. AND I WANT TO TO
GIVE MY GRATITUDE TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
WORKING WITH US TO PUT THEM
FORWARD. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE WORK OF EVERYONE HERE,
BRINGING THIS OUT. I KNOW I
WENT ON FOR A WHILE THERE,
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD DO.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE JUST MAKING
COMMENTS TO THE BASE
LEGISLATION. MY UNDERSTANDING,
THE THREE AMENDMENTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WILL BE
PRESENTING . I JUST WANT TO ADD
TO THE BASE LEGISLATION BEFORE
WE BEGAN, FIRST OF ALL, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE BASE
LEGISLATION PASSES ON THE
COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY. WE STARTED
HEARING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BACK
IN DECEMBER AND IN JANUARY
REGARDING THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. WE HAVE HAD
OPPORTUNITIES TO ALSO SPEAK TO
THE CHIEF AND TO KNOW YOU
HEARD FROM TODAY WHO IS AHEAD
OF THE FIREFIGHTER UNION . WE
ARE ALSO VERY COGNIZANT ON THE
ISSUE THAT HAS ESCALATED, AND
WE ARE LIVING IN DIFFERENT
TIMES. I WILL SAVE MY FINAL
COMMENT AFTER WE HEAR THE THREE
AMENDMENTS. IF WE VOTE ON THE
BASE LEGISLATION WITH POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS, EVERYONE WILL HAVE
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IF
IT COMES AMENDED LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
, FOR YOUR WORDS. LET'S MOVE
ON TO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I MOVED
TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 120 549
.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO MOVE THE BILL ON
AMENDMENT A, WHICH YOU ALL GOT
COPIES OF. A, B, C.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS
A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
ALLUDED TO BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS A FEW MOMENTS AGO. IT
ADDS AN ELEMENT SPECIFYING
THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE CHARGED
ARE OBSTRUCTED WITH -- THEIR
OWN MEDICAL CARE . IT ALSO
REQUESTS THAT SPD ADD TO THEIR
OWN POLICY MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS
NOT TO ARREST ANYONE FOR
OBSTRUCTING THEIR OWN MEDICAL
CARE. WE HAVE RECEIVED
AFFIRMATION THAT THEY WILL
UPDATE THEIR MANUAL
ACCORDINGLY. THIS BASICALLY
CODIFIES SOMETHING ALREADY
AGREED TO BY THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT , AND IS IN
LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES TO
ENSURE THE DIGNITY AND AGENCIES
OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE THE
SUBJECT OF A CALL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
REGARDING AMENDMENT A?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. JUST TO ADDRESS ALL
THREE AMENDMENTS, I APPRECIATE
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , AND
ALSO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. I
HAVE ALSO HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM
FIREFIGHTERS SERVING PEOPLE IN
MY DISTRICT ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THEY FACE AS CITY
WORKERS, TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB
SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. THE
THREE AMENDMENTS ARE BEING
BROUGHT FORWARD RATHER LATE IN
THE PROCESS, JUST ABOUT 24
HOURS AGO. THERE IS NOTHING IN
THE RULES THAT WOULD PREVENT
AMENDMENTS. IN FACT, THAT IS
COMMON PRACTICE. I WILL GO
AHEAD AND BE VOTING FOR THESE
AMENDMENTS, BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO STRONG
OBJECTION FROM OUR FIREFIGHTERS
. THE BOTTOM LINE, THEY SHOULD
NOT BE OBSTRUCTED IN CARRYING
OUT THEIR DUTIES FOR THE
PUBLIC, WHICH WE KNOW INCLUDES
INCLUDING PROTECTING PEOPLE
FROM FIRES, AND MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES. I WILL BE VOTING
YES ON ALL THE ABOVE.
>> GREAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I FELT LIKE I SHOULD JUST
SAY DITTO. YEAH, I WILL BE
VOTING YES ON THIS. BASICALLY
TAKING THE PATH OF LEAST
RESISTANCE TO GET THIS THROUGH
THE PIPELINE. THESE ARE
DEDICATED CIVIL SERVANTS WHO
PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
EVERY DAY. I JUST FEEL IT IS
THE LEAST WE CAN DO TO PROTECT
THEM. THAT IS WHAT I WILL BE
DOING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE
IN THE AUDIENCE FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
>> ARE THERE ANY MORE COMMENTS
REGARDING THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT A? ARE YOU CAN GO
THE ROUTE OF COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN AND NELSON WITH THE
TRAFFIC OF THE YES ON ALL THREE
. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ON A?
OKAY. I DID NOT SEE ANYONE
ELSE'S HANDS UP ON THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT. WITH THAT,
MADAME CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE
OF A MIMIC A TO COUNCIL BILL
120549 ?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
CARRIES AS AMENDED BY AMENDED
A . WAIT, THAT WE ALREADY DO
THAT? DID YOU GUYS ALTHOUGH?
WE ARE GOOD. I APOLOGIZE, YOU
GUYS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
FURTHER COMMENTS? SO WE ARE
GOOD. IT PASS. YES? OKAY. GOOD.
WE WILL MOVE ON.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
BELIEVE YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR
ME?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I MOVED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT B.
>> THANK YOU, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED . AMENDMENT B,
WHICH WE ALL GOT COPIES OF.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS
ANOTHER FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. IT
REQUESTS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND FIRE DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A
JOINT -- AS THEY STAY OFF-SITE
AND ON STANDBY UNTIL THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY REQUEST
THEIR ASSISTANCE DO TO AN
OBSTRUCTION. THAT IS TO
CONSULT WITH FIRE PERSONNEL
BEFORE ENGAGING WITH ANY PEOPLE
PRESENT ON A FIRE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM. IN CONSULTING
WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY
HAVE INDICATED THIS IS ALREADY
MORE OR LESS THE INFORMAL
EXISTING PROCESS. THEY ARE
HAPPY TO FORMALIZE IT.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS REGARDING AMENDMENT B?
OKAY. NOT SEEING ANY, WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE TO COUNCIL BILL
120549?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. B HAS
PASSED. WE JUST HAVE A LITTLE
PROBLEM HERE , I APOLOGIZE. IT
IS BECAUSE OF THE AMENDMENTS
AND THE LANGUAGE. JUST BEAR
WITH ME, FOLKS. ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GO ON TO AMENDMENT C AND
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I MOVED TO 120549 .
>> SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT C.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU. REQUESTING THAT
THEY WERE TOGETHER TO COMPLETE
A TOOLKIT ANALYSIS ON THE
IMPACTS OF IMPLEMENTING THE
BILL, AND PROVIDING WITH
REGULAR UPDATES ON THE
PROGRESS OF THIS WORK. IT
WOULD ALSO REQUEST THEM TO WORK
ON THE CURRENT AND POTENTIAL
FUTURE ABILITY TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THOSE WHO ARE ARRESTED
FOR OBSTRUCTION ARE MAY BE
EXPERIENCING MENTAL OR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED
AMENDED C? COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU . I BELIEVE YOU
WILL PROBABLY BE THE RIGHT
PERSON TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS
TO. WILL THIS BE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT DOING THE REPORT?
OR WILL IT BE THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS?
>> THE AMENDMENT ITSELF , I
THINK IT FOCUSES ON FIRE AND
POLICE WORKING TOGETHER. I DID
HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE
CHIEF TO NOT JUST LOOK AT THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT ANALYSIS
ON THE OUTCOME OF THE
LEGISLATION , OR WORKING WITH
CONVENIENT -- BEFORE THE BILL
BECOMES EFFECTIVE , CONVENING A
CONVERSATION WITH COMMITTEE
STAKEHOLDERS. SOME OF WHICH WE
HEARD FROM TODAY. LOOKING AT
HOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ORDINANCE , HOW TO AVOID THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE
RESULTING IN UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES AND WORKING WITH
THEM TO DO SO.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I ABSOLUTELY
SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF THIS
AMENDMENT. MY ONLY QUESTION,
DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO DO THIS IN THE NEXT
30 DAYS? I JUST RECALL FROM THE
BUDGET PROCESS AS LAST YEAR, WE
OFTEN TIMES ASK THEM TO DO MORE
WORK THAN WE GIVE THEM
STAFFING FOR. ONE CONCERN THAT
I HAVE IS BY PUTTING THESE
REPORTING DATES AND TIMES IN
THIS LEGISLATION .
>> I WILL FILIBUSTER HERE FOR A
MOMENT. THE COMMUNICATION
THAT WE RECEIVED FROM STAFF IN
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
OFFICE, SHARING THIS AMENDMENT
WITH US, INDICATED THAT THEY
HAD WORKED WITH THEM. I AM
RUSHING TO PULL UP THAT EMAIL
FROM THE STAFF IN COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S OFFICE.
>> THAT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING,
AS WELL.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. LET'S SEE.
THIS IS THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES
WHEN YOU ARE WORKING TO PITCH
FOR ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER.
YEAH, I'M NOT FINDING
ADDITIONAL -- THERE WERE TWO
EMAILS FROM MELANIE. I
THOUGHT ONE OF THEM REFERENCED
WORKING -- HERE WE GO. THIS
IS REGARDING THE MEDICAL CARE
OBSTRUCTION TOMORROW. THAT WAS
THE OTHER AMENDMENT.
>> IS THERE ROOM TO AMEND THIS
AMENDMENT? I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES HERE.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD
DO THAT.
>> CORRECT, WE DON'T. WE HAVE
WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
EVERYONE GOT THE MINUTES. THOSE
QUESTIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN
ANSWERED. THIS IS FOR THE
COMMITTEE TO ACTUALLY PUT IT
FORWARD. I APPRECIATE YOUR
QUESTIONS. BUT WITHOUT MORE,
AND WE DON'T HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HERE,
AND THESE ARE FRIENDLY
AMENDMENTS, I THINK THAT IS AS
FAR AS WE CAN GO WITH THAT.
>> JUST READING THE AMENDMENT
ITSELF, IT DOES NOT MENTION IN
THE AMENDMENT ITSELF.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF
WE NEED TO ACTUALLY MENTION IT,
BECAUSE IT IS SELF-EXPLANATORY,
BUT I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS
REGARDING THE BILL? OKAY, I DO
NOT SEE ANY COMMENTS OR ANYONE
RAISING THEIR HAND. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES . NOW
THIS WILL MOVE ON TO THE
COUNCIL BILL 120549 AS
AMENDED. CORRECT, CLERK? ALL
THREE.
>> YES, CORRECT.
>> OKAY. THIS WOULD BE THE TIME
FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO DISCUSS
THE BASE LEGISLATION AS WELL AS
THE THREE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
ALL PAST. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, PLEASE REMIND ME TO
LET YOU CLOSE OUT. OKAY, GOOD.
IS YOUR HAND UP, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS? DO WE HAVE ANY MORE
COMMENTS FROM OUR COLLEAGUES?
OKAY. THE ONLY THING THAT I
WANT TO ADD TO THE AMENDED BILL
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
STEPPING IN AND DOING THAT. I
JUST WANT TO SAY, I AM GLAD WE
GOT THIS DONE. WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING DISCUSSIONS. AS LONG AS
I HAVE BEEN AROUND, I HAD TO
SAY THIS. ASSAULT ON
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BECOME MORE
VIOLENT. THEY HAVE BECOME MORE
COMMONPLACE THAN I HAVE SEEN.
I THINK THE WAY MR. STEWART
CHARACTERIZE IT AS WELL IS WITH
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE. THEY ARE
OUT THERE TRYING TO SAVE LIVES.
TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN, BUT
ALSO BALANCING THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY, IMPACTING MORE THAN
ANY OTHER COMMITTEE. YOU
BROUGHT UP A REALLY GOOD POINT
ABOUT THE VULNERABILITY OF OUR
FIREFIGHTERS WHEN THEY ARE OUT
THERE IN THESE CONDITIONS.
THEY ARE THERE TO DO THEIR JOB
, AND THEIR JOB IS TO SAVE
LIVES. I'M GLAD WE GOT THESE
AMENDMENTS DONE. I THINK WE
ADDRESSED SOME OF THE ISSUES.
I THINK WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF
THAT . I THINK IT IS DONE.
AFTER THIS POINT, IT WILL BE
UP TO THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
AND THE POLICE TO DECIDE
WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY
ACTUALLY ASSAULT A PUBLIC
OFFICER, WHICH WILL NOW INCLUDE
A FIREFIGHTER, BUT THAT WILL
BE UP TO THE COURT'S JOB TO DO
THAT. I ALSO SAW THAT WE HAVE
-- AS WELL. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE GO TO
-- ALL RIGHT. YES?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD . TO
CLOSE US OUT.
>> WE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE ON THE BILL. I THINK
OUR SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS AND
DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES , AND THE
CHIEF FOR JOINING US HERE FOR
THE FULL COUNCIL TODAY. WE
ALSO HEARD PEOPLE WHO HAD
CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL. WE
ARE ALL ASKING FOR THE SAME
THING. WE ARE ALL ASKING TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SECURE THE
SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF OUR
FIREFIGHTERS IN THE LINE OF
DUTY, AND FOR NOBLE AND JUST
OUTCOMES. I KNOW THAT WE ARE
ALL ALIGNED WHEN WE SAY WE DO
NOT TAKE LIGHTLY WITH THE
DECISION TO EXPAND. THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF
AND LOCAL 27 DO NOT TAKE
LIGHTLY THIS DECISION EITHER.
THIS IS JUST ONE TOOL FOR THE
USE OF THE DEPARTMENT. ONE
THAT WE WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE
TO RECUSE AT ALL. IT IS CLEAR
THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. I
HAVE SUPPORTED COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA THROUGH THE BILL TO
MITIGATE AND PREVENT
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES,
POTENTIAL -- OUTCOMES. TODAY,
I SENT A LETTER TO THE CHIEF
REQUESTING THAT HE USE THE 30
DAYS WITH THE SIGNATURE AND
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
ORDINANCE TO JOIN WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS , AND SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE IN MEANINGFUL
ENGAGEMENT TO BUILD THE
INTERNAL POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES SURROUNDING THIS
ORDINANCE. IT IS TRUE THAT WE
HAVE DATA THAT SHOWS THE USE
OF THE OBSTRUCTION AUTHORITY .
IT DOES SHOW A RACIALLY --
ARREST COUNT. I DO BELIEVE
THIS TOOL WILL BE DIFFERENT IN
THE HANDS OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
WE HAVE AMENDED THE BILL TO
TRACK THAT AND CORRECT AS
NEEDED. WHAT WE DON'T DRAFT IS
THE DISPARITY TOWARD
VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
SEEKING EMERGENCY. AND THE
DISPARITY THAT COULD COME WITH
US DOING NOTHING. WE DON'T
TRACK THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA OF
PATIENTS RECEIVING AND
REQUESTING SERVICES FROM OUR
FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTS. WE DO
KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO RELY ON
EMERGENCY SERVICES TYPICALLY
HAVE LESS ACCESS. WE KNOW
THIS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FALLS
ALONG THE LINE OF CLASS AND
RACE. WE DON'T KNOW TO WHAT
EXTENT, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT
DELAYING AND PREVENTING FIRE
DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL FROM
BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO A CALL
FOR SERVICE DELAYS LIFE-SAVING
CARE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE
PEOPLE IN OUR CITY DURING THEIR
MOST VULNERABLE MOMENTS. THANK
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I
KNOW, YOU WERE KIND OF CLOSING
US OUT THERE, BUT I THOUGHT I
SAW A HAND UP. OKAY.
EVERYBODY, WE HAD THE BASE
LEGISLATION, THE THREE
AMENDMENTS THAT PASSED.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD STEPPED
IN FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. NOW WE WILL GO TO
THE VOTE . I WILL DO IT THIS
WAY, WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
AMENDED BILL?
>> CAN THE COUNCILMEMBER JUST
MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS IT
SINCE WE DID ALL IN MINUTES.
>> IT IS NOT ON THE SCRIPT, I
APOLOGIZE.
>> I AM LOOKING FOR THAT PART.
I THOUGHT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO
THAT, BUT I WASN'T SURE. WE
AMENDED IT, DO I SAY --
>> I MOVED TO PASS THE BILL AS
AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120549 AS AMENDED.
>> SECOND.
>> SECOND, GREAT. GOT IT IN
THERE, GOT THE SECOND, NOW I
WILL SAY, WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE AMENDED BILL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE BILL PASSES
AS AMENDED. MADAME CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF? OKAY. WITH THAT, WE
WILL MOVE OVER TO THE EXCITING
COMMITTEE OF -- COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. MADAME CLERK , COULD
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM SIX INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM SIX, COUNCIL
BILL 120543. GRANTING
PARTNERS MIDSTREAM PARTNER TO
MAINTAIN THE PIPELINE SYSTEM
IN, UNDER, AND ACROSS
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA STREET
BETWEEN 13th AVENUE SOUTHWEST
AND 16th AVENUE SOUTHWEST. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT CITY
COUNCIL PASS THE COUNCIL BILL.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
COUNCIL BILL 120543 WAY TO
RENEW A PIPELINE PERMIT
ENABLING SEAPORT MIDSTREAM
PARTNERS, LLC, TO MAINTAIN AND
OPERATE A PIPELINE SYSTEM IN,
UNDER , LONG, AND ACROSS
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA STREET
BETWEEN 13th AVENUE SOUTHWEST
AND 16th AVENUE SOUTHWEST ON
HARBOR ISLAND. OUR COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THE
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANY COMMENTS FOR
MY COLLEAGUES? YOU ARE OKAY TO
GO FORWARD?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> KS IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES.
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
BE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER SEVEN?
>> AGENDA ITEM SEVEN, COUNCIL
BILL 120544, GRANTING
OPERATION PERMISSION TO
CONTINUE MAINTAINING AND
OPERATING AN EXISTING UTILITY
TUNNEL UNDER AND ACROSS THE
STREET, EAST OF THIRD AVENUE,
REPEALING SECTION 8 OF
ORDINANCE 123615 AND PROVIDED
THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PERMIT
AND CONDITIONS. THIS COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS IS THAT CITY COUNCIL
PASS THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU, ALL THAT GREAT
INFORMATION IN THE TITLE OF THE
BILL, COUNCIL BILL 120544 WILL
RENEW A PERMIT TO OPERATE
ACROSS THE SENECA STREET . THE
COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDED PASSAGE OF THIS
BILL. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. GOOD. ANY COMMENTS
FROM ANYBODY? NOT SEEING ANY,
I'M GUESSING YOU ARE OKAY,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN? ALL
RIGHT, WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE BILL PASSES,
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. MADAME
CLERK, PLEASE FIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION. MADAME
CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE READ
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
>> AGENDA ITEM EIGHT, CLICK
FILE 314517, REQUEST FOR AN
EXTENSION TO THE CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL OF A PETITION OF CITY
INVESTORS, LLC, TO VACATE A
PORTION OF THE ALLEY IN BLOCK
89, D. T DENNY'S FIFTH EDITION
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. DO TO CONSTRUCTION
DELAYS, CLERK FILE 314517 IS
NEEDED TO EXTEND THE
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF A
SUBTERRANEAN ALLEY VACATE. IN
BLOCK 89 OF DISTRICT 7, THAT
ALLIE VACATION WAS ORIGINALLY
APPROVED IN 2015 AS PART OF
CLERK FILE 313895. THE
COMMUNITY UNANIMOUSLY -- FOR
THE EXTENSION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANY COMMENTS FOR
MY COLLEAGUES? NOT SEEING ANY,
I WILL GO RIGHT TO VOTE .
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. THE
FILE IS APPROVED AS
CONDITIONED. THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT WITH THE CONDITIONS.
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE CONDITIONS ON
MY BEHALF. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE
DONE WITH OUR COMMITTEE
REPORTS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT WE HAVE NO ITEMS THAT WERE
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR . WE HAVE NO OTHER
RESOLUTIONS FOR THE
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION
TODAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER
BUSINESS FOR COUNCIL? OKAY,
NOT SEEING THAT. BEFORE WE
ADJOURN, COLLEAGUES, DOES THIS
CONCLUDE OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS
TODAY FOR THE NEXT REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING WILL BE HELD
NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 16th. THANK
YOU ALL. WE ARE ADJOURNED.