>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. TODAY IS
TUESDAY, JUNE 6. THE MEETING
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WILL COME TO ORDER. I AM DEBORA
JUAREZ. WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THEY ARE VERY HARD TO HEAR
ON THE ZOOM MEETING, JUST SO
YOU KNOW. I WILL GO ON.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO
THE PRESENTATIONS. THERE ARE NO
PRESENTATIONS TODAY. AT THIS
TIME, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE WILL
GO ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I
THINK I WILL REPEAT WHAT I SAID
EARLIER. I ALREADY FORGOT. DID
I SAY THE PEOPLE DASHWOOD THAT
I SAY?
>> PHONE.
>> I WROTE MY NOTES DOWN, I
APOLOGIZE.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S START 30
MINUTES FOR THE REMOTE SPEAKERS
FOR 1 MINUTE. THEN 30 MINUTES
FOR THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS, ONE
MINUTE. THAT WILL GIVE US AN
HOUR. WE ARE SEE WHERE WE ARE
IN A HOUR. I WILL HAND IT TO
YOU TO PLAY THE INSTRUCTIONS.
I WILL ASK THAT PEOPLE PLEASE
BE KIND, MAKE YOUR POINTS,
SPEAK TO THE AGENDA, BE
RESPECTFUL, AND LET OTHER
PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFERENT
OPINION. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET
THROUGH THIS IN A GOOD AND KIND
WAY. WITH THAT, MADAME CLERK,
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY. THE CITY OF
FLOWERS IN THE CITY OF
GOODWILL, BUILT ON THE
JUDICIAL TERRITORY OF THE --
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 IS SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC
COMMON PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS
ARE CALLED 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 I.D. AND PASCO THAT
WAS EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK
YOUR SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS.
A REMINDER, THE SPEAKER
MEETING I.D. IS DIFFERENT FROM
THE GENERAL LISTEN LINE MEETING
I.D. PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE UNMUTED AND
AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT WAS A, THE
HOST WILL LIKE YOU TO UNMUTE
YOUR MICROPHONE. BUT IS YOUR
QUEUE THAT IT IS YOUR TURN TO
SPEAK. AT THAT TIME, YOU MUST
PRESS STAR SIX. YOU WILL HEAR
A PROMPT OF, YOU ARE UNMUTED.
MAKE SURE YOUR PHONE IS
UNMUTED SO YOU WILL BE HEARD.
STATE YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING. A
CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME. AS A GENTLE
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED IN THE NEXT
SPEAKER REGISTERED WILL BE
CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
COMPLETED PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT
FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE
AND JOIN US BY FOLLOWING THE
MEETING VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL
BROADCAST, OR THROUGH THE
LISTENING LINE OPTION LISTED ON
THE AGENDA. THE COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO LIMIT
PUBLIC COMMENT IF THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED, OR IF THE PROCESS
IMPEDES HIS ABILITY TO CONDUCT
BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS
IN THE CITY. ANY OFFENSIVE
LANGUAGE THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO
THESE PROCEEDINGS OR IS NOT
FOCUSED ON AN APPROPRIATE
TOPIC AS SPECIFIED IN COUNCIL
RULES MAY LEAD TO THE SPEAKER
BEING MUTED BY THE PRESIDING
OFFICER. OUR HOPE IS TO
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS THAT
WILL ASSIST 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 OF
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. THANK
YOU, SEATTLE.
>> OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER,
KATE . KATE?
>> I SEE SHE IS THERE. THERE
YOU ARE. KATE?
>> HI. MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. I'M CALLING
TODAY TO URGE HER TO VOTE NO
ON THE COUNCIL BILL 1205 BASIC
THAT CRIMINALIZES SIMPLE DRUG
POSSESSION AND DRUG USE. THIS
TAKES US BACK TO THE FAILED --
HARMING PUBLIC HEALTH AND
TARGETING MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES. THIS IS A
PREREQUISITE TO EFFECTIVE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. IT
IS THE EVIDENCE-BASED MOST
EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENDING
HOMELESSNESS, BACKED BY
NATIONAL STUDIES. I KNOW THIS
IS AN INFORMATION TO ANY OF
YOU. INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE
FENTANYL CRISIS , THIS BILL
WILL DRAIN OUR LIMITED CITY
RESOURCES , DISPROPORTIONATELY
HARM OUR BLACK, BROWN, AND
INDIGENOUS NEIGHBORS, AND
OVERCROWD OUR ALREADY UNHEALTHY
JILL. DO NOT DEEPEN THE
DIVIDE. DO THE RIGHT THING AND
VOTE NO ON COUNCIL BILL 120586.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD
GILL. HOWARD WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY BJ. GO AHEAD, HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. HOWARD GILL,
DISTRICT 7. TODAY'S VOTE WILL
BE PORTRAYED AS SIMPLY MAKING
SEATTLE'S FLAWS CONSISTENT WITH
NEW STATE LAWS. HOWEVER, AS
NOTED IN YOUR STAFF MEMO, THE
COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE THE
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO
PRESCRIBE DIFFERENT PENALTIES
FOR WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE
HAS DECIDED, NOR CAN IT COMPEL
THE CITY ATTORNEY OR CHIEF OF
POLICE . THIS IS A SIMPLE YES
OR NO VOTE AS TO WHETHER YOU
WILL GIVE POWER TO THE PERSON
WHO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
GEORGE FLOYD WAKENING, THE
WORST PANDEMIC IN 100 YEARS,
AND AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS OF TRUMP
EIGHT, THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD
IDEA TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE HER
EMBRACE OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY. YOU'LL VOTE TO GIVE THE
PERSON POWER, THE PERSON WHO
SUGGESTED KEEPING HOME IS IN
WAREHOUSES WITH 2000 PEOPLE
AND JUST RECENTLY REMOVED
SEATTLE FROM THE COMMUNITY
COURT SYSTEM, YOU WILL VOTE
THIS PERSON TO GIVE 908 DAYS OF
POWER TO -- THOUSANDS OF
FELLOW SEATTLE --
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BJ, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CODY. GO AHEAD, BJ.
>> MY NAME IS BJ, I'M CALLING
ON COUNCIL TO REDUCE THIS WITH
CB 120586. THIS WAS NEVER
MEANT TO REDUCE DRUG USE OR
REDUCE PUBLIC HEALTH. FAMOUSLY
ADMITTED ALL THE WAY BACK IN
1994 THAT THE WAR ON DRUDGE --
DRUGS TO CRIMINALIZE
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE
BLACK COMMUNITY. THE
ADMINISTRATION WAS LYING ABOUT
DRUGS. THIS HAS BEEN
INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT TO THE
POINT OF THE U.S. HAS THE
LARGEST CRIMINAL POPULATION IN
THE WORLD, SOMETHING THEY WOULD
THOUGHT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO DO BACK ON THE WAR
ON DRUGS WAS ORIGINALLY
ADOPTED. COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD
ASSUME THIS WILL BE VIGOROUSLY
ENFORCED SINCE THE CITY
ATTORNEY HAS MADE IT
INCREDIBLY CLEAR THAT SHE WANTS
TO ENFORCE IT. COUNCIL JUST
LET SPD AND THE CITY ATTORNEY
DO THAT ONE. THIS WOULD BE
ABSURD.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CODY .
CODY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ZACHARY. GO AHEAD, CODY.
>> AT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS CODY. WE KNOW
CRIMINALIZATION AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE DOESN'T WORK AND IT
DOESN'T HELP USERS GET CLEAN.
CB 120586 FLUSHES MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS DOWN THE DRAIN WITHOUT
SAVING LIVES. I KNOW SEVERAL OF
YOU HAVE RESERVATIONS BUT WANT
TO VOTE IN FAVOR SIMPLY BECAUSE
OF CONCERNS , LIKE IN 2021.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE SENDING YOU
ANGRY MESSAGE AND ADVOCATING
FOR THIS LIVE OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE. YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE
PAYING ATTENTION, THOUGH.
DON'T TRY SOLUTIONS THAT DON'T
WORK JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE
REPUBLICAN LIKE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ZACHARY.
ZACHARY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SARAH ROBBINS. GO AHEAD,
ZACHARY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ZACHARY.
I'M CALLING TO TELL YOU TO
REJECT CB 120586 . THIS IS A
LAW DESIGNED TO CLEAN UP OUR
PUBLIC AREAS, AND PEOPLE
STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTIONS ARE
TREATED LIKE DIRT TO BE SWEPT
AWAY. THIS DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY
MONEY FOR TREATMENT . IT
DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE DECADES
OF EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH THAT
SHOW THAT THIS GREATLY
INCREASES RISK OF OVERDOSE.
NOT HAVING ANY NEW FUNDING FOR
TREATMENT. THE STREETS ARE
DIRTY BECAUSE THE CITY ALWAYS
CHOOSES PUNISHMENT AND NEGLECT
OVER TREATMENT. I HAVE WATCHED
MY NEIGHBORS AND THE POLICE
MOVE PEOPLE IN NEED OUT OF THE
WAY SO WE CAN HAVE AN EMPTY
SPOT TO PLANT FLOWERS. WHAT
DOES BOTHER ME IS ENDLESS
POLICE PRESENCE THAT SUCKS
MONEY OUT OF THE BUDGET THEY
CAN BE USED FOR EFFECTIVE
TREATMENT AND SOCIAL WORK.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SARAH. SARAH WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY VINCE. SARAH?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
SARAH ROBBINS. I'M THE SENIOR
POLICY MANAGER AND A RESIDENT
OF DISTRICT 2. I'M HERE TODAY
TO ASK FOR A NO VOTE ON CB
120586 . THIS ORDINANCE
DIRECTLY -- THE ORDINANCE
DIRECTLY TARGETS THOSE WITH
UNITS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL HAVE A
DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON
PEOPLE OF COLOR. OUR CITY IS
PROPOSING CRIMINALIZING VOTES
THAT ARE TOO FAR TO HAVE A HOME
AND THOSE THAT ARE ILL. THE
ANSWER IS NOT TO PUT PEOPLE IN
JAIL AND ARREST THEM. THE
ANSWERS TO MAKE TREATMENT
ACCESSIBLE, MEDICATED
ASSISTANT TREATMENT, AND MORE
HOUSING. LET'S HAVE A REAL
CONVERSATION ABOUT SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE PROVEN TO WORK, AND I
PUT RESOURCES TOWARD SHORT-TERM
INTERVENTION THAT WE KNOW
DOESN'T WORK. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BEEN. HE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL.
BEN, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS BEN. I'M
SPEAKING TODAY TO URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO NOT TO FALL BACK TO
A FAILED STRATEGY. STUDY AFTER
STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT
CRIMINALIZING DRUG ADDICTION
AND MENTAL ILLNESS HURTS MORE
THAN IT HELPS. IT ISN'T
OVERCOME BY FORCE. MY SISTER
DIED FROM ETHANOL OVERDOSE LAST
YEAR. WE CAN'T FALL BACK INTO
A STRATEGY THAT SIMPLY DOES
NOT WORK. THE ONLY TIME MY
SISTER SHOWED IMPROVEMENT WAS
WHEN SHE HAD THE RESOURCES,
EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT . SHE
GOT THROWN IN JAIL, ALL THAT
PROGRESS WAS ERASED. SHE WAS
IN A MUCH WORSE PLACE THAN SHE
STARTED. I LIVE IN CAPITOL
HILL. I'M SURROUNDED BY
ADDICTION. CRIMINALIZING IT
WILL NOT MAKE THINGS BETTER. I
AM RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL
STARTS COMBATING DRUG ADDICTION
MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN
DEFAULTING BACK TO THIS FILLED
APPROACH. HOW MANY MORE TIMES
THE PEOPLE WE HAD TO LOSE THIS
DRUG WAR BEFORE PEOPLE WILL
WAKE UP AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS
NOT WORKING? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MICHAEL. MICHAEL WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY -- GO AHEAD,
MICHAEL.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHAEL.
I'M IN DISTRICT 3, CALLING TO
VOTE NO ON CB 120586. THERE IS
EVIDENCE THAT THIS DOESN'T
PREVENT OVERDOSES. THIS WILL
LIKELY JUST INCREASE RACIAL
DISPARITIES AND ARRESTS, DRUG
TIME, AND OVERDOSES. THEY HAVE
LARGELY BEEN REPLACED BY
EVIDENCE-BASED AND MORE
COMPASSIONATE APPROACHES. THE
COUNSELOR NEEDS TO SHIFT THE
APPROACH WITH CITY RESOURCES,
AS OPPOSED TO PROSECUTING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
TATIANA. SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY TAYLOR RILEY. GO AHEAD,
TATIANA.
>> AT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. FOR
THE RECORD, MY NAME IS TRENT 27
-- TATIANA . A FEW YEARS AGO,
I VOLUNTEERED AS PART OF THE
OPIOID RESPONSE TASK FORCE.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
HERBOLD OR PARTICIPANTS WITH
US. I HAD TO ASK, WHAT
INNOVATIVE RESPONSES HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED FROM THE LISTED
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR TASK
FORCE ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO?
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE
HOUSING , SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER TREATMENT EXPANSION,
HARM REDUCTION SERVICES,
DECRIMINALIZATION, AND
CRIMINAL EDUCATION AS THE CORE
OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
FOR THIS CRISIS. DESPITE
MASSIVE GOVERNMENTAL SPENDING,
WHY DOES THIS SEND IKE WE ARE
-- SEEM LIKE WE ARE BARELY
ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE? THIS IS
GOING AGAINST ONE OF THE EXPERT
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WAS ASKED
FOR.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TAYLOR RILEY. TAYLOR WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY HAYDEN McCALL.
GO AHEAD, TAYLOR.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TAYLOR. I'M A
SEATTLE RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 3.
I STUDIED THE PUBLIC HEALTH
IMPACT OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM. UNEQUIVOCALLY, CB
120586 WILL BE INEFFECTIVE,
HARMFUL, AND RESULT IN MORE
OVERDOSE DEATHS AND HARM TO OUR
COMMUNITY. I AM BAFFLED THIS
IS THE SAME CITY COUNCIL THEY
JUST UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE THAT WAS A
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY. NOW, TWO
MONTHS LATER, YOU ALL ARE
CONSIDERING A RACIST POLICY
THAT WILL SEND US BACK. THIS
LEGISLATION IS DIRECTLY -- TO
THE COMMITMENTS YOU MAY JUST
LITERALLY TWO MONTHS AGO. WE
HAVE DECADES OF EVIDENCE THAT
INCARCERATION DOES NOT PREVENT
OVERDOSES, NOR GIVE PEOPLE THE
HELP THEY NEED. THIS WOULD
INCREASE RACIAL DISPARITIES ,
ARRESTS, AND DRUG OVERDOSES.
COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS, I KNOW
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT. YOU HAVE
WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO
IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH. PLEASE
DON'T TAKE US BACK TO A FAILED
WAR ON DRUGS. VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS AIDAN McCALL. AIDAN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY RANDY . GO AHEAD,
ANDY.
>> MY NAME IS ADA McCALL. I AM
ADDRESSING COUNCIL BILL
120586. I APPROVE THIS AND I
THINK THE COUNCIL SHOULD , AS
WELL. WHAT THEY REALLY NEED IS
SUPPORT TO ADJUST TO A
HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.
INCARCERATING DRUG USERS MAKES
IT HARDER FOR THEM TO MAKE
THOSE LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS
LATER ON. REJECT COUNCIL BILL
120586. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. RANDY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ALICE. GO AHEAD,
RANDY.
>> THANK YOU , CHAIR JUAREZ.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY SHELTERS.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 120586 . SIMPLY ALIGNING
CITY POLICY WITH ACTION TAKEN
BY THE LEGISLATURE NEXT MONTH.
THE CRISIS OF OVERDOSE DEATHS
IN OUR CITY IS HORRIFIC. WE
MUST USE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO
GET PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT. THIS
WILL PROVIDE ONE MORE WAY TO DO
THAT. ALSO IMPORTANT IS THE
REALITY THAT ONGOING DRUG SALES
AND DRUG USE IN PUBLIC ARE A
THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY
CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE ON OUR
PARKS, STREETS AND TRANSIT
WERE PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL SAFE.
DRUG ACTIVITY ALSO SLOWS
RECOVERY OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL SAFE COMING
TO WORK, TO SHOP, COME IN TO
HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER. PASSES OF
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP
FORWARD. PLEASE TAKE THAT STEP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALICE. SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY JODY NATHAN. GO AHEAD, CF1O
ALICE.
>> HI, THIS IS ALEX -- ALICE
LOCKHART. I WOULD LIKE TO URGE
COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON COUNCIL
BILL 120586 . I WAS TAKEN BY
PRESIDENT JUAREZ'S WORDS , BE
KIND. THIS IS SUCH AN UNKIND
BILL. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE KIND
PEOPLE. I KNOW THAT FROM MANY
REALLY NICE ACTIONS YOU HAVE
TAKEN. I TRUST YOU WON'T PASS
THIS BILL. I SHUDDER FOR WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
ARRESTED UNDER THIS BILL AND
ARE ALREADY DANGEROUSLY CROWDED
AND UNATTENDED TO PEOPLE'S
NEEDS, KING COUNTY JAIL. THE
LACK AND UNDERSTAFFING, IT
ALREADY MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE
LEFT IN THEIR SALES ALONE.
IMAGINE THAT FOR SOMEONE WHO IS
WITHDRAWING FROM FENTANYL.
PEOPLE WILL DIE. WE NEED THAT
NOT TO HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JODY NATHAN. JODY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ALEX FAY. GO
AHEAD, JODY.
>> HI, I AM JODY NATHAN FROM
DISTRICT 2. THE PUBLIC USE OF
SUBSTANCES IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUE, NOT A CRIME ISSUE. A
SO-CALLED QUICK FIX OF JAILING
PEOPLE DOESN'T FIX ANYTHING.
JAILING PEOPLE FOR DRUG USE AND
POSSESSION WHEN I LEAVE PEOPLE
TO RECOVERY. STUDIES HAVE
PROVEN THAT. INVESTING IN SUCH
THINGS THAT REDUCE POVERTY,
HOUSING, HEALTHCARE AND CASE
MANAGEMENT, THEY ARE MORE
LIKELY TO LEAD TO RECOVERY, BUT
JAIL DOES NOT. JAILING PEOPLE
FOR GENERAL USE PUTS THEM AT A
HIGH RISK OF OVERDOSE. IT IS
16th TIMES HIGHER. THINK ABOUT
THAT. THAT'S HUGE. WE ALSO
KNOW FROM HISTORY THAT PASSING
THIS LEGISLATION WILL INCREASE
RACIAL DISPARITIES AND ARRESTS,
JAIL TIME AND OVERDOSES.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALEX FAY. ALEX WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY CAMILLE. GO AHEAD,
ALEX.
>> HI, I AM A REGISTERED NURSE
ASKING THE COUNCIL TO REJECT
CB 120586 . I WORK WITH PEOPLE
WHO SERVED EVERYDAY. I HAVE
RESPONDED TO MULTIPLE OVERDOSES
IN THE PAST YEAR, MOST
RECENTLY THIS WEEK. MY BIGGEST
BARRIER TO GIVING PATIENTS THE
CARE THAT THEY NEED IS THEIR
FEAR OF GETTING IN TROUBLE
WITH THE POLICE. I WANT THEM TO
STRIVE. AND CRIMINALIZING
PEOPLE FOR THEIR DRUG USE DOES
NOT HELP THEM. WE ALREADY HAVE
AVID DENTS BASED RESEARCH.
CONNECTING PEOPLE WHO USE
DRUGS. IT IS FRUSTRATING AND
DISAPPOINTING THAT THEY ARE
CONSIDERING -- THEY HAVE SHOWN
THEY DO NOT WORK AND HAVE HARM
COMMUNITIES. INSTEAD OF
CRIMINALIZING, THEY SHOULD
KEEP FOCUSING ON
COMMUNITY-BASED AND PASSIONATE
APPROACHES TO TRULY KEEP OUR
COMMUNITY SAFE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CAMILLE. SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY DAVID HAYNES. GO
AHEAD, CAMILLE.
>> I'LL BE TURNING MY TIME
OVER TO OUR VENDOR.
>> I'M AN ACTIVIST, WRITER,
AND RECOVERS, 62 DAYS CLEAN.
WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT
MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THE CRACK
EPIDEMIC IN THE 90s. EVERY
SINGLE TIME, 25 TO 50% OF
THESE PEOPLE WERE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN. IT ALSO
HELPS TO BLOCK -- EVERYONE UP
ON THIRD AVENUE RIGHT NOW IS
GIVING PEOPLE A LONGER ARREST
RECORD, AND IT IS EXTREMELY
TRAUMATIC. IF YOU WANT TO
PASS THIS COMING ABSOLUTELY HAD
TO. A WARNING THAT MOST LIKELY
--
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DAVID HAYNES. DAVID WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JOEY SMITH. GO
AHEAD, DAVID.
>> THANK YOU. I ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT I LIVE -- WITNESS TO THE
LOCAL POPULATION UNABLE TO GET
THROUGH PIONEER SQUARE PART
WITHOUT DRUG PUSHERS AND
JUNKY THIEVES BOTHERING THEM,
RUINING EVERY NIGHT, VIOLATING
THE TRADES FOR PEACE WHY THEY
REFUSE TO HELP SOLVE THE DRUG
CRIMES WE NEED TO TRESPASS
EVERY ADDICT TO JAIL OR
TREATMENT AFTER THEY ARE
QUESTIONS UPON WHERE THEY GOT
THE DRUGS. WE NEED AN
INVESTIGATION INTO CITY COUNCIL
AS A WAY FROM SOLVING THE
HOMELESS CRISIS FOR INNOCENT
HOMELESS WHO HAVE BEEN
DISCRIMINATED AND FORSAKEN DO
TO A PRIORITY FOR REPEAT
OFFENDERS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JOEY SMITH. THOSE WILL BE
OUR LAST TWO SPEAKERS FOR THIS
30 MINUTE SEGMENT. GO AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JOEY CLARK.
I AM SPECIFICALLY ASKING MY
COUNCILMEMBER TO VOTE NO ON
COUNCIL BILL 120586.
INCARCERATION IS NOT THE WAY TO
HELP PEOPLE WITH DRUG
ADDICTION. THIS IS PART OF A
NATIONAL RIGHT-WING FEAR
CAMPAIGN . PEOPLE NEED HOUSING
FOR THE HOMELESS . WE DO NOT
NEED MORE PEOPLE IN JAIL. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON
IS LITERALLY A DRUG DEALER.
SHE SELLS ALCOHOL. THAT IS A
DRUG.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ, I BELIEVE I
SHORTED US 10 MINUTES. WE WILL
HAVE MORE SPEAKERS BESIDE
JULIE.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY
SOMETHING, BUT I THOUGHT I WAS
WRONG.
>> NOPE, THAT WAS ME. JULIA'S
NEXT. THANK YOU, AMELIA FOR
SETTING ME STRAIGHT. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX.
I'M CALLING IN OPPOSITION TO
COUNCIL BILL 120586 . WHILE I
AGREE WITH THE POINTS THAT HAVE
BEEN MADE, I LIKE TO FOCUS ON
HOW EXTENSIVE THIS WILL BE. IT
HAS COST APPROXIMATELY -- TO
PUT PEOPLE INTO THE KING COUNTY
JAIL. THIS IS ESTIMATED TO PUT
AS MANY AS 800 ADDITIONAL
PEOPLE INTO JAIL. THE AVERAGE
STAY IS 42 DAYS, BUT COULD BE
LONGER AS TOXICOLOGY REPORTS
ARE WAITED TO SEE IF THESE ARE
ACTUALLY UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
THAT WILL BLOW A BIG HOLE IN
THE CITY BUDGET. I HAVE NO
CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL RESPECT
THE -- PLEASE VOTE NO . THANK
YOU. BYE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KAILEE. KYLIE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY BRADLEY. GO AHEAD,
KAILEE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE --
ASSOCIATION. STRONG SUPPORT
FOR 120586. THE STATE
LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW
MAKING PUBLIC USE A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR. WHILE SOME MAY
NOT AGREE, I HOPE MOST CAN
AGREE THIS MEANS NOTHING. THE
DEBILITATING THE
LIFE-THREATENING ADDICTION AND
MEMBERS OF PUBLIC. AT CRITICAL
TIMES, THE USE OF DANGEROUS
DRUGS IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES IS
A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO PEOPLE
FEELING UNSAFE DOWNTOWN. IN
FACT, VOTERS AGREED WITH THE
STATEMENT . PEOPLE USING
ILLEGAL DRUGS IS CONTRIBUTING
TO STREET CRIMES AND IS MAKING
IT MUCH HARDER FOR DOWNTOWN TO
RECOVER. I SENT A LETTER. WE
MOST FOCUSED -- URGE YOU TO
PASS THIS LEGISLATION TODAY
>> THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST
WANT TO CAUTION PEOPLE AGAIN.
PLEASE ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE AN
OPINION THAT IS POSSIBLY
DIFFERENT THAN YOURS. GIVE
PEOPLE THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
THIS IS A SAFE PLACE. IT IS
THE PUBLIC'S HOUSE, IF YOU
WILL. EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL
FREE TO STATE WHAT THEIR
OPINION IS. THIS IS A VERY
OBVIOUSLY EMOTIONAL TOPIC THAT
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING. WE
APPRECIATE PUBLIC COMMENT. I
WILL ASK AGAIN THAT WE MOVE
FORWARD IN A GOOD WAY, AND THAT
WE RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S
OPINIONS. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE
TO INTERRUPT AGAIN AND REMIND
PEOPLE. METAL QUICK, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. BRADLEY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY LINNEA. GO AHEAD,
BRADLEY.
>> HI. MY NAME IS BRADLEY.
I'M IN DISTRICT 4. I'M ASKING
YOU TO OBJECT TO THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION. EXPANDING THE
CITIES CRIMINAL CODE . WE
HAVE DECADES OF EVIDENCE THAT
INCARCERATION DOES NOT PREVENT
OVERDOSES, NOR GIVE PEOPLE THE
HELP THEY NEED. THIS WOULD
LIKELY INCREASE OVERDOSES,
DEATHS, AND RACIAL
DISPARITIES. THIS WILL BRING
US BACK . WAR ON DRUG POLICIES
THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE AND
MORE COMPASSIONATE APPROACHES.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
THAT'S ALL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LINNEA. SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY RACHEL. GO AHEAD, LINNEA.
>> HELLO. I AM A RESIDENT OF
CAPITOL HILL. I URGE YOU TO
VOTE NO ON COUNCIL BILL 120586.
THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE USING
DRUGS IN PUBLIC ONLY BY
CRIMINALIZATION IS A DREAM
THAT I JUST DON'T BUY. THE
PEOPLE IN REAL DANGER OF THE
BLACK, BROWN, AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY
THIS BILL. I CARE ABOUT MY
NEIGHBORS MORE THAN I CARE
ABOUT ME FRACTURES. I URGE YOU
TO VOTE NO AND HAVE THE
EVIDENCE BASED ALTERNATIVE TO
ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL CRISIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RACHEL. SHE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY DREW BATCHELOR. GO
AHEAD, RACHEL. RACHEL?
>> HI. MY NAME IS RACHEL. I'M
HERE TO OPPOSE THE BILL
120586. HARM REDUCTION'S ARE
ACCESS POINTS FOR TREATMENT.
AS A SOCIAL WORKER, SPECIALIST
WHO WORKS THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC ON THE FRONT LINES,
AND I EXPERIENCED BURNOUT. IT
IS ACTUALLY A LIE THAT DRILL
WILL INCREASE TREATMENT. MANY
TIMES, I HAVE CLIENTS RELEASED
FROM JAIL WHO WERE SCHEDULED TO
GO TO TREATMENT. I WOULD PLAY
WITH THE PEOPLE TO NOT RELEASE
THEM DURING THE WEEKEND. I
WILL CALL ON FRIDAY AND SAY,
PLEASE HOLD MY CLIENT UNTIL
MONDAY MORNING. THEY WOULD
RELEASE THEM DURING THE
WEEKEND. THAT CLIENT WOULD END
UP SUFFERING OVERDOSE OR
DEATH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DREW BATCHELOR. HE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MIRIAM HALE.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6.
DELIBERATELY FUELING THE OPIOID
CRISIS, WHICH IS CAUSED
THOUSANDS OF DEATHS AND RUIN
THOUSANDS OF LIVES. THEY
CONTRIBUTE TO THE OPIOID CRISIS
IN SAN FRANCISCO. NO JAIL TIME.
THIS IS BOOSTING BUSINESS FOR
HIS WEALTHY REAL ESTATE HOLDING
DONORS WHO WERE JUST -- THEY
WERE JUST HEARD FROM A FEW
MOMENTS AGO. A DRUG THAT
CAUSES THOUSANDS OF DEATHS
ANNUALLY IS SOLD AND CONSUMED.
YET, THEY ARE CONSIDERING JAIL
FOR THIS ILLEGAL USE OF PUBLIC
SPACE. THIS DELIBERATELY
TARGETS THE POOR AND THE
MARGINALIZED. LIKE THE WAR ON
DRUGS, THIS WILL MAKE
EVERYTHING WORSE. VOTE NO ON
120586. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
MIRIAM. SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY JESSICA. GO AHEAD, MIRIAM.
>> HELLO. I AM A VOTER IN
SEATTLE DISTRICT 3 SPEAKING ON
THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
ORDINANCE. I AM STRONGLY
OPPOSING THIS ORDINANCE. IT
WILL EXPAND THEIR POWERS IN A
WAY THAT WILL BE COSTLY FOR THE
CITY AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR
THE AIM OF IMPROVING PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND REDUCING
DEATHS FROM DRUG OVERDOSES. WE
HAVE DECADES OF EVIDENCE THAT
CRIMINALIZATION IS WORSE IN
MEANS OF REDUCING THE DRUG USE
AND PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM
ADDICTION. THEY ARE IN NEED OF
REAL HELP , A PROGRAM THAT
ACTUALLY WORKS TO IMPROVE
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN OUR CITY.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS NOT
LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO ASSUME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARRESTING
AND PROSECUTING PEOPLE FOR DRUG
POSSESSION AND DRUG USE.
PASSING THIS ORDINANCE WOULD
ONLY LEAD TO A WASTE OF LIMITED
CITY RESOURCES THAT CAN BE MUCH
BETTER SPENT EXPANDING PUBLIC
HOUSING AND SOCIAL OUTREACH
PROGRAMS TO THE HOMELESS AND
THE VULNERABLE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KATIE
GENTRY. GO AHEAD, JESS.
>> HI. I AM A CANCER PAIN --
CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR. I URGE YOU
TO VOTE NO ON COUNCIL BILL
120586. IT IS 2023, WHY
SEATTLE LOOKING BACKWARDS
TOWARD THE RACIST DRUG POLICIES
OF THE 1980s? DECADESOF
RESEARCH SO THAT CRIMINALIZING
JUDGE -- DRUGS IS HARMFUL. IF
ANYTHING, THEY MAKE IT WORSE.
ACCORDING TO THE STUDY, PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED WERE
OVER 100 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO
DIE FROM DRUG OVERDOSE. THIS IS
AN ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE FROM
ADDICTION, AVOID OVERDOSE OR
AVOID -- IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY
OF LIFE. THIS IS DISABLING
PEOPLE AND EXPANDING THE
SYSTEM WHICH DISTAL PORTION OF
THE HARMS BLACK, BROWN,
INDIGENOUS, AND POOR PEOPLE.
THIS IS COSTLY CITY UPWARDS OF
$1 MILLION A YEAR. THAT IS
REAL MONEY THAT WE COULD BE
SPENDING ON REAL SOLUTIONS THAT
HELP PEOPLE STABILIZE AND
RECOVERY LIKE HEALTHCARE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. VOTE NO ON
THIS RACIST LAW AND FUND REAL
PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS IN THIS
CITY BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KATIE GENTRY. KATIE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JOSIE TRACY. GO
AHEAD, KATIE.
>> HI, I AM KATIE. CITY
COUNCIL , I AM ASKING YOU TO
REJECT A BILL 125 86. I WORK
WITH PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS .
MANY OF MY CLIENTS HAVE DIED
AFTER BEING INCARCERATED AND
RELEASED FROM JAIL WITH NO
SUPPORT FROM THEIR DRUG USE.
IF YOU DO NOT REJECT THIS, YOU
ARE KILLING MY CLIENT. ONE
EXAMPLE IS KATHY, WHO HAD A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND THERE
WAS AN EIGHT HOUR WAIT. THEY
BOTH ARE IN JAIL BECAUSE TAKING
HER DIRECTED TO THE PSYCH
FACILITY WILL RESULT IN
IMMEDIATE RELEASE. THIS IS NOT
OKAY. KATHY DID NOT BELONG IN
JAIL. SHE NEEDED PSYCH
TREATMENT AND HOUSING. SHE WAS
RELEASED QUICKLY WITHOUT
NOTIFICATION TO CASEWORKERS.
SHE USED AN OVERDOSE OUTSIDE
OF A CHURCH. SHE WOULD NOT
HAVE DIED IF WE HAD WIDESPREAD
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES, LOCAL PHARMACIES FOR
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, ACCESS
TO VOLUNTARY INPATIENT
TREATMENT, INCREASED HARM
REDUCTION MANAGEMENT, AND
SUPPLY OF TESTS AND -- IF YOU
DO NOT OBJECT, YOU ARE KILLING
--
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
FOR THIS GROUP WILL BE JOSIE
TRACY. GO AHEAD, JOSIE. JOSIE?
I SEE HER ON THERE. STAR SIX,
JOSIE.
>> JOSIE? SHE IS ON THE LINE,
OBVIOUSLY, BUT SHE IS NOT
PRESSING STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
IF SHE STAYS ON THE LINE, LET'S
JUST COME BACK TO HER.
>> OKAY.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD WITH 30
MINUTES FOR THE PEOPLE IN
CHAMBERS. I WILL GIVE ONE MORE
WARNING, IF PEOPLE CANNOT
BEHAVE, THEN I WILL CALL THE
RESOURCE -- RECESS AND ASKED
MY COLLEAGUES TO LEAVE FOR 10
MINUTES. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE
ON.
>> WE WILL BEGIN WITH IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE ARE TWO
MICROPHONES WHERE YOU MAY
ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. I WILL
CALL TWO NAMES AT A TIME TO
KIND OF SPEED THINGS UP. THE
FIRST TWO PEOPLE WILL BE ANITA
CAMPBELL WALL AND EILEEN .
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE
CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE, AS
WELL.
>> PART OF ME. MY NAME IS
EILEEN McCANN. I'M ASKING YOU
TO VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL.
EVERYONE HAS SAYS WHAT THE
REASONS ARE. THE TRUTH IS, WE
ALL KNOW, INCLUDING YOU, THAT
EVERY STUDY THAT HAS EVER BEEN
DONE, EVERY PROPOSAL HAS TOLD
US THAT THIS IS NOT A DETERRENT
FOR DRUG USE. THIS IS NOT THE
RIGHT THING TO DO. YOU WANT TO
VOTE FOR SOMETHING YOU FEEL IS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I AM
ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR
CONSCIOUS. THIS WILL INCREASE
PROFILING, HOMELESSNESS,
OVERCROWDING OF THE JAILS. IT
IS USING PULLEYS TO GIVE
SOMETHING TO EIGHT -- A
PARKING TICKET, INSTEAD OF
DEALING WITH CRIME. MURDER,
THEFT, AND MAYHEM. WE DO NOT TO
WASTE RESOURCES LIKE THIS. THIS
IS NOT A GOOD THING. I AM
LOOKING AT WHATEVER MOTIVATION
IT CAN BE. IT CAN ONLY BE
BUSINESS INTEREST AND YOU WANT
TO LOOK LIKE YOU'VE DONE
SOMETHING, OR OUR CITY
ATTORNEY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANITA. I'M
THE DIRECTOR OF THE KING COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC DEFENSE.
I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THE
PASSAGE OF CB 120586.
PROSECUTION IS AN EFFECTIVE AT
REDUCING DRUG USE AND CAUSE A
SEVERE HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IN PARTICULAR, TO PEOPLE OF
COLOR. THE STATE LEGISLATURE
IDENTIFIED DECADES OF -- WITH
THE WAR ON DRUGS. SEATTLE NEED
NOT TO REPEAT THAT MISTAKE.
SEATTLE HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THE
FAILURE OF THE LAW WAR ON
DRUGS. IN RECOGNITION THAT
THESE APPROACHES ARE MUCH MORE
EFFECTIVE. TO THE EXTENT THAT
THIS LAW WILL BE ENFORCED AT
ALL, THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
THAT IS IN THE BEST POSITION TO
ENFORCE THE LAW. THEY HAVE
THEIR OWN FILING STANDARDS.
THEY HAVE BEEN DIVERTING THOSE
CASES FOR YEARS. THE CITY'S
OFFICE ON THE OTHER HAND HAS NO
EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROGRAMS
AND HAS ONLY DIVERTED
APPROXIMATELY 60 CASES IN ALL
OF 2022. IN SHORT, THERE ARE
NO RESOURCES IN THE MUNICIPAL
COURSE TO HANDLE THIS. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE
PROSECUTION IS INEFFECTIVE. --
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MALIKA
, THEN FOLLOWED BY DANTE.
AGAIN, THERE ARE TWO PUBLIC
COMMENT PODIUMS.
>> I AM THE DIRECTOR OF LOCAL
WASHINGTON-BASED IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE. WE WORK WITH PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY MASS
INCARCERATION, HIV, AND
HOMELESSNESS. YOU BOTH
PARTICIPATED IN OUR OVERDOSE
WORKGROUP TWO YEARS AGO. THIS
BILL, CB 120586 , RECOGNIZING
THAT EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES
NEED TO BE FUNDED AND SKILLED,
INCLUDING LEAD , BARRIER
HOUSING, HOUSING FIRST, HARM
REDUCTION RELATED
INTERVENTIONS. WE KNOW THAT
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IS
NOT EFFECTIVE WITH HELPING
PEOPLE NAVIGATE THEIR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. IT
DOES NOT PREVENT OVERDOSE, IT
INCREASES IT . WASHINGTON STATE
IS FOURTH IN THE NATION WITH
HAVING THE MOST DEADLY PRESENCE
IN JAILS. THIS IS NOT GOING TO
HELP KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE. IT WILL
NOT HELP THEM ACCESS TREATMENT,
THIS WILL KILL PEOPLE. THAT IS
NEVER A GOOD POLICY.
>> CAN WE REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE
HAVE A 10 SECOND REMINDER . I
KNOW WE HATE CUTTING PEOPLE
OFF. FOR THE COLLARS ON THE
LINE, LISTEN FOR THE TIME. THE
CLOCK IS IN FRONT OF YOU, SO
PLEASE BE MINDFUL,, BECAUSE
THEN HE GETS CUT OFF. THANK
YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DANTE.
>> THE NEXT AFTER THAT IS TONY.
>> CAN I GO? HI, EVERYONE.
I'M THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. I
HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE WAR ON DRUGS
TACTICS THAT IS COMING BEFORE
THE COURT TODAY. BEFORE YOU
TODAY. I AM URGING YOU ALL TO
VOTE NO. YOU HAVE BLM FLAGS
IN YOUR OFFICES, YOU COME TO
DIFFERENT PARADES. WE KNOW
THAT VOTING YES ON THIS WOULD
JUST IMPACT BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE MOST OF ALL. IT IS
EXTREMELY HURTFUL THAT WE HAVE
TO GO THROUGH THIS. YOU HAVE
HAD A QUARTER OF A CENTURY TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO IN THIS
SPACE. THIS IS JUST NAVIGATING
US BACK. WE HAVE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ON COUNCIL AND WE HAVE
COMMUNITY OUT HERE THAT NEED TO
RECOVER. RECOVERY DOES NOT MEAN
INCARCERATION. TREATMENT AND
ACCESS TO CARE. I THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. JESUS
HELP US. THANK YOU.
>> TONY, AND AFTER TONY WILL BE
REVEREND WALDEN.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M
A THIRD-GENERATION SEATTLE
RESIDENT. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN
DISTRICT 3. I'M ALSO A PERSON
IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY. I
CURRENTLY IN A CERTIFIED PEER
COUNCIL. I PRIMARILY WORK WITH
PEOPLE WHO UTILIZE HARM
REDUCTION SERVICES. THOSE ARE
THE INDIVIDUALS THAT MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT
WHO UTILIZE LOW BARRIER
SERVICES. THOSE COMMUNITIES
ARE SCARED IN REGARDS TO WHAT
IS GOING TO HAPPEN. A LOT OF
THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE NO
IDEA WHAT HAMMER IS ABOUT TO
FALL ON THEM. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THE INVESTMENTS THAT
WERE MADE IN COMMUNITIES IN
REGARDS TO SOME OF THESE
PROGRAMS. THE REAL SOLUTION IS
SCALING UP , NOT UTILIZING A
PUNITIVE APPROACH BASED ON
POWER. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> EFFORT --
>> THANK YOU. I AM IN THE
MINORITY, I AM ASKING YOU TO
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AT
THE ORDINANCE. I WILL SPEND MY
TIME TALKING ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAR ON
DRUGS , PEOPLE WERE CHARGED
WITH A FELONY. WE WERE CHARGED
WITH A FELONY, THIS TIME, THE
LEGISLATION THAT THE STATE HAS
PROPOSED, IT IS NOT ABOUT A
FELONY. IT IS LIKE GROSS
MISDEMEANORS. THAT IS A
DIFFERENCE. I DO AGREE, WE DO
NEED A LOT MORE RESOURCES. I
ALSO WANT TO KNOW THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAR ON
DRUGS, IT WAS ALL FELONIES.
THOSE PEOPLE WERE
DISENFRANCHISED. WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A FELONY AND
MISDEMEANOR . AND GROSS
MISDEMEANORS. I WANTED TO
SPEND MY TIME TALKING ABOUT
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND WALDEN.
>> JESUS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
COLIN.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. IN MY OWN?
IT'S BEEN A WHILE. YOU CAN
CALL ME JOSH . I AM THE SON OF
GOD. I'M ALSO HERE TO DELIVER
QUITE AN URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL
OF YOU. THE FATHER GOD IS VERY
DISAPPOINTED IN THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, WHICH WOULD
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT POOR
PEOPLE IN COLOR OF PEOPLE --
HE IS DISGUSTED WITH THE PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO -- QUOTE, I CAN'T
BELIEVE THEY WANT TO DO THIS,
ESPECIALLY SARAH. I THOUGHT WE
HAD THIS WORKED OUT. WHERE'S
THE COMPASSION? LOOK , I
FORGIVE YOU. I'M NOT LIKE MY
DAD, HE IS KIND OF A HOTHEAD.
I DIDN'T COME TO FLIP ANY
TABLES TODAY. THIS IS KIND OF
HEAVY. I CAN'T PROMISE YOU
THAT I WON'T. I WOULD SAY,
DON'T PASS THIS LEGISLATION IF
YOU BELIEVE IN HIM, H. I WILL
SEE ALL OF YOU AND MY TRUE
FOLLOWERS AT THE PRIDE PARADE.
>> AFTER COLIN WILL BE EMILY
GREENBERG.
>> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AS
YOU DEBATE TODAY WHETHER TO
RE-CRIMINALIZE POVERTY, DECLARE
WAR ON THOSE DEALING WITH THE
DISORDER, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU A
SIMPLE QUESTION. ALL THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LIVING ON
THE STREETS, ALL OF THOSE
STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION, DO
YOU THINK THEY WANT TO BE WHERE
THEY ARE? PEOPLE DON'T JUST USE
DRUGS . THEY USE IT BECAUSE IT
HELPS THEM STAY UP AT NIGHT SO
THEY DON'T GET ROBBED, OR
WORSE. PEOPLE TURN TO DRUGS
LIKE HEROIN AND FENTANYL
BECAUSE THEY OFFER AN ESCAPE
FROM A REALITY THAT IS
UNBEARABLE. IF YOU REALLY WANT
TO TACKLE THE DRUG EPIDEMIC,
WHY NOT START BY TACKLING THE
CAUSES AND CONDITIONS THAT
EXASPERATED? HOMELESSNESS,
POVERTY, OUT-OF-CONTROL RATE
HIKES. I WORKED DIRECTLY WITH
THOSE 120586, WHO WOULD WOULD
AFFECT MOST. I CAN SAY WITH
ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT IF YOU
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, MANY
PEOPLE WILL DIE. STOP
CRIMINALIZING YOUR
CONSTITUENTS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW
THINGS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT
OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN ON. I'M
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS. THIS
DOESN'T EFFECTIVELY DECREASE
DRUG USE. THESE POLICIES
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT
BLACK, BROWN, AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE. AS WELL AS LOW INCOME
AND THE HELPLESSNESS . THESE
POLICIES HAVE BEEN RESEARCHED.
OUR COUNTRY IS PROOF THAT THIS
IS INEFFECTIVE. IT IS A
SHORT-TERM SOLUTION THAT
CYCLES PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF
JAIL, RATHER THAN MAKING ANY
CHANGES IN SOCIETY. WHEN HE
SUSTAINABLE, LASTING CHANGES.
EVERYONE IN THE SITUATION IS
STRUGGLING. DO WE AS A SOCIETY
CHOOSE TO TREAT THEM AS
CRIMINALS , OR AS PEOPLE WITH
ADDICTIONS? I ASK YOU TO VOTE
NO AND SEEK MORE HUMANE,
SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS THAT AREN'T
CYCLING PEOPLE THROUGH A BROKEN
SYSTEM TO PROFIT THE WEALTHY
AND AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SICK.
I DON'T HAVE MANY CONVICTIONS,
BUT THIS BEING WRONG IS ONE OF
THEM.
>> THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS WILL
BE ADAM, FOLLOWED BY ALLISON.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY, COOL. I'M IN DISTRICT
6. I'M SURE OTHERS HAVE
SPOKEN TO YOU ABOUT THE NATURE
OF ADDICTION. THE MULTITUDE OF
REASONS WHY SOMEONE RESORTS TO
DRUG USE ONLY REHASHES THE
FAILED DRUG WAR. I'M HERE
BECAUSE ALL THE REASONS WHY
SOMEONE BECOMES ADDICTED TO
DRUGS ARE THE SAME REASONS WHY
I BECAME ADDICTED TO CUTTING
MY ARMS 10 YEARS AGO AND STILL
STRUGGLE WITH THOSE THOUGHTS
EVERY DAY. I DO NOT SEE ANYONE
OF YOU PROPOSING THAT WE
CRIMINALIZE RAZOR BATES RAZOR
BLADES TO STOP THE EPIDEMIC OF
SELF HARMING. YOU SHOULD KNOW
THAT CUTTING CAN ALSO BECOME
LIFE-THREATENING, AS WELL. I
ONCE HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL
FOR CUTTING TOO DEEP. THERE
MANY WAYS, OFTEN UNHEALTHY,
THAT WE ALL COPE WITH AND USE
TO DEAL WITH OUR PAIN. NONE OF
THOSE SHOULD BE CRIMINALIZED.
WE NEED TREATMENT, APATHY, AND
LOVE, NOT MORE PATROLS AND
PRISONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS. OUR
MISSION IS TO ORGANIZE OUR
COMMUNITY TO CHALLENGE SYSTEMIC
CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS, AND TO
ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING JUSTICE.
THIS BILL BEFORE YOU IS A
SYSTEMIC CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS.
THIS IS SQUARELY AIMED AT
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, AND ALMOST NO ONE
ELSE. THIS BILL IS SQUARELY
AIMED AT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WITH A DISEASE.
THE DISEASE OF SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER. THIS BILL WOULD DO
NOTHING TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS
OF PEOPLE FOR HOUSING,
TREATMENT, AND CARE.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ, I AM VOTE
YOU -- INVITE YOU TO VOTE NO.
WITH YOUR PERSONAL DEMONSTRATE
A COMMITMENT TO RESPONDING TO
THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS AND
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. OTHER
SOCIAL ILLS IN POSITIVE WAYS.
>> THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, RYE
ARMSTRONG AND RACHEL SCOTT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU
HEAR ME OKAY? I'M A RESIDENT
OF DISTRICT 3 AND A
COMMISSIONER ON THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION BOARD FOR THE CITY.
THIS WILL IMPACT THE COMMUNITY
UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU HAVE YOU
HAVE KNOWN. I HAVE FAMILY
MEMBERS THAT ARE IN
WITHDRAWALS. THIS WILL HURT
EVERYONE ATTACHED TO IT. I
BELIEVE THIS IS COWARDICE. I
THINK DEALING WITH ADDICTION IS
SOMETHING THAT HOLDS A LOT OF
SHAME. I THINK YOU CANNOT JUST
SIMPLY SWEET PEOPLE WHO YOU
DEEM ARE PROBLEMS AWAY WITH
POLICE AND MONEY. WE NEED TO
TREAT PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF
A SYSTEM THAT IS MARGINALIZING
COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF A LACK
OF ACCESS TO CHEMICAL
DEPENDENCIES. OUR CRIMINAL LAB
IS MORE THAN A YEAR BEHIND ON
TESTING SIMPLE DUIs. YET, YOU
WANT TO THROW PEOPLE IN JAIL.
LET'S REMEMBER OUR APATHY .
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING RACHEL SCOTT WILL
BE TERESA.
>> HI. I HOLD A MASTERS DEGREE
IN SOCIAL WORK AND PUBLIC
HEALTH. AND I AM AN
HOMELESSNESS COORDINATOR. ALSO
D 6 RESIDENT. IN FACT, PUBLIC
HEALTH RESEARCH SHOWS THAT
OVERDOSE IS THE LEADING CAUSE
OF DEATH AMONG PEOPLE RECENTLY
RELEASED FROM PRISON. MULTIPLE
CLIENTS OVERDOSE AFTER THEIR
RELEASE. HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW,
JAIL IS A DEEPLY TRAUMATIC
PLACE. GETTING ACCESS TO
MEDICATION IS ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE. PEOPLE ARE NOT
GIVING ASSESSMENTS, LET ALONE
A SAFE AND STABLE LIVING
ENVIRONMENT. WE ALL WANT TO
REDUCE THE DEVASTATING OUTCOMES
OF THE FENTANYL CRISIS. I URGE
YOU TO LISTEN TO EXPERTS ON
THIS MATTER, INCLUDING THE
DETAILED LETTER THAT WILL BE
PROVIDED TO EACH OF YOU TODAY.
PROGRAMS ALREADY EXIST TO
CONNECT PEOPLE TO RESOURCES,
REDUCE COMMUNITY DISRUPTIONS.
WE NEED PERMANENT HOUSING
TREATMENT OPTIONS AND MEDICAL
OUTREACH. WE NEED
EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS.
>> FOLLOWING TERESA WILL BE
AMBER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TERESA. I'M
IN DISTRICT ONE. I URGE YOU TO
REJECT CB 120586 . RIGHT NOW,
EVERYWHERE IN OUR NATION,
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS
DISGUISED AS BENEFICIAL ARE
BEING PUSHED THROUGH LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS. THESE PROPOSALS
ARE INHUMANE AND END UP
PUTTING PEOPLE IN VERY
DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, CAUSING
UNNECESSARY SUFFERING. THIS IS
PART OF A TREND OF
MISREPRESENTING THE TRUTH FOR
PERSONAL INTEREST. IF PASSED,
THIS WILL PLUNGE THOSE ALREADY
SUFFERING SO MUCH INTO EVEN
GREATER DISTRESS AND EVEN
GREATER INJURY. THERE IS NO
POSITIVE RESULT THAT CAN COME
FROM THIS. MOTIVATION FOR THIS
AND THE INTEGRITY OF ANYONE WHO
SUPPORTS THIS SHOULD BE
SERIOUSLY QUESTIONED,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO PROPOSED
IT. I URGE YOU TO REJECT
120586. I URGE EVERYONE , ALL
OF YOU, TO PERSONALLY
INVESTIGATE WITH THE REAL
RESULTS OF THIS WILL BE.
>> FOLLOWING AMBER WILL BE
JADE. SMACK MY NAME IS AMBER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
, I'M ALSO A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER IN SEATTLE, A MOTHER OF
YOUNG CHILDREN, AND A PUBLIC
TRANSIT WRITER. I WOULD LIKE
TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT
THE CITY ORDINANCE AND OUR
DESIRE TO REIGNITE THE WAR ON
DRUGS. I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT
THIS IS COMING FROM A PLACE OF
CONCERN, THIS IS SOMETHING WE
ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT. I
ALSO WANT TO SAY THE SAME THING
UNTIL MY SIX EUROS AND
10-YEAR-OLD WHO ARE DOWNTOWN
SHOPPING, DINING . PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE USING DRUGS
ARE OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE NEED
TO TREAT THEM WITH KINDNESS AND
EMPATHY. I PROMISE YOU,
PUNISHING PEOPLE AND MAKING
THEM FEARFUL WILL NOT SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM. IF THE APPROACH
WORKED, THE LAST 50 YEARS OF
THE DRUG WAR WOULD HAVE SHOWN
US THAT. WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
PUNISHMENT ONLY DRIVES PEOPLE
UNDERGROUND. I SEE EVERY DAY
HOW EMPATHY AND CARE CHANGES
PEOPLE'S LIVES. PEOPLE NEED
RESOURCES.
>> FOLLOWING JADE WILL BE
GEORGE.
>> MY NAME IS JADE. I AM A KING
COUNTY RESIDENT, FORMER SEATTLE
DISTRICT 4 RESIDENT AND AN
ADVOCATE WORKING WITH SOME OF
THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS IN
SEATTLE. WHILE WORKING WITH
THEM, I HAD THE HONOR OF
ASSISTING OVER THE YEARS.
THOSE WHO WILL BE MOST
DRASTICALLY IMPACTED. IT IS
NOT HYPERBOLIC LANGUAGE TO SAY
THAT THIS ORDINANCE, IF PASSED,
WILL KILL PEOPLE AND DEEPLY
EXASPERATE THE MANY BARRIERS
AND SYSTEMIC ISSUES OUR
COMMUNITIES FACE. I URGE YOU
ALL TO OPPOSE 120586 . CONSIDER
THE MANY FLAWS IT HAS WITHIN IT
, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IT
FAILS TO ADDRESS THE
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS MISGUIDED
AND ARE OVERCONFIDENT IN THEIR
ABILITY TO HANDLE THE NEW CASES
THAT THIS MEASURE WILL IGNITE,
CONSIDERING THE WELL-KNOWN
FACT THAT THEY HAVE NEVER
HANDLED THESE BEFORE. THANK
YOU. THIS IS MY FIRST PUBLIC
COMMENT. THANKS.
>> FOLLOWING GEORGE WILL BE
MARY PATTERSON.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
MAY DISTRICT 4 RESIDENT. I'M
HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THE BIPARTISAN DRUG LAW. I
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A PERSONAL
STORY. FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, I
HAVE BEEN LUCKY. LAST YEAR, I
WAS HOMELESS FOR A BRIEF PERIOD
OF TIME. NEARLY EVERY PERSON I
ENCOUNTERED WHILE LIVING ON THE
STREET WAS STRUGGLING WITH A
DRUG ADDITION OR MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUE. I WAS NO EXCEPTION.
THE GREATER SEATTLE AREA
ENCOUNTERS FOUR OVERDOSE DEATH
PER DAY IS ON ON TRACK . THE
FALSE IDEA THE DRUG ADDICTION
AND HOMELESSNESS IS SOMEHOW
INVOLUNTARY, AND THAT JAIL IS
CRUEL AND INHUMANE. I HAVE
BEEN TO JAIL. FOR THOSE THAT
REFUSE TREATMENT, IT IS
ACTUALLY COMPASSIONATE. I CAN'T
SAY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
WERE CALLED SPIRITUALLY AWAKE
AND BEHIND BARS. FREELY GIVING
BACK TO WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> AFTER MARY WILL BE --
>> I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE
THE FORMER SPEAKER. I SAW HOW
NERVOUS HE WAS, WHICH IS ALSO
HOW NERVOUS I FEEL. MY NAME IS
MARY PATTERSON. I AM A
DESCENDENT OF IRISH, ENGLISH,
AND SCOTTISH WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN
THE LAKE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
PRESIDENT HORACE IS MY
REPRESENTATIVE. I STRONGLY
OPPOSE THIS BILL BEFORE YOU.
10 YEARS AGO, I WORKED WITH AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED NO NEW JIM
CROW SEATTLE CAMPAIGN. IF YOU
HAVEN'T READ OR STUDIED THE
WORKS OF MICHELLE ALEXANDER, I
URGE YOU TO DO THAT. SHE IS ON
YOUTUBE. SHE WAS GIVING TALKS
TO VARIOUS ENTITIES , HAVING
EXPLORED THE RACES ORIGINS OF
THE WAR ON DRUGS, AND THE
MARGINALIZATION OF PEOPLE AS
THEY GO THROUGH THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM . NOT THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AFTER KYLE WILL BE ASH
WOODS.
>> I ASK YOU TO REJECT 120586.
I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY WITH A
DECADE OF EXPERIENCE WORKING
IN HARM REDUCTION. I AM ALSO A
GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, THE
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND
THE SCHOOL OF -- THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF MY HONOR SOCIETY.
I HAVE A GROSS MISDEMEANOR FOR
DRUG-RELATED CRIMES. AFTER
GRADUATING FROM UNDERGRAD, HAD
TO TURN MYSELF IN TO JAIL.
GOING TO JAIL HAS COST ME A LOT
OF MONEY, JOBS, HOUSING, AND A
PATH TO BECOMING AN ATTORNEY.
THE COURTS ARE NOT THE SOLUTION
TO THE WAR ON DRUGS. THOSE OF
US HERE TODAY WHO WORK IN
HEALTH SERVICES DO NOT DO THIS
WORK BECAUSE WE LIKE TO SEE
PEOPLE SUFFER IN THE FACE OF
SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION. WE
WORKED THERE BECAUSE WE CANNOT
LIVE WITH THE TRAUMA THE WAR
ON DRUGS HAS CREATED AND DO
NOTHING ABOUT IT. MY
89-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER AND MY
NAMESAKE --
>> AFTER ASH WILL BE
ALEXANDER.
>> HI. I COME TO YOU TODAY AS
A DOULA FROM THE DOULA
COLLECTIVE AND A MEMBER OF THE
SWEDISH HOSPITAL TEAM.
INCARCERATION IS EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS FOR A PREGNANT
PERSON. WITHDRAWING FROM
SUBSTANCE USE CAN CAUSE
PRETERM LABOR, MISCARRIAGE, AND
EVEN DEATH. PREGNANT PEOPLE
WHO ARE ACTIVELY USING DRUGS
ARE CLOSELY MONITORED AS THEY
TRANSITION TO MEDICALLY ASSIST
IN TREATMENT. EVEN ONE NIGHT
IN JAIL CAN HAVE NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES. ADDITIONALLY,
PREGNANT AND PARENTING PEOPLE
WHO HAVE CONTINUED TREATMENT
STILL HAVE CHALLENGES DO TO
PREVIOUS DRUG USE AND
POSSESSION CHARGES. THE WAR ON
DRUGS IS RACIST.
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING
BLACK, BROWN AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES. IT HAS LED TO MASS
INCARCERATION TARGETING LOW
INCOME RESIDENTS AND
COMMUNITIES. PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> AFTER ALEXANDER, IT WILL BE
--
>> HI. MY NAME IS ALEX . I HAVE
A CLEAR AND RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE. I HAD TWO GED
PROGRAMS IN JAILS AND HAVE
FACILITATED NONVIOLENT
COMMUNICATION WORKSHOPS IN
STATE PRISONS. I OVERSAW A
JUVENILE COURT PROGRAM FOR A
YEAR AND A HALF. I HAVE ALSO
OVERDOSED ON HEROIN 14 YEARS
AGO. I HAVE BEEN IN RECOVERY
FOR 9 YEARS. I MOVED TO
SEATTLE THREE YEARS AGO TO WORK
IN KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IN
THE COVERT RESPONSE. I HAVE
CHOSEN TO MAKE THIS PLACE MY
HOME. I AM A STUDENT TO BE
LICENSED IN THE SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER PROFESSIONAL LICENSED
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR. I
CHOSE TO STAY HERE BECAUSE I
BELIEVE I WANTED TO BUILD A
CAREER WHERE WE TREATED PEOPLE
LIKE PEOPLE. THIS BILL IS
IRONIC TO ME. IT COMES FROM A
PLACE OF BEING TOUGH ON CRIME.
I WONDER HOW TO BE TOUGH ON
CRIME OR TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
OF SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BY
OVER BURNING OFFICES WITH PETTY
POSSESSION AND PUBLIC
CONSUMPTION. FURTHERMORE --
>> PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS ARE
PEOPLE. PLEASE VOTE NO ON BILL
120586. SMITH AFTER HER WILL
BE JODY. WE ONLY HAVE THREE
MORE MINUTES FOR THIS IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> I'M A PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL
OF LAW. GIVEN THE DECADES OF
EVIDENCE PROVING THAT
CRIMINALIZING DRUG USE AS A
FAILED APPROACH, IT IS HARD TO
BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL LIKELY
BE A CLOSE VOTE. THERE IS A
CHANCE THAT WE WILL LEAVE THESE
CHAMBERS TODAY WITH HIS BODY,
HAVING CREATED A CRIMINAL LAW
THAT PUTS PEOPLE USE DRUGS AT
FURTHER RISK OF HARM AND DEATH.
I AM PARTICULARLY UPSET WHEN I
CONSIDER THAT THE THREE WHITE
MEN ELECTED TO THIS COUNCIL
MIGHT VOTE FOR A BILL THAT WILL
MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE IN GENERAL AND
BLACK AND BROWN MEN IN
PARTICULAR WILL EXPERIENCE
VIOLENCE. BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE HARM
WHEN THEY FEEL EMPOWERED BY THE
NEW LAW TO STOP AND FRISK ANY
PERSON THEY SUSPECT OF
POSSESSING OR USING DRUGS. IF
THEY ARE NOT CITIZENS OF THE
U.S., THEY WILL EXPERIENCE HARM
WHEN A DRUG POSSESSION OR DRUG
USE ARREST CAN LEAD TO THEIR
DEPORTATION. IN THEORY, YOU
START TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS. I
ASK YOU TO TAKE A VOTE THAT
SHOWS YOU THAT YOU ARE MORE
WORRIED ABOUT HER CHANCES OF
HARMING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE
THAN YOUR OWN POLITICAL
CAREERS.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER, JODI. IF
YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM MORE
PEOPLE , WE NEED TO KEEP THEM
TO A MINIMUM. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS JODY. I'M A
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE WITH 20
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. I WILL
READ A PORTION OF A LETTER FROM
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. WE WRITE
TO YOU IS OVER 100 HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS TO ASK YOU TO
VOTE NO ON 120586. IT IS IN
YOUR 30 AND YOUR SOLEMN
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT
THE MUNICIPAL CODE REFLECTS
SOUND POLICY . HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC HEALTH
RESEARCHERS AND EXPERTS IN OUR
FIELD, WE URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS WILL NOT
BE AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO
REDUCE PUBLIC DRUG USE, HELP
PEOPLE ACCESS TREATMENT, OR
REDUCE HARM. WE HAVE 50 YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE SHOWING THAT THIS
IS NOT DECREASE DRUG USE. ON
APRIL 17th 2023, MAYOR HARRELL
SOUND -- WHICH CALLS FOR
EXPANDING THE CITY'S PUBLIC
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE BY AN
EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT
APPROACH TO EFFECTIVELY COMBAT
THE DRUG CRISIS. WE ARE IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THIS ORDER FOR
DATA DRIVEN POLICY. THEY ARE
EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS. THEY
ARE LONG CHARM SHORT MEDIUM
SOLUTIONS. WITH INCREASING
VISIBILITY TO HOMELESSNESS AND
PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. I HAVE A
FULL COPY OF THE LETTER FOR ALL
OF YOU HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME.
THANKS FOR WAITING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A SOUTHEAST SEATTLE
RESIDENT, DISTRICT 2. I AM A
POLITICAL WORKER WHO WILL NOT
WASTE YOUR TIME. I KNOW YOU
HAVE HEARD COUNTLESS PEOPLE
BRING TO YOU STUDIES,
WORKSHOPS, AN ENTIRE WAR OF
DRUGS HAPPENED. IF THIS DOES
NOT CONVINCE YOU TO VOTE NO ON
THE BILL PRESENTED BEFORE YOU,
THEN I WILL SAY WHAT IT IS,
THIS IS ABOUT VALUES. IT IS
TIME TO LEAVE THE 80s BEHIND!
IT IS THE 21st CENTURY! WE
NEED TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION,
LEAD WITH LOVE. ALL OF YOUR
VOTES WILL BE REMEMBERED BY THE
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE. WE HAVE
OUR EYES ON YOU. IT IS TIME TO
CHOOSE LOVE! THANK YOU!
>> I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO
MOVE BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
IS THAT CORRECT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> OKAY. LET'S DO IT.
>> OKAY. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER WILL BE JOSIE TRACY.
JOSIE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CELINE. REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX IN ORDER FOR YOUR PHONE TO
BE HEARD.
>> JOSIE?
>> THANK YOU. SORRY I WAS
HAVING PHONE ISSUES EARLIER.
JOSIE TRACY DISTRICT 1, URGING
YOU TO VOTE NO ON CB 120586.
I'M LICENSED IN WASHINGTON
STATE. I HAVE 12 YEARS
EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH
TREATMENT ADDICTION AND WITH
MILITARY VETERANS. THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS A STEP
BACKWARD FOR SEATTLE. I HAVE
WITNESSED MULTIPLE HARMS. THEY
STRUGGLE WITH HOMELESSNESS,
MULTIPLE MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS. YOU HEARD IT FROM
EVERYONE, CRIMINALIZATION
DOESN'T WORK. I ALSO SIGNED ON
TO THE LETTER THAT WAS JUST
READ TO YOU WITH 100 OTHER
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO
ARE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THIS
ORDINANCE. WE HAVE
EVIDENCE-BASED HUMANE
SOLUTIONS. YOU HAVE HEARD
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THOSE. WHAT
WE HAVE IN SEATTLE IS PRIMARILY
A HOUSING PROBLEM. WE NEED TO
PUT PEOPLE IN HOMES, NOT CAGES.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALLOW
KINDNESS.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE
ON THE LINE? WE HAVE REACHED
ONE HOUR?
>> YES, I WAS GOING TO MENTION
THAT. WE STILL HAS 25 E- 28
SPOKE IN THE FIRST SESSION.
>> I'M SORRY. HOW MANY PEOPLE
DO WE HAVE ONTHE LINES? WE
HAVE REACHED OUR ONE HOUR.
>> 25 MORE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IN
PERSON, WE STILL HAVE 27 IN
PERSON SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED
UP HAVE NOT SPOKEN.
>> OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WILL
DO. WE WILL GET 15 MINUTES .
ONE MINUTE FOR PEOPLE ONLINE .
15 MORE MINUTES FOR THE PEOPLE
IN CHAMBERS. THEN WE WILL CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> OKAY.
>> ARE WE STARTING WITH REMOTE
415?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER, SELENA IS NOT
PRESIDENT -- PRESENT. AMY
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL.
AMY IS NOT PRESENT EITHER.
GABRIEL WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
JOHN GRANT. GABRIEL, GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS GABRIEL.
I SERVICE COMMUNICATION
MANAGER. WE ARE JUST OVER 1%
OF THE POPULATION . 32% OF THE
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS. EVERY
TIME LEGISLATION IS PASSED, IT
HURTS HOMELESS PEOPLE. OUR
NUMBERS ARE GROSSLY -- OF
VOTE ON NO MEANS YOU ARE
VOTING TO UNDO THE WORK.
SEPARATING THEM FROM THEIR
COMMUNITIES. WE VOTE TO CREATE
HOUSING FOR THEM, CREATING
CONNECTION INSTEAD OF
SEPARATION. DRUGS ON THE
STREET ARE ALSO HARMING OUR
COMMUNITY. THIS WAS CONVENED
ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO. OUR
COMMUNITIES NEED TIME TO DO THE
WORK. URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
NOT ONLY REJECT THIS, BUT ALSO
GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WILL
SUFFER DISPROPORTIONATELY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JOHN GRANT. JOHN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ISAAC. GO AHEAD,
JOHN.
>> THAT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM THE CHIEF
STRATEGY OFFICER FROM THE
HOUSING INSTITUTE. I'M
TESTIFYING TODAY IN OPPOSITION
TO COUNCIL BUILT CB 120586 .
THIS GAVE MANY PEOPLE THE
CHANCE . AND FOR MANY TO YOU
TO TREATMENT. OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT MUST CALL THE
OPIOID CRISIS FOR WHAT IT IS, A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. THIS
MONTH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY , A
NATIONAL MODEL. WHEN ASKING
THE COUNCIL FOR THIS NEW
ENFORCEMENT, YOU COULD NOT HAVE
ASKED FOR A CLEARER SIGNAL.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC
HEALTH EXPERTS FOR HARM
REDUCTION. PLEASE VOTE NO AND
CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THIS
CONVERSATION. THE COUNCIL
SHOULD BE DEBATING ON HOW TO
EXPAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
PLEASE VOTE NO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ISAAC. ISAAC WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MIKE.
>> HELLO. I THINK EVERYONE HAS
COVERED ALMOST EVERYTHING I
WANTED TO SAY ALREADY. I JUST
WANTED TO STATE THAT I THINK IT
IS INTERESTING. THE ONLY PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SPOKEN IN FAVOR
CLEARLY HAVE THE BEST INTEREST
. LIKE RETAIL, SELLING LAND.
I JUST THINK THAT IS
INTERESTING. THOSE OF YOU THAT
VOTE YES, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER
WHAT SILLY REASON YOU COME UP
WITH TO VOTE YES, WE KNOW
WHERE YOUR LOYALTIES REALLY
LIE. WE ARE WATCHING.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MIKE. MIKE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY PETER MANNING. GO AHEAD,
MIKE.
>> YES, GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM
IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION.
I'M BLACK. I HAVE BEEN IN
SEATTLE SINCE 1978. THE WAR ON
DRUGS HAS DEFINITELY AFFECTED
MY BROTHER, HE JUST PASSED
AWAY. I APPLAUD US -- WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE
SEATTLE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THE NOTION THAT THIS WILL
AFFECT BLACK AND BROWN. WHAT I
SEE OUT THERE, A LOT OF WHITE
PEOPLE DOING DRUGS AND CRIME.
WE NEED TO CLEAN THE CITY UP,
COME TOGETHER AND FIGURE IT
OUT. LET'S DO THAT. WE HAD TO
MAKE A CHANGE. WE CAN'T KEEP
LETTING THIS CONTINUE. IT IS
CONTINUING TO GO ON. I HAVE
FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO DRIVE
KING COUNTY METRO BUS. THEY
CAN EVEN WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE
A FENTANYL SMOKE ON THE BUS. I
USED TO DO GET NERVOUS IN '99.
I CAN'T IMAGINE DRIVING A BUS
NOW. WE HAVE KIDS. WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT THE YOUTH. LET'S
MAKE THE CHANGE AND COME
TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MICHAEL . EXCUSE ME, PETER
MANNING. PETER WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JOE WILLIAMS. GO
AHEAD. PETER MANNING? I'M
SORRY, HE'S NOT PRESENT. OUR
NEXT PRESENT SPEAKER IS
MICHAEL. FOLLOWING MICHAEL WILL
BE LILY. MICHAEL, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> THAT AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
MICHAEL. I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 3. I CANNOT BELIEVE
COUNCIL IS ENTERTAINING TO
CRIMINALIZATION OF SIMPLE
TRUCK POSSESSION . THIS DOES
NOT ADDRESS ADDICTION, NEITHER
DOES FORCING THEM INTO
TREATMENT BEFORE THEY ARE
READY. BOTH OF THESE THINGS
HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF
INCREASING DEBTS. CB 120586
ISN'T ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE. IT
IS ABOUT PUNISHING POOR PEOPLE
. HOW DARE YOU TRY TO FRAME IT
AS ANYTHING BUT? IF YOU WANT
TO HELP PEOPLE, START WITH
ALLOCATING FUNDS. VOTE NO ON
THIS TOUGH ON CRIME GARBAGE.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LILY
HAYWARD. LILY WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY HOWARD. GO AHEAD, LILY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM WITH
THE SEATTLE METROPOLITAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I URGE
YOU TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120586. BEFORE THE STATE ACTED
IN SPECIAL SESSION, THE
CHAMBERS SIGNED A JOINT LETTER
ABOUT THE URGENCY OF TAKING
ACTION ON THE USE OF DANGEROUS
DRUGS. DURING THE SPECIAL
SESSION, MANY OF OUR
LEGISLATURES ASSURED THERE
WOULD NOT BE LAWS RELATED TO
OPEN DRUG USE AND POSSESSION.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SEATTLE
PASSES THIS FORM OF
LEGISLATION. IN THE MIDST OF A
FENTANYL CRISIS, WE CANNOT TAKE
ANOTHER APPROACH. THERE ISN'T
ONE PERFECT SOLUTION. WE NEED
TO USE EVERY TOOL WE HAVE. AT
THE COUNTY LEVEL, WE WOULD
LIKE TO THANK VOTERS FOR
PASSING THE LEVY. TAKING THE
STEPS AT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT IS THE ONLY WAY WE
WILL MAKE PROGRESS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HOWARD. HOWARD WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ERICA. GO AHEAD,
HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I AM THE RESEARCH
DIRECTOR . I LIVED IN DISTRICT
2. I AM A VETERAN AND A FATHER
TO TWO TEENAGERS. I AM URGING
YOU TO VOTE NO. AS I WATCH MY
KIDS BECOME YOUNG ADULTS, I
HAVE SEEN THEM IN MANY OF THEIR
PEERS STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES. SOME STRUGGLING
WITH THE DRUG USE AND
ADDICTION. THIS BILL MAKES ME
VERY AFRAID FOR THEM. AFRAID
IT WILL BE PUNISHMENT INSTEAD
OF TREATMENT, AND DIFFERENCE
INSTEAD OF COMPASSION. IT WILL
START A PERPETUAL CYCLE OF
INCARCERATION. IT IS
UNNECESSARY, IT SENDS US
BACKWARDS, IT GOES AGAINST
DRUG ADDICTION AND HOW TO SOLVE
IT. IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE TRYING
TO MAKE SEATTLE GREED AGAIN WE
NEED TO MAKE SEATTLE HEALTHY.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ERICA. ERICA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY COURTNEY. GO
AHEAD, ERICA.
>> MY NAME IS ERICA. I AM
URGING THE COUNCIL TO SAY NO. I
AM A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN KING
COUNTY. I'M HERE SPEAKING
INDIVIDUALLY. I HAVE ALSO
EXPERIENCED INVOLUNTARY
TREATMENT COURT. THIS BECAME
EFFECTIVE IN 2018. IT ALLOWS
THEM TO TREAT PEOPLE
INVOLUNTARILY. SEATTLE CITY
GEL IS NOT A SAFETY PLACE. THE
CITY ORDINANCE WOULD
OVERBURDEN THIS PORTION OF
KING COUNTY. SEATTLE SHOULDN'T
HAD TO PAY FOR WHAT KING
COUNTY HAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE
OF. THIS IS A RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE COUNTY. IT IS CREATING
LOTS OF LIABILITY FOR THE CITY
IF YOU WILL BE PUTTING PEOPLE
IN JAIL WORK THEY CANNOT BE
TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU AND
TAKE CARE OF HERSELF.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS COURTNEY. COURTNEY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY AIDAN. COURTNEY?
>> HI , MY NAME IS COURTNEY. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 3. URGED THE
CITY COUNCIL -- I AM AN
OPIOID OVERDUE SURVIVOR. I
HAVE LOST FRIENDS TO OVERDOSE.
AGAIN, WE HAVE A MASSIVE BODY
OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS
INCARCERATION ONLY CONTRIBUTES
TO THE OVERDUE'S OVERDOSE TASK.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
FEELING UNSAFE AND BEING
UNSAFE. HUNDREDS OF NEIGHBORS
DIE OUTSIDE EACH YEAR. CITY
COUNCIL SHOULD FEEL A
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. DO THE
RIGHT THING, INVEST IN HOUSING
AND HARM REDUCTION. IF PASSED,
120586 WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
OVERDOSE DEATHS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS AIDEN CAROL. AIDAN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY REID OLSON. GO
AHEAD, AIDAN.
>> THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT A
TOOL. WE NEED EVERY TOOL
AVAILABLE TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS.
THIS IS WORSE . THIS WILL MAKE
THE PROBLEM WORSE. NO ONE IS
PROPOSING THAT WE DO NOTHING.
WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT WE
ARE IN A CRISIS, BUT IT IS
BEING DEFINED DIFFERENTLY.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE SPEAKING FOR
THIS ARE CONNECTED TO DOWNTOWN
AND HAVE FINANCIAL INTEREST.
THE THING THAT IS NEEDED IS
TREATMENT. TREATMENT THAT
PEOPLE WANT. OUTPATIENT
TREATMENTS, THE KIND OF THINGS
THAT IS NOT A PLACE YOU GO, BUT
MEDICATION YOU ARE PRESCRIBED.
THAT IS THE ANSWER TO THIS.
HOUSING IS THE ANSWER TO THIS.
SLOWING DOWN SO PEOPLE ARE
CONSTANTLY HAVING THEIR
COMMUNITIES TORN APART IS THE
ANSWER TO THIS. THERE ARE A
LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO. THIS
IS INCREDIBLY WASTEFUL, AND
EFFECTIVE. IF YOU FORCE
TREATMENT, IT IS LIKE JAIL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS REID OLSON. HE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY KEVIN. GO AHEAD,
REID.
>> HELLO, Y'ALL. IF YOU ARE
TIRED OF HEARING THAT WE HAVE
DECADES OF EVIDENCE THAT
INCARCERATIONS DOES NOT
PREVENT OVERDOSE, IMAGINE HOW
TIRED WE ARE SAYING IT. I WORK
IN HEALTHCARE. I WAS AN
ESSENTIAL WORKER IN DOWNTOWN
WHO NOW HAS FELLOW COWORKERS
HOUSE WAS BECAUSE WE HAVE A
HOUSING CRISIS AND WE DON'T
VALUE HUMAN LIFE. I'M HERE TO
SAY NO. PLEASE, GOD. ON
120586. THIS WILL LEAD TO
DEATH. IN THE REAL WORLD WHERE
PEOPLE LIVE AND DIE. THIS IS ON
YOUR SHOULDERS. PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KEVIN. KEVIN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY GRIFFIN. KEVIN, GO
AHEAD.
>> THANKS. MY NAME IS KEVIN. I
WORK IN DISTRICT 3. YEAH. THEY
HAVE COVERED MANY, MANY POINTS.
I WOULD JUST POINT OUT,
SCRAMBLING TO THESE MEMBERS ,
YOU KNOW, TOWARD THOROUGHLY
UNBORN TACTICS. YOU KNOW,
DOING ANYTHING . WHAT DOES
THIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPRESENT
IN THIS OTHER BOLDFACE LIE?
ONLY THE MINIMUM STRUGGLE , THE
TEMPORARY DIFFERENCE. THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT LOST US ROE V.
WADE LAST YEAR AT A NATIONAL
LEVEL. PEOPLE COMING IN WITH
THE RATIONALITY AND MORALITY TO
SIMPLY NOT UNLEASH . THAT IS
BECAUSE YOU DONE THE
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. YOU ARE
NOT HERE TO LISTEN WITH PEOPLE
THAT HAVE EXPERTISE. WE NEED
TO PUSH.
>> THANK YOU. GRIFFIN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY JORDAN. GO AHEAD,
GRIFFIN.
>> YEAH, MY NAME IS GRIFFIN
BIRD, I AM AN HONOR STUDENT AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
AND COPRESIDENT FOR THE DRUG
POLICY. QUITE FRIENDLY, I
THINK IT IS LUDICROUS THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL WOULD EVEN
CONSIDER VOTING FOR THIS
PROPOSAL, SUCH AS THE ONE THAT
IS CRIMINALIZING PUBLIC DRUG
USE, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM
SOMEONE LIKE SARAH NELSON WHO
OWNS A BREWERY. I HEARD SHE
WALKED OUT. SHE CLEARLY DOESN'T
WANT TO LISTEN TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS. YEAH. I'M
DISAPPOINTED. TO GO AHEAD AND
VOTE FOR THAT WOULD BE VOTING
AGAINST ALL EVIDENCE AND
VOTING IN FAVOR OF BUSINESS
INTEREST, PUTTING COSTS OVER
PEOPLE ONCE AGAIN. NOTHING NEW
FOR SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
HOPING FOR SOMETHING NEW,
HOPING TO SEE YOU GUYS MAKE THE
RIGHT DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
AFTER JORDAN WILL BE JOE. GO
AHEAD, JORDAN.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 2. I REALLY REALLY
LIKE TO KNOW , WE KNOW THAT
THE CRIMINALIZATION DOESN'T
WORK . WE HAVE DECADES OF
EVIDENCE THAT MANY, MANY
PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE INSISTING
IT CAN BE, TO THEM, I SAY THIS
IS NOTHING BUT AN ATTEMPT BY
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN TO
SCORE POLITICAL POINTS BY
PANDERING THE POLITICAL
ISSUANCE ENTRANCE. THEY HAVE
NO REGARD FOR THE ACTUAL
RESULT. IF THEY DID, THEY
WOULD BE PLEADING FOR
EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS. WE
KNOW THE ONLY THINK IT WILL
ACCOMPLISH IS CREATING MORE
BARRIERS. MORE BARRIERS TO
HOUSING, MORE BARRIERS TO
RECOVERY. IT WOULD JUST WORSEN
THE CRISIS, WORSENING
COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM.
WASTING RESOURCES BY SHOVELING
THEM INTO THE SYSTEM IN THE
PROCESS. IF YOU THINK IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO
THE VICTIMS, IT IS BECAUSE THEY
WILL BE LOCKED AWAY OUT OF --
>> NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR
50 MINUTES OF IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
>> THE TIME IS 3:33.
>> HELLO.
>> OKAY, LET'S DO JOE. JOE,
YOU WILL BE OUR LAST IN-PERSON
CALLER. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. A BIG SUPPORTER OF
SEATTLE. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING
THIS WITH SOME CONCERN. I
DON'T DO DRUGS. MY APPROACH IS
JUST SAY NO. I AM ALSO
CONCERNED THAT ONE OF MY
FAVORITE POLITICAL PEOPLE HAS
WALKED AWAY FROM COMMUNITY
COURT. I HOPE THE COUNCIL CAN
CONSIDER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT
REQUIRING THAT DAVISON RETURN
. I THINK ANY CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT DRUG USE, WE NEED
RECOVERY. WITH THAT SAID, I'M
A DISABLED PERSON. I NEED THE
PUBLIC TRANSIT TO BE SAFE, I
NEED SIDEWALKS TO BE CLEAR. WE
NEED TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN
GETTING EVERYONE RECOVERED.
THAT IS THE HUMANE THING TO DO.
ALSO, PROTECTING THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THANKS
FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS NOW
3:34. OUR FIRST SPEAKER , AND
THEN FOLLOWED BY PETER. I
WOULD JUST KEEP CALLING NAMES.
I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE LEFT. AFTER
PETER IS MET. PLEASE STATE
YOUR NAME SO I CAN KNOW. THANK
YOU.
>> HELLO, I AM PETER. I'M A
COMMUNITY MEMBER WITH THE HOME
IN DISTRICT 6. PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO ANALYZE DRUG USE ARE PLACING
MISGUIDED HOPES FOR COMFORT
AND EASY LIVING ABOVE THE VERY
LIVES OF OUR NEIGHBORS. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, PEDERSEN, STRAUSS,
LEWIS. I ASK YOU, DOES IT
MATTER? THE DEATHS FROM
OVERDOSE ARE 10 TIMES MORE
LIKELY AFTER LEAVING JAIL THAN
BEFORE GOING IN. THE PEOPLE WHO
DIE IN JAIL ITSELF MATTER? HOW
MANY MORE LOVED ONES WILL WIND
UP DEAD IN THE NAME OF
TOURISTS, BUSINESSES, AND
NORTH SIDE FOR TRAFFIC? AND
WHAT WILL YOU CUT TO PAY FOR
INCARCERATION? WILL YOU DEFUND
HOUSING? DEFINED OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES? YOUR
VOTE ON THIS BILL IS A SIGNAL
OF YOUR PRIORITIES AND YOUR
UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY. YOU
MUST NOT START A NEW DRUG WAR.
REJECT COUNCIL BILL 120586.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> FOLLOWING MATT WILL BE A
NET.
>> EXCUSE ME. HI, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS MATT. I'M A SEATTLE
RESIDENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER. I CAME HERE TO SPEAK TO
THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO KNOW
THAT THIS PUBLIC DRUG USE AND
POSSESSION BILL IS A BAD BILL.
YET, YOU ARE STILL CONSIDERING
VOTING YES. YOU KNOW ALL THE
REASONS WHY IT IS BAD. YOU
HAVE BEEN HEARING ABUNDANT
REASONS TODAY. HOUSING, CASE
MANAGEMENT, POVERTY REDUCTION,
SUCCESSFUL HEALTHCARE, NOT
CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. I CAN
IMAGINE SOME OF THE PRESSURES
THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU CONSIDER
VOTING YES. I HAVE HEARD THE
ARGUMENT THAT YES, WE WILL PUT
THIS ON THE BOOKS, BUT THERE
WON'T BE ANY INTENTION TO
ENFORCE IT. WE WILL KEEP
GETTING TREATMENT. WE JUST NEED
SOME COVER AND AN ELECTION
YEAR. I GET IT. I ALSO FEEL
THAT IF ALL OF THIS MEAN
SOMETHING, IF IT ACTUALLY MEAN
SOMETHING TO YOU, I THINK
THERE IS A TIME WHEN BEING A
GREAT POLITICIAN, NOT JUST A
SUCCESSFUL ONE, IT MEANS VOTING
YOUR CONSCIOUS.
>> AFTER HER, IT WILL BE ZOE,
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTIAN.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ANNETTE. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 3. I'M A
LONG-TERM MEMBER . FRANKLY, I
AM TIRED OF HAVING TO RAGE ALL
THE TIME. I'M 71 YEARS OLD. I
WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO JUST
STAY HOME AND RELAX. ONE SUCH
HIDEOUS BLATANTLY RACIST
POLICIES ARE BEING CONSIDERED
BY THIS COUNCIL, I HAVE NO
CHOICE BUT TO DRAG MY ELDERLY
BEHIND DOWN HERE. THE WAR ON
DRUGS WAS A COLOSSAL FAILURE.
IT CAUSED IMMENSE TIME TO
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
YOU ALL KNOW THIS.
CRIMINALIZING DRUG POSSESSION
WILL BE TARGETED OVERWHELMINGLY
AT BLACK, BROWN AND POOR
PEOPLE. YOU ALL KNOW THAT, TOO.
IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS, I CAN
ONLY CONCLUDE THAT YOU ARE
DELIBERATELY COLLUDING IN
RACES, CLASSLESS POLICIES.
THROWING PEOPLE IN JAIL DOES
NOTHING TO ADDRESS ADDICTION.
HARM REDUCTION, ASSESSABLE
TREATMENT PROGRAMS, HOUSING,
ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE IN
GENERAL, THOSE ARE THE THINGS
PROVEN TO HELP. VOTE NO ON
THIS LEGISLATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM A JUNIOR
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
STUDYING PUBLIC HEALTH. I'M
ALSO THE OTHER COPRESIDENT OF
STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE -- YOU
REMEMBER GRIFFIN FROM EARLIER.
I'M HERE TO TESTIFY AGAINST CB
120586. VOTING IN FAVOR OF
THIS BILL IS INHUMANE,
ECONOMICALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND
WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN
OVERDOSE DEATHS. FIRST, I URGE
YOU TO LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC
IMPACTS. RESEARCH FROM
ORGANIZATIONS POINT
INCARCERATION AS AN INCREDIBLY
HIGH COST OPTION WITH LOW
RETURNS IN TERMS OF ANY METRIC.
IT IS INHUMANE IN THE WAY IT
TARGETS HOMELESS CITIZENS.
THIS ACCOUNTS FOR A
DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT, MAKING
UP FOR 20% OF OVERDOSE DEATHS
IN 2023 WHILE REPRESENTING JUST
1% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION.
THIS WOULD INCREASE THAT VIA A
WELL-KNOWN PHENOMENON, AND
ACCORDING TO A VAST BODY OF
RESEARCH, THEY HAVE AN OVERDOSE
RISK 10 TIMES THAT OF THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING CHRISTIAN WILL BE
MOLLY GILBERT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS KRISTIN WISE.
I AM A STUDENT, COMMUNITY
MEMBER IN DISTRICT 4, AND
MEMBER FOR STUDENTS FOR
SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY, A STUDENT
LED CLUB ON CAMPUS. PEOPLE WHO
SPENT THEIR LIVES WORKING
TIRELESSLY WITH DRUG USERS TO
KEEP THEM SAFE AND IMPROVE
THEIR LIVES CAME TO SPEAK WITH
US. THEY TOLD US ABOUT THE WAY
DRUG CRIMINALIZATION MAKES
THEIR JOB HARDER. THEY ARE
SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS BILL,
WE HAD TO LISTEN TO THEM.
ADOPTION OF THIS WOULD ONLY
INCREASE OVERDOSES. WHEN DRUG
USERS ARE PUT IN JAIL, THEIR
TOLERANCE DROPS WAY DOWN. THEY
ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO
OVERDOSE. I HOPE YOU ACT IN
ALIGNMENT OF YOUR GOALS OF
MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND REJECT
120586.
>> AFTER MOLLY, IT WILL BE
AUSTIN.
>> MY NAME IS MOLLY GILBERT.
I'M A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND
CONTRACTED EMPLOYEE OF SEATTLE.
I AM ADDRESSING YOU IN MY
CAPACITY AS UNION PRESIDENT.
THE FENTANYL CRISIS SURPASSES
CLASS ONE. WE ALL KNOW THAT
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WILL NOT BE INVESTIGATING
ARRESTING AND CHARGING ANYONE
WHO IS DOING LINES OF COKE IN
THE BATHROOM OF THE BREWERY.
THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS A
POLITICAL STUNT. IT IS BEING
USED TO FORCE THE COUNCIL TO
MAKE THE WORST POSSIBLE
DECISION ABOUT AN EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT ISSUE AND
MYSTERIOUSLY EXPEDITED
CIRCUMSTANCES. PUBLIC HEALTH
AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE SUBJECTS
THAT SHOULD BE OUTSIDE OF
POLITICS. OUR UNIONS ASK IS
VERY, VERY SIMPLE. DON'T RUSH
AN ISSUE THAT IS AS IMPORTANT
AS THIS. DON'T JUST PUSH THIS
DISCUSSION OFF YOUR DESK TODAY.
DELAY THIS VOTE, SEND IT TO
SUBCOMMITTEE, AND ALLOW ACTUAL
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
>> FOLLOWING AUSTIN WILL BE
MARJORIE AND PRESTON. STOMACH
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
AUSTIN FIELDS. I'M A PUBLIC
DEFENDER. I AM URGING YOU TO
REJECT THIS ORDINANCE. WE HAVE
HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY.
THE QUESTION REALLY IS, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING? WHY ARE WE
DOING THIS? WHY THAT ALL THESE
PEOPLE HAD TO COME DOWN HERE?
EVEN THE PROPONENTS OF THIS
ORDINANCE HAVE OFFERED IS NO
REASON TO ENACT IT. YOU HAVE NO
PLAN. YOU HAVE NO STRATEGY.
YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW
THIS LAW IS GOING TO BE LIMITED
THE MOMENT YOU VOTE ON IT. YOU
TOOK NO TIME TO THINK ANY OF
THIS THROUGH. OTHER PEOPLE
TODAY HAVE SAID MISDEMEANORS
DON'T MATTER. THAT IS FALSE.
MISDEMEANORS DESTROY LIVES. I
HAVE HAD CLIENTS LOSE HOMES,
CLIENTS LOSE FAMILIES, CLIENTS
LOSE EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF
MISDEMEANORS. ALL YOU ARE DOING
TODAY IS ENACTING THIS POLICY
BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING
TO DO? IS THAT REALLY WHAT YOU
ARE DOING? YOU HAVE GIVEN US
NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT YOU
HAVE EVEN DEVOTED THE SLIGHTEST
AMOUNT OF THOUGHT TO THIS. IT
IS UNBELIEVABLE!
>> HOW ARE WE DOING, MADAM
CLERK?
>> WE STILL HAVE SIX MINUTES
IN THE SEGMENT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY. LET'S FINISH THAT UP,
THANK YOU.
>> YES. I AM KNOWN AS QUEEN
PEARL. I'M DEVASTATED . I WILL
STAY DEVASTATED WHEN YOU SAID
APPEAR AND TALK ABOUT RACISM,
AND BEING RACIST. YOUR
IDEOLOGY IS STILL RACIST. YOU
ARE SITTING APPEAR TRYING TO
HAVE AN IMAGE LIKE, IF YOU DROP
THE D FROM DRUGS, YOU GET
RELICS. YOU ARE TRYING TO SWEEP
THIS UP UNDER THE RUG LIKE YOU
DO INDIGENOUS BLACK PEOPLE
24/7. AND YOU THINK WE ARE
STILL IGNORANT? WE WEREN'T
IGNORANT WHEN YOU WERE SETTING
UP THERE SLAVING US ON THE
AUCTION BLOCK. YOUR JIM CROW
IS HIM, AND YOU ARE NEED TO
GET OUT OF HERE WITH SOME KIND
OF SPRAY THAT WOULD JUST GET
RID OF YOU RIGHT NOW. I DON'T
LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. I
DON'T LIKE IT! AND I SAY GET
RID OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DON'T
LIKE! AND START ALL OVER AGAIN!
GET RID OF THIS RACIST STUFF.
>> AFTER PRESTON, WE HAVE --?
>> HI. MY NAME IS PRESTON. I'M
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4. AND
AN ACTIVIST WITH WORKER STRIKE
BACK, CRIMINALIZING DRUG
POSSESSION DOES NOTHING TO
ADDRESS THE DRUG CRISIS.
INSTEAD OF SOLVING THIS
PROBLEM, THIS BILL ATTACKS POOR
PEOPLE. ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OF
COLOR. THE COUNCIL NUMBERS
OPPOSING THIS BILL ARE CLEARLY
MORE INTERESTED IN BRUTAL
SWEEPS AND THE POWER OF A
REPUBLICAN CITY ATTORNEY THAT
IS ACTUALLY HELPING THOSE
SUFFERING IN THE FENTANYL
CRISIS. THIS ISN'T SURPRISING
FOR THEM TO HAVE CARRIED WATER
FOR'S BUSINESS . INSTEAD OF
CRIMINALIZING POOR PEOPLE, THEY
SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO ACTUALLY
SOLVE THE DRUG AND HOUSING
CRISIS BY PASSING STRONG
CONTROL WHICH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT IS INTRODUCING. THE
OPIOID AND HOMELESS CRISIS,
THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING TO
DEMONSTRATE THE FAILURES, THE
PROPHET HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AND
DEMONSTRATING FAILURES OF
CAPITALISM ITSELF. I HAVE
HEARD COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
CONSIDERING A DELAY EVEN THOUGH
WE ALL TAKE TIME TO SPEAK
AGAINST THIS DESPICABLE BILL.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL
DEMOCRATS TO VOTE NO RIGHT NOW!
>> AFTER, WE HAVE VICTORIA
PALMER.
>> I'M FROM CITY DISTRICT 4. I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS GOOD INTENTIONS OF
PROPOSING THIS LEGISLATION,
BUT THIS WOULD ONLY EXASPERATE
THE DRUG EPIDEMIC. ADDICTION
EXPERT SAYS THAT IF YOU WANT
TO DESIGN THE SYSTEM THAT WILL
PERPETUATE THE DRUG SYSTEM AND
PUNISHES SHAMES AND GIVES
PEOPLE CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR
BEING ADDICTED, THAT WOULD BE
THE PERFECT SYSTEM TO ENSURE
DRUG USERS NEVER REQUIRE --
INFLICTING MORE PAIN WILL ONLY
DRIVE PEOPLE TO SNIFF OUT THAT
EXTRA PAIN OF MORE DRUGS.
PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH SHOWS
THAT THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT
THIS IS TO CREATE SELF AND
WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR
PEOPLE TO GET THE HELP THEY
NEED FREE OF JUDGMENT. AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN
GIVE UP THEIR TOXIC
RELATIONSHIP WITH DRUGS IN
FAVOR FOR HEALTHIER
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SAFE AND
CARING COMMUNITY. PEOPLE ARE
DYING AND THEY NEED HELP. LET'S
HELP THEM, NOT HURT THEM.
>> FOLLOWING VICTORIA --
EXCUSE ME FOR MISPRONUNCIATION
.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS VICTORIA
PALMER AREA I'M HERE TO SPEAK
AS A RESIDENT OF THE GREENWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD AND VOICE SUPPORT
FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND URGED
THE COUNCIL BILL TO PASS CB
120586. GREENWOOD WAS LARGELY
UNAFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE UNTIL
A FEW YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN,
WE HAVE SEEN IN CABINETS,
PUBLIC DRUG USE, AND HAVE SEEN
VIOLENT BEHAVIOR FROM HOMELESS
INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN ONLY BE
EXPLAINED BY THEIR LONG-TERM
DRUG USE. JUST LAST WEEK, AN RV
EXPLOITED ON THE OVERPASS NOT
FAR FROM WHERE I LIVE. IT WAS
A KNOWN METH LAB. THEY ARE
WRITTEN TO PROTECT
NEIGHBORHOODS. IT IS NOT OUR
CIVIC DUTY TO PROVIDE HOUSING
FIRST. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
CHOSEN THIS LIFESTYLE, IT IS
THE CITY'S JOB TO USE POWER TO
SHUT OFF THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS
AND PROVIDE A SOBER
ENVIRONMENT. WE MUST HOLD THEM
TO THE SAME STANDARDS OF
CONDUCT THAT THE REST OF US UP
OLD. IT IS IN THE SPIRIT OF
TRUE COMPASSION THAT I SEE THEM
AS INDIVIDUALS WITH FOSS
POTENTIAL TO RETURN TO SOCIETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I SHOULD REMIND PEOPLE THAT
THIS IS NOT THE OPPORTUNITY OR
TIME TO TALK POLITICS. THAT IS
NOT WHAT THIS IS FOR. IT IS
PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE AGENDA.
WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE MADAM
CLERK SO WE CAN MOVE ON?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE HAVE
ONE MORE SPEAKER AT THIS POINT,
VICTORIA PALMER. EXCUSE ME.
>> THANK YOU. YIKES. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. I AM FROM
DISTRICT 4, I AM A LICENSED
SOCIAL WORKER. I HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE
FOR 8 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN THAT
DRUGS HAVE BEEN AWAY AT THE
COMMUNITY. LAST WEEK, I WAS
ACIDIC CLIENTS GENERAL. I WANT
TO STOP LOSING PEOPLE TO
OVERDOSE. THIS ISN'T THE WAY TO
DO IT. HE CAME OUT WITH NO
MEDICATION, NO RESOURCES, AND
HAD HOURS BEFORE WITHDRAWAL. WE
CALLED AROUND AND FOUND ONLY
ONE WALK IN CLINIC THAT DAY.
LATER, HE CAME BACK SAYING HE
WAITED FOR 3 HOURS AND THEY
DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SEE HIM.
HE ENDED UP USING. TODAY, I
HAVE NO CLUE WHERE ADAM IS
WHETHER HE IS IN JAIL ARE STILL
ALIVE. HARM REDUCTION DOES
WORK. I GAVE THE CLIENT ARCANA
AND THE USER TO RESUSCITATE
THEIR FRIEND. THEY CAME BACK,
AND CONTINUE TO BE ON RECOVERY
TO THIS DAY. THE KEY IS THAT
PEOPLE VOLUNTARILY HAVE TO DO
TO TO STOP USING AND GET ON
OTHER THINGS. EVERYDAY, PEOPLE
WAKE UP AND MAKE THE CHOICE. IT
IS A HARD CHOICE, BUT IT IS
THEIR CHOICE. IT IS A WORK FOR
FOR SOMEONE TO TREATMENT THEY
DON'T WANT. TO TOM REDUCTION,
HOUSING FIRST, VOTE NO ON THIS
ORDINANCE.
>> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. MADAM
CLERK, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> WE HAVE CONCLUDED COMMENT.
>> OKAY. I THINK THAT WILL
CONCLUDE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? THREE CO.:
50 E- 3:50. IT IS UNFORTUNATE
WE HAVE TO SAY THIS AGAIN.
WHEN PEOPLE COME TO DO PUBLIC
COMMENT, JUST LET THEM TALK.
IT IS THE DECENT THING TO DO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'M
SORRY. WE CANNOT HEAR YOU AT
THIS POINT. MY APOLOGIES. WE
CAN HEAR YOU, THANK YOU.
>> LET ME SAY IT AGAIN. I HAVE
BEEN THERE 7 1/2 ALMOST EIGHT
YEARS. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF
INTERESTING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE ONE THING WE JUST ASK OF
PEOPLE IS JUST TO LET PEOPLE
HAVE AN OPINION AND SPEAK. YOU
DON'T NEED TO CALL PEOPLE
NAMES, TALK OVER THEM, HOLLER
AT THEM, ATTACK THE INTEGRITY
OF YOUR DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE OR YOUR CITY
COUNCILMEMBER, WE ARE
LISTENING TO YOU. WE GOT THE
EMAILS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE CANNOT
HEAR YOU!
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO WEIGH IN ON THIS. WE HAVE
TAKEN THE TIME TO BE DOWN HERE
TODAY. ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR
RIGHT NOW IS TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE NEED
TO TAKE A RECESS?
>> I'M TRYING TO. I GUESS IT
DOESN'T MATTER THAT WE TRY TO
TELL PEOPLE TO BEHAVE. CAN YOU
HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE
MINUTE RECESS RIGHT NOW. MADAM
CLERK, LET'S DO THAT AND CLEAR
FOR 5 MINUTES. THANK YOU. CLEAR
BACK
>> RECORDING IN PROGRESS.
MADAM CLERK , DO WE NEED TO DO
A ROLL CALL AT THE RECESS? OR
DO WE JUST START?
>> YES, WE COULD DO ROLL CALL
TO CALL THE MEETING BACK TO
ORDER. THAT WOULD BE PREFERABLE
SO WE CAN KNOW WAS PRESENT AT
THIS POINT.
>> LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.
>> JUST A SECOND. THE AUDIENCE
NEEDS TO COME TO ORDER FIRST,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY. WE CAN'T START UNTIL
THE AUDIENCE COMES TO ORDER.
LET ME KNOW WHEN.
>> ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. YOU MAY PROCEED WITH
THE ROLL CALL. MET ALL RIGHT. I
WILL CALL US BACK TO ORDER.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. THANK
YOU. I AM GLAD WE HAD A CHANCE
TO TALK OFF-LINE. WE HAVE 15
PEOPLE LESS. WE WILL GIVE EACH
OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ONE
MINUTE. I HOPE EVERYONE WOULD
ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK. MADAM
CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> NOW WE HAVE ON MINE?
>> EIGHT.
>> PEDERSEN IS STILL OUT.
>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE EIGHT
PRESENT.
>> WE CAN CONTINUE. WHEN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN JOINS
US, WE WILL TAKE NOTE OF THAT.
THERE ARE 15 MINUTES, ONE
MINUTE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. CAN
YOU CALL THE NAMES AND START
THE TIMER?
>> ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT THREE
SPEAKERS SO WE CAN WHITE
PEOPLE UP AND GET AS MANY AS WE
CAN. IT WILL BE PATRICK , AND I
CAN'T REALLY GET THE LAST ONE.
MY APOLOGIES. NUMBER 40 . I
CAN REMEMBER. THANK YOU. OKAY.
NO ONE COMING UP . NONE OF
THOSE NAMES. MEGAN MURPHY,
ZION , ANDREW. OKAY, THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD.
>> MA'AM?
>> THIS IS THE TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MANDATING THAT WE
CAN HAVE -- AND WILL BE
STRIPPED. THE AVERAGE PRICE IS
$2300. THERE'S MORE INFORMATION
I CAN SHARE WITH YOU. YOU
ALREADY KNOW THAT. EVEN
SPEAKING TO THE SEATTLE
ATTORNEY PERSONALLY . CHOOSING
TO CREATE LAWS THAT YOU KNOW
WILL HARM THE COMMUNITY IS A
DISPLAY OF AN ERODED SENSE OF
EMPATHY, WHICH IS A TRACE FOR
ANTISOCIAL -- HAS BEEN IN
REHABILITATION FOR 10 YEARS.
THIS IS AS A MEANS OF CREATING
EMPATHY AND MANUAL COMPASSION.
SOME OF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY
WITH. I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PRESSING
FOR THIS CRIMINALIZATION OF
DRUG USE, PLEASE STEP DOWN
FROM YOUR POLITICAL POSITIONS
UNTIL YOU START TREATING YOUR
MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. RIGHT
NOW, YOUR COGNITION IS
IMPAIRED. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU
AS SOMEONE OF YOUR OWN
COMMUNITY WITH SOLIDARITY.
>> EXCUSE ME, YOUR NAME PLEASE?
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I AM
HERE.
>> WE DID CALL PATRICK.
PATRICK IS NOT PRESENT. OKAY,
MEGAN MURPHY. AFTER MEGAN
MURPHY, ZION.
>> THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
BECAUSE JAILS AND PRISONS ARE
AN INVENTION OF SLAVEHOLDERS
WHO INFLICTED PSYCHOLOGICAL
TORTURE ON PEOPLE THAT THEY
FORCE TO WORK FOR CHEAP LABOR.
THEN, LIKE IN COLLEGE IS WHEN
YOU STRUGGLE DRUG ADDICTION,
IT IS TO TREAT THEM KINDLY,
NICELY, AND THERAPEUTICALLY.
WHY THE COGNITIVE DISSONANCE
BETWEEN THE MOST THERAPEUTIC
ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS HOUSING
WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO TO MEETINGS
REGULARLY , WHATEVER KIND OF
MEETING THEY CHOOSE. AND THE
WHOLE REASON WHY DRUG ADDICTION
AND DRUG ARE CRIMINALIZED , MY
GUESS IS IS TO ENFORCE
BORDERS, SUCH AS THE ONE IN
MEXICO, AND JUST ENFORCE THE
HOLE, YOU KNOW, THE BORDER OF
THE WORK FORCE FEELING
PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSED AND
WANTING TO CROSS OVER INTO A
PLACE WHERE THEY GET A CHANCE
TO SAY HOW THEY LIKE TO BE
TREATED AT WORK. THEN THE DRUG
ADDICT IS ALSO ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE BORDER. IT NEEDS TO
BE LEGALIZED.
>> I AM A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND A
MEMBER OF -- I'M HERE TO
COMMENT IN OPPOSITION. THE
CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE IS ALREADY
DISMISSING , THE JAIL IS
ALREADY OVERCROWDED. THERE ARE
NOT ENOUGH PROVIDERS OR BED
FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED AND WANT
TREATMENT. PLEASE PUT THE FUNDS
THAT ARE NEEDED TOWARD HARM
REDUCTION, NOT ADDITIONAL
POLICING.
>> AFTER, IT WILL BE ANDREW.
>> ZION HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE HE
HAS A JOB. THIS IS A WASTE OF
ALL OF OUR TIME. WE OPPOSE
THIS. WE HOPE YOU DO THE RIGHT
THING AND VOTE NO. THANK YOU.
>> SO WE HAVE ANDREW, AND THEN
WE HAVE RENAISSANCE.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ANDREW. I AM
A CLINICAL PROGRAM MANAGER. I
AM LIVING WITH HIV, I AM A SON
OF AN IMMIGRANT, A BLACK
PERSON, I AM A PERSON. WHAT I
SEE THIS AS A DEAD SENTENCE ON
MY IDENTITY. WHAT I SEE IS
THAT MY PATIENTS ARE GOING TO
DIE . I WILL NOT BE THERE TO
HELP THEM WITH ANY ME THE MOST.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD
BE DOING IN 2023. WHEN I HEARD
ABOUT THIS, I HAD TO CHECK THE
CALENDAR TO MAKE SURE I HADN'T
TRAVELED THAT TO THE '80s.
PLEASE DON'T VOTE YES ON THIS
BILL. HE DIED TWO WEEKS AGO
BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE
FOR SAFE INJECTION. WE NEED TO
HAVE REDUCTION. HOW MANY BLACK
PEOPLE DO YOU THINK ARE
IMPACTED? MY COMMUNITY WOULD
BE IMPACTED. PLEASE VOTE NO.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES,
EVERYONE. VOTE WISELY. I'M
RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL.
>> WE HAVE RENAISSANCE,
MICHAEL, AND THEN BRANDON
DAVIS.
>> OKAY.
>> CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM A
CODIRECTOR OF THE CAMPAIGN TO
350 SEATTLE. I AM ALSO AN
ORGANIZER WITH THE SEATTLE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET, AN
ORGANIZER WITH THE SHUTDOWN
KING COUNTY JAIL, AND THE
SECRETARY OF THE MLK COALITION.
I AM ALSO A SURVIVOR OF DRUG
AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION, 22 YEARS
SOBER THIS MAY. A SURVIVOR OF
GANGS, OF THE PIPELINE, A
SURVIVOR BEING HOMELESS,
POLICE BRUTALITY, CRISIS MENTAL
HEALTH FACILITIES, A SURVIVOR
OF BOTH VOLUNTARY AND
INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT, AND A
SURVIVOR OF INCARCERATION. I'M
HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF 350
SEATTLE, AND ON BEHALF OF
MYSELF IN OPPOSITION OF COUNCIL
BILL 120586. THE NUMBER ONE
REASON THAT THIS LAW IS GOING
BACK TO THE LAW ON DRUGS THAT
DID NOT PROVIDE JUSTICE FOR OUR
SOCIETY. IN FACT, IT LED TO
DOCUMENTED INJUSTICE, THE RISE
OF THE MASS INCARCERATION THAT
DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES , THE
EXPANSION OF RACIAL TARGETING,
AND THE CRIMINALIZATION. THEY
HAVE BEEN WORKING TO UNDO IT
SINCE THEN, REIGNITING THAT
FAILED STRATEGY. THAT IS NOT
WHAT OUR CITY NEEDS TO
OVERCOME. ANOTHER REASON FOR
THE OPPOSITION IS COUNCIL BILL
120586. THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN
VERY RUSHED. BEING PART OF
MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND
COALITIONS AROUND SEATTLE.
NONE OF US WERE CONSULTED ABOUT
THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
THE ARGUMENTS FOR THE
LEGISLATION INCLUDE THE ELEMENT
OF BEING HELPFUL TO THOSE IN
NEED BY IMPOSING TREATMENT ON
THEM , AND INTERACTION WITH THE
POLICE. OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ARE JUSTIFIED IN CONCERNS .
THEY TARGET PEOPLE WHO ARE
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR. OUR NEIGHBORS ,
MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQIA+
COMMUNITY. YOUNGER PEOPLE AND
SO ON, THEY HAVE BEEN
MARGINALIZED AND TARGETED BY
THE POLICIES SUCH AS THIS, AND
BY THOSE WHO INTERPRET AND
ENFORCE LAWS SUCH AS THIS.
THIS IS NOT BEEN A GOOD
PROCESS. IT IS REST.
ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST IMPACTED
BY THE IMPACTS AS THIS IS
BECOMING AN ORDINANCE AND HAS
BEEN CONSULTED TO LEARN WHAT WE
ACTUALLY NEED. COUNCIL BILL
120586 IS NOT THE RESULT . OUR
COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR
PEOPLE. MANY ARE TURNING TO
DRUGS , AND MANY ARE DYING AS A
RESULT. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED
ABOUT THE HARM THAT EMERGES
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS A
BYPRODUCT. EVERY LIFE IS
PRECIOUS, AND SO IS THE
QUALITY. THIS IS WHY IT IS NOT
GOOD ENOUGH FOR US TO SIMPLY
DO ANYTHING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO
BE DONE. WE NEED TO BE DOING
THE RIGHT THING. THE WAR ON
DRUGS FAILED, AND SO WILL THE
NEW WAR ON DRUGS. SUPPORTING
THIS LEGISLATION LACKS
COURAGE. IT IS EASY TO LEAN
TOWARD TOUGH ON CRIME, AND
POLICY. OUR SOCIETY IS
INUNDATED WITH THE NEWS.
MOVIES, CARTOONS OUR CHILDREN
WATCH, HOW THE SCHOOLS TOLERATE
ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICIES. IT
HAS BEEN OFFERED UP AS THE ONLY
SOLUTION TO A HOST OF PROBLEMS
THAT INVOLVE MENTAL HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC DISTRESS. I ASK YOU
TO REALLY CONSIDER THE
SITUATION . ALL OF THIS
INCREASED CRIMINALIZATION , HAS
IT SOLVED ANY OTHER PROBLEMS?
HAS IT REALLY HELPED ANY DRUG
EPIDEMIC? HAS THEY INCREASED
SAFETY? IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
LIFE FOR MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY? OR HAVE THEY
EXASPERATED THE ISSUES? MOUNDS
OF RESEARCH HAVE SHOWN TIME AND
AGAIN HOW POLICIES IN LAW SUCH
OF THESE HAVE COMPOUNDED AND
EXPONENTIALLY INCREASED THE
VERY THINGS THEY ARE PURPORTED
TO BE A SOLUTION TO. YET, IT
IS EASY TO RESORT TO WHAT IS
COMFORTABLE, COMMENT, AND IS
THE ONLY SOLUTION. IT TAKES
COURAGE AND IMAGINATION TO TRY
NEW STRATEGIES.
>> SIR, I WILL HAD TO ASK YOU
-- I WILL HAD TO ASK YOU TO
RESPECTFULLY
>> TURN THE MIC DOWN. SORRY,
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CUT YOU
OFF. YOU ARE TAKING UP THE
TIME OF OTHER PEOPLE.
>> TURN OFF THE MIC, PLEASE.
>> IT DOES NOT PROVIDE FALSE
SOLUTIONS! PLEASE VOTE ON THIS
COUNCIL BILL 120586 TODAY SO
THAT WE CAN BEGIN STRATEGIZING
AND PLAN A COURSE OF ACTION
THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE A
POSITIVE BENEFIT FOR AND WITH
OUR COMMUNITY.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET TO OUR
NEXT SPEAKER. THAT TOOK UP THE
TIME OF SIX SPEAKERS. MADAME
CLERK?
>> I WILL PROCEED. BRANDON
DAVIS, FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE.
>> THANK YOU. I'M A PUBLIC
DEFENDER. A UNION MEMBER OF
SCI YOU NOT TO FIVE. I'M
ADDRESSING THESE COMMENTS
SPECIFICALLY TO YOU , ANDREW
LEWIS. I SAW ON TWITTER THAT
YOU MIGHT BE THE DECIDING VOTE
ON THIS BILL. THAT IS WILD TO
ME. I KNOW YOU FIVE YEARS AGO.
I KNEW YOU AS THIS PROSECUTOR,
JUST ANOTHER GUY WHO WAS TRYING
TO PUT MY CLIENTS IN JAIL. NOW,
YOU ARE THE GUY THAT DECIDES
WHETHER I CAN BE ARRESTED FOR
CARRYING MDMA ON MY WAY TO A
PRIDE FESTIVAL. THE TRUTH IS,
PART OF ME IS HOPEFUL TODAY. I
WILL SAY SOMETHING THAT MIGHT
ANGER SOME OF MY PUBLIC
DEFENDERS, BUT I THINK WE CAN
DO A LOT WORSE THAN YOU. I
THINK AT HEART, YOU ARE AN
ETHICAL AND HONEST PERSON. I
THINK OUR CORE VALUES AND
BELIEFS ARE PROBABLY PRETTY
SIMILAR. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T GET
INTO POLITICS TO PUT POOR
PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR DRUG USE.
YOU KNOW THIS BILL IS PLAIN
WRONG. YOU KNOW CRIMINALIZATION
OF DRUG POSITION DOES NOT HELP
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH
ADDICTION. YOU KNOW THIS IS
JUST ANOTHER TOOL FOR POLICE .
YOU KNOW VOTING FOR THIS BILL
WOULD BE A BETRAYAL TO EVERY
MARGINALIZED PERSON YOU HAVE
EVER SAID YOU CARED ABOUT OR
STOOD UP FOR. I AM BEGGING YOU
TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
>> FOLLOWING CAITLIN .
>> MY NAME IS KAYLA, I AM A
GRAD STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON SETTING PUBLIC
HEALTH. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY
GROUPS THAT THIS BILL IS
HARMFUL. THIS WILL KILL PEOPLE.
PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL,
INCREASED CONTACT WITH POLICE,
SURVEILLING THEM. THIS WILL
MAKE THINGS WORSE, NOT BETTER.
HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAD TO
TELL YOU THIS? ALL OF THESE
PEOPLE CONSIDERING VOTING YES,
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO HEAR? WHAT
DO WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE YOU
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PEOPLE HERE
WHO ARE BEGGING YOU AND
PLEADING YOU TO VOTE NO? WHAT
DO WE HAVE TO DO TO HOLD YOU
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE
LIVING OUTSIDE, WHO THIS BILL
WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT?
VOTE NO ON THIS BILL IF YOU
CARE AT ALL ABOUT WHAT YOUR
CONSTITUENTS HAD TO SAY, WHAT
PEOPLE OUTSIDE HAD TO SAY, VOTE
NO.
>> FOLLOWING ?
>> WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE
WILL VOTE FOR THIS BILL. I WANT
TO KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD DO TO
CHALLENGE THIS. IT IS VERY
LIKELY THAT TODAY, A DECISION
WILL BE MADE TO CONTINUE
CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE. THERE IS
A WAR GOING ON OUT THERE.
THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 900 IN
2022 WITH NOTHING TO SHOW BUT A
WORSENING CRISIS. I NEED TO
KNOW THAT IT ISN'T IS GOING TO
BE, WHERE SAID BECAUSE SOMEONE
MADE A BAD DECISION. I WANT TO
KNOW THAT IF THEY WILL DECIDE
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ROUND
UP ANYONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHEN
THEY DECIDE TEY ARE DOING
SOMETHING THAT IS AN
APPROPRIATE. I DON'T REALLY
CARE WHAT COUNCIL HAS TO SAY. I
DON'T CARE ABOUT THE FACTS OR
THE DATA. I'M ASKING YOU, WHAT
WILL YOU DO WITH THESE PEOPLE
MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION? THEY
HAVE DONE IT EVERY YEAR THEY
HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE. THAT IS
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
COLLECTIVE JUSTICE, BUT ALSO
MYSELF. I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE
NO . PEOPLE NEED CARE,
COMPASSION, AND COMMUNITY
RESOURCES. NOT CAGES IN
MINERALIZATION. PEOPLE NEED
HOUSING AND RENT CONTROL. ALL
THIS TALK ABOUT SAFETY, MANY OF
WHOM HAVE USED DRUGS
THEMSELVES. THEY JUST HAPPEN
TO HAVE WHITE SKIN AND HOMES TO
DO THEM IN. THIS IS REALLY
ABOUT NOT WANTING TO SEE DRUG
ADDICTION. PEOPLE WANT TO
SWEEP PEOPLE UP AND THROW THEM
AWAY. THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL BE
DOING IF THIS PASSES. THIS IS
NOT A SOLUTION. THIS IS NOT
ABOUT SAFETY. IT IS A SHAME
THAT YOU SIT IN THESE POSITIONS
OF POWER AND TALK ABOUT SOCIAL
AND RACIAL JUSTICE. ALL OF
YOUR SOLUTIONS CONTINUE TO BE
ROOTED IN PUNISHMENT OF FURTHER
CRIMINALIZING THE MOST
VULNERABLE, BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE, THE POOR AND THE HOUSE
LIST.
>> HENRY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A
NET.
>> HI. MY NAME IS HENRY KANE.
I AM AN INTERNAL MEDICINE
PHYSICIAN. I'M SIGNATORY ON
THE COALITION OF HOMELESSNESS
LETTER THAT YOU GUYS ACCEPTED
EARLIER. THERE ARE A LOT ON
THAT LETTER THAT HAVE A LOT
MORE BACKGROUND IN ADDICTION
MEDICINE THAN I DO. I DO SEE
AND WORK WITH THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE BEING TREATED FOR THE
ADDICTIONS AND WHO HAVE MADE IT
THROUGH. IN NONE OF THOSE CASES
HAS IMPRISONMENT AND THAT PATH
BEEN A HELP TO THE WORK THAT I
DO. I'M SORRY, I'M VERY NERVOUS
APPEAR. I HAVE NOT COME TO ONE
OF THESE BEFORE. I WILL LEAVE
IT AT THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> DID YOU HAND US -- METAL
CLERK, THAT THE GENTLEMAN HAND
US THE LETTER?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'M
SORRY. I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
>> THAT THE GENTLEMAN HAND US A
LETTER?
>> I HAVE ONE LETTER FROM A
PREVIOUS .
>> OH, WE GOT IT. I'M SORRY, MY
STAFF IS SHOWING IT TO ME NOW.
>> WE RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER,
BUT ONLY ONE COPY. WE ONLY HAD
TWO MORE SPEAKERS LEFT.
>> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> I REPRESENT W SOS, BUT I'M
ALSO REPRESENTING A PERSON IN
RECOVERY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW,
THE LONG-TERM DAMAGE OF THESE
MISDEMEANORS, I DON'T HAVE ANY
RETIREMENT. THEY WOULDN'T HIRE
ME FOR 30 YEARS WHEN I GOT
HIRED, WHEN I WENT TO JAIL,
WHEN I STOLE FROM MY KIDS FROM
THE STORES, IT TOOK ME 30
SOMETHING YEARS FOR THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO FINALLY
CLEAR MY RECORD. I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING. I'M 62 AND DON'T HAVE
ANY RETIREMENT. I HAVE TO
WORK. I'M SICK. I CAN HAVE
SURGERY BECAUSE I CAN'T MISS
WORK, THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF MY
DRUG ADDICTION IN 1990. THOSE
MISDEMEANORS DESTROYED MY LIFE.
AND MY OPPORTUNITY FOR MY
CHILDREN TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
THEY ARE NOT JUST
MISDEMEANORS. THIS IS MY LIFE.
I HAVE BEEN CLEAN FOR 30
YEARS, WORKING IN SCHOOLS, IN
PRISONS, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.
IN MY COMMUNITY. I STILL CAN'T
GO TO THE DOCTORS FOR THE
MISDEMEANORS OF SURVIVAL
CRIMES.
>> WE HAVE TWO MORE. JENNA,
AND THEN AFTER JENNA, EMMA.
>> HI. I AM GEMMA. I'M HERE
TODAY TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
OPPOSE THIS OPPOSED ORDINANCE.
I AM A SERVICE PROVIDER. I
SERVE MOSTLY UNHOUSED FOLK WHO
STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE USE. I FEEL VERY
PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO DO
THAT WORK. I HAVE A FRONT ROW
SEAT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING
VERY HARD TO CHANGE THEIR
LIVES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH A CLIENT I
HAVE WORK WITH AND BUILD A
RELATIONSHIP FOR ANY PERIOD OF
TIME THAT HAS NOT WANTED TO
SEE SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES
AND HAVE A VISION THAT IS
BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS NOW. WE
KNOW WHAT WORKS TO HELP GET
THEM THERE. THAT IS HARM
REDUCTION. THAT IS HOUSING
FIRST. AT THIS POINT, I THINK
ANY IGNORANCE TO THE EVIDENCE
OF WHAT WORKS IS WILLFUL. WE
HAD A WONDERFUL TEACH AND
HOSTED BY THE COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS. I WOULD
ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WATCH
THAT TO LEARN MORE BEFORE
MAKING A DECISION. WE NEED TO
BE PUTTING PEOPLE AND PEOPLE'S
LIVES AND AGENCY ABOVE BAD
POLICY. THANK YOU.
>> EVA. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. HI.
I LIVE IN BALLARD. I'M A
MOTHER OF THREE, THIS IS PAUL.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MY KID GOES
TO SCHOOL IN GREENWOOD. MY
OTHER KID GOES TO JOHN
STANFORD. I GET THE SAFETY
THING, BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO
WORK. IT IS JUST NOT GOING TO
WORK. WE KNOW THAT. YOU HAVE
SEEN THIS ALL BEFORE. THESE
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO TO JAIL,
WASTE ALL OF OUR MONEY, THEN
THEY WILL BE BACK OUT ON THE
STREETS. I HAVE SUCH A HARD
TIME WITH THIS IDEAL FROM
COUNCILWOMAN NELSON, ET CETERA
THAT THIS IS EVEN GOING TO
MEET THE OBJECTIVES THAT YOU
GUYS ARE TRYING TO MEET. MANY
PEOPLE MENTION THEIR DEGREES. I
HAVE AN MBA FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. I JUST
WANT TO SAY, WHY DO WE NOT HAVE
A BUDGET? WHY DO NOT HAVE A
PROCESS? WHAT HAVE WE NOT DONE
ANALYSIS? THIS STUFF COSTS
MONEY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
PLEASE TAKE MORE TIME. I CAN
TELL YOU, YOUR CONSTITUENTS
WILL LIVE IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS, WE TALK ABOUT
THIS, WE SEE IT. YOU ARE
TRANSPARENT. WE SEE IT. THANK
YOU.
>> MADAME CLERK, I UNDERSTAND
WE HAVE A LATE SIGN OR UPPER.
>> YES, MR. MONTY HENDERSON, I
BELIEVE?
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST
OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF
THE HOUSING LEVY. WE REPRESENT
ABOUT 20,000 WORKERS HERE IN
SEATTLE. WE WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY FOR WORKING ON THAT.
ALSO WITH THE CRISIS CARE
CENTERS. I COME TO YOU FROM MY
AFFILIATES WHO FOR THE LAST TWO
YEARS HAVE HAD A HARD TIME. WE
HAVE HAD A LOT OF THEFT,
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF DEATHS
ON THE JOB, A LOT OF PEOPLE
LIVING UNDER CONTAINERS AND
DRUG USE. IT'S TOUGH. IT IS
TOUGH FOR US WHO CARE ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY. WE PRETTY MUCH A
LEAD THE INDUSTRY IN SUICIDES
AROUND DRUG USE AND ALCOHOL
ABUSE. IT'S TOUGH. I'M HERE TO
TELL YOU THAT WE SUPPORT EVERY
TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO TRY TO
TELL PEOPLE BE SAFE IN THIS
COMMUNITY, HAVE THE BUSES BE
SAFE, THE SIDEWALKS, AND PEOPLE
GETTING CARE. SOMETIMES,
PEOPLE JUST NEED TO BE
APPROACHED. WHAT YOU ARE DOING
IS JUST NOT RIGHT. I THINK WE
NEED TO HAVE ALL THE TOOLS,
INCLUDING ENFORCEMENT OF LOSS.
I SUPPORT SARAH AND ANDREW.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER,
MADAME CLERK?
>> CORRECT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU
EVERYONE WHO CALLED IN. THANK
YOU THOSE WHO ARE STILL THERE
IN THE ALSO SPOKE IN CHAMBERS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE
TIME TO COME DOWN AND TALK TO
US AND GIVE US YOUR COMMENTS
AND YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ONE
ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. I
WILL GO FORWARD WITH OUR
AGENDA. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. NOT SEEING ANY, THE
INTRODUCTION IS INDEED ADOPTED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
NOT SEEING OR HEARING AN
OBJECTION, THIS IS ADOPTED.
BEFORE WE GET THERE, I WILL
MOVE TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ITEMS INCLUDE THE MINUTES OF
MAY 30th, 2023 , COUNCIL
PAYROLL BILL 120589, AND THEN
WE HAD TWO APPOINTMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
COMMITTEE, TWO TO
SUSTAINABILITY AND RIGHTS. ARE
THERE ANY ITEMS THAT ANY
COUNCILMEMBER WOULD LIKE
REMOVED TO DISCUSS LATER IN
THE AGENDA? NOT HEARING ARE
SEEN ON, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> I SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND ADOPTED. WITH THE
CLICK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> NOT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON IN OUR
AGENDA TO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD ONE. THIS
IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.
FIRST, I WILL HAVE THE CLERK
READ THE MATTER INTO THE
RECORD. THEN I WILL MOVE IT ,
I WILL LOOK FOR A SECOND, THE
NO WILL HANDED OVER TO THE TWO
SPONSORS TO SPEAK. THAT WILL
BE COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THAN
PEDERSEN. THEN I'M GOING TO
SPEAK, THEN WILL MOVE ON. I
UNDERSTAND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AS AN AMENDMENT. WOULD
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD.
>> ITEM ONE, COUNCIL BILL 1205
86, ADDED THAT THE CRIMES AND
POSSESSIONS OF THE CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE IN A PUBLIC SPACE.
AND AMENDING -- ON THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120586, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND. THANK YOU FOR THE
SECOND. AS I SHARE, THERE ARE
TWO SPONSORS. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SPONSORED.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED FIRST. I UNDERSTAND
THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
WILL SPEAK SECOND. GO AHEAD,
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT .
>> THIS MAKES HER RESPONSIBLE
FOR CHARGING ALL MISDEMEANORS
OCCURRING IN THEIR
LEGISLATION. MAKING THE
KNOWING POSSESSION IN PUBLIC
USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES A
GROSS MISDEMEANOR IN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. THIS
IS STANDARD PROCEDURE. AS THE
MAYOR SAID FOLLOWING THE
PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 5536 IN
SPECIAL SESSION, AFTER EACH
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE CITY
COUNCIL MODIFIES THE CITY'S
CRIMINAL CODE TO BE CONSISTENT
WITH CHANGES THAT LEGISLATURE
HAS MADE. WE SUPPORT AMENDING
OUR LOCAL LAWS TO COMPLY WITH
STATE LAW,END QUOTE. MOST OF
THEIR CITIES, AS CITY ATTORNEY
DAVIDSON EXPLAINED IN AN EMAIL
CIRCULATED LAST NIGHT, QUOTE,
ADOPT THE STATE FULL CALLS SO
THAT ANY NEW AMENDMENTS ARE
AUTOMATICALLY INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE INTO THE MUNICIPAL
CODE. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WILL
AUTOMATICALLY CONFORM TO THE
NEW STATE LAW WHEN IT GOES INTO
EFFECT ON JULY 1st. THE CITY
CODE STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL
SECTIONS THAT CONSTITUTE
MISDEMEANORS AND GROSS THE
MISDEMEANORS ARE HEREBY
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE AS
CURRENTLY INACTIVE. IT IS NOT
THE SAME HERE IN SEATTLE. THIS
IS PARTLY WHY WE ARE DOING
THIS. MOVING ON, IT SEEMS LIKE
THERE MIGHT'VE BEEN A LITTLE
BIT OF CONFUSION YESTERDAY
ABOUT WHY WE HAD TO ACT. LET'S
GET THIS STRAIGHT. THE SEATTLE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROSECUTING
MISDEMEANORS AND GROSS
MISDEMEANORS IN SEATTLE, BUT
CAN ONLY HANDLE CASES IN THE
SEATTLE MEANNESS OF A COLD. IF
THE CITY DOES NOT PASS THIS
BILL, THE A COMPUTING -- WHILE
HE HAD THE JURISDICTION TO
PROCESSES THAT OCCUR INSIDE
CITY LIMITS. HOWEVER, ON MAY
31st, KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR
LISA, WHOSE JOB IS TO PROSECUTE
FAMILIES -- FELONIES, STATING
THAT THERE IS AN INCORRECT
NOTION THAT MISDEMEANOR DRUG
POSSESSION OR PUBLIC USE CASES
FALLING WITHIN SEATTLE CITY
LIMITS CAN SIMPLY BE REFERRED
TO KING COUNTY TO HANDLE AS
CONTRACTED SERVICES. STATE LAW
MAY TECHNICALLY ALLOW FOR A
MUNICIPALITY TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT FOR PROSECUTION
SERVICES, BUT THE CONTRACT
WOULD NEED TO BE NEGOTIATED AND
AGREED-UPON. THEY DO NOT HAVE
THE FUNDING OR THE STAFF
NECESSARY TO TAKE ON A NEW BODY
OF MISDEMEANOR CASES.
ESSENTIALLY, SEATTLE WOULD HAVE
TO PAY KING COUNTY TO DO WITH
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
ALREADY DOES, WHICH DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE. TO ANSWER WITH
THIS, PLEASE PASS AN ORDINANCE
THAT AUTHORIZES THE OF BILLABLE
-- AVAILABLE RESOURCES. THIS
IS ESSENCE WILL APPROACH THAT
WILL HELP ENSURE A MORE SWIFT
AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THE
IMMEDIATE PUBLIC NEED. THAT IS
THE GENERAL CONTEXT OF THIS
POLICY DISCUSSION. I WORK WITH
CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON TO
DEVELOP THE MORE NARROWLY
DRAFTED ORIGINAL BILL TO MAKE
PUBLIC USE OF DEADLY USE A
SIMPLY MISDEMEANOR IN AN EFFORT
TO CURB SKYROCKETING -- BY
PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL TOOL TO
GET MORE PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT.
THAT WAS MY ORIGINAL INTENT,
BUT I WAS ALSO FOCUSED ON
REDUCING THE SIGNIFICANT
COMMUNITY HARMS ASSOCIATED
WITH PEOPLE SMOKING OR
INJECTING DRUGS IN PUBLIC
PLACES. TWO IN PARTICULAR,
DRUG USE ON PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
PUTTING THE HATE -- HEALTH AND
SAFETY AT RISK AND IMPACTING
LOW INCOME PEOPLE WHO RELY ON
THE LIGHT RAIL TO GET TO WORK,
SCHOOL, OR WHATEVER ELSE THEY
HAD TO GO. IN FACT, IT'S GOTTEN
SO BAD THAT KING COUNTY METRO
INSTALLED AIR QUALITY MEASURES
TO ANALYZE THE SMOKE AND TO
ASSESS THE DANGER . I WILL
HAVE TO SAY, PRESIDENT, COULD
YOU PLEASE ASK THAT PEOPLE NOT
INTERRUPT SPEAKERS?
>> AGAIN, ANOTHER CAUTION. CAN
WE PLEASE JUST LET PEOPLE
SPEAK. WE'VE HAD TWO HOURS
AND HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, PLEASE
GO AHEAD. I DON'T WANT TO TO
CLEAR THE CHAMBERS AND JUST
LEAVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I DO
NOT WANT TO DO THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, PLEASE
PROCEED.
>> ANYWAY, AIR MONITORS ON
BUSES TO -- AND ASSESS DRIVERS
FROM LONG EXPOSURE. SECONDLY,
PUBLIC DRUG USE ON SIDEWALKS
AND IN THE DOORWAYS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES IS DRIVING CUSTOMERS
AWAY AND CREATING SAFETY RISKS
FOR THE WORKERS. AT THE SAME
TIME, MAKING STREETS UNSAFE FOR
EVERYONE. BOTH OF THESE ARE
SLOWING DOWN TOWN RECOVERY.
FUNDAMENTALLY, IT DEPENDS ON
PEOPLE FEELING SAFE ENOUGH TO
RETURN TO WORK AREA ALL RIGHT.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. WHEN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED
ON APRIL 23rd , CITY ATTORNEY
DAVIDSON TRANSMITTED OUR
LEGISLATION , ALSO COSPONSORED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN , ON
APRIL 27th. THE FINAL BRIEFING
ON MAY 8th, COLLEAGUES
EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO ACTING
ON ANY LEGISLATION BEFORE THE
STATE LEGISLATURE HAD HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ACT IN SPECIAL
SESSION. THEY WANTED TO AVOID
A, QUOTE, PIECEMEAL APPROACH
JURISDICTION THAT TRIES TO
SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IS POISED TO FIX.
AFTER THE STATE LEGISLATURE
DIDN'T FIXED IT , AND PASS
SENATE BILL 5536 ON MAY 16th,
MAKING PROSECUTION AND PUBLIC
USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES A
GROSS MISDEMEANOR, CITY
ATTORNEY DAVIDSON,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND I
UPDATED OUR BILL. IF WE DO NOT
PASS THE CONFORMING
LEGISLATION, IT WILL CREATE
THE EXACT SCENARIO THAT THE
STATE LEGISLATION AND MY
COLLEAGUES WISH TO AVOID,
MAINLY THE DISPARITY AND HOW
DRUG LAWS CAN BE ENFORCED AMONG
NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS. ALL
RIGHT. EXISTING INTERVENTIONS
AREN'T SLOWING FENTANYL'S DEATH
TALL IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I BELIEVE WE MUST USE ALL MEANS
THAT ARE DISPOSABLE TO
INTERRUPT THE CYCLE OF
ADDICTION AND MOVE PEOPLE INTO
RECOVERY. AND AS
COUNCILMEMBERS, WE DO HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE
VERY REAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH
PUBLIC DRUG USE ON OUR
STREETS, PARKS, AND TRANSIT.
THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDES
OFFICERS WITH A TOOL TO GET
PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT AND GIVES
THE CITY ATTORNEY THE AUTHORITY
TO PROSECUTE DRUG POSSESSION
AND PUBLIC USE, OR DIVERT
THOSE CASES FOR TREATMENT.
THOSE ARE MY OPENING COMMENTS.
>> OKAY. I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
YOUR OTHER SPONSOR. I MADE A
MISTAKE. AFTER COUNCIL NEVER
PEDERSEN SPEAKS, I UNDERSTAND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS
SOMETHING. AND THEN I WILL
SPEAK. WITH THAT, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD
IS ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THIS
BILL?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YES. I
WANT TO? MANY PEOPLE HERE TODAY
, THE MANY CONSTITUENTS FROM
DISTRICT 4 CONTACTED MY OFFICE
WITH THEIR VARIOUS VIEWS ON
THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC. I HOPE
SEATTLE RESIDENTS FOCUSED ON
THIS ISSUE WERE ALSO ABLE TO
PROVIDE THEIR INPUT LAST MONTH
WHEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WAS
DEBATING THIS. THAT IS WHERE
THE UNDERLYING LAW WAS CRAFTED.
THIS COUNCIL BILL 120586,
THIS ONE PAGE COUNCIL BILL
SIMPLY ADOPTS THE STATE LAW ON
DRUG POSSESSION AND USE.
LEGISLATION CAREFULLY CRAFTED
BY OUR DEMOGRAPHIC GOVERNOR
AND STATE LEGISLATURE. AS WAS
SAID, I KNOW SEVERAL COLLEAGUES
SAID LAST MONTH THEY HAD
WANTED TO WAIT FOR THE GOVERNOR
AND STATE LEGISLATURE TO
FINALIZE THEIR ACTIONS SO THAT
WE DID NOT CREATE A PATCHWORK
OF LOSS. NEARLY A MONTH AGO,
OUR STATE GOVERNMENT DID ADOPT
THEIR LAW. HERE WE ARE. THIS
IS ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX
AS PART OF A MUCH BROADER
SYSTEM OF PROGRAMS AND FUNDING,
INCLUDING TREATMENT. THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR MADE IT
CLEAR, SHE DOES NOT HANDLE
THESE MISDEMEANOR CASES. THAT
IS THE FUNCTION OF CITY
GOVERNMENT. ADOPTING HERE IN
SEATTLE, THE CRIMINAL CODE
UPDATES FROM OUR STATE
GOVERNMENT IS STANDARD. AS
USUAL, LAST YEAR ON NINE
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE VOTED ON A
SIMILAR UPDATE. LAST YEAR, WE
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED COUNCIL
BILL 120422, WHICH BECAME
ORDINANCE 12691, THAT ADOPTED
LEGISLATION WITH THE FOLLOWING
TITLE, AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT WITH
CHANGES IN STATE LAW. WHAT IS
DIFFERENT BETWEEN 2022 AND
'2023? I BELIEVE IT IS
UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS ROUTINE
FUNCTION OF ADOPTING STATE LAWS
AS BEING POLITICIZED THIS YEAR.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HARSH
WORDS HURLED AROUND ABOUT THIS
BILL. AND FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC, I WANT TO TAKE 100
MORE SECONDS OF MY TIME HERE TO
READ THE ONE-PAGE BILL INTO THE
RECORD. I THINK THAT WILL HELP
FOR SOME DEMYSTIFY THIS
LEGISLATION, CONFIRM THAT IS
SIMPLY ADOPTS THE CAREFULLY
CRAFTED STATE LAW. THIS BILL
THAT WE ARE VOTING ON TODAY, BE
IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS. SECTION 1,
12 A .0 9.020, THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE LAST AMENDED ,
ORDINANCE 126691, IT IS AMENDED
AS FOLLOWS. THE ADOPTION OF
RCW SECTIONS, THE FOLLOWING
REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON
SECTION ARE ADOPTED BY
REFERENCE. IT GOES AND LISTS
THOSE SEVERAL INSTANCES TO THE
STATE LAW. THIS ORDINANCE
SHOULD TAKE EFFECT AND BE IN
FULL FORCE 30 DAYS AFTER
APPROVAL BY THE MAYOR. THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE PROVING TODAY.
AGAIN, THIS IS A ONE PAGE BILL.
WE ARE ADOPTING WHAT OUR
DEMOGRAPHIC DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR CRAFTED TO AVOID
CONFUSING PATCHWORK, TWISTING
THIS OF THAT ONE PAGE STATE
LAW INTO A REVIVAL OF THE
FAILED WAR ON DRUGS, WHICH IT
WAS A FAILED WAR ON DRUGS. IT
IS NOT INACCURATE. IT IS ALSO
INSULTING TO OUR DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT AND THE DEMOCRATIC
LED STATE LEGISLATORS. I TRUST
OUR MAYOR TO AND PERMIT
IMPLEMENT THIS LAW
APPROPRIATELY FOR SEATTLE'S
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. I
LOOK FORWARD TO ADOPTING THE
STATE LAW THIS AFTERNOON. THANK
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL NEVER PEDERSEN. MADAME
CLAIRE, IF I AM INCORRECT ON
THE ROUTINE HERE, PLEASE
CORRECT ME. I WANTED TO OPEN
THE FLOOR, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS AN
AMENDMENT. DO WE ALLOW HIM TO
GO AHEAD WITH HIS AMENDMENT IN
A SECOND BEFORE WE HAVE PEOPLE
ACTUALLY COMMENT ON THE BASE
LEGISLATION AFTER IT IS
AMENDED?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WOULD
LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED NOW, HE
WAY -- YOU CAN OPEN UP THE
FLOOR, AS WELL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO YOUR
AMENDMENT?
>> YES, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, COLLEAGUES. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
THIS TO COUNCIL BILL 120586 AS
SHOWN ON THE AGENDA.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND THIS AS
PRESENTED. AGAIN, COUNCIL
NEVER STRAUSS JUST INTRODUCED
IT. DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD
AND SHARE WITH US YOUR
AMENDMENT? THEN I HAVE A FEW
COMMENTS TO SAY ABOUT YOUR
AMENDMENT. GO AHEAD, COUNCIL
NEVER STRAUSS.
>> I DISTRIBUTED AMENDMENT A
YESTERDAY AND HAVE ATTACHED IT
TO THE AGENDA. MY ORIGINAL
DESIRE WAS TO BRING THE
AMENDMENT REQUIRING THIS TO BE
USED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
BECAUSE OF THE SEPARATIONS OF
POWER, I AND WE AS THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH DO NOT HAVE
THIS AUTHORITY. THIS IS THE
SAME REASON THAT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE INCORPORATED THIS
VERY SAME LANGUAGE THAT I USED
IN MY AMENDMENT. AGAIN, THE
STATE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE.
WE KNOW THAT DIVERGING IS AN
EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION FOR SO
MANY PEOPLE. OUR CITY ATTORNEY
HAS THE POWER TO LEAVE WITH
DIVERGENT. I'M SHOCKED THAT BY
THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE COMMUNITY
COURT FROM THIS. IF IT WAS
WITHIN MY POWER, I WOULD
REQUIRE THE USE WHEN
APPROPRIATE. I HAVE DEEP
CONCERNS THAT THIS BILL WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT LEADING
WITH IT. BECAUSE IT IS NOT
WITHIN THE POWER OF THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO REQUIRE
THIS, I'M ADDING THIS AMENDMENT
BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANY
CONFUSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
THIS SHOULD BE USED. MY
AMENDMENT HIGHLIGHTS MINE AND
THE STATE LEGISLATURES DEEP
COMMITTED ENCOURAGEMENT OF
PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
TO PRIORITIZE TREATMENT
SERVICES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
THIS IS BY EXPLICITLY INCLUDING
TEXT FROM THE RCW . THIS
AMENDMENT CLEARLY STATES MY
INTENT TO EXPAND AND PRIORITIZE
TREATMENT OPTIONS NEEDED TO
BALANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TREATMENT AS STATE LAW INTENDS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. MY COMMENTS TO
YOUR AMENDMENT, AND IF THERE
ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS TO THE
AMENDMENT, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, YOU ACTUALLY JUST TOOK
THE LANGUAGE FROM SENATE BILL
5536, WHICH IS PAGE FOUR RCW
60 950-4011 SECTION 2,
SUBSECTION 2C. HE BASICALLY
TOOK THAT EXACT LANGUAGE THAT
THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED
AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED , THEN
YOU PUT THAT INTO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AS AMENDED.
THAT IS THERE FOR EVERYONE TO
SEE. IT HAS BEEN THERE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I SEE
YOUR HAND IS UP, AS WELL. THAT
IS THE END OF MY COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST
WANT TO SAY, I APPRECIATE THE
AMENDMENT AS THE RECITALS IN
THE BASE LEGISLATION ARE
LIMITED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. FOR
EXAMPLE, THERE IS NO MENTION OF
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. THIS
BRINGS IN QUESTION THE TRUE
INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION, AS
DESCRIBED BY THE SPONSORS AND
CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON. AS A
RECITAL, WE SHOULD BE CLEAR .
IT HAS NO POWER OF LAW, UNLIKE
WHEN IN 2018, KING COUNTY
PROSECUTORS ANNOUNCED A POLICY
OF NOT PURSUING CHARGES
AGAINST PEOPLE FOR POSSESSION
OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF DRUGS WHEN
EXPANDING PROGRAMS LIKELY THAT
WORK TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT
AND SERVICE CONNECTION. I
WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR WAS QUOTED
ABOUT THIS DEBATE . TO ME, IT
IS KIND OF BACK TO WHERE WE
WERE IN THE 1980s. WE REALLY
LAUNCHED THE WAR ON DRUGS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. I'M SORRY. I JUST GOT
SOME NEWS. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP
TO COMMENT ? YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WILL MAKE SOME COMMENTS ON
THE BILL AFTER WE CONSIDER THIS
AMENDMENT. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT I TRY TO CORRECT
SOME OF THE INFORMATION FROM
THE SPONSOR OF THE UNDERLYING
BILL AS IT RELATES TO THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US. I
ALSO WANT TO APPRECIATE THAT MY
COLLEAGUE IS TRYING TO BRING
FORWARD SOMETHING THAT WILL
IMPROVE THIS LEGISLATION.
OVERALL, WHILE I WILL SUPPORT
THE AMENDMENT, I AM ABSOLUTELY
OPPOSED TO THE UNDERLYING BILL.
THE UNDERLYING BILL HERE IS
ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY. LET ME
SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE
EFFORTS BY MY COLLEAGUES TO TRY
TO STRENGTHEN THE EFFORT TO
PUSH THE DIVERSION PUBLIC
HEALTH PROVEN STRATEGIES YET
AGAIN, BUT THE UNDERLYING BILL
HERE IS POISONOUS IN ITSELF.
WE DO NOT NEED TO MOVE FORWARD
HERE. THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT
THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE ACT TO
IN TRYING WITH THE STATE
LEGISLATION PASSED. THE STATE
LEGISLATURE WAS IN THE POSITION
TO HALF TO PASS LEGISLATION.
THAT WAS TRUE. THEY HAD TO ACT.
WE DO NOT. LET'S GET THIS
STRAIGHT. THERE DOES SEEM TO BE
CONFUSION . THIS COMES FROM
ANITA, THE KING COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC DEFENSE,
SHE SAID THERE HAVE BEEN
MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE
SEATTLE HAS NOT CODIFIED THE
STATES RCW AND PUT INTO
STATUTE OTHER MISDEMEANOR
OFFENSES THAT THE STATE HAS
PASSED, THE CITY HAS NOT PUT IT
INTO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE. LET ME GIVE YOU THREE
EXAMPLES. MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES
RELATED TO FAILING TO REPORT
HAVE NEVER BEEN CODIFIED IN
SEATTLE NOTICEABLE CODE. RCW
74, 34, THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN
CODIFIED IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. EXAMPLE NUMBER
TWO, RECENT CHANGES TO THE
STATEWIDE BAIL JUMPING STATUTE.
987-6170, THEY WERE ONLY
PARTIALLY CODIFIED AND NOT
FULLY. I DON'T SEE ANY
IMMEDIATE RUSH BY ANY
COUNCILMEMBERS TO APPLY THE
SAME LEVEL OF URGENCY TO
ENFORCE OTHER NEW GROSS
MISDEMEANOR ACTS BY THE STATE,
INCLUDING HOUSE BILL 1112
MPOSING CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR
NEGLIGENT DRIVING INVOLVING THE
DEATH OF A VULNERABLE VICTIM.
THOSE ARE THREE EXAMPLES WHERE
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL HAS NOT
BEEN UPDATED, AND IT IS CLEAR
THIS IS A POLICY OF CHOICE. LET
ME "ANITA, WHO SAID THAT
PROSECUTING THE ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE HISTORY AND POLICY AS A
MISDEMEANOR, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE
COMMITTED WITHIN CITIES , IT
HAS NEVER REQUIRED A
CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP. IN
FACT, THE PUBLIC ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE HAVE STANDARDS DIRECT
THAT MANY CHARGES MAY BE FILED
AS MISDEMEANORS. LET ME BE
CLEAR, I AM NOT ENCOURAGING
KING COUNTY TO PROSECUTE THESE.
IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THESE
PAST EXAMPLES AND WHAT THE
ACTUAL STATUTE SAYS GOES
CONTRARY TO WHAT WE JUST HEARD
BY THE SPONSOR. IT IS NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR US TO ACT UPON
US, IT IS NOT STANDARD, AND IT
IS NOT ROUTINE. I WILL BE
VOTING NO AND MAKING ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS HERE, BUT LET'S NOT
FEEL COMPARED COMPELLED. I
WILL GIVE AN ADDITIONAL PUSH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE
HAVE COMMENTS REGARDING MM AND
A? IF THAT PASSES, THEN WE
WILL ALL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR
DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDED BILL.
RIGHT NOW, I AM FOCUSING ON
THE AMENDMENT. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE
COMMENTS ABOUT THE BILL, WHICH
I COMPLETELY OPPOSE, NEEDLESS
TO SAY. AT THE MOMENT, I WILL
BE SPEAKING ON THE AMENDMENT.
THIS AMENDMENT, LET'S BE CLEAR,
IT CHANGES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
ALL THAT IT DOES IS AS ADDING
A CLAUSE, NOT CHANGING ONE WORD
OF THE LEGISLATION. IT JUST
GIVES INFORMATION, AND THEN
THERE IS THE ACTUAL ACTIONABLE
ITEMS. IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE
ACTIONABLE ITEMS ONE BIT. THE
CLAUSE BEING ADDED IS EXTREMELY
MISLEADING. THE PROPOSED
CLAUSE ESSENTIALLY URGES
PROSECUTORS TO REFER TO THE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT OTHER
THAN PROSECUTING THEM.
HOWEVER, IT IS TOTALLY
CONTRADICTORY. THE ACTUAL
SUBSTANCE PUTS THE DECISION
ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE HAVE
TREATMENTS INTO THE HANDS OF
THE PROSECUTORS WHO HAS A
REPUBLICAN PROSECUTOR, WHO HAS
ANNOUNCED HER INTENTION TO
PROSECUTE AND NOT PUT PRIORITY
ON TREATMENT. IT IS LIKE
PUTTING THE FOX IN CHARGE OF
THE HENHOUSE, AND THEN URGING
THE FOX TO GUARD THE HENS WELL.
>> OKAY.
>> I WILL VOTE YES ON THE
COMMITMENT. YES, OF COURSE,
PROSECUTORS SHOULD REFER
PEOPLE TO TREATMENT SERVICES.
I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN
IN THIS CASE, BUT THIS
AMENDMENT CANNOT BE USED AS AN
EXCUSE FOR COUNSELORS TO
SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING. IT
WORKS IN REALITY AND IS THE
EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT THIS
AMENDMENT PROPOSES TO SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. I DON'T SEE ANYONE
ELSE. WE HAVE HAD COMMENT ON
THE AMENDMENT. LET'S GO AND
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
AMENDMENT A TO COUNCIL BILL
120586?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> NOT IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE WE
WILL MOVE FORWARD THEN. NOW WE
ARE GOING TO SPEAK TO THE
AMENDED BILL. BEFORE WE OPEN
THE FLOOR, I AM GOING TO MAKE
SOME COMMENTS , AND THEN I WILL
OPEN THE FLOOR TO MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE AMENDED BILL. ALL
RIGHT. FIRST, I WANT TO
APOLOGIZE. I MADE COMMENTS
YESTERDAY AND I WAS CONFUSED. I
WAS CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. I
THINK I CAUSED SOME CONFUSION
REGARDING COMMUNITY COURT. THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S -- IT IS AN
ENTIRELY SEPARATE MATTER FROM
THE STATE LAW. DRUG CASES HAVE
NEVER GONE THROUGH COMMUNITY
COURT. I HAD MADE AN
ASSUMPTION THAT THEY DID. MY
UNDERSTANDING NOW IS THAT THEY
DID NOT. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE
MISCOMMUNICATION AND THE
CONFUSION ON MY PART. SECOND,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON WENT
THROUGH A CHRONOLOGY THAT ALSO
APPEARED TO GO THROUGH AS WELL
, STARTING WITH THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ON
MAY 16th , SIGNING SENATE BILL
3356. OF COURSE, THE MAY 31st
CLARIFICATION LETTER FROM THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR , IN
WHICH COUNCILMEMBER NELSON READ
PARTS OF THAT, WHICH IS OPEN
FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. PARTS OF
THAT DISCUSSION, OR PARTS OF
THAT INTO THE RECORD. ALSO
BETWEEN JANUARY AND APRIL,
THERE WERE 92 DRUG CASES THAT
WERE FILED. MOVING FROM MAY
16th TO TODAY, THAT IS THREE
WEEKS. WE HAVE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A 12 PAGE
ANALYSIS FROM CENTRAL STAFF. WE
HAVE HAD A SUMMARY PREPARED ,
LETTERS OF OPPOSITION, WE HAVE
HEARD FROM THE ACLU. THANK YOU,
ALLISON. WE'VE HEARD FROM THE
SUPPORT LETTERS, THE MAYANS
FOR PIONEER SQUARE. WE HAVE
HEARD FROM THEM IN THEIR
OPPOSITION LETTER. THANK YOU.
OF COURSE, MANY OTHER LETTERS
AND EMAILS OF PEOPLE BEING
CONCERNED. I'M VERY HAPPY THAT
WE ARE ENGAGED IN TRUE
DEMOCRACY , LISTENING TO
EVERYONE'S OPINION AND A
COLLECTIVE VOICE TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE. IN THE PROSECUTORS
LETTER, SHE RECOGNIZED AND
STATES THAT WHILE THEY DO FILE
THESE TYPES OF CASES, THEY
UNDERSTAND, AND I QUOTE, IT
DOES NOT PROVIDE THE NECESSARY
TREATMENT TO THOSE THAT NEED
IT, NOR DOES IT FULLY ADDRESS
THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES
ADDRESSING THE DRUG AND
OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC , WHICH
REQUIRE A COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH. PLEASE PASS AN
ORDINANCE THAT AUTHORIZES THE
AVAILABLE AND NEEDED RESOURCES
FROM THE SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THIS IS A
SENSIBLE APPROACH . IT WILL
HELP ENSURE A MORE SWIFT AND
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THE
IMMEDIATE PUBLIC NEED , QUOTE
UNQUOTE. I STATE THAT BECAUSE
THAT IS FROM OUR KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR , AND WHO WE WILL
WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH, AS
WELL AS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. THE SECOND PART I
WANTED TO SHARE IS WHY I WILL
BE SUPPORTING THIS AS AMENDED.
I SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE AS
SOMEONE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.
WE THROW THAT TERM AROUND A
LOT. I SPEAK TO THE DARKNESS
AND PAIN OF ADDICTION? THIS
TAKES OVER A LOVED ONE'S LIFE.
SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED AND
SOMETHING WE CAN ALL SEE IS
THAT THE MOST MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE SUFFER THE MOST. THE
LOSS HAVE SUPPORTED
RELATIONSHIPS, RANDOM STREET
VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
CHILD NEGLECT, MISSING CHILD
SUPPORT CHECKS, PROPERTY CRIMES
AND THEFT, AND DANGEROUS
BEHAVIORS LIKE WALKING INTO
TRAFFIC ARE ENTERING INTO SEX
WORK TO SUPPORT THE COST OF
ADDICTION. MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT
IS FOR PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE,
POOR PEOPLE. OUR RELATIVES ARE
SUFFERING FROM THIS FENTANYL
CRISIS. I BELIEVE WE MUST DO
SOMETHING. LET ME BE CLEAR.
FENTANYL IS POISON. THE EFFECTS
ARE DIFFERENT AND MORE DEADLY
THAN WE HAVE EVER -- THEN I
HAVE EVER WITNESSED WITH OTHER
DANGEROUS DRUGS LIKE COCAINE
OR HEROIN. THERE IS NO SUCH
THING AS A FUNCTIONING FENTANYL
USER. YOU EITHER HAVE TREATMENT
OR YOU DIE. AND YOU DIE SOON.
LET'S NOT ASSIGN MALICE AND
PRACTICE PARTNERSHIP -- I SAID
THAT WRONG. WITH HARD
QUESTIONS. WHEN HARD QUESTIONS
ARE ASKED. SOLUTIONS SHOULDN'T
BE DISMISSED IN FAVOR OF EASY
OUTRAGE THAT DOES LITTLE TO
EASE THE SUFFERING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. WE HURT OURSELVES
WHEN WE IGNORE THE EVIDENCE ,
THE INHUMANE CONDITIONS OF
ADDICTION IN OUR STREETS,
PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS, AND THE
DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY OUR
RELATIVES, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND
COMMUNITY'S. WE HAVE ALL SEEN
THE SPIKE IN THIS IN THE LAST
2-3 YEARS. SOMETIMES, AND THIS
IS WHAT I TRULY BELIEVE,
SOMETIMES, WE OVERESTIMATE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF RACIAL BIAS AND
PREJUDICE. WHILE SERIOUSLY
UNDERESTIMATING THE SOCIAL
ECONOMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH
IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION THAT
ARE LITERALLY KILLING OUR
PEOPLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US ON
THE STREETS, HATING OUR
COMMUNITIES AND RELATIVES. I
AGREE WITH WHAT THE REVEREND
SAID. IT IS NOT THE WAR ON
DRUGS. THEY DIDN'T LIVE IT,
AND THEY SHOULD STOP TALKING
ABOUT IT. LET ME SAY IT
DIFFERENTLY, SOME OF US WERE
THERE DURING THE WAR ON DRUGS
IN THE 90s. THIS IS NOT WHAT I
SAW AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER, ARE
ONE OF THE FIRST JUDGES TO DO
DRUG COURT. THIS IS NOT WHAT I
SAW. FENTANYL IS A DIFFERENT
ANIMAL. IS IT THE BEST THING?
NO. AGAIN, EVERY TOOL IN THE
TOOLBOX. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY
AGREE. THESE ARE THE STATES.
1000 PEOPLE DIED OF DRUG
OVERDOSE IN KING COUNTY LAST
NIGHT -- LAST YEAR. THAT IS
1573 RELATIVES, FRIENDS, AND
NEIGHBORS LOSS. 1573 PEOPLE
TAKING FROM THEIR FAMILIES
FOREVER. ALSO DOING DRUG
COURT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I
LEARNED THAT OFF AND, EVEN
THOUGH WE DON'T WANT TO ADMIT
IT, SOMETIMES THE FRONT DOOR
TO TREATMENT , WHETHER WE LIKE
IT OR NOT , IT IS THE
COURTHOUSE. IS IT THE BEST
ALTERNATIVE? NO. IT IS ONE
ALTERNATIVE. WHEN YOU HAVE
SOMEONE IN A POSITION WHERE
THEY HAVE THE CHOICE TO ACCEPT
TREATMENT , AND THEY CAN ACCEPT
IT, OR NOT ACCEPTED , BUT IT
IS A CHOICE BETWEEN LIFE AND
DEATH.
>> I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
>> I SAID WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR
NOT, IT IS THE COURTHOUSE DOOR.
THE CHOICE TO ACCEPT OR DENY
TREATMENT CAN BE A CHOICE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. NOBODY
TODAY, AND I KNOW THIS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES THEY ALL FEEL DEEPLY
ABOUT THIS. NO ONE TODAY
BELIEVES THIS IS THE BEST PATH,
THE CONFORMING STATE LAW WITH
CITY LAW IS THE BEST PATH
THAT WE ARE CRIMINALIZING DRUG
USE AND ADDICTION. THAT IS NOT
WHAT I BELIEVE WHERE ARE DOING.
BY DOING NOTHING TODAY, THE
MOST MARGINALIZED PEOPLE AND
THEIR FRAME FAMILIES, THE
PEOPLE WHO WE HAVE HEARD THAT
ARE ASKING US TO SAY NO, THOSE
ARE OUR PEOPLE THAT WILL GET
HURT, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WHILE
I APPRECIATE THE ALLIES SHIP,
I ALSO KNOW THAT AS COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR, THEY GET HURT FIRST.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INTENT
IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. I DO
KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS. I DO
KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS ON THE
KING COUNTY SIDE FOR FELONIES.
WE ALL HAVE WORKED CLOSELY
WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT
JUDGES. AGAIN, WE KNOW WE HAVE
PRETRIAL DIVERSION. WE KNOW
PRETRIAL DIVERSION HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO
TREATMENT, AND IT WORKS. WE
HAVE THE STATISTICS TO PROVE
IT. TODAY, EVEN THOUGH SOME
PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY
>> PEOPLE YELLING OVER ME?
OKAY. LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
THAT IS WHY I AM VOTING YES ON
THIS BILL. I TRULY BELIEVE FOR
TODAY , THAT WE HOPEFULLY WILL
SAVE SOME LIVES. I KNOW IN
INDIAN COUNTRY AND WHERE WE ARE
AT, WE HAVE PEOPLE DYING.
THERE IS NOT A POLICE OFFICER,
THERE IS NO ONE NEARBY WITH
NARCAN, THEY ARE JUST DYING.
IT IS DECIMATING OUR
COMMUNITIES. I FEEL LIKE WE
MUST DO SOMETHING. TODAY, I
WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS
BILL. I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE
THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO HOLLER
OVER ANYBODY TRYING TO JUST
HAVE AN OPINION. WITH THAT, I
WILL CLOSE AND I WILL OPEN THE
FLOOR FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
FIRST-HAND UP I SEE IS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I AM WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT
THE SPONSORS NEED TO SPEAK TO
THE BILL FIRST. I AM HAPPY TO
DO SO. I KIND OF LET THEM BOTH
SPEAK TO YOU TO INTRODUCE IT,
AND I WAS GOING TO LET THEM
CLOSE US OUT.
>> GOT IT. I DON'T WANT TO STEP
OUT OF LINE. I APPRECIATE THAT,
MADAM PRESIDENT. YES, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ADDRESS THE BILL. AS WE ALL
KNOW, CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON
AND COUNCILMEMBERS NELSON AND
PEDERSEN PROPOSED A BILL TO
MAKE PUBLIC CONSUMPTION OF
ILLEGAL DRUGS A SIMPLE
MISDEMEANOR LAST MONTH. AT THE
TIME, I DID STATE, AS SOME OF
MY COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE
REMINDED ME, I DID STATE THAT I
WANTED TO WAIT FOR THE OUTCOME
OF GOVERNOR INSLEE'S SPECIAL
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL. IT IS
SPECIFIC TO SEATTLE IN ORDER TO
AVOID A PATCHWORK OF DIFFERENT
REGULATIONS ACROSS THE STATE
AND TO ENSURE THAT THE
LEGISLATION WAS CONSIDERED WITH
FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEW STATE
LAW. AS A RESULT OF THE
GOVERNORS SPECIAL SESSION , WE
DO HAVE A BILL BEFORE US TODAY.
HAD WE ACTED ON THE ORIGINAL
BILL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN
CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW, SO IT
WAS A GOOD THING WE DID THAT,
REGARDLESS OF TODAY'S VOTE.
THERE IS NOW A CLEAR STATEWIDE
STANDARD. EVEN IF THIS
LEGISLATION FAILS TODAY. THAT
IS A GOOD THING TO CREATE AS A
FOUNDATION, THE FACT THAT WE
ARE NOT WORKING WITH A
PATCHWORK OF STATE LAWS. THE
STATE LAW WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON
JULY 1st, NOTHING THE COUNCIL
DOES OR DOESN'T DO WILL AFFECT
THAT. I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE
TO REFLECT ON WHAT THE CITY'S
LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES ARE
AS IT RELATES TO SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER, BOTH FROM THE MAYOR
AND GDS FROM THE RECENT
EXECUTIVE ORDER , RECOGNIZING
THE HARM CREATED BY LOCAL
OPIOIDS. AT THAT EXECUTIVE
ORDER ANNOUNCEMENT, THEY SAID
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING
ON. BIG-TIME DEALERS THAT ARE
TAKING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION AND
TRYING TO PRAY AND HARM OUR
COMMUNITY. WE ARE HOPING WE
CAN ACTUALLY SURE UP WITH STATE
LEGISLATION AND THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO REALLY BE ABLE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW PEOPLE WILL GET
TREATMENT AND REDUCE DEMAND.
FURTHER, AS REFLECTED IN OUR
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF'S MEMO ,
NOTING THAT SPD HAS INDICATED
THAT IT BELIEVES ARRESTING
INDIVIDUALS ON THESE CHARGES
PROVIDES A MEANINGFUL
OPPORTUNITY TO DIVERT, RATHER
THAN DEFAULT TO JAIL. THIS
BILL HAS NO IMPACT ON WHETHER
OR NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
CAN REST, REGARDLESS ON THE
ACTION THAT THEY TAKE. STATE
LAW WILL BE IN EFFECT
THROUGHOUT THE STATE ON JULY
1st. SUPPORTING MORE, SCALING
UP MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO
DEBORA, RATHER THAN TO NEVER
TO JAIL CAN AND WILL BE
DEVELOPED.
AFTER ENGAGING FIRST NATION
COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS
EFFECTIVE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR
AND AS A RESPONSE TO SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER, ADULTS IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA ARE NO LONGER SUBJECT
TO CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR THE
PERSONAL POSSESSION OF SMALL
AMOUNTS OF CRIMINAL DRUGS. IN
SUPPORT OF THAT, THE CANADIAN
ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF
POLICE AGREE THAT THE
EVIDENCE SUGGESTS AND NUMEROUS
CANADIAN HEALTH LEADERS SUPPORT
DECRIMINALIZATION FOR SIMPLE
POSSESSION AS AN EFFECTIVE WAY
TO REDUCE THE PUBLIC HEALTH
AND PUBLIC SAFETY HARMS
ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE
ABUSE. THEIR STATEMENT, THE
POLICE CHIEF STATEMENT IN
CANADA, ALSO ENDORSES
ALTERNATIVES TO SIMPLE
POSSESSION, ACCESS TO DIVERSION
AND INCREASING COMMUNITY
CAPACITY AND SIMILAR TO OUR
MAYOR AND OUR CHIEF, QUOTE,
AGREE THAT POLICE SERVICES
REMAIN COMMITTED TO COMBATING
ORGANIZED CRIME AND DISRUPTING
THE SUPPLY OF HARMFUL
SUBSTANCES COMING INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES BY TARGETING DRUG
TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL
PRODUCTION AND IMPORTATION. WE
RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE
CITY ATTORNEY VIA
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON LAST NIGHT
WHERE SHE WROTE, I FURTHER
PLEDGE TO CONTINUE WITH
UNPRECEDENTED TRANSPARENCY
ABOUT THE OPERATION AND
DECISION-MAKING OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WE WORK
THROUGH THE VARIETY OF
INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER FACE.
THE RECENT COMMUNITY COURT
DECISION OF HER OFFICE IS VERY
PERTINENT TO THIS ISSUE.
BEFORE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
NOTIFICATION TO MY OFFICE, JUST
MINUTES BEFORE THE FRIDAY
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE UNILATERAL
DECISION TO END COMMUNITY
COURT, I WAS WAVERING IN MY
DECISION ON HOW TO VOTE ON THIS
BILL. BUT THE COMMUNITY COURT
DECISION THAT WAS MADE WAS MADE
NEITHER WITH TRANSPARENCY, NOR
WITH ANY UNDERSTANDING -- OF
THE VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER FACE.
WITH THAT TRACK RECORD I HAVE
NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE USE OF
PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION IN
MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT
POSSESSION AND PUBLIC USE
ENFORCEMENT WILL BE ANYTHING
THAT WE CAN COUNT ON OCCURRING
WITH HER, QUOTE, UNDERSTANDING
OF THE VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES
THE PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER FACE.
WE KNOW THAT UP TO 95% OF
OPIOID USERS WHO CHOOSE
VOLUNTARILY TREATMENT RELAPSE.
WHY DOES ANYONE BELIEVE THAT
MANDATORY TREATMENT WILL HAVE A
DIFFERENT OUTCOME AND WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE WHO ARE
INCARCERATED RELAPSE? WE KNOW
FROM THOMAS FITZPATRICK, AN
INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND AN EXPERT IN
HARM REDUCTION AND PUBLIC
HEALTH APPROACHES, THAT AFTER
PEOPLE ARE RELEASED FROM
INCARCERATION, WITHIN THE
FIRST TWO WEEKS THEY HAVE
NEARLY 10 TIMES THE RISK OF
OVERDOSING THAN THE GENERAL
POPULATION OR PEOPLE WHO ARE
OTHERWISE EXPOSED TO OPIOIDS.
I AM REALLY CONCERNED AND
CONFUSED ABOUT HOW THE
PROPONENTS BELIEVE THAT THIS
IS SOMEHOW A PATHWAY INTO
TREATMENT. THIS IS NOT A
PATHWAY INTO TREATMENT. AND
MOST FUNDING FOR EVIDENCE-BASED
TREATMENT ACTUALLY LIVES AT THE
COUNTY LEVEL, WHICH IS WHY IT
IS SO IMPORTANT TO LEAVE
PROSECUTION OF DRUG CRIMES AT
THE COUNTY LEVEL, WHERE THEY
HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
FUNDING STREAMS TO ADDRESS IT
AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. FOR
INSTANCE, UNLIKE THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE COUNTY
HAS OPERATED A THERAPEUTIC
ALTERNATIVE TO DRUGS,
THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVE
DIVERSION PROGRAM, WHICH IS A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND
THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. IT
TARGETS INDIVIDUALS WITH
POSSESSION. THOSE WITH
POSSESSION AND ALSO CHARGE THE
PROPERTY OFFENSE AND IT IS ONLY
OFFERED ON EXPEDITED FELONIES
AND THIS IS PRE-BLAKE AND THAT
IS WHY IT WAS FELONIES, BECAUSE
THAT IS WHAT POSSESSION WAS AS
A CHARGE AT THAT POINT. THIS
PROGRAM NOW FOCUSES ON PROPERTY
CASES, POST-BLAKE. IT'S
HISTORIC FOCUS ON DRUG CASES
AND ABILITY TO PARTNER WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH IS CLEAR. THE
CITY DOES NOT HAVE THAT IN
PLACE. THOUGH THE COUNTY
PROSECUTOR SUGGESTS HER OFFICE
HAS LIMITED JURISDICTION FOR
PROSECUTION OF CHARGES IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WITHOUT AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, AS
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA GAVE AS
EXAMPLES, WE KNOW THAT THE
MARCH 2023 FILING STANDARDS
FOR THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE CLEARLY
STATE THAT THEY WILL FILE
CERTAIN BEHAVIOR RELATED TO
DRUGS AS MISDEMEANORS. FINALLY
I WANT TO JUST UPLIFT SOME OF
THE THINGS IN MAYOR HARRELL'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER. THEY ARE
WORKING ON CONVENING A TASK
FORCE INCLUDING THE SEATTLE
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE,
FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS AND
THE FOCUS WILL BE TO
COLLABORATE ON AND DEVELOP
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO
TARGETING DEALERS AND
TRAFFICKERS, BUT THEN THEY ARE
ALSO WORKING ON PULLING
TOGETHER A WORK GROUP TO MAP
OUT THE EXISTING PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES AVAILABLE TO TREAT AND
RESPOND TO THE OPIOID AND
SYNTHETIC DRUG CRISIS. THIS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT WORK TO
IDENTIFY WHAT THE GAPS ARE AND
IT IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE
NEED TO HAVE, REGARDLESS OF THE
OUTCOME OF THIS VOTE TODAY. I
WANT TO CLOSE WITH, WE HAVE
HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE'S
PERSONAL STORIES, I WANT TO
CLOSE WITH REFERENCE TO SOME
INFORMATION I RECEIVED FROM A
CONSTITUENT. SPECIFICALLY
RELATED TO THIS MYTH THAT JAIL
IS AN EFFECTIVE PIPELINE TO
TREATMENT. THIS CONSTITUENT
WROTE TO ME. SHE IS SOMEBODY
THAT TELLS ME THAT HER FATHER
WAS SENT TO VIETNAM. HER FATHER
CAME BACK AS A BROKEN AND
ABUSIVE PERSON. AN ALCOHOLIC.
HER MOTHER HAD SOLE CUSTODY OF
HER. HER SISTER GREW UP IN THE
SAME HOUSE WITH HER FATHER AND
THIS PERSON WRITING TO ME
ASKED, WHERE IS OUR SOCIETAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADDRESSING
THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS OF
FAILING TO PROVIDE THE
SERVICES THAT THEIR FATHER
NEEDED AND DESERVED? AND THAT
HER SISTER NEEDED AND DESERVED
FOR BEING ON THE RECEIVING END
OF HIS NOT RECEIVING THOSE
SERVICES. SHE WROTE, I HAVE
SPENT THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS
HELPING MY HALF-SISTER SURVIVE
JAIL AND THEN TRANSITION INTO
ADDICTION TREATMENT AND NOW
BEGIN ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING
CHALLENGES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO
BOTH OF THOSE. NOT ONLY IS
JAIL NOT TREATMENT, IT IS
ACTIVELY HARMFUL AND
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO RECOVERY
IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. JAIL
CAUSED MY SISTER TO LOSE MOST
OF HER POSSESSIONS AND ALMOST
CAUSED HER TO LOSE HER HOME
AFTER HER MOTHER PASSED AWAY.
FROM OUR JOURNEY, I CAN TELL
YOU THAT THE THREAT OF JAIL IS
NOT WHAT KEEPS HER SOBER. WHAT
KEEPS HER SOBER IS A
COMBINATION OF HAVING ACCESS
TO SERVICES AND ALSO HAVING
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH
FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WHICH JAIL
ACTIVELY UNDERMINES, ESPECIALLY
FOR FAMILIES WITHOUT THE MONEY
AND THE SCHEDULE FLEXIBILITY
TO MAKE USE OF THE JAILS PHONE
SYSTEM. LASTLY, WE HAVE BEEN
GETTING INFORMATION FROM THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT
THEIR WORK REVERSING OVERDOSES
AND SAVING LIVES. BREAKING
DOWN ALL OF THE DATA IS
CHALLENGING, BUT ONE THING THAT
WE DO KNOW IS THAT AS OF A FEW
WEEKS AGO, FIRE PERSONNEL HAVE
RESPONDED TO ABOUT 10 INCIDENTS
A DAY. TO A PATIENT WITH A
SUSPECTED DRUG USE ON A STREET
IN SEATTLE. SINCE SPRING OF
2021, THEY HAVE RESPONDED TO
STREET LOCATIONS MORE
FREQUENTLY THAN RESIDENTIAL
LOCATIONS. THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS USED NALOXONE
43 TIMES IN A PUBLIC PLACE, SO
FAR IN 2023. CRIMINALIZATION
WOULD PUT INTO THE SHADOWS,
WITH DEADLY RESULTS, THE
LIFE-SAVING WORK OF OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAS HER HAND UP.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
I HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A
STATEMENT TO MAKE, BUT I WANTED
TO JUST CHECK ON PROCEDURE
HERE. ARE WE ASKING QUESTIONS
OF THE SPONSORS OR ARE WE JUST
MAKING OUR STATEMENTS ABOUT THE
BILL?
>> THIS IS NOT A COMMITTEE
HEARING, BECAUSE THE CHAIR OF
PUBLIC SAFETY DID NOT WANT IT
IN A COMMITTEE HEARING. WE ARE
JUST NOW CLOSING OUT WITH OUR
STATEMENTS. SO WE WILL ASK YOU
TO MAKE YOUR STATEMENT
REGARDING THE AMENDMENT, THIS
AMENDED BILL.
>> I THOUGHT WE ALREADY VOTED
ON THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. THANK
YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
SINCE WE DID NOT HAVE A
COMMITTEE MEETING, WHAT I THINK
I WILL DO IS READ THE QUESTIONS
I WOULD'VE ASKED INTO THE
RECORD AND THEN I WILL MAKE MY
STATEMENT. SO THE FIRST
QUESTION WAS I WANTED TO ASK,
THE CITY ATTORNEY DID SEND A
LETTER THIS MORNING STATING HER
PRINCIPAL GOAL WAS TO GET
PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
I AM INTERESTED ON AN
ELABORATION OF WHAT KIND OF
TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND HOW
THIS BILL ACCOMPLISHES THAT. MY
SECOND QUESTION, THE LETTER
ALSO STATED WE NEED TO
MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE
EPIDEMIC ON OUR BUSES AND
PARKS. I AM CURIOUS HOW THIS
BILL WOULD ACCOMPLISH THAT. MY
THIRD QUESTION IS WHAT
DIRECTION CHIEF DIAZ PLANS TO
GIVE TO OFFICERS ABOUT WHETHER
TO ADDRESS OR DIVERT. THIS IS
AN ISSUE THAT CAME UP AND IS
NOT ANSWERED AND HOW DO WE
KNOW WHEN THE CHIEF WILL
PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION? MY
FOURTH QUESTION, WHAT IS A
TYPICAL CASELOAD FOR THE
CRIMINAL DIVISION STAFF? WHAT
IS THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF
CASES THAT WOULD COME TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WHAT
CHANGES IN STAFFING WOULD BE
NEEDED TO HANDLE THE ESTIMATED
NUMBER OF CASES? AND THE LAST
QUESTION BEFORE MY STATEMENT,
WE DON'T HAVE A DRUG COURT AT
THE CITY. IS THE INTENT TO
PROSECUTE THESE CASES IN A
DRUG COURT? IF SO HOW MUCH
WOULD IT COST TO CREATE THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE, WHEN WILL THAT
BE DONE, AND WHAT HAPPENS TO
PEOPLE ARRESTED IN THE
MEANTIME? I ALSO WANT TO SAY
THAT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE COUNTY SPENDS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR A
COUNTY DRUG COURT AND
DIVERSION, SO IT IS
DISINGENUOUS FOR THE COUNTY
PROSECUTOR TO CLAIM THERE IS NO
FUNDING FOR DRUG DIVERSION FOR
THE COUNTY. OKAY, SO, SO I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE ARE
FRUSTRATED. THEY ARE FED UP.
THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE
STATE OF THE CITY. THERE IS NO
DOUBT ABOUT THAT QUESTION.
JUST THIS MORNING I HAD TO
SWITCH BUSES, BECAUSE SOMEONE
ON THE 7 PASSED OUT AND WAS
SORT OF HALF IN, HALF OUT OF
THE BUS. SO THE DRIVER HAD TO
STOP AND CALL THE MEDICS AND WE
HAD TO SWITCH BUSES. WE ALL SEE
THAT PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS ARE
SUFFERING AND THEY NEED REAL
HELP TO GET THE APPROPRIATE
TREATMENT THEY NEED AND TO GET
HOUSED AND SEATTLEITES
UNDERSTAND THESE ARE COMPLEX
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES AND THERE
ARE NO EASY ANSWERS. THE BILL
UNDER CONSIDERATION OFFERS THE
SHEEN OF AN ANSWER WITHOUT
PROVIDING ANY REAL SOLUTIONS
TO OUR CRISES. JAIL IS NOT A
SOLUTION TO A PUBLIC HEALTH
PROBLEM. IN FACT, JAIL WILL
EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM BY
INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT
PEOPLE WILL DIE, EITHER BY
OVERDOSE OR SUICIDE IN JAIL,
WITH AN UNUSUALLY HIGH SUICIDE
RATE. IN THIS PARTICULAR
SCENARIO THERE ARE NO
ALTERNATIVES BEING OFFERED. NO
COMMUNITY COURT, NO SUPERVISED
CONSUMPTION OR COUNSELING
SITES. NONE OF THE OPTIONS THE
MOUNTAINS OF DATA TELL US COULD
WORK. NOTHING BUT JAIL. THE
SPONSORS CLAIM THE INTENT IS TO
INTERRUPT THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS
OR CURB STREET SALES, BUT IF
FOCUSED ON ORGANIZED DRUG E
TRAFFICKING, NOT THE END-USER.
THIS MORNING WE GOT A LETTER,
AS I SAID, FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY STATING THAT THE
PRINCIPAL GOAL WAS TO GET
PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT, YET
NOTHING ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION
MENTIONS TREATMENT PROGRAMS,
MUCH LESS A PLAN FOR
ESTABLISHING THEM. THIS FEELS
PERFORMATIVE, I HAVE TO SAY.
IN PASSING THIS LEGISLATION, IT
WILL DIVERT RESOURCES AND
CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE WITH THE
LEAST AMOUNT OF POWER IN THE
SITUATION, WHILE NOT TACKLING
THE MANUFACTURING AND
DISTRIBUTION OF THESE
PRODUCTS. IF THIS HAD GONE
THROUGH COMMITTEE, THERE
WOULD'VE BEEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY
TO QUESTION THE CITY ATTORNEY
ABOUT THEIR ANALYSIS OF THE
COST, WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT
ALTERNATIVES THE CITY ATTORNEY
PLANS TO IMPLEMENT, THE IMPACT
ON JAIL AND JAIL STAFF, THE
IMPACT ON OUR STATE CRIME LAB
AND ITS ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE
ORGANIZED DRUG RINGS. NONE OF
THIS INFORMATION WAS MADE
AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL FOR
CONSIDERATION AND DEBATE. THE
ONLY CONCLUSION THAT IS LEFT TO
MAKE IS THAT THIS BILL IS NOT
INTENDED TO SOLVE SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER. IT IS NOT INTENDED
TO PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR
PEOPLE. IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR
PRETRIAL DIVERSION. IT IS NOT
INTENDED TO MITIGATE THE RACIAL
DEEP PROPORTIONALITY THAT
COMES WHEN ARRESTING PEOPLE IS
MADE EASIER. THE SOLE INTENT
IS TO PUT POOR PEOPLE IN JAIL,
MOST OF WHOM WILL BE BLACK AND
BROWN, AND THEN LET THEM OUT
AND ENSURE THEY HAVE A RECORD
THAT FOLLOWS THEM FOREVER AND
MAKES IT HARDER TO GET A JOB OR
GET HOUSING. THIS COUNCIL HAS
AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
REFLECTS SOUND PUBLIC POLICY,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE STATE
PASSES. OUR MAYOR HAS SAID THAT
HIS NORTH STAR IS TO SAVE LIVES
BY LEADING WITH SAFETY AND
EQUITY. OUR POLICE CHIEF AND
SAID HIS PRIORITY IS TO WORK
WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS TO TARGET
LARGE-SCALE DISTRIBUTORS. AS
BLACK AND BROWN MEN, THEY HAVE
SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE
TARGETED BY POSSESSION LAWS. I
STILL HEAR NEIGHBORS TALKING IN
SOUTH SEATTLE ABOUT THE TRAUMA
CAUSED BY THE WEED AND SEED
PROGRAM, ANOTHER EFFORT TO
TARGET USERS AND ROUND THEM UP,
ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR. LET'S BE VERY CLEAR THAT
WHAT HANGS IN THE BALANCE TODAY
IS WHETHER WE WILL VOTE TO PUT
BLACK OR BROWN PEOPLE IN JAIL.
THIS VOTE WILL HAVE
GENERATIONAL CONSEQUENCES FOR
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND THAT
IS WHY THE ENTIRE 37th
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT DELEGATION
ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND SOUTH
SEATTLE VOTED NO. OUR BLACK
AND BROWN NEIGHBORS NEED TO
KNOW THAT WE DON'T STAND WITH
TARGETING THEM. OUR NEIGHBORS
WHO STRUGGLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER NEED TO KNOW THAT WE
WILL INVEST IN TREATMENT FOR
THEM, NOT THROW THEM IN JAIL.
OUR JAIL WORKERS NEED TO KNOW
THAT WE HEAR THEM WHEN THEY SAY
THAT JAILS ARE FULL AND PROVIDE
NO SAFETY FOR CELLMATES. AND
WE NEED TO SHOW OUR NEIGHBORS
HAT WE WILL FOCUS ON RE
SOLUTIONS, LIKE DIVERSION AND
TREATMENT AND HOUSING. THAT IS
HOW WE CREATE SAFETY FOR
SEATTLE AND I WILL BE VOTING NO
ON THIS BILL TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK
YOU. I OWE THE PUBLIC THE
FULL WEIGHT OF MY EXPERIENCE
AND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS TOPIC. I
OWE THE PUBLIC THE TRUTH ON
SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
UNDERGIRDING'S THAT HAVE BEEN
SHARED THAT DON'T COMPLETELY
SHAKE OUT FOR THE DEBATE WE
HAVE BEEN HAVING HERE OR FOR
THE DEBATE WE RECENTLY HAD IN
OLYMPIA TO RESOLVE THE BLAKE
DECISION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IT
IS NOT ENTIRELY THE CASE THAT
THE COMMUNITY COURT WAS NOT A
DRUG COURT. THE COMMUNITY COURT
DID NOT PROSECUTE DRUG CRIMES,
BUT IT TREATED PEOPLE WHO WERE
SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE
ADDICTION AND REQUIRED, AS PART
OF ITS TREATMENT, A SERVICE
ASSESSMENT THAT WAS INFORMED BY
PRODUCING A URINARY ANALYSIS.
75% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ENTERED
THE COMMUNITY COURT GOT A
NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO HELP
INFORM THOSE UNDERLYING
PROBLEMS. 80% GRADUATED FROM
THE PROGRAM. AND I CAME OUT
HERE ON THE DAIS TODAY, FULLY
PREPARED TO VOTE FOR THIS
MEASURE, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT
IS GENERALLY PROPER THAT WE
RECONCILE OUR SMC TO THE
STATE LAW. BUT THIS DISCUSSION
DESERVES MORE THAN THIS. AND
I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO
THE PEOPLE WHO I KNOW WHO ARE
WATCHING WHO ARE CONSTITUENTS
I REPRESENT DOWNTOWN, WHO ARE
BUSINESS OWNERS, WHO ARE
RESIDENTS, WHO ARE RIGHTLY
SCARED AND CONCERNED BY THE
STATE OF SUBSTANCE ADDICTION
THAT IS IN OUR STREETS. AND I
WANT TO REACH OUT, BECAUSE I
HAVE SPENT EVERY WAKING HOUR
OF MY TIME ON THIS COUNCIL DAIS
AND IN SERVICE TO THIS CITY TO
HELP DOWNTOWN RECOVER FROM THAT
CRISIS. I FOUGHT WITH THE
FORMER MAYOR TO FULLY FUND JUST
CARE AND WE REMOVED
ENCAMPMENTS. WE RESOLVED
ENCAMPMENT LOCATIONS IN THE
DOWNTOWN CENTER OF THE CITY,
IN A WAY THAT CENTERED
EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS IN OUR
PARKS AND OUR OPEN SPACES.
WITHOUT THE NEED TO CRIMINALIZE
OPEN PUBLIC USE. WE ARE
WORKING ON THE THIRD AVENUE
PROJECT RIGHT NOW, ON THIRD
AVENUE, THAT IS HELPING TO
CONNECT PEOPLE WITH SERVICES.
THAT IS DOING A CENSUS OF THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERLYING
SUBSTANCE ADDICTION PROBLEMS. I
AM NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO
INCORPORATING THE STATUTE INTO
OUR SMC AND I WAS PREPARED TO
DO THIS. I THINK IT IS
GENERALLY PROPER FOR US TO DO
IT. BUT WITH THE ENDING OF
COMMUNITY COURT, WITHOUT ANY
ADDITIONAL PROCESS, I JUST
CAN'T DO IT TODAY. I JUST
CAN'T.
>> AND -- LET ME, LET ME
SPEAK. I AM SPEAKING,
EXTEMPORANEOUSLY, BUT THE
PUBLIC DESERVES THAT
DISCUSSION AND THAT DEBATE.
BECAUSE IT IS TRUE. IF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT IS
GOING TO TAKE ON THESE
REFERRALS, AND I SPEAK FROM
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WE CAN
BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO
THAT. COMMUNITY COURT WAS
WELL-POSITIONED TO DO THAT. YOU
HAD TO PROVIDE URINALYSIS TO
GET THROUGH THE DOOR OF
COMMUNITY COURT AND YOU HAD TO
ENGAGE IN SERVICES AT THE
COMMUNITY COURT IN ORDER TO
GRADUATE. AND WHILE I
UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE ARE
FACING HERE TODAY IS TRYING TO
GET THROUGH THIS CHALLENGE AND
THAT PART OF IT IS RESPECTING
THE BLAKE DECISION, PART OF
RESPECTING THE BLAKE DECISION
IS FIGURING OUT HOW WE WILL DO
THE DIVERSION COMPONENT OF
THIS AS PART OF THE PACKAGE AND
WE NEED TO HAVE A RESET TO HAVE
THE PROPER CONVERSATION.
PROFILES IN COURAGE IS A THIN
VOLUME AND I DON'T DISRESPECT
AT ALL THE INTENTION OF THE
SPONSORS IN BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION HERE TODAY AND I
THINK IT WAS COURAGEOUS FOR
THEM TO DO SO AND I UNDERSTAND
THAT IT POLLS WELL RIGHT NOW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT POLLS WELL
TO SIMPLY PASS THE STATUTE,
BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO PASS THE
STATUTE, WE NEED TO DO IT WITH
A FULL, PROGRAMMATIC
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND
INSTITUTIONS ARE GOING TO BE.
NOW, IN THE MEANTIME, BECAUSE I
AM GOING TO GET A LOT ABOUT
THIS LATER WHEN I AM OFF THE
DAIS, FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PEOPLE. THE RCW WILL BE IN
PLACE. SET UP LEASES COMPLETELY
UNHINDERED BY WHATEVER WE DO
HERE TODAY. SEATTLE POLICE, I
WANT TO BE COMPLETELY CLEAR,
SEATTLE POLICE ARE FULLY
EMPOWERED UNDER THE RCW TO
ARREST PEOPLE IF THEY ARE
PUBLICLY USING AND TO ARREST
PEOPLE FOR POSSESSION. PASSING
THIS SMC WILL NOT CHANGE THAT.
I AM FULLY COMMITTED TO WORKING
WITH ALL PARTIES, TO WORKING
WITH THIS COUNCIL, WORKING WITH
THE MAYOR AND WORKING WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO TALK ABOUT
HOW WE MIGHT TAKE ON THIS BODY
OF WORK, POST-BLAKE. I AM
COMMITTED TO THAT. BUT I CAN'T
SIT HERE, WHEN ONE OF THOSE
TOOLS IS BEING TAKEN AWAY AND
THE PROMISE OF A PRETRIAL
DIVERSION PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN
FULLY FLESHED OUT YET. I JUST
CAN'T. BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED
IN THESE SYSTEMS. AND I OWE IT
TO EVERYONE INVOLVED TO BRING
MY EXPERIENCE ON THAT
SINCERELY TO THE TABLE AND TO
DAYLIGHT IT. I JUST DO. IT IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHETHER I
STAY ON THIS DAIS. BECAUSE A
REAL, REAL PUBLIC POLICY
MATTERS ON HOW WE TAKE CARE OF
THIS. AND THAT IS IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. ALL RIGHT, NOT SEEING
ANY OTHER HANDS, I AM GOING TO
GIVE THE SPONSORS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE US OUT AND
PERHAPS ADDRESS -- I AM SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I DID
NOT SEE YOUR HAND. I SEE IT
NOW. COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU
HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO GAVE SUCH MOVING
TESTIMONY AND PUBLIC COMMENT
AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION AND
THANKS ALSO TO THE 600 WORKING
PEOPLE AND ACTIVISTS WHO SENT
EMAILS TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGAINST THIS BILL. I WILL BE
VOTING NO ON THIS BILL. WHICH,
IF PASSED, WOULD ESSENTIALLY
EMPOWER REPUBLICAN CITY
ATTORNEY DAVIDSON TO DECIDE
WHEN TO PROSECUTE AND
CRIMINALIZE, INSTEAD OF
REFERRING SOMEONE TO TREATMENT
FOR ADDICTION. ON THE SURFACE
THIS LEGISLATION APPEARS TO BE
A ROUTINE REFERENCE TO STATE
LAWS, AS SOME COUNCILMEMBERS,
EVEN ONES WHO SAID THEY ARE
GOING TO VOTE NO, HAVE SAID,
BUT THAT IS COMPLETELY
MISLEADING. BECAUSE THE EFFECT
OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO
INCREASE THE AUTHORITY OF ONE
INDIVIDUAL, DAVISON, OVER
PEOPLE'S LIVES. IT IS NOT JUST
ABOUT HER, IT IS ABOUT
EXPANDING THE POWER OF THE
SYSTEM AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I HAVE ZERO CONFIDENCE IN HOW
ANN DAVISON WILL USE THIS
POWER. ANN DAVISON JOINED THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY AFTER TRUMP
WAS ELECTED. AFTER TRUMP WAS
ELECTED. SHE RECORDED A VIDEO
FOR A CAMPAIGN HOLDING EVENTS
SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP AND WAS
STARTED BY A JANUARY 6 WRITER
WHO WAS ARRESTED AND LATER
CONVICTED. SHE ALSO PROMOTED A
RIGHT-WING ATTACK ON HOMELESS
PEOPLE, LABELING THEM, QUOTE
UNQUOTE, A COVID THREAT.
PROSECUTION IS DIVORCED FROM
THE EVIDENCE THAT ADDICTION IS
A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND
REQUIRES PUBLIC HEALTH
SOLUTIONS. SO WHO IS IN FAVOR
OF A POLICY THAT IS COMPLETELY
CONTRADICTORY TO OVERWHELMING
EVIDENCE? REPUBLICANS, OF
COURSE. DEMOCRATS. EVEN
DEMOCRATS WHO SAY THAT THEY ARE
PROGRESSIVE AND THEN THEY SAY
THAT THEY HAD A CHANGE OF HEART
ABOUT THIS BILL, BECAUSE OF
COMMUNITY COURT. NO. I WILL
TELL YOU WHY WHOEVER CHANGED
THEIR VOTE CHANGED THEIR VOTE,
BECAUSE ORDINARY PEOPLE SHOWED
UP AND SHOWED THAT THERE ARE
GOING TO BE REAL CONSEQUENCES
FOR THAT VOTE. THAT IS WHAT
HAPPENED. AND IT IS NOT A
SURPRISE THAT TWO OF THE VERY
FEW PEOPLE WHO SPOKE IN FAVOR
OF THE BILL IN PUBLIC COMMENT
WERE EXECUTIVES WITH THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, WHICH REPRESENTS THE
INTEREST OF THE OBSCENELY
WEALTHY PEOPLE OF THIS REGION.
THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
CONTINUE THE SWEEPS. THE SAME
PEOPLE WHO OPPOSED THE AMAZON
TAX, TOOTH AND NAIL. THE SAME
PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE ANY
PROGRESSIVE MEASURE, INCLUDING
THE $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE
MEASURE WHICH WE WON NEARLY 10
YEARS AGO. ONE OF THOSE
CHAMBER PEOPLE WHO SPOKE TODAY,
SHE USED TO BE IN THE OFFICE OF
THE FORMER DEMOCRATIC MAYOR,
JENNY DURKAN. IT IS EXTREMELY
UNFORTUNATE THAT THE LEADER OF
THE BUILDING TRADES UNION
MONTY ANDERSON SPOKE IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL. I SPEAK AS A
RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER OF THE
LABOR MOVEMENT AND AN ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVE OF WORKERS AND
THAT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE. IT IS
CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT
FIRST RESPONDERS, PARK
EMPLOYEES, BUS DRIVERS AND
OTHER WORKERS WHO ARE AMONG
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES ARE
DEALING WITH A BREAKDOWN OF
SOCIETY UNDER CAPITALISM, FEEL
EXTREME CONCERN. BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FALLOUT
OF IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. BUT WE
NEED A LABOR MOVEMENT THAT IS
UNITED AGAINST ANTI-POOR AND
ANTI-BLACK POLICIES. A LABOR
MOVEMENT THAT HAS THE COURAGE
TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND
I AM GOING TO COME TO THAT IN A
SECOND. BUT LET'S BE CLEAR,
THIS BILL SHOWS A DISHONEST
RESPONSE TO THE FENTANYL
CRISIS, WHICH HAS REACHED
TRAGIC AND FRIGHTENING
PROPORTIONS. THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC IS AFFECTING VAST
SWABS OF THE AMERICAN WORKING
CLASS AND POOR, BUT THE CRISIS
IS ESPECIALLY SEVERE IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. FROM 2019
TO 2020, OVERDOSE DEATHS
INCREASED 44% FOR BLACK PEOPLE
AND 39% FOR AMERICAN INDIAN AND
ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE. MOST
PEOPLE WHO DIED BY OVERDOSE HAD
NO EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TREATMENT BEFORE THEIR DEATHS.
ACCORDING TO A FEBRUARY, 2022
REPORT FROM THE STANFORD LANCET
COMMISSION OF THE NORTH
AMERICAN OPIOID CRISIS, 1.2
MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AND
CANADA WILL DIE OF OPIOID
OVERDOSES BY THE END OF THE
DECADE WITHOUT URGENT
INTERVENTION. HALF A CENTURY
OF FAILED WAR ON DRUGS HAS
PROVEN ONE THING.
CRIMINALIZATION OF ADDICTION
WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT ADDRESS THE
NATION'S RAGING OPIOID CRISIS.
OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS AMONG
35 TO 44-YEAR-OLDS HAVE
EXPERIENCED A SHOCKING 73%
INCREASE SINCE 2019. I HAD TO
READ THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN TO
MAKE SURE I WAS READING THAT
RIGHT. TREATING OPIOID USERS
AS CRIMINALS WOULD DO LITTLE IN
THE WAY OF HELPING. 76% OF
THOSE JAILED END UP BACK IN THE
SAME PLACE, MEANING THESE
PEOPLE WILL NEVER SEE THE
PROPER TREATMENT OR CARE
NECESSARY TO COMBAT ADDICTION.
INSTEAD, THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A
DELIBERATE STRATEGY OF
INCARCERATING THOSE ALREADY
RAVAGED BY THE SYSTEM. POOR,
LOW INCOME PEOPLE, AND BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
DRUG OVERDOSE IS THE LEADING
CAUSE OF DEATH FOLLOWING
RELEASE FROM THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM, INTERNATIONALLY
. THE MAJORITY OF OPIOID DEATHS
-- INDIVIDUALS RELEASED AND
WASHINGTON STATE HAD 129 TIMES
GREATER RISK OF DRUG OVERDOSE
IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS, POST
RELEASE, RELATIVE TO THE
GENERAL POPULATION. THERE IS
NO JUSTIFICATION FOR A LAW LIKE
THIS. SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON
STATE'S DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT HAVE
OUTRAGEOUSLY SPENT DECADES
REFUSING TO SUPPORT ANY
SOLUTION THAT IS STATISTICALLY
PROVEN TO WORK. SAFE
CONSUMPTION SITES, ALSO CALLED
COMMUNITY HEALTH ENGAGEMENT
LOCATIONS, FULLY FUNDED PUBLIC
SERVICES, RENT CONTROL, TAXES
ON THE WEALTHY TO FULLY FUND
HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION,
HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, LIVING
WAGE JOBS. NONE OF THESE
THINGS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY
THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT AT
THE STATE LEVEL AND WHAT WE
HAVE ONE AT THE CITY LEVEL HAS
BEEN DESPITE THE OPPOSITION OF
THE DEMOCRATS. LET'S BE CLEAR.
INSTEAD OF RESOURCES TO
SERIOUSLY ADDRESS SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER, WE ARE PRESENTED
A BILL RELYING ON THE FAILED
CRIMINALIZATION OF DRUG
POSSESSION. I AGREE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ON ONE
THING. THIS IS ENTIRELY
MOTIVATED BY THE DEMOCRATS. I
AM GLAD THEY ARE OWNING THIS,
BUT WHERE ARE THE CRIMINAL
CHARGES FOR BIG PHARMA
BILLIONAIRES AND MADE HUNDREDS
OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM
SELLING DANGEROUS OPIOIDS? THE
BILLIONAIRE SACKLER FAMILY,
WHOSE FRAUDULENT MARKETING OF
OXYCONTIN CREATED THE CRISIS.
THE ROLE IN IT AND THE REFUSAL
OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE CITY,
IN WASHINGTON STATE, AND IN
CONGRESS TO FIGHT FOR ANY
SENSIBLE POLICIES, LIKE
MEDICARE FOR ALL, HELP
DEMONSTRATE THE FAILURES OF
THE FOR-PROFIT HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM AND OF CAPITALISM
ITSELF. IN THE INSATIABLE
SEARCH FOR PROFIT,
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HAVE
MISLED DOCTORS AND PATIENTS AND
PUT COUNTLESS LIVES AT RISK.
THE NEED TO PRESCRIBE AS MUCH
OF THEIR PRODUCT AS POSSIBLE IN
ORDER TO INCREASE PROFITS FOR
THE BILLIONAIRE OWNERS,
REGARDLESS OF THE HUMAN
CONSEQUENCES, PUTS THESE DRUG
COMPANIES IN DIRECT OPPOSITION
TO THE INTEREST OF ORDINARY
PEOPLE. THAT IS WHY, AS A
SOCIALIST, I BELIEVE THAT THESE
BIG CORPORATIONS SHOULD BE
TAKEN INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
UNDER DEMOCRATIC WORKERS
CONTROL AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE. I WILL BE
VOTING NO TODAY AND I URGE
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE NO
AND TO SERIOUSLY FUND ADDICTION
TREATMENT, HOUSING, AND GOOD
JOBS. BUT I AM NOT HOLDING MY
BREATH. WE, ORDINARY PEOPLE,
WILL NEED TO FIGHT FOR IT.
WORKING PEOPLE WILL NEED TO
FIGHT FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS.
MOST IMMEDIATELY, I URGE ALL
OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE
TODAY, WORKING AND YOUNG PEOPLE
AND ACTIVISTS WHO SPOKE AGAINST
THIS BILL TODAY, PLEASE SIGN
THE PETITION FOR RENT CONTROL
AND HELP MY OFFICE HELP WORKERS
STRIKE BACK AND WIN RENT
CONTROL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
MONTHS. THAT IS CONCRETE POLICY
THAT WILL HELP KEEP PEOPLE
HOUSED. IN ADDITION, IT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE
OF YOU WHO ARE RANK-AND-FILE
MEMBERS OF THE UNION MOVEMENT.
DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH THAT
YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL FIGHT FOR
THE THINGS THAT WORKING PEOPLE
NEED TO. WE NEED A MILITANT
UPRISING IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT
TO FIGHT TO WIN THE THINGS THAT
WORKING AND POOR PEOPLE NEED.
AT THE VERY MINIMUM, WE NEED
MEDICARE FOR ALL AND TO TAX
WALL STREET TO FULLY FUND
HIGH-QUALITY, PUBLIC EDUCATION.
PUBLICLY OWNED, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND UNIONIZED, LIVING WAGE
JOBS, FOR A SAFE PLANET.
MEANING THEY HAVE TO BE
SUSTAINABLE JOBS. BUT NONE OF
THIS IS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE IF
WE BELIEVE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT WHERE THE
SECTIONS OF THE UNION
LEADERSHIP ARE TIED AT THE HIP
TO THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO
FIGHT FOR THESE THINGS. WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT
OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO GET
ORGANIZED. PLEASE, I URGE YOU
TO SIGN THE PETITION ON RENT
CONTROL AND PLEASE GET INVOLVED
IN RENTERS STRIKE BACK
SOLIDARITY.
>> THINK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DID YOU
CALL ON ME?
>> YES I DID.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, VERY MUCH, COLLEAGUES,
FOR THIS CONVERSATION AND
THANKS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO BROUGHT UP ALL OF
THE ISSUES THAT ARE UNDERLYING
HERE. THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE VOTING NO.
I SAT HERE FOR THE LAST THREE
HOURS AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN
PUBLIC COMMENT WAS ASKING, WHAT
ARE WE DOING? THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT I WAS GOING TO START WITH.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? THIS IS A
BILL WITH NO PUBLIC HEARING. NO
FISCAL NOTE. WE KNOW THAT THERE
IS AT LEAST $1 MILLION
ASSOCIATED WITH THE COST OF
THIS. THE COST TO OUR
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY OUR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, HAS NOT
BEEN ANALYZED. THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DID NOT SEND
A FISCAL NOTE, NOR DID THEY
SEND A RACIAL ANALYSIS TOOLKIT
WITH THIS. OUR COMMUNITY
DESERVES BETTER. I APPRECIATE
HIS CANDOR WITH WHERE HE IS AT
ON HIS BOAT. I APPRECIATE THE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS LED
WITH TALKING ABOUT WHERE THERE
IS COMMON GROUND. EVERYONE
WANTS SOLUTIONS TO THE CRISIS
OF ADDICTION PLAYING OUT IN OUR
STREETS AND COMMUNITY EVERY
DAY. THIS IS A HOUSED AND IN
UNHOUSED SITUATION. THIS IS AN
ISSUE THAT ADDRESSES EVERY
INCOME LEVEL AND EVERY RACE
AND ETHNICITY. WITH THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US IT
WOULD HAVE DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACTS ON FOLKS OF COLOR AND
LOW-WAGE WORKERS AND FOLKS WHO
ARE UNHOUSED PERIODS OF THE
CONVERSATION THAT EVOLVED OVER
THE LAST THREE HOURS IS MUCH
IMPROVED OVER WHERE WE STARTED
AND NOW I KNOW WHAT WE ARE
DOING. WE ARE VOTING NO AGAINST
THIS LEGISLATION. WE ARE VOTING
NO AGAINST THE CRIMINALIZATION
OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. WE
ARE VOTING NO AGAINST TRYING TO
GO BACKWARDS, DECADES OVER THE
EVIDENCE AND THE FACTS AND THE
SCIENCE THAT SHOWS US THE HARM
REDUCTION STRATEGIES ARE WHAT
WORKS TO GET PEOPLE OFF OF
DRUGS, SAFELY HOUSED, AND SAFE
IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY, WITH A
COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TOWARD HARM REDUCTION
STRATEGIES THAT INVEST IN
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE
VOTING TO BE MORE THOUGHTFUL
AND DELIBERATIVE ABOUT HOW WE
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THAT
REQUIRES INVESTMENTS IN
HOUSING, GOOD LIVING WAGE JOBS,
PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTMENTS, AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO
ARE AT THE ROOT OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND SEE, EVERY DAY,
THIS CRISIS PLAYING OUT. WE
SHOULD ADDRESS WHAT CAUSES
PEOPLE TO END UP IN A SITUATION
WHERE THEY ARE SELF-MEDICATING
IN THE FIRST PLACE. WHERE THEY
ARE LIVING WITHOUT SHELTER AND
FEELING LIKE THEY ARE FED AND
NOT HUNGRY, CONSTANTLY. WHO ARE
TRYING TO COPE WITH THE EXTREME
ELEMENTS OF BEING OUTDOORS OR
THE EXTREME SITUATION THAT THEY
FIND THEM SELF AND WITHOUT
ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES. WE ARE WELL
ON OUR WAY, THANKS T█O YOU ALL
SUPPORTING THE CRISIS CARE
LEVY, BUT WITHOUT PLACES TO
BRING PEOPLE. WITHOUT
ALTERNATIVES AND TRUE
INVESTMENTS IN STRATEGIES THAT
PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GOING TO
THE JAIL IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE CANNOT FURTHER CRIMINALIZE
THE CRISIS, THE MENTAL HEALTH
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRISIS OF
ADDICTION. THAT IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE AND DESERVES TO BE
TREATED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS. I AM COMMITTED TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR
COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND ALL OF
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THIS
COUNCIL WHO ARE REFLECTIVE AND
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY
THAT ELECTED THEM. I KNOW YOU
WANT SOLUTIONS. THIS WAS NOT
THAT. THIS WAS A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION LOBBY TO COUNCIL
WITHOUT AN ACTUAL PROCESS,
WITHOUT DELIBERATIVE ACTIONS
TAKEN TO LOOK NOT ONLY AT THE
IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, BUT
THE FISCAL IMPACT ON OUR CITY.
WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST FOUR
YEARS TRYING TO REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF BEDS AT THE KING
COUNTY JAIL AND THIS WOULD ONLY
EXACERBATE THE NUMBER OF BEDS
WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. FROM
A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE
PERSPECTIVE, PLEASE CONSIDER
VOTING NO AGAINST THIS. FROM A
PERSPECTIVE THAT INVESTS IN
COMMUNITY HARM REDUCTION,
PLEASE CONSIDER VOTING NO
AGAINST THIS. AND FROM A
PERSPECTIVE THAT LOOKS AT EVERY
OUNCE OF DATA OVER THE LAST 40
YEARS, PLEASE CONSIDER NOT
DOUBLING DOWN ON FAILED DRUG
POLICIES OF THE PAST. I AM
EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF US KNOWING THAT WE WILL
VOTE THIS DOWN TODAY AND THE
PROMISE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK ON THE CRISIS OF
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS, HOUSING NEEDS, AND
OVERALL STABILITY FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THERE IS A
MUCH BROADER CONVERSATION TO BE
HAD ABOUT HOW WE ACT AS GOOD
PARTNERS WITH KING COUNTY AND
HOLISTICALLY INVEST IN WHAT
PEOPLE NEED, SO THEY ARE NOT
SELF-MEDICATING IN THE FIRST
PLACE. THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING
THIS CRISIS WE ARE SEEING PLAY
OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE
TRULY COME AT THIS FROM A HARM
REDUCTION STRATEGY. OF GETTING
PEOPLE IN JAIL EQUALED
ADDITIONAL TREATMENT, THEN WE
WOULD SEE MORE PEOPLE LEAVING
JAIL FOR THE PATH OF SOBRIETY.
RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY LEAVE JAIL
THEY ARE ON THE PATH TOWARDS
DEATH, BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WHO
COME OUT OF JAIL OVERDOSE AT
HIGHER RATES AND DIE AT HIGHER
RATES. THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR.
THIS POLICY IS NOT A SOLUTION
TO THE CRISIS OUT THERE. THERE
IS A CRISIS OF ADDICTION AND WE
ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO
ADDRESSING THAT IN A MORE
PROACTIVE, COLLABORATIVE, AND
EFFECTIVE WAY THAT ACTUALLY
PUTS RESOURCES INTO SOLVING
THE PROBLEM. I THANK MY
COLLEAGUES FOR VOTING NO AND
URGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO
WORK ON THIS COLLECTIVELY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. OKAY, NOT SEEING ANY
OTHER HANDS I WILL OFFER AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO CLOSE US OUT. WHO
WILL GO FIRST?
>> I WILL LET COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN INDENT, IF THAT IS ALL
RIGHT.
>> SURE, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> KNOW. HE IS GOING TO END, I
AM GOING TO GO RIGHT NOW.
>> I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> WE ARE ALL TIRED. I JUST
HAVE TO RECOGNIZE A POINT THAT
HAS BEEN MADE OVER AND OVER
AGAIN WHICH IS THAT PEOPLE'S
TOLERANCE GOES DOWN, THEY GET
OUT OF JAIL AND IT INCREASES
DEATH RATES. LET ME MAKE VERY
CLEAR THAT EVERY HIT CAN BE
DEADLY. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS
TO BE RECOGNIZED. THAT WHAT IS
BEING SAID AS A PROBLEM, I
RECOGNIZE THE SCIENCE BEHIND
IT, OF COURSE, BUT LET'S NOT
DISCOUNT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
ARE DYING EVERY DAY, WHETHER OR
NOT THEY ARE COMING OUT OF
JAIL. ALL RIGHT. I ALSO WANT TO
ADDRESS SOME OF COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S POINTS ABOUT THE
FISCAL IMPACT, BECAUSE WE DID,
AS I SAID BEFORE, GET AN EMAIL
FROM CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON AND
I THINK IT IS ONLY RESPECTFUL
TO READ INTO THE RECORD WHAT
SHE SAYS ABOUT SOME OF THESE
COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN
MENTIONED IN THE PAST. SHE
SAYS, I HAVE HEARD SOME WILD
SPECULATION ABOUT HOW MANY
CASES MIGHT BE SENT TO THE
CITIES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THESE ARE UNSUBSTANTIATED SCARE
TACTICS. THIS LAW WOULD BE A
MODEST, BUT IMPORTANT TOOL IN
THE TOOLBOX FOR POLICE AND
PROSECUTORS AS WE CONFRONT THE
UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH OF
FENTANYL AND METHAMPHETAMINE ON
OUR STREETS. WHEN SEATTLE
CONFORMS TO STATE LAW, MY
OFFICE WILL WORK IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DIVERSION
PARTNERS. NEITHER IS IT IN OUR
OFFICES INTEREST TO OVERWHELM
PROSECUTORS OR THE MUNICIPAL
COURT. WE WILL WORK WITH
PARTNERS TO DETERMINE WHICH
REFERRALS WE CAN ROUTE TO
DIVERSION AND TREATMENT AND
PASSAGE OF THIS LAW DOES NOT
CHANGE THE FACT THAT KING
COUNTY JAIL WILL NOT BOOK FOR
DRUG POSSESSION OR USE. AS A
RESULT I EXPECT THE COSTS AND
IMPACTS OF THE LAW TO BE
MODEST. ALL RIGHT, SO JUST
WANTED TO GET THAT ON THE
RECORD AS FOOD FOR THOUGHT. WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE TO
DISAGREE ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION AND THE WAR ON
DRUGS. BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT
EQUATING THIS LEGISLATION TO
THE WAR ON DRUGS IS FRANKLY TO
DIMINISH AND MINIMIZE THE
DAMAGES AND THE HEINOUSNESS OF
THAT STAIN ON OUR HISTORY.
THOSE WERE FELONIES. PEOPLE
WERE THROWN INTO JAIL FOR
YEARS ON FELONY CHARGES HAVING
TO DO PRIMARILY WITH CANNABIS
AND COKE AND CRACK AND HEROIN,
ET CETERA. WE ARE TALKING GROSS
MISDEMEANOR TO ADDRESS THE MOST
POTENT AND DANGEROUS DRUG TO
HIT OUR STREETS, EVER. I MEAN,
LET'S RECOGNIZE THAT. AND I
REMIND PEOPLE, JAIL IS NOT THE
GOAL. THE GOAL IS TREATMENT,
WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE ME
OR COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN OR
THE AUTHOR OF THIS BILL. IN
FACT I HAVE TO SAY VERY
SINCERELY THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE
TRYING TO DEVELOP A TOOL AND
SYSTEM TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO
TREATMENT. SO HERE IS A GRAPH
THAT SHOWS -- PLEASE, DON'T
YELL. SO, THIS IS THE TREND I
THINK FROM 2013 TO 2022. TOP
LINE SEATTLE. THAT IS THE
INCREASE OF OVERDOSE FATALITIES
AND THE TOP OF THAT GRAPH
REPRESENTS FROM 2022, 589
DEATHS IN SEATTLE. THIS YEAR
THE DEATH TOLL ALREADY FROM
OVERDOSES IN SEATTLE IS ABOUT
350, ALREADY THIS YEAR SO FAR.
SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL
LIVES. WHEN I HEAR, WE ARE NOT
REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT TREATMENT
OR WHEN WE DISRESPECTFULLY
TRY TO IMPLY THAT THE AUTHOR
OF THIS BILL IS PRETTY MUCH NOT
TELLING THE TRUTH AND PLANS TO
DO SOMETHING ELSE, THAT IS NOT
RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING AND I LOOK AROUND
AND I SEE WHAT IS GOING ON ON
OUR STREETS AND I SEE THAT OUR
EXISTING INTERVENTIONS ARE NOT
REALLY WORKING. SO, SAY WHAT
YOU WILL ABOUT THE WAR ON
DRUGS. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE
IS NO EQUIVALENCE AND WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO CONFORM WITH
STATE LAW, JUST TO DO SOMETHING
ELSE. THE ONLY SOLUTION I
HEARD TODAY, OFFERED, WAS SCALE
UP EXISTING SERVICES. NOT, YOU
KNOW, NOT TO INSULT EXISTING
SERVICES, BUT WHEN IS IT EVER
GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS
THE LIVES THAT ARE BEING LOST
RIGHT NOW? AND I THINK THAT I
HEARD COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT 50% OF PEOPLE
RELAPSE VOLUNTARILY, SO WHAT
GOOD IS MANDATORY RELAPSE
GOING TO DO, I MEAN MANDATORY
TREATMENT? I WILL TELL YOU WHAT
IT IS GOING TO DO, IT IS GOING
TO SAVE LIVES AND IT IS
SHOCKING TO HEAR THAT
DISCOUNTED. THAT EVEN MANDATORY
TREATMENT IS NOT TO BE EVEN
TRIED. ANYWAY, I AM JUST
TRYING TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS,
BECAUSE THIS DISCUSSION DID
NOT GO THE WAY I THOUGHT IT
WAS. I KNOW. YOU WIN SOME, YOU
LOSE SOME. BUT THE POINT IS
THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT HERE. PLEASE.
>> PLEASE, PLEASE LET
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON SPEAK,
LIKE WE GAVE THE COURTESY TO
THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS TO
SPEAK. GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
>> BACK TO THE WAR ON DRUGS, IT
IS CLEAR THAT TREATMENT AND
FUNDING PROGRAMS, AS THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION DOES, 48 PAGES,
MOST OF IT IS DEDICATED WHERE
THE MONEY WILL COME FROM.
SEATTLE WILL GET SOME OF THAT
MONEY AND OUR PARTNERS WILL
RECEIVE IT. BUT THE POINT IS
THAT IT IS TIME TO TRY
SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, IN ADDITION TO
EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING NOW. IT
IS ALL OF THE ABOVE. THIS IS A
CRISIS AND IF YOU BASICALLY
ARE CALLING THIS A WAR ON
DRUGS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO
DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS, THAT IS
FINE. YOU SHOULD BE HONEST AND
SAY THAT AND VOTE NO ON THIS.
>> YOU SHOULD BE HONEST!
>> CAN WE JUST NOT DO THAT?
>> BECAUSE THE EFFECTIVE
DECRIMINALIZATION, POST-BLAKE,
IS GOING TO PERSIST. SO I WILL
NOTE THAT THERE IS, DESPITE
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD IN THIS
ROOM, I DO THINK OUT OF
RESPECT I HAVE TO MENTION THAT
THERE IS BROAD COMMUNITY
SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM A
BROAD COALITION OF 18 COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, INCLUDING THE
SEATTLE BUILDING TRADES, THE
FREMONT CHAMBER, SEATTLE
METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION, THE BALLARD
ALLIANCE. NORTH SEATTLE
INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION. FREMONT
DOC COMPANY. FIRST HILL
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
SEATTLE HOTEL ASSOCIATION. THE
JUNCTION WITH SEATTLE. SEATTLE
RESTAURANT ALLIANCE. GENERAL
CONTRACTORS OF WASHINGTON. THE
NATIONAL NORDIC MUSEUM.
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
AREA. ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER
SQUARE. THESE ORGANIZATIONS
REPRESENT WORKERS, MEMBERS,
RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES ACROSS
OUR CITY. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE
FED UP WITH THE CITIES IN
ACTION. SO I WOULD URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE. THAT RINGS
A LITTLE HOLLOW AT THIS POINT,
BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM
DISAPPOINTED IN THIS OUTCOME.
BUT THERE IS STILL A CHANCE ONE
COULD CHANGE YOUR MIND AFTER
THIS SCINTILLATING SPEECH AND
VOTE YES. I URGE YOU TO DO SO,
BUT IN ANY CASE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THIS MATTER, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
START TALKING ABOUT THIS MUCH
MORE SERIOUSLY AND MORE OFTEN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. I WILL LET
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN SPEAK
NOW AND THEN I WILL CLOSE YOU
OUT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO
CLARIFY THAT THERE IS A FISCAL
NOTE PUBLISHED. THANK YOU. I
WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THERE IS
A FISCAL NOTE PUBLISHED ONLINE
WITH THIS LEGISLATION THAT
COULD BENEFIT FROM MORE DETAIL,
BUT IT HAS THE SAME LEVEL OF
DETAIL AS LAST YEAR'S UPDATE OF
OUR CRIMINAL CODE, WITH STATE
LAW ORDINANCE THAT WE ADOPTED
UNANIMOUSLY LAST YEAR. LET'S
BE CLEAR THAT HAVING A STATE
LAW WITH NO LOCAL LAW MEANS THE
PROSECUTION IS NOT AN OPTION.
HAVING A STATE LAW WITH NO
LOCAL LAW IS LIKE HAVING A BUS
WITH NO DRIVER, A CAR WITH NO
KEYS, A TRAIN WITH NO TRACKS. A
STATE LAW ALONE IS A SHELL
WITHOUT THE LOCAL LAW AND THAT
IS -- I AM DISAPPOINTED BY
WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MAJORITY
OF CITY COUNCIL LIKELY NOT
ADOPTING THIS COMPROMISE,
CAREFULLY CRAFTED BY OUR STATE
GOVERNMENT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
NEARLY A MONTH AGO. I BELIEVE
THIS INSULTS THE HARD WORK OF A
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND STATE
LEGISLATURE AND DEMONSTRATES A
LACK OF TRUST IN OUR MAYOR TO
IMPLEMENT THIS IN AN
APPROPRIATE MANNER. PERMITTING
A PATCHWORK OF THESE SAFETY
LAWS FURTHER DAMAGES SEATTLE'S
REPUTATION. MANY WILL PERCEIVE
OUR CITY AS DESCENDING FROM
THE FUND TO DECRIMINALIZE. I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY
COLLEAGUES WHO VOTED NO ON WHAT
THE SUGGESTED NEXT STEPS WILL
BE, SO WE CAN SWIFTLY FIX THE
PATCHWORK AND OPERATIONAL GAP
THAT VOTING NO WILL CREATE IN
SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. WITH THAT I WILL
CLOSE THIS OUT BEFORE WE GO TO
A VOTE. QUITE FRANKLY, I AM A
BIT DISAPPOINTED TODAY IN SOME
OF MY COLLEAGUES, BUT
SOMETIMES SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
WE ARE COLLECTIVELY INCREDIBLY
BAD AT FOCUSING ON A PROBLEM.
WE IGNORE HARD QUESTIONS AND
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS IN FAVOR OF
EASY OUTRAGE. SOMETIMES WE GO
ON TO ASSIGN MALICE AND
OVERLOOK EVIDENCE OF ADDICTION
IN OUR STREETS, PUBLIC SPACES,
PARKS AND COMMUNITIES. AND
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT
CRIMINALIZATION OF ADDICTION.
JUST LIKE WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO
HOUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING
UNDER BRIDGES, DOESN'T MEAN WE
ARE CRIMINALIZING THE HOMELESS.
WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO
COLLECTIVELY GET OVER SOME OF
THAT LANGUAGE, WHICH I CALL
THIS GOVERNMENT SALAD LANGUAGE,
WHERE WE START POINTING
FINGERS AND WE FORGET ABOUT THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING RIGHT NOW.
NOBODY EVER SAID THAT US
SQUARING UP THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE WITH THE STATE
LAW WAS GOING TO FIX OUR
FENTANYL PROBLEM. NOR DID WE
EVER SAY THAT US SHORING UP
OUR CITY LAW WITH THE STATE LAW
WAS A CRIMINALIZATION AND
PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE RIGHT
NOW WITH FOIL, SMOKING
FENTANYL, ARE GOING TO BE
GRABBED AND THROWN IN PRISON.
THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND
I THINK A LOT OF YOU KNOW THAT,
BUT THAT IS NEITHER HERE NOR
THERE. I JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO
KNOW WHERE I STAND ON THIS AND
ALSO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WITH
ALL DUE RESPECT TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ASKED
THAT THIS ISSUE COME TO THE
FULL COUNCIL TO BYPASS HER
COMMITTEE. AS I HAD DONE THAT
COURTESY FOR OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT ASKED THAT
IT SHOULD COME TO FULL COUNCIL
AND NOT THEIR COMMITTEE. SO
THERE IS NO MALICE. THERE IS NO
DEVIOUS PLOT OR POLITICAL
MANEUVERING. I WAS MERELY
HONORING THE NEEDS AND GIVING
DEFERENCE TO THE CHAIR OF THAT
PARTICULAR COMMITTEE AND
SOMETIMES WE DO THAT. SO WITH
THAT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD ON THIS. MADAM CLERK,
WE HAVE NOW HEARD THE CLOSING
REMARKS OF THE SPONSORS, NELSON
AND PEDERSEN, SO WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE AMENDED RULE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> NO.
└> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO THE BILL HAS
FAILED AND SO WE WILL MOVE ON.
ON OUR AGENDA WE HAVE ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WE HAVE NONE. GOING
ON TO ADOPTION OF OTHER
RESOLUTIONS, THERE ARE NO OTHER
RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION
AND ADOPTION TODAY. AND OTHER
BUSINESS. IS THERE ANY OTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
COUNCIL BEFORE I MOVE US TO
ADJOURN? OKAY, I DO NOT SEE
ANY HANDS OR HEAR ANYONE WHO
HAS ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
COLLEAGUES, THIS DOES CONCLUDE
THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD
JUNE 13. THANK YOU ALL FOR
CALLING IN AND SHOWING UP AND
WE ARE ADJOURNED. HAVE A GOOD
AFTERNOON.