>>>, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME. IT'S TUESDAY AUGUST
1st. I AM GOING TO CALL IT TO
ORDER -- I'M GOING TO HAVE THE
CLERK CALLED TO ORDER. MY NAME
IS 17.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD .
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> HERE. 27 PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A QUORUM.
LET'S MOVE AHEAD ON OUR AGENDA.
I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY
PRESENTATIONS TODAY . AS MANY
OF YOU HEARD, WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAM
CLERK, ARE WE STILL HAVE 45
REMOTE AND 50 IN PERSON?
>> WE ARE STILL AT 45 REMOTE,
AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW
MANY IN-PERSON. BETWEEN 50 --
30 AND 50.
>> PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE FOR
ONE HOUR. EVERYBODY HAS ONE
MINUTE. ME TELL YOU WHY WE ARE
DOING IT THIS WAY. WE CAN
TOGGLE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN
REMOTE AND THOSE WHO ARE IN
CHAMBERS. ON JUNE 30th, THERE
WAS A COMMITTEE PANEL.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
COMMITTEE. ON JULY 12th WE HAD
A PRESENTATION A PUBLIC
HEARING, THAT WAS 117 MINUTES
OF PUBLIC COMMENT. JULY 21st WE
HAD A COMMITTEE PANEL, I
BELIEVE THIS WAS ONE IN
CHAMBERS. WE HAD 99 MINUTES OF
PUBLIC COMMENT. 299, OR
APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS OF
PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT'S WHY
TODAY I AM LIMITING IT TO ONE
HOUR. IF YOU ARE SPEAKING TO
ITEM NUMBER THREE ON THE
AGENDA. COUNSEL BILL 120-6606.
I SHOULD ADD, I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT , THIS HAS
BEEN AN ISSUE REGARDING RENT
CONTROL. NOW WE HAVE THE
TRIGGER LAW. WE WILL LET HER
INTRODUCE THAT WHEN WE GET
THERE. THAT IS MY REASONING FOR
LIMITING IT TO ONE HOUR. THE
TIME IS TO: 04. WE WILL GO TO
3:05. WITH THAT, THESE ARE THE
ROLES. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE
EACH. WE WILL TOGGLE BETWEEN 10
MINUTES. 10 PEOPLE REMOTE, 10
PEOPLE IN CHAMBERS. WE KNOW
WHAT THE RULES ARE. WE ASK YOU
TO SPEAK TO THE AGENDA ITEM.
KIND, RESPECTFUL, LET OTHER
PEOPLE SPEAK. I ASK YOU MAKE
SURE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL IN
CHAMBERS IS A SAFE PLACE. EVEN
IF THEY ARE PEOPLE YOU DISAGREE
WITH. THAT'S JUST THE RIGHT
THING TO DO. WITH THAT, MADAM
CLERK, YOU MAY START.
>> LINDA, ARE YOU CALLING THE
NAMES OF THE IN PRISON
SPEAKERS?
>> A READY TO GO?
>> WE ARE, THANK YOU.
>> OUR FIRST PERSON TO SPEAK IS
SHIRLEY HENDERSON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SHIRLEY
HENDERSON. I'M A RENTER IN
SEATTLE . I'VE BEEN A RENTER
FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER AND A WORKER
STRIKE BACK ACTIVIST. I AM
HERE TODAY TO STAND
UNEQUIVOCALLY IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT STRONG
LEGISLATION. COUNCILMEMBERS MAY
TRY TO OFFICE GET
RESPONSIBILITY BY SAYING IT'S
THE TRIGGER LAW OR BLAMING THE
STATE BAN. WORKING PEOPLE SEE
THE ARGUMENTS. WE ARE NOT
STUPID. WE KNOW BY EXPERIENCE ,
EVERY TIME WE FIGHT FOR
PROGRESSIVE GAINS . BIG
BUSINESSES DRAG OUT
PROCLAMATIONS OF DISASTER AND
GIVE EXCUSES , LIKE THEY DID
WITH THE FIVE FOR 15 OR THE
AMAZON TAX, OR ALL OF THE
VICTORIES OUR MOVEMENTS HAVE
FOUGHT FOR AND WON. MOST RENTAL
HOMES ARE NOW OWNED BY
CORPORATE LANDLORDS. MOST
CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE ALSO
ENGAGING IN PRICE-FIXING,
INCLUDING THE COMPANY THAT
MANAGES THE BUILDING OUR SMALL
BUSINESS IS IN. EVEN THESE
CORPORATIONS ARE ACTUALLY --
THESE TRILLION DOLLAR WALL
STREET MONSTERS. OPPOSING
RENTERS RIGHT LIKE RENT CONTROL
, DEMOCRATS ARE AIDING AND
EMBEDDING THESE MONSTERS. WE
WILL SEE THROUGH NY --
>> THANK YOU. THE ONE MINUTE
TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE
TIMER, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
>> LINDA, DO YOU HAVE THE NEXT
SPEAKER?
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAT. 'S
>> HI THERE, MY NAME IS KAT.
I'M A STUDENT AND SOMEONE WHO
HAS TO PAY RENT FOR EVERY
MONTH. HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR
EVERYON HERE TODAY. WHY IS IT
SO DIFFICULT TO PASS A BILL
THAT WILL ATTACK THE
WORKING-CLASS MEMBERS OF OUR
POPULATION, WHO YOU CLAIM TO
STAND FOR. WHY DO YOU STAND
IDLY BY AS THOSE WHO PLEDGE TO
CONTINUE TO EXTORT THOSE WHO
HAVE SO LITTLE. I'M HERE IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT CONTROL BILL. I URGE YOU
TO DO THE SAME, TO LIMIT THE
SKYROCKETING RENTS IN THE CITY.
I DON'T SEE WHY THIS IS SO
DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF THE
DEMOCRATS WHO CLAIM TO BE HERE
FOR LABOR. THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE
HERE FOR THOSE WHO ARE
OPPRESSING THE REST OF US.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER
DONAHUE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS PETE
DONAHUE. I AM AN INSIDE
WIREMAN WITH THE NATIONAL
BROTHER ELECTRICAL WORKERS.
I'VE BEEN IN SEATTLE FOR 35
YEARS. I CAN LIVE ANY LONGER.
SOME INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL
OVER THE WAY WE ADVOCATE
HOUSING AND THE WAY WE DO RENT.
NOT JUST FOR HOUSES, BUT
BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS,
COMMUNITY SPACES. I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO SPEAK TO ANY OF THE
HOLDOUTS ON THE COMMITTEE.
COUNCILMAN STRAUSS, WE MET AT
THE CARPENTER STRIKE, AT A
PICKET I APPRECIATE YOU BEING
THERE FOR THEM. I'M ASKING YOU
TO STEP UP NOW AND SUPPORT THIS
MEASURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. 'S
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPTION TO SPEAK. I AM A RENTER
IN SEATTLE. I'M ALSO CURRENTY
A STUDENT . I AM CURRENTLY
TAKING OUT THE MAX POSSIBLE
LOAN AMOUNT TO BE ABLE TO PAY
FOR MY RENT AND ANY EXPENSES.
LAST MONTH MY LANDLORD
INCREASED MY RENT $100 A
MONTH. THIS WILL BE A STEP
TOWARDS THE ASTRONOMICAL RISE
OF RENT IN SEATTLE. I AM AWARE
THIS BILL , AND I BELIEVE MANY
ARE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE
COUNCIL PASSING A BILL WILL
SERVE NO PURPOSE. IT WOULD
MEAN QUITE A LOT. IT WOULD MEAN
THE CITY COUNCIL CITIZENS, THE
MOST POPULATED CITY IN THE
STATE ARE SAYING ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH. WE NEED TO STOP THESE
RENT PRICES, AND WE NEED TO
STOP THEM NOW. FOR THESE
REASONS I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT
THE COUNCIL VOTES IN FAVOR OF
THE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IN
BILL. I YIELD THE REMAINING
AMOUNT OF MY TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HANS
SCHAEFER.
>> HI. MY NAME IS HANS . I AM
14 YEARS OLD. I'M HERE TO TELL
YOU HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM ,
EXCEPT FOR MR. PEDERSEN. THIS
ORDINANCE ALLOWS ALL TREES CUT
ON ON ALL LOTS, EVEN IF THEY
ARE HUGE, EXCEPTIONAL 100
TREES ON OUTLAW. PLEASE HELP
ME UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD
VOTE FOR THAT. I KNOW IT'S NOT
TO BUILD HOUSES THAT ARE
AFFORDABLE. I CANNOT TELL YOU
THE LAST TIME I SAW A MASSIVE
TREE BE TAKEN DOWN AND THEN A
HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT UNDER $1
MILLION. THIS IS A MESSED UP
TREE ORDINANCE THAT FAVORS
DEVELOPERS OVER PEOPLE. I'M
HERE TO REMIND YOU YOU WERE
ELECTED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, NOT THE DEVELOPERS OF
BELLEVUE. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT
THING TO FIX ORDINANCE SO THAT
THEY MUST WORK WITH BIG TREES,
NOT CUT THEM DOWN. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDY.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. I'M
DISAPPOINTED YOU ARE NOT HERE
IN PERSON TO LISTEN TO US.
THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR THE
SAME REASON I AM HERE , BECAUSE
OF DEVELOPERS. I AM ALSO HERE
TO TELL YOU , AND ASK YOU, HOW
DID YOU PASS SUCH AN ATROCIOUS
TREE ORDINANCE. SHAME ON YOU.
IT'S FOR THE SAME REASON THESE
PEOPLE ARE HERE . I WANT TO
TELL YOU THAT TREE PROTECTION
COMMENTS OUTNUMBER DEVELOPER
COMMENTS 10 TO 1 AT ALMOST
EVERY MEETING LAST SPRING. YOU
STILL WENT WITH THE DEVELOPER
REQUEST , AND THE CITY DID NOT
CONSULT WITH URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION. IS IT FOR MONEY? IS
IT FOR TRADE-OFFS? ARE YOU
BEING BULLIED? DEVELOPERS CAN
CUT DOWN ANYTHING ON A LOT
EXCEPT FOR 300 TREES WITH THIS
ORDINANCE. ARE THEY GOING TO
BUILD ANYTHING THAT'S
AFFORDABLE? ARE THEY GOING TO
BUILD ANYTHING THAT IS RENT
CONTROLLED? NO, THEY ARE NOT.
SHAME ON YOU.
>> YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO
SCREAM, BUT OKAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS --
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, WHO
IS OUR NEXT PERSON?
>> CAROLYN MALONE.
>> CAROLYN.
>> I'M CAROLYN. YESTERDAY I
PROTESTED WITH THIS POSTER
ACROSS THE STREET AT SPD. THEY
HAVE PHOTOS WITH CODERS WITH
COPS WHO HARASSED ME WITH
THEIR BLARING SIRENS ABOUT THE
CITY. AND INTIMIDATE ME WITH
THEIR PRESENCE. WHY? BECAUSE
OF MY PERSISTENT PROTESTS
AGAINST SEATTLE COPS OCCUPYING
SPACING CHANCERY'S , APARTMENT,
605. JOSEPH IS JUST ONE OF THE
POLICE. I PROTEST. FOR THE
PROTEST, THE BUILDING IS
CONTAMINATED NOW WITH --
USAGE. PEPPER SPRAY. THEFT OF
PACKAGES. TIMID DISCORD. ALL
OF THESE ARE KNOWN ACTIVITIES
BY HOUSING SERVICES. SHERRY
ROBINSON.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS --
>> HI, MY NAME IS JOSIE. I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. A MEMBER
OF THE WASHINGTON FEDERATION,
LOCAL 88, AND AN ACTIVIST WITH
WORKERS. AS IT HAS BEEN SAID,
VOTING NO ON THIS LEGISLATION
IS SIDING WITH CORPORATE GREEDY
LANDLORDS AND AGAINST WORKING
PEOPLE. THERE ARE NEARLY 11,000
EMPTY APARTMENTS IN THE CITY,
WHICH IS MORE THAN THE NUMBER
OF HOUSES FOR SEATTLE ON ANY
GIVEN DAY. IT'S A DIVISION OF
LANDLORDS OF THEM JACKING UP
PRICES. I AM A CHILD WELFARE
SO SURE -- SOCIAL WORKER, AND
WORKING WITH FAMILIES WHO
DESPERATELY NEED THESE
APARTMENTS. THEY ARE OUT OF
REACH FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
THESE ARE FAMILIES WITH PARENTS
WORKING FULL-TIME JOBS WHO
CANNOT PUT ROOFS OVER THEIR
CHILDREN SAID, IT IS BECAUSE OF
CORPORATE GREED BEING ALLOWED
TO RUN THE CITY, AND THE LACK
OF RESPONSE OF DEMOCRATS HERE
ON CITY COUNCIL ON THE STATE
LEVEL. WE NEED RENT CONTROL FOR
PEOPLE WORKING NOW. WE NEED
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS WHO STAND
WITH WORKING PEOPLE. QUOTE
YESTERDAY ON RENT CONTROL WITH
NO CORPORATE LOOPHOLES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JOHN WRIGHT. 'S
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
JOHN WRIGHT. I'M A UNION
WORKER. A RESIDENT OF D3. AN
ACTIVIST WITH WORKERS STRIKE
BACK. IF CITY COUNCIL
DEMOCRATS VOTE NO ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT 'S RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION. THEY ARE
HAPPY TO SELL OUT WORKING
PEOPLE, LOW INCOME PEOPLE, POOR
FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
ARE BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE FOOLED
BY THE DEMOCRATS PUTTING THEIR
-- SOME OF THEM VOTE YES, BUT
THE MAJORITY VOTE NO. CONTRAST
THAT WITH GREEN PRESIDENTS ,
WHO ENTERED IN SUPPORT OF THE
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION. WHAT
WE WANT?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> WHAT WE WANT?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> WIND WE WANT TO?
>> NOW.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARA
JAMES. SARA JAMES. THAT WOULD
BE THE LAST SPEAKER OF OUR LOT
OF 10 IN PERSON.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S
GOVERNMENT.
>> MY NAME IS SARA JAMES. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] 'S
>> IT LOOKS LIKE OUR FIRST
REMOTE SPEAKER WILL BE ALLISON
YATES.
>> GO AHEAD, ALLISON.
>> WE HAVE SOMEONE AT THE
PODIUM SPEAKING. I BELIEVE THAT
SARA JAMES.
>> OH, OKAY. WE CANNOT HEAR HER
ON THE RESUME.
>> MISS SARA JAMES, CAN YOU
START AGAIN? 'S
>> THANK YOU. SARA JAMES, GO
AHEAD.
>> OF COUNSEL DEMOCRATS VOTE NO
, THEY MADE IT CLEAR THEY ARE
ON THE SIDE OF GREEDY
LANDLORDS WHO ARE ALLEGEDLY
PRICE-FIXING AND NOT ON THE
SIDE OF WORKING FAMILIES TRYING
TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR
HEADS. YOU SEE YOUR IN TOTAL
YOUR THUMBS HYUNDAI -- HIDING
BEHIND A STATE BEEN. MY
DAUGHTER IS HERE. SHE'S 11
YEARS OLD. SHE CAME HERE NOT
BECAUSE I WANTED HER TO, BUT
BECAUSE SHE HAS HAD FRIENDS WHO
HAVE BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE
CITY. SHE'S HAD FRIENDS WHO
HAVE DEALT WITH HOMELESSNESS.
DEMOCRATS, PARTIES IN ACTION,
AND PANDERING TO CORPORATE
LANDLORDS IS WHY CHILDREN SLEEP
IN THE STREET IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON STATE IS CONSIDERED
FOR THE WEALTHY. IT IS CLEAR
WORKING PEOPLE NEED OUR OWN
PARTY. THE DEMOCRATS DON'T
REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS. THESE
COME TO THE WORKERS STRIKE BACK
MEETING ON AUGUST 7th AND
DISCUSS HOW TO BUILD A RENTER'S
MOVEMENT INDEPENDENT FROM THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY. GETTING A
STRONG CONTRACT.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW
SWITCH TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
ALLISON YATES. ALLISON WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY CHARLOTTE SISSEL.
ALLISON.
>> OKAY. HELLO. MY NAME IS
ALLISON YATES. I AM A LANDLORD
AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. RENT
CONTROL HAS UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES THAT FORCE THE
LANDSCAPES OF LANDLORDS AND
ESPECIALLY TENANTS. STUDIES
HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS. ACTUAL
SCIENCE. IT PUSHES OUT SMALL
LANDLORDS. THE MAJORITY OF
HOMES MAKE LESS THAN $75,000
PER YEAR, JUST LIKE ME. THEY
ARE A SYMPTOM OF RIGOR
ECONOMIC ISSUES. A SUPPLY AND
DEMAND PROBLEM. RENT CONTROL
WILL NOT CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND
IN FACT WORSENS IT. THOUSANDS
LIKE ME WILL LEAVE THE MARKET
REDUCING RENTAL AND INVENTORY.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR [
INDISCERNIBLE ] YOU'RE GOING
ABOUT IT IN EXACTLY THE WRONG
WAY. IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT
PROTECTING TENANTS, THEN YOU
MUST VOTE NO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CHARLOTTE SISSEL. FOLLOWED
BY JENNIFER. GO AHEAD,
CHARLOTTE.
>> ♪
♪
♪ VOTE NO TO PROTECT GRASSROOT
RENTALS IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE, FOR
THAT LOVELY TUNE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JENNIFER. JENNIFER WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY LYLE. GO AHEAD
JENNIFER.
>> MY NAME IS JENNIFER . PAST
RENTER, CURRENT LANDLORD, AND A
REGULAR HARD-WORKING PERSON. I
ON RENTAL PROPERTIES IN
DISTRICT 3 AND SEVEN. DO THE
RIGHT THING AND VOTE AGAINST
RENT CONTROL. THE COST OF
LIVING INCREASE OF ROUGHLY 3% .
RENTAL COST -- EXPENSES AND UP
THE COST OF LIVING. MY PROPERTY
TAXES INCREASE BY 21% LAST
YEAR. BACKFLOW TESTING WENT
FROM $55-$75. WHICH IS A 27%
INCREASE. THESE ARE CITY
IMPOSED FEES. THE PROBLEM IS
RISING COST AND SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED. THIS BILL PRESENTS
-- PREVENTS POVERTY OWNERS
REDUCING RENTS. BY RENT A
MOTHER-IN-LAW APARTMENT IN MY
HOUSE THAT I HAVE TO RENT THE
APARTMENT INDEFINITELY. IT IS A
PART -- PROBLEM. I HAVE A
LIFESTYLE CHANGE. THIS BILL IS
A BAD IDEA. THESE DO NOT VOTE
FOR IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LYLE. WHILE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY RANDY BENNETT. GO
AHEAD.
>> GO AHEAD . THANK YOU. I'M A
SMALLTIME LANDLORD. I'M GOING
TO SKIP SOME OF THE COMMENTS
AND ADDRESS SOME KEY ISSUES.
THIS PROPOSAL WILL BENEFIT
THOSE WHO DON'T NEED IT. THIS
PROPOSAL WILL DISCOURAGE RENTAL
HOUSING CONSTRUCTION DO NOTHING
FOR THE HOMEOWNERS. $5 MILLION
NEEDED TO CREATE THE RENT
CONTROL CAN BE BETTER SPENT TO
KEEP PEOPLE FROM BECOMING
HOMELESS. TO AVOID THE RISK OF
GIVING PERMANENT WALKED INTO
THOSE RENTS, OR RAISE THEM TO A
MARKET LEVEL, OR I WILL HAVE TO
SELL MY PROPERTY TO DEVELOPERS.
THIS WILL BE THE IMMEDIATE
OUTCOME. I COULD GO ON, BUT OUR
CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
ALREADY KNOW THIS PROPOSAL IS
DESIGNED TO RUIN THE SEATTLE
HOUSING MARKET. THE ONLY
QUESTION IS IF THEIR
INTEGRITY'S -- PLEASE VOTE NO
ON THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RANDY. RANDY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY BRUCE BECKER GO
AHEAD, RANDY.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ
AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS RANDY . THANKS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE
PROPOSED RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION. WE URGE YOU TO
REJECT THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE
RENT CONTROL IS NOT A
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HOUSING IS
EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH OF IT IN RELATIVITY TO
JOBS. MAKING HOUSING MORE
AFFORDABLE WE NEED MORE HOUSES
AND APARTMENTS. CONTROL WILL
CHILL NEW RENTAL HOUSING
PRODUCTION AND GIVE SMALL
MOM-AND-POP RENTAL HOUSING
OWNERS ANOTHER REASON TO GET
OUT OF THE BUSINESS AND JOINED
THE 5500 PEOPLE WHO HAVE
ALREADY RECENTLY STOPPED
RENTING THEIR PROPERTIES. RENT
CONTROL HAS FAILED IN EVERY
MARKET . WE NEED TO BRING THE
SUPPLY OF RENTAL AND FOR-SALE
HOUSING UNITS TO AVOID
INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE HOUSES.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BRUCE BECKER. BRUCE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ISAAC MILLER. GO
AHEAD, BRUCE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BRUCE BECKER.
THIS RENT CONTROL BILL IS A
BAD POLICY. THERE'S AN
EDITORIAL PAGE COLUMN IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES TODAY THAT
EXPLAINS WHY AND WHAT CAN BE
DONE. THIS BILL IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE. I LOOKED UP FOUR
HOUSES. AND ADJUSTED THE 1940
RENTS TO 2023 USING THE PRICE
INDEX. THEN I COMPARED TO THE
PROPERTY TAXES. PRETTY TAXES
ARE 50% OF THE RENT ON ONE
HOUSE , WHICH IS TRULY
UNSUSTAINABLE. THE OTHER
HOUSES ' TAXES WERE 96 AND 97%
OF RENTS ADJUSTED TO THE 2023
RENTS. THIS IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS BILL CANNOT
WORK. THESE VOTE AGAINST THIS
BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ISAAC MILLER. ISAAC WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY EMILY. GO AHEAD,
ISAAC.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ISAAC. I'M
A RENTER IN DISTRICT 4. I
CALLED THEM LAST TIME THIS WAS
ON THE FLOOR. IT SOUNDS LIKE
ALL THE SAME LANDLORDS ARE HERE
SAYING EXACTLY THE SAME
BONEHEADED STUPID IDEAS THAT
COMPLETED REPUTED LAST TIME WE
WERE HERE. JUST TO REMIND
EVERYONE, AFTER THAT SESSION,
DEBORAH WAR AS CALLED US TO
STUPID TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE
WERE SAYING, AND THEN ANDREW
LEWIS SAID WE SHOULD GO BACK TO
THE STATE OR SOMETHING, WHICH
IS EXACTLY WHAT THE STATE TOLD
US NOT TO DO. THEY TOLD US TO
TRY AND PASS IT UP THE LOCAL
LEVEL. THEY ARE ALL TRYING TO
GIVE US THE RUNAROUND. I THINK
IT'S CLEAR DEMOCRATS DON'T
SUPPORT KEEPING PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE. IF YOU SUPPORT
WORKING IN SEATTLE I WOULD NOT
VOTE FOR ANY OF THESE PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS EMILY MacARTHUR. EMILY WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY -- EMILY, GO
AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EMILY, MY
LIFELONG RENTER. IT TAKES
THREE JOBS TO PAY THE RENT IN
THE HOUSE I LIVE IN SEATTLE.
SINCE THE 2008 ECONOMIC
CRISIS, LANDLORDS ARE --
SIPHONING EXHORTED BID --
LEGAL PRICE FIXING . 71%
SUPPORT RENT CONTROL. RENT
CONTROL THAT IS STRONG WORKS.
IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT THE
SO-CALLED LABOR DEMOCRATS ARE
NOT STANDING PUBLICLY WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WANT TO
FIGHT FOR RENT CONTROL . LABOR
SHOULD NOT SUPPORT THEIR
CAMPAIGN. IT'S RIDICULOUS. SHE
SAID SHE COULDN'T BE BOTHERED
TO STAND WITH WORKING-CLASS
RENTERS. DEMOCRATS WILL VOTE
YES AND IF THEY DON'T THEY WILL
IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS SHIELDS
FOR --
>> RUBIN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
-- GO AHEAD.
>> I THINK -- I DON'T THINK HE
IS ON MUTED. WE CAN COME BACK.
>> OKAY, WE WILL COME BACK.
LET'S MOVE ON. A RICHE HAKIM ?
>> HI. I AM A RENTER IN
SEATTLE. I HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING AND
SECURITY FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE OBLIGATED
TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. THAT IS
WHY YOU ARE ELECTED. PLEASE
VOTE YES FOR RENT CONTROL. IT
SOUNDS LIKE EVERY LANDLORD WHO
VOTES PROBABLY PAINTS OVER
MOLD. ALL THE COSTS TO GET AN
APARTMENT ARE SO RIDICULOUS.
FIRST, LAST, AND THEN A
DEPOSIT. LANDLORDS ARE SCAMMING
PEOPLE AND CHARGING PEOPLE TO
DOLLARS FOR AN APPLICATION FEE
. PEOPLE DON'T EVEN GET THE
PLACE. THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS.
IT IS ABSURD. IF YOU CAN'T DO
YOUR CIVIC DUTY, YOU SHOULDN'T
HAVE THIS JOB. PICK A DIFFERENT
JOB. I GIVE UP THE REST OF MY
TIME.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE HE IS
NOW ON MUTED.
>> ACTUALLY, THIS IS SONJA.
>> KNOW. YOU ASKED ME TO
UNMUTE.
>> I DID NOT CALL ON A SUNDAY
YET. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> IC -- I SEE HE IS ON
MUTED.
>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT
NUMBER.
>> OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS
SPEAKING, BUT NOTHING IS COMING
OUT. SORRY ABOUT THAT. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER SIGNED UP
REMOTELY, AND THIS IS OUR 10th
SPEAKER REMOTELY. WE WILL SPEAK
-- WHICH BACK TO IN PERSON.
KEVIN. KEVIN.
>> KEVIN?
>> YOU MAY HAVE TO PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE ON
YOUR END.
>> I DO NOT SEE KEVIN'S TILE UP
HERE.
>> I SHOW IT ON MINE.
>> YOU DO?
>> KEVIN ARE YOU THERE? LET'S
COME BACK TO HIM.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO IN PERSON.
WE WILL START BACK UP WHERE WE
LEFT ON REMOTE.
>> IDEA.
>> LINDA, GO AHEAD.
>> OUR NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS SASHA SUMMERS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SASHA, RENTAL
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, AND
AN ACTIVIST WITH WORKER STRIKE
BACK. COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
CALLED HERSELF A DEMOCRAT, BUT
SHE COULD NOT BOTHER HERSELF
TO SHOW UP FOR A VOTE . YEAH,
SCHEDULING CONFLICTS HAPPEN,
BUT COME ON ALL YOU NEEDED TO
DO WAS SHOW UP IT ENDS HIM FOR
A FEW MINUTES. MOSQUEDA LED THE
WAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS, BUT
SHE DIDN'T BOTHER UP -- TO
SHOW UP. WHY SHOULD UNION
MEMBERS SUPPORT HER IF SHE
WON'T SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL AND DOESN'T BOTHER TO SHOW
UP TO VOTE YES. THAT GOES FOR
ALL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT
WANT TO CALL THEMSELVES
PROGRESSIVE OR LABOR DEMOCRATS.
LEWIS, HERBOLD, MIRELES. WE
ARE WATCHING YOUR VOTE. YEAH.
WE ARE READY TO FIGHT. HOUSING
IS A HUMAN RIGHT. WE ARE READY
TO FIGHT. HOUSING IS A HUMAN
RIGHTS. WE ARE READY TO FIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DIMITRI. DIMITRI .
>> HELLO, SEATTLE. I CAME TO
SEATTLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2012
, WITH 100 -- 100,000 JOB.
BETWEEN STUDENT LOANS, MOUNTAIN
HEALTHCARE COST, AND CONTINUING
EDUCATION, BECAUSE I'M NEVER
GOOD ENOUGH, I HAVE NO SAVINGS.
CURRENTLY, I AM IN BETWEEN JOBS
, AND I CANNOT AFFORD HOUSING.
I AM HOMELESS. I'M HERE --
THAT'S ENOUGH ABOUT ME. NOW,
LET'S FALL BACK ON SOME DATA.
NEW YORK CITY'S BIGGEST HOUSING
BOOM WAS DURING THE TIMES OF
STRICT TEST RENT CONTROL.
WITH THAT, WE CAN AGREE TO PASS
THE RENT CONTROL BILL WITH NO
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEMETRA
FREEMAN.
>> JODI, YOU CAN START THE
TIMER.
>> I DID NOT HEAR MY NAME
CALLED, BUT I KNOW I'M NEXT ON
THE LIST. I AM ALSO FROM
WEILL, -- COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, IF YOU ARE TIRED OF
LISTENING TO US, JUST VOTE YES.
WE CAN'T WAIT FOR OLYMPIA.
YOU KNOW THAT IF OLYMPIA GETS
AROUND TO A STATEWIDE RENT
CONTROL, IT WILL BE SO WATERED
DOWN , AND WEEKEND AND INVOLVE
LOOPHOLES THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH
VERY LITTLE, AND THEN THEY WILL
SAY, SEE? WE TOLD YOU IT
WOULDN'T WORK. YOU KNOW HOW
POLITICS WORKS. WE NEED TO SET
A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THIS WHOLE
STATE . AND PROVE THAT IT DOES
WORK. DON'T ARTIFICIALLY
RESTRICT THE SUPPLY .
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MATTHEW BOGERT. MATTHEW
BOGERT. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
MATTHEW IS COMING UP TO THE
PODIUM, WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER. OKAY, MATTHEW, WE ARE
READY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> JODI, START THE TIMER.
>> WE CAN.
>> 2020, MOST RECORDER OF
WASHINGTON TONY ADAMS ARE IN
FAVOR OF WHAT RENT CONTROL.
IT'S LIKELY HIGHER NOW.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS GIVEN
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CAPITALIZE THAT. INSTEAD, THIS
ABSENCE AND A TENDENCY TO VOTE
NO SHOWS THE ALLEGIANCE WITH
CORPORATIONS LIKE BLACKROCK
AND VANGUARD. IT'S NOT LIKE
SEATTLE IS SCARED OF PEOPLE. WE
DISPLACED OUR MOST FORMABLE
POPULATION. THE HOMELESS PEOPLE
OF COLOR TO GRADE SCALES IN
2022. WE CONDUCTED OVER 900
SWEEPS. 800 WERE UNANNOUNCED.
WHERE'S THE HUMANITY OF THAT?
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE SPINE
TO STAND UP TO THESE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS. SHAME ON YOU. WE ARE
WATCHING YOUR VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JESSICA. JESSICA.
>> HI. MY NAME IS JESSICA. I
AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3,
SOON-TO-BE DISTRICT TWO
UNFORTUNATELY. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE IN PERSON. THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN BACK
IN THREE YEARS, AND IT'S VERY
STRANGE TO NOT EVEN SEE PEOPLE
ON CAMERA . LEWIS I SAW YOU
TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR
FACE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE I CANNOT
SEE YOU HERE AS WELL. THE
QUESTION IS, ARE WE VOTING FOR
RENT CONTROL FOR WORKING
PEOPLE TODAY, OR WE VOTING FOR
RENT CONTROL FOR WEALTHY
CORPORATE LANDLORDS? EITHER
WAY IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OR THE
OTHER. IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT HAS
NO CONSEQUENCES. THE ARGUMENTS
ABOUT WE CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE
THERE'S A BAND IN WASHINGTON
ARE, LIKE, IT'S JUST NOT A
MOTIVATION TO GET THINGS DONE.
WE HAVE TO START HERE. START
LOCALLY. THINK GLOBALLY. I WILL
PUT PRESSURE ON -- AND PUT
PRESSURE ON WASHINGTON TO GET
RID OF THE BAM. THE PEOPLE I
SPOKE TO IN MY APARTMENT
BUILDING ARE FOR RENT CONTROL,
PLEASE PASS IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MICHAEL. MICHAEL. OKAY, I
DON'T SEE MICHAEL. OUR NEXT
PERSON IS DANIEL BOYD. DANIEL
BOYD, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY. THE
NEXT SPEAKER IS GRANT
RASMUSSEN.
>> HAVING TROUBLE HEARING THE
ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE BACK. CAN
YOU --
>> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME, SIR? CAN YOU PLEASE
STATE YOUR NAME?
>> MY NAME IS DANIEL BOYD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD, MR. BOYD.
>> IS THIS MIKE WORKING. IS
EITHER WORKING?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU, SIR.
>> I AM DANIEL BOYD. I'M A
NATIVE SEATTLEITE. MY FIRST
APARTMENT WAS IN WALLINGFORD.
MY NEXT APARTMENT WAS ON QUEEN
ANNE. AFTER THAT I MOVED TO THE
U DISTRICT. I HAVE BEEN
OPERATING ENTRY-LEVEL MODEST
APARTMENTS IN SEATTLE THE LAST
40 YEARS. THIS IS THE SEGMENT
OF THE MARKET YOU SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGING AND NURTURING.
THAT IS WHERE WE NEED MORE
CAPACITY. RENT CONTROL WILL
STIFLE ANY DEVELOPMENT AMOUNT
MARKET.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS GRANT RASMUSSEN. GRANT
RASMUSSEN. GO AHEAD, GRANT.
>> HELLO?
>> I AM HERE AS A RENTER . HI,
MY NAME IS GRANT RASMUSSEN. I
AM ADVOCATING ON THE HALF OF
RENT CONTROL. I THINK IT'S
REALLY TELLING WHO IS HERE IN
CITY HALL TODAY . THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN THE BUILDING HERE .
LANDLORDS ON ZOOM, GUYS. WE
ARE HERE IN PERSON. IF YOU
GUYS ON THE CITY COUNCIL ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE OUR
REPRESENTATIVES, YOU SHOULD
REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
IN CITY HALL RIGHT NOW. THAT'S
WHO YOU SHOULD REPRESENT. IT
IS A LITTLE CITY TO SHOW UP TO
A MEETING AND ONLY ONE
REPRESENTATIVE IS ACTUALLY IN
THE ROOM. WE NEED RENT CONTROL
RIGHT NOW. WHO'S WENT UP?
WHAT DO WE WANT? [ CROWD
CHANTING ] RENT CONTROL . NOW.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES. DAVID HAYNES.
>> ESTHER HAYNES.
>> GO AHEAD AND START THE
TIMER, JODI.
>> DID YOU SAY DAVID HAYNES?
I'M SORRY, DID YOU?
>> RESIDENT AND FORMER SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER. BOOKS AND WE
CAN AFFORD THE RENT DON'T PAY
RENT. THEY ARE THE SENIORS ON
SOCIAL SECURITY. WE NEED RENT
CONTROL TO SAVE OUR DISTRICT
WHICH IS ON THE TOP 10 --
WITHOUT RENT CONTROL, THE 1300
MAXIMUM ALLOWANCE FOR SOCIAL
SECURITY AND DISABILITY
STATEMENT WILL BE SPENT
ENTIRELY ON RENT. SENIORS ARE
THE HEART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS
CAN'T FIGHT CANCER AND PAY FOR
THEIR MEDS. WE HAVE FOUGHT
THROUGH JAPANESE INTERMENT .
RENT CONTROL WILL SAVE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> EXCUSE ME, CAN YOU PLEASE
LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR NAME IS.
THE LAST PERSON I CAME UP TO
THE PODIUM.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES.
>> WE LIVE IN A GREEDY IMMORAL
FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF NONWORKING
SHAREHOLDER MIDDLEMEN THAT
REQUIRES A TRUE DEMOCRACY
LEGISLATIVE PEN TO KEEP THE
GREED IN CHECK SO IT BENEFITS
THE COMMONWEALTH. INSTEAD WE
HAVE A POLITICAL CLASS THAT IS
CAPITULATING TO THE CORPORATE
GLASS THAT ARE DOING THE
BIDDING OF BIG -- SHAKING DOWN
THE EXPLICATED OPPRESSED
WORKING CLASS, FORCED TO PAY
THE TAX BASE AND DOUBLE
MORTGAGES OF RUNDOWN RENTALS
THAT ARE FLAWED, OBSOLETE AND
IN VIOLATION OF THE 21st
CENTURY WORLD QUALITY HOLDING
CODES. WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE
THE BANKS ARTIFICIALLY -- AND
THE SMALL BUSINESSES BEING
SHAKEN DOWN FOR US TO TURN
AGAINST THEIR WORKERS TO MAKE
ENDS MEET SO WE CAN DO A DEBT
SERVICE POLICE STATE FOR THE
NONWORKING SHAREHOLDER AND THE
IMMORAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM TOOLS.
PROPERTY TAX VALUE TAKEN OFF.
STIMULATE THE SAVINGS FOR 21st
CENTURY HOUSING BILLS AND USE
LEGISLATION TO FORCE --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JONATHAN. THANK YOU.
JONATHAN ROSENBLUM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WISH I
COULD SEE MORE OF YOU.
JONATHAN ROSENBLUM, MEMBER OF
NATIONAL WRITERS UNION. I AM
WITH WORKER STRIKE BACK, AND
ALSO DISTRICT TWO HOMEOWNER.
TODAY'S VOTE IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD. WILL YOU
STAND WITH RENTERS OR WITH BIG
BUSINESS? DON'T TAKE THAT JUST
FOR ME. AFTER THE JULY 21st
COMMITTEE MEETING , THE MAIN
LANDLORD LOBBY GROUP CALLED THE
DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST RENT
CONTROL , QUOTE, AN IMPORTANT
WIN FOR THE HOUSING INDUSTRY
AND A SIZABLE SETBACK FOR
TENANT ADVOCATES,". WHO IS
THIS INDUSTRY. LANDLORDS WITH
PROFITS OF $408 MILLION.
AVALON BAY. $1.1 BILLION EQUITY
. $807 MILLION. DEMOCRATS ARE
SIGNING WITH BILLIONAIRES, NOT
RENTERS. WE KNOW THAT, SO DO
OUR OPPONENTS. THE CHOICE IS
CLEAR. PICK A SIDE. WE SEE YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW READY
TO MOVE ON TO THE REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
>> THANK YOU. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS KERRY. KERRY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY SHUBAN.
>> I AM CAREY PARK,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER.
SOME PEOPLE DO STRUGGLE TO
AFFORD RENTAL -- BUILDERS ARE
NOT BUILDING HOUSING IN
SEATTLE. PEOPLE LIVING
EXISTING RENT-CONTROLLED
HOUSING WILL NUMBER. AFFORDABLE
UNITS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO
PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM. IT WILL
NOT LOWER RENT. A CONTROLLED
PRIMARILY HELPS EXISTING HIGH
INCOME TENANTS. JOEL HAS NO
CONTROL ON RENTAL SUPPLIES.
IT'S WRONG. IT'S ON PRESIDENT.
NO CONSTRUCTION IS EXEMPT.
THERE'S NO PROVISION TO RECOUP
COSTS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
RENTERS LOVE THE IDEA OF RENT
CONTROL. WHO DOESN'T WANT
PREDICTABLE RENT INCREASES? WE
NEED TO LOWER VARIOUS
BUILDINGS. ENCOURAGE MARKET
HOUSING. PROVIDE MONETARY
SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.
JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS
POPULAR DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A
GOOD IDEA. IT'S A BAD IDEA.
PLEASE DON'T VOTE FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SHUBAN. WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
KEVIN. GO AHEAD SHUBAN.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>>, AN ACTIVIST WITH WORKER
STRIKE BACK. I'M SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER
SALON'S BILL WHICH WILL PREVENT
OUT-OF-CONTROL RENTS BUT DO NOT
AFFECT SMALL LANDLORDS. IT
HAS BEEN PROVEN TO WORK. IF
THE RENT CONTROL BILL LIES
WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
SINGLE PROGRESSIVE LABOR
DEMOCRAT -- UNFORTUNATELY THE
ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING NO.
THIS IS DESPITE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE . RENTERS
ASKING FOR SUPPORT. IF
DEMOCRATS WOULD KNOW WE ARE
FORCED TO ASK -- THEY WILL
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN LETTING
A STRONG RENT CONTROL BILL AND
AND --
>> THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU
DROPPED OFF THE LINE. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS KEVIN. KEVIN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY RICHIE. GO AHEAD,
KEVIN.
>> THANK YOU. HER NAME IS
KEVIN. I'M A RENTER . RENT
CONTROL IS A COMMON SENSE
MEASURE. IT WILL PREVENT
OUT-OF-CONTROL RENT INCREASES
RENTERS HAVE BEEN FACING FOR
DECADES. WILL NOT AFFECT THE
SMALL RENTERS WHO DON'T GOUGE
THE TENANTS. SKYROCKETING RENTS
AND MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ARE
PUPPETEERING BY TRILLION DOLLAR
BANKS. CORPORATIONS ARE
DRIVING UP PRICES SIMPLY
BECAUSE THEY CAN. BY
GATEKEEPING RENT CONTROL AT THE
STATE LEVEL AND SITTING ON
THEIR HANDS IN SEATTLE,
DEMOCRATS HAVE ENABLED
LANDLORDS TO RAISE GOUGE
RENTERS OUT OF THE HOMES FOR
DECADES. WHY SHOULD WE VOTE FOR
YOU AGAIN? THE IDEA RENT
CONTROL DRIVE DOWN HOUSING
AVAILABILITY IS A MYTH. MOST
UNITARIAN MID TO LUXURY
HIGH-RISE BUILDING. WE NEED
RENT CONTROL WITHOUT LOOPHOLES
AND THE EXTENSION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE NEED
REPRESENTATIVES, WHO INSTEAD
IGNORE US, STAND WITH US. I
ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO KEEP
ORGANIZING.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RICHIE. RICHARD WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY HILLARY ROSE. GO
AHEAD, RICHIE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS RICHIE. I
URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES. I'VE BEEN A RENTER SINCE
2014. CURRENTLY IN DISTRICT
SIX. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF
LOCAL 9009 AND WORKER STRIKE
BACK ACTIVIST. THE LANDLORDS
HAVE TOLD YOU RENT CONTROL
WON'T WORK. HERE ARE SOME
STUDIES. DAVID SIMS IN 2014 --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] I'M NOT
GOING TO LIST ALL THE NAMES.
STUDIED IN MASSACHUSETTS, NEW
JERSEY AND SAN FRANCISCO. THEY
DID NOT DECREASE HOUSING
AVAILABILITY AND STUDIES DO
SHOW HOUSING AVAILABILITY OR
BECAUSE OF A -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] 70% OF OF
WASHINGTON -- OVER 70% IN
WASHINGTON SUPPORT RENT
CONTROL. YOU CLAIM --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HILLARY ROSE. I'M SORRY,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, I
HATE CUTTING YOU OFF, BUT
PLEASE MIND THE DING WHEN YOU
HEAR IT. YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO
WRAP THINGS UP. WE ARE GOING TO
STOP PUBLIC COMMENT AROUND
3:05. GO AHEAD, MADAM CLERK.
>> THANK YOU. NECK SPEAKER IS
HILLARY ROSE. HILLARY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY SCOTT SORENSEN. GO
AHEAD, HILLARY.
>> HILLARY?
>> I SEE HER ON THE CALL.
MAYBE SHE HAS TO PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE HER PHONE?
>> OH YEAH. THERE YOU GO.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YEAH.
>> SORRY. OKAY. I AM HILLARY
ROSE. HAVE A MASTER DEGREE AND
MAINTAIN MY EMPLOYMENT
THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN SEATTLE.
DESPITE THIS I HAVE EXPERIENCED
HOME ON THIS POINT I'M NOW IN
DISTRICT EIGHT , FORMERLY
DISTRICT TWO. THE COST OF
LIVING IN SEATTLE IS 50% HIGHER
THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. RENT
CONTROL MANAGERS HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER MAJOR
CITIES. THE ARGUMENT THAT A
CONTROL IS HARMFUL IS OBVIOUSLY
A LIE. AS OF JULY 2023, BUT
AVERAGE RENT FOR ONE BEDROOM
APARTMENT IS CLOSE TO $2000 A
MONTH. TO AFFORD A ONE BEDROOM
SEATTLE , RENTER WOULD NEED TO
MAKE OVER $72,000 PER YEAR.
MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS MAKE
UNDER 39,000 PER YEAR. ON THE
SURVEY , 20% SAID THEY WERE
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AT THE TIME
OF THE SURVEY. 25% ATTRIBUTED
THEIR HOUSING SITUATION
EXCLUSIVELY TO THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, THOSE YOU SERVE
ARE BEING DISPLACED BY
CORPORATIONS AND FOREIGN
INVESTORS . AS A
SELF-PROCLAIMED PROGRESSIVE
CITY, SEATTLE NEEDS TO LIVE UP
TO ITS PROMISES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NECK SPEAKER
IS SCOTT. GO AHEAD, SCOTT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM A SMALL LANDLORD IN
SEATTLE. THE BOARD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND MARKET RATE UNITS.
RENT CONTROL IS PROBABLY THE
MOST DESTRUCTIVE THING YOU
COULD POSSIBLY DO TO RENTERS .
I'VE HAD THE UNFORTUNATE
PLEASURE OF OWNING IN BOTH
THE SEATTLE , LOS ANGELES, AND
SANTA MONICA. I CAN TELL YOU
FIRSTHAND BUT IT IS COMPLETELY
DESTRUCTIVE AND
COUNTERINTUITIVE. IT HAS TRULY
BEEN BASIC ECON 101 OF SUPPLY
AND DEMAND. WHEN YOU HINDER
NEW SUPPLY, WHICH RENT CONTROL
DOES, IT REALLY MESSES UP RENT
AND IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE
RENTER. CONSTRUCTION IS
CONTRIBUTED TO GOVERNMENT
REGULATION, AS WELL AS OUR REAL
ESTATE TAX HAS MOUNTED TO --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS -- WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
LUKE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM A HOUSING PROVIDER WHO
HAS BEEN PROUD TO SAY I'M --
STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
HERE IN SEATTLE. I'M ALSO PROUD
I OFFER VERY AFFORDABLE RENT .
I'VE HAD UNITS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE AND HAVE BEEN
AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE OF THE
LAST MONTH, WHICH I'VE BEEN
UNABLE TO FILL, THAT ARE LISTED
AT $1190. THAT'S NOT THAT
UNREASONABLE. NOT THAT I'M
AFFORDABLE. IT'S RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF NORTH SEATTLE. THE
PROBLEM WITH THIS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION, BUT FIGHTS BEING
TOTALLY UNFAIR IS THAT IT DOES
NOT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF
OUR HOUSING -- IT'S A COLORFUL
BAND-AID AT BEST AND MAY WIN A
FEW VOTES. AS A HOUSING
PROVIDER, OUR COSTS HAVE
SKYROCKETED. WE KNOW CPI IS A
GENERIC BROAD-BASED
INFLATIONARY MEASURE WHICH DOES
NOT REFLECT OUR SPECIFIC
HOUSING COSTS WE INCUR AS
HOUSING PROVIDERS. FORCING
LANDLORDS TO EFFECTIVELY --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LUKE. HE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY EITHER. LUKE.
>> LUKE, THEY HAVE THE BEST
DATA. IN TWO WHEN THEY CALL
THEIR DATA FOR BEING OUTDATED,
FLAWED AND BIASED, THAT THEY
NEED MORE DATA. THAT'S MORE
DATA THEY WANT, WHY DO THE
MAYOR AND CORPORATE DEMOCRAT
FOR TO KILL -- THE BILL WOULD
HAVE MADE LANDLORDS OPEN THEIR
BANK BOOKS AND REPORT WHAT THEY
ARE CHARGING. I'VE NEVER HEARD
A LANDLORD COMPLAIN ABOUT
REPORTING THESE NUMBERS TO THE
BANK. IF SEATTLE FOUND OUT HOW
MUCH THE LANDLORDS ARE RAKING
OFF THE BACKS OF WORKING PEOPLE
, ABANDONED RENT CONTROL
WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH. THEY WOULD
HAVE TO BEEN PITCHFORKS, TOO.
GET TOGETHER AND DO A RENT
STRIKE .
>> THANK YOU, LUKE. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS IDA . EITHER WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY DAVID -- DAVID.
>> MY NAME IS IDA IN DISTRICT
FIVE. DO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH
RENT CONTROL. THE CONTROL IS
WELL STUDIED, AND HAS FAILED IN
EVERY CITY IN WHICH IT HAS BEEN
ATTEMPTED. BY REDUCING HOUSING
STOCK , THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF
WHAT WE NEED IN THIS CRISIS.
RENT CONTROL IS SHORTSIGHTED
AND WILL CAUSE LONG-TERM DAMAGE
. DO YOU THINK LANDLORDS WILL
SIT IDLY BY AND STICK AROUND
TO THIS ILL-ADVISED ONE-SIDED
PROPOSAL? THEY WILL EXIT THE
MARKET. THAT MEANS LESS HOUSING
IS INEVITABLE FROM THIS
PROPOSAL. RENTERS WILL LOSE OUT
DEBT AGAIN. HOUSING IS A
NETWORK. YOU NEED TO WORK WITH
RENTERS AND LANDLORDS BIG AND
SMALL TO FIND A SOLUTION.
COUNSEL, PLEASE, TRY TO ADDRESS
THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE HOUSING
CRISIS, THEN PASS TRY TO CALL
HER -- PASS A COLORFUL --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DAVID. DAVID WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY AIDAN. DAVID, GO
AHEAD.
>> HI, I AM A DISABLED LANDLORD
OF ONE PROPERTY. 50% OF
LANDLORD 'S PROPERTY MANAGERS.
100% OF DISABLED LANDLORDS USE
PROPERTY MANAGERS, OTHERWISE WE
WOULD LOSE OUR BENEFITS. THE
AVERAGE COSTS IS 4.24 EACH
USING A PROPERTY MANAGER. THIS
DOESN'T INCLUDE MANAGEMENT
FEES, MAINTENANCE FEES, OR
NON-PAYMENTS. THE RATE OF
INFLATION WOULD COVER ALL OF
THESE COSTS. DISABLED
LANDLORDS OR SINNERS DON'T GET
TAX BREAKS ON OUR RENTAL
PROPERTIES, NOR DO THEY GET
DISCOUNTS WENT INTO LOW INCOME
TENANTS. CURRENTLY MY PROPERTY
IS MOUNTING AT 1000 BELOW. THIS
BILL WOULD PERMANENTLY TAKE US
OUT OF THE MARKET IF THIS
PASSES, ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER
LANDLORD IN MY SITUATION.
ACCORDING TO HARVARD RESEARCH,
COWARD HAS A MASS EXODUS OF
1.2 MILLION. LOW INCOME
RENTALS FROM 2019 TO 2021. AND
THE STRICT LAWS OF THESE
RENTALS WERE OFF THE MARKET.
WE WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO
SEATTLE? IT DECREASES RENTAL
SUPPLY AND INCREASES RENTAL
RATE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE -- IT
LOOKS LIKE EDEN CAROL IS NO
LONGER PRESENT. OUR LAST
SPEAKER WILL BE JESSICA DYSON.
JESSICA? JESSICA?
>> BEHIND ME IN LINE.
>> I THINK WE WILL MOVE ON TO A
DIFFERENT -- I'M NOT SEEING HER
ON. SONJA? IS SONJA AVAILABLE?
THAT WILL BE OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER PLEASE.
>> I SEE SONJA. THERE YOU GO.
>> HI. HI, THIS IS SONJA FROM
HOMEOWNER, LANDLORD AND
ACTIVIST WITH WORKER STRIKE
BACK. I SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION WITH MORE CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES. I SEE THE LANDLORDS
WITH HIGHER TALKING POINTS .
ACCORDING TO THE DEVELOPMENT
INDUSTRIES -- 6.3% , CLOSE TO
11,000 APARTMENTS. THE RENT IS
TOO HIGH. ECONOMISTS ARE
FORCED TO ADMIT IT'S AT LEAST
PARTLY THE RESULT OF PROFIT
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T. NO
NO STOPPING THEM. CONTROL -- I
WAS ALSO SAD TO HEAR MOST OF
THESE CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE
ALLEGEDLY ENGAGING IN PRICE
FIXING. IN REALITY, THESE
CORPORATIONS ARE REALLY OWNED
BY VANGUARD AND OTHERS. BY
OPPOSING CONTROL YOU REALLY ARE
AIDING AND ABETTING THE RICH
AND POWERFUL. NOT THE PEOPLE IN
YOUR DISTRICT. YOU SHOULD GO
FOR THIS EVEN IF YOU CALL
YOURSELF A PROGRESSIVE. I'M
LOOKING AT YOU, SAMANTHA
LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU. THAT COMPLETES
OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS. IT LOOKS
LIKE WE HAVE FIVE MORE MINUTES
WHERE WE COULD TAKE MORE IN
PERSON COUNCIL CHAMBER
SPEAKERS.
>> PERFECT. LET'S DO THAT.
WHAT'S GET THESE GUYS UP THERE.
>> OUR NEXT PERSON IN ANNA.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YEAH.
>> RENT CONTROL IS AS
ESSENTIAL AS THE MINIMUM WAGE
OR AIR CONDITIONING FOR
SURVIVAL IN TODAY'S ECONOMY.
IT WILL LOWER THE RATE OF
GROWTH OF PROPERTY TAXES.
PROPERTY VALUES WILL NOT RISE
AS QUICKLY. THE SIDE EFFECTS
ARE COUNTED BY RENT CONTROL AND
VICE VERSA. IT'S ESSENTIAL THEY
BE PAIRED TOGETHER. IT WILL
PREVENT NONPROFIT SOCIAL
HOUSING PROVIDERS FROM BEING
OUTBID, AND BID HIGHER AND THE
BUBBLE NOT RAISING AS QUICK.
ON THE CONTRARY, ANY SIDE
EFFECTS OF RENT CONTROL
REDUCING TO BUILD WILL BE
COUNTERED, MORE THAN COUNTERED
BY THE OBSERVING WE ALREADY
NEED. DAN STRAUSS, I WROTE IN
FOR THE PRIMARY THIS TIME. A
LOT OF US ON THE LEFT DON'T
FEEL THERE'S A DIFFERENCE RIGHT
NOW. MAYBE PEOPLE ARE FEELING
THE SAME WAY. WE NEED RENT
CONTROL. WE ALL KNOW SOMEBODY
WHO HAS DIED OF HOMELESSNESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT PERSON UP IS DEAN.
DEAN.
>> FOR SOME REASON -- PEOPLE
WHO WERE SPEAKING WERE BEHIND
ME ON THE SIGN-UP LIST. MY NAME
IS MARK TAYLOR.
>> WE CALL THE PERSON THAT
SHOULD BE SPEAKING. DEAN.
>> LET'S GO WITH THE SIGN-UP
SHEET, PLEASE.
>> THAT I GET TAKEN FROM THE
LIST? I WOULD ALREADY HAVE
SPOKEN .
>> WHAT WAS YOUR NAME, SIR?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAME UP
WHEN YOU ARE CALLED. LET'S MOVE
ON TO DEAN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU CALLED ME TO PEOPLE OR
GO OR SOMETHING. I HAVEN'T
SPOKEN YOU. SHOULD I LET HIM GO
FIRST.
>> WE ARE FOLLOWING THE LIST.
THE NEXT PERSON IS DEAN.
>> IF HE IS NOT THERE --
>> YOU SAID MY NAME. YET, YOU
CALL MY NAME AND SOMEONE WAS
ALREADY SPEAKING, SO I HAD TO
WAIT.
>> JUST HOLD ON. WITH THE
CLERK DO HER JOB. MADAM CLERK.
IS HE THERE?
>> IF SHE WAS HERE IN PERSON,
IT WOULD PROBABLY BE EASIER FOR
HER.
>> DEAN IS NOT SHOWING UP. WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
PERSON. MARK TAYLOR. MARK?
>> YES?
>> THERE WAS A KEY ON A DAILY.
>> CAN SHE PLEASE BE? SHE IS
SAYING HER NAME WAS CALLED.
>> IS. LET'S LET THE COURT DO
HER JOB FIRST. IF WE NEED TO
ALLOW THAT, WE WILL. LET'S LET
HER DO HER JOB. GO AHEAD.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DEAN.
IN LIEU OF MR. COOPER DOES NOT
SPEAKING , KEY ON A DAILY.
>> TO KEEP THIS GOING, BECAUSE
WE KNOW WE HAVE ONE MINUTE
LEFT. I'M GOING TO START
SPEAKING NOW.
>> NO.'S SHUT IT DOWN. WE ARE
NOT DOING THIS. MADAM CLERK.
WE WILL GIVE A PEOPLE --
PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY. HOLD ON.
LET THE CLERK DO HER JOB. THE
INDIVIDUAL IS NOT HERE. WE WILL
GO TO THE NEXT PERSON. THE
OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO
SPEAK, IF I NEED TO EXTEND THE
TIME TO ALLOW THAT, I WILL DO
THAT. JUST WAIT. MADAM CLERK,
GO AHEAD.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK
TAYLOR.
>> MR. TAYLOR . OVERHEAD. IF WE
NEED TO EXTEND FIVE MORE
MINUTES --
>> STOP IT NOW. WE ARE NOT
DOING THIS. YOU ARE GOING TO
FOLLOW THE RULES. IF WE HAVE
TO GO TO RECESS BECAUSE YOU'RE
HOLDING IT UP BECAUSE YOU
CAN'T WAIT YOUR TURN, WE WILL
DO THAT. LET'S LET HIM TALK.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE HIM
TEED UP.
>> WE HAVE ALSO REACHED THE ONE
HOUR.
>> WE ARE AT ONE HOUR.
>> PRESIDENT MORRIS, ONE MINUTE
PUBLIC COMMENT, JUST LET HER
SPEAK WORKS
>> I'M GOING TO, IN A MEMBER
-- MOMENT, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. I WANT THE COURT TO
FINISH THE LIST. IF WE NEED
ADDITIONAL TIME, WE WILL DO
THAT.
>> SHE'S ON THE MICROPHONE, IT
DOESN'T MATTER.
>> I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE
WORK. MADAM CLERK, WHO IS NEXT?
>> THE NEXT PERSON WAS MARK
TAYLOR CANFIELD. I BELIEVE YOU
WENT TO THE PODIUM, BUT I COULD
NOT HEAR HIM.
>> LET'S LET HIM SPEAK WE WILL
EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE
OTHER INDIVIDUALS. MR.
CANFIELD.
>> I AM AN EXPERT IN -- NEXT
PERSON TO SPEAK. I'M A
JOURNALIST IN SEATTLE. I WOULD
LIKE TO GIVE PART OF MY TIME TO
HER. FIRST I WANT TO MAKE THIS
ONE COMMENT. I ALSO SERVE AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR -- ♪ [
MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ]
>> IS A DONE SPEAKING? ALL
RIGHT. LET'S LET THE OTHER
INDIVIDUAL SPEAK.
>> THE LAST PERSON , KIANA
DAILY.
>> I WASN'T TRYING TO BE
DISRESPECTFUL, WAS JUST LETTING
YOU KNOW MY NAME IS ON THE
LIST. I'M A SEATTLE RENTER. UP
AND RENTING HERE MY ENTIRE DID
ADULT LIFE. I JUST WANT TO ASK
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. YOU GO
TO THE GROCERY SCORE? DO YOU
GET COFFEE IN THE MORNING? DO
YOU LIKE TO GO OUT TO EAT? DO
YOU LIKE TO GO OUT TO THE
MOVIES. THOSE PEOPLE DOING
THOSE JOBS DOES A PLACE TO
LIVE. THEY ARE LAUGHING,
TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY ARE
GOING TO FLEE SEATTLE IF WE
PASS THIS BILL. WE DON'T WANT
TO FLEE SEATTLE. WE ARE TRYING
OUR HARDEST TO NOT. WE WANT TO
LIVE HERE. WE WANT TO AFFORD TO
LIVE HERE. WE ARE FULLY AWARE
THIS IS A TRIGGER LOCK. WE KNOW
IF YOU PASS AND SAY YESTERDAY
WE ARE NOT GETTING RENT CONTROL
100%. WE KNOW THIS. WE JUST
WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH WE ARE
BEGGING YOU AT THIS POINT TO
PLEASE VOTE YES. PLEASE PUSH
THESE BOUNDARIES ,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. WE NEED TO
DO THIS . IF YOU CARE ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE THE LABOR .
WE DESERVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE
ELSE ? JUST BRIEFLY, MADAM
CLERK, ARE WE OKAY?
>> WE ARE OKAY. WE'VE GOT A
LOT MORE TO GO, BUT WE'VE
REACHED OUR TIME LIMIT THAT
YOU GAVE US.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE DONE WITH
THAT. AS I SHARED EARLIER,
WE'VE HAD FIVE HOURS
COLLECTIVELY OF PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND WE JUST HAD ANOTHER HOUR.
SIX HOURS AND FIVE MINUTES OF
PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEM
NUMBER THREE. WITH THAT I AM
CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANT
TO THANK THOSE OF YOU,
PARTICULARLY THOSE OF YOU THAT
-- NO. PUBLIC COMMENT IS
CLOSED. SHUT DOWN THE MIC. I
DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO DO THIS.
WE ARE DONE WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT. WITH THAT, MADAM
CLERK , LET'S MOVE ON INTO OUR
AGENDA. I WANT TO THANK THOSE
THAT CAME TO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ,
AND CAME INTO CHAMBERS, AND
THOSE THE COLD. I KNOW THIS IS
A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING
PUBLIC COMMENT HERE TODAY. ALL
RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON ON OUR
AGENDA, MADAM CLERK. ADOPTION
OF THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR. IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. NOT HEARING OR SEEING
ON OBJECTION, IT IS INDEED
ADOPT IT. COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT? PUBLIC COMMENT IS
CLOSE. WE'VE HAD OVER SIX HOURS
OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS
MATTER. WE ARE MOVING ON ON OUR
AGENDA. NEXT WE HAVE THE
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. THERE'S
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED. I AM NOT SEEING OR
HEARING ON OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. MOVING ON
TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WE
WILL NOW CONSIDER THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. THESE ARE THE ITEMS
ON TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR.
WE HAVE THE MINUTES FROM JULY
25th, 2023. WE HAVE THE
PAYROLL BILL, COUNSEL BILL
120627. WE HAVE FOUR
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
MUSIC COMMISSION, RECOMMENDED
BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TECHNOLOGY , COUNCILMEMBER
ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED FROM
TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR? OKAY,
I DO NOT SEE ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES RAISING THEIR HAND,
VIRTUALLY OR OTHERWISE.
HEARING NONE, I MOVED TO ADOPT
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. MADAM CLERK,
PUT WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR?
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
COUNCILMEMBER -- PRESIDENT
JUAREZ.
>> AYE. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE ITEM -- READ ON NUMBER
ONE. REPORT OF ITEM TECHNOLOGY
AND CITY LIKE AMITY, AT AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER ONE, 3209 AND.
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE
SHARED CITY AND COMMUNITY GOALS
AND STRATEGIES OF THE FUTURE OF
SEATTLE . A CITY POLICY IN
CRITICAL FOUNDATION OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE COUNCIL ADOPT
THE RESOLUTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
RESOLUTION ENDORSES THE AGENDA
SET FORTH IN THE SECOND PART OF
THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE, A REPORT
WHICH WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH AN
INTENTIONAL AND COMMUNITY
DRIVEN PROCESS TO IDENTIFY
PRIORITY INVESTMENTS . AND WILL
ADVANCE THE MISSION TO BUILD AN
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY IN SEATTLE.
THE INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
WILL GUIDE THE EXPENDITURE OF
THE PORTION OF JUMPSTART FUNDS
ALLOCATED FOR ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION. I PUT THIS
FORWARD JUST TO PROVIDE SOME
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PRINCIPLES AND POLICY RATIONALE
UNDERPINNING THE ITEMS IN THE
BUDGET THAT WE WILL BE SEEING
THIS FALL. WHEN I SAY THAT, I
MEAN THE SPECIFIC BUDGET ITEMS,
NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
SPELLED OUT IN THIS RESOLUTION.
I AM ASKING FOR SUPPORT. THIS
CAME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE WITH
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. BEFORE WE
GOT TO THIS ITEM IN THAT
COMMITTEE, WE HAD
PRESENTATIONS ON THE SPECIFICS
OF THE FIVE PILLARS , AND ALSO
A VERY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION
DISCUSSION , PRESENTATION OF
THE WORK OF ONE OF THE
PILLARS, WHICH WAS BUILDING --
THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. I
ENCOURAGE ANYONE THAT WANTS TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT THE REPORT AND
THE SPECIFIC WAYS SOME OF
THESE PRINCIPLES ARE ALREADY
BEING PUT TO USE TO BENEFIT
INDIVIDUAL SMALL BUSINESSES.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND YOUR
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE
FLOOR. I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
MIRELES. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. GO
AHEAD.
>> SORRY, I LOST MY FRAMING
HERE. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS
THE APPROPRIATE TIME YET,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, BUT I DO
HAVE AN AMENDMENT I WOULD LIKE
TO PRESENT.
>> THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE
TIME FOR YOU TO MOVE.
>> I MOVE AMENDING RESOLUTION
32099 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT E IN THE AGENDA.
>> I CAN SECOND. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED AS PRESENTED
ON THE AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER
MIRELES, YOU CAN SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON FOR BRINGING THIS
RESOLUTION. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN
WORKING ON THESE COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING, GENERATION
WEALTH BUILDING STRATEGIES FOR
QUITE SOME TIME. I AM REALLY
EXCITED THERE IS A
DEPARTMENTWIDE COLLABORATION
HAPPENING ON THESE ISSUES. I
WANT TO SAY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
ANY COMMUNITY OR GENERATIONAL
WEALTH HOLDING STRATEGY WE WORK
ON ARE REALLY COHESIVE ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS, AND ALSO THEY ARE
COMMUNITY DRIVEN STRATEGIES AS
WELL. THE PURPOSE BEHIND ALL
OF THIS WORK IS NOT JUST ABOUT
ADDRESSING GENTRIFICATION AND
RED LIGHTING , AND SIMILAR
ISSUES, THOUGH THAT IS A
IMPORTANT PIECE, WHAT WE ARE
REALLY TRYING TO AIM FOR IS TO
BE AS INTENTIONAL AS A CITY IN
REPAIRING THE HARM THOSE
POLICIES HAVE DONE, AND THAT
THOSE POLICIES CAUSED,
PARTICULARLY TO COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR . THE WHOLE POINT OF
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING IS TO
CLOSE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP.
IT'S NOT ABOUT WEALTH BUILDING
. IT'S NOT EVEN JUST ABOUT
ADDRESSING THE CONSEQUENCES OF
PAST POLICIES. IT'S ABOUT
ACTIVELY WORKING TO DISMANTLE
THE STRUCTURES THAT PERPETUATE
INEQUALITY. WE'VE SEEN HOW
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SUFFER
SIGNIFICANTLY , PARTICULARLY ,
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE LAST
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. AS WE
REBUILD THE ECONOMY, WE NEED TO
BE INTENTIONAL IN OUR EFFORTS
AND REALLY DEVELOP STRATEGIES
FOR EVERYBODY. I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A HISTORY
OF SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE
DISCRIMINATION THAT HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO THE RACIAL
WEALTH GAP WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT. AND TO REPAIR THE HARM
CAUSED BY THESE IN-STORE
INJUSTICES, WE HAVE TO BE
INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE UPLIFT
AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITY
AND HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY BEEN
LEFT OUT. AS WE MOVE THIS ,
IMPLEMENTING THESE POLICIES,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND
GENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING
IS A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT.
THERE'S NO QUICK FIX HERE.
IT'S A JOURNEY. IT REQUIRES
SUSTAINED DEDICATION AND
COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR CITY
DEPARTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES
WE SERVE. I AM REALLY EXCITED
TO SEE THIS WORK MOVING FORWARD
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU
AGAIN TO COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
AND THE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE
DOING THIS EXCITING WORK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MIRELES. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
REGARDING THE AMENDMENT ? OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I BELIEVE THE CHANGES
COMMUNITY IN FORM TO COMMUNITY
DRIVEN, IS THAT THE CASE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> I WOULD SAY I TAKE THAT AS
COMPLETELY A FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT. A QUOTE IN THE
PRESS RELEASE THAT IS GOING TO
BE GOING OUT SOON USES THAT
EXACT TERMINOLOGY. I ALSO WANT
TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE IF
DIRECTOR McINTYRE WERE HERE, HE
WOULD AGREE 100% FOR YOU. ONE
OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT
AT LENGTH WAS THE NEED TO DO
SILO THE WORK INDIVIDUAL
DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING
SEPARATELY , WHICH DO NOT
ADVANCE IN A COHESIVE WAY. I
THINK THE SHARED PRINCIPLES WE
HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
MAKING THAT CLEAR IN YOUR
COMMENTS. I DON'T KNOW. ONE OF
THE AMENDMENTS WE HAD IN
COMMITTEE , WHICH ALSO
STRENGTHENED THE COLLABORATION
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS BY ADDING A
COUPLE OF DEPARTMENTS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY. WITH THAT , WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT E.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS ON THE AMENDED
RESOLUTION BEFORE I HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON CLOSE THIS
OUT? OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I URGE
EVERYBODY [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
PLEASE STAY. WE NEED TO KEEP
GETTING ORGANIZED.
>> OKAY. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> ASKED FOR THIS RESOLUTION, I
WILL BE VOTING YES. I DO HAVE
SOME COMMENTS. THIS RESOLUTION
CONTAINS A LONG LIST OF LOFTY
ASPIRATIONS UPHOLDING SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THEM, AND
BUILDING WEALTH AND COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR IN NAME. OF COURSE,
THE REALITY IS THE IDEAS, IF
PUT INTO ACTION, WOULD DO NONE
OF THOSE THINGS. THE HISTORY OF
CAPITALISM HAS NOT BEEN A
HISTORY OF BUILDING WEALTH FOR
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE. IT'S BEEN
OPPOSITE. YEAR AFTER YEAR WE
HAVE SEEN THE GAP BETWEEN THE
RICH AND THE POOR GROW WIDER
WITH THE WEALTH OF THE WORLD
BECOMING CONCENTRATED TO
UNPRECEDENTED DEGREES INTO
FEWER HANDS, EVEN DURING THE
GLOBAL CRISIS LIKE COVID , WHEN
BILLIONS OF LIVES WERE RAVAGED
, THE RICH GOT RICHER. I WANT
TO CAUTION THIS RESOLUTION
MAKES WILDLY FALSE PROMISES
ABOUT THE IMPACTS ON
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ON
THE BUSINESS INVESTMENTS. THE
ONLY THING THAT HAS
SUCCESSFULLY BUILT WELL, OR
MORE APPROPRIATELY, A MODICUM
OF INCREASING THE STANDARD OF
LIVING FOR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES, AND WORKING PEOPLE
AS A WHOLE IS WORKER STRUGGLE
, ORGANIZING UNIONS GOING ON
STRIKES, BUILDING MASS
MOVEMENTS. UNION MEMBERSHIP IS
THE GREATEST FOR LIVING CLASS
STANDARDS, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK
AND OTHER WORKING PEOPLE OF
COLOR IN AMERICA. THE TEXT OF
THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS ABOUT
MANY THINGS. BECAUSE OF THAT IT
IS CONCERNING SOME CONCERNING
PHRASES. PUBLIC OR PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS I DO NOT SUPPORT.
AS I SAID IN THE PAST, IN THE
SO-CALLED PUBLIC PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS, THE PUBLIC PAYS,
THE PRIVATE SHAREHOLDERS
PROFITS. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
VIRTUALLY NEVER LIFT UP SMALL
BUSINESSES. I'M TALKING ABOUT
THE STRUGGLING SMALL
BUSINESSES. NOT MEDIUM
BUSINESSES WHO CALL THEMSELVES
SMALL. MEDIUM LANDLORDS
CALLING THEMSELVES SMALL.
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
VIRTUALLY NEVER LIFT UP THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY
STRUGGLING. IT STATES, PUBLIC
-- PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE
BEEN A TOOL FOR BIG BUSINESS TO
PROFIT MORE THAN USUAL,
ESPECIALLY BY REPLACING PUBLIC
SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN WON BY
PREVIOUS MOVEMENTS, ESPECIALLY
LABOR. WHILE MASQUERADING AS
SOMETHING BENIGN. WHAT IS
PARTICULARLY INSIDIOUS ABOUT
THE EXPANSIVE LANGUAGE IN THIS
RESOLUTION IS THE REPEATED USE
OF THE PHRASES LIKE MELT
BUILDING AND GENERATIONAL
WEALTH, ET CETERA , IN RELATION
TO THE SELF COBBLER -- AT A
TIME WHEN THERE HAS NEVER BEEN
A PERIOD IN HISTORY , LET ALONE
IN OUR LIFETIMES WHERE WORKING
PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE NOT LOST
MORE GROUND THAN THEY HAD IN
THE PAST. NOT ONLY IS THERE NO
PROSPECT UNDER THE STATUS QUO
OF CAPITALISM, FOR WORKING
PEOPLE, NOT TO MENTION
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TO BUILD
ANY WEALTH, UNLESS WE FIGHT
BACK, WE HAVE ACTUALLY LOST
GROUND BECAUSE THE PILLAGING
AND CORPORATIONS, THE
BILLIONAIRES, THEY HAVE BECOME
RICHER AT OUR EXPENSE. WE KNOW,
CAPITALISM IS A GAME. WHEN
THEY ARE GETTING RICHER, WE
KNOW THEY ARE STEALING FROM US.
THIS RESOLUTION ALSO
EMPHASIZES USING THE 15
PERCENT REVENUE FROM AMAZON
TAX, WHICH OUR MOVEMENT WON IN
2020, THAT IS INTENDED FOR
ECONOMIC RECOVERY. FUNDS ALSO
GOING TO THE GREEN NEW DEAL AND
THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS TO
BUILDING SOCIAL HOUSING. ALL OF
THAT IS FINE. I WANT TO
CAUTION EVERY YEAR SINCE OUR
MOVEMENT WON THE TEXT, THE
ESTABLISHMENT HAS USED THOSE
FUNDS TO COVER SHORTFALLS . I
WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS
RESOLUTION EMPHASIZING ECONOMIC
RECOVERY FUNDING IS NOT AN
EXCUSE TO RAID AMAZON TAX FUND
INTENDED FOR SOCIAL HOUSING OR
THE GREEN NEW DEAL. AGAIN,
JUST TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO
THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THIS
IS A RESOLUTION. IT IS JUST
WORDS. I'M ORDERING YES. I
WANT TO GO ON RECORD WITH MY
CAUTIONARY POINTS . TOMORROW
WHEN THERE ARE BETRAYALS, WE
ARE WHICH SIDE WE ARE ON. AS
I SAID, THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS
IN GENERAL TERMS,
OVERWHELMINGLY USING
ASPIRATIONAL LANGUAGE ABOUT
SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. I OF
COURSE SUPPORT THOSE
ASPIRATIONS. THEREFORE I WILL
NOT -- STAND IN THE WAY OF
THIS RESOLUTION AND YES, BUT I
WANT TO WARN THIS RESOLUTION
IS MAKING PROMISES I DO NOT
BELIEVE IT WILL FULFILL. I WILL
SAY IN CLOSING, BOTTOM LINE,
IF COUNCILMEMBERS ARE -- BUT
ARE PLANNING TO VOTE NO ON RENT
CONTROL, THEN YOU ARE DOING THE
OPPOSITE OF WEALTH BUILDING FOR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON,
DO YOU WANT TO CLOSE US OUT
BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE?
>> SURE. I JUST CANNOT RESIST
RESPONDING A LITTLE BIT TO THIS
POINT I HAVE TO SAY, UNLESS
YOU WERE IN THE COMMITTEE
MEETING, AND COULD HAVE HEARD
DONNA MOODY, WHO WAS THE ORDER
OF CAFE MARJORIE, AND ONE OF
THE CHAIRS OF -- AND SMALL
BUSINESS ADVISORY GROUP OF THE
FUTURE OF SEATTLE ECONOMY
STAKEHOLDER IN PROCESS, OR IF
YOU HAD BEEN THERE IN THE
FOLLOWING AND HEARD WHAT SHE
SAID ABOUT HOW THESE
INVESTMENTS ACTUALLY DO HOPE,
OR IF YOU HAD HEARD -- WHO IS
THE OWNER OF THE MLK
COMMISSARY, WHICH SUPPORTS
ABOUT 20 EXISTING SMALL
BUSINESSES AND PROVIDES
MENTORSHIP AND SPACE FOR OTHER
BUSINESSES IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE , SHE HAD A LOT TO SAY
, AS WELL AS SONYA AND SERGIO,
WHO ARE THE OWNERS OF THE
STUDIO, WHICH AGAIN IS AN
INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO. THEY
ALSO PROVIDE JOBS AND TRAINING
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED
IN THIS FEEL AND NEED THEIR
SERVICES. REGISTER URGE YOU TO
LISTEN TO THE REAL WORLD OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HELPED BY
ONE OF THE PILLARS, AND WHAT
THE ACTUAL REAL-LIFE BENEFITS
HAVE BEEN ON THEM AND THEIR
LIVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL
RESOLUTION AMENDED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORELLA'S --
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE RESOLUTION? AS AMENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED AS AMENDED. THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. MADAM CLERK,
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON TO
ITEM NUMBER TWO. I MET THEM,
AND OUT OF THE SAFETY
COMMITTEE. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU
PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO THE
RECORD.
>> REPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER TWO. 120580. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO APP-BASED
WORKER LABOR STANDARDS;
ESTABLISHING LABOR STANDARDS ON
DEACTIVATION PROTECTIONS FOR
APP-BASED WORKERS WORKING IN
SEATTLE. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASSES AS
AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> I MOVED TO PROPOSE COUNSEL
BILL 120-5802 AUGUST 8th 2023.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAY
ADDRESS ?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE
EXCITED TO MOVE THIS BILL OUT
OF COMMITTEE TO FULL COUNCIL
FOR A VOTE TODAY. WE DID
RECEIVE RECENT REQUESTS THAT
WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL MORE
TIME . WE ARE GOING TO BE
BRINGING FORWARD AN AMENDMENT
AT THE REQUEST OF THE NETWORK
COMPANIES. WORKERS ADVOCATES
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THIS
AMENDMENT WILL BE RESPONSIVE TO
REQUESTS FROM SEVERAL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. AND THE NETWORK
COMPANIES TO RAISE THE
THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS FOR
PROTECTIONS . BUT IN A WAY THAT
INCORPORATES FEEDBACKS FROM
WORKERS. THIS AMENDMENT IS
UNDER REVIEW BY THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS MR DEPARTMENT.
WE SHARE DROPS WITH THE
STAKEHOLDERS AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. WE HOPE TO HAVE
THE FINAL AMENDMENT LANGUAGE
AVAILABLE TO SHARE SOON, AND I
WILL BE READY TO FOR DISCUSSION
AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENT
REGARDING COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
IN MOTION TO MOVE THIS TO
AUGUST 8th?
>> I'VE NOT SEEN ANY. WE ARE
GOING TO GO TO A VOTE. ALL
RIGHT. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
MOTION TO PROPOSE COUNSEL BILL
120-5802 AUGUST 8th.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> 120580 IS POSTPONED TO OUR
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, AUGUST
8th. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING
TO MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
THREE. THIS IS THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHT S COMMITTEE. MADAM CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER THREE INTO THE RECORD?
>> REPORT OF SUSTAINABILITY
RENTERS RIGHT COMMITTEE. ITEM
THREE COUNSEL BILL 120606. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO TENANT
PROTECTIONS; ESTABLISHING RENT
CONTROL PROVISIONS; REGULATING
RESIDENTIAL RENT INCREASES;
ESTABLISHING A RENT CONTROL
COMMISSION AND DISTRICT RENT
CONTROL BOARDS TO AUTHORIZE
RENT CONTR
MUNICIPAL CODE.. THE
RECOMMENDATION IS TO NOT PASS.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER
SAWANT.
>> I HOPE THEY WILL SPEAK AS
TO WHICH THEIR POSITION IN. I
WILL MAKE CLOSING REMARKS. AND
THEN I WILL MAKE A MOTION FOR
THE BILL. THAT IS HOW IT WILL
GO. THIS IS THE BILL -- SORRY?
>> I SAID , THANK YOU.
>> OH, THANK YOU. THIS IS THE
BILL TO CREATE RENT CONTROL IN
SEATTLE WITHOUT CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES. EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS
THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
ON THE STATE WHITE VAN ON THE
RIGHT CONTROL. AS THE CLERK
REPORTED IN COMMITTEE,
COUNCILMEMBERS NELSON, LEWIS,
AND WHEREAS VOTED NO WITH ONLY
COUNCILMEMBERS MIRELES AND
MYSELF PUTTING YES. HOWEVER, AS
I EXPLAINED ABOUT TIME, THE
COMMITTEE BOAT IS ONLY A
RECOMMENDATION . IT IS LEGALLY
BINDING. THIS BILL SERVES THREE
IMPORTANT SERVICES. FIRST IT
DEMONSTRATES WHAT A GOOD RENT
CONTROL POLICY LOOKS LIKE.
WHENEVER RENTERS FIVE FOR RENT
CONTROL, FIRST THE BIG LANDLORD
AND REAL ESTATE LOBBYIST TRIED
TO STOP THEM. IF THAT FAILS,
THEY FAIL THE -- MASSIVE
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES TO TRY TO
MAKE THE POLICY WORK LESS
EFFECTIVELY SO THEY CAN THEN
CLAIM IT DOES NOT WORK, JUST
LIKE THE RULING CLASS TO ATTACK
PUBLIC FUNDING TO ATTACK
TEACHERS AND OTHER UNIONS AND
PROMOTE CHARTER SCHOOLS .
CITIES IN CALIFORNIA HAVE RENT
CONTROL. IN 1995, CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATORS VOTE DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN, IN THE POCKETS OF
WEALTHY LANDLORDS PAST WHAT WAS
THE -- IT WAS A HISTORIC AND
SHAMEFUL ATTACK ON RENT CONTROL
LAWS IN THE STATE. HE REMOVED
MOST RENTAL HOUSING FROM THE
RENT CONTROL LAW. IT ALSO
ALLOWED LANDLORDS TO RENT THE
RAYS -- RAISE THE RENTS . THE
VERY HARMFUL CORPORATE
LOOPHOLE. THE RESULT HAS BEEN
SHOCKINGLY HIGH RENT IN THE
MAJORITY OF RENTAL HOUSING.
OUR BILL IS FREE OF THOSE
LOOPHOLES. HAS VACANCY CONTROL.
IT LIMITS RENT INCREASES TO
INFLATION. IT COVERS THE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE, REGARDING
THE -- DISREGARDING THE TYPE
AND SIZE. ELECTED OFFICIALS
WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE
STANDARD. THE SECOND IMPORTANT
PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS IT WILL
PUT REAL PRESSURE ON THE STATE
DEMOCRATS TO LIFT THE BAN ON
RENT CONTROL. ON THE 21st OF
JULY, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
SAID, QUOTE, I HAVE NOT SEEN
ANY PUBLIC SUPPORT FROM OUR
DELEGATION. IN REGARDS TO THIS
BEING A STRATEGY THEY SUPPORT.
THIS IS REFERRING TO THE
STATEWIDE BAN ON BIRTH CONTROL.
ESSENTIALLY THIS IS ARGUING
THAT THE DEMOCRATIC STATE
LEGISLATORS REALLY WANT TO END
THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL, BUT
SIMPLY DO NOT THINK THIS BILL,
OUR BILL, WILL HELP. THIS IS
POLITICAL GAS LIGHTING. THE
STATE BAN ON RENT CONTROL HAS
BEEN IN EFFECT FOR 42 YEARS .
LONGER THAN MOST OF YOU HAVE
BEEN ALIVE. FOR MOST OF THAT
TIME, THE LEGISLATOR HAS BEEN
UNDER THE LEGISLATION AS IT IS
RIGHT NOW, AND THEY HAVE NEVER,
EVER BROUGHT A BILL TO LIFT THE
BAN FOR VOTE. GUESS WHO
CHOOSES WHAT THE -- THE SAME
DEMOCRATS WHO DO NOT LIKE OUR
STRATEGY, SUPPOSEDLY. THIS
AFTERNOON, FORMER DEMOCRATIC
STATE SPEAKER WAS IN SEATTLE
HALL LOBBY. FOR YEARS, HE WAS
PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
CHOOSING NEVER TO LIFTING THE
UNJUST BAN. IN A CAMPAIGN
INTERVIEW HE JUSTIFIED IT BY
SAYING SEATTLE HAS SUPPOSEDLY
NEVER REQUESTED IT. WE ARE NOT
STUPID. WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE
BEING GIVEN THE RUNAROUND. THE
TRUTH IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
DOES NOT LIKE THE STRATEGY OF A
TRIGGER BILL, PRECISELY
BECAUSE IT IS EFFECTIVE. THEY
KNOW FULL WELL THAT IF WE WIN
TODAY, IT WOULD PUT A HUGE --
IT WILL BE HISTORIC AS A STEP
FORWARD TO TAKE THE MOVEMENT TO
OLYMPIA. I HAVE NOT SEEN MORE
NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT THE VIEWS
OF DEMOCRATIC STATES
LEGISLATORS ON RENT CONTROL IN
THE CONTEXT OF OUR BILL THESE
PAST WEEKS THAN I HAVE SEEN IN
YEARS. OUR MOVEMENT HAS
ALREADY FORCED INTO THE LIGHT
OF DAY THE COMPLICITY OF STATE
DEMOCRATS WITH THE BIG LANDLORD
AND REAL ESTATE LOBBYIST. THEY
NEED TO KNOW OUR MOVEMENT WILL
NOT TOLERATE THE HYPOCRISY. WE
ARE FORCING DEMOCRATS ON THIS
COUNSEL TO CAST A VOTE TODAY
AND WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY DO.
THE IMPORTANT PURPOSE OF THIS
BILL IS , IF PASS BY COUNSEL
TODAY, IT WILL PUT INTO SEATTLE
ALL COMPREHENSIVE RIGHT CONTROL
RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT LOOPHOLES.
THE BILL GOING INTO EFFECT
ONCE IT ENDS THE BAN. THE
REALITY IS IT WILL NOT LAST
FOREVER. MAYBE SOONER, MAYBE
LATER, BUT MOVEMENTS OF
RENTERS, WORKERS AND UNION
MEMBERS WILL DEFEAT IT. MASS
MOVEMENTS HAVE EBBS AND FLOWS,
BUT HISTORY SHOWS THEY CAN GROW
WITH EXPLOSIVE FORCE, AND WHAT
RENTERS ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO
IN WASHINGTON STATE, AND ASHLEY
TODAY, IS TRULY A TINDERBOX.
PROMINENT WALL STREET
ECONOMISTS, PAUL DONOVAN, WHO
IS GLOBAL WITH MANAGEMENT CHIEF
ECONOMIST, HAVE THEMSELVES BEEN
FORCED TO ADMIT THE MASSIVE
COST OF LIVING -- LIVING CRISIS
IS OUT OF CORPORATIONS RAISING
PRICES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN
, AND NO ONE IS STOPPING THEM.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE INFLATION
WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS REALLY O
GREED OF THE WEALTHY. THE
MOST STUNNING EXAMPLE IS THE
ALLEGED FLIGHT SPRITZING
CORPORATE LANDLORDS HAVE
CARRIED OUT -- THE LAWSUIT
KNOWS THESE LANDLORDS CONTROL
ROUGHLY 60% OF THE APARTMENTS
IN THE CITY KEY AREAS. IN
FACT, THE REALITY IS FAR WORSE
THAN THAT. NOT ONLY IS IT TRUE
THAT GIANT CORPORATIONS --
NOT ONLY IS IT TRUE THEY ON THE
RENTAL HOMES IN OUR CITY, ON
TOP OF THAT, THESE BIG
CORPORATIONS IN TURN ARE OWNED
BY A VERY FEW WALL STREET
BEHEMOTHS THAT OWN TRILLIONS
AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS , SUCH
AS VANGUARD, BLACKROCK , NOTICE
BANK , NGO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.
THESE ARE THE SAME , SOME OF
THE SAME WALL STREET MONSTERS
THAT ALSO OWN THE RAILROAD
COMPANIES THAT WERE JOINED BY
BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS IN
BREAKING THE RAILROAD STRIKE
AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
MULTIPLE ONGOING REAL
DISASTERS LIKE THE RECENT ONE
IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO. THE
DEMOCRATS WHO VOTE NO TODAY
ARE, MAKE NO MISTAKE,
SCANDALOUSLY REPRESENTED IN
THESE DRILLING DOLLAR
CORPORATIONS, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS
THAT. ACCORDING TO THE REAL
ESTATE INDUSTRIES ON FIGURES,
SHORTAGE OF APARTMENTS IS NOT
THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS
SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SEATTLE'S APARTMENT VACANCY
RATE IS A 6%. THAT'S CLOSE TO
11,000 EMPTY APARTMENTS WHICH
IS MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS ON ANY GIVEN DAY
IN OUR CITY. IT IS CLEAR WE
NEED BOTH RENT CONTROL AND
INCREASING THE AMAZON TAX. RENT
CONTROL IS EXTREMELY POPULAR
AMONG WORKING PEOPLE. 2020
STATEWIDE OPINION POLL FOUND
71% OF LIKELY WASHINGTON VOTERS
SUPPORT WHAT -- RENT CONTROL.
I DISAGREE WITH THE LANDLORD
THAT SAYS BECAUSE SOMETHING IS
POPULAR SHOULDN'T BE DONE.
THAT'S DEMOCRACY. THAT IS
ACTUALLY DEMOCRACY. THIS RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION WOULD NOT
AFFECT ANY SMALL LANDLORD WHO
ISN'T ALREADY COUCHING THEIR
TENETS. IF YOU, AS A LANDLORD,
OR EXPLOITING YOUR TENANT, THEN
I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE BIG OR
SMALL. YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT
TO EXPLOIT ANYONE, LET ALONE TO
PROFIT FROM IT. THE STATISTICS
, HOWEVER, SHOW IT IS CORPORATE
LANDLORDS, NOT SMALL LANDLORDS,
WHO OWNED MOST OF THE RENTAL
UNITS. THEY'RE THE ONES DOING
MOST OF THE EXPLOITING. IF
POLITICAL OUTCOMES UNDER
CAPITALISM WERE SIMPLY BASED ON
STATISTICAL EVIDENCE, THEN WE
SHOULD BE WINNING THIS RENT
CONTROL BILL MANY TIMES OVER.
POLITICS UNDER CAPITALISM , AS
WE KNOW, IS NOT ABOUT
STATISTICS OR HOW MUCH TRUTH
YOU HAVE ON YOUR SIDE. IT'S
ABOUT THE BALANCE OF POWER
BETWEEN THE CLASSES. THE
CAPITALIST CLASS AND THE
WORKING CLASS. THAT'S WHAT THIS
COMES DOWN TO. THAT IS WHY PART
OF OUR JOB IS TO EXPOSE THOSE
WHO BETRAY US. COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS CALLS HIMSELF A
PROGRESSIVE AND LABOR DEMOCRATS
. HE OUTRAGEOUSLY VOTED NO IN
THE RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
IF HE VOTES NO TODAY, AGAIN,
THEN RANK-AND-FILE WORKERS
SHOULD YOU WONDERING WHAT IT
MEANS TO SAY , COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, THE USE OF POOR LABOR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY
AT ALL TO WORK IN PEOPLE WHO
ARE BARELY GETTING BY?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA CALLS
HERSELF THE DEMOCRAT, BUT SHE
CANNOT BOTHER TO SHOW UP THAT
IS SO MUCH -- TO A VOTE THAT IS
SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY
PEOPLE. AS I SAID, NEVER GOT A
RESPONSE TO, AND HAS HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE SAID. YES, WE
UNDERSTAND SCHEDULING COME --
CONFLICTS HAPPEN. COME ON.
NOT ALL MEETINGS ARE CREATED
EQUAL. WE ARE NOT DEMANDING
COUNCILMEMBERS ATTEND EVERY
MEETING. OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS
ARE DYING. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
ARE GETTING EVICTED OR FACING
HOUSING STABILITY ALL A
COUNCILMEMBER NEEDED TO DO WAS
TO CALL IN OVER TO HIM FOR A
FEW MINUTES. THIS SHOWS THE
PRIORITIES. WHAT WAS A PRIORITY
FOR COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA , IT
WAS LEADING THE WAY IN
REPEALING THE PANDEMIC TO PAY
FOR GROCERY WORKERS. LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, IN MY COMMENTS, I
WILL STOP SOON, BUT ONE THING I
WANTED TO ADD IS, THE RULING
CLASS USES DEBATING TRICKS ALL
THE TIME. ONE COMMON DEBATING
TRICK THEY USE IS DEFLECT THE
DEBATE WHEN THEY CANNOT WIN THE
ARGUMENT , AND WHEN FACTS,
STATISTICS AND TRUTH BELIE
THEIR FALSE CLAIMS. THAT ABOUT
SUMS UP WHAT THE ARGUMENTS FROM
LANDLORDS AND EVERY SINGLE
DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN HAS
BEEN. THERE ARE NO FAX OR
TRUTH ON THEIR SIDE THERE IS
NO LOGIC ON THEIR SIDE. WHAT
THEY DO HAVE ON THEIR SIDE IS
THE POWERFUL LANDLORDS AND WALL
STREET REAL ESTATE BARONS AND
OTHER POWERFUL PEOPLE THEY ARE
SPEAKING FOR. LET'S MAKE SURE
WE KEEP FIGHTING. LET'S SEE
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE VOTES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. BEFORE WE OPEN THE
FLOOR, WOULD LIKE TO SAY ON
BEHALF OF COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA -- WHAT WAS THE DATE
ON THAT? THE 18th?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WAS
WORKING WITH MYSELF AS WELL ,
ON JULY 18th, AND ACTUALLY
ASKED SHE BE EXCUSED.WE KNEW
IT WAS COMING. AS YOU KNOW, WE
ASKED IF WE COULD MOVE
EVERYTHING, THIS BILL, TO
AUGUST 8th. I TOO WANTED IT ON
AUGUST 8th BECAUSE I HAD A
COMMITMENT TODAY AS WELL. HERS
WAS A LITTLE MORE DIFFERENT.
FOR THOSE REASONS, I WANT THE
PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WAS
LEGITIMATELY EXCUSED. SHE TOLD
US ALMOST THREE WEEKS AGO. WE
TRIED TO MOVE THIS BILL TO THE
EIGHTH, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
AND OF COURSE YOU DID NOT WANT
IT MOVED TO THE EIGHTH POINT
YOU WANTED IT HEARD TODAY,
TUESDAY. WE ACCOMMODATED YOU,
AS THE CHAIR, EVEN THOUGH THIS
ITEM FAILED IN COMMITTEE. WE
WERE ACCOMMODATING YOU AND
FOLLOWING THE RULES. I WOULD
ASK YOU NOT IMPUGN --
>> THE RULES THE COURT TOLD US.
THIS WAS THE SCHEDULED DATE
FOR THE VOTE. I DON'T
APPRECIATE YOU IMPLYING THIS
WAS NOT ACCORDING TO THE RULES.
>> OKAY. I'M NOT IMPLYING. WHAT
I AM SHARING IS I ASKED IF
YOUR OFFICE WOULD BE WILLING ,
ACCORDING TO THE RULES, IF THE
CHAIR WOULD BE WILLING TO MOVE
IT TO AUGUST 8th. MY
UNDERSTANDING, FROM YOUR OFFICE
, WAS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO
KEEP IT ON THE FIRST. I AM NOT
IMPLYING ANYTHING ELSE BUT
THAT'S. THOSE ARE ACCORDING TO
THE RULES. YOU ARE CORRECT.
WITH THAT, YES , WITH THAT
CLOSING REMARK. THE SPONSOR, I
BELIEVE, WILL BE MOVING IT. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE
FLOOR BEFORE WE HANDED OFF TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
CLOSING? LET'S START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES .
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. I WILL
MAKE THIS BRIEF, AS I SAID, IN
COMMITTEE. WHEN I VOTED IN
FAVOR OF THIS BILL. I DO
SUPPORT RENT CONTROL HERE IN
SEATTLE AND ACROSS THE STATE.
AS HAD BEEN SAID, BRAD RENT
CONTROL WITH VACANCY CONTROL,
IS SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE YET
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. WHEN WE
HEAR COMPARISONS TO OTHER
CITIES , THOSE COMPARISONS ARE
REALLY IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT.
NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO.
REALLY LIMITED THE PROTECTION
THIS COULD AFFORD TO FEW
PEOPLE. IS IT PROVIDING THE
KIND OF PROTECTION WE WOULD
HOPE . SOMETHING LIKE CONTROL
CAN DO. HOWEVER, IN PLACES LIKE
VIENNA, PARIS, RENT CONTROL IS
BROADLY APPLIED, AND IT'S
COUPLED WITH ROBUST EXPANDED
SOCIAL HOUSING TO BRING PRICES
DOWN, IN THE CASE OF PARIS,
AND TO KEEP PRICES AFFORDABLE.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED RENT CONTROL
IN ALL UNITS UNDER ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES ROBUST
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS,
LIKE UNIVERSAL AFFORDABLE
SOCIAL HOUSING. THIS TRIGGER
LAW WON'T RAISE -- BUT I CAN
HELP BUILD MOMENTUM FOR THE
STATEWIDE MOVEMENT, NOTABLY
REPEAL THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL,
BUT TO LEGALIZE IT SO ALL
RENTERS HAVE THIS REALLY SIMPLE
PROTECTION . I'M GOING TO BE
VOTING YESTERDAY. I WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE
CHAMPIONS LIKE NICOLE, FIGHT
FOR A FULL STATEWIDE
LEGALIZATION'S.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
THINK IT WAS A 42 YEAR BAN.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD 'S.
SORRY, YOUR HAND WENT BACK
DOWN. ARE YOU STILL IN THE
QUEUE?
>> YEAH. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DID
NOT ARTICULATE THE REASONS FOR
MY OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSAL
DURING THE JULY 21st COMMITTEE
MEETING BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING
OVERTIME, AND WE HAD A HARD
STOP AT 12:30. I WILL DO SO
NOW. I AM CONCERNED THIS
PROPOSAL WILL DISGRACE HOUSING
SUPPLY BECAUSE RENTAL REVENUES
WON'T KEEP PACE WITH INCREASING
MAINTENANCE COST AND PROPERTY
TAXES, WHICH WILL RESULT IN
HOUSING PROVIDERS SELLING THEIR
PROPERTIES WERE CONVERTING
THEM INTO CONDOMINIUMS, WHICH
HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ELSEWHERE
IN RESEARCH CITED IN THE
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO. IT WILL
ALSO, EVEN WORSE, I BELIEVE,
DRIVE SEATTLE'S MOM-AND-POP
LANDLORDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING
WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF SOME
OF THE STATE AND CITY
REGULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
PASSED, AND ALSO LOST REVENUE
FROM THE ADDICTION MORATORIUM.
I'M CONCERNED IT WILL DRIVE
THEM OUT OF THE MARKETS. THAT
IS REALLY BAD BECAUSE THEY
PROVIDE THE LION SHARE OF OUR
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING , OR
LOW MARKET RATE HOUSING THAT
WE HAVE. ESPECIALLY THE
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO LOWER INCOME
FAMILIES. THIS PROPOSAL ALSO
WILL IMPOSE RENT CONTROL ON NEW
CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS EXEMPTED
IN MOST, IF NOT ALL
JURISDICTIONS IN THE U.S. WITH
RENT CONTROL, ACCORDING TO THE
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO. THAT'S
BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS PRACTICED
@DURING THE FIRST GENERATION OF
RENT CONTROL IN THE 50s AND
60s, IT DID RESULT IN A
SLOWING OF NEW HOUSING
PRODUCTION. THAT'S WHY IT WAS
BANNED IN FORMS OF DIFFERENT
RENT CONTROL LATER ON. EVEN IN
SIMPLE IN 2022 REVERSED THE
RENT CONTROL IN 2022. I
BELIEVE LASTLY WE SHOULD --
THE LAST THING WE SHOULD BE
DOING DURING A HOUSING
AFFORDABLE CRISIS IS
DISCOURAGE PRODUCTION AT ANY
AFFORDABILITY LEVEL. WHAT WE
SHOULD BE DOING INSTEAD, OF
COURSE, IS PRESERVING EXISTING
HOUSING AND ENABLING PROVIDERS
TO MAINTAIN THEM IN CAN DO --
MAINTAIN THEM IN GOOD
CONDITION. AND REMOVE BARRIERS
SO IT'S EASIER AND FASTER AND
LESS EXPENSIV TO PRODUCE. THAT
SEEMS CLEAR TO ME. I THINK
THIS PROPOSAL WILL TAKE US IN
THE WRONG DIRECTION. REGARDLESS
OF WHAT HAPPENS IN OLYMPIA ,
WHEN THEY MAY OR MAY NOT LIFT
THE PREEMPTION ON RENT CONTROL
FOR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, THE
IMPACTS OF THIS LEGISLATION, IF
IT WERE TO PASSWORD -- TO
PASS WOULD BE FELT
IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE THAT BUILD
OR DEVELOP OR INVEST IN NEW
CONSTRUCTION WILL SEE THE
RISKS IMMEDIATELY AND MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH
THEIR PROPERTIES. THAT WILL, I
BELIEVE, BRING DOWNTOWN
RECOVERY TO A SCREECHING HALT.
AND ALSO IMPACT OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL THAT NEED
MORE HOUSING. THAT IS WHY I AM
VOTING NO TODAY . I COULD ADD
OTHER REASONS, BUT THOSE ARE MY
PRIMARY REASONS FOR MY
OPPOSITION. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU , MADAM PRESIDENT.
FIRST I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE
OPPONENTS OF RENT REGULATION
LAWS. THERE ARE OVER 200
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH
SOME FORM OF RENT REGULATION.
EACH CITY HAS TAILORED THEIR
LAWS TO FIT THEIR HOUSING
MARKETS. THE MAIN ARGUMENTS
AGAINST RENT REGULATIONS ARE
THAT IT, E, -- B SLOWS NEW
CONSTRUCTION, AND C SLOWS AND
DETERIORATION AND ABANDONMENT.
ECONOMISTS , A FORMER DIRECTOR
OF RESEARCH AND POLICY WITH THE
NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT HAS EXPLAINED THAT
THE EXISTING LITERATURE DOES
NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RISE
OF SECOND-GENERATION MODERATE
RENT CONTROLS. THE REVIEW OF
CITIES WITH THE LATER LAW
SHOWED THAT MOST OF THE
ARGUMENTS USED AGAINST
REGULATING RENT ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH THESE STRICT RENT
CONTROL LAWS, LIKE THE ONE WE
HAVE BEFORE US TODAY. IN NEW
YORK CITY, THERE ARE 38,000
RENT CONTROL APARTMENTS
COMPARED TO ABOUT 1 MILLION
RENT STABILIZED APARTMENTS. THE
TERM RENT REGULATED
ENCOMPASSES RENT CONTROLLED
AND RENT STABILIZED UNITS.
LANDLORD SAY RENT CONTROL
DOESN'T WORK , I HAVE NEVER
HEARD OF A PERSON LIVING IN A
RENT CONTROL UNIT , OR
RENT-STABILIZED UNIT, MOVING
OUT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK.
THE CONTENTS OF THIS PARTICULAR
BILL , IT DOES NOT EXEMPT NEWLY
CONSTRUCTED HOUSING . TO
ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT RENT
CONTROL LAWS RESULTED IN NEW
CONSTRUCTION SLOWING , MOST
CITIES EXEMPT NEWLY CONSTRUCTED
BUILDINGS. THAT IS WHAT I
REFERRED TO EARLIER WHEN I
REFERRED TO THE ECONOMISTS
STATEMENTS. THE OLD GENERATION
WERE VERY STRICT RENT CONTROL
LAWS. LIKE THE VERSION WE HAVE
BEFORE US TODAY. MOST RECENT
EXAMPLE , AS COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON MENTIONED , THAT WE
LEARNED ABOUT IN ST. PAUL, NO
EXEMPTIONS RENT CONTROL LAW.
AND THEN SAW 30% REDUCTION IN
BUILDING PERMITS. WHERE NEARBY
IN MINNEAPOLIS SAW A 30%
INCREASE IN BUILDING PERMITS.
NOW THEY'VE GONE BACK AND
AMENDED RENT CONTROL LAW IN
ST. PAUL , TO CREATE AN
EXEMPTION FOR NEW BUILDINGS.
MYTHS AND FACTS DOCUMENT AT THE
SPONSORS ON WEBPAGE SAYS,
RECENTLY YOU SEE BERKELEY
RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THE SIX
CITIES THAT HAVE RENT CONTROL
IN THE BAY AREA ACTUALLY
PRODUCED MORE HOUSING UNITS PER
CAPITA DENSITIES WITHOUT RENT
CONTROL. BUT AGAIN, NEARLY ALL
CITIES HAVE NEW CONSTRUCTION
EXEMPTIONS. THERE'S A LOT TO
DISLIKE ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA
ACT, BUT ONE OF THE ELEMENTS
OF THE ACOSTA HAWKING'S ACT IS
A NEW CONSTRUCTION EXEMPTION.
THE SIX CITIES REFERRED TO IN
THIS RESEARCH ALL HAVE NEW
CONSTRUCTION EXEMPTIONS. IN
OTHER WORDS, THE SPONSORS OWN
RESEARCH SUPPORTS NEW
CONSTRUCTION EXEMPTIONS. I
THINK IF THIS BILL CONSIDERED
NEW CONSTRUCTION EXEMPTION --
FOR INSTANCE, IN NEW YORK CITY,
OWNERS OF NEW BUILDINGS ARE
EXEMPT, BUT THEY LARGELY OFTEN
VOLUNTARILY -- IN EXCHANGE FOR
TAX INCENTIVES. I MIGHT HAVE
OFFERED A -- AN AMENDMENT, BUT
FOR THE SPONSORS CONSTANT
ADMONISHMENT TO WATER DOWN THE
POLICY WERE NOT WELCOME. I
FEEL WHEN SPONSORS ARE
BROWBEATEN TO NOT OFFER
AMENDMENTS , OFTEN A POLICY AND
PROGRESS BOTH SUFFER. I WAS A
TENANT ORGANIZER WITH THE
TENANT UNION FOR FOUR YEARS.
WHEN I CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE
WITH OVERSIGHT OF CIVIL RIGHTS
ISSUE ON THIS COUNSEL, I WAS
ABLE TO WORK WITH ADVOCATES TO
MOBILIZE AND SUCCESSFULLY
SPONSOR AND PASS HOUSING,
SOURCE OF INCOME
DISCRIMINATION, FIRST IN TIME
PROTECTIONS, FIVE SEPARATE
BILLS RELATED TO WASHINGTON --
AND THE LAW THAT BROADENED
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN
HOUSING. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO LIFT THE STATE
EXEMPTION THAT BANS RENT
REGULATIONS, BUT I DON'T SEE
HOW LEGISLATION THAT FAILS IN
SEATTLE TODAY WOULD BUILD A
MOVEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR CHANGE
IN OLYMPIA. TO SPONSOR ONE OF
THE COUNCIL TO PASS A BILL THAT
WOULD BUILD MOMENTUM FOR CHANGE
IN OLYMPIA, AND MIGHT HAVE
CONSIDERED REWORKING THE
LEGISLATION WHEN IT BECAME
APPARENT IT WOULD FAIL. I AM
ALSO REALLY CONCERNED THIS
TRIGGER LAW ACTUALLY HURTS THE
EFFORTS OF LEGISLATORS AND
TENANTS ' RIGHTS TO LIFT IT.
THE BILL, IT WOULD BROADCAST
TO THE OPPONENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
CHANGE IN THIS STATE LEGISLATOR
WHAT VERSION OF RENT CONTROL
TO CONTINUE TO PREEMPT. EVEN
WORSE, SEATTLE'S LAW WILL BE
USED AS A REASON TO OPPOSE
LIMITING THE PREEMPTION. MOST
RECENT RENT STABILIZATION BILLS
IN OLYMPIA DID NOT PROPOSE
LIFTING THE PREEMPTION .
INSTEAD THEY WOULD HAVE CREATED
STATEWIDE RENT REGULATIONS. I
AM ALSO DISAPPOINTED AND SORRY
THOSE BILLS HAVE NOT RECEIVED
A VOTE . I THINK WE SHOULD BE
WORKING WITH THE SPONSORS TO
DISCUSS WHAT EFFECTIVE
ADVOCACY LOOKS LIKE. IF THAT IS
THE APPROACH THE LEGISLATOR --
LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO
PURSUE, THE BILL BEFORE US
TODAY WILL NEVER BE ENACTED. I
SUPPORT LIFTING THE PREEMPTION.
I SUPPORT INSTITUTING LAWS
REGULATING RENT . I WILL BE
VOTING AGAINST THIS BILL TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. THANK YOU FOR THE
HISTORICAL LOOK BACK AND
FORWARD. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS BEFORE I HANDED OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO
CLOSE US OUT? OKAY I DO NOT
SEE ANY POINT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE
CLOSING REMARKS, AND YOU ALSO
HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY FOR US.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DON'T
THINK SHE HEARD YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, WE
CANNOT HEAR YOU.
>> I HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET.
>> I KNOW. OH, OKAY. I'M
SORRY. I WAS LOOKING AT THE
SCREEN. I THOUGHT YOU WERE
SPEAKING. THE CLERK SAID SHE
DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU ARE
SPEAKING. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> I THINK THE COMMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE , MORE OR LESS
PROVE MY POINT EARLIER THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO
BUILD OUR FOCUS IS ON THE
WORKING CLASS. AND ESPECIALLY
DURING THAT INDEPENDENT OF THE
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER BUT
SIX ' COMMENTS AND HER
COMMITMENT TO VOTE YES AS SHE
VOTED IN COMMITTEE. ON THE
WHOLE, HOWEVER, -- YOU KNOW,
USED TO BE A PROFESSOR. IF I
WAS GIVING A GRADE TO THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR STANDING
UP FOR WORKING PEOPLE AND THE
POOR, WHAT GRADE WOULD WE GIVE
THEM? ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO
SAY , COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT
YOU, NOT ONLY ARE NOT GOING TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL, EVEN THOUGH
YOU HAVE BEEN
IT WORSE. ALSO, TO ENGAGE IN
SUCH DISHONEST COMMENTS, WITH
MY OWN COMMENTS, THAT THE
STRONG RENT CONTROL BILL DOES
NOT WORK, THAT IS NOT TRUE.
WHAT IS TRUE IS THAT DESPITE ,
THE ANALYSIS IS THAT EVEN
WITH THOSE CORPORATE LOOPHOLES,
RENT CONTROL HAS BEEN A
LIFELINE FOR MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE. THAT IS WHAT IS TRUE.
NOT THAT THAT WORKS BETTER,
BUT THAT EVEN THAT IS BETTER
THAN NOT HAVING RENT CONTROL. I
HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHICH
SIDE I AM ON BUT I DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW ANY COUNCIL
MEMBER IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL
CAN SAY THEY DIDN'T BRING THIS
BECAUSE OF MY ADMONISHMENT.
NOBODY IS STOPPING YOU. YOU SHO
THAT. I WOULD'VE VOTED AGAINST
WATERING DOWN, BUT IT'S
DISHONEST TO SAY THAT BECAUSE
OF THIS ADMONISHMENT, YOU
DIDN'T BRING THE SUPPORTED --
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE
ALLOWED YOU TO VOTE YES.
>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT , AND I
WILL BE ABLE TO QUOTE
EVERYTHING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO
MANY PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION, I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. I WANT
EVERYONE TO MENTION THE
COMMENTARY , OF AN EXTRACT FROM
THE REAL CHANGE ADVOCACY
DEPARTMENT THAT STRONGLY
SUPPORTED THIS RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION . THEY SAY THAT
BE ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL,
WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL
HOUSING AND OTHER AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, HELPING TO LOWER THE
SPECULATION OF LAND AND
PROPERTY, THERE IS EVIDENCE TO
SHOW THE PRESENCE OF RENT
CONTROL MAKING IT EASIER FOR
THE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO
ACQUIRE LAND FOR LOWER PRICES,
ALLOWING FOR FASTER GROWTH OF
THE SOCIAL HOUSING SECTOR.
MANY OF THESE MEASURES THAT WE
HAVE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY
AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE MUCH
STRONGER TO BEGIN WITH AND THEY
WERE WATERED DOWN FROM ATTACK
AFTER ATTACK BY REAL ESTATE
AND DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
THERE IS NO TRUTH, AS A MATTER
OF FACT. I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT
TRUE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT
THE TENANTS UNION OF
WASHINGTON, WHICH PRESENTS
RENTERS ACROSS THE STATE , AS
STRONGLY SUPPORTED THIS
LEGISLATION BECAUSE THEY ALL
UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU CAN WIN
SOMETHING IN SEATTLE, IT CAN
ACTUALLY PROVIDE MOMENTUM
STATEWIDE. I ALSO WANT TO
MENTION MANY OF THE UNIONS ,
AFG 3197 , ALSO UAW 41, 21,
WHICH REPRESENTS WORKERS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, THEY
SAY A SHOCKING 80% OF OUR
MEMBERS ARE RENT SUPPORTED.
THESE ARE PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY
TO GET THEIR PHD'S WHO ALREADY
HAVE THEIR PHD'S. 80% OF THEM
ARE RENT MOTIVATED AND IN
THEIR SURVEY, 22 RESPONDENTS
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. THIS
IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION
STRONGLY SUPPORTING OUR BILL. I
THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR
THAT REGARDLESS OF , DESPITE
THE TRUTHS WE HAVE ON OUR
SIDE, WE SEE DEMOCRATS AGAIN
AND AGAIN SAID THAT PASSING
THIS WILL HURT EFFORT , THAT
THE HISTORICAL EFFORTS SHOWS
EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. WHEN
SEATTLE'S WORKING PEOPLE LEAVE,
IT PUTS AN ENORMOUS PRESSURE
TO PASS CHANGE. ONE VERY
IMPORTANT EXAMPLE, I CAN'T
MENTION ALL OF THEM TODAY, BUT
$15 AN HOUR.
>> WE KEPT FIGHTING AND THEN
WE WON, AND WAGES WENT UP
DRAMATICALLY AS WELL, THE SAME
WITH ALL THE OTHER RENTERS
RIGHTS BILLS, INCLUDING CAUSE
OF ACTION AND WE WANT TO PUT
PRESSURE ON THE STATE TO
FINALLY ACT. WE HAVE TO BE
VERY CLEAR THAT WHETHER
DEMOCRATS DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO
SHOW UP , LIKE LEWIS AND
NELSON, WHO HAVE MADE
PRO-CORPORATE LANDLORD
STATEMENTS, OR THE COUNCIL
MEMBER WHO MAKES TECHNOCRATIC
OBJECTIONS TO THIS, IT SHOWS
THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS
NOT ON OUR SIDE. AS A
SOCIALIST, AM GOING TO COME
BACK TO THAT POINT BUT I WANT
TO SAY THAT AS A SOCIALIST, I
BELIEVE THAT CAPITALISM TURNS
EVERYTHING INTO A COMMODITY
WHICH MEANS THAT ECONOMISTS
DISCUSS ISSUES LIKE RENT
CONTROL, NINE TERMS OF HUMAN
BEINGS AND OUR NEEDS, BUT
INVESTOR PROFITS. THE BIG
LOBBY WOULD LIKE US TO BELIEVE
THAT HUMAN NEEDS AN INVESTOR
PROFITS COME HAND-IN-HAND, BUT
THEY ARE IN TOTAL CONFLICT.
CREATE INVESTMENT PROPERTIES .
SOARING HOUSING COSTS,
HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR MOST
WORKERS. SEATTLE HAS SEEN
UNPARALLELED DEVELOPMENT . WE
SEEM SEATTLE CREATE CAPITAL
FOR THREE YEARS RUNNING,
ACTUALLY, HOUSING IS NOT
AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT
AFFORDABLE. ALSO KNOWN AS
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, MANY OF
THEM CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE
BECAUSE OF THE RENT. THEY BUILD
THE BUILDINGS, THEY MAKE THE
PROFITS , AND THEY ARE FORCED
TO LEAVE THE CITY FOR THE
NIGHT. WE NEED SOCIAL HOUSING
NOT JUST FOR A TINY FRACTION OF
PEOPLE . WE NEED THAT, BUT WE
NEED IT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY
OF RENTERS SO THAT WORKERS ARE
NO LONGER SUBJECT TO THE
PREDATORY NATURE OF BIG
LANDLORDS AND IN FACT IS A
SOCIALIST, I WOULD SAY THAT WE
WOULD NEED DEMOCRATICALLY-CONTR
OLLED HOUSING, CONTROLLED BY
WORKERS, FOR WORKERS. AS LONG
AS FOR-PROFIT LANDLORD CONTROL
THAT MARKET, WE DESPERATELY
NEED RENT CONTROL AS ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT DEFENSES OF
RENTERS RIGHT. WE HAVE TO KEEP
FIGHTING AND AS I SAID, WE WILL
HAVE A RALLY AND END BY SAYING
THAT , IF WE TAKE ANY LESSON
FROM TODAY, IT SHOULD BE THAT
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS NOT ON
OUR SIDE. WE SHOULD NOT HOPE
THAT SOMEDAY, SOMETIME, THEY
WILL DO GOOD THINGS FOR US TO
WE HAVE SEEN REGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATS BETRAY US. IT'S NOT
THE FIRST TIME BUT IF YOU TOOK
TO TODAY TO OPEN YOUR EYES, I
CONSIDER THIS A JOB WELL DONE.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE KEEP
FIGHTING AND WE HAVE TO BUILD
AN INDEPENDENT PARTY FOR THE
WORKING CLASS . WITHOUT THAT,
THIS BATTLE IS A NONSTARTER AND
I WILL SAY, I LOVE ANIMALS. I
INCLUDE ELEPHANTS AND DONKEYS
AND MULES, I'M NOT JOKING, I
REALLY DO. I AGREE WITH THOSE
WHO CHANTED , DUMP THE
ELEPHANT, DUMP THE DONKEY, WE
NEED A PARTY FOR THE WORKING
CLASS. I'M DONE WITH MY
COMMENTS.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU IF
THERE WAS A MOTION YOU WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE.
>> I MOVED TO PASS. CAN I GET
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT? COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD? COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS? COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON ?
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> BEFORE A VOTE I WANT TO
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT FOR
BRINGING THIS TO US. SHE HAS
BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE
2015. I JUST WANT TO STATE FOR
THE RECORD THAT ALL OF THE
LAWS HAVE GONE FORWARD BEFORE
THAT DID GET THE FULL COUNCIL
, ALL FOUR WERE PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY. THAT WAS THE
SUPPORT AND THEY DID A
RESOLUTION. WE HAD A
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE
LIFTING AND PREEMPTION OF RENT
CONTROL. IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO
REVISIT THAT RESOLUTION , AND
THE SECOND IS ESTABLISHING RENT
CONTROL, RENT INCREASES
GREATER THAN THE RATE OF
INFLATION .
>> CAN YOU HEAR THAT?
>> REGULATING RENT INCREASES
ON PROPERTIES THAT DO NOT NEED
-- MEET BASIC MAINTENANCE
STANDARDS AND I THINK COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS WAS IN CHARGE OF
THAT, RESTRICTING PIECES AND
COMMERCIAL RENTS, THAT SAME
BILL , AND THAT PAST, AS WELL.
FROM 2015 TO NOW, THERE HAS
BEEN 10 ATTEMPTS AND OF THE
10, A LOT DID NOT GET OUT OF
COMMITTEE BUT ALL FOUR PASSED
AND I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH
A LAUNDRY LIST OF ALL OF THE
RIGHTS THAT HAVE PASSED.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, I WANT
TO SAY ONE OTHER THING.
WITHOUT IMPUGNING THE
CHARACTER OF YOUR COLLEAGUES,
ALL OF US TODAY WANTED TO HEAR
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND HAVE
BEEN VERY RESPECTFUL IN LETTING
YOU SPEAK AND YOU WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AND HER
WISE WORDS AND HER LONG
HISTORY OF WORKING IN THIS AREA
AND ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT
YOU HAD MADE AND I HAD SEEN
THIS AND I THINK WE EVEN
TALKED ABOUT IT, THIS IS
DIFFERENT THAN THE $15 MINIMUM
WAGE. IT'S DIFFERENT THAN
WORKERS RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS
, WHICH YOU HAVE PASSED , AND
THINGS LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE.
THERE IS NO STATE LAW THAT
PROHIBITS THESE POLICIES AND I
KNOW THAT YOU AND I HAVE TALKED
ABOUT THIS ONLINE AND WE AGREE.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS UNJUST
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A
TRIGGER LAW. I DON'T WANT TO
DISMISS THE ACTIONS THAT
OTHER STATE REPRESENTATIVES
HAVE TAKEN FOR THE STATE
LEGISLATURE. EVERY TIME I'VE
TAKEN A RUN AT ACTUAL RENT
CONTROL. SO, I WANT TO JUST
FEEL A LITTLE BIT PROTECT OF
SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE
WORKED ON THESE ISSUES AND I DO
NOT WANT TO IMPUGN THEIR
INTEGRITY AND HONESTY AND
COMMITMENT AND I HOPE THAT THEY
WILL STILL WORK WITH US AND
OUR COUNTERPARTS IN OLYMPIA TO
ADDRESS THIS LAW, BECAUSE I DO
AGREE THAT IT IS UNJUST AND I
DO BELIEVE , I KNOW FROM THE
LETTERS WE'VE GOTTEN ON BOTH
SIDES, I BELIEVE THAT
LOCALITIES SHOULD HAVE THE
RIGHT TO DO RENT
SUSTAINABILITY AND
STABILIZATION. IF ANYONE
KNOWS THEIR CITY OR COUNTY
BETTER, IT'S PEOPLE AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THIS MEANS, BUT I DO THINK
THAT SEATTLE COULD PASS
SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THAT AND
HOPEFULLY WE COULD BRING THAT
TOGETHER, AND JOIN ALL OF THOSE
STEAK HOLDERS WE BROUGHT
TOGETHER. IT TAKES A LOT TO
ADDRESS SOMETHING AND JUST LIKE
THAT. I'M GOING TO CLOSE MY
COMMENTS AND MY VOTE IS THAT I
WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS
BILL.
>> THANK YOU. THE COUNT IS TWO
IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED.
>> OKAY. THE BILL DOES NOT
PASS. LET'S MOVE ON IN OUR
AGENDA. SO, MOVING ON. ITEMS
REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR ,
THE ADOPTION OF OTHER
RESOLUTIONS, I AM NOT AWARE OF
ANY OTHER RESOLUTIONS
INTRODUCED . OTHER BUSINESS, IS
THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS? THIS WOULD BE
THE TIME TO SAY IF YOU NEED TO
BE EXCUSED. NOT SEEING ANY.
OKAY. OKAY, COLLEAGUES. THIS
WAS A LONG AGENDA AND I THANK
ALL OF YOU, PARTICULARLY THOSE
THAT SHOWED UP TODAY FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU TO
ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT
PROVIDED COMMENTS AND GIVE US
MORE INFORMATION. I COULD NEVER
UNDERESTIMATE YOUR PASSION AND
THIS IS A TOUGH JOB AND YOU
HAVE ALL SHOWED UP AND WE DID
OUR JOB TODAY. I CAN'T PLEASE
EVERYBODY BUT I KNOW THAT THIS
IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. I HAD
A TALK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD OFF-LINE AND COUNCIL
MEMBER MOSQUEDA, THAT PERHAPS,
WE CAN DRAFT WITH COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT A STRONGER
RESOLUTION THAT IS MUCH BETTER
THAN THE ONE FROM 2015. I
THINK NOW IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME
COMING SO WITH THAT, THIS DOES
CONCLUDE OUR ITEMS AND BUSINESS
IN THE NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS NEXT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 8th. WITH THAT,
WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD DAY, EVERYBODY.
>> RECORDING STOPPED.
>>