>>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS
2:00 P.M. IT IS THE AUGUST 14th
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING OF TH
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICE
COMMITTEE. I'M LISA HERBOLD.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL.
[ROLL CALL ]
.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON TODAY'
AGENDA. THE FIRST IS A PANEL
PRESENTATION FROM A NUMBER OF
PROVIDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS
SPEAKING ABOUT THE CURRENT GAPS
IN PEOPLE USING FENTANYL. THE
SECOND IS A BRIEFING FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON COUNCIL BILL
120645 TO ADD CRIMES OF KNOWING
POSSESSION AND USE OF A
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN A PUBLI
PLACE AND ADDING A NEW SECTION
TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE. WITH THA
WE WILL NOW APPROVE OUR AGENDA
FOR TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING.
THERE IS NO AGENDA, NO
OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA IS
APPROVED. SEEING NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED. AT
THIS TIME WE WILL TRANSITION
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL
MODERATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK. I WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN VIRTUAL AND
IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS I
WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND ORDER BY WHICH THEY
ORDERED ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSIT
AND IN THE IN-PERSON SIGN IN
FORM F. YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED
AND STILL WOULD LIKE TO DO SO,
WE ASK YOU TO SIGN UP BEFORE TH
END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
SESSION. ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'
NAME IF YOU ARE USING THE
VIRTUAL OPTION, YOU WILL HEAR A
PROMPT. ONCE YOU HEAR THAT
PROMPT WE ASK YOU PRESS STAR 6
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. PLEASE BEGI
BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM WHICH YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME AND ONCE THE
SPEAKER HEARS THE CHARM WE ASK
THAT YOU WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. IF SPEAKERS DO NOT EN
THEIR COMMENTS AT THE END OF TH
TIME ALLOTTED THE MIC WILL BE
MUTED AFTER 10 SECONDS TO ALLOW
US TO HEAR FROM THE NEXT
SPEAKER. ONCE YOU COMPLETED,
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE. IF YO
PLAN TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS
MEETING WE ASK THAT YOU DO SO V
ASSET SET CHANNEL OR THE
LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA. WE HAVE 31 PEOPLE SIGNE
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. 14 OF
THEM ARE VIRTUAL AND 17 ARE IN
PERSON. AND LOOKING FOR COMMENT
TO CONTINUE THROUGH 2:35 P.M.
WILL MOVE FORWARD CALLING ON TH
FIRST SPEAKER. THE FIRST PERSON
WE HAVE SIGNED UP. I WILL DO
IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS
FIRST, CAROL MALONE FOLLOWED BY
FAYE LOPEZ
>> ONE MINUTE IS INSUFFICIENT.
BROUGHT A POSTER OF
PERPETRATORS, SEATTLE POLICE WH
VIOLATE MY CIVIL RIGHTS. MY
PERSONAL RIGHTS [INDISCERNIBLE]
THEY ARE IN MY APARTMENT
BUILDING SURVEILLING ME.
VIOLATING ME. I PAY THE
CONSEQUENCES. I REACHED OUT TO
THE MEDIA AND DIFFERENT
AGENCIES. I AM THWARTED IN EVER
EFFORT. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO
WORK FOR THE CITY. SEATTLE
POLICE AND FIREMAN, TOO, WHO
COME WITH THE POLICE IN
VIOLATING ME. I HAVE A RIGHT,
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO STAND I
FRONT OF THE POLICE BUNKER AT
5th AND CHERRY BECAUSE THEY LIV
IN MY HOUSE. VIOLATING ME,
MAINTAINING SURVEILLANCE OF ME.
>> HOUSING, PASSED AWAY FROM
FENTANYL, PEPPER SPRAY IS IN MY
HOUSING. YET I AM THE ONE
TREATED AS A CRIMINAL. I AM NOT
A CRIMINAL. NOT A SUSPICIOUS
PERSON AND I WILL CONTINUE TO
SPEAK OUT AT THE BUNKER AND ALL
AROUND TOWN.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER -- LOPEZ
FOLLOWED BY SHAWN JACKSON.
>> I WORK FOR PDA. THIS
ORDINANCE CALLS FOR DIVERSIONS
INSTEAD OF JAIL AND PROSECUTION
TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE PROGRESS TO
GET OUT OF THEIR CURRENT
CIRCUMSTANCES AND DRUG USE. IT
COULD BE A STRONG PROGRESSIVE
FRAMEWORK TO DIVERT TO SERVICES
LIKE PORTUGAL, BUT LIKE
PORTUGAL IT WILL BE HOLLOW IF
THE RECEIVING SYSTEM IS WEAK.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE AT HIGHEST
RISK AND BIGGEST IMPACT NEED
LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT TO
NAVIGATE SYSTEMS AND SERVICES.
THOSE LIVING UNSHELTERED NEED A
PLACE TO STAY WITH INTENSIVE
CASE MANAGEMENT. THAT IS WHAT
LEAD AND CO-LEAD WAS BUILT TO
DO. A LOT OF THE FUNDING WAS
ONE-TIME MONEY. IT IS NOT CLEAR
IF EITHER WILL HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO MATCH THE DEMAND
THIS ORDINANCE SETS UP. WE CAN
ONLY ACHIEVE THIS VISION OF THI
ORDINANCE DESCRIBES? THIS PIECE
IS SET UP TO RESPOND. OTHERWISE
THESE WILL BE HOLLOW WORDS. THI
CAN WORK. WE MUST ENSURE THAT
RESOURCES ARE THERE TO SUPPORT
THIS FRAMEWORK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAWN
JACKSON. SHAWN WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY REZA
>> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON. M
NAME IS SHAWN JACKSON WITH A
COMPANY CALLED URBAN RENAISSANC
GROUP. WE MANAGE OUR OWN SQUARE
FEET OF OFFICE SPACE. MY
COMMENTS NEAR SUPPORT OF PASSIN
THE SAFETY MEASURE AND
SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL SERVICES
FOR THOSE THAT NEED DUE TO
FENTANYL USE. WE SUPPORT AS I
MENTIONED SUPPORT THE TREATMENT
OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS. WE
RECOGNIZE IT IS NECESSARY FOR
LONG-TERM SOLUTION. THAT SAID W
KNOW THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES
HAVE BEEN GONE UP BY THIS
EPIDEMIC. BELIEVING TOLERANCE
WILL CONTINUE FOR BAD BEHAVIOR
IS NAIVE. PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES N
MY BUSINESS THESE ARE CHOICES
THAT CAN BE FIVE OR 10 YEARS OR
MORE. WE ARE SUBSIDIZING
RETAILERS, WE HAVE DOUBLE
SPENDING ON OUR SECURITY, AND
OUR TENANTS DO NOT WANT TO
RETURN. WE HAVE A BUILD THAT CA
NOT GET A LOOK BECAUSE THEY TAL
ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS
OUR REALITY. AGAIN, SUPPORT THI
BILL, CRITICAL STEP IN
ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES AND WE
HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER PROVIDIN
ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR THESE
NEEDS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER. REZA
FAMILIARED BY, I BELIEVE IT
FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM DIRECTO
OF AFFAIRS AND THE BOARD CHAIR
OF THE METRO IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT OR MIDFOR SHORT. MY
COMMENTS TODAY ARE IN SUPPORT O
PASSING THIS PUBLIC SAFETY
AGENDA ITEM 120654. LIKE MANY I
SEATTLE I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES
FROM THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC. WE
KNOW 80% OF SEATTLE VOTERS
BELIEVE RESTORING A SAFE AND
WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT DOWNTOWN
WILL BRING BACK RESIDENTS,
WORKERS, VISITORS AND CREATE TH
MOMENTUM THAT DOWNTOWN WILL BE
ON FOR SUSTAINED PATH TO
RECOVERY. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE
IT IS A CRITICAL STEP IN
ADDRESSING THE ISSUES BY
PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCES
TO THAT END MAKE SURE THAT
COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES PROVE
TO WORK WELL FOR THIS POPULATIO
ARE RENEWED AND EXPANDED NEXT
YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE 3r
AVENUE PROJECT, LEAD AND
CO-LEAD. PASSAGE OF THIS PUBLIC
AGENDA ITEM WILL ENSURE A
HEALTHY VIBRANT DOWNTOWN FOR
ALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE. I
BEGINS WITH AN H. THANK YOU. IN
CURSIVE.
>> UNLIKE SOME OF THE FOLKS HER
I AM ACTUALLY A RESIDENT OF
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. SOME OF YOU
HAVE WALKED WITH US ON OUR
MORNING WALKS WITH ABOUT 15 OR
20 OTHER WOMEN. I SPEAK TO THE
ISSUE OF SAFETY. RIGHT NOW IT
FEELS LIKE WE ARE IN SOMETHING
OF A PUBLIC SHOOTING GALLERY IN
BELL TOWN AND DOWNTOWN WHERE WE
LIVE. IT IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I
JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, LIKE
OTHERS, SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE
THAT WILL BE IN FRONT OF YOU. O
COURSE I DO. MY ONLY QUESTION
IS, WHAT HAS TAKEN YOU SO LONG
TO DO THIS? YOU HAVE HAD THE
MONEY, YOU HAD THE PEOPLE TO BE
ABLE TO DO IT. BUT YET, YOU
DON'T GET WITH THE WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE KNOW,
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM KNOW, THAT
IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO I
CHALLENGE YOU TO VOTE THROUGH
THAT INITIATIVE AND GET UP OUT
OF YOUR COMMITTEES AND GET THE
WORK DONE.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICK
JACKEL AND AFTER NICK SPEAKS WE
WILL MOVE ON TO VIRTUAL
PRESENTERS BEGINNING WITH HOWAR
GIL.
>> HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM
HERE TO SPEAK TO THE AGENDA ITE
120645. I AM REPRESENTING
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE RESIDENTS,
NONPROFITS AND BUSINESS MEMBERS
WE ARE DEDICATED TO ENSURING
THAT A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN,
FOSTERING A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN
THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE. SEATTLE
IS GRAPPLING WITH AN ESCALATING
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. THE
DRUG CRISIS. URGENT ACTION IS
IMPERATIVE. SEATTLE OVERDOSE
DEATHS SURGED BY AN ALARMING 72
FROM '21-'22, SORING TO 589
FATALITIES. PASSING THIS MEASUR
STANDS AS A PIVOTAL STEP TO
TACKLING THIS CRISIS. IT IS
PIVOTAL FOR REJUVENATING OUR
STREETS AND FOSTERING A FULL
RECOVERY FOR DOWNTOWN. THIS
REPRESENTS AN ABOVE APPROACH TO
PUBLIC SAFETY THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES DESERVE BY PROVIDIN
AN EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO
HANDLING DRUG-RELATED ISSUES. A
THE MEASURE GOES TO A VOTE MAKE
SURE THAT COMMUNITY-BASED
RESOURCES THAT DEMONSTRATED
SUCCESSES ARE RENEWED AND
EXPANDED THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE
3rd AVENUE PROJECT, LEAD AND
CO-LEAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT SPEAKER MOVING
VIRTUALLY. MOVING TO THE VIRTUA
SPEAKERS, NEXT WE HAVE HOWARD
GALE. HOWARD FOLLOWED BY KAREN.
HOWARD?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, PROPOSED BIL
LIKE THE ONE PRO VIDDED STILL
HAS A FATAL FLAW. YOU WANT TO
TRUST THE CURRENT CITY ATTORNEY
AND SPD TO NOT DO WHAT IS IN
THEIR CURRENT HISTORY ENGAGE IN
BIAS. AN AUDIT REVEALED
CONTINUING RACIAL DISPARITY IN
SPD STOPS AND THE USE OF FORCE
WITH FORCE USED AGAINST BLACK
PEOPLE OVER SEVEN TIMES HIGHER
COMPARED TO WHITE. THE POLICE
SCORECARD SHOWS SPD IS IN THE
BOTTOM 4% OF MAJOR CITY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHEN IT
COMES TO THE RACIAL DISPARITY I
DRUG ARRESTS. EVEN THE FEDERAL
COURT MONITOR HAS ADMITTED THIS
PROBLEM PERSISTS IN STOPS AND
DETENTIONS AND USE OF FORCE.
UNTIL YOU STAND UP TO
ALTERNATIVE FOR SPD FOR PEOPLE
FACING ADDICTION AND CREATE DRU
COURTS AND DOES NOT PROMOTE
SUICIDE IT IS UNWORKABLE. IT IS
GROTESQUE TO MAKE THOSE SUFFER,
NOT FIRST PUNISH YOURSELVES FOR
FAILING TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE
SERVICES TO WELL OVER 90% OF
THOSE PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY
NEED THEM. PLEASE DO NOT PUT TH
CART BEFORE THE HORSE. YOU ARE
PLACING A CART ON THE HILL AND
HOPING THOSE WITH PUNITIVE
IMPULSES, THE SPD AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY WILL NOT SEND IT DOWN
THE HILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
KAREN, FOLLOWED BY BJ.
>>> MY NAME IS KAREN. I LIVE
DOWNTOWN. I WALK EXTENSIVELY
DOWNTOWN. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
ADOPT BILLS TO BRING US INTO
WASHINGTON STATE LAW. I SEE A
PROBLEM IN THE NEWLY WRITTEN
BILL, THOUGH, IT SEEMS TO BE
HAMSTRINGING OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT INTO WHAT THEY CAN
AND CAN NOT DO. THERE ARE ALL
KINDS OF LANGUAGE IF THEY ARE
DOING HARM TO THEMSELVES OR HAR
TO OTHERS. BY DEFINITION TAKING
THE DRUGS ON THE STREET IS
HARMFUL TO THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE
THEM. AND BY DEFINITION, DOING
OPEN DRUG USE ON THE STREETS
INVITES DRUG DEALERS WHICH
INVITES GANG WARS THAT INVITES
SHOOTINGS AND CAUSES PUBLIC
DAMAGE IN ALL CASES. SO, I
DEFINITELY SUPPORT USING CAUTIO
IN GETTING PEOPLE INTO HELP AND
USING DIVERSION TACTICS BUT WE
CAN NOT HAMSTRING THE POLICE.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
OBTHE STREET BECAUSE IF THEY
NEED HELP THEY SHOULD BE MORE
AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, BJ, HE WILL BE FOLLOWE
BY JULIA BUCK.
>> I AM A BALLARD RESIDENT. LAS
WEEK FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING COUNCILMEMBER
TALKED ABOUT CUTTING CITY
SERVICES IN THE NAME OF REMOVIN
DUPLICATION AND FINDING
DEFICIENCIES, THEY, THOSE THREE
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE SUPPORTING
THE SECOND ATTEMPT ON THE NEW
WAR AND DRUG BILL EVEN THOUGH I
WILL CAUSE THEM TO BUILD OUT
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DUPLICATES
WHAT EXISTS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL
IT WOULD BE AMUSING BUT THE NEW
BILL WILL KILL PEOPLE. THE BILL
WILL ARREST PEOPLE. JAILS KILL,
WASHINGTON STATE JAIL. PEOPLE
RELEASE FRIDAY JAIL ARE 40-120
TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF DRU
OVERDOSE AND IT INCREASES LIFE
EXPECTANCY OF THOSE EVERYONE
LOCKED UP AND THEIR LOVED ONES.
POLICE CONTACT WITH THE
COMMUNITY ALSO KILLS. "SEATTLE
TIMES" REPORTED IN MAY, 21% OF
ALL HOMICIDES IN SEATTLE SINCE
2015F. YOU WANT TO HELP YOU
SHOULD FUND THINGS RECOMMENDED
BY THE KING COUNTY HEROIN TASK
FORCE BACK IN 2016.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER. JULIA
BUCK. FOLLOWED BY PAIGE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY T
COMMENT. I AM CONCERNED THE $20
MILLION WORTH OF FUNDING IS NOW
IN JEOPARDY. THE $20 MILLION OF
TREATMENT FUNDING IS IN
JEOPARDY. [AUDIO BROKEN ].
>> THIS MONEY WAS NOT NEW MONEY
FOR TREATMENT THIS WAS OVER 20
YEARS. SO I AM CONCERNED. HOW I
IT DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS
BILL THAT THE COUNCIL DID NOT
PASS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT
THIS BILL DOES NOT APPEAR TO DO
ANYTHING NEW IN TERMS OF
TREATMENT T. IS THE SAME THING
WE HAVE BEEN TRY FOR EXAMPLE 40
YEARS NOW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAIGE..
>> SHE WILLING FOLLOWED BY
ANTHONY PEARSON.
>> HELLO. I AM A SOCIAL WORKER
WITH THE LEAD PROGRAM HERE IN
KING COUNTY. MOST OF OUR CLIENT
THAT ARE IN THE LEAD PROGRAM AR
REFERRED TO US THROUGH DIVERSIO
MEANS. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO SOM
OF THE WORK THAT DIVERSION
PROGRAMS ALLOW AND ALLOT FOR OU
SOCIETY'S MOST VULNERABLE IS
CITIZENS. THROUGH DIVERSION AND
LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT THAT
IS CLIENT CENTERED MEANING WE
THE CASE MANAGERS HAVE NO WANTS
NO PUSH, NO GUIDE ABOUT WHAT OU
CLIENTS GET OUT OF THE PROGRAM.
IT ALLOWS FOR THE CLIENT TO FIN
THEIR VOICE IN A SYSTEM THAT
NORMALLY IS EXTREMELY PUNITIVE
SPECIFICALLY TO BLACK AND BROWN
CITIZENS HERE IN SEATTLE.
THROUGH LONG-TERM CASE
MANAGEMENT OUR PEOPLE THE REST
LIVES TO LOOK LIKE HERE IN KING
COUNTY AND TO BE MEMBERS OF
SOCIETY THAT THEY WANT TO BE.
THROUGH DIVERSION IT ALLOWS
PEOPLE OTHER OPTIONS BE SIDES
DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND
OVER AGAIN AND BEING LOOKED
OVER. AND BEING SAID ALL OF
THESE PEOPLE NEED HELP. BUT TO
GIVE THEM ASSISTANCE TO FIND
THEIR OWN VOICE HERE IN OUR
SOCIETY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> AGAIN, MOVING BACK TO
IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. JUST
COMMENT. I NOTICE THAT SOME
FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE
PANEL ARE SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO. IF YOU ARE
INTENDING. OKAY. GREAT. THANK
YOU.
>>> ANTHONY PETERSON FOLLOWED B
DWAYN .
>> I AM A PRODUCT OF THE
CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG USE AND
THERE BEING CONSEQUENCES FOR MY
ACTIONS. I WAS A HEROIN AND MET
ADDICT FOR 10 YEARS. BECAUSE OF
THOSE CONSEQUENCES AND DIVERSIO
PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAIL EXPIABL
THEY ARE AVAILABLE, I WAS ABLE
TO GET THE HELP THAT I NEEDED
AND NOW I AM EXTREMELY
SUCCESSFUL AND CONTINUE TO WANT
TO HELP OTHERS. I STRONGLY URGE
THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS
ORDINANCE AND THESE UPDATES SO
THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN GET THE
CHANCES THAT THEY NEED AND SO
PEOPLE CAN BE SAFE OUTSIDE AS
THEY WALK DOWN THE STREETS.
RIGHT NOW PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAF
WALKING DOWN THE STREETS. AT
ALL. I WAS APPROACHED BY A MAN
FROM CLEVELAND AND ASKED ME HOW
DO YOU DO IT? HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT GETTING OUT OF DRUG USE
AND OPEN AIR MARKET THAT 3rd
AVENUE HAS BECOME. SO, HE IS
FROM CLEVELAND. THEY HAVE A BAD
REP, I URGE YOU ALL TO CHANGE
THIS. THIS LEGISLATION IS
ADDRESSING ISSUES AND IT WILL
PROVIDE DOWNTOWN TO BE CLEAN AN
CARED FOR. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
>>> NEXT PERSON SIGNED UP IS
DWAYN. WE ARE GOOD. OWN, MOVING
DOWN TO LARZ
>> GAD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. -- GOOD
AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS, I
WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR
GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, CITY OF SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MANY
COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR THEIR HAR
WORK AND COLLABORATION THAT
CREATED THE PUBLIC SAFETY
LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU TODAY. I
BELIEVE WE ALL SHARE A VISION O
FIRST HELPING INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCE IN A CRISIS CONNECTE
TO THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER YOUR VOTE I
ASK YOU TO PLEASE ACT IN THE
BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY
AND PASS THE LEGISLATION. DURIN
THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION
IN MAY MANY OF OUR STATE
LEGISLATURES DEMONSTRATED
LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE THERE WOUL
NOT BE A PATCHWORK OF LAWS
RELATED TO DRUG USE AND
POSSESSION. WITH THE STATE LAWS
ON THE BOOKS IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT THEY CONFORM LEGISLATION,
THIS BILL IS AN EXCELLENT
EXAMPLE OF AN ALL OF THE ABOVE
APPROACH THAT THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS DESERVE. PLEASE MOVE
FORWARD WITH URGENCY, SEATTLE
VOTERS AND THE REGIONAL BUSINES
COMMUNITY ARE BEHIND YOU. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LOU
BOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LOU
BOND. FROM AN OFFICE BUILDING A
3rd AND PIKE. FIRST OF ALL I
APPLAUD THE CITY CONS COUNCIL'S
WORK WE ARE GETTING CLOSER BUT
NOT THERE YET. I WANT TO GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO TAP, THE 3rd AVENU
PROJECT, COLEAD AND LEAD. THOSE
ARE VALUABLE ASSETS HELPING THE
COMMUNITY. WE NEED THE NEXT
DISTANCE. THAT IS THIS NEW
ORDINANCE THAT THE MAYOR IS
THWARTING TO ALL OF YOU. I THIN
IT NEEDS TO BE PASSED. WE NEED
TO PROVIDE THE TREATMENT CENTER
FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO GET OFF
OF THE STREETS THERE HAS TO BE
CONSEQUENCES TO BAD BEHAVIOR.
THEY CAN NOT HELP THEMSELVES,
THIS IS THE LAST MILE. THESE AR
THE FOLKS THAT HAVE NOT TAKEN U
THE HELP AND THE SERVICES
OFFERED TO THEM. WE NEED TO
PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT. LET'S HEL
3rd AVENUE PROJECT LEAD AND
COLEAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> MOVING BACK TO SOME VIRTUAL
SPEAKERS. WE GOTTALIS LOCKHART
AND FOLLOWED BY SABRINA.
>>.
>> HELLO COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
COUNCILMEMBERS, STUDY BY STUDY
TELL US ARREST FOR DRUG USE
UNDER THIS BILL WILL LEAVE YOU
AT HIGHER RISK OF OVERDOSE WITH
DIMINISHED PERSONAL RESOURCES
AND INCREASED NEED FOR SOCIAL
SERVICES. WE KNOW WE ARE FACING
A REALLY, REALLY TOUGH BUDGET
SEASON NEXT MONTH. IF THIS BILL
WILL PASS COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO
STRETCH IT OUT. WE CAN EXPECT
THE COUNCIL BILL IMPLEMENTATION
WILL COME AT THE COST OF THINGS
WE ALL HOLD DEAR, CLIMATE
RESILIENCE AND BUILDING PARKS
AND HELP FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT
I LIVE ON AURORA. WHERE FOLKS
WILL BE SWEPT NORTH FROM THIS
BILL, I HAVE NO DOUBT. I AM NOT
SCARED OF THEM I AM SCARED OF
WHAT THIS BILL WILL DO TO THEM.
I URGE YOUR NO VOTE ON THIS
BILL. THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU.
>>> THE NEXT VIRTUAL COMMENTER
IS SABRINA FOLLOWED BY MOLLY.
>>.
>> HELLO. MY COMMENTS ARE IN
SUPPORT OF PASSING THIS PUBLIC
SAFETY MEASURE. I MANAGE A
HANDFUL OF PROPERTIES IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE INCLUDING THE
HISTORIC SECURITIES BUILDING ON
3rd AVENUE. I SPEAK ON BEHALF O
THE MANY SMALL BUSINESSES,
TENANTS, EMPLOYEES TRYING TO
MAKE A LIVING AND COME DOWNTOWN
EVERY DAY AND TRY TO RUN AND
OPERATE SMALL BUSINESSES. I
BELIEVE THIS LEGISLATION IS A
CRITICAL STEP IN ADDRESSING OUR
MUCH-NEEDED ATTENTION TO PUBLIC
SAFETY IN DOWNTOWN AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT THIS INCLUDING 3rd
AVENUE PROJECT, LEAD AND
CO-LEAD. I HOPE THERE IS
CONSIDERATION THAT THERE ARE
RESOURCES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
PERSONALLY WORKED WITH THEM AN
SEEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT. THANK
YOU, HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT SPEAKER, MOLLY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
I'M MOLLY. FROM DISTRICT 3. WE
VOTE NO ON BILL 1206445. I URGE
YOU TO REFLECT IN THE NAME OF
THIS COMMITTEE, HABITUAL
SERVICES, IT WILL INCREASE
PROSECUTION FOR DRUG POSSESSION
INCREASE JAIL POPULATION,
INCREASE RACIAL AND CLASS
DISPARITY AND ARREST AND JAIL
TIME AND OVERDOSES. -- REACH OU
FOR SUPPORT AND FEAR OF
PROSECUTION. IT DOES NOTHING TO
PROMOTE SAFETY. THE BILL IS
DESIGNED TO TARGET PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DUE T
THE PUBLIC USE CLAUSE. INSTEAD
WE SHOULD RELOCATING OUR TIME,
ENERGY AND FUNDING TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY IN THE CITY HAS ACCES
TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEALTH
CARE. IT IS A FOUNDATION OF
PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT IS HOW
DOWNTOWN AND OTHER CITIES WILL
BE SAFER. VOTE NO ON RETURNING
TO FAILED DRUG WARS. THANK YOU
>>> MEREDITH IF YOU ARE WITH US
HIT STAR 6 PLEASE. THERE YOU GO
PERFECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM URGING COUNCIL ALSO TO
VOTE NO ON THIS BILL. THERE IS
NO SUCH THING AS PROGRESSIVE
INCARCERATION, THERE IS NO SUCH
THING AS A PROGRESSIVE DRUG WAR
NOT ONLY THAT BUT WHAT YOU ARE
PROPOSING SIMPLY WILL NOT DO
WHAT YOU SAY IT IS GOING TO DO.
IT IS NOT GOING TO HELP TREAT
ANYBODY. THE ONLY THING THIS
BILL WILL DO IS MOVE PEOPLE FRO
ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AND THEY
WILL COME BACK OR OTHER PEOPLE
WILL TAKE THEIR PLACE. I GO
DOWNTOWN ALL OF THE TIME. I ALS
WORK DOWNTOWN. FOR ALL OF THE
PARTICULARLY WHITE FOLKS WHO AR
COMMENTING HOW THEY QUOTE
UNQUOTE FEEL UNSAFE, I CHALLENG
YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEELING
UNSAFE AND BEING UNSAFE AND WHA
THIS BILL WOULD DO TO MAKE OUR
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AND DRUG
USING NEIGHBORS UNSAFE BECAUSE
YOU ARE PROMOTING MORE CONTACT
WITH THE POLICE THAT CAN EASILY
LEAD TO ONE OF THEIR DEATHS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR LAST PERSON WHO IS
SHOWING UP AS PRESENT REMOTELY
IS LATANIA. IF THERE ARE MORE
FOLKS WHO SHOW AS PRESENT WE
WILL GO BACK TO THAT LIST. FOR
NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM LATANIA.
CAN YOU HIT STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
LATANIA IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, HIT
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. ALL
RIGHT. WE WILL TRY ONE MORE
TIME. LATANIA IF YOU CAN HEAR
ME, CAN YOU HIT STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE. YOU ARE NEXT SPEAKING.
>> YES. PERFECT.
>> THANKS. I AM A BLACK QUEER
NONBIONARY. I AM IMPACTED ON TH
WAR ON DRUGS, TWO OF MY
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS
PROFILED, TARGETED AND DUE TO
RACIST DRUG POLICY THAT WE ALL
KNOW DECADES LATER DOES NOT
WORK. I AM CALLING TO ASK EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO REJECT
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD EXPAND THE CITY'S CRIMINA
CODE TO PROSECUTE DRUG
POSSESSION AND PUBLIC DRUG USE.
WE ALL KNOW FROM DECADES OF
EVIDENCE THAT INCARCERATION DOE
NOT PREVENT OVERDOSES OR GIVE
PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED. CITY
ADOPTION OF THIS LAW INCREASES
OVERDOSES, DEATHS AND RACIAL
DISPARITIES ARREST AND JAIL TIM
AND OVERDOSES, THERE PROPOSED
BILL WILL BRING US BACK TO
AGGRESSIVE AND RACIST DRUG
POLICY INSTEAD OF MOVING TOWARD
EVIDENCE-BASED AND EFFECTIVE AN
COMPASSIONIT APPROACHES.
COMPASSIONATE CITY.
>> DO NOT TAKE US BACK. GIVE US
THE SYSTEMS THAT PROVIDE SUPPOR
THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE
INDIVIDUALS WITH GUNS
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IN PERSON
FOLLOWED BY MORGAN. AND VOCAL
OFFICES OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
AND WASHINGTON. WE HOUSE THE
COUNSEL ON DRUG USE. THE PART
EVER THE ORDINANCE THAT WE
SUPPORT IS THE CALL FOR
DIVERSION TO SERVICES INSTEAD O
JAIL AND PROSECUTION TO HELP
PEOPLE MAKE PROGRESS TO GET OUT
OF THEIR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCE
AND ISSUES RELATED TO THEIR
CHAOTIC DRUG USE. HOWEVER WHAT
WILL MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT I
IMPACTFUL IS IF THERE IS FUNDIN
TO GO INTO THE INCREASE OF
SERVICES THAT WE KNOW WORK.
MODELS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH
THIS POPULATION, CO LEAD AND
LEAD AND THE 3rd AVENUE PROJECT
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT NEED MORE THAN
SHORT TURN AROUND. WE ARE ASKIN
FOR THOSE INTERVENTIONS TO BE
FUNDING, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
THAT [CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING
>> THIS IS A FRESH COAT OF PAIN
ON THE SAME VIOLENT POLICIES.
I'M NOT GOING TO MINCE WORDS.
VOTING YES ON THIS POLICY IS
ALIGNING YOURSELF WITH WHITE
SUPREMACY AND FASCISM. IT IS
ALSO BUILDING ANTISOCIAL TRAITS
BECAUSE IT IS KNOWINGLY HARMING
PEOPLE AND PROMOTING A SYSTEM
WHICH SAYS SOME PEOPLE CAN BE
TREATED LIKE RODENTS AND
COCKROACHES IF YOU WANT SUPPORT
THIS BILL I URGE YOU TO STEP
DOWN AND SEEK MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT. IF YOU DO THIS, YOU
NEED HELP, TOO. HAVE A NICE DAY
STAY SAFE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT COMMENTE
SIGNED UP IS STONE LAV IRK N.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, SO I WOULD SAY THE MAI
CAUSE OF THE DRUG ADDICTION
PROBLEM IS THE POVERTY. LIKE,
HONESTLY, LIKE, IF YOU'RE NOT
ONE OF THE SPOILED GENERATION X
ADULTS THAT WERE BORN IN THE
'60s AND '70s, YOU'RE NEVER ABL
TO ESTABLISH LIKE EVEN A MIDDLE
CLASS CAREER AND MAKING $50,000
A YEAR. LIKE AS A YOUNG ADULT
BORN IN THE '90s, LIKE THE BEST
KIND OF JOB I CAN GET IS AN
ENTRY-LEVEL COOK JOB OR, YOU
KNOW, MAYBE A SECURITY WORKER O
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE
SMALLEST MINIMUM WAGE PAY.
THAT'S THE HEART OF ALL THIS
DRUG ADDICTION BECAUSE WHAT
HAPPENS IS YOUNG ADULTS, THEY
START SMOKING WEED AND DRINKING
ALCOHOL BECAUSE, LIKE, PAYING
GAS AND PAYING INSURANCE AND
TABS, AND ALL THESE LITTLE
HIDDEN FEES, LIKE, YOU CAN'T GE
ANYWHERE WITHOUT DROPPING --
YEAH, HONESTLY, LIKE THE PRICE
OF LIVING IS INSANE, AND LIKE
THE GAS PRICING THAT MAY GO
DOWN, THIS TAB A CRAP, IT'S
RIDICULOUS, YEAH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST PERSON
THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR
IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT IS DAN
GODFREY.
>> HI. MY NAME IS DAN GODFREY.
WORK AT REACH AS A LEAD
SCREENING AND OUTREACH
COORDINATOR. I'VE BEEN DOING
THAT FOR TWO YEARS AND IN THAT
TIME HAVE COLLABORATED ON DOZEN
OF DIVERSIONS WITH SPD, BURIEN,
AND THE KING COUNTY SHERIFFS. I
HAVE SEEN INDIVIDUALS ARRIVE AT
MANY OUTCOMES FROM DIVERSION.
BUT CAN TELL THAT YOU NO SMALL
NUMBER HAVE ARRIVED AT BETTER,
HEALTHIER CIRCUMSTANCES FOR
THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR
COMMUNITY. THROUGH SERVICES,
MANY HAVE ARRIVED TO BETTER
MANAGEMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ACCESS TO HOUSE, REDUCED
SUBSTANCE WHY IS AND MORE
POSITIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
DIVERSION IS A DATA DRIVEN
PROCESS AND A HOPEFUL VISION.
THE IMPACT OF THIS ORDINANCE
WILL DEPEND NOT JUST ON THE
DIVERSION ITSELF BUT ON THE
ARCHITECTURE OF SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO THOSE DIVERTED
INDIVIDUALS. OUR CITY NEEDS
CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN
TREATMENT, ASSORTED FORMS OF
HOUSING, DAY CENTERS, HEALTH
HUBS, AND MORE. PLEASE CONTINUE
TO ADVANCE THE VISION OF THIS
ORDINANCE BY ENHANCING THE
SYSTEMS THAT WILL RELY ON IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOING BACK TO
VIRTUAL TESTIFIERS, WE'VE GOT
SOMEBODY WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY
SHOWN AS NOT PRESENT WHO IS NOW
PRESENT, SO WE'LL HEAR FROM REE
OLSON NEXT. AND IF THE STATUS O
ANY OF THESE OTHER "NOT PRESENT
PEOPLE CHANGES, WE'LL TAKE THOS
SPEAKERS, BUT OTHERWISE IT LOOK
LIKE REED OLSON MIGHT BE OUR
LAST PUBLIC COMMENTER. REED.
>> HELLO. I AM CALLING YET AGAI
TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO
ON THIS BILL AND NOT CRIMINALIZ
PUBLIC DRUG USE. WHAT SEATTLE
NEEDS IS INVESTMENT IN CARE, IN
HOUSING. I FEEL LIKE IT HAS BEE
THE SAME BILL, SOMETHING CRUEL
THAT DOES NOT VALUE HUMAN LIFE
THAT IS WRAPPED UP IN A BOW WIT
HOLLOW PROMISES THAT WILL NOT
ACTUALLY PROTECT OR IMPROVE THE
LIVELIHOOD OF THE PEOPLE YOU'RE
CLAIMING TO HELP. AS AN EARLIER
CALLER SAID, I WOULD IMPLORE YO
TO THINK ABOUT WHAT FEELING
UNSAFE VERSUS ACTUALLY BEING IN
DANGER. I THINK FURTHER CONTACT
WITH THE POLICE IS INCREDIBLY
DANGEROUS, AND YOU ARE IGNORING
THE REAL REASON PEOPLE BECOME
HOUSELESS IN THIS CITY. I YIELD
MY TIME. THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS THE LAST TESTIFIER
THAT WE ARE SEEING BOTH IN
PERSON AND ONLINE. WITH THAT, W
WILL END OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD AND MOVE INTO THE ITEMS
ON OUR AGENDA. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ IN AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER 1. AS HE IS DOING, SO
PLEASE TAKE A SEAT AT THE TABLE
THANK YOU.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, PANEL ON GAPS
IN THE SERVICES LANDSCAPE FOR
PEOPLE USING FENTANYL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CLERK
AS FOLKS ARE TAKING A SEAT AT
THE COMMITTEE TABLE, JUST A
COUPLE OF INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
BEING WITH US HERE TODAY AS
DESCRIBED THIS IS A PANEL
DISCUSSION INTENDED TO HIGHLIGH
THE GAPS IN THE DIVERSION AND
TREATMENT SERVICES LANDSCAPE FO
PEOPLE USING FENTANYL OR OTHER
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. THIS
DISCUSSION IS DESIGNED TO BE ON
A SEPARATE BUT PARALLEL AND
CRITICAL PATH TO THE SECOND ITE
ON THE AGENDA. THE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION INTENDED TO ADDRESS
THE SO-CALLED BLAKE FIX. WE HAV
SEVERAL PRESENTERS. WE'VE GOT
TEN PEOPLE PRESENTING. A TOTAL
OF 60 MINUTES ON THIS AGENDA
ITEM. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME W
ASK THAT YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF
BEFORE YOU SPEAK. NORMALLY I
WOULD HAVE DO A ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS BUT RATHER THAN
DOING THAT LET'S MOVE RIGHT INT
THE PRESENTATIONS WITH EACH
PRESENTER SPEAKING THEMSELVES -
INTRODUCING THEMSELVES BEFORE
THEY SPEAK. THE POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION WILL SHOW WHO IS
SPEAKING IS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
OUR FIRST PRESENTER IS --
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WOULD IS
ABLE TO ENGINE US BUT FIRST
FIRST PRESENTER IS UNDER THE
WEATHER AND PRESENTING
VIRTUALLY. AND REALLY APPRECIAT
THE AVAILABILITY TO PRESENT AND
TURN IT OVER TO DR. KOTARSKI.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME I
DR. CYN KOTARSKI. I USE SHE/HER
PRONOUNCE. I AM THE MEDICAL
DIRECTOR FOR PURPOSE DIGNITY
ACTIONS. I'VE HEARD A FEW PEOPL
SAY PDAL. I WANTED TO CLARIFY,
PURPOSE DIGNITY ACTIONS. AND I'
INTERIM PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOUR
THE CoLEAD PROGRAM. TODAY I JUS
WANTED TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT -- FIRST I'D LIKE TO NAME
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT CoLEAD
IS FOR THOSE WHO MAY KNOST HAVE
HEARD ABOUT IT. BUT CoLEAD IS A
ITS HEART A DIVERSION PROGRAM
THAT IS SPECIFICALLY WORKING
WITH THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO
ARE AT THE INTERSECTION OF
CRIMINAL LEGAL INVOLVEMENT,
HOMELESSNESS, AND SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER. AND OUR PROGRAM HELPS
PEOPLE COME INSIDE, AND WE WRAP
SERVICES AROUND THEM WHILE THEY
ARE WITH US IN ORDER TO HELP
THEM STABILIZE, AND THEN WITH
THAT STABILIZATION, WE WORK TO
TRY TO HELP THEM GET TO
PERMANENT HOUSING OPTIONS. SO I
THAT -- IN THE COURSE OF THAT
WORK, OUR STAFF HAS EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE SO MUCH EXPERTISE AT
THIS POINT IN REALLY RECOGNIZIN
THE GAP IN THE SERVICES
LANDSCAPE FOR PEOPLE USING
FENTANYL, WHICH IS THE TITLE OF
WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. SO I'M
JUST GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE BI
ABOUT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE
GAPS THAT WE HAVE IN HEALTHCARE
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE
NOTICED IS THAT WHEN WE SPEAK
ABOUT OPTIONS AND WHAT IT IS
THAT WE SHOULD DO OR WHAT WE AR
GOING TO DO, REFERRAL TO
TREATMENT IS ALWAYS A BIG ONE.
SPECIFICALLY, IT'S IMPERATIVE
THAT WE SIMULTANEOUSLY RECOGNIZ
THAT OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
WOEFULLY UNDERSERVES PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT I JUST NAMED, BEING
RATE AT THAT INTERSECTION OF
HOMELESSNESS AND BEING DRUG
USERS, HAVING SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER OR OTHER BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS OR MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS, ANY
COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE.
UNFORTUNATELY, ACCESSING
HEALTHCARE CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR
MOST, AND IT CAN BE NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOME OF OUR MOST
VULNERABLE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO
JUST GIVE YOU A BIT OF AN
EXAMPLE. I COULD NAME MANY. BUT
I'LL TRY TO BE A LITTLE BIT
SUCCINCT. I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU
AN EXAMPLE OF A PARTICIPANT THA
WE HAD RECENTLY WHO DESPERATELY
NEEDED SOME MEDICAL ATTENTION,
CHRONIC HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE US
AND DID NAME WANTING SOME
SUPPORT AT GETTING BETTER. WHAT
WE FOUND WITH THIS PERSON, AS H
ATTEMPTED TO GET THAT CARE HE
WAS TURNED AWAY FROM HOSPITAL.
OUR STAFF HAD TO REENGAGE HIM,
WORK WITH HIM IN ORDER TO TRY
HOSPITAL AGAIN, WHERE THEN HE
WAS TRIAGED, FORTUNATELY.
HOWEVER, AT TRIAGE, HE WAS
DENIED CARE. ON FURTHER INQUIRY
WE LEARNED THAT HE WAS DENIED
CARE ESSENTIAL OUR OPINION AT
THIS POINT IS OUT OF STIGMA,
THAT IT WAS FOR DRUG SEEKING
BEHAVIOR OR SOME OTHER ATTEMPT
AT A SECONDARY GAIN. THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART THAT I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE HERE IS WE THEN
LEARNED WHEN HE WAS FINALLY ON
THIRD ATTEMPT ADMITTED WITH
SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FROM NOT
ONLY OUR STAFF BUT INCLUDING
EVEN LEGAL SUPPORT IN ORDER TO
ENSURE THAT HE WAS SEEN AND
ADMITTED, HE WAS DETERMINED TO
BE AT END OF LIFE AND DYING.
THIS IS A PERSON WHO WAS DYING.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE THEN AGAIN WA
GOING TO BE DISCHARGED, AND WIT
NO CARE PLAN OTHER THAN A RETUR
TO STREET. CoLEAD DID INTERVENE
ONE MORE TIME, AND WE WERE
SUCCESSFUL AT BEING ABLE TO GET
HIM BACK TO HOSPITAL, SO THAT
THIS PERSON COULD, AT A MINIMUM
HAVE THE DIGNITY THAT ANY AND
ALL OF US WOULD ASK FOR WHEN WE
ARE DYING, WHICH IS TO BE
PROVIDED CARE ENOUGH TO BE
COMFORTABLE AND SAFE AND NOT
LITERALLY OUT ON THE STREET
DYING ALONE. I MAY GET A LITTLE
TRIPPED UP. I TEND TO DO THAT
WITH PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH
BECAUSE I CARE. I JUST WANTED T
SHARE THAT WITH YOU. TO REALLY
LAND TIM PACK, WHEN WE TALK
POLICY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO
AFFECT SOMEBODY'S LIFE. THESE
ARE PEOPLE. THESE ARE HUMAN
BEINGS THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT. SO I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE NAME THAT, AN
WE HONOR THAT, WHEN WE MAKE
DECISIONS. THE GAPS IN SERVICES
AS I MENTIONED, WITH HEALTHCARE
SOME OF IT IS THAT WE ARE NOT
QUITE READY WITH HEALTHCARE WIT
REGARD TO COMPREHENSIVE
TREATMENT PLANS, NOT JUST FOR
FENTANYL. I KNOW WE ARE SPEAKIN
ABOUT FENTANYL, BUT MORE
SPECIFICALLY, IT'S NOT JUST
FENTANYL. IT'S A LITTLE BIT
BROADER THAN FENTANYL IN THAT
FENTANYL IS NOT ALWAYS EVEN
ALONE IN THE SUBSTANCES BEING
USED. WE ARE REALLY FACING NEW
CLIMATE OF POLYSUBSTANCE USE OF
SYNTHETIC DRUGS. AND SO THE
TRICKY PART WITH THAT IS NOT
KNOWING WHICH SYNTHETIC DRUGS
ARE GOING TOGETHER. SOME OF YOU
MAY HAVE HEARD OF OTHER
SUBSTANCES, LIKE FENTANYL AND
XYLZENE. IT CAN BECOME
INCREDIBLY RISKY, AS I HAVE
HEARD OTHER PEOPLE MENTION WITH
THAT LIFE THREATENING RISK OF
OVERDOSE. BUT HAT EVOLVED SO
QUICKLY THAT WHILE WE HAVE SOME
EMERGING PATHS IN MEDICINE FOR
HOPE FOR TREATMENT, IT IS NOT A
PERFECT AS EVERYONE MIGHT HOPE,
RIGHT? YOU THINK YOU CAN GO IN,
YOU GET A BED, YOU GET
TREATMENT, YOU COME OUT OKAY.
WE'VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN
THAT'S NOT LIKELY TRUE FOR MOST
PEOPLE. BUT WHAT DOES WORK? WHA
WORKS -- AND I REALLY DO THINK
THAT THIS IS KNOWN, THAT WE HAV
TO TREAT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANT
OF HEALTH IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO
BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND
IT'S RARELY A SINGLE ATTEMPT.
IT'S OFTEN -- IT MAY TAKE TIME,
IT MAY TAKE REPEATED TIME. BUT
IN ENSURING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS
OF HEALTH, INCLUDING FOOD AND
HOUSING AND CONNECTION TO
COMMUNITY IS WHERE WE REALLY
FIND THAT SUCCESS FOR OUR
PARTICIPANTS. AND I THINK IT IS
THE RECIPE THAT WE ARE LOOKING
FOR. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I
JUST REALLY WANTED TO NAME THAT
AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE
THAT PROGRAMS, AS OTHER PEOPLE
HAVE SAID, PROGRAMS THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AN
HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES AS
FRUITFUL IN THE OUTCOMES THAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR, LIKE LEAD,
TAP, CoLEAD THAT WE ARE KEEPING
THESE TYPES OF SOCIAL SERVICES
IN MIND AS WE MAKE POLICY AND A
WE MOVE FORWARD IN ORDER TO MAK
THE DECISIONS TO GET THE
OUTCOMES THAT WE ARE LOOKING
FOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
INVITING ME HERE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. AND BEFORE WE MOV
ON TO THE NEXT PANELIST, JUST
LAYING OUT MY HOPES FOR
COUNCILMEMBER QUESTIONS, IF YOU
DON'T MIND, AS YOU HAVE THEM,
MAKE NOTE OF THEM, MAKE NOTE TO
WHOM YOU WANT TO DIRECT YOUR
QUESTION. IF WE COULD JUST HOLD
THE QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END THA
WELCOME BACK GREAT. ALL RIGHT.
MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PANELIST.
>> HI. IS THIS THING ON?
>> YES, IT IS.
>> MY NAME IS JOHNNY BOUSQUET.
HI, COUNCILMEMBERS AND COMMUNIT
MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME HERE. LIKE I SAID, MY
NAME IS JOHNNY BOUSQUET. I WORK
FOR PDA. CoLEAD AS A SUPPORT
SUPERVISOR. I HELP OVERSEE A
TEAM OF TALENTED CASE MANAGERS
OVERSEEING PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANC
USE DISORDER. I WITNESSED THE
HAVOC ON A DAILY BASIS, OPIATES
METH, COCAINE, AS OF THE LAST
5.5 YEARS. I AM PERSONAL
INVESTED IN THE WORK BECAUSE TH
CLIENTS I WORK WITH AND ME HAVE
HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. IN 20 14E
WAS A LOW-LEVEL DRUG DEALER THA
SOLD SMALL AMOUNTS OF DRUGS TO
SUPPORT MY HABIT. I WAS ARRESTE
IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AFTER
SELLING $40 WORTH OF CRACK TO A
OVERCONDER PLOVER AND WAS ACCEP
INTEED THE LADY PRACTICE.
INSTEAD OF GOING TO JAIL I WAS
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET MY
LIFE BACK ON TRACK. I UTILIZED
THE SUPPORT REGAINING MY
INDEPENDENCE AND ADDRESSING THE
BARRIERS THAT KEPT ME FROM
DOING. SO NOW I WORK FOR THE OR
THAT HELPED SAVE MY LIFE. HOW
CAN WE AS A COMMUNITY HELP
PEOPLE IN THIS POPULATION? OUR
COMMUNITY, OUR BROTHERS, OUR
SISTERS, OUR SONS, DAUGHTERS,
OUR FRIENDS, OUR RELATIVES, WE
CAN MEAT THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT
WE CAN HELP THEM IDENTIFY THE
BARRIERS AND HAVE THE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO HELP
THEM BECAUSE WE CAN SAY WHAT TH
PROBLEM IS ALL DAY BUT IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BACK IT
AND THE PLACES TO BE ABLE TO DO
THIS THING, THEN HOW ARE WE
GOING TO DO THIS THING? MANY
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO
CONNECT THEM TO THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED IN ORDER TO REDUCE
RECIDIVISM AND ACCESS TO RESORT
THAT CAN SAVE AND CHANGE LIVES.
AS OF NOW THE NEED FAR EXCEEDS
THE RESOURCES VEIL FAN. WE ARE
REALLY GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE WE HAVE TO MAKE IT
EASIER TO ADDRESS THE
DISPARITIES WHEN ACCESS
RESOURCES IN COMPARISON TO
PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HOMELESS.
RIGHT NOW CoLEAD IS ONLY ABLE T
SEVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE
IN A TEMPORARY LODGING SETTING,
GIVING THEM ACCESS TO
WRAP-AROUND CARE WHEN THERE ARE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, OUR
COMMUNITY, BROTHERS, SISTERS,
YOU KNOW CAMS, AUNTS, LITERALLY
DYING. NOBODY SAYS WANT TO GROW
UP AND BE HOMELESS, HOOKED ON
DRUGS, SELLING MY BODY TO MEET
MY BASIC NEEDS LIKE FOOD,
SHELTER, YOU KNOW THAT KIND OF
STUFF. HOW DO YOU EXPECT
SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO PULL
THEIR BOOTSTRAPS UP WHEN THEY
DON'T HAVE A FLIES LAY THEIR
HEAD, WHEN THEY GET TREATED LIK
CRAP AT THE HOSPITAL, WHEN
THEY'RE DYING AND THEY'RE BEING
TREATED LIKE THEY'RE SEEKING
DRUGS? HOW DO PEOPLE COME BACK
FROM THAT? WELL, THE ANSWER IS
CONNECTION. THE OPPOSITE OF
HOMELESSNESS IS CONNECTION, AND
WE NEED THOSE CONNECTIONS. THE
HOUSING FIRST MODEL SUPPORTS
THIS TRAN SANGS WAY THAT MAKES
IT DOABLE. HAVING A STEADY PLAC
TO LAY YOUR HEAD GIVES PEOPLE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME STABL
AND ACCESS THE RESOURCES THAT
SUPPORT STABILITY AND REDUCE
RESID VISIT. AS SOON AS
PARTICIPANTS ARE PLACED INTO CO
LADY LODGING CASE MANAGERS STAR
TO CONNECT. IN THE TWO YEARS,
I'VE SEEN COUNTLESS PEOPLE
COLLABORATE WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM
CASE MANAGERS, OTHER STAFF TO
HELP RESOLVE LEGAL ISSUES, GET
STARTED ON TREATMENT AND
TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT
HOUSING. I BELIEVE SOME OF THES
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DIED WITHOUT
OUR SUPPORT. SOME MAY HAVE
ESCALATED ON THEIR TRAJECTORY O
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND COMMITTED
EVEN MORE SERIOUS CRIMES. HOW D
I KNOW? BECAUSE THEY TOLD THUS
PROGRAM SAVED MY LIFE. WHY DYE
BELIEVE IT? BECAUSE I AM THEM I
A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, THE LEAD
PROGRAM SAVED AND CHANGED MY
LIFE, BECAUSE I GOT
OPPORTUNITIES THAT I DIDN'T GET
BEFORE. CoLEAD HAS PURCHASED A
LOT OF PHONES FOR OUR
PARTICIPANTS TO UTILIZE TO RUN
DOORDASH AND OTHER APPS LIKE
THAT TO GAIN TEMPORARY LEGAL
EMPLOYMENT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
COMMITTING CRIMES. PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS HAVE COME TO ME ON
NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND SAID, I
HAVEN'T SHOPLIFTED SINCE YOU
GUYS GOT ME THIS PHONE. MANY OF
THE PEOPLE WE SERVE HAVE VERY
SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH
AS HIV AND HEPATITIS C AND WON'
GO TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE OF THE
WAY THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED
BECAUSE THEY ARE HOMELESS AND
THEY DO DRUGS. WHEN TRYING TO
NAVIGATE THIS POPULATION FACES
WHEN TRYING TO ACCESS HEALTH
CONCERNS, HAVING A FARES
ADVOCATE LIKE A CASE MANAGER,
AND SOMETIMES EVEN A LAWYER CAN
LITERALLY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND
GREATLY IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THI
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS ON A SCALE
THAT IS OUR REALITY. IT DIDN'T
HAPPEN OVERNIGHT OR WITHOUT
COMPANY. IT WON'T GO AWAY
OVERNIGHT AND WITHOUT COST. WE
ARE DEFINITELY -- WE NEED TO
HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO MAKE THESE THINGS
ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. PARTNERSHIPS. THE
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE CASE
MANAGERS, LEAD LEGAL TEAM AND
PROSECUTORIAL LIAISONS FUNCTION
AS A SINGLE UNIT AND ARE
COMMITTED TO KEEPING OUR
COMMUNITY SAFE, REDAWGS HARM TO
THE PEOPLE COMMITTING THE CRIME
AND GIVING THEM ACCESS TO THE
KIND OF SUPPORT THAT PROMOTES
STABILITY AND REDUCES
RECIDIVISM. THEY MEET PEOPLE
WHERE THEY ARE AT SEEKING
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AND
ALTERNATIVES TO ARREST. WE KNOW
FROM THE LAST 40 YEARS THAT
WE'RE NOT GOING ARREST OUR WAY
OUT OF THIS. IT IS COSTING, I
DON'T KNOW, AT LEAST BILLION, I
WOULD IMAGINE, ON A NATIONAL
SCALE. DEFINITELY TIME TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT. FIRST, FOR
SOME PEOPLE -- SORRY.
>> YOUARY DOING GREAT.
>> HOW DO THEY DO THIS? THEY
MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. A
FOR SOME PEOPLE THIS MIGHT LOOK
LIKE HAVING A PERSON DIAGNOSED
WITH SEVERE PTSD THAT SMOKES
WEED GO TO A DOCTOR TO GET A
MEDICAL MARIJUANA COURT TO PRO
BIGS THE COURT FOR THEIR
PROBATION TO BE AMENDED TO ALLO
THIS AND THEREFORE NOT EVER
GETTING ANOTHER VIOLATION FOR
WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR MEDICIN
CABINET. I CAN GO ON AND ON WIT
EXAMPLES BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE
ARE BRILLIANT AND ARE FOREVER
COMING UP WITH NONTRADITIONAL
SOLUTIONS TO TRADITIONAL
PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME HERE. SIX YEARS AGO I WAS
HOMELESS, WALKING AROUND
DOWNTOWN, RUNNING INTO TARGET,
STEALING STUFF, NOT PAYING
TAXES, AND COSTING THE SYSTEM A
WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY. BUT
BECAUSE SOMEBODY GAVE ME A SHOT
INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SEND ME TO
JILL OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHICH
DID NOT WORK FOR THE 30 PLUS
YEARS THAT I WAS IN AND OUT OF
JAIL, I'M HERE TODAY AND I'M
ABLE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND I
TURN HELP MYSELF IN -- THAT'S
MAKING THE COMMUNITY BERT. SO
OTHER PEOPLE NEED THAT SHOT. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, JOHNNY.
>> DO I NEED TO PUSH ANYTHING O
CAN CALL HEAR ME? HELLO,
EVERYNGUYEN. MY NAME IS FEBBEN
FEKADU. I WORK AT REACH AS THE
HOUSING DIRECTOR. AS WE ALL KNO
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT. THE
WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATION CAN'T ACCESS HOUSING
WITH AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS WE
KNOW AND HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US
THAT OUR JAILS WILL BE USED AS
TOOL TO DISAPPEAR FOLKS THROUGH
A TEMPORARY, HARMFUL MANNER.
TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS WHO LIVE
OUTSIDE. LET'S BE CLEAR THAT
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO USE
DRUGS WHO WON'T BE SURVEILLANCE
IN THE SAME WAY BECAUSE THEY
HAVE A HOME. FIRST, WE NEED TO
BRING PEOPLE WHO ARE USING DRUG
INSIDE. LET'S EXPAND A HEALTH
HUB MODEL THAT OFFERS PEOPLE
SAFE SPACES AND VARIOUS
NEIGHBORHOODS COME TO INSIDE AN
ACCESS CARE AND SUPPORT FOR
HOUSING AND TREATMENT
NAVIGATION. LET'S EXPAND ACCESS
TO ENHANCED SHELTER MOLDS LIKE
THE ALOHA AND CoLEAD WHO OFFER
TREMENDOUS STABILIZATION SUPPOR
TO PEOPLE COMING IN OFF THE
STREETS. NEXT, EXPAND HOUSING
FOR PEOPLE MATCHED P TO THEIR
CONTINUE YOU WONDERFUL OF NEED.
WE NEED MORE TRANSITIONAL HOUSE
RECOVERY HOUSING. WE NEED
ADDITIONAL PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING. WE ALSO NEED TO RAMP U
SERVICES EMBEDDED WITHIN
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSE SUCH
AS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, NURSIN
SUPPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT. LET'S REDUCE BARRIERS
TO ACCESSING GROUP HOME,
ASSISTED LIVING FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT YET IN ACTIVE RECOVERY.
INCREASE INVESTMENT -- EXCUSE
ME, INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN
IN-HOME-CARE, CURRENTLY DSHS
CONTRACTED PROVIDERS OFTEN STEP
OUT OF THE WORK WHEN IT COMES T
SERVING FOLKS. REACH HAS HAD TO
REDUCE OUR CASELOAD TO
COMPENSATE FOR THE LACK OF
AVAILABLE HARM REDUCTION
ORIENTED IN-HOME-CARE, OFTEN DU
TO COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT,
SUBSTANCE USE, OR ALL OF THE
ABOVE. MANY OF THOSE WE SEVEN
WHO ARE MOST FREQUENTLY ARRESTE
HE WOULD BENEFIT FROM MORE
INTENSIVE ON-SITE SUPPORT. WE
ARE IN DESPERATE NEED FOR GROUP
HOMES OR ASSISTED LIVING-TYPE
HOUSING MODELS THAT ARE TAILORE
TO THE NEEDS OF DRUG USERS AND
INVITE PEOPLE IN, EVEN IF NOT
YET AN ACTIVE RECOVERY. EVEN
THOSE WHAT DO NOT MEET SOBRIETY
AND INCOME LEVEL REQUIREMENTS
THE CURRENT PROCESS FOR
ACCESSING SUCH SERVICES IS
LENGTHY AND COMPLEX WITH ACCESS
LIMITED TO THOSE WHO ARE SOBER
AND ENSURED. WITH WAIT LISTS
THAT ARE SOMETIMES YEARS LONG.
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IS HIGH
AMONG THOSE FREQUENTLY ARRESTED
AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED OR NOT
CONSIDERED THROUGHOUT LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS. THE JAIL DOES NOT
TEST FOR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.
AMONG FAMILIAR FACE CLIENT
FREQUENTLY ARRESTED WHO HAVE
BEEN EVALUATED FOR COGNITIVE
IMPAIRMENT MOST RANGE WITHIN TH
MODERATE IMPAIRMENT CATEGORY
WHICH INDICATES A NEED FOR
INTENSIVE SUPPORT THAT IS
LARGELY UNAVAILABLE AND
INACCESSIBLE IN KING. 24-ARE
HOUR SUPERVISION AND STRUCTURED
LIVING ENVIRONMENTS TO ENSURE
SAFETY, IDENTIFY AND REMOVE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OBJECTS
AND ASSIST WITH PROBLEM AM.
HIGHER LEVEL LIVING SKILLS
REQUIRE ABSTRACT ROPING OR
PREPLANNING SUCH AS MANAGING
MEDICATION, MONEY, ORGANIZING
TIME AND MAINTAINING HEALTH
SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY ANOTHER
PERSON. SOME OTHER POINTS I
WOULD LIKE TO QUICKLY MENTION.
THERE IS A HIGH BAR FOR HOUSING
THE ID REQUIREMENTS FOR HOUSING
AUTHORITY SUCH AS OBTAINING
STATE ISSUED IDs AND SOCIAL
SECURITY CARD AND BENEFITS ARE
VERY LABOR INTENSIVE AND --
INCARCERATION SEES PEOPLE
OTHERWISE LIVING ON THE STREET
INELIGIBLE FOR RESOURCES AS THE
ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED
HOMELESS BY HUD'S DEFINITION OF
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> APPRECIATE YOU IDENTIFYING
SPECIFIC HOUSING BARRIERS AS
WELL.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS -- BRANDIE
FLOOD. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNITY JUSTICE AT EVERGREEN
TREATMENT SERVICES REACH. I
DIRECT OUR LEAD PROGRAM REENTRY
AND OUR RECOVERY NAVIGATOR THAT
HELPS US EXPAND LEAD. I KNOW YO
GUYS HAVE HEARD IT A LOT. I GOT
TO SAY IT AGAIN. WE KNOW THE WA
ON DRUGS HAS NEVER HELPED
ANYBODY. IT'S BEEN A VICIOUS
CYCLE OF PUTTING PEOPLE IN AND
OUT OF THE JILLS OVER AND OVER.
THAT SYSTEM FAILS TO CHANGE
BEHAVIORS OR MEET THE BASIC
NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS. WE HAVE BEEN HERE
MANY TIMES BEFORE BY DIFFERENT
POACH. ONE-THIRD OF PEOPLE
WITHIN WASHINGTON STATE PRISONS
RETURN TO PRISON WITHIN THREE
YEARS. JOHNNY BOUSQUET EL LO
KEPTLY TALKED ABOUT THAT FROM
THE HEART. THE TRAUMA PEOPLE
EXPERIENCE DURING INCARCERATION
SHOULD NOT BE UNDERSTAYED.
PRISONS AND JAILS EXPOSE PEOPLE
TO VIOLENCE AND ARE INTENDED TO
PUNISH, ISOLATE, AND IMPEDE
PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR
THEMSELVES. WE KNOW THIS
FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENT OF JAIL,
CORE DRIVERS OF VIOLENCE . 2019
UTILIZES THIS REPORT. LOCALLY
YOU MADE IT CLEAR THAT REPEAT
OFFENSES AND INCARCERATION DOES
NOT WORK. THIS PUBLIC ORDINANCE
WILL NOT HELP PEOPLE CHANGE
HARMFUL BEHAVIOR BY FORCING THE
INTO A HARMFUL PLACE OVER AND
OVER. WE CANNOT TREAT HARM WITH
HARM. SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOU
OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
FOR ARRESTS RELATED TO DRUG
POSSESSION, PARTICULARLY FOR
PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL
ILLNESS. THIS IS AN AREA THAT
LEAD/CoLEAD REACH IN PARTICULAR
ARE DEALING WITH IN OUR.
POPULATION THAT IS VERY
DIFFICULT TO SERVE. NOT A LOT O
ADEQUATE RESOURCES. AROUND 2% O
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS
HAVE BOTH MENTAL ILLNESS AND
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ABOUT
17% OF PEOPLE IN JAIL HAVE
SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, MORE OF
THEM ALSO HAVE CORE SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDERS. FOR PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL. HIGHE
RISK OF MULTIPLE INCARCERATIONS
AND THEN LASTLY, PEOPLE WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS ARE MORE LIKELY
TO BE INCARCERATED FOR HAVE --
THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE
APPROVED FOR PROBATION OR
PAROLE. FORM. I THROW ALL THOS
STATS IN THERE TO TALK ABOUT
THIS LIFE OF THE POPULATION THA
WE'RE EXPERIENCING, OF MEN IN
PARTICULAR. IF WE ARE GOING TO
DIVERT WE HAVE TO DIVERT TO
RESOURCES THAT ARE BUILT WITH
THE EQUITY LENS. YOU HAVE TO
HELP THE MOST MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE. WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH A
GROUP OF MEN THAT HAVE DRUG
ISSUES. GENERATIONAL SUBSTANCE
ABUSE AND INCARCERATION, THEIR
OWN INCARCERATION, LONG-TERM
INCARS RAY, HISTORY OF SEXUAL
TRAUMA, EXTREME BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH ISSUES. THESE MEN
TYPICALLY HAVE A TRAUMA RESPONS
A. HOW THAT TRAUMA IMPACT THEM.
THOSE ARE UNACCEPTABLE IN OUR
SOCIETY. ANGER AND RAGE IS
UNACCEPTABLE. MOST ORGANIZATION
HERE HAVE BARRED SOME OF THESE
MEN FROM SERVICES DUE TO THEIR.
IF WE'RE GOING TO TIE SPHRERLS
-- TO SUPPORT THE STAFF, SOME O
THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN
OUR CITY. A LOT OF THESE MEN IN
PARTICULAR ARE BLACK AND BROWN
MEN AND A LOT OF OUR VETERANS
WHAT FROM BEING INCARCERATED FO
SO MANY YEARS OR SERVING IN THE
MILITARY AND BEING INCARCERATED
THEIR MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR TURN
OUT TO BE VIOLENCE AND RANGE
WHEN RESPONDING TO DAILY
TRIGGERS. I HAVE BUT IN DEEP
CONVERSATION WITH MICHELLE
CONLEY, DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED
CARE AT REACH, TARA, AND
SHIVONA. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY AS
SOMETIMES CoLEAD AND LEAD IS
THEIR LAST. PROFOUND EXAMPLED -
SHE MIGHT CUT HERSELF. IT LOOKS
DIFFERENT. THESE MEN HAVE
EXPERIENCED SAME TRAUMAS BUT
THEY ARE MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR
COMES OUT IN RAGE AND VIOLENCE.
THESE ARE THE THINGS SEEN ON TH
STREET. WE NEED TO INVEST IN DI
VERSIONS AND OTHER HOMELESS
SERVICES PROGRAMS WITH THEACT
LENS THAT IS WELL RESOURCED AND
MANAGED IN A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR
FORM -- LEAD PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
TALKED ABOUT NOT WAITING UNTIL
THE LAST RESORT TO HELP SOME OF
THESE BLACK AND BROWN MEN. THEY
ARE REFERRED TO US AFTER BEING
SKIPPED OUT ON EVERY OTHER
PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY ARE A
VIOLENT CREDIT IS IN JAIL. THEY
HAVE SO MANY POINTS THAT OUR
PROSECUTORS DON'T WANT TO WORK
WITH THEM. THEIR TRAUMA AND
CRIMINAL HISTORY IS SO PROFOUND
THAT WE CAN'T FIND A LOT OF
SERVICES TO WORK WITH THEM AND
SO WE NEED TO CREATE THESE
RESOURCES FOR THE MOST
MARGINALIZED FOLKS IN THIS
GROUP. IT TOOK SEVERAL YEARS FO
THIS HARM TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOIN
TO TAKE SELF YEARS AND
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO GET
THEM BACK ON TRACK. SO WE KNOW
WHAT WORKS. HOUSING AND
NAVIGATION, ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE, TREATMENT LINKAGE,
ACCESS TO INCOME AND BENEFITS.
LIKE JOHNNY SAID. I'M AN. WE
HAVE TO GET PEOPLE MEANINGFUL
EMPLOYMENT IF THEY ARE GOING TO
MAKE CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE MODELS THAT WORK.
RESULTS FROM THE KING COUNTY
EVALUATION OF THE SPHOCH. 60% O
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS REDUCE
THEIR NUMBER OF EMERGENCY ROOM
VISITS. WHY HAVE WE NOT SCALED
UP PROGRAMS SUCH AS VITAL TO DO
THIS WORK? WHY IS IT STILL A
PALE PHRASE WHICH POLL. THERE'
NO WHERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO POST
OVERDOSE. THAT'S RIDICULOUS IN
CITY THAT IS THIS RICH. THINKIN
ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE FOR
DIVERSION YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE
IT'S WELL RESOURCED, PROGRAMS
ARE SCALED UP, COMPREHENSIVE,
EQUITY LENS WHEN SERVING THE
MOST MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WITHIN
THAT POPULATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
COUNCILMEMBERS, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF WDC AND THE TAP PROJECT. MY
NAME IS DWAYNE TRAHAN. I'M A
SUPERVISOR FOR WE DELIVER CARE
IN THE TAP PROJECT. WHAT WE HAV
FOUND WDC IS THAT CONSISTENCY
AND LOVE WITH THESE PARTICIPANT
AND HUMAN BEINGS IS ONE OF THE
BEST THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN IN
MY LIFE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE
PEOPLE THINK THAT EVERYBODY'S
GIVEN UP ON THEM. AND WE'RE
BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE CALL
OURSELVES TRULY THE FIRST
RESPONDERS, THIRD AVENUE
SUPERHEROES. THESE PEOPLE HAVE
LOST THEIR WAY. THESE DRUGS TAK
AWAY YOUR HUMANITY. AND THEY
JUST LOSE ALL SIGHT OF LIFE, AN
ALL THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS
CHASE AGO HIGH OR REALLY JUST
CHASING A HIGH. WDC IS DOWN
THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 16
HOURS A DAY. THE ONLY TIME WE'R
NOT DOWN THERE IS IN THE
LATE-NIGHT HOURS. SOME OF THE
SUCCESSES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH W
D.C. THUS FAR SINCE LAST
SEPTEMBER, OR NOVEMBER, I THINK
WE WENT OFFICIAL ON THE GROUND,
WE HAVE OVERTURNED 100 LIVES.
THAT'S 100 PEOPLE THAT WOULD
HAVE BEEN IN THE GRAVESITE BUT
WE REVIVED THEM TO GO BACK HOME
OR TO WALKING A GIN OR BREATHIN
A GAIN. WE HAVE HAD EIGHT PEOPL
THUS FAR INTO DETOX. WE REALLY
JUST GOT THE DETOX RESOURCES
REALLY DOWN IN HERE LATELY. WE
HAVE GOTTEN 17 PEOPLE HOUSED
THROUGH CoLEAD BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE, AS SHE SAID, WE GET THE
BOTTOM OF THE BARREL PEOPLE, TH
PEOPLE WHO NOBODY -- EVERYBODY
HAS GIVEN UP ON. AND BY THE TIM
THEY GET TO -- BY THE TIME WE'R
GETTING TO THEM, IT'S THE LAST
RESULT FOR THEM. WE CONTINUE TO
LOVE ON THESE PEOPLE AND SHOW
THEM THAT THEY CARE. WE'RE ABLE
TO DO THINGS WITH THE LOVE AND
CONSISTENCY THAT THEY SHOW,
WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE PEOPLE. WE'R
ABLE TO DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS
WITH A CIGARETTE AND A SNACK
PACK, SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE. BU
BECAUSE THEY RESPECT US AND THE
SEE US EVERY DAY, THEY LISTEN T
US. WE'RE ABLE -- IF WE'RE IN
THE AREA WE'RE ABLE TO DIVERT A
LOT OF THINGS FROM HAPPENING
DOWNTOWN. WE'VE ALSO HAD
SUCCESS WITH RECONNECTING PEOPL
WITH THEIR FAMILIES, MISSING
PEOPLE, FAMILIES COMING FROM OU
OF TOWN AND SEEING A GRAY VEST
AND ASKING WHRAWS WE DO. WE TEL
THEM WHAT WE DO AND WE'VE HAD
SUCCESSES OF GETTING PEOPLE
CONNECTED BACK WITH THEIR LIVES
BUT THE THING THAT WE WOULD
NEED, WDC WOULD NEED, AND I'M
PRETTY SURE EVERYBODY AT THIS
TABLE WOULD AGREE WITH ME, THE
LACK OF SERVICES OF GETTING
THESE PEOPLE CONNECTED INTO
HOUSING IS JUST A LOT OF RED
TAPE, LOT OF RED TAPE. WHEN
THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT HERE IN
THESE STREETS, SOME PEOPLE SEVE
YEARS, FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, 1
YEARS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND. THEY'RE
GOING TO HAVE IT ALL BECAUSE
THEIR LIFE IS IN THE STREETS.
IT'S SEW HARD AND DISAPPOINTING
TO TELL SOMEONE, YOU GOT DENIED
BECAUSE YOU HAD THIS. IT'S
ALMOST LIKE HAVING A FAMILY
MEMBER AND YOU'VE GOT DEAL WITH
THEIR TRAUMA BECAUSE YOU ARE
DOWN HERE WITH THEM EVERY DAY
AND YOU KNOW THEIR HEART IS
REALLY GOOD BUCK CAN OPEN UP TO
SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AND THEY
OPEN UP TO YOU AND THESE ARE
REALLY PEOPLE. THEY HAVE REAL
STORIES AND REAL POWERFUL MINDS
BUT THEY'RE JUST ADDICTED. WE
NEED THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES.
WE NEED WHAT WE CAN GET. WDC HA
PROVED THAT THIS THING CAN WORK
ALONG WITH ALL THESE OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS SITTING AT THIS
TABLE. THIS THING CAN WORK. WE
JUST NEED WHAT WE NEED FOR IT T
WORK. I'M NOT A LONG TALKER.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I CAN
SAY. ALL I CAN SAY IS I WAS A
PART OF THE PROBLEM BACK IN THE
'90s. I SOLD DRUGS IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE. I WENT INTO DRUG COURT
AND I SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
DRUG COURT BECAUSE I'M LIKE HIM
I WAS MADE UP IN MY MIND THAT I
COULDN'T SELL DRUGS BECAUSE I'M
TEARING THE UP MY COMMUNITY. I
LEFT HERE AND WENT TO TENNESSEE
FOR 17 YEARS AND I CHANGED MY
WHOLE LIFE. I HAD TO SNATCH
MYSELF UP OUT OF THE SITUATION.
BUT ALL THESE PEOPLE, THEY CAN'
SNATCH THEMSELVES OUT OF THE
SITUATION. THEY NEED THEIR
CRUTCH, THEY NEED US, EVERY
SINGLE ORGANIZATION AT THIS
TABLE TO BE ABLE TO BE FUNDED S
WE CAN GET THEM TO THE PLACES
THEY NEED TO BE. THAT'S ALL. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY
NAME IS DAMPER, PRONOUN HE/HIM.
WE SEEK TO BRING POLITICAL POWE
TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY HIV, THE WAR O
DRUGS, HOMELESSNESS, MASS
INCARCERATION -- ACTUALLY,
THAT'S WHAT I GOT. I KNEW THERE
WAS MORE. AS WE TALK ABOUT
COMMUNITY -- AS WE TALK ABOUT
COMMUNITY, I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL AND
COMMUNITY KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT
PARTNERSHIPS ARE THROUGH THIS
FIGHT AND THAT WE ARE IN A FIGH
TO SAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WHEN YOU HEAR OF VOCAL, PLEASE
THINK OF CoLEAD. WE ALL WORK IN
THE SAME SPACE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY TO
GIVE ACCESS. ONE OF THE MAIN
THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO AT
VOCAL IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE ENGAGING WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHY THEY ARE
GOING INTO SOME OF THESE SITES.
WHEN WE SAY GO IN THERE AS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, LET'S NOT
JUST TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLICIES
THAT ARE COMING IN HERE THAT AR
IMPACTING IT. WHAT WE DO IN
TURN, WE BRING IN THOSE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THEIR
DISTRICT, YOU ARE ALL INVITED
THERE, TO COME AND TALK TO THEM
ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE. WHAT THEY
SEE THE COMMUNITY COMPASS LOOKS
LIKE FOR THEM. P SINCE WE HAVE
BUT IN THERE WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD
100 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MEETINGS AND LISTENING SESSIONS
AT THE CoLEAD SITES AS WELL AS
TREEHOUSE, SOME OF THOSE BASES
WHERE PEOPLE ARE NEWLY
DISPLACED. WE'VE HAD AT LEAST
TEN CANDIDATE FORUMS. WE'LL SEE
YOU IN NOVEMBER. BUT WE HAD TEN
CANDIDATE FORUMS. A LOT OF THOS
QUESTIONS WERE CURATED BY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE LIVED
EXPERIENCE. WE'VE ALSO DONE TWO
ROUNDS OF KING COUNTY RESEARCH
ABOUT IMPACTED POLICIES THAT
IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT WE
ALSO DO IS WELLS COMPENSATE
THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE
THEY ARE EXPERTS. WE COMPENSATE
THEM FOR THEIR TIME. I AM THE
PROGRAM MANAGER OBJECT DRUG USE
I WOULD TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME
AND TALK MORE ABOUT IT BUT WE
ACTUALLY AFTER REPRESENTATIVE
HERE TODAY THAT WILL TALK ABOUT
SO I WILL PATS OFF TO RACHEL. I
DO WANT TO SAY TO MEMBER LEWIS
AND HERBOLD, TWO YEARS AGO WE
HAVE SEEN WHAT THE FENTANYL
CRISIS WAS DOING. WE HAVE SEEN
IT HAPPENING. WE KNEW IT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN. ALONG WITH THE
AND OTHER PEOPLE OF LIVED
EXPERIENCE, ALONG WITH OTHER
CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES,
ALONG WITH OTHER STATE
REPRESENTIVES, THE FIRST OF ITS
KIND, WE CREATED THE OPIOID
EMERGENCY INNOVATIVE RECOVERY
TASK FORCE, WHERE WE WERE ABLE
TO GIVE OUT EXECUTIVE
RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND HOUSING,
ACCESS TO CARE, TREATMENT, WHIC
WE DON'T TALK ABOUT, AND STILL
WE ARE HERE. I HOPE THAT WHEN
PEOPLE DO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE
THOUGHT OF TWO YEARS AGO, AND I
WANT TO THANK Y'ALL, BECAUSE
THIS IS STILL A PART OF THE
COMMUNITY COMPASS. WE ARE
ALREADY PUSHING THAT OUT WITH
SOME OF THE PEOPLE. HERE'S A
REPRESENTATIVE. I GIVE YOU MY
FRIEND RACHEL.
>> MY NAME IS RACHEL AND I'M A
MEMBER OF SEDU AND VOCAL-WA. I'
A PERSON WHO CAME FROM A BROKEN
FAMILY WITH NO SUPPORT FROM
RELATIVE. I HAVE USED SUB
STAINSZ A WAY THAT WAS NECESSAR
TO SURVIVE THE TRAUMA THAT I
EXPERIENCED AFTER MY WHOLE WORL
CRUMBLED AFTER I WAS INVOLVED I
A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCESS AS A
RESULT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I
WAS LEFT WITH A BROKEN ARM, LEG
PELVIS, AND WRIST. I HAD TO HAV
HARDWARE PUT IN MY ARM. I HAVE
CHAIN HOLDING MY PELVIS
TOGETHER. I WAS UNABLE TO WALK
WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. I FELT
JUDGED BY THE HOSPITAL STAFF,
BECAUSE OF MY HISTORY WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WHEN I WAS
DISCHARGED I WAS TOLD I COULD
RECOVER AT A FAMILY MEMBER'S
HOUSE, ONLY TO HAVE THEM THROW
ME OUT TIN DEAD OF WINTER IN
FREEZING TEMPERATURES, FORCED T
TAKE ALL MY WORLDLY POSSESSIONS
IN FIVE SUITCASES I COULD BAREL
CARRY WITH NO CAR, NO PHONE, NO
SURE WHERE I WAS GOING. I FELT
SO MUCH SHAME AND I NEVER HAD
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS BEFORE
I LOST ALL MY POSSESSIONS THE
FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS AND I WAS
SO TRAUMATIZED I DIDN'T SLEEP
FOR WEEKS. LIFE ON THE STREETS
WAS VERY UNSAFE AND DEGRADING.
HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF VIOLENT
ROBBERY IN WHICH MY NOSE WAS
BROKEN SO BADLY THAT IT REQUIRE
PLASTIC SURGERY SO I COULD
BREATHE PROPERLY. I WAS SEXUALL
ASSAULTED, TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF
AND I HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED, BEIN
SO VULNERABLE ON THE STREETS,
EMBARRASSED AND AFRAID TO ASK
ANYONE FOR HELP. WHAT TURNED MY
LIFE AROUND WAS LEAD AND CoLEAD
WHO TREATED ME WITH KINDNESS AN
UNDERSTANDING, DIDN'T JUDGE ME.
THEY WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE I HA
ENCOUNTERED WHO HAD EMPATHY, WH
WERE WILLING TO HELP ME IT WAS
THE FIRST PLACE I FELT SAFE
AFTER FOUR YEARS OF STRUGGLING
GOING PLACE TO PLACE. IT WAS SO
NICE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT . I HAD
MY ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMA SURGEON
TELL ME THAT MY ARM WAS A
COSMETIC PROCEDURE AND SO HAVIN
SOMEBODY TO ATTEND MY MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS AND TO TRY TO GET
MY SURGERY SCHEDULED MEANS A LO
TO ME. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET
AWAY FROM THE PERSON WHO WAS
ABUSING ME. IT HAS BEEN GREAT T
INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
POSITIVE INFLUENCES, STRIVE TO
BE A BETTER PERSON AS I BEGIN
THE LONG, HARD JOURNEY OF
RECOVERY AND TRANSITIONING INTO
BECOMING A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF
SOCIETY. THE PEOPLE FROM SEDU
HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND MAY
LIFE IS BETTER NOW. I AM TREATE
LIKE A PERSON WITH VALUE. I
DON'T HAVE TO DEGRADE MYSELF TO
GET MY MOST BASIC NEEDS MET. I'
THANKLIFUL THEY WERE AROUND.
WITHOUT THEM I DON'T KNOW WHERE
I WOULD BE. I'M INVOLVED IN
VOCAL-WA AND I HAVE FOUND MY
VOICE TO BE ABLE TO ADD VIEW
KAY. PLEASE SUPPORT PROGRAMS
THAT WORK. IT SAVED MY LIFE.
THANK YOU.
>> IN CLOSING, THAT'S JUST A
PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW A COMMUNIT
COMPASS CAN WORK. ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE CoLEAD, THE LEAD PROGRAM
AND VOCAL. IT'S MORE THAN JUST
PUTTING THEM INTO A SPACE WHERE
THEY GET HOUSED. IT'S MAKING
SURE THAT THEY HAVE A FULL-ON
WRAP-AROUND ACCESS TO CASE,
ACCESS TO COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE
JUST SEEN RACHEL.
>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT
JAIL? I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS
THAT GO TO JILL ALL THE TIME. A
JAIL IS JUST A PLACE WHERE THEY
LEARN TO COMMIT CRIMES AND GET
AWAY WITH IT. THEY BASICALLY --
IT'S LIKE -- EVERY FRIEND I HAV
EVER HAD THAT GONE TO JAIL COME
OUT A BETTER CRIMINAL AND MORE
ANGRY. IT'S NOT GOOD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. M
NAME IS JON EHRENFELD. I'M THE
PROGRAM MANAGER FOR MOBILE
INTEGRATED HEALTH OF THE SEATTL
FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE SERVE
GENERALLY UNDERSERVED AND
VULNERABLE ADULTS THROUGHOUT TH
CITY OF SEATTLE WITH A PRIMARY
FOCUS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,
HOMELESSNESS, AGING IN PLACE,
SIMILAR CONDITIONS. WE OPERATE
OUR HEALTH ONE MOBILE RESPONSE
UNIT AND WITHIN THE LAST MONTH
HAVE PILOTED A NEW OVERDOSE
RESPONSEAND FOLLOW-UP TEAM THAT
IS DOING, RESPONDING TO PEOPLE
WHO HAD AN OVERDOSE. I WAS ASKE
TO JOIN THIS PANEL TODAY TO TAL
BRIEFLY ABOUT SOME OF THE GAPS
AND BARRIERS THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING IN OUR ROLE AS SOR
OF AN EMERGENCY SERVICE FIELD.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CURATED
LIST. I WILL FOCUS ON A COUPLE
OF ITEMS RIGHT NOW. AS OF THIS
WEEK WE ARE IN SEATTLE FAIR
RESPONDING TO APPROXIMATELY 110
OVERDOSES PER WEEK OR OVERDOSE
RELATED CALLS PER WEEK. THOSE
ARE JUST THE ONES THAT WE'RE
AWARE OF. THE VOLUME RIGHT NOW
IS OVERWHELMING. WE ARE MANY
TIMES HIGHER THAN WE WERE AT
THIS POINT SEVERAL YEARS AGO SO
THAT THE VOLUME IS HUGE, IT'S
CRUSHING. IT IS CREATING A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS AND
BURNOUT FOR OBVIOUSLY THE CLIEN
AND THE PATIENTS FIRST AND
FOREMOST BUT EVERYONE IN THE
RESPONSE ECOSYSTEM RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE OF THE GAPS. SPECIFIC T
FENTANYL, JUST FOR SORT OF
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, FENTANYL
IS GENERALLY METABOLIZED VERY
RAPIDLY. IN AND OUT OF THE
BLOODSTREAM VERY QUICKLY. IT
CREATES A CYCLE WHERE PEOPLE
WILL FEEL THEY ARE GOING INTO
WITHDRAWAL MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY
SO THEY HAVE TO USING A GAIN.
PEOPLE WHAT ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATE
OFTEN CAN'T ACCOMPLISH THAT
BECAUSE OF HOW QUICKLY THEY ARE
GETTING THAT HORRIBLE FEELING
AGAIN AND HAVE TO KEEP USING. I
CREATES THIS PERNICIOUS CYCLE.
AND FENTANYL IS MORE LIKELY TO
BE DEPOSITED INTO THE FATTY
TISSUES OF THE BODY, MEANING
THEY ARE GOING TO FEEL OVERDOSE
WITHDRAWAL SYSTEMS MUCH LONGER
DOWN THE LINE. IT REALLY IS A
UNIQUE ENTITY THAT WE'RE
FIGHTING RIGHT NOW. MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE HIGHLIGHTE
THE LACK OF DESTINATION IN FIRE
EMS, AND ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
REALLY HAVE TO PUT THAT FIRST
AND FOREMOST. CLINICS
PARTICULARLY LOW BARRIER CLINIC
TAKE ALL CLIENTS, REGARDLESS OF
THEIR ABILITY TO PAY, SHELTERS.
AGAIN, SHELTERS ARE FEW AND FAR
BETWEEN THAT CAN TAKE OLDER
CLIENTS, CLIENTS WITH MOBILITY
IMPAIRMENT, CLIENTS WITH CHRONI
MEDICAL ISSUES. POST OVERDOSE
RECEIVING CENTERS. REALLY
EMERGING THE BEST PRACTICE IN
THE FIELD. WE DO NOT HAVE ONE I
SEATTLE. GENERALLY FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE MEDICALLY STABLE BUT
JUST NEED A PLACE TO CONNECT
WITH MEDICAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL
WORKERS AFTER AN OVERDOSE, WE
DON'T HAVE THAT NOW. IT'S A HUG
GAP. I THINK ANOTHER GENERAL
BARRIER WE ENCOUNT, ESPECIALLY
FOR PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREET
THERE'S A HIERARCHY OF NEEDS.
EVEN PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGHLY
MOTIVATED TO SEEK TREATMENT TO
SEEK RECOVERY, BY VIRTUE OF
LIVING ON THE STREET YOU HAVE T
ATTEND A CERTAIN NEEDS FIRST,
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE FOOD,
SAFETY. THE ABILITY TO ENGAGE
MEANINGFUL, WITHOUT ASSISTED
TREATMENT IS OFTEN NOT FEASIBLE
IN THE MOMENT UNTIL A CERTAIN
BASELINE STABILITY HAS BEEN
ACHIEVE EESMED ATTAINING THAT I
OFTEN A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER. I
THINK THAT SORT OF A COROLLARY
TO THAT, OR PART AND PARCEL OF
THAT IS THE TIME FACTOR. WYNN
SEATTLE FIRE, WE RESPOND VERY
RAPIDLY REGARDING OVERDOSES
RIGHT NOW. GENERALLY WITHIN
THREE TO FIVE MINUTES. BUT IT
TAKES A LONG TIME TO ESTABLISH.
MANY OF THESE CLIENTS ARE VERY
TRAUMATIZED, VERY VULNERABLE.
THEY HAVE HAD MANY NEGATIVE
INTERACTIONS WITH MANY
APPENDAGES OF OFFICIALDOM,
WHETHER THAT IS FIRE, EMS, APS,
CPS, THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, YO
NAME IT. WHAT'S ESSENTIAL IS HE
IS STAB LIQUOR TRUST. IT IS VER
DIFFICULT TO DO ON THE SIDE OF
THE ROAD IN AN ALLEY BEHIND
THIRD AVENUE IN TEN MINUTES OR
EVEN HALF AN HOUR. I THINK WE
HAVE SEEN VERY CLEAR THAL SOME
OF OUR COLLEAGUES HERE IN REACH
IN NEED, YOU KNOW, THAT TO ME
SEEMS LIKE PROVEN MODEL BECAUSE
THEY OFTEN HAVE MORE TIME TO
ENGAGE. IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL
BARRIER. AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN
OUR WORK IN HEALTH ONE IN
GENERAL BUT THE FOLLOW-UP VISIT
ARE REALLY CRITICAL. SO HARD TO
ACHIEVE LASTING RESULTS IN A
SINGLE ENCOUNTER ON THE STREET.
THOSE FOLLOW-UPS HAVE MADE THE
MOST DIFFERENCE. SEVERAL
COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS. THEY ARE
COMPLETELY UNDERWATER. EVEN WHE
THE SOCIAL WORK STAFF THERE ARE
LEGITIMATELY TRYING THEIR BEST
THINK BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FULL
RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE TO HAVE A
VERY NARROW FOCUS ON MEDICAL
TRIAGE AND VERY RAPID DISCHARGE
AND OFTEN SOME DON'T HAVE HAVE
THE ABILITY TO DO THE NEW ONCED
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, CECTSZ OF
RECOVERY SERVICES AND INFORMED
DISCHARGE PLANNING THAT IDEALLY
THEY WOULD BE DO FOG THE ERS
WERE LESS FULL. I THINK WE TALK
A LOT ABOUT FENTANYL. OBVIOUSLY
THAT'S REALLY SORT OF THE EYE O
THE STORE. BUT THERE ARE SO MAN
CO OCCURRING THINGS HAS WE ARE
SEEING ON THE STREETS. A
TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
DO NOT ENDORSE BEING OPIOID
ADDICT. THEY ARE PRIMARILY METH
USERS WHO ARE TAKING METH THAT
IS CONTAMINATED. TREATMENT
OPTIONS OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT.
SAME WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS
PEOPLE HAVE PTSD OR TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURIES. IT IS VERY RARE
TO HAVE A PLAIN AND SIMPLE
CLEAR-CUT INTERACTION. I THINK
WE ALSO DO NEED MORE ACCESS TO
METHADONE, EXTREMELY CLEAR BOTH
OF THEM REDUCE MORTAL TEA BY
APPROXIMATELY 50%. WE HAVE SOME
VERY GOOD CLINICS BUT AGAIN AT
7:00 P.M. MY TEAM IS REALLY
GOING TO STRUGGLE TO MAKE THAT
CONNECTION SO I THINK WE'RE
FIELD BASED IS NEEDED. AT ANY
POINT WE ARE HAPPY TO TRY TO
WORK IN PARTNER. WE SEE
OURSELVES AS A BRIDGE TO THE
REAL EXPERTS AT THE TABLE. THAN
YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME TODAY.
>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO
VIRTUAL.
>> HELLO.
>> GREETINGS. HELLO.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL CHAIR
HERBOLD AND PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE PANELISTS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I DON'T WANT
TO JUST REPEAT MUCH OF WHAT YOU
HAVE ALREADY HEARD AS FOLKS ON
THE PANEL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAVE SO ELOQUENTLY SPOKEN JUST
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A
VARIETY OF ROBUST PRACTICES THA
ALREADY EXIST BUT REALLY JUST
NEED TO BE STABILIZED AND
BOLSTERED AND SUPPORTED AND
EXPANDED. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY REALLY TO BE ABLE T
HEAR SO MANY DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES AS THE GOAL I
BELIEVE HAS TO BE TO UNPACK AND
EXPLORE WHAT I WILL CALL SOME O
THE RISING TRIBALISM THAT EXIST
AND THE DIVISION THAT I WOULD
SAY DRIVES OTHER THAN STILL
TIEWTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,
INDIVIDUAL PRACTICES AND
POLITICAL DISCOURSE AWAY FROM
WHAT WAY CALL HEALTHY OUTCOMES.
THIS REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE
BRIDGE COLLECTIVELY ACROSS OUR
DIFFERENCES IN A WAY THAT MOVES
US TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK
NECESSARY TO WIDEN THE CIRCLE O
HUMAN CONCERN. IF WE'RE HONEST
ABOUT WHAT WE'RE FACING, I WOUL
SAY EVEN WITH THE BEST
INTENTIONS, THIS IS GOING TO
FALL DISPROPORTIONATELY ON --
COMMUNITIES AND OTHER OVERLY
POLICED COMMUNITIES. IN
PARTICULAR BLACK FOLKS. THERE
ARE HUGE DISPARITIES NATIONALLY
AND IN SEATTLE. I THINK THERE
ARE LESSONS FROM OUR
DYSFUNCTIONAL HISTORY AND
DYSFUNCTIONAL JOURNEY AS ALMOST
ALL OF THE POLICIES THAT HAVE
BEEN PROPOSED AS SOLUTIONS HAVE
BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO THE PROGRES
OF MANY COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY
THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WHETHER
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RED LAINING
URBAN RENEWAL, THE WAR ON DRUGS
AS WE THINK ABOUT THE POWER OF
POLICY, WHICH IS NEVER NEUTRAL,
IT EITHER INCREASES OR DECREASE
DISPARITY, WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO
ORGANIZING SYSTEMS AND
STRUCTURES THAT ALLOW US TO
INCREASE AGENCIES OF GROUPS AND
ENSURE THOSE GROUPS ARE AT THE
TABLE ALLOWING US TO CREATE WHA
I WOULD CALL COOPERATIVE SYSTEM
OF CO CREATION WHERE WE GET MOR
PEOPLE INTO THE DECISION MAKING
SPACES. AS IT STANDS, THE
PROPOSAL IS EXTREMELY
UNDERFUNDED FOR TREATMENT,
HOUSING, AND OTHER SERVICES THA
ARE PROVEN TO WORK AS YOU HEARD
FROM SO MANY PANELISTS AND FOLK
WHO HAVE SPOKEN. WHAT WE DO KNO
IS THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE UP
COSTS, PROSECUTION, PUBLIC
DEFENSE AND JAIL COST AND ALL O
THOSE ENTITIES ARE ALREADY
STRETCHED THIN IN PART BECAUSE
OF THE END OF COMMUNITY COURT.
WE KNOW THERE'S A LOOMING BUDGE
DEFICIT. AS THIS MOVES FROM
THEORY TO PRACTICE WE NEED
COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES THAT
ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENTIRETY OF THE
ECOSYSTEM, THE ECOSYSTEM THAT'S
SITTING AROUND THE TABLE AND
NORMALIZES THE CONSTRUCTION OF
MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES THAT
DOESN'T RESULT IN AFTER THE FAC
EQUITY REPORT WHERE WE COMMIT T
DOING BETTER THE NEXT TIME. HOW
CAN WE BUILD THIS INTO THE FRON
END IN ORDER TO BUILD A HEALTHY
FUTURE? WE HAVE TO DAY VEST FRO
PAST STRATEGIES THAT HAVE PROVE
INEFFECTIVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. DIRECTOR.
AND THEN GOING BACK TO OUR LAST
IN-PERSON PRESENTER.
>> HI. I'M SHANNON KELLEY. I AM
A PUBLIC DEFENSE SOCIAL WORKER.
THE FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO
SAY IS THAT COERCED CARE IS NOT
CARE. COERCED TREATMENT ISN'T
ETHICAL CARE. WE HAVE A LOT OF
GREAT SERVICE PROVIDERS AND I
WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE MORE
TOWARDS THE PROSECUTORIAL SIDE
OF WHAT GOES ON. SO WHEN
SOMEBODY GETS ARRESTED AND GOES
TO JAIL AND THE CITY ATTORNEY
DECIDES TO PRES CUTE A
MISDEMEANOR, JUDGE HOLDS
SOMEBODY IN JAIL, WHOOFN HAPPEN
IS, YOU KNOW, THE COURT IN THEI
INFINITE WISDOM DECIDES THAT
SOMEBODY NEEDS TREATMENT,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THIS
MISDEMEANOR CRIME. IT COULD BE
THEFT, COULD IT BE MISDEMEANOR
ASSAULT. IT COULD BE CRIMINAL
TRESPASS. THE COURT SAYS YOU
NEED TREATMENT. AND THEN WHAT
HAPPENS IS, MYSELF, MY
COLLEAGUES, GET TO TWO TRY TO
ASSESS PEOPLE TO SEE IF THEY AR
ELIGIBLE FOR TREATMENT, IF THEY
CAN GO INTO TREATMENT, INPATIEN
TREATMENT, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT TO DO. INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT TO DO. AND I'D LIKE T
JUST LIKE TELL A QUICK ANECDOTE
OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED
RECENTLY FOR A CLIENT OF MINE I
WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE COURT
DETERMINED THIS PERSON NEEDED
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT. THIS
PERSON HAD VERY HIGH MEDICAL
NEEDS, AND SO I WORKED FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS TO TRY TO FIND
SOMEWHERE THAT THIS CLIENT COUL
GO TO TREATMENT. THERE IS NOT A
-- WHAT WE CALL THE LEVEL OF
CARE, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE
OR SECOND HIGHEST, 3.7, WHICH I
WHERE SOMEBODY NEEDS INTENSIVE
MEDICAL CARE WHILE GETTING THEI
TREATMENT. THERE IS NOT THAT
TYPE OF FACILITY IN THE ENTIRE
STATE OF WASHINGTON. SO THIS
CLIENT, WHO HAD VERY HIGH
MEDICAL NEEDS, BUT NEEDED
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT HAD NO
OPTION. TO GET CARE. WHAT
HAPPENED AFTER THIS CLIENT ST.
JAIL FOR FOUR MONTHS, THE CITY
PROSECUTORS DISMISSED HIS CASE.
SHE SAT IN JAIL FOR FOUR MONTHS
FOR NO REASON AND ENDED UP
GETTING RELEASED TO THE STREETS
WITH NO CARE. EVERY TIME
SOMEBODY COMES INTO THE CRIMINA
LEGAL SYSTEM, THEY ARE PULLED
BACK MANY, MANY STEPS. THEY ARE
PULLED AWAY FROM THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS THAT THEY ALREADY HAV
CONNECTED WITH, IF THEY HAVE
CONNECTED WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS. THEY'RE GIVEN A LIST
OF THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO
THAT THEY CANNOT DO FOR MANY,
MANY REASONS, WHETHER THAT BE
THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTHCARE
NEEDS THAT THEY NEED TO GET. A
LIST OF REASONS THAT, YOU KNOW,
HAVING A PROSECUTORIAL LENS, IT
DOESN'T COINCIDE WITH MEDICAL
CARE AND SUBSTANCE USE
TREATMENT. SO, YEAH, THAT BEING
SAID, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I
SEE EVERY DAY, I HAVE CLIENTS
THAT I LOVE WHO WE KNOW THEY'RE
NOT GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY
DESERVE AND NEED, BECAUSE OF
THESE HARMFUL PRACTICES OF
PICKING PEOPLE UP, PUTTING THEM
IN JAIL, AND LETTING THEM
LANGUISH THERE. YEAH. , SO THAN
YOU.
>> BEFORE I OPEN UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES I WANT TO THANK EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO SERVE
PEOPLE IN NEED AS WELL AS TO
BUILD POWER AMONG LOW AND NO
INCOME PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY
AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE DISUSE
DISORDER, HOMELESSNESS, MASS
INCARCERATION AND THE WORK THAT
YOU DO TO TRY TO CREATE MORE
JUST AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. W
KNOW THAT THE SERVICES THAT YOU
-- EACH OF YOU PROVIDE HAS TO B
PART OF ANY COMMUNITY SAFETY
CONTINUUM. AND THE ADVICE THAT
YOU PROVIDE I THINK IS REALLY
ESSENTIAL TO US AS WE LOOK AT
SOME VERY LARGE GAPS IN OUR
CURRENT SYSTEM, GAPS THAT
ALREADY EXIST THAT WE RISK
EXACERBATING WITH ACTIONS THAT
DO NOT CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF
FOLKS THAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH
US IN YOUR STORIES. NOT JUST
YOUR STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE THAT
YOU HAVE HELPED BUT YOUR OWN
STORIES OF YOUR LIVED
EXPERIENCE. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT AND TAKE WITH MUCH
APPRECIATION YOUR COUNSEL AND
YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR
EXPERIENCES. AND FOR THOSE OF
YOU WHO HAVE PREPARED YOUR
REMARKS IN A WRITTEN FASHION, I
WOULD BE GREAT TO RECEIVE THEM.
SO AS WE FURTHER CONTEMPLATE TH
MAYOR'S PROPOSED ORDINANCE,
WHICH WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT
NEXT AFTER WE TAKE SOME
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS,
SO THAT WE CAN START TO THINK
ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER ADDRESS
SOME OF THE GAPS THAT YOU HAVE
IDENTIFIED. FIRST PERSON -- I
SAW COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S HAND
UP.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW HOW THAT GOT
UP. I WILL --
>> OKAY.
>> THAT WAS A MISTAKE.
>> NO PROBLEM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU DO. IT JUST -- IN TERMS OF
THE AGENDA ITEM FOR GAPS IN
SERVICE, I GUESS TODAY WE DON'T
HAVE THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF TO GIVE U
THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM THAT EXISTS
SO I WILL SIGNAL THAT I MIGHT
SEE CENTRAL STAFF OUT THERE. I'
BE INTERESTED IN ALSO KNOWING
ABOUT THE STATUS OF OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO HARD WORK
LIKE YOU DO, DERKZ SC'S KING
COUNTY MOBILE CRISIS TEAM,
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
JUST TO SORT OF GET THE WHOLE -
AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO GET
THE WHOLE ECHO SYSTEM. IN TERMS
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
HEALTH ONE, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE
NOT -- HEALTH ONE IS NOT
AVAILABLE 24/7, CORRECT? SO THE
DSC MOBILE CRISIS TEAM IS 24/7.
SO JUST SORT OF UNDERSTANDING
EVEN THE GAPS IN HOURS THAT
THESE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE
WOULD BE HELPFUL. HOPEFULLY
BEFORE THE BUDGET SEASON WE
COULD GET INFORMATION ON THAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, A
LITTLE BIT IN RESPONSE TO THAT
GOT A LITTLE NERVOUS SO I DIDN'
GET TO EVERYBODY. WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT HEALTH HUBS THAT WE
ORGANICALLY DO BUT THEY DON'T
REALLY EXIST, WE WORK WITH
PLACES LIKE AURORA COMMONS, IT'
AN OFFICE, THEY OPERATE IT LIKE
A DAY CENTER. WE WORK CLOSE WIT
TINY HOUSES AND CoLEAD. WE
MENTIONED CoLEAD, BUT THE
BRIDGE, CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
SERVICES. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK
WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT
NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO SERVE ANY
MORE THAT WE PARTNERED WITH A
LOT TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
>> AND GAPS OFTEN DON'T ONLY
MEAN THE EXISTENCE OF AN AGENCY
THAT PROVIDES THE SERVICES BUT
AS YOU SAY, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, THE TIME OF DAY OR TH
SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO FILL THE
NEED. THERE MAY BE AN
ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES
SERVICES BUT THEY DON'T HAVE
SUFFICIENT FUNDING. IN COMMITTE
LAST WEEK WE ACTUALLY GOT SORTE
OF THE LANDSCAPE OF THE
CONTINUUM OF SERVICES IN THIS
AREA. BUT THAT LANDSCAPE DOES
NOT GO THAT SORT OF NEXT STEP.
IT NAMES THE TYPE OF SERVICES
BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT NEXT
STEP OF FIGURE OUT HOW WELL IT
IS MEETING THE NEEDS. I WOULD
IMAGINE THAT PART OF YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT HOURS OF
AVAILABILITY WERE PROMPTED BY A
PIECE IN THE SEATTLE TIMES OVER
THE WEEKEND. WE DO KNOW THAT IN
THAT INSTANCE HAD THE PERSON
SEEKING THE ASSISTANCE OF THE
PERSON ON THE STREET CALL 988
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERSON
TO ANSWER. 988 IS NOT ONLY FOR
SUICIDE WATCH CARE. IN THIS
INSTANCE, I THINK YOU MENTIONED
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, EVEN IF
THAT HAD BEEN ON A SUNDAY IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE HAD
AFTER AN ASSESSMENT THIS PERSON
BEEN DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE
FOR SERVICES THAT THAT PERSON
COULD HAVE RECEIVED THE SERVICE
OF DESC'S MOBILE CRISIS TEAM
EVEN ON A SUNDAY. WE KNOW THAT
THE SHORTCOMINGS SOMETIMES FOR
SOME OF 911'S RESPONSE SERVICES
PEOPLE'S LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF
THEIR AVAILABILITY, BUT THEY AR
THERE TO ANSWER CALLS SEVEN DAY
A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY, AND THA
INSTANCE THAT WE ALL READ ABOUT
OVER THE WEEKEND IS ONE THAT
THEORETICALLY, AGAIN, DEPENDENT
ON AVAILABILITY AND CAPACITY,
THEORETICALLY DESC MOBILE CRISI
TEAMS COULD HAVE RESPONDED.
MOVING ON TO -- AND WE DO HAVE
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF WITH US.
THEY WILL BE COMING UP WITH
DIRECTOR MYERBERG. IF WE HAVE
OTHER QUESTIONS THAT ARE
PROMPTED BY THE DISCUSSION THAT
WE'RE HAVING HERE THAT WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT CENTRAL STAFF
DOES SOME FOLLOW-UP. ONCE THEY
ARE AT THE TABLE WE CAN ASK THA
AS WELL. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
HERBOLD. I WANT TO THANK THE
PANEL OF FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH
ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT'S GREAT
TO SEE EVERYONE AROUND THE SAME
TABLE. BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE
LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF US.
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE CAN
BE DOING AS A CITY AND AS
REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT
THE WORK OF EVERYONE WHO IS
HERE. I WANT TO START BY ASKING
SOME QUESTIONS TO DR. KOTARSKI
JOINING US REMOTELY. WE HAD A
REPORT IN MY COMMITTEE A COUPLE
OF MONTHS AGO TALKING ABOUT THE
-- SOME OF THE IMPACT OF THE
WORK TOWARD THE LADDER HALF OF
THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING
THROUGH THE PDA. ONE OF THE
OUTCOMES THAT I THOUGHT WAS
REALLY STRIKING WAS TEN ROLLMEN
IN HEALTH INSURANCE COMPONENT O
THAT WORK. AND I WONDER IF YOU
MIGHT REMIND THE COMMITTEE OR
REMIND THE PUBLIC A LITTLE BIT
HOW THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND
WHAT THE LONG-TERM ONGOING
IMPACT OF THOSE ENROLLMENTS HAV
BEEN IN CONFRONTING SOME OF
THOSE CORE DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH THAT YOU WERE DISCUSSION
IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> YEAH, SURE. ABSOLUTELY. SO
THE ANSWER TO HOW THAT WAS DONE
PAINSTAKINGLY, ESSENTIAL WHEN I
COMES TO ENROLLING IN -- WE'RE
BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT APPLE
HEALTH. PREDOMINANTLY APPLE
HEALTH AND THE MCO. I DO WANT T
EMFEW SITES NOT A SIMPLE
PROCESS. IT TAKES CASE MANAGERS
NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO WORK WITH
PEOPLE IN ORDER TO GET THEM
ACCESS. SEWN ROLLMENT AND THEN
GENERALLY STARTING THROUGH
GETTING THEIR PROVIDER ONE
NUMBERS AND MCO, WITH THE
INSURANCE PLAN THEY THEN NEED T
HAVE THEIR INSURANCE CARDS.
THERE'S OFTEN A LOT OF BARRIERS
INCLUDING NEEDING TO UTILIZE
THEIR MEDICAL PORTALS IN ORDER
TO GET THEIR ID CARDS. ONCE ALL
OF THAT IS DONE, SO THE TEAM DI
THAT -- WE DO THAT WITH EVERYON
WHO COMES IN. WE WERE SUCCESSFU
WITH MANY, WITH REGARDS TO THE
REPORT THAT YOU ARE REFERRING T
FOR THE. WHY THAT'S SO CRUCIAL
AND SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE
WITHOUT THAT, WITHOUT THAT CARD
AND THOSE NUMBERS, THAT CARD,
THEIR ONLY RECOURSE IS HOSPITAL
BECAUSE IF THEY ATTEMPT TO GO T
AN URGENT CARE CENTER, THEY MAY
BE ASKED FOR ID, DEFINITELY
WOULD NEED AN INSURANCE CARD OR
THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FEES
WHICH ARE APPROXIMATELY $200,
$30 10, JUST TO BE SEEN. IF THE
ATTEMPT A COMMUNITY CARE CLINIC
SIMILAR THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
MOSTLY TISSUE WITH COMMUNITY
CARE CLINICS. SOME OF THEM ARE
REALLY GREAT AT ALSO TRYING TO
SUPPORT GETTING ACCESS TO
INSURANCE BUT IT'S USUALLY THE
DELAY. SO SOMETIMES WEEKS MONTH
BEFORE THEY COULD BE SEEN. AND
WHEN THEY ARE -- WHEN THEY
RECEIVE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE
THEY ARE ASSIGNED -- THE MCO
ASSIGNS THEM A PRIMARY CARE
HOME. , SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY
ARE ASSIGNED TO ONE OF OUR
NEIGHBOR CARE, NEIGHBOR CARE IS
A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY HEALTH
SERVICE PROVIDER, THEN THEY ARE
NOW ABLE TO CALL AND GET THAT
APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED. WITHOUT
ACCESS TO THAT, THEY INEVIDENT
AN BE WIND UP USING THE
HOSPITALS FOR EVERYTHING FROM
PRIMARY CARE, NON URGENT PRIMAR
CARE HEALTH ISSUES, UP UNTIL
THINGS MAY BE MORE URGENT. BUT
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE
EMERGENCY ROOMS TO BE ABLE TO
MANAGE THAT. AND IT IS OFTEN
TRAUMATIC AND HARMFUL FOR PEOPL
TO USE THE WRONG LEVEL OF
SERVICE FOR THE TYPE OF CARE
THAT THEY NEED. DOES THAT ANSWE
YOUR QUESTION?
>> NO, IT DOES. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR LAYING THAT OUT. I
THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR
THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE A
COMMON THEME WAS ACCESS TO CARE
ONE OF THE BIG BARRIERS THAT WE
HAVE IS A LACK OF ACCESS TO
INSURANCE, LACK OF ACCESS TO
DOCUMENTATION FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE IDs. AND
I JUST REALLY APPRECIATED THE
EXTREMELY HIGH SUCCESS RATE OF
THAT ONE PARTICULAR EVIDENT THA
WE WORKED ON WHERE THAT WAS A
HUGE -- I THINK IT WAS SOMETHIN
LIKE A 90% PLUS ENROLLMENT RATE
OR SOMETHING IN THAT BALLPARK.
YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG
ON THAT. BUT CHANGE LIKE THAT I
THINK IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO
SEE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRES
AND BREAK DOWN THOSE ACCESSES T
CARE AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT WORK.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE MORE
THING. THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGE
SINCE THEN. SO WE WERE IN THE
PANDEMIC AT THAT point, AND
THERE WAS ESSENTIALLY CONSIDERE
LIKE A FREEZE ON ANYONE BEING
DISENROLLED OR UNENROLLED FROM
THEIR PLAN. THAT HAS NOW
CHANGED. SO IT ACTUALLY IS GOIN
TO TAKE EVEN -- WOULD WE HAVE
ENROLLED OUR FOLKS, BUT WE
ANTICIPATE MANY PEOPLE NOT EVEN
AWARE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
LOSSES THEIR COVERAGE BECAUSE
THAT HOLD DURING THE PANDEMIC I
NOW CEASED. COULD BE AN OLD
NUMBER, IF YOU HAVE NO ADDRESS,
SNAIL MAIL, WHICH MAY NOT GET T
YOU, AND IF YOU ARE NOT ON
COMPUTERS OR ACCESS EMAIL YOU
MAY NOT GET THE EMAIL. PEOPLE
MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THEY ARE
ACTUALLY GOING TO BE LOSING
THEIR COVERAGE. SO THAT IS ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT OUR TEAMS AR
WORK ON NOW IS MAKIG SURE THAT
WE ARE CHECKING AND DOING THE
DUE DILIGENCE TO MAINTAIN
COVERAGE. AND LIKELY IS
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO NEED
TO CONTINUE TO OCCUR OR ELSE WE
COULD UNFORTUNATELY HAVE MORE
AND MORE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR
COVERAGE, WHICH IS WHAT WE SAW
THAT DID HAPPEN BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. TURN IT BECAUSE
OVER TO SURE. COUNCILMEMBER MOS
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN YOU
HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES.
>> OH, EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR COORDINATING THE
PANEL. I WISH THAT LIVED
EXPERIENCE COULD CONSTANTLY RIS
TO THE TOP OF THIS CONVERSATION
THAT WE'RE HAVING. I WISH THAT
THE DATA AND HISTORY ON PAST
APPROACHES WOULD BE CENTERED IN
OUR DISCUSSION AS WE MOVE
FORWARD ON THIS. I'M HOPEFUL
WITH THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU
THE EVE ALL OUTLINED HERE TODAY
AT THE TABLE, THE DATA, THE
PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH THAT YOU
HAVE OUTLINED AND ARTICULATED S
CLEARLY WITH SEEING THE PEOPLE
DIRECTLY ON THE GROUND AND
HAVING THEIR DIRECT CONNECTION
WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT WE KNOW
NEEDS ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION
STRATEGIES, ADDITIONAL HARM
REDUCTION APPROACHES AND THE
RESOURCES NECESSARY TO SCALE UP
THE SERVICES AND THE PROGRAMS
ARTICULATED. I HOPES THIS HELP
CENTER OUR DISCUSSIONS MOVING
FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR SHARING
THESE EXPERIENCE. ESPECIALLY
THANKS TO THE FOLKS WHO HAVE
SHARED THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES
WITH BEING TRAUMATIZED BY
EXISTING SYSTEMS AND
ARTICULATING HOW IF WE INVEST I
THE RIGHT PROGRAMS AND THE RIGH
DIVERSION STRATEGIES WE CAN
CORRECT THESE PAST HARMS AND
WRONGS. SO THANK YOU, FIRST AND
FOREMOST. I DID ALSO WANT TO AS
A QUESTION ABOUT SOME OF THE
PAST POLICIES. WE KNOW THAT IN
THE SECOND HALF OF 2020, THE
CITY MOVED -- WE SHIFTED FROM
SOLE AN ARREST SPACE REFERRAL %
MODEL TO A PRIMARILY COMMUNITY
BASED REFERRAL MODEL, AND THAT
WAS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP AND WIT
THE LEADERSHIP OF LEAD, GIVEN
THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAD. AN
IN RESPONSE. THANK YOU TO
MEMBERS OF LEAD AND THE
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR
RECOGNIZING THAT DOESN'T NEED T
BE POLICE AS A PRIMARY POINT OF
ENTRY. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BI
ABOUT HOW THIS SHIFT FROM SOLEL
AN ARREST MODEL HAS IMPACTED TH
WORK?
>> I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. WAS A GREAT SHIFT FOR
THE LEAD PROGRAM AND THE CoLEAD
PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR I DO
APPRECIATE ARREST DIVERSION FRO
LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT THEY WERE
KIND OF ARGUE PEOPLE THEY WANTE
TO SEE. WHEN WE SWITCHED TO
COMMUNITY REFERRAL WE GOT TO
WORK WITH A LOT OF VULNERABLE
PEOPLE, BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS,
SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS, BEHAVIOR
DEEMED AS VIOLENCE INSTEAD OF
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES. WITH THE
COMMUNITY REFERRALS WE GOT TO
WORK WITH THE SLICE OF THE
POPULATION THAT NOBODY HAS EVER
SERVED. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HA
BEEN IN AND OUT OF PRISON AND
JAIL FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAD
NEVER HAD ANY TYPE OF CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICE. HOW ARE YOU
IN THIS SAME ECOSYSTEM OF
SERVICE RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART
OF SEATTLE AND EVERYBODY IS
BYPASSED YOU? THAT COMMUNITY
REFUSAL HAS OPENED US UP TO A
LOT OF OTHER SPACES. I'M EXCITE
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO I
THE RAINIER BEACH, RAINIER
VALLEY AREA, DEEPEN OUR WORK IN
BURIEN AND WEST SEATTLE AND
WHITE CENTER BECAUSE OF THE
COMMUNITY REFERRAL PROCESS AND
OTHER FUNDINGS THAT ALLOW US TO
STRETCH IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, ANYTHING FURTHER?
>> NOTHING FURTHER. THANKS AGAI
FOR COORDINATING THIS IMPRESSIV
PANEL AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SPOKEN TODAY SO FAR.
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK DO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND
TALKING ABOUT YOUR PROGRAMS. ON
AUGUST 8th THIS COMMITTEE GOT A
UPDATE FROM LEADERSHIP OF LEAD
AND CoLEAD WHICH WILL RECEIVE
$29 MILLION OF FUNDING THIS
YEAR, 17 OF THAT IS FROM SEATTL
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER
FUNDING IS SEATTLE DOLLARS,
PASSED THROUGH OTHER AGENCIES
BUT SUFFICE TO THE SAY THAT'S
THE BROAD NUMBER. UNTODAY'S
CONVERSATION, THE MAIN GAP I
HEARD FROM PDA SUBCONTRACTORS I
SOURCING. SO I'M INTERESTED TO
KNOW IF THERE ARE DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR
WITH MORE MONEY BECAUSE I THINK
WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE A DOSE OF
HUMILITY AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE
NEED TO EXPAND OUR TOOLBOXES AN
OUR APPROACHES TO ADDICTION, TO
THE FENTANYL CRISIS, TO TAKE IT
TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN MAKING A
DIFFERENCE, ALL OF US, AS WE
WORK TOGETHER. I APPRECIATE PDA
LEADERSHIP'S SUPPORT OF THE
LEGISLATION TO ALIGN WITH STATE
LAW ON POSSESSION IN PUBLIC USE
I HAD UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
SOME DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
AMONGST ITS SUBCONTRACTORS AND
MAYBE OFFLINE I COULD HEAR MORE
ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS. I WANTED
TO TOUCH ON TWO THINGS THAT I
HEARD. I HEARD MENTION OF
INPATIENT TREATMENT, AND I AGRE
100% THAT WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
WE NEED TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO
THAT SERVICE. THERE ARE
FACILITIES THAT DO OFFER
INPATIENT TREATMENT. I KNOW BIC
WENT TO ONE. BUT THE APPLE --
THE MEDICAID SPOTS ARE
EXCEEDINGLY LIMITED WHICH I
THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET
CREATIVE AND CONTRACT DIRECTLY
WITH THOSE FACILITIES. WHILE
WE'RE WORKING TO ENROLL MORE
PEOPLE INTO MEDICAID AND EXPAND
OUR CAPACITY IN THIS REGION. SO
I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE WHAT
KNOW ON THE GROUND WHERE WHEN
YOU FINALLY BUILD TRUST AND
PRESUMABLY YOU'RE TALKING TO
PEOPLE ABOUT POTENTIALLY GETTIN
INTO TREATMENT, WHAT ARE SOME O
THE SPACES THAT SOME OF YOU HAV
BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING
PEOPLE INTO, BECAUSE I THINK
THAT WE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
THAT AND ENCOURAGE OTHER
FACILITIES TO BE MORE OPEN,
LET'S SAY. THEN WHEN IT CAME TO
-- SOMEBODY MENTIONED LOW
BARRIER HOUSING, ACCESS TO LOW
BARRIER HOUSING AS AN ISSUE. I
KNOW THAT IS A PROBLEM. WHAT I
DON'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT IS THE
NEED FOR SOBER HOUSING, AND I
KNOW THAT PEOPLE GOING INTO
RECOVERY, THAT'S A CHOICE. I'M
NOT TRYING TO TALK ABOUT
COERCING PEOPLE, BUT FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT DO WANT TO GO INTO
RECOVERY AND STAY IN RECOVERY,
THEY ARE ASKING FOR SOBER
HOUSING OPTIONS. AND SO I'D BE
INTERESTED, FROM YOUR KNOWLEDGE
YOUR WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE WORKIN
WITH FOLKS, IF YOU HAVE COME
ACROSS -- WOULD PLACES YOU HAVE
COME ACROSS THAT DO OFFER THAT,
SO THAT THAT'S, IN MY MIND, AS
RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE THAT I
MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF.
>> I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO
PRIMARILY -- I CAN'T REALLY
SPEAK TO THE FACT -- YOU WERE
ASKING ABOUT SOBER HOUSING
ACCESS TO FOLKS.
>> SOBER AFFORDABLE SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING.
>> OKAY. YOU CAN TAKE THE
QUESTION.
>> OUR APPROACH IS HARM
REDUCTION AND TRAUMA INFORMED
CLIENT DRIVEN CARE. SO WHAT WE
DO IS WE MEET THE PEOPLE WHERE
THEY'RE AT. NOT EVERYBODY GOES
TO TREATMENT. NOT EVERYBODY
WANTS TO GO TO TREATMENT. AND
ALSO NOT EVERYBODY WILL BENEFIT
FROM TREATMENT. WHAT WE WANT IS
RESOURCES THAT WILL BE
SUSTAINABLE TO BE ABLE TO
PROMOTE LONG-TERM CHANGE, AND
THE SCIENCE SAYS THAT COMPLIANC
BASED MODELS DO NOT SUPPORT
LONG-TERM CHANGE. SO FORCING
SOMEBODY INTO DOING SOMETHING
BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE SAYS THAT
WORKED FOR THEM, IT'S NOT ALWAY
GOING TO WORK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MEET
PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT,
IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS THAT ARE
IMPEDING THEIR PROCESS TO BEING
STABLE AND THEN WORK WITH THEM
TO NAVIGATE THOSE BARRIERS,
MEETING THEM WHERE THEY'RE.
>> THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME WHE
PEOPLE ARE PUT IN SOBER -- THOS
SOBER LIVING SPACES, PEOPLE DEA
WITH SO MUCH STIGMA WHERE EVEN
IF THEY DO END UP RELAPSING THE
DON'T GET ACCESS. SOME PEOPLE
HAVE TO BE VOTED INTO CERTAIN
SOBER LIVING HOUSING, AND THAT
HAPPENS SO MUCH MORE TO BLACK
AND BROWN FOLKS. IT HAPPENS SO
MUCH MORE TO TRANS AND NONBINAR
FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M
SORRY WHY I STOPPED IS BECAUSE
YOU EVEN ASKING THE QUESTION WA
A LITTLE TRIGGERING, TOO,
BECAUSE WE ARE IN A COMMUNITY
RIGHT NOW WHERE WE HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO MEET A PART OF THAT
COMPASS WITH LEADERSHIP AND
COMMUNITY IS LEARNING HOW TO
MEAT PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
AND FINDING ENOUGH WITHIN OUR
OWN SPACE, ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY
THAT'S ALSO BUT IN RECOVERY. AN
YOU ALSO HAD A SPACE TO BE ABLE
TO GET EQUITABLE TREATMENT, I
MEAN TO GET TREATMENT FOR
YOURSELF, RIGHT, BUT MOST OF OU
PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLE HEALTH
DON'T GET THE SAME GREAT ACCESS
TO TREATMENT THAT YOU RECEIVE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S THE PROBLEM I'M
FOCUSING ON.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT. BUT TO SWING I
BACK, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
SOCIAL LIVING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, WE JUST WANT TO --
AIM MORE -- WE ARE MO SO FOCUSE
ON MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE
FOOT, THAT ANSWERS YOUR
QUESTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, WE COULD
ANSWER A LITTLE BIT OF THAT,
I'LL SAY A COUPLE THINGS, PASS
IT OVER, BECAUSE WE DO USE A LO
OF OUR LEAD FUNDING AND WE HOUS
PAIGE SOBER HOUSE. OUR ROLE IS
TO CENTER AROUND THAT PERSON,
WHAT THAT PERSON WANTS FOR
TREATMENT. WE DON'T CHAZ THAT.
THAT'S HOW WE USE HARM
REDUCTION. WHATEVER THEY WANT,
GET TO KNOW WHERE GO, WE'RE
GOING TO SET THAT UP. JUST A
COUPLE OF THINGS IN TERMS OF
FUNDING. WE'RE NOT HERE ASKING
FOR MORE MONEY FOR OUR PROGRAMS
WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY FOR
PROGRAMS ALL AROUND AND SO RIGH
NOW IF I HAVE FIVE PEOPLE WALK
INTO MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW AND SA
I ACTUALLY WANT INPATIENT
TREATMENT OR I ACTUALLY WANT
SOBER HOUSING IT MIGHT TAKE ME
MONTH TO GET THAT SET UP FOR
THEM. WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE
WHOLE ARCHITECT OF OUR SYSTEM,
ABOUT WHAT SERVICES I'M SUPPOSE
TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO, THAT'S WH
WE'RE HERE. SO WHEN I TALK ABOU
JAIL, IT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST
PLACE FOR PEOPLE, I DO BELIEVE
IN THE FACT THAT USING DIVERSIO
IS BETTER THAN SENDING PEOPLE T
JAIL BUT YOU'RE DIVERTING TO
WHAT ADEQUATE RESOURCE. 0 -- OU
HOUSING DIRECTOR, I'LL LET HER
SPEAK TO HOW WE USE OUR FUNDING
TO SUPPORT PEOPLE.
>> LIKE SHE MENTIONED WE HAVE A
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORT I
SOBER HOUSING. THERE'S NOT A LO
OF SUBSIDIZED CLEAN AND SOBER
HOUSING, SO WE JUST PATE IN FUL
FOR THEM. AND AS THE CONTINUUM,
SO THE FUNDING DID RUN OUT, IT
WOULD CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR A LOT
OF FOLKS THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING
IN CLEAN AND SOBER HOUSE W. THE
CLEAN AND SOBER HOUSING THAT
DOES EXIST THAT IS SUBSIDIZED,
THEY'RE FULL TO THE BRIM.
UNFOSTER UNFORTUNATELY WHEN WE
TALK TO OUR CLIENTS ABOUT
RECOVERY, THEIR FIRST QUESTION,
LIKE HE MENTIONED HERE, THEY
HAVE TO HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS
MET, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE THINK
ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO
SLEEP, THEIR SAFETY, HOW THEY
ARE GOING TO ACCESS FOOD. ONCE
OUR CLIENTS RECEIVE SOME SORT O
HOUSING OR ENHANCED SHELTER THE
WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT
RECOVERY AND SOBRIETY AND
DIFFERENT MEASURES. BUT EVEN IF
THEY ARE READY FOR ARE THAT,
SOMETIMES THOSE SPACES JUST
DON'T EXIST.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION?
>> IT DOES. I JUST WANT TO BE
ABSOLUTELY CLEAR. I WAS NOT
THINKING ABOUT NOT MEETING
PEOPLE. I WAS REFERRING TO THE
SUBGROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WHER
THEY'RE AT IS WANTING TO EXPAND
THEIR RECOVERY AND MAINTAIN IT.
>> YEAH. DIVERSITY OF HOUSING I
NECESSARY, BECAUSE FOR MEETING
PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT, PEOPLE
ARE AT DIFFERENT SPACES.
>> CAN I JUST SAY ONE MORE THIN
IN ANSWER TO THAT? WHAT I WAS
TALKING ABOUT, HAVING MORE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE, I MEANT
THAT THEY ARE LITERALLY
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT.
TEMPORARY LODGING FOR A VERY
LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT I
THE NEED FAR EXCEEDS WHAT WE
HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE,
BUT IF WE HAD MORE PHYSICAL
LOCATIONS AND MORE STAFF, THEN
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE
THOSE NEEDS ON A HIGHER LEVEL
WHICH IS WHAT'S REALLY OUT
THERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ALSO WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM
THE FRONT LINES, WDC IS WE'RE
PUTTING PEOPLE IN DETOX CENTERS
EVERY DAY, BUT THE PROBLEM IS
WHEN THEY GET OUT OF THESE DETO
CENTERS, THEY DON'T HAVE
ANYWHERE TO GO. SO THEY GO RIGH
BACK TO USING. YOU'RE JUST
GETTING PUSHED AROUND A CORNER,
PUSHED AROUND A CORNER, PUSHED
IN THE ALLEY BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO BECAUSE LIK
SHE SAID, THE HOUSING IS SO TIE
UP IN RED TAPE AND IT TAKES SO
LONG TO GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING
IT'S JUST LIKE BY THE TIME THEY
GET TO HOUSING, I COULD SING A
SONG.
>> I DON'T WANT TO OBSCURE THAT
POINT, WHICH IS ABOUT WHERE DO
FOLKS GO ON A MORE PERMANENT
BASIS, BUT I WAS INTERESTED IN
WHAT YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE DOING
AT WDC DOING A LOT TO GET DETOX
SERVICES DIALED IN. WHAT'S
HAPPENING THAT'S DIFFERENT THAT
IS ALLOWING YOU TO GET MORE
PEOPLE INTO DETOX?
>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED OUT, W
REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO
DETOX CENTERS, RIGHT? IN THE
PAST FEW MONTHS WE GOT A GOOD
CONNECTION TO DETOX CENTERS AND
ONE OF THOSE CENTERS CAME
OUTSIDE OF THE NETWORK, RIGHT?
AND JUST GETTING THESE PEOPLE
THERE, BUT LIKE I SAID, THEY GO
SOME OF THEM DON'T COMPLETE IT.
SOME OF THEM DO COMPLETE IT, BU
WHEN THEY GET OUT, THERE'S
NOWHERE TO GO. THERE'S JUST
NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO AND THEY
JUST GO RIGHT BACK TO WHAT
THEY'RE DOING. JON SEES IT.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO.
>> WASN'T FINLAND WAS ABLE TO
SOLVE HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING
PEOPLE WITH HOUSING AND NOT
MAKING THEM JUMP THROUGH A BUNC
OF HOOPS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THA
HAVE BEEN THROUGH HOMELESSNESS
AND DRUG ADDICTION AND TRAUMA
AND ALL THAT? WEREN'T THEY ABLE
TO DO THAT WITH JUST PROVIDING
THE HOUSING AND HAVING THEM WOR
TO GET THE HOUSING BECAUSE
PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE
KIND OF PROBLEMS HAVE PROBLEMS,
YOU KNOW, COMPLETING THE KIND O
THINGS. I'M SORRY.
>> YEAH. I THINK YOUR POINT IS
WELL TAKEN. OUR HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES FOR THE CITY OF SEATTL
ARE LARGELY FOCUSED ON HOUSING
FIRST POLICIES WHICH MEANS A
TYPE OF HOUSING WITH VERY, VERY
LOW BARRIERS AND YOUR
OBSERVATION'S CORRECT THAT FOLK
WHO ARE ABLE TO GET INTO LOW
BARRIER HOUSING ARE VERY LIKELY
TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR
HOUSING, STABILIZING THEIR
HOUSING LONG TERM. SO I THINK
THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT IN PLACES LIKE
FINLAND IS AN EXPERIENCE WE
WOULD ALSO EXPERIENCE. THE ISSU
IS LESS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE
SUPPORT A HOUSING FIRST POLICY
THAT HAS VERY, VERY LOW INCOME
HOUSING. IT'S WHETHER OR NOT WE
ARE BUILDING ENOUGH UNITS OF
THAT KIND OF HOUSING. THE
REALITY IS THE PEOPLE WHO DO GE
INTO THAT HOUSING, WHETHER OR
NOT THEY'RE IN FINLAND OR HERE
IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ARE
ABOUT 95% LIKELY TO STAY HOUSED
A YEAR AFTER THEY ACCESS THEIR
HOUSING AND THESE ARE PEOPLE
ACROSS THE BOARD THAT HAVE DEEP
UNDERLYING NEEDS WHETHER OR NOT
IT'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, MENTAL
HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER,
PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, A LARGE
GAMUT. SO I THINK THE CITY IS
REALLY COMMITTED TO FUNDING THA
KIND OF HOUSING, BUT ALSO
RECOGNIZING THE POINT THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON IS MAKING
IS THAT SOME PEOPLE DO
SELF-IDENTIFY AS WANTING SOBER
HOUSING AND GLAD TO HEAR THAT I
YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF MEETING
PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT THAT
THAT ALSO INCLUDES HELPING FOLK
NAVIGATE TO GET THAT KIND OF
HOUSING IF THAT'S INDEED WHAT
FOLKS WANT.
>> I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF
PASSION IN THIS AREA AND THERE'
NO SHORTAGE OF WORK TO DO.
AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOUR BEING
HERE SHARING YOUR STORIES, DO
NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITE
OF THE AGENDA. IF YOU HAVE YOUR
PREPARED COMMENTS YOU WANT TO
SEND OVER TO US, IT WILL BE A
GOOD RESOURCE FOR US TO RETURN
TO IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MR. CLERK. YOU WANT TO READ
IN THE NEXT ITEM.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2, PROPOSED
COUNCIL BILL 120645, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO CONTROLLE
SUBSTANCES, ADDING THE CRIMES O
KNOWING POSSESSION OF A
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND USE OF
A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN A
PUBLIC PLACE, AMENDING SECTION
12A.09.020 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADDING A NEW
SECTION 3.28.141 TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS FOLKS
ARE TAKING THE TABLE HERE, JUST
WANT TO THANK ANDREW MYERBERG
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR
JOINING US AND GREG DOSS AND
ASHA VENKATARAMAN OF COUNSEL
CENTRAL STAFF. THE BILL BEFORE
US IS COUNCIL BILL 120645. IT
WILL BE ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AT THE CITY
COUNCIL'S MEETING TOMORROW WHER
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON
THE REFERRAL OF THE BILL,
MEANING THEY WILL VOTE ON THE
DECISION OF SENDING THE BIG TO
THIS COMMITTEE FOR FORMAL
REVIEW. IT HAS NOT YET BEEN
INTRODUCED NOW. I APPRECIATE
THAT THE EXECUTIVE IS JOINING U
EVEN THOUGH THE BILL HAS NOT YE
BEEN INTRODUCED AND ALSO
APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF HAVE NOT YET PREPARED A
MEMO. IT IS NOT CUSTOMARY FOR
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF TO PREPAR
A MEMO FOR A BILL THAT HASN'T
BEEN INTRODUCED. SO FOR THOSE O
YOU ASKING FOR A MEMO, THAT'S
SORT OF WHERE WE'RE AT. IF IT
WAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
WAS NOT INTRODUCED THAT WAS
COUNCIL INITIATED, MIGHT BE A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT
WOULD BE A SITUATION WHERE
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF HAD BEEN
WORKING ALONGSIDE OF THE COUNCI
MEMBER LEADING UP TO ITS SORT O
NONINTRODUCTION STATUS, BUT WE
WILL BE EXPECTING AND I'M SAYIN
EXPECTING BECAUSE COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF HAS INFORMED ME
THAT WE'LL BE GETTING MORE
INFORMATION FROM THEM BEFORE TH
END OF THE WEEK BEFORE COUNCIL
GOES INTO RECESS. AGAIN, ALSO
WANT TO APPRECIATE THE FACT THA
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS TAKEN A
NUANCED APPROACH IN THIS
PROPOSAL FOR HOW TO ACTUALLY
IMPLEMENT THE AUTHORITY THAT IT
WAS GRANTED BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND APPRECIATE THE
DELINEATION OF HOW THE AUTHORIT
IS PROPOSED TO BE USED IN
PRACTICE WHEN DECIDING WHETHER
TO PURSUE DIVERSION OF ARREST
AND PROVIDING CLEAR, PRACTICAL
DIRECTION TO OFFICERS FOR HOW T
PROPERLY USE THIS AUTHORITY,
ALSO APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION O
SEVERAL FINDINGS ABOUT OVERDOSE
IN THE RECITALS AND SORT OF
RECOGNIZING THE CITY'S
COMMITMENT TO NOT REPEAT THE
ERRORS OF THE PAST AND WORK TO
HAVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ORDINANCE BALANCE PUBLIC SAFETY
WITH THE WELL-BEING OF
INDIVIDUALS USING CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES AND I'M QUOTING FROM
THE RECITALS IN THE ORDINANCE A
AN INDICATION OF THE CITY'S
COMMITMENT AND RECOGNITION OF
THE NEED TO BALANCE BOTH THOSE
IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY AND
PUBLIC POLICY OBJECTIVES. WITH
THAT, HAND IT OVER TO THE TABLE
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
HERBOLD, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AN
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE MAYOR'
OFFICE HERE TODAY AND THE
PRESENTATION PUT ON EARLIER,
REALLY INTERESTING AND GREAT TO
SEE ALL THOSE EXPERTS HERE AT
THE TABLE. SO I'D LIKE TO
BRIEFLY TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES T
DISCUSS THE PROCESS THAT LED TO
THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT'S
BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO OUTLINE
SOME OF THE KEY ASPECTS OF THE
ORDINANCE AND TOUCH BASE ON OUR
NEXT STEPS. IN APRIL OF THIS
YEAR MAYOR ISSUED EXECUTIVE
ORDER ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL
CRISIS. THIS EO ESTABLISHED A
TASK FORCE AND SET UP NEW
TREATMENT AND SERVICES GEARED
TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE HIGH
RATES OF OVERDOSE AND ADDICTION
IN SEATTLE. AFTER THE FIRST
ATTEMPT TO CODIFY THE PUBLIC US
AND POSSESSION LAW DID NOT PASS
THE MAYOR LAUNCHED THE TASK
FORCE, INCLUDING APPOINTING 24
MEMBERS WHO REPRESENTED THE
SPECTRUM OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND
OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS. THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE SUBSEQUENTLY
DIVIDED THE 24-MEMBER TASK FORC
INTO THREE SUBGROUPS. THE FIRST
WAS TO EVALUATE A SUCCESSOR TO
COMMUNITY COURT. THE SECOND WAS
TO LOOK AT OUR TREATMENT AND
SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS. THE
THIRD WAS TO LOOK AT OUR
DIVERSION SYSTEMS. THIS IS VERY
COMPLEX WORK WITH NO SIMPLE
ANSWERS. WE EXPECT THE EFFORTS
OF THESE SUBGROUPS WILL CONTINU
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO
ISSUING RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOME
OF OUR SYSTEM GAPS. THE MAYOR
FURTHER HELD SEVERAL MEETINGS
WITH THE TASK FORCE DISCUSSING
THE PARAMETERS AND
CHARACTERISTICS OF A PROSPECTIV
ORDINANCE IN SEEKING GUIDANCE
FROM THE GROUP. THE ROBUST
DISCUSSIONS AT THESE MEETINGS
WITH NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WIT
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ULTIMATELY
INFORMED THE ORDINANCE
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO CITY COUNCIL. THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE WAS GUIDED B
FOUR CORE DETERMINATIONS. FIRST
THE USE OF SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS
AND OPIOIDS ON OUR STREETS IS
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
CHALLENGES THAT FACES OUR CITY
AND SECOND THE VAST MAJORITY OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO OPENLY USE
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SUFFER
FROM ADDICTION AND UNDERSTANDIN
AND ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS
RATHER THAN ARREST AND
INCARCERATION IS THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WAY TO POSITIVELY
CHANGE BEHAVIOR. THIRD, WHILE
ALL USE OF SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS
AND OPIOIDS POSES A HEALTH
THREAT, WE WANT OUR POLICE
OFFICERS TO FOCUS WHERE THE
THREAT IS DIRECTED TOWARDS
OTHERS. FOURTH, IN MOST
SITUATIONS DIVERSION IS THE
PREFERRED COURSE OF ACTION. THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE SEEKS TO
ADDRESS THESE CORE
DETERMINATIONS AND A BALANCED
FRAMEWORK THAT SEEKS TO CONNECT
USERS TO SERVICES WHILE KEEPING
RESIDENTS SAFE IN PUBLIC PLACES
I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THE THREAT
OF HARM STANDARD SET OUT IN THE
ORDINANCE. THIS STANDARD
DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN
INDIVIDUALS WHO POSE A THREAT O
HARM TO OTHERS AND THOSE WHO
POSE A THREAT OF HARM TO SELF.
THE STANDARD MIRRORS THE
PRACTICAL THOUGHT PROCESS THAT
OFFICERS ORDINARILY APPLY IN TH
FIELD WHEN DECIDING WHETHER TO
MAKE AN ARREST AND ALLOWS FOR
AND ENCOURAGES OFFICERS TO
EXERCISE DISCRETION. IN THE
ORDINANCE THE EXECUTIVE IS CLEA
THE TIME THE STANDARD IS APPLIE
THE PROBABLE CAUSE HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED. THE STANDARD IS A
MEANS TO GUIDE OFFICER DECISION
MAKING. IT IS NOT A NEW ELEMENT
TO BE PROVED AT A CRIMINAL TRIA
AND IS NOT A DEFENSE TO CRIMINA
PROSECUTION. WHERE INDIVIDUALS
POSE A THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS
WHICH WILL BE DEFINED IN SPD
POLICY ARRESTS WILL BE
APPROPRIATE. HOWEVER, WHERE AN
INDIVIDUAL POSES A THREAT OF
HARM ONLY TO THEMSELVES, THE
EXECUTIVE BELIEVES THERE ARE
BETTER OPTIONS AVAILABLE THAN
MAKING AN ARREST. THIS DOESN'T
MEAN OFFICERS SHOULD DO NOTHING
TO THE CONTRARY, OFFICERS WILL
BE EXPECTED TO AUTHOR RESOURCES
AND OUTREACH SERVICES TO THE
INDIVIDUAL AND CLOSELY
COORDINATE WITH LEAD REACH, WE
DELIVER CARE AND THE MIRROR
YESTERDAY OF OUR PROGRAMS PART
OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY
FRAMEWORK. TO THIS END OFFICERS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE DIVERSION
REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF
THEIR THREAT OF HARM
DETERMINATION. CONNECTING AN
INDIVIDUAL WITH A CASEWORKER
WITH WHOM THEY HOLD TRUST AND
WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO NAVIGATE
THROUGH THE CITY SYSTEMS WILL I
OUR OPINION LEAD TO THE BEST
OUTCOMES. HOWEVER, THE EXECUTIV
REMAINS CLEAR SUCH A DECISION
WILL BE WITHIN THE DISCRETION O
THE OFFICER AND WILL BE FACT
SPECIFIC IN INDIVIDUAL
DEPENDENT. THE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL
OF THIS ORDINANCE IN THE
EXECUTIVE'S OVERALL APPROACH TO
THE SYNTHETIC OPIOID CRISIS IS
TO INCREASE THE PROPORTION OF
INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM
ADDICTION WHO SEEK AND ACCEPT
TREATMENT AND SERVICES.
CURRENTLY AND THIS IS PROVEN OU
BY DATA AND RESEARCH ONLY A
SMALL PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS SEE
AND RECEIVE TREATMENT. THIS IS
BASED ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS
INCLUDING HIGH BARRIERS TO
SEEKING TREATMENT, LACK OF
TREATMENT AVAILABILITY AND
REALITY OUR SYSTEM IS NOT AT
SCALE TO DEAL WITH THE SCOPE OF
THIS CRISIS. THE EXECUTIVE'S
WORK IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING AND
EXPANDING OUR SYSTEMS FROM POST
OVERDOSE CENTERS TO DAY CENTERS
FROM MOBILE MEDICATION DELIVERY
TO EASILY ACCESSIBLE HARM
REDUCTION SERVICES, FROM
CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT TO
INCREASED EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL
WORKERS AND CASEWORKERS
MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS AND
MOMENTUM TOWARDS TREATMENT.
SINCE TRANSMITTAL OF THE
ORDINANCE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HA
WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH CENTRA
STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE
COLLABORATION AND AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS. WE CONTINUE T
WORK ON AND FINALIZE THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL INFOR
SPD'S POLICY ON USE AND
POSSESSION AND WE ARE TRYING TO
BE RESPECTFUL OF THE COUNCIL'S
PROCESS. WE UNDERSTAND THERE
WILL BE A LOT OF DELIBERATION
AND DISCUSSION AROUND THIS BILL
WE WANT TO HEAR THOSE CONCERNS.
THIS INFORMATION MAY INFORM THE
FINAL DIRECTION WE TAKE IN THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER. THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY
WORKING ON A POLICY SURROUNDING
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS LAW IF
IT IS PASSED AND THIS WILL
INCLUDE GUIDANCE ON DIVERSION.
WE EXPECT AND CROSS OUR FINGERS
WE EXPECT THE POLICY TO BE
FINISHED MID-SEPTEMBER. AGAIN,
THE THREE SUBGROUPS OF THE TASK
FORCE ARE CONTINUING TO MEET AN
WILL DO SO FOR THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE. COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
TO YOUR POINT, SOME OF THE
PREWORK WE'RE DOING NOW IS WE'R
WORKING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
EXPERTS AND DIVERSION EXPERTS,
INCLUDING SOME OF THE FOLKS AT
THE TABLE HERE TODAY TO MAP OUT
THESE SYSTEMS, TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT ARE GAPS AND THE PURPOSE I
WE WANT TO SIT DOWN AT THESE
MEETINGS AND HAVE A ROADMAP SO
WE AREN'T SPENDING THE FIRST FE
MEETINGS REINVENTING THE WHEEL.
WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE
CHARTS AND MAPS WITH YOU AND
CENTRAL STAFF AND THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS. WE THINK IT WILL HELP
GUIDE OUR WORK AND HELP US
REALIZE WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO
MAKE THESE SYSTEMS MORE COHESIV
AND MORE WHOLE. TO CLOSE, ON
BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, I WANT TO
THANK CHAIR HERBOLD AND THE RES
OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND
NUMEROUS CITY AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO
THE CREATION OF THIS ORDINANCE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. LOOKING TO
ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS THAT COUNCI
MEMBERS MAY HAVE OF DIRECTOR
MYERBERG BEFORE MOVING ON TO
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE
PROCESS-ORIENTED ISSUES. COUNCI
MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
JUST TO SET EXPECTATIONS, I'VE
GOT ABOUT SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR
MR. MYERBERG AND I'LL START OFF
WITH SOME SUBJECTIVE
INTRODUCTION, IF I MAY. OKAY. S
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND I'
REALLY GLAD CENTRAL STAFF IS
HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WILL
BE THE STATE
GOVERNMENT'S COMPROMISE ON HARD
DRUG POSSESSION AND PUBLIC USE.
INSTEAD BY A VOTE OF 4-5, A SLI
MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL CHOSE
TO VOTE NO ON COUNCIL BILL
120586 SPONSORED BY ME AND
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON AND
REQUESTED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
PERSONALLY I BELIEVE THE COUNCI
SHOULD HAVE INCORPORATED STATE
LAW INTO OUR SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE AND THEN IF SOME COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND OTHERS WANTED TO AD
POLICY OR FUNDING, THEY COULD
HAVE DONE THAT SHORTLY AFTER
ADOPTING THE ORDINANCE, BUT NOW
IT SEEMS SEATTLE IS MISSING A
MID-AUGUST DEADLINE FOR THE
STATE LEGISLATION AND BECAUSE
NEARLY ALL CITY LEGISLATION HAS
A 30-DAY IMPLEMENTATION DELAY,
WE'RE MORE THAN A MONTH BEHIND
THE REST OF THE STATE BECAUSE
OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS NOT ABLE T
PROSECUTE UNDER THESE
MISDEMEANORS UNTIL WE BUT IT IN
THE MUNICIPAL CODE. FORTUNATELY
OUR MAYOR STEPPED UP MID-JUNE T
START THIS PROCESS TO FORGE A
LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE TO WHICH A
MAJORITY HAS A SECOND CHANCE TO
SAY YES AND FOR ME THE KEY TO
SUCCESS COULD HAVE SIMPLY BEEN
THE ADDITIONAL $27 MILLION THAT
THE HARRELL ADMINISTRATION FOUN
FOR SERVICES AND CAPITAL, BUT
TODAY WE HAVE NOT ONLY THE NEWL
FOUND MONEY, BUT A PROPOSAL THA
CONTAINS SUBSTANTIAL
COMPLEXITIES ADDED TO THE STATE
GOVERNMENT'S COMPROMISE,
POTENTIALLY MAKING SEATTLE AN
OUTLIER FOR REASONABLE TOOL
AVAILABLE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. S
INSTEAD OF INCORPORATING SIMPLY
THE STATE LAW IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE, WHICH IS
STANDARD, THIS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION ADDS SOME ENTIRELY
NEW SECTIONS OR A NEW SECTION,
SECTION 3.28.141. SO I'VE GOT
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, THESE
SUBSECTIONS, BECAUSE THEY'RE NE
AND JUST WANT TO GET COMFORT
WITH THESE NEW CONCEPTS ON HARM
AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION ABOU
THE REPORTING ELEMENT. BIG
PICTURE, I TRUST THE MAYOR TO
USE HIS AUTHORITIES AS OUR
ELECTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO
IMPLEMENT AN APPROPRIATE POLICY
WITHOUT THE NEED TO EMBED NEW
TERMS WHICH I VIEW AS RELATIVEL
VAGUE, POTENTIALLY MICROMANAGIN
MANDATES INTO OUR SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. I'M CONCERNED
I'LL MAKE THIS AN OUTLIER IN TH
STATE OF WASHINGTON. SO LET ME
BETTER UNDERSTAND THESE
SUBSECTIONS E AND F. THEN I WAN
TO ASK ABOUT THE FUNDING. CHAIR
IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL ASK THE
QUESTION. CAN I JUST GO BACK AN
FORTH WITH MR. MYERBERG TO
QUICKLY GET THROUGH THE --
>> I WILL DEFER TO YOU WHETHER
OR NOT ASKING ONE AT A TIME AND
GETTING AN ANSWER OR ASKING THE
ALL AT ONCE AND MAYBE GETTING
ANSWERS TO SOME AND OTHERS
ALERT. WHICH IS THE MOST
EFFICIENT WAY?
>> I THINK IT WILL MAKE SENSE I
I JUST KEEP GOING AND -- SO
SUBSECTION E THREAT OF HARM TO
OTHERS AND SUBSECTION F THREAT
OF HARM TO SELF AND JUST FOR TH
VIEWING PUBLIC'S BENEFIT AND
CLARITY, I WANT TO READ THESE
INTO THE RECORD BECAUSE THERE'S
A LOT OF INK SPILLED ABOUT THES
SECTIONS AND WILL BE. I JUST
WANT TO GET THEM OUT, JUST A FE
SENTENCES. SO THREAT OF HARM TO
OTHERS, WHEN CONSIDERING MAKING
AN ARREST FOR KNOWING POSSESSIO
OR PUBLIC USE, OFFICERS WILL
DETERMINE WHETHER THE INDIVIDUA
THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS AND
CONDUCT PRESENTS A THREAT OF
HARM TO OTHERS. THIS
DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE
TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
AND THE OFFICER'S TRAINING AND
EXPERIENCE. SPD POLICY WILL
IDENTIFY FACTORS TO GUIDE
OFFICERS WHEN ASSESSING THE
THREAT OF HARM PRESENTED BY THE
INDIVIDUAL. THE THREAT OF HARM
STANDARD GOVERNS OFFICER
DECISION MAKING AND IS NOT AN
ELEMENT OF THE CRIME TO BE
PROVED DURING THE PROSECUTION O
POSSESSION OR PUBLIC USE
OFFENSES AND CANNOT BE USED AS
DEFENSE AT TRIAL. THEN
SUBSECTION F, THREAT OF HARM TO
SELF, WHEN AN OFFICER DETERMINE
THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO
BELIEVE PUBLIC POSSESSION OR
PUBLIC USE OF A CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE HAS OCCURRED AS
DESCRIBED UNDER THIS SECTION
3.28.141 AND THE USER DOES NOT
POSE A THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS
THE OFFICER WILL THEN MAKE
REASONABLE ATTEMPT TO CONTACT
AND COORDINATE EFFORTS FOR
DIVERSION, OUTREACH, AND OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO ARREST. AN
OFFICER WILL NOT ARREST IN THE
SITUATION ABSENT ARTICULATABLE
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
WARRANTING SUCH ACTION. A
DETERMINATION OF A THREAT OF
HARM WILL GOVERN OFFICER
DECISION MAKING WILL NOT BE AN
ELEMENT OF THE CRIME TO BE
PROVED DURING THE PROSECUTION O
POSSESSION OR PUBLIC USE
OFFENSES AND CANNOT BE USED AS
DEFENSE AT TRIAL. JUST WANTED T
GET THAT OUT THERE FOR CLARITY.
THE QUESTIONS I HAVE ARE RELATE
TO SOME OF THESE TERMS IN HERE.
SO REGARDING THE PROBABLE CAUSE
THAT'S ON THE THREAT OF HARM TO
SELF. SO IS THAT A STANDARD
THAT'S USED NOW OR IS IT
REASONABLE SUSPICION THAT'S THE
STANDARD? YEAH. THAT'S THE FIRS
QUESTION.
>> REASONABLE SUSPICION COULD B
THE STANDARD TO EFFECTUATE A
TERRY STOP, BUT A ARREST WOULD
BE BASED ON CAUSE. WHAT WE'RE
SAYING IN THIS ORDINANCE AND I
AGREE A LOT OF INK HAS BEEN
SPILLED OVER A CONCEPT AT LEAST
FROM THESE EXPERTS WE DON'T
THINK IS OVERLY COMPLICATED.
WHAT WE'RE ARTICULATING HERE IS
THAT IN EVERY SCENARIO WHERE AN
OFFICER ENGAGES IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY, EVERY
SCENARIO, AN OFFICER MAKES A
DETERMINATION NOT ONLY ON
WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S PROBABLE
CAUSE TO ARREST, BUT EVEN WHEN
THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE WHETHER
OR NOT AN ARREST SHOULD OCCUR.
SO OFFICERS DON'T ARREST EVERY
TIME THEY DETERMINE PROBABLE
CAUSE. GENERALLY WHAT OFFICERS
WILL DO IS OFFICERS WILL ENGAGE
IN A DETERMINATION IN THEIR
MINDS TO SAY WHAT IS THE
NECESSITY TO MAKE THIS ARREST?
WHAT IS THE NECESSITY TO TAKE
THIS ACTION AND TO INCARCERATE
SOMEONE OR BOOK THEM INTO JAIL?
IN ALL THE SCENARIOS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT WHETHER SOMEONE I
POSING A THREAT OF HARM TO
THEMSELF OR OTHERS, PROBABLE
CAUSE, THE BASELINE
DETERMINATION, HAS BEEN MET. SO
THE PERSON IS USING DRUGS ON A
PUBLIC STREET. THEY ARE
POSSESSING DRUGS ON A PUBLIC
STREET KNOWINGLY. THAT STANDARD
IS DONE. THERE'S PROBABLE CAUSE
AN ARREST COULD OCCUR. WHAT WE
ARE SAYING AS THE EXECUTIVE IS
WE'RE MAKING A VALUE JUDGMENT
AND A JUDGMENT THAT THE MAYOR
HAS MADE BASED ON HIM BALANCING
HIS NEED TO MAINTAIN AS THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
FOR THE CITY AS WELL AS HIS
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE WA
ON DRUGS AS A SEATTLITE, AN
AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN GROWING UP
IN SEATTLE. FROM HIS OPINION,
HIS FRAMEWORK, HIS HISTORY, WHA
HE BELIEVES IS THAT WHERE
SOMEONE PRESENTS A THREAT TO
OTHER, AN ARREST IS APPROPRIATE
WHERE IF SOMEONE PRESENTS A
THREAT OF HARM ONLY TO
THEMSELVES, THERE'S A BETTER
OPTION THAN ARRESTING THOSE
INDIVIDUALS. SO THE THREAT OF
HARM SOLELY LOOKS AT OFFICER
DECISION MAKING. IT LOOKS AT TH
DECISION THAT AN OFFICER WILL
ENGAGE IN EVERY SINGLE SCENARIO
THEY LOOK AT TO DECIDE WHETHER
OR NOT THEY'LL TAKE THE ACTION
TO PUT HANDCUFFS ON SOMEONE AND
TAKE THEM TO JAIL. SO I'M NOT
SURE IF I ANSWERED YOUR
QUESTION, BUT THAT'S THE
FRAMEWORK WE'RE OPERATING UNDER
>> THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE MY
NEXT QUESTION WAS ABOUT UNDER
THE THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS
SUBSECTION E, IT DOES SAY THE
THREAT OF HARM STANDARD GOVERNS
OFFICER DECISION MAKING. SO IS
THAT A LEGAL TERM OF ART, THREA
OF HARM STANDARD, OR IS THAT --
>> THE THREAT OF HARM -- I DON'
KNOW IF IT'S A LEGAL TERM OF
ART. THE THREAT OF HARM STANDAR
IS WHAT WE'RE SAYING WILL BE
FULLY CALLED OUT IN SPD POLICY
AND TRAINING.
>> OKAY.
>> SO WE ARE TRYING TO BE
COGNIZANT OF THE FACT WE DON'T
WANT TO BE OVERLY DIDACTIC IN
THE ORDINANCE AND WE'RE NOT
GOING TO BE. WE'LL PUT THIS IN
POLICY IN TRAINING. HOWEVER, TH
MAYOR FELT IT VERY IMPORTANT TO
DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES TO NOT AS WE'VE
HEARD FROM OUR GROUP OF EXPERTS
TODAY IS TO NOT CRIMINALIZE
SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEONE IS
USING DRUGS BUT NOT PRESENTING
AN ACTIVE THREAT TO OTHERS. I
WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR. IT
DOESN'T MEAN -- MAYBE THIS IS
ANOTHER QUESTION -- IT DOESN'T
MEAN WE STAND ASIDE OR TAKE NO
ACTION. THERE COULD BE A
SITUATION AGAIN WHERE WE DO TAK
ACTION WHERE THIS IS AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY ONLY POSE A
THREAT TO OTHERS, BUT OFFICERS
-- TO SELF, I'M SORRY, BUT
OFFICERS HAVE CONTACTED THEM
THREE TIMES BEFORE OR AN OFFICE
REACHES OUT TO THEIR LEAD
CASEWORKER AND THE CASEWORKER
SAID YOU REALLY NEED TO
TRANSPORT THEM TO THE CRISIS
SOLUTION CENTER. THE WAY TO DO
THAT IS IN HANDCUFFS. WE'RE
LEAVING THIS OPEN TO OFFICER
DISCRETION BUT ARE SETTING A
VALUE STATEMENT IN THE ORDINANC
AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENTIATION
BETWEEN THE THREAT OF HARM
STANDARDS.
>> OKAY. SO THEN OFFICERS IS
THIS A CHANGE TO THEIR SCOPE OF
WORK NOW, SO IT'S SOMETHING
THEY'LL HAVE TO BE TRAINED IN
AND LEARN OR YOU'RE SAYING THIS
IS WHAT THEY ESSENTIALLY ALREAD
DO?
>> OBVIOUSLY ANYTIME YOU DRAFT
NEW POLICY YOU'LL HAVE TO TRAIN
TO THE POLICY. THE SHORT ANSWER
IS YES, OF COURSE, THEY'LL BE
TRAINING. HOWEVER, THIS IS A
DECISION POINT OFFICERS MAKE
EVERY SINGLE DAY NOT JUST FOR
USE AND POSSESSION OFFENSES, BU
ANY OFFENSE. THEY'RE ALWAYS
GAUGING THE NEED TO ARREST
SOMEONE AND THE WHY, RIGHT? SO
OFFICERS AGAIN I MEAN THERE'S
MANY RESTRICTIONS BOTH ON THE
JAIL AND OTHER PLACES TO WHO CA
BE BOOKED, RIGHT? OFFICERS ARE
CONSTANTLY MAKING DECISIONS WHO
CAN BE ARRESTED AND WHEN TO MAK
ARRESTS. WE ARE AMPLIFYING AN
EXISTING DECISION MAKING
PARADIGM OFFICERS ALREADY ENGAG
IN AND WILL PUT MORE GUIDANCE
AND POLICY AND WE'LL HAVE TO
TRAIN TO THAT POLICY.
>> JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS
SO IF SOMEBODY IS -- IF THE
OFFICER OBSERVES SOMEBODY USING
DRUGS, BUT THEY'RE NOT A THREAT
OF HARM TO OTHERS AT THAT
MOMENT, IF THE DRUGS KICK IN,
THEN THE OFFICER LEAVES AND THE
CAUSE HARM TO OTHERS, AT THAT
POINT IS THE CITY SOMEHOW LIABL
FOR THAT? DOES THIS CREATE A
LIABILITY FOR US IF WE DON'T
ENFORCE THE STATE LAW?
>> I WOULD DEFER. I'LL HAVE TO
DEFER TO LAW ON THAT QUESTION.
MEAN I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
DUTY PRESUMED IN THIS ORDINANCE
THAT WOULD PRACTICALLY CREATE A
DUTY TO PREVENT FUTURE CONDUCT
THAT THE OFFICER CAN'T PREDICT,
BUT AGAIN, THE PERSON IS IN
PUBLIC, IS ON A CITY STREET, IS
NEAR -- THERE'S ALL THESE
FACTORS OFFICERS WILL CONSIDER
AGAIN AS INSTRUCTED BY POLICY
AND TRAINING TO EVALUATE THIS
DECISION POINT. AN OFFICER WON'
EVER HAVE PERFECT INFORMATION.
THEY CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE,
BUT WE'LL GIVE THEM ENOUGH TOOL
TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND
TO HAVE RESOURCES TO CALL IN
FOLKS THAT CAN HELP THEM, RIGHT
IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE
OFFICERS. IT WILL BE LEAD. WE
DELIVER CARE. IT WILL BE JON
EHRENFELD'S HEALTH ONE TEAM, A
LOT OF OTHER ACTORS AND PLAYERS
THAT WILL BE PART OF THIS
EXPANDED SYSTEM AND EXPANDED
APPROACH. THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ONLY APPROACH DOES NOT AND
CANNOT WORK. WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH OFFICERS AND IT'S NOT TH
RIGHT WAY TO APPROACH IT. SO WE
HAVE TO APPROACH IT FROM A
BROADER SPECTRUM AND THAT'S WHA
THIS ORDINANCE SEEKS TO DO.
>> LAST QUESTION. WHEN I'M
TALKING TO OFFICERS IN THE FIEL
ABOUT THIS CONCEPT, I GUESS
THERE IS A CONCERN THAT IT IS A
ADDITIONAL LAYER OF COMPLEXITY
AND STANDARD THAT WOULD BE PUT
ON THEM. SOME OF THE FEEDBACK I
ALSO GET IS THAT THE KING COUNT
JAIL CURRENTLY THEIR BOOKING
POLICY'S VERY RESTRICTIVE. SO I
CREATES A LOT OF FRUSTRATION
WHEN OFFICERS SEE A CRIME
COMMITTED, THEY BRING SOMEBODY
INTO KING COUNTY JAIL AND THE
JAIL, WHICH IS RUN BY KING
COUNTY, IS REFUSING TO BOOK
THEM. SO I'M WONDERING WHETHER
THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS WIT
KING COUNTY JAIL TO -- WE HAVE
CONTRACT WITH THEM. IT'S
MYSTIFYING TO ME WHY KING COUNT
DOESN'T ALLOW OUR OFFICERS TO
BOOK PEOPLE WHO ARE BROUGHT IN.
TO THE EXTENT THE SUBSET OF
THOSE THEY INTERACT WITH UNDER
THIS ORDINANCE, THEY HAVE TO
BRING THEM IN, WILL KING COUNTY
JAIL TURN THEM AWAY LIKE WE HEA
STORIES ABOUT THEM DOING NOW?
>> THERE'S MANY POLICIES THAT
GOVERN OFFICER CONDUCT, BUT I
THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF
OFFICERS WILL UNDERSTAND THE
REASON AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS
NOT -- IT'S NOT ASKING THEM TO
REINVENT THE WHEEL. IT'S ASKING
THEM TO DO WHAT THEY ALREADY DO
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE CLEAR
ABOUT IT IN POLICY. WHEN WE DO
PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON THE
BOOKS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE
CLEAR IN POLICY AND TO BOOKING
WHO'S GOING TO BE BOOKED AND
WHO'S NOT GOING TO BE BOOKED.
THERE IS DEFINITELY JAIL. THERE
IS COVID FOR A LONG TIME BUT
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING
AND IN A PERFECT WORLD, TO BE
CLEAR. VERY RARELY I THINK THAT
WE WANT THESE CASES TO GET TO
THAT POINT. RIGHT? IN A PERFECT
WORLD, WE WOULD NOT BE LOOKING
VERY MANY OF THESE ARRESTS AT
ALL IN JAIL ARE COMING, THE IDE
WOULD BE DIVERTING THEM, WHETHE
PREARREST OR POST-ARREST, TO
SOME SORT OF OF ANOTHER SYSTEM
THAT CAN GET THEM ON MEDICATION
THEY CAN PUT THEM IN LINE FOR
HOUSING. THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT
IS MAKING THIS INDIVIDUAL TICK
AND HOW DO YOU HELP CURE THE
BEHAVIOR THAT IS CAUSING THE
HARM. SOME PEOPLE WILL BE BOOKE
AND IF THEY HAVE OTHER, THEY
WILL BE BOOKED THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING AND W
WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION W
HAVE IT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU ARE A
COSPONSOR. I SEE YOU ARE IN THE
QUEUE HERE.
>> YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
AND, DIRECTOR, FOR COMING HERE
THIS AFTERNOON TO TALK THROUGH
THIS BILL AND IS UN-INTRODUCED
THAT IS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR WORK OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AN
WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF
STAKEHOLDERS ON THE POLICY THAT
IS WITHIN THIS NEW PROPOSED
ORDINANCE AND THE COMPLEMENTING
EXECUTIVE ACTIONS THAT MAYOR
HARRELL HAS IN MIND. JUST TO
JUMP INTO THE ORIGINS OF THE
STANDARD, MY INTERPRETATION OF
THIS HAS BEEN SINCE, ULTIMATELY
THESE ACTIONS ARE DISCRETIONARY
ON THE PART OF THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH AND HOW THEY WANT TO
EXERCISE THEM. AS A COUNSELOR
ENDORSEMENT OF THE CONFIRMED
COURSE OF ACTION THAT MAYOR
HARRELL IS PUTTING FORWARD TO
MAKE A DIFFERENT ON OUR STREETS
AND FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF TH
COMMUNITY AND REALLY APPRECIATE
THE PERSONAL ATTENTION, PERSONA
LEADERSHIP THAT MAYOR HARRELL
HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND
REALLY CRAFTING THIS POLICY IN
COLLABORATION WITH A VERY BROAD
GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS, BUT I
GUESS I WOULD ASK DIRECTOR
MARBURG IF YOU THINK THAT IS A
FAIR REPRESENTATION OF THIS,
THAT THIS GETS IN OPPORTUNITY T
SUPPORT MAYOR HURLS EXECUTIVE
ACTION AND LEADERSHIP AND PUT U
IN A POSITION TO ENDORSE AN
EXECUTIVE PLAN OF ACTION TO MAK
PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.
>> AS I SAID EARLIER, WE REALLY
THINK THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS. TYPICALLY THOSE THAT
SAP ON OUR TASK FORCE FOR BEIN
ENGAGED IN THIS CONVERSATION TO
HELP INFORM THE DIRECTION THAT
WE WERE HE AND AND IT WAS A
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AND WE
PRESENT THE ASSISTANCE.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS
ORDINANCE AND RELATED LANGUAGE
IS SUPPORTED BY CHIEF DIAZ BASE
ON THE RELEASE THAT WAS SENT OU
ON OUR WORK ON THE TASK FORCE.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THAT IS TH
CASE?
>> IT IS.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING FROM READIN
SOME PUBLIC REMARKS IS THAT THE
SEATTLE POLICE UNION HAS ALSO
ENDORSED THIS ORDINANCE AND THE
LANGUAGE THAT IS WITHIN IT. IS
THAT TRUE?
>> THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING AS
WELL.
>> FOR THIS WORK THAT WE'VE DON
WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
ASSOCIATION AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN AT
THE TABLE, THERE WERE SUPPORTIV
STATEMENTS FROM LISA DO GUARD
AND TAR MOSS UPON THE RELEASE O
THE ORDINANCE ON A LOT OF THE
FEEDBACK AND EXPERIENCE THEY
BROUGHT TO SHIPPING IT AND CAN
YOU CONFIRM THAT STATEMENT OF
SUPPORT AS WELL?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
MADAM CHAIR.
>> IN QUEUE, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO NOT
TO MENTION THE ELEPHANT IN THE
ROOM BUT IT IS TRUE THAT THE
COUNCIL HAS TAKEN HITS FOR NOT
TAKING ACTION TODAY BUT I HAVE
TO KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN MONTHS
AND MONTHS SINCE LEGISLATION HA
BEEN BEFORE US. FIRST AND APRIL
WITH I SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO
MAKE PUBLIC USE A SIMPLE
MISDEMEANOR AND THAT WE PUT
FORWARD SIMPLE CONFORMING
LEGISLATION, WHICH FAILED TO
BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE THAT, SO
I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE FINALLY
MOVING FORWARD AND GETTING
ANOTHER CRACK TO CONFORMING TO
STATE LAW. SO MY QUESTION HAS T
DO WITH SOME OF WHAT WAS ALREAD
MENTIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON. FIRST I NEED TO SAY
THAT I HAVE BEEN CLEAR THAT
WHATEVER LAW WE PASSED MUST
CONFORM TO STATE LAW AND I WILL
OPPOSE ANY ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE
WITH THE CITY'S ATTORNEY
PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION AND/OR
THE MAYOR'S AUTHORITY TO DEFINE
THE POLICY BY WHICH HIS OFFICER
WILL MAKE ARREST AND SO THIS
LEGISLATION ITSELF HOWEVER, DOE
INSERT THOSE POLICIES DIRECTLY
INTO THE LETTER OF THE LAW,
ITSELF. FIRST OF SECTION 3 A BY
REFERENCE TO POLICIES AND
EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT WE HAVEN'
SEEN YET AND THEN IN SECTION 3E
THAT HAS BEEN READ TO US BY
ESTABLISHING THE THREAT TO HARM
STANDARD THAT WILL GOVERN THE
OFFICER'S DECISION TO MAKE AN
ARREST. WE DON'T YET KNOW THE
THREAT OF HARM THAT WILL BE
DEFINED, SO MY QUESTION IS, WHE
WILL WE GET THOSE POLICIES ON
THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER BECAUSE I'
ASKING MYSELF -- THOSE ARE SOM
OF THE THINGS I'M HOPING WILL
COME FORWARD BEFORE WE ACTUALLY
THOUGH BECAUSE IT IS WHEN OF TH
CONCERNS THAT I HAVE IS THAT WE
COULD BE VOTING ON A LAW THAT
HAS AN EXTERNAL -- THAT REFERS
TO EXTERNAL POLICIES, WHICH
COULD BIND HOW THIS ALL IS
ENFORCED. MY FIRST QUESTION IS
SIMPLY ON TIMING FOR THAT.
>> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
POLICY WE EXPECT TO BE DEVELOPE
MY DILI, BY MID-SEPTEMBER IS
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING
WITH SPD AND THEY ARE WORKING O
IT ACTIVELY RIGHT NOW. WITH
REGARD TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER,
AGAIN, OUR POSITION IS TO HEAR
SOME OF THE THOUGHTS OF THE
COUNCIL AS WE CONTINUE TO
FINESSE AND FINALIZE IT. I HAVE
OFFERED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I
WOULD DO IT AGAIN. I'M HAPPY TO
SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THE
SUBSTANCE WITH COUNCILMEMBERS
ANDY VOTES AND I THINK WE ARE
STILL FINALIZING THE DOCUMENT
AND WE DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE ON
RELEASE YET BUT WE WILL DISCUSS
FOR THE MAYOR AND GET BACK TO
THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU. YOU AND I HAVE
SPOKEN A LOT, SO I ASSUME WHAT
WE HAVE SPOKEN OF HAS ALREADY
BEEN CONVEYED. I HAVE ALWAYS
SAID THAT I THINK THAT A SIMPLE
STRAIGHT UP CONFORMING
LEGISLATION IS SIMPLER TO
ENFORCE BUT MOVING ON, I'M ALSO
WONDERING HOW THIS, INCLUDING
THE THREAT OF HARM TO OTHER
STANDARDS AS A CONDITION OF
ARREST WILL PLAY OUT IN REAL
LIFE BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING IF
IT CREATES A REBUTTABLE
PRESUMPTION THAT THE DEFENSE
WILL THEN EXPLOIT AS GROUNDS FO
DISMISSAL, SO WE ARE NOT TALKIN
ABOUT DURING THE TRIAL BUT
BEFORE THE TRIAL BECAUSE HOW
WILL OFFICERS PROVE THAT THEY
BELIEVED WERE NEW HARM TO OTHER
WAS OCCURRING IN AND HOW CAN TH
THREAT OF HARM GOVERN IN
OFFICERS DECISION TO ARREST BUT
NOT BE USED IN DEFENSE BY AN
ALLEGATION OF BIASED POLICING
BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TH
JUDGMENT THAT LED TO THE
DECISION TO ARREST. PRESUMABLY
THEY WILL SPEAK TO OUR LAWYERS
TOO.
>>'S CENTRAL STAFF HAVE BEEN
THINKING THESE QUESTIONS THROUG
AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IT WITH
THEM AS WELL. FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, TO ANSWER BOTH
QUESTIONS, FIRST WE HAVE TRIED
TO BE AS CLEAR AS WE POSSIBLY
CAN THAT THE DETERMINATION IS
AFTER A DECISION ON PROBABLE
CAUSE, SO CIVILLY CITED, THE
CRIMINAL CONDUCT ITSELF HAS
ALREADY OCCURRED. THE OFFENSE
HAS OCCURRED, MEANING SOMEBODY
HAS USED OR POSSESSED DRUGS ON
PUBLIC STREET. THE THREAT OF
HARM STANDARD IS A STANDARD RAT
AFTER THAT TENANT. SO IN ANY
SORT OF A CIVIL LAWSUIT AFTER
THE FACTOR IN A BIASED
COMPLAINT, THE FACT THAT THERE
WAS PROBABLE CAUSE WOULD BE A
DEFENSE TO THAT BUT THE REALITY
IS THAT THE BIASED COMPLAINT
CAN BE FILED ON ANY POLICY OR
ANY ACTIONS BY AN OFFICER AND
I'M NOT SURE THE THREAT OF HARM
STANDARD CREATES ANYMORE
LIABILITY OR RISKS. AGAIN, WITH
REGARD TO PROSECUTIONS IN THE
CRIMINAL DEFENSE, WE HAVE BEEN
CLEAR IN THE WATER AND INSTEAD
IT IS NOT AN ELEMENT TO BE
PROVED IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL .
WHAT AN ENTERPRISING PUBLIC
DEFENDER TRY TO MAKE IT SO?
POTENTIALLY, BUT I'M NOT SURE
HOW WE CAN BE ANY STRONGER AND
MORE CLEAR WITH WHAT OUR
LEGISLATIVE INTENT IS FROM THE
EXECUTIVE CITED CERTAINLY IF TH
COUPLE COMES UP WITH WAYS TO
STRENGTHEN MATTER TO ADDRESS
YOUR CONCERNS, THAT IS THEIR
PREROGATIVE, AS FAR AS THE
REVIEW PROCESS GOES. BE BACK
AGAIN, THIS IS ALL BECAUSE
PROBABLE CAUSE HAS ALREADY BEEN
ESTABLISHED AND SO THE FACT THA
PROBABLE CAUSE HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED MEANS THAT IS, IN
ITSELF, PROTECTING US FROM ANY
CLAIMS, WHETHER CIVIL OR
TERMINAL DEFENSE CLAIMS THAT TH
WRONG DECISION WAS MADE IN USIN
-- IN THE OFFICER USING THEIR
DISCRETION.
>> THAT IS IN LINE WITH THE
UNITS PERSPECTIVE.
>> I SHOULD NOTE THAT WE ARE AL
ON THE SAME PAGE HERE. DO NOT
EVERYBODY WAS USING DRUGS IN
PUBLIC SHOULD BE ARRESTED AND
THAT OFFICERS WILL USE AN
ALREADY DO USE, AND ALL THESE
OTHER LAWS, THEIR DISCUSSION AN
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE INCLUDE
THE EXERCISE OF THAT DISCRETION
WITHIN THE LAW ITSELF OR JUST
DEFERRED TO THE POLICIES AS SET
FORTH ELSEWHERE IN THE EXECUTIV
ORDER, ET CETERA.
>> AGAIN, I'M INTERESTED TO PUT
UP A FINE POINT. THIS IS
LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY THE
MAYOR. THE MAYOR AND THE
PROCESS THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A
LOT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS
VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM THAT WHEN
INTO THE LEGISLATION AND IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT RESONATED WITH
MANY OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WE
SPOKE TO ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.
AGAIN, IT IS WITHIN THE
COUNCIL'S PREROGATIVE TO VIEW
THE BILL AND MAKE AMENDMENTS TO
THE BILL AND TO HAVE THESE
DISCUSSIONS AND WE WELCOME THAT
DISCUSSION, BUT THE EXECUTIVE
FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO AND THIS IS
THE RIGHT LANGUAGE TO HAVE IN
THE BILL.
>> YES, IF I MAY, WHEN LAST
THING. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
LEARNED A LOT GOING THROUGH
THESE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE I
LEARNED THAT THE ACTIVE ARREST
DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN A
BOOKING. THE ACTING ARREST MEAN
THE OFFICER PURCHASE SOMEONE AN
PERHAPS TAKES THEM TO THE
PRECINCT AND SAYS, LET'S HOOK
YOU UP WITH A DIVERSION PARTNER
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT IS A
OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTRY INTO
DIVERSION OR TREATMENT OR A
DIFFERENT CHOICE, OBVIOUSLY.
>> WE WILL HAVE CLARIFYING
LANGUAGE, I THINK, COMING
FORWARD THAT MAKE SURE THAT IT
IS UNDERSTOOD THAT IN THOSE
INSTANCES WHERE SOMEBODY NEEDS
TO BE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN
ORDER TO DELIVER THEM .
>> THE WARM HANDOFF.
>> YES, THE WARM HANDOFF. BUT
THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED -- THAT
IS NOT DISCOURAGED UNDER THE
THREAT OF HARM TO SELF STANDARD
>> RIGHT. THAT IS ALSO IN THE
STATE LAW.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS, IF I MIGHT. WILL THI
BILL BE COUPLED WITH FUNDING TO
SUPPORT SUFFICIENT EXPANDING AN
SUSTAINED CONVERSION PROGRAMS.
WE KNOW THE BUDGET IS BEING
PROPOSED HERE IN A MONTH AND
WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL THE
PANELS THIS AFTERNOON WITHOUT T
THE DEGREE THAT THERE IS FUNDIN
AVAILABLE FOR DIVERSION AND
REFERRAL AND IT HAS A SCALE TO
MEET UP THE VOLUME OF THE NEW
REFERRALS, IS IN SUPPORTED THAT
THE RESOURCES BE SUFFICIENT AND
INVESTED INTO THE ALTERNATIVE
STRATEGIES OF THE PEOPLE ARE NO
BEING GIVEN A FALSE PROMISE IF
WE DON'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES
AND WHERE WILL THAT FUNDING COM
FROM? IS IT GOING TO BE COMING
FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE OF
THE BUDGET GIVEN THERE ARE OTHE
IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS THAT WE'V
MADE ACROSS THE BUDGET AND THE
EXPECTED GAP THAT WE SEE IN
REVENUE AND EXPENSES?
>> I WILL DEFER TO DEBBIE MAYOR
WASHINGTON ON THE SCOPE OF
FUNDING THAT WILL BE GOING TO
THE LEADING PROGRAMS. WHAT I
WILL SAY IS NOT ONLY WILL IT BE
A QUESTION OF FUNDING, BUT IT
WILL BE A QUESTION OF
PRIORITIZATION. WE HAVE ALREADY
SPOKEN TO LEAD AND TO REACH
ABOUT PRIORITIZATION AND
APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSING THESE
CASES TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE
ARE NO FALSE EXPECTATIONS OUT
THERE. IN ADDITION TO DIVERSION
I THINK AS WE NOTED, WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED A RUN $27 MILLION IN
FUNDING FOR OTHER SYSTEMS THE
GOVERNMENT OUR DIVERSION
SYSTEMS. FOR EXAMPLE,
OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR HARM
REDUCTION SERVICES. OPERATION
FUNDING FOR THE HEALTHONE
SYSTEM. CAPITAL FUNDING FOR WHA
WE HOPE TO BE A POSTABORTION
CENTER AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT
WILL LOOK AT ADDRESSING THE
GROUP CAUSES OF WHAT IS CAUSING
BEHAVIOR WHAT IS CAUSING PEOPLE
TO USE NARCOTICS ON THE STREET.
SO WE FEEL LIKE THOSE
INVESTMENTS OMA WHICH ARE NEW
INVESTMENTS, COUPLED WITH OUR
EXISTING INVESTMENTS WILL CREAT
A BETTER, MORE HOLISTIC SYSTEM
TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES, BUT
CERTAINLY, I CAN LOOK INTO THE
OTHER FUNDING QUESTIONS AS I'M
SURE YOU WILL WHEN THE BUDGET A
PROPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL CONTINUE
WITH MY QUESTIONS IF I MAY,
MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH AND I THINK
EARLIER YOU MAY HAVE SAID THAT
SPD WILL BE DEFINING THREAT OF
HARM STANDARDS. WITH THE THREAT
OF HARM STANDARDS NEAR WHAT IS
CURRENTLY IN WASHINGTON CASE
LAW?
>> NO.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME MORE?
>> SO WHEN ARE ADOPTING ANOTHER
LEGAL STANDARD. WE ARE GOING TO
BE SETTING UP THE STANDARD IN
THE BEHAVIOR THAT WAS SET THIS
IN SPD POLICY.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE SHOR
ANSWER ON THAT AND I WILL LOOK
INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT
CENTRAL STAFF. I'M INTERESTED
IN SEEING WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCE
ARE. I THINK THAT WE KNOW THAT
WASHINGTON STATE CASE LAW
REQUIRES A PERSON, A REASONABLE
PERSON, TO PERCEIVE THE
STATEMENT BEING INTERRUPTED AS
SERIOUS EXPRESSION OF INTENT TO
INFLICT BODILY HARM OR TAKE THE
LIFE OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. I
WILL LOOK INTO FURTHER ANALYSIS
ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THE EXECUTIV
AND CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSIS THAT
WE WILL SEE SOON. MY SECOND TO
LAST QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR, IS,
WHY IS THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS
EXPLICIT STATED NOT TO BE AN
ELEMENT OF THE CRIME THE STATE
HAS TO PROVE?
>> BECAUSE IT IS A DECISION THA
INFLUENCES OUR DECISION-MAKING,
NOT WHETHER OR NOT A CRIME HAS
OCCURRED.
>> OKAY. MY LAST QUESTION IS, I
A PERSON IS DETERMINED BY SPD T
PRESENT A THREAT OF HARM TO
OTHERS, DOES SECTION F IMPLY
THEY WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR
PREARREST DIVERSION? WHAT ABOUT
PRE-CHARGING FOR PRETRIAL
DIVERSION AS WELL?
>> I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE QUESTION. IF SOMEONE IS
PRESENTING A THREAT OF HARM ONL
TO THEMSELVES, THE IDEA IS THAT
WE WOULD OFFER VIA SPD AND OTHE
RESOURCES, DIVERSION AND OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO ARREST. IT MAY
BE THE CASE THAT THEY WOULD BE
ARRESTED AND AS FAR AS THEY
WOULD NEED TO BE TRANSPORTED
SOMEWHERE IN A SECURED CAPACITY
BUT THEY WOULDN'T BE GOING
THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IF
THEY WERE PLACED UNDER ARREST.
MAYBE I'M MISUNDERSTANDING YOUR
QUESTION.
>> YES, SORRY. I'M ACTUALLY
ASKING ABOUT THREAT OF HARM TO
OTHERS, SO NOT JUST TO
THEMSELVES.
>> NO, I MEAN THAT EVEN IN A
THREAT OF HARM TO OTHER
SCENARIO, THE IDEA WOULD BE THA
DIVERSION IS PREFERRED OUTCOME.
WHETHER THAT'S PREARREST OR
POSTARREST DIVERSION, A WARM
HANDOFF, WHETHER AT THE SCENE O
AT A PRECINCT OF A CASEWORKER
WOULD BE PREFERRED AND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT LEAD IN SPD
ALREADY DO ON A REGULAR BASIS
AND IF THAT DIDN'T OCCUR AND TH
INDIVIDUAL WAS BOOKED INTO JAIL
THEY WOULD STILL BE ELIGIBLE FO
ANY SORT OF DIVERSIONARY
SYSTEMS, WHETHER CURRENTLY
CONTEMPLATED OR TO BE CREATED I
THE FUTURE, SO WE ARE NOT
PLANNING ON THOSE DIVERSION
SYSTEMS IN THOSE ORDINANCES. WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE POINT OF
ARREST.
>> JUST TO POINT TO A PLACE IN
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WHERE WE
ARE TRYING TO CLARIFY THAT BUT
PERHAPS WE ARE NOT DOING A GOOD
ENOUGH JOB IS UNDER THREE POINT
TO A .140 D. IT STATES,
DIVERSION, TREATMENT AND OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO BOOKING ARE THE
PREFERRED APPROACH WHEN
ENFORCING THE CRIMES ADOPTED
UNDER THE SECTION CONSISTENT
WITH THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY OF
TWO ES TO SSP 5536 SECTION 2,
9, AND 10. SECTIONS 2, 9, AND 1
ADDRESS THE EXPECTATION FOR
DIVERSION TREATMENT AND OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO BOOKING.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS AND,
MOST IMPORTANT, TO THE
DAYLIGHTING OF THE PROPOSED
BUDGET IN JUST OVER A MONTH.
THANK YOU FOR LIKING THAT AND
THANKS AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR, FOR
THE PANEL THAT ARTICULATED THE
NEED FOR THOSE COMPETENCE OF
RESOURCES TO REALLY ENSURE THAT
THEY HAVE SUCCESSFUL MODELS.
>> I SEE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
YOUR HAND IS UP IN THE QUEUE AN
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A NEW SET
OF QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
IN SOME OF THE OTHER PERIODS OF
QUESTIONING WITH COLLEAGUES,
THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
TIMING OF THE RELEASE OF THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER. I SIMILARLY ,
YOU KNOW, AM INTERESTED IN
GETTING MORE CLARITY ON THE
TIMELINE OF RELEASING IT. MY
UNDERSTANDING, AND I DO FIND
THIS LINE OF REASONING
COMPELLING, IS IT MAKE SENSE TO
SEQUENCE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS,
FINALIZING THOSE EXECUTIVE
ACTIONS ON THE FINAL CONTOURS O
THE ORDINANCE. SO CAN YOU
CONFIRM, DIRECTOR, IF THAT IS
THE CASE ON THINKING OF THE
TIMING OF THE RELEASING OF THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER?
>> THAT IS OUR THINKING AND JUS
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WITH HAD
LOT OF ROBUST CONVERSATIONS
AROUND THE ORDINANCE AND WHAT I
WOULD LOOK LIKE, SO, AGAIN, WE
WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL THE
PROCESS THAT WE ARE ENGAGED IN
RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU JUST SAID ORDINANCE. DO
YOU MEAN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
>> EXACTLY. SORRY.
>> ARE THESE PROVISIONS THAT
COME IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE
ORDINANCE AROUND THREAT OF HARM
TO OTHERS IN FRONT OF HARM TO A
SELF OR ARE THOSE FAIRLY
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOME OF
THE COMPONENTS OF THE ULTIMATE
EXECUTIVE ACTIONS, INCLUDING TH
EXECUTIVE ORDER?
>> YES, THERE IS ALSO A SECTION
THAT WILL FOCUS ON DATA
COLLECTION, WHICH THE MAYOR
DISCUSSED IN HIS WORK GROUP
MEETINGS, AS WELL AS OTHER
LANGUAGE ROUNDUP VERSION AND
SOME OTHER GUIDANCE FOR
OFFICERS.
>> THANK YOU. GIVEN THAT LEVEL
OF ADVANCED TRANSPARENCY THAT W
HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE THAT HAS
BEEN PROMULGATED IN THE PROCESS
OF WORK THAT WE DONE AS PART OF
THE FEDERAL TASK FORCE, I WOULD
PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I WOULD
BE WILLING TO CONSIDER THIS
ORDINANCE AS EARLY AS OUR
SEPTEMBER 5th COUNCIL MEETING,
WHICH WOULD REQUIRE SOME CHANGE
TO INTRODUCTION REFERRAL,
POTENTIALLY, BUT GIVEN THAT THI
ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE ACTION IS
GOING TO BE, HAS BEEN
FORESHADOWED WITHIN THE
ORDINANCE WITHIN ITS FEDERAL
TASK FORCE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN
DOING OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS,
AND GIVING THAT IT HAS BEEN
FORESHADOWED THAT THE EXECUTIVE
-- THE EXCEPTIONAL EXECUTIVE
ACTIONS WOULD TAKE PLACE AFTER
THE FINAL PASSAGE OF THE
ORDINANCE THAT WAS FORESHADOWED
PUTTING ON THE RECORD, MY
INTEREST IN CONSIDERING AT THAT
DATE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, NOW
THAT I'VE RAISED THAT FEEDBACK
FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF AND
HEARD FEEDBACK ON WHAT YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THAT TIMELINE ARE
BECAUSE OF MODESTLY JUST BECOME
FOR MYSELF AND NOT FOR THE
ENTIRE COMMITTEE WHERE THE
COUNCIL.
>> IT'S OKAY, DIRECTOR, I'M
GOING TO PASS CENTER STAFF. I
THINK IT IS VERY INTEGRAL TO OU
COMFORT PROCESS. WE KNOW THAT
THE MAYOR IS INTERESTED IN SWIF
ACTION BY THE CAPITAL, GIVEN
STATEMENTS AS RECENTLY AS FRIDA
ON THE STATUS OF THE BILL. GIVE
THAT IT WAS NOT INTRODUCED TO
THE COUNSEL FOR THE INTRODUCTIO
HER REFERRAL CALENDAR LAST WEEK
AND KNOWING IT WILL BE ON
TOMORROW, THE IRC THAT WE WILL
BE VOTING ON. IT IS PROPOSED TO
BE REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC SAFET
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AN
IN WHAT YOU SUGGEST, COUNCIL
MEMBER LOUIS, I THINK AS YOU
RIGHTLY STATE. THE DECISION TO
SEND IT TO FULL COUNT FOR A FUL
COME TO VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 5th
WILL NOT ALLOW FOR ANOTHER
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND I THIN
THAT IS A GOOD PLACE. NOT TRYIN
TO SHUT YOU OFF FROM THE
CONVERSATION, DIRECTOR, BUT I
WOULD MOSTLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM
COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF ON HOW
THAT WOULD AFFECT PROCESS.
>> I'M WITH COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF. AT THE MOMENT, IF YOU DO
INTRODUCE EVER FOR TOMORROW TO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE, MOST LIKELY
THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS BILL
WOULD HAPPEN IS UP TO THE 12th
AND THEN THE FULL COUNCIL VOTE,
ASSUMING THAT BILL IS VOTED ON
AS AMENDED SOME TIMBER 12th AND
ASSUMING THERE ARE LIMITS WHAT
HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 19th. IF
YOU WERE TO CHANGE, AS
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS INDICATES,
THE REFERRAL TO FULL COUNCIL,
DECEPTIVE IF IT WOULD BE THE
NEXT TIME THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO
VOTE ON THE BILL ITSELF, BUT
WITHOUT A COMMITTEE HEARING. OU
CURRENT PLAN IS TO, HOPEFULLY,
HAVE A MEMO OUT ON THIS VERSION
OF THE BILL LATER THIS WEEK AND
THEN ASSUMING THIS WOULD GO TO
COMMITTEE AND NOT THE FULL
COUNCIL, HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT
FIND THAT WE CAN SEPTEMBER 5th
SO WE COULD PREPARE THOSE AND
CONSIDER THEM AT THE SEPTEMBER
12th MEETING SO THAT YOU ALL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON
THOSE AMENDMENTS AND THEN VOTE
ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. FOR THA
SEPTEMBER 19th COUNCILMAN AND
IF YOU DID WANT TO REFER
STRAIGHT TO COVER, WE WOULD HAV
TO DO SOME CHANGE IN THAT
TIMELINE BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY
INVOLVE WORK DURING RECESS OVER
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO GET
AMENDMENTS CRAFTED, VETTED BY
THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FO
US TO DO THE WORK OF DRAFTING
AND THEN GET THOSE READY IN TIM
FOR A FULL COUNCIL VOTE AND THE
AMENDMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE
VOTED ON AT FULL CANCEL ITSELF.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE I ENTERTAI
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS, IS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE PROCESS SE
OF THINGS THAT YOU WANTED TO
TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LET US
KNOW ABOUT?
>> NOT AT THE MOMENT. THANK YOU
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.
>> THIS IS ABOUT THE SUGGESTED
GOING TO FULL COUNCIL. AGAIN, I
AM IMPATIENT TO GET THIS MOVING
FORWARD, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, ON
LAST WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9th I
THINK IT WAS, WE RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC DEFENSE STATING THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION AND ASKING THAT IT
BE AMENDED TO GRANT SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES THE
AUTHORITY TO COVER CASES FOR
TREATMENT AND IN THIS, IT IS
LIKELY TO BE ILLEGAL BECAUSE TH
POWER TO CREATE A JUDICIAL
DIVERSION PROGRAM IS INVESTED I
THE STATE LEGISLATURE UNDER
ARTICLE FOUR SECTIONS 1 AND 12
OF THE WASHINGTON STATE
CONSTITUTION AND THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES SHARON
AND POWER IS DERIVED FROM THE
LEGISLATURE PER RCW 3520. THIS
IS WHY WE SHOULDN'T WORKSHOP OU
CRIMINAL CODE BECAUSE IT TOOK
TWO YEARS FOR THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO FIX IT BECAUSE O
COMPETING INTERESTS AND THE
INTENSE -- THE INTENSE SCRUTIN
AND INTEREST OF THE BODY
POLITICKING AND GETTING
SOMETHING THAT. IF WE DO -- I'M
SURE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE
ONLY AMENDMENT, SO I AM JUST
PUTTING IT IN PARKING THAT THER
THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO
BALANCE DISCUSSING THIS AND
POTENTIALLY OTHER AMENDMENTS
WITH URGENCY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. COST MEMBER PETERSON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I THINK TH
TIMING DEPENDS A LOT ON
AMENDMENTS, SO I HAD A QUESTION
ABOUT THE FUNDING. AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, THE HERALD
ADMINISTRATION FOUND $27 MILLIO
AND IS LOOKING AT 7 MILLION FOR
CAPITAL AND 20 MILLION FOR
SERVICES. WITH ABBY ALLOCATED
THROUGH A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL,
WHICH I'M A FAN OF, SO THAT WE
CAN GET THE BEST PROPOSAL, HAVE
A COMPETITIVE -- GET WHAT WE
NEED TO DO THE BEST WORK OR IS
IT A DIRECTOR WERE THAT YOU ARE
ENVISIONING?
>> SO THE 7 MILLION IN CAPITAL
WILL BE AN RFP PROCESS, SO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IN COLLABORATION
WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND LARGELY
BASED ON WHAT YOU HEARD HERE
TODAY, THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPES
OF PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT TO FIN
WITH THAT CAPITAL MONEY. FOR
EXAMPLE, A STABILIZATION CENTER
SOMEWHERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO AFTE
THEY'VE OVERDOSED TO BE
STABILIZED AND PUT ON
MEDICATION. EXPANDED FACILITIES
OR CASE WORKING FOR MEDICATION
DELIVERY. THOSE ARE THE TYPES O
THINGS WE ARE HOPING TO FIND
WITH A CAPITAL MONEY BUT WE WIL
GO THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCES
FOR THAT. THE OPERATIONAL MONEY
IT IS $20 MILLION BUT AS I
MENTIONED, IT IS SPREAD OVER A
NUMBER OF YEARS. THE NUMBER WIL
BE ALLOCATED IN PART TO SOME
EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE
BEEN WORKING WITH THAT WE
BELIEVE ARE SUCCESSFUL. TO THE
HELP ONE PROGRAM FOR EXPANDING
THEIR OVERDOSE RESPONSE AND
THEIR CASE WORKING COMPONENTS
AND THEN WE WILL BE PUT TOWARDS
SOME OF THE CENTERS THAT WOULD
BE FUNDED WITH OUR RFP MONEY.
THEY WOULD NEED OPERATIONAL
COST. WE ARE TRYING TO
PRE-ALLOCATE MONEY FOR THOSE
OPERATIONS. WE VERY MUCH WILL
WANT TO BE RESPONSIVE AND ON TH
SAME PAGE AS THE COUNSEL WHEN W
DO THESE DAYS WHEN WE MAKE THES
INVESTMENTS AND WE WILL PROVIDE
AS MUCH INFORMATION WE CANNOT T
THAT POINT.
>> ON THE REPORTING, YOU
MENTIONED -- THERE IS A SECTION
IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ABOUT
REPORTING BUT THAT IS MAINLY
ABOUT THE ARREST RECORDS, SO I
KNOW IN PORTLAND OREGON , THEY
EXPERIMENTED WITH SOME
DECRIMINALIZATION AND IT DIDN'T
GO WELL, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL
REPORTS AND THEY HAD SOME
BEFORE-AND-AFTER INFORMATION,
WHICH I THINK WAS HELPFUL, SO
YOU HAD MENTIONED SOME
ADDITIONAL REPORTING, SYSTEMIC
REPORTING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
SO I JUST WENT TO SIGNAL MY
INTEREST IN THAT AS WELL AND
MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD BE IN THE ORDINANCE.
>> THE MAYOR, WITHIN THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND HE HAS SAI
THIS PUBLICLY, HE'S VERY
INTERESTED IN COLLECTING DATA O
WHO ARE RESERVING. WHAT ARE THE
NUMBERS OF FOLKS THAT ARE
ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND ARE USING
THOSE OPENLY AND ARE THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE FINDING
WORKING TO REDUCE THOSE NUMBERS
AND REDUCE OVERDOSES? ALSO,
WITHIN ALL OF THE OTHER PROGRAM
WE'RE GOING TO FUND, THEY WILL
HAVE THEIR OWN METRICS OF
SUCCESS IN THEORIES OF CHANGE.
ROUGHLY THOSE TOGETHER WILL
CREATE A WINDOW THAT SHOWS
WHETHER WHAT WE ARE DOING IS
WORKING AND IF NOT, IT WILL GIV
US ENOUGH INFORMATION TO HELP U
PIVOT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SORRY. I HAVE A SICK KID AT
HOME FOR A SECOND HERE. I'M
GOING TO TRY AND DULL TASK. ONE
SECOND. I JUST WANTED TO CHIME
IN HERE ON THE CONCEPT OF AN
EXPEDITED TIMELINE. WE HAVE NO
IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET. WE ARE NOT
RECEIVING THE PROPOSED BUDGET
FOR AT LEAST FIVE WEEKS. WE HAV
HEARD, REPEATEDLY TODAY FROM TH
PANELIST AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO ENSUR
THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR
THE PROGRAM IN ORDER FOR THIS T
NOT BE A FALSE PROMISE. I JUST
WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE PARTS OF
HAVING THIS CONVERSATION,
COUPLED WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGE
FOR 2024, AT LEAST. I ALSO WANT
TO OFFER CLARITY. I HEARD
SOMEBODY SAY THAT WE FOUND $27
MILLION COME FROM ALL THE STUFF
I HAVE HEARD, WE HAVE NO
INDICATION OF WHERE THE 7
MILLION THAT WAS FOUND IS COMIN
FROM. WE KNOW THERE WAS 20
MILLION. WE KNOW THERE IS 20
MILLION COMING FROM A FENTANYL
SETTLEMENT, BUT AGAIN, THAT IS
PAID OUT OVER 18 YEARS AND, YOU
KNOW, THAT IS LESS THAN $1
MILLION A YEAR OVER 18 YEARS AN
IT DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO COVER
WHAT WE KNOW THAT IS BEING ASKE
OF US FROM OUR PARTNERS. WE NEE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THIS
UPCOMING BUDGET TO ENSURE THAT
BETTER SERVE THE POPULATION THA
THEY INTEND TO SERVE AND WE NEE
SERVICES NOW. IN 2024, WE
APPROVED THE BUDGET THAT WOULD
HELP US CLOSE THE GAP FOR LAST
YEAR THERE WAS A GAP OF $7
MILLION GOING