>> THE SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AN
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT'S 11:00 A.M.,
I AM LISA HERBOLD. CLIQUE DESK
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
9:32 A.M.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR LOUIS?
>> PRESENT. FIVE PRESENT.
>> TODAY WE WILL BE HEARING ONE
ITEM. FOR DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE. WE WILL NOW
APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR OUR
COMMITTEE MEETING. ANY
OBJECTIONS? SEEING AND HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS, TODAY'S AGENDA I
ADOPTED. BEFORE WE MOVE INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT I DO WANT TO SAY
A FEW WORDS. I FEEL REALLY
COMPELLED TO ADDRESS THE
RECENTLY RELEASED BODY CAM
FOOTAGE AND AUDIO RECORDING
REGARDING CARELESS AND INHUMANE
MESSAGING ABOUT DEATH OF --
APPRECIATE THE REMARKS OF JOEL
MERKEL, CO-CHAIR OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION WHO
DESCRIBED THIS VIDEO AS HEART
RAKING AND SHOCKINGLY
INSENSITIVE AND DAMAGING TO THE
TRUST THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS
TRYING TO BUILD WITH SEATTLE
COMMUNITIES. WHILE I AM ANGRY
AND DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT
WAY THE DETECTIVE TALKED ABOUT
FOOT FATAL COLLISION, I
APPRECIATE WE ARE TRYING TO FIN
AN DAYLIGHT THIS TYPE OF CULTUR
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN
CONTINUE TO PUSH HIM ONTO SHIFT
TO REFORM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AS HORRIFYING AS THIS
CONVERSATION WAS TO HEAR I ALSO
WANT TO SAY I AM THANKFUL TO
POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES WHO
DISCOVERED THIS AND
APPROPRIATELY ESCALATED THESE
COMMENTS THROUGH THEIR CHAIN OF
COMMAND TO THE CHIEF'S OFFICE.
THANKFUL THAT CHIEF DIAZ
REFERRED THE MATTER TO OPA FOR
INVESTIGATION. AS THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
PRESCRIBES. AND, AS WE ARE
LOOKING TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS,
THINK KEEPING OUR FOCUS ON THE
TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO SEE
THEIR WORK AS GUARDIANS, NOT
WARRIORS, AND WORKING TO HELP
THE DEPARTMENT TO SHIFT OUR
CULTURE TO SEEK SUPPORT AND
RETAIN OFFICERS WITH AN INTERES
IN PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE AND
UPHOLDING THE PEACE AND
WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY. WITH
THAT, WE WILL TRANSITION INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL MODERATE
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN TH
FOLLOWING MANNER. EACH SPEAKER
WILL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO
SPEAK, BECAUSE OF THE LARGE
NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE
SIGNED UP. I WILL ALTERNATE
BETWEEN VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. I WILL CALL
ON EACH SPEAKER BY NAME AND IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE AND THE SIGN IN FORM. I
YOU'VE NOT YET REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO, YO
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION. ONC
I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME, IF YOU
ARE USING THE VIRTUAL OPTION,
YOU WILL HEAR A PROMPT AND ONCE
YOU'VE HEARD THE PROMPT, WE ASK
THAT YOU PRESS ÷6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF. PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING
BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM WHICH YOU ARE ADDRESSING
AND SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT O
THE ALLOTTED TIME. ONCE YOU HEA
THE TIME, WE ASK THAT YOU BEGIN
TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS. IF YO
DO NOT END YOUR COMMENTS AT TH
END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME
PROVIDED, THE SPEAKERS MIKE WIL
HAVE TO BE MUTED AFTER 10
SECONDS TO ALLOW US TO HEAR FRO
THE NEXT SPEAKER. ONCE YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT IS COMPLETED, WE
ASK THAT YOU DISCONNECT FROM TH
LINE AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINU
FOLLOWING THE MEETING WE ASK
THAT YOU DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR THE LISTING OPTIONS
LISTED ON THE AGENDA. WE'VE GOT
50 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT SO FAR. 10 FOLKS WHO AR
SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY AND 31 WHO
ARE SIGNED UP IN PERSON. I WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN THE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS AND THE ONLINE SPEAKER
AND WE WILL START WITH SOME IN
PERSON SPEAKERS. LET'S START
WITH TARA MOSS, FOLLOWED BY
SEVERE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
I AM COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
PURPOSE DIGNITY ACTION. WE
OPERATE CO-LEAD WHICH IS AN
INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WING
OF LEAD DIVERSION SERVICES AND
WE ALSO PROVIDE PROJECT
MANAGEMENT FOR LEAD CITYWIDE.
THE SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH
LEAD ARE BASED ON PRINCIPLES OF
HARM REDUCTION BECAUSE THAT
APPROACH IS BOTH HUMANE AND
OFTEN MOST EFFECTIVE IN ENGAGIN
PEOPLE ON A LONG RECOVERY
JOURNEY BUT WHILE IN LEAD , WE
MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT
AND WE DON'T LEAVE THEM THERE.
THE GOAL IS TO SUPPORT
INDIVIDUALS OVER A LONG ARC OF
CHANGE THAT REFLECTS HOW
COMPLICATED AND NONLINEAR
CHANGES FOR PEOPLE. WE OFFER A
DECADE OF EXPERIENCE SHOWING IT
IS POSSIBLE TO COMBINE CASE
MANAGEMENT BASED IN HARM
REDUCTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PROSECUTORS TO ACCOMPLISH
PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND TO BENEFIT
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE APPRECIATE TH
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE REFLECTS. AT THE SAME
TIME, DISCRETIONARY DECISIONS
MUST ALWAYS BE SCRUTINIZED TO
ENSURE WE AREN'T INADVERTENTLY
COMPOUNDING RACIAL DISPARITY
WITH THE CHOICES OF WHO TO
DIVERT AND THE QUALITY OF CARE
PROVIDED. WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE
THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE
REQUIRES REGULAR DATA COLLECTIO
--
>> THANK YOU. YOU CAN FOLLOW UP
WITH YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. WE'VE GOT SEVERE AN
AFTER THAT I AM NOTING THAT WE
HAVE A FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL
IN THE ROOM AND I WOULD LIKE TO
OBSERVE THE COURTESY OF HAVING
REPRESENTATIVE DON MASON FOLLOW
LATANYA SEVERE.
>> I'M A BLACK NON-BINARY RENTE
IN D2. I AM HERE AGAIN TELLING
YOU ALL AGAIN TO REJECT THIS NE
CHANGE TO THE CRIMINAL CODE TO
PROSECUTE DRUG POSSESSIONS AND
PUBLIC DRUG USE. LET'S VISIT
SAN FRANCISCO TO SEE HOW THEIR
WAR ON DRUGS IS GOING. IN SAN
FRANCISCO, OVERDOSE DEATHS
DECREASED IN 2021 AND 2022, THE
THEY GOT A NEW DISTRICT ATTORNE
WHO VOWED TO TAKE A LAW AND
ORDER APPROACH TO THE OPIOID
OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC. JUST LIKE
SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON
AND COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON
AND ALEX PEDERSEN. SAN
FRANCISCO'S NEW WAR ON DRUGS IS
GOING VERY BADLY. IN DECEMBER O
2022, THE SAN FRANCISCO DISTRIC
ATTORNEY SHUT DOWN A CRITICAL
DAY SHELTER AND SERVICE
PROVIDER. AT THE END OF MAY TH
CITY LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE TO
ARREST PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF USIN
DRUGS IN PUBLIC. THE RESULT,
DRUG-RELATED DEATHS HAVE SURGED
BY 41%. A THIRD OF THE OVERDOSE
VICTIMS WERE BLACK. DESPITE
BLACK PEOPLE MAKING UP ONLY 5%
OF THE CITY'S POPULATION. VOTE
NOW.
>> FOLLOWING DON MASON, WE WILL
HAVE AUSTIN HAYNES.
>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR HAVIN
THIS HEARING. MY NAME IS DON
MASON, FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE AND I AM HERE TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE CHILDREN. AND T
SHAME YOU AS A COUNSEL. IN ALL
OF YOUR AMENDMENTS AND ALL OF
YOUR DECISION-MAKING AND
PROBLEM-SOLVING, YOU NEVER
CONSIDERED THE CHILDREN. YOU
HAVE ALLOWED THIS CITY TO
SURROUND OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE
GOING TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY WITH
ILLICIT DRUGS, FENCING, I'M
SPEAKING RIGHT NOW, I SPENT TIM
OVER HERE AT 12th AND KING
STREET. WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL
THERE AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS
NORMALIZE THE WORST, MOST
EGREGIOUS BEHAVIOR A CHILD CAN
SEE. I AM ASKING YOU TO BE A
HERO TODAY. BE A HERO FOR THE
CHILDREN. GO BACK TO THE DRAWIN
BOARD AND DRAW INTO THIS
LEGISLATION. DRUG-FREE ZONES.
THERE IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT THA
MAKES PEOPLE THINK THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE DRUG-FREE ZONES BU
WE DO NOT. IT'S NOT THE LAW.
MAKE IT THE LAW THAT NOBODY --
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS AUSTIN HAYNES. AUSTI
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DOPPLER.
DAMPER. SORRY.
>> HELLO, I TOOK TIME OFF WORK
IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE TO TESTIFY.
I'M A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT AN
HOMEOWNER AND BY WIFE AND I ARE
EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD. WE'V
LIVED THE RESULTS OF DEFUNDING
THE POLICE AND GIVING ADDICTS
AND HOMELESS FOLKS THE ABILITY
TO RUIN A GREAT CITY. WE
WITNESSED A MURDER IN FRONT OF
OUR FRONT DOOR. WE ARE SCARED T
LIVE HERE. OH, NO. THIS MORNING
ON A CITY OF SEATTLE STREET, WE
FOUND THE FUEL TANK OF MY WIFE'
CAR. THIS EXPENSE WE CAN ABSORB
BUT SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS
CANNOT. MY WIFE AND I HAVE
OPTIONS AND WE MAY LEAVE UNLESS
WE SEE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ON
CRIME, AND OPEN DRUG USE. WE
ALSO VOTE ON EVERY BALLOT. I'M
IN FAVOR OF THIS DISTILLATION.
IMPLORE EVERYONE OF YOU TO HAVE
A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS
WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH
ADDICTION AND WHO HAVE BEEN
CLEAN AND SOBER FOR A COUPLE OF
YEARS AND ASK THEM IF THEY FEEL
IT'S THE RIGHT PATH. I'VE SPOKE
WITH HUNDREDS. I'M CERTAIN YOU
WILL HEAR A RESOUNDING NO. THAN
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAMPER
FOLLOWED BY SHAWN BLACKWELL.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. TODAY
I COME IN PEACE. USUALLY I AM
READY TO GO AT YOU ABOUT THE WA
ON DRUGS TACTICS. USUALLY I'M
REALLY JUST SAYING HOW
PROBLEMATIC IT CAN BE. BUT, I
THINK TODAY WE CAN BE ABLE TO
MEET SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
THE 27 MILLION THAT'S COMING OU
OF HERE THAT I HOPE YOU CAN BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE TO NOT ONLY
INVEST INTO SOME OF THESE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT HERE SUCH
AS REACH AND LEAD OUT HERE IN
THE COMMUNITY, I THINK AS
COUNCILMEMBERS, AS OPPOSED TO
LISTENING TO THESE NEGATIVE
COMMENTS, STIGMATIZING OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
IMPATED BY DRUGS, THAT YOU CAN
ALSO GO OUT HERE AND MEET THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED,
BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE
UNHOUSED BY MONEY THAT WAS
PROMISED FROM COUNTY AND CITY
COUNCIL. I JUST HOPE THAT AT
THIS POINT IN TIME WE CAN BE
ABLE TO MEET EACH OTHER IN THE
MIDDLE. AND THAT'S ALL I GOT FO
Y'ALL TODAY.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAWN
BLACKWELL. AFTER THAT, BARB
WILSON.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. I
PROJECT LEAD IN WEST PRECINCTS
CAMP HILL, DOWNTOWN ALSO PROJEC
MANAGE THIRD AVENUE PROJECT. I
HEAR FROM DESPERATE OWNERS,
OPERATORS AND BUSINESSES EVERY
DAY IMPLORING US TO REDUCE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN THE
COMMUNITY. MY ENTIRE FOCUS IS O
INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY FOR TH
ENTIRE COMMUNITY. HOPEFULLY IN
AN UPSTREAM, PROACTIVE WAY. WHE
WE'D HAS ENOUGH CASE
MANAGEMENT, WE ARE ABLE TO
EFFECTIVELY INTERVENE, INCREASE
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE COMMUNIT
FEELS THAT. WE, IN LEAD, ARE
ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO
FULFILLING THE COUNCILS
ORDINANCE AND FULFILLING THE
VISION IN AN EFFECT WAY AND WE
COMMEND THE MAYOR FOR CREATING
FRAMEWORK FOR DIVERSION THAT HA
A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO BE THE
MOST PROGRESSIVE AND HIGHLY
IMPACTFUL ORDINANCE IN THE
COUNTRY. WE ALSO GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT OF
COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD AND --.
THANKS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BARB WILSON.
LEAD LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
FOR MICROSOFT. MICROSOFT
BELIEVES MAJOR EMPLOYERS HAVE A
IMPORTANT ROLE ADDRESSING THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP, PHILANTHROPY, AND
POLICY, WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY
WITH OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
REGION TO SUPPORT STRONG,
VIBRANT, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE
URGE YOU TODAY TO VOTE IN FAVO
OF THIS LEGISLATION AND WE AGRE
WITH THE BALANCE BETWEEN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND TREATMENT. THAN
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LARS ERICKSON AND LARS WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY ADRIAN. LARS?
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
LARS ERICKSON AND I'M HERE
PROVIDING TESTIMONY ON BEHALF O
THE 2500 MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
METRO CHAMBER AND THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION. TODAY, AS
WE HAVE SINCE MAY, WE ARE URGIN
THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT AN
ORDINANCE ALIGNING LOCAL LAW
WITH RECENTLY PASSED STATE
LEGISLATION REGARDING DRUG USE
AND POSSESSION TO ADDRESS THE
CRISIS AND HARM CAUSED BY
FENTANYL AND OTHER ILLEGAL DRUG
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE AGREE
WITH THE INTENT OF LEGISLATION
UNDER CONSIDERATION TODAY. HELP
PEOPLE GET TREATMENT AND ENFORC
THE LAW. AS YOU DELIBERATE AND
DISCUSS, WE ALSO HOPE THAT THE
FINAL LEGISLATION PASSED TODAY
WILL BE SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE AN
WE EXPECT THE PRACTICAL
REAL-WORLD APPLICATION TO MAKE
GOOD ON THE INTENT. PASSAGE OF
LEGISLATION TODAY IS ONE STEP.
THE MEASURES OF SUCCESS WILL BE
THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS WE
WILL SEE MORE PEOPLE IN
TREATMENT, FEWER PEOPLE ON THE
STREETS, AND FAR FEWER
OVERDOSES. WE URGE YOU TO KEEP
THOSE TANGIBLE OUTCOMES IN MIND
AS YOU DELIBERATE TODAY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ADRIAN MEESE FOLLOWED BY
REVEREND HARRY BOLDEN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ADRIAN MEESE
AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF
-- AND OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCAT
COMMUNITIES ON THE DANGERS OF
FENTANYL AND DRUG OVERDOSE
THROUGH O█UR EVENTS BOOKS AND
OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT WE PURSU
TODAY. BE THAT I LOST 11 PEOPL
AND TRYING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN
THE COMMUNITY AND PUT A STOP TO
FENTANYL AND DRUG USE AND DRUG
OVERDOSE AND I WANT TO MAKE A
CHANGE BY A REHAB PROGRAMS AND
FACILITIES LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT
COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR MOTHER. IT
COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR FATHER,
YOUR SISTER, YOUR BROTHER.
EVERYBODY IS VULNERABLE TO THE
DANGERS OF FENTANYL AND DRUG
OVERDOSE SO HELP US STOP THIS
PROBLEM TODAY. HELP US STOP THI
PROBLEM BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T --
IF WE DON'T DO IT, WHO WILL? AN
THAT'S ALL I'M GOIN TO SAY.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS REVEREND
HARRIET WALDEN FOLLOWED BY
BRENT.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU.
PERSONALLY, I HAD A FENTANYL
EXPOSURE AND ALMOST DIED. I'M
ASHAMED TO TALK ABOUT IT WHEN I
WAS HERE BEFORE. I'M 77 YEARS
OLD AND NEVER BEEN INVOLVED WIT
DRUGS. I THINK WE HAVE A REAL
PROBLEM IN SEATTLE AND I THINK
IT'S TIME WE DO IT'S HARD.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO IT'S
HARD. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WIT
THE STATE LAW OR THE STATE
ORDINANCE. IT'S NOT THE WAR ON
DRUGS. WAR ON DRUGS WAS A
FELONY. THERE'S A MAJOR
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FELONY AND
A MISDEMEANOR AND I THINK PEOPL
DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THOSE TWO. SO, I GUESS
THIS WILL BE A START, BUT IT'S
NOT WHAT IT COULD BE. IT'S TIME
FOR SEATTLE TO REALLY WANT TO D
WHAT'S HARD. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE
TO HAVE -- IF YOU RAISE
CHILDREN, AND ESPECIALLY -- YOU
HAVE TO HAVE SOMEPLACE WHERE YO
ARE WILLING TO DO WHAT'S HARD
AND I THINK THAT MOTHERS WOULD
STAND BEHIND CITY COUNCIL DOING
WHAT'S HARD. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRENT,
FOLLOWED BY SAM WOLF.
>> HELLO, COUNSEL. I LIVE AT
NINTH IN VIRGINIA AND I'VE BEEN
A SEATTLE RESIDENT SINCE 1986.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS
MEASURE. CB 120645 . FOR MANY
REASONS. I WILL GIVE YOU A
COUPLE EXAMPLES AS TO WHY. I
HAVE SEEN THE DEGRADATION OF OU
STREETS IN THE LAST FOUR OR FIV
YEARS. IT'S BECOME SUCH A
SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE
DRUG DEALERS ON THIS STREET.
OPEN AIR AND ABLE TO SELL AS
WELL AS THE DRUG USERS THAT ARE
HARMING THEMSELVES . SO WE ARE
NOT TAKING CARE OF ANYBODY,
ACTUALLY, SO, THIS BILL SHOULD
HOPEFULLY HELP THAT SITUATION,
BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO
LIVE HERE. THEY WANT TO MOVE
AWAY. YOU ARE LOSING THE TAX
BASE BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESS TO
HELP EVERYONE ELSE. I DON'T
BELIEVE IN STIGMATIZING ANYBODY
OR DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANYBODY
BUT I BELIEVE IN SAFETY IN THE
CITY AND THAT IS YOUR MAJOR
RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SAM
WOLF AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO
SOME OF OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SAM
WOLF, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
FOR THE LEED PROGRAM. I
COORDINATE LEAD DIVERSION
SERVICES AND I HAVE THE HONOR O
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS
IN THE CID. TO DESIGN
STREET-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR
DRUG-RELATED CRIME IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD. PDA APPRECIATES
THE MAYOR'S APPROACH TO THIS
ORDINANCE WHICH EMPHASIZES
DIVERSION TO CARE. THAT IS A
CLEAR ADVANCE BEYOND THE STATE
LEGISLATION. WE ALSO DEEPLY
APPRECIATE THE SUBSTITUTE BY
HERBOLD AND LEWIS THAT WOULD
ESTABLISH A STANDING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE. OUR
IMMUNITY HAS SOME OF THE MOST
COMMITTED AND ADVANCED
PRACTITIONERS OF MODERN RECOVER
IN THE NATION. THEIR INSIGHTS
OFTEN DON'T MAKE IT INTO POLICY
CONVERSATIONS. THE LEWIS AND
HERBOLD RAPOSO MEANS WE WOULD
HAVE A CHANCE TO TIGHTEN UP OUR
DIVERSION AND CARE SYSTEMS WHIC
IS NEEDED IF WERE GOING TO
IMPROVE CONDITIONS ON OUR
STREETS AND OUTCOMES FOR THE
PEOPLE WE ARE WORKING WITH. THE
MAYORS FENTANYL TASK FORCE IS
CONVENING THIS FALL AND WILL BE
A GOOD START BUT WE ARE GLAD TO
SEE THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE
COMMUNITY INPUT AND EXPERTISE
PERMANENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PUBLI
POLICY. THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE A FEW MORE
PEOPLE IN PERSON WHILE I'M
PULLING UP THE ONLINE SIGN-UP
SHEET. NEXT WE HAVE COLIN AND
COLIN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB
>> I'M A CASE MANAGER WITH THE
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICE
CENTER AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU
ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THIS MEASUR
BECAUSE THIS DIRECTLY TARGETS
THE CLIENTS THAT I WORK WITH
EVERY DAY. AND, I KNOW THAT
NOBODY WANTS TO SEE SOMEBODY
SPARKING UP ON THE BUS OR
SOMETHING. I'VE SEEN IT MYSELF.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
PEOPLE WHO USE THESE DRUGS ARE
NOT THE PROBLEM. IT IS A BLACK
OF SUPPORT. IT IS A BLACK OF
HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS THAT -
SORRY. BUT, WE NEED TO FUND HAR
REDUCTION AND APPROACHES TO
THIS PROBLEM. OTHERWISE IT'S NO
GOING TO GO AWAY. A NEW WAR ON
DRUGS IS NOT GOING TO FIX IT.
YEP. AND, YEAH. VOTE AGAINST
THIS BILL. THANKS. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER AFTER JACOB
IS KATE RUBIN.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JACOB AND I HAVE BEEN A
HOMEOWNER IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT FOR THE PAST 32 YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TO YOU. MY CAREER HAS
BEEN FOCUSED ON HOUSING AND
SERVICES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH
HIV AND EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. I WAS THE LEAD
AUTHOR OF THE FIRST COPY OF THE
PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS IN KIN
COUNTY AND MORE RECENTLY A SUIT
OF RESOURCES DEVELOPED FOR
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
TITLED HOMECOMING, LIFE AFTER
INCARCERATION. TIME AND AGAIN
OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS, EFFORTS
BY LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS TO SOLVE SUBSTANCE
USE ISSUES THROUGH
CRIMINALIZATION AND ENHANCED
POLICING HAVE FAILED AND THESE
POLICIES HAVE DISPROPORTIONATEL
IMPACTED PEOPLE OF COLOR AS
SPECIALLY THOSE WITH
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE. THE
PROVEN SOLUTIONS CENTER AROUND
SINCERE, ROBUST INVESTMENTS IN
PERSON CENTERED CARE, HOUSING,
EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, FOOD
SECURITY, AND FAMILY STABILITY.
ALL OF OUR MONEY SHOULD BE GOIN
THERE. I AM OPPOSED TO CB
120645. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATE
RUBIN AND KATE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY DENNIS SILLS.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KAT
RUBIN. I LIVE IN -- OF SEATTLE.
I AM CALLING TODAY TO URGE YOU
TO VOTE NO ON THE RECENT COUNSE
BILL, CB 120645 THAT
CRIMINALIZES SIMPLE DRUG
POSSESSION AND DRUG USE. THIS
REGRESSIVE MEASURE TAKES US
RIGHT BACK TO THE FAILED WAR ON
DRUGS, HARMING PUBLIC HEALTH AN
TARGETING MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES. HOUSING FIRST IS
THE EVIDENCE-BASED, MOST
EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO ANY
HOMELESSNESS, BACKED BY MULTIPL
NATIONAL STUDIES. WE ARE HEADIN
INTO BUDGET SEASON AND WE ARE I
A BUDGET DEFICIT. INSTEAD OF
ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL CRISIS
AT ITS ROOT, INVESTING AND
HOUSING FIRST, THIS BILL WILL
DRAIN OUR CITY RESOURCES,
DISPROPORTIONATELY HARM OUR
BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS, AND
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, AND
OVERCROWD OUR JAIL. DO THE RIGH
THING AND VOTE NO ON COUNSEL
BILL 120645. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DENNIS
SILLS, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNIT
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT, MY
NAME IS DENNIS SILLS AND I WORK
ON HOUSING. APH PROVIDER TO
UNHOUSED ADULTS IN SEATTLE. WE
SEEK TO MEET RESIDENTS WHERE
THEY ARE WHEN THEY ENTER OUR
HOUSING, WE PRACTICE HARM
REDUCTION STRATEGIES WITH
ACHIEVING -- WE ARE PARTNERING
WITH THE CITY TO -- WE SUPPORT
THE AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED TODAY
BY COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
LEWIS AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUED
. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENDING
HOMELESSNESS AND DECADES OF
EXPERIENCE SHOW SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER CAN LEAD TO HOUSING
INSTABILITY. WE ALSO KNOW --
INVOLVEMENT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
INSTABILITY. SO WE APPRECIATE -
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE MUST BE
AN AVENUE TO DIRECT INDIVIDUALS
TO TREATMENT WHEN THEY ARE A
THREAT TO OTHERS AND WHEN THEY
WILL NOT ENTER TREATMENT
VOLUNTARILY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MICHAEL, FOLLOWED BY CARISSA
KNIGHT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MICHAEL AND
I'M A RESIDENT AT DISTRICT THRE
AND I'M CALLING TO ASK YOU TO
REJECT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD EXPAND THE CITY'S
CRIMINAL CODE TO PROSECUTE DRUG
POSSESSION AND PUBLIC DRUG USE
WE HAVE DECADES OF EVIDENCE THA
INCARCERATION DOESN'T PREVENT
OVERDOSE NOR GIVE PEOPLE THE
HELP THEY NEED TO. IT WOULD
INCREASE OVERDOSES AND RACIAL
DISPARITY AND THE REST AND JAIL
TIME. IT WOULD BRING US BACK TO
REGRESSIVE, RACIST STRATEGIES
INSTEAD OF COMPASSIONATE AND
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CARISSA KNIGHT FOLLOWED BY
JASON WALSH.
>> HI, CAN YOU CURE ME?
>> AS WE CAN.
>> GREAT. I'M CARISSA AND I LIV
IN DISTRICT 4 AND I WANT TO
IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
EVERYONE SO I OPPOSE THIS NEW
WAR ON DRUGS. THROUGH VOLUNTEER
WORK I'VE MET SEVERAL COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, SOME OF WHOM USE DRUGS
INCLUDING ONE WHO SHARED SO MUC
SHAME AND PAIN ABOUT IT. ANOTHE
PERSON SAID SHE STAYED UP ALL
NIGHT BECAUSE SHE WAS SO AFRAID
OF PEOPLE COMING INTO HER TENT
AND WHAT I WANT FOR THEM IS
PROFESSIONAL CARE, RESOURCE,
COMMUNITY SUPPORT, SAFE HOUSING
AND NOT A POLICY THAT COULD BE
EVEN MORE DEADLY THAN THE DRUG
USE ITSELF. I'M CURIOUS WHY
CRIMINALIZATION IS OUR ANSWER
WHEN IT SEEMS TO DEFY EXPERT
RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRIORITIZE
THE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH WITH
PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION RATHER THAN --
MEASURES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JASON WALSH FOLLOWED BY
BRANDY FLOOD.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JASON AND I'M HERE TO CALL ON
COUNSEL TO UNEQUIVOCALLY SAY NO
TO CB 120645. WHEN I WAS A
MASTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH STUDEN
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
I WORKED WITH A HEALTH DISTRICT
TO DEVELOP A -- OF THE COUNTY
WANTED TO -- AND GET PEOPLE
INTO TREATMENT, NOT INTO CELLS.
I LEARNED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDE
GREW OUT OF POVERTY, PAIN AND
TRAUMA. I LEARNED THAT AS WE
DECREASE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS AND
CONVERSELY INCREASE THE
PENALTIES FOR USE, WHEN YOU
CHOOSE TO CRIMINALIZE SUBSTANCE
USE, THIS PERPETUATES POVERTY,
INCREASES STIGMA, TRAUMA AND
HARM WHICH CAN LEAD TO INCREASE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE. CRIMINALIZATIO
DOESN'T BREAK THE CYCLE. IT
PERPETUATES IT. SO WHAT IS YOUR
REAL CHARGE HERE AS
COUNCILMEMBERS? WHAT IS YOUR
MISSION? TO SERVE OTHERS OR TO
SENTENCE THEM? SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER CAN BE TREATED WITH
HEALTHCARE, NOT HANDCUFFS. VOTE
NO TO A NEW WAR ON DRUGS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RANDY FLOOD AND BRANDY WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE
STANFORD.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RANDY
FLOOD, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE
BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND A
HOMEOWNER. I'M ALSO A DIRECTOR
OF COMMUNITY FOR THE REACH
PROGRAM AND I MANAGE THE
CONTRACT FOR LEAD AND I WORK
WITH LEAD CO-LEAD TO WORK IN
THIS POPULATION. MY CASE
MANAGERS SERVE FOLKS BEING
DIVERTED TO CARE. I AGREE WITH
REVEREND WALDEN. THIS IS NOT A
WAR ON DRUGS. THIS IS SOMETHING
DIFFERENT. I APPRECIATE THE
MAYOR'S APPROACH. IN ORDER FOR
THIS WE HAVE TO ASK, THERE HAVE
TO BE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO
DIVERT PEOPLE TO WHICH IS WHY I
APPRECIATE THE BEHAVIOR HEALTH
TASK FORCE AND THE FENTANYL TAS
FORCE THAT IS COMING UP. MY
STAFF AND I WALK THE STREETS
DOWNTOWN ALL THE TIME. THEY ARE
RIDDLED WITH BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH DRUG USE
THAT NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO
SERVICES BUT WE DON'T HAVE
ADEQUATE SERVICES TO CONNECT
PEOPLE TOO. I URGE THE COUNCIL,
IF THEY ARE GOING TO PUSH THIS
FORWARD, CONNECT PEOPLE TO
ADEQUATE TREATMENT, HOUSING,
SHELTER, MENTAL HEALTH, BETTER
CRISIS SERVICES, AND IF I HAVE
SOMEBODY IN MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW
WHO NEEDED TO BE IN TREATMENT O
CRISIS, IT WOULD TAKE ME TWO
MONTHS TO GET THEM IN BECAUSE
THERE'S SO MANY SYSTEMATIC
BARRIERS TO DOING THAT. IT
SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. WHEN
PEOPLE NEED AND ASK FOR HELP WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT
IMMEDIATELY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CATHERINE STANFORD AND
CATHERINE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
BRIAN CANNON.
>> HI AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SPEAKING
ON BEHALF OF THE BUILDING OWNER
AND MANAGERS IN SEATTLE, KING
COUNTY, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW IF PERSONALLY, I'VE BEEN
ENGAGED IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AS
MARKET AND IN MY OWN BUSINESS
FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND -- HAS
BEEN ENGAGED IN PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUE SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
IT IS CRITICAL TO VOTE THIS BIL
OUT OF COMMITTEE AND ONTO THE
FLOOR COUNSEL. IT HAS COST US
IN HUMAN SUFFERING AND CONTINUE
ISSUES WITH OPEN AIR DRUG
DEALING ON OUR STREET. -- HAS
BEEN WORKING HARD TO REVITALIZE
DOWNTOWN. PUBLIC DRUG USE IS ON
BARRIER TO ATTRACTING TENANTS,
LEAVING US WITH LESS FOOT
TRAFFIC AND MORE EMPTY
STOREFRONTS DOWNTOWN. IT'S AN
ENDLESS CYCLE. WE SUPPORT THIS
ACT AND WILL INCLUDE MEASURES T
INCLUDE SERVICES AND TREATMENT
OPTIONS IN THE PROGRAMS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BRIAN CANNON AND BRIAN WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS
JEFFRIES.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BRIAN CANNON.
I RECEIVED A COMMUNITY SAFETY
AND HOSPITALITY -- MASTER. MY
COMMENTS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE
ORDINANCE. THE FENTANYL CRISIS
HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN AND
CAUSE HARM TO INDIVIDUALS IN TH
COMMUNITY. OVER THE PAST YEAR
OUR INVESTOR TEAMS HAVE
ADMINISTERED NARCAN TO PEOPLE
OVER 180 TIMES AND IN THE PAST
WEEK ALONE, SEVEN TIMES. ONE KE
COMPONENT OF THE ORDINANCE IS
THE FOCUS ON DIVERSION. I
BELIEVE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO INCREASE RESOURCES FOR
EXISTING PROGRAMS SUCH AS LEAD
AND CO-LEAD. MY TEAM IS WORKED
WITH LEAD FOR THE PAST DECADE
AND WE'VE SEEN THE LEAD PROGRAM
HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF SUCCESS BY
PROVIDING STABILITY FOR MANY
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED WITH
ADDICTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ISSUES. THEIR APPROACH HAS
BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROGRAM IS A
CAPACITY AND CURRENTLY HAS TO
TURN AWAY MANY CANDIDATES WHO
WOULD BE A GOOD FIT. I ASK YOU
TO PASS THE ORDINANCE AND
PROVIDE RESOURCES NEEDED TO
SCALE THE LEAD PROGRAM TO MEET
THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR
DIVERSION AND SERVICES. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICHOLAS
JEFFRIES AND NECKLACE IS
FOLLOWED BY RANDY GREEN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS NICHOLAS
JEFFRIES AND I WORK WITH
VACATING AND EXPUNGING CRIMINAL
RECORDS AND I VOTE TO VOTE NO O
THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE THE
MONEY SPENT IMPLEMENTING THE
PROGRAM CAN BE USED TO CREATE
UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS VERSUS
LOOKING AT THE DOWNSTREAM
IMPACT. IT'S TIME WE START
FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT HELP
PEOPLE GET INTO HOUSING AND
ACCESS RESOURCES AND HELP PEOPL
MANIFEST THEIR GREATEST SELVES.
FROM FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE I
COULD SEE THE CRIMINALIZATION O
DRUG USE, MORE SPECIFICALLY,
GIVING PEOPLE MISDEMEANORS,
REALLY HELPS -- IT PUTS BARRIER
IN PLACE OF GETTING HELP. IT
PUTS BARRIERS IN PLACE OF
ACCESSING EMPLOYMENT AND AS WE
KNOW, WITH THE RENT HIKE AND HO
MUCH EVERYTHING COSTS IN
WASHINGTON, IF YOU DON'T HAVE
STABLE EMPLOYMENT AND DON'T MAK
A LIVABLE WAGE, WE ARE
CONTINUING TO PERPETUATE THIS
VICIOUS CYCLE. AND I THINK IT'S
TIME THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO
HELP EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY. TO
HELP EVERYBODY IN THIS TOWN
MANIFEST THEIR GREATEST SELVES.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
HAVE AN AMAZING DAY. [ APPLAUSE
]
>> THANK YOU. RANDY IS SHOWING
IS NOT PRESENT SO WE WILL MOVE
TO MATTHEW FOLLOWED BY ISABEL.
>> HI, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS
MATTHEW AND I AM A HOMEOWNER IN
DISTRICT 3 AND A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER IN DISTRICT ONE AND I
REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE AR
HERE AGAIN JUST A FEW MONTHS
AFTER YOU HEARD HOURS UPON HOUR
OF TESTIMONY ABOUT THE HARM THI
LEGISLATION WILL CAUSE. HAVING
DRUG POSSESSION AND PUBLIC DRUG
USE TO OUR CRIMINAL CODE WOULD
BE AN INEFFECTUAL, RACIST AND
DEADLY RESPONSE TO A HORRIFYING
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. I CAN HEA
SOME OF YOU THINKING THAT THIS
BILL IS DIFFERENT. IT'S ALL
ABOUT HARM REDUCTION AND
DIVERSION AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
IT EVEN SAYS SOMEWHERE IN THERE
THAT THE WAR ON DRUGS WAS VERY
BAD FOR BLACK PEOPLE. WE ARE
NOT FOOLED AND DON'T FOOL
YOURSELVES. THIS IS A BAD
LEGISLATION. SO MUCH OF IT IS
HANDWAVING PROMISES AND MAGICAL
THINKING JUST TRUST US, WHILE A
THE HEART OF IT IT WILL ADD TO
THE CITY CODE A PATH FOR SPD TO
ARREST AND JAIL PEOPLE WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND FOR
THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROSECUTE
WITH THE PREDICTABLE EFFECT OF
ACCELERATING THE ALREADY
DEVASTATING LOSS OF LIFE THE
EPIDEMIC HAS CAUSED. THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ISABEL,
FOLLOWED BY ANDREA SUAREZ.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL
I LIVE IN D4 AND I VOTED THERE
FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS. YOU ARE
SET TO VOTE AGAIN ON AMENDMENT
CB 120645 THAT WILL INCREASE
INCARCERATION OF VULNERABLE
INDIVIDUALS UNDER THREAT OF
INCARCERATION FINDS AND
INCREASED VIOLENCE. YOU ARE
VOTING TO HAVE SPD, A DEPARTMEN
THAT HAD THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF
SWORN OFFICERS AT THE JANUARY 6
INSURRECTION AT OUR NATIONS
CAPITAL, SIX OF OUR SWORN
OFFICERS WERE IN D.C. ATTEMPTIN
TO -- OUR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS FOR
THE 2020 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITE
STATES. YOU ARE SAYING YOU WANT
THESE SAME INDIVIDUALS IN THAT
SAME DEPARTMENT TO COMBAT OUR
DRUG CRISIS? THAT SAME
DEPARTMENT INVALIDATING THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF LIFE . A GRAD
STUDENT SET TO GRADUATE WITH HE
MASTERS IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS
WAS NOT WORTH MORE THAN, QUOTE,
1000 AND OF LIMITED VALUE. IF
WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE
DEPARTMENT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
INVALIDATING THE LIFE OF A GRAD
STUDENT, HOW MUCH MORE DO THE
INVALIDATE THE LIVES OF THOSE
WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH AID? AR
YOU VOTING FOR MORE RESOURCES T
MURDER SEATTLE RESIDENCE? [
APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREA
AND AFTER ANDREA WE WILL MOVE
BACK TO IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS ANDREA
SUAREZ, FOUNDER OF WE HEART
SEATTLE. I HAVE YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE OF PRACTICAL, BOOTS
ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCE
PROVIDING OUTREACH AND CLEANING
UP ENCAMPMENTS. REMOVING DEBRIS
AND DIRTY NEEDLES AND ACTUALLY
NINE BODIES AND HOSTING DOZENS
OF VIGILS AND I DON'T HAVE A LO
OF NUMBERS TODAY OR STUDIES OR
COMMITTEES, BUT ONLY TO URGE TH
COUNCIL TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE
TO SAVE LIVES NOW. NO MORE LIVE
SHOULD PASS BECAUSE WE ARE IN
THIS MEETING. THE DEATH TOLL I
ON ALL OF OUR WATCHES RIGHT NOW
AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS. I'M NOT
HERE FOR POLITICAL REASONS OR
IDEOLOGICAL REASONS. I JUST WAN
TO SAVE LIVES. WE HAD ANOTHER
SHOOTING LAST NIGHT AT AN OPEN
AIR DRUG SCENE ON THIRD AND
BLANCHARD WERE OPEN AIR USE OF
DRUGS ARE PERMITTED. IF WE WOUL
STOP PERMITTING THAT WE COULD
REDUCE THE LOSS OF LIVES AND WE
NEED TO STOP TREATING PEOPLE
LIKE HOSPICE PATIENTS BY BAREL
KEEPING THEM ALIVE THROUGH
FAILED HARM REDUCTION EFFORTS.
WE NEED INTERVENTION OUTREACH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS TERESA LAMB FOLLOWED BY JULI
BUCK.
>> THERE ARE NO FACTS TO SUPPOR
THIS WOULD DO ANYTHING BUT
DEEPLY HARM MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES AND YOU ALL KNOW
THIS. THERE IS NO BUDGET TO
SUPPORT THIS AND THERE IS NO
PLAN, NO CARE, COMPASSION OR
COMMITMENT TO DO ANYTHING OTHER
THAN IMPRISON OUR MOST
VULNERABLE CITIZENS. IF YOU
REALLY WANT TO MAKE POSITIVE
CHANGES IN THE CITY, STOP
PUSHING FOR INHUMANE LAWS LIKE
THIS AND SHOW THE CITIZENS, ALL
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE THAT YOU AR
LOOKING FOR REAL SOLUTIONS, NOT
PANDERING TO BUSINESSES AND
ELECTION CYCLES. WORK WITH THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT KNOW WHAT TH
NEEDS ARE AND KNOW THESE
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES INSTEAD
OF PUTTING YOUR EFFORTS INTO GA
LIGHTING EVERYONE AND PASSING
SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW WILL
COST LIVES. IF YOU DO SUPPORT
THIS INHUMANE LAW, DON'T PRETEN
TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ARE WORKING
TO END HOMELESSNESS. YOU CAN'T
SUPPORT THIS LAW AND CLAIM TO
SUPPORT THESE COMPASSIONATE
EFFORTS AT THE SAME TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIA
BUCK. AND JULIA WILL BE FOLLOWE
BY PETER.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM
NOT IN FAVOR OF THE BILL
CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION.
AND I WANTED TO BRIEFLY PRICE I
IN A BIT OF A LARGER CONTEXT
BECAUSE SIMILAR BILLS ARE
HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
IN ALL 50 STATES. THE RED STATE
OF TEXAS AND THE BLUE STATE OF
WASHINGTON ARE HAVING SPECIAL
SESSIONS ABOUT THE NEED TO
INCREASE HER METALLIZATION. AND
I THINK THAT THERE IS A ECONOMI
PURPOSE TO THAT. THE MARKET OF
CONSUMER GOODS MADE FROM PRISON
LABOR IS $11 BILLION. AND I
THINK THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO RE-INDUSTRIALIZE THIS
COUNTRY. USING INVOLUNTARY LABO
BECAUSE AMERICAN WORKERS ARE
VERY EXPENSIVE, WHICH IS A
RESULT OF HEALTHCARE BEING
EXPENSIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO
ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO PURSUE THI
ECONOMIC POLICY. THANK YOU,
GOODBYE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER
FOLLOWED BY --
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX. I ASKED
THAT COUNSEL REJECT THE NEW WA
ON DRUGS BILL. DO Y'ALL KNOW HO
TO IDENTIFY STRUCTURAL RACISM?
DESPITE LAVISH USE OF THE WORD
DIVERSION, THE BILL WOULD CREAT
A NEW LAW THAT CAN BE ENFORCED
AND DESPITE REPORTED GOOD
INTENTIONS, THE WAR ON DRUGS AN
SPD IN PARTICULAR HAVE A RECORD
OF RACIST AND DEADLY OUTCOMES.
THAT IS STRUCTURAL RACISM. IF
YOU NEED MORE, YESTERDAY WE
HEARD A POLICE CONVERSATION THA
TOOK PLACE AFTER AN OFFICER
KILLED -- WHILE SPEEDING TO AN
OVERDOSE. THE DETECTIVE WAS
LAUGHING AT THE DEATH. SPD IS
FULL OF HARMFUL PEOPLE WHO
PRIORITIZE THEIR OVERSIZE
PAYCHECKS OVER THE VERY LIVES O
SEATTLE RESIDENTS. STOP
INVOLVING COPS AND PUBLIC
HEALTH. STOP GIVING THEM MONEY
AND POWER. COUNCILMEMBERS, IF
YOU ARE DISTURBED BY THAT
RECORDING, STAND AGAINST THIS
LEGISLATION. BE A FORCE FOR GOO
INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING THIS
MALICIOUS BILL. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS -- FOLLOWED BY JOY
ABBOTT.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
FOR KILROY REALTY ASSOCIATION
AND I AM HERE TO URGE YOU TO
VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS COUNSEL
BILL. A CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY
BILL FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. M
REQUEST REFLECTS THE STRONG
MAJORITY OPINION OF SEATTLEITES
. WE KNOW FROM MULTIPLE ROUNDS
OF OPINION POLLING THAT OVER 80
OF SEATTLE VOTERS BELIEVE THAT
RESTORING A SAFE AND WELCOMING
ENVIRONMENT DOWNTOWN WILL BRING
BACK RESIDENTS, WORKERS AND
VISITORS AND CREATE THE MOMENTU
NEEDED TO PUT DOWNTOWN ON A
SUSTAINED PATH TO RECOVERY.
SINCE AUGUST 2022, -- HAS
ADMINISTERED NARCAN TO 120
PEOPLE. JULY HAS BEEN OUR
HIGHEST MONTH SO FAR WITH
NARCAN BEING ADMINISTERED TO 25
PEOPLE. SADLY THE CRISIS IS ONL
GETTING WORSE. THAT'S WHY I
BELIEVE THIS LEGISLATION IS A
CRITICAL STEP IN PROVIDING
MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCES FOR
TREATMENT AND DIVERSION
PROGRAMS. TO THAT END, PLEASE
MAKE SURE COMMUNITY-BASED
RESOURCES THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATE
SUCCESS ARE RENEWED AND EXPANDE
AREA THOSE INCLUDE THIRD AVENU
PROJECT, LEAD AND CO-LEAD.
>> THANK YOU AND I WOULD LIKE T
SAY THESE CHAMBERS ARE A PLACE
FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO
WORK FOR EVERYONE, SO, PLEASE,
YOUR COMMENTS ARE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. I DO NOT WANT ANY
DISRUPTION OF SPEAKERS BECAUSE
THAT HURTS THE ABILITY OF ALL O
US TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
PROCESS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JA
ABBOTT FOLLOWED BY SUSIE MORRIS
DO WE HAVE A JOY ABBOTT OR AJ
ABBOTT? IF WE DO NOT, IN THE
TOPIC --
>> I'M CINDY MORRIS.
>> SOMEBODY WHO WANTED TO
ADDRESS ISSUES ABOUT I'M
ASSUMING PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE
I.D.? NOT SEEING ANYBODY?
>> SHE HAD TO LEAVE. I'M SUSIE
MORRIS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
TWO AND I'VE LIVED IN MOUNT
BAKER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 25 YEARS
I AM ALSO AN EVP FOR LOWE
ENTERPRISES WHICH IS A HOUSING
DEVELOPER IN THE SEATTLE AREA.
WE HAVE A 550 UNIT PROJECT THAT
WAS RECENTLY BUILT AND WE ARE
UNDER LEASE RIGHT NOW OF THAT
PROJECT, 26 1/2% IS AFFORDABLE
AND THE REST IS MARKET RATE. A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE CITY
IS DOING TO PROVIDE HOUSING BUT
IT'S GETTING REALLY HARD WITH
CRIME THAT'S HAPPENING IN LITTL
SAIGON. THERE WAS SUCH A GREAT
EFFORT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
LOTS OF THINGS CLEANED UP AND
THEN IT WENT AWAY AGAIN. IT'S
REALLY BAD WE ARE LOSING
RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE ARE AFRAID
TO MOVE IN AND PEOPLE ARE MOVIN
OUT AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO
CHANGE. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS
MOVEMENT. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA
LYONS FOLLOWED BY MARIANNE
CHRISTIE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNIT
TO SPEAK. I AM A RETIRED TEACHE
HERE AS A MOTHER. I HAVE THREE
FRIENDS WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN
TO DRUG OVERDOSE. OUR STATE
LEADS THE NATION IN INCREASE AN
OVERDOSE FATALITIES. I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO ACT. I THINK WE ALL
WANT THE SAME THING HERE WHICH
IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
PURSUE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE
BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IS NO
WORKING AND, I SUPPORT THE BILL
I KNOW IT IS IMPERFECT, BUT, WE
NEED CHANGE. I'VE LIVED IN THIS
CITY FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND I
AM REALLY -- WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I JUST AM
BEGGING YOU TO ACT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MARIANNE CHRISTIE.
>> MY NAME IS MARIANNE CHRISTIE
I LIVE DOWNTOWN AND I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT THIS PUBLIC SAFETY
ORDINANCE. AS A RESIDENT OF
DOWNTOWN I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. I
WALK BY AND THROUGH DRUG MARKET
EVERY DAY ON THE WAY FROM MY
HOUSE TO THE DRUGSTORE WHICH HA
GOT EVERYTHING BEHIND BARS AND
LOCKED UP BECAUSE OF SO MUCH
THEFT AND THE DANGER OF BEING -
WORKING IN THAT PLACE. I THINK
THIS LEGISLATION IS A CRITICAL
STEP IN ADDRESSING ISSUES
PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCES%
FOR TREATMENT AND DIVERSION
PROGRAMS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
ALSO THAT THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS
COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES THAT
HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS IN
THOSE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE THIR
AVENUE PROJECT, LEAD, AND
CO-LEAD. SO I URGE YOU TO VOTE
IN FAVOR OF THE LEGISLATION
WHICH WILL MAKE OUR CITY A
SAFER, HEALTHIER PLACE FOR
EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
>> MOVING BACK TO VIRTUAL PUBLI
COMMENT, WE WILL HEAR NEXT FROM
RAMON HERNANDEZ FOLLOWED BY NIC
JEFFRIES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RAMON
HERNANDEZ AND I AM A PROJECT
MANAGER WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND OUR BUSINESS
ORGANIZATION IS TO RESOLVE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THE MAYORS AND TH
COUNCILMEMBERS EFFORTS TO
CONTINUE TO GUARANTEE
INFORMATION GATHERED ON RACIAL
DISPARITIES AND ARRESTS. THE
ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE THAT
PEOPLE WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY HA
HARSHER RESPONSES TO
DRUG-RELATED PROBLEMS ARE
INCLUDED -- DRUG USE POSSESSION
POLICY HAS POTENTIALLY ONE OF
THE BEST POLICIES IN THE NATION
AND IT CAN ONLY FULFILL ITS
PROMISES IF WE ALLOCATE THE
SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR SERVICES T
BE PROVIDED FOR CARE FOR THOSE
WHO ARE DIVERTED. WE DIVERSION
SERVICES ARE EVIDENCE-BASED,
HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND SUFFICIENT
FUNDING TO INCREASE RAM SUCH AS
THIS, THESE -- THEY CAN ONLY
FRUSTRATE AND DISAPPOINT THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE
TODAY IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF TH
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THEY ARE
ENCOUNTERING, ENACTING THIS
LEGISLATION ALONE IS NOT
SUFFICIENT. WE MUST ADAPT --
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER, NICK
JEFFRIES, IS SHOWING NOT
PRESENT. IF THAT CHANGES I WILL
COME BACK TO NICK. SIMILARLY
WITH GAYLOR NOT SHOWING PRESENT
WE GO DOWN TO LIAM NOLD FOLLOWE
BY CODY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LIAM AND I AM
CALLING YOU TO URGE YOU TO VOTE
NO ON THIS ORDINANCE. YOU
ALREADY HEARD TESTIMONY
REGARDING HOW FORCING PEOPLE
INTO DRUG TREATMENTS WITHOUT
ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING
TREATMENTS THAT LED THEM THERE
DOES NOT WORK AND INCREASES
OVERDOSE DEATHS. BEYOND THIS,
GIVES POLICE INCREASED
DISCRETION TO HARASS AND ENACT
VIOLENCE AGAINST BIPOC PEOPLE.
WE KNOW THIS BILL WILL
DISPROPORTIONATELY BE ENFORCED
AGAINST BIPOC PEOPLE. PLEASE
REJECT THIS BILL AND INSTEAD
INVEST IN HARM REDUCTION THAT I
NOT ATTACHED TO THE DEADLY
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CODY FOLLOWED BY CHRIS McKAY
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. READ
CRIMINALIZING DRUGS WILL PUSH
-- OUT OF THE SIGHT OF THE
GNERAL PUBLIC BUT IT WON'T SAVE
LIVES. I GET THAT VOTERS WANT T
SEE YOU DOING SOMETHING BUT THI
IS SWEEPING THE PROBLEM UNDER
THE RUG. YOU KNOW THIS AND I
KNOW YOU KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE
BOTH HEARD THE SAME STORIES FRO
THE SAME PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH
ADDICTION ON THE TASK FORCE.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE LIFE WORSE FO
PEOPLE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE. VOTE NO ON
PASSING THIS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS
McKAY FOLLOWED BY AIDAN CAROL.
CHRIS McKAY. I SEE YOU ARE WITH
US. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU AR
ON MUTE. CAN YOU HIT STAR IF YO
HAVEN'T ALREADY? ÷6, PLEASE.
THERE YOU GO. CHRIS, WE MIGHT
NEED TO COME BACK TO YOU. WE
WILL GIVE YOU ONE MORE TRY. WE
ARE NOT HEARING YOU. ÷6. ALL
RIGHT. I'M GOING TO TAKE ANOTHE
--
>> I'M HITTING A STAR -- AND IT
-- I KEPT HITTING IT. SORRY
ABOUT THAT. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME TO TESTIFY. I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WEST
SEATTLE FUNCTION ASSOCIATION.
FOR THE PAST YEAR WE'VE SEEN
ESCALATING DRUG USE IN OUR SMAL
PART OF POX PARKS. TAKEN OVER B
A SMALL HANDFUL OF MEN WHO
THREATEN PEOPLE AND DO DRUGS
OPENLY. I'VE SEEN THEM VANDALIZ
THE PARK AND YELL AT PEOPLE.
JUST YESTERDAY I SAW SOMEONE
SMOKING UP. THERE WERE FAMILIES
EVERYWHERE. SENIORS LITERALLY
CALL ME REGULARLY TO TELL ME
WHAT THEY ARE SEEING AND TO LET
ME KNOW THAT THEY ARE TERRIFIED
TO USE THE PARK. MERCHANTS CALL
ME REGULARLY TO TELL ME HOW OPE
DRUG USE HAS NEGATIVELY AFFECTE
THEIR BUSINESS IN A VARIETY OF
WAYS. I RECEIVED CALLS FROM
RESIDENTS WHO ARE STILL SCARED
AND THREATENED. IT'S SHOCKING T
ME THAT IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT
STRUGGLING INDIVIDUALS, WE HOLD
THE REST OF THE CITY HOSTAGE. I
AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TO SUPPOR
THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESSING THI
CHRONIC ISSUE AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY TO SUIT COURT
ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK CLOSELY
WITH MY ORGANIZATION TO HELP
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND
MAKE OUR PUBLIC SPACES SAFER.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AIDAN
CAROL AND THEY ARE SHOWING IS
NOT PRESENT SO OUR LAST VIRTUAL
PUBLIC COMMENTOR THAT IS SHOWIN
AS PRESENT IS BJ LAST. AFTER
RETURNING TO THE IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTERS AND FINISHING
THAT LIST I WILL GO BACK TO
CHECK AND SEE IF ANY OF THE
FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY
BUT ARE LISTED AS NOT PRESENT
ARE PRESENT BUT WE WILL HEAR
FROM BJ LAST, NEXT. AND THEN
GOING BACK TO IN PERSON WE'VE
GOT SUZANNE NEXT ON DECK. BJ.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BJ AND I'M A
HOMEOWNER IN BALLARD CALLING
ONCE AGAIN TO ASK YOU ONCE AGAI
TO REJECT CB 120645. THERE IS
NO SUCH THING AS A GENTLE WAR O
DRUGS. THIS WILL KILL PEOPLE AN
DESTROY LIVES WITHOUT HAVING AN
IMPACT. THIS BILL WILL NOT GET
SINGLE PERSON TO TREATMENT. IT
WILL NOT GET A SINGLE PERSON TO
DIVERSION BECAUSE THERE IS NO
FUNDING FOR ANY OF THAT IN THIS
BILL. IF YOU DID WANT TO
INCREASE FUNDING FOR THOSE
ITEMS, THEY PROBABLY WOULD'VE
WAITED TO DO IT UNTIL AFTER
BUDGET INSTEAD OF TRYING TO PUS
IT THROUGH NOW AND HOPE EVERYON
HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT THESE
PROMISES WHEN BUDGET COMES UP.
COUNCILMEMBERS PEDERSEN, NELSON
STRAUSS, AND LEWIS ARE ALREADY
TALKING ABOUT FINDING
EFFICIENCY IN NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET. THAT IS NOT GOING TO
INCREASE THE FUNDING. ALSO, DRU
POSSESSION IS ILLEGAL AND HAS
BEEN FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY IN
SEATTLE FOR DECADES. ANY
OVERDOSE YOU SEE THAT MAKES YOU
FEEL UNSAFE IN PUBLIC HAS
HAPPENED WHILE DRUGS ARE
ILLEGAL. THIS IS NOTHING NEW.
THE SAME STATUS QUO THAT HAS
GOTTEN US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY
WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS GIVES
REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY AND DAVISON
FULL DESTRUCTION DISCRETION ON
WHO TO PROSECUTE. AND SHE
PROSECUTES BIPOC COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AT MASH LOOSELY
MASSIVELY DISPROPORTIONATE
RATES.
>> BACK TO IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE SUZANNE KOTZ FOLLOWED B
BRADLEY.
>> MY NAME IS SUZANNE KOTZ.
LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CAPITOL
HILL AND MY COMMENTS ARE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS PUBLIC SAFETY
ORDINANCE. I, AND MANY OTHER
PEOPLE, ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY
PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE ABOUT
WRITING TRANSIT, ABOUT THE AIR
BEING TAINTED BY HARMFUL OR NO
HARMFUL AMOUNTS OF DRUGS. PEOPL
NEED TO FEEL SAFE PATRONIZING
RESTAURANTS IN LITTLE SAIGON
WHICH NO LONGER CAN OPERATE
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO
TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NOW. PEOPL
NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHOP ON THIR
AVENUE AND ENTER A STORE.
BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW THAT
THEIR CUSTOMERS CAN COME INTO
THEIR STORES WITHOUT HAVING TO
NEGOTIATE AN OPEN AIR DRUG
MARKET. THERE HAS TO BE SOME
POINT OF COMPROMISE BETWEEN WHA
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE
CENTER NEED AND EXPECT AND WHAT
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED WHO ARE
ON THE STREETS OBVIOUSLY, IN
GREAT DISTRESS -- SO I URGE YO
NOT ONLY TO PASS THIS BUT TO
MAKE SURE THERE IS FUNDING
ALLOCATED AT A LEVEL FOR
DIVERSION AND SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BRADLEY FOLLOWED BY MEGAN
O'HARA.
>> HI, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BRADLEY, A
CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT ONE. I
AM URGING YOU TO REJECT THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
EXPAND THE CITY'S CRIMINAL CODE
TO PROSECUTE DRUG POSSESSION. A
-- YOUNG ADULT CENTER AND SPOK
WITH MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
STRUGGLING WITH DRUGS. THESE
PEOPLE NEED CARE, SUPPORT, AND
COMMUNITY, NOT MORE INTERACTION
WITH THE POLICE. THESE FOLKS AR
HUMAN BEINGS LIKE YOU AND ME AN
DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS SUCH.
INSTEAD OF FOCUSIN ON BAND-AID
SOLUTIONS WE SHOULD ATTACK THE
ROOTS OF THESE ISSUES. THESE
INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY,
HEALTHCARE, AND EDUCATION. THER
IS A MULTITUDE OF EVIDENCE THAT
INCARCERATIONS DOES NOT PREVENT
OVERDOSES, NOR GIVE PEOPLE THE
HELP THEY NEED. IT MAKES ME
ANGRY THAT THE CITY IS
CONSIDERING A LAW THAT WOULD
INCREASE OVERDOSES, DEATHS, AND
RACIAL DISPARITIES AND ARRESTS,
JAIL TIME AND OVERDOSES. THIS
WOULD BRING US BACK TO RACIST
WAR ON DRUG POLICIES. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN O'HARA
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA MAN.
>> MY NAME IS MEGAN AND I'M WIT
THE SOLITARY BUDGET. GROWING UP
I HAD AN AUNT LORI AND I SPENT
LOT OF TIME WITH HER BECAUSE SH
AND MY MOM USED TO RUN A LOCAL
BUSINESS TOGETHER. UNFORTUNATEL
SHE BECAME ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS
AFTER SURGERY AND FENTANYL
BECAME A PRIMARY DRUG AND I WIL
NEVER FORGET THE DAY I WAS ON
THE PHONE WITH MY MOM AND SHE
FOUND HER DEAD FROM AN OVERDOSE
I'M SHARING THIS WITH YOU
BECAUSE I WANT TO ASK HIM A HAV
YOU EVER SHARED A HOME WITH
SOMEONE ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS ? O
HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS? BECAUSE TH
MOST PAINFUL PART ISN'T LOSING
SOMEBODY BUT WATCHING THE BATTL
OF TRYING TO GET CLEAN AND I'VE
LEARNED SO MUCH SINCE HER DEATH
ABOUT WHAT WOULD'VE WORKED AND
PROPONENTS HERE WILL SHARE
EVIDENCE-BASED -- BUT ONE THIN
THEY KNOW DEFINITIVELY DOESN'T
WORK AND WANTING EVERY FAMILY
MEMBER KNOWS DOESN'T WORK IS
INCARCERATION AND IF YOU DON'T
KNOW UP CLOSE THE STRUGGLE OF
TRYING TO GET CLEAN, YOU CAN'T
PASS THIS DISTILLATION BECAUSE
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP
AGAINST. THIS LEGISLATION IS
SENTENCING SOMEONE ELSE'S FAMIL
MEMBER TO DEATH AND IT'S TOO
LATE FOR MY AUNT BUT IT ISN'T
TOO LATE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S
FAMILY SO VOTE NO BECAUSE WE
CAN'T WASTE ANY RESOURCES ON
MAKING THIS ALBUM WORSE. [
APPLAUSE ]THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA
MAN.
>> HELLO, I'M CHRIS FROM THE
SOUTH SIDE OF SEATTLE. I AM IN
THREE SEPARATE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH
INDIVIDUALS DEALING WITH
SUBSTANCE ISSUES. AND, TO BE
HONEST, I JOINED THREE DIFFEREN
ORGANIZATIONS. I KNOW IT SOUNDS
LIKE A LOT. I BELIEVE IN THE
COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO
CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BACKE
BY DATA. I BELIEVE IN SEEING TH
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH ME I
THESE ORGANIZATIONS COME
TOGETHER AND LOOK AT DATA TO GO
ABOUT THIS IN DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY POLICIES AND THERE AR
PLENTY OF ANGRY YOUNG PEOPLE
HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE SICK
OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS NOT
LISTENING TO DATA AND THEY
CREATE POLICIES. WE ARE SICK OF
HAVING TO COME TO THINGS LIKE
THIS TO TELL YOU DIRECTLY, THI
ISN'T GOING TO WORK BECAUSE YOU
DON'T HAVE DATA TO BACK IT UP.
SO, HERE WE ARE, AGAIN, DOING
THIS AGAIN. MONTHS LATER AGAIN
BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL NOT
LISTENING TO DATA TO BACK UP
POLICIES. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SIC
OF IT AND WE ARE HERE TO TAKE
OUR FUTURE. WE ARE ORGANIZING.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK TO YOU. WE
ARE HERE TO TAKE YOUR JOBS. WE
ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE. WE ARE
HERE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS --
FOLLOWED BY DOMINIC DRISCOLL.
IT'S BEEN A GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. ON BEHALF OF MY
ORGANIZATION I ASK YOU TO VOTE
NO ON THE BILL BEFORE YOU TODAY
THIS BILL CREATES ANOTHER END
ROAD TO INCARCERATION BECAUSE
INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM DOES NOT HEAL
PEOPLE, DOES NOT HOUSE PEOPLE,
NOR ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF
SUBSTANCE USE. I APPRECIATE
EFFORTS TO PUT GUARD RAILS
WITHIN THE BILL HOWEVER,
PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO TREATMENT AN
RESOURCES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO
COME THROUGH CONTACT WITH POLIC
IN THE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST
PLACE. WHAT SCARES ME MOST
ABOUT THE BILL IS IT PLACES AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY AN
DISCRETION IN THE HANDS OF SPD.
THE DEPARTMENT WE JUST SPENT TH
LAST THREE YEARS SAYING THAT
VERY DISCUSSION DIDN'T BELONG
IN. THIS FEAR IS EXACERBATED BY
THE STORY, JUST THIS MORNING,
WHERE OFFICER DANIEL ARTER SAID
THE LIFE OF -- WHO WAS KILLED B
SPD HAD LIMITED VALUE AND THE
CITY SHOULD CUT A CHECK. IS THI
WHO WE TRUST TO DIVERT PEOPLE
INSTEAD OF ARREST THEM ON DAY T
DAY INTERACTIONS? KNOW. VOTE NO
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOMINIC
DRISCOLL AND DOMINIC WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER.
>> HELLO. FIRST UP I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK THE HOUSING DEVELOPER
FOR SHOWING UP TODAY, THE FOLKS
WHO CREATED THE HOUSING CRISIS
AND ARE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO
THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN
SEATTLE. THAT IS DRUG USE AND
OVERDOSES IN PARTICULAR. I AM
HERE TODAY TO REMIND YOU ALL
THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO
BACKFIRE BECAUSE WHEN THIS STUF
IS IN PUBLIC, PEOPLE DO IT IN
PRIVATE AND YOU ARE GOING TO SE
A SPIKE IN OVERDOSES THAT ARE
UNTREATED. WHEN THAT HAPPENS IT
INCREASES THE FATALITY RATE IN
SEATTLE AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING TO BE BLAMED ARE THE CITY
COUNCIL. I WOULD ADVISE YOU, IF
YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR SEAT, TO
VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
CHRISTOPHER FOLLOWED BY COLLINS
COHEN.
>> MY NAME IS CHRIS, I'M A
REPRESENTATIVE TO -- AND A
CONSTITUENT OF D6. WE'VE BEEN
HERE BEFORE. NOT JUST IN THIS
ROOM AND ON THIS BILL, BUT ON
THIS WAR ON DRUGS. SINCE THE
60s, OUR GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN A
PUNITIVE APPROACH TOWARD DRUG
USE AND ADDICTION. IF PUNISHING
PEOPLE FOR DRUG USE WORKS, WHY
ARE WE HERE, 60 YEARS LATER,
PUNISHING PEOPLE FOR ADDICTION
DOESN'T WORK. PERIOD. IF YOU
WANT TO SEE LESS SUFFERING IN
OUR STREETS, YOU SHOULD FOCUS
YOUR TIME ON THE ROOT CAUSES OF
HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION. DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THE SOARING
PRICE OF HOUSING AND RUNAWAY
INFLATION. THAT WOULD BE A GREA
PLACE TO START. IT WOULD
POSITIVELY AFFECT THE
CONSTITUENTS YOU DEEM CLEAN OR
WORTHY AS WELL. LEWIS, STRAUSS,
IF YOU ARE LISTENING, DO WHAT -
ENDORSED YOU TO DO WHICH IS THE
RIGHT THING FOR OUR MEMBERS, OU
CONSTITUENTS, AND THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. VOTE NO. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COLLIN
STONE FOLLOWED BY LISA MARCUS.
MOVING ON TO LISA MARCUS. OKAY.
AND FOLLOWED BY -- LISA MARCUS
FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE.
>> HI, I'M LISA MARCUS. I'M A
CONSTITUENT AND I'VE LIVED IN
GREEN LAKE FOR THE LAST 20
YEARS. I ACTUALLY HAVE A CLOSE
FAMILY FRIEND WHO DIED OF A
FENTANYL OVERDOSE. IN HIS BED,
IN A GREEN LAKE HOME. THIS IS
NOT A PROBLEM OF JUST SOME
PEOPLE. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT
NEEDS ADDRESSING AT A MENTAL
HEALTH LEVEL, AT A SOCIETAL --
SUPPORT LEVEL. PEOPLE NEED TO
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GO AND GE
HELP. IF IT'S STIGMATIZED OR
CRIMINALIZED, PEOPLE WILL DIE.
THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION. ANYONE
GOING TOWARD THE SOLUTION NEEDS
TO GO TOWARD THE ORGANIZATIONS
WHICH PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO
HOUSING WHICH GETS PEOPLE WHAT
THEY BASIC NEEDS. NOT
CRIMINALIZING. NOT TO THE
POLICE. PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
STEPHANIE, FOLLOWED BY LUCA
HOWARD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE
AND I'M A LONGTIME DISTRICT ONE
RESIDENT AS WELL AS THE CASE
MANAGER ON THE LEED PROGRAM. I
WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE
EFFORTS OF THE MAYOR AND A FEW
OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS IN
ENHANCING SOME OF THE DIVERSION
SERVICES BUT I WILL SAY WORKING
PREVIOUSLY, THAT THE HOUSING
FIRST MODEL IS PARAMOUNT. I
KNOW THAT THE LANGUAGE IS
CRIMINALIZING DRUG USE BUT
ULTIMATELY WE ARE CRIMINALIZING
HOMELESSNESS AND NOT HAVING THE
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO BE
ABLE TO HOUSE THESE PEOPLE IN
SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A HUGE
ISSUE AND IF WE DON'T DO
SOMETHING TO ENHANCE THE FUNDIN
NOT ONLY FOR THE LEAD AND THE
REACH PROGRAM BUT ALL SOCIAL
SERVICES PROGRAMS SERVING THIS
POPULATION, WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE THE SAME CYCLES OF
PEOPLE BEING ON THE STREET. I
WOULD URGE YOU TO CONSIDER WHER
THE RESOURCES ARE BEING
ALLOCATED AND ALLOCATE THE FUND
ACCORDINGLY SO THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND
NOT KEEP GOING IN THIS CRAZY
CIRCLE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LUCA
HOWARD FOLLOWED BY --
>> HELLO. I AM LUCA HOWARD, A
D5 RESIDENT HERE SPEAKING
AGAINST THE DRUG WAR THAT
EVERYBODY HERE IS PURSUING. I'M
GOING TO READ YOU AN EXCERPT. I
THINK SHE WENT UP ON THE HOOD,
HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND WHEN SHE
HIT THE BRAKES, -- BUT SHE'S
DEAD. OR BAYLOR PERSON. SHE'S 2
ANYWAY. SHE HAD LIMITED VALUE.
THIS WAS POLICE REACTION TO THE
KILLING SOMEBODY. DO YOU REALL
EXPECT THIS POLICE FORCE TO
FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY ENFORCE TH
LEGISLATION YOU PROPOSE?
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT
NOBODY HERE HAS CREATED ENOUGH
ALTERNATIVES TO ACTUALLY SUPPOR
THE BILL IN THE WAY THEY WANT
THEM TO? PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS
BILL. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS RENAISSANCE.
OUR LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON.
>> MY NAME IS RENAISSANCE. I'M
THE CODIRECTOR OF CAMPAIGNS AT
350 SEATTLE AND AN GEYSER WITH
SEATTLE SOLIDARITY BUDGET. TODA
I BROUGHT A BOOK BECAUSE
OFTENTIMES IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE
BLOWING SMOKE AT THE COUNCIL AN
THIS BOOK IS CALLED NO MORE
POLICE. IT WAS AUTHORED BY --
AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED TODAY ABOUT WHY TO
OPPOSE THIS BILL AND THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION IS CONTAINED IN
THIS BOOK AND MANY OTHERS IN
SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD OVER
AND OVER TODAY IN THIS COUNSEL,
INFLAMMATORY LANGUAGE AROUND
OPEN AIR MARKETS AND A GREAT
AUTHOR, MICHELLE ALEXANDER WHO
AUTHORED THE NEW JIM CROW
TALKED ABOUT THE COMPARISON
BETWEEN OPEN AIR MARKETS AND
CLOSED HOUSE MARKETS AND WHAT W
ARE ACTUALLY DISCUSSING IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHO WAS
SELLING AND DOING THE DRUGS AS
OPPOSED TO JUST WHERE THE DRUGS
ARE BEING SOLD AT. AND OVER AND
OVER, WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT DANIE
AUDERER, THE OFFICER WHO IS
TALKING ABOUT JAAHNAVI KANDULA.
AND WHEN HE SAID HIS LIFE HAD
LITTLE VALUE, HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT YOUNG, BIPOC, MIGRANT
FOLKS. THOSE ARE NOT THE KIND O
FOLKS WE CAN TRUST. VOTE NO ON
THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU. THERE IS ONE MORE
PERSON SIGNED UP ONLINE AND THA
IS READ OLSON. IF YOU ARE WITH
US, WE CAN HEAR FROM YOU NOW.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GO AHEAD, READ.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHERE
DO I BEGIN? THIS IS MY THIRD
TIME CALLING IN TO SAY NO
AGAINST THIS RACIST, CLASSIST,
STUPID WAR ON DRUGS WHICH IS
REALLY JUST A WAY TO BRUTALIZE
HOMELESS PEOPLE. THIS IS ABOUT
SOME PEOPLE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
SEEING UNHOUSED HUMANS IN THE
STREETS WHERE THEY DO BUSINESS
AND I'M UPSET ABOUT THAT TOO BU
FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. WE NEED
TO HAVE A -- MODEL. WE NEEDED I
YESTERDAY. THERE IS GREAT
REPORTING ON HOW VERBIAGE LIKE
OPEN AIR DRUG MARKETS ALLOW FOR
SENSATIONALIZE ASIAN, PEARL
CLUTCHING, AND ALLOW CERTAIN
PEOPLE TO WASH THEIR HANDS AND
CONSIDER UNHOUSED MEMBERS
UNHUMAN. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT WAS WRITTEN BY CAREGIVERS.
I WORK IN HEALTHCARE. I WORK
WITH MANY OF THE PEOPLE YOU ARE
TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE IT I THIN
IT'S DANGEROUS. PLEASE FIND IT
IN YOUR HEARTS TO VOTE NO. THAN
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A COUPLE
OF FOLKS STILL SIGNING UP FOR I
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT, SO WE
WILL RETURN TO THAT. WE'VE GOT
AIDAN CAROL FOLLOWED BY SHANNON
NEWSOM.
>> SO, THIS BILL IS AS WRONG AS
IT WAS IN THE SPRING. I
APPRECIATE, I GUESS, SOME OF TH
ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE DIVERSION,
BUT UNLESS THERE IS TREATMENT T
GO TO, IT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN
ANYTHING. AND AS LONG AS THERE
IS DRUGS BEING CONFISCATED OR
PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED, THAT IS
GOING TO INCREASE OVERDOSES. TH
MYTH OF REFUSING HELP IS
TYPICALLY INTERTWINED IN THESE
THINGS AND THE FACT IS THAT
PEOPLE WANT TREATMENT. BUT THE
TREATMENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE
NEEDS TO BE FIXED, QUALITATIVEL
AND QUANTITATIVELY IN TERMS OF
INSURANCE AND THE LENGTH OF TIM
BEFORE AND AFTER AND, OUTPATIEN
TREATMENT IS THE KIND THAT
WORKS BEST FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT GOING TO BE HOUSED ANYTIME
SOON. PLEASE KEEP ALL OF THAT I
MIND AND DO NOT VOTE FOR
SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO KILL
PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SHANNON NEWSOM.
>> HI, I'M SHANNON NEWSOM, A
CONSTITUENT IN CAPITOL HILL. I
HAVE GROWN UP IN THE SEATTLE
AREA IN BELLEVUE AND NOW IN
SEATTLE. I AM A --
PROFESSIONALLY I AM TRAINED IN
SOCIAL WORK AND, PERSONALLY, I
AM A MEMBER OF THE PEER RECOVER
COMMUNITY. I AM ALSO A HISTORY
GEEK . I KNOW THAT IN THE 1700s
KING GEORGE, AT THE TIME OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION, HAD A
MENTAL ILLNESS AND HE GOT THE
MOST -- THE BEST TREATMENTS
AROUND WHICH WERE FOR HIS STUFF
BIPOLAR DISORDER. EXPOSURE TO
NATURE, TIME WITH A THERAPIST,
CONSULTATION. AND ANOTHER PERSO
DURING THIS TIME WAS LOCKED UP.
FOR HER MENTAL ILLNESS AND DID
NOT RECEIVE TREATMENT. KING
GEORGE RECOVERED FROM HIS
PRESSING CRISIS. THE PERSON THA
WAS LOCKED UP WAS NOT. SHE WAS
CRIMINALIZED FOR THE REST OF HE
LIFE. JUST DOESN'T WORK. THANK
YOU.
>> SHANNON IS OUR LAST IN PERSO
PUBLIC SPEAKER. RETURNING TO TH
ONLINE SPEAKERS, AND OTHER FOLK
WHO WERE SHOWING AS NOT PRESENT
OR ARE SHOWING PRESENT. SO,
WITH THAT, WE WILL CONCLUDE
PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WILL MOVE
INTO THE SINGLE ITEM ON OUR
AGENDA. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ IN AGENDA ITEM ONE?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, COUNSEL BIL
120645. ORDINANCE RELATING TO
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ADDING TH
CRIMES OF KNOWING POSSESSION OF
A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND USE
OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN A
PUBLIC PLACE. AMENDING SECTION
128.0 9.020 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. AND ADDING A NE
SECTION 3.2 8.1412 THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. SOME
AMENDMENTS. SO, JUST AS
BACKGROUND, THIS COMMITTEE
HOSTED A BRIEFING FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THIS BILL
BACK ON AUGUST 14th. I WANT TO
SAY PUBLICLY THAT I APPRECIATE
THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS TAKEN A
NUANCED APPROACH IN THIS
PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT THE
AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE CONSISTENT WITH THE
ROLE OF THE MAYOR AS HEAD OF
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT. I APPRECIATE THE
DELINEATION WITHIN THE BILL OF
HOW THE AUTHORITY IS INTENDED
TO BE USED IN PRACTICE WHEN
DECIDING WHETHER TO PURSUE A
DIVERSION OR ARREST AND
PROVIDING CLEAR, PRACTICAL
DIRECTION TO OFFICERS ON HOW TO
USE THE AUTHORITY. I FURTHER
APPRECIATE THE FINDINGS IN THE
BILL ITSELF AND THE RECITALS
STATING, FOR INSTANCE, THAT
DIVERSION IS A PREFERRED
APPROACH IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS
VERSION OF THE BILL, WHEN WE
SAY DIVERSION IS THE PREFERRED
APPROACH IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, THIS INCLUDES WHAT IS
CALLED PREARREST DIVERSION. IT
WILL BE USED FOR MANY THAT THIS
BILL DIRECTS OFFICERS TO USE
THEIR DISCRETION TO NOT CHOOSE
ARREST BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
MEETING THE DEFINITION IN THE
BILL OF COMMITTING HARM TO
OTHERS. THEN, THERE IS ANOTHER
KIND OF DIVERSION THAT WE
REFERRED TO AS PRE-BOOKING
DIVERSION THAT WILL BE USED AND
PRIORITIZED FOR OTHERS. THIS IS
LANGUAGE THAT WAS NEITHER IN
THE STATE LAW NOR IN THE
PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE BILL.
AND IT REALLY -- I THINK --
DOES A GOOD JOB OF IMPLEMENTING
THE MAYOR'S APPROACH OF A
DESIRE TO BALANCE PUBLIC SAFETY
OBJECTIVES WITH THE MAYOR'S OWN
EXPERIENCE WITH THE WAR ON
DRUGS. WE KNOW THAT A LAW
ENFORCEMENT ONLY APPROACH WON'T
WORK. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
LIMITED NUMBER OF OFFICERS AND
THE LIMITATIONS ON JAIL
CAPACITY, BUT BECAUSE
ENFORCEMENT ONLY IS NOT AN
APPROACH THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYONE AND WE REALLY NEED TO
WORK TO GET THE RESOURCES THAT
WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR PREARREST
DIVERSION AND PRE-BOOKING
DIVERSION TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN
LIVING MORE PRODUCTIVE AND
HEALTHY LIVES. THE RECITALS
ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT PRIOR
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL DRUG
ENFORCEMENT POLICIES INCLUDING
THE DRUG WAR HAS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
BLACK , INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR AND THAT CAUSES TRAUMA
AND PAIN THAT STILL LINGERS IN
THESE COMMUNITIES TODAY AND THE
BILL STATES THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS COMMITTED TO NOT
REPEATING THE ERRORS OF THE
PAST AND WILL WORK TO HAVE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
ORDINANCE TO BALANCE PUBLIC
SAFETY WITH THE WELL-BEING OF
INDIVIDUALS USING CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE. CLEARLY STATING THAT
COMMITMENT TO A BALANCED
APPROACH IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.
AGAIN, STATE LAW APPLIES
EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. THE STATE LAW MAKING
POSSESSION AND PUBLIC USE
MISDEMEANORS APPLIES IN SEATTLE
WHETHER OR NOT WE ACT ON THIS
BILL. THIS BILL, I BELIEVE,
DOES MEET IN THE MIDDLE, AS WE
HEARD FROM SOME PUBLIC
TESTIMONY, I WANT TO GIVE A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON --
EXCUSE ME. WE CANNOT HAVE ANY
DISRUPTIONS WHILE THE COUNCIL
IS DEBATING THE BILL. THE TIME
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS OVER. IN
AN AUGUST 14th COMMITTEE
MEETING OF THIS COMMITTEE WITH
A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH
PROVIDERS SUCH AS LEAD REACH,
WE DELIVER CARE, ON THIRD
AVENUE, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
ASSOCIATION, AND THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, WE HEARD FROM
FRONT-LINE WORKERS TO IDENTIFY
THE GAPS IN DIVERSION SERVICES.
THIS BRIEFING MADE VERY CLEAR
TO EVERYONE ON THIS COMMITTEE
THAT WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO.
HE POINTS THAT WERE MADE WERE
THE IMPORTANCE OF STABILITY FOR
PEOPLE TRYING TO ACCESS
ADDICTION AND RELATED ISSUES,
THINGS LIKE SLEEP, FOOD, AND
SAFETY, AND THIS TIES INTO A
BLACK OF AVAILABILITY OF
HOUSING AND BARRIERS TO ACCESS
HOUSING AND LONG-TERM CARE. WE
DELIVER CARE, FOR EXAMPLE,
REPORTED THEY REGULARLY GET
PEOPLE INTO DETOX BUT OFTEN
THERE IS NOWHERE FOR PERSONS
COMING OUT OF DETOX TO GO
AFTERWARDS. ANOTHER PRESENTER
IN THAT COMMITTEE MEETING
SHARED A STORY OF A CLIENT WHO
THE COURT DETERMINED NEEDED
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT. THIS
PERSON HAD HIGH MEDICAL NEEDS
AND THEIR HEALTH WAS SO
COMPROMISED THAT THERE WAS NO
TREATMENT FACILITY IN THE
ENTIRE STATE THAT WOULD ADMIT
THIS INDIVIDUAL. THIS CLIENT
HAD VERY HIGH MEDICAL NEEDS AND
NEEDED SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT
BUT HAD NO OPTIONS TO GET CARE
AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THIS
CLIENT SAT IN JAIL FOR FOUR
MONTHS WAS THAT THE CITY
PROSECUTOR DISMISSED THE CASE
AND THIS INDIVIDUALS RELEASE TO
THE STREET WITH NO CARE AFTER
SITTING IN JAIL FOR FOUR
MONTHS. REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE
FIRE DEPARTMENTS HEALTHONE
DIVISION SPOKE TO THE DIFFICULT
CYCLE OF WITHDRAWAL FROM
FENTANYL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
STABILITY COMING OUT OF THE
MAYOR'S APRIL EXECUTIVE ORDER,
HEALTHONE ESTABLISHED A NEW
SPECIALIZED UNIT TO RESPOND
OVERDOSE CALLS. WE LEARNED THAT
BETWEEN JANUARY AND JULY 31st,
2023, FIRST RESPONDERS AND
BYSTANDERS HAVE ON AVERAGE
RESPONDED TO 11 OVERDOSES PER
DAY IN A PUBLIC PLACE. AGAIN,
11 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD THEIR
OVERDOSES REVERSED, EITHER
SUCCESSFULLY OR NOT, EACH AND
EVERY DAY, BETWEEN JANUARY AND
JULY 31st. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL
OVERDOSE OF A PERSON LIVING
UNSHELTERED, HEALTHONE SAVES A
LIFE AND THEN HAS NO OTHER
OPTION BUT TO LEAVE THE PERSON
WHOSE LIFE THEY JUST SAVED
EXACTLY WHERE THEY FOUND THEM.
THE PANEL SPOKE TO THE NEED FOR
A POST OVERDOSE DIVERSION
FACILITY WHERE THESE FRONT-LINE
WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS
CAN BRING PEOPLE AFTER A
NONFATAL OVERDOSE TO RECOVER,
GET STABILIZED ON MEDICATIONS
AND ACCESS RESOURCES. IN MY
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING COMING
UP IN SEPTEMBER, I BELIEVE IT'S
THE 26th, WE WILL DISCUSS THE
MAYOR'S FUNDING FOR THIS POST
OVERDOSE RECOVERY FACILITY. I
DO APPRECIATE WORKING WITH
COSPONSOR LEWIS AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ON BOTH THE UNDERLYING
BILL AND THE SUBSTITUTE THAT WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING TODAY, BUT,
HOLD COMMENTS ON THE SUBSTITUTE
UNTIL WE GET TO IT AND WE WILL
TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AS COSPONSOR TO MAKE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL BE BRIEF
GIVEN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE
OVERVIEW OF THE LEGISLATION. I
DO WANT TO THANK ANDREW MEYER
BERG SITTING IN THE GALLERY WHO
HAS REALLY SHEPHERDED THIS
POLICY PROCESS OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS. WORKING CLOSELY
WITH MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL, I
THINK MAYOR HARRELL FOR HIS
DIRECT AND HANDS-ON ATTENTION
TO THIS POLICY TO REALLY MAKE
SURE THIS ISSUE WHICH EVERYONE
CAN AGREE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
AND MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN THE
CITY IS GETTING THE ATTENTION
IT DESERVES AND THE FOCUS IT
DESERVES AND HOW TO HAVE A
PRACTICAL ON THE GROUND POLICY
IMPLEMENTED AND THAT WHAT WE
HOW TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF
OUR PROVIDER COMMUNITY, THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY BRING TO
THE FOREFRONT TO FACILITATE
WARM HANDOFFS FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND PROVIDERS. IN
MANY CASES, TO HAVE PROVIDERS
DO THE INITIAL OUTREACH WITHOUT
THE INVOLVEMENT OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT. THAT IS STILL
COMPATIBLE WITH THE ENFORCEMENT
OF THIS LEGISLATION. AND TO
KEEP THESE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES
TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE
OUTSIDE OF THE SLOW AND
PONDEROUS CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
WHERE CASES CAN DRAG ON FOR
MONTHS OR YEARS. WHERE THINGS
CAN BE DISMISSED WITHOUT A
PERSON EVER GETTING ACCESS TO
ANY KIND OF HELP OR ASSISTANCE
AND TO HAVE A POLICY PUT IN
PLACE THAT TRIAGE IS
PRIORITIZES AND TAKES FULL
ADVANTAGE OF AN ECOSYSTEM THAT
WE HAVE DEVELOPED TO AN EXTENT
THAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL BEST
PRACTICE WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASSISTED DIVERSION WILL GO
AROUND THE WORLD TO GIVE
SEMINARS ON THE WORK THAT WE
HAVE DONE AROUND HARM REDUCTION
AND INFORMED CARE, TO TAKE
FULL ADVANTAGE OF THOSE SYSTEMS
AND MAKE SURE THAT WELLNESS AND
BEST PRACTICES IN PUBLIC HEALTH
ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR APPROACH
WHILE ALSO RESERVING THE
ABILITY AND THE LEEWAY AND THE
DISCRETION TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE IN SITUATIONS WHERE
THAT HELP AND ASSISTANCE IS NOT
ALWAYS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. THIS
LEGISLATION STRIKES THAT
BALANCE. IT WILL BE FOLLOWED ON
BY EXECUTIVE ACTIONS THAT
COMPLEMENT IT THAT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THROUGH MAYOR
HARRELL'S TASK FORCE. IT WILL
BE FOLLOWED ON BY BUDGET
ADDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
FORESHADOWED AND THAT WILL BE
PART OF OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS
THIS FALL AND WITH THAT, I WILL
HAND IT BACK OVER TO YOU, CHAIR
HERBOLD, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN HELPING TO
MARSHAL THE COUNCILS RESOURCES
TO PRODUCE THIS LEGISLATIVE
PRODUCT AND LOOK FORWARD TO
DISCUSSING AMENDMENTS FROM
COLLEAGUES AND THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU. TO PROCEDURALLY
ALLOW US TO BEGIN TO DISCUSS
THE AMENDMENTS, WE DO NEED TO
MOVE THE UNDERLYING BILL. I
INTEND TO DO SO AND ASK FOR A
SECOND AND THEN AFTER THAT I
WILL DO THE SAME FOR THE
SUBSTITUTE BUT I WILL ALSO ASK
THAT COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF HELP
WALK US THROUGH THAT
SUBSTITUTE. SO I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
PASSAGE OF COUNSEL BILL 12
0645. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. WE CAN NOW MOVE
ON TO CONSIDERATION OF
AMENDMENTS. I WILL FIRST ASK
FOR EMOTION, THEN AFTER THE
MOTION WE WILL ASK CENTRAL
STAFF TO DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT
AND ASK SPONSOR TO ADD ANY
COMMENTS THEY HAVE TO THE
AMENDMENT THEMSELVES. SO, FIRST
UP IS AMENDMENT ONE, SPONSORED
BY MYSELF AND COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. THERE IS A REVISED
VERSION OF THIS AMENDMENT
SHARED THIS MORNING BY EMAIL.
IS THERE A MOTION?
>> MOVE THE SUBSTITUTE
AMENDMENT ONE.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A
SECOND? I WILL SECOND IT. SO,
THE REVISED VERSION OF
SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT ONE IS NOW
BEFORE US AND WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD WITH COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF DESCRIBING TO US THE
CHANGES IN THE SUBSTITUTE AS
COMPARED TO THE INTRODUCED
BILL.
>> GOOD MORNING. YOUR COUNSEL
CENTRAL STAFF. AS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD MENTIONED THERE IS A
REVISED VERSION OF THE
SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. THERE ARE
MULTIPLE UPDATES THAT WE MADE
TO THIS VERSION, TOO. BUT I
WILL GO THROUGH THIS VERSION
TOO AND DESCRIBE EACH OF THE
CHANGES AS THEY COME UP. SO,
FIRST, AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE
AMENDMENT, WE ADDED A RECITAL.
THE RECITAL SAYS, WHILE
COMMUNITY-BASED CARE IS
PREFERRED, THERE MAY BE
CIRCUMSTANCES SO ACUTE OR
PROBLEMATIC THAT THEY MAKE
PRE-BOOKING ALTERNATIVE --
INEFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO THE
SITUATION. THE SECOND IS A
REFERENCE TO THE CRIMES COVERED
IN THE STATE BILL. IT ADDS A
NEW SUBSECTION 3.28141 A. IT IS
MOSTLY A TECHNICAL CHANGE JUST
SO THE SHORT OR ABBREVIATED
VERSIONS OF WHAT CRIMES ARE
COVERED BY THIS ORDINANCE SO
THINGS SHORTHAND LIKE
POSSESSION OF DRUGS OR A
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, IT
CREATES ONE REFERENCE TO THE
CRIMES COVERED SO WE CAN REPEAT
THAT THROUGHOUT THE SECTION.
THE NEXT WOULD ADD A NEW
SECTION AND IT MAKES CLEAR THAT
IF DIVERSION, RATHER THAN
ARREST, IS THE APPROPRIATE
RESPONSE TO AN INDIVIDUAL, THE
BLACK OF AVAILABILITY OF
DIVERSION SHOULD NOT MEAN THAT
AN ARREST SHOULD OCCUR
INSTEAD. SO THE ADDED LANGUAGE
IN THERE IS A BLACK OF
DIVERSION OPPORTUNITY SHALL NOT
BE A REASON FOR ARREST. THE
NEXT CHANGE REFERS TO THE SAME
POLICY IN 3.28 14E THAT
PRE-BOOKING DIVERSION IS
PREFERRED EVEN WHEN A PERSON
PROPOSES A THREAT OF HARM TO
OTHERS, THAT ADDITION GOES IN
THE THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS
SECTION AND ITS INTENDED TO
MAKE CLEAR THAT DIVERSION IS
THE PREFERRED RESPONSE
REGARDLESS OF OUTCOME OF THREAT
OF HARM ASSESSMENT. THE NEXT
ITEM CHANGES REFERENCES TO THE
THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS AND
THREAT OF HARM TO SELF
SECTIONS. JUST TO BE CONSISTENT
IN SAYING THAT OF HARM
ASSESSMENT IS NOT AN ELEMENT OF
THE CRIME TO BE PROVED DURING
PROSECUTION. THE NEXT ITEM
CLARIFIES THAT IN THE THREAT OF
HARM TO SELF SECTION, THAT IF
AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT DETERMINED
TO BE A THREAT OF HARM TO
OTHERS THAT THEY ONLY POSE A
THREAT OF HARM TO THEMSELVES,
AND THE NEXT CHANGE CLARIFIES
OFFICERS ARE EXEMPT FROM
COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENT
THAT THEY MAKE A REASONABLE
ATTEMPT TO CONTACT AND
COORDINATE EFFORTS TOWARDS
DIVERSION, OUTREACH, OR OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO ARREST. IF THE
MOST APPROPRIATE OR VIABLE CARE
STRATEGY APPEARS TO BE
TRANSPORT
>> AND DETAILS THAT SPD POLICY
SHOULD IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. AND THE NEXT
CHANGE ADDS A NEW SUBSECTION.
THAT WOULD ASK SPD TO USE
OFFICERS WITH 40 OR MORE HOURS
OF CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM
TRAINING TO RESPOND TO THESE
CRIMES. WHERE OPERATIONALLY
POSSIBLE. AND THEN THE NEXT
CHANGE ADDS A NEW SECTION FOUR.
IN THAT SECTION ESTABLISHES
I'VE BEEN A REAL HEALTH
ADVISORY, INTENDING TO ADVISE
THE CITY FOR CHANGE IN POLICE
PROTOCOLS AND LEGISLATION OR
ANY OTHER POLICIES RELATED TO
THIS LEGISLATION. AS WELL AS
IT ASKED TO PROVIDE DATA, THAT
IS RECOMMENDED FOR COLLECTION
FOR SUBSTANCE USE AND RECOVERY
SERVICES PLAN BIANNUALLY.
THOSE ARE ALL OF THE CHANGES
INCLUDED IN VERSION 1 OF THIS
AMENDMENT. AS YOU WILL HAVE
SEEN, AS YOU HAVE BEEN
SCROLLING THROUGHOUT THEIR
HIGHLIGHTED CHANGES, AND THOSE
ARE THE CHANGES THAT MAKE UP
THIS VERSION, SO STARTING AT
THE BOTTOM YOU WILL SEE THERE
IS AN ADDICTION OH ADDITIONAL
SECTION 5, THAT LAYS OUT
AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY TO
CREATE THIS LEGISLATION AND
LAYS OUT SOME PURPOSES FOR
LEGISLATION ITSELF. AND
MOVING BACKWARDS FROM THERE.
YOU WILL SAVE HIGHLIGHTING
THIS NEW SECTION , AND IT IS
CLEAR THAT OFFICERS FAILURE TO
COMPLY WITH THE SECTIONS AROUND
THREAT OF HARM OR ANYTHING ELSE
IN THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT
INTENDED TO BE A BASIS OR
EXCLUDE EVIDENCE INADMISSIBLE.
GOING BACK UP FROM THERE, YOU
WILL SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN
SUBSECTION TWO THERE, A
CLARIFICATION OF WHAT
REASONABLENESS IS, WHEN TALKING
ABOUT THE OFFICER'S DISCRETION
AND MAKING CLEAR IT IS
DETERMINED BY A REASONABLE
OFFICER FACING SIMILAR
CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THEN GOING
UP FROM THERE, JUST THE CLARITY
ADDED TO SUBSECTION G, THE
THREAT OF OTHERS ARM
ASSESSMENT, THAT THE ASSESSMENT
ITSELF WILL OCCUR AFTER
PROBABLE CAUSE HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED. SO JUST MAKING
SURE ON THE TIMELINE ON THAT
IS CLEAR. AND, QUICKLY, THIS
LAST PIECE IS INCLUDING THAT
NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE
MANDATES THAT AN ARREST SHOULD
OCCUR, SO WE ARE NOT TAKING
AWAY ANY OF THE OFFICERS
DISCRETION TO ARREST IF THEY
CHOOSE TO DO SO. THERE IS NO
REQUIREMENTS FOR ARREST THAT
ARE DESCRIBED IN THE
LEGISLATION. I THINK THAT IS
ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL CHANGES
MADE TO THIS VERSION OF THE
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I JUST
ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
THINK COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA AND HER STAFF FOR
THEIR WORK ON THIS SUBSTITUTE .
MUCH OF WHAT WE HEARD , WE
HEARD GO THROUGH ON THE
SUBSTITUTE, THEY WERE
CLARIFYING SECTIONS IN A WAY
THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL. THE
INTRODUCED VERSION OF THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL. BUT THERE ARE
SOME SUBSTANTIVE ADDITIONS.
AND I THINK, COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA FOR THOSE
ADDITIONS, INCLUDING , THE
EFFORT TO PRIORITIZE,
OFFICERS WITH 40 OR MORE HOURS
OF CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM
TRAINING AS WELL AS THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMITTEE TO
ADVISE THE CITY ON NEEDS FOR
CHANGES IN POLICE PROTOCOL.
LEGISLATION, OR THIS
PARTICULAR POLICY AFTER HAVING
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW
THE POLICE POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES ARE WORKING ON THE
GROUND. AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE EXPERTISE
IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF
INDIVIDUALS. AND HAVE THEM IN
THE DRIVER SEAT MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS THE POLICY.
SO, WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE
SUBSTITUTE? JUST LOOKING BOTH
WAYS, VIRTUALLY, FROM OUR
VIRTUAL COUNCILMEMBER AS WELL
AS IN PERSON. I AM NOT SEEING
ANY.
>> I DO HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.
>> I AM SORRY I DO NOT SEE YOUR
HAND UP HERE. I HAD A DIFFERENT
SCREEN UP.
>> IT MIGHT HAVE BLENDED IN
WITH MY BACKGROUND, I THINK YOU
MADAM JARRAN THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS AS WELL ABOUT THE WORK
THAT OUR TEAM HAS DONE. LED BY
HELEN E GRAY, AND THE
INCREDIBLE WORK THAT SHE HAS
DONE, AROUND THE CLOCK,
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE SENT MANY OF
HER DAYS AND NIGHTS, TRYING TO
DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON THE
LEGISLATION, SO I DO APPRECIATE
THE NOTE OF APPRECIATION FOR
HER, AND MELANIE GRAY ON OUR
TEAM, AND PARTNER WITH ASHA
VENKATARAMAN AND LORD HENRY AND
JEN, ALL FROM CENTRAL STAFF,
WHO SIMILARLY SPENT TIRELESS
HOURS OVER THE BREAK WORKING ON
THIS. I JUST HAVE A FEW
COMMENTS ON THE SUBSTITUTE
BILL. MADAM CHAIR AND MUCH OF
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL AS YOU HAVE
NOTED HAS BEEN INFORMED WITH
THE COMMUNITY, SO I WILL SAY
THANKS TO THOSE FOLKS RIGHT NOW
SINCE THE SUBSTITUTE WILL FORM
THE BASIS FOR THE LEGISLATION
THAT WE WILL CONSIDER HERE IN A
MINUTE. THANKS AGAIN TO FOLKS
FROM LEED AND PDA, AND TARA
MOSS, FOR CONSULTING WITH US,
ALONG WITH ANITA , DIRECTOR OF
KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC DEFENSE FOR HER
PARTNERSHIP AND ADVOCACY IN
REACHING OUT AND THE FOLKS AT
REACH, SEI YOU 295, AND HEART
SERVICES, AND OF COURSE THE
FOLKS AT THE ACLU WASHINGTON
FOR THEIR HELP IN THINKING
THROUGH MORE COMPLEX ISSUES
THAT WE WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS
IN OUR CITY HERE, AND TO BUILD
ON THE STATE LEGISLATION.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBERT HERBOLD,
YOU HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY
ACCESSIBLE LATER ON THIS ISSUE
ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF MEMBERS,
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND
YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT
WITH MY TEAM SPECIFICALLY WITH
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH
MELANIE OVER THE BREAK ON THIS
BILL. I DO WANT TO EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR THE SUBSTITUTE
BILL. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE
THE PANEL THAT YOU LIVE WITH
MADAM CHAIR. AND I DO BELIEVE
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL, REALLY
LEANED IN HEAVILY AS YOU NOTED
ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE IS AN ARRAY OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERS OUT THERE, THAT WANT
TO HAVE MORE SERVICES AND WANT
TO HAVE MORE RESOURCES, TO
ASSIST PEOPLE AND THIS
LEGISLATION WITH THE SUBSTITUTE
MAKES IT CLEAR, THAT ARRESTS
AND CHARGING SHOULD BE AN
EXTREME LAST RESORT AND NOT THE
FIRST RESORT. ONLY WHEN A
PERSON CANNOT DE-ESCALATE TO
PREVENT BUCKING AND GOING TO
CHARGING, I THINK THIS MAKES A
LOT OF GOOD GOOD STRIDES AND
MAKING THAT CLEAR, I AM GLAD TO
SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT
MAKES CLEAR THAT PRE-BOOKING
DIVERSION IS A PRIORITY FOR
PEOPLE AS WE TRY TO ALSO REDUCE
THE HARM TO THEMSELVES, OR TO
OTHERS AND PRE-ARREST DIVERSION
IS A PRIORITY FOR PEOPLE WHO
POSE A THREAT OF HARM ONLY TO
THEMSELVES. SO I THINK THERE IS
GOOD CLARIFICATION IN HERE. AND
IT CREATES SOLID DATA
COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS. I WILL
LET MY CONCERNS WITH THE
UNDERLYING BILL THAT ARE
EMBEDDED IN THE SUBSTITUTE.
EVEN THOUGH THAT I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THE SUBSTITUTE VOTE
HERE. AT THIS POINT IN THE
COMMITTEE, IT STILL INVOLVES
POLICE IN WHAT IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS DESPITE DECADES
OF DATA THAT SHOW WAS NOT
POLICE AND ARREST ONLY
EXACERBATED THE HARM. AND
FORTH PEOPLE INTO A SYSTEM WHEN
THEY REALLY NEED PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICES. IT STILL ALLOWS FOR
PEOPLE TO BECOME ENTANGLED IN A
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND IT
STILL PERPETUATES A SYSTEM OF
BELIEFS THAT WAS DEBUNKED
DECADES AGO. AND SPECIFICALLY
CONCERNED WITH THE ADDITION
THAT WE SAW FROM YESTERDAY'S
VERSION THAT SAYS AN OFFICER'S
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH
SUBSECTIONS THREE, 28, 140 1G,
AND 328 OR ANY OTHER
PROVISIONS THAT THIS
LEGISLATION WILL NOT BE A BASIS
TO EXCLUDE OUR RENDER
INADMISSIBLE ANY SUBSEQUENTLY
OBTAINED EVIDENCE. MY CONCERN
IS THAT THIS REMOVES AN
IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE
SUBSTITUTE THAT WE HAVE
PREVIOUSLY SEEN. I THINK IT
SIGNIFICANTLY DISADVANTAGE IS
PEOPLE WHO FACE CRIMINAL
CHARGES UNDER THE LAW. I AM
WORRIED THAT IT LIMITS A
DEFENDANT'S POTENTIAL, IF THEY
DON'T FOLLOW THE GUARDRAILS
THAT WE SET OUT CLEARLY IN THE
LEGISLATION AND THEY WILL END
UP IN JAIL. AND AS WE HAVE SEEN
FROM REPORTS AND HEADLINES IN
PUBLIC HEALTH DATA. SENDING
PEOPLE TO JAIL ONLY
EXACERBATES THE CHANCE THAT
THEY WILL HAVE AN OVERDOSE OR
THEY WILL DIE IN JAIL OR WHEN
THEY COME OUT OF JAIL AND BEGIN
CONSUMING AGAIN. MY CONCERN IS
THAT THE FRAMEWORK ON THIS
STILL ALLOWS FOR A SYSTEM THAT
IS NOT BACKED BY PUBLIC HEALTH
DATA AND THE GUARDRAILS
LANGUAGE IS GOOD, THAT WE WORK
ON. I THINK IT MAKES IT MUCH
CLEARER THAT DIVERSION SHOULD
BE THE FIRST APPROACH AND I DO
HOPE THIS IS A SIGNAL OF OUR
SUPPORT FOR ARRESTING THE
ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT BEFORE
BOOKING AND GOING TO JAIL. SO I
WILL BE A YES ON THE SUBJECT
TODAY AND I THINK THE CHAIR FOR
INCLUDING MANY POLICY IDEAS
THAT OUR TEAM AND COMMUNITY HAD
BEEN SET SUGGESTING. THANK YOU
MADAM CHAIR.
>> MUCH APPRECIATED,
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> CHAIR HERBOLD, CAN YOU TALK
ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR HEALTH
ALTERNATIVES THE COMMITTEE AND
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD
NEED TO BE PERMANENT, OR IS IT
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE AFTER
TIME, IT WILL BE CLEAR WHAT
DIRECTION WE ARE HEADING AND IT
DOESN'T NEED TO BE IN
PERPETUITY AND THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE COLLECTS
>> I THINK THE THINKING THAT I
HAVE EXPRESSED TO THE EXECUTIVE
ON THIS ITEM IS GIVEN THAT
THERE IS A FENTANYL USERS
TASK FORCE, THAT IS MADE UP OF
MANY OF THE SAME INDIVIDUALS
THAT WE WOULD WANT TO BE
MONITORING THE USE OF THE
ORDINANCE, THAT IT WOULD MAKE
SENSE FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY
HERE, THE SORT OF MORPH INTO
THE WORK OF THE FENTANYL USERS
TASK FORCE. THAT IS WHAT HAS
BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE
EXECUTIVE, WE HAVE
INTENTIONALLY KEPT IT LOOSE.
BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A PIECE
THAT WE STILL NEED TO WORK OUT.
SOME CONSIDERATION MUCH MORE
FORMALIZED LANGUAGE ABOUT WHO
SHOULD AND WHETHER OR NOT THE
COUNCIL SHOULD APPOINT SOME
MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR SHOULD
APPOINT WHETHER OR NOT WE
SHOULD BE FOLLOWING OUR NORMAL
PROCEDURES FOR FORMAL
COMMISSIONS, AND I DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO GO THAT
ROUTE. BECAUSE THERE IS STILL
MORE TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE
EXECUTIVE ABOUT THE FORMATION
OF THE GROUP.
>> THINK OF A MUCH TO LOOK
FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
SUBSTITUTE, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON?
>> SO IT TOOK TWO AND YEARS IN
THE SESSION TO COME UP WITH A
BLEAK FIX, AND NOW WE HAVE A
LOT BUT THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
ABOUT TO BREAK IT BY IMPOSING
SEVERAL CONDITIONS THAT WILL
RESTRICT OFFICERS ABILITY TO
MAKE ARRESTS EVEN THOUGH THEY
HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE. AND THAT
IS TRAGIC IN ITSELF BECAUSE THE
DRUG CRISES, THE MOST CRUSHING
PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE OF OUR TIME RIGHT
NOW -- LET ME --
>> EXCUSE ME , WE NEED TO HEAR
FROM THE COUNCILMEMBERS , I
CANNOT HAVE DISRUPTIONS. TO
OUR PROCESS, OUR DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS. PLEASE KEEP YOUR
COMMENTS CONTAINED AND ALLOW
THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO SPEAK
AS I'VE RECOGNIZED THEM. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LET ME REPEAT
THAT PASSAGE , THE PARAGRAPH.
THAT IS TRAGIC BECAUSE THE DRUG
CRISIS WE SEE IS THE MOST
CRUSHING PUBLIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY ISSUE OF OUR TIME WITH
WASHINGTON HAVING THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF OVERDOSES IN THE U.S.
AND THE VAST MAJORITY OCCURRING
IN SEATTLE. AND RESTRICTING
ARRESTS MEAN THAT PEOPLE WILL
NOT BE DIVERTED INTO TREATMENT
WHICH IS THE GOAL THE GOAL
THAT WE HAVE BEEN STATING ALL
ALONG HERE AND IS STILL MY
FUNDAMENTAL GOAL. AND I'M ALSO
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEGAL
RISK PRESENTED BY THESE
PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO STATE
LAW. IN THE AUGUST 14th
MEETING I EXPRESSED CONCERN
THAT REQUIRING OFFICERS TO
ASSESS A THREAT OF HARM TO
OTHERS, HOWEVER THAT IS DEFINED
AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER YET. IT INSERTS
OFFICER DISCRETION DIRECTLY
INTO THE LAW AND COULD OPEN THE
CITY UP TO ALLEGATIONS OF BIAS
POLICING OR BE USED IN A MOTION
TO DISMISS BY THE DEFENSE. AND
SINCE THAT MEETING, NONE OF THE
INFORMATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED
WHICH HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE HAS
ALLAYED THOSE CONCERNS AND IS
SUBSTITUTE DESPITE THE CHANGES
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THAT I'VE
SEEN ONLY THIS MORNING, ONLY
INCREASES CONCERNS ABOUT LEGAL
RISK BECAUSE IT ADDS A WHOLE
BUNCH MORE CONDITIONS AND
COMPLEXITY. SO THAT IS WHY I
PUT FORWARD TWO AMENDMENTS AND
HOPEFULLY WE WILL TALK ABOUT
THOSE AFTER ALL OF THE OTHER
AMENDMENTS. BUT, I'M GETTING
THE SENSE THAT THIS IS, THAT
THIS IS , THE PASSAGE OF THIS
SUBSTITUTE IS SORT OF THE
DEALBREAKER FOR THE SPONSORS TO
VOTE ON THE WHOLE BILL. IS
THAT THE CASE?
>> IS THIS THE BILL THAT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND I ARE
SPONSORING? AND THE
SUBSTITUTE THAT IS BEFORE US,
LARGELY CLARIFIES THE INTENT
THAT WAS IN THE THE
COMMITTEE , EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT YOU CAN SEE BEFORE YOU
THAT IS SUBSTITUTE IS A
CLARIFICATION OF THE ORIGINAL
INTRODUCED BILL, OPPOSED BY
THE MAYOR. AND SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND I.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> WHAT I WOULD CLARIFY IS I
DON'T THINK THE PHRASING OF
WEATHER THIS SUBSTITUTE IS
CONTINGENT FOR MY VOTE IS THE
PROPER PHRASING. I WOULD RATHER
SAY THE SUBSTITUTE IS THE
RESULT OF A LONG AND
COMPREHENSIVE COLLABORATIVE
PROCESS WITH MAYOR HARRELL.
AND EXPRESSES MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL'S CLEAR PREFERENCES
AND HOW TO TAKE THIS LAW INTO
PRACTICE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. SO I DON'T THINK THE
CHARACTERIZATION COMPORTS WITH
THE COLLABORATION THAT THE
COUNCIL HAS HAD WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS IN PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER. THIS SUBSTITUTE IS
SUPPORTED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND WAS EXTENSIVELY CRAFTED IN
CONSULTATION WITH HIM. SO I
JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR ON
THE RECORD. AND AGAIN, I WANT
TO THANK MAYOR HARRELL FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP AND PROPAGATING
THESE POLICIES FOR OUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> MY QUESTION IS, ARE THE
ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS ON HERE
-- ARE THEY AMENDMENTS OR
ADDITIONS TO THE LANGUAGE THAT
YOU PUT FORWARD IN A
SUBSTITUTE, I JUST DON'T KNOW
WHEN TO SUGGEST THAT WE
CONSIDER THE AMENDMENTS THAT I
DISTRIBUTED THIS MORNING.
>> THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
IS AFTER WE VOTE ON THE
SUBSTITUTE, AND THEN WE WILL GO
THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS TO THE
SUBSTITUTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I AM SEEING NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
MR. CLERK , CAN YOU PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT ONE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> I.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> DAY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD , YES.
>> FOUR YES, ONE, NO.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. WE CANNOT
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT.
NEXT UP IS AMENDMENT NUMBER
TWO. SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA. AGAIN, LET'S
GET IT IN FRONT OF US WITH THE
MOTION AND A SECOND. AND WE
WILL TALK ABOUT IT. IS THERE A
MOTION?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE CONSIDER
AMENDMENT 2.
>> I SECOND THE MOTION. THANK
YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 2.
COULD CENTRAL STAFF DESCRIBE
THE AMENDMENT?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, GREG
DOSS, CENTRAL STAFF. AS YOU
ARE AWARE, IN SECTION G,
TALKING ABOUT A THREAT OF HARM
TO OTHERS AND HAS OFFICERS WHEN
CONSIDERING MAKING AN ARREST OF
AN INDIVIDUAL. DETERMINING A
THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS ,
THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS, CONDUCT,
AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTS A THREAT.
WHAT THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU
WOULD DO, IS TO ASK THAT WHEN
DEFINED WITHIN SPD POLICY, THE
THREAT OF HARM STANDARD WILL BE
COMPRISED OF FACTORS THAT ARE
RELATED TO A POTENTIAL AND
PHYSICAL HARM TO BE INFLICTED
UPON A PERSON BY ANOTHER. AS
EVIDENCED BY BEHAVIOR, WHICH
HAS CAUSED SUCH HARM, OR WHICH
PLACES ANOTHER PERSON OR
PERSONS IN REASONABLE FEAR OF
SUSTAINING SUCH HARM.
ADDITIONALLY, SUCH FACTORS MAY
NOT INCLUDE THE USE OF DRUGS IN
PUBLIC. AND ABSENT ADDITIONAL
FACTORS.
>> THANK YOU, GREG. CAN YOU
ALSO JUST TOUCH UPON HOW STATE
LAW RELATES AND WHERE IT
DOESN'T?
>> YES, THANK YOU. SO THERE IS
THERE IS AND UNDER STATE LAW,
OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE
WHEN INDIVIDUALS A LIKELIHOOD
OF SERIOUS HARM, AND AN
INDIVIDUAL TO RECEIVE A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EVALUATION,
UNDER THE INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT
ACT. AND THERE IS SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE THAT IS REFLECTED IN
SPD POLICY THAT DETERMINES
WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE DISPLAYING
BEHAVIOR THAT WOULD ALLOW
OFFICERS TO DO THAT. THIS
LANGUAGE MIRRORS THAT LANGUAGE
IN THE SENSE THAT THESE
CHARACTERISTICS AND THESE
BEHAVIORS WOULD BE IDENTIFIABLE
BY THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD
BE USING OR POSSESSING DRUGS
IN PUBLIC. THE DIFFERENCE
WOULD BE THAT THIS PERSON WOULD
NOT BE RISING TO THE LEVEL OF
NEEDING CUSTODY OR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH EVALUATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE
SPONSOR, COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, MADAM
CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR SECONDING
THIS AMENDMENT. AS CENTRAL
STAFF NOTED, IT IS ABOUT
ATTEMPTING TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST
IMPLICIT RACIAL BIAS, AND
ATTEMPT HERE, TO ENSURE THAT
THERE IS A TRUE THREAT OF
HARM, AND THAT WE HAVE A
DEFINED WAY, TO ASSESS THAT
THREAT OF HARM, THAT IT DOESN'T
DEFAULT TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S
BIAS. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE OF
COLOR ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO
BE SEEN AS A THREAT FOR THE
SAME BEHAVIOR AS THEIR WHITE
COUNTERPARTS. THIS AMENDMENT
ALSO ENSURES THAT PEOPLE ARE
NOT BECOMING INVOLVED WITH THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM UNLESS
THEY ARE PUTTING ANOTHER
PERSON'S PHYSICAL SAFETY IN
DANGER. AND THAT THE PERSON
CANNOT BE DE-ESCALATED. IF THAT
PERSON CANNOT BE DE-ESCALATED
WITH INTERVENTIONS BY LEAD AND
LEAD BEING THE PRIMARY APPROACH
AND ONLY IN THE VERY EXTREME
AND RARE CASES THAT PEOPLE ARE
BEING BOOKED INTO JAIL AND
OFFERED ANOTHER OFFRAMP AND
PRETRIAL DIVERSION. SO THE
ATTEMPT HERE IS TO ENSURE THAT
PHYSICAL SAFETY AND THE
PHYSICAL DANGER OF SOMEONE
ELSE. IS DEFINED AND WE HAVE
USED THE ESCALATION AND
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FIRST.
BEFORE GOING TO ARREST AND
BOOKING INTO JAIL. AND FINALLY,
THIS AMENDMENT , ATTEMPTS TO
PROTECT AGAINST UNNECESSARY
INTERACTIONS, WITH THE LEGAL
SYSTEMS AS WELL AS SAFEGUARD
AGAINST MISINFORMATION.
SERVING AS THE BIAS FOR ARREST
UNDER THE STATUTE. AND I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE, THE IMPORTANCE
OF SAFEGUARDING AGAINST
MISINFORMATION AS SERVING FOR
THE BIAS OF ARREST, FOR
EXAMPLE, WE ALL KNOW, THAT IT
IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING, AND
UNHEALTHY, FOR US TO HAVE THE
SENSE OF BREATHING WITH
SECONDHAND SMOKE BUT MANY
PEOPLE INCLUDING TODAY HAVE
COMMENTED ON SECONDHAND SMOKE
AND FENTANYL SMOKE BEING AN
EXAMPLE OF WHERE THEY FELT
THEIR OWN PHYSICAL HEALTH WHICH
WAS IN DANGER. AND I WANT TO
POINT TO THE FACT THAT KING
COUNTY HAS HAD A RECENT
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION
WITH THE WASHINGTON POISON
CONTROL CENTER, TO DISPEL THE
MYTH. SO THIS AMENDMENT TRIES
TO HELP IDENTIFY WHERE THERE IS
MISINFORMATION THAT COULD BE
LEADING TO SOMEONE'S ARREST,
BECAUSE THE PERSON MAY FEEL
THAT THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH OR
SAFETY IS IN DANGER. WHEN IN
FACT, SECONDHAND FENTANYL
SMOKE ACCORDING TO THE KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT
BYSTANDERS WHO BREATHE IN THE
SECONDHAND SMOKE ARE NOT
SICKLY AT RISK. STUDIES AND I
WANT TO QUOTE, FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH INSIDER AND FROM THE
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. THE
DEPARTMENT QUOTE, STUDIES HAVE
LOOKED AT FENTANYL
CONCENTRATIONS AFTER SOMEONE
HAS HAD SECONDHAND EXPOSURE.
THERE IS NO RISK , FOR THE
EVERYDAY PERSON BEING EXPOSED
TO SECONDHAND OPIOID SMOKE.
WHEN SOMEONE SMOKES FENTANYL
MOST OF THE DRUG HAS ALREADY
BEEN FILTERED OUT BY THE USER,
BEFORE THERE IS SECONDHAND
SMOKE AND THAT COMES AND IS
PUBLISHED FROM PUBLIC HEALTH
AND PUBLIC HEALTH INSIDER. AND
THIS IS FROM APRIL 5th OF
2022. AND QUESTION AND ANSWER
SECTION ABOUT SECONDHAND
FENTANYL SMOKE. SO YES, IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US, TO HAVE A
CLEAR DEFINITION OF PHYSICAL
HARM, SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T
MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT
PHYSICAL HARM IS, AND WHAT THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INVOLVED
IN ARREST ARE NOT DEFAULTING TO
ANY BIAS WHERE THEY MAY
PERCEIVE SOMEONE AS BEING A
THREAT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A
CLEAR WAY OF DEFINING A THREAT
TO SOMEONE'S PHYSICAL HARM.
AND I WANT TO AVOID COMPOUNDING
ANY BIAS AND I WANT TO LEAN ON
PUBLIC HEALTH DATA. SO THAT IS
THE INTENT OF THIS AMENDMENT
HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I
APPRECIATE YOUR EXPLANATION OF
THE POLICY BASIS AS WELL AS
ADVOCACY FOR THE CLARITY OF
THIS AMENDMENT. I WILL HAVE
SOME COMMENTS ON IT. BEFORE WE
VOTE. BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER TO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I SEE YOUR HAND IS UP, OH,
IT IS OLD HAND. SO, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ON THIS, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON?
>> THANK YOU CHAIRMAN HERBOLD,
AND THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING
THIS AMENDMENT. THE BIG PICTURE
FOR ME HERE, IS THAT THE STATE
GOVERNMENT HAD A COMPROMISE
THAT THEY CRAFTED CAREFULLY
AND I WOULD PREFER TO IMPLEMENT
THAT , AS IS, AND TO OUR
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE BECAUSE
THERE'S ALREADY A COMPROMISE ON
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. AND I
THINK THE MAYORS ADDITIONAL
PROVISIONS OF HARM TO SELF HARM
TO OTHERS. ADD COMPLICATING
FACTORS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
AND I THINK THAT IF WE LAYER
ONTO THAT, THIS AMENDMENT IT
INCREASES THAT COMPLEXITY AND
POTENTIALLY OF LEGAL RISK FOR
THE CITY, SO I WILL BE VOTING
NO ON THIS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? WHILE MY COLLEAGUES
ARE CONSIDERING IF THEY HAVE
COMMENTS. I AM GOING TO SPEAK
-- I AM A LITTLE BIT TORN ABOUT
THIS AMENDMENT. I REALLY
APPRECIATE HOW WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE
EXECUTIVE IN GOOD FAITH. TO
CREATE THIS SORT OF DUAL
TRACK, THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT STATE LAW PROPOSED. IT IS
NOT A CONFLICT BUT IT IS
DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT ASSUMES
THAT A COHORT OF THE PEOPLE,
WHO ARE NOT HARMING ANY OTHERS
WILL NOT BE ARRESTED. AND IT
WILL BE HELD WITH PREARREST
DIVERSION. I THINK FOR ME,
THE COMPLEXITY IS IN THE HARM
TO SELF AND HARM TO OTHERS
DEFINITIONS, WHICH WILL BE IN
FUTURE POLICIES DEVELOPED BY
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND
HISTORICALLY, WE'VE HAD SOME
CHALLENGES WITH ADMINISTRATIVE
POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN SORT
OF OVERUSED OR IMPROPERLY
USED, I THINK MOST RECENTLY, WE
CAN POINT TO WHAT WE REFER TO
AS THE WHICH ALLOW FOR
ENCAMPMENT REMOVALS. WITHOUT,
WITHOUT ADVANCED NOTICE. WHEN
THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE
OBSTRUCTIONS. AND THE ACLU,
THEY KIND OF SUIT THE CITY AND
THE COURT HAS AGREED WITH
THEIR FINDINGS THAT THE CITY
IS DEFINING TOO MANY THINGS.
AND I CAN SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR
TO THAT HAPPENING IN THIS
CASE, THAT THE POLICE POLICIES
MADE TO FIND TOO MANY THINGS.
AS HARM TO OTHERS, NOT JUST
HARM TO SELF. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT OF
THIS AMENDMENT. BUT I ALSO ,
SIMULTANEOUSLY I AM CONCERNED
WITH IT MAY BE TOO NARROW. AND
SO, I THINK WHAT I'M INCLINED
TO DO AS IT RELATES TO THIS
AMENDMENT. IS TO ABSTAIN. AND
BETWEEN NOW AND THE FULL
COUNCIL VOTE ON THE
LEGISLATION. TO HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE EXECUTIVE. TO GET SOME
FURTHER UNDERSTANDING AND
REASSURANCE THAT THE
DEFINITIONS THAT ARE YET TO BE
CREATED AND THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND
DEFINING A THREAT OF HARM TO
OTHERS, THEY ARE NOT SO
ALL-ENCOMPASSING. THAT, THAT
THEY BASICALLY INCLUDE
EVERYTHING. AND REALLY,
MAKING THE INTENT OF THIS
ORDINANCE. REALLY UNDERMINING
THE ATTEMPT OF THE ORDINANCE.
SO I'M THINKING, I HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING WITH THIS ONE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAS
ASKED ME HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE
AND I'M DECIDING HERE ON THE
DAIS THAT I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO
ABSTAIN. AND SAY PUBLICLY TO
THE FOLKS REPRESENTING THE
AUDIENCE TODAY, THAT I LOOK
FORWARD TO HAVING MORE
CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM BEFORE
THE FULL COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU, AND ASK AGAIN
MADAM CHAIR FOR ALL OF THE WORK
THAT YOU HAVE DONE ON THE
SUBSTITUTE AND THE WORK THAT WE
WILL VOTE ON HERE TODAY. I
THINK IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THERE
WILL BE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS
ON THE FINAL COUNCIL VOTE. I'M
HOPING THAT WON'T OCCUR, GIVEN
THE WORK THAT IS STILL TO BE
DONE, TO SEE WHAT IS ACTUALLY
IN THE BUDGET, THERE WERE A LOT
OF PROMISES MADE ABOUT
ALTERNATIVES AND DIVERSION
FUNDING BEING INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET WHICH WE DON'T RECEIVE
FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. MY HOPE
IS THAT WE WILL STILL HAVE TIME
TO SEE THAT. BUT I AM GUESSING
THAT WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE
THAT INFORMATION AND IF WE
DON'T DO MORE AMENDMENTS AND
FULL COUNCIL. THEN, THIS MIGHT
BE OUR LAST TIME TO VOTE. I DO
APPRECIATE THAT FOLKS ARE
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE DOES
NEED TO BE A TOUGH DEFINITION
OR A MORE REFINED DEFINITION,
TO THE THREAT OF HARM, THE
LANGUAGE IS IN THE BILL AT THIS
POINT. BUT WHAT THIS AMENDMENT
DOES IS OFFER ADDITIONAL
CLARITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN
YOU USE THE WORDS AND
DEFINITION THREAT OF HARM, THAT
WE HAVE A MEANS TO ENSURE THAT
THERE IS A BASELEVEL PROTECTION
FOR TRUE THREATS, THAT IS
CONSISTENT WITH THAT STATE LAW.
AND I THINK THAT IS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
WHILE THE CONSENT DECREE IS
BEING LIFTED, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE STILL ISN'T RECEIVING
NATIONAL AND STATE AND LOCAL
HEADLINES, FOR HAVING BIASED
ARRESTS. AND THE SEATTLE
TIMES, AND IN JULY, HEADLINES
REPORTS, SEATTLE POLICE STOP
BLACK PEOPLE, NATIVE AMERICANS
AT A FAR HIGHER RATE, IF THAT
LEVEL OF BIAS POLICING IS
OCCURRING CURRENTLY AND WE ADD
ON TO THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE
OF COLOR ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE
UNHOUSED. AND IF THIS IS REALLY
AFFECTING MOST FOLKS WHO ARE
UNHOUSED AND CONSUMING IN
PUBLIC, I THINK WE ARE DOUBLING
DOWN ON THE POTENTIAL THAT
THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL BIAS
AND THEN IT WILL BE SWEPT INTO
ADDITIONAL ARRESTS INTO THIS
NEW LOSS. IT IS CURRENTLY
ILLEGAL TO CONSUME IN PUBLIC
BUT IF WE ARE GIVING FURTHER
GUIDANCE TO OFFICERS, WE SHOULD
OFFER THEM GUIDANCE TO NOT JUST
DEFAULT TO A PERSONAL FEELING,
BUT BEING UNSAFE. AND REALLY
HAVE A CLEAR DEFINITION OF WHAT
THREAT OF HARM IS. THAT IS WHY
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. AND
OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE MANY MORE
AVENUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS
BUT I OFFER THAT EVIDENCE
RECENTLY AS OF JULY 2021 AS
OFFERED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES,
REPORTING ON THAT WATCHDOG.
AND THE WATCHDOG REPORT SHOWING
OFFICERS DESPITE NEARLY A
DECADE OF SURVEILLANCE ON THE
FEDERAL OVERSIGHT. AND OF THE
ENTITY, CONTINUING TO STOP AND
USE FORCE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE
IN THE CITY AND NATIVE
AMERICAN FOLKS, FAR MORE OFTEN.
THAT IS A DIRECT QUOTE. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, IS
THAT A NEW HAND?
>> I WANT TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT
STRUGGLING AT ALL WHAT MY VOTE
ON THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE IT
SEEMS TO BE SAYING THAT BEING
EXPOSED, AND INHALING
SECONDHAND FENTANYL SMOKE IS
NOT BAD ENOUGH FOR OFFICER
INTERVENTION. I KNOW THAT YOU
KNOW, IT IS BEING MADE TO
SOUND MORE COMPLICATED. BUT I
DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS A
REASON FOR NOT INTERVENING AND
WHAT IS IN PUBLIC USE OF DRUGS
IN A PUBLIC PLACE, SO HERE WE
HAVE REVEREND WALDEN WHO HAS
SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT HER
EXPOSURE TO FENTANYL SMOKE AND
I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO SAY
THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
GRABBING HEADLINES I THINK THE
PASSAGE OF THIS WILL GRAB
HEADLINES AS WELL BECAUSE WE
ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT
THAT IS HARMFUL ENOUGH. AND
THAT IS NOT BEING WHAT FORMER
REPRESENTATIVE DON MASON SAYS.
AND BEING A HERO. SO I WILL
BE VOTING NO. AND THIS GOES
DOWN A COMPLEX RABBIT HOLE FOR
US FOR ME TO VOTE YES ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, JUST A FINAL
COMMENT IF I LIKE . AND MADAM
CHAIR, THAT PROVES THE POINT.
AND THAT PROVES THE POINT THAT
THIS AMENDMENT IS IMPORTANT.
THAT WE CAN'T RELY ON PEOPLE'S
FEELINGS . BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE
A CLEAR DEFINITION OF WHAT IS
TRULY A HARM TO ONE'S PHYSICAL
SAFETY. AND PUBLIC HEALTH
SEATTLE KING COUNTY AND THE
POISON CONTROL CENTER HAS PUT
OUT DATA ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SITES, HELPING TO EXPLAIN TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT
CONSUMING SECONDHAND FENTANYL
SMOKE IS NOT A PHYSICAL HARM.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT IT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT I WISH ON
ANYONE. BUT THERE IS NO REASON
TO ARREST SOMEONE. THAT IS WHAT
WE ARE TRYING TO DEFINE HERE
RIGHT NOW. WHETHER OR NOT
PHYSICAL HARM IS CLEARLY
DEFINED IS A VERY IMPORTANT
COMPONENT. AND WHETHER OR NOT
SOMEONE FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE IS
ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING I CARE
ABOUT. BUT IT IS NOT
JUSTIFICATION FOR AN ARREST
WHEN IT IS NOT YIELDING
PHYSICAL HARM ACCORDING TO OUR
OWN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
AND POISON CONTROL CENTER. YOU
HAVE MADE MY POINT ABOUT WHY
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS A
GUARDRAIL FOR OFFERING
SIDEBOARDS TO OUR OFFICERS FOR
WHAT FINDS PHYSICAL HARM, THE
POINT HAS BEEN A MADE BY ME
BUT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE WHO ARE GOING TO BE
VOTING ALSO KNOW. I APPRECIATE
MADAM CHAIR THAT THE
CONVERSATION MAY CONTINUE AT
OTHER VENUES. AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO US ALL CONTINUING TO
LOOK AT PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLICATIONS, TO REMEMBER WHAT
THE FINDS ACTUAL PHYSICAL HARM
ACCORDING TO OUR OWN PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICERS.
>> THANK YOU. HEARING NO
FURTHER COMMENTS , WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TO
CORRECT
>> ULTIMATE MOSQUEDA?
>> I.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> MAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON?
>> NO.
>> VICE-CHAIR LEWIS?
>> NO.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD
>> ABSTAIN.
>> THREE YES, ONE NOTE, ONE
ABSTENTION.
>> THE AMENDMENT IS NOT
ADOPTED. AND WE WILL MOVE ONTO
THE NEXT AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT
NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND MYSELF. AND
AGAIN, WE WILL GET THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE US. AND THEN,
WE CAN SPEAK TO AND DEBATE THE
MERITS OF AMENDMENT THREE. IS
THERE A MOTION FOR AMENDMENT
NUMBER THREE?
>> MADAM CHAIR I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE CONSIDER AMENDMENT
THREE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
SECOND AMENDMENT THREE. AND
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE AMENDMENT
BEFORE US, LET'S GET A QUICK
DESCRIPTION FROM COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, AND WE WILL
SPEAK TO IT.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE AND
THREE WHEREAS CLAUSES TO THE
RECITALS IN THE BILL. ANDY'S
RECITALS ARE INTENDED TO
COMMUNICATE THAT THE CITY
DOESN'T SUPPORT A FRAMEWORK OF
ADVERSE DIVERSION. AND A
SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE
FRAMEWORK ESPECIALLY WHEN
TALKING ABOUT PRE-BOOKING
DIVERSION IS TO LET EVERYBODY
ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY. AND SO
AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO SUFFICIENTLY SUPPORT
THIS POPULATION WITH DIVERSION.
IN THE CITY CONTINUES TO
PRIORITIZE REFERRALS FROM
POLICE AT THE POINT OF ARREST
FOR PRE-BOOKING DIVERSION.
THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING
THAT FRAMEWORK. IT JUST MAKES
THE ADDITIONAL POINT THAT IF AT
SOME POINT THERE ARE
INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES. AND
THIS PRIORITY OF REFERRAL
THROUGH POLICE IS STILL
PRIORITIZED, THAT THERE IS A
CHANCE THAT WHAT WE CALL
PREARREST OR SOCIAL CONTEXT
DIVERSION COULD BE COMPROMISED
AND THAT THE NUMBER OF
RESOURCES ARE OF COURSE
LIMITED, SO ANY PRIORITIZATION
OF CONTACTS, THROUGH POLICE,
AND THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT, IF
FUNDING IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO
SUPPORT BOTH KINDS OF
REFERRALS, COULD MEAN THAT
REFERRAL INTO THE LEAD IS MORE
LIMITED WITH CONTACT INTO LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> SO LET'S FIRST HEAR FROM THE
SPONSORS OF THE AMENDMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO ED?
>> YES AM ALSO HAPPY TO LET YOU
GO FIRST AND I KNOW IT HAS
BEEN A LONGTIME SUPPORTER AND
CAN BE ADVOCATE FOR L.E.A.D.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
COSPONSORSHIP ON THIS
AMENDMENT AND I WILL SPEAK TO
THEM AFTERWARDS. OR I CAN GO
NOW TO?
>> I WILL SAY A FEW WORDS. I
THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
OF THIS AMENDMENT IS THE FACT
THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING HERE
TODAY. THAT OUR STRATEGY FOR
ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER IN PUBLIC PLACES. IS
REALLY DEPENDENT ON THE
ABILITY OF PROGRAMS LIKE
LEED, WHO BOTH ARE INTEGRAL
TO PRE-BOOKING. AND PREARREST
DIVERSION STRATEGIES. BUT IF
WE DO NOT MAKE SUFFICIENT
RECOURSE TO SUPPORT THOSE
PROGRAMS. THEN VERY LIKELY WE
WILL RESULT IN A POLICY WHERE
THE PRIMARY ENTRY INTO THE
DIVERSION SYSTEM IS CONTACT
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. ASSUMING
THAT THE DIVERSION SYSTEM AND
ITSELF WILL BE FUNDED BECAUSE
AGAIN, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF
DIVERSION, THERE IS DIVERSION
THAT HAPPENS WITHOUT ARREST AND
THERE'S DIVERSION THAT HAPPENS
AFTER ARREST. AND IT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROPERLY
RESOURCING BOTH STRATEGIES
AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE GO INTO INTO CREATING
POLICY WITH OUR EYES WIDE OPEN.
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE
RESOURCES. SO REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AS THE
BUDGET CHAIR AND THE SPONSOR OF
THIS AMENDMENT BRINGING THIS
FORWARD SO WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT THIS FUNDING IS. TO
OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY CONTINUE
ON. WHILE WE HAVE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US
TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
MADAM CHAIR AND THANKS AGAIN
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND ALSO
VICE CHAIR FOR THE COMMITTEE. I
THINK WITH YOU AND MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL. WE HAVE HAD TO
FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING. ONE
TIME FUNDING TO SOURCE AND
PLUG FUNDING GAPS IN THE LEAD
PROGRAM. AND I HAVE BEEN HAPPY
TO TRY TO DO THAT WITH THE
VICE-CHAIR AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS, TO ENSURE THAT THE
PROGRAM LED BY OUR FRINDS AND
PREVIOUSLY A PART OF THE WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT VARIOUS
PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT
THEY ARE DEPLOYING TO REACH
PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES ARE
BEING DELIVERED BY TRUSTED
COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHOSE
RELATIONSHIPS TAKE TIME AND
INVESTMENT AND THAT THEY HAVE
THE FUNDING. SO WE HAVE SPENT
THE LAST THREE YEARS, FINDING
ONE TIME FUNDING SOURCES TO
PLUG THAT GAP. WITHOUT SEEING
THE BUDGET BEFORE THIS BILL
COMES FORWARD, I DON'T HAVE ANY
ASSURANCES THAT THERE IS GOING
TO BE THE FUNDING GAP FILLED
AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THE LEAD,
THEY FEEL THEY WOULD HAVE TO
ABSORB ABOUT AN $8 MILLION GAP
IN THE 2023 BUDGET. BEFORE WE
WERE ABLE TO FIND ADDITIONAL
FUNDING TO PLUG SOME OF THAT
LAST YEAR. AND THEY ARE
PROJECTING THAT THEY WILL NEED
TO HAVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 TO
$8 MILLION MORE IN NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET. THINKING THEY CAN
ABSORB IT POSSIBLE TO MILLION
DOLLAR GAP TO ACCEPT ALL OF
THE REFERRALS BUT OF THE
FUNDING GAP FROM LAST YEAR'S
THE SAME IT WILL START TO
IMPUGN OUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY
DO WHAT THIS BILL REPORTS THAT
IT WILL DO. IF WE DON'T FILL
THIS FUNDING GAP, IT WILL HARM
THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT
REFERRALS, WHICH ARE THE
CENTERPIECE OF WHAT SUPPOSEDLY
MAKES THIS BILL DIFFERENT. AND
WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT FUNDING
ACCOUNTED FOR. THAT HAS THE
DIVERSION CAPACITY TO ENSURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING
ARRESTED FIRST, THE PREARREST
DIVERSION COMPONENT IS TRULY
WHAT MAKES IT STAND OUT AND IS
UNIQUE. AND THAT REQUIRES
FUNDING. I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE TO
MAKE SURE THE FUNDING GAP IS
NOT BUT ANYWHERE NEAR THE
EXPECTED FUNDING GAP WILL
RESULT IN A CUT, AND THEIR
ABILITY TO ACCEPT ALL SPD
REFERRALS. WE HAVE A BIG
BUDGET DEFICIT IN THE HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING
UP AFTER NEXT YEAR. EVERYBODY
KNOWS THAT AND EVERYBODY SHOULD
HAVE THAT FRONT AND CENTER. AND
I KNOW THE EXECUTIVE TO HAVE
THAT FRONT AND CENTER. THAT IS
WHY I AM CONCERNED TO ADD THE
PROGRAMS AND ESPECIALLY ENSURE
THAT WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON
POLICY AND ASSUMING THAT MONEY
WILL BE THERE, IT MAKES ME
NERVOUS ABOUT THE ABILITY TO
FULFILL THE PROMISE THAT IS
OUTLINED HERE. GIVEN THAT WE
DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER YET ON THE
BUDGET. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR
SOMEONE GIVEN THAT WE DON'T
HAVE ANSWERS ON WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THERE IS NOT ROOM FOR
SOMEONE IN DIVERSION. EVEN
THOUGH WE HAVE TRIED TO GUARD
AGAINST IT BY INCLUDING
LANGUAGE IN THE LEGISLATION
SAYING THAT WHERE THERE IS NO
ROOM IN THE APPROPRIATE
TREATMENT, THAT IS NOT A REASON
TO ARREST PEOPLE. I'M STILL
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLICY
WITHOUT THE FUNDING ATTACHED.
L.E.A.D. HAS ASSURED US THAT
THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF FUNDING
THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO
PRIORITIZE AND THEIR SERVICE,
THEY WILL PRIORITIZE ALL
REFERRALS, SO NO ONE NEEDS TO
BE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF
ACCESS. HOWEVER, AGAIN, IT
MAKES IT SO EFFECTIVELY, THE
ONLY ENTRY POINT TO L.E.A.D. IS
BY A POLICE OFFICER AS THEY
WILL NEED TO SCALE DOWN ON THE
REFERRALS TO ENSURE THAT THERE
IS PROPORTIONAL INCREASE TO
REFERRALS. SO MY HOPE HERE IS
THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN AND EXPAND
LEAD L.E.A.D. CAPACITY WITH
THIS AMENDMENT AGAIN I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS ACTUALLY HAVING THE
FUNDING IN THE BUDGET TO MAKE
SURE THAT THIS IS NOT A FALSE
PROMISE. AND I WOULD VERY MUCH
PREFER TO SEE THE BUDGET BEFORE
WE ADVANCE THE POLICY I'M
HOPING THAT THIS POLICY
AMENDMENT HELPS TO ALIGN OUR
GOALS AND FUTURE WORK ON THE
BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I WILL
BE BRIEF, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK
TO MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF
WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND PARTICULARLY IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORNER OF THE CITY I
REALLY DO THINK WE HAVE SHOWN
AWAY IN SEATTLE, TO HAVE THIS
REALLY FUNDAMENTAL LEG OF THE
STOOL, AS A PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICE THAT COMPLEMENTS FIRE
AND POLICE, AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. IN A WAY
THAT ADDS NEW CAPACITY THAT IS
HARM REDUCTION AND THAT IS
FOCUSED ON ROOT CAUSES. AND
WORKING WITH THE COVID ERA. ON
AND KEMON RESOLUTIONS, WITH
JUST CARE, AND PROGRAM IN THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER ASSOCIATION.
AND IT WAS A REALLY HIGH
OPENING POLICY EXPERIENCE FOR
ME. AND THERE ARE STILL HOTEL
SHELTERS THAT THE TEAM IS
OPERATING IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE THAT HAVE SAVED LIVES.
THAT HAVE GOTTEN PEOPLE IN THE
HOUSING. THAT HAVE MADE OUR
COMMUNITY SAVER. AND THAT THEY
HAVE KEPT THOSE HOTEL SHELTERS
WELL-RUN, AND WITH GOOD
RELATIONS. WITH THE SHELTERING
PROGRAM THEMSELVES HAS NOT BEEN
A CONTRIBUTOR TO PERCEPTIONS
OF PUBLIC ORDER OR PUBLIC
SAFETY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD
NEIGHBORS AND HAVE ACTUALLY
IMPROVED PUBLIC SAFETY,
DEMONSTRATED BY DATA IN AREAS
WHERE THEY HAVE DECIDED THEY
ARE SHELTERING. I REALLY THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT
AND ELEVATE THIS WORK BECAUSE
IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE
APPROACH THAT WE AS A COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR ARE CENTERING
WITH THIS LEGISLATION AND VERY
ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT. AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING ON TO
THE BUDGET CYCLE. WHERE WE CAN
START TALKING ABOUT HOW TO
CONTINUE TO ADEQUATELY RESOURCE
L.E.A.D. TO HAVE THE IMPACT
THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR ONE, I
APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF THIS
BECAUSE YOU NEED TO HAVE THE
FUNDING BACK IN THE
ALTERNATIVES, AND, MY CONCERN
HERE IS THAT WE ARE CALLING OUT
A SINGLE ORGANIZATION, WHICH
COULD IMPLY A SOLE-SOURCE
AWARD OF FUNDING IN THE FUTURE,
THIS IS GOING TO BE WHAT YOU
ARE REFERENCING THE CODE
UPDATE, THAT WE ARE DOING, AND
SO I WONDER IF THE AUTHORS OF
THIS WOULD BE WILLING AT EVEN
IF IT'S NOT TODAY, BUT TO
BASICALLY JUST CHANGE AND SAY,
LET EVERYONE ADVANCE WITH
DIGNITY AND THE L.E.A.D.
PROGRAM, OR SIMILAR PROGRAMS
JUST SO IT'S NOT JUST CALLING
OUT ONE ORGANIZATION , FOR
EVER, AS IF THAT WOULD BE THE
ONLY ORGANIZATION TO RECEIVE
THIS AND WE MAY WANT TO BE
GROWING THAT ECOSYSTEM, HAVING
MORE NONPROFITS DOING THIS WORK
ON TOP OF THE GREAT WORK THAT
L.E.A.D. HAS DONE. MAYBE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL DO
SOME OF THIS DIRECTLY. AND I
JUST DON'T KNOW. AND I JUST
WOULDN'T WANT TO CALL OUT A
SINGLE ORGANIZATION. SO THERE
COULD BE AN AMENDMENT JUST
SAYING OTHER PROGRAMS. THAT
WOULD SATISFY ME, THANK YOU.
>> JUST TO RESPOND TO THAT,
THIS IS A COMMON THING. OR
HAVING SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS
WITH KING COUNTY. AND THE
ORGANIZATION THAT IS THE
PROJECT MANAGER, IS THE PDA.
BUT LEAD IS NOT AN
ORGANIZATION. L.E.A.D. IS A
PROGRAM THAT HAS PARTICULAR
COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM THAT
MAKE IT HAVE FIDELITY WITH
THE APPROACH THAT WE KNOW
WORKS. THERE ARE DOZENS AND
DOZENS OF L.E.A.D. PROGRAMS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THEY
DO NOT RUN THE MALL EVERYWHERE.
BUT L.E.A.D. IS A MODEL. AND
IT IS A MODEL THAT IS
DEPENDENT ON SOMEBODY ACTING
AS PROGRAM MANAGER. WHILE
SEVERAL PROVIDERS WORKING UNDER
THAT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT TO
DELIVER CARE AND SERVICES. SO,
GIVEN THAT L.E.A.D. DOES NOT
HAVE TO BE OPERATED BY PDA.
THEY CAN BE OPERATED BY
ANYBODY. AND CURRENTLY, KING
COUNTY HAS JUST DONE AN RFP,
OPENING IT UP. TO OTHER
APPLICANTS. TO DELIVER THE
SERVICES AND THE PROGRAM MODEL
THAT HAS FIDELITY WITH THE
LEAD PROGRAM. SO, THAT
FIDELITY WITH THOSE PRINCIPLES
IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT
IS WHY REFERRED TO L.E.A.D. IN
THE AMENDMENT ITSELF.
>> AND JUST TO MAKE A FINE
POINT ON IT , ON THE RFP, THAT
THE COUNTY RECENTLY DID, FOR
THE L.E.A.D. PROGRAM WAS OPEN ,
TO OTHER PEOPLE TO APPLY. NOT
JUST THE PDA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> THINGS, MADAM CHAIR. I WILL
JUST ALSO NOTE THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT RECITALS, RIGHT?
PLACES WHERE WE NOTE FINDINGS,
IT HAS NOTED AS A FINDING THAT
THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PROGRAM IS
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE. AND
THAT IS A DIFFERENCE OF THE
TYPE OF AMENDMENT THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT HERE, OFTEN WHEN
WE DO AMENDMENTS IN THE BUDGET
AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE
PRESCRIPTIVE TO THE DEPARTMENTS
THAT NEEDS FUNDING, WE WILL SAY
PROGRAMS SUCH AS L.E.A.D. OR
ENTITIES SUCH AS PDA. SO I
UNDERSTAND THE POINT, THINKING
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON WOULD
AGREE WITH YOU ON WHEN WE ARE
DEALING WITH THE BUDGET BUT
HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
TYPE OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE
REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEFERRAL.
OF THE REFERRAL PROGRAM AND
THE DIVERSION STRATEGIES, THAT
ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS A
DIFFERENT APPROACH AND, IT IS
APPROPRIATE IN THE WHERE TO
NOTE LEAD AS A PROGRAM THAT HAS
PROVEN TRACK RECORDS. I ALSO
WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE HERE OF US WAITING
ON THING ON THE LEGISLATION
UNTIL WE HAVE ASSURANCES THAT
THE FUNDING ARE DIRECTED IN THE
BUDGET. HOWEVER, THE EXECUTIVE
DECIDES TO WRITE THAT AS SOME
SORT OF ASSURANCES. THAT THE
OTHER HALF AND THE COUNTER TO
THE PROPOSAL HERE IS TRULY
FUNDED. I APPRECIATE THE
CLARIFICATION THAT YOU OFFERED.
GIVEN THE RECITALS.
>> NOT SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. CLERK
MAMA PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALL
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
NUMBER THREE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> I.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON
>> ABSTAIN.
>> VICE-CHAIR LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD
>> YES
>> THREE YES AND THREE
ABSTENTIONS.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED WE CAN
MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT NUMBER
FOUR. ALSO SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
MYSELF. LET'S GET IT IN FRONT
OF US, IS THERE A MOTION TO
MOVE FORWARD ON AMENDMENT FOUR?
I WILL MOVE. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
FOUR. COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
PLEASE DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT?
>> WE UP AMENDMENT 4 TO CB
120645 WOULD ADD INTO THE
LEGISLATION REFERENCED INTO
THE RCW SECTION, 10.05, WHICH
IS A DEFERRED PROSECUTION
STATUTE. THE AMENDMENT ADDS A
COUPLE OF RECITALS, DESCRIBING
THE ADDITION AND REASONS WHY,
WHAT THIS ESSENTIALLY WOULD DO
WOULD INCORPORATE INTO 12 A,
WHICH IS A PART OF THE BILL
WHICH ADOPTS THE RCW SECTIONS,
THE STATE LEGISLATURES
DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION, IT PROVIDES IN
THIS SECTION, ADDITIONAL
GUIDANCE FOR OFFENSES OTHER
THAN THOSE IN REFERENCED IN
RCW 1005 , WHICH ARE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
OFFENSES, INFRACTIONS AND FROM
THE LIST OFFENSES, SO THIS IS
INTENDED TO APPLY TO OTHER
MISDEMEANORS AND GROSS
MISDEMEANORS, THAT SPECIFICALLY
HAVE A NEXUS -- SORRY -- A
NEXUS BETWEEN DEFENDANT'S
CONDUCT AND AN UNDERLYING
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OR
MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER AND IT
PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO THE COURT
ABOUT HOW TO USE DEFERRED
PROSECUTION IN THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES. AND JUST NOTE
THAT THIS IS NOT MANDATING THE
MUNICIPAL COURT TO DO ANY
DIFFERENT PROSECUTION CASES, IT
IS JUST PROVIDING GUIDANCE
ABOUT HOW TO DO THINGS LIKE
TREATMENT TERMS. AND
PROSECUTION CASES. AND IT
MATCHES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
PERIODIC REPORTING TO THE COURT
AND THE PROSECUTOR AS WELL AS
THE DEFENSE ON THE DEFENDANT'S
PROGRESS. AND IT MAKES SURE
THAT MADE BY THE DEFENDANT IN
THE COURSE OF RECEIVING A
DEFERRED PROSECUTION CANNOT BE
USED AGAINST THE DEFENDANT AND
THE PROSECUTION'S CASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO THE AMENDMENT ?
>> AGAIN, THANKS FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP ON THIS. I JUST
WONDERED AS WELL FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC IF HE WANTED TO
PULL IT UP ON THE SCREEN, TO
SHARE SOME OF THE CONTENT OF
THE AMENDMENT. IT WAS ALSO
PUBLISHED WITH THE AGENDA, SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO EVERYONE
WHO MADE THAT POSSIBLE. AND I
WANT TO KNOW MY INTEREST INTO
THIS, BY RESOLVING AT LEAST
SOME CASES MORE QUICKLY THAN
PROSECUTION AND TAILORING
CONDITIONS TO CONNECT
INDIVIDUALS, WHO ARE SUFFERING
FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.
IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND THE
RECIDIVISM AND PUBLIC SAFETY,
THE PROPOSED DIFFERENT
PROSECUTION PROCESS WOULD ALLOW
JUDGES TO SET INDIVIDUAL
CONDITIONS FOR EACH PERSON IN
FRONT OF THEM AND DISMISS THE
CASE ONCE THEY DETERMINE A
PERSON HAS EXCESSIVELY MET
CONDITIONS SET BY THE COURT.
AND MADAM CHAIR, YOU HAVE
WORKED ON THIS AS WELL. SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUST A
COUPLE OF WORDS TO ADD TO ASHA
VENKATARAMAN'S EXPLANATION AND
YOUR WORDS, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. UNDER THIS LAW, WE
ASSUME THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL
BE DIVERTED WITHOUT BEING
ARRESTED, SOME PEOPLE WILL BE
DIVERTED AFTER ARREST BUT
BEFORE BOOKING. AND SOME
PEOPLE WILL NOT BE DIVERTED.
SO THIS CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE USE OF AN EXISTING
DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM.
IN ORDER TO AGAIN, REDUCE THE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF A CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM. AS ASHA
EXPLAINED, IT DOES NOT MANDATE
THE MUNICIPAL COURT , TO TAKE
ANY SPECIFIC MANDATORY ACTIONS
WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME.
AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE
ABILITY OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CORD TO STAND UP AND
A DIFFERENT PROSECUTION IS
CONTINGENT ON RESOURCES. AND
THIS IS SIMPLY A PROPOSAL TO
ALLOW FOR ANOTHER APPROACH ,
TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS
OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF FOLKS,
THAT THERE IS A PROSECUTION
MOVING FORWARD. AND IT IS
SPECIFICALLY, AND NARROWLY
FOCUSED ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WHERE THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN
AN INDIVIDUAL'S BEHAVIOR AND
THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
WITH THE UNDERLYING CHARGE.
SO, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
BEING THE PRIME SPONSOR AND
ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF AGAIN,
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DIVERSION. ACROSS THE
CONTINUUM.
>> LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE OTHER
COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
I THINK YOUARE IN THE QUEUE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR
HERBOLD. I THINK THIS IS AN
INTRIGUING AMENDMENT, WHEN I
WAS IN THE ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEY. I DID HAVE CASES,
THAT RESOLVED AS A DEFERRED
PROSECUTION. AND DEFERRED
PROSECUTIONS ARE NOT THE MOST
COMMON DIVERSION. THAT WE USE
IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT. I
ACTUALLY THINK THAT THEY ARE
VERY UNCOMMON BECAUSE THE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A
DEFERRED PROSECUTION ARE VERY
INTENSIVE. TYPICALLY APPLIED
IN THE UI. AS THE DESCRIPTION
OF THE AMENDMENT IMPLIES. AND
IT REQUIRES INTENSIVE
OUTPATIENT DRUG AND ALCOHOL
TREATMENT. TYPICALLY AND
REQUIRES COMPLETE SOBRIETY AS
ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF
COMPLETING THE PROGRAM. AND SO
IT IS NOT TYPICALLY SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE CHARGED IN
THE MUNICIPAL COURT SEEK TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FOR A DUI.
UNLESS THE EVIDENCE IS PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT. AND THEY ARE
WILLING TO ENGAGE IN AN
INTENSIVE PROGRAM, WITH A HIGH
RATE OF FAILURE. SO FROM THAT
STANDPOINT, JUST FOR MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC, JUST TO STATE, A
DEFERRED PROSECUTION IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF BUT IT IS NOT
EASY. FOR PEOPLE TO DO. BUT I
DO THINK IT CAN APPLY INTO
CASES LIKE THE SITUATIONS LIKE
THIS, WHERE THERE IS A NEXUS
WITH ADDICTION. FOR FOLKS.
WITH THAT SAID. THAT IS NOT
CURRENTLY WHAT IS ALLOWED
UNDER THE RCW, WHICH CONTROL
THE RCW WHICH CONTROLS THE
APPLICABILITY OF HOW DEFERRED
PROSECUTIONS WORK. SO, I AM
NOT REALLY SURE HOW THROUGH
OUR MUNICIPAL CODE WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO FACILITATE THIS. BUT
WHAT I THINK THIS DOES PUT
BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN AN
INTERESTING WAY, IS MAYBE A
CONVERSATION AROUND HOW SOME
SUPPLEMENTAL WORK CAN BE DONE
AT THE STATE LEVEL. TO LOOK AT
WAYS TO APPLY DEFERRED
PROSECUTIONS TO THESE CASES.
AS ONE OF THE TOOLS OR TACTICS
THAT THE STATE WANTS LIMITED
JURISDICTION TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE IN THESE CASES. AND IT
MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO
AND TALK TO OUR LEGISLATIVE
DELEGATION ABOUT. BUT, THERE
ARE OTHER DIVERSIONS AND --
AND OTHER THINGS SHORT OF
GOING TO TRIAL THAT WE DO HAVE
AS PART OF OUR PRACTICE LOCALLY
THAT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE
LIKE A PREFILED VERSION, WHICH
IN OUR SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET WE
RECENTLY INCREASED. SO, GIVEN
THAT THIS PARTICULAR CONCEPT IS
KIND OF COMING LATER IN OUR
PROCESS, I'M GOING TO VOTE NO
ON THIS AMENDMENT TODAY. BUT I
THINK IT DOES INVITE A POLICY
CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD
ENGAGE WITH THE LEGISLATURE
ABOUT FOR THIS BEING ONE OF
THE TOOLS THAT WE CAN
POTENTIALLY USE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I ACTUALLY LIKE THE DEFERRED
PROSECUTION PROGRAM BECAUSE IT
IS RIGOROUS AND DESPITE WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS JUST SAID.
ABOUT IT NOT WORKING FOR
EVERYONE. IT WORKED FOR MY DAD,
THAT IS HOW HE GOT SOBER. I
JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THIS
IS AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM FOR
ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SAVE ENOUGH
LIVES FOR ME TO BE IN SUPPORT
OF IT. ON AUGUST 14th, I
REFERENCED A LETTER THAT WE HAD
RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC DEFENSE AND SEI YOU
925, STATING THEIR STRONG
OPPOSITION TO ALIGNING WITH
STATE LAW AND ASKING THAT IT BE
AMENDED THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION, THAT IT THE
AMENDED GRANT SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES THE
AUTHORITY TO DIVERT CASES FOR
TREATMENT. AND BACK THEN, I
SAID THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL
BECAUSE THE POWER TO CREATE
DIVERSIONS IS VESTED SOLELY IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE UNDER
ARTICLE FOUR, SECTIONS ONE
THROUGH 12 OF THE WASHINGTON
STATE CONSTITUTION AND THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CORD
JURISDICTION AND POWER IS
DERIVED FROM THE LEGISLATURE,
PER RCW, 3520. SO BASICALLY
THAT WAS A WAY FOR ME TO SAY
THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO DO THAT. NOW THIS
AMENDMENT DOESN'T CREATE A
WHOLE NEW JUDICIAL DIVERSION
PROGRAM INSTEAD IT EXPANDS AN
EXISTING ONE. BUT THAT TOO IS
AN IMPERMISSIBLE CHANGE TO
STATE LAW WHICH IS BEYOND
COUNCIL AUTHORITY. SO I'M
GOING TO BE VOTING NO AGAINST
THIS BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY
FROM THE GET GO I HAVE BEEN
SAYING THAT I WILL OPPOSE ANY
ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY IS PROSECUTORIAL
DISCRETION. AND THIS DOES DO
THAT. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO
USURP THOSE DECISIONS. AND
THAT IS MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY
AND WILL BE VOTING NO FOR THAT
REASON AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
CLOSING COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT
4?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> YES, I WONDER IF THERE IS
ANY COMMENTS FROM CENTRAL
STAFF ABOUT THE CONCERN ABOUT
THE LEGALITY, OR THE APPROACH
HERE. OF OBVIOUSLY EVERY AMONG
AMENDMENT THAT WE PUT FORWARD
GOING THROUGH THE LAW
DEPARTMENT, THIS ONE HAS, IT
HAS NOT BEEN WALKED ON OR
COMING IN LATE, IT IS PART OF
THE NORMAL PROCESS WHERE IT
WENT THROUGH THE LEGAL REVIEW.
AND WE HAVE ON THE CENTRAL
STAFF, OUR OWN LEGAL ANALYSIS
AND ANALYST AS WELL, WHO
ASSURED US THAT IT IS
CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW. SO
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
CLARIFICATION ON THE
LEGISLATION OR THE AMENDMENT
IN FRONT OF US, IT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM CENTRAL
STAFF IF THERE'S ANY FEEDBACK
ON SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED.
>> I THINK WE DO NEED TO BE
CAREFUL ABOUT TALKING ABOUT
LEGAL ADVICE, WHETHER OR NOT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT LEGAL ADVICE
FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY OR LEGAL
ADVICE FROM THE COUNCIL. BUT
HANDING IT OVER, TO COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, IF THEY HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> I JUST HAVE TO REFER YOU
BACK TO THE MEMOS FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND ANY
INFORMATION FROM OUR
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THAT THEY
PROVIDED TO YOU AND PRIVILEGED
FORM, I CAN'T SPEAK TO IT MUCH
MORE THAN THAT . I APPRECIATE
THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT, I AM NOT SEEING
ANY FURTHER COMMENT. AND
PAUSING, STILL NONE. AND WHILE
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON ADOPTION OF 24.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> I.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON ?
>> NO.
>> VICE-CHAIR LEWIS?
>> NO.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> THREE YES AND TO KNOW.
>> I DON'T THINK YOU CALLED ON
ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
>> YES, YES.
>> JUST TO GET EVERYBODY'S BOAT
ON THE RECORD. AND I DON'T
KNOW IF YOU GOT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON. BUT I AM ALSO A NO.
>> ALL, HE SKIPPED YOU TOO, MY
APOLOGIES.
>> AM I THAT PREDICTABLE?
>> THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS IF HE
FILLS IN THE ANSWERS BEFORE THE
VOTE. THE MOTION FAILS AND THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED. LET'S
MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT NUMBER
FIVE. COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON.
SO THIS AMENDMENT, AGAIN
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON, LET'S GET IT IN FRONT
OF US.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
COLLEGE I MOVED TO ADOPT
AMENDMENT FIVE, FOUR CB
120645, AS SHOWN ON THE
COMMITTEE AGENDA.
>> SECOND, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. AND SOME CENTRAL
STAFF DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT.
>> SO AMENDMENT FIVE, ADDS
SOME RECITALS, THAT SPEAK TO
SOME OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
LANGUAGE, ESSENTIALLY WHAT
THIS AMENDMENT ASKS IS THAT THE
OFFICER OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, OR
A BASED ORGANIZATION THAT
CHOOSES TO ENGAGE WITH. AS
WELL AS AS PD WORKING WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ANY OTHER
RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO OBTAIN
DATA. THAT I WILL DESCRIBE IN
THIS NEXT SUBSECTION. AND
PROVIDE THAT DATA TO THE
COUNCIL. BY JANUARY 1st, 2025
AND FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS UP
UNTIL 2030. THE INTENT FOR
THE DATA COLLECTION IS FOR OIG
TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DATA
THAT IS DESCRIBED , ONE THROUGH
12. AND WITH THE INTENT, OF
ANY OTHER DATA THAT THEY THINK
IS NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS
ORDINANCE. THE INTENT IS FOR
OIG TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
BOTH ABOUT DATA COLLECTION TO
THE EXTENT THAT ANY OF THE DATA
THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE
COLLECTING THAT IS
OPERATIONALLY DIFFICULT AND
PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT
HOW TO BETTER OPERATIONALIZE
THAT DATA COLLECTION TO HELP
THE CITY IMPROVE HOW IT WOULD
ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
ORDINANCE. AND THE PRELIMINARY
REPORT AS REQUESTED BY JUNE
30th OF 2025. AND THE FINAL
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AN ATTEMPT
BY THE END OF THE YEAR BY 2025
AND ANNUALLY AGAIN BY 2030. AND
JUST A NOTE ABOUT THE TIMING
THERE, THE INTENT IS FOR THEM
TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT A YEARS
WORTH OF DATA AND ASSUMING THAT
IF THIS ORDINANCE WERE TO PASS.
IT WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT
THE DATA COLLECTED THROUGHOUT
2024, AND TO ADDRESS THE
EFFECTIVENESS.
>> AS NOTED IN THE AMENDMENT
ITSELF THERE IS 12 DIFFERENT
AREAS OF DATA COLLECTION. AND
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF
DRUG OVERDOSES ON A QUARTERLY
BASIS. THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS
IN WHICH DRUGS WERE PRESENT OR
AN INDIVIDUAL WAS UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF DRUGS ON A
QUARTERLY BASIS, THE NUMBER OF
911 CALLS ABOUT THE USE OF
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN
PUBLIC. ALSO ON A QUARTERLY
BASIS. AND ALL OF THOSE ARE
INTENDED TO BE DATA COLLECTION.
THROUGH 2023. AND THE NUMBER
OF DOCUMENTED CONTACTS BETWEEN
OFFICERS, THAT INCLUDES
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS AND
INDIVIDUALS ENCOUNTERED IN
ENFORCING THESE CRIMES. AND THE
NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS BY POLICE
OFFICERS TO COORDINATE EFFORTS
AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES, THE
NUMBER OF ARRESTS FOR THEIR
CRIMES. THE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
TRANSPORTED FOR BOOKING. AT THE
JAIL. OF THAT NUMBER, OF THOSE
WERE ACTUALLY BOOKED INTO JAIL,
THOSE THAT THE JAIL DID NOT
ACCEPT, THOSE INDIVIDUALS
TRANSPORTED TO A MEDICAL
FACILITY. AND THOSE RELEASED
WITHOUT BEING BOOKED ARE
TRANSPORTED TO A MEDICAL
FACILITY. AND FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE NUMBER
OF POSSESSION AND PUBLIC USE
CASES THAT ARE PREFERRED FOR
PROSECUTION. THE NUMBER OF
CASES FROM THE NUMBER THAT ARE
REFERRED, THEY ARE DISMISSED
BEFORE ORDERING TRIAL, THAT
WOULD INCLUDE PREFILING
DIVERSION, THE REASONS FOR
DISMISSAL OF THOSE CASES, THE
RESULTS OF ANY INTERVIEWS THAT
OIG CONDUCTS WITH SPD, WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED THE FIELD, AND ANY
OTHER INFORMATION THAT OIG
WILL BE HELPFUL FOR THE
PURPOSES OF CONDUCTING THIS
REVIEW. AND THE LAST PIECE OF
THIS ADDITION IS ASKING
OFFICERS TO COLLECT TO THE
EXTENT THAT IT'S PRACTICAL FOR
THEM. AND CONTACT WITH THE
INDIVIDUALS IN PURSUIT OF
ENFORCEMENT OF THESE CRIMES, AS
WELL AS THE NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS
TO CONTACT AND COORDINATE
DIVERSION EFFORTS, IF SPD
CANNOT COLLECT THAT DATA, AS PD
AND OIG WILL TRY TO FIGURE OUT
COLLECTING DATA FROM SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
>> LET'S TURN IT OVER BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON.
>> COUNCIL OF HER PEDERSON.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF IN
THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN
COLLABORATION WITH CRAFTING
THIS AMENDMENT FOR ME, SO THAT
I CAN TRULY BE HELPFUL FOR
EVERYONE. AND THE COLLEAGUES IN
THIS AMENDMENT REQUESTS THE
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL TO
LEAD THE EFFORT AND THE CITY
COUNCIL TO ASSESS THE
EFFECTIVENESS. AND IT IS
INCLUDING HOW THE MAYORS UNIQUE
PROVISIONS INCLUDING HARMON
DIVERSION AND PACKS HIS
ABILITY TO DO THE JOB. THIS
AMENDMENT ASKED FOR
RECOMMENDATIONS. TO APPROVE
THIS POLICY IF WARRANTED. AND
FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THIS NEW
LEGISLATION FORGES NEW GROUND
AND PUT SEATTLE IN A UNIQUE AND
UNTESTED SITUATION, AND
DIFFERENT FROM THE COMPROMISE
OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT CRAFTED
FOUR MONTHS AGO. AND DUE TO
THAT UNCERTAINTY OF WHETHER
THAT LEGISLATION WILL BE
EFFECTIVE IN REAL LIFE, I
BELIEVE COLLECTING AND
REPORTING THIS INFORMATION IS A
SENSIBLE ADDITION, AND AS
CENTRAL STAFF NOTED, THIS DOES
NOT GO ON FOREVER. AND PASSING
THIS AMENDMENT ON REPORTING IS
VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME, AND FOR
THIS CONSIDERATION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON,
LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD, I
PRETTY STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON. I THINK AS A GENERAL
PRACTICE, WE AS A COUNCIL
SHOULD INCORPORATE FEEDBACK
LOOP AMENDMENTS LIKE THIS.
INTO MORE WORK THAT WE DO, AND
TRIGGER SERVICES FROM THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR
NONPUBLIC SAFETY RELATED
MATTERS FROM THE CITY AUDITOR.
AS A WAY TO FOSTER A CLIMATE
OF ONGOING IMPROVEMENT. AND
ONGOING REFLECTION ON POLICIES
AND PRIORITIES. AND THIS
INFORMATION AROUND DATA
COLLECTION AND LINING UP THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY. COMPORTS WITH
WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE
DOING MORE BROADLY. AND I
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT AND
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON BRING IT FORWARD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I JUST
WANT TO SPEAK TO MY SUPPORT ON
THE MOMENT AS WELL. TO
APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON DATA
COLLECTION AND ALSO WANT TO,
REFERENCE THAT I DID SPEAK TO
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. AND,
SHE IS IN SUPPORT OF DOING THIS
WORK AS WELL. AND IT IS JUST
IMPORTANT TO MY SUPPORT AS
WELL. SO, IF THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS
TO COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON FOR
THE DATA COLLECTION AMENDMENT.
AND THERE IS SOME WORK FOR
THEM WANT TO DO IN THE BUDGET
AROUND DATA COLLECTION. AND
THIS AMENDMENT, AND I WENT BACK
TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AGAINST OUR
CONVERSATION THIS MORNING. THIS
AMENDMENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE
DATA. AND I THINK THERE IS
UNNECESSARY LANGUAGE THAT
TRIES TO REHASH THE
CONVERSATION WE HAD IN
REFERENCE TO THE OTHER BILL
THAT HAD ZERO COMMITTEE
HEARINGS, NO OPPORTUNITIES FOR
TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND
IT DOESN'T SEEM NECESSARY TO
INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE IN THIS.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS FOCUSING
ON THE DATA THAT NEEDS TO BE
COLLECTED. SO, I THINK I'M
GOING TO BE SAYING NO ON THIS
AMENDMENT. BUT I DO LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING ON THIS
SPONSOR. ON UPCOMING LANGUAGE
THAT WE ARE COLLECTIVELY
WORKING ON FOR OTHER
MINISTRIES AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THERE IS
NO FURTHER COMMENT. I WOULD
LOVE TO GET TO THE VOTE.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD, JUST ONE
NOTE ON THE PROCESS. I REALIZE
THAT THIS AMENDMENT IS DRAFTED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS
INTRODUCED RATHER THAN THE
SUBSTITUTE, SO WHEN YOU ARE
VOTING ON IT, COULD YOU JUST
HAVE IT BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
SUBSTITUTE, I CAN MAKE ALL OF
THE APPROPRIATE CORRECTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL --
>> MADAM CHAIR, I THINK THERE
HAS TO BE A MOTION, TO CHANGE
THE MOTION.
>> I DON'T NO IF THERE DOES, I
THINK IF I CALL FOR THE VOTE ,
WITH THE REFERENCE, TO THESE
SUBSTITUTE, I AM CORRECT. I SEE
NODDING HEADS OF THE TABLE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, THERE
ARE NODDING HEADS AT THE TABLE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON AMENDMENT FIVE ,
VERSION 1 AS AN AMENDMENT TO
THE SUBSTITUTE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> FIVE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON?
>> YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR LEWIS ?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD
>> YES.
>> FOUR YES AND ONE NO.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. WE HAVE A
COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
WALK-ON'S, THAT WERE NOT ON
THE AGENDA FOR THE DAY. THAT
WE WILL DEFINITELY HEAR THEM,
IF THE SPONSOR IS PLANNING ON
BRINGING THEM FORWARD. SO, I
AM UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER OR
NOT YOU WERE TRYING TO BRING
THEM FORWARD.
>> I WILL GO THROUGH THEM IF
YOU LIKE.
>> WE WILL STILL MOVE THEM AND
GET THEM IN FRONT OF US BECAUSE
WE DO INTEND TO VOTE ON THEM,
CONTRARY TO THE UNCERTAINTY
THAT YOU HAD EXPRESSED. I JUST
WANTED TO, IF YOU WEREN'T
INTENDING TO DO SO BUT STILL
WANTED TO TALK TO THEM, I WAS
TRYING TO CREATE SPACE, TO GET
THEM IN FRONT OF US.
>> I HEAR TEAMS, THAT I DON'T
THINK ANY SPACE NEEDS TO BE
CREATED.
>> SO, NEXT UP IS AMENDMENT
SIX, SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. CAN I HAVE A MOTION,
PLEASE.
>>, THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS
AS TO THE SUBSTITUTE.
>> SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT
AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX, COULD
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF PLEASE
DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT.
>> SO AMENDMENT SIX, SORRY
AMENDMENT SIX, WOULD MAKE ONE
CHANGE, DAILY SECTION ABOUT
THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS AND
THE ASSESSMENT OF THE OFFICER
GETS TO MAKE. AS YOU WILL SEE
IT REFLECTED IN THE LANGUAGE
AND INSTEAD, OFFICERS WILL
DETERMINE WHETHER THE
INDIVIDUAL THROUGH ACTIONS AND
CONDUCT PRESENT A THREAT OF
HARM OF CONDUCT THAT WILL
LANGUAGE IS CHANGED TO MAY AND
MOVING IT FROM MANDATORY TO
DISCRETIONARY LANGUAGE, NO
LONGER MANDATES OF THE OFFICER
MAKE SUCH AN ASSESSMENT.
>> TURNING A BIKE OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NELSON WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU I INDICATED THAT
ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSED
SUBSTITUTE CLARIFIES THAT THE
THREAT OF HARM AND THE THREAT
OF HARM ASSESSMENT IS NOT AN
ELEMENT OF THE CRIME. THE
ADEQUACY OF THE ASSESSMENT MAY
BE RAISED AT TRIAL AND COULD
JEOPARDIZE THE CRIMINAL
PROSECUTION. OR LATER, IN THE
CITY, SO THAT IS WHAT I WAS
TRYING TO GET AT. I NOW HAVE A
SCRIPT THAT I'M ALLOWED TO SAY.
I BELIEVE THE PRESENT VERSION
CREATES AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL
OF RISK FOR THE CITY. I'M NOT
GOING TO GO INTO
ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED
ADVICE. BUT HERE ARE THE
PRACTICAL CONCERNS FOR OFFICERS
AND PROSECUTORS THAT MY
AMENDMENTS SEEK TO RELIEVE,
THEY INCLUDE ONE BURDENSOME FOR
TWO-TIME BURDENS AND CONFUSION
FOR OFFICERS THAT ARE TRYIN TO
ENFORCE OUR LAWS. AND
GENERALLY BAD CONSEQUENCES FOR
RISK OF IMPLEMENTATION I TALKED
TO MY COLLEAGUES AND ATTORNEYS
AND BELIEVETHAT THESE
AMENDMENTS REDUCE THE
CHALLENGES. AND I'M REFERRING
TO THIS ONE IN THE FOLLOWING
ONE. SO BASICALLY, THE
ASSESSMENT OF THE THREAT OF
HARM, COULD LEAD TO SOME
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I AM
PROPOSING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE
VERSION OF THE SUBSTITUTE IS
BETTER THAT YOU CIRCULATED THIS
MORNING. I AM PROPOSING
REMOVING THE MANDATORY
DIRECTIVE TO DETERMINE THE
THREAT OF HARM BY CHANGING IT
FROM MAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS I
SEE YOUR HAND IS UP.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. I AM INCLINED I WILL
SPEAK TO BOTH AMENDMENT SIX
AND SEVEN WOULD DO IT FOR
SIMILAR THINGS. AND IN ONE SET
OF REMARKS. AND I'M ACTUALLY
INCLINED TO SUPPORT THESE
AMENDMENTS, FOR TWO REASONS.
AND THE FIRST REASON, AS IT HAS
BEEN WELL ESTABLISHED. IT IS
NOT ACCURATELY REPORTED. THE
CITY COUNCIL CANNOT ORDER THE
POLICE TO DO ANYTHING. AND
THE MAYOR AND THE CHIEF OF
POLICE, DIRECT THE POLICY AND
THE DISCRETION OF THE
DEPARTMENT. AND NOT THE CITY
COUNCIL. AND SO THE LANGUAGE
THAT WE PUT INTO THE STATUTE.
WHETHER OR IT IS GOING TO HAVE
THE SAME PRACTICAL EFFECT IN
TERMS OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE
ARE PROVIDING TO THE
DEPARTMENT. AND THE SECOND
CONSIDERATION AS RELATED TO THE
FIRST. WE NO THE ORDINANCE IS
GOING TO KICK OFF . AND
COMPLEMENTING EXECUTIVE
ACTIONS. AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ARE GOING TO BE
PURSUING, THAT WE CALL UP IN
THE ORDINANCE. THAT HAVE IN A
PART OF THE PROCESS OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO TO
THE EXTENT THAT MORE
PRESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORK SHOPPING AND
WORKING WITH, CONSTITUENCIES
ON, IT IS WARRANTED. THAT
LANGUAGE WOULD PROBABLY BE
BETTER REFLECT DID AN EXECUTIVE
POLICY, RATHER THAN IN THE
ORDINANCE ITSELF. SO, FOR
THOSE REASONS, I THINK THAT
THIS LANGUAGE HELPS TO PROVIDE
THAT FLEXIBILITY, GIVEN THAT
WE NO IN ADVANCE, WHAT THE
INTENT OF THE EXECUTIVE IS
GOING TO BE IN THE ENFORCEMENT
AND HOW THEY WANT TO ENFORCE
THE ORDINANCE, WE NO IN
ADVANCE, WHAT THE STRATEGY IS
GOING TO BE FOR MAYOR HARRELL.
AND THE MORE PRESCRIPTIVE
LANGUAGE COULD BE INCLUDED IN
THOSE ACTIONS, AND THAT IS
PROBABLY A BETTER PLACE TO PUT
THEM. SO FOR THAT REASON, I
THINK THAT THIS LANGUAGE BETTER
REFLECTS WHAT THE ROLE OF THE
COUNCIL CONTINUES TO
COMPLEMENT THE OVERALL STRATEGY
THAT WE ARE PURSUING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I
HAVE A FEW COMMENTS MYSELF. AND
I FEEL THE LANGUAGE, I
APPRECIATE WHAT THIS IS COMING
FROM. AND I THINK THROUGHOUT
THIS, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
THREAT OF HARM STANDARD, BEING
AN EXERCISE OF DISCRETION.
AND WE EXPECT OUR OFFICERS TO
USE OUR DISCRETION AND TO MAKE
THESE DETERMINATIONS. AND I AM
JUST CONCERNED THAT THE
MESSAGE THAT IT SENDS IS THAT
THE USE OF DISCRETION IS
DISCRETIONARY. AND THAT IS NOT
, MY INTENTION. FOR THIS
POLICY. AND I APPRECIATE THAT
THE POLICIES THAT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS SAYS MAY BE THE MORE
APPROPRIATE PLACE TO DEFINE
THE DISCRETIONARY
DECISION-MAKING THAT THE
EXECUTIVE IS DIRECTING POLICE
OFFICERS TO MAKE. BUT I FEEL
LIKE INSERTING THE WORD WHERE
CURRENTLY THE WORD WILL IS
INCLUDED. IS SUGGESTING THAT
THE USE OF DISCRETION IS
DISCRETIONARY. AND ELISE
OFFICERS MAKE DECISIONS BASED
ON THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE
TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
INCLUDING HOW THE UNLAWFUL
ACTS ARE AFFECTING OTHERS.
AND SURROUNDINGS. BEFORE
INSERTING THE WORD MAY HEAR,
SUGGESTS THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY
WANT LEE'S OFFICERS TO USE
DISCRETION AND I DON'T FEEL
THAT IS THE INTENT OF THE
ORDINANCE.
>> LOOKING FOR OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS. I AM NOT SEEING
ANY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> IS A MEMBER NELSON?
>> I.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD
>> NOW.
>> THREE YES AND TWO NOSE.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. NEXT UP
IS AMENDMENT SEVEN, ALSO
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. IS THERE A MOTION.
>> I MOVE THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT SEVEN TO THE
SUBSTITUTE.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
SEVEN, COULD CENTRAL STOP
PLEASE DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN,
SIMILARLY MOVES LANGUAGE THAT
WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AN OFFICER,
TO ATTEMPT TO CONTACT AND
CORRELATE EFFORTS FOR DIVERSION
AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO
ARREST, FROM MANDATORY TO
DISCRETIONARY. AND STRIKES THE
REFERENCE TO THE REASONABLE
ATTEMPT. AND JUST LEAVES THE
LANGUAGE ATTEMPT TO CONTACT AND
COORDINATE EFFORTS. AND IT
STRIKES LANGUAGE THAT WAS
INCLUDED IN THE SUBSTITUTE,
THAT WOULD EXEMPT OFFICERS
FROM CENTRAL REQUIREMENTS, IF
THE APPROPRIATE OR MOST VIABLE
CARE STRATEGY IS TRANSPORT. AND
IT INCLUDES LANGUAGE, THAT ADDS
THE OFFICER ARREST AT THEIR
DISCRETION TO AVOID ADDITIONAL
SELF-HARM. AND LASTLY IT
STRIKES LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
HAVE ASKED SPD POLICIES OR
DRAINING TO IDENTIFY WHAT
ARTICULABLE FACTS WOULD
WARRANT ARREST. AND IN THE
SECTION OF WHICH, THE ORDINANCE
STATES THAT THE OFFICER WOULD
NOT ARREST IF THE INDIVIDUAL
POSES A THREAT OF HARM TO SELF
ABSENT OF THOSE FACTS AND
CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> AND BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
>> THE SAME ARGUMENT AS ABOVE
THE I AM CHANGING MANDATORY
DISCRETIONARY LANGUAGE WITH
MAY ANY OTHER ITEMS IN HERE.
AND I THINK CONFUSING, THEY
CONFUSE THE OFFICER'S DECISION
IN THE MOMENT AND THEY CONFUSE
WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO
DO. AND CREATE SO MANY
DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR ACTIONS.
THAT I THINK IT JUST MAKES
THIS LAW, VERY COMPLEX, SO THAT
IS WHY I PUT THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I
AM SEEING NO COMMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON
THE AMENDMENT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> NOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> EITHER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON?
>> YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> NO.
>> THREE YESES AND TWO NOSE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. AND WE
NOW HAVE THE UNDERLYING BILL.
BEFORE US. WE HAVE CONSIDERED
AMENDMENTS, AND NOW, LET'S
RETURN TO THE MAIN MOTION. WITH
FURTHER COMMENTS ON COUNCIL
BUILT 12 120645 AS AMENDMENT
? COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THAT IS AN OLD HAND , CHAIR
HERBOLD. BUT YOU NO I WILL
MAKE A COUPLE OF CLOSING
REMARKS. I APPRECIATE THE
PROCESS THIS MORNING, OF GOING
THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY
OF AMENDMENTS THAT TOUCH ON A
LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF
THIS POLICY. I AM REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING
THIS CONVERSATION TO FULL
COUNCIL. ANY SUBSEQUENT
CONVERSATIONS AROUND ME
COMPLEMENTING EXECUTIVE
ACTIONS, THAT WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING WITH OUR PARTNERS
IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, I WANT
TO THANK CAMILLA BROWN AND MY
STAFF, FOR STAFF IN MY OFFICE
THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I WANT TO
THANK MAYOR HARRELL FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP AND CONVENING A
BROAD ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC
HEALTH. TO HAMMER OUT THIS
PROPOSAL. AND I WANT TO THANK
DIRECTOR MAYOR BERG FOR BEING
THE PRIMARY STAFFER IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, FOR WORKING
THIS POLICY THROUGH, IN A VERY
IN A VERY ENGAGING AND
COLLEGIAL WAY WITH A VERY
DIVERSE ARRAY OF PEOPLE WHO
DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON THINGS.
AND DOING IT WITH SKILL. AND
SO WITH THAT. I WILL RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY REMARKS FOR
WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE FULL
COUNCIL BUT I APPRECIATE THE
PROCESS. AND CHAIR HERBOLD
THIS MORNING AND LOOK FORWARD
TO FINAL ACTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD AND
COLLEAGUES IT COMES AS NO
SURPRISE, THAT I WISH THE CITY
COUNCIL HAD SIMPLY VOTED FOR
THE CONFORMING LEGISLATION,
THAT COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND I
CRAFTED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY
AND ON JUNE 6, MORE THAN THREE
MONTHS AGO. TO IMPLEMENT THE
PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMPROMISE CRAFTED BY
OUR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND
STATE LEGISLATURE. OUR LOCAL
EFFORT TO SIMPLY IMPLEMENT THE
STATE COMPROMISE FAILED BY A
VOTE OF FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR AND
FIVE VOTES AGAINST. AND SO
HERE WE ARE, EVEN FOR CITIES
ACROSS THE STATE , HAVE ADOPTED
THE STATE PUBLIC SAFETY LAW. I
APPRECIATE OUR MAYOR AND OUR
TEAM STEPPING UP TO CRAFT
REVISED LEGISLATION AND ALL OF
THE PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON THE
TASK FORCE. WHO LEANED INTO
THIS. SO THAT WE CAN EARN
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL. AND IT IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE, FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO REMAIN AN OUTLIER ON
THIS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
LEGISLATION. OVERDO FORGETTING
THESE PROVISIONS INTO OUR
MUNICIPAL CODE. I BELIEVE THE
AMENDMENT ADOPTED MAKE THIS
LEGISLATION BETTER AND
ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
ADOPTION OF MY AMENDMENT TO
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DATA AND
REPORTED, SO THE POLICYMAKERS
WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY
NEED WHETHER THE LEGISLATION IS
WORKING OR NOT. SO I WILL BE
VOTING YESTERDAY ON THIS
LEGISLATION AND ALSO OPEN TO
ADDITIONAL'S FOR THE DEBATE AT
FULL COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON. AND A FEW WORDS FROM
MYSELF, AS A SPONSOR OF THIS
LEGISLATION. I WANT TO THANK
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THE
COLLABORATION ON THE BILL. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS
ON THIS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR
WORK ON THE BILL. AND WE
AGAIN, NO THAT STATE LAW
APPLIES IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND IT HAS APPLIED IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. THIS LAW IS IN
EFFECT. BUT THE STATE LAW IS
IN EFFECT. BUT THIS LAW THE
LAW BEFORE US TODAY, AGAIN,
STATES THAT DIVERSION IS THE
PREFERRED APPROACH AND THIS
TAKES PLACE, WITH ANY ARREST IN
MANY CASES. AND AN EARLIER
UPDATE, STATES THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT SHALL COLLECT DATA
ON THE RACIAL COMPOSITION OF
THOSE ARRESTED AND DIVERTED,
BOOKED AND REFERRED FOR
PROSECUTION. AND DIVERSION
SERVICES AND WE DELIVER CARE,
THEY ARE KEY ELEMENTS TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE APPROACH. AND I
DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE
LATE BREAKING AMENDMENTS. AND
THE BILL. AND THE BILL STATES
THROUGHOUT, THAT DIVERSION IS
THE PREFERRED POLICY APPROACH.
AND, IT REFERS BOLD TO
DIVERSION THAT HAPPENS BEFORE
ARRESTS AND AFTER ARREST, THE
CONCERN THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE
CHANGE OF THE WORDS IN SEVERAL
PLACES. AND HOW THAT MIGHT
IMPACT OFFICER DISCRETION AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING
THE IMPACT OF THOSE CHANGES.
AND HOW THEY INTEND TO MINISTER
THE PROGRAM. AND THE FACT THAT
WE HAVE SAID THROUGHOUT THE
BILL, IN MULTIPLE PLACES. THAT
DIVERSION IS THE PREFERRED
APPROACH AND THAT IN ORDER TO
IMPLEMENT ANY TYPE OF
DIVERSION, DISCRETION MUST BE
USED. AND I THINK, GIVEN THAT,
THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THE
CHANGES IN AMENDMENT SIX AND
SEVEN, THEY ARE REALLY
FUNCTIONALLY DESIGNED TO
ADDRESS LEGAL CONCERNS AS WE
HAVE HEARD FROM A SPONSOR AND
IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE
UNDERLYING IMPACT OF THE
BILL, WHICH IS TO CREATE A
FRAMEWORK. FOR OFFICER
DISCRETION. AND NECESSARY TO
IMPLEMENT WHETHER PRE-ARREST.
SO, WITH THAT. I AM LOOKING
TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA? I SEE THAT YOUR HAND
IS UP.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
YOU NO I WANT TO START WITH
WHERE I THINK THERE IS
UNIVERSAL INTEREST ACROSS THE
COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY. AND I
THINK WHERE THERE IS UNIVERSAL
INTEREST AND COMMON GROUND IS
TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE, WHO ARE
IN A MOMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS, AND HAVE ADDICTION AS
A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT THEY
ARE ADDRESSING. AND I THINK
THERE IS UNIVERSAL INTEREST IN
MAKING SURE THAT WHETHER THEY
ARE LIVING ON HOUSED OR HOUSED
HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT
THEY NEED, TO GET SOBER AND TO
GET STABLE AND TO USE THE
TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL. TO TRY
AND GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THE
HEALTHCARE THAT THEY NEED. I
HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT. I HEAR
THE UNIVERSAL CONCEPT AROUND.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE
DOING TODAY, WHAT WE ARE DOING
TODAY DOES NOT UNIVERSALLY
ADDRESS THIS COMMON GROUND
GONE TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO
THE SERVICES THEY NEED, IT IS
DOUBLING DOWN ON A STATE
STRATEGY THAT IS ALREADY IN
STATUTE, IT IS ALREADY THE LAW
OF SEATTLE AND THE LAW OF THE
STATE THAT YOU CANNOT CONSUME
IN PUBLIC AND OFFICERS ALREADY
HAVE THE DIRECTION TO ARREST
PEOPLE FOR WHAT THE STATE HAS
DECIDED IS ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR.
AND WHAT WE COULD BE DOING
INSTEAD TODAY, IS INVESTING AND
WHERE IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS
UNIVERSAL INTEREST IN
SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION IN THE PROGRAM TO
SUPPORT MORE PEOPLE GETTING
INTO PREARREST DIVERSION
STRATEGY, TO GET TO CLINICAL
HEALTH SERVICES. AND GETTING
INTO PUBLIC HEALTH TREATMENT
PROGRAMS. WE NO WE DON'T HAVE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE CURRENTLY,
AND WE COULD BE SPENDING OUR
TIME, WORKING ACROSS THE
COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL WITH
THE EXECUTIVE, TO INVEST FUNDS
IN STANDUP PROGRAMS AND TO
SUPPORT THE CRISIS CONNECTION
THE CRISIS CENTER THE LOVELY
THAT JUST PAST, TO EXPEDITE THE
SERVICES THAT UNIVERSALLY
PEOPLE WANT I WANT PEOPLE TO
GET THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICES JUST AS MUCH AS THE
PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT
OF LEGISLATION BUT THAT IS NOT
WHAT THE LEGISLATION DOES. AND
IT IS REPORTED TO COME WITH
THIS BILL. WE HAVE NO
ASSURANCES, THAT THERE WILL BE
THE ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURES AND
PROGRAMS AND DIVERSION
STRATEGIES TO PREVENT PEOPLE
FROM GOING TO JAIL. WE DO NOT
HAVE TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION,
IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS CODIFY WITH
THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE COULD BE
HAVING WITH KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HOW WE CAN
SUPPORT THEM WITH ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES AND INSTEAD OF
OFFERING ADDITIONAL
PROSECUTORIAL AUTHORITY TO OUR
OWN CITY DEPARTMENTS. I WANT US
TO BE SPENDING OUR TIME AND
INVESTMENTS AND FOCUSING HOW WE
GET PEOPLE TO PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICES, NOT HOW WE DOUBLE
DOWN AND RE-CREATE A PUNITIVE
SYSTEM WITHIN OUR OWN CITY, TO
TRY AND PROSECUTE MORE PEOPLE.
WITHOUT ASSURANCES THAT THERE
WILL BE FUNDING FOR L.E.A.D.
AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT
PREARREST DIVERSION
STRATEGIES, WE ARE PUTTING THE
CART BEFORE THE HORSE, WE DO
NOT NO THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS
THAT FOLKS ABOUT THE BUDGET
WILL MATERIALIZE, WE COULD NOT
BE VOTING ON OUR HOPES. OR
RUMORS. OR WHAT WAS THE WORD
THAT WAS USED EARLIER FOR MY
COLLEAGUE. THE ASSURANCES THAT
HAVE BEEN GIVEN WITHOUT
ACTUALLY SEEING THE BUDGET TO
ENSURE THAT FUNDING WILL GO
INTO PREARREST DIVERSION
PROGRAMS. AND WE DO NO THE
DANGERS OF ARRESTING PEOPLE,
WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS OF ADDICTION. AND
THE DANGERS INCLUDE DEATH
WITHIN JAIL. AND HIGHER RATES
OF DEATH. AND WE ARE GOING TO
SEE PEOPLE SUFFER MORE. AND IF
YOU DON'T COMPLEMENT THIS TYPE
OF POLICY WITH THE KNOWN
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED IN
PUBLIC HEALTH DIVERSION
STRATEGIES, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
MORE BLACK BROWN AND
INDIGENOUS FOLKS ARRESTED
BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN AWAY
THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON SO HARD
OVER THE LAST 3 TO 4 WEEKS, TO
TRY TO ENSURE THAT A KNOWN
DEFINITION OF HARM TO ONESELF
OR OTHERS WAS CODIFIED IN HERE,
WE AREN'T DOING THAT, WE ARE
TAKEN AWAY THESE CYBORGS AND
PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE
HORSE, BEFORE WE NO THAT ANY
PREARREST DIVERSION STRATEGIES █
ARE ACTUALLY IN PLACE AND
FUNDED. WE DON'T HAVE THE
LANGUAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER OR THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF
US AND NOW WE HAVE TAKEN AWAY
THAT THE CHAIR WORKED SO HARD
ON. I WAS NOT PART OF THESE
CONVERSATIONS THAT INDICATED
THAT THERE WAS ANY
FORESHADOWING THE FUNDING IS
COMING. I NO, THAT BECAUSE I
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW BAD IT
WILL BE IN ABOUT 14 MONTHS.
AND WE ALL WILL BE COLLECTIVELY
WANDERING AND VERY CURIOUS
ABOUT WHERE ANY ADDITIONAL
FUNDING IS COMING FROM AND TO
SAY THAT THERE IS $27 MILLION
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, I ALSO WANT TO
CLARIFY THAT THE FUNDING COMES
FROM THE FUNDING THAT IS
TYPICALLY USED TO FUND
PRIORITIES I UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE IS $7 MILLION IS GOING TO
BE FREED OUT TO GO TOWARDS THE
EFFORTS BUT IT IS FALSE TO
ASSUME THAT $27 MILLION IS
SOMEHOW GOING TO MATERIALIZE
IN NEW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
BEING STOOD UP AND RESOURCES AT
OUR FINGERTIPS. AND ONCE YOU
TAKE OUT, THE FUNDING BACK
KING COUNTY AND THE CITY
HOLDBACK FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
NEEDS, IT IS MORE LIKE $70,000
PER YEAR, SO 20 MILLION AS A
LUMP SUM IS NOT WHAT WE ARE
RECEIVING, IT IS ACTUALLY MORE
LIKE $700,000 PER YEAR. AND
THAT SHRINKS OVER TIME. AND
SOME ARE REPORTING, IT IS
INACCURATE, BECAUSE 20% OF
THAT GOES TO ADMINISTRATIVE
MANAGEMENT BOTH FROM KING
COUNTY. AND IT DOESN'T BEGIN
TO PUT A DENT IN THE ACTUAL
TYPE OF INVESTMENTS THAT WE
NEED. I AM VERY PROUD OF OUR
COUNTY FOR SUPPORTING THE
CRISIS CARE LEVY. WE NO THAT
IS THE TYPE OF INVESTMENTS THAT
ARE NEEDED I AM PROUD OF THIS
COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY LIKE A
WEED. I AM PROUD OF THE
COLLECTIVE WORK THAT WE HAVE
DONE WITH THE EXECUTIVE OVER
THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE SCALE
UP INVESTMENTS INTO LEAD AND
CO-LEAD AND REACH. BUT RIGHT
NOW WE ARE MAKING POLICY
DECISIONS WITHOUT KNOWING
PREARREST DIVERSIONS WILL LOOK
LIKE. THAT DOESN'T SEEM VERY
WISE, WHEN WE ALREADY NO THAT
THE OUTCOME WILL BE MORE PEOPLE
BEING ARRESTED AND MORE PEOPLE
WHO ARE BLACK AND BROWN. MORE
PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING ON
CHILDREN WITH THE FOLKS ARE
CONSUMING OUTSIDE HIS ACCESS TO
SERVICES, THEY ARE NOT AT A
POINT WHERE THEY ARE MAKING THE
COGNITIVE TO USE OUTSIDE
BECAUSE THEY ARE WEIGHING THE
PROS AND CONS, WILL THEY ARE
DEALING WITH A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS, THAT IS WHY THEY ARE
CONSUMING OUTSIDE AND
THREATENING PEOPLE WITH THE
REST DOES NOT MEAN THAT MORE
PEOPLE WILL MAKE THE DECISION
TO NOT USE OUTSIDE, IT MEANS
THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL GET
ARRESTED WITH THAT PREARREST
DIVERSION PROGRAM. I, OR THIS
POLICY RIGHT NOW ESPECIALLY NOT
KNOWING THAT THE PREARREST
DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO
BE FULLY FUNDED. I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE WHAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
LOOKS LIKE IT I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE WHAT THE FULL BUDGET LOOKS
LIKE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THE SIDEBOARDS THAT WE WORKED
SO HIRED TO ENSURE BUYERS WERE
TAKEN OUT AND TO BE LOOKING A
PUBLIC HEALTH DATA, THAT IS PUT
BACK IN AND SO THAT WE CAN
NATIONALLY HAVE A KNOWN
DIRECTIVE ON HOW THIS POLICY
WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND AGAIN
THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS CODIFY WITH
THE STATE LEGISLATURE, IT HAS
ALREADY BEEN LAW OF THE LAND
INCLUDING IN SEATTLE. IF WE
WANT TO DO MORE TO GET PEOPLE
OFF THE STREET WHO ARE
CONSUMING IN PUBLIC WE SHOULD
BE INVESTING IN THE PREARREST
DIVERSION PROGRAMS IT IS NOT
NECESSARY IT DOES NOT AND DOES
NECESSITATE RESOURCES I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL
ON ENTERING THE ACTUAL
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT PREARREST
DIVERSION STRATEGIES WHICH DOES
NOT HAVE TO COMPLEMENT THIS
LEGISLATION. AND I WILL BE
VOTED NO TODAY WITH THE HOPE TO
ADDRESS THE ACTUAL FUNDAMENTAL
ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THAT
WE ARE SEEING, WHICH OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OF
ADDICTION. I APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO THE
SUBSTITUTE AND I DON'T WANT TO
DIMINISH ALL OF THE HARD WORK
THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS,
INCLUDING THE HARD WORK THAT MY
TEAM MEMBERS HAVE DONE. WITH
SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS MADE
TODAY, AND WITHOUT SAYING THAT
FUNDING I'M NOT ABLE TO
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. I SPOKE ALREADY TO
MY SUPPORT FOR THE BILL WITH MY
INTENT TO VOTE YES. THE OTHER
COSPONSOR, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
DID. I DID NOT INTEND TO MAKE
ANY CLOSING REMARKS I DON'T NO
IF COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS INTENDS
TO MAKE THOSE REMARKS. I DO
AFTER HEARING YOUR REMARKS, I
DO FEEL THE NEED TO RESPOND TO
ONE THING THAT YOU SAID I KNEW
THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING
AMENDMENT SIX AND AMENDMENT
SEVEN I WAS SPEAKING OUT LOUD
MY THOUGHT PROCESS ABOUT THE
CHANGE. I ACTUALLY, YOU
CHARACTERIZED THE IMPACTS IN A
WAY THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT I WAS SAYING WHEN WE WERE
DISCUSSING IT . BUT AFTER
FURTHER CONSIDERATION AFTER WE
VOTED ON THOSE AMENDMENTS I
REALIZED THAT THE CHANGE OF
WILL TODAY IS NOT UNDERMINING
THE DIRECTION OF THIS
LEGISLATION BECAUSE THE
PREFERENCE ON THE POLICY
PREFERENCE FOR DIVERSION BOTH
PREARREST DIVERSION AND
PRE-BOOKING DIVERSION. IT IS
DESCRIBED IN MANY PLACES
THROUGHOUT THE BILL SO THAT IS
WHAT IS GOING TO CARRY THE DAY
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
POLICIES IT IS NOT POSSIBLE
FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
FINALIZE POLICIES, BEFORE WE
VOTE ON THIS LEGISLATION SO
THAT IS ONE REASON WHY I THINK
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THESE POLICIES
AND THE DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND
THE POLICIES OFTEN DERIVED FROM
COUNCIL LEGISLATION OF THE
LEGISLATION BECAUSE WE DON'T NO
WHAT KIND OF AMENDMENTS MIGHT
BE MADE TO THE LEGISLATION
THAT IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF
THE SEQUENCING OF EVENTS AND
WHY IT IS I WILL BE SEEING
THOSE POLICIES LATER AS IT
RELATES TO THE BUDGET
COMMITMENTS THERE IS NOT REALLY
A LOT THAT WE CAN DO THERE.
GIVEN THAT THE BUDGET IS GOING
TO BE TALKING WITH PROVIDERS
AND GIVING THEM EARLY
ASSURANCES OF FUNDING
COMMITMENTS THAT WILL BE IN THE
BUDGET THAT WE WILL HERE ON THE
26th AND I WILL BE LOOKING
FORWARD TO TALKING WITH BOTH
THE EXECUTIVE AND THE PROVIDER
ABOUT HOW THEY INTEND TO
FULFILL THE COMMITMENTS BOTH IN
THIS ORDINANCE AS WELL AS THE
APRIL EXECUTIVE ORDER. SO WITH
THAT I WOULD LOVE IT IF THE
CLERK CAN CALL THE ROLE ON
COUNCIL BUILT 12 0645.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILWOMAN NELSON?
>> I.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON
>> YES
>> VICE-CHAIR LEWIS
>> YES
>> CHAIRMAN HERBOLD.
>> FOUR YES AND ONE NO.
>> MOTION CARRIES AND THE
BILL PASS AS AMENDED. WE WILL
GO TO GIVEN THAT THIS WAS A
SPLIT VOTE, OUR COUNCIL RULES
SAY THAT UNLESS THERE IS
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND THE CHAIR, THE
BILL WILL BE HEARD ON
SEPTEMBER 26th, WE TYPICALLY
WILL SKIP A FULL COUNCIL
MEETING IN ORDER TO GIVE
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WERE NOT
ON THIS COMMITTEE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FAMILIARIZE
THEMSELVES WITH WHY SOME
PEOPLE VOTED YES AND WHY SOME
PEOPLE VOTED NO. THIS
EXPECTATION, WHEN THERE IS A
SPLIT VOTE IS CONTAINED IN OUR
COUNCIL RULES, BUT THERE IS A
PERMIT OF ABILITY TO AMEND
THOSE RULES OF THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND CHAIR DECIDE TO
DO SO. I WILL BE DISCUSSNG
THAT. BUT OTHERWISE, OUR NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SAFETY
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26th. THIS
WILL BE THE FINAL MEETING OF
THIS COMMITTEE , BEFORE COUNCIL
BEGINS ITS BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS, IF COMMITTEE
MEMBERS ANTICIPATE BEING ABSENT
FOR THAT MEETING IN ADVANCE OF
THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU
LET US NO. AND, BEFORE WE
ADJOURN, UNLESS I SEE OTHER
COMMENTS AND I AM SEEING NONE.
IT IS 12:45 P.M., AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU EVERYBODY.