>>> THAT AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
TODAY IS JULY 8th, 2024, AND
THE COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL .
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
EIGHT COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF
THERE'S NO ADOT OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF THE JULY 1, 2024
MEETING WILL BE ADOPTED. WE
HAVE NO PROCLAMATIONS ARE
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS TODAY, SO I
WILL JUST GO OVER WHAT IS
HAPPENING TOMORROW. TOMORROW'S
AGENDA, THERE ARE EIGHT ITEMS
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR. WEEKLY BILL
PAYMENT ORDINANCE, AN ALLOWANCE
ASKING SBU TO SEEK TO MODIFY
THE 2023 STATE DEGREE IN THE
FEDERAL APA REGARDING SEWER
OVERFLOWS. AN APPOINTMENT TO
THE BOARD OF PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSIONERS . A
PACKAGE OF THREE ORDINANCES
THAT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE
2024 BUDGET, WHICH ARE A LABOR
APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE, THE
2024 MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL
ORDINANCE, AND THE 2024 MIDYEAR
GRANTS ORDINANCE. AND TWO
ORDINANCES RELATING TO CITY
LIGHTS 2024 PROGRESS REPORT AND
ITS 2025 TO 2030 STRATEGIC
PLAN. THE CONSENT CALENDAR
INCLUDES A WEEKLY BILL PAYING
ORNAMENTS AND THERE ARE THREE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION FROM
COMMITTEES. COUNCIL BILL
120788, THE 2024 TRANSPORTATION
LEVY ORDINANCE AND A RELATED
ORDINANCE NUMBER 3217. COUNCIL
BILL 12761, RELATING TO
CONVERTING NONRESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURES TO RESIDENTIAL USE.
I WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I
MENTIONED THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
AND THEN THOSE LAST PIECES OF
LEGISLATION IN QUICK
SUCCESSION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY BILL, THOSE
ARE NOT ON A CONSENT CALENDAR,
OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT. AS I
SAID, NO PROCLAMATIONS OR
SIGNATURES TODAY. BEFORE I GO
INTO THE PREVIEW OF COUNCIL
ACTIONS IN A ROUND ROBIN, I DID
WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
NORTHWESTERN ASIAN WEEKLY
ORDERED AN ARTICLE CONDEMNING
THE HATE SPEECH DESECRATING
BUILDINGS THROUGH OUT THE OTHER
AREAS OF THE CID IN JULY. I
APPLAUD THEM CALLING THIS OUT
AND I WILL ADD THAT IT IS
ABSOLUTELY UNCONSCIONABLE THAT
THE MESSAGING TARGETED A
SITTING ASIAN COUNCILMEMBER IN
AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO
INTIMIDATE HER OUT OF HER
OFFICE. THIS IS PRECISELY THE
TYPE OF TOXIC LANGUAGE AND
MESSAGING THAT HAS THE RESULT
OF KEEPING GOOD, DEDICATED
PUBLIC SERVANTS WITH A HISTORY
OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FROM
ACTUALLY RUNNING FROM OFFICE.
WE WANT TO REVERSE THAT. AND SO
I WILL NOTE THAT IN ADDITION TO
WHAT WAS MENTIONED IN THAT
ARTICLE, IN 2022, COUNCIL
PASSED RESOLUTION 32065
CONDEMNING, QUOTE, HARASSMENT,
THREATS, POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN
ELECTED OFFICIALS, ELECTION
WORKERS, THOSE SEEKING ELECTED
OFFICE, OR OTHER PUBLIC OFFICE.
I FEEL I HAVE NOT ONLY A MORAL
DUTY, BUT A -- WELL, A
LEGISLATIVE DUTY TO SPEAK OUT
AGAINST THIS AND ALSO JUST TO
SPEAK OUT IN GENERAL AGAINST
THIS SORT OF RACISM ATTACK.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME COMMENTS
FROM PEOPLE DURING THE ROUND
ROBIN, THAT I DID THINK THAT IT
DID BEAR MENTIONING AT THE TOP
OF THIS MEETING. WITH THAT,
LET'S GO RIGHT INTO THE
COUNCIL PREVIEWS . IN THE
ROLLCALL TODAY BECAUSE OF
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COLLEAGUES. PARTS UTILITY
TECHNOLOGY MEETING WILL BE THIS
WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, 7/10. AT
2:00 P.M. FIRST THING, WE ARE
HAVING A PRESENTATION ABOUT
BALL FIELDS. I KNOW A LOT OF
PEOPLE WANTED TO HEAR ABOUT
THAT TO UNDERSTAND OUR
INVENTORY, HOW MANY FIELDS HAVE
BEEN TURFED, HOW MANY ARE LIT.
SOULFUL PRESENTATION. I HAVE
SEEN IT SO FAR, AND IT'S GOING
TO ANSWER A LOT OF THE
QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE HAD ABOUT
BALL FIELDS. WE WILL ALSO HAVE
A PRESENTATION FROM CENTRAL
STAFF WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE
SECOND PRESENTATION FROM OUR
STRATEGIC BUSINESS PRESENTATION
FROM SBU. WE WILL BE GOING OVER
THAT AS WELL, AND THERE'S ALSO
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLOOD
DISTRICT . THE FLOOD DISTRICT
FOR SOUTH PARK AND OUR
ARRAIGNMENT OF KING COUNTY , WE
HAVE A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT WE
HAVE TO HANDLE. LAST WEEK
OBVIOUSLY WAS A HOLIDAY. I WANT
TO THINK UNITY CHURCH IN
DISTRICT SEVEN , COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLES DISTRICT. SORRY, I LIKE
TO HOP AROUND IN EVERYBODY'S
DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY CONNECT WITH THE
OPERATION AND DO MEETINGS AND
CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AT A GREAT
SERVICE. A GREAT SERVICE. AND
THEN I SPENT MY FOURTH OF JULY
LAST WEEK -- EVEN THOUGH IT IS
IN L.A. -- ON SKID ROW WITH A
GENTLEMAN NAMED KEVIN CALL. IS
THE MAYOR SKID ROW. I'VE SPENT
MY TIME DOWN WITH HIM ONCE A
YEAR TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE. HE
HAS A GREAT STORY. 21 YEARS
SERVED IN PRISON. NOW HE GIVES
BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. I HAD
TIME WITH THAT AND HUMANITY
HEROES, WHICH WAS STARTED BY A
WOMAN IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND THEY WILL BE COMING HERE ON
23rd AND JACKSON TO DO A BIG
GIVEAWAY OF BACKPACKS. THAT
WILL BE FUN. THAT'S OUR
CONNECTION THERE. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT BRINGING THAT UP
ABOUT SOME OF THE DESTRUCTION
IN THE CID WITH HISTORIC
BUILDINGS . AS I SAID BEFORE,
ANY TIME PEOPLE DO STUFF --
ESPECIALLY TO BLACK CHURCHES --
IT IS ANTI-BLACK. AND WHAT WAS
DONE ON THE CID AND HISTORIC
BUILDINGS WAS DEFACING IT AND
VANDALISM, SO WE HAVE TO CALL
IT OUT. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
BRINGING THAT UP AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO CALL IT OUT AS BEST
I CAN IN THE PLATFORM AND IN
PUBLIC AS BEST AS I CAN. THANK
YOU. I WILL PASS IT OFF TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> SORRY, BEFORE YOU TAKE OVER
-- I AM NOT UNDER COMMITTEE.
YOU MENTIONED ONE OF THE AGENDA
ITEMS IS BALL FIELDS. I HAVE
SEEN AND HEARD FROM
CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT NOT A BALL FIELD, BUT A
PLAY AREA AT THE BEACH
COMMUNITY CENTER THAT IS GOING
TO BE REDONE -- IT'S NOT
ASTROTURF, BUT THE ARTIFICIAL
TURF. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF
CONCERNS AROUND ITS IMPACT ON
CHILDREN'S HEALTH, BECAUSE IT
IS REALLY USE, AND HE GETS
INHALED, AND IT'S GOT ITS
PROBLEMS. SO I WONDER IF DURING
THAT COMMITTEE, YOU CAN JUST
ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY
CAME TO THE DECISION TO USE
THAT INSTEAD OF REAL GRASS AND
IF IT IS FINAL DECISION OR
STILL WORTH -- THE COMMUNITY IS
VERY INTERESTED IN HAVING
SOMETHING BESIDES THAT.
>> THE PLAY AREA AT RAYNOR
BEACH IS BEING DONE. IT IS
TURF. I KNOW THAT THEY SWITCHED
OVER FROM USING RUBBER TO COURT
BECAUSE OF THAT CONCERN, BUT I
WOULD FIND OUT MORE REGARDING
THAT. NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
>> QUICK QUESTION. WAS AT
RANIER BEACH, OR RANIER
COMMUNITY CENTER?
>> IT WOULD BE RANIER COMMUNITY
CENTER.
>> THE COMMUNITY CENTER, I KNOW
FOR SURE, WAS RECENTLY HYBRID.
THEY HAD HYBRID TURF AND IT
BASICALLY COVERS THE INFIELD. I
WILL SHARE DURING MY PORTION IN
JUST A MINUTE, BUT I WAS ALWAYS
JUST CURIOUS, IS AT THE
PLAYFIELD?
>> THEY REDID THE PLAYFIELD.
LAST YEAR. THIS IS THE
CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND AREA.
>> YEAH, IT'S THE INFIELD THAT
IS REDONE WITH TURF.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I WILL PASS IT OFF TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL START
FIRST WITH THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, FOR YOUR REMARKS.
CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE
NORTHWEST ASIAN REPORT -- AND
IT'S NOT JUST HISTORICAL
BUILDINGS. IT'S ALSO PARKING
KIOSKS, AND SINCE IT'S BEEN
REPORTED TO ME, YARD SIGNS.
THIS IS CLEARLY WRONG AND WHAT
IS REALLY HAPPENING, AND IT
SHOULD NOT JUST BE A GREAT
PUBLICATION HERE, BUT IN
PUBLICATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE NEED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
IT'S VERY MUCH FOR RAISING IT
NOW, AND FOR US TO SPEAK ON IT
AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE IS NO
PLACE FOR THIS AT OUR CITY, AND
WE NEED TO STAND UP NOW,
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, IT WILL
ONLY GET WORSE. AND THEN PEOPLE
WILL JUST EXCUSE IT AND PERMIT
IT, AND WE CAN'T LET THAT
HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU FOR
RAISING THAT. APPRECIATE IT
VERY MUCH. IN TERMS OF MY
REPORT, PREVIEWING TOMORROW, WE
HAVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING. IT'S GOING
TO BE FOCUSED ON TWO THINGS.
STREET RACING BILL THAT WE
HAVE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND SO FORTH.
ABOUT THIS BILL . INCLUDING TWO
AMENDMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER
VICE CHAIR SOCCER . IN
ADDITION, WERE GOING TO HAVE
ART ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS FOR
OUR MIDYEAR REVIEW. THEY WILL
BE JOINING US TOMORROW. ALSO
COMING UP THIS WEEK, WE HAVE
RPS RC TRANSPORTATION POLICY
BOARD MEETING ON WEDNESDAY. I
WILL BE TRAVELING THAT DAY, SO
I WILL HAVE TO DEFER TO MY
COLLEAGUE, ALSO ON THE BOARD,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR THAT.
ALSO THIS WEEK, WE HAVE A COAST
GUARD BASED SEATTLE TOUR, WHICH
I WILL BE HAPPY TO GO ON ON
WEDNESDAY. I WILL BE TOURING
THE KING COUNTY RECREATIONAL
FACILITY THIS AFTERNOON. I
SHOULD ALSO NOTE, WE HAVE THE
QUEEN AND COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING THIS WEEKEND AS WELL. I
WILL BE TRAVELING BACK , WITH
MY POINT ABOUT NOT BEING HERE
NEXT MONDAY, THE FOLLOWING WEEK
I WILL BE VISITING THE
HOLOCAUST CENTER FOR HUMANITY,
AND MARRIES PLACE ON THE 18th,
AND THEN WE WILL HAVE OUR KING
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
ON THE 19th AS WELL. IN TERMS
OF LAST WEEK, IT WAS A LIY HAD
GARDENS -- GARDEN REMEMBRANCE
AT BEND ROYAL HALL , THAT SAME
BLOCK. IT IS AN OUTSTANDING
MEMORIAL FOR THOSE LOST IN OUR
CITY, AND PARTICULARLY WORLD
WAR II THROUGH THE CENTER
PRESENT DAY. THIS IS CITY OF
SEATTLE PROPERTY, TOO, BY THE
WAY. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, SOMETHING
MORE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT,
BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT
NEEDS TO BE KEPT UP WITH, TOO.
THEY DO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES
WITH TREES THAT WE NEED TO WORK
THROUGH, AND I JUST REALLY
ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY. I KINDA
VOLUNTEERED MY FELLOW VETERAN
TO THE GROUP. I HAVEN'T TOLD
YOU YET, BUT I WILL DO IT RIGHT
NOW. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING
FOR EVERYBODY TO ATTEND AND TO
VISIT. YOU CAN SIT AND REFLECT,
BUT REALLY, TO BE WITH THE
GOVERNING BOARD, JUST TO GET
THE SENSE OF THE CHALLENGES
THEY ARE FACING , IT'S VERY
GOOD SHAPE. AND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO
WORK THROUGH AT SOME POINT.
IT'S NOTHING IMMEDIATE, BUT
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
ON OUR RADAR SCREEN. THAT IS
IT. AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
--
>> ONE POINT. THE GARDEN OF
REMEMBRANCE IS WHEN THE ANNUAL
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION IS.
>> YES.
>> SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN THERE IF THEY'VE
ATTENDED THAT CELEBRATION.
>> I WISH -- I EXPRESS MY
REGRET, BUT IT IS ALSO AN
OPPORTUNITY IN OTHER TIMES OF
THE YEAR AS WELL TO BE PART OF
OFFICIAL , LIKE YOU ARE SAYING,
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATIONS. THAT
SOMETHING THAT I ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO ATTEND AND
PARTICIPATE IN. AT THE END OF
MY TOUR, PEOPLE GIVING ME A
TOUR WAS A GOLD STAR MOTHER.
AND SHE WAS HIGHLIGHTING THE
NAME FOR FOR SUN. IT'S REALLY
DIFFICULT. FOR THOSE THAT READ
MY MEMORIAL BILL, IT GOES TO
THE IDEA OF NEVER FORGETTING.
AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND I MADE THAT
POINT TO HER. WE HAVE TO DO
THAT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SORRY.
I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT
YOU SAID AND IT WAS VERY
MOVING. AND I, TOO, WANT TO
ECHO YOUR MOVEMENTS ABOUT THE
HATE SPEECH THAT WAS DISPLAYED
AGAINST OUR COLLEAGUE. IT IS
TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. MY
APOLOGIES THAT YOU ENDURED
THAT. AND ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY
, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HOPE
THERE'S SOMETHING MORE THAT WE
CAN DO BESIDES JUST CALLING IT
OUT. MAY BE TO CALL IT OUT MORE
REGULARLY . AND IT COMES ON THE
HEELS OF A TIME WHEN WE ARE
VERY DIVIDED NATIONALLY, AND I
THINK IT ONLY CONTRIBUTES TO
THAT DIVISION, WHICH -- WE NEED
TO BE UNITED. WE ARE IN AN
EXISTENTIAL CRISIS IN THIS
COUNTRY AT THIS POINT, IN MY
PERSONAL OPINION. MOVING ON
FROM THAT, LET'S SEE. WE HAVE
THE HOUSING SERVICES COMMITTEE
THIS WEDNESDAY. WE WILL BE
HEARING FROM PROVIDERS ON THE
CURRENT CHALLENGES THEY ARE
FACING WITH THE CITY'S RENTAL
REGULATIONS, AND THEN WE WILL
ALSO BE HAVING A PRESENTATION
FROM HST ON THEIR COMMUNITY
SAFETY WORK, PARTICULARLY
AROUND VIOLENCE AND PREVENTION
PROGRAMMING , BOTH WHAT THEY
ARE DOING AND ALSO THEIR
PARTNERSHIPS WITH KING COUNTY ,
AND THEN ALSO THE MAYOR'S
EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND HOW THAT
IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED. I
THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY
IN FORMATIVE AND INTERESTING
PRESENTATION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO ATTEND. JUST LET ME
KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE
COMING. AND LAST WEEK, THE
HIGHLIGHT WAS OUR VOTE IN
SELECT TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO OFFER THEM EXCEPT
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I TURN IT
NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE. AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SAID, THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS FROM
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE ON
TOMORROW'S FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA. WE HAVE THREE
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE EDI
ADVISORY BOARD , AND COUNCIL
BILL 127061, WHICH IS THE
OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL
CONVERSION BILL . THAT BILL DID
-- THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY THAT THAT BILL
PASSED, SO WE WILL BE HEARING
IT TOMORROW. THE NEXT LAND-USE
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17th, AND WE
ANTICIPATE HEARING SEVEN ITEMS
AT THAT MEETING. WE WILL HEAR
AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATUS
OF THE ATTACHED ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT ORDINANCE THAT
WAS PASSED IN 2018. WE WILL
HAVE A BRIEFING FROM THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE TEAM ON THE PROGRAM
. I THINK MY STAFF SENT AROUND
AN EMAIL THIS MORNING, BUT WE
ARE REQUESTING COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. IF YOU COULD
PARTICULAR QUESTIONS YOU WOULD
LIKE THEM TO COME PREPARED TO
ANSWER, PLEASE TRY TO LET US
KNOW BY WEDNESDAY SO WE CAN
SHARE THAT WITH THE TEAM AND
THEY CAN COME PREPARED TO
ANSWER. WE ALSO HAVE FOUR
APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING
COMMISSION ADVISORY BOARD , AND
THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING
A SERIES OF ROUNDTABLES ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO OVER THE
NEXT FOUR LAND-USE COMMITTEE
MEETINGS, I WOULD HAVE
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS JOINING
US TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE CITY
CAN MEET OUR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
GOALS. SO THE FIRST MEETING
WILL BE JULY 17th TO TALK ABOUT
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND HOUSING.
WE WILL ALSO BE TALKING ABOUT
CLIMATE ACCESSIBILITY AND
MOBILITY ISSUES AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS. THIS WILL
BE A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS LED
BY COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS
AND FOLKS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN
THIS WORK SO THIS IS NOT FOR
CITY STAFF. JUST FOR MY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS INFORMATION.
SO THAT IS EVERYTHING RELATED
TO COMMITTEE. TONIGHT, I WILL
BE ATTENDING THE 37th
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT MEETING
WITH OBESITY. THEY ARE HOLDING
A DISCUSSION ON THE CONFERENCE
A PLAN, SO WE WILL BE TALKING
ABOUT THAT. TOMORROW I WILL BE
MEETING WITH THE CHURCH COUNCIL
OF GREATER SEATTLE WHICH
ORGANIZES AROUND SUPPORTING OUR
IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS. MY TEAM
AND I WILL ALSO BE MEETING WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM SPACE
BETWEEN, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT
THAT FACILITATES
MINDFULNESS-BASED SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND SOUTH
AND SCHOOLS. WE MET THEM AT MY
INDUSTRY OFFICE HOURS SEVERAL
WEEKS AGO, AND SO WE ARE GOING
BACK TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. AND MY
OFFICE WILL ALSO BE JOINING THE
EXECUTIVE LEADERS -- EXECUTIVE
LEADERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP ON
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ON
WEDNESDAY. THIS IS THE SECOND
MEETING OF THIS BODY IN 2024.
THE FIRST MEETING WAS AT LEHMAN
FIELD SEVERAL -- A FEW MONTHS
AGO. AND THIS WILL FOCUS ON THE
RECENTLY ANNOUNCED DAYS ACTION
INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION. FINALLY, ON
SATURDAY, I.T. WILL BE
ATTENDING THE SOUTH BEACON HILL
BLOCK PARTY HOSTED IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS
FOUNDATION, THE SEATTLE
FOUNDATION AT THE SITE OF THE
CLIMATE RESILIENCE POD. WHICH
WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING
FOR THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE TO
BUILD NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS
AND RESILIENCY, AND THIS IS
REALLY AN EFFORT TO START
PILOTING SOME OF THE GREEN
BUILDING AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
BUILDING MODELS THAT WE ARE
USING IN THE CITY FOR SOME OF
OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS. THERE
ARE NO QUESTIONS? DID YOU HAVE
A QUESTION?
>> EARS PICKED UP WHEN YOU
MENTIONED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN THE ARTS, BECAUSE THAT IS
NOW THE THIRD COMMITTEE THAT IS
MENTIONED SOMETHING TO DO WITH
THAT. I NEVER THOUGHT TWO WOULD
BE PULLED TOGETHER. YOU DID
YOUR ROUNDTABLE . I'VE HAD A
PIECE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN THE YARD. COULD YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH. SO BOTH OF THOSE ARE
ELEMENTS IN THE CONFERENCE A
PLAN, AND WE ARE ESPECIALLY
INTERESTED , AS THESE THINGS
ARE ALL CONNECTED WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A
NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE THRIVING ,
BESIDES HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION DO WE NEED? AND
IT'S ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS,
IT'S ABOUT HOW WE TALKED ABOUT
ALREADY IN DIFFERENT VENUES,
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS
SECTOR IN OUR ECONOMY, THE
IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL SPACE IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND HAVING
SPACE FOR CULTURAL ANCHORS .
AND ALL OF THAT RELATES TO HOW
WE USE GROUND-FLOOR SPACE IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. SO I
KNOW THERE'S A HEAVY EMPHASIS
ON THAT DOWNTOWN. THROUGHOUT
THE CITY, ARE COMMERCIAL
CORRIDORS AND COMMERCIAL
DISTRICTS ALSO HAVE ART SPACE
OR AN INTEREST IN ART SPACE AND
ANCHORS. IT IS ALSO, FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, A WAY TO ENGAGE
YOUNG PEOPLE. WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE PEOPLE AT KING STREET
STATION. THERE ARE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT YOUTH ARTS
ORGANIZATIONS THERE THAT FOCUS
ON HOW TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE
IN THEIR MUSIC, IN THEIR ART,
AND THEIR -- YOU KNOW, LEARNING
PRODUCTION SKILLS, AND IT'S
REALLY A WAY TO TRY TO DRIVE
KIND OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF
CREATIVE'S. ALL OF THAT HAS
IMPLICATIONS FOR WHAT KIND OF
LAND-USE -- WHAT KIND OF USES
WE ALLOW IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THAT IS SORT OF THE
CONNECTION IN ALL OF THAT TO
LAND-USE. AND WE'D LOVE TO
HAVE ALL OF YOUR INPUT IN THAT.
>> I WOULD SAY ALSO GET THE
SUPPORT OF THE MUSIC
COMMISSION. I NOMINATED
SOMEBODY TO THE MUSIC
COMMISSION BECAUSE HE WAS
REALLY FOCUSED ON THE DEARTH OF
VENUES IN THE SOUTH AND. FOR
PERFORMANCES. AND SO I
RECOGNIZE THAT AS A NEED. AND I
SUPPORT WHATEVER PROCESS YOU
ARE DOING.
>> PERFORMANCE SPACE, REHEARSAL
SPACE, PRODUCTION SPACE. ALL OF
THAT IS ALSO PART OF THIS
CONVERSATION AS IT RELATES TO
LAND-USE.
>> AND ALL THAT, IN TERMS OF
THE ARTS SECTOR, YOU KNOW, HOW
ARTIST ARE ALSO SMALL
BUSINESSES. AND SO REALLY,
GALLERIES AND OTHER RETAIL
SPACES FOR ARTISTS TO BE ABLE
TO SELL THEIR ART IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S IN THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPACE NOT
USUALLY THOUGHT OF IN THAT WAY.
AND I THINK ARTIST THEMSELVES
IN MY PRIOR WORK IN OFFICE ARTS
AND CULTURE, A LOT OF ARTISTS
DON'T NECESSARILY SEE
THEMSELVES AS ENTREPRENEURS,
BUT THEY ARE. SO THEY HAVE ALL
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN ADDITION
TO THE VENUES. IT'S ALSO
REALLY HELPING ARTISTS BE ABLE
TO MAKE A LIVING, IN THEIR
TRADE.
>> AND LEARN HOW TO ACTUALLY
RUN A SMALL BUSINESS. THINK OF
THEMSELVES AS ENTREPRENEURS.
THEY THINK OF THEMSELVES AS
ARTISTS OFTEN. SO GIVING AWAY
THEIR PRODUCT IS NOT A GOOD
BUSINESS PRACTICE.
>> THERE'S AN EXPRESSION THAT
GOES, EXPOSURE KILLS. SOME OF
THAT RETAIL CAN GO TOWARD THE
ARTS, AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. I
GUESS IT'S MY TURN. THANK YOU
FOR THAT. SO THIS WEEK --
FIRST, I WANT TO SAY -- I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE WHAT MANY OF US
HAVE SAID TODAY ABOUT HATE
SPEECH. THERE ISN'T ROOM FOR
HATE SPEECH IN THE CITY. IT IS
REALLY -- I AM SPEECHLESS
WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS, BECAUSE
I -- IT IS SOMETHING THAT I
TAKE REALLY SERIOUSLY, AS DO WE
ALL. I OFFER ANY SUPPORT TO MY
COLLEAGUE AND ANYONE ELSE IN
THE CITY WHO HAS BEEN A VICTIM
OF HATE -- HATE SPEECH CRIME.
THAT IS A CRIME. AND SO I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP,
AND WE SHOULD BRING IT UP EVERY
TIME IT HAPPENS, BECAUSE THIS
IS HOW WE ADDRESS IT. WE DON'T
STAY SILENT WHEN THESE THINGS
HAPPEN TO OUR COLLEAGUES OR
ANYONE ELSE IN THE VIDEO. I
WANT TO START THEIR. I ALSO
WANT TO SAY, THIS WEEK I HAVE
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE. THIS
WEEK'S MEETING, THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING
WILL PRESENT ON THE $4.5
MILLION MENTAL HEALTH PILOT
INVESTMENT . AS YOU MAY KNOW,
THEY RECEIVED A $500,000
ALLOCATION IN 2021, AND THEN A
$4 MILLION ALLOCATION IN 2022
TO IMPLEMENT MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES IN SCHOOLS. INITIALLY,
IT WAS POST-COVID TO ADDRESS
THE IMPACTS OF COVID. AND THEN
WHEN THAT SHOOTING HAPPENED AT
INGRAM HIGH SCHOOL, IT BROUGHT
IN TO DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH,
SADLY, OF THAT. AND SO THIS
PARTICULAR 4.5 MILLION
INVESTMENT, LIKE I SAID, WAS
THE INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE
BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022, AND IT
SPECIFICALLY WILL ADDRESS -- IN
ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THE
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS,
WHICH IS AN INVESTMENT THAT IS
MADE OUT OF THE FAMILIES AND
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL PROMISE
LEVY. SO THEY WILL BE DOING
THIS PRESENTATION. I WOULD
WELCOME AS MANY OF YOU AS WOULD
LIKE TO SIT IN TO HERE ON THIS
PRESENTATION ON WHAT DEAL HAS
DONE. YOU MAY ALSO KNOW -- YOU
HAVE HEARD ME SAY, THIS IS A
NEW LINE OF BUSINESS. THEY
DON'T NORMALLY DO MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES. AND SO I AM
VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM DEAL ON HOW THEY
WENT ABOUT, AND THEY DID A LOT
OF WORK WORKING WITH A LOT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL AS
PARENTS AND STUDENTS ON
FIGURING OUT THE BEST WAY TO
IMPLEMENT THIS INVESTMENT. AND
THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO
BE PRESENTING ON THURSDAY.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU LIKE
TO ATTEND. LIKE I SAID, YOU ARE
WELCOME AS MANY OF YOU AS YOU
WOULD LIKE TO COME WITH HOW
DEAL WENT ABOUT IMPLEMENTING
THIS INVESTMENT , THAT ACTUALLY
MOST OF THOSE CONTRACTS ARE
STARTING THIS YEAR IN JANUARY
BECAUSE IT TOOK THEM, AND
RIGHTFULLY SO, SOMETIME TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST
IMPLEMENT. AND THEN I WILL SAY,
THESE NEXT FEW DAYS LOOK TO BE
IN SEATTLE RECORD-BREAKING
HEAT, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE PSA
ABOUT STAYING SAFE AND LOOKING
OUT FOR OUR VULNERABLE
NEIGHBORS. AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE
CITY HAS LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY
CENTERS, AND THEN WATER
FACILITIES. YOU CAN FIND A LIST
OF LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY
CENTERS ON THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WEBSITE, AND SO JUST BE MINDFUL
. IF YOU HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO
MIGHT HAVE THAT TYPE OF NEED,
PLEASE DO HELP THEM AND DIRECT
THEM TO AN AIR-CONDITIONED SAFE
SPACE. SO STAY SAFE OUT THERE,
AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A SAFE
AND FUN JULY 4th AS WELL.
UNLESS ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS, I
WILL PASS IT ON TO MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. AND THANK YOU, MADAM
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR RAISING
THE ISSUE THAT WE NO DOUBT ARE
ALL AWARE OF . I DIDN'T COME
INTO THIS BRIEFING PREPARED TO
SPEAK ON THAT, BUT NOW THAT
IT'S OUT HERE, LET ME JUST SAY
A FEW WORDS FROM MY HEART ,
WHICH WILL BE WAY BETTER THAN
ANYTHING I COULD HAVE
PRE-THOUGHT ABOUT IN ADVANCE
AND WRITTEN UP. BUT WHAT
HAPPENED WAS WRONG. WHAT
HAPPENED WAS HATEFUL. IT WAS
MISOGYNISTIC, IT WAS XENA
PHOBIC. AND WE NEED TO SHUT
DOWN THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR
IMMEDIATELY . I THINK AS A
CITY, TO BE HONEST, WE NEED TO
DO A BETTER COLLECTIVE JOB OF
LIVING UP TO OUR VALUES THAT WE
PURPORT TO HOLD NEAR AND DEAR.
NOT JUST WHEN PEOPLE HAPPEN TO
PHILOSOPHICALLY OR POLITICALLY
AGREE WITH WHATEVER OUR POLICY
POSITION IS. AND I DON'T CARE
WHO HAPPENED TO BE THE SUBJECT
OF THAT. I WANT YOU ALL TO
KNOW, COLLEAGUES, I WILL STAND
UP AND DEFEND AGAINST ANY OF
THAT BEHAVIOR TARGETED TOWARDS
ANY OF YOU ALL, BECAUSE IT IS
WRONG, IT IS ABHORRENT, IT IS
SHAMEFUL, AND WE COULD DO SO
MUCH BETTER AS A CITY. SO LET
US DO A BETTER JOB OF LIVING UP
TO OUR PURPORTED VALUES AND LET
US CONTINUE TO SHUT THAT DOWN
-- ADDRESSING AND CALLING IT
OUT. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS
EARLIER. WE DO NEED TO DO MORE,
BUT IT ABSOLUTELY STARTS AND
CALLING IT OUT EVERY SINGLE
TIME. MAKE NO MISTAKE. I CALL
OUT THAT NONSENSE, AND
RESPECTIVELY CALL OUT ANY OTHER
HATEFUL SPEECH TARGETED TOWARDS
ANY LAST ONE OF YOU ALL. CAN
AND MUST DO BETTER. AND I'M
SORRY THAT HAPPENED TO OUR
COLLEAGUES . ONE OF OUR
COLLEAGUES. WE LEARNED THROUGH
LAST WEEK AT THE SELECT
COMMITTEE, THE LEVY , THAT WE
CAN AND ARE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY
CHAMPION WHATEVER OUR POLICY
POSITION IS ON ANY NUMBER OF
TOPICS , ADVOCATE HARD FOR ITS,
AND THEN IF IT DOESN'T END UP
PASSING THE FINAL THING,
COLLECTIVELY MOVING FORWARD
TOGETHER. IT'S A GREAT
PLAYBOOK THAT I THINK WILL
SERVE THIS COUNCIL WELL ON A
GOING FORWARD BASIS AS WE
CONTINUE THESE THORNY ,
COMPLEX, VERY DELIBERATIVE,
DELICATE CONVERSATIONS ON ANY
NUMBER OF TOPICS. MY POINT IS,
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
EFFECTIVELY . WE CAN ADVOCATE
FOR A THING, WHATEVER THAT IS,
AND WE CAN UNITE AND RALLY
TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL. IN ANY
EVENT , I'M SORRY THAT
HAPPENED. ALL RIGHT. SO I GUESS
SEGUE INTO SOMETHING A LITTLE
LIGHTER , A LITTLE BETTER.
THANK YOU ALL, COLLEAGUES, FOR
YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR ENGAGEMENT,
YOUR COLLABORATION, YOUR
PARTNERSHIP OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS. OF THIS LEVY. PROUD
THAT WE VOTED IT OUT OF
COMMITTEE. TOMORROW IS OUR
FINAL VOTE AT THE FULL COUNCIL
LEVEL. SO STAY TUNED. BUT I
JUST WANT TO SAY, I THINK WE
PUT TOGETHER A THOUGHTFUL,
BALANCED PACKAGE THAT REFLECTS
OUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITIES . AND
THANK YOU AGAIN. WE COULDN'T
HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT REALLY A
FULL-COURT PRESS BY THIS
COUNCIL . AND A COLLECTIVE TEAM
EFFORT BY ALL OF YOU IN YOUR
RESPECTIVE OFFICES, AND WE
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE MAYOR AND HIS EFFORTS TO
PUT TOGETHER A GREAT INITIAL
PACKAGE THAT WE COULD MAKE EVEN
BETTER ONCE IT GOT TO OUR
COURT. AND SO STAY TUNED FOR
THE FINAL VOTE TOMORROW. ON
WEDNESDAY, I WILL BE
PARTICIPATING , AND HERE'S A
HEADS UP TO THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE -- SO WE ARE GOING TO
DO A JOINT EXECUTIVE
LEGISLATIVE BILL SIGNING . THE
MAYOR IS GOING TO SIGN THE BILL
ON WEDNESDAY. BECAUSE NOW,
AGAIN, IS THE TIME FOR UNITY.
THESE WERE VERY INTENSIVE ,
DELIBERATIVE NEGOTIATIONS, DEEP
ENGAGEMENT BY MANY
CONSTITUENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND
IT WILL SOON BE BEHIND US. BUT
AS WE LOOK AHEAD , WE ARE GOING
TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION, YOUR ENGAGEMENT,
AND YOUR COLLABORATION. REALLY,
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND AS AN
ASIDE, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY
OF MY BRAND-NEW LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR , IAN GRISWOLD. PROUD
TO WELCOME HIM AS A NEW A STAFF
MEMBER OF MY OFFICE, AND NEWEST
MEMBER OF OUR BUTTER
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED TO
WELCOME IAN ON BOARD. HE HAS A
DIVERSE ARRAY OF PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE , AND HE IS ALSO A
GRADUATE OF EVANS SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC POLICY, WHICH I KNOW A
FEW OF YOU -- AND HE'S ALSO --
HE ALSO EARNED HIS LAW DEGREE
FROM GONZAGA UNIVERSITY. I SENT
OUT AN EMAIL EARLIER TODAY
WELCOMING HIM, BUT PLEASE DO,
COLLEAGUES, WELCOME AND STOP BY
AS YOU ARE ABLE TO COMMIT AND
WELCOME IAN TO THE TEAM. AND
FINAL THING I WILL SAY GIVES ME
GREAT JOY AND GLEE, BECAUSE
SOMETIMES -- I LOVE WHAT I GET
TO DO EVERY DAY. WAKE UP AND DO
THIS JOB. I SAY IT A LOT, BUT I
REALLY DO MEAN IT AND I DO FEEL
PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO WAKE
UP AND DO WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
AND SOMETIMES -- SOMETIMES OUR
WORLDS -- WE WRITE POLICY, WE
SHOW UP FOR COMMUNITIES, WE
LISTEN TO COMMUNITIES, WE TRY
TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF
VARIOUS COMMUNITIES IN ALL WE
DO. AND SOMETIMES, WE JUST SHOW
UP. SOMETIMES, THAT'S HAVE TO
WORK. BUT REALLY, A PROUD
PARENT MOMENT RECENTLY WHEN MY
WORLD IS A COUNCILMEMBER AND A
PROUD FATHER COLLIDED RECENTLY
LAST WEEK, TO BE EXACT.
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE
THREE YOUNG KIDS. AND ALL OF
THEM PARTICIPATED THIS PAST
SPRING IN BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL,
AND MY DAUGHTER'S CASE. I
COACHED MY KIDS BASEBALL,
BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE SLEEPING,
APPARENTLY. BUT MY DAUGHTER --
MY DAUGHTER, HER 10 AND UNDER
SOFTBALL TEAM FOR WEST SEATTLE
LITTLE LEAGUE MADE IT TO THE
DISTRICT SEVEN CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY --
APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
BUT THEY -- THEY DEFEATED THE
MIGHTY, STRONG CENTRAL DISTRICT
TEAM FROM SEATTLE CENTRAL
LITTLE LEAGUE, TO BE EXACT, FOR
THE DISTRICT SEVEN CHAMPIONSHIP
, AND THEY WON. I GOT TO ATTEND
THAT GAME, AND I AM WEARING TWO
HATS. AND SO NOW, MY DAUGHTER ,
MAEVE , HER TEAM IS ON TO THE
STATE TOURNAMENT, ALONG WITH
THREE OTHER TEAMS FROM WEST
SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE , THE
SOFTBALL TEAMS WELL WENT TO THE
STATE IN ADVANCE OF THE STATE
TOURNAMENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO
THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES AND THE
COACHES. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO
DO ALL THESE THINGS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THEIR MIGHTY
OPPONENTS, INCLUDING SEATTLE
CENTRAL LITTLE LEAGUE. A GREAT
COACH THAT THEY HAVE, AND , YOU
KNOW, THIS IS ALSO A PLUG .
THERE TOURNAMENT IS NEXT WEEK,
AND -- I DON'T KNOW. I MIGHT
BE REMOTE A FEW DAYS NEXT WEEK
. AND IF SO, YOU WILL KNOW WHY.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, THAT IS ALL I
HAVE, AND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
INC. YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING ME
AND MY TIME AND SERVICES . BUT
LISTEN. IF IT'S FOR A VETERAN
, VETERANS RELATED ISSUES OR
ADVOCACY GROUPS , HAVE THEM
SEND ME AN INVITE. I WOULD LOVE
TO ATTEND. AND ALSO,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU ARE
RIGHT ABOUT THE HEAT. IT'S
IRONIC YOU MENTION THAT. MY
KIDS DAY CARE, OR PRESCHOOL,
WHICH IS PART OF THE DEAL, THEY
LOST POWER EARLIER TODAY, SO --
I KNOW A LOT OF DAY CARES --
THERE'S A LOT OF PRESCHOOLS
AND SIMILAR THINGS THROUGHOUT
DISTRICT 1 . YOU ARE RIGHT, IT
IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF
OUR MOST VULNERABLE DURING
THESE VERY, VERY HOT -- HOT
TIMES. SO IN ANY EVENT, THANK
YOU. WE WILL I WELCOME ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM YOU
ALL, AND IF NOT, I SUPPOSE I
PASS THE BATON TO COUNCILMEMBER
WOO.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT. THE VOTE
IS TOMORROW, BUT FOLLOWING UP
ON YOUR COMMENTS, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU'VE DONE. LAST WEEK WAS A
MILESTONE IN A LONG PROCESS
THAT YOU HAVE PUT PRETTY MUCH
YOUR WHOLE LEGISLATIVE LIFE
INTO RECENTLY, AND I REALLY DO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I WAS LOOKING
WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE MEETING
OR THE CELEBRATION OR WHATEVER,
I WAS LOOKING AT MY EMAIL. IT
WAS 10:00 ON WEDNESDAY, WHICH
IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS SOME
IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON IN
HER COMMITTEE. IT'S REALLY TOO
BAD THAT THE CELEBRATION AND
PHOTO OP CANNOT MEET AT A TIME
WHEN MORE PEOPLE CAN
PARTICIPATE. BECAUSE YOU ARE IN
THAT COMMUNITY AS WELL.
>> I AM. I WILL BE
PARTICIPATING FOR A BIT, AND I
NOTICED THERE'S NO VOTES, SO
IT'S COMFORTING TO SEE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT THERE. I WANT TO
THINK MY OWN STAFF. OUR CENTRAL
STAFF EXPERTS , YOUR STAFF --
I'M PROUD TO BE A COG IN THE
WHEEL. IT WAS TRULY A TEAM
EFFORT. YOU ARE RIGHT. I GOT
ONE MORE HURDLE TOMORROW, BUT
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP,
AND THANK YOU TO ELAINE AND
LAYLA IN MY OFFICE, AND --
YEAH.
>> IN THE SEATTLE CITY LIGHTS
ARTS AND CULTURE SUSTAINABILITY
MEETING, WE WILL HAVE TWO
COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK.
THIS IS OF COURSE TO MAKE UP
FOR NOT HAVING COMMITTEE
MEETING LAST WEEK FOR THE
FOURTH OF JULY. OUR SPECIAL
COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL TAKE
PLACE ON MONDAY, JULY 15th, WE
WILL HAVE A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON OSC'S HEAT
PROGRAM. WE WILL ALSO TALK
ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH
INCLUDES HER SIX YEAR RATE PLAN
PATH. THEY WILL COME BACK ON
AUGUST 7th FOR THE COUNCIL
APPROVAL, SO IT'S GOING TO BE
A REALLY GOOD BRIEFING. WE WILL
ALSO VOTE ON THE WHOLESALE
ENERGY RISK MARKET, ALSO KNOWN
AS A LIGHTS POLICY. ON A
REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMITTEE
MEETING, THIS IS OUR THIRD
FRIDAY COMMITTEE OF THE MONTH.
AND SO OF COURSE, THE ARTS AND
ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
WILL BE FIRST ON THE AGENDA. WE
WILL LEARN ABOUT THE DOORS OPEN
PROGRAM AND THE IMPACT ON THE
NONPROFIT CREATIVE ECONOMY. WE
WILL ALSO HAVE A BRIEFING
DISCUSSION THE CITY LIGHTS
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN AND
THE FINANCIAL REPORT AUDITS,
AND WE WILL CONTINUE ANY CITY
LIGHTS STRATEGIC PLAN
DISCUSSION AS NEEDED BEFORE THE
AUGUST 2nd VOTE. SO INSTEAD OF
REVIEWING MY WEEK, I LIKE TO
TAKE SOME TIME TO TALK ABOUT
SOME THINGS SERIOUS, SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
COLLEAGUES FOR MENTIONING THE
NORTHWEST ASIAN ARTICLE AND
THEIR REPORTS. BUT JUST TO SUM
UP WHAT IS HAPPENING, LAST WEEK
I GOT SEVERAL PHONE CALLS FROM
PEOPLE IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
COMMUNITY LETTING ME KNOW THAT
THERE IS SOME VANDALISM AND
GRAFFITI ON PAY STATIONS,
HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AND
HISTORIC LANDMARK STRUCTURE
THAT SAID HATEFUL THINGS ABOUT
ME. AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T THINK
IT WARRANTED A RESPONSE. I
THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAPPENS
TO ALL OF US. I HAVE HEARD AND
READ HATEFUL ATTACKS AGAINST
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. I
DIDN'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING
NEW. YOU WOULD THINK THAT IS A
PUBLIC OFFICIAL, IT SHOULD BE
EXPECTED. BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT
IT AND REALIZE TWO THINGS. ONE,
THE GRAFFITI WAS DONE ON
HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND
LANDMARKS. AND SO THIS IS -- IT
IS VERY HARD TO REMOVE GRAFFITI
OFF OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND
LANDMARKS. ONE IS ON A BRICK
BUILDING, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE
THE OUTER LAYER OF BRICK TO GET
TO IT. YOU ARE ALSO NUMBER TWO
DOING THIS IN A COMMUNITY THAT
DOES NOT UNDERSTAND POLITICS,
THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE
CONTEXT OF IT. SO WHEN YOU
WRITE DOWN , OR YOU DIRECT AND
EXPLETIVE TOWARD SOMEONE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND SAY GET OUT, THEY
ARE NOT GOING TO THINK, OFFICE,
THEY ARE WHAT YOU THINK
EXCLUSION, ESPECIALLY AFTER
COMING OUT FROM ANTI-ASIAN HATE
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, EXCLUSION
LAWS, SO YOU ARE DIRECTING
THESE MESSAGES TOWARD A
COMMUNITY -- A MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND
WHAT THE MESSAGES REALLY MEAN.
AND ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVENESS
OF VANDALISM ON A HISTORICAL
LANDMARK STRUCTURE. ALSO, THAT
IS SOMETHING SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS NEED TO CLEAN UP. THE
SENIORS PITCHED IN, AND WITH
THE LANDMARK STRUCTURE, WE
CAN'T TAKE THAT OFF. IT IS
STILL THERE. THAT'S WHAT YOU
REQUIRE EVEN MORE THOUGHT AND
IMPLEMENTATION TO GET THAT
REPAINTED. SO A NEW DEVELOPMENT
, OVER THE WEEKEND, FOLLOWING
THE GRAFFITI VANDALISM, TWO
DIFFERENT MEN ON TWO DIFFERENT
OCCASIONS IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
REFERENCED THE GRAFFITI THEY
SAW OUTSIDE AND THREATENED --
VERBALLY THREATENED PHYSICAL
HARM. ONE SAID THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO KILL ME, I WAS NOT
SAFE HERE, I NEEDED TO GET OUT.
ANOTHER PERSON CAME AT ME WITH
A LARGE STICK THAT HE SWUNG
AROUND LIKE A BAT. HE WAS
BANGING ON THE FLOORS, ON THE
WALLS. HE POINTED RIGHT AT ME.
AND JUST KINDA REPEATED WITH
THE GRAFFITI SAID. AND SO I
HAVE -- YOU KNOW, THROUGH MY
COMMUNITY WALK TO WORK, I RUN
TOWARDS POLICE SCENES , TRY TO
OFFER ASSISTANCE. BUT I'VE
NEVER BEEN SO SCARED FOR MY
LIFE'S SAFETY EVER DURING
THESE INITIAL SITUATIONS. AND
SO I WANT TO MENTION ONE THING.
YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HERE ON THIS
COUNCIL WILL PROTECT YOUR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH
SPEECH. WE WILL TO SPEND THAT.
BUT FREE SPEECH AND YELLING AT
A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IS VERY
DIFFERENT FROM VANDALISM AND
DEFACING A HISTORICAL BUILDING.
YOU KNOW, HAVING CRITICAL
VERBAL RESPONSES TO SOMEONE'S
POLICY IS VERY DIFFERENT TO THE
THREATENING SOMEBODIES LIFE
SAFETY. AND I THINK THAT'S
WHERE WE HAVE TO DRAW A LINE.
WE HAVE TO STOP IT, BECAUSE
ANYTIME YOU THREATENED
SOMEBODY, OR ANY TIME YOU
VANDALIZE OR GRAFFITI OR DEFACE
SOMETHING, THAT IS VERY
DIFFERENT THAN YOUR FIRST
AMENDMENT FREE-SPEECH RIGHTS.
WE HAVE TO DRAW THE LINE, AND
IT'S NOT OKAY FOR PUBLIC
OFFICIALS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. IT'S
JUST NOT OKAY. I THINK MANY
PEOPLE REALIZE THAT MY
COLLEAGUES AND I ARE MORE THAN
JUST PUBLIC OFFICIALS. WE ARE
THEIR VOICES, THEIR TRUSTED
CHANNELS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
AND MANY OF US REPRESENT
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. AND
SO THE ATMOSPHERE OF
INTIMIDATION CREATED BY
VANDALISM AND HATE DIRECTLY
UNDERMINES THE STABILITY OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND HAS A REAL
DAY-TO-DAY IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE
THEY REPRESENT. I DID NOT SEE
MANY OF THESE GRAFFITI'S BEFORE
THEY CAME DOWN, BUT THE SENIORS
TOLD ME AND POINTED OUT AND
ASKED ME ABOUT IT. WHILE I
WELCOME DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
ESPECIALLY REGARDING MY
POLICIES AND ROLL IN THE
COMMUNITY, THOSE ARE
PRODUCTIVE. EVERYONE IS WELCOME
TO JOIN ME. IF YOU GOOGLE
COMMUNITY WATCH, WE CAN WALK
AND WE CAN DISCUSS ISSUES. WHAT
IS NOT PRODUCTIVE IS THE
DESTRUCTION OR HARM TO OTHER
PEOPLE'S PROPERTY, THEIR
BUSINESSES, AND ESPECIALLY, TO
THE OVERALL MORALE OF THE
COMMUNITY. I SHARED MY HATEFUL
RHETORIC, BUT I DRAW THE LINE
WHEN IT COMES TO PHYSICAL
SAFETY BEING THREATENED,
WHETHER IT'S TO MY COLLEAGUES,
TOWARD MY COMMUNITY THAT WE
REPRESENT. THANK YOU TO MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR THE
SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY TO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON. YOU SEE
THINGS HAPPEN. I KNOW THE PATHS
THE COUNCIL HAS NOT TRYING TO
FEED THIS FLAME, WE NEED TO
DRAW THE LINE WHEN IT COMES TO
WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
FREE SPEECH AND THREATS OF
VIOLENCE AND GRAFFITI IS. AND
SO THANK YOU. AND THIS HAS TO
STOP.
>> WELL SAID.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I
DO HAVE THE RESOLUTION THAT I
REFERRED TO. AND I BELIEVE IT
WAS PASSED ON AUGUST 16th,
2022. SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO
TAKE A LOOK AT SECTION 1 IN
HERE. OKAY. SO MOVING ON, I
WILL BE QUICK. THE NEXT MEETING
OF THE GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE
THIS COMING THURSDAY, JULY
11th, AND WE HAVE NINE ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA. FOLLOWING THAT, WE
WILL HAVE THREE REAPPOINTMENTS
AND TWO APPOINTMENTS TO THE
LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMISSION, AND THEN A POSSIBLE
VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL 120781 ,
WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE UPDATING
DEFINITIONS IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO
CANNABIS AS MRS. TO ALIGN WITH
STATE LAW. AND FINALLY, A
PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF
CITY AUDITORS ENTITLED
ADDRESSING PLACES IN SEATTLE
WERE OVERDOSES AND CRIME ARE
CONCENTRATED, AND EVIDENCE
BASED APPROACH. THIS AUDIT WILL
BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW,
SOMETIME, I THINK ABOUT THE
NOON HOUR. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE
FOR ANYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT
PRIOR TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
THIS WAS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT WAR AS AND MAYOR
HARRELL , AND IT'S BEEN IN THE
WORKS THE PAST YEAR, AND I URGE
EVERYONE TO READ IT.
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THAT
HAVE PROVED EFFECTIVE IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, BUT IT DRAWS ON
RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY AUDITOR,
REFLECTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF PREVIOUS
AUDITS, INCLUDING -- THE
CITY'S RESPONSE TO AND
SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS 2020,
METHAMPHETAMINE USE DISORDER
FROM 2022, AND ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME IN 2023. SO BASICALLY,
ONE OF MY TAKEAWAYS IS THAT WE
DON'T HAVE TO WORK FROM
SCRATCH AND REINVENT THE WHEEL.
WE JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN ADVISED TO DO IN THE PAST,
AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE
SPECIFIC -- THE ACTIONS THAT
THIS AUDIT PUTS FORWARD. AND
IT'S FROM ONE COMMONSENSE
RECOMMENDATION PROVIDED THAT I
THINK WE ALL HEAR FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS AS VERY
MUCH-NEEDED. THERE'S CRIME,
THERE'S ADDICTION AND DRUGS
AND THE DRUG CRISIS, AND THEN
THE TWO TOGETHER, AND THIS
AUDIT DOES TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF TAKING A
PLACE-BASED APPROACH IN MAPPING
THE TWO PHENOMENA SO THAT WE
CAN BEST DEPLOY OUR LIMITED
RESOURCES . AND THERE ARE
ALREADY EXISTING RESOURCES FROM
THE FEDS AND THINGS THAT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING. IF YOU
CAN'T MAKE IT, VICE CHAIR,
SORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT THE
DOCUMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE ,
AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A
VERY RICH AND ROBUST DISCUSSION
IN COMMITTEE. CONFIRMED
PRESENTERS INCLUDE NATALIE
WALTON ANDERSON FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, THAT DURAN,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, AND MIKE
MEISER, DRUG INTELLIGENCE
OFFICER FROM THE NORTHWEST HIGH
INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING
AREA. IT'S A GOVERNMENT
INITIATIVE.
WHO IS THE CHIEF BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH INTEGRATION OFFICER, AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM
MANAGER FROM PLYMOUTH HOUSING.
WE HAVE MONA, WHO IS A HOMELESS
INITIATIVE AND VETERAN SERVICES
DIRECTOR FROM THE YWCA. AND OF
COURSE, CLAUDIA -- AND I
BELIEVE THAT AUDITOR DAVID
JONES WILL ALSO BE JOINING US.
IT WILL BE A GREAT DISCUSSION.
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT. I WILL
SAY JUST ONE THING THAT
HAPPENED LAST WEEK, AND I
HAVEN'T REALLY LOOKED AT THIS
WEEK'S CALENDAR TO CHOOSE THE
THINGS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
COMING UP, BUT LAST WEEK, MY
STAFF DID MEET WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE
POWER ELECTIONS OF WASHINGTON
TO HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS OF A
POSSIBLE RENEWAL TO THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM,
WHICH IS CURRENTLY SET TO
EXPIRE NEXT YEAR. I LOOK
FORWARD TO MEETING WITH THEM
DIRECTLY MYSELF. OKAY. THIS
FRIDAY WILL BE OUR TOUR --
WAIT. THIS FRIDAY , WE WILL BE
TOURING THE SEATTLE STORM
TRAINING FACILITY CENTER IN
INTERBAY, AND I WAS REALLY
PUSHED TO HAVE SOME OPINIONS IN
RIGHT AWAY FOR THAT. I'M
PROBABLY THE LAST PERSON AT
THIS TABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THAT OFFER.
>> OKAY.
>> THE LEVY. IT'S ON THE LIST.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO I AM DONE WITH
MY REPORT. IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS -- OKAY. WELL, IF
THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, IT IS NOW
2:52 . AND HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.