>>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING,
EVERYBODY. THE JANUARY 22nd,
2024, SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT'S 9:33. I'M SARA NELSON.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
ROLL?
>> MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSTWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> KETTLE?
>> PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>>> IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED. AND NOW, IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL
RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED TO
ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AT
TODAY'S SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. BECAUSE IT'S A
SPECIAL MEETING, SPEAKERS'
COMMENTS MUST BE LIMITED TO
TODAY'S AGENDA. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
ARE SUSPENDED, AND WE WILL
PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. AT
THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> 35 IN PERSON AND COUNTING
>> AND ONLINE? OR REMOTELY?
>> REMOTELY, A TOTAL OF 20. 20.
>> OKAY. WE WILL GIVE EACH
SPEAKER ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK,
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
ALTERNATING BETWEEN PUBLIC AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS. SO, WOULD YOU
PLEASE PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING IS 20 MINUTES, AND
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK. WE WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN-PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS. EACH SPEAKER
WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER
IN WHICH THEY ARE REGISTERED ON
THE WEBSITE OR SIGNIN SHEET.
BEGIN BY TAKING YOUR NAME AND
THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT. ONCE YOU
HEAR THE CHIME, WE ASK YOU TO
WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF
SPEAKERS DO NOT END AT THE END
OF THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, AND WE WILL
BEGIN WITH IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, ONE
OTHER THING TO SAY. BECAUSE WE
HAVE SO MANY SPEAKERS, IT IS MY
INTENTION TO GET THROUGH
EVERYBODY, THOUGH THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS 20 MINUTES.
TO MAKE THINGS GO AS
EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, WE
WILL SAY THE NEXT, SAY THREE OR
FOUR SPEAKERS OR SO, AND PLEASE
LINE UP AND BE READY TO SPEAK
AT PUBLIC COMMENT SO WE DON'T
HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOU TO GET UP
TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. GO
AHEAD.
>> THE FIRST IN-PERSON SPEAKER
BILL KALDU, KATHLEEN BROS, AND
JEN OXLY.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M --
>> JUST --
>> TRY AGAIN. CAN YOU?
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M BILL
CALDWELL IN DISTRICT THREE.
SEATTLE HAS POSSIBLE GOOD NEWS
IN THE FUTURE, COMING FROM
SOUND TRANSIT DECIDING TO HOST
A MAJOR TRANSPORTATION HUB IN
PIONEER SQUARE. THE EXPANSION
MEANS THE EASE ON SEATTLE WILL
BE THERE FOR NEEDED HOUSING
THAT WILL BE HELPFUL,
DECREASING THE NUMBER OF CARS
ON THE DAILY COMMUTES AND
VISITORS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY,
IT CAN REVITALIZE PIONEER
SQUARE AND THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. SUCCESS
WILL BE DEPENDENT ON PEOPLE
FEELING SAFE ENOUGH TO USE MASS
TRANSIT AND WALK AROUND THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CURRENT
STATE OF CHINA TOWN PIONEER
SQUARE FRIGHTENS AWAY MANY
PEOPLE. CRIME AND CHAOS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPEN-AIR
DRUG USE HAS MADE THE AREA
UNSAFE. CAN THINGS GET BETTER?
WILL PEOPLE FEEL SAFE COMMUTING
TO OR LIVING IN PIONEER SQUARE
OR DOWNTOWN? TANYA WOO HAS BEEN
UNIQUE BY FACING THE ISSUES
DIRECTLY. PLEASE VOTE TANYA WOO
FOR A BETTER SEATTLE FUTURE.
>> KATHLEEN BROS, JEN, AND
JAMIE.
>> MY NAME IS KATHLEEN BROS.
I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT
SIX, AND I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET
SOME OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THE
VACANT POSITION AS WELL AS
LISTEN TO THEM, AND THERE'S
TWO PEOPLE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
ON THE COUNCIL. EITHER TANYA
WOO OR STEVEN STRAND. THANK
YOU.
>> ONE MOMENT PLEASE.
>> FOLKS, I CAN YOU TO PLEASE
STOP TALKING IN THE CHAMBERS
AND TAKE YOUR SEATS IF
POSSIBLE. IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US
TO HEAR FOLKS SPEAKING AT THE
PODIUM.
>> I'M JEN OXLEY IN DISTRICT
FIVE. I WANTED TO THANK OUGHT
EIGHT CANDIDATES FOR STEPPING
UP. I THINK EVERYONE BRINGS
SOMETHING WONDERFUL THAT WOULD
BE IMPORTANT IN COUNCIL. THE
THEME OF THE ELECTIONS THIS
YEAR SEEMS TO BE PUBLIC SAFETY,
AND IN THIS WAY, I REALLY THROW
MY IN THE
CHINATOWN DISTRICT, AND THE
SECOND CHOICE WOULD BE CAPTAIN
STEVE STRAND TO BRING THE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND DRAW FOR
MORE POLICE IN SEATTLE. THANK
YOU.
>> AFTER JEN WAS JAMIE FALKLER
AND EDUARDO RAFFE. WE HAVE TWO
MORE PEOPLE AHEAD OF YOU.
>> OKAY. EXCUSE ME.
>> JAMIE?
>>
>> YEAH, HI. JAMIE FALKLER.
I'M A CITY OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEE,
ON MY OWN TIME, AND ALSO A 17
MEMBER, AND MLK LABOR DELEGATE,
AND I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE
THIS ELECTION SEASON OF SITTING
ON MULTIPLE ENDORSEMENT
COMMITTEES,
CANDIDATES AND TALKING TO
FOLKS, AND REALLY GET A FEEL
FOR WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE, AND
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S A
NUMBER OF FOLKS UP HERE WHO WE
HAVE ENDORSED, AND I HAVE MET
MOST ALL OF YOU COUNCIL
CANDIDATES. FIRST OFF,
CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE BEEN
DUALLY ELECTED TO THIS ROLE.
WHEN WE WERE SELECTING THE
CANDIDATES AND MAKING
ASSESSMENTS, WE WERE LOOKING
FOR FOLKS WHO HAD VALUES,
PROGRESSIVE VALUES, AND
UNDERSTOOD REPRESENTING THE
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND
DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE DOING
THE WORK. TO ME THERE'S ONE
CANDIDATE THAT ENABLES THAT.
EXCUSE ME. HAS DEMONSTRATED THE
ABILITY AND BEEN DUALLY ELECTED
AND THAT'S VIVIAN SONG. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AFTER JAMIE, EDUARDO, AND
THEN BETTY.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH
YOU. I AM HERE TO PROVIDE
COMMENT AND SUPPORT OF VIVIAN
SONG AS APPOINTED TO THE VACANT
AT-LARGE POSITION. I'M FROM
VENEZUELA, AN IMMIGRANT, MAKING
SEATTLE MY HOME SINCE 2006. I
LIVE AND HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS
IN DISTRICT SIX. I OPERATE A
CHILDCARE CENTER WITH BILINGUAL
CHILDCARE TO 200 STUDENTS WE
HAVE A PRESCHOOL AND
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, AND VIVIAN
HAS BEEN VERY SDEMANDS AS
EDUCATORS AND AS PARENTS. I WAS
NOT ALWAYS IN THE BUSINESS. I
CAME FROM THE BUSINESS SIDE,
WORKING THE AMAZON FOR 15 YEARS
AND KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN
AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION, AND
THAT'S WHAT I SEE EMPHASIZED
IN VIVIAN. VIVIAN CANNOT ONLY
BE VERY EMPATHETIC TO THE NEEDS
OF HER COMMUNITY, BUT SHE KNOWS
HOW TO DELIVER RESULTS, AND I
HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
SHARE MY CONCERNS WITH HER, AND
SHE LISTENED. I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND. I KNOW
MANY OF YOU HAVE NOMINATED
PEOPLE, BUT VOTE FOR VIVIAN.
>> BETTY AND THEN FOLLOWED BY
ROY AND ELAINE.
>> I AM BETTY LOWE COMMUNITY
ADVOCATE. TANYA HAS ONE MORE
QUALIFICATION TO CONSIDER,
CHAMPION OF ARTS FOR ALL,
HAVING BEING A TV PRODUCER ON
ARTS AND CULTURE. SHE KNOWS THE
IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC ART TO
INSPIRE AND ENRICH ALL LIVES.
SHE WORKS WITH NONPROFITS ON
ARTS EDUCATION, AND YOU CAN
EVEN SEE HER PERFORMING ALL
AROUND TOWN AT VARIOUS
FESTIVITIES. SEATTLE CITY CLUB
OPENED A STRAW POLL AFTER THE
PUBLIC FORUM, AND PEOPLE WERE
ASKED TO RANK OUR TOP CHOICE
FOR NUMBER ONE. IT WAS TANYA
WOO, THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE.
LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, AND
CHOOSE TANYA WOO TO FILL
POSITION EIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> ROY, ELAINE, AND BAILEY.
>> THANK YOU. RESPECTED
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY STATEMENT.
I'M ROY CHANG FROM SCHOOL
CONNECT WASHINGTON. I'M HERE TO
EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR VIVIAN
SONG TO FILL THE VACANT COUNCIL
SEAT. SHE EMBODIES THE
QUALIFICATIONS ESSENTIAL FOR
THE POST PANDEMIC RECOVERY. SHE
HAS BRINGS A BACKGROUND OF
BUSINESS AND FINANCE IMPORTANT
FOR THE VISION OF SEATTLE AND
COUPLED WITH THE ABILITIES TO
MAKE IT A REALITY. SHE ENJOYS A
STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAMILIES AS A
BOARD DIRECTOR. SHE IS THE SOLE
NOMINEE WITH EXPERIENCE WORKING
WITH SPS, AND HAS THE SENSE OF
URGENCY TO ADDRESS THE ACADEMIC
GAPS THAT MANY HAVE GIVEN UP
ON. HAVING WORKED WITH VIVIAN,
I FOAND A
CONNECTOR. SHE CAN TACKLE A
BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND IS
FULL OF THE VISION OUR CITY CAN
BECOME. ABOVE ALL, I TRUST HER
CHARACTER TO BE A FINE FORCE ON
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. I CAN
NOT IMAGINE A BETTER
COCOUNCILMEMBER.
>>> GOOD MORNING, I'M ELAINE
ISHIARA. THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT BECAME
MY COMMUNITY WHEN MY
GRANDPARENTS IMMIGRATES HERE
OVER 100 YEARS AGO, AND LIVED
THERE, RAISED THEIR FAMILIES
UNTIL THEY WERE INTERNED IN
WORLD WAR II. THIS IS WHERE I
LEARNED ABOUT
COMMUNITY-CENTERED LEADERSHIP
IN MAKING CHANGE. I AM HERE
TODAY TO SUPPORT MARI SUGIYAMA.
I BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS THE
QUALITIES AND EXPERIENCE
WORKING IN THE CITY THAT WILL
BRING A GOOD VOICE FOR ALL
COMMUNITIES AND BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS THE ISSUES. OH? WELL I
JUST THINK SHE HAS THE
QUALITIES TO MAKE SOUND
JUDGMENT AND INFORMED DECISIONS
AND THAT WE NEED THIS TYPE OF
LEADER.
>> WE HAVE BAILEY, PAUL, AND
THEN DON.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M BAILEY
MADILO FROM SOUTHEAST SEATTLE.
I COME TO THE BODY TODAY IN
GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS
OF YOUR RECENT ELECTIONS. TODAY
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION OF ELECTIONS AND
APPOINTING A CITY-WIDE
COUNCILMEMBER TO THE COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, I PERSONALLY
REPORT EITHER MARI SUGIYAMA OR
VIVIAN SONG. I WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE VALUES OF THE APPOINTMENT.
I URGE YOU TO APPOINT SOMEONE
WHO EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF
PROGRESS AND HAS A SOLUTION
MIND SET. CATERING TO THE NEEDS
OF THE WORKING FAMILIES WHO
POWER THE CITY OVER THE
INTERESTS OF THE WEALTHY FEW.
IF THE COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE TO
LEADERSHIP, THE WORKING PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE WILL NOT BE AFRAID
TO FIND A LEADER OUR OWN. I
KNOW THE COUNCIL INTENDS TO
APPOINT A NEW MEMBER WITH THE
PURPOSE OF THEM RUNNING FOR
REELECTION, AND I WANT TO LET
THEM KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE ARE WATCHING CLOSELY,
AND WE HOPE TO ORGANIZE
ALONGSIDE BUT NOT HOPE --
>> PAUL AND DON THE LAST
IN-PERSON SPEAKER FOR THE SET.
>> PAUL COROSSA. GOOD MORNING.
I'M PAUL COROSSA AS I JUST
SAID. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MY
SUPPORT FOR MARI SUGIYAMA. I
SUPPORT MARI BECAUSE OF THE
PERSON WHO I KNOW HER TO BE,
AND JUST LIKE I SUPPORTED YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
BECAUSE OF THE PERSON I KNOW
YOU TO BE. NOT ONLY KNOW WHO
YOU ARE, BUT FROM WHERE YOU
CAME, AND THAT MEANS AND MAKES
SUCH A DIFFERENCE. JUST LIKE
YOUR GRANDMA STARTED PROJECT
HEADSTART, AND HIRED MY MOM TO
SUPPORT HER IN GETTING THAT
PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND, MARI'S
DAD STARTED CENTER FOR CAREER
ALTERNATIVES AND HIRED MY
BROTHER GUY TO WORK WITH YOUTH
IN SOUTH END OF SEATTLE CENTRAL
AND SEATTLE. MARI, I KNOW WE
CAN TRUST HER TO ACT IN SUPPORT
OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND ACT IN
SUPPORT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THAT'S WHY. THANK YOU.
>> AND DON MASON IS THE LAST
IN-PERSON SPEAKER FOR THIS SET.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL. I HOPE THAT ALL
OF YOU RECEIVED MY LETTER. I
SENT A LETTER TO THE WHOLE
COUNCIL, AND EVERYONE SHOULD --
DID EVERYONE RECEIVE IT? A NOD
OF YOUR HEAD. IT WAS LONG, BUT
IT WAS THOROUGH BECAUSE, THIS
IS A CITY THAT NEEDS GOOD
LEADERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN VERY
INVOLVED. A FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE, AN ELDER OF
DISTINCTION FOR THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW
PEOPLE. I KNOW PEOPLE ACROSS
THIS CITY. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT
TANYA WOO BECAUSE I WATCHED HER
MOUNT A CAMPAIGN THAT WAS NOT
CONTENTIOUS, AND THAT IS WHAT
THIS CITY HAS ASKED FOR. SHE IS
NOT ASKING TO BE NOW APPOINTED
TO A DISTRICT, BUT THE WHOLE
CITY. I HAVE WATCHED HER WORK
WITH PEOPLE. I HAVE WATCHED HER
WORK WITH MY COMMUNITY, THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY,
WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY
COUNCIL. I ASKED FOR HELP AT
12th AND JACKSON WITH OUR
CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL, AND SHE
STEPPED UP AND HELP. IT'S A
CALMER PLACE, AND THAT'S WHAT
SEATTLE WILL BE.
>> FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER WILL BE
BRANDON FOLLOWED BY MIKE. AS A
REMINDER, AFTER YOU HEAR YOUR
NAME CALLED, PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELVES. GO
AHEAD BRANDON COLDING.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE, AND
I SERVED WITH STEVE STRAND ON
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND I ENDORSE HIM FOR POSITION
EIGHT. SEATTLE IS EXPERIENCING
A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS,
EXACERBATED BY CRITICALLY LOW
STAFFING AT THE SPD, AND THE
COMMUNITY HAS GIVEN CITY
COUNCIL A MANDATE TO ADDRESS
THIS. APPOINTING STEVE TO CITY
COUNCIL IS THE SINGLE MOST
IMPACTFUL MOVE YOU CAN MAKE
TOWARDS RETAINING THE OFFICERS
ON THE SPD AND ENCOURAGING
PERSPECTIVE OFFICERS TO APPLY.
PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE BEEN
UNSUPPORTIVE OF THE SPD. IT'S
DRIVEN OFFICERS AWAY AND LED TO
A DIRE STAFFING CRISIS. BY
APPOINTING STEVE TO CITY
COUNCIL, YOU WILL SEND THE
SIGNAL TO CURRENT AND
PERSPECTIVE OFFICERS A
TRANSFORMATION HAS OCCURRED. IN
THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
I URGE YOU TO APPOINT STEVE TO
POSITION EIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER IS
MIKE DAY FOLLOWED BY NICOLE
GRANT. GO AHEAD, MIKE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
MIKE DAY, THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I AM
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF CAPTAIN STEVE
STRAND TO THE OPEN CITY COUNCIL
POSITION. I LIVE IN WEST
SEATTLE, THE CURRENT PRESIDENT
THE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER
ORGANIZATION, REPRESENTING
3,000 RESIDENTS IN WEST
SEATTLE. I HAVE KNOWN CAPTAIN
STRAND FOR A LITTLE OVER TEN
YEARS, AS BOTH IN HIS OFFICIAL
CAPACITY AS A POLICE OFFICER,
AND ALSO AS A NEIGHBOR AND
FRIEND. I HAVE WITNESSED
CAPTAIN STRAND WORKING WITH
DISADVANTAGED YOUTH AND THEIR
FAMILIES TRYING TO BUILD
BRIDGES AND OPEN LINES OF
COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. I HAVE WORKED WITH HIM TO
ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND AS A
NEIGHBOR, I HAVE SEEN STEVE AND
HIS FAMILY AT COMMUNITY EVENTS
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AND
THE CITY AT LARGE. HE HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REVITALIZE THE
CITY AS THE FORMER SPEAKER JUST
SAID.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS NICOLE
GRANT. NICOLE FOLLOWED BY
JEREMY UNI. GO AHEAD NICOLE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
NICOLE GRANT. I USE SHE AND HER
PRONOUNS, A MEMBER OF THE
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERLY OF
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS LOCAL 46.
OUR UNION REPRESENTS OVER 6,000
WORKERS IN KING COUNTY, WHO
BRING LIGHT AND PEACE AND HELP
YOU TO CHARGE YOUR CELL PHONE
AND MICROWAVE A BURRITO. WE ARE
HERE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
VIVIAN SONG FOR THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL. SHE IS A
BRILLIANT WOMAN, AND
EXPERIENCED IN ELECTED OFFICE.
I LOVE THAT SHE HAS ALREADY
DONE SO MUCH WORK TO SUPPORT
THE CHILDREN OF SEATTLE,
INCLUDING MY OWN, AND SO MUCH
IN SUPPORT OF WORKERS AND
WORKERS' RIGHTS. I'M A PROUD
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE BUILDING
TRADES LABOR, AND VIVIAN SONG
IS OUR CHOICE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JEREMY UNI FOLLOWED BY
KATHRYN. GO AHEAD, JEREMY.
JEREMY IS NOT PRESENT. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO KATHRYN, AND
FOLLOWING KATHRYN WILL BE
CHRISTINA. GO AHEAD, KATHRYN.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M KATHRYN SCHUBERT-KNAPP.
THANK YOU FOR THE STUNT TO
COMMENT. I URGE YOU TO APPOINT
MARI SUGIYAMA TO THE VACANT
POSITION. I'M A 36-YEAR CITY
OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEE WHO RETIRED
IN 2022, AND HAVE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS LIVING IN SEATTLE. I
CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE COUNCIL
WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE
EFFECTIVE SERVICES AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEATTLE'S
RESIDENTS. I HAVE WORKED IN
MAYOR'S OFFICES AND CITY
DEPARTMENTS, AND I UNDERSTAND
HOW IMPORTANT AN EFFECTIVE
COUNCIL IS IN HELPING TO MEET
THE CHALLENGES SEATTLE FACES. I
ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH
MARI'S MOTHER FOR NEARLY THE
LAST 20 YEARS OF HER CAREER. I
HAD THE PLAINTIFF OF SEEING
MARI DEVELOP INTO HER FATHER'S
PASSION FOR JUSTICE, AND HER
MOTHER'S COMMITMENT TO WORK
THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT
STRUCTURES. SHE'S A SMART,
HARD WORKER AND WILL BE AN
IDEAL ADDITION TO YOUR COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER
IS CHRISTINA. CHRISTINA WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY YVETTE.
>> BEFORE YOU BEGIN WITH
CALLER, CAN YOU PLEASE DOUBLE
THE TIME? I BELIEVE THIS IS THE
CALLER WE ARE QUESTS FOR THE
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> CHRISTINA? CHRISTINA MAY
NEED TO PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
HERSELF.
>> ONE MOMENT, PLEASE. I'M
CHRISTINA. I ASK THAT THE
COUNCIL VOTE FOR LINH THAI. SHE
IS DEDICATED AND HARD WORKING
AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
SEATTLE. THANKS.
>> I BELIEVE THAT CHRISTINA IS
FINISHED, AND WE WILL MOVE ON
TO YVETTE, YVETTE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY RAUL.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I LIVE AND WORK
IN RAINIER BEACH. MY NONPROFIT
DISTRIBUTES FREE FOOD TWICE A
WEEK FOR GOING ON FOUR YEARS
WITHOUT FAIL. I RECOGNIZE
STEADFASTNESS, AND THAT'S HOW
I DESCRIBE TANYA WOO. SHE IS
OUT THERE AND CAN BE RELIED ON.
KUDOS TO DAWN MASON, AND I
AGREE. TANYA WOO IS MY NUMBER
ONE CHOICE, AND MARK SOLOMON
WOULD BE MY SECOND. THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RAUL,
AND RAUL WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
LILANE. GO AHEAD, RAUL.
>> HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO URGE
THE CITY COUNCIL TO ELECT NEHA
NARIYA. MY FAMILY LIVES IN
DISTRICT FOUR. WE BELIEVE THE
CITY IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE
MAKING PRAGMATIC AND
RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS TO
IMPROVE SEATTLE'S VISION. THAT
WAS THE MAIN REASON MY WIFE AND
I BOUGHT A HOUSE HERE AND
RAISED OUR CHILDREN HERE. THE
COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ELECT NEHA NARIYA TO REPRESENT
SHARED BELIEFS. SHE WILL
UNDOUBTEDLY LEAD TO EXCELLENT
PUBLIC POLICY. WE SHARE IN HER
VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND
WE ARE CONFIDENT THE COUNCIL
WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION IS
ELECTING HER.
>> LILLIAN FOLLOWED BY HENRY.
GO AHEAD, LILLIAN.
>> OKAY, MY NAME IS LILLIAN
BYSTADOS, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE LATINO
COMMUNITY FUND. WE REPRESENT
HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES AND SMALL
LATINO BUSINESSES ACROSS THE
CITY AND BELIEVE FAMILIES
DESERVE A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT
APPOINTMENT PROCESS. SEATTLE IS
A LEADER FOR HIGHER WAGES AND
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS FOR THE
SERVICES WE NEED, AND WE URGE
THE COUNCIL TO NOT BE PRESSURED
TO ROLL BACK REGULATIONS AND
SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS AND
SUPPORT VIVIAN SONG BEING
APPOINTED BECAUSE SHE'S A
TRIED AND TESTED LEADER WHO
GOVERNS WITH THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IN PEOPLE AND IS THE
PERSON FOR THE JOB GIVEN HER
JOB AS A CITY-WIDE DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE
CITY.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE HENRY LEE, AND HENRY
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LISA BOLLE.
>> -- SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE ON
THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR -- BEFORE
THE COUNCIL WHO HAD BEEN THERE
BEFORE. HAS BEEN THE ENTIRE
POINT OF OUR GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE
ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN BRINGING
PEOPLE IN. SHE SPEAKS ON BEHALF
OF GROUPS THAT HAVE NEVER HAD
A VOICE BEFORE. SHE'S OUT
THERE EVERY DAY HELPING OUR
UNHEALTHY BIRDS. SHE'S OUT
THERE EVERY FRIDAY WALKING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD FINDING FOOD AND
EXTRA SUPPLIES. AS A PRIVATE
CITIZEN SHE HAS WORKED FOR
YEARS THANKLESS LEE TO IMPROVE
OUR CITY. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
HER ON CITY COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER IS LISA BOWIE AND THEN
WE WILL MOVE BACK TO IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS. GO AHEAD, LISA.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM LISA
BOWIE, THANK YOU FOR AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M HERE
TO PROVIDE COMMENT IN SUPPORT
OF VIVIAN SONG FOR THE VACANT
AT LARGE POSITION. I AM A
PARENT OF TWO STUDENTS BOTH
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I WORK
CLOSELY WITH VIVIAN ON OUR PT
BOARD. I ADMIRE HER ABILITY TO
-- DIFFICULT TOPICS AND HER
ABILITY TO DIVE DEEP INTO DATA
TO MAKE MORE EFFECTIVE
DECISIONS. SHE ALWAYS LISTENS
TO FAMILIES AND BRINGS THEM
ALONG IN THE DECISION MAKING
PROGRESS. SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL
IN WORKING TO FIND A SAFE WAY
TO GET BACK TO IN-PERSON SCHOOL
WORKING WITH STAFF, TEACHERS
AND FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THEIR
VOICES WILL BE HEARD. THIS
REQUIRED HER TO WORK THROUGH
ISSUES. MEDICATION WAS ALSO A
MAJOR PINPOINT IN OUR SCHOOL SO
SHE TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO SET
UP A COMMUNICATION PLATFORM WE
STILL USE TODAY. SHE HAS A
CRITICAL EYE FOR USING DATA
WHILE PTA PRESIDENT SHE
REVIEWED THE BUDGET LINE BY
LINE AND WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY A
SIGNIFICANT SURPLUS. THIS ALLOW
THE BOARD TO MAKE NEW IDEAS AND
CONSOLIDATE THE BUDGET.
>> WILL NOW GO INTO IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS AND THE FIRST THREE
ARE PAUL, STEPHANIE AND MATT.
>> I AM PAUL -- I AM HERE TO
SUPPORT TANYA WOO. SHE CALLED
ME WHEN SHE DISCOVERED THE
MURALS IN THE -- HOTEL, I AM A
JAZZ HISTORIAN SO SHE ASKED ME
TO HELP HER DO RESEARCH ABOUT
WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND WHO
WAS IN THEM AND WHO PAINTED
THEM. WE DID NOT FIND OUT A LOT
BUT, WE DID FIND THE CONTEXT
FOR THEM AND I WROTE UP SOME
INFORMATION THAT WE PUT ON A
PLAQUE THAT WILL GO OUTSIDE THE
BUILDING. I WAS JUST IMPRESSED
BY HER COMING FORWARD TO
PRESERVE OUR CULTURAL HISTORY.
AND, WHEN SOMEBODY TOOK DOWN
THE GLASS DOOR SHE PUT ON THE
CORNER SO PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT
THE MURAL, SHE JUST PUT ANOTHER
ONE BACK UP. SHE IS AN
UNDENIABLE FORCE AND THE FACT
THAT SHE TOOK ON RENOVATING THE
HOTEL IN THE -- GIVES HER A LOT
OF POINTS FROM ME BECAUSE A LOT
OF PEOPLE JUST COMPLAINED IT
WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THAT AND
NOW WE HAVE DOZENS OF LOW
INCOME HOUSING THERE. THANK
YOU.
>> MY NAME IS STEPHANIE MORRIS
AND I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT
YOU APPOINT VIVIAN SONG TO THE
AT LARGE POSITION. I HAVE
LIVED IN SEATTLE SINCE 2002 AND
HAVE A BACKGROUND IN TAX AND
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ADVOCACY
FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WHICH MY KIDS OF ALL ATTENDED
SINCE 2000 AND. VIVIAN IS FAR
AND AWAY THE BEST AND WORST
CONFIDENT MEMBER I HAVE SEEN.
NO ONE ELSE PAST OR PRESENT IS
ABLE TO HANDLE THE BUDGET TO
WORK WITH COLLEAGUES BOTH THE
ONE SHE AGREES AND DISAGREES
WITH. LIKE MANY SEATTLITES, I
AM CONCERNED WITH PUBLIC
SAFETY, HOMELESSNESS AND THE
ABILITY FOR REGULAR PEOPLE TO
RAISE FAMILIES AND LIVE SAFELY.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC MY OLDEST
CHILD, TRYING TO BUST ALL OF
THE CITY TO GET PLACES AND I
WANT THAT SAFETY BACK. SO MUCH
HAS GOTTEN BETTER ABOUT OUR
CITY BUT I AM WORRIED WITH OUR
BUDGET DEFICIT WE WILL GO
BACKWARDS ESPECIALLY ON BUDGET
SAFETY. THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING MATT HARRINGTON
WILL BE SHELLEY AND --
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE TO
URGE YOU TO APPOINT VIVIAN SONG
FOR THE OPEN COUNCILMEMBER
POSITION. I AM ONE OF THE
OWNERS OF A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS,
I COMMUTE DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY.
WE ASK OUR COLLEAGUES TO
COMMUTE DOWNTOWN AS WELL. I
SUPPORT VIVIAN'S I THINK SHE
WILL, BECAUSE I TRUST HER TO
ENACT THE MAN'S PLAN FOR
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION. I
ALSO SUPPORT HER BECAUSE OF HER
FINANCIAL SKILLS. SHE HAS A
BACKGROUND WORKING FOR
INVESTMENT IN, WORKING IN
VARIOUS TECHNOLOGICAL
COMPANIES. THAT SORT OF SKILL
IS ALL TOO RARE FOR THE PUBLIC
SERVICE AND I THINK WOULD BE A
REAL ASSET TO THIS COUNSEL.
THAT IS ALSO WHAT I HAVE
OBSERVED OF HER ON THE SEATTLE
SCHOOL BOARD. SHE HAS BROUGHT
THOSE FINANCIAL SKILLS TO THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I --
COMPETENCE AS WELL AS THE
SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION TO THIS
COUNSEL. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS SHELLEY
MORRISON. I AM A LIFELONG
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE. AS IS
TANYA WOO. I WENT TO PUBLIC
SCHOOL AS DID SHE. I AM A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AS IS SHE.
I AM SUPPORTING TONYA BECAUSE I
FEEL LIKE SHE HAS SO MUCH
CREDIBILITY. SHE SHOWS UP. AND,
I HAVE LIVED IN THE RANIER
VALLEY FOR 35 YEARS AND WE HAVE
HAD A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES,
TANYA CAME TO MEET WITH OUR
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ALL
HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF
VIOLENCE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE
AND THEFT. SHE LISTENS, SHE IS
A HARD WORKER, SHE IS REALLY --
HAS STREET CREDIBILITY FOR ALL
THAT SHE HAS DONE IN CHINATOWN.
I FEEL LIKE SHE IS THE VOICE WE
NEED AND HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND
BACKGROUND THAT WILL BE REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR SEATTLE GOING
FORWARD.
>> GOOD MORNING. I HAVE KNOWN
STEVEN K. STRAND FOR MANY
YEARS HE IS HONEST, KIND,
GENEROUS, DILIGENT, THOUGHTFUL,
SMART PROFESSIONAL AND
DISCRETE. AS ONE OF YOU, HE
WILL BRING INSTANT AND FRANK
ACCESS TO SEATTLE POLICING AND
AS MANY CHANGES -- MANY OTHER
PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE
EXPERIENCES. IF YOU WANT FAST
AND FACTUAL ANSWERS, THERE THEY
ARE. YOU CAN TURN TO YOUR
CANCEL PARTNER AND ASK, STEVE,
WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WERE
THEY THINKING? OR WHAT HAPPENS
AND WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?
STEVE IS A LIVING ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF ALL PIECES OF SEATTLE
POLICING PRACTICES, POLICIES,
PERSONNEL, HISTORY, THE UNION
AND LEADERSHIP. HE KNOWS ALL
THE PLAYERS PAST AND PRESENT
AND THEY KNOW HIM. THESE ARE
WONDERS, TENTS AND TURBULENCE
TIMES NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.
PLEASE CHOOSE STEVEN K. STRAND
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
SERVICE.
>> -- PLEASE PAUSE. YOUR
ABUSIVE LANGUAGE CONSTITUTES
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR AS IS YOUR
FAILURE TO SPEAK RESPECTIVELY
TO CANCEL, I ASK THAT YOU SPEAK
ONLY TO AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA
AND IF YOU DO NOT YOUR
MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT AND YOU
WILL BE ASKED TO SIT DOWN.
>> THANK YOU. FOR 20 YEARS I
COME TO THIS PLACE A NEW
GENERATION ELECT, ELECT, ELECT
ALL IDENTICAL. RIGHT NOW,
700,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
SEATTLE. WE WILL ELECT SAME
PEOPLE AND NOTHING WILL BE
CHANGED. YOU CANNOT MAKE A
CHANGE. WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE
ALL IDENTICAL. YOU ARE NOT
DIFFERENT. YOU HAVE WHITE SHIRT
, BLACK SHIRT, IT IS ONLY
DIFFERENT WHAT WE HAVE. I SPOKE
TO YOU 1000 TIMES BEFORE YOU
ARE DANGEROUS --
>> -- PLEASE PAUSE. THAT IS IT,
NAME CALLING.
>> I CANNOT USE THE WORD
STUPID?
>> PLEASE CUT THE MICROPHONE,
PLEASE SIT DOWN.
>> WE WILL HAVE ALLISON, JACLYN
AND TRAVIS, IF YOU DO NOT MIND
COMING UP, THANK YOU.
>> I AM A LONGSHORE WORKER WITH
LOCAL 19 IN SEATTLE. WHAT
ATTRACTED ME TO THE WATERFRONT
WAS NOT THE AMAZING VIEWS OR
OPERATING A BIG MACHINE, IT WAS
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND DEEP
HISTORY IN ACTIVISM AND EQUITY.
THOSE ARE VALUES I CULTIVATED
IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF -- I
HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
KNOW MARI SUGIYAMA SINCE THE
SIXTH GRADE . SHE HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO BE A NO DRAMA,
TRAILBLAZING COUNCILMEMBER. I
WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THAT
SENTIMENT. LAST THURSDAY AT THE
PUBLIC FORUM, MANY CANDIDATES
HAD GOOD ANSWERS BUT SHE WAS
HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE
REST WITH HER PRAGMATIC
APPROACH AND KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE ON HOW TO SOLVE
THESE ISSUES MAKING AN
IMMEDIATE IMPACT. WITH HER
THERE IS NO LEARNING CURVE, SHE
IS ALREADY THERE AND CAN HIT
THE GROUND RUNNING ON ISSUES
THE CITY NEEDS DESPERATELY
SOLVED YESTERDAY. COUPLED WITH
HER COMPASSION, COMPLETE AND
ROUNDED APPROACH, SHE IS THE
STANDOUT CANDIDATE, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH
YOU. I AM HERE TO PROVIDE
COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF VIVIAN
SONG AS THE APPOINTEE TO THE
VACANT AT LARGE POSITION. I AM
A PETITE LEADER AT A SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL IMAGES GO, I AM A
MOTHER OF TWO KIDS AND LIVE IN
DISTRICT -- LAST YEAR WAS A
LARGE TENT INTIMATE ADJACENT TO
MY KIDS' ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I
CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO
SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE TO NO AVAIL
AND THE CITY SEEMED POWERLESS
TO HELP. THERE WERE MULTIPLE
PROPANE TANK EXPLOSIONS AND
FIRES, TWO SHOOTINGS AND ONE
MURDER ARE WITHIN YARDS OF THE
FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE SCHOOL.
EVEN THOUGH THE IN CABIN WAS ON
STATE PROPERTY, THE SCHOOL
BOARD DIRECTOR, VIVIAN SONG MET
WITH US REGULARLY, LISTENED TO
OUR CONCERNS AND WORK
DILIGENTLY TO HELP US NAVIGATE
THE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO
BRING SAFETY TO I AM KIDS AND
NEIGHBORS. I AM GRATEFUL TO
SUPPORT VIVIAN SONG FOR HER
PUBLIC SERVICE TO OUR
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH
YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF VIVIAN
SONG FOR YOUR APPOINTEE TO THE
VACANT AT LARGE COUNSEL
DECISION. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4,
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT ARE
SCHOOL-AGED AND ATTEND SPS AND
I AM A NURSE PRACTITIONER FOR
NEARLY 15 YEARS. I SUPPORT
VIVIAN SONG FOR THIS
APPOINTMENT BASED ON WHAT SHE
HAS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH HER
WORK AT SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR.
SHE IS TRULY A DEDICATED PUBLIC
SERVANT. SHE HOLDS REGULAR
PUBLIC OFFICE HOURS AND ENGAGES
IN REGULAR SITE DISTRICTS --
REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES,
TRANSPOSE , STAFF AND TEACHERS.
SHE DOES MANY HOURS OF HER WORK
AS A VOLUNTEER WITHOUT ANY
STAFF TO SUPPORT HER. IN
ADDITION TO A ROBUST FINANCIAL
BACKGROUND, SHE CARES DEEPLY
ABOUT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH,
SAFETY, GUN VIOLENCE AS WELL AS
COST-OF-LIVING., WHICH DIRECTLY
TRANSLATES TO -- TO WRAP UP, IN
PREPARATION FOR MY TESTIMONY
TODAY I REVIEWED EACH OF YOUR
BIOGRAPHIES AND YOU ARE AN
IMPRESSIVE GROUP. I BELIEVE
VIVIAN FITS RIGHT IN AND CAN
ADD TO THIS TO PROVIDE A --
>>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE AND I AM
HERE TODAY TO REQUEST YOU
APPOINT STEVEN K. STRAND TO THE
OPEN CANCEL POSITION. I'VE
HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING
STEPHEN FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND
FOUND HIM TO BE EVEN-TEMPERED,
A GOOD LISTENER AND OPEN TO
DIFFERENT IDEAS. HIS 35 YEAR
CAREER WITH THE U.S. ARMY GIVEN
VALUABLE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND
HE'S A DECORATED WAR VETERAN.
ADDITIONALLY, HIS CAREER WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GAVE HIM
VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO PUBLIC
SAFETY. I THINK HAVING A POLICE
OFFICER ON THE COUNCIL COULD
HELP TO EASE THE TENSION
BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT. I RESPECTFULLY
SUBMIT THAT APPOINTING STEPHEN
TO THIS POSITION WOULD BE ONE
THAT SERVES THIS BODY AND
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
GINA OWENS, THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME HERE AND, I REALLY
LIKE THE LOOK OF OUR NEW
COUNSEL I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT. AS I SAID, MY NAME IS
GINA OWENS, I AM A DISTRICT 3
CENTRAL AREA RESIDENTS. I AM
HERE TODAY, IS I THINK IT IS
SAD THAT -- OPENLY DISHONORED
OUR COUNSEL BY SUGGESTING HE IS
WEALTHY DONOR COLLEAGUES THAT
THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS EARNED THEM
THE RIGHT TO YOUR VOTE. THERE
SHOULD NEVER BE AN INSTANCE
WHERE A PUBLIC SERVANT SHOULD
FEEL OBLIGATED BY THEIR DONORS.
BIG BUSINESS SHOULD NOT BE
PRESSURING COUNSEL. -- ON,
CORPORATIONS SO THEY CAN GO
BACK TO UNDERPAYING WORKERS AND
LETTING REGULAR SEATTLITES FOOT
THE ENTIRE BILL. --
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED,
PLEASE.
PLEASE STOP I HAD TO GIVE
EVERYBODY THE SAME AMOUNT OF
TIME.
>> YOUR TIME IS UP, I AM SORRY.
>> WE ARE ALMOST BACK INTO
REMOTE SPEAKERS. GO AHEAD
PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
BENJAMIN BYERS I AM A RESIDENT
OF DISTRICT 7. AND A LIFETIME
SEATTLE RESIDENT. I AM CALLING
TO SUPPORT NEHA NARIYA. I HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH
HER ON SOUND TRANSIT ADVOCACY
NOT ONLY IS SHE -- ALSO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE ISSUES AS A
WHOLE.. SHE OWNS A SMALL
BUSINESS WITH HER FAMILY AND
LIVES IN THE CITY AND I THINK
SHE WOULD BE IDEAL TO JOIN THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AS OPPOSED
TO SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVES WHO
ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR. IN ANY
CASE I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
STRONGLY SUPPORT NEHA NARIYA
AND LOOK FORWARD TO HER SERVING
ON SEATTLE CITY . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I
HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE AND I AM
HERE TO SUPPORT TANYA WOO. SHE
HAS HEART TO BEGIN WITH AND
HAVE SEEN HER WORK THROUGHOUT
THE PANDEMIC AND EVEN BEFORE
THAT. I WANT TO START REALLY
SPEAKING ABOUT MY FAMILY, WE
HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE, I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY 20
PLUS FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE, POTENTIALLY FOR MY
82-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WHO TAKES
TRANSPORTATION FROM SOUTH
SEATTLE TO RENTON. PARTICULARLY
TO ALL OF THE FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS I KNOW FROM
NORTH SEATTLE TO SOUTH SEATTLE.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF
ORGANIZING THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC THAT LET ME ASK A
QUESTION. WHO THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP WHEN
JAPANESE TEACHER -- HURT. WHEN
CHINATOWN -- NOT GETTING
SUPPORT. IT WAS TANYA WOO. SHE
HAS HEART, SHE IS THE PEOPLE'S
TRACE AND I SUPPORT HER AND
ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT
HER AS WELL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KEITH IN
DISTRICT 3 SINCE 2000 50 DURING
THE CANDIDATE STORM LAST YEAR
FOR THE DISTRICT 3 I WAS
IMPRESSED BY THE DEPTHS THAT
ALEX HUDSON GAVE TO THE ISSUES
ALTHOUGH I DO LIKE -- ALEX IS
MY CHOICE. ALSO, AS FAR AS
ENFORCEMENT OF CRIME IN THE
CITY, THE CRIME THAT IS GOING
ON IS LANDLORDS AND EMPLOYERS
TREATING THEIR EMPLOYEES AND
RENTERS. I HAVE FOUGHT THEM ON
WAGE THEFT, VIOLATIONS AND THE
BIG PROBLEM IS -- SEVERELY
UNDERFUNDED AND THE CASE IS PUT
ON HOLD FOR WAY TOO LONG. I
WANT A CANDIDATE THAT WILL PUSH
FOR FULL FUNDING OF THESE
AGENCIES THAT ARE MEANT TO
PROTECT WORKING RENTERS. THAT
IS IT, THANK YOU.
>> WE DO NOT NEED THE PREVIOUS
COUNSEL'S BAD POLICIES. WE
NEED TO REJECT THE PREVIOUS
COUNSEL'S NOMINEES BECAUSE THE
SCHOOL BOARD HAS MISSED
EDUCATED KIDS AND HAS A HUGE
BUDGET DEFICIT. HUMAN SERVICES
HAS EXACERBATED THE CRISIS AND
WHAT THEY REPEAT --
PRIORITIZING OF CRIMINALS
INSTEAD OF INNOCENCE, WE NEED A
TRUE, FRESH VOICE. SOMEONE WHO
HAS PROVEN THEMSELVES AND THAT
IS TANYA WOO. SHE HAS
CULMINATED HER BIG BUDGET
DEALINGS WITH TRANSIT ORIENTED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SHE
UNDERSTANDS THE REALITY OF WHAT
IS TAKING PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY
AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SHE
IS WILLING TO MAKE A BIG
DIFFERENCE USING THE LAWS OF
THE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL NEEDS
TO REJECT THE PREVIOUS
COUNSEL'S AGENDA. THEY ARE
TRYING TO REPEAT THE SAME
MAJORITY OF BAD POLICIES OF THE
PAST. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD
BEYOND THAT, WE NEED A FRESH
VOICE. TANYA WOO.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS KELLY ANDERSON AND I
AM A HOMEOWNER IN SEATTLE. HAVE
A BRIEF STATEMENT AND A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS TO LEAVE YOU WITH.
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ARE CENTRAL TO GOOD GOVERNANCE
WHICH THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
SAYS IT VALUES. THEREFORE, ANY
FUNDING FROM BIG BUSINESS OR
LABOR THAT ENABLES A CANDIDATE
-- TO A PROFESSIONAL SO-CALLED
ADVOCACY SERVICES SHOULD BE
DISCLOSED. MY QUESTIONS ARE, AS
A CITY COUNCIL -- IF THERE HAVE
BEEN ANY FUNDING INVOLVED IN
THIS APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR
BIG BUSINESS OR LABOR? IS THERE
MONEY OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
TO ANY OF THE CANDIDATES OR
CAMPAIGNS? IF NO, -- WHY NOT
AND WILL YOU? IF YES, YOU HAVE
LOOKED INTO IT, WILL YOU
PUBLICLY DISCLOSE WHICH
CANDIDATES HAVE RECEIVED
FUNDING AND WHICH HAVE NOT?
THAT WOULD SEEM FAIR TO ME.
>> THANK YOU, THAT COMPLETES
OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS THAT ARE
SIGNED IN.
>> WE WILL PICK UP PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> CONGRATULATIONS COUNSEL ON
WINNING PROCEEDS. I DO NOT HAVE
A SPECIFIC CANDIDATE. I HOPE
THAT THE CANDIDATE THAT YOU
CHOOSE IS SOMEBODY THAT HAS A
COMMUNITY BACKGROUND THAT IS
WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO
REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY WITH
POSITION NUMBER 8. HAS BEEN
IMPORTANT FOR ME AS SOMEONE WHO
HAS LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE IN
SEATTLE, I GO BACK TO THE TIME
WHEN I GREW UP WITH SAM
SMITH'S CHILDREN AND THE
BROTHERS THAT I KNEW OUR PEOPLE
THAT I STILL HAVE SOME CONTACT
WITH. MY TIME HERE HAS BEEN
OVER 60 YEARS. I HOPE THAT, AS
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOW SEATTLE
WILL PROGRESS, WE FIND WAYS TO
BRING THE VOICES THAT HAVE NOT
NECESSARILY HAD ACCESS TO YOUR
BODY AND IT IS NOT JUST RACE
AND CULTURE, I AM TALKING ABOUT
THE WAY PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE
CITY THEY WANT TO BRING FORWARD
IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE AND THE TIME.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT
CAPTAIN STEVEN K. STRAND. I AM
THE OWNER OF A BUSINESS THAT
SERVED CENTRAL SEATTLE
COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
I WAS AT A GRASSROOTS LEVEL OF
PUBLIC SERVICE. I'M AN
80-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
AND I HAVE WITNESSED A GREAT
DEAL OF PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL
EVOLUTION. TO THAT POINT IN
TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE
SOCIAL EVOLUTION HAS NOT BEEN
FOR THE BETTER AND THAT IS WHY
I SUPPORT CAPTAIN STEVEN K.
STRAND FOR COUNSEL POSITION. I
HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR SEVERAL
DECADES. HE IS TOP DRAWER IN
TERMS OF INTEGRITY AND CARING
FOR THE SAFETY OF THE
COMMUNITY. I HAVE KNOWN HIM TO
WORK WELL WITH OTHERS AND ALSO,
IMPORTANTLY LOOKING FOR
SOLUTIONS. IT WOULD BE HARD TO
BELIEVE THAT ANYONE HERE WOULD
BE MORE AND HAVE MORE FIRSTHAND
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
REGARDING VIOLENT CRIMES,
DRUGS, HOMELESS ISSUES, THE
STUFF THAT MAKES HEADLINES.
>>
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
SPEAK. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT
STEVEN K. STRAND. I HAVE BEEN A
MEMBER OF THIS CITY, I WAS BORN
IN SEATTLE 80 YEARS AGO. I HAVE
BEEN A MEMBER OF THE CITY OR
WORKED IN THE CITY OFTEN ON FOR
MY ENTIRE LIFE. AS YOU KNOW,
THE CITY HAS CHANGED A LOT IN
THE LAST YEARS. WE HAVE
PROBLEMS WE DID NOT HAVE BEFORE
FENTANYL AND WITH THE CRIME
RATE AND HOMELESS RATE. MY
HUSBAND AND I NOW LIVE IN
SENIOR HOUSING IN WEST SEATTLE.
THERE IS A BIG HOMELESS ISSUE
ALL AROUND US. HEARING GUNSHOTS
AT NIGHT IS SCARY. I FEEL LIKE
STEPHEN HAS THE EXPERIENCE IN
THE -- WORKING IN A DIFFERENT
PART OF THE CITY THAT HE CAN
HELP BRING A CHANGE. I BELIEVE
HE IS THE VOICE THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL COULD USE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I SUPPORT
TANYA WOO FROM -- EIGHT. SHE
IS A HARD WORKER, INTELLIGENT,
SHE IS -- GOOD VOICE. I SUPPORT
TANYA WOO FOR -- I SUPPORT
TONYA FOR POSITION NUMBER 8.
THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD DAY,
EVERYONE.
>> I AM JULIE, BORN IN THE YEAR
OF THE TIGER AND I AM A WATER
TIGER. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT
TANYA WOO, BORN IN THE YEAR OF
THE HORSE. I BRING YOU A HAIKU
THAT WAS INSPIRED BY THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, THE YEAR OF THE
WITH DRAGON, THE GREEN WOOD
DRAGON. AND TANYA WOO. EMERALD
CITY, SAGE WITH DRAGON,
TURQUOISE JIM. SHE IS ALOHA.
NOTICE, WE DID NOT HAVE A
CANTONESE TRANSLATOR WHICH WAS
REQUESTED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
ASK THE COUNCIL TO LOOK AT THE
BOOK ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER AND
THINKING ABOUT -- THEIR
APPLAUSE. AND -- THE
ALBUQUERQUE LIBRARY HAS UKULELE
CLASSES AND I PRESENT YOU SAGE,
YOU MIGHT WANT TO SMUDGE THIS
ROOM AND GET RID OF THE
NEGATIVITY. THANK YOU.
>> ONE,, I WILL FOLLOW UP ON
THE REQUEST FOR THE INTERPRETER
BECAUSE I DID HEAR THAT WAS
REQUESTED AND I NEED TO FIND
OUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE. YOU
ARE CORRECT, SILENT GESTURES
ARE FINE. I AM JUST TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE
ALONG.
>> I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
WAS LINKED WITH THE REQUEST
COMING WITH LESS THAN 24
BUSINESS HOURS FROM THE
MEETING, WE CANNOT FIND ANY
AVAILABLE INTERPRETERS THE WE
DID SEARCH.
>> THANK YOU. CONTINUE PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM VANESSA
CLEVER, A RESIDENT THAT -- I DO
NOT HAVE A HAIKU. I AM JUST
HERE AS A DAUGHTER OF A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER AND, A DAUGHTER
OF MY MOTHER, WHO SUSTAINED OUR
FAMILY WITH A GOOD UNION JOB.
MYSELF AND 1000 OTHER RESIDENTS
ARE HERE TO SUBMIT A PETITION
WITH AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF
DISGUST THAT THERE IS AN
ATTEMPT FOR SUPER PACS FOR THE
CORPORATE DONORS AND CORPORATE
SPECIAL INTERESTS TO TRY TO
INFLUENCE THE APPOINTMENT
PROCESS FOR THE VACANT CITY
COUNCIL SEAT. WE BELIEVE IN
TRANSPARENCY AND, A FAIR
PROCESS, WHICH WE HOPE THAT THE
COUNCIL WOULD AGREE TO AS WELL.
AND NOT TAKE THE INFLUENCE OF
LARGE CORPORATE DONORS WERE
SUPER PACS BUT LISTEN TO PEOPLE
AND BE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT.
THANK YOU. HERE ARE TWO COPIES,
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN
CAPITOL HILL AND WORK
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. I AM HERE
TO REMIND YOU WHO SEATTLE IS.
SEATTLE IS NOT A CORPORATION.
SEATTLE IS THE PEOPLE THAT
CORPORATIONS EXPLOIT. WE ARE
THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER THE
CONSEQUENCES OF GREED. CONTRARY
TO WHAT -- THINKS, BUSINESSES
DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUY
SEATS ON THE COUNCIL. THAT IS
NOT DEMOCRACY THAT IS
OLIGARCHY. THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU
IN NOVEMBER THAT THE CORPORATE
PUPPET YOU WANT TO INSTALL WE
DO NOT WANT HER. IS IN A
CORPORATE'S DUE TO AS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ENOUGH? OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS OUR CITY HAS MADE
INCREDIBLE STRIDES AS --
INVESTMENTS IN SERVICES THAT
HOUSE, FEED AND STABILIZE OUR
MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. WE DESERVE A CITY
COUNCIL THAT WILL PROTECT AND
BUILD UPON THIS PROGRESS. I
URGE YOU TO APPOINT SOMEONE
BACKED BY -- NOT BY BIG
BUSINESS. THANK YOU.
>> -- MET WITH THE ASIAN
COMMUNITY OF THE 14 HOME
INVASION CASES. FOR FOUR YEARS
SHE ESTABLISHED A PUBLIC SAFETY
PATROL -- AND NARCAN, THEY
TALK TO THE HOMELESS AND JUST
LAST WEEK, THE DE-ESCALATED A
SITUATION THAT WOULD HAVE
TURNED VIOLENT. TONYA MET WITH
THE ELDERS IN CHINATOWN -- A
MEGA PROJECT SHE ENCOURAGED THE
LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING
ELDERS, 67 --
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING. I
WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION
TO 2 SUPPORT LETTERS THAT WERE
SENT OVER IN SUPPORT OF VIVIAN
SONG. ONE BY THE SEATTLE
BUILDING TRADES AND ONE BY MLK
LABOR. BOTH LETTERS DID PASS
UNANIMOUSLY AMONG THE BODIES
THAT WERE VOTING ON THEM. IF
YOU HAVE NOT READ THEM, PLEASE
TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THOSE.
THEY GO INTO DIFFERENT
SPECIFICS OF WHY WE SUPPORT
VIVIAN. A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS,
SHE IS A LEADER IN THE K-12
EDUCATION SYSTEM. WORKFORCE
DEVELOPING, THOSE TYPE OF
THINGS WILL BE STRONG ON THE
COUNCIL. HAS WON A CITYWIDE
RACE BY NEARLY 72% IS KNOWN BY
THE VOTERS IN THIS CITY AND IT
IS A CITYWIDE POSITION. HER
FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE IN LIGHT
OF AN EMAIL THAT CAME OUT FIRST
THING THIS MORNING THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS FREEZING ALL
HIRING IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. WE
NEED SOMEONE WITH FINANCIAL
EXPERIENCE MOVING FORWARD TO
RECTIFY SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4. FOR
DECADES, SEATTLE HAS BEEN A
PIONEER IN URBAN
TRANSPORTATION. WE BUILT THE
LONGEST FLOATING BRIDGE IN THE
WORLD, WE ADOPTED SOME OF THE
FIRST WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
TRANSIT VEHICLES IN THE U.S.
AND CONSTRUCTED THE INCREDIBLY
UNIQUE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE TRANSIT
TUNNEL. THE BUS LANE CUP BIKE
LANE AND -- SIDEWALK SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS CARRIED OUT UNDER
THE 2015 SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY MADE THE CITY SAFER AND
MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER
BEFORE FOR THE PEOPLE LIKE ME
WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A
VEHICLE. CERTAIN ROADS LIKE MLK
WAY SOUTH AN AURORA AVENUE
NORTH HAVE STILL KILLED OVER A
DOZEN CITY RESIDENTS IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS. WITH THE
REMOVAL OF THE TRANSPORTATION
WILL BE COMING UP, THIS IS YOUR
CHANCE TO BRING SOMEONE WITH
FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS
EXPERIENCE IT WILL TAKE TO LET
SEATTLE KEEP READING THE CHARGE
FOR BETTER TRANSPORTATION
AROUND THE U.S. I URGE YOU TO
MAKE THIS APPOINTMENT BASED ON
-- NOT THE INTEREST OF CAMPAIGN
DONORS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR
TESTIMONY THIS MORNING. I AM
HERE REPRESENTING THE TRANSIT
UNION. OUR MEMBERS VOTED TO
SUPPORT VIVIAN SONG FOR THIS
COUNCIL APPOINTMENT BECAUSE OF
A RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE. LIKE
MANY OTHERS, WE WERE
INCREDIBLY DISMAYED TO SEE THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONSULT --
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO THIS
COUNCIL SEAT BECAUSE OF ALL THE
MONEY THEY PUT INTO OUR
ELECTIONS. WE ASK YOU TO LISTEN
TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY
AND UNDERSTAND ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE OURS THAT REPRESENT THE
PEOPLE WHO RIDE OUR PUBLIC
TRANSIT SYSTEM AND THE LABOR
UNIONS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE
THAT WORK IN OUR GROCERY STORES
AND CONSTRUCTION SITES ARE
DIFFERENT THAN THE BIG BUSINESS
INTERESTS TRYING TO PROFIT OFF
OF OUR CITY. WE ASK YOU TO MAKE
THE RIGHT DECISION, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I
AM JIM BUCHANAN AND I AM A
CONSULTANT FOR KING COUNTY
EQUITY PRESIDENT OF WASHINGTON
STATE AFRICAN AMERICAN CANVAS
ASSOCIATION AND A FIRST
GENERATION COMMUNITY MEMBER OF
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. WE FOUND
THIS SPRING WITH THE
INTRODUCTION OF TANYA WOO TO
OUR COMMUNITY SHE HAS A
HEARTFELT DESIRE TO DO THE
RIGHT THING FOR US, THAT IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT. EVEN IF
EXPERIENCE ISN'T THERE OR EVEN
IF THE FACT OF A PERSON BEING
ABLE TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO
SAY THEY HAVE DONE AS OPPOSED
TO PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE RUNNING
AGAINST -- DISPLAYED HER
ABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO WANT TO
DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE
BLACK COMMUNITY. WITH THAT
BEING SAID WE SUPPORT --
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT, DISTRICT 3
COUNCIL I HAVE BEEN IN SEATTLE
SINCE 1971. A FORMER JOURNALIST
FOR A WORLD NEWS ORGANIZATION,
COVERED MANY POLITICAL RACES
AND ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTS IN
THE CITY. OVER 30, ALMOST 40
YEARS. I AM CALLING TO ASK THAT
YOU SUPPORT THE CANDIDACY OF
MARK SOLOMON TODAY IN THE
SPIRIT OF PROBABLY THE GREATEST
POLITICIAN AND POLITICAL LEADER
THE STATE HAS EVER PRODUCED --
USED TO SAY THAT THERE WERE TWO
KINDS OF SENATORS, THE ONES WHO
DELIVERED SPEECHES AND APPEARED
ON TELEVISION AND SHUT UP IN
FRONT PAGES AND THE ONES THAT
GOT THE JOB DONE. HE SAID THEY
WERE THE SHORE HORSES AND WORK
COURSES. I HAVE KNOWN MARK FOR
MORE THAN 20 YEARS, I GUARANTEE
YOU, YOU WILL GET A FOUR
COURSE.
>> BEFORE I GET MY ENDORSEMENT
I WANT TO PREFACE THIS BY
BRINGING UP SOMETHING SAID
ABOUT THE PROCESS AND
NOMINATION MEETING. I WAS
DISMAYED WHEN COUNCILMAN WERE
-- BEGAN LECTURING SEATTLE
ABOUT WHO THE ENEMY IS. I FOUND
IT INSULTING TO APPLY THAT HIS
OR BOB KENDALL'S MILITARY
EXPERIENCE MAKES HIM UNIQUELY
WEALTHY TO DETERMINE WHO IS OR
IS NOT THE ENEMY. AS IF TO SAY
OUR NATION'S HISTORY IS NOT
LITTERED WITH A BUNCH OF
VIOLENT EXPLOITERS. THAT IS
HARD TO CHOOSE AN INDIVIDUAL
HAND-PICKED BY THIS HAND-PICKED
GROUP THAT SINCE TAMMY MIRELES
HAS SHOWED A MATERIAL
UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S
CRISIS -- BEHIND HER
NOMINATION, MARI SUGIYAMA. SHE
SEEMS HUMBLE, A FELLOW ETHNIC
STUDIES MAJOR AND HER PARENTS
SEEM LIKE THE KIND OF LOVELY
PARENTS WHO NEVER ALLOW THEIR
DAUGHTER TO DOUBLECROSS THE
MULTIRACIAL WORKING-CLASS.
INCLUDING -- A COMPLETE JOKE IF
THE COUNCIL CHOSE BETWEEN A
CORPORATE LANDLORD COPS. THE
CORPORATE LANDLORD WHOSE
BUILDING I WAS IN LAST WEEK HAD
-- EVICTION NOTICE --
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
PLEASE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED,
PLEASE SIT DOWN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I HAVE
HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING IN
THE CID FOR MANY DECADES. I
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
WITH SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY
LEGENDS LIKE BOB SANTOS, -- WHO
BY THE WAY HIS MURDER HAS NEVER
BEEN RESULTS. I WOULD LIKE YOU
TO THINK ABOUT THAT. I AM HERE
TO SAY, ONE OF THE THINGS I
HAVE LEARNED IS THAT
COLLABORATION IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. THAT WORKING
TOGETHER IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
PASSION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
CARING ABOUT THE RIGHT THING IS
IMPORTANT. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT
MARI SUGIYAMA . ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I THINK IS
IMPORTANT ABOUT HER IS THAT SHE
HAS A BACKGROUND IN THE CITY.
SHE WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
AND SHE HAS PASSION, SHE HAS
THE PASSION FOR EQUITY THAT HER
PARENTS GAVE HER. --
>> SINCE WE ARE GETTING ON IN
TIME, I ASK THAT YOU STOP WHEN
TIME IS EXPIRED.
>> I WANT TO STEP UP AND
ADVOCATE FOR MARK SOLOMON TO BE
CHOSEN. AND TANYA WOO A VERY
CLOSE SECOND. BUT MARK SOLOMON
HAS THE EDUCATION, EXPERTISE
AND EXPERIENCE TO STEP IN AND
BE -- IN THIS ROLE. IS A CRIME
PREVENTION SPECIALIST HE HAS
BEEN DOING IT FOR A THIRD OF
100 YEARS. THAT IS A VERY LONG
TIME. -- CURBING CRIME IS THE
CRUX OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO AT
THIS POINT IN TIME. TIMING IS
EVERYTHING, HAVING KNOWN MARK
FOR ABOUT A YEAR HE REALLY
CARES, HE REALLY CARES AND DID
NOT HAVE TO. ON TOP OF CARING,
HE KNOWS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
CITY AND THIS IS INHERENTLY AN
ADJUNCT ROLE. HE WILL HAVE TO
FILL THE GAPS AND I THINK HE
WOULD FIT IN PERFECTLY WITH
THIS COUNSEL. I JUST WANT TO
SAY -- TO MARK SOLOMON TO FILL
THIS MOMENTOUS ROLE. I THINK
HE CAN DO IT AND PROVIDE FOR
THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR
TANYA WOO. I AM AN OLD TIMER OF
SEATTLE. I HAVE WORKED HERE AND
PLAYED HERE FOR OVER 50 YEARS
AND RAISED MY THREE CHILDREN.
SEATTLE IS MY HOME. I KNOW
TANYA WOO PERSONALLY AND HAVE
EXPERIENCED HER BRILLIANCE AND
THE WAY SHE GETS THINGS DONE
THROUGH ORGANIZATION, TEAMWORK
AND HARD WORK. I SAY THIS IN
REPRESENTATION OF MY MANY
FAMILY MEMBERS, OVER 60 PEOPLE
IN SEATTLE. WE WANT TONYA FOR
THIS POSITION BECAUSE SHE HAS A
PULSE ON OUR COMMUNITY. SHE
KNOWS HOW TO REPRESENT THE
PEOPLE IN HER COMMUNITY. SHE
KNOWS THE INS AND OUTS OF OUR
CULTURE, OUR HERITAGE AND OUR
MINDS. TO GATHER, TANYA WILL
BRING NECESSARY ENERGY THAT
WILL -- THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE
INTO SOLUTIONS. PLEASE RESPECT
THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
7 AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF
NEHA NARIYA. I BELIEVE SHE'S
THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE
VACANCY NOT JUST NOW BUT IN THE
LONG TERM. I SHE -- SEATTLE
EXPERIENCE AND HELP US MANAGE
OUR CITY CHALLENGES.
>> HELLO, I AM A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 7 AND IT HURT CITY
COUNCIL TO APPOINT NEHA NARIYA
TO THE VACANT POSITION. SHE
WOULD BE SOMEONE YOU WANT ON
YOUR TEAM AS YOU TACKLE THE
TOUGH CHALLENGES SEATTLE IS
FACING. SHE IS SOMEONE WHO
SHOWS UP AND DOES THE WORK. SHE
DOES IT BECAUSE SHE CARES. SHE
WOULD BE AN ASSET TO THE CITY
COUNCIL. SHE HAS HELPED
FAMILIES WHO HAVE IMMIGRATED TO
AMERICA ASSIMILATE AND GET
SETTLED. SHE HAS MANAGED LOCAL
BUSINESSES TO NUMEROUS ECONOMIC
DOWNTURNS. SHE IS AN ADVOCATE
FOR THOSE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED
AND SHE TAKES ABOUT THINGS LIKE
CLIMATE CHANGE, THE BOOK SAFETY
AND HOW TO CREATE A CITY HER
CHILDREN WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN
ONCE THEY ARE GROWN. SHE PUTS
IN THE WORK AND EXHIBITS THE
TYPE OF LEADERSHIP WE NEED TO
HELP TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OUR
CITY FACES. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING. I AM A
RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER IN
SEATTLE. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY
RECOMMEND NEHA NARIYA FOR THE
OPEN SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
POSITION. HER UNIQUE POSITION
AS A SEATTLE RESIDENT, A FAMILY
HOTEL BUSINESS OWNER AND AN
ASIAN COMMUNITY MEMBER GIVE HER
A DISTINCT PERSPECTIVE. THIS, I
BELIEVE, IS CRUCIAL FOR UNITING
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING
COMPROMISE AND SHAPING THE
FUTURE OF SEATTLE. IN THESE
CHALLENGING TIMES, HER
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING ISSUES
TRULY STAND OUT. HER PASSION
FOR THE CITY, DEDICATION TO
GROWTH WITH INCLUSIVITY AND
REMARKABLE EXAMPLE IS
CONVERTING THEIR SMALL HOTEL IN
AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR THE ON
HOUSE. THIS TRULY SHOWCASES HER
INNOVATED PROBLEM-SOLVING AND
DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE CITY'S
WELL-BEING. HER WELCOMING OR
ENGINE WHEN TRANSLATING INTO
ACTION CREATE AN INCLUSIVE
ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE FEELS
A PART OF A LARGER DAY. I AM
CONFIDENT IN HER ABILITY,
DEDICATION AND INCLUSIVE
APPROACH TO CONTRIBUTE
MEANINGFULLY TO THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, I AM A RESIDENT OF
THE QUEEN ANNE NEIGHBORHOOD
LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT
SEVEN. I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY
SUPPORT FOR NEHA NARIYA TO
FILL THE OPEN CITY COUNCIL
SEAT. SHE IS TRULY PASSIONATE
ABOUT LEADING SEATTLE
FORWARDING USING INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE CRITICAL
PROBLEMS THE CITY FACES. SHE
HAS AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF
COLLABORATING WITH DIVERSE
GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO REACH
CONSENSUS AND FIND PRACTICAL
SOLUTIONS. IS A MEDICAL FORM OF
COLOR AND LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER, SHE HAS A LIFE
EXPERIENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE
POLICIES AT THE CITY LEVEL CAN
IMPACT ALL SEATTLE CITIZENS. I
SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT NEHA
NARIYA, AMONGST THE FINALISTS,
SHE IS UNIQUELY MOLLIFIED
REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS AS
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE AND WOULD
RECOMMEND YOU SELECT HER TO
FILL THE VACANT COUNCIL SEAT.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, I LIVE IN DISTRICT
TWO. I AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT
MARK SOLOMON. FOR 3 YEARS I
SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE
MOUNT BAKER HUB ALLIANCE AND
ONLY IN SEATTLE GRANT FUNDED
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP THAT
SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
VIBRANT TOWN CENTER FOCUSED
AROUND THE MOUNT BAKER LIGHT
RAIL STATION. I SAW HIM
TIRELESSLY ADDRESS THE SAFETY
OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE
BUSIEST DISTRICT. HE
UNDERSTANDS AND ADVOCATES FOR
GREATER SAFETY IN SEATTLE FOR
ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS EQUALLY
FROM OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS TO
OUR WEALTHIEST NEIGHBORS.
FEELING SAFE ENGENDERS
WELL-BEING. HIS SKILLS WITH
PEOPLE IS FORMIDABLE AND HIS
CALM, CROWDED PRESENCE FILLS
EVERYONE WITH AN IMMEDIATE
SENSE OF GREATER SECURITY. THAT
SENSE OF WELL-BEING SUPPORTS
EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE IN
SEATTLE. RECENTLY, I SPOKE WITH
A -- WHO, ON SEVERAL PROPERTIES
HAVE BUSINESS DISTRICTS. I
ASKED THEM WHEN THEY WOULD
BREAK GROUND ON A PIVOTAL
HOUSING PROJECT. HE SAID
GETTING FUNDING HAS BEEN THE
PROBLEM. HE DOES --
>> HELLO. I AM A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER. NEHA NARIYA AND
I WORKED TOGETHER NEHA IS SO
CALM AND PATIENT FOR HANDLING
ANY ROBIN. I BELIEVE SHE WILL
BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR CITY
COUNCIL AND SHE WILL BE REALLY
-- TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS. --
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 AND A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND
ADVOCATE FOR THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. I DO
NOT WANT TO KEEP -- I'M NOT
INTERESTED IN THE OPINION OF
SOMEONE WHO IS REGISTERED I DO
NOT WANT A CANDIDATE WHO SPENDS
THEIR TIME PONTIFICATING IDEAS.
I WANT A PERSON WHO TAKES
ACTION. A PERSON WHO LISTENS TO
COMMUNITY, WHO IS IN
COMMUNITY. SOMEONE WHO LOOKS
OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF
COMMUNITY IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF SEATTLE. WHETHER OR NOT SHE
IS APPOINTED, TANYA WOO WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK FOR HER
COMMUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE AND
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OF COLOR.
THIS IS WHAT SETS HER APART
FROM OTHER CANDIDATES. THIS IS
WHY APPROXIMATELY 50 SENIOR
CITIZENS MAKE THE CHALLENGING
UPHILL WALK THIS MORNING TO
COME HERE AND SUPPORT HER.
PLEASE APPOINT TANYA WOO FOR
POSITION EIGHT. LETTER TO FOR
OUR CITY WHICH HE DOES FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> CAN ASK FOR PERMISSION TO
TRANSLATE MY SPEECH? BECAUSE MY
NEIGHBORS DO NOT UNDERSTAND
ENGLISH.
>> YES.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
AM A PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL
MEMBER. MY COMMUNITY NEIGHBORS
ARE HERE TO SUPPORT TANYA WOO .
FOREIGN LANGUAGE BACK -- FOR
THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE
SEEN TANYA WOO AND HER TEAM
WORK WITH COMMUNITY NUMBERS AND
WORK HARD FOR SAVE SEATTLE FOR
EVERYONE. SHE IS RELIABLE,
HONEST AND FRIENDLY, VERY
FRIENDLY. WE ALL VOTE TANYA
WOO, HOPE YOU -- OUTSTANDING
LEADERSHIP, EXPERIENCE IN
RECENT YEARS TO WORK TOGETHER
WITH OUR COUNSEL TEAM FOR A
CIVILIZED -- FOR EVERYONE. WE
LOVE SEATTLE. WE NEED SEATTLE
BACK TO SOON. THANK YOU. [
SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> CAN I TRANSLATE FOR HER?
>> YES.
>> [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE
]
>> MORNING. I AM LIVING IN THE
ID FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS. WE
HOPE THAT SEATTLE CHINATOWN
LIKE HOPE RAIN SEATTLE WILL BE
SAFE FOR EVERYONE.
>> [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE
] DID ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HARD
WORK TO KEEP SEATTLE SAY FOR
EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
>> SHE VOTE FOR TANYA WOO,
THANK YOU. SHE IS MY NEIGHBOR.
>> GOOD MORNING, AS YOU RECALL,
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
INSPIRE WASHINGTON. REAL
ESTATE'S CULTURAL ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION IN URBAN, RURAL
AND SUBURBAN AREAS. COMMUNITIES
ARE LIFTED UP BY THE PARENT
SCIENCE, HERITAGE AND THE ARTS.
I AM ALSO A THIRD-GENERATION
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3. EITHER
REPRESENTING HUNDREDS OF
BUSINESSES AND CREATIVE THE
CALL SEATTLE HOME THAT LOOK FOR
VITAL SUPPORT FROM CITY
INVESTMENTS TO THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE. INSPIRE
WASHINGTON IS A NONPROFITS WE
ARE NOT HERE TO ENDORSE, WE ARE
EXCITED BY THE CROP OF
CANDIDATES AND WE ARE THRILLED
BY THE PUBLIC PROCESS AND ALL
OF THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. GREAT
LISTENING. THE CITYWIDE
POSITION IS IMPORTANT TO THE
CULTURAL SECTOR. THE INVESTMENT
ENSURES THAT CREATIVE PEOPLE
MAKE SEATTLE HOME BECAUSE WE
ARE LOSING CREATIVE PEOPLE.
>> DEAR SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
NUMBERS, I AM HERE TO ANOMALY
NEHA NARIYA TO THE POSITION. I
AM A DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS IN
THE DISTRICT TO OF SEATTLE, BOE
CRISIS TEXT LINE. I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT NEHA NARIYA'S
COMMITMENT TO CIVIC SERVICE AND
THE FUTURE WAY OF THINKING THE
CITY NEEDS. SHE IS AN
IMPEDIMENT OF COMPASSION AND
EMPATHY, COMFORTABLE TAKING
ACTION WHILE CONSIDERING BOTH
SIDES. THIS IS HOW SHE WAS ABLE
TO FIND UNIQUE WAYS TO BUILD A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE SECTORS, MUCH LIKE
WHAT YOU DID WITH THE FAMILY
HOTEL AND TRADITIONAL HOUSING
IN A WAY THAT HELPS THE GREATER
GOOD FOR EVERYONE. NEHA NARIYA
ENCOURAGES FOLKS LIKE ME, WHO
COME FROM A LIFE PLAGUED WITH
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND ALCOHOL
ABUSE TO FIND A VOICE IN MOVING
THE NEEDLE FORWARD FOR
PROGRESSIVE CHANGE WHILE
RESPECTING THE GOVERNMENT
PROCESSES IN PLACE , RESPECT
BEING ONE OF THE CORE TENETS OF
THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. I
TRUST IN HER ABILITY TO BRING
FOLKS TOGETHER, TO DISAGREE AND
COMMIT ON A PATH FORWARD. WE
NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE HER.
>>> IS IT SAMU NARIYA.
>> I AM NEHA'S MOM, I SUPPORT
NEHA.
>> I'M LAST SPEAKER IS
KIMBERLY. KIMBERLY? SORRY,
YES, PLEASE.
>> IS A DIFFERENT KIMBERLY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. MY
NAME IS KIMBERLY WOLF. I AM
CURRENTLY IN CAPITOL HILL
DISTRICT, SOON TO BE BACK UP IN
THE NORTH END. I THINK IT IS
TIME TO USE OCCAM'S RAZOR. YOU
HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO
APPOINT SOMEONE THAT HAS SOME
OF THE SAME PRIORITIES AND
ISSUES AS THE PERSON WHO WAS IN
THE SPOT, IN THIS CASE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.) , THAT
CUTS SOME PEOPLE OUT THAT ARE A
LITTLE TOO FAR FROM HER, HER
AGENDA BECAUSE THAT IS WHO HER
CONSTITUENTS VOTED IN. THAT IS
WHAT THEY WANTED FOR THIS TERM.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
YOU DO THAT. SECONDLY,
ETHICALLY, THIS EMAIL THAT
CAME OUT, IT CANNOT BE THE SAME
PERSON LISTED IN THE EMAIL AS
SICKLY A SHOE IN BECAUSE OF
DONOR MONEY. IT CAN'T. TANYA
WOO HAS DONE A LOT FOR THE CITY
AND I'M SURE SHE WILL AND MORE
POWER TO HER IF SHE WANTS TO
RUN AGAIN.
>> THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I WILL ALLOW FOR, WHILE THE
CANDIDATES ARE COMING TO THE
TABLE, I ASK THAT YOU COME AND
SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE. WE WILL
PROVIDE A THREE MINUTE BREAK,
IF THAT IS SUFFICIENT, DOES
EVERYBODY, 3 TO 5. THREE MINUTE
BREAK FOR FOLKS TO USE THE
RESTROOM AS NECESSARY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CHAMBERS, IT HAS BEEN THREE
MINUTES.
>> HOLD ON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE GREEN LIGHT IS ON.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
>> WILD. I AM ALWAYS NERVOUS.
>> BECAUSE IT WAS SUPER CLOSE.
>> DO WE HAVE TO TOUCH A
BUTTON?
>> SEE THE GREEN LIGHT? THAT IS
ON.
>> DO YOU WANT SOME COFFEE,
JOY?
>> WE ARE ALMOST READY TO GO,
WE ARE JUST WAITING ON THE
RESTROOM TO BE.
>> THE FIRST ORDER OR WHATEVER
ORDER.
>> WE DO HAVE FORUM.
>> A FORM OF DISCRIMINATION.
>> I.T., YOU CAN BEGIN
RECORDING.
>> STANDBY, PLEASE.
>> RECORDING IN PROGRESS.
>> IT IS NOW 11:08.
>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALERTING US
THIS BRIEF BREAK. WE BROKE AT
11:03, IT IS NOW 11:08. WELCOME
BACK TO THE MEETING. AND, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH CANDIDATES FOR
SEATING AT THE TABLE AND FOR
COMING THIS MORNING. WE WILL
PROCEED WITH YOUR
PRESENTATIONS. HAVE, HERE IS
HOW IT WILL GO. WE WILL CALL ON
EACH FINALIST IN ALPHABETICAL
ORDER BY LAST NAME AND EACH
CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THREE
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNSEL
IN PUBLIC. YOU WILL HEAR A
CHIME AND THAT CHINA WILL
INDICATE YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS
REMAINING BEFORE YOUR TIME
EXPIRES. AND, I WILL JUST SAY
THE AIMS OF THE FINALISTS IN
ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THEY ARE
JUAN COTTO , NEHA NARIYA, MARK
SOLOMON, LINH THAI AND TANYA
WOO.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING.
ALL RIGHT. JUAN COTTO, YOU ARE
FREE TO BEGIN.
>> ALFRESCO. HONORABLE MEMBERS
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. I AM
HONORED TO BE ONE OF EIGHT
FINALISTS, WITH THE FINALISTS
SELECTED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
APPOINTMENT RECENTLY VACATED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. IN THE
LAST 10 DAYS, I HAVE BEEN
HUMBLED BY THE SUPPORT AND
ENCOURAGEMENT POURING IN FROM
THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE AN
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
SERVICE AND HAVE FOR MY ENTIRE
LIFE. I WAS BORN AND RAISED
HERE IN SEATTLE. MY MOTHER
GRADUATED FROM GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL AND I GREW UP ON HAZEL
STREET IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE.
MY JOURNEY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
BEGAN ALONGSIDE COURAGEOUS
LEADERS LIKE U.S. SENATOR PATTY
MURRAY AND GOVERNOR GARY LOCKE.
THEIR COURAGE AND DETERMINATION
AND VISION INSPIRED ME TO
CONTRIBUTE TO TRANSFORMATIVE
CHANGE IN OUR STATE. DURING
THEIR CAMPAIGN STAFFS AND
JOINING THEIR STAFFS INSTILLED
IN ME A PASSION FOR MAKING
POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR
COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, IT IS A
SPIRIT OF THIS PAST SUMMER WHEN
OUR COMMUNITY ELECTED OUR NEW
GROUP OF LEADERS WITH A FOCUS
ON INNOVATION AND
COLLABORATION, WHICH HAS
INSPIRED ME TO PUT MY NAME INTO
THIS PROCESS. IN ROLES AS
GOVERNMENT STRATEGIST AT BLOOD
WORKS BEST AND COMMUNITY
RELATIONS MANAGER FOR FRED
HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH
CENTER, I'VE GARNERED VALUABLE
EXPERIENCE NAVIGATING COMPLEX
ISSUES AND BUILDING MEANINGFUL
PARTITIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS.
MY COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE HAS
BEEN DEMONSTRATED THROUGH
LEADERSHIP ROLES ON BOARDS SUCH
AS TRANSPORTATION CHOICES,
HOMESITE, AND CENRA DE LA RAZA
AND THE SEATTLE URBAN LEAGUE. I
HAVE ALSO SERVED ON THE BOARDS
OF SEATTLE MENTAL HEALTH. I AM
MARRIED TO A LICENSED MENTAL
HEALTH THERAPIST TO TURNS HER,
WHO RUNS HER OWN BUSINESS IN
THE CITY. WE ARE RAISING OUR
TWO CHILDREN IN THE CITY. THE
MATTERS THAT WILL COME BEFORE
US, SUCH AS SAFETY OF OUR CITY
IMPACT MY FAMILY AND MY
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY AND HONOR TO
MAKE SEATTLE BETTER THAN IT
CURRENTLY IS. REGARDLESS OF THE
OUTCOME TOMORROW, I PLAN ON
RUNNING FOR THIS POSITION IN
THE UPCOMING ELECTION. I HAVE
BEEN INSPIRED BY THE CRITICAL
COMMENTS RECEIVED FOLLOWING
THURSDAY'S FORUM . AS I HAVE
MY ENTIRE LIFE, I AM COMMITTED
TO CONTINUING SERVING THIS
COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTING TO
THE BRIGHT FUTURE WE ALL
ENVISION FOR SEATTLE. I AM
EXPERIENCED PASSIONATE LEADER
AND I AM READY TO SIT ON THE
COUNCIL. AS A TEAM, WE CAN
TACKLE WHAT HAS TO BE
ADDRESSED. I AM ASKING EACH OF
YOU FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEHA,
YOUR NEXT.
>> MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
BELIEVE IN INCLUSIVE,
ACCESSIBLE SEATTLE FOR ALL ,
SEATTLE WHERE RESIDENTS FEEL
SAFE, A SEATTLE WHICH BUILDS
HOUSING WISELY AND TACKLES ITS
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES. A
SEATTLE WHERE ALL RESIDENTS
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE
AND SUCCEED, JUST AS MY FAMILY
AND I WERE AFFORDED. SEATTLE
HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY
HEART. I FEEL A DEEP CONNECTION
TO OUR INCREDIBLE CITY. WE HAVE
CHALLENGES AHEAD, NO DOUBT.
COLLABORATING TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY TO MEET THESE
CHALLENGES WILL ENSURE THAT
SEATTLE CONTINUE TO PROSPER
INTO THE FUTURE. I AM NEHA
NARIYA AND I AM PREPARED AND
COMMITTED TO DELIVER RESULTS
FOR ALL SEATTLE. THE LAST
DECADE HAS BROUGHT EXPLOSIVE
GROWTH BUT WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS,
WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS MET THE
CHALLENGES THIS WAS BROUGHT
WHEN IT CAME TO AFFORDABILITY,
HOUSING, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
SEATTLE IS AT A TURNING POINT
AND I WANT TO BE A PARTNER WITH
YOU IN BUILDING A FOUNDATION
THAT NOT ONLY SUPPORTS OUR
GROWTH BUT IN PLACES EVERYONE
WHO CALLS SEATTLE HOME TODAY
AND IN THE FUTURE. AS A
FIRST-GENERATION
ASIAN-AMERICAN, SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER, AND SOMEONE WHO HAS
EXPERIENCED THE IMPACT OF
GROWTH IN SOUTH LAKE UNION, I
HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON
HOW WE MUST PROMOTE GROWTH
WHILE NOT USING LOSING CITY
HERITAGE AND CULTURE, LESSONS I
WILL BRING TO THE UPCOMING
COMPANY HAS A PLAN REVIEW. AS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I
DEVELOPED STRATEGIC BUDGET AND
FORECASTS FOR ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS. I HAVE WRITTEN THE
UPS AND DOWNS OF THE ECONOMY,
MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO PROCESSES
TO FIND EFFICIENCIES AND MADE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAINTAIN
THE VIABILITY OF OUR BUSINESS.
THESE ARE SKILLS THAT PREPARE
ME TO THOUGHTFULLY ADDRESS THE
FORECASTED CITY BUDGET DEFICIT.
I BELIEVE ACTION, NOT WORDS ARE
NECESSARY TO DELIVER RESULTS
OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THIS IS
WHY WE CONVERTED OUR FAMILY
HOTEL INTO AN EMERGENCY SHELTER
DURING COVID-19 TO HOUSE THE
UNHOUSED. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER
IN PARTNERSHIPS AND
COLLABORATION. WE NEED EVERYONE
AT THE TABLE . HOUSING
ADVOCATES, DEVELOPERS, FIRST
RESPONDERS, SOCIAL WORKERS,
TRANSIT SPECIALISTS, RESIDENTS,
EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES. I AM A
CONNECTOR AND KNOWS HOW TO
BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TACKLE
TOUGH CHALLENGES. WE NEED TO
WORK ACROSS THE SECTORS TO FIND
THE SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR ALL
OF US. PUBLIC SAFETY IS
PARAMOUNT FOR SEATTLE TO BE ITS
BEST SELF. I BELIEVE IN POLICE
REFORM, NOT THE FUNDING. WE
NEED A POLICE FORCE THAT
REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR
CITY AND ALIGNED WITH OUR
VALUES. IT IS TIME TO MEND THE
TRUST THAT HAS BEEN STRAINED
BETWEEN COUNSEL, OUR COMMUNITY,
AND THE LEASE DEPARTMENT. ONLY
THEN WILL WE ACHIEVE THE
POSITIVE RESULTS WE WANT AND
NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO
THRIVE IN THE FUTURE. I AM
THRILLED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND DIVE
INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY ALONGSIDE
EACH ONE OF YOU. TOGETHER, WE
CAN TACKLE URGENT ISSUES,
PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELESSNESS,
AFFORDABILITY, BUDGET DEFICITS
, COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND
TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES. BUT,
LET'S NOT JUST FIX WHAT IS
BROKEN. LET'S BE PROACTIVE AND
SET THE STAGE FOR A SEATTLE
THAT THRIVES NOT JUST TODAY FOR
THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS. AS WE
EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY, LET'S
KEEP ALIVE THE DIVERSITY AND
CHARACTER AND SOUL THAT MAKES
US PROUD TO BE SEATTLEITES. IT
WOULD BE AN HONOR TO SERVE
ALONGSIDE YOU ALL. THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, AND
APOLOGIZE FOR MISPRONOUNCING
YOUR NAME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD, MARK.
>> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I COME BEFORE YOU
TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE TO
BE APPOINTED TO SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL POSITION EIGHT. THAT
WAS BEFORE YOU IS GOING TO BE A
DIFFICULT ONE BECAUSE ALL OF US
BRING AND POSSESS GREAT
QUALITIES THAT SERVE OUR CITY
WELL. THAT BEING SAID, I FEEL
LIKE I AM THE BEST PERSON TO
FIELD THE BALL AT THIS TIME.
HAVING SERVED AS A CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATOR FOR OVER
33 YEARS, I HAVE A DEEP
UNDERSTANDING OF THE VARIOUS
CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR
COMMUNITIES. I HAVE WORKED
CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
BUSINESSES, CITY AND COUNTY
AGENCIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO
CRAFT PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS
AND IMPLEMENT THINGS THAT WILL
IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE TOUCHED
EVERY CORNER OF OUR CITY, FROM
HOLDING SAFETY SESSIONS FOR LOW
INCOME SENIORS IN THE LAKE CITY
TO CONDUCTING SECURITY
ASSESSMENTS FOR HIGH-END CONDOS
IN QUEEN ANNE. MEETING WITH
NEIGHBORS IN THE ARROYOS TO
ADDRESS NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS
ISSUES . DEVELOPING GUN
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION
STRATEGIES THROUGH THE REGNIER
BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS
WORKING WITH OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT
WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT
QUALIFIED BUSINESSES CAN ACCESS
THE STOREFRONT REPAIR PROGRAMS.
AND, THERE'S A LOT OF EXAMPLES
I HAVE. I WOULD LOVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MORE ABOUT
THOSE. I ENGAGED IN A
COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING
STYLE, ANALYZING PROBLEMS FROM
A COMPLEXITY OF ISSUES. AND,
WORKING WITH OTHERS TO DRAFT
SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE. I BELIEVE
IN COLLABORATION AND
PARTNERSHIP AND RELATIONSHIPS.
MY APPROACH IS ONE OF BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS, NOT JUST
CONDUCTING TRANSACTIONS . THAT
IS HOW I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET
THINGS DONE AROUND THE CITY. BY
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION, WHETHER IT IS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OR
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS.
GIVEN MY BACKGROUND, YOU WOULD
THINK THAT, YES, I AM FOCUSED
ON PUBLIC SAFETY. I AM FOCUSED
ON OUR HOMELESSNESS ISSUE. I
FOCUSED ON HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND ECONOMIC
VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
ABOVE ALL ELSE, I AM FOCUSED ON
CUSTOMER SERVICE, BEING
ACCESSIBLE, BEING AVAILABLE FOR
THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY. PEOPLE
DON'T CALL THE CITY BECAUSE
THEY ARE HAVING A GOOD DAY .
THE UCON IS BECAUSE THERE'S AN
ISSUE THEY WANT ADDRESSED OR A
PROBLEM THEY WANT SOLVED AND IT
IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO BE
AVAILABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND BE
OF SERVICE TO THOSE FOLKS.
>> YOUR DECISION COMES DOWN TO
CAN I WORK WITH THIS PERSON?
DO THEIR PRIORITIES ALIGN WITH
MINE? CAN WE WORK TOGETHER AND
DEVELOP POLICIES? WHILE WORKING
ON COUNSEL TOGETHER, WE MAY NOT
ALWAYS AGREE ON POLICY ISSUES
BUT WE CAN AGREE TO WORK
SIDE-BY-SIDE, SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER TO GET THINGS DONE FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY. THAT IS
MY MOMENT. I ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO
AHEAD, NEXT PERSON IN THE LINE,
STEPHEN STRAND.
>> GOOD MORNING, AND STEVE
STRAND. MY BACKGROUND AND
EXPERIENCE MAKE ME A PERFECT
MATCH FOR THIS SEAT AT THIS
TIME. AT LEAST , AT LAST
WEEK'S FORM, I SPOKE ABOUT THE
NEED TO INCREASE HOUSING,
CONSIDER DENSITY ALONG TRANSIT
LINES, AND TO PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS. I
DETAILED HOW OUR DEVELOPMENT,
OUR DEVELOPMENT NEEDS CAN BE
BALANCED, EXCUSE ME, WITH OUR
GREEN SPACES, INCREASING OUR
TREE CANOPY TO MITIGATE OUR
CLIMATE IMPACTS. FINALLY, I
DISCUSSED TRANSPORTATION AND
INTEGRATING MULTIPLE IDENTITIES
TO PROVIDE SAFE, RELIABLE
OPTIONS. FORGIVE ME. TODAY, I
WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT MY
STRONGEST CHARACTERISTIC, ONE I
THINK SOME COULD VIEW AS A
WEAKNESS. MY POLICE EXPERIENCE.
MY STORY SHOULD HELP REASSURE
THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC
ABOUT MY NOBLE PROFESSION AND
HELP TO REBUILD THE TRUST THAT
IS MISSING. I STARTED MY CAREER
IN THE ARMY AS A MILITARY
POLICE OFFICER. I WAS STATIONED
IN WEST GERMANY FOR THREE YEARS
DURING THE COLD WAR. THIS
TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT LAW
ENFORCEMENT BUT IT ALSO TAUGHT
ME ABOUT BEING A STRANGER IN A
FOREIGN COUNTRY AND NOT
SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE. IN
1991, I WAS HIRED BY CHIEF
PATRICK FITZSIMONS TO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE
WAS OUT OF HIS TIME IN CHANGING
POLICE CULTURE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. DURING THE
INTERVIEW, HE GAVE ME A BOOK TO
IMPROVE MY CONFLICT RESOLUTION
SKILLS. I STILL HAVE THAT BOOK
AND READ IT REGULARLY. HE
EMPHASIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS
TO USE OUR WORDS AND NOT FORCE.
I AM PROUD OF THE WORK I HAVE
DONE. I HAVE EMBRACED POLICE
REFORM, CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING. IN
2020, BECAUSE OF MY COMMUNITY
WORK AND THE TRUST I HAD BUILT,
I WAS INVITED TO JOIN A MARCH 4
GEORGE SUITE THEY WANTED POLICE
INVOLVED TO SHOW IT WAS NOT
ANTI-POLICE BUT NO JUSTICE. I
MET SLICK WHAT'S THAT DAY, MY
CHILDHOOD HERO FROM THE
SUPERSONICS. IN 2022, MY FIRST
ACTION AS PRECINCT CAPTAIN WAS
TO MEANT AN EMPHASIS IN THE
LITTLE SAIGON NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE WERE NUMEROUS HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENTS AND OPEN-AIR DRUG
MARKET, ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT,
AND CRITICAL POLICE STAFFING
CRISES. THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AWARDED
ME THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC
SAFETY AWARD FOR MY EFFORTS
THAT YEAR. THE VOTERS WANT
BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY AND A
FULLY STAFFED POLICE
DEPARTMENT. WE ARE STILL LOSING
MORE POLICE OFFICERS THAN WE
ARE ADDING. NOMINATING A POLICE
CAPTAIN TO THE OPEN SEAT SENT A
STRONG MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO
THE HONORABLE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT HAVE STUCK WITH US.
APPOINTING A POLICE CAPTAIN TO
THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD SEND A
MESSAGE TO QUALITY CANDIDATES
AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT IT IS
TIME TO COME TO SEATTLE. VOTERS
WERE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT
AND I AM ANSWERING THAT CALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS MARI SUGIYAMA.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, POINT OF
ORDER, A MINOR ONE . IN OUR, IN
OUR AGENDA, WE ARE IN ALPHA BY
LASTING AND I THINK WE SKIPPED
OVER CANDIDATE VIVIAN SONG.
SORRY.
>> I'M SORRY. APOLOGIES. I WAS
GOING ALONG THE LINE. I'M
SORRY. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. LAST FRIDAY, I
MET WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
ONE OF THE LARGEST ARTS
NONPROFITS IN SEATTLE. HIS
YOUNG DAUGHTER, LIKE ME, IT'S
HARD OF HEARING . HE ASKED ME
WHAT IT WAS LIKE GROWING UP
WITH A DISABILITY. I SENSED
THAT HE WAS WORRIED THAT
SOMEHOW HIS DAUGHTER WOULD BE
HELD BACK. I TOLD HIM THAT I
CONSIDERED MY HEARING LOSS TO
BE A SOURCE OF STRENGTH. MY
HEARING LOSS INSISTS THAT I
LISTEN HARD, LISTEN
INTENTIONALLY, TO LISTEN MORE
THAN I SPEAK, TO UNDERSTAND
BEFORE BEING UNDERSTOOD, AND TO
VALUE THE FORCES OF THOSE THAT
I SERVE. SINCE THIS APPOINTMENT
PROCESS, I HAVE BEEN DOING A
LOT OF LISTENING." I'VE HEARD
IS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE
APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY, MAKE
RAPID PROGRESS ON HOMELESSNESS,
INCREASE OUR HOUSING SUPPLY,
AND BUILD A MORE ROBUST AND
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY . WE HEARD
THIS IN THE FORUM ON THURSDAY.
IT ECHOES MY MANY CONVERSATIONS
WITH LABOR UNIONS, BUSINESS
LEADERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES . IT ECHOES
WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM
THE 50,000 STUDENTS, FAMILIES,
AND EDUCATORS OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. YES, IT IS WHAT I'VE
HEARD FROM YOU, OUR ELECTED
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PEERED I
HAVE LISTENED, I HAVE HEARD IT,
NOW I AM READY TO GET TO WORK.
I WILL WORK TO SUCCESSFULLY
SERVE IN A CITYWIDE OFFICE,
LISTENING TO OUR DIVERSE SET OF
STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSTITUENTS,
UNDERSTANDING HOW POLICY WILL
BE OPERATIONALIZED THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE. USING MY FIRST-HAND
EXPERIENCE IN SERVING AS AN
ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR.
I WILL WORK TO CHAIR THE
COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT AND IT'S $1.5
BILLION BUDGET, THE LARGEST OF
ANY CITY DEPARTMENT, JUST AS I
EFFECTIVELY OVERSAW THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS $1.2 BILLION BUDGET .
I WILL USE MY FINANCE AND
BUDGET SKILLS TO HELP US LEAD A
PUBLIC PROCESS TO CLOSE OUR
CITIES $250 MILLION GENERAL
FUND GAP. WE WILL DO THIS FIRST
BY SETTING SPENDING PRIORITIES,
SECOND BY LOOKING FOR
EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITIES, AND
THEN, IF NEEDED, BUILDING A
CASE FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE
REVENUES. FINALLY, I WILL WORK
WITH YOU AS A TEAM. I
UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF A
SMALL LEGISLATIVE BODY. I HAVE
DEVELOPED AND PASSED
SIGNIFICANT POLICY MEASURES
WITH EACH MY SCHOOL BOARD
COLLEAGUES, EVEN THOSE I
OCCASIONALLY DISAGREE WITH
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN SHARED
SUCCESS. AS A TEAM, THIS IS
WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT OF
US. I AM NOT JUST ASKING FOR
YOUR VOTES FOR THE APPOINTMENT,
I'M ASKING FOR YOUR TRUST THAT
TOGETHER WE CAN GET TO WORK AND
TURN THE VISION THAT WE HAVE
HEARD FROM THE GREAT PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE AND RESULTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR
MESSING UP ON THE ORDER. OKAY,
CONTINUING ON. MARI SUGIYAMA.
GO AHEAD.
>> MORNING, THANK YOU TO THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR BEING ,
ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
BE PART OF THIS APPOINTMENT
PROCESS AS A NOMINEE. I FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW WHERE YOU
ARE GOING IS TO KNOW WHERE YOU
ARE FROM. AS A FOURTH-GENERATIO
N JAPANESE AMERICAN AND BASED
ON BEACON HILL, A PRODUCT OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WEARING
FRANKLIN QUAKER GREEN AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, AS
WELL AS A FAMILY HISTORY
FILLED WITH RESILIENCE,
COMMITTED, AND RACIAL AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND DEPLETED
COMMITMENT TO SEATTLE AND THE
WELL-BEING OF ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, FROM BALLARD TO
BEACON HILL AND FROM LAKE CITY
TO COLUMBIA CITY. I KNOW WHERE
I AM FROM. THE GREAT
GRANDDAUGHTER OF KOME, WHO RAN
BUSINESSES IN CID, WHO
EXPERIENCED WAR AND WRONGFUL
INCARCERATION SUPPORTED THEIR
CHILDREN TO FULLY EMBRACE THE
AMERICAN WAY. AND, THE DAUGHTER
OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS ALAN AND
KATHY, WHO INSTILLED A SENSE OF
RESPONSIBILITY TO WORKING WITH
AND WITHIN INSTITUTIONAL
SYSTEMS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. AS
A MOTHER OF TWO BIRACIAL
CHILDREN AND A HUSBAND WHO HAD
TO FIND THE WORK AS A RESULT OF
COVID-19, I AM COMMITTED TO A
DIVERSE AND THRIVING SEATTLE
FUTURE. WORKING IN THE SAFE AND
THRIVING COMMUNITIES DIVISION
OF THE HUMAN SERVICES APARTMENT
HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A
SIGNIFICANT INSIGHT INTO THE
INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO
SUPPORT AND IMPROVE PUBLIC
SAFETY. PUBLIC SAFETY
PRIORITIES ARE NOT EITHER/OR.
THEY ARE REALLY BOTH AND. GUN
VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND
INTERVENTION, THE FINAL
DIVISION AND ENTRY, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
ASSESSMENTS ARE CONDUCTED BY
COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS ON
THE GROUND, WHICH ALLEVIATES
OUR SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM ALWAYS HAVING TO BOTH BE
SOCIAL WORKERS AND POLICE
RESPONDERS. WITH OVER EIGHT
YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE, I KNOW THE CITY
BUDGET PROCESS, I KNOW COUNSEL
BUDGET ACTIONS AND NECESSARY
INTERNAL BUDGETARY STEPS. I AM
ACUTELY AWARE OF HOW THE BUDGET
IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ONE A TABLE OF
PERSONAL IMPORTANCE TO ME IS
THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
EMERGENCY CENTER, WHICH IS
CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRACT
MAKING OVERSEAS. IT WAS LIKE
FOR USE ADVOCATES BY DONNIE
CHEN AND HIS VOLUNTEERS. THEY
WERE ON THE FRONT LINES OF
KEEPING OUR CID SAFE, PROVIDING
FIRST AID, WORKING WITH
HOMELESS AND DRUG ADDICTS,
HELPING ELDERLY RESIDENTS GET
THE GROCERIES OR MEDICATIONS,
AND ALSO DOING SECURITY FOR
FESTIVALS AND BLACK-TIE
COMMUNITY EVENTS. THEY ALSO
WORKED WITH SPD AND SFD AND IS
CREDITED, ARE CREDITED WITH
SAVING LIVES. TODAY, THE
SEATTLE FOR APARTMENT RECRUITS
LEARN ABOUT DONNIE CHEN AND HIS
LEGACY AND THE IDEC. IT WAS A
MAJOR LOSS WITH HIS MURDER BACK
IN 2015. ACTIVELY COURT, TO
KNOW WHERE WE CAN GO IS TO LOOK
BACK ON THE COLLECTIVE
HISTORIES, LISTEN TO COMMUNITY
AND STRATEGIZE TO DO THE BEST
JOB WE CAN. AS WE FACE THE
REALITIES OF THIS BUDGET
PROCESS, I CAN LEND A
WELL-ROUNDED PERSPECTIVE THAT
PULLS FOR MY PROFESSIONAL AND
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AS
WELL AS MY LIFELONG PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE . COUNCILMEMBER
MIRELES, I HUMBLY THANK YOU FOR
YOUR NOMINATION AND TO THE
ENTIRE COUNSEL, I PLEDGE TO
COLLABORATE WITH YOU AND
LEGISLATE EFFECTIVELY. IT IS
OUR JOB TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY
AND I WISH TO BE A PRODUCTIVE
PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THAT
IS THE COUNSEL STOPPED AND I
TRUST WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOING
ON TO LINH THAI.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
ESTEEMED COUNCILMEMBERS, FELLOW
CANDIDATES, AND CHERISHED
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE, TODAY, I
AM BEFORE HIM WITH DEEP
HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE FOR THE
NOMINATION BESTOWED UPON ME BY
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
AND BY ADVANCING THIS PART OF
THE PROCESS. MY HEARTFELT
APPRECIATION EXTENDS TO MY
FAMILY, COMRADES, FRIENDS,
COLLEAGUES, AND THE COMMUNITY ,
UNWAVERING SUPPORT AS A
PREPARED ME FOR THIS PURPLE
MOMENT. THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS, I HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT
MY ONLY AGENDA IS FOR THE
COUNSEL TO SUCCEED BECAUSE WHEN
YOU SUCCEED, SEATTLE SUCCEEDS .
I AM A TEAM PLAYER. I SPENT A
DECADE IN THE U.S. ARMY, FIRST
AS A PARATROOPER AND THEN AS AN
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
ACCOMMODATING IN A LEADERSHIP
ROLE AS THE YOUNGEST COMPANY
COMMANDER IN THE PACIFIC
THEATER COMMAND AT THE AGE OF
26. I LEARNED SO MANY THINGS
DURING MY SERVICE. ONE OF THE
MAIN ONES WAS HOW TO FUNCTION
AND BATTLE TEST AS A TRUSTED
MEMBER OF A TEAM. ON HOW TO
MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, HOW TO
BE STRONGER THAN OUR INDIVIDUAL
PARTS AND ACHIEVE COLLECTIVE
IMPACT. DEEP AWARENESS OF
CULTURAL SENSITIVITY IS NOT A
CHECKBOX FOR ME, IT IS MY CIVIC
D.N.A.. THIS PRACTICE IS AT THE
CORE OF MY LIVED EXPERIENCE AS
A FORM OF FIRST-GENERATION
REFUGEE FROM VIETNAM. AND, MY
SERVANT LEADERSHIP STYLE LETTER
TO INSTRUMENT ROLE IN THE
SUCCESS OF SINCE 2010 DIRECTLY
FUNDING THE GRANT ACCESS
BALANCE TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN OUR CITY. IT
HAS BEEN A CULTURE, IT IS BEING
CULTURALLY SENSITIVE THAT
ENABLED ME TO DO MY BEST WORK
IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE AT
DE-ESCALATE WASHINGTON, WHERE I
INSPIRE AND WORK WITH MANY
OTHER CIVIC LEADERS TO PASS
STATEWIDE INITIATIVE 940 . THIS
LINE HELPS OUR POLICE TO BE
BETTER TRAINED, BETTER EQUIPPED
TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. FOR
ME, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY
WITH COMMUNITY IS JUST AS
NATURAL. I HAVE A STRONG,
LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS BY BRINGING
NONPROFITS SUCH AS WE ARE TO
SEATTLE, FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON, INTERIM CDA, RAINIER
BEACH ACTION COALITION AND
CORPORATE GIANTS SUCH AS THE
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, STARBUCKS
TOGETHER TO MOBILIZE AND
INSPIRE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS
AND SERVICE HOURS TO IMPROVE
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES FROM
RAINIER VALLEY TO NORTHGATE.
THIS TYPE OF LISTENING TO
COMMUNITY AND CONVENING EXPERTS
TOGETHER IS EXACTLY ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBERS DO.
ANOTHER CORE RESPONSIBILITY IS
BUDGET AND I HAVE AN EXTENSIVE
BACKGROUND AS A FORMER OFFICER
AS WELL AS REGIONAL OF A
NATIONAL NONPROFIT. FOR ME,
PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT A NEW
THING . MY WORK IN PUBLIC
SAFETY HAS EARNED ME A CITIZENS
OF THE YEAR AWARD FROM SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP AND SEATTLE
POLICE CHIEF THAT IMPACTS MANY
MADE IT CID AND RAINIER BEACH.
I SERVED ON THE CITIZENS
OVERSIGHT SELECTION READY THAT
SELECT CHIEF COMMANDER TEST. MY
MAIN INTEREST, AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR
LAST SPEAKER IS TANYA WOO. GO
AHEAD.
>> WE FIND OURSELVES AT THE
MOMENT THAT CALLS FOR UNITY. A
SHARED FOCUS TO ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES THAT DEFINE THE VERY
ESSENCE OF OUR CITY. THIS IS
NOT A TIME FOR DIVISION. IT IS
A TIME TO CONFRONT HEAD ON THE
URGENT ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY
, HOMELESSNESS, AND HOUSING
THAT TOUCH EVERY CORNER OF
SEATTLE. I HAVE WITNESSED THE
CHALLENGES THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR
CITY THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I DIDN'T JUST OBSERVE THEM, I
TOOK ACTION I COFOUNDED THE
COMMUNITY WATCH AN ALTERNATIVE
TO POLICING. WE DELETE THE
ESCALATED FIGHTS. A YEAR AGO, A
GUNFIGHT CORRUPTED A FEW TENTS
FOR US AND IT TAUGHT ME THE
CRITICAL NEED FOR A FULLY
STAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT. FOR
THE PAST THREE YEARS, I HAVE
WALKED THE STREETS AND GONE AND
DOCUMENTS, LEADING A VOLUNTEER
GROUP THAT PROVIDES MUTUAL AID,
AND CONNECTS OUR HONEST
NEIGHBORS TO SERVICES. I KNELT
ON THE PAVEMENT, AND
MINISTERING CPR ONE MARK AND
THOSE WHO HAVE OVERDOSED. IT
REALLY, THEIR FACES ETCHED IN
MY MEMORY. WHILE SWEEPS ARE
DISTRESSING, THEY ARE
NECESSARY. I ALIGN WITH MAYOR
BRUCE HARRELL'S PLAN TO OFFER
HOUSING, COUPLED WITH BECAUSE
OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES, OUR
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY
MUST BE BOUND WITH COMPASSION,
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF
HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION. I
AM AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPER. I SPEARHEADED THE
GREASE A HOTEL REDEVELOPMENT
PROJECT, WHERE 84 PEOPLE NOW
CALL HOME. ONLY PAYING A
PERCENTAGE OF THEIR INCOME. I
KNOW WE CAN PRESERVE OUR
HISTORICAL BUILDINGS, BUILD
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE
FIGHTING GENTRIFICATION AND
DISPLACEMENT. GROWING UP IN MY
FAMILY BUSINESS THAT HAD
LOCATIONS IN WALLINGFORD,
QUEEN ANNE AND THE YOUTH
DISTRICT MADE A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER MINDSET, LEARNING TO MAKE
TOUGH DECISIONS AND
PRIORITIZING. OUR CITY BUDGET
IS A MORAL DOCUMENT PROTECTING
OUR PRIORITIES. SO, WE MUST
LISTEN TO PEOPLE, AND SHARING
THEIR VOICES SHAPED OUR
FINANCIAL DECISIONS. I HAVE
PASTED THE BATTLE AGAINST THIS,
NATION, STANDING UP FOR ONE OF
THE MOST ENDANGERED
NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR NATION,
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN A
CORNERSTONE OF MY EFFORTS, AND
FINE VOICES THAT OFTEN GO
UNHEARD . SO COMMUNIONS ARE
INTEGRAL TO OUR CITY AND THEY
WERE PRESENT THE BACKBONE OF
OUR WORKFORCE. I'M THRILLED TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COLLABORATE WITH UNIONS,
SHARING A JOB AND A FOCUS ON
JOB CREATION, APPRENTICESHIP,
AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THE PROBLEMS FACED BY ONE
COMMUNITY UNIQUE TO JUST ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ARE PROBLEMS
THAT THE ENTIRE CITY FACES . WE
SHARE A COMMON GOAL, WHETHER
YOU ARE FROM BLACK AND BROWN,
AND IT IS, LIVE IN AURORA,
NORTHGATE, ORADELL RIDGE.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER,
LEVERAGING THE STRENGTHS OF
EVERYONE ON THE COUNSEL TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR OUR ENTIRE
CITY. I HAVE BEEN DOING THE
WORK AND HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS,
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE, MY VISION IS ONE OF
COLLABORATION, LISTENING, AND
LEARNING FROM OUR DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES. I'VE ALWAYS AND
WILL CONTINUE TO PRESENT
EVERYONE IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF OUR CITY. I WILL PERSIST IN
WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A SAFER
SEATTLE, A BETTER SEATTLE, ONE
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYBODY. I APPRECIATE YOUR
WORDS, VERY WELL SPOKEN. SO,
NOW WE WILL PROCEED TO THE NEXT
SECTION AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT
WE ARE GOING TO DO HERE. AT
THIS TIME, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER
WILL HAVE 10 MINUTES TO ENGAGE
WITH CANDIDATES AND CHIME IN
AND CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN YOU
HAVE ONE MINUTE REMAINING. I
SENT AN EMAIL ABOUT THIS
PROCEDURE LAST FRIDAY. I
REALIZE 10 MINUTES MAY NOT SEEM
LIKE VERY MUCH TIME BUT WE ARE
CONSTRAINED BY THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE OUR REGULAR COUNCIL
BRIEFING THIS AFTERNOON AT 2:00
SO THE GOAL IS TO END THIS
MEETING BY 1:00. AND, I MUST
SAY THAT ANY STRUCTURE CHOSEN
FOR THIS PROCEDURE HAS ITS
DRAWBACKS. AND THE UNDERLYING
PRINCIPLE FOR THIS FORMAT IS
FAIRNESS. YOU HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH
CANDIDATES INDIVIDUALLY SENSE
JANUARY 12th AND THIS IS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS IN
OPEN SESSION AND I WANT
EVERYONE TO HAVE THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME. AS I HAVE
EXPLAINED BY EMAIL, COUNCIL
NUMBERS CAN USE YOUR TIME,
THEIR TIME IN ANY WAY YOU
CHOOSE. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN
ASK EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, AMY,
EACH CANDIDATE THE SAME
QUESTION. YOU CAN ASK A SUBSET
DIFFERENT QUESTIONS, YOU CAN
ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON A
RESPONSE TO A PREVIOUS
QUESTION, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE,
I JUST ASK THAT YOU GUIDE THE
CANDIDATES ON HOW MUCH TIME
HAVE GOT TO ANSWER AND RESPECT
TO THE OVERALL TIME LIMIT OF 10
MINUTES. SO, WE WILL GO IN THE
ROLL CALL ORDER, STARTING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. AND,
PROCEED FROM THERE. SO, ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. SO, LET'S GO FOR IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY,
CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. AND, FOR
PUTTING OURSELVES FORWARD TO
SERVE OUR CITY ON THE CITY
COUNCIL. GOING THROUGH THIS
APPOINTMENT PROCESS IS IN AND
OF ITSELF AN ACT OF PUBLIC
SERVICE. I DO GREATLY
APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. I AM
GOING TO BE USING MY 10 MINUTES
TO DO A LIGHTNING ROUND FORMAT
. SO, IT WILL ALL BE YES AND NO
QUESTIONS. YOU BOTH, YOU SHOULD
ALL HAVE SHEETS OF RED AND
GREEN PAPER IN FRONT OF YOU.
OBVIOUSLY, IF THE ANSWER TO A
QUESTION IS YES, PLEASE HOLD UP
THE YES. IF THE ANSWER IS NO,
PLEASE HOLD UP THE RED KNOW.
LET'S DO A QUICK CHECK AND
MAKE SURE OUR SYSTEM IS
WORKING. ARE YOU ALL SEEKING
THE APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE
VACANT POSITION EIGHT ON CITY
COUNCIL? GREAT, THANK YOU. SO,
MY FIRST CATEGORY OF QUESTIONS
AND RELATE TO SAFETY. MY FIRST
QUESTION IS DO YOU SUPPORT
MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL'S PLAN TO
INCREASE THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
STAFF AND UP TO 1400 OFFICERS?
THANK YOU. THE USE OF
TECHNOLOGIES TO LEASE, SUCH AS
CCTV, LICENSE PLATE READERS AND
SHOTSPOTTER IS RAPIDLY
EXPANDING IN GENERAL, DO YOU
SUPPORT THE USE OF THESE
TECHNOLOGIES AND OTHERS IN
POLICING? THANK YOU. JUST TO
NOTE THAT MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS
TAKING A NOTE SO IF YOU DON'T
SEE ME, SOMEONE IS PAYING
ATTENTION TO YOUR ANSWER. THANK
YOU. IN JULY, 2021, THE KING
COUNTY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO SHUT
DOWN THE DOWNTOWN JAIL IN A
PHASED CLOSING WITH NO
REPLACEMENT. TO SUPPORT THIS
DECISION? THANK YOU. DO YOU
SUPPORT SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION
SITES? THANK YOU. THE RECENT
PUBLIC USE AND POSSESSION BILL
ENCOURAGES DIVERSION AND
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT BUT
THERE IS A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF
TREATMENT OPTIONS AND
FACILITIES. IN THE FACE OF A
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT,
WOULD YOU SUPPORT AN INCREASE
IN ONE OF THE CITIES TAX
SOURCES TO FUND EXPANDING
TREATMENT OPTIONS AND
FACILITIES? THANK YOU. WOULD
YOU SUPPORT EXPANDING THE CALLS
THE CARE DEPARTMENT IS
AUTHORIZED TO RESPOND TO BEYOND
PERSON DOWN AND WELLNESS CHECK
CALLS, EVEN IF OPPOSED BY THE
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS GUILD?
I CANNOT SEE, IS THAT, IS THAT
A WAFFLE? AND MAYBE? OKAY, FAIR
ENOUGH, THANK YOU. IN 2017, THE
CITY COUNCIL PASSED A ROBUST
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
THAT WAS LATER CHANGED DURING
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, SHOULD
ANY NEW CONTRACT INCLUDE THE
ORIGINAL ACCOUNT ABILITY
PROVISIONS PASSED IN 2017? MR.
STRAND? TANYA WOO? OKAY, I'M
GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION ONE
MORE TIME. I'M GOING TO ASK
EACH OF YOU ON THE RECORD JUST
STATE WHAT YOUR ANSWER IS. IN
2017, THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A
ROBUST POLICE ACCOUNT ABILITY
ORDINANCE THAT WAS LATER
CHANGED DURING CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH SPOG. SHOULD
ANY NEW CONTRACT WITH SPOG
INCLUDE THE ORIGINAL ACCOUNT
ABILITY PROVISIONS PASSED IN
2017?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I NEED MORE INFORMATION.
>> OKAY.
>> DEFINITELY NEED MORE
INFORMATION. I WANT TO SEE THE
ORIGINAL. WANT TO SEE THE
AMENDMENT AND THEN WHAT MAY BE
PROPOSED.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> I SUPPORT POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY BUT I ALSO
SUPPORT THE UNION'S RIGHTS TO
NEGOTIATE AND SO IF THAT WAS AN
AGREEMENT, I WOULD HAVE TO
SUPPORT THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YES.
>> I ALSO WANT TO SEE THE
ORIGINAL AGREEMENT THAT WAS
CHANGED.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT ROUND OF
QUESTIONS. ARE TREES CRITICAL
CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE? GREAT.
THANK YOU. THE SEATTLE TIMES
EDITORIAL BOARD RECENTLY CALLED
UPON THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO DELIVER ON THEIR
PROMISES TO REVISIT AND REVISE
LAST YEAR'S CONTROVERSIAL TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE. WOULD YOU
JOIN AS A COSPONSOR ON SUCH
LEGISLATION? THANK YOU. AS THE
CHAIR, AS THE NEXT CHAIR OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, WHICH
YOU SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A
DEPARTMENT OF CLIMATE
RESILIENCY THAT WOULD BRING
TOGETHER UNDER ONE DEPARTMENT
ALL THE CITIES WORK ON CLIMATE?
>> MAYBE. OKAY. WOULD YOU
SUPPORT REQUIRING A CARBON NOTE
LIKE A FISCAL NOTE FOR EVERY
CITY PROJECT? OKAY. THANK YOU.
HOUSING. UNDER THE MANDATORY
AVAILABILITY HOUSING SKIN,
DEVELOPERS ARE OFFERING TO PAY
IN MOVIES INSTEAD OF PROVIDING
ON-SITE AFFORDABLE UNITS .
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT MIXED
INCOME COMMUNITIES ARE HIGHLY
BENEFICIAL FOR ALL COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. WOULD YOU REQUIRE
SUPPORTING, WOULD YOU SUPPORT
REQUIRING HIGHER ON-SITE
REQUIREMENTS? OKAY. OKAY.
RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE AN OPTION
TO BUILD ON SITE OR TO PAY IN
MOOD. MY QUESTION IS, WOULD YOU
SUPPORT REQUIRING A HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF ON-SITE UNITS?
THANK YOU. WOULD YOU SUPPORT
SPENDING THE TIME PERIOD
COVERED BY THE MULTI FAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION FROM 12 YEARS TO 50
YEARS? THANK YOU. OKAY.
EJECTION SHOWS SEATTLE WILL
NEED 112,000 NEW UNITS OF
HOUSING IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
OUT OF THE THREE AREA MEDIAN
INCOME RANGES, WHICH IS 80 TO
100%, 50 TO 60%, AND 30% AND
BELOW, WHICH RANGE SHOULD THE
CITY PRIORITIZE FUNDING? 80 TO
100%? 5260? MR. SOLOMON, I
NEED AN ANSWER.
>> OH.
>> I'M GOING THROUGH THEM. IF
THE ONE I ANNOUNCE IS THE ONE
YOU WOULD SUPPORT, PLEASE
ANSWER YES OR NO. THEN, 30 TWO
0. OKAY. BETWEEN, YOU NEED TO
PICK ONE. 80 TO 100? 50 TWO 60.
OKAY. 30 OR BELOW. AND, I NEED
AN ANSWER. 80 TO 100? OKAY.
HOUSE BILL 1110 ALLOWED CITIES
TO PRESERVE LIMITED AMOUNTS OF
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LAND.
DO YOU SUPPORT PRESERVING
SEVERAL FAMILY HOMES IN
HISTORICALLY REDLINED
COMMUNITIES SUCH AS A CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT? THANK
YOU. IF YOU WERE TO VOTE TODAY
ON THE COMP PLAN, WOULD YOU
VOTE FOR, AND I WILL READ IT
OUT, TELL ME WHAT YOU WOULD
VOTE FOR, ALTERNATIVE TO,
ALTERNATIVE THREE, ALTERNATIVE
FOR ALTERNATIVE FIVE, MR.
SOLOMON AND MR. STRAND. OKAY.
THANK YOU. DO YOU SUPPORTED
THE MAYOR'S APPROACH TO
ADDRESSING ENCAMPMENTS? THANK
YOU. YOU SUPPORT ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO REMAIN IN TENTS ON
PUBLIC PROPERTY AND THEY HAVE
SOME FORM OF PERMANENT HOUSING?
TANYA WOO? THANK YOU. DO YOU
SUPPORT INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF TINY HOME VILLAGES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY? THANK YOU.
DID YOU BELIEVE CASEY RHA HAS
BEEN EFFECTIVE THUS FAR IN AND
WORK TO PROVIDE A REGIONAL
APPROACH TO END HOMELESSNESS?
THANK YOU. THE COUNCIL IS
RECEIVING EMAILS REQUESTING A
BAN ON AND CAN'T REMOVALS
DURING WINTER MONTHS. DO YOU
SUPPORT SUCH A MAN? OKAY.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON
TO BUDGET. IF, AFTER CAREFUL
REVIEW AND OR AUDIT THE BUDGET
NECESSITATES ADDITIONAL AND OR
INCREASED REVENUE DO YOU
SUPPORT ADOPTING NEW
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE STREAMS?
>> ONE MINUTE.
>> ONE MINUTE, OKAY, THANK YOU.
PAST TWO YEARS, GEM STATE HAS
BEEN USED FLEXIBLY TO FILL THE
GENERAL FUND DEFICIT. MOVING
FORWARD, DID YOU SUPPORT USING
JUMPSTART TO FILL ANY GENERAL
FUND DEFICIT IN THE FUTURE?
OKAY, THANK YOU.
TRANSPORTATION. SEATTLE
SIDEWALK NETWORK IS
SIGNIFICANTLY LACKING IN
DISTRICT 2 AND FIVE. TO REMEDY
THIS WILL REQUIRE DRAMATIC
INCREASES IN INVESTMENT INSIDE
WITH DR.. WOULD YOU SUPPORT
INCLUDING THE NEEDED LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT IN THE UPCOMING MOVE
SEATTLE LEVY? THANK YOU. LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, LABOR SEATTLE IS
A UNION TOWN. ON THE COUNCIL,
WILL YOU BE A STRONG ADVOCATE
FOR LABOR PRIORITIES,
INCLUDING FAMILY WAGE JOBS,
IMPROVED WORKING AND SAFETY
CONDITIONS, AND EXPANDED
UNIONIZATION OPPORTUNITIES?
GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THOSE QUESTIONS. WE ARE NOW
MOVING ONTO COUNCILMEMBER
MARLYS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. SORRY TO GET TO MY
NOTES . GOOD MORNING,
EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. I'M GOING TO USE JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME TO MAKE
SOME REMARKS AND AND HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS. SO, FIRST OF ALL, I
WANT TO THANK ALL 72 PEOPLE WHO
PUT THEIR NAMES FORWARD FOR
THIS POSITION. IT IS REALLY
HARD TO OPEN OURSELVES UP TO
PUBLIC SCRUTINY LIKE THIS. AND
TO MAKE YOURSELF VULNERABLE, IT
TAKES COURAGE. I DO WANT TO
THANK EVERYBODY. WE HEARD FROM
AN ARRAY OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT
THIS PROCESS WHO CEMENTED
APPLICATIONS, URBAN PLANNERS,
EDUCATORS, BUSINESS PEOPLE. WE
HEARD FROM DEDICATED PUBLIC
SERVANTS. MANY WERE PEOPLE WHO
APPLIED BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK.
THEY BELIEVE THAT THINGS CAN BE
DONE THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ACTION
AND PUBLIC SERVICE. THAT IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS JOB
ISN'T EASY. IT ISN'T
CLAIMERS. OFTENTIMES IT IS
THANKLESS , AS YOU MAY HAVE
HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
IT IS REALLY OFTEN NOT WHAT
PEOPLE LEAVE THIS JOB TO BE,
NOT WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING UP
FOR. AGAIN, IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK. WE SERVE AN
IMPORTANT FACTOR HERE FOR THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE. AT THE
END OF THE DAY, HAVING PEOPLE
DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SERVICE,
DEDICATED TO THE PUBLIC WELFARE
OF EVERYONE IN THE CITY,
EVERYBODY WHO CALLS SEATTLE
HOME, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
PARTICULAR HOUSING SITUATION IS
REALLY IMPORTANT AND MAKING THE
CITY SUCCESSFUL DEPENDS ON ALL
OF US UP HERE SERVING ALL OF
OUR NEIGHBORS . SO, FOR THOSE
WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE
SELECTION PROCESS, I WANT TO
URGE YOU TO CONSIDER ENGAGING
IN PUBLIC SERVICE. NOW MORE
THAN EVER, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO
UNDERSTAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS
NOT THE PROBLEM. IT IS HOW WE
PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES TO
THE MOST AFFORDABLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND IT IS HOW WE
CREATE THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS
AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES. MUCH
OF WHAT WE HEARD TODAY FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC'S
DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS
APPOINTMENT PROCESS. TO THOSE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I WANT TO
SAY I SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATION
AND I UNDERSTAND IT. I ALSO
WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THE
CANDIDATES DESERVE AN APOLOGY
FOR THE UNSEEMLY POLITICS THAT
HAVE PLAYED OUT IN THIS
PROCESS. WE RECEIVED A LOT OF
EMAIL FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE
CITY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT
NOT EVEN LIVE IN SEATTLE
SENDING THEIR SUPPORT FOR
CANDIDATES, ALL OF YOU, ALL OF
YOU RECEIVED LOTS OF EMAIL. TO
READ IN THE MEDIA THAT BIG
POLITICAL DONORS WHO SPENT OVER
$1 MILLION TO SUPPORT CERTAIN
CANDIDATES HAVE EARNED THE
RIGHT TO TELL COUNSEL WHO TO
APPOINT IS NOT JUST
DISAPPOINTING, IT IS DANGEROUS.
DEMOCRACY ONLY WORKS IF WE CAN
ENSURE A SEPARATION OF POWERS
IF WE KNOW THAT OUR TUITIONS
ARE STRONG . OTHERWISE, WE
ERODE THE TRUST OF THE PUBLIC
AND WE STOKE CYNICISM AND THIS
IS NOT A TIME FOR CYNICISM. WE
HAVE TOO MUCH IMPORTANT WORK TO
DO. TO THE CANDIDATES, IF IT
FEELS LIKE THIS DECISION IS A
FOREGONE CONCLUSION, I'M
SORRY. OUR JOB HERE IS TO PASS
AND AMEND LINES, TO PASS A
BUDGET, AND TO BE A CHECK ON
EXECUTIVE POWER. AND, I WILL
REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, CURRENT
AND FUTURE, THAT THE EXECUTIVE
IS NOT OUR BOSS, HE IS A PEER.
WE ALL WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE
BUT NONE OF US WORK FOR THE
EXECUTIVE . OUR SUCCESS AS A
COUNCIL IS DETERMINED BY OUR
ACTIONS, BY WHAT WE DO FOR THE
COMMON WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO, LIKE YOU, LOVE THIS PLACE
AND WANT SEATTLE TO SUCCEED.
SO, WITH THAT, I WILL BEGIN MY
QUESTIONS. AND, I JUST HAVE A
FEW. AND, I WANT TO START WITH
MARI SUGIYAMA. SO, I THINK WE
HAVE MADE LOTS EVOLUTION
ALREADY TO THE FACT THAT IT IS
NO SECRET THAT CITY COUNCIL
DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME
POINT OF VIEW ABOUT
POLICYMAKING . WE WILL AGREE TO
DISAGREE ON SOME THINGS. I'D
LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU A LITTLE
BIT BUT HOW YOU WOULD WORK WITH
YOUR COLLEAGUES TO GET
SOMETHING DONE. IF YOU COULD
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT
YOUR GOVERNING STYLE MIGHT BE
AND MAYBE TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR WORK WITH IMMUNITY
TO ACHIEVE A POLICY SOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I THINK SOMETHING THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ANY
POSITION SOMEONE TAKES ,
WHETHER IT IS ON CITY COUNCIL
OR WITHIN YOUR JOB, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE
ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, TO KNOW
WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM. I
THINK BEFORE YOU CAN MAKE ANY
SORT OF MOVEMENT AS A GROUP, IT
HELPS TO HAVE THE ADDED BACK
STORY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT
SEEMS REALLY MINOR THAT WE DO
IN MY CURRENT POSITION IS WE
HAVE CHECK IN QUESTIONS AND IT
COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS WHAT IS
YOUR FAVORITE SANDWICH BUT THAT
SMALL PERSONAL PIECE CAN REALLY
HELP YOU WHEN IT COMES TIME TO
HAVE SOME OF THOSE HARD
DISCUSSIONS WITH A HARD
DEBATES. AND, THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT I'VE SEEN WORK IN MY
CURRENT JOB RIGHT NOW IS HOW DO
WE COLLABORATE ACROSS
DIVISIONS, HOW DO WE
COLLABORATE ACROSS UNITS WHERE
WE MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME
OPINION OR THEY MAY NOT HAVE
THE SAME VIEWS AND HOW DO WE
GET TO THAT SOLUTION? WE HAVE
TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET TO THE
END GOAL AND EVEN IF WE DON'T
HAVE AGREEMENTS ON ALL POLICY
ASPECTS, YOU HAVE TO WORK
THROUGH THOSE STRUGGLES. I
THINK TAKING THAT STEP BACK
FROM THE ISSUE AT HAND TO HAVE
THOSE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS
CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL TO GET
SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS . MY
WORK WITH COMMUNITY HAS REALLY
BEEN SOMETHING THAT I'VE
ENJOYED IN MY CURRENT POSITION,
WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
PROVIDERS AND NOT ALL
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
EVEN THOUGH THEY GET FUNDING
FROM CITY, THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY TRUST THE CITY
SOMETIMES. IT CAN BE A BIG
INSTITUTION THAT CAN BE VERY
DAUNTING, THE VARIOUS
PERFORMANCE METRICS OR
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE
FOR THEM CAN BE REALLY
DIFFICULT AND HOW DO YOU BUILD
THE TRUST WITH THEM AND I'VE
ENCOURAGED MY TEAM, I'VE DONE
IT MYSELF TO JUST HAVE THOSE
FACE TO FACE CONVERSATIONS. I
THINK IN COVID-19, WE HAVEN'T
HAD AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO GO
OUT AND DO SITE VISITS BUT
HAVING THOSE VIDEO PHONE CALLS
AND TALKING, EVEN IF JUST
PICKING UP THE PHONE, JUST LIKE
OLD-FASHIONED STYLE AND BEING
ABLE TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF
THOSE THINGS TO SAY I KNOW THIS
IS WHERE YOU ARE FINDING
DIFFICULTY OR FRUSTRATION BUT
MAKING SURE THAT I CAN BE
TRANSPARENT WITH THEM AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE BUT THEN ALSO SHARE
WITH THEM THERE ARE SOME THINGS
I CAN'T SHARE THAT ARE STILL
CONFIDENTIAL AND I HOPE YOU
TRUST ME ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I
WILL COME TO YOU AS SOON AS I
AM ABLE TO SHARE THAT
INFORMATION. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
DO THAT WITH A NUMBER OF
AGENCIES, BOTH PROFESSIONALLY
AND PERSONALLY. IT IS VERY
SIMILAR TO HOW YOU WORK WITH
OTHERS, HOW DO YOU SORT OF GET
THROUGH SOME OF THOSE HARD
POINTS TO GET TO THAT END
PRODUCT WHERE MAYBE IT IS A
LESS ADVERSARIAL MEETING,
CONVERSATION, OR PHONE CALL?
>> THANK YOU. VIVIAN, I WONDER
IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT
THE COMMITTEE. SO, YOU WOULD BE
CHAIRING THE ARTS INCLUDED IN
YOUR COMMITTEE, CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME
KEY ECONOMIC SECTOR STRATEGIES
TO HELP IN THE CREATIVE
INDUSTRY? IT'S A VERY VIBRANT
PART OF SEATTLE'S ECONOMY.
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SOME OF
YOUR PRIORITIES THERE MIGHT BE.
>> YES, I THINK IT IS NOT ONLY
IMPORTANT TO THE VIBRANCY OF
THIS CITY BUT IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMY. A LOT
OF OUR ARTS OPPORTUNITIES ARE
LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN SECTOR
AND DRAW PEOPLE TO THE DOWNTOWN
CORE. WHEN WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THE
ARTS COMMUNITY ALONG IN THAT
PROCESS. THE SECOND APPROACH I
HAVE TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY IS
THINKING ABOUT THE ARTISTS AND
WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IS LIKE
LIVING AND WORKING IN SEATTLE.
THAT IS SOMETHING I HEAR OFTEN
FROM OUR ARTIST IS THAT SEATTLE
IS NO LONGER AN AFFORDABLE
PLACE TO LIVE. I THINK THE 12
ARTS LEFT IN THE CAPITOL HILL
IS A REALLY WONDERFUL EXAMPLE
OF PRIVATE, PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP
THAT IS DIRECTLY IN SUPPORT OF
OUR ARTISTS. I WOULD LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE OUR CITY
CAN ALSO INVEST IN PLACES FOR
OUR ARTISTS TO LIVE AND WORK
COMPLETELY AND AFFORDABLY IN
THE CITY AND RECOGNIZE THAT
THESE ARE VERTICAL JOBS TO HAVE
IN OUR CITIES AND FOR
STRUCTURE.
>> THANK YOU. AND, IN THE LAST
MINUTE , I WILL GO BACK TO YOU
WITH THE COMMITTEE QUESTION.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT SOME OF THE CLAIMANT OR
ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES MIGHT
BE AS CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE?
>> SURE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT
CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY AND
CITY LIFE, I GO BACK TO
EDUCATION, SORT OF AT ITS CORE
IS HOW CAN WE TREAT, HOW CAN WE
GET OUR YOUTH TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACTS OF WHAT THE WORLD WILL
LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY GROW UP?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT
SUSTAINABILITY, ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS WAS ABOUT TREE CANOPY
AND HOW DOES THAT TREE CANOPY
THEN IMPACT OUR CITY LIGHT
GRID, ESPECIALLY IN SUMMER
MONTHS AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT
TREE CANOPY IS LESSER IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. SO, WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE OTHER IMPACTS
THAT COME FROM THEM AND CASCADE
DOWN FROM THERE? ANYTHING ABOUT
CITY LIGHT, I ALSO THINK ABOUT
THE EDUCATION PIECE AND HOW DO
YOU MAKE THE UTILITY
INTERESTING WORK, THAT IT IS
NOT A THING BUT HOW DO YOU
CONNECT WITH PEOPLE SO THEY
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF CITY
LIGHT ON THEIR DAILY LIFE? I
THINK ABOUT AS A KID MY MOM
WORKED FOR CITY LIGHT BUT WE
WERE PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORTS
OR SOME OF THE FIRES THAT
COVERED, JUST TO SAY THIS IS
SOMETHING YOU CAN DO AT HOME OR
THIS IS HOW ELECTRICITY EVEN
WORKS AS A LIGHTBULB. I THINK
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO MAKE CITY SYSTEMS ACCESSIBLE
AND UNDERSTANDABLE FOR PEOPLE
ON DIFFERENT LEVELS. SO, NOT
EVERYONE IS GOING TO WANT TO
SEE THE ANNUAL REPORT FROM A
DOLLARS AND CENTS PERSPECTIVE
ON HOW MANY KILOWATTS PER HOUR.
HOW CAN YOU JUST MAKE IT A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN INCENTIVE
TO SEE THE DIRECT IMPACT ON
THEIR LIVES?
>> THANK YOU. I WILL YIELD TO
THE LAST 60 SECONDS OF MY TIME.
>> WELL.
>> SAVE IT FOR CLARIFICATION
LATER.
>> OKAY. GO AHEAD COUNCIL
MEMBER RIVERA.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING OR ALMOST
AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I AM GOING
TO BE ASKING A QUESTION AND
THEN EVERYONE WILL GET A MINUTE
TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTION. I
FIRST WANT TO REITERATE MY
COMMENTS LAST WEEK ABOUT HOW
GRATEFUL I AM THAT ALL OF YOU
AND SO MANY FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR
THIS APPOINTMENT . I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT. AS I
SAID EARLIER, THERE'S A VARIED
SKILL SET AMONGST ALL OF YOU
THAT MAKES THIS A REALLY HARD
DECISION. SO, MY QUESTION IS,
THEN YOU WILL GET ON THE TIME A
MINUTE. THE CITY SPACE, WE WILL
GO BACKWARDS AND OUR MEDICAL
ORDER TO MAKE IT FAIR SINCE WE
STARTED WITH JUAN COTTO THIS
TIME . SO, THE CITY IS FACING A
ROUGHLY $250 MILLION DEFICIT.
IT IS A TWO-PART QUESTION. DO
YOU SUPPORT AUDITING SOME OF
OUR UNDERPERFORMING PROGRAMS
BEFORE WE SEEK TO RAISE NEW
TAXES? AND, HOW WOULD YOU
DETERMINE WHETHER AND WHICH
CUTS WE SHOULD MAKE? FOR SOME
OF YOU , IN YOUR OPENING
REMARKS TALKED ABOUT ENGAGING
IN A SIMILAR BUDGET EXERCISE,
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A COUPLE OF
HOW YOU CAN EDIT IT IN YOUR
SPECIFIC INSTANCE.
>> I BELIEVE OUR BUDGET IS A
MORAL DOCUMENT AND WE NEED TO
FOCUS ON PRIORITIES. I
APPROACHED LOOKING AT THE
BUDGET FROM A SMALL BUSINESS
MINDSET. WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK
WITH WHAT WE HAVE. I DO SUPPORT
HAVING AN AUDIT AND MAKING SURE
THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT, AGENCY,
AND ORGANIZATION HAS A SET
MATRIX ON HOW THEY CAN ACHIEVE
SUCCESS, ABLE TO SHOW RESULTS
SO THAT THERE IS AN ABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY. WE HAVE TO GO TO
THE EXERCISE WHERE WE FIND OUT
IF IT IS WORKING. AND, BEFORE
WE LOOK AT PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
TAXES, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK
AT THAT AS A LAST RESORT. WE
JUST CAN'T KEEP TAXING, ASKING
FOR MORE MONEY FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES AND FROM PROPERTY
TAXES. SO, IN MY REDEVELOPMENT
OF THE LUISA HOTEL, I WORKED ON
A $30 MILLION BUDGET THAT
REALLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE
BUILDING AND MAKING SURE IT IS
SUSTAINABLE NOW THAT WE ARE
LEASED OUT AND WE HAVE
COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES ON THE
GROUND FLOOR. I'VE ALSO WORKED
ON BUDGETS WITH SMALL
ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS
HELPING TO PRESERVE THE MURALS
AS WELL AS WITH THE COMMUNITY
WATCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I AM FULLY IN
SUPPORT OF HAVING A
COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT, JUST TO
SEE AS A BASELINE WHERE WE ARE,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. FOR ME
THAT IS ALSO A GUIDING
PRINCIPLE FOR US TO SEE WHERE
WE CAN POTENTIALLY MOVE
FORWARD. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US AS STRATEGIC
LEADERS TO ASK SOME IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW
BUT ALSO TO COME BACK AND ASK
QUESTIONS BUT DON'T WE KNOW?
WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE, WHAT
ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT
ARISE FROM THIS AUDIT?
NECESSARILY JUST TO SEE IT SO
WE CAN SAY THAT IS
UNDERPERFORMING, LET'S CUT
THAT THING BUT IF IT IS GOING
THROUGH THE THOUGHT EXERCISE OF
BEING CURIOUS, BEING, HAVING A
STRATEGIC THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
AROUND WHAT IS OUR PRIORITIES,
YOU KNOW THAT MY FELLOW
CANDIDATE, TANYA WOO
MENTIONED, IT IS IMMOBILE, AND,
IT IS WHERE WE PUT THE MONEY
WHERE OUR MOUTH IS GOING TO BE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD SUPPORT
AUDITING DEPARTMENT BUDGETS
BEFORE WE LOOK TO RAISING
TAXES. I FEEL DEPARTMENT OR THE
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHEN IT
COMES TO THEIR BUDGETS. WHAT I
WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM
THEM IS THE STORY BEHIND THE
NUMBERS. IF WE COME IN LOOKING
AT THEIR BUDGETS AND WE JUST
LOOK AT THE DOLLARS AND CENTS,
SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHAT THAT
STORY IS, WHETHER IT IS WITH
SERVICE PROVIDERS OR EVEN THE
IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON OUR OWN
CITY EMPLOYEES. THAT LEADS INTO
THE NEXT QUESTION, AND HOW
WOULD YOU DETERMINE HOW TO MAKE
CUTS? WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE
THAN JUST THE DOLLARS. I KNOW
THAT $250 MILLION OF A DEFICIT
IS NOT A SMALL AMOUNT. I SAY
LOOK BEYOND THE DOLLARS, I MAKE
LIGHT OF THAT. HOW CAN WE MAKE
CUTS THAT HAVE THE LEAST IMPACT
FIRST? IS THAT LOOKING AT A
HIRING FREEZE, IS THAT
SOMETHING WE COULD EXTEND
BECAUSE IT IS NOT IMPACTING
PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
EMPLOYED, HOW CAN WE
COLLABORATE ACROSS DEPARTMENTS?
I HEARD SOME OF THE CANDIDATES
MENTIONED REDUNDANCIES. WE NEED
A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION
TO SEE WHETHER WE HAVE
REDUNDANCIES OR IF THERE IS A
BETTER WAY FOR US TO
COLLABORATE AND NOT BE SO
SIDELOAD.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT PERFORMING
AN AUDIT AND WHAT IS WORKING
AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING. I
THINK OF GOOD STEWARDS AS THE
PUBLIC FUNDS, IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE
DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT
APPROPRIATELY. I KNOW IN OUR
HOUSEHOLD, THAT IS WHAT WE DO.
WE LOOK AT WHERE WE CAN CUT AND
WE DETERMINE WHAT SIZE OF A
CABLE PACKAGE WE WOULD LIKE.
ONCE WE TAKE ALL THE CUTS WE
CAN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO START
WORKING AND BRING IN MORE MONEY
TO PAY THOSE BILLS THAT WE HAVE
FOUND ESSENTIAL. FOR ME, WE
NEED TO REWARD THOSE THAT ARE
PERFORMING WELL WITH THE MONEY
THEY ARE RECEIVING AND WE NEED
TO LOOK AT THE DATA FOR THAT.
WE MENTIONED KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY. THERE IS SOME
OVERLAP BETWEEN THE CITIES
UNIFIED CARE TEAM, THE THIRD
BRANCH OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
NOW, THE CARE DEPARTMENT. I
THINK IS GOING TO TAKE ON SOME
OF THAT WORK AND THERE'S OTHER
DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE ARE
DUPLICATING OUR EFFORTS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YES, DEFINITELY WE NEED TO
AUDIT DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT.
ONE THING I'VE SAID MULTIPLE
TIMES IS WHAT ARE WE SPENDING?
WHAT ARE WE SPENDING IT ON?
WHAT ARE OUR MEASURABLE
RESULTS? IF WE ARE SPENDING
MONEY ON THINGS THAT DON'T
WORK, BUT STOPPED DOING THAT.
BUT, THAT IS GOING TO MEAN A
DEEP DIVE INTO THOSE. IT'S
GOING TO MEAN GETTING INTO THE
WEEDS TO MAKE THIS KIND OF
DECISIONS. AND CAMINO,
REALIZING THAT IF WE ARE
STARTING TALKS ABOUT CUTTING
FUNDING, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE
AN IMPACT THAT WE MAY NOT SEE
RIGHT OFF THE BAT. SO, AGAIN,
THAT MEANS WE NEED TO BE VERY
MINDFUL, TO OUR HOMEWORK AND
NOT JUST RUSH INTO SOMETHING.
IT DOES MEAN DOING THE RESEARCH
AND TALKING TO THE FOLKS WHO
ARE NOT ONLY DOING THE WORK BUT
THOSE FOLKS WHO WILL BE
IMPACTED BY THOSE CUTS. AND,
I'M GOING TO STOP THERE TO
GIVE THEM MORE TIME.
>> THANK YOU. I DO BELIEVE IN
AUDITING THE BUDGET AND I ALSO
BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK
AND EVERYTHING AND I DID
MENTION REDUNDANCIES BUT THE
COUNTY IS DOING A LOT OF
SIMILAR WORK BUT IF THERE WAS A
WAY WE COULD SHARE THAT BURDEN
WITH THE COUNTY, IT WOULD HELP
ALLEVIATE BOTH OF OUR BUDGETS,
ALMOST. BUT, ALSO AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, I DID AN
EXTENSIVE RENOVATION IN 2017
AND BUDGET SAVINGS, AS MUNDANE
AS TOILET AND US. I HAD TO
SOURCE 120 TABLES. I DID NOT
LIKE THE ONES THE CONTRACTORS
HAD. AND, MANY PHONE CALLS
LATER, I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE
SAME ONE, JUST DIFFERENT
PACKAGING FOR ABOUT A THIRD OF
THE PRICE THEY WERE LISTING IT.
WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE
BUDGET, WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE NEED
TO LOWER OUR STANDARD OF
QUALITY. I THINK WE CAN GET A
LOT OF THINGS AT A LOWER COST
IF WE DIG A LITTLE DEEPER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
ECHOING EVERYONE ELSE, I WOULD
CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE AUDITS I
THINK THAT SHOULD BE A STANDARD
PRACTICE. IT IS A STANDARD
PRACTICE IN MY OWN WORLD AND I
AM AUDITED WITHIN MY OWN
DEPARTMENT AND SHOW THAT THE
NEEDS FOR THE SPENDING THAT I
DO IN TERMS OF THE APPROACH I
HAVE WITH MY OWN JOB. IT HAS
BEEN INTERESTING BECAUSE WE
HAVE BEEN BANDYING ABOUT THE
TERM OR THE TOTAL $250 MILLION
IN RECORDS TO OVERRUNS AND
CERTAINLY ON THE SURFACE AND
LOOKING AT IT ON PAPER, THAT'S
A LOT OF MONEY. COMPARED TO A
$7.3 BILLION CITY BUDGET, THAT
IS ONLY THREE POINT 23% OF THE
BUDGET WE ARE LOOKING AT. I
WOULD ENCOURAGE US, THE
COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT TAX
INCREASES, BUSINESSES DON'T
NEED TAX INCREASES. BUT, I AM
HOPING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT
DIFFERENT WAYS TO STIMULATE OUR
ECONOMY IN TERMS OF WHERE WE
GET REVENUES. IF WE CAN LOOK AT
THOSE THINGS, WHETHER IT IS
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
BUSINESSES TO EXPAND REVENUES
AND GET PEOPLE OUT OF THIS
PANDEMIC MENTALITY WHERE I
THINK WE CAN STIMULATE THE
ECONOMY BY GETTING PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AUDITING IS A FINANCIAL TERM
THAT REFERS TO ACCURACY OF
FINANCIAL REPORTING. AND, I
THINK THAT THE ACCURACY IS
THERE. I LOOKED AT THE 569 PAGE
BUDGET YESTERDAY. THE CITY HAS
DONE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
INVESTMENT IN MAKING A VERY
TRANSPARENT PUBLIC TOOL ABOUT
OUR BUDGET. WHAT I THINK IS
MISSING IS THAT FROM THIS
BUDGET BOOK, AND I THINK WE ARE
KIND OF ALLUDING TO IS THAT WE
DON'T HAVE CLARITY ON WHAT OUR
SPENDING PRIORITIES ARE AND WE
TECHNICALLY KNOW WHAT WE ARE
SPENDING ON APARTMENT BY
DEPARTMENT BUT WE DON'T, WE
ARE NOT PRIORITIZING WHAT IT IS
WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AS A
CITY. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
THE EXAMPLE OF HOW I APPROACHED
THE BUDGET DEFICIT AT THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAVE $1.2
BILLION OPERATING BUDGET AND A
$100 MILLION DEFICIT. AND, WE
UNDERTOOK THIS EXERCISE.
IDENTIFIED THREE ACADEMIC GOALS
THAT WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE FOR
OUR STUDENTS. FROM THERE, WE
LOOKED AT HOW WE WERE SPENDING
MONEY, WHAT ARE THE SIZE OF THE
CLASSROOMS, ARE WE INVESTING IN
THE RIGHT CURRICULUM?
>> THANK YOU, SORRY. YOUR
MINUTE IS UP.
>> LIKE YOU SO MUCH. I THINK MY
10 MINUTES ARE UP.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL
VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY. LET'S PROCEED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUICK
>> REPORTER:'S AND THEN I HAVE
ONE QUESTION. YOU WILL ALL
RECEIVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO
ANSWER, 45 SECONDS SPECIFICALLY
AND ASQ STATEROOM TO THAT
NORTHSTAR OF 45 SECONDS GIVING
THE TIMING CONSTRAINTS HERE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANT
TO SHOUT OUT OUR PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO NOT ONLY DID THEIR
JOBS IN THIS PROCESS BUT WENT
ABOVE AND BEYOND TO REALLY
ENSURE THAT THIS IS, UNDER THIS
VERY, VERY SHORT TIMELINE, THAT
EVERYTHING WAS TO EFFICIENTLY
AND EFFECTIVELY AND TO THE
FULLEST SET OF TRANSPARENCY,
ADHERING TO THE FULL SET OF
TRANSPARENCY PENCILS POSSIBLE
GOOD I CANNOT POSSIBLY NAME ALL
THE NAMES IN THE CITY CLERK'S
TEAM ON THE ACCOUNTS CENTRAL
STAFF. BUT, I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE
SEATTLE CITY CLUB, WHO HOSTED
THE COMMUNITY FORUM LAST WEEK.
I WATCHED, I WATCHED IT. THANK
YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP. AND
ALSO, THANK YOU THE WORK OF OUR
STAFF DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. WE ARE AT
THIS POINT TODAY BECAUSE OF
YOUR TIRELESS EFFORT. THANK YOU
AGAIN. I RAN ON A CAMPAIGN OF
CENTERING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNT
ABILITY, AND COLLABORATION.
AND, WITH RESPECT TO THE
LATTER, COLLABORATION, TO
REALLY RESET THE CULTURE HERE
AT SEATTLE CITY HALL. RESET THE
CULTURE HERE AT SEATTLE CITY
HALL. IN MY VIEW, WE, THERE IS
NO WAY WE CAN SERVE OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND FOCUS ON THE
GREAT EXTERNAL COMMUNITIES
THAT MAKE SEATTLE SUCH A
TERRIFIC, FRAGRANT PLACE TO
LIVE AND WORK IF WE ARE
CONSTANTLY FIGHTING, BICKERING,
AND ATTACKING EACH OTHER. YES,
IN MY VIEW, I THINK WE NEED TO
BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT REJECTING
THE ENEMY MINDSETS AND THE
CANTANKEROUS APPROACHES OF THE
PAST. WE ALL, WHOEVER IS
APPOINTED TO THIS SEAT WILL
HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN
ME AND MY COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY
IN RESETTING THE CULTURE HERE
AT SEATTLE CITY HALL. BUDGET
EXPERIENCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
TRANSFORMATIVE, PROFOUND. SO IS
MAKING PROGRESS, HELPING US
COLLECTIVELY MAKE PROGRESS IN
ALL OF THESE REALLY IMPORTANT
COMPLEX ISSUES LIKE PUBLIC
SAFETY, HOMELESSNESS, AND
AFFORDABILITY. WE NEED TO START
FROM WITHIN. SO, THIS VACANCY
IS VERY IMPORTANT, AS I JUST
STATED. AND, IT IS IMPORTANT,
EQUALLY AS SUPPORTIVE AS THE
OTHER POSITIONS ACROSS THIS
DAIS. WE HAVE EIGHT FINALISTS
HERE AND I THANK EVERYONE OF
YOU. WE ALL BRING EXPERTISE,
PROFESSIONAL AND LIFE
EXPERIENCES, CREDENTIALS, AND
MORE. MANY CONSTITUENTS TOOK
THE TIME TO COMMUNICATE TO US
ABOUT YOUR CANDIDACY AND I
APPRECIATE THAT AND I READ
EVERY SINGLE EMAIL. WHILE NO
ONE CAN BE REPORTED, THAT EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU STAND
READY TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT
FOR THIS GREAT CITY. YOU BRING
HONOR TO THIS CITY, ESPECIALLY
IN THE WAKE OF THE DEVASTATING
EVENTS OF THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS. WE ARE ELECTED TO MAKE
TOUGH CHOICES AND THIS IS ONE
OF THEM. AS FOR, AS FOR THOSE
WHO SUPPORTED CANDIDATES WHO
MAY NOT BE SELECTED FOR THIS
IMPORTANT VACANCY, KNOW THAT
YOUR VOICE WILL ALWAYS MATTER
AND I HOPE WE CAN ALL COUNT ON
YOU TO HELP MAKE OUR CITY
BETTER IN A VARIETY OF
CAPACITIES. SO, MY QUESTION TO
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, 45
SECONDS, I CAN, AND I HOPEFULLY
HAVE SOMEONE TO HELP TIME, BUT
, WE HEARD A LOT OF GREAT
QUESTIONS DURING THE SEATTLE
CITY CLUB FORUM ABOUT REVOLVING
AROUND BUDGET, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. IN MY VIEW , YES,
BUDGET, SKILLS, EXPERTISE IS
IMPORTANT AT ALL TIMES, NOT
JUST DURING DOWN A SHORTFALL
YEARS LIKE THIS ONE. I THINK WE
HAVE A PARTICULAR
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE SPENDING WISELY AND
INVESTING WISELY AND ACHIEVING
GOOD RESULTS AND THE MORE ROSY,
FIERY BUDGET YEARS. SO, YES,
BUDGET EXPERIENCE IS IMPORTANT,
SO IS PUBLIC SAFETY. SO, THAT
SAID, 45 SECONDS, BECAUSE
PUBLIC SAFETY IS A TOP CONCERN,
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE POLK CITY
FOR ALL? AND, TO REDUCE 911
RESPONSE TIMES FOR OUR MOST
URGENT CALLS? I WILL ASK THAT
WE MOVE IN REVERSE ALPHABETICAL
ORDER. IN FAIRNESS TO THE
PERSON THAT WENT FIRST, I THINK
WE WILL START WITH LYNN AND
WORKED OUR WAY BACK.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. I ECHO YOU
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
SOLUTION. THE SOLUTIONS THAT
THE VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION
THAT YOU HAVE ON THE PRIORITIES
ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE NOTIONS
OF CREATING AND BUILDING TRUST.
AS A POTENTIAL COUNCIL MEMBER
WITH YOU, I PROMISE AS A
PERSONAL PLEDGE BUT ALSO IN ALL
OF MY PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL
LIFE THAT I WILL NEVER BE THE
TWO OF YOU OR ANY OF YOU
PUBLICLY ON ANYTHING. IF
ANYTHING, I WILL BE COMPETENT
IN YOU, MAKING SURE THAT WE
WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE
COMMON MISSION. AS FOR THIS
STRATEGY TO REDUCE THE 911
CALLS, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO EMPOWER AND CAN ENGAGE THE
PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE 911 CALL
CENTER, GETTING TO THE EDUCATE
THE PUBLIC MORE ON THAT AND I
HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING TO
HELP TRANSLATE SOME OF THOSE
THINGS SO THAT THE PUBLIC IS
AWARE OF THE 911 CALLS.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU LYNN.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO ACCEPT, I
THINK SOMETHING WE COULD THINK
ABOUT IS ACCOUNTABILITY. FOR MY
HUSBAND, WHO HAS BEEN DRIVING
FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS DOING
GIG WORK, HE HAS SEEN A LACK OF
ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS DOES GO
BACK TO THE GOALS TO GET OUR
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
STAFFED UP. IT COMES DOWN TO
EVEN MONITORING THE SPEED LIMIT
ON DIFFERENT STREETS. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT HAS A CASCADING
EFFECT THAT WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT. WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT
HAVE ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
WALKING AROUND, IF THERE ARE,
YOU KNOW, TRUCKS OR BLACK
MARKETS SET UP, WHAT IMPACT
DOES THAT HAVING ON THE PEOPLE
TRYING TO WALK FROM TRANSIT
STATIONS OR SIMPLY WALK HOME
FROM THE GROCERY STORE? SO, I
WOULD SAY THAT MY ROUTE WOULD
BE FIGURING HOW WE CAN GET BACK
A SENSE OF ACCOUNT ABILITY AND
PART OF THAT WOULD BE THROUGH
HIRING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE THIS QUESTION.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SOFTBALL
FOR ME OR WHEN I THINK THAT I
HAVE THE STRONGEST
QUALIFICATIONS AMONG MY FELLOW
CANDIDATES ON. AND, THIS IS THE
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT
VOTERS MENTIONED IN THIS LAST
ELECTION, WHICH IS WHY I AM
HERE TODAY AND PUT MY HAT IN
THE RING. I THINK STAFFING WILL
HELP US WITH REDUCING OUR 911
CALLS. I THINK ACCORDINGLY TO
THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD GO A
LONG WAYS IN OUR RECRUITING
EFFORTS. I THINK IT WOULD ALSO
BE VERY POWERFUL IN OUR
RETENTION EFFORTS OF KEEPING
OUR POLICE OFFICERS ON THE JOB,
SEEING THAT YOU RESPECT US
ENOUGH TO APPOINT ME TO THE
COUNCIL. I WANT TO TOUCH
CHIEFLY ON COUNCILMEMBER ,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HE IS THE
CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. I WILL STAY OFF OF
THAT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
>> 45 SECONDS. OKAY. WE
DEFINITELY NEED TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF OFFICERS WE HAVE.
ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF TARIFFS AND
POLICE CHIEFS, THERE SHOULD BE
3.4 OFFICERS PER 1000
RESIDENTS. RIGHT NOW, SEATTLE
IS ABOUT 1.2. SECONDLY, WE NEED
TO RETAIN THE GOOD OFFICERS
THAT WE DO HAVE. I ACTUALLY
WANT TO INCREASE 911 CALLS
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A
LOT OF CRIME THAT GOES
UNREPORTED. WE NEED FOLKS TO
ACTUALLY TELL OUR SYSTEMS WHAT
IS GOING ON AND, TO THAT END,
IF WE REALLY WANT TO REDUCE
CRIME AND DISORDER IN OUR
COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO INVOLVE
COMMUNITY IN THE SOLUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE NEED
TO STAFF THE POLICE FORCE TO
CAPACITY. TO DO THAT, WE NEED
TO RESTORE TRUST. PEOPLE THAT
SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ARE
NOT THERE FOR THE MONEY. YOU
KNOW, THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE A MORAL COMPASS THAT
IS LEADING THEM THERE. I THINK
THAT TRUST HAS BEEN SEVERELY
BROKEN. I THINK WE NEED TO
RESTORE COMMUNITY POLICING.
FOOT PATROLS, BIKE PATROLS. WE
NEED A NONVIOLENT CIVILIAN LED
RESPONSE. WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER
THAT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE
INTERTWINED WITH AFFORDABILITY,
HOMELESSNESS, OPIOID ADDICTION.
WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON ALL
OF OUR PROBLEMS TO GET A HANDLE
ON PUBLIC SAFETY. WE CAN'T
FOCUS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. I WAS A
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH AT
THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, NATHAN
HALE, FRANKLIN, AND HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH COACH
CHRISTENSEN AT RAINIER BEACH.
IT WAS THE MOST UNIQUE THINGS
I'VE EVER SEEN. HE INVITED THE
POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES TO PRACTICE. THE
POLICE OFFICER WOULD COME AND
BRING THEIR WIVES AND KIDS
AFTER PRACTICE, THE OFFICERS
AND THEIR FAMILIES WOULD SIT
DOWN AND TALK WITH THE KIDS. I
THOUGHT IT WAS SUCH A UNIQUE
WAY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
COACH SIMPSON WAS TRYING TO
CREATE A COMMUNITY CULTURE AND
THE POLICE OFFICERS TO KNOW THE
KIDS AND FEEL AND BE A PART OF
THE PROGRAM. I THINK THOSE ARE
THE TYPES OF THINGS WE NEED TO
DO TO GET OUR COMMUNITY
INVOLVED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> META PRESIDENT, I ASK FOR 45
MORE SECONDS. IT IS NEEDED.
>> I WOULD TAKE A DATA-DRIVEN
APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM AND
LOOK AT WHERE THE CRIMES ARE
HAPPENING. AS IT TURNS OUT,
THERE IS A REAL CONCENTRATION
OF CRIME HAPPENING BY LOCATION.
SO, WE NEED TO BE EFFECTIVELY
ALLOCATING OUR LEASE FORCE IN
THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS. WE ALSO
NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHO IS
CAUSING THE MOST CRIME. SO, AS
IT TURNS OUT, A LOT OF THE
CRIMES ARE HAPPENING IN SEATTLE
ARE PERPETRATED BY A VERY SMALL
NUMBER OF PEOPLE. WE NEED TO
START WORKING, WE NEED TO
INVEST IN LONG-TERM PROGRAMS
THAT WORK WITH A SPECIFIC
POPULATION TO HELP THEM TO STOP
REPEATING CRIMES. WHAT ARE THE
SERVICES THEY NEED SO THEY CAN
MOVE TO A DIFFERENT PATH IN
LIFE? PERHAPS THEY NEED A
SINGLE HOUSING, THEY NEED
ACCESS TO JOBS. SO, MIGHT
APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY WOULD
BE TO LOOK AT THE
CONCENTRATION.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> I BELIEVE WE DO NEED TO
CHANGE THE TONE FORWARD
REGARDING HOW WE RECRUIT AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE IMPROVE THE
MORALE OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. WE NEED A FULLY
STAFFED DEPARTMENT, WE NEED TO
SUPPORT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES,
INCLUDING OUR OFFICERS. I
BELIEVE WE NEED COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, EMPOWERMENT,
ALTERNATIVES TO OPPORTUNITIES
FOR YOU, RESOURCES FOR MENTAL
HEALTH AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
AND ECONOMIC AND JOB CREATION.
EVERYTHING APARTMENT HAS AND
HOW WE IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
FOR THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. LET'S MOVE ON TO COUNSEL
FOR STRAUSS. GRAND.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
FIRST, CANDIDATES, I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR
ANSWERING THE CALL TO FILL THE
VACANT CITYWIDE SEAT, POSITION
EIGHT. OF THE APPROXIMATE OVER
750,000 SEATTLEITES, YOU ARE
ONE OF EIGHT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
THE CREDENTIALS, EXPERIENCE,
AND THE CHOICE OF CURRENT
SITTING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FILL
THIS VACANCY. IT IS AN ABUTMENT
IN AND OF ITSELF. FRANKLY, I
WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO GET TO
KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER . DURING
MY TIME TODAY, I WILL BE
SPENDING RUNNING DOWN THROUGH
SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE
HAD WITH YOU TO SAVE THE TIME
FROM GOING INTO SPEAKERS AND I
HAVE QUESTIONS TO ASK EACH ONE
OF YOU AND I WILL GIVE YOU THAT
BEFORE WE JUMP INTO IT. WHAT
STOOD OUT, SO BEFORE THE FORUM
LAST WEEK, I WROTE CAPTAIN
STRAND A NOTE SAYING THANK YOU
FOR PUTTING SERVICE BEFORE
SELF. WHAT I NOTICED AT THE
FORUM ONCE THAT ELEMENT IS THE
CONNECTING FACTOR BETWEEN EACH
OF YOU. EACH OF YOU PUT SERVICE
BEFORE SELF. IT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS, IT IS A QUALITY THAT
CANNOT BE TAUGHT, IT IS A
QUALITY THAT WE NEED MORE OF,
IT IS A QUALITY THAT WOULD FIT
VERY WELL HERE ON OUR NEW
COUNSEL DAIS. SORRY, I WROTE
ALL THESE NOTES AND THEN I JUST
SAID EVERYTHING. IT IS JUST
THAT I WISH WE HAD MORE PEOPLE
LIKE YOU IN OUR WORLD AND IN
OUR GOVERNMENT. IT IS REALLY
AMAZING TO GET TO SEE EACH OF
YOU AS FINALISTS. AND, AS I
SAID, IT IS ADEQUATELY SPENT IN
AND OF ITSELF. WHAT, I NOTICED
COMMON THEMES THROUGHOUT
EVERYONE'S CONVERSATION.
EVERYONE IS WORRIED ABOUT OR
WANTS TO ADDRESS PUBLIC
SAFETY, INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY,
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, CREATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. EVERYONE
HERE IS WORRIED ABOUT
DISPLACEMENT, AS AM I HERE
EVERYONE WANTS TO HAVE
EFFICIENT USE OF TAX DOLLARS.
EVERYONE DOES CIVIC EDUCATION
IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND WITH
YOUNG PEOPLE. SO, IF CITY CLUB
IS WATCHING, THE ANSWER IS YES,
PLEASE SET UP A YOUTH PROGRAM.
THAT WAS VERY CLEAR . FOR THOSE
OF US SITTING ON THE DAIS TODAY
ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY,
SINLESSNESS AND CREATING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR THREE
PRIORITIES I'VE HEARD FROM
EVERY SEATED COUNCILMEMBER. AS
WELL THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE
TAKING UP THREE VERY LARGE
ISSUES, ADDRESSING THE BUDGET
GAP, UPDATING THE MAJOR UPDATE
TO THE COMPANY HAS A PLAN, AND
PASSING THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY, IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING
ELSE. I WILL SAY THAT THROUGH
CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD
WITH EACH OF YOU, YOUR BROUGHT
INSIGHT AND WISDOM TO THIS
PROCESS. TONYA, YOU SAID A
COUPLE TIMES PEOPLE CLOSEST TO
THE PROBLEM HAVE THE SOLUTIONS.
AND, WHEN WE WERE TALKING, YOU
MENTIONED HOW DO WE ENGAGE
PEOPLE FOR THIS FROM POWER AND
CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM? I'VE
WITNESSED YOU DO THIS. WAS THE
DAUGHTER OF SEATTLE. AND, YOU
ARE OUT THERE DOING THE WORK.
WHEN ASKED HOW WILL YOU GET
THINGS DONE FOR SEATTLE YOU
RESPONDED I AM A PERSON OF
ACTION. AND, I CAN'T, I HAVE
TO SAY I HAVE WITNESSED IT
FIRSTHAND AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU. YOU ARE THE
ONLY PERSON TO BRING UP
UNREINFORCED MASONRY" CALLINGS
WILL HAVE SOME LONG
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. THANK
YOU. LINH THAI, YOU ARE
VULNERABLE IN THE PUBLIC FORUM.
YOU SHARED PERSONAL PART OF
YOUR HISTORY I THINK MADE US
ALL STRONGER . I REALLY
APPRECIATED YOUR RESPONSE ABOUT
VOTING. YOU SAID I LOVE VOTING
SO MUCH, THIS IS WHY I JOINED
THE SERVICE. AND, YOUR WISDOM,
JUST IN OUR CONVERSATIONS I
FEEL A KINDRED SPIRIT. I REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE
DONE FOR OUR CITY ALREADY. I
THINK ONE OF THE WISEST THINGS
YOU SAID WAS ABOUT THE BUDGET
PROCESS, BEYOND JUST STOP
GROWING THE PROBLEM, MAKE A
PLAN TO FIX IT AND IMPLEMENT
THE FIX, INSERT THE FEEDBACK
LOOPS. LOOK AT WHAT OTHERS
HAVE DONE BEFORE US WHEN FACED
WITH THE SAME SITUATION. I
CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
YOUR WISDOM AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING OUR RELATIONSHIP
ABSOLUTELY. MARI SUGIYAMA, THE
WORDS I COULD USE TO
DESCRIBE'S FIRM,
COMPASSIONATE, URGENT, AND
HUMBLE. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I
AGREE WITH MR. CARUCCI, IF
HE'S STILL IN THE AUDIENCE. I
THINK, I GUESS YOU ARE THE ONE
THAT I, I KNEW THE LEAST AND I
AM INCREDIBLY INSPIRED BY YOU.
I LOOK FORWARD TO A PLACE FOR
YOU SITTING AND TAKING THE NEXT
STEP IN YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE
AND/OR CIVIL SERVICE TO OUR
CITY. IT IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED
YOU. I HAVE A LOT MORE NOTES
AND I REALIZED I AM ONLY
GETTING HALFWAY THROUGH. I'M
GOING TO SPEED UP A LITTLE BIT
HERE. I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO
SAY. CAPS INSTRUMENT, WE COULD
SIT HERE ALL DAY AND TALK ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY. WHAT IMPRESSED
ME THE MOST WAS YOUR TAKE ON
TRANSPORTATION, ACTUALLY, THAT
YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE
FOR A SAFE AND RELIABLE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR ALL
MODES, THAT OUR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM IS RELIABLE, SAFE, AND
EFFECTIVE. MASS TRANSIT NEEDS
TO SHIFT FROM JUST BEING FOR
COMMUTERS TO WEEKENDS WITH
FAMILIES AND HOW DO WE FIX,
IMPROVE, AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE
ON OUR STREETS? YOUR COMMITMENT
TO VISION ZERO IS IMPRESSIVE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED.
MARK, I REALLY, I, IN THE
FORUM, EVERY, THIS IS WHY I
HATE THE SHORT MINUTES IS YOU
WERE JUST GETTING GOING AND
THEN YOUR MINUTE ENDED. I
CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT
QUESTION IT WAS BUT IT WAS, YOU
KNOW, WHEN FACED WITH THE TOUGH
QUESTION OF, GOTCHA QUESTION OF
TAX CUTS FOR, RAISING TAXES OR
MAKING CUTS, YOU SAID IT IS NOT
EITHER OR, IT IS BOTH AND. YOU
FOLLOWED SUIT WITH JUAN COTTO
OF SAYING I KNOW. I GUESS I'M
GETTING DOWN THE LINE TO
SHARING WITH THIS. YOU KNOW,
YOU HAVE, AS THE PERSON
MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY, PEOPLE
DELIVER SPEECHES OR GET THE
WORK DONE. NO TRUER WORDS HAVE
BEEN SAID ABOUT YOU. YOU ARE A
WORKHORSE, YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO
IS COMMITTED TO OUR CITY. AND,
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
YOUR SERVICE. NEHA, HAVE TO SAY
BEING BORN, RAISED, RAISING
YOUR KIDS HERE, IN ADDITION TO
YOUR USED CIVICS PROGRAM AT
HOME, YOU ARE BUILDING OUR
FUTURE. THE PERSON THAT I SEE
HERE IS A FUTURE LEADER, IS THE
CURRENT LEADER IN OUR CITY. YOU
DON'T JUST SPEAK WORDS, YOU
TAKE ACTION AND I THINK THAT
THE WORK THAT YOU DID
PERSONALLY REFLECTIVE IN MAKING
THE PERFECT FOR THE CIVIC
HOTEL, APTLY NAMED FROM BEING,
YOU KNOW, THE FRONT PORCH OF
SOUTH LAKE UNION TO BEING THE
HOME FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T NEED
THEM AND NEEDED IT MOST,
INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS
WELL. I AM REALLY GETTING LOW
ON TIME. SORRY. JUAN COTTO,
THE WISEST THING THAT WAS SET
UP BUT THE FORM WAS I KNOW. IT
WASN'T THAT I WON'T KNOW, IT
IS I NEED THE INFORMATION TO
MAKE A GOOD DECISION HERE. YOUR
WISDOM WAS BEYOND WORDS. I WILL
ALSO MAKE THIS PLUG RIGHT NOW
FOR JUAN COTTO. ANYONE WANTING
TO DONATE BLOOD CAN DO SO AT
BLOODWORK'S NORTHWEST, IT IS A
NUMBER LOVE. IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE ALL DO OUR CIVIC DUTY
IN ANY WAY. WITH 2.5 MINUTES
LEFT, LOOKS LIKE MY QUESTIONS
ARE GETTING US TO SHORT. GOING
TO ASK VIVIAN, YOUR QUESTION IS
GOING TO BE ABOUT WORKING WITH
A BUDGET HOLE AND BEING A CITY
LIGHT ELECTED AND MARI
SUGIYAMA, IN THE FORM, YOU
TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE MAKE
DECISIONS AT COUNSEL, HOW THAT
CASCADES AND DEPARTMENTS AND
HOW THAT CASCADES AND
COMMUNITY. BUT, BECAUSE I GAVE
EVERYBODY ELSE A SUMMARY, I
HAVE TO SAY, VIVIAN, IT HAS
BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE TO
SEE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE
COMMITTEE WORK. NO ONE ELSE IS
BROUGHT UP SNOWPACK. YOU ARE
THE ONLY ONE WHO I HAVE HEARD
OFFENDING THE BUDGET DOCUMENT
THAT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AND
YOUR CONVERSATION ABOUT PARTS
SPEAKS TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASE.
IF YOU COULD TAKE A MOMENT,
MAYBE A MINUTE TO TELL US ABOUT
YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL, BEING A CITYWIDE
ELECTED OFFICIAL AND HOW YOU
ARE DEALING WITH THE BUDGET GAP
THAT IS ABOUT HALF OF OUR
SCIENCE.
>> I THINK IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR
AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ALL
106 SCHOOLS ACROSS SEATTLE. I
HAVE BEEN REALLY LUCKY TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF MANY, MANY SCHOOL
VISITS. I'M ABOUT HALFWAY
THROUGH MY TERM AND I VISITED
ABOUT HALF OF THAT LIST, 52
SCHOOLS. AND, MY LEARNING AND
REFLECTION ABOUT SERVING THE
CITYWIDE ROLE IS THERE ARE
CERTAINLY THEMES WHEN IT COMES
TO CHALLENGES AND ISSUES AND
EVEN OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
FELT IN ALL CORNERS OF OUR
CITY. THERE ARE UNIQUE
CIRCUMSTANCES AND INDIVIDUAL
SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. IT IS
REALLY INCUMBENT ON EACH ONE OF
US TO TAKE TIME TO TALK TO A
DIVERSE BASE OF STAKEHOLDERS
AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND ONE
SPECIFIC ISSUE AND HOW THAT
WILL BE BORNE OUT IN AN
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY . SO, IT
IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE
COGNIZANT OF WHAT VOICES YOU
ARE NOT HEARING BECAUSE IT IS
NOT ALWAYS EASY TO ENGAGE WITH
OUR ELECTED LEADERS .
TRANSLATION IS OFTEN A POINT OF
CHALLENGE FOR US AND I AM
REALLY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO
SPEAK MANDARIN FLUENTLY AND
ENGAGE WITH SOME OF OUR
STAKEHOLDERS DIRECTLY THAT WAY.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET
PROCESS, CUTS ARE EXTORTING A
REALLY PAINFUL. WE ALWAYS
CENTER THE KIDS IN OUR
DECISION-MAKING AND TRY TO
AVOID CUTS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT
OUR KIDS AND OUR CLASSROOMS. WE
LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE
ARE GETTING EFFORTS AND WE CAN
STREAMLINE SOME OF OUR WORK
THAT WE ARE DOING AND WE
ALWAYS LOOK BACK AT THE DATA,
WHAT IS THE DATA TELLING US?
WHAT IS WORKING, WHAT IS NOT
WORKING? INVEST IN THE THINGS
THAT ARE WORKING AND WILL
FORWARD THAT WAY.
>> POINT OF ORDER.
>> WITH.
>> WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM MINUTE
WARNING. WE ARE OUT OF TIME. I
WILL ALLOW THE NEXT PERSON TO,
THE OTHER PERSON YOU DIRECTED
YOUR QUESTION TO TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. FUNNY THING ABOUT THE
CASCADING EFFECT OF BUDGET
CUTS, I WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE
IMPACTS TO DIRECT SERVICE
STAFF, NOT JUST WITHIN THE
AGENCY'S REFUND BUT ALSO
WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF.
OFTENTIMES, THOSE PEOPLE ARE
PROBABLY MAKING THE LEAST
AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE
ORGANIZATION, THE CITY
INCLUDED. HOW CAN WE, I SPOKE
ABOUT THIS VIDEO BUT HOW CAN WE
GET THAT STORY BEHIND THE
NUMBERS ? SOMETIMES WHAT MAY
APPEAR AS IF THE LOCATION OF
SERVICES IS OUR WAY OF BEING
WITH COMMUNITY, THAT IT HAS TO
LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REACHING
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY
PUBLIC SAFETY OR HAVE REENTRY
NEEDS FOR THE FINAL DIVERSION
MEANS, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT
REALLY DOES TAKE A LITTLE BIT
MORE THAN JUST LOOKING SOLELY
AT THE NUMBERS WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THE IMPACT WE WILL HAVE
IN MAKING CUTS. I ALSO SPOKE A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE CAN
ELIMINATE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT AREN'T ALREADY BEING
FUNDED SO ARE THOSE VACANT
POSITIONS, ARE THERE WAYS FOR
AS TO PULL OUR RESOURCES
TOGETHER ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO
ADDRESS THINGS COLLECTIVELY AS
A FALL CITY AS OPPOSED TO BEING
SIDELOAD? LOOKING AT
ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF REVENUE,
WHETHER THAT IS THROUGH
DIFFERENT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE
GRACE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL
CONTINUE DOWN HERE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD
MORNING. MY APOLOGIES. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I WANT TO THANK ALL
OF YOU. I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF
MY COLLEAGUES REMARKS ABOUT
THANKING THE 72 APPLICANTS THAT
ALSO PUT IN THEIR NAME IN THE
HAT AND THEN YOU ON EIGHT
FINALISTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY,
I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LONG
PROCESS PUTTING YOUR NAME IN,
SUBMITTING YOUR COVER LETTER
AND ALSO ENGAGING IN THE
COMMUNITY FORUM, HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF US
AND THEN ALSO BEING HERE TODAY
ON A MONDAY MORNING. WE JUST
WANT TO RESPECT SOME OF YOU,
EVERYONE IS WORKING RIGHT NOW.
AND, YOU ALL TAKE THE TIME OFF
TO COME DOWN HERE TO BE ABLE TO
GIVE US YOUR TIME AND JUST
REALLY WANT TO SEND A HEARTFELT
THANK YOU AND APPRECIATION.
HAVING RUN A RECENT ELECTION
MYSELF, I ALSO KNOW THERE'S A
LOT OF POLITICS INVOLVED. AND,
I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES ALL
HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL MINDS
. THEY ARE ALSO VERY
INDEPENDENT, THEY ARE ALSO VERY
INTELLECTUAL. AND, I THINK
SEATTLE, WE'VE HAD A RICH
HISTORY OF PROGRESSIVE POLITICS
AND ACTIVISM AND POLICIES THAT
WE ARE ALL VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
AND, I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS
THIS PIECE WHERE WE ALSO WANT
TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT
PERFORMATIVE, THAT WE ARE
ACTUALLY MAKING PROGRESS IN OUR
CITY AND THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED TO ME, TO
A LOT OF OUR COLLEAGUES AS WELL
AND HAVING BEEN ON THE TAIL
END, YOU KNOW, DURING ELECTION
AND SEEING A LOT OF THOSE
PIECES PLAY OUT AND ALSO BEING
IN COMMUNITY TO THAT HAS , YOU
KNOW, JUST SEEING HOW THESE
POLICIES HAVE PLAYED OUT ON THE
GROUND LEVEL, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT WE REMIND OURSELVES
OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE
SERVING. I ALSO WANT TO SAY
COUNCILMEMBER MORE STOLE MY
FORMAT OF THE LIGHTNING ROUND.
SO, I'M GOING TO BE DOING THAT
AS WELL BUT INSTEAD OF HOLDING
UP YES OR NO, I WOULD LOVE FOR
YOU ALL TO SPEAK IN THE
MICROPHONE AND ALSO YOU WILL
HAVE 10, 15 SECONDS TO EXPLAIN
YOUR ANSWER. IF YOU ARE
WAFFLING OR YOU JUST DON'T
KNOW, THESE ARE NOT INTENDED
GOTCHA QUESTIONS. THESE ARE
SPECIFICALLY INTENDED TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE TO DRAW THE
LINE AT ON SOMETHING SPEARED
SOME THINGS MIGHT BE A MAYBE. I
KNOW SOMETHING SO NUANCED AS
WELL AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL
THAT TIME TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN
WHAT ARE THOSE, WHAT ARE THOSE
NUANCE PIECES? ANYWAYS, WE WILL
GET STARTED. I TOOK OUT SOME OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT I COULD'VE
GOT AN ANSWER FROM. THAT IS THE
BEAUTY OF BEING ON THE TAIL END
OF ROLL CALL, YOU GET SOME OF
YOUR ANSWERS. SO, ONE OF THE
ANSWERS, AND WE WILL START
WITH, WE WILL START WITH VIVIAN
SONG AND GO TO THE RIGHT AS
WELL . WOULD YOU SUPPORT , AND
THEN AFTER I FINISH THE
QUESTIONS, MY APOLOGY, I WILL
EXPLAIN EVERYTHING, WE WILL DO
YES OR NO, YOU WILL GO DOWN THE
LINE TO THE RIGHT AND THEN WE
WANT TO START WITH THE SAME
PERSON, I WILL CALL ON THAT
PERSON AND WE WILL START TO THE
RIGHT, JUST SO WE ARE FAIR AND
WE ARE NOT GOING IN LINE EVERY
SINGLE TIME. WOULD YOU SUPPORT
LEGISLATION THAT COMPELS THE
DEVELOPERS TO PLANT MATURE
TREES ON LOTS?
>> YES.
>> AND THE NEXT PERSON.
>> I'M SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT
THE QUESTION FOR ME?
>> ABSOLUTELY, WOULD YOU
SUPPORT, WOULD YOU SUPPORT ,
EXCUSE ME, WOULD YOU SUPPORT
LEGISLATION THAT COMPELS THE
LEPERS TO PLANT MATURE TREES?
>> YES.
>> YES, SAVE AND PLANT.
>> THANK YOU. AND THEN NEXT WE
WILL START WITH JUAN COTTO AND
MOVED TO THE RIGHT. DO YOU
BELIEVE THAT A RETURN TO OFFICE
MANDATE IS IMPORTANT PART OF A
LARGER DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
PLAN?
>> NO.
>> YES, WITH EXCEPTIONS. WE ARE
IN A NEW REALITY AND WE NEED TO
KIND OF ADJUST TO THE NEW
REALITY.
>> YES.
>> YES, OUR ECONOMY THRIVES ON
IT .
>> I AM A YES AND NO. THIS IS A
NUANCED THING AS WELL THAT
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE
LEARNED AS A RESULT OF COVID-19
WE SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION IN THIS NEW
WORLD.
>> I AM WITH MARI SUGIYAMA ON
THIS ONE AS WELL.
>> YES AND FOR A SLOW ROLLOUT
WITH EXCEPTIONS.
>> YES.
>> DO YOU SUPPORT AND LAMENTING
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THE
DISPLACEMENT OF BLACK RESIDENTS
DUE TO GENTRIFICATION AND BLACK
LACY HOMEOWNERS, SPECIFICALLY
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT? AND WE
WILL START WITH .
>> DO I SUPPORT POLICIES THAT
DISPLACE BLACK COMMONERS?
>> NO, TO SUPPORT LIMITING
POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THE
DISPLACEMENT OF BLACK RESIDENTS
DUE TO GENTRIFICATION AND ALSO
BLACK LACY HOMEOWNERS?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. I ALSO HAVE
PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES ARE AT
LEVELS THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN
SINCE 2006. WE ALWAYS HEAR
ABOUT, UNFORTUNATELY, SOME
GETTING IT ON OUR STREETS,
WOULD YOU SUPPORT ADDITIONAL
TRAFFIC INFRACTION ENFORCEMENT
IN OUR CITY?
>> YES.
>> YES, I THINK WE HAVE TO
START ENFORCING.
>> YES.
>> YES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
SCHOOL SPEECH SOME CAMERAS.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ALSO HAVE, THANK YOU
ALL. OKAY, EXCUSE ME, NOW WE
HAVE A SCALE, 1 TO 10. IT IS
NOT YES OR NO, 1 TO 10, AND
ALSO EXPAND ON YOUR ANSWER AS
WELL. ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10,
ONE BEING THE LEAST, 10 BEING
THE MOST, SEATTLE PARKS ARE THE
EMERALD JEWEL OF OUR CITY, HOW
IMPORTANT IS IT TO KEEP OUR
PLAYGROUNDS AND PARKS CLEAN,
SAFE, AND WELCOMING FOR
RESIDENTS?
>> 10.
>> 20.
>> 10.
>> 31.
>> MOONSET 100 BUT OKAY.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR
SEATTLE TO BE A HUB FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, EITHER INCUBATOR OR
FOR THEM TO BE A STAPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE PAYING FOR THEIR
PRIVATE OWNED SECURITY AND
SAFETY GOING ON IN OUR CITY,
HOW IMPORTANT, ON A SCALE OF 1
TO 10 IS IT THAT WE ENSURE THE
SAFETY FOR THE PEOPLE THEY ARE
SERVING AND ALSO THEMSELVES AS
WELL?
>> SORRY, 10.
>> 10.
>> 100.
>> 10. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO REMEMBER A LOT OF OUR BIG
COMPANIES STARTED AS SMALL
COMPANIES.
>> 10.
>> AWESOME. WE HAVE 2 1/2
MINUTES. ALSO , IF YOU COULD
EXPLAIN FROM A SCALE OF 1 TO
10, ONE BEING THE LEAST, 10
BEING THE MOST, HOW IMPORTANT,
AND I THINK MISS SONG, YOU
ANSWERED THIS ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT ARE THE ARTS AND
CULTURE TO THE REVITALIZATION
OF DOWNTOWN TO YOU? WE TALKED A
LOT ABOUT WE NEED BUSINESSES
DOWNTOWN, WE NEED PEOPLE COMING
IN DOWNTOWN. I KNOW ARTS AND
CULTURE FOR ME PERSONALLY IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVING IN
OUR CITY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE HAVE ARE
ECHOES OF WHAT THEY ONCE USED
TO BE. SO, WANTING TO KNOW FROM
A SKILL, I PROBABLY TOLD YOU
HOW I WANT YOU TO ANSWER. SCALE
OF 1 TO 10, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT
FOR ARTS AND CULTURE?
>> 10, AT THE CENTER OF EVERY
CIVILIZATION IS ARTS AND
CULTURE.
>> 100.
>> WHAT IS SLOWING US DOWN IN
DOWNTOWN IS PEOPLE WHO LIVE
WITHIN 10 MINERAL MILES I
CANNOT COME DOWNTOWN. IT IS
GOING TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN
THAT.
>> 10.
>> 10. I CAN SAY THE RING AND A
LOT OF OTHER FESTIVALS,
BUMBERSHOOT, FOLK LIFE, THEY
BRING A REVITALIZATION AND
ECONOMIC INPUT TO OUR CITY IN A
WEEKEND THAT I MEAN THE CITY
WOULDN'T EXPERIENCE WITHOUT
THAT BUMP. WE NEED ARTS AND
CULTURE.
>> 10. I REMEMBER HOW MANY
MOVIE THEATERS WERE DOWNTOWN
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF EACH
OTHER.
>> I AM A 10. I WOULD ALSO BE A
SMALL BUSINESS
>>
>> I WOULD SAY IT WITH
ANNOYANCE THAT WE HAVE ARTS AND
CULTURE FACILITIES ALL OVER THE
CITY SO BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT
THIS BUSINESS IS TO, SOME OF
THEM ARE SMALL BUSINESS VENUES
THAT SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC OR
THEATER, WHAT HAVE YOU. WANTING
TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS ACROSS
THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU. LAST QUESTION. I
KNOW WE HAVE 30 SECONDS. WE
WILL MAKE IT A LITTLE QUICK. DO
YOU SUPPORT INCREASING EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE 30% TREE
CANOPY COVER IN THE ENTIRE CITY
TO WORK TOWARD THAT AT A
MINIMUM?
>> 10.
>> I GIVE THIS A 8. I THINK A
LOT OF OUR TREES ARE LOCATED IN
OUR PARKS.
>> 10.
>> 8 TO 10 WITH NUANCE. WE
CAN'T, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES
THE ARGUMENT OF TREES IS THERE
TO DISGUISE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OR JUST HOUSING. WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE BUILDING
ENOUGH HOUSING FOR OUR
RESIDENTS BUT ALSO MAINTAINING
OUR TREE CANOPY AND EXPANDING
IT.
>> 10.
>> I BELIEVE I AM A 10. I
CAN'T THINK OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT COULDN'T GET TO 30%
COVERAGE.
>> 10.
>> 10, AGREE WITH CAPTAIN
STRAND ON THIS.
>> AWESOME. TRAINED WOMEN,
WOULD YOU SUPPORT COMING UP AN
EXTRA FLOOR IN ORDER FOR US TO
HAVE MORE HOUSING IN THOSE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLACES BUT
ALSO SAVING THOSE TREES AS
WELL? SO, REQUIREMENTS, AND
ADDITIONAL FOUR TO HAVE TREES?
>> IF IT PLAYS OUT ON PAPER AND
THE NUMBERS ARE, YES.
>> UNDERSTOOD, THANK YOU. I
THINK I DID MY TIME. WAS THAT
IT? SORRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT
AND GOING TO YOUR POINT ABOUT
QUESTIONS, INTERESTING. FROM MY
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE, I SAW THE
NEED FOR DISTRICT
REPRESENTATION AND I FULLY
SUPPORT THAT I ALSO UNDERSTAND
WE DO NEED TO HAVE A CITYWIDE
LOOK AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN
THIS HYBRID SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE
WHERE WE HAVE DISTRICT FOR
PRESENTATION, PLUS THE CITY
WIND. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT
FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE,
HAVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BEING COVERED BY POSITION NINE,
BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
HAVING THE CITY LOOK IS VERY
IMPORTANT. SAME THING FOR
POSITION EIGHT ON
SUSTAINABILITY. NOW, I HAD
SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME GENERAL
TOPICS TO INCLUDE TREE CANOPY,
HOUSING INVENTORY. LOOKING AT
THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS TO
POSITION EIGHT, THE CHAIR OF
SUSTAINABILITY, YOU KNOW, THE
VICE CHAIR WITH LIBRARIES,
EDUCATION AND PARTICULARLY
NEIGHBORHOODS. ALSO BEING A
MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORTATION
LAND-USE AND HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES . I WILL STICK WITH MY
TREE CANOPY EXAMPLE, DESPITE
THE FACT THAT WE JUST ENDED
WITH THAT. CAN YOU USE THE TREE
CANOPY ISSUE AND WALK THROUGH
THOSE THE ASSIGNMENT PIECES ?
USE THE TRANSPORTATION OR
LAND-USE CONSIDERATIONS,
HOUSING HUMAN SERVICES,
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ULTIMATELY
SUSTAINABILITY IN YOUR ANSWER
AS YOU LOOK THROUGH USING TREE
CANOPY AS AN EXAMPLE. WE CAN
WALK THROUGH THOSE ASSIGNMENTS.
ABOUT A MINUTE EACH AND WE WILL
GO TOWARD FROM THE ORDER, JUAN
COTTO, GO FIRST PLEASE. ONE
MINUTE EACH, PLEASE.
>> IN TERMS OF THE TREE
CANOPY, I MEAN THIS IS A
PERSONAL MISSION IN MIND,
DAUGHTER AND I WENT TO A
CONCERT TO SEE A SINGER AND SHE
CAME TO SEATTLE EARLIER IN HER
CAREER AND SHE GOT OFF THE
PHONE AND SAID TO HER MOM ALL
THE TREES IN SEATTLE ARE LIKE
CHRISTMAS TREES BUT I THINK
THAT IS SUCH A SPECIAL PART OF
OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN TERMS OF
LIBRARIES, I WENT TO O'DELL
HIGH SCHOOL AND I WOULD TRUDGE
DOWNHILL BECAUSE I FEARED A
THREAT FROM A MOTHER AND FATHER
IF MY GRADES WEREN'T GOOD AND
I SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN THE OLD
LIBRARY ON FOURTH AVENUE AND
ALSO IN THE LIBRARY ON REGNIER
BEACH, WHERE THE NUMBER SEVEN
WOULD GO BY AND I WOULD JUMP IN
AND GET ASSIGNMENTS DONE. I
THINK THE LIBRARY, SOMETIMES
THE LIBRARIES HAVE KIND OF
FALLEN DOWN BELOW OUR
PERCEPTION BUT THEY ARE SO
IMPORTANT FOR, ESPECIALLY FOR
YOUNG KIDS IN TERMS OF LEARNING
HOW TO READ AND THAT IS WHERE I
REALLY GOT MY START.
TRANSPORTATION, I WAS ON THE
BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
AND EVERYTHING MOVING PEOPLE
INSTEAD OF CARS. I THINK THAT
IS A CRITICAL MATTER THAT WE
HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT.
>> MOVING NEXT, USING TREE
CANOPY AS THE TOPIC, WALK
THROUGH THE COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS.
>> TREE CANOPIES ARE REPORTED.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME
CLIMATE EVENTS AS WE JUST
EXPERIENCED LAST WEEK. SO, TO
SUSTAIN CITY LIGHT, WE HAVE A
4.5% SURCHARGE BECAUSE THE RSA
HAS BEEN DEPLETED DUE TO MAJOR
WHICH WEATHER EVENTS WE HAVE
BEEN EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF
RAINFALL, YOU KNOW, SUPER COLD
TEMPERATURES. WARMER CLIMATES.
SO, YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL
JOB WITH THE DEVELOPING OF
QUEEN AND, WITH THE TOLL
BROTHERS TO PROTECT THE
OLD-GROWTH TREES WHILE STILL
DOING THE ELEMENT. I THINK THAT
NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE
WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSES.
WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR GREEN
SPACE. WE NEED, AND, WHO
DOESN'T WANT TO CLIMB TREES
WHEN THEY ARE LITTLE? I THINK
TREES HELP WITH THE ART AND
IMAGINATION AND CREATE A PLACE.
WE NEED ALL OF THE ABOVE BUT
ALSO LOOKING AT IT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN LIVE IN A THRIVING,
GROWING COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT
EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU. MR. SOLOMON.
>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE TREE
CANOPY, I THINK ABOUT THE WORK
THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE
BEACON HILL COUNCIL. I'M ON
THE BOARD, ONE OF THE THINGS WE
ARE LOOKING AT IS
MICROPARTICLE'S AND AIR
POLLUTION THAT IS IMPACTING OUR
COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE
UNDERNEATH THE FLIGHT DECK AT
SEATAC AIRPORT AND ONE OF THE
WAYS WE FEEL THAT COULD BE
MITIGATED IS BY PLANTING MORE
TREES TO HELP WITH QUALITY,
HELP WITH AIR POLLUTION AND
MACRO PARTICULATES. WHEN I
THINK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, ONE
OF THE THINGS I HAVE WORKED ON
QUITE A BIT IS WORKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON
VEGETATION MAINTENANCE AROUND
MATERIALS SO WE IMPROVE LINES
OF SIGHT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND
VEHICLES TO REDUCE THE
INSTANCES OF VEHICULAR AND
PEDESTRIAN COLLISIONS. NOW, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
>> MISSED SONG.
>> THANK YOU FOR STICKING TO
ALPHABETICAL ORDER. SO, I THINK
THE BIG OPPORTUNITY HERE IS
AROUND THE SUSTAINABILITY
COMMITTEE IS AROUND CLIMATE
RESILIENCE. SO, THIS COMMITTEE
IS GOING TO BE TASKED WITH
TAPPING INTO THE INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT AND TRY TO BRING
MORE CLIMATE RESILIENCY TO OUR
CITY AND INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND I THINK THAT THE TREE
CANOPY IS AN IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATION OF HOW WE ARE
GOING TO MAKE SURE OUR
NEIGHBORS STAY COOL BECAUSE IT
IS GETTING INCREASINGLY HOT IN
THE SUMMER IN SEATTLE. I THINK
THAT WITH THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO BALANCE THE COMPETING
INTERESTS OF A VERY LIMITED
AMOUNT OF SPACE. CARS, FREIGHT,
PEDESTRIAN, BIKE, AND, OF
COURSE, TREES. SIMILARLY WITH
LAND-USE AND HOUSING, WE ALL
UNDERSTAND WE HAVE AN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN
OUR CITY AND WE NEED TO REALLY
DRIVE THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING BUT
WE NEED TO DO IT IN THE WAY
THAT BALANCES THE QUALITY OF
LIFE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND,
ALTHOUGH I WON'T BE SERVING ON
THE PARKS COMMITTEE, THE
BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY FOR TREE
CANOPY IS PARKS.
>> MR. STRAND.
>> I THINK TREES ARE INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT FOR OUR CLIMATE
IMPACTS, FOR THE CLEAN AIR, FOR
THE SHADE, TO MITIGATE THE
HEAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
THROW IN THE SNOW PACK FOR CITY
LIGHT AS BEING IMPORTANT. THAT
IS A COMMITTEE THAT POSITION
EIGHT WOULD SIT ON. USE I THINK
IT'S OBVIOUS FOR THE TREE
CANOPY DISCUSSION. I THINK
THERE'S MORE WE CAN DO WITH
OUR PUBLIC SPACES, LIKE
LIBRARIES AND TRANSPORTATION. I
KNOW FOR CRIME PREVENTION AND
PUBLIC SAFETY, WE TALK ABOUT
OPEN SIGHTLINES AND TRIMMING
VEGETATION. IT ALWAYS IS
MAINTAINING THOSE BIG OLD TREES
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE TIMER IS
GOING BUT WE WILL KEEP IT ABOUT
A MINUTE.
>> IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A HOUSE
THAT STAYS COOL IN THE SUMMER
BECAUSE I AM SURROUNDED BY
THREE REALLY LARGE TREES THAT
DON'T MAKE IT FUN FOR US TO
CLEAN OUR GUTTERS, I UNDERSTAND
HOW TREE CANOPY CAN BENEFIT
WHEN HEAT INCREASES AND WE HAVE
A LOT OF THOSE 100 DEGREE DAYS.
THAT HAS DIRECT CORRELATION
WHEN WE THINK OF CITY LIGHT
AND, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE
IMPACTS TO OUR POWER GRID.
CLEARLY TREE CANOPY, WHEN I
THINK ABOUT THAT, I GO BACK TO
EDUCATION ROOTS. THAT HAS A LOT
OF CONNECTION TO EDUCATION AND
LIBRARIES AND HUMAN SERVICES. I
THINK OF MY OWN DAUGHTER, WHO
IS LEARNING ABOUT OXYGEN AND
TREES AND HOW WE GET CLEAN AIR
AND HOW DO WE BUILD THAT SO
THAT WE CAN HAVE CITIZENS
COMING UP AND THEY UNDERSTAND
THE VALUE AND UNDERSTAND THAT
IF WE ARE DOING LIKE WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ARE
COMMITTED, IF WE INCREASE TREE
CANOPY AT 30%, HOW WILL THAT
CHANGE THEIR LIFE IN 20 YEARS?
SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES
APPEAR ALSO TALKED ABOUT
LAND-USE, THE APARTMENT OF
TRANSPIRATION AND HOUSING AND
HOW DO WE INCREASE TREE CANOPY
WHILE ALSO NOT CREATING
BARRIERS TO SORRY, HOW CAN WE
INCREASE TREE CANOPY BUT NOT
GREAT BARRIERS WHEN IT COMES TO
TRANSPORTATION OR HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS OR, LIKE CAPTAIN
STRAND MENTIONED, SIGHTLINES.
IT IS A REALLY FINE BALANCE
THAT WE HAVE TO TRY AND FIGURE
OUT.
>> THANK YOU. LINH THAI.
>> I RECENTLY CAME BACK FROM
NEW YORK CITY AND IT IS COLD
THERE AND IT IS COLD HERE. THE
DIFFERENCE IS I FOUND FRESH
AIR, I FEEL SO MUCH MORE
REFRESHED AND COME BACK HERE
AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE TREES.
FOR ME, TREE CANOPY IS SO
IMPORTANT IN SUSTAINABILITY
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TREES
PROVIDE FRESH OXYGEN AND CLEAN
THE AIR ITSELF. IT IS FANTASTIC
VENUE TO DO THAT ON THE
SIDELINE, WITH, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT INVIOLABLE SAFETY FOR
THAT BUT IT IS ALSO IMPROVING,
IT HELPS SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE
AND OLD PEOPLE ALIKE SO THEY
CAN GO OUTSIDE AND BE MOBILE
AND IMPROVING THEIR PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH. THAT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, HAVING
TREATED CANOPY AS A GREAT WAY
TO SUSTAIN AND PROVIDING WAYS
FOR THEM TO DO THAT. IT'S ALSO
AROUND, IT IS A GREAT WAY TO
EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND THE NEXT
GENERATIONS ABOUT
SUSTAINABILITY. TREES ARE
IMMEDIATE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY. I
LIVE IN A TREE DESERT, A HEAT
ISLAND AND BEACON HILL BECAUSE
OF REDLINING AND SEGREGATION. I
THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, HAVE
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
MEETINGS. LAST YEAR, THEY ONLY
MET TWICE. ALSO, MAKE SURE WE
BRING IN THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE THEY
INFORM US AND ALL OF OUR
ORDINANCES AND EVERYTHING GOING
FORWARD. I HEARD THAT THERE'S
ABOUT NINE FORESTRY DIVISIONS
IN THE CITY. HOW DO WE UNITE
THEM? WE ALL ACT IN SILOS, HOW
DO WE COMBINE RESOURCES
TOGETHER TO INFORM ALL
DECISIONS? I'M NOT AN EXPERT
BUT I KNOW THERE ARE MANY
PEOPLE WHO LOVE TREES AND ARE
FOCUSING THIS ON THEIR ENTIRE
LIVES IN THEIR PROFESSIONS, HOW
DO WE BRING IN PEOPLE TO INFORM
US ON DECISIONS GOING FORWARD
IN EVERY COMMITTEE?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH
THE TIMER GOING OFF, I JUST
THINK THERE ARE SO MANY TOPICS
. I JUST PICKED ONE. YOU CAN
SEE HOW YOUR COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS, THESE ANGLES PLAY
OUT THROUGH ALL THE TOPICS THAT
WE FACE AND WE ARE JUST USING
THAT ONE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THE
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND THE
IDEA OF HAVING THE CITYWIDE
LOOK AS OPPOSED TO A DISTRICT
LOOK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PROBABLY WENT OVER A LITTLE
BIT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I WILL MAKE UP FOR IT.
>> SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING TODAY AND THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, FOR SUCH GREAT
QUESTIONS. I AM GOING TO
JETTISON THE ONE QUESTION I WAS
GOING TO ASK BECAUSE WE HAVE
LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. THAT WAS
SIMPLY AS THE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, I WAS GOING TO ASK
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE
BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICTS
AND INDIVIDUAL SMALL
BUSINESSES TODAY AND WHAT IS
THE SOLUTION? AND, YOU ARE
SPARED INTERNET BECAUSE SEVERAL
OF MY COLLEAGUES ALREADY ASKED
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I THINK
THE TWO ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED
AND RELY ON EACH OTHER. THAT IS
WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK. I
WILL, HOWEVER ASK THIS REALLY
SHORT QUESTION BEFORE CLOSING.
I'M GOING TO ASK IT IN A WAY
THAT YOU WILL BE ASKED TO RAISE
YOUR HAND IF YOU AGREE OR IF
YOU DON'T AGREE AND I WILL
TAKE THAT IN SEQUENCE. LAST
YEAR ON JUNE 6th , CITY COUNCIL
VOTED 5-4 AGAINST ADOPTING
COUNSEL BILL 120586 TO ALIGN
OUR SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH
THE NEW STATE LAW MAKING THE
PROCESSION AND PUBLIC USE OF
ILLEGAL DRUGS A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR. PLEASE RAISE YOUR
HAND IF YOU WOULD HAVE VOTED
YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU
WOULD HAVE VOTED NO. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING THAT
QUESTION. I WILL NOT TAKE ANY
MORE TIME. I, YOU CAN TURN OFF
MYTIME THERE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. SO, I BELIEVE WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF OUR AGENDA
AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS. I WANTED
TO PROVIDE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY
FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE A BREAK,
SEATTLE CHANNEL, TO CHANGE THE
RULES, WHATEVER THEY DO TO GET
US READY FOR OUR COUNCIL
BRIEFING. I WILL NOTE THAT I
REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA'S COMMENT ABOUT RESETTING
THE CULTURE ON COUNSEL. I DO
THINK THAT WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED
TODAY, AND LEADING UP TO TODAY
AND ON THE BRINK OF THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT DECISION TOMORROW
THAT WE ARE IN FACT DOING THAT
GREAT AND, WHILE THERE HAS BEEN
MENTION OF THE NOISE AND THE
OUT THERE IN THE MEDIA AND THE
SORT OF GUILT BY MANUFACTURED
ASSOCIATION AROUND CERTAIN
CANDIDATES, ETC., I REALLY
TRUST MY COLLEAGUES TO RISE
ABOVE THAT NOISE. IN FACT, MOST
OF YOU , EVERYBODY EXCEPT FOR
ME, WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH USED TO DO
THAT AND YOU CAN PUT IT TO ONE
SIDE AND TAKING ALL THE
INFORMATION YOU RECEIVED FROM
THE CANDIDATES ANSWERS TODAY,
EVERYTHING THEY WROTE IN THEIR
LETTERS, YOUR PERSONAL
CONVERSATIONS, ETC. I TRUST YOU
TO MAKE A CHOICE BASED ON THE
MERITS OF WHAT FOLKS HAVE SAID
AND IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL
CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I'M NOT
CONCERNED. SO, OUR NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING IS
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE
HELD TOMORROW, JANUARY 23rd AT
2:00 P.M. AND THAT IS WHEN CITY
COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE
AND APPOINT A FINALIST FOR
EDITION EIGHT. I WILL SAY THAT
IN MY PRESIDENTS REPORT AT
TODAY'S BRIEFING, AS IS THE
NORMAL PROCEDURE, I WILL TALK A
LITTLE ABOUT HOW THAT VOTE WILL
GO DOWN. TUNE IN AFTER 2:00
TODAY AND IF THERE'S NO
FURTHER ISSUE OR COMMENT, WE
ARE ADJOURNED. IT IS 12:55.