>>> HELLO EVERYONE. THE JANUARY
23, 2024 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO
ORDER. IT IS TO: 02 IN THE
AFTERNOON. I'M SARA NELSON,
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
SUBPOENA COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT .
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOCK.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRASBURG IS
>> PRESENT BRICKUS BEEN A
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH JUST
DEALING WITH ECHO HERE. JUST MY
FAULT, PROBABLY. JUST A SECOND
PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO
THE NEXT ITEM, I'M NOT AWARE
OF ANY PRESENTATIONS FOR TODAY.
SO IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS A DOG DID. BEFORE
CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA, I
WANTED TO NOTE THAT TODAY'S
MEETING WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AFTER
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS ONE AND
TWO ON THE AGENDA, SO WE CAN
GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. ALL
RIGHT. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
OKAY. SO WE'LL NOW HEAR
CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED
CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ARE ONLY ONE
TODAY, COUNCIL BILL 120741,
WHICH IS PAYMENT FOR THE BILLS.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO REMOVE
THIS FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR? GREAT. I MOVE TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
CONSENT , IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPTED THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SACCA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MOVING ON, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEMS ONE
AND TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE AND TWO,
13400, APPLICATION OF DANIEL
WOODARD WEINSTEIN A+ Q2
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 16 2016 70.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
CITY COUNCIL THIS CONDITION
AGENDA ITEM 212-0737 LAND USE
AND ZONING AMENDING CHAPTER
23.32 SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
AT PAGES 111 AND 112 WITH
OFFICIAL VENUES TO MAP REZONE
PROPERTY AT 1620 1670 FROM
LOWRISE THREE WITH A MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY SUFFIX.
>> MEEKER HAS READ ITEMS ONE
AND TWO TOGETHER TO ALLOW US TO
ADDRESS BOTH RELATED ITEMS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WILL WALK
US THROUGH LAST WEEK'S EX
PARTE COMMUNICATIONS AND
REMEDIES TO CURE IT. THEN WE'LL
HEAR FROM THE APPLICANTS BEFORE
VOTING ON EACH OF THEM
INDIVIDUALLY. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR THE.
I WILL FIRST ADDRESS THE EX
PARTE COMMUNICATIONS WHICH WE
RECEIVED LAST WEEK DURING
PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN I WILL
SPEAK TO THE BILLS, WHICH I'VE
SPOKEN TO COLLEAGUES MANY
TIMES, FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
WE WILL SHARE AGAIN AND I KNOW
WHY EVERYONE IS HERE AGAIN
TODAY. WE HAVE A QUASIJUDICIAL
MATTER BEFORE US, WHICH IS A
CONTRACT REZONE. THE PROCESS
FOR THIS IS IT GOES FROM AS DCI
WITH A REPORT TO THE HEARING
EXAMINER, WHICH RELEASES A
DETERMINATION AND THEN COMES TO
US AT CITY COUNCIL. WE ACTING
AS A QUASIJUDICIAL BODY ARE
ONLY ALLOWED TO REVIEW THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN
THE HEARING EXAMINER'S REPORT.
LAST WEEK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT
THE PUBLIC COMMENT ARE SIGNED
UP UNDER A DIFFERENT BILL TITLE
AND SPOKE ON THIS QUASIJUDICIAL
MATTER. AND SO THIS HAS CREATED
A MOMENT WHERE THERE ARE EX
PARTE COMMUNICATIONS TO CURE EX
PARTE COMMUNICATIONS,
COUNCILMEMBERS SHALL EITHER
ORALLY OR IN WRITING PLACE IN
PROCEDURAL RECORD BE SUBSTANCE
OF THE EX PARTE AND MAKE A
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT AT EACH
MEETING OR HEARING ON THE
QUASIJUDICIAL ACTION OF THE
CONTENT OF SUCH EX PARTE
COMMUNICATION. BECAUSE THIS
WAS GIVEN TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
EQUALLY DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS,
I ON BEHALF OF ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS AND ANNOUNCING
THAT WE RECEIVED EX PARTE
COMMUNICATIONS VIA PUBLIC
COMMENT AT LAST WEEK'S
MEETING. A TRANSCRIPT OF THE EX
PARTE COMMUNICATION IS ATTACHED
TO THE CLERK FILE. THEREFORE
THAT REQUIREMENT IS MET AND TO
FULLY CURE THIS ITEM WE NEED TO
GIVE THE APPLICANTS A MINUTE,
THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME THAT
THE EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS
OCCURRED, A MINUTE TO REBUT
ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID PERCOCET
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'LL PASS
IT BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT THIS
POINT WE WILL PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE APPLICANT
AS PARTY OF RECORD TO REZONE TO
REBUT THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
COMMUNICATION THAT OCCURRED AT
THE JANUARY 16, 2024 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. WE WILL
PROVIDE ONE MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
KIRA COSENZA, I'M THE DIRECTOR
OF FACILITIES FOR JEWISH FAMILY
SERVICE. THE APPLICANT FOR THE
REZONE THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF
COUNCIL BILL 120739. I'M
HERE TO BRIEFLY RESPOND TO THE
EX PARTE COMMUNICATION THAT
OCCURRED LAST WEEK, BASED ON
THE RECORD. THE COMMENTATOR
IMPLIED THAT THE EXISTING
BUILDING IS HISTORIC AND
PROPOSED FOR DEMOLITION UNDER
FALSE PRETENSES. THIS IS NOT
THE CASE. THE RECORD SHOWS THAT
THE BUILDING WAS CONSIDERED BY
THE CITY'S LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD AND THE
BOARD DECIDED AGAINST NATION.
EXHIBIT 54 IN THE RECORD
CONFIRMS THIS. HISTORIC
CONSIDERATIONS WERE FULLY
ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PERMITTING
AND REFUSAL PROCESS. THE RECORD
ALSO REFLECTS SIGNIFICANT
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
PUBLIC COMMENTS DURING THE
MASTER USE PERMIT, DESIGNER AND
HEARING EXAMINER PROCESSES. THE
EXAMINER ACCOUNTED FOR THE
PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED IN THE
RECOMMENDATION IN FAVOR OF
APPROVING THIS REASON. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, ANY
CLOSING REMARKS?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, JUST
BRIEFLY, INFORMATION, I'M
GOING TO ADDRESS BOTH THE CLERK
FILE IN THE COUNCIL BILL
SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS PROJECT IS
CURRENTLY SPLIT ZONED LOT WITH
LOW RISE ON ONE PORTION AND
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ON THE
OTHER. THE SITE IS LOCATED
WITHIN THE CAPITOL HILL URBAN
CENTER VILLAGE AND THIS
PROPOSED REASON WOULD CHANGE
THE ZONING ON THE LOWRISE
PORTION OF THE SITE TWO
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL IN
ORDER TO CREATE CONSISTENT
ZONING CONDITION ACROSS THE
ENTIRE PROJECT SITE. THIS
PROJECT WILL PROVIDE ANY NEW
RESIDENTIAL UNITS. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S
NOTHING ELSE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON RENTING
AS CONDITION?
>> IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON GRANTING AS CONDITION
THE CLERK FILE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> iMAC.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> iMAC.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CLERK FILE IS GRANTED AS
CONDITION DAY IN THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN THE FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS
AND DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS AND DECISION OF THE
COUNCIL ON MY BEHALF? MOVING
ON, THE CLERK HAS ALREADY READ
ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD SO I
MOVED ACCOUNTS PESTLE BILL
120737. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO PASS THE BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS
SPONSOR. YOU RECOGNIZE TO
ADDRESS THE ITEM IF YOU CARE
TO?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
EVERYTHING I SAID APPLIES TO
BOTH BILLS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. IF THERE IS NO OTHER
COMMENT WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> iMAC.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES IN THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION? COLLEAGUES, AT
THIS TIME WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
PROGROWTH PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA, THE AGENDA REFERRAL
CALENDAR OR THE COUNCIL'S WORK
PROGRAM. MADAME CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED 26
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
>> EXCELLENT. WE WILL GIVE EACH
PERSON ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK AND
TODAY WE'LL START WITH IN
CHAMBERS FIRST.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IN
CHAMBERS IS REVEREND HARRIET
WELDON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS REVEREND HARRIET WELDON
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN
FAVOR OF TONYA ABU TO BE
APPOINTED IN THE VACANT SEAT.
SHE RAN THE CAMPAIGN. IT TAKES
A LOT OF ENERGY, A LOT OF
COURAGE TO RUN AGAINST AN
INCUMBENT, AND SHE RAN A GOOD
CAMPAIGN, AND I BELIEVE THAT
SHE SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO THE
SEAT, THE VACANT SEAT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS LYNN TIE AND
THEN FOLLOWED BY ADMIN LOONEY
AND HALEY LIVED BELOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, THE LUNAR
NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS ARE UPON
US AGAIN FOR MANY EAST ASIAN
CULTURES IN THE NEXT COUPLE
WEEKS, THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON.
I WANT TO SHARE AN IMPORTANT
PRACTICE AND TRADITION OF THE
CULTURE OVER 4000 YEARS THAT'S
OFTEN BEEN OVERLOOKED. ON THE
EVENING OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR
THERE ARE SEVERAL RITUALS TO
INTENTIONALLY CAST OUT THE OLD
AND WELCOME THE NEW. A KIND OF
A GROWTH MINDSET THAT EMBRACES
POSSIBILITY, OPPORTUNITY AND
OPTIMISM. IN VIETNAMESE CULTURE
THE PRACTICE OF FORGIVENESS
EXTENDS TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND
FAMILY MEMBER , TO FULLY
EMBRACE A NEW YEAR WE HAVE TO
PRACTICE ALL THE GOODNESS THAT
COME OUT OF IT. ONE OTHER THING
IS THAT WE HAVE TO FORGIVE AND
ENCOURAGE AND CHALLENGE TO
FORGIVE HIS OR HER ENEMIES,
ANYONE WHO HE OR SHE HAD
HARBORED ILL WILL, DISLIKE,
CONTEMPT OR EVEN HATRED. THAT
PRACTICE OF FORGIVENESS IS DONE
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT
THE SUBJECT FOR GIVES DESERVE
IT OR NOT OR BEING AWARE OF IT
OR NOT. SO WITH THAT I HEREBY
ASK OUR COUNCILMEMBERS AND
EVERYONE HERE IN THE CHAMBER TO
JOIN ME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS AHMED MOONEY. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE RIDE-SHARE DRIVERS
ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE RIDE-SHARE
DRIVERS ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE
MORE THAN 4000 MEMBERS AND WE
ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
WE ARE CALLING ON WHATEVER THIS
ISSUE THAT YOU GUYS TAKE, YOU
SHOULD HAVE CONCERNED OF THE
RIDE-SHARE DRIVERS SAFETY. FAR
TOO MANY OF US HAVE BEEN KILLED
LATELY. THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
ABANDONED US. THERE IS NO
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR
ORGANIZATION AND CITY OF
SEATTLE. WE HAVE SENT NUMEROUS
PROPOSALS TO THE MAYOR AND WE
HAVE NOT HEARD BACK SO WHAT WE
ARE ASKING FOR IS WHOEVER THAT
YOU SUPPORT SHOULD BE SOMEBODY
THAT WILL ADDRESS THE CONCERN
AND SAFETY OF RIDE-SHARE
DRIVERS. THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING BAILEY WOULD BE
ABDI SCHEIER AND SHRI HEALTHY,
I BELIEVE .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US. TODAY YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE
LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL. THE
DECISIONS MADE TODAY, THE
PHYSICIANS MADE KNOWN AND THE
OUTCOME OF THIS APPOINTMENT
WILL REVERBERATE THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS
OF COUNTLESS WORKING PEOPLE WHO
LOOK TO YOU FOR LEADERSHIP AND
GUIDANCE. AND I WANT TO MAKE
THIS KNOWN -- WORKING PEOPLE
ARE WATCHING THIS APPOINTMENT
PROCESS. WE ARE LISTENING IN
AND WE ARE KEEPING TRACK. SCENE
WHO CHOOSES INTEGRITY,
OPENNESS, AND THE NEEDS OF
WORKING PEOPLE TO GOVERN OVER
OUR ONE SEATTLE, OVER THE
INTERESTS OF THE WEALTHY FEW. I
WANT TO MAKE THIS KNOWN. YOU
ARE OUR COUNCIL, TOO. YOU WERE
ELECTED BY WORKING PEOPLE, TOO,
AND IT IS YOUR PARAMOUNT'S
DUTY TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF
WORKING PEOPLE, AND NOT JUST
THE LARGEST DONORS. YOU ARE OUR
COUNCIL, TOO. IT IS TIME TO
GOVERN LIKE IT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS ABDI SHEARY. REMEMBER
I'M A LEADER OF THE EAST
AFRICAN COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE. I
WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
SAFETY AND GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR
CITY. WHICH HAS BECOME TOO
MUCH, AND I BELIEVE THEY WILL
TACKLE THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE
TO ENDORSE CITY COUNCIL
POSITION EIGHT FOR TONYA, SO IN
OTHER WORDS, IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE SO FAR DATA HAS
MENTIONED WE LOST SIX DRIVERS
AND STILL THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS NOT DONE, OR THE STATE, FOR
THE RIDE-SHARE DRIVERS. THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM A SHRIEK
ON MOKU , A NAVY VETERAN WHO
HAS BEEN LIVING IN SEATTLE
SINCE MARCH 2015. I'M HERE TO
ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSE AND
SUPPORT MY BROTHER IN ARMS,
LEANS HIGH, A U.S. ARMY VETERAN
WITH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
RECORD WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR MORE
THAN SIX YEARS NOW AS A
VOLUNTEER AND VETERAN PUBLIC
SERVICE MONITORING ORGANIZATION
CALLED MISSION GOOD NEWS, AND
WORKED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER ON
MANY PROBLEMS IN SEATTLE. LIEN
IS A THOUGHTFUL AND
COLLABORATIVE CIVIC LEADER WHO
BRINGS TO TABLE THE RARE SKILL
OF COMPASSIONATE LISTENING AND
GRASSROOT MICROLEVEL, AND BRING
IT TOGETHER FOR STRATEGY,
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AT
MACRO LEVEL. THIS I BELIEVE IS
AN IMPORTANT QUALITY WHICH WILL
PROVE INVALUABLE AS A MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL FOR
COMPLEX COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS.
HE CONTINUES TO BE CHARISMATIC
ROLE MODEL FOR VETERANS FOR
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT. I BELIEVE HE'S THE
RIGHT CANDIDATE WITH AN
IMPECCABLE RECORD OF CIVIC
SERVICE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT THREE COLORS WILL
BE JIM BUCHANAN FOLLOWED BY
ELMER DIXON AND JULIUS
ROBINSON.
>> OKAY. JIM BUCHANAN, ELMER
DIXON, JULIUS ROBINSON. OKAY.
JEREMY?
>> I'M SORRY. WOW.
>> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME BEFORE YOU START SO I CAN
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CALLING,
PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING IN ORDER?
>> JEREMY.
>> I'M ELMER. I GO FIRST.
>> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT SOME FUNDING THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE EARMARKED FOR
THE CITY AND I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT THE INEQUITY, AT LEAST
CHALLENGE THE INEQUITY IN
FUNDING. I'M SORRY FOR BEING
UNORGANIZED. I WAS ASKED TO
COME AND SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM
AND SO I'VE JUST BEEN HERE IN
SUPPORT OF THOSE FUNDS GOING
INTO THE CITY WHERE THEY
BELONG. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JEREMY
MOONEY. I AM THE COCHAIR FOR
587, THE BUS DRIVERS. MANY NICE
THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT ALL
THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE COMING
BEFORE YOU TODAY AND HOPE BOTH
BECOMING THE NEW COUNCILMEMBER.
WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT OUR
SUPPORT BEHIND VIVIAN SONG.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR NAME, SIR?
I'M SORRY.
>> MY NAME IS JULIUS CAESAR
ROBINSON. I WASN'T EXPECTED TO
BE CALLED UP THAT I'M HERE,
RIGHT, SO LET'S DO THIS. I'M
HERE IN SUPPORT OF EVERYBODY
THAT RAN FOR COUNCIL. ALSO I AM
HERE TO SPEAK ON WHAT THE
GENTLEMAN SPEAKER EARLIER --
NOT HERE TO SPEAK ON IT, I'M
HERE IN SUPPORT OF, LOOKING AT
RELOCATING THE FUNDING THAT WAS
ALLOCATED TO US THROUGH THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION,
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE WORK TO DO
OUT THERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE FUNDING. FOR YEARS, EVERY
YEAR, PEOPLE COME TO PEOPLE
LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS AND THEY
ALWAYS WANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU COME TO
US BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE
TRUST US, AND THEY KNOW US, AND
THEY SEE US, SO FUND US. RIGHT
NOW WE HAVE A HUGE GAP BETWEEN
THE POLICYMAKERS AND THE
COMMUNITY OUT THERE. THAT US
BRIDGE THAT GAP SO YOU CAN STOP
COMING TO US, ASKING FOR YOUR
INFORMATION AND YOU'LL ALREADY
HAVE THE INFORMATION FROM US.
THANK YOU AND YOU GUYS ARE
DOING A GOOD JOB. GOOD TO SEE
ALL OF YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
>> OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTERS
WILL BE DIANA ROBINSON AND
DIANA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LOIS
MARTIN. GO AHEAD, DIANA.
>> WOW, MY NAME IS DIANA
ROBBINS. I AM CALLING IN TO
SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT OF
TONYA WU TO POSITION EIGHT ,
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TONYA
AND HER GROUP FOR ABOUT 3 1/2
YEARS EVERY WEEK TO ADDRESS
ISSUES IN THE AREA AND
DISTRIBUTE SUPPLIES AND
RESOURCES. I THINK TONYA HAS
GOTTEN SOME FLACK FOR
DEMONSTRATING AGAINST A KING
COUNTY SHELTER BUT SHE'S NOT
AGAINST HELPING THE UNHOUSED.
SHE DOES A LOT OF WORK TO DO
ASSISTANCE. I'VE EVEN SEEN HER
DO CPR AND FIRST AID,
DISTRIBUTE SUPPLIES. SHE'S
VERY, VERY ACTIVE. SHE SPENDS
LOTS MORE TIME ASSISTING
UNHOUSED PEOPLE THAN PROBABLY
ANYBODY LISTENING TO THIS CALL
RIGHT NOW. EVEN THOUGH TONYA
AND I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON
SOMETHING, I KNOW SHE'S ALWAYS
OPEN TO DISCUSSION AND SHE RAN
AN EXCELLENT CAMPAIGN WHEN SHE
WAS TRYING TO GET THE INCUMBENT
FOR DISTRICT 2. AND I KNOW
TONYA WILL ACTIVELY DO HER BEST
TO HELP ALL THE RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES OF SEATTLE AND I
HOPE SHE GETS APPOINTED TO THIS
OPEN POSITION. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LOIS
MARTIN, AND LOIS WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY PAUL THE BURROUGHS.
GO AHEAD, LOIS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
LOIS MARTIN AND I AM A PROUD
SEATTLE NATIVE WHO GREW UP IN
SEATTLE'S CENTRAL DISTRICT
COMMUNITY. I KNOW FIRSTHAND
WHAT HAPPENS TO NEIGHBORHOODS
WHEN WE LACK REAL
REPRESENTATION ON OUR CITY
COUNCIL. I AM THANKFUL THAT THE
DISTRICT NOW IS CALLING FOR ITS
AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR
TONYA WU TO FILL THE CITY
POSITION EIGHT SO ALL SEATTLE
CITIZENS HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE
WHO VALUES OUR VOICE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CALLED THE BURROUGHS AND
PAUL WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SAMMY
SHETLER. GO AHEAD, PAUL, AND
YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> I'M POLDER BARBARA. I'M
REITERATING MY SUPPORT FOR
TONYA WE. I WAS STRUCK BY THE
EDITORIAL IN THE SEATTLE TIMES
THIS MORNING THAT POINTED OUT
THAT THE NEW COUNCIL REALLY WAS
ELECTED TO GET STUFF DONE AND
ARGUE ABOUT THEIR POINTS OF
VIEW ON PHILOSOPHY, THIS REALLY
IS A RED HERRING TO TALK ABOUT
THIS CONFLICT BETWEEN LABOR AND
BUSINESS. TONYA WU HAS WORKED
WITH THE UNHOUSED, WORKED ON
CRIME, TRANSPORTATION, BUDGET.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO
SEE, PEOPLE JUST PUT ON THE
GLOVES AND GET STUFF DONE.
SHE'S PROVEN THAT SHE CAN DO
THAT, SO PLEASE PUT HER IN THAT
SEAT. THANKS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SANDY
SHETLER, AND SANDY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ANGELA SOTO AT
SHARI. GO AHEAD, SANDY.
>> WOW, YES, THANK YOU. THIS IS
SANDY SHETLER AND I'M URGING
YOU TO VOTE FOR TONYA WU FOR
POSITION EIGHT POINT SEATTLE IS
RE-ENVISIONING OUR CITY WITH
NEW WORK PATTERNS, EQUITABLE
HOUSING, AND TREES SHADING ALL
OF US. TONYA'S YEARS OF WORK
SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND
HER FOCUS ON LIVABILITY ARE
EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ANGELA SOTO LUNCH HARWICH
FOLLOWED BY DANIEL GOMEZ NAVA.
GO AHEAD, ANGELA.
>> MY NAME IS ANGELA SOTO THE
CHARITY AND I AM A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER WORKING WITH
COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY WHO ARE
CHALLENGED BUT ALSO WHAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS CAPABLE OF
DOING IN FAVOR OF THE
WELL-BEING OF ITS CITIZENS. AT
THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
LEVELS SEATTLE IS A PIONEER
REGARDING WORKERS RIGHTS AND
TAKING THIS INTO CONSIDERATION,
I URGE YOU TO FULLY SUPPORT A
COUNCILMEMBER WHO CARES ABOUT
OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, SO WE
CAN CONTINUE OUR ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL AND THE REST OF A SMALL
AND POWERFUL GROUP SO ALL WILL
HAVE A CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DANIEL GOMEZ NAVA, AND
DANIEL WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANNA
MASON. GO AHEAD, DANIEL.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL THANK THE
CITY COUNCIL, I AM DANIEL
GOMEZ. I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 1 AND A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER WITHIN DISTRICT 1.
THE AGENDA ITEM I WANTED TO
ADDRESS WAS THE APPOINTMENT OF
CITY OF SEATTLE LEADER FOR
WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES AND I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AND NOT
THE SMALL GROUP THAT THINK THEY
HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT FOR THIS
APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR MONEY. I
WORK WITH FAMILIES, WORKERS AND
YOUTH. WE ARE PART OF THIS
HISTORY AND CALL THE CITY HOME.
WHAT IF SOMEONE IS TRULY
UNDERSERVED AND UNDERSTOOD THE
NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHO MUST
HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF
ADVOCATING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE,
EQUITABLE POLICIES AND THE
WELL-BEING OF ALL CITIZENS.
THIS APPOINTMENT IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE
COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC
PRINCIPLES AND ENSURE THAT ALL
VOICES OF ORDINARY CITIZENS ARE
NOW MET BY POWERFUL INTERESTS.
WE NEED A REPRESENTATIVE THAT
WILL CHAMPION HOUSING,
HEALTHCARE, EQUITABLE EDUCATION
AND VALUES THAT MAKE SEATTLE
PROGRESSIVE. I IMPLORE THE
COUNCIL TO UPHOLD DEMOCRATIC
IDEALS OUR CITY IS KNOWN FOR
AND TO PRIORITIZE THE NEED OF
THE MANY OVER THE FEW. OUR
AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF THE
WORKING CLASS AND MARGINALIZED.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ANNA MASON FOLLOWED BY KENNY
STEWART. GO AHEAD, AND.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ANNA
MASON AND I WANTED TO VOICE MY
SUPPORT FOR TONYA WE. SHE IS AN
ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY. MY
MOM WAS VERBALLY ASSAULTED AT A
BUS STOP BECAUSE OF HER
HERITAGE, YELLED AT AND TELLING
HER TO GO BACK TO HER COUNTRY
AND THAT SHE'S NOT WANTED
HERE, SO TODAY SHE'S STILL
AFRAID TO DAILY WALK AROUND THE
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FEAR OF IT
HAPPENING AGAIN AND NO WAY TO
DEFEND HERSELF. MY MOM WAS IN
HER 70s, UNDER FIVE FEET TALL
AND SHE'S DEFINITELY BEEN
MENTALLY AFFECTED BY THIS. THE
PERSON THAT URGED ME TO REPORT
IT AND GET RESOURCES FOR MY
MOM, TONYA WE. MY MOM RECEIVED
A CALL BY A PERSON FROM THE
ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER WHO COULD
UNDERSTAND HER FEARS. TONYA IS
MORE THAN QUALIFIED AND LISTENS
WITH COMPASSIONATE
UNDERSTANDING. I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO APPOINT TONYA FOR
THE OPEN SEAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KITTY STEWART AND KENNY WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY PATTY FONG. GO
AHEAD, KENNY.
>> MY NAME IS KENNY STEWART,
I'M A SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER AND
PRESIDENT OF SEATTLE
FIREFIGHTERS UNION LOCAL 27.
I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING
OVER 1000 SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS
AND PARAMEDICS TO ENCOURAGE YOU
TO SELECT TONYA WE FOR CITY
COUNCIL POSITION EIGHT POINT
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS ARE DEEPLY
ENGAGED IN THE POLITICAL
PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE
LIFESAVING SERVICE WE PROVIDE
IS A CRITICAL. CITY COUNCIL
MAKES DECISIONS THAT EITHER
SUPPORT OR UNDERMINE OUR
ABILITY TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE. IN A RECENT
ELECTION WE MET WITH MORE THAN
50 CANDIDATES TO LEARN ABOUT
WHO THEY ARE, HOW THEY MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT THE PRIORITIES
OF THE CITY. TONYA WU IS OUR
CHOICE THEN AND OUR CLEAR
CHOICE NOW BASED ON HER VALUES
FOR PUBLIC, COMMUNITY,
EXPERIENCE AND SEPTIC SAFETY IS
A TOP PRIORITY. TONYA HAS DEEP
ROOTS IN SEATTLE AND A LIFELONG
RESIDENT, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, A VOICE
FOR MARGINALIZED PEOPLE AND A
LEADER. SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS
WANT LEADERS WHO WILL LISTEN TO
PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY
INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE
ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY DAY
SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF
SEATTLE. LIKE DONNIE CHIN, WHO
IS A DEDICATED HERO FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMUNITY, TONYA IS
DRIVEN BY A SENSE OF PURPOSE,
PRAGMATIC VIEW AND A PASSION TO
SERVE. SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS
URGE YOU TO SELECT SEATTLE WE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PATTY
FONG AND PATTY WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY ASKARI ADDISON. GO AHEAD,
PATTY.
>> WOW, I'M PATRICIA FONG AND
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I SUPPORT TONYA WE FOR POSITION
EIGHT. I WORKED FOR HER
CAMPAIGN AND I SAW HOW WELL
TONYA WU RELATES TO THE
UNDERSERVED CID CONSTITUENTS. I
TALKED WITH DISTRICT 2
CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE VERY
IMPRESSED THAT TONYA WE WAS THE
CANDIDATE. ULTIMATELY THE
COUNCIL HAS LONG NEEDED A
COUNCILMEMBER WHO REALLY WILL
SHOW UP FOR PEOPLE IN SEATTLE,
LISTEN AND SERVE CAPABLY WITH
COMMITMENT, SINCERITY AND
EFFECTIVENESS. IT'S BEEN MY
EXPERIENCE THAT ONCE ELECTED
SOME COUNCILMEMBERS DON'T
RESPOND TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALSO UPPERMOST
OF MY CONCERNS. OUR CITY HAS A
LOT OF PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS
DOWNTOWN FREQUENTLY AND I LIVE
NEAR THE CID. UNCONFIDENT MS.
WU SUPPORTS STRONGER PUBLIC
SAFETY MEASURES FOR OUR
CHANGING CITY. FOR THE LIFELONG
SEATTLE RESIDENTS I SUPPORT
TONYA WU HAS THE MOST QUALIFIED
ON YOUR LIST TO FILL POSITION
EIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ASKARI ADDISON HE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER
GRIFFIN. GO AHEAD, ASKARI. YOU
MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF. OKAY. IT
LOOKS LIKE ASKARI IS NOT UNMUTE
THEM SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO
CHRISTOPHER GRIFFIN AND THEN WE
MAY COME BACK. GO AHEAD,
CHRISTOPHER.
>> JODY, JUST A QUICK NOTE
AFTER CHRISTOPHER, CAN I GO
BACK TO CHAMBERS PLEASE?
>> SURE.
>> THIS IS CHRISTOPHER GRIFFIN.
>> YES.
>> ON CHRISTOPHER GRIFFIN, I'M
A SEATTLE RESIDENT IN THE
MAGNOLIA AREA. I'M A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER AND A VETERAN OF
THE GULF AND I WOULD LIKE TO
SUPPORT A VERY PASSIONATE AND
CONSTRUCTIVE LEADER, VERY
HARD-WORKING. I KNOW SHE
STARTS THE DAY EARLIER THAN ME.
SHE STARTS THE DAY AT 5:00 IN
THE MORNING, VERY PASSIONATE
EVERYDAY ABOUT MAKING THE
SEATTLE AREA A MORE LIVABLE AND
JUST PLACE FOR THE WORKING
CLASS AND SHE'S VERY FOCUSED
ON PUBLIC SAFETY, SO THAT WAS
WHERE I WANT TO PUT MY SUPPORT.
SO THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE HAVE
ABOUT 15 IN PERSON REMAINING
AND FIVE REMOTES.
>> OKAY.
>> THE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS GOING TO GO BACK REALLY
QUICK TO MR. BUCHANAN, JIM
BUCHANAN.
>> OKAY.
>> NOW MAKE IT BACK TO WHERE WE
ARE AT. THE LAST SPEAKER IS KIM
CON BEEN FOLLOWED BY ARLENE
WONG AND I BELIEVE IT'S LUKE
WIGGER AND.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS KIM CON FUN AND THINK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME , THANK YOU
FOR ALL THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE
APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION. I
AM A FORMER REFUGEE FROM
VIETNAM, CAME AT THE AGE OF
SIX, SET OFF ALL THE WAY TO THE
HOUSING PROJECT IN SOUTH
SEATTLE. THE CONNECTION I HAVE
HERE WITH TONYA, AND I AM IN
SUPPORT OF TONYA, IS BECAUSE
THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT IN
1875 EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES, AND
NONE OF THAT HISTORY IS
ACTUALLY CURRENTLY HAPPENING
NOW. WHAT'S HAPPENING TO CID,
AND DURING THE PANDEMIC I
WITNESSED HER LEADERSHIP, HER
COMPASSION, HER SHOWING UP TO
AND FOR COMMUNITY BECAUSE
SHE'S WITH COMMUNITY. BY
LEADING MULTIRACIAL,
MULTICULTURAL, INTERGENERATIONA
L MOVEMENT TO DENOUNCE HATE OF
ALL FORMS , FROM THE UW,
ORGANIZING WITH STUDENTS AT UW,
ALL THE WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS. SO I DO HOPE THAT YOU
APPOINT SOMEONE WHO IS A
PEOPLE'S CHAMPION AND THAT'S
TONYA WE. THANK YOU.
>> IS IT ARLENE? IS THERE
ARLENE WONG? OKAY. AFTER EILEEN
THEN IT'S -- I BELIEVE IT'S
LUKE AND THEN FOLLOWING LUKE
WILL BE BETTY LAU AND G CHAN.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM
ARLENE WONG, A 60 PLUS YEARS
SEATTLE RESIDENT. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT MY LONGTIME COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER, WORKING COLLEAGUE,
TONYA WU. SHE'S A VERY CARING,
RESPONSIBLE PERSON WITH HONESTY
AND INTEGRITY. SHE CARES FOR
THE WELL-BEING OF OUR
COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR
SENIORS. WE NEED A PERSON LIKE
TONYA TO REPRESENT US FOR
BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND FOR
BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. FOR
MANY YEARS, DECADES, TONYA HAS
VOLUNTEERED HER TIME AND TALENT
FOR A BETTER SEATTLE. SHE
LISTENS, HELPS AND WORKS TOWARD
SOLUTIONS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND
TONYA WU FOR HER POSITION.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS LUKE. APOLOGIES
FOR GOING OVERTIME YESTERDAY.
FIRST I JUST WANT TO REITERATE
MY SUPPORT FOR MORRIS AVEON. I
CAN EMPHASIZE WITH HAVING
PARENTS COMMITTED TO SERVING
PEOPLE, YET I UNDERSTAND THE
PAIN OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOSE
THAT NORTH STAR. THAT'S WHY
I'M HERE TODAY. YESTERDAY I
MENTIONED IT WOULD BE A GRAVE
MISTAKE TO INSTALL A CORPORATE
LANDLORD OVER A CUP WHEN THOSE
VIEWS ARE ALREADY WELL
REPRESENTED ON THIS COUNCIL,
APPARENTLY GRANTING TONYA WU I
JUST DON'T THINK LANDLORDS,
PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO EVICT
PEOPLE, WHICH IS A VIOLENT
ACTION, SHOULD BE RUNNING THE
SORTS OF TENANT REGULATIONS
THAT PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE.
REGARDING OFFICER STEPHEN
STRAHAN AND MARK SOLOMON, I
DON'T BELIEVE IT'S
CANTANKEROUS TO MENTION THAT
THEIR DEPARTMENT ELECTED TOS
LEFT ABOUT HITTING AND KILLING
AN IMMIGRANT WOMAN OF COLOR
EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY. YOU
KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO CLEAN YOUR
HOUSE FIRST AND I WOULDN'T DARE
SHOW MY FACE IN PUBLIC RIGHT
NOW WITH THAT IN THE PAST. I'M
SORRY TO HEAR THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON AND
SOCKET DON'T APPRECIATE
PUBLIC DEBATE WHEN PEOPLE ARE
GETTING SCREWED BY A RIGGED
ECONOMIC SYSTEM. YOU KNOW
OVERSEE AND HAVE TO FIX THAT
SYSTEM, OTHERWISE PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO MAKE NOISE. YOU CAN
START BY TELLING HIM --
>> FOLLOWED BETTY LAU WILL BE G
CHAN AND THEN THE SIA CAN.
>> I'M BETTY LAU. TONYA WU
PROVIDES A VOICE FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
HAVE LIMITED TO NO ENGLISH, AS
PROVEN BY 50 OF THEM COMING TO
YESTERDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.
AND A BUNCH OF US WHO ARE
FLUENT IN ENGLISH WHO CAME. SHE
ALSO SPENDS HOURS TEACHING
CULTURAL DANCE TO SECONDARY
SCHOOL YOUTH AND YOU DON'T SEE
THEM HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN
SCHOOL. AND ALL THAT WORK IS
FROM HER HEART. CITY CLUB
UPDATE. THE POLL HAS NOW
CLOSED. ALMOST 1300 RESPONDENTS
PICKED TONYA WU AS NUMBER ONE.
TONYA WU, THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE.
TONYA WU, THE CANDIDATE FOR ALL
SEASONS, FOR ALL REASONS.
PLEASE PICK TONYA. THANK YOU.
>> BETTY?
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KEY CHAN.
I'M A LONG TIME SEATTLE
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3. I
BROUGHT THIS IN CASE I GET
TONGUE-TIED. I MISSED
YESTERDAY'S MEETING BECAUSE MY
HUSBAND AND I WERE AT FRED
HUTCH. FOR HIS CANCER. THAT
BEGAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. AND
THROUGH HIS CANCER TREATMENTS
WE HAVE VOLUNTEERED WITH TONYA.
WE BOTH WALKED THE CID STREETS,
PICKED UP NEEDLES AT THAT TIME,
AND PICKED UP TRASH. YOU KNOW
HE HELPED HER CAMPAIGN DURING
THE CANCER TREATMENT. HE CAN'T
BE HERE TODAY, SO I'M SPEAKING
FOR BOTH OF US. SO PLEASE,
TONYA IS -- OH GOSH -- EIGHT
SECONDS LEFT. SO PLEASE
CONSIDER TONYA AND THINK ABOUT
ALL THAT EVERYONE HAS SAID.
THANK YOU.
>> AND NEXT WE'LL HAVE TRICIA
KOHN, DIANA CHEN FOLLOWED BY
DON DRAGO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD
AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS TRICIA KOHN AND THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME
IN ON BEHALF OF TONYA WU. AFTER
YESTERDAY, WATCHING THE
PROCESS, I FEEL COMPELLED TO
COMMENT. THERE IS NO ONE ON
THIS COUNCIL , AS I REFLECT,
WHO LIVES AND REPRESENT OUR
CULTURE AND OUR COMMUNITY. MS.
WU HAS BEEN LIVING, BREATHING,
WORKING, MINGLING IN OUR
COMMUNITY WITH A MULTICULTURAL
FLARE AND COMMON SENSE. I URGE
YOU TO SELECT HER. LOOK AT WHAT
SHE HAS DONE SINCE A YOUNG AGE.
YOU HEARD EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT
THE MURAL SHE DREW, WHICH IS A
STOMPING GROUND FOR TOURISTS.
THE DRILL TEAM SHE HELPED
ORGANIZE FOR OUR HIGHLIGHT
SUMMER. THANK YOU.
>> DIANA CHEN FOLLOWED BY JOHN
DRAGO.
>> MY NAME IS DIANA CHEN. I AM
A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE FOR OVER
60 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING
ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I
AM HERE FOR TONYA WU. TONYA IS
A TRUE DAUGHTER OF SEATTLE.
TONYA'S FAMILY HAS LIVED IN
SEATTLE SINCE THE LATE 1800S,
GROWING UP ON BEACON HILL ,
RUNNING BUSINESS IN CID AND
WALLINGFORD. SHE NOW LIVES IN
REGNIER BEACH, BLOCKS AWAY FROM
THE SAFEWAY WHERE SEVERAL
SHOOTINGS OCCURRED. SHE'S WELL
AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS
GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
HAVING TONYA WU FILL THE SEAT
VACATED DUE TO MOSQUEDA'S
SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN, FOR HER TO
BE A KING COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER
IS IMPORTANT TO ALL UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES WHO NEEDS A VOICE.
SHE LISTENS TO THE COMMUNITY
AND WORK FOR THEIR BETTERMENT.
SHE PROVIDES EMPATHY AND
WILLINGNESS TO BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER. PLEASE SELECT TONYA
WU. THANK YOU.
>> JOHN DRAGO.
>> WOW. I'M JAN DRAGO, A
LONGTIME RESIDENT OF PIONEER
SQUARE. AND I FIRST WANT TO
CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU ON YOUR
WINNING CAMPAIGNS. THERE WAS
ONLY ONE ISSUE ON THE BALLOT,
AND THAT WAS PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND REMEMBER ALL THOSE PUBLIC
SAFETY FLYERS AND MAILERS YOU
SENT OUT. SO THAT IS THE ISSUE.
AND YOU'RE LUCKY TO HAVE
SOMEBODY, TO HAVE A CANDIDATE
THAT CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR
GOALS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT'S CAPTAIN STEVE STRAND.
HE'S UNIQUELY QUALIFIED FOR
THE JOB. HE'S WORKED IN ALL
FOUR PRECINCTS. HE KNOWS THE
CITY, NOT JUST ONE DISTRICT.
HE'S A BACK TO BASICS GUY
LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING
ABOUT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. HE'S
FAMILIAR WITH THE COMP PLAN AND
HE WILL LOVE -- THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS IN THE
SET IS EDDIE PARKS FOLLOWED BY
K Y KEENE GARRETT.
>> WOW, MY NAME IS EDDIE PARKS
AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS
THAT WAS -- THAT ALLOCATED $30
MILLION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ORIGINALLY YOU KNOW WE ASKED
FOR $1 BILLION TO BE ALLOCATED
TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE MAYOR
SETTLED FOR $100 MILLION IN
THIS LAST $30 MILLION OF THAT
$100 MILLION WENT THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. AND I'M HERE TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S COMING TO OUR
COMMUNITY, BOTH CAESAR AND
ELMER DIXON, WHAT THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT WAS ACTUALLY THAT
MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED FOR
OUR COMMUNITY. SO AS SOMEBODY
WHO IS A DESCENDENT OF AFRICANS
WHO WERE STOLEN AND BROUGHT TO
THIS COUNTRY, IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT THAT THIS MONEY IS
DIRECTLY PUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY
SO THAT WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE
NEED TO DO TO BUILD
INSTITUTIONS, TO CORRECT --
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND OUR LAST SPEAKER OF THE
SET --
>> YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND IN
THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS.
>> K LICK ANGER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. STRUCTURAL
ANTIBLACK RACISM IS SOCIALLY
ENGINEERED ECONOMIC INEQUITY
HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE
YOUR GREATEST THREAT TO PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE
ARE MANY VOICES HERE IN SUPPORT
OF A VOICE FOR CHINATOWN I.D.
FOR VACANT POSITION A .
WHOEVER YOU SELECT, WE HOPE
THAT IF IT IS A VOICE OF
CHINATOWN, THAT WE CAN WORK
WITH YOU AND THE COUNCIL, WORK
WITH THEM AND BE COUNCIL TO
ALSO DEVELOP AFRICA TOWN,
CENTRAL DISTRICT, THE BLACK
COMMUNITY, TO THE SAME LEVEL OF
HAVING INSTITUTIONS AND DRIVING
BUSINESSES AND BEEN A
DESTINATION, AND STILL HAVING
OWNERSHIP BY THE COMMUNITY. THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT WAS ONCE
REPORTED 90% BLACK WITH NEARLY
50% HOMEOWNERSHIP. NOW TOWARDS
10% BLACK AND 26% HOMEOWNERSHIP
IN THE CITY AND AT THE SAME
TIME YOU SEE RISING INCREASE IN
VIOLENCE. YOU RECENTLY PASSED A
BILLION-DOLLAR HOUSING LEVY AND
THERE'S AN EXCELLENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR SAFETY THROUGH
EQUITY BY --
>> THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> WE WANT TO RETURN BACK TO
REMOTE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. OUR
FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER WILL BE
ASKARI ADDISON AND ASKARI WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN LEE WU.
AND REMEMBER YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HELLO.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS ASKARI ADDISON,
I'M CALLING INTO SUPPORT TONYA
WU. ON A RECENT ARRIVAL TO
SEATTLE. I'M AN AFRICAN
DESCENDENT OF SLAVES AS WELL AS
A PERSON WHO HAS GONE THROUGH A
LOT OF TRIALS TO REACH WHERE I
AM TODAY. TONYA REPRESENTS NOT
ONLY ASIAN AMERICANS BUT
PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. SHE
HAS A KIND SPIRIT. SHE'S A
CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL. SHE
PUTS HER MONEY WHERE HER MOUTH
IS. I'VE SEEN HER ENDANGER HER
LIFE TO GO SERVE THE HOMELESS
COMMUNITY IN CHINATOWN AS WELL
AS TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE OF
ALL BACKGROUNDS, NOT ONLY ASIAN
AMERICANS, AND I IMPLORE YOU TO
GO SUPPORT TONYA WU FOR THE
VACANT CITY COUNCIL SEAT. MY
NAME IS ASKARI ADDISON. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS SUSAN LEE WU AND SUSAN WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID AMES. GO
AHEAD, SUSAN. AND YOU MAY NEED
TO PRESS STAR SIX. OKAY, WE'LL
MOVE ON TO DAVID HAYNES AND
COME BACK TO SUSAN. DAVID
HAYNES?
>> WOW, DAVID HAYNES. THANK
YOU. THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL THAT
DEFUNDED THE POLICE HAVE
CREATED A SOCIETY IMPLOSION AND
THEY HAVE JUST NOMINATED
GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS WHO HAVE
ALREADY IMPLEMENTED SOME OF
THEIR RACIST, WOKE, BOTTOM OF
THE BARREL BAD POLICIES. WE
NEED A FRESH VOICE. WE NEED
TONYA WU OR STEVE STRAND TO
CONTEND WITH ALL THE EVIL
CRIMINALS THAT HAVE MADE LIFE A
LIVING IN SEATTLE, AND IT
HASN'T IMPROVED WITH THE
MAYOR, WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING
INTERFERENCE FOR LOW-LEVEL DRUG
PUSHERS. IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ADVANCEMENT ARE MOVING FORWARD
IN THIS COMMUNITY AND I DARESAY
TONYA WU IS THE PEOPLE'S
CHOICE, AND I HOPE THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL MAKES A WISE
DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL TRY SUSAN
LEE WU. FOLLOWING SUSAN WILL BE
BERNARD K AND SUSAN, IF YOU'RE
ON THE LINE YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX. OKAY, DOESN'T
LOOK LIKE SHE'S ON THE LINE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO BERNARD K AND
RENARD WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
TIFFANY.
>> WOW. MY NAME IS BERNARD K.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
TONYA WU FOR CITY COUNCIL
POSITION. I'VE KNOWN TONYA
SINCE THE LEASE HOTEL BURNED IN
DECEMBER 2013. I DID HELP THE
FAMILIES TO CLEAN UP IN THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HOTEL AND
SHE AND I HAD MANY MEETINGS AT
MIDNIGHT DISCUSSING THE
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS. I HAVE
WALKED WITH TONYA ON THREE
OUTREACH WATCHES. I'VE
ATTEMPTED TO SAVE LIVES WITH
CPR AND NARCAN. I'VE ALSO
WATCHED HER TALK WITH THE
HOMELESS PEOPLE, ATTEMPTING TO
GET RESOURCES AND TONYA ALSO
JOINED ME DURING AN ACCIDENT.
SHE CAME WITH ME TO VISIT THE
INJURED STUDENTS AND BE WITH
ME. SHE'S BEEN A CLOSE FRIEND
OF MINE FOR MANY YEARS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE WE
DID HAVE SUSAN NEXT. SEASON,
ARE YOU THERE? PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX.
>> OKAY. TIFFANY McCALL. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO TIFFANY McCOY
FOLLOWED BY CRISCO APP. WAIT,
HERE IS SUSAN. TIFFANY, PLEASE
WAIT. SUSAN, WILL YOU GO AHEAD
PLEASE?
>> OKAY, JUST A MOMENT. ALL
RIGHT. TO THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WAS BORN AND
RAISED IN SEATTLE, BEACON HILL,
CHINATOWN. I'M SUSAN LEE WU,
THE FOUNDER OF SEATTLE
CHINATOWN BLOCK WATCH,
ESTABLISHED IN 2018. SINCE 2009
I WAS INVOLVED IN THREE OTHER
BLOCK WATCHES IN THE CID. IN
2020 OF JUNE I JOINED UP WITH
THE CID COMMUNITY NIGHTWATCH.
THIS IS HOW I MET TONYA WE.
THERE WERE TWO NIGHTLY SHIFTS,
10:00 P.M. TO 12:00 A.M. AND
12:00 A.M. TO 2:00 A.M.
COVERING THE ENTIRE CID. FOR
SIX MONTH STRAIGHT WE BIRTH
WORKED TERSELY ON THE STREETS
IN THE LATE HOURS PROTECTING
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WE LOVE SO
MUCH. THIS IS OUR HOME. WE WILL
PROTECTED AT ANY COST. TONYA WU
IS HERE FOR OUR CHINATOWN I.D.
COMMUNITY ON THE STREET, TAKING
ACTION TO SECURE SAFETY AND
WELFARE. WE CAN TRUST AND RELY
ON TONYA WU TO DO THE WORK.
SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NO ONE LIKE
HER IN THE CHINATOWN I.D.. THE
OTHER NIGHT I WAS WALKING HOME
TO MY CAR, SHE CALLED ON ME TO
ASSURE MY SAFETY UNTIL I DROVE
OFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
OF TONYA WU FOR CITY COUNCIL
POSITION EIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TIFFANY
McCOY. TIFFANY WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER, MS.
KELLER. GO AHEAD, TIFFANY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
TIFFANY McCOY. I'M THE POLICY
ADVOCACY DIRECTOR AT HOUSE OUR
NEIGHBORS. ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT POLICY DOCUMENTS THAT
YOU WILL WORK ON THIS NEXT YEAR
IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THIS
IS OUR CITY PLAN TO DOCUMENT
THAT WILL HELP LAY THE GROUND
FOR ADDRESSING OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS AT SCALE AND TO
MEET OR EXCEED OUR CLIMATE
GOALS. THE SEATTLE COUNCIL
NEEDS TO ADD A COUNCILMEMBER
WHO WILL BRING POLICY
EXPERIENCE AND BE ABLE TO DO
ALL OF THAT WITHOUT FOCUSING ON
A REELECTION CAMPAIGN. PLEASE
PICK SOMEONE BASED ON THEIR
POLICY CHOPS, THEIR POLICY
EXPERIENCE, NOT BASED ON THEIR
LOYALTY, AND PLEASE DON'T
RELITIGATE THE PAST ELECTION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER WILL BE CRISCO APP.
AND CHRIS, YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS -- GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. CAN
EVERYBODY HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> MY NAME IS CRISCO. I'M AN
ATTORNEY, SMALL BUSINESS CENTER
AND ALSO ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT
SEATTLE U LAW SCHOOL. AS OF
LAST AUGUST I ALSO BECAME A
HOME INVASION ROBBERY VICTIM
HERE IN SOUTH SEATTLE. I'VE HAD
THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE OF
COLLABORATING DIRECTLY WITH
TONYA WU IN ADDRESSING AND
COMBATING HOME INVASIONS AND
HATE CRIMES MORE GENERALLY. I
HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND TONYA'S
LEADERSHIP, HER GENUINE
COMPASSION AND DEDICATION TO
THE COMMUNITY. I URGE YOU
PLEASE SELECT TONYA WU .
>> THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE
ON TO IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
AMELIA, DO WE HAVE MORE IN
PERSON SPEAKERS?
>> WE DO HAVE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS. WE'RE GOING TO DO
THE LAST THREE BERKOWITZ ELMER
DIXON FOLLOWED BY ALEX FOREMAN
AND MARK TAYLOR CANFIELD.
>> OKAY, ELMER DIXON.
>> HE ALREADY SPOKE.
>> EXCUSE ME? OKAY, THANK YOU.
ALLEN ZIMMERMAN?
>> YEAH. MY NAME IS ALEX
FOREMAN AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK
ABOUT DISTRICT 8. ZIG KYLE, MY
LOVELY COUNCIL. MY QUESTION
RIGHT NOW IS VERY SIMPLE. CAN
700,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE 7
MILLION ILLEGAL CONCENTRATION
CAMP PEOPLE WHO MAKE SEATTLE?
NO, THIS CANNOT. FOR 20 YEARS
IT'S NEVER HAPPENED. IT'S
NEVER HAPPENED NOW RIGHT NOW
YESTERDAY SEATTLE NUMBER ONE
WHICH CITY IN AMERICA. WE PAY
FOR FOOD MORE THAN EVERYBODY.
YOU DID THIS. PART OF THE
700,000 SUPERSMART IDIOTS, YOU
KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS, THIS
TOTAL COLLAPSE. CAN YOU CHANGE
THIS? NO. WE ARE NOT GOING TO
HEAR. WE PAY MORE AND MORE AND
MORE. STAND UP, AMERICA.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I TELL
YOU, FASCISTS. BYE-BYE MY
FRIENDS.
>> SIR, THOSE -- YOU WERE DOING
GREAT UNTIL THE LAST AND I DO
HAVE TO REMIND YOU THAT THOSE
REMARKS ARE CONSIDERED THREATS,
PERSONAL ATTACKS AND ABUSIVE
LANGUAGE. YOU'VE BEEN TOLD
THIS THE PAST SEVERAL MEETINGS
AND YOU'RE INTENTIONALLY
DISRUPTING AND DISTURBING THE
ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS
MEETING. THAT WILL NOT
CONTINUE. NEXT TIME YOU WILL BE
ASKED TO NOT RETURN TO
CHAMBERS. GO ON.
>> MY NAME IS MARK TAYLOR
CANFIELD. I SERVE AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR MOCKER SEAWATCH,
WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL
NONPROFIT NEWSAGENCY. TODAY
I'M HERE TO SPEAK AS A
MUSICIAN ABOUT A VERY HISTORIC
AND VENERABLE INSTITUTION
CALLED THE TRADING MUSICIAN.
FOR OVER A GENERATION SEATTLE
MUSICIANS HAVE BEEN SERVED
EXTREMELY WELL BY THIS FABULOUS
MUSIC SHOP BUT WE JUST HEARD
THAT IT'S BEING SOLD AND WILL
SOON CLOSE. SO TO EDDIE VEDDER
AND BRANDI CARLILE AND DAVE
MATTHEWS, WHERE ARE YOU? WE
NEED YOU TO BUY THIS AND KEEP
IT OPEN. YOU'VE GOT TO SAVE
THE TRADING MUSICIAN! YOU'VE
GOT TO SAVE THE TRADING
MUSICIAN! YOU'VE GOT TO SAVE
THE TRADING MUSICIAN! NO MATTER
WHAT YOUR POSITION, I SAID
YOU'VE GOT TO SAVE THAT
TRADING MUSICIAN, YEAH YEAH
YEAH! WELL IT SERVES ALL OVER
TOWN, SERVED US UP AND IT
SERVED US DOWN! GOT TO SAVE THE
TRADING MUSICIAN! GOT TO SAVE
THE TRADING MUSICIAN! I SAID NO
MATTER WHAT YOUR POSITION,
YOU'VE GOT TO SAVE THAT
TRADING MUSICIAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> PUTTING A LITTLE PLUG IN FOR
THE MUSIC COMMISSION. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, WE'LL BE DEALING
WITH THOSE ISSUES THIS YEAR.
>> THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S THE END OF OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. I NOW
PROCLAIM THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD CLOSED FOR TODAY. THERE
WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR AND THERE
WERE NO RESOLUTIONS FOR
INTRODUCTION IN ADOPTION TODAY,
SO WE MOVE ON. FIRST OF ALL,
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND
WELCOME AGAIN THE CANDIDATES
FOR COMING TO CHAMBERS AND ALSO
MOST OF ALL FOR STEPPING UP TO
SERVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW
IN CASE THE VIEWING PUBLIC OR
ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE IS
JUST TUNING IN TO WHAT WE'RE
DOING HERE, I WANT TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY IN THE
TIMELINE THAT GOT US HERE
TODAY. SO ANTICIPATING THE
RESIGNATION OF COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA, STAFF AND OUR
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT BEGAN
BUILDING A FRAMEWORK IN
DECEMBER TO PREPARE FOR FILLING
THE VACANCY FOR POSITION EIGHT.
MUCH OF THIS PROCESS IS DEFINED
IN THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
AND THE CHARTER REQUIRES THAT
WE FILL THE VACANCY WITHIN 20
DAYS. SO THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN
GUIDED BY WHAT'S IN THE LAW,
OUR ABILITY TO BE NIMBLE, AND
THE EFFORTS OF MANY WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT. ON DECEMBER 26, A
WEBSITE WAS LAUNCHED DESCRIBING
THE PROCESS FOR THE VACANCY,
QUALIFICATIONS FOR,
APPLICATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS
ON HOW TO APPLY. ON JANUARY 2,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
OFFICIALLY RESIGNED AND THE 20
DAY CLOCK STARTED ON JANUARY 3.
AT OUR FIRST CITY COUNCILMEMBER
MEETING ON JANUARY 2, CITY
CLERK SERENE DEDMAN PROVIDED AN
OVERVIEW OF THE VACANCY FILLING
PROCESS AND WE ADOPTED A
CALENDAR OF REQUIRED ACTIONS BY
UNANIMOUS VOTE. ON JANUARY 3,
APPLICATIONS OPENED FOR
INTERESTED CANDIDATES AND FOR
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE,
COMMUNITY GROUPS WERE INVITED
TO ALSO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS IF
THEY WANTED TO HOST A PUBLIC
MEETING OR PROVIDE INPUT INTO
THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED
THERE. ON JANUARY 9 THE
APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSED AT
5:00 P.M. AND WE HAD 72
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. THEIR
REDACTED APPLICATION MATERIALS
WERE DISTRIBUTED TO
COUNCILMEMBERS AND POSTED
ONLINE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 12.
WHICH BEGAN IN AN EXECUTIVE
SESSION DURING WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS DISCUSSED THE
QUALIFICATIONS THEY'D LIKE TO
SEE IN THE APPOINTEE AND THE
MERITS OF SOME INDIVIDUAL
APPLICANTS. WHEN WE RECONVENED
IN OPEN SESSION FOLLOWING
PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE SELECTED
SEATTLE CITY CLUB TO HOST A
PUBLIC FORUM AND APPROVED A
PROCESS BY WHICH WE NEVER THE
CANDIDATE POOL TO A MANAGEABLE
NUMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT
FORUM AND WE DID BOTH BY
UNANIMOUS VOTE. PER THAT
PROCESS, COUNCILMEMBERS THEN
EACH NOMINATED ONE APPLICANT
FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT TO MOVE
FORWARD AS FINALISTS. ON
JANUARY 18 CITY CLUB HOSTED AND
MODERATED THE REQUIRED PUBLIC
FORUM DOWNSTAIRS IN THE LANDIS
ROOM AND YESTERDAY, JANUARY 22
WE HELD A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AT WHICH CANDIDATES
GAVE THREE-MINUTE PRESENTATIONS
AND COUNCILMEMBERS HAD 10
MINUTES EACH TO MAKE REMARKS
AND ASK QUESTIONS OF THE
CANDIDATES. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC HAVE ALSO HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PUBLIC
COMMENTS FOUR TIMES OVER THE
LAST 20 DAYS. ON JANUARY 2, 12,
22nd AND TODAY, JANUARY 23. I
THINK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR
ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION
AND INTEREST IN THIS PROCESS.
LET'S NOT LET THE
WEAPONIZATION OF A LEAKED
THIRD-PARTY EMAIL DISTRACT US
FROM WHAT SHOULD BE A
CELEBRATION OF MAKING THIS BODY
HOLE SO WE CAN GO ABOUT THE
IMPORTANT WORK OF THE CITY. I
BELIEVE THAT CAN SERVE AS AN
EFFORT TO CAST DOUBT ON THE
INTEGRITY OF THIS PROCESS AND
THE OUTCOME OF OUR DECISION
TODAY. IT'S ALSO RESPECTFUL OF
THE HOURS AND HOURS OF WORK
THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
STAFF PUT INTO RUNNING A CLEAN
PROCESS AND IT CAN BE INSULTING
TO THE 20 DAYS OF DUE DILIGENCE
THIS COUNCIL HAS PUT INTO
VETTING CANDIDATES IN GOOD
FAITH . SO AS EXPECTED, THERE
HAS BEEN INTENSE CONSTITUENT
GROUP ADVOCACY FROM THE MOMENT
FINALISTS ARE ANNOUNCED AND
WE'VE LISTENED TO ALL SIDES
AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON FROM
ANY DIVISIVENESS GOING FORWARD.
SO MOVING ON WITH THAT, I WILL
-- I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT A
VOTING PROCEDURE FOR THE
APPOINTMENT OF CITY COUNCIL
POSITION EIGHT TO BE AS FOLLOWS
-- AS THERE I WILL MOVE TO
NOMINATES ALL EIGHT FINALISTS
TO FILL POSITION EIGHT UNTIL A
CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER 2024
SPECIAL ELECTION FOR POSITION
EIGHT IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIED
. AFTER THE MOTION IS SECONDED,
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE GIVEN AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS
ABOUT THE EIGHT NOMINEES, THE
FACTORS OR CRITERION THEY USED
IN DECIDING WHOM TO SUPPORT AND
ANY OTHER INFORMATION THEY WISH
TO SHARE BEFORE VOTING BEGINS.
WHEN IT IS TIME TO VOTE ON
APPOINTING ONE NOMINEE TO FILL
THE VACANCY, THE CLERK WILL
CALL THE ROLE. COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL RESPOND BY STATING THE
NAME OF THE NOMINEE THEY WISH
TO APPOINT. COUNCILMEMBERS MAY
NOT CHANGE THEIR VOTE UNTIL THE
NEXT ROUND OF ELECTIONS, SHOULD
THERE BE ONE. IF ONE NOMINEE
RECEIVES FIVE VOTES OR MORE,
THAT INDIVIDUAL IS APPOINTED TO
FILL POSITION EIGHT AND WILL
ASSUME OFFICE IMMEDIATELY AFTER
ACCEPTING THE POSITION. AND
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE. IF
ONE NOMINEE DOES NOT RECEIVE
FIVE VOTES THEN WE WILL REPEAT
THE VOTING PROCESS UNTIL ONE
NOMINEE RECEIVES FIVE OR MORE
VOTES AND BEFORE EACH ROUND
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL ARE THERE A?
OKAY. THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE VOTING PROCEDURE?
>> I LOST TRACK OF WHERE YOU
WERE IN THE DISCUSSION.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE VOTING
PROCEDURES FOR THE APPOINTMENT
OF CITY COUNCIL POSITION 8?
>> HAS MEMBER MORALE IS.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE .
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> I'M SORRY, YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
EACH IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THIS
CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW VOTE. WE
ARE NOT YET AT THE EXPLAINING
WHY WE ARE BODING WHY YOU ARE
YET PART. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL
NOW VOTE TO FILL THE CITY
COUNCIL POSITION 8. I WILL MOVE
TO NOMINATE ALL EIGHT
FINALISTS, AND THEN WE WILL
PROCEED TO THE INDIVIDUAL
VOTES. FIRST I WILL MOVE TO
NOMINATE ALL EIGHT FINALISTS AS
CANDIDATES TO FILL POSITION 8
UNTIL HE CANDIDATE IN THE
NOVEMBER 2011 SPECIAL ELECTION
IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. AND
I'M DOING THIS, BY THE WAY,
BECAUSE WE NOMINATED FINALISTS,
AND WE HAVE TO OFFICIALLY
NOMINATE THEM AS -- AS THE
ACTUAL CANDIDATES TO FILL THE
POSITION. NOMINEES ARE AS
FOLLOWS. MARK SOLOMON, VIVIAN
SONG, STEVE STRAND, LYNN TY,
AND TONYA WILL. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO NOMINATE ALL EIGHT
FINALISTS AS SECOND TO FILL UP
THE CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER
2020 SPECIAL ELECTION FOR
POSITION EIGHT IS ELECTED AND
QUALIFIED. I WILL NOW OPEN THE
FLOOR TO COMMENTS AND I WILL
CLOSE THE DISCUSSION AND
PROCEED TO A VOTE. I'M NOT
GOING TO DO THIS IN ANY
PARTICULAR ORDER. JUST TRY TO
GET MY ATTENTION AND YOU MAY
SPEAK.
>> I WILL GO FIRST, THANK YOU.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL
EIGHT NOMINEES, AND MORE
BROADLY, ALL 72 WHO APPLIED FOR
THE OPEN POSITION 8. I
ENCOURAGE ALL TO BECOME
CYNICALLY ENGAGED, IF NOT
ALREADY. I BELIEVE MOST ARE,
AND ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGE
PARTICIPATION IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY
COUNCILS. I ALSO WANT TO THINK
THE COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS FOR EXPRESSING
SUPPORT FOR THE APPLICANTS AND
THEN FOR THE EIGHT NOMINEES.
THERE HAS BEEN MANY LETTERS OF
WHICH I HAVE SOME HERE WITH ME.
EMAILS I PERSONALLY RECEIVED
WELL OVER 5000, AND SOME SENT
MORE THAN ONE, AND THEN ALSO
THROUGH THE CANDIDATE WARM.
GOOD GOVERNANCE REQUIRES DUE
DILIGENCE, AND ALSO
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTRANCE
PARENTS. TO THIS POINT, WE
REVIEWED ALL 72 APPLICANT
PACKAGES TO INCLUDE THEIR
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS. I
CREATED A GROUP OF 15, AND OF
THIS GROUP, ALL 8 OF THE
NOMINEES WERE INCLUDED. I
SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT I HAVE
KNOWN ONE CANDIDATE, LINH THAI,
FOR THE BETTER TIME OF A
DECADE. IN THE SECOND FOR THE
PAST FEW YEARS, STEVE STRAND.
AND OF COURSE, WITH THE
ELECTION AND TRANSITION, I ALSO
GOT TO MEET AND KNOW TANYA WOO
, NEHA NARIYA, VIVIAN SONG, AND
MARK SOLOMON. I HAVE NOT MET,
PRIOR TO LAST WEEK, TWO
CANDIDATES. TRENT EIGHT AND
MARI SUGIYAMA UNTIL LAST WEEK
WHEN I MET ALL EIGHT AGAIN IN
PERSON. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE
A POINT HERETO, IN TERMS OF THE
PROCESS THAT I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE CANDIDATE FORM.
I REVIEWED IT, LOOKED AT IT,
AND IT WAS REALLY VERY WELL
DONE. THANK YOU TO THE CITY
CLERK. ALL 8 HAVE IMPRESSIVE
BACKGROUNDS AND STORIES, AND I
FEEL CONFIDENT THAT ALL CAN
SERVE AS SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS. THE CRITERIA FOR MY
DECISION FOR EVALUATING FIRST
IS LEADERSHIP AND GOOD
GOVERNANCE. IMPORTANTLY, WORK
AND PROFESSIONAL X BURIEN'S,
ACADEMIC BACKGROUNDS, AND
PROBABLY MOST WEIGHTED, CIVIC
INVOLVEMENT. BEING A CIVIC
VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY LEADER
IS IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY
GAINING THAT X VARIANCE WORKING
WITH ALL ELEMENTS OF CITY
GOVERNMENT AND THUS GAINING
THAT PERSPECTIVE. I AM ALSO
MINDFUL OF THE COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS THAT THE POSITION
WILL HOLD , THE CHAIR AND
SUSTAINABILITY, CITY LIGHTS,
ARTS AND CULTURE, AND VICE
CHAIR WITH COUNCIL RIVERA , AND
ALSO BEING A MEMBER OF THE
TRANSPORTATION, LAND USE,
HOUSING, AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEES. MY DECISION PROCESS
IS BASICALLY WHAT I JUST SAID,
THE ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND
SOLELY THAT. LAST WEEK, I
QUOTED PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND I
FEEL LIKE I SHOULD DO IT AGAIN
WHEN HE SAID I PLEDGE MYSELF TO
A CONTINUOUS ENCOURAGEMENT OF
INITIATIVE, RESPONSIBILITY, AND
ENERGY IN SERVING THE PUBLIC
INTEREST. MY HOPE IS THAT FOR
POSITION 8 AND FOR ALL OF US,
WE DO THAT ENCOURAGEMENT OF
ENERGY IN SERVING THE PUBLIC
INTEREST. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY -- LET ME SEE.
OKAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, TODAY WE
HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT CHOICE TO
MAKE. IT IS ONE THAT THE VOTERS
OF OUR CITY TOOK TO YEARS AGO
WHEN THEY VOTED TO RE-ELECT
TERESA MOSQUEDA WITH 150,000
VOTES. WITH THIS VOTE, THEY
VOTED FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A
DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF LAND-USE, OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND YOU
WOULD KNOW HOW TO LEAD THE CITY
THROUGH A BUDGET CRISIS. BUT
TERESA IS NOT HERE, SO TODAY,
WE MUST CHOOSE TO PUT THE
NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOVE
ALL ELSE. IF WE DON'T, AND IF
THIS WHOLE PROCESS WAS A
FOREGONE CONCLUSION MONTH IN
THE MAKING, WE WILL BE DOING
EVERYBODY A DISSERVICE,
INCLUDING THIS BODY AND THE
CITY. AND EVERYONE WHO RELIES
ON US TO MAKE INFORMED, CRUCIAL
DECISIONS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT
AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES.
BECAUSE OF THIS, I AM
DISAPPOINTED IN HOW THIS ASSESS
TURNED OUT. THIS APPOINTMENT
PROCESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET UP
TO GIVE ALL CANDIDATES A FAIR
SHAKE. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
ABOUT IDENTIFYING SOMEONE THAT
CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING,
SOMEONE WHO CAN DELIVER FOR THE
ENTIRE CITY. BUT INSTEAD, IT
DID BECOME ABOUT BIG BUSINESS,
TELLING DONORS THAT THEY EARN
THE RIGHT TO TELL THIS COUNCIL
WHO TO CHOOSE, AND THAT IS
DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC AND IT IS
ANTIDEMOCRATIC . SEATTLE VOTERS
HAVE BEEN CLEAR OVER AND OVER
AGAIN THAT THEY REJECT THE
NOTION THAT SPECIAL INTEREST
HAVE A RIGHT TO BUY OUR
ELECTIONS. AND IT DOES ALL OF
US A DISSERVICE WHEN WE MUDDY
THE WATERS OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED
TO BE A CLEAR ENTRANCE PARENT
PROCESS. AS I SAID IN OUR FIRST
COUNCIL MEETING OF THE YEAR, I
WILL DO MY BEST TO WORK WITH
THIS COUNCIL TO GIVE THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE THE SERVICES
THEY NEED AND THE SERVICES THEY
DESERVE, AND TO HELP CREATE A
CULTURE OF COLLEGIALITY. I
THINK WE'VE ALL SAID THAT. WE
ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS
IMPORTANT. AND I NEED TO BE
CLEAR THAT THIS COUNCIL
NOMINATED TWO OF MY GENERAL
ELECTION OPPONENTS TO SERVE AS
FINALISTS. SO REGARDLESS OF
WHAT HAPPENS TODAY, WE MUST
FIND A PATHWAY FORWARD. I AM
TURNING MY ATTENTION TO ALL WHO
ARE WATCHING AT THIS POINT. SO
THIS IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT TO
ASK, WHO WE ARE AS A CITY, WHO
WE ARE AS SEATTLEITES. THIS IS
JUST THE BEGINNING OF THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT DEMOCRACY,
ESPECIALLY IN THIS PARTICULAR
YEAR WHEN THERE SO MUCH
CYNICISM ALREADY BEING TWO OF
THE NATIONAL LEVEL. I ENCOURAGE
FOLKS TO STAY ENGAGED, STAY
CONNECTED, AND MOST OF ALL, TO
VOTE. WE HAD THE LOWEST VOTER
TURNOUT IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.
IN NOVEMBER. SO TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS, TO THE RESIDENTS
OF THE CITY, TO THOSE WHO
APPLIED TO THIS POSITION AND
DIDN'T GET A FAIR SHAKE, AND
TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ON
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR HERE IN
CHAMBERS, TO THOSE WHO WON'T
CAN LEAD TO POWER, BUT RATHER
MAKE DEMANDS OF POWER, LET THIS
COUNCIL VOTE THE CATALYST FOR
YOUR ENTRY INTO PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC ACTION
AND PUBLIC SERVICE. WE START
NOW, WE START TODAY, AND I AM
READY TO STAND ALONGSIDE ALL OF
YOU, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
WHO IS HERE. IN QUEUE, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GO. I
DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS SUPPOSED
TO RAISE MY HAND. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. FIRST, I
WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST
GRATITUDE TO THE 8 EXCEPTIONAL
CANDIDATES WITH STEPPED FORWARD
TO SERVE OUR CITY. YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS NOT ONLY
COMMENDABLE, BUT IT IS VITAL
FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR
DEMOCRACY. OVER THE LAST THREE
WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH
BRIEFINGS, MEETINGS AND
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE
HELPED ME GAIN INVALUABLE IN
LIGHT INTO THE ATTRIBUTES THAT
MAKE AN EFFECTIVE CITY
COUNCILMEMBER. THE EXPERIENCE
HAS SHARPENED MY UNDERSTANDING
OF THE MULTIFACETED NATURE OF
THIS ROLE AND THE DIVERSE NEEDS
OF OUR CITY. AS WE MAKE THIS
APPOINTMENT, I AM GUIDED BY A
CLEAR VISION FOR OUR CITY. THE
ONES THAT THE VOTERS HAVE ALSO
SAID, AND THE ONES THAT ARE CAN
SITUATE THAT WE SERVE. PUBLIC
SAFETY IS A PRIORITY.
ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF
HOMELESSNESS. THE VIRTUE OF OUR
YOUTH, OUR BABIES. ECONOMIC
GROWTH. ENHANCING THE
AFFORDABILITY OF OUR CITY FOR
ALL RESIDENTS, AND BUILDING
SEATTLE TO BE OUR HOME. THESE
ISSUES ARE NOT JUST POLITICAL
TALKING POINTS. THEY ARE THE
VERY FABRIC OF OUR DAILY LIVES,
AND AFFECTING US IN VERY
DIFFERENT, PROFOUND WAYS. I
THOUGHT SOME OF THESE QUALITIES
IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
NEHA NARIYA, I SAW YOUR
EXPERIENCE WITH THE PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR COMMON
GOOD, FOR COMMUNITY GOOD. I SAW
THAT FIRSTHAND OF THE CIVIC
HOTEL . TONYA, I SAW YOUR
IMMENSE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND
YOUR COMMITMENT TO BEING AN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER AND
ALSO A COMMUNITY LEADER.
VIVIAN, I SAW YOUR PASSION FOR
OUR BABIES, SCHOOL, OUR YOUTH.
ALSO, YOUR BACKGROUND IN BUDGET
AND FINANCING WAS PHENOMENAL.
YOUR DEEP SEATTLE ROOTS. FROM
TALKING TO PEOPLE AND YOUR
PASSION FOR NONPROFIT WORK. I
SAW THAT. MARK, YOUR COMMITMENT
TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND
HEALTHY EVERY DAY, FROM TALKING
TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT YOUR
SUPPORT FROM OUR SERVICE FROM
RAYNOR BEACH ALL THE WAY TO THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. CAPTAIN
STEVE, YOUR SERVICE. I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS TALKED
ABOUT IT. SERVICE OVER SELF,
AND HOW YOU PUT PUBLIC SAFETY
FIRST TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY
SAFE. YOUR FAMILY LEGACY, LIKE
MINE, IS ROOTED IN SEATTLE FOR
THE GREATER GOOD, FROM YOUR
FATHER TO YOUR GRANT. THAT
LEGACY THAT IS ROOTED HERE IN
SEATTLE THAT STILL CONNECT WITH
OUR FABRIC TODAY. AND YOUR
COMMITMENT TO GOOD GOVERNANCE,
AND YOUR PASSION TO SERVE.
HUGE. EVERY TIME WE TALKED,
THAT WAS COMING OUT FROM YOU.
IT'S WITH THESE PRIORITIES IN
MIND THAT I BELIEVE MY VOTE FOR
THE COUNCIL VACANT THE WILL BE
SOMEONE WHO PRIORITIZES THESE
VALUES, BUT ALSO WORKS IN THE
TIERED OF COLLABORATION.
HISTORICALLY, THESE
APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT
IN THE LACE HOLDERS. HOWEVER, I
FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY DAY
IS A SERVICE AND AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY MAKE A MEANINGFUL
IMPACT. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY
THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
ALWAYS POWER IN COMMUNITY, AND
A LOT OF TIMES, I DON'T THINK
WE DO THAT, AND I THINK WE SAW
THAT WITH THIS ELECTION, AND
WE SAW IT WITH PEOPLE JUST IN
GENERAL. THERE'S ALWAYS POWER
IN COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO
THROW THAT OUT THERE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WANT TO SECOND
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH JUST SAID. AND
ALSO, YESTERDAY, I SPENT ABOUT
10 MINUTES THINKING ABOUT HALF
THE CANDIDATES, SO I'M GOING
TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AT
THE END ABOUT THOSE THAT I
DIDN'T GET TO THINK ABOUT
WITH. REVIEWING EACH OF YOUR
COMPLICATIONS, IT WAS AN
ABSOLUTE HONOR TO GET TO KNOW
YOU. I WATCHED THE FORM 2.5
TIMES, ONCE IN PERSON AT HOME
AND ONCE IN THE OFFICE, AND
I'M INCREDIBLY IN REST WITH
EACH OF YOU AS A WHOLE.
SPEAKING WITH FORMER COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND FORMER VICE
FINANCE CHAIR LAST NIGHT, JAN
PROVIDED PUBLIC TESTIMONY
TODAY. AS A FIRST TIME -- I
THINK TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH
FIRST-TIME SPEAKER, BUT
LONGTIME LISTENER. I WAS
SPEAKING TO FORMER COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ABOUT THE APPLICANTS,
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE FACT
THAT YOU AS A COHORT EXEMPLIFY
THE BEST PARTS OF OUR CITY,
PUBLIC SERVICE AND CIVIL
SERVICE. HER RESPONSE TO ME
WHEN I WAS SAYING THESE THINGS
IS PROFOUND, EVEN THOUGH I
THINK SHE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS
EVIDENT TO EVERYONE, JUST
COMMON KNOWLEDGE. AND SO I'D
LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT SHE
SAID, FORMER COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SAID, PEOPLE WHO APPLY FOR
COUNCIL OF OINTMENT ARE
INTERESTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
I, FORMER COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
APPLIED FOR AND THE OINTMENT
WHEN SUE DONALDSON LEFT
COUNCIL. I RAN TO RETAIN THAT
SEAT, AND LOST THAT ELECTION,
AND THEN RAN AGAIN AND WON.
EVERYBODY WHO IS APPLYING WANTS
TO BE INVOLVED IN PUBLIC
SERVICE. THIS PROCESS OF
APPOINTING A NEW COUNCILMEMBER
ALLOWS US TO SEE THE FACE OF
OUR FUTURE. AND I SHARE THAT
WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE ONLY ONE
PERSON IS GOING TO BE
APPOINTED, AND I SEE THE FACE
OF OUR FUTURE HERE. AND I JUST
REALLY WANT TO GROUND US THERE.
BECAUSE IF NOT TODAY, THEN WHEN
? WITH THAT, THAT LEAVES ME,
US, WITH HARD CHOICES. BECAUSE
IF I COULD, I WOULD APPOINT
EACH OF YOU. IT WOULD BE A VERY
LARGE LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT. I
DON'T KNOW IF CANCEL RESIDENT
WHAT THE SHEET THAT. TEASING,
ALL IN GOOD FUN. THE VOTE I AM
TAKING TODAY IS NOT AGAINST
ANYONE. IT IS SIMPLY FOR ONE
PERSON AT A TIME. AND WHILE I
FIRST NOTICED IT WITH CAPTAIN
STRAND, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
CONNECTING FABRIC BETWEEN EACH
OF YOU IS THAT YOU PUT SERVICE
BEFORE SELF. YOU PUT BETTERING
OUR CITY BEFORE OTHER
PRIORITIES IN YOUR LIFE, AND
THAT YOU ARE A PERSON OF
ACTION, AND THAT EACH OF YOU
KNOWS THAT IT TAKES ALL OF US
TO BE THE SOLUTION THAT WE WANT
TO SEE. I'VE BEEN HUMBLED IN
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND I
FEEL LUCKY TO GET TO KNOW EACH
OF YOU MORE DEEPLY. YOUR ACTION
ORIENTED NATURE AND COMMITMENT
TO OUR CITY, I KNOW I WILL GET
TO WORK WITH EACH OF YOU MOVING
FORWARD IN DIFFERENT
CAPACITIES. YESTERDAY, DURING
MY 10 MINUTES, I SPENT THE
MAJORITY OF MY TIME RECOUNTING
THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD
WITH THE VIEW AND ESSENTIALLY
RAN OUT OF TIME BEFORE'S EKING
ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF
MARK SOLOMON, NEHA NARIYA, AND
JUAN COTTO. YES, I SPENT ALMOST
10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT
CAPTAIN STRAND IN THE COHORT AS
A WHOLE. AND SO I WILL BE MORE
BRIEF THAN YESTERDAY, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, BUT I'D LIKE TO
SHARE MY REFLECTIONS OF MARK
AND VIVIAN. MARK, WHEN ASKED
WHY DID YOU ANSWER THE CALL,
YOU SAID BECAUSE SEATTLE IS MY
HOME. AT THE FORUM, YOU SAID
OUR HOUSES IN A LITTLE BIT OF A
NEED OF REPAIR. YOU LIVE IN
YOUR GENERATIONAL HOME. AND YOU
ADVOCATE FOR RESOURCES TO KEEP
PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, WHETHER
IT'S HOME REPAIRS, FUNDING
ASSISTANCE, INSULATION, WHAT
HAVE YOU. AND IT TOOK ME A
MINUTE TO PUT ALL THESE
REFERENCES TOGETHER THAT SPEAK
TO HOW YOU CONNECT THE THINGS
THAT MIGHT SEEM DISCONNECTED.
AND THAT THIS PLACE IS SO
IMPORTANT TO YOU. AND JUST
LIKE HOW YOU GET THINGS DONE
FOR OUR CITY WITH YOUR
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCES, WHEN
ONE ISSUE TOUCHES MULTIPLE
JURISDICTIONS AND DEPARTMENTS,
YOU BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER TO
SOLVE A PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
BORN AND RAISED, AND NOW
RAISING YOUR KIDS HERE, YOU ARE
BUILDING OUR FUTURE. WE TALKED
MANY TIMES ABOUT HOW YOU
CREATED CIVIC HOTEL TO BE THE
LIVING ROOM, THE COMING
TOGETHER PLACE OF A
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS
REDESIGNED, ESSENTIALLY. AND IN
THE MOMENT OF THE PANDEMIC, YOU
HAD TO FACE SOME REALLY TOUGH
DECISIONS, AND CHALLENGE YOUR
ASSUMPTIONS AND PIVOT. AND YOU
CHOSE TO PIVOT FOR US, AND THE
WAY THAT YOU HAVE DONE YOUR
PARTNERSHIP IN SERVING ALL
SEATTLEITES IS INCREDIBLE AND
IT IS INSPIRATIONAL. I CANNOT
THANK YOU ENOUGH. YOU ARE A
PERSON OF ACTION, NOT WORDS,
AND THAT ABILITY TO SELF
REFLECT IS A TRAIT THAT CANNOT
BE TAUGHT. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE
YOU. JUAN COTTO, YOU POSSESS
SUCH AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE FROM
YOUR WORK AT THE COUNTY, THE
BUILDING STADIUMS, AND BRINGING
PEOPLE TOGETHER. I ESPECIALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO
FORGING AND MAINTAINING STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS. FOCUSING ON THE
FACT THAT WE ALL WANT THE SAME
THING, AND I'M EVEN MORE
IMPRESSED THAT YOU ARE STILL
ABLE TO BE FRIENDS WITH FORMER
CAMPAIGN OPPONENTS. I WILL ALSO
TAKE THIS MOMENT TO TURN THAT
30 SECONDS WHICH BECAME A 60%,
FOR A 92nd COMMERCIAL. EVERYONE
IN THIS ROOM IS TYPICALLY
ORIENTED, AND ONE WAY TO GET
BACK CIVIC LEADERS BY DONATING
BLOOD. AND VIVIAN, YOU ARE AN
ELECTED WIDE VOLUNTEER FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET IS
ABOUT $1.2 BILLION, WHICH IS
SIMILAR TO APPROXIMATELY A $1.6
BILLION BUDGET. YOU NAVIGATED
BUDGET DEFICITS, SERVED OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND GUIDED
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT BUDGET
DECISIONS WHILE READING THAT
DECISION-MAKING AND SERVING AS
AROUND PILLARS OF AGREED-UPON
ROLES. I CANNOT THANK YOU
ENOUGH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR
CITY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THOSE
ARE THE REMARKS THAT I HAVE FOR
RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE
WILL ALL ASK FOR ANY OTHER
HANDS. JUST A REMINDER THAT WE
WILL VOTE FOR -- WE WILL MOVE
THROUGH AS MANY ROUNDS AS WE
NEED TO, BUT ONCE WE DO GET TO
THE ROUND WHERE WE HAVE A
MAJORITY, THEN WE ARE JUST
GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE OTHER
ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COLLEAGUES, AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC HAVE JOINED US AND
PRESENTED ALSO ONLINE. THERE
WERE A LOT OF GREAT CANDIDATES
WITH A VERY GILL SIT FOR THIS
POSITION. I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS
TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE,
HAVING DONE IT MYSELF. AND SO I
AM IMMENSE GRATEFUL FOR YOU
SAYING, YES, I WILL DO IT. WHO
WILL DO IT? I WILL DO IT. THANK
YOU ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHETHER CAME IN PERSON
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT, OR
SENT EMAILS IN SUPPORT OF YOUR
PREFERRED CANDIDATE. REGARDLESS
OF OUTCOME, I HOPE YOU WILL
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN YOUR
CAPACITY AS COMMUNITY LEADERS.
WE ARE 9 INDIVIDUALS HERE, AND
IT TAKES US, ALL OF YOU
CANDIDATE BEFORE US, AND
EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC TO
REALLY MAKE THIS CITY THE BEST
CITY IT CAN BE. WE CAN'T DO IT
ALONE, SO REGARDLESS OF
OUTCOME, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL
CONTINUE TO SERVE. MY DOOR WILL
PERSONALLY BE ALWAYS OPEN FOR
CONVERSATIONS AND IDEA SHARING,
AND I HOPE YOU REALLY DO TAKE
ME UP ON THAT OFFER, BECAUSE WE
CAN ONLY PICK 1 PERSON TODAY.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE
CAN'T CONTINUE TO WORK
TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD. AND I
WILL SAY THAT, IN GENERAL,
VOTERS POKE LOUDLY. THEY WANT A
CHANGE AT CITY HALL. THEY WANT
TO SEE COLLABORATION,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND A PRAGMATIC
APPROACH TO SOLVING THE CITIES
TOUGHEST PROBLEMS. AS I SAID
EARLIER, I CAN ONLY BE DONE
WITH ALL OF US WORKING
TOGETHER, SO I APPLAUD YOU. I
APPLIED THAT YOU ENTERED -- BUT
YOUR APPLICATIONS IN, AND THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMAN'S DACA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE PERSON WHO WAS APPOINTED IN
THIS POSITION AS THE MONUMENTAL
JOB OF GIVING UP JUST READ VERY
QUICKLY, AND THEN TURNING
AROUND TO HELP ADDRESS ARE VERY
SERIOUS BUDGET SHORTFALL. AND,
IF A DECISION IS MADE BY THIS
PERSON TO RUN IN NOVEMBER, TO
DO ALL THAT AT THE SAME TIME.
WHAT WE DO AT THE DAIS IS ONLY
A SLIVER AT THE CORE OF THIS
JOB. THIS IS NOT A 9-5. AND WE
ALL WORK HARD EVERY DAY, AND
I'VE SEEN IT, EVERY LAST ONE
OF THEM LOOKING DOWN THE DAIS
HERE. I'VE SEEN HOW YOU SHOW
UP, YOU WORK HARD AND SHOW UP
FOR YOUR RESPECTIVE
COMMUNITIES, I SEE IT AND I
APPRECIATE IT, AND THAT IS MY
FULL EXPECTATION OF WHOEVER
ENDS UP AS OUR COLLEAGUE. WITH
THIS MOST RECENT ELECTION, AND
ANOTHER ELECTION LOOMING IN
NOVEMBER, BY THE CITY CHARTER,
AND STATUTE THAT WE LEARNED,
SYDNEY ORDINANCES, WE ARE
REQUIRED TO SELECT SOMEONE TO
SERVE UNTIL NOVEMBER. THIS IS
DEMOCRACY. AS IMPERFECT AS IT
MAY SEEM AT TIMES. AND YES, IT
IS IMPERFECT. BUT VOTERS WILL
HAVE AN IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY
COME NOVEMBER TO APPROVE OR
REJECT WHAT GOES ON HERE TODAY.
MY MESSAGE TO YOU 8 FINALIST,
JUAN COTTO, NEHA NARIYA, MARK
SOLOMON, VIVIAN SONG, CAPTAIN
STEVEN STRAND, MARI SUGIYAMA,
TRANS TICS, TRANS HEAVEN. IS
-- LOOK. YOU EACH SHOWED A
SELFLESS DESIRE TO SERVE AND
EXPOSE YOURSELF IN THESE FEW
SHORT WEEKS. EXPOSED YOURSELF
TO THE PUBLIC, TO SCRUTINY,
PERSONAL ATTACKS, AND CRITIQUES
ON YOUR POLICY POSITIONS. AND
EACH OF YOU HANDLED IT WITH
GRACE AND THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
OF PROFESSIONALISM AND
EXCELLENCE THAT WE SHOULD ALL
COME TO EXPECT FROM WHOEVER
SITS AT THIS DAIS. SO I APPLAUD
YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU, AND I
THINK YOU. I CANNOT SPEAK FOR
MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS,
ALTHOUGH I DO ECHO THE
SENTIMENT SHARED BY, FRANKLY,
EVERYONE INSERT IN REGARDS. BUT
I LEARNED PERSONALLY A GREAT
DEAL FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
YOU OVER THESE FEW SHORT WEEKS.
AND DEEP IN MY OWN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUALITIES
AND LEADERS THROUGH YOUR VOICE
AND FOR THE MANY WHO WROTE IN
SUPPORT OF YOUR CANDIDACIES,
AND WHO SHOWED UP HERE TO
TESTIFY. AND SPEAKING OF MANY
PASSIONATE VOICES FOR AND
AGAINST VARIOUS CANDIDATES, ALL
VOICES WERE HEARD AND ALL
MESSAGES WERE RED. WE RECEIVED
HUNDREDS OF EMAILS. MY OFFICE
RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF EMAILS. WE
REVIEWED ALL OF THEM. LISTENED
TO ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS,
WATCH THE TAPE, WATCHED THE
FILM OF THE CANDIDATE FORUM
THAT YOU GUYS HAD LAST WEEK
ABOUT THE BATTLE CITY CLUB. WE
TALKED TO YOU ALL. WE ALSO NEED
TO MOVE BEYOND OVER
POLITICIZING THE PROCESS. YES,
IT IS AN IMPERFECT ONE, ONE
THAT WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO
IMPLEMENT. THE FACT IS, WE LIVE
IN HYPER POLITICAL TIMES, BUT
IT IS SIMPLY A TOUGH CHOICE
AMONGST MANY QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES. NOT JUST QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES, EXCEPTIONAL
CANDIDATES, EVERY LAST ONE OF
YOU. BUT THIS IS A DECISION
THAT WE ARE ELECTED TO MAKE.
CANDIDATES RUN HARD-FOUGHT
CAMPAIGNS WITH SO MANY
SACRIFICES, AND THOSE OF YOU
WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED KNOW IT
BECAUSE WE DID IT. RUNNING A
CAMPAIGN AND BECOMING A PUBLIC
OFFICIAL ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT
ROLES, AS I'VE LEARNED OVER
THE LAST. AS A CITYWIDE COUNCIL
MEMBER, THIS PERSON IS
ENTRUSTED WITH REPRESENTING THE
ENTIRE CITY, NOT JUST ONE
PARTICULAR DISTRICT OR ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD. IN THAT REGARD,
IT IS MY DESIRE THAT THE PERSON
CHOSEN WILL WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL OF US,
AND THEY WILL WORK HARD TO
REACH OUT TO THOSE CLOSEST IN
NEED. AND FURTHEST FROM THE
DECISION-MAKERS. LISTEN, LEARN,
AND DELIBERATE TO MAKE THE BEST
DECISIONS. AFTER HEARING FROM
ALL INTEREST AND STAKEHOLDERS.
FINALLY, I WILL SAY, THIS IS
THE HIGHEST FORM OF ENDORSEMENT
THAT I COULD EVER HOPE TO GIVE
TO ANYONE. MY VOTE HERE TODAY.
IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, NO ONE IS
BANGING DOWN MY DOOR SEEKING
ENDORSEMENTS. I AM JUST A DAD
FROM DELL RIDGE. I'M JUST THE
GUY WHO, LIKE, IS TRYING TO BE
THE KING OF POTHOLES. ONE OF
THE KING OF POTHOLES IN THE
CITY. NO ONE IS BEATING DOWN MY
DOOR FOR ENDORSEMENTS. THAT
SAID, THIS IS MY VOTE HERE
TODAY, IT'S THE HIGHEST FORM
OF ENDORSEMENT THAT I COULD
EVER MAKE. I AM CHOOSING --
HOPING TO CHOOSE SOMEONE THAT I
WANT TO BE MY DIRECT COLLEAGUE.
NOT A DISTANT FAR-OFF OFFICE IN
ANOTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT,
NOT ANOTHER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
BUT TO SIT RIGHT NEXT TO ME. ON
THE SECOND FLOOR OF CITY HALL.
IT'S THE HIGHEST FORM OF
ENDORSEMENT THAT I COULD EVER
POTENTIALLY MAKE. AND SO ALL
THAT IS TO SAY, THIS IS A VERY,
VERY TOUGH DECISION, AND WHERE
I'M AT TODAY IS -- I MAKING
THE BEST DECISION BASED OFF ALL
THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION THAT
I HAVE, AND THAT IS WHERE IT
SITS TODAY. BUT I DON'T WANT
THAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT
THAT YOU ALL REPRESENTED
YOURSELVES VERY WELL. YOU
DISTINGUISH TO OURSELVES AND
SET A NEW STANDARD FOR WHAT, I
THINK -- I HOPE -- MORE
CANDIDATES FOR OFFICES, NOT
JUST IN SEATTLE, BUT SET A NEW
STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE, AND I
CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW
GRATEFUL I AM FOR EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH. I WANT TO KEEP MY REMARKS
SHORT AND SWEET, BUT I ALSO
WANT TO ECHO ALL OF THE
COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY
MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS, IN
TERMS OF YOUR AMAZING
QUALIFICATIONS. YOU HAVE ALL
BEEN TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND
YOUR VARIOUS WAYS TO YOUR
COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY, AND I
AM GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF
THOSE EFFORTS, AND THE FACT
THAT YOU HAVE DEDICATED YOUR
LIVES TO SERVING A HIGHER
PURPOSE AND MISSION. NOT
EVERYBODY MAKES THAT CHOICE,
AND I THINK IT'S AN
UNDERVALUED CHOICE, AND SO,
TRULY, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
DONE PUBLIC SERVICE. AND I KNOW
BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE THAT YOU
WILL CONTINUE TO DO SUCH
WONDERFUL PUBLIC SERVICE. AND
IT HAS BEEN NOTED, THIS IS A
VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE TO MAKE.
YOU WERE ALL VERY HIGHLY
QUALIFIED, PROFESSIONAL,
EMPATHETIC, PASSIONATE, WANT TO
DO THE RIGHT THING. YOUR HEARTS
ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE. AND I
KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT ANY OF US
SAY UP HERE, THE MEDIA, IN
VARIOUS PLACES, WILL SPIN IT AS
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. BUT I
WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT, BOTH
AS A FORMER OFFICER OF THE
COURT, AS A JUDGE, THAT MY VOTE
HAS NOT BEEN BOUGHT BY ANYBODY.
I HAVE KEPT AN OPEN MIND ABOUT
THIS PROCESS FROM THE
BEGINNING, AND I HAVE CONDUCTED
A FAIR INQUIRY INTO ALL OF YOUR
APPLICATIONS. AND IN FACT, ALL
OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE
RECEIVED. I WENT BACK AND
REVIEWED THE COMMUNITY FORUM, I
REVIEWED THE QUESTIONS THAT WE
ALL ASK YOU YESTERDAY, AND
THANK YOU FOR ENDURING MY
GRILLING LIGHTNING ROUND . IF
YOU DO CHOOSE TO RUN, WELCOME
TO THE LEAST FAVORITE PART OF
RUNNING. IT'S HAVING TO ANSWER
COMPLEX AND NUANCED QUESTIONS
WITH A YES OR NO. I APPRECIATE
YOU WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN
GOOD FAITH IN THAT. BUT TRULY,
THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT
PROCESS, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN
EXPEDITED, AND THERE ARE MANY
PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELT FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPEDITED
PROCESS. AND SO I THINK BECAUSE
OF THAT, IT IS EASY TO PERHAPS
DRAW CONCLUSIONS THAT ARE NOT
NECESSARILY BASED ON FACT. AND
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE HAD
ACTORS ON BOTH SIDES WHO HAVE
NOT SERVED THIS PROCESS WELL,
WHO HAVE NOT SERVED YOU, HAVE
NOT SERVED US, AND HAVE NOT
SERVED THIS INSTITUTION. AND WE
ARE HERE TO DO THE WORK OF THE
PEOPLE, ALL OF THE PEOPLE. SO
THAT'S ALL I WILL SAY ABOUT
THAT. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING YOURSELVES FORWARD. AS
I STATED, WHAT I'VE LOOKED FOR
MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR
WILLINGNESS -- BOTH EXPERIENCE
AND ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE
ISSUES THAT I BELIEVE THE
VOTERS PUT US HERE TO ADDRESS,
WHICH ARE PUBLIC SAFETY,
HOMELESSNESS, PROVIDING
AFFORDABLE -- TRULY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR BOTH THOSE WHO ARE
IN DESPERATE NEED OF SERVICE,
AS WELL AS WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND ALSO, WE HAVE A CLIMATE
CRISIS THAT WE HAVE TO GET
FINISHED ON. AND SO I'M
LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT HAS
DEMONSTRATED A TRACK RECORD
ACROSS THAT SPECTRUM OF VERY
DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND ALSO FOR
A VOICE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT
HAS NOT BEEN HISTORICALLY
REPRESENTED OR WELL REPRESENTED
ON THIS BODY. AND I RECOGNIZE
THAT WE DO NOT REPRESENT
EVERYONE AS WE ARE CURRENTLY
COMPOSED, AND IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE DO THE BEST WE CAN TO
EXPAND AND CONTINUE TO EXPAND
ALL OF THE MULTITUDE OF VOICES
THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND
THAT DESERVE TO BE HEARD. SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I GUESS WE ARE
DOING A CLIFFHANGER STYLE HERE
TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. I DO WANT
TO ADD TO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE SAID. WHEN YOU SAID
EXPEDITED, YEAH, IT'S
NATURALLY EXPEDITED. IT'S A 20
DAY PROCESS. AND I DO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THIS IS
A PRETTY TALL ORDER FOR A
BRAND-NEW COUNCIL TO TAKE ON,
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BUILT A
VOTING RECORD. THEY KNOW WHERE
THEY STAND ON ISSUES, NO MATTER
WHAT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
UPS THAT THAT THEY ARE NOT
CHOOSING THE CANDIDATE THAT
THEY ARE. AND SO IT'S A
DIFFICULT POSITION THAT FOLKS
ARE IN, ESPECIALLY OUR NEW
COUNCILMEMBERS. AND I WILL SAY
THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
PRETTY VOCAL ABOUT MY --
EVERYBODY KNOWS MY STANCES ON
PUBLIC SAFETY, SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESS, AND OUR GENERAL
APPROACH TO THE BUDGET, SO I
DON'T FEEL LIKE I NEED TO ASK
LANE WHAT WILL BE GUIDING ME IN
THIS PROCESS. YOU KNOW, WHAT
ISSUES ARE GUIDING ME IN THE
PROCESS. BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE
A POINT TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN
APPOINTMENT, NOT AN ELECTION.
AND IN NOVEMBER, COMMUNITY
VOTERS WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE
PERMANENT POSITION -- PERMANENT
FOR A YEAR UNTIL 2025. WHAT WE
NEED RIGHT NOW IS SOMEBODY WHO
KNOWS THE ISSUES, IS
WELL-VERSED ON THE TOPICS IN
THE REALMS OF POLICY THAT WE
HAVE TO WORK ON RIGHT NOW,
STARTING TOMORROW. SO THAT IS
-- THAT IS MOSTLY WHAT I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT, IS THAT WE CAN
GET GOING AND MOVE FORWARD.
OKAY. WITH THAT, I WILL ASK IF
THERE ARE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS. IF NOT, WE WILL
PROCEED WITH THE VOTE. CAN WE
PLEASE HAVE -- OH, I'M SUPPOSED
TO SAY THIS. AS A REMINDER ON
THE VOTING PROCESS, THE KIRK
WILL CALL THE ROLE AND
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL RESPOND BY
STATING A NOMINEE'S NAME. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE VOTE TO APPOINT A
NOMINEE TO FILL COUNCIL
POSITION 8 UNTIL THE NOVEMBER
2024 POSITION IS ELECTED AND
QUALIFIED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ALICE.
>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION. DO
WE ALSO MAKE OUR COMMENTS ABOUT
THE CANDIDATE?
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, YES.
IF WE DON'T COME TO 5, IF WE
HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER ROUND,
THEN WE MAKE OTHER COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM
PROUD TO VOTE FOR MARI
SUGIYAMA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> TANYA WOO .
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA. I AM
PROUD TO VOTE FOR TANYA WOO .
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> VIVIAN SONG.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> LINH THAI.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> TANYA WOO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> HOW TO VOTE FOR TANYA WOO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> TANYA WOO.
>> THAT IS 5 FOR TANYA WOO ,
ONE FOR MARI SUGIYAMA, AND ONE
FOR VIVIAN SONG. AND ONE FOR
LINH THAI. BUT WE DO HAVE 5.
FOR TANYA WOO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. TANYA WOO
HAS BEEN ELECTED UNTIL THE
NOVEMBER 2024 POSITION 8 IS
ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. ALL
RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
TANYA WOO TO THE PODIUM . HOLD
ON. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS
ELECTED YOU TO COUNCIL POSITION
8 UNTIL HE CANDIDATE IN THE
NOVEMBER 2024 SPECIAL ELECTION
FOR POSITION 8 IS ELECTED AND
QUALIFIED. DO YOU ACCEPT THE
POSITION? THE MAC I ACCEPTED
THE POSITION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS. BEING
APPOINTED TO THE POSITION 8, I
WILL NOW ASK THE CITY CLERK,
SHERRY DEDMAN, TO ISSUE YOUR
OATH OF OFFICE. AFTER IT IS
ADMINISTERED, YOU ARE WELCOME
TO MAKE COMMENTS. PLEASE JOIN
US AT THE DAIS.
>> WILL YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR
RIGHT HAND? THANK YOU. AND JUST
REPEAT AFTER ME.
>> I, TANYA WOO SWEAR OR AFFIRM
THAT I POSSESS ALL OF THE
QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED IN
THE SEATTLE CITY CHARTER AND
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. FOR
THE POSITION OF CITY
COUNCILMEMBER. THAT I WILL
SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, AND
THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND THAT I
WILL FAITHFULLY CONDUCT MYSELF
AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I DID NOT PREPARE
A SPEECH, BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL
AND HONORED AND VERY HUMBLED,
AND I PLEDGE TO SERVE EVERYONE
IN THE CITY. I ESPECIALLY WANT
TO THANK ALL OF THOSE AMAZING
PEOPLE WHO I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS
WITH BEFORE WE WERE CHOSEN TO
BE IN THE TOP 8. AND MANY TO
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED,
MANY FRIENDS AND PEOPLE I HAVE
WORKED WITH AND KNOWN WHO
REALLY CARE ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY, AND I AM SO HONORED
TO REPRESENT YOU. LINH THAI,
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES. I MET YOU MORE
THAN A YEAR AGO, AND I ADMIRE
YOUR PASSION, YOUR DEDICATION
THROUGH COMMUNITY. NEHA NARIYA,
I REMEMBER MEETING YOU A YEAR
AGO AS WELL AND LOVING HOW MUCH
WE HAVE IN COMMON WITH
REBUILDING A FAMILY BUSINESS,
AND DEDICATION TO SERVING OUR
UNHOUSED RESIDENTS. AND YOU
BEEN A GREAT FRIEND OF THE
FAMILY. I ADMIRE ALL THE WORK
YOU DO WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN
BASKETBALL, AS WELL AS WITH
JAPANESE COMMUNITY COURTS. AND
KEVIN STRAND, I SEE YOU ALL THE
TIME IN THE CHINATOWN DISTRICT
AND I ADMIRE THE WORK THAT YOU
DO AND THE CARE THAT YOU BRING
TO THE COMMUNITY. AND MARK
SOLOMON, YOU WERE THERE FOR
THIS PAST YEAR AND A HALF,
ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP AND GIVE
ADVICE, AND I SEE YOU AND ALL
THE MEETINGS. ALMOST EVERY
SINGLE MEETING, I THOUGHT I SAW
YOU AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. YOU
ARE SO INVOLVED. AND VIVIAN, WE
WERE FRIENDS A YEAR AND A HALF
AGO. YOU HAVE BEEN SO AMAZING
AND HELPING TO GIVE ME ADVICE
WITH MY CAMPAIGN THIS PAST
YEAR. AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING.
WE HAVE SO MANY COMMON FRIENDS
WHO ABSOLUTELY ADORE YOU. I'M
SO EXCITED THAT WE ARE FRIENDS
AND I'M EXCITED TO SERVE
AMONGST YOU AND WITH YOU THE
NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. AND I
WANT TO FOCUS ON SERVING YOU,
AND I WANT TO BUILD MORE
COLLABORATION. AND ESPECIALLY
ON THE COUNCIL, A SENSE OF
COLLABORATION. AND MY DOOR IS
OPEN. PLEASE COME AND VISIT,
AND LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO -- WE ARE
GOING TO END THIS MEETING HERE
PRETTY SOON. WE JUST HAVE TO GO
THROUGH A COUPLE OTHERS APPS.
SPEAKING OF, IS THERE ANY OTHER
BUSINESS BEFORE THE COUNCIL
TODAY?
>> I WOULD ASK TO BE EXCUSED
FEBRUARY 5th AND SIX.
>> OKAY. WITH NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER WILL BE EXCUSED
FEBRUARY 5th AND SIXTH. SEEING
NO OBJECTION, THAT IS GREAT.
ENJOY. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO
BUSINESS, I WILL NOW ADJOURN
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IT IS
3:44. THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF JANUARY 23rd IS NOW
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYONE. AND CONGRATULATIONS.