>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY. THE
FEBRUARY 6th 2024 MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL COME
TO ORDER. I AM SARA NELSON,
PRESIDENT. TRIG05 AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ARE EXCUSED.
WE PLEASE CALL ROW?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT. ALL RIGHT.
SO MOVING RIGHT ALONG INTO OUR
PRESENTATION SECTION OF OUR
MEETING TODAY, IT IS EXCITING
TO SEE EVERYONE HERE IN THE
CHAMBERS. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
AND COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
HAVE A PROPOSITION RECOGNIZING
FEBRUARY 2024 AS BLACK HISTORY
MONTH. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WILL
INTRODUCE THE PUCK COMMISSION
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. AND THEN I WILL
OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS
FROM COUNCILMEMBERS AFTER
COUNCILMEMBER COMES, WE WILL
SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW
COUNCILMEMBERS TO PRESENT TO
GUESTS AND ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO
PROVIDE BRIEF REMARKS. SO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK AND
INTRODUCE THE PROCLAMATION. GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE
THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY,
SIGNED BY AYOR HARRELL.
WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
IS A CELEBRATION OF
ACHIEVEMENTS I -- ESTABLISHED
BY A SCAR THAT FERVENTLY
BELIEVED THAT BLACK PEOPLE
SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEIR
HERITAGE AND ALL AMERICANS
SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE LARGELY
OVERLOOKED ACHIEVEMENTS OF
AFRICAN-AMERICANS. AND,
WHEREAS, ACROSS GENERATIONS,
LOCAL BLACK LEADERS HAVE
DEMONSTRATED PROFOUND MORAL
COURAGE AND RESILIENCE TO HELP
SHAPE OUR CITY, FOR BETTER AND
LEAD INDUSTRIES IN MOVEMENTS
FOR CHANGE. SERVE OUR
COMMUNITIES AT EVERY LEVEL, AND
ADVANCE EVERY FIELD, INCLUDING
ARTS AND SCIENCES. BUSINESS
AND LAW, HEALTH AND EDUCATION,
AND MANY MORE. AND WHEREAS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS INDEBTED TO
THE BLACK LEADERS THAT HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITY,
COUNCILMEMBER SAM SMITH, WHO
WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL FROM
1968 TO 1991, PEOPLE LIKE
WALTER HUNTLEY, WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUPERINTENDENT
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION FROM 1977 TO 1988.
HARRIS WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN FIRE CHIEF
FROM 1985 THROUGH 1997. NORMAN
B RICE WAS SEATTLE'S FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR FROM
1990 TO 1997. SHERRY HARRIS
WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
LESBIAN WOMAN ELECTED TO THE
CITY COUNCIL IN 1992 TO 1995,
AND WHEREAS TWO DOZEN 24'S
BLACK HISTORY MONTH THEME IS
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND THE ARTS.
IT IS CELEBRATED EVERY FEBRUARY
THROUGH RECOGNITION OF THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND ALL
PEOPLE OF THE AFRICAN
DIASPORA. AND , THEREFORE, I AM
HONORED TO WELCOME ESTEEMED
LEADERS FROM OUR ARTS AND
CULTURAL SPACE TODAY TO ACCEPT
THIS PROCLAMATION. MR.
CLARENCE ACOX, HE ESTABLISHED A
PROGRAM RESULTING IN MANY
NATIONAL LEVEL AWARDS AND
RECOGNITION, INCLUDING TAKING
FIRST PLACE AT THE ELLINGTON
JAZZ AWARDS OVER MANY YEARS.
MR. BRANDON BIRD, VICE
PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
NORTHWEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MUSEUM, WHICH HAS EXTRA
PROGRAMMING. I'VE BEEN THERE.
I LOVE IT. OF COURSE, MR. RYAN
CARTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
FOREIGN CULTURE. THE KING
COUNTY COUNTERPART TO OUR OWN
SEATTLE ARTS AND CULTURAL
OFFICE. MR. MYRON CURRY, A
PROLIFIC MERRILL ARTIST. YOU
WILL SEE INCREDIBLE ART LIKE
WHAT WE JUST FINISHED. AND
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE
ESTEEMED DR. ROBERT REDFORD ,
BOARD MEMBER, ONYX FINDS
COLLECTIVE, WHICH IS ALSO
SPONSORED THE ARENCE ACOX
LEGACY PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
VERY EXCITED. WE KNOW THAT
BLACK HISTORY IS EVERY DAY FOR
US. WE KNOW THAT BLACK HISTORY
MONTH IS THE TIME FOR US TO
CELEBRATE CULTURES AND
COMMUNITIES AND FOR OTHER
PEOPLE -- OTHER PEOPLE TO BE
ABLE TO SEE THAT THEY USUALLY
DON'T SOMETIMES. BECAUSE WE
ARE EMBEDDED IN OUR COMMUNITY .
AND THE CENTRAL DISTRICT IS
HOME. I GREW UP THERE. I WAS
BORN AND RAISED. A LOT OF
TIMES, THE CENTRAL DISTRICT'S
CONTRIBUTION TO THE CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE EXTENDS BEYOND JUST
THE MUSIC. A LOT OF TIMES WE
TALK ABOUT QUINCY JONES AND
JIMI HENDRIX, BUT A LOT OF THE
ARTISTS THAT LIVE IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. ALL OF THE
MUSEUMS THAT ARE IN OUR
COMMUNITY, AND THE JAMES
WASHINGTON FOUNDATION, WHICH IS
DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE.
IT IS ALSO A PLACE WHERE , YOU
KNOW, YOU HAVE COMMUNITY AND
CULTURE ALL CONNECTING AND
INTERSECTING, AND WE ARE SO
HONORED TO BE JOINING
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION AND TO HIGHLIGHT
THE ARTS AND CULTURE BECAUSE
OFTEN TIMES, IT GETS LEFT OUT
OF THE CONVERSATION. MY
GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS TAUGHT ME,
KNOW YOUR HISTORY. KNOW YOUR
POTENTIAL GREATNESS. AS WE MOVE
FORWARD AND INCORPORATE OUR
KIDS INTO JUST, YOU KNOW, A
VIBRANCY OF OUR LIFE, OUR GOAL
IS THAT THEY HAVE TO KNOW THEIR
HISTORY TO KNOW THEIR
GREATNESS. ONE OF MY FAVORITE
PLACES IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
IS THE DOUGLAS LIBRARY. WHAT A
LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF BLACK
LITERATURE ON THE WEST COAST --
AND I KNOW IT IS THE AKAS
THAT KEEP THAT UP. MY
MOTHER'S ADULTERER. MY BROTHER
IS IN ALPHA. I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF THOSE PLACES
IN OUR CENTRAL DISTRICT FOR
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE
PLACES ARE HOME TO US AND THEY
HAVE A LOT OF RICH CULTURE AND
HISTORY AND FOR OUR KIDS AND
BABIES TO BE ABLE TO GO AND
HELP EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND
LEARN ABOUT HOW THEIR HERITAGE
AND HOW PROUD THEY ARE. THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH YOUR AS WE
CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT SEATTLE
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE
TO PROTECT OUR CULTURE AND RICH
HISTORY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL
OPEN THE FLOOR TO
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS, ET
CETERA. DOES ANYONE HAVE
ANYTHING TO SAY?
>> THE ONLY THING THAT I WILL
ADD ON IS IN ADDITION TO
EVERYTHING THAT I SAID, I LOVE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
YOUR AUTHENTIC VOICE AND
NARRATIVES, PLUS ONE. I LOVE
IT. BUT AS SOMEONE WHO IS
PROBABLY OF AFRICAN DESCENT ,
OF THE FIRST PEOPLES, HIGH ,
AND ALSO AS SOMEONE WHO IS A
PROUD VETERAN , AND I KNOW DR.
REDFORD IS A VETERAN HIMSELF.
AND I WAS ABLE TO ALMOST A
YEAR AGO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN
AND HEAR THE OBSERVATIONS AND
THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK
VETERANS IN THIS COUNTRY . DR.
REDFORD SERVED DURING WORLD
WAR II, RIGHT AFTER , HE SHARED
WITH ME SOME HISTORY.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, IT
IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHERE WE COME FROM, AND SO WE
CAN CHART A BETTER WAY FORWARD.
DR. REDFORD SHARED SOME
HISTORY ABOUT THE BLACK VETERAN
EXPERIENCE IN THIS COUNTRY AND
HOW HE WAS ASSIGNED TO OVERSEE
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR AND
IN THE TRAINRIDE , CARRYING
THEM WHEREVER THEY NEED TO GO
IN THE SOUTH, AND HE WAS .SHE
DESCRIBED TO ME THE
CIRCUMSTANCES AS A BLACK
VETERAN ENLISTED AT THE TIME ,
THE U.S. MILITARY TREATED OUR
GERMAN P.O.W.s BATTERED --
BETTER THAN BLACK VETERANS.
AND MY OH MY, HOW FAR WE HAVE
COME AND HOW MUCH FURTHER WE
HAVE TO GO, BUT AS A BLACK
VETERAN, LIKE HISTORY IS
AMERICAN HISTORY. IT IS
SOMETHING THAT I'M PROUD OF. I
THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD
OF, REGARDLESS OF OUR DISSENT
AND SKIN COLOR. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD,
PARTICULARLY HIGHLIGHTING THE
ARTS AND CULTURE. I CAME FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND
CULTURE WAS RECENTLY PAID I
WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T
ADD INTERIM DIRECTOR BARNES AS
ANOTHER PERSON TO RECOGNIZE AS
THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
WOMAN TO LEAVE THE -- LEAD THE
DEPARTMENT IN SEATTLE. SO I
WANTED TO SAY THAT, AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. SPOKE GO
AHEAD.
>> I WANTED AT TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, I AM PROUD TO SERVE
WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING THE HISTORY THAT YOU
CREATE AS A TEAM MOVING
FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. APPRECIATE IT.
>> THAT WAS A GOOD ONE. WATCH
THEIR GREATNESS. SO AS CHAIR
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF, I
WOULD BE REMISS BY NOT
RECOGNIZING THAT IN ADDITION TO
INSPIRING OUR LIVES, TEACHING
US ABOUT OUR PAST, SERVING AS
A VEHICLE FOR CULTURAL,
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHANGE,
THE ARTS ALSO DRIVE ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY AND ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT FOR OUR ECONOMIC
VIABILITY AS A CITY. I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE THAT HART
PROVIDES DRUMS. IT CREATES THE
REVENUE WE NEED TO HELP FUND
ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, AND THAT
IS ALL IN ADDITION TO JUST
CONTRIBUTING TO THE VIBRANCY OF
THIS GREAT CITY. SO I ALWAYS
WANT TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR THE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF OUR ARTS
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THAT IS NOT TO OVERSHADOW WHAT
THEY DO FOR OUR SPIRIT, AS
WELL. SO, THANK YOU. NOW WE
CAN PRESENT FORMALLY THE
PROCLAMATION. I DON'T KNOW
WHICH ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO DO
THAT.
>> I THINK COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
HAS IT.
>> I HAVE IT.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN ME?
>> MAY I?
>> THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE TO GO OVER THE
RULES. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THE
PUCK MISSION AND ALLOW OUR
GUESTS TO ACCEPT IT. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
ARE SUSPENDED. THE PUCK MISSION
WILL NOT BE ASKED PRESENTED.
AFTER IT IS PRESENTED, DR.
ROBERT RADFORD WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT REMARKS
TO US. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS WORKING.
GO AHEAD, SIR.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO THINK THE COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR THIS
WONDERFUL TRIBUTE THAT IS
BEING SHARED REGARDING THE
ARTS IN SEATTLE. IN
PARTICULAR, I WOULD LIKE TO
SHOUT OUT TO MR. ACOX, OUR
LEGEND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I PROMISE THIS WILL BE
SHORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HONORING US. WE APPRECIATE YOU
AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN
THE CITY. IT MAKES EVERYTHING
MUCH BETTER FOR EVERYONE
INVOLVED. I WANT TO THANK ALL
OF YOU VERY MUCH. WONDERFUL
JOB.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THANK
YOU TO THE MAYOR FOR SIGNING
INTO. I APPRECIATE THAT TODAY.
WE WILL BE MOVING ONTO HER
SECOND COMMISSION TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER WOO AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAVE A
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
THEIR PRETENSE AS RECOGNIZING
THE BEGINNING OF THE LUNAR NEW
YEAR. I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES
AND AFTER COUNCILMEMBER
COMMENTS, WE WILL SUSPEND THE
RULES AND ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO
GIVE SOME COME THEMSELVES.
COUNCILMEMBER WOO, TAKE AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THIS PROCLAMATION
RECOGNIZES THE LUNAR NEW YEAR,
WHICH IS A FESTIVAL FOR MANY
ASIAN AMERICANS. THE LUNAR YEAR
IS CELEBRATED ACROSS DIVERSE
CULTURES AND VARIOUS STATES.
THIS DISTINCTIVE CUSTOMS AND
TRADITIONS, IT'S A TIME TO
REFLECT ON THE PAST YEAR AND
EMBRACE THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING
AND EXTENDER WISHES FOR A
FUTURE FILLED WITH PROSPERITY.
ON FEBRUARY 10th COME THE FIRST
NEWMAN WILL START WITH THE
SUBMISSION OF THE YEAR OF THE
DRAGON. A CREATURE EMBODYING
GOOD FORTUNE, JUSTICE,
PROSPERITY, AND STRENGTH, THIS
15 DAY CELEBRATION IS A TIME TO
BID FAREWELL TO THE YEAR OF THE
RABBIT OR CAT AND WELCOME THE
DRAGON INTO OUR LIVES. IT HOLDS
SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE WE
FIND OURSELVES CELEBRATING THE
NEW YEAR AND BLACK HISTORY
MONTH SIDE-BY-SIDE. IT IS A
POWERFUL MOMENT TO SUPPORT
THESE COMMUNITIES BY
RECOGNIZING THE RICHNESS OF
CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITHIN THE
CITY, WE STRENGTHEN THE FABRIC
OF OUR COLLECTIVE IDENTITY. IN
THE SPIRIT OF UNITY, OF
SEATTLE, LET US CHERISH THE
SHARED VALUES OF ONE SEATTLE
THAT BINDS US AS A CITY. MAY
THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON BRING US
GOOD FORTUNE, JUSTICE,
PROSPERITY, AND STRENGTH. HAPPY
YEAR OF THE DRAGON, AND LET US
HAVE THESE PROCLAMATIONS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD, THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD
AGAIN. I ATTENDED TWO EVENTS
LAST NIGHT IN CELEBRATION OF
THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. I SAW HOW
IMPORTANT AND HOW MANY PEOPLE
TURN OUT, AND THE MESSAGES OF
JUSTICE AND PROSPERITY AND LOOK
THAT ROOM WAS FILLED WITH. IT
FELT TO ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN
ABSENT FROM MY LIFE FOR TOO
LONG. I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING
THE FOCUS ON THIS HOLIDAY IN
THIS COMMUNITY. IT CERTAINLY
DOESN'T RESONATE FOR EVERYONE,
I WOULD IMAGINE, AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING IT TO
US. SO WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE
TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> YES.
>> I WANTED TO MENTION THIS. I
MENTIONED THIS LAST NIGHT. WE
WERE AT THE SAME EVENT. I
DON'T WANT TO REPEAT MYSELF,
BUT ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I
TALKED ABOUT WAS HOW THE
JACKSON STREET LINKS THE BLACK
COMMUNITY WITH OUR ASIAN
COMMUNITY. IT GOES THROUGH THE
HEART OF THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
AND SO, I THINK IT IS A REAL
HONOR THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
IN FEBRUARY AND WE HAVE OUR
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AT
THE SAME TIME. IT IS AN HONOR
TO SIT NEXT TO YOU AND HAVE
THIS PROCLAMATION AND TO SHOW
SOLIDARITY BETWEEN BOTH
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER .
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON. I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT HOW PROUD I AM TO
SERVE WITH YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
WOO, AND FOR THE VERY SAME
REASONS. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR.
I'M REMINDED FROM
YESTERDAY'S EVENT, I THINK IT
IS TIMELY TO MAKE A SLIGHT
ADJUSTMENT TO SAY, YOU KNOW,
ONCE SEATTLE IS WHERE OUR
COMMUNITIES HELP ONE ANOTHER,
AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE ARE
DOING REALLY GOES TOWARD THAT.
SO AGAIN, I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE HISTORY THAT IS COMING
AS WE ALL WORK AND MOVE
FORWARD.
>> CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING?
I'M SIR. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
MR. LYNN FOR BEING PERSISTENT
AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS
BRINGING THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE,
MAKE SURE THIS WAS PUSHED
FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. GO
AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE
SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SET
HERE, WHICH IS WE FEEL SO PROUD
TO SERVE, COUNCILMEMBER WOO,
AND COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THIS
REPRESENTS THE MANY VOICES AND
COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE. I
WANTED TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM TO
SERVE WITH ALL OF YOU, AND
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THESE
PROCLAMATIONS FORWARD TODAY
BECAUSE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO RECOGNIZE THE MANY
CONTRIBUTIONS OF COMMUNITY
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I KNOW
THESE EVENTS HAPPEN YEARLY BUT
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FOLKS IN
COMMUNITY ARE OVER MANY YEARS.
IT'S THE REASON THAT WE CAN
ALL BE HERE TODAY. I JUST
WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, AS
WELL. AND GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I ECHO THE SENTIMENT. I FIRST
WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE
AND APPRECIATION FOR
COUNCILMEMBER WOO. FOR ME,
LIKE, I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT
THIS PROCLAMATION. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. FOR ME, IT
HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF
REPRESENTATION, AND IF YOU
DIDN'T KNOW IT ALREADY, YOUR
VOICE AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN
THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED WITH, THEY MATTER
TO ME AND MATTER TO A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL.
AND YOU NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF REPRESENTING SEATTLEITES
CITYWIDE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN
PEOPLE FROM YOUR COMMUNITIES
SHOULDN'T BE PROUD. THEY
SHOULD BE. I'M PROUD TO WORK
ALONGSIDE YOU. SO
REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
COMMUNITIES ALWAYS MATTER. THE
SECOND THING I WILL NOTE IS
JUST I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO
SEE THAT THIS WAS INTRODUCED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WOO AND THEN
COSPONSORED BY OUR COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. YOU
KNOW, WE ARE WORKING REALLY
HARD BEHIND THE SCENES. PEOPLE
DON'T ALWAYS SEE SOME
PROGRESS. CERTAINLY IN THIS
FIRST MONTH AND A HALF. DURING
THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS, BUT
WE'RE WORKING HARD BEHIND THE
SCENES TO BUILD A NEW CULTURE
AT SEATTLE CITY HALL. AND ONE
THAT IS RESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE
AND DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW,
AND FINDS COMMON GROUND AND
DIFFERENCES, AND, BUT ANCHORS
MORE ON THE COMMON GROUND. I
THINK THIS COLLABORATION IS A
TRUE TESTAMENT TO THAT. SO
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD REMARKS. THANK YOU FOR
MAKING THOSE. OKAY. SO, IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION AND
TO ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO ACCEPT
IT AND PROVIDE REMARKS. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES
ARE SUSPENDED. THE PROCLAMATION
WILL BE PRESENTED. AFTER THE
PROCLAMATION IS PRESENTED, WE
WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE SOME REMARKS. COME ON UP.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, GUESTS, CHERISHED
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AS WE
GATHER HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE
THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF THE
LUNAR NEW YEAR, I AM FILLED
WITH AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF
PRIDE AND GRATITUDE FOR THE
RICH TAPESTRY OF CULTURES THAT
MAKES OUR NATION GREAT. THE
YEAR OF THE DRAGON HAS BROUGHT
WITH US -- IT THE SPIRIT OF
UNITY THAT MIRRORS THE JOURNEY
OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAVE SHAPED OUR COUNTRY OVER
THE YEARS. LET US TAKE A MOMENT
TO REFLECT ON THE IMMIGRATION
ACT OF 1917, ENACTED
YESTERDAY, 107 YEARS AGO. THE
PIVOTAL MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY
THAT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A
NEW CHAPTER AND THE STORY OF
AMERICA. THIS LEGISLATION,
WHILE EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE
COULD NOT STIFLE THE TENACITY
AND DETERMINATION OF THOSE WHO
SOUGHT REFUGE IN
OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST TO
ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM, BUT
ALSO, TO CONTRIBUTE, GIVE BACK,
AND DEFEND THE VERY BEST OF
AMERICAN IDEALS AND TRADITIONS.
TODAY, WE STAND AS A TESTAMENT
TO THE COURAGE AND FORTITUDE
OF THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE
US, CONTRIBUTING TO THE MOSAIC
THAT DEFINES OUR REGION AND
NATION. E PLURIBUS UNUM, OUT
OF MANY, ONE. THESE WORDS,
ETCHED INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR
NATIONAL IDENTITY, ENCAPSULATE
THE ESSENCE OF OUR JOURNEY. IT
IS A CALL TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY
THAT CELEBRATES EACH OTHER.
WHEN WE CELEBRATE EACH OTHER,
WE CELEBRATE OURSELVES. LET US
TURN ATTENTION TO THE HEART OF
OUR CELEBRATION, THE BUSINESSES
THAT THRIVE IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IN
LITTLE SAIGON. THESE ARE NOT
JUST ECONOMIC HUBS, THEY ARE
LIVING EMBODIMENTS OF THE
AMERICAN DREAM. AS PART OF THE
SPIRIT THAT PERMEATES THROUGH
THE MARKET. IT SHOWS STORIES OF
SUCCESS, SHOWCASING THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF A MARRIED --
ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. IF
YOU HAVEN'T, PLEASE MAKE SURE
TO VISIT THESE COMMUNITIES AND
ESPECIALLY CHECK OUT THE
INCREDIBLE HISTORY OF CULTURES
IN THEM. SUCH AS THE MUSEUM
AND THE NISEI VETERANS
COMMITTEE HALL, WHERE THEY HAVE
ARTIFACTS OF THE NISEI TEAM
THAT EARNED THE MOST
DISTINCTIONS OF ALL ARMED
SERVICES DURING WORLD WAR II.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LUNAR NEW
YEAR, LET US RENEW OUR
COMMITMENT TO FOSTER AN
INCLUSIVE AND WELCOME SOCIETY.
WENT TO CELEBRATE THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR
ASIAN-AMERICAN BROTHERS AND
SISTERS, RECOGNIZING THE
INVALUABLE ROLE THEY PLAYED IN
SHAPING THE CULTURE OF OUR
NATION. FINALLY, I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO EXPRESS A PROFOUND AND
SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP IN PROCLAIMING AND
RECOGNIZING LUNAR NEW YEAR
2024. YOUR COMMITMENT TO
FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY AND
BELONGING IS A BEACON OF
INSPIRATION FOR COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE NATION. YOUR
RECOGNITION OF THIS AUSPICIOUS
CELEBRATION REFLECTS THE SPIRIT
OF UNITY THAT MAKES SEATTLE A
-- AND EXCEPTIONAL CITY. HAPPY
LUNAR NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANY FINAL WORDS? NO? ALL
RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE
ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
COLLEAGUES, THIS TIME, WE WILL
OPEN UP THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. IT DOES SEEM
A LITTLE ANTICLIMACTIC AFTER
THOSE PRESENTATIONS. ADAM
CLARK, HOW MAY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE FIVE IN PERSON. I
BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE REMOTE.
>> IN A BREAK WITH TRADITION, I
WILL -- LET'S GO WITH THE ONE
REMOTE SPEAKER. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> FOR TWO MINUTES.
>> TWO MINUTES. YES.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL BEGIN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY
EXPLAINING HOW IT WILL BE
MONITORED. EACH SPEAKER WILL BE
GIVEN TO MINUTES. THERE MAY BE
IN PERSON AND REMOTE PUBLIC
SPEAKERS. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE REMOTE PUBLIC SPEAKER. EACH
SPEAKER WILL BE CALLED ON BY
NAME IN THE ORDER THAT THEY
REGISTERED ON THE WEBSITE OR ON
THE SENATE SHEET IN CHAMBERS.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM THAT YOU ARE
ADDRESSING. AS A REMINDER, YOUR
COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO THE
COMMENTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
LASTLY, SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME 110 SECONDS LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME. ONCE YOU HEAR
THE CHIME, WE ASK THAT YOU WRAP
UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF
SPEAKERS DO NOT AND THEIR
COMMENT AT THE END OF THE TIME
ALLOTTED, THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED. FOR
REMOTE SPEAKERS, WHEN YOU HEAR
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON MUTED,
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF. GO AHEAD. PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HI. THANK YOU. THIS IS DAVID
HANDS. TO PARAPHRASE MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR., THE NAMESAKE
OF KING COUNTY, JUDGE A MAN BY
THE CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER,
NOT HIS SKIN COLOR. IF YOU
APPLY THIS TO THE PRIORITIES
AND THAT BOTTOM OF THE BARREL
PRIORITIES, YOU WILL FIND THAT
THEY HAVE EXEMPTED CUSTOMS
FILING MISINTERPRETATIONS OF
LIBERTY AND FREEDOM AND CRIMES
, AND HAVE FORSAKEN INNOCENT
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED
TO PUBLIC SAFETY VIOLATIONS,
AND I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE
SOME PEOPLE SABOTAGE THE
INTEGRITY OF POLICE REFORM,
DEFINED IT, AND THEN REDIRECT
TO SOME POLICE AND ACTIVIST,
RACIST WOKE PROTESTERS WHO
SHIP DOWN CITY HALL. IF YOU'RE
GOING TO DO ANY ACCOUNTABILITY,
THERE'S A COUPLE OF PEOPLE
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY SAFETY WHO
POCKETED DIRTY MILLION DOLLARS
A YEAR. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO
TRADE AND SPLIT 15 MILLION
EACH WITH THE EQUITY
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE OF THE
PREVIOUS COUNCIL. $30 MILLION.
SO A $60 MILLION PRIORITY THAT
TAKES AWAY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY,
IT MAKES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
SUFFER BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE
TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE
INCARCERATION RATES AT THE
EXPENSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HOMELESS INNOCENTS WHO ARE
BEING DENIED BECAUSE EVIL
CRIMINALS AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE'
'S ARE GIVEN PRIORITY. AND THEY
UNDERMINE THE COMMUNITY FOR
EVERYBODY. IT DOESN'T SEEM
FAIR THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO BE
SUBJECTED TO A DOUBLE TRIPLE
MORTGAGE SHAKEDOWN ON SOME
REAL ESTATE. WE NEED COUNCIL TO
STEP UP AND MAKE A LAW THAT
PRIORITIZES THAT THE BANKS
HAVE TO FINANCE NEW HOMES,
BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS, AND
LIBRARIES WITH A ROBUST
FLOORPLAN TO MAKE SPACE FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GOING
ANYWHERE. THEY NEED QUALITY OF
LIVING. BUT THE PEOPLE ARE
BEING PUT AGAINST EACH OTHER TO
DISTRACT FROM AN IMMORAL
FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO
BE DISCIPLINED OF ITS CREED.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS
EXPIRED. THAT IS OUR ONLY
REMOTE COMMENTOR. THANK YOU.
>> OUR PERSON -- IN PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
KATHLEEN BROSE. I'M A
RESIDENT OF BALLARD. I WAS BORN
AND RAISED IN SEATTLE. I WAS AT
THE MEETING LAST WEEK WHEN A
GROUP OF REFUGEES CAME HERE
FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, CAME HERE
ASKING FOR MORE MONEY , ASKING
FOR MONEY FOR HOUSING . I'M
NOT WITHOUT COMPASSION. OUR
ANCESTORS WERE IMMIGRANTS.
HOWEVER, I HAVE A BUDGET. YOU
HAVE A BUDGET. YOUR BUDGET IS
IN THE RED. MY BUDGET MIGHT BE
IN THE RED PRETTY SOON IF TAXES
KEEP GOING UP. YOU WERE
ELECTED TO MAKE THESE HARD
DECISIONS. WE CAN'T KEEP
GIVING MONEY TO ANYONE WHO ASKS
FOR IT. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO MAKE SOME CUTS TO THE
BUDGET. IT IS GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT. I DON'T ENVY YOU
THERE. BUT THE WORDS ARE
PROBABLY OUT, THAT WE, THAT THE
MAYOR AUTHORIZED ANOTHER WEEK
IN THIS HOTEL FOR THIS GROUP
OF REFUGEES. IT HAS PROBABLY
GONE ACROSS THE WORLD. COME TO
SEATTLE. WE ARE OPEN. WE WILL
GIVE YOU HOUSING. BUT WE HAVE
PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS. WE HAVE
TO TAKE CARE OF DRUG ADDICTS,
THE MENTALLY ILL. OTHER PEOPLE
LIVING ON THE STREET. THESE
ARE TOUGH DECISIONS YOU HAVE TO
MAKE, BUT WE CAN'T GIVE MONEY
TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS. WE HAVE
TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN SEATTLE. OKAY? THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX
SURTAIN.
>> I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
AGENDA G. GUYS, I HAVE ONE
SMALL QUESTION TO YOU. THE
SITUATION IS VERY INTERESTING.
WHY DON'T YOU USE THAT $30
MILLION? [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
WHY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.
I EXPLAINED TO YOU WHAT HAS
HAPPENED. FOR 10 YEARS, YOU
DON'T SUPPORT MINORITIES.
THEY BRING SET UP FOR THE LAST
10 YEARS FROM $70,000. THAT IS
THE AVERAGE INCOME TO
$150-$140,000. WHY ARE YOU
DOING THIS? WHY DO YOU SUPPORT
CORPORATIONS MORE THAN
AMERICANS ? [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT TO ME? THIS
IS CLASSIC FASCISM. I THINK WAS
A LONELY TALKED ABOUT THIS.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
CORPORATIONS. [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
MY PROPOSITION, AND I SPEAK
RIGHT NOW TO EVERYONE WHO
LISTENS TO ME, GIVE $30 MILLION
TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHO YOU
MOVED OUT. YOU MOVE THEM BACK.
MOVE 50,000 PEOPLE FROM AMAZON
. YOU KNOW, TO BELLEVUE, FOR
EXAMPLE. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT
MEANS. BRING 30,000 PEOPLE.
RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE THEM.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, I HAVE REALLY
APPRECIATED THE PAST COUPLE OF
TIMES YOU HAVE NOT CALLED US
NAMES. YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. YOU HAVE
MADE SOME GOOD POINTS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. IT IS
MUCH APPRECIATED.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GARY
LARDISIBOL.
>> HI. THANK YOU. I HAVE A LOT
OF GRATITUDE FOR THE NEW
COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE GIG WORKER ORDINANCE
THAT WAS SPONSORED BY LISA
HERBOLD. I'M ACTUALLY ON KING
5 NEWS THIS PAST SUNDAY NIGHT.
IF YOU GOOGLE KIM PASQUITO, IT
IS BACKFIRING. THAT IS ME WITH
THE SAME HAT. I INVITE YOU TO
READ THAT STORY. THERE ARE SOME
POINTS IN THE BREAD THE POINTS
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TODAY ARE
COST ANALYSIS. I VERY MUCH
WOULD LIKE FOR EACH AND EVERY
COUNCILMEMBER TO DO HOMEWORK
IN THEIR DISTRICT. BUSINESSES
ARE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN. I HAVE THREE
POINTS. BASICALLY, WHAT ARE
CUSTOMERS PAYING? WELL, A $19
TOTAL COST FOR A BURRITO FROM
CHIPOTLE USED TO COST NINE
DOLLARS. THESE ARE MY ESTEEMED
COLLEAGUES. THEY ARE HERE IN
SUPPORT TODAY. ESSENTIALLY, NOW
THAT $90 BURRITO COSTS $35. I
INVITE YOU TO SEEK THAT OUT IN
YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS. WHAT
ARE THE SALES FOR DOOR DASH AND
COOPER EATS? IT IS DOWN 20%.
WHAT BACKGROUND CONTEXT DID
LISA HERBOLD DO? DID THEY DO A
COST ANALYSIS? DID THEY EVEN
THINK WHAT THE OUTPUT WAS GOING
TO BE ON THE COST? DID THEY
THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE A $35
BURRITO? WE ARE HERE NOW. IT IS
REALITY. IT IS A $35 BURRITO.
OUR ORDERS HAVE GONE DOWN. I
DON'T EVEN DO BREAKFAST
ANYMORE. THAT IS MY QUOTE ON
KING 5 NEWS BUT ESSENTIALLY, I
WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO THE COST
ANALYSIS OF THIS, AND THEY
DIDN'T EVEN ASK DOOR DASH OR
HUBER WHAT THEIR REACTION WAS
GOING TO BE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER
NELSON.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
I'M SPEAKING ON THE SAME
ORDINANCE THAT WAS OFFERED TO
THE GIG WORKERS ON GENERA 13
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GUARANTEE
A MINIMUM WAGE AND THAT WAS A
FIVE DOLLAR PER ORDER AMOUNT
THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT. I DON'T
KNOW WHO DID THE MATH. I KNOW I
CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS. I WILL
ASK RHETORICAL QUESTIONS FOR
YOU TO DO RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN.
THE MATH CAME TO BE ABOUT $26
PER HOUR, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. AND SO MORE
WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE. WE
UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DID IT, AND
IN THE BEGINNING, BEFORE IT WAS
INSTITUTED, WE ARE EXCITED
ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT, WE
ARE GOING TO MAKE A LIVABLE
WAGE. BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE
DON'T REALIZE THAT 90% OR MORE
OF OUR INCOME COMES FROM TIPS.
IT DOES NOT COME FROM UBEREATS.
IF WE DON'T GET ANY ORDERS
ALL DAY, WE DON'T MAKE MONEY.
THE MORE ORDERS WE GET, THE
MORE MONEY WE MAKE, OBVIOUSLY.
AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED NOW IS
THAT CUSTOMERS IN SEATTLE ARE
BOYCOTTING THE APP, AND HAVE
DELETED ITS OR THEIR NOT
ORDERING BECAUSE FOR FAIR
REASONS. LIKE GARY SAID, A
BURRITO IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE
COST. AND THAT IS BEFORE THEY
EVEN TIP. IF SOMEONE IS GOING
TO ORDER, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
TIP. A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE THEIR INCOME DROPPED BY
MORE THAN 50%. IT IS NOT
LIVABLE. AND THIS IS GOING TO
DESTROY THE GIG WORKER ECONOMY
IN SEATTLE. THE BOTTOM LINE, I
THINK THE FIRST ANSWER WOULD
BE TO REPEAL THE LAW. I DON'T
KNOW THE ANSWER WOULD BE GOING
FORWARD, IT IS UP TO YOU. BUT
RIGHT NOW, THIS IS DESTROYING
THEIR INCOMES AND THEIR
LIVELIHOODS. I ALSO WANT TO
ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE
NARRATIVE THAT WAS SPUN ABOUT
$26 PER HOUR, MOST PEOPLE
THOUGHT THAT WAS A REAL THING
THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND
THAT IS NOT HAPPENING AT ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS NICHOLAS
HENSHOT.
>> HELLO. I AM A BICYCLE
COURIER IN THE CITY. I WORK
FOR ALL OF THESE APP PLATFORMS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THE
ROOT AND PART OF THE SITUATION
. MY FATHER WAS AN IMMIGRANT TO
AMERICA WHO WAS CHASING THE
AMERICAN DREAM HERE. HE PASSED
AWAY TWO WEEKS BEFORE HE WAS
26, BEFORE HE RECEIVED HIS
CITIZENSHIP. HE WORKED VERY
HARD FOR IT. I TOO AM CHASING
THE MERKIN DREAM, AS ARE DOZENS
UPON DOZENS OF FELLOW COURTIERS
THAT I WORK WITH AND KNOW ON A
PERSONAL LEVEL. THIS LAW THAT
WAS PASSED ON THE 13th HAS
AFFECTED US GREATLY. DELIVERY
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE IN THE CITY, IN THIS
METROPOLIS, TO ONLY THE ELITE
AND PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD IT
WITH VERY LARGE POCKETBOOKS.
EVERYONE DESERVES THIS KIND OF
SERVICE, FROM SINGLE PARENTS TO
SICK INDIVIDUALS AND INJURED
INDIVIDUALS. IT SHOULD BE AN
OPTION AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
THIS LAW HAS VASTLY CHANGED
THAT. IT IS HURTING
BUSINESSES. DOZENS OF
BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES,
EVEN LARGE BUSINESSES, THEY
HAVE LOST 30% OF THEIR INCOME.
WE WORK ON THESE PLATFORMS, OR
AT LEAST I DO. MANY OF US ALSO
DO, NOT JUST TO MAKE A QUICK
BUCK OR TWO -- TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE OUR PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES TO SO MANY CITIZENS
AND TO HELP KEEP THE WHEELS OF
COMMERCE TURNING IN THIS CITY.
IT IS A NECESSARY PROFESSION .
TO SEE IT DYING LIKE THIS IS
HEARTBREAKING NOT ONLY TO
MYSELF, BUT DOZENS OF COURIERS
IN THE CITY AND MANY OTHER
CITIES AROUND THE NATION, AND
ALSO TO MANY, MANY BUSINESSES
THAT MEAN SO MUCH TO OUR
COMMUNITY. IT REALLY NEEDS TO
BE REPEALED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THAT IS THE LAST REGISTERED
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU. JUST A MOMENT,
PLEASE. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO RECOGNIZE YOUR COMMENTS,
FOLKS THAT JUST SPOKE. I AM THE
ONLY ONE I BELIEVE ON THE STAGE
HERE. I WAS PART OF THE
COMMITTEE THAT FORWARDED THAT
TO THE COUNCIL. I REMEMBER
THESE DISCUSSIONS VERY WELL.
LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, AS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND AS A
NEW PERSON TO COUNCIL AFTER THE
PROPOSAL CAME FORWARD FROM
WORKING IN WASHINGTON, I SAID,
THIS WILL HAVE ALL SORTS OF
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, THAT
DELIVERY SERVICES BECAME --
THEY WENT FROM A CONVENIENCE
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BECAME AN
ESSENTIAL SERVICE DURING THE
PANDEMIC WITH MANY PEOPLE AND
PUTTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE,
EXTREMELY DEPENDENT ON THEM,
AND THAT THE CHANGES TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF MINIMUM WAGE
AND A BUNCH OF THE OTHER
RELATIONS THAT WENT ALONG WITH
THAT IN THE RULES, THERE WILL
BE CONSEQUENCES, NOT JUST FOR
THE NETWORKS LIKE DOOR DASH,
ET CETERA, BUT ALSO FOR THESE
SMALL RESTAURANTS AND
BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING
ORDERED FROM. AND FOR THE
CUSTOMERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
PAYING HIGHER PRICES WHEN THEIR
MEDICATIONS OR MEALS ARE
DELIVERED TO THE DOOR. BUT MOST
OF ALL, FOR THE WORKERS, WHO
THIS IS INTENDED TO HELP. AND
SO, I AM NOT -- IT IS NOT A
GOOD THING THAT THAT FEAR IS
COMING TO FRUITION. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THAT I HEAR YOU
VERY MUCH. I'M NOT SURE WHAT
THE NEXT STEPS ARE, BUT I HAVE
RECEIVED EMAILS FROM EACH OF
THOSE CONSTITUENCIES, DRIVERS,
SMALL BUSINESSES, AND END USERS
OR CUSTOMERS. THANK YOU FOR
SPEAKING OUT TODAY.
SPOKE ALL RIGHT. ONE MOMENT,
PLEASE, AS I GATHER MYSELF
AGAIN.
OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT IS
CLOSED. I WILL GO ON TO OUR
OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS. WITH
NO OBJECTION, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE INSTRUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
IS ADOPTED. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR. ITEMS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR INCLUDE ONLY ONE.
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS. WOULD
ANYBODY LIKE TO REMOVE THAT?
EXCELLENT. SO, THERE ARE NO
ITEMS REMOVED . WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE MOVE.
>> I MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I SECOND.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL?
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE
ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
FIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES ON MY BEHALF? OKAY,
FOLKS. THERE WERE NO ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. THERE ARE NO
COMMITTEE REPORTS OR
PRESENTATIONS TODAY. THERE ARE
NO RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION
AND ADOPTION. NEXT WEEK,
HOWEVER, THERE'S GOING TO BE A
WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF. NOW THAT
WE ARE JUST THIS WEEK GETTING
STARTED WITH OUR COMMITTEE
WORK. SO, WITH THAT, IF THERE
IS NO OTHER BUSINESS, NO
ABSENCES TO REQUEST? SEEING
NONE, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED
IT IS FEBRUARY 6th, 2024, AT
2:50 P.M. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MEETING ADJOURNED.