♪
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THE MAY 7th 2024 MEETING OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 02. I AM
SARA NELSON, PRESIDENT OF THE
COUNCIL. WILLOW CLERK READ THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> I WILL NOTE WE HAD A LATE
TRANSPORTATION MEETING EARLIER
AND I KNOW ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
ARE ON ROUTE HERE. SO, WE WILL
PROCEED HOWEVER, ANYWAY. I WILL
NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
WAS ALREADY EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S MEETING. ALL RIGHT, WE
DON'T HAVE ANY PRESENTATION
FOR TODAY. TALKING SLOW.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME, WE
WILL OPEN A HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. MADAM CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> WE HAVE EIGHT IN PRISON AND
12 REMOTE.
>> OKAY, LET'S START WITH THE
IN PERSON SPEAKERS. EVERYONE
WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK,
AND LET'S BREAK IT INTO CHUNKS
OF FIVE, FIVE IN PERSON, AND
FIVE REMOTE?
>> SURE, YES. THE PUBLIC, AND
PERIOD IS UP TO 20 MINUTES,
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER THEY ARE REGISTERED. WE
WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF
FIVE IN PERSON AND FIVE REMOTE
SPEAKERS. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS LEFT OF
THEIR TIME AND SPEAKERS MAY NOT
-- MAY BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT
END THEIR COMMENT IN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER. NOW, WE BEGIN
WITH THE FIRST FIVE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE ONE MINUTE. OUR FIRST
SPEAKER IS JOHN, AND HE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY.
>> NOW, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
HAS JOINED THE MEETING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THE PAY UP BILL IS A FAILURE
IN THE REAL WORLD, TO THE
PEOPLE THAT SAY 113 DAYS ISN'T
LONG ENOUGH OF A TEST, I ASK
ALL OF YOU PERSONALLY, HOW MANY
PEOPLE NEED TO GO HOMELESS
BEFORE IT IS ENOUGH? SHAME ON
YOU AND YOUR ELITE, PRIVILEGED,
SELFISH PERSPECTIVE. PLEASE
THINK OF OTHERS WHO ARE BEING
HARMED. YESTERDAY, I MADE $45
IN SEVEN HOURS OF WORK. OF ALL
THE GATE WORKERS I SPOKE TO
YESTERDAY, THE MOST THAT WAS
MADE BY ANYONE I RAN INTO WAS
$51. THE PAY UP BILL IS DOING
THE OPPOSITE OF ITS INTENTION.
IT HAS CRITICALLY DECREASED
WORKER PAY, AND THE PROPOSED
REVISIONS SHOULD FIX THIS. IF
RESTAURANTS ARE DOWN 40% IT IS
NOT POSSIBLE UNDER THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PAY UP BILL
FOR THE MAJORITY OF COURIERS TO
BE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN THEY
WERE BEFORE. I AM CONFIDENT THE
CITY COUNCIL HAS THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE MAJORITY OF
WORKERS IN MIND WITH THE
REVISED BILL. THE BILL IS AN
ATTEMPT BY COUNCIL TO INCREASE
WORKERS' WAGES TO ACHIEVE AN
ACTUAL MINIMUM WAGE, INSTEAD OF
THE FALSE PROMISE OF ONE WITH
THE PAY UP BILL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS. FOLLOWED BY, WE NGUYEN.
>> I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE
PROPOSAL TO REDUCE MINIMUM
WAGE. NONE OF THESE DRIVERS
WANT ANY OF THE COMPANIES TO
FAIL. UNTIL DRIVERS CAN HAVE
THEIR OWN UNION TO NEGOTIATE,
WE COUNT ON YOU TO MAKE SURE
DRIVERS ARE TREATED FAIRLY.
FORTUNATELY, THE PROPOSAL THIS
TIME IS NOT FAIR, BECAUSE IT
RELIES ON THE 1997 MINIMUM
WAGE, WHICH DOES NOT CONSIDER
THE SITUATION OF DRIVERS WHO
HAVE TO USE THERE ON -- THEIR
OWN CARS AND HAVE TO PAY THEIR
OWN TAXES. THOSE FEES, ABOUT
25% MORE THAN CURRENTLY. I
THINK YOU CAN DO IT MUCH BETTER
THAN THAT.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS AND FOLLOWING WILL BE JASON.
>> AND I WILL ALSO TAKE A
MOMENT TO EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FROM TODAY'S MEETING.
>> OKAY, HI, I AM HERE TODAY TO
EMPHASIZE THE POSITIVE IMPACT
OF THE SEATTLE WARNER PAY UP
COMPANION. THIS HAS BEEN A
BEACON OF HOPE FOR GIG WORKERS,
PROVIDING A SOCIAL PROTECTION
SUCH AS MINIMUM PAYMENT, AND
SAFEGUARDS AGAINST UNFAIR
DEACTIVATION. HOWEVER, THE WORK
DOES NOT END HERE. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE TO MAKE
THE LAW MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE
NEEDS OF WORKERS. UNLIKE
COOPERATION, WHO OFTEN
DISREGARD THE VOICES OF
WORKERS, THE PAYOUT COMPANION
CAN ADDRESS DIRECTLY WITH THE
WORKERS, LIKE A FAIR WORK
CENTERS. THOSE EFFORTS WILL
EMPOWER WORKERS BY GIVING THEM
A PLATFORM THAT WILL CONCERN
AND SHAPE THE POLICY OF THEIR
LIVELIHOODS. THE CITY HAS THE
CAPABILITY OF PROVIDING
SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY, ONLY
BECAUSE AND ONLY WHEN THEY ARE
CREATING FOR EVERYONE. THIS
ORDINANCE EMBODIED THE
CORROBORATION NEEDED TO CREATE
A CITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN
THRIVE, IN COMMUNITY AND CITY
LIFE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JASON. FOLLOWING JASON WILL
BE AIRY ON O'REILLY.
>> LAST YEAR, I WAS EARNING A
BASIS OF $20 AN HOUR BUT
USUALLY MORE. I WAS ABLE TO
WORK 40 HOURS PER WEEK AND SET
ASIDE MONEY FOR EMERGENCIES. IT
WAS A LOW STRESS JOB THAT
COMMENSURATE WITH THE PAY.
UNDER THE CURRENT LAW, MY PAY
IS $10.46 PER HOUR, AND I AM
FORCED TO WORK 60 HOURS, AND
BARELY ABLE TO COBBLE -- COVER
MY EXPENSES. THIS LAW IS LIVING
IN A PLACE WHERE I NEED TO
POSTPONE BASIC VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE. I NEED NEW BRAKES
AND CABLES, WHICH ARE ONLY
ABOUT $60, BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS
TRULY A BURDEN. $60 IS MORE
THAN HALF OF WHAT I MAKE FOR
$10 OF WORK ON AN EXCEPTIONAL
DAY. LIVING ON $10 AN HOUR IN
SEATTLE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. IT
IS A WAGE THAT PUTS WORKERS
BEHIND ONE NOTCH EACH WEEK
UNTIL THEY ARE STRANDED. THIS
LAW NEEDS TO CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS. AND A
REMINDER TO THE REMOTE
SPEAKERS, WHEN YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT, YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED
TO PRESS *6. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS MEREDITH SERTTI.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MEREDITH, I
AM A DRIVER FOR UBER, AND DOOR
DASH. I AM OPPOSING THIS TO CUT
WAGES. I'M SHOWING AN EXAMPLE
OF THE OTHER DAY OF HOW THE PAY
UP POLICY PROTECTS US. BEFORE I
DO THAT I WANT TO INFORM YOU
THAT THESE COMPANIES HAVE THE
POWER TO CRAFT BRANDS AND
FULFILL THEM THROUGH THE
RESTAURANTS, IT IS A PRETTY
IMPORTANT FACT YOU SHOULD TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT. SO, THIS IS AN
EASY ORDER I WAS PICKING UP,
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OFTEN. I
INFORMED THE CASHIER WHAT THE
ITEMS WERE, I WAITED THE 10
MINUTES, I DELIVERED THE ORDER.
THE PAY UP POLICY PROTECTED ME
AS A DRIVER BY HOLDING THE
COMPANY RESPONSIBLE TO PAY ME
FOR MY TIME. BEFORE PAYOUT, MY
TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN WASTED IN
MY EARNINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN
MUCH LOWER. PERSONALLY, I MADE
ABOUT $50 AN HOUR FOR THAT
ORDER. EITHER WAY, I WOULD HAVE
EITHER WAITED AND LEFT AND THE
ORDER WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT TO
ANOTHER DRIVER, SCREWING OVER
BOTH THE DRIVER --
>> OKAY, THANK YOU, OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS SEAN, FOLLOWED BY
ALEX KIM.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SEAN, I WORK
WITH INSTACART AND UBER
TECHNOLOGIES. I AM HERE TO
PROPOSE SARA NELSON'S PROPOSAL
TO CUT PAY. IS DOWN IN SEATTLE
BECAUSE IT REQUIRES TO PAY
MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE STATEWIDE WITH A
FLUCTUATION ACCORDING TO
DIFFERENT COUNTIES'
REQUIREMENTS. BUT, THIS IS
EVERYWHERE OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE.
THERE WAS A MASSIVE IMPACT AT
THE SAME TIME THE PAY UP
STRUCTURE WENT INTO EFFECT
OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE AS WELL AS
INSIDE OF SEATTLE. THE
COMPANIES' EFFORT INTO REAL
TALLY IT INTO THE WORKFORCE
THAT WAS THE BACKBONE OF THEM
TURNING GREAT PROFITS THAT WERE
REPORTED IN THE END OF LAST
YEAR IS UNNECESSARY. THE
PROBLEM WITH SARA NELSON'S
PROPOSAL IS THAT IT ONLY PLAYS
-- PAYS A STREET MINIMUM WAGE
ON TIME.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALEX KIM, AND FOLLOWING ALEX
WILL BE NICK JAMES. GO AHEAD,
ALEX.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ALEX KIM,
FOOD DELIVERY DRIVER AND
DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT
TESTIFYING AGAINST PAY UP. I
ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO THIS.
GO TO ARCHIVE.ORG AND ENTER
SEATTLE.ORG. GO TO THE JULY
17th ARCHIVE AND GO TO THE
ABOUT US PAGE. THIS HOW THEY
DESCRIBE THEMSELVES, "WE WERE
FOUNDED BY UBER. " YOU CAN ALSO
GO TO THE MARCH 15th, 2023,
FINANCING COMMITTEE VIDEO. AT
THE 7:30 MARK, YOU WILL HEAR
MICHAELL WOLFF TRYING TO CHANGE
THE LAW FROM HOURS INSTEAD OF
DAYS, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN WE
GET SICK, WE ONLY NEED A FEW
HOURS OFF, NOT DAYS, RIGHT?
THIS ONLY APPLIES TO ACTIVE
TIME, SO IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT A
GUARANTEE AND IT IS WAGE
STEALING, ALLOWING FOR TOP UPS,
NOT A FLOOR. DRIVE FORWARD HAS
MISREPRESENTED THEMSELVES. THIS
IS NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE TO ALLOW
CORPORATIONS TO WRITE THEIR OWN
WORKERS' RIGHTS LAWS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NICK JAMES, FOLLOWING NICK
WILL BE VALERIE. GO AHEAD,
NICK.
>> HEY, MY NAME IS NICK. I
DRIVE FOR UBER, GRUB HUB, AND
INSTACART. BY THE WAY, I MADE
$275 YESTERDAY. MOST DAYS I
HAVE BEEN OUT I HAVE MADE MORE
SINCE THE NEW LAW, AND I HAVE
ACTUALLY TALKED TO REAL DRIVERS
WHO WERE SENT HERE BY DOOR
DASH, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY
MAKING MORE. I UNDERSTAND
DEMAND IS DOWN BUT IT IS DOWN
BECAUSE COMPANIES WANTED TO. IF
THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO PAYING
SUB MINIMUM WAGE. THINK ABOUT
THIS PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE. YOU
CAN GO BACK TO MAKING $13 AN
HOUR, BUT YOU CAN WORK $15 A
DAY AND YOU CAN MAKE MORE. IT
IS A DISGUSTING MESSAGE TO SEND
TO PEOPLE, YOU CAN SAY, YOU
KNOW, DO NOT PASS THOSE. IF YOU
WANT TO FIX STUFF, I HEAR
EVERYTHING ABOUT DISABLED, OLD
PEOPLE, IS THERE ANYTHING
CAPPING THEIR FEES, MAKING IT
CHEAPER FOR THEM? NOW IT IS ON
THE BACKS OF THE DRIVERS. ONLY
PAYING THE DRIVERS SUB MINIMUM
WAGE AS THE ANSWER, THAT IS
DISGUSTING.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS VALERIE, AND THEN WE WILL
RETURN TO IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> VALERIE, YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS *6.
>>> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ONTO
SHAYLA CHILDERS. SHAYLA?
>> HI, I AM SHAYLA CHILDERS, I
AM A WORKER FOR AMAZON FLEX AND
I AM OPPOSING NELSON'S
PROPOSAL FOR A PAY CUT FOR
MINIMUM PAY FOR GIG WORKERS.
AMAZON HAS ALREADY STOLEN ABOUT
$300 OF WAGES FOR ME. PLEASE,
PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM
INFLUENCE ANYBODY AND TAKE ANY
MORE MONEY FROM THE WORKERS.
THAT IS ALL I AM ASKING YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT IN
PERSON SPEAKER IS NATHAN
BECKWITH, AND FOLLOWING NATHAN,
WILL BE CASTILLE HIGHTOWER.
>> I WANT TO ADDRESS THE $30
BURRITO IN THE ROOM AND SPEAK
AGAINST SARA NELSON'S PROPOSAL
TO CUT OUR PAY. ON APRIL 25th,
MY BROTHER AND I SHARED A
COUPLE OF BEERS AND A PIZZA.
OUR TAB WAS $57. I CAN TELL YOU
WHERE TO GET A GOOD BURRITO FOR
EIGHT DOLLARS, BUT GOOGLE WILL
NOT. IF YOU GOOGLE "MEXICAN
FOOD," IT WILL ONLY GIVE
RESULTS FOR BUSINESSES PAYING
EXORBITANT ADVERTISING FEES.
DOOR DASH DOES THE SAME THING.
THE SOMEBODY THAT PAID EIGHT
DOLLARS BURRITO FOR IS NOT MY
FAULT. GIG WORKERS IN SEATTLE
PAY 130.6% OF MINIMUM WAGE. I
HEARD THE GIG WORKERS IN NEW
YORK CITY GET PAID 200% OF
MINIMUM WAGE. WE NEED THAT
EXTRA PAY TO ACCOUNT FOR THE
EXTRA TIME AND COST AS
CONTRACTORS. EVERYTHING IS
EXPENSIVE HERE. IT IS EXPENSIVE
TO OWN AND OPERATE A CAR OR A
BIKE, AND ALSO DANGEROUS AND
EMOTIONALLY, AND PHYSICALLY
DRAINING. FOOD IS EXPENSIVE. IT
IS MORE SO EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU
DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GET A GOOD
DEAL AND HAVE TO RELY ON THIS.
PAYING US BELOW MINIMUM WAGE IS
NOT A SOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CASTILLE HIGHTOWER. CASTILLE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN
TAYLOR.
>> OKAY, WELL, HOW ARE WE GOING
TO DO THIS? MY NAME IS CASTILLE
HIGHTOWER, MY BROTHER, HERBERT
HIGHTOWER JUNIOR WAS MURDERED
BY SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER STEVE
JACK IN 2004 WHEN HE WAS
EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS. MY FAMILY STRUGGLED TO
BURY HIM AND TO HAVE A FUNERAL
FOR HIM, AND HAVE CONTINUED TO
SUFFER TRAUMA EVER SINCE THAT
TIME PERIOD. PASSED LEGISLATION
TWICE ALREADY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO CREATE A CITY
DEDICATED OFFICE TO VICTIMS OF
POLICE VIOLENCE, CALL THE
AFFECTED PERSONS PROGRAM.
TWICE, IT HAS BEEN OBSTRUCTED.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE
PROGRAM HAS BEEN CUT, AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS NOW REFUSING
TO PAY ME FOR THREE MONTHS OF
BACK PAY, WHICH HAS PUT ME IN A
SITUATION WHERE I AM NOW AT
RISK OF LOSING MY HOUSE. SO,
THIS LITTLE KID HERE IS AT RISK
OF LOSING HIS HOME, BECAUSE HIS
MOTHER DECIDED TO STAND UP FOR
VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE,
INCLUDING HIS UNCLE, HERBERT
HIGHTOWER, THAT HE HAS NEVER
BEEN ABLE TO MEET. I AM HERE,
BECAUSE, JOY, I EMAILED YOU AND
I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FOR A
WEEK AND A HALF. TANYA, YOU
WERE CCED ON THAT EMAIL, YOU
NEVER REPLIED. AND IT IS
UNACCEPTABLE FOR MY FAMILY TO
--
>> THANK YOU, CASTILLE. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN TAYLOR.
>> IT IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN A STATE
OF CRISIS FOR THE LAST FEW
MONTHS BECAUSE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS YET TO PAY ME. YOU
HAVE TO SIT A LITTLE BIT
UNCOMFORTABLE. THE CHALLENGES
THAT I HAVE, IN BRINGING MY
DISABLED SON HERE TO TALK ABOUT
MAKING SURE MY FAMILY IS HOUSED
--
>> THANK YOU, MS. HIGHTOWER.
>> I AM GOING TO IGNORE YOU.
>> OKAY, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> IT IS NOT OKAY. I AM TIRED
OF THE CRAP. I HAVE TRIED TO
TALK TO YOU, ALL, ON MULTIPLE
OCCASIONS, TO JOIN US AT THE
LAST COMMUNITY MEETING, WHEN WE
HAD A CONVERSATION, BUT IT HAS
COMPLETELY STALLED AGAIN. I AM
NOT GOING TO LIE TO GUYS, TO
CONTINUE, AS MY FAMILY --
$100,000 , I AM ONLY ASKING FOR
A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THAT,
WHICH IS WORK I WORKED HARD
FOR. IT IS ONE THING TO
OBSTRUCT, IT IS ONE THING TO
OBSTRUCT --
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT IS ONE THING TO OBSTRUCT
A PROGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF POLICE
VIOLENCE, IT IS ANOTHER THING
TO TRY TO MALICIOUSLY DESTROY
THAT FAMILY BECAUSE WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MADE --
AND WE CAN HAVE A FUNERAL FOR
OUR LOVED ONES BECAUSE --
>> THANK YOU, I DO HAVE TO SAY
THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
>> WHETHER YOU BELIEVE A VICTIM
IS RIGHT OR WRONG, LEFT OR
RIGHT, WHEN THE CITY MURDERS
SOMEONE, YOU SHOULD AT THE VERY
LEAST HAVE THE HUMAN DECENCY TO
MAKE SURE THEY ARE BURIED AND
HAVE A FUNERAL, OKAY?
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN
TAYLOR.
>> HI.
>> HERE YOU GO.
>> I AM A GIG WORKER. I AM
OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES
THAT ARE BEFORE THE COUNCIL. I
REALLY HOPE THAT YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS, ARE DOING YOUR
BEST TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT
OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT
THERE IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES
AND CITIES THAT ARE ADDRESSING
WORKER PAY. ONE THAT I WOULD
SPECIFICALLY CALL TOTO SEARCH -E
APP COMPANIES SPENT $205
MILLION IN THEIR CAMPAIGN IN
CALIFORNIA, AND THEY ADVOCATED
FOR A 120% OF THE LOCAL MINIMUM
WAGE. SO, IF YOU GUYS VOTE FOR
THIS, IF YOU SAY THAT IS OKAY,
WHY ARE DRIVERS IN SEATTLE --
WHY ARE WE WORTHLESS? WHY ARE
WE WORTH LESS THAN DRIVERS IN
CALIFORNIA WHO, THE APP
COMPANIES SPENT $205 MILLION TO
ADVOCATE FOR THAT CHANGE? SO, I
WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING UP
SOME AMENDMENTS AND OPPOSE THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
BACK TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. OUR
FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS EMMA H
POINT
>> OH, WAIT, HOLD ON, WHAT DID
YOU SAY?
>> ARIANA RILEY? YES, WE SAID
THE NAME, AND THEN -- I'M
SORRY, COME ON UP, I DON'T
KNOW HOW I DID THAT. I READ IT,
DIDN'T I? I MUST HAVE FORGOT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ARIANA RILEY AND I AM A GIG
WORKER WITH DOOR DASH, TREAT
UBER EATS. I AM HERE TO TALK
ABOUT DOOR DASH'S MOST RECENT
EARNINGS CALL. THEY SAID IN
THEIR MOST RECENT EARNINGS CALL
THAT REFUNDS AND CREDITS ARE
ACTUALLY DOWN IN SEATTLE. IN
MOST CASES, EARNINGS AND
CREDITS CAME OUT OF THE
RESTAURANT'S POCKET, NOT DOOR
DASH. THERE ARE 15 REASONS
LISTED ON DOOR DASH'S WEBSITE
AS TO WHY THEY WOULD NOT PAY
RESTAURANTS FOR ORDERS. I USED
TO WORK AT A RESTAURANT THAT
WAS VERY POPULAR FOR DELIVERY,
AND EVERY DAY, THERE WERE AT
LEAST A FEW ORDERS WE DIDN'T
GET PAID FOR, FOR VARIOUS
REASONS. NOW, THROUGH DOOR
DASH'S OWN ADMISSION, IN
SEATTLE, RESTAURANTS ARE PAID
FOR ALL DELIVERY ORDERS THEY
MAKE, WHICH HELPS RESTAURANTS'
PROFITS, AND DOOR DASH IS
PROCESSING LESS REFUNDS AND
CREDITS, WHICH IS MORE PROFITS
FOR DOOR DASH. THIS LAW HAS
IMPROVED BOTH SERVICE AND
PROFITS FOR RESTAURANTS, AND
DOOR DASH ALIKE, AND CUSTOMERS
ARE BENEFITING FROM BETTER
SERVICE. IT IS WORKING BETTER
THAN INTENDED. PLEASE KEEP THE
LAW IN PLACE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR
REMOTE SPEAKERS. OUR NEXT
REMOTE SPEAKER IS EMMA H, AND
EMMA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ROB
ENGEL.
>> IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, DOOR
DASH STATED THAT THEY WERE
"FIERCE ADVOCATES" OF
LEGISLATION LIKE PROP 22 IN
CALIFORNIA AND THEY ARE NOW
PUSHING FOR A SIMILAR BILL IN
MASSACHUSETTS. THESE BILLS,
THAT PAY AT 120% OF THE MINIMUM
WAGE, PLUS THE MILEAGE RATE.
EVEN THE APP COMPANIES
UNDERSTAND THAT THE EMPLOYEE
MINIMUM WAGE PROPOSED IN
NELSON'S PROVISION WOULD
RESULT IN GIG WORKERS TAKING
FAR BELOW EVERYONE ELSE. UNLIKE
SEATTLE, THESE BILLS ALSO
PROVIDE A HEALTH INSURANCE SITE
FOR THESE WORKERS. IN
CALIFORNIA, A GIG WORKER WITH
25 ACTIVE HOURS PER WEEK CAN
MAKE AS HIGH AS 148% OF THE
EMPLOYEE MINIMUM, CAN --
COMPARED TO SEATTLE'S 132%. IN
HIGHER COST OF LIVING AREAS,
THEREFORE, THE COST OF LIVING
CONNECTED SEATTLE. YET, ALL OF
THIS INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FEES
IN THE RANGE OF TWO DOLLARS AND
THE PEER SUPPORT OF THE
COMPANY. THE SELF-IMPOSED HIGH
FEES IN SEATTLE ARE BEING USED
TO OVERTURN DATA TRANSPARENCY
AND WORKER PROTECTIONS. DON'T
FALL FOR IT. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROB
ENGEL, AND FOLLOWING ROB WILL
BE HERMIONE CARSON.
>> HI. I AM HERE TO SPEAK UP IN
SUPPORT OF CASTILLE HIGHTOWER,
AND THAT SHE DID ALL -- GET
PAID FOR ALL THE WORK SHE
ALREADY DID FOR THE CITY. I
THINK IT IS UNBELIEVABLY
INSENSITIVE SGUSTINGYOU
GUEN STANDING TO
THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU ALREADY
MADE. IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE
SENSE, IF THE CITY HAS SO, SO
MUCH MONEY, AND I JUST CANNOT
BELIEVE THAT YOU CANNOT -- YOU
ARE PRETENDING YOU CAN'T GET
OUT $100,000 EVEN. THAT IS --
IT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF
MONEY TO ME, BUT TO THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY YOU ARE HANDLING, IT
IS NOTHING! HAND OVER THE
MONEY, THIS IS WORK THAT WAS
ALREADY DONE. SHE ALREADY DID
THE WORK. ALL THE -- THE ONLY
MISTAKE TO STEAL MADE WAS
TRUSTING YOU PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY
HAND OVER THE MONEY WITHOUT THE
SLICK, PROTRACTED STRUGGLE, AND
IT IS ABSOLUTELY -- IT BLOWS MY
MIND AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HERMIONE CARSON, AND
FOLLOWING HERMIONE, WILL BE
JAMIE CORTEZ. HERMIONE, AND
THEN JAMIE.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS HERMIONE
CARSON. I AM A CUSTOMER OF
DELIVERY PEOPLE. MY HUSBAND AND
I ARE VERY HIGH RISK FROM
COVID. DELIVERY FOLKS SAVE OUR
LIVES EVERY DAY. I AM HERE TO
SUPPORT THE FAIR MINIMUM WAGE
FOR PAY UP AND OPPOSE THE CUT
TO PAY. SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE
2% MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES IN THE
WORLD. I HAVE LIVED A LIFE
WHERE I HAVE LIVED ON MINIMUM
WAGE AND IT SUCKS TO HAVE TO
MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER OR
NOT TO PAY RENT. IF I CAN'T GET
LOCAL DELIVERY IN ORDER TO SAVE
LIVES, I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO
NATIONAL CHAINS, AND I HATE TO
DO THAT. OKAY?
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JAMIE CORTEZ. FOLLOWING
JAMIE, WILL BE KIMBERLY WOLF.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JAMIE AND
I AM HERE IN REFERENCE TO THE
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
SPECIFICALLY, I'M CALLING ABOUT
THE AFFECTED PERSONS PROGRAM
AND THE HARD WORK THAT CASTILLE
HIGHTOWER HAS PUT IN AS AN
ACTUAL EFFECT PERSON. PLEASE
PAY HER SALARY IN FULL WITHOUT
DELAY FOR AT LEAST FOR THE
FIRST FEW MONTHS OF 2024. THIS
IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION,
FOLLOWING LEGISLATION FROM THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, REGARDING THE
HP, PASSED IN NOVEMBER 2023.
FAILURE TO PAY HER SALARY
COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM SHE HAS
ENCOUNTERED EVER SINCE SPD
KILLED HER BROTHER. THE
COMMUNITY HAS HAD TO RALLY TO
SUPPORT CASTILLE TO MAKE UP FOR
THE WAGE THEFT FROM THE CITY
FOR WORK SHE ALREADY COMPLETED.
THIS IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE
FIXED IMMEDIATELY. CASTILLE
NEEDS TO RECEIVE HER BACKPAY
WITH INTEREST SINCE THE CITY
HAS BEEN WITHHOLDING HER WAGES.
PAY CASTILLE NOW.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KIMBERLY WOLF, AND FOLLOWING
KIMBERLY, WILL BE ALBERTO
ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ?
>> KIMBERLY WOLF, GIG WORKER. I
AM SPEAKING REGARDING
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S BILL,
THE PAY OF LAW, THAT IS BEING
RUSHED THROUGH. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
REALLY GOING ON. NOTHING IN
THIS BILL HELPS WORKERS,
RESTAURANTS, CUSTOMERS, OR
RESOURCE WORKER VOLUME. IT
FIXES NOTHING. IT IS A GIVE ME
TO A HANDFUL OF OUT-OF-STATE
COMPANIES, STRIPPING WORKER
PROTECTION FROM THE ORIGINAL
LAW FROM WORKERS RIGHT HERE IN
SEATTLE. IT DROPPED THOSE GIG
WORKERS BACK DOWN TO SUB
MINIMUM WAGES, TALKING UNDER
$14 AN HOUR WHEN YOU ACTUAL --
ACTUALLY FIGURE THE EXPENSES
THAT HAVE THE
POCKETS OF THESE GIG WORKERS,
CONTRACTORS. THAT HAS LEFT
THOUSANDS OF SEATTLE GIG
WORKERS STRIPPED OF RIGHTS AND
PROTECTIONS. ALL OF THIS IS A
SMOKE SCREEN TO AVOID OLS
ANALYZING THEIR DATA AND
EXPOSING THEIR SHENANIGANS. SO,
DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS. A
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALBERTO ALVAREZ, AND HE WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID HAYNES.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
ALBERTO. I AM A DELIVERY DRIVER
HERE IN SEATTLE. DOOR DASH MADE
A REPORT FOR THE RECORDER ONE
EARNINGS OF THIS YEAR, AND
THESE WERE THEIR WORDS. "WE
ESTIMATE THE REGULATIONS,"
MEANING THE ONES IN SEATTLE,"
REDUCED TOTAL ORDERS BY LESS
THAN 1% IN QUARTER ONE OF
2024." NOW, ACCORDING TO DOOR
DASH, SEATTLE AND NEW YORK
MIGHT BE SMALL POTATOES, BUT
THEY ARE SPENDING ALL THIS
MONEY AIMED AT DRIVE FORWARD,
AND UBER RUNS THAT. THEY
CONTROL IT, AND THEY PAY FOR
IT. THEY ARE SPENDING ALL OF
THAT MONEY TO TAKE AWAY OUR
FAIR PAY. THE CHANGES THAT ARE
PROPOSED ARE PUNITIVE BECAUSE
THEY SET US AT A SUB MINIMUM
WAGE AND TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHTS
AND PROTECTION THAT WE FOUGHT
FOR FOR OVER TWO YEARS. NOT
ONLY ARE YOU CUTTING OUR PAY,
BUT YOU ARE TAKING --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DAVID HAYNES, AND DAVID WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY VALERIE FROM --
VALERIE FLOREZ.
>> HI, DAVID HAYNES. IT IS NOT
FAIR THE FINANCE CHAIR HAS
LOBBIED AND COACHED THE CENTRAL
STAFF TO SUGARCOAT A SO-CALLED
AUDIT THAT IS DISTRACTING FROM
THE FACT THAT THE PREVIOUS
COUNCIL WHO DEFUNDED THE POLICE
AND SHIFTED THE PARADIGM AWAY
FROM FIGHTING CRACK, METH,
HEROIN, AND FENTANYL, AND
INSTEAD PRIORITIZING REPEAT
OFFENDERS TO APPEASE THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, VIRTUE
SIGNALING, THAT HAS EXACERBATED
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AND
THE HOMELESS CRISIS WITH BAD
SPENDING PRIORITIES THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND DEALT
WITH ON ALL LEVELS OF
LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS, WHERE
WE NEED TO STOP EXEMPTING THESE
LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS FROM
JAIL AND THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS
CONNECTED TO THE UNDERWORLD WHO
HAVE NEVER BEEN QUESTIONED BY
THE POLICE CHIEF TO FIND OUT
WHERE THEY KEEP GETTING THE
DRUGS AND SHUTTING IT DOWN
BEFORE WE START PAYING PEOPLE
TO STAY OUT OF JAIL AND --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS VALERIE. VALERIE WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ALEX ZIMMERMAN. I
SEE YOU ARE CONNECTED, VALERIE.
YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS, JUST
ONCE, *6. OKAY. I GUESS WE ARE
NOT GOING TO HEAR FROM VALERIE
TODAY. ALEX ZIMMERMAN? THANK
YOU. PLEASE, START THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU. [ SPEAKING IN A
NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] MY NAME
IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN. I WANT TO
SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING, THAT IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW,
THIS YEAR, THIS IS A
FUNDAMENTAL YEAR, IN AMERICA.
EITHER WE WILL GO BACK OR WE
WILL GO FOR ANOTHER 50 OR
CARNAGE. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED. THE PRINCIPLE OF THIS
IS PEOPLE CAN SPEAK LIKE IT IS
SUPPOSED TO BE, BY DEFINITION.
ONE MINUTE, TWO MINUTES, 30
SECONDS, 15 SECONDS, YOU HAVE A
CHOICE. I HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THIS FOR MANY YEARS. I
SPOKE MORE THAN 4000 TIMES.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> ONE MORE? ARE WE GOOD WITH
ONE MORE?
>> WAIT, LET ME TURN ON YOUR
MIKE -- HERE WE GO.
>> THIS BILL IS A PAY CUT FOR A
$13.70 MINIMUM WAGE. THERE IS
NOTHING ABOUT FEES, NO
GUARANTEE FOR BIKERS. MAYOR
HARO ACTUALLY SAID LAST WEEK AT
THE PRESS CONFERENCE, WE NEED
MORE WORKER INPUT. THIS IS
NELSON'S A PERSONAL BILL, AND
WE KNOW THAT SHE IS PUSHING YOU
TO RUSH THIS WHEN NOBODY ELSE
THINKS IT IS A PRIORITY. WHEN
WE DO THIS, ARE THE APPS ACTING
OUT OF BLACKMAIL? CAN THEY KEEP
SABOTAGING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES
AROUND HERE INDEFINITELY TO
SCARE OTHER PEOPLE FROM
FOLLOWING? OR, WOULD THEY BAN
THE ACTUAL FEES, THE ISSUE THEY
HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH? AND I
HAVE HEARD ABOUT CASTILLE'S
SITUATION SEVERAL TIMES THIS
WEEK AND I THINK THAT IS
ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE, EVEN FOR
THIS COUNCIL. SO, PLEASE FIX
THAT.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? WHAT IS
YOUR NAME, PLEASE? EVEN CAROL.
THANK YOU, AIDAN CARROLL. NOW,
I BELIEVE WE ARE FINISHED.
>> OKAY, FOLKS, WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF OUR LIST OF
REGISTERED SPEAKERS, AND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS TODAY. MOVING ALONG,
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION , THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION. THE
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
NOW CONSIDER THE APPROVED
CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ARE MINUTES OF
THE APRIL 30th, 2024, COUNCIL
BILL 72082, PAYMENT OF BILLS,
AND TWO APARTMENTS FROM THE
GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE,
WENT TO THE SEATTLE ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS COMMISSION, AND THE
OTHER TO THE LABOR STANDARDS
BOARD. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR? ALL RIGHT, HEARING
NONE, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> I SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED FOR THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> YES. A
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONSENT
CALENDAR ITEMS ARE ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND
LEGISLATION ON CONSENT CALENDAR
ON MY BEHALF? ALL RIGHT, THERE
ARE NO COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR
CONSIDERATION TODAY, AND THERE
WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR, AND THERE IS
NOT A RESOLUTION FOR
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION
TODAY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL
TODAY?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ASKING A
REQUEST TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE
MAY 21st COUNCIL MEETING?
>> ALL RIGHT. HEARING NO
OBJECTIONS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. YOU ARE EXCUSED. ANYTHING
ELSE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOING
ONCE, GOING TWICE. THERE IS NO
-- WE HAVE REACHED -- THERE IS
NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE US
TODAY. WE HAVE REACHED THE END
OF TODAY'S AGENDA AND OUR NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
MAY 14th AT 2:00 P.M. HEARING
NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. IT IS TO: 36. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.