>>> GOOD AFTERNOON , EVERYONE.
THE MAY 21st, 2024 MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
COME TO ORDER. I WANT TO NOTE
THAT COUNCILMEMBERS OPCD --
STRAUSS AND WOO ARE EXCUSED
TODAY.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE
AGENDA, COUNCILMEMBER HAS A
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
MEMORIAL DAY , I WILL OPEN THE
FLOOR TO COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS. AFTER THE
COUNCILMEMBERS SPEAK, WE WILL
SUSPEND THE RULES TO PRESENT
THE ACCLAMATION. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING
THIS PROCLAMATION, IT IS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE DAY. AND WHAT
THE DAY IS ABOUT. IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY, STATE,
AND COUNTRY. IN THE RECITAL FOR
THE PROCLAMATION, IT READS,
MEMORIAL DAY HAS BEEN OBSERVED
SINCE 1868 AND RECOGNIZED AND
IT'S MORE FAMILIAR FORM AS WE
KNOW IT TODAY SINCE THE END OF
WORLD WAR I. BEFORE THAT, IT
WAS EVEN CELEBRATED ON
DIFFERENT DAYS AND SOMETIMES
REFERRED TO AS DECLARATION
VAPED IN OUR COUNTRY, WE HONOR
THIS DAY WITH PRAISE AND
CEREMONY, IN KEEPING WITH THE
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 11, THE
HEADQUARTERS, GRAND ARMY OF THE
REPUBLIC, SIGNED IN 1868. THE
ORDER STATED , NO FORMAL
CEREMONY IS PRESCRIBED, BUT
COMRADES WILL DO, IN THEIR OWN
WAY, ARRANGE TESTIMONIALS OF
RESPECT AS CIRCUMSTANCES MAY
PERMIT. AND THE INTENT OF THE
ORDER WAS TO INAUGURATE THE
OBSERVANCE WITH THE HOPE THAT
IT WILL BE KEPT UP FROM YEAR TO
YEAR, IT REMAINS TO HONOR THE
MEMORY OF THE DEPARTED
COMRADES. WE HAVE DONE THAT,
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WITH
VARIOUS WARS, PARTICULARLY
WORLD WAR I BUT EVEN THE LATER
WARS. YOU KNOW, WORLD WAR II,
KOREA, VIETNAM, AND THE SMALLER
ROCK, GRENADA, AFGHANISTAN, ALL
OF THE WARS THAT WE HAVE GONE
THROUGH. YOU KNOW, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE DO AND WE
REMEMBER. AND I HIGHLIGHT THE
POINT OF THE MEMORY PIECE ,
BECAUSE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT
FOR THE FAMILIES. MY UNIT IN
IRAQ LOST FOUR PEOPLE AND IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT, TWO WERE KILLED
ON NOVEMBER 8th, 2004, IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE
LOVED ONES ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
SO, PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THIS ARE
A WAY TO BE A FITTING
TESTIMONIAL BUT A MESSAGE TO
THE FAMILIES THAT THEIR LOSS IS
NOT FORGOTTEN. IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US AS AMERICANS
TO REMEMBER THAT. AND, WITH
THAT, I WILL PASS, ESSENTIALLY,
TO MY COSPONSOR FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
ROBERT KETTLE. I WANT TO SAY A
SPECIAL THANKS . I APPRECIATE
THE PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION WITH ME AND MY
OFFICE AND BRINGING THIS VERY
IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION FORWARD,
AS WE HONOR MEMORIAL DAY. AND,
AS A FELLOW VETERAN, AIR FORCE
VETERAN, THE BEST SERVICE. LET
US ALSO RECOGNIZE, IN ALL
SERIOUSNESS THOUGH, LET US
RECOGNIZE THE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
FOUGHT BRAVELY, VALIANTLY, FOR
OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FREEDOM.
AND EVEN THOSE , DURING THOSE
TIMES, WHEN THEY, THEMSELVES
WERE NOT AFFORDED THE SAME
RIGHTS AND RESPECTS AS FELLOW
AMERICANS. THE ONES WHO DID
THAT AND PAID THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE, YOU KNOW, WE HONOR
THEM THE MOST TODAY, AND, SO,
GOING FORWARD , SO, REALLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT, I FEEL
HONORED AND PRIVILEGED THAT I
AM ONE OF TWO MILITARY VETERANS
CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE
COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW THE LAST
TIME WE HAD TWO, I THINK IT WAS
30-PLUS YEARS AGO, THE LAST
TIME I ASKED THE COUNCIL
ARCHIVIST. BUT YOU KNOW, THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I AM
PROUD TO COSPONSOR THIS
IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I WANT TO
TAKE A FEW QUICK MOMENTS TO
RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE FALLEN
SOLDIERS FROM SEATTLE, WHO
SERVED IN THE MILITARY. EVERY
SINGLE COMMUNITY ACROSS THIS
GREAT NATION, AS IT IS, HAS
MORE HEROES AND WAR DEAD. OUR
CITY OF SEATTLE HERE IS NO
DIFFERENT. SO LET US
ACKNOWLEDGE AND REMEMBER
PEOPLE, SUCH AS A WEST POINT
GRADUATE AND NATIONAL GUARD
SOLDIER AND FORMER SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICER. PEOPLE LIKE
MARINE LANCE CORPORAL DANIEL
CHAVEZ, A SEATTLEITE. AND ARMY
SPECIALIST CHRISTOPHER
DICKINSON, WHO GREW UP IN MY
DISTRICT'S OWN , WEST SEATTLE,
AND SERVED IN IRAQ. PEOPLE LIKE
ARMY SPECIALIST MARK, WHO WAS A
RANGER, KILLED IN ACTION, IN
GRENADA. AND, BECAUSE WE ARE SO
TIGHTLY INTERCONNECTED IN SO
MANY DIFFERENT PROFOUND WAYS
ACROSS THE CITY AND ACROSS THE
VARIOUS COMMUNITIES HERE,
SPECIALISTS LIKE HIS OLDER
BROTHER CURTIS, A RETIRED
CAPTAIN IN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. HIS FATHER, GEORGE,
WAS A PREVIOUS COMMANDER OF THE
VETERANS COMMITTEE , YOU AND I
VISITED THAT LAST WEEK,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AND HIS
COUSIN, RETIRED AIR FORCE
COLONEL MICHAEL . HE IS A
FRIEND AND A CONSTITUENT.
SOMEONE I MET ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL , WHILE DOORKNOCKING. IN
SO MANY DIFFERENT AND PROFOUND
WAYS. WE ARE ALL CONNECTED TO
THE SERVICE AND THE SACRIFICE
OF THE VETERANS WHO MAKE THIS
PLACE SUCH A GREAT PLACE WHERE
WE CAN HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT IDEALS AND LIVE UP TO OUR
DEMOCRATIC VALUES. WE OWE A
HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THOSE
WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND MOST
IMPORTANT, THOSE WHO HAVE PAID
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DOING
SO. WE ARE HONORED TO PARTNER
WITH YOU TO SPONSOR THIS
PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY
OTHER PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WANT TO ADD, TOO,
MY GRATITUDE TO HONOR THOSE WHO
HAVE FOUGHT TO SAVE OUR
COUNTRY. ALSO THEIR FAMILIES,
BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES HAVE
SACRIFICED. WE HAVE LOST SOME
GREAT FOLKS IN THE SERVICE AND
THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN LEFT
BEHIND. I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF
GRATITUDE FOR THE FAMILIES, OF
THOSE WHO ARE IN THE MILITARY
IN GENERAL AND THOSE WHO HAVE
LOST THEIR LIVES. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE FAMILIES AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I WANTED ECHO THE
GRATITUDE THAT MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE EXPRESSED. I WANT TO THANK
ALL VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE
AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS A
HUGE SACRIFICE TO HAVE YOUR
FAMILY MEMBER BE IN THE
SERVICE. SO, THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBERS SAKA AND KETTA G
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE
CONTINENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION AND
ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO PRESENT
THIS. SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE
RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED AND THE
PROCLAMATION WILL BE PRESENTED.
>> THREE, TWO, ONE. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU , ALL.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
ALLISON TEETER , I AM THE
COMMANDER FOR THE BALLARD EAGLE
POST 06230 ON BEHALF OF MY
FELLOW VETERANS, I WANT TO
THANK THE COUNCIL. I GATHER
THAT HAS NOT BEEN A MEMORIAL
DAY PROCLAMATION IN RECENT
HISTORY BUT I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO INSURE THAT THE
LEGACY OF THOSE WHO MADE THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ENDURES.
WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT ABOUT
THIS SORT OF PROCLAMATION, THE
MILITARY DIVIDE, IT IS REAL IN
OUR CITY . RAISING AWARENESS
THAT WE HAVE VETERANS, WE HAVE
FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE
FALLEN. I WANT TO JUST
ENCOURAGE FOLKS , IF THEY ARE
HERE ON MONDAY, THERE WILL BE A
CEREMONY AT THE GARDEN OF
REMEMBRANCE AT 10:00 A.M. THAT
IS AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL FOR
ALL OF THE WASHINGTONIANS WHO
HAVE PERISHED IN BATTLE. SO, I
ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO ATTEND THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY
TOUCHING AND HONORABLE
PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> MY NAME IS BILL WATSON
AUBREY, I AM THE COMMANDER OF
THE VETERANS COMMITTEE. I WANT
TO WRITE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, FOR
COMING OUT AND VISITING OUR
BUILDING . IT IS A TOUGH PLACE
TO BE RIGHT NOW. BUT IT REALLY
IS A PLACE OF HISTORY FOR
AMERICANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
FOR RECOGNIZING THIS. IT IS NOT
JUST ABOUT WORLD WAR II . IT IS
ABOUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO
TODAY. I WANT TO ALSO ADVISE
YOU OF COMPETING EVENTS. AT
10:00 ON MONDAY, THE 79th
CONSECUTIVE MEMORIAL DAY
CEREMONY AT LAKEVIEW CEREMONY,
IT IS PUT ON BY THE VETERANS
COMMITTEE A LOT OF THESE GUYS
WHEN THEY CAME BACK AFTER WORLD
WAR II, THEY WENT OFF, THEY
WANTED TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE.
THEY STARTED THEIR OWN PLACE.
THAT IS WHAT YOU CAN SEE THERE,
ALL THE WAY UNTIL TODAY, MANY
OF US ARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF
THOSE ORIGINALS AND WE CONTINUE
TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR
STORIES HAVE NOT BEEN LOST AND
THAT THE STORY ABOUT OTHER
POPULATIONS , IMMIGRANT
POPULATIONS, WILL CONTINUE.
BUT, THE REGIMENTAL COMBAT WAS
THE MOST DECORATED SERVICE IN
THE HISTORY OF THE U.S.
MILITARY. IT IS NOT LOST THAT
MANY OF THOSE GUYS WERE
ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERING AT THE
INCARCERATION CAMPS , BACK
THEN. SO , I DO APPRECIATE THE
RECOMMENDATION -- RECOGNITION,
THE PROCLAMATION, AND THE
VISITS. LET US KNOW WHEN YOU
WANT TO COME, WE WILL BE HAPPY
TO HAVE YOU. OF COURSE, ON
MEMORIAL DAY, 10:00. AT THE
LAKEVIEW CEMETERY. THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ,
APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE VERY
MUCH AND PROVIDING THAT
INFORMATION. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE
WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC -- THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
MADAM CLERK , HOW MANY ARE
SIGNED UP WE
>> SIX REMOTE AND 11 IN PERSON.
>> WE WILL GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE
TWO MINUTES EACH. LET'S START
WITH THE SPEAKERS IN THE TOWNS
OF RICK CHAMBERS, FIRST.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER THE
PUBLIC COMMENT ROLLS QUICK?
>> YES, I WILL, THANK YOU.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS, WE WILL
CALL ON SPEAKERS IN CHAMBERS ,
THEN WE WILL CALL UPON REMOTE
SPEAKERS. YOU WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN 10 SECONDS LEFT OF YOUR
REMAINING TIME, AND YOUR MICS
WILL BE NEUTERED IF YOU DO NOT
END YOUR COMMENTS IN THE
ALLOTTED TIME SO THAT WE CAN
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR FIRST WILL BE JASON,
THEN JOHN, AND THEN ANOTHER.
>> YESTERDAY I WORKED 10.5
HOURS, I MADE $34. LAST
TUESDAY, I WORKED SIX HOURS AND
MADE $41.59. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH
MULTIPLE PEOPLE THIS WEEK.
EARNING LESS THAN $50 A DAY
WELL INVESTING FULL-TIME HOURS
. BEFORE JANUARY 13th , WE USED
TO TALK ABOUT SEATTLE'S
MILLENNIUM THAT MINIMUM WAGE.
30 MINUTES USED TO BE A LONG
WAIT. THIS MORNING, I BROUGHT
MY BIKE TO HAVE THE SPOKES
REPLACED. THE BILL WAS $52.97.
IF YOU ARE LEARNING -- EARNING
LESS THAN $50 PER DAY, HOW DO
YOU COVER EXPENSES? THE LAW
NEEDS TO CHANGE TO MATCH ORDER
VOLUME.
>> NEXT IS JOHN, THEN HOW, THEN
PETER.
>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE BRAGGED
ABOUT HOW WELL THEY WERE DOING
WITH THE CURRENT BILL . THEY
SAID THEY WERE MAKING $26 PER
HOUR DURING THE DINNER RUSH. IN
REALITY, DINNER RUSH IS ABOUT
ONE-HOUR LONG AND IS UNDENIABLY
THE BUSIEST TIME OF DAY. $26
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MINIMUM
WAGE. SO, IF THAT IS THE BEST
THIS PERSON DOES, IT CANNOT BE
THE ACTUAL MINIMUM WAGE FOR
MOST PEOPLE. EVEN THE ARDENT
SUPPORTERS ARE ADMITTING THAT
THE BILL DOES NOT WORK, IF YOU
JUST LISTEN TO THEM CLOSELY.
THE PRO-PAYOUT PEOPLE ARE
ATTACKING PEOPLE INSTEAD OF
FACT. THE STRANGER WHO ATTACKED
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IT WAS OVER
A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. BUT
THEY ADMIT THAT IT WILL
INCREASE REVENUE FOR
RESTAURANTS BUT I THOUGHT THE
JOB OF CITY COUNCIL WAS TO
IMPROVE WORKER CONDITIONS. THAT
IS EXACTLY WHAT THE REVISION
DOES. IT IS GOOD FOR THE CITY.
IF THE OTHER 21 INCLUDED THE
STATS , THEY WOULD TOUT THOSE
STATS. IT MADE AVERAGE WORKER
PAY WAY WORST. I WORKED IN
CAPITOL HILL AND DID NOT
RECEIVE A SINGLE ORDER. THE
SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND GETTING
WORSE. AND THE REVISED BILL
WOULD BENEFIT THE WHOLE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> MY NAME IS HAL. FOR THE SAKE
OF ARGUMENT, LET'S SAY I AGREE
WITH THE LOGIC BEEN BEHIND THE
PAYUP ORDINANCE . A MINIMUM
WAGE, $26 PER HOUR FOR GIG
WORKERS . I DO CALCULATIONS ON
MY EARNINGS STATEMENT AND I
WORKED ON AVERAGE 44 HOURS
EARNING $457 , WEEKLY . THAT
AVERAGES ABOUT $10 PER HOUR.
HALF OF MY WORKING TIME IS
WAITING FOR ORDERS. I CONCLUDE
THAT THE $26 WAGE IS NOT
ENOUGH. I ASKED COUNCIL TO PUT
THIS TO $52 PER HOUR TO
COMBATANT MY WAITING TIME. DOES
IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU ?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. HOW ABOUT $26?
HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IS IT
POSSIBLE TO COME UP WITH A
NUMBER THAT SATISFIES
EVERYBODY? LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THIS IS NOT HOW
MINIMUM WAGE WORKS. THE WORKER
DOES NOT EARN THAT MUCH BY
SIMPLY PUTTING A NUMBER BY THE
GOVERNMENT. IF IT IS SET ABOVE
THE FAIR MARKET PRICE, THE
WORKERS WILL GET HURT, THE
BUSINESS WILL GET HURT. PLEASE,
STICK TO 100% OF THE MINIMUM
WAGE,. -- PERIOD. THIS IS NOT A
WAGE REDUCTION, THIS IS
STICKING TO THE MAINS -- MAIN
MINIMUM WAGE LAW THAT WE HAVE
AGREED TO.
>> NEXT PETER, FOLLOWED BY
JUSTIN TAYLOR.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS PETER , I
AM WITH BLACK EXCELLENCE
CANNABIS. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
ISSUE. BUT IT IS AN ISSUE OF
IMPORTANCE. UNFORTUNATELY,
THERE ARE NO BLACK-OWNED
CANNABIS STORES IN KING COUNTY.
THIS WAS DONE IN PART ALONG
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE. A LOT
OF BLACK AND BROWN DISPENSARIES
WERE CLOSED UNJUSTLY. NOW WE
ARE COMING BACK BUT OWNING --
DEALING WITH THE ZONING ISSUES.
WE HAVE ZERO, ZERO, I DO MEAN
ZERO OWNERSHIP BY BLACK OR
BROWN IN KING COUNTY. AND I
BELIEVE THAT IT WAS DONE
DELIBERATELY. AND I THINK THAT
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD FIX THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT, JUSTIN TAYLOR,
FOLLOWED BY DAVID TOLEDO.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JUSTIN
TAYLOR. I AM NOT A GOOD WORKER
OPPOSED TO CHANGES FOR THE
MINIMUM PAYMENT ORDINANCE, THE
RULES AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
LIKE I HAVE SAID BEFORE. I HAVE
BENEFITED FROM THE PAY
ORDINANCE LAST WEEK, WORKING
FULL-TIME HOURS, I AVERAGED
$31.75 PER HOUR. AND I FOUND
THAT THIS HAS BENEFITED ME IN
MY EARNINGS, THEY ARE BETTER
THAN THEY WERE OVER THIS TIME
LAST YEAR. SPECIFICALLY TODAY,
I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE
TRANSPARENCY CHANGES IN THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION. IF WE ARE
TRULY CONSIDERED TO BE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, WE
SHOULD KNOW WHAT WE ARE BEING
ASKED TO DO, WHEN IT IS
PRESENTED TO US. WHEN WE ARE
ASKED ABOUT THE WEIGHT OF
THINGS THAT I AM PICKING UP AND
DELIVERING, THAT SEEMS TO ME,
UNNECESSARY, UNREASONABLE. AS
AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR I
SHOULD KNOW WHAT I AM BEING
ASKED TO DO AND HOW MUCH AM I
BEING OFFERED, IN ORDER TO BE
PAID TO DO IT, IF THERE IS AN
UPFRONT TIP , REMOVING THAT
INFORMATION FROM ME AS AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, AS A
WORKER, IT DOES NOT REALLY MAKE
ANY SENSE. WHAT BENEFIT WOULD
THAT HAVE. IF I AM PICKING UP
CATERING ORDER, AND I AM
OFFERING A VERY LARGE TIP,
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I AM
DELIVERING A LOT OF FOOD, THAT
IS HELPFUL FOR YOU TO KNOW. I
AM CALCULATING IN MY HEAD, IS
IT WORTH IT OR NOT, THERE IS
REALLY NO BENEFIT TO REMOVING
THOSE THINGS, THE OTHER THING
IS, WE NEED ADEQUATE TIME TO
MAKE A DECISION. 45 SECONDS IS
REALLY NOT TIME TO GET TO A
SAFE LOCATION TO LOOK AT THE
OFFER TO MAKE AN INFORMED
DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
WE WANT TO ACTUALLY DO THAT.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU
LISTENING.
>> NEXT, DAVID TOLEDO, FOLLOWED
BY MICHAEL WOLF.
>> MY NAME IS DAVID. I AM JUST
HERE TODAY, TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR
THE COUNCIL FOR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON, THE RECRUITMENT OF
POLICE. I AM JOINED HERE BY
SOME OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS,
ROB ROSS, RENEE WALKER, EDWARD,
TOGETHER, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, WORKING
WITH THE HOMELESS, WORKING WITH
GANG INTERVENTION, WORKING WITH
UNDERSERVED YOUTH. SO, WE HAVE
A 25-YEAR HISTORY OF DOING
THAT. THROUGH THE YEARS, WE
HAVE SEEN TOO THAT HAVE
SUPPORTED PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE
HAVE SEEN THEM WHEN THEY HAVE
NOT. I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.
I HAVE MET WITH MANY
COUNCILMEMBER INDIVIDUALLY. YOU
ARE RESPONSIVE, ACCESSIBLE, AND
ENGAGED. WE ARE HERE AGAIN TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE
DONE, WHAT YOU ARE DOING, WE
SUPPORT YOU. IN THE GOALS OF
MAKING PUBLIC SAFETY A FOCUS OF
SEATTLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT, MICHAEL, FOLLOWED BY
EDWARD.
>> CATHOLIC PRESIDENT NELSON,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT DRIVE FORD.
ALTHOUGH NOT ON THE AGENDA, I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF REFORMING THE
MINIMUM STANDARD , 12775, I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
NORIS AND THE MEETING WAS VERY
INFORMATIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO
ADD THAT IN THE CURRENT VISION
OF THE BILL, WE STRONGLY
BELIEVE IT WILL LOWER FEES TO
CONSUMERS, RESTORE DEMAND, AND
REDUCE WORK AND EARNINGS FOR
THE APP-BASED WORKERS. WE ARE
PROVIDING YOU WITH ANY
INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY NEED
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEED
FOR REFORM, WE URGE THE COUNCIL
TO CONTINUE TO ACT SWIFTLY IN
ADOPTING THESE REFORMS, WITH
ONE MINUTE LEFT IN MY TIME, I
WOULD LIKE TO TALK PERSONALLY
AND BE THINKING, ESPECIALLY
COUNCILMEMBERS BETA FORTY FORT
AND SAKA, FOR BRINGING THE
PROCLAMATION TO HONOR OUR
VETERANS, MY FATHER SERVED
DURING THE VIETNAM ERA, MY
BROTHER-IN-LAW DID MULTIPLE
TOURS THROUGH IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN. BOTH OF MY
GRANDFATHER SERVED IN WORLD WAR
II, ONE WAS A B-17 NAVIGATOR
AND THE OTHER WAS IN THE NORTH
AFRICAN THEATER. INC. YOU VERY
MUCH FOR HONORING OUR MEMBERS
OF THE MILITARY. IT IS
APPRECIATED BY ME AND
APPRECIATED BY MY FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO SERVED . THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, EDWARD, FOLLOWED BY A
RIHANNA. MADAME ? I BELIEVE
THIS IS EDWARD? SPEAKER NUMBER
EIGHT? OKAY? WE WILL MOVE ON.
IF YOU SIGNED UP, AND I DO NOT
CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE LET ME
KNOW. NEXT IS ARIANNA RILEY .
FOLLOWED , I BELIEVE BY JOSIE?
>> I SIGNED UP ONLINE, TOO ,
BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE IF I
WOULD BE HERE IN PERSON. YOU
CALLED ME TWICE.
>> APPRECIATE THAT, APPRECIATE
THAT.
>> I MADE IT IN PERSON TODAY,
YAY ! GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME
IS ARIANNA RILEY , [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THIS HAS BEEN
ANOTHER EXTREMELY BUSY WEEK OF
FOOD DELIVERY. I CONTINUOUSLY
MAKE SEATTLE MINIMUM WAGE AFTER
EXPENSES. IN GEORGETOWN, THEY
TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
SLAMMED FOR WEEKS NOW. I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
LOCATION TRANSPARENCY AND
MAKING A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO
COMPLY WITH THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES FEDERAL
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE CEMENTED
IN LAW. MANY DISABLED DELIVERY
DRIVERS TAKE TIME OFF FOR
ILLNESS AS NEEDED. WE HAVE
HEARD A LOT FROM THE COUNCIL
ABOUT THE CONCERN FOR DISABLED
CUSTOMERS BUT VERY LITTLE
CONCERN HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE
EXPERIENCES OF DISABLED
DRIVERS. IT DOES NOT COST THE
COMPANY MONEY TO DISPLAY COST
UPFRONT. THAT WOULD COMPLY WITH
A.D.A. LAWS AND ENSURE THAT
DRIVERS WITH DISABILITY --
DISABILITIES CAN WORK SAFELY. I
WANT TO ADDRESS LOCATION
TRANSPARENCY, MANY OF US HAVE
BEEN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
OR STALKING, WHICH IS A REASON
WHY MANY OF US DO THESE JOBS,
WE HAVE NO FIXED WORK ADDRESS,
IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR US TO BE
STOPPED. WE SHOULD NOT BE
DELIVERING TO ABUSERS. WE NEED
TO KNOW DELIVERY LOCATIONS
UPFRONT, DISPLAYING THIS
INFORMATION COST THE COMPANY NO
MONEY AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO
KEEP IT IN PLACE FOR OUR
SAFETY. THANK YOU.
>> FIRST NAME BEGINS WITH J,
LAST NAME IS POSSIBLY DRAMA?
>> HELLO, I PROBABLY SERVE AS A
DOORDASH DRIVER. I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT MYSELF
AND MY FAMILY. WHEN I DECIDED
TO RELOCATE FROM PORTLAND TO
SEATTLE, IT WAS BECAUSE I COULD
PROVIDE BETTER FOR MY FAMILY.
THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR DEEP
CONCERN, A DRASTIC REDUCTION
WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SUPPORT
MY ENTIRE FAMILY. ANYTHING IN
SIGNIFICANT DEGREES WOULD BE
INCREDIBLE. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT DRIVERS LIKE MYSELF , WE
ENSURE TIMELY SERVICE FOR ALL
CUSTOMERS. WE TAKE PRIDE IN
WHAT WE DO. ALSO , THIS COULD
BE DEMORALIZING. FURTHERMORE,
THE PROPOSAL IN THE MILEAGE
CHANGE COULD REDUCE MONEY FOR
DRIVERS FOR EVERY MILE YOU
DRIVE, THIS WILL ONLY COMPOUND
THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES WE
ALREADY FACE. I URGE A STANCE
AGAINST ANYTHING. WE NEED TO
ENSURE THAT HARD-WORKING
INDIVIDUALS CAN CONTINUE TO
EARN A FAIR WAGE FOR THE
SERVICES WE PROVIDE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ] VERY IMPORTANT,
ROBERT KETTLE. SHOWING HISTORY,
AMERICAN HISTORY. I AM AMERICAN
RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT IS NOT THE
POINT. WHAT DOES HE TALK ABOUT
WITH THIS? IT IS CRITICAL. WHY?
WITHOUT US, HISTORY, WE DON'T
KNOW WHO WE ARE NOW. IT IS NOT
MY OPINION. EVERYBODY HERE ,
HISTORY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HERE NOW. IT
IS VERY GOOD WITH THIS. IT IS
IMPORTANT, ABSOLUTELY, FOR
THIS. WHY? RIGHT NOW , IN
AMERICA, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING,
THERE IS A FIGHT AGAINST
FASCISM FOR 100 YEARS.
DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH,
NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. AND WE
HAVE THE GOVERNMENT, AND
TOGETHER WITH CORPORATIONS ,
THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING AND
TALKING ABOUT THIS EVERY DAY.
WHY? FOR 40 YEARS, I HAVE NEVER
SEEN SOMETHING HAPPEN LIKE
THIS, IT IS A NIGHTMARE. BLOOD
AND MONEY FROM PEOPLE, YOU
DESTROY SEATTLE TOTALLY. YOU
DESTROY COMMUNITY, YOU DESTROY
CULTURE , YOU ARE A KILLER,
TOO. 100 PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR
--
>> PLEASE REFRAIN FROM THE
INSINUATIONS AND THE
NAME-CALLING. THAT IS ABUSE OF
LANGUAGE. I AM WARNING YOU.
>> WHY DID YOU INTERRUPT ME? TO
CUT MY TIME ? [ INDISCERNIBLE -
BACKGROUND NOISE ] AMERICANS,
FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM, WE CANNOT
LOSE THIS NOW. STANDUP,
AMERICA.
>> THERE WAS ONE SPEAKER THAT
WE DID NOT GET TO. PLEASE LET
ME KNOW. WE WILL NOW GO TO
REMOTE FOR REMOTE SPEAKERS, PLE
PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU HEAR
THE MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED. OUR FIRST IS SEAN.
FOLLOWING SEAN WILL BE LYNN
REED.
>> MY NAME IS SEAN. THE
PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE WOULD BE
FOR THE CURRENT OFFER 21
STRUCTURE. I HAVE A THREE-YEAR
HISTORY WITH AMAZON FLEX ,
WHICH ENDED LAST OCTOBER. MY
EXPERIENCE WITH THESE COMPANIES
DATES BACK TO OCTOBER OF 2017,
SPENDING FIVE-PLUS MONTHS
BETWEEN WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA,
AND OREGON, AT ANY POINT IN
TIME. THE GIG COMPANIES
IMMEDIATELY RETALIATED IN
SEATTLE WHEN ALVA 21 STARTED ,
I HAVE BEEN SPENDING TIME
MOSTLY OUTSIDE OF THE SEATTLE
BOUNDARY. AND IT I HAVE ALSO
SPENT TIME WITHIN THE SEATTLE
BOUNDARY. I CAN TELL YOU, THE
WORKLOADS WERE ABOUT THE SAME.
KIND OF SUSPECT. THERE USED TO
BE A TWO MONTH-PLUS WAIT FOR
GETTING SIGNED UP WITH
INSTACART, THAT MOVED TO A ONE
BUSINESS DAY WAIT TIME WHEN THE
BUSINESS STRUCTURE STARTED
GIVEN THE MASS HIRING THAT WENT
INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, THIS
PROPOSAL SUGGESTS THAT WE PAY
FOR GAS AND VEHICLE OPERATING
EXPENSES , AND RELATED
OVERAGES, TO THE EXPENSE OF
WORKING THESE POSITIONS . ALSO,
WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY
ADDITIONAL BENEFIT. PAYUP, IT
CURRENTLY NEEDS TO STAY, IN
WASHINGTON STATE, AT SOME POINT
IN TIME, HOPEFULLY SOONER, WE
NEED TO IMPLEMENT THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE STATE , THE COUNTY
RULE AND LAW, COMPANIES ARE
STRIPPING AWAY RIGHTS FROM THE
WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS. THEY
ARE TRYING TO UNDERMINE PAY
PROTECTION, FLEXIBILITY, AND
TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS IN
SEATTLE. THIS IS --
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS LYNN REED. FOLLOWING LYNN
WILL BE EMMA H . GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
LYNN REED. AND I AM SPEAKING
TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS
AT DRIVE FOR WORK. FIRST, I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON AND THE
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR VOTING TO
MOVE THIS FROM COMMITTEE TO
COUNCIL, THIS IS A VITAL STEP
TO FIXING THE CURRENT PAYUP LAW
THAT IS HAVING CONSEQUENCES.
UBER RECENTLY PUBLICLY
DISCLOSED THEY HAVE LOST 30% OF
THEIR CARRIER POPULATION SINCE
ALVA 21 TOOK EFFECT THIS YEAR.
THAT NUMBER IS ASTOUNDING. THIS
MEANS THAT THERE ARE 30% FEWER
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS ABLE TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FLEXIBLE
WORK, YOU HAVE NOW HAD TO SEEK
OUT OTHER INCOME OPTIONS.
RESTAURANTS ARE REPORTING 50%
TO 60% LESS DELIVERY ORDERS. IT
HAS CREATED A SNOWBALL EFFECT.
WE ARE SEEING RESTAURANT
CLOSURES CREATING EVEN MORE JOB
LOSS IN SEATTLE, PUTTING A
STRAIN ON SOCIAL RVICES AND
HURTING SEATTLE'S OVERALL
ECONOMY. THESE CONTINUE OUR
EFFORTS TO REVISE THIS LAW AND
BRING BACK RESTAURANTS . BRING
BACK ORDERS TO RESTAURANTS AND
OFFERS TO COURIERS , BEFORE
THESE CUSTOMER HABITS BECOME
PERMANENT AND THE DAMAGE IS
PERMANENTLY DONE. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY, HEARING ALL OF
OUR CONCERNS.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS EMMA. FOLLOWING EMMA, IT
WILL BE WILLIAMS. GO AHEAD,
EMMA.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
FOR DIGGING IN TO WILL LEARN SO
MUCH ABOUT GIG WORK. I'LL
BELIEVE WE CAN MAINTAIN WORKER
PROTECTIONS AND THE FAIR WAGES,
WITH THE REVISED WAGES. I
WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION
TO TO THE LOGICALLY THAT THE
CORPORATIONS ARE ASKING YOU TO
MAKE IT IN A STAKEHOLDER
MEETING YESTERDAY, THE DOORDASH
REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVES
, THEY STATED THAT CUSTOMER
FEES ARE NOT CORRELATED WITH
DRIVER COSTS. AND DRIVER COSTS
ARE ONLY ONE OF MANY IMPACTS .
PAYUP DID NOT IMPOSE THE TAX ON
ORDERS. THIS WAS SET BY THE
COMPANIES. WITHOUT DATA
SUPPORTING THE FULL AMOUNT, WE
MUST NOT BELIEVE THE CLAIMS
THAT PAYUP CAUSED THE DROP IN
ORDERS . AND NOT BE SO HASTY TO
CUT WORKER PAY AND PROTECTIONS.
I WILL ADDRESS A PREVIOUS NOTE.
THE POINT OF PAYUP, IS THAT WE
WILL MAKE MINIMUM WAGE. $26
PER HOUR, I AM MAKING THE
MINIMUM WAGE AFTER EXPENSES
WITHOUT TIPS DURING THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PAY PERIODS NOW.
THAT IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO
MOST OF MY EXPERIENCE BEFORE
JANUARY AND I AM SORRY FOR
THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT
EXPERIENCE . THAT IS NOT A
DIRECT PERSONAL ATTACK. IT IS
JUST MY EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU
ALL.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
WILLIAMS. FOLLOWED BY ALBERTO.
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME ON, MY NAME IS WILLIAMS. I
WORK ON DOORDASH AND I WORKED
WITH UBER EATS. I ASK YOU TO
VOTE NO FOR THE PROPOSAL OF THE
PAY. I AM A WORKER OF COLOR IN
SEATTLE. AND MY WAGE IS
IMPORTANT TO ME. I WORK
MULTIPLE JOBS OUTSIDE OF GIG
WORK. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WAS
MAKING A LOT OF MONEY DURING
THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, I WAS
MAKING A LOT OF MONEY DOING
DOORDASH. AND THEN, ONE DAY, I
GOT ON AND I WAS DASHING IN THE
U DISTRICT AND I HAD TO DASH
ALL THE WAY TO BELLEVUE, IN
PRIME TIME TRAFFIC AND I GOT
FOUR DOLLARS. THIS HURTS MY
POCKETBOOK, I HAVE TO HELP
SUPPORT MY GRANDMOTHER AND OUR
HOUSE. AND IT WOULD HURT ,
ESPECIALLY , WITH THE HISTORY
OF INEQUITIES WITHIN THE CITY
TOWARDS PEOPLE OF COLOR, THAT
WOULD HURT THE COMMUNITY EVEN
MORE. AND WHEN THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKER SAID THAT THERE ARE 30%
LESS DRIVERS, THAT MEANS THERE
SHOULD BE A MUCH BIGGER POOL
FOR THE WORKERS WORKING
ALREADY. SO, THAT ALONE SHOULD
HELP PEOPLE. YOU NEED TO HELP
THE DRIVERS AS WELL BECAUSE IT
AFFECTS BOTH. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALBERTO
ALVAREZ. AND THEN OUR LAST
SPEAKER SIGNED UP IS MOHAMMED
SHAW. BUT HE IS SHOWING AS NOT
PRESENT. WE WILL CALL ON
ALBERTO. AND THEN IF MOHAMMED
HAS NOT BECOME PRESENT, WE WILL
FINISH UP REMOTE. GO AHEAD,
ALBERTO, PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS ALBERTO, I AM A
DELIVERY DRIVER IN SEATTLE.
CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT EVEN VOTED
ON THE SARA NELSON BILL TO
REPEAL DRIVER WAGES, YET THE
GIG APPS ARE IGNORING THE
MANDATES ON THE MINIMUM PAY PER
ORDER. AND ALSO THE TIME AND
MILEAGE MINIMUMS. I EMAILED
SOMEONE IN THE COUNCIL , I TAKE
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. THEY HAVE
ALREADY GUTTED THE WAGES FOR
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DRIVERS IN SEATTLE. HOWEVER,
THEY ARE STILL CHARTING THE
FIVE DOLLAR PENALTY THAT
DOORDASH PLACED ON SEATTLE
ORDERS. WHAT DOES THIS SAY? THE
BILLION-DOLLAR COMPANIES HAVE
ALREADY BEEN BOUGHT AND PAID
FOR. THESE ARE THE ACTIONS OF
THE CITY DOUBLE, BY SARA
NELSON. THEY ARE RAKING IN
MILLIONS BY OVERCHARGING
SEATTLE CUSTOMERS WELL-PAYING
DRIVERS TWO DOLLARS TO THREE
DOLLARS PER ORDER FOR SEVEN
MILES OR MORE. THIS COUNCIL HAS
TO VOTE DOWN SARA NELSON AND
HER DESIRE TO SCREW OVER THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE.
IT IS ALL FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE
HER OWN PERSONAL FINANCIAL
INTERESTS. THE GIG APPS ARE
ALREADY IGNORING CURRENT LAW,
SHOWING THAT THEY HOLD THIS
COUNCIL WITH A LOW REGARD. NO
WAGE REPEAL. NO WAGE
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES
OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> WE HAVE TWO MORE IN PERSON.
DAVID?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE
TO INTRODUCE MYSELF .
>> SPEAK INTO THE MIC.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
MYSELF, MY NAME IS DAVID McCRAY
. I WAS INVITED HERE, JUST
BECAUSE A FRIEND CAME TO MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, I DID KNOW WAS
PUBLIC, BUT I FELT LIKE I JUST
WANTED TO SPEAK ON, HOPEFULLY,
THE CITY AND THE PUBLIC OF THE
CITY, TO COME UP WITH SOME
INITIATIVES TO BRING PEACE AND
TOGETHERNESS , AS, LIKE, A FORM
OF COLLABORATION AND
CONSULTATION AND HAVE THE TOUGH
CONVERSATIONS. AND, I HONED IN
ON THE PARTICULAR WORD. I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE AN INITIATIVE, WHEN
I LOOK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE
COLUMBIA CITY AREA, I NO LONGER
SEE ANY PEOPLE LIKE ME. I SEE
NEW PEOPLE THAT MOVE IN, THEY
SMILE, THEY SAY HELLO, AND
SPEAK. WE NEED AN INITIATIVE OF
KINDNESS , YOU KNOW? SOMETIMES,
WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND YOU SAY HI, HOW ARE
YOU DOING, WHAT IS GOING ON?
YOU SPEAK AND PEOPLE LOOK AT
YOU LIKE YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF
MENTAL CHALLENGE, I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE SOME KIND OF
TOGETHERNESS , FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC TO COME
UP WITH SOME KIND OF INITIATIVE
OF SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AND
BASIC AS KNOCKING ON EACH
OTHER'S DOOR, SHAKING HANDS.
NOT TAKING ANY PARTICULAR SIDE,
ACCEPTING PEOPLE FOR THEIR
POLITICAL BELIEFS. AND JUST
COMING WITH A FORM OF
COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION.
AND I KNOW THAT DOES NOT MAKE
MONEY AND IT DOES NOT ELECT
OFFICIALS. BUT I THINK THAT IS
A GOOD START.
>> YEAH, GO.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REBUT THAT
LAST SPEAKER. IN THIS WORLD, I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT KINDNESS
DOES MAKE MONEY. ALSO, YOU
KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE DECREASE,
I KNOW THAT I AM LATE . I HAVE
ANOTHER JOB, IT IS AT A
RESTAURANT. MY OBSERVATIONS,
THEY GET A TON OF WALK-INS AS
AN INCREDIBLE BUSINESS. THE
GENERAL MANAGER TELLS ME THAT,
AS FAR AS THE DELIVERY GOES. I
SPOKE WITH WING STOP ON LOWER
QUEEN ANNE, AND, ESSENTIALLY,
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE DOWN, SUNDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY, THEY ARE
MAKING DELIVERY ORDERS. YOU
KNOW, FOOTBALL SEASON , THEY
WILL PROBABLY BE MAKING MONEY
AS TO THAT MAKE IT FOUR .
BREAKFAST IS GONE, I DON'T KNOW
MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK BREAKFAST
AND THAT CLEARLY INDICATES THAT
ORDERS ARE DOWN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. KINDNESS WE SAY .
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE REMOTE
SPEAKER , REGISTERED AS
MOHAMMED . YOU MIGHT BE MUTED.
PRESS STAR SIX, PLEASE. OKAY.
ONE LAST TRY, MOHAMMED, IF YOU
COULD PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX, TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF. NO? EXCUSE ME
. MOHAMMED, CAN YOU EMAIL YOUR
COUNCILMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS, AT THIS POINT, WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE ON.
>> I THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS
COME TO MAKE PUBLIC, AND WE
WILL MOVE ON NOW. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT. JIK IS NOW CLOSED.
AND, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE REFERRAL CALENDAR AND
INTRODUCTION WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. ITEMS ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR, THE MINUTES
OF MAY 14, 2024. THAT IS THE
FIVE APPOINTMENTS FROM THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE . ARE
THERE ANY ITEMS THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE REMOVED? ALL RIGHT,
HEARING NONE , I MOVED TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
? COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? SEVEN IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE MINUTES AND LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. THANK YOU. READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM NUMBER ONE.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, COUNCIL BILL
120766, RELATING TO RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION OF POLICE
OFFICERS IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, TRANSFERRING
POSITIONS FROM THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
TO SPD.
>> I AM GLAD THAT WE FINALLY
HAVE THIS BEFORE US TODAY,
AFTER A FEW MONTHS. I HAVE SAID
THIS BEFORE BUT I WILL SAY IT
AGAIN, FOR EFFECT. WE CANNOT
PROTECT THE WELL-BEING, HEALTH
AND SAFETY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS
WITHOUT THE ADEQUATELY-STOP
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT WE ARE
LOSING MORE OFFICERS THAN WE
CAN HIRE. QUARTER AFTER
QUARTER, YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE
MAX -- MASS EXODUS OF OFFICERS
FROM SPD HAS SLOWED, EYRING HAS
NOT INCREASED. I AM FOCUSING ON
THE RECRUITMENT AND HIRING
PROCESSES BEFORE US. I WISH TO
THANK THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR
AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE COCHAIR, HOPE CORPS
KETTLE, FOR COLLABORATING WITH
CENTRAL STAFF, ME, AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. COLLEAGUES, WE
HAVE ONE AMENDMENT , IF IT IS
OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER
THAT BEFORE SPEAKING TO THE
BASE LEGISLATION. OKAY,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU CAN
MOVE AND INTRODUCE YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120766, AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT A ON THE
AGENDA. SO, THIS AMENDMENT IS,
BASICALLY, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT
THAT WAS ADDED AS AMENDMENT
ADOPTED IN COMMITTEE, REQUIRING
INFORMATION AND METRICS FOR SPD
'S 30 BY 30 CAMPAIGN TO
ADDRESS ISSUES THAT WOMEN
OFFICERS HAVE REPORTED IN THAT
REPORT. ADDS A QUARTERLY
REPORTING SCHEDULE TO THE
COUNCIL AND MAYOR. IT INSERTS
CHILDCARE AND SCHEDULING
FLEXIBILITY FOR CARETAKER
RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE SCOPE
OF REPORTING. AND IT ALSO ADDS
RETENTION, AS WELL. SO, I DID
REQUEST , I DID REQUEST A
REVIEW FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF
THIS AMENDMENT. AND I JUST
REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND
THANKED COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
FOR ADDING, ADDITIONALLY, THE
FIRST AMENDMENT, THIS IS JUST
TO INSERT A FEW ADDITIONAL
THINGS THAT WERE LEFT OUT.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO
THIS OR ANYBODY ELSE?
>> FIRST, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOR
CARRYING THE AMENDMENT BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE, SINCE I DO NOT
SIT ON THE GOVERNOR'S
COMMITTEE. I DO SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT TO REPORT QUARTERLY
TO COUNCIL. WE KNOW THAT SPD
HAS TO CREATE A SAFE WORK
ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL WORKERS IN
THE DEPARTMENT, AND THE
ORIGINAL AMENDMENT, AND THE NEW
ADDITION, REQUIRED A MORE
SPECIFIC DETAILED REPORTING, ON
THE SPD EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT THE
30 BY 30 INITIATIVE, WHICH
SERVES INCREASED REPRESENTATION
OF WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND THAT IS ABOUT CREATING A
SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL
POLICE OFFICERS AND IT UPLIFTS
THE 30 BY 30 REPORT. I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER'S
ADDITION, GIVEN THAT OFFICERS
ARE SUING SPD ON WHAT FEELS
LIKE A WEEKLY BASIS THESE DAYS
WITH NUMEROUS SWORN OFFICERS
ALLEGING SEXISM, RACISM, AND
SEGREGATION WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT, COUNCIL MUST
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT TO
ENSURE THAT WORKERS ARE
PROTECTED AND TO ENSURE THAT
STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO CHANGE
THE CULTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT
BUT I DO CONSIDER THIS A
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. AND I
SUPPORT IT AND I WANT TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE FOR APPROVING THE
ORIGINAL. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE WE
WILL JUST ADD, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR REFINING THE AMENDMENT
THAT WAS BROUGHT IN COMMITTEE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
DEPARTMENT, WHAT YOU JUST SAID,
IT DOES NEED TO CREATE A SAFE
AND WELCOMING CULTURE AND
ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL MAKE
WOMEN WANT TO WORK AT SPD. I
RECOGNIZE, THIS , IN ITSELF,
GOES BEYOND RECRUITING ALONE.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THE
INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
GOING ON. AND WE STAND READY, I
STAND READY TO IMPLEMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME OUT
OF THAT RECOMMENDATION AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD TODAY, AND IF THERE ARE
NO FURTHER COMMENTS, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL AND THE ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENT A.
>>COUNCILMEMBER JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH ? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? THE MOTION
CARRIES.
>> NOW, WE HAVE THE BASE
LEGISLATION, AS ADOPTED, BEFORE
US. I WILL JUST TAKE A COUPLE
OF MINUTES TO SPEAK, I AM NOT
GOING TO GO INTO EACH SECTION ,
SECTION BY SECTION. I WANT TO
LEAD WITH THE FACT THAT, IN
ADDITION TO THE AMENDMENTS PUT
FORWARD ALREADY, TO STRENGTHEN
THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE US, I
WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS IS
NOT ABOUT LOWERING OUR
STANDARDS. THIS LEGISLATION IS
ABOUT MAINTAINING, IF NOT
IMPROVING THE STANDARDS OF THE
PEOPLE WHO WE ARE RECRUITING
AND BRINGING ONTO THE POLICE
FORCE, IT IS ABOUT CHOOSING
FROM A SMALL POOL OF
CANDIDATES, APPLYING TO MANY
AGENCIES. AND TO MAKE THESE
CHOICES. THIS IS ABOUT GIVING
US A GREATER COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ALLOWING THE CONDITIONS OF
THE ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY. AND FINALLY, IT IS
ABOUT GIVING THE EXECUTIVE
FURTHER TOOLS TO HOLD THE
EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING
SO, THROUGH ROBUST REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS, AS WE HAVE
ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT TODAY.
THERE IS A LONG LIST IN THIS
LEGISLATION, AS WELL. THE
PURPOSE FOR THIS IS, WE MUST
KNOW WHAT IS WORKING, NOT
WORKING, BECAUSE I WANT TO
PERSONALLY BE ABLE TO LOOK MY
CONSTITUENTS IN THE EYE AND LET
THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING
EVERYTHING WE CAN DO HIGHER
MORE OFFICERS FASTER. WITH
THAT, I WILL OPEN THIS FLOOR TO
COMMENTS FROM OTHER FOLKS,
BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU SPONSORING THIS BILL AND
ALLOWING ME TO BE THE SPONSOR
OF THE BILL AND THE WORK THAT
YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE. IT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I HAVE
WANTED TO SPEAK. ONE POINT
ABOUT THIS, I SAW THIS AGAIN
AND AGAIN, THAT THE BILL WAS
GOING TO LOWER THE STANDARDS OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT DOES NOT. AND IT AS THE
COCHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY, AS CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AS
COSPONSOR OF THIS BILL, I NEVER
CONTEMPLATED DROPPING THE
NATIONAL TESTING AS A TESTING
SERVICE. KEEPING IT, IN PART,
BECAUSE OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY
IN THE STANDARD ISSUE . BUT
ALSO, MY INTEREST WAS TO LOOK
TO ADD THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEST,
LIKE OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO.
THEY ARE IMPORTANT TESTS . THEY
ARE REALLY . PSYCH EVAL'S,
POLYGRAPH TESTS , NOT TO
MENTION THE BEFORE THE BADGE
PROGRAM AND MOST IMPORTANT, THE
POLICE ACADEMY. THE WHOLE OF
THE SYSTEM IS HOW WE MAINTAIN
STANDARDS AND BY EXTENSION,
ACCOUNTABILITY. AGAIN, THIS ARC
OF TESTING. I THINK THAT IS A
VERY IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE IT
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WILL SAY
THAT I TOOK TWO TESTS BEFORE
JOINING THE NAVY, THE GENERAL
ONE IN THE AVIATION ONE AND I
WILL TELL YOU, THE BIG TEST
HAPPENED ON MY BIRTHDAY IN 1990
ON THE FIRST DAY OF OFFICER
CANDIDATE SCHOOL. I HAD MY HEAD
SHAVED AND I EMBARKED ON THE
JOURNEY THAT WAS OFFICER
CANDIDATE SCHOOL, PARTICULARLY
THE FIRST WEEK. AGAIN, THAT WAS
THE FIRST POINT THAT I WANTED
TO MAKE. AND AGAIN, IT IS NOT
ABOUT LOWERING STANDARDS. IT IS
ABOUT IMPROVING WHAT WE ARE
DOING. ALONG THAT LINE, THIS
BILL IS ALSO ABOUT GOOD
GOVERNANCE. I COMMEND THE
MAYOR, ESPECIALLY DEPUTY MAYOR
BURGESS , IN TERMS OF
STREAMLINING THE IMPROVEMENTS ,
THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING OVER
THE PAST YEAR, WHAT WE ARE
DOING TODAY, IS TO FURTHER THE
REFORM, IN ALLOWING US TO REACH
THE GOALS, AND TO ALLOW FOR
REACHING OUR GOALS AS IT
RECRUITS -- RELATES TO
RECURSION AND RETENTION, THIS
IS PILLAR ONE , FOR THE
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS
THE PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT. IT
UNDERLINES ALL OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES THAT I HAVE
BEEN SEEING AGAIN AND AGAIN,
THESE PAST TWO WEEKS, IN
MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOOD WALKS,
PRIMARILY IN BELLTOWN. THE LAST
THING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT
I WANTED TO SAY, I WANT TO MAKE
A CALL TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ,
AND I WANT TO ASK FOR THEM,
GIVE US ONE YEAR, IF YOU ARE
LOOKING TO RETIRE OR TRANSFER
TO ANOTHER JURISDICTION. BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR YOU TO
STAY. I RECOGNIZE, THERE MAY BE
SOME LOOKING TO RETIRE AGAIN.
BUT TO STAY, MORE PORTLY,
RECRUIT YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT
WORK IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, 15, MAY
HAVE GONE, LET'S BRING 10
BACK. I CALL UPON THE OFFICERS
IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, REACH OUT TO YOUR
COLLEAGUES, REACH OUT IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND SAY, FOR THE
PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE, TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE, PLEASE COME TO
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU, I MADE SOME
EARLIER REMARKS , DURING THE
COMMITTEE MEETING, AND I NEED
TO EMPHASIZE A FEW QUICK
POINTS, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU
MADAME, THE PRESIDENT AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT
INITIATIVE AND BILL FORWARD.
THANK YOU , LET'S SEE, THANK
YOU, OF COURSE, COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY MORALES, FOR PARTNERING
WITH ME ON THIS 30 BY 30
AMENDMENT AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FOR BUILDING UPON THAT
WORK. I REALLY THINK IT IS
REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. AND
ALSO, THANK YOU MAMA TO THE
MAYOR, AND HIS OFFICE, FOR THE
PARTNERSHIP ON THIS. NOT AT
ALL, THE TIME TO, THIS YOU
KNOW, THIS IS NOT A RELEVANT
TIME TO BE SLAPPING HIGH-FIVES
AND PAT EACH OTHER ON THE BACK,
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST
STEP, WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE
TO TRACK AND MONITOR PROGRESS
ON THE GOING-FORWARD BASIS.
BUT, LOOK, I THINK IT IS
MANIFESTLY MISLEADING TO SAY
THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO BE
LOWERING STANDARDS. IN
CONTRAST, THIS BILL ELEVATES
STANDARDS, THIS BILL RAISES THE
BAR, WHEN LOOKED AT
HOLISTICALLY, IN SOME OF THESE
REALLY IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL
30 BY 30 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
THAT WE ARE ADDING. WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE, PEOPLE, WE ARE NOT
JUST MAKING SURE -- WE ALLOW
PEOPLE TO MORE EFFICIENTLY GET
IN AND GET IN THE DOOR. WE NEED
TO BE RETAINING THE GOOD
OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE,
INCLUDING THE WOMEN. IN THAT
REGARD, I SUBMIT THAT THIS
ELEVATES THE STANDARDS. MAKE NO
MISTAKE, THERE IS MORE WORK
AHEAD ON THE RETENTION PIECE. I
AM PERSONALLY ON A MISSION TO
HELP RECRUIT, RETAIN, DEVELOP,
AND GROW THE BEST OF THE BEST
POLICE OFFICERS. AND, AGAIN,
THIS BILL RIGHT HERE IS AN
IMPORTANT FIRST STEP, LET US DO
MORE. I WANT TO EXPRESS, AGAIN,
MY PROFOUND SUPPORT FOR THE
GOOD HARD-WORKING OFFICERS WHO
ARE SERVING EVERYDAY, WORKING
24/7, 355, GIVING US AND OUR
CITY SAFE. ALONG WITH MANY OF
YOU ALL, I HAVE BEEN DOING MANY
VISITS, ROLL CALLS. I HAVE BEEN
ENLIGHTENED , MEETING MANY OF
OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, WHO DO
THIS WORK EVERY DAY. AND WHO
KEEP US SAFE. SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THE JOB IS A LOT HARDER
FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE FORCE
WITH A NET LOSS OF 340-PLUS
FULLY-TRAINED OFFICER SINCE
2020. THIS BILL IS AN IMPORTANT
NEXT STEP ON THE WORK ALREADY
DONE. OUR CITY HAS STRUGGLED TO
MEET THE MANDATED
RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE A FULLY
STAFFED AND EFFECTIVE POLICE
FORCE. THIS LEGISLATION IS ONE
OF MANY THINGS THAT WE COULD BE
DOING TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS AND
STRENGTHEN RECRUITING EFFORTS
OF OUR OFFICERS. YOU KNOW,
LOOK, AS SOMEONE, YOU KNOW I AM
A VETERAN, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS WORKING
IN BIG TECH, I AM A POWER --
BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF
STREAMLINING EFFICIENCIES. THIS
BILL, UNLIKELY TO GARNER THE
FLASHY HEADLINES, OR NEW
INCENTIVES. IT DOES STREAMLINE
PROCESSES AND IT DOES HELP
DRIVE EFFICIENCIES AND IT IS
DESIGNED TO HELP GET US WHERE
WE NEED. THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT
THIS. INCLUDING THE AMENDED
VERSION , THAT HAS THE OTHER
AMENDMENTS FROM ALL OF US. AND
THANK YOU AGAIN , COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR LEADING ON THE
PROVISIONS AND ALLOWING ME TO
PARTNER WITH YOU IN GETTING
THOSE ADDED AT THE COMMITTEE
LEVEL. THANK YOU AGAIN ,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE , THIS IS
HOW WE BUILD UPON EACH OTHER'S
WORK AND HOW WE COLLABORATED IT
IS NOT ME VERSUS YOU. THIS IS A
BROAD SET OF CHALLENGES THAT
CONFRONT US THAT WE ARE ALL
FACED WITH AND ALIGNED IN THE
MOTIVE AND THE GOAL TO MAKING
BETTER PROGRESS. AND THE WORK
THAT HAS BEEN DONE IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF THAT. WE HAVE MORE
TO DO. YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT TIME
TO POP BOTTLES , OR SLAP
HIGH-FIVES. IT IS A MOMENT TO
PAUSE, REFLECT, AND THINK ABOUT
CREATIVE WAYS TO DO MORE. SO,
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE
ISSUES WITH RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION HAVE BEEN ONGOING
SINCE LATE 2018. AS HAS BEEN
NOTED, SPD HAS HAD A HARD TIME
MEETING THE HIRING TARGETS.
HAVING FEWER OFFICERS HAS
IMPLICATIONS FOR MEETING
SERVICE GOALS AND MAINTAINING A
PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. I DO
ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO READ THE
2019 SPD RECRUITMENT AND
ATTENTION REPORT THAT
HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES. IT IS AN
INDEPENDENT BODY, THEY ARE
DOING DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE
THAT THE SELECTION PROCEDURES
ARE PROPERLY VALIDATED FOR THE
POSITION BEING TESTED. SO ,
THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS,
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THE TEST THAT THEY
USE WAS CUSTOM BUILT IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OFFICERS AND
WITH COMMAND STAFF. IT WAS
BUILT TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE
APPROPRIATENESS OF AN OFFICER
'S POTENTIAL USE OF FORCE ,
AND IT WAS ADDED IN 2021. IT IS
A GOOD TEST , AND IT IS GOOD
FOR THE VALUES OF THE POTENTIAL
OFFICERS. THEY MONITOR AND
ANALYZE DATA TO ENSURE THAT
EXAMS DO NOT RESULT IN ADVERSE
IMPACTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
TITLE VII, THE A.D.A., THE
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACE
INITIATIVE. THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT ENTITY TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE TRACKING RESULTS
EFFECTIVELY. THE TEST THAT THE
NATIONAL TESTING NETWORK
CREATED THAT IS ADMINISTERED
TAKES 33 DAYS FOR PEOPLE TO
COMPLETE. IT TAKES SPD 7.5
MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A LONG
LAG TIME BEFORE OFFICERS
COMPLETE THE PROCESS, A LOT OF
THAT IS DUE TO THE INTERNAL
PROCESSES WHICH IT APPEARS TO
BE THE BIGGEST BARRIERS. I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW
THEY USE THE RESOURCES TO
IMPROVE THE CULTURE OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND ALSO TO IMPROVE
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. I
WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
THEIR WORK ON THIS.
>> ANYBODY ELSE ? THANK YOU FOR
THOSE COMMENTS. I THINK THAT ,
WHAT THE PUBLIC IS GETTING AT,
THIS IS THE PRODUCT OF A GROUP
EFFORT AMONGST ALL OF US, AND
IT IS ALSO THE PRODUCT OF A LOT
OF COLLABORATION WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IN ADDITION TO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY, CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION. I SAT DOWN
WITH THE DIRECTOR AND I
REALIZED, THE NITTY-GRITTY OF
THE PROCESSES , AND HOW THEY
MUST ACTUALLY LOG THE
APPLICANT'S NAME. IT IS AN
EXTREMELY COMPLEX PROCESS. WHAT
I WAS TOLD IS IF WE WERE TO TRY
TO DO THE BEST PRACTICE OF
CONTACTING SOMEONE WHO APPLIES
WITHIN 48 HOURS OF APPLICATION,
TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL
CONNECTION AND A POINT OF
CONTACT, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION, THEY WOULD NEED
ANOTHER FTE. THAT IS ONE OF THE
ITEMS IN THIS LEGISLATION, TO
PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL ,
ADDITIONAL , ADDITIONAL EFFORT
, TO PROVIDE ONE MORE, TO HELP
PROCESS THOSE NAMES AND GET
THEM TO RECRUITERS, IN THE SPD.
AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ACTUALLY CREATING AN OPEN
CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION WITH
OUR CANDIDATES , SO THAT THEY
KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO
IF THEY WERE TO HAVE THAT
DIRECTION, AND ARE OFFERED A
PROGRAM DEPARTMENT POSITION.
THEY MAKE SURE THAT THE
RECRUITERS, BECAUSE WE LISTEN
TO THEM AT YOUR COMMITTEE
MEETING, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
IN MARCH, I THINK THAT IS HOW
THIS WAS ALL STARTED, IT IS
DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO SERVICE
THE IDEAS THEY WERE COMING UP
WITH, IN TERMS OF GOING AND
ACCESSING OTHER NONTRADITIONAL,
POTENTIAL RECRUITS. AND SO, WE
ARE PULLING THEM ALTOGETHER AND
PUTTING THEM SO THAT THEY CAN
BE IN CONTACT WITH THE FOLKS IN
THE POLICING DIVISION, AND
BETTER REPRESENT WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT IS ALL ABOUT. SO,
THESE SOUND LIKE SMALL PROCESS
CHANGES , AND ALSO BUREAUCRATIC
CHANGES, MOVING THEM FROM ONE
PLACE TO ANOTHER. BUT THEY ALL
MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WE CANNOT
NOT DO EVERYTHING. I WILL ASK
FOR THE VOTE TO BE CALLED. I
AGAIN WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES. CENTRAL STAFF, AS
WELL. AND GORMAN AND AS WELL AS
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND
DIRECTOR SHEALY. GO AHEAD AND
CALL THE ROLL IF THERE IS NO
OTHER,
>> WEIGHT, WEIGHT AND WEIGHT --
WAIT, WAIT , WAIT. I WANTED TO
ADD MY VOICE WITH ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES, ON THIS PARTICULAR
PIECE OF LEGISLATION. I WANT TO
THANK ALL OF YOU WHO WORK ON
ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE
THIS MORE ROBUST. AS WE HAVE
ALL SAID , WE JUST NEED ANOTHER
TOOL TO TRY TO RECRUIT OFFICERS
FASTER. OF COURSE, THE
AMENDMENTS , SO THAT WE CAN
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
RETENTION IN THAT. AND, YOU
KNOW, THE EFFORTS, RELATED TO
THE 30 BY 30 REPORT, THEY ARE
REALLY CALLED OUT, BECAUSE THEY
VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT THIS. THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT I CARE ABOUT.
AND I WANT TO, OVER TIME, I
WANT TO LOOK AT HIM AND YOU
KNOW? WHAT THE EFFORTS OF THE
SPD ARE, AS RELATED TO THE
RETAINING OF WOMEN AND THE
RECRUITING OF MORE WOMEN
OFFICERS. THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. I WOULD VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT,
RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO THE 30
BY 30 REPORT, AND I APPRECIATE
THE TOOL, IN ORDER TO TRY TO
EXPEDITE THE HIRING OF MORE
OFFICERS. SO, I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION
BETWEEN ALL OF US HERE, AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, I JUST WANTED
TO LET MY VOICE TO ALL OF THAT.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. GO AHEAD. I
INTERRUPTED YOU. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE, WITH THE ROLL CALL.
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME
]
>> WILL BE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
? COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ? PRESIDENT
NELSON? IT
>> THE BILL PASSES. IT NEEDS MY
SIGNATURE, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF. OKAY,
MOVING ON . NO ITEMS REMOVED
FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND
THERE IS NO RESOLUTION FOR
ADOPTION TODAY. IS THERE ANY
OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA. OUR NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING
WILL BE HELD MAY 28th AT 2:00
P.M. AND IT IS 3:17 AND THIS
MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU, EVERYBODY.