>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
NOVEMBER 21st, 2024 SPECIAL
MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
IS TO: 01, 2:02. I AM SARA
NELSON, . PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU , VERY MUCH.
THERE'S NOT A PRESENTATION
TODAY. ALEX WE WILL MOVE INTO
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR THOSE WHO REGISTERED
FOR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR A NEW EMAIL
WITH TODAY'S DETAILS. HOW MANY
ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY?
>> 10 IN PERSON AND FOUR
REMOTES.
>> LET'S GO WITH ALL OF THE 10
IN PERSON SPEAKERS OUT ONE
MINUTE EACH AND WE WILL MOVE
INTO THE REMOTE. HOPEFULLY WILL
PEOPLE -- PEOPLE WILL HAVE
GOTTEN THEIR EMAIL. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR
A TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
OTHER TIME. SPEAKERS MIKE WILL
BE MUTED THEIR COMMENTS IN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> WAITING FOR THE TIME OR
REALLY QUICK.
>> YES.
>> CORRECTING, 14 ALTOGETHER.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THAT
AND SAY TWO MINUTES EACH,
PLEASE.
>> TWO MINUTES, OKAY, THANK
YOU. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS TIM.
FOLLOWED BY TIM IS ALEX.
>> WELL, HELLO. I WAS JUST
TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN IT
COMES TO THE CAPITOL GAINS TAX
THERE IS A NEW STATE LAW ,
INITIATIVE 2111 THAT 70% OF THE
HOUSE MEMBERS VOTED FOR. 76% OF
THE STATE SENATORS VOTED FOR
THAT TOOK EFFECT ON JUNE 6. IT
SAID NEITHER THE STATE NOR ANY
COUNTY, CITY, OR OTHER LOCAL
JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON MAY TAX ANY
INDIVIDUAL PERSON ON ANY FORM
OF PERSONAL INCOME. YOU NOTICED
IT SAID CITY. FOUR OF YOU
DIDN'T NOTICE BECAUSE YOU ARE
PUSHING A BILL THAT IS ILLEGAL
BECAUSE OF THIS NEW LAW. RCW
1.9 0.100. I'M SURE YOU HAVE
LEGAL STAFF TO LOOK THAT ONE
UP. IT IS FRUSTRATING, I THINK,
FOR VOTERS WHEN THEY SEE A LAW
IN THE BOOKS AND SEE ELECTED
PEOPLE IGNORING THAT LAW
EXPLICITLY. IT IS ILLEGAL WHAT
YOU ARE DOING . YOU MAY WANT
IT. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I
WANT $30 TABS, I'M NOT GETTING
THEM. WE WANT THINGS BUT
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WORK OUT.
THERE IS A STATE LAW NOW IN
EFFECT THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT
HAVE THIS TAX. THEY WERE ABLE
TO GET THE COURT TO SAY IT'S
CONSTITUTIONAL. THAT'S ONE
THING. WHAT DO YOU WANT IT OR
NOT? THE LEGISLATURE SAID WE
DON'T WANT IT. IT TOOK EFFECT
ON JUNE 6. IT IS NOW ILLEGAL TO
DO THIS THING . 28 SECONDS. I
WILL TAKE A COUPLE SECONDS
MORE. THIS DOES RUN COMPLETELY
COUNTER TO THE STATE LAW. I
WOULD ASK YOU TO RESPECT STATE
LAW, NOT TRY AND PUSH STATE
LAWS, ORDINANCES THAT CLEARLY
VIOLATE THAT STATE LAW AND
CONSIDERATION OF THIS
VIEWPOINT. THANK YOU.
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IT'S OKAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN. FROM
PUERTO RICO GARBAGE. I AM
PRESIDENT OF -- I WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT SOMETHING , TALKING ABOUT
$1 BILLION. $8 BILLION. LISTEN
TO ME . FROM GARBAGE. $8
BILLION . BEFORE HIM BEFORE.
WHY? [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
APPROXIMATELY 10 YEAR . CITY
HALL ONE DAY A WEEK FOR THREE
MINUTES SO PEOPLE CAN GO AND
SPEAK WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL. YOU
DON'T DO THIS, WHY? BECAUSE --
YOU UNDERSTAND. YOU WANT TO
CONTROL EVERYTHING. YOU CANNOT
IMAGINE SO PEOPLE CAN GO AND
TALK THREE MINUTES WITHOUT YOUR
CONTROL . WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I
GUARANTEE YOU, NEXT, WATCH IT,
WE WILL BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
BUT YOU DON'T WANT THIS. WHY?
BECAUSE YOU ARE FASCIST, AND
YOU KEEP THIS RIGHT NOW.
DEMOCRAT . COCKROACHES. WHAT IS
YOU ARE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHERE'S THE PROBLEM. ONE DAY
PER WEEK IN CITY HALL FOR THREE
MINUTES SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND
TALK WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL. CAN
YOU OPEN THIS . YOU KNOW WHAT
THISNOW
TRUMP COME 100 MILLION
AMERICANS SUPPORT . WE NEED
CHANGE, WE NEED REVOLUTION.
VIVA DONALD TRUMP, VIVA USA.
VIVA 100 MILLION AMERICAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NOEL
EVANGELISTA.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS NOEL
EVANGELISTA. I LIVE IN BEACON
HILL, DISTRICT TWO, AND I AM A
MEMBER OF SEATTLE. I GO TO THE
CHURCH AT BEACON UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH WERE MANY OF
THE FOUNDING MEMBERS HAVE
HELPED TO MAKE -- POSSIBLE.
ALONG WITH MANY OTHER FILIPINO
SEATTLE ROOTED ORGANIZATIONS NO
MORE COP SURVEILLING THE PARKS
DOES NOT MEAN THE HOUSE ISSUE
WAS ADDRESSED. IT JUST MEANS
THE PROBLEM GET SWEPT TO
ANOTHER AREA OF SEATTLE . CITY
COUNCIL , IN DISCUSSING
TODAY'S BUDGET, WE ASK THAT
YOU PRAY TO -- PRIORITIZE
SOCIAL SERVICES , AND KEEPING
PLACES LIKE THE PARK AND
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT SAFE.
THE SOLUTION IS NOT MORE COPS
OR MORE FUNDS FOR WEAPONS. THE
SOLUTION IS TO RESTORE WHAT HAS
BEEN STOLEN AND BUILD UP PEOPLE
TO THRIVE , NOT SWEEP UNDER THE
RUG. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS .
FOLLOWED BY WILL BE ANDY.
>> GOOD EVENING, GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS -- I AM
ALSO A MEMBER OF MOVEMENT
SEATTLE. A GRASSROOT FILIPINO
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO
UPHOLDING CIVIL RIGHTS . WE ARE
CALLING FOR THE RESTORATION OF
THE PARK AND THE DEFENDING OF
OUR LOCAL FILIPINO HISTORY FOR
THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS HELPED
BUILD UP THE CITY TO WHAT IT IS
TODAY . AS NOEL SAID WE AGREED
THAT THE FUNDING FOR HELPING
THE PARK SHOULD GO TOWARD
SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE AND NOT
FOR MORE POLICING OR
SURVEILLANCE. IN FACT, AS YOU
ALL KNOW, THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL
TAX , 62% OF WHICH SHOULD BE
DEDICATED TOWARD THINGS LIKE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR
HOUSE LIST NEIGHBORS. 330
MILLION OF THAT HAS ACTUALLY
BEEN TOWARDS FUNDING AND POLICE
SURVEILLANCE WHICH STUDIES
DOING SHOW DO NOT HELP OUR
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE ASKING YOU
TO PLEASE STAY ON YOUR PROMISE
OF SERVICING THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, PROVIDING HOUSING FOR
OUR NEIGHBORS, EDUCATIONS,
JOBS, HEALTHCARE. THESE ARE THE
THINGS THAT WILL PROTECT THE
PEOPLE AND THE PROTECTION OF
PEOPLE'S HISTORY. PLEASE SHOW
YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE OVER
100,000 FILIPINOS IN YOUR CITY
BY DEFENDING FILIPINO HISTORY,
RESTORING THE PARK, JOSE RIZAL
PARK, AND PROVIDING THE
SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT
POLICING. THANK YOU.
>> ANDY FOLLOWED BY ANDY WILL
BE --
>> PLEASE, BEFORE YOU START.
FOR THE FOLKS GATHERED HERE AND
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT TODAY'S
PROCEEDINGS, PLEASE USE JAZZ
HAND INSTEAD OF CLAPPING. THANK
YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSELORS,
MY NAME IS ANDY. WITHIN THE
GROUP I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR
LITTLE SAIGON NEIGHBORHOOD IN
DISTRICT TWO, STAFF MEMBER.
UPLIFT THE NEEDS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES AND OTHER KEY
STAKEHOLDERS. A LOT OF
ORGANIZATION, WITH STAFF .
COMMUNICATE ADVOCATES AROUND
THE CITY. WE APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY TO -- OR
COMMUNITY SPACE, ENSURING
EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. OUR GROUP
IS ASKING THE CITY TO
PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE MOST
LEARNABLE, INCLUDING LOW
INCOME, LIKE, -- EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY HAS
UNIQUE NEEDS. LIKE THE
INVESTMENTS SIMILAR TO THE
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM . VITAL TO
ADDRESSING HISTORICAL
UNDERINVESTMENT IN MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES WHERE THE THESE ARE
THE GREATEST. PROGRAMS ENSURE
THERE IS MULTILINGUAL
ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION,
GUARANTEEING -- ALL SAFETY
ISSUES, GUARANTEEING COMMUNITY
DECISION-MAKING. TO FACILITATE
INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE. TO ENSURE
THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS WILL
WORK FOR ORAL OR PRIORITIZING
THESE ARE ALIGNED WITH THE
CITY'S INITIATIVES WHILE
FOSTERING HEALING AND
BELONGING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. LAST NIGHT I WAS
MEETING WITH RESIDENTS IN TENT
CITY THREE. LEADERS FROM CHER
WHEEL. TENT CITY THREE
ENCAMPMENT IS CURRENTLY IN THE
PARKING LOT AT UNIVERSITY
CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST WERE SERVE AS ONE OF THE
PASTORS. WE HEARD ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THAT FOLKS ARE
FACING. AS MEMBERS OF THE
CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM AND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ,
BRING UNHOUSED PEOPLE TO THEIR
ENCAMPMENT . BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THAT COMMUNITY CARES FOR ONE
ANOTHER. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT
THE FOLKS WHO ARE CLOSEST TO
THE ISSUES ARE ALSO CLOSEST TO
THE SOLUTIONS. THEY TRUST THAT
ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE 1033, WILL
PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF THOSE
WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE. WE ARE
FACING A BOMB CYCLONE OF
DISINVESTMENT FROM THOSE WHO
ARE MOST PROBABLE. THE WINDS OF
POVERTY AND DESPAIR ARE BLOWING
THROUGH OUR CITY. JUMPSTART
FUNDING IS ONE OF THE RESPONSES
TO LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY , AND
INVEST IN THE PLACES THAT ARE
BEST SUITED TO PROVIDE FOR
THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED.
CREATING PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
SOURCES , LIKE, THE CAPITOL
GAINS TAX WILL HELP BOLSTER A
MORE ROBUST RESPONSE SO WE
DON'T HAVE TO LOOK IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS TO SEE OUR
NEIGHBORS WHO ARE HURT. YOU
HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN FROM
FOLKS WHO ARE PLEADING FOR
JUMPSTART FUNDING TO SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITY. MAY IT BE SO.
>> WE NOW HAVE MARGO STEWART,
FOLLOWED BY JOY LOPEZ.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MARGO, I'M
HERE FOR MEMBERS OF WORKERS
STRIKE BACK. OPPOSE THE
SHAMEFUL ATTACK THIS MAYOR AND
DEMOCRAT -- ALONGSIDE -- IT'S
A SPIT IN THE FACE TO THE TENS
OF THOUSANDS WORKING PEOPLE IN
THE STREET TO HELP WHEN THIS
TAX ON THIS BUSINESS AT THE
HEIGHT OF THE GEORGE FLOYD
MOVEMENT, AND THE TIME NOW WHEN
THERE'S MORE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS
COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT
MONEY TO THE ALREADY LOADED
POLICE BUDGET. THIS COUNCIL IS
LOOKING FOR ANY WAY THEY CAN TO
MAKE WORKING PEOPLE , RATHER
THAN BIG BUSINESS, PAY FOR THE
CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS. WHAT
BIG BUSINESSES ARE WE LOOKING
AT HERE. COMPANIES, LIKE,
AMAZON, WHO MADE 15.3 BILLIONS
DOLLARS. THAT'S UP 55% FROM
THE PROFITS LAST YEAR.
CORPORATE EFFORTS ACROSS THE
BOARD ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER
THAN THEY WERE BEFORE COVID.
19.5% FROM 13%. GUESS WHO HAS
NOT BEEN THRIVING SINCE COVID.
THESE BIG BUSINESSES CAN AFFORD
TO PAY MORE. THIS ALL DEMOCRAT
COUNCIL GOES AFTER WORKING
PEOPLE LIKE MY CLOSE FRIEND AND
ROOMMATE WHO CAN A COUPLE
DOLLARS IN HIS ACCOUNT AFTER
HEALTHCARE'S EXPENSES. FOOD
SERVICE WORKERS WHOSE MINIMUM
WAGE WHEN AFTER SHAMEFULLY AND
SOUGHT TO LOWER JUST WEEKS AGO.
IT WAS US, AS A MOVEMENT OF
WORKERS STRIKE BACK THAT SOUGHT
BETTER ATTACK. IF SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING THEY
SHOULD JOIN WITH WORKERS WHO
ARE STRUGGLING ACROSS THE BOARD
TO FIGHT FOR AN INCREASE IN
AMAZON TAX. THE SAME IS TRUE
NOW. IT'S ABSOLUTE INSANITY TO
BE TURNING FUNDS AWAY FROM
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE
POLICE BUDGET WHEN WE OBVIOUSLY
NEED TO TAX THE BIGGEST
BUSINESS IN THE CITY WHO ARE
THRIVING TO FUND THE SOCIAL
SERVICES WE SO DIFFERENT THE
MEAT. THESE DEMOCRATS WON'T DO
THAT. ENTIRELY UNWILLING. WHEN
PUSH COMES TO SOME OF ITS THOSE
BUSINESSES THEY REPRESENT. I
URGE ANYBODY WHO IS LISTENING
TO JOIN WORKERS STRIKE BACK AND
COME OUT IN FEBRUARY TO DISCUSS
HOW WE CAN FURTHER FIGHT
ATTACKS LIKE THESE.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JOY LOPEZ.
FOLLOWING JOY WILL BE --
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
JOEY LOPEZ. SO DIRECTOR OF THE
-- I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3. I WORK
IN DISTRICT TWO, AND I WORSHIP
IN DISTRICT SEVEN. FOR THE PAST
SIX WEEKS, FAITH COMMUNITIES
ACROSS SEATTLE HAVE BEEN
PRESENT IN THESE CHAMBERS
DECLARING BUDGETS ARE A MORAL
DOCUMENT. BUDGETS SPEAK TO THE
VALUES OF OUR CITY THROUGH
PUBLIC INVESTMENT. WE ARE SAD
TO SEE A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT
FAILS TO SPEAK TO THOSE VALUES.
WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE HAS NOT INSURED THE
ORIGINAL JUMPSTART PLAN . IT'S
OBVIOUS THE CITY HAS A REVENUE
PROBLEM, NOT A SPENDING
PROBLEM. RELYING THIS HEAVILY
ON JUMPSTART IS A DANGEROUS
PRECEDENT. WE HOPED THE COUNCIL
WOULD NOT KICK THE CAN DOWN THE
ROAD. WE BELIEVE THE CITY NEEDS
MORE PROGRESSIVE TAX REVENUE
SOURCES IN ADJUSTING TO
JUMPSTART. LIKE THE PROPOSED
CAPITOL GAINS TAX. IT'S BE ON
TIME FOR POLY SOLUTIONS. THAT
INVEST COMMUNITIES. ADDRESSING
SYSTEMIC RACISM. WHEN HE
COUNSELED TO CONTINUE TO CREATE
SUSTAINABLE POLICY SOLUTIONS
THAT PRIORITIZE NEW PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE STREAMS AND FILL THE
CURRENT GAPS, LIKE THE CAPITOL
GAINS TAX. FAITH COMMUNITIES
WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS
COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO COMMUNITY,
NOT THE WEALTHY FEW. THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CARLY.
>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER
SHAMEFULLY WENT TO DIVERT
FUNDING TO MAKE UP FOR THEIR
BUDGET AND TO FUND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. NO WONDER
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE HAVE NO
FAITH IN THE DEMOCRATS TO
DELIVER ON WORKING-CLASS
DEMANDS. THE ONLY VICTORY
WORKERS HAVE WON COME FROM
REPRESENTATIVES INDEPENDENT OF
CORPORATE FUNDING, SUCH AS
SOCIALIST AND FORMER MEMBER WHO
WON THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE AND
AMAZON TAX. THE SAME DEMOCRATIC
COUNCIL MEMBERS , ON THE OTHER
HAND, TRY TO ATTACK THE 15
VICTORY JUST TWO MONTHS AGO AND
ARE ATTACKING THE AMAZON TAX
TODAY. THAT'S WHY I AM A
MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK
TO BREAK FROM THE DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS. ONE OF THE CORE
DEMANDS AS WE WORKERS NEED A
PARTY FOR THE WORKING CLASS.
ONE THAT REPRESENTS US. ONE
THAT FIGHTS FOR WORKING-CLASS
DEMANDS SUCH AS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND FREE HEALTHCARE.
>> AFTER CARLY WILL BE SUMMER
AND THEN ALEX.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CARLA. I'M A
MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK
AND A RENTER IN DISTRICT THREE.
THE JUMPSTART TAX IS NOW THE
SINGLE BIGGEST SOURCE OF
FUNDING FOR PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
GENERATING OVER $400 MILLION IN
2024. THE AMAZON TAX HAS
ACTUALLY SHOWN SHOWN SUCCESS IN
THE LAST YEARS. THESE FUNDS
ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION FOR OVER
3000 NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNITS IN SEATTLE IN 2022 AND
2023. OR THAN DOUBLING THE RATE
OF CONSTRUCTION DURING THE
PRIOR TWO YEARS. AS THE COST OF
LIVING SKYROCKETS IN THE CITY,
WORKING PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO
MOVE OR LEAVE SEATTLE BECAUSE
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOUSING.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO
REALLOCATE THESE FUNDS IN YOUR
BUDGET. THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK
AMAZON AND OTHER BIG COMPANIES
FOR MORE MONEY. THIS YEAR
AMAZON REPORTED A 55% INCREASE
IN NET INCOME, CLOSING OUT
THEIR THIRD QUARTER BOOKS WITH
$15.3 BILLION. CITY COUNCIL, I
ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER
THE WORKING AND LOWER INCOME
PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THE ONES
THAT DESPERATELY , DESPERATELY
NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND
NEED THAT WILL ONLY INCREASE IN
THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS AS
WE ENTER INTO A PRESIDENCY THAT
WILL GREATLY AFFECT WORKING
PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS SUMMER, I AM A
MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE THAT.
THE COST OF HOUSING IN SEATTLE
IS ALREADY OUT OF CONTROL FOR
WORKING PEOPLE. THE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
SEATTLE'S ONLY INCREASING AS
RENTS AND CONTINUAL LIVING
CONTINUE TO RISE. INCREASING
THE M OF SON -- AMAZON TAX.
POOR AND WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE
ARE BECOMING INFECTED AND
BECOMING HOMELESS. IF YOU
FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS ATTACK
MORE PEOPLE WILL BE THROWN OUT
OF HOUSING BECAUSE OF YOU.
IT'S NOT JUST THESE
INDIVIDUALS ON CITY COUNCIL,
IT'S THE PARTY THEY ARE PART
OF. DEMOCRATS ON CITY COUNCIL
FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL AGAINST
OUR VICTORIES. AFTER OUR
MOVEMENT WINS THOSE MOVEMENTS
BY BUILDING MOVEMENTS THEY
CLAIM CREDIT AND GIVE VICTORY
STUPID NAMES LIKE THE JUMPSTART
TAX. THEN THEY FIGHT TO CALL
THEM BACK. FORCED TO BACK OFF
ON THE ATTACK ON 15 BECAUSE
WORKERS STRIKE BACK, WORKING
PEOPLE AND UNION MEMBERS FOUGHT
AGAINST IT. WE WILL BE FIGHTING
TO MAKE SURE DEMOCRATS DON'T
USE THE REST OF YOUR TO RAM
THROUGH SOMETHING WHEN THEY
THINK WORKING PEOPLE ARE NOT
PAYING ATTENTION. WE NEED TO
BUILD SOMETHING NEW. FOR ANYONE
WHO AGREES, SIGN UP TO BECOME A
MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK.
COME TO OUR ORGANIZING
CONFERENCE ON FEBRUARY 22nd TO
GET ORGANIZED TO FIGHT BACK
AGAINST BOTH OF THESE
BILLIONAIRE PARTIES.
REGISTRATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
>> ALEX IS OUR LAST IN PERSON
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX OLSEN. I'M
A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE
THAT. I WAS HERE ON TUESDAY AND
NOW I'M HERE AGAIN. I WOULD
JUST LIKE TO SAY, JUMPSTART WAS
THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO
SEATTLE AND OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMS
IN RECENT MEMORY. WITH THIS
BUDGET YOU WANT TO PASTORIZA.
GIVE MORE MONEY TO COPS AND
LOST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE
ARE IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS. THROWING OUR MOST
DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORS UNDER
THE BUS, AGAIN, THAT'S NEVER
WORKED. LET'S CALL YOUR
APPROACH WHAT IT IS. AUSTERITY.
TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS
AUSTERITY. REFUSING TO ENACT A
TOP -- CAPITOL GAINS ACT IS
AUSTERITY. AMAZON AND BIG
CORPORATIONS HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
THUS, THE WORKING-CLASS OF
SEATTLE WHO ARE HURTING RIGHT
NOW. AMAZON'S INCOME IS UP
55%, AS MENTIONED. INCREASE
THEIR TAXES INSTEAD. THE
JUMPSTART TAX IS NOT SOME FIXED
AMOUNT YOU CAN NEVER CHANGE.
FILLING THE GENERAL FUND
DEFICIT DOES NOT HAVE TO COME
AT THE COST OF OUR MUCH-NEEDED
SOCIAL PROGRAMS. YOU CANNOT
ATTACK WORKING PEOPLE OVER AND
OVER AND ACT SURPRISED WHEN THE
VOTERS DON'T HAVE YOUR BACK.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE OURS. YOU
WOULD THINK AFTER COUNCILMEMBER
L.E.A.D. CRUSHING DEFEAT YOU
WILL LEARN HOW UNPOPULAR WHAT
YOU ARE DOING IS. AUSTERITY
DOESN'T WORK AND AUSTERITY HAS
NEVER WORKED. WHAT WE NEED ARE
NEW SOURCES OF PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE AND TO INCREASE THE
ONES WE HAVE, NOT MORE OF THIS
CONSERVATIVE FISCAL COWARDICE.
YOU WOULD RATHER RUN THE CITY
INTO THE GROUND JUST TO LINE
YOUR DONORS POCKETS. THE VOTERS
WILL REMEMBER. THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. A REMINDER TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS, PRESS STAR SIX AFTER
YOU HEAR THE MESSAGE YOU HAVE
BEEN UN-MUTED. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS HOWARD. HOWARD WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY ALBERTA --
ALBERTA. GO AHEAD, HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. HOWARD,
DISTRICT 7. YOU'VE
DEMONSTRATED CLEARLY TO US THAT
OVERWHELMING PUBLIC APPEARING
-- OPINION IS IRRELEVANT TO YOU
AS YOU VOTE FOR MORE PUNITIVE
MEMBERS -- THROUGH CONSEQUENCES
OF SOCIAL INEQUITY WHILE
GETTING T█HE PROGRAMS TO PROTECT
FOLKS YOU SUBJECT TO PUNISH.
YOU PUNISH FOLKS FOR THE
CONSEQUENCES AND ACT TO ENSURE
EQUITY IS PERPETUATED ,
EXPANDED AS WITH SEVERE
CUTBACKS AND PROTECTIONS FOR
THIS BUDGET. WE SENIOR DESTROY
THE JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT BOARD,
REMOVE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY
HOMELESSNESS FROM THE
HOMELESSNESS BOARDS. UNDERMINE
AND KILL THE RENTERS ADVOCACY
WORK GROUP AND UNDERMINE AND
KILL THE ONLY PROGRAM TO GIVE
VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE A
VOICE. YOU'VE HEARD THE
SAYING, NOTHING WITHOUT US
WITHOUT US. YOU HAVE INSTEAD
EMBRACED EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU
WITHOUT YOU. YOU DO THIS UNDER
THE GUISE OF FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE SURE
OUR DOLLARS ARE SPENT WISELY.
YET WHERE'S THE AUDIT OF THE
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS SPENT OR
OVER 70 MILLION SPENT ON THE
FAILED POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT BEEN
AUDITED IN OVER SEVEN YEARS OF
EXISTENCE, DESPITE THE CITY
AUDITOR CALLING FOR 17 YEARS
AGO. CONTINUE TO FAILED --
FAILED TO FUND SOCIAL NEEDS
PROGRAMS TO OFFER REAL
SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF POTIONS --
PUNISHMENT. CONSTITUENTS
CONTINUE TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES
AS WE JUST SAW THIS MONTH WITH
THE RESOUNDING REJECTION OF THE
CURRENT POLICIES THIS COUNCIL
IS ON.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALBERTA. FOLLOWING ALBERTO
WILL BE BRENDAN. GO AHEAD,
ALBERTO .
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS , WORK
TOGETHER, REACH OUT AND PARTNER
ON A PLAN THAT WILL BUILD
HOUSING , PROTECT WORKERS, AND
BRING REVENUE NEEDED TO BUILD A
CITY FOR ALL. MR. SAKA, YOUR
CRUSADE AGAINST THE SAFETY
DIVIDER CAN END HERE TODAY. MR.
SAKA, VOTE YES ON MR. MOORE
AMENDMENT AND I WILL PERSONALLY
REMOVE THAT CURVE FROM THE
STREET. LOCAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY
CAN DONATE THE TOOLS NEEDED.
MR. SAKA, BUT YES, AND I WILL
GET THIS DONE. YOU KNOW I'M A
DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL. MR. SAKA,
VOTE YES ON MAKING THE WEALTHY
PAY FAIR SHARE . TAKE THE $2
MILLION EARMARKED FOR YOUR
CRUSADE , AND SEND IT TO LOCAL
FOOD BANKS. TAX THE RICH, GET
THIS PAST . MR. SAKA, TEAR DOWN
THIS CURB. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS BRENDAN. FOLLOWING BRENDAN
WILL BE -- GO AHEAD, BRENDAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNMY NAME IS
BRENDAN. I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 1. I HAVE LONG BEEN AN
ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL
FOR THE EFFORT YOU PUT IN FOR
EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
THE CITY. THESE EFFORTS HAVE
NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND ARE VERY
MUCH APPRECIATED. I'VE CALLED
IN THIS AFTERNOON PRIMARILY TO
DISCUSS TRAFFIC SAFETY. I LIVE
ON DELL RIDGEWAY SOUTHWEST AND
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR
APPROXIMATELY 15 YEARS. I LIVE
ABOUT TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF THE
-- I SUPPORT THE SAFETY PROJECT
AND GREATLY APPRECIATE THE
LEADERSHIP ON THIS MATTER. THE
CURRENT SET UP ENCOURAGES
DRIVERS TO MAKE U-TURNS ACROSS
THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE WHICH IS
NOT SAFE. AS A FATHER OF THREE
I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH
CHILDREN SAFETY, AND IT
TROUBLES ME THESE MANEUVERS
FREQUENTLY OCCUR WITH CHILDREN
IN THE VEHICLE. APARTMENT --
PERSONALLY WITNESSED SEVERAL
NEAR ACCIDENTS, ONE WHICH
ENDANGERED A BICYCLIST. ASKED
-- TO APPROPRIATE THE NECESSARY
FUNDS TO EXPLORE AND CONSTRUCT
A SAFER WAY FOR DRIVERS TO
ENTER AND EXIT . ON A DIFFERENT
NOTE, HAVING KIDS IN WEST
SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE AND
BASEBALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SIP
PART FAIRMONT PARK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
FOLLOWING WILL BE -- GO AHEAD.
I SEE YOU ARE UN-MUTED. ARE YOU
THERE?
>> SORRY, APOLOGIES ABOUT THAT.
I . CURRENT D3 RESIDENT. FORMER
RESIDENTS OF OTHER DISTRICTS IN
SEATTLE. I CONSIDER MEN AS MANY
OF YOU MY REPRESENTED. I'M
COMMENTING ON CB 12908. QUICKLY
TO THE COMMENTS OF LEGALITY. I
BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXCISE TAX
ON INCOME TAX. THEREFORE IT'S
NOT SUBJECT TO WASHINGTON STATE
LAW. JUST WANTED TO SAY WE LIVE
IN A TIME OF INEQUITY. WE LIVE
IN A TIME WHERE WE ARE CLOSING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT UNPRECEDENTED
RATES. WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE
CITY COUNCIL IS ATTEMPTING TO
RATE TAX FUNDS, SUCH AS THE
JUMPSTART TAX TO BALANCE CITY
BUDGETS WHERE THOSE FUNDS WERE
PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER
NECESSARY PUBLIC SERVICES.
TAXES ARE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS
FOR REDISTRIBUTING WEALTH
WITHIN THE CITY. IT'S CRITICAL
WE DISREGARD THE TAXATION TO
HELP THOSE THAT NEEDED THE MOST
AND CLOSE THE INEQUALITY WITHIN
OUR CITY. THE PROPOSED TAX ,
SUBJECT TO EARNINGS OVER
$250,000 IS FOUR TIMES THE
MEDIAN INCOME. BEGGING COUNCIL
THAT WE BEGIN HELPING THE
PEOPLE , NOT THE PEOPLE FUNDING
THE CAMPAIGNS. NOT THE PEOPLE
GAINING FOUR TIMES MEDIAN
INCOME SALES OF STOCKS AND
OTHER CAPITOL ASSETS. PLEASE
PASS CB 120908. ON A DIFFERENT
NOTE, I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT
ABOUT STREET CLEANING WITHIN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I TRULY DO
NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE AND
PAY FOR STREET CLEANING
MACHINES AND STREET CLEANERS
WHEN WE HAVE NO PARKING
ALTERNATIVE DAYS . ULTIMATELY
MAKES THEM WILDLY INEFFECTIVE .
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT THE
NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS BJ. GO AHEAD , BJ.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS BJ. I AM A
D6 RESIDENT. I SUPPORT THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET. THIS PROCESS
HAS BEEN INSULTING TO THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. FOR EXAMPLE,
MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
TALKED ABOUT NEEDING TO GET TO
THE ROOT CAUSES OF WHY SO MANY
PEOPLE NEED RENTAL AND FOOD
ASSISTANCE. RENT IS TOO HIGH
AND WAGES ARE TOO LOW. THAT'S
WHY PEOPLE NEED ASSISTANCE.
THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO
EXASPERATE A. THE POSITIONS
COUNCIL IS MADE. ACTIVE
DECISIONS TO GO AND DEFUND SO
WORKERS HAVE LESS PROTECTION TO
MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING PAID
AND HAVING IT STOLEN FROM BY
THEIR EMPLOYERS. THIS BUDGET
THE FUNDS TENANT SERVICES.
TENANTS HAVE LESS PROTECTIONS
TO MAKE SURE THEIR LANDLORD
ISN'T STEALING FROM THEM.
THESE ARE DECISIONS THIS
COUNCIL HAS ACTIVELY GONE AND
MADE THAT ARE GOING TO
EXACERBATE INEQUALITY ON ISSUES
IN SEATTLE. SAYING PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE DON'T TRUST THEIR CITY
TO SPEND ITS MONEY. HAVE YOU
SEEN WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH
JUMPSTART? ARE YOU SURPRISED
WHY PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU?
DON'T BE SURPRISED IF PEOPLE
DON'T TRUST YOU'RE SPENDING
DECISION WHEN YOU ALWAYS
THROUGHOUT A SPENDING PLAN.
WHEN YOUR DECISION IS, HEY,
ANYTHING THAT FINDS US AND
STOPS US FROM PAYING MONEY ON
COPS WE CAN JUST CHANGE THE LAW
EVERY SINGLE YEAR SO WE CAN
JUST THROW THAT OUT. THAT'S
WHY PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU.
WHAT YOU ARE SPENDING MONEY ON
IS THE COPS. THE SURVEY IS
TELLING YOU THIS IS NOT WHAT
PEOPLE WANT YOU TO BE DOING.
ALSO SAW THIS WITH COUNCIL
DECIDING TO THROW OUT PRECIP OR
TORY BUDGETING. THIS WAS A
PROCESS THAT WAS YEARS IN THE
MAKING I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
GIVING THE PEOPLE DIRECT
CONTROL SAYING HOW MONEY WAS
SPENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
COUNCIL DIDN'T LIKE HOW SOME
OF THOSE . HEY, YOU DON'T GET
IT DECISION IF IT IS AND WHAT
THE COUNCIL WANTED. IF THE
COUNCIL CAN VETO THAT IS NOT
THE DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE.
>> THAT IS THE LAST REMOTE
REGISTER SPEAKER, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. NOW
WE WILL MOVE INTO -- HOLD ON A
SECOND HERE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY.
WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE NEXT
ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS ,
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL A
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. SEEING NONE, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR.
ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR
INCLUDE COUNCIL BILL 120900.
120901 AND COUNCIL BILL 120913
, WHICH IS THE PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS. AND WILL ALSO HAVE 37
PIECES OF LEGISLATION FROM THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT
ARE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE
BUDGET, WHICH WE HAVE MENTIONED
BEFORE IN PREVIOUS SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEES. ARE THERE
ANY ITEMS THE COUNCILMEMBERS
WISH TO REMAIN -- REMOVED FROM
TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA. ALL
RIGHT. HEARING NONE I MOVED TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. ALL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
COMMITTEE REPORTS. BEFORE WE
CAN DISCUSS THE NEXT EIGHT
RELATED BUDGET ITEMS -- GO
AHEAD. PART OF ME? OH, YES. I
AM SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTE THEM
LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. OKAY. ITEM H,
COMMUNITY REPORTS. BEFORE WE
BEGIN DISCUSSING THE NEXT EIGHT
ITEMS THE COUNCIL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR
OVERALL COMMENTS ON THE ADOPTED
2025 BUDGET. BEFORE OUR VOTE ON
ITEM THREE. IF YOU PREFER TO --
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME
COMMENTS OR A SPEECH ON THAT
ITEM, IT IS BEST TO WAIT UNTIL
THAT ITEM IS BEFORE US. AGAIN,
IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE
OVERALL BUDGET , ITEM THREE IS
THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU TO MAKE
YOUR THOUGHTS KNOWN. ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, ITEM ONE. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE AGENDA.
>> COUNCIL BILL -- WHICH
ADOPTED THE 2024 BUDGET,
CHANGING APPROPRIATIONS TO
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND BUDGET
CONTROL LEVELS. COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASSES AS
AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
PROVIDE THE REPORTS.
>> THANK YOU, I THINK MY SCRIPT
IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S GOING
ON HERE. CAN YOU REMIND ME OF
THE BILL GOING BEFORE US HERE?
>> COUNCIL BILL 1208 93.
>> 893. GREAT. PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING IMPLEMENTATION BILL.
COLLEAGUES, IT HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE. THE
PROCESS WAS UPHELD AN IMPORTANT
ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE HERE ARE
COUNCIL. I'M HAPPY TO SEE WE
ARE ABLE TO GET THIS MONEY OUT
THE DOOR FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES.
WHAT I SAID PREVIOUSLY IS THIS
CANNOT BE A ONE TIME ACTION.
THIS CANNOT BE A ONE TIME
MOMENT . WE HAD TO CONTINUE
FUNDING BLACK AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES EVERY YEAR MOVING
FORWARD. THANK YOU. I URGE A
YES VOTE.
>> I WILL INVITE OTHER COMMENT
ON THIS BILL. I WOULD LIKE TO
PRIVILEGE THE COMMENTS OF
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH, WHO
MADE SOME OF THESE CHANGES. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK , NOW
WOULD BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. CAUGHT
ME OFF GUARD HERE. I DID NOT
THIS -- NOW THIS WAS THE FIRST
ONE ON THE AGENDA. THAT'S
FINE. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR
THIS PROCESS. I KNOW WE ME AFTE
COMM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE
TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY. OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE
USE SELECTIVE BLACKNESS TO BE
ABLE TO PUSH THEIR AGENDA . I
AM HERE TO SAY OUR BLACK
COMMUNITY IS ALIVE AND WELL IN
OUR CITY. THEIR VOICE WANTS TO
BE HEARD. THEIR VOICE WAS HEARD
ON THIS BUDGET. INVESTMENTS WE
ARE MAKING IN THE ARTS ,
HOMEOWNERSHIP, YOUTH,
HOMELESSNESS , FOOD INSECURITY
ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO OUR
COMMUNITY. I HAVE TALKED WITH
NEIGHBORS, I'VE GONE TO
CHURCHES. I HAVE WALKED
NEIGHBORHOODS. DIFFERENT
EVENTS. I HAVE CONNECTED WITH
PEOPLE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THEY
ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY FOR
ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY. A
LOT OF TIMES THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE BEING OUT HERE IN THE
STREETS THAT ARE BEING
MURDERED, BEING KILLED, WE
OFTEN CALL IT GUN VIOLENCE, BUT
IT IS OUR BABIES KILLING
BABIES. IF THEY KNEW THE
HISTORY THEY WOULD KNOW THEIR
GREATNESS. THE ARTS IS GOING TO
BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR
COMMUNITY, FOR THEM TO SEE
THEIR GREATNESS, THEIR HISTORY,
AND BE ABLE TO BUILD
CONNECTIONS AND HAVE LOVING
RELATIONSHIPS, AND ALSO A BIG
PIECE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS
INVESTMENT, WHICH A LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THE
GENERATIONAL PIECE . A LOT OF
THE EVENTS WE ARE BRINGING
FORTH OUR MULTIGENERATIONAL.
YOU HAVE THE GRANDMAS, THE
ANTS, THE KIDS , THE MOMS, THE
DADS, IT'S VERY GENERATIONAL.
THAT'S THE ONE THING BRINGS
COMMUNITY TOGETHER. COLLEAGUES,
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAVE
SUPPORTED THIS FROM DAY ONE. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HAVE
SIGNED ON TO THIS FROM KING
COUNTY EQUITY NOW, URBAN
LEAGUE, BIRD BAR, TO THE
HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT BLACK
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED
THIS SINCE DAY ONE TO THE
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY LEADERS,
ALL THE CHURCHES. THEY ALL LEND
THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND THIS, AND
COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT
IN THE ORIGINAL PROMISE MADE TO
BLACK COMMUNITY. THE ORIGINAL
PROMISE MADE TO OUR BLACK FOLKS
AFTER GEORGE FLOYD. THE
ORIGINAL PROMISE THAT WAS MADE
TO THAT COMMUNITY. WE ARE
UPHOLDING THAT TODAY , AND
COUNCIL. I HOPE THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS?
I WILL ADD IN A NOTE OF
APPRECIATION FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. THIS BUDGET ITEM
FAR PRECEDED MY TENURE ON THE
COUNCIL. I WAS OBSERVING FROM
AFAR THE PROCESS OF GATHERING
PEOPLE TO COLLECT PRIORITIES
AND THAT THEM AND LOCK THEM
INTO CATEGORIES. THAT WAS AN
ARDUOUS PROCESS. IT IS BOUND TO
BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT AND
FRAUGHT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT $27 MILLION. I THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THE DISCUSSION
BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL INTENT,
WHICH WAS TO PROVIDE MORE
RESOURCES, AND CENTER THE
EXPERIENCES OF BLACK PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE, SPECIFICALLY
DESCENDENTS OF SLAVES. I KNOW
YOU MET WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AND
DID A LOT OF OUTREACH. I AGREE
WITH MANY OF THEIR PRIORITIES.
I THINK WE CAME TO A PACKAGE
THAT MUCH BETTER PRESENTS THE
ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
INITIATIVE. THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING THE ELBOW GREASE AND
BRINGING FORWARD A PACKAGE THAT
SEEMS TO WORK FOR MOST EVERYONE
. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE CARE
TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO
OTHER COMMENTERS, IT IS NOW
TIME TO CALL A VOTE ON THE
BILL. WILL YOU PLEASE GO AHEAD?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]. NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT. PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE ON THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. ITEM THREE, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 1209 12.
ELIMINATING THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
OF OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS --
HOLLINGSORTH, IN FAVOR WITH
MOORE AND MORALES OPPOSED.
>> OKAY.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS AS THIS IS
COMING FROM YOUR COMMITTEE, YOU
ARE GIVEN THE FLOOR TO EXPLAIN
THE LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU THIS IS COUNCIL
BILL 120912 REGARDING LONG-TERM
POLICIES ON HOW TO USE THE
JUMPSTART PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX.
THE BILL BEFORE US IS NOT THE
BILL I INTRODUCED. THERE'S
CLEARLY MORE CONVERSATION TO BE
HAD. I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR
OF IT TODAY AND I URGE A YES
VOTE ON THIS BILL. EVEN THOUGH
THERE'S CLEARLY MORE
CONVERSATION. WE SAW THIS JUST
THE OTHER DAY. WHEN THE LAST
ROUND OF JUMPSTART POLICIES
WERE PASSED, WE ALL THOUGHT
TODAY , IN 2024, AS WE LOOKING
TO 2025 AND 2026 WE WOULD BE
OUT OF THE DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC
IMPACTS FROM COVID-19. THE FACT
OF THE MATTER IS WE ARE NOT OUT
OF THE STORM. WE ARE IN THE EYE
OF THE STORM. WE'VE SEEN THIS
BECAUSE -- AS REFERENCED BY THE
DOWNTURN ECONOMIC FORECAST IN
OUR BUDGETING CYCLE THIS YEAR.
THE ONLY OTHER TIMES THIS HAS
OCCURRED IS IN OCTOBER OF 2020
AND 2008. WE USE JUMPSTART FOR
GENERAL FUND EVERY YEAR THE TAX
HAS BEEN IN PLACE, AND WE NEED
TO ENSURE THE ORIGINAL
PRIORITIES ARE SAFEGUARDED.
COLLEAGUES, THAT'S THE BILL
BEFORE US. THE CURRENT
SITUATION WITH OUR BUDGET IS
NOT GOOD. WE SAW THIS WITH THE
DOWNTURN FORECAST. WE'VE SEEN
THIS WITH SALE TAX,
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS BEING
DOWN. THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO
USE JUMPSTART TO ENSURE THERE
IS MORE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN
OUR CITY, TO ENSURE THERE'S
MORE FOOD IN OUR FOOD BANKS, TO
ENSURE OUR MEAL PROVIDERS HAVE
FOOD TO MAKE SURE HOMELESS
YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL
SYSTEMS. TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO TAX
PREPARATION ASSISTANCE.
JUMPSTART HAS PREVENTED US FROM
ENGAGING IN AUSTERITY
BUDGETING, AND WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THE ORIGINAL INTENT IS
MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE
LIFETIME OF THIS TAX. WITH
THAT, AGAIN, THE BILL BEFORE US
IS NOT THE BILL I INTRODUCED,
AND YET, STILL, I URGE A YES
VOTE. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM
COLLEAGUES? I WOULD JUST LIKE
TO MENTION, ONE, AS I WAS
READING OVER THE DOCUMENTS THE
PAST FEW DAYS, IT DID OCCUR TO
ME THAT THIS LEGISLATION
ESTABLISHES A REVENUE
STABILIZATION ACCOUNT FOR THE
JUMPSTART DOLLARS THAT WILL
STAY AGAINST ANY KIND OF --
WELL NOT ANY , BUT A DOWNTURN
IN OUR COLLECTIONS OF THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. I THOUGHT
THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA. THIS --
WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT REVENUE
SOURCE IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL,
THEREFORE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
WE DON'T COUNT ON EVERY SINGLE
DOLLAR TO FUND OUR BUDGET
NEEDS. THIS POLICY PACKAGE DOES
HAVE A REVENUE STABILIZATION
ACCOUNT. HOWEVER IT DOES NOT
HAVE A POLICY DEFINING WHEN ONE
CAN WITHDRAW FROM THAT REVENUE
STABILIZATION ACCOUNT. THE GOAL
OF THAT ACCOUNT IS TO ESTABLISH
A POTS OF MONEY UP ABOUT 10% OF
THE TOTAL JUMPSTART REVENUE
THAT EXISTS. IT MADE SENSE TO
ME TO ESTABLISH -- SINCE THERE
IS A REVENUE STABILIZATION
ACCOUNT, LIKE THE REVENUE
STABILIZATION ACCOUNT FOR THE
RESERVE FUND , I THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE A RULE OR
SOME LIMITS ON HOW THAT MONEY
CAN BE ACCESSED AND SPENT. I
DID CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO
FINDING -- DEFINING LANGUAGE
THAT EXISTS FOR THE GENERAL
FUND REVENUE STABILIZATION
ACCOUNT. AT THE LAST MINUTE I
THOUGHT THERE'S BEEN TOO MANY
AMENDMENTS, AND IT WILL NOT
AFFECT 2025. BUT I DO THINK WE
SHOULD CONSIDER THIS A POLICY
ABOUT WHEN WE CAN MOVE MONEY
FROM THAT ACCOUNT GOING
FORWARD. WHAT KINDS OF
EMERGENCIES, ET CETERA. I
DECIDED NOT TO PUT THAT
FORWARD. IT MERITS
CONSIDERATION GOING FORWARD IF
WE ARE CREATING THIS REVENUE
STABILIZATION ACCOUNT TO HEDGE
AGAINST ANY UNFORESEEN DOWNTURN
IN THE TECH SECTOR, WHICH
PRIMARILY SUPPORTS THE PAYROLL
EXPENSES THAT ARE DRAWN FROM
FOR THIS TAX. FOR THIS RESOURCE
FOR THE CITY. I WANTED TO NOTE
THAT MAYBE WE CAN THINK ABOUT
THIS DURING THE YEAR TO COME.
ANYWAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ON THIS BILL? ALL
RIGHT, SEEING NONE, WILL THE
KIRK -- CLERK PLEASE -- OH,
SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> I WILL MAKE THIS QUICK. I
WANTED TO RESTATE WHAT I SAID
EARLIER THIS WEEK WHICH IS WHAT
WE HAVE FORCES A BILL THAT
ELIMINATES THE GUARDRAILS ON
SPENDING. EVEN THOUGH THE
ORIGINAL JUMPSTART CATEGORIES
ARE INCLUDED , IT ALSO ADDS
GENERAL FUND. IT DOES NOT PUT
GUARDRAILS ON HOW MUCH GENERAL
FUND TO BE SPENT, NOR DOES IT
MAKE A COMMITMENT TO ALLOCATE
RESOURCES FOR THE ORIGINAL
THINGS, LIKE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, GREEN NEW DEAL AND AND
ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION, WHICH
WILL NOW ARE IMPORTANT. IT ALSO
ELIMINATES THE OVERSIGHT TASK
FORCE OF THE PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX. AND REINSTATES THE SUNSET
DATE AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE
INCREASING OUR RELIANCE ON WHAT
WE KNOW IS A SOURCE OF REVENUE
TO FUND BASIC CITY SERVICES.
THAT'S NOT WHAT FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY LOOKS LIKE, IN
MY OPINION. I WILL BE VOTING
NO, THANK YOU, CHAIR, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I TOO AM GOING TO BE
VOTING NOW AGAINST THIS AGAIN
BECAUSE IT HAS NO GUARDRAILS.
AS I STATED WHEN I VOTED NO IN
COMMITTEE, WHERE I DRAW THE
LINE IS AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I APPRECIATE IN THIS CURRENT
BUDGET WE HAVE ALLOCATED A FAIR
AMOUNT OF MONEY TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WE HAVE RESTORED
MONEY. THIS COUNCIL HAS ADDED A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WE CANNOT RELY ON THE
GOODWILL OF THE EXECUTIVE.
THAT'S AN APPLICATION OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITY. AS A CO-AN
EQUAL SEPARATE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT. I BELIEVE THAT DOES
THIS. I WAS ALSO CONVINCED BY
BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS '
ARGUMENT. PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME
TO SUPPORT THE SUNSET. I
ACTUALLY WAS CONVINCED BY YOUR
ARGUMENTS. AMAZING WE CAN BE
CONVINCED BY ARGUMENTS ON THE
DAIS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CHANGE OUR MINDS BASED ON
THE COMPELLING ARGUMENTS OUR
COLLEAGUES PUT FORTH. I SUPPORT
YOU . I DO SUPPORT USING
JUMPSTART DOLLARS IN GENERAL
FUND. I THINK AS A LEGISLATIVE
BODY WE HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES
THAT FLEXIBILITY. BUT WE ALSO
HAVE TO SET GUARDRAILS FOR
OURSELVES, AS WELL. IF WE ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO --
EXCUSE ME, JUMPSTART TO FILL
OUR GENERAL FUND WE SHOULD BE
HONEST ABOUT THAT AND REMOVE
THE SUNSET. I DON'T THINK IN
16 YEARS WE ARE GOING TO FIND
OURSELVES IN A DIFFERENT
POSITION. FOR THOSE TWO REASONS
I AM VOTING AGAINST THIS. THANK
YOU.
>> WOULD YOU CARE TO SPEAK,
CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> IF I CAN BE LAST, THOUGH, IF
THAT WORKS.
>> SURE. I HAD A THOUGHT, AND
THEN IT MIGHT HAVE LEFT MY
MIND. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO
REMEMBER AND SATE AT THE END.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> WANTING TO BRING UP THE
OVERSIGHT BOARD AND EVALUATION.
A PIECE OF NUANCE THAT LOST
IN ALL THE ACTION OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS. THE OVERSIGHT
BOARD WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE
LEGISLATION TRANSMITTED TO US
YOUR COUNCIL. WITHIN THERE
THERE WAS STILL MONEY SET UP
FOR AN EVALUATION OF THIS
PROGRAM. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME
THAT THE EVALUATION OF THIS TAX
STILL CONTINUE. WHEN THE
EVALUATION MONEY WAS REMOVED
DURING OUR AMENDMENT PROCESS,
THAT'S WHEN MY POSITION ON THE
OVERSIGHT BOARD CHANGED. THIS
WEEK YOU SAW ME VOTE IN FAVOR
OF REINSTATING THE OVERSIGHT
BOARD . HAD I KNOWN THAT THE
EVALUATION MONEY WAS GOING TO
BE TAKEN, I WOULD HAVE INCLUDED
THAT IN MY ORIGINAL BASE BILL.
IT IS NOT OKAY FOR US TO REMOVE
THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IN THE
EVALUATION OF THIS TAX. WE
CAN'T DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN
DONE. I'M STILL VERY CONCERNED
, AND YET , STILL, TODAY I WILL
URGE A YES VOTE. THERE IS STILL
MORE WORK TO BE DONE, THOUGH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS? ALL RIGHT, SEEING
NONE, LET'S VOTE, PLEASE.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM
THREE.
>> CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM NUMBER
TWO? THANK YOU. [ ROLL BEING
CALLED ] SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN. ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK
READ ITEM THREE INTO THE
RECORD. COUNCIL BILL 120905 .
INCLUDING A CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM AND POSITION
MODIFICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR 2025 AND GRADING
POSITIONS EXEMPT FROM CIVIL
SERVICE. ALL BY A TWO THIRDS
VOTE. EXCUSE ME WITH -- IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
EXTENSIONS.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ARE WELCOME
TO ADDRESS THIS.
>> COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE BILL
TO SPEAK TO. I ALSO WANT TO
THANK OUR CLERKS, AND EVERYONE
ELSE, FOR MAKING THIS BUDGET
VOTING PROCESS SO MUCH MORE
STRAIGHTFORWARD , USING A
CONSENT AGENDA. COLLEAGUES WE
WOULD HAVE VOTED ON 35 BILLS
INDIVIDUALLY HAD WE NOT USED
CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BEFORE I
GET INTO MY REMARKS ABOUT OUR
BUDGET WE HAVE AMENDED, THE
CHAIRS PACKAGE AND ALL OF THAT.
I'M GOING TO BRING US BACK TO
SEPTEMBER 24th, WHEN WE WERE
HERE IN CHAMBERS. WE WERE
RECEIVING THE MARINERS PACKAGE.
THIS ROOM WAS FILLED WITH THE
PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK FOR US
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. WE HAD FOLKS FROM
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. PEOPLE
WHO MADE SURE WE HAVE CLEAN ,
GREAT AMAZING QUALITY WATER.
FOLKS THAT INSURED ELECTRICITY
IS WORKING . WE ARE GENERATING
ELECTRICITY. EVEN AFTER INTENSE
STORMS WE ARE ABLE TO GET
ELECTRICITY BACK UP TO AS MANY
CUSTOMERS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. WE HAD THE PEOPLE
FROM -- CONSTRUCTION AND
INVESTMENTS. PEOPLE THAT MAKE
SURE THE SEATTLE CENTER IS THE
HEART OF OUR CITY. CIVICS IN SO
MANY WAYS. NEW WATERFRONT.
FOLKS IN HERE WHO MAKE SURE OUR
ROADWAYS ARE POSSIBLE AND
SIDEWALKS ARE WALKABLE. AND IF
THERE ARE NOT SIDEWALKS , THEY
WILL BID THEM AFTER THIS NEXT
TRANSPORTATION LOBBY GETS
IMPLEMENTED. WE HAD FIRE,
POLICE CARE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ARMS. WE HAD THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING
DILIGENTLY TO PREVENT GUN
VIOLENCE. WE HAD THE PEOPLE WHO
MAKE SURE AND WORK ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT EVERYDAY. PEOPLE
WHO MAKE SURE THE CITY IS
WORKING TOWARDS A MORE
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND
ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
WE HAD THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE SURE
OUR LIBRARIES ARE OPEN AND
WELCOMING. PEOPLE WHO ARE
TASKED WITH DELIVERING OUR
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING
COMMITMENTS. PEOPLE IN HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT SERVE
ALL AGES AND ABILITIES , ON TOP
OF MAKING SURE CONTRACTS GO OUT
THE DOOR TO DELIVER THE
SERVICES THAT WE, APPEAR ON THE
DAIS, TALK ABOUT. FOLKS
INCREASING OUR AXIS AND
DECREASING GRAFFITI.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
WHO, OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF
YEARS, BROUGHT MORNING TO US
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THAN IN RECENT MEMORY. OF
COURSE WE HAD THIS BARBER IN
THE ROOM. I DON'T KNOW IF
EVERYONE KNOWS MS. BARBARA. SHE
WAS HERE. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE
YOUR FACE, MS. BARBARA. WE HAD
WORKERS DOING THE WORK WE TALK
ABOUT. PEOPLE WHO BUILD THE
BUILDINGS, DELIVER THE
SERVICES, WHO MEET WITH THE
PEOPLE , WHO MEET WITH
SEATTLEITES ON THEIR WORST
DAYS, AND THE FOLKS WHO
CELEBRATE WITH THEM ON THEIR
BEST DAYS. THE PEOPLE IN THIS
ROOM WHO SCHEDULED MEETINGS TO
MAKE THE DECISIONS AND MAKE
SURE THE BUILDINGS ARE SAFE,
CLEAN, AND WELCOMING FOR US TO
USE. THIS ROOM ON SEPTEMBER
24th WAS FILLED WITH THE PEOPLE
WHO DO THE WORK ON BEHALF OF
SEATTLEITES. BRING US BACK TO
THAT MOMENT. OVER THE COURSE OF
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE
HAVE ENDEAVORED SO MUCH. I WANT
TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC FOR MAKING THEIR VOICE
HEARD. WE'VE HOSTED FIVE
VERBAL CUP PUBLIC COMMENT. MAX.
25 PLUS OUR HEARINGS. THANK YOU
FOR MAKING TIME TO MAKE SURE
YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD .
CANDIDLY, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE
LEARNED YOUR NAME, REVEREND,
IAN, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU
AGAIN. THESE ARE PEOPLE I'VE
COME TO KNOW. I THINK THAT
MIGHT BE DD BEHIND THE MASK,
BUT I CAN'T TELL. ANYWAY.
WE'VE GOTTEN TOR. YOHAS MADE AN
IMPACT ON THIS BUDGET.
COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE TODAY. TO CAP OFF A
SEVENTH MONTH PRACTICE TO GET
US TO WHERE WE STARTED -- ARE
TODAY. ADDRESS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST BUDGET DEFICITS WHILE
SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC FACING
SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS
ON. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE
YOUR CONVERSATION, I ASK YOU GO
OUTSIDE. THE MICROPHONE STILL
WORK OUT THERE SO YOU CAN STILL
HEAR US. WHEN THE MAYOR MADE
HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL WE FACED A
DEFICIT OF MORE THAN $250
MILLION. LESS THAN A MONTH AGO
THE REVENUE FORECAST INCREASED,
SHOWED US WE CAN EXPECT NEARLY
$50 MILLION LESS IN OUR GENERAL
FUND. CONTINUE RESULT OF THE
ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE
COVID-19 IN -- PANDEMIC. THIS
IS THE FINAL YEAR WE CAN USE
COVID REALLY FUNDS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS BUDGET
WOULD HAVE BEEN HARDER AND
WORSE HAD THE MAYOR NOT ENACTED
SMART BUDGETING SOLUTIONS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THIS
YEAR. WHICH WAS THE FIRST STEP
TO STRUCTURAL STATUS --
SUSTAINABILITY. TRANSMITTED A
BUDGET TO US AND THEN WAS THE
DOWNTURN FORECAST. EVEN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL WAS OUT OF
BALANCE. IT WAS UP TO US TO
COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. A HARD
JOB GOT HARDER. THROUGH
COLLABORATION AND LOTS OF LONG
HOURS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM WHILE
INVESTING IN PROGRAM
SEATTLEITES RELY ON EVERYWHERE
IN OUR CITY. IT WAS NO EASY
FEAT AND WE HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR CITY'S
BUDGET. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR COLLABORATION DURING
THIS BUDGET PROCESS. THIS
BUDGET REFLECTS PRIORITIES FROM
EVERY SINGLE COUNCILMEMBER ON
THIS DAIS. I'M ABOUT TO GO
ALPHABETICALLY, NOT IN ORDER
FAVORITES. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSORTH, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PARTNERSHIP ENSURING WE
ARE NOT ONLY RESTORING
PRINTINGS AND PROVIDERS, WE ARE
ALSO INCREASING THEM. YOU
CHAMPIONED IMPORTANT
INVESTMENTS IN OUR PARKS AND
INSURED WE ARE FULLY FUNDING
THE COMPLETION OF THE GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK. HAPPY TO BE THE
CHAMPION FOR THE PAST FOUR
YEARS AND I'M ALSO HAPPY TO
HAVE A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
CHAMPION NETWORK. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. WHILE THIS ENTIRE
COUNCIL IS COMMITTED, YOU ARE
AN IMMENSE CHAMPION THROUGHOUT
THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I WANT TO
THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR
THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK YOU
DID TO SHAPE OUR FINAL
PROPOSAL. WE CAN EXPECT TO GET
HUNDRED MORE PEOPLE OFF OUR
SPEED STREET INTO SAFE PLACES.
BECAUSE OF YOUR ADVOCACY WE ARE
MAKING NEW INVESTMENTS,
INTRODUCING HOUSING AND SYSTEM
PROGRAMS LIKE WE CARE. IT GOES
BEYOND THAT YOU REQUESTED
IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS FOR OUR
CITY AND THE CORE OF OUR CITY
THAT EVERYONE RELIES ON. FROM
THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY TO
PORTAGE PARK YOU MADE A BIG
IMPACT THIS YEAR. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER BUSTER, BECAUSE
OF YOUR LEADERSHIP ON RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE MADE AN
ADDITIONAL $7.1 MILLION IN
RENTAL ASSISTANCE . YOU CHANGED
OUR MINDS ON THE DAIS REGARDING
THE LAST $3 MILLION. WE KNOW
IT'S GOING TO GO TO A GOOD AND
IMPORTANT PLACE. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT THIS. I
WILL REITERATE THE WORDS ABOUT
BEING A HOUSING CHAMPION I
SHARED ON THE DAIS. WITHOUT YOU
WE WOULD BE IN A WORSE PLACE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, THANKS
TO YOUR LEADERSHIP WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO RESTORE -- MAKE
INVESTMENTS TO HELP VICTIMS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PROGRAMS.
UNDERSERVED SPANISH
COMMUNITIES. INVESTMENTS IN
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.
ADDITIONALLY MAKING ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS, PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THROUGH
YOUR WORK , YOU SAVED
ADDITIONAL JOBS OF PEOPLE WHO
SERVE OUR CITY IN OUR CITY
FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK. COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER. SOMETHING YOU
HAVE CHAMPIONED EVERY SINGLE
YEAR. I AM REALLY PROUD IT'S
IN OUR BUDGET TOGETHER. THANK
YOU FOR ADVOCATING AND
RESTORING FUNDING FOR THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR PROGRAM.
SINCE FUNDING HAS RUN OUT. ALL
YOUR WORK ON THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE NEW
INVESTMENTS FOR THE 911 CALL
CENTER TO ANSWER CALLS FASTER
WE ARE RESTORING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND THAT
HAD BEEN ELIMINATED. IN
CREATING A NEW SAFETY HUB.
SAFETY HUB COORDINATOR IN NORTH
SEATTLE. THERE WAS AN
ADDITIONAL WORD THERE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THANK YOU
FOR CHAMPING ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITIES
POPULAR CHILD PROGRAM. I DON'T
THINK I WILL EVER FORGET YOUR
STATEMENTS THERE OF BEING SO
EXACTING OF WHAT DOLLAR FIGURE
COULD REMOVE -- HOW MANY PEOPLE
FROM THAT WAITLIST. WE KNOW
THAT CHILDCARE CAN BE AS
EXPENSIVE AS A SECOND MORTGAGE
. FOR WORKING FAMILIES THEY
NEED ACCESS TO CHILDCARE . THIS
INVESTMENT WILL CHANGE
PEOPLE'S LIVES. BACK TO MY
SCRIPT. YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN A
CHAMPION FOR STRENGTHENING
SEATTLE'S COMMITMENT . THANK
YOU FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS
IS A BETTER BUDGET BECAUSE OF
YOUR WORK. COUNCILMEMBER WOO,
BECAUSE OF YOUR ADVOCACY WE ARE
MAKING LARGER INVESTMENTS IN
THE COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY
PROGRAMS WITH FOCUS ON
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT . YOU HAVE RIGHTLY
SCHOOLED US ON WHICH PART OF
CID IS A SPECIFIC PART OF CID.
I WOULD LIKE -- I WILL NEVER
FORGET GETTING SCHOOLED LIKE
THAT APPEAR ON THE DAIS. THANK
YOU. IT'S MADE US ALL BETTER .
BECAUSE OF YOU WE ARE
SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
BASED -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO
ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY
YOU TOOK UP THAT MANTLE FOR ,
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IN THIS
BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR MAKING
THAT HAPPEN. RESTORING SUPPORT
FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN
THAT WOULD'VE OTHERWISE GONE
AWAY. YOU HELPED CHAMPION THE
CONSTELLATION CENTER FOR YOUTH
CARE THAT WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN YOUTH COMING OUT
OF HOMELESSNESS. FOR YEARS TO
COME. I SAID THIS BEFORE, I
WILL SAY IT AGAIN. OUR CITY IS
BETTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE SERVED
ON THIS COUNCIL . THE AMOUNT OF
IMPACT YOU MADE IN NINE MONTHS
IS INCREDIBLE THANK YOU. FOR
MYSELF ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS THIS BUDGET
DOES IS PRESERVE AND PROTECT
MANY CITY JOBS THAT WERE
SCHEDULED TO END ON JANUARY
1st. WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE
MAYOR TAKING THE STEPS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO GET US
ON BETTER BUDGET SUSTAINABILITY
AND STRUCTURAL SUSTAINABILITY A
LOT OF -- SIX MORE MONTHS TO
CREATE A SMOOTHER TRANSITION
AND HOPEFULLY HAVING A CHANCE
TO GET THEM INTO ANOTHER CITY
OPENING. INDEFINITELY TO MAKE
SURE THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND
THEIR HOLIDAYS WHIRRING WHAT
JANUARY 2nd WILL LOOK LIKE.
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO WERE LAID OFF AND I DON'T
THINK THAT'S FULLY
APPRECIATED. ANOTHER IMPORTANT
QUESTION THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
CALLED WAS ABOUT THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. THE FUNDING RELIED ON
IS NOT SOUND. IT'S DECREASING.
WE'VE SEEN THE PRESENTATIONS.
WITHOUT AN INTERVENTION,
THERE'S NO WAY TO KEEP IT
INDEPENDENT FROM ELECTED
OFFICIALS INPUT. THANKS TO THE
WORK OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
THANKS TO THE WORK OF MY STAFF,
WE ARE GOING TO WORK TO MAKE
SURE THE SEATTLE CHANNEL HAS
INDEPENDENT -- HAS FUNDING. IT
ALLOWS FOR INDEPENDENT
JOURNALISM AND IS ABLE TO
MAXIMIZE THE HARD AND FAST
PHYSICAL SPACE WE HAVE
DOWNSTAIRS. WE HAVE A FULL
STUDIO DOWNSTAIRS AND A HALLWAY
FULL OF BOARDS. I'M HOPING
THAT HALLWAY OF EMMY AWARDS
WILL EVENTUALLY EXTEND ALL THE
WAY TO THE SEVENTH FLOOR.
BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THIS
COUNCIL WE ARE NOT JUST
PRESERVING JOBS AND SERVICES IN
THE SHORT-TERM. WE ARE CREATING
A PLAN TO SAFEGUARD THEM FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE FIRST
STEP IN BUDGET REFORM HAPPEN
THIS YEAR WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, MAKING SMART CHOICES TO
GET US TO HAVING -- THERE
BUDGET PROPOSAL IN SEPTEMBER.
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE
COUNCILS DELIBERATION, WE HAVE
PUT FORWARD A NUMBER OF
STATEMENT AND LEGISLATIVE
INTENT. REPORTS REQUESTING
INFORMATION WE NEED TO CONTINUE
THIS WORK. OUR JOB IS NOT DONE.
I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY
IT'S. WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK
TO DO. ESPECIALLY AS WE FACE AN
UNCERTAIN FUTURE ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL AND FUNDING FOR
SO MANY CRUCIAL GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS COMES INTO QUESTION.
IF THE PAST IS ANY INDICATOR OF
THE FUTURE, I PREDICT WE WILL
BE IN THE STORM WITH THE
DOWNTURN -- DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC
IMPACTS FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE
YEARS AND LIKELY UP TO FOUR. AS
WAS MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO ON
THE LAST BILL, THERE ARE
UNSETTLED QUESTIONS. HOW WE USE
JUMP START MOVING FORWARD AND
HOW WE ENSURE WE ARE HOLDING
OURSELVES AND THE CITY
ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACHIEVING
RESULTS THROUGH THE BUDGETING
PROCESS. THROUGH THIS BUDGET
PROCESS WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH
HARD WORK AND CONSENSUS
BUILDING WE CAN ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS. WE'VE GOT MORE
INFORMATION ON THE WAY. THE JOB
IS NOT DONE. WE WILL SEE YOU
HERE AGAIN NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK
YOU PUT INTO THIS BUDGET, FOR
YOUR WORK ON THE DAIS TO GET US
TO THIS POINT. I WANT TO THANK
YOUR ENTIRE OFFICE, AND FORMER
DIRECTOR FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK
TO GET US TO THIS POINT. YOUR
PARTNERSHIP THIS YEAR. THANK
YOU TO THE CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYST, WE QUITE LITERALLY
CANNOT HAVE DONE WITHOUT EACH
AND EVERYONE OF YOU. THANK YOU
TO THE CLERKS. THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL FOR MAKING SURE THIS IS
ON THE AIR. THANK YOU TO MY
STAFF FOR MAKING SURE THAT
THESE MEETINGS RAN SMOOTHLY . I
JOKED WITH A COUPLE OF MEMBERS
THAT SUCCESS ISN'T BY
ACCIDENT, SMOOTHNESS IS NOT BY
ACCIDENT. SMOOTHNESS OCCURRED
THIS BUDGETING CYCLE, FOR THE
MOST PART, BECAUSE OF THE
AMAZING STAFF THAT KNOW HOW TO
DO THIS WORK AND DO THIS WORK
EVERY DAY. TWO SUMMARIZE, WE
TOOK BIG STEPS TOWARDS
ASSISTANT -- SUSTAINABILITY
THIS YEAR AND REQUESTED
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO
CONTINUE THIS WORK BECAUSE WE
CANNOT ONLY GROW OUR WAY OUT OR
CUT OUR WAY OUT WE WILL
CONTINUE THIS BUDGET REFORM
WORK NEXT YEAR. IN WE HAVE MORE
WORK TO DO. MOST OF ALL, THANK
YOU TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
FOR MAKING THEIR VOICE HEARD.
FROM THE THOUSANDS OF EMAILS WE
GOT TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS TO THE 5+ HOUR PUBLIC
HEARING S WE HAD. THEY WERE SO
LONG I STOOD UP FOR THE SECOND
ONE. WE WERE HERE UNTIL FOLKS
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO
SAY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR
VOICES WERE HEARD , AND IT
TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE. THANK
YOU, COLLEAGUES. I URGE A YES
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN
IT TO THE FLOOR FOR MY
COLLEAGUES TO MAKE ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY HYMNS? I AM NOT
SEEING IN THE. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, AT THE START OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS I MADE A
COMMITMENT TO MY CONSTITUENTS
TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. I AM PROUD THIS
BUDGET LIVES UP TO THAT
PROMISE. I ALSO MADE A
COMMITMENT TO SET ASIDE
DIFFERENCES AND WORK TOGETHER
WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND THE
MAYOR ON A SET OF SHARED
PRIORITIES. THIS BUDGET
REFLECTS OUR EFFORTS TO COME
TOGETHER ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. I SEE A
COUNCIL THAT LARGELY ALIGNED ON
KEY PRIORITIES. HALF OF THE
AMENDMENTS FOR THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL AND BALANCING PACKAGE
WERE RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I
PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN
PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE
CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS, AND I WAS NOT
ALONE. IN THE LAST YEAR, THIS
COUNCIL PAST 11 PIECES OF
PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION. WE
HAVE ALSO STARTED TO REBUILD A
WORKING RELATIONSHIP OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE
WORK TO MORE QUICKLY RECRUIT ,
HIRE AND RETAIN OFFICERS OUR
CITY NEEDS. WHILE WE HAVE MORE
TO DO, AND PROUD TO -- WE HAVE
TURNED THE TIDE. WE'VE SEEN A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FOR UP
PEOPLE APPLYING THIS LAST YEAR.
BASED ON THAT INCREASE,
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC IT WILL
HIRE MORE OFFICERS THAN IT
LOSES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
2019. WE ADDED MEASURES OF
TRANSPARENCY AND PERFORMANCE TO
OUR OFFICERS REFLECT AND UPHOLD
SEATTLE'S VALUES. IN THIS
BUDGET, I AM PROUD TO HAVE
SPONSORED AN AMENDMENT TO ADD
ADDITIONAL 911 CALL TAKER
POSITIONS TO BE SOLELY
DEDICATED TO ANSWERING THE
NONEMERGENCY LINE . WAIT TIMES
HAVE BEEN FAR TOO LONG. ONE
THIRD OF THE CALLS TO THE
NONEMERGENCY LINE TURN OUT TO
BE REAL EMERGENCIES. TO ADDRESS
YOUTH VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH
END, I PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT
WITH MAYOR HARRELL 'S SUPPORT
TO CREATE A YOUTH VIOLENCE
SAFETY HUB IN NORTH SEATTLE.
NATIONALLY WE ARE SEEING
MORTALITY RATES AMONG OUR
CHILDREN ARISE. BECAUSE OF
YOUTH VIOLENCE. WE ARE
ADDRESSING THIS WORRYING TREND
LOCALLY WITH INVESTMENTS AND --
IN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND
CONNECTING VULNERABLE YOUTH VIA
SAFETY HUBS. I ALSO REQUESTED
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
RESEARCH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
SOBERING CENTER TO BEST MEET
SEATTLE'S DIVERSION NEEDS.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT SARA NELSON'S
COSPONSORSHIP ON THIS REQUEST.
TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
THESE PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS, I
ASK FOR TO PUBLIC FACING
DASHBOARDS TO ENSURE OUR
INVESTMENTS IN THE 911 CALL
CENTER AND THE EXPANSION OF THE
CARE DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING.
DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS,
THIS COUNCIL BEGAN APPLYING THE
SAME LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO
OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE
REQUESTED INFORMATION AND
REPORTS THROUGH STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, ALSO KNOWN
AS -- THAT GROUNDWORK WILL HELP
US GROUND -- THE DATA WE NEED
TO MAKE WELL INFORMED, WELL
REASONED BUDGET DECISIONS,
BASED ON PERFORMANCE, AND
OUTCOME NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND. I
WILL BE TRACKING THE STATEMENTS
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT CLOSELY.
THE CHAIRS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
COMMITTEES ALSO NEED TO ENSURE
THAT THE S.L.I.'S ARE BEING
SUBMITTED AND ANALYZED IN A
TIMELY MANNER. IF COUNCIL
CANNOT GET THE INFORMATION FROM
THOSE REQUESTS, THEN WE CAN
PROVIDE THOSE FUNDS NEXT YEAR
TO GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED.
THIS COUNCIL MUST BE HIGHLY
FOCUSED ON WHERE OUR SPENDING
PRIORITIES LIE FOR THE NEXT
SEVERAL YEARS. NOT ONLY BECAUSE
WE WILL FACE A BUDGET DEFICIT
IN 2027, BUT BECAUSE WE DO NOT
KNOW WHAT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE WILL BRING. OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT WILL NEED THE
ABILITY TO QUICKLY ADDRESS
CHANGING PRIORITIES OR EMERGING
CRISES. WE ARE ALL GRAPPLING
WITH THE BEST WAY TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH OUR FUNDING
SOURCES. I BELIEVE PRESCRIPTIVE
REVENUE SOURCES HAMSTRING
SITTING COUNCILS FROM
ADDRESSING SEATTLE'S
CHALLENGING PRIORITIES. OF
COURSE, THERE WILL BE TIMES
WHEN WE DISAGREE ON THE BEST
WAY TO PROCEED. AS YOU SAW IN
THIS BUDGET PROCESS, WE CAN DO
SO WITH RESPECT AND CIVILITY. I
AM PROUD OF THE CONVERSATIONS
AND COMPROMISES I SAW IN THIS
BUDGET. THIS IS A DIFFERENT
TONE AT CITY HALL, AND IT
BENEFITS ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET. I
AM HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO
WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON OUR
RESIDENTS PRIORITIES SO WE CAN
ALL LIVE IN A HEALTHY, THRIVING
CITY. THIS BUDGET PACKAGE
MAINTAIN THE CITY'S COMMITMENT
TO HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES.
WE SPEND FIVE TIMES MORE ON
HOUSING NOW THAN WE DID IN
2019. AN INCREASE FROM 69
MILLION TO 342 MILLION
ANNUALLY. PACKAGE ALSO PROVIDES
FUNDING FOR TENANT SERVICES AND
RENTAL ASSISTANCE. THAT
INCLUDES REPORTING REQUEST SO
WE CAN LEARN WHERE IMPROVEMENTS
NEED TO BE MADE TO ENSURE OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SAFE AND
AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO NEED
IT. OUR BUDGET HAS ROBUST
INVESTMENTS TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF SEATTLE'S LOW INCOME AND
FROM NOBLE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS
CRITICAL . I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO
ALSO SUPPORT OUR WORKING-CLASS
FAMILIES WHO ARE FEELING
UNDERREPRESENTED. THAT IS WHY
RESTORING THE FUNDING FOR
APPRENTICESHIPS TO THE TRADES
THROUGH THE FAS PARTY PROGRAM
IS IMPORTANT TO ME. YOUNG
PEOPLE NEED OPTIONS FOR
WELL-PAYING ESSENTIAL JOBS THAT
ARE OUTSIDE OF A UNIVERSITY
DEGREE. SEATTLE MUST WORK FOR
EVERYONE. OUR VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS, OUR WORKING
FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESSES,
SENIORS , AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
THANK YOU TO CHAIR DAN STRAUSS
FOR HIS ROLE THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
MY COUNCILMEMBERS AND
LEGISLATIVE AIDES. I AM AWFUL
-- ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE STAFF,
DIRECTOR BEN NOBLE AND HIS
ENTIRE TEAM. ALSO FOR OUR CITY
CLERK AND HER CITY CLERK'S WHO
HELPED A SHEPHERD THIS BUDGET
THROUGH THE PROCESS. I WANT TO
THANK MY TEAM, IN PARTICULAR,
WENDY SYKES , AND GAVIN. FOR
THEIR LONG HOURS OF WORK AND
COMMITMENT TO DISTRICT 4. AS WE
FINISH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
PROCESS, I REMAIN COMMITTED TO
FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY , SETTING A NEW
TONE FOR CITY HALL. TOGETHER WE
CAN BUILD A SAFER AND MORE
AFFORDABLE SEATTLE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, THERE
HAVE BEEN MANY LESSONS LEARNED
FROM THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE. FIRST AND
FOREMOST, WE NEED BUDGET
REFORM. THIS PROCESS STARTED.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. IN
ADDITION TO THE RESERVE
STABILIZATION WORKGROUP, WE DO
NEED EXPENSES STABILIZATION
WORKGROUP . TO THIS POINT, THE
DATA REQUESTING STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT CAN HELP.
THE SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT
PLAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE
IMPORTANT IN THE KEY EFFORT TO
ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. THU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
EFFORTS ON THIS FRONT. WE NEED
GREATER BACKSTOPPING WITH
COUNCIL , COMMITTEE ACTIONS.
TOO OFTEN WE NEED IT TO MAKE --
THAT COULD'VE BEEN BENEFITED
BY HAVING THAT TOPIC IN OUR
WORK MEETINGS. PUBLIC SAFETY.
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. COMMUNITY
WORK AND IN TURN" -- -- ASSIST
THE REPRESENTATIVE. AND NEXT
YEAR'S PROPOSALS. REVENUE,
TAXES SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE COMPLETE SET OF
CONTEXT. TO UNDERSTAND SECOND
AND THIRD ORDER EFFECTS OF ANY
DECISION MADE. WE CANNOT BE
LOOKING AT ANYTHING IN
ISOLATION. ON REVENUE, AS WELL,
I BELIEVE CREATING SILOS OR
BUCKETS TO BE ALLOCATED
REFLECTS FAILURES . TO PROPERLY
DEFINE OUR PRIORITIES. IF WERE
GOING TO BE DOING SILOS AND
BUCKETS WE NEED TO HAVE ONE
CALLED DEFICITS. WE NEED TO
HAVE ONE CALLED RESERVE. WHICH
IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE, IN PART,
WITH THIS BUDGET. I JUST WANT
TO SAY, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES,
AND THE VARIOUS TEAMS ON PUBLIC
SAFETY FOR THE SUPPORT FOR THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH
THE PROSECUTOR AND THE TWO
CIVIL DEPARTMENT CITY
ATTORNEYS. WHETHER IT'S 30 BY
30, CHAMPIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE AND SAKA. THE RECRUITMENT
PIECES . FIRE WITH THE MOBILE
INTEGRATED HEALTH. OVERDOSE
WORK RECRUITMENT. THIS IS SO
IMPORTANT. EVEN FOR FIRE
DEPARTMENT. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA AND THE 911 CALL SYSTEM.
THE DASHBOARD. TO THE EXECUTIVE
FOR THE REGISTRATION PROGRAM
WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT IT'S
KICKING OFF WITH THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM. IT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT PROGRAM. OEM. A
NARRATIVE ALSO FORGOTTEN ABOUT.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THANK
YOU TO THE ELEMENTS IN THE
BUDGET FOR THAT. IN ADDITION I
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU IN
OTHER AREAS , AS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS NOTED. PUBLIC HEALTH
SERMON -- HUMAN SERVICES. WE
CANNOT EXCEED PUBLIC SAFETY IF
WE DON'T ALSO SUCCEED IN
PUBLIC HEALTH OR HUMAN
SERVICES. WE CANNOT JUST BE
PUSHING ON ONE , WE HAVE TO BE
PUSHING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
COIN. TO YOUR POINT, SO
IMPORTANT . LEGAL SERVICES FOR
HOMELESS YOUTH, VERY IMPORTANT.
GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS. NOT
TALKED ABOUT YET. THAT'S GOING
TO BE KEY. THAT GOES TO THE
PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES POINT. WE
HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
AGREEMENTS. SEATTLE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN. I CAN BE A
SURPRISE OF HOW INFLUENTIAL
THAT CAN BE ON WHAT WE ARE
DOING WITH THE FUTURE RELATED
TO HOUSING. FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
IN DISTRICT. JUST DOING THINGS
EARLY AND RIGHT. DON'T WAIT
UNTIL THERE IS A DISASTER . TO
THE STUDY NOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE CHALLENGES ARE. DO IT
EARLY. USUALLY LESS COSTLY. I
THINK EVERYONE FOR THE PORTAL
PARK STUDY . SO IMPORTANT FOR
OUR COMMUNITY. HOPEFULLY FOR
THE WORLD CUP ALSO SUPPORT TO
THE WATERFRONT PARK. A KEY NEW
FRONT PORCH FOR OUR CITY. I
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE TEAMS.
I HAVE MY IMMEDIATE TEAM, MY
STAFF, BUT IT'S ALSO THE
VARIOUS COMMITTEE TEAM. SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE TEAM AND
STAFFS TO INCLUDE THE STAFF
HELPFUL TO MY STAFF. THE OTHER
STAFFS, TOO AS WE WORK
INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS. GOING OUT
ANOTHER LAYER. CENTRAL STAFF
TEAM, SO IMPORTANT. DIRECTOR
NOBLE, THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM.
NOT JUST THE PUBLIC SAFETY
WHICH WE WORK SO CLOSELY WITH,
BUT ALL THE OTHERS. THIS IS
VERY BENEFICIAL IN THE SENSE OF
ENGAGING WITH SOME OF THOSE
STAFF MEMBERS WE MAY NOT
NORMALLY ENGAGE AS MUCH WITH.
ALSO WITH THE CLERKS, THE CITY
CLERK SYSTEM. OUR RECENT
BIRTHDAY PERSON , SITTING IN
FRONT OF US. SORRY, I HAD TO DO
THAT. THE ENTIRE TEAM, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THAT'S IT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> LET ME SEE, WHO ELSE HAS
THEIR HAND. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER
WOO.
>> THANK YOU. THIS BUDGET IS
MORE THAN A FINANCIAL DOCUMENT.
THE ROAD MAP FOR ACTION. FLEX
OUR COMMITMENT TO TACKLING
ISSUES FACE ON. PUBLIC SAFETY,
ECONOMIC DISPARITY. CLIMATE
CHANGE AND NEEDING TO
STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL FABRIC
THAT BINDS US TOGETHER. POWERED
BY DIVERSITY, CREATIVITY AND
RESILIENCE OF ITS PEOPLE. TOO
MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE
STRUGGLING. FINDING HOUSING,
NAVIGATING PUBLIC SAFETY
SYSTEM, RECOVERING FROM
ECONOMICS UP OR DEALING WITH
THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE AND CRAFTING
THIS BUDGET I BELIEVE THIS
COUNCIL HAS REMAINED FOCUSED ON
KEY PRINCIPLES, I BELIEVE, WILL
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
EVERYONE'S LIVES. WE'VE MADE
INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING AND
HOMELESS SOLUTIONS. INCLUDE
INVESTMENTS WITH SHELTER
CAPACITY AND WRAPAROUND
SERVICES. ENSURING MORE
SATELLITES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO
A SAFE AND STABLE PLACE TO
STAY. REIMAGINING PUBLIC
SAFETY. OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE
SAFETY AND JU
LAUNCH OF THE INITIATIVE,
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING MUTUAL AID
AND DE-ESCALATION TEAMS. THIS
INITIATIVE WILL -- TOOLS,
TRAINING AND BEST PRACTICES TO
CREATE SAFETY FROM WITHIN.
ADDITIONALLY EXPANSION OF DRUG
DIVERSION SERVICES. SAFETY
AMBASSADORS FOR CHILDREN AND
ELDERS. HOLDING AN INCLUSIVE
ECONOMY THAT INCLUDES WORKING
FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
THE BACKBONES OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT'S WHY THIS
BUDGET INCLUDES WORKFORCE AND
SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES,
SUPPORTING JOB GROWTH AND CLEAN
ECONOMY. FUNDING FOR EMPOWERING
REFUGEE WOMEN TO OVERCOME
EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS.
STRENGTHENED ARTS, CULTURE AND
COMMUNITY. OPPORTUNITIES FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE ARTS
WORKFORCE. PROTECT THE MISSION
TAX, ENSURING VITAL RESOURCES
REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMS
ACROSS THE CITY. ALSO
SUPPORTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
NEIGHBORS. FUNDING FOR
SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE. ALSO PROVIDES
RESOURCES FOR LIBRARIES, FOOD
ACCESS, ENSURING A SOFTER --
STRONGER SAFETY NET. COMMITMENT
TO ADDRESSING AND MET COMMUNITY
NEEDS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL
TOGETHER. ADVANCED INITIATIVES
NOT ONLY RESPONSE TO TODAY'S
CHALLENGES BUT LAYS A
FOUNDATION FOR A BRIGHTER
FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR THE
MAKING THIS COLLABORATIVE AND
SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU TO THE
STAFF FOR ALL THEIR WORK. THIS
BUDGET IS MORE THAN A
REFLECTION OF WHERE WE ARE. THE
DECLARATION OF WHERE WE ARE
GOING. A TOOL FOR UNITY,
EMPOWERMENT AND PROGRESS. WITH
EVERYONE'S CONTINUED SUPPORT
I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN BUILD A
SEATTLE WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING
ANYONE ELSE'S HANDS RAISED. I
WILL PROVIDE -- I'M SORRY.
OKAY, YES. WHO WAS FIRST,
PLEASE? COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
GLAD.
>> THANK YOU MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. TODAY I WANT TO
DISCUSS THREE THINGS.
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PATH ,
COLLABORATION, THE POWER OF
COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY
WINS WE AREN'T TOGETHER. WITH
RESPECT TO THE FIRST ONE,
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PATH.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS WE ARE
ABLE TO NOT ONLY MAINTAIN
FUNDING , IN SOME CASES EXPAND
FUNDING FOR CRITICAL SERVICES
ACROSS OUR CITY. TAKING CARE OF
AND LOOKING AFTER OUR MOST
VULNERABLE. REMARKABLY, WE ARE
ABLE TO ALSO PUT OURSELVES ON A
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PATH . LAID
THE INITIAL GROUNDWORK FROM
WHICH TO BUILD UPON. ON THAT
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PATH I'M
REMINDED OF -- FIRST OFF, I TRY
TO TAKE QUOTES AND INSPIRATION
FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES.
RIGHT NOW I WOULD LIKE TO
REFLECT UPON THE WISE WORDS OF
A GREAT 21ST-CENTURY
PHILOSOPHER AND FUTURE PRO
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMER . WHO
ONCE TAUGHT US , TAKE CARE OF
Y'ALL'S MENTALS, BODIES, AND
CHICKENS. COLLEAGUES, HE
WASN'T JUST TALKING TO THOSE
YOUNG -- LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE
OURSELVES, IN SEATTLE, CAN
DERIVE LESSONS FROM FUTURE HALL
OF FAMER. WE DID THAT. WE
INITIATED BUDGET REFORM. THANKS
TO THE BUDGET CHAIRS LEADERSHIP
WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSELY EXAMINE
AND SCRUTINIZE OR AUDIT THE
CITY'S BUDGET AND TO END .
EXAMINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
EFFICIENCIES. OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DRIVING FURTHER IMPACT IN
INVESTMENT. THAT LEADS ME TO
THE POWER OF COLLABORATION.
LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE,
ACKNOWLEDGE , AND CELEBRATE HOW
TRULY COLLABORATIVE THIS
PROCESS WAS. MR. CHAIR, I'M
LOOKING AT YOU. I ALWAYS SAY
ABOUT THE FULL DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS IS RATHER MESSY,
CLUNKY, AND OFTEN TIMES
AWKWARD. NO DOUBT WE'VE SEEN A
LITTLE BIT OF THAT. A LOT OF
BIT OF THAT. LIVE IN REAL-TIME
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND
OTHER PROCESSES, TOO. WE WILL
ALWAYS HAVE DIFFERENCES AND
DISAGREEMENTS . PHILOSOPHICAL
OR OTHERWISE. EACH TIME IT IS
DONE WITHOUT BEING
DISAGREEABLE, FOR THE MOST
PART. WE NEVER, NEVER QUESTION
THE MOTIVES OF EACH OTHER AND
ALWAYS STRIVE TO ASSUME THE
OVERALL GOOD FAITH AND INTENT
OF EACH OTHER. COLLEAGUES, WE
ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND
RALLY AND UNITE FROM ONE COMMON
GOAL FOR NEEDS, HUGE NEEDS OF
OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT MAKE OUR
CITY SUCH A VIBRANT PLACE TO
LIVE AND WORK. WE MUST ALWAYS
REMIND OURSELVES WE ARE SETTING
AN EXAMPLE FOR CHILDREN AND
YOUNG PEOPLE OF OUR CIVIC AND
PUBLIC DISCOURSE SHOULD HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TAKE THE
TIME TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH
AND EVERYONE OF YOU,
COLLEAGUES. STARTING OFF WITH
BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS. THANK
YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART, FOR TACKLING ONE OF THE
MOST CHALLENGING BUDGETS AND --
CERTAINLY IN OUR CITY'S RECENT
HISTORY. I APPRECIATE YOUR
STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO
COLLABORATION AND ENSURING WE
DO HAVE A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS
THE WONDERFUL DIVERSITY OF OUR
CITY AND ALLOWS US TO
EFFECTIVELY MEET THE NEEDS. YOU
SHEPHERDED AND LED A TERRIFIC
AND COLLABORATIVE PROCESS .
ALONG THE WAY YOU PROVIDED VERY
UNIQUE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND
INTERESTING INSIGHTS AND
PERSPECTIVES. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT
, THE PRESIDING OFFICERS OF
TODAY'S MEETING. YOU HAVE ALSO
PROVIDED STEADFAST LEADERSHIP
ON ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS,
ESPECIALLY ON ISSUES RELATED TO
GOOD OLD-FASHIONED GOOD
GOVERNANCE. IRRESPECTIVE OF
WHERE THE WINDS ARE BLOWING,
THIS WAY OR THE OTHER, AT ANY
GIVEN MOMENT, YOU'VE BEEN
RESOLUTE IN YOUR COMMITMENT. TO
DRIVING GOOD GOVERNANCE AND
PROVING TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. INSTITUTIONAL
PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY
HELPFUL. THANK YOU, MADAM
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER CATTELL, THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
QUEEN ANNE. CHAIR OF OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR RELENTLESS FOCUS ON PUBLIC
SAFETY, AND CRITICAL
TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS ,
INCLUDING YOUR STRONG SUPPORT
OF TRANSIT SECURITY. THE ISSUES
WE ARE FACING AS A CITY ARE
HIGHLY COMPLEX, CROSSCUTTING
AND NUANCE. PERSONALLY, I
ADMIRE HOW YOU ARE ALWAYS ABLE
TO EFFECTIVELY INCORPORATE AND
WEAVE IN PUBLIC SAFETY INTO
EVERY SINGLE POLICY DISCUSSION.
IT IS TRUE. YOU HAVE LED THE
CHARGE ON MOST OF THE OVER 10
OR 11 PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS WE
ADOPTED THIS YEAR. SOME OF
WHICH WE PUT ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES BEHIND THIS BUDGET
PROCESS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER CATTELL.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. CHAIR OF
OUR LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
RELENTLESS FOCUS ON
TRANSPARENCY. JUST THE
NITTY-GRITTY DETAILS THAT
MATTER TO PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY
LIVES. YOU'VE SHOWN YOURSELVES
, THIS YEAR AND THROUGHOUT THIS
BUDGET PROCESS, MOST RECENTLY
AS A CHAMPION. OUR TAX DOLLARS
ARE BEING WISELY INVESTED. YOU
HAVE SHOWN THAT, YET AGAIN,
DURING THIS BUDGET CYCLE. FOCUS
ON HOLDING GOVERNMENTS
ACCOUNTABLE , NOT LEAST OF
WHICH YOU WOULD APPLY TO OUR
OWN COUNCIL . SOMETHING I HOPE
WE CAN ALL DO A BETTER JOB OF
LIVING UP TO AND FOLLOWING YOUR
LEAD ON. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
DISTINGUISHED CHAIR OF HOUSING
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FOR
ASKING THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
AS IT RELATES TO HOW OUR CITY
FUNDS CRITICAL NEEDS LIKE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING . PROTECTING
THOSE MOST RUNNABLE IN OUR
SOCIETY . YOU HAVE EMERGED AS A
CLEAR CHAMPION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND TENANTS RIGHTS. I
AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY AND UP
LEVELING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS
AROUND JUMPSTART AND EXPLORING
NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS
SUCH AS CAPITOL GAINS. THESE
CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE. I
AM THANKFUL THEM TO
THE DAIS SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSORTH. OUR DISTINGUISHED
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR FOCUS ON UPLIFTING
POLICIES FOR OUR CITY'S
FAMILIES AND YOUTH. YOUR BUDGET
PRIORITIES, SUCH AS MAKING SURE
NO ONE IN OUR CITY GOES HUNGRY
, AND THE HUGE REALLOCATION OF
FUNDS OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGET
TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY MOST
IMPACTED BY DISPARITY AND
INIQUITY. JUST TO NAME A FEW.
IT WAS EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING
TO DO. I'M THANKFUL FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP FOR THAT AND SO MANY
OTHER AREAS. I AM IMPRESSED AND
INSPIRED BY YOUR LEADERSHIP .
HOPING TO FIND MORE THROUGHOUT
OUR CITY. THE NUMBER OF FOLKS
WHO CAME OUT FROM YOUR DISTRICT
TO SPEAK ON THE VARIOUS BUDGET
PRIORITIES YOU CHAMPIONED IS
TRULY A TESTAMENT TO THE
CONNECTION TO YOU AND YOUR
COMMUNITY AND YOUR DISTRICT.
THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSORTH. COUNCILMEMBER
WOO. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER WOO, WHO HAS BEEN
ONE OF THE MOST STALWART
ADVOCATES FOR HER COMMUNITY AND
THE TRAFFIC REPRESENTATIVE FOR
OUR CITY. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL
FOR OUR TIME ON COUNCIL
TOGETHER. I AM IMPRESSED BY
YOUR WORK ETHIC AND MOVED BY
YOUR DEVOTION TO SERVING PEOPLE
. YOUR EFFORTS TO BRING FORTH
THE VOICES OF MEMBERS OF THE
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT IS A LEGACY WE MUST
ALL PICK UP THE MANTLE WHERE
YOU LEFT OFF. I KNOW YOU WILL
CONTINUE TO BE HIGHLY RESPECTED
LEADER AND ADVOCATE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU TESTIFYING IN
COUNCIL CHAMBER SOMEDAY. OR
JOINING YOU ON THE STREETS IN
ANY NUMBER OF SHARED COMMUNITY
INITIATIVES . THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER WOO. LAST, BUT
NOT LEAST, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES , FOR
YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO
POLICIES AROUND AFFORDABILITY ,
WORKERS PROTECTIONS , AND
ESPECIALLY YOUR EFFORTS TO
REPRESENT THOSE WHO HAVE HAD
HISTORICALLY THE LEAST ACCESS
TO THE LEVERS OF POWER. YOU
SERVE AS A MODEL FOR ALL OF US
IN SO MANY MATERIAL RESPECTS.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS STOOD UP FOR
EQUITY IN FUNDING . WHILE WE
HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO
SUPPORT YOUR PROPOSALS, THEY
ARE ALL IMPORTANT MEANS THAT
BECAUSE OF YOU YOU WERE ABLE TO
GIVE VOICE AND BRING LIFE TO.
I'M HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU , THIS
YEAR, MOST RECENTLY DURING THIS
BUDGET PROCESS. ON ANY NUMBER
OF THINGS. I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP ON A
GO FORWARD BASIS. AND BECAUSE I
SEE SILVER LININGS IN ALL
CLOUDS , I DO WANT TO THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR
ELEVATING THE DISCUSSION ON ALL
OF MY BUDGET PRIORITIES,
INCLUDING IN THE CHAIRS
BALANCING PACKAGE. ALL OF THEM.
ALL OF THEM. I WILL ADMIT, WHEN
I FIRST HAPPENED, I NEVER HAD
ALL QUESTIONED YOUR MOTIVES OR
INTENT. I KNEW YOU WERE DOING
THE BEST THING , WHAT YOU
THOUGHT WAS THE BEST INTEREST
OF OUR CITY , YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, AND SHARED
CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
IT DID GET ME RIGHT HERE AT
FIRST. BUT TRULY, I'M GRATEFUL
YOU DID THAT , AND ANY NUMBER
OF THINGS, IN HINDSIGHT. AGAIN
IT DID ALLOW US TO ELEVATE THE
DISCUSSION ON MANY IMPORTANT
COMMUNITY ISSUES. THE RESULT
WAS WE HAD THESE PUBLIC DEBATES
AND DISCUSSIONS , COMMUNITIES
ROSE UP TO THE OCCASION, SPOKE
FOR THEMSELVES AND ZEALOUSLY
ADVOCATED ON THEIR OWN BEHALF.
HAD A FEW WATERSHED MOMENTS IN
KE -- I LIKE SPORTS. IT WAS A
BIT LIKE THE GARY PAYTON TO
SHAWN KEMP ALLEY-OOP , WHERE
SHAWN CAMP DUNKED IT WITH
EMPHASIS . WE HAD THESE
DISCUSSIONS AND IT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT. THERE WERE NO LOSERS
. WE NEEDED TO HAVE THESE
DISCUSSIONS. WE WILL CONTINUE
TO NEED TO HAVE THEM. THANK YOU
AGAIN, IN ALL HONESTY, FOR YOUR
ADVOCACY AND ELEVATING OUR
CONVERSATION ON SO MANY ISSUES
. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. THANK
YOU, MAYOR HARRELL , FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS. BEFORE THE BUDGET
KICKED OFF . I LOOK FORWARD TO
PARTNERING CLOSELY WITH YOU AND
YOUR EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
LEADERS ON IMPLEMENTING ALL OF
THE THINGS WE ARE FUNDING IN
THIS BUDGET PACKAGE. THANK YOU,
CENTRAL STAFF, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
OUR CITY CLERK AND ASSISTANT
CITY CLERK'S. MY OWN
LEGISLATIVE AIDES , ELAINE,
IAN. TWO MEMBERS WHERE WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO OPERATE
EFFICIENTLY AND CLEANLY . THEY
WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND AND ROSE
TO THE CHALLENGE TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. I AM
FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR
LEGISLATIVE AIDES, AS WELL. YOU
AS WELL, MR. CHAIR, FOR HELPING
FACILITATE THIS PROCESS. SO
EXPERTLY. YOU SET A GREAT
EXAMPLE FOR SUCCESS. I THINK WE
CAN ALL LIVE UP TO. FINALLY,
COMMUNITY WINS. I THINK WE ARE
ABLE TO THINK BEYOND OUR OWN
COUNCIL DISTRICTS. PERSONALLY,
DURING THIS PROCESS IT WAS
REALLY -- I TRY TO DO THIS ALL
YEAR. EVERY CHANCE THAT I GOT.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO
GOING FORWARD. WHERE YOU ARE
ASSIGNING APPROPRIATIONS TO
PRIORITIES AND PROGRAMS . MY
FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO
LIVE UP TO ONE OF MY CAMPAIGN
COMMITMENTS. CAMPAIGN PROMISES.
OF REPRESENTING THE DIVERSE
VOICES AND UNIQUE NEEDS OF ALL
COMMUNITIES AND ALL PEOPLE IN
MY DISTRICT. MY WIFE ABSOLUTELY
HATES IT WHEN I SAY THAT. I
WILL REPRESENT ALL THE
INTEREST. I TRIED MY LEVEL BEST
THIS BUDGET , AND I FEEL GOOD
WE CAN SAY WE ARE ABLE TO DO
THAT. MORE WORK TO DO . ALL OF
THIS IS A BASELINE FOR A BODY
OF WORK FROM WHICH TO BUILD
UPON. I WANT TO THINK, ALSO, MY
CONSTITUENTS . BECAUSE OF MY
CONSTITUENTS I ENDED UP
PROPOSING 21 AMENDMENTS AND
S.L.I.'S ON BEHALF OF MY
CONSTITUENTS. MANY WERE
DESIGNED TO BENEFIT THEM . MANY
WERE DESIGNED TO SPECIFICALLY
BENEFIT ALL PEOPLE ACROSS THE
CITY AND ADDRESS THE BROADER
CHALLENGES. LAST, BUT NOT
LEAST, THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC WHO PARTICIPATED
IN THIS PROCESS, WHO SHARED
WITH US YOUR VIEWS AND YOUR
PERSPECTIVE'S AND INSIGHTS.
CHALLENGED US TO BE BETTER AND
FOUGHT TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.
TO MAKE SURE -- I AM PROUD TO
SAY I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO
LIVE UP TO THESE CHALLENGES AND
THE OPPORTUNITIES . ALTHOUGH WE
MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERY
PARTICULAR -- ANY GIVEN POLICY
TOPIC, YOU MADE THIS PROCESS
BETTER. FOR THAT, I AM
THANKFUL. THAT'S IT. THIS IS A
BETTER TOGETHER STORY. THANK
YOU, AGAIN, MR. CHAIR. BUDGET
CHAIR. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES,
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND
THANK YOU TO MY STAFF,
ESPECIALLY, ELAINE AND IAN.
>> THANK YOU, WE ARE BETTER
TOGETHER. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLANDSWORTH, I SEE YOU HAVE
THE NEXT HAND.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I
KNOW SHE STEPPED OUT FOR A
MOMENT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP I
WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET CHAIR
, DAN STRAUSS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR COMMITMENT
TO MAKE THIS COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH THAT DOES NOT GO
UNNOTICED. TRULY GRATEFUL FOR
THAT. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
VISION DURING THIS PROCESS. I
ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
THANK YOUR STAFF, AS WELL, FOR
THE EARLY MORNINGS AND LONG
NIGHTS THEY SPEND FACILITATING
BETWEEN OFFICES. THANK YOU,
ALL. I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR
NOBLE, INCREDIBLE CENTRAL
STAFF, CITY CLERK. CITY HALL
GREETERS. SEATTLE CHANNEL,
FRONT DESK, JANITORS. OUR
SECURITY TEAM. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, FOR ALL OF YOUR
HELP DURING THESE LONG NIGHTS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES. I DON'T HAVE
INDIVIDUAL WORDS . I WANT TO
DOUBLE DOWN ON EVERYTHING THAT
HE SAID , HIS GRATITUDE FOR ALL
OF YOU AND THE STAFFS THAT
HELPED, LITERALLY HELPED YOU
MAKE -- MADE YOU LOOK GOOD, AS
WELL. OUR STAFF. ALSO, FOR YOU
BEING GREAT REPRESENTATIVES FOR
YOUR DISTRICT. I KNOW THERE
SOMETIMES -- CITY COUNCIL CAN
BE A FRONT PORCH OF POLITICS ,
BUT I TRULY BELIEVE EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF YOU ARE SERVING
YOUR DISTRICTS WITH LOVE,
INTENTION , IN CONNECTION .
ALWAYS JUST TRYING TO BRING THE
TEMPERATURE DOWN ANSWER. I
APPRECIATE THAT. A LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT
TAKES TO BE IN THE SEATS. IT'S
A LOT OF WORK THAT YOU TAKE A
LOT OF HITS. I JUST WANT TO
SEND MY APPRECIATION FOR EACH
AND EVERYONE OF YOU. TODAY
PEOPLE WILL HEAR ABOUT THE
BUDGET WINS. COUNCIL MEMBERS
WILL TALK ABOUT THE WINS FOR
THE DISTRICTS. IT'S WINS FOR
OUR CITY. JUST BECAUSE WE MIGHT
HAVE IMPROVEMENTS IN A DISTRICT
DOESN'T MEAN IT BLEEDS OVER.
DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T BLEED
OVER INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION,
OR IT STAYS IN THAT
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. IT
IMPACTS OTHERS. IT'S A WINNER
FOR OUR WIN -- IT SADDLE.
APPROACH WAS SIMPLE. FOCUS ON
THE BOLD BASICS THAT AFFECT
EVERYONE'S DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.
FUNDAMENTAL OF GOVERNMENT
SERVICE. I VISITED SCHOOLS,
DONE COMMUNITY MEETINGS,
CHURCHES, EVENTS. I HEARD FROM
EVERY SINGLE PERSON. THAT'S
WHY WE MADE INVESTMENTS IN FOOD
SECURITY THROUGH MEAL
PROVIDERS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. FOR THE FOOD BANKS,
MAIL PROVIDERS. THE LATE-NIGHT
ACTIVITIES FOR OUR YOUTH THAT
INCLUDES FOOD. THAT'S HOW WE
GET KIDS INSIDE. WE OFFER THEM
A HOT MEAL. THAT'S WHY WE ARE
ABLE TO MAKE SURE OUR SOFTBALL
FIELDS HAVE EQUITY WITHIN
SPORTS . WE HEARD DIFFERENT
TEAMS COME DOWN HERE AND TALK
ABOUT HOW THEY GET RAINED OUT
30% MORE THAN BASEBALL TEAMS.
WITH SOME OF OUR TURF AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE THE GAP,
AS LONG AS -- CONTINUE TO CLOSE
THE GAP. AS LONG AS I CONTINUE
TO SERVE I WILL WORK WITH MY
COLLEAGUES SO WE CAN MAKE SURE
WE HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR
ALL KIDS. THAT'S WHY WE ARE
ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
INVESTMENT IN CAPITOL HILL.
I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE
INVESTMENTS TO MAKE IT A COLOR
-- COLORFUL AND VIBRANT
NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD SAY AM A
DAUGHTER OF THE CD, BUT I GREW
UP IN THE HILL. MIRA WALKS,
SAFETY COORDINATOR, AMBASSADORS
ON TOP OF ALL THE INVESTMENTS.
BESIDES THE CLEANING, NEW
SIGNAGE, LIGHTING AND OTHER
IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS, IT'S
COMING TO CAPITOL HILL. I HEARD
YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. WE NEED
MORE SAFETY INVESTMENTS ON THE
HILL. ONE COMMON THEME I
CONTINUE TO HEAR AS I WALK
AROUND THE STREETS, AND SOMEONE
SAID TO ME, JOY, WHAT ABOUT THE
CHILDREN? WHAT ABOUT OUR
BABIES? I USED TO WORK
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. A LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. I USED TO
WORK AT THIS AFTERSCHOOL
PROGRAM HELPING KIDS. I MET
THIS YOUNG MAN . I COACHED HIM,
HELPED HIM WITH HIS HOMEWORK,
PICKED HIM UP FROM SCHOOL. MY
JOB WAS COACHING AND BEING A
MENTOR. HE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL,
PLAYED FOOTBALL AND GRADUATED.
UNFORTUNATELY, MOTHER'S DAY,
2020, HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN
FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. HIS MOTHER
HAS BEEN DEDICATING HER LIFE TO
YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND YOUTH
SAFETY. LAST YEAR I WENT TO A
MEETING, COMMUNITY MEETING ,
WHERE HIS MOM CAME UP TO ME . I
ASKED HER, WHAT DO WE NEED TO
DO BETTER? I'M TIRED OF COMING
TO THESE MEETINGS. WHAT DO WE
NEED TO DO BETTER? WHAT DO WE
NEED FOR THESE KIDS? SHE LOOKED
AT ME AND SAID, JOY, YOU SEE
THESE ADULTS IN THIS ROOM? I
NEED THEM OVER THERE. SHE
POINTED TO THE GYM WHERE KIDS
WERE PLAYING . SHE SAID I NEED
THE ADULTS TO STOP TALKING
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO
AND I NEED THEM TO ACTUALLY DO.
THEY NEED TO BE IN THAT JIM.
THAT'S WHY WE MADE INVESTMENTS
AND RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP
KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE AFTERSCHOOL
PROGRAMMING, FUNDING THE ARTS.
WE SAY GUN VIOLENCE. THAT IS A
POLITICAL TERM . COLLEAGUES,
PEOPLE ON THE STREET SAY IT'S
OUR BABY SHOOTING EACH OTHER.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE
RESPONDING BY POURING FUNDS AND
DOLLARS TO HAVE THE IMPACT FOR
OUR BABIES TO KEEP THEM SAFE.
EVERY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT A
YOUNG CHILD. THAT IS SOMEONE'S
YOUNG CHILD. WE WILL CONTINUE
TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS. ONE
OF THE BEST THAT SAYS THESE ARE
SOME OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS WE
CAN EVER MAKE IN OUR CITY. OUR
KIDS AND OUR YOUTH. WE TALK
ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE, I
WANT TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT
OUR KIDS. THEY ARE SO
VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW. WE ARE
MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS WITH A
LOT OF THE PROGRAMMING, THE
AMENDMENTS WE HAVE. I'M VERY
HAPPY TO SEE THAT AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THAT'S
WHY WE WILL WORK WITH EXECUTIVE
TO DO A FULL INVENTORY ON THE
YOUTH PROGRAMMING FROM OUR CITY
TO FIGURE OUT THE INVESTMENTS,
WHAT'S NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE OUR YOUTH THE BEST
RESOURCES TO MOVE FORWARD. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH ALL OF YOU BECAUSE
TEAM, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO
DO. PEOPLE WANT TO SEE RESULTS,
IMPACT, MOVEMENT, BUILDING
COMMUNITY. THEY WANT TO SEE
TRANSPARENCY AND I WANT TO SEE
THINGS WORK. I AM FOCUSED ON
THE FUNDAMENTALS. I KNOW THAT
SOUNDS BORING, BUT IT'S THE
STUFF THAT REALLY MATTERS TO
PEOPLE. IT'S THE STUFF THAT
MATTERS TO OUR DISTRICT , WHAT
I HEARD, SO PEOPLE CAN DO THEIR
JOBS, GET TO WORK ON TIME.
TRASH GET PICKED UP, POTHOLES
FILLED, SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS,
LIBRARIES OPEN. COMMUNITY
CENTERS FUNCTIONING. CLEAN
PARKS, SAFE STREETS. THINGS
THAT MAKE OUR CITY WORK BETTER.
SEATTLE SUCH A GREAT CITY , AND
NOW WE ARE ON THE MAIN STAGE TO
SHOW PEOPLE HOW PROGRESSIVE CAN
WORK, HOW CAN WE CAN MAKE
PROGRESS TOWARDS THINGS, HOW WE
CAN BUILD THINGS, HOW WE CAN
ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORK FOCUSING
ON THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF
GOVERNMENT SERVICES. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. I
APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENTS WE
HAVE MADE IN THIS BUDGET. THANK
YOU.
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER BUSTER,
HAVE YOU SPOKEN ALREADY?
>> NO, I HAVEN'T. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THIS IS THE NICE
THING ABOUT GOING TOWARDS THE
END, WHICH IS I GET TO HEAR THE
AMAZING WORDS OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I HAVE SPARSE REMARKS. I DON'T
NEED THEM BECAUSE OF THE
INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS SPEECH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA HAS GIVEN,
THE INSPIRING WORDS OF
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH .
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I THINK
THAT THIS -- I HAVEN'T
NECESSARILY AGREED. WE'VE HAD
INTENSE DEBATES. AT THE END OF
THE DAY, I THINK WE HAVE
COALESCED IN UNIFIED AROUND A
BUDGET WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
I THINK IT IS A BUDGET IN WHICH
WE HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR
RESPECTIVE PASSIONS AND
INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE , AND
WE HAVE REALLY COMPLEMENTED ONE
ANOTHER. THE CITIZENS AND
RESIDENTS OF THE CITY ARE GOING
TO BE BETTER OFF FOR IT. DO WE
STILL HAVE WORK TO DO?
UNDOUBTABLY. I THINK WE ALL
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. HAVE WE
REALLY TRIED TO BE AUTHENTIC
AND REAL AND COMMITTED IN THE
WORK WE HAVE DONE HERE TODAY ?
ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE NO DOUBT
ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO SAY
IMMENSE THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF
, I THINK, AN UNPRECEDENTED
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS
GOING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE FOR MANY PEOPLES
LIVE IN THE CITY. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORT FOR
SEASONAL SHELTER IN DISTRICT 5.
HOUSED IN DISTRICT 5 IT WILL
CERTAINLY SERVE COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE CITY IN THE NORTH
END. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF THE
UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT OF $2
MILLION TO FIGHT COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. ALSO, JUST
TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE
THINGS YOU INDIVIDUALLY HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING THIS A
BETTER CITY FOR ALL. CHAIR
STRAUSS, I WANTED TO THANK YOU
FOR RUNNING A COLLABORATIVE AND
THOUGHTFUL PROCESS. IT'S BEEN
A HARD WORK. ALL OF US ARE
PRETTY TIRED AND ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT BEING DONE. I
REALLY DON'T -- I KNOW
THERE'S ALWAYS , YOU KNOW,
CONCERNS ABOUT WAS AS
TRANSPARENT AS IT COULD'VE
BEEN? I THINK IT WAS. I THINK
YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB GIVEN
THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT
WE HAVE . WE CAN ALWAYS
IMPROVE. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE
HERE TO DO. TO LEARN AND
IMPROVE. I HAVE FELT WE HAVE
ALL BEEN HEARD IN THE PROCESS.
AS WE ARE HEARD IT MEANS OUR
CONSTITUENTS ARE HEARD. I THINK
YOU FOR THAT. AGAIN I WANT TO
THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL YOU
HAVE BROUGHT TO THIS AND BEING
WILLING TO ENGAGE IN
CONVERSATION AND TO THINK ABOUT
THINGS AS WE COME AND NOT JUST
BE A STAMP AND TO CONTINUE TO
CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER TO BE AS
GOOD AS WE CAN BE. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR
EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. I WILL
-- PARDON ME?
>> I HAVEN'T GONE YET. I JUST
UNDID MY HAND, SORRY ABOUT
THAT.
>> OH, OKAY. HAD.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME
COMMENTS, IF I MAY. OKAY. I
WANT TO START BY SAYING WE ALL
KNOW 2024 HAS BEEN A
CHALLENGING YEAR FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS . HOUSING PRICES
CONTINUE TO SOAR. WE JUST
AREN'T KEEPING PACE AND
GROWING HOMELESSNESS AND
HAVERHILL HEALTH CRISES HAVE
CONTINUED TO MEAN MANY PEOPLE
IN OUR CITY ARE STRUGGLING. I
DO WANT TO FIRST THANK CENTRAL
STAFF FOR THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT
OF WORK THEY DID THIS YEAR,
WORKING LATE INTO THE NIGHT AND
WEEKENDS TO GET US HERE . I DO
WANT TO THANK MY TEAM, AS WELL.
WHO WORKED REALLY HARD
ALONGSIDE AND RESPONDING TO
BOTH OUR INDIVIDUAL
CONSTITUENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT
OUR CONSTITUENTS. I WANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE IN
THIS BUDGET, PARTICULARLY FOR
DISTRICT TO. THE BUDGET DOES
INCLUDE MY AMENDMENTS TO FUND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
AT THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY
CENTER. FUNDING FOR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SERVICES . FUNDING FOR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR BLACK
AND BROWN IMMIGRANT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS, AND
FOR BILINGUAL AND BICULTURAL
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS , AS WELL
AS SANITATION SERVICES AND
PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES FOR THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT. WE ALSO WORKED HARD
TO SECURE INCREASED RENTAL
ASSISTANCE TO PROTECT YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND FINALLY
WE DIRECTED OUR OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT TO STUDY WAYS TO
SUPPORT INCREASED HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO SUPPORT
CURRENT HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT TO
REDEVELOP THEIR PROPERTIES.
I'M THANKFUL WE WERE ABLE TO
INCLUDE THOSE THINGS IN THE
PACKAGE. WHILE I'M UP -- PROUD
OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO
INCLUDE, I'M EXTREMELY
DISAPPOINTED THAT SO MUCH GOOD
WORK IN THE CITY LOST SUPPORT
IN THIS PROCESS. SEVERAL OF MY
ITEMS WERE REMOVED FROM THE
CHAIRS PACKAGE AND VOTED DOWN,
INCLUDING FUNDING TO CONVENE
TENANT AND LANDLORD WORKGROUP .
FUNDING FOR ARTS CULTURE
PLANNING WORK, AND RESTORATION
OF THE WORKFORCE EQUITY
DIVISION IN OUR HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD HAVE
SUPPORTED CITY WORKERS FACING
WORK LACED DISCRIMINATION AS
REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER. BIG
PICTURE, THIS BUDGET LAYS OUT
40 POSITIONS IN SIX CITY
DEPARTMENTS IN 2025, INCLUDING
OUR DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, THE
I.T. DEPARTMENT, HUMAN
RESOURCES AND PARKS. SEVEN
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ARE
SUBJECT TO LAYOFF IN 2026. THE
TOTAL ONGOING COST SAVINGS FOR
LAYING OFF THESE 55 POSITIONS
IS APPROXIMATELY $8.8 MILLION.
I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN. THE
TOTAL ONGOING COST SAVINGS FOR
LAYING OFF 55 PEOPLE IS ABOUT A
$.8 MILLION, WHICH IS LESS THAN
WE WILL BE SPENDING ON POLICE
OVERTIME ALONE. DESPITE
NUMEROUS EFFORTS WE WERE ONLY
ABLE TO PARTIALLY RESTORE
TENANT SERVICES. THAT MEANS
THIS BUDGET CREATES A DISASTER
FOR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FACING
EVICTION AND CANNOT AFFORD TO
HIRE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND
WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL STRESS
ON OUR ALREADY DEPLETED SHELTER
SYSTEM. ALL YEAR I HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR THIS COUNCIL TO
TAKE UP THE ISSUE OF OUR
STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT . IN
FEBRUARY, AFTER WE LEARNED THE
BUDGET DEFICIT WAS PROJECTED TO
REACH $230 MILLION I PUBLISHED
AN OP-ED IN THE TIMES CALLING
FOR NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
OPTIONS. WE SHOULD HAVE BEGUN
THIS WORK MONTHS AGO .
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DISCUSSION
CAME AT "THE 11th HOUR.",
LITERALLY, THE LAST WEEK OF OUR
10 WEEK BUDGET CYCLE. I DO
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
BY INTRODUCING HER BILL TO
CREATE A CAPITOL GAINS TAX. I
WILL SAY ON THE RECORD I DO
INTEND TO WORK WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE TO REVISIT
THAT BILL IF IT DOES NOT PASS
TODAY. WE WILL HAVE A NEW
COLLEAGUE SWORN IN. I'M HOPING
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT BALANCE ON
THE COUNCIL. THE TIME FOR NEW
REVENUE WAS YESTERDAY. WE DID
OUR DEEP DIVE ON THE BUDGET,
WHICH WAS DEMONSTRATED -- WHICH
HAS DEMONSTRATED THERE ARE NOT
ACTUALLY MANY PLACES TO CUT . I
THINK MANY OF US HAVE
ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE LAST FEW
WEEKS. URGENT ACTION IS
PARAMOUNT TO ADDRESS THE GREAT
NEED THAT EXISTS IN THE CITY. I
AM FRUSTRATED, BUT WAS NOT
SURPRISED THAT BOTH OF MY
EFFORTS TO SIMPLY RESEARCH
ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
OPTIONS, LIKE PERSONAL --
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TAX WERE
REJECTED, AS WAS MY AMENDMENT
TO PRESERVE THE SPENDING PLAN
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS. ALONG
WITH MY AMENDMENT TO RESTORE
THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT
WOULD HAVE INSURED
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
IN THIS BUDGET. IN THIS REVENUE
SOURCE. ALL OF THIS AT A TIME
WHEN, IN JUST TWO YEARS, WE ARE
PROJECTED TO HAVE ANOTHER $80
MILLION DEFICIT. NOT ONLY DID
WE NOT HAVE A TIMELY DISCUSSION
ABOUT NEW REVENUE, IN 2024
PROPOSED HUNDREDS OF MILLION
DOLLARS IN NEW SPENDING. THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WAS 5%
LARGER THAN THE 2024 ADOPTED
BUDGET. AT THE GATE THE BUDGET
DID NOT REFLECT FISCAL
CONSERVATION. AS A COUNCIL WE
ADDED 3% ON TOP OF THAT. THE
CALLS FOR AUDITS AND
EFFICIENCIES AND FIXING AND
SPENDING OUT PROBLEM HAVE GIVEN
WAY TO LEGISLATION THAT
INCREASES , GRAFFITI CLEANUP,
ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION. AS KPEDI
OVERTIME, CONTRACTING WITH A
DISTRIBUTED JAIL AND BRAND-NEW
TECHNOLOGY FOR SPD, LIKE THE
CLOSE CAPTION TV AND REAL-TIME
CRIME CENTER. THEY DON'T
REFLECT PRIORITIES FOR
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS. WE
NEED BOTH . THIS BUDGET ONLY
DELIVERS ON ONE. WHICH BRINGS
ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I
MUST, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
DURING MY TENURE ON COUNCIL,
VOTE NO ON BOTH OUR MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET AND OUR --
DESPITE CALLS FOR FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY, GOOD
GOVERNANCE, AND DATA INFORMED
DECISION-MAKING, THIS BUDGET
DOES NOT REFLECT SEATTLE'S
VALUES OF CARE, FOR PREVENTION,
EQUITY, NOR DOES IT REFLECT THE
BOLD VISION WE NEED TO CREATE
THRIVING HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS
FOR OUR SENIORS, OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND SMALL
BUSINESSES. INSTEAD OF FUNDING
PREVENTION AT A REQUEST OF JUST
2 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS IT
EXPANDS THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM
AT 35 -- $30 MILLION. LIMITS
WHO CAN ACCESS TENANT SERVICES,
THE NATIONAL RATE THAT WILL
DRAMATIC LIMIT . THIS BUDGET
GIVES HUGE FUNDING FOR MORE
POLICE, CARE TEAM, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, THAT IT CUTS THEIR
I.T. SUPPORT BY 25%, WHICH
LEAVES THESE VITAL TEAMS
WITHOUT THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS. I
WILL SAY AFTER THIS WEEK'S
MASSIVE POWER OUTAGE WE HAD
HUNDREDS OF CALLS TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR ELEVATOR RESCUE.
SPD STAFF EMAILING US SAYING
THERE WERE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE
I.T. SUPPORT DURING THIS
OUTAGE. JUST TO BE CLEAR, IN
FUTURE DISASTERS, THAT THE POOR
WILL BE DIMINISHED TO OUR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM.
$50,000 HIRING BONUSES AND $10
MILLION OF POLICE OVERTIME, BUT
IT CUTS THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY OVERTIME BY 67%
IN A TIME WHEN THEY ARE
INVESTIGATING MANY COMPLAINTS
AND ARE IN FACT RECOGNIZED AS A
KEY COMPONENT OF OUR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY. THE BOTTOM LINE
IS -- TURNED A BLIND EYE AND
DEAF EAR TO THE THOUSANDS OF
CONSTITUENTS WHO CAME HERE FOR,
AT LEAST , 10 HOURS OF PUBLIC
COMMENT AND HAVE BEEN EMAILING
AND CALLING US TO MAINTAIN THE
JUMPSTART SPENDING PLAN TO
RESTORE THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, TO FULLY FUND TENANT
SERVICES AND TO PROTECT OUR
CITY WORKERS. I CAME INTO
OFFICE FIVE YEARS AGO TO REPAIR
THE HARM THAT WAS BEING DONE TO
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES,
PARTICULARLY AS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT TWO.
TO THE ADVOCATES THAT I'VE
WORKED SO HARD , TO PROTECT
FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR , THAT
SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE , OR
THAT COULD HAVE ADDRESSED OUR
HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDS , I'M SORRY THAT THIS
BUDGET WILL CAUSE MORE HARM ,
AND THAT'S WHY I WILL BE
VOTING NO TODAY.
>> I AM ACKNOWLEDGING THE
RESPONSE IN THE CHAMBERS. THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT, I BELIEVE I AM
THE LAST ONE TO SPEAK, BUT
PLEASE CORRECT ME IF THAT'S
NOT THE CASE.
>> CAN I SAY ONE THING? THANK
YOU. SORRY. I WOULD BE REMISS
IF I DID NOT THINK MY STAFF,
AND I DID NOT. I JUST WANTED TO
SHELL OUT TO MY INCREDIBLE
STAFF TO HANNAH, MELISSA AND
HENRY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK AND
SUPPORT, THANK YOU TO CENTRAL
STAFF, AS WELL AS CBO OFFICE
AND MAYOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> JUST CONFIRMING I WILL SPEAK
AFTER YOU, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> HOWEVER THE SYSTEM WORKS
WELL. AS THE CHAIR OF THE
BUDGET GET THE LAST WORD . THAT
WAS IT.
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY. I WILL THINK ABOUT
WHETHER I'VE FORGOTTEN
ANYTHING IN MY COMMENTS, AND
PERHAPS ASKED TO ADD WHATEVER I
MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN TO SAY.
FOR RIGHT NOW, HERE'S WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY. WHEN THE
BUDGET CAME DOWN IN SEPTEMBER,
AFTER REVIEWING THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET, I SAID I WAS GOING TO
ENTER INTO THE DELIBERATION
PROCESS BY APPROACHING THE
BUDGET THROUGH THE LENS
PRIMARILY OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
PRESERVING BASELINE FUNDING FOR
FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THE
CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ,
THE SYSTEM AND EVALUATING
WHETHER OR NOT NONPROFIT
PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
SERVICES ARE DELIVERING
RESULTS. I ALSO LOOKED CLOSELY
TO TRACK INVESTMENTS IN
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND IN
TREATMENT AND HOMELESSNESS,
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT.
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.
THAT'S A BIG BASKET OF
PRIORITIES. THAT IS, SORT OF,
WELL COLORED MY THINKING, AS I
WAS GOING THROUGH THE
DOCUMENTS. I AM GLAD TO SAY
THIS BUDGET MAKES HISTORIC
INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AND, FOR THE FIRST
TIME EVER, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON
COUNCIL, THIS BUDGET MAKES NO
REJECTION, WHATSOEVER, TO THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED PUBLIC SAFETY
SPENDING. THAT IS INTERESTING
TO ME. IN FACT, WE INCREASE THE
SPENDING THAT WAS SENT DOWN TO
US BY RESTORING THINGS, LIKE,
PROSECUTOR POSITIONS AND THE
CITY'S ATTORNEY ON OFFICE .
FIREFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
FASTER. IT ADDS DEDICATED STAFF
TO THE 911 EMERGENCY
COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER FOR
IMPROVED NONEMERGENCY LINE
RESPONSE. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT
THAT FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS. ADD
THE POSITION TO PROCESS
FIREFIGHTER APPLICATIONS
FASTER, AND FUNDS NEIGHBORHOOD
SAFETY AMBASSADORS AMONG MANY
MEASURES. I WOULD SAY I THINK
THE BULK OF SOME OF THAT MONEY
WAS ALLOCATED TO THE CID. WE
TOOK THE MAYOR'S BUDGET AND
ADDED DIFFERENT FORMS OF PUBLIC
SAFETY ITEMS THAT
-- THEY HAD BEEN ASKING FOR.
THEY CONVINCED US THAT WOULD
MAKE THEM FEEL SAFER AS THEY
LIVED AND WALKED AND WORKED AND
CIRCULATED AROUND OUR CITY.
THAT IS INTERESTING. THAT IS
ALSO A 180 DEGREES SHIFT FROM
TWO YEARS AGO WHEN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND I
ACTUALLY VOTED NO ON THE
BUDGET. WHICH IS A BIG DEAL
BACK THEN. FOR YEARS,
COUNCILMEMBER VOTED NO ON THE
BUDGET. IT TOOK A BIG STEP FOR
US TO DECIDE TO TAKE A NO VOTE.
WE HAD WRITTEN AN OP-ED IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES CALLING FOR THE
MAINTENANCE OF THE MAYOR'S
PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS. THAT
DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE TOOK A STAND
AND VOTED NO. THAT IS NOT THIS
BUDGET. THAT IS NOT WHAT IS
HAPPENING HERE. THERE'S BEEN A
SHIFT IN THE WAY THIS COUNCIL
THINKS ABOUT SOME OF OUR BASIC
SERVICES, INCLUDING PUBLIC
SAFETY. JUST SOME THINGS I
WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WERE
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET THAT I
AM PLEASED ABOUT , FIRST AND
FOREMOST, SEATTLE CHANNEL. WE
SAY THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. THE
CHAIRS BUDGET. THE CHAIRS
BALANCING PACKAGE ALLOWS FOR
TWO YEARS OF FUNDING. ONE OF
THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WE
WILL BE VOTING ON LATER TODAY
AS A BILL I'M PUTTING FORWARD.
COUNCIL BILL 120911. DIRECTS
THE EXECUTIVE TO ESTABLISH AN
ONGOING DEDICATED FUNDING PLAN
FOR USING REVENUE SOURCES THAT
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
50%, OR 100, 1.7 MILLION OF
EXISTING CABLE FUND DOLLARS,
WHICHEVER IS GREATER,
DEPARTMENTAL INDIRECT COST
ALLOCATIONS , A SMALL PART OF
THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH WILL
ONLY PAY FOR THE COST OF
PRODUCING THE COUNCIL MEETINGS
THAT ARE PUBLIC. THE WORK GROUP
THAT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS
COMMITTED TO CONVENING WILL
ALSO BRING FORTH THEIR IDEAS.
THE POINT IS, WE ARE NOT GOING
TO GO FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR, TWO
YEARS TO TWO YEARS TO FIGURE
OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND
THE CHANNEL. WE ARE HOPING FOR
SOME CERTAINTY. MUCH SOONER
THAN THAT. PERHAPS IN THE
BEGINNING -- THE MIDDLE OF NEXT
YEAR. THAT IS SOMETHING I'M
VERY PLEASED APP. OTHER THINGS
INCLUDE THE MAINTENANCE OF THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND. THAT'S
A HIGH DEMAND FUND -- GRANT
PROGRAM THAT REIMBURSES
BUSINESSES FOR HAVING TO REPAIR
DAMAGE DUE TO BREAK-INS, ET
CETERA. THAT WAS DUE TO SUNSET
. WE FOUND THE MONEY. IT WILL
BE PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR
PUBLIC BENEFIT , PROFFERED BY
INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES. GOT SOME
SUPPORT . YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM .
THAT'S A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM
AND THEY'VE NOT HAD CITY
SUPPORT IN THE PAST. A COUPLE
OF PIECES OF FUNDING FOR, WHAT
I CONSIDER TO BE THE CITY'S
GREATEST NEED, WHICH IS TO
ADDRESS THE OPIOID AT EPIDEMIC.
NOT JUST OPIOID OVERDOSES, BUT
ALSO HELPING PEOPLE MAKE
DECISIONS TOWARDS POTENTIAL
LONG-TERM RECOVERY . ON AND ON
AND ON. THERE'S ALSO SOME --
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR GRAFFITI
REMOVAL. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE
ITEMS I'VE HEARD MY
CONSTITUENTS ARE MOST
INTERESTED IN. I'VE ALSO
LEARNED FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AS
THEY PUT FORWARD THEIR
PRIORITIES. WHAT I WILL SAY IS
THAT THIS IS A LONG LIST OF
ITEMS. WE ALL HAVE OUR
PRIORITIES. WHAT THIS ENDED UP
DOING WAS CREATING ADDITIONAL
EXPENSES, IN ADDITION TO THE 76
BUDGET SHORTFALL FOR 2027. I
THINK OUR ADDITIONS RAISE THE
SHORTFALL IN 2027 TO ABOUT 100.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HOW THE LATEST
ITEM EDITIONS HAVE IMPACTED
THAT. THE POINT IS, WE STILL
HAVE WORK TO DO. THAT IS WHY A
BIG INTERESTING AND NEW PIECE
OF THIS BUDGET IS THE OVER TWO
DOZEN STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT, THAT ASK FOR VERY
DETAILED INFORMATION FROM
DEPARTMENTS SO WE CAN MAKE MORE
BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT
WHAT KINDS OF REDUCTIONS WE
MIGHT BE CONSIDERING GOING
FORWARD NEXT YEAR. WHILE WE
SPEND DOWN THE RESERVES, THIS
YEAR, WHAT WE ALSO DID WAS SET
OURSELVES UP FOR MAKING REALLY
GOOD DETAILED DECISIONS AS WE
LOOK AT THESE PROGRAMS, AS WE
RECEIVE THE RESPONSES DURING
THE YEAR, AND PREPARE OURSELVES
FOR THE BUDGET AND POTENTIAL
CUTS IT THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE
GOING FORWARD. THE CRITERIA WE
WOULD USE TO DECIDE THAT WAS
LOOKING WHETHER OR NOT THE
OUTCOMES OF THESE INVESTMENTS
ARE REALLY MEETING OUR NEEDS .
AND THEN HAVING THE POLITICAL
WILL TO POTENTIALLY REALLOCATE
THOSE INVESTMENTS. I THINK THAT
IS A GOOD THING. I'M SURE IT
WAS FRUSTRATING FOR OUR CENTRAL
STAFF MEMBERS TO HEAR YET
ANOTHER REPORT. I AM SURE THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE
CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY WILL
HAVE THE TIME TO RESPOND IN
DEPTH AND CORRECTLY TO OUR
INCREASE. THIS IS WHAT THE
OVERSIGHT BODY, WHICH IS
COUNCIL, NEEDS TO MAKE
DECISIONS GOING FORWARD. ALL
GETTING INFORMATION AT THE SAME
TIME. I WILL SIMPLY CONCLUDE BY
SAYING, THIS BUDGET IS IN
RESPONSE TO WHAT WE HAVE HEARD
OUR CONSENT -- CONSTITUENTS
PRIMARY NEEDS. WE ARE A LOT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY, MAKING PROGRESS
ON HOMELESSNESS. THERE ARE
SEVERAL CHANGES AND ADDITIONS
TO THE WAY WE CAN APPROACH
HOMELESSNESS , NOT JUST AT THE
CITY LEVEL, BUT THROUGH OUR
WORK WITH -- WE ARE SETTING
OURSELVES UP FOR TAKING SOME
RISKS AND ENGAGING IN
INNOVATION GOING FORWARD. THAT
IS A GOOD THING. ALTHOUGH IT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANNOYING AND
DEMANDING DURING THIS PROCESS.
I WILL SIMPLY END BY SAYING THE
BUDGET PASS TODAY -- I HOPE
WILL PASS TODAY, IS RESPONSIVE
TO OUR CONSTITUENTS PRIMARY TOP
PRIORITIES AND REPRESENTS A
SEISMIC SHIFT TOWARDS BUDGETING
PRACTICES THAT REALLY GET DOWN
INTO THE WEEDS AND SCRUTINIZE
EVERY DOLLAR SPENT WHILE
ENSURING THE INVESTMENTS AND
PRIORITIES THAT KEEP CITIZENS
INFORMED, SUCH AS THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL, CONTINUE TO THRIVE. I
COMMEND MAYOR HARRELL, MY
COLLEAGUES. YOU DUG IN. YOU
WENT FOR THE ANSWERS. I
APPRECIATE THAT. I COMMEND US
ALL FOR DOING THE BEST WE COULD
IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES , AS
WE HAVE TO LOOK DOWN THE ROAD
AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING
TO FINISH THE WORK IN YEARS TO
COME WHEN THERE IS STILL A
DEFICIT THAT IS STARING US IN
THE FACE IN A MERE TWO YEARS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS HAS
BEEN AN EDUCATIONAL, AND
HOPEFULLY , HOPEFULLY SOME
LEVEL FUN PROCESS FOR YOU ALL.
THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS, FOR
LEADING US THROUGH IT.
>> THANK YOU.
COMMENTS? CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. HAD A COUPLE NOTES I
WAS TAKING I HAD FORGOTTEN IN
MY INITIAL ROMANCE. FIRST,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I AM
SORRY THAT YOU FEEL THE WAY YOU
DO TODAY AND FEEL LIKE YOU
CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS BUDGET. I
TRIED REALLY HARD AND WORKED
REALLY DILIGENTLY TO MEET YOUR
REQUESTS THIS YEAR. I'M SORRY
YOU'RE PRIORITIES WERE
TARGETED IN THE PROCESS. I'M
NOT GOING TO GO ONE BY ONE, BUT
IN THE STATEMENTS YOU JUST
MADE, I DID NOT RAISE A POINT
OF ORDER, BUT THERE WERE
FACTUAL INACCURACIES, AND WE'VE
HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS
POLICY POINTS. WE ARE NOT GOING
TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
HERE. I JUST WISH THIS COUNCIL
HAD TAKEN CARE OF YOU BETTER TO
FEEL , LIKE, YOU COULD SUPPORT
THIS BUDGET. THE REMARKS I WAS
WRITING DOWN WAS ABOUT
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, NICE WORK
THERE. COUNCILMEMBER WOO, YOU
CAME TO US EARLIER THIS YEAR AS
THE DAUGHTER OF SEATTLE, AND
YOU LEAVE THESE CHAMBERS THIS
WEEK AS THE ANTI-OF SEATTLE.
INCREDIBLE CHANGE. OUR CITY IS
BETTER FOR IT. I WAS GOING TO
MAKE A JOKE ABOUT RULES FOR
COUNCILMEMBER SPEAKING FOONE IT
SEEMS, LIKE THEY ARE OUT OF THE
ROOM AT THE MOMENT, SO THERE'S
THE JOKE. I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO THANK ALLIE AND TO
KATE HOFFMAN. WITHOUT EITHER OF
THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS, THIS
PROCESS WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN
-- GONE AS SMOOTHLY AS IT DID.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS, I WILL
CONTEND THAT THE PEOPLE OF --
WHO PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT
HAVE CHANGED AT THIS BUDGET.
THAT WAS EVIDENT IN VOTING FOR
ADDITIONAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE
HERE ON THE DAIS. IT WAS
CHANGED. I'M NOT GOING TO GO
INTO IT AND TAKE DOWN ONE BY
ONE, OTHER THAN TO SAY I'VE
APPROACHED THIS PROCESS IN A
COLLABORATIVE MANNER, TRYING TO
REACH CONSENSUS. WHILE I AM NOT
A QUAKER, IT IS BASED ON QUAKER
VALUES. LASTLY, I WAS GOING TO
BRING UP A COMMENT ABOUT THE
PUBLIC HEARINGS WE HAD AT THE
FIVE HOUR, MULTIPLE FIVE-HOUR
COMMENT PERIODS. WE HAVEN'T
HAD AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT
SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. IT
FELT REALLY GOOD. IT WAS LONG
AND STRENUOUS. IT FELT REALLY
GOOD TO HEAR EVERYONE'S
PERSPECTIVE AND FOR THEM TO BE
HERE AND SPEAK TO US. USUALLY
IN THOSE MOMENTS I WOULD LOOK
FOR A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE
CROWD. THE FACE OF JIM HILLIS.
JIM PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR. I
JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT OF
RECOGNITION FOR JIM , AND A
MOMENT OF SILENCE. AND THINK
THE PUBLIC AGAIN FOR YOUR
INPUT. YOU DID MOVE MY HAND.
WITH THAT, A MOMENT OF SILENCE
FOR JIM. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
>> ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES. IF
THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS
BEFORE ADOPTING THE BUDGET, AS
I SAID EARLIER, YOU -- THIS WAS
THE TIME TO MAKE COMMENTS. IF
THE CLERK WOULD PLEASE READ THE
WALL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] EIGHT
IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF? MOVING ON TO ITEM
FOUR, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE TITLE INTO THE RECORD?
>> CLERK FILE 314539. CITY
COUNCIL CHANGES TO THE
2025-2026 PROPOSED BUDGET AND
THE 2025-2030 PROPOSED CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. RECOMMENDS
IT BE APPROVED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU
ARE WELCOME TO ADDRESS THIS
ITEM.
>> THANK YOU . THIS IS THE
CLERK FILE THAT TRACKS THE
CHANGES THE COUNCIL MADE TO THE
PROPOSED BUDGET IN CIP. THIS IS
WHAT WAS FILLED IN OVER THE
LAST 48 HOURS. I URGE A YES
VOTE.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
OTHERWISE I WILL CALL THE BOAT.
OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE VOTE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE BILL PASSES,
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL
YOU PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
ON MY BEHALF? MOVING ON TO ,
SCROLLING DOWN, ITEM FIVE. HELP
ME OUT HERE.
>> AGENDA ITEM FIVE, RESOLUTION
321 53. ENDORSING A BUDGET AND
POSITION MODIFICATIONS FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FOR 2026.
RECOMMENDS IT BE ADOPTED.
>> GERMAN STRAUSS YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO BE -- TO SPEAK
ABOUT IT.
>> NEXT YEAR BUDGETING PROCESS
-- FOR 2026. BUDGETING NEVER
ENDS. HERE'S THE NEXT STEP.
THIS YEAR WE BUDGETED FOR THE
BIENNIUM FOR 25 AND '26. NEXT
YEAR WE WILL BE BUDGETING JUST
FOR '26. THIS SETS THE STAGE
FOR NEXT YEAR'S WORK. I URGE A
YES VOTE.
>> OKAY, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BILL?
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES, THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE -- PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. NEXT
ITEM , WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM SIX, -- COUNCIL
BILL 120911. RELATING TO THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL, STATING THE
CITY COUNCIL S INTENT TO
ESTABLISH DEDICATED AND ONGOING
FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE
OPERATING AND CAPITAL COSTS OF
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, AND
REQUESTING THAT THE EXECUTIVE
SUBMI3, 2025. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> I WILL ADDRESS THIS BILL
EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THE BUDGET
CHAIR'S PURVIEW HERE. AS I'VE
SAID MANY TIMES ALREADY IN
DIFFERENT MEETINGS, I AM VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT
THE CHAIR INCLUDED TWO YEARS OF
BRIDGE FUNDING FOR THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL INTO THE BALANCING
PACKAGE. THIS WAS NECESSARY
BECAUSE THE BULK OF THE FUNDING
THAT SEATTLE CHANNEL RECEIVES
COMES FROM THE CABLE TV FUND,
WHICH IS ON DECLINE BECAUSE
MOST PEOPLE ARE -- INCREASINGLY
PEOPLE ARE ACCESSING THEIR
ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS, ET CETERA,
FROM STREAMING SERVICES. THIS
SOURCE OF REVENUE HAS DECLINED.
WE RECEIVED A BUDGET THAT
ELIMINATED SIX POSITIONS IN ALL
BUT THE COVERAGE OF THE PUBLIC
MEETINGS THAT ARE, FIRST OF
ALL, REQUIRED, AND COVERING
THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW. THAT WOULD
MEAN WE NEED -- TO THE PUBLIC.
ALL THE LAR
AMONG DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES
IN OUR CITY. I TELL YOU , IT
CREATED A BIT OF AN UPROAR.
THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF A
PROCESS TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN
, IN THE SHORT TERM, ESTABLISH
CERTAINTY THERE WILL BE MONEY
THROUGH 2026 FOR ALL OF THE
EMPLOYEES THAT HAD BEEN WARNED
THEY WOULD BE LET GO . ALSO,
THINK ABOUT LONG-TERM PLAN. WE
REALLY DO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
AT THEIR FIRST APPLIED FUNDING
STREAM GOING FORWARD SO WE ARE
LESS RELIANT ON THE CABLE FUND
FEE, AND WE CAN ALSO THINK
ABOUT OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
. LEGISLATION I HAVE PUT
FORWARD HIS COUNCIL BILL 120911
, DIRECTS THE EXECUTIVE TO COME
UP WITH A PLAN BY MID-2025 THAT
WILL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENTED IN
2026. THE BACK IS THE FACT THAT
THERE IS BRIDGE FUNDING THROUGH
2026, AS WELL. THE POINT IS, WE
WANT TO ESTABLISH A DIVERSIFIED
MIX THAT MAKES UP A FUNDING
STREAM THAT WILL BE STABLE ,
ONGOING, AND DOES NOT CREATE
ANY DOUBT IN OUR PUBLIC'S MIND
OR THE TALENTS OF PEOPLE THAT
PUT ON THE SHOWS AT THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL, AND THE EMPLOYEES THAT
-- THROUGH THEIR SKILL AND
BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS PUT ALL
THESE PROGRAMMING ZONE ALL THE
TIME 24/7. THIS IS AN ASSET
THAT IS EXTERNALLY FACING,
CONSIDERED A PUBLIC BENEFIT,
AND IT IS CLEAR WHERE OUR
PUBLIC WANTS TO GO MAKING SURE
THIS HAS A STABLE BASE GOING
FORWARD. THAT'S WHAT THIS
LEGISLATIVE -- THIS LEGISLATION
DOES. ALSO INCORPORATES A
TIMELINE SO THE WORKGROUP THAT
IS GOING TO BE SET UP PER THE
SLIDE PUT FORWARD BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, WILL BE
INCORPORATED INTO , OR INFORMED
THE FINAL FUNDING PLAN THAT IS
EVENTUALLY DECIDED UPON BY THE
EXECUTIVE. WE HAVE EVERYTHING
ZIPPED UP IN TIME FOR 2026 AND
BEYOND. THAT IS WHAT I'M
ASKING HER SUPPORT FOR. THANK
YOU, VERY MUCH, IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
ASK. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120911?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
EVERYBODY. THE MEASURE PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
PLEASE AFFIX MY LEGISLATE SURE
-- MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. ALL
RIGHT. WHAT IS THE NEXT ITEM TO
READ FORWARD?
>> AGENDA ITEM SEVEN. COUNCIL
BILL 120908. IMPOSING AN EXCISE
TAX ON THE SALE OR EXCHANGE OF
CERTAIN CAPITAL ASSETS IN
SEATTLE, ADDING A NEW CHAPTER
5.66 TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE, AND ADDING A NEW SECTION
5.45.050 TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS DO NOT PASS. AN
ABSTENTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
WOO.
>> ALL RIGHT. AS THIS IS A
PIECE OF BUDGET LEGISLATION, --
YES, I DO. I WILL READ WHAT YOU
JUST SAID. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED DO NOT PASS. THE
QUESTION BEFORE IS IF THE BILL
SHOULD PASS. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE SPONSORED THE BILL, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO READ THE
REPORTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I AM NOT GOING TO
SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS. I
HAVE READ THE ROOM. I DO WANT
TO SAY THAT, I THINK, THERE'S
A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT
THERE . I WILL ADDRESS THE
FIRST ARGUMENT THAT'S BEEN
PRESENTED THAT THIS SOMEHOW
VIOLATES -- THAT'S JUST A
RIGHT-WING MISINFORMATION
TALKING POINT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO
IT ANY FURTHER THAN THAT. WE
HAVE PLENTY OF INFORMATION TO
MAKE THE DECISION ON THIS BILL.
THIS BILL MARRIES ABSOLUTELY
THE STATE BILL. ALL OF US,
INDIVIDUALLY, READ OUR VOTERS
PAMPHLETS A YEAR OR TWO AGO
WHEN WE VOTED INDIVIDUALLY,
WHETHER TO SUPPORT A CAPITOL
GAINS TAX ON THE STATE LEVEL.
WE HOPEFULLY READ OUR VOTERS
PAMPHLETS WHEN WE HAD TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST
THE INITIATIVE TO REPEAL IT.
WHAT I WILL NOTICE THAT 64% OF
STATE VOTERS REJECTED. THEY
VOTED TO AFFIRM THE STATE
CAPITOL GAINS TAX . 85% OF
SEATTLE VOTERS VOTED TO AFFIRM
THE STATE CAPITOL GAINS TAX .
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
MOST WELL VETTED SUPPLEMENTAL
EXCISE TAXES AVAILABLE TO THE
CITY AND TO THE STATES. IT HAS
SURVIVED LEGAL CHALLENGE IN THE
COURTS, IT SURVIVED AN
INITIATIVE CHALLENGE. THE CITY
BILL MARRIES IT EXACTLY. THE
ONLY TWO DIFFERENCES ARE, A, IT
APPLIES ONLY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, AND B, IT'S A 2% TAX.
I THINK WE HAVE -- I DISAGREE
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD ADOPT
THIS TAX. I DO AGREE THAT WE
SHOULD -- I PUT TOGETHER A
PARTICULAR SPEND PLAN BECAUSE I
DID UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF
SOME VOTERS THAT THEY FEEL,
LIKE, WE APPROVE THIS MONEY AND
THEN IT GOES INTO A BIG BLACK
HOLE. I WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL
OF THAT AND ALSO TO LOOK AT
THIS AS NOT TO -- THIS EXCISE
TAX IS NEVER GOING TO RAISE THE
KIND OF REVENUE THE JUMPSTART
PACKS, PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX WILL
RAISE. BUT IT WILL RAISE , AT A
MINIMUM, 15 MILLION, AND IT CAN
RAISE UP TO 62. I HAVE ALWAYS
VIEWED IT AS A SUPPLEMENTAL
SOURCE , NOT AN ENTIRELY -- NOT
AN ENTIRE REPLACEMENT. I THINK
AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES MET
POINTED OUT , IT'S INCUMBENT
UPON US TO BEGIN LOOKING AT
SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCES. WE CANNOT
PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
TO THE SPEND PLAN, MY THINKING
WAS, WE DID TAKE A DEEP DIVE,
IN A WAY WE REALLY, I DON'T
THINK, PRIOR COUNCILS HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO DO ON BUDGET. WE DID
MAKE SOME CUTS . THERE WAS JUST
A LOT THAT WE -- THERE WASN'T
A LOT TO COVER, AND THERE WAS A
LOT WE WERE NOT COMFORTABLE
CUTTING. WE HAVE TO BE HONEST
ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED
MORE REVENUE TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE ,
AND TO MEET THE NEEDS AND
GROWING NEEDS THE CITY IS GOING
TO ENCOUNTER, PARTICULARLY
WITH,-, LOSS OF FEDERAL
FUNDING. THE AREAS WHERE , I
THINK, WE NEED ADDITIONAL
FUNDING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO
KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED. WE CAN KEEP
PEOPLE HOUSED FOR $500. WE CAN
KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED FOR $6000.
WE ALSO NEED TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO OWN
THEIR HOMES. BEING ABLE TO
HAVING A BROADER HOMEOWNERSHIP
BASE CREATES A MORE STABLE
SOCIETY . WE'VE LOST OUR
MIDDLE CLASS IN THE CITY , AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE NEED TO
REBUILD OUR MIDDLE CLASS. WE
NEED TO MOVE PEOPLE UP FROM THE
LOWER ECONOMIC ECHELONS TO AT
LEAST A MIDDLE-CLASS
LIVELIHOOD. IF WE DO THAT, WE
ARE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR TAX
BASE, WHICH, TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSORTH FOR MY POINT, WE
CAN'T JUST CONTINUE TO -- WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER WAYS. WE
HAVE TO MAKE THIS A CITY THAT
IS WELCOMING TO SMALL
BUSINESSES , AS WELL AS LARGE
BUSINESSES. WE'VE BEEN PRETTY
WELCOMING TO LARGE. WE NEED TO
DO A BETTER JOB WITH SMALL.
ALSO ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
ABLE TO OWN THEIR HOMES. WE
WERE ABLE , THIS COUNCIL,
RESTORED FUNDING TO THE
HOMEOWNERSHIP CAPITOL PROGRAM .
THAT WAS A GOOD THING WE DID.
WE EXPRESSED OUR COMMITMENT TO
INCREASING HOMEOWNERSHIP. THE
SPEND PLAN I PUT FORTH FOR THIS
EXCISE TAX WOULD -- DOWN
PAYMENT. THE OTHER THING I
WANTED TO LOOK AT WAS
INCREASING FOOD SECURITY, WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH HAS
BEEN VERY CLEAR IS A CRISIS IN
THE CITY. THOSE ARE THREE AREAS
IN WHICH WE CAN TARGET , AND
STRATEGICALLY DIRECT FUNDING,
AND WE CAN REALLY KEEP TRACK OF
IT. WHERE WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT
THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE
DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY ARE
DOING IT EFFICIENTLY , AND THE
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT ARE GETTING
IT. THAT WAS THE THINKING I HAD
BEHIND THE SPEND PLAN. THERE
WERE COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES
THAT, PERHAPS, WE NEEDED TO
EXPANDED TO INCLUDE
INFRASTRUCTURE OR OTHER AREAS.
ABSOLUTELY. I DON'T DISAGREE
THAT IS A LEGITIMATE AREA OF
TOPIC, INQUIRY AND COMMITTEE --
COMMITTEE WORK. THAT IS THE
SECOND BILL . THAT'S NOT THE
FIRST BILL. TO ME THERE'S
REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT WE NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT HOW THE LOCAL
EXCISE TAX WILL WORK. IT WILL
WORK EXACTLY THE WAY THE STATE
EXCISE TAX WORKS. THE STATE
WILL COLLECT THE TAX FOR US.
THAT'S WHY IT IS MARRIED. IT
HAS SOME ODD PROVISIONS, LIKE,
IT EXEMPTS SALE OF LIVESTOCK
AND SALMON. THINGS THAT AREN'T
PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE --
HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE OTHER THING I THINK IS
IMPORTANT TO BE MINDFUL OF IS
EXACTLY WHO WILL PAY THIS TAX?
POTENTIALLY UP TO 800 AND 16
PEOPLE , POTENTIALLY. OUT OF
MORE THAN .
WHO WILL PAY THE TAX? IT'S AN
EXCISE TAX ON PASSIVE INCOME.
IT'S AN EXCISE TAX ON
INVESTMENT SALE PROFITS. IT'S
NOT AN INCOME TAX . WE ARE NOT
TAXING YOUR WAGES, YOUR
EARNINGS, YOUR HARD WORK. WE
ARE TAXING , AS WE ARE ALLOWED
TO DO, AND EXCISE TAX, AS THE
WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT
HAS MADE VERY CLEAR, WE ARE
TAXING ARTWORK YOUR MONEY DOES
IN THE STOCK MARKET. WE ARE
TAXING THE HARD WORK YOUR MONEY
DOES IN THE BOND MARKET. AND WE
ARE SAYING YOU NEED IT -- IF
YOU HAVE MORE THAN $262,000 IN
PROFITS , I WOULD SAY,
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN A
QUARTER OF $1 MILLION IN
PROFITS, OVER THE WORK THAT
YOUR INVESTMENT HAS DONE , WE
WOULD LIKE TO PERCENT OF THAT,
PLEASE , TO HELP PEOPLE WHO
NEED TO STAY HOUSED . TO HELP
PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE FED . TO
HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET
INTO THEIR OWN HOME. LET US
JUST TAKE A LITTLE MATHEMATICAL
EXAMPLE . LET'S SAY THAT JEFF
BUYS $250,000 WORTH OF STOCK ,
AND JEFF HAS A MIDAS TOUCH, AND
HE SELLS HIS STOCK FOR MILLION
DOLLARS. HE MAKES A $750,000
PROFIT. UNDER THE PROPOSAL,
UNDER THE STATE LAW, AND WHAT
I'M PROPOSING FOR THE CITY
LAW, HE WOULD THEN GET TO
DEDUCT $262,000 , WHICH WOULD
MEAN HE HAD A TAXABLE GAIN
CONSISTS OF $488,000. HE WOULD
HAVE TO PAY 2%. HE WOULD PAY
$9760 . AFTER THAT HE WOULD
HAVE 478,000 AND CHANGE IN HIS
POCKET , PLUS THE 262,000
DEDUCTION . AT THE END OF THE
DAY HE WOULD HAVE 740,000 PLUS.
HE WOULD HAVE PAID LESS THAN
$10,000 ON A $750,000 PROFITS.
I DON'T THINK IT IS TOO MUCH
TO ASK SOMEBODY WHO MAKES
$750,000 PROFIT ON THEIR MONEY
TO PAY 9700 TOWARDS A SOCIAL
SAFETY NET OF THE CITY. WHAT
ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT SAY, OH
MY GOSH, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
MONEY. $50,000 OF STOCK THAT
WAS LEFT TO ME BY MY
GRANDMOTHER. NOW I NEED TO SELL
IT'S BECAUSE I WANT TO START A
SMALL BUSINESS. OR I NEED A
DOWN PAYMENT FOR A HOUSE. THEY
SELL IT, THEY MAKE $100,000.
THEY BASICALLY HAVE A $50,000
PROFIT BECAUSE THEY PUT IN 50,
SOLD IT FOR 100, THEY HAVE A
$50,000 PROFITS. WHAT HAPPENS?
THEY TAKE THE DEDUCTION. THE
$262,000 DEDUCTION . THAT MEANS
THERE IS ZERO EXCISE TAX OWED .
THEY WILL OWE NOTHING TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE UNDER THIS
PARTICULAR PLAN . WE ARE NOT
GOING AFTER THE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF STOCK,
LEFT BY THEIR PARENTS OR
GRANDMOTHER OR THEY TRY TO CASH
IT IN SO THEY CAN START THEIR
SMALL BUSINESS, OR THEY CAN GET
INTO THEIR OWN HOME, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY WITH
THEIR STOCKS AND BONDS. THIS
DOESN'T APPLY TO THE SALE OF
REAL ESTATE, IT DOESN'T APPLY
TO THE SALE OF SMALL
BUSINESSES. IT DOES ON THE --
APPLY TO RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.
ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN DEALT WITH
BY THE STATE. I APPRECIATE THAT
NOT EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD. I
APPRECIATE WE HAVE , PERHAPS,
PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES. I
APPRECIATE THAT SOME PEOPLE
NEED MORE TIME. ABSOLUTELY
FINE. MY POSITION IS, THE TIME
IS NOW. EVERY DAY WE WAIT MEANS
IT'S LESS TIME WE WILL BE ABLE
TO ACTUALLY TRACK , COLLECT,
AND THEN BE IN A POSITION TO
ALLOCATE THE DOLLARS IN 2027
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT A $300
MILLION DEFICIT IF WE DON'T
CONTINUE TO USE THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX TO FILL THAT GAP.
AND WE CAN WORK ON THE SPEND
PLAN. WE CAN PASS THE TAX
TODAY. WE CAN SPEND THE NEXT
TWO YEARS , WHILE WE ARE
TRACKING, LET -- COLLECTING,
WORKING ON THE SPEND PLAN WE
ALL FEEL GOOD ABOUT. OR WE CAN
KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
ANOTHER YEAR. ANOTHER SIX
MONTHS. ANOTHER YEAR. THEN WE
ARE LOOKING AT NOT HAVING ANY
MONEY TO HELP AS A SUPPLEMENT
UNTIL 2028. I PERSONALLY DON'T
THINK THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. I
REALIZE THIS IS A CONVERSATION
THAT IS MAKING -- IT'S AN
UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION. I
APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE
WE DIDN'T AND -- INTRODUCE
THIS CONVERSATION UNTIL
EARLIER. PART OF THE REASON IS
BECAUSE, FRANKLY, WAS WAITING
TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE
STATE LEVEL. BECAUSE I WANTED
TO KNOW WHAT THE CITIZENS OF
WASHINGTON , AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THE CITIZENS OF
SEATTLE THOUGHT. THEY TOLD US
IN RESOUNDING LANGUAGE WHAT
THEY THOUGHT. WE ALSO KNOW WE
DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PURSUE INCOME TAX BECAUSE OF
WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATION TO.
THAT'S FINE, THEY CAN DO THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE TO CALL A
QUESTION, WE DON'T HAVE SOME
UNICORN REVENUE IT'S GOING TO
BE AVAILABLE TO US THAT WE CAN
JUST KEEP WAITING FOR THE
MAGICAL DAY THAT THIS
ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS GOING TO
SUDDENLY BE FOUND, OR SOMEBODY
IS GOING TO TELL US IT'S NOT
SUBJECT TO LEGAL CHALLENGE , OR
WHATEVER. EVEN IF THIS WAS
PASSED, HE MOST LIKELY WOULD BE
CHALLENGED . BOY, PEOPLE DON'T
WANT TO HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR
MONEY, EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T
LEARN IT. EVEN WHEN IT'S JUST
STOCK MARKET THAT RUNS IT .
THAT'S FINE, THEY HAVE THE
RIGHT TO DO THAT. IT ALSO MEANS
WE CAN BE WORKING ON GETTING
THE SPEND PLAN IN PLACE WHILE
THAT IS PROCEEDING. IF WE WAIT,
THEN THAT JUST FURTHER PUSHES
IT DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE TO
HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP.
THE SAME ARGUMENTS THAT WERE
MADE, THIS WILL PUSH BUSINESSES
OUT OF THE CITY, RICH PEOPLE
WILL LEAVE, THE SKY WILL FALL.
THEY WILL EXACT SAME ARGUMENTS.
GEMSTAR IS SAVING OUR, YOU KNOW
WHAT. WHICH IS GOOD. I AM VERY,
VERY GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE
MONEY TO CONTINUE TO FINANCE
AND SUPPORT THIS AMAZING CITY .
THANK GOD. THANK GOD FOR THE
COURAGE AND FORESIGHT OF THE
FORMER COUNCILS WHO TAKE A LOTS
OF FLOCK, AND RIGHTLY SO, IN MY
OPINION, PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY
DID THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT
CAME TO REVENUE. WE WOULD BE --
WHERE WOULD WE BE? WE NEED TO
DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. WE
NEED TO SAY WE NEED TO SHUT
DOWN THOSE ARGUMENTS. WE LOST A
FEW PEOPLE, SURE. WE ALSO LOST
PEOPLE BECAUSE OF COVID AND
BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE
WAY PEOPLE WORK. JEFF BEZOS
WENT OFF TO FLORIDA. THANK YOU,
JEFF. FLORIDA LOVES HAVING YOU
THERE. YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT
GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE TO PAY $2000 OR, GOD
FORBID , $9700 ON A -- WHAT DID
I SAY? $750,000 PROFITS. IF
THEY DO, OH WELL. SEATTLE IS AN
AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE. THERE SO
MUCH TO OFFER ON -- IN THE
CITY. PART OF THE REASON WE ARE
IN THIS DEFICIT IS BECAUSE WE
ARE TRYING TO CLAW BACK OUT OF
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS. TO
ME, IT'S MORE LIKELY WE ARE
GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE IF WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS PUBLIC
SAFETY. IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR AND
DEDICATED THAT ITS PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY IS PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE'VE DONE A REALLY
GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO TURN THE
SHIP AROUND AND MAKE THE
FUNDING MY WAY , BUT WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO FUND IT, AND WE
CANNOT LET THE OTHER THINGS
SLIP. TO MY COLLEAGUES, I
APPRECIATE THAT WE CAN HAVE A
DISK -- DISAGREEMENT AND
PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE, BUT
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BE
HONEST ABOUT THAT . IF IT
DOESN'T PASS TODAY , OKAY. I
WILL BE BACK. WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. I WILL
BE BACK NEXT YEAR. AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION, BECAUSE THIS IS A
CONVERSATION WE CAN -- CAN'T
AFFORD TO NOT HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS MY
LAST BOAT. MY HUSBAND WORKS AS
A STOCK TRADER FOR EVERGREEN
FINANCIAL SERVICES, MANAGING
PORTFOLIOS FOR ITS CLIENTS. SO
MANY FAMILIES THEY BOTH HOLD
DOWN FULL-TIME JOBS BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP
OUR FAMILY RESTAURANT GOING.
I'VE CONSULTED WITH WAYNE, HE
SAYS I'M ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS
ISSUE BECAUSE THIS TAX DOES NOT
IMPACT MY HUSBAND SALARY. I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING
WAS ABOVE BOARD. I APPRECIATE
THE PROCESS AND ENSURE ITS
INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE. I
ALSO WANT TO SHARE THIS
INTERESTING TIDBIT. WE'VE GONE
A NUMBER OF EMAILS , AS OF 1:45
P.M. TODAY, I RECEIVED 122
EMAILS. OF THOSE, 28, 23%, ARE
IN SUPPORT OF THIS TAX. THE
REMAINING 95, 77% ARE AGAINST
IT. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THOSE
OF THE VOICES I'M HEARING FROM
CONSTITUENTS. LET ME BE VERY
CLEAR ABOUT I'M GOING TO VOTE.
FOR ME THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE
TOXIC SELF. I THINK IT'S A
GOOD IDEA AND I PERSONALLY
SUPPORT IT. MY CONCERN IS WITH
THE PROCESS. WE CANNOT RUSH
SOMETHING THIS THROUGH THE
BUDGET SEASON. THIS DESERVES TO
GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, PUBLIC INPUT AND
OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT.
STAKEHOLDERS, COMMITTEE, FULL
DISCUSSION THERE. ONLY THEN TO
BRING IT BEFORE THE FULL
COUNCIL LIKE WE DO WITH ALL
LEGISLATION. I APPRECIATE
THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE
PLANNING TO DO. I AGREE WITH
YOU THERE'S A LOT OF
MISINFORMATION OUT THERE. THE
ONLY WAY TO ADDRESS IS BY
TAKING OUR TIME OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TO
ENGAGE COMMUNITY WORK, THE
DETAILS, MAKE SURE THE BILL IS
IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SHAPE AND
BEST POSSIBLE PLACE. THAT'S
HOW WE ENSURE ITS GOOD POLICY
BUT TRUSTED POLICY. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I DON'T
THINK THERE'S ANYONE ELSE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH HAS
RAISED HER HAND.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSORTH
HAS RAISED HER HAND.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
BRINGING THIS UP. AS YOU KNOW.
I WANT TO MAKE THIS FOR THE
RECORD, I DID VOTE FOR IT IN
COMMITTEE. IT WAS RECOMMENDED
NOT TO PASS. THEREFORE I'M
GOING TO BE VOTING NO TODAY
BECAUSE OF THE RECOMMENDATION.
>> POINT OF ORDER. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I WONDER IF WE CAN
TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS?
THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
>> NO OBJECTION, THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO OBJECT WITH
ANYONE. IF WE CAN BE AT EASE.
>> WE CAN BE AT EASE IF WE STAY
IN THE CHAMBERS, YES. AS LONG
AS WE NEED TO. THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT CAN CALL US OUT OF
THESE WHEN THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT IS READY.
>> IS THERE A REASON YOU PREFER
AND EASE RATHER THAN A RECESS?
>> IT'S JUST EASIER. OTHERWISE
WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE AND GO
BACK TO OUR OFFICES IF WE ARE A
RECESS. IF WE ARE AT EASE WE
CAN ALL STAY HERE.
>> I MY OVERRIDE BECAUSE I AM
GOING TO HAVE A WONDER IN MY
OFFICE. I WOULD PREFER A RECESS
FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
>> IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
THANK YOU . RECESS UNTIL 2:55,
THANK YOU.
>> IS 5:05. CAN WE PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
BACK TOGETHER.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN
AND FOR THE BREAK . TODAY BEEN
A LONG DAY AND THERE HAS BEEN A
LOT GOING ON THIS PAST WEEK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
PATIENCE. IT'S BEEN
EXHAUSTING, AS I'M SURE YOU
ALL ARE. THAT SAID, I AM READY
TO COMPLETE TODAY'S MEETING.
SO LET'S PROCEED. I BELIEVE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH WAS
STILL MAKING SOME POINT. PLEASE
CONTINUE YOUR TALKING POINTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WILL REPEAT WHAT I
SAID. I SUPPORTED THIS IN
COMMITTEE. BUT IT WAS
RECOMMENDED NOT TO PASS. TODAY,
I WILL BE VOTING, NO AGAINST
THIS. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ARE
BRINGING TO THE TABLE AND
HAVING THE CONVERSATION. AS YOU
SO ELOQUENTLY HAVE SPOKEN
TODAY, ABOUT THE CONCERNS YOU
HAVE FOR OUR BUDGET AND
REVENUE, I DO WANT TO STRESS ,
WHICH YOU HAVE POINTED OUT, OUR
CITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO
ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
AND CUT THE RED TAPE FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE A VIBRANT
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR US TO HAVE
SMALL BUSINESSES, BIG
BUSINESSES, ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF REVENUE
GROWTH. AND OBVIOUSLY, OUR
HOMEOWNERSHIP PIECE AS WELL. WE
COULD ALSO EXPLORE DIFFERENT
REVENUE THINGS. I THINK IT'S
NOT AN EITHER OR, IT IS AND FOR
ME. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE
COMMENTS. I WILL REPEAT A
LITTLE BIT OF WHAT I SAID LAST
TIME ON TUESDAY WHEN I SPOKE TO
THIS. WE WERE INFORMED ABOUT
THE VOLATILITY AND THE
UNCERTAINTY OF THE CAP GAINS
TAX BY THE REVENUE FORECASTED
BY OUR CENTRAL STAFF. PART OF
MY REASON FOR NOT DRAIN THAT
COPING FOR INSTITUTING A
CAPITAL GAINS TAX IS THE FACT
THAT IT'S UNPREDICTABLE. AND
THE RANGE OF REVENUE THAT COULD
BE GENERATED RANGES FROM
$16-$51 MILLION. THAT IS NOT A
LOT OF MONEY TO PLAN OUR
INVESTMENTS AROUND. I WANT TO
NOTE THE INVESTMENTS ON THE
TABLE , RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD
ASSISTANCE, AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
ASSISTANCE ARE EXTREMELY WORTHY
GOALS FOR CITY SUPPORTS. SO I
OFFER NO DISPARAGEMENT ABOUT
THOSE PRIORITIES. BUT I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
GOD BETTER CERTAINTY ON THE
RANGE OF REVENUE THAT COULD BE
COLLECTED. I ALSO THINK IT IS
IRRESPONSIBLE. NOT NECESSARILY
IRRESPONSIBLE -- NOT A
NEGATIVE. WE SHOULD HAVE A
BETTER SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW WE WILL FRAME A NEW TAX
GOING FORWARD, AND WHAT IT
WOULD PAY FOR. THAT HELPS OUR
CONSTITUENTS CONTRIBUTE THEIR
BUY INTO THE IDEA THAT WE ARE
PUTTING FORWARD . THAT'S
SPECIFIC TO THE CAPITAL GAINS
TAX. THE BIGGER POINT I HAVE
MADE IN OTHER VENUES, WHEN WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT RESOURCES, WE
INSTITUTED THE PAYROLL TAX IN
2020, WHICH WAS THE LARGEST
CITY TAX BUT DID NOT GO TO THE
VOTERS IN SEATTLE HISTORY. --
BEFORE THE CHECKS EVEN BEGAN TO
ROLL IN FROM THE BUSINESSES,
AND THE BEGINNING OF 2022,
COUNSEL PUT FORWARD A STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT CALLING
FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW
REVENUE -- PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
WORKSHOP GROUP TWO LOOKS AT
ADDITIONAL FUNDS OF REVENUE TO
PAY FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF
PRIORITIES. PARTLY BECAUSE THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT CAME IN
FUNDED SOME COVID RELIEF WERE
USED TO DEVISE EXPENSES THAT
WERE ONGOING. AND SO THIS IS
THE TENDENCY I AM SEEKING TO
SHOW THAT WE CAN RISE ABOVE AND
MEET. WE CAN JUDICIOUSLY
IDENTIFY THE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES, AND VULNERABILITIES
IN OUR POPULATION THAT WE WANT
TO HELP AMELIORATE. AND DO SO
WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE THAT IS THE
SORT OF THING, THAT IS WHAT OUR
CONSTITUENTS WANT TO SEE FROM
THEIR ELECTEDS. THE ABILITY TO
USE THE RESOURCES WE HAVE RIGHT
NOW TO HELP THE GREATEST NUMBER
OF PEOPLE. AND I DO THINK WE
NEED TO BUILD BACK PUBLIC TRUST
IN OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT
BEFORE WE SEEK ANOTHER FORM OF
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. THOSE ARE
THE REASONS I VOTED AGAINST
THIS PROPOSAL A COUPLE OF DAYS
AGO. AND THE REASON I WOULD DO
SO AGAIN TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, AGAIN, I WILL
THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I
THINK SHE DID A FANTASTIC JOB
OF DISPELLING THE MYTHS AROUND
WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THIS TAX
WOULD BE. JUMPSTART IS ALSO
VOLATILE. IN FACT, YOUR PAY
INTO THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
THEN WOULD PAY INTO THE CAPITAL
GAINS TAX. WE HAVE ONLY ABOUT
100 COMPANIES THAT PAY. AND
REALLY ONLY 10 THAT CONTRIBUTE
THE BULK OF THAT REVENUE. BUT
WE HAVE OVER 54,000
MILLIONAIRES JUST IN SEATTLE.
SO WHILE IT MAY ALSO BE
SOMEWHAT VOLATILE, AND MAY NOT
RAISE JUST AS MUCH AS PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX, CAPITAL GAINS TAX
COULD BRING IN SUPPLEMENTAL
REVENUE THAT COULD HELP
STABILIZE AND DIVERSIFY OUR
REVENUE SOURCES AND ALLOW US TO
HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF GOVERNMENT.
THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS IF
THE ARGUMENT IS WE SHOULD BE
WAITING AND DEMONSTRATE OUR
ABILITY TO SHOW RESTRAINT, THAT
WAS OUR OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DEMONSTRATE HOW WE WERE GOING
TO DECREASE OUR EXPENSES.
IDENTIFY WHAT WE WERE GOING TO
CUT. SHOW THE KIND OF FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY SO MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES RAN ON LAST YEAR,
THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. WE
ACTUALLY SPENT MORE THAN EVEN
THE MAYOR PROPOSED IN HIS
BUDGET. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS
JUST A RED HERRING, AND I
REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO
THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT HOW WE
ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE. BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING
AWAY. IN FACT, IT'S GOING TO
GET WORSE OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS IF WE DO NOT START
GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT HOW WE
WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WILL
BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL. AND I
THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
BRINGING IT .
>> I AM LOOKING AROUND FOR
OTHER HANDS. WITH ANYBODY LIKE
TO MAKE MORE COMMENTS? PLEASE
CALL THE VOTE ON THE BILL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE BOAT
HERE IS WHETHER THE BILL SHOULD
PASS. A YES WOULD BE IN FAVOR.
TO VOTE NO WOULD BE IN
OPPOSITION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WILL?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> NOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> NO.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, FIVE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION FAILS. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE
AGENDA.
>> IDENTIFIED EIGHT
ESTABLISHING A SPENDING PLAN
FOR PROPOSED USE -- FROM
CAPITAL GAINS [ INAUDIBLE ] THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS YOU DON'T
PASS [ INAUDIBLE ] .
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVED
COUNSEL BILL 12909.
>> SECOND .
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
SPONSORED THE BILL.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
REMARKS, THANK YOU.
>> ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK
TO THE BILL?
>> WE ARE GOOD.
>> I AM SEEING NO DESIRE TO
SPEAK. THAT GIVEN THE CASE,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] TWO IN
FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION FAILS.
[ INAUDIBLE ] THE MOTION FAILS.
THERE WERE NO ITEMS MOVED TO
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE
ANY OTHER ITEM TO BE BROUGHT
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE? NOT
SEEING ANY, --
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? I HAVE
ONE ADDITIONAL PIECE OF
BUSINESS. I WANTED TO NOTE THIS
IS THE LAST COUNSEL -- COUNCIL
MEETING FOR OUR COLLEAGUE. I
WANTED TO KNOW THAT WITH A
BRIEF STATEMENT.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> COLLEAGUE, BUT SPECIFICALLY
COUNCILMEMBER WOO, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON
THIS COUNSEL. AND I AM PROUD TO
HAVE NOMINATED YOU, AND TO VOTE
FOR YOU. MY NOMINATION WAS
BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK
REPRESENTING YOUR COMMUNITY .
BEING A COMMUNITY LEADER, CIVIC
VOLUNTEER, AND DOING SO EVEN
WHEN IT MET BE BACK -- BANG
YOUR HEAD AGAINST CITY HALL'S
WALL, AND THE COUNTIES TOO.
THIS PERSPECTIVE IS SO
IMPORTANT, SO NEEDED, AND WHY I
NOMINATED YOU EARLIER THIS
YEAR. I SHOULD SAY THAT WAS THE
REASON -- IN THE NAVY, IN THESE
KINDS OF TIMES AND FAREWELLS,
WE HAVE A SAYING , FAIRWINDS --
SEES. COUNCIL BRIEFING
NOTWITHSTANDING, I WANTED TO
WISH YOU FAIRWINDS AND
FOLLOWING SEAS.
>> ANYBODY ELSE?
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, FOR RAISING THIS. I TOO
ON THE RECORD, AND WITH ALL OF
YOU HERE WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER WOO FOR HER
SERVICE TO OUR CITY. IN THIS
CAPACITY. BECAUSE YOU HAVE
SERVICED OUR CITY AS A
COMMUNITY MEMBER FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS. BUT I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK THAT
YOU HAVE DONE IT THIS YEAR. I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATED YOUR
SERVICE ON THIS COUNCIL . I
LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL OF THE
WORK YOU'RE DOING IN THE CID.
AND NOT JUST IN THE CID. I KNOW
YOU ARE NOW DOING WORK ACROSS
THE CITY. I REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND LIKE I
SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR
CONTINUED WORK TOGETHER IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE
FINAL NOTE THAT I DID NOT SAY
EARLIER TODAY. YOU FIRST CAME
TO MY ATTENTION, COUNCILMEMBER
WOO, WHEN YOU PACKED THESE
CHAMBERS WITH PEOPLE OF ALL
AGES, BUT PRIMARILY ELDERLY
PEOPLE. I THINK THEY WERE WHEN
REDSHIRTS. THEY WALK FROM THE
CID TO PACK THE CHAMBERS AND
TALK ABOUT SAFETY -- IT WAS
BEFORE US. I WAS IMPRESSED THAT
SOMEONE ABLE TO FILL THOSE
CHAIRS AND SHOW HOW IMPORTANT
THE COMMUNITY FELT ABOUT -- AND
YOU HAVE DONE THAT AGAIN
RECENTLY JOINED YOUR CAMPAIGN
WHEN YOU HAD A PUBLIC SAFETY
FORUM IN THE CID. THAT PLACE
WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY. IT WAS
CLEAR. THAT WAS MY INTRODUCTION
TO YOUR ABILITY TO TAP INTO
WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY LOVES, AND
THEN TRANSLATED TO THE EARS OF
POLICYMAKERS. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THAT WAS MY FIRST
IMPRESSION OF YOU. AND I WILL
MISS THAT WORK IN THAT CAPACITY
HERE.
PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER WOO, I
KNEW YOUR HUSBAND BEFORE I KNEW
YOU. I KNOW THAT MIGHT SOUND
WEIRD. NO. HE WAS A BASKETBALL
REFEREE, STILL IS. RANDY IS A
GREAT BASKETBALL REFEREE
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE, VERY
WELL-RESPECTED. I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU
STEPPED UP FOR YOUR SERVICE TO
THE COMMUNITY. YOU ALWAYS HOLD
TRUE TO YOUR VALUES AND WHO YOU
ARE. I COULD NOT BE MORE
HONORED AND JUST GRATEFUL FOR
THE TIME TOGETHER HERE ON
COUNCIL. AND I KNOW YOU WILL GO
ON TO DO PHENOMENAL THINGS. I
KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO
REPRESENT THE CID AND THAT
COMMUNITY. I AM INCREDIBLY
PROUD OF THE STRENGTH THAT YOU
HAVE PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THIS
ENTIRE PROCESS. I KNOW IT IS
NOT EASY BEING IN THIS CHAIR. I
APPRECIATE HOW YOU BROUGHT
GRACE, HOW YOU BROUGHT
ELEGANCE, HOW YOU BROUGHT
HONOR. HOW YOU REALLY SERVE THE
CID VERY, VERY WELL. I AM JUST
VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY, WHO ARE INCREDIBLE
PEOPLE. SO, THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
+1, COUNCILMEMBER WOO. I WANT
TO PILON FROM MY PERSPECTIVE
AND SHARE MY PRAISE AND EXPRESS
MY ENDLESS GRATITUDE FOR YOU
AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR
DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE . SERVING
WITH PRIDE, DISTINCTION AND
HONOR. THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE -- MAKE NO MISTAKE,
YOU ARE CHAMPION FOR ALL ISSUES
IMPACTING THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. IT'S
NOT LIMITED TO THAT, EITHER.
USURPED HONORABLY AS A
REPRESENTATIVE CITYWIDE FOR ALL
PEOPLE. REPRESENTATION DOES
MATTER. OUR CITY WAS SO LUCKY
TO HAVE YOU AS AN ASIAN WOMAN .
AND THE VOICE AND PERSPECTIVE
THAT YOU REPRESENT. OUR CITY IS
BETTER FOR THAT. TO ALL THE
PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS
COMMUNITIES, IN PARTICULAR, THE
API COMMUNITY, WHO MIGHT FEEL A
SENSE OF LOSS. I TOTALLY
UNDERSTAND. I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I , AND I HOPE MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES HERE INTENDED TO
HELP PICK UP THE MANTLE. MAKE
SURE THAT WE CARE FOR YOUR
TERRIFIC WORK IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS. THIS IS A SAD
MOMENT. BITTERSWEET MOMENT.
YOU'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE
HERE AT THIS DAY US. IT'S AN
ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE. BEING UP
HERE IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE.
YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT. I
KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF HAVE
THAT SO WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN
THESE HALLS OF CITY HALL, I
KNOW YOU ARE CURRENTLY, AND
WILL CONTINUE TO BE, A STRONG
LEADER SERVING ALL PEOPLE AND
ALL COMMUNITIES. I LOOK FORWARD
TO PARTNERING WITH YOU TOGETHER
ON SO MANY THINGS GOING
FORWARD. I VALUE YOUR
FRIENDSHIP. I VALUE YOUR
COLLABORATION. I VALUE YOUR
FEEDBACK. AND I AM JUST
GRATEFUL FOR YOU. HONORED TO
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAST THEIR --
WITH THE FINAL VOTE? THE FIRST
BALLOT THING? I DON'T KNOW. I
JUST APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.
NOT GOODBYE, BECAUSE YOU'RE
NOT GOING ANYWHERE. YOU ARE
HERE. I LOOK FORWARD TO, AGAIN,
CONTINUING TO PARTNER TOGETHER
ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. AND
THE CHEERING YOU ON AND
SUPPORTING YOU AND UPLIFTING
YOU AND HELP YOU OUT IN ANY WAY
I CAN GOING FORWARD. BY THE
WAY, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A
COUNCILMEMBER. YOU WILL ALWAYS
BE A COUNCILMEMBER. NO ONE CAN
EVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU.
YOU HAVE EARNED YOUR TIME HERE.
LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, NOW
YOU HAVE ADDED BENEFIT BECAUSE
YOU WERE A COMP THAT SO
COUNCILMEMBER, WE GIVE YOU
PRIVILEGE ANYTIME YOU WANT TO
TESTIFY, YOU GET PRIORITY.
KUDOS, COUNCILMEMBER WOO. YOUR
LEGACY WILL LIVE ON. AND WILL
PARTNER TOGETHER TO ENSURE AS
MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN AN
ABSOLUTE HONOR TO WORK WITH
YOU. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR
TRUST IN ME, AND YOUR
FRIENDSHIP AND COLLABORATION. I
WILL TREASURE THAT FOREVER.
IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING
YOU ALL HAVE DONE FOR ME, AND
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING THE COMMUNITIES I
WORK WITH THE HAVE A VOICE ON
THE COUNCIL. AS YOU MENTIONED,
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WORK TO
DO. THIS WORK IS NOT DONE YET.
YOU WILL BE SEEING ME HERE IN A
DIFFERENT CAPACITY. I STARTED
OFF AS A A GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE
AND WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL MISS
SEEING YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY,
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE ME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE
AMAZING THINGS YOU ALL WILL DO
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IS THERE
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE BODY?
>> NO FURTHER BUSINESS. I WILL
NOTE THAT WE ARE CANCELING THE
TUESDAY MEETING NEXT TUESDAY.
WE ARE HAVING A BRIEFING
MONDAY. WE WILL HEAR FROM OIR
AND THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA .
ARDENTLY? I WAS JUST GOING TO
SAY WHAT IS COMING UP. WE ARE
ADIT IS 5.26.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YES. CONGRATULATIONS TO US
ALL.