THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
>> AWESOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL IN THE CHAMBERS
FOR COMING. OKAY, GOOD
AFTERNOON. THIS IS THE
COMMITTEE. LET'S HAVE SOME
QUIET HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS THE COMMITTEE FOR THE
GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE
MEETING FOR THE GOVERNANCE,
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE. THIS IS THE MARCH
28, 2024 MEETING. IT IS 2:00.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> FIVE PRESENT AND NOT AN
EXCUSE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IDENTIFY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO ATTEND TODAY. THEY MIGHT BE
FILTERING IN AS WELL. I NOTE
THAT WE HAVE AN EXCUSED
ABSENCE. COUNCILMEMBER SETH
MUIR -- SAKA NEEDS TO LEAVE AT
3:30 . WITH THAT, THERE ARE
TWO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON THE WORKER
MINIMUM PAY STANDARD
LEGISLATION, AND THE SECOND
ITEM IS A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE
MAHER'S DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION. THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED . WITH THAT
WE MOVE INTO THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD ON ALL ITEMS
LISTED ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL
CALL SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER
THEY HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE.
WE ARE GOING TO TOGGLE BETWEEN
IN PERSON AND ONLINE SPEAKERS.
LET'S SEE. THERE ARE 20 ,
ABOUT 20 PEOPLE SIGNED UP IN
PERSON, MORE COMING. AND HOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP ON
REMOTE?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE 30 REMOTE
COMMENTERS.
>> OKAY. HERE IS WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO DO, EVERYONE WILL HAVE
ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. WE WILL
-- NORMALLY, PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS 20 MINUTES. I WILL
DOUBLE THAT TO 40 MINUTES. I
WILL CUT IT OFF THEN. ANYBODY
WHO IS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK BEFORE
WE GET INTO THE ITEMS THE
BUSINESS WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AFTER THE
LAST ITEM OF BUSINESS. THIS IS
TO ACCOMMODATE OUR SCHEDULES .
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA DOES NEED TO
LEAVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE
IS HERE FOR THE DISCUSSION.
EVERYONE WILL GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. WE WILL
START A 40, AND THEN WE WILL
CONTINUE WITH THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD, BECAUSE WE WANT
TO HEAR FROM YOU. WITH THAT, WE
WILL START WITH 10 PUBLIC IN
PERSON COMMENTERS. I WILL CALL
THREE NAMES AND ASK YOU TO BE
READY TO COME UP. ONCE WE ARE
DONE WITH THE 10, WE MOVE ON TO
THE REMOTE SPEAKERS. ALL RIGHT.
THE FIRST PUBLIC -- IN PERSON
SPEAKERS ARE ALEX, HENRY, AND
JORDAN.
>> GIVE ME A SECOND,
COUNCILMEMBER. EITHER ONE OF
THOSE SHOULD WORK. WHATEVER'S
MOST COMFORTABLE.
>> OKAY. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT
OF THE NEW PAY ORDINATES. HAS
THE LAW PROVIDED BETTER PAY?
YES. FOR ME? ABSOLUTELY. I
COMPARE MY BEST WEEK LAST YEAR
TO THIS YEAR, AND I MADE TWICE
AS MUCH MONEY. HOW DOES THE LAW
WORK? MAKES EVERY OFFER WE GET
A GOOD OFFER WORTH DOING. IN
THE BEFORE TIMES, THE LEAST WE
CAN GET PAID WAS TWO DOLLARS
ONLY. CUSTOMER TIPS,
RESTAURANT WAIT TIMES, LONG
LINES AT THE STORE, TRAFFIC,
PARKING, THE CUSTOMER NOT
COMING TO GET FOOD OR HAVING
UNCLEAR INSTRUCTIONS, NONE OF
THAT STUFF MATTERS, APP BUGS OR
ISSUES, NONE OF THAT MATTERS
ANYMORE THANKS TO THE NEW LAW.
THAT IS A MOUNTAIN THE STRESS
GONE FOR US. NOW WE CAN FOCUS
ON DOING OUR JOBS WELL, AND WE
DON'T HAVE TO NAVIGATE THIS
MAZE OF PITFALLS THAT COULD
RIGGED THE SYSTEM AGAINST US TO
TRY TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I HOPE
YOU SIDE WITH THE WORKERS ON
THIS ISSUE AND NOT THE APP
COMPANIES. THANK YOU.
>> I LOVE THE NEW PAY --
>> STATE YOUR NAME.
>> MY NAME IS HENRY. I DO LOVE
THE NEW PAY STRUCTURE. IF YOU
LIKE SEATTLE IS THE ONLY PLACE
IN THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU CAN
EVENTUALLY BE PAID FAIRLY. I
PROBABLY AVERAGE $25 PER HOUR,
FIVE DOLLARS GO TO MY CAR, FIVE
DOLLARS GOES TO TAXES, I AM
LEFT WITH 15, BASICALLY
MINIMUM-WAGE. I KNOW THE DID
COMPANIES CHARGE 30% TO THE
RESTAURANT, ANYWHERE FROM 50%
TO THE CUSTOMERS. I DO
UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE SUCH A
HARD PROBLEM PAYING IS THE
MINIMUM. I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC
YESTERDAY . I GOT PAID.
OTHERWISE, I WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN. WE JUST GO OUT AND GET
THE ORDERS. IT IS FAIRLY
SIMPLE. IT WORKS FOR ME EVERY
DAY. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR
TWO MONTHS AND HAVE NOT HAD A
BAD DAY YET. YOU JUST GO OUT
AND HUSTLE. THAT'S ALL YOU
HAVE TO DO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM JORDAN. I AM
PRIMARILY ON ITS THE CAR. I
STARTED WORK IN 2020. BEING AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN
A MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME. I AM
IN SUPPORT OF THE WORKER
MINIMUM PAYMENT THAT WENT INTO
EFFECT JANUARY 13 BECAUSE I
LOVE TO SEE THESE COMPANIES
BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. GIG
WORKERS NEED TO HAVE A LIVABLE
PAY WITH TRANSPARENCY. I FEEL
ORDERS MAY BE PAYING BETTER,
BUT THEY HAVE INSERTED
OUTRAGEOUS FEES. THEY MADE IT
DIFFICULT FOR CUSTOMERS TO TIP
AND ARE TRYING TO GET AN ORDER
THAT FEELS LIKE IT IS ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE. THEY'RE ALSO
TELLING PEOPLE WE MAKE $26 PER
HOUR, WHICH IS NOT TRUE OR
NECESSARY. WE ARE THE ONES
PUTTING IN THE WORK, DRIVING
LONG HOURS, USING OUR OWN
VEHICLES, PAYING FOR OWN
REPAIRS, PAYING FOR HER OWN
GAS, USING OUR BODIES TO
TRANSPORT THESE ORDERS, BIG OR
SMALL, MOST OF THE TIME THE PAY
WAS LAUGHABLE. I THINK HAVING A
STRUCTURED SYSTEM IN PLACE NOT
ONLY PROTECTS WORKERS, BUT --
HOLDS THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR
MAKING MILLIONS AND BILLIONS
OFF THE BACKS OF US. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE
KIBLER, -- KIMBERLY, LYNN AND
SULLIVAN.
>> KIMBERLY. GIG WORKER.
$700,000 FROM INSTACART . THAT
IS HOW MUCH RECOVERED RECENTLY
FOR MONEY STOLEN FROM THE
WORKERS AND THE VERY ECONOMY
OF OUR CITY. THAT IS MONEY THAT
IS NOW GOING BACK INTO THEIR
POCKETS AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
IT ALSO MADE IT RIGHT FOR
PREVIOUSLY EXPLOITED WORKERS.
THIS LAW IS WORKING. I WOULD
CAUTION THIS COUNCIL AGAIN
SETTING THE PRECEDENT OF
OVERTURNING PREVIOUS DECISIONS,
ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE NOT
EVEN THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER
OF THE YEAR THIS LAW TOOK
EFFECT. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT
WORK BETTER, THE ONLY THING
NEEDED IS TO CORRECT THE
SITUATION AND FORCE THE
COMPANIES TO NOT PASS THE SMALL
EXTRA OPERATING OFFENSES ONTO
THE CUSTOMER, RESTAURANT OR
WORKER. IT SHOULD COME STRAIGHT
OUT OF THEIR HUGE GROWING
PROFITS. THAT IS THE ONLY FIX
NEEDED FOR THIS LAW.
>> BEFORE YOU BEGIN, PLEASE
HAVE THE NEXT PERSON , PLEASE
BE READY.
>> HE WROTE A LETTER TO ME. I
WILL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HIM.
I'M SPEAKING MY PART RIGHT
NOW. I AM A DRIVER SINCE 2024
FOR UBER. I JUST WANTED TO
SHARE THAT THE SEATTLE ,
MINIMUM PAYMENTS PROTECTION FOR
IS FOR THE DRIVERS, BUT THE
COMPANIES STILL ARE NOT DOING
SO BY JUST USING THE LOW NUMBER
INSTEAD OF -- WE ALL KNOW THE
SEATTLE ORDINANCE NEVER ASKED
CUSTOMERS TO PAY THE FEE. THEY
NEVER, AND THE DRIVER WOULD
NEVER ASKED THE CUSTOMER TO PAY
THE EXTRA FEE FOR OUR SERVICE.
THE COMPANY DOES NOT JUST PASS
DOWN THE FEE TO THE CUSTOMER,
THEY ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT WE ARE
THE PROBLEM FOR ALL THE FEES
ADDING UP AND INFLATION. I
PERSONALLY COULDN'T AGREE
MORE -- DISAGREE MORE. I
WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHOW
HOW FRUSTRATED BEFORE THE
SEATTLE ORDINANCE HAPPENED, WE
ONLY MADE SEVEN DOLLARS. WE ARE
DOING EXACTLY THE SAME JOB WITH
THE SAME HOURS , AND MY INCOME
IS CUT IN HALF BECAUSE OF
THAT. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT.
I'M SPEAKING , NOW I AM
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OF
SULLIVAN.
>> COULD YOU HOLD A MOMENT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE RULES
ARE FOR ALLOWING ONE PERSON TO
SPEAK FOR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.
>> HE IS NOT GOING TO SPEAK,
BUT HE IS HERE.
>> OKAY.
>> I HAVE BEEN A GOOD WORKER
FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS NOW WORKING
AS A DRIVER WITH MANY TRIALS
AND RELATIONS. AS A GOOD
WORKER, I'M SUPPORTING CB 12
0294. THIS ORDINANCE HAS
INCREASED MY PAY. I NOW HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN MINIMUM
PAYMENTS FOR EACH ORDER FOR
THESE APP COMPANIES.
FURTHERMORE, THIS NEW ORDINANCE
HAS A DYNAMIC PAY STRUCTURE
WHERE WE ARE COMPENSATED FOR
TIME AND MILEAGE. THE ISSUES
WE ARE FACING WITH THE
ORDINANCE IS A DECLINE IN ORDER
VOLUMES DUE TO THE CUSTOMERS
NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THE
INCREASED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE ORDINANCE. THE APP COMPANY
REFUSED TO PAY THE NEW FEES
AND PASS THE COST ONTO THE
COMPANIES ON TO THE CUSTOMERS.
THEY ARE ADVISING CUSTOMERS
THEY ARE CHARGING THE FEES DUE
TO THE ORDINANCE. AS A RESULT,
THEY ARE PITTING GIG WORKERS
AGAINST CUSTOMERS AND CREATED A
DIVISIVE ATMOSPHERE. IF THE
ORDINANCE IS APPEAL, IT WILL
CAUSE HARM TO ALL GIG WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> JUST A REMINDER, WHEN YOU
HEAR THAT SOUND, THAT MEANS YOU
HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT. I DID NOT
EXPLAIN THAT TO BEGIN WITH. WE
WILL NOW GO TO GARY, REBECCA
AND RYAN.
>> COUNCIL, MY NAME IS GARY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION TODAY OF THE
CHANGES TO BE MADE TO THIS GIG
ORDINANCE. CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME AND YOU
WILL SEE THE JOURNEY. THANK YOU
FOR COMING ON THE JOURNEY WITH
ME, ALL MY FELLOW BICYCLE
COURIERS WHO HAVE BEEN BLOOD,
SWEAT AND TEARS EVERY DAY ON
THE STREET THE SEATTLE . THANK
YOU FOR THE RESTAURANT THAT
CAME HERE TODAY. YOU WILL HEAR
HER PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU FOR
THE 200 LETTERS FROM MERCHANTS
TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR. THERE DESCRIBING THE
SITUATION. EVERYONE I HAVE
SPOKEN TO, THEY'RE LOSING
MONEY. I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
THANK YOU. BAD DECISIONS WILL
NEVER BE MADE -- IT IS PART OF
BEING IN A DEMOCRACY. THAT IS
WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY. THANK
YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I APPRECIATE PEOPLES
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE TOPIC WE ARE
DISCUSSING. PLEASE DON'T
APPLAUD OR VERBALIZE IN
BETWEEN SPEAKERS. THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS BECKY. MY
HUSBAND AND I OPERATE HURRY
CURRY OF TOKYO AND SOUTH LAKE
UNION. WE RELY ON A MIX OF
DYING AND DELIVERY AND TAKE-OUT
TO OPERATE. DELIVERY IS A
SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.
WITH THE START OF THE NEW
YEAR, WE ARE FACED WITH
INCREASING COSTS, INCLUDING
MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH AFFECTS
EVERYBODY ON THE PAYROLL, NOT
JUST PEOPLE AT THAT LEVEL.
ALSO, THE ANNUAL RATE INCREASE,
THE RED, EVERYTHING IS GOING
ON. WE NEED TO INCREASE
YEAR-OVER-YEAR OUR DELIVERY.
WHAT WE FOUND, AND I EMAILED
ALL OF YOU A CHART THAT SHOWS
IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO
THIS IMITATION OF THIS POLICY,
WE WERE DOING ABOUT 20% TO 40%
OVER LAST YEAR. IT DROPPED --
WE ARE NOW 20% TO 40% BELOW
WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR. THIS
IS A SIGNIFICANT DROP FOR US.
IT IS TOTALLY RAVAGED
PROFITABILITY, SO WE REALLY
NEED YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS AND
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THAT IS
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS RYAN. I
AM A DELIVERY DRIVER IN
SEATTLE. I WOULD LIKE TO START
BY CLEARING UP SOME
MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN
GOING ON IN THE MEDIA. THE
REASON FOR THE SLOWDOWN IN
DELIVERIES HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH THIS ORDINANCE OR FIVE
DOLLARS DELIVERY FEE IS.
CUSTOMERS ARE USED TO THE
REGULAR FEES THAT HAVE BEEN IN
PLACE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THEY DON'T GET THE FEES FROM
DOORDASH, THEY WILL GET IT FROM
THE RESTAURANT ITSELF. THIS IS
A SEASONAL SLOWDOWN NOT
SPECIFIC TO SEATTLE. I COULD GO
DOWN TO AUBURN, EVERETT,
BELLEVUE DURING THE LUNCH RUSH
OR DINNER AND STILL GET ALMOST
NO ORDERS. IF DOORDASH REALLY
FEELS THAT A FIVE DOLLAR
DELIVERY CHARGE IS THE CAUSE
OF THIS, JUST TAKE IT AWAY AND
CHARGE ME. I WILL PAY THAT FIVE
DOLLAR FEE. IN FACT, UBER
EADES IS DOING THE SAME THING
RIGHT NOW. IF THEY PAY US THE
DIFFERENCE AND TAKE IT RIGHT
BACK IN THE FORM OF A SERVICE
FEE --
>> ROBBIE. AND THEN WE MOVE ON
TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> I AM ROBBIE, A DELIVERY
CUSTOMER. I WAS BEFORE PAY UP
AND REMAIN SO AFTER. I SAW THE
NEWS REPORTS ABOUT PRICE
INCREASES AND COMPARE MY ORDERS
BEFORE AND AFTER THE
LEGISLATION. IT WAS EXPENSIVE
BEFORE, AND IT IS STILL
EXPENSIVE NOW. LAST NIGHT A
PLACE AN ORDER THAT HAD $30
WORTH OF DOORDASH FEES. I ASKED
MY DRIVER HOW MUCH HE RECEIVED,
IT WAS $12. WE KNOW FROM
HISTORY THAT EFFORTS TO
INCREASE WAGES ARE ALWAYS MET
WITH CRIES OF POVERTY FROM
BOSSES AND THREATS TO WORKERS.
WE ALSO KNOW THOSE ARE SCARE
TACTICS. NONE OF YOU CAMPAIGNED
ON THE PRICE OF BURGERS, AND
FOR GOOD REASON. HE PROMISED TO
FOCUS TIME AND ENERGY AS
LEGISLATORS ON CRITICAL ISSUES
LIKE THE AFFORDABILITY OF
HOUSING AND NOT BURRITOS.
CERTAINLY NOT KICKING WORKERS
DOWN TO MINIMUM WEIGHT FOR THE
SAKE OF RICH PEOPLE OUT OF
THEY. URGE COUNSELOR TO AND
THIS EMBARRASSING TIME TO FOCUS
ON HOMELESSNESS AND COMMUNITY
ISSUES. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. WE WILL NOW GO TO
ONLINE SPEAKERS. THE FIRST
THREE SPEAKERS, BRITNEY, NICK
AND DAVID. REMEMBER, WHEN YOU
HEAR THE SOUND , WHEN YOU'RE
READY TO GO PRESS STAR SIX TO
BE UNMUTED. GO AHEAD, BRITNEY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
BRITTANY PART OF THE PUBLIC
POLICY MANAGER AT THE
WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF THE EFFORTS TO AMEND
THE WORKER MINIMUM PAY ART AS.
IN THE FACED PACED TECHNOLOGY
LANDSCAPE IT HAS BECOME
EVIDENT THAT EVEN WITH THE BEST
INTENTIONS POLICIES CAN HAVE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. THIS
HAS COME INTO STARK SINCE THE
LIMITATION OF THIS ORDINANCE.
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IT IS
IMPERATIVE TO REASSESS AND
ADJUST POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
TO ENSURE THEY EFFECTIVELY
FULFILL THEIR INTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. MOREOVER, WE MUST
ENSURE THEY ALSO FOSTER AN
ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO
INNOVATION. A VITAL CONTRIBUTOR
TO THE REVENUE ECONOMY. WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO
BRING TOGETHER ALL PARTIES TO
CONSIDER INCREMENTAL CHANGES SO
ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE
ECOSYSTEM , CONSUMERS,
RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS, CAN
ACHIEVE A SOLUTION . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NICK.
>> HI , MY NAME IS NICK. I AM
A GIG WORKERS SINCE 2017.
IBRAROLLE DO INSTACART. I FEEL
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REALLY
DIFFERENTIATE THAT ALL GIG
WORK IS NOT EQUAL. WE SPENT A
LOT MORE TIME AND ENERGY ON
INSTACART THEN UBER EATS OR
DOORDASH. THERE IS A LOT OF
GASLIGHTING IN TERMS OF THINGS
RECENTLY WITH THINGS BEING
DOWN. THEY ARE DOWN BECAUSE
THEY GOT RID OF THE OPTION TO
DO SO. AFTER THE DELIVERIES,
THEY MADE IT HARD. BUSINESS IS
DOWN BECAUSE BUSINESSES DOWN
EVERYWHERE. THAT IS NOT NEW. I
HAVE SEEN THEM GO THROUGH MANY
CHANGES OVER THE YEARS. I
HONESTLY THINK THAT, SINCE
THEY ARE FORCED TO BE KEPT
ACCOUNTABLE FOR PAY THAT PAY IS
BETTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DAVID, FOLLOWED BY CHARLIE.
>> FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS
DAVID. WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY
EFFORTS TO FIX THE
UNPRECEDENTED DELIVER PAY
ORDINANCE, WHICH IS NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED DELIVERY WORKERS,
RETAILERS, RESTAURANTS AND
CUSTOMERS. PRIOR TO THE
ORDINANCE ADOPTION, WE TOLD
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ABOUT THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, AND
TODAY WE SEE THAT COMING TO
FRUITION IN THE FORM OF LOST
INCOME, REVENUE AND HIGHER
COSTS. THE ABRUPT ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF THIS ORDINANCE IN
SUCH A SHORT TIME UNDERSCORES
HOW VITAL THE SERVICES ARE TO
SEATTLE. VIEWER SMALLER ORDERS
OF THE PLACE AND DELIVERY
WORKERS ARE WAITING LONGER FOR
THE ORDERS AND RECEIVING LESS
INTENSE. A RECENT STUDY
CONDUCTED FOR FLEX IT
ASSOCIATION WITH APP BASE
COMPANIES FOUND THAT THE APP
BASED INDUSTRY HAD $100 MILLION
IMPACT IN WASHINGTON STATE.
MANY WORKERS ARE BASED IN
SEATTLE. COUNSEL IS RIGHT TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY TO GET THINGS
RIGHT.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLIE.
>> FOLLOWED BY LYNN .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON , CITY
COUNCIL. I AM THE COMMUNICATION
DIRECTOR AT MLK LABOR. OUR
COUNCIL REPRESENTS MORE THAN
150 UNIONS AND HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF WORKING PEOPLE
ACROSS KING COUNTY. I WANT TO
BE CLEAR, THE LABOR COMMUNITY
IS OPPOSED TO ANY EFFORTS TO
REPEAL OR TO SCALE BACK GIG
WORKER PROTECTION IN SEATTLE,
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW. THIS IS
MONTHS AFTER THE LAW WENT INTO
EFFECT. LET'S BE CLEAR, DID
COMPANIES ARE USING THE SAME
PLAYBOOK THEY HAVE USE TIME AND
TIME AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO ANY
EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF
THEIR WORKERS. THEY THREATENED
TO LEAVE OR RETALIATE WITH
SUPERFLUOUS FEES, THEIR GOAL IS
TO CREATE THIS POLITICAL
PRESSURE TO GET THEIR WAY. IN A
LARGER SENSE, THERE WORRIED
ABOUT THIS BEING THE FIRST STEP
IN A SERIES OF ATTACKS ON LABOR
PROTECTIONS. WE ARE PREPARED TO
FIGHT BACK AND PROTECT THE
THINGS THAT MAKE SEATTLE A
GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
THIS INCLUDES MINIMUM WAGE,
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND FUNDING
FOR THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS TO PROTECT THESE
LAWS. THANK YOU.
>> LYNN IS CURRENTLY NOT
PRESENT. THE NEXT THREE WILL BE
KATIE FOLLOWED BY MARCOS AND
AISHA.
>> MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY
NAME IS KATIE, GOVERNOR AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR FOR THE WASHINGTON
FOOD INDUSTRY REPRESENTING
INDEPENDENT GROCERS,
CONVENIENCE STORES AND
SUPPLIERS. WE ARE ENCOURAGED
BY THE EFFORTS TO FIX DELIVERY
PAY ORDINANCE. OUR STORES ARE
CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE AGAINST
THE COST OF INFLATION, THE COST
OF FOOD, FUEL AND LABOR THAT OF
ALL INCREASED. THEY ARE DOING
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP
CUSTOMERS COMING BACK. DELIVERY
IS AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR THEM TO
REMAIN COMPETITIVE, EXCEPT NOW
THE NEW ORDINANCE IS DETERRING
CUSTOMERS. OUR CEO HAS
PREVIOUSLY TESTIFIED IN
OPPOSITION TO THE DELIVERY PAY
ORDINANCE ABOUT THE NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD COME
FROM THIS IMPLEMENTATION,
INCLUDING REDUCING ORDERS.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW IS THE
DIRECT RESULT OF AN UNTESTED
ORDINANCE. THIS IS DAMAGING
THE ECONOMY OF SEATTLE ,
ESPECIALLY INDEPENDENT
BUSINESSES. WE ENCOURAGE THE
COUNSEL NOT TO CONSIDER FIXES
TO THE DELIVERY PAY ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS MARCOS.
>> PUSH STAR SIX .
>> ALL RIGHT. FEEL FREE TO
JUMP BACK ON. NEXT WE HAVE --
NEVERMIND.
>> ARE YOU THERE? PRESS STAR
SIX. ALL RIGHT. FOLLOWING
THAT IS .
>> I AM HERE , I'M CALLING IN
SUPPORT OF THIS LAW BECAME A
LONG TIME MULTI-APP SHOPPER. I
HAVE BEEN IT INSTACART SHOPPER
THE LAST FEW YEARS. RECENTLY A
GLITCH LEFT ME OFF FOR ROUGHLY
A WEEK. IT WAS DEVASTATING
KNOWING I HAVE BEEN SO LOYAL
TO THIS COMPANY FOR FIVE YEARS
, AND FOR THEM TO JUST HAVE THE
COMPUTER FIRE ME FOR NO REASON
I GOT NOTHING THAN AN
AUTOMATED RESPONSE. NO HUMAN TO
TALK TO. THEY TREATED ME
PRETTY POORLY. THEY TOLD MY
FAMILY TO CALL THEM, AND I SAID
THAT I AM GOING TO CALL, I
DON'T HAVE A PHONE NUMBER.
THEY BASICALLY BLOCKED ME FROM
EVERYTHING. I HAVE BEEN
WORKING FOR THIS COMPANY FOR SO
LONG. IT WAS HEARTBREAKING AND
DEVASTATING FOR THEM TO CUT ME
OFF WITH NO INCENTIVE. I WOULD
LIKE THIS LAW TO BE KEPT IN
PLACE FOR REASONS FOR THIS
SPECIFICALLY. ALSO, JUST FOR
ALL THE DRIVERS MOVING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT REMAIN
WILL BE JOHN , FOLLOWED BY
BRUCE AND ALEXANDER. JOHN,
YOU ARE NEXT MY NAME IS JOHN
AND I AM PROVIDING COMMENT ON
BEHALF OF THE WASHINGTON RETAIL
ASSOCIATION. WE SUPPORT THIS
EFFORT TO FIX THE CITY'S
DELIVERY PAY ORDINANCE.
WASHINGTON RETAIL EXPRESSED
CONCERNS TO THE PREVIOUS
COUNCIL BACK ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THIS
ORDINANCE. RETAILERS, APP BASE
WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS.
REGRETTABLY, THOSE CONCERNS
HAVE PROVEN TRUE . RETAILERS
AND RESTAURANTS, ESPECIALLY
SMALL BUSINESSES, HAVE REPORTED
UNPRECEDENTED ORDER REDUCTIONS
SINCE THE NEW ORDINANCE TOOK
EFFECT. AS A RESULT, DELIVERY
WORKERS, THE PEOPLE THIS
ORDINANCE WAS INTENDED TO HELP
HAVE EXPERIENCED LONGER
WAITING TIMES FOR FEWER ORDERS.
REWRITING THE DELIVERY PAY
ORDINANCE IS A CRITICAL STEP TO
HELPING BOTH SMALL BUSINESSES
AND APP BASED WORKERS. WE FULLY
SUPPORT FIXING THE DELIVERY
PAY ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WILL BE RUTH.
>> MY NAME IS RUTH. I SUPPORT
THIS ORDINANCE. MANY SHOPPERS
HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN ORDERS
AND LOWER PAY ON ORDERS .
MANY OF US CAN EMAIL UNHAPPY
CUSTOMERS . WE DON'T WANT
THIS LAW. HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT
THE CASE. THIS IS ALL A DEVICE
PLAN ON THE PART OF INSTACART.
THEY HAVE HELD BACK PEOPLE
FROM GETTING THEM . THEY HAVE
TAKEN AWAY THE TIP OPTION SO
CUSTOMERS AREN'T TIPPING .
THAT IS WHY , BECAUSE BUSINESS
IS DOWN, AND --
>> THE LAST TWO OR ALEXANDER
AND ROBBER.
>> LET'S SEE IF THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKER, MARCOS, GO AHEAD.
>> ALEXANDER , YOUR NEXT.
>> THANK YOU. I AM ALEXANDER
SANCHEZ. I AM DEEPLY INVESTED
IN THE GIG ECONOMY AND THE
PRINCIPLES AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
IT EMBODIES. IN THE LAST 26
MONTHS I HAVE COMPLETED 6872
DELIVERIES AND HAVE BEEN
APPROVED WITH FIVE DELIVERY
PLATFORMS. I HAVE BUILT MY
BUSINESS AROUND THEM. I HAVE
PROVIDED A SERVICE TO THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE THAT IS
SECOND TO NONE. THIS IS A JUST
A JOB FOR ME, THIS IS A HUGE
PASSION. I LOVE SEATTLE AND ITS
PEOPLE. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO
KEEP THIS LAW , BUT MAYBE WITH
A FEW TWEAKS. WHAT I AM REALLY
ASKING TODAY IS JUST TO BE A
PART OF THAT. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY
SENT AN EMAIL WITH A COUPLE OF
IDEAS. IT IS SOMETHING THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO DO IN THE FUTURE,
TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT THE
WORKERS.
>> THE LAST SPEAKER FOR
ONLINE WILL BE ROBERT
SINGLETON. THAT IS THE FIRST
10.
>> THANK YOU. I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF POLICY AFFAIRS FOR
OF PROGRESS THAT BELIEVES IN
CHANNELING INNOVATION AND
SUPPORTING -- SPEAKING BEFORE
YOU TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
EFFORTS AND CONSIDERATION WITH
CHANGES FOR THE MINIMUM PAY
ORDINANCE. DESPITE BEING
WELL-INTENTIONED, IT IS LED TO
LESS WAGES BEING PAID TO APP
BASE DRIVERS BECAUSE THE DEMAND
OF DELIVERIES HAS DECREASED IN
RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING
COST. UNFORTUNATELY, ELECTED
LEADERS ARE NOT WILLING TO
CHANGE POLICY IN THE FACE OF
NEW INFORMATION. IT IS CLEAR
THE ORDINANCE IS NOT WORKING AS
INTENDED . IT IS DEMONSTRATED
BY TESTIMONY TODAY. THIS
CHANGES NECESSARY TO REALIZE
THE ORIGINAL VISION BEHIND THE
ORDINANCE THAT EFFECTIVELY
BALANCES BENEFITS OF APP BASE
COMPANIES AND THE POSSIBILITY
DRIVERS WITH WAGE APPROPRIATE
COMPENSATION. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THINK YOU VERY
MUCH. THE NEXT SPEAKERS WILL BE
IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS
STARTING WITH ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
AND THEN FOLLOWED BY JOHN AND
MIGUEL. PLEASE APPROACHED THE
PODIUM.
>> FASCIST .
>> THAT IS DISRUPTIVE LANGUAGE.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE WITH
THAT LANGUAGE.
>> MY NAME IS ALEXANDER. I
SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT
>> THIS IS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
I'M ASKING YOU TO STOP
TALKING. WILL TURN OFF YOUR
MIC.
>> YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT I SAY.
. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? IT IS
ABSOLUTELY LEGAL . APPROVED BY
NINTH CIRCLE AND U.S. SUPREME
COURT. WHAT IS A PROBLEM?
PLEASE GIVE ME MY TIME. IT
WILL LINK EVERYTHING FOR 20
YEARS SINCE I COME HERE. THEY
GIVE US ONE MINUTE. THEY TREAT
ME LIKE A SLAVE. THEY COST US
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. $1
MILLION EACH.
>> I AM GOING AHEAD .
>> WHY ARE YOU STOPPING ME?
I'M DOING EVERYTHING LEGAL.
EVERYTHING IS LEGAL.
>> THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING
TO US.
>> WE'RE MOVING ON TO JOHN,
AND THEN FOLLOWED BY MIGUEL AND
LILY.
>> YOU GET PAID $1 MILLION.
BUT NOT ONE PERSON TODAY HAS
OFFERED A SOLUTION TO THE LACK
OF ORDERS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
THAT WAITING WILL HELP. TO SAY
THE SALES ARE DOWN BECAUSE OF
THE SEASON IS JUST PLAIN
IGNORANT. COMPLAINING ABOUT
FEES SOLVES NOTHING. LIFE IS A
NEGOTIATION. FACTS MATTER. I
HAVE GIVEN THE COMMITTEE EXACT
FIGURES SHOWING HOW FOOD
DELIVERY MARKET IS DOWN. IN
2023, I AVERAGE EXACTLY 130
DELIVERIES PER WEEK . SINCE
JANUARY 13 I HAVE AVERAGE 53
PER WEEK. THE PROPOSED BILL IS
A GREAT START IF A NETWORK OF
COMPANIES AGREED TO REMOVE THE
FIVE DOLLAR FEE. I THINK IS A
GOOD AND RATIONAL COMPROMISE
THAT MAKES SENSE. I'M NOT
HEARING ANY BETTER OPTIONS.
NOTHING MATTERS, THOUGH IF
THOSE FEES ARE REDUCED TO
PRE-JANUARY 13.
>> MIGUEL.
>> AND THEN LILY. REMEMBER,
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT TIME, IT
MEANS YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT.
>> THAT WAS JOHN. AND WAITING
FOR MIGUEL AND LILY. AND THEN,
KYLE. ALL RIGHT. NOT SEE
MIGUEL. WE WILL COME BACK TO
YOU IF YOU ARE IN THE ROOM. GO
AHEAD LILY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I AM HERE ON BEHALF
OF THE 2400 MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
FIX THE DELIVERY PAY ORDINANCE.
WHEN THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED
BACK IN 2022 ITS PROPONENTS DID
NO OUTREACH TO LOCAL
BUSINESSES. THE RESULTS WE SEE
TODAY MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ALL
STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO BE ENGAGED
IN THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS.
THE CHAMBER RECENTLY SURVEYED
OVER 100 RESTAURANTS IN SEATTLE
AND 88% OF RESPONDENTS WERE
SMALL BUSINESSES. 97% OF THEM
SAID THEY ARE SALES HAVE
DECREASED SINCE THE ORDINANCE
WENT INTO EFFECT AND THE
AVERAGE REPORTED DECREASE WAS
37%. THEY SAY THE SALES
DECREASED IN QUARTER 120 24
COMPARED TO QUARTER 120 23,
WHICH MEANS THIS GOES BEYOND
SEASONAL SLOWDOWN. SEATTLE
SMALL BUSINESSES ALREADY WORK
ON RAZOR THIN MARGINS AND THEY
NEED GOOD LABOR AND SECURITY
INCREASES EVERY YEAR. SO DO THE
COSTS IMPOSED BY UNTESTED AND
RESPONSIBLE POLICYMAKING.
PLEASE FIX THIS ORDINANCE
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. KYLE, AND THEN
HAPPY. BY THE WAY, EVERYONE IS
WELCOME TO SEND IN YOUR REMARKS
TO US IN WRITTEN FORM IF YOU'RE
NOT ABLE TO FINISH HER
COMMENTS.
>> HELLO. I AM IN UBER EAST
DRIVER, AND DISTRICT 1 VOTER.
UBER EADS AND DOORDASH
COLLECTIVELY SAW OVER $20
BILLION IN REVENUE LAST YEAR
AND A 20% INCREASE FROM THE
YEAR BEFORE. BUT DURING THE
TIME THEY CONTINUE TO EXPLOIT
DRIVERS AND UNDERPAY. DESPITE
THE INCREASED REVENUE, THESE
COMPANIES ARE REFUSING TO PAY
THESE REASONABLE WAGES
THEMSELVES AND ARE INSTEAD
PASSING IT OFF TO CUSTOMERS
WITH UNNECESSARY JUNK FEES TO
DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN THE
CONSUMERS AND WORKERS. A MAC
EASE HAVE BEEN EXTRA MILITIAS
BY REMOVING THE TIP FROM
ORDERS. MAKING CUSTOMERS GO
BACK INTO THE APPS AFTERWARDS
TO APPLY IT IT, SOMETHING
PEOPLE UNDERSTANDABLY DON'T
THING TO DO. DESPITE THIS,
SINCE THE ORDINANCE HAS GONE
INTO EFFECT, I BEGAN TO MAKE AN
ACTUAL LIVABLE AND FAIR AMOUNT
DAILY. THE PROPAGANDA AND LIES
I'VE SEEN HAVE BEEN
RIDICULOUS. DAILY I SEE PAID
FOR ADS CLEARLY FUNDED BY THESE
COMPANIES IN ORDER TO STRIKE
DOWN THIS ORDINANCE. MAYBE SET
UP A FOR THIS AD SPACE, THEY
SHOULD PAY THEIR DRIVERS A
LIVING WAGE. I'M ASKING THE
COUNCIL, AND SPECIFICALLY TO MY
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, SAKA,
REMEMBER THEY HAVE HAD YEARS
AND YEARS TO PAY A FAIR AMOUNT
AND CLEARLY WHEN IT IS LEFT UP
TO THEM, EXPLOITATION IS THE
CHOICE. MAYBE THEY SHOULD SHOW
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY
THAT THEY CAN PAY A FAIR WAGE
BEFORE WE HEAR IN SEATTLE
DECIDE TO LISTEN TO THEM
INSTEAD OF THE DRIVERS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS HAPPY. I
HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR INSTACART
FOR FIVE YEARS. THIS BILL WAS
WRITTEN BY WORKERS FOR WORKERS
OVER YEARS WITH LOTS OF
FEEDBACK FOR MANY DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS. IT IS WORKING AS
INTENDED. IT HAS IMPROVED MY
LIFE IN MY JOB AND THE JOBS OF
THE OTHER INSTACART WORKERS. I
CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER
PLATFORMS BECAUSE I'M ONLY
WORKING ON INSTACART. I HAVE
SEEN MY PAY FROM INSTACART
INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY. A YEAR
AGO TIPS FOR MAKING UP ABOUT
60% OF MY INCOME BECAUSE THE
INSTACART PAY WAS LAUGHABLE. WE
WERE RELYING ON THE GENEROSITY
OF CUSTOMERS FOR IT TO BE A
LIVING WAGE. LAST WEEK TIPS
MADE UP 15%. THERE ARE FEWER
ORDERS, BUT EVERY ORDER I SEE
IS WORTH TAKING. NOW IT IS A
MATTER OF DECIDING WHICH ONE
FITS WITH WHERE I AM AND WHERE
I WANT TO GO. BEFORE, MOST OF
THESE ORDERS WE WOULD BE LOSING
MONEY ON PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE
THIS LAW. IT JUST WENT INTO
EFFECT AND NEEDS MORE TIME FOR
ALL THE BUGS TO BE WORKED OUT,
BUT IT IS WORKING. YOU HAVE
DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. AND PROUD
OF THE CITY FOR THIS LAW.
>> ALBERTO, JOSH AND CATHERINE.
>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING FORGET
COMPANIES FOR A WHILE. MORE
THAN FIVE YEARS. IT HAS BEEN
GOOD FOR ME. I AM WITH A
DRIVERS UNION. THIS BILL IS
GOOD. IT DOESN'T NEED TO
CHANGE. WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL, BUT INCREASING
THESE FEES, IT IS -- I AM NOT
HAVING MANY ORDERS RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE THREE DOLLAR AND SIX
DOLLAR ORDERS. HARDLY EVER
HAVE AN ORDER FOR $20. I AM
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BILL.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
THANK YOU.
>> CATHERINE AND LYNN. THEN WE
MOVE ON. HOLD ON. WAS THE
LAST SPEAKER ALBERTO ? OF THE
NEXT PERSON IS JOSH, THEN
CATHERINE INLAND. THEN WE MOVED
TO THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> HELLO . I REPRESENT MOHAVE
INDUSTRIES. I -- THE
PROPOSITION WITH ME TRYING TO
SEE IF WE COULD GET OFFICERS
TO PATROL THE AREA, ESPECIALLY
AREAS THAT ARE TROUBLESOME. I
THINK IT IS WAY TO HELP OUT
OFFICERS, AND WHATNOT. I
ACTUALLY WAS -- GIVEN TIME IT
WILL BE GOOD. [ INDISCERNIBLE
]
>> GO ONE.
>> YES. SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
GIVES SOME TIME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> OKAY. THINK YOU VERY MUCH. I
DIDN'T WANT TO MESS UP YOUR
FLOW, BUT IT IS THE COMMITTEE
, PER RULE, PUBLIC COMMENT
MUST BE DIRECTED TO ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA. I COULDN'T QUITE
HEAR WHAT YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT WHEN YOU SPOKE. SO I LET
YOU FINISH. BUT THAT IS FOR THE
PUBLIC, THE EXPECTATION GOING
FORWARD. GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CATHERINE
JENSEN. I'M A DRIVER
REPRESENTATIVE WITH DRIVERS
UNION AS WELL AS A FORMER
DELIVERY DRIVER. MANY OF OUR
MEMBERS ARE WORKING FOR THE
DELIVERY COMPANIES IN ADDITION
TO THEIR OTHER DRIVING WORK. I
AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR
UNION IN SUPPORT OF THE PAY UP
ORDINANCE. WE FINALLY OPPOSED
THE RUSH TO ROLLBACK WAGE
PROTECTION FOR DELIVERY DRIVERS
AND ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER VOICES ON ALL SIDES OF
THE ISSUE. CITY ORDINANCE WENT
INTO EFFECT, THE COMPANIES HAVE
COLLUDED TO IMPOSE JUNK FEES ON
CUSTOMERS TO SPUR BACKLASH THEY
ARE NOW USING AS THEIR CHIEF
ARGUMENT FOR CUTTING DRIVER
PAY. HOWEVER, IF THE JUNK FEES
ARE DRIVING UP PRICES, THEY
NEED TO ADDRESS IT . CUTTING
MINAMOTO WAGE FOR WORKERS WHILE
DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE JUNK
FEES LEAVES THE COMPANY THREE
TO KEEP IMPOSING THOSE FEES
THAT HER CUSTOMERS, VENDORS AND
DRIVERS IN SEATTLE. ARE UNIONS
EXPERIENCE IS THAT THIS POLICY
IS EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE
WHEN ALL PARTIES ARE INVOLVED
IN CRAFTING IT. UYGHURS A
COUNSELOR TO TAKE THE TIME TO
CONSIDER ALL VOICES ON THE
ISSUE AND RESIST CORPORATE
PRESSURE TO RUSH PAY CUTS FOR
SEATTLE DRIVERS. THANK YOU.
>> DID I SKIP YOU? THE PERSON
THAT GOD UP. THAT I
ACCIDENTALLY SKIP YOU?
>> I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT IF
THERE IS A WAY FOR ME TO SPEAK.
>> YOU CAN SIGN UP TO SPEAK
LATER. BUT WE WILL CONTINUE
WITH THE ORDER. WE CAN PUT
ANOTHER SHEET UP THERE. GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. IT AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING US TODAY.
I AM SHARING STORIES FROM SOME
OF OUR MEMBERS AT DRIVE
FORWARD. WE HAVE HEARD
REPEATEDLY HOW THE PAY UP
LEGISLATION IS NOT ONLY
NEGATIVELY AFFECTED DRIVERS,
BUT IS CAUSED WIDESPREAD
DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS TO MOST
ON-DEMAND DRIVERS. ELI SHARED
THE INFLUX OF DRIVERS LOOKING
FOR HIGHER WAGES IN THE CITY
ENDS UP SPILLING OVER TO
ADJACENT AREAS, CRATING
OVERSATURATION IN THOSE AREAS
AS WELL. OVERNIGHT HE NOTICED A
DECREASE IN OFFERS AND LOSS OF
EARNINGS. ALLISON STARTS HER
DAY . WHEN AN OFFER BRINGS HER
INTO THE CITY, IT IS NOW
EXCEEDINGLY RARE TO GET ANOTHER
OFFER. FOR DRIVER STATUS IS NOT
ACTIVE IN THE CITY DUE TO AN
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THE
LEGISLATION, WHICH RESULTED
HAVING TO TRAVEL FURTHER TO THE
NEXT PICK UP WHITE, THUS
INCREASING EXPENSES. JOE WE
SHARED WAITING 20 PLUS MINUTES
FOR AND OFFERED COMING. THESE
ARE JUST A FEW OF DOZENS OF
STORIES WE'VE HEARD FROM
DRIVERS. WE IMPLORE YOU TO MAKE
CHANGES TO THIS. THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD WITH
THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS.
>> THE NEXT FIVE VIRTUAL
SPEAKERS WILL BE SCOTT,
ALBERTO, JAFAR AND BRANDY.
>> PRESS STAR SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. I AM SCOTT
JENSEN. I THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING TO ME TODAY. I WANT
TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE PAY UP LAW.
I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO
PLEASE FIX THIS BROKEN LAW. AS
A DOORDASH DRIVER IN 2020, I
TURNED IT INTO SOMETHING WHILE
SEEKING A NEW EMPLOYMENT AND
STARTING MY OWN BUSINESS. I
RECENTLY HAVE SEEN CHANGES IN
THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT
WAITING FOR ORDERS . THE
SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE.
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THERE
HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHEREBY TO
WAIT UP TO AN HOUR TO RECEIVE
JUST ONE ORDER. SOMETIMES
ANOTHER HOUR UPON COMPLETING
THE ORDER.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I BELIEVE THAT SPEAKER WAS
SPOKEN FOR EARLIER BY SOMEONE
IN PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER,
ALBERTO. PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX. RA. MOVING ON. NEXT
SPEAKER, JAFAR, FOLLOWED BY
BRANDY . ALBERTO, IF YOU CAN
JUMP BACK ON, LET US KNOW. YOUR
NEXT.
>> JAFAR, YOU ARE READY TO GO.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM A FULL
TIME SINCE PANDEMIC. I HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS FOR MORE THAN
FOUR YEARS NOW. NOT ONLY DOES
THIS ALLOW ME TO PROVIDE FOR MY
FAMILY, IT ALSO ALLOWS
FLEXIBILITY TO REMAIN ENGAGED
IN SUPPORTIVE OF MY COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, TODAY I'M FACING A
THREATEN TO MY LIVELIHOOD AND
THE LIVELIHOODS OF COUNTLESS
OTHER DRIVERS LIKE MYSELF.
THEIR LONG WAIT TIMES FOR
ORDERS TO APPEAR ON THE APP.
THAT LEADS ME TO DRIVE
ENDLESSLY AROUND RATHER THAN
WAITING OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT.
MY SUCCESS REMAINS LIMITED. I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE FIX
THIS ORDINANCE. WE NEED
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESTAURANTS
AND OTHER DRIVERS. PLEASE FIX
THIS ORDINANCE.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR 62
UN-MUTE. LET'S GO ON TO
PETER.
>> YOU ARE UP NEXT.
>> HELLO . I AM THE OWNER OF
A CASUAL KOREAN RESTAURANT IN
SEATTLE FOR 13 YEARS. I JUST
WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT I DO
UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF THE
NEW ORDINANCE. I DO RESPECT,
YOU KNOW, THE MINIMUM WAGE, BUT
I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS THE
NEGATIVE IMPACT IT HAS HAD ON
OUR BUSINESS. OUR ORDERS HAVE
BEEN DOWN ABOUT 40% OR 50% THIS
YEAR. HAS SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCED OUR SALES, ALONG WITH
, AS A RESULT, WE HAVE HAD TO
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE OUR STAFF.
STAFFING HOURS. THAT HAS
IMPACTED EVERYONE IN GENERAL.
INCLUDING THE DRIVERS, WHICH
WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH.
THEY HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED
NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THEM.
PLEASE --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAS
UP IN FIVE ONLINE?
>> YES. I SEE THAT ALBERTO
ALVAREZ IS STILL ONLINE. PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX. THAT WILL BE
THE LAST ONE.
>> OKAY.
>> GO AHEAD, ALBERTO.
>> HELLO. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I
AM A DRIVER. I JUST WANT TO
MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NO REPEAL
ON THIS LAW. IT IS WORKING. THE
PROBLEM IS THE FEE. THE
PROBLEM IS THE CORPORATIONS.
THE PROBLEM IS GREED FROM THESE
CORPORATIONS. NO REPEAL.
EVERYTHING IS WORKING. FOR THE
DRIVERS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW,
DOUBTFUL OF THIS, JUST DRIVE
OUT OF THE CITY. LOOK NOT EVEN
FIVE MINUTES, DRIVE AROUND, YOU
WILL GET ORDERS FOR TWO DOLLARS
OR LESS. MAYBE THREE DOLLARS,
MAYBE FIVE DOLLARS. YOU KNOW
HOW FAR YOU WILL BE DRIVING? 10
TO 12 MILES. THAT IS THE
REALITY. NO REPEAL. KEEP THIS
LAW . IT IS WORKING. KEEP THE
MONEY LOCAL, BECAUSE THE 40,000
DRIVERS IN THE REGION, WE ARE
PAYING RENT, WE ARE, YOU KNOW,
ARE EXPENSES. NO REPEAL.
SUPPORT THE PAY . THE
CORPORATIONS ARE THE PROBLEM
AND THE FEE .
>> THAT IS A SECOND WAVE.
>> I AM GOING TO END PUBLIC
COMMENT , AS I NOTED BEFORE
THIS TIME BEING RIGHT NOW. WE
DO HAVE ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE
STILL LISTED ONLINE, AND I
BELIEVE FIVE PEOPLE LEFT
SIGNED UP. WE WILL DO THAT
AFTER THIS ITEM IS ADDRESSED
SO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA CAN TAKE
PART IN THIS DISCUSSION. OKAY.
I HAVE SAID , WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO THE
RECORD? LET'S DO THAT FIRST.
>> LET ME MAKE SURE EVERYBODY
REALIZES RIGHT NOW. WE DO NOT
HAVE LEGISLATION BEFORE US
TODAY. YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY
PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME EVER
SINCE THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS BEGAN RAISING THE
ISSUE TO OUR ATTENTION WHAT WAS
HAPPENING. I BELIEVE IT WAS
GARY, WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE
TODAY. HE APPEARED ON KING 5
AND THEN APPEARED AND PUBLIC
COMMENTS THE TUESDAY FOLLOWING
TO TALK ABOUT LOSS OF INCOME AS
A RESULT OF THIS WAGE. WE HAVE
HEARD PUBLIC COMMENT IN EVERY
SINGLE COUNCIL MEETING , ELISA
FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING,
SOMETIMES IN OTHER MEETINGS
SINCE THEN. WE ARE AWARE OF THE
IMPACTS ON DRIVERS . IT HAS
BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE
DIFFICULT TO HEAR FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES BECAUSE AT THIS
TIME IN THE AFTERNOON IT IS
DIFFICULT FOR SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS TO GIVE TESTIMONY. I
THINK THE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON
WHO SPOKE EARLIER TODAY . SOME
OF US WERE COPIED ON AN EMAIL
THAT WAS SENT TO MAYOR HAROLD
THIS MORNING THAT SAID, IT
TALKS ABOUT DISRUPTION TO
BUSINESS. THIS IS FROM , WHO
HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS ABOUT SIX
YEARS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST
DISRUPTIONS WE HAVE SEEN IN SIX
YEARS IN BUSINESS IS THE
DECLINE IN DELIVERY BUSINESS
THROUGH THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS.
OUR BUSINESS HAS RELIED ON 30%
TO 40% OF SALES COMING FROM
DELIVERY PARTNERS . THIS YEAR
WE HAVE SEEN A 30% TO 40% DIP
IN THAT DELIVERY BUSINESS. IT
HAS IMMEDIATELY TAKING US FROM
BARELY PROFITABLE TO
UNPROFITABLE. IS A HUGE IMPACT
AS THE REVENUE WE RECEIVED FROM
DELIVERIES HELPS US SUSTAIN OUR
EMPLOYEE -- EMPLOYEES LIVING
WAGE AND BENEFITS PROGRAM.
THERE WAS A MEMBER FROM THE
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER
WHO DID GIVE A COUPLE OF TOP
LINES OF THE RESULTS OF A
SURVEY OF 100 SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND I BELIEVE SHE
MENTIONED THAT 70% HAVE LESS
THAN 20 EMPLOYEES. SHE NOTED
THAT -- LET ME SEE. THIS WAS
ALSO, I BELIEVE, SHARED WITH
SOME PEOPLE. OVER 100
RESTAURANTS, NEARLY 70% WITH 20
OR FEWER EMPLOYEES RESPONDED.
97% OF RESPONDENTS REPORTED A
DECREASE IN APP BASED DELIVERY
SALES IS THE ORDINANCE WENT
INTO EFFECT. THOSE RESPONDENTS
WERE REPORTING SALES DECLINED
BY ABOUT 37% IN THE LAST 10
WEEKS. IT GOES ON WITH MORE
DATA POINTS. INTERESTINGLY,
WHEN ASKED WHAT ELSE THEY WOULD
LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE CHAMBER,
97% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID
THEY WANTED THE DELIVERY PAY
ORDINANCE REPEALED. WE HAVE
HEARD THAT FROM THE DRIVERS
THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO US IN
CHAMBERS AS WELL. THE OPTIONS
AS I SEE THEM RIGHT NOW ARE TO
DO NOTHING, FIXING EXISTING
LEGISLATION, OR REPEAL THE
LEGISLATION. THE FIRST OPTION
IS NOT AN OPTION AS FAR AS I
AM CONCERNED GIVEN THE
CATASTROPHIC IMPACTS WE'VE
BEEN HEARING ABOUT FOR SO LONG.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE
EXECUTIVES POSITION IS. I KNEW
THOUGH THAT I DO KNOW THEY
WOULD LIKE MORE DATA FROM THE
APP BASED NETWORK COMPANIES TO
JUSTIFY THE INCREASED COSTS
CUSTOMERS ARE SEEING , WHICH IS
DRIVING DOWN CUSTOMER DEMAND. I
DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL
TAKE. I FEEL A SENSE OF
URGENCY. THAT IS NOT REALLY AN
OPTION AS WELL. LIKE I NOTED,
THE REPEAL HAS BEEN SPOKEN OF
OFTEN . THAT WOULD BE A BIG
STEP. TODAY WE HAVE OPTION TWO
BEFORE US. WE WILL HEAR FROM
JASMINE OF CENTRAL STAFF AND
MICHAEL OF DRIVE FORWARD . FOR
THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE NETWORK
COMPANIES AND THE DRIVERS AS
REPRESENTED BY DRIVE FORWARD
HAVE BEEN IN TALKS NEGOTIATING
SOME PROPOSED CHANGES TO WHAT
WAS ORIGINALLY DRIVE FORWARD
'S RECOMMENDATION WHEN THE
LEGISLATION CAME TO COUNCIL IN
2022. I REMEMBER IT BECAUSE IT
WAS PUT FORWARD AND REJECTED
BACK THEN. IN THOSE EARLY
COUNCIL MEETINGS, I KEPT
MENTIONING MY CONCERN ABOUT
THE IMPACTS OF THE PAY UP, AS
IT WAS BRANDED BACK THEN. THE
PAY UP LEGISLATION ON DRIVERS ,
RESTAURANTS AND THE CUSTOMERS
THAT ARE ORDERING FROM THESE
DELIVERY APPS. AND SO, HERE WE
ARE AGAIN. THIS PROPOSAL HAS
BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD WITH
FEEDBACK FROM THE NETWORK
COMPANIES. WE WILL HEAR FIRST
TODAY THE PRESENTATION OF THE
EXISTING LAW FROM CENTRAL STAFF
THAT EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME
PAGE ON WHAT EXIST CURRENTLY,
AND THEN WE WILL HEAR MICHAEL
PUT FORWARD SOME OF THE
ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL BEFORE
US. MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN
COME TO A RESOLUTION QUICKLY.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT
THIS IS COMPLEX LEGISLATION,
AND THERE WILL NEED TO BE SOME
REVIEW. WE DO NOT YET HAVE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US. BUT
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, PLEASE
PRESENT YOURSELVES AND WALK US
THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
>> SURE. AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM ON CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DRIVE
FORWARD.
>> TODAY MY PRESENTATION WILL
GO OVER THE BACKGROUND OF WHAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. I
WILL ATTEMPT TO SUMMARIZE THE
CURRENT LAW IN EFFECT, WHICH AS
YOU CAN SEE, HAS MULTIPLE
ELEMENTS. ELEMENTS WITHIN THE
ELEMENTS. AND THEN, WILL SWITCH
TO THE CURRENT CONTEXT, AT
WHICH TIME MICHAEL WILL PRESENT
SOME OF THE DRIVE FORWARD
SURVEYS AND WHAT THEY ARE
HEARING IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT
CONTEXT. AND THEN, WE WILL
SWITCH BACK TO ME TO GO OVER
THE STAKEHOLDER PROPOSED
REVISIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, I WOULD ASK THAT
YOU HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL
CENTRAL STAFF PRESENTATION IS
DONE, OR AT LEAST UNTIL YOU GET
THROUGH SOME OF THE MAIN
POINTS, THE MEAT OR SUMMARY OF
ALL OF THE COMBINED PROPOSALS
ON PAGE 27. LET'S GO THROUGH
SOME OF THE INITIAL, LET'S GO
THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, BUT
THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER ON THAT
ONE PAGE. GO AHEAD.
>> I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO FOLLOW
UP AFTER THE PRESENTATION,
AFTER THE MEETING WITH
QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATION AS
WELL. SO YES, WE WILL END
WITH NEXT STEPS. I SHOULD ALSO
NOTE THAT MY SLIDES ARE PRETTY
MEATY . IN THE INTEREST OF TIME
AND WHERE APPROPRIATE I WILL
SUMMARIZE THINGS AT A HIGH
LEVEL, AND THEN HAVE MORE
DETAILS PROVIDED IN THE SLIDE
SO YOU HAVE THEM FOR REFERENCE.
OKAY. FIRST OFF, WAS PART OF
A GROUNDING FOR THIS
DISCUSSION, HERE IS A
SIMPLIFIED OVERVIEW OF APP
BASED WORK USING ON-DEMAND
RESTAURANT DELIVERY AS AN
EXAMPLE. HOPEFULLY ILLUSTRATING
SOME OF THE TERMS THAT ARE USED
IN THE ORDINANCE. THIS SLIDE I
ADDED . AND MAY BE POSTED TO
THE AGENDA ALREADY. IF NOT, IT
WILL BE POSTED AFTER THE
MEETING. BASICALLY, WHAT
HAPPENS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT CUSTOMERS PLACE AN ONLINE
ORDER ON THE NETWORK COMPANY
PLATFORM, WHICH GOES TO THE
NETWORK COMPANY. THE NETWORK
COMPANY PRESENT OFFERS TO THE
APP BASED WORKERS TO FULFILL
ONLINE ORDERS AND THE ORDERS
ARE ALSO GOING TO THE
RESTAURANT TO MAKE THE SANDWICH
OR WHATEVER. THEN THE APP BASE
WORKER CHOOSES TO ACCEPT OR
REJECT THE OFFER. THEY THEN, IF
THEY ACCEPT, THEY THEN GO PICK
UP THE ORDER AND THEN DELIVER
IT TO THE CUSTOMER. AND SO,
THE GOALS OF THE ORDINANCE , AS
IT CURRENTLY STANDS, WAS TO
ENSURE MINIMUM PAYMENT PLUS
EXPENSES FOR EACH OFFER, EACH
OF THE YELLOW ARROWS. AS WELL
AS TO ENSURE WORKERS HAVE
TRANSPARENCY , THAT THEY MAKE
INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT WHICH
OFFERS TO ACCEPT, AND TO VERIFY
COMPLIANCE WITH THE PAY
STANDARD AND OTHER RIGHTS. IN
ADDITION, THE GOAL OF THE
ORDINANCE WAS TO ENSURE
FLEXIBILITY. IT WAS INTENDED TO
PROTECT WORKER FLEXIBILITY,
INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO FREELY
CHOOSE JOBS IN HOURS WHILE
MAINTAINING THE COMPANY'S
ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO
CUSTOMERS AND THIRD-PARTY
BUSINESSES. AS ALREADY NOTED,
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THERE
ARE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER
THE ORDINANCE HAS LIVED UP TO
THESE GOALS. SO ARE WE TALKING
ABOUT? THE ORDINANCE COVERS
APP BASED WORKERS, THOSE WHO
USE NETWORK COMPANIES TO
RECEIVE WORK ASSIGNMENTS OR
OFFERS, AND THOSE WHO ACCEPT
THE PAID OFFER TO PERFORM THOSE
SERVICES IN SEATTLE. A COVERED
NETWORK COMPANY IS ONE THAT HAS
MORE THAN 250 APP BASED WORKERS
WORLDWIDE, CONNECTS CUSTOMERS
WITH WORKERS, PRESENT OFFERS TO
WORKERS THROUGH THE APP, AND
ALSO COMPANIES THAT SET RATES
OF PAY AND MONITOR THE WORKERS
MILEAGE AND TIME THEY WORK.
JUST WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE
CREDIT IS DUE, THIS GRAPHIC IS
FROM THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS APP BASED WORKERS
PROTECTIONS FLYER. I WISH I
WAS AS GOOD AT MAKING GRAPHICS.
OKAY. THE APP BASE WORKER
MINIMUM PAY STANDARD , HERE IS
A SUMMARY OF THE DIFFERENT
COMPONENTS OF THE MINIMUM PAY .
WHEN CONSIDERING THIS POLICY,
THERE WAS AT THE TIME SEEMINGLY
LITTLE DEBATE THAT APP BASED
WORKERS SHOULD BE PAID A
MINIMUM WAGE AT FACE VALUE. THE
QUESTION WAS WHETHER COMPANY
SHOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
GETTING WORKERS UP TO AN
EQUIVALENT MINIMUM WAGE AS IF
THEY WERE EMPLOYEES WITHOUT
OPINING ON THEIR INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR STATUS. THAT MEANT
ACCOUNTING FOR PAYROLL TAXES,
ON-CALL TIME, REST BREAKS,
MILEAGE EXPENSES, AND OTHER
FACTORS THAT ARE ACCOUNTED FOR
IN THE MULTIPLIERS EASY HERE.
THE ASSOCIATED COST, TIME AND
MILEAGE FACTORS. IN THE
FOLLOWING SLIDES, I WILL GET
INTO THE DETAILS ON EACH OF THE
FACTORS. FIRST WE HAVE THE
ASSOCIATED COST FACTOR. THIS
WAS INTENDED TO ACCOUNT FOR
COSTS OR BENEFITS THAT AN
EMPLOYEE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE
TO PAY FOR. IN OTHER WORDS, THE
ASSOCIATED COSTS OF BEING AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. THE
ITEMS LISTED HERE ARE SOME
EXAMPLES OF FACTORS THAT COULD
MAKE UP THOSE ASSOCIATED
COSTS. SOME OF THESE ITEMS ARE
THINGS THAT ARE DIRECTLY PAID
BY THE APP BASE WORKER LIKE THE
PAYROLL TAX, MISCELLANEOUS
EXPENSES, PAID MEDICAL LEAVE
IF THEY OPT IN, AND SOME ITEMS
ARE ONES THAT AN EMPLOYER WOULD
HAVE PAID FOR IF THE WORKER
WASN'T -- WAS AN EMPLOYEE IN
THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT IS TO
PROVIDE SOME CALCULATED BENEFIT
IN THE FORM OF ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION IN EXCHANGE FOR
NOT HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE
BENEFITS. IT WASN'T AN EXACT
CALCULATION, IT WAS MORE FROM
ART VERSUS SCIENCE. THE
ASSOCIATED COST FACTOR THAT
COUNCIL LANDED ON WAS 12%. THE
ASSOCIATED TIME FACTOR WAS
INTENDED TO ACCOUNT FOR
ADDITIONAL TIME WORKERS SPEND
IN BETWEEN OFFERS THAT RELATE
TO THEIR WORK . THAT INCLUDES
TIME REVIEWING OFFERS,
COMMUNICATING WITH NETWORK
COMPANIES AND CUSTOMERS,
RELOCATING IN ANTICIPATION OF
FUTURE AUTHORS IN CASE THEY GO
DELIVER SOMETHING TO AN ADDRESS
BAR AWAY FROM OTHER RESTAURANTS
OR PLACES WHERE THEY COULD GET
MORE OFFERS. CONDUCTING
ADMINISTRATOR TASKS AND TAKING
REST BREAKS. THAT ASSOCIATED
TIME FACTOR WAS 17%, WHICH
MEANS THAT FOR EVERY HOUR OR SO
WORKING, IT WAS ASSUMED ABOUT
10 MINUTES WOULD BE TAKEN UP
WITH THAT WORK ASSOCIATED TIME.
AND AGAIN, THAT WAS ARRIVED AT
IN CONVERSATION WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AND NOT
NECESSARILY FROM EXACT
FIGURES. ALL RIGHT. THE
MILEAGE EXPENSES. MILEAGE
EXPENSES ARE SET AT THE
STANDARD MILEAGE RATE THAT HAS
BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE IRS.
IN 2024 , IT IS $.67 PER MILE.
THE ASSOCIATED MILEAGE FACTOR
IS , IT WAS INTENDED TO ACCOUNT
FOR ADDITIONAL MILES TRAVELED
OUTSIDE OF SPECIFIC OFFERS
NEEDED TO PERFORM THE WORK. SO
THAT MEANS THE MILEAGE EXPENSES
INCURRED IN ANTICIPATION OF
FUTURE OFFERS, TAKING REST
BREAKS OR FINDING A RESTROOM.
THAT MILEAGE FACTOR IS SET AT
10%. ALL RIGHT. PULLING IT ALL
TOGETHER. IT IS $.44 PER
MINUTE AND $.74 PER MILE OR
FIVE DOLLARS AS A MINIMUM PER
OFFER AMOUNT. THE NETWORK
COMPANY MUST ENSURE THE WORKER
RECEIVES EITHER THAT MINIMUM
PAY STANDARD OR $5, WHATEVER IS
MORE. THE PAYMENT IS FOR AN
OFFER ENGAGE TIME AND MILES.
THE ON-DEMAND OFFERS WHERE
PERFORMANCE IS EXPECTED WITHIN
TWO HOURS OF GETTING ,
ACCEPTING THE OFFER, THE ENGAGE
TIME AND MILES BEGINS UPON
ACCEPTING THE OFFER UNTIL THE
OFFER IS COMPLETED OR THE OFFER
IS CANCELED BY THE COMPANY,
CUSTOMER OR WORKER WITH CAUSE.
THE PAYMENT IS FOR WHEN THEY
ARE ACTIVELY , IF A DELIVERY
SERVICE CAN ACTIVELY DELIVER.
ALL RIGHT. TIME FOR A LITTLE
MATH. I WOULD SAY ADVANCED --
AT BASE WORKER ACCEPTED AN
OFFER TO DELIVER FROM A
RESTAURANT TO HER RESIDENCE IN
SEATTLE 2 MILES FROM THE
RESTAURANT. THE APP BASE WORKER
DRIVES 1 MILE TO THE RESTAURANT
AND SPENT A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES
FROM THE OFFER ACCEPTANCE TO
DELIVERY DROP OFF. THEY WILL BE
PAID $13.20 FOR ENGAGE TIME,
$2.22 FOR ENGAGE MILES FOR A
TOTAL OF $15.42 FOR THE OFFER.
THAT IS ASSUMING THE ORDERS
ARE NOT STACKED, MEANING, IF A
WORKER IS FULFILLING MULTIPLE
OFFERS AT ONCE, THE MINIMUM
PAYMENT IS CALCULATED ACROSS
THE ORDERS. BUT FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL, FOR TALKING ABOUT
AN INDIVIDUAL OFFER, THEY WOULD
BE PAID THAT AMOUNT. ALL
RIGHT. THAT IS THE MINIMUM
PAY. THE TRANSPARENCY
STANDARDS INCLUDE UPFRONT
DISCLOSURES, AND THEN RECEIPTS
AFTER THE OFFER. FIRST WE WILL
DISCUSS UPFRONT DISCLOSURES.
THE NETWORK COMPANY HAS TO
DISCLOSE THIS LIST OF ITEMS,
AND INTEREST THE TIME --
>> SUMMARIZE. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> OKAY. I WILL NOTE THAT YOU
KNOW, YOU WILL SEE IN THE
PROPOSAL THAT THESE WILL BE
REDUCED OR REMOVED. IT IS A
GOOD REFERENCE TO HAVE GOING
FORWARD. SLIDE 12 RELATES TO
THE RECEIPTS REQUIRED AFTER
THE OFFER. WITHIN 24 HOURS
AFTER EACH COMPLETED OR
CANCELED OFFER, THERE IS A
RECEIPT GIVEN TO THE WORKER, AS
WELL AS THE CUSTOMER. IN THE
ORDINANCE, IT LISTS OUT
SPECIFIC ITEMS NEEDED , AND
THERE ARE PROPOSED CHANGES TO
THAT. THERE IS ALSO A WEEKLY
RECEIPT TO THE WORKER TO
ITEMIZE THEIR COMPLETED AND
CANCELED OFFERS AND THE
ASSOCIATED PAY AND OTHER
DETAILS. IN ADDITION, THE
TRANSPARENCY STANDARD INCLUDES
DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS TO
ADMINISTER, EVALUATE AND
ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE
CHAPTER. CURRENTLY LOS IS
UNDERGOING RULEMAKING TO
DETERMINE SPECIFIC RECORDS
THEY REQUIRE. THEN WE HAVE THE
FLEXIBILITY STANDARD. THE APP
BASE WORKER CAN'T BE PUNISHED
OR SUBJECTED TO AN ADVERSE
ACTION FOR LIMITING THEIR HOURS
OF AVAILABILITY OR REJECTING
OFFERS. THE NETWORK COMPANY
CANNOT RESTRICT WHEN AN AT
BASE WORKER CAN BE LOGGED INTO
THE APP, EXCEPT UNDER CERTAIN
INSTANCES OF DEACTIVATION OR
WHEN NECESSARY TO LIMIT WORKER
SAFETY. THE AT BASE WORKER
CAN'T BE SUBJECTED TO AN
ADVERSE ACTION FOR CANCELING
OFFERS WITH CAUSE. THAT IS ALSO
DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE.
OKAY. WE HAVE THE CURRENT
CONTEXT. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
MICHAEL. BUT IN ESSENCE, THE
ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT
JANUARY 13. THE NETWORK
COMPANIES RAISE DELIVERY FEES
AND SERVICE FEES AND SOME ADDED
A SEATTLE SPECIFIC FEE . THERE
HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF FEWER
CUSTOMER ORDERS AND LONGER WAIT
TIMES FOR WORKERS TO RECEIVE
OFFERS, IMPACTING THEIR
EARNINGS. THERE BEEN OTHER
REPORTS OF WORKER EARNINGS
REMAINING STEADY WITH FEWER
OFFERS, AND EVEN OF THE REPORTS
WE HEARD TODAY OF WORKER
EARNINGS INCREASING. THERE HAVE
BEEN PROPOSED REVISIONS BY
STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH I WILL GET
INTO AFTER WE HAVE THE
PRESENTATION FROM DRIVE
FORWARD.
>> I WILL NOTE THAT I AM
RESPONDING TO THE OVERWHELMING
REPORTS THAT WE HAVE HEARD UP
UNTIL NOW OF PROBLEMS SINCE
IMPLEMENTATION. I RECOGNIZE
THAT WE HAVE HAD THE
INFORMATION FROM THE CONTRARY.
BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF
OTHER WORK ON THE AGENDA WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS,
HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY,
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, AND THEN
DEAL WITH AN UPCOMING BUDGET
DECISION. SO I BELIEVE THAT I
SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE
ARE RESPONDING TO AN
OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF REPORTS
THAT THERE ARE THINGS TO BE
ADDRESSED.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT TODAY.
TODAY I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT
THE MINIMUM PAYMENT LAW AND
WHAT ITS INTENT WAS AND STILL
IS, ITS IMPACT AND HOW WE MOVE
FORWARD FROM WHERE WE FIND
OURSELVES TODAY. I KNOW THAT
MANY NEW MEMBERS HERE HAVE
PROBABLY NOT HEARD FROM US VERY
MUCH BEFORE. I JUST WANTED TO
QUICKLY GIVE A BRIEF -- THERE
IT IS. SORRY. GIVE A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF WHAT DRIVE FORWARD
IS. WE ARE A KICK WORKER LED
ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 2015 BY
A GROUP OF ACTIVISTS RIDE SHARE
DRIVERS, INCLUDING MYSELF,
RESPONDING TO ANOTHER PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AT THE CITY
COUNCIL. WE ARE A NONPROFIT
MEMBERSHIP DRIVEN ASSOCIATION
WITH 2500 MEMBERS ACROSS THE
STATE. OUR MISSION IS TO SHAPE
THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITIES BY
SUPPORTING, EDUCATING AND
ADVOCATING FOR INDEPENDENT GIG
WORKERS. WE PRIMARILY PROVIDE
VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMMING TO HELP OUR MEMBERS
RUN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES AND
TO ADAPT TO CHANGES IN OUR
INDUSTRY. ALONG WITH OUR
NETWORKING AND SOCIAL EVENTS,
WHICH ALLOW MEMBERS TO SHARE
THEIR EXPERIENCES AND
INFORMATION, OUR MISSION IS TO
BUILD A STRONGER GIG WORKER
COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, WE
FIRMLY BELIEVE ALL GIG WORKERS
SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY, NOT
JUST BY THE APP COMPANIES, BUT
ALSO BY GOVERNMENT AND
REGULATORS. I WANT TO QUICKLY
TALK ABOUT WHAT THE INTENT OF
THE MINIMUM PAYMENT LAW WAS
WHEN IT STARTED BACK IN THE
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS, WHICH WE
WERE INVOLVED IN IN 2021. I
THINK JASMINE COVERED MOST OF
THESE, BUT IT WAS TO
EFFECTIVELY CREATE A MINIMUM
PAYMENT STANDARD TIED TO
MINIMUM WAGE AT REASONABLE COST
IMPRESSMENT TO BOOT --
REIMBURSEMENT TO BOOST WAGES OF
THE WORKERS. IT WAS INTENDED TO
INCLUDE TRANSPARENCY RIGHTS AND
FLEXIBILITY RIGHTS AROUND THESE
KEY TENANTS. HOWEVER, BACK
THEN, THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH
THIS LAW WAS DRAFTED, DISCUSSED
AND PASSED WITH NOT A FAIR
HEARING OF ALL VOICES. AS A
RESULT, ASPECTS OF THE LAW THAT
WERE CLEARLY PROBLEMATIC
REMAINED IN THE LEGISLATION.
BECAUSE OF THOSE PROBLEMATIC
ASPECTS, THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
WERE TAKEN WHEN THE LAW BECAME
EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 13. THE
COMPANIES IMPOSING DRAKE
LaTORRE FEES THAT WE HAVE
ALREADY HEARD. SOME COMPANIES
MOVED CONSUMER FACING TIPPING
IN THEIR INTERFACE TO AFTER
ORDER COMPLETION, WHICH CAUSED
A LOT OF CONSUMERS TO TIP LESS
OR NOT AT ALL. THEY ENDED
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, AND
CUSTOMERS FACED HIGHER PRICES .
THEY REDUCE THE NUMBERS OF
ORDERS. WE ALSO SAW A FLOOD OF
NEW WORKERS INTO SEATTLE
BECAUSE OF THE PROMISES OF
HIGHER WAGES. THE IMPACT OF ALL
OF THIS WAS DEVASTATING TO MANY
APPS BASED WORKERS. I DO WANT
TO TALK QUICKLY BEFORE WE TALK
ABOUT THE IMPACTS ABOUT HOW WE
CAN MEASURE DIFFERENT IMPACTS
OF THIS LEGISLATION. THE FIRST
WOULD BE BY DATA, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, THE NETWORK
COMPANIES ARE ALWAYS VERY
RELUCTANT TO RELEASE THEIR
DATA, NORMALLY CITING
COMPETITIVE REASONS, WHICH
MAKES DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS
MUCH HARDER. WE DID COLLECT
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE , MANY
WORKER STORIES, FROM THOSE WHO
ARE IMPACTED BY THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES IN THIS LAW. WE
FOUND THAT ON-DEMAND WORKERS
TOLD US OF THE MOST SEVERE
IMPACTS TO THEIR EARNINGS AND
ABILITY TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
OTHER WORKERS MENTIONED THEY
WERE LESS IMPACTED, IF NOT
DOING BETTER, BECAUSE OF THE
WAY THOSE APPS THEY WORK FOR
WERE DESIGNED TO WORK. THOSE
APPS DIDN'T CHANGE FROM BEFORE
THE IMPLEMENTATION TO THE AFTER
IMPLEMENTATION, SO THOSE
WORKERS ENDED UP BETTER OFF.
GENERALLY, INSTACART, AMAZON
AND FLEX BECAUSE OF HOW THOSE
APPS WORK. HOWEVER, THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THE IMPACTS ARE
EQUITABLE. THEY ARE NOT.
UNINTENTIONALLY, THE CITY
COUNCIL IN THESE REGULATIONS
CREATED A MARKET WINNER AND
LOSER AMONGST THE WORKERS . WE
ALSO CONDUCTED TWO SURVEYS, ONE
IN 2021 AND ONE IN 2024. WE
CAN GET A GOOD COMPARISON OF
WHERE WE WERE THEN WHEN THIS
ALL BEGAN TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
FIRST OF ALL, LET'S LOOK AT
PRE-TIP EARNINGS. IN THIS SLIDE
YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE IMPACT
OF PRE-TIP EARNINGS, WHICH
EVERYONE AGREES SHOULD BE ABOVE
THE WAGE OF 1997, WHICH IS THE
SEATTLE MINIMUM WAGE. THE
PRE-TIP EARNINGS ARE DOWN 36%
FROM INFLATION ADJUSTED NUMBERS
FOR 2021. THIS CORRESPONDS IT
80% OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS
REPORTED SOMEWHAT, OR
SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER, OFFERS
BEING AVAILABLE. BUT BEFORE WE
MOVE ON, I WANT TO POINT
SOMETHING ELSE OUT ON THE CHART
THAT WILL BE CONSISTENT ON THE
NEXT TWO PAGES. THE TOP LINE IN
EVERY CHART WILL ALWAYS BE THE
2021 INFLATION ADJUSTED
DOLLARS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS
ALWAYS THE 24 NUMBERS BECAUSE
THAT IS HOW BAD IT HAS BEEN. SO
WHEN WE LOOK AT TIPS , AGAIN,
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS DOWN
50% COMPARED TO 2021 INFLATION
ADJUSTED DOLLARS. THIS
CORRELATES WITH THE 64% OF
SURVEY RESPONDENTS REPORTING A
DECREASE IN FREQUENCY OF TIPS.
TOTAL COMPENSATION IS DOWN 11%
TO 50% COMPARED TO 2021
INFLATION ADJUSTED EARNINGS.
SUMMER EVEN BELOW MINIMUM WAGE.
THAT IS WITH TIPS. PRE-TIP
EARNINGS IS A PERCENT OF
MINIMUM WAGE. THE RED IS 2021.
THE BLUE IS AFTER 2021. THE
100% LINE RUNNING ACROSS
REPRESENTS MINIMUM WAGE. AS YOU
CAN SEE, ALMOST EVERYONE IN
2024 IS EARNING BELOW MINIMUM
WAGE BEFORE TIPS. ALMOST
EVERYBODY. IN 2021, THAT
WASN'T THE CASE. SO WAITING
TIME AND HOURS WORKED. THE WAIT
TIMES, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE
GRAPH AT THE END, MANY DRIVERS
ARE REPORTING WAITING MORE THAN
30 MINUTES BEFORE OFFERS. ALSO,
THE HOURS, MANY PEOPLE ARE
WORKING OVER 50 HOURS A WEEK
JUST TO TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THE
IMPACTS THAT WE ARE SEEING , IN
THE SURVEY DATA THAT WE CAN
GATHER. WE ALSO HAD ANECDOTAL
EVIDENCE. YOU HEARD FROM MY
COLLEAGUE IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
THESE ARE SOME MORE OF THE
STORIES WE WERE TOLD BY
DRIVERS. ANDREA NOTED LOSING
HALF HER INCOME. MATT
UNDERSCORED HOW BAD THE FLOOD
OF NEW DRIVERS IN SEATTLE HAS
BEEN. SALLY ILLUSTRATED THE
LACK OF TIPS. AND FINALLY,
TERRY, WHO IS DOING BETTER
BECAUSE HE WORKED FOR AMAZON
FLEX, ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPACT
TO HIS FELLOW DRIVERS. IT IS
NOT THE JOB OF THE REGULATORS
TO DECIDE WHICH WORKERS ARE
GOING TO WIN OR LOSE. THE LAW
MUST TREAT EVERYONE FAIRLY AND
BE BALANCED. SO WHERE DO WE GO
FROM HERE? I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE TO ALIGN
THE INTENT OF THE LAW WITH THE
IMPACT OF THE LAW. I KNOW
JASMINE WILL CONTINUE IN A
MOMENT WITH HOW THAT CAN HAPPEN
IN THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS MADE,
BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU FIRST
OF WHAT THE ORIGINAL INTENT
WAS. YOU NOTICE THAT IS THE
EXACT SAME SLIDE IS BEFORE. THE
INTENT HASN'T CHANGED. I
DON'T THINK THERE IS A
STAKEHOLDER IN THIS ROOM THAT
DOESN'T AGREE THAT THIS IS THE
INTENT OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
SO I WOULD JUST SAY I STRONGLY
BELIEVE THAT WITH THE CHANGES
THAT JASMINE IS ABOUT TO TELL
YOU , WE CAN ACHIEVE THE
RESULTS WE ALL WISH TO SEE,
WHICH IS APPS BASED WORKERS
BEING PAID A FAIR WAGE ABOVE
MINIMUM WAGE. I WILL BE HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AFTER
JASMINE FINISHES HER
PRESENTATION.
>> BECAUSE OF TIME
CONSTRAINTS, I WOULD LIKE TO
PAUSE A MOMENT SEE IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS UP UNTIL NOW ON
THE CURRENT LAW OR ON THIS
PRESENTATION. OKAY. LEE'S
CONTINUE. -- PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> JUST GIVE US A MINUTE. WE
HAVE TO SHARE THE
PRESENTATION. I THINK WE ARE
GETTING IT. OKAY. SO I
SHOULD PREFACE THIS BY SAYING
THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS SENT
THIS PROPOSAL A COUPLE DAYS
AGO. CENTRAL STAFF IS NOT
NECESSARILY HAD TIME TO
EVALUATE OR EVEN PACKAGE THIS
IN A WAY THAT MAY BE BETTER
DIGESTED. BUT WE DID OUR BEST
TO AT LEAST PUT WHAT THE
PROPOSAL WAS ON THE SLIDES. WE
WILL DO OUR BEST TO SUMMARIZE
AS WELL. I CAN GO -- CHAIR,
SHOULD I JUST GO THROUGH THIS?
DO YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE
SUMMARY SLIDE FIRST?
>> I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
-- WELL, IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME. GO AHEAD TO THE SUMMARY
SLIDE.
>> SO I HAVE A SUMMARY SLIDE
TOWARDS THE END. SORRY. THERE
WE GO. IN THIS VERSION, WHICH
WILL BE POSTED TO THE AGENDA
AFTERWARDS, I MADE A SLIGHT
UPDATE WHERE I PUT THE SLIDE
NUMBER ON EACH BULLET POINT
FOR WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
DETAILS. THIS IS LIKE A ONE
PAGE SUMMARY , WHICH MAY NOT
CAPTURE EVERY SINGLE CHANGE,
BUT CAPTURES WHAT I HAVE
IDENTIFIED AS THE MAIN
TAKEAWAYS. APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE
IF THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING
FROM HERE. YOU KNOW,
DEFINITELY BY THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL HAVE A
MORE DETAILED PRESENTATION AND
ANALYSIS OF EACH OF THE
CHANGES. BUT FOR PURPOSES OF
TODAY'S CONVERSATION, JUST
GETTING AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE
PROPOSAL IS, WE CAN GO THROUGH
THIS LIST. I'M ALSO HAPPY TO
TAKE QUESTIONS. I KNOW MICHAEL
IS HERE AS WELL TO TAKE
QUESTIONS ON THE INTENT BEHIND
SOME OF THESE. THE FIRST CHANGE
WOULD BE TO MOSTLY REDUCE , OR
ACTUALLY REMOVE, A LOT OF THE
MINIMUM WAGE ADJUSTMENTS THAT I
TALKED ABOUT. THE ASSOCIATED
COST FACTOR AND ASSOCIATED TIME
FACTOR, AND THE ASSOCIATED
MILEAGE FACTOR . ALSO, TO
REDUCE THE MILEAGE RATE FROM
THE IRS RATE TO $.35 PER MILE .
THE RESULTING MINIMUM PAY
STANDARD WOULD BE 1997 --
$19.97 CENTS PER HOUR. THE
LANGUAGE AND BE ON SLIDE 15.
THE OTHER CHANGE WOULD BE THAT
ENGAGE TIME OR TIME THAT IS
PAID WOULD BE CALCULATED WHEN A
WORKER IS IN ROUTE TO TO
PERFORM THE OFFER INSTEAD OF
UPON ACCEPTANCE. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FOR MOST
OFFERS, FOR EXAMPLE, RESTAURANT
DELIVERY, YOU ARE ON THE WAY
PRETTY MUCH AFTER YOU RECEIVE
THE OFFER. BUT IN OTHER CASES
THERE IS MORE OF A DELAY
BETWEEN THE ACCEPTANCE AND
ACTUALLY DRIVING TO PICK UP
SOMETHING OR PERFORM THE OFFER.
IN THOSE CASES, YOU WOULD BE
PAID WHEN A WORKER HAS
INDICATED THEY ARE ON THE WAY.
THERE WILL BE , THE CURRENT
PROPOSAL, SORRY, THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE THAT IS IN EFFECT
RIGHT NOW DOES PROVIDE PAYMENT
FOR OFFERS CANCELED WITH CAUSE.
THE CHANGE IS THAT THERE BE
NO PAYMENT FOR OFFERS CANCELED
WITH CAUSE UNLESS A CUSTOMER
SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGES DROP OFF
LOCATION AFTER THE ITEM IS
PICKED UP. YOU CAN AGAIN SEE
THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ON SLIDE
16. ANOTHER BIG CHANGE IS
THAT EARNINGS ARE OFFERED OVER
A PAY PERIOD INSTEAD OF PER
OFFER. THAT MEANS THAT -- AND
THE PAY PERIOD CAN BE ANY TIME
UP TO 14 CALENDAR DAYS. LET'S
ASSUME A PAY PERIOD IS TWO
WEEKS . THE COMPANY CAN PAY ,
CAN ASSESS WHETHER THE WORKER
HAS REACHED THE MINIMUM PAY
STANDARD OVER THE COURSE OF
MULTIPLE OFFERS ACROSS THE TWO
WEEKS, AND THEN IF NEEDED,
ADJUST ACCORDINGLY TO ENSURE
THAT ACROSS THE HOURS AND MILES
THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE
MINIMUM PAY STANDARD. THE
CURRENT ORDINANCE HAS THE
CALCULATION AT EACH OFFER.
THAT COMBINED WITH INCENTIVE
RIGHT NOW , INCENTIVES AND
BONUSES, THEY MUST BE IN
ADDITION TO THE MINIMUM PAY
STANDARD. THE CHANGE BEING
PROPOSED BY STAKEHOLDERS IS
THAT INCENTIVES AND BONUSES ARE
A COUNT TOWARDS THE MINIMUM
EARNINGS STANDARDS. SO IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT A NETWORK COMPANY
ACROSS A TWO-WEEK PERIOD WILL
SEE MAYBE THEY'RE NOT QUITE UP
TO THE MINUTE PAY STANDARD, AND
THEY CAN USE INCENTIVES AND
BONUSES TO GET THEM UP TO THAT
STANDARD. AND BEYOND.
>> CAN YOU PAUSE A MOMENT?
MICHAEL, WHEN YOU PUT THIS
FORWARD, WHY IS THIS BETTER
THAN WHAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW WITH
THE WAY THE ULTIMATE PAPER
OFFER IS -- PAY PER OFFER IS
CALCULATED AND DELIVERED? IT
TOOK ME A WHILE WHEN YOU
PRESENTED THIS TO GET MY MIND
AROUND THE FACT WHY A PAY
PERIOD BASED THEM IN THE PAPER
OUR IS BETTER.
>> I THINK THE PRINCIPLE HERE
IS , THE IDEA IS A WORKER WILL
NEVER FALL BELOW MINIMUM WAGE.
AND SO, AT THE END OF EVERY
PAY PERIOD, IF THE CALCULATION
IS MADE, HOURS PLUS MILES, IF
IT COMES OUT UNDER MINIMUM WAGE
, UNDER THAT CALCULATION AND
THE COMPANY HAS TO BUMP THEM UP
TO WHAT THAT STANDARD IS, AND
IF THE WORKER HAS BEEN ABLE TO
MAKE MORE THAN THAT, THEY GET
TO KEEP EVERYTHING. THE REASON
WHY I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
WITH A PAY PERIOD INSTEAD OF
PER OFFER IS THAT PER OFFER
FIXES COSTS ON THE OFFER AND
ALLOWS NO FLEXIBILITY, AND
MAYBE PROMOTING ONE OFFER WITH
A HIGHER PAYMENT THAN ANOTHER
OFFER BECAUSE THAT OFFER MAY
BE SOMETHING LESS DESIRABLE TO
SOME APPS BASED WORKERS TO
ACCEPT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THAT PROVIDES BETTER CUSTOMER
SERVICE AND PROBABLY LOWERS
COSTS TO THE COMPANY SO THEY
CAN GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY
CAN REMOVE THAT FIVE DOLLAR
FEE. THAT IS ONE THE GOALS AND
DRIVE FORWARD. WE ASKED THE
COMPANIES THREE THINGS, REMOVE
THE SEATTLE MIGRATORY FEE,
BRING TIPPING BACK TO THE
FRONT, AND BRING BACK THE VERY
POPULAR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
THAT THE APP COMPANIES OFFERED
PREVIOUS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF PAY UP, SUCH AS THE
DOORDASH PROGRAM. WE'VE HEARD
FROM WORKERS OVER AND OVER
AGAIN THAT THOSE WERE VERY
IMPORTANT TO THEM.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> JUST A QUESTION. THANK YOU,
MICHAEL. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM
THAT THE $19.97 PER HOUR IS
ACTUALLY A CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE
IN SEATTLE.
>> YES, IT IS.
>> AND THE MILEAGE IS IN
ADDITION , AND THE MILEAGE
ALLOWANCE IS NOT CALCULATED
OVER THE TWO WEEK TRUE UP, IF
YOU WILL. BONUSES AND
INCENTIVES ARE, BUT NOT THE
MILEAGE. THEY STILL GET THE
MILEAGE?
>> THE MILEAGE IS PART OF THE
CALCULATION JUST LIKE THE
PREVIOUS LAW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> WHEN THE LAW WAS FIRST
INITIATED , AND IT WAS DECIDED
THAT TASK RABBIT WAS PULLED
OUT, THOSE TYPES OF APPS , WHY
WASN'T IT CONSIDERED YOUR
BADGE ORDERING IF THE COURT
-- INSTACART AND FLEX
DIFFERENTIATED FROM UBER EAST
AND DOORDASH?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, AT
THE TIME, I THINK PART OF THE
REASONING WAS THAT THE MORE
ON-DEMAND COMPANIES OR THE
NON-MARKETPLACE APPS , IT SET
THE RATES OF PAY , AND THE
WORKERS HAD LESS BARGAINING
POWER TO SET THE PAY TO ACCOUNT
FOR SOME OF THE EXPENSES
INCURRED. IN MARKETPLACE APPS,
THEY WERE ABLE TO SET RATES OF
PAY. AT THE TIME, COUNCIL
MEMBERS DECIDED THAT THEY WERE
LESS IN NEED OF THESE
PROTECTIONS.
>> SO RATES OF PAY --
>> AND MONITORING.
>> ON TASK RABBIT, YOU CAN SET
WHAT YOUR FEE IS, BUT THIS IS
KIND OF A SUBSET TO THAT,
UNDERSTANDING A BADGE ORDERING
PROCESS ON AMAZON AND INSTACART
IS DIFFERENT POTENTIALLY , AS
WE ARE SEEING IN THIS LAW. LIKE
THE IMPACT OF IT IS IMPACTING A
SUBSET DIFFERENTLY .
UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU.
>> TO GIVE MORE CONTEXT, THAT
WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH
THE ORIGINAL BILL. IT WAS A
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK THAT WOULD APPLY TO
SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF
BUSINESSES, DIFFERENT MODELS.
THE TASK RABBIT AND ROVER AND
THE SERVICES , THERE CALLED
MARKETPLACE COMPANY, BUT THEY
ARE PRIMARILY SERVICES, WHICH
IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM
DELIVERY. THEY WERE REMOVED.
THAT IS WHY ULTIMATELY VOTED
FOR THE LEGISLATION, BECAUSE WE
WERE ABLE TO COME TO AN
AGREEMENT ON REMOVING THOSE
COMPANIES, BUT THEY'RE STILL
VERY DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODELS
THAT THIS IMPACTS.
>> IF I MAY, A QUICK QUESTION
BEFORE I HAVE TO DEPART .
THANK YOU BOTH . THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK AND LOOKING AT A
POTENTIAL FIX FOR THE
CHALLENGES HERE WITH HIS
CURRENT LAW IN ITS CURRENT
FORM. IT SOUNDS LIKE EMMA
UNDERSTANDING THE LINEAGE AND
HISTORY OF THIS ORDINANCE,
THERE ARE CANARIES IN THE COAL
MINE, SO TO SPEAK, WARNING OF
SOME UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCES
OR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. IS
DECREASING SOME OF THAT RIGHT
NOW. BUT REGARDLESS, HERE WE
ARE. WE HAVE A PROPOSAL.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE MORE TIME TO STUDY THE
UNDERLINED TEXT OF THE
PROPOSAL. I THINK CENTRAL STAFF
WILL PROBABLY APPRECIATE THAT
AS WELL. BUT WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW, AND I APPRECIATE ALL
THE TIME AND THOUGHT AND
COLLABORATION THAT HAS PUT INTO
PROPOSING THE FIX HERE, BUT
WHERE WE ARE NOW , WHAT IS THE
GREATEST -- WE ARE NOT VOTING
ON THIS TODAY, BUT IF WE
ADOPTED THIS CURRENT VERSION
OF THE FIX IN ITS CURRENT FORM,
WHAT IS THE GREATEST RISK OR
UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCE THAT
YOU SEE ? WHICH SPECIFIC -- I
KNOW IT IS COMPLEX AND THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF DIMENSIONS
RELATED TO TRANSPARENCY AND
REGULATORY OVERSIGHT, AMONGST
OTHER THINGS, AND AS I
UNDERSTAND, THIS LAW IS
CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO ADDRESS
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE
ELEMENTS, BUT WHAT IS THE
GREATEST THING OR POTENTIAL
RISK YOU SEE TODAY THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT STILL MIGHT NOT
BE RIGHT?
>> THIS IS PRIMARILY FOR
MICHAEL.
>> YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT
THIS, I THINK THE GREATEST
RISK ON THIS IS HUMAN BEHAVIOR.
HUMANS ARE CREATURES OF HABIT.
THEY GOT USED TO LOW FEES
THAT WERE LEADING TO SOME
MINIMUM WAGE FOR WORKERS, WHICH
IS WHY WE WERE INVOLVED IN THE
STAKEHOLDER MEETING AND AGREED
INVISIBLE THERE SHOULD BE A
MINIMUM STANDARD. WE DIDN'T
AGREE WITH THE FORMAT OF THE
LAW PASSED. I THINK WE ARE NOW
AT A POINT WHERE, IF ACTION
ISN'T TAKEN SOON, THIS CHANGE
IN BEHAVIOR OF NOT ORDERING ON
THE APPS, NOT MAKING THESE
ORDERS, IS GOING TO GET LOCKED
IN. THAT MAY BE THE BIGGEST
HURDLE WE HAVE HERE. EVEN IF WE
DO ACT, WE MAY GET CONSUMERS
THAT JUST DON'T COME BACK TO
THE APP. WE ARE HOPING THAT IF
WE ACT FAST ENOUGH THAT THERE
WILL BE A RETURN TO THE APP
BECAUSE THE COSTS WILL COME
BACK DOWN. ORDERS WILL COME
BACK, DRIVERS WILL BE ABLE TO
MAKE THEIR EARNINGS AGAIN, TIPS
WILL RETURN BECAUSE HOPEFULLY
TIPS WILL MOVE BACK UP TO THE
FRONT, THE FEES WILL GO AWAY.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE
ARE TRYING TO DO HERE TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE INTENT OF THE LAW
ACTUALLY MEETS THE IMPACT OF
THE LAW.
>> MICHAEL, IS THAT BECAUSE WE
ALREADY HAVE A SITUATION WITH
THE RIDE SHARE, FOR INSTANCE,
THAT IS GIVING AN EXAMPLE
LEADING YOU TO THIS CONCERN?
>> I MEAN, RIDE SHARE IS
ALWAYS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN
DELIVERY. BECAUSE IT IS PEOPLE,
THERE NEEDS TO BE STRICTER
REGULATIONS AROUND SAFETY,
AROUND A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS.
VEHICLE STUFF . YOU KNOW, IS
SORT OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN
THAT WE ARE NOW STARTING TO
HEAR FROM A LOT OF OUR RIDE
SHARE DRIVERS THAT THERE IS NO
WORK OUT THERE. IT IS NOT
SEASONAL, BECAUSE THE PRICES
HAVE GONE WAY UP. JUST IN
JANUARY I WAS ON A VACATION FOR
WEEKEND AND WAS GOING TO TAKE
AN UBER FOR MY HOUSE IN
COLUMBIA CITY TO THE AIRPORT,
WHICH IS 8 MILES , 20 MINUTES.
UBER ONE $88 AND LYFT WANTED
$78. SOMEBODY'S PRICES ARE
STARTING TO GET A LITTLE OUT OF
WHACK.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL. I JUST
MEANT WE ARE SEEING THE RIGHT
DEMAND GO DOWN. YOU ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
>> ACCORDING TO KING COUNTY,
THEY HOLD DATA ON THIS. IN
2019, AT THE PEAK BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, THE APP COMPANIES,
LYFT AND UBER IN THE OTHER
ONES, PROVIDED 36 MILLION RIDES
IN SEATTLE /KING COUNTY. I HAVE
NOT SEEN FOURTH-QUARTER NUMBERS
FROM LAST YEAR, BUT IT IS
ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 21, ABOUT
40% OFF.
>> SO RIDES AND ORDERS ARE
DOWN. WHETHER WE CAN DO
SOMETHING NOW TO PREVENT THAT
BEING A LONG-TERM ISSUE.
>> CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I REMEMBER YOU TELLING ME
ABOUT THE FAIR SHARE OR THE
LEGISLATION THAT RESULTED IN
ABOUT A 15% DROP IN RIDES .
THAT ENDS UP REDUCING THE
DRIVER INCOME NO MATTER HOW THE
CALCULATION IS ESTABLISHED
PER RIDE OR PER DELIVERY . SO
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ASHKELON.
>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WHAT
WE ALSO SAW WITH RIDE SHARE NOW
IS THE RATIO OF RIDES TO
DRIVERS HAS STAYED ABOUT THE
SAME . IT IS ABOUT 1100 RIDES A
YEAR PER DRIVER. THAT RATIO
DID NOT CHANGE, BUT WHAT IT
MEANS IS THAT WE HAVE, YOU
KNOW, 2000 OR SO LESS DRIVERS
ON THE ROAD. OPPORTUNITY WAS
TAKEN AWAY. PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND
DIFFERENT WORK THAT MAYBE THEY
DIDN'T WANT TO THE DOESN'T
MEET THEIR SCHEDULES. THERE
ARE OTHER IMPACTS.
>> RIGHT. WE'RE TRYING TO
PRESERVE FLEXIBILITY, BECAUSE
THAT IS THE ATTRACTION OF THIS
KIND OF WORK. YOU MENTIONED
THE BIGGEST RISK BEING CONSUMER
BEHAVIOR. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT. PEOPLE WILL EITHER GO
AND BUY FOOD AT THE STORE AND
GET TAKEOUT, ET CETERA. THE
GREATEST THIS TO ME IS THAT THE
DRIVERS RIGHT NOW CANNOT PAY
THEIR RENT. WE HAVE GOTTEN
EMAILS SAYING THEY'RE NOW
MAKING NINE DOLLARS, EIGHT
DOLLARS . THIS IS FROM AN EMAIL
FROM MARCH 5. THAT IS WHY I
THINK -- THAT IS WHY I FEEL
THE SENSE OF URGENCY.
>> I AGREE.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY?
>> I WILL ADD THAT WE HAVE
HEARD FROM FOLKS WHO ARE
UNABLE TO GO OUT AND GET
GROCERIES. FOR INSTANCE,
SENIORS AND SUCH. THEY HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS AS WELL.
>> RIGHT. THIS DELIVERY
SERVICE, THE SERVICES DID TAKE
ON A GREATER IMPORTANCE POLICY
-WISE DURING THE PANDEMIC
BECAUSE HE WANTED PEOPLE TO NOT
GO OUT AND SPREAD THEIR GERMS,
AND THEN PEOPLE BECAME
DEPENDENT ON THESE DELIVERY
SERVICES, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE
WHO WERE UNABLE TO GO OUT OF
THE HOUSE. SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT
OF FOLKS USING THEM THAT ARE
SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES AND
NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THEM.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT WILL MATTER IS
DRIVING CONSUMER DEMAND BACKUP.
IT HAS TO BECOME MORE
AFFORDABLE.
>> SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE
TRANSPARENCY TAKEAWAYS, THE
STAKEHOLDER PROPOSAL PROPOSES
TO REMOVE SOME ITEMS FROM THE
UPFRONT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
, SPECIFIC DELIVERY LOCATIONS,
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY
OR PHYSICAL LABOR RELATED TO AN
OFFER , THE UNSEALED CONTENTS
OF AN OFFER, AND THE AMOUNT OF
CUSTOMER TIP, IF PROVIDED. A
COUPLE OF THOSE ARE
REINCORPORATED BACK IN THE
ACCESSIBILITY AND UNSEALED
CONTENTS ARE REINCORPORATED IN
THE FLEX ABILITY REQUIREMENT,
WHICH I CAN GET INTO WHEN WE
GET TO THAT. AND THEN, THE
OTHER THING THAT HAS CHANGED,
PROPOSED TO BE CHANGED, IS
REDUCING THE TIME TO REVIEW THE
OFFER. CURRENTLY IT IS TWO
MINUTES, AND THE PROPOSAL IS
THAT IT IS 45 SECONDS. THE
OTHER CHANGE WOULD BE TO REDUCE
INFORMATION THAT IS
TRANSMITTED IN WORKER RECEIPTS,
BUT THE ONE REQUIRED 24 HOURS,
AND THE ONE REQUIRED ON A
WEEKLY BASIS. IT ALSO
ELIMINATES ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR
RECEIPTS RELATED TO THE
CHARGES OR THE ITEMIZED LISTS
IN THE ORDINANCE. IT ELIMINATES
REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIPTS TO
THE CUSTOMER. IT ELIMINATES
OLS 'S ABILITY TO GET
EVALUATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF
THE ORDINANCE. OLS CAN STILL
GET INFORMATION RELATED TO
SPECIFIC ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS,
BUT NOT AFFIRMATIVE DATA. THE
PROPOSAL ALSO ALLOWS -- THIS
IS A LITTLE BIT IN THE WEEDS,
BUT CURRENTLY THERE NEEDS TO
BE AN ACCESSIBLE SYSTEM FOR A
WORKER TO ACCESS THEIR PRIOR
RECEIPTS OR INFORMATION ABOUT
THE OFFERS. AND THE PROPOSAL IS
TO ALLOW RESTRICTION OF ONGOING
INFORMATION ABOUT CUSTOMERS OR
THIRD PARTIES TO THE WORKER
IF THE CUSTOMER OR THIRD PARTY
REQUESTS THAT. THAT IS A
REQUEST FROM THE COMPANIES
AROUND PRIVACY. I AM PAUSING
FOR QUESTIONS. THERE IS A LOT
OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE TRANSPARENCY
SECTION. IT COULD GET IN THE
WEEDS. I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
WITH FOLKS ON THIS IF THERE ARE
FURTHER QUESTIONS. IF FOLKS ARE
STILL DIGESTING IT RIGHT NOW.
>> HAVE YOU GIVEN BRIEFINGS TO
COUNCIL MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY?
>> I HAVE HAD A CHANCE WITH A
COUPLE. BUT OTHERS , SINCE WE
HAD THE COMPRESSED TIMEFRAME
FROM THE TIME WE GOT THE
PROPOSAL TO NOW, WE HAVE IT --
HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO
BREATHE EACH COUNCIL MEMBER
INDIVIDUALLY.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DRAFTS
BACK AND FORTH. WITH AN ADDRESS
ALL OF A SUDDEN START WORKING
ON THIS LAST WEEK. IT HAS BEEN
PROLONGED WORK ON BOTH SIDES.
GO ON.
>> OKAY. AND THEN, WE HAVE THE
FLEXIBILITY BUCKET. ONE OF THE
PROPOSED CHANGES IS TO CLARIFY
THE REQUIREMENTS AROUND
FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW REWARDS OR
INCENTIVES FOR HIGH ACCEPTANCE
RATES OR AVAILABILITY . SO
RIGHT NOW, THE NETWORK COMPANY
CAN'T INITIATED ADVERSE
ACTION FOR LOWER ACCEPTANCE
RATES OR AVAILABILITY . THE
PROPOSAL IS TO CHANGE THAT SO
THEY CAN'T TERMINATE THE
CONTRACT, BUT THEY CAN TAKE
OTHER ACTIONS, WHICH COULD THEN
ALLOW FOR THEM TO REWARD
WORKERS FOR GREATER
AVAILABILITY AND OFFER
ACCEPTANCE. AND THEN, THE
SECOND CHANGE IN THIS AREA
WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE COMPANY
TO LIMIT WORKER ACCESS TO THE
APP IF THEY DISCLOSE THE
REASON. THIS RELATES TO SOME OF
THE CONCERNS WE HAVE HEARD
AROUND WAIT TIMES TO GET
OFFERS. THIS CHANGE IN THE
FLEXIBILITY REQUIREMENT WOULD
ALLOW THE COMPANY TO DISCLOSE,
HEY, WE'RE NOT LETTING YOU LOG
INTO THE APP RIGHT NOW BECAUSE
THERE ARE TOO MANY WORKERS IN
THIS AREA FOR THE NUMBER OF
OFFERS WE ARE GETTING, AS AN
EXAMPLE. RIGHT NOW, THE
ORDINANCE SAYS YOU CANNOT LIMIT
A WORKERS ABILITY TO LOG INTO
THE APP AT ANY TIME EXCEPT FOR
A COUPLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES. AND
THEN, THE LAST PIECE HERE IS
THE NARROWING AND SPECIFICITY
OF THE LIST OF REASONS A WORKER
CAN CANCEL AN OFFER WITH CAUSE.
THEREFORE, NOT BE DEACTIVATED
FOR CANCELLATION. THERE IS A
LONG LIST. IT TAKES UP TO OF
THE SLIDES -- TWO OF THE
SLIDES. IT CAN GET VERY
DETAILED. WE CAN CONTINUE TO
GO INTO THAT. I HAVEN'T HAD A
CHANCE TO DIVE INTO THE DETAILS
ON THAT ONE. AND THEN, LASTLY,
IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING
THIS TO ONE SLIDE, I DIDN'T
BULLETPOINT THE LIST, BUT
THEY'RE ALL AVAILABLE ON
SLIDES 25 AND 27. THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF CHANGES TO LABOR
STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT
PROVISIONS INCLUDING CHANGES TO
RETALIATION PROTECTIONS, TO --
ELIMINATING PRIVATE ACTION AND
RECORDS REQUIREMENT. SO THOSE
ARE ALL ON THE PREVIOUS
SLIDES. I CAN GO INTO NEXT
STEPS IF THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS.
>> PLEASE.
>> THE NEXT STEPS , I WILL HAVE
MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE
PROPOSAL. WE WILL HAVE DRAFT
LEGISLATION FOR INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL FOR THE APRIL 25
COMMITTEE. AT THAT TIME, THERE
WILL BE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION,
IDENTIFICATION, YOU KNOW, AND
DEPENDING ON HOW THE COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION GOES, POSSIBLE
AMENDMENTS OR FINAL COMMITTEE
VOTE. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
WEEKS, WE WILL GET TO FULL
COUNSEL. -- COUNSEL THAT.
INTENDED TO HAVE MORE TIME TO
LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL AND FOR
CENTRAL STAFF TO ACTUALLY
CREATE FORMAL LEGISLATION FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR
PRESENTATIONS. I SHOULD ALSO
SAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE
RECEIVED OF VARYING
PERSPECTIVES. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. AS I LOOK
THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THINK
ABOUT THE PAST YEAR AND THE
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE WERE
LOOKING TO DO, ONE OF THEM IS
GOOD GOVERNANCE. YOU KNOW,
PART OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IS
ENGAGING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS,
AND IMPORTANTLY, LISTENING TO
ALL STAKEHOLDERS. I GET THE
SENSE THAT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL
DID NOT DO THAT FULLY WITH THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION. I THINK
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HEAR FROM ALL THE VARIOUS
ELEMENTS FROM YOUR SLIDE HERE.
I KNOW THE NETWORK COMPANIES
ARE BEING HEARD IN DIFFERENT
WAYS. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO
BE HEARD. THAT WE HAVE THE APP
BASED WORKERS FROM THE SLIDE.
I HEAR IT, THERE IS CLEARLY
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES , IT
DEPENDS ON WHICH DELIVERY
PROGRAM YOU'RE WORKING WITH
AND THE LIKE. I GET THAT. BUT
YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK THAT
WE ALSO NEED TO HEAR FROM
THESE OTHER GROUPS, THE
CUSTOMERS. WE REALLY NEED TO
HEAR FROM THE CUSTOMERS. I
THINK THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
PARTICULARLY THOSE IN NEED,
WHICH GOES TO THE POINT OF
LESSONS LEARNED COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC. THERE ARE SOME
CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE GROWN
DEPENDENT, FOR VARIOUS REASONS,
FOR THESE DELIVERIES. I THINK
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
LISTEN TO THE CUSTOMERS. ONE
OTHER GROUP I DON'T THINK I
HEAR VERY MUCH FROM EITHER IS
THE RESTAURANT. I KNOW THERE
ARE VARYING TYPES OF
RESTAURANTS. WE HAVE HAD A FEW
HERE AND THERE, BUT WE HAVE NOT
REALLY HEARD FROM THE
RESTAURANT. ALL RESTAURANTS ARE
NOT CREATED EQUAL. SOME OF
THESE, IF IT IS ONE BIG MAC,
THAT IS ONE THING, BUT IF YOU
GO, THE DYNAMICS ARE DIFFERENT.
I THINK WE SHOULD HEAR FROM THE
RESTAURANTS IN VARYING TYPES OF
RESTAURANTS WE HAVE YOU MAY BE
ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS. THAT
WOULD REALLY AID OUR
UNDERSTANDING AND THE IMPACTS
OF MOVING FORWARD. AND SO, THIS
GOES TO NEXT STEPS. AGAIN, WE
HAVE TO ENGAGE ALL
STAKEHOLDERS, AND IMPORTANTLY,
LISTEN TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS AS A
MATTER OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. I
THINK WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
IMPROVE THINGS. I THANK YOU FOR
COMING. I WELCOME THE CHANCE
TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. WE SHOULD
ADJUST, IF NEEDED, AND HOW
NEEDED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY.
>>
>> I WANT TO ECHO THE
SENTIMENTS OF COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I WANT TO SAY
OFTENTIMES WE DO THINGS THAT
HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
AND WE ARE TRYING SOMETHING
NEW. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REVIEW
AND REALLY HEAR ITS IMPACT ON
THE PEOPLE WE ARE TRYING TO
HELP WITH THIS TYPE OF
LEGISLATION. ONE THING THAT
HAS BECOME TO CLEAR TO ME, I
APPRECIATE ALL THE PUBLIC,
TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE LAST
FEW WEEKS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING THIS PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION AND EMAILS AND
PHONE CALLS WE HAVE RECEIVED IN
OUR OFFICES. I KNOW WORKERS ,
WE WERE NOT CLEAR WHEN TALKING
ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, ABOUT THE
IMPACT OF THIS LEGISLATION.
SOMEHOW I FEEL LIKE WORKERS
THOUGHT THAT ORDERS WOULD
REMAIN THE SAME , BUT THEY
WOULD GET PAID THE MINIMUM
WAGE. I THINK, I DON'T THINK
THAT WAS A FAIR THING TO HAVE
TOLD THE CUSTOMERS, BECAUSE WE
HAD THE PAST EXPERIENCE WHEN WE
MADE A CHANGE, YOU KNOW,
RIDERSHIP WENT DOWN, FOR
INSTANCE. I WOULD HAVE
ANTICIPATED WHEN THIS HAPPENS
THAT ORDERS WOULD GO DOWN. IS
SO, I'M VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR
THAT SOMEHOW THERE WAS THIS
PERCEPTION THAT ORDERS WOULD
NOT GO DOWN. AND WE ARE SEEING
THAT ORDERS ARE GOING DOWN IN
VARIOUS SCENARIOS THAT WE HAVE
HEARD ABOUT TODAY . AND SO, IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR ALL
SIDES, AND ALSO THAT WE ARE
ENSURING THAT THE FOLKS THAT WE
ARE LOOKING TO HELP WITH THIS
LEGISLATION, NAMELY WORKERS,
THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING NEGATIVE
UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCES FOR
THOSE WORKERS. I AM GLAD THAT
FOLKS ARE ENGAGED, INCLUDING
DRIVE FORWARD, IN THE
CONVERSATION, ON HOW WE GO
ABOUT MAKING CHANGES THAT WILL
BENEFIT THE MAJORITY OF THE
WORKERS THAT UTILIZE THESE
PLATFORMS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I KNOW I MET WITH
LABOR UNIONS, APPS, DRIVERS , A
TON OF FOLKS, ESPECIALLY
DISTRICT 3 BEING VERY DENSE. WE
HAVE A TON OF RESTAURANTS IN
OUR DISTRICT. OUR DISTRICT IS
VERY UNIQUE, BECAUSE A LOT OF ,
I KNOW A LOT OF THE CARRIERS WE
HAVE ARE CYCLISTS BECAUSE OF
THE DENSITY. THEY ARE THE
PREFERRED CARRIER FOR OUR
DISTRICT. SOMETIMES BOUNCING
BACK AND FORTH. WHAT I AM
HEARING FROM DRIVERS ,
PARTICULARLY DOORDASH AND UBER
EATS, THAT ON-DEMAND DRIVING.
I'VE HEARD FROM AMAZON FLEX
AND INSTACART SAYING, HEY, THIS
IS BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR US. BUT
I'M HEARING THE OPPOSITE WITH
DOORDASH AND UBER EATS THAT IT
HAS NOT BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL AS
THE LAW INTENDED IT TO BE. AND
SO, I KNOW THAT OUR GOAL, MY
GOAL SPECIFICALLY, IS HOW TO
LOWER THESE FEES THAT ARE NOT
LETTING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THAT
ARE DRIVING PEOPLE AWAY FROM
ORDERING. AND HAD WE CONTINUE
TO KEEP THE SAME AMOUNT OF
EARNINGS FOR DRIVERS SO THEY
ARE TREATED EQUITABLY AND HAVE
MINIMUM WAGE . YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE PUTTING A LOT ON THE
LINE AS WELL. PARTICULARLY,
ALSO, RESTAURANTS. I DON'T
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
A MARGIN FOR RESTAURANT IS VERY
MINIMAL, 2% TO 6%. WHEN YOU
TWEAK IT JUST A LITTLE BIT, IT
CAUSES, I KNOW A LOT OF
RESTAURANTS THAT ARE LIKE, I AM
ON A FINANCIAL CLIFF RIGHT NOW.
IF SOMETHING IS NOT CHANGED, I
AM GOING TO -- I TALK ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESSES, I'M NOT
TALKING ABOUT PIZZA HUT. THEY
HAVE THEIR OWN APP. I'M TALKING
ABOUT THE SMALL OWNED
BUSINESSES THAT I HAVE HEARD
FIRST-HAND FROM ABOUT HOW
THEIR BUSINESSES HAVE REALLY
SIGNIFICANTLY DECLINED .
OBVIOUSLY, FOOD COSTS HAVE GONE
UP ABOUT 25% IN OUR COUNTRY. SO
WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT
OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR
BUSINESSES TO GROCERY STORES.
SPECIFICALLY, THE DELI. BUT
THERE IS ALSO A PATTERN WHERE A
LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
ORDERING ONLINE AND RELY ON
THAT. YOU KNOW, DINNER FOR KIDS
OR WHATNOT. I THINK THE
INTENDED GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE BALANCE IT
OUT, PARTICULARLY TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS
HEALTHY ECONOMIC MARKET TO MAKE
SURE DRIVERS ARE PAID WELL,
MAKE SURE THE RESTAURANTS ARE
ABLE TO SURVIVE AS WELL, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE OF
THE PROPOSALS AND FIGURING OUT
THE WAYS IN WHICH THERE ARE
SOME AMENDMENTS WE CAN PUT
FORWARD FOR THIS LAW TO KEEP
IT, SO THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO
WRAP UP. WHEN I HEAR YOU SAY
THREE WEEKS , I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT
WILL TAKE TO GET TO A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AND BRING IT BACK
TO COMMITTEE AND THEN GET A
BEFORE FULL COUNSEL MAP. AS I
HAVE SAID MANY TIMES, PEOPLE
ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW. IT IS
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO -- YOU
KNOW, IT IS ONE THING -- IT IS
ONE THING TO IDENTIFY THE
REASON WHY COSTS ARE HIGHER,
THAT NETWORKS HAVE PUT AN
ADDITIONAL FEE ON THE BILL TO
RECOUP COSTS, BUT WE DO NOT
REALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR
THE ABILITY RIGHT NOW TO
DEFINE OR DETERMINE OR REGULATE
HOW COMPANIES RECUPERATE THEIR
COSTS OR ALLOCATE THEIR RISK.
THAT IS THE WAY IT IS. MY
INTEREST IS IN MAKING SURE TO
COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT
MAKES THOSE FEES GO AWAY SO THE
COST OF DELIVERIES IS LOWER SO
IT DRIVES DEMAND UP SO THAT
THERE ARE MORE DELIVERIES, AND
SO THE DRIVERS CAN GET PAID
MORE AND RESTAURANTS CAN BRING
BACK THE REVENUE. THAT IS THE
END GOAL I AM WORKING TOWARD.
THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN WE -- I BELIEVE WE
CREATED A PROBLEM, AND IT IS
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THAT.
WE CREATED A PROBLEM BY NOT
TAKING SERIOUSLY OR REALLY
DOING ENOUGH CONSIDERATION
ABOUT THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES ON THE FRONT END.
NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH THE
RESULT ON THE BACK END. I AM
ARGUING FOR ADVOCATING FOR A
SPEEDY RESOLUTION . YOU AND I
CAN TALK OFF-LINE AT WHAT
COMMITTEE MEETING THIS CAN COME
BACK . THERE'S ALSO BEEN CALL
FOR REPEAL. FULL DISCLOSURE, I
ASK FOR REPEAL LEGISLATION TO
BE PREPARED. I DON'T KNOW HOW
THAT WOULD HAPPEN. I HOPE WE
CAN GO FORWARD WITH
LEGISLATION THAT BOTH SIDES,
WHEN I SAY BOTH, I MEAN THE
DRIVERS AS REPRESENTED BY DRYER
FIRE WORD -- DRIVE FORWARD --
AND THE NETWORK COMPANIES,
GOING FOR. STAY TUNED. THANK
YOU FOR THIS CONVERSATION. WE
DO HAVE ONE MORE ITEM ON THE
AGENDA. GO AHEAD.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> YES. LET US FINISH THE
PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE GETTING
INTO THAT PRESENTATION. THE
NEXT PEOPLE, THE REMAINING --
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TOWARD THE
IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
THERE ARE FIVE . HAPPY ALREADY
SPOKE. JASON, ERICA, MADISON,
ZACH, AND MICHAELA. PAUL AND
RAE. ERICA FRANKLIN, PLEASE.
IF THE PERSON WHOSE NAME I AM
READING HAS ALREADY LEFT, I
WILL HAVE TO ASK THAT THEY SEND
IN THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT. IS
ERICA HERE?
>> YES. THIS IS A CONTINUATION
OF PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE
COMMITTEE.
>> YES.
>> DID YOU ALREADY PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> I DID BEFORE. BUT AFTER
SEEING THIS --
>> NO. WE ARE CONTINUING THE
PEOPLE ALREADY ON THE LIST IN
AN EFFORT TO GET THROUGH ALL
THE NAMES WE HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> BUT PEOPLE CAN WRITE IN.
>> YES, EVERYBODY IS ENCOURAGED
TO SEND IN COMMENTS TO US
DIRECTLY ALSO BY EMAIL. ERICA,
JASON, MADISON AND MICHAELA.
>> I LOST MY DAD , UNCLE AND
BROTHER EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.
I DIDN'T GO INTO THE PUBLIC
FOR TWO YEARS WITH MY
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED SONS. I
RELIED ON GIG WORKERS AS HEROES
AT RISK THEIR LIVES. WE COULD
HAVE GROCERIES AND CREATURE
COMFORTS IN GRIEVING TIMES.
I'M DISGUSTED THESE
CORPORATIONS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
TO PROFIT IN EXCESS DUE TO
GLOBAL LOSS OF LIFE IN A PRETTY
THE BURDEN ON CONSUMERS LIKE
MYSELF AND THE 150 PEOPLE THAT
HAVE EMAILED THE ENTIRE COUNCIL
AS WELL TO PAY THESE WORKERS.
THE CORE THE MARKET , PUSH OUT
THE COMPETITORS, AND NOW WE ARE
USING CONSUMERS. I'M STANDING
BY THE WORKERS LISTED BY ME
UNTIL SOMEONE HAS A BACKBONE TO
STAND UP TO THE CORPORATIONS ON
THEIR BEHALF. I AM MY DISABLED
MOTHER ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED,
AND WE STILL RELY ON GIG
WORKERS. WERE STRUGGLING TO
AFFORD THESE RETALIATORY FEES.
DON'T LET CORPORATIONS GET
AWAY WITH GREED AND INFLATION.
THE UBER CEO MADE $24 MILLION
LAST YEAR. ARE YOU GOING TO
PROTECT THEIR PROFITS OR US?
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ANY THE SPEAKERS WHOSE
NAMES I READ, ARE YOU HERE TO
MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON?
GO AHEAD.
>> I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY. I WAS
READING ABOUT MICHAEL BARRY,
THE CHIEF CEO OF CAPITAL. HE
PREDICTED THE COLLAPSE OF
2008. HE IS BASICALLY TALKING
ABOUT HOW THE ECONOMY TODAY IS
SO TOP-HEAVY WITH A LOT OF THE
BUSINESS MODELS THAT HAVE
ARRIVED THE PAST 15 YEARS, AS
WELL AS THE FOUNDER OF THE
WORLD WIDE WEB WHO WAS APPALLED
AT THE MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN
CREATED BY THE APPROPRIATION OF
THE INTERNET. THE PROBLEM IS
WHAT WE ARE FACING IS
SYMPTOMOLOGY FROM ALL THESE
THINGS. I VERY PRO-BUSINESS,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE
TO HAVE A MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEM
THAT ALLOWS THE DISSIPATION AND
DOES A GREAT THE KIND OF
HEADACHES EVERYONE IS DEALING
WITH. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. WE
NEED TO FIX IT AT THE TOP ASIDE
FROM JUST FIXING THE POP UP
HERE AND THERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE THREE
COMMENTERS ONLINE.
>> THE LAST REPUBLIC
COMMENTERS WILL BE AMY,
MICHELLE, AND WILL .
>> -- AMY?
>> I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
INSTACART SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
OVERTIME, IT IS LOW WITH THE
BASE RATE OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE.
THAT IS FIVE DOLLARS FOR 1 TO
2 HOURS OF WORK. WHEN THE
ORDINANCE TOOK EFFECT, IT
BECAME SUBSTANTIAL TO WORK BACK
IN SEATTLE, AND I CAN BRING AND
WHAT I NEED NOW. THE SEATTLE
PAY ORDINATES HAS PROVED ANYONE
IS STILL PROTECTABLE GETTING
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE WITH
CONFIDENCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WILL BE
MICHELLE.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. I
KNOW YOU BEEN A BIG PROPONENT
OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES,
YOU WOULD REASSESS. HOWEVER, I
DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. TO ME,
IT FEELS LIKE THEY WERE
INTENTIONAL ON THE PART OF THE
COMPANIES. I AM WONDERING, THEY
HAVE NOT SAID THEY WOULD GET
RID OF THESE FEES. I'M NOT
SURE WHY ANYONE WOULD BELIEVE
THAT CHANGING THIS LAW OR
REPEALING IT WOULD MAKE THE
FEES GO AWAY. THEY KNOW THEY
ARE GETTING PAID. THEY WILL
KEEP THEM. YOU WILL JUST RIP
THE RIGHTS OF ALL THESE WORKERS
FOR SOMETHING YOU CANNOT
GUARANTEE WILL GO AWAY. I THINK
THAT IS FOOLISH. I FEEL LIKE
YOU ARE GIVING INTO THE
BULLYING. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE
TO THINK ABOUT THIS. THESE
COMPANIES ARE NOT LOYAL.
THEY'RE NOT HONEST. DRIVE
FORWARD IS AN GOOBER BACKED
COMPANY. THERE PUSHING THEIR
INITIATIVE. THIS IS NOT A LEGIT
FOR THE DRIVERS ORGANIZATION.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN
THE PROPOSAL THEY GET. IT IS
COMPLETELY UBER BACK. THERE
PUSHING WHAT UBER WANTS.
>> THE LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER
WILL BE WILL TISDALE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON . CAN YOU
HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> FOR THE RECORD, I AM A
GOOD WORKER SPOKE --. THIS
ORDINANCE SHOULD NOT BE
REPEALED. I HAVE WORKED WITH
INSTACART SINCE 2018.
INSTACART USED TO BE MORE
TRANSPARENT . GUARANTEE BASE
PAY, MILEAGE, COMMISSION, ET
CETERA WHICH ADDS UP TO MAKE
PAY FOR THE ORDER PRESENTED.
OVER THE YEARS I HAVE SEEN
INSTACART PAY DECLINE BECAUSE
OF BAD BUSINESS PRACTICES. FOR
EXAMPLE, USING CUSTOMER TIPS TO
SUPPLEMENT PAY. AS A RESULT, WE
DID NOT GET PAID WHAT WE SHOULD
HAVE AND NOW INSTACART IS
TRYING TO SKIRT AROUND THIS
ORDINANCE BY HAVING SEVERAL
ORDERS OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE. WE
DON'T GET SEATTLE PAY. THE
WORKERS GET THE BRUNT OF THE
IMPACT. IT IS NOT FAIR. WE NEED
THE ORDINANCE TO GUARANTEE WE
GET PAID FAIRLY.
>> THAT IS THE LAST VIRTUAL
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
CLOSED. CLERK, PLEASE READ THE
NEXT ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> [ ITEM BEING READ ]
>>
WHILE YOU ARE SETTLING, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. IT IS
NICE TO SHIFT TO ANOTHER TOPIC
THAT IS FORWARD THINKING. I
COULD ADD A WHOLE BUNCH OF
WORDS OF INTRODUCTION, BUT
BECAUSE YOU SPEAK SO WELL FOR
YOURSELVES, I WILL LET YOU
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND LET US
KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT TODAY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU, COUNSEL
MATT. APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE
MAYOR'S DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN WITH YOU TODAY. I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE
BROUGHT A WHOLE TEAM TODAY. WE
HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
PARKS AND RECREATION, THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT, THE VISIT SEATTLE,
AND THE OWNER OF A SPACE
INSIDE, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR
SEATTLE HISTORIC BUSINESSES IN
DOWNTOWN. THEY WILL EACH GET A
CHANCE TO SPEAK. I WANTED TO
START BY JUST TALKING ABOUT
WHY DOWNTOWN IS IMPORTANT AND
WHY SO MUCH EMPHASIS IS BEING
PLACED ON HAVING A DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE IS THE HEART OF THE
CITY. AS WE ALL KNOW, AT THIS
CRITICAL MOMENT IN ITS HISTORY,
IT IS UNDERGOING A
METAMORPHOSIS. THAT GIVES US
THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO
REIMAGINE WHO DOWNTOWN IS FOR,
WHAT IT MEANS FOR RESIDENTS,
WORKERS AND VISITORS. FOR THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
DOWNTOWN IS ALSO THE ECONOMIC
ENGINE FOR OUR CITY, OUR REGION
AND STATE . IT ACCOUNTS FOR
APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ALL THE
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN SEATTLE .
IT REALLY IS THE TAX REVENUE
BASE FOR THE CITY. THINKING
ABOUT BUDGETS , THE OPPORTUNITY
TO INVEST IN PROJECTS ACROSS
ALL THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS
, HAVING DOWNTOWN HUMMING IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. DOWNTOWN
IS ALSO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
IS EVER WITH A RECORD NUMBER OF
RESIDENTS. 10% LIVE DOWNTOWN.
IT IS ALSO UNIQUE SOCIAL
GATHERING SPACE, WHICH REALLY
DOES FOSTER A SENSE OF
COLLECTIVE BELONGING AND
WELCOMING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO DOWNTOWN IS COMPLEX AND IT
MEANS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO
MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THAT IS
WHY WE TOOK THE TIME TO DEVELOP
A MULTIFACETED PLAN TO ADDRESS
ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. IT
WOULD REALLY REVITALIZE AND
ACTIVATE DOWNTOWN. IS ALSO WHY
WE NEED A BROAD TEAM EFFORT.
THIS IS INTENDED TO JUST BE A
CITY PLAN. IS CERTAINLY NOT
JUST OED, HENCE, WILL HAVE SO
MANY OF OUR FRIENDS HERE TODAY.
IT TRULY IS A TEAM EFFORT TO
REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN. THE WHOLE
POINT OF THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN IS TO BRING
MORE PEOPLE BACK DOWNTOWN. THAT
IS THE FUNDAMENTAL CURRENCY OF
DOWNTOWN. IT RUNS ON PEOPLE. WE
ALSO KNOW THAT , ON TOP OF A
LOT OF MINDS COME AND SEE TALK
ABOUT DOWNTOWN, IS PUBLIC
SAFETY. YOU GUYS ARE CERTAINLY
THINKING ABOUT THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU HAVE
HAD PRESENTATIONS IN YOUR
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. YOU'VE
HEARD FROM THE DIFFERENT
CHIEFS. IS A PRIORITY THAT IS
SHARED AMONG THE CITY FAMILY .
BUT I THINK A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN IN
ACTION IS INFORMATION OF THE
CARE TEAM, WHICH IS A NEW WAY
OF ADDRESSING LAW ENFORCEMENT ,
PEERING SOCIAL WORKERS AND
OTHER TYPES OF WORKERS WITH OUR
POLICE OFFICERS, TRYING TO
REDUCE THE BURDEN ON THE POLICE
OFFICERS, HAVING A DIVERSITY OF
RESPONSES TO PUBLIC SAFETY,
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. JUST AS
AN EXAMPLE OF REAL PROGRESS
WE'RE MAKING ON PUBLIC SAFETY,
WE KNOW THERE'S MORE TO DO .
WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS A GOOD
TRAJECTORY THAT HAS REAL
PROGRESS, AND IT IS SOMETHING
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
BUT I WANT TO MOVE TO TALKING
ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER FACETS
OF HER DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN, STARTING WITH HOW IT WAS
DEVELOPED ACROSS DEPARTMENTAL
HE. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO EDIE
TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE WORK
TOGETHER TO CRAFT THE PLAN.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU . YOU
MIGHT BE WONDERING WHY SOMEONE
FROM THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE
ENVIRONMENT IS SITTING HERE
TALKING TO YOU ABOUT DOWNTOWN.
OSE SITS AT A UNIQUE POSITION
IN THE CITY, OFTEN DRIVING
COLLABORATION,
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION
TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS. THIS
PLAN WAS CREATED BY A DEEPLY
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.
INCLUDING A STEERING COMMITTEE
OF 11 CITY DEPARTMENTS OF WHICH
PARKS AND OSE WERE TOO. YOU CAN
SEE HOW WE ENGAGED WITH
COMMUNITY, WITH REGIONAL
AGENCIES, WITH RESIDENTS
THROUGH SURVEYS HERE ON THIS
LIST . BUT THAT IS NOT ALL. I
MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS, CLEARLY, THAT
HAVE BEEN HAD, BUT SEATTLE IS
ALSO NOT ALONE IN OUR
POST-PANDEMIC CHALLENGES. WE
ACTUALLY ALSO ENGAGED WITH
SEVERAL OTHER CITIES, NAMELY
SAN FRANCISCO, BOSTON AND
ATLANTA , TO HEAR FROM THEM
ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THEIR OWN REVITALIZATION ,
REACTIVATION PLANS TO SEE WHAT
WAS WORKING AND WHAT WAS NOT
WORKING. ALL OF THIS ENGAGEMENT
CAN BE SEEN AND FELT AS WE
HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING THIS
PLAN. THE PLAN -- THIS IS A
MAP OF OUR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN ZONES. THESE ARE THE
AREAS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AS
WE ARE IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES.
THIS PLAN IS THE NEED TO WORK
FOR ALL THE DISTINCT AND
DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAKE
UP OUR DOWNTOWN. FROM BELLTOWN
TO THE CID, THIS EFFORT SOUGHT
TO ENSURE, NUMBER ONE, THE
DOWNTOWN IS A DYNAMIC PLACE TO
WORK, NUMBER TWO, AS OUR
FASTEST-GROWING NEIGHBORHOOD,
THAT IT IS A DESIRABLE PLACE TO
LIVE AND CONTINUES TO BE ONE,
AND FINALLY, IT CONTINUES TO
BE A WORLD RENOWNED PLACE TO
VISIT. I WOULD NOT TAKE MY
RESPONSIBILITY AS AN OSE
STAFFORD ALSO SAY A GREEN AND
VIBRANT CONNECTED TO THE
WATERFRONT AMAZING PLACE TO
LIVE. BACK TO YOU, DIRECTOR.
>> THANKS. WITH ALL OF THAT
INPUT COMING FROM ALL OVER THE
CITY, AS WELL AS TRYING TO
LEARN FROM OTHER CITIES , WE
CRAFTED THE SEVEN GOALS . IT IS
A MULTIFACETED COMPLEX PROBLEM.
THERE IS NO ONE LEVER WE CAN
PULL THAT WILL SOLVE IT. WE
NEED TO HAVE A RESPONSE TO
MATCH. AND SO, EVEN IF WE
ACCOMPLISHED ANYONE OF THESE
GOALS ON ITS OWN, IT REALLY IS
THE NETWORK EFFECT YOU GET IN
THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN
THE GOALS WHERE THE MAGIC
REALLY HAPPENS. WE TALKED ABOUT
MAKING DOWNTOWN SAVE AND
WELCOMING. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
HOW IT IS MORE MORE A LIVELY
NEIGHBORHOOD. CERTAINLY D TO
THE HEART OF OED IS THINKING
ABOUT THE UNIQUE DOWNTOWN
RETAIL EXPERIENCE. EDIE
MENTIONED HOW WE WANT DOWNTOWN
TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE WANT
PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK . AND
REFLECT THE FUTURE OF OUR
COUNTRY. DOWNTOWN IS UNIQUE
AMONGST OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN
ITS POSITION AS A LEADER AND
GATHERING SPACE FOR THE ARTS,
CULTURE, SPORTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT. YOU WILL HEAR
SHORTLY FROM TAMMY ABOUT HOW
SEATTLE IS A TOP DESTINATION
FOR VISITORS YEAR-ROUND, BOTH
FROM THE REGION AND FROM THE
WORLD. FINALLY, AS EDIE
MENTIONED, WE'RE STILL THE
EMERALD CITY. WILL ALWAYS TRY
TO CREATE A HEALTHY RESILIENT
AND GREEN DOWNTOWN. THESE ARE
SEVEN GOALS. THIS IS HOW WE
ARE ORGANIZING OUR STRATEGIES
AND TACTICS . IT IS ALSO HOW
WE'RE MEASURING PROGRESS OVER
TIME. EDIE MENTIONED HOW MUCH
WE HAD SOLICITED INPUT. WE ALSO
DIDN'T WANT THIS TO JUST BE A
LIST OF THINGS TO CHECK OFF. WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE
SOLICITING INPUT THROUGHOUT
EXECUTION OF THE PLAN AS WELL.
RECENTLY WE WENT AND DID
ANOTHER ROUND OF PUBLIC INPUT
TO REALLY HONE IN ON WHAT
PEOPLE WANT DOWNTOWN TO WE CAN
DELIVER MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES.
WE TALKED TO RESIDENTS,
NONOFFICE WORKERS, GROUND FOR
RETAILERS, YOUTH, FAMILIES WITH
YOUNG CHILDREN, THE ARTS AND
CULTURE COMMUNITY. WE HEARD
REALLY CLEAR TAKEAWAYS. FIRST,
AND THIS IS REITERATING THIS
THEME, PUBLIC SAFETY. WANTING
TO FEEL SAFE COMING DOWNTOWN.
SECOND IS BEAUTIFICATION,
PARTICULARLY OF PUBLIC SPACES.
THIRD IS IN PROVING PUBLIC
TRANSIT. IS DOWNTOWN BECAUSE
MORE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS IN
MORE DIFFERENT PARTS OF
DOWNTOWN. MORE AMENITIES TO GO
WITH THAT. GROCERY STORES,
PHARMACIES, CHILDCARE. AS MUCH
AS WE ARE TRYING TO FILL VACANT
STOREFRONTS AND BRING NEW
BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN, ALSO
THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE ARE
DOING TO SUPPORT THOSE
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE
AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY
IN PLACE. FINALLY, PEOPLE
REALLY WANT TO ROOT FOR
DOWNTOWN. THEY WANT TO BE ON
THE WINNING TEAM HERE. THE WANT
TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT IS
POSITIVE THAT IS HAPPENING
DOWNTOWN SO THEY CAN FEEL
EXCITED AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT
IT. I WILL GIVE ONE EXAMPLE OF
HOW WE HAVE BEEN USING PUBLIC
INPUT TO INFLUENCE OUR
DECISIONS. WE HEARD FROM ALL OF
THESE GROUPS, VERY LOUD AND
CLEAR, THAT THEY WANT MORE
LIGHTS DOWNTOWN. BOTH FROM A
PUBLIC SAFETY ANGLE, BUT ALSO
FROM THE BEAUTIFICATION. WE
BEEN WORKING WITH PARKS A LOT.
WE ALSO WORKED WITH HER FRIENDS
OVER AT EXPEDIA THAT
CONTRIBUTED FUNDING TO PUT
MORE PUBLIC LIGHTS INTO THE
PARK SPACES . IT IS BEEN A HUGE
SUCCESS. IF YOU BEEN TO CITY
HALL PARK RECENTLY, THERE IS A
TON.
>> IT IS AMAZING. I AM SORRY TO
INTERRUPT. THOSE LIGHTS OVER
CITY HALL PARK ARE STRIKING.
>> THERE FANTASTIC. SO MORE
LIGHTS. WE HEARD THAT VERY
CLEARLY. WE IMMEDIATELY WERE
ABLE TO FLEX AND MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. SORRY. LET ME CATCH
MYSELF UP HERE. SO WE HEARD
FROM A LOT OF FOES, BUT WE'VE
ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF
FOLKS. ARE PARTNERS ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN THE
EFFORT. THE CITY CAN DO SOME
STUFF, BUT HER PARTNERS CAN DO
SO MUCH MORE. AND WANT TO TURN
IT OVER TO TAMMY TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR ORGANIZATION AND HOW THEY
ARE FIGURING INTO THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US HERE. ONE OF THE
GOALS IS TO MAKE SEATTLE A TOP
DESTINATION . THAT IS THE
MISSION. IT IS TO -- WE ARE THE
DESTINATION MARKETING
ORGANIZATION FOR SEATTLE AND
KING COUNTY. THE JOB IS TO GROW
THE VISITOR ECONOMY HERE. AND
REALLY DESERVE THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS MAKE THIS
A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. SO IT
IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND
VISIT, BUT IT IS ONLY A GREAT
PLACE TO VISIT WHEN IT IS A
GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. SO A
WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY. JUST A
QUICK OVERVIEW. WE ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SALES AND
MARKETING OF THE SEATTLE
CONVENTION CENTER, AS WELL AS
THE CITY AS A WHOLE , AS A
DESTINATION. OUR TARGET
AUDIENCES ARE QUITE DIVERSE.
THEY INCLUDE CONVENTION
PLANNERS , LEISURE TRAVELERS,
BOTH DOMESTIC AND
INTERNATIONAL, CRUISESHIP
PASSENGERS, AND OF COURSE, THE
VOICE OF LOCALS IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT AS WELL. STAKEHOLDERS
REALLY ARE TOURISM BASED
BUSINESSES. HOTELS AND
RESTAURANTS, OF COURSE, BUT
ALSO SERVICES, ATTRACTIONS,
TRANSPORTATION, BAKERIES , ALL
OF THE COOL THINGS THAT ARE TO
SEE, DO, SMELL, EAT HERE IN
SEATTLE. THOSE ARE THE
STAKEHOLDERS. WE HAVE SPECIAL
PROGRAMS THAT ARE LAUNCHED IN
COOPERATION WITH SEATTLE BANK
THAT FOCUS ON BRINGING IN
BUSINESSES TO OUR PROGRAMS
THAT WOULD NOT TRADITIONALLY
THINK OF IT OR BE ABLE TO. SO
WE HAVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS WE
ARE MOVED FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO
NEIGHBORHOOD . TWO YEARS AGO WE
STARTED IN THE CID. LAST YEAR
WAS CAPITOL HILL. THIS YEAR IS
PIONEER SQUARE. WE WILL TAKE
15 TO 20 BUSINESSES EACH YEAR
TO BRING THEM INTO THE FOLD AND
HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW THEY
CAN ACCESS THE TOURISM MARKET
AND HOW WE CAN HELP THEM DO
THAT. WE ALSO, I WILL GIVE YOU
A NOD, WHEN WE ARE MARKETING,
WE'RE TELLING THE STORY OF
SEATTLE. OUR LOVE FOR THE
STEWARDSHIP OF OUR COMMUNITY IS
AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR STORY.
IT IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE
MARKETING TO A VALUE -BASED
TRAVELER. WE DON'T JUST WANT
EVERYBODY TO COME HERE, WHAT
PEOPLE TO COME HERE THAT ARE
GOING TO RESPECT THE VALUES
AND THE BEAUTIFUL AND
UNIQUENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR PRIMARY FUNDING IS THE
SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT
AREA. WILL COME BACK TO THAT IN
A SECOND. IT IS ABOUT TWO
THIRDS OF OUR FUNDING AND THE
BOUNDARIES ARE DOWNTOWN FOR
THAT. THAT IS WHERE MOST OF THE
FUNDING COMES FROM. GENERATED
BY A LEVY ON HOTEL STAYS. IN
ADDITION, WE HAVE ABOUT ONE
THIRD OF FUNDING PROVIDED BY
THE SEATTLE CONVENTION CENTER.
WERE NOT RECIPIENTS OF FUNDING
FROM THE CITY OUTSIDE OF ANY
SPECIAL PROJECTS WE DO TOGETHER
THAT IS SOMETIMES PRODUCING
COOL MURALS FOR NBA ALL-STARS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IN SHORT,
WE EXIST TO BENEFIT THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE WITH A
MAJOR FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN. WE
SHARED YESTERDAY AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING, JUST TO TALK ABOUT WHY
THIS SECTOR MATTERS, WE
WELCOMED 37.8 MILLION VISITORS
IN 2023 WHO SPENT $8.2
BILLION. THAT IS A WHOLE LOT OF
MONEY. THAT GENERATED $787 JUST
IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES BUT
WHICH IS AN OFFSET OF $859 FOR
EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD IN KING
COUNTY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE
PUT 65,000 AND CHANGE OF OUR
NEIGHBORS TO WORK IN THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. FROM ITS
ORIGIN, WE HAVE BEEN REALLY
PLEASED TO BE AT THE TABLE WITH
OED AND THE GROUP AND THE
FORMATION OF THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. AS A LISTENING
TOURS BEGAN WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS , WE TOOK A LOOK AT
ALL THE ELEMENTS. WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE GOALS, WHAT WE DO, AND
THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN
GENERAL, IT REALLY TOUCHES ALL
OF THOSE ELEMENTS. WE STARTED
WORKING WITH OED AND WITH BCG
OVER A YEAR AGO PROVIDING DATA
AND HELPING TO SHAPE SOME OF
THOSE PLANS AND GOALS TO MAKE
SURE WE WERE ALL ALIGNED AND
CONTRIBUTING AS MUCH AS WE
COULD, NOT JUST IN MAKING THIS
THE TOP DESTINATION, BUT ALSO
IN MAKING ALL OF THE OTHER
GOALS SUCCESSFUL. IT HAS BEEN
WONDERFUL TO BE INVITED TO THAT
DISCUSSION AND TO BE A PART OF
SHAPING WHAT THAT HAS TURNED
OUT TO BE. WE ARE A MAJOR
DRIVER OF STREET ACTIVITY AND
SPENDING IN DOWNTOWN, BEING
THAT MOST OF THE ASSETS IN THE
INDUSTRY ARE LOCATED HERE. IT
HAS BEEN A REALLY IMPORTANT
PARTNERSHIP. I THINK THE THEME
HERE HAS BEEN THAT THIS IS A
TEAM SPORT. WE ALL SAY THAT ALL
THE TIME, BUT IT IS TRUE. WHAT
WE DO, WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT
THE LIFT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT
AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, DSA,
THE CHAMBER, LOCAL BIA, AND
LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITIES. IT
REALLY CAN MANIFEST , THIS
PLAN CAN MANIFEST INTO TANGIBLE
THINGS. MARK HIM TALKED ABOUT
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS COME
TO LIGHT. ONE OF THE OTHER
THINGS. HE IS GOING TO TALK
MORE ABOUT LEGISLATION, BUT THE
S TIA IS A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
AREA . LAST YEAR WE TOOK A LOOK
AT IT AND SAID IT IS GREAT,
AND PRODUCING SOME THINGS, BUT
IT IS RESTRICTED IN USES AND
IS NOT STRUCTURED IN A WAY THAT
WILL KEEP UP WITH INFLATION. SO
WE KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
WE HAD TO DO IT QUICKLY,
BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE INVESTING,
WE DON'T RUN AN AD TODAY
PEOPLE COME TOMORROW. THIS IS A
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT. YOU
INVEST MONEY TODAY IN MARKETING
AND PEOPLE MAY COME TWO OR
THREE YEARS, OR THEY MIGHT COME
IN TWO OR THREE MONTHS ARE
MIGHT COME INTO THE THREE
WEEKS. CONVENTIONS GENERALLY
CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM FIVE
MONTHS TO 10 YEARS TO MANIFEST.
THAT IS JUST FROM GETTING TO
KNOW THE MEETING PLANNER TO
THEM ACTUALLY SIGNING A
CONTRACT. AND THEN, FROM THERE,
THE CONVENTION MIGHT ALSO BE
ANOTHER 10 YEARS OUT. IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ACT QUICKLY TO
MODIFY OUR RESOURCES SO WE
COULD PLAY THE MOST POWERFUL
ROLE POSSIBLE. SO AS PART OF
THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN,
WE WERE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE SOME
ACCELERATION IN THAT PROCESS,
AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THIS IS AN
EXCITING TIME AND HOW WE MOVE
FORWARD. WERE GLAD TO BE A
PART OF IT.
>> LOVE HAVING YOU AS A
PARTNER. THANKS, TAMMY. SO
WHERE ARE WE? WE HAD ABOUT 46
INITIATIVE SPELLED OUT . WE ARE
ABOUT 83% OF THE WAY EITHER
COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY . WE'RE
MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. WE KNOW
THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO
DO, BUT WE DO FEEL CONFIDENT
THAT HER EFFORTS ARE BEARING
FRUIT. WERE GOING TO TALK MORE
ABOUT FILLING VACANT
STOREFRONTS WITH SIERRA LATER.
BUT I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE
SEATTLE RESTORE PROGRAM THAT
HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP
WITH HER FRIENDS AT THE SEATTLE
GOOD BUSINESS NETWORK. WE'VE
ALSO BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH
J.P. MORGAN CHASE. THEY HAVE
MADE IT A PRIVATE SECTOR
INVESTMENT. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO KEEP EVOLVING THAT. WE HAVE
BEEN THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC
SPACE. AP WOULD TALK ABOUT
PARTS OF THE MOMENT, BUT I WANT
TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HER
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, WHO
IS DONE A FABULOUS JOB WITH THE
KING STREET STATION AND TURNING
THEM TO THE YOUTH FOCUS OUR
TUB. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN
THERE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT.
THEY ARE DOING A TON OF COOL
STUFF THERE AND THROUGHOUT
DOWNTOWN WITH ADDITIONAL MURALS
AND PUBLIC ART. FINALLY, WE
CERTAINLY SEEM SOME OF OUR
SPACES COME BACK TO LIFE. WE
HAVE HAD THE CINEMA DOWNTOWN
REOPEN. THERE'S BEEN NEW
BUSINESSES LIKE HOME TEAM
OPENING IN OCCIDENTAL PARK. A
LOT OF PROGRESS HAPPENING
DAILY. HOPEFULLY, YOU GET A
GOOD NEWS DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER
WITH HELPING KEEPS UP-TO-DATE
WEEK TO WEEK. WITH THAT, TO
TURN IT OVER TO APP TALK ABOUT
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HOW WE
ARE ACTIVATING PUBLIC SPACES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THROUGH ARE VIBRANT
AND INVITING PUBLIC SPACES,
THIS IS HOW DOWNTOWN BECOMES
ALIVE. I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO USE IN
OUR VERNACULAR WILL BE
REFERRED TO DOWNTOWN, IT IS NOT
SIMPLY A CORE, IT IS A
NEIGHBORHOOD. IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SUGGESTS A LOT OF
THRIVING SPACES AND PLACES A,
LIKE. THAT IS WHY SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SO GREAT,
BECAUSE IT IS WHERE PEOPLE CAN
RECREATE AND SHOP AND DO
BUSINESS AND LIVE. I THINK THAT
IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT
DOWNTOWN AND WHY THE SUCCESS
IS REALLY FOCUSED AROUND
TALKING ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD.
IS ALSO TALKING ABOUT WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE WAS SAYING ABOUT
TEAMWORK. IT TAKES A VILLAGE
AND ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER.
THE ONE THING I THINK WE ALL
SHARE IN COMMON AT THIS TABLE
AND ON THE DAISES THAT WE LOVE
SEATTLE. WE WOULD NOT BE DOING
THE WORK THAT WE DO IF WE
DIDN'T LOVE SEATTLE. IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT, YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT IS THE
VISION OF MAYOR WHEN HE TALKS
ABOUT ONE SEATTLE. HE IS
TALKING ABOUT EVERYONE COMING
TOGETHER. IS FOCUSED ON DAP IS
NOT AT THE EXCLUSION OF OTHER
CITY NEIGHBORHOODS. IT IS
REALLY EMPHASIZING THAT OUR
DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD IS A
REGIONAL DESTINATION REGIONAL
FOR THE WORLD, THE NATION AND
FOR RESIDENTS OF BELLEVUE AND
BAINBRIDGE WHERE WE WANT THEM
TO COME INTO THE CITY. WE TALK
ABOUT A PUBLIC SPACES, YOU
KNOW, WE RECENTLY IN DOWNTOWN
THROUGH OUR PARK SYSTEM HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO REACTIVATE AND
REGAIN CONTROL OF OUR PUBLIC
SPACES. WE JUST RECENTLY
RENAMED THE EIGHTH BEST TO PARK
SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT
IS DUE IN PART TO THE VIBRANT
DOWNTOWN PARKS . IT IS THE
SUCCESS OF OUR PARKS AND THE
STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND DILIGENT CITY
EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE THESE
SPACES COME ALIVE. I BELIEVE
THAT WE ALL SHARE A COMMON
UNDERSTANDING AND IMPORTANCE
OF PUBLIC SAFETY , AND PUBLIC
SAFETY COMES THROUGH
ACTIVATION. AND THROUGH PARKS
AND SPACES IN THE DOWNTOWN
AREA BEING ACTIVE, BEING
ILLUMINATED . WE TALKED ABOUT
LIGHTS. LIGHTS ARE SOME OF THE
EASIEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO
FOR PUBLIC SPACES. THE MORE
THAT WE ASK YOU, RESPECTIVELY,
TO SUPPORT LIGHTING, YOU KNOW,
IT IS AN EASY THING WE CAN DO,
BUT WE NEED THE FUNDS TO DO IT.
IF WE HAVE THOSE FUNDS, WE CAN
CONTINUE TO ELIMINATE MORE
SPACES. WE SEE THE SUCCESS OF
THAT AT CITY HALL PARK. BY THE
WAY, SO MANY PEOPLE SAID WE
WOULD FAIL WHEN WE REMOVE THE
FENCE AT CITY HALL PARK. THEY
GAVE US 30 DAYS. IT WOULD BE A
COMPLETE FAILURE. WERE NOW
ALMOST A YEAR INTO THAT PARK.
AS YOU HAVE NOTED, IT IS SAFE
BECAUSE IT IS WILL ACTIVATE IT,
BECAUSE WE DO MOVIES IN THE
PARK, BECAUSE WE INVITE VENDORS
TO COME IN, BECAUSE WE HAVE
LIGHTS, AND ALSO WE HAVE THE
DOWNTOWN PARK RANGERS. I CAN'T
EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW MUCH THE
RANGERS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE PARKS DOWNTOWN
BECAUSE OF THEIR PRESENCE. I
WANT TO POINT THAT OUT, AS WELL
AS ALL THE OTHER PARK
EMPLOYEES. YOU KNOW, JUST TO
SHOW YOU SOME OF THE SUCCESS .
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME
THROUGH DAP AND DO FUN THINGS
DOWNTOWN, ACTIVATING PUBLIC
SPACES WITH DOWNTOWN PUBLIC
PICKLE BALL . WE CLOSED DOWN
THE STREETS, BRINGING IN
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS. WE WANT
TO DO MORE THINGS THAT INVITE
THE BUSINESSES. WE TALKED ABOUT
SOME FUN THINGS, MAYBE EVEN A
DOWNTOWN ON THE STREET YOGA
PROGRAM ARE GETTING MORE FOOD
AND BUSINESS INTO THE STREET
AND DOING THESE TYPES OF
THINGS. WE CAN BE CREATIVE
WITH THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO
MORE OF THESE THINGS IN 2024.
MOVIES IN THE PARK, MORE
CONCERTS, MORE ART, AND ALSO
MORE OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH
OUR NATIVE AND INDIGENOUS
PROGRAMS . WE JUST HAD A
SUCCESSFUL TRIBAL SUMMIT WITH
THE LEADERS. THEY WANT TO DO
MORE THINGS WITH US DOWNTOWN.
WE JUST WANTED TO SNAPSHOT AND
HIGHLIGHT. I WANT TO THANK,
AGAIN, OED FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND FOR INVITING US
TO THE TABLE, AS WELL AS OUR
PARTNERS HERE TODAY. WE ARE
EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO
ACTIVATOR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ALL ON THE NEXT STEPS
AHEAD.
>> THANKS. IT HAS BEEN A
PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.
PARKS IS SO MUCH FUN TO WORK
WITH. THEY GET SO MUCH DONE SO
QUICKLY. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT
PARTNERSHIP. LEGISLATIVE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. TAMMY TALKED
ABOUT CHANGING THE
LEGISLATION. WE ALSO REZONED
PARTS OF DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY
LONG THIRD, TO ENCOURAGE MORE
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. WE
ALSO MADE IT EASIER TO DO THAT
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
HELPFULLY, THAT HAPPENED
FASTER. WE'VE ALSO DONE SOME
CHANGES TO PERMITS AROUND
MASTER USE AND BUILDING TO TRY
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
DEVELOPMENTS STILL HAPPENING
DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY THE
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. I
WANT TO KEEP MOVING QUICKLY
HERE. THIS IS GOING TO BE OF
INTEREST TO YOU. WE'VE ALREADY
HANDED OVER SOME LEGISLATION
ENCOURAGING OFFICE TO
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS FOR
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. I
BELIEVE THE MAYOR JUST RECENTLY
ALSO HANDED LEGISLATION ABOUT
CHANGES TO STREET USED TO MAKE
IT MORE FLEXIBLE FOR DIFFERENT
TYPES OF TENANTS TO COME IN IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. MORE IS COMING.
WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO
PARTNERING WITH YOU ON
POLICIES. THAT WOULD BE A KEY
STRATEGY FOR ACTIVATING
DOWNTOWN, BOTH IN THE
NEAR-TERM, BUT ESPECIALLY AS WE
THINK ABOUT 10 OR 20 YEARS IN
THE FUTURE. WHAT DO WE WANT TO
ENCOURAGE AND SEE HAPPEN FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS?
>> BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, THE
LAST PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WILL
THAT GO TO LAND USE?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. I'M NOT ON THAT
COMMITTEE. CAN YOU GIVE ME --
HAS IT BEEN WITH A
STAKEHOLDER?
>> I THINK IT WAS TRANSMITTED
TODAY. I THINK IT WAS TODAY.
YOU SHOULD BE LEARNING MORE
ABOUT IT VERY SOON. OKAY. THANK
YOU.
>> WILL CONTINUE MAKING
PROGRESS ON THE 46 INITIATIVES.
SOMETHING I'M REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT AT OED IS WORKING WITH
OUR PARTNERS TO DO AN IN-DEPTH
ANALYSIS OF THE GROUND-FLOOR
SPACES AND HAVING IT BE REALLY
HYPER LOCAL AND SPECIFIC AND
USING THAT TO INFORM HOW WE
EVOLVE THE SEATTLE RESTORED
PROGRAM. EVERY CITY THAT WE
HAVE TALK TO, BOTH IN THE
PLANNING PROCESS, BUT ALSO
CURRENTLY AS WE ARE ALL GOING
THROUGH THIS TOGETHER, IS
REALLY RETHINKING HOW WE USE
SPACE. HOW DO WE USE PUBLIC
SPACE? HOW WE USE OFFICE SPACE.
HOW WE USE VACANT SPACES. IT IS
A REALLY CRITICAL COMPONENT TO
THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF DOWNTOWN,
BUT ALSO A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR
US AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW
DOWNTOWN WILL BE DIFFERENT NOW
AND IN THE FUTURE. THAT IS WHY
WE HAVE BEEN SO BULLISH ABOUT
OUR SEATTLE RESTORED PROGRAMS,
TRYING TO CONNECT ENTREPRENEURS
AND ARTISTS WITH VACANT
STOREFRONTS . I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO INTRODUCE SARAH
JONES FROM A SPACES SIDE TO
TELL HER STORY. TRULY, THAT IS
THE IMPACT WE'RE TRYING TO
HAVE AND THE TYPE OF DOWNTOWN
WE WANT TO SEE.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME HERE.
>> HELLO.
>> I OWN A SPACE INSIDE. I AM A
SEATTLE BORN AND RAISED
WHOLEHEARTED SEATTLE NATIVE. I
REALLY LOVE MY CITY. WHEN I
APPLIED TO THE SEATTLE RESTORED
PROGRAM . FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
DON'T KNOW, THEY FILL VACANT
STOREFRONT SPACES. THAT ONLY
IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT FOR
US, OUR SPACE, FOR INSTANCE, WE
HAVEN'T BEEN BROKEN INTO OR
ANYTHING WITH ANY DAMAGE DONE
TO OUR SPACE, BUT YET, THE
SPACE NEXT TO US HAS BOARDS UP
AND HAVE BEEN GETTING GRAFFITI
AND HAVE HAD ISSUES. I SAY THAT
TO SAY THAT, WHEN YOU ACTIVATE
SPACES AND SHOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
HEAR THAT YOU ARE DOING STUFF,
PUBLIC SAFETY COMES. I WANT TO
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY
DREAM THAT I HAD . WHEN I
APPLIED TO THE SEATTLE RESTORED
PROGRAM, IT WAS EXACTLY THAT, A
DREAM. I DIDN'T HAVE A
BUSINESS. I HAD AN IDEA. I WENT
TO THEM AND SAID, HEY, I HAVE
THIS IDEA OF CREATING A SPACE
WHERE THE BIPOC COMMUNITY IN
SEATTLE COULD FEEL LIKE THEY
BELONG. THEY CAN COME AND FIND
HEALING. THEY CAN COME AND
EXPLORE PARTS OF THEMSELVES AND
TRY DIFFERENT MODALITIES TO
RECONNECT AFTER COVID. I THINK
A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVING COVID
ARE LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
THEY'RE DOING NEXT WITH THEIR
LIFE , AND TO TRY TO FIND WAYS
TO POUR INTO THEMSELVES AND A
PASSION. AND SO, I WANTED TO
CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR FOLKS
TO DO THAT. I STARTED A SPACE
INSIDE WHERE WE DO MANY EVENTS
. LOOKING AT WHERE WE STARTED
TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE JOINED
THIS PROGRAM, WE STARTED AS A
THREE-MONTH POP UP . THAT WAS
WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
CATTLE RESORT. WE SAT DOWN WITH
THE LANDLORD, AND THEY SAID,
YOU KNOW, WE LIKE YOUR IDEA.
COME TO THE SPACE. I SAW THE
SPACE. IT IS LIKE, YOU BETTER
JUST TAKE IT. AND SO, I WAS
LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WE TOOK THE
SPACE. INITIALLY I WOULD NOT
HAVE IMAGINE MY SPACE BEING IN
THE DOWNTOWN CORE, BUT NOW I
CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE. FOR
WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE
TO BRING TO THE COMMUNITY, WE
BRING 4 TO 500 PEOPLE DOWNTOWN
AS THE DESTINATION TO OUR SPACE
A MONTH. THAT IS WITH DOING
CLASSES, PROGRAMMING, EVENTS.
WE DO PAINT AND SET UP AN OPEN
MIC. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
CREATE A SPACE WHERE THE
COMMUNITY CAN COME AND SHOW UP
IN THE LONG. SOMETHING I
CONTINUOUSLY SAY IS THAT IT
TAKES A COMMUNITY TO BUILD A
COMMUNITY. I ALWAYS TELL
PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH
FOLKS, TO BE THERE LIKE, WOW,
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE
DOING IN THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE
COME UP TO ME SAYING, YOU KNOW,
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A SPACE
OR A VOICE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO HAVE BEFORE. HELPING ME
REFINE MYSELF. I ALWAYS TELL
PEOPLE , I WOULD NOT BE
POSSIBLE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. I WOULD NOT BE
POSSIBLE IF IT WASN'T FOR OED.
THE SPACE WOULD NOT BE
POSSIBLE IF IT WASN'T FOR
SEATTLE RESTORED. AND SO, WHEN
I HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
TELLING ME THANK YOU, I WANT TO
TELL THEM, THANK YOU BECAUSE
OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. I
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRULY LIVE MY
DREAM TO SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY
AND PROVIDE A SPACE TO DO THAT,
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, YOU GUYS ARE
REACTIVATING IS BASED DOWNTOWN,
AND YOU HAVE ALLOWED ME THROUGH
SEATTLE RESTORED, I DIDN'T PAY
RENT FOR 11 MONTHS. THAT IS
UNHEARD OF. BUT BECAUSE OF THAT
PROGRAM, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE
THAT MONEY AND REPORT BACK INTO
MY BUSINESS AND HAVE WORKING
CAPITAL TO NOW LEAVE MY DAY JOB
AND BE ABLE TO FOCUS SOLELY ON
BUILDING A SPACE INSIDE AND
DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY HERE
IN SEATTLE. WHOLEHEARTEDLY,
THE SEATTLE RESTORED PROGRAM
WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT I
WANTED AND BELIEVE IN A DREAM
AND THEN PUT ME IN A SPACE TO
NOW BE ABLE TO GRADUATE FROM
THAT PROGRAM, SECURE LONG-TERM
LEASE AND GET ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES AND HELP FROM OED TO
MAKE SURE MY BUSINESS IS
THRIVING, THAT WE HAVE THE
OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE AND
WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN SEATTLE SO I CAN
STILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MY
SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY HERE
SO FOLKS STAY IN SEATTLE,
COMPANIES ARE ABLE TO RETAIN
EMPLOYEES OF COLOR, BECAUSE
THERE FIND THE PLACES WHERE
THEY BELONG AND WHERE THEY CAN
FIND COMMUNITY THERE FIND THE
PLACES WHERE THEY CAN HEAL. AND
SO, IT IS ALL A TRICKLE-DOWN
EFFECT. IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO
BUILD A COMMUNITY. SO WHAT YOU
GUYS HAVE DONE IS PORTED TO ME
SO I CAN ALSO CONTINUE TO POUR
INTO THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS MY
STORY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SHARING THAT. CONGRATULATIONS
ON SIGNING THAT LONG-TERM
LEASE. SO EXCITING THAT YOU
WILL BE THERE FOR A WHILE. THAT
IS A DOWNTOWN WE WANT TO
CREATE. THE OPPORTUNITY CREATED
BY THE VACANT STOREFRONT HAS
NOW BEEN REALIZED. IT IS SO
EXCITING. WANT TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT 2024. AGAIN, WE WANT
TO -- GOING TO THE LAST POINT.
MORE OF WHAT IS WORKING. WE
HAVE GREAT EXAMPLES. WE HAVE A
LOT OF EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS
WORKING. LET'S KEEP AMPLIFYING
AND SCALING THAT UP. WE ALSO
WANT TO PROVIDE FOCUS AROUND
THE KEY AREAS. A LOT OF THIS IS
DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
THE WORLD COMING TO THE
GREATEST PARTY IN OUR BACKYARD
WITH THE WORLD CUP 2026.
THINKING ABOUT THAT MAIN
TRANSIT SPINE ALONG THIRD AND
IMPROVING THE STREET-LEVEL
EXPERIENCE, PARTICULARLY THE
MULTIMODAL NODES OF THIRD AND
PIKE, THIRD AND UNIVERSITY, AND
KING STREET STATION. WORKING
WITH METRO AND SOUND TRANSIT
ON IMPROVEMENTS. THINKING
ABOUT WORLD CUP, WHAT ARE WE
DOING WITH EVENTS, FESTIVALS
AND ACTIVATIONS TO GET THE CITY
PUMPED UP TO TRY TO HAVE SOME
ACTION IN THE STREETS AND
PARKS. REALLY GETTING PEOPLE
FIRED UP, AS WELL AS FLEXING
HER MUSCLE AS A CITY FOR HOW TO
PUT ON SPECIAL EVENTS.
THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN
SOUTH DOWNTOWN. A LOT OF PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE PROJECTS THAT
OVERLAP. THE CITY WANTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNING
INFLUENCE AND ACCELERATING
THOSE DECISIONS SO THEY ALL FIT
TOGETHER AND WE CAN REALLY
UNLOCK SOME INCREDIBLE
POTENTIAL IN SOUTH DOWNTOWN.
FINALLY, CONTINUING TO IMPROVE
PUBLIC PERCEPTION ABOUT
DOWNTOWN. IS THE GOOD NEWS, IT
IS ALSO MAKING SURE WE ARE
BEING RESPONSIVE TO WHAT PEOPLE
WANT AND TELLING OUR STORY
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING. THAT
IS WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE FOR
2024. WERE VERY MUCH LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS
A COUNCIL . AS MENTIONED, THERE
WILL BE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES,
BUT WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO IDEAS
TO CONVERSATIONS ,
TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT
TO OED OR ANY OF THE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS ON THE DAB -- DAP
SUBCABINET. IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, WE COVERED A LOT IN
A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS. I LOVE FINISHING
WITH A SLIDE FOR THE BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT THAT DREW IN KIDS
FROM ALL ACROSS THE CITY TO
COME PLAY DOWNTOWN. THIS IS
REALLY WHO WE ARE TRYING TO
THINK ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE OF
DOWNTOWN. WERE TRYING TO DESIGN
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AND TO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SET IT UP
SO IT IS INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE
AND A SPECIAL PLACE TO BE. WITH
THAT, WE WOULD LOVE TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> I DEFER TO DISTRICT 7
REPRESENTATIVE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. YES, AS
YOUR DISTRICT 7 REPRESENTATIVE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE IT . IT IS
THE LITTLE THINGS TOO. I LIKE
THE FACT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
DOWNTOWN, THE DOWNTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A CAPITAL D.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
DIFFERENT THINGS COME FROM
UPSTAIRS. CAPITAL D SHOWS
INTENT. I LIKE THAT. WE JUST
HAD OUR DISTRICT 7 NEIGHBORHOOD
COUNCIL MET. THAT HIGHLIGHTED
WE NEEDED DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY
COUNCIL TO REPRESENT THE VOICES
OF THE RESIDENTS IN DOWNTOWN. I
REALIZE THIS IS A DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. PARDON ME
WANTS TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
UPTOWN OR SOUTH LAKE UNION ,
EASTLAKE, WESTLAKE. I RECOGNIZE
THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN. CAN'T
REALLY HAVE UPTOWN IN THE
DOWNTOWN PROGRAM. BUT ARTS AND
CULTURE. WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE
ON THE ARTS AND CULTURE PIECE.
THERE MAY BE SOME SPILLAGE OUT
OF THIS IF YOU REALLY WANT TO
CAPTURE THE ARTS AND CULTURE
PIECE. I ASKED FOR THAT
CONSIDERATION. I REALLY LOVE
THE POINT, THE BULLETPOINT ,
KEY TAKEAWAYS. PUBLIC SAFETY
IS SO KEY. COMES UP IN SO MANY
CONVERSATIONS . IT IS SO KEY.
I WILL PIVOT ON THAT. I KNOW A
LOT OF PEOPLE WATCH. THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. POLICY
ELEMENT. IT HAS TO INCLUDE
PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS SO
IMPORTANT. I'M NOT GIVEN UP
THAT ROLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
IS ABOUT CREATING COMMUNITY
AND HAVING THAT VOICE FROM A
PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE . IT IS
ABOUT HARDWARE. BUT HEY, WE
JUST GAVE SOME SUPPORT TO THE
MUSEUM. SAME KIND OF THING. WE
HAVE TO IMPROVE , THEY NEED TO
IMPROVE THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY
PASTOR. HARDWARE WILL SUPPORT
THEM TO DO THAT. YOU TALK ABOUT
LIGHTS. THE LIGHTS , THOSE ARE
ON ALL THE TIME. ALL THIS
MOTION LIGHTS TOO. BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, AND THIS IS PEOPLE
ON THE STREET, ACTIVATION. IT
IS SO KEY. WE DID THAT IN CLEAN
AND RELATED TO PARKS. WE HAD
ISSUES. IT WAS ALL ABOUT
ACTIVATION AND CLEANING UP THE
MINDS AND ALL THE THINGS I
MENTIONED ARE PART OF THE
ACTIVATION PIECE THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT. I BRING THAT UP
REGARDING THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE
FIRE AND POLICE AND THEIR
ABILITY TO HELP US. THIS IS
WERE PLANNING MOVING FORWARD, I
RECOGNIZE THIS A SHORT-TERM,
BUT WE HAVE TO THINK LONG-TERM.
PLANNING FOR THAT TO ENSURE
FIRE CAN GET IN AND OUT OF
THESE LOCATIONS. THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT. ULTIMATELY, IN TERMS
OF DAP AND THE LIKE, I AM
HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND
GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE TALKED ABOUT PIONEER
SQUARE AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
THE RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION.
THE DOLLARS BEHIND THESE
PROJECTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE
HAPPENING UNTIL WE DO THAT
PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE . I THINK
WE HAVE TURNED THE CORNER.
WE'RE TURNING THE CORNER AND
WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE PRESS
ON. THAT IS THE POINT ABOUT THE
PUBLIC PERCEPTION. WE NEED TO
DRIVE THAT HOME AGAIN AND
AGAIN. I THANK YOU FOR COMING.
BUT DOESN'T HAVE A QUESTION,
BUT IT IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE
POINTS WITHIN THE BRIEFING. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. A QUICK QUESTION.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO USE THE
BASKETBALL GIRL WITH THE
GOGGLES . WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
IS TAKING OVER. 9 MILLION
VIEWERS LAST YEAR FOR THE FINAL
FOUR. IT WILL BE UP THIS YEAR.
OKAY, TWO THINGS. I WANTED TO
STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF -- WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS,
DIRECTOR -- THE PIKE PINE
CORRIDOR THAT GOES FROM PIKE
PLACE AND CREEPS UP INTO MY
DISTRICT, DISTRICT 3. IF FEEL
SOMETIMES WE HAVE STOPPED AT
THE CONVENTION CENTER WITH THE
SIGNING. SDOT HAS MADE
IMPROVEMENTS. BUT STRESSING
THE IMPORTANCE OF FIGURING OUT
CONNECTING DISTRICT 7, DOWNTOWN
WITH DISTRICT 3 BUT I DON'T
KNOW WHAT TYPE OF DESIGN WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I KNOW
THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
LIGHTING , WHETHER IT IS
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STREET OR
JUST MAKING SURE THAT FLOW IS
EQUALLY CONNECTED. I'VE HEARD
THAT FROM A LOT OF BUSINESS
OWNERS. THEY WANT TO FEEL
CONNECTED TO DISTRICT 7 THE
>> SO IMPORTANT. THAT IS WHY WE
SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THE
LAST ONE, AND OF THE STREET I
AM PASSIONATE ABOUT IS JACKSON
STREET. OUT GOES FROM PIONEER
SQUARE AND YOU CUT THROUGH THE
CID AND GO INTO THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. WE'RE TRYING TO DO
SOME STUFF ON 23rd IN JACKSON.
BUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT
CORRIDOR OR PIPELINE IS THE
CUSTOMER DOWNTOWN. YOU KNOW, IT
CREATES THAT CONNECTIVE TISSUE
WITH NEIGHBORHOODS. OBVIOUSLY,
MADISON, WHICH IS MY FAVORITE
STREET. IT CONNECTS OUR
FRESHWATER TO SALTWATER. IT IS
THE ONLY STREET BUT DOES THAT.
AND LESS SDOT CHANGES THAT.
WILL BE THE ONLY STREET THAT
DOESN'T. ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR
THE PRESENTATION. I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO GET ON THE BANDWAGON
TO MAKE SURE OUR DOWNTOWN IS
SUCCESSFUL AND ACTIVATED
BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY THE
ENGINE OF OUR CITY AND COULD BE
OF THE STATE AS WELL.
>> ON THAT NOTE, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE RELIES , I THINK 50% OF
THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES , IT
MIGHT BE MORE, ARE GENERATED
DOWNTOWN. CLEARLY WE NEED
DOWNTOWN HEALTHY TO FUND THE
OPERATIONS OF GOVERNMENT. BUT
ALSO, BECAUSE IT IS A
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT IS, IT'S
SUCCESS IS CRITICAL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. IT MUST BE DIFFICULT
WHENEVER YOU START TALKING
ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN, EVERYBODY PIVOTS JUST
PUBLIC SAFETY. I APPRECIATE YOU
PUTTING THAT FRONT AND CENTER
IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BECAUSE I
THINK WE AGREE. I THINK YOU
HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING PEOPLE
THAT THE HEALTH OF DOWNTOWN IS
PREDICATED ON PEOPLE FEELING
SAFE COMING DOWNTOWN. YOU
ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB OF
REMINDING PEOPLE OF THAT. THERE
IS STILL MORE WE CAN DO ON THAT
FRONT. YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR IS
TRYING VERY HARD TO BUILD BACK
UP THE RANKS OF SPD. THERE WILL
BE LEGISLATION COMING FORWARD
NEXT MONTH THAT SEEKS TO
IMPROVE RECRUITING PROCESSES ,
THE HIRING PROCESS. HOPEFULLY,
THAT WILL HELP AS WELL. IN THE
MEANTIME, THERE IS A WAY TO
DEPLOY POLICE RESOURCES,
PERHAPS, TO ADDRESS
PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME SPOTS
DOWNTOWN. EPHESUS PATROLS , I
HEAR -- EPHESUS PATROLS, I
HEAR THAT A LOT. I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO SEE I'VE ASKED
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT IS
GOING, BUT MORE INFORMATION
FOR ME, HOW IS THE ENFORCEMENT
OF THE PUBLIC USE ORDINANCE
GOING? WE NEED TO GET MORE
PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT. IF THAT
IS NOT THE OPTION THAT THE
CITY ATTORNEY GOES, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THERE IS A WAY TO
WORK BETTER WITH THE COUNTY ON
RESOURCES IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. I WILL SAY,
THE JAIL RESTRICTIONS NEED TO
BE ADDRESSED AS WELL. THE POINT
IS, THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO. OED
IS THE LEADING AGENCY, THE
LEADING DEPARTMENT OF SO MANY
OTHER INITIATIVES THAT ARE
HAPPENING ACROSS THE BOARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
PRESENTING THIS WORK IN A WAY
WE CAN SEE WHAT IS COMING ON
ACROSS THE BOARD. I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION COMING FORWARD. I
WILL PUT A PLUG IN FOR
COUNCILMEMBER DOING WORK AS
THE CHAIR OF ARTS AND CULTURE
I HAVE HAD A ROUNDTABLE
DISCUSSION WITH ARTS AND
CULTURAL AND HERITAGE
INSTITUTIONS. THEY ARE REALLY
-- THE ONES LOCATED DOWNTOWN,
THEY'RE REALLY SUFFERING FROM
THE LASTING EFFECTS OF THE
PANDEMIC. WE KNOW THAT CREATING
A SAFER DOWNTOWN WILL MAKE
PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE
COMING DOWNTOWN TO PATRONIZE
THOSE INSTITUTIONS. I KNOW
YOU'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY
WITH THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE AS WELL. LOOKING
FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES
OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL
ON THAT FRONT. FINALLY, THERE
THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE OUT
THERE AND HANGING THERE. I
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
CONSIDERATION OF NEW
BUSINESSES THAT LOCATE
DOWNTOWN. OF COURSE, THEY HAVE
TO FEEL LIKE THEIR CUSTOMERS
AND STAFF WILL BE SAFE COMING
DOWNTOWN. IT IS A CHICKEN AND
EGG THING. THERE IS THAT IDEA.
ALSO, A RETAIL RECRUITMENT
STRATEGY WOULD BE GOOD TOO.
ONCE WE CREATE THOSE
CONDITIONS. NOW I HAVE SAID
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. BUT YOU
ARE WORKING IN THE HERE AND
NOW. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE
PEOPLE COMING FORWARD, WE ALSO
HAVE THE OPENING OF THE
WATERFRONT. THAT IS SUPER
EXCITING. THAT WILL ENERGIZE
DOWNTOWN AND CONNECT THE
WATERFRONT WITH THE REST OF THE
CITY. AND WE HAVE GAME TONIGHT
AT THE STADIUM WITH THE
MARINERS AND THE RED SOX ON
OPENING DAY. COUNT ME AS A
STEADFAST FAN AND PARTNER IN
ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS. I BELIEVE
THE BEST WAY , NOT THE BEST WAY
NECESSARILY, BUT AN IMPORTANT
AND OFTEN FORGOTTEN WAY OF
ADDRESSING THE BUDGET, THE
OPERATING DEFICIT WE FACE RIGHT
NOW IS TO SUPPORT AND
ENCOURAGE CONDITIONS FOR
INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
AND SO, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOUR
WORK FOSTERS THAT, I WILL BE
DOING A GOOD JOB TO ADVOCATE
FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T
LOSE SIGHT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
THAT WORK AS WELL GOING FORWARD
IN DISCUSSIONS AS THE YEAR GOES
ON. THAT IS A LONG WAY OF
SAYING THANK YOU VERY MUCH BUT
I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR
PLATE. THANK YOU, TAMMY, FOR
REPRESENTING VISIT SEATTLE.
YOU BROADCAST SEATTLE TO THE
WORLD. YOU BRING IN THAT
ACTIVITY , AND YOU ALSO PROMOTE
THE NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE
CITY. I WILL START . I AM SORRY
HAD TO BE AT THE END OF A LONG
MEETING. BUT THIS IS VERY
POSITIVE INFORMATION. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING
FOR CITY.
>> APPRECIATE ALL THE INPUT.
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. WE WILL
CERTAINLY BE BACK TALK ABOUT
PARTNERSHIP WITH THINGS WE WANT
TO DO TOGETHER. I WANT TO THANK
THIS WHOLE TEAM, AS WELL AS
EVERYONE ELSE WORKING. IT IS
TRULY A TEAM EFFORT. I WILL
CLOSE BY SAYING DOWNTOWN WAS
THE PEOPLE. WE'VE GOT TO STAY
FOCUSED AND GET MORE PEOPLE
DOWNTOWN.
>> THAT IS ONE OTHER THING.
SHOULD'VE GIVEN YOU THE LAST
WORD, BUT OF COURSE, THAT IS
KEY TO EVERYTHING. BRINGING
PEOPLE DOWNTOWN MAKES THE
STREET SAFER. YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IN OUR LITTLE
CORNER OF THE CITY FAMILY HERE,
WORKING ON A RETURN TO WORK
POLICY FOR THE LEGISLATED
DEPARTMENT, WE WILL TALK ABOUT
THAT VERY SOON. I KNOW THE
MAYOR HAS SOME SIMILAR
THOUGHTS. WE NEED TO LEAD BY
EXAMPLE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS
BEFORE WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE
PRIVATE SECTOR TO DO THE SAME.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE FURTHER
BUSINESS? OKAY. HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS. THIS
CONCLUDES THE MARCH 28 MEETING
OF THE GOVERNANCE,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. I WANT
TO NOTE THAT THE APRIL 11
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE
CANCELED AND THE NEXT MEETING
IS LIKELY TO BE ON THURSDAY,
APRIL 25 AT 2:00 P.M., AND LESS
I CAN FIND AN ALTERNATIVE DATE
TO HAVE IT SOONER AS A SPECIAL
MEETING. STAY TUNED ON THAT.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYONE. THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.