>> HELLO, EVERYONE. GREAT TO
SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON. HI
THERE, FOLKS. IT IS MAY 9 AND
THE GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOP COMMITTEE
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
IS 2:03. I AM SARA NELSON,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLLCALL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA?
HERE. CHAIR NELSON? PRESENT.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION ,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD ON THE ITEMS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA. BEFORE WE BEGIN I
WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE
ALL OF THE INTEREST THAT YOU
ARE SHOWING IN THIS LEGISLATION
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING IN PERSON AND ALSO TO
OUR REMOTE COMMENTERS FOR
ENGAGING. MY PLAN IS TO ALLOW
EVERYONE TO SPEAK AND TO GET
THERE, I ASK EVERYONE TO BE
RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER AND
AS A REMINDER, COUNCIL RULES DO
NOT ALLOW OUTBURSTS FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE NOT
RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT . THANK YOU VERY MUCH
IN ADVANCE FOR THAT. CLERK ,
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY? COUNCIL PRESIDENT WE
HAVE 62 IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS AND 36 VIRTUAL.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE SET THE TIMER FOR ONE
MINUTE. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST 10 IN PERSON SPEAKERS AND
THEN ALTERNATE TO REMOTE AND
BACK AND FORTH UNTIL EVERYONE
HAS SPOKEN. PLEASE READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS AND THEN BEGIN
CALLING ON IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> I WILL CALL ON SPEAKERS IN
THE ORDER THEY SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK STARTING WITH IN PERSON
COMMENTS. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE
ONE MINUTE . WHEN YOU HEAR THE
TIME YOU WILL HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT. IF YOU EXCEED THAT TIME
YOUR MICROPHONE MAY BE CUT OFF
SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT SPEAKER. IF YOU ARE
OFFERING REMOTE COMMENT PLEASE
PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF. I APOLOGIZE IN
ADVANCE IF I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR
FIRST AND/OR LAST NAME. THE
FIRST 10 IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS WILL BE -- AND
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE
FRONT. WAY LYNN FOLLOWED BY
ALEX KIM, KIMBERLY WOLF , WD
PATTERSON , KYLE GRAHAM , MARY
, ARIANNA RILEY , ALEX AND
JASON. WAY?
>> DID YOU REMEMBER ALL THOSE
NAMES? JUST GETTING WE WILL SAY
IT EVERY TWO OR THREE NAMES.
>> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF CITY
COUNCIL. I AM HERE TO -- URGING
YOU TO STAND WITH US IN SUPPORT
OF RETAINING THE SEATTLE
ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES PAYMENT
PROTECTIONS FOR GIG WORKERS.
THEY ARE FACING A PRINTED
CHALLENGE AND THIS PROTECTION
IS THEIR LIFELINE YET
CORPORATIONS ARE USING
LOBBYISTS TO SPREAD
MISINFORMATION DESPITE NEVER
COORDINATING FOR WORKERS RIGHTS
BEFORE. STILL NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT FAIR WORK PAY EVEN WHEN
THE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED, AND
STILL MAKE SURE TO PROFIT ALL
THE WELLNESS OF THE WORKERS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT POLICY, IT'S
ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND
ENSURING THAT HARD-WORKING
INDIVIDUALS CAN EARN FAIR WAGES
AND SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND
THEIR FAMILIES. THE URGENCIES
OF THIS MATTER CANNOT BE
OVERSTEPPED. I AM FOR THE
COUNCIL TO STAND AGAINST
CORPORATION MANIPULATIONS AND
LET US NOT SHELTER IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE
ALEX FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLY WOLF.
ALEX?
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ALEX KIM,
I'M A FOOD DELIVERY DRIVER AND
THE DISTRICT 2 REGISTRANT . I
JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
AMENDMENT ONE DOES NOTHING TO
ADDRESS WHICH CONCERNS. IT SAYS
COMPANIES CANNOT RETROACTIVELY
REDUCE OUR PAY. THIS IS A
PHANTOM CONCERT BECAUSE EVEN
UBER AND DOORDASH KNOW THEY CAN
GET AWAY WITH THAT AND INSTEAD
THEY WILL DO IT PROACTIVELY. AS
THE AMENDMENT SAYS, ISSUES WILL
STILL EXIST BECAUSE QUOTE
NETWORK COMPANIES CAN PROVIDE
OFFERS THAT ARE LESS THAN THE
MINIMUM PER OUR AMOUNTS. THIS
STIPULATION EXIST TO MAXIMIZE
WORKER PRODUCTIVITY IN THEORY
FOR THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PAY
POSSIBLE. INCREASING CORPORATE
PROFITS AND HURTING WORKERS
TWICE AS MUCH WITH LESS PAY AND
MORE EXPENSES. THEY HAVE NO
PROBLEM BEING MORE PRODUCTIVE
AS LONG AS THE INCENTIVE IS
GETTING PAID MORE WHICH IS THE
BEAUTY OF GIG WORK AND ALLOWING
UNDERPAYMENT DESTROYS THAT.
CUSTOMERS WILL GET WORSE
SERVICE AS DRIVERS WILL TAKE
LONGER BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW
THEM TO BE THE SYSTEM. I ASK
YOU TO END THE CHARADE OF
TRYING TO HELP WORKERS BY
LOWERING AND CAPPING WAGES.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KIMBERLY WOLF
FOLLOWED BY WD PATTERSON.
KIMBERLY?
>> KIMBERLY WOLF, GIG WORKER
OPPOSING NELSON'S BILL.
NOTHING IN THIS BILL HELPS
WORKERS RESTAURANTS CUSTOMERS
OR RESTORES ORDER VOLUME. THE
APP COMPANIES SAY IF YOU'VE
GOT WORKER PROTECTIONS AND THE
ABILITY TO FIND OUT AND
PENALIZE US WHEN WE ACT BADLY
WE WILL STOP THROTTLING ORDERS
AND THINK ABOUT LOWERING FEES.
PEOPLE, THAT IS EXTORTION. THE
RIGHTS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
SEATTLE GIG WORKERS SOLD OFF
NOT EVEN FOR A LAW MANDATING
THAT FEES ARE CAPPED OR LOWERED
OR WHO ARE GETTING MORE ORDERS,
GIVING AWAY THE FARM FOR RENT
NOTHING. HE CRAPPY NEGOTIATING.
ALL OF THIS IS A SMOKESCREEN TO
AVOID ANALYZING DATA AND
EXPOSING THEIR SHENANIGANS.
COMMITTEE DOING THEIR DUE
DILIGENCE WHAT ABSOLUTELY
INSIST THE DATA BE SENT AND
HERE THE ANALYSIS BEFORE EVEN
THINKING ABOUT REVERSING ANY OF
THESE WORKER PROTECTIONS. SO
WHEN DECIDING YOUR VOTE ON THE
NELSON AMENDMENT YOU SHOULD ASK
YOURSELF. ARE YOU GOING TO BE A
PARTY TO EXTORTION OR ARE YOU
GOING TO BE WITH THE WORKERS OF
SEATTLE OVER OUT-OF-STATE
COMPANIES? VOTE DOWN THIS
NONSENSE, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'VE GOT
DEBBIE PATTERSON FOLLOWED BY
KYLE GRAHAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO
FORGO MY TESTIMONY. I AM HERE
IN THE INTEREST OF SCIENCE TO
COLLECT DATA BY INVITATION OF
THE-- UNION AND ON BEHALF OF
ALL OF THE DRIVERS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE'VE GOT KYLE GRAHAM
FOLLOWED BY MARY. KYLE?
>> MY NAME IS KYLE GRAHAM AND I
AM AN UBER EATS DRIVER, UNION
MEMBER AND DISTRICT ONE VOTER.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU STATED
THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS. DO
NOTHING, REVISE OR REPEAL BUT
TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON
THESE RUSHED PROPOSALS IS A
COMPLETE SLAP IN THE FACE OF
DEMOCRACY. WE SHOULD CONSIDER
IS THE FOURTH REAL OPTION,
RESEARCH. THESE ARBITRATOR
CHANGES BEING PROPOSED ARE
ATROCIOUS LIKE CUTTING THE
MILEAGE RATE TO $.35 INSTEAD OF
THE IRS GOLD STANDARD A $.67.
DO YOU THINK SARA NELSON
SHODDILY PUT TOGETHER A PUZZLE
HAS BETTER RESEARCH METHODS
THAN THE IRS? MY CAR IS NOT AN
ELECTRIC OR HYBRID LIKE SHE
SEEMS TO THINK ALL DELIVERY
DRIVERS HAVE. AM I EXPECTED TO
GO OUT AND GET A NEW VEHICLE ON
MY ALREADY LIMITED BUDGET
BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO AND TO THE
DEMANDS OF THESE BILLION-DOLLAR
CORPORATIONS? THE MAIN ISSUES
OF FEES OR BIKERS GETTING LESS
TO LIVE THESE ARE NOT
ADDRESSED. YOU NEED TO BRING
TOGETHER THE DRIVERS AND THE
BIKERS AND LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO
LISTEN TO THE REAL ISSUES AND
NOT JUST LET THESE
BILLION-DOLLAR CORPORATIONS BE
THE ONLY ONES AT THE TABLE
WHOSE INTEREST IS ONLY TO
EXPLOIT WORKERS AND LOCAL
SEATTLE BUSINESSES FOR THEIR
OWN PROFIT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'VE GOT MARY FOLLOWED
BY--
>> I WORK FROM INSTA CART AND
-- BECAUSE IT PROVIDES
REIMBURSEMENT . WHILE I WORKED
DELIVERY, -- MAINTENANCE, TIRES
AND OTHER REPAIRS. CAR
REGISTRATION AND ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT EXPENSES, AND AT $.35
A MILE IT IS NOT ENOUGH. THE
APP WORKERS WHO WORK TO EARN A
LIVING , I AM ASKING COUNCIL TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WORKERS WHO
DESERVE DECENT PAY.
-- FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU. FOLLOWING THAT WE
HAVE DANIEL OH AND THEN ARIANNA
RILEY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME IS
DANIEL, I AM SPEAKING AS A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1 IN
SEATTLE AND I'M SPEAKING
AGAINST PRESIDENT NELSON'S
PROPOSAL . THE REASON I DO THAT
IS BECAUSE I FEAR THAT CITY
COUNCIL THINKS THAT WE ARE DUMB
. THEY THINK THAT BY PASSING
THIS ORDINANCE THAT THE FEES
WILL GO AWAY. FEES WILL NOT GO
AWAY BY PASSING THIS ORDINANCE.
EVEN PRESIDENT BIDEN IS CALLING
OUT THESE JUNK FEES BUT HERE IN
SEATTLE FOR SOME REASON WE ARE
GIVING IN. THAT IS
DISAPPOINTING. THE OTHER THING
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP IS
THAT I BELIEVE PRESIDENT NELSON
NEEDS TO RECUSE HERSELF FROM
THIS LEGISLATION. I THINK THE
RECENT SALE OF THE SEATTLE
HOSPITALITY GROUP MAKES THIS
SITUATION AND ETHICALLY
CHALLENGED PROBLEM AND I THINK
WHAT JUST HAPPENED SHOULD --
WHAT IS PROPOSED SHOULD BE
POSTPONED UNTIL THE ETHICAL
ISSUES CAN BE RESOLVED. PLEASE
RECUSE YOURSELF. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'VE GOT
ARIANNA RILEY FOLLOWED BY ALEX
ZIMMERMAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ARIANNA RILEY. I AM A DELIVERY
DRIVER. THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION WAS CAREFULLY
CRAFTED OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE
YEARS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL
LABOR LAWS. FEDERAL LAW SAYS
THAT CONTRACTORS HAVE THE RIGHT
TO SET THEIR OWN RATES OF PAY
AND THEIR OWN HOURS AND IF A
COMPANY MAKES THOSE DECISIONS
FOR A WORKER, THE WORKER IS
LEGALLY AN EMPLOYEE. THIS IS
WHERE PAY TRANSPARENCY
PROVISIONS CAME FROM AS WELL AS
THE MANDATE THAT DOORDASH IS NO
LONGER ALLOWED TO PUNISH
DRIVERS WHO ARE NOT ACCEPTING
90% OF ALL ORDERS. NOW WE ARE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW.
THE PROPOSAL AT HAND TAKES AWAY
MUCH OF THOSE PROTECTIONS AND
DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL
LABOR LAWS. I HAVE READ ALL OF
THE AMENDMENTS AND I WANT TO
KEEP THE ORIGINAL PAY UP
LEGISLATION. THE ONLY THING
THAT NEEDS TO BE PASSED IS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE 'S
AMENDMENT FOR INDEPENDENT DATA
COLLECTION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENTERS
FOR THIS ROUND, ALEX ZIMMERMAN
FOLLOWED BY JASON .
>> THANK YOU.
>> DEAR KYLE MY DIRTY FASCIST
CONTACT. MY NAME IS ALEX
ZIMMERMAN. CAN USE PLAIN TO ME
A GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
GIVE TO THIS POOR BABIES WHO
KNOW -- ACCOUNTABILITY. WHAT
DOES THIS MEAN, THIS WORD? I'M
NOT GOING TO SPEAK ENGLISH.
MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE, LOOK TO
ME LIKE A NAZI GESTAPO PRINCE.
>> PLEASE ADDRESS ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
>> I SPOKE ABOUT SOMETHING
IMPORTANT ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU
WANT ONE MINUTE, 32nd, 15
SECONDS? IT'S OKAY. ONE DAY
PER WEEK FOR FREE CONVERSATION
FOR THREE MINUTES LIKE
EVERYBODY. MORE THAN 4000 ,
EVERYBODY HAVE THREE-MINUTE.
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO DON'T
HAVE THIS. THIS IS WHAT I
TALKED TO, STAND UP, AMERICA.
>> LAST PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS
ROUND IS GOING TO BE JASON.
>> 97% OF SMALL SEATTLE
RESTAURANTS WHAT THE DELIVERY
PAY ORDINANCE REPEALED. THAT IS
A HEADLINE THAT SEATTLE METRO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PUBLISHED
FOR A SURVEY OF 100
RESTAURANTS. THE VOLUME OF
ORDERS THE RESTAURANTS RECEIVE
THROUGH THIRD-PARTY
APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN CUT IN
HALF WHICH ALSO MEANS MY
OPPORTUNITIES TO DELIVER HAVE
BEEN CUT IN HALF. IN PRACTICE I
HAVE AVERAGED $11.37 AN HOUR
SINCE JANUARY 13. THAT IS A FAR
CRY FROM THE LAST PROMISED
MINIMUM OF $26.40. THIS LAW
NEEDS TO CHANGE TO RESTORE
ORDER VOLUME. TO WAIT ANY
LONGER IS RECKLESS. FOUR MONTHS
IS SHOWING RESTAURANTS ARE
HURTING AND ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS
THEY COULD BE COVERED IN
PLYWOOD.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
TO REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT AND
THE SAME RULES APPLY. THE FIRST
VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT OR IS
GOING TO BE DAVID EDMONDSON
FOLLOWED BY MEREDITH AND THEN
TRACY. DAVID? DAVID PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> MY APOLOGIES FOR THE
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. MY NAME
IS DAVID EDMONDSON, SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT FOR STATE POLICY
GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP AND
PROPOSING REVISIONS TO THE
MINIMUM PAY ORDINANCE. THE NEW
LAW ATTACKS HAVE BEEN SWIFT AND
DEVASTATING FOR MERCHANTS AND
CUSTOMERS. THIRD-PARTY
APPLICATIONS AND OTHER GROUPS
LIKE THE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE CONCERNED AS MUCH.
AS A RESULT THERE WERE FEWER
ORDERS, LONGER WAIT TIMES AND
HIGHER FEES RESULTING IN LOST
REVENUE FOR BUSINESSES, LOST
INCOME FOR WORKERS AND HIGHER
COST FOR CONSUMERS. THIS IS
UNSUSTAINABLE AND MUST BE
ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
MORE HARM COMES. WE DO HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT TWO OF THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. ONE ALLOWS
A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AND
THE SECOND REGARDING DATA
SHARING. THE PR A IS
UNNECESSARY GIVEN THE EXISTING
OVERSIGHT AND THE DATA SHOWING
RISK OF SHARING PROPRIETARY AND
SENSITIVE INFORMATION. THAT
BEING SAID WE SUPPORT THE
REVISIONS TO THE LAW AND
ENCOURAGE THE SWIFT ADOPTION BY
COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'VE GOT
MEREDITH FOLLOWED BY TRACY.
MEREDITH?
>> HELLO. I AM MEREDITH AND
I'M A DRIVER AND SPEAKING IN
OPPOSITION OF THE --. JOEY
HOLLINGSWORTH, I ACTUALLY HAVE
KNOWN HER FOR A WHILE. SHE HAS
SOME GOOD IDEAS FOR A SOLUTION
THAT REQUIRES ALL INTERESTED
ARTESE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE. I'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH
WASHINGTON AND IT SOUNDS LIKE
SOMETHING I COULD GET ON BOARD
WITH. THAT BEING SAID, THE REAL
ISSUE HERE IS ABOUT MONOPOLIES
BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THE TECH
INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. I USED TO
RUN A SMALL BUSINESS AND WHAT
I'VE SEEN AS A RESULT OF THE
PANDEMIC IS THAT TECH COMPANIES
HAVE A STRANGLEHOLD ON COMMERCE
AND BUSINESS OPERATORS NEED TO
ADAPT. CONTRACTED WORKERS NEED
TO BE MORE AWARE OF THEIR
RIGHTS BUT THE TECH HISTORY
NEEDS TO BE UPDATED. IF WE CAN
CONTROL-- THE QUESTION IS
DRIVING INFLATION AND-- INCOME
POLICIES.
>> I AM CALLING TO SAY THAT I
DO NOT SUPPORT CB 120775. I
SUPPORT THE EXISTING
LEGISLATION THAT IS IN EFFECT
RIGHT NOW. WHEN I ORDER FOOD
DELIVERY I FEEL GREAT KNOWING
THAT THE DRIVER IS MAKING A
GOOD WAGE. A WAGE THAT IS NOT
DEPENDENT ON TIPS. AND I WANT
WORKERS TO GET PAID FOR ALL OF
THEIR DELIVERY TIME, NOT JUST
THE ACT OF DELIVERY TIME. I
URGE YOU TO REJECT CB120775.
THAT IS ALL, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'VE GOT
LARS AND THEN MARCO .
>> THAT AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
LARK THE LARS ERICKSON AND I'M
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF BOTH
BILLS ON BEHALF OF THE MORE
THAN 2500 MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. FOR MEETINGS TO BE
POSTED BETWEEN COUNCILMEMBERS
AND BUSINESSES WE HAVE LEARNED
THAT EPIC SAFETY REMAINS THE
TOP ISSUE FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS.
A REPORT FREQUENT BREAK-INS,
THEFT AND HARASSMENT. IF YOU
CALL 911 BECAUSE OF LONG
RESPONSE TIMES WE NEED STRONG
COMMITMENT TO OFFICER
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SO I
ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT CB 120776.
THE HIGH COST OF DOING BUSINESS
HAS BEEN THE SECOND MOST
DISCUSSED TOPIC AND THAT TREND
WAS ECHOED BY A SURVEY OF OVER
100 RESTAURANTS IN SEATTLE,
NEARLY ALL OF WHOM SAID SALES
ARE DOWN SINCE JANUARY. ELECTED
OFFICIALS MUST CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS
BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES TO
DRIVE. DESPITE TENSIONS WE SEEN
THAT PAYOUTS HAVE BEEN THE
OPPOSITE . I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES ON CB120775, A SOLUTION
THAT INCLUDES FEEDBACK FROM
DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS. THANK YOU
FOR CONSIDERING LEGISLATION AND
YOUR COMMITMENT TO GOOD
GOVERNANCE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
MARCO FOLLOWED BY KATIE .
MARCOS? GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN. THANK YOU. FOR
THE RECORD MY NAME IS MARCOS,
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE
SEATTLE LATINOS -- REFORMERS
AND I AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT
CHANGES TO THE APP BASED
ORDINANCE. OUR MEMBERS, SEATTLE
RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS HAVE
BEEN DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED BY
THE PAY ORDINANCE. THE NEW LAW
ESPECIALLY-- AT THESE WORKERS
WHO ARE NOW WAITING LONGER FOR
FEWER ORDERS, CUSTOMERS ARE
ALSO BEING LEFT BEHIND AND
ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY
RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WHO HAVE BEEN
PRICED OUT OF DELIVERIES IN THE
CITY. EVERY ORDER MATTERS TO MY
MEMBERS ESPECIALLY RESTAURANTS
AND SMALL RETAILERS. ON BEHALF
OF MY MEMBERS, THEIR EMPLOYEES,
THEIR DELIVERY WORKERS, I URGE
COUNCIL TO ASK -- ACT QUICKLY
TO FIX THE PAY ORDINANCE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. STEVE, I AM
SHOWING THAT KATIE IS NOT
PRESENT SO WE WILL GO NEXT TO
MARK AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT,
SETH. MARK? GO AHEAD
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MADAM CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
MARK JOHNSON, SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT OF POLICY AND
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE
WASHINGTON RETAIL ASSOCIATION.
HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE REVISION
TO THE APP BASED MINIMUM PAY
ORDINANCE CURRENTLY BEFORE YOU.
THE IMPACT OF THIS NEW
ORDINANCE ON SEATTLE'S
RETAILERS WHO RELY ON
THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY HAS BEEN
WELL DOCUMENTED IN RECENT
MONTHS. THE NEW LAW HAS
DRAMATICALLY ALTERED THE
LANDSCAPE FOR APP-BASED
DELIVERY IN A FEW MONTHS TIME
AND WE HAVE SHARED IN PREVIOUS
TESTIMONY RETAILERS ARE SEEING
FEWER AND SMALLER ORDERS,
DELIVERY DRIVERS SEE LONGER
WAIT TIMES AND DIMINISHED
EARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
CUSTOMERS ARE ALSO FRUSTRATED
FOR WHAT USED TO BE A
DEPENDABLE AND CONVENIENT WAY
TO SHOP AND DINE. WE HAVE
CONCERNS WITH THE AMENDMENTS
BEING CONSIDERED. THE FIRST OF
THE AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE A
RIGHT OF ACTION WHICH ALREADY
THE OFFICE OF LABOR HAS . AND
ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE DATA
SHARING AMENDMENT WHICH WE
BELIEVE COULD EXPOSE
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AND
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.
OTHERWISE WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE EFFORT TO REVISE THE
MINIMUM PAY ORDINANCE.
>> OF THE LAST FIRST ROUND OF
VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS IS
GOING TO BE SETH. GO AHEAD.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN. MY NAME IS SETH
AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN KING
COUNTY FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. THE
IDEA OF A LOCAL EMPLOYER HERE
IN SEATTLE COMPENSATING ME FOR
GAS USAGE ON THE JOB AT A
NATIONAL INSTEAD OF A LOCAL
RATE IS KIND OF SILLY. SEATTLE
BENEFITS FROM HAVING A VERY
HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING AND AS
A RESPECTED NATIONAL METROPOLIS
THE IDEA THAT A FEDERAL
STANDARD RATE WOULD BE
SUFFICIENT LIKE THE FEDERAL
MINIMUM WAGE OR POVERTY LINE,
IS LAUGHABLE. NOT TO MENTION
LOWERING THE AMOUNT OF TIME
THAT A WORKER HAS TO DECIDE
WHETHER THEY WILL ACCEPT AN
ORDER FROM TWO MINUTES TO 45
SECONDS WHICH IS BIASED AGAINST
GIG WORKERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS
NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. IT'S
NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR A SANCTUARY
CITY. WHEN I APPLY FOR A JOB MY
CREDIT IS USUALLY POLLED AND IF
IT IS FOUND I AM IN A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DEBT, I
AM SEEN AS A LIABILITY FOR THE
COMPANY AND PROBABLY WILL NOT
BE HIRED WE ARE IN THE HOLE
ABOUT $12 BILLION. I WOULD BE
SUSPICIOUS OF ANY COST-CUTTING
PROPOSAL IN SUPPORT OF THAT. IF
THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO
SUFFICIENTLY COMPENSATE
WORKERS, CONTRACT OR GIG TO
STAY COMPETITIVE, THEY PROBABLY
SHOULD NOT BE IN BUSINESS.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. THE NEXT 10 IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTERS ARE GOING TO
BE PETER K FOLLOWED BY STEPHEN
AND THEN CRAIG. PETER?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PETER AND FIRST OF
ALL I AM THE PRESIDENT OF-- AND
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT
10 YEARS AGO , $15 MINIMUM WAGE
WAS PASSED IN SEATTLE. NINE
YEARS AGO, COLLECTIVE-BARGAININ
G WAS PASSED IN DECEMBER . FIVE
YEARS AGO , -- FOR OVER AND
LIFT DRIVERS. SEATTLE IS THE
LEADER IN THIS COUNTRY. YOU
CANNOT GO ON A BUS WITH --.
WASHINGTON STATE IS THE FIRST
IN THE NATION THAT RAISE UP AND
PAY THEIR WORKERS AND I DON'T
THINK-- WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK
ABOUT THAT. NO REPEAL. THIS GUY
MAKE ONLY FIVE DOLLARS IN AN
HOUR AND YOU ARE MAKING IT TWO
DOLLARS OR THREE DOLLARS? THIS
IS UNFAIR. YOU NEED TO THINK
TWICE OVER THIS. DO NOT REPEAL
THIS, AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. STEPHEN G, CRAIG
JONES AND RITA J.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM HERE TO
OPPOSE THE LOBBYIST ATTEMPT TO
REDUCE THE PAY OF DRIVERS. I AM
DOING BETTER NOW , EVEN THOUGH
I HAVE FEWER REQUEST . BEFORE
THIS LAW , I WAS TURNING DOWN
SIX OUT OF EVERY 10 REQUEST.
WHY? BECAUSE MOST OF THEM WERE
THREE DOLLARS. I DON'T MIND
WAITING FOR A BETTER REQUEST
THAN ACCEPTING JUST ABOUT EVERY
REQUEST THAT COMES ALONG THAT
PAYS ONLY ABOUT THREE DOLLARS.
I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THE
CHANGE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
STEPHEN FOLLOWED BY CRAIG AND
RITA AND THEN ROMAN.
>> I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF
LEAVING THINGS THE WAY THEY
ARE. I HEARD AN EARLIER COMMENT
OR USE THE WORD DEVASTATING. I
THINK THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE
DEVASTATED OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING TO BE UNABLE TO HAVE
THEIR HANDS IN EVERY TIME
SOMEONE HAS SOMETHING TO EAT.
KLUBER, DOORDASH, ET CETERA.
SOMETIMES THE BEST THING TO DO
IS NOTHING. AND WITH THE TIME
WE CAN ALL SAVE BY DOING THAT
WE CAN GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY
THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
CRAIG JONES, RITA, ROMAN, AND
THEN REBECCA.
>> HELLO. CRAIG JONES, BORN AND
RAISED HERE IN SEATTLE AND I
STRONGLY URGE YOU, DO NOT VOTE
ON THE PROPOSAL TO CUT GIG
WORKER PAID TO $13.70 AN HOUR
WHICH IS $6.80 AN HOUR BELOW
THE SEATTLE MINIMUM WAGE AND IT
DOES NOTHING TO LOWER CUSTOMER
FEES. DON'T FALL FOR IT TODAY
OR ANY DAY. I DON'T KNOW IF
ANY OF YOU HAVE WORKED FOR THE
MINIMUM WAGE, ROB SAKA YOU'RE
MY COUNCILMEMBER. IF YOU EVER
HAVE WORKED FOR THE LEGAL
MINIMUM WHICH LITERALLY MEANS I
WOULD PAY YOU LESS IF I COULD,
IMAGINE FINALLY GETTING A RAISE
ONLY TO HAVE A NEW BOSS TAKE IT
AWAY FROM YOU. I AM FROM HERE
AND IT'S NAUSEATING TO
CONSTANTLY SEE THE WEALTHY
FLAUNT THEIR WILLFUL IGNORANCE
AND DISCONNECT FROM REALITY.
HIGH-RISE CONDOMINIUMS GOING UP
FASTER THAN WAGES CAN KEEP UP
WHILE OUR HOUSE WAS POPULATION
GROWS. I WORKED ON ELECTIONS
SINCE 1996 REMINDING THOUSANDS
OF HARD-WORKING PEOPLE EVERY
DAY THAT WE GAVE YOU THE JOB
AND YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO US
AND WE CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE RITA
FOLLOWED BY ROMAN AND THEN
REBECCA .
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I AM
GOING TO MAKE A VERY SIMPLE
STATEMENT. IF YOU PASS SARA
NELSON'S PROPOSAL , WORKERS
LIKE MYSELF WILL NO LONGER BE
ABLE TO PAY THE RENT, THE CAR
PAYMENT, OR BILLS NEXT MONTH
AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ROMAN FOLLOWED
BY REBECCA. MAYOR AND THEN
MATTEO.
>> HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
ROMAN. I WORK AS A DELIVERY
DRIVER IN SEATTLE JUST ABOUT A
YEAR . I JUST WANT TO SAY, I
START TO EARN ENOUGH FOR PAYING
MY BILLS JUST AFTER THESE
CHANGES IN JANUARY. I AM
TOTALLY OPPOSED FROM SARA
NELSON POLICY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
REBECCA , MATTEO, AND THE LAST
10 IN PERSON -- LAST ROUND FOR
THIS, I MEAN.
>> MY NAME IS BECKY AND I AM
HERE TO SUPPORT REVISIONS TO
THE PAY UP ORDINANCE. MY
HUSBAND AND I OWN AND OPERATE A
QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT SINCE
2016. WE MANAGED TO REMAIN OPEN
THROUGH COVID PRIMARILY BECAUSE
OF DELIVERY PLATFORMS. IN MAY
23 AS AMAZON AND OTHER
BUSINESSES RETURNED TO WORK
THREE DAYS A WEEK ON A WEEKLY
BASIS, DELIVERY ORDERS GREW AS
MUCH AS A PERCENT OVER THE
PREVIOUS YEAR BUT ON JANUARY
17, ALL OF THAT CHANGED AND
WITHIN WEEKS SALES DROPPED A
WEEK AGO IN ANTICIPATED
DELIVERY SALES. PERSONALLY I
HAVE TWO RESTAURANTS WHICH HAVE
CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF
DELIVERY SALES AND PRIMARILY A
LOSS OF SMALL ORDERS OR A
SINGLE PERSON WITH A HUGE
INCREASE ON COST. USERS OPTING
FOR PICKING UP, READY TO HEAT
ITEMS FROM SUPERMARKETS. WE
ANTICIPATE DELIVERY SALES WILL
BE PERMANENT AND I URGE COUNCIL
TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION TO PREVENT
MORE IRREVERSIBLE ECONOMIC
DAMAGE TO THE INDUSTRY IN
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE --
FOLLOWED BY MATTEO 6:00 HELLO,
GOOD AFTERNOON. FOR FIVE YEARS
I HAVE DONE MORE THAN 11,000
DELIVERIES. SOME PEOPLE SPEAK
OF RECEIVING AS LITTLE AS ONE
ORDER PER HOUR. SOMETIMES I
MIGHT NOT RECEIVE AN ORDER
AFTER WAITING 2 TO 3 HOURS. I
HAVE WORKED HARD FOR YEARS TO
EARN THAT INCENTIVE AND STATUS
AS THEY ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY.
THE NEW LAW HAD NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES FOR EVERYONE .
CUSTOMER, DASHER, BUSINESSES. I
TALKED WITH SOME BUSINESSES AND
THEIR APPLICATION ORDERS
DROPPED OUT AS MUCH AS 80%.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS NEW
PROPOSAL AND FIX THE DELIVERY
FEE. THANK YOU.
>> NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO 10
VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
FIRST UP WE HAVE KATIE FOLLOWED
BY A JENNY AND THEN RICHARD .
KATIE? GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF CITY
COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KATIE AND I
AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
WASHINGTON FOOD INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING
INDEPENDENT GROCERS CONVENIENCE
STORES AND THEIR SUPPLIERS. WFI
A SUPPORTS THE COUNCIL IN ITS
EFFORTS AT BASE MINIMUM PAY
ORDINANCE. AS WE HAVE SHARED
SEVERAL TIMES, INFLATION
CONTINUES TO BE A VERY REAL
CONCERN FOR MEMBERS. THE COST
OF FOOD FUEL AND LABOR
CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND
DELIVERING HAS BEEN AN
EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR OUR MEMBERS
IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REMAIN
COMPETITIVE AND KEEP CUSTOMERS
COMING BACK. THIS NEW ORDINANCE
RESULTING IN FEWER ORDERS, THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BEING
UNSUSTAINABLE FOR MEMBERS. THE
NEW PROPOSAL WILL HELP RESTORE
DELIVERY IN SEATTLE AND WE
ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO ACT WEEKLY
TO ADOPT REVISIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
JENNY FOLLOWED BY RICHARD AND
THEN CLEAR BORN. GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS JENNY. I WORK IN
SEATTLE AND I SPEND 150 -- 100
- $150 EACH WEEK ON DOORDASH. I
AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG
OPPOSITION TO COUNCILMEMBER
SARA NELSON'S PROPOSAL TO
REDUCE MINIMUM WAGE FOR
APPLICATION BASED ORDERS. THIS
IS A STEP IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION. WE SHOULD BE SETTING
STANDARDS FOR BETTER PAY AND
NOT CUTTING WAGES OF THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN OUR LIFELINE
ESPECIALLY DURING CHALLENGING
TIMES LIKE COVID. SEATTLE
PRIDES ITSELF ON PROGRESSIVE
VALUES. IF WE APPROVE THIS CAT
WE WOULD BE THE FIRST CITY
COUNCIL IN THE COUNTRY TO TAKE
SUCH A BACKWARDS STEP. THIS IS
NOT THE LEGACY WE WANT TO
CREATE IN SEATTLE OR WASHINGTON
STATE. THE PROCESSES HAVE BEEN
DEEPLY FLAWED. IT FEELS RUSHED
AND LACKS GENUINE ENGAGEMENT
WITH STAKEHOLDERS MOST AFFECTED
LIKE GIG WORKERS. THIS IS NOT
JUST ABOUT NUMBERS. IT'S ABOUT
REAL PEOPLE AND REAL LIFE. I
URGE COUNCIL TO STAND UP FOR
WHAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
RICHARD FOLLOWED BY CLEARANCE
AND THEN NICHOLAS W AFTERWARD.
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS RICHARD, I
AM A RESIDENT OF LAKE CITY. I
AM A DOORDASH OR AND I'VE DONE
OVER 12,000 DELIVERIES. PLEASE
DO NOT PASS SARA NELSON'S SHORT
CHANGED LEGISLATION. WHY ARE
YOU IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING
TO CUT BACK ON A WAGE THAT WAS
MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BY ALL
PARTIES INVOLVED AND INVOLVE
SEATTLE'S LARGEST WORKFORCE?
THE REASON THERE ARE NOT SO
MANY ORDERS FOR DRIVERS IN
SEATTLE IS BECAUSE DRIVERS FROM
EVERETT , SOUTH . TACOMA
DRIVERS COME NORTH, AND--
DRIVERS COME WEST. ALL OF THOSE
DRIVERS DO NOT MAKE A LIVING IN
THEIR OWN MARKETS. THAT'S WHY
THEY HAVE ALL COME UP AND
FLOODED THE SEATTLE MARKET.
THANKS TO THE APP COMPANIES.
PLEASE REMEMBER WE SPENT HOURS
A DAY SITTING AND WAITING .
WHAT YOU TELL THE APP COMPANIES
THAT THEY CAN'T GOUGE
RESTAURANTS FOR 30%? PLEASE
VOTE NO. AFTER FIVE YEARS OF
THEIR WAGES WE ARE FINALLY
MAKING ENOUGH TO LIVE AND THIS
CAN SEND US BACKWARDS. THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE'VE GOT CLEAR BORN
FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS AND
JOELLE.
>> MY NAME IS CLAYBORNE, I OWN
A COUPLE OF BUSINESSES AND
SEE-- IN THE SEATTLE AREA. I
HAVE A-- COMPANY AND A
COMMERCIAL KITCHEN .
UNFORTUNATELY SEATTLE'S
EXPERIMENT HAS FAILED MANY
SMALL BUSINESSES. A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER HARBORING --
INCUBATORS AND A COOKIE
COMPANY. -- FOR FELLOW-- LIKE
MYSELF. I HAVE 12 BUSINESSES IN
MY COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND ALL
OF THEM HAVE BEEN HURT BY THIS
ORDINANCE. IT IS HURTING SMALL
BUSINESSES. COMMON SENSE
SOLUTIONS. CONSUMERS CANNOT
AFFORD TO DELIVER IN SEATTLE
ANY LONGER. THIS ORDINANCE HAS
BEEN HURTFUL TO MANY PEOPLE
INCLUDING MANY BAT BLACK AND
BROWN CITIZENS THAT I KNOW AND
WORK WITH. WE SIMPLY CANNOT
WITHSTAND THIS ORDER AND THE
DECLINE . I URGE CITY COUNCIL
TO PASS AN ORDINANCE FOR
SEATTLE SMALL BUSINESSES AND
ESPECIALLY SMALL BLACK AND
BROWN BUSINESSES. ROB SAKA,
I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOU ABOUT
THIS. JOEY HOLLINGSWORTH,
PLEASE HELP US OUT HERE. WE
CAN'T AFFORD THIS.
>> NEXT WE HAVE NICHOLAS.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX. WE WILL
GO NEXT TO JOEL. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JOE L, I
AM A LIFELONG SEATTLE RESIDENT
AND A GIG WORKER. I'VE LIVED
IN THE CITY AND WATCHED IT
BECOME INCREASINGLY
UNAFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE LIKE ME
ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CHRONIC
ILLNESSES. I USED A GIG
WORKERS, NOT JUST THAT I AM ONE
BUT I ALSO USE THEM. I
CONSTANTLY GET THEM FOR FOOD
AND DIFFERENT STUFF WHEN MY
HEALTH WAS NOT -- DEEPLY
AFFECTED AND I CANNOT GET OUT
ONE THING WE KNOW THAT HAPPENED
WITH THE LEGISLATION IS THAT
THE COMPANIES RETALIATED AND
PUT ON ALL THESE FEES FOR THE
WORKERS AND FOR THE COMPANIES
AND CUSTOMERS. WHAT THEY DID
NOT DO WAS FOLLOW THE LAW. IF
THEY HAD, WE WOULD NOT BE
HAVING ALL THESE ISSUES. PEOPLE
KEEP SAYING IT'S THE WORKERS
THAT ARE THE PROBLEM AND IN
FACT, THE COMPANIES RETALIATED.
WE NEED TO NOT PASS
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
PROPOSAL BECAUSE IT WILL NOT
STOP THE FEES AND THE COMPANIES
HAVE SAID IT THEMSELVES. IT
WON'T DO ANYTHING BUT MAKE IT
SO THAT MORE PEOPLE --
>> ALL RIGHT. NICHOLAS I SEE
YOU ARE BACK ON. NICHOLAS? WE
WILL GO NOW TO MARY Z.
>> MY NAME IS MARY, I AM A
DISABLED ARE AND AND I DELIVER
FOR INSTA CART I AM SPEAKING TO
OPPOSE SARA NELSON'S PETITION
TO DECREASE PAID TO SUB MINIMUM
WAGES. BEFORE THE ORDINANCE I
WAS DEPENDENT ON WASHINGTON
STATE'S CASH BENEFITS AND WAS
DEPENDENT ON FOOD BANKS. THE
ORDINANCE HAS CREATED FINANCIAL
STABILITY FOR MY FAMILY AND
SEVERAL OTHERS WHO USED TO
DEPEND ON THE STATE FOR
ASSISTANCE. DECREASING PAY WILL
HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON GIG
WORKERS LIKE ME. WE SPEND
ANYWHERE FROM $400-$700 OF GAS
AND DRIVE THOUSANDS OF MILES
PER YEAR USING OUR OWN VEHICLE.
OUR JOB IS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING
WITH SOME ORDERS BEING OVER 400
POUNDS. THE PROPOSAL WAS
DEVELOPED BY UBER DOORDASH AND
LOBBYIST THAT THEY PAID, WHICH
SHOULD TELL YOU A LOT, ALONE.
AT THE LEAST, YOU SHOULD NOT
CONSIDER REVISING THE ORDINANCE
UNTIL YOU'VE HEARD FROM GIG
WORKERS SUCH AS MYSELF.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE'VE GOT DANIELLE FOLLOWED
BY JOANNA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
DANIELLE AND I AM A DRIVER FOR
YOUR--, UBER , LIST AND GRUBHUB
AND I'M OPPOSED TO SARA
NELSON'S PROPOSAL. THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN HAS
DECREASED MY PAY OVERALL SINCE
IT WENT INTO EFFECT -- HAS
INCREASED OVERALL AND ALLOWED
ME TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO PAY MY
BILLS. THE ORDINANCE HOLDS
MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR COMPANIES
ACCOUNTABLE TO PAY CONTRACTORS
A FAIR WAGE. AS AN INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR YOU WOULD TYPICALLY
HAVE BARGAINING POWER TO
NEGOTIATE YOUR RATES AND IN THE
CASE OF THESE APP-BASED
COMPANIES THE CONTRACTORS DO
NOT HAVE THE BARGAINING POWER.
SARA NELSON'S PROPOSAL STRIPS
AWAY THE PROGRESS IN HOLDING
COMPANIES TO THE STANDARDS THAT
REQUIRES THEM TO PAY US A
LIVING WAGE AND PROVIDE US WITH
RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS. IT
WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO ALLOW
SARA NELSON'S AMENDMENT TO
PASS WITHOUT DOING YOUR DUE
DILIGENCE. NOT ONLY HAVE YOU
GIVEN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE
INSUFFICIENT TIME TO WORK BUT
YOU ARE BEING MANIPULATED BY
THESE BIG CORPORATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'VE GOT
KATHLEEN. GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS KATHLEEN. I AM
APPALLED THAT THIS SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL IS LOOKING TO AMEND AN
ORDINANCE THAT IMPLEMENTED
IMPORTANT LABOR RIGHTS , IN
ADDITION TO ESTABLISHING A
MINIMUM WAGE FOR SOME OF OUR
MOST VULNERABLE WORKING
RESIDENTS. THE ORDINANCE HAS
ONLY BEEN IN EFFECT FOR A FEW
MONTHS AND BECAUSE OF SIDING
WITH CORPORATE GREED, COUNCIL
IS ALREADY LOOKING TO GOT THE
ORDINANCE. COUNCIL MUST NOT BOW
TO MAKE THESE AMENDMENTS
PROPOSED BY CORPORATE INTEREST
GROUPS. COUNCIL NEEDS TO
CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF THE
PEOPLE VERSUS THE GREED OF
CORPORATE FAT CATS. I BELIEVE
EXORBITANT FEES SHOULD BE CUT
RATHER THAN PAY FOR WORKERS.
'S ACTIONS OF COUNCIL SHOW US
THAT YOU CARE MORE ABOUT BIG
BUSINESS THAN THE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE YOU WILL LIKELY FIND
THAT THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE WILL
CHOOSE TO VOTE YOU OUT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE RUTH
FOLLOWED BY PETER. RUTH?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE.
THE WHOLE THING FEELS SURREAL
TO COME HERE AND BEG YOU NOT TO
TAKE OUR PROTECTION FOR PAY
AWAY IS CRAZY. WEEK AFTER WEEK
I'VE WATCHED PEOPLE TELL YOU
TO KEEP THE PAY UP. THESE
PEOPLE WHO GET PAID BY THE
MINUTE ARE COMING HERE INSTEAD
THEY ARE NOT LOBBYIST. THEY ARE
NOT PAID TO BE HERE. AND IN
FACT, SOME PUT THEMSELVES AT
RISK BY TALKING HERE. EVERY
WEEK I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THE
NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
SUPPORTING IT. IT'S NOT ONLY
GIG WORKERS. UNIONS OR WORKING
IN WASHINGTON AND ON THE
FLIPSIDE WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF
PEOPLE THAT STAND HERE IN
OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY ARE
LOSING INCOME. THAT'S BECAUSE
THEY ARE BIKE DELIVERIES SO THE
APPLICATIONS DROPPED THEM IN
PRIORITY. MAYBE INSTEAD OF
TAKING AWAY FROM THOUSANDS YOU
COULD ADD TO HELP US HANDFUL OF
WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
PETER FOLLOWED BY KEVIN.
>> MY NAME IS PETER , AND I AM
CALLING IN TO SAY THAT I
BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THESE
BLACK AND LATINO BUSINESSES
THAT ARE RELIANT ON BUSINESS AS
FAR AS FROM THE FOOD INDUSTRY,
IS SUFFERING I THINK
LEGISLATION, CITY COUNCIL AND
WHOEVER NEEDS TO FIX THE PAYUP
SYSTEM. I THINK THE SYSTEM
COULD WORK AND I THINK THAT
MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL COME BACK
AND SAY WE WILL SEE HOW THAT
FITS SEATTLE AND PEOPLE GREATLY
IMPACTED BY IT. WE MADE A
CHANGE, WE SUPPORTED CURRENT
COUNCIL , JOEY HOLLINGSWORTH, I
KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
REACHING OUT TO YOU . THEY ARE
REACHING OUT TO ME. I AM
PLEADING YOU GUYS. WORK
TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. WE
CAN.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KEVIN AND THEN
MICHAEL. GO AHEAD KEVIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
KEVIN, AND INSTA CART CHOPPER
SINCE 2018. I SUPPORT THE PAYUP
ORDINANCE AS IT WAS WRITTEN.
GIG WORKERS ORGANIZED TO BECOME
PART OF THE PROCESS WHICH
INCLUDED APPLICATIONS AND
COUNCILMEMBER AND STAFF
CREATING ORDINANCE WE ARE ALL
PROUD OF. IF CB120775 PASSES AS
WRITTEN, THE PAY OF GROSS
MINIMUM WAGE AND MILEAGE CUT
$.35 PER MILE WILL BE THE
LOWEST OF ALL EXISTING
STANDARDS FOR GIG WORKERS IN
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. I AM
ENCOURAGING COUNCILMEMBERS TO
TAKE A STAND AGAINST LOWERING
PAY FOR WORKERS WHO WORK AND
LIVE IN THE CITY BASED ON WHAT
WE KNOW IS TRUE. PLEASE DON'T
THROW AWAY OUR VOICES. THESE
APPLICATIONS HAVE TAKEN MONEY
FROM RESTAURANTS, WORKERS,
STORES AND DO NOT GIVE BACK TO
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
MICHAEL.
>> HELLO COUNCIL. I AM A
DEDICATED WATER TREATMENT
OPERATOR AND-- OF GRUBHUB AND
ROVER. I STRONGLY ENDORSE THE
PAYUP ORDINANCE AS IS AIMED AT
BOLSTERING EARNINGS OF GIG
WORKERS. THE RESPONSES BEEN TO
IMPOSE ADDITIONAL FEES FURTHER
STRAINING CUSTOMERS
FINANCIALLY. THE BUSINESS
MOTTER OVERLOOKS THE INVALUABLE
CONTRIBUTION OF GIG WORKERS
BURDENING THEM WITH FEES AND
WITHHOLDING GRATUITIES.
GOVERNANCE FOCUSED ON WORKERS
NEEDS IS CRUCIAL IN ENSURING
FAIR LABOR PRACTICE AND
EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING. IT IS
IMPERATIVE FOR COUNCIL TO
IMPOSE THIS EXPLOITATION BY
YOUR TIES IN THE WELL-BEING OF
WORKING PEOPLE OVER CORPORATE
INTERESTS AND EVEN IF THESE
COUNTRIES CHOOSE TO IMPART
VIABLE ALTERNATIVES THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO EXIST BEFORE AND
AFTER. LET'S UPHOLD WAGE
PROTECTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF
ALL.
>> THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL GO
BACK TO 10 IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS . FIRST WE WILL
START, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR
MISSING YOU, JAFFA .
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENT
ON THE DELIVERY PAY LAW. MY
NAME IS JAFAR AND I STARTED
DRIVING FOR DOORDASH DURING THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
BEING ABLE TO-- ALLOWS ME TO
PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY AND I
APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY TO
REMAIN ENGAGED AND SUPPORTIVE
-- SUPPORTED WITHIN MY
COMMUNITY. SINCE IT PAST I HAVE
SEEN INCREASED WAIT TIMES
BETWEEN ORDERS, PROBABLY
BECAUSE OF AN OVERSATURATION IN
DRIVERS AND LESS ORDERS. I FEEL
LIKE MY INCOME HAS BEEN TAKEN
AWAY FROM ME. PLEASE SUPPORT
THIS NEW BILL SO WE CAN RETURN
TO NORMAL. THANK YOU.
>> YOU LEFT YOUR PHONE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE HAU
.
>> HELLO. AS A DELIVERY CAREER
I WISH COUNCIL TO PASS
CHAIRPERSON NELSON'S PROPOSAL
NOT BECAUSE I AM AGAINST WAGE
PROTECTION BUT BECAUSE THE
CURRENT PAYUP ORDINANCE HAS
DONE THE EXACT OPPOSITE. THE
PROPOSED BILL IS FAR FROM
PERFECT BUT IT IS THE CHANGE WE
NEED TO TUNEUP THIS FIVE-MONTH
EXPERIMENT. I ALSO WISH THAT IS
SO FELLOW CITIZENS WHO ARE
AGAINST THE BILL TO PROPOSE THE
AMENDMENT IN THE FUTURE, TO
FOCUS ON THE FEE AND DEDUCTIONS
TRANSPARENCY AND HOLD THE
COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR
OPERATING THE MARKET
RESPONSIBLY. WITH ENOUGH TIME
AND NEGOTIATION WE CAN APPROACH
A SOLUTION THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN
AGREE WITH. THAT'S BY THE FEES
AND GREED, NOT EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE, AND I
APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCED
YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, THE
YELLOW AND I BELIEVE WITH AN
INTERPRETER? YES.
>> WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU ON?
>> 32.
>> MY APOLOGIES. GOT A LOT OF
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. MY
APOLOGIES. NEXT WE HAVE ROBERT
SINGLETON FOLLOWED BY JOHN,
GARY, AND MASON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ROBERT SINGLETON AND I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS A CHAMBER OF PROGRESS,
AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
SUPPORTING PUBLIC POLICIES TO
BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE COUNTRY
IN WHICH ALL PEOPLE BENEFIT
FROM TECHNOLOGICAL LEAPS AND WE
ARE HERE TO SUPPRESS SUPPORT
FOR CB120775 AS OUTLINED BY
STAFF ON APRIL 25 . WE APPLAUD
THE EFFORTS BEING TAKEN BY THIS
BODY TO AMEND THE MINIMUM
PAYMENT ORDINANCE. THE PROPOSAL
MAY NOT BE PERFECT AND IT IS A
CRUCIAL STEP TOWARD ENSURING
FAIR AND EQUITABLE SITUATED--
WHILE BALANCING THE NEED TO
HAVE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO
ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE GROCERY
AND FOOD. THE CURRENT SITUATION
IS UNTENABLE FOR DRIVERS
CONSUMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
WHILE WELL-INTENTIONED THE
STANDARDS HAD INCREASED THE
PRICE FOR SERVICES AND THE
INCREASE IS TRANSLATED INTO A
REDUCTION DEMAND, IRONICALLY
LIMITING EARNING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR DRIVERS AND RESTAURANTS.
THE NEW PROPOSAL IS BETTER
CALIBRATED TO PROTECT WAGES AND
WILL RESERVE MANY OF THE
PROTECTIONS ALREADY IN PLACE
INCLUDING A GUARANTEED MINIMUM
PAY STANDARD WITHOUT
THREATENING ACCESS TO FOOD AND
GROCERIES.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JOHN FOLLOWED
BY GARY AND ON DECK AFTERWARD
WE HAVE NATION.
>> ON FEBRUARY 15 A GROUP OF
COURIERS CAME TO THE COUNCIL
AND SAID THE PAYUP BILL WAS NOT
WORKING AND ASKED FOR HELP . IT
IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THIS
REVISED BILL BEING VOTED ON
TODAY IS HAPPENING AT THE
REQUEST OF ACTUAL GIG WORKERS
WHO BROUGHT RECEIPTS. IT IS
EASY TO MANIPULATE SIMPLEMINDED
PEOPLE WITH THE TERM MINIMUM
WAGE BUT THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN
INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO SEE
THROUGH THE DISINFORMATION. IN
2023 I WAS RECEIVING 250 OFFERS
PER WEEK. AFTER PAYUP I WAS
RECEIVING LESS THAN 50. IT IS
NOT A MINIMUM-WAGE ABILITY OF
THE MAJORITY ARE MAKING LESS
THAN MINIMUM WAGE. IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN POLITICALLY EASIER TO
DO NOTHING AND SUPPORT THE
FALSE MINIMUM-WAGE ANTHEM. IT
IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT
NEARLY 100% OF THE PAYUP
PROPONENTS ARE INSTACART AND
SHOPPING WORKERS. PAYUP WAS
WRITTEN POORLY AND NEEDS
FIXING. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON TO
THE HARD AND SMART THING AND
THAT'S FIGHTING FOR THE
MAJORITY OF WORKERS, DOING BEST
FOR THE CITY AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY GIVING VOICE TO THE
LESS PRIVILEGED WORKERS WHO DO
NOT HAVE A POLITICAL AGENDA.
42% WERE IMMIGRANTS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE GARY
FOLLOWED BY NATHAN AND THEN
JEFF. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. BRING BACK
DELIVERIES. I'M GOING TO ASK A
VERY IMPORTANT GROUP HERE TO
RAISE THEIR HANDS . THE MICELLE
YOU IS CONSIDERED THE ENTIRE
FOREST ECOSYSTEM. WHEN THE
STUMP REMAINS, THE REST OF THE
TREES HEALTH AND REACH OUT WITH
NUTRIENTS. HOW COULD A
MINIMUM-WAGE LAW LEAVE PEOPLE
OUT ON A LURCH? I'VE BEEN
DOCUMENTED IN THE MEDIA MAKING
$13 AN HOUR FOR 65 HOURS A
WEEK. FACT. I AM A TOP DASHER.
DRIVERS TELL ME THE SAME. I AM
HERE TO TALK ABOUT LACK OF
EMPATHY. NO EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE
MAKING BELOW $70,000. THEY
CAN'T AFFORD DELIVERY. THIS IS
NOT A LIVING WAGE, IT'S A
DYING WAGE. COUNCIL SHOULD SHOW
EMPATHY AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
MY GROUP HERE TODAY ARE MY
FAMILY BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT
THEIR FAMILIES FAR AWAY. DO
WHAT IS RIGHT . ECONOMY 101.
LOWER PRICES MEAN MORE ORDERS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'VE GOT
NATHAN FOLLOWED BY HASSAN AND
THEN JEFF.
>> GIG WORKERS ARE AN EMERGING
BACK OWN OF THE LABOR FORCE NOT
JUST HERE BUT COUNTRYWIDE. THE
PAYUP ORDINANCE WORKS
EXCEPTIONALLY WELL FOR ME
BECAUSE IT COVERS MY EXPENSIVE
AND GIVES ME FLEXIBILITY TO
FOLLOW OTHER AMBITIONS. WHERE
IS YOUR SENSE OF LOYALTY
ANYWAY? WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS
OR THESE MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR
TECH GIANTS? YOU WOULD THINK
WITH THE POLITICAL CLIMATE YOU
WOULD AVOID SMELLING LIKE
CORRUPTION AT ALL COSTS. I AM
SO THANKFUL I GET TO SPEAK
DIRECTLY TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
WHO HOLD ALL OF OUR BEST
INTEREST AT HEART. I HAVE BEEN
A CONTRACT WORKER MOST OF MY
LIFE AND IT HAS BEEN HIT OR
MISS WITH THESE COMPANIES. I'M
THRILLED YOU HAVE HELD THEM TO
A HIGHER STANDARD. THANK YOU
FOR MAKING THEM PAY US FAIRLY.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF US
WORKING RIGHT NOW THAT NEED TO
FEED THEIR FAMILIES. THEY
CAN'T BE HERE TO FIGHT YOU ON
THIS BUT I CAN. PLEASE DO NOT
ROLL THIS BACK.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
HASSAN FOLLOWED BY JEFF AND
THEN ALPHA D .
>> HE WILL BE RIGHT HERE.
>> GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> WE WILL GET BACK TO HASSAN.
IF JEFF S IS HERE? I BELIEVE
THIS PERSON NEEDS AN
INTERPRETER BUT ALPHA ? YOU ARE
UP NEXT. JUST KEEP MOVING.
>> NEXT WE HAVE IBRAHIMA AND
YOU NEED A TRANSLATOR?
>> HELLO EVERYONE. I AM HERE
SINCE JUNE 30, 2023. I AM HERE
THIS AFTERNOON TO EXPRESS MY
CONCERN OVER THE ACTIVITY OF
DELIVERY. ACTUALLY, DELIVERY IS
TOO SLOW. WE ARE NOT GETTING
ORDERS. PERSONALLY, SINCE LAST
WEEK IF I COME, I AM NOT
GETTING ORDER. MAYBE SOMETIMES
THE WHOLE DAY IS TWO OR THREE
ORDERS. SO WE REALLY NEED YOUR
HELP. COUNCIL, I THINK COUNCIL
SHOULD STAND AND FIGHT HARD AND
TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS
PROBLEM . SO ONCE AGAIN WE NEED
YOUR HELP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S GO BACK TO
HASSAN. ARE YOU HERE? OKAY.
JEFF ? ARE YOU HERE?
>> ALPHA DLO? EDWARD PARK ?
>> HELLO, I'VE BEEN DOING
DELIVERY APP DRIVING SINCE 2021
AND WORKING WITH PLATFORMS LIKE
POSTMATES, UBER EATS, ALONGSIDE
DOORDASH. I AM AN e-COMMERCE
BUSINESS AND STILL DEPEND ON
DELIVERY INCOME TO COVER
EXPENSES. PAYUP HAS BACKFIRED
AND MY EARNINGS ARE HALF OF
WHAT IT WAS. I AM HERE AGAIN TO
ASK YOU SUPPORT THIS NEW
COUNCIL BILL TO MAKE CHANGES TO
THE LAW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL GO
TO ERIC FRANKLIN. ERIC?
>> HELLO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME
IS ERIC FRANKLIN AND I HAVE
BEEN A DELIVERY DRIVER SINCE
2018. I HAVE OVER 12,000
DELIVERIES. I HAVE SEEN MANY OF
MY OTHER DELIVERY DRIVERS HAVE
20,000, 21,000, HITTING THE
STREETS REALLY HARD. AND WE ALL
HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN COMMON.
WE TALK AND GET ALONG AND WE
LOVE WHAT WE DO. WE LOVE
SERVING THE COMMUNITY FROM THE
DISABLED PERSON UP ON THE THIRD
FLOOR THAT NEEDS HELP TO THE
FACTORY WORKER AT 2:00 O'CLOCK
IN THE MORNING WHO CAN'T LEAVE
HIS JOB TO GET SOME FOOD THAT
WE CAN DELIVER. WE REALLY LIKE
WHAT WE DO. WHEN I ASK THE
PEOPLE , I SAY I'M REALLY
PUZZLED. WHEN I ASKED THEM THEY
SAY CORPORATIONS HAVE TO PAY.
WE HAVE TO GET PAID MORE MONEY.
WE NEED OUR RIGHTS. I ASK THEM
HOW MANY DELIVERIES HAVE YOU
DONE? I'VE DONE 5000. HE'S
DONE 6000. AND THEY HAVE NO
CONCERN FOR ME OR THE OTHER
FELLOW DRIVERS. THEY JUST WANT
TO GO OUT AND-- WE JUST WANT TO
GO OUT AND SERVE AND UNDERSTAND
WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER.
>> IS HASSAN HERE? JEFF S ?
ALPHA D ? WE WILL GO TO HUAI?
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. I HAVE BEEN
A DELIVERY WORKER FOR ABOUT
FOUR YEARS NOW AND IT'S THE
THIRD TIME I'VE BEEN IN THIS
ROOM REGARDING THE LABOR PAY. I
CAN BE WORKING MAKING MONEY BUT
I'VE CHOSEN TO COME HERE AGAIN
BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.
I AM HERE TO ASK YOU, COUNCIL ,
DELIVERY PAY, PLEASE SUPPORT
THE NEW COUNCIL BILL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
YUSUF ? NEXT WE HAVE NOAH G.
>> HELLO COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
NOAH, I AM A RESIDENT HERE IN
SEATTLE, I AM A GOOD WORKER
THOUGH I'M NOT DELIVERY. I DO
TOUR GUIDES AND DOG WALKING BUT
THIS LAW AFFECTS ALL OF US. IT
IS PRETTY SIMPLE WHAT THEY ARE
ASKING. KEEP IT AT A LIVABLE
WAGE. NOT A REASONABLE, A
LIVABLE WAGE BECAUSE IT IS
BASIC ECONOMICS HERE. IF YOU
WANT PEOPLE TO SPEND MORE MONEY
THEY NEED MORE MONEY TO SPEND
SAID MONEY. IF YOU WANT PEOPLE
TO LIVE, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO AFFORD HOUSING. ABLE TO GET
DINNER. WHAT YOU SHOULD BE
TARGETING ARE THE CORPORATIONS
PUTTING THESE RIDICULOUS FEES
THAT WE ALL KNOW ARE NOT
AFFECTED BY THESE LAWS THE
CORPORATIONS ARE TRYING TO
BLACKMAIL US INTO NOT PAYING US
LIVABLE WAGES. AS A TOUR GUIDE
I TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF
THIS GREAT CITY AND YOU KNOW
THE ONE THING THAT ALWAYS CROPS
UP? IT'S ALWAYS A BAD IDEA TO
GO AGAINST THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE. WHEN YOU GO AGAINST THE
WILL OF THE PEOPLE YOU LOSE
YOUR SEAT AND DON'T GET VOTED
BACK END. I'M TALKING TO YOU,
SARA NELSON. YOU LITERALLY WENT
INTO A CORPORATION THE RIGHT
TO--.
>> NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL WOLF.
MICHAEL WOLF?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS
AT STAKE . THERE HAVE BEEN
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LOST
ORDERS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
LOST EARNINGS AND REVENUE FOR
RESTAURANTS AND INCREASED ON
AFFORDABILITY FOR CONSUMERS. WE
FIRMLY BELIEVE THESE CHANGES
THAT ARE PROPOSED WILL
ELIMINATE THE FEES CHARGED BY
THE COMPANIES AND RESTORE
VOLUME AND EARNINGS FOR WORKERS
IN RESTAURANTS. WE'VE HEARD,
VOTE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. IN
A RECENT SURVEY, 80% OF SEATTLE
VOTERS SAID THEY WANT A CHANGE
TO THIS LAW. THAT'S THE PEOPLE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE URGE YOU NOT
ONLY TO SUPPORT THIS BILL, BUT
ALSO THE AMENDMENTS, ALL OF
THEM THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE --
AGDOUBAYE FOLLOWED BY
DIALKATAU. I APOLOGIZE. NEXT WE
HAVE ADAM FRY .
>> MY NAME IS ADAM. I DELIVER
FOR DOORDASH AND OTHER
COMPANIES AND I'M AGAINST THE
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE PAYUP
POLICY. $1068. THAT IS MY
MONTHLY AVERAGE COST FOR
EXPENSES OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD
AS A DELIVERY DRIVER. GAS,
MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, AND
INSURANCE. THIS DOES NOT
INCLUDE A CAR PAYMENT. I AM AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. I AM
NOT AN EMPLOYEE. I PAY MY OWN
TAXES AND I PAY MY OWN
EXPENSES, AND I GET TO DECIDE
HOW MUCH MY LABOR IS WORTH. NOT
A RESTAURANT, AND CERTAINLY NOT
DOORDASH UBER OR GRUBHUB. THESE
NEW REVISIONS WILL BRING PAID
TO AN EVEN LOWER RATE THAN
BEFORE THE ORIGINAL POLICY. YOU
WOULD NOT LET A PLUMBER OR AN
ELECTRICIAN OR A LANDSCAPING
PROFESSIONAL, YOU WOULDN'T
TELL THEM LEGALLY THEY NEED TO
LOWER THEIR RATE OF PAY. WHY
WOULD I SUPPORT A POLICY IN MY
CITY THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY
AFFECT MY ABILITY TO DECIDE HOW
MUCH MY WORK IS WORTH? I
IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE NO AGAINST
THESE MISGUIDED REVISIONS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE EMMA
H.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I HAVE BEEN
CONSISTENTLY MAKING DOUBLE WHAT
I DID BEFORE PAYUP. YOU HAVE A
SIMPLE CHOICE. ARE YOU GOING TO
PUSH FORWARD AND UNPOPULAR AND
RUSHED REVISION, A BILL THAT
CODIFIES MINIMUM WAGE OF $13 AN
HOUR WHEN EXPENSES ARE
CONSIDERED FOR DRIVERS? AND THE
RATIONALE OF WHICH IS BASED
PRIMARILY ON ANECDOTAL REPORTS
FROM HISTORICALLY THE LOWEST
EARNING MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN
SEATTLE FOR GIG WORK. OR ARE
YOU GOING TO FOLLOW THE CALL
FOR A FAIR PROCESS AND
IMPLEMENT REASONABLE AMENDMENTS
TO THE ORIGINAL BILL SUCH AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE 'S
SUGGESTION TO WORK WITH
ACADEMICS TO APPROPRIATELY
STUDY THE IMPACTS. WE ARE
ENTERING WHAT IS HISTORICALLY
THE BEST PERIOD FOR GIG WORK IN
SEATTLE. RESTAURANTS ARE BUSY
BOTH WITH APPLICATION AND MORE
PROFITABLE IN PERSON ORDERS.
DON'T BASE YOUR DECISION ON
OUTDATED COMPLAINTS AND
FORECASTS THAT WERE NOT
ADJUSTED. THERE IS ALSO A
RECENT POLL SHOWING ONLY 18%
SUPPORT THE REVISION. THE REST
OF POSE OR DO NOT HAVE AN
OPINION. DON'T SUPPORT THIS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL GO
BACK TO VIRTUAL PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> SEEMS LIKE NICHOLAS W.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> I AM HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> GREAT. MY NAME IS NICHOLAS,
I DO RESTAURANT DELIVERY FOR
DOORDASH, UBER EATS, GRUBHUB
AND INSTACART. I'VE MADE ABOUT
5000 DELIVERIES OVER THE COURSE
OF TWO OR THREE YEARS AND I CAN
SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT I AM
AGAINST THIS PROPOSED REVISION
. DEMAND IS LOWER BUT THE
REALITY THAT MATTERS IS THE PAY
ON EACH ORDER, AND IT IS
FINALLY WORTH IT. I PUT A LOT
LESS MILEAGE ON MY CAR AND MY
EARNINGS HAVE INCREASED OVERALL
. WITH FEES IT SHOULDN'T EVEN
BE TALKED ABOUT . THEY HAVE
TRIED TO KILL DEMANDS WITH
THESE FEES BUT STILL, THINGS
ARE BETTER FOR US UNDER THE
PAYUP. PLEASE DO NOT KILL
PAYUP. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE AIDEN FOLLOWED
BY CHARLIE .
>> HOW TO BE CONCISE? WALL
STREET IS THE ENEMY HERE. THEY
ARE THE ONES THAT ONLY
APPLICATIONS. THE RESTAURANTS
OR THE BIKERS OR THE DRIVERS,
IT'S NOT THEM. SOME ARE
HURTING , IT'S ALL BECAUSE THE
COMPANIES ARE RETALIATING. YOU
MAY ALSO CALL THAT A CAPITAL
STRIKE. BUSINESSES , BANKS AND
INVESTORS CAN GO ON STRIKE. YOU
MIGHT TAKE THE BOATLOAD OF
MONEY YOU ARE ABOUT TO WASTE ON
COPS AND GIVE IT TO THE
BUSINESSES WHO ARE STRUGGLING
AS A STRIKE FUND. THE BIKERS
WHO ARE STRUGGLING , THE
HOMELESS PEOPLE SOME OF WHO ARE
COMMITTING CRIMES SOME OF WHO
ARE NOT, THERE'S THIS
LONG-STANDING DEBATE BETWEEN
LIBERALS AND SOCIALIST ABOUT
WHETHER REFORM IS ENOUGH AND
THIS IS A TEST CASE OF THE KIND
OF THING WE SEE ALL THE TIME.
CAN A REFORM HOLD? AND WHEN
COUNTERATTACKS SABOTAGE, IS IT
POSSIBLE TO STAY IN THE MIDDLE?
CAN THIS COUNTRY REMAIN HALF
CAPITALIST AND HAP HALF FREE?
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT ANOTHER
TIME. FEUDALISM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE CHARLIE AND
ALBERTO. GO AHEAD, CHARLIE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A
STUDENT AND I AM COMMENTING IN
OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED BILL
FOR GIG WORK A MINIMUM WAGE.
FRANKLY I AM ASHAMED WE ARE
CONSIDERING SOMETHING THAT DOES
SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE LIES OF
THOSE BASED ON SUCH SPARSE
INFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND THE
GRANT THE CONCERN OVER FEES BUT
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON
THE SAME PAGE ABOUT WHAT'S
CAUSING THESE FEES WHICH ARE
GREEDY EXECUTIVES AT COMPANIES
LIKE UBER EXTORTING WORKERS TO
PROTECT IMMENSE PROFIT MARGINS
. ARE WE REALLY SUPPOSED TO
BELIEVE THAT THEIR BOTTOM LINE
WOULD CRUMBLE WITHOUT THESE
BOGUS FEES ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING HOW MANY ORDERS ARE
NOT BEING PLACED BECAUSE OF
THOSE FEES? DO YOU EXPECT THEM
TO VANISH WHEN WORKERS ARE
ALLOWED TO BE PAID LESS? IT
DOESN'T ADD UP. TO ME THIS IS
A CLEAR TACTIC BY THESE
COMPANIES TO GENERATE
RESISTANCE TO A MINIMUM WAGE
ORDINANCE AND FUEL THE
OPPOSITION. WE RECOGNIZE THERE
ARE ISSUES IMPACTING WORKERS
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE
CAUSE IS NOT PAYUP. IT'S THE
FEE-BASED RESPONSE DRIVEN BY
CORPORATIONS AND THE DESIRE TO
PROTECT THEIR PROFITS. -- NOT
THE DESIRES OF BILLION-DOLLAR
CORPORATIONS.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JIM AND THE
LAST VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT OR
IS GOING TO BE ALBERTO. JIM?
>> HELLO, I AM JIM BUCHANAN. I
HAVE A CASE FOR EQUITY AND
EQUALITY FOR THE BLACK
COMMUNITY. I SEE IT ON BOTH
SIDES, HOWEVER I THINK THAT WE
NEED TO LOOK AT THE FACTS AT
HAND BEFORE MAKING A DECISION
ON THIS. I CAN SEE THE PROS AND
CONS BUT WE WOULD ALSO LIKE
COUNCIL TO LOOK AT THE LINES ON
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY? THAT IS OUR CONCERN.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY?
>> IS THERE AN ISSUE?
>> ALL RIGHT. ALBERTO ?
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ALBERTO, I
AM A DELIVERY DRIVER HERE IN
SEATTLE. COUNCIL HAS ONE JOB.
TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
SARA NELSON IS ONLY SECURING
THE PROFITS OF BILLION-DOLLAR
COMPANIES. SHE IS AT BEST,
CHOOSING TO REMAIN IGNORANT OF
WHAT THE BILL DOES. SARA
NELSON'S BILL PLACES DRIVERS
FAR BELOW MINIMUM WAGE SETTING
PAY WITHOUT ACCOUNTING FOR
EXPENSES. SARA NELSON ALSO
WANTS TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS
AND PROTECTIONS THAT ENSURE
THAT WE WORK SAFELY AND WITH
DIGNITY. HER BILL FAILS TO DO
ANYTHING ABOUT THE JUNK FEES
THAT COMPANIES ARE USING TO
HOLD OUR LOCAL ECONOMY HOSTAGE.
COMPANIES WILLING TO POISON THE
WELL FOR LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND
40,000 WORKERS IN THE REGION.
DO NOT PASS THIS BILL. SAY NO
TO SARA NELSON.
>> THAT CONCLUDES VIRTUAL
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. WE WILL GO
BACK TO IN PERSON. NEXT WE HAVE
LYNN FOLLOWED BY GREG .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE
CHAIR NELSON AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS LYNN REED AND I'M HERE
REPRESENTING MEMBERS AT DRIVE
FORWARD. I PERSONALLY SPOKE TO
25 OF OUR MEMBERS YESTERDAY.
OVER AND OVER I HEARD THEM TELL
THE SAME STORIES. THEY ARE
STRUGGLING. ORDERS ARE DOWN,
EARNINGS ARE DOWN, AND THEY ARE
WORKING EXTRA BLOCKS AND LONGER
HOURS. ONE MEMBER TOLD ME SHE
REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY
BUT NEEDED TO EARN $112 BY
FRIDAY TO MAKE HER BILLS.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF
PAYUP ARE NOT AFFECTING ONLY
SEATTLE. DRIVERS ARE HEADING
OUT OF SEATTLE TO SURROUNDING
AREAS LOOKING FOR ORDERS. AS
SUCH, THERE ARE FEWER ORDERS TO
GO AROUND FOR THOSE AREAS AND
THEIR HOME-BASED DRIVERS. THIS
LAW WAS A GROSS OVERREACH,
UNREALISTIC AN APPLICATION, AND
SWIFT AND DEVASTATING. DRIVE
FORWARD MEMBERS SUPPORT PAYUP
REFORM AND ALL THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS NOW. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE LYNN ARE
FOLLOWED BY GREG AND CARRIE
PAUL I APOLOGIZE. GREG FOLLOWED
BY CARRIE AND THEN WE'VE GOT
AHMED.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
COUNCILMEMBER MY NAME IS GREG
OLSON. REGARDING BILL CB120775
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALL BE
PATIENT IN PROTECT THE RIGHTS
OF APPLICATION WORKERS. IT IS
THERE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
IMPACTS AND DECREASED ORDER
VOLUMES, LOWER REVENUES FOR
LOCAL SEATTLE BUSINESSES, BUT
WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THESE ARE THE CLEAR RESULTS OF
NETWORK COMPANY RETALIATION
AGAINST SEATTLE CUSTOMERS
BUSINESSES AND GIG WORKERS. BY
THEIR OWN ADMISSION, THE
NETWORK COMPANIES CAN AFFORD TO
PAY THESE WORKERS WHAT THEY ARE
OWED DURING JUST THE FIRST
QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, THE SAME
TIME THESE NETWORK COMPANIES
HAVE BEEN PAYING TO LOBBY TO
CHANGE THESE RULES. COMPANIES
LIKE DOORDASH HAVE SET RECORD
HIGHS IN REVENUE AND ORDER
VOLUME ACROSS THEIR PLATFORMS.
ALL AT THE SAME TIME SEATTLE
SUFFERS FROM THEIR RETALIATION.
VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES
TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM PAY
STANDARD AND INSTEAD, STAND
WITH WORKERS. WE NEED TO TRASH
JUNK FEES, NOT GIG WORKERS.
>> NEXT WE HAVE CARRIE FOLLOWED
BY AHMED AND AFTER THAT WE HAVE
MICHELLE AND AFTER MICHELLE WE
HAVE HASIB.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON,
PLEASE SLOW DOWN. PAYUP WAS
PASSED THROUGH A SLOW,
DELIBERATE AND CONSULTATIVE
PROCESS LISTENING TO THE
WORKERS OF THE CITY, A CITY
THAT HAS LONG PRIDED ITSELF ON
PROTECT AND THE LABOR RIGHTS OF
OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.
NOW IN THIS VERY CHAMBER, YOU
HAVE REFERRED TO AN
ORGANIZATION THAT IS FOUNDED
AND FUNDED BY KLUBER AS THE
VOICE OF WORKERS. STOP AND SLOW
DOWN AND LISTEN TO THE WORKERS
THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS
REPEAL. WORKERS DESERVE RIGHTS
, WORKERS DESERVE PAY, AND THE
MOST MARGINALIZED OF THE
RESIDENCE OF OUR CITY DESERVE
THE PROTECTION OF CITY COUNCIL
THAT HAS BEEN ELECTED TO
PROTECT THEM.
>> NEXT WE HAVE AHMED FOLLOWED
BY HASIB AND MICHAELA.
>> I AM A-- REP AND I AM ASKING
THE CITY OF SEATTLE LEGISLATION
TO REPORT -- TO SUPPORT THE
WORKERS, NOT FOR CORPORATE.
WHAT AC IS THAT THE COMPANIES
WHO ARE RETALIATING THE
WORKERS, THEY WANT TO BECOME A
MILLIONAIRE. WHY WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT PAY
THEIR BILLS? SO PLEASE. I KNOW
MY COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, THEIR
WORK, THEIR RIGHTS ARE ALWAYS
ON THE TABLE AND DISCUSSION
WHILE THE BIG COMPANIES AND
CORPORATIONS WHO HAVE
BILLIONAIRES ALWAYS THREATEN
AND JUST TAKING TIME OUT FOR
THEIR WORK CAUSING EVERYTHING
AND JUST BECOMING BILLIONAIRES.
PLEASE. LEGISLATORS, BE FAIR TO
THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A RIGHT
FOR YOU IF YOU'RE SUPPORTING
OUR WORK WE NEED TO PAY THE
BILLS, WE NEED TO PAY FOOD AND
EVERYTHING ELSE FOR OUR
FAMILIES. WE NEED THE SUPPORT.
PLEASE DON'T CUT PAY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
MICHELLE FOLLOWED BY HAJEEB.
>> WE NEED TO START MEETING
LIKE THIS. -- WE NEED TO STOP
MEETING LIKE THIS. MICHAELL
WOLFF NEEDS TO STOP SAYING THAT
STRIPPING PAY WOULD GET RID OF
FEES. THE COMPANIES WOULD HAVE
SAID THAT IF THAT WAS TRUE.
THEY ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
PEOPLE ARE ORDERING. AMENDING
THE ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, I
WOULD BE ALL IN. 64% OF PEOPLE
SAID THAT THEY WERE SUPPORTING
CAPS ON FEES. SOUNDS LIKE
SOMETHING COUNCIL NEEDS TO
ADDRESS WITH COMPANIES. THIS
PROPOSAL IS A SHAM. NOT ONE
ADDRESSES THIS. IT TURNS OUT
FIVE YEARS OF DISCUSSION AND
TEARS APART A MONUMENTAL
STUFF-- STEPS FOR WORKERS BUT
MORE THAN THAT IT SEEMS
PERSONAL LIKE VINDICATING FOR
HOW YOU FEEL YOU WERE TREATED
LAST YEAR ON COUNCIL. THAT YOU
REALLY BELIEVE YOUR PROPOSAL IS
GOOD OR FAIR I CANNOT ACTUALLY
BELIEVE. THERE'S NO WAY. WHAT
I DON'T GET IS WHY YOU ARE
DOING THEIR DIRTY WORK. WHAT'S
IN IT FOR YOU? I CAN'T THINK
OF ANOTHER REASON WHY AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL WOULD LIKE
COMPANIES PASS LAWS HERE.
>> NEXT AFTER THAT WE'VE GOT
HAJIB, MICHAELA AND MATTEO .
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DOCTOR
HASIB SERVING MOSTLY LOWER
INCOME PATIENTS MANY OF WHOM
ARE GIG WORKERS. THERE ARE A
MILLIONAIRE CITY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT SARA NELSON ADMITTED
WAS -- SERVES AS A BIT TO GO
AGAINST WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS
SUPPORTED TO PROTECT WORKERS
AND PEOPLE TRYING TO LIVE IN
THE CITY. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING
ON HOW TO BEST PROTECT THEM ,
YOU CHOOSE TO PROTECT BIG
BUSINESS AT THE COST OF THE
PEOPLE IN LOCAL BUSINESSES
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
ESTABLISHING MINIMUM WAGE FOR
WORKERS AND WORKPLACE STANDARDS
FOR PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT FOR IT
FOR YEARS. IF YOU HAVE ANY
INTEREST IN SERVING YOUR
CONSTITUENTS YOU WILL VOTE THIS
DOWN. WE WILL NOT FORGET WHICH
SIDE YOU STAND ON.
>> NEXT WE HAVE MICHAELA AND
MATTEO FOLLOWED BY DANIELLE.
>> I WILL EXPLAIN THIS THE WAY
I EXPLAINED IT TO MY
FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON. MOMMY
INTERVIEWED SOME PEOPLE TO HELP
GET THEM ELECTED BECAUSE SHE
THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO HELP
VOICE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE FIGHT
FOR SO WE PASSED THE PAY UP
ORDINANCE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE
AND IN TURN THEY ARE NOW SIDING
WITH CORPORATIONS AGAINST US SO
THAT OUR FAMILY HAS LESS MONEY
TO DO COOL THINGS OR PUT NICE
CLOSE ON YOU THAT REPRESENT
VALUES SO THAT YOU CAN GO TO
SCHOOL. THERE'S WEALTHY PEOPLE
THAT DON'T WANT US ALL TO
THRIVE IN WASHINGTON. THESE
FEES ARE WHAT NEED TO BE THE
TARGET, NOT THE WORKERS, NOT
THE BIKE. WE ARE FIGHTING
AMONGST EACH OTHER BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT THE CORPORATIONS
WANT US TO DO. WE WANT YOU GUYS
TO SIDE WITH US, THE PEOPLE
THAT WANT TO HAVE OUR VOICES
HEARD AND REPRESENT THOSE
VALUES AND GO AFTER THE FEES .
THE FEES. NOT EACH OTHER. AND
IF YOU DON'T, I PROMISE YOU
THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CHOOSE
WHAT IS RIGHT FOR US AND IT'S
NOT GOING TO P -- IT'S NOT
GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE WHO--
THIS WAGE. MATTEO? FOLLOWED BY
DANIELLE
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> .
>> NEXT WE HAVE DANIELLE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I
AM PROUD TO BE THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF WORKING WASHINGTON.
IT HAS BEEN 10 YEARS LAST WEEK
SINCE WE AS A CITY LAUNCHED THE
EFFORT TO PASS THE FIRST $15
MINIMUM WAGE. THAT IS SOMETHING
I AM SO PROUD OF AND IS THE
RESULT OF WORK THAT HAPPENED
BECAUSE BUSINESS AND WORKER
ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER
WITH LOCAL LEADERS TO DO THE
WORK TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
HARD THINGS. THE RESULT HAS
BENEFITED ALL OF US AND WE
SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT. IT IS A
SHAME WE HAVEN'T DONE IT YET
IN THIS SITUATION WHERE WE KNOW
HOW TO AND WE COULD.
UNSURPRISINGLY, REPEALING
MINIMUM WAGE IS OVERWHELMINGLY
UNPOPULAR WITH THE VOTERS OF
SEATTLE BECAUSE THEY SEE THE
IMPACT IT HAS HAD. THE
NORTHWEST INSTITUTE POLLING
QUESTION THIS WEEK SHOWED 60%
OF VOTERS OPPOSE THE REPEAL
THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING TODAY.
IT IS GOING TO REDUCE. REPEAL
ACCOUNTABILITY REVISIONS AND
SET US BACK WHEN WE DON'T HAVE
TO. WE ARE READY TO SEE A
PROCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN IT
AND WE NEED YOU TO HELP MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'VE GOT YOUNESS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM HERE ON
BEHALF OF UNITE HERE LOCALLY.
HOSPITALITY WORKERS LABOR UNION
. MEMBERSHIP IS MAJORITY WOMEN,
IMMIGRANTS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND I'M ALSO THE SEATTLE
CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF THE
ASIAN-PACIFIC LABOR ALLIANCE.
WE STRONGLY OPPOSE 120775. MANY
HOSPITALITY WORKERS INCLUDING A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF UNITE
HERE LOCAL MEMBERS WHO WORK IN
THE HOTEL'S STADIUMS AND
CONVENTION CENTERS IN SEATTLE
ALSO DRIVE FOR BASED COMPANIES
AS THEIR SECOND AND THIRD JOBS.
WE HAVE TALKED WITH FOLKS ABOUT
THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND
DOING THAT WORK BUT ALSO HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THEY PAY
MORE AND, THE RIGHTS AND BASIC
BENEFITS. THE ATTEMPT BY
LOBBYISTS TO REPEAL THE LAW
WILL MEAN A GROWING WORKFORCE,
MANY OF WHOM ARE IMMIGRANTS,
WORKERS OF COLOR AND CHRONIC
ILLNESSES WILL GO BACK TO
EARNINGS AND MINIMUM WAGE.
>> WE HAVE JUSTIN TAYLOR
FOLLOWED BY PAUL RYAN AND AFTER
PAUL WE HAVE KD G AND CALVIN TO
WRAP UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS JUSTIN TAYLOR, I
AM A BIG WORKER AND I AM
OPPOSED TO THESE PROPOSED
CHANGES FOR TWO PRIMARY
REASONS. THE FIRST IS THAT THE
PAY RATE CHANGES DO NOTHING TO
ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THESE
APPLICATIONS ARE LOOKING AT ALL
OF US WORKERS IN THE EXACT SAME
WAY AND TO MY FELLOW WORKERS
WHO ARE BIKE DRIVERS AND HAVE
BEEN NEGATIVELY AFFECTED, KNOW
THAT THESE CHANGES WILL NOT
CHANGE THE WAY THE APPLICATIONS
LOOK AT YOU SO IT WOULD NOT BE
NECESSARILY A BENEFICIAL
CHANGE. THE OTHER REASON IS
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EMOTIONS
IN THE ROOM TODAY AND I WANT
PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THIS IS BY
DESIGN. THE COMPANIES RAISED
THESE FEES INTENTIONALLY AND IT
CAUSED CUSTOMERS TO BLAME THE
RESTAURANTS AND THE BUSINESSES,
THE BUSINESS IS TO BLAME
WORKERS AND WORKERS TO BLAME
EACH OTHER SOMEHOW. BUT NOBODY
HAS BLAMED THESE
MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR COMPANIES
THAT INSTITUTED THESE DRAMATIC
FEES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE PAUL RYAN AND
AFTERWARD WE HAVE KD G AND THEN
CALVIN -- WE HAVE KATIE AND
CALVIN.
>> AFTERNOON MY NAME IS PAUL
RYAN VILLANOVA AND I AM ON
BEHALF OF THE ASIAN-PACIFIC
AMERICAN LABOR ALLIANCE SEATTLE
CHAPTER. AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF
THE COMMUNITY I AM SPEAKING TO
EXPRESS A STRONG SENTIMENT
AGAINST CB120775. GIG WORKERS
PLAY AN INTEGRAL SERVICE
PROVIDING SERVICES MANY OF US
RELY ON DAILY. MANY OF THEM ARE
FROM BIPOC AND IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT
OUT OF BASIC LABOR STANDARDS
AND PAID AS WELL AS FIVE
DOLLARS PER HOUR FOR YEARS. A
NEW ORDINANCE HAS COME OUT OF
THE BLUE AND TOOK MANY YEARS
FOR A SOLUTION TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES. NOT JUST PROTECTING GIG
WORKERS BUT ENSURING A FAIR
WAGE. THE ORDINANCE IS NOT
BEING ATTACKED AFTER A FEW
MONTHS OF BEING IMPLEMENTED.
THE REASON IS THAT IT HAS
DRIVEN DOWN DEMAND SO THEY
INCREASE PRICES. PRICES ARE
INCREASING EVERYWHERE DUE TO
INFLATION YET GIG WORKERS ARE
FORCED TO-- AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
A GRADUATE DEGREE IN PUBLIC
POLICY IT TAKES MANY YEARS TO
STUDY A PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED SO
I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU VOTE NO.
>> NEXT WE GOT KATIE FOLLOWED
BY CALVIN AND I SPOKE TOO SOON.
WE HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
COMMENTERS. AFTER CALVIN WE
HAVE SARAH, ROBBIE AND --.
>> THANK YOU. GOD WILLING I AM
THE ONLY KATIE. MY NAME IS
KATIE AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY-TREASURER FOR MLK
LABOR. WE REPRESENT HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF WORKERS. WE ARE
LINE MEN, LABORERS,
ELECTRICIANS, JANITORS, BUS
DRIVERS, PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
AND WE HAVE EXPRESSED THROUGH
LETTERS AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY,
OUR OPPOSITION TO A ROLLBACK OF
MINIMUM WAGE FOR GIG WORKERS.
THAT IS BECAUSE WE OPERATE ON
SOME VERY BASIC AND SUPPOSED
AND THOSE PRINCIPLES ARE THAT
WORKERS ARE ENTITLED TO A FAIR
RETURN ON THEIR WORK, THAT
WORKERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO
RETIRE FROM WITH DIGNITY AT THE
END OF THEIR LIVES. WORKERS
SHOULD HAVE JOB PROTECTION FROM
RETALIATION AND DISCRIMINATION
IN THE WORKPLACE. I HAD A
BLIZZARD DOORDASH TO MY HOUSE A
FEW WEEKS AGO AND MY DRIVER HAD
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD IN THE
CAR WITH HER AFTER I HAD PUT MY
CHILDREN TO BED. THESE WORKERS
ARE NOT TEENAGED WORKERS AND
THEY DESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS
ALL WORKERS IN OUR SOCIETY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE CALVIN AND
AFTERWARD WE HAVE SARAH ,
ROBBIE AND I BE TO WRAP UP
PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. AFTER HIM
WE HAVE SARAH .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
SARAH AND I'M A SEATTLE
RESIDENT SHOWING UP IN
OPPOSITION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SARA NELSON'S PROPOSAL. I COME
HERE THINKING ABOUT MY MOTHER .
SHE HAD FIVE YOUNG CHILDREN
UNDER THE AGE OF SEVEN AND
OFTEN SAID THAT PUTTING FOOD ON
THE TABLE AND THE ACCESSIBILITY
OF GETTING IT WAS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST STRUGGLES. FORTUNATELY
THEY DID NOT EXIST IN THE EARLY
90s BECAUSE IF THEY DID SHE
WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUPERHERO FOR
US TO BE ABLE TO BE IN OUR
PAJAMAS AND HAVE FOOD DELIVERED
TO US. UNFORTUNATELY WITH THESE
RETALIATORY JUNK FEES I DON'T
THINK SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO AFFORD IT. LOOKING AROUND
THE ROOM SHE'S NOT THE ONLY
WORKING FAMILY THAT IS
STRUGGLING. WE NEED TO MOVE
AWAY FROM THIS FALSE DICHOTOMY
NARRATIVE THAT IS EITHER/OR. WE
EITHER SUPPORT THE WAGE OF THE
WORKERS OR THE ACCESSIBILITY
AND AFFORDABILITY OF THESE
AMAZING SERVICES. THAT IS FOR
THIS COUNCIL TO BE BOLD AND
EMPATHETIC AND STAND AGAINST
CORPORATE GREED AND STAND FOR
US AND WORKERS AND THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE THAT YOU REPRESENT.
>> WE HAVE ROBBIE AFTERWARD.
>> THIS IS MY THIRD TIME
TESTIFYING IN FRONT OF YOU IN
OPPOSITION TO SARA NELSON'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. I AM A
CONTINUED CUSTOMER OF THE
DELIVERY APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT
I'M CHARGE AND WHAT I AM
PAYING. WHEN I FIRST OPEN THE
APPLICATIONS AFTER JANUARY,
THEY TELL ME THIS FIVE DOLLAR
FEE IS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED
COST OF COMPLYING WITH
LEGISLATION BUT WHAT I'VE
NOTICED IS, I PAID THE SAME
AMOUNT NO MATTER IF I'M
ORDERING LESS THAN A MILE FROM
MY HOUSE WITH LESS THAN 15
MINUTES OF ENGAGED TIME OR
ORDERING FROM ALL THE WAY
ACROSS TOWN FROM MULTIPLE
PEOPLE WITH OVER HALF AN HOUR
OF DELIVERY TIME ALONE. AND I
AM A CUSTOMER GETTING CHARGED
THE SAME AMOUNT FOR DIFFERENT
AMOUNTS OF SERVICE IT SUGGESTS
THAT THE FEE IS NOT ACTUALLY
TIED TO THE COST OF LEGISLATION
AND I AM INSTEAD BEING
MANIPULATED TO BE ANGRY AGAINST
YOU. WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO
DO IS ADDRESS FEES BUT NONE OF
THESE AMENDMENTS DO ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE I'M A
CUSTOMER I AM NOT MORE LIKELY
TO ORDER FROM DOORDASH IF
DASHES CANNOT SUE OVER LABOR
VIOLATIONS. THAT IS NOT TIED TO
DEMAND. THAT'S A CORPORATE
GIVEAWAY AND I URGE YOU TO
REJECT CB120775.
>> THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT OR
COMMENTER IS IB. WITH THAT,
PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST A
SECOND PLEASE.
>> IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP WE
WILL PROCEED WITH THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA AND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
CLOSED. MOVING ON, WILL THE
CLERK READ ITEM 1-- LET ME GET
MY REPORT IN CASE WE DIDN'T
CATCH THAT WE ARE DOING THERE
ARE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION WITH A
POSSIBLE VOTE ON COUNSEL BILL
COUNSEL BILL 120766 RELATED TO
RECRUITMENT AND HIRING AND
CONTINUATION IMPOSSIBLE
DISCUSSION REGARDING APP-BASED
WORKER MINIMUM PAY. WILL EITHER
ONE BE READ INTO THE RECORD? A
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, AND
ORDINANCE RELATED TO
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SEATTLE
LEASE DEPARTMENT, TRANSFERRING
POSITIONS FROM DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES TO SPD AND
CREATING A RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION PROGRAM AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126955 WHICH ADOPTED
THE 2024 BUDGET CHANGING
APPROPRIATIONS TO VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS AND BUDGET CONTROL
LEVELS AND FOR VARIOUS FUNDS,
AMENDING SECTION 4.0 8.070 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS. BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> HELLO, COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THIS LEGISLATION. YOU
RELATIVELY RECENTLY TOOK YOUR
OATH OF OFFICE SO YOU KNOW THAT
OUR PRIMARY CHARTER DUTY IS TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH SAFETY AND
WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE AND WE JUST CANNOT DO
THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO LOSE
MORE OFFICERS THAN WE CAN HIRE
QUARTER AFTER QUARTER AND YEAR
AFTER YEAR. LIKE I SAID LAST
TIME THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR
THAT BUT I AM FOCUSED ON WHAT
WE HAVE THE POWER TO FIX. I AM
ZEROING IN ON OUR RECRUITMENT
AND HIRING PROCESSES BECAUSE
THAT IS WITHIN OUR POWER TO
CHANGE. IT'S ALSO AN AREA
WHERE WE CAN MAKE A BIG IMPACT
BY MAKING SOME PRETTY SMALL
CHANGES TO PROCESSES. THAT IS
LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY ACCELERATE THE
HIRING OF OUR OFFICERS. I
CANNOT LOOK MY CONSTITUENTS IN
THE EYES, AND YOU HAVE BEEN TO
MANY ROLE CALLS AND PUBLIC
SAFETY FORUMS WHEN YOU ARE OUT
AND ABOUT IN YOUR COMMUNITIES
AND DOING YOUR WORK IN
DISTRICT. I KNOW THAT YOU HEAR
THESE STORIES FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES AND FROM RESIDENTS
AND LIKE I WAS SAYING, I CANNOT
IN GOOD CONSCIENCE OR GOOD
FAITH LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE
AND SAY WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
IF WE ARE NOT DIGGING DOWN INTO
OUR OWN PROCESSES AND LEAVING
NO STONE UNTURNED SO THAT'S
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. SO
COUNSEL BILL CB120766 WOULD
MOVE . HERE ARE THE MAIN
COMPONENTS. IT WOULD MOVE
POSITIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR
OVERALL RECRUITMENT STRATEGY
FROM THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES TO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THAT
NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES AND
INNOVATIVE NEW APPROACHES TO
RECRUITING CAN STAND A CHANCE
OF BEING VETTED IN ADVANCE BY
PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST INVESTED
IN, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR, THEIR
IMPLEMENTATION. THERE HAVE BEEN
GOOD IDEAS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
ADVANCED AND THAT IS NOT TO
BLAME ANYONE PERSON BUT IT IS A
REFLECTION MORE ON HOW IT HAS
BEEN DIFFICULT TO COORDINATE
EFFORTS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
THAT HAS TO CHANGE SO THAT'S
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS
LEGISLATION TRIES TO DO AND
ALSO PUTS ONE PERSON IN CHARGE
SO THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE AND
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTS
THAT ARE TRYING TO BE ACHIEVED
THIS BILL ALSO INCLUDES
REPORTING BACK TO COUNCIL ON
THE RESULTS SO THAT WE KNOW
WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT
SO WE CAN BE ENGAGED IN A
PROCESS OF CONTINUAL
IMPROVEMENT. THE BILL WOULD
ALSO ALLOW FOR CRUCIAL AND
TARGETED IMPROVEMENTS TO BE
MADE TO THE OFFICER HIRING
PROCESS WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE
PURVIEW OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES THAT ARE CURRENTLY
IMPEDING OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE
WITH REGIONAL JURISDICTIONS TO
REFILL OUR RANKS. I HAVE SAID
THIS SO MANY TIMES. IT'S HARD
TO CONTINUALLY CONVEY A SENSE
OF URGENCY BUT SEATTLE
RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
DESERVE NO LESS THEN THEIR
ELECTED LEADERS DOING
EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO
HIRE MORE OFFICERS MORE QUICKLY
AND THAT IS SIMPLY WHAT WE ARE
DOING. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS
TWICE IN COMMITTEE ALREADY AND
TODAY WE WILL BE DISCUSSING AND
POSSIBLY VOTING ON FOUR
AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL. AND
THEN WE WILL VOTE ON BASE
LEGISLATION. I WILL SPEAK MORE
TO THE BILL AFTER WE'VE
ADDRESSED THOSE AMENDMENTS AND
AT THIS POINT I AM GOING TO
MOVE THE BILL AND THEN WE WILL
WORK THROUGH PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. THERE IS ONE THAT I
WILL OFFER THAT IS REVISED FROM
THE VERSION LISTED ON THE
AGENDA YESTERDAY AND I EXPECT A
FOURTH WALK AS WELL. BOTH
AMENDMENTS WERE CIRCULATED TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF
FOREHAND EARLIER TODAY. AFTER
EACH OF AMENDMENT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED I WILL ASK CENTRAL
STAFF TO WALK US THROUGH THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS AND THEN WE WILL
VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS AND
FINALLY THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION. TO COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS
I HAVE JUST OUTLINED? MOVING
ON, I MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND THE PASSAGE OF THIS
COUNSEL BILL WHICH IS ALSO
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. IS THERE A SECOND?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL CB120766. LET'S PROCEED
TO THE AMENDMENTS AND AS THE
SPONSOR I WILL MOVE AMENDMENT
NUMBER ONE. THIS WOULD CORRECT
SEVERAL NON-SUBSTANTIVE
DRAFTING ERRORS AND WE WILL GO
THROUGH THOSE IN A LITTLE MORE
DETAIL. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I
MOVE THAT THE COUNSEL BILL
PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA BE
ADOPT. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT ONE
AS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA.
MOVING ON, I WILL ASK OUR
CENTRAL STAFF ANALYST TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WALK US
THROUGH THIS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. ANN GORMAN. AMENDMENT
ONE IS SPONSORED BY PRESIDENT
NELSON AND CONCERNS SOME TECH
NO CORRECTIONS TO BILL 12076 .
WHEN CENTRAL STAFF WAS LAST IN
THIS COMMITTEE ON APRIL 25 WE
MADE REFERENCE TO THIS
AMENDMENT. IT WOULD CORRECT ,
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON'S
HEAD, WOULD CORRECT SEVERAL
NONSUBSTANTIVE DRAFTING ERRORS
AND MAKE SOME TERMINOLOGICAL
CHANGES AND REARRANGE THE
ELEMENTS OF A LIST AND FORMAT
THEM INTO NUMERICAL ORDER. IT
WOULD NOT HAVE ANY FISCAL OR
OPERATIONAL IMPACTS. AND ITEM
NUMBER ONE, THESE EDITS ARE
JUST CORRECT IN DRAFTING
ERRORS. IN ITEM 2 THIS IS THE
REARRANGEMENT OF ITEMS INTO A
LIST. THERE ARE SOME
TERMINOLOGICAL CHANGES AND
THOSE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE
LANGUAGE THAT IS COMMONLY IN
USE BY PSCSC. STAFF CONTRIBUTED
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
AMENDMENT. X PAGE PLEASE? ITEM
3 CONTAINS A TERMINOLOGICAL
CHANGE AND A COUPLE DRAFTING
ERROR CORRECTIONS. ITEM 4
CONTAINS SOME TERMINOLOGICAL
CHANGES. THAT IS IT .
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION FOR POINTING
OUT THESE CHANGES AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION ON
THIS. ARE THERE QUESTIONS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES? OKEY-DOKE YOU.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT ONE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? I.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. CHAIR
NELSON? I. FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT
ONE IS ADOPTED AND THE BILL IS
BEFORE COUNCIL WHICH WE WILL
TALK ABOUT LATER BEFORE ALL THE
AMENDMENTS. MOVING ON I AM ALSO
THE SPONSOR OF THIS ONE AND I
WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT. I
WILL NOTE THAT THIS AMENDMENT
WAS CIRCULATED TODAY AHEAD OF
THIS MEETING AND I BELIEVE THAT
WE HAVE A REVISED VERSION OF
THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS ON THE
AGENDA AND THAT HAS BEEN
CIRCULATED AS WELL. THIS IS
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS
LINKED TO THE AGENDA DUE TO
REQUESTS AND COLLABORATION WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WITH THAT
I MOVE AMENDMENT TWO.
>> SECOND.
>> I MOVE AMENDMENT 2 VERSION 2
.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT VERSION 2. CAN YOU PLEASE
EXPLAIN THIS AMENDMENT?
>> AMENDMENT TWO WOULD
ESTABLISH A POLICY REGARDING A
PUBLIC SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE
EXAM AND THAT EXAM IS SOME OF
THE SUBJECT MATTER OF COUNSEL
BILL 120766. IT WOULD ESTABLISH
A POLICY , NAMELY THAT POLICY
WOULD BE THAT THE EXAM REQUIRED
FOR ENTRY-LEVEL AND LATERAL
POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS IN THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
OFFERED CONTINUOUSLY ONLINE AND
AT APPROVED TESTING CENTERS.
THE AMENDMENT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT THIS POLICY WOULD BE
SECONDARY TO THE GOALS AND
REQUIREMENTS OF BOTH THE
CONSENT DECREE AND THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY. IT ALSO MAKES A TECHNICAL
CORRECTION TO REFLECT THAT LAST
POINT, THAT THE CONSENT DECREE
AND ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
EACH HAVE DISCRETE GOALS. ITEM
NUMBER ONE ON THIS AMENDMENT
STATES THAT POLICY WHICH I WILL
READ INTO THE RECORD. IS THE
CITY'S POLICY THAT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CIVIL SERVICE EXAM
REQUIRED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL AND
LATERAL POLICE OFFICER
POSITIONS IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT SHALL BE OFFERED
CONTINUOUSLY ONLINE TO BE TAKEN
AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
APPLICANT, AND ALSO OFFERED AT
APPROVED TESTING CENTERS
PROVIDED THAT ANY SUCH EXAM IS
CONSISTENT WITH GOALS AND
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSENT
DECREE AND THE CITY 'S
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE. ITEM
2 MAKES AN EDIT TO THE BILL AS
INTRODUCED, THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE NEW POLICY IN ITEM 1.
REQUIRING THAT THE TESTING
SERVICE THAT THE CITY USES
CONFORMS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE
TO THE POLICY THAT I JUST READ.
THERE IS ALSO AN EDIT RIGHT
HERE JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT
THE CONSENT DECREE AND THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY ARE DISCRETE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR THE
RECORD, THAT WHAT WE ARE
PUTTING INTO POLICY IS ACTUALLY
WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND
WE ARE MAKING IT EXPLICIT THAT
THE EXAM HAS BEEN OFFERED
CONTINUOUSLY FOR SOME TIME.
>> I CONFIRMED TODAY IT IS
CURRENTLY THE CASE THAT THE
EXAM THAT IS OFFERED IS OFFERED
CONTINUOUSLY AND -- CAN WE LOOK
AT THE LANGUAGE SO I SEE THIS
CORRECTLY PLEASE? THAT IT IS
OFFERED CONTINUOUSLY ONLINE AND
THAT IT IS OFFERED AT APPROVED
TESTING CENTERS. THAT IS
WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY.
>> OKAY. GOT IT.
>> COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT 2 VERSION 2?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
I. COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. CHAIR
NELSON? I.
>> I'VE IN FAVOR. AMENDMENT
TWO VERSION 2 IS ADOPTED .
MOVING TO AMENDMENT THREE. YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO MOVE
AMENDMENT THREE, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
WEIGHT , TALK ABOUT IT NOW OR
MOVE?
>> YOU CAN BRIEFLY INTRODUCE IT
, STATE WHAT IT IS, MOVE IT AND
THEN WE CAN GO INTO MORE
DETAIL.
>> AMENDMENT THREE AS PROPOSED
WOULD ACCOMPLISH A COUPLE OF
THINGS. MORE SUBSTANTIVELY, IT
WOULD CLARIFY THE SCOPE OF
JURISDICTIONS THAT WE WOULD
COMPARE OURSELVES AGAINST IN
THESE VARIOUS REPORTS AND YOU
KNOW THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT
INITIATIVES AND MEASURES TO
BENCHMARK OUR OWN CITY POLICIES
AND IMPLEMENTATION RESULTS
AGAINST THOSE IN COMPARABLE
JURISDICTIONS WHICH ALLOWS US
TO BETTER ADOPT TRACK AND
MONITOR, AND ADOPT INDUSTRY AND
CITY BEST PRACTICES. SO, THIS
CLARIFICATION LANGUAGE WOULD DO
EXACTLY THAT . I THINK THE
INFERENCE IN THE EXISTING, AS
PROPOSED BILL IT IS
SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR THAT WITH
RESPECT TO THE LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS THAT WE ARE GOING
TO COMPARE AGAINST , WE HAVE A
GOOD SENSE OF WHAT THOSE ARE .
SO MY AMENDMENT WOULD CLARIFY
THAT COMPARABLE JURISDICTIONS
NATIONALLY AS OPPOSED TO
LOCALLY WILL INCLUDE THE
SO-CALLED WEST COAST SEVEN
CITIES. THESE ARE LISTED THERE
, LESS SUBSTANTIVELY AND ALSO
CLARIFIES THAT THOSE REPORTS BE
WRITTEN AND MODIFIES THE TERMS
SEMIANNUALLY WITH THE WORDS, AT
LEAST. SO AGAIN. YOU ALL KNOW
THAT I SUPPORT STRONG
COLLABORATION BETWEEN
GOVERNMENT BODIES AND HAVING A
DATA REPORT THAT IS AT LEAST
SEMIANNUAL WILL ALLOW US TO
BEST STAY ABREAST AND IN TUNE
WITH RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND
HOW IT COMPARES AND CONTRASTS
AGAINST OTHERS. I MOVED TO
AMEND COUNSEL BILL 120766 AS
PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT THREE .
>> SECOND. AMENDMENT THREE
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
WOULD EXPAND RECORDING
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND
REQUEST A WRITTEN REPORT. IN
SECTION 2 IT WOULD MAKE A
CHANGE THAT ALLOWS FOR THE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE REPORT IS
PROVIDED BY THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT MORE FREQUENTLY THAN
SEMIANNUALLY, AND WOULD SPECIFY
THAT THAT REPORT IS WRITTEN.
AFTER SECTION 2 THERE ARE
CURRENTLY SIX ELEMENTS OF THE
REPORT THAT ARE LISTED IN THE
BILL. ITEM B IS ONE OF THEM IN
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD PROVIDE
SOME ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATION
ABOUT THE MEASURES ON INDUSTRY
STANDARDS THAT ARE REQUESTED IN
THE BILL. IT WOULD REQUIRE TO
THE EXTENT THAT SUCH
INFORMATION IS POSSIBLE, THAT
INFORMATION BE PROVIDED ON
THESE DIMENSIONS, EXAM PASS
RATE, NUMBER OF APPLICANTS ET
CETERA FROM THE CITIES OF
PORTLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, LONG
BEACH, OAKLAND, SAN JOSE AND
SACRAMENTO.
>> THANK YOU. SO IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT
INFORMATION IS TRACKED OR THAT
IS TRADITIONALLY HOW WE
COMPARE, BUT THIS WOULD CODIFY
THAT IT IS PART OF THE
REPORTING FOR SECTION B OF
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> THE LANGUAGE IS CURRENTLY
COMPETING LAW ENFORCEMENT
ORGANIZATIONS BOTH REGIONALLY
AND NATIONALLY AND THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT WOULD BE SPECIFIC
ABOUT WHAT THOSE COMPETING LAW
ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE
CONSIDERED TO BE. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA MADE REFERENCE TO THE WEST
COAST SEVEN. THIS IS A GROUP OF
CITIES THAT IS CURRENTLY USED,
FOR INSTANCE, BY THE CITY
OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS AS A
SET OF COMPARATORS WHEN LOOKING
AT VARIOUS POLICE DATA.
>> GOT IT. I'VE HEARD THAT LIST
OF CITIES AND I THOUGHT THAT IT
WAS ALREADY KIND OF IN USE. I
WANT TO, BEFORE ENTERTAINING
QUESTIONS, WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT REPORTING I DO WANT TO
SAY, AND I MENTIONED AT THE
OPENING, THE THINGS THAT THIS
RECRUITMENT TEAM WILL BE
REPORTING ON INCLUDE METRICS ON
THE NUMBER OF PERSONAL CONTACT
MADE BY CIVILIANS OR SWORN
STAFF TO CANDIDATES WHO HAVE
REGISTERED OR COMPLETED THE
PUBLIC SAFETY EXAM AND THAT
SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN BY THE
TYPE OF CONTACT MADE.
DESEGREGATED CONTACT MADE FOR
TEST REMINDERS OR NOTIFICATION
OF A PASSING EXAM SCORE FROM
THOSE THAT RESULTS IN PERSONAL
CONTACT WITH A RECRUITER AND
INFORMATION AND METRICS ON NEW
OR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS DESIGNED
TO INCREASE DIVERSITY WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT TO INCLUDE AN
INCREASE IN FEMALE CANDIDATES
CONSISTENT WITH SPD'S 30 X 30
CAMPAIGN. SURVEY DATA USED IN
GUIDING MARKETING CAMPAIGNS,
ENSURING THAT CANDIDATES SIT
FOR THE EXAM AND PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT ON MESSAGING AND
OUTREACH. THE LIST GOES ON AND
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
REPORTING. I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE CLEAR THAT IS ALL IN
SECTION 2. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US? WILL
CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON
AMENDMENT THREE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
YES. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. CHAIR
NELSON? I.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND IS
ADOPTED. AT THIS POINT I
UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA HAS AN AMENDMENT HE WISHES
TO WALK ON WHICH WAS CIRCULATED
AHEAD OF THIS MEETING. YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
FIRST OFF LET ME SET THE
FOUNDATION HERE. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES WHO DOES NOT SIT ON
THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE
WORKED ON AN AMENDMENT AND IT
DIRECTLY TIES TO SOMETHING THAT
I WAS ALREADY WORKING ON. AN
AMENDMENT TO THE SPECIFIC BILL
I WAS WORKING ON AND
CONSIDERING AND HAD STARTED TO
WRITE UP TO CONTINUE THE
PROCESS AND MOVE THIS ALONG AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. MY WORDING
WAS NOT PERFECT. I WANTED TO
TABLE THAT FOR ANOTHER TIME AND
THEN I LEARNED THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAD
ALREADY DONE SOME MORE ADVANCED
WORK. SO TOGETHER, WE ARE GOING
TO COSPONSOR AND PRESENT THIS
AMENDMENT . WHAT IT DOES, IS
ALLOWS US TO BUILD A BETTER AND
STRONGER SEATTLE THAT IS TRULY
SAFE FOR EVERYONE. I WANT TO
THINK THE LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND HER
STAFF FOR COLLABORATION.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE THE ACTUAL
WORDS IN FRONT OF YOU THAT WE
CAN SHARE ON THE SCREEN BUT I
DID SOCIALIZE THIS INDIVIDUALLY
WITH YOU ALL. BUT IF WE ARE TO
HAVE THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN THE NATION WE NEED TO HAVE
STANDARDS AND BETTER CULTURE
THAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM THE
BEST. AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE
BILL CALLS OUT AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THE 30 X 30 REPORT AND
ADDS A LITTLE COLOR AROUND THE
EDGES THERE. WHAT THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD DO IS PRODUCE
SOME-- AS PART OF THE REPORTING
OBLIGATIONS THAT THE BROADER
BILL WOULD IMPOSE, IT WOULD
REQUIRE SPECIFIC REPORTING
ELEMENTS AND FEATURES RELATED
TO CULTURE . THE CONDITION AND
STATE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN
CURRENTLY, AND IMPROVEMENTS
THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS MAKING
TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THOSE. AND
LOOK. BY ALLOWING AN UNSAFE
WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN, WE
ARE NOT ACTING IN LINE WITH OUR
OWN PRINCIPLES AND VALUES NOR
ARE WE ALLOWING FEMALE
EMPLOYEES TO THRIVE SO I WANT
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS
AMENDMENT IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE
SOLUTION. HOWEVER, IT IS A
START TO HELP ENHANCE
TRANSPARENCY AND HELP SHED THE
BRIGHT LIGHT OF TRANSPARENCY ON
WHAT IS GOING ON. AS A
LEGISLATIVE BODY , IT'S NOT
REALLY POSSIBLE FOR US TO SOLVE
SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY
SIGNIFICANT INTERNAL ISSUES OR
PERCEIVED MORALE CHALLENGES FOR
THEM. BUT IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE
OVERSIGHT AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY
. AND IF WE ARE GOING TO GIVE
SPD MORE RESOURCES AND
POSITIONS WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE ACTING IN
WAYS THAT ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THE VALUES OF OUR CITY AND I
THINK THIS AMENDMENT IS ASKING
WHAT SPD IS DOING TO IMPROVE
THESE ISSUES AND ENSURE THAT
OFFICERS ARE COMPLIANT TO THE
WASHINGTON STATE LAW AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION. IN ANY EVENT ,
THAT IS THE AMENDMENT AND I
UNDERSTAND THERE MIGHT BE OTHER
STUFF.
>> WANT YOU GO AHEAD AND WALK
US THROUGH THE DETAILS AND WE
CAN TAKE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> THIS WALK ON AMENDMENT WAS
SPONSORED IN THIS COMMITTEE BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND WOULD
REQUIRE MORE DETAILED REPORTING
ON THE 30 X 30 INITIATIVE. A
LITTLE BIT OF BACK GROUND WHICH
IS PART OF THIS AMENDMENT,
WOMEN MAKE UP ONLY 12% OF SWORN
OFFICERS AND 3% OF POLICE
LEADERSHIP IN THE UNITED
STATES. THE 30 X 30 INITIATIVE
IS A COALITION OF POLICE
LEADERS RESEARCHERS AND
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO
HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO ADVANCE
THEIR REPRESENTATION AND
EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN IN
POLICING AGENCIES ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES. THE ULTIMATE
GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE
REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN
POLICE RECRUIT CLASSES TO 30%
BY 2030 AND TO ENCOURAGE POLICE
POLICIES AND CULTURE
INTENTIONALLY SUPPORT THE
SUCCESS OF QUALIFIED WOMEN
OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THEIR
CAREERS. THE AMENDMENT WOULD
REQUIRE MORE SPECIFIC DETAILED
REPORTING ON EFFORTS TO
IMPLEMENT THE 30 X 30
INITIATIVE. ITEM NUMBER ONE
HERE, IN THE BILL CURRENTLY,
THERE IS A REPORTING
REQUIREMENT THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE 30 X 30 CAMPAIGN AND
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD JUST MAKE
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE GRANULAR
WHAT THAT REPORTING LOOKS LIKE.
IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT THEY
REPORT ACROSS SEVERAL
DIMENSIONS THAT ARE CONSISTENT
WITH THE 30 X 30 CAMPAIGN. FOR
INSTANCE, IN THESE REPORTS,
WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE
LAST AMENDMENT. THEY WILL BE
DUE SEMIANNUALLY AT LEAST,
STARTING ON JULY 15 OF THIS
YEAR. THEY SHOULD SHOW
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT IN
VARIOUS AREAS INCLUDING
PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES,
FAMILY OR MATERNITY LEAVE
POLICIES, AND REDRESS FOR
GENDER DISCRIMINATION OR SEXUAL
HARASSMENT. IT SHOULD ADDRESS
NEGATIVE ATTITUDES WITH RESPECT
TO WOMEN TAKING ON LEADERSHIP
ROLES AND ENSURE THAT WOMEN
HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO
BECOME OFFICERS AND WILL
RECEIVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND
TREATMENT THROUGHOUT THEIR
CAREERS AS OFFICERS. SUPPORT
WOMEN TO PERCEIVE POLICING AS A
CAREER IN WHICH THEY HAVE A
MEANINGFUL PLACE, AND SURE
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SPECIALTY
ASSIGNMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING
LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND
FINALLY TO INCREASE RETENTION
RATES OF WOMEN OFFICERS TO
ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A GREATER
IMPACT ON DEPARTMENT CULTURE,
CREATE A HEALTHIER WORKPLACE
ENVIRONMENT AND MAKE SPD MORE
EFFICIENT. THESE ARE ALL
CONSISTENT WITH THE FRAMEWORK
FOR THE 30 X 30 INITIATIVE.
THEY JUST SHARPEN THE LEVEL OF
REPORTING THAT WOULD BE
EXPECTED FROM SPD AS A PART OF
CB120766.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
EXPLANATION . AND CLERK DID
REMIND US THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE
THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO AMEND
ACCOUNTS OF THE 120766 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 4
DISTRIBUTED BY MY OFFICE TO YOU
BEFORE THIS MEETING.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> JUST BRIEFLY I WANT TO
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS SAKA
AND MORALES FOR RAISING THIS
AMENDMENT. IT IS IMPORTANT SPD
TO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO
INCREASE REPRESENTATION OF
WOMEN IN THE SWORN POLICE FORCE
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO
CONSISTENT WITH OUR GOAL OF
TRYING TO INCREASE THE RANKS OF
SPD. SPD NEEDS TO MAKE SURE IT
IS SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGES
AND USING BEST PRACTICES TO
HIRE MORE WOMEN. THIS AMENDMENT
WILL HELP US WITH THOSE THINGS.
THE DEPARTMENT ALSO NEEDS TO
MAKE SURE IT IS CREATING A
CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT THAT
WILL MAKE PEOPLE WANT-- MAKE
WOMEN WANT TO WORK HERE. THIS
GOES BEYOND RECRUITING ALONE.
COUNCIL AND I WILL BE KEEPING
AN EYE ON THE INVESTIGATION
RECENTLY COMMISSIONED BY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT DEPUTY MAYOR
BURGESS IS HERE WITH US. WE
STAND READY TO WORK WITH THE
MAYOR TO IMPLEMENT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME OUT
OF THAT INVESTIGATION AND WE
ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF WOMEN. I SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT AS A FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT AND ONE THAT WILL
HELP IN THE OVERALL GOAL WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT AND FOR
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I WOULD
REQUEST TO BE A COSPONSOR ON
THIS. I THINK IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TO RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION, AND QUITE CLEARLY.
FURTHER ON THE 30 FOR 30
REPORT, I MAKE THREE POINTS.
I'VE READ IT, I BELIEVE IT, WE
SHOULD ACCEPT IT AND NOT TRY TO
EXPLAIN IT AWAY OR MITIGATE IT,
AND WE SHOULD JUST ACT ON IT.
THIS IS AN EXPERIENCED-- IN
TERMS OF MY CAREER IN THE NAVY
IN THE 1990S PARTICULARLY AS A
JUNIOR OFFICER, THE NAVY HAS
GONE THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES.
I HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT
PERIOD AND I RECOGNIZE SOME
PARALLELS SO HERE'S THE CHANCE
FOR US TO LEARN FROM THAT
EXPERIENCE AND AGAIN, BUILD A
PATH FORWARD AND I THINK IT'S
A GREAT AMENDMENT TO DO SO.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I WELCOME AND WOULD
LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN IN
SPONSORING ALONGSIDE MYSELF AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. I THINK
YOUR VOICE PARTICULARLY , AND
IN YOUR ROLE AS THE CHAIR OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
WOULD MEAN A LOT. SO, YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT , I JUST
WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES. I
JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR HIS
ALSO COSPONSORSHIP OF THIS
LEGISLATION. THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK. WE NEED TO
SUPPORT MORE WOMEN AT SPD AND I
FEEL REALLY PROUD, ACTUALLY,
THAT THE CAPTAIN FOR THE NORTH
PRECINCT WHICH SUPPORTS MY
DISTRICT IS A WOMAN. CAPTAIN A
GUARD. I AM SO APPRECIATIVE TO
HAVE HER THERE SO I WANTED TO
CALL OUT A FINE EXAMPLE OF A
WOMAN LEADER AT SPD AND HOW
MUCH I SUPPORT HAVING MORE
LEADERS AT SPD LIKE HER. FOR
THOSE REASONS, AND AS A WOMAN
MYSELF I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
AND SUPPORT MORE WOMEN
LEADERSHIP. NOT JUST LEADERSHIP
AT SPD BUT WOMEN OFFICERS, THAT
THEY FEEL SUPPORTED AND THE
ATTITUDE IS THAT THEY ARE BEING
TREATED WITH RESPECT AND
DIGNITY THE WAY THAT ALL HUMAN
SHOULD BE TREATED IN THE WORK
PLACE IN GENERAL. WE REALLY
NEED TO HOLD SPD AND OURSELVES
TO A HIGHER STANDARD WHEN IT
COMES TO TREATING WOMEN IN THE
WORK PLACE AND IN GENERAL.
THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING THIS
AND I VERY MUCH SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
COMMENTS WILL CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT 4
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? I.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I PICTURE
NELSON? I.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
AMENDMENT 4 IS ADOPTED. THE
AMENDED BILL IS NOW BEFORE
COUNCIL. MOVING ALONG WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT, FOR WEEKS WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT THIS
BILL DOES AND I NOW CONSIDER IT
IMPROVED. THE ONE BEFORE US
WITH THESE AMENDMENTS, AND I
JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WHAT
THIS BILL DOES NOT DO IS LOWER
OUR STANDARDS FOR POLICE FORCE.
IT WILL NOT COMPROMISE OUR
COMMITMENT TO CONSTITUTIONAL
POLICING AS SET FORTH IN THE
CONSENT DECREE OR LOWER
STANDARDS FOR WHAT WE WANT IN
OUR OFFICERS AND THE OFFICER --
THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. OUR
HIRING PROCESS COMPARED TO
OTHER JURISDICTIONS, IT IS
FAIRLY LONG AND A LITTLE BIT
CLUNKY AND THAT LEAVES
APPLICANTS IN A STATE OF LIMBO
AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THE
PROCESS TO MAKE -- AND THAT'S
PART OF THE REASON WHY WE ARE
HAVING A HARD TIME REFILLING
OUR RANKS . WE'VE COLLABORATED
WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMISSION AND I HAVE SPOKEN
SEVERAL TIMES WITH COCHAIRS OF
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION
. THEY AGREE WE NEED TO STEP UP
HIRING AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE
CONTINUE FOCUSING ON THEIR
PRIORITY OF ENSURING OFFICER
ACCOUNTABILITY . IF THERE ARE
NO OTHER COMMENTS-- SORRY ABOUT
THAT. COCHAIR AND COKE SPONSOR
KETTLE.
>> SPEAKING AS THE VICE CHAIR
OF THE GOVERNANCE,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND CHAIR
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
I WANT TO STATE THAT CB120766
SPD RECRUITMENT RETENTION IS
VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS DIRECTLY
TIED TO PILLAR NUMBER ONE OF A
LOOK SAFETY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLAN AND IS CRITICAL TO ADDRESS
STAFFING. IT BUILDS ON THE WORK
THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS ALREADY
DONE TO STREAMLINE AND SPEED UP
THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS WHICH I
AM THANKFUL FOR AND ALSO SHOWS
US WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP NOW
AND LOOKING TO FURTHER THOSE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ABOUT GOOD
GOVERNANCE, IT FURTHER
ADDRESSES THE STRUCTURE OF THE
RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND AS I
LIKE TO SAY REDUCES VARIABLES.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND ONE LAST THING I WANTED TO
SAY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY
THAT ACCOUNTABILITY REMAIN
CENTRAL. AT NO POINT DID I AS
VICE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE OR
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
CONTEMPLATE DROPPING THE
NATIONAL TESTING NETWORK AS A
TESTING SERVICE. I KNOW THAT
HAS BEEN PLACED IN DIFFERENT
WAYS BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE
CLEAR ON THAT POINT, FROM THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PERSPECTIVE, HOW
IMPORTANT THAT IS. THANK YOU,
CHAIR NELSON. I APPRECIATE IT
AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO A FEW
THINGS QUICKLY. FOR THE PAST
FOUR YEARS, OUR CITY HAS
STRUGGLED TO MEET ITS CHARTER
RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE A FULLY
STAFFED AND EFFECTIVE POLICE
FORCE. BY INTRODUCING A
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
PROGRAM WE CAN HELP TO REBUILD
OUR DEPARTMENT AND RESTORE
STAFFING LEVELS . AND TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE A BROADER AND MORE
COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
TOOLS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES ON
OUR STREETS IN CITIES TODAY. I
CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE
IMPORTANCE OF STREAMLINING
PROCESSES AND DRIVING
EFFICIENCIES . THIS PARTICULAR
BILL MAY NOT GET SOME OF THE
FLASHY HEADLINES LIKE SOME OF
THE HIRING INCENTIVES THAT HAVE
BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE PAST OR
SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE EVEN
DISCUSSED IN OTHER COMMITTEES
LIKE CHILDCARE. OR WHATEVER IT
IS, BUT THIS IS THE HARD WORK.
STREAMLINING, IMPROVING
PROCESSES IS THE HARD WORK . IT
IS LESS SEXY BUT REQUIRES A
THOUGHTFUL, CAREFUL REFLECTION
AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND
INVESTIGATIONS. DANGLING A
CARROT AND IT'S MORE
CHALLENGING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO SIMPLIFY AND STREAMLINE AND
MAKE SURE YOU ARE IMPROVING THE
FUNNEL OR THE PIPELINE AND
MAKING IT EASIER, BETTER
REFLECTING THE MARKET DYNAMICS
HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE. WE
ARE COLLABORATIVE WITH
JURISDICTIONS AND MANY
IMPORTANT THINGS AND WE ARE
ALSO COMPETITORS WITH THEM FOR
TALENT. THIS BILL RECOGNIZES
THAT . SO MADAM CHAIR AND CHAIR
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP .
LOVE THIS COLLABORATIVE PROCESS
THAT ALLOWED US TO MAKE IT EVEN
BETTER SO THANK YOU.
>> IF WE DON'T AGGRESSIVELY
STEP UP HIRING WE WILL NOT
FULFILL OUR CHARTER
RESPONSIBILITY AND IT SAYS IN A
DIFFERENT SECTION WE HAVE A
DUTY TO MAINTAIN POLICE
PROTECTION IN EVERY DISTRICT OF
THE CITY. THIS IS IN MY
COMMITTEE AND NOT PUBLIC SAFETY
BECAUSE IT CONCERNS AN FTE
EDITION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES WHICH REPORTS
TO MY COMMITTEE. IT'S A GROUP
EFFORT. PLEASE CALL ROLE ON
COUNCIL BILL 120766 PASS AS
AMENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I PICK
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? I.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA? I. COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON? I.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION WILL
BE FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL
FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION ON MAY
21 AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT ITEM I WANT TO THANK ANN
GORMAN, GREG DOSS WHO STARTED
SOME OF THIS WORK AND EVERYONE
WE COLLABORATED WITH TO MAKE
THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AS WELL.
>>> MOVING ON TO -- COCHAIR AND
STAFF . MOVING ON TO AGENDA
ITEM 2 WILL CLERK PLEASE READ
THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, AND
ORDINANCE RELATED TO APP-BASED
WORKER LABOR STANDARDS
ESTABLISHING A NEW COMPENSATION
SCHEME WITH MINIMUM PAY
REQUIREMENTS AND RELATED
STANDARDS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND
FLEXIBILITY. AMENDING SECTIONS
8.3 7.020, 8.3 7.050, 8.3
7.060, 8.3 7.070, 8.37 0.80.
8.3 7.100, 8.3 7.110, 8.3
7.120, 8.3 7.125, 8.3 7.165,
AND 8.3 7.170 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND REPEALING
SECTION 8.3 7.230 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
BRIEFING DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. BEFORE
WE BEGIN I WANT TO TAKE US BACK
TO THE FEBRUARY 6 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WHEN WE FIRST HEARD DIRECTLY
FROM WORKERS ABOUT WHAT THEY
WERE EXPERIENCING SINCE THE
APP-BASED PAY LEGISLATION OR
PAYUP WENT INTO EFFECT ON
JANUARY 13. I THOUGHT ABOUT
SHOWING A VIDEO BUT TO AVOID
TECH ILLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES I
AM GOING TO READ THE COMMENTS
OFFERED BY ONE OF THE
COMMENTERS. THERE WERE ABOUT
FOUR PEOPLE SITTING IN THE
FRONT ROW AND THE REST OF THE
CHAMBERS WAS VIRTUALLY EMPTY.
ONE WORKER WHO STARTED SPEAKING
AT MINUTE MARK 40:36 SAID
QUOTE, THANK YOU COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE THE TIME
TODAY. I AM SPEAKING ON THE
SAME ORDINANCE REFERRING TO
GARY'S COMMENTS RIGHT BEFORE
HER, THAT WAS OFFERED TWO GIG
WORKERS THIS PAST YEAR STARTING
ON JANUARY 13 THAT WAS SUPPOSED
TO GUARANTEE A MINIMUM WAGE.
THAT WAS A FIVE DOLLARS PER
ORDER AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD
ACCEPT. I DON'T KNOW WHO DID
THE MATH. I KNOW WE CAN'T ASK
A QUESTION SO I WILL ASK A
RHETORICAL ONE TO DO THE
RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN BUT THE
MATH CAME OUT TO BE ABOUT $26
AN HOUR WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE SO THE
HOMEWORK NEEDS TO BE DONE
THERE. WE UNDERSTAND WHY YOU
DID IT AND IN THE BEGINNING
BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY
INSTITUTED WE WERE EXCITED
ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE
ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE A
LIVABLE WAGE. BECAUSE MOST
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT 90%
OR MORE OF OUR INCOME COMES
FROM TIPS. IT DOES NOT COME
FROM UBER EATS. WE MAY GET ONE
OR TWO DOLLARS BUT THAT'S IT.
IF WE DON'T GET ANY ORDERS ALL
DAY WE DON'T MAKE MONEY. THE
MORE ORDERS WE GET THE MORE
MONEY WE MAKE WHAT HAS HAPPENED
NOW IS THAT CUSTOMERS IN
SEATTLE ARE BOYCOTTING THE
APPLICATION AND HAVE EITHER
ELECTED, HAVE EITHER DELETED IT
OR ARE NOT ORDERING ANY MORE
FOR FAIR REASONS LIKE THE LAST
COMMENTERS SAID. A BURRITO IS
MORE THAN DOUBLE THE COST NOW.
THAT IS BEFORE CUSTOMERS TIP .
SO IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO ORDER
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TIP AND A
LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES INCOME HAS
DROPPED BY 50%. IT IS NOT
LIVABLE AND THIS IS GOING TO
DESTROY THE ECONOMY IN SEATTLE.
I THINK THE FIRST ANSWER WOULD
BE TO REPEAL THE LAW. I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER WOULD BE
GOING FORWARD BUT RIGHT NOW
THIS IS DESTROYING INCOMES AND
LIVELIHOODS. I WANT TO POINT
OUT THAT THE NARRATIVE SPUN
ABOUT 26 AN HOUR , MOST PEOPLE
THOUGHT THAT WAS A REAL THING.
THAT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN
AND NOT HAPPENING AT ALL. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SHE WAS
FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER PERSON WHO
ALSO CALLED FOR REPEAL. THOSE
TESTIMONIES DELIVERED IN THE
ALMOST EMPTY CHAMBERS IS WHY WE
ARE HERE TODAY. I WAS
RESPONDING TO TESTIMONIES AND
SEVERAL COLLEAGUES ENDED UP
TALKING WITH FOLKS AFTER THE
MEETING. IT HAS BEEN THREE
MONTHS AND SOME OF THE
COMMENTERS HAVE BEEN HERE EVERY
WEEK BUT IN THAT TIME THE WHOLE
TIMBRE OF THE CONVERSATION HAS
CHANGED. NOT UNEXPECTEDLY, BOTH
SIDES BEGAN RALLYING THE TROOPS
AND CHAMBERS HAVE BEEN PACKED
WITH PUBLIC COMMENTERS, GREAT
FOR ENGAGEMENT I APPRECIATE
THAT. AND, THERE HAVE BEEN
PRESS CONFERENCES ET CETERA.
THE DRIVE FORWARD PRESS
CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD
EARLIER WITH THEIR SUPPORTERS
AND I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN
OTHERS. UNDERNEATH ALL THIS
NOISE THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING,
FOR ME IT COMES DOWN TO
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE DUTY OF
COUNCIL TO EXAMINE THE OUTCOMES
OF LAWS AND IF THEY ARE NOT
WORKING WE HAVE TO FIX THEM.
THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO
BECAUSE THIS LAW IS CLEARLY NOT
WORKING. CB120775 IS AN EFFORT
TO REVERSE THE BAD OUTCOMES
CAUSED BY A FLAWED LAW AND
CATALYZED BY NETWORK COMPANIES
IMPOSING A NEW SO-CALLED
REGULATORY FEE WHICH CAUSED A
DROP IN CUSTOMER ORDERS, A
DRASTIC REDUCTION IN WORKER
WAGES AND LOST REVENUES FOR
RESTAURANTS AND OTHER RETAIL
ESTABLISHMENTS. THAT IS WHAT
HAPPENS AND THAT IS THE CHAIN
OF EVENTS. ALL OF THIS WAS
ANTICIPATED BUT THE LAST
COUNCIL DID IT ANYWAY AND WE
ARE FACED WITH THE FALLOUT. SO
LET ME BE CLEAR. WHAT I WANT IS
FOR THE FEE TO GO AWAY SOON
PEOPLE GO BACK TO ORDERING
PRE-IMPLEMENTATION LEVELS. AND,
FOR WORKERS TO EARN, AT THE
VERY LEAST, SEATTLE'S MINIMUM
WAGE PLUS MILEAGE AND BEFORE
TIPS. A COMPROMISE PROPOSAL
BEFORE US IS THE ONLY OPTION
THAT I SEE ON THE TABLE TO GET
THERE. IT HAS BEEN MONTHS AND
WEEKS AND I AM OPEN TO IT BUT
THE PROPONENTS OF THE ORIGINAL
LAW HAVE NOT COME FORWARD WITH
ANOTHER SOLUTION. NOW WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT WAITING FOR MORE
DATA TO COME BACK. ALL THE
WHILE PEOPLE ARE HAVING
DIFFICULTY PAYING THEIR
EXPENSES AND RESTAURANTS ARE,
AS WELL SO I AM DRIVEN BY A
SENSE OF URGENCY THAT WE DO
SOMETHING RIGHT NOW AND, THIS
IS A PRAGMATIC PATHWAY FORWARD.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING BETTER
I'M OPEN TO IT BUT THIS IS
WHAT WE'VE GOT. I WANT TO BE
CLEAR IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT, THIS IS NOT
A REPEAL. THIS IS NOT A REPEAL
OF THE LAW. THIS IS A REFORM
ALTHOUGH REPEAL WAS CERTAINLY
THE FIRST DEMAND THAT PEOPLE
PUT FORWARD, NOT JUST WORKERS
BUT ALSO RESTAURANTS. IT'S
ALSO NOT A ROLLBACK OF MINIMUM
WAGE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT
MAKING THE MINIMUM WAGE RIGHT
NOW. THERE IS NOT A MINIMUM
WAGE WRITTEN IN THE EXISTING
ORDINANCE. THERE IS A
CALCULATION THAT WOULD GENERATE
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PAY BUT
THAT DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF
ORDERS. 1997-- LISTED IN THIS
CURRENT PROPOSAL BEFORE MILEAGE
AND TIPS BUT IT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS WRITTEN DOWN AND IS THE
FLOOR OF WHAT DRIVERS WILL MAKE
PER ENGAGED HOURS AND THAT'S
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. IN
ORDER TO, AGAIN, BRING BACK THE
NUMBER OF ORDERS THAT IS REALLY
THE CRUX OF ALL OF THIS. THAT
FEE HAS TO GO AWAY SO THAT'S
WHAT I'M WORKING TOWARD. I
JUST WANTED TO KNOW AND BE VERY
CLEAR THAT THAT IS WHAT'S
DRIVING THIS LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
DISCUSS THE AMENDMENTS. WE ARE
NOT GOING TO GO INTO EVERY
COMPONENT OF THE LEGISLATION
BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THAT TWICE
ALREADY BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M
COMING FROM AND AGAIN IT COMES
BACK TO, HOW IS THIS AFFECTING
MY CONSTITUENTS RIGHT NOW,
TODAY? THE DISCREPANCIES THAT
YOU HERE BETWEEN THE IMPACT ON
DRIVERS HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT
THAT THIS WAS ONE REGULATORY
SCHEME THAT WAS IMPOSED ON VERY
DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODELS. THE
VAST MAJORITY OF DRIVERS ARE
WORKING FOR THE ON-DEMAND
COMPANIES SO THAT IS PRIMARILY
DOORDASH AND UBER EATS. THE
DRIVERS WORKING FOR THE
COMPANIES THAT SCHEDULED
DELIVERIES ARE IMPACTED LESS SO
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS
NOT IMPACTING EVERYBODY THE
SAME BUT I AM RESPONDING TO THE
PEOPLE -- THE WORKERS THAT ARE
WORKING UNDER THE COMPANIES
THAT HAVE THE GREATEST MARKET
SHARE IN THE CITY. WITH THAT I
AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
EXPLAIN THE PROCESS. WE WILL
DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY VOTE ON
FOUR AMENDMENTS AND THEN THE
LIKELY AMENDED BILL. I'M GOING
TO MOVE THE BILL AND THEN WE
WILL WALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. NOTE, ONE AMENDMENT
THAT I EXPECT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE TO OFFER IS REVISED FROM
THE VERSION LISTED ON THE
AGENDA YESTERDAY AND THAT
VERSION WAS CIRCULATED TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF
EARLIER TODAY. AFTER EACH
AMENDMENT IS MOVED I WILL ASK
CENTRAL STAFF TO WALK US
THROUGH IT AND ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. WE WILL VOTE ON EACH
AMENDMENT AND THEN DISCUSS AND
VOTE ON THE UNDERLYING BILL.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PROCESS? LET'S MOVE ON. I MOVE
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF CONSTABLE 12077 SET -- 775.
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. LET'S PROCEED TO THE
AMENDMENT STARTING WITH NUMBER
ONE. AS THE SPONSOR I WILL MOVE
AMENDMENT ONE TO 120775 AND
PRESENT IT ON THE AGENDA. I
MOVE THAT IT BE ADOPTED.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT ONE
AS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA. WHY
DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN
WHERE IT IS AND I CAN PROVIDE
EXPLANATORY COMMENTS
AFTERWARDS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM KARINA
BULL ON YOUR COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF . IN DESCRIBING AMENDMENT
NUMBER ONE AS SPONSORED BY
CONSUL PRESIDENT NELSON, THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD PROHIBIT A
NETWORK COMPANY FROM REDUCING
THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID TO A
WORKER FOR PERFORMING OFFERS
DURING A NETWORK COMPANY
EARNINGS PERIOD IF THE NETWORK
COMPANY DETERMINES THAT THE
APP-BASED WORKER EARNS MORE
THAN THE MINIMUM PAY STANDARD.
BEFORE PROCESSING PAYMENT AT
THE END OF THE EARNINGS PERIOD
WHICH CAN BE UP TO 14 DAYS THE
NETWORK COMPANY MUST ENSURE
THAT THE TOTAL EARNINGS
INCLUDING INCENTIVES AND
BONUSES MEET THE MINIMUM
PAYMENT STANDARD AND IF
NECESSARY, THE NETWORK COMPANY
MUST INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL SUM
IN EARNINGS TO TRUE UP ANY
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EARNINGS AND
THE PAY STANDARD. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD EXPLICITLY
PREVENT NETWORK COMPANIES FROM
TRUING DOWN PAYMENT IF THE
WORKER HAS EARNED MORE THAN THE
MINIMUM PAY STANDARD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM
PUTTING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONFUSION
THAT A POSSIBLE INTERPRETATION
OF THE CURRENT LANGUAGE WOULD
LET COMPANIES TO THE OPPOSITE ,
THAT IS, TO DOWN THE SUM TOTAL
OF GUARANTEED PAYMENTS BEFORE
BONUSES. THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
THIS DOES SERVE AS A BELT AND
SUSPENDERS AMENDMENT BECAUSE
COMPANIES ARE PROHIBITED FROM
DOING THAT . BUT I JUST WANTED
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO
MISTAKE , THAT THIS ESTABLISHES
A FLOOR AND NOT A CEILING TO
WHAT COMPANIES CAN PAY. IN CASE
YOU ARE NOT QUITE UNDERSTANDING
HOW IT WORKS, WHEN A DRIVER IS
LOGGED INTO THE APPLICATION ,
THEY GET AN ORDER, THEY GET AN
OFFER, AND IT COMES WITH A
GUARANTEED PAYMENT AMOUNT
PUTTING THE ESTIMATED TIME AND
MILES THAT IT WILL TAKE TO
COMPLETE THAT DELIVERY AS WELL
AS APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS OF
WORK STOPS AND THE LOCATION OF
A DELIVERY POINT. THEN AT THE
END OF THE PAY PERIOD ALL OF
THE PAYMENTS FOR COMPLETED
OFFERS PLUS ANY MONETARY
BONUSES OR INCENTIVES ARE ADDED
UP TO DETERMINE THE PAYMENT
THAT IS OWED. THAT AMOUNT OF
GUARANTEED PAYMENTS PLUS
BONUSES AND INCENTIVES ARE MORE
THAN THE PAYMENT REQUIRED BY
THE BILL WHICH IS $19.97 PER
HOUR OF TOTAL TIME WORKED PLUS
$.35 PER MILE, THEN THE DRIVER
KEEPS THE FULL AMOUNT EVEN IF
IT AVERAGES TO MORE THAN $19.97
AN HOUR BUT CONVERSELY THE
INTENT IS ALSO TO PROVIDE THAT
IF THE SUM OF GUARANTEED
PAYMENTS PLUS BONUSES COMES OUT
TO BE LESS THAN $19.97 AN HOUR,
THEN COMPANIES HAVE TO TRUE
THAT UP AND PAY THE DRIVER MORE
SO THAT THE PAYMENT FOR THAT
PERIOD DOES COME OUT TO BE 1997
PER HOUR PLUS $.35 A MILE AND
AGAIN TIPS WOULD BE ON TOP OF
THOSE PAYMENTS REGARDLESS OF
THE SCENARIO. THAT IS WHY I'M
PUTTING THIS FORWARD, TO MAKE
CLEAR WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE
AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT YOU ARE
WELCOME TO ASK OR DIRECT YOUR
QUESTIONS TO CENTRAL STAFF.
SEEING AS THOUGH THERE ARE NO
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT ONE, WILL
CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
I. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. GIO
NELSON? I.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT ONE IS ADOPTED. I
UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE HAS A REVISED VERSION 2
WHICH HIS OFFICE CIRCULATED
THIS MORNING MENTIONING THAT .
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE YOU ARE
WELCOME TO MOVE THE AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON. I
MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120775 AS PRESENTED ON HIM AND
IN 2 VERSION 2. THIS CLARIFIES
HOW OFTEN NETWORK COMPANIES ARE
REQUIRED TO PRODUCE --
>> I SECOND.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? AND
WILL WE HAVE A PRESENTATION?
>> I AM JASMINE MARWAHA AND
WILL GO THROUGH A BRIEF
DESCRIPTION . THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD RESTORE SOME AFFIRMATIVE
DATA PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
AUTHORIZING THE OLS DIRECTOR
AND TO REQUIRE AGGREGATED
RECORDS DEEMED NECESSARY TO
ADMINISTER AND FORCE OR
EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF
PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER ON
APP-BASED WORKER EARNINGS. THE
AMENDMENT ALSO REQUEST A STUDY
FROM THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE
TO EVALUATE THE IMPACTS TO
APP-BASED, RESTAURANTS, SMALL
BUSINESSES AND CUSTOMERS. AS
NOTED, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
VERSION 2 AND WHAT WAS
PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA IS THAT
THIS SPECIFIES THAT THE
AFFIRMATIVE DATA PROTECTION
COULD OCCUR NO MORE OFTEN THAN
QUARTERLY.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MS.
INSTACART -- BULL. FOR ALL
YOUR WORK. CENTRAL STAFF HAS
BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. IT
IS OBVIOUSLY A DIFFICULT
SUBJECT AREA SO THANK YOU. THIS
GOES TO GOOD GOVERNANCE AND I
THINK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION
BECAUSE IT GOES ABOUT
PRESENTING THE DATA SO WE CAN
WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES AS
THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THE
FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE
QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, WITH YOUR
PERMISSION, WOULD LOVE TO
COSPONSOR THIS AMENDMENT . YOU
ALL KNOW THE IMPORTANCE AND MY
CONTINUING ONGOING EMPHASIS ON
DATA WHICH IS BROADLY SHARED
AMONGST US ALL AND BY RESTORING
SOME DATA COLLECTION AND I
THINK THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS US
TO BETTER TRACK OR MONITOR
PERFORMANCE AND ULTIMATELY
RESULTS. I HEARD CALLS AND
HAVING MET WITH THE VARIOUS
CONSTITUENT GROUPS, CALLS IN
THIS CHAMBER . AND, GATHER
RESEARCH AND STUDY RESEARCH.
THIS AMENDMENT DOES EXACTLY
THAT . I THINK THIS IS A COMMON
SENSE AMENDMENT THAT MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE AND WORKING
CLOSELY WITH CENTRAL STAFF
EXPERTS. JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR SAGE
ADVICE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY MANY
PESKY CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION , I'VE EXAMINED
VARIOUS FEATURES OF OTHER
MODELS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
INCLUDING NEW YORK THAT HAVE
SIMILAR LEGISLATION IN PLACE
WITH NO KNOWN, NOT TO SAY THAT
THERE IS NONE, BUT NO KNOWN
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, IF YOU
WILL. AND THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT NEW YORK CITY HAS,
SOMETHING SIMILAR. IF YOU ARE
SO WILLING, WOULD LOVE TO
COSPONSOR THIS WITH YOU AND
TOGETHER WE CAN HELP EMPHASIZE
THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA
COLLECTION AND ALSO RESEARCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. I WELCOME YOUR
COSPONSORSHIP OF THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> I CONCUR WITH MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA
COLLECTION, PARTICULARLY TO
ALLOW THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS DIRECTOR TO ACQUIRE
THE DATA THAT IS NECESSARY TO
ENFORCE AND EVALUATE THE
IMPACTS OF THIS LAW ON THE
APP-BASED WORKER EARNINGS. I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THAT IMPACT EVALUATION AND GO
TOWARD WHAT WE HAVE ALL TALKED
ABOUT, THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. COLLECTING THE
DATA IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
THAT SO I APPRECIATE YOU
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY , THESE
RECORDS , LETTERS A THROUGH D .
REACHING TRUE MINIMUM WAGE ?
TAKE YOUR MICROPHONES OFF .
>> THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION
WOULD ALLOW FOR OLS TO EVALUATE
ON AN AGGREGATED LEVEL WHAT
WORKERS ARE EARNING . I THINK
IT WOULD BE MORE FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION AND
ENFORCEMENT ACTION TO
UNDERSTAND WORKER BY WORKER
LEVEL BUT IT COULD ALLOW FOR AN
OVERALL EVALUATION OF WHAT
WORKER EARNINGS ARE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NOT ANY MORE
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS WILL
CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENT 2?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
I. COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. CHAIR
NELSON? I.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
AMENDMENT 2 VERSION 2 IS
ADOPTED. WAS THAT AMENDMENT 2
OR 3?
>> 2 VERSION 2 .
>> THAN THE ONE COMING FROM
YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES. MOVING
FORWARD TO AMENDMENT THREE,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE DO YOU
WISH TO MOVE IT?
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU CHAIR
NELSON. I MOVED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120775 AS
PRESENTED . AMENDMENT THREE AS
PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, THANK
YOU CENTRAL STAFF , MS. MARWAHA
AND MS. BULL, I APPRECIATE YOUR
COUNSEL. THIS GOES WITH THE
EARLIER ONE, OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS BEING ABLE TO DO
THEIR JOB. I RECOGNIZE THIS IS
A COMPLEX AREA AND I FEEL THIS
ONE YEAR PERIOD WHICH WE ARE
WELL INTO WILL GIVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT THE SHIP
AND MOVE FORWARD IN A STANDARD
PROCESS AS WE SEE WITH LABOR
STANDARDS ACROSS DIFFERENT
AREAS .
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE WITH A DEFINED PERIOD
FOR RESTRICTING THE DIRECTOR'S
ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES
AND FINES FOR CERTAIN
NON-WILLFUL VIOLATIONS. THE
TYPES OF NON-WILLFUL VIOLATIONS
THAT WOULD BE COVERED INCLUDE
THOSE THAT ARE NONECONOMIC AND
DON'T RESULT IN MONEY BEING
OWED TO THE WORKERS . THIS
PERIOD WOULD BE THE FIRST
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION WHICH
MEANS FROM JANUARY 13 THROUGH
JANUARY 13 OF NEXT YEAR THE
DIRECTOR WOULD NOT ASSESS
PENALTIES FOR THESE NON-WILLFUL
VIOLATION AND IF THE NETWORK
COMPANY CURE IS A VIOLATION
WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIVING
NOTICE OF THE VIOLATION OR
LONGER, FOR A LONGER PERIOD ,
THAT THEY REQUEST ADDITIONAL
TIME. AFTER THE PERIOD THE
DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE AUTHORITY
TO ASSESS PENALTIES FOR ALL
VIOLATIONS REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THE VIOLATION IS
WILLFUL OR NOT WILLFUL. THIS
WOULD INCLUDE OPTIONS FOR
WAVING OR REDUCING PENALTIES ON
A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AFTER
CONSIDERING CIRCUMSTANCES OF
THE VIOLATION , THAT LANGUAGE
ALREADY EXIST IN THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE. THIS WOULD PROVIDE
NETWORK COMPANIES WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A GRACE PERIOD
FROM PENALTIES FOR A CERTAIN
TIME. IN THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE, THIS PROVISION WOULD
BE REQUIRED ON A PERMANENT
BASIS SO WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS
DOING IS CHANGING IT FROM A
PERMANENT BASIS TO A ONE-YEAR
PERIOD .
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES?
>> ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NONE
WILL CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT THREE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I. IS
A MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? I.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ? I . CHAIR
NELSON? I. FIVE IN FAVOR NOT
OPPOSED
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE IS
ADOPTED . MOVING ON TO
AMENDMENT FOUR . DO YOU WISH TO
MOVE AMENDMENT 4 ?
>> YES. I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT
THIS AMENDMENT WHICH RESTORES
THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION OF
DRIVERS AND THIS AMENDMENT IS
PRINCIPALLY ABOUT WORKERS
RIGHTS . IF A PERSON OR A CLASS
OF PERSONS HAS SUFFERED INJURY
OR HARM THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO
BRING CIVIL ACTION SO MY
AMENDMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT,
WORKER FRIENDLY PROTECTION THAT
ALLOWS JUSTICE TO HAPPEN AND
ENABLES JUSTICE . DO I NEED A
MOVE? I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT
AMENDMENT 4.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 4
AS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WOULD
RESTORE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION FOR VOLUNTARY VIOLATIONS
OF THE MINIMUM PAYMENT
ORDINANCE AND RESTORE
REFERENCES TO THE PRIVATE RIGHT
OF ACTION IN RELEVANT SECTIONS.
THE NOTICE OF RIGHTS,
RETALIATION PROHIBITION AND
COMPLAINT PROCEDURE. THE
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION WOULD
PERMIT BASED -- AT RISK WORKERS
TO FILE CIVIL ACTIONS TO
ENFORCE THE LAW. COUNCIL BILL
12077 SIDE FIVE PROPOSES
REMOVAL OF THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO
MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS WILL
CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON
AMENDMENT 4
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? I.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. CHAIR
NELSON? I.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND UNOPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT 4 IS ADOPT DID IN
THE AMENDMENT BILL IS NOW
BEFORE COUNCIL.
>> WE ARE GOING TO NOW BE
VOTING ON THE AMENDED BASE
LEGISLATION AND WILL OPEN IT UP
FOR ANY COMMENTS AND THEN WE
WILL VOTE . WHAT DID YOU --
>> YOU'VE GONE THROUGH --
WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE
AMENDMENTS AND THE BILL BEFORE
US , WE WILL BE VOTING ON THE
AMENDED BILL AND I'M OFFERING
PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
FINAL COMMENTS. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
MY FAMILY LIVED PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK AND AS A YOUNG WOMAN I
WORKED AS A SERVER IN A FAST
FOOD RESTAURANT WHERE I MADE
THE LEGAL MINIMUM WAGE AND
RELIED ON TIPS TO PAY RENT
UTILITIES AND GROCERY. I WANT
TO BE SURE WE LISTEN TO OUR
MOST IMPACT DID INCLUDING ALL
APP-BASED WORKERS AND THE SMALL
BUSINESSES RELYING ON DELIVERY
ORDERS TO MAKE ENDS MEET . --
TO MAKE AT LEAST MINIMUM WAGE
AS THE ORDINANCE, AS THE
ORIGINAL ORDINANCE INTENDED.
THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE ORDERS
SO THAT WORKERS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE CAN THRIVE . I
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS TO INCLUDE ,
AND I AM COSPONSORING MY
COLLEAGUES -- EXCUSE ME. MY
COLLEAGUES ' AMENDED ORDINANCE
TO INCLUDE THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION AS WELL AS DATA
COLLECTIONS SO THAT THE
STANDARDS TO EVALUATE THE
IMPACTS OF THIS LAW. I BELIEVE
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IF THIS
LEGISLATION IS NOT WORKING THE
WAY THEY INTENDED, THAT COUNCIL
HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT AND
COURSE CORRECT FROM THE BENEFIT
OF ALL WORKERS IMPACTED. FOR
THIS REASON I AM COSPONSORING
NELSON'S LEGISLATION AND
VOTING FOR COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
AND SAKA 'S AMENDMENTS WHICH
WILL PROVIDE FURTHER PROTECTION
FOR APP-BASED WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR NELSON . THE
APP-BASED WORKER LABOR
STANDARDS BILL AS AMENDED ,
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX
ISSUE WITH MANY CONFLICTING --
CONFLICTING PIECES THAT REFLECT
THAT WE ARE IN NEW TERRITORY.
DIFFERENT PIECES COMING
TOGETHER AND WE ARE STILL
WORKING THROUGH THESE ELEMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE
INVOLVED FOR INPUT. IS
IMPORTANT TO -- IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT YOUR TRUTHS ARE AS
VALID EVEN WITH THOSE THAT ARE
OPPOSITE. EACH TRUTH HAS ITS
PLACE. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE
FOUR MAIN GROUPS. THE NETWORK
COMPANIES HAVE HAD THEIR VOICE,
THE GIG DELIVERIES WORKERS HAVE
HAD THEIR VOICE FOR AND AGAINST
AND RESTAURANTS THOUGH, NOT SO
MUCH. WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT
LATE BUT NOT VERY MUCH FROM
RESTAURANT COMMUNITY. THAT IS A
CHALLENGE. IT REFLECTS, BY THE
WAY, THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE
BETWEEN COMPETING VIEWPOINTS. I
AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT
RESTAURANTS FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF BEING THE CHAIR
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
BECAUSE THERE ARE HEADWINDS BUT
THESE ARE ADDITIONAL AND
OTHERS, AS WELL. I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT THOSE THAT WORK AT THESE
RESTAURANTS. I AM ALSO THINKING
ABOUT OTHER CUSTOMERS. I'VE
HEARD FROM SOME, BUT NOT ALL. I
ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT GOOD
GOVERNANCE RELIES ON GOOD DATA.
THIS DRIVES THE AMENDMENT THAT
I SUBMITTED TODAY AND ALSO GOES
MORE GENERALLY TO THE CURE
PERIOD AMENDMENT AND ALSO TO
THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE ACTION
THAT I SUPPORT AS WELL . SO, I
BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE
LOOKED AT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE
AND TODAY IS BUT ONE NEXT STEP
.
>> I WANT TO CROSS-REFERENCE A
COMMENT THAT YOU MADE AT THE
OUTSET OF THIS CONVERSATION
WHEN YOU READ THE STATEMENT.
REMEMBER IT VIVIDLY . ONE
PUBLIC COMMENT OR MAY OR MAY
NOT BE HERE TODAY AND SAID
QUOTE, THE BILL WAS SUPPOSED TO
RAISE MINIMUM WAGE. COLLEAGUES.
SUPPOSED TO? WHAT KIND OF
POLICY IS SUPPOSED TO BE?
PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE THEIR LIVES
OFF OF THOSE . THIS IS A
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT OF THE
SEATTLE CITY GOVERNMENT. IT
SHOULD NOT BE THE DEPARTMENT OF
SUPPOSED-TO-BE'S IT. SO LET'S
MOVE BEYOND THOSE AND INTO
ACHIEVING A TRULY COMPROMISED
BILL THAT WORKS AND TRACK AND
MONITOR PROGRESS AND BE
PREPARED TO ADJUST THAT OVER
TIME AS NEEDED, AS WELL. I
THINK THIS COMPROMISE BILL TO
THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE IS OF
MONUMENTAL IMPORTANCE AND
AFFECTS LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF
SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKERS, AND
MANY OTHER KEY CONSTITUENTS AND
STAKEHOLDERS. I DEEPLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS AND TESTIMONIES THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE AND EMAILS. WE
ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE'S
LIVELIHOODS. PERSONALLY I DID
MY OWN RESEARCH OUTSIDE OF THIS
CHAMBER AND TRIED TO DO THE
HARD WORK OF MEETING WITH AS
MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN IN
DIFFERENT DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER
GROUPS. A WIDE RANGE OF FOLKS
INCLUDING WORK WASHINGTON,
DRIVE FORWARD, COUNTLESS SMALL
BUSINESSES AND OTHERS . EARLIER
THIS YEAR I KICKED OFF A SMALL
BUSINESS WALKING TOUR IN
DISTRICT ONE AND ALL FIVE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN MY DISTRICT
GOT THEIR OWN LISTENING TOUR
AND A LOT OF RESTAURANTS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, COMMERCIAL KITCHENS
REPRESENTED AND I WAS EXPECTING
CONVERSATIONS TO YOUR CONCERNS
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW THE
SIDLEY CITY CAN MORE BROADLY
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND
ENABLE A TRULY DIVERSE ECONOMY
INCLUDING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
MANY SMALL BUSINESSES . I ENDED
UP HEARING A LOT ABOUT THIS .
AND EARFUL HAS BEEN REPORTED
AND THAT COMBINED WITH ALL THE
OTHER SOURCES THAT I MENTIONED,
I THINK WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
THIS IS A COMPROMISE IN ORDER
TO REFLECT FEEDBACK OF NOT JUST
ONE SECTOR BUT LIKE ALL
COMPROMISES, IT IS IMPERFECT
AND MAY NOT FULLY SATISFY
EVERYONE'S CONCERNS. WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING AND WE NEED TO
DO SOMETHING NOW AND NOW MORE
THAN EVER WE NEED TO MOVE
BEYOND THE SUPPOSED-TO-BE'S .
THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THIS. I
WANT TO THANK JASMINE AND
KARINA BULL FOR YOUR EXCELLENT
ADVICE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND
HELPING BETTER AND POWER ME TO
INFORM MY DECISION-MAKING. I
KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF
WEEKENDS WORKED BY YOU ALL. ALL
OF US INCLUDED, SO I APPRECIATE
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS
AND WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
WITH SUPPOSED TO. I LOOK AT IT
AS WHAT ELSE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO
DO? WE COULD DO NOTHING. AND
THEN THE FEES STAY . PURCHASING
PATTERNS AND HABITS OF
CUSTOMERS WILL MOVE FARTHER AND
FARTHER AWAY FROM USING THESE
DELIVERY SERVICES. I AM SURE
THAT COULD BENEFIT SOME
RESTAURANTS TRYING TO BRING
PEOPLE BACK INTO DINING ON-SITE
, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COME TO
RELY ON THESE SERVICES
PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY AND
PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISE
D IN FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES
WHO CANNOT DO THEIR ERRANDS AS
OUT AND ABOUT AS EASILY. WHEN
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COLLECTING
MORE DATA AND ENTERING INTO A
PROLONGED PROCESS, I JUST
DON'T SEE HOW THAT WILL HELP
THE PROBLEM AT HAND AND WHAT
I'M THINKING ABOUT, MOTIVATING
THIS WHOLE THING. WE KNOW THE
REASON WHY WE ARE NOT HEARING
FROM A LOT OF RESTAURANTS IN
PUBLIC COMMENT IS BECAUSE THEY
ARE TRYING TO RUN RESTAURANTS
AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO CORRAL
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO COME
AND GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE
IS RISK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO
THEM ONLINE AS WELL. THE
CHAMBER DID A SURVEY WHICH I
MENTIONED LAST TIME THAT
REVENUES DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY.
90% WANTED A REPEAL OF THE LAW
AND WE ARE NOT DOING THAT.
WE'VE ALSO HAD DATA PUT
FORWARD BY DRIVE FORWARD
SHOWING EQUALLY GRAVE WAGE
DROPS FOR DRIVERS. PEOPLE WILL
CONTEST THAT DATA COLLECTION SO
ALL WE HAVE GOING FOR US IS THE
VERY REAL , THE REALITY THAT
THIS HAS PRODUCED A DROP IN
ORDER. HOW YOU BRING THAT UP?
LOWER THE COST OF DELIVERIES.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT? MAKE
COMPANIES GET RID OF THE FEES.
I VOTED FOR ALL OF THESE
AMENDMENTS BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS STILL A PROPOSAL
THAT WILL BE A█CCEPTABLE FOR THE
NETWORK COMPANIES TO GET RID OF
FEES AND IN THE FUTURE WE WILL
BE ABLE TO SEE IF THAT IS, IN
FACT, THE CASE. EVERYTHING
DEPENDS ON THAT AND THAT'S WHY
THIS IS BEFORE US. I'M GOING
TO STOP TALKING BECAUSE I'M
TIRED OF HEARING MYSELF OVER
AND OVER AGAIN BUT LET'S GO
AHEAD AND CALL--
>> I ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I FULLY BELIEVE IN THE INTENT
OF PAYUP AND THERE ARE
UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES WITH
SOME WORKERS SAYING THE PAY IS
DOWN , CONSUMERS CONCERNED
ABOUT DELIVERY COST AND SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE UNFORTUNATELY
SEEING A DECREASE IN OVERALL
SALES BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS BILL AMENDING THE PAYUP
LEGISLATION IS AN EFFORT TO
CORRECT SOME OF THOSE AND I
BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUES ARE
TRYING TO ATTEMPT TO FIND
SOLUTIONS. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE
WE NEED TO HAVE COMMON GROUND
AND MORE WORK . OVER THE PAST
MONTHS I HAVE MET WITH
STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS THE
BILL. I SPENT HOURS TALKING TO
LABOR RESIDENTS . FRIENDS,
PEOPLE I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG
TIME THAT HAVE OWNED BUSINESSES
IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND A
COMPROMISE TO SOLVE ISSUES OF
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION. STRONG
MINIMUM WAGE PROTECTIONS, A
HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM FOR BUSINESS,
A LOWER COST OF DELIVERY AND
I'M URGING ALL THESE GROUPS TO
COME TO THE TABLE . THIS IS NOT
HAPPENED . I REALLY NEED ALL
STAKEHOLDERS TO COME TO THE
TABLE IN GOOD FAITH. WORKING
WASHINGTON. DRIVE FORWARD.
INDEPENDENT DRIVERS.
APPLICATION COMPANIES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES TO FIND A SOLUTION
THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. I
UNDERSTAND THAT I AM COMING
FROM A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE THAT
I DO NOT NEED A SIDE GIG. NONE
OF US UP HERE DO. NOT THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, NOT THE
LOBBYISTS THAT HAVE COME HERE
TODAY. BUT THE DRIVERS THAT ARE
FEEDING THEIR FAMILIES. THIS
HAS TO HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
MAKE RENT THIS MONTH. THERE ARE
RESTAURANTS THAT UNFORTUNATELY
ARE CLOSING THAT HAVE LAID OFF
WORKERS. I WANT THIS TO BE
BAKED A MORE SO I WILL BE
ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE TODAY
BECAUSE I AM NOT YES OR NO BUT
I AM CALLING ON ALL OF THE
PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER TO FIND
A WORKING SOLUTION. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE MAYOR
AND WORKED OUT TO DANIELLE AND
I RECOGNIZE IF THAT CAN HAPPEN
AND PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER
AND THERE CAN BE A SOLUTION
THAT IS BETTER, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT . THIS WILL BE COMING TO
FULL COUNCIL ON MAY 28 INSTEAD
OF WHAT IT NORMALLY WOULD ON
THE 21st. I'M TRYING TO THREAD
THE NEEDLE BETWEEN URGENCY AND
ONE LAST CHANCE SO THAT IS WHY
THAT DATA IS BEFORE US NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
WILLING TO CONTINUE THE WORK.
>> CAN I MAKE A FINAL COMMENT?
WHICH IS THE REAL UNINTENDED --
I SUPPORT MINIMUM WAGE FOR
WORKERS AS I TALKED ABOUT IN MY
OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. THE
CONSEQUENCE OF THE BILL AS IS ,
WE'VE SEEN, WEEK AFTER WEEK ,
THIS HAS DATED WORKERS AGAINST
EACH OTHER . THEY HAVE MADE ONE
WAGE AND OTHERS HAVE NOT SO I
JUST REALLY WANT TO UNDERSCORE
THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO FIND
A SOLUTION SO THAT ALL WORKERS
ARE MAKING MINIMUM WAGE RATHER
THAN SOME AND NOT OTHERS . I
BELIEVE THE TRUE INTENT OF THE
LAW WAS TO HAVE EVERYONE MAKING
MINIMUM WAGE AND THAT IS NOT
WHAT HAPPENED IN APPLICATION.
WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING HERE
TRYING TO FIND A WAY SO THAT WE
ARE BEING TRUE TO WHAT THE
LEGISLATION INTENDED, TO MAKE
SURE EVERYONE WAS MAKING
MINIMUM WAGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS. I AGREE. SEEING NO
FURTHER COMMENTS WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE -- HOLD
ON. WILL CLARK CALL THE ROLL ON
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT COUNSEL BILL 120775 PASS
AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
ABSTAIN. IS A MEMBER OF ERIC?
I. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? I. JENNA
NELSON? I. FOUR IN FAVOR AND
ONE ABSTAIN. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
BILL PASS AS AMENDED WILL BE
FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER --
THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS , THIS
CONCLUDES-- WAIT. THIS
CONCLUDES THE MAIN NINTH
MEETING OF THE GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND THE
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE
ON THURSDAY, MAY 23 AT 2:00
O'CLOCK. IF THERE IS NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING
IS ADJOURNED.