♪
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
IT IS JUNE 13th, 2024 AND THE
GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS TO :
04 P.M. I AM SARA NELSON, CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> SZCZUR NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE
I LIST THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M
NOTICING THAT IF THERE ARE
SPEAKERS THAT WISH TO SPEAK ON
ANYTHING BUT ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA, WE WILL NOT BE TAKING
THOSE COMMENTS BECAUSE IN THIS
COMMITTEE WE TALK ABOUT ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA SO WE CAN MAKE
SURE THAT WE GET THROUGH ALL OF
THE THINGS THAT ARE LISTED
THERE AND WILL HAVE A ROBUST
CONVERSATION WITH OUR WILL
DESCRIBE IN A SECOND. TODAY WE
WILL HAVE EIGHT APPOINTMENTS
AND THREE REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
ADVISORY BOARD. A PRESENTATION
FROM THE AUDITORS OFFICE ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOUND IN THE
2023 ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME
AUDIT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND
POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS AND THAT
AUDIT , IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO
FIND IT, IS CALLED THE CITY CAN
DO MORE TO TACKLE ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME IN SEATTLE. SO,
THAT IS A GOOD TITLE AND WE
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE
ARE DOING. FINALLY, THE LAST
ITEM IS COUNCIL BILL 120781, AN
ORDINANCE UPDATING DEFINITIONS
IN THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO CANNABIS BUSINESSES
TO ALIGN WITH STATE LAW. ALL
RIGHT. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. ALL
RIGHT, WE NOW MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE ITEMS I JUST
MENTIONED. AND, COMEDIES -- HOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK?
>> WE HAVE THREE IN PERSON AND
ONE VIRTUAL PUBLIC, SZCZUR.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL START
WITH THE IN PERSON COMMENTERS
AND EVERYONE WILL GET TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK. CAN YOU GO
OVER THE DIRECTIONS AND BEGIN
CALLING PEOPLE?
>> OF COURSE. I WILL CALL ON
SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER THEY
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK STARTING
WITH IN PERSON COMMENTERS.
SPEAKERS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE CHIME, YOU
WILL HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT. IF
YOU SEE THE TIME, YOUR
MICROPHONE MAY BE CUT OFF SO WE
CAN MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
IF YOU'RE OFFERING REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT MAKE SURE TO
PRESS STAR SIX. THE FIRST IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY IS
GOING TO BE ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ]
>> MR. ZAMAN, -- ZIMMERMAN,
PLEASE STOP. PLEASE REFLECT
YOUR COMMENTS TO THE AGENDA. IF
YOU CONTINUE WITH THAT, ASK YOU
TO SIT DOWN OR LEAVE THE
CHAMBERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
LEAVING. IT'S OKAY. YES, SO,
FOR 40 YEARS I NEVER SEE IN
THIS CITY. NOTHING UNUSUAL, YOU
KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE
BELONG TO THE SAME PARTY AND
ONE PARTY CONTROLS EVERYTHING .
SO, I WANT SOMETHING TO SPEAK
ABOUT THIS. BUT I SPEAK
PROBABLY HUNDRED TIMES. A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO YOU HAVE
MEETING, LIKE 250 PEOPLE
PRESENT. WE SPEAK FOR ONE
MINUTE AND SAID HERE FOR FOUR
HOURS. NEXT DAY, ANOTHER
MEETING, SOMETHING LIKE 100
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY SPEAK
ONE MINUTE, THEY GO FOR A
COUPLE OF HOURS HERE. AND FOR
THE LAST 10 YEARS I TALKED
PUBLICLY.
>> PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS
TO SOMETHING SPECIFIC ON THE
AGENDA.
>> EXACTLY. I TALK ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY. DON'T
INTERRUPT ME, PLEASE. YOU DO
THIS EVERY MEETING. DON'T HAVE
SENSE. OR HAVE SENSE. FOR MANY
YEARS, I SPEAK ON CITY HALL ONE
DAY FROM 9:00 TO 9:00 SO PEOPLE
CAN COME AND TALK FOR THREE
MINUTES. WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED
TO BE DOING? SO, FOR 10 YEARS,
FOR TENURE SUPPORT THIS IDEA,
WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE ACTING
LIKE A . LIKE A FASCIST.
>> STOP THE MIC. PLEASE HAVE A
SEAT.
>> WHY STOPPING MICROPHONE? I
TALK ABSOLUTELY LEGAL
EVERYTHING. WHY YOU ACTING LIKE
A NAZI? LIKE A FASCIST, WHY?
WHY DON'T YOU ACCEPT PEOPLE
WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS?
>> THIS IS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
>> NAZI PIG IS EXACTLY WHO YOU
ARE.
>> GO ON, PLEASE.
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT PUBLIC,
SZCZUR WE HAVE LILY HAYWOOD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, SZCZUR
NELSON AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LILY AND I'M HERE
TODAY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND ARE MORE THAN 25
MEMBERS. DURING TODAY'S
COMMITTEE MEETING YOU WILL
RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME AND THE THREAT
THAT IT PRESENTS TO OUR CITY.
JUST LAST YEAR THE CITY AUDITOR
DETERMINED THAT THE CITY COULD
BE DOING MORE TO ADDRESS
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME IN
SEATTLE. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT
TODAY'S BRIEFING IS THE
BEGINNING OF A PROCESS THAT
WOULD RESULT IN COUNCIL
INVOLVEMENT AND ULTIMATELY
POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL HELP
ADDRESS AND PREVENT ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME. AS YOU KNOW,
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME IS NOT
ISOLATED INSTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL
STEALING GOODS FROM STORES. IT
IS HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR THAT IMPOSES
SERIOUS COSTS ON EMPLOYERS,
EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS
NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR
CITY'S BUSINESS CLIMATE AND
HAMPERING EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE
THE TOWN. AS A CITY CONTINUES
TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME HAS BEEN
A STUBBORN AND PERSISTENT
BARRIER THAT IS LED TO THE LOST
OF RETAILERS IN SEATTLE
PARTICULARLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR. WE APPRECIATE THE
AUDITORS EFFORT TO IDENTIFY
VARIETY OF POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
FOR THIS BEHAVIOR AND ARE GLAD
TO SEE IT ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THIS IS THE
FIRST STEP TOWARDS MEANINGFULLY
ADDRESSING ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME AND STAND READY TO
PARTNER WITH THE COUNCIL AS YOU
CONSIDER NEXT STEPS. THANK YOU.
>> THE FINAL IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTOR WILL BE DAVID HAYNES.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DAVID HAYNES.
IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THE
PREVIOUS POLICE CHIEF EXEMPTED
DRUG PUSHERS WHILE THE PRESENT
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS VIRTUE
SIGNALING THAT THEY CARE MORE
FOR WALL STREET, MIDDLEMAN, BIG
BOX RETAIL STORES WHO NEED TO
IMPROVE THEIR CORPORATE
SECURITY INSTEAD OF JUST
DUMPING THE RESPONSIBILITY ONTO
THE POLICE, ESPECIALLY WHEN
JUNKIE THIEVES ARE AT THE BUS
STOP AND THE SECURITY GUARD AT
TARGET IS LOOKING OUT SAYING
THAT'S NOT MY JURISDICTION SO
HE DOESN'T EVEN BOTHER CALLING
THE COPS. PREVIOUSLY AND A LONG
TIME AGO IN THE LAST THREE
MAYORS AND CHIEFS HAVE SHIFTED
THE PARADIGM AWAY FROM FIGHTING
REAL CRIME LIKE THEY SABOTAGE
THE INTEGRITY OF POLICE REFORM
BY EQUATING ORGANIC MARIJUANA
WITH CRACK, METH, MARIJUANA AND
FENTANYL AND THAT DRIVES THE
JUNKIE THIEVES YET THE COPS
NEVER WANT TO QUESTION PROPERLY
MAYBE EVEN INTERROGATE ALL THE
WAY THROUGH THIS JAIL SYSTEM
BEFORE THEY FIND A PATH FOR A
JUNKIE INTO BEHAVIORAL CRISIS
OR ADDICTION . THEY NEVER
QUESTIONED THEM TO FIND OUT
WHERE THE KEEP GETTING THEIR
DRUGS EVER AND THERE'S ALL
THESE JUNKIE THIEVING LOWLIFE
PIECES OF CRAP THAT MAKE IT
IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL OUT YOUR
MONEY OR THINK ABOUT REACHING
FOR IT AT SOME TERMINAL WITH
THE SECURITY GUARDS SITTING
THERE. THIS IS MY JURISDICTION
I'M GOING TO WATCH OR THAT BUT
THERE ARE 40 JUNKING -- JUNKIE
THIEVING LOWLIFE -- BY THE
PREVIOUS PROGRESSIVES AND THE
SABOTAGE OF POLICIES THAT HAVE
TAINTED THE INTEGRITY OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AND THE SERVICE OF
GOVERNMENT PROVIDED. SO, I
THINK YOU WILL NEED TO REALIZE
THAT THE POLICE CHIEF SABOTAGE
EVERY POLICE UNIT AND
PRIORITIZE OVER TIME AT
LAW-ABIDING EVENTS AS IF THEY
ARE GOING TO BOOST THE MORALE
OF THE COPS AND LOOK THE OTHER
WAY ON ALL THESE EVIL,
LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS. THEY'RE
LOOKING AT 3.5 GRAMS.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTOR. WE
WILL GO OVER TO LOU BOND.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 620 YOURSELF.
-- SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. LOU BOND. I
AM ADDRESSING THE ORGANIZED
CRIME THAT IS ON THE AGENDA AND
I APPRECIATE THIS BEING
ADDRESSED. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT
LILY HAYWARD HAD JUST SAID BUT
I WANT TO ADD A FEW MORE POINTS
THAT CAN BE ACTIVELY DONE NOW
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN HELP
DIRECT AS PD AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
WHICH INCLUDES REMOVING ALL
MERCHANDISE . WHEN YOU SEE
SOMETHING BEING SOLD ON THE
STREETS THAT THE POLICE JUST
CONFISCATED AND TAKEN AWAY FROM
THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO SELL IT
TO CONTINUE TO GET THEIR DRUGS,
THAT IS TO ENFORCE ALL OPEN-AIR
DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AND NOT
ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE ON. THIRD
IS TO BEGIN TO HAVE MORE POLICE
PRESENCE AT ALL OF THE
RETAILERS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA
TO BE ABLE TO HELP CURB THEFT
THAT IS ONGOING. IT IS A
TREMENDOUS EXPENSE FOR THESE
RETAILERS AND THE PROPERTY
OWNERS TO CONTINUE WITH THIS
INCREDIBLE EXPENSE. IT IS
UNSUSTAINABLE. THE LAST POINT
IS THAT WE WANT TO NOT LOSE ANY
MORE RETAILERS LIKE TARGET,
ROSS, WALGREENS. WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO LOSE THAT. IF WE WANT
TO HAVE RECOVERY, WE NEED TO
HAVE SERIOUS PENALTIES AGAINST
FOLKS THAT ARE BEHAVING IN A
BAD WAY AND THAT ARE IMPACTING
THE SAFETY AND MORALE ON THE
STREET. WE NEED TO WORK WITH
CARE AND ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT
THOSE ARE AFFLICTED WITH THE
DRUG USE CAN BE TAKEN OFF THE
STREETS, NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO
THEIR DRUGS OR BE IN A STUPOR
ON THE STREETS, TAKE THEM OUT
AND PUT THEM INTO TREATMENT
CENTERS SO THEY CANNOT BE HERE
IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND CONTINUE
THIS BAD BEHAVIOR. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> FIND OUT WHERE THEY GOT
THEIR DRUGS!
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT
CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENT AND IT IS NOW CLOSED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE
FIRST BATCH OF ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA. WE WILL CONSIDER THE
APPOINTMENTS AS A GROUP . FIRST
THE CLERK WILL READ ITEMS ONE
THROUGH 11 INTO THE RECORD AND
THEN STACEY JEHLIK FROM THE
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS WILL TELL US ABOUT
THE ADVISORY BOARD AND PROVIDE
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE
NOMINEES. SO, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEMS ONE THROUGH
11 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE
THROUGH 11, APPOINTMENTS 02881,
02882, 0883, ZERO 2884, 02885,
887, 888 , 889 , 02890 . AS
MEMBERS OF SEATTLE
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY
BOARD FOR TERM TO APRIL 30th 20
26 AND REAPPOINTMENTS OF 02886,
02889, 02890 OF JACQUELINE
McLAREN MILLER , KARIN ZAUGG
BLACK AS MEMBERS FOR A TERM TO
APRIL 30th 2026, BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL
HAVE -- STACY, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO COME APPEAR WITH THE -- YES.
HAVE A SEAT.
>> THANK YOU, ALL, FOR COMING
AND BEING HERE TODAY. I VERY
MUCH APPRECIATE IT. GOOD TO SEE
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND THEN YOU CAN
BEGIN YOUR EXPLANATION.
>> SURE. I AM STACEY JEHLIK
I'M THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US
TIME TO TALK WITH YOU TODAY.
SO, AS PART OF MY JOB IS
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
I MANAGE THE SEATTLE
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY
BOARD AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS
THE SIOB. IT SERVES AS MY
INTERNATIONAL BRAIN TRUST. IN
MY WORK HANDLING INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS FOR THE CITY ITS
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR SISTER
CITIES AND OTHER CITIES AROUND
THE GLOBE I CAN ONLY BE AN
EXPERT IN SO MUCH SO I REALLY
RELY ON THE FOLKS IN THE
COMMUNITY WHO DO INTERNATIONAL
WORK TO HELP ADVISE ME ON MY
WORK AND THUS ADVISE YOU AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THE
CITY'S INTERNATIONAL
ENGAGEMENT, GENERALLY SPEAKING.
SO, WE HAVE 11 MEMBERS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL FAIRS OF EITHER
EASY BOARD. THE CHAIR
CONFIRMING THAT ARE OF HER
CONFIRMATION TODAY. THESE FOLKS
HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH ME EVERY
TWO MONTHS FOR THE PAST,
DEPENDING ON THE PERSON, TWO TO
FOUR TO SIX YEARS. SO, THEY
HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR A LONG
TIME ALREADY. THEY REVIEW THE
ENGAGEMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS
AT OUR MEETINGS EVERY TWO
MONTHS. THEY HELP ADVISE ME ON
WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHAT WE
SHOULD BE DOING, AND THEY HAVE
BEEN DOING THAT FOR A LONG TIME
WITHOUT CONFIRMATION. WE
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING UP THEIR
CONFIRMATIONS TODAY. SHALL WE
HAVE THE THREE THAT ARE WITH US
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES? GO FROM
THERE?
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
MY NAME IS ERA SCHREPFER. I'M
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
FOUNDATION FOR INTERNATIONAL
UNDERSTANDING THROUGH STUDENTS.
I'VE BEEN IN MY ROLE FOR
SOMETHING LIKE 17 YEARS? [
LAUGHTER ] AND OBSERVED WITH
STACEY FOR JUST OVER TWO.
>> AND I STOPPIE THERE? DID YOU
-- SO, YOU THROUGH
UNDERSTANDING?
>> NO, FOUNDATION FOR
INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING
THROUGH STUDENTS.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> HI, I AM DAVID WOODARD AND I
FIRST WAS BROUGHT ON WAS ABOUT
EIGHT YEARS AGO? I THINK. I
HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF SEATTLE
ROTARY UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY
AND I HAVE LAUNCHED THE ROTARY
DIPLOMACY ROUNDTABLE WHICH NOW
HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO A
COMMITTEE IN THE BELLEVUE
ROTARY CLUB AS WELL AND FOR THE
PAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE PARTNERED
WITH THE CONCERT ASSOCIATION OF
WASHINGTON AND WE HAVE DONE AN
ANNUAL DIPLOMACY DAY EVENT TO
HELP OUR CLUB MEMBERS ENTER
DISTRICT MEMBERS TO BECOME MUCH
MORE GLOBALLY ENGAGED. WHEN I
JOINED INITIALLY , I WAS THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ASSOCIATE
AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE WHICH HAD
ITS ROOTS HERE DOING
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WORK .
THAT HAS CLOSED BUT I CONTINUE
ON IN A CONSULTING ROLE AND MY
OTHER ROLE IS AN APPOINTMENT BY
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
AS THE CHAIR OF THE WASHINGTON
STATE DISTRICT EXPORT COUNCIL
WHICH WORKS STATEWIDE WITH ALL
ENTITIES STATE AND COUNTY AND
CITY LEVEL ON PROMOTING
MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES
AND EXPORTING AND ALSO HAVE
BEEN VERY CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH
SEATTLE CHAMBER OVER THE YEARS.
NOW GREATER SEATTLE PARTNER AND
THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS
I WORKED ON WAS ENGAGEMENT WITH
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES WHICH
HELPED IN SETTING UP THE DEVICE
AND ALSO ASSISTED WITH THE
SEATTLE DIRECT FLIGHTS. SO, IT
IS EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT I WORK IN AND CROSS
CONTROL WORK. SO, THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT BODY AND REALLY
PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
IT. IT'S WHAT HELPS SEATTLE AS
A GROSS TO BECOME A GLOBAL CITY
TO REALLY HAVE THE WISDOM THAT
IT NEEDS IN ORDER TO ENGAGE
PEOPLE ACROSS OUR REGION OF THE
116 LANGUAGES SPOKEN HERE AND
ALL THE DIFFERENT CULTURES IT
REPRESENTS OF GREAT, GREAT
IMPORTANCE, I THINK , THAT IS.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
MARK. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE
CONSULAR ASSOCIATION. I'M ALSO
THE HONOREE COUNSELOR FOR
ETHIOPIA AND ETHIOPIA IT HAS A
ROBUST TRADING RELATIONSHIP
WITH WASHINGTON STATE AND
SEATTLE. THE COFFEE, A DRINK,
OF COURSE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH BOEING, ETHIOPIA JUST
PURCHASED -- ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES
PURCHASED THE LARGEST AIRLINE,
BOEING, AND HISTORY. I THOUGHT
IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING. THE
CONSULAR ASSOCIATION, ABOUT 50
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED HERE IN
WASHINGTON STATE. WE HAVE ABOUT
75 MEMBERS. IT'S AN HONOR TO
BE HERE AND TO SERVE.
>> I'M NOT UP FOR NOMINATION
BUT GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M DEPUTY
DIRECTOR AT OUR OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
JUST HERE REPRESENTING THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE GOOD WORK
THAT STACEY AND OUR TEAM HAS
BEEN DOING.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL ADMIT THAT
I DO NOT KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT
YOUR WORK BUT I CAN SEE THAT IT
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WE ARE
ONE OF THE MOST TRAIN
DEPENDENT, IF NOT THE MOST
TRADE -DEPENDENT STATE IN THE
NATION AND, CLEARLY, A GROWING
CITY AS WE SAW JUST LAST YEAR,
I BELIEVE, OR THIS YEAR WITH
THE NEW CONSULATE GENERAL IN
SEATTLE ITSELF. SO, I CAN ALSO,
I MUST ADMIT, THAT AS A MEMBER
OF YOUTH FOR UNDERSTANDING I
SPENT MY JUNIOR YEAR IN HIGH
SCHOOL IN FRANCE. SO, I KNOW
FROM EARLY ON HOW IMPORTANT
CULTURAL EXCHANGES IN BETTER
UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD AND
ALSO OUR OWN ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT
IT. SO, THANK YOU VERY, VERY
MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO
SERVE. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> COUNCIL -- WELL, GO AHEAD.
>> I ALWAYS APPRECIATE A
VOLUNTEERS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE
IN THESE REALLY IMPORTANT ROLES
ESPECIALLY ON A VOLUNTEER
BASIS. SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THAT SERVICE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF
YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'D A
CAREER IN INTERNATIONAL FAIRS
AS A NAVAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
AND ALSO AS A NAVAL DIPLOMAT
AND SERVICE IN GERMANY, ITALY,
AND BASICALLY AROUND THE WORLD.
SO, I REALLY HAVE THAT BASE BUT
IT'S FURTHERED BECAUSE AFTER I
RETIRED FROM THE NAVY AND WENT
BACK TO SEATTLE OR THE AREA, I
JOINED THE BOARD OF THE WORLD
AFFAIRS COUNCIL FOR THE BETTER
PART OF A DECADE, JUST SHY OF A
DECADE. I CAN EMPHATICALLY
SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT NUMBERS
02886 FOUR JACKIE MILLER WHO IS
A FANTASTIC RESOURCE FOR THE
GROUP BUT ALSO THROUGH THE
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL A
FANTASTIC RESOURCE FOR OUR
CITY. SO, I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO
MORE TO FACILITATE THIS
CONNECTION TO THE POINTS MADE
IN TERMS OF MAKING MORE OF A
GLOBAL CITY. IT HAS THIS DUAL
PIECE TO IT WHEN I FIRST MOVING
HERE AFTER RETURNING TO THE
NAVY. SUCH A GLOBALLY CONNECTED
CITY. YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY
WITH AMAZON AND MICROSOFT AND
BOEING, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND
ALL OF THESE OTHER COMPANIES,
STARBUCKS, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, HAD A BIT OF THE
REGIONAL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF,
CITY FEEL TO IT AND I THINK WE
SHOULD BE EMBRACING MORE THE
GLOBAL PIECE BECAUSE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL
TRADE, PARTICULARLY TO
WASHINGTON STATE AS I'M SURE
THERE ARE STATS THAT YOU HAVE
THAT YOU CAN PROVE. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE
IT. AGAIN, DOUBLE THUMBS UP FOR
JACKIE MILLER ON THE BOARD.
MAKE SURE YOU TELL HER THAT
TOO.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> OH. SURE. THANK YOU, MADAM
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK
YOU, ALL, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO STEP UP AND SERVE. YOU HAVE
ALL SERVED IN VARIOUS
CAPACITIES. I'VE READ ALL THE
APPLICANT MATERIALS HERE. YOU
SERVED IN SOME CASES, YOUR
COUNTRY , AND NOW, PROUD THAT
YOU ARE STEPPING UP OR AT LEAST
FORMALLY HERE NOW TO SERVE YOUR
CITY. SO, IT'S GREATLY
APPRECIATED. THIS 100%
VOLUNTEER POWER ORGANIZATIONS
AND, LIKE, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS SERVICE, NETWORK
MATTERS. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. I'VE DONE A LOT OF
IT MYSELF. AND, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE NOT ONLY JUST ADVISING
THE EXPERTS AND LEADERS IN THIS
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, I WANT
YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT YOUR WORK
IS APPRECIATED AT OUR LEVEL
TOO. JUST THE OTHER DAY, TRUE
STORY, I CALLED UP, PERSONALLY
CALLED UP A FEW MEMBERS AT ONE
OF OUR VOLUNTEER, CITY
VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONS TO GET
SOME ADDITIONAL CONTACTS AND
SOMETHING THAT APPEARED IN ONE
OF THE REPORTS. PERSONALLY
CALLED THEM. SO, YOUR WORK IS
GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU
FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE.
>> HOW DO YOU -- FOR SOME OF
THE COMMISSIONS, IT IS PRETTY
EASY TO -- WELL, WHEN SOME OF
THE COMMISSIONS HAVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY FAMILIAR
WITH, HOW DO YOU RECRUIT OR DO
OUTREACH FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP?
>> WITH THE SIAAB, WE DON'T DO
SPECIFIC OUTREACH. RIGHT NOW,
THERE IS ACTUALLY STILL 10
SEATS THAT ARE OPEN ON THE
BOARD. WE HAVE HAD EXISTING
MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY ARE
CONNECTED WITH INTERNATIONAL
WORK AROUND THE CITY GIVE US
NAMES AND IDEAS AND NAMES OF
PEOPLE WHO THEY THINK MIGHT BE
INTERESTED OR CONTACTS AT
COMPANIES WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSED
TO REPRESENT FOR-PROFIT,
NONPROFIT EDUCATION, CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL
INSTITUTIONS. WE GET NAMES OF
FROM OUR CURRENT MEMBERS WHO
ARE INVOLVED IN THOSE KINDS OF
ORGANIZATIONS SUBMITTED TO US
AND THEN WE ESTABLISHED AN
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD
REVIEW THOSE AND PUSH THEM
FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION OR
NOT TO BE ON THE BOARD. WHAT WE
ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR IS
PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP CONNECT US
TO LARGE ORGANIZATIONS. SO,
WHEN WE HAVE A VISITING GROUP
FROM A PARTICULAR COUNTRY, I
CAN REACH OUT TO WORLD AFFAIRS
COUNCIL UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, AMAZON, AND SAY,
HEY, WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING IN
THE COUNTRY? DO YOU HAVE
SOMEBODY WORKING ON THE THING
AND DOES UW HAVE A NEW PROGRAM
RELATED TO THAT PLACE SO WE CAN
REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
AROUND THE CITY RELATED TO THAT
COUNTRY. WE ARE LOOKING FOR
FOLKS. I HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE
GATES FOUNDATION , RIGHT? WHEN
WE HAVE VISITING DELEGATIONS WE
ARE LOOKING FOR FOLKS THAT CAN
SAY, HEY, WE GOT A VISITING
DELEGATION FROM OUR PLACE.
THERE SOMEBODY THAT WOULD LOVE
TO TALK TO THEM BECAUSE WE ARE
ALSO DOING SOMETHING IN THAT
PLACE. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND
PEOPLE WHO ARE CONNECTORS TO
THEIR LARGER ORGANIZATIONS
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN -- I CAN
KNOW 10 PEOPLE BUT THEN THEY
KNOW HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN
THEIR NETWORKS. SO, THAT IS,
KIND OF, HOW WE LOOK FOR FOLKS.
>> UNDERSTAND. PLUS, YOU HAVE
21 SISTER CITIES --
>> 20 SISTER CITIES RIGHT NOW
OFFICIALLY. YES.
>> OKAY. WELL, I NOW CONSIDER
MYSELF INFORMED AND DELIGHTED
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS
RESOURCE FOR MYSELF BECAUSE IT
IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO KNOW.
>> YES, ANYTIME THE COUNCIL HAS
QUESTIONS, I ALWAYS TAKE ISSUES
THAT ARISE FROM THE COUNCIL AND
I WILL PUT THEM IN FRONT OF THE
BOARD SO THEY CAN PROVIDE INPUT
AND THAT COULD BE DIRECTLY WITH
YOU OR THROUGH ME, EITHER WAY.
>> OKAY. WELL, I HEARD MENTION
A COUPLE TIMES THAT THE
CONSULAR ASSOCIATION, SO,
PLEASE LET ME KNOW -- I WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT AS
WELL AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY
THAT THE CITY CAN BE -- AND
HELP IN YOUR MISSION AS WELL.
>> OKAY. I THINK THE CONSULAR
ASSOCIATION WOULD BE HAPPY TO
HAVE THE COUNCILMEMBERS COME TO
THEIR LOCAL LUNCHEONS.
>> IF I CAN MAKE ONE COMMENT ON
THAT, IN MY TENURE WORKING WITH
THE CONSULAR OFFICIALS IS A
COMPANY TOWN, PARTICULARLY THE
CAREER OFFICIALS, WE WOULD
ALWAYS REACH OUT TO THEM TO
JOIN THE ACTIVITY HERE SO THEY
FELT WELCOMED AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I LEARNED IN THE
PROCESS INCLUDING GOING TO THE
GOVERNOR'S REMARKS IN JANUARY
AS I GOT TO KNOW THESE
CONSULATE OFFICIALS, BOTH
CAREER AND HONOREE, IS THAT
THERE WAS A SENSE THAT IN OUR
REGION WE WERE NOT DOING AS
MUCH AS THEY WERE DOING IN
PLACES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO,
L.A., ET CETERA. THAT'S BECAUSE
WE WERE JUST EMERGING ON THE
SCENE BUT THE CONSULAR
OFFICIALS WERE CAREER
OFFICIALS. THESE COULD BE
AMBASSADORS IN ANY COUNTRY. SO,
SOMETIMES THERE WAS A BIT OF
FRUSTRATION IN MY VIEW THAT WE
WERE NOT DOING MORE TO ADVOCATE
FOR THAT KIND OF WORK. SO, IF
THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND SO FORTH DO
REACH OUT, THEY WILL BE VERY,
VERY APPRECIATIVE. I'M JUST
SAYING THAT ON BEHALF OF MARK
AND HIS COMMUNITY AS AN
ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> YES, LIKE I SAID, MY ONLY
COMMENT ON THAT IS WE CERTAINLY
WELCOME INCREASED ACTIVITY WITH
THE CITY, WHETHER IT IS TRADE,
ECONOMICS, THERE IS MANY
OPPORTUNITIES. I WOULD PROBABLY
SAY AT LEAST DURING THE
PANDEMIC THERE WAS, OBVIOUSLY,
A DROP IN A LOT OF THE
INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CITY
AND THE CONSULAR ASSOCIATION
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER
THE PAST YEAR TO YOU COULD SAY,
RECTIFY THAT. SO, WE LOOK
FORWARD TO A LITTLE INCREASE IN
ENGAGEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF
THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
>> ALL RIGHT. I ACCEPT THE
INVITATION. COUNCILMEMBERS --
EXCUSE ME.
>> SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A
SAYING IN THE NAVY THAT NAVY
STANDS FOR NEVER AGAIN
VOLUNTEER YOURSELF. SO, WITH
THAT SAID, I AM WILLING AND
REALLY THE CONSULATES ARE
ESSENTIALLY MY CONSTITUENTS.
I'VE ALREADY MET WITH TWO
COUNCIL GENERALS. AS IT TURNED
OUT I SENT AN EMAIL ON BEHALF
OF THE COUNCIL GENERAL THIS
MORNING RELATED TO -- FACING
THE CITY WHICH I PROBABLY
SHOULD BRIEF YOU ON. AND, SO, I
WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY AS A
RETIRED NAVY GUY/BOARD MEMBER
OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU KNOW,
COUNCILMEMBER OF THE CITY
COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY ARE MY
CONSTITUENTS.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AGAIN FOR GIVING OF YOUR
TIME, EXPERTISE, AND YOUR
PASSION FOR THE WORLD BEYOND
SEATTLE. SO, IF THERE ARE NO
OTHER COMMENTS, I AM READY TO
PROCEED TO THE BOAT, PLEASE. I
MOVE APPOINTMENTS , LET'S SEE,
I MOVE APPOINTMENTS 02881 --
APPOINTMENTS 028 A1, A2, A3,
A4, A5, 868788, 89, AND THEN 90
AND 91. THAT IS ALL OF THEM
TOGETHER. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. READY. OH. YES.
THE NOD DOESN'T REALLY GET
DOWN ON THE RECORD VERY WELL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FIVE
IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL OF
THE APPOINTMENTS ARE CONFIRMED
AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME TO
THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING WHEN
NOT THIS COMING TUESDAY BUT THE
FOLLOWING TUESDAY WHEN THESE
ARE VOTED AT A FULL COUNCIL.
THEY WILL BE ON THE CONSENT
AGENDA BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO
COME IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY. MOVING ON TO HER
SECOND ITEM HERE THAT I BRIEFLY
MENTIONED AND NODDED TO AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
SPEAKERS, COME ON UP AND TAKE
YOUR SEATS. I WILL SAY THAT IT
WAS ALMOST A YEAR AGO THAT THIS
AUDIT CAME OUT THAT I HELD UP
CALLED -- WELL, IT WAS AN AUDIT
ON ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME IN
SEATTLE AND IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR
AGO THAT THIS WAS PRESENTED AND
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH BOTH THE
BREADTH AND DEPTH OF THE
RESEARCH THAT WENT INTO THIS
AUDIT AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS
AND IT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY TO
CHECK IN AND SEE HOW THE CITY
IS PROGRESSING ON
IMPLEMENTATION ON SOME OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALL OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND I HAVE TO
SAY THAT THIS IS IN MY
COMMITTEE ONLY BECAUSE THE
AUDIT -- AUDITOR REPORTS TO THE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND ALSO
BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH A STRONG
LINK WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
HOWEVER, IT VERY WELL COULD
HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC SAFETY AS
WELL. I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT OF THE CHAMBER,
EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS. I MUST SAY THAT THERE IS
DATA ABOUT PROPERTY CRIME BUT
FROM WHAT -- WHAT REALLY
MATTERS IS DESPITE WHAT ALL THE
DATA IS SAY IT IS STILL TOO
MUCH AND RETAIL THEFT IS, YOU
KNOW, OFTEN LUMPED INTO THE
PROPERTY CRIME BUCKET BUT,
HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED
WITH VIOLENCE, THREATS OF
VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION, OF THE
PEOPLE WORKING IN A RETAIL
ESTABLISHMENT, THERE IS
CUSTOMERS, ET CETERA. WE CANNOT
SEPARATE PROPERTY FROM VIOLENT
CRIME AND WE MUST ALWAYS KEEP
IN MIND WHAT THIS IS DOING TO
OUR BUSINESSES AND NOT JUST IN
DOWNTOWN BUT IN NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS. SOMETIMES
IT IS THE BIG STORES THAT
ANNOUNCE A CLOSURE DOWNTOWN
THAT REALLY GRAB A HEADLINE AND
STEER THE CONVERSATION BUT I'M
THINKING ALSO ABOUT ALL THOSE
ESTABLISHMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE
CITY AND THEIR MARGINS ARE
ASSOCIATE -- SO THIN THAT THEY
CAN'T HANDLE THOSE LOSSES.
WHEN WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE
AUDIT AND SOME OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WE'RE NOT JUST
TALKING ABOUT DOWNTOWN HERE, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS WHOLE
CITY. SO, AND, OBVIOUSLY, WE
HAVE GOT A FENTANYL CRISIS AND
THERE IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, I
BELIEVE YEAR AGO TODAY, SOME OF
THE LINKAGES BETWEEN ADDICTION,
STREET CRIME, AND RETAIL CRIME
IN THE UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM
CAUSES AND EFFECTS AND THIS
AUDIT REALLY FOCUSED ON ONE
PART OF THE CHAIN WHICH IS THE
FENCING OPERATION. I LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE AND
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
THEN BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION
AND WILL ASK QUESTIONS
AFTERWARDS.
>> I CANNOT TELL IF THE MIC IS
ON. YES, IT IS. OKAY. VERY
GOOD.
>> BEFORE YOU GO AHEAD, WE WILL
READ INTO THE RECORD, PLEASE.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 12, 2023
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME AUDIT
OVERVIEW. READING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> AHEAD. NOW IT IS OFFICIAL.
>> I MARK JOHNSON, SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT OF POLICY AND
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE
WASHINGTON RETAIL ASSOCIATION.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> I'M CLAUDIA GROSS SHADER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
AND EVALUATION WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR.
>> AND I AM BARB BIONDO. I'M A
CRIME PREVENTION COORDINATOR
BASED OUT OF THIS SEATTLE WEST
PRECINCT. HEY , MEMBERS, I AM
QUYNH PHAM.
>> AT AFTERNOON. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER AND MADAM
PRESIDENT NELSON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS NATALIE
WALTON-ANDERSON AND I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SERVING OUR
CITY.
>> AT AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY
NAME IS PATRICK HINDS. I'M A
SENIOR DEPUTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY
TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON HER
2023 AUDIT OF ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE
THAT WE MAY REFER TO ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME AS ORC THROUGHOUT
THE PRESENTATION. IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TODAY , THOUGH, TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE HERE
BEFORE YOU DURING A TIME WHEN
OUR SEATTLE COMMUNITY HAS JUST
EXPERIENCED TRAGIC LOSSES FROM
VIOLENT CRIMES. THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ALREADY
LIMITED RESOURCES ARE FURTHER
STRAINED AND RESPONDING TO
THESE VIOLENT CRIMES. AND WE
RECOGNIZE THAT ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME IS ALSO PART OF OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY ECOSYSTEM HERE IN
SEATTLE. ALL OF THESE ISSUES
CAN HINDER THE ABILITY OF THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, SEATTLE
BUSINESSES, AND SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS TO THRIVE.
THEREFORE, THE STEPS THAT WE
OUTLINED IN OUR 2023 AUDIT
REPORT RECOGNIZE THAT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES
HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND ALSO
SOMETIMES THE MOST EFFECTIVE
STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME DO NOT
FALL TO THE POLICE ALONE . THAT
IS WHY ARE SEVEN STEPS FOR
IMPROVING THE CITY'S APPROACH
TO ORGANIZE RETAIL CRIME
INCLUDING LEVERAGING THE POWER
OF COLLABORATIONS AND USING
TECHNOLOGY AND MAKING CHANGES
TO THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.
OUR AUDIT REPORT IS ON OUR
WEBSITE. OH, YEP. YOU CAN SEE
IT UP THERE. THE PREVIOUS
SLIDE. THANK YOU. AND WITH ALL
OF OUR AUDITS, WE FOLLOWED THE
U.S. GOVERNMENT AUDITING
STANDARDS. SO, YOU CAN BE
ASSURED OF THE QUALITY AND
INDEPENDENCE OF OUR WORK. IN
ADDITION, FOR THIS AUDIT, WE
ASKED RESEARCHERS AT THE CENTER
FOR EVIDENCE-BASED CRIME POLICY
AND AT THE LOSS PREVENTION
RESEARCH COUNCIL TO PROVIDE
INPUT ON THIS REPORT. AND, IN
CONDUCTING OUR AUDIT LAST YEAR,
WE WERE -- WORKED VERY CLOSELY
WITH THE AGENCIES LISTED ON THE
SLIDE AND THEY ALL PROVIDED
FEEDBACK ON OUR REPORT AND ON
THE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ARE
REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
COLLABORATION AND WE ARE HAPPY
TO HAVE SOME OF THESE AGENCIES
REPRESENTED HERE TODAY. NOW,
PART OF OUR OFFICE PROTOCOL IS
OUR ANNUAL RECOMMENDATIONS
FOLLOW-UP PROCESS AND WE
RECENTLY PUBLISHED OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOW-UP
REPORT AND OUR DASHBOARD AND
THE 10 RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS
AUDIT REPORT ARE ALL CURRENTLY
PENDING. SO, WE WILL CONTINUE
TO FOLLOW UP ON THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS. NOW, I WILL
PROVIDE A QUICK OVERVIEW
STARTING WITH THE NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT IS ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME?
THERE IS NOT A UNIVERSAL
DEFINITION OF ORC BUT IT
GENERALLY INVOLVES AN ORGANIZED
EFFORT TO STEAL MERCHANDISE AND
CONVERT THAT MERCHANDISE INTO
FINANCIAL GAIN. IN ORC
OPERATIONS, THERE ARE GENERALLY
BOOSTERS WHO STEAL GOODS ON
BEHALF OF FENCES. FENCES THEN
SELL THE MERCHANDISE FOR
PROJECTS. ORC DOES NOT INCLUDE
PETTY THEFT OR POVERTY DRIVEN
CRIMES. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT
ORC HAS INCREASED IN RECENT
YEARS BECAUSE OF ONLINE
MARKETPLACES THAT CAN BE USED
TO RESELL THE STOLEN
MERCHANDISE IS PAID ORC
OPERATIONS CAN BE SMALL OR
LARGE. FOR EXAMPLE, A SINGLE
INDIVIDUAL CAN FUNCTION AS BOTH
A BOOSTER AND OFFENSE. FOR
EXAMPLE, THEY MAY STEAL A POWER
TOOL AND THEN RESELL IT IN AN
ONLINE MARKETPLACE. OTHER ORC
OPERATIONS CAN INVOLVE MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS OF STOLEN
MERCHANDISE AND THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
INDICATES THAT THIS CAN BE
LINKED WITH OTHER SERIOUS
CRIMES INCLUDING NARCOTICS,
TRAFFICKING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING,
MONEY LAUNDERING, AND
TERRORISM. AS A COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NOTED, OUR AUDIT DID
NOT ADDRESS ALL ASPECTS OF ORC.
WE FOCUSED OUR ANALYSIS ON THE
FENCING OPERATIONS THAT
UNDERPIN ORC AND FENCING IS THE
PRACTICE OF THE RESELLING OF
STOLEN GOODS OR ONLINE
MARKETPLACES, UNREGULATED
MARKETS, AND STOREFRONTS THAT
BY STOLEN GOODS AND ALSO BY
SHIPPING GOODS OUTSIDE OF THE
U.S. SO, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ORC IS A CONCERN FOR RETAILERS
OF ALL SIZES AND IN ALL AREAS
OF SEATTLE. IN ADDITION, OUR
AUDIT FOUND THAT ORC IS ALSO
AFFECTING SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT RESOURCES. WE FOUND
THAT IN 2022, SEATTLE POLICE
RESPONDED TO OVER 13,000 CALLS
FOR SERVICE FROM 100 SEATTLE
RETAILERS. AND RESPONDING TO
THOSE CALLS COST POLICE
OFFICERS OVER 18,000 HOURS OF
TIME WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF
THE WORK OF NINE FULL-TIME
OFFICERS. THAT SAID, IT IS
VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR RETAILERS
TO REPORT THESE CRIMES TO THE
POLICE. THIS HELPS THE POLICE
UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
PROBLEM, IT HELPS PRIORITIZE
DIRECTING RESOURCES AND IT
HELPS WITH THE PROSECUTION OF
THESE CASES. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. I'M GETTING INTO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS QUICKLY. WE
FOUND THAT CITY STAFF CURRENTLY
DO PARTICIPATE IN
COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER
AGENCIES THAT CAN HELP
ADDRESSED -- ADDRESS ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME. THESE
COLLABORATIONS INCLUDE THE ORC
TASK FORCE IN THE WASHINGTON
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE, THE WASHINGTON
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME
ASSOCIATION, AND THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS
VIBRANT COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE
THAT WE WILL HEAR A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT TODAY. WE RECOMMENDED IN
OUR AUDIT THAT THE CITY COULD
GET MORE AND THE MOST OUT OF
THESE COLLABORATIONS BY
IMPROVING ITS OWN INTERNAL
COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION
AROUND ORC. SO, THIS MIGHT
INCLUDE CREATING A LIST OF ORC
FENCING CASES THAT THE CITY
WOULD LIKE TO PRIORITIZE AND
MAKING COORDINATED REQUESTS FOR
ASSISTANCE FROM THESE AGENCIES.
THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR
SECOND STEP BUILDS ON THIS
THEME. CRIME ANALYSIS CAN ALSO
SUPPORT ORC INVESTIGATIONS AND
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY HAS MADE ORC A
PRIORITY . IN OCTOBER OF '22
THEY CREATED AN INITIATIVE
CALLED OPERATION BOILING POINTS
AND THAT INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED
TO PURSUE LARGE ORC
INVESTIGATIONS. THIS INCLUDES
AN ELASTIC -- ANALYTICS GROUP
THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING SEATTLE
AND THIS COULD BE ESPECIALLY
USEFUL FOR HELP INVESTIGATING
FENCING OPERATIONS IN SEATTLE
WITH KNOWN INTERNATIONAL TIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE COURSE
OF OUR AUDIT, WE LEARNED THAT A
BOTTLE OF PERFUME STOLEN IN
NORTH SEATTLE COULD BE ON A
SHIPPING CONTAINER BOUND FOR AN
INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION
WITHIN 24 HOURS. NATALIE
WALTON-ANDERSON FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IS HERE TODAY
AND SHE CAN SHARE THAT HOMELAND
SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS IS
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH SPD,
MAJOR CRIMES ON SOME LARGE ORC
FENCING CASES IN SEATTLE. SLIDE
THREE. OR NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
STEP THREE. WE LEARNED FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THAT THE BOOSTERS
THEMSELVES CAN BE AN IMPORTANT
SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON THE
FENCING OPERATIONS. HOWEVER,
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
DOES NOT CURRENTLY INTERVIEW
BOOSTERS TO GATHER THE
INFORMATION ON THE FENCING
OPERATIONS. WE RECOMMEND THAT
THIS BE PRIORITIZED AND HERE
THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
HAS OFFERED TO HELP WITH THESE
INTERVIEWS OF BOOSTERS. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. WE ALSO
RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY LOOK AT
WAYS THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY CAN BE
USED TO HELP IMPROVE ORC
REPORTING AND INVESTIGATIONS.
ONE EXAMPLE FROM OUR REPORT IS
CALLED RAPID VIDEO RESPONSE.
WHICH, INSTEAD OF SENDING A
PATROL OFFICER TO RESPOND TO A
CALL FOR SERVICE IN A PATROL
CAR, THE CALLER HAS THE OPTION
OF DOING A VIDEO CALL WITH A
SPECIALLY TRAINED OFFICER.
RAPID VIDEO RESPONSE HAS BEEN
DEPLOYED IN ENGLAND AND IT HAS
BEEN EVALUATED IN A RIGOROUS
IMPACT EVALUATION IN KENT,
ENGLAND WHICH IS A COUNTY OF
ABOUT 1.9 MILLION PEOPLE AND
WHAT THEY FOUND IS THAT RAPID
VIDEO RESPONSE RESULTED IN AN
AVERAGE THREE MINUTE RESPONSE
TIME THAT IS OVER 600 TIMES
FASTER THAN RESPONSE AS USUAL.
IT ALSO REPRESENTED -- RESULTED
IN GREATER VICTIM SATISFACTION
AND MORE ARRESTS OF OFFENDERS.
AND A SIDE BENEFIT THAT THEY
FOUND IN ENGLAND IS THAT THERE
WAS GREATER OFFICERS
SATISFACTION, JOB SATISFACTION,
AND PROTECTION -- RETENTION OF
THEIR OFFICERS. SUBSEQUENTLY,
RAPID VIDEO RESPONSE HAS BEEN
DEPLOYED IN SIX OTHER
JURISDICTIONS IN ENGLAND. AN
UPDATE ON THIS RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> I'M GOING TO BREAK MY ROLE
BUT THAT TECHNOLOGY YOU
MENTIONED KENT? IS IT NOT
DEPLOYED IN ANY U.S. CITY OR
ANYWHERE ON THE WEST COAST OR
WHY NOT? SOUNDS GREAT.
>> IT DOES SOUND GREAT. IN OUR
REPORT, WE HAVE A LINK TO A
DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIMILAR
TECHNOLOGY IN SAN ANTONIO AND
THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY USE
THIS RAPID VIDEO RESPONSE FOR
LOW-LEVEL MEDICAL CALLS. THE
EXAMPLE THAT THEY GIVE IN THE
VIDEO THAT IS LINKED IN OUR
REPORT IS SOMEBODY IS COOKING
IN THE KITCHEN AND THE
ACCIDENTALLY CUT THEMSELVES
WITH A KNIFE AND THEY ARE GIVEN
THE OPTION OF DO YOU WANT A
MEDIC TO COME TO YOUR SCENE OR
WOULD YOU LIKE A VIDEO CHAT
WITH A SPECIALLY TRAINED MEDIC?
SO, IT IS BEING DEPLOYED IN SAN
ANTONIO CURRENTLY AND THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY. I
KNOW THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY
LOOKING AT REAL-TIME CRIME
CENTER SOFTWARE AND SOME OF THE
SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR THE
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTERS DO HAVE
MODULES THAT ALLOW FOR RAPID
VIDEO RESPONSE.
>> MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY, JUST
TO ADD, I THINK IT'S WORTH
ADDING THAT RETAILERS WANT TO
GIVE THIS A TRY IN THE U.S., IN
SEATTLE, WHEN CLAUDIA BRIEFED
THE PRESIDENT AND VICE
PRESIDENT THEY WERE VERY, VERY
EXCITED ABOUT SPEEDING UP THE
TIME. AS YOU HEARD, THREE
MINUTES, THAT WOULD BE
INCREDIBLE FOR THESE RETAILERS
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF
INTERACTION IN SUCH A RAPID
RESPONSE. SO, WE REALLY WANT TO
GIVE THIS A TRY.
>> GOT IT. WELL, THAT LEADS ME
TO THE QUESTION, HAS THIS BEEN
A DISCUSSION? HAVE WE TALKED
ABOUT THAT AT ALL WITH THE
EXECUTIVE? I SAY WE BECAUSE THE
AUDITOR HERE, KIND OF, SORT OF,
OFFICIALLY PART OF THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT BUT HAS
THERE BEEN A POSITIVE OR
RECEPTIVE RESPONSE OR MAYBE WE
CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER? DO
YOU WANT TO --
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A
GREAT QUESTION FOR NATALIE , IF
YOU WANT TO ADDRESS IT NOW OR
WAIT UNTIL YOUR REMARKS.
>> SURE. THE REAL-TIME CRIME
CENTER DOES HAVE THAT
CAPABILITY. IT IS SOMETHING
THAT CAMINO, WE ARE INTERESTED
IN SUPPORTING. IN ADDITION TO
THAT, THE REAL-TIME CRIME
CENTER WOULD ALSO HAVE THE
ABILITY FOR OUR RETAILERS TO BE
ABLE TO UPLOAD CCTV VIDEO
IMMEDIATELY AND AS A FORMER
PROSECUTOR AND CURRENT
PROSECUTOR WILL SAY, OUR CASES
DO NOT GET BETTER WITH TIME.
SO, THE QUICKER THAT THE POLICE
CAN HAVE THIS INFORMATION, THE
BETTER IT WILL BE FOR EVERYBODY
IN TERMS OF INVESTIGATIONS AND
BEING ABLE TO HOLD PEOPLE
RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE AND
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME THAT WE HAVE IN
THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT. GO
AHEAD.
>> I AM IN TOUCH WITH THE
POLICE COMMANDER FROM ENGLAND
WHO LED THE EVALUATION INTENT
AND IS LEADING THE SEVEN
JURISDICTION RESPONSE. SO, THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD
CERTAINLY OFFER TO THE
EXECUTIVE IS TO PUT IN TOUCH
FOR SOME LESSONS LEARNED. THANK
YOU. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SOME FENCES AND SELL GOODS OUT
OF PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IKE
STOREFRONTS AND AT ILLEGAL
STREET MARKETS AND TO ADDRESS
THOSE FENCING OPERATIONS ARE
REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY
CONSIDER WORKING WITH THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY TO USE
PLACE-BASED STRATEGIES. LIKE
IMPROVING LIGHTING AND MAKING
STOREFRONT IMPROVEMENTS AND OUR
AUDIT INCLUDES AN EXCELLENT
REPORT. IT'S A LINK TO A
REPORT WRITTEN BY BARBARA
BIONDO FROM THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WHO IS HERE TODAY
AND THIS REPORT DETAILS 68
PLACE-BASED IMPROVEMENTS THAT
COULD REDUCE CRIME INCLUDING
THE ILLEGAL STREET MARKETS THAT
OPERATE AT 12th AND JACKSON AND
QUYNH PHAM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON AND BARB ARE HERE TODAY
WITH AN EXCITING UPDATE ON THAT
RECOMMENDATION. PATRICK HINDS
IS ALSO HERE TODAY FROM THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND DURING
THE COURSE OF OUR AUDIT
PATRICK'S COLLEAGUE, NICOLE
LAWSON, DEVELOPED A CHECKLIST
OF THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO
PROSECUTE ORC CASES AND THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS WILLING
TO TRAIN SPD AND OTHER CITY
STAFF ON THE USE OF THE
CHECKLIST. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE
CITY LEND ITS SUPPORT FOR
LEGISLATION THAT CAN BETTER
ADDRESS ORC AND MARK JOHNSON
FROM THE WASHINGTON RETAIL
ASSOCIATION IS HERE TODAY WITH
THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR INTEREST. WE HOPE THAT OUR
AUDIT HAS BEEN A STARTING POINT
FOR THE CITY FOR POSITIVE
CHANGE IN ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME. WITH THAT, I WILL HAND
IT OVER TO NATALIE
WALTON-ANDERSON FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU, DR. CLAUDIA GROSS
SHADER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
UPDATES ON BEHALF OF THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
APPEARING OFFICIALLY IN FRONT
OF YOU ALL IN THIS ROLE AND I
ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS DEEP
APPRECIATION TO DR. CLAUDIA
GROSS SHADER FOR RAISING AND
ACKNOWLEDGING THE RECENT GUN
VIOLENCE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN
OUR CITY. I KNOW IT IS AT THE
FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS AND I
HAVE SEEN SEVERAL
COUNCILMEMBERS OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY AT EVENTS AND I HAVE
READ ALL OF YOUR LETTERS OF
SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WE
GO THROUGH THIS TIME. AND, WITH
THAT, ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME
HAS ALSO BECOME SOMETHING THAT
IS INCREASED IN TERMS OF
BRAZENNESS AND VIOLENCE. IT IS
SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE CONTINUES TO RECOGNIZE
AND FOCUS ON BECAUSE THE
ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF OUR ENTIRE
CITY DEPENDS ON IT AND THE
IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES
CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. SO, WITH
THAT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS
BEEN SUPPORTIVE AT THE
THOUGHTFUL AND THOROUGH
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE
IN THIS REPORT . TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION THE CHALLENGES
WITH OUR LIMITED RESOURCES.
WITH THAT, I LOVE TO PROVIDE
SOME UPDATES TO THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. I THINK, FIRST, ONE
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS INDICATE
INCREASED COLLABORATION AND I
WANT TO PROVIDE UPDATES IN
TERMS OF WHAT OUR LOCAL
AGENCIES HAVE BEEN DOING IN
TERMS OF THAT. THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE GREETED THE
WASHINGTON STATE ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME TASK FORCE AND WE
HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT
REPRESENTATION FROM BOTH
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
ALSO THE SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THAT TASK
FORCE. THAT IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THAT IS A REGIONAL
APPROACH, STATEWIDE APPROACH TO
INCREASE OUR COMMUNICATION WITH
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, THE
INVESTIGATORS, AND WORK
TOGETHER TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
MORE EFFICIENTLY. IN ADDITION
TO THAT , THE RETAIL INDUSTRY
LEADERS ASSOCIATION DEVELOPED
VIBRANT COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE
AND, AGAIN, BOTH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
SEATTLE CITIES AT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING
IN THAT. THAT IS KEY. THEY ARE
HIGHLIGHTING OUR MOST LIVING
INDIVIDUALS , SHARING THAT
INFORMATION WHICH, AGAIN,
CREATES SAVING IN TERMS OF TIME
AND RESOURCES TOWARDS THE
INVESTIGATION AND THOSE ARE
BOTH EXAMPLES OF HOW WE HAVE
IMPROVED THE COLLABORATION
SINCE THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAME
OUT IN THIS REPORT. GOING MORE
TOWARDS COLLABORATION, DR.
CLAUDIA GROSS SHADER INDICATED
IT EARLIER BUT SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ACTIVELY
COLLABORATING WITH OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS. SPD HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH HOMELAND SECURITY
INVESTIGATIONS TO UTILIZE THE
RESOURCES IN THE DATA THAT IS
ESSENTIAL TO INVESTIGATE THE
WORK AND ALSO TO GET BETTER
OUTCOMES FOR OUR CASES. THE
OUTCOMES OF THOSE CHARGE CASES
ARE BEST DESCRIBED BY MY FORMER
COLLEAGUE, PATRICK HINDS. CHIEF
DEPUTY OF THE ECONOMIC CRIMES
UNIT AND I HAVE A FEELING HE
WILL BE PROVIDING MORE OF THAT
INFORMATION IN HIS
PRESENTATION. ULTIMATELY, WE
NEED MORE OFFICERS. WE NEED
MORE OFFICERS. AND TO DO THIS
INVESTIGATIVE WORK. AND I'M
THRILLED TO REPORT THAT SINCE
THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE NEW
POLICE CONTRACT , OUR INCREASED
APPLICATIONS HAVE SURGED. JUST
FOR SOME CONTEXT, THIS TIME
LAST YEAR WE WERE AT A LITTLE
OVER FIVE APPLICATIONS PER DAY
AND SINCE THE COUNCIL APPROVED
THE NEW CONTRACT, THANK YOU,
COUNCIL, THERE HAVE BEEN AN
AVERAGE OF 17 APPLICATIONS PER
DAY. BUT WE NEED MORE OFFICERS.
AND WHILE I AM CELEBRATING THAT
NEWS AND I BROUGHT RECRUITMENT
CARDS BECAUSE ALL OF YOU SHOULD
HAVE THEM AND BE HANDING THEM
OUT TO GET PEOPLE TO COME AND
REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THAT
UPWARD TREND IN APPLICATIONS IS
GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO SHOW
IN TERMS OF HIRES AND WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ALSO
UNDERSTOOD. AGAIN, WE, KIND OF,
TALKED ALREADY ABOUT THE
TECHNOLOGY UPDATES . I THINK
ONE IS SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS UPDATED THEIR
ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM TO
INCLUDE THE RETAIL THEFT
PROGRAM THAT ULTIMATELY THE
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER WOULD
ALLOW FOR ALL KINDS OF
CAPABILITIES IN TERMS OF
TECHNOLOGY AND WE DID TALK
ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE
CAPABILITY WOULD BE THERE FOR
THE RAPID VIDEO RESPONSE BUT
THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, IS THE
ABILITY FOR OUR RETAILERS,
ESPECIALLY OUR SMALLER
RETAILERS, TO BE ABLE TO
UTILIZE THAT TECHNOLOGY WITH
LESS IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE
FACT THAT THEY ARE SMALLER AND
THEY HAVE LESS STAFF. YOU KNOW,
VOTING ON THIS TECHNOLOGY IS
COMING UP SOON AND I KNOW
COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THAT. SO, I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY ON BEHALF OF THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO PRESENT THIS
UPDATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY. AND NEXT WE WILL HEAR
FROM QUYNH PHAM AND BARB BIONDO
ON AN UPDATE RELATED TO IT'LL
SAIGON.
>> THANKS, CLAUDIA. GOOD
AFTERNOON AGAIN. QUYNH PHAM
WITH THE FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON. AS MANY OF YOU ARE
AWARE, LITTLE SAIGON IS PART OF
THE GREATER CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT HAS BEEN
EXPERIENCING A HOST OF HEALTH
AND SAFETY ISSUES FOR MANY
YEARS AND IT IS LAYERED WITH
DEVELOPMENT AND PRESSURES. SO,
WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE EFFORTS
HAVE COME THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO ADDRESS MANY OF
THESE ISSUES BUT WE ALSO NEED
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE SOLUTIONS
THAT HAVE COME ACROSS THE
NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE NOT MADE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. BUT OUR
STREETS ARE NOT SAFE. PEOPLE
ARE STILL SAYING THAT THEY
DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE JUST
WALKING OUTSIDE AROUND ON THEIR
OWN . EMPLOYEES AND BUSINESSES
CONSTANTLY FEEL THREATENED BY
ISSUES HAPPENING IN THEIR
STOREFRONT ON A DAILY BASIS. WE
SEE DRUG USE, EBT TRAFFICKING,
AND OF COURSE, THE FENCING OF
STOLEN GOODS IS STILL FRONT AND
CENTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO,
THIS MAY BE BECAUSE OF OUR
PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN , SOME
HIGH VACANCY RATES, AND THAT WE
ARE A MAJORITY LOW INCOME
COMMUNITY. THESE ADD TO THE
REASONS WHY CERTAIN ACTIVITIES
TAKE PLACE AND PERSIST IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, WE HAVE COME
TOGETHER WITH HER CITY PARTNERS
TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH,
NOT A NEW ONE, BECAUSE YOU ARE
PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS,
BUT ONE THAT WOULD TAKE CRIME
DATA AND THESE ENVIRONMENTAL
AND SOCIAL FACTORS INTO
CONSIDERATION. SO THAT WE CAN
UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE ROOT
CAUSES , DEVELOP A DIAGNOSIS,
AND BUILD A HEALTHIER ECOSYSTEM
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BECAUSE
ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE VERY
INTERCONNECTED. SO, WE ARE
CALLING THIS THE BEAUTIFUL
NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT AND THE
APPROACH IS BASED OFF OF THE
RING YOUR BEACH, BEAUTIFUL
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR USE INITIATIVE
THAT BOTH CLAUDIA AND BARB HAVE
BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH. I WILL
PASS IT ON TO BARB TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
>> THANK YOU, QUYNH. GOOD
AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M HAPPY
TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
A PLACE-BASED CRIME INITIATIVE
THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN APRIL OF
THIS YEAR AND THE EFFORT IS A
FOCUS ON THE OPEN-AIR DRUG
MARKET ACTIVITY THAT QUYNH PHAM
DESCRIBED THAT ALSO INVOLVES
THE ASSOCIATED CRIMES INCLUDING
VIOLENT CRIME. PARDON ME. AND
ALSO THE STREET DISORDER AND
WHAT WE KNOW IS NOT A HOTSPOT
FOR OVERDOSE RESPONSE FOR THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE
FOUND THAT OUT WITH THEIR DATA
IN 2023. SO, A PLACED BASED
CRIME PREVENTION INITIATIVE, I
LIKE TO EXPLAIN, IS A WAY FOR
THE CITY TO USE ALL THE TOOLS
IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TOOLBOX
BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK
AND IT HELPS IDENTIFY AND GUIDE
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE NOT
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THEIR
CRITICAL ROLES IN HELPING
CREATE AND MAINTAIN SAFE
NEIGHBORHOODS. SO, THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING BY
ENGAGING THOSE STAKEHOLDERS
THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED IN
LITTLE SAIGON BY THE CRIME AND
THE VIOLENCE AND THE OVERDOSE
AND THE JUST THE DAILY EXPOSURE
TO THAT. INCLUDING YOUTH THAT
ATTEND SCHOOLS RIGHT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE HOPING TO
BRING THOSE EXPERTISE TO BEAR
ON THE PROBLEM. WE KNOW FOR A
FACT THAT NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
WE HAVE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL
DIFFERENCES AND LACK OF TRUST
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
PARTICULAR OR MAYBE IN GENERAL
ON GOVERNMENT OFTEN TIMES CRIME
IS NOT REPORTED. SO, WE KNOW
THE CRIME ONLY TELLS HALF THE
STORY. QUINN AND I HAD THE
GREAT FORTUNE YESTERDAY TO MEET
WITH STUDENTS, FIFTH-GRADERS AT
BAILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHICH
IS ADJACENT TO LITTLE SAIGON
NEIGHBORHOOD TO TALK ABOUT THE
PROJECT AND GATHER THEIR INPUT
ON WHAT THEY THINK BEAUTIFUL
NEIGHBORHOOD MEANS TO THEM AND
WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT INPUT.
SO, I USED THIS ANALOGY. I HOPE
YOU DON'T MIND ME SHARING IT
WITH YOU ALL AS WELL BUT TO
EXPLAIN HOW THIS APPROACH
DIFFERS FROM OTHER LAW
ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES, I USED
THE EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW,
FIFTH-GRADERS, YOU GO TO THE
DOCTOR, YOU GO FOR YOUR ANNUAL
CHECKUP OR WHEN YOU ARE SICK, I
SAID WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO
TO THE DOCTOR? WHAT ARE THE
THINGS THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME
YOU GO THAT HAPPENS IN ONE
STUDENT RAISED HIS HAND AND
THEY SAID THEY PUT THAT THING
ON MY WRIST AND MY ARM AND TAKE
MY BLOOD PRESSURE AND THEY
TALKED ABOUT TEMPERATURE AND
THINGS LIKE THAT AND WEIGHING
AND MEASURING THEIR HEIGHT AND
I SAID, YES, THAT IS THE DOCTOR
GATHERING DATA ABOUT HOW YOU
ARE DOING. HOW YOUR HEALTH IS
DOING. BUT I SAID IT IS MORE
THAN THAT THOUGH, RIGHT? THE
DOCTOR THEN TALKS WITH YOU,
ASKS YOU QUESTIONS. SO, THIS IS
EXACTLY OUR INTENT. TO ENGAGE
THOSE LOCAL EXPERTS. HELP FILL
IN THE GAPS TO HELP DEEPEN OUR
UNDERSTANDING. SO, TO THE NEXT
SLIDE. THE UPDATE FOR US IS
THAT IN JUNE WE HAVE LAUNCHED
OUR PHASE ONE EFFORT. I HAVE TO
THANK THE SEATTLE POLICE
FOUNDATION, ACTUALLY, FOR
SPEARHEADING THE FUNDRAISING.
WE WERE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING FOR
PHASE ONE WHICH ALLOWS US TO
PARTNER WITH THE FRIENDS OF
LITTLE SAIGON TO CONVENE THE
STAKEHOLDERS AND GO THROUGH THE
PLACE-BASED PROBLEM-SOLVING
PROCESS. I ALSO HAVE TO THANK
MY COLLEAGUES OVER THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHO
VERY NIMBLY STEPPED IN AND
EXECUTED THE CONTRACT THAT
ALLOWS US TO DO THIS WORK WITH
THIS TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNER.
AND ALSO, THE SPD DATA TEAM AND
OUR GRANTS TEAM, THEY ARE
ALREADY BUSY PULLING DATA AND
WE ARE APPLYING FOR FUNDING FOR
IMPLEMENTATION EVEN THOUGH WE
DON'T HAVE THE PLAN IN PLACE
BUT WE WILL BE USING AND
LOOKING AT EVIDENCED -BASED
STRATEGIES TO DO THIS WORK. IS
A MULTIYEAR EFFORT. SO. THANK
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. GO TO THE NEXT
SIDE.
>> I'M SO SORRY. THERE IS ONE
MORE SIDE. YES. THIS IS A
PRELIMINARY SLIDE OF THE THREE
AREAS BASED ON THE CRIME DATA
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT NOW
AND ALSO BASED ON A REVIEW OF
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND
INCLUDING ACTIVITY PATTERNS
THAT WE HAVE THREE DISTINCT
AREAS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT CRIME
PATTERNS AND DIFFERENCE
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. SO, WE ARE
GOING TO BE APPROACHING THIS
PROJECT AND LOOKING AT THREE
AREAS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF PHO
DEP BUT AS INDIVIDUAL SITES.
>> THANK YOU, QUYNH AND BARB
AND NOW WE WILL GO TO MARK
JOHNSON FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU, CLAUDIA,
PRESIDENT NELSON, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, MARK JOHNSON
WITH THE RETAIL ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME ISN'T
JUST A SEATTLE PROBLEM. IT IS
NOT JUST A KING COUNTY PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT EVEN JUST A
WASHINGTON STATE OR EVEN A
NATIONAL PROBLEM. IT IS TRULY
AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM. LAST
YEAR, RETAIL THIEVES STOLE OVER
$115 BILLION IN PRODUCT FROM
RETAILERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT IS $3 BILLION IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON ALONE. NOT ONLY
IS THE LOSS TO THOSE RETAILERS
TRAUMATIC BUT THE LOSS OF TAX
REVENUE JUST ON THE BACK OF A
NAPKIN, WE ARE TALKING OVER
$300 MILLION IN SALES AND TAX
NOT COLLECTED BECAUSE OF STOLEN
PRODUCTS. AND TAKING THE MONEY
OUT OF IT ALTOGETHER IS THE
TRAUMATIC EVENTS OF THIS TO THE
WORKERS AT THESE RETAIL
ESTABLISHMENTS AND TO THE
CUSTOMERS AT THE RETAIL STORES.
AND AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
POINTED OUT, THE LAST THING A
RETAILER WANTS TO DO IS CLOSE
THEIR DOORS. THEY ARE IN THE
BUSINESS OF OPENING RETAIL
STORES. IT TAKES LOTS OF TIME
AND RESOURCES TO OPEN A RETAIL
ESTABLISHMENT BUT WHEN IT COMES
TO BEING AN UNSAFE,
UNPROFITABLE FACILITY TO HAVE
TO MAKE A REALLY TOUGH DECISION
TO SHUT THEIR DOORS AND, SO, WE
ARE HOPING THAT EFFORTS AT THE
NATIONAL, AT THE STAKE, AND AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL WILL TURN THE
TIDE AND I'M HERE TODAY TO
OFFER A PICTURE OF HOPE AND
OPTIMISM BECAUSE I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZING THE
SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM AND
TAKING VERY NECESSARY STEPS TO
ADDRESS THIS. A LOT OF PEOPLE
ASKED ME, WELL, WHAT IS THE
SOLUTION TO ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME? I GO, WELL, THERE'S NOT
ONE SOLUTION. IT'S GOING TO
TAKE A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH OR
MULTIPLE SUITE OF ACTIVITIES
AND STRATEGIES TO GET ADDED IN
THIS REPORT , WHICH I WILL COME
INTO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE FOR
PRODUCING, IS AN EXCELLENT
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS AND HOW TO
GET ADDED. ON A FEDERAL LEVEL,
OUR CONGRESS IS POISED TO PASS
BEFORE THE AUGUST RECESS THE
ACT OF COMBATING ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME ACT. IT WOULD
BRING TOGETHER THE OFFICE OF
HOMELAND SECURITY. THE FEDERAL
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION , THE
U.S. SECRET SERVICE, ALL THE
FEDERAL AGENCIES WORKING
TOGETHER TO COMBAT ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME NATIONALLY IN OUR
STATE AND INTERNATIONALLY. SO,
WE ARE VERY EXCITED. SIX OF OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS ARE
COSPONSORS OF HR 895 AND WE ARE
VERY EXCITED AND WE ARE PUSHING
TO BE APPROVED BEFORE THE END
OF THE CONGRESS THIS YEAR. ON
THE STATE LEVEL, THE STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS REALLY BEEN
STARTING TO FOCUS IN ON THIS
PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT JUST
CLAUDIA MENTIONED BOOSTERS,
THESE BOOSTERS, MANY OF THEM
ARE VICTIMS AS WELL. THEY ARE
SUFFERING FROM A SUBSTANCE
ABUSE ADDICTION. THERE
SUFFERING FROM A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH ISSUE. THEY ARE
SUFFERING FROM HOUSING
INSECURITY. THESE ARE EASY TO
PREY ON BY THESE ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME RINGS BECAUSE THEY
KNOW THEY WILL DO ANYTHING,
INCLUDING STEALING PRODUCT FROM
A RETAILER IN ORDER TO MONETIZE
THAT AND GET THE THING THAT
THEREAFTER. SO, THEY ARE BEING
PRAYED ON TOO. IF WE ARE JUST
LOCKING THEM UP IN JAIL, THAT
IS NOT THE SOLUTION. IF YOU ARE
TAKING THEM TO PROVIDENCE, THAT
IS NOT THE SOLUTION. THEY NEED
SPECIALIZED TREATMENT FOR
WHATEVER THEY ARE SUFFERING
FROM. THEY NEED HOUSING. THEY
NEED THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TREATMENT, THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH TREATMENT. SO, WE HAVE
SUPPORTED A SUITE OF BILLS
LEGISLATIVELY AND THE
LEGISLATURE HAS RECOGNIZED THIS
AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED THAT
THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED JUST
LAST WEEK THAT BY THE END OF
THE YEAR WE WILL HAVE 600 NEW
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON AND THAT IS PART
OF THE SOLUTION AND BEING ABLE
TO TREAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, JUST PASSED
LAST YEAR EXPANDED, INCLUDE ALL
AGENTS, 18 AND BELOW AND THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION WAS 18 AND
ABOVE. IT WOULD INCLUDE ALL
AGES BECAUSE RETAIL THIEVES AND
RETAIL THEFT RINGS PREY ON ANY
AGE. THEY DON'T CARE IF YOU
ARE 18 OR OVER. SO, NOW IT WILL
INCLUDE ALL OF THEM. WE WILL BE
GOING TO THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION WITH A VERY ROBUST
RETAIL THEFT , ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY PACKAGE
AND I ASK FOR THE COUNCILS HELP
IN PUSHING THIS PACKAGE WHICH
WILL INCLUDE EFFORTS TO RETAIN
AND TO RECRUIT LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND PROSECUTORS . IT WILL ALSO
INCLUDE NEW TOOLS , THE HIGH
UTILIZER INITIATIVE THAT THE
CITY ATTORNEY HAS BEEN
SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYING IN THE
CITY. IT WILL BE MADE
STATEWIDE. WE HAVE JUST TOOL
AFTER TOOL AND A ROBUST FUNDING
PACKAGE. I'M REALLY GLAD THAT
A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE AND
GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES ARE
MAKING THIS A PRIORITY FOR THEM
AS THEY RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE
WE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE
LEGISLATURE WILL ADDRESS THIS.
AND THEN, JUST TO WRAP UP ON A
VERY LOCAL LEVEL, FORMER
GOVERNOR CHRISTINE THE LEADER
OF TOWN SEATTLE AND THE
WASHINGTON RETAIL ASSOCIATION
IS CONVENING A PUBLIC SAFETY
RETAIL THEFT ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME SUMMIT OCTOBER THE SECOND
. IT IS BEING HOSTED BY
MICROSOFT ON THEIR CAMPUS. THE
PRESIDENT WILL BE GIVING US THE
WELCOME AND WE WILL BE HAVING A
HALF DAY LONG INCLUDING ALL
JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE KING
COUNTY WILL BE INVITED TO
PARTICIPATE . POLICE CHIEFS,
MAYORS, COUNCILMEMBERS,
DECISION-MAKERS, RETAILERS AT
THE HIGHEST LEVEL WILL BE
INVITED TO THE SUMMIT. THEY
WILL ALL GET US ROLLING IN THE
SAME DIRECTION AND HOPEFULLY
LAUNCH A PUSH TO HAVE THIS
LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE DOWN IN
OLYMPIA EVENTUALLY APPROVED.
SO, ASK FOR YOU TODAY AND FOR
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS, PLEASE,
HELP US GET THIS LEGISLATION
THROUGH THIS COMING LEGISLATIVE
SESSION. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE
YOU HAVING ME HERE. THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU MOVE ONTO THE
NEXT PERSON, JUST BECAUSE IT IS
IN MY MIND, I KNOW THAT OUR --
THE STATE LEGISLATIVE TEAM FROM
O AR IS TRYING TO MEET WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS BEFORE WE GET
INTO BUDGET TO IDENTIFY THEIR
PRIORITIES. SO, MAYBE IT WOULD
BE GOOD TO HAVE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. MAYBE
YOU COULD SEND ME SOMETHING OR
WE CAN MEET SO THAT I COULD
BETTER MORE ARTICULATELY
REPRESENT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING
TO DO IN THE PACKAGE AND WHAT
IT CONTAINS.
>> THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. PART
OF OUR STRATEGY WILL BE KEEPING
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, YOUR
OFFICE, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
OFFICES VERY WELL INFORMED AS
WE ARE COMPILING THE PACKAGING
TOGETHER. WE ARE LOOKING FOR
OTHER SUGGESTIONS TOO IF THE
PROSECUTORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AUDITORS, HAVE ANY IDEAS OF
WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN
THIS, PLEASE, LET US KNOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARK, AND WE WILL
HEAR NOW FROM PATRICK ON A
PROSECUTION UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAME PRESIDENT,
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THE HARMFUL
IMPACT OF ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME. THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE
OBVIOUS, RIGHT? IT IS AN
ECONOMIC CRIME THAT IMPACTS
BUSINESSES. BOTH LARGE AND
SMALL. AND THAT CAN BE
SIGNIFICANT. IT CAN BE
SIGNIFICANT TO THE POINT THAT
BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING. SMALL
BUSINESSES BUT ALSO LARGE
BUSINESSES BASED PURELY ON THE
FACT THAT ECONOMICALLY AND
FINANCIALLY THEY CANNOT SURVIVE
BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF
MERCHANDISE THAT THEY ARE
LOSING AS A RESULT OF THESE
STEPS. I THINK IT GOES BEYOND
THAT BECAUSE WHAT A LOT OF
THESE STEPS HAVE IN COMMON IS
THE RISK OF VIOLENCE. EITHER
ACTUAL VIOLENT BEHAVIOR OR THE
THREAT OF VIOLENCE AND THAT
VIOLENCE CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL
VIOLENCE. AND THAT IMPACTS BOTH
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE
RETAILERS, THE EMPLOYEES, THE
PATRONS AND CUSTOMERS OF THOSE
BUSINESSES, IN A WAY THAT
FURTHER FEEDS ON ITSELF TO
DRIVE DOWN BUSINESS AND DRIVE
SOME OF THESE COMPANIES OR
THESE RETAILERS OUT OF
BUSINESS. AND I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE IT IS
NOT JUST THE LOSS TO THE
RETAILER. IT'S NOT JUST A LOST
WHOEVER OWNS THE STORE. IT IS A
LOSS TO THE CITY AND TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. NATIONALLY AND IN
THE MEDIA THERE IS A LOT OF
FOCUS ON THE BIG RETAILERS BUT
WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE
MOM AND POP SHOPS, THE CORNER
STORES, THE OTHER BUSINESSES
THAT GO OUT OF BUSINESS AS A
RESULT OF ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME. MANY OF THOSE HAPPEN TO
BE OR NOT HAPPEN TO BE, ARE IN
DISADVANTAGED AREAS, AREAS THAT
ARE HEAVILY BIPOC WERE HEAVILY
IMMIGRANT. SO, THESE ARE NOT
JUST ISSUES OF ECONOMIC CRIMES,
THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE
AND IT IS ALSO A RACE, EQUITY,
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE WHEN
YOU LOOK AT WHO BEARS THE
FUNDAMENTAL PRICE WHEN THESE
BUSINESSES GO OUT OF BUSINESS
DUE TO ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT.
PART OF OUR COMMITMENT IN
TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY IS OUR
WILLINGNESS TO BE GOOD PARTNERS
AND WANTING TO BE GOOD PARTNERS
WITH ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO
BE ACTIVE IN THIS SPACE AND TO
BE COMBATING RETAIL CRIMES.
THAT, OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THE CITY OF SEATTLE
INCLUDES THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THE ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN
THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THIS
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. IN THAT
CONTEXT, WE ARE PROFOUNDLY
GRATEFUL TO THE AUDITORS OFFICE
FOR DOING THIS REPORT , FOR
INVITING US TO BE HERE THIS
AFTERNOON, AND TO THE COMMITTEE
AND THE COUNCIL FOR BEING
WILLING TO HEAR FROM US ON
THIS. I WANTED TO USE THE
REMAINDER OF MY TIME TO UPDATE
THE COUNCIL ON TWO THINGS THAT
HAVE CHANGED OR HAVE HAPPENED
IN THE LAST 11 MONTHS OR SO. WE
WERE HERE WHEN THE AUDITORS
OFFICE FIRST PRESENTED THIS
REPORT . THE FIRST IS JUST SOME
DATA TRENDS TO UPDATE YOU ALL
ON WHAT WE ARE SEEING. FOR THE
PERIOD OF TIME COVERING AUGUST
1st OF 2023 TO MAY 1st OF 2024.
SO, ABOUT 10 MONTHS . THE
COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAS
FILED 78 CASES INVOLVING RETAIL
THEFT . THAT IS FELONY CASES
WITH 154 COUNTS AGAINST 76
DEFENDANTS. THAT IS COUNTYWIDE.
WHEN WE BREAK IT DOWN BY CITY
OR REFERRING AGENCY FROM THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT A THIRD OF
THOSE CASES. 26 CASES, 44
COUNTS, 24 DEFENDANTS. AT THE
OTHER END OF THE PROCESS FROM
THE FILING OF CHARGES IS THE
DISPOSITION OF THE CASE BY
WHICH WE MEAN EITHER A GUILTY
PLEA, GUILTY VERDICT FOLLOWING
TRIAL, NOT GUILTY DISMISSAL,
SOMETHING THAT ENDS THE CASE.
OVER THOSE 10 MONTHS FROM
AUGUST TO THE END OF -- SORRY,
THE BEGINNING OF MAY, WE HAVE
HAD 67 TOTAL CASES DISPOSED OF.
OF THOSE 49 WERE CASES
INVOLVING CONVICTIONS ON 83
COUNTS. 18 CASES WERE
DISMISSED. 26 COUNTS WERE
DISMISSED. AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK
AT THE -- THAT'S FOR THE
COUNTY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE
INDIVIDUAL CASES BASED ON
REFERRING AGENCY FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
DEPENDING ON WHICH DATA POINT
LOOK AT, ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT A
QUARTER TO ABOUT HALF OF THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE CASES
TOTALLY RESOLVED OF THE 67, 30
OF THEM STARTED WITH REFERRALS
FROM THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. I WOULD ALSO
INDICATE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE DATA, IT CAN BE VERY HARD
TO PARSE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT
MEANS BECAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES
WITH ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT IS
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT THE
CRIME DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO
JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES. IF
THEY DO, THEY PAY ATTENTION TO
THEM ONLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THAT IT INCREASES THE CHANCES
THAT THEY WILL BE CAUGHT OR
PROSECUTED. SO, THERE IS SOME
INHERENT ASTERIX OR WIGGLE ROOM
IN THESE DATA POINTS. WE VERY
MUCH EQUALLY HAVE A SITUATION
WHERE SOMEONE HAS COMMITTED A
RETAIL CRIME IN SEATTLE AND
BURIEN AND BELLEVUE , JUST TO
PICK THREE CITIES AT RANDOM,
AND DEPENDING ON WHICH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TAKE THE
ULTIMATE STEP OF PACKAGING THAT
TOGETHER AND SUBMITTING IT TO
US, THAT WOULD BE COUNTED AS
REFERRING AGENCY. SO, THOSE SPD
NUMBERS INVOLVE SOME CASES
WHERE SPD IS SENDING US CASES
FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS. IT
ALSO EXCLUDES SOME CASES WHERE
SPD IS INVOLVED BUT IS NOT
COUNTED AS REFERRING AGENCY
BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO BE A
BELLEVUE DETECTIVE WHO PACKAGED
IT. THAT IS THE DATA THAT I CAN
PARSE YOU EASILY TODAY. THE
TAKE AWAY FROM THAT I THINK IS
THAT THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS VERY
ACTIVE IN THIS SPACE. WE ARE
ROUTINELY FILING AND ACTIVELY
PROSECUTING THESE CASES BASED
ON REFERRALS FROM ALL OF OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS WHICH
INCLUDES THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. THE SECOND TAKE
AWAY IS THAT THIS IS AN AREA OF
ONGOING CONCERN. THIS IS
ONGOING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT
NEEDS TO BE TAKEN VERY, VERY
SERIOUSLY FOR THE REASONS I
MENTIONED EARLIER AS WELL AS
MENTIONED BY THE OTHER
PANELISTS TODAY. THE SECOND
THING THAT I WANTED TO UPDATE
THE COMMITTEE ON IS THE VIBRANT
COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE. YOU MAY
HAVE HEARD REFERENCE TO A BUT
I'M GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT
IT. FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAMILIAR
THE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES
INITIATIVE IS A JOINT PROJECT
OF THE RETAIL INDUSTRY LEADERS
ASSOCIATION AND THE ND AA WHICH
IS THE NATIONAL DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION. THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE AWARE , AS
MANY ARE, THAT UNDERLYING
SOCIAL CHALLENGES LIKE DRUG
ADDICTION, LIKE HOMELESSNESS,
LIKE MENTAL ILLNESS, HAVE ONLY
EXACERBATED AN EXISTING RETAIL
CRIMES PROBLEM BUT ADDRESSING
THOSE PROBLEMS REQUIRES
COMMITMENT FROM A DIVERSE GROUP
OF STAKEHOLDERS AND THE GOAL OF
THE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES
INITIATIVE IS TO BUILD A
FRAMEWORK FOR RETAILERS TO
COLLABORATE WITH KEY
STAKEHOLDERS. THOSE KEY
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDE THE PEOPLE
YOU WOULD THINK OF INCLUDING.
IT INCLUDES PROSECUTORS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, SOCIAL SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL POLICY
MAKERS, CIVIC AND BUSINESS
GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS OF
ALL KINDS. ALL WORKING TOGETHER
TO IDENTIFY, TEST, AND PROMOTE
EFFICIENT APPROACHES TO
COMBATING THE PROBLEMS OF
RETAIL CRIMES AND OF THE
VIOLENCE AGAINST EMPLOYEES AND
PATRONS OF THESE BUSINESSES
THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. THE
VIBRANT COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE
STARTED WITH PILOT
JURISDICTIONS ONE IS CALIFORNIA
THE WEST SACRAMENTO AREA AND
THE OTHER IS KING COUNTY AND WE
ARE ONE OF TWO PILOT
JURISDICTIONS IN THE COUNTRY
LAUNCHING THIS PROGRAM. WITHIN
THOSE PILOT PROJECTS, THE IDEA
IS THE VIBRANT COMMUNITY SEEKS
TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS. FIRST
IS SEEKING TO IDENTIFY PATTERNS
OF COMMON HIGH IMPACT OFFENDERS
BECAUSE RECENT RESEARCH DONE
INDICATES THAT IN MANY PLACES,
OVER 90% OF THE LOSS SUFFERED
BY RETAILERS IS DUE TO CRIMINAL
ACTS BY 10% OR LESS OF THE
PEOPLE COMMITTING THESE CRIMES.
SO, THIS IS AN AREA WHERE YOU
HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT
FROM CERTAIN LIMITED NUMBER OF
OFFENDERS. THE PILOT PROJECT
ALSO SEEKS TO DEFY AND
COMMUNICATE THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION TO
BOTH RETAILERS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT. THAT IS THE IDEA
OF THINGS LIKE THE CHECKLIST,
OF HAVING PROSECUTORS OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE DOING THE CRIMINAL
PROSECUTION BEYOND THE SAME
PAGE AS A RETAILERS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AS TO WHAT WE NEED
IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY
PROSECUTE THE CASE. THE
INITIATIVE IS ALSO TRYING TO OR
IS ALSO SEEKING TO TEST A SUITE
OF INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES THAT
ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE
INVESTIGATIONS AND IMPACT CRIME
MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND ALSO
AND, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT
LEAST, BY NO MEANS LEAST, TO
IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT DIVERSION
PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE
RECIDIVISM. THE VIBRANT
COMMUNITIES PILOT PROJECTS
LAUNCHED IN LATE AUGUST OF LAST
YEAR. WE HAVE BEEN GOING FOR
ABOUT 10 MONTHS OR SO AT THIS
POINT. THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS PROUD
TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM AND
I WOULD KNOW AS OTHER PANELISTS
HAVE THAT THE SEATTLE CITY'S
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE
BOTH ALSO ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS,
ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS, EXCUSE ME,
IN THE PROGRAM. THERE ARE
NUMBER OF WORKING GROUPS WITHIN
THE PROGRAM THAT MEET ON A
WEEKLY BASIS. THERE WAS ONE
TODAY THAT ONE OF MY DEPUTIES
WAS ON. I WAS ON, SOMEONE FROM
THE SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, A SERGEANT AND A
DETECTIVE ELISE FROM THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
THESE ARE ACTIVE WORKING GROUPS
AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE
FRUITS OF THAT ACTIVITY. KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS
PROBABLY, OBVIOUSLY, MOST
INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION AND
PROSECUTION ADJACENT WORKGROUPS
AND THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE
REAL IMPACT BECAUSE IT IMPACTS
OUR WORK IS CRIMINAL
PROSECUTORS. I'M HONESTLY LESS
FAMILIAR WITH THE GROUPS THAT
ARE WORKING ON TECHNOLOGY AND
DIVERSION BUT I KNOW THEY ARE
HARD AT WORK AND THAT THAT HAS
BEEN PROCEEDING AS WELL. SO,
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS ONE AREA
WHERE WE STILL HAVE LOTS TO DO
AND A LONG WAY TO GO IN
ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM BUT
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS PROUD
OF THE WORK WE ARE DOING. WE
ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO
TALK ABOUT IT AND WE ALSO THANK
FULL AND VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH VARIOUS
SEATTLE CITY AGENCIES,
PARTICULARLY THE SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE. IT HAS BEEN
A GREAT WORKING GROUP AND I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE CHANCE
TO COME AND TALK ABOUT IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES
OUR PRESENTATION. WE WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> WHERE DO I START? [ LAUGHTER
]
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
BUT I WILL FIRST LET OUR
CO-CHAIR AND CHAIR OF PUBLIC
SAFETY SAY SOME REMARKS, ASK
SOME QUESTIONS, I AM TRYING --
HE IS TRYING TO MODEL GOOD
BEHAVIOR BY LETTING HIS VICE
CHAIR ALWAYS ASK THE FIRST
THINGS. I'M NOT 100% BOUGHT
INTO THAT BUT I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU FOR A SECOND. BUT
ONE QUESTION, OR THOSE 78 CASES
ALL ADULTS?
>> THAT DATA THAT I GAVE WAS
ADULT CASES. I DON'T HAVE THE
DATA ON JUVENILE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST,
THANK YOU MISS CLAUDIA GROSS
SHADER AND MR. JONES BEHIND YOU
FOR THE REPORT. I HAVE READ IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM START
TO FINISH. AND I ALSO WANTED TO
WELCOME YOU BOTH THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL. ALTHOUGH,
I DO HAVE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL
WELCOME TO MS. BARB BIONDO WHO
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR
YEARS FROM A COMMUNITY
PERSPECTIVE AND QUYNH PHAM IN
THE PRECINCT. SPECIAL WELCOME
TO HER. YOU KNOW, I AM THE VICE
CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY BUT I DO CHAIR
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND
THIS TOPIC IS VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME AND I'M VERY
EXCITED FOR THIS MEETING IN ONE
OF THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH
COUNCIL PRESIDENT EARLY ON WAS,
HEY, LET'S TAKE THIS ON. SHE
MADE AN IMPORTANT POINT TO ME
AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE
BUSINESSES ARE THE VICTIMS. SO,
IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THE START WITHIN THE GOVERNESS
ACCOUNTABILITY AS OPPOSED TO MY
COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT HIGHLIGHTS
THAT POINT AND I WANT TO PUT AN
EMPHASIS ON THAT AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO SUPPORT OUR
BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE FACE
OF THE RETAIL CRIME THAT IS
BEING COMMITTED. I'M ALSO HERE
SINCERITY MENTIONED AS A BLOCK
WATCH FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND
IS A FORMER COMMUNITY COUNCIL
PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR WORKING
WITH THE BUSINESSES. I'VE BEEN
WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THESE
BUSINESSES AND THE CHALLENGES
THEY FACE FOR YEARS AND IT IS A
DAUNTING CHALLENGE AS ALLUDED
TO. ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW
FOR SURE AND IT IS HIGHLIGHTED
WITH THE PANEL IS MY FATHER
USED TO SAY MANY HANDS MAKE
LIGHT WORK. THIS HAS TO BE A
MULTI-, YOU KNOW,
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT AND WE
NEED EVERYBODY WORKING
TOGETHER. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU
KNOW, IT STRIKES ME TOO THAT WE
ALSO NEED AN AWARDS THE CZAR,
AT LEAST FROM THE CITY
PERSPECTIVE AND THAT SOMETHING
THAT I WILL BE ENGAGING ON.
I'M NOT LOOKING AT ANYBODY ON
THIS PANEL NECESSARILY BUT IT
IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED
BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THE
DRIVER. I WILL LOOKED TO DRIVE
WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERE
ON THE COUNCIL BUT WE NEED TO
DRIVE ON THIS ISSUE AND REALLY,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, KIND OF,
TAKE THE BLOCK WATCH THAT THE
PRINCIPLES OF A BLOCK WATCH
AND, YOU KNOW, IT GOES TO
COMMERCIAL WATCH AND THE LIKE
AND IT'S THE SAME THINGS I'VE
SEEN WITH OUR COMMERCIAL AND
QUEEN ANNE AND ALSO HERE WITH
IN DISTRICT SEVEN. IN THE CRIME
ANALYSIS PIECE IS HUGE, AS YOU
MAY HAVE HEARD EARLIER. OUR
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
CRIME ANALYSIS INTELLIGENCE
WITH ACCOUNTABILITY, OF COURSE.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT. I
UNDERSTAND REAL-TIME CRIME
CENTER AND HOW IT PLAYS INTO
THIS TOPIC AND IT GOES TO, YOU
KNOW, WHAT WE ARE DOING ALREADY
WITH THE COUNCIL. THE OTHER
PIECE HERE TOO IS THE
PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT. AND
THIS IS WHAT IS DRIVING A LOT
OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE
SEEING WITH HER PUBLIC SAFETY
POSTURE AND, YOU KNOW, THE
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME LIVES
OFF OF THIS PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE PARTLY
BECAUSE THE MASSIVE LOSS OF
OFFICERS, AMONG OTHER REASONS.
SIX PILLARS +2. IF YOU WANT
MORE AND THAT, I COULD TELL YOU
ABOUT IT DIRECTLY. BUT IT ALSO
CONTRIBUTES TO THE PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT. YOU KNOW, THIS
RETAIL CRIME AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH OUR BUSINESSES,
THE SHOPLIFTING AND THE LIKE.
WE NEED TO PRESS ON THIS AND TO
REALLY GET A HANDLE AS WE ARE
LOOKING TO ATTACK THE OVERALL
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES THAT
WE FACE. SO, ONE LAST THING,
IT'S NOT REALLY DIRECTLY IN
THE REPORT, AT LEAST I MAY HAVE
MISSED IT, AND ALL THOSE
CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH
THESE BUSINESS OWNERS, WHETHER,
YOU KNOW, A JEWELER OR WHETHER
A SMALL HARDWARE STORE OR
ANTIQUES ACROSS THE BOARD,
THERE'S SO MANY, THE QUESTION
OF LIABILITY AND INSURANCE.
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO
TACKLE AND THAT'S NOT CAPTURED
IN THE REPORT BUT IT'S
SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED BECAUSE THESE
BUSINESSES , YOU KNOW, THE BIG
CHAIN, THE NATIONAL AND SO
FORTH IS ONE THING BUT FOR THE
SMALLER MORE LOCAL BUSINESSES,
THOSE ARE OPERATING ON SUCH
SMALL MARGINS, THE LIABILITY
PIECE , A, HOW THEY RESPOND TO
THIS, A LOT OF IT GOES LIKE
THIS WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO
PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENTS BUT THE
OTHER PART OF THIS IS, YOU
KNOW, THE RATES. THAT ONE CLAIM
WILL PUT THEM UNDER, MAYBE. OR
IF THEY LOSE INSURANCE
COMPLETELY. MASSIVE. MASSIVE,
MASSIVE INPUT. SO, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S ALL WANTED TO SAY AS
THE KICKOFF IS A VICE CHAIR OF
THIS COMMITTEE AND THE VICE
CHAIR OF THE OTHER COMMITTEE
AND I'M LOOKING TO ENGAGE, BY
THE WAY, BEYOND THE
GOVERNMENTAL BUT ALSO WORK WITH
THE CHAMBER PERSON,
REPRESENTATIVE ALREADY LEFT BUT
THE TSA AND THE SEATTLE METRO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS PARTNERS
BECAUSE GOING BACK TO THE IDEA
OF MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK,
THE SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE TO
HAVE THIS LIST APPROACH TO WORK
TOGETHER TO GET THE LESSONS
LEARNED COMING OUT OF THIS
REPORT, WHAT PRACTICES WE CAN
PUT IN PLACE. SO, I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM IN
ADDITION TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE
ON THE DAIS. SO, THANK YOU AND
WELCOME.
>> YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE
COMMENTS. I DO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT, NATALIE, YOU
HAVE A HARD STOP AT 3:30. SO,
IF ANYONE HAS A QUESTION
SPECIFICALLY FOR HER, I WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO,
THANK YOU, ALL, FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. I LOVE THE COLLABORATION
AND DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT
REPRESENTED AT THIS TABLE. I
THINK THAT REFLECTS THAT THE
SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM ARE
NECESSARILY GOING TO BE
COLLABORATIVE AND REQUIRE
DIVERSE INPUTS AS WELL. SO,
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
PRESENTATION. REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT TOPIC. ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME, WOULD LOVE TO
TALK ABOUT MY SPECIFIC QUESTION
AS IT PERTAINS TO A SPECIFIC
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS . AND
THAT IS SMASH AND GRASS AND IT
IS A CHALLENGE THAT IS
AFFLICTING THE ENTIRE CITY AND
OUR REGION AND OUR STATE, OUR
COUNTRY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I CAN
HELP CONTROL WHAT I CAN CONTROL
AND THAT IS RIGHT HERE WITHIN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND IT'S
REALLY UNFORTUNATE. SPEAKING OF
PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT, YES, I
COULD NOT AGREE MORE THAT THE
LEVEL OF HOW BRAZEN SOME PEOPLE
ARE IN HARMING HER SMALL
BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITIES
, IT IS TOTALLY OUT OF HAND.
I'M MINDFUL OF THE GLOBAL
SMOKE AND VAPE SHOP IN WEST
SEATTLE WAS HIT AT LEAST 12
TIMES, AT LEAST 12 TIMES IN A
YEAR. SAME THING. GLOBAL SMOKE
AND VAPE SHOP AND WE TALKED
ABOUT THE IMPACTS FROM A RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE
AND EQUITY PERSPECTIVE THIS
IMPACTS ALL SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE AND HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED ARE IMPACTED THE
MOST , AS WAS POINTED OUT
EARLIER AND I'M ALSO MINDFUL
OF RUSH-HOUR IN THE JUNCTION IN
WEST SEATTLE WAS HIT WITH A
SMASH AND GRAB INCIDENT AND IS
TOTALLY OUT OF HAND AND WE NEED
TO DO BETTER AS A CITY. YES, IT
IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND
THERE ARE MANY PARTNERS FROM
INDUSTRY AND PRIVATE SECTOR AND
GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS BUT WE
NEED TO BETTER AS A CITY DO
MORE AS WELL AND SO , I READ
THE REPORT. IT'S GREAT. I'M
MINDFUL OF A COUPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THEIR ABOUT
PROSPECTIVE LEGISLATION AND
BASICALLY SUPPORT FEDERAL AND
STATE EFFORTS . I DON'T WANT
US TO RISE -- RELY SOLELY ON
THE HOPE AND PRAY APPROACH THAT
OTHERS ARE GOING TO STEP UP. WE
NEED TO PARTNER TOGETHER AND
MAKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
STATE GOVERNMENT BEST RESOURCE
TO HELP MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS
SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES FROM A
PERSPECTIVE. IN ANY EVENT, THAT
IS AN IMPORTANT STEP BUT EVEN
ASSUMING THAT LEGISLATION
PASSES, THAT DOESN'T ABSOLVE
US, IN MY VIEW, A VARSITY
RESPONSIBILITY TO DO MORE.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE UNDERLYING
CHALLENGE IS TOTALLY OUT OF
HAND AND, YES, SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE THE PRIMARY VICTIM. COULD
NOT AGREE MORE. BUT, YOU KNOW
WHO WELLS IS THE VICTIM? THE
PAYING CUSTOMER OF THOSE
BUSINESSES. THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY , BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
SOME OF THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES,
YOU KNOW, LIKE, NOT EVERYONE --
THEY ARE NOT, LIKE, FINANCIALLY
VERY WELL-OFF AND SOME OF THEM
ARE DOING IT JUST BECAUSE THEY
LOVE SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND THEY LOVE PROVIDING THEIR
COMMUNITIES WITH A GOOD OR
SERVICE AND WHEN THAT IS
IMPACTED, THAT INCREASES THE
LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS. SO,
EVERYONE IS IMPACTED. WE ARE
ALL VICTIMIZED WHEN THIS
HAPPENS. WE CLEARLY KNOW SOME
MORE THAN OTHERS. MY QUESTION
IS, IN ADDITION TO ADVOCATING
ADVOCACY AND INFLUENCING
GOVERNMENTS WHERE WE HAVE A
DEPENDENCY AND MUTUALLY ALIGNED
INTERESTS, WHAT MORE CAN WE DO
AS A CITY FROM A CITY
RESOURCING PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT
ADDITIONAL, SPECIFIC ACTIONS
CAN WE TAKE TO ADDRESS
PREVENTION OF SMASH AND GRABS
AND ASSUMING ONCE THEY HAPPEN
HOW CAN WE BETTER SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES. WHAT MORE CAN WE DO
FROM A RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE TO
PREVENT AND THEN RESPOND TO
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHEN
SMASH AND GRABS HAPPEN. THANK
YOU.
>> MADAM CHAIR, MAYOR RESPOND
-- PARTIALLY RESPOND. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THE
SMASH AND GRAB UP. NOT ONLY IS
A SMALL BUSINESS OF THE PRODUCT
THEY LOST, THEY ARE ALL THE
DISPLAY CASE, THE FRONT DOOR,
THE REPAIRS THAT WILL TAKE
DAYS, IF NOT WEEKS, TO REPAIR
AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLES COMMENT
ABOUT LIABILITY. I HAVE ONE
SMALL RETAILER IN LONGFORD AND
HE HAS BEEN HIT MULTIPLE TIMES.
HE HAS STOPPED FILING INSURANCE
CLAIMS AS THEY THREATENED TO
CANCEL HIM. SO, HE'S PAYING
OUT-OF-POCKET TO HAVE HIS STORE
REPAIRED AND TO PAY FOR THE
STOLEN GOODS. SO, THIS IS A
REAL PROBLEM AND IT REALLY DOES
HURT THE SMALLER, INDEPENDENT
RETAILERS OUT THERE. SO, I
APPRECIATE. AND PART OF THE
SOLUTION IS EDUCATION. AND
INFORMING THE PUBLIC , OUR
DECISION-MAKERS, SO THAT IS WHY
I AM HERE IN PARTICULAR IN THE
ADVOCACY PART IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TOO. SO, I APPRECIATE
THIS COMMITTEE LOOKING AT THIS
AND JUST TO REITERATE WHAT
YOU'VE SAID, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU. I GUESS I AM
MINDFUL OF THE HARD STOPS. I
WILL LET YOU, DIRECTOR WALTON,
RESPOND FIRST, OR, I GUESS,
NEXT. WHAT MORE CAN WE DO AS A
CITY PRIMARILY FROM A
RESOURCING PERSPECTIVE TO
BETTER PREVENT SMASH AND GRABS
AND THEN RESPOND TO SMALL
BUSINESS AS IT HAPPENS.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE
REPRESENTATION OF WEST SEATTLE
AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES. I
APPRECIATE THAT. FIRST OF ALL,
AGAIN, THE POLICE PRESENCE IN
THE ABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY
TO THOSE SMASH AND GRABS IS KEY
AND WE STILL NEED TO HAVE MORE
OFFICERS IN ORDER TO DO THAT. I
THINK THAT IS ONE. TWO, WORKING
WITH HER CRIME PREVENTION
TEAMS, ESPECIALLY TO ASK OUR
CRIME PREVENTION TEAM TO WORK
WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
EDDIE JUST POINTED OUT, OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE SMALL
BUDGETS BUT ARE THE THINGS THAT
WE CAN DO AND WORK WITH THEM
SPECIFICALLY AND FOCUS ON THEM
BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO TAKE A
LOSS, IT IS A HUGE HIT, NOT
JUST TO THEM BUT TO OUR
COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE TWO
SOLUTIONS THAT I CAN OFFER
RIGHT HERE. I DID REACH OUT TO
MEET WITH YOU SO I WILL BE SURE
TO BRING MORE RESPONSES WHEN I
MEET WITH YOU SOON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
QUICK QUESTION AND I WILL BE
QUICK. I HAVE MET WITH A NUMBER
OF GROCERY STORES , UFC,
SAFEWAY, A BUNCH OF GROCERY
STORES THAT ARE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR CITY. THE
ONE THING THAT THEY ALWAYS TALK
ABOUT, QFC ON PIKE PINE --
EXCUSE ME, PIKE AND BROADWAY,
MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR
SECURITY . PCC, THEY CLOSE DOWN
TOWN. NOW THERE AT 23rd AND
UNION AND THAT IS THEIR HIGHEST
STORE WORTH LOSSES. THE SAFEWAY
THAT IS IN UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
IS THEIR HIGHEST LOSS LEADING
STORE FOR GOODS IN THE ENTIRE
STATE OF WASHINGTON. THESE ARE
FACTS THAT THEY HAVE SENT ME
AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. THE
17 STORES THAT SAFEWAY OPERATES
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THEY
PAY AS MUCH FOR SECURITY IN
THOSE 17 STORES IN THEY DO FOR
THE ENTIRE REGION FOR SECURITY.
THE ONE QUESTION THEY HAVE
ALWAYS ASKED ME AND THEY SAID
THEY WANT TO BE -- THERE
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ARE
A SENSUAL -- AN ESSENTIAL GOOD
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THEY WANT TO
BE CONSIDERED DIFFERENT THEN
RETAIL POTENTIAL LAWS IN TERMS
OF IT IMPACTS THEMSELVES
SIGNIFICANTLY. I MEAN, IT
IMPACTS ANY BUSINESS
SIGNIFICANTLY FOR MADISON PARK.
WE ARE TALKING PEOPLE SMASHING
GRABS, OFTEN TIMES IT IS MORE
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE STORE OR
THE GOODS MORE SO THAT THEY
WILL SMASH AND GRAB A NAP TO
PAY $10,000 IN JUST THE FRONT
DOOR AND THEN THEY ONLY STOLE
$10 WORTH OF GOODS. YOU KNOW?
IS JUST THE DESTRUCTION IS MORE
SO THAN WHAT THEY STOLE. THE
ONE THING THEY HAVE ASKED IS,
LIKE, HEY, WHAT CAN WE -- CAN
WE HAVE -- NOT SPECIAL
TREATMENT BUT JUST BE HELD TO A
DIFFERENT STANDARD WHEN WE ARE
THINKING ABOUT GROCERY STORES
BECAUSE THEIR MARGINS ARE
SUPER, SUPER THIN. I WAS
SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT SAFEWAY ,
THEIR PROFIT MARGINS, ARE MORE
IN THE HILLTOP TACOMA STORE .
I'M FROM HERE. I KNOW ABOUT
HILLTOP TACOMA. THEN ALL OF THE
STORES IN THE ENTIRE CITY. SO,
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S
SOMETHING PARTICULAR ABOUT
SEATTLE THAT IS DIFFERENT.
WHERE PEOPLE , YOU KNOW,
GROCERIES ARE EXTREMELY HIGH
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE
MOTHER WHO MIGHT, YOU KNOW,
BABY FORMULA. WE'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT CRIMINALIZING
POVERTY. I'M TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE THAT TAKE STUFF AND YOU
SEE IT ON AMAZON THE NEXT DAY.
I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN BEFORE
SIGNIFICANTLY. PEOPLE WALK OUT
OF A STORE $500 WORTH OF MEAT,
YOU KNOW, HIGH-END MEAT. RIGHT
TO THEIR CAR AND EVERYONE IS
LIKE, OH, OKAY. IT PUTS PEOPLE
AT RISK. I'VE HEARD GROCERY
WORKERS WHO ARE LIKE I AM
SCARED TO STOP THIS PERSON AND
THE AMOUNT OF DATA THAT THESE
GROCERY STORES HAVE BECAUSE
THEY KEEP THE LIST OF DATA.
THEY HAVE INFORMATION. HOW MANY
INCIDENCES THEY HAVE. I MEAN,
IT IS VERY, VERY, SOME OF THEM
HAVE STOP REPORTING TO THE
POLICE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, HEY,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR OWN
SECURITY DETAIL. MY QUESTION TO
YOU ALL, IT'S NOT JUST A
STEPHEN, I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE
THE BACKGROUND, WHAT ARE WE
DOING SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR GROCERY STORES , WE
CAN BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM IN
SEATTLE SO THEY'RE NOT
OPERATING AT A LOSS. I'LL TELL
YOU ONE THING THAT SCARES ME
THE MOST, THE MERGER WAS
SAFEWAY ENCOURAGER -- AND
KROGER. SAFEWAY WAS VERY
NEIGHBORHOOD ORIENTED. AT SOME
POINT IN TIME IN THE MERGER,
THEY'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT ,
OKAY, IS THE STORE OPERATING AT
A LOSS DO WE NEED TO CLOSE IT
AND THAT CONCERNS ME FOR STORES
THAT ARE SOUTH OF I-90 THAT
DON'T HAVE ACCESSIBILITY NORTH
OF I 90 GROCERY STORES ARE
BEING ABLE TO TRANSIT. MY
QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE GOING
TO ADDRESS AND MAKE SURE THAT
OUR GROCERY STORES CAN BE
FUNCTIONAL AND OPERATING
EFFECTIVELY IN OUR CITY AS THEY
ARE ESSENTIAL GOODS FOR FOLKS.
THAT WAS A LONG-WINDED
STATEMENT IN QUESTION. SO,
THANK YOU.
>> CAN I JUST START WITH I
DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION. I
DON'T THINK OUR CITY HAS ANY
SPECIFIC SOLUTION. I WOULD LOVE
TO WORK WITH THE PANEL AND YOU
ALL ON CRAFTING SOMETHING. BUT
I WOULD ADD THAT BIPOC GROCERY
STORES AS WELL. LIKE, THE
MOM-AND-POP CULTURALLY SPECIFIC
GROCERY STORES, WE ARE LOSING
ALL OF THEM. IN LITTLE SAIGON
ALONE WE HAVE LOST AT LEAST
THREE GROCERY STORES. WE ARE
LIKE FIVE BLOCKS. SO, THIS PAST
WEEK, SUPERMARKET HAS SHUT DOWN
BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT ,
BECAUSE OF THE VACANCIES, THEY
ALSO HAD A BIG FIRE AND THAT
HAS LEFT A BIG HOLE IN THE
COMMUNITY. SO, YES, OUR
SUPERMARKETS ESPECIALLY ETHNIC
ONES NEED THE SUPPORT TO STAY
AROUND.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M SO
GLAD YOU HAVE MENTIONED THAT. A
LOT OF THESE LARGER GROCERY
STORES, THEY CAN, YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY CANNOT
AFFORD IT BUT THEY HAVE MORE
RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO
NAVIGATE CERTAIN THINGS.
ANOTHER THING IS I TALK TO
DEVELOPERS ALL THE TIME WERE
LOOKING FOR ANCHOR BUSINESSES.
THEY CANNOT GET A GROCERY STORE
TO OPERATE IN THE BOTTOM OF
THEIR BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE JUST BECAUSE OF THE
ENVIRONMENT IS HERE AND THIS IS
ALL THE WAY FROM COLUMBIA CITY
TO RAIN YOUR BEACH. A LOT OF
NEW DEVELOPMENTS ALONG THAT
QUARTER. I- 90, THEY'RE
CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR ANCHOR
BUSINESSES AND THEIR LIKE WE
CANNOT GET ANY. I KNOW FOR THE
EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE
IN SEATTLE, I THINK TO GO INTO
A LOWE'S, TO GO INTO A
WALGREENS, OUR DISTRICT, WE
HAVE SHUT DOWN WALGREENS IN
DISTRICT 3. RIGHT AID, WE HAVE
LOST BARTEL'S. BEING COGNIZANT
TOO THAT WHEN WE LOSE A LOT OF
THOSE PHARMACIES, WE ARE
CREATING DESERTS FOR PEOPLE TO
BE ABLE TO GET THEIR MEDICATION
AND THAT IS ALSO A LOSS AND
WHEN WE LOSE THESE BUSINESSES,
A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK, OH, IT'S
NIKE. THEY CLOSE. THEY'RE GOING
TO BELLEVUE. DO YOU KNOW HOW
MANY WORKERS WORK IN THESE
PLACES THAT COME FROM PLACES
THAT ARE FROM THE SOUTH AND
FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT FOLKS
AND IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE. SO,
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THIS COMMITTEE REGARDING
WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN CURB THIS
TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE OF
GREAT EXPERIENCES GOING OUT TO
SHOP AND NOT HAVING TO, YOU
KNOW, DEAL WITH CERTAIN THINGS
THAT CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE. SO,
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
ALSO, ROUGHLY GETTING A LOT OF
SMALL MOM-AND-POP BUSINESSES,
ALL THESE DIFFERENT TO COME
BACK THAT SELL THOSE CULTURALLY
RELEVANT FOODS TO BE ABLE TO
OPERATE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THOSE COMMENTS. I
HAVE A QUESTION, IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO -- I -- FEEL FREE TO --
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GO SOON.
DON'T WORRY.
>> NO PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING. SO, QUYNH AND BARB,
THIS BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD,
DID I SAY THAT CORRECTOR --
CORRECTLY? WHEN YOU WERE
TALKING, I WAS THINKING, OF
COURSE, WE NEED TO DO THAT BUT
, THEN, ANOTHER PART OF MY MIND
WAS THINKING OKAY, YOU GATHER
ALL THIS INPUT, WHAT WOULD WE
DO DIFFERENTLY WITH THAT
INFORMATION? BECAUSE I'M
IMAGINING THAT SOME PEOPLE
WOULD THINK, WELL, WE KIND OF,
KNOW THAT IT IS HAPPENING AND,
SO, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO
ABOUT IT? SO, THAT IS WHAT I'M
INTERESTED IN KNOWING.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THE PROCESS THAT WE USE, IT IS
AN EVIDENCE-BASED. IT IS
ACTUALLY THE STRATEGIC
PREVENTION FRAMEWORK. IT'S
TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT FOR PLACE
BASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
AROUND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ,
YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY HELPS
US IDENTIFY THE ISSUES WE WANT
TO ADDRESS WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT BUT THEN WE WALKED
THROUGH THIS PROBLEM-SOLVING
PROCESS AND WHEN WE GET TO THE
POINT WHERE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED
THE LOCAL RISK FACTORS THAT ARE
HELPING CONTRIBUTE TO THAT
ENVIRONMENT, OR THE CRIME IS
FLOURISHING, BASICALLY, WE THEN
LOOK AT BUCKETS OF
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THAT
WE CAN USE TO GET AT THAT
SPECIFIC PROBLEM. SO, YOU KNOW,
THERE IS DIFFERENT ANGLES THAT
YOU CAN COME AT THE PROBLEM
AND, AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED
EARLIER, A LOT OF THESE ARE
NONLAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES.
THEY MIGHT INVOLVE ENFORCEMENT
OF OTHER REGULATORY APPROACHES
AND, MAYBE, THESE ARE THINGS
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IN FORCE
THAT SHOULD BE. MAYBE THERE'S
NEW ANGLES OR NEW RULES THAT
ARE PUT IN PLACE. MAYBE THERE
IS INCENTIVES THAT ARE PUT IN
PLACE THAT HELP GET AT THE
BEHAVIOR WE WANT, WE ARE
STRIVING TO GET AT. IT COULD BE
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE
THEIR AND IT COULD ALSO BE THAT
WE NEED TO INCREASE A CERTAIN
TYPE OF GUARDIANSHIP THAT HELPS
DETER THE PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR.
SO, IT GETS AT WHAT WE WANT. WE
ARE MORE SPECIFIC. WE ARE MORE
DIAGNOSTIC IN THIS APPROACH
AND, YOU KNOW, GENERAL, LIKE,
AND I'M A ONE CALL BECAUSE
THERE WAS A SHOPLIFT. THIS IS
MORE OF LIKE IT'S DEFINITELY A
PREVENTION APPROACH.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF I
COULD GET A REAL LIKE EXAMPLE
FROM OUR WORK IN RAIN YOUR
BEACH. BARB AND I WERE INVOLVED
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RAIN YOUR
BEACH, A BEAUTIFUL SAFE PLACE
FOR USE WHICH IS ALSO A
COMMUNITY LED , PLACE BASED
CRIME PREVENTION EFFORT AND WE
KNOW FROM DECADES OF RESEARCH
THAT THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES WHICH
ARE EFFECTIVE FOR REDUCING
CRIME IN PLACE. ONE OF THOSE
CHANGING THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT. WE MENTION THAT
SEVERAL TIMES TODAY, INCREASE
LIGHTING, IMPROVE SIGHTLINES.
SO, CHANGING THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT. ANOTHER IS
IMPROVING THE ABILITY OF THE
COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO
SOLVE COMMON PROBLEMS. THAT IS
CALLED INCREASING COLLECTIVE
EFFICACY. ANOTHER
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY IS
INCREASING GUARDIANSHIP AND IN
RAIN YOUR BEACH, AND A
BEAUTIFUL SAFE PLACE FOR USE,
WE HAVE HIRED WORKERS FROM THE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TO PATROL ,
TO WALK AROUND AFTER SCHOOL AND
MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS GOT TO
THEIR NEXT DESTINATION SAFELY.
IN THE FORCE BUCKET OF
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES,
THESE WORK, AND WE KNOW THIS
FROM THE RESEARCH, IS CHANGING
RULES AND POLICIES. SO, WHAT
HAPPENED IN RAIN YOUR BEACH IS
WHEN THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
LOOKED AT ALL THE OFFICIAL
CRIME DATA AND COMBINED IT WITH
THINGS LIKE TAKING A LOOK AT
THE APPEARANCE OF THESE SPOTS
THAT WE WERE FOCUSED ON FOR
TRASH AND GRAFFITI AND THEN,
ALSO, THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE OF
THE COMMUNITY, A GREAT THING
EMERGED THAT WE HAD NOT PUT
TOGETHER BEFORE. ONE, OF THE
CRIMES THAT WAS OCCURRING AT
REGNIER AND HENDERSON WAS A
HIGH LEVEL OF ASSAULTS AND
ESPECIALLY AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE
ABLE TO BRING TO THE TABLE WAS
THAT STUDENTS FROM ANOTHER
MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE COMING AND
THEY WERE RELEASED EARLIER THAN
THE RAIN YOUR BEACH STUDENTS
AND THEY WERE COMING AND
ANTAGONIZING THE STUDENTS AFTER
SCHOOL. SO, THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD
CHANGE THE RELEASE TIMES TO
SINK THEM UP SO THAT BOTH
MIDDLE SCHOOLS WERE RELEASED AT
THE SAME TIME AND, THEREFORE,
THOSE STUDENTS FROM THE OTHER
SCHOOL COULD NOT COME AND
ANTAGONIZE THE BEACH STUDENTS
AND WE IMMEDIATELY SAW A
DRAMATIC DROP IN THOSE
AFTERSCHOOL ASSAULTS AMONG
YOUNG PEOPLE. SO, THAT IS AN
EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT WE
HAD NOT CONNECTED THE DOTS ON
BEFORE. AND WE THINK THAT
SOMETHING SIMILAR AND LITTLE
SAIGON AS WELL. ONE OF THE
ISSUES -- WELL, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH WAS JUST TALKING
ABOUT MEAT BEING STOLEN FROM
OUR GROCERY STORES. IT MAY BE
RESOLD TO RESTAURANTS OR TO
OTHER BRICK-AND-MORTAR PLACES
AND THAT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUE. YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE
ANYBODY PURCHASING ME THAT HAS
BEEN IN A VAN FOR A DAY OR SO,
RIGHT? SO, ONE OF THE PIECES IS
EDUCATION AND THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS MAYBE NOT HAPPEN
BEFORE WHEN WE GET TOGETHER
WITH THE COMMUNITY, LOOK AT ALL
THE DATA, STRATEGIES LIKE
IMPROVED EDUCATION COULD BE ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT EMERGES.
>> IF I COULD JUST HAVE ONE
MORE THING , WHAT WE HOPE TO DO
AND LITTLE SAIGON BECAUSE WE
MAY COME UP WITH STRATEGIES
THAT WE EMPLOY THE DON'T QUITE
HIT THE MARK BUT WE WILL BE
IDENTIFYING THE METRICS THAT WE
KNOW IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL WE
SHOULD SEE SOMETHING GOING UP
OR DOWN AND THE OTHER PART OF
THIS IS THAT BY ENGAGING THE
COMMUNITY FROM THE START AND
WORKING WITH THEM TO DEFINE THE
PROBLEMS, IDENTIFYING THE RISK
FACTORS, ET CETERA, WE ARE ALSO
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND
INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE
COMMUNITY OF PLACE TO BETTER,
YOU KNOW, MANAGE AND BE ABLE TO
CONTROL THE SOCIAL NORMS OF
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND
INFLUENCE THEM IN A POSITIVE
WAY. SO, THAT IS THE COALITION,
KIND OF, STEPPING UP THAT
CAPACITY PIECE THAT CLAUDIA
MENTIONED AROUND SOCIAL
COHESION AND COLLECTIVE
EFFICACY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MADAM CHAIR, IF I GET AT AS
WELL BECAUSE THEY'VE TRIGGERED
SOMETHING IN ME AND THAT IS
PART OF OUR LEGISLATION
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL WILL BE A
SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM
FOR THEFT PROTECTION EFFORTS.
BOLLARDS OR BARRIERS IN FRONT
OF STORES TO PREVENT SMASH AND
GRABS. BETTER LIGHTING,
SECURITY CAMERAS, THOSE TYPES
OF THINGS. THAT WILL BE A PART
OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL
GOING FORWARD IN JANUARY. IT
WILL BE A SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'VE
BEEN PUSHING A STOP TO FIND OUT
WHAT KINDS OF BARRIERS,
BOLLARDS, ESPECIALLY IN FRONT
OF CANNABIS RETAIL SHOPS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> OKAY. WE NEED TO WRAP THIS
UP A LITTLE BIT AND I COULD GO
ON AND ON. I KNOW YOU HAD A
QUESTION. GO AHEAD.
>> IS A QUICK COMMENT BECAUSE I
HAVE A LOT OF CORE DOORS IN THE
D4, SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE
REALLY STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW AS
MANY OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES
ACROSS THE CITY AND ONE THING I
WILL RAISE THAT WE HAVE NOT
TALKED ABOUT IS COMMUNICATIONS
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THE
SMALL BUSINESSES. WE ALL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE A LACK OF POLICE
OFFICERS AND THERE'S NOTHING
WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT TODAY. I
MEAN, WHERE PUTTING THE STEPS
IN PLACE TO HIRE THEM. I'M SO
HAPPY TO HEAR APPLICATIONS ARE
UP. SINCE WE PASSED THE
TEMPORARY CONTRACT WITH SPD.
BUT ONE THING I HEAR OVER AND
OVER AGAIN IS WE UNDERSTAND
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OFFICERS
BUT THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
SPD AND, YOU KNOW, THE SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE IMPORTANT. THEY
WANT TO KNOW THAT -- THEY WANT
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A TOUCH
POINT AND I THINK THEY ARE NOT
REPORTING IN PART BECAUSE THERE
IS NOT THAT TOUCH POINT, RIGHT?
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CALL,
NOBODY'S GOING TO COME, WHEN
THEY DO CALL, NOBODY DOES COME
AND THEN NOBODY FALLS UP LATER.
SO, AS PART OF THIS, I WOULD
LOVE TO SEE AND MAYBE YOU CAN
ANSWER THIS QUESTION, ACTUALLY,
WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE TOUCH POINTS EXIST
BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE WAITING TO
SCALE UP MORE OFFICERS AND SOME
OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT
CAN WE DO FROM A COMMUNICATION
STANDPOINT SO THAT BUSINESSES
FEEL FEEL LIKE PAYING ATTENTIOD
THAT THEY CARE AND WHEEL CARE,
YOU ALL CARE, WE KNOW THAT BUT
IT'S HARD TO BE A BUSINESS
WHEN IT'S HAPPENING AND HAVE
NO ONE COME AND YOU JUST DON'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD
DEPLOY THAT TECHNOLOGY TO
DOCUMENT. I'M OUT OF MY LANE
HERE BUT I LIKE SOLUTIONS THAT
SEEM SIMPLE. LOW HANGING FRUIT
SOLUTIONS THAT WE ARE NOT DOING
THAT DON'T REQUIRE A MASSIVE
LIFT OF RE-STAFFING OUR POLICE
FORCE IN ORDER TO HAVE THOSE
RESOURCES. SO, I WILL BE
PURSUING HER TALKING TO THE
EXECUTIVE ABOUT THAT AS WELL,
PUTTING A PLUG FOR THAT. I
MEAN, THIS IS ALSO
ACCOUNTABILITY. IS OUR ROLE AS
A LEGISLATIVE BODY TO OVERSEE
THE LIMITATION OF HER POLICY
INITIATIVES AND I'M GLAD ,
YES, GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE
INCREASED NUMBERS OF
APPLICATIONS. WE JUST PASSED
LEGISLATION THAT WILL HOPEFULLY
KEEP THOSE PEOPLE IN THE
PIPELINE AND GET THEM INTO A
JOB AND SPD ONCE THEY'VE BEEN
VETTED MORE QUICKLY. THERE'S A
LOT WE CAN DO, IT SEEMS LIKE,
AND THEIR WHOLE BUNCH OF
CAVEATS ABOUT WHY IT IS
DIFFICULT. I WILL MENTION ONE,
YOU MIGHT NOT REALIZE THIS BUT
I'VE SAID BEFORE, IN 2022, 100
OFFICERS IN THE INVESTIGATIVE
UNITS REMOVED FROM THOSE UNITS
TO PATROL. SO, THAT MEANS THAT
A LOT OF THIS COORDINATION
CANNOT HAPPEN. THE COORDINATION
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT HAS
TO HAPPEN BETWEEN
UNINCORPORATED IN KING COUNTY
IN THE CITIES AND SOMETIME
OFF-LINE I WANT TO ASK ABOUT
HOW HIS EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE
FACILITATING A CORONATION
BETWEEN THE CITIES AND
INCORPORATED IN SEATTLE AND
SOME OF THAT ENDEAVOR BUT THE
POINT IS THAT I WANT TO GET
BEYOND AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE
GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM AND A
STATEMENT OF WHAT HAS TO BE
DONE AND ACTUALLY SEE THINGS
GETTING DONE AND THAT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY. YES, WE WILL
PUSH THE PACKAGE. WE WILL ALSO
CONTINUE TO ASK ABOUT HOW WE
CAN MAKE BETTER STEPS ON SOME
OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TIRED ABOUT
US STATING THE OBVIOUS, RIGHT?
THEY JUST WANT TO SEE, AND I'M
TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE, NOT JUST
THE BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT PRETTY
MUCH EVERYBODY WE ARE TALKING
TO. WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY $2000
GRANTS TO GIVE TO A BUSINESS
THAT JUST HAD $6000 OF DAMAGE
TO THEIR STOREFRONT THAT CAME
OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE. ANYWAY,
IT IS URGENT. IS PRESSING. IT
DOES NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF
THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE
BEEN HEARING ABOUT, IT IS ALL A
PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM.
PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT,
PERHAPS, YOU WOULD SAY. BUT I
REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SAY I AM
SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A
BLUEPRINT AND WE HAVE YOUR
ATTENTION AND WE DO HAVE
PARTNERS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE
CITY IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS,
PRIVATE SECTOR, PUBLIC SECTOR,
NONPROFITS, WE ARE ALL IN THE
SAME BOAT. SO, LET'S ROW THERE
REALLY FASTER. [ LAUGHTER ]
HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
>> NO. JUST A FOLLOW-UP ON MY
CUMIN OCCASIONS PIECE. IF WE
WANT FOLKS, IF ONE BUSINESSES
TO REPORT, WHICH WE DO,
REPORTING IS SO IMPORTANT IS IT
REALLY SHOWS YOU WHAT THE NEED
IS, WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM
SO THEY FEEL HEARD AND THEN
THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT.
I WILL JUST SAY THAT.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
HERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF
POLITICAL WHEEL WELL.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU
ARE DOING AND THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. APPRECIATE THE
AUDIT. APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
IS GOING INTENTIONALLY INTO
THIS AND THE COLLABORATION IS
CLEAR AND NEEDED AND SO
APPRECIATED. ALL RIGHT.
>> WE WILL BE IN TOUCH. SO WILL
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE YOUR POLITICAL WILL
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. WE PLEASE READ THE
LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA?
>> AGENDA ITEM 13, CB 120781,
AN ORDINANCE UPDATING
DEFINITIONS IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO
CANNABIS BUSINESSES TO ALIGN
WITH STATE LAW AND AMENDING
SECTION 6.500.020 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR FOLKS
TO COME TO THE TABLE, AS I SAID
IN BRIEFINGS, THIS IS A
TECHNICAL CLEANUP BILL THAT IS
NECESSARY TO BRING THE SEATTLE
CODE INTO ALIGNMENT WITH STATE
CODE. AND I WILL LET OUR
PRESENTERS INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES, PLEASE, AND, SORRY,
IT WAS
>> I APOLOGIZE.
>> WELCOME. NO. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND TAKE
IT AWAY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US. I'M AFRAID
WE'RE GOING TO BE DRIER THAN
YOUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATION BUT,
THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH US
THIS AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
BETH. ON THE DIVISION DIRECTOR
FOR THE COMMUNITY PROTECTOR
DIVISION. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE LICENSING AND REGULATION OF
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN
SEATTLE. WE HERE TODAY TO TALK
AS THE COUNCIL PROVIDENCE
REFERENCED A TECHNICAL UPDATE
WORMING IN THE CIVIL CODE TO
BRING US BACK INTO ALIGNMENT
WITH STATE CODE. I WANT TO
TURNED OVER TO LAKIN WHO WORKS
IN MY DIVISION. WE ARE HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT
HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> TO GIVE HER MUCH I DO
APOLOGIZE FOR KEEPING YOU
WAITING. I KNEW WE HAD SOMEONE
WHO HAD TO LEAVE AT 3:30
OTHERWISE I WOULD'VE PUT THIS
BEFORE THAT. ABSOLUTE. NO
WORRIES. THANK YOU.
>> SO, IS THIS ON? AS BETH
SAID, MY NAME IS LACHEN AND
I'M THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONS ARE
WHO WORKS ON CANNABIS POLICY
FOR THE CONSUMER PROTECTION
DIVISION AND I CAN WALK US
THROUGH THIS TECHNICAL UPDATE.
>> AND WE ARE NOT VOTING ON
THIS TODAY, ALTHOUGH IT IS
TECHNICAL ENOUGH TO PROBABLY
FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO BUT
THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO, AS YOU MAY
KNOW, THE STATE ADOPTED TWO
BILLS DURING THE 2023
LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT HAVE
SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR THE
CITIES REGULATION OF CANNABIS
BUSINESSES AS A RESULT, OUR
LOCAL CODE TITLE SIX 500 IS OUT
OF ALIGNMENT WITH STATE LAW.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSED
ORDINANCE IS TO BRING US BACK
INTO ALIGNMENT WITH STATE LAW.
NEXT SL SO, THE
FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IMPACTING HER CANNABIS GOES IS
SENATE BILL CONCERNING THE
REGULATION OF CANNABIS PROJECTS
THIS BILL MAKES TECHNICAL
UPDATES TO THE STATES
DEFINITION FOR CANNABIS AND
CANNABIS PRODUCTS AND, AS A
RESULT, THE DEFINITIONS FOR
THOSE TERMS IN OUR OWN CITY
CODE ARE NOW OUT OF ALIGNMENT
WITH THE STATE. AND BECAUSE THE
CITY'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE
CANNABIS DERIVES FROM THE
STATE, OUR RULES AND LAWS MUST
BE CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE
RULES AND LAWS RELATED TO
CANNABIS BUSINESSES. SO, THE
FIRST THING THIS ORDINANCE WILL
DO IS BRING HER DEFINITIONS FOR
CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS
BACK INTO ALIGNMENT WITH STATE
LAW AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE
SLIDE IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT
NOW. NEXT SLIDE. THE SECOND
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
IMPACTS ARE REGULATION OF
CANNABIS IS SENATE BILL 5080 ,
ALSO ADOPTED IN 2023 AND THIS
BILL AMENDED THE STATE SOCIAL
EQUITY AND CANNABIS PROGRAM
WHICH IS INTENDED TO INCREASE
DIVERSITY IN THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY AND ADDRESS SOME OF
THE HARMS CAUSED BY THE WAR ON
DRUGS. AS YOU MAY RECALL , IN
SEPTEMBER OF 2022, SEATTLE
ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE THAT WAVES
CITY CANNABIS LICENSING FEES
FOR ALL THOSE WHO QUALIFY AS
SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS UNDER
THE STATE SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAM. AND, TO DO THAT, THAT
ORDINANCE ADOPTED THE STATES
DEFINITION FOR SOCIAL EQUITY
APPLICANTS AND FOR
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
AREA TO SPECIFY WHO IT IS THAT
QUALIFIES FOR THOSE FEES. SINCE
THE CITY'S ORDINANCE WAS
ADOPTED IN 2022 THE STATE
PASSED SENATE BILL 5080 WHICH
EXPANDS THE STATES SOCIAL
EQUITY PROGRAM AND MAKES
TECHNICAL UPDATES TO CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS. NEXT SLIDE. SO,
JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT AND TO
HELP US UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT
OF SENATE BILL 5080 I WILL KNOW
FOR YOU THAT THERE ARE
CURRENTLY 87 CANNABIS
BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCATED IN
SEATTLE AND LICENSED BY THE
CITY. 44 OF THOSE ARE CANNABIS
RETAILERS AND THE REMAINDER ARE
SOME COMBINATION OF PRODUCERS
AND PROCESSORS OR PRODUCER
PROCESSORS. BEFORE SENATE BILL
5080, THE STATES INITIAL SOCIAL
EQUITY PROGRAM WHICH WAS FIRST
AUTHORIZED IN 2020 RESERVED 46
RETAIL LICENSES FOR THE SOCIAL
EQUITY PROGRAM AND THOSE
LICENSES WERE ALLOCATED BY
COUNTY WITH EIGHT OF THEM
RESERVED FOR KING COUNTY. SO,
THOSE EIGHT LICENSEES CAN
CHOOSE TO LOCATE ANYWHERE
WITHIN KING COUNTY BUT THEY ARE
SUBJECT TO LOCAL ZONING AND
OTHER LOCAL CANNABIS
REGULATIONS. THE LCB JUST
AWARDED THIS FIRST ROUND OF 46
RETAIL LICENSES IN SEPTEMBER OF
2023. SO, THOSE APPLICANTS ARE
NOW WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS
OF SECURING LOCATIONS AND
GETTING THEIR BUSINESSES SET
UP. ONLY TWO TO THREE LICENSEES
SO FAR ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE
HAVE ACTUALLY COMPLETED THAT
PROCESS AND OPEN THEIR DOORS
AND NONE OF THEM HAVE OPENED IN
SEATTLE AT THIS POINT. WE HAVE
HAD INITIAL INQUIRIES THREE
BUSINESSES BUT NONE OF THEM
HAVE COMPLETED OR EVEN BEGUN TO
LOCAL LICENSING PROCESS. SO, WE
ARE ANTICIPATING ABOUT TWO TO
THREE OF THOSE SOCIAL EQUITY
APPLICANTS FROM THE FIRST ROUND
MAY ULTIMATELY END UP OPENING
THEIR DOORS HERE IN SEATTLE.
SO, THEN, IN 2023, SENATE BILL
5080 WAS PASSED AND THAT
EXPANDS THE STATE SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAM BY AUTHORIZING UP TO 10
NEW PRODUCER LICENSES. 100 NEW
PROCESSOR LICENSES AND 52 NEW
CANNABIS RETAIL LICENSES FOR
THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM AND
THOSE LICENSES ARE EXPECTED TO
BE AWARDED BETWEEN NOW AND
2032. UNLIKE STANDARD CANNABIS
LICENSES AND UNLIKE THE FIRST
ROUND OF SOCIAL EQUITY
LICENSES, THESE ONES CAN BE
LOCATED ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.
THEY ARE NOT DESIGNATED BY CITY
OR COUNTY AND IT IS UP TO THE
APPLICANT THOUGH THEY WILL BE
SUBJECT TO LOCAL ZONING AND
REGULATIONS. SO, BECAUSE OF
THAT, WE CAN'T SAY WITH ANY
DEGREE OF CERTAINTY HOW MANY
LICENSES WILL WIND UP IN THE
SEATTLE. DUE TO A VARIETY OF
FACTORS INCLUDING MARKET
CONDITIONS AND ZONING
RESTRICTIONS WE ARE
ANTICIPATING ABOUT A HANDFUL
WILL ULTIMATELY END UP HERE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, IN
ADDITION TO AUTHORIZING NEW
SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSES, THAT
SENATE BILL 5080 ALSO ALTERS
THE STATES DEFINITIONS FOR
SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS AND
FOR DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
AREA. AND TO BE CLEAR, THE
INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF A
PROGRAM REMAIN THE SAME AND
THESE ARE JUST TWEAKS OR
UPDATES TO THE METHODOLOGY THAT
THE STATE USES TO AWARD SOCIAL
EQUITY LICENSEES AND THEIR GOAL
IS TO BETTER CAPTURE THE AREAS
AND COMMUNITIES THAT WERE MOST
HARMED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS.
THEY LEARNED SOME THINGS FROM
THE FIRST ROUND OF LICENSES,
THEY TREAT THEIR METHODOLOGY,
UPDATED HER DEFINITIONS. AGAIN,
BECAUSE OF THESE CHANGES, THE
DEFINITIONS CONTAINED IN OUR
LOCAL CODE ARE OUT OF DATE AND,
AS A RESULT, THOSE WHO ARE
GRANTED A SOCIAL EQUITY
CANNABIS LICENSE BY THE STATE
UNDER THE NEW STATE DEFINITIONS
MY NOT AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY
FOR A FEE WAIVER IN SEATTLE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, IN
RESPONSE TO THESE CHANGES OF
THE STATE LEVEL, THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE WHO ARE CONSIDERING
TODAY WILL AS PREVIOUSLY
MENTIONED UPDATE THE CITY'S
DEFINITION FOR CANNABIS AND
CANNABIS PRODUCTS TO REFLECT A
STATE LAW AND IT WILL ALSO
CHANGE THE DEFINITION IN OUR
CODE FOR SOCIAL EQUITY
APPLICANTS TO ANYONE GRANTED A
CANNABIS LICENSE UNDER THE
STATE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM.
AND THEN, BECAUSE IT IS NO
LONGER REFERENCED IN OUR
DEFINITION FOR SOCIAL EQUITY
APPLICANT WE CAN ELIMINATE THE
DEFINITION ENTIRELY FOR
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
AREAS. NEXT SLIDE. SO,
ULTIMATELY, THESE CHANGES WILL
BRING OUR CODE INTO ALIGNMENT
WITH STATE LAW. IT WILL ENSURE
THAT ALL SOCIAL EQUITY
APPLICANTS REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR
WAIVED CITY CANCER -- CANNABIS
LICENSING FEES AND IT WILL
SIMPLIFY OUR CODE AND ALLOW US
TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE
STATE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM AS
IT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE OVER
TIME. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO,
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION
SUPPORTS THE GOALS OF THE
CITY'S RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE BY REDUCING BARRIERS
TO SUCCESS AND PROMOTING
DIVERSITY AND THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY THROUGH CONTINUED FEE
WAIVERS FOR ALL SOCIAL EQUITY
APPLICANTS AS WAS ORIGINALLY
INTENDED BY THE CITY SOCIAL
EQUITY AND CANNABIS ORDINANCE.
NEXT SLIDE. AND, FINALLY, WE DO
NOT ANTICIPATE THAT THIS
ORDINANCE WILL HAVE ANY
MEANINGFUL IMPACT , ANY
MEANINGFUL FISCAL IMPACT ON FAS
OR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. WE ARE
ANTICIPATING A HANDFUL OF NEW
SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSEES AND WE
EXPECT WE WILL BE ABLE TO
ABSORB THE MARGINAL COSTS OF
REGULATING THOSE BUSINESSES
WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET AND
STAFFING STRUCTURE. SO, WITH
THAT, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> IF ANYBODY -- HOLD QUESTIONS
HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THIS EXPLANATION. I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE IT. IT WAS -- IT
MAKES SENSE TO ME BUT AND,
ALSO, OF COURSE, WE WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT
THESE POLICY GOALS OF EXTENDING
THE FEE WAIVERS.
>> OBSOLETE.
>> I'M SORRY THAT I DID NOT
ASK YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF,
I KNOW THAT YOU DID WORK ON THE
MEMO SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THERE'S A MEMO
FROM CENTRAL STAFF, AGAIN, FAS
DESCRIBED THIS IS A TECHNICAL
BILL. IS NOT A CHANGE OF POLICY
HERE. THERE ARE PRACTICAL
IMPLICATIONS FOR A CHANGE IN
STATE LAW. THERE WILL BE A FEW
MORE SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS
THAT MAY APPLY -- APPLY FOR
LICENSES WITH THE CITY BUT
IT'S NOT A POLICY CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU. SO, MORE DETAIL
IN THE MEMO. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
>> MAY SAY SOMETHING ?
>> YES, PLEASE. SMACK THANK
YOU, ALL. I'M GOING TO BE
BRIEF. IT'S NO SECRET MY
FAMILY HAS A CANNABIS FARM OUT
IN SHELTON. HAD EXTENSIVE WORK
ON HOUSE BILL 2870 WITH
REPRESENTATIVE MORGAN AND 5088
WHICH WAS SPONSORED BY SENATOR
FOR SOCIAL HEALTH EQUITY. I
THINK IT IS FROM MY
UNDERSTANDING, A TECHNICAL BILL
FOR US TO ALIGN WITH STATE LAW.
THE DIFFERENCE IN WASHINGTON
STATE IS IT IS TOP-DOWN. THE
GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE DO
SOMETHING AT THE GOVERNMENT
LEVEL AND CITIES CAN DECIDE IF
THEY WANT TO ALIGN WITH IT.
CALIFORNIA IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE
IT IS TOP-DOWN. THAT'S WHY
L.A. IS DIFFERENT THAN OAKLAND
AND SAN FRANCISCO BECAUSE THEY
CAN DO IT FROM THE GROUND UP.
SO, REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF US
ALIGNING WITH SOCIAL EQUITY,
THE DEFINITION AT THE STATE
LEVEL JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A
LOT OF INTENTION BEHIND THAT
AND A LOT OF WORK DONE. THERE
WAS A SOCIAL EQUITY TASK FORCE,
THERE WERE A TON OF LEGISLATORS
THAT PASS THROUGH THE HOUSE
BILL WITH LEGISLATORS ON BOTH
SIDES AND IN THE SENATE AND
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT
OF POTENTIAL RETAIL STORES
OPENING HERE IN SEATTLE. ONLY
2% OF THE MARKET IS BLACK OWNED
BUSINESSES FOR RETAIL IN BOTH
PRODUCER PROCESSORS IN THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON. LOOKING
FOR TO WINDOWS BUSINESSES OPEN.
I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT
THING. WHEN WE PASSED I 502,
SOCIAL EQUITY WAS NOT INCLUDED
IN THAT. SO, WE ARE PLAYING A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CATCH UP
IN OUR CITY OF SEATTLE,
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THAT WAS
NOT AT THE BEGINNING WITH
SOCIAL EQUITY. NOW WE ARE
PLAYING CATCH-UP,
UNFORTUNATELY. THE MARKET HAS
MATURED. IT'S REALLY HARD. I
APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ARE
DOING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN
LINE WITH STATE LAW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS. SO, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WE WILL TAKE THIS UP AT
OUR NEXT MEETING AND ON THE
27th, I BELIEVE. WHEN YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT ZONING CHANGES,
THERE WILL LIKELY BE ADDITIONAL
LEGISLATION. IN MY NOT ALL COME
THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE.
ACTUALLY, USUALLY LEGISLATION
THAT HAS TO DO WITH FAS GO
THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE,
RIGHT?
>> CORRECT. YES.
>> YES, FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THERE MIGHT BE LAND-USE THINGS,
WHEN IT COMES TO THE BROADER
TOPIC OF CANNABIS LEGISLATION,
IT COULD BE ANYWHERE BUT THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT. I KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONFORM TO
STATE LAW. MAKES THINGS A LOT
EASIER, DOESN'T IT? OKAY. WITH
THAT, IF THERE -- DOES ANYBODY
HAVE ANY BUSINESS TO PUT BEFORE
US? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OKAY.
WELL, THIS CONCLUDES THE JUNE
13th MEETING OF THE GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND OUR NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING IS SCHEDULED
FOR JUNE 27th AT 2:00 AND
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, IT
IS NOT FOR: 08 AND THIS MEETING
IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU,
EVERYONE.