>> [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S
GET THIS LOVE FEST STARTED. FOR
ALL OF YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE
TODAY AS I INTRODUCE MY
PROPOSAL FOR THE 2025-2026
BUDGET, I WANT TO OFFER MY
SINCERE THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR HOSTING US
HERE TODAY. IT FEELS GOOD TO BE
BACK, I SHOULD SAY. WE ARE IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS BECAUSE THIS
WILL BE BUDGET CENTRAL FOR THE
NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, IT IS
THE RIGHT PLACE TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE
FUTURE OF OUR CITY SHOULD BE,
WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT
OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY SHOULD
BE. THERE WILL BE NO DOUBT SOME
LONG NIGHTS HERE FOR ALL OF US
AND INDEED, YOU WILL HEAR
VOICES PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING
SURE THEIR NEEDS ARE MET AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
FOR PUTTING IN THIS HARD WORK,
BALANCING A BUDGET IS RIGHT UP
THERE WITH A DENTIST
APPOINTMENT OR DOING YOUR TAXES
, IT JUST HAS TO BE DONE, SO WE
ARE GOING TO DO THIS TOGETHER,
SO THANK YOU AGAIN. EARLIER
THIS YEAR AT THE ANNUAL STATE
OF THE CITY ADDRESS, WE
DISCUSSED THE SIGNIFICANT
GENERAL FUND BUDGET DEFICIT. IT
FACED US AT $250 MILLION, YOU
MAY RECALL THAT I COMMITTED TO
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO TAKE A
DEEP ANALYTICAL LOOK AT THE
ENTIRE BUDGET PORTFOLIO AND
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT
THAT OUR COLLECTIVE TEAM
EMBRACED THE PROCESS OF TRULY
SCRUBBING THE BUDGET, WE SET
OUT TO CONSIDER NOT JUST WHAT
WE ARE FUNDING BUT HOW WE ARE
FUNDING IT, SO WE LOOKED AT
WHY, WE TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
LIKE IMPLEMENTING A HIRING
FREEZE. I KNOW THAT CAUSED SOME
CONCERN. AND WE LOOKED UNDER
THE HOOD OF THE PROGRAMS WE
FUND AGAINST SCRUTINIZED
STREAMS OF REVENUE AND THIS IS
TOUGH WORK. MY GUIDING
PRINCIPLE AS MAYOR IS THAT MY
OBLIGATION TO YOU, THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE, TO DO OUR BEST TO
SPEND EVERY DOLLAR WE HAVE
TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF THE CITY
AND ITS PEOPLE IN A RESPONSIBLE
AND EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
WAY. WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY
OF A PIE IN THE SKY REIMAGINING
OF OUR BUDGET BASED ON A HOPE
THAT OUR STATES PROGRESSIVE TAX
SYSTEM WILL MAGICALLY CHANGE OR
THAT OLYMPIA WILL LISTEN TO THE
APPEALS OF CITY AND COUNTY'S
LARGE AND SMALL ACROSS
WASHINGTON AND LIFT THE
RESTRICTIVE CAP ON LOCAL
REVENUE, WE WERE NOT DEALT AT
HAND. WE MADE A CONSCIOUS
DECISION NOT TO MAKE BROAD CUTS
TO ESSENTIAL GENERAL FUND
PROGRAMS LIKE POLICE AND FIRE
AND HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE,
INSTEAD WE THOUGHTFULLY AND
STRATEGICALLY, AND METHODICALLY
RECONSTRUCTED AND RECONFIGURED
OUR BUDGET BUILT ON THE STRONG
FOUNDATION AND TRAJECTORY THAT
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED WITH YOUR
HELP. AND AS A
PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE
SENDING THE CITY COUNCIL A
BALANCED BUDGET THAT REFLECTS
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. UNLESS YOU FOLKS
REALLY WANT TO MAKE HISTORY,
YOU CAN PASS THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
, ASSUMING THAT THERE WILL BE
INTENSE CONVERSATIONS TO FOLLOW
AND THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE
LIKE THAT, THERE'S ALWAYS A
CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY. IN ALL
SERIOUSNESS, THIS
RECONFIGURATION OF A BUDGET
ALLOWS US TO PROPOSE A BUDGET
THAT CLOSES THE $250 MILLION
GAP WITHOUT RAISING TAXES AND
WITHOUT NOTICEABLE IMPACT TO
THE PUBLIC FACING CITY SERVICES
THAT RESIDENTS COUNT ON LIKE
KEEPING OUR LIBRARIES OPEN.
KEEPING OUR SENIOR CENTERS
OPEN. COMMUNITY CENTERS,
PROVIDING YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND
CORE PARKS SERVICES,
MAINTAINING CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, STRIVING TO
DELIVER EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
FOR EVERY RESIDENT IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD, WE KNOW THESE ARE
OUR PRIORITIES. THE APPROACH WE
HAVE TAKEN MEANS THAT WE DON'T
HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OUR HAND AT
HARDCHARGING PROGRESSIVE
INVESTMENTS LIKE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OR EXPANDING OUR
INNOVATIVE CARE DEPARTMENT.
SUPPORTING THE WORKING FAMILIES
OF THE CITY AND INFUSING FUNDS
TO ENERGIZE ARTS AND CULTURE
CITYWIDE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT
REPRESENTS THE FIRST STEP, A
HUGE STEP IN PUTTING OUR CITY
ON A BETTER FISCAL TRAJECTORY,
STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
ARE THE KEY, THIS YEAR WE ARE
CONTINUING TO USE SOME OF THE
EXPENSE TAX REVENUES TO SUPPORT
THE GENERAL FUND, JUST AS THE
CITY HAS DONE EVERY YEAR SINCE
IT WAS INTRODUCED, OR THE LAST
FOUR YEARS THE ANNUAL REVENUES
BROUGHT IN BY THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX OF -- HAS
ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED.
SIGNIFICANTLY SURPASSING THE
INITIAL FORECAST, THIS INCREASE
ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN THE
SPENDING AMOUNT FORECAST AND
THE TAX WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED
AND USING THE PRIORITY BUCKETS
OF HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT AND
CLIMATE ACTION AND THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR CITY AND
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THIS RECONFIGURATION ALSO
ALLOWS US TO CLOSE THE DEFICIT
AND INVEST IN GENERAL FUNDS AND
ESSENTIAL SERVICES WITHOUT
TAPPING INTO THE RAINY DAY
FUND, OR PUTTING OUR AAA
BONDING RATING AT RISK AND THIS
BECOMES CRITICAL FOR OUR
LONG-TERM NEEDS. THE PROPOSALS
YOU HEAR ABOUT IN THIS BUDGET
AND THE DEEP UNACCEPTABLE CUTS
THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PROPOSE
ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF
THEIR APPROACH WE USE, SO I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
INTERIM DIRECTOR, WHO ALSO
KNOWS -- WHERE ARE YOU? I WANT
TO THANK YOU. DAN AND I WORKED
ON THIS GREAT SECOND-FLOOR
TOGETHER AND THANK YOU AND YOUR
PREDECESSOR AND THE ENTIRE TEAM
WITH THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE,
MANY OF WHOM ARE REPRESENTED
HERE THIS AFTERNOON FOR
IDENTIFYING THIS REASONABLE
PATH FORWARD AND I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO DAN STRAUSS, SINCE
DAY ONE HE HAS BEEN A THOUGHT
LEADER AND THOUGHT PARTNER
WILLING TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE
BOX AND SEEK REAL SOLUTIONS
WITH A STEADY HAND, SO I WANT
TO THANK YOU, DAN. HE IS A
STRONG ADVOCATE FOR HIS
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT HE PROMISED
ME EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS THAT
AT LEAST SOME OF HIS CHANGES
WILL NOT INVOLVE BALLARD, THAT
IS A COMMITMENT. THIS
RECONFIGURATION DOES NOT MEAN
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO AVOID TOUGH
DECISIONS, OR IGNORE STRUCTURAL
BUDGET CHALLENGES THAT PUT US
IN A POSITION HERE IN THE FIRST
PLACE. WE HAD TO TAKE THESE
ISSUES HEAD-ON. OUR DEPARTMENT
DIRECTORS WHO ARE HERE TODAY,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, THEY
TOOK A FRESH EYE AT THEIR OWN
DEPARTMENT TO MAKE EFFICIENCY
GAINS AND FIND WAYS TO DO MORE
WITH LESS AND CAREFULLY
CONSIDER ALL LINES OF BUSINESS,
THEY ARE EMBRACING MY
EXPECTATION THAT THE CITY IS A
LEARNING, GROWING, BREATHING
ORGANIZATION TO DELIVER
EXCELLENT SERVICE TO OUR
COMMUNITIES. THAT MEANS WE ALSO
HAD TO MAKE SOME VERY DIFFICULT
DECISIONS. WE HAD TO PROPOSE
SOME LAYOFFS. THESE WERE
INFORMED BY STRATEGIC THINKING
AND LONG-TERM APPROACH TO
EFFECTIVE SERVICES BUT FOR
THOSE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE
POTENTIALLY IMPACTED, I
RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY
CHALLENGING AND UNCERTAIN TIME
FOR YOU, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT
AND MY ADMINISTRATIONS
COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL PUT
FORWARD EVERY EFFORT TO SUPPORT
YOU IN THIS TIME OF CHANGE. AND
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL
OF THE CITY WORKERS WHO TIRES
THEY SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORS AND
RESIDENTS. EVERY SINGLE DAY IN
SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. OUR
BUDGET INCLUDES THE CONTRACT WE
SIGNED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT
CENTERED WAGE EQUITY. RESPONDED
TO RECORD INFLATION AND HELP US
RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGHLY
QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES HERE AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO PROVIDE THE
SERVICES WE NEED. THESE VALUED
WORKERS ARE A KEY PART TO THIS
MISSION, FOR US TO BE A
LEARNING AND GROWING
ORGANIZATION. ONE GROUP THAT I
THINK TRULY EMBODIES OUR
RESILIENCE AND THE SPIRIT OF
OUR CITY'S WORKFORCE ARE OUR
SUPPORTED EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS OF
OUR TEAM WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES OR OTHER SIMILAR
CHALLENGES, MANY OF THEM ARE
HERE WITH US TODAY, THEY SERVE
ACROSS THE CITY IN DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS AND I CAN TELL YOU
THEY ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST
WORKING AND MOST ENTHUSIASTIC
TEAMMATES ONE CAN POSSIBLY
HAVE. LAST WEEK I POPPED INTO
THE MONTHLY MEETING WITH OUR
SUPPORTED EMPLOYEES AND
RESPONDED TO THEIR QUESTIONS,
THEY BEAT THE MAYOR A LITTLE
BIT. BUT, THEY REPRESENT THE
BEST IN ALL OF US.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF
PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THEY
DECIDED TO DO THE BEST THEY
COULD TO OVERCOME THE
CHALLENGES THAT ARE PUT BEFORE
THEM AND I'M PROUD TO BE ON
THEIR TEAM AND YOU CAN JUST
SORT OF WAVE YOUR HAND AND SAY
HI TO US, THOSE ARE THE
SUPERSTARS RIGHT THERE. WE TAKE
PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO,
THANK YOU. SO TAKING A TOP TO
BOTTOM APPROACH TO REBUILDING
THE BUDGET ALLOWS US TO
CONTINUE PRIORITIZING PROGRAMS
THAT SUPPORT CITY WORKERS AND
ALLOWS US TO PRIORITIZE
PROGRAMS THAT MEAN SO MUCH TO
US IN DESCRIBING OUR
FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS SUCH AS
PROTECTING THE GAINS WE ARE
MAKING TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR
APPROACH TO HOUSING IS
AMBITIOUS AND MULTIPRONGED AND
A HIGH PRIORITY OF THIS BUDGET,
WE KNOW BRINGING DOWN THE COST
OF HOUSING IS CENTRAL TO OUR
EFFORTS TO MAKE SEATTLE AN
AFFORDABLE CITY TO ALL
RESIDENTS AND MAKING ADDITIONAL
PROGRESS ON THE HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS. THIS IS TOUGH WORK AND
THIS BUDGET, WE ARE PROPOSING
$342 MILLION TOWARD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN 2025, THE LARGEST
SINGLE INVESTMENT IN SEATTLE'S
HISTORY. I NEED THAT TO
RESONATE WITH FOLKS, THAT IS
OUR LARGEST INVESTMENT, UP
UNTIL 2026 WHEN WE HAVE
PROPOSED AN EVEN HIGHER
INVESTMENT OF $343 MILLION ,
RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR OUR
RESIDENTS. ALTOGETHER, THAT IS
NEARLY $700 MILLION TOWARD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVER TWO
YEARS ON TOP OF THE $800
MILLION WE INVESTED IN MY FIRST
THREE YEARS OF OFFICE. THIS IS
CRITICAL POLICY WORK AND
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES,
THOUSANDS MORE UNITS FOR THOSE
MOST IN NEED, PAIRING OUR
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS WITH OTHER
PARTNERS IS CRITICAL. WE NEED
PARTNERS. WE SEEK PARTNERS, YOU
READ ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS EVERY
DAY, THE STATE OF WASHINGTON,
PHILANTHROPY, PRIVATE COMPANIES
LIKE AMAZON INCLUDING THE
RECENT COMMITMENT TO $1.4
BILLION TOWARD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WORKING TOGETHER, WE
ARE ADDRESSING THESE
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FACING
PROVIDERS AND TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE
NEW PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE
IN OUR CITY. THAT SAID, WE KNOW
THAT THESE INVESTMENTS IN
HOUSING INSTABILITY ALONE WILL
NOT MAKE SEATTLE MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES AND
WORKERS AND OUR NEIGHBORS,
SIMPLY PUT, WE NEED MORE
HOUSING AND MORE KINDS OF
HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY. OVER
THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE ADVANCED
A NUMBER OF COMMON SENSE
SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE AND
DIVERSIFY OUR HOUSING STOCK,
MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD,
REDUCING PERMITTING HURDLES AND
PROMOTING HOUSES LIKE ADU'S.
NEXT MONTH WE WILL TAKE ANOTHER
STEP, REFLECTING A MASSIVE
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD NEW KINDS
OF HOUSING AND NEW PLACES. WE
ALSO WILL HAVE A MASSIVE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE EVERYONE
MAD. YOU KNOW COMP PLANS, YOU
KNOW IF YOU KNOW. THAT IS THE
DIFFICULT WORK WE HAVE ELECTED
TO DO. BUT SOME OF THE CHANGES
WE WILL BE MAKING INCLUDE
IMPROVING THE SIZE AND TYPES OF
FAMILY SIZED HOUSING THAT CAN
BE BUILT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTIAL ZONES. MORE
INCENTIVES TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CITYWIDE AND ADDITIONAL
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, AREAS
WHERE WE CAN BUILD STRONGER
COMMUNITIES, ENCOURAGE WALK
ABILITY AND ENCOURAGE HOUSING
OPTIONS AND AFFORDABILITY IN
ALL PARTS OF SEATTLE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR COMP PLAN PUTS ACCESS
OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES
FIRST AND FOREMOST. ALLOWING
CORNER STORES EVERYWHERE IN THE
CITY AND FOCUSING ON CONNECTING
PEOPLE TO TRANSIT AND WITH
INCREASED DENSITY ALONG MAJOR
TRANSIT ROUTES IS PART OF OUR
BUDGET, WE WILL GO FURTHER TO
ADVANCE THE NEXT PIECE IN THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN, FUNDING A
SUPPLEMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW THAT WILL EXPLORE HOW WE
CAN FURTHER ADD HOUSING IN
PLACES THAT ALREADY HAVE
INCREASED DENSITY. INDEED, A
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS ALSO IN
OUR EFFORTS TO BRING 500 NEW
UNITS OF HOUSING TO THE SITE IN
MAGNOLIA. 500, COMBINING
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND RENTAL
PROPERTIES AND TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING, THIS IS
TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR CITY,
THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITY IS CURRENTLY USING
UNDERUTILIZED U.S. ARMY
PROPERTY, IT IS THE SINGLE
LARGEST INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE
AND NEW AFFORDABLE, MIXED-USE
HOUSING IN OUR CITY WHILE ALSO
ADDING 20 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE
TO DISCOVERY PARK. I RECENTLY
TOOK A TOUR WITH OFFICIALS AND
THEY ALSO AGREED ON WHAT A
BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY
HARD TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
COOPERATING AND INVESTING WITH
US AND THIS IS A GREAT PIECE OF
WORK AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR SEATTLE. FINALLY, THANK
YOU.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR PLAN INCLUDES STRATEGIES
TO FIGHT DISPLACEMENT AND
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES WHO
HAVE LONG CALLED SEATTLE HOME
BUT OUR RISK OF BEING PUSHED
OUT BY RISING COSTS AND
CHANGING LANDSCAPE, ONE
IMPORTANT TOOL IN THIS EFFORT
IS THE EQUITABLE ALLOTMENT
INITIATIVE, A PROGRAM I BUDGET
WILL INCREASE TO $28 MILLION,
TOTAL FOR 2025 AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING ONGOING
WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBERS AND
LAND-USE CHAIR, TAMMY MORALES ,
WITH ALL OF THE PROGRAMS WE ARE
PROPOSING LIKE THE REVISED ADU
CODE TO MAKE THIS CITY A PLACE
WHERE EVERYBODY CAN CALL HOME
AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES . THIS
GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DEMONSTRATE WORDS LIKE EQUITY
AND OPPORTUNITY, FAIRNESS AND
JUSTICE, THESE ARE NOT JUST
BUZZ WORDS, THESE ARE REAL
VALUES THAT WILL CONVERT TO
BUDGET POLICY. IT'S THAT
LITTLE BOY WHO MOM WORKED AT
THE LOCAL YMCA, BEING ABLE TO
LIVE IN THE CORE CITY OF
SEATTLE WAS LITERALLY
LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME. MY GOAL
AS YOUR MAYOR IS TO MAKE SURE
OTHER LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE THAT
SAME POSSIBILITY AND THAT IS
DRIVING OUR PLANS. HOUSING IS A
CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE WE NEED INTERMEDIATE
PLACES FOR PEOPLE LIVING ON
SHELTERED TO GO. THEY MUST
BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY TO
RECOVERY, PLACES LIKE SHELTER
AND TINY HOME VILLAGES WITH
CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE AND
SERVICES ON-SITE. OUR CITY AND
REGION ENTERED THIS YEAR
STARING DOWN AT A FUNDING CLIFF
FOR SHELTERS AND TINY HOME
VILLAGES, FACING THE RISK OF
LOSING ABOUT 300 BEDS AS
ONE-TIME GRANTS ARE SET TO
EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THAT IS 300 SPACES WHERE PEOPLE
CAN SAFELY SLEEP AT NIGHT, THAT
IS 300 RESPITES FROM THE COLD
AND THE WINTER IN THE EXTREME
HEAT OF THE SUMMER, THAT IS 300
FOOTHOLDS OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR
A CHANCE TO RECOVER. SO WE
APPRECIATE PLACES LIKE THE
BUILDING IN THE CENTRAL
BUILDING DISTRICT, IT SERVES UP
TO 150 PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND
NIGHT WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON
THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED
IN OUR HOMELESS POPULATION. I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH UNDERSTANDS THE
IMPORTANT IMPACT THIS SHELTER
IS MAKING IN HER DISTRICT AND
ACROSS THE CITY AND I KNOW THAT
THE COMMUNITY HOLDS US
ACCOUNTABLE FOR FIGHTING
AGAINST THESE KINDS OF
INJUSTICES THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN A PART OF OUR
CITY. WE CANNOT LOSE THESE
PLACES. NOT HERE, NOT UNDER OUR
WATCH. SO, IN THIS BUDGET WE
WORK WITH KING COUNTY TO ENSURE
THAT THESE BEDS STAY OPEN,
TAKING ON THESE INVESTMENTS
OURSELVES, AND CHANGING THEM
FROM ONE TIME TO ONGOING, THIS
BECOMES KEY.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES $3.2
MILLION TO KEEP THESE BEDS
OPEN, THIS WAS A MUST INCLUDE
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. I ALSO
WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO
THE WORKERS WHO SERVE THESE
COMMUNITIES AND INDEED CHANGE
LIVES AND SAVE LIVES, OUR HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS. THIS BUDGET
INVESTS IN THEIR WELL-BEING AND
THE RETENTION OF THIS CRITICAL
WORKFORCE KEEPING US ON TRACK
WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS AND
NEEDED EQUITY PAY. WE NEED
THESE AMAZING WORKERS, THESE
DEDICATED EMPLOYEES TO CONTINUE
DOING THESE ESSENTIAL JOBS.
FURTHER, WE ARE MAINTAINING
FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES INCLUDING CONTRACTS
ADMINISTERED BY THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY.
I'M PLEASED WITH THE EARLIER
CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH
THE NEW CEO, DR. KELLY
KENNISON, SHE BRINGS DILIGENCE
AND COMPETENCE AND EXPERIENCE
AND COMPASSION AND URGENCY TO
THIS ORGANIZATION , SHE ADDS TO
THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING,
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE ENERGY
SHE IS BRINGING AUNT TOGETHER
WITH DR. KENNISON AND THE
REFORMS IN FRONT OF THE CITY
AND THE COUNCIL, WE CAN TAKE
THIS ORGANIZATION TO ITS NEXT
PHASE FROM STARTUP TO UPSTART,
DISRUPTING THE STATUS QUO AND
REDUCING UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS. MY BUDGET
PROPOSAL WILL EXPAND THE
SERVICE CAPACITY OF OUR UNIFIED
CARE TEAM, ALLOWING US TO
IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO AREAS
FREQUENTLY REPOPULATED WITH
ENCAMPMENTS. OUR UNIFIED CARE
TEAM HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, HOUSED AND UNHOUSED,
WE HAVE DECREASED TENT
ENCAMPMENTS BY 72% AND
INCREASED SHELTER REFERRALS ,
THEY HAVE CLIMBED IN TERMS OF
THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE ARE
REFERRING TO SHELTER. WE ARE
COMMITTED TO THIS ISSUE, WE
KNOW THAT MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH IS OFTEN INTERSECTIONAL
WITH HOMELESSNESS AND WHILE ANY
PERSON IN OUR CITY CAN BE LOST
TO THE DEVASTATION OF FENTANYL
AND SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS, WE
UNDERSTAND THOSE LIVING
UNSHELTERED ARE AT A
SIGNIFICANTLY DISPROPORTIONATE
RISK. THAT IS WHY LAST WEEK I
ANNOUNCED A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH
STRATEGY CENTERED ON INCREASING
INVESTMENT IN THE GREATEST
PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE THAT WE
FACE RIGHT NOW. THE FENTANYL
CRISIS. NEXT YEAR WE WILL
NEARLY TRIPLE OUR SPENDING TO
TAKE ON SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER,
FUNDING THE NEW PROGRAMS,
IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES THAT ARE
ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE,
OVER THE LAST YEAR WE HAD SEEN
AN 18% DECREASE IN FATAL
OVERDOSES ACROSS KING COUNTY
AND THAT REDUCTION IS EVEN
HIGHER IN OUR DOWNTOWN CORE.
PROGRAMS CALLED FOR IN MY APRIL
, 2023 EXECUTIVE ORDER LIKE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HEALTH,
99, EXPANDING MOBILE MEDICATION
DELIVERY IN A NEW WAY AND A
PILOT TO DISTRIBUTE LIFE-SAVING
DRUGS THAT REDUCE CRAVINGS AND
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. THESE ARE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AS IS OUR
COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH, SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY
AND OUR SERVICE PROVIDER
PARTNERS. NEXT YEAR WE CAN
FORGE AHEAD ON OUR NEXT SET OF
INITIATIVES IN THIS AREA, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH DSC, WE WILL
OPEN UP THE ORCA CENTER , THIS
WILL PROVIDE CARE TO THOSE IN
THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF AN
OVERDOSE. AS WELL AS THE TOOLS
AND SUPPORT TO SEEK RECOVERY
AND TREATMENT, AND NEXT MONTH
WE WILL BEGIN A PILOT WITH
VALLEY CITY TO PROVIDE A
DEDICATED D, -- DETOX. HELPING
PEOPLE ACCESS CARE TO GET WELL
IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR
PLAN. TO CREATE A VIBRANT AND
WELCOMING CITY FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S ALSO JUST ONE PART OF OUR
INVESTMENT STRATEGY TO SPORT
OUR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN
AND BUILD THE DOWNTOWN OF THE
FUTURE. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE
BUDGET, IT CONTAINS MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TOWARD ART ACTIVATION,
BEAUTIFICATION, RENOVATION,
LONG-TERM PLANNING AND
DOWNTOWN, THIS IS A PRIORITY OF
MINE AND I KNOW IT IS A
PRIORITY OF SARAH NELSON WHO
HAS BEEN A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR
THIS AREA SINCE TAKING OFFICE
AND I WENT TO SAINT -- SAY
THANK YOU FOR HER LEADERSHIP.
ONE OF THE AREAS I'M MOST
EXCITED ABOUT IS OUR PROPOSAL
FOR WESTLAKE CENTER, IN THE
HEART OF DOWNTOWN. THE WORLD
CUP OPPORTUNITIES ARE SWIFTLY
APPROACHING, AS I'M REMINDED
ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THIS CAN
IGNITE LASTING CHANGES AT
WESTLAKE. OVER THE LAST YEAR
WE'VE HAD A PREVIEW OF WHAT
THIS COULD LOOK LIKE WITH GREAT
EVENTS OR TURNOUTS AT WESTLAKE
TO WATCH PARTIES FOR THE U.S.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SOCCER
TEAMS, I SAT THROUGH A FEW OF
THOSE AND IT IS TRULY FUN AND
EXCITING. YESTERDAY I ATTENDED
A MEMORIAL OF FORMER MAYOR
CHARLIE ROYER, A CHAMPION FOR
SEATTLE AND WHO MADE
WESTLAKE'S REVITALIZATION A
CENTERPIECE OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION. I WANT TO
PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU TO HIS
FAMILY AND FOR THE VISION THAT
WE ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP ALIVE
TODAY, WE CAN CONTINUE
ADVANCING THIS VISION AND MAKE
WESTLAKE THE WORLD-CLASS PLAZA
IT DESERVES TO BE. A GATHERING
PLACE, A COMMUNITY COMMONS, A
NEXUS BETWEEN LINKING DOWNTOWN
AND THE WATERFRONT AND SEATTLE
CENTER, PULLING IT ALL
TOGETHER. THIS COMES AS WE
PREPARE TO COMPLETE OUR
REVOLUTIONARY WATERFRONT
PROJECT WHICH ITS GRAND OPENING
IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER NEXT
YEAR. I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW
THAT ON OCTOBER 4th, SIX DAYS
BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY, BY THE WAY,
I HOPE YOU JOIN ME AS WE BUILD
ON THE MOMENTUM OF THE SEATTLE
AQUARIUM'S OCEAN PAVILION AND
OFFICIALLY INTRODUCE THE
OVERLOOK WALK AS THE LATEST
ICONIC URBAN ELEMENT AND YOU
HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF IT, THIS
IS REALLY COOL STUFF. IT WILL
CREATE A FIRST OF ITS KIND
PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE DOWNTOWN AND THE WATERFRONT
AND THE PIKE PLACE MARKET AND
THE NEW PARK PROMENADE. GOOD
THINGS ARE HAPPENING DOWNTOWN.
ANOTHER AREA OF INVESTMENT IN
MY PROPOSAL TO MAINTAIN OUR
ENHANCED CLEANING EFFORTS,
THROUGH OUR $1.5 MILLION
INVESTMENT, IS TO DESCRIBE
THESE EFFORTS, AND LAST WEEK I
HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING
DIRECTLY TO THE AMBASSADORS,
THE FOLKS YOU SEE OUT THERE
CLEANING AND PUTTING IN THE
WORK, HELPING DOWNTOWN. I KNOW
YOU SEE THEM, YOU CANNOT MISS
THEIR BRIGHT YELLOW VESTS. NOW
MANY OF THEM YOU MAY NOT KNOW,
THEY COME FROM CHALLENGING
BACKGROUNDS AND THEY ARE
CERTAINLY WILLING TO SHARE THAT
WITH YOU, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED
CHALLENGES WITH HOMELESSNESS
AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR
INCARCERATION, AND WHEN WE MET,
I TOLD THEM A FEW THINGS. THE
FIRST THING I TRIED TO IMPRESS
UPON THEM WAS THANK YOU THANK
YOU EVERY DAY FOR YOUR HARD
WORK AND MAKING OUR CITY A MORE
WELCOMING PLACE, FROM ONE HUMAN
BEING TO ANOTHER, THANK YOU.
THE SECOND THING A SHARED WITH
THEM, THAT THEY ARE AN EXAMPLE
OF WHAT OUR ADMINISTRATION IS
TRYING TO ACHIEVE, WHERE PEOPLE
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AND SECOND
CHANCES TO RESTORE NOT JUST
THEIR OWN LIVES BUT TO HELP
OTHERS IN NEED GET ON THE SAME
PATH. USING THAT LIVED
EXPERIENCE TO HELP OTHERS. AND
THIRD, THAT THEY ARE ALSO A
PART OF OUR ONE SEATTLE TEAM. A
CRITICAL PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO
PUMP LIFE AND VIBRANCY AND
HEART AND SOUL INTO OUR
STREETS. I SHARE THEIR PASSION
AND THEY SHARE OUR PASSION TO
CREATE A SAFE, FRIENDLY
DOWNTOWN AND WE WILL MATCH
THEIR PASSION, THEY WILL MATCH
OURS AND THAT IS HOW WE ARE
GOING TO GET THIS DONE. I WILL
BE ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
TO BETTER IMPROVE THIS
COORDINATION, TO BETTER IMPROVE
THE VIBRANCY AND SAFETY ACROSS
THE CITY, WE HAVE SEEN
INCREDIBLE IMPROVEMENTS DRIVEN
BY TACTICAL SURGES TO CLEAN UP
THE STREET. YOU HAVE SEEN THAT.
WE HELP PEOPLE ACCESS SERVICES
AND REFERRALS THAT THEY NEED,
WE MAKE ARREST FOR UNLAWFUL
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THIS
EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL ESTABLISH
A NEW DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM,
TO MAKE THESE CHANGES
SUSTAINABLE. BUILDING ON THE
PROVEN MODEL IN CORNISH WITH
THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM, SO THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM WILL
BRING TOGETHER NEARLY 15 CITY
DEPARTMENTS WITH OUR PARTNERS
AND SERVICE PROVIDERS LIKE THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION,
THE MID AMBASSADORS I SPOKE OF,
WE DELIVER CARE AMONG OTHERS,
IT WILL ALLOW US TO BETTER
COORDINATE ACTIVATIONS,
CLEANINGS AND SAFETY OPERATIONS
DOWNTOWN. THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND
LITTLE SAIGON. I KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT THIS IS TO THE ENTIRE
CITY AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR,
BOB KETTLE , THAT THIS PROVES
SUCCESSFUL AND WE ARE CONFIDENT
THIS APPROACH WILL BE BROUGHT
CITYWIDE. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. BASED ON
PRACTICES AND RESETTING
COMMUNITY NORMS, AND
ESTABLISHING PRINCIPLES IN
CRIMINOLOGY, THE NEW TEAM WILL
IMPLEMENT WHAT WE ARE CALLING
SCHEDULED RESTORATION ACTIONS,
INTENDED TO CLEAN AREAS,
ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
FACILITATE ARTISTIC AND
CULTURAL EXPRESSION, TEAMS WILL
BE VISIBLE AND CONSISTENT. THIS
IS THE KIND OF STRATEGIC
COORDINATION WE NEED TO FURTHER
RESTORE THE VIBRANCY AND
LIVABILITY IN THESE CHERISHED
NEIGHBORHOODS. ELEMENTS OF THIS
PLAN AND THE WORK OF THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN HAVE
ALREADY BEGUN AND WE ARE SEEING
POSITIVE EARLY RESULTS DOWNTOWN
AND WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF
POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR
EFFORTS. BUT FOR SEATTLE TO
THRIVE, THE VIBRANCY OF OUR
ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL CENTERS
MUST CONTINUE TO BE RESTORED,
THIS IS ONGOING WORK AND THIS
IS A PRIORITY FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION. WHAT WE KNOW IS
THAT PUBLIC SAFETY TOUCHES ON
VIRTUALLY EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT
AND EVERY FUNCTION OF OUR
GOVERNMENT. WE RECENTLY HELD A
RETREAT AND THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, TO KEEP
PEOPLE SAFE TAKES A HOLISTIC
APPROACH AND RECOGNIZES THE
IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH,
FOOD ACCESS, TREATMENT
AVAILABILITY, HOUSING
STABILITY, AS IT DOES LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND DIVERSIFIED
RESPONSES TO 911 CALLS. OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS ARE A CRUCIAL
PART OF OUR SYSTEM AND DO
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND
VALUABLE WORK DAILY, ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS, ALL DEPARTMENTS
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN
SEATTLE. THIS IS THE ONE
SEATTLE APPROACH, THIS APPROACH
FOR SUSTAINABLE AND MEASURABLE
SAFETY IS WHAT GUIDES MY
ADMINISTRATION, TO PROPOSE
INVESTMENTS IN THIS BUDGET.
THIS INCLUDES EFFORTS LIKE
RESOLVING 911 CALLS BY
REBUILDING AND OPTIMIZING
OFFICER STAFFING AND EXPANDING
RESPONSE OPTIONS TO BEST MATCH
THE SITUATION. THAT IS WHY OUR
BUDGET CONTINUES TO INVEST IN
THE EXPANDED SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT RECRUITING CLASS AND
SFPD RECRUITING, WHERE THIS
YEAR WE ARE ON PACE TO HAVE
NEARLY 4000 OFFICER APPLICANTS
WHICH IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
APPLICANTS SINCE 2013 OVER A
DECADE AGO.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> AS WE ARE WORKING FEVERISHLY
TO MAKE SURE THE APPLICATION
WORK WE ARE DOING AND THE
PIPELINE INTO ACTUAL OFFICERS
IS IMPROVED GREATLY, WE ARE NOT
TALKING IN THE ABSTRACT, WE ARE
REALLY HIRING. RIGHT NOW,
SEATTLE POLICE JOBS, IF YOU
WANT TO PULL UP THE WEBSITE AND
JOIN THE EFFORT OF OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY DEPARTMENT , SEATTLE
JOBS, SEATTLEPOLICEJOBS.COM.
YOU GOT IT? I WILL WAIT FOR
YOU. OUR BUDGET ALSO REFLECTS
OUR NEW AGREEMENT WITH KING
COUNTY WHICH WILL EXPAND
FLEXIBILITY AND CAPACITY IN OUR
USE OF THE KING COUNTY JAIL.
OUR APPROACH TO ADDRESSING
PEOPLE ENGAGED IN UNLAWFUL
ACTIVITIES REQUIRES A DIVERSE
ARRAY OF STRATEGIES AND
APPROACHES, INCLUDING THE
OPTION TO BOOK SOMEONE INTO
JAIL. IT IS FOR THAT REASON THE
NEED FOR THE RIGHT RESPONSE AT
THE RIGHT TIME THAT WE ARE ALSO
INCLUDING FUNDING THE CITYWIDE
EXPANSION OF CARE RESPONDERS.
OUR NEW PARADIGM IN PUBLIC
SAFETY, ADDING ONGOING FUNDING
FOR AN ADDITIONAL 18 RESPONDERS
AND THREE SUPERVISORS. THESE
RESPONDERS WILL ALLOW CARE TO
ANSWER CALLS CITYWIDE SEVEN
DAYS A WEEK, REDUCING STRAIN ON
LIMITED PLACED RESOURCES AND
HELPING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE
BY PROVIDING DIRECT BEHAVIORAL
INTERVENTIONS AND CRISIS
DE-ESCALATION AND RESOURCE AND
SERVICE NAVIGATION,
TRANSPORTATION AND MORE. THIS
IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT WE
SHOULD ALL EMBRACE. WE ARE ALSO
-- YES.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> WE ARE ALSO MAKING A PUSH IN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO BETTER LEVERAGE CIVILIAN
ROLES TO SUPPORT SWORN OFFICERS
LIKE HIRING EMPLOYEES TO HELP
WITH ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS TO
PROVIDE SWIFT ANALYSIS AND
INFORMATIVE DATA. WE ARE
EXPANDING THE ROLE OF PARKING
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO REVIEW
TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERAS AS WELL.
A NEW WAY OF THINKING, NOT JUST
WHAT WE INVEST BUT HOW WE
INVEST, TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
IS A PUBLIC SAFETY, TOO. IT'S
A PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM OF
TRYING TO KEEP ALL COMMUNITIES
SAFE AND THIS BUDGET INCLUDES
AN EXPANSION OF 38 TRAFFIC
SAFETY CAMERAS IN 19 SCHOOL
ZONES, MORE THAN DOUBLING THE
CURRENT COUNT, AND YOU WILL
NOTICE I'M NOT TALKING A LOT
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION IN THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET ANALYSIS, BUT TO
MAKE THIS CLEAR, WE NEED TO
MEET HOUSING AND ECONOMIC GOALS
BECAUSE THEY ARE CRITICAL TO
OUR FUTURE AS A CITY AND
CREATING THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
LET ME JUST SAY, I SUGGEST --
IS ALWAYS ETHICS RULES IN WHAT
I CAN SAY SO LET ME BE VERY
CAREFUL HERE. I SUGGEST YOU
THOROUGHLY REVIEW YOUR VOTER
GUIDE STATEMENT, THIS YEAR AND
MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION WHEN
YOU VOTE IN NOVEMBER. NOT JUST
IN OUR COLLECTIVE PROPOSED
TRANSPORTATION THAT HE, BUT ON
EVERYTHING, IF YOU GET MY
DRIFT. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I
WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER ROB SAKA, ALSO
KNOWN AS THE KING OF POTHOLES .
FOR PARTNERING WITH US AND
REFINE AND PROPOSE THE LEVEE
THAT IS ON THIS YEAR'S BALLOT,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE BUDGET
ALSO INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL
CHANGES LIKE NEW OVERWHELMED
PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING, TO MAKE
PEOPLE FEEL SAFE. YOU PROBABLY
READ ABOUT THIS RECENTLY. IT IS
NO SURPRISE THAT I STRONGLY
BELIEVE IN USING THE LATEST TOO
STRENGTHEN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
EFFORTS, WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT IS WORKING IN OTHER CITIES
AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO
REPLICATE IF IT IS INDEED
WORKING. AND WE ARE ALWAYS
WILLING TO LISTEN TO FEEDBACK,
IF SOMETHING IS INEFFECTIVE,
THIS BUDGET WE WILL FUND A
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER TO
IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND
TO AND SOLVE CRIMES. IT ALSO
INVESTS IN OUR PILOT IN
NEIGHBORHOODS DOWNTOWN, THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT AND ALONG AURORA
AVENUE. BUDGET PROPOSES
INVESTING AND SUPPORTING THOSE
WHO NEED OUR HELP, INCLUDING A
$2 MILLION INVESTMENT IN
SERVICES LIKE PEOPLE BEING
TRAFFICKED. AND EXPLOITED ON
AURORA AVENUE, AND I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNSEL
FOR HAVING SOME VERY INTENSE
DISCUSSIONS, EMPATHETIC
DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE. WE
HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT
THOSE BEING VICTIMIZED AND
CONNECT THEM WITH THE
ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICE
PROVIDERS WHO CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES, AND
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
AGREES WITH THIS APPROACH AND
WILL BE A CHAMPION FOR THESE
NEEDED SUPPORT SERVICES, THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER MOORE . THIS
BUDGET SEEKS TO INVEST IN THE
NEXT STAGE OF OUR PLAN FOR
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY,
BRINGING OUR TOTAL TO NEARLY
$20 MILLION TO EXPAND MENTAL
HEALTH COUNSELORS, TELEHEALTH
SERVICES AND INTERVENTION, IN
ADDITION TO $12.5 MILLION
SUPPORTING YOUTH SAFETY. WE
WILL ONLY BE SAFE WHEN OUR
CHILDREN ARE SAFE, OUR OVERALL
INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY SAFETY
THROUGH OUR HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT IS $38.3 MILLION
WITH CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN
THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION THAT ARE USING THE
LIVED EXPERIENCE, INCREDIBLE
MESSENGERS TO DISRUPT GUN
VIOLENCE NEAR SCHOOLS AND
ACROSS THE CITY. I KNOW FOR A
FACT THAT COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PARTNER
IN THINKING THROUGH THESE
INVESTMENTS, DRIVING OUTCOMES
WITH A FOCUS ON IMPROVING
OUTCOMES FOR OUR YOUTH AND I
WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU
TO COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR
THAT LEADERSHIP. THESE
INVESTMENTS ARE PART OF A
BROADER APPROACH TO CREATE
THRIVING COMMUNITIES. THE
PROJECTED FUND DEFICIT REQUIRED
US TO BE STRATEGIC IN THESE
AREAS THAT I HAVE DISCUSSED,
SQUEEZING THE MOST OUT OF EVERY
DOLLAR AND INVESTING IN
PROGRAMS THAT TRULY MAKE THE
BIGGEST DIFFERENCE. I ONCE SAW
A POSTER THAT SAID BUDGETING IS
THE ART OF SPREADING
DISSATISFACTION UNIFORMLY.
WELL, I BELIEVE IT IS ALSO
SPREADING SATISFACTION
UNIFORMLY , FOR EXAMPLE, WE ALL
LOVE TREES IN THE GREAT
NORTHWEST AND PARTICULARLY IN
SEATTLE. OUR PROPOSAL TO
ESTABLISH THE ONE SEATTLE TREE
NURSERY IS A NEW PROGRAM
CRITICAL FOR MEETING TREE
CANOPY RESTORATION, OUR GOALS,
AND ULTIMATELY A MONEY SAVER
BECAUSE WE WILL BE ABLE TO GROW
OUR OWN LOCAL TREES INSTEAD OF
PURCHASING THEM FROM OTHER
STATES. THE CITY IS REMARKABLE
TREES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM
DELIVERS HUNDREDS OF TREES TO
RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY, BUT
THIS YEAR, WE HAD TO OFFER
FEWER TREES THAN EXPECTED
BECAUSE PRODUCTION ISSUES
OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL, OUTSIDE
OF THE STATE WERE CAUSED BY THE
PROVIDERS. WE CANNOT IMPROVE
THIS, I SHOULD SAY POSITIVELY,
WE CAN IMPROVE THIS BY GROWING
THE BEST TREES FOR SEATTLE, TO
ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE. WE HAVE
BEEN RELENTLESS IN OUR CLIMATE
EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY SEEKING
GRANTS FROM THE STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT THE
HISTORIC TIME WHERE THE ISSUE
OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS IN FRONT
OF US. AND LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT
IN $61.5 MILLION IN STATE AND
FEDERAL CLIMATE GRANTS FOCUSING
ON THINGS LIKE GREEN BUILDINGS
AND AFFORDABLE HEAT PUMPS AND
CLEAN ELECTRICITY REBATES.
THESE RESOURCES HAVE ALLOWED US
FLEX ABILITY TO RESTRUCTURE THE
FUNDING FOR OUR OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
DIRECTOR FOR HER STRONG
LEADERSHIP IN HER DEPARTMENT,
SHE GETS ALL THE CREDIT, THAT
IS THE WAY IT WORKS SOMETIMES.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> FINALLY , I WANT TO
REITERATE THAT I'M PROUD OF
THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO PRESERVE IN THIS BUDGET
RESTRUCTURING, LIKE MAINTAINING
ALL GRANTS AND ARTS AND
CULTURE, INCLUDING THE RACIAL
EQUITY PROGRAM, I KNOW THIS IS
A PRIORITY FOR COUNCILMEMBER
WOO, I HEARD HER SPEAK ON THIS
ELOQUENTLY FOR SOME TIME, AS
WELL AS HER WORK TO FOSTER WORK
IN THE CITY AND CREATE A STRONG
AND CREATIVE ECONOMY AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO YOUR DISCUSSIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> WE MUST CONTINUE TO NOT ONLY
BE KNOWN AS A CITY OF
INNOVATION AND RESILIENCY, BUT
ALSO A CITY KNOWN FOR OUR ARTS,
OUR ABILITY TO EXPRESS
OURSELVES, OUR CULTURE, THAT IS
IN OUR SPECIAL DNA AS A CITY,
WE HAVE OUR OWN CULTURE AND IT
IS PRETTY COOL ACTUALLY. WE
NEED TO INVEST IN THESE EFFORTS
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ACHIEVED
A LOT IN THIS BUDGET, WE HAVE
CLOSED AT THE GENERAL FUND
DEFICIT OF 2025 AND 2026, ALSO
FUNDING IMPORTANT PRIORITIES
AND PREVENTING MORE DEVASTATING
CUTS. WE MADE SOME TOUGH
DECISIONS. BUT NECESSARY
DECISIONS ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
AND OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENTS,
OUR FUTURE SPENDING AND OUR
GOAL ALWAYS IS TO PROVIDE A
NEW, CLEAR TRAJECTORY FOR
SUSTAINABILITY. AND MOST
IMPORTANT, I BELIEVE WE MADE
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU ALL, THE
RESIDENCE OF SEATTLE, THE
STRATEGY ALLOWS US TO PUT EVERY
DOLLAR, EVERY DOLLAR -- I'M
SORRY, I WAS DOING PERFECTLY
UNTIL THEN , THIS STRATEGY
ALLOWED US TO PUT EVERY DOLLAR
THAT WE HAVE TO THE NEEDS OF
OUR CITY, STRONG PUBLIC
SERVICES, HISTORICAL
INVESTMENTS IN AFFORD A HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS INVESTMENTS,
NEEDED PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS
AND RESOURCES FOR THE WRITING
COMMUNITIES AND SO MUCH MORE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO MY TEAMMATES FOR DOING THIS
WORK, THIS IS A STRONG STARTING
POINT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AS
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND A
COMMUNITY USING RESOURCES. PART
OF OUR JOB IS RECEIVING
FEEDBACK. MY ADMINISTRATION
WELCOMES YOUR FEEDBACK IN A
CONVERSATION, TOGETHER WE ARE
BUILDING A GREAT CITY, CLAWING
OUR WAY BACK TO A CITY THAT WE
LOVE SO MUCH. SO TO ALL OF YOU,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, I
KNOW IT WAS A LONG SPEECH BUT
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO,
THIS IS OUR WORK TOGETHER AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD FOR
HELPING ME BUILD ONE SEATTLE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> THE COUNCIL WILL BE AT EASE
FOR A WHILE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO
STAY FOR THE REST OF THE
MEETING.