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>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THE
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT'S 9:33 JULY 23,2024.
I'M ROBERT KETTLE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> NELSON?
>> HERE.
>> SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, FOUR MEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. BEFORE
BEGINNING TODAY, I WANT TO NOTE
THAT IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMUNITY HERE AT CITY HALL,
IT'S A BROAD COMMUNITY. HERE
ON THE COUNCIL IN THE
COMMITTEE, WITH WORK WITH STAFF
AND COUNCILMEMBERS, AND THE
EXECUTIVES, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND AS REPRESENTED TODAY BY SPD
AND CARE, BUT ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENTS THAT FALL UNDER THE
COMMUNITY'S VIEW AND WE WORK
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE AND THE COURTS AND SO
FORTH. IT'S ONE BIG FAMILY.
WITH THAT SAID, WITH DO WORK
CLOSELY ON ALL OF THE ISSUES WE
ARE FACING, AND IT'S IMPACTFUL
WHEN WE LOSE SOMEONE. SINCE OUR
LAST MEETING, WE HAVE LOST TWO
PEOPLE. JIM HILLIS FROM
SECURITY HERE, PASSED AWAY ON
THE 15th OF JULY WHILE AT THE
HOSPITAL. IT WAS A SUDDEN AND
UNEXPECTED LOSS. HE WAS THE
SECURITY DIRECTOR OF ALLIED
UNIVERSAL HERE AT CITY HALL,
RESPONSIBLE. STARTED HERE IN
2012. BECAME A MANAGER IN 2015,
AND THEN THE SECURITY DIRECTOR
IN 2019, AND WE WOULD WORK WITH
HIM, AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
ISSUES THAT WOULD COME UP HERE,
COUNCIL AND WITH THE
COMMITTEES, HE WAS A CALM,
STEADY INFLUENCE. HE WAS A
PROFESSIONAL THROUGH AND
THROUGH, AND AGAIN, SADLY HE
PASSED ON THE 15th. ALSO, THIS
WEEKEND, WE LOST SOMEONE FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHO WORKS
PUBLIC SAFETY. JENNIFER GATTON
IN AN ACCIDENT. AGAIN, SUDDEN
AND UNEXPECTED. SERVED A AS
PUBLIC STRATEGIC ADVISER
SERVING THE DEPUTY MAYOR
BURGESS, JOINING US TODAY.
PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN KING
COUNTY, ALSO IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR. CALLED BACK TO SERVICE
TO WORK AT CITY HALL FOR THE
CITY. BOTH WILL BE MISSED.
WHETHER 63 OR 33, BOTH HAD
DREAMS AND PLANS FOR THE
FUTURE, AND OUR CONDOLENCES GO
TO THEIR FAMILIES AND ALSO
THEIR WORK FAMILIES, A LOT
REPRESENTED HERE, AND THEIR
COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE THEY WILL
BE MISSED. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S
BROADER THAN THOSE TWO. I WAS
REMINDED AS WELL, THIS WEEK IS
THE MEMORIAL FOR FIREFIGHTER
ADAM CLEMENT. THAT, TOO WAS A
SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED LOSS. FOR
EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WELL
HOLD THEM IN OUR HEARTS AND SAY
OUR CONDOLENCES TO THEIR
FAMILIES. THANK YOU. WE WILL
NOW HOPE THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. THEY SHOULD
RELATE TO THE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA OR WITHIN THE SCOPE OF
THE COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY EIGHT IN PERSON
SPEAKERS AND THREE REMOTE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
>> GIVEN THAT NUMBER, WE WILL
GO WITH TWO MINUTES. START WITH
THE IN-PERSON, AND THEN WE WILL
DO REMOTE. CAN YOU PLEASE READ
THE PUBLIC STATEMENT
INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. IT'S UP TO
20 MINUTES, SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR
A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE
LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKER
MICS WILL BE MUTED TO CALL THE
NEXT SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, AND
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. THE FIRST
SPEECHER SEAN JACKSON SLASH PAT
CALLAHAN.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
TO GIVE US SOME TIME TO TALK
ABOUT THE ISSUES OF SAFETY AND
SECURITY. WE ARE WITH THE
COMPANY I FOUNDED URBAN
RENAISSANCE GROUP 18 YEARS AGO.
>> CLOSER.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK MORE IN THE
MIC?
>> CLOSER?
>> YEAH.
>> SORRY, SIR. A COMMERCIAL
REAL ESTATE COMPANY THAT HAS
BIG LONG ROOTS IN SEATTLE. WE
OVERSEE 14 MILLION SQUARE FEET
INCLUDING TEETH THE, PORTLAND,
AND DENVER, BUT HALF OF THAT IS
ALL IN SEATTLE. WE ARE HEAVILY
INVESTED 7 MILLION SQUARE FEET
IN SEATTLE, MAINLY OFFICE
SPACE. SOME OF OUR OFFICE SPACE
IS AT FOURTH AND PIKE, BETWEEN
THIRD AND FOURTH AND PIKE AND
PINE. IT IS OBVIOUS WHY WE ARE
HERE GIVEN WHAT IS GOING ON AT
THAT LOCATION. I GUESS OUR MAIN
THEME, AND THEN SEAN WILL GO IN
TO SOME EXAMPLES, HAS REALLY
BEEN THAT THE PROBLEM --
THERE'S BEEN IMPROVEMENT, AND
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE MAYOR
ALL SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR
THAT, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT
BEEN SOLVE. WHAT IS HAPPENING
NOW, ALL OF THE FENTANYL USE IS
BRINGING CONSISTENT CRIME TO
THE AREAS IT'S FESTERING. THE
HUGE AREA WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
IS REALLY IN SOME WAYS THE
CENTER OF OUR CITY, AND IT'S
NOT IN GREAT CONDITION. WITH
THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
SEAN TO GIVE EXAMPLES OF WHAT
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED.
>> I ALSO WANT TO ECHO PAT'S
COMMENTS ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS
AND HARDWORK YOU ARE ALL DOING.
IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED, BUT
YOU HAVE ALWAYS SEEN THE HEAT
MAPS. THE HEAT MAPS CONTINUE TO
GET MORE AND MORE PROGRESSIVE
IN THESE AREAS WITH RESPECT TO
DRUG USE, AND FRANKLY THE PETTY
CRIME. IT HAS GOTTEN TO BE
SOMEWHAT EXTREME IN SOME CASES.
I HAVE A HANDOUT FOR YOU. I
KNOW YOU HAVE ALL SEEN IT, BUT
APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AGO
WE HAD A GARBAGE TRUCK LIT ON
FIRE BETWEEN THE ALLEY AND OUR
BUILDING. THE DRIVER WAS IN THE
TRUCK AND COULD NOT GET THE
FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER. THESE ARE THE
THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR ALLEY.
WITH WITH RESPECT TO THIS, THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO SHOW UP,
AND IT SCORCHED THE SIDE OF OUR
BUILDING. THESE ARE PROPERTY
DAMAGE EVENTS THAT HAPPEN QUITE
FREQUENTLY. IN ADDITION TO
THESE THINGS, WE HAVE HAD A
RESTAURANT A TERRIFIC NATIONAL
CHAIN RESTAURANT BOURBON STEAK
THAT CLOSED. WE TRIED TO GET
THEM TO REOPEN, BUT THEY ARE
NOT ABLE TO REHIRE A CHEF.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE.
THE CHEFS GO DOWN AND LOOK AT
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SAY NO
WAY. THESE ARE THE THINGS WE
ARE UP AGAINST, AND THIS IS AS
PAT MENTIONED, THE 50-YARD LINE
OF THE RETAIL CORE OF DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE THIS IS WHERE WE HAD
THE SEAHAWKS PARADE GO BY. THIS
IS OUR BRAND THAT IS BEING
TARNISHED. THE LEVEL OF CRIME
AS WE SAID IS REALLY REMARKABLY
HIGH. THE VIOLENCE HAS NOT
IMPROVED. OUR EMPLOYEES
CONTINUE TO COME TO ME IN THE
OFFICE AND SAY I'M WORRIED
ABOUT WALKING TO WORK. I'M
WORRIED ABOUT TAKING THE BUS.
THE BUS STOPS, YOU KNOW, WE
NEED TO WORK WITH KING COUNTY
AS WELL TO IMPROVE THE BUS STOP
SITUATION. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THERE HAS BEEN
IMPROVEMENT, BUT THIS
IMPROVEMENT NEEDS TO BE
SUSTAINED, AND IT NEEDS TO BE
MEANINGFUL. I WALKED WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AND YOU
SAW WHAT WE SAW. IT SPEAKS FOR
ITSELF. AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME, AND WE CAN'T LET A
FEW CRUMMY BLOCKS INFLUENCE THE
BRAND OF SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS ANDREA SUAREZ
SLASH WE HEART SEATTLE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM ANDREA
SUAREZ WITH WE HEART SEATTLE.
OUR MISSION IS FOR A BEAUTIFUL
AND SAFE SEATTLE FOR EVERYONE
TO ENJOY THROUGH DIRECT
ENGAGEMENT. AS SEATTLE GRAPPLES
WITH THE ALARMING RISE IN
SHOOTINGS, IT'S CRUCIAL WE
LEVERAGE THE LICENSE PLATE
RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN
SIGNIFICANTLY AID LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN ADDRESSING
CRIMES. IT'S PROVEN SUCCESSFUL
IN SAN FRANCISCO IS OAKLAND,
SHOWING US THE BENEFITS FOR OUR
CITY. MAYOR HARRELL WANTS TO
DEPLOY CCTV CAMERAS, BUT WE
NEED TO THINK BIGGER. FLOCK
SAFETY, WE CAN DETER HATE
CRIMES, ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND
ADDRESS THE MOST SHOOTINGS WE
HAVE SEEN SINCE 2021. WE MUST
ALSO ADDRESS TRANSPARENCY
WITHIN SPD. THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ONCE CONTRACTED WITH
TRULIO, THE COMPANY THAT
ANALYZES 100% OF THE BODY-WORN
DATA WHILE FULLY REACTING
PERSONAL INFORMATION. THIS
PROMOTED TRANSPARENCY AND
STRENGTHENED THE COMMUNITY
TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
FORMER CHIEF DIAZ CANCELED IT,
AND IT'S TIME TO REINSTATE THE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
IN SPD NOW THAT HE IS GONE. THE
CHIEF WILL PRESENT THE
CRITICALLY LOW STAFFING NUMBERS
AND THE NEED TO ENSURE PUBLIC
TRUST. TRULIO AND FLOCK SAFETY
ARE THE SOLUTIONS WE NEED.
LET'S TAKE ACTION NOW. THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS REBECCA WITH THE
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
>> EXCUSE ME. CAN YOU SAY THE
ORGANIZATION AGAIN?
>> DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
>> HIS. I'M PART OF THE NEWLY
FORMING DOWNTOWN COUNCIL.
REPRESENTING SEVERAL NEIGHBORS,
BUSINESS OWNERS, HOMEOWNERS,
AND WE ARE TRYING TO BRING IN
NEW BUSINESS OWNERS. THE
EMPLOYEE OF THE BUILDINGS, AND
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WHO IS
WORKING AND LIVING DOWNTOWN AND
DOESN'T FEEL SAFE. I AM --
LIKE I SAID, A HOMEOWNER, A
BUSINESS OWNER, PRETTY MUCH A
LIFELONG SEATTLERESIDENT, AND I
LOVE THE CITY. I BOUGHT IN TO
PYKE AND FINE. BEAUTIFUL
BUILDING, BUT IT'S GOTTEN
SCARY. I'M A REAL ESTATE
AGENT, AND MY NEIGHBOR, I'M
TRYING TO SELL HER BEAUTIFUL
UNIT IN MY BUILDING, AND NO ONE
WILL LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT'S
ON THIRD BETWEEN PYKE AND PINE.
SHE'S TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL
TO BE A COUNSELOR TO HELP THE
PEOPLE ON THE STREET. THE OTHER
DAY I HAD A FULL CAN OF SODA
THROWN AT MY HEAD. THIS GAL WAS
WALKING FROM WALGREENS BACK TO
HER PLACE, ONE OF THE MOST
UNASSUMING PEOPLE I HAVE EVER
MET, FOLLOWED BY THREE PEOPLE
WHO LITERALLY WERE SAYING CUT
THE RICH. IT'S OMINOUS. IT'S
LIKE THEY OWN THE STREET. I
SUPPORT THE EFFORT, AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE FOR TAKING THE SWIFT
ACTION AFTER WALKING THE STREET
WITH US LAST WEEK, AND I THINK
SODA IS A GREAT STEP, BUT IT'S
A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION, AND WE
NEED THOSE. WE NEED MIDTERM
SOLUTIONS AND LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS. I'M NEW ON
ADVOCATING THE SET OF THE
ISSUES. I'M DRINKING FROM A
FIRE HOSE AND LEARNING. I
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, BUT WE
ARE HERE TO HELP, ENGAGE, AND
WE APPRECIATE THIS EFFORT AND
THIS FOCUS ON THIS REALLY
CRITICAL PROBLEM THAT AS THE
GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME SPOKE, NOT
ONLY IS THIS THE ENTRYWAY INTO
OUR CITY, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH
OPPORTUNITY HERE. THERE'S SO
MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS
AND GROWTH AND VIBRANCY. IT'S
SCARY RIGHT NOW, AND WE
APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND
LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING
SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS A REMINDER, WHEN YOU HEAR
THE CHIME, YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS
LEFT, SO YOU'RE GOOD.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE REZA WITH
THE MID.
>> GOOD MORNING. COUNCILMEMBER.
I'M REZA. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR
KILLWRIGHT COOPERATION, AND
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO
TAKE IMMEDIATE TANGIBLE ACTION
TO ADDRESS THE DRUG ACTIVITY
AND CRIME WE ARE SEEING
DOWNTOWN, SPECIFICALLY IN THE
AREA BETWEEN FIRST AND FOURTH
AVENUE BETWEEN PINE AND UNION.
THIS AREA IS LITTERED WITH
PEOPLE OPENLY USING DRUGS ON
THE STREET, CONTRIBUTING TO
SHUTTERED STORE FRONTS AND THE
GROWING GLUT OF OFFICE SPACE.
IT'S LEADING TO TENANTS
SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING MOVING
OUT OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE IF THEY
HAVEN'T ALREADY. THE ECONOMIC
HEALTH OF DOWNTOWN IS
INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE
HEALTH OF THE CITY, WHICH IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR A LARGE SHARE
OF THE CITY'S JOBS AND TAX
BASE. IF DOWNTOWN IS NOT SAFE,
VIBRANT, AND ACTIVE, OUR CITY
IS IN DEEP TROUBLE. THERE'S NO
COMBINATION OF ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY IN OTHER NEIGHBORS
WITHIN A MILE OF WHAT IS
PRODUCED BY THE CLEAN, SAFE,
AND VIBRANT DOWNTOWN. AS PUBLIC
OPINION HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN,
IT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE
ADDRESSING THE CITY. I'M
ASKING YOU TO DEMONSTRATE YOU
HAVE THE WILL TO MAKE SURE OUR
DOWNTOWN IS PERCEIVED AS SAFE.
WE HAVE TO GO FROM TALKING
ABOUT IT TO BEING ABOUT IT, AND
THOSE OF US WHO ARE YOUR
CONSTITUENTS HERE TODAY, AND
THOSE WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT
WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
PLEASE APPOINT AMY SMITH SO YOU
CAN CONTINUE THE IMPORTANT WORK
OF BUILDING AND LEADING THE
CARE TEAMS. IN YOUR JOBS YOU
DON'T GET TO MAKE A LOT OF
EASY DECISIONS, AND THIS IS THE
RARE OCCASION YOU DO. AMY IS
GREAT, AND HER LEADERSHIP IS
WHAT THE CITY NEEDS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> NEXT UP, KATHLEEN BROS.
>> HI, THERE. MY NAME IS
KATHLEEN BROS. I LIVE IN
DOWNTOWN BALLARD, AND LAST
SUNDAY, I WAS AT THE SEA FAIR
PARADE IN CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, AND I
WAS LIKE HALF A BLOCK AWAY WHEN
PEOPLE STARTED SCREAMING AND
RUNNING, AND WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON. I THOUGHT I
HEARD GUNFIRE, BUT I'M NOT
SURE IF THAT HAPPENED. IT WAS
SCARY, AND I READ IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES JUST RECENTLY
THAT SOME 13 AND 14-YEAR-OLD
YOUTHS WERE FOUND, ABLE TO GET
AHOLD OF THEM, AND THEY HAD
THREE OR FOUR WEAPONS ON THEM
EACH. THEY WERE -- WHAT'S THE
WORD? THEY WERE TURNED INTO
MORE POWERFUL WEAPONS THAN WHAT
THEY WERE DESIGNED TO BE. THEY
WERE STOLEN, BUT I WONDER, WHAT
IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE
13-YEAR-OLD AND 14-YEAR-OLDS?
ARE THEY GOING TO BE LET GO TO
GO HOME TO WHERE THERE ARE
PROBLEMS ALREADY? AND WILL THEY
THEN BE FREE? EVEN WITH AN
ANKLE MONITOR TO GO AND DISRUPT
ANOTHER WONDERFUL SEA FAIR OR
ANY OTHER EVENT? AND IF YOU
COULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON THE
-- THE LITTLE KIDS WHO DIDN'T
GET TO PERFORM, IT WAS SAD. IT
WAS SCARY, AND THIS IS NOT MY
CITY. IT'S VERY UPSETTING.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE JEN OCKLEY.
>> HI. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
DOING WORK ON THE NORTH END
WITH SEVERAL PUBLIC FORUMS
THERE. I LIVE IN THE BITTER
LAKE AREA, AND WHAT HAS
GENERALLY BEEN A QUIET
NEIGHBORHOOD. A LOT OF THE
ACTIVITY FROM AURORA IS
STARTING TO SPILL OUT IN TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND A RECENT
INCIDENT WAS, I GUESS, FOUR
ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE CARJACKED
LAST WEEK SOME TIME AROUND
10:00 AT NIGHT. THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING. WHAT
SHOULD BE A QUIET STREET, QUIET
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TO HAVE
VIOLENT SUDDEN INCIDENT LIKE
THAT, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY
TERRIFYING. THAT'S ONE
EXAMPLE. WE ARE CONSTANTLY
GETTING REPORTS OF ACTIVITY
HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND LIKE THE OTHER PERSON SAID,
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, BUT
I AM THANKFUL THAT YOU GUYS ARE
WORKING ON IT. I JUST WANT TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP PUBLIC
SAFETY CITYWIDE TOP OF THE
AGENDA. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS KEVIN DAIRIES.
>> HOW ARE Y'ALL. I'M A
RESIDENT OF BELLTOWN, A
BUSINESS OWNER, AND A PROPERTY
MANAGER, AND I WAS GOING TO
WRITE A SPEECH FOR TODAY, BUT I
REALLY DON'T NEED TO WRITE A
SPEAK BECAUSE I LIVE THIS EVERY
DAY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE Y'ALL
LIVE, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE
IT'S MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE
IF IT WAS, YOU WOULD SEE THE
VIOLENCE THAT IS PERPETRATED ON
AN HOURLY BASIS, AND YOU WOULD
CHANGE IT. AN INDIVIDUAL
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, ONE OF MY
TENANTS, PROCEEDED TO SMOKE
METH ON MY PROPERTY. HE WAS
ARRESTED. TWO DAYS LATER, HE
WAS BACK ON OUR DOORSTEP, AND
IN A DOCUMENT COVERED BY THE
SEATTLE TIMES, ONE OF OUR LOCAL
BUSINESS OWNERS, JOSH, WAS
ATTACHED WITH A HATCHET. A
HATCHET. THREE DAYS LATER THAT
MAN WAS BACK ON HIS DOORSTEP.
WE HAVE HAD THE SAME GROUP OF
DRUG DEALERS POISON THE MINDS
AND STREETS OF OUR COMMUNITY
FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, AND NO
ONE DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE
CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY? EQUITY?
COMPASSION? NO ONE IS ASKING TO
RESTART THE DRUG WAR AND
ARBITRARILY PROSECUTE
MINORITIES ON TRUMPED UP
MARIJUANA CHARGES OR ARREST THE
ADDICTS ON THE SIDEWALKS. WE
ARE LOOKING FOR THE CITY TO GO
AFTER THE PREDATORS WHO IN THE
EPIDEMIC ARE KILLING MORE
PEOPLE ON A WEEKLY BASIS THAN
AMERICA LOST IN WORLD WAR I,
WORLD WAR II, THE CIVIL WAR,
AND NOW AS A WHOLE, THE
PANDEMIC, AND WE ARE JUST
LETTING THE WOLVES PRAY ON
CITIZEN SAYING IT'S THE
CITIZENS' JOB TO HANDLE THIS?
WE DIDN'T CHOOSE TO DO THIS.
THERE'S A JOB YOU ARE ELECTED
FOR. WE EXPECT THESE PEOPLE
PRAYING ON SOCIETY, AND JUST
DESTROYING IT TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, AND NOT JUST
CONTINUOUSLY BE RELEASED TO
WREAK THAT MORE HAVOC AND CAUSE
FOR FEAR. MY ELDERLY TENANTS
WON'T GO TO THE CORNER STORE
WITHOUT AN ESCORT BECAUSE THEY
DON'T FEEL SAFE WALKING DOWN
THE SIDEWALK. PLEASE MAKE A
CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS TOM GRAPH.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M TOM
GRAPH. I LIVE BY THE SCULPTURE
PARK AND WORK BY THE PYKE PLACE
MARKET. I DO COMMERCIAL REAL
ESTATE THROUGHOUT THE CENTER
CITY, AND LET ME TELL YOU, AS
YOU ALL KNOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW IS NOT WORKING, AND
IT'S NOT AS SUSTAINABLE. A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HAS TO
DEAL WITH THE DRUG TRADING AND
THE DRUG ADDICTS AND THE DRUG
CONSEQUENCES OF THE DRUG
ACTIVITY TO THEIR BUSINESSES.
THEY GET BROKEN INTO, AND THEY
GET DISRUPTED, AND THEY GET
SHOPLIFTED, AND THEY GET TO
WATCH THE FENCING OF THEIR
PRODUCT IN FRONT OF THEIR
STORE. THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WE ARE LOSING OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES. SO, YOU KNOW,
NATIONAL BUSINESSES ARE GREAT,
BUT WE ARE LOSING THE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT IS THE FACE OF
THE CITY. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE
THEIR WAYS. I WANT TO READ, IF
I HAVE GOT A MINUTE HERE, THIS
STORY FROM THE FIVE POINT. THIS
IS A BUSINESS THAT HAS BEEN BY
SEATTLE CENTER FOR 40 YEARS.
THEY HAD A DIFFICULT MAN, HIS
NAME IS MR. WOODWARD COME IN
WITH HIS DOG ON MAY 26th. THEY
HAVE A PET POLICY AND DISCUSSED
THE PET POLICY, AND THEY LET
THE SERVICE ANIMAL STAY. JUST
QUESTIONING THIS MAN, HE WENT
IN A TIRADE, UNHINGED, YELLING
AT CUSTOMERS, AND POUNDING OUT
ON THE COUNTERS. YOU CAN
IMAGINE WHAT THIS IS LIKE IN A
RESTAURANT IN FRONT OF
CHILDREN. HE HAD TO BE REMOVED
BY FORCE BY THE POLICE, BUT HE
CAME RIGHT BACK THREE TIMES
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. HE
ASKED TO FIGHT THE OWNER OF THE
BUSINESS AND ANOTHER EMPLOYEE.
HE THREATENED TO SHOOT US AND
CAME BACK A THIRD TIME ON
TUESDAY, THE 28th, AND APPEARED
TO BE WITH A GUN. ULTIMATELY HE
CAME BACK WITH A GUN AND THE
POLICE DID ARREST HIM. THIS IS
MADNESS. WE DO NOT HAVE TO PUT
UP WITH THIS. YOU CANNOT RUN A
BUSINESS THIS WAY, AND IT'S
DIRECTLY AFFECTING OUR CITY.
PLEASE CHANGE YOUR WAYS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
MEGAN CRUZ. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6
WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. I'M WORKING
ON IT. MEGAN, PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M MEGAN
CRUZ SPEAKING ON THE DRUG AND
CRIME ECOSYSTEM DOWNTOWN. I
HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN A
BUILDING BETWEEN PYKE AND PINE
FOR 41 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN MANY
CYCLES IN THE LIFE OF THE
STREET, BUT LIKE OTHERS, I HAVE
NEVER SEEN OR FELT THIS MUCH
DESPAIR. WHETHER THE LACK OF
POLICY OR ENFORCEMENT, THE
CORRIDOR HAS BECOME THE
REGION'S LARGEST OPEN AIR DRUG
MARKET AND HOME FOR DEALERS,
CARRIERS, AND HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE SHOOTING UP IN DOORWAYS
AND PASSED OUT ON SIDEWALKS
SURROUNDED BY THE STENCH OF
URINE. EVEN THE LOW-LEVEL
MEMBERS OF THE SYSTEM CARRY
GUNS. THIS THE SCENE THOUSANDS
SEE EVERY DAY, GOING TO THE
MARKET, WALKING THEIR DOGS, OR
LEAVING FOR WORK IN THE
MORNING. IT SEEMS WE LOST OUR
BASIC ACCOUNTABILITY. IT'S
BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE COUNCIL
PASS THE THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT
ORDINANCE. OFFICERS SAID THEY
ARE NOT EMPOWERED TO CHARGE
DEALERS, AND IF THEY DID, THEY
WOULD BE OUT ON THE STREETS
LIKELY WITHIN THE SAME DAY.
SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS SAY THEY
KNOW THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT HELP, BUT
IT'S HARD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE
SYSTEM WITHOUT A HOME, AND THEY
HAVE NONE TO OFFER THEM. WE
HAVE ALLOWED CRIME AND DRUGS TO
TAKE OVER TWO SQUARE BLOCKS IN
THE CENTER OF THE CITY WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCE. WHY NOT TAKE THE
VACANT PROPERTIES AND CREATE A
DAY SHELTER FOR CRISIS SUPPORT
WITH SERVICES AND WHERE PEOPLE
CAN SHOWER AND USE THE
BATHROOM? NO ONE HAS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIRD AVENUE
AND IT SHOWS. WE DON'T NEED
ANOTHER PLAN OR TALK OF A PLAN.
WE NEED ACTION AND MORE THAN
ANYTHING, JUST ONE PERSON IN
GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP AND MAKE
THIRD AVENUE THEIR PRIORITY.
CAN THE LEADERS HERE TODAY
IDENTIFY SOMEONE WILLING TO DO
THIS? THE COMMUNITY WILL
SUPPORT THEM FULLY. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE HEATHER
GOOSTAFSON. HEATHER, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HI, MY NAME IS HEATHER. CAN
YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. I LIVE NEAR 90s, AND
THERE'S A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT
THAT IS THERE, AND THE UNIFIED
TEAM HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEAL
WITH. WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE
MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ABOUT 1,000
FEET FROM THE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL. I HAVE TWO SMALL
CHILDREN AT HOME, AND ON FRIDAY
THERE WAS A CHAINSAW AND GUN
BATTLE AT THE CORNER. WE ARE
AFRAID FOR MY TWO SMALL
CHILDREN, AND MY HUSBAND IS
AFRAID TO GO TO THE GROCERY
STORE. WE HAD A LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETING
LAST WEEK, AND WE WERE TOLD
THAT THE CITY OF THIS SIZE HAD
ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE, AND THE CITY
OF SEATTLE HAS 1 POLICE OFFICER
FOR EVERY 22,000 PEOPLE. WE
NEED TO EMPOWER THE POLICE AND
PROVIDE THEM WITH THE RESOURCES
TO DEAL WITH CHAINSAW AND
GUNFIGHTS NEAR ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS AND HOMES. MANY PEOPLE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO HAVE
FROM THEIR RING CAMERAS THE
TRAFFICKING THAT IS HAPPENING.
A LOT OF THEM ARE TEENAGE
GIRLS, AND WE HAVE VIDEOS OF
JOHNS AND PIMPS HAVING SEX IN
FRONT OF OUR HOUSES. WE ALSO
HAVE VIDEOS OF PEOPLE SHOOTING
AND HAVE LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS.
WE CAN'T GIVE THEM TO THE
POLICE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO
ANYTHING. I'M IMPLORING YOU TO
PLEASE HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
AND OUR KIDS BECAUSE WE ARE
SCARED.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER IS LEW BOND.
>> I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND THE
REST OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE HERE FOR ALL THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN DOING, AND I DO
APPRECIATE WHAT THE MAYOR HAS
DONE AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
SOCIAL GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN
OUT ON THE STREET, AND WE HAVE
SEEN THE PRESENCE. AS MANY OF
THE SPEAKERS SPOKE HERE BEFORE
US, WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT HAS
NOT BEEN CORRECTED. I LOVE OUR
WATER FRONT. I LOVE WHAT HAS
HAPPENED ON THE WATER FRONT.
YOU DO NOT SEE ANY DRUG USE OR
SEE ANY DRUG DEALINGS OR BAD
BEHAVIOR ON THE WATER FRONT. I
WANT TO IMPLEMENT THAT SAME
ACTIVITY BASE BETWEEN FIRST AND
SEVENTH AVENUE, BETWEEN UNION,
PYKE AND PINE. IT SHOULD BE A
NO FLY ZONE. THERE SHOULD BE NO
TOLERANCE FOR DRUG USE OR BAD
BEHAVIOR SHOULD ALL BE GONE. WE
CANNOT CONTINUE TO LOSE ANY
MORE BUSINESSES, NO MORE
RETAILERS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO
LOSE THE WALGREENS AT THIRD AND
PYKE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE
ROSS. THOSE EMPTY STORES DO NOT
GET REFILLED QUICKLY. WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE OFFICE
TENANTS. WE ARE BEGGING THEM TO
COME AND STAY HERE, BEGGING
THEM FOR EMPLOYEES TO COME. WE
ARE CURRENTLY PAYING OVER $800
A DAY FOR ARMED SECURITY.
THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE FOR A
BUILDING OF 100,000 SQUARE
FEET. MY NEIGHBORS ARE PAYING
THAT AND MORE. IT'S NOT
SUSTAINABLE. WE NEED YOUR HELP
TO ENFORCE NO MORE DRUG
ACTIVITY, NO MORE DRUG USE IN
THE AREA WHATSOEVER. I GREATLY
APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN THIS.
WHATEVER YOU MIGHT NEED, ALL OF
US NEIGHBORS ARE BEHIND YOU ON
THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M ANA
CONMORE. I'M CALLING REGARDING
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE HEAD OF
THE CARE DEPARTMENT. I FEEL
THAT CONFIRMATION SHOULD BE
DELAYED FOR AT LEAST SIX TO TEN
MONTHS. WHILE THE DEPARTMENT IS
A GOOD DEPARTMENT, IT IS STILL
A FLAILING DEPARTMENT. WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA. WE
NEED MORE DATA, AND WE NEED TO
OBSERVE WHAT THE DEPARTMENT
DOES FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF
TIME. I ALSO FEEL THE TITLE FOR
THE HEAD OF THAT DEPARTMENT
SHOULD NOT BE CHIEF. IT SHOULD
BE DIRECTOR. CHIEF IMPLIES THAT
YOU ARE A FIRST RESPONDER, AND
WHILE THAT IS THE GOAL OF THE
DEPARTMENT, IT IS NOT QUITE THE
STRONG THIRD LEG OF PUBLIC
SAFETY IN SEATTLE THAT THE
MAYOR WANTS. SO THE TITLE
SHOULD BE DIRECTOR. IT SHOULD
NOT BE CHIEF. THIS IS NOT A
FIRE CHIEF OR A CHIEF OF POLICE
THAT HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
IN SHOWING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT AT INCIDENTS. IF YOU
DECIDE TO GO AHEAD AND CONFIRM,
I BELIEVE THE TITLE SHOULD BE
CHANGED AS I JUST STATED, AND
THE TERM SHOULD NOT BE FOUR
YEARS. IT SHOULD BE TWO YEARS.
IT'S TOO SOON TO BE GIVING A
FOUR-YEAR TIME FRAME TO THIS.
AND FINALLY THE 911 CALL CENTER
NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK UNDER
SPD MANAGEMENT, AND IT SHOULD
HAVE NEVER BEEN ASSIGNED TO
THAT DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING.
>> OKAY. OKAY, THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS,
AND WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 02918 THE
APPOINTMENT OF AMY SMITH AS
CHIEF OF THE COMMUNITY ASSISTED
RESPONSE AND ENGAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT FOR A TERM TO AUGUST
1, 2028.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. WE ARE
JOINED BY INTERIM CHIEF SMITH,
BUT ALSO DEPUTY MAYOR BURGESS.
WE THANK YOU FOR COMING, AND
THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, YOUR
SERVICE THUS FAR. DEPUTY MAYOR,
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THE
INITIAL STATEMENT, AND THEN
CHIEF SMITH, YOURS, AND WE WILL
FOLLOW UP WITH QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
MORNING, CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
LETTING ME JOIN YOU THIS
MORNING TO INTRODUCE MAYOR
HARRELL'S NOMINEE.
ESTABLISHING CARE HAS BEEN A
FOUNDATIONAL PRIORITY FOR MAYOR
HARRELL. THE TWO PRIMARY
FUNCTIONS OF CARE ARE THE 911
CALL CENTER, WHICH RECEIVES
MORE THAN 800,000 CALLS FOR
POLICE, FIRE, AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES EACH YEAR AND
OUR CARE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS,
OUR NEWEST DIVERSIFIED RESPONSE
OPTION WHICH WILL SOON EXPAND
TO CITYWIDE COVERAGE. I'M VERY
PLEASED TO INTRODUCE AMY SMITH
AS THE MAYOR'S NOMINEE FOR
PERMANENT CARE CHIEF. I BELIEVE
THAT EACH OF YOU HAS ALREADY
HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF
ENGAGING WITH CHIEF SMITH AND
DISCUSSING THE FUTURE OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS IN OUR
CITY. AS ACTING CHIEF, AMY HAS
PRIORITIZED HER TEAM'S WELL
BEING, DUG INTO THE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF 911 CALLS TO
INFORM HER TEAM'S OPERATIONS,
AND HIRED, TRAINED, AND
DISPATCHED OUR FIRST CARE
CRISIS RESPONDERS. THIS WORK IS
ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFETY AND
WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. CHIEF SMITH HAS BROAD
AND DEEP COMMUNITY SUPPORT FROM
HER OWN STAFF, FROM THE
DISPATCHERS GUILD, LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, BUSINESS
ASSOCIATIONS, AND HUMAN SERVICE
NONPROFIT PROVIDERS.
STAKEHOLDERS COULD NOT HAVE
BEEN MORE ENTHUSIASTIC IN
ENDORSING THE MAYOR'S DECISION
TO NOMINATE CHIEF SMITH. I
BELIEVE YOU SHARE THAT SUPPORT
FOR HER. IN A RECENT TELEVISION
INTERVIEW, ONE COUNCILMEMBER
SAID, AND I QUOTE, I AM AMY
SMITH'S NUMBER ONE FAN, AND I
KNOW THERE'S MUCH COMPETITION
FOR THAT TITLE, CLOSE QUOTE.
ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER TOLD
MAYOR HARRELL AMY SMITH IS YOUR
BEST HIRING SELECTION YET. I
TRY NOT TO TAKE THAT
PERSONALLY. IN THE 15 MONTHS ON
THE JOB, CHIEF SMITH SHOWS
SHE'S EAGER TO ENGAGE, LISTEN
CAREFUL, AND LEARN. SHE'S A
NATURAL LEADER WHO KNOWS HOW TO
GET THINGS DONE. HER WORK HAS
LED TO THE EXPANSION OF THE
COMPASSIONATE DIVERSIFIED
INTERVENTION, ASSISTING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND POLICE
OFFICERS WHO NEED SPECIALIZED
SUPPORT. SHE BRINGS CREATIVITY,
RESOURCEFULNESS, AND A TIRELESS
DEDICATION TO HER TEAM AND THE
PEOPLE OF OUR GREAT CITY. SHE
IS WELL PREPARED TO BECOME THE
CHIEF OF THE CARE DEPARTMENT.
SHE HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF
HANDS-ON LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
WITH EDUCATION AND NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS. SHE HAS A MASTER
OF ARTS DEGREE IN ETHICAL
LEADERSHIP AND A PhD IN
EDUCATION. SEVERAL TIMES THIS
YEAR I HAVE VISITED THE 911
CALL CENTER UNANNOUNCED,
INCLUDING THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT. I HAVE LISTENED AS 911
CALLS ARE RECEIVED. I HAVE SAT
WITH DISPATCHERS AND LISTENED
AS THEY DIRECT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY RESOURCES. I HAVE ASKED
THESE DEDICATED FIRST
RESPONDERS ABOUT THEIR MORAL,
THEIR WORKING ENVIRONMENT, AND
THEIR LEADERS. I HAVE HEARD ONE
CONSISTENT MESSAGE, CHIEF SMITH
IS AMAZING. COUNCILMEMBERS,
MAYOR HARRELL APPRECIATES YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF HIS NOMINEE
TODAY, AND I CAN JUST TELL YOU,
SHE HAS BEEN A DELIGHT TO WORK
WITH.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR
BURGESS. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS
JOINED US. 911 IS THE FIRST
RESPOND LITERALLY, HENCE THE
FIRST RESPONDERS, SO THANK YOU.
>> CHIEF SMITH?
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT TO THIS POINT. I
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I
APPRECIATE ALL YOU CONTINUE TO
DO TO PROMOTE AND TO SUPPORT
THIS WORK. DEPUTY MAYOR
BURGESS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
REMARKS. I APPRECIATE YOUR
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE AND THE
THINGS YOU HAVE ALREADY TAUGHT
ME, I KNOW I WILL CARRY
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER GOING
FORWARD. I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
MY MAYOR WHO IS SPECIFICALLY
THE REASON I'M HERE WITH YOU
TODAY. I'M GRATEFUL HE HAD THE
IMAGINATION AND THE INSTINCT TO
THINK OF ME FOR THIS ROLE,
WHICH I REALLY WOULD NOT HAVE
IMAGINED FOR MYSELF, BUT IT
TURNED OUT TO BE A PERFECT FIT.
SAYING YES TO THIS WORK CHANGED
MY LIFE, NOT JUST MY
PROFESSIONAL LIFE, BUT IT HAS
CHANGED AND ENRICHED MY
PERSONAL LIFE IN WAYS THAT ARE
ASTONISHING TO ME. THESE DAYS
SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE I LOVE
BEST ARE IN MY LIFE BECAUSE OF
THIS WORK. AND MY DAYS ARE
FILLED WITH NEW HEROS AND
REPLETE WITH NEW INSPIRATION. I
HAVE SAID A NUMBER OF TIMES
THEY MAY BE THE PERSON IN FRONT
OF THE MIC, BUT THE IDEAS I'M
EXPRESSING ECHO THE HOPES AND
ADVOCACY FOR CHANGE THAT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS
HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONING FOR
YEARS, FOR DECADES. I FEEL TRUE
HUMILITY, AND I'M ABSOLUTELY
DETERMINED WE WILL NOT CONTINUE
TO FAIL OUR NEIGHBORS. WHEN WE
SAY PUBLIC SAFETY, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT HUMAN SUFFERING,
THE SUFFERING OF THOSE
LANGUISHING ON THE STREETS, AND
THE SUFFERING OF THOSE POISONED
BY DRUGS LIKE FENTANYL, THE
SUFFERING OF FAMILIES
DEVASTATED BY GUN VIOLENCE. THE
SUFFERING OF THOSE WHO ARE
BEING BOUGHT AND SOLD, LIKE
INANIMATE OBJECTS. YOU HAVE MY
COMMITMENT THEY WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH AS MUCH URGENCY
AND EFFICIENCY AS POSSIBLE TO
DRIVE POSITIVE POLICY CHANGE
AND SYSTEM CHANGE AS WE
TRANSFORM THE WAY WE RESPOND TO
THE SUFFERING. PEOPLE WHO KNOW
ME KNOW THEY DO NOT CARE FOR
MEETINGS, AND THIS IS IN PART
BECAUSE OF A LIFE-LONG BIAS
TOWARDS ACTION, AND IN PART
BECAUSE I KNOW ACADEMICALLY WE
ONLY LEARN BY DOING, BY TRYING
THINGS, BY EXPERIMENTING, AND
IT'S ALSO BECAUSE I CANNOT
STAND TO WASTE TAXPAYER
DOLLARS. IT'S NOT LOST ON ME
THAT TAXES ARE PAYING FOR MY
WORDS TO YOU, AND I TAKE THAT
VERY SERIOUSLY. I AM A FLAWED
PERSON, AS ALL PERSONS ARE, BUT
I AM WORTHY OF YOUR TRUST. I
DON'T KNOW THEY COULD CARE
MORE UNIFORMLY ABOUT EVERY
SINGLE PERSON IN THIS
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE
CAUSING HARM TO IT. I FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON CAN
CHANGE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT
OUR SYSTEMS CAN BE CHANGED TO
BE REHABILITATIVE. I CAN
ABSOLUTELY SEE A FUTURE STATE
WHERE I CAN DEPLOY THE RIGHT
CONFIGURATION OF RESPONSE,
RIGHT FROM 911 TO ENSURE THAT
THE NEEDED EXPERTISE IS
PROVIDED AT THE FIRST MOMENT OF
CONTACT. WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH
EXPERTISE AND PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE AND SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER AND HOUSELESSNESS AND
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, AND WE NEED TO MOVE
INTO AN INTELLIGENT SPACE THAT
CONTEMPLATES THE INDIVIDUAL
NEEDS IT WILL CHANGE SOCIETY. I
THANK YOU FOR SINCERELY SEEKING
TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK YOU ALL
HAVE ON THE FRONT LINES. I
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE YOUR DEFERENCE TO
THOSE OF US IN THE WORKDAY IN
AND DAY OUT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AS CUSTOM, I
ALWAYS GO TO THE VICE CHAIR
FIRST. VICE CHAIR, DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A
COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS AND A
FEW QUESTIONS. A LOT OF
QUESTIONS, BUT GOOD QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR BURGESS
AND CHIEF SMITH FOR APPEARING
BEFORE US TODAY, AND REALLY
EXCITED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP
IN OUR CITY'S JOURNEY AND TO
DOING BETTER FOR ALL, AND
HAVING A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH
TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY.
SO, CHIEF SMITH, APPRECIATE THE
MANY ENGAGEMENTS AND MEETINGS
OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO NOW.
THE COLLABORATION, AND I
ENJOYED READING YOUR WRITTEN
COMMENTS HERE, AND REALLY
EXCITING STUFF AND WRITING MY
OWN QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE
SEEING HIGH-LEVEL -- WHEN I
READ YOUR QUESTIONS AND HEARING
YOU NOW AS WELL, I HEAR AND SEE
A GROWTH MINDSET. SOMEONE WHO
DOESN'T PROPORT TO HAVE ALL OF
THE ANSWERS, NO ONE DOES. BUT
SOMEONE WHO IS COMMITTED TO
LEARNING AND TRYING AND
EXPERIMENTING, AND DOING
BETTER, AND GETTING IN THE
REPS, AND WHEN THINGS DON'T
WORK OUT, MAKING NECESSARY
ADJUSTMENTS AND TWEAKS, AND
JUST CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT.
THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF LIFE. I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT JUST
NOW ABOUT YOU BEING AN
IMPERFECT PERSON. MYSELF
INCLUDED, EVERYBODY HERE AT THE
END OF THE DAY IS A FLAWED
HUMAN BEING, AND ALL WE CAN DO
IS TRY TO LEARN FROM OUR
MISTAKES AND GET BETTER EVERY
TIME. SO THAT WAS VERY CLEAR
FOR ME. YOUR SORT OF GROWTH
MINDSET, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY OFFICE
AND HOW WE SHOW UP EVERY DAY.
JUST SOMETHING I RECOGNIZE AND
WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE.
DOUBLE CLICKING A LITTLE BIT
INTO SOME OF THE SPECIFICS OF
THE WRITTEN COMMENTS HERE. I
SAW -- I WILL CALL OUT NUMBER
THREE, QUESTION NUMBER THREE,
THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT ARE THE
OBSTACLES THAT YOU SEE IN
INCREASING AND EXPANDING CARE
SERVICES, AND HOW DOES YOUR
BACKGROUND MAKE YOU UNIQUELY
EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES. I APPRECIATE HOW
YOU START OFF AND SAY THAT,
QUOTE, THE GREATEST THREAT TO
CARE GROWTH IS THE POLITIZATION
OF HUMAN SUFFERING. WE HAVE
FAILED TO CENTER AROUND THE
PERSON WHO IS SUFFERING IN OUR
CONVERSATION AND DESIGN,
INSTEAD, CHOOSING TO ENDLESSLY
DEBATE THE BODY OF WORK ISSUES
AND A IDEAL RESPONSE TO THE
HOUSING AND SUBSTANCE USE AND
ESCALATING VIOLENCE CRISES
AMONG OTHERS, END QUOTE.
COULDN'T AGREE MORE. FACTS.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT SOME OF OUR
DISCUSSIONS HAVE DEVOLVED INTO
POLITICIZING THE HUMAN
SUFFERING, AND ALSO
PERFORMATIVE, WHO CAN GENERATE
THE MOST SNAPS IN A ROOM. NEED
TO END THAT. IN ANY EVENT, I
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS, AND CALLING IT WHAT IT
IS, THE SECOND THING YOU NOTE
THERE. THE SECOND GREATEST
THREAT IS THE BUREAUCRATIC
PREDILECTION TO SILOS, JUST
RECALLING LIKE MY S.A.T. --
HAVE NOT READ THE BIG WORDS IN
AWHILE SINCE THE LAST CASE LAW
IN LAW SCHOOL. IN ANY EVENT,
FACTS. WE NEED TO AVOID LAND
GRABS. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S
THE CORPORATE WORLD OR
GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE
NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON DOING THE
RIGHT THING, AND WHATEVER THAT
IS, NOT GOING AFTER HEAD COUNT
AND RESOURCES AND WE NEED TO
AVOID THE MINDSET. THAT'S MY
READ OF YOUR COMMENTS THERE,
AND WHICH I APPRECIATE, AND
TALKING OF THE IMPORTANCE LATER
ON IN THE SAME RESPONSE TO YOUR
SAME QUESTION, TALKING ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING,
DOING, STUDYING, AND ACTING,
AND SORT OF AN ANALOGY I LIKE
TO USE OF THAT, THE ODALOOP
FRAMEWORK FROM THE MILITARY,
FROM THE AIR FORCE
SPECIFICALLY, OBSERVE, ORIENT,
DECIDE, AND ACT. GREAT PROBLEM
SOLVING FRAMEWORK WITH BROAD
APPLICABILITY. ANYWAYS, I
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND
YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH ME AND MY
OFFICE ON THE IMPORTANT ISSUES,
AND I THINK THAT THE CITY IS
GOING TO BE WELL SERVED --
CONTINUED TO BE WELL SERVED BY
YOUR LEADERSHIP. LET ME SAY
THIS AND ASK THIS. SO IN YOUR
SECOND QUESTION, YOUR RESPONSE
TO THE SECOND QUESTION, MY
QUESTION BY THE WAY, WHAT IS
YOUR VISION FOR CARE IN THE
NEXT 5, 10, 20 YEARS. I
APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES
THERE, AND I WANT TO ASK A
LITTLE MORE POIGNANT QUESTION,
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEAR
TERM. WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK
LIKE FOR YOU AND THE ENTIRE
CARE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE
FIRST YEAR, IF CONFIRMED?
>> IN THE SHORT RUN, MY GOAL IS
TO GET PRIORITY ONE CALLS
DISPATCHED TO WITHIN SEVEN
MINUTES. RIGHT NOW WE ARE FAR
FROM THAT WITH POLICE. THERE IS
NO PATH TO STAFFING OF THAT
DEPARTMENT FAST ENOUGH FOR ME
TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. THE PATH
FORWARD IS TO DEPLOY EVERY
OTHER RESOURCE IN THE CITY SO
WE RESERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
RESERVE FIRE AS WELL,
ESPECIALLY HEALTH ONE FOR HIGH
PRIORITY CALLS. A THIRD OF THE
CALLS COMING IN, MAYBE AS MUCH
AS 40% WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR
CARE. THEY ARE LOWER ACUITY
CALLS THAT DESERVE A RESPONSE,
BUT NOT THE SAME NATURE AND
COSTS HALF AS MUCH. I CARE A
LOT ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND
THAT'S A BIG SWING AT THE BAT.
IF I CAN START DISPATCHING A
TEAM THAT COSTS HALF AS MUCH AS
A CALL, THERE'S SWEEPING
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS. I'M
ANXIOUS FOR US TO HAVE A SYSTEM
TO DIVERT TO. I WOULD LOVE TO
TRACK OUTCOMES, BUT I CAN'T
UNTIL I HAVE A PLACE I CAN TAKE
PEOPLE. I APPRECIATED THE
PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. I
APPRECIATE THE PAIN AND THE
ANGUISH THAT PEOPLE FEEL AND
WHAT THEY ARE OBSERVING IS
CORRECT. I DON'T HAVE ANY
PLACE TO TAKE SOMEONE WHO IS
DEPENDENT ON FENTANYL. IT
REQUIRES A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF
CARE, AND PEOPLE DO WANT HELP.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE ORCA
CENTER AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE
EVERGREEN TREATMENT. BUT WE
BASICALLY NEED POPUP SHELTERS
RIGHT NOW. I NEED TO GET PEOPLE
INDOORS AND GET THEM HELP.
>> THANK YOU. MY SECOND AND
POTENTIALLY FINAL QUESTION,
RELATES TO GROWTH MINDSET,
LEARNING, LISTENING, SHARING,
DOING. YOU TALK ABOUT SHARING
OUT VARIOUS INFORMATION THAT IS
VERY IMPORTANT, AND TALKING
ABOUT OPEN SOURCES INFORMATION,
AND FULL TRANSPARENCY, AND
EVERYONE CAN BENEFIT. YOU TALK
IN YOUR RESPONSE TO YOUR
QUESTION FOUR, WHICH IS WHAT IS
YOUR APPROACH TO COLLABORATION
-- ANOTHER ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
THE SECOND PARAGRAPH YOU SAID,
QUOTE, IN THIS ROLE, PEOPLE
COOL CALL ME EVERY DAY FROM
AROUND THE REGION AND
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. I LOVE
IT. END QUOTE. IT'S GREAT
BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF
LEARNING AND GROWING AND
SHARING. THAT'S SHARING OUT
INFORMATION. I THINK IN
SEATTLE, WE HAVE A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO GET AWAY FROM
SITTING ON A HIGH PERCH AND
JUST DICTATING AND SHARING
EVERYTHING WITH OTHERS AND
ACTING LIKE WE CAN'T LEARN
FROM OTHERS AS WELL. WE ARE --
WE ARE BUT A CITIZEN IN A
BROADER ECOSYSTEM OF
COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP
WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS,
STATEWIDE PARTNERS, AND
PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
WORLD WHO ARE CONFRONTING
SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR
CHALLENGES, AND IT IS INCUMBENT
NOT ONLY TO SHARE OUT OUR
LEARNINGS AND ALSO TAKE IN
THEIRS. MY QUESTION TO YOU,
CHIEF SMITH, I'M GLAD YOU ARE,
YOU KNOW, TAKING COLD CALLS
FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY,
BUT WHO DO YOU PICK UP THE
PHONE AND COLD CALL AND LEARN
FROM AND SEEK GUIDANCE FROM AND
LEARNING FROM?
>> YEAH, I GOT REALLY FORTUNATE
BECAUSE THE SECOND DAY I WAS ON
THIS JOB, I WAS COMING IN VERY
EARLY, AND PRIMARILY I WAS
FOCUSED ON 911. I HAVE TO
STABILIZE THIS DEPARTMENT AND
GET TO KNOW A BUNCH OF PEOPLE
REALLY FAST. THERE'S FURLOUGH
LINES AND WORK IS 24/7. I
WANTED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME
ON THE FLOOR, BUT I NEEDED TO
DESIGN THE PILOT. THE MONEY WAS
ALLOCATED MONTHS, YEARS BEFORE,
AND NOTHING HAPPENED. RIGHT? I
FELT GREAT URGENCY AROUND
GETTING THE DESIGN STABILIZED
AND LAUNCHED. I WAS FRESH AND
JUST DEPENDED OR FINISHED MY
DOCTORATE THE YEAR BEFORE. I
WAS IN AN ACADEMIC FRAME OF
MIND, AND I DOVE IN TO SEE WHO
KNOWS THE WORK THE BEST.
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, WHAT DO
WE KNOW IN THE COUNTRY, HOW
MANY PILOTS ARE THERE? THE
FIRST E-MAIL WAS TO SOMEONE
CALLED ALEX HEATON. THE
DIRECTOR OF THE POLICING
PROJECT. YOU CAN SORT OF SEE
WHO IS MOST PEER REVIEWED IN
THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY, AND I
SENT A NOTE AND SAID I GOT TO
SEATTLE, AND THIS IS WHAT I
GOT, CAN YOU SHARE ANY
LEARNINGS WITH ME? HE
IMMEDIATELY CALLED ME. IT WAS
ABOUT 6:00 IN THE MORNING. I
REMEMBER HE WAS IN MEXICO CITY,
AND GREAT, GENEROUS SPIRIT, AND
HE CONNECTED ME TO THE NEXT
PERSON WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE
NEXT PERSON, AND THROUGH THE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NYU
POLICING PROJECT AND THEN
GEORGETOWN, THEIR CENTER FOR
INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY
SAFETY, I WAS BROUGHT IN
IMMEDIATELY TO THE COMMUNITY OF
PRACTICE, THE BEST THINKERS,
DESIGNERS, AND PRACTITIONERS
AND RESEARCHERS IN THE COUNTRY.
THEY INVITED ME TO GEORGETOWN
TO A CLOSED CONVENING ON THE
FUTURE OF ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE,
AND THE REST IS HISTORY. THAT
WAS 15 MONTHS AGO. I READ THIS
MORNING AN UPDATE FROM SAN
FRANCISCO, THE PROFESSOR
SOURCED IN THAT IS JESSICA
GALULE AN IMPORTANT RESEARCH
PARTNER. IT GOES BOTH WAYS.
I'M AN ACADEMIC. I LOVE
LEARNING FROM PEOPLE. I KNOW I
DON'T HAVE ORIGINAL THOUGHT.
OUR PROBLEMS ARE SIMILAR AND
SHARED, AND WE LOVE WORKING
TOGETHER, ALL OF US. IT'S FUN
ON LINKEDIN. WE ARE PUSHING OUT
AND RESOURCING FROM EACH OTHER.
WHEN I WENT TO DURHAM TO MEET
WITH RYAN SMITH, I HAD EVIDENCE
FROM KENNEDY SCHOOL AND HARVARD
THEY HAVE THE GOLD STANDARD
MODEL OF CRISIS CALL DIVERSION
AND ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. I
CAME BACK WITH A GOOGLE DRIVE,
EVERYTHING THEY HAD DONE. EVERY
DIFFERENT FURLOUGH LINE THEY
DESIGNED, ALL DIFFERENT
POLICIES. THAT'S HOW GENEROUS
MY PARTNERS IN THE FIELD ARE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL. THAT BREEDS
THE GENEROSITY IN ME, ANYTHING
I CAN SHARE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT
THE MISTAKES WE MAKE TO GET IT
OUT THERE QUICKLY. I LEARNED
ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SAVINGS
FROM ALLEN GERKEY AND TO POLICE
MORAL AS YOU SCALE UP THE
PUBLIC SAFETY WANT DID. I
APPRECIATE YOU DREW THAT OUT.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT. THE FINAL
THING I WILL SAY, THERE WERE
EXTRAORDINARY PROGRAMS IN
WASHINGTON STATE. I DIDN'T
HAVE TO GO NEARLY SO FAR. I MET
BROOKE VINTNER RIGHT AWAY AND
KIM HENDRICKSON, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE CORESPONSE OUTREACH
ALLIANCE IN WASHINGTON STATE. I
KNOW TACOMA, THE HOPE TEAM. WE
HAVE CORESPONSE IN 14 DIFFERENT
COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
EXTRAORDINARY TEAMS. WE ALL
NEED TO LEARN TOGETHER TO HAVE
A SHARED STATEWIDE PHILOSOPHY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE? COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. GOOD
MORNING, CHIEF SMITH. IT'S A
PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE
BEFORE US. I THANK YOU FOR THE
DETAILED ANSWERS THAT YOU GAVE
TO OUR QUESTIONS. YOU AND I
HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS
SINCE MY BRIEF TIME HERE AS
WELL. I APPRECIATED THE
CONVERSATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE
THAT YOU ARE WORKING IN AN AREA
THAT IS COMPLEX AND NUANCED,
AND IN SOME WAYS GROUND
BREAKING. SO, APPRECIATE ALL OF
THAT, AND I AM GOING TO GIVE
YOU A TOUGH QUESTION, AND I
THINK BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN REALLY NAGGING AT
ME, AND I THINK SHARED BY SOME
OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND I JUST
WANT TO PREFACE THIS BY SAYING
I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. WE HAVE
TO MOBILE SIZE WHERE WE CAN. WE
HAVE TO EXPAND THE CIRCLE OF
CARE. IT'S NOT ABOUT TAKING
AWAY. IT'S ABOUT BEING
STRATEGIC AND PLACING
RESPONSIBILITIES WHERE BEST
DONE WHERE THEY ARE BEST
UTILIZED. THAT SAID, MY
QUESTION IS, I HAD THE PLEASURE
OF DOING A RIDE-ALONG WITH A
CARE TEAM, AND WE WENT DOWN TO
THIRD AVENUE, AND THERE WAS A
WOMAN THERE WHO WAS SITTING AT
A BUS STOP, AND SHE WAS NAKED.
SPD WAS THERE, AND THE POLICE
OFFICER WAS HAVING A CALM AND
THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION WITH
HER, TRYING TO GET HER TO GET
DRESSED. THEN THERE WERE BIKE
POLICE, AND THERE WAS CARE, THE
MID-AMBASSADORS, AND WE DELIVER
CARE. FRANKLY, NOBODY COULD DO
ANYTHING, AND IT WAS SORT OF
EYE OPENING. YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY WAS COMPASSIONATE AND
TRYING TO TALK TO HER, DO YOU
HAVE A PLACE YOU LIVE OR STAY?
APPARENTLY SHE HAD A PLACE IN
THE NORTH END, BUT SHE WASN'T
WILLING TO GO THERE. YOU KNOW,
THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT WELL,
MAYBE, SHOULD WE CALL THE
DESIGNATED CRISIS RESPONDERS TO
SEE IF SHE SHOULD BE ITA?
SHE'S CLEARLY NOT CAPABLE OF
CARING FOR HERSELF. THE POLICE
OFFICER'S CONCERN WAS IF SHE
REMAINS HERE, SHE WILL BE
VICTIMIZED.
>> YEAH.
>> AND SO WE HAD ALL OF THESE
ENTITIES THAT WE ARE FUNDING,
WITH THE BEST OF INTENTION AND
PURPOSE, AND WE HAVE SPD THERE,
REALLY TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB
AS WELL. AND TRULY, NOTHING
HAPPENED. WE ALL WENT OUR
SEPARATE WAYS. SHE REMAINED
THERE SEMI CLOTHED, HOPEFULLY
NOT TO BE VICTIMIZED. MY
QUESTION TO YOU, HOW DO WE DEAL
WITH THAT? HOW DO WE DO BETTER?
>> I LOVE THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE
IT ELIMINATES A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND
CONTRADICTIONS IN THE SYSTEM. I
SHARED LAST WEEK, IT'S
IMPORTANT WE GET CLEAR ABOUT
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRST
RESPONSE AND SECONDARY
RESPONSE, CASE MANAGEMENT, OR
PREVENTION. WHEN I THINK OF THE
TEAMS, IT'S OUTREACH THAT IS
SUPPOSED TO BE CONTINUAL, AND
THEY OFTEN CALL THE FIRST
RESPONDER AND SAY I HAVE AN
EMERGENCY HERE. FROM 911, I
WANT THOSE TO BE FIRST
RESPONDERS WHO GO OUT AND
TRIAGE. IN THAT SCENARIO, IT'S
IMPORTANT CARE IS ALWAYS A
CONSENT BASED INTERVENTION.
IT'S DIALOGUE AND
COLLABORATIVE. IT CAN BE
CORESPONSE OR A CARE RESPONDER
AND POLICE OFFICER, BUT HOLDING
THE LINE ABOUT ENFORCEMENT WHEN
SOMEONE IS REMANDED OR MOVED,
WE MUST REALLY OBSERVE THE
DISTINCTION. OTHERWISE, WE RUN
THE RISK OF SETTING UP AN
ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT, AND
CARE IS NOT THAT. MY PREFERENCE
WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT A DCR WAS
CALLED. I CONSIDER SOMEBODY WHO
IS THAT VULNERABLE TO BE
GREATLY DISABLED IN THAT
MOMENT. COGNITIVELY SOMETHING
WORSE COULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT
WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE THAT
SOMEONE BE EVALUATED. WE HAVE
ABOUT 30 DCRs. PIERCE COUNTY
HAS EXPANDED WHO CAN DO IT.
THEY HAVE ABOUT 400. EVEN IF
YOU CALL THE DCR, SOMEONE WILL
DECOMPENSATE, AND I LEARNED THE
POLICE DON'T OFTEN BOTHER. THE
SAME THING WITH THE MOBILE
CRISIS TEAM. FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT, WHY CALL IF IT
WILL TAKE TWO HOURS? I CAN
SOLVE IT BETTER MYSELF. WE
CANNOT HAVE THAT MANY RESOURCES
CONCENTRATED WITH NO EFFECT AND
IMPACT. WE CANNOT HAVE THAT.
I'M WORKING ON IT. THANK YOU
FOR THE QUESTION. THANK YOU.
>>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? I
WAS , YOU SAID
, WHY DO WE HAVE ALL THESE
RESOURCES IN ONE PLACE AND WE
ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE
BALL FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE
MISERY AND DEVASTATION WE SEE
ON OUR STREETS? I BELIEVE THAT
WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOUR
ANALYTICAL AND ACADEMIC BRAIN.
ALSO, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE
THE CAN DOOR TO SAY WHAT'S NOT
WORKING. NOT TO PUT YOU ON
SPOT, I KNOW YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE
IT ALL FIGURED OUT BUT THERE'S
BEEN TALK OF MOVING CARE FROM
DUAL DISPATCH TO SINGLE
DISPATCH. AND IN THAT PROCESS,
IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT IS THE
THING THAT WOULD CHANGE? IT IS
TALKED ABOUT MORE DCR'S. I
DON'T WANT TO HEAR MORE OF
SOMETHING. I WANT TO HEAR WHAT
YOU SHOULD BE DOING
DIFFERENTLY. DO YOU HAVE AN
INKLING YET?
>> I HAVE LOTS OF THOUGHTS
ABOUT THIS. RIGHT AWAY, AGAIN,
WE NEED TO GET MUCH MORE
CONCISE ABOUT WHO WAS
DISPATCHED TO WHAT CALL TYPE.
IT IS UP REALLY -- A REALLY
BRILLIANT DESIGN. APPEARS MAKE
FUN OF ME BECAUSE IT'S TWO
REALLY BIG JOBS. IT'S ACTUALLY
A GREAT DESIGN. BECAUSE I CAN
COMPEL DISPATCH TO CHANGE
PROTOCOLS AND TACT. I HAVE TO
GET BUY-IN. FOR GENERATIONS
WE'VE SENT POLICE TO ALL OF
THE CALLS. IT'S JUST THIS
MUSCLE MEMORY . BUT I WANT TO
BE ABLE TO DISPATCH THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS. I
WOULD PREFER THAT HEALTHONE BE
DISPATCHED. THEY ARE NOT. I
WOULD HOPE THAT -- OUR
DISPATCH. THEY ARE NOT. I WOULD
INVOKE A PEER. IF I KNOW I NEED
THAT. IF I KNOW IT'S AN
OVERDOSE WHY CAN'T I JUST SENT
HEALTH 99 WHO HAS A PEER WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCE WHO IS OFTEN
UNIQUE PERSON WHO CAN GET THE
CONVERSATION GOING? CAN CREATE
THE OPPORTUNITY. THERE'S NO
REASON I CAN'T DO THAT OTHER
THAN A TO NEGOTIATE WITH LABOR.
RIGHT? I'M TALKING ABOUT
SEVERAL DIFFERENT UNIONS.
DIFFERENT REPRESENTATION THEN
POLICE OFFICERS. I HAVE A
DISPATCHERS GUILD. SO THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE IMPORTANT.
BUT I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE.
THOSE FOLKS ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
BUT I DO FIND THAT PEOPLE CARE.
WE ARE JUST IN THE HABIT RIGHT
NOW OF TREATING HUMAN SUFFERING
LIKE A BODY OF WORK ISSUE AND
IT CANNOT BE. IT CANNOT BE. WE
NEED TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT
IT. WE DON'T LEAVE PEOPLE
LANGUISHING ON THE STREET. I
DON'T HAVE OVERSIGHT OF THE
AVERAGE CONTRACT YET I KNOW
THAT SOMETHING IS BEING
DISCUSSED BY THE EXECUTIVE. I
KNOW THAT CAN BE A GOOD MODEL.
IF I HAD OVERSIGHT OF WHO IS
DOING DIVERSION. LATE STAGE
DIVERSION. WAS DOING OUTREACH
SO WE CAN GET THIS ORGANIZED
FOR THE FIRST TIME?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
MENTIONING HEALTHONE AND HEALTH
NINE NINE. HEALTHONE USED TO BE
THE THING.
>> IT'S AN AWESOME THING.
>> IT IS DOING REALLY WELL.
THEY ADDED A UNIT. I'M UNCLEAR
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CALL TYPES
OR HOW THEY ARE DESIGNATED TO
GO OUT. THAT IS A GREAT MODEL
THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE MORE
. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU ARE
DEVELOPING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
TO DEAL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM,
WHICH IS HUMAN HISTORY. KEEP ON
GOING DOWN THAT LINE OF INQUIRY
WHEN IT COMES TO FIGURING OUT
WHO IS DISPATCHED TO WHAT. YOU
ARE ALSO SAYING THE FRONTLINE
IS WORKING. YOU MENTIONED OUR
SERVICE PROVIDERS, WHO IS DOING
WHAT. THIS IS A LONGER
CONVERSATION. ONCE THE FIRST
RESPONDERS HAVE DONE THEIR JOB
THEN WHAT HAPPENS? WE CAN
ALWAYS SAY, WELL, WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES. WE'VE
GOT TO MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE
HAVE BETTER.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU THERE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO BE REALLY
CLEAR. HEALTHONE AND HEALTH 99
ARE INTENDED TO GO TO HIGH
ACUITY CALLS. THOSE ARE
EXPENSIVE TEAMS. THEY ARE
HIGHLY SKILLED 'S. THAT'S A
SCARCE RESOURCE. AND I MUST
PRESERVE IT. THE EXAMPLE THAT
YOU SHARED WITH A WOMAN WHO IS
PARTIALLY DRESSED, THAT WOULD
BE VERY APPROPRIATE FOR CARE.
RIGHT? ARGUABLY, IF IT HAD BEEN
A SMALLER CONVERSATION WITH
JUST ONE PERSON ENGAGING THERE
MAY HAVE MUCH -- BEEN A MUCH
BETTER OUTCOME THAN THE PEOPLE
SWARMING AROUND. THAT IS NOT A
GOOD USE OF HEALTHONE. -- 1388
OVERDOSE DEATHS LAST YEAR. THEY
NEED TO BE DESIGNED NOT TO GO
TO THAT. THIS IS LIKELY TO END
UP AT HARBORVIEW. IF IT IS,
THAT'S NOT FOR CARE. THAT'S
NOT WHAT WE ARE DESIGNED TO TO
DO. BUT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF CALLS THAT ARE
APPROPRIATE FOR CARE AND CARE
COSTS. AND MY FOLKS ARE VERY
SKILLED. IF YOU READ THROUGH
THE CALL TYPES WE DISPATCH TO
IT'S JUST FASCINATING HOW MANY
SCENARIOS THERE ARE. ARGUABLY,
I COULD DO IT WITH MY SKILL
SET. I WILL CONTINUE TO
ELIMINATE THE GAPS OF THE
OVERLAPS. BUT IT WILL GET
BETTER . AND I KNOW THAT THERE
IS URGENCY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL
AND STATE LEVEL TO TREAT
FENTANYL LIKE AN EMERGENCY OVER
THE GOAL OF THE CRISIS CARE
CENTERS. I'M VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF
IT. BUT WE DON'T NEED 50,000
SQUARE FEET STATE-OF-THE-ART
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO GET
SOMEONE CASE MANAGEMENT. IS NOT
REQUIRED. WE CAN DO THINGS
RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU MENTIONED , HOW DO WE
GET FENNEL DECLARED AS AN
EMERGENCY? THERE'S ALSO AN
EMERGENCY WITH STREET CRIME AS
WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS MY
CONSTITUENTS SHARED WITH ME IS
, SOMETIMES EVERYONE
APPRECIATES A NONUNIFORMED
RESPONSE , AND AT THE SAME
TIME, I HAVE TO TRUST YOUR
BRAIN AND FIGURING OUT WHEN A
UNIFORM RESPONSE TO A PERSON
WHO IS DESIGNATED AS A CARE
CALL. SOMETIMES THEY REALLY DO
WANT SOMEBODY WHO'S ABLE TO
DEAL WITH ALL DIFFERENT KINDS
OF CONTINGENT FEES. YOU NEVER
KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT
THAT CALL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. I WOULD
PREFER MANY MORE UNIFORM
RESPONSES. I JUST DON'T HAVE
PLACE TO DISPATCH. I NEED
PEOPLE TO DWELL WITH ME ON THAT
REALITY. WE WILL HEAR FROM THE
CHIEF. THERE IS NO PATH TO
APPROPRIATE STAFFING IN THE
NEXT TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN
MADE AWARE OF. YOU KNOW, I'M
ALWAYS SWIFT TO DEFEND POLICE.
IT'S JUST THE MOST SCARCE
RESOURCE I HAVE RIGHT NOW AND
WE BROKE THE HOMICIDE RECORD
LAST YEAR. WE HAVE MORE SHOTS
FIRED THIS YEAR. THE GUN
VIOLENCE IS OUT OF CONTROL. SO
I'VE GOT TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL
ABOUT HOW I DISPATCH LAW
ENFORCEMENT. REGARDLESS OF OUR
PREFERENCE.
>> THANKS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I'M NOT
ON THIS COMMITTEE BUT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY
AND GENERAL AND IMPORTANT TO
THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT. I
ATTEND THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE I
WANT TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN AND
ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ASK QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO
LEND THE SAME COMMENTS THAT MY
COLLEAGUES SAID . CHIEF SMITH,
I SUPER APPRECIATE YOU BEING IN
THAT SEAT AND I HAVE FOUND YOU
TO BE VERY RESPONSIVE AND I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AND
THOUGHTFUL. SO I WOULD SAY THAT
I TOO SUPPORT . I THINK A LOT
OF FOLKS I HAVE TALKED TO IN
THE DISTRICT SUPPORT
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING. FOLKS
WANT TO KNOW THAT THE
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING THAT
WE ARE EMPLOYING ARE WORKING.
RIGHT? AND THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY
SEEING A DIFFERENCE. I THINK
THAT'S WHAT MANY OF US ARE
STRUGGLING WITH AT THE MOMENT.
FOLLOWING UP ON THE RESPONSE .
IN GENERAL, YOU HAVE HEARD
MULTIPLE FOLKS APPEAR TALKING
ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
CARE , HEALTHONE AND HEALTH 99.
AND THEN THE EXTERNAL PARTNERS
LIKE AMBASSADOR AND WE DELIVER
CARE AND OTHERS THAT WE ALSO
HELP FUND TO DO SERVICES ON THE
GROUND. I APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE
COORDINATION OF EFFORTS. I
STILL THINK IT REMAINS UNCLEAR
WHAT THESE DIFFERENT ENTITIES
ARE PROVIDING IN THIS SPACE.
AND I HAVE HEARD , AS
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE SAID
EARLIER IN HER EXAMPLE,
INSTANCES AT WHICH ALL OF THESE
KEYS ARE RESPONDING TO A CALL.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED. KEEPING IN MIND -- 8
TO 9 MONTHS. SO AS A BEEN A
FULL YEAR OF CARE. I DO WANT TO
SAY, IN TERMS OF TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE , ONE OF
HEALTHONE HAD RESPONDED TO THAT
PARTICULAR CALL? THEY DO HAVE A
SOCIAL WORKER. IT SOUNDED LIKE
SOMETHING THEY WERE
EXPERIENCING, PERHAPS MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES. RATHER THAN
LEAVING THE PERSON THERE TO BE
VICTIMIZED OR WHO KNOWS WHAT,
WHAT IF YOU HAD SENT HEALTHONE?
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SOCIAL
WORKER WHO IS EXPERIENCED AT
TALKING TO FOLKS WITH MENTAL
ILLNESS. COULD THEY HAVE GOTTEN
HURT? SOME CARE IN A WAY THAT
YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DO AT THE
LEVEL THAT CARE AND SOME OF THE
EXTERNAL PARTNERS ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE. THAT'S WHAT I
STRUGGLE WITH.
>> LET ME ADDRESS THAT. THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION. CARE IS
THE MOST HIGHLY SKILLED
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH KEEP -- TEAM
THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY. IT'S
NOT A DISTINCTION THERE. FIRE
GOES OUT. YOU HAVE TWO
FIREFIGHTERS AND A SOCIAL
WORKER. POLICE COMING HAVE
POLICE AND A SOCIAL WORKER WITH
THE BALLISTIC VEST. AGAIN,
THOSE ARE VERY SCARCE UNITS.
THE SAME REASON I WOULDN'T
APPLY POLICE TO A PRIORITY
THREE CALL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I
DON'T HAVE THEM. HEALTH 99,
OVERDOSE IS THE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY CALL. WHAT WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND AS A SOCIETY IS THAT
FOR DECADES THE REAL THREAT TO
LIFE RIGHT NOW IS OFTEN
SUICIDE. IT'S SUICIDE. THAT'S
HOW WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE. AND
IT'S OVERDOSE. THAT'S HOW WE
ARE LOSING PEOPLE. 73 LAST
YEAR. AND AM HORRIFIED BY THAT.
AGAIN, WE ARE THE SECOND
HIGHEST MARKET WHEN IT COMES TO
ATTEMPTS TO DIE BY SUICIDE. I
THINK IF THIS IS SOMEONE YOU
LOVE WHO WOULD YOU WANT ME TO
SEND? YOU WOULD WANT ME TO SEND
LAW ENFORCEMENT . AND THAT'S
WHAT I'M DOING CURRENTLY. BUT
VERY OFTEN A HIGHLY SKILLED
CLINICIAN AND SOCIAL WORKER,
SOMEBODY WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE,
WILL GET A BETTER RESPONSE.
THAT'S WELL VALIDATED. ALSO,
IT JUST MAKES SENSE. DOESN'T
IT? RIGHT NOW I CANNOT DISPATCH
HEALTHONE OR HEALTH 99. WHAT I
CAN DO IS ROUTE A CALL TO THE
FIRE ALARM CENTER WHERE FIRE
MIGHT CONSIDER SENDING A
SECONDARY RESPONSE UNIT, 99.
THE MAIN REASON YOU'RE SEEING
THE SATURATION DOWNTOWN IS
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU
DESIGNED. ALL OF THE CONTRACTS
ARE DOWNTOWN, CARES PILOT IS
DOWNTOWN. SO I AM PLEASED BY
THE EXPANSION CITYWIDE BECAUSE
THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
FRUSTRATED. WHY IS EVERYONE
DOWNTOWN WHEN WE NEED HELP
HERE? WE NEED OUTREACH YEAR.
AND WE NEED CARE APPEAR. I'M
SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'VE
HEARD UNIFORMLY IS, THANK
GOODNESS, CAN YOU GET HERE
FASTER? WE NEED YOU. WE NEED
MORE PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO THE
CRISIS THAT ARE CLEARLY SOCIAL
WORK IN NATURE. AND A LOT OF
THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY , IT IS
CO-OCCURRING RIGHT NOW WITH
SUBSTANCE USE. WHEN YOU SEE
CHAOTIC BEHAVIOR THAT IS OFTEN
THE EFFECTS OF METH. WHEN YOU
SEE PEOPLE SLUMPED OVER THAT IS
THE EFFECTS OF FENTANYL AND A
LOT OF PROPERTY CRIME THAT WE
ARE SEEING. HER ARMED ROBBERY,
THINGS LIKE THAT. IN TIMES OF
DESPERATION THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN
YOU NEED TO USE AGAIN. AND THE
MEDICAL COMMUNITY TELLS ME
IT'S WITHIN 4 TO 6 HOURS THAT
YOU MUST DOSE AGAIN WITH
FENTANYL. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTIONS.
>> WE WILL TALK . I UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I STILL
THINK SOMETIMES SOMEONE NEEDS A
HIGHER LEVEL. NUMBER ONE WITH A
MEDIC . IT WOULD HAVE CHECK HER
OUT, IF YOU WILL. SOMETIMES YOU
NEED MORE THOUGH I APPRECIATE
THAT. AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MEET WITH YOUR STAFF, I WILL
SAY. AND ALSO VISIT THE 911
CALL CENTER. I WAS VERY
IMPRESSED WITH YOUR TEAM. SO
THIS IS IN NO WAY TO SUGGEST
YOUR TEAM IS NOT DOING GREAT
WORK. WE ARE ALL TRYING TO
TACKLE A VERY HARD PROBLEM AND
WHAT IS THE BEST SALZ IN EACH
CASE.
>> WE JUST NEED MORE OF
EVERYTHING. HEALTHONE IS A TINY
UNIT. HEALTHCARE ONE AND POLICE
RESPONSE IS LIKE SIX PEOPLE PER
UNIT. I THINK IT'S KIND OF A
FALSE NARRATIVE OUT THERE THAT
WE HAVE ALREADY TACKLED THIS.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN NEAR
INVESTMENT THAT WAS APPROPRIATE
YET WHEN IT COMES TO BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOUR WRITTEN REMARKS AND
ALSO I'M HEARING YOU SAYING
NOW. WE REALLY ARE IN A STATE
OF CRISIS. FOR THE UNIFIED CARE
TEAM AND FOR CREATING THE CARE
TEAM, AND FOR ALL THE EFFORTS
THAT ARE UNDERWAY. AND YET, THE
FACT REMAINS WE ARE IN A STATE
OF CRISIS. AND IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT WHEN WE ARE IN A STATE OF
CRISIS THAT IT -- BRING ALL THE
ACTORS TOGETHER AND THAT
PERHAPS YOU ARE THE PERSON TO
BRING , WITH THE MAYOR'S
BLESSING, TO BRING ALL OF THOSE
ACTORS TOGETHER AND TO TALK
ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS THAT WE
ARE ASKING YOU. IS THAT
APPROPRIATE? HOW CAN WE NOT BE
DUPLICATIVE? HOW CAN WE BEST
UTILIZE? I DON'T THINK WE'VE
HAD THAT DISCUSSION AND WE ARE
TRYING TO DO WOULD APPEAR. WE
NEED TO SIT DOWN IN A ROOM WITH
EVERYBODY AND RECOGNIZE WE ARE
IN CRISIS. WE NEED TO COME
TOGETHER. I THINK YOU'RE
INCLINED TO DO THAT SORT OF
WORK . I'M JUST PUTTING THAT
OUT THERE.
>> I'VE HEARD OF A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT ROUNDTABLES WHERE WE
GET TOGETHER AND -- THAT'S
WHERE I UNDERSTAND WHO IS DOING
WHAT AND WHERE THE GAPS ARE.
BUT I ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE ,
BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE, TO COME TO THE
TABLE SO YOU CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND IT. BECAUSE THERE IS
CONSENSUS ON THE FRONT LINE OF
SERVICE. WHEN YOU TALK TO
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDERS
THERE IS CONSENSUS ABOUT WHAT
THE ISSUES ARE. SAME THING WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY. SAME THING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. BROAD
CONSENSUS .
>> AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT
, OBVIOUSLY WE HEARD THE
CALLER. INITIALLY I WAS LIKE,
THAT'S AWKWARD. I'M HAPPY
THEY CALLED. IT STRIKES ME THAT
WE NEED TO SPEAK TO IT. LIKE
MANY OF US, WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING PUBLIC SAFETY IN MANY
WAYS. I'VE BEEN WORKING PUBLIC
SAFETY IN SEATTLE FOR THE LAST
DECADE. IN OCTOBER OF 2020 WE
HAD A POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
PLAN PRESENTED TO CITY HALL. IT
WAS BASED ON THE MAGNOLIA
INTERBANK, WESTTOWN AND THAT
GENERAL AREA. IT REALLY
INFORMED OUR POSITION. WHILE I
RESPECT THE POSITION THE
COMMENTS I DO BELIEVE THAT THE
CHANGES THAT WE'VE DONE ARE
NEEDED . MY SERVICE IN THE
MILITARY, BOTH IN DEFENSE AND
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITIES, I SEE
THIS ALL THE TIME. AS PD WAS
LIKE DOD. BECAUSE AT
CAPABILITIES, BECAUSE IT HAD
THE STRENGTH IN THE
ORGANIZATION AND ALL THOSE
DIFFERENT PIECES, EVERYTHING
WAS GLOB OF ONTO IT. DOD WAS
THE SAME THING. WE HAVE A
HUMANITARIAN DISASTER SOMEONE
THE WORLD NEARBY? LET DOD DO
IT. AND IT KEPT BEING ADDED
ONTO IT. AND THEN THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, AND
9/11 WAS ALMOST MID POINT IN MY
CAREER. AND I SAW HOW THE CIA
WAS RELATIVE TO OTHERS IN THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. THEN WE
SHIFTED AND CREATED A DIRECTOR
OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND
HOW TO CHANGE THE DYNAMICS. BY
THE WAY, AND THERE ARE FORM
LETTER THAT WE WROTE, WE CALLED
FOR A DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
WHO IS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE
RIGHT NOW. AND THAT IS THE
MODEL THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE 911 CALL
CENTER COMES IN. WE NEED TO
HAVE A STRATEGIC FIRST
RESPONDER, BECAUSE THEY ARE
THIS FIRST RESPONSE ON THE
PHONE. AND TO TAKE THAT
HOLISTIC VIEW. ACROSS ALL THE
DIFFERENT ENTITIES, WHICH IS
REALLY COMING ON THIS
DISCUSSION, PARTICULARLY IN
THIS THIRD APPROACH. THERE'S
SO MANY DIFFERENT PLAYERS. THAT
EXPERIENCE REALLY INFORMS MY
POSITION. SO I RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE WITH THE CALLER. WE DO
NEED THE DEPARTMENT. WE DO NEED
TO BE DRIVING THIS THIRD
APPROACH AND HAVE THE 911 CALL
CENTER IN YOUR HANDS AS THEY
TAKE A BROADER LOOK IN SEEING
THE CONTRAST. AND WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE DEPUTY MAYOR ,
BUT ALSO US. THE IDEA OF THE
PENDULUM THEORY. IF THING COMES
OUT HERE , EVERYBODY THINK
IT'S GOING TO STAY THAT WAY,
BUT IN FACT IT COMES BACK. AND
WE NEED TO BE PREPARED. WE ARE
KIND OF THE FIRST WHERE
THERE'S GOING TO BE
ADJUSTMENTS. I'M PREPARED TO
MOVE ON A THIRD APPROACH BUT WE
ALSO HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT WE
ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT
TODAY. IN THE NEXT YEAR, TWO,
FIVE YEARS THERE WILL BE NEED
AND ADJUSTMENTS. ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT ENTITIES. AND THEN
ITS RELATIONSHIP, TO YOUR
POINT, WHEN YOU TAKE SOMEBODY .
ON THAT POINT, WITH THAT
EXAMPLE, I'VE TALKED TO
OUTREACH. IT'S A VERY
DIFFERENT FROM MY BACKGROUND.
DO YOU KNOW WITH THE TWO WORDS
THEY SAID TO ME ? THEY NEVER
SENT IT OUT PUBLICLY. WE NEED
TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT. THESE
ARE THE QUESTIONS WE NEED TO
ASK. WHAT'S SAD IS THE EXAMPLE
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE GAVE. WE
HAVE ALL SEEN IT. I'VE SEEN IT
SO MANY TIMES. I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO BRING IT UP
AND ADDRESS IT. I THINK THIS IS
GOOD FOR SPD AND IN QUESTION
SIX, YOU WERE SURPRISED THAT
80% OF STATISTICS RELATED TO
CARE BEING REQUESTED BY AS PD.
I THINK THIS NEEDS AS PD. THIS
ALLOWS AS PD TO GO BACK TO MY
POINT TO FOCUS ON THEIR
MISSION, WHICH IS VIOLENT AND
PROPERTY CRIME. OFTEN, A NUMBER
OF YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WILL NOT
SAY PROPERTY CRIME. AS WE SEE
WITH ALL THE COMMENTS EARLIER.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
POINT THAT YOU HIGHLIGHT. THIS
IS ABOUT NOT JUST CARE DOING
THEIR THIRD APPROACH BUT
ALLOWING AS PD TO DO THEIR
MISSION BETTER. BECAUSE IT CAN
FOCUS ON ITS MISSION BETTER. SO
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I WAS
LOOKING AT MY NOTES. I NOTED
CRAWL, WALK , RUN. WE WILL HAVE
ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE YEARS AS
WE MOVE FORWARD. YOUR POINT
ABOUT RESPONDING AND ALL THOSE
PIECES, THAT GOES BACK TO MY
MAIN POINT. YOU HAVE TWO AREAS.
THE 911 CALL CENTER AND CARE
RESPONDERS. THAT 911 IS SUCH A
KEY THING IN IDENTIFYING THOSE
KEY PIECES AND MAKING THOSE
CALLS. IN TERMS OF HOW TO MOVE
FORWARD ON THE SPACE. IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME I WILL NOT ASK
A QUESTION BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THE
QUESTION THAT CAME UP . I THINK
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS. MY PLEDGE TO YOU, AS
CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE , IS TO
PRESS FORWARD AND DO IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE
EXECUTIVE, WITH THEM DIRECTOR
OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH THE
CHIEF AND HER FOLLOW-ON, WITH
LABOR. EVERYBODY THAT CAN BE
PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS.
WITH THAT LONG INTRODUCTION , I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 2918. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND PICK
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. IT'S
MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT. ARE THERE ANY
FINAL COMMENTS? I'M HEARING
NONE, SEEING THEN. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE FOR
THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND A
RECOMMENDATION THAT APPOINTMENT
291 EIGHT WILL BE SENT TO THE
CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR.
WE WILL MOVE ON. WE WILL NOW
INVITE THE CHIEF UP TO THE
TABLE. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD
ASK, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME,
THAT WE HOLD OUR QUESTIONS
UNTIL THE END. ONE OF THE
LESSONS LEARNED SITTING IN
VARIOUS COMMITTEES IS IF YOU
ASK QUESTIONS ON EVERY SLIDE
NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE WILL BE
BREAKING THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE'S RECORD FOR LONGEST
COMMITTEE MEETING. SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
UPDATE.
>> NOW WE ARE OFFICIAL WITH THE
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, CHIEF, FOR JOINING US
TODAY. DEPUTY CHIEF AND CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER MR. MAXEY,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
OVER TO YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
YOUR UPDATE IN THE FIRST TWO
MONTHS ON THE JOB.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD
HATE TO START OUT FOLLOWING AMY
SMITH.
>> I'VE DONE IT MYSELF.
>> IT ALMOST SEEMS UNFAIR. I'M
GLAD THAT I GOT TO BE HERE TO
HEAR HER SWORN IN. I COULD NOT
ASK FOR A BETTER PARTNER TO BE
WORKING WITH IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO I'M GOING TO GO QUICKLY AND
GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES . I WANT
TO START OUT, LET'S SEE ,
YOU'VE GOT TO DO THE SLIDES.
THERE WE GO.
>> READY TO GO?
>> AS WE WORK THROUGH OUR
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, AGAIN,
WELCOME. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR ENGAGEMENT . NOT JUST WITH
ME AS CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. I KNOW
BECAUSE MY SOURCES HAVE
REPORTED IN THE PAST THAT
YOU'VE BEEN MEETING WITH A
HOST OF NUMBER OF COUNSELORS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT ENGAGEMENT.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU
HEARD A PUBLIC COMMENT IT'S NOT
JUST IN BELLTOWN. IT'S NOT
12th AND JACKSON . IT'S OTHER
AREAS AND IN THE U DISTRICT.
WITH THAT SLIGHT DELAY, HERE WE
GO.
>> NO PROBLEM. OKAY, NEXT LINE.
THERE WE GO. I WANTED TO JUST
THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE SUPPORT
I RECEIVED FROM EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF YOU . IT'S BEEN A VERY
PLEASANT EXPERIENCE TO HEAR HOW
MUCH SUPPORT THERE IS. WHEN I
CAME INTO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AS THE INTERIM CHIEF
I HAD 10 DAYS MENTAL
PREPARATION TO START OUT. IT
WAS AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY
THAT HAS TURNED OUT SO MUCH
BETTER THAN I EVER WOULD HAVE
EXPECTED. I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY
TO BE HERE. I WAS BROUGHT IN
FOR TWO THINGS. BRING
INSTABILITY, BECAUSE THERE WAS
A LOT GOING ON IN THE
DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO TO BEGIN
TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES. I TOLD MY
STAFF RIGHT AWAY THAT'S
NORMALLY WHEN A NEW LEADER
COMES IN WE TALK ABOUT HOW THIS
IS A MARATHON AND WE ARE GOING
TO BE VERY METHODICAL. I SAID,
THIS IS NO MARATHON, THIS IS A
SPRINT. THE BUCKLE UP, GET YOUR
TENNIS SHOES ON BECAUSE WE HAVE
A LOT OF WORK TO DO. BUT I DO
HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF THAT I AM
HERE FOR SHORT TERM AND THE
STAFF IS HERE FOR A LONG TIME
SO I'M TRYING TO BE A LITTLE
BIT KIND TO THEM AND RECOGNIZE
THEY ARE STILL RUNNING A
MARATHON AT A SPRINT SPACE. THE
FIRST THING I DID COMING IN THE
DOOR WAS I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
I FOCUS INTERNALLY. WE HAD A
LOT OF TURMOIL COMING ON AS I
CAME INTO THE DOOR. AND WE ARE
STILL DEALING WITH THAT. BUT I
DO BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
MY FIRST FOCUS IS INTERNALLY. I
HAVE MET WITH ALL OF YOU. I
HAVE MET WITH SOME COMMUNITY
GROUPS. BUT I HAVE SPENT THE
BULK OF MY TIME WORKING AROUND
THE DEPARTMENT AND MEETING WITH
EMPLOYEES. I'VE DONE 15 OR 16
ROLL CALLS. I'VE PROBABLY HAD
FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH ABOUT
500 PEOPLE. IT'S BEEN VERY,
VERY ENLIGHTENING TO ME. WHAT I
ENCOUNTERED WAS NOT WHAT I
EXPECTED. I EXPECTED ANGER AND
RESISTANCE BECAUSE OF ALL THE
TURMOIL IN THE DEPARTMENT. BUT
WHAT I ENCOUNTERED ACTUALLY WAS
SOME BROKEN SPIRITS AND PEOPLE
LOOKING FOR DIRECTION. THIS
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN THROUGH
TURMOIL . GOING BACK TO 2020.
THE DEPARTMENT IS MADE UP OF
PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO THIS
PROFESSION TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY. AND THEY ARE TRYING
TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BUT THEY
ARE GETTING A LOT OF MIXED
MESSAGES OVER THE LAST FOUR
YEARS. AND I THINK THEY WERE
VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE THOUGHT
THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET BACK
TO THE BUSINESS OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT OUR ROLE IS. WE
NEED TO GET BACK TO FIGHTING
CRIME. I THINK WE GOT OFF TRACK
A LITTLE BIT OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS. I HAVE HAD A
VERY, VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE .
THE BULK OF THE PEOPLE INSIDE
OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ARE ENGAGED IN
FIRST-LINE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND THEY REALLY ARE
READY TO HELP . AGAIN, I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE
YOUR MESSAGE HAS BEEN CRYSTAL
CLEAR TO ME AND I'VE BEEN ABLE
TO CONVEY THAT MESSAGE TO THE
FRONT-LINE OFFICERS THAT WE
HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THIS
COUNSEL. IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF
A NEW MESSAGE FOR THEM. THEY
ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HEAR
THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I
COULD SPEND SEVERAL HOURS
TELLING YOU WHAT I'VE LEARNED
SINCE I'VE COME IN THE DOOR.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY AND FOCUS
ON SOME OF THE TOP FOUR ISSUES
THAT I HAVE BEEN ASSESSING
SINCE I CAME IN THE DOOR. IT'S
A VERY COMPLEX ORGANIZATION.
I'M PROBABLY NOT GOING TO DO
IT JUSTICE. I'M HITTING THE
TIP OF THE ICEBERG. THE FOUR
AREAS THAT I NEED TO FOCUS ON
MOST QUICKLY OUR STAFFING,
THAT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANY OF
YOU. TECHNOLOGY,
ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH GOES
ALONG WITH CULTURE. AND THEN
TALKING ABOUT OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE PARTNERS. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. WE'VE BEEN TALKING A
LOT ABOUT STAFFING. YOU WILL
KNOW THAT WE ARE IN A STAFFING
CRISIS. WE ARE DOWN 400
OFFICERS. WE ARE DOING OUR BEST
TO TRY TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY
TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS MORE
QUICKLY. WE ARE BEHIND WHERE WE
HOPED TO BE AT THIS POINT THIS
YEAR AND WE ARE INTENSELY
FOCUSING ON MAKING SOME CHANGES
THAT ARE GOING TO GIVE US A
LARGER POOL BECAUSE THAT IS THE
KEY TO GETTING MORE OFFICERS
HIRED. WE NEED TO HAVE A LARGE
POOL OF CANDIDATES SO WE CAN
MEET OUR DIVERSE EAGLES SO WE
CAN GET THE VERY BEST AND
BRIGHTEST IN THE DOOR. WE HAVE
TO HAVE A SHORTER PROCESSING
TIME. WE ARE IN AN EXTREMELY
COMPETITIVE MARKET. MOST PEOPLE
COME IN TO POLICING OUR TESTING
FOR MULTIPLE AGENCIES. WE WILL
SEE WHO CAN OFFER A JOB MORE
QUICKLY. WE HAVE GOT TO SHORTEN
OUR HIRING PROCESS . AND WE
ALSO NEED TO HAVE A HIGH TOUCH
ENGAGEMENT. WHEN PEOPLE APPLY
TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE
NEED TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH
THEM RIGHT AWAY. AND WE NEED TO
ENGAGE WITH THEM FREQUENTLY .
THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF
BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH THAT TELLS
US , EVEN WITH A HIGHER SALARY
AND GREAT WORKING CONDITIONS ,
YOU START BUILDING THAT ONE ON
ONE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP AND YOU
ARE GOING TO DRAMATICALLY
INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF
BRINGING THAT CANDIDATE INTO
YOUR DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PILOT SITE
FOR A PROGRAM THAT'S AN
APPLICATION FOR RECRUITING . A
PERSON I WORKED WITH AT THE
WASHINGTON, D.C. METROPOLITAN
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS OFFERED
THIS APP TO US FOR A PILOT. SO
I WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT
DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THAT'S
ANOTHER PRESENTATION. I WANT TO
GIVE YOU A TASTE OF WHAT THOSE
NUMBERS MEAN. YOU HEAR SAY
OFFICERS WERE SHORT STAFFING. I
WANT YOU TO SEE AND FEEL WHAT
THAT MEANS IN THE FIELD. THIS
IS A SNAPSHOT OF A RECENT
SATURDAY NIGHT . WE WERE DOWN
MULTIPLE OFFICERS AND EVERY
SINGLE PRECINCT AREA. YOU CAN
SEE THE NUMBER OF PRIORITY ONE,
TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE CALLS IN
EACH PRECINCT AREA. AND THESE
CALLS ARE NOT SMALL THINGS.
THESE ARE NOT BARKING DOGS .
THESE ARE ASSAULTS, CRISIS,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SO FORTH.
MANY OF THESE CALLS REQUIRE A
MULTIPLE OFFICER RESPONSE.
NORTH PRECINCT HAS BEEN A
SPECIAL FOCUS FOR US BECAUSE OF
THE SHOOTINGS UP IN AURORA. AND
JUST TO GIVE YOU A TASTE OF
WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR THOSE
OFFICERS, THERE'S 10 OFFICERS
ON DUTY FOR THAT ENTIRE
PRECINCT. WHICH IS AS LARGE AS
MOST POLICE DEPARTMENT ACROSS
THE STATE , THAT ONE SINGLE
PRECINCT. SO THERE'S 10
OFFICERS TO HANDLE ALL OF THEIR
CALLS. ALL OF THOSE CALLS.
THEN, SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT,
WE GET A SHOOTING WHICH
REQUIRES SHUTTING DOWN AURORA ,
GETTING AID TO A VICTIM.
THAT'S TAKING SIX OR SEVEN
OFFICERS RIGHT IN THAT
PARTICULAR MOMENT TO DEAL WITH
THAT SHOOTING CALL. MEANWHILE,
WE HAVE ALL OF THESE OTHER
CALLS COMING IN. SO WHEN YOU
HEAR COMPLAINS ABOUT YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, ABOUT WHY IT
TAKES SO LONG TO GET A POLICE
OFFICER TO RESPOND, IT'S A MATH
PROBLEM. THEY REALLY HAVE TO
PRIORITIZE THEIR CALLS AND IT
RESULTS IN LONGER WAIT TIMES
FOR PEOPLE GETTING TO CALLS. WE
ARE USING SPECIAL EMPHASIS
PATROLS WHICH ARE ADDITIONAL
OFFICERS FROM OUTSIDE THE
PRECINCT TO COME IN AND FOCUS
ON A PARTICULAR PROBLEM AREA.
OUR COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM IS
MADE UP OF 12 OFFICERS AND A
COUPLE OF SERGEANTS . THEY GO
AROUND AND TRY TO WORK ON OUR
HOTSPOTS. WE NEED A TEAM LIKE
THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE PRECINCT.
WE'VE GOT ONE FOR THE ENTIRE
DEPARTMENT. WE ARE LOOKING AT
REDEPLOYING OTHER RESOURCES SO
THAT WE HAVE MORE TEAMS LIKE
THAT. OR WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
AUGMENT WHAT WE HAVE AT THE
PRECINCT SO THEY CAN PULL OUT
OF CALL RESPONSE AND DO SOME OF
THESE SPECIAL EMPHASIS PICK
SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'VE
ALREADY DONE, WE ARE
REDEPLOYING OUR COMMUNITY
SERVICE OFFICERS TO THE
PRECINCTS. SO THEY RESPOND
RIGHT OUT OF THE PRECINCT
RATHER THAN CENTRALLY LOCATED
DOWNTOWN. WE WILL BE MEETING
AND TALKING TO THE OUR TEAM . I
KNOW IT'S A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.
BUT THAT'S A LARGE GROUP OF
POLICE OFFICERS THAT I WANT TO
LOOK AT. ARE WE PROPERLY
PRIORITIZING THAT VERY PRECIOUS
COMMODITY THAT WE HAVE? THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. I'M SORRY,
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TEAM. WHAT
THEY DO IS ASSIST THE UNIFORM
PICTURE SO ACRONYMS. UNIFIED
CARE TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON
THE NICK EMMONS. I NEED TO HAVE
MY LIST OF ACRONYMS. IT'S
WORSE THAN DOD. I SWEAR. LET'S
SEE. TECHNOLOGY IS THE OTHER
AREA THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON. WE
KNOW THAT OUR STAFFING IS GOING
TO BE BELOW WHAT WE NEED FOR
THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS. SO
WE NEED TO REALLY, REALLY
HARNESS OUR TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE
IT CAN BECOME A FORCE
MULTIPLIER. AND I WILL TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A
MINUTE. THERE'S TWO THINGS
THAT ARE GOING ON WITH
TECHNOLOGY THAT I WANT TO BRING
TO YOUR ATTENTION. WE ARE
STRUGGLING WITH USING A CENTRAL
CITY I.T. DEPARTMENT BECAUSE
WE, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
HAVE SOME VERY UNIQUE NEEDS
THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH. WE
NEED 24/7 , 365 SUPPORT. IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT TO GET FROM A
CENTRAL I.T. UNIT. SO WE ARE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MAKE THAT WORK MORE. WE ALSO
HAVE TO PUT ANYBODY THAT'S
WORKING ON OUR DATA SYSTEMS
THROWBACK GROUNDING PROCESS,
WHICH IS SOMETHING WE ARE SHORT
STAFFED ON , BECAUSE THEY ARE
GETTING INTO DATABASES THAT
HAVE ALL KINDS OF CONTROLS OVER
THEM. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO
DIG DEEPER INTO THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EITHER HAVE AN INTERNAL I.T.
SUPPORT TEAM OR SHARE ONE WITH
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO
ARE ANTICIPATING SOME ISSUES
WITH THE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM. MOST OF THE CITY IS
MOVING TO WORKDAY. AM I SAYING
THAT CORRECTLY? AND BECAUSE WE
HAVE SO MANY COMPLEX PAY RANGES
AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENTS IT'S GOING TO BE
VERY TRICKY TO BE ABLE TO
SWITCH OVER AND MAKE SURE
EVERYONE IS PROPERLY PAID. WE
ALSO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT HELPS
US TRACK WHERE OUR RESOURCES
ON, WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE
ASSIGNED. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT
AN INTERMEDIATE SYSTEM THAT
MIGHT HELP US BETTER UTILIZE
WORKDAY. SO I JUST WANT TO GET
THAT ON YOUR RADAR. NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. BACK TO HOW TECHNOLOGY
CAN BECOME A FORCE MULTIPLIER.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE
HEARD ABOUT OUR PLANS FOR
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER. WE NEED
TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO
OPERATE THAT CRIME CENTER. A
COUPLE OF THINGS OF NOTE THAT I
WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF , WITH
A REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER WE GET
A BETTER OVERVIEW OF NOT ONLY
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY
BUT WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE OUR
RESOURCES TO IN RESPONSE TO AN
EMERGENCY. WE ARE BETTER ABLE
TO IDENTIFY THE HOTSPOTS . I
THINK WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE
FIVE MAJOR HOTSPOTS THAT WE ARE
DEALING WITH NOW. BUT THERE'S
ALSO VERY SPECIFIC AREAS. JUST
A COUPLE OF CITY BLOCKS . IF WE
HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN PERFORM
THE ANALYSIS AND THE DATA WE
CAN REALLY DRILL DOWN ON WHERE
WE NEED TO ASSIGN PEOPLE.
AGAIN, THAT GIVES US -- WE ARE
BETTER USING OUR VERY SCARCE
RESOURCES. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, SOLVING CRIME COMES DOWN
TO CONNECTING THE DOTS FROM THE
DATA THAT WE HAVE AND GETTING
THE INFORMATION TO THE RIGHT
PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME. OUR
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER IS THE
WAY TO GET THAT DONE MORE
QUICKLY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ALL KNOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC TRUST AND
THE ROLE THAT CIVILIAN
OVERSIGHT PLACE. I THINK
CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO
MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRUST. IT
CREATES A TRANSPARENCY THAT IS
NECESSARY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO
HAVE. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE
HAVE IS HOW THIS IMPACTS
CULTURE. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT
I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MY CAREER
STUDYING AND PRACTICING WITH
HOW YOU INTENTIONALLY CREATE A
CULTURE WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION.
HOW DO YOU BUILD A HEALTHY
CULTURE? ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
I'M HAVING IS THE CURRENT
OPERATION OF OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM REALLY GOES AGAINST THE
BASIC TENETS OF PROCEDURAL
JUSTICE. IF I, AS A LEADER,
WANT TO CREATE A NEW CULTURE OR
MAKE OUR CULTURE MORE HEALTHY I
WANT TO HAVE THE TRUST OF THE
PEOPLE INSIDE OF THE
ORGANIZATION. BUT WE ARE
OUTSOURCING SO MUCH OF OUR
INVESTIGATIONS AND DISCIPLINE
THAT CREATES MULTIPLE PLAYERS
IN INFLUENCING HOW WE ARE GOING
TO ENFORCE RULES INSIDE OF THE
ORGANIZATION. BECAUSE THE OPA
AND SOME OF THE OTHER PARTNERS
HAVE SO MANY INVESTIGATIONS
GOING , THERE'S A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT TIME LAG BETWEEN
WHEN A COMPLAINT IS MADE AND
WHEN IT'S RESOLVED. THE OFFICE
OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S
DOING AN AUDIT ON THE
TIMELINESS. I REALLY WANT TO
SPEND MORE TIME UNDERSTANDING
WHAT IS CAUSING THE TIME
DELAYS. WE NEED TO HAVE A
DISTINCTION OR MORE CLEAR
DISTINCTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES
A MINOR MISCONDUCT AND SERIOUS
MISCONDUCT. BECAUSE WE HAVE A
LOT OF MINOR MISCONDUCT THAT
ARE GOING TO OPA . I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE US FIGURE OUT A WAY TO
BETTER DISTINGUISH THOSE TWO
THINGS. I WILL LEAVE THAT FOR
NOW. I CAN SPEND MANY MORE
HOURS TALKING ABOUT THAT. IT IS
A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE IN
UPDATING THE CULTURE. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. I WANT TO GET
BACK TO WHAT I THINK MOST OF
THE COMMUNITY IS HERE LOOKING
AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PICTURE. I
THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE PROPER
APPROACHES TO THAT. CLEARLY, WE
NEED TO HAVE HEALTHY
PARTNERSHIPS AND BETTER
COORDINATION . AGAIN, I
COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER
PARTNER THAN AMY SMITH WHEN IT
COMES TO ALTERNATIVE CALL
RESPONSE, ALTERNATIVE CALL
HANDLING. WE KNOW THAT WE ARE
NOT THE SOLUTION. WE ARE PART
OF A SYSTEM. WE ALSO HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH ENOUGH DETENTION
OPTIONS. MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
A THIRD OPTION. WE HAVE THE
DILEMMA WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE -- ARE TOO MEDICALLY
FRAGILE TO GO TO THE JAIL BUT
THEY ARE TOO DANGEROUS TO GO TO
THE E.R. WE NEED TO HAVE A
THIRD OPTION. WE HAVE CREATED A
SOCIETY WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT DON'T FIT TO THE
EITHER OR OUR ALTERNATIVES. WE
NEED A THIRD ALTERNATIVE. WHAT
WE LOOK AT HOW WE GOT HERE, HOW
DID PRIME GET SO BAD? HOW DID
THINGS GET OUT OF CONTROL? I
THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
REASONS. NICHOLAS KRISTOF WROTE
AN OP-ED ABOUT THE FOLLY OF
CREATING PUBLIC POLICY BASED ON
IDEOLOGICAL PURITY. IT WAS VERY
INTERESTING FOR ME THIS MORNING
TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, THE FOCUS
ON WE NEED PUBLIC SAFETY. FOUR
YEARS AGO THE PUBLIC COMMENT
WAS VERY DIFFERENT. ALL COPS
ARE BAD. REPEAL LOW-LEVEL
STATUTES ABOUT CRIMES. THAT
MOMENTUM HAD BEEN BUILDING FOR
YEARS. IN 2020 THERE WAS A
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SHIFT AWAY
FROM FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHAT WE
ARE SEEING NOW IS THE RESULTS
OF SOME OF THE SHIFTS THAT
HAPPENED FOUR YEARS AGO. I'M
VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A
CLIMATE HERE IN THE CITY
COUNCIL RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THE
OFFICERS ARE FEELING MORE
CLARITY OF WHAT THEIR MISSION
IS ON THE STREET. WHEN I LOOK
AT WHAT'S CAUSING CRIME, THAT
IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
. WE ALSO SUFFERED THE
PANDEMIC. AND I THINK WE ARE
STILL SUFFERING FROM WHAT
HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE THINGS THAT KEEP PROSOCIAL
BEHAVIOR IN LINE , THOSE THINGS
FELL APART. OUR SOCIAL SERVICE
NETWORK WAS FRAYED. MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES WEREN'T
AVAILABLE. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT
YOUTH CRIME AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
RIGHT NOW , THE MOST IMPORTANT
PUBLIC INSTITUTION TO PROMOTE
PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN YOUNG
PEOPLE IS OUR SCHOOLS. AND OUR
SCHOOL IS SHUT DOWN. THOSE
PROVIDE A BRIDGE FROM EARLY
TEEN YEARS TO LATER TEEN YEARS.
I THINK WE ARE SEEING THE
FALLOUT OF THAT BRIDGE BEING
BROKEN FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO THERE'S ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT ARE
COMING TOGETHER IN A PERFECT
STORM. YOU ADD FENTANYL AND
GUNS TO THAT AND I THINK THAT
GIVES US A LOT OF INSIGHT INTO
WHAT WE ARE SEEING OUT ON THE
STREET. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I
THINK YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF THE
HOMICIDE RATE THAT'S HAPPENING
IN SEATTLE RIGHT NOW. I THINK
IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR US TO
REMEMBER AND NOT LET GO OF THE
FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING AND
WE ARE STILL NOT ON TOP OF IT.
IT'S WORSE THAN IT HAS BEEN
OVER THE LAST DECADE . NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. THE OTHER THING
THAT I THINK THAT IS MORE
DISTURBING IS THE AMOUNT OF
GUNFIRE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IF
ANY OF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE
SEATTLE TIMES THIS MORNING I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE VERY
EXTENSIVE ARTICLE BY HIS SARAH
GREEN AS SHE DIVES DEEP INTO
THE DATA ABOUT THE VIOLENCE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES. NOT JUST IN
SEATTLE, BUT ALL ACROSS KING
COUNTY. WE HAVE SO MUCH GUNFIRE
IN THE COMMUNITY IT'S JUST
ASTOUNDING. I WAKE UP EVERY
MORNING AND I PICK UP MY CELL
PHONE TO SEE ALL OF THE
BULLETINS FROM THE NIGHT
BEFORE. AND IT IS VERY RARE FOR
ME TO NOT HAVE AT LEAST ONE
BULLETIN. USUALLY I HAVE TWO ,
OR THREE, OR FOUR OF THE
SHOOTING THE NIGHT BEFORE. THAT
IS JUST ASTOUNDING. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE DID SEE 10
YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T SEE FIVE
YEARS AGO. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE DOWN 400
OFFICERS THE OFFICERS THAT WE
HAVE ARE WORKING THEIR HEARTS
OUT. THEY ARE DOING AMAZING
THINGS , CONSIDERING THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY'RE
WORKING IN. HOW ARE HOMICIDE
DETECTIVES , OUR COMMUNITY
VIOLENCE REDUCTION UNIT , WHICH
FOCUS ON THE SHOOTINGS AND THE
GANG-RELATED CRIME, THOSE FOLKS
ARE BEING CALLED OUT LITERALLY
EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, MULTIPLE
TIMES. THAT'S THE 12 OFFICERS
OR TWO SERGEANTS THAT MOVE
AROUND THE CITY. THEY ARE
MAKING ARRESTS, THEY ARE
HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. I
WISH I HAD FIVE TIMES AS MANY
PEOPLE AS WE DO. BUT THE ONES
THAT WE DO HAVE ON-THE-JOB ARE
DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE. TO WRAP THIS UP,
I DON'T WANT TO END ON A SUPER
NEGATIVE NOTE. EVEN THOUGH WE
ALL KNOW WE ARE IN A CRISIS
RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, I WANT TO
REINFORCE ONE MORE TIME . THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN
AMAZINGLY SUPPORTED. THAT MEANS
SO MUCH TO OUR OFFICERS TO KNOW
THAT THE CITY HAS THEIR BACK. I
WANT TO JUST LEAVE YOU WITH MY
SURPRISE AND HOW PLEASED I AM.
WE HAVE MOVED PAST THE IDEA
THAT WE HAVE TO PICK ONE THING
OR THE OTHER. WE CAN'T LIVE IN
THE WORLD OF EITHER OR NOW.
EITHER IT'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROBLEM OR SOCIAL SERVICE
PROBLEM. IT'S BOTH. WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
CAN'T JUST BE SOLVED BY THE
POLICE AND IT CAN'T JUST BE
SOLVED BY SOCIAL WORKERS. I
THINK WE HAVE GOTTEN TO A
PLACE, AS YOU HEARD WITH CHIEF
SMITH, WE HAVE GOTTEN TO A
PLACE WHERE WE RECOGNIZE AND
NEED BOTH THINGS. WE NEED TO
GET PEOPLE CONNECTED TO
SERVICES . SOME PEOPLE NEED TO
BE PUT IN DETENTION. THAT'S
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN KEEP THE
COMMUNITY SAFE. I KNOW THAT WE
WILL BE TALKING IN A FEW
MINUTES ABOUT THE LACK OF
AVAILABILITY OF OPTIONS FOR
SAFE DETENTION. SO I'M NOT
GOING TO DRILL INTO THAT RIGHT
NOW. I'M GOING TO STOP TALKING
AND GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ASK SOME QUESTIONS. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. WE DO HAVE
A FOLLOW-UP AND WE ARE RUNNING
LATE. IF YOU DO HAVE A QUICK
QUESTION RELATED TO THIS, IF
YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS IN THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM . VICE CHAIR, NOW
OR LATER ?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WILL
GO NOW. I WILL BE BRIEF. THANK
YOU, CHIEF, FOR THIS OVERVIEW
AND REPORT OUT , SIXTY-DAY
REPORT OUT. REALLY HELPFUL. I
ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION
ON ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES
IMPACTING MY DISTRICTS AND THE
ENTIRE CITY . IT WAS AN
IMMEDIATE TRIAL BY FIRE. IN THE
FIRST WEEK OR TWO WE WERE DOING
SOMETHING YOU CAN ANY EVENT,
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THIS. AND
THANK YOU FOR CALLING OUT THE
FACTS. THE FACTS ARE, WE ARE ,
CURRENTLY THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES THAT WE EXPERIENCE
TODAY OUR SHAMEFUL LEGACY OF
THE D FUND THE POLICE MOVEMENT.
THAT WAS WRONG THEN, IT'S WRONG
NOW. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE , D
FUND IS DEAD. IT IS NOT THE
DOMINANT , CONTROLLING POLICY
NARRATIVE DOMINATING OUR POLICY
DISCUSSIONS HERE IN SEATTLE. WE
ARE HERE TO CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL VIEWS ARE
LISTENED TO AND HEARD.
COMPASSION DEFINES OUR APPROACH
AND COLLABORATION DEFINES OUR
APPROACH. ON THE ISSUE OF
POLICE HIRING, LET ME SAY THIS
. I'M ALSO HAPPY TO REPORT
THAT ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS IS
GOING TO THE POLICE HIRING
PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND SHE IS
VERY DELIGHTED WITH HOW THINGS
SEEM TO BE PROGRESSING WITH THE
ENGAGEMENT AND TOUCH POINTS
SHE'S NOW GETTING, WHICH IS
GREAT. YOU APTLY NOTED THAT ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO
ACHIEVE THE STAFFING LEVELS
THAT WE NEED, WE NEED A MUCH
LARGER POOL OF CANDIDATES .
MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. IN ORDER
FOR US TO HIRE THE BEST OF THE
BEST WE NEED THE DEEPEST
POSSIBLE POOL OF QUALIFIED
APPLICANTS AND CANDIDATES. WE
HAVE TAKEN A NUMBER OF ACTIONS
ALREADY THIS YEAR AS A COUNCIL
AND COLLECTIVE BODY TO ADDRESS
THAT. I'M HAPPY TO LEARN THAT
THE NUMBER OF DAILY APPLICANTS
IS UP. DIRECTOR WALTON FOR THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE REPORTED THAT
DURING ONE OF OUR LAST
SESSIONS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO
POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE LARGER
POOL OF CANDIDATES?
>> I'VE RAISED THIS ISSUE
BEFORE. I'M RELUCTANT TO DO IT
NOW BECAUSE IT COULD BE A VERY
LONG DISCUSSION. I WOULD REALLY
HOPE THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION WOULD RECONSIDER THE
WAY THAT THEY DO CANDIDATE
TESTING. THERE ARE DIFFERENT
OPTIONS FOR DOING THE INITIAL
SCREENING FOR CANDIDATES .
THERE IS AN OPTION THAT CREATES
MANY, MANY, THERE IS A LARGER
POOL THAT PRODUCES A MUCH
LARGER POOL. THERE IS A HISTORY
ABOUT WHY THEY ARE USING THE
SCREENING TESTS THAT THEY ARE
USING NOW. I KNOW THAT THEY
BELIEVE , DEEP IN THEIR SOUL,
THAT THE TESTS THAT THEY ARE
USING RIGHT NOW IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO STICK WITH THAT
TEST. MY EXPERIENCE IN POLICE
HIRING IS THE FIRST INITIAL
SCREENING TEST DOESN'T NEED TO
GO THAT DEEP. BECAUSE WE ARE
LITERALLY JUST TRYING TO MAKE
SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE MINIMAL
QUALIFICATIONS. WE HAVE A VERY
DEEP BACKGROUND IN PROCESS . TO
HELP THE INITIAL SCREENING GO
VERY DEEP INTO QUALIFICATIONS ,
TO ME IT TAKES TIME FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN. MY PREFERENCE, IF I WAS
QUEEN OF THE WORLD, MIKE
PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO BRING
MORE PEOPLE INTO THE POOL AND
ALLOW THE BACKGROUND PROCESS TO
SORT OUT FROM THAT POOL. IT'S
HIGHLY, HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. AND
THE AGENCY THAT REMOVES THE
MOST BARRIERS TO GET IN THE
DOOR IS GOING TO HAVE A LARGER
POOL. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
US USE A TESTING PROCESS THAT
IS MUCH MORE LOW BARRIER AND
FASTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> I SECOND THOSE COMMENTS TO
RECRUIT -- PROCESSES FROM LAST
YEAR. YOU MENTIONED, THAT
LEGISLATION IS ALSO ALLOCATED.
THEY CREATED SPACE FOR ANOTHER
FTE TO ENABLE THAT TOUCH . HE
SAID THIS SHOULD BE A HIGH
TOUCH ENVIRONMENT. YOU CONTACT
SOMEBODY APPLIES TO SPD RIGHT
AWAY AND BEAT OTHER AGENCIES TO
THAT PERSON. DO YOU KNOW IF
THAT IS WORKING YET? THAT
LEGISLATION PASSED A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AGO. I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE THAT'S A FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION.
>> OUR RECRUITING UNIT HAS
CHANGED SOME OF THEIR
PROCEDURES. I'M VERY
INTERESTED IN BRINGING IN THIS
NEW APP. WE CAN BE A PILOT
AGENCY. IT DOESN'T COST MONEY
TO DO THIS. BUT IT WILL ENABLE
OUR SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN
THE RECRUITING UNIT TO MAXIMIZE
USING TECHNOLOGY. THIS OUTREACH
AND CONSTANT CONTACT WITH
CANDIDATES IN THE FIELD. I CAN
GIVE YOU A DEEP BRIEFING AT
SOMETIME.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
THANKS.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER
MOORE?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF ,
FOR THAT AMAZING PRESENTATION
AND SO MUCH THAT YOU HAVE
COVERED AND DONE IN THE BRIEF
TIME THAT YOU'RE HERE. I JUST
REALLY FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN GOOD
HANDS. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. ALSO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COLLABORATION WITH OF THE GUN
VIOLENCE CRISIS THAT WE ARE
SEEING IN MY DISTRICT. IT'S
VERY RESPONSIVE AND I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE A QUICK
QUESTION . ARE THERE OTHER
RESOURCES THAT WE CAN BRING IN?
HAVE WE TALKED TO THE STATE
PATROL? IF WE LOOK AT THE KING
COUNTY SHERIFF. ARE THERE
RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE
CAN BRING IN ON A TEMPORARY
BASIS? OTHER OTHER HIRING
OPTIONS IN THAT REGARD?
>> AND ONE OF OUR MEETINGS WE
HAD YESTERDAY WE WERE TALK
ABOUT THAT VERY OPTION OF
BRINGING IN SOME TEMPORARY
EMPLOYEES WITH NOT ONLY
BACKGROUNDS BUT GENERAL
INVESTIGATIONS. BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO
FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATIONS ON A
LOT OF CASES THAT COME IN. AND
WE ARE EXPLORING WITH HR AND
OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING UNITS. CAN WE BRING
IN SOME RETIRED OFFICERS
TEMPORARILY TO HELP OUT? SO WE
ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND CHIEF
FOR BEING HERE. I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION.
YOU'VE ALSO BEEN VERY
RESPONSIVE AND THOUGHTFUL IN
YOUR APPROACH IN A SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME TO REALLY ADDRESS THE
ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACING. IT
TALKED A LOT ABOUT YOUTH AND
GUN VIOLENCE WITH THIS UPSURGE
THAT WE'VE HAD , PARTICULAR TO
YOUTH. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
YOUR BRINGING UP THE PANDEMIC
BECAUSE , AT LEAST ANECDOTALLY,
I'M NOT A DATA SCIENTIST, BUT
I'M A MOM OF TWO TEENAGERS AND
I KNOW A LOT OF TEENAGERS. I
SEE THE IMPACT THE PANDEMIC HAD
WHEN WE CLOSE THE SCHOOLS AND
WE WAITED SO LONG TO REOPEN
SCHOOLS. I DON'T DOUBT THAT
HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE RECENT
UPTICK. I WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS AND
LEARN MORE ABOUT WAYS THAT WE
CAN ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE WITH
YOUTH IN PARTICULAR. WE ARE NOT
SEEING ANY MOVEMENT IN A
POSITIVE DIRECTION IN TERMS OF
YOUTH AND GUN VIOLENCE. WHEN WE
LOOK AT SCHOOLS OUT AT THE
MOMENT FALL IS SHORTLY AROUND
THE CORNER AND I WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR WHAT THE RESPONSE WILL BE
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, FOR
INSTANCE, THE MAYOR HAS SOME
PROPOSALS THAT I SUPPORT IN
TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH, MORE
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH FOR
KIDS . BUT I KNOW THAT THAT
ALONE WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF IT.
SO HOW DO WE KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE
IN THE SCHOOLS AND GUNS AWAY
FROM OUR TEENAGERS? THINGS OF
THAT NATURE. I KNOW THAT WE ARE
RUNNING SHORT ON TIME SO WE CAN
CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION
LATER. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT AS PART OF THIS COMMITTEE
BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT I
VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT AND I WILL
SAY THAT THE KIDS , MOST KIDS,
AND I SAID THIS YESTERDAY , WE
ARE EXPERIENCING GUN VIOLENCE
FROM END TO END IN OUR CITY.
AND THAT INCLUDES YOUTH. EVERY
TIME IT HAPPENS IT'S NOW
CREATING A CULTURE WHERE OUR
KIDS ARE EXPERIENCING PTSD IN
WAYS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN
BEFORE BECAUSE MORE AND MORE
KIDS HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH BY GUN
VIOLENCE THAN I CAN RECALL. AND
I'M NOT YOUNG. I VERY MUCH
CARE ABOUT THIS. I VERY MUCH
CARE ABOUT WANTING TO BE PART
OF A SOLUTION. I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THAT WILL BE. BUT I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING
ABOUT THIS MORE AND LEARNING
MORE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND
HOW WE CAN BE A PART OF THAT.
>> WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR
THE DETAILS. I LEARNED
YESTERDAY THAT IT TAKES
MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS OF
FIREARMS LAWS BEFORE JUVENILES
ARE HELD IN DETENTION AND HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. CARRYING FIREARMS,
USING FIREARMS. THIS IS AN AREA
I NEED TO EDUCATE MYSELF IN
RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOT SURPRISING
. WHAT I'VE HEARD IS IT TAKES
FIVE CONVICTIONS BEFORE THEY
ARE ACTUALLY HELD IN DETENTION.
THAT'S ASTOUNDING TO ME .
IT'S ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTENING TO
ME. I NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER .
WE WILL ADD THAT TO WORK WITH
OLYMPIA IN UPCOMING SESSIONS.
THE LIST IS GROWING. JUST AS A
TRANSITION , I JUST WANTED TO
KNOW , FIRST, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR UPDATE. WE CAN GO PRETTY
MUCH RIGHT NOW. I CAME IN, WENT
DOWN THIRD AVENUE, STARTED A
JAMES AND WALKED ALL THE WAY. I
HAD SOME INITIAL RESIDENCE .
RESIDENCE, SMALL BUSINESS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMING IN. WE
MADE OUR WAY TO PINE. WE RAN
INTO THE MID-. HE WAS JUST
HERE. HE HAS GIVEN ME INSIGHT
TO WHAT HIS ORGANIZATION IS. HE
SEES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
2023 AND 2024. IT'S HAPPENING
DOWNTOWN. WHAT'S IMPACTING ALL
THESE RESIDENCE THAT ARE
CONTACTING MY OFFICE,
CONTACTING ALL OF US IN OUR
OFFICES , SEATTLE PD. WE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK. WE
JUST HAD TO HIGHLIGHT ONE
THING. THE TRANSITION OF THE
NEXT BRIEFING , LAST YEAR WE
PASSED THE PUBLIC AND DRUG USE
POSSESSION BILL TO ALIGN THE
SEATTLE MISCIBLE TOLD TO
WASHINGTON STATE LAW. IN THEIR
-- DIVERSION, 110%, I HAVE
TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE. I HAD A
CONVERSATION YESTERDAY. ONE OF
THE NUMBER OUT OF 10 THAT CAN
BE DIVERTED, LET'S DIVERT.
THOSE THAT NEED TO BE DETAINED
NEED TO BE DETAINED. AND
THAT'S OUR CHALLENGE. AND THEN
THE AMENDMENT CAME IN. TALKING
ABOUT HARM. IT CREATED
CONFUSION AND A LACK OF
CLARITY. FOR CLARITY SAKE,
USING MY WALK INFORMATION ,
YOUR OWN DATA SETS , 911 DATA
SETS. ALL OF THESE DATA SETS.
WE HAVE HARM HAPPENING ON OUR
STREETS ACROSS THE CITY , AND
PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN, EVERY
DAY. IT IS A GIVEN. THAT SHOULD
NOT BE A CONSIDERATION. WHEN IT
PERTAINS TO THIRD AVENUE, PIKE
AND PINE FROM FIRST AND THIRD,
SECOND AND BELL , THE WHOLE
AREA OF BELLTOWN. PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE BELLTOWN IS SLIDING
KIND OF LIKE 12 AND JACKSON AND
KING. THERE IS HARM THAT'S
HAPPENING TO OUR NEIGHBORS THAT
LIVE IN BELLTOWN. IT'S HARM
THAT'S HAPPENING ON 90th AND
AURORA. WHICH MY OWN FAMILY
KNOWS . ALL OF THESE DISTRICTS.
TYPICAL HARM IS HAPPENING. WE
NEED TO CREATE CLARITY, TAKE
ACTION. FIRST, IT'S HAVING A
PLACE TO DIVER TOO. BUT THEN
THERE'S HAVING ATTENTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL
MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
>> I WAS THERE LAST YEAR WITH
THE DRUG BILL. CAN I MAKE A
NOTE? THE DRUG ORDINANCE THAT
FAILED IN JUNE WAS SIMPLY
CONFORMING WITH STATE LAW. AND
THAT FAILED. THE DRUG BILL THAT
WAS ULTIMATELY A DOUBLE OPTED
WAS FROM THE EXECUTIVE. AND
THAT CREATED, IN SECTION 3, A
THREAT TO HARM TO OTHER
STANDARDS. THAT WAS IN THE
MAYOR'S LEGISLATION THAT
PASSED DOWN . THE COUNCIL DID
AMEND IT. BUT THE HARM PART WAS
PART OF THE SECTION THAT SAYS
THAT THE REST NEEDS TO BE
CONDITIONED ON THE PERCEPTION
FROM THE OFFICER THAT THE DRUGS
USER WAS HARMING OTHERS IN
ADDITION TO THEMSELVES.
>> SO IT'S IMPACTING AND
HARMING KEVIN AND HIS FELLOW
BUSINESS OWNERS IN BELLTOWN .
>> I SEE THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND WITH THAT,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE
WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM OF
BUSINESS. CLERK, PLEASE READ
ITEM 3 INTO THE RECORD.
>> CRIMINAL JUSTICE ECOSYSTEM
DISCUSSION.
>> THE CHIEF WILL REMAIN.
WELCOME TO CITY ATTORNEY
DAVIDSON FOR JOINING US ALONG
WITH SMITH FROM CARE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. IS EVERYTHING SET
AND READY TO GO ON THE
BRIEFING? SO WE WILL QUICKLY GO
INTO THE BRIEFING. AND AGAIN,
WE WILL WORK FOR THE BRIEFING
AND HOLD ANY QUESTIONS UNTIL
THE END IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME. THANK YOU.
>> IN MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> IN MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I
APPRECIATE THE INPUT EARLIER
AND WE WILL KEEP ON TRACK FOR
TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF
BUSINESS TO DO. THANK YOU FOR
THE CONVERSATION, THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I
WOULD JUST LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
THREE ITEMS. SO WE CAN GO TO
THE THREE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
JUST THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTING SOME
AT THE MOMENT THAT, IN MY
OPINION, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IS FACING. I WILL REVIEW
THE KING COUNTY JAIL -- CHRONIC
HOTSPOT ISSUES AND THE STATE
TALKS LAB BACKLOG. SO THESE ARE
THE THREE ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO
BRING TO YOU. JUST TO GIVE YOU
AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE THE STAND
AND HOW THEY ARE IMPEDIMENTS .
AND OUR ABILITY TO IMPROVE
PUBLIC SAFETY. SO WE WILL GO TO
THE NEXT LINE PLEASE. IN 2012
WE CONTRACTED WITH KING COUNTY
TO HAVE A DETENTION FACILITY
FOR DEFENDANTS. IN 2024 WE PAID
$22 MILLION FOR THAT. ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD NOTE
IS THAT WHEN THE PANDEMIC
OCCURRED, UNDERSTANDABLY THERE
WERE RESTRICTIONS ON BOOKINGS
BECAUSE OF THE CONTAGIOUS
ASPECT OF COVID. WHEN THAT
SUBSIDED WE STILL HAD
RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE NAMED FOR
STAFFING SHORTAGES AT THE KING
COUNTY JAIL. WITH THOSE
RESTRICTIONS , WHAT THAT DOES
IS OUR SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS
THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT ARE NOT
ABLE TO BOOK ON OVER HALF OF
OUR MISDEMEANOR CRIMES THAT ARE
LISTED IN OUR CITY'S LAWS. SO
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT
STAGGERING SENTENCE AGAIN. OUR
OFFICERS ARE NOT ABLE TO BOOK
ON OVER HALF OF THE MISDEMEANOR
CRIMES THAT ARE LISTED IN OUR
CITY'S LAWS. WHEN YOU WERE
LOOKING AT WHAT YOU'RE LIMITING
NUMBERS OF OFFICERS HAVE WITH
THE STRUGGLES OF RECRUITING
THAT THE CHIEF HAS IDENTIFIED,
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
SOMETHING FOR THEM SO THAT THEY
CAN BE RESPONSIVE IN THE MOMENT
TO COMMUNITY THAT YOU'VE HEARD
FROM PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THEY
NEED HELP THE COMMUNITY NEEDS
HELP IN THE MOMENT BECAUSE WE
DO HAVE REPEAT VICTIMS. SO WE
DO NEED TO HAVE A BEGINNING OF
THAT CHILL CAPACITY IN MY
OPINION. ASSAULT, DUI, SEX
CRIMES, FIREARMS CASES AND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THINGS THAT
ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR BOOKING
INCLUDE THEFT . THAT'S IT. ANY
AMOUNT. SO SOME AND STILL $700
WORTH THAT PERSON IS NOT
BOOKABLE TODAY AT KING COUNTY
JAIL. TRESPASSING, PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION. IF SOMEBODY GOES
AND SMASHES THAT CLASS WINDOW
AT SOME OF OUR STOREFRONTS ,
THAT PERSON WON'T BE BOOKED.
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS WILL
NOT -- HARASSMENT AND ANIMAL
CRUELTY. I PUT IN ANIMAL
CRUELTY AS A HIGHLIGHTER
BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE
PRECURSORS THAT WE DO NOTE IS
AN INDICATOR OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. COUNCILMEMBER, AS YOU
TALK SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT OUR
YOUTH AND INCREASE IN VIOLENCE
I WOULD ADD TO THAT
CONVERSATION. NOT JUST IN
SCHOOL CLOSURES BUT NOT
EVERYBODY HAD A SAFE HOME TO BE
AT, WHICH INCLUDED EXPOSURE TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND WE DO
KNOW, THAT EVEN EXPOSURE TO A
MINOR WITNESS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ACTUALLY DOES INCREASE
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY BECOME
AN AGGRESSOR OR THE VICTIM.
ANIMAL CRUELTY IS ANOTHER ONE
OF THOSE. SO I PUT THAT ON
THERE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ONE
OF THE EARLY INTERVENTIONS WE
CAN DO IN TALKING ABOUT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND EXPOSURE
TO YOUNG PEOPLE. IN ELIGIBLE
FOR BOOKING, DOZENS OF OTHER
OFFENSES THAT ARE ON OUR
CITY'S LAWS. SEATTLE, AS FAR
AS I KNOW, THE ONLY MAJOR CITY
THAT IS RESTRICTED IN THE
ARREST AND BOOKING POLICIES
THAT IT'S ELECTED CITY LEADERS
CAN CREATE. AND IT'S FROM
THOSE BOOKING RESTRICTIONS THAT
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CREATE THE
POLICY THAT WE WOULD PREFER TO
HAVE CITY LEADERS ON WHAT IS
REST. WE SET THE POLICY FOR
BOOKING. WE ARE UNABLE TO DO
THAT BECAUSE OF THE
RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE NOW IN
PLACE. I THINK WE ARE THE ONLY
MAJOR CITY WHO HAS
RESTRICTIONS. I SUPPORT WHAT
THE COUNCIL IS DOING HERE AND
WHAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS
DOING AND HELP TO RESTORE THAT
AND REGAIN SOME OF THAT
MISDEMEANOR BOOKING CAPACITY. I
THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WILL BE NEEDED AS WE LOOK
TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY. YES,
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THANK YOU. THE SECOND ITEM I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I WILL STOP
AND GIVE YOU THIS ONE. I WILL
GIVE YOU A BIG OVERVIEW. I'M
REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO
BRING YOU THIS DATA IS I DON'T
THINK WE HAD THIS VIEW OF WHAT
OUR CITY HAD AS FAR AS JAIL
BOOKINGS CAPACITY. YES, THE
CONDITIONS OF JAIL NEED TO BE
HUMANE. WE DO NEED TO HAVE
SERVICES. WE DO NEED TO HAVE
REENTRY PLAN AT THE EXIT TIME.
ALL THOSE PIECES NEED TO BE IN
SEQUENCE. BUT YOU DO NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS BEEN
GOING DOWN PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC AND NOW YOU CAN SEE --
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT LINE. WE
ARE TRYING TO KEEP HER TIME
CONDENSED SO I WILL MOVE TO THE
SECOND ISSUE THAT I SAID I
WOULD SPEAK ABOUT, WHICH IS
CHRONIC HOTSPOT PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES. MANY OF WHICH THE CHIEF
ALREADY TALKED ABOUT. AND ONE
HERE IS FOR YOU TO SEE. YOU CAN
SEE THE CONCENTRATION THERE IN
THE DOWNTOWN AREA IN THE HEAT
MAP. THIS IS AGAIN WHERE WE
KNOW THERE'S OPEN-AIR DRUG
MARKETS. THERE WAS CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
I SAID THE COLLEGE CRIMINAL
ENTERPRISE. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING
TO PROFIT ON THE ADDICTION THAT
IS KNOWN TO BE THERE AND HAS NO
LOCATIONS WHICH MAKE IT EASY
FOR THAT MARKET TO EXIST. WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO BRING
CREATIVE , RESPONSIVE CURRENT
LEGAL STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP
DISRUPT THAT KNOWN CRIMINAL
ENTERPRISE IN THOSE LOCATIONS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S
HAPPENING. WE NEED TO
SUPPLEMENT THE OFFICERS. HOW
CAN WE BE CREATIVE WITH LEGAL
STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP TO BE
ADAPTIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE
CURRENT TRENDS OF THOSE WHO
WANT TO COME , DO BAD ACTS AND
CAUSE HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO COUNSEL ON
THESE ITEMS. MAYOR, IN THE
COMING FUTURE, WE WILL HAVE
SOME OF THE STRATEGIES TO TALK
ABOUT ON THESE HOTSPOT ISSUES.
AGAIN, TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED
FOR THEM. PASSIONATELY, BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND THE
CHIEF THAT I'VE HEARD AS WELL.
THE INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE IS
HAPPENING AROUND THE AURORA
AVENUE CORRIDOR , WE DO KNOW
IT'S A KNOWN AREA OF
PROSTITUTION AND WE HAVE HAD A
LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF THAT FOR
A NUMBER OF YEARS. IT IS
SIGNIFICANT. THE SEX
TRAFFICKING IS SHOCKING AND IT
SHOULD MAKE US ALL PAUSE
BECAUSE THERE ARE MINORS THAT
ARE INCLUDED IN THAT SPACE.
WHEN WE LEAVE THINGS
UNADDRESSED, AS WE'VE JUST
TALKED ABOUT AT LOWER LEVELS,
WHAT IT DOES IN MY OPINION IS
CREATE AN INCREASE IN SEVERITY
AND FREQUENCY. AND HERE WE HAVE
COME ALTHOUGH WE DID CIVIL
ACTIONS LAST SUMMER AND WE
CLOSED DOWN SOME MOTELS THAT
WERE ADDING TO THE PERCOLATION
OF THE SEX TRAFFICKING , WE ARE
NOW SEEING A SIGNIFICANT IN GUN
VIOLENCE ON THE NORTH END. TO
ME, THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE
ABSOLUTELY RESPONSIVE AND THAT
BECAUSE IT'S CREATING COMMUNITY
VIOLENCE THAT IS NOW ASSOCIATED
WITH THE SEX TRAFFICKING THAT
IS, AGAIN, THE CRIMINAL
ENTERPRISE THAT IS UP THERE FOR
PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING TO
PROFIT ON SEX TRAFFICKING OTHER
HUMAN BEINGS , AND THE GUN
VIOLENCE THAT IS THERE AND THE
COMPETITION OF THAT. WE NEED TO
DISRUPT THAT. THAT IS NOT THE
CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE. THAT IS
NOT WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR NORTH
AND NEIGHBORS. THAT SHOULD NOT
BE SEEN AS A GREAT MARKET TO
COME AND MAKE MONEY IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. I'M VERY LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ON THAT IN
THE NEAR FUTURE. WE DO HAVE
TIME FOR QUESTIONS,
COUNCILMEMBERS , JUST GIVE
PEOPLE AWARENESS OF THE DUI
STATE TALKS LAB BACKLOG. THE
TOXICOLOGY LAB, WHICH IS RUN BY
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON , IS
THE ONE THAT HAS TO CREATE THE
ACCREDITATION AND EVIDENCE UPON
WHICH MY PROSECUTORS MUST RELY
UPON WHEN WE HAVE DRIVING UNDER
THE INFLUENCE CASES. THE
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
TOXICOLOGY LAB IS CURRENTLY
FACING A SIGNIFICANT BACKLOG.
WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN DUIs
THAT ARE HAPPENING ACROSS THE
STATE. SO THIS IS NOT A SEATTLE
SPECIFIC ISSUE BUT I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
HIGHLIGHT. YOU CAN SEE THE
NUMBERS INCREASING OVER THE
YEARS. PARTICULARLY SINCE 2019.
AND SEATTLE CURRENTLY HAS 800
DUIs THAT ARE AWAITING THE
TOXICOLOGY REPORTS. THAT MEANS
THAT I DON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL
WE GET THAT EVIDENCE BECAUSE WE
ARE WAITING TO SHOW BEYOND A
REASONABLE DOUBT -- PROSECUTION
FOR THOSE CASES. IT'S NOW
TAKING AN AVERAGE OF ONE YEAR
TO RECEIVE THE TOXICOLOGY
REPORT FROM THE WASHINGTON
STATE PATROL. WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL
DEPARTMENT AND TRYING TO FIND
OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN BE
CREATIVE ABOUT THAT. TO ME,
THIS TALKS ABOUT THE STATE
LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND THE
MANAGEMENT OF EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS AT THE STATE LEVEL
BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THIS
RESOURCE ACROSS OUR STATE TO
MAKE OUR ROADWAYS SAFER. AGAIN,
POINTING TO THE SAD NUMBER OF
FATALITIES ACROSS OUR STATE.
I'M GIVING YOU THE VIEW OF
WHAT I'M CONTENDING WITH
LOCALLY AT A SEATTLE LEVEL ON
THAT. THIS LEADS ALL OF OUR
MISS ABILITIES ACROSS THE STATE
THE SAME SITUATION. I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THROUGHOUT OUR
STATE. THIS NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED IN AN URGENT WAY
BECAUSE, AS WE TALKED WITH THE
CRISIS AROUND FENTANYL AND
METH, PEOPLE ARE ALSO GETTING
BEHIND THE WHEEL. WHAT I'M
SEEING MOST OF HIS DRUGS
RELATED TO THAT. SO IT'S A
SIGNIFICANT TOPIC FOR ME. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING THESE ITEMS TO YOU AND
GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF THE
SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES THAT I
THINK WE ARE FACING IN ORDER TO
BRING AN IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC
SAFETY TO THE CITY. THE JAIL
CAPACITY, THE MISDEMEANOR
CAPACITY IS AN ISSUE. IS
CHRONIC KNOWN HOTSPOT ISSUES
WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE
CREATIVE STRATEGIES AND THE DUI
TOXICOLOGY BACKLOG .
>> THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVISON. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
REMAINING. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A
VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC RELATED TO
OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ,
WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT
WORKING AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE
IMPROVED. LIKE YOU, I HAVE
ENGAGED IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND I SHOULD SAY UPFRONT TOO,
THIS LOOK AT IT AND THESE
QUESTIONS DON'T GO TO THE
QUESTION OF THE PROFESSIONALISM
OF THOSE ENTITIES THAT ARE
QUALIFIED. I HAVE BEEN TO THE
KING COUNTY JAIL. VERY
PROFESSIONAL. I TALKED TO THE
COMMANDER. GREAT WORK THAT'S
BEING DONE IN THESE DIFFERENT
AREAS. THIS IS A QUESTION NOT
ABOUT PROFESSIONALISM, BUT THE
HARD WORK YOU ARE DOING.
OFTENTIMES IN DIFFICULT
SITUATIONS . YOU ARE NOT THE
ONLY ONE WITH STAFFING
CHALLENGES. WITH THAT BASELINE
AS PRACTICED, VICE CHAIR SAKA,
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FOR
ALL THREE, BY THE WAY. THANK
YOU CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON,
CHIEF SMITH, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THIS OVERVIEW. I
WANT TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING
THAT'S COME UP THREE TIMES
NOW. A PROFOUND POINT, AND I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THE CHIEF
MENTIONED IT. MY ESTEEMED
COLLEAGUE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
AND YOU AS WELL. SOME OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES WITH
RESPECT TO YOUTH THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING TODAY IS A DIRECT
CONSEQUENCE AND OUTCOME OF SOME
POLICY DECISIONS WE MADE DURING
THE PANDEMIC . I COULDN'T AGREE
MORE. ALSO, AS A PARENT , AS
SOMEONE WITH PERSONAL LIVED
EXPERIENCES FROM A
DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUND ,
SOMEONE WHO WENT THROUGH K-12
SCHOOLS GROWING UP, ALL OF THEM
TITLE I SCHOOLS FOR KIDS LIKE
MYSELF OF THE TIME, FREE AND
REDUCED LUNCH. SOMEONE WHO
OVERCAME THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM. SOMEONE WHO IS
EVENTUALLY RAISED BY A SINGLE
PARENT, A NIGERIAN IMMIGRANT,
WAS A FRONT-LINE WAREHOUSE
WORKER WORKING AT ALL HOURS.
THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD BE HERE
RIGHT NOW IF I HAD TO RELY ON
REALLY BOLT LEARNING. SO MANY
KIDS TODAY GO TO SCHOOL , LIKE
MYSELF GROWING UP, FOR MANY
YEARS, TO RECEIVE SERVICES
FIRST. INCLUDING MEALS AND
OTHER THINGS. SADLY, SOME OF
THE RECEIVE EDUCATION OR GO TO
SCHOOL WITH THE PURPOSE OF
RECEIVING EDUCATION AS A
SECONDARY CONCERN. AS A POLICY
MATTER , IN THIS CITY , SCHOOLS
NEED TO BE THE LAST TO CLOSE
AND FIRST TO REOPEN. WE ARE
GOING TO BE COLLECTIVELY
WORKING TO SOLVE THAT FOR YEARS
AND DECADES TO COME. CITY
ATTORNEY DAVIDSON, THANK YOU
FOR THE EYE-OPENING REPORT OUT
HERE. ONE OF THINGS I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE OR THAT YOURSELF
EMPHASIZED IS THAT WE ARE NOT
ABLE TO BOOK CURRENTLY FOR HALF
OF THE CITY'S MISDEMEANOR
LAWS. I'M PARAPHRASING. WHICH
IS REALLY EYE-OPENING .
PROBLEMATIC . ONE OF THE ITEMS
NOT ELIGIBLE FOR BOOKING ,
ANIMAL CRUELTY. OR PEOPLE WHO
ARE TRESPASSING, YOU GAVE THE
EXAMPLE OF SMASHING A WINDOW.
SOME PEOPLE CAN VIOLENTLY SMASH
A BUSINESSES WINDOW WITHOUT
FEAR OF BEING BUCKED TO SPEND
THE NIGHT IN JAIL THINKING
ABOUT THAT. THAT IS HIGHLY
PROBLEMATIC. AND ANIMAL CRUELTY
, THEY LOCK MICHAEL VICK UP FOR
YEARS. FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY . THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, SOMEONE CAN'T
SPEND A NIGHT IN JAIL? THEY CAN
FREELY ABUSE AN ANIMAL? WE NEED
TO DO BETTER. WE ARE
EXPERIENCING RAMPANT CRIME AND
OPPORTUNITY TO DO BETTER FOR
OUR RESIDENTS, OUR COMMUNITIES
, INCLUDING SMALL BUSINESSES .
THESE BOOKING RESTRICTIONS ,
AMONGST OTHER THINGS THAT ARE A
BIT OF A HEAD SCRATCHER. IT
SERVES AS NO DETERRENT
WHATSOEVER TO ANY CRIME. ZERO.
HAVING TALKED WITH VARIOUS
MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
APPARATUS , FIREFIGHTERS,
POLICE, LEADERS . INCLUDING
CHIEFS AND FRONT-LINE RANK AND
FILE FOLKS WITH SPD DURING
VARIOUS ROBOCALLS I HAVE
ATTENDED. I KNOW THAT IT
IMPACTS THE OFFICERS AS WELL
AND ULTIMATELY, OUR ABILITY TO
RECRUIT AND RETAIN OFFICERS.
THIS IS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE
NEED TO DO BETTER FOR AS A
CITY. GREAT, GREAT SLIDE HERE.
I'M POINTING TO THE SEATTLE
MISDEMEANOR JAIL POPULATION
GRAPH HERE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
AN OVERLAY OF THIS UNDERLYING
CRIME DATA. DO YOU HAVE ANY
OBSERVATIONS ON HOW THIS
BOOKING CHART STACKS AND
COMPARES ? ANYONE HERE AT THE
TABLE , I GUESS, TO THE ACTUAL
UNDERLYING CRIME DATA.
>> IT WILL BE AN INVERSE LINE
ON THE GRAPH.
>> THE MESSAGE IS , WE WILL
ONLY STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING
WITH THE CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT
YOU THINK IS SERIOUS ENOUGH.
BUT WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE
TIME OR THE ENERGY TO INTERVENE
EARLIER. THIS EARLY. RIGHT? I
THINK WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT.
THAT IS THE TIME TO DO IT. THAT
IS THE CLOSEST CONNECTED TO
ROOT CAUSE OF WHY THIS CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY. THAT IS THE PLACE TO
INVEST IN. NOT -- IT REALLY IS
TO BE AT THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> CAN YOU PUT THAT GRAPH THAT
SLIDE FOR BACKUP?
>> NUMBER FOUR.
>> THIS IS SHOCKING TO ME. AND
I'M GLAD THAT THE NETWORKS ARE
HERE TO SHOW THIS BECAUSE HERE
WE ARE PAYING $22 MILLION A
YEAR FOR A CONTRACT TO FILL THE
SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I THINK I'VE HEARD BEFORE, WE
PAID FOR IT. WITH THE $22
MILLION WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET
195 BEDS AT THE JAIL AND IT
LOOKS LIKE OUR AVERAGE DAILY
POPULATION IS HOVERING AROUND
86 OR 87. THEY ARE RESTRICTING,
IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER
WHETHER OR NOT . I WANT MY
MONEY BACK , BASICALLY. TO ME,
THE COUNCIL'S ROLE IS TO
BUDGET OUR RESOURCES WISELY .
WE DO NOT HAVE, THE COUNCIL
DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
ALTER THE CONTRACT WITH THE
JAIL. THAT IS THE EXECUTIVE
FUNCTION AND ATTORNEY DAVIS AND
I HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR A LONG
TIME ABOUT THE SITUATION. MY
QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE
STATUS? DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE
STATUS OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS?
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO RECUPERATE
THOSE RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN
USE THAT MONEY FOR THINGS THAT
WOULD MAKE -- IN OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY ENVIRONMENT?
>> I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
THE MONEY. I WOULD NEED THAT IN
-- SETTING. I HAVE A COPY OF
THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS
DISTRIBUTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2022
ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS AND THE
REASONS OF IT FROM THE KING
COUNTY -- THOSE ARE THE ONES
THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE. I DID
HAVE A NICE MEETING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND CATTLE.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
OCCURRING. BUT I DO HEAR YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I
THINK IT LAYS BARE THE VERY
START POSITION THAT WE FIND
OURSELVES IN FOR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ENVIRONMENT. I
APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE NOT
ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR IN BRINGING
THIS MESSAGE FORWARD BUT IT
NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD. SO
I APPRECIATE THE COURAGE
INVOLVED IN THAT. ONE THING I
WANTED TO POINT OUT IN SLIDE
FOUR, WHICH I THINK IS
IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO, AS
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT NOTED, WE
HAVE CONTRACTED 495 BEDS . IN
2019 THE FORMER COUNSEL TOOK A
POLICY POSITION AND FOR SOME
LEGITIMATE REASON THEY WANT TO
START MOVING AWAY FROM
INCARCERATION AND INTO OTHER
ALTERNATIVES. SO THEY SET THE
AMOUNT OF BEDS AT 180. I JUST
WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS
MOVE TO GET THE BEDS THAT WE
ARE CONTRACTING FOR WOULD BE 15
BEDS BELOW WHAT WE SAID.
THERE'S A POLICY GOAL AND
WHERE WE FOUND IT TO BE
ACCEPTABLE IN TERMS OF OUR
DESIRE TO NOT OVER INCARCERATE
BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE A NECESSARY
TOOL TO PROVIDE FOR COMMUNITY
SAFETY. WHEN THERE IS PUSHBACK
ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING BACK TO
OVER INCARCERATING I JUST
WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT WE ARE
NOT. WE ARE WELL WITHIN THE
RANGE, THE POLICY RANGE THAT
THE COUNCIL THAT WAS VERY MUCH
UNALIGNED IN THEIR PUBLIC
SAFETY APPROACH TOOK FROM THIS
COUNSEL. I THINK THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, FOR YOUR REALLY
IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS AND
COMMENTS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY
THAT I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE
TRANSPARENCY. BECAUSE THE TRUTH
IS , WE CAN'T GET TO SOLUTIONS
IF WE ARE NOT TRANSPARENT ABOUT
WHERE WE ARE . AND I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE -- THE FACT THAT I
KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THE D4
AND HAVING SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS COME TO ME AND TELL ME
THAT THEY ARE GETTING TO THE
SMASH AND GRABS AND THE THEFT
THAT IS HAPPENING. THERE IS NO
RECOURSE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS. THERE ARE SMALL MOM AND
POP SHOPS. THAT'S WHAT THEY
ARE DOING FOR A LIVING AND THEY
ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A
LIVING. WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT. IF WE WERE TO
IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE CONDUCTING THIS CRIME.
OFTENTIMES, MY UNDERSTANDING,
CHIEF, IT IS OFTEN TIME THE
SAME INDIVIDUALS COMMITTING THE
SAME CRIMES AND WE CAN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THAT IS
REALLY EGREGIOUS. IN TERMS OF
AN OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKET , THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT IS IN HERE.
I HEAR FROM SMALL BUSINESSES
AND RESIDENTS ABOUT HOW THEY
FEEL OVERWHELMED BY THE DRUG
ACTIVITY IT'S HAPPENING UP
THERE. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN UP THERE
BEING SUBJECTED TO THIS EVERY
DAY. WE HAVE A DRUG POSSESSION
LAW . I WANT TO BE CLEAR , WE
NEED TO BE BOOKING DRUG DEALERS
WHO ARE CAUSING THE MOST HARM
AND THEN DIVERTING THE USERS,
WHO ACTUALLY NEED SERVICES .
THAT HAS PROVED CHALLENGING
FROM TALKING TO ACTUAL HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS BECAUSE THE
FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING
IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING DIVERSION
SERVICES, THERE'S NOWHERE TO
HOLD THEM UNTIL THEY SOBER UP
SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY OFFER
AND HAVE THEM CONSENT TO
SERVICES. THIS CAME UP A LITTLE
EARLIER, CHAIR. WE HAVE A NEED
FOR SOME KIND OF FACILITY.
WHETHER IT BE AT THE JAIL OR
SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE WE CAN
HOLD PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO
HELP WITH SERVICES BECAUSE WE
ARE LOSING THESE PEOPLE BACK TO
THE STREETS, BACK TO THE HANDS
OF THE DRUG DEALERS THAT WE
CANNOT PUT AWAY . THIS IS A
REAL PROBLEM. AND OF COURSE,
WITH ALL OF THIS, WE HAVE OUR
YOUTH. IN THE D4 WE HAVE
MAGNESS AND PARK. WE HAVE LOW
INCOME FAMILIES LIVING THERE
WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE
SUSCEPTIBLE. WE HAVE SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING. WE HAVE FOLKS THERE
WERE TRYING TO RECOVER. AND
THEN WE HAVE DRUG DEALING
HAPPENING AT THE PARK AND WE
CAN'T SEEM TO DO ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT. AND I'M SUPER
ANGRY ABOUT THAT. WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING. THIS GEL PIECE NEEDS
TO GET ADDRESSED. WE NEED TO
FIGURE IT OUT . I'M SUPER
ANGRY THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR A
SERVICE THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING
WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO HELP
FOLKS THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE
IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT MAKES
ME REALLY ANGRY. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THE TRANSPARENCY.
THIS IS REAL, THIS DATA. WE
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS
AND WE CAN'T STAY SILENT ABOUT
THIS. THIS IS NOT WHAT MANY OF
YOU AND MANY OF US HAVE SAID.
WE NEED TO DO ALL OF IT. WE
NEED TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS
WERE THE MOST VULNERABLE. WE
ARE NOT TRYING TO JAIL FOLKS
THAT HAVE ADDICTION. WE NEED TO
HELP THESE FOLKS. THAT WE HAVE
TO GET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
CAUSING THE MOST HARM THAT ARE
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND
THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE IN
JAIL. AND I AM UNAPOLOGETIC
ABOUT THAT , AS I KNOW MANY OF
US ARE UP HERE. WE WANT TO BE
GREAT PARTNERS IN THIS. I WANT
TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION
. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO
UNDERSTAND THE HIGHLIGHTS.
THESE NUMBERS INCLUDE WHAT MY
OFFICES EFFORTS WERE IN MAKING
SURE I CAN BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE
MATCHING THE CRITERIA. SO THOSE
ARE INCLUDED IN THIS. SO THE
REPEAT , FREQUENT OFFENDERS
THAT WE CAN SEE THAT MEAT THE
INITIAL CRITERIA, THEY ARE
BOOKABLE. MY OFFICE HAS DONE
THOSE EFFORTS SINCE 2022, SINCE
WE LAUNCHED THAT. BUT THAT IS
INCLUSIVE IN THAT NUMBER. I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVISON. I DO KNOW THAT UPON
AURORA THERE ARE SOME ISSUES
THAT ARE GETTING ADDRESSED. I
WILL SAY THAT THERE ARE SCHOOLS
THAT ARE, SORRY, CHAIR, I KNOW
I'M TAKING UP A LOT OF TIME.
I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE THERE ARE SCHOOLS NEXT
TO ALL OF THAT DRUG AND SEX
TRAFFICKING AREA. YOU KNOW,
THERE'S A HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY AND
MIDDLE SCHOOL ALL OFF OF
AURORA. AND THESE KIDS ARE
GETTING SOLICITED. AND I KNOW
BECAUSE, AGAIN, MY TWO GIRLS GO
TO A SCHOOL UP THERE. I'M
HEARING THIS FROM STUDENTS .
THIS IS SOMETHING WE REALLY
NEED TO DO. SO THANK YOU FOR
CLARIFYING ON THAT PIECE. WE DO
NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE HELP
CONNECT FOLKS TO SERVICES AND
NOT LOSE THEM. WE HAVE SOME
KIND OF HOLDING AREA WHERE
FOLKS CAN HOLD SOBER UP AND
OFFER SERVICES THAT CAN DO
CONSENT OR EVEN PICK UP THE
YOUNG WOMEN. I WILL ALSO SAY,
MANY OF THOSE YOUNG WOMEN ARE
UNDERAGED GIRLS , LIKE MY
GIRLS. THAT WE NEED TO HELP.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
REMOVE THEM FROM THAT SITUATION
AND KEEP THEM SAFE FROM THE
THAT ARE UP THERE. AND I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE KEEPS
TALKING ABOUT THIS. I DON'T
MEAN TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER DOWN
THERE. I WANT TO BE PART OF
SOLUTIONS HERE . HOWEVER WE CAN
HELP . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
AND THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING
SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP
RELATED TO THE IDEA. I KNOW DAY
CENTERS, SOBERING CENTERS.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE
NEED TO ADD. WE WOULD RATHER
HAVE THEM HERE IN THE
GOVERNMENT SECTOR BECAUSE THE
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES SHOULD
NOT BE THE ONE WITH THE BURDEN.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE . OUR
TICKET WILL HARM IS WIDESPREAD
AND IT'S NOT JUST SOLELY WITH
DRUG RELATED CRIME. NOT
INCLUDED IN YOUR SLIDE DECK ,
YOU CAN SEE ATTORNEY DAVISON
HAS ONE FOR MARCH THAT NOTED
THAT 80% OF CRIME IN SEATTLE IS
MISDEMEANOR CRIME. AND I
SUSPECT THAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS
RELATIVELY THE SAME. COVERING A
SOFT DUI AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
TRESPASS AND OTHER CHARGES. WE
NEED TO WORK THIS . WE NEED TO
ALLOW OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO
WORK THE VIOLENT PROPERTY
CRIMES. WE NEED OUR CARE
DEPARTMENT WITH A THIRD
APPROACH FOR SAD STORIES THAT
INCLUDE THE WOMEN THAT ARE
CAUGHT IN OTHER PLACES BY THE
WAY TO INCLUDE BELLTOWN. WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER . WE
NEED TO BE ENGAGING AS A CITY.
AND WE ARE. WE ARE DOING IT
INTERNALLY. AS MENTIONED, WE
DID MEET WITH KING COUNTY. THE
OTHER DEPUTY WAS THERE . THE
KING COUNTY SHERIFF, YOUR
COUNTERPART WAS THERE. IT'S A
VERY GOOD DISCUSSION. WE ARE
DOING THIS AGAIN, TO MY
ORIGINAL POINT, RECOGNIZE THE
PROFESSIONALISM OF THE
CORRECTIONS TEAM AT THE KING
COUNTY JAIL. BUT WILL ALSO
RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES AND
RESTRICTIONS, THE CONSTRAINTS
THAT THEY ARE UNDER IN TERMS OF
STAFFING AND OTHER THINGS LIKE
THAT. AND FOR TRANSPARENCY TOO
, NOT ONLY KING COUNTY JAIL , I
HAVE TALKED TO SCORE AND
REALIZE THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDER
PROCESS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN
DOWN THERE TOO. WE HAVE TALKED
TO THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS
INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS
-- THE LABOR SIDE. I TOOK THAT
LETTER TO SCORE. ASKED,
VERBATIM, THE QUESTIONS THAT
THE UNION GAVE TO ME TO THE
DIRECTOR. AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN
TO ISSAQUAH JAIL AS WELL. WE
NEED TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY YOUR ROLES,
MY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND TO MY MISSION OF
CREATING A SAFE SPACE IN OUR
CITY ACROSS THE CITY, NOT JUST
ALL THIS ATTENTION WITH
DOWNTOWN. WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
TERMS OF AURORA AND 90th AROUND
THE SCHOOLS AND OTHER AREAS
THAT WE HAVE SEEN , NOT JUST A
SCRATCH SEVEN BUT ACROSS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYONE JOINING US
AND HIGHLIGHTING THIS WE ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THOSE ENTITIES AS WE MOVE
FORWARD. AGAIN, THE MISSION IS
ABOUT CREATING A SAFE PLACE FOR
OUR CITY WITH CONSTITUTIONAL
PRECINCT, DOING IT RIGHT AND
DOING IT WITH THE POINTS THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE MADE AND
WITH THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE
SO DESPERATELY NEED AND WILL
HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT
CONCLUDES . I SUSPECT THERE IS
NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE SO THIS
MEETING IS ADJOURNED.