>> GOOD MORNING. THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 9:32 A.M., JULY
21st, 2024. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE. CHAIR KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE,
FOR COMING OUT. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. PARTICULARLY OUR
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM
COMMUNITY. WE LISTEN . THE
PIONEER SQUARE HISTORICAL
COMMISSION, WHEN WE HAD THAT
BILL, WE HEARD A LOT OF
DIFFERENT VOICES ON THE
AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER
BILL, THE ALPR. THIS LED TO
AMENDMENTS THAT MADE OUR BILLS
BETTER. WE NEED TO LISTEN AND
CRITICALLY HEAR YOUR
PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES. ALSO, WE NEED TO
NOTE -- THIS IS IMPORTANT.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOT THE ONLY
TIME THAT WE HEAR ABOUT ISSUES
OF THE DAY. WE HAVE MEETINGS IN
OUR OFFICES. I HAVE MEETINGS IN
MY OFFICE AND IN COMMUNITY,
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. I'VE
HAD MEETINGS WITH HER DISTRICT
7 NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, AND
DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN
GROCERY STORES AND RESTAURANTS
AND EVEN WHEN I'M WALKING MY
DOGS, AND OF COURSE, THIS
DOESN'T COUNT EMAILS THAT COME
IN AND OTHER TYPES OF
CORRESPONDENCE. IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS PUBLIC
COMMENT. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A VERY
IMPORTANT POINT REGARDING THAT
AT TIMES, WE HAVE THIS
DISINFORMATION AND
MISINFORMATION. FOR EXAMPLE,
THERE WAS A TALKING POINT THAT
THE JAIL WAS A PRIVATE JAIL.
THAT WAS DISINFORMATION. WHEN
IT GETS ECHOED OUT, THAT IS
MISINFORMATION. AND AS WE HAVE
SEEN AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL,
MISINFORMATION CAN BE LIKE A
VIRUS, IMPACTING WHAT WE SEE
AND HEAR. IT IMPACTS OUR
DEMOCRACY. AND CLEARLY THERE
ARE POLICY POINTS. WE SHOULD BE
DEBATING AND HEARING AND HAVING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT
ON THAT FACT POINT REGARDING
PRIVATE JAIL OR PUBLIC, THAT
IS, YOU KNOW, GOES TO
DISINFORMATION. AND, YOU KNOW,
WE SEE THIS AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL AND THE LOCAL LEVEL.
DISINFORMATION AND
MISINFORMATION CAN DRIVE ONE
CRAZY. ALSO , THERE IS THE
CLAPPING AND THE DISRUPTION AND
THINGS LIKE THAT. IT IS A
GENERAL COUNCIL DECISION THAT I
SUPPORT. I LIKE ACKNOWLEDGING
SUPPORT FOR THOSE THAT ARE
SPEAKING. I HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR THE SNAPS. I
THINK THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO
EXPRESS YOUR APPROVAL FOR
WHATEVER COMMENT THAT MAY BE
MADE. CAN EVERYBODY SNAP IF YOU
ARE HERE FOR S.O.D.A.? HOW
ABOUT S.O.A.P.? CAN YOU SNAP?
AND ARE WE OFFER PUBLIC SAFETY
AND CREATING A SAFE CITY FOR
ALL RESIDENTS? I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN COME
TOGETHER. AND I WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE LADY OUT THERE
THAT WAS DOING JAZZ HANDS. JAZZ
HANDS ARE ACCEPTABLE, AS WELL.
I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE WE
DON'T SEE THIS IN STATE
LEGISLATURES. I DON'T THINK
COUNCIL REALLY SEES IT, AS
WELL. WE NEED TO BE HAVING THIS
DIALOGUE AND HEARING FROM
EVERYONE TO INCLUDE THE
PRESENTERS THAT WE HAVE, SO TO
CLOSE, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR GIVING PUBLIC
COMMENT, EVEN IF YOU DON'T
STAND UP. JUST FOR BEING HERE.
SO WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU. ALSO,
WELCOME TO OUR GUEST SPEAKERS,
PRESENTERS, ON THE ISSUES THAT
WE ARE COVERING TODAY. SO WITH
THAT, WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE
ENOUGH TO COMMENT ABOUT. CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
FOR TODAY?
>> WELL, WE HAVE 16, COUNTING
IN PERSON SPEAKERS. 13 ONLINE,
AS THE LAST COUNT GOES. SO.
>> OKAY.
>> EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE -- AT SOME POINT, WE MAY
HAVE TO CUT IT OFF, BUT WE ARE
GOING TO LOOK TO GET AS MANY,
IF NOT ALL PUBLIC COMMENTERS
IN. SO PLEASE START WITH IN
PERSON SPEAKERS. LET'S GO 10
AT A TIME. WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR
NAME, PLEASE LINE UP TO
FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF ALL
SPEAKERS. OVER TO YOU, CLERK.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
UP TO 90 MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY WERE REGISTERED. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS WILL BE NEEDED IF THEY
DO NOT AND COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. THE
FIRST IN PERSON SPEAKER IS ALEX
TSIMERMAN , FOLLOWED BY EMMY
KOMAMA .
>> YEAH. WHERE IS MY TIME. HERE
.1 MINUTE. SIEG HEIL. MY NAME
IS ALEX TSIMERMAN. YOU WANT TO
STOP PROSTITUTION. IT NEVER
HAPPENED BEFORE FOR 5000 YEARS.
YOU ARE SMART. YOU ARE
BRILLIANT. SO MY PROPOSITION --
IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. WE
NEED TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR
PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT. MY
PROPOSITION -- WHEN YOU , BRING
YOUR SPERM TO GOVERNMENT AND
EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY. YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY WITH
EXACTLY 750,000. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> NEXT UP.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE EMMY
KOYAMA.
>> HI. MY NAME IS EMMY KOYAMA.
[ INAUDIBLE ] WE HAVE BEEN
SUBJECTED TO POLICE HARASSMENT
. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
MONTHS, WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH
EACH OF YOU OR YOUR STAFF ABOUT
OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THOSE BILLS.
THEY ARE NOT BEING CONSIDERED.
IT PROMOTES RACIAL PROFILING
AGAINST WOMEN OF COLOR AND
TRANS WOMEN, WHETHER OR NOT
THEY ARE ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN
THE SEX TRADE. [ INAUDIBLE ]
STOP TRYING TO MAKE THE POLICE
TAKE ON A TASK THEY ARE NOT
EQUIPPED FOR. PLEASE STOP
BLAMING FIND CRIMES ON PEOPLE
NOT PERPETUATING IT, AND WHO
ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE AARON
GARDNER, FOLLOWED BY SARA LEE
DINNER. -- LEIBNER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN THE
PROPOSED S.O.A.P. ZONE
DISTRICT. HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY
GUN VIOLENCE. I WANT TO ADDRESS
SOME MISCONCEPTIONS I'VE BEEN
SAYING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. FIRST
OF ALL, I AGREE THAT WOMEN
SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK TO
SUPPORT THEMSELVES HOWEVER THEY
SEE FIT, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT
IS HAPPENING HERE. AT LEAST 45%
OF WOMEN -- EXCUSE ME. 45% OF
PEOPLE ENGAGED IN SEX WORK IN
THE SEATTLE AREA ARE MINORS. IT
IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TRACK. THE
AVERAGE AGE OF SOMEONE WHEN
THEY ARE FIRST SEX TRAFFICKED
IS 15 YEARS OLD. -- 13. THAT IS
AN AVERAGE. [ INAUDIBLE ] THEY
RESCUED A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT
90th STREET. , GETTING THE
ISSUE IS THAT WITHIN THE LAST
YEAR, HAVE FLOODED AURORA. THEY
CIRCLE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH
LUXURY CARS WITH OUT-OF-STATE
PLATES. CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS,
OREGON, AND RECENTLY, NEVADA.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT
INDEPENDENT WOMEN MAKING THEIR
OWN CHOICES HERE. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT UNDERAGED GIRLS,
LARGELY COME AND WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT VIOLENT, ARMED MEN WHO
ARE COMING FROM OTHER STATES TO
SELL THEM. THIS IS ORGANIZED
CRIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HELP THESE WOMEN SEPARATE
FROM THEIR . THANK YOU FOR THE
TIME.
>> WE HAVE SARA NELSON, AND
THEN IAN JORDAN.
>> THIS CONVERSATION IS
COMPLEX. ONE MINUTE ISN'T
ENOUGH. I LIVE IN THE PROPOSED
S.O.A.P. ZONE. OVER THE LAST
YEAR, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS
BECOME A PLAYGROUND FOR
PROFITING OFF YOUNG WOMEN'S
AND GIRLS BODIES. TOO MANY
BULLETS HAVE COME WITHIN INCHES
OF NEIGHBORS COME AND TOO MANY
BULLETS HAVE HIT TRAFFICKED
GIRLS. ANYONE LIVING IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD CAN SEE THINGS CAN
CONTINUE THIS WAY. THE CITY
SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO APPREHEND AS THEY
POSE A THREAT TO EVERYONE.
TRAFFICKED GIRLS DO NOT NEED
MORE TRAUMA FROM COPS. THIS
SHOULD FOCUS ON . -- PIMPS.
CLOSE OFF TRAFFIC FROM AURORA
INCIDENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND MAKE
SURE THAT KNOW THAT THEY ARE
NOT WELCOME THERE. [ INAUDIBLE
]
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, IAN JORDAN,
FOLLOWED BY AMANDA ROBERTSON .
>> MY NAME IS IAN JORDAN. I
ALSO LIVE IN THE PROPOSED
S.O.A.P. ZONE. MOST OF YOU HAVE
SEEN THE VIDEOS OF THE
SHOOTINGS ON THE NEWS. THOSE
ARE ALL IN FRONT OF MY HOME.
THESE PIMPS ARE FIGHTING OVER
TURF, AND IT IS A MATTER OF
TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE THAT HAVE
BEEN HIT HAVE BEEN SEX WORKERS.
I NO LONGER HAVE FRIENDS OR
FAMILY COME TO MY HOME.
HYPERVIGILANCE IS NOW MY NORM.
I WORK IN THE ICU, TAKING CARE
OF PATIENTS, AND THAT IS NOW MY
SAFE SPOT. THE CITY FINALLY
TOOK SOME ACTION AND PUT IN
BARRIERS TO BLOCK THE
GUNBATTLES THAT OCCUR. MORE
THAN ONCE A WEEK, JUST DOWN MY
STREET. THE STREET CLOSURE HAS
BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE, BUT IT IS
ONLY ONE. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WE NEED TO
PROTECT THE LIVES OF THE
RESIDENTS AND THE GIRLS FORCED
TO WORK. THE SITUATION IS NOT
WORKING FOR ANYONE. THOSE THAT
DON'T LIVE THERE AND LIVE
WHERE I DO DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE GO THROUGH ON A DAILY
BASIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AMANDA ROBINSON . THERE ARE
MULTIPLE MICROPHONES THAT YOU
CAN LINE UP AT COME ALSO.
AMANDA ROBINSON. THERE WE ARE.
HI.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS AMANDA. MY
PRONOUNCE ARE ANY AT ALL. I
LIVE OFF OF AURORA. I WANT TO
SHARE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES I'VE
HAD LIVING THERE. WHEN I COME
HOME, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE MY
KEYS ARE OUT. I HAVE TO HAVE MY
PAPER -- PEPPER SPRAY. IF THERE
IS A PIMP IN MY PARKING, I
CAN'T GO IN. I HAVE HAD SHIT
THROWN ON ME. I CAN'T TELL YOU
HOW STRESSFUL MY LIFE AT HOME
IS. I DON'T SLEEP. I HARDLY
EAT ANYMORE. I GO TO WORK AT
THE ICU, AND THAT IS MY BEST
NIGHT. I WORKED 12 HOURS AND
CAME TO THIS MEETING BECAUSE IT
WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO SAY
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND HOW
ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE OUR
SITUATION IS. CONSTANTLY READY
FOR ANY BULLET TO FLY THROUGH
OUR HOUSE AND HIT ME, MY
HUSBAND, MY NEIGHBORS .
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
AS A NURSE. AND THE SPEAKER,
BEFORE.
>> ANDREW STEELE SMITH ,
FOLLOWED BY TREY SULLIVAN.
>> HI. I'M IN A YOUTUBE VIDEO
ABOUT THE INSANITY LAST YEAR.
IF I COULD TALK TO MYSELF, I
WOULD SAY, OH, YOU SWEET SUMMER
CHILD, YOU JUST WAIT. HERE ARE
SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED. A
NUMBER DISCOVERED A 15-YEAR-OLD
HIDING FROM HER PIMP. HE
BROUGHT HER IN AND PUT HER IN
THE SAFE HOUSE. SHE HONKED AT A
GROUP OF PROSTITUTES. THEY
DRAGGED HER OUT OF HER CAR.
THEY BEAT HER WITH HER OWN
CANE. THIS WAS ON 107th. I WAS
DRIVING HOME IN FEBRUARY AND
WATCHED TWO PIMPS BLOCK THE
LANE. [ INAUDIBLE ] WHAT I SAW
MADE ME SICK. THIS GIRL THAT I
WAS THE POLICE. YOU COULD SEE
HER LOOK CHANGE WHEN SHE
REALIZED IT WAS JUST ME. HE
PULLED HER TOWARDS HIS CAR. HE
IS STILL PIMPING. UNTIL THIS IS
SIGNED, [ INAUDIBLE ] IF THESE
LAWS ARE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT
THE FUNDING NEEDED, AND WITHOUT
ENFORCING THE LAW, I WILL BE
PROTESTING. [ INAUDIBLE ] GET
US OUT OF THIS NIGHTMARE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHEN YOU HEAR THAT DANG,
THAT IS 10 SECONDS REMAINING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS. WE
TRY TO KEEP THIS RIGHT TO THE
MINUTE.
>> TREY SULLIVAN, FOLLOWED BY
MICHAEL McDANIEL. YOU CAN USE
MULTIPLE MICROPHONES IF IT IS A
BETTER HEIGHT FOR YOU.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. OVER THE
LAST THREE YEARS OR SO , IT HAS
BECOME RAMPANT . WE HAVE HAD
SHOTS COME TO OUR HOUSE. WE
HAVE SEEN GIRLS GET SHOT AT
THAT WERE WORKING THE STREET.
MOST OF THESE GIRLS ARE MINORS,
TOO. SO COMING AT THIS , THERE
IS A BIG ISSUE GOING ON THAT
NEEDS TO BE TAKEN ACTION
AGAINST BECAUSE THERE IS
NOTHING WE CAN REALLY DO. WE
ARE TOLD, NO, WE CAN'T GET
HELP FROM THE COPS BECAUSE OF
THE OLD LAW. WE ARE TOLD WE ARE
STUCK WITH THIS UNTIL SOMETHING
HAPPENS. IF WE DON'T HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND SOMETHING IS
LEFT LAWLESS BY THE STATE --
ILLEGAL BY THE STATE BUT
LAWLESS IN THE CITY, THERE IS
NO -- [ INAUDIBLE ] TO MODERATE
IT. AND IT BECOMES DANGEROUS.
>> MICHAEL McDANIEL .
>> HELLO. OH BOY. THAT TIME IS
REALLY INTIMIDATING. I JUST
WANT TO START WITH I MOVED INTO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BUILD
COMMUNITY A YEAR AND A HALF
AGO. AND THE NEIGHBORS ARE
AWESOME. THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
IN -- PROBLEMS IN AURORA BUT
THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE GOTTEN
WORSE. I'M NOT A PRO-GUN KIND
OF PERSON AND THANKS TO LIVING
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, I CAN
TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN SOUND
BETWEEN A BUMP STOCK AND SEMI
AUTOMATIC WEAPON. ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE OF A THREE-MONTH PERIOD
WHEN THERE WERE GUNSHOTS WAKING
US UP AT NIGHT. MY MOM DID SIX
WORK WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL
BRIEFLY. I DON'T WANT A LAW
AGAINST IT, BUT I WANT TO STOP
THE GUN VIOLENCE. I'M TRYING
TO PUT DOWN ROOTS, AND I KEEP
GETTING RIPPED UP.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE JAN, AND THEN WE
WILL GO TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> HI. NOT LONG AGO ON A
TYPICALLY COLD, WET, RAINY,
STARK SEATTLE NIGHT, I WENT TO
LOWE'S TO GET HOME IMPROVEMENT
STUFF. A COUPLE OF GIRLS WALKED
IN THROUGH THE EXIT DOOR THAT
DIDN'T LOOK MUCH OLDER THAN
20. ONE OF THEM LOOKED LIKE SHE
HAD BEEN CRYING. HER MAKEUP WAS
A MESS. I WONDERED IF SHE JUST
HAD A VIOLENT ENCOUNTER WITH A
PIMP OR JOHN. I THINK ABOUT
THOSE GIRLS A LOT. I WONDER IF
EITHER OF THEM HABITUALLY -- I
WONDER IF THEY ARE STILL ALIVE.
I ASK MYSELF THAT QUESTION.
WHAT DO I DO? I FELT THOSE
GIRLS THAT NIGHT, JUST LIKE I
FEEL EVERY VICTIM OF SEX
TRAFFICKING WHEN I HABITUALLY
IGNORE THEM, LOOKING AWAY
DOESN'T IGNORE THEIR HUMANITY.
IT DENIES THE FACT -- IT DENIES
THE VIOLENCE DONE TO THEM BY --
PIMPS AND JOHN'S. WE CALL IT
TRAFFICKING, BUT I KNOW THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT MEN BUYING
GIRLS FROM OTHER MEN. IT HAS TO
STOP AND I KNOW THAT WE AS A
CITY CAN DO BETTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO
REMOTE SPEAKERS. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX WHEN YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT.
>> I AM CALLING TO REJECT THE
S.O.D.A. ZONES. [ INAUDIBLE ] I
CAN SEE WHY COUNCILMEMBERS KEPT
TRYING TO GET THE MEMO'S
CHANGED. WHAT THESE ZONES WOULD
DO IS THEY PUNISH PEOPLE WHO
HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED OF
ANYTHING. WITH EVERYTHING
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT,
SHOOTING, PROSTITUTION, IT'S
ALL ALREADY ILLEGAL. THIS LETS
THE JUDGE CREATE A BRAND-NEW
CRIME FOR SOMEONE THAT IS
ARRESTED . WE KNOW THIS WILL BE
DISPROPORTIONATELY APPLIED.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT JUDGES
IMPOSE HARSHER PENALTIES ON
BIPOC COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
S.O.D.A. AND S.O.A.P. TURN
CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY
AND TO STOP AND FRISK. THESE
ZONES AMOUNT TO AN ATTEMPT TO
DIMINISH BIPOC COMMUNITIES .
PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF THEY GO TO
A CERTAIN AREA AND THEY ARE NOT
WHITE, THEY ARE GOING TO GET
STOPPED BY COPS. THAT IS WHAT
THIS ALLOWS. THIS ALLOWS THE
CITY TO BANISH PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE
PETER CONDIT.
>> HELLO. THIS IS PETER CONDIT
CALLING FROM AURORA. [
INAUDIBLE ] THESE BILLS CREATE
NO RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE
EXPENSING VIOLENCE TO GET HELP.
THE S.O.A.P. LEGISLATION WOULD
AFFECT ME AND MY FAMILY. [
INAUDIBLE ] IT GIVES THEM POWER
TO APPROACH SEX WORKERS AND
WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF
POLICE VIOLENCE. I DO NOT WANT
SPD DAUGHTERS TO GAZE AND
MOTHER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF
THEY CAN TAKE HER FOR SEX. I DO
NOT WANT POLICE TO USE THE
THREAT OF ARREST TO COURSE ANY
WOMAN INTO DOING SOMETHING THEY
DO NOT WANT TO DO. IT
UNDERMINES OUR SAFETY AND
ABILITY TO BUILD A BETTER LIFE.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE HAVE
KIT PAUL, FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL
NEWMAN.
>> HI. MY NAME IS KIP. I'M
ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS
S.O.A.P. AND S.O.D.A. BILL.
LIKE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS, I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN
VIOLENCE IN MY AREA, BUT
LOITERING LAWS LIKE THIS ONE
HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO DO NOTHING
BUT REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE. THIS
CITY HAS LIMITED RESOURCES AND
WE SHOULD BE USING THEM TO HELP
PEOPLE, NOT HARM THEM. IF
SOMEONE IS ARRESTED UNDER THIS
PROPOSED LAW, WITH A BE
PREVENTED FROM ACCESSING
RESOURCES LIKE THE AURORA
COMMONS, MY NEIGHBORHOOD, OR
EVEN KEPT FROM THEIR HOMES
BEFORE GOING TO TRIAL. THAT IS
NOT THE KIND OF BILL PROPOSAL I
WANT TO SEE FOR MY CITY
COUNCIL, MUCH LESS THE
COUNCILMEMBER WHO REPRESENTS MY
DISTRICT. AGAIN, I AM ASKING
YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS
PROPOSAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE PUTTING -- GOING OUT
TO GABRIEL NEWMAN, FOLLOWED BY
JOSH MARTINEZ.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX .
WE ARE GOING TO SKIP OVER TO
JOSH MARTINEZ AND COME BACK TO
GABRIEL IF HE IS OUT. GABRIEL,
GO AHEAD.
>> I AM SO SORRY. GOOD MORNING,
CITY OF SEATTLE. MY NAME IS
GABRIEL NEWMAN . [ INAUDIBLE ]
I AM TESTIFYING TODAY TO URGE
YOU TO NOT IMPLEMENT THE
PROPOSED S.O.D.A. ZONES. THE
UNINTENDED IMPACTS WILL CAUSE
MORE HARM THAN GOOD. PEOPLE
BANNED FROM S.O.D.A. ZONES WILL
MOVE INTO NEARBY ECONOMIC AREAS
LIKE CAPITOL HILL. THESE AREAS
ARE MUCH LESS RESOURCED THAN
DOWNTOWN. THE CARE TEAM IS YET
TO BE IMPLEMENT IT. IT HAS BEEN
MADE CLEAR THEY DON'T HAVE THE
PERSONNEL TO CARRY OUT THE
ADDITIONAL CONTROLS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN REQUESTING FOR YEARS.
AS A RESULT, UNTRAINED
EMPLOYEES LIKE BARISTAS HAVE
BECOME THE FRONTLINE
RESPONDERS. BUSINESSES ARE
CONTINUALLY SHUTTING DOWN. THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHERS NEARBY
ARE NOT RESOURCED TO
ACCOMMODATE THE INEVITABLE
INCREASE IN CRIME THAT S.O.D.A.
ZONES WILL CREATE. IF ONE AREA
SUFFERS, THE WHOLE CITY DOES.
PLEASE ENSURE OUR CITY IS FULLY
RESOURCED.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE JOSH
MARTINEZ, FOLLOWED BY KAI .
SORRY ABOUT THE PRONUNCIATION.
JOSH, GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS JOSH MARTINEZ.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN
DISTRICT 2. COUNCILMEMBERS, NO
CRUELTY IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT. I
KNOW YOUR RESIDENTS AREN'T
ASKING YOU FOR THAT. THE BILLS
PROPOSE TODAY ARE CRUEL. THEY
WON'T SOLVE ISSUES IN THE
AREA, OR THE CASES OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING WE HEARD TODAY. IF
THESE LAWS HAVE ANY IMPACT, IT
WILL BE GOING AFTER PEOPLE WHO
DON'T DESERVE IT. THEY LEARNED
ABOUT THE HARMS THEY CAUSED.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY TODAY,
ARTICLES , EXTRA SUPPORT ARE
SAYING THAT THESE LAWS WILL
HURT THE PEOPLE YOU CLAIM YOU
WANT TO PROTECT. PLEASE
OFFICERS COMMITTED SOLICITATION
AND SEXUAL ABUSE UNDER THOSE
LAWS. THESE LAWS WILL ONLY
HARASS AND ENDANGER WHOEVER THE
POLICE DECIDE TO TARGET. I KNOW
YOU WANT SEATTLE RESIDENTS TO
THINK YOU ARE TOUGH ON CRIME,
BUT THE LAWS YOU ARE PROPOSING
WILL NOT STOP CRIME OR HELP
ANYONE. THESE ROLES WILL MAKE
IT HARDER FOR SEATTLEITES TO
LIVE. LET'S FIND OTHER WAYS TO
CARE FOR PEOPLE IN YOUR
DISTRICT, BECAUSE THESE AREN'T
IT. PLEASE VOTE NO TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO
KAI NEXT. PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KAI. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 5. I AM A
HEALTHCARE WORKER, AND I AM
ASKING THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO
ON THE LOITERING AND
PROSTITUTION BILL. WE KNOW
BECAUSE OF RESEARCH AND DATA
THAT THESE ARE DISCRIMINATORY
LAWS. WE KNOW THAT, AND THAT'S
WHY IT WOULD -- WAS REPEALED IN
THE FIRST PLACE. THESE ISSUES
IN OUR DISTRICT ARE IMPORTANT.
THE CRIMINALIZING AND PUNISHING
THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION
IS NOT THE ANSWER TO THIS. AND
THE FACT THAT THIS IS EVEN
COMING UP MAKES ME REALLY
CONCERNED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
IS NOT PROPOSING BILLS THAT ARE
BASED ON RESEARCH AND DATA.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE
FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO ON
THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE JASMINE
CLARK , FOLLOWED BY ANNALEE'S.
-- ANALISE. JASMINE, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A POLICY
PROGRAM DIRECTOR IN WASHINGTON.
[ INAUDIBLE ] I WANT TO EXPRESS
OUR OPPOSITION TO ALL OF THESE
PROPOSALS. THESE PROPOSALS NOT
ONLY TARGET OUR MOST HONORABLE
VIBRATIONS, AND PERPETUATE THE
POLICIES OF CRIMINALIZED
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, BUT
IT RAISES OTHER CONCERNS. IT
FURTHERS SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EXCLUSION
ZONES LIKE S.O.A.P. AND
S.O.D.A. ZONES STIGMATIZE
PEOPLE ENGAGING IN SEX WORK.
THEY OUTLINED RECOMMENDATIONS
AND EMPHASIZED NEW STRATEGIES .
THESE PROPOSALS OFFER RESIDENTS
MORE FAILED PUBLIC POLICIES OF
THE PAST AND DO NOT SOLVE THE
PROBLEM OF ADDICTION. WE SHOULD
ENGAGE IN EFFORTS TO DEVELOP
PROGRAMS THAT UPLIFT OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ANALISE
MELON. TO BE FOLLOWED BY
MARSHALL BENDER.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
ANALISE. I AM A SEX WORKER. I
FIND THE PROPOSAL OF THE
S.O.A.P. BILL INSIDIOUS. AS A
FORMER JUDGE, KATHY SHOULD KNOW
THAT THIS BILL IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, VIOLATING THE
DUE PROCESS CLAUSE FOR
TARGETING SEX WORKERS AND
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE OF COLOR,
AND THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY.
THEY PERPETUATE CYCLES OF
CRIMINALIZATION , SIMILAR TO
REDLINING PRACTICES THAT HAVE
OPPRESSED MINORITY COMMUNITIES
FOR TICKETS. BY ENFORCING SUCH
LAWS, WE FURTHER ENTRENCH THESE
COMMUNITIES WITH SYSTEMIC
INEQUALITY. THIS CICCONE AND
BILL SEEKS TO STRIP WOMEN'S
RIGHTS 08 -- AWAY. WE ARE NOT
HELPLESS INDIVIDUALS CARRYING
OUT VIOLENT CRIMES. WE ARE
BUSINESS OWNERS. WE ARE VOTERS.
WE ARE STUDENTS. [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING OUT
TO MARSHALL BENDER TO BE
FOLLOWED BY IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
LET'S SEE. MARSHALL. MARSHALL,
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> OKAY. MY NAME IS MARSHALL
BENDER AND I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 5 LIVING IN NORTHGATE.
I AM HERE TO OPPOSE S.O.D.A.
AND S.O.A.P. LAWS. THIS IS
FOOLISH AND IT IS A WASTE OF
RESOURCES. WHY? BECAUSE THE LAW
IS INSANE. IT IS NOT SENSIBLE,
OR PROGRESSIVE, AND IT IS SO
VAGUE THAT IT LED TO NIPPERS
MADE OF PROSTITUTION AND
MOTORING LAWS. IN 2020, THE
COUNCIL VOTED TO REPEAL THESE
LAWS BECAUSE OF THIS FAX. AND
NOW YOU WANT TO BRING IT BACK.
WHY? DID THE POLICE UNION TALK
YOU INTO THIS SO THEY CAN
COERCE SEX WORKERS WITHOUT
PUNISHMENT? THEY'RE GOING TO
DO THAT WITH THIS LAW. COPS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO ARREST AND
CHARGE PEOPLE FOR LOOKING LIKE
THEY LOOK LIKE A PROSTITUTE.
THIS IS A 30 PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
AS IS IS THERE'S -- IT IS
ANTI-SEX WORKER AND ANTI-HUMAN.
VOTE NO.
>> WE HAVE OUR LAST REMOTE
COMMENTS ARE FOR THIS SET. WE
WILL GO TO RICK FORDYCE IN
PERSON, PLEASE. GET READY FOR
THAT. TYSON, GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. THIS IS TYSON [
INAUDIBLE ] FOR DISTRICT 6. I
AM IN SUPPORT OF S.O.A.P.
LEGISLATION. I THINK WE NEED AS
MANY TOOLS AS POSSIBLE TO GET
DRUG DEALERS OFF THE STREETS,
AS WELL AS PIMPS AND JOHN'S. I
HOPE EVERYBODY VOTES YES. THANK
YOU.
>> I GREW UP IN NORTH SEATTLE.
JOHN ROGERS, NATHAN HALE. THE
LAST 19 YEARS, I LIVED IN THE
S.O.A.P. ZONES AND WATCH TO GO
FROM NOTHING TO WHAT IT IS NOW.
ONE STORY HAS ALWAYS STOOD OUT.
THREE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A
HEAT DOME IN 2001 -- 2021. A
HEAT DOME. THEY WANT ABOUT IT.
THE TEMPERATURE HIT 108
DEGREES. EVERYBODY WAS
ISOLATED, AND I HAD TO GO
SOMEWHERE. I GOT IN THE CAR AND
I DROVE OUT, DOWN IN AURORA WAS
THIS YOUNG WOMAN STANDING OUT
THERE, BARELY ABLE TO STAND UP
. ACROSS THE STREET WAS HER IN
AN AIR-CONDITIONED CAR. I WAS
RAISED A FEMINIST IN THIS CITY.
I THOUGHT, WHERE ARE THE WOMEN
IN THIS CITY? HOW COME THEY ARE
NOT SURROUNDING THIS GUYS CART
WITH BASEBALL BATS OR
SOMETHING? IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN
WORSE AND YOU NEED TO DO
SOMETHING.
>> NEXT UP, IN PERSON WILL BE
TINA FOR ELLIE -- VARELLI .
FOLLOWED BY DIANE.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN THE
PROPOSED S.O.A.P. ZONE, WHICH
HAS BEEN THE EPICENTER OF
VIOLENCE ON AURORA THIS YEAR.
IMAGINE MOVING TO A NEW
NEIGHBORHOOD, FEARING FOR YOUR
LIFE. KNOWING THAT ONE DAY YOU
WILL BE CAUGHT IN THE
CROSSFIRE. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE IN
SHORELINE GET TO SLEEP QUIETLY
AT NIGHT WITH THEIR S.O.A.P.
LEGISLATION. IT IS SEX
TRAFFICKING EVERY DAY. THIS
TARGETS THE VIOLENT -- PIMPS
WHOSE GUNFIGHTS HAVE SPILLED
INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN WHO
HAVE BEEN SEX TRAFFICKED. PASS
THIS LAW NOW SO WE CAN HAVE
SOME RELIEF. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, DIANE, TO BE
FOLLOWED BY MEGAN CRUZ.
>> HI. I LIVE OFF OF AURORA AND
105th. I SURE THE PERSPECTIVE
OF MANY INDIVIDUALS IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WANT THE
SHOOTINGS TO STOP. WE WANT THE
VIOLENCE TO STOP. I WANT TO
GIVE YOU A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE
OF OUR PERSPECTIVE AS FAMILIES
IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR KIDS HAVE
A BUS STOP TWO BLOCKS FROM
AURORA. EVERY MORNING, WE HAVE
TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS STAND ON
ONE SIDE OF THE STREET BECAUSE
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET IS
WHERE JOHN'S PARK ALL NIGHT
LONG. THERE ARE LISTERINE
BOTTLES. THERE ARE BOTTLES OF
LIQUOR. THERE ARE WIPES. WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE
ON THE OTHER SIDE. ON THE WAY
HOME FROM SCHOOL, GETS STARTED
TO PLAY A GAME. THEY RECOGNIZE
THE GIRLS STANDING ON THE
CORNER WITH NO GIRLS ON PIT WE
HAVE 5 211-YEAR-OLDS COMING
HOME AFTER PLAYING THIS GAME
OF, WHAT ARE THE GIRLS WEARING
TODAY? THAT IS DEHUMANIZING
THOSE GIRLS, AS WELL. I DON'T
WANT MY KIDS TO BE LEARNING
THAT. LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY
THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL GIRLS
WHO TURNED 11 IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALLOW THEM TO
WALK BETWEEN EACH OTHER'S
HOUSES. WE WANT THEM TO BE
INDEPENDENT. IT REALLY STRUCK
ME WHEN THEY SAID THAT THE
YOUNGEST GIRL THEY HAVE FOUND
IN AURORA WAS 12. PUT THAT IN
PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS A SIXTH
GRADER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MEGAN CRUZ, TO BE FOLLOWED
BY CAROL JOE WILLIAMS.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM MEGAN
CRUZ . WHATEVER WE ARE DOING TO
TRY TO TURN THIS AROUND ISN'T
WORKING. THE SITUATION HAS
NEVER BEEN WORSE FOR PEOPLE
TRAPPED AND DYING FROM DRUGS ON
OUR STREETS. AND THOSE WHOSE
HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE IN THE
CENTER OF IT. THERE IS NO ONE
SOLUTION. IT WILL TAKE MULTIPLE
ANSWERS. ONE IS WE DELIVER
CARE. THE SEVEN DAY A WEEK
OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE AT
RISK ON THE STREET. THEY
DESPERATELY NEED MORE PERMANENT
SUPPORT AND HOUSING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, WE NEED TOOLS LIKE
S.O.A.P. TO DISRUPT THE STATUS
QUO . ESPECIALLY FOR DEALERS
AND OPERATIONS THAT HAVE NO
INCENTIVE TO LEAVE THE AREA.
THIS ISN'T AN EITHER OR
CHOICE. IT IS CHOOSE ALL.
WHATEVER SOCIAL SERVICE OR
LEGAL MEASURES WE DO USE, THEY
REQUIRE OVERSIGHT, CLEAR
METRICS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO
SHOW THAT THEY WORK. PLEASE
HELP US MOVE FORWARD WITH
MULTIPLE OPERATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CAROL JO WILLIAMS.
>> HELLO. I AM C.J. WILLIAMS. A
38 YEAR DOWNTOWN PIKE TOWN
RESIDENT. I'M A SENIOR WITHOUT
A CAR. SO THE BUS
TRANSPORTATION ON THIRD AVENUE
IS ALMOST USED DAILY. I AM ALSO
A DAILY MORNING WALKER FOR THE
LAST 20 YEARS WITH A GROUP OF
LADIES BETTER KNOWN AS THE
THURSDAY WALKERS, WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED DAILY STOLEN GOODS
FOR SALE, DEFECATION, URINATION
ON THE SIDEWALKS, WALKING ON
THE STREETS. DRUGS, MONIES
EXCHANGED, ANDDYING
ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF US.
WE SUPPORT S.O.A.P. AS A FIRST
STEP TO CURB THE ACTIVITY. HOPE
YOU HAVE THE NEXT STEP,
STOPPING THEIR ACTIVITIES, TO
HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE DRUG
PUSHERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HEIDI WILSON, TO BE FOLLOWED
BY FIONA WILSON AND CARL.
>> HELLO. I HAVE LIVED IN THE
S.O.A.P. ZONE SINCE 2008. I'M
A SOCIAL WORKER AND THAT WAS
THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD I COULD
AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE IN. SINCE
THEN, I HAVE RAISED THREE
CHILDREN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE A SON WHO IS SEVEN, A
DAUGHTER WHO JUST TURNED 11,
AND MY DAUGHTER FIONA WHO JUST
TURNED 14. WE LIVE JUST A FEW
BLOCKS FROM AURORA AND 105th.
OKAY. AND I FEEL LIKE I'M ALL
FOR PROTECTING WOMEN AND THE
GIRLS ON AURORA, BUT I ALSO
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MY VERY
VULNERABLE CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD , WHO GREW UP
HEARING THE GUNSHOTS, WHO HEAR
THE SCREAMS OF VICTIMS BEING
SHOT, WHO KNOW THAT WE HAVE
NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BULLETS IN
THEIR FENCES , WHO CAN'T WALK
AROUND SAFELY, WALKING OUR DOG
WITHOUT IN ROLLS-ROYCE IS
COMING UP AND LEERING AT US. SO
WHAT ABOUT OUR CHILDREN? WE
NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO TRY
TO SAVE THEM. AND WE SHOULDN'T
BE FORCED TO HAVE TO MOVE OUT
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN ORDER
TO LIVE SAFELY. SO MAYBE THIS
ISN'T A PERFECT LAW, BUT WE
NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
TO PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE
CHILDREN.
>> THANKS.
>> FIONA, GO AHEAD.
>> I'M FIONA WILSON. I JUST
TURNED 14 RECENTLY AND THE
NIGHT BEFORE MY 14th BIRTHDAY,
I HEARD A WOMAN SCREAMING AS
SHE WAS SHOT THREE BLOCKS FROM
MY HOUSE. I HEAR FREQUENT
GUNSHOTS, AND I SEE THE GIRLS,
AND IT IS SO HEARTBREAKING TO
THINK ABOUT. THESE ARE GIRLS
WHO COULD BE IN HIGH SCHOOL
WITH ME, WHO COULD BE PEOPLE I
COULD BE FRIENDS WITH ALMOST,
WHO ARE NOT MUCH OLDER THAN ME.
IN A DIFFERENT LIFE, I COULD BE
ONE OF THOSE GIRLS. AND I
DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT
THAT. I DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE,
EVEN, A WORLD WHERE THERE ARE
WOMEN WHO ARE BEING TRAFFICKED,
AND TAKEN FROM THEIR CITIES,
TAKEN FROM BROKEN HOMES, AND
FORCED TO WALK THE STREETS, AND
OBJECTIFY THEMSELVES. I WANT
PEOPLE TO SEE ME AS A HUMAN
BEING, AND NOT AS SOMETHING
THEY CAN PAY FOR AND BY. --
BUY. I WANT LEGISLATION TO
PROTECT ME AND MY SIBLINGS AND
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING
VICTIMIZED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE
CARLO, TO BE FOLLOWED BY
ELIZABETH.
>> MY NAME IS CARLO. I'M
REPRESENTING, OR ON BEHALF OF
MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS AND THE
REIMAGINED COALITION. WE ARE
LIVING IN A STATE OF FEAR AND
ANXIETY. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE
FOR WHAT IS PROVING TO BE A
GOOD APPROACH . ON JULY 17, THE
CITY INSTALLED THE BARRIER ,
EFFECTIVELY CHANGING A STREET
INTO A CUL-DE-SAC IN AN EFFORT
TO DETER THE VIOLENCE. ONE
MONTH LATER, WE HAVE SEEN NO
GUN VIOLENCE ON 101st AND HAVE
GONE FROM 10 911 CALLS TO A
SINGLE CALL SINCE JULY 17th.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS HELD
ON 101st. A TASK THAT WOULD'VE
BEEN IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE
RECONFIGURATION. [ INAUDIBLE ]
CHILDREN WERE SEEN PLAYING ON
THE STREET OUTSIDE, ABLE TO
PLATE NEXT TO AURORA AVENUE
NORTH FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
CLOSING ONE STREET IS NOT
ENOUGH. WE ARE PLEADING FOR
MORE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE
CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC TO
DETER THE VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> ELIZABETH.
>> I AM ELIZABETH FROM AURORA
COMMONS. I HAVE BEEN AT 90th
SINCE 2011. LAST YEAR, WE
SERVED 400 WOMEN, MANY OF WHOM
ARE IN THE SEX TRADE AND
VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. WE
CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND
FOR SERVICES. THE S.O.A.P.
LEGISLATION TARGETS VULNERABLE
WOMEN IN THE SEX TRADE WHO ARE
VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING. IT DOES
NOT PROPOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
OR RESOURCES OR HAVE A
PROVISION FOR WOMEN WHO MAY
LIVE IN THE S.O.A.P. ZONE. WE
URGE YOU TO LEAN ON YOUR
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN THIS
FIELD AND PARTNER WITH YOU TO
DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL
AND NOT UNDO THE LAST 20 YEARS
OF RESEARCH, PRACTICE, AND
ADVANCEMENTS WE HAVE MADE.
TARGET THOSE WHO ARE
PERPETUATING THE VIOLENCE, NOT
THE VULNERABLE. WITH ONLY SEVEN
BEDS IN THE ENTIRE CITY WHERE
WE CAN SEND WOMEN WHO WISH TO
EXIT THE SEX TRADE, WE ARE
PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE
HORSE. WE NEED PATHWAYS FOR
HEALING. TARGET THE JOHN'S,
TRAFFICKERS, AND TRADERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE NOW GOING BACK INTO
REMOTE COMMENTERS. WE ARE GOING
TO START WITH [ INAUDIBLE ] .
REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS AVA. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 5. I HAVE READ
AND REVIEWED THIS BILL IN
DETAIL AND I HAVE A DEGREE IN
TECHNOLOGY. I REGULARLY SHOP
AND DINE IN THE PROPOSED
S.O.A.P. AREA. [ INAUDIBLE ] I
HAVE EXPERIENCED THE VIOLENCE
IN AURORA FIRSTHAND. LISTEN TO
THE RESEARCH. THIS BILL DOES
NOT ADDRESS DRUG ADDICTION OR
SEX TRAFFICKING. ALL IT DOES IS
BEEN PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE
PROSTITUTES AND CRIMINALIZE
THEM FOR EXISTING IN THE
S.O.A.P. AREA. THIS BILL WILL
MAKE VIOLENCE WORSE, AND
INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL BE
ARRESTED. COPS WILL CONTINUE TO
HARASS AND SOLICIT SEX WORKERS.
I HAVE LITERALLY HAD IT HAPPEN
TO ME. THIS IS LEGALIZING
PROFILING. IT HAS [ INAUDIBLE ]
EMPTY PROMISES OF [ INAUDIBLE ]
WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE
NONE. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FUNDED
BY THE CITY IN ANY WAY.
>> THANK YOU, AVA. WE ARE GOING
TO HOLLY WILLIS. FOLLOWED BY
HALEY SPENCER.
>> HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YEAH. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
ALLIE WILLIS. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 6, ONE BLOCK OFF OF
AURORA. WE ADVOCATE FOR THE
COUNCIL TO DEVELOP GOOD
POLICIES TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE
POOR AND SUFFERING FROM
ADDICTION AND PEOPLE THAT WANT
TO LEAVE THE SEX TRADE. HARMFUL
POLICIES LIKE S.O.A.P. AND
S.O.A.P. ARE NOT A GOOD WAY TO
MOVE FORWARD. THESE LAWS WILL
DISPROPORTIONATELY PUNISH
PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR, HOMELESS,
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. IT WILL
MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO LIVE
WELL. WE KNOW WHAT WILL WORK TO
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. PEOPLE
NEED HOUSING. PEOPLE NEED
HEALTHCARE, SUFFICIENT INCOME,
AND PEOPLE NEED STABILITY. THE
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS IS
OPPOSED TO S.O.A.P. AND
S.O.A.P.. FINISHING PEOPLE WILL
HARM THEM. IT WILL NOT IMPROVE
PUBLIC SAFETY. IT WILL FAIL
AGAIN, AS IT FELT BEFORE.
PLEASE RAISE REVENUE TO PAY FOR
HOUSING SERVICES THAT WILL
ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS HALEY
SPENCER, TO BE FOLLOWED BY
TONYA MOORE.
HALEY, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU.
>> HI. ANTI-LOITERING LAWS ARE
NOT THE ANSWER. I HAVE A FRIEND
WHO IS A TRANSGENDER WOMAN WHO
USED TO LIVE ONE BLOCK OFF OF
AURORA. DURING THE TIME SHE
LIVED IN THAT AREA, SHE WAS
TWICE MISTAKEN FOR A SEX WORKER
WHILE WALKING FOR GROCERIES AND
EVERYDAY CLOTHING. ONE TIME SHE
WAS WEARING JEANS AND A
T-SHIRT. IF WE HAVE
ANTI-LOWERING LAWS, A POLICE
OFFICER COULD SEE HER IN THAT
SITUATION AND ARREST HER FOR
LOITERING. IF THAT WERE TO
HAPPEN, THERE COULD BE ORDERS
THAT PREVENT HER FROM BEING
WITHIN HER OWN NEIGHBORHOOD
BEFORE EVEN HAVING A TRIAL,
HAVING A CHANCE TO CLEAR UP THE
SITUATION. WE KNOW THAT IN THE
PAST, NEW LAWS HAVE BEEN
ENFORCED IN A RACIST, TRANCE
PHOBIC, HORRIBLE PROFILING
WAYS, AND IT IS VERY UPSETTING
THAT THIS IS BEING OFFERED TO
PEOPLE AS A SOLUTION TO KEEP
THEM SAFE, WHEN THE SOLUTION TO
GUN VIOLENCE IS TO BAN GUNS.
THIS WOULD CREATE REALLY
SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS, EVEN FOR
PEOPLE FOUND INNOCENT, WHO HAVE
NOT BEEN DOING SEX WORK OR
DRUGS IN THE AREA.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE
TONYA MOORE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY
JENNIFER. TONYA, PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX.
>> OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO JUMP
OVER TO JENNIFER. JENNIFER.
JENNIFER, PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX. THERE YOU GO.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
JENNIFER. I'M A FORMER AURORA
RESIDENT. OKAY, TO START WITH,
THE VAST MAJORITY OF
TRAFFICKING IS DONE BY FAMILY
AND FRIENDS OF VICTIMS BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS. NOT BY STRANGERS.
SEX TRAFFICKING IS ALREADY
ILLEGAL. GUN VIOLENCE IS
ALREADY ILLEGAL. THESE LAWS
WILL NOT PROTECT VICTIMS OR SEX
WORKERS. THEY ARE NOT THE ONES
THAT WILL BE TARGETED BY THESE
LAWS. THESE LAWS WILL IMPINGE
ON OUR RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF
MOVEMENT. FUND SHELTERS. FUND
JOB PROGRAMS. FUND SOCIAL WORK
PROGRAMS. DECRIMINALIZE SEX
WORK. STOP FRUITLESSLY TRYING
TO PUNISH INSTEAD OF PROVIDING
ALTERNATIVES. I YIELD THE REST
OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO
GO BACK TO TONYA MOORE. TONYA,
CAN YOU PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX?
>> HI. MY NAME IS TONYA MOORE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5,
AND MY HOME IN AURORA IS IN THE
PROPOSED S.O.A.P. DISTRICT. I
AM SPEAKING AGAINST THE
S.O.A.P. LEGISLATION. THIS IS
THE LEGISLATION THAT IS RACIST,
TRANCE PHOBIC, AND DOES NOTHING
TO STOP GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
IT DOES NOTHING BUT CUT PEOPLE
OFF FROM HOUSING, JOBS, AND
SERVICES, AND THE ABILITY TO
MOVE THROUGH THE CITY AND GET
TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE TO
ACCESS SERVICES. IT DOES
NOTHING FOR FUNDING. I FIND IT
DESPICABLE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE HAS NOT LISTENED TO
ORGANIZATIONS FROM THIS AREA
AND HAS NOT WORKED WITH THESE
INDIVIDUALS. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN
HURT. IF THEY HAD BEEN, THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
PUT FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE
MICHAEL , TO BE FOLLOWED BY
JULIA BUCK.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHAEL .
I AM HERE TO URGE CITY COUNCIL
TO VOTE NO AGAINST THE PROPOSED
S.O.A.P. BILL. THIS BILL IS
BEING BROUGHT BACK INTO FOCUS.
THIS IS AN ARCHAIC BILL THAT
EMULATES VAGRANCY LAWS PUT INTO
LAW DURING THE JIM CROW ERA ,
MAKING IT ILLEGAL FOR BLACK
PEOPLE TO MEET IN PUBLIC
SPACES. THIS TRANSCENDS
EVERYTHING. THIS DOES NOT
DIRECTLY AFFECT ME AS A
41-YEAR-OLD WHITE MALE. IT
AFFECTS THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.
THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE --
EXPRESSIVE, SOCIAL PEOPLE --
THAT BEING IN PUBLIC SPACES --
IF THEIR NEIGHBOR IS DRIVING BY
-- ENGAGING IN COMMUNICATIVE
WITH PEOPLE IN THE STREET MAKES
THEM A TARGET FOR THE POLICE TO
BE ABLE TO OPENLY --
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL. WE ARE
GOING NOW TO JULIA BUCK, TO BE
FOLLOWED BY HEATHER HURT. --
HERD.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JULIA
BUCK. I'M A REPRESENTATIVE OF
DISTRICT 6. THESE STAY OUT OF
DRUG AND PROSTITUTION AREA LAWS
DON'T WORK. PUBLIC SAFETY IS
AN EXCUSE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT,
WHICH IS TO PUT AS MANY PEOPLE
AS POSSIBLE IN THE JAIL SYSTEM.
TO LOCK PEOPLE UP WITHOUT A
CONVICTION. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, YOU SAID THE SAME
SHOOTING -- THE SAME DATE WAS
BECAUSE OF DRAGRACING HIGH
SCHOOLERS. THAT DOESN'T MAKE
ANY SENSE. THOSE ARE DIFFERENT
ACTIVITIES AND PEOPLE. ANYWAY,
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THE QUIET
EPIDEMIC OF COCAINE OVERDOSES
HERE IN SEATTLE, I WOULD LIKE
TO PROPOSE THE GREEN LAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT WE KNOW THAT
WHITE PEOPLE CAN DO WHITE
PEOPLE DRUGS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE HEATHER
HERD. THEN WE WILL BE GOING
BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENTERS. GO
AHEAD.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX. THERE
YOU GO.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS HEATHER
HERD. [ INAUDIBLE ] I LIVE WITH
MY KIDS. RIGHT NOW, WE CAN'T
ACTUALLY WALK IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND AT THE CORNER
OF 90th, THERE ARE FREQUENT
GUNBATTLES AND A CHAINSAW FIGHT
THAT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO. THEY CLOSED THE SCHOOL AND
PUT IT ON LOCKDOWN. RRR
COMMENTS -- MOST OF THIS
HAPPENED IN THEIR PARKING LOT.
THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS. THE
CITY SAID THAT THE RESPONSE
FROM AURORA COMMENTS IS THAT
THEY OR PERMITTING FOR THE
AREA, AS WELL AS ORGANIZING
VOLUNTEERS TO FACILITATE SHOP
-- CROSSING GUARDS TO SHEPHERD
STUDENTS PASSED THE AREA. THIS
IS AGAINST THE 1994 FEDERAL
LEGISLATION FOR VIOLENCE IN
SCHOOLS ACT. STUDENTS HAVE BEEN
SOLICITED TO DO PROSTITUTION IN
THE AREA. SOMEONE HAS TO START
TO PROTECT TARGETS WITHIN THIS
AREA, SO PLEASE VOTE YES ON
THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. FIRST
UP, FOR OUR NEXT SET OF IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS,
ARIANA RILEY, TO BE FOLLOWED BY
AMBER .
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
ARIANA RILEY. I'M A SEX WORKER
MYSELF. WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM
PEOPLE AS THEY ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE OCCURRING IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. MANY PEOPLE
RELATE STORIES OF CALLING
POLICE FOR CONFIDENCE IN THE
POLICE REFUSING TO COME. THIS,
TO ME, IS A PROBLEM. WE ALL
AGREE THAT NOBODY WANTS THEIR
HOME SHOT UP. WE CAN AGREE THAT
PROSTITUTES THEMSELVES ARE NOT
THE ONES SHOOTING UP HOMES. I
HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE SAYING
THAT. ALSO, WE CAN RECOGNIZE
THAT ALL DOES NOT ALL SEX
WORKERS HAVE PIMPS. THERE IS NO
TRACK ON 16th. GUNFIRE IS A
COMMON SOUND. THE PROBLEMS OF
POLICE NOT RESPONDING TO
VIOLENT CRIMES, EVEN AFTER
RECEIVING A LARGE RAISE, AND
GUNFIRE OCCURRING IN AREAS
NORTH OF WHITE CENTER WILL NOT
BE SOLVED BY HARASSING
PROSTITUTES. [ INAUDIBLE ]
WITHDRAW THIS BILL.
>> AMBER.
>> HI. I LIVE IN KATHY MORRIS
DISTRICT A FEW BLOCKS OF
AURORA. WE HAVE BEEN HEARING
DIRECTLY FROM THEM ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS THEY FACE. I'M HERE,
BEGGING CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO
ON THE PROPOSALS , S.O.A.P. AND
S.O.A.P.. THESE ORDINANCES ARE
GOING TO GET PEOPLE KILLED.
ANYONE WHO VOTES IN FAVOR OF
THEM WILL HAVE BLOOD ON THEIR
HANDS. THERE IS SAFETY IN
NUMBERS. THEY WERE FOR EACH OF
THE BREAD VIOLENCE FROM ,
PREDATORY MEN, AND POLICE
BRUTALITY WILL ESCALATE IF THIS
LEGISLATION IS APPROVED. THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION DOES
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO STOP OR
PREVENT TRAFFICKING OR GUN
VIOLENCE. IT WILL MAKE THINGS
WORK -- WORSE FOR OUR PEOPLE.
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US.
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
HAS ISSUED STATEMENTS
DECRIMINALIZING SEX WORK IS THE
BEST WAY TO STOP AND PREVENT
SEX TRAFFICKING. NOT A SINGLE
ANTITRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION OR
ORGANIZATION OFFERING SERVICES
AND SUPPORT TO SEX WORKERS HAS
MADE A STATEMENT IN FAVOR OF
THIS PROPOSAL. PLEASE LISTEN TO
THE COMMUNITY EXPERTS WHO
ENGAGE WITH THIS POPULATION.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS STAR M
.
>> MY NAME IS STAR. I AM A SEX
WORKER. I REJECT THE S.O.A.P.
BILL. IT WILL DO MORE HARM THAN
HELP. ACCESS TO SERVICES HELP
ME MAINTAIN SOBRIETY AND STAY
STABLE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE
COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THE AREA.
IF ANYONE GETS ARRESTED AND
RELEASED, THEY CAN BE BANNED
FROM ACCESSING THESE SERVICES
SUCH AS DSHS . IT WILL DO MORE
HARM THAN GOOD. WE WILL HAVE
THE SAME NIGHTMARE WE HAD WHEN
BACKPAGE WAS SHUT DOWN, PUTTING
THAT BILL INTO EFFECT WILL MAKE
VICTIMS MORE AFRAID TO COME
FORWARD IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO
THEM. ON TOP OF THAT, SOME OF
MY FRIENDS LIVE IN HOTELS IN
THOSE AREAS. THEY WILL FEAR TO
GO TO THE POLICE IF ANYTHING
HAPPENS TO THEM. I HAVE HAD
POLICE OFFICERS SEXUALLY
ASSAULT ME FOR NOT TAKING ME TO
JAIL. IF YOU PASS THIS BILL,
BLOOD WILL BE ON YOUR HANDS.
AND REMEMBER. NO CHILD WAKES UP
AND SAYS THEY WANT TO BE A
PROSTITUTE. NO CHILD WAKES UP
AND SAYS THEY WANT TO BE A
HOMELESS ADDICT. THANK YOU.
>> ELLIE, FOLLOWED BY MAZZ AND
BAILEY. I FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
>> MY NAME IS ELLE. I DO
OUTREACH FOR THE GREENLIGHT
PROJECT. I GIVE, AND LAST WEEK
IN OPPOSITION TO THE S.O.A.P.
AND S.O.A.P. LITTERING BILLS,
BUT I'M ASKING COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE TO PULL THE BILL FROM
CONSIDERATION ENTIRELY. NOT
ONLY IS IT BRINGING BACK STOP
AND FRISK POLICY THAT IS
INEFFECTIVE AT CRIME
PREVENTION. IT IS ALSO
INCREDIBLY DISCRIMINATORY AND
WILL MAKE MARGINALIZED PEOPLE
WORSE OFF. THIS BILL WILL NOT
PREVENT SEX TRAFFICKING. IN
FACT, TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE
INCREASE ALONG WITH THE
EXPECTATION OF PEOPLE, WHICH
ANTI-LOITERING LAWS FROM IT.
BEFORE THE LAW IN 2020, WORKERS
WERE IN FEAR OF BEING ARRESTED
ON CHARGES OF TRAFFICKING.
CURRENTLY, MANY OF THEM ARE
TOGETHER TO PROTECT POLICE
OFFICERS. THERE HAS BEEN A
SHIFT IN DOING OUTREACH.
PARTICIPANTS ARE TERRIFIED.
THEY CAN BE MOVING ACCESS TO
HOUSING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
RESOURCES. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT
THING. LISTEN TO YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. LISTEN TO SEX
WORKERS. FUND SOCIAL SERVICES
AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
RESOURCES. NOT RACIST
PROSTITUTION AND DRUG LITTERING
LAWS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MAZZ. HELLO. MY NAME IS
MAZZ. I HAVE BEEN A SEX WORKER
FOR MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE. I
KNOW WORKERS WHO STARTED OUT AS
MINORS. NO ONE, CIVILIANS ARE
SEX WORKERS WANT TO SEE PEOPLE
TRAFFICKED OR HURT BY GUN
VIOLENCE. THIS BILL WILL NOT
FIX EITHER OF THOSE PROBLEMS.
WHEN I EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE AT
THE HANDS OF JOHN SOURCE ON MY
PEERS IN TROUBLE, I HAD NO WAY
TO GET THEM ANY KIND OF HELP
BECAUSE DOING SO WOULD PUT US
AT RISK OF ARREST. WITH THE
REST COMES PERMANENT RECORDS.
WITH RECORDS COMES LESS CHANCE
OF GETTING JOBS OUTSIDE OF THE
SEX INDUSTRY. IF YOU WANT
PEOPLE TO STOP BEING TRAFFICKED
OR STOP DOING SEX WORK, YOU
NEED TO GIVE THIS PEOPLE
RESOURCES. S.O.A.P. ORDERS AND
PROFILING WILL CREATE A BARRIER
TO LIFE-SAVING RESOURCES AND
LASTING CHANGE. PROTECT OUR
MOST VULNERABLE. VOTE NO ON
THIS BILL. LISTEN TO SEX
WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE [
INAUDIBLE ] NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING. HER NAME IS
BAILEY. I'M A YOUNG RENTER IN
SEATTLE. I'M GOING TO TELL IT
STRAIGHT. S.O.A.P. AND S.O.A.P.
WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. WE
NEED TO PUT MORE RESOURCES IN
COMMUNITY SERVICES. NOT MORE
GUNS ON OUR STREETS. TO
PROSECUTE PRESENCE IS TO
CRIMINALIZE SERVICES, AND
COLLECTIVE SAFETY. S.O.A.P. AND
S.O.A.P. OPEN THE DOOR TO
CONTINUOUS SURVEILLANCE AND
CRIMINALIZATION, ESPECIALLY
WHEN YOU CONSIDER STIGMATIZED
PROFILING UNCLEAR AND TRANS
YOUTH, AND YOUTH OF COLOR. WHO
IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
IMPACTED THE MOST BY THIS
ESCALATION AND CRIMINALIZATION?
THESE ARE NOT SOLUTIONS. THEY
ARE POORLY DESIGNED MANDATES
FOR SYSTEMIC ISSUES. AND WHEN
WE QUESTIONED WHY YOUNG PEOPLE
IN SEATTLE NO LONGER ENGAGED IN
COMMUNITY OR OCCUPY THIRD
SPACES, REMEMBER THIS MOMENT AS
YOU CONTINUE TO PUT MORE GUNS
ON OUR STREETS AND TELL PEOPLE,
LESS TIME IN COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] .
>> GOOD MORNING. I LIFT OFF OF
AURORA. WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING
FOOD SUPPLIES IN SOLITARY --
SOLIDARITY TO SEX WORKERS. THE
WOMAN ON AURORA ARE NOT OBJECT
-- ABSTRACT CONCEPTS TO US.
THIS BILL DOES NOTHING BUT MAKE
THEIR LIVES MORE DANGEROUS. I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THIS BILL
AND SEE WHAT IT DOES, WHICH IS
ARREST THE VICTIMS THAT YOU
SEEM TO WANT TO PROTECT. AND
ACTUALLY TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
IN THESE COMMUNITIES TO SEE
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, BECAUSE
WE HAVE A LOT. PLEASE LISTEN TO
US. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JULIA, YOUR NEXT,
TO BE FOLLOWED BY PAT.
>> AS A RESIDENT OF THIRD
AVENUE, BETWEEN PIKE AND PINE,
MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE A FRONT
ROW SEAT TO THE ONGOING
FENTANYL EPIDEMIC. WHILE MOST
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DOWNTOWN IN
PRE-AND POST COVID TERMS, WE
TALK ABOUT IT IN PRE-AND POST
FENTANYL TERMS. I FOUND MYSELF
LOGGING FOR THE -- LOGGING FOR
THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF OPIOIDS.
THE PROBLEMS WE FACE DIDN'T
SEEM QUAINT BY COMPARISON. WE
NEED MULTIPLE TOOLS TO ADDRESS
THAT NEW AND COMPLEX PROBLEM
THAT IS FENTANYL. WE ASK YOU TO
CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE FUNDING
FOR THE TEAMS WHO PROVIDE
CRITICAL, LIFE-GIVING CARE TO
OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS,
AS WELL AS EXPAND HOUSING AND
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THEM.
WE ALSO NEED TO GIVE OUR POLICE
OFFICERS NEW TOOLS. GANGS ARE
NOW PRESSING OUR ADDICTED
NEIGHBORS INTO SERVICE AS
DEALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS
THEMSELVES, PERMITTING THEM FOR
SEEKING HOUSING. WE MUST
INTERRUPT THIS CYCLE WITH
LEGISLATION LIKE S.O.A.P..
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WILL FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
BUCK --
>> I HAVE LIVED IN AURORA SINCE
1986. I USED TO RIDE THE BUS ON
AURORA. I USED TO WALK
REGULARLY TO BUSINESSES ON
AURORA. THAT HAS ALL CHANGED
SINCE THE PROSTITUTION, DRUGS,
HOMELESSNESS, AND GUN VIOLENCE.
I FEEL I WOULD BE PUTTING MY
LIFE AT RISK, SO I LIMIT -- SO
I AM LIMITED IN WHERE AND HOW I
GO. I HEAR THE GUNFIRE ALMOST
NIGHTLY. IN FACT, JUNE 10th, AT
10:00 P.M., AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE
WAS OCCURRING IN FRONT OF MY
HOUSE AS CARS WERE RACING DOWN
THE STREET. MY NEIGHBOR CALLED
TO ASK IF I WAS OKAY, BECAUSE
IT WAS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
LATER, THE POLICE WERE WALKING
DOWN MY STREET LOOKING FOR
BULLETS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU, PET.
>> CLERK, I WANT TO NOTE THAT
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR JUST OVER AN HOUR,
SO WE WILL CONTINUE, BUT WITH
THE NUMBERS, WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT, AT WHICH POINT WE LOOK AT
THE AGENDA? THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE PAT. [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> YES. I AM PAT. I HAVE LIVED
IN GREENWOOD FOR 40 YEARS.
SEATTLE IS NOT THE CITY I HAVE
KNOWN AND LOVED SINCE I LIVED
HERE IN 1974. I AVOID AURORA
BETWEEN 85th AND 145th. IT IS
DISTURBING AND IT IS
DEMORALIZING TO SEE THE SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION. THE PRODUCTS OF
THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DISCARDED
IN PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS OUR
CHURCH PARKING LOT. FRIENDS
THAT LIVE CLOSE TO AURORA HAVE
TOLD ME OF THE GUNFIRE ON THEIR
STREETS. AND TO REFERENCE A
RECENT NEWS STORY, CAR TO CAR
GUNFIRE WAS LIKELY A TURF WAR.
MY FRIENDS FEAR FOR THEIR
SAFETY FOR THEY USED TO WALK TO
NEARBY BUSINESSES ON AURORA.
THEY NO LONGER DO SO. THEY NOW
REFUSE TO TAKE BUSES ON AURORA
DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT PERSONAL
SAFETY. I ASKED THAT THE
COUNCIL SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S LEGISLATION . [
INAUDIBLE ] I HOPE WE GET THE
CENTER THAT YOU ALSO SPOKE
ABOUT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE ARE
GOING TO GO TO DAN CUMBERLAND,
FOLLOWED BY SUSAN JENSEN.
>> HI, THERE. I'M A DAD OF
THREE YOUNG KIDS. EIGHT, SIX,
AND FOUR. WE LIVE HALF A BLOCK
OFF OF AURORA, AND I WANT TO
SHARE A GLIMPSE OF HER
NEIGHBORHOOD. IN RECENT YEARS,
OUR BLOCK HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS. IT IS
LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE.
WOMEN STAND ON THE CORNER,
BLOCKING TRAFFIC, OFTEN
UNDERAGE. CARS RAISE UP AND
DOWN OUR STREET. TIM -- PIMPS
AND JOHNS ARE OUTSIDE MY HOUSE.
GUNSHOTS WAKE US REGULARLY. I
DON'T EVEN GET OUT OF BED FOR
IT ANYMORE. IN THE MORNING, I
PICK UP USED CONDOMS AND LIQUOR
BOTTLES FROM MY DRIVEWAY. I
WALKED THE STREET TO SEE WHICH
CARS HAD WINDOWS SHOT OUT. THE
POLICE ASKED WHICH SHOOTING
THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN FROM
BECAUSE IT HAPPENS THAT OFTEN.
WEEKS AGO, OUR BLOCK CHANGED
WHEN A STREET WAS BLOCKED FROM
AURORA. IT IS SIMPLE AND
EFFECTIVE. NOW, IT IS QUIET AND
PEACEFUL. CLOSE MORE STREETS.
PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE
ALL DESERVE TO LIVE IN A PLACE
WHERE WE CAN WALK AROUND OUR
STREETS SAFELY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SUSAN JENSEN IS
NEXT, TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHANNON
PEREZ DARBY.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SUSAN
JENSEN. I LIVE A FEW BLOCKS
FROM AURORA, AND I HAVE LIVED
HERE A LONG TIME. I SUPPORT THE
S.O.A.P. PROPOSAL AND URGE YOU
TO VOTE YES. I HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN CITY PLANNING
EFFORTS TO TRY TO CREATE BETTER
COMMUNITIES. IT HAS BEEN HARD
AROUND AURORA . AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR
COMMERCIAL SECTORS ARE FEELING.
WE NEED MORE TOOLS AT OUR
DISPOSAL TO KEEP AURORA SAFE
AND VIABLE. I BELIEVE THE LARGE
INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE,
TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND TRAFFIC
INJURIES ARE PRIMARILY
ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
PROSTITUTION, THEIR , AND ABUSE
OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, IN
ADDITION TO THE VERY REAL GUN
VIOLENCE THAT WE HEARD ABOUT
TODAY. IT IS ALSO CREATING MANY
BUSINESS FAILURES . IT KEEPS ME
AND MANY OTHERS FROM USING THE
D LINE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU
AGREE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, SHANNON PEREZ
DARBY, TO BE FOLLOWED BY
ALLISON.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS SHANNON
PEREZ DARBY. I AM A SURVIVOR OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. I HAVE
USED IN SEATTLE -- WORKED IN
SEATTLE FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS.
I'M TESTIFYING IN OPPOSITION
TO THE PROPOSED PROSTITUTION,
LITTERING, AND S.O.A.P. BILL.
THE BOTTOM LINE, THIS
LEGISLATION WILL HURT SURVIVORS
OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. IT
WILL CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE
EXPENSING VIOLENCE. I CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF
EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
PRIORITIZING SAFETY FOR SOME
ABOVE SAFETY FOR ALL IS NOT THE
ANSWER. WE CAN DO BETTER. OUR
ANTIVIOLENCE COMMUNITY SPENT
YEARS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
OVERTURN THE PREVIOUS LAW.
WHILE THE CITIES ACROSS THE
NATION HAVE BEEN ELIMINATING
PROSTITUTION FREE ZONES, WE ARE
TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THEM. THE
PEOPLE FACING VIOLENCE -- WE
KNOW WHAT THEY NEED. WE NEED
SUPPORT AND SELF-DETERMINATION
AND SAFETY. WE NEED RESOURCES.
WE NEED COMMUNITY-BASED
SOLUTIONS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN
OPPOSING THIS LAW AND
SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, ALLISON,
FOLLOWED BY CYNTHIA MORAN.
>> COULD WE HAVE RESPECT IN OUR
AUDIENCE -- WHICHEVER SIDE
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SPEAK --
WE HAVE PEOPLE TALKING IN THE
AUDIENCE WHILE WE ARE LISTENING
TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WOULD ASK
THAT WE JUST HAVE RESPECT IN
THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE. THANK
YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
ALLIE. I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR THE
ANTIVIOLENCE MOVEMENT FOR THE
PAST 15 YEARS. IN THAT TIME, I
WORKED WITH SURVIVORS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FOLKS
IN THE SEX TRADES. I'M ALSO
CURRENTLY THE BOARD COCHAIR OF
THE COALITION OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE. THE COALITION
RECENTLY SENT A LETTER TO THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR
HARRELL AND ATTORNEY DAVIDSON,
POPE -- OPPOSING THIS
LEGISLATION. IT REPRESENTS OVER
50 INDIVIDUALS. THE RESPONSE
FROM HER COMMUNITY IS CLEAR.
NOT ONLY WILL THIS UP AND SO
DOES NOT KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFER'S, BUT THEY WILL LIMIT
AND COMPROMISE CRITICAL PATHS
TO SAFETY AND STABILITY FOR
INDIVIDUALS THAT EVERYONE HERE
HAS BEEN EXPRESSING CONCERN
FOR. PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ABDICATING FOR HUMAN
TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS DON'T
ALWAYS AGREE ON HOW TO BEST
SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE DO
AGREE ON THIS. THERE IS A WAY
OUT OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS. WE HAVE
CONCERN FOR YOUTH IN THE SEX
TRADES TODAY. CREATING
CONDITIONS FOR THEIR
CRIMINALIZATION IS NOT THE
SOLUTION. I ENCOURAGE CITY
COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. STANDARD PUBLIC
COMMENT IS 20 MINUTES. FOR
STANDARD COMMITTEE MEETINGS. WE
ARE AT ONE HOUR AND 20 MINUTES,
APPROXIMATELY, SO, IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION FROM MY FELLOW
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WE WILL
EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
ANOTHER 15 MINUTES.
>> MY NAME IS CYNTHIA. [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MIC,
PLEASE.
>> I REPRESENT YOUR GRANDMOTHER
WHO LIVES DOWNTOWN, A QUARTER
OF A BLOCK FROM PIKE. WE ARE
VICTIMS IN OUR OWN
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE FULL OF
RAGE THAT HER GRANDCHILDREN
HAVE TO ATTEMPT TO WALK IN THE
STREET WITH DRUG DEALERS AND
FENTANYL CLIENTS TO TAKE A BUS
ON THIRD. WHICH ONE OF YOU CAN
TELL ME -- [ INAUDIBLE ] -- AS
THEY WALKED TO THE MARKET. WE
-- YOUR GRANDPARENTS -- DESERVE
TO BE PROTECTED. THE ELDERLY IN
THE CITY CAN NO LONGER CARE
ABOUT SAVING OTHERS. WE ARE
BUSY TRYING TO PROTECT
OURSELVES. EACH DAY, EVERY TIME
WE GO TO WALGREENS OR THE LIGHT
RAIL. BUT LUCK IS NOT A PUBLIC
SAFETY STRATEGY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I AM PLEASED TO VOTE FOR
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS CAROL BARR. --
CAROL FARR.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> NEXT THAT WOULD BE
AMARINTHIA TORRES. CAROL,
FIRST. SORRY.
>> ALL RIGHT. AMARINTHIA . AND
THEN DION DION WOULD BE NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM
AMARINTHIA TORRES. OUR
COALITION IS MADE UP OF 35
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WHO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT, TRAFFICKING, AND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I AM
SPEAKING TODAY TO SHARE
CONCERNS AND OPPOSITION TO THE
S.O.A.P. AND S.O.A.P. BILLS. WE
UNDERSTAND THE WAYS THAT
VIOLENCE IS USED TO CONTROL,
COURSE, AND EXPLOIT ANOTHER
PERSON. WE ARE NOT A NAÏVE OR
CAVALIER ABOUT THE HARM OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE OR ITS
IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES. WE SEE
THE CONCERNS THAT EVERYONE HERE
IS SPEAKING TO. WE BELIEVE THAT
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE DESERVES
SOLUTIONS COMMISERATE WITH
THESE ISSUES. THIS WILL
ACTUALLY SOLVE ANYTHING.
SURVIVORS DESERVE BETTER.
PROVIDERS DESERVE BETTER THAN
THIS. WE DESERVE ROBUST FUNDING
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS.
WE DESERVE POLICIES THAT WILL
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS, NOT JUST
SHORT-TERM FIXES. WE URGE YOU
TO DROP THIS BILL AND WORK WITH
US. LEAN ON OUR EXPERTISE. HELP
US BE PART OF THE SOLUTION SO
WE CAN ACTUALLY SOLVE THESE
PROBLEMS TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS DION DION TO BE
FOLLOWED BY FRANKLIN.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. I LIVE IN
THE AURORA NEIGHBORHOOD. BOTH
OF THE S.O.A.P. AND S.O.A.P.
BILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME
PERSONALLY. I WILL VOTE NO TO
BOTH BECAUSE I HOPE THE TAXES I
PAY ARE USED FOR DIVERSE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY ,
COVERING SOCIAL SERVICES,
RATHER THAN SIMPLY VICTIMIZING
, CRIMINALIZING, AND EVICTING
POOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. I ALSO
WORKED FOR THE MASSAGE PARLOR
PROJECT, A GROUP SUPPORTING
MASSAGE WORKERS IN THE GREATER
SEATTLE AREA FOR YEARS. THESE
WORKERS HAVE LONG WORKED WITH
-- THEY SHARE SIMILAR
EXPERIENCES WITH SEX WORKERS
THAT THEY WILL BE IMPACTED BY
THE S.O.A.P. BILL. WE ARE
ANTI-VIOLENCE, BUT HOW CAN WE
DO THAT WITH MORE GUNS AND
VIOLENCE? THE S.O.A.P. BILL IN
REALITY TARGETS PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND SCAPEGOATS THE VERY GROUP
IT CLAIMS TO PROTECT,
SUBJECTING THEM TO POLICE
VIOLENCE AND EVICTING THEM
UNDER THE GUISE OF RESCUE.
SIMILARLY, THE S.O.A.P. BILL
WILL --
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, FRANKLIN GREENMAN ,
FOLLOWED BY KATIE.
>> I THINK THE BILL IS
MISPLACED. FIRST, I THINK
YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LEGAL
CHALLENGE. YOU WILL SPEND MONEY
DEFENDING THIS THING AND YOU
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DEFEND IT.
YOU ARE GOING AFTER THE WRONG
TARGET. THEY HAVE SOPHISTICATED
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AROUND
THEM. THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ARE THE
ONES WE SHOULD BE GOING AFTER.
THE DISTRIBUTOR , THE JOHN'S,
THOSE THINGS ARE ILLEGAL. IT
DOESN'T COST YOU ANY EXTRA
FUNDS TO HAVE YOUR POLICE
DIRECTED AT THOSE THAT ARE
ECONOMICALLY INCENTIVIZING
PROSTITUTION AND DRUG USE. NO
MATTER WHERE YOU PUT IT, IT IS
GOING TO MOVE. IF YOU PUSH IT
OUT OF ONE AREA. THEY WILL GO
WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE. GO BACK
TO THE RIGHT TARGETS. DON'T
MISS -- WASTE TIME WITH THE BAD
BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS KATIE HURLEY.
I'M A SOCIAL COUNSELOR. I'M
HERE TO OPPOSE THE STATE OUT OF
AREA DRUG BILLS. THIS IS NOT
GOING TO HELP ANYONE EXCEPT TO
ALLOW THE DOWNTOWN SHOPPERS AND
RETAILERS TO AVOID THE
SUFFERING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE
CITY'S PROSECUTOR CLAIMS THAT
THIS LEGISLATION IS AN EXIT
RAMP FOR PEOPLE IN THE THROES
OF ADDICTION. IN REALITY, THIS
SO-CALLED EXIT RAMP IS A BRIDGE
TO NOWHERE, EXACT CONTINUED
HOMELESSNESS AND LACK OF
SUPPORT. IF ENACTED, THIS WILL
SUBJECT PEOPLE TO A WRONGFUL
CONVICTION AND UP TO A YEAR IN
JAIL FOR INNOCENT BEHAVIOR,
WALKING DOWN THE STREET,
INSTEAD OF SUFFERING OUTSIDE OF
NORDSTROM, THEY WILL BE
SUFFERING OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN
LIBRARIES. ENACTING THIS LAW
WILL BE COSTLY. IT WILL MAKE IT
LEGAL TO ARREST PEOPLE ENGAGING
IN INNOCENT BEHAVIOR.
PROSECUTORS -- THIS SHOULD BE
SPENT FOR HOUSING. I URGE YOU
TO VOTE NO ON THIS HARMFUL AND
INEFFECTIVE EFFORT TO BANISH
OUR -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GORDON HILL, TO
BE FOLLOWED BY BEN PLIGMAN.
SORRY.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE TO
OPPOSE CONSTABLE 120836, THE
S.O.A.P. ORDINANCE. WE KNOW
THAT THIS WILL FAIL. IT HAS
FAILED ACROSS THE NATION. WE
KNOW THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL
MAKE LIVES FOR THOSE ENGAGED IN
SEX WORK MORE DANGEROUS. IT
WILL PUSH THEM INTO THE
SHADOWS. IT WILL MAKE THEM MORE
LIKELY TO BECOME CUSTOMERS OF
PIMPS AND THE TRADE THEY WORK
IN. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT
THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN THE SEX
TRADE ARE MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY, AND THEIR SAFETY
SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO US. SO
WHAT DO THEY NEED? THEY NEED TO
BE TREATED. THEY NEED ECONOMIC
SUPPORT. THEY ARE PART OF THIS
COMMUNITY. BY TURNING THEM INTO
SOMETHING TO BE CHASED FROM OUR
STREETS -- DOES THAT SOLVE A
PROBLEM OR CAUSE A PROBLEM?
THANK YOU.
>> THEN, FOLLOWED BY
INAUDIBLE ] .
>> HI. MY NAME IS BEN. I'M A
RETAIL MANAGER AT A FASHION
STORE. IT'S ON PINE STREET. I
AM INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE
PROBLEMS WE ARE FACING THEIR
PIT I SEE IT EVERY DAY. I DEAL
WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE STREET.
I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE UPSET,
BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE
FACT THAT S.O.A.P. IS
INEFFECTIVE. IT HAS BEEN PROVEN
TO NOT HELP THE SITUATION. IT
TARGETS THE MOST VULNERABLE
PEOPLE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW
IT CAN EVEN BE CONSIDERED AT
THIS POINT, AS POINTED OUT BY
PEOPLE MORE ELOQUENT AND
RESEARCHED THAN ME. WE ARE
PUTTING PEOPLE IN PRISON. IT IS
NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION BUT
I'M ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE THE
THINGS I'VE SEEN LIKE THE WDC
ARE HAVING THEIR FUNDING CUT
THIS OCTOBER. THEY DON'T HAVE
THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DO
THEIR JOBS. WE NEED TO DO THAT
OFF OF THESE PROVEN FAILED
POLICIES AND GO TO THINGS THAT
WORK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COLLIN
MADDEN, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC
NICHOLSON.
>> HI THERE. MY NAME IS COLLIN
MADDEN. I WAS BORN AND RAISED
HERE. SEATTLE IS NOT THE CITY I
GREW UP IN. IN KIND OF ALL THE
WORST WAYS. I'M A PROPERTY
MANAGER IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
THE ONE OF THE PROPERTIES WE
MANAGE IS A HOTEL THAT IS
TEETERING ON BANKRUPTCY AS A
RESULT OF CRIMINALITY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANTED TO SAY I
KNOW YOU ARE HEARING FROM FOCAL
MINORITY -- A VOCAL MINORITY
HERE TODAY. I THINK I SPEAK FOR
THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS
THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF S.O.A.P.
AND S.O.A.P. AND ANTI-VAGRANCY
LAWS. THANK YOU.
>> ERIC NICHOLSON , TO BE
FOLLOWED BY KRISTIN O'DONNELL.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ERIC. I'M
A PROPERTY MANAGER HERE IN
SEATTLE. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS
MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE
S.O.A.P. LEGISLATION. IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, ON THIRD AVENUE,
IT HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY
IMPACTED BY THE RAMPANT DRUG
USE, MAKING THE AREA UNSAFE AND
CHALLENGING TO MANAGE. WE ARE
DEALING WITH PEOPLE BREAKING
INTO OUR BUILDINGS, STARTING
FIRES IN OUR ALLEYWAY, AND IN
OUR BASEMENT. WE STRUGGLE WITH
OUR SPACES. [ INAUDIBLE ] ARE
VENDORS HAVE TO COME TO THE
PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY ARE
AFRAID TO STEP ON A NEEDLE AND
TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES. LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, I HAD A
CONTRACTOR DIE FROM
COMPETITIONS AFTER STEPPING ON
A NEEDLE. WE HAVE TO RECLAIM
THESE AREAS. WE HAVE TO MAKE
OUR STREETS SAFER AND MORE
WELCOMING FOR RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES ALIKE. IT REPRESENTS
A CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS
ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES AND
TRANSFORMING IT INTO A MORE
INVITING AREA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE KRISTIN O'DONNELL,
TO BE FOLLOWED BY PETER ORR.
>> I AM KRISTIN O'DONNELL AND
I REPRESENT THE LEADERSHIP TEAM
OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL. WE
ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
S.O.A.P. AREA. THE S.O.A.P.
AREA, TOO. IT DIDN'T WORK. IT
DOESN'T STOP IT, BUT IT MOVES
IT. 20 YEARS AGO, IT MOVED IT
RIGHT INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE
WERE IT FOR TWO YEARS,
SURROUNDED BY S.O.A.P. AREAS. [
INAUDIBLE ] WE ARE ABSOLUTELY
-- THIS SHOULDN'T PASS, BUT IF
IT DID DOES, WE ARE HORRIFIED
THAT THE NORTH BOUNDARY OF THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ,
S.O.A.P., IS A QUARTER OF A
BLOCK INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT
NEEDS TO MOVE NORTH TO AT LEAST
JEFFERSON IF YOU ARE GOING TO
DO THIS. AND I HOPE TO HECK YOU
DON'T. WE HAVE AN
INTERSECTION. WE EVEN HAVE A
MINIMART. DON'T DO THIS . IF
YOU DO, PLEASE MOVE THE
BOUNDARY NORTH. THANK YOU. IT
WON'T
>> THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING
THIS S.O.A.P. LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU FOR COLLABORATING FOR
SURVIVORS. HAVING THAT MERE 100
AND AURORA, I CAN TESTIFY THAT
VIOLENCE HAS NEVER BEEN WORSE.
I WAKE WEEKLY TO GUNFIRE AND
CAR CHASES. AS AN AIRBNB HOST,
I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY
OF MY GUESTS.. MY CLIENTS'
LIFE AND MY ABILITY TO GENERATE
CHANGE WHEN THEY ARE WALKING TO
THE SCHOOL BUS AND CAN GRAB A
BULLET BRASS THE SIZE OF THEIR
FINGERS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO
CHANGE WHEN CAMPING IN OUR
BACKYARD FEELS UNSAFE AND THE
DAYTIME SAND OF PNEUMATIC
CONSTRUCTION TOOLS MAKES US
THING TO HIT THE FLOOR. IT IS
AN EGALITARIAN SOCIETY. BY
BROADCASTING A MESSAGE THAT
GIRLS ARE A PRODUCT WHEN THEY
ARE PRICELESS. WE MUST ENACT
AND ENFORCE CONSEQUENCES FOR
RENTING THEM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS JOHN SCHOOL.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION. SEATTLE IS ON PACE
THIS YEAR TO HAVE 1000
SHOOTINGS. IN THE FIRST SIX
MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE
HAD MORE HOMICIDES IN OUR CITY
THEN ANY AND ALL OF 2019. IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, WE HAD A 100%
INCREASE IN 2023 IN OVERDOSE
CALLS TO EMS. SEATTLE, WE HAVE
A PROBLEM IN THE CURRENT
EFFORTS AND APPROACHES, WHILE
THEY MAY BE NECESSARY, THEY ARE
NOT EFFICIENT AND I CAN TELL
YOU, THE FOLKS WHO LIVE AND
WORK AND ON PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN
ARE WELL AWARE OF THE
SUFFERING. THEY SEE IT EVERY
DAY. THEY DEAL WITH IT. WE ALL
SEE IT. WE ARE WELL AWARE OF
THE SUFFERING AND WELL AWARE OF
THE CRIME. THE CITY AUDITOR
LAST MONTH REPORTED TO YOU THAT
THE AREAS IN OUR CITY, THE
HIGHEST CONCENTRATION -- THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IS ASKING FOR A
RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE
DAILY ABUSE AND FOR YOU TO
ADDRESS THIS SUFFERING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
SPEAKING AT THIS PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. AS I SAID IN THE
BEGINNING, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
EVERYBODY TO HEAR. THAT IS
ACCOMPLISHED TODAY. WE HAD A
GREAT TURNOUT AND IT IS THE
SAME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTERS. WE
HAD THE TOTAL SIGN-UPS. AGAIN,
I WANT TO THANK YOU BUT ALSO,
AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
PROCESS IS TO HEAR FROM THE
PRESENTATION, THE PRESENTERS
AND TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE
CONTINUE. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS .
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
WANTED TO RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120835, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO STAY OUT
OF DRUG AREA, S.O.D.A. ZONE,
CREATING THE ABILITY TO ISSUE
WRITTEN ORDERS TO CRIMINAL
DEFENDANTS DESCRIBING
CONDITIONS OF THEIR PRETRIAL
RELEASE OR POSTCONVICTION
CONDITIONS OF SENTENCE,
CREATING S.O.D.A. ZONES AND
PROVIDING FOR BOTH THE ISSUANCE
OF COURT ORDERS RELATING TO
THOSE ZONES AND ADMINISTRATION
OF THOSE ZONES, CREATING THE
GROSS MISDEMEANOR OF VIOLATING
A S.O.D.A. ORDER AND ADDING A
NEW CHAPTER 12 A .212 THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO
NOTE THAT WE WILL HAVE A SECOND
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AS IS
TRADITION, ON SEPTEMBER 10 AND
THEN BASED ON THAT, POTENTIALLY
GOING TO FULL COUNCIL ON
SEPTEMBER 17. THANK YOU. I JUST
WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
NOW, I WANT TO WELCOME CITY
ATTORNEY DAVIDSON AND ALSO
COUNCIL STAFF MEMBER, MS.
GORMAN AND ALSO LIEUTENANT
HASSEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US. OVER TO YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US. A PLEASURE TO BE
HERE AND TO LISTEN TO PUBLIC
COMMENT FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS
AND PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN
OUR CITY. I AM JOINED HERE
TODAY TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION
AND TO BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU. MS. GORMAN'S
INTRODUCTION FROM CENTRAL STAFF
FIRST. I THINK THAT IS LINED UP
FOR THE SLIDE DECK.
>> OKAY. PLEASE SEND IT TO
GORMAN. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR KETTLE
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I HAVE A
PREPARED OVERVIEW OF THE BILL
THAT WILL TAKE LESS THAN FIVE
MINUTES OF COMMITTEE TIME. OPEN
TO QUESTIONS AFTER THAT, OPEN
TO QUESTIONS AS I AM READING
THIS INTO THE RECORD IF
ANYTHING IS UNCLEAR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120835 WOULD
ESTABLISH TWO STAY OUT OF DRUG
AREA ZONES. WE CALL THESE
S.O.D.A. ZONES, DEFINING THEM
AS GEOGRAPHICALLY CIRCUMSCRIBED
AREAS WITHIN WHICH A HIGH
DEGREE OF ILLEGAL DRUG ACTIVITY
IS TAKING PLACE. THESE ZONES
ARE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND IN
THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND
THE PRESENTERS WILL GO INTO
DETAIL ABOUT THEM. THE BILL
WOULD ALSO OPERATIONALIZE THE
S.O.D.A. ZONES BY CREATING THE
AUTHORITY FOR SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT JUDGES TO ISSUE S.O.D.A.
ORDERS. A S.O.D.A. ORDER IS
LIKE A RESTRAINING ORDER FROM A
PLACE BUT INSTEAD FOR A PERSON
AND IT IS VERY LIMITED. YOU CAN
ONLY GET S.O.D.A. ORDER FROM
BEING CHARGED WITH OR
COMMITTING A CRIME IN A
S.O.D.A. ZONE AND YOU CAN ONLY
BE RESTRAINED FROM A S.O.D.A.
ZONE. THE BILL WOULD CREATE A
NEW GROSS MISDEMEANOR IN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
CRIMINAL CODE FOR VIOLATING THE
S.O.D.A. ORDER. THIS MEANS THAT
SOMEONE WHO HAS RECEIVED A
S.O.D.A. ORDER FROM A JUDGE
UNKNOWINGLY VIOLATES IT GOING
INTO THE S.O.D.A. ZONE COULD BE
CHARGED WITH A NEW CRIME. THAT
CHARGE WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO
ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES ASSOCIATED
WITH GETTING THE S.O.D.A. ORDER
IN THE FIRST PLACE. S.O.D.A.
ZONES ARE CREATED A LAW
ENFORCEMENT TOOL AND THEY ARE
MEANT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND PUBLIC ORDER AND TO HELP
RESTORE DISCRETE AREAS WHERE
CONCENTRATED DRUG ACTIVITY HAS
HAD SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE
EFFECTS ON LAW ABIDING PEOPLE
AND BUSINESSES. SOME OF THESE
HAVE SET TO REDUCE FOOT TRAFFIC
AND REVENUE TO A BUSINESS,
PROPERTY DAMAGE COMMITTED BY
SOMEONE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
DRUGS OR ACTS OF VIOLENCE THAT
ARE INHERENT TO THE ILLEGAL
DRUG BUSINESS.
>> THE IDEA OF S.O.D.A. ZONES
IS TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM
SPECIFIC AREAS WHO ARE A RISK
TO THEIR OWN SAFETY OR OTHER
PEOPLE'S SAFETY AND/OR WHO
HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO CRIMINALITY
IN THE AREA. I SHOULD
EMPHASIZE, ANYONE KEPT AWAY
UNDER THIS BILL WOULD BE KEPT
AWAY ONLY UNDER THE ORDER OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT
JUDGE. FOR SOMEONE TO GET A
S.O.D.A. ORDER , THERE ARE
SPECIFIC CRITERIA THAT WILL
HAVE TO BE MET. FIRST, THAT
INDIVIDUAL WOULD HAVE TO COMMIT
A CRIME WILL BE CHARGED WITH A
CRIME WITHIN A S.O.D.A. ZONE
AND THAT CRIME WOULD HAVE TO BE
ONE OF TWO THINGS . IT COULD BE
A MISDEMEANOR OR GROSS
MISDEMEANOR VIOLATION OF THE
UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
ACT, THAT IS A DRUG CRIME. OR,
IT COULD BE SPECIFIC TO
LANGUAGE HERE. ASSAULT,
HARASSMENT, ASSAULT, LIBERTY
DESTRUCTION OR UNLAWFUL USE OR
POSSESSION OF WEAPONS IN WHICH
THE COURT SIGNS A NEXUS BETWEEN
THE OFFENSE AND THE ILLEGAL
DRUG ACTIVITY. FOR THOSE
NON-DRUG-RELATED CRIMES, THE
BILL WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE
JUDGES EVALUATE THE FACT
PATTERN AND MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT WHETHER THE CRIME WAS
DRUG-RELATED PRIOR TO ISSUING
THE SODA ORDER. THEY HAVE TO
PROVIDE THE REASONING IF THEY
BELIEVE A CRIME WAS
DRUG-RELATED. IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WHETHER
OR NOT THE SODA ORDER WAS
ISSUED, IS ALWAYS AT A JUDGE'S
DISCRETION. THE SODA ORDER
WOULD BE IN EFFECT FOR UP TO
TWO YEARS. ALSO AT THE JUDGE'S
DISCRETION. DURING THIS TIME
THAT IT IS IN EFFECT, IF IT CAN
BE PROVEN AGAIN IN SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT, THAT THE
INDIVIDUAL KNOWINGLY ENTERED
THE S.O.D.A. ZONE, THE
PROSECUTOR CAN CHARGE THAT
INDIVIDUAL WITH A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR. A JUDGE COULD
ISSUE A SODA ORDER EITHER AT
THE CONVICTION PHASE OR THE
CHARGING PHASE ONE AN
INDIVIDUAL IS STILL PRESUMED
INNOCENT OF THE ALLEGED CRIME.
ANY JUDGE DOING SO WOULD BE
BOUND BY EXISTING WASHINGTON
COURT RULES AND THE MEMO THAT
YOU ALL HAVE. THE BILL REQUIRES
THAT ANY S.O.D.A. ORDER ISSUED
WOULD TERMINATE IF THE CHARGE
WAS DISMISSED. THE MEMO
REFERENCES POTENTIAL COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING
S.O.D.A. ZONES BUT IT IS NOT
POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE THOSE COST
ESTIMATES AT THIS TIME. THEY
WERE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN
THE BILL WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR
THE ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES AND
THE MONITORING OF ANY DISTRICT
ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
SUMMARY AND I APPRECIATE IT AND
I APPRECIATE YOUR CENTRAL STAFF
MEMO AS WELL. AGAIN, WELCOME TO
CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU
FOR MAKING TIME FOR THIS
LEGISLATION TO TALK ABOUT THE
STAY OUT OF DRUGS AREA
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU FOR THE
SUMMARY PRIOR TO THAT. YOU CAN
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> AS MENTIONED, THE
LEGISLATOR'S INTENT FOR THE
STAY OUT OF DRUG AREA IS TO BE
A DISRUPTION TO ESTABLISHED
DRUG MARKETS IN OUR CITY. THE
TWO ZONES I'VE OFFERED TO YOU,
THESE ORDERS ARE AVAILABLE IN A
PRETRIAL SITUATION AND
POSTCONVICTION. THESE TYPES OF
LEGISLATIVE ORDERS ARE
AVAILABLE IN OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES IN OUR STATE AND
THEY ARE USED TO DISRUPT KNOWN
DRUG MARKETS. THAT IS WHY WE
ARE PROPOSING THIS FOR SEATTLE
AGAIN. WE TALKED ABOUT THE
INTENT, TO PROTECT PUBLIC
PLACES AND MAKE THEM SAFER AND
ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> PRIOR TO 2010, SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL SUPPORT DID ISSUE
S.O.D.A. ORDERS ON A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, NOT THROUGH
LEGISLATION THAT IS PROPOSED
TODAY. THOSE AREAS WERE LARGE
AND DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE.
TODAY, WE HAVE BROUGHT TO YOU A
CAREFULLY CRAFTED AREA OF TWO
AREAS WE HAVE PROPOSED. WE HAVE
SEEN DELIBERATE EFFORTS TO
EXCLUDE SOCIAL SERVICES WITHIN
THOSE ZONES. THESE ARE INTENDED
FOR A MAIN IMPOTENCE TO
INTEREST CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN
ESTABLISHED AREAS THAT HAVE
TAKEN A HOLD OF OUR AREAS.
THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD
PROTECTION AREAS THAT WE ARE
LOOKING TO MAKE THE
NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND MORE
ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY. THESE
ARE ENFORCEABLE WITH CONDITIONS
THAT ARE PROVIDED WITH ALL
INITIAL ORDERS. THEY MUST
FOLLOW 3.2 AND IN THE NEXT
SLIDE, WE CAN GO INTO THAT.
THERE IS A PRESUMPTION FOR ANY
PRETRIAL S.O.D.A. ORDER THAT
COULD BE DONE ON THE INDIVIDUAL
ANALYSIS, ANYTHING
POSTCONVICTION WOULD BE A
DIFFERENT STANDARD. THE CRIMES
THAT ARE LISTED HERE ARE TWO
PREDICATE THE S.O.D.A. ORDER.
THIS WOULD ALLOW SPD THE
ABILITY TO LAWFULLY CONTACT THE
OFFENDERS THAT ARE IN THESE
KNOWN DRUG MARKETS AND TO
PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
PUBLIC PLACES. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE.
>> I WANT TO JUST PAUSE AND
MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN
UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE BRINGING
THIS. WE HAD A LEGAL LANDSCAPE
CHANGE WITH STATE LAW. ALL
CASES WERE AT THE FELONY LEVEL.
WITH THE STATE LAW CHANGE, ALL
OF THE DRUG CASES THAT ARE NOW
COMING IN ARE NOW MOVED
DOWNWARD TO MY LEVEL. THEY HAD
NOT BEEN THERE EVER BEFORE. IF
THE STRUCTURED SYSTEM THAT WAS
BUILT OUT AT THE FELONY LEVEL,
INCLUDING EVERYTHING THEREAFTER
FOR MANY AFTER POST REFERRAL,
POSTCONVICTION, ALL OF THAT IS
BUILT OUT OF THE FELONY MODEL.
WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD THAT
SYSTEM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> PRIOR TO BLAKE, THAT PIVOTAL
CASE FOR THAT CHANGE, WE ARE
NOW NEEDING TO LOOK AT, HOW CAN
WE BE RESPONSIVE TO THE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUG USE IN
OUR CITY WHEN THAT CHANGE HAS
BEEN FROM THE FELONY LEVEL TO
THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL. WE HAVE
TO BE CREATIVE IN HOW WE APPLY
THAT WITH THE KNOWN NUMBER OF
LIMITED RESOURCES FROM OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS AND THE
SERVICE PROVIDER PARTNERS. THIS
IS NOT THE END ALL, BE ALL.
THIS IS NOT THE ONE SOLUTION I
WILL MAKE SURE EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS SAFE BUT IT IS
NECESSARY AS THE STATE LAW
CHANGED. THIS IS PART OF THE
SYSTEM BUILDOUT TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD
OUT BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS
FIRST STEP.
>> THESE ARE THE PROPOSED TWO
S.O.D.A. ZONE LOCATIONS. THEY
MAKE UP ONE 12:45 PERCENT OF
OUR 83 SQUARE MILES OF OUR
CITY. THAT IS THE LIMITATION OF
THESE TWO ZONES PROPOSED. ONE
12:45 PERCENT IS 83 SQUARE
MILES. IT IS A VERY DISTINCTIVE
AREA THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON TO
EXCLUDE SOCIAL SERVICES WE ALL
SENSE THIS WHEN WE WALK THROUGH
AND OBSERVED WITH OUR OWN EYES
AND OWN EARS AND WE KNOW THAT
THIS IS -- WE NEED TO PROTECT
THOSE PLACES. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE.
>> THESE ARE SEPARATED OUT SO
YOU CAN SEE THE DOWNTOWN
S.O.D.A. THAT IS PROPOSED IN
THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICTS.
THE ONE IN DOWNTOWN, IT IS
SPECIFICALLY AN AREA THAT IS A
HIGHLY CONCENTRATED LOCATION OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. WE DO
ANTICIPATE THAT THIS WILL MAKE
SOME DISRUPTIONS. THAT IS THE
PERFECT OF IT. IT IS NOT TO
STOP MOVING. WE SHOULD NOT GO
INTO PARALYSIS AND JUST THINK
THAT THE SOLUTION IS TO NOT DO
ANYTHING. THIS IS PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL MECHANISMS SO THAT
WE CAN IMPROVE THE SAFETY. IT
IS JUST ONE PART OF THE
EQUATION. IT IS NOT ALL OF IT
BUT IT IS A NECESSARY PART.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> OUR AREAS ARE BASED ON DATA.
THEY ARE NOT JUST FROM OUR
OBSERVATIONS BUT THEY ARE BASED
ON DATA FROM OUR REFERRALS THAT
WE ARE GETTING. YOU CAN SEE BY
THE INTENSITY OF THE HEAT MAP
THAT THE REASON WHY THESE TWO
LOCATIONS ARE WHY I AM
PROPOSING THEM TO YOU. THE
S.O.D.A. ZONES ARE OFF TO THE
LEFT AND THE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT ONES ARE ON THE RIGHT
. YOU CAN SEE THE HIGH
CONCENTRATION OF THOSE
REFERRALS THAT WE ARE GETTING
AND THE ASSOCIATED CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY AROUND THAT. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY TIME.
THANK YOU. I DID NOT KNOW WE
WERE ALREADY THROUGH. WE CAN
MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS. AGAIN, I
JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, IT IS
ONE 12:45 PERCENT OF THE 83
SQUARE MILES. THIS IS THE LEAST
RESTRICT THAT WE CAN DO. WE ARE
SAYING WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE A MESSAGE THAT SAYS WE
WANT TO PROTECT OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED TO MAKE
OUR PUBLIC SAFER AND ONE WAY IS
TO IDENTIFY AND CALL OUT THAT
THIS IS HAPPENING IN THESE
LOCATIONS. THE INCREASE IN DRUG
ACTIVITY WE HAVE HEARD FROM
TODAY AND THE ASSOCIATED TIME.
WE ARE NEEDING TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR RESIDENTS, FOR
WORKERS. ALL OF THIS AT THE
SAME TIME. THIS IS ONE PIECE OF
THE PUZZLE. IT WON'T BE A
CRIME PREVENTION THAT WE ALL
WANT BUT IT WILL AID IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY IN THESE AREAS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE
BEFORE I GO TO QUESTIONS? I'M
GETTING MY VICE CHAIR HEADS UP
THAT SHE WILL GET THE FIRST
QUESTION.
>> I UNDERSTAND. I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING FURTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR
VERY INSIGHTFUL PRESENTATION
AND OVERVIEW OF THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE ARE CONFRONTING AND
FACED WITH TODAY IN THESE
INITIAL CONVERSATIONS. I HAVE A
FEW QUESTIONS, WITH RESPECT TO
THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. IF
YOU WOULD NOT MIND GOING BACK
TO SLIDE TWO, PLEASE, THAT KIND
OF OVERVIEW SLIDE THAT LOOKS
THROUGH VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS.
PLEASE CORRECT ME IF ANYTHING I
AM SAYING IS AWFUL OR INCORRECT
IN ANY WAY BUT AS I UNDERSTAND
IT, THE S.O.D.A. ORDER
LEGISLATION ACROSS VARIOUS
JURISDICTIONS IS SPECIFICALLY
AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW, SO
LOCALITIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND
SEATTLE, ARE FREE TO ADOPT
S.O.D.A. LEGISLATION OR NOT AS
THEY SO CHOOSE. THIS IS A LIST
OF JURISDICTIONS THAT CURRENTLY
HAVE SOME FORM OF S.O.D.A.
ORDER LEGISLATION IN THAT. IS
THAT THE LAST, WITH RESPECT TO
THE CITY OF MONROE, IS THAT THE
LAST CITY TO ADOPT S.O.D.A.
ORDER LEGISLATION?
>> FROM MY KNOWLEDGE, YES.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. THEN, ONTO THE
HEAT MAP SLIDE NINE, IF YOU
WILL. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD
SLIDE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THIS IN
TERMS OF THE DATA INFORMED
APPROACH AND THE HEAT MAP, THE
HOTSPOTS. WE LITERALLY SEE IT
ON A MAP. THIS HERE HELPS US TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
ARE -- TAKE FOR EXAMPLES, THE
ID S.O.D.A. -- THE HEAT MAP
COVERS THAT BLOB THERE. THAT IS
PRESUMABLY OF A HOTSPOT. THAT
BLOB THERE COVERS ABOUT HALF OF
THE PROPOSED S.O.D.A. AREA.
JUST CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE THINKING BEHIND
WHY SOME OF THOSE SURROUNDING
AREAS WERE INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH
IT IS NOT NECESSARILY CAPTURED
OR TRIGGERED BY THE KNOWN
HOTSPOTS. IS IT A BUFFER ZONE?
>> SOME OF IT IS THE TOPOGRAPHY
TO MAKE IT SO IT IS NOT JUST
JAGGED EDGES AND TOO
COMPLICATED TO APPLY. SOME OF
THAT WAS THE STARTING POINT
WITH THE WAY THE ROADWAYS ARE.
AGAIN, THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE
LANDSCAPE. SOCIAL SERVICES WAS
ANOTHER ASPECT TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE MAKING THEM SMALL ENOUGH TO
BE EFFECTIVE BUT NOT BIG ENOUGH
THAT THEY ARE UNREAL.
>> THANK YOU. THEN, FINAL
QUESTION FOR NOW, MOVING ON TO
THE FINAL SLIDE HERE, SLIDE 11.
BASICALLY, THE OLD S.O.D.A.
ZONES PRIOR TO 2010 . YOU APTLY
POINTED OUT, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVISON THAT THESE WERE LARGE
AND DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE. YOU
CAN SEE HERE, UNLIKE THE ONE
12:45 PERCENT OF 80s FOUR
SQUARE MILES, REALLY CURIOUS TO
UNDERSTAND THE EFFICACY IN
TERMS OF WHAT THESE WERE. WHAT
WAS OUR CITY'S CRIME DATA,
THINGS LIKE THAT WHEN THESE OLD
S.O.D.A. ZONES WERE IN PLACE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT DATA. A
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT TO RIDE ON.
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE
NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT WE DO
HAVE AGAIN, WHERE THEY NEED TO
BE PROCESSED. WE ARE WANTING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A
DESIGNATED AREA THAT IS
IDENTIFIABLE EASILY WITH THE
TOPOGRAPHY. IT IS SMALL ENOUGH
TO BE APPLIED BY THEM IN A WAY
THAT IS HELPFUL, NOT SOMETHING
THAT IS SUCH A LARGE PLACE THAT
IS INEFFECTIVE WITH IT.
>> I WOULD BE REALLY CURIOUS TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND AND GET
CLARITY ON THAT LAST POINT I
WOULD BE CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THAT. NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS
POINT.
>> I ALSO AM REMISS BECAUSE I
DID NOT NOTE THAT THE
COUNCILMEMBER JOINED US AT THE
START OF YOUR PRESENTATION. I
JUST WANT TO NOTE AND WELCOME
THE COUNCILMEMBER IS NOT ON THE
COMMITTEE. I AM HAPPY TO MAKE
THIS IF THEY WANT TO. I AM NOT
SEEKING ANY INITIAL QUESTIONS
FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS SO
MAYBE I WILL GO TO YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. TAKING UP
THE POINT, PART OF THE POINT
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IS
TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF
ENFORCEMENT, I HAVE NOTED, AT
LEAST FOR PARTICULAR S.O.D.A.
AREAS , WHEN I AM DOWNTOWN A
LOT -- I DO NOTE THAT THERE HAS
BEEN EMPHASIS IN THIS AREA. I
DO SEE POLICE THERE. IN TERMS
OF ENFORCEMENT, WOULD THAT
ALLOW FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THESE
PARTICULAR AREAS? IF WE CAN'T
ENFORCE, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT
TO HAVE THIS. DO YOU HAVE ANY
INFORMATION ON THE ENFORCEMENT
SIDE ? HOW THE DEPARTMENT WILL
BE ROLLING OUT ENFORCEMENT AND
WHETHER THAT EMPHASIS HELPS AND
IS THAT PART OF THE WHOLE
PACKAGE? WHAT I AM GETTING TOO,
I IMAGINE YOU ALL ARE WORKING
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
TALKING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. I
KNOW THE OFFICE IS THERE
CURRENTLY.
>> I WOULD SAY, I HAVE A POLICY
RELATING TO ENFORCING S.O.D.A.
ZONES THAT IS WELL OVER A
DECADE OLD. THAT WOULD HAVE TO
BE REVISED BASED ON WHETHER THE
LEGISLATION PASSED OR NOT . WE
WOULD HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW
THAT WOULD WORK.
>> GREAT. THAT IS SOMETHING YOU
WILL BE WORKING WITH?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> LIKE I SAID, I DO SEE
OFFICERS CURRENTLY THERE
BECAUSE I KNOW THESE ARE AREAS
THAT ARE AMBITIOUS FOR THE
CITY. HOPEFULLY THAT MEANS THAT
WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENFORCE
SEEING THE OFFICERS THERE AS
HELPFUL. THEN, THE OTHER
QUESTION I HAVE DEALS WITH,
JUST IN GENERAL, HOW WILL YOU
MEASURE, IN TERMS OF GOOD
GOVERNANCE AS COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE LIKES TO SAY, IN TERMS
OF , HOW WILL WE MEASURE
WHETHER THIS IS WORKING OR IT
IS HELPFUL AS IF THIS DOES GET
PAST AS WE MOVE FORWARD? WHAT
ARE THE STEPS OR THE METRICS --
I DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT
THIS PARTICULAR AREA BUT HOW
WILL WE MEASURE IF IT IS
WORKING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO
ASSESS WHETHER WE SHOULD
CONTINUE OR EXPAND IT, ET
CETERA?
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE BUILT
INTO THE LEGISLATION TO MAKE
SURE THEIR WAY IS -- TO MAKE
SURE THERE IS A WAY TO TRACK
THE DATA. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE HAVE THE COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH THAT WE ALL SEEM TO
TALK ABOUT THAT IS MAKING SURE
WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS TO
GATHER. IT IS ALL OF US
TOGETHER. WE WOULD BE LOOKING
AT THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS. I
THINK IT WAS THE NUMBER OF
OVERDOSES THAT WAS THE KEY PART
IN THE REVIVAL OF ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY IN THE AREA AND YOU
WOULD HEAR FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. WHAT I HEAR FROM
THEM IS, WE SEE A DIFFERENCE.
WE ARE NOTICING THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO COME INTO THESE SPACES.
ALL OF THAT SHOULD BE SHOWN TO
IMPACT THE ASSOCIATED CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY AROUND THE AREA.
>> THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT.
I DO HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO
REALLY AVOID COMING DOWNTOWN
BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY THAT IS
HAPPENING DOWNTOWN AND I KNOW
THAT IS DIFFICULT AND I ALSO
HEAR FROM SMALL BUSINESSES WHO
ARE ALSO BEING IMPACTED. WE
WILL BE MEASURING THAT AND
THEN, OF COURSE, THERE IS
ALWAYS WHAT WE HEAR FROM
CONSTITUENTS INCLUDING SMALL
BUSINESSES. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. I KNOW I DON'T
SIT ON THIS COMMITTEE BUT IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE ENGAGED
ON THIS TOPIC, ALL TOPICS
RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT MY CONSTITUENTS
REALLY CARE ABOUT AND I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT BE ABLE TO ASK
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE OF THE POINTS I
MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE
COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE HAVE
HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BUT
ALSO COMMUNITY, MY OFFICE AND
OUR OFFICES AND LOCATIONS ,
THERE IS A LOT OF THAT WHICH IS
GOING ON ON IMPORTANT TOPICS
LIKE S.O.D.A.. THERE ARE ALSO
COMMUNICATIONS WITH MEETINGS ,
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE
CHIEF ON THIS TOPIC AND I KNOW
MS. GORMAN'S MEMO, THE
DEPARTMENT OF SPD WOULD SUPPORT
A MORE HOLISTIC MEANS OF
VALIDATING THE IMPACT OF A NEW
S.O.D.A. ZONE THAT TOOK INTO
ACCOUNT FOOT TRAFFIC AND
PERCEPTIONS VISITORS AND
MERCHANTS AS WELL AS THOSE LAW
ENFORCEMENT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE
VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO
ARE FRUSTRATED BY CURRENT
CONDITIONS IN THE PROPOSED
S.O.D.A. ZONES. THAT IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT POINT. I
RECOGNIZE A OF DIFFERENT
DATASETS AND THEY NEED TO BE
ACCOUNTED FOR, BOTH ON THE MORE
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE
IN TERMS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT FALL UNDER MY COMMITTEE
AND ALSO THE SERVICE PROVIDERS
AND THE LIKE. THIS NOTE HERE
REALLY CAPTURES THAT AND TOM
MAHAFFEY, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT
POINT THAT WAS OBSERVED? IT
BASICALLY ECHOES MY
CONVERSATIONS.
>> WE ARE ALWAYS EVALUATING OUR
STRATEGIES AND HOW THEY ARE
WORKING AND WE CAN BE LOOKING
AT OUR OWN INTERNAL DATA AND
ALSO LOOKING AT CONVERSATIONS
IN THOSE AREAS ABOUT HOW THESE
ARE WORKING, ARE THEY
EFFECTIVE? ARE THEY HAVING THE
INTENDED IMPACT? WE ARE ALWAYS
CONSTANTLY EVALUATING THAT.
>> THANK YOU. ALSO, WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, I KNOW WITH
MY DISTRICT 7 HAT ON, RESIDENTS
IN DISTRICT PARTS OF DISTRICT 7
FEEL IT IS IMPACTED. THEY KNOW
WHERE DRUG DEALERS ARE AND THEY
ARE COMMUNICATING THESE SPACES
TO THE WEST PRECINCT. THE
LEADERSHIP TEAM, IS THERE GOOD
COORDINATION BETWEEN THE
CAPTAINS AND THE HEADQUARTERS
IN TERMS OF HOW TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS? WHAT CAN WE DO AND
WHAT IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES BECAUSE IT IS QUITE
STARK WHEN YOU TALK TO THE
RESIDENTS.
>> IT IS. IT IS A COMPLEX
PROBLEM. FOR VARIOUS DEGREES,
INTERNALLY, COORDINATION WISE,
IT IS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN IN
MY TIME IN THE DEPARTMENT. WE
HAVE THE MONTHLY MEETING. THEY
REVIEW VIOLENT CRIMES, DRUG
ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY
INCLUDING LESS FREQUENT
DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
CERTAINLY ON TOP OF THOSE
ISSUES AND ADDRESSING THEM AS
THEY COME UP.
>> THANK YOU. CITY ATTORNEY,
ONE OF THE THINGS WITH OUR
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN, WE
ARE LOOKING TO TACKLE THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND
BASICALLY THE PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT THAT UNDERLINES
EVERYTHING, WE HAVE OUR
DISTRICT PILLARS. ONE IMPORTANT
PILLAR IS PILLER 6, WORKING
WITH OUR COUNTY AND STATE
PARTNERS. THIS IS IMPORTANT AND
INTERESTING IN THE SENSE THAT
WE JUST HAD A DISCUSSION ON THE
JAILS AND THE CONGRESSIONAL
FACILITY AND WE HAD TO HAVE
THESE CONVERSATIONS. YOU ARE
BREATHING HIGHLIGHTS TOO, THIS
IDEA THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A
HANDOUT FROM THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN TERMS
OF HOW IT HAS SHIFTED FROM THE
STATE TO THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
OF THE CITY AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I DON'T THINK THE
STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR REALLY HAS DONE THE
FOLLOW-UP ON THIS AND I THINK
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO END UP
PUTTING THAT DEMAND SIGNAL TO
THE COUNTY IN THE STATE TO SAY
WE NEED A PASS DOWN. WE NEED A
TRANSITION. WE NEED SUPPORT IN
THIS TRANSITION AND GUIDANCE
AND HELP AND ALL OF THE ABOVE
AND I HIGHLIGHT THAT WE SHOULD
BE WORKING TOGETHER, EVEN STILL
WITH KING COUNTY. IT IS NOTED
AGAIN IN THE MEMO WHERE THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS
WORKING WITH THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND THEY
HAD A SIMILAR ACT AT THE TIME
PERIOD. IT WAS A TOTAL OF 1310
CASES FILED, 208 CASES,
DEFENDANTS OPTED TO BE CHARGED
WITH FELONY. 1082 DECIDED TO
ABIDE BY THE S.O.D.A. ORDER .
IT GOES FURTHER TO SAY THAT 83%
OF THE S.O.D.A. CASES,
DEFENDANTS DID NOT VIOLATE
THEIR ORDERS AND 50% OF THEM,
DEFENDANTS DID NOT COMMIT
ANOTHER DRUG ACTION. IT SHOWS
THAT PARTNERSHIP -- THIS GOES
TO PILLAR SIX. HAVING A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY ON
THIS IN TERMS OF THE TRANSITION
AND NOT A HANDS-OFF APPROACH,
WE HAVE TO ENGAGE. THIS IS
ANOTHER AREA THAT WE CAN ENGAGE
WITH OUR KING COUNTY COUNCIL
COUNTERPARTS AND ALSO THE
EXECUTIVE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND SPD CAN BE WORKING WITH
EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE, THE
SHERIFF AND THE LIKE. I WAS
JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK
TO THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION
AND WHAT WE CAN DO NOW, WORKING
WITH THE COUNTY.
>> WE HAVE A VERY GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WORKING WITH THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR. WE
CONTINUE THAT ON A WEEKLY
BASIS. IT IS FOR A LOT OF GUN
VIOLENCE RESPONSE THAT WE HAVE
IN THE COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUE
TO DO THAT AND WE LOOK FOR
ADDITIONAL WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT.
WE KNOW THAT OUR STAFF IS
WORKING TOGETHER ON MANY PIECES
THAT PLAGUE OUR AREA. CRIME
DOES NOT TAKE A BREAK. IT DOES
NOT TAKE A VACATION. WE NEED TO
BE IN THE PROCESS WHEN CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY OCCURS. WE WANT TO
MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE
SAFER.
>> THANK YOU. I NOTE THAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WOULD LIKE TO
ASK A QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST
OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU
CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND
WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH CHAIR
KETTLE ON THIS LEGISLATION . IT
HAS BEEN A GROUP EFFORT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING
IN THIS PRESENTATION. WE HAVE
HEARD INTERIM CHIEF SAY THAT WE
HAVE GOT TO INTERRUPT THE
MARKET THAT SUPPORTS THE
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY GOING ON
DOWNTOWN AND ELSEWHERE IN THE
CITY END WE ALSO, IN THE
GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE,
HEARD THE RESULTS OF A REPORT
FROM THE AUDITOR CALLED
ADDRESSING PLACES IN SEATTLE
WERE OVERDOSES AND CRIME ARE
CONCENTRATED IN EVIDENCE-BASED
APPROACH. THE FIRST THREE OR SO
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CLUSTERED
INTO A SECTION THAT SAYS USER
RESEARCH INFORMS PROBLEM
SOLVING. IN MY MIND, THIS
LEGISLATION AND THE SOAP
LEGISLATION CAN'T GET MORE
PLACE BASED THAN THAT. TO ME,
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO TARGET
OUR LIMITED RESOURCES, LIMITED
IN TERMS OF OFFICER STAFFING
AND, ALSO, LIMITED -- TARGET
OUR LIMITED RESOURCES WHERE
THEY WILL MAKE THE MOST
DIFFERENCE. ONE OF THE GOALS,
ACCORDING TO THE CENTRAL STAFF
IS THAT THE S.O.D.A. ORDER IS
TO DISRUPT A CRIME HOTSPOT IN
ORDER TO HELP RESTORE PUBLIC
ORDER, IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AREA
RESIDENTS, INVITE LAWFUL
BEHAVIOR AND LAWFUL ECONOMIC
ACTIVITIES. WE DID NOT GET ALL
-- TO ALL THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS. THERE WERE A LOT OF
FOLKS THAT I RECOGNIZED FROM
SPEAKING ON ISSUES OF DOWNTOWN
BEFORE. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
THIS NOTION -- THERE WERE
S.O.D.A. FORMS IN PLACE BEFORE
DOWNTOWN AND THEN -- I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A
PROGRAM. I AM TRYING TO FIND
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
THEY WERE DESCRIBED TO ME AS A
METHOD TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM
PROLONGED TRIALS. BECAUSE THEY
ARE PRETRIAL ORDER, CAN YOU
SPEAK MORE ABOUT HOW THEY ALLOW
FOR CORRECTIVE BEHAVIOR THAT
DOES NOT PROLONG THE
INTERACTION WITH COURTS, JAILS,
ET CETERA?
>> AS I SAID EARLIER, IT IS
BASED ON INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS ON
A CASE-BY-CASE DETERMINATION
WITH THE JUDGE. THAT WOULD BE
THE COURTROOM 3.2 WHICH IS THE
PRESUMPTION OF RELEASE. IT HAS
TO BE SHOWN THAT THE DISORDER
NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE AND WE
HAVE A DETERMINATION OF THE
INDIVIDUAL JUDGE AFTER
ANALYSIS. IT IS ONE OF THE MORE
RESTRICTIVE WAYS. YOU CAN'T GO
INTO THE AREA AS OPPOSED TO
TAKING SOMEBODY INTO CUSTODY.
IT IS A WAY TO ALLOW A
BALANCING OF THIS, TO BALANCE
THE NEED TO PROTECT
NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IS ONE
THAT I THINK ABOUT A LOT WHEN
TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC. WE
HEARD A LOT ABOUT OUR ELDER
NEIGHBORS HERE TODAY. THIS
BALANCES THAT WHEN WE TRY TO
MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER
FOR PEOPLE TO BE THERE AND
RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF WOMEN
WHO HAVE BEEN IN THAT PLACE.
>> YOU SAID INSTEAD OF CUSTODY,
CORRECT?
>> THAT IS A LESSER RESTRICTIVE
THING THAT CUSTODY.
>> YES. THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR
US TO EMPHASIZE. DO YOU HAVE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. I AM
LOOKING TO TRANSITION TO ITEM
AGENDA NUMBER TWO. DO WE HAVE
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS HERE?
>> THIS CAN BE COMBINED LATER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE ARE GOING TO START THE
TRANSITION TO AGENDA NUMBER TWO
BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR SPEAKING TO THE STATE OUT
OF DRUG AREA LEGISLATION AND
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING IT TO
THE CITY COUNCIL. AND,
HIGHLIGHTING MY POINT ABOUT THE
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK IN TERMS OF
WORKING WITH ONE SEATTLE , THE
COUNTY AND STATE. THIS ALSO
HIGHLIGHTS THE ELEMENTS
REGARDING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. THIS CAME UP IN THE
JAIL DISCUSSION AND IT ALSO
SHOWS THAT THIS IS GIVING
DISCRETION TO THE JUDGES,
SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE
UNDERSTOOD AS PART OF THE
OVERALL EFFORT. IT GOES TO THE
GREATER CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE. WITH
THAT SAID, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO THE SECOND ITEM. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM TO DIG
INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120836, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
PROSTITUTION, CREATING THE
CRIMES OF PROSTITUTION
LOITERING AND PROMOTING
LOITERING FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROSTITUTION, ESTABLISHING
POLICIES GOVERNING ARRESTS FOR
PROSTITUTION PROSTITUTION
LOITERING, CREATING STAY OUT OF
AREA OF PROSTITUTION S.O.A.P.
ZONES AND PROVIDING FOR BOTH
THE ISSUANCE OF COURT ORDERS
RELATING TO THOSE ZONES AND
ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE ZONES,
CREATING THE GROSS MISDEMEANOR
OF VIOLATING A SEWER ORDER AND
ADDING NEW SECTIONS 12 A .1
0.010, 12 A .1 0.030, AND 12 A
.1 0.040 AND A NEW CHAPTER 12 A
.11 TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE .
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. YOU ARE
NOW RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR
KETTLE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT
ON THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION LEGISLATION BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE TODAY. THIS
LEGISLATION SEEKS TO DISRUPT
THE VIOLENT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE
OF THE COMMERCIAL SEX TRADE BY
SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ON THE
BUYERS WHO ARE THE JOHN AND THE
PROMOTERS WHO ARE THE PIMPS
WHILE EMPHASIZING SOCIAL
SERVICES, SAFEHOUSES AND
TREATMENTS FOR THE SELLERS,
MOSTLY WOMEN AND GIRLS. WE
HEARD COMPELLING TESTIMONY THIS
MORNING FROM MANY OF THE
NEIGHBORS WHO ARE LIVING DAY TO
DAY, THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE
COMMERCIAL SEX TRADE AND
LARGELY RELATING TO THE
ESCALATING GUN VIOLENCE. AS
THEY SAY, A PICTURE IS WORTH
1000 WORDS. WE HAVE COMPILED A
SHORT VIDEO TODAY, WHICH I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ABOUT.
WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IS A
SNAPSHOT OF ONE HOUR OF THE SEX
TRADE ON ONE CORNER OF AURORA.
YOU ARE THEN GOING TO SEE
MULTIPLE NIGHTS OF GUN
VIOLENCE. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FACT
THAT A NUMBER OF THOSE
INCIDENTS ACTUALLY INVOLVE THE
WOMEN THEMSELVES, THE
COMMERCIALLY SEXUALLY EXPLOITED
WOMEN BEING SHOT DEAD. THEY TOO
ARE VICTIMS OF THE GUN
VIOLENCE. WE ARE GOING TO HEAR
FROM PARENTS OF MIDDLE
SCHOOLERS HAVE BEEN SOLICITED
AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
TESTIMONY OF DETECTIVE MAURICE
WASHINGTON WHO IS ONE OF THE
TWO IN OUR VICE UNITS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING DETECTIVES WHO HAS
A VERY LONG HISTORY OF WORKING
IN THIS AREA. HE WAS NOT ABLE
TO BE WITH US TODAY BECAUSE HE
IS TRAINING ON THE BEST
PRACTICES FOR WORKING WITH
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
IF WE COULD RUN THE VIDEO,
PLEASE, AND THEN I WILL
FOLLOW-UP WITH SOME ADDITIONAL
REMARKS.
>> OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
MONTHS, AVENUE NORTH AND
ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN FACING
ESCALATING GUN VIOLENCE,
LARGELY DRIVEN BY COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. THIS IS
INCLUDED IN RUNNING GUNBATTLES
AND MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS
OVERNIGHT.
>> [ GUNSHOTS ]
>> I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO TALK
ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES AS A
BUSINESS OWNER ON AURORA
AVENUE. I AM NEAR 109th AND
AURORA. WE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR
20 YEARS. I HAVE BECOME A VERY
CHALLENGING PLACE TO RUN A
BUSINESS AND I HAVE DEFINITELY
LOST CLIENTS BECAUSE IT DOES
FEEL UNSAFE. IT IS UNSAFE.
THERE ARE VISIBLE SIGNS OF
CRIME DAY AND NIGHT THERE. A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, ONE OF MY
STAFF WENT OUT TO THE PARKING
LOT AND SHE SAW SEX WORKER
HIDING BETWEEN TWO CARS. SHE
SAID HEY, WHAT IS GOING ON? THE
WOMAN SAID THAT ANOTHER WOMAN
WAS DROPPED OFF TO FIGHT HER.
THIS WOMAN DID NOT WANT TO
FIGHT SO SHE WAS HIDING,
SCARED, IN MY PARKING LOT. MY
STAFF ENDED UP DRIVING HER TO
ANOTHER LOCATION ON AURORA. IN
HER CAR, THIS WOMAN WAS HIDING
SO THAT THE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR
HER COULD NOT FIND HER. I HAD
ANOTHER WOMAN SHOW UP AT MY
STORE IN MAY WHO WAS TERRIFIED.
SHE WAS CRYING. SHE HAD BEEN
ABDUCTED FROM ANOTHER SPACE.
SHE HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD AND TOLD TO GO
STAND ON THE CORNER. SHE WAS
SCARED. SHE ENDED UP HIDING IN
MY BUSINESS FOR FOUR HOURS
BEFORE SOMEONE COULD DRIVE FROM
HER TOWN OVER HERE TO PICK HER
UP. THIS IS WAS SEX TRAFFICKING
LOOKS LIKE.
>> TWO BLOCKS. THERE IS MAYBE
FOUR BLOCKS HERE. THEY MAKE
SOMETHING REALLY BAD AND I SAY,
OVER HERE. ALL THIS TIME, ONE
CAR WAS CLOSE TO MY DAUGHTER
AND THEY SAID HEY, CAN YOU COME
HERE? I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
>> THE GREATEST CHALLENGES THAT
WE HAVE CURRENTLY IS THAT THERE
IS AN ONSLAUGHT OF TRAFFIC
RELATED INCIDENTS THAT ARE
GOING ON, NOT ONLY HERE BUT
VERY POPULAR MAINSTREAM
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND A
LOT OF LOT AND POLICY IS
REPLICATED IN MANY DIFFERENT
AREAS THAT WE SEE SOME OF THESE
AREAS DEVELOPING THERE. IT IS
VERY, VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH.
WHAT WE HAVE IS AN EXPLOSION OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING EXPLOITED
SEXUALLY AND BEING PUT OUT IN
THE TRACKS AND ONLINE AND WE
HAVE THE PLAGUING ASPECT OF ALL
OF THE DIFFERENT TRACK RECORDS
WHO ARE FIGHTING OVER THAT
TERRITORY WHICH LEADS TO THE
GUN VIOLENCE AND THE OTHER
ASSOCIATED VIOLENCE THAT YOU
HAVE OUT ON THE TRACKS AS FAR
AS ROBBERIES AND THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS. ALL OF THIS IS FED FROM
THE SAME SYSTEM THAT THE CRIME
-- THEY WILL BE RELATED AND
COME AROUND TO THAT CRIME. ON
TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE MANY OF
THESE PERSONS WHO ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH GANGS. THEN,
THE GANG ISSUE STARTS TO COME
UP BECAUSE NOW, THEY ARE WITHIN
THAT JURISDICTION FROM NORTH
85th TO 1/86 AND ANY TYPE OF
GANG RELATED ISSUES THAT THEY
BRING WITH THEM ARE GOING TO
PLAY OUT ON THE STREETS OUT
THERE AS WELL. ALL OF THOSE
THINGS COME TOGETHER FOR A VERY
ADVERSE AND DANGEROUS SITUATION
FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OTHERS
THERE. OUR CHALLENGE IS TO
CONTINUE TO TRY TO COMBAT IT
THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHATEVER
TOOLS AND RESOURCES WE ARE
GIVEN. WORKING TOGETHER WITH
OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL OF OUR
DIFFERENT PARTNERS, WE TRY.
>> SO, I THINK IT IS VERY CLEAR
FROM THE VIDEO AND THE
TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD TODAY,
THIS MORNING, THAT WE HAVE AN
ECOSYSTEM OF CRIMINAL
ENTERPRISE AROUND COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND WE HAVE
TO GET A HANDLE ON THE
ECOSYSTEM FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY
OF EVERYONE, FOR THE WOMEN AND
GIRLS AND THE BOYS AND THE MEN
WHO ARE BEING TRAFFICKED. WE
NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE RESIDENTS
WHO LIVE IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS, FOR THE
BUSINESSES WHO ARE TRYING TO
SURVIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS,
FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WHO
WERE GETTING OFF THE BUS AT
90th AND WALKING DOWN, FOR THE
HIGH SCHOOL IS WERE GETTING UP
THE BUS AT 130th. WE CANNOT
CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF
GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY, NOR
CAN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS
LEVEL OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF
HUMAN BEINGS ON OUR STREET
CORNERS . WHEN I WAS APPROACHED
BY MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT,
PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME, I
THOUGHT, WHAT CAN I DO? I DID
ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO A
SURVIVOR GROUP. I MET WITH THEM
ALL, A NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE HERE TODAY. ALL INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE BEEN SURVIVORS
THEMSELVES , A TREMENDOUS
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
OVER THE YEARS AND I REALLY
LISTENED THEY HAVE TO SAY. I
ALSO MET WITH THE MAJOR CRIMES
UNIT, THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING
UNIT AND THEN I MET WITH MY
NEIGHBORS, BUSINESS OWNERS, THE
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. I TRIED TO
TAKE ON BOARD EVERYTHING THEY
WERE SAYING TO ME. I WANT TO
JUST SAY, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER
TO CENTRAL STAFF, THIS IS NOT
THE LOITERING BILL THAT WE HAD
PRIOR TO 2020. I HAVE TAKEN
EFFORTS TO REALLY CHANGE IT.
THE FIRST THING THAT THEY TOLD
ME WAS ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS NEED
TO TARGET BUYERS AND PIMPS.
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO
THE BILL. THIS BILL, FOR THE
FIRST TIME, INCLUDES SPECIFIC
BEHAVIORS THAT DESCRIBE THE
BEHAVIORS OF BUYERS. THE PRIOR
BILL DID NOT HAVE THAT AND THE
FOCUS WAS NOT ON ENFORCEMENT
FOR BUYERS. THIS BILL ALLOWS US
TO GO AFTER THE BUYERS. IT ALSO
MEANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO
USE UNDERCOVER OFFICERS WHO ARE
ALWAYS WOMEN BECAUSE WE ARE
SHORT STAFFED AND, I THINK IT
IS DEGRADING TO HAVE TO
PARTICIPATE IN UNDERCOVER STING
OF A SEX WORKER . THE OTHER
THING THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT
ABOUT THIS BILL IS THAT IT
STAYS FRONT AND CENTER, FOR THE
WOMEN, THE PREFERRED
DISPOSITION IS DIVERSION. FOR
THE FIRST TIME, THAT LANGUAGE
IS IN A LAW RELATING TO
LOITERING AND PROSTITUTION.
RIGHT NOW, PROSTITUTION IS
ILLEGAL. PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND PROSTITUTION IS
ILLEGAL BUT THE LAW DOES NOT
SAY THAT THERE IS A PREFERENCE
FOR DIVERSION. THIS BILL DOES.
IT MEANS IT GIVES OFFICERS THE
ABILITY TO APPROACH AND INQUIRE
AND IT TALKS ABOUT HOW DO YOU
GET YOUR SERVICES? I WILL BE
THE FIRST TO SAY, WE DO NOT
HAVE ENOUGH SERVICES. I HOPE
THAT EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE
TODAY TALKING ABOUT THE NEED
FOR HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE AND
EMERGENCY RECEIVING CENTERS ARE
HERE WHEN WE COME BACK IN
SEPTEMBER AND ARE MAKING AS
MUCH NOISE THEN AS THEY ARE
NOW, ABOUT THOSE SERVICES
BECAUSE WE DO NEED THEM. THEY
ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. BUT,
WE ALSO HAVE SOME SERVICES
AVAILABLE AND WE NEED TO BE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW. WE
CANNOT WAIT. THE OTHER
IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE TO THIS
BILL IS THAT IT CREATES A NEW
SYSTEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN
CREATED BEFORE. IT IS AN
OFFENSE THAT TARGETS -- RIGHT
NOW, PROMOTING PROSTITUTION IS
A FELONY. IT REQUIRES THE
TESTIMONY OF THE WOMEN IN ORDER
TO ESTABLISH THE CASE. THAT
PLACES THE WOMEN AT AN
ADDITIONAL HEIGHTENED RISK.
THEY ARE BEARING DIFFICULTIES .
THIS IS A NEW OFFENSE, A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR WHICH MEANS IT
ALLOWS FOR OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND CITY ATTORNEY TO
BRING ENFORCEMENT ACTION THAT
TARGETS SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS THAT
PROMOTERS ENGAGE IN. THIS HAS
NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. I HAVE
NOT HEARD ANYBODY IN PUBLIC
COMMENT TALKING ABOUT THOSE
PROFOUND DIFFERENCES IN THIS
LEGISLATION AND THIS APPROACH
AND IT IS MY -- THIS IS THE
REASON I HAVE BROUGHT THIS
BILL, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ON
BOARD WHAT THE SURVIVORS HAVE
TOLD US TARGETS THE BUYERS AND
TARGETS THE PIMPS. THEY HAVE
TOLD US IT IS INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE EXPLOITED
INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY ARE
ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY EXIT THE
SEX TRADE. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
DISRUPTION AND INTERRUPTION. WE
HAVE GOT TO GIVE TIME FOR THAT
TO HAPPEN. THE TRAUMA BOND OUT
THERE ARE PROFOUND AND COMPLEX
AND VERY DIFFICULT THIS HAS TO
HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND WE
HAVE EVERY SINGLE TOOL WE HAVE
TO BREAK THAT BOND AND TO HELP
PEOPLE GET OUT OF THE EXPLOITED
AND VIOLENT ENVIRONMENT. THE
OTHER THING IS, AS I STATED ON
THE RECORD, IT WILL BE SEEKING
FUNDING IN THE FALL FOR AN
EMERGENCY RECEIVING CENTER. IT
IS TRUE, WE ONLY HAVE SEVEN
DESKS. I WILL BE REQUESTING THE
NORTH END. THE OTHER THING I
WAS TOLD WAS THAT SURVIVORS OF
COMMERCIAL SEX EXPLOITATION
WITH ARRESTS AND/OR CONVICTION,
VERY DIFFICULT TO OVERTURN.
THIS BILL SPECIFICALLY DIRECTS
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO
CREATE A PROGRAM, TO WORK TO
CREATE A PROGRAM THAT WILL
PROVIDE ADVOCATES THAT WILL
WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
PROSTITUTION-RELATED
CONVICTIONS. THEY TAKE THEM AND
TERMINATE THEM FROM COMMERCIAL
ARREST RECORD SO THAT IT DOES
NOT SHOW UP WHEN THEY APPLY FOR
HOUSING. CURRENTLY THAT DOES
NOT EXIST. THAT IS SOMETHING
NEW IN THIS BILL AND IT WAS
DRIVEN BY THE FEEDBACK I
RECEIVED FROM SURVIVORS.
LASTLY, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE
S.O.A.P. AREAS. ALL YOU NEED TO
DO IS LOOK AT THE SHORELINE.
SHORELINE HAS A S.O.A.P. AREA.
IT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR 28
YEARS. IT HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE
CONSTITUTIONAL. IT HAS NOT
RESULTED IN THE END OF CIVIL
LIBERTIES AS WE KNOW IT, NOR
HAS IT RESULTED IN
DISPROPORTIONATE ENFORCEMENT IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WE HAVE
DISPROPORTIONATE ENFORCEMENT IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR , PARTLY
BECAUSE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY ARE
REPRESENTED IN COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND AS A
SOCIETY, WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
INITIALLY, THEY DID ENGAGE IN
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS BUT SINCE
THEN, PEOPLE REALIZE THAT IT IS
ILLEGAL AND WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED. THAT IS MY ULTIMATE
GOAL THAT THERE ARE MANY
EXEMPTIONS IN THIS BILL OR
PEOPLE TO CREATE PROSTITUTION
FREE ZONES FROM BUYERS AND
PROMOTERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I
UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SOME
SPEAKERS.
>> WE WILL GO OVER TO MS.
GORMAN.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A SHORT
PREPARE DESCRIPTION OF THIS AND
I WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS DURING OR AFTER.
COUNCIL BILL 120836 WOULD MAKE
SEVERAL CHANGES TO THE
MUNICIPAL CODE, CRIMINAL CODE
PERTAINING TO PROSTITUTION-RELA
TED CRIME. TAKEN TOGETHER,
THESE CHANGES ARE INTENDED TO
BROADEN THE PROSECUTORS SEX
TRAFFICKERS ARE PEOPLE WHO
FORCE, FRAUD, OR COERCION TO
COMPEL SOMEONE THIS BILL IS
RESPONSIVE TO AN ENVIRONMENT OF
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
IT IS THROUGHOUT THE STAFF
MEMO. IN THIS ECOSYSTEM, SEX IS
SOLD IN AN HOUR THAT IS
INHERENTLY EXPLOITED AND THIS
IS WHY THE TERM CSE VICTIM IS
ALSO USED. THE BILL
ACKNOWLEDGES THE SYSTEMIC
EXPLOITATION AND UNDERSTANDS
THAT FOR VICTIMS WHO ARE
COMPELLED, THE PREFERRED
DISPOSITIONS ARE DIVERSION,
REFERRAL TO SOCIAL SERVICES,
SAFE HOUSE PLACEMENT AND OTHER
ALTERNATIVES TO BOOKINGS, NOT
LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS BILL
WOULD RESTORE TO THE SIENA
MUNICIPAL CODE THE MISDEMEANOR
CRIME OF PROSTITUTION LOITERING
AND IT WOULD ADD NEW
DESCRIPTIVE ELEMENTS TO THAT
CRIME THAT ARE INTENDED TO
EXPAND ENFORCEABILITY AGAINST
THAT. IT WOULD ALSO ADD A NEW
GROSS MISDEMEANOR CRIME TO THE
SIENA MUNICIPAL CODE PROMOTING
LOITERING FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROSTITUTION. THIS CRIME IS
DESCRIBED IN SUCH A WAY AS THEY
CAN OBSERVE ACTIVITY FROM SEX
TRAFFIC OR PROSECUTABLE.
TYPICALLY, PROSECUTIONS AGAINST
SEX TRAFFICKERS REQUIRE THE
TESTIMONY OF A VICTIM WHO WAS
COERCED BY THAT TRAFFICKER.
THAT EXPERIENCE CAN BE
RE-TRAUMATIZING OR EVEN PUT THE
THEM IN DANGER. THIS ASPECT OF
THE BILL WAS INFORMED BY
ENGAGEMENT WITH CSE SURVIVORS.
THE BILL ALSO WOULD AUTHORIZE
THE CITY TO ESTABLISH STAY OUT
OF AREA OF PROSTITUTION ZONES,
S.O.A.P. ZONES AND IT WOULD
ESTABLISH A S.O.A.P. ZONE ALONG
THE AURORA AVENUE COMMERCIAL
CORRIDOR. THIS AREA EXPERIENCES
A CHANGE INCREASE IN CRIME,
ESPECIALLY VIOLENT CRIME. SEX
TRAFFICKING IS LUCRATIVE IN
RECENT YEARS. THEIR TURF
BATTLES AND GUN VIOLENCE., THE
BILL WOULD AUTHORIZE JUDGES TO
AUTHORIZE ORDERS TO INDIVIDUALS
CHARGED WITH OR CONVICTED OF A
CRIME WITHIN A S.O.A.P. ZONE
WHEN THAT CRIME IS EITHER
SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO
PROSTITUTION . AN EXAMPLE COULD
BE A SEX TRAFFICKER OF AN
ILLEGAL DOMAIN. SOMEONE
RECEIVING A S.O.A.P. ORDER MUST
STAY OUTSIDE THE S.O.A.P. ORDER
THAT COULD LEAD TO A FINE OR
JAIL TIME OR BOTH.
>> WE HAVE CITY ATTORNEY
DAVISON AND ALSO CHIEF TOM
MAHAFFEY AVAILABLE FOR
QUESTIONS. AS USUAL, THEY ALSO
GO TO THE BILL SPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
PROPOSED BILL. I DO ESPECIALLY
APPRECIATE THE SHORT VIDEO YOU
PREPARED AND SHARED IN
CONNECTION WITH ALL OF THIS.
ONE THING FOR US TO ADVOCATE ON
BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS,
WHICH WE ALL DO EVERY DAY,
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, SO TO
SPEAK, WE ARE CONNECTING THEM
WITH VARIOUS SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS OF OUR EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT, HELPING US FILL
THESE PESKY POTHOLES. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT BUT IT IS
ALSO ANOTHER THING TO LET OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND THE REAL SCOPE
OF THE CHALLENGE SPEAK FOR
ITSELF. I APPRECIATE THE VIDEO
FEATURE WHERE SOME OF OUR
RESIDENTS HERE IN SEATTLE ARE
ABLE TO HEAR THEIR OWN STORIES
AND , THE UNDERLYING CHALLENGE
WE ARE SEEKING TO ADDRESS WITH
THIS PROPOSED BILL, THE GUN
VIOLENCE IS A REAL PROBLEM. NOT
ACADEMIC. IT IS MORE THAN JUST
A HEAT MAP, MORE THAN JUST A
PROBLEM. PEOPLE'S HOMES ARE
GETTING SHOT UP. PEOPLE ARE
TRAUMATIZED AND SCARED. WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING. DOING NOTHING
AND HOPING AND PRAYING IS NOT
AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
STRATEGY. THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A NECESSARY AND
SUFFICIENT CONDITION, YES WE
NEED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
PROGRAMS AND DIVERSION AND
TREATMENT. THAT IS NOT
NECESSARILY SUFFICIENT. WE ARE
UNDER CRISES. IN ANY EVENT, I
APPRECIATE THE EFFORT AND
THINKING THROUGH SOME OF THESE
CHALLENGES AND HOW THEY IMPACT
OTHER ISSUES AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE VIDEO. SO, MY
QUESTION IS -- IT SOUNDS LIKE
THERE IS A PARALLEL LAW IN
PLACE JUST UP NORTH FROM
SHORELINE. AS COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE ELUDED TO EARLIER, IT
LOOKS LIKE IT IS KNOWN TO BE
CONSTITUTIONAL, ENFORCEABLE.
JUST BE CURIOUS . DOES THE
S.O.A.P. LAW IN PLACE IN
SHORELINE -- DOES IT RESULT IN
THE LOWER INCIDENCE OF GUN
VIOLENCE? IT IS THE PRIMARY
CHALLENGE WE ARE SEEKING TO
ADDRESS HERE. IS IT ACHIEVING
LOWER INCIDENCE OF GUN VIOLENCE
AND THAT AREA? I GUESS TO ANY
OF YOU ALL.
>> I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING
ON A SHORELINE. I KNOW IT IS
NOT A SECRET. AURORA IS ONE OF
OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF
GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY. I
HAVE SOME STAFF HERE AND I HAVE
BEEN PREPARED. THE TWO BEATS
THAT COVER AURORA WITH THE
AREAS WE TALK ABOUT, IN 2023 WE
HAD 23 INCIDENTS OF GUNFIRE ,
SHOTS FIRED. 2022 WE HAD 28.
THIS YEAR, YEAR TO DATE, WE
HAVE HAD 46 WITH 459 SHELL
CASINGS WERE COVERED. FOR US,
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE ALONG
AURORA. AND IT TOTALLY ,
TALKING TO KING COUNTY, THEY
DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF GUN
VIOLENCE ON THE AURORA
SHORELINE. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT
ISSUE.
>> COULD YOU REPEAT THOSE
AGAIN?
>> THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS , WE
WERE TALKING THROUGH AUGUST. WE
HAD 23 AND 28, 46 ALREADY THIS
YEAR. WE HAD 460 CASINGS
RECOVERED. I TOTALLY
UNDERSTAND. I WOULD NOT EXPECT
YOU TO BE AN EXPERT IN
SHORELINE DATA BUT I WOULD
EXPECT YOU TO BE AN EXPERT IN
UNDERSTANDING HOW LAWS IN A
JURISDICTION IMPACT OR DON'T
IMPACT OUR OWN COVERAGE. I
WOULD APPRECIATE ANY COMMENTS,
FEEDBACK YOU HAVE ON THAT.
>> I KNOW FROM TALKING TO OUR
TEAM THAT DEALS WITH HUMAN
TRAFFICKING SPECIFICALLY, WHEN
THEY TALK TO THEIR COLLEAGUES,
SHORELINE DOES NOT HAVE THE
ISSUES WE DO AS FAR AS OPENING
THIS UP. ESPECIALLY TALKING
ABOUT VIOLENCE WHEN IT COMES TO
THE TRAFFIC RESPONSE. IT HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED AND YOU
CAN SEE ANECDOTALLY THE CERTAIN
TIME OF DAY IT WOULD BE A
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE THAN
CONDITIONS ON THE STREET.
>> CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG BUT
IT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT, IF YOU
HAVE A POINT HERE -- IT IS YOUR
ASSESSMENT THAT THE LAW IN
SHORELINE HAS HAD SOME
MEASURABLE IMPACT AND AS A
RESULT, OUR LACK OF PARALLEL
LAW IN SEATTLE, WE ARE BEARING
THE BRUNT OF THE UNDERLYING
CRISES, RELATIVE TO SHORELINE.
WOULD THAT BE TRUE?
>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE LAW OR
THE IMPACT OF IT, ONLY THE
ISSUES BROUGHT TO OUR
ATTENTION.
>> OKAY. LET ME RE-ASK MY
QUESTION. WHAT IS YOUR
ASSESSMENT OF THE LAW IN
SHORELINE AND ITS IMPACT OR NOT
ON THE CITY OF SEATTLE?
>> ANECDOTALLY, I COULD SAY IT
IS PUSHING ACTIVITY DOWN TOWARD
SEATTLE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO HAVE THE S.O.D.A.
ZONE AND ENFORCE IT -- EXCUSE
ME, S.O.A.P. ZONE . WE DON'T
HAVE THAT CAPACITY HERE.
>> THANK YOU. NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS -- I
HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK
WITH ROBERT EAGLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
DURING THE PANDEMIC. I WAS
WORKING AT A FOOD HUB AND WE
SET UP A FOOD PANTRY AT THAT
LOCATION BECAUSE A LOT OF THE
STUDENTS THERE OUR
INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES AND THEY
ARE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WHERE
ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST
LANGUAGE AND I KNOW THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM A LOT
OF THE VIOLENCE ALONG AURORA
THAT HAS BEEN INCREASING UP TO
THEIR SCHOOLS. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND IS,
OUR KIDS. WE HAD A 14-YEAR-OLD
GIRL SPEAK HERE TODAY ABOUT
SOME OF THE STUFF THAT SHE IS
ENCOUNTERING AND WE HAD ADULTS
COMMENT AND LAUGH AT HER.
COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE. THE
THING IS, WHAT ARE WE TELLING
OUR KIDS AND OUR BABIES RIGHT
NOW ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SEEING?
THEY ARE BECOMING DESENSITIZED
TO IT ON THE STREETS. WHO ARE
GOING TO PROTECT OUR KIDS? WE
HAVE TO HAVE ADULTS THAT HAVE
THE MINDSET OF OUR FUTURE AND
OUR KIDS AND THE SECOND THING I
WANTED TO ADDRESS AND I HEARD
IT IN PUBLIC COMMENT AND I HAVE
SEEN IT AROUND, PEOPLE EQUATING
JIM CROW TO SOME OF THESE LAWS
THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED TODAY
AND I THINK OFTEN TIMES,
SEATTLE USES BLACK ISSUES FOR
SOME FOLKS TO PROMOTE WHATEVER
AGENDA THEY HAVE GOING ON. I DO
NOT SPEAK FOR THE BLACK
COMMUNITY. I HAVE SAID THAT
MULTIPLE TIMES BUT I DO SPEAK
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE
EXPRESSED THE SAME TYPE OF
CONCERNS AND ISSUES ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH JIM
CROW. THOSE ARE RACE BASED
ISSUES THAT WERE TARGETED
TOWARD THE COMMUNITY. YOU HAD
TO HAVE A PASSPORT TO BE ABLE
TO GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES AND
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
THAT. THIS IS COMMUNITY. JUST
SAYING WHAT IS GOING ON IN
AURORA, GUN VIOLENCE, IT IS
MORE THAN THAT. IT IS MORE THAN
JUST GUN VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING
IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS
ACTUAL WAR ON OUR STREETS. I
KNOW THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE
SCARED FOR THEIR LIVES. WHAT
ABOUT THEM? THE QUESTION I HAD
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOORE BROUGHT
IT UP, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT
THE EMERGENCY BEDS AND I WAS
REALLY DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT
THAT WILL BE COMING UP , TO
HAVE A SPACE IN AURORA TO HAVE
EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS BECAUSE
THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING
THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT. WE ARE PUTTING THESE
BOUNDARIES AND THESE LAWS IN
PLACE BUT WILL WE HAVE SERVICE
FOR THESE YOUNG GIRLS AND THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THESE
COMMUNITIES? THAT IS ONE THING
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, MAKING
SURE THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO
GO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE
RESOURCES AND HOW WE CAN MATCH
THE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
INVESTMENTS TO THE ENFORCEMENT
PIECE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO
AS WELL FOR THE JOHN'S AND THE
PIMPS AND THE GANGS THAT ARE
RUNNING THESE ILLEGAL
OPERATIONS. THE QUESTION I HAVE
-- THIS PERTAINS -- I SAVED MY
QUESTION. THE QUESTION I HAVE
ABOUT THE S.O.D.A. AND THE
S.O.A.P. , AS WE DO THESE
BOUNDARIES IN THE CERTAIN
COMMUNITY HOTSPOTS -- CAPITAL
HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM AS WELL
WITH A LOT OF THE ACTIVITY
GOING ON. THERE IS TWO GROCERY
STORES AND THAT IS WHERE A LOT
OF THE DRUGS AND THE VIOLENCE
ARE HAPPENING, ON BROADWAY.
THEY ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO BE
SOLD AND POSSIBLY CLOSED
BECAUSE OF A LOT OF STUFF GOING
ON. IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO
OUR COMMUNITY -- DETRIMENTAL. I
JUST WANT TO POINT THOSE OUT.
THAT IS FOOD ACCESS. WE HAVE
ALREADY LOST A LOT OF
DISMISSALS -- BUSINESSES,
PARTICULARLY OUR PHARMACIES,
OUR HUBS FOR PEOPLE TO GET
THEIR MEDICATION. I WANT TO ASK
A QUESTION. AS WE ARE
CONSIDERING THESE BOUNDARIES,
HOW DO WE AVOID THE ACTIVITY TO
BE PUSHED AROUND TO OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS? THAT IS A BIG
CONCERN I HAVE HEARD FROM
PEOPLE ON CAPITOL HILL, IT
BEING FOCUSED AND TARGETED IN
THESE COMMUNITIES AND WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE. THAT WAS A
LONG-WINDED STATEMENT, COMMENT
AND THEN QUESTION AT THE END.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
>> THAT WAS A QUESTION, CHAIR,
IF THAT IS OKAY. I KNOW WE GOT
LOST IN THE WORDS. I APOLOGIZE.
>> DO WE NEED TO EXTEND THE
TIME? I DON'T KNOW YOUR
PROTOCOL.
>> NO.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
AS I SAID EARLIER , FOR ANYONE
WHO WAS NOT HERE IN ATTENDANCE
BUT, THE TWO PROPOSED BILLS
THAT I PUT FORWARD EQUATE TO
ONE 12:45 PERCENT OF 83 SQUARE
MILES OF OUR CITY. AGAIN,
CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO EXCLUDE AS
MANY SOCIAL SERVICES AS WE
COULD, UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE
KNOWN DRUG PRICES ARE. PEOPLE
KNOW THEY CAN COME THERE AND
SELL THEIR DRUGS AND MAKE A LOT
OF MONEY AND VICTIMIZE PEOPLE
FURTHER AND KEEP THEM IN THE
THROES OF OPPRESSION AND
ADDICTION. FIRST S.O.A.P., IT
IS 1.4% OF THE 83 SQUARE MILES
OF OUR CITY. AGAIN, IT IS A
DESTINATION KNOWN BY MANY, IN
MANY STATES AS A PLACE TO COME
HERE AND BE A PUPPETEER FOR
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SEX TRADE.
IT IS JUST PARAMOUNT TO US
BECAUSE THERE ARE MESSAGES TO
YOUNG MINDS WITNESSING WHAT IS
GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS CRITICAL. THE
DISPLACEMENT IS GOING TO BE
SOME BUT THESE ARE WELL
ENTRENCHED AREAS THAT HAVE
TAKEN A HOLD OF THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS. THE DISRUPTION
NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THE
DISPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE
MARKET, IN MY OPINION, WILL NOT
BECOME A POP UP AND THIS WILL
SHOW UP AUTOMATICALLY AT
WALKOVER. THERE WILL BE SOME
IMPACT BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WE
CAN'T HAVE IT. WE STILL NEED
TO BE MAKING THE EFFORTS WE CAN
TO KEEP THE SAFETY WITH THE
AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WE
HAVE, THE OFFICERS WE HAVE. WE
HAVE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES WHERE
PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN COME. WE
JUST LET IT SIT THERE. WHEN WE
CREATE THE DISRUPTION, I THINK
IT WILL BE MORE POSITIVE THAN
ANYTHING ELSE.
>> CAN WE BRING THE PANEL UP?
>> YES.
>> I WILL DEFER TO THE
SPONSORS.
>> TWO QUICK QUESTIONS AND THEN
WE DO HAVE A PANEL TO COME UP
REALLY QUICK. I KNOW WE ARE
RUNNING LATE ON TIME. JUST
WANTED TO NOTE TWO THINGS.
AURORA, A MAJOR BUS LINE. KING
COUNTY METRO TRANSIT SECURITY,
KING COUNTY SHERIFF. WHAT IS
THEIR ROLL ? STATE ROUTE 99,
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL , HOW
DO WE BRING THIS IN? WHAT IS
THE COORDINATION. CAN WE HAVE A
TIGHTER TEAM EFFORT TO SURGE,
IF YOU WILL. IT IS A COUNTY AND
STATE RESPONSIBILITY TOO, WHICH
GOES BACK TO MY EARLIER POINT.
>> WE HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME
EMPHASIS PATROLS OF THEIR WITH
STATE PATROL, PARTICULARLY IN
THE EVENING TIME. WE WILL BE UP
THERE FOR THE TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT PIECE. WE HAVE A
TEAM DOING OTHER PROACTIVE
THINGS AS WELL. COUNTY, I AM
NOT SURE IF WE HAVE ANY
COLLABORATION WITH THEM
OFFICIALLY. WE HAVE, IN THE
PAST, DONE SO WITH KING COUNTY
POLICE REGARDING ISSUES AROUND
THEIR PROPERTY.
>> THANK YOU. I NOTE , AND THE
MAYOR GETS ASKED THIS A LOT IN
TERMS OF RESPONSIBILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY BUT WE HAVE
EXECUTIVE COUNSELING THAT HAS
RESPONSIBILITY ISSUES AND DATE
GOVERNMENT INCREASES WELL. TOO
OFTEN, WE DON'T SAY THAT. I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE
GOVERNOR AND EXECUTIVES TO BE
PART OF THIS AND TO SHOW THE
LEADERSHIP -- IT IS AN ALL
HANDS ON DECK EFFORT. FOR --
THANK YOU FOR THE ANSWER. PER
CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON, THE SAME
THING RELATED TO THE COURT.
THIS ALL STARTED WITH FLAKE.
THEY CHANGED IT FROM THE GROSS
MISDEMEANOR THAT WAS PASSED BY
THE LEGISLATURE AND THEY HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TOO. IT WENT
FROM KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
OFFICE TO YOUR OFFICE.
EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE HAS
RESPONSIBILITIES IN ADDITION TO
YOU. ALSO , THE PROSECUTOR AS
WELL. WE HAVE TO BE
HIGHLIGHTING THESE POINTS
BECAUSE I THINK, TOO OFTEN,
THINGS CHANGE AND THEN IT GETS
QUIET. IT GETS QUIET IN
OLYMPIA. IT GETS QUIET ACROSS
THE STREET AND WHAT ENDS UP
HAPPENING IS EVERYTHING FALLS
TO US. AGAIN, I AM SAYING WE
SHOULD DO THIS IN AN ENGAGINGLY
AND IT IS WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
IF YOU HAD ANY RESPONSE TO THAT
OR IF THAT RINGS TRUE. PLEASE
RESPOND.
>> IN REGARDS TO THE S.O.A.P. ,
THE COMMENT EARLIER WAS SO
ELOQUENTLY EXPLAINED. WE ARE
TRYING TO NOT REPLACE FELONY
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THIS IS TO
APPLY SUPPLEMENTAL TOOLS THAT
WE CAN BE RESPONSIVE TO THE
NORTH END NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATED WITH PROSTITUTION IN
THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AROUND
IT. AGAIN, FOCUSING ON WHAT WE
CAN DO FOR BEHAVIOR THAT WE ALL
KNOW IS CULPABLE IN THE
CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE OF SEX
TRAFFICKING AND FOCUSING ON
THOSE WHO ARE PROMOTING AND
PROFITING FROM THAT. THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE ADDING TO THIS
LEGISLATION AS WE SUPPLEMENT A
FELONY. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT
TO PROVE. WE CAN PROCEED WITH
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY GOING
FORWARD. TO ME, THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE WHEN A
COUNTY PROSECUTOR CANNOT PURSUE
THE STANDARD FOR FELONY
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WHAT IS
AVAILABLE FOR SEATTLE POLICE IN
MY OFFICE THAT WE CAN PURSUE?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING. I HAVE ASKED YOU TO
TRANSITION TO HAVE OUR PANEL
COME UP.
>> WE ARE GOING TO BRING UP THE
PANEL.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP
TO THE TABLE NOW, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
>> WE ARE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME
SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR
PRESENTING. ALSO, WELCOME TO
THIS GROUP.
>> GO AHEAD AND COME TO THE
TABLE.
>> COME ON DOWN. YOU DON'T
NEED THE COMPUTER. JUST COME
DOWN AND HAVE A SEAT.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND ALL OF YOU BEING
HERE TODAY. I HAVE ASKED ALL OF
THESE INDIVIDUALS TO COME HERE
TODAY BECAUSE OF THEIR
EXPERTISE IN SO MANY OF THE
ASPECTS OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT AND ALSO, THEIR
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I WILL ASK
EACH OF YOU TO IDENTIFY
YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
>> THANK YOU. I AM BARBARA
MACK, A RETIRED KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE IN THE
ORIGINAL CONVENER OF THE TASK
FORCE AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN TRAINING JUDGES AND OTHERS,
HUNDREDS OF THEM, NATIONWIDE
FOR NUMBER OF YEARS ON THE
ISSUES OF TRAFFICKING AND
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION TRAUMA.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM JEAN CHANG. MY PARENTS
HAVE HAD A BUSINESS ON 119th
AURORA FOR 30 YEARS AND I ALSO
HAVE A BUSINESS IN SHORELINE
JUST OVER THE 125th LINE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA HAD SOME
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT THAT I
COULD PROBABLY ANSWER THEY WERE
NOT ANSWERED BEFORE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I AM SARAH AND AND I
AM THE DIRECTOR OF SURVIVOR
SERVICES OF THE MORE WE LOVE
AND I'M A SURVIVOR OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
>> WELCOME.
>> CHRISTINE MORELAND, DIRECTOR
OF THE MORE WE LOVE, HE
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION,
SOMEBODY WHO HAS PROVIDED
RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> WELCOME.
>> SACS TOLL, SEATTLE MIDDLE
SCHOOL.
>> WELCOME.
>> AUDREY, DIRECTOR TRAINING
AND PARTNERSHIPS. WE ENGAGE
WITH MORE THAN 600 SURVIVORS
EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVE SEVEN
BEDS, THE ONLY BEDSIDER
AVAILABLE FOR SURVIVORS. WE ARE
ALWAYS AT FULL CAPACITY.
>> WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
. I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
YOU TO HEAR WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS
ARE, WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCES HAVE
BEEN. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT
TOPIC AND THE NEEDS ARE
COMPLEX. I THINK IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL FOR US TO HEAR, HOW CAN
THE CITY BEST ADDRESS THE
COMPLEXITY OF THE NEEDS OF BOTH
THE SURVIVORS AND THE GREATER
COMMUNITIES AND HOW CAN WE WORK
MOST EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER IN
COLLABORATION. TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES AND
SOME OF THE ACADEMIC ASPECTS.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO
PUT THIS IN CONTEXT AND THANK
YOU ALL FOR ADDRESSING THE
SITUATION THAT CROSSES THE
SILOS INSTITUTIONALLY, ACROSS
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES LIKE
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND
ESCALATING VIOLENCE. YOU SHOULD
BE AWARE OF A STUDY THAT CAME
OUT OF COLORADO SPRINGS A
NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THAT
STUDIED 30 YEARS OF HEALTH,
DEATH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
RECORDS OF NEARLY 2000 WOMEN
WHO WERE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
PROSTITUTION. THE AVERAGE AGE
OF DEATH WAS 34. THE LEADING
CAUSE OF DEATH WAS HOMICIDE .
DRUGS WERE A CLOSE SECOND.
MURDER ACCOUNTED FOR 19% OF THE
CONFIRMED DEATHS. MOST OF THOSE
KILLED WERE KILLED WHILE
SOLICITING, BY BUYERS. THE
STUDY CONCLUDED THAT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF MURDERED WOMEN WERE
KILLED AS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE
OF PROSTITUTION AND NOTED THE
ROLL OF BUYERS AND PERPETRATING
BOTH LETHAL AND NONLETHAL
VIOLENCE. THERE IS A MORE
RECENT STUDY IN 2022 THAT CITED
THE COLORADO STUDY. THIS NEW
ONE WAS A STUDY OF THE CAUSES
OF MORTALITY IN THE SEX WORKERS
AROUND THE WORLD. 2112 SEX
WORKER DEATHS, 12 1/2% WERE
MURDERED. 13.6% WERE SUICIDES.
3659 CHILDREN LOST THEIR
MOTHER'S. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE
AND IT IS MORE THAN JUST
TALKING ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE
SEEING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL
PEOPLE. YOU WILL HEAR FROM REAL
WOMEN IN REAL TRADE-IN . MAKE
NO MISTAKE, THERE ARE CHILDREN
IN AURORA, IN THE LAST WEEK.
TWO MINERS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED
FROM AURORA AND ONE WAS 11
YEARS OLD. THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP
TO HELPING THE WOMEN FORCED BY
TRAFFICKERS OR CIRCUMSTANCES TO
BE OUT ON AURORA. I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THREE THINGS. NO
MATTER HOW GOOD THIS BILL IS,
IF THE CITY DOESN'T FOCUS ITS
ATTENTION ON BUYERS AND
TRAFFICKERS, IF WE DON'T FUND
ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS OR
DETECTIVES TO DO THEIR JOB, AND
IF WE DON'T SIGNIFICANTLY
EXPAND THE SERVICES NECESSARY
TO HELP VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS
RUN THE RISK OF MAKING THINGS
WORSE, NOT BETTER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GIVE US YOUR
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE?
>> IN THE LAST 30 OR SO YEARS,
MY PARENTS HAVE HAD A FLOWER
SHOP NEXT TO THE CEMETERY ON
109th AND AURORA. IF YOU HAVE
BEEN TO A FUNERAL AT THE
FUNERAL HOME, MY PARENTS HAVE
LIKELY DONE THE FLOWERS FOR
THAT. THEY HAVE NEVER FELT
UNSAFE IN THE ENTIRE 30 YEARS
OF DOING BUSINESS ON AURORA. I
GREW UP WORKING THERE SINCE AGE
9 FOR MY FAMILY. RECENTLY, IN
THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THERE HAS
JUST BEEN HEIGHTENED ACTIVITY.
IT IS NOT JUST THE VANDALISM
AND THE SHOOTING AND THE
VIOLENCE THAT COMES WITH IT. IT
IS NOT JUST THAT. IS THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN
THAT ARE BEING TRAFFICKED IN
FRONT OF US. WE HAVE HAD TO
HAVE VIDEO AND AUDIO TO LISTEN
TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN FRONT
OF OUR STORE AND THOSE ARE THE
STORIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
TRAFFICKED THAT ARE SO HARMFUL.
WHEN THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER AS
IF THEY DON'T KNOW ANYONE IS
LISTENING, WHEN THEY ARE
BEGGING TO BE TAKEN OFF THE
STREETS, WHEN THEY ARE ASKING
EACH OTHER WHERE THEY ARE FROM
AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY
ARE FROM AND THEY DON'T KNOW
HOW OLD THEY ARE. MY MOTHER
USED TO GIVE WATER AND SUPPLIES
TO WHO WERE THE SEX WORKERS.
THERE IS A POINT IN THE LAST
FEW MONTHS OR SO THAT SHE WAS
UNABLE TO DO THAT OR APPROACH
ANYBODY ON HER DOORSTEP. SHE
CANNOT GET OUT OF HER PARKING
SPOT. I HAVE TO ESCORT HER AT
NIGHT. SOMETIMES THEY WORK LATE
AT NIGHT AND SHE CAN'T LEAVE.
SHE WAS ATTACKED, PUNCHED IN
THE FACE AND WAS IN THE ICU AND
MY FATHER WAS ALSO ATTACKED. I
HAVE ALSO BEEN HURT OUT THERE
FOR SIMPLY ASKING A QUESTION. I
DO BUSINESS OVER THE 1/45 LINE
AND WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS. I WORK
WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE POLICE
OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND BUSINESS PEOPLE. I WORK
WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY AND WE
JUST DO NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE
APPEAR. I AM CONSTANTLY BEING
DRAGGED INTO THIS SITUATION.
THERE WAS NO HELP FOR MY
MOTHER. WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE
TODAY IS THAT I HAD TO REACH
OUT AND GO TO A MEETING AND
FIND A COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO WAS
RECORDING VIDEO AND THEN I MET
ALL OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE
TERRORIZED. MY PARENTS HAVE A
BUSINESS THERE AND THEY LIVE
RIGHT UP AGAINST WHAT IS
HAPPENING. IT IS DAY AND NIGHT
FOR THEM. AS A CIVILIAN, AS A
CITIZEN, I HAD TO ENLIST
ANOTHER CITIZEN FOR HELP. MY
FAMILY AND I DO NOT WANT TO
HARM ANY OF THE SEX WORKERS AND
I KEEP HEARING THE WORD SEX
WORKER AND TRAFFICKED PEOPLE
USED SYNONYMOUSLY. THESE ARE
TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THESE ARE
TRAFFICKED YOUNG GIRLS,
CHILDREN, PEOPLE. THERE ARE
PIMPS THAT ARE OUT THERE . I AM
IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS. WE
NEED TO DO SOMETHING. I
HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT OF
SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JUST TELL US YOUR
STORY AND THE WORK YOU DO NOW.
>> SORRY, I HAD A QUESTION.
SORRY, I AM NERVOUS.
>> I AM CURRENTLY A SURVIVOR. I
AM ALSO A SURVIVOR OF
TRAFFICKING. I HAVE SPENT MOST
OF MY LIFE ON AURORA. I WAS
TURNED OUT AT 12. I SPENT A
GOOD PORTION OF MY LIFE ON
AURORA AND THIS IS THE WORST I
HAVE EVER SEEN IT. NOW, THAT
BEING SAID , THIS IS THE WORST
IT HAS EVER BEEN. THE TRUTH OF
THE MATTER FOR ME IS THAT
NOTHING GOOD HAS EVER CAME FROM
IT. MY CRIMINAL RECORD HAS MAKE
IT DIFFICULT TO FIND HOUSING
AND GET A JOB AND THE STIGMA OF
SURVIVORS FOLLOWS YOU AROUND
FOREVER. WHAT IF, INSTEAD OF
BEING CRIMINALIZED, I HAD BEEN
OFFERED SURVIVOR LED TO
SERVICES? MY LIFE AND THE LIFE
OF MY CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. I HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND -- I AM GOING TO BE
HONEST. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A
JOHN OR A TRAFFICKER BE
ARRESTED. THEY HAVE BEEN HERE
FOR A VERY LONG TIME. WHILE
SURVIVORS ARE LEFT TO BEAR THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THAT, NOT BEING
ABLE TO FIND A PLACE, FIND A
JOB. AT 14 YEARS OLD, I WAS
ASSAULTED BY A BUYER AND WAS
LAUGHED AT BY A POLICE OFFICER
WHEN I TRIED TO REPORT IT. THIS
REINFORCED THE MESSAGE THAT I
DID NOT MATTER. IMAGINE THE
DIFFERENCE IT WOULD HAVE MADE
IF THE OFFICER WOULD HAVE TOLD
ME THAT I WAS NOT TO BLAME,
THAT THE BUYER WAS WRONG, THAT
HE WOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
IT IS TIME TO SUPPORT
SURVIVORS, SHOW THEM THAT THEY
MATTER AND HOLD THE BUYERS
ACCOUNTABLE TO HELP CHANGE THE
NARRATIVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I AM CHRISTINE MORELAND. WE
ARE A COMMUNITY CON STRING FOR
THE MOST VULNERABLE. I WALK
ALONGSIDE CARRIE AND EVERY DAY
AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE
BILL, THOSE WHO HAVE A
DIVERGENT PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR
THE WOMEN THAT WE SERVE. IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS TRAUMA
IN FOREST SERVICE AS IT WAS
SPOKEN, THERE ARE SEVEN
PROVIDER BEDS RIGHT NOW. IT
WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH -- WE ARE
ADVOCATING THE FUNDING FOR THE
EMERGENCY RECEIVING CENTER. I
THINK IT WOULD BE OF PURPOSE
FOR THE EMERGENCY RECEIVING
CENTER INTO PLACE SO THAT WE
CAN BRING TO TOGETHER THE
RESOURCES TOGETHER. I THANK YOU
GUYS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, YOUR HEART AND YOUR SOUL
FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THESE
HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS ZACH AND I HAVE
HAD THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF
SERVING THE NORTHWEST REGION OF
SCHOOLS IN THE LAST 17 YEARS. I
CAN SAY, OVER THIS LAST YEAR IN
CHANGE, IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
MOST CHALLENGING YEARS,
INCLUDING THE PANDEMIC. THIS
LAST YEAR, I HAD TO RUN INTO AN
ACTIVE SHOOTING SEEN AS
STUDENTS WERE TRANSITIONING TO
SCHOOL AND ENSURE THAT THEY
KNEW WHAT TO DO IN THAT
SITUATION AS IT WAS CHAOS RIGHT
BEFORE THE BELL WAS RINGING. IN
ADDITION, WE HAVE HAD OVERDOSES
RIGHT IN FRONT AT 3:45 P.M.
ACROSS FROM WHERE OUR BUSES ARE
AT WHERE I HAD TO DIVERT. THERE
WAS A PERSON WHOSE LIFE WAS
SAVED WITH NARCAN. THE STUDENTS
ALSO EXPERIENCED THAT AND WE
HAVE EXPERIENCED A BODY THAT
HAS BEEN OVERDOSED ON OUR
SCHOOL PROPERTY BY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WALKING THEIR DOG
BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS THAT DAY
AND THE LIST GOES ON. WHAT
REALLY HIT ME IS WHEN THE
STUDENTS ARE TRYING TO BE
APPROACHED BY PEOPLE WHO KNOW
THE AREA IS KNOWN FOR THIS AND
THEN WE ARE SEEING THE BABY'S
GOING HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES
AND BEING APPROACHED BY PEOPLE
-- I'M GOING TO TAKE IT A STEP
FURTHER THAT IT IS NOT JUST OUR
YOUNG LADIES IN THE SCHOOL BUT
OUR YOUNG BOYS WHO ARE ALSO
BEING TARGETED IN TRADING X
BOXES FOR GUNS AND ENGAGING IN
ACTIVITIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE TRIED CREATIVE THINGS,
EVEN CREATING A SATURDAY SCHOOL
THAT WAS OPTIONAL FOR KIDS TO
HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO CONNECT.
WE HAD OVER 150 KIDS SHOW UP
CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AREAS TO
PLAY. WHAT I WOULD SAY HERE IS
, THE REALITY IS BUDGET CUTS
AND WORKING EDUCATION. I AM NO
STRANGER TO BUDGET CUTS AND
COMPLEX CHALLENGES. WE HAVE ONE
OR TWO MILE RADIUS OUR PARENTS
HAVE TO WALK. IF WE ARE WITHIN
THAT ONE OR TWO MILES, HOW DO
WE ENSURE THE BEFORE AND AFTER
SCHOOL, JUST FOR AN AWARENESS.
I HAVE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT
INTO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. ONCE
THEY ARE ON THE WAY AND THEY
ARE LEAVING, IT IS A TOUGH
FEELING THAT I HAVE THAT I
CANNOT PROTECT THEM. THE
COMMUNITY IS DOING EVERYTHING
THEY CAN. IT IS A CHALLENGE. I
DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
LIEUTENANT, SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THESE
INSTANCES. THESE FOLKS HAVE
SHOWN UP WITHIN TWO MINUTES AND
THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE. I
ASK FOR YOU TO STOP BLEEDING
AND BEING PROACTIVE.
>> I ALSO THANK YOU ALL FOR
PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE
AND GIVING AT THE TIME AND
ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES. IN
ADDITION TO EMPHASIZING WHAT
HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID, I WILL
SAY THAT SERVICES DO WORK . THE
SEVEN BEDS THAT WE DO HAVE A
SERVE 55 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY
AND WE SEE LIVES CHANGED. IT IS
ONLY SEVEN BEDS BECAUSE THE
COMPLEX TRAUMA THAT IS
EXPERIENCED BY TRAFFICKING
CAUSES COMPLEX DIFFICULTIES AND
COVERS. IT IS HARD TO EXPAND
WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING TO
BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IN SEATTLE,
WE HAVE PHENOMENAL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING
THE WORK. OUR ORGANIZATION
ENGAGES 600 INDIVIDUALS EVERY
YEAR. TO EVEN HAVE THOSE 55
SPOTS AVAILABLE IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE NEED THAT FUNDING TO BE
ATTACHED TO THIS EVENT. COULD
BE A VIABLE OPTION. 90% OF
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE SEX
TRADE SAY THEY BELIEVE A VIABLE
OPTION EXISTS. IF I'M INVOLVED
IN TRAFFICKING AND I TAKE THE
RISK TO LEAVE THAT TRAFFICKER
BEHIND AND I DON'T HAVE A
PLACE TO LIVE, I DON'T HAVE
FOOD OR CLOTHING OR SUPPORT, I
AM GOING TO GO BACK THERE AND
GET THE WORST OF MY LIFE. WE
CANNOT BE PUTTING PEOPLE IN
FURTHER HARM'S WAY. THERE IS
VIABLE OPTIONS. THE OTHER THING
I WILL EMPHASIZE IS THE ONE
THING THAT I DO CELEBRATE IS
THE LIVES CHANGED THAT WE SEE.
ONE THING I CAN ACKNOWLEDGE
ABOUT AURORA IS NOT IT PUTS
THIS ISSUE IN FRONT OF OUR
FACES AND NO ONE IN OUR
COMMUNITY IS COMFORTABLE WITH
THIS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF
CHILDREN AND ESPECIALLY FOREST
COERCION. ONE CONCERN THAT
COMES WITH IT IS OUT OF SIGHT,
OUT OF MIND. WILL WE FORGET
ABOUT IT? WE NEED TO KNOW THAT
THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS IT WHETHER WE
MOVE IT OUT BUT WE NEED TO PUT
AN AND TO IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. WE HAVE
DIRECT KNOWLEDGE. I AM
APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT INVOLVED. THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT HAS A ROLL . CLEARLY,
WE ARE OVERTIME BUT ARE THERE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS PANEL
HERE?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW
WORDS ENCOURAGING IN GENERAL. I
DON'T KNOW IF NOW IS THE BEST
TIME.
>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS
MEETING, ONE PUBLIC COMMENT OR
TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE
VOTE TO REPEAL THE LOITERING
LAWS WERE UNANIMOUS AND THEN
SAID SOMETHING ABOUT NOW YOU
WANT TO BRING THEM BACK. WHY. A
COUPLE OF PEOPLE LATER, THE
PERSON SAID IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN
WORSE AND WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING. EVERYTHING WE HAVE
HEARD TODAY FROM THE PANEL,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FROM THE
HORRIFYING VIDEO TO THE
TESTIMONY OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS SHOWS THAT YES, WE
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. WE CANNOT
DO ANYTHING MORE. NO AMOUNT OF
THROWING MORE MONEY AT THE
PROBLEM WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AMPLIFIED
LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE AND
THE COMPONENT OF THIS BILL THAT
DO ALLOW FOR TARGETING THE
TRAFFICKERS FOCUSING ON
BEHAVIOR. IT WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND I DO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR CITY ATTORNEY
DAVISON FOR BRINGING THIS
CLOSELY TOGETHER. BASICALLY,
THIS COUNCIL WAS ARRESTED ON
PUBLIC SAFETY. THERE WILL
ALWAYS BE PROBLEMS WITH IT.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE DETRACTORS
AND PROBLEMS WITH THE
LEGISLATURES TO ADVANCE PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE MIGHT BE MOVING A
PROBLEM BUT IF YOU READ THIS
AUDIT, IT TALKS ABOUT MAKING
SURE -- THE IMPORTANCE OF
UNDERSTANDING THE MICRO
CONDITIONS AT PLACES. WE ARE
TARGETING A PLACE WHERE
ACTIVITY MIGHT MOVE BUT IT DOES
NOT MEAN IT WILL MOVE IN THE
SAME CONCENTRATION BECAUSE
THERE IS ALSO A DETERRENT
ELEMENT HERE AND THOSE MICRO
CONDITIONS DON'T EXIST
ELSEWHERE. IT IS TIME TO FOCUS
OUR EFFORTS AND THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE DOING. MORE TOOLS. WHAT WE
ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS NOT
ENOUGH. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO
DO, NOTHING? GO FORWARD AND BE
SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO.
THAT IS NOT AN OPTION AND I
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT
TO THANK YOU ALL AT THE TABLE
HERE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO
SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVES, YOUR
FEEDBACK, HOW WE CAN MAKE THESE
PROPOSALS EVEN BETTER AND
BETTER. CHALLENGING US TO BE
BETTER TOO AND WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH US AND
HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
RESULTS. I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW
AND YOU DON'T NEED ME TO SAY
THIS BUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE
MATTERS AND THEY ARE GREATLY
APPRECIATED AND THEY WILL HELP
US BE BETTER WHEREVER WE LAND
ON THIS BILL. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROPOSAL
TO HOLD BUYERS ACCOUNTABLE,
SHUT DOWN SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
AND ULTIMATELY REDUCE GUN
VIOLENCE IN THE AREA. WITH
RESPECT TO BOTH S.O.D.A. AND
S.O.A.P. , I AM STILL
EVALUATING THESE PROPOSALS. I
THINK WE ALL ARE BECAUSE WE ARE
NOT VOTING ON THEM TODAY BUT I
WILL NOTE THAT SOMEONE
MENTIONED THIS DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT EARLIER. IT IS A FACT.
WE ARE SIMPLY NOT GOING TO
ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF THESE
CHALLENGES. ABSOLUTELY I
UNDERSTAND THAT, EVERYBODY
DOES. I WILL ALSO SAY THIS.
FLIPSIDE OF THE COIN, I LOVE
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND HEALING
CIRCLES JUST AS MUCH AS THE
NEXT GUY. COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE
PERFECTLY HONEST WITH YOU. WE
ARE NOT GOING TO COME BY OUR
OUR WAY OUT OF THIS. WE NEED
MORE TOOLS. WE NEED TO EXPAND
THE ARRAY OF OPTIONS. IT DOES
NOT MEAN WE HAVE TO EXERCISE.
IT DOES NOT EVEN MEAN A JUDGE
WILL GRANT IT. WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING AND ADOPTING THE WAIT
AND SEE APPROACH, RELYING
SOLELY ON LUCK, NOT AN
EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
STRATEGY. I AM HERE TO DO
BETTER . WE ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH IMPACTING
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND
YOU ALL DO EXACTLY THAT SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO COME HERE
TODAY. IT IS NOT EASY TO PUT
YOURSELF IN A PUBLIC LIMELIGHT
OR TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE
EXPERIENCED WITH THE WORK THAT
YOU DO. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE
BECOME SOMEWHAT POLITICIZED AND
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
POLITICIZE HUMAN SUFFERING. I
APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
WILLING TO LISTEN TO ME AND
WORK WITH ME. IT IS NOT A
PERFECT BILL. WE DON'T HAVE A
PERFECT SOLUTION. I REALLY HAVE
TRIED TO TAKE ON BOARD WHAT YOU
HAVE POINTED OUT AND I JUST
WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE PURPOSE
OF THIS BILL IS TO PROVIDE THE
TOOLS TO GO AFTER THE BUYERS
AND THE PIMPS AND TO PROVIDE
SERVICES, OFFRAMP'S AND THE
COLLABORATION, THE MONEY THAT
YOU NEED TO DO THE INCREDIBLE
WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING ON A
SHOESTRING RIGHT NOW. WE CAN
IMPROVE THE BILL, ABSOLUTELY. I
AM CERTAINLY OPEN TO THAT.
THERE WAS NO INTEND TO SHUT
PEOPLE OUT. WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING. WE HAVE TO BE HONEST
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAVE IN OUR SOCIETY. WE HAVE TO
BE HONEST ABOUT ALL OF THE
MEMBERS WHO LIVE IN OUR SOCIETY
AND PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY TO
ALL OF THEM. IT WON'T ALWAYS
BE EASY BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT
THIS WILL GIVE US THE TOOLS
THAT WE NEED AND IT ADDRESSES
SOME OF THE PRIOR PROBLEMS IN
TERMS OF SPECIFIC TRAINING FOR
POLICE OFFICERS IN SURVIVOR
INFORMED AND STATED DIVERSION
POLICIES. OTHER EXEMPTIONS, ALL
OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GOING
TO BE IMPORTANT TO MAKING SURE
THAT WE DO NOT GO BACK TO THE
BATTLE FACE, THAT WE MOVE
FORWARD IN AN ENLIGHTENED
MATTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I DO JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE,
IN ADDITION TO EVERYONE HERE,
EVERY LAST PUBLIC COMMENTOR, WE
DON'T GET A LOT OF THIS BUT I
DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY
THANK YOU TO THE YOUTH WHO SIT
ON THE BACK HERE. A YOUNG LADY
AND A MOM, HER 14-YEAR-OLD
GIRL. THANK YOU FOR SHARING
YOUR INSIGHTS AND EMPOWERING US
AND I HAVE A 10-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER MYSELF AND I HOPE SHE
IS EQUALLY ENGAGED AS YOU ARE.
THANK YOU. ANYWAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A 9-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER. I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I THANK EVERYONE FOR THOUGHTFUL
MEETING ON TWO VERY DIFFERENT
TOPICS THAT PUSHES THROUGH
DISINFORMATION TO GET THE
INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR THE
PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC,
ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE, THOSE
WHO ARE OUTSIDE FOR ATTORNEY
DAVISON, ATTORNEY CHIEF TOM
MAHAFFEY AND OUR PANEL . THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. THANK
YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION ON THE
BILL AND THE DETAILS OF THE
BILL. AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NOTED, WE ARE DEVOTED TO PUBLIC
SAFETY AND OTHER CHALLENGES
THAT WE FACE. REST ASSURED, WE
ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE OLD
COUNCIL IN TERMS OF THE GOALS
THAT WE ARE STRIVING FOR. JUST
COME DOWN TO THE POINT THAT WE
CANNOT BE ENGAGED. WE CANNOT
THINKING WE CAN HAVE HOPE
STRATEGY TO GET TO THAT GOAL.
ANY STRATEGY THAT WE HAD LIKE
OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, THE
MAYORS BILLS, WHEREVER THEY
COME FROM, THE INTENT IS TO BE
PRACTICAL AND TO GET ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS. THAT IS OUR
APPROACH, TO BE PRACTICAL, TO
TAKEN THE TESTIMONY, TO MY
EARLIER POINT ABOUT THE THREE
BILLS I MENTIONED IN THE
BEGINNING, WE CAN DO THAT.
ULTIMATELY, OUR MISSION HERE IS
TO PUT FAITH IN OUR CITY THAT
LEADS WITH COMPASSION, THAT
LEADS WITH EMPATHY AND ALSO HAS
THE WISDOM TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE
TO GOVERN AS A FULL COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE
WHO HAS BEEN HERE TODAY. WE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING AGENDA. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? SEEING NONE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.