PLEASE STAND BY FOR REALTIME
CAPTIONS.
>>> GOOD MORNING, THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 9:31 AND,
SEPTEMBER 10th, 2024. I AM
ROBERT KETTLE, CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> CHAIR KETTLE. CHAIR, THERE
ARE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. I AM
HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION. THE AGENDA IS A
ADOPTED. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS
SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLUS ALL OF THE
EMAILS, MANY OF YOU SENT EMAILS
, CONVERSATIONS, ALL OF THE
ABOVE. IT IS VITAL AS WE GO
THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK, FOR ALL OF THE
COMMENTS AND ALSO THE SUPPORT
YOU HAVE GIVEN, THE SYNAPSE. I
OFTEN NOTE THAT THIS SIDE SEEMS
TO BE A LITTLE STRONGER WITH
THE SNAPS WHEN YOU ARE SHOWING
APPRECIATION OR SOME TYPE OF
RESPONSE TO THE SPEAKER. THIS
SIDE TENDS TO BE A LITTLE
QUIETER, BUT I'M HOPING THAT
ALL OF US CAN WORK THROUGH THE
SNAPS AS WE GO THROUGH TODAY. I
ALSO WANTED TO NOTE SEPARATELY
THAT WE ARE FACING MANY PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES ACROSS OUR
CITY, TO INCLUDE AREAS LIKE
THIRD AVENUE AND AURORA AND IN
PREVIOUS MEETINGS, WE HAVE
CALLED FOR, TO ENGAGE THE
COUNTY. BEYOND THE KING COUNTY
JAIL TO THE KING COUNTY SHERIFF
AND METRO TRANSIT SECURITY. I
JUST WANTED TO SAY PUBLICLY,
THANK YOU TO THE SHERIFF AND TO
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR
THEIR EFFORTS THAT HAVE STARTED
ALONG THIRD AVENUE. IT IS SO
IMPORTANT AS WE SEEK TO IMPROVE
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY POSTURE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT
PARTICULARLY, THESE CHALLENGING
AREAS LIKE THIRD AVENUE AND
AURORA. SEPARATELY, OUR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
POSTURE. THE PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT THROUGHOUT OUR CITY
THAT WE FACE. I WANTED TO ALSO
THANK THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL
FOR THEIR VOTE ON THE JUVENILE
DETENTION CENTER. THEIR
APPROACH OF INCORPORATING THE
IDEA OF COMPASSION AND WISDOM
WILL HELP THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE IN
CRISIS, WHILE PROTECTING THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES,
BUT SADLY, HAVE BEEN TRAGICALLY
IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE , TRULY,
SADLY, MANY TIMES BY YOUNG
ADULTS. I WANTED TO THANK BOTH
FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN THIS AREA
THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING NOW IN
OUR STREETS TODAY. OKAY, WE
WILL NOW MOVE TO THE OPEN
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ITEMS SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA OR WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP FOR TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 50 IN
PERSON SPEAKER SIGNED UP, AND
THERE ARE 57 REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
ONE MINUTE. AS TIME ALLOWS, WE
WILL START WITH IN PERSON
SPEAKERS. LET'S GO,
APPROXIMATELY 10 PER SLOT.
THANK YOU.
>> THE FIRST IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS EMMY.
>> CAN YOU READ OUT A COUPLE AT
A TIME? PLEASE START TO LINE UP
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAMES
CALLED. THANK YOU.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS EMMY,
FOLLOWED BY BINGO AND MacKENZIE
RAYNOR.
>> EITHER ONE WILL WORK. BY THE
WAY, THESE ARE FLEXIBLE. ARE
THE MICROPHONES ON?
>> THEY SHOULD BE.
>> HELLO, IS THIS ON? CAN I
START?
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS EMMY. I RUN
STREET OUTREACH FOR WOMEN
WORKING ALONG SOUTH KING
COUNTY, SO I HAVE THAT
EXPERIENCE. I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S AMENDMENT
TO REMOVE THE PEOPLE WORKING IN
THE SEX TRADE. IT TARGETS THEM,
IT SCAPEGOATS THEM FOR THE
VIOLENCE THEY ARE NOT
COMMITTING, AND INCREASES
DIFFICULTY FOR PEOPLE ACCESSING
SERVICES AND PEOPLE DOING
OUTREACH. PROVIDING SERVICES
REQUIRES RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
AND LONG-TERM , CONSISTENT
PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT
IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE ALSO
THE PERSON, WHO IS POLICING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, POLICE, EVEN
IN THE BEST CIRCUMSTANCES, THE
POLICE ARE NOT A GREAT WAY TO
ACCESS THOSE WOMEN AND PEOPLE
IN THE SEX TRADE.
>> THANK YOU.
[ INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BINGO ,
FOLLOWED BY MacKENZIE RAYNOR
AND KRISTIN O'DONNELL.
>> OF MORNING, MY NAME IS BINGO
AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I
AM IN -- A DISABLED SEX WORKER,
AND HERETO OPPOSE THE
PROSTITUTION LOITERING BILL.
BUT THE BILL PROPOSES WILL TAKE
AWAY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
RESOURCES THAT WE DESPERATELY
NEED. I RELY ON CLIENT AND GIG
WORKER TO PAY MY BILLS. THIS
WILL TAKE AWAY AN ESSENTIAL
INCOME FOR ME. PASSING THIS
BILL WILL KILL ME, IT WILL KILL
MY FRIENDS. IT NEVER TAKES AWAY
BUT IT 62. ALL IT DOES IS CAUSE
FOREVER HARM TO THE COMMUNITY
IT SEEKS TO CONTROL. THIS BILL
WILL PUT MY FRIENDS THAT I AT
HIGHER RISK. THIS BILL WILL PUT
US IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS
AGAIN. IT WILL KILL US. I NEED
YOU TO HEAR ME AND SEE ME AS A
PERSON. PASSING THIS WILL FORCE
A CRISIS ON ME AND MY FRIENDS.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EARN FOR
WHAT I NEED IN ORDER TO
SURVIVE. I DO NEED MY WORK. MY
FRIENDS DO. DON'T TAKE AWAY
OUR WORK FROM US. LISTEN TO US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
MacKENZIE RAYNOR, FOLLOWED BY
KRISTIN O'DONNELL AND ANITA --
I AM PROBABLY MISPRONOUNCING
THAT. PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
>> MY NAME IS MacKENZIE AND I
AM HERETO OPPOSE THE SOAP AND
SODA MEASURES. SOAP WOULD ALLOW
SEATTLE POLICE TO ARREST PEOPLE
FOR BEING SEX WORKERS. IT
PERPETUATES THE MYTH THAT SEX
WORKERS LOOK A CERTAIN WAY,
WHICH IS UNDOUBTEDLY UNTRUE. IF
YOU ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY, YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING
LIKE BENNING ROAD -- BANNING
GUNS. YOU CAN'T MAKE SOMEBODY
GET SOBER. TRUST ME, I HAVE
TRIED IT. NO MANY HOW MANY
TIMES I HAVE POURED SOMEBODY'S
ALCOHOL DOWN THE DRAIN, THEY
FIND A WAY TO GET MORE BECAUSE
THAT IS HOW ADDICTION WORKS. IF
YOU ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY IN TERMS OF DRUG USE,
YOU WOULD CONSIDER MAKING
TREATMENT MORE ACCESSIBLE, BUT
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT. YOU
WANT AN EXCUSE TO BAN POOR
PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF
THE CITY. LIKE YOU HEARD LAST
MONTH, THIS IS ALSO A CIVIL
RIGHTS ISSUE. START LISTENING
TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU
CLAIM TO PROTECT AND DO NOT
PASS THESE MEASURES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTIN
O'DONNELL, FOLLOWED BY ANITA
AND AUSTIN FIELD. [
INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> KRISTIN O'DONNELL AND I AM
HOPING WE GET TO THE
AMENDMENTS. I , ACTUALLY, HOPE
YOU'RE DOING THIS. IT DOESN'T
WORK. WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH
HERE IS A BLUE LINE THERE , THE
BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE EAST
PRECINCT AND THE WEST PRECINCT.
THE REDLINE IS THE NORTH
BOUNDARY OF THE SOAP AREA.
THERE IS NO NORTH-SOUTH STREETS
BETWEEN KESSLER AND MAIN STREET
. THAT AREA DOES NOT GET
PATROLLED. IN THE LAST YEAR, WE
HAVE HAD TWO MURDERS, AND
OVERDOSE DEATH OUTSIDE A
BUILDING SIX, AN ENCAMPMENT
OUTSIDE OF BUILDING SIX. WE
HAVE FREQUENT GUNSHOTS, SHUT
OUT OF A WINDOW IN ONE OF OUR
BUILDINGS LAST WEEK. THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED DOWN
BECAUSE THEY WERE RECEIVING
DEATH THREATS. IF YOU HAVE TO
DO THIS, AND YOU SHOULDN'T ,
PLEASE -- [ INDISCERNIBLE - LOW
VOLUME ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANITA,
FOLLOWED BY AUSTIN AND BONNIE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
ANITA, KING COUNTY PUBLIC
DEFENDER AND I AM HERE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE TO REVIVE THE SOAP
AND SODA ZONES. HERE, I'M HERE
TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO AN
OPERATIONAL ISSUE WITH PROPOSED
SODA ZONE FIVE. THE ZONE
PRESENTS AN UNCERTAINTY THAT
DPD CLIENTS SUBJECT TO SODA
ORDERS WOULD VIOLATE THEM IN
ORDER TO MEET WITH THEIR
ATTORNEYS. ALTHOUGH OUR OFFICES
ON THE BORDER OF THE PROPOSED
ZONE, THE MOST DIRECT PATH RUN
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE PROPOSED
ZONE. WE UNDERSTAND THE DRAFT
LEGISLATIVE TEXT INCLUDES
MEETINGS WITH LEGAL COUNSEL,
BUT THIS ACCOMMODATION IS
LARGELY USELESS. MANY CLIENTS
DO NOT HAVE STABLE HOUSING AND
HAD DIFFICULTY ADHERING TO
SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS. THEY
FREQUENTLY DROP IN TO SEE THEIR
LAWYERS WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT,
EVEN IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE
SOMEONE WAS ARRESTED FOR
VIOLATING A SODA ORDER , THE
LAWYER CANNOT DISCLOSE THAT
FACT BECAUSE IT'S PRIVILEGE.
THE ATTORNEY WOULD BECOME A
MATERIAL WITNESS TO ANY
PROCEEDINGS INVOLVED IN THE
ALLEGED VIOLATION. THIS WOULD
REQUIRE THE CITY TO --
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I
RECOGNIZE THERE IS FEEDBACK OR
SECONDARY SPEAKERS, SO I CAN
HEAR MY VOICE ECHOING. I
APOLOGIZE. WE ARE WORKING ON
THAT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AUSTIN,
FOLLOWED BY BONNIE. [
INDISCERNIBLE - MUFFLED ]
>> YOU HAVEN'T PROPOSED ANY
RESOURCES. YOU HAVEN'T PROPOSED
ANY STRATEGY. THIS IS THEATER.
THIS IS ALL TALK. YOU ARE
ISSUING A PROCLAMATION -- WHAT
IS ALREADY ILLEGAL IS NOW A
LITTLE MORE ILLEGAL. YOU'RE
GOING TO LOCK UP A FEW PEOPLE ,
USE THEM AS PROPS AND FORGET
ABOUT THEM AND MOVE ON. YOU'RE
GOING TO EXPECT PEOPLE LIKE ME
TO CLEAN UP THE MESS THAT YOU
HAVE MADE THROUGH YOUR
PERFORMATIVE ANTICS AND YOU
SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES
FOR WASTING PEOPLE'S TIME AND
FOR FAILING TO PROPOSE REAL
SOLUTIONS TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AS A REMINDER, PLEASE
EXPRESS YOURSELVES WITH SNAPS.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BONNIE,
FOLLOWED BY SARESH AND THEN
CHRISTIE.
>> IS THIS WORKING? [
INDISCERNIBLE - MUFFLED ]
[ INDISCERNIBLE - MUFFLED ]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARESH,
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTIE AND
MADISON, AND AFTER MADISON WE
WILL TURN TO REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SARESH. MY
WIFE AND I AND OUR THREE
CHILDREN LIVE IN DISTRICT 3,
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE SAIGON.
I'M A MEMBER OF HOUSING, AND
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR
ORGANIZATION IN OPPOSITION TO
THE SODA AND SOAP LEGISLATION.
THERE IS A REASON WE REPEALED
OUR PROSTITUTION LOITERING
LAWS. THEY DON'T WORK. THEY
DON'T KEEP ME AND MY FAMILY
SAFER, NOR DO THEY PREVENT
TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION OF
SEX WORKERS. POVERTY AND
FINANCIAL INSTABILITY, LARGELY
DRIVEN BY THE HIGH COST OF
HOUSING ARE THE ROOT CAUSE OF
MOST VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIME
IN OUR CITY. RAPID ACCESS TO
SAFE HOUSING FOR TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS AND PEOPLE STRUGGLING
WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IS
WHAT WILL KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE.
THAT IS A PROVEN MODEL TO
ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE IN
EQUITABLE CITIES AROUND THE
WORLD, LIKE AMSTERDAM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTI,
FOLLOWED BY MADISON, AND THEN
WE ARE MOVING TO REMOTE
COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS
KRISTI, I AM AN ATTORNEY WITH
THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE LAW CENTER
THAT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL WILL
-- WE WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE
WHILE ENGAGING IN SEX WORK.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE
PROSTITUTION LOITERING
ORDINANCE. WE SHARE THE GOAL OF
STOPPING SEXUAL EXPLICATION AND
TRAFFICKING, CRIMINALIZING THE
PEOPLE VICTIMIZED BY VIOLENCE
DOES NOT ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.
STATING A PREFERENCE FOR
DIVERSION AND RECORD CEILING IS
NOT ENOUGH TO MITIGATE THE HARM
THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL
CAUSE TO AN ALREADY VULNERABLE,
STIGMATIZED AND ISOLATED
POPULATION. BY STATE STATUTE ,
CEILING A MISDEMEANOR REQUIRES
A THREE YEAR WAITING PERIOD.
THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL
CREATE A CRIMINAL RECORD FOR
THE PEOPLE THIS COUNCIL CLAIMS
THEY WANT TO PROTECT, WHICH
WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO
GET JOBS AND HOUSING, ADDING
THESE BARRIERS WILL INCREASE
THE VULNERABILITY TO
TRAFFICKING. IF YOU WANT TO
STOP SEXUAL EXPLOITATION,
PLEASE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR
HOUSING , SO SURVIVORS CAN --
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR LAST IN-PERSON SPEAKER
BEFORE WE MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKING IS MADISON. AS A BRIEF
NOTE, WE WILL BE RETURNING TO
IN PERSON AFTER THE END OF THIS
PARTICULAR GROUP.
>> MADISON, STRIPPERS ARE
WORKERS, A SEATTLE-BASED
ORGANIZATION. I'M HERE TO LEAD
OFF A LIST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE PROPOSING THESE BILLS,
AND REPRESENT COUNTLESS
CONSTITUENTS. API, ACCOUNTABLE
COMMUNITIES CONSORTIUM, ACLU,
ALLIANCE FOR GUN
RESPONSIBILITY, ALPHABET
ALLIANCE FOR COLOR, BLACK
CAUCUS COMMUNITY GROUP. CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB. CIVIL SEATTLE.
THE COALITION ENDING
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. THE
COALITION FOR RIGHTS AND SAFETY
FOR PEOPLE IN THE SEX TRADE.
COCOON HOUSE. CREATIVE JUSTICE.
DIVERSITY ALLIANCE OF THE PUGET
SOUND. EVERGREEN TREATMENT
SERVICES. GENDER JUSTICE
LEAGUE. THE GREENLIGHT PROJECT.
G SBA. HARBORVIEW ABUSE AND
TRAUMA CENTER. THE KING COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC DEFENSE.
THE LAVENDER RIGHTS PROJECT.
LEGAL VOICE. LOOK TO JUSTICE.
THE MASSAGE PARLOR OUTREACH
PROJECT. NEW BEGINNINGS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
HOWARD. HOWARD, YOU ARE --
APOLOGIES. HOWARD YOU ARE
UNMUTED. PLEASE CLICK STAR 6 TO
SPEAK.
[ INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE BRIEFLY HAVING SOME
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, SO WE
ARE GOING TO RETURN TO IN
PERSON, WHILE WE FIGURE OUT THE
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. OUR NEXT
IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS AL
FOLLOWED BY ERIN.
>> RESET THE TIME, PLEASE.
>> I AM WORKING ON IT.
>> MY NAME IS ALAN I'M A
DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT, HERE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE SOAP SODA
BILL. HERE ARE SOME OF THE
OTHER PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAVE OPPOSED THIS BILL.
CITY OF SEATTLE OFFICE OF CITY
RIGHTS, FORMER ATTORNEY PETE
HOLMES, SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION, SEATTLE KING COUNTY
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS,
ORGANIZATION FOR PROSTITUTION
SURVIVORS, PRO-CHOICE
WASHINGTON, UTOPIA, YOUTH CARE,
AND SEVERAL OF MY DISTRICT 5
NEIGHBORS, WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY
IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL AND ARE
NOW OPPOSED ONCE THEY HAVE
LEARNED WHAT IT ACTUALLY
ENTAILS. THERE IS BROAD, VOCAL
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, AND
GET, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE IS
STILL PUSHING IT FORWARD,
ARRESTING THE MOST VULNERABLE
CONSTITUENTS, DESPITE HAVING
BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN
HOW INEFFECTIVE AND HARMFUL IT
IS FROM PREVIOUSLY HAVING THESE
LAWS ON THE BOOKS. THE MEMO
THAT RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE
BILL , IT APPEARS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE DOES NOT
CARE ABOUT LISTENING TO US OR
CONTINUING THE APPEARANCE OF
DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER
IS ERIN, FOLLOWED BY RYAN.
>> MY NAME IS AARON PHILLIPS
AND I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 4, AND I AM URGING YOU
TO VOTE NO ON COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S SOAP SODA BILL. HAVING
YOUR LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY
$5000 FINE AND JAIL TIME IS
JUST GOING TO MAKE IT
CONSIDERABLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR
PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO
ACTUALLY GET BACK ON THEIR
FEET. THIS POLICY WOULD
EXACERBATE INCOME INEQUALITY IN
ON OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES
IN THE COUNTRY AND DRIVES THOSE
WHO ARE STRUGGLING DEEPER INTO
POVERTY. DECREASING ACCESS TO
RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE USE TO
ACHIEVE UPWARD ECONOMIC
MOBILITY ONLY PERPETUATES THIS
VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY. THIS
POVERTY -- POLICY WORSENS THE
PROBLEMS IT SEEKS TO ADDRESS. I
YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER
IS RYAN, FOLLOWED BY JORDAN.
>> HI, THANK YOU, MY NAME IS
RYAN. I AM THE STAFF OF THE
ALLIANCE FOR GUN RESPONSIBILITY
AND WE ARE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
SODA BILL. THE BILL CONFLICTS
-- CONFLATES SEX WORK WITH GUN
VIOLENCE. SEX WORKERS
EXPERIENCE AN EXTREMELY HIGH
RATE OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING GUN
VIOLENCE. MORE THAN 80% OF SEX
WORKERS ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
AND 30% REPORTED VIOLENCE OF
THREATS OR VIOLENCE FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT. SOAP DOES NOTHING
TO CHANGE THE SOCIOECONOMIC
CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO
TRAFFICKING OR RISK OF
VIOLENCE. FEAR OF ARREST MAY
CAUSE SEX WORKERS TO AVOID
REPORTING BEING VICTIMS, AND
THEREFORE, MISUNDERSTANDING THE
PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO HELP
PREVENT VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT OUR
CITY AND FOR SEX WORKERS,
ADDITIONAL MONEY SHOULD BE
DIRECTED TO CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAMS LIKE THE CARE TEAM.
PLEASE CONSIDER FURTHER
INVESTMENT IN THE 100 DAYS OF
ACTION WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY
COMMITTED TO. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE JORDAN, FOLLOWED BY
HOWELL OR HALLEY.
>> MY NAME IS JORDAN. I WORK IN
DISTRICT 5 AND I'M HERE TO ASK
YOU TO VOTE NO ON COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S PROSTITUTION LOITERING
LAW. IF THIS BILL IS PASSED IT
WILL NOT STOP STREET BASED SEX
WORK FROM OCCURRING IN SEATTLE,
BUT IT WILL MAKE IT UNSAFE FOR
WORKERS BY PUTTING THEM AT RISK
OF ARREST, HAVING THEM PAY UP
TO $5000 FINE, MISSING OUT ON
INCOME OPPORTUNITIES AND
ACCESSING RESOURCES. IT
CRIMINALIZES VICTIMS OF SEX
TRAFFICKING, FURTHER
TRAUMATIZING THEM, OPENING THEM
UP TO MORE ABUSE, MAKING IT
MORE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS
PATHWAYS TO CARE AND SAFETY, AS
SOAP WOULD RESTRICT ACCESS TO
THE AURORA COMMENTS, ONE OF THE
ONLY RESOURCES FOR SEX
WORKERS. THIS BILL WILL CAUSE
AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF HARM TO AN
ALREADY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HOLLY ,
FOLLOWED BY TIME, AND I
APOLOGIZE FOR MISPRONOUNCING
NAME.
>> MY NAME IS HOLLY WILLIS, AND
I AM A RENTER AND VOTER IN
DISTRICT 6. I'M HERE TODAY TO
OPPOSE THE PROSTITUTION
LOITERING ORDINANCES. WE HAVE
TRIED THESE BAN'S BEFORE.
HERE, AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
WE KNOW THEY ARE NOT THE RIGHT
TOOL. IT WON'T HELP PEOPLE WHO
WILL BE ARRESTED OR BANISHED
AND IT WON'T INCREASE PUBLIC
SAFETY. BUT, WE KNOW WHAT
WORKS. WE KNOW EVERYONE IS
SAFER WHEN EVERYONE CAN MEET
THEIR BASIC NEEDS. OUR HUMAN
SERVICES ECOSYSTEM CAN AND DOES
MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND
INTO HOUSING , HELPS PEOPLE
RECOVER FROM ADDICTION AND
LEAVE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION, AND MUCH OF THAT
HAS BEEN DONE WITH CITY
FUNDING. BUT, WE HAVE NEVER
FUNDED THOSE PROGRAMS AT THE
SCALE THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WORK WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK
TO CRAFT GOOD POLICY AND INVEST
IN WHAT WORKS, NOT WHAT WE KNOW
ISN'T WORKING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TIES,
AND THE SPEAKER AFTER THAT IS
ASPEN.
>> I AM A CONCERNED SEATTLE
RESIDENT HERE TO SPEAK OUT
AGAINST THE SODA AND SOAP LAWS,
BECAUSE I'M SICK OF USING CITY
RESOURCES ON A WEIRD VENDETTA
AGAINST POOR PEOPLE. I'M HERE
TO TELL YOU THAT IF YOU REALLY
WANT TO REDUCE CRIME YOU NEED
TO REDUCE POVERTY, AND YOU
DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION BECAUSE YOU NEED
TO START THINKING ABOUT THE
PEOPLE SITTING IN FRONT OF US.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE
POWER TO ACTUALLY REDUCE
POVERTY. INSTEAD, THEY WOULD
RATHER CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE THAT
ARE ALREADY AT THE BOTTOM RUNGS
OF THE SOCIETY. IF YOU WANT TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT REDUCING
CRIME ON AURORA, THIRD AVENUE,
YOU NEED TO BUILD HOUSING AND
MAKE RESOURCES MORE ACCESSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS ASPEN, FOLLOWED BY JORDAN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ASPEN COIL, I
LIVE A FIVE MINUTE WALK NORTH
OF THE PROPOSED SODA ZONE. I
GOT UP 45 MINUTES EARLY TODAY
TO DO A FULL FACE OF MAKEUP
BECAUSE I AM VERY WELL AWARE OF
HOW TRANS WOMEN ARE HELD TO A
HIGHER STANDARD OF PRESENT
ABILITY. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT
LIVES OFF OF AURORA, AND I
WORRY THAT POLICE MIGHT SEE A
SCANTILY CLAD TRANS-WOMAN AND
MIGHT WORRY THAT I'M ENGAGED IN
PROSTITUTION. EVEN IF EVERY
POLICE OFFICER WAS IMMUNE TO
BIAS, IT WOULD STILL BE A BAD
BILL. IT ATTACKS THE MOST
VULNERABLE, INSTEAD OF THE ROOT
CAUSES. IT ALSO WOULD NOT
REDUCE CRIME ASSOCIATED WITH
DRUG USE AND SEX TRAFFICKING.
IT WOULD MOVE IT INTO NEARBY
AREAS. THIS IS A WASTE OF
RESOURCES. SEATTLE HAS SO MANY
PROGRAMS THAT DESPERATELY NEED
FUNDING, AND TO ALLOCATE
RESOURCES TO A PLAN THAT DOES
NOT HELP ANYONE WOULD BE A
TRAGIC WASTE. IN SUMMARY, THIS
BILL DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETS
THE MOST VULNERABLE, IT HELPS
NOBODY AND WASTES RESOURCES. I
URGE YOU TO VOTE NO. [ APPLAUSE
]
>> OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER
IS JORAN FOLLOWED BY KATE.
>> MY NAME IS JORAN, I LIVE OFF
A BLOCK OFF OF AURORA AVENUE. I
DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE CITY
ESTABLISHING LAWS -- WITH THIS
PASSING, SEX WORKERS WOULD BE
EVEN FURTHER DEHUMANIZED AND
WILL FACE DIFFICULTY FINDING
FINANCIAL STABILITY IN THEIR
LIVES. I SEE NO HARM FROM THE
PRESENCE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS
ON THE STREETS. I FAIL TO SEE
THE NEED FOR THEM TO BE
STOPPED, HARASSED AND ARRESTED.
THE SURVEILLANCE MAKES ME FEEL
UNSAFE AS A CAREER PERSON OF
COLOR. THE POLICE HAVE SHOWN
TIME AND TIME AGAIN -- SEX
WORKERS DO NOT MAKE ME FEEL
ENDANGERED. WHAT SCARES ME IS
LAW ENFORCEMENT'S INABILITY TO
IDENTIFY ACTUAL DANGER , THEIR
PROFICIENCY IN CRIMINALIZING
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE. I DO NOT
WANT TO SEE ADDITIONAL STOP AND
FRISK LAWS THAT PUT MY
COMMUNITY IN FURTHER DANGER. AS
A REMINDER, SEX WORK IS SEX
WORK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SNAPS PLEASE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATE AND
WE WILL RETURN TO REMOTE
COMMENTS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
KATE WELDON AND I WORK IN
SONOMA COUNTY. AS A MANAGER OF
A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS
SURVIVORS OF EXPLOITATION,
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND OTHER
FORMS OF VIOLENCE, I'M HERE TO
ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE
PROSTITUTION LOITERING SOAP AND
SODA ZONE LAWS. MANY OF OUR
CLIENTS TRAVEL REGULARLY TO
SEATTLE, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED
SOAP AND SODA ZONES. OUR DROP
CENTER USED TO BE LOCATED IN A
SOAP ZONE IN EVERETT, WHERE
CLIENTS STRUGGLE TO ACCESS
THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS, DUE TO
THE DIFFICULTIES OF NAVIGATING
IN AND OUT OF THE SODA ZONE
WITHOUT INCURRING MORE CHARGES.
THERE IS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL
FOR THESE LAWS TO INCREASE
BARRIERS TO SAFETY, FUTURE
EMPLOYMENT AND LONG-TERM
STABILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
ARE EXPERIENCING EXPLOITATION
OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO A
PERIOD OF REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
HITS PAUL. KIT, PLEASE HIT STAR
6 AND YOU WILL BE UNMUTED.
>> I AM. HELLO, COUNSELORS, MY
NAME IS KIT AND I LIVE IN
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S DISTRICT
INSIDE OF THE PROPOSED SOAP
ZONE ON AURORA. I'M URGING YOU
TO VOTE NO ON THIS BILL. THIS
WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE
HARASSED BY POLICE FOR EXISTING
IN A PUBLIC SPACE AND IF
ARRESTED, BLOCK THEM FROM AN
ENTIRE AREA, EVEN BEFORE A
TRIAL. IT IS NOT THE RIGHT PATH
FORWARD. WE SHOULD BE MOVING
FORWARD WITH LEGISLATION MEANT
TO HELP AND PROTECT THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE, NOT
MOVING BACKWARDS WITH BILLS
THAT WILL ONLY INCREASE THE
CRIMINAL THREAT OF VULNERABLE
PEOPLE BY POLICE, WHICH IS WHY
THIS LAW WAS REPEALED IN THE
FIRST PLACE. EVEN WITH THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT, THESE BILLS
ARE A STEP IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION AND I HOPE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORE MAC -- MOORE
CAN SEE THAT THIS DOES NOT
REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS
INTERESTS. AGAIN, I AM ASKING
YOU TO VOTE NO.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
HALEY SPENCER. PLEASE SELECT
STAR 6.
>> HI, MY NAME IS HALEY. I'M
CALLING BECAUSE I'M GREATLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISING GUN
VIOLENCE CITYWIDE. MY MOM WAS
WORKING AT INGRAM DURING THE
SHOOTING IN 2022. IT WAS
TERRIFYING. IT HAD DEVASTATING
EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY. THAT
SHOOTING AND MANY OTHERS HAD
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH
SEX WORKERS. IT MAKES ME REALLY
ANGRY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
TASKED WITH MAKING OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER IS TRYING TO
PASS ON BILLS LIKE SOAP ,
SOMETHING THAT WILL LOWER GUN
VIOLENCE. THE ALLIANCE FOR
RESPONSIBILITY AND OTHER GROUPS
HAVE CONCERNS THAT SOAP WILL
INCREASE GUN VIOLENCE. WE
DESERVE STRATEGIES FOR GUN
VIOLENCE, NOT SCAPEGOATING OF
THE COMMUNITY. OUR FAMILIES AND
LOVED ONES DESERVE TO BE SAFE
IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS OF
SEATTLE. I AM BEGGING THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO SLOW
DOWN AND PROPOSE LAWS THAT
ACTUALLY REDUCE THE VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
TREY SULLIVAN. YOU CAN CLICK
STAR 6.
>> HI, I AM TREY. I LIVE IN THE
OAKTREE NEIGHBORHOOD OFF OF
AURORA AND SINCE TWO YEARS AGO,
SINCE THE LAW WAS PULLED , WE
HAD NOTHING BUT A TON OF GUN
VIOLENCE UP HERE. WE HAVE HAD
BULLETS HIT OUR HOUSES, CARS,
THROUGH WINDOWS, ALMOST HITTING
CHILDREN. WE HAVE SEEN WORKERS
GET HIT ON THE STREETS. I THINK
SOMETHING DOES NEED TO HAPPEN.
I DO WANT TO VOTE YES ON THIS
BILL , AND I ALSO WANT TO
CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WE DO NEED
TO ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET IS
GOING TOWARDS MORE RESOURCES,
IF WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH
WITH THIS BILL TO MAKE SURE
THERE ARE MORE PLACES FOR
PEOPLE TO GO TO, IF THEY ARE
BEING TAKEN OFF THE STREETS. I
ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE
BLOCKADE ON 101st HAS REALLY
HELPED. IT TAKES DOWN A LOT OF
VIOLENCE AND I WANT TO CONTINUE
TO SEE MORE BLOCKADES GO UP TO
PREVENT RACING THROUGH OUR
STREETS AND GUNS GOING THROUGH
, AND PEOPLE USUALLY GETTING
AWAY. I CEDE MY TIME. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
KATE RUBIN. KATE, PLEASE SELECT
STAR 6.
>> MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN, THE
ORGANIZING DIRECTOR , AND A
WORKER, RENTER AND VOTER LIVING
IN BEACON HILL. I'M DEEPLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE
MISINFORMATION BEING CONFIRMED
ABOUT THE SODA AND SOAP
LEGISLATION. WE HAVE TRIED THIS
LEGISLATION BEFORE, AND THEY
HAVE -- SEATTLE HAS EXPERTS
WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES READY TO
CONTRIBUTE HOW TO ADDRESS THE
ROOT CAUSES, BUT INSTEAD,
CHRISTINE MORELAND, A SHADY
MORTGAGE BROKER FROM PORTLAND.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN
REPEATEDLY FROM PLATFORMING
LANDLORDS WHILE FAILING RENTERS
APPOINTMENTS, WHILE
COLLABORATING WITH LOBBYISTS .
WHEN THE COUNCIL CLAIMS TO
REJECT SPECIAL INTERESTS, THEY
ARE REJECTING THE INTERESTS OF
THOSE SUFFERING FROM THEIR
DECISIONS WHILE VALUING PROFIT.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. VOTE NO
ON THE ANTI-HUMAN SOAP AND SODA
LEGISLATION.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
CARSON BELL. CARSON, PLEASE
SELECT STAR 6.
CARSON? ALL RIGHT, WE ARE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER, WHICH IS AMBER
BERGSTROM. AMBER, PLEASE HIT
STAR 6.
>> HI, MY NAME IS AMBER
BERGSTROM. I LIVE AND WORK IN
DISTRICT 5, A FEW BLOCKS OFF OF
AURORA. I VOLUNTEER FOR THE
GREENLIGHT PROJECT DOING
OUTREACH TWICE A WEEK ON
AURORA. SINCE 20 -- 2019, WE
HAVE PROVIDED -- MY CONCERNS
ABOUT THE PROPOSED
REINSTATEMENT OF THE LOITERING
LAWS WITH THE ADDITION OF SOAP
AND SODA BANISHMENT ZONES --
THE LOITERING LAWS WERE
REPEALED IN 2020 FOR BEING
INHERENTLY RACIST AND
UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE WORDING
OF THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS
INTENTIONALLY VAGUE AND
MISLEADING. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE
ANY RESOURCES FOR THE FOLKS
THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED. IT
MAKES PROMISES IT CAN'T KEEP
AND OFFERS NO REAL SOLUTION.
YOU CAN'T JUST BANISH PEOPLE
FROM THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THESE LAWS AREN'T ABOUT
HELPING TO SOLVE THE ROOT CAUSE
OF THE PROSTITUTION,
TRAFFICKING OR GUN VIOLENCE.
THEY ARE ABOUT EXCLUDING
UNSIGHTLY PEOPLE AND LOCKING
THEM IN JAIL. THESE BILLS DO
NOT TARGET THE SEX TRAFFICKERS
OR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GUNS.
INSTEAD, THEY CRIMINALIZE
VICTIMS. JAILING PEOPLE FOR
CRIMES OF POVERTY WILL MAKE IT
HARDER FOR THEM TO GET JOBS AND
HOUSING. IF CITY COUNCIL WANTS
TO CLEAN UP THE STREETS, THEY
NEED TO FOCUS ON CREATING MORE
LOW INCOME HOUSING, RAISING THE
MINIMUM WAGE , SO PEOPLE CAN
FEED THEIR FAMILIES. THERE IS
AN ABYSMAL LACK OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SHELTERS IN SEATTLE,
AND THEY ARE ALL A CAPACITY AND
THERE IS A WAIT LIST. MOST OF
THEM WON'T --
>> WE ARE GOING TO RETURN TO
CARSON. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
CARSON?
HI, IS MY MICROPHONE UNMUTED?
>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER,
AREATA.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CARSON, CAN
YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW, CARSON.
>> HI, I'M SO SORRY, I WAS
HAVING A HARD TIME. MY NAME IS
CARSON AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT
2. I WORK AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY
HEALTH , MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC
IN PIONEER SQUARE. ONE OF THE
PROPOSED SODA ZONES THAT HAS
BEEN PLACED IN PIONEER SQUARE
DIRECTLY OVERLAYS TWO VERY
LARGE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING SITES THAT SERVE AND
HOUSE SOME OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN SEATTLE.
IT ALSO COVERS A CLINIC THAT
SERVES 100 TO 150 PEOPLE A DAY,
3000 TO 4000 PEOPLE A YEAR,
PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING
MEDICATIONS THAT MANY OF THE
PEOPLE THAT PROPOSED THE SODA
ZONE ARE PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE
AND WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO BE ON
MEDICATION. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD
ELIMINATE AND KEEP PEOPLE FROM
BEING ABLE TO ACCESS
LIFE-SAVING CARE, WOULD KEEP
PEOPLE FROM BEING ACCESS --
BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR OWN
HOME. IT'S GOING TO
DRAMATICALLY AFFECT PEOPLE THAT
GET LIFE-SAVING CARE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
ARIANA. ARIANA, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ARIANA
RILEY. THE INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING ON
AURORA HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE
TAKEDOWN OF LOW-COST AD SITES
THAN ANYTHING ELSE. IT MADE IT
MUCH HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO
ADVERTISE FOR LEGAL SEX WORK .
IT DID NOT STOP SEX
TRAFFICKING, JUST AS THE SOAP
LAW WILL NOT STOP SEX
TRAFFICKING. TRAFFICKING OCCURS
MORE COMMONLY IN CONSTRUCTION
AND FARMLAND, GET WE NEVER HEAR
ABOUT LEGISLATION TO ARREST
CONSTRUCTION OR FARMWORKERS.
DECRIMINALIZING SEX WORK AND
REPEALING -- WOULD GET SEX
WORKERS OFF THE STREETS. THIS
BILL WILL INCREASE VIOLENCE AND
TRAFFICKING. VOTE NO ON BOTH
SODA AND SOAP.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
GABRIEL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
GABRIEL?
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M SO
SORRY. GOOD MORNING. I AM
GABRIEL NEWMAN, RELATIONSHIP
MANAGEMENT , I'M HERE TO
EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE
PROPOSED SOAP BILL WITH
AMENDMENTS. I PREVIOUSLY
TESTIFIED TO ENCOURAGE YOU NOT
TO PROMOTE SODA ZONES . I
APPRECIATE THAT YOU LISTENED TO
YOUR CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS. BY
INTRODUCING AN AMENDMENT TO ADD
SODA ZONES TO OTHER AREAS OF
I SUPPORT THESE AMENDMENTS IS
BECAUSE UNDER THE CURRENT
CAPACITY OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE SEE SODA AS
A IMPORTANT TOOL TO PREVENT
CRISIS FROM RE-ENTERING THE
AREA. HOWEVER, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT SODA ZONES DO NOT
RESULT IN IMPACTS TO THE
COMMUNITY. WE ENCOURAGE COUNCIL
FOR A REVIEW OF THE ZONES AFTER
A SET PERIOD OF TIME. THIS WAY,
OUR SAFETY ECOSYSTEMS SHIFTS
WITH TIME TO ENSURE THAT
POLICIES CONTINUE TO BENEFIT
THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
ALLISON. ALLISON, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6 AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS, CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> I CAN HEAR YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS, CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME
IS ALLISON, I AM THE DIRECTOR
OF THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS. WE
WERE PLANNERS OF THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA. I AM HERE TO
SPEAK, OF COURSE, IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELOQUENT FOLKS THAT ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE SOAP PROPOSAL
AND THE PROSTITUTION LOITERING
PROPOSAL, BUT I'M SPECIFICALLY
ASKING YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO
REMARKS ABOUT THE SODA
PROPOSAL. YOU RECEIVED THE
LETTER EARLIER FROM OUR
ORGANIZATION AND OTHERS THAT
ARE REPRESENTING FOLKS, WHO ARE
DOING THE WORK IN CIVIL LEGAL
AID IN PUBLIC HEALTH, IN NATIVE
LED WORK , AMONG OTHERS. WE ARE
TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY LEADERS,
URGING YOU TO STOP THE PROPOSAL
, WHICH IS CLEARLY
ILL-CONCEIVED, AND TO BRING
FORWARD REAL SOLUTIONS IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE
EXPERTISE --
>> OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER FOR
THIS PERIOD WILL BE JULIA.
JULIA. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. JULIA? ALL
RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD
TO TINA SANCHEZ. PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6 AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS TINA
SANCHEZ AND I'M CALLING TO
OPPOSE THE SODA AND SOAP
LEGISLATION. AFTER HEARING THE
PREVIOUS TESTIMONY OF OUR
NEIGHBORS, I'M URGING PEOPLE
TO WITHDRAW THIS LEGISLATION.
LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS. LISTEN
TO THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED
RESIDENTS. WE NEED RESOURCES TO
BE PUT INTO THE COMMUNITY LED
INITIATIVES, LIKE THE TENANT
WORKGROUP , THE AFFECTED
PERSONS PROGRAM. WE NEED
APPOINTMENTS TO THE RENTERS
COMMISSION. ALL OF THESE HAVE
BEEN DRAGGED OUT. WE HAVE
WITHHELD FUNDS, WE ARE NOT ABLE
TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THE ROOT
CAUSES OF WHY SOMEBODY MIGHT
HAVE TO WALK A STRAIGHT AT
NIGHT. YOU ARE CHOOSING TO
IGNORE 99% OF THE PEOPLE
CALLING IN. EVERYBODY UP AND
DOWN THE ECONOMIC LADDER -- THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO
LISTEN TO THE PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE, WHO ARE YOU LISTENING
TO ABOUT THIS KIND OF
LEGISLATION?
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NEVER RETURN TO IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT , AND OUR
FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE PETER,
FOLLOWED BY RICK.
>> GOOD MORNING. IS THIS ON?
GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS PETER,
AND I'M A PARENT LIVING BY
85th AND AURORA AND I OPPOSE
THE SODA AND SOAP LEGISLATION.
MEMOS ON THESE BILLS
EFFECTIVELY LABELED BOTH AS
RACIST LEGISLATION, STATING
THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY CHARGED WITH
THE CRIMES DESCRIBED IN THE
BILLS. THE MEMOS .2 POVERTY,
FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY AND
LACK OF RESOURCES AS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF DRUG USE AND
PROSTITUTION. UNFORTUNATELY,
THEY SAY THAT ADDRESSING THESE
ROOT CAUSES IS BEYOND THE SCOPE
OF THE BILLS. WHICH, BRINGS ME
TO ASK, WHY ARE YOU NOT WRITING
LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES ROOT
CAUSES? THE BILLS BEFORE YOU
CRIMINALIZE POVERTY AND
ADDICTION AND EXACERBATE
STRUCTURAL RACISM. THEY PROVIDE
NO RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE AND
TARGET ALREADY MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH
EXCLUSION -- BY SHOWING SOME
COMPASSION AND REJECTING BOTH
OF THESE BILLS YOU WOULD SAVE
MONEY ON POLICE ENFORCEMENT AND
COULD INSTEAD FUND PROACTIVE --
>> -- THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS RICK, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL,
AND A DIFFERENT RICK.
>> I WAS BORN APPEAR ON SWEDISH
HOSPITAL, AND UNTIL THE LAST
MEETING, I HAVE NEVER SAID A
WORD IN THIS ROOM. I HAVE A
PROBLEM. I LIVE O, AND
THIS IS KEY. I AM CLOSER TO
AURORA , AND LOOKING AT THAT
VIDEO AGAIN, YOU HAVE A WAR
ZONE IN YOUR CITY. THE OTHER
POINT I WANT TO TRY TO MAKE IS
THAT YOU SEE HOMELESSNESS , YOU
SEE FENTANYL , BUT IN THIS OPEN
AIR SEX MARKET, AND I'M NOT IN
IT, BUT WHEN I GOT HOME, I AM
IN IT, AND IT'S JUST MOST,
IT'S THE MOST DEHUMANIZING
THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE
BEST, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE
DONE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL,
FOLLOWED BY RICK YODER , AND
THEN SHANNON .
>> GOOD MORNING. LAST YEAR,
OVER 38 MILLION VISITORS SPENT
$2.8 BILLION ON OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY, SUPPORTING 65,000
JOBS. VISITORS PAY TAXES THAT
HELP TO FUND PROGRAMS LIKE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION AND MENTAL
HEALTH PROGRAMS. THE NUMBER ONE
THINGS VISITORS LOOK FOR IN A
DESTINATION IS SAFETY. THAT IS
IMPERATIVE. IF OUR STREET SCENE
IS NOT ADDRESSED WE WILL SOON
BE UNABLE TO OVERCOME
PERCEPTIONS ABOUT SEATTLE THAT
DISCOURAGE VISITATION, AFFECT
OUR ABILITY TO BOOK CONVENTIONS
AND DEGRADE THE ECONOMY. WHEN
WE CELEBRATE NEAR PRE-PANDEMIC
LEVELS OF VISITATION, WE HEAR
REGULARLY FROM VISITORS THAT
EXPERIENCE OR FEEL LIKE THEY
ARE IN DANGER DOWNTOWN. SEATTLE
IS ONE OF THE ONLY DESTINATIONS
IN THE U.S. WITH THE MAIN AREA
OF CONCERN LOCATED IN THE HEART
OF THE TOURIST CORRIDOR. THAT
HAS A SEVERE IMPACT ON LOCALS,
NOT JUST BUSINESS OWNERS, WHO
SUFFER. BUT, ON THOSE WHO
DON'T FEEL SAFE COMMITTING
DOWNTOWN. SODA MAY NOT BE A
PERFECT SOLUTION, BUT AN
IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION TO PROTECT VISITORS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE RICK YODER, FOLLOWED BY
SHANNON, AND THEN ELIZABETH.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM IN FAVOR
OF THE SODA ZONE. I AM THE
OWNER OF WILD GINGER ON THE
CORNER OF THIRD AND UNION. WE
ARE THE ONLY OPERATING BUSINESS
ON THAT SIDE OF THE BLOCK. THE
CHRONIC DRUG PROBLEM HAS
CREATED AN UNTENABLE SITUATION
FOR EVERYONE. USERS ARE DYING.
BUSINESSES ARE SUFFERING AND
THE TAX BASIS IS ERODING. IN
FACT, THE ONLY ONES PROFITING
ARE THE DEALERS. OVER THE PAST
FEW YEARS, WITH THE REDUCTION
IN THE POLICE FORCE THE DRUG
PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THE
CRIMINALS KNOW IT AND TAKE FULL
ADVANTAGE. EACH DAY AND NIGHT,
I WITNESSED VIOLENT, SCARY
BEHAVIOR AND SEE FIRSTHAND HOW
THE RAVAGES OF FENTANYL HAS
WASTED AWAY SO MANY YOUNG,
VITAL LIVES. DO YOU KNOW WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO HAVE YOUR
CUSTOMERS WALK IN AND THE FIRST
THING THEY SAY, -- DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE GENERATES HALF THE TAX
BASIS FOR KING COUNTY SOCIAL
SERVICES. PROVIDERS DEPEND UPON
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANNON,
FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH AND THEN
ROBERT WHITEHORN.
>> MY NAME IS SHANNON PEREZ
DARBY, A SURVIVOR OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND A
PERSON THAT HAS BEEN ADVOCATING
ON BEHALF OF MY OWN COMMUNITIES
IN SEATTLE FOR THE LAST 17
YEARS. EXCLUSIONARY ZONES ARE
NOT NEW. THEY ARE NOT NEW
NATIONALLY AND THEY ARE NOT NEW
LOCALLY. THEY WERE OVERTURNED
FOR A REASON. THEY DO NOT WORK.
MAKING THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE
PEOPLE HARDER WILL NOT DECREASE
GUN VIOLENCE. WE KNOW WHAT
THESE BILLS WILL DO.
EXCLUSIONARY ZONES LIKE SOAP
AND SODA WILL HURT PEOPLE OF
COLOR, SURVIVORS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND
EXPLOITATION. THEY WILL HURT
OUR QUEER ENTRANCE COMMUNITIES.
IF PASSED, THE PROSTITUTION
LOITERING BILL WILL DO WHAT ALL
PREVIOUS ITERATIONS HAVE DONE,
IT WILL BE USED TO TARGET AND
CRIMINALIZE OUR BELOVED TRANS
COMMUNITIES. THE SOAP AND SODA
BILLS, INSTEAD, WORKING WITH
COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING
MEANINGFUL SUPPORT --
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE ELIZABETH, FOLLOWED BY
ROBERT WHITEHORN AND HEATHER.
>> MY NAME IS ELIZABETH AND I
WORK IN DISTRICT 5. WE ARE ALL
HERE BECAUSE WE ARE UNITED IN
SERVICE OF A COMMON GOAL, TO
LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS SAFE FOR
ANYONE, WHO CHOOSES TO LIVE
HERE. THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE HAVE
EXPRESSED REAL FEAR, AND THIS
COUNCIL IS NOT ONLY FAILING
THEM, BUT INSULTING THEM BY
PUSHING BAD-FAITH LEGISLATION
THAT THEY ADMIT TO, THEY KNOW
DOES NOT WORK. THE COUNCIL
WOULD RATHER CREATE THE
QUICKEST OPTION TO PUSH THE
PEOPLE THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE
OUT OF THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS
THEN LISTEN TO THE MOUNTAIN OF
DISSENT FROM PEOPLE, WHO WOULD
BE AFFECTED BY ENFORCING, AND
NO DOUBT DEALING WITH THE
LAWSUITS RELATED TO THIS BILL.
LASTLY, I WILL NOTE THAT IF
THIS COUNCIL IS SO CONCERNED
WITH OUR CITY BEING RUINED BY
WOMEN, WHO HAVE BEEN BOUGHT ,
PERHAPS THEY SHOULD FOCUS THEIR
ATTENTION ON TONYA WOO. THANK
YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBERT,
FOLLOWED BY HEATHER.
>> I AM ROBERT WHITEHORN AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 7. I WANT TO
SAY, I FEEL FOR THE PEOPLE, WHO
DESCRIBE THE IMPACTS OF THIS
TERRIBLE SCOURGE ON THEIR
BUSINESSES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT, I HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT
THE TESTIMONY OF PEOPLE HAS
BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST,
AND THEY GIVE VERY COGENT
REASONS. THE LEGISLATION WILL
BE INEFFECTIVE AND UNJUST. AND,
EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION , A NUMBER OF THEM
HAVE SAID, AND WE NEED MORE
RESOURCES. WASHINGTON STATE HAS
ONE OF THE MOST REGRESSIVE TAX
STRUCTURES IN THE NATION. WE
WERE JUST BEATEN OUT BY FLORIDA
IN THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM. IN
THE UNITED STATES, COMPARED TO
OTHER COUNTRIES , WHAT YOU NEED
TO DO IS ADDRESS YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER
GOVERNMENTS TO INCREASE
RESOURCES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER,
FOLLOWED BY HAMSEH, FOLLOWED BY
KATIE. KATIE, YOU WILL BE THE
LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER FOR THIS
GROUP BEFORE WE MOVE BACK TO
REMOTE.
>> MY NAME IS HEATHER AND I AM
A RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER IN
DISTRICT 5. I'M HERE TODAY TO
ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S LAW.
WHILE I HAVE MANY CONCERNS WITH
THIS LAW, I'M HERE TO CONVEY
THIS IS NOT HOW I WANT MY
NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY TO BE
TREATED. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
CLAIMS THIS IS A RESPONSE TO
CONCERNS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE,
AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THERE
ARE MANY FACTORS CORRELATED
WITH GUN VIOLENCE, AND
LOITERING IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE FUNDING FOR
SOCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES, IN
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF
GUN VIOLENCE, WHICH MANY HAVE
STATED TODAY. THIS DEFINITION
OF LOITERING IS EXTREMELY
VAGUE, AND THIS WOULD LEAD TO
DISCRIMINATORY ENFORCEMENT ,
TARGETING COMMUNITIES THAT WE
NEED TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT,
NOT BE BANNED FROM HOUSING AND
OTHER RESOURCES ALONG THE
AURORA CORRIDOR. IN CONCLUSION,
THE LOITERING AND SOAP LAW WILL
NOT DIRECTLY DECREASE GUN
VIOLENCE AND WILL ONLY HARM
MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY. PLEASE
VOTE NO. THANK YOU.
>> HAMSEH IS THE NEXT PUBLIC
SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY KATIE. AS
A BRIEF REMINDER, THE
MICROPHONES ARE FLEXIBLE.
PLEASE BEND THEM SO YOU CAN
SPEAK INTO THEM FOR THE PUBLIC
RECORD.
>> MY NAME IS HAMSEH, I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 3 ASKING YOU TO VOTE
AGAINST BOTH SOAP AND SODA. WE
KNOW THAT THESE ARE FAILED,
RACIST POLICIES THAT HELP NO
ONE BECAUSE WE HAVE TRIED THEM.
THROWING PEOPLE THAT MAKE YOU
UNCOMFORTABLE IN JAIL IS NOT
SOLVING YOUR PROBLEMS, IT'S
LETTING YOU THINK THE PROBLEMS
DON'T EXIST AND PLACING THE
BURDEN OF YOUR DISCOMFORT ON
PEOPLE WHO CANNOT HAVE THEIR
LIVES DESTABILIZED BY AN
ARREST. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
ACCUSED OF PROSTITUTION SOLELY
BECAUSE OF HOW THEY WERE
DRESSED. THIS BECOMES LIKE THE
WALKING WHILE TRANS
LEGISLATION. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH WANTS TO EXPAND
THEM TO CAPITOL HILL, WHERE IT
WILL INEVITABLY BE USED TO
HARASS TRANS AND QUEER PEOPLE.
YOU CAN PAY ALL THE LIPSERVICE
YOU WANT, BUT WE KNOW THAT
THESE ARE REGRESSIVE, USELESS,
INVASIVE AND CRUEL POLICIES.
THIS IS ONE MORE FALSE PROMISE
OF A SHORT-TERM -- GIVE US REAL
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR GETTING
VULNERABLE PEOPLE OFF THE
STREETS AND INTO SAFE HOMES,
NOT JAILS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS A REMINDER, PLEASE,
SNAPS.
>> MY NAME IS KATIE AND I AM A
SEATTLE RESIDENT FOR THE LAST
25 YEARS AND I'M HERE TO ASK
THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THE
PROSTITUTION LOITERING AND SOAP
LAWS. I THINK WE ALL HAVE A
COMMON INTENTION HERE, AND THAT
IS ABOUT SAFETY. THAT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT SIMPLY
GOING BACK TO LAWS THAT WE KNOW
WERE DISCRIMINATORY, AND THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED
WOMEN OF COLOR AND TRANS PEOPLE
IS AN INEFFECTIVE STRATEGY. WE
CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS. WE
KNOW WHAT CREATES SAFETY, AND
YOU HAVE HEARD IT HERE. WE NEED
HOUSING STABILITY. WE NEED
MULTI LAYERS OF COMMUNITY
SUPPORT. WE NEED SAFETY FOR
THOSE MOST VULNERABLE AND
MARGINALIZED IN OUR COMMUNITY,
OTHERWISE WE ARE NOT DEALING
WITH VIOLENCE IN AN EFFECTIVE
WAY. PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> WE WILL NOW BE TRANSITIONING
TO REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT. OUR
FIRST SPEAKER FOR THIS GROUP IS
JULIA. JULIA, PLEASE CLICK STAR
SIX.
>> AS A QUICK REMINDER, WE ARE
AT THE ONE HOUR MARK. THANK
YOU. GO AHEAD, JULIA.
>> JULIA, PLEASE CLICK STAR 6.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JULIA. I
AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6,
AND I'M CALLING INTO OPPOSE
THE SOAP LEGISLATION. I WOULD
LIKE TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY. IN 2022, THE
POLICE DID NOT REVIEW A SINGLE
RAPE CASE. WE HAVE MORE
DETECTIVES FOR GRAFFITI THEN WE
DO FOR ASSAULT AND CHILD ABUSE
COMBINED. WHY? WE ARE DEFINING
PUBLIC SAFETY AS, I DON'T WANT
TO SEE A SCARY LOOKING PERSON ,
WHICH IS NOT PUBLIC SAFETY. I
URGE YOU NOT TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE DAMON. DAMON, PLEASE CLICK
STAR 6 AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DAMON
AND I OPPOSE THE SODA AND SOAP
ORDINANCES. THESE ORDINANCES
REFLECT THE SUPERFICIAL AND
MISGUIDED APPROACH TO A COMPLEX
SOCIAL ISSUE. THESE MEASURES
EFFECTIVELY CRIMINALIZE THE
VERY PEOPLE THEY CLAIM TO
PREDICT, EXACERBATING THE CYCLE
OF MARGINALIZATION. INSTEAD OF
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF
DRUG ADDICTION , SUCH AS ZONES
DRIVE INDIVIDUALS FURTHER INTO
THE SHADOWS, STRIPPING THEM OF
ACCESS TO SERVICES AND SUPPORT.
SUCH POLICIES FAILED TO
CONSIDER THE SOCIOECONOMIC
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE
ISSUES. POVERTY, LACK OF MENTAL
HEALTH RESOURCES, AND
INADEQUATE HOUSING. BY CREATING
EXCLUSION ZONES, THE CITY
SHIFTS RESPONSIBILITY AWAY AND
ONTO THOSE ALREADY MOST
VULNERABLE. THIS APPROACH NOT
ONLY PERPETUATES STIGMA , BUT
ALSO HAMPERS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE
MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE ON
REHABILITATION. EFFECTIVE
SOLUTIONS REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGIES, COMMUNITY SUPPORT ,
AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE ALICE LOCKHART. ALICE,
PLEASE SELECT STAR 6 AND YOU
HAVE THE FLOOR. ALICE?
>> HELLO, COUNCIL.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> ALICE?
>> HELLO, COUNCIL?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> EXCELLENT. I AM ALICE
LOCKHART AND I OWN A HOME A
BLOCK FROM THE PROPOSED AURORA
SOAP ZONE, AND I AM SAD THAT MY
COUNCILMEMBER, CATHY MOORE, HAS
PROPOSED THIS IRRESPONSIBLE AND
INHUMANE, FUTILE LEGISLATION.
OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, I HAVE
WALKED OFTEN, ALMOST DAILY
RECENTLY IN THE PROPOSED AURORA
SOAP, AND I HAVE NOT ONCE
WITNESSED VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND
BY A SEX WORKER. TARGETING THEM
MAKES ZERO SENSE. THE BURDEN,
WE KNOW, WILL BE ON SEX WORKERS
THEMSELVES, AND POSSIBLY, BLACK
MEN THAT HAPPENED TO BE IN THE
WRONG PLACE. WE CAN QUOTE FROM
YOUR OWN CENTRAL STAFF MEMO.
THE PROPOSED ZONES DO NOT
ANTICIPATE DRUG USE? WHAT THE
HECK? WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE HIGH -- KAI.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KAI. CAN
YOU HEAR ME? I AM A HEALTHCARE
WORKER AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT
5. I AM CALLING TO ASK THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THE SOAP
SODA LAWS. THEY CLAIM TO REJECT
GUN VIOLENCE, WHICH IS AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THIS AREA,
BUT THESE LAWS DO NOTHING TO
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF
THAT. THIS IS ACCORDING TO
ANALYSIS DONE BY THE WASHINGTON
ALLIANCE FOR GUN
RESPONSIBILITY. IN FACT, THESE
LAWS HAVE BEEN PROVEN BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO BE
DISCRIMINATORY AND HARM THE
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. WE
WANT DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS AND
WE NEED COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF
THESE ISSUES. PLEASE VOTE NO
AGAINST THESE DISCRIMINATORY
LAWS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE SARA . PLEASE PRESS STAR 6
AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SARA. I
LIVE IN THE PROPOSED SOAP ZONE
AND I WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAFE
FROM GUN VIOLENCE. DOING
NOTHING ABOUT ESCALATING
VIOLENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
CAN'T BE THE PATH FORWARD. WE
NEED QUICK AND COST-EFFECTIVE
SOLUTIONS, LIKE BLOCKING
THROUGH TRAFFIC FROM AURORA
FROM RACING INTO OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH AND WITHOUT
GUNS. IF THIS CONVERSATION IS
ABOUT ERADICATING SEX
TRAFFICKING, WE NEED REAL LOCAL
DATA ABOUT THE AGES OF SEX
WORKERS ON AURORA. EVERYONE IN
THE ROOM BENEFITS FROM THAT
DATA AND ITS COLLECTION SHOULD
BE ADDED TO THE LAW. IT SHOULD
BE THE FOCUS OF ENFORCEMENT OF
LAW, AND IF IT CAN'T BE
INSURED THAT MY 911 CALL OF A
MAN WITH A GUN WON'T TURN INTO
A VERY BAD NIGHT FOR A
PROSTITUTE, I WILL BE
HARD-PRESSED TO MAKE THAT CALL
AT ALL. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
TODD SPARROW . TODD, IF YOU
SELECT -- WAIT, TODD, ARE YOU
ONLINE?
TODD IS NO LONGER ONLINE. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE EMILY
STONE. EMILY, SELECT STAR 6.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> HI, I AM FROM DISTRICT 4, A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4, AND
EDUCATOR AND I WORKED
TIRELESSLY AS A VOLUNTEER IN MY
OWN TIME WITH MY OWN RESOURCES,
WITH MY BELOVED UNHOUSED AND
INSECURELY HOUSED NEIGHBORS,
WHO WOULD BE VERY, VERY
TARGETED AND HARMED BY BOTH OF
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCES TODAY,
WHICH IS WHY AM URGING YOU TO
VOTE NO ON BOTH OF THE PROPOSED
SOAP AND SODA ORDINANCES. A
DAILY WALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED
ZONE, WHERE I WORKED WITH MY
UNHOUSED AND INSECURELY HOUSED
NEIGHBORS, WHO ARE SUFFERING
FROM SYSTEMIC POVERTY AND
RACISM. THEY WOULD BE TARGETED,
CRIMINALIZE AND HARMED BY BOTH
OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCES
TODAY. IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE
DRAWN THIS ZONE IN THE NEW
DISTRICT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT
THE BOUNDARIES ARE THE LIGHT
RAIL AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC
TRANSIT, AS WELL AS CRUCIAL
RESOURCES LIKE THE UNIVERSITY
HEIGHTS CENTER. AND, OTHER
VITAL RESOURCES WHERE NEIGHBORS
REGULARLY GO FOR FOOD AND
SURVIVAL SUPPLIES IF THEY ARE
LIVING OUTSIDE, AND DRUG USE
HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE RITA. RITA, IF YOU SELECT
STAR 6, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> HELLO. SINCE YOU CAN'T SEE
ME, I WILL TELL YOU, I AM
BROWN. I HAVE MY KIDS. WE HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED DIRECTLY BY
PEOPLE ATTACKING OUR CAR WHILE
WE WERE IN IT, MY SON, WHO
WOULD'VE BEEN WALKING TO
INGRAM FROM HER HOUSE ON THIRD
AVENUE , DIDN'T WANT TO WALK
BECAUSE OF HIS INTERACTIONS
WITH PEOPLE , SO WE MOVED HIM
TO SHOREWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. WE
ARE PROBE THIS BILL BECAUSE WE
HAVE BEEN HAVING, WE HAVE FACED
PEOPLE BEATING ON OUR CAR ,
CHASING US, SO I BELIEVE THERE
HAS BEEN A CHANGE SINCE 2020
AND THE RISE OF TRAFFICKING ,
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE ACTS
OF VIOLENCE. I SUPPORT THIS
BILL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE TAYLOR FARLEY. TAYLOR, IF
YOU SELECT STAR 9, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR. TAYLOR? PLEASE SELECT
STAR 6 TO SPEAK.
>> HELLO?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TAYLOR
FARLEY FROM CLEAR TOWER
ALLIANCE. WE STRONGLY OPPOSE
BOTH ORDERS. NEITHER ONE OF
THEM PREVENT CRIME, NOR DID
THEY REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE. THEY
ARE VAGUE AND BROAD LANGUAGE
AND WOULD ONLY BE USED AGAINST
ANYONE THAT SHOWS UP , THAT ARE
BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS, AND
POOR. IN PARTICULAR, BLACK
TRANS WOMEN. THERE ARE BETTER
PATHWAYS FORWARD, SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE SAFER IN SEATTLE,
INSTEAD OF REVERTING TO HARMFUL
POLICIES, LAWS LIKE SOAP AND
SODA. WE PROPOSE THAT FOLLOWING
SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYONE, INVEST
IN COMMUNITY SERVICES, EXPAND
HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS, TO
CRIMINALIZE SEX WORK,
STRENGTHEN DISCRIMINATION
PROTECTIONS AND PROMOTE
RESOLUTION JUSTNESS. WE URGE
YOU TO VOTE NO. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE ANDREW . ANDREW, PLEASE
SELECT STAR 6 AND YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> I LIVE A QUARTER MILE AWAY
ON 107th. I HEAR A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE HERE
THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
CHAOS. A KNOWN FIRING AT
ANOTHER . JUST LAST WEEK, A
MOTORCYCLIST PICKED UP A WOMAN
ON 107th PUT A HELMET ON HER
AND DROVE HER INTO AN ALLEYWAY.
HE HAD SEX WITH HER WITHIN A
10 FEET OF THE BEDROOM OF MY
NEIGHBORS 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
ANOTHER 11-YEAR-OLD WAS RESCUED
FROM HER PIMP AT TACO BELL.
LEGALIZATION STARTS WITH
REGULARIZATION, NOT CHAOS.
ALLOWING A MAN TO SELL A WOMAN
TO ANOTHER MAN IS CHAOS.
ALLOWING JOHNS TO HAVE SEX
OUTSIDE OF A HOME IS CHAOS.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
>> OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER FOR
THIS PERIOD WILL BE LYNETTE
JORDAN. LYNETTE, PLEASE SELECT
STAR 6 AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
LYNETTE? WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. OKAY. I AM
LYNETTE JORDAN. I AM THE
CURRENT CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER.
STAY OUT OF DRUG AREAS AND
AREAS OF PROSTITUTION THAT ARE
INEFFECTIVE AND HARMFUL. THESE
POLICIES CRIMINALIZE
INDIVIDUALS INSTEAD OF
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF
DRUG ADDICTION. ISOLATING
PEOPLE AND DENYING THEM ACCESS
TO CRUCIAL SERVICES, THE CITY
EXACERBATES THEIR
MARGINALIZATION. A MORE
COMPASSIONATE APPROACH WOULD BE
PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE
SUPPORT, INCLUDING ADDICTION
TREATMENT , MENTAL HEALTHCARE
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SEATTLE'S STRATEGY FAILS TO
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND ONLY
PERPETUATES THE CYCLE OF
HARDSHIP, RATHER THAN FOSTERING
GENUINE RECOVERY AND
INCLUSIVITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW RETURN TO IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL
START WITH MARISSA PEREZ,
FOLLOWED BY JURGEN AND MEGAN
CRUZ.
>> WE ARE APPROACHING THE
QUARTER TWO MARK AT THIS POINT,
SO --
>> MY NAME IS MARISSA PEREZ, I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 1 AND I AM
HERE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION, A GROUP OF OVER 250
HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES ACROSS
OUR CITY, TO URGE YOU TO REJECT
CB 120835 AND CB 120836. YOUR
JOB AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IS TO
SERVE ALL CITIZENS OF OUR CITY,
NOT SERVE SOME AT THE EXPENSE
OF OTHERS. THESE BILLS WILL NOT
HELP A SINGLE PERSON ESCAPE
EXPLOITATION OR SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER, BUT INSTEAD WILL
ENSURE THAT THEY WILL FACE
FURTHER BARRIERS WHEN TRYING TO
REBUILD THEIR LIVES. OUR CITY
IS NOT FOR TOURISTS, IT'S FOR
OUR CITIZENS. WE DO NOT WANT
HER NEIGHBORS IMPRISONED,
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO
CHOICE BUT TO DISPLAY SYMPTOMS
OF THEIR ADDICTION IN PUBLIC.
WE WANT OUR MOST VULNERABLE TO
BE OFFERED SAFE SHELTER AND THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE,
WHICH HAS ALL BEEN IMPOSSIBLE
DUE TO THESE ARBITRARY
BOUNDARIES DRAWN THROUGH OUR
CITY. LISTEN TO EXPERTS IN THIS
ROOM TODAY THAT ARE ASKING YOU
TO CONSIDER ANOTHER APPROACH,
WHICH DOES NOT SACRIFICE OUR
OWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR
SHORT-TERM RESULTS. VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE JURGEN, FOLLOWED BY
MEGAN CRUZ , AND I BELIEVE IT
IS CYNTHIA, BUT I'M HAPPY TO
BE CORRECTED.
>> GOOD MORNING, JURGEN, HOTEL
MANAGER AND PRESIDENT OF THE
SEATTLE HOTEL ASSOCIATION. I
HAVE A SEVEN-PAGE INCIDENT
REPORT WITH ME THAT GIVES A
GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT OUR TEAMS
AND GUEST EXPERIENCE IN THE
CITY. A LITTLE RECAP, ONE
INDIVIDUAL TERRORIZED OUR TEAM
AND GUESTS FOR NEARLY THREE
HOURS ON SATURDAY . THE
INDIVIDUAL RETURNED SIX TIMES
TO THE HOTEL, AND SIX STAFF
MEMBERS WERE IMPACTED. AT LEAST
28 GUESTS WERE IMPACTED. 5911
CALLS WERE PLACED. POLICE
DISPATCH RETURNED OUR CALL
AROUND 7:00 A.M. ON SUNDAY
MORNING, NEARLY EIGHT HOURS
AFTER THE FIRST 911 CALL WAS
PLACED. AT THAT TIME, WE
DIDN'T NEED ANY MORE
ASSISTANCE, BUT REQUESTED FOR
THE INDIVIDUAL TO BE ADDRESSED
AT THE PROPERTY. NOBODY
EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL INJURIES ,
AND WE WILL ASSESS THE THEFT
AND PROPERTY DAMAGE -- WHAT
WILL BE DONE , THE PEOPLE THAT
WERE IN ANGUISH FOR FIVE HOURS
OF THEIR SHIFTS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE MEGAN CRUZ, FOLLOWED BY
CYNTHIA AND ADAM.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM MEGAN
CRUZ, A RESIDENT IN THE AREA OF
THE THIRD AVENUE PART OF TOWN.
I HAVE TWO IMPORTANT REQUESTS.
THE FIRST IS TO SUPPORT SODA
LEGISLATION. IT ISN'T A
PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE
CRISIS ON THESE BLOCKS, BUT IT
IS A TOOL TO DISRUPT THE
ENTRENCHED SYSTEM THAT GROWS
MORE LEGAL EVERY YEAR. IT CAN
AND DRUG VIOLENCE, AND ASSAULTS
THAT ARE PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
RESIDENTIAL, BUSINESS AND
TOURIST DISTRICT. THE SECOND
REQUEST IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT,
TO MOVE TO A PERMANENT SOLUTION
BY CALLING FOR A BUDGET AND
METRIC DRIVEN PILOT PLAN TO
STAND UP HOUSING WITH
WRAPAROUND DRUG AND MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES. AS AN OPTION
FOR THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON
THE STREET THAT NEED HELP.
OUTREACH GROUPS CALL FOR
JUMPSTARTING THIS EFFORT BY
REACTIVATING THE HOTELS AND
APARTMENTS USED IN THE
PANDEMIC. FOR EVERYONE'S SAKE,
WE MUST REQUIRE THAT THEY COME
WITH -- THIS IS A CRISIS. IF
THE PLAN DOESN'T WORK, WE NEED
TO KNOW WHY AND ADJUST. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE CYNTHIA FOLLOWED BY
ADAM AND ALECIA. PLEASE CORRECT
ME.
>> I REPRESENT THE DOWNTOWN
WORKERS GROUP OF 52 WOMEN WHOSE
AVERAGE AGE IS 77 YEARS OLD.
ALL OF US ENCOURAGE YOU TO
APPROVE THE LEGISLATION. THE
QUALITY OF THOSE OF US WHO LIVE
DOWNTOWN NEEDS TO BE MORE MOVED
FROM FEARFUL TOWARDS DANGER --
WE CANNOT WALK FREELY TO
WALGREENS AND LOCAL BUSINESS.
WE HAVE LIVED LONG ENOUGH AND
BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH AT OUR AGE
TO KNOW THAT WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCES, NOTHING CHANGES.
PLEASE APPROVE SODA AS A START.
WE VIEWED THIS AS A BEGINNING
IN PROTECTING ALL OF US IN THE
HOPE THAT ALONG WITH SODA, YOU
CREATE VIABLE PROGRAMS TO HELP
THE FENTANYL ADDICTS WHILE
PROSECUTING THE DRUG DEALERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE ADAM, FOLLOWED BY
ALECIA , FOLLOWED BY BEN.
>> MY NAME IS ADAM HASSAN,
DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE, WE ON
16 PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE. I'M IN SUPPORT OF
SODA LEGISLATION TO DISRUPT THE
ENTRENCHED DRUG DEALING AND
DRUG USE IN AREAS AROUND
DOWNTOWN, PARTICULARLY IN
SUPPORT OF AMENDMENT 3, WHICH
CREATES AN AREA ON THIRD AVENUE
RIGHT HERE WITH A VIEW OF CITY
HALL. DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THIS
AREA IS OUT OF CONTROL,
EXACERBATED BY BOARDED-UP
STOREFRONTS. THE CLIENTS OF THE
BUILDINGS THAT ARE ABOVE ARE
AFFECTED BY THE DRUG ACTIVITY
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES.
I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE
BELLTOWN SODA ZONE, BUT I THINK
IT CRUCIALLY MISSES GOING ONE
BLOCK NORTH. THERE IS AN ART
PROJECT, A MURAL PROJECT IN THE
ALLEY, SO MUCH POSITIVE STUFF
THERE, BUT ALL OF THE DRUG
ACTIVITY IS IN THAT ALLEY.
PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE
BELLTOWN SODA ONE BLOCK NORTH.
THANK YOU FOR ONE BLOCK SOUTH,
SORRY.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS ALECIA. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE BEN, FOLLOWED BY
GABRIEL.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR KETTLE
AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM AN
ATTORNEY WITH LEGAL VOICE, A
LEGAL, GENDER AND REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS ORGANIZATION. I AM
TESTIFYING IN STRONG OPPOSITION
TO THE REGRESSIVE PROSTITUTION,
LOITERING AND SOAP ZONE
ORDINANCES. WE SUBMITTED
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT URGING
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO
ENCOURAGE THE FULL BREADTH OF
RESEARCH SHOWING THAT
CRIMINALIZATION SUCCEEDS IN
ONLY FURTHER MARGINALIZING
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES,
PARTICULARLY TRANS AND WOMEN OF
COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS. THIS IS
TRUE, REGARDLESS OF FULL
CRIMINALIZATION AND DEMAND
REGULATORY MODELS. STATES LIKE
CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK HAVE
REPEALED THEIR ANTI-PROSTITUTIO
N LOITERING LAWS IN RECOGNITION
OF THE SIGNIFICANT HARM THEY
CAUSE TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
SEATTLE SHOULD DO NO LESS. THIS
IS THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
LEGISLATION. AT WORST, IT
ACTIVELY HARMS THE MOST
MARGINALIZED IN OUR CITY WHILE
EXACERBATING EXISTING PROBLEMS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BEN,
FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL. THEN, BJ.
>> MY NAME IS BEN, I THINK IT
CAN'T BE SAID ENOUGH TIME THAT
SODA IS FAILED POLICIES THAT WE
KNOW WILL NOT WORK. WHAT WILL
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IS
NEGATIVELY IMPACT ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE WORKING DOWNTOWN AND
MAKING A DIFFERENCE , SUCH AS
WE DELIVER CARE, WHICH TARGETS
UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING
WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG
ADDICTION, WORKING TO GET THEM
THE HELP THEY NEED TO RECOVER,
AS WELL AS THE DOWNTOWN
AMBASSADORS, WHO DO THE LITERAL
DIRTY WORK OF CLEANING THE
PLACE, A SECOND CHANCE
ORGANIZATION THAT HIRES
FORMERLY UNHOUSED PEOPLE. ALL
OF THESE PEOPLE WILL EITHER BE
DISPLACED BY THIS , WHERE THEY
CAN'T BE TRACKED ANYMORE AND
ALL OF THE WORK WILL HAVE BEEN
FOR NOTHING, AND WHO IS GOING
TO CLEAN DOWNTOWN? THIS IS A
TERRIBLE IDEA. PLEASE VOTE NO.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS GABRIEL, FOLLOWED BY BJ AND
JESSICA NORTON.
>> HI, FOLKS, MY NAME IS
GABRIEL, AND I AM AN EQUITY
COMMISSIONER IN THE CITY OF
RENTON. YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY
PEOPLE HERE TODAY SPEAK.
LEADERS IN SO MANY GROUPS THAT
ACTUALLY DO THE WORK THAT WE
NEED DONE, PEOPLE THAT ARE
ACTUALLY MAKING CHANGE AND
FIGHTING FOR IT, AND THEY ARE
ALL SAYING THE SAME THING, VOTE
NO. THE ONLY PEOPLE SAYING YES
ARE THE BUSINESS OWNERS. TIME
AND TIME AGAIN, THAT IS WHAT
THE CITY LISTENS TO. THEY DO
NOT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE. THEY
DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE POOR
PEOPLE THEY ARE CLAIMING TO
HELP, BECAUSE THEY WILL
ACTIVELY BE DISPLACED. I HAVE
MANY FRIENDS THAT ARE SEX
WORKERS THAT WILL BE KILLED
BECAUSE OF THIS LEGISLATION. I
HAVE MANY FRIENDS THAT ARE POOR
AND WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT GO OUT AND
FEED THE HOMELESS EVERY DAY,
AND THEIR ABILITY TO DO THEIR
WORK WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS
LEGISLATION. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE
PEOPLE, NOT THE BUSINESSES. WE
MAKE CHANGE. WE ARE THE PEOPLE
-- NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE MONEY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BJ,
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA, AND KEVIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS BJ.
I AM A HOMEOWNER AND I
ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE SODA, SOAP
AND ALL LOITERING LAWS. THIS IS
JUST A NEW EXPANSION OF THE WAR
ON DRUGS THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON BEGGED AND BULLIED THE
COUNCIL TO PASS LAST YEAR. YOU
ALL WERE PROMISING THE PRIORITY
WOULD BE DIVERSION AND
SERVICES, AND HEY, THAT NEVER
EXISTED. A YEAR LATER, YOU'RE
RAMPING UP CRIMINALIZATION. WE
KNOW WHY THE REASON IS. THIS
WAS NEVER ABOUT REDUCING DRUG
USE. YOUR OWN LEGISLATION
ADMITS THIS ISN'T GOING TO DO
A DARN THING ABOUT THAT. THIS
IS ABOUT DISAPPEARING PEOPLE
THAT YOU DON'T LIKE.
DISAPPEARING PEOPLE THAT THE
CHIEF DESCRIBED AS SCARY
LOOKING. WE KNOW WHO THAT IS.
THE ORIGINAL WAR ON DRUGS,
NIXON ADMITTED IT WAS JUST TO
CRIMINALIZE BLACK PEOPLE. WE
KNOW HOW SPD DOES THINGS. WHITE
PEOPLE ARE GIVEN DIVERSION AT
MUCH HIGHER RATES THAN BLACK
PEOPLE. BLACK PEOPLE GET MUCH
LONGER PRISON SENTENCES THAN
WHITE PEOPLE FOR THE EXACT SAME
CRIMES, WHICH AGAIN, THE
EXPERTS YOU ALL SUPPOSEDLY
LISTEN TO POINT OUT THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN. WE KNOW THIS IS GOING
TO HAPPEN. WE HAVE HISTORY.
THIS IS NOT A WAIT AND SEE, RUN
ANOTHER STUDY, WE ALL KNOW THIS
IS THE CASE. CLAIMING THAT THIS
IS ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE
SAME FAILED POLICIES THAT GIVE
US MASHABLE -- MASSIVE RACIAL
DISPARITIES IS A LIE. THIS IS
TO GET THOSE SCARY LOOKING
PEOPLE OUT OF THE WAY, WHO A
LOT OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS
THINK ARE THE SCARY LOOKING
PEOPLE. WHO IS THAT THEY WANT
DISAPPEARED?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [
INDISCERNIBLE - MUFFLED ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
IT. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER WILL
BE JESSICA, FOLLOWED BY KEVIN,
AND THEN ADRIANA.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
JESSICA NORTON. I HAVE OWNED A
SMALL BUSINESS IN BELLTOWN FOR
20 YEARS, AND I AM A PERSON AS
WELL AS A BUSINESS OWNER.
BELLTOWN HAS THE LARGEST
CONCENTRATION OF SOCIAL
SERVICES IN KING COUNTY. I AM
PROUD OF THIS AND SHARE MY
BLOCK WITH THREE, INCLUDING
DHS. MANY OF THE CLIENTS
SEEKING SERVICES STRUGGLE WITH
ADDICTION. DEALERS KNOW THEIR
CLIENT BASE. THEY GO DIRECTLY
OUTSIDE OF DHS TO REACH THE
MOBILE METHADONE CLINIC AND IN
FRONT OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
THEY ARE THE BIGGEST DETERRENT
TO ACCESSING SERVICES. THE
SWARM OF DEALERS IS OFTEN SO
THICK ON THE SIDEWALK, WE ARE
FIRST TO WALK ON THE STREET ON
SECOND AND LANTERN COULD PEOPLE
OVERDOSE AND MANY DIE IN FRONT
OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES THAT
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING
THEM. I HAVE WITNESSED THREE
THIS YEAR. THE IMPACT ON THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IS HUGE, MAKING US
MORE VULNERABLE TO CRIME,
PROPERTY DAMAGE -- THIS PERSON
WAS ATTACKED WITH AN AXE IN
BELLTOWN. BELLTOWN IS NOT
INCLUDED AS A SODA ZONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON WHY IF
YOU DO APPROVE SODA, YOU NEED
TO INCLUDE BELLTOWN, AND WE
TALK AND WE TALK AND WE TALK
AND NOTHING EVER CHANGES, AND
IT'S ABSURD. TODAY, I WANT TO
LEAN INTO THE ABSURD, BECAUSE
TODAY, SOMETHING DOES CHANGE,
BECAUSE TODAY, I NO LONGER
TALK. TODAY, I SING. ♪ WHAT ARE
WE DOING? ♪ I SAID, WHAT ARE WE
DOING? I'VE GOT ADDICTS
CLOGGING SIDEWALKS, DEALERS IN
THE STREET. GRANDMA IS RUNNING
SCARED, SAYING, PLEASE DON'T
ASSAULT ME. ♪ WALKING AROUND,
SAYING WHAT THE HELL IS GOING
ON? WE KEEP ON HEARING IT, BUT
NOTHING EVER GETS DONE, AND IF
YOU EXCLUDE BELLTOWN, WHAT THE
HELL ARE YOU SMOKING, SON ? ♪
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE MORE
SPEAKER.
THANK YOU. CALL ADRIANA. THE
NEXT ONE.
>> ADRIANA, IT IS NOW YOUR TURN
TO SPEAK. ADRIANA, IT IS NOW
YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
>> OKAY, FOR THE LAST PUBLIC
COMMENT OR --
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS ADRIANA.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
ADRIANA. I SERVE AS THE POLICY
DIRECTOR FOR UTOPIA WASHINGTON
AND THE DAUGHTER OF INITIATIVES
THAT HONORS THE AUTONOMY OF
THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THESE
BILLS. AS SOMEONE WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE, AND I HAVE ALSO
PROVIDED SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR
SEX WORKERS. SOAP AND SODA WILL
DEFINITELY IMPACT OUR
COMMUNITY, BUT NOT ONLY JUST
SEX WORKERS. IT WILL FILTER
DOWN TO THOSE NOT IN THE
INDUSTRY. THE POLICING OF HOW
YOU WALK, TALK AND DRESS. THESE
SYSTEMS OF CRIMINALIZATION
IMPACT THE SAFETY AND WELFARE
OF THOSE WE AIM TO SUPPORT. SEX
WORKERS DON'T NEED
INTERVENTIONS. WE NEED RIGHTS.
IT IS HOW WE CAN COLLECTIVELY
CREATE SYSTEMS OF CARE AND
SAFETY.
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.COM. I ALSO
WANTED TO THANK THE LADY WHO
BROUGHT THE MAP, I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, WE ARE
LISTENING, AND I ALSO WANTED TO
NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE -- PLEASE --
PLEASE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SO, WE HAVE GONE AN HOUR AND A
HALF, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. SIR, THANK YOU.
AND SO, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT
WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING -- WE
HAVE BEEN LISTENING, AND I
WANTED TO KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE OF
THE MAP, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT I'M LISTENING -- THIS
GENTLEMAN IS NOT MAKING ME DO
THIS -- THE POINTS THAT ARE
BEING MADE, AND I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE HAS A FAULT IN
OUR JURISDICTION, THE NINE
ENTITIES, POLICE DEPARTMENT,
FIRE, AND THE LIKE. SO, WE NEED
TO WORK WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES
PIECES, HOUSING, AND -- THANK
YOU, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU ARE A DISRUPTION. THANK
YOU, GOODBYE. SECURITY? THANK
YOU. THIS IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING, THIS IS NOT
A PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK -- THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. SO -- GET HIM OUT.
SECURITY? THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. POINT --
>> IS OUR MICROPHONES ON? ARE
OUR MICROPHONES ON? POINT OF
ORDER? HEY, CAN WE --
>> WE WILL HAVE A FIVE MINUTE
RECESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IS OUR MICROPHONES ON?
>>
♪
>>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNSEL, THERE ARE FIVE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, WE WILL CONTINUE
WITH COUNCIL BUSINESS. I DID
WANT TO THANK THE LADY WHO WAS
HERE, WHO DID -- THIS IS A
VERBAL WARNING REGARDING
OUTBURSTS AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW
THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDING
OFFICER. SECURITY -- SIR, YOU
HAVE BEEN ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES.
SIR -- SECURITY, PLEASE ESCORT
-- THANK YOU, SECURITY. YES, I
RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS NOT
FOLLOWING YOUR DIRECTION, SO,
YES, PLEASE CALL THE POLICE.
MR. CHAIR, POINT OF ORDER, I'D
LIKE TO NOTE A CONTINUING,
ONGOING, DISRUPTING BULLYING
BEHAVIOR WE ARE WITNESSING HERE
THAT IS DISRUPTING OUR
BUSINESS, I FULLY SUPPORT YOUR
EFFORTS TO RESTORE ORDER, IN
ANY DECISION TO MAKE. YOU HAVE
BEEN -- SIR? SIR, THE POLICE
HAVE BEEN CALLED. YOU ARE A
DISRUPTION TO THIS -- THE
POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED. WE
WILL HAVE NOW -- WE WILL HAVE A
10 MINUTE RECESS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
♪
♪ ♪
♪
>> MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL HER?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. AS WE MOVE ON, I
WANTED TO NOTE OUR COUNCIL
BRUCE DESCRIBE THE ACCEPTABLE
CONDUCT DURING A COUNCIL
MEETING, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
HERE TODAY HAVE ENGAGED IN
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR BY SHOUTING
AND IMPEDING OUR COUNCIL
BUSINESS. THOSE INDIVIDUALS
THAT WERE SHOUTING AND REFUSED
TO COMPLY UNDER MY DIRECTION
UNDER COUNCIL RULE 11 D-1B THEY
HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE IN
ORDER TO RESTORE ORDER SO THIS
BODY CAN CONTINUE ITS MEETING
UNDER 11 T-THREE. FOR
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE NOT
COMPLIED UNDER MY DIRECTION AS
PRESIDING OFFICER, THEY ARE
CONSIDERED TO BE TRESPASSING
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS
DISCRETIONARY MADE AN ARREST,
AND AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN
HERE AND SPOKE TO THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS PRIMARILY
INVOLVED. REGARDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, IT IS CLOSED, AND I
WANTED TO NOTE AS I WAS SAYING
BEFORE, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE
THAT HAS BEEN HERE. APPRECIATE
IT. I WANTED TO SAY, AS I DID
BEFORE, MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR MAP. THIS INFORMATION IS
KEY AND WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING
THIS IN A MULTITUDE OF
DIFFERENT MANNERS, AND IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, AS WELL. I ALSO
NOTE THAT THIS IS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. OUR
JURISDICTION IS OVER NINE
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES,
ALIKE. THAT IS OUR FOCUS. NOW,
WE DO WORK WITH HUMAN SERVICES,
LAND-USE, AND HOUSING, AND
EDUCATION, BUT THOSE ARE OTHER
COMMITTEES. I RECOGNIZE THE
POINTS THAT WERE BEING MADE,
BUT THOSE WERE BEING WORKED
THROUGH COMMITTEES. YOU KNOW,
AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, TOO,
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
EXECUTIVE ON THIS FRONT IN
TERMS OF THE SERVICES PIECE OF
IT, AND I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER
PLACES THAT ARE BEING WORKED
OUT, I HAVE NO DETAILS. BUT,
THAT PLACE IS BEING WORKED.
THAT IS A SEPARATE PIECE FROM
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO
TODAY. IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. I ALSO WANTED TO
NOTE, ONE OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS MADE A GREAT POINT
REGARDING REACHING OUT TO
DIFFERENT ENTITIES , ALL LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING ON
A REGULAR BASIS, WHETHER IT IS
IN THE COUNTY, OPENING REMARKS,
WE ARE DOING THAT IN THE STATE,
AS I OFTEN NOTED. MENTAL HEALTH
IS A STATE FUNCTION AND WE HAVE
BEEN ADVOCATING, AND NEED TO
ADVOCATE BETTER. AS I HAVE
OFTEN SAID IN SMALL GROUPS, I
WILL SAY IT HERE, LAST YEAR, WE
WERE NUMBER TWO IN COLLEGE
FOOTBALL. I HAVE SAID OFTEN,
IMAGINE IF WE WERE NUMBER TWO
AMONG 50 STATES -- IN MENTAL
HEALTH SPENDING OVER THE LAST
DECADE. HOW MUCH CAPACITY WOULD
THAT GIVE US? AND HAVING THAT
CAPACITY ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SIDE, WHAT WOULD THAT DO FOR
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY? SO, TO THE
GENTLEMAN WHO MADE THAT POINT
AND OTHERS WHO MADE SIMILAR
POINTS, YES, THAT IS VERY KEY
AND I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THAT. WE WILL ENGAGE
IN OUR OTHER COMMITTEES AND AS
A FULL COUNCIL TO DO THAT. AND
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE, TOO,
THAT THERE IS A LOT OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLIC
COMMENTING. I HAVE HAD
COUNTLESS MEETINGS IN BELLTOWN,
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH DIFFERENT
CONSTITUENTS, AND WE HAVE ALL
DONE THAT. COUNTLESS EMAILS,
SMALL GROUP MEETINGS, MEETINGS
IN OUR OFFICE, MEETINGS IN
COMMUNITY AND THE LIKE. SO,
THERE IS A RICH BREADTH OF
PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE ARE
RECEIVING, IN ADDITION TO WHAT
WE ARE RECEIVING HERE IN OUR
COUNCIL CHAMBERS. SO, WITH
THAT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
THAT NOTE. AGAIN, THANK YOU,
MA'AM, FOR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT. I APPRECIATE IT. NOW,
WITH THAT SAID, WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ON -- ITEM
OF BUSINESS. WERE THE CLERK
READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> POINT OF ORDER, MR. CHAIR?
>> POINT OF ORDER, MR. CHAIR,
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR DURING THIS
MEETING, THAT WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO BE -- WE HAVE
GUESTS HERE WHO ARE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT THEIR LIVED
EXPERIENCE, SO WE CAN CONTINUE
THIS POINT OF ORDER.
>> THANK YOU, YES.
>> IF YOU WANT TO SEND IT AS A
PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU CAN DO
THAT. POINT OF ORDER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> MR. CHAIR, DISRUPTIVE
BEHAVIOR, POINT OF ORDER.
>> THANK YOU. AS THE PRESIDING
OFFICER, I AM GIVING YOU A
VERBAL WARNING ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH YOUR
COMMENTING WHICH IS IN
VIOLATION OF COUNCIL RULE 11-D,
AND ALSO, THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW
THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDING
OFFICER OR THE SECURITY
OFFICER.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> CHAIR, THIS IS DISRUPTIVE
BEHAVIOR.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU.
>> CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120-8135, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO STAY OUT
OF DRUG AREAS, S.O.D.A. ZONES,
CREATING THE ABILITY TO ISSUE
WRITTEN ORDERS TO CRIMINAL
DEFENDANTS DESCRIBING
CONDITIONS OF THEIR PRETRIAL
RELEASE OR POSTCONVICTION
CONDITIONS A SENTENCE, CREATING
S.O.D.A. ZONES AND CREATING
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 12A.21 TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> I MOVE THAT COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120835. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF THE BILL. AS CHAIR, I WILL
GIVE A BRIEF REMARK AND THEN
INTRODUCE CENTRAL STAFF FOR
THEIR PRESENTATION. WITH
RESPECT TO THIS BILL, OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HURTING. DRUG
DEALERS HAVE PRAYED ON THE
VULNERABLE CRISIS, CREATING
TRAGEDIES ON AN INDIVIDUAL
BASIS --
>> YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE THE
PROBLEM WORSE --
>> AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER, I
AM GIVING YOU A VERBAL WARNING
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING --
>> SHAME!
>> THAT IS IN VIOLATION OF
COUNCIL RULE 11-D, BOTH
OUTBURSTS, AND ALSO THE FAILURE
TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE
PRESIDING OFFICER AND SECURITY
OFFICER. THANK YOU.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, ARE YOU ABLE TO
HEAR THE PROCEEDINGS?
>> SECURITY? MA'AM? MA'AM?
MA'AM, AS PRESIDING OFFICER, I
AM GIVING YOU A VERBAL WARNING
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, IN
VIOLATION OF COUNCIL RULE 11-G,
WITH OUTBURSTS AND FAILURE TO
FOLLOW THE DIRECTION. YOU KNOW,
AS I WAS SAYING, OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HURTING. DRUG
DEALERS HAVE PRAYED ON THE
VULNERABLE IN CRISIS, CREATING
TRAGEDIES ON AN INDIVIDUAL
BASIS, BUT ALSO ON A
NEIGHBORHOOD BASIS. NEIGHBORS
HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED, PLACED
UNDER THREAT, AND UNABLE TO
CREATE, HAVE, AND/OR CREATE
COMMUNITY. BUSINESS HAVE BEEN
STRUCK, WHERE THE LABOR
COMMUNITY IN COFFEE SHOPS AND
RETAIL HAVE ALSO BEEN
ASSAULTED, THREATENED ON A
DAILY BASIS AND MANY TIMES HAVE
LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THE
BUSINESSES COULD NOT THRIVE AND
SURVIVE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
THIS BILL WILL NOT SOLVE IN
ITSELF WHAT WE ARE FACING, BUT
WILL DISRUPT THE DRUG TRADE
BILL WITH LESSONS LEARNED ON
PREVIOUS VERSIONS AND FOLLOWING
A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO
ACHIEVE THE GOALS IN OUR
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN. I
RECOGNIZE THE ARGUMENTS MADE
AGAINST THE BILL, IN EMAILS,
CONVERSATIONS, AND OP IDS. I AM
REMINDED BY MY MATH CLASSES,
WHEN WE WERE TO SOLVE FOR X.
THE CHALLENGE HERE IS GOING
BACK TO THE IDEA OF COMPASSION
AND WISDOM, X CANNOT BE DEFINED
AS JUST THOSE IN CRISIS. I
AGREE WITH THE POINTS OFTEN
MADE DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, THAT WE SHOULD HELP
THOSE IN NEED. BUT, COMPASSION
WITH X NEEDS TO ALSO HAVE THE
WISDOM PIECE SO THAT THE WHOLE
OF THE COMMUNITY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD IS ADDRESSED, AS
WELL. WE, AS COUNCILMEMBERS,
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK
AT THE WHOLE OF OUR CITY, THE
WHOLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND
THE WHOLE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
WHICH, REALLY, WOULD ALLOW US
IN THE LONG TERM TO HELP THOSE
AGAIN IN NEED. NOW, WITH THAT
SAID, WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF
CENTRAL STAFF HERE. MR. DAWSON,
MS. GORMAN. OVER TO YOU.
>> GREG DAWSON, CENTRAL STAFF
HERE TO PRESENT WITH ANNE
GORMAN, AND WE WILL BE PRINTING
YOU THROUGH A NUMBER OF
AMENDMENTS THAT COUNCIL HAS TO
THIS BILL.
>> OKAY.
>> WHILE THIS IS GOING ON, I
JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT
COUNCIL REMEMBER --
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS JOINED
US.
>> QUORUM IN COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF, I WILL INTRODUCE
AMENDMENT ONE TO COUNCIL BILL
120835. IT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND CONCERNS
JUDICIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR
S.O.D.A. ZONES. IF YOU WILL
EXCUSE US FOR JUST A MOMENT.
SORRY, SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION
ON OUR PART. AMENDMENT ONE IS,
IN FACT, A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I WONDER IF CLERK CAN
PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN, SO
PEOPLE CAN SEE IT? WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU, REBECCA. THIS IS A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND IT
STRIKES ORDINANCE LANGUAGE THAT
REQUIRES SPD TO ENTER S.O.D.A.
ORDERS INTO INFORMATION
SYSTEMS. ESTABLISHED PRACTICE
AND APPLICABLE LABOR AGREEMENTS
DICTATE THAT THESE KINDS OF
ORDERS ARE ENTERED DIRECTLY
INTO INFORMATION SYSTEMS BY
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT STAFF,
RATHER THAN SPD OFFICERS. IT
WAS NOT THE INTENT OF THE BILL
TO DICTATE ANY CHANGE, SO THIS
AMENDMENT IS TRUE TO THE SPIRIT
OF THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU, MS. GORMAN.
EARLIER, I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE
-- I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF
THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN ONE
SEATTLE WAY TO BRING THIS BILL
TO COMMITTEE. IT TURNS OUT,
WITH THIS AMENDMENT -- IT DOES
NOT NORMALLY -- BUT, WITH THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT, I
APPRECIATE THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT AND ITS
ENGAGEMENT ON THIS AMENDMENT. I
MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120835, AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT ONE.
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT AMENDMENT ONE FROM
CENTRAL STAFF. WE HAVE ALREADY
DONE THAT. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT ONE? HEARING ON AND
SEEING NONE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE YES VOTES AND
ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL MOVE TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 120835 AS A
AMENDMENT TWO. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
TWO. CENTRAL STAFF HAS
RECOGNIZED AMENDMENT TWO. THANK
YOU, MR. DOSS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. BEFORE
I GET INTO AMENDMENT TWO, I AM
GOING TO PROVIDE A BIT OF A
HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE NEXT
FIVE AMENDMENTS. THE NEXT FIVE
AMENDMENTS ARE AMENDMENTS THAT
WILL BE ADDING OR EXPANDING
S.O.D.A. ZONES THAT ARE IN THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION, AND I
WANT TO NOTE THAT COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF AND YOUR OFFICES
HAVE WORKED WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AS YOU
RECALL IN THE AUGUST 13
COMMITTEE MEETING PRESENTED
MAPS SHOWING AREAS WHERE THERE
WAS A HIGH DRUG ACTIVITY OR
CRIME WITH NEXUS TO DRUG
ACTIVITY. IT WAS THAT DATA THAT
DROVE THE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW
TO PUT TOGETHER THE FIVE
S.O.D.A. ZONES THAT YOU WILL
NOW BE HEARING ABOUT AND VOTING
ABOUT ON THE NEXT FIVE
AMENDMENTS. THESE S.O.D.A.
ZONES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE
BILL LANGUAGE THAT IS IN
12A-100, WHICH REQUIRES THAT
THE ZONES BE NARROWLY TAILORED
TO INCLUDE AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT
DRUG ACTIVITY, AND ALSO THE RCC
W, WHICH REQUIRES PLACEMENT OF
S.O.D.A. ZONES WHERE DRUG
SALES, POSSESSION OF DRUGS,
VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ATTENDANT
DRUG ACTIVITY OR OTHER RELATED
ASSOCIATED ACTIVITY WITH DRUG
OFFENSES CONFIRMED TO BE A
PATTERN ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG
TRAFFICKING. AND SO, THE CITY
ATTORNEY, AS I SAID, RAN THAT
ANALYSIS AND FOR EACH ONE OF
THE AREAS THAT YOU WILL BE
SEEING, THEY HAS BEEN TAILORED
SPECIFICALLY ONLY TO SURROUND
THOSE AREAS, WHERE THERE IS A
PATTERN OF DRUG ACTIVITY. AND
WITH THAT, I CAN -- FIRST OF
ALL, I WILL STOP AND ASK IF
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON
THAT, AND THEN I CAN TURN TO
THE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS.
>> QUESTIONS?
>> OKAY, SO, START WITH
AMENDMENT TWO. AMENDMENT TWO
WOULD ADD A NEW, AN ADDITIONAL
BEHIND IN THE UNDERLYING
BILL'S S.O.D.A. ZONES, IT
WOULD ADD A S.O.D.A. ZONE TO
THE BELLTOWN AREA, AND THANK
YOU, MADAM CLERK, THE
BOUNDARIES OF WHICH ARE UP
THERE ON THE SCREEN. IT WOULD
BE ESTABLISHED BY NORTH BATTERY
STREET ON THE SOUTH SIDE BY
BLANCHARD, BY EAST ON ON FOURTH
AND WEST ON SECOND AVENUE. SO,
WITH THAT, I WILL ASK IF THERE
IS ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DOSS. BUT,
FIRST, I WANTED TO NOTE --
THANK YOU FOR THAT OVERVIEW, AS
WELL. I CAN SAY BECAUSE I
DIRECTLY PARTICIPATED, WORKING
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND
OTHERS ON THIS, THAT WE WERE
DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE,
WORKING THE DATA SETS REGARDING
THE ACTIVITY OF WHERE THIS DRUG
DEALING WAS HAPPENING, WHERE
THESE DRUG MARKETS ARE, AND TO
REALLY REFINE. WE TOOK GREAT
CARE, AS WELL, TO RESTRICT THEM
SO THAT WE ARE NOT INCLUDING
SERVICE PROVIDERS, WHICH WAS
LARGELY ACCOMPLISHED -- NOT
FULLY IN THIS ONE, BUT SOME OF
THE OTHERS. NOT FULLY, BUT TO
THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.
SO, THERE WAS A GREAT AMOUNT OF
DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS, SO I
THANK YOU. AS NOTED IN MY
REMARKS EARLIER, AS WE
TRANSITIONED, I HAVE BEEN TO
BELLTOWN, I HAVE WALKED WITH SO
MANY DIFFERENT CHURCH GROUPS
THAT ARE DOING OUTREACH TO
COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT ARE
BROAD-BASED, BELLTOWN COMMUNITY
COUNCIL, BELLTOWN UNITED, OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, GROUPS
AND THE LIKE. THIS IS AN AREA
THAT NEEDS TO HAVE THIS KIND OF
DISRUPTION AND OPPORTUNITY TO,
YOU KNOW, MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, WITH
THAT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT TWO?
SEEING NONE, HEARING NONE.
>> CHAIR?
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I -- I
HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THIS
AMENDMENT, BUT ALSO, THEY APPLY
TO THE OTHER EXPANSIONS OF THIS
LEGISLATION. SO, JUST SOME
REMARKS, FIRST. THE -- FIRST, I
HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD AND ALSO, CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR TRANSLATING THIS
LEGISLATION. IT WAS CAREFULLY
CRAFTED TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND
TO PARTICULAR PROBLEMS
DOWNTOWN. BECAUSE CLEARLY, WITH
THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THE
FATAL OVERDOSES, THE VIOLENCE,
THE IMPACTS TO BUSINESSES THAT
WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD, IS NOT
ADEQUATE. AND SO, WE ARE TRYING
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE
SITUATION THAT WE RECOGNIZE IS
A PROBLEM. COUNCIL OBVIOUSLY
HAS NO CONTROL OVER HOW
OFFICERS ENFORCE THE LAW, BUT
THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDES AN
ADDITIONAL MEANS FOR OFFICERS
AND MUNICIPAL JUDGES TO ADDRESS
THESE PROBLEMS, AND IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE
RECOMMENDATION IN THE CITY
AUDIT REPORT THAT WAS PRESENTED
IN MY COMMITTEE ON JULY 11th,
IN REFERENCING OTHER MEETINGS,
THAT WE TAKE A PLACE-BASED
APPROACH TO DRUG RELATED CRIME
AND OVERDOSES IN ORDER TO BEST
RESPOND AND TARGET OUR LIMITED
POLICE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
BECAUSE JUDGES HAD THE OPTION
OF ISSUING S.O.D.A. AS A
PRETRIAL RELEASE, THEY SERVE AS
AN ALTERNATIVE INCARCERATION.
IN WEST PRECINCT, CAPTAIN
STRAND HAS EXPLAINED ABOUT THE
PREVIOUS S.O.D.A. ORDERS, THAT
THE DESIRED INTENT WAS TO KEEP
THOSE WITH DRUG ADDICTIONS
OUTSIDE OF DRUG AREAS TO ASSIST
THEM IN THEIR RECOVERY. IT WAS
ALSO TO KEEP DRUG DEALERS OUT
OF THE DRUG AREAS, TO KEEP THEM
FROM PRAYING ON THE DRUG
ADDICTS THEMSELVES, THAT COME
INTO THE AREA. AND AS FOR THE
CLAIM THAT S.O.D.A. ORDERS DO
NOT WORK, WELL, FROM 2006 TO
2009 WHEN THE ORDER WAS PLACED,
DEFENDANTS IN 83% OF S.O.D.A.
CASES DID NOT VIOLATE THEIR
ORDERS AND 58% DID NOT COMPLETE
ANOTHER DRUG OFFENSE, AND THAT
IS ACCORDING TO A COUNCIL
REPORT. AND SO, THIS IS A
PREAMBLE FOR ME TO SIMPLY SAY
THAT I DO -- I ORIGINALLY WAS
SUPPORTIVE OF MAINTAINING THE
ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES OF THIS
LEGISLATION, BECAUSE IN MY
VIEW, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE COULD -- THAT THERE WAS
A GOOD CASE, THAT IT WAS
EFFECTIVE IN ALL THE WAYS THAT
IT HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.
HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN TO THOSE
BELLTOWN MEETINGS, AND I HAVE
HEARD THE CONCERNS OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OVER, AND OVER,
AND OVER AGAIN IN HERE. SO, I
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WILL
BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AMENDMENT
IN THE FUTURE, AND THE ONES WE
TALK ABOUT THAT EXPAND
LEGISLATION, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT
IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO DO
MORE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK IN THIS AREA TO INCLUDE
THOSE AUDITOR REPORTS AND THE
REPORT THAT ALSO GOES TO WHAT
YOU ARE SPEAKING TO. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? OKAY, THANK YOU. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
TWO?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE YES VOTES AND
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT THIS
POINT, AS OFTEN WOULD BE
ALREADY, VICE CHAIR SAKA, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO A MOVE AMENDMENT
NUMBER THREE?
>> MOVED, YES. MORE
SPECIFICALLY, I MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BUT 120835 WITH MY
PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND. IT
IS MOVED AND SECONDED FOR
NUMBER THREE, DESCRIBED
AMENDMENT THREE?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS I
WAS STATING BEFORE, THIS IS A
S.O.D.A. ZONE THAT IS BASED ON
A DEGREE OF DRUG ACTIVITY THAT
HAS BEEN NOTED AND RECORDED BY
SPD AND THE CITY ATTORNEY IN
THIS AREA. IT IS VERY NARROWLY
TAILORED, AS YOU CAN SEE. IT IS
ONLY ABOUT THREE SQUARE BLOCKS.
BUT, IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S HEAT MAP,
THERE IS A DOPP --.RIGHT ON THE
TOP OF THAT ONE, IT WOULD BE
BORDERED ON ESLER, ON EAST BY
THIRD, AND ON THE WEST BY FIRST
AVENUE.
>> THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR SAKA,
SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO,
COLLEAGUES, I AM ASKING FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF MY PROPOSED
AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD ADD A S.O.D.A.
ZONE TO THE PIONEER SQUARE
NEIGHBORHOOD, A HISTORIC
NEIGHBORHOOD, AFTER AN
EXTENSIVE SET OF STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT BY ME, MY OFFICE,
AND DECCA SUPPORTED BY DATA, BY
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS
WAS ALLUDED TO A MOMENT AGO. I
BELIEVE A S.O.D.A. ZONE IS
CRITICALLY NEEDED FOR PIONEER
SQUARE. VERY NARROWLY TAILORED,
IT ALSO CONSTITUTES THE
SMALLEST GEOGRAPHIC ZONE
EXPANSION OF ALL OF OURS, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT. BUT, IT IS
CRITICALLY NEEDED. THIS ZONE IS
THE DIRECT RESULT OF ENGAGEMENT
WITH THE DATA, DIVING DEEP WITH
THE DATA, ADDRESSING AREAS THAT
WE KNOW HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS
HOTSPOTS, AND IN COMPLIANCE
WITH STATE LAW. THIS ZONE
ISN'T JUST A DIRECT RESULT OF
THAT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DATA.
IT IS ALSO THE RESULT OF PLENTY
OF ENGAGEMENT WITH
STAKEHOLDERS, SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS IN PIONEER SQUARE AND I
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT
ENGAGEMENT. AS A RESULT OF
WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE, WE
WERE VERY CONSCIOUS OF ALL
CONCERNS TO NARROWLY CRAFT AND
TAYLOR, IN PIONEER SQUARE TO
FINE TUNE IT TO THE S.O.D.A.
ZONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
GIVEN THAT THERE ARE MAJOR
SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE AREA,
COULD HAVE EXPANDED IT EVEN
FURTHER. BUT, MINDFUL OF SOME
CONCERNS, WE WANTED TO TARGET
IT TO AN AREA THAT MET THE
NEEDS AND ADDRESSED THE
HOTSPOTS IN THE DATA. SO,
PIONEER SQUARE IS A GREAT
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD, YET
DESPITE BEING RIGHT DOWN THE
STREET FROM CITY HALL, WE SADLY
HAVE VIOLENCE AND DRUG USE
RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. I
HEARD AND WITNESS FIRSTHAND TOO
MANY TIME, TOO MANY INSTANCES
OF CRIME AND DRUG ACTIVITY IN
THIS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
RESIDENTS ARE FED UP, SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE FED UP,
TAXPAYERS ARE FED UP. ACTION IS
NEEDED NOW. WITHOUT A S.O.D.A.
ZONE IN PIONEER SQUARE, THERE
IS AN UNFORTUNATE COMPOUNDING
EFFECT THAT WOULD OCCUR, A
SPILLOVER EFFECT IN THIS
COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO
ADDRESS, GIVEN THAT TWO
S.O.D.A. ZONES WILL BE ON
EITHER SIDE OF PIONEER SQUARE.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE ALSO
CREATE A ZONE NEAR PIONEER
SQUARE, SPECIFICALLY TO PREVENT
WHAT IS A GUARANTEED MIGRATION
DOWN INTO THIS HISTORIC
NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, OUR COMMITTEE
AND FULL COUNCIL HAS BEEN
COMMITTED TO THOUGHTFUL,
COMMUNITY LED PUBLIC SAFETY
POLICY . THIS AMENDMENT IS
DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THAT, AND
MY COMMITMENT WILL ALLOW
PIONEER SQUARE TO TURN THE
CORNER AS PART OF A BROADER
PACKAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITMENTS. INCLUDING THE
COMMITMENT TO THE HIRING OF
MORE OFFICERS TO SUPPORT OUR
CITY. COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON AMENDMENT THREE? COLLEAGUES,
AND TO INCLUDE OUR GUEST, COME
TO REMEMBER RIVERA? CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE YES VOTES AND
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. I MOVED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120835 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT FOUR.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE SECONDS.
IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR,
STAFF IS ADVISED TO DESCRIBE
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR. MR.
DOSS?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AMENDMENT FOUR ADDRESSES AN
AREA THAT IS PART OF THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION. IT WAS
1 OF 2 S.O.D.A. ZONES THAT IS
AGREED UPON IN THE LEGISLATION
THAT WAS TRANSMITTED BY THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IN THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION, THIS ZONE
STOPPED ON THE LEFT SIDE, WHERE
YOU SEE I-FIVE ON THE MAP
ABOVE. COUNCIL MEMBER, ENGAGED
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TOOK
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DATA AND
IS INTERESTED IN HAVING THE
S.O.D.A. ZONE EXPANDED BY TWO
BLOCKS TO THE WEST OF THAT SO
THAT IT ENCOMPASSES SEVENTH
AVENUE. THE CITY ATTORNEY
RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A
DEGREE OF CRIME IN THAT AREA,
IT IS A HOTSPOT. ORIGINALLY, I
BELIEVE, THEY PROPOSED IT AS
ONLY ENDING ON I-5 BECAUSE IT
WAS AN EASIER AREA FOR
ENFORCEMENT. BUT, AFTER LOOKING
AGAIN AT THE DATA AND NOTICING
THE DRIVEWAY, THEY SUPPORT THE
EXPANSION TO SEVENTH AVENUE.
SO, ABOVE YOU, YOU SEE THAT IT
STARTS ON THE NORTH BY SOUTH
MAIN STREET, CONTINUES ON THE
SOUTH BY SOUTH DEARBORN STREET,
ON THE EAST BY BOERNE, AND
RANIER, AND THEN ON THE WEST BY
SEVENTH AVENUE AS EXPANDED. MR.
CHAIR, I BELIEVE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER WOO WILL WORK
WITH YOU TO SPONSOR THIS?
>> YES, MR. DOSS. COUNCILMEMBER
WOO WAS GOING TO BE HERE, BUT
OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR TIME DELAYS,
WAS UNABLE TO. SHE HAS ASKED ME
TO NOTE THAT THE AMENDMENT
EXPANDS THE PROPOSAL TO SAIGON
S.O.D.A. TO INCLUDE AN AREA BY
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S MAP, AS
PERMITTED SHOWING HOTSPOTS AND
THE CRIME CID. THE EXPANSION
AREA WAS DEVELOPED IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IS
NARROWLY TARGETED BASED ON
EXISTING CRIME DATA. IT IS
NOTED IT DOES COME UNDER I-5 5,
IT CREATES A CLEAN WEST
BOUNDARY TO THE ZONE, AND THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
LOOKING INTO, AS THE ZONE IS
BEING CREATED. THIS GOES INTO
THE POINT ABOUT DUE DILIGENCE.
NOT ONLY IS IT LOOKING AT
HOTSPOTS IN TERMS OF DRUG
ACTIVITY, BUT ALSO SERVICE
PROVIDERS, BUT IT IS ALSO
LOOKING AT STREETS AND HOW THEY
KIND OF FIT, AND HOW THEY CAN
NATURALLY CREATE A ZONE. THIS
WILL EXTEND IT TO THE WEST. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS, OR
QUESTIONS, RELATED TO AMENDMENT
FOUR? HEARING ON AND SEE NONE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
NUMBER FOUR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE YES VOTES AND
ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, AMENDMENT FOUR IS
ADOPTED. MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT
AMENDMENT, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO MOVE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I MOVE
AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE TO
COUNCIL BILL 120835.
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
MOVE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.
CENTRAL STAFF IS ADVISED TO
DESCRIBE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE,
AGAIN. MR. DOSS?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AT
THIS PARTICULAR CAPITOL HILL
S.O.D.A. ZONE WAS ORIGINALLY
IDENTIFIED AND WAS PART OF THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S DATA ANALYSIS
IN THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION
BACK IN AUGUST. THERE HAVE BEEN
NO ALTERATIONS TO THIS S.O.D.A.
ZONE. IT IS AS THE CITY
ATTORNEY RECOMMENDED IT. AS YOU
CAN SEE ABOVE, IT IS BORDERED
BY ON THE NORTH BY EAST THOMAS,
ON THE SOUTH BY EAST UNION, ON
THE EAST BY 11th, AND ON THE
WEST BY HARVARD AVENUE.
>> THANK YOU, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO IT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK
YOU, CENTRAL STAFF, FOR THAT
EXPLANATION. I WANT TO EXPLAIN
MY AMENDMENT, MY REASONING
BEHIND IT, AND THE EXPECTATIONS
ON THE IMPACT. I WENT BACK AND
FORTH ON THIS, I HAVE SPENT
COUNTLESS HOURS ON CAPITOL
HILL. MY CHURCH IS ON CAPITOL
HILL. MY COMMUNITY IS CAPITOL
HILL. I WALK THE STREETS EVERY
DAY, I TALKED TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND I SEE HOW
FENTANYL HAS BEEN IMPACTING OUR
COMMUNITY. THE OUTDOOR DRUG
CONSUMPTION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY
UNSAFE. IT IS A SEVERE HAZARD
AND HAS CREATED INCREDIBLY
DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY. WE, AS A CITY, HAS
MADE IT EASY FOR CONSUMERS AND
SELLERS TO KNOW WHERE TO GO AND
EXCHANGE ILLEGAL AND DEADLY
DRUGS FOR MONEY. WE ARE TRYING
TO DISRUPT THESE MARKETS, AND
MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO
FIND EACH OTHER. S.O.D.A. WILL
NOT SOLVE SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDERS. I AGREE. BUT, LET ME
BE VERY CLEAR THAT THESE WILL
GIVE TOOLS TO HELP PREVENT FROM
THE OUTDOOR DRUG CONSUMPTION
MARKETS FROM CONTINUING TO TAKE
ROOT. WE HAVE WITNESSED PEOPLE
DYING ON OUR STREETS,
OVERDOSING ON SIDEWALKS, HAVING
MENTAL HEALTH CRISES RIGHT
BEFORE OUR EYES. ALL THE WHILE,
DRUG DEALERS ARE PREYING ON
VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS
NOT NORMAL, FOR THIS TO BE
HAPPENING IN OUR CITY, NOR IS
IT COMPASSIONATE FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO
SUFFER. WE HAVE TO TARGET THE
DEALERS. I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT THEM BEING ROBBED,
PHYSICALLY THREATENED,
ASSAULTED, HOMES BEING
VANDALIZED BECAUSE OF UNSAFE
CONDITIONS. AND, FOR ME, PUBLIC
SAFETY IS AN "AND." A PART OF
SAFETY PIECE IS ALSO A ROBUST
HUMAN SERVICES COMPONENT, AND I
WILL BE FIGHTING TO SUPPORT
THESE PROGRAMS DURING OUR
BUDGET SEASON AND OUR OFFICE
WILL BE WORKING WITH THE MANY
ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDERS
THAT CONTINUE TO GIVE RESOURCES
NEEDED TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
TO PROVIDE SAFETY NETS FOR
PEOPLE TO MOVE FORWARD. WE ALSO
NEED HOUSING, TRAUMA CARE, FOOD
INSECURITY, TRANSPORTATION,
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SEATTLE
HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
COMPASSIONATE, GIVING, AND
LOVING CITY, AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE, AND
WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE TOOLS TO
ENFORCE OUR LAWS. WE HAVE TO
HAVE BOUNDARIES, WE HAVE TO
HAVE GUARDRAILS, BOTTOM LINE. I
WILL ALSO BE WORKING ON
POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS TO ENSURE
THAT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THESE LAWS AND BILLS, WE WILL
IDENTIFY THE RACIAL DISPARITIES
TO ENSURE THERE ARE GUARDRAILS,
IN ADDITION TO EVALUATION OF
THIS BILL WITH REPORTING. THAT
IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AS
WELL. SO, I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT, AND I AM ASKING MY
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT
VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
HEARING ON AND SEE NONE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER
FIVE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE YES VOTES IN
ZERO OPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE IS
ADOPTED, THANK YOU. I MOVED TO
ADOPT COUNCIL BILL 120835 EYES
AMENDMENT SIX. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
NUMBER SIX, CENTRAL STAFF IS
ADVISED TO DESCRIBE AMENDMENT
NUMBER SIX. AGAIN, MR. DOSS?
>> LIKE WITH THE OTHER
AMENDMENTS, THIS WAS ONE OF THE
AMENDMENTS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED BY THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IT HAD
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BOUNDARIES,
IT DID NOT EXTEND QUITE AS FAR
NORTH AS THIS ONE DOES. THE
CITY ATTORNEY IN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA TOOK A LOOK AT THE DATA
AND NOTED THAT THERE WAS
SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY TO THE
NORTH, AND SO THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD ADOPT A S.O.D.A. ZONE
THAT CAPTURES THE ACTIVITY TO
THE NORTH, AS WELL AS THE
ACTIVITY THAT IS ON UNIVERSITY
WAY. ITS BOUNDARIES ARE ON THE
NORTH SIDE, 52nd STREET, ON THE
SOUTH SIDE, 43rd, ON THE EAST
BY 15th, AND ON THE WEST BY
BROOKLYN AVENUE NORTHEAST. THE
AMENDMENT WAS AUTHORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND --
SPONSORED BY YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. AS OFFERED,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ADDRESS IT?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, I WOULD.
AND THANK YOU, CENTRAL STAFF.
THANK YOU, FOR BRINGING THIS ON
MY BEHALF. I DO NOT SIT ON THIS
COMMITTEE, SO I APPRECIATE
THAT. I REQUESTED THAT YOU,
CHAIR, BRING THIS ON MY BEHALF,
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT IS
CONSIDERED A HOTSPOT. THIS IS
BASED ON DATA FROM SPD AND DATA
THAT LOOKED AT -- THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LOOKED AT. I
HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM MANY
RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
THE BIA ON THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT THAT THE DRUG ACTIVITY
ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE HAS BEEN
REALLY CHALLENGING. I HAVE ALSO
HEARD FROM SCHOOLS AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON THE
AVENUE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACED WITH
THE RAMPANT DRUG DEALING UP
THERE. LAST WEEK ALONE, I HEARD
FROM THE UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
BUILDING, THOSE TENANTS ABOUT
DRUG DEALING ON AND AROUND THE
PROPERTY. THERE ARE TWO
PRESCHOOLS, AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, A CHILDREN'S CHOIR, A
CHILDREN'S JAPANESE LANGUAGE
SCHOOL, A CHILDREN'S THEATER
PROGRAM, AND OTHER KIDS AND
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AT THAT
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS BUILDING.
KIDS ARE COMING TO SCHOOL EVERY
DAY AND BEING CONFRONTED WITH
DRUG DEALING. THIS IS NOT OKAY.
I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS BILL WITH
CONSTITUENTS, AND I RECOGNIZE
THAT AT FIRST, WE MIGHT HAVE
LIMITED ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE
LEGISLATION, BUT AS WE HIRE
MORE POLICE OFFICERS, WE WILL
BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS
MECHANISM AS ANOTHER TOOL TO
SUPPORT UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WITH
THIS DIFFICULT ISSUE. I HEAR
FROM COMMUNITY, WHEN THIS WAS
IMPLEMENTED IN THE PAST, WHEN
JUDGES ISSUED STAY OUT OF DRUG
AREAS, IT MADE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE TO THE RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES THAT ARE ON THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. AND I WILL
SAY FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS
A PERSON WHO GREW UP IN AN
INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE
DRUGS WERE RAMPANT AND DRUG
DEALING WAS RAMPANT WHEN I WAS
A CHILD AND I HAD TO WALK EVERY
DAY THROUGH THOSE AREAS,
CONSTANTLY FEARING FOR BEING
CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE BETWEEN
THE DRUG DEALERS THAT WERE
DOING ACTIVITY IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT I WISH SOMEONE HAD DONE
SOMETHING ABOUT. AND SO, I
RECOGNIZE, AS YOU SO APTLY PUT,
CHAIR, EARLIER TODAY, THIS IS
NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION, AND WE
HAVE ALL SAID THAT AT SOME
POINT UP HERE, BUT THIS IS
ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR
BEING ABLE TO MANAGE THE DRUG
DEALING THAT IS HAPPENING IN
THIS CITY. AND I WANT TO BE
VERY CLEAR, THAT THIS IS A TOOL
TO DEAL WITH DRUG DEALERS WHO
ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN VERY DIRE
SITUATIONS. AND SO, WE ARE
TRYING TO MANAGE FOR MORE TOOLS
TO DEAL WITH THOSE DRUG
DEALERS, AND WE SHOULD BE DOING
AND ADDRESSING MORE THINGS THAT
ARE HAPPENING NEAR SCHOOLS. AND
IN THIS SITUATION, THERE ARE
MULTIPLE SCHOOLS IN THAT
BUILDING THAT I WANT TO MAKE
SURE I AM PROVIDING MY VOICE
AND MY SUPPORT, AS REQUESTED BY
CONSTITUENTS AND THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT, BY BRINGING THIS
AMENDMENT THAT YOU, CHAIR, ARE
BRINGING ON MY BEHALF. SO, I
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU, AND I
HOPE THAT I HAVE YOUR SUPPORT,
COLLEAGUES. CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. YOUR COMMENTS ACTUALLY
REMINDED ME TO -- YOU KNOW,
ANOTHER PART OF THIS IS THE
ENGAGEMENT THAT HAS BEEN
HAPPENING. SO, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IN TERMS OF
THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE ON THE
ZONE. AND IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS
THAT SOMETIMES -- BECAUSE I
HAVE RECEIVED MANY REQUESTS
REGARDING THE BELLTOWN ZONE. I
THINK YOU HEARD THE PUBLIC
COMMENT IN TERMS OF SHIFTING IT
TO THE SOUTH. BUT, ON THIS,
THERE WERE SERVICE PROVIDERS IN
THAT AREA, IN TERMS OF WORKING
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND ON
THAT ONE, TOO, I SPOKE WITH
CHIEF FORD AND HER CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER, AND GIVEN
ITS PROXIMITY TO THE DOWNTOWN
CORE, IN SOME WAYS, IT WOULD
ALLOW FOR THOSE SERVICE
PROVIDERS. SO, THAT IS AN
EXAMPLE, AS YOU NOTED, AND ALSO
WITH BELLTOWN, THE ENGAGEMENT
PIECE, AND BEING MINDFUL OF THE
VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF IT. SO,
THANK YOU FOR THAT. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
>> MR. CHAIR, CAN I, REALLY
QUICK -- I MISSPOKE AND I WANT
TO CORRECT THE RECORD. THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IN THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION,
RECOMMENDED ONLY TWO. I THINK I
SAID "PROPOSED." THEY DIDN'T
ACTUALLY PROPOSE THESE S.O.D.A.
ZONES, BUT THEY DID WORK WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE CRIME ACTIVITY, AND ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
>> YES, THANK YOU, MR. DOSS.
YES, THEY WERE WORKED UP AS
OPTIONS AND THE LIKE AND THAT
WAS PART OF OUR ENGAGEMENT. SO,
YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS? I DON'T SEE ANY.
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
SIX?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE YES VOTES AND
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. AMENDMENT
SIX IS ADOPTED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. VICE CHAIR SAKA, AGAIN,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE
AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN?
>> YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I
MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120835, AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN.
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY, IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
NUMBER SEVEN. CENTRAL STAFF IS
RECOGNIZED TO DESCRIBE
AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN. AND I
BELIEVE, MR. DOSS? OR, MS.
GORMAN?
>> OKAY, I WILL DESCRIBE THE
AMENDMENT.
>> MS. GORMAN, THANK YOU.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN TO
COUNCIL BILL 120835, SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. IT WOULD
REQUIRE THAT A JUDGE OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT, WHO IS
CONSIDERING ISSUING A S.O.D.A.
ORDER ALSO CONSIDER WHERE A
DEFENDANT IS HOUSED, EMPLOYED,
OR RECEIVES SUBSTANTIAL
SERVICES, AND THE DEFENDANT,
HIM OR HERSELF WILL BE REQUIRED
TO PRESENT EVIDENCE OF THAT
HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, OR RECEIPT
OF SUBSTANTIAL SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU, MS. GORMAN. VICE
CHAIR SAKA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
IN ORDER TO ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO,
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD INSURE
JUDICIAL CONSIDERATION FOR
DEFENDANTS WHEN DECIDING TO
APPLY A S.O.D.A. ZONE TO A
DEFENDANT OR NOT APPLY THAT
ZONE. HAD I BEEN IN CHARGE OF
THE ORDERING OF THESE, I WOULD
HAVE ACTUALLY LET THIS BE THE
FIRST OR ONE OF THE FIRST
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, BECAUSE
THIS IS A COMPASSIONATE
AMENDMENT. THIS AMENDMENT MAKES
CLEAR THAT WE ARE LEADING WITH
COMPASSION, AND WE ARE MAKING
SURE THAT THOUGHTFUL
CONSIDERATION OF ALL OF THE
ATTENDING CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
BEING WEIGHED AND EXPLICITLY
CONSIDERED, INTENTIONALLY, BY
ALL OF THE PLAYERS IN THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT IS A
WALK ON AMENDMENT, ALTHOUGH MY
OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING
DILIGENTLY ON THIS FOR WEEKS,
AS A QUICK ASIDE. AS I NOTED IN
PRIOR PUBLIC SAFETY VOTES, OUR
CITY NEEDS A HOLISTIC AND
DYNAMIC PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY.
WE CANNOT HAVE A ONE SIZE FITS
ALL APPROACH. YES, WE NEED TO
CRACK DOWN ON DRUG USE AND
CRIME WITHIN OUR CITY. WE ALSO
NEED A SAFE CITY FOR OUR
RESIDENTS, WORKERS, VISITORS,
TAXPAYERS. HOWEVER, WE ARE ALSO
A COMMUNITY OF COMPASSION, AND
AGAIN, THAT IS THE FLESH OF
THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT. OUR
CITY HAS BEEN A LEADER IN
DIVERGENT SERVICES, AND MYSELF
ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
SUPPORTED INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS
LIKE C.A.R.E. AND THE UNIFIED
C.A.R.E. TEAM. MY PROPOSED
AMENDMENT HELPS ENSURE THAT WE
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ,
THOUGHTFULLY -- THOUGHTFULLY --
THAT WE NEED TO TAKE STRONGER
MEASURES AND EVEN CRACKDOWN IN
CERTAIN INSTANCES ON DRUG
DEALING, AND DRUG PUSHING, AND
FENTANYL OVERDOSES. BUT ALSO,
THAT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM CANNOT
BE INFLEXIBLE, EITHER. IT NEEDS
TO ACCOUNT FOR THE COMPLEXITY,
THE NUANCE OF THIS ISSUE, AND
BE MINDFUL OF THOSE THAT LIVE,
WORK, OR ARE SEEKING TREATMENT
IN ONE OF THESE S.O.D.A. ZONES.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL ENSURE THAT
S.O.D.A. ORDERS ARE APPLIED
FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY, AND
JUSTLY, CONSISTENT WITH THE
INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION. IT
ALSO ALLOWS THIS LEGISLATION TO
STRIKE THE APPROPRIATE BALANCE
BETWEEN AMELIORATING DRUG USE
IN OUR CITY, BUT ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE A
CITY THAT DOESN'T -- LIKE WHAT
I MENTIONED EARLIER -- ADOPT A
ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH.
COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT ON THIS AMENDMENT TO
ALLOW US TO BEAT WITH
COMPASSION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR SAKA.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. THANK
YOU, CHAIR KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, CAN YOU
JUST EXPAND ON THIS A LITTLE
BIT? DOES THIS MEAN THAT IN
CONSIDERING THE JUDGE WOULD SAY
THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
ENTER A S.O.D.A. BORDER, OR
THERE ARE PARTICULAR AREAS, IF
THEY COME INTO THAT AREA TO
ACCESS THE SERVICES, IT WOULD
NOT BE A VIOLATION OF THE
S.O.D.A. BORDER? I'M JUST
WONDERING HOW IT COMES IN, TO
BE MORE SIGNIFICANT?
>> IT DOESN'T WEIGH IN
LEGISLATIVELY, OR PURPORT TO
IMPOSE A REQUIREMENT BY THE
JUDGE, OR PROSECUTOR, OR ANYONE
TO MAKE A DECISION. OR, TILT
THE SCALE IN ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER. IT JUST MERELY REQUIRES
THAT THOSE FACTORS MUST BE
CONSIDERED, IN ISSUING THIS
ORDER. AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR
JUDGES ARE FREE TO DECIDE AND
MAKE DECISIONS AS THEY SEE FIT,
AS DOOLEY ELECTIVES, AND IT
JUST REQUIRES THAT THEY
CONSIDER THIS INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. AND THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR SAKA, FOR WHAT IS
ESSENTIALLY A CAPSTONE. IT IS A
REMINDER, TOO, OF SOMETHING
THAT IS OFTEN NOT CONSIDERED
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE MOVING
THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM, AND ULTIMATELY, THIS
COMES TO A JUDGE FOR A DECISION
AND THE JUDGE WILL DECIDE ON
EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL MERITS
OF THE CASE, AND ALL OF THE
VARIOUS PIECES TO THAT. SO,
THIS IS NOT SOME KIND OF
BLANKET LAW PIECE THAT IS GOING
TO JAM IT. IT IS GOING TO HAVE
A REFLECTION OF THE JUDGE'S
DISCRETION AND REVIEW OF THE
FACTS OF THE CASE THAT THEY ARE
PRESENTED. SO, THANK YOU FOR
THAT. AND AS I NOTED AT THE
BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, IT IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BE
FULLY WORKING, AS IT IS
IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL PUBLIC
SAFETY POSTURE. SO, AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS
PIECE, IT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE
RELATED TO THIS BILL. NO HER
ESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
WILL THE PLEASE CALL ROLE
ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER
SEVEN?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE YES VOTES AND
NO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. AMENDMENT SEVEN
IS ADOPTED. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY
FINAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL, AS
AMENDED? VICE CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WILL
BE VOTING FOR THIS BILL TODAY,
AS AMENDED. I THINK,
COLLEAGUES, THE HEADLINE FOR
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS
CLEAR. LET IT BE KNOWN, SCREAM
IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS, SEATTLE
IS NO LONGER A SAFE PLACE, SAFE
SPACE TO DO YOUR DIRT. IT IS NO
LONGER A TOLERABLE, PERMISSIVE
PLACE, WHERE PUSHERS AND DRUG
DEALERS CAN COME, AND TAKE
ADVANTAGE, AND EXPLOIT OUR MOST
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND
NEIGHBORS, SUFFERING FROM
DEBILITATING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS AND DRUG ADDICTION
CHALLENGES. IT IS NO LONGER A
SAFE SPACE FOR THAT. THIS GIVES
US ONE ADDITIONAL TOOL IN THE
TOOLBOX --
>> POINT OF ORDER.
>> TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS.
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> IS VERY DISTRACTING AND
MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO HEAR WHEN
THERE ARE OUTBURSTS IN THE
CHAMBERS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. AS THE PRESIDING
OFFICER OF THIS COMMUNITY
MEETING, I AM GIVING YOU A
VERBAL WARNING ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING THAT IS IN VIOLATION
OF COUNCIL RULE 11-D IN TERMS
OF OUTBURSTS. SO, THANK YOU FOR
ADHERING TO THAT RULE, MOVING
FORWARD. VICE CHAIR?
>> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> NO WORRIES. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. SO, IT IS NO LONGER A
SAFE PLACE TO DO YOUR DIRT.
RESIDENCE, SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, THEIR CUSTOMERS,
VISITORS, COMMUTERS, TAXPAYERS
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE ARE
DEMANDING THAT WE DO BETTER,
BETTER FOR EVERYONE. THIS IS A
NEW, IMPORTANT TOOL TO DISRUPT
THE OPEN AIR DRUG MARKETS THAT
ARE AFFLICTING OUR ENTIRE CITY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR YOUR WORK AND
LEADERSHIP IN COMMISSIONING
THAT REPORT A FEW MONTHS BACK
FROM THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
THIS AND OTHER PIECES OF
LEGISLATION AND POLICY ARE
GOING TO INVARIABLY FLOW FROM
THAT. THE LEARNINGS CONTAINED
IN THAT REPORT, THIS IS
CONSISTENT, THIS AMENDED PIECE
OF LEGISLATION IS CONSISTENT --
AS YOU ALLUDED TO EARLIER --
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE
ADOPT A PLACE-BASED APPROACH, A
TARGETED APPROACH. UNLIKE PRIOR
ITERATIONS, WHEN SIMILAR
S.O.D.A. ORDERS IN SEATTLE WERE
IN PLACE, WHERE WE LEARNED FROM
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
THAT IT COVERED IN EXCESS OF
40% OF THE LANDMASS OF THE
ENTIRE CITY OF SEATTLE, UNDER
THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, IT WAS
LESS THAN A FRACTION OF 1%, AND
I THINK AS AMENDMENT -- I
HAVEN'T CONFIRMED -- BUT, AS
AMENDED, IT IS STILL UNDER 1%.
THIS IS A TARGETED APPROACH TO
ALLOW US TO DO MORE. IT IS,
AGAIN, AS AMENDED BY THE
CONSIDERATION FACTOR AMENDMENT,
IT ALLOWS US TO LEAD WITH
COMPASSION. EVERYONE'S
AMENDMENT IS SPECIFICALLY
BACKED BY DATA, AND ALSO, WE
KNOW THAT THIS IS GUIDED BY
COMMON SENSE. SO, TODAY'S
POLICY ISN'T A STANDALONE,
QUICKFIX KIND OF A SOLUTION. IT
IS PART OF A CONSTELLATION OF
POLICIES THAT WILL LEAD TO A
SAFER SEATTLE FOR ALL. WHETHER
IT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO HIRING
MORE OFFICERS, REPORTING, AND
GROWING, AND SCALING OUR
C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT, OR
CRACKING DOWN ON DANGEROUS
SPEED RACING, TODAY'S VOTE
SHOWS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO
THE RULE OF LAW. AT THE SAME
TIME, THE AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDER AND DATA-DRIVEN
ANALYSIS SHOWS OUR COMMITMENT
TO DEVELOPING POLICY
THOUGHTFULLY THAT IS SUPPORTED
BY OUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND THE
DATA. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
IN CREATING A SAFER SEATTLE FOR
ALL. BUT, THIS AND MANY OTHER
MEASURES WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE
MUCH BETTER, MORE URGENT
PROGRESS. SO, CHAIR KETTLE,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THIS. COLLEAGUES, I
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND
YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS
TO MAKE THIS BILL EVEN BETTER.
I APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT
FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, OUR CENTRAL STAFF, MY
OWN STAFF -- WHO WORKED VERY
CLOSELY WITH MY CONSTITUENTS IN
PIONEER SQUARE ON THE PIONEER
SQUARE AMENDMENTS -- BUT, I AM
PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS BILL
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS? ON THE BILL?
OH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WAS
REFLECTING ON ALL OF THESE
AMENDMENTS, AND I DO THINK THEY
DEMONSTRATE AN ENTHUSIASM FOR
THIS LEGISLATION AND A DESIRE
-- AT LEAST FROM THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HERE AND ALSO THOSE WHO
DO NOT BELONG TO THE COMMITTEE,
BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
DEEPLY ENGAGED ALL ALONG --
THAT THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO
RESPONDING TO THE DRUG AND
ASSOCIATED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT
IS WHY WE HAVE APPROVED, NOW,
SEVERAL EXPANSIONS -- I BELIEVE
FIVE. SO, I DO WANT TO NOTE
THAT THE ALTERNATIVE IS SIMPLY
-- AS I SAID BEFORE -- DOING
NOTHING. IT IS CLEAR THAT THAT
HASN'T WORKED, SO FAR. YOU ALL
HAVE NAMED POINTS ABOUT THE
FACT THAT WE NEED TO ALSO HAVE
COMPASSION, BUT THEY -- BUT, IT
IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED BOTH
SIDES. WE NEED NEW LAW
ENFORCEMENT TOOLS, AND WE ALSO
NEED SERVICES TO GO ALONG WITH
THEM. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO BE
LISTED AS A COSPONSOR, CHAIR
KETTLE, AND I, AGAIN, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK TO
BRING THIS FORWARD, AND ALSO TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S WORK,
TRANSMITTING THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. YES, I WOULD BE
HONORED TO HAVE YOU
COSPONSOR FOR THIS BILL. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. OKAY, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
JUST TO CONCLUDE, AS I STATED
EARLIER, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
HURTING, DRUG DEALERS HAVE
PRAYED ON THE VULNERABLE IN
CRISIS, CREATING TRAGEDIES ON
AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, BUT ALSO
ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD BASIS. THIS
BILL, VICE CHAIR, EVEN WITH THE
AMENDMENTS, COVERING LESS THAN
0.5%, WILL NOT SOLVE IN ITSELF
WHAT WE ARE FACING, BUT WILL
DISRUPT THE DRUG TRADE,
BUILDING ON THE LESSONS LEARNED
FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS AND
FOLLOWING THE DATA FOR A GROUP
APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS
IN OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLAN. AND ULTIMATELY, SOLVING
FOR X, WITH X BEING DEFINED AS,
YES, THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE
BEING TREATED WITH COMPASSION
AND EMPATHY, BUT ALSO THINK
ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND
COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH ON THAT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO
PASS COUNTABLE 120835, AS
AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE YES VOTES IN
ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
CARRIES AND THE MOTION TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120835 AS AMENDED
WILL BE SENT TO THE SEPTEMBER
17th COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> CLERK -- CLERK, WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120836, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
PROSTITUTION, CREATING THE
KINDS OF PROSTITUTION LOITERING
AND PROMOTING LITTERING FOR THE
PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION,
ESTABLISHING POLICIES GOVERNING
ARRESTS FOR PROSTITUTION AND
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 S.O.A.P. ORDER,
AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS 12 A .1
0.010, 12 A .10 .030, AT 12 A
.10 .4040, AND A NEW CHAPTER,
12 A .11 TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT WE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF BILL
120836 -- IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> SECOND, OKAY. I WILL NOT
HAVE ANY BRIEF REMARKS ON THIS,
BUT INSTEAD WILL RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS THE
SPONSOR OF THE BILL, TO PROVIDE
REMARKS, INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL
PRESENTERS TO PROVIDE BRIEF
REMARKS. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED, AS A
SPONSOR OF THIS BILL, TO
INTRODUCE YOUR LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ACTUALLY, DID I HAVE A
SECOND ON PUTTING THAT IN?
OKAY, MAKING SURE I HEARD THAT
RIGHT. THAT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED. FOR RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF THE BILL. I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WAS IN THE
RECORD. NOW, PLEASE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
DOUBLE CHECKING. THANK YOU FOR
THE RECOGNITION, CHAIR. AT THIS
TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
OUR PRESENTERS TO THE TABLE.
AND, WELL, THEY ARE GETTING
SEATED. I WANT TO KNOW THAT
THIS IS THE SECOND BRIEFING ON
THE COUNCIL TO -- I JUST WANTED
TO BE CLEAR THAT I WAS ELECTED
TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I
WANT TO LISTEN TO ALL THE
VOICES IN MY DISTRICT FIVE.
THIS BILL -- REALLY, THE
GENESIS OF THIS BILL WAS THE
EXTREME GUN VIOLENCE THAT WAS
HAPPENING IN MY COMMUNITY, IN
DISTRICT FIVE, IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT WAS PUTTING
THE LIVES OF THE NEIGHBORS, THE
CHILDREN, AND THE WORKERS ON
THE STREET AND THE BUSINESSES
IN SEVERE RISK, AND IT WASN'T
JUST THE INORDINATE AMOUNT OF
GUN VIOLENCE, IT WAS ALSO THE
VIOLENCE -- I HAVE BEEN REACHED
OUT TO OTHER CONSTITUENTS, WHO
IS ELDERLY PARENTS WERE ALSO
ASSAULTED BY WOMEN, WHO WERE
BEING PROSTITUTED. WE HAVE HAD
SCHOOLCHILDREN WHO WERE BEING
SOLICITED TO AND FROM SCHOOL,
BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS. WE HAVE
HAD ROBBERIES, WE HAVE HAD
OTHER ASSAULTS. SO, IT IS,
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE
THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN
DISTRICT FIVE, AND IT TRULY HAS
BEEN FUELED BY THE SEX TRADE,
AND WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE
TO TESTIFY TO THAT, AS WELL.
BUT, THAT WAS REALLY THE
GENESIS OF THIS BILL. AND FROM
THE GET GO, I HAVE REACHED OUT
TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY OF
SURVIVORS, DIRECT SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS LAW
ENFORCEMENT, WHO ACTUALLY WORK
IN VICE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING,
AS WELL AS CONSTITUENTS, TO TRY
TO CRAFT A BILL THAT TAKES A
NUANCED AND BALANCED APPROACH
TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING, WHICH IS
TRULY A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE,
THAT IS PUTTING THE LIVES OF
EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AT
RISK. SO, TO THAT EXTENT, I
HAVE ASKED A NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS HERE TO COMMENT,
AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE, GIVEN
THAT WE ARE SO DELAYED BECAUSE
OF WHAT HAPPENED, THAT MANY OF
THE PEOPLE WHO MADE COMMENTS
ABOUT THIS BILL ARE NOT
ACTUALLY HERE, TO HEAR THE
TESTIMONY OF SURVIVORS, PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED FROM
THE TIME THEY WERE 12 ONWARD
AND PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO
ESCAPE THAT TRAFFICKING, PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOW DEVOTED THEIR
LIVES AND TAKEN PERSONAL
SACRIFICES AND RISKS TO
ACTUALLY DEVOTE THEIR LIVES TO
GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET,
TO BREAKING THE CYCLE, BECAUSE
THIS ISN'T JUST A HARM THAT
HARMS THE INDIVIDUALS DOING THE
WORK, IT IS A BROADER COMMUNAL
HARM THAT HARMS THE FAMILIES OF
THE COMMUNITIES, SO I REGRET
THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT
HERE TO HEAR THE COUNTERPOINT
FROM PEOPLE, BUT WE ARE HERE,
AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR
BEING HERE. SO, IF YOU COULD
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES,
THE ORGANIZATION TO WORK WITH,
GIVE US SOME OF YOUR
BACKGROUND, AND WE CAN TALK
ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THIS BILL,
AND WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
AND SORT OF WHY YOU THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT.
>> YEAH, MY NAME IS REBECCA
FONDANT, I AM A MASTER STUDENT
AT THE SEATTLE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
POLICY. I AM AN ANTITRAFFICKING
CONSULTANT, AND I RESIDE IN
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. I AM A
SURVIVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING,
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
I WAS TRAFFICKED ALONG AURORA
AVENUE NORTH, FOR THE COURSE OF
TWO YEARS AND THROUGHOUT
DIFFERENT TRACKS THROUGHOUT
WASHINGTON STATE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAHANN
HAMILTON AND I AM THE DIRECTOR
OF SURVIVORS THE MORE WE LOVE,
AND I ALSO AM A SURVIVOR OF SEX
TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION. I AM A SURVIVOR,
FROM AT A YOUNG AGE, 12, AND
SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE IN THE
GAME. AND NOW, I AM HERE TO
GIVE MY OPINION ON WHAT WE
SHOULD DO WITH THIS.
>> THANK YOU, AND WELCOME.
>> HI, GUYS, MY NAME IS
KRISTINE MORELAND, I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE MORE WE LOVE,
WE ARE A DIRECT SERVICE
PROVIDER THAT WORKS WITH
COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED PEOPLE
AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION. I
HAVE SERVED ON THESE STREETS
FOR 22 YEARS. I HAVE WORKED
WITH THE MOST BROKEN -- AND OUR
CITY IS BROKEN. I AM IN SUPPORT
OF COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AND
THIS BILL, AND THE LEGISLATION,
SO THAT WE CAN INTERRUPT THIS
PROCESS. I THINK THAT THERE IS
A VERY FINE DEFINITION BETWEEN
SEXUALLY EXPLOITED AND SEX
WORKERS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO
BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE
JUVENILES OUT THERE AND WE HAVE
TO DISRUPT THE PROCESS, BE
INTENTIONAL WITH THAT, AND WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
SERVICES ARE THERE WHEN WE
DISRUPT THAT, SO THAT THE
PRE-BOOKING DIVERGENT IS DONE
WITH INTENTION, AND DONE WITH
THE SERVICE PROVIDERS DOING THE
REAL WORK OUT THERE. SO, I
THANK YOU GUYS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I THANK
YOU FOR BEING VULNERABLE IN
THESE SPACES AND LISTENING TO
THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ARE
REALLY DOING THIS WORK AND
STEPPING UP.
>> THANK YOU. SO, YOU HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR A LOT OF
COMMENTS TODAY ABOUT THIS BILL,
AND HOW THIS BILL IS THEORIZED,
THAT IT IS GOING TO FURTHER
HARM AND NOT BE EFFECTIVE. I AM
JUST WONDERING WHAT YOUR
THOUGHTS ARE? AND ALSO, IF YOU
COULD JUST GIVE A LITTLE
BACKGROUND ABOUT HOW MY OFFICE
HAS WORKED WITH YOUR
ORGANIZATION, AND YOU,
INDIVIDUALLY, TO CRAFT THIS
BILL?
>> SO, I CAN BEGIN. I AM A
MEMBER OF WAYS FORWARI DO CONSUI
WAS REACHED OUT TO BUY YOUR
OFFICE AND WAS ABLE TO COME IN
WITH DIFFERENT OTHER SURVIVORS
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND SPEAK
WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFFERS
ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MANY TIMES,
WE STOOD TOGETHER IN MEETINGS
AND WERE ABLE TO CREATE
SURVIVOR COLLECTIVES AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO REALLY COME
TOGETHER, AND SIT DOWN WITH YOU
AND YOUR STAFFERS TO WORK ON
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD BRING US
TO A SPACE WHERE WE ARE LOOKING
AT A BILL THAT DOESN'T LOOK AT
THE WOMEN AS THE PERPETRATOR.
IF PEOPLE TOOK THE TIME TO READ
THIS BILL -- AS I WAS LISTENING
TO THE TESTIMONY, IT WAS SO
MADDENING, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT
TALKING ABOUT SEX WORK OUT
HERE. I WAS ON THESE STREETS, I
WAS ON THIS TRACK. BE OUT THERE
FOR FIVE MINUTES -- YOU WON'T
LAST. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
CHOOSE UP. THESE TRAFFICKERS DO
NOT PLAY, AND IT HAS NOT GOTTEN
SAFER OUT HERE IN THESE
STREETS. SO, WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON
AURORA AVENUE NORTH, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. THESE ARE CHILDREN
AS YOUNG AS 12, 16, 35, YOU
NAME IT. AND SO, SOMETHING DOES
NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS
ISSUE. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THIS LEGISLATION, OVER THE
YEARS, YES, THE CITY HAS DONE
WRONG. I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED
OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN.
IF YOU LOOK AT MY RAP SHEET,
YOU COULD ROLL IT OUT UNTIL I
AM ABLE TO GET VACATUR. I HAD
MY CRIMINAL RECORDS FIELD. IT
TOOK YEARS. SO, WHAT THIS BILL
DOES IS LOOK AT PREFILING
DIVERSION AND PRE-BOOKING, SO
THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE
THROUGH WHAT I LIVED THROUGH
AND NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCH A LONG
TIME. SO, THAT IS WHAT WE WANT
TO SEE, REALLY HOLDING BUYERS
AND TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE,
RIGHT? THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
PERPETRATING THE MOST TIME, THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE PULLING GUNS ON
YOU ON THE STREETS, PULLING
NICE ON YOU, RUNNING YOU OVER
WITH A CAR, LEAVING YOUR LEG
BROKEN, LEAVING YOU LEFT FOR
DEAD.
>> WE HAD ONE YESTERDAY WHO WAS
RAN OVER BY A CAR.
>> YEAH.
>> COULD YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU
JUST SAID?
>> WE HAD A WOMAN YESTERDAY WHO
WAS GIVEN TO OUR CARE BY THE
KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, WHO WAS RUN OVER BY
A CAR. SHE WAS 23 YEARS OLD.
>> YEAH, THIS IS THE REALITY
THAT WE ARE SEEING, THIS
HAPPENED TO ME 20 SOMETHING
YEARS AGO, OVER 20 YEARS AGO,
AND IT IS HAPPENING OVER, AND
OVER, AND OVER AGAIN.
INTERVENTION IS CRUCIAL. WITH
THE BUYERS AND TRAFFICKERS WANT
YOU TO THINK, IS THAT
INTERVENTION ISN'T NEEDED,
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ISOLATE
THE VICTIMS. RIGHT? SO THAT YOU
CAN'T ACCESS THE SERVICES AND
THE ADVOCATES "I NEVER HAD
ACCESS TO THAT." I WAS STUCK IN
FOR TWO YEARS, THANK GOD IT
WASN'T SEVEN OR 10, BECAUSE I
WOULD BE DEAD.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE
HERBERT AND I'M REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU
HAVE DONE WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND SURVIVORS. I,
TOO, WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED
LISTENING TO THE COMMENTARY
FROM THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE IT DID
SOUND LIKE NOBODY READ THE NEW
AMENDMENT IN THE BILL. THE
S.O.A.P. PART OF IT DOES NOT
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE
WOMEN. IT IS TARGETING THE
BUYERS AND THE TRAFFICKERS. FOR
ME, THIS IS HUGE, BECAUSE -- I
WAS ON THE STREETS OF AURORA AT
A VERY YOUNG AGE, AND I HAVE
NEVER SEEN A BUYER OR A
TRAFFICKER GET ARRESTED. I HAVE
NEVER SEEN THEM BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, EVER IN LIFE. SO,
THE FACT THAT WE ARE STEPPING
FORWARD AND SHOWING THE WOMEN
THAT WE SERVE THAT THEY MATTER
ENOUGH TO REALLY HOLD THIS MAN
ACCOUNTABLE, IS HUGE. RIGHT
NOW, I AM SPEAKING TO YOU ON
BEHALF OF THE LITTLE GIRL, THE
YOUNG WOMAN THAT IS ON AURORA
NOW, BEGGING FOR INTERVENTION,
LOOKING FOR INTERVENTION. LIKE,
TODAY, WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID
ABOUT SEX WORKERS AND THE
DIFFERENCE -- THERE IS A HUGE
DIFFERENCE. I LOVE THE SEX
WORKERS IN HERE THAT HAVE NEVER
BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, GOOD
FOR YOU. THAT IS GREAT, THAT IS
WONDERFUL. YOU ARE A SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF THE WOMEN THAT I
SERVE. A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE.
I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE OUT
THERE, AND IT IS NOT FAIR FOR
US NOT TO SHOW UP FOR THESE
WOMEN, AND THE CAUSE OF SEX
WORK IS REAL WORK. A SEX WORKER
IS NOT 17 YEARS OLD. A SEX
WORKER IS NOT GETTING OUT AT 18
AND STILL ON THE TRACK -- THAT
IS NOT A SEX WORKER. THAT IS
SOMEBODY WHO IS BEING
VICTIMIZED IN WAYS THAT WE
CANNOT EVEN EXPLAIN. SO, WHEN
WE ARE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
RIGHT NOW AND DOING WHAT WE ARE
DOING, THIS IS HOW WE SHOW UP
FOR SURVIVORS, THIS IS WHAT WE
DO. SO, I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD
REALLY EDUCATE THEMSELVES A
LITTLE BIT BETTER ON THIS. YOU
KNOW, I HAVE HEARD A LOT --
LIKE SHE SAID -- BEING
ARRESTED, OF COURSE THAT CAUSES
HARM, IT CAUSED ME HARM. AND OF
COURSE IT CAUSES THE MOST
MARGINALIZED WOMEN HARM, BLACK
AND BROWN WOMEN. BUT, YOU KNOW
WHAT ELSE CAUSES THEM HARM?
THINGS DONE BY PRIVILEGED WHITE
MEN EVERY DAY. THAT CAUSES THEM
HARM, TOO, WHEN THEY ARE 16, 17
YEARS OLD, HAVING TO DO
UNSPEAKABLE THINGS IN THE BACK
OF A CAR, THAT CAUSES HARM,
TOO. SO, WE HAVE TO SHOW UP FOR
EVERYBODY IN A WAY THAT IS
INTENTIONAL, AND I THINK DOING
THIS CHANGES THE GAME. IT
REALLY, REALLY DOES. SO, I AM
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GUYS' WORK,
AND I AM HOPING EVERYBODY VOTES
YES ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU. KRISTINE?
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY, AGAIN, I THINK ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE
BILL I WOULD LIKE YOU TO READ
IS THE INTENTIONAL PART OF
TRAINING THE SPD. I UNDERSTAND
THE CONCERNS ABOUT OFFICERS AND
PUTTING PEOPLE IN REALLY UNFAIR
POSITIONS OR EVEN PROFILING,
BUT THE INTENTION BEHIND THE
AMENDMENT OF WRITING IN
TRAINING THAT NEEDS TO TAKE
PLACE ESPECIALLY FROM SERVICE
PROVIDERS I THINK IS SPOT ON
AND I JUST ECHO, READ THE BILL
IN ITS ENTIRETY. WALK ALONGSIDE
THE VICTIMS OF COMMERCIAL SEX
TRAFFICKING. PEOPLE WHO ARE
LITERALLY BEING EXPLOITED,
MAYBE UNDERSTAND IT IN A
DIFFERENT VIEW SO WE CAN HOPE A
BILL LIKE THIS WILL BE THE
INTERRUPTION THAT WE NEED,
DESPERATELY. BECAUSE LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE SAID, THIS
IS A WHOLE OF COMMUNITY, A
WHOLE OF COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE
ALL RESPONSIBLE TO DO
SOMETHING, AND I THANK YOU.
>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE
THING. YESTERDAY, I WAS
CONTACTED THREE TIMES BY THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ALL
GIRLS WHO HAD BEEN TRAFFICKED.
ALL THREE OF THOSE GIRLS ARE
HOUSED, ONE WITH A FIVE MONTH
OLD BABY. SO, THIS IS WHAT
DIVERSION TRULY LOOKS LIKE. AND
WE CAN DO IT IN A WAY WHERE
WOMEN ARE NOT BEING
CRIMINALIZED. LET'S
CRIMINALIZED THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
-- I'M NOT -- I AM A VERY
SIMPLE PERSON, BUT ONE THING I
DO KNOW IS SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
IT IS VERY SIMPLE. SO, THE
DEMAND FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT
HERE DOING THIS, IF WE COULD
CUT THAT OFF, THEN WE COULD
REALLY START TO HELP THESE
WOMEN HEAL IN THE WAY THAT THEY
DESERVE.
>> AND I THINK THAT YOU HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THE SERVICES AND
THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING
NOW. CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE
BIT ON WHAT IS BEING DONE,
CURRENTLY?
>> CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE
CONTRACTED WITH SOUTH KING
COUNTY AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT THERE IN AN
INTENTIONAL DIVERSION PROGRAM
ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNER AT THE
SILENT TASK FORCE. WE TAKE
OFFICER CALLS FOR JUVENILE AND
WOMEN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
TRAFFICKED, AND WE DIAPERED
THEM INTO SERVICES IMMEDIATELY.
THAT IS ALSO A RESOURCE THING
WITH FOOD, HYGIENE, SAFETY. IF
WE HAVE TO LOCK -- WALK
ALONGSIDE THEM SO WE CAN HELP
PROSECUTE WHOEVER PUT THEM IN
THAT PLACE, WE DO THAT WORK, AS
WELL. BUT, OUR INTENTION IS TO
GET THEM IMMEDIATELY OFF THE
STREETS. WE DO THAT, THEN WE
PARTNER WITH OUR SILENT TRUST
TASK FORCE FOR TEMPORARY
HOUSING, WHICH IS WRAPAROUND
SERVICES, THE PART THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT HERE. THE AFTERCARE,
RIGHT, THE AFTER HER PART OF
THIS. WE HAVE TO BE PRESENT FOR
THE TRAUMAS, OF WHAT IS ENDURED
WHEN IT COMES TO THESE
TRAFFICKING ENVIRONMENTS,
RIGHT? WE HAVE TO BE
INTENTIONAL WITH THAT. SO, WE
HAVE A TRAUMA INFORMED
WRAPAROUND AFTERCARE PROGRAM
THAT PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT, AS WELL, AND DETOX
SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? OR, THE
PANEL, ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, FIRST,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, THANK YOU
FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU,
THREE, FOR COMING UP HERE,
GIVING YOUR TESTIMONY, SPEAKING
YOUR TRUTH, HIGHLIGHTING THE
VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE BILL,
AND THE LIKES. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU, AS THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE, FOR COMING
TODAY. I RECOGNIZE IT IS MUCH
DELAYED. BUT, STILL,
PERSEVERING AND COMING THROUGH
FOR THIS, I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE YOUR VOICES
NEED TO BE HEARD. AGAIN, THANK
YOU FOR COMING. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I
WAS INCLINED TO JUST BASICALLY
-- TO -- I HAVE BEEN LEARNING
ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I
FELT THAT THE LAW WAS CRAFTED
BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE
EXPLANATION THAT THE S.O.D.A.
ORDER APPLYING TO ALL
PARTICIPANTS WITHIN THE TRADE,
OR THE MARKET, OR -- WELL, THE
SITUATION THAT WE HAVE
DESCRIBING WOULD ALLOW FOR
OFFICERS TO APPROACH THE
SELLERS, AND OFFER SERVICES IN
A WAY TO ENGAGE IN
CONVERSATION, AND TO DIAPERED,
ET CETERA, AND TO PERHAPS
BETTER TARGET THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO THE
PROMOTERS. HOWEVER, I AM GOING
TO DEFER TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW
WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT,
AND SO, I JUST RECOGNIZE THAT
-- THAT YOU ALL HAVE -- THAT
THIS IS A PREFERENCE THAT YOU
HAVE ELOQUENTLY SPOKEN OF. AND
ALSO, I DEFER TO THE SPONSO
THIS GISLATION. SO, I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD IN AN EFFORT TO REALLY
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST
INSTITUTING ANOTHER LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE, BUT ALSO
BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS
OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ENGAGED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK
EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I AM NOT A
MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE. BUT,
I CARE REALLY DEEPLY ABOUT
THESE ISSUES, WHICH IS WHY I AM
HERE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR A COUPLE THINGS. WHAT
YOU ARE DOING IS REALLY BRAVE,
COMING HERE AND SPEAKING TO ALL
OF US. THIS IS -- YOU ARE
SHARING YOUR PERSONAL STORIES,
AND PERSONAL STORIES ARE
SOMETIMES REALLY HARD AND
PAINFUL. SO, I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE TO
TELL US YOUR PERSONAL STORIES,
AND THOSE OF THE PEOPLE, OF THE
YOUNG WOMEN THAT YOU TAKE CARE
OF. I ALSO AM A MOM OF
DAUGHTERS, WHO WERE AT INGRAM
HIGH SCHOOL, AND WHERE THEIR
FRIENDS WERE GETTING SOLICITED
UP ON AURORA. I MEAN, IF YOU
DRIVE UP AND DOWN AURORA THE
WAY I DID WHEN I WAS DROPPING
OFF AND PICKING UP MY GIRLS,
YOU JUST SEE IT. IT IS SO
OBVIOUS, THE TRAFFICKING THAT
IS HAPPENING. AND TO THE POINT
YOU ALL MADE, THIS ISN'T ADULT
WOMEN, CHOOSING THINGS. THIS
IS, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT,
ARE THESE YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE
BEING TRAFFICKED, SUCH AS YOUR
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. AND WE
NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THAT. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US,
TO YOUR POINT, TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS. AND SO, I REALLY
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S LEADERSHIP ON BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO
SAY, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING ANY
OF US UP HERE ARE TAKING
LIGHTLY. THERE HAVE BEEN
CONVERSATIONS SINCE WE GOT HERE
IN JANUARY, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
AND I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT
THIS AND COMMUNICATING EVEN
WITH NORTH PRECINCT ABOUT THIS.
THIS SITUATION ON AURORA, AND
HOW TO BEST ADDRESS IT AND HOW
TO BEST HELP THESE GIRLS THAT
ARE GETTING TRAFFICKED. SO, NO
ONE IS UP HERE SAYING WE HAVE
ALL THE ANSWERS TO ALL THE
PROBLEMS, AND NO ONE IS UP HERE
SAYING THIS IS -- YOU KNOW,
THIS IS ONE, AGAIN, OF MANY
TOOLS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO USE
TO ADDRESS THIS REALLY CRITICAL
PROBLEM, BECAUSE NOT DOING
ANYTHING, THAT WOULD BE THE
MOST HARM ANY OF US CAN DO. AND
TO YOUR POINT, WE NEED TO HOLD
THE PEOPLE DOING THE MOST HARM
ACCOUNTABLE. AND THAT IS WHAT
IS NOT HAPPENING WITH INACTION.
AND SO, I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY
THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS HEAR THE
VOICES OF THE YOUTH, LIKE MY
DAUGHTERS AND HER FRIENDS, WHO
HAVE SPOKE -- THEY ARE NOT HERE
TODAY, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH. I
REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO
CAME HERE TO GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.
IN YESTERYEAR, I USED TO WORK
AT THE ACLU, AND I AM VERY MUCH
IN FAVOR, EVERY VOICE COUNTS,
AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO SAY WHAT
THEY FEEL AND SHARE, AND WE
ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHEN WE ARE CREATING
LEGISLATION, WE ARE DOING
THINGS, LISTENING TO THE FOLKS
THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE FOLKS
THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HELP, AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
LISTENING TO THOSE VOICES,
WHICH WERE NOT HERE TODAY. YOU
KNOW, KIDS AT INGRAM HIGH
SCHOOL ARE NOT HERE TO TELL YOU
THEIR EXPERIENCE ON BEING
SOLICITED. KIDS FROM ROBERT
EAGLE STAFF MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE
NOT HERE -- MIDDLE SCHOOL! TO
SHARE HOW THEY HAVE BEEN
SOLICITED, BECAUSE THEIR SCHOOL
IS A BLOCK FROM AURORA. NONE OF
THOSE KIDS ARE HERE TO TELL YOU
THAT THEY ARE AFRAID TO GO TO
SCHOOL EVERY DAY BECAUSE OF THE
SITUATION THAT IS HAPPENING ON
AURORA. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DISRUPT. SO, I CANNOT
VOTE TODAY, BUT I WILL BE
VOTING FOR THIS WHEN IT COMES
TO FULL COUNCIL, AND I JUST
WANT TO LEND MY VOICE OF
SUPPORT TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR COMING
HERE AND SHARING YOUR
EXPERIENCES AND LENDING THE
VOICE TO THE GIRLS THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO PROTECT HERE, WHO ARE
NOT HERE TODAY TO TELL THEIR
PERSONAL STORIES -- AND THERE
ARE COUNTLESS OF THEM. NOT JUST
IN SEATTLE, ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. LET'S
BE VERY CLEAR ON THAT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU, ALL, FOR
THAT. I, TOO, WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND COURAGE,
BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS
DISAGREEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN, SPEAKING OUT AGAINST
A PARTICULAR VIEWPOINT CAN
SUBJECT YOU TO PERSONAL ATTACK
AND THE DELEGITIMIZING OF YOUR
OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WHICH
WAS VERY, VERY TRAUMATIZING IN
OF ITSELF. I JUST HAD ONE OTHER
THING I WANTED TO RAISE, AND
THIS WAS IN THE CONVERSATION
THAT YOU AND I HAD, KRISTINE,
AND SARAHANN, ABOUT HOW THIS
CREATES AN ECOSYSTEM. SO, TO
THE POINT OF -- YOU KNOW, SOME
OF THE EXPLOITERS, THE , FOR
LACK OF A BETTER WORD, OR
TEENAGERS. AND I THINK YOU SAID
SOME OF THEM ARE THE SONS OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
PROSTITUTED THEMSELVES. I AM
JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW
THIS IS A -- THE RIPPLE EFFECT
OF THE TRAUMA AND HARM IS
BROAD, I'M WONDERING IF YOU
COULD TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I HAD FOUR SONS
THAT HAD TO SEE THEIR MOM -- I
MEAN, THREE SONS AND A
DAUGHTER, BUT ALL OF THEM HAD
TO SEE ME GO THROUGH A LOT OF
STUFF. STILL, TO THIS DAY, WE
HAVE A LOT OF HEALING TO DO.
BUT, OF COURSE, WE ARE WORKING
FORWARD AND STUFF LIKE
SO, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT -- I
HATE TO SAY IT LIKE THIS --
BUT, WHERE A PIMP COMES FROM,
HE IS ALSO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
TRAUMATIZED, AND SEEN THINGS,
AND PUT INTO SITUATIONS THAT
AREN'T REALLY SAFE AND
HEALTHY. I HAVE HAD TO DO A LOT
OF SELF SPEAKING AND FORGIVING
OF MYSELF FOR THE THINGS THAT
MY KIDS HAVE SEEN, AND I HAVE
HAD TO TAKE ON THAT
RESPONSIBILITY, KNOWING THAT
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD
HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT. SO,
WHEN WE INTERRUPT AND STUFF, WE
ARE NOT JUST INTERRUPTING IT
JUST RIGHT THEN, WE ARE
INTERRUPTING IT FOR
GENERATIONS, YOU KNOW WHAT I
MEAN? WE ARE CHANGING SOMETHING
FOR THAT FAMILY, SO NOW THAT
YOUNG MAN DOESN'T HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING. AND THAT IS A WHOLE
OTHER TOPIC, THAT WE NEED TO BE
TAKEN CARE OF OUR YOUNG MEN
BETTER, TEACHING THEM BETTER,
AND SHOWING THEM THAT THIS IS
NOT WHAT WE NEED TO DO. SO,
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU
BROUGHT THAT UP. I APPRECIATE
YOU BRINGING THAT UP. FOR MY
SONS, AND ALL OF OUR -- YOU
KNOW, FOR ALL OF THE SURVIVORS
THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO ME, JUST
PASSED AWAY TWO WEEKS AGO, AND
SHE HAS FOUR KIDS, TOO. I AM
HELPING THEM PLAN HER SERVICE
RIGHT NOW. LISTENING TO HER
KIDS TELL ME, ALL THEY WANT TO
DO IS JUST CELEBRATE HER LIFE,
AND BE ABLE TO SHOW THE GOOD IN
HER, YOU KNOW, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE
THESE KIDS, OR IT IS NEVER
GOING TO END. IT IS NEVER GOING
TO END. WE COULD STILL SEE A
YOUNG MAN SHOOTING UP AURORA,
WE ARE STILL GOING TO SEE THESE
YOUNG GIRLS -- WE HAVE TO START
HERE SO THAT WE CAN KEEP
MOVING, AND WE CAN HELP THE
WHOLE FAMILY. I HOPE THAT ONE
DAY, I WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
THAT SERVICE AND HAVE FAMILY
ADVOCATES FOR SURVIVORS, SO
THEY ARE NOT JUST GETTING
ADVOCACY FOR THEM, BUT THEY ARE
GETTING EFFICACY FOR THEIR
CHILDREN, AS WELL.
>> CAN I ADD TO THAT, TOO? A
LOT OF THE GENERATIONAL STUFF
THAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THIS
ECOSYSTEM, THERE IS A LOT OF
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY. WHEN WE
LOOK AT THESE BILLS AND BEING
ABLE TO PUT ON S.O.D.A.
BORDERS, HOLDING THE JOHN'S
AND PIMPS ACCOUNTABLE, WE ARE
HOLDING THEIR PROCESS, TOO. AT
ONE POINT, SOMEBODY SAID TO ME
BEFORE, WAS I GETTING ARRESTED,
OR WAS I BEING RESCUED? WE
CAN'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE
WOMEN WHO ARE BEING SEXUALLY
EXPLOITED, THE JUVENILES.
SOMETIMES, WE HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT SHOWING UP FOR THE PIMPS
AND THE JOHN'S, AS WELL,
INTERRUPTING THE PROCESS, AND
HOPING WE CAN GIVE THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY AND A CHANCE. I
KNOW THAT IS CRAZY, PEOPLE
THINK ABOUT THAT, BUT
ACCOUNTABILITY AND WHO WE ARE
HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE, AND HOW WE
CAN INTERRUPT THE PROCESS OF
THEIR LIVES, YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT THAT IS GOING TO DO.
>> ABSOLUTELY, AND THANK YOU
FOR AT ASKING THAT. THE MAN WHO
TRAFFICKED ME, HIS FATHER WAS A
TRAFFICKER, SO HE GROOMED HIS
SON TO BE A TRAFFICKER ONE DAY.
HE TOLD HIM THAT IS WHAT HE WAS
GOING TO BE. AND SO, HE HAD
KIDS, AND HE HAS 15 OF THEM,
AND HE HAS GOTTEN CUSTODY OF
SOME OF THEM BECAUSE OF OUR
LEGAL SYSTEM AND, YOU KNOW,
IT'S -- BUT, HE IS RAISING HIS
KIDS NOW TO BE TRAFFICKERS. SO,
WHEN DO WE INTERRUPT THE
SYSTEM?
>> AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE,
TOO, THAT POVERTY IS OUR
BIGGEST TRAFFICKER. THE
COMMENTS THAT SOME OF THE
PEOPLE MADE TODAY ABOUT HIGHER
WAGES, BETTER EDUCATION, ALL OF
THAT STUFF, THAT IS ALL TRUE.
TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE
SAME TIME. TWO THINGS CAN BE
WRONG AT THE SAME TIME. THESE
ARE TWO STATEMENTS. SO, WE, AS
A COMMUNITY, HAVE TO START
SHOWING UP AND MAKING A
COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
SUFFERING LIKE THIS. I ALWAYS
SAY, RELATIONSHIPS GOT ME IN
AND RELATIONSHIPS GOT ME OUT.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS. AND IF WE
DON'T START SHOWING UP FOR
PEOPLE IN AN INTENTIONAL WAY,
THIS IS NEVER GOING TO END AND
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS HUMAN
BEINGS, IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY AS PRIVILEGED
PEOPLE, IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY ALL THE WAY
AROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
HAS NOT HAPPENED, AND WE SHOW
UP IN A DIFFERENT, AND
INTENTIONAL, AND RADICAL WAY.
>> THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK
YOU, LADIES. I ACKNOWLEDGE I AM
PROBABLY JUST PILING ON A
LITTLE BIT AT THIS POINT, BUT
LET ME PILE ON. I TRIED TO
PRACTICE AN ATTITUDE OF
GRATITUDE EVERY DAY, AND IT
PERMEATES EVERY ASPECT OF MY
MIND, AND MY BODY, AND MY SOUL,
AND I HAVEN'T BEEN REMINDED
THIS CLOSE IN A LONG TIME, WHY
I NEED TO LIVE UP TO IT, THAT
PRINCIPAL, AFTER HEARING YOUR
POWERFUL TESTIMONY TODAY,
HEARING YOUR POWERFUL TESTIMONY
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST
MONTH OR SO DURING THE VARIOUS
SESSIONS WE HAVE HAD ON THIS.
SO, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE, SINCERE GRATITUDE
AND APPRECIATION, TO EACH AND
EVERYONE TO VIEW, FOR THE WORK
THAT YOU DO, FOR YOUR ABILITY
TO ADAPT AND OVERCOME, YOUR
TRAUMA, YOUR ADVERSITY, AND
CHANNELED THOSE LEARNINGS TO
BENEFIT SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS
OUR GREAT CITY AND ACROSS OUR
GREAT REGION. I AM GRATEFUL FOR
YOU, ALL. THANK YOU. THIS BILL
IS BETTER BECAUSE OF YOU, ALL,
AND YOUR TREMENDOUS
CONTRIBUTIONS. THANK YOU. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON
THIS BILL. PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING
THAT THIS COUNCIL BE THOUGHTFUL
AND DELIBERATE. FOR ME, THE
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE RUNS
DEEP. PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME WELL
KNOW THAT I ALSO TRY TO LIVE UP
TO A GROWTH MIND-SET. THIS
NOTION THAT PRACTICES
INSATIABLE DESIRE TO BE BETTER,
OR WE ARE NOT RECOGNIZING THAT
WE ARE NOT -- WE ARE ALL
IMPERFECT, BUT RECOGNIZING
THOSE IMPERFECTIONS AND TRYING
TO BE BETTER EVERY TIME --
EVERY TIME -- PEOPLE WANT US,
THIS COUNCIL, TO BE THOUGHTFUL
AND DELIBERATE. THE ONE WAY WE
DEMONSTRATE THAT IS POTENTIALLY
PULLING A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
ANOTHER WAY IS TO AMEND,
SIGNIFICANTLY, YOUR OWN
PROPOSED BILL. SO, I APPRECIATE
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, FOR
THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO
THIS, GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING
BOARDS, AND MANY OTHER MATERIAL
RESPECTS ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON FOR MONTHS, AND
MONTHS, AND MONTHS, MAKING SURE
THAT IT IS THOUGHTFULLY AND
CAREFULLY REFLECTING FEEDBACK
FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THIS BILL ISN'T GOING TO BE
THE PANACEA. IT IS NOT GOING TO
BE THE SILVER BULLET, AS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA WAS
ALLUDING TO EARLIER. WE NEED A
DIVERSE SET OF POLICY
SOLUTIONS, AND EVEN IF THIS
BILL PASSES COMMITTEE AND IT
PASSES THE FULL COUNCIL, IT IS
NOT HARDLY THE TIME TO SLAP
EACH OTHER HIGH FIVES, AND PAT
EACH OTHER ON THE BACK, THAT A
BOY. MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE
DONE. BUT, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
STEP TO HELP US MAKE BETTER
PROGRESS IN SOME OF THESE MORE
URGENT CHALLENGES. SO, AGAIN,
LADIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOU BEING
WILLING TO BE SO VULNERABLE,
AND ADVOCATING SO FORCEFULLY
AND HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE TO
MAKE BETTER, MORE URGENT
PROGRESS. SO, I AM PROUD TO BE
VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY. AS I SAID
BEFORE, PUBLIC POLICYMAKING,
SAUSAGE MAKING IS NOT EASY. IT
IS NUANCED AND IT IS DIFFICULT,
CHALLENGING. WE GET CHALLENGED
ALL THE TIME. AND RIGHTFULLY
SO, BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
EXPECTING US TO DO BETTER AND
DO MORE. BUT, THE STATUS QUO OF
DOING NOTHING, IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE. DOING NOTHING IS
NOT AN ACCEPTABLE POLICY
SOLUTION. SO, AGAIN, I APPLAUD
YOU, WOMEN. SO MANY MEMBERS
INVOLVED IN THE PUBLIC, AND
VARIOUS COMMUNITY IS, IN
SHAPING THIS THOUGHTFUL PIECE
OF LEGISLATION. I APPLAUD THE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE AND HER OFFICE FOR BEING
WILLING TO GO BACK TO THE
DRAWING BOARDS AND MAKE IT EVEN
BETTER. THAT IS THE GROWTH
MIND-SET IN ITS FINEST, IN MY
VIEW. SO, SUPPORTIVE OF THIS
DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO
ENSURE A STRONG, COMMUNITY
LEAD, OFFICER TRAINING, AS
WELL. I APPRECIATE THAT
SPECIFIC ASPECT AND FEATURE OF
THE BILL, HERE. SO, WITH THESE
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ORIGINAL,
I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THIS TODAY. BUT, AGAIN,
MORE WORK IS NEEDED. THANK YOU,
LADIES.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR NOTING IN YOUR
REMARKS THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO
OUR AMENDMENTS. I JUST WANT TO
CLOSE WITH ONE WORD. OH,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> IT WAS JUST A POINT OF
INFORMATION, TO FIND OUT WHERE
WE WERE, REGARDING THE
AMENDMENT. YES, TWO SCHEDULED.
THAT'S ALL.
>> SO, THANK YOU. I JUST WANT
TO SAY ONE WORD -- POWERFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS NOTED, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL. I WILL
NOW INTRODUCE CENTRAL STAFF TO
GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION ON THE
BILL, AND THEN WE WILL BE
MOVING INTO THE AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU, AND WELCOME, MS.
GORMAN, AS WE MOVE FORWARD NOW
TO OUR AMENDMENT PHASE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR KETTLE. THE
FIRST AMENDMENT I HAD IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, AND IT WOULD CLARIFY THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPOSED
S.O.A.P. ZONE. THE BOUNDARIES
OF THE PROPOSED SOAPSTONE IN
COUNCIL BILL 120836 GENERALLY
FOLLOW NORTH 145th STREET ON
THE NORTH, STONE AVENUE NORTH
ON THE EAST, NORTH 85th STREET
ON THE SOUTH, AND FREMONT
AVENUE NORTH ON THE WEST. THIS
AMENDMENT ADDS A DETAILED LIST
OF THE ZONES INTENDED
BOUNDARIES, PARTICULARLY IN
LOCATIONS WHERE THESE STREETS
ARE INTERRUPTED. THAT IS TO SAY
THEY ARE NOT PERPENDICULAR ON A
MAP. THE AMENDMENT WOULD UPDATE
THE MAP OF SOAPSTONE ONE,
CONSISTENT WITH THE REVISED
BILL LANGUAGE, AND IT IS OUR
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS
AMENDMENT AND ITS
CLARIFICATIONS WOULD MAKE IT
MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
OPERATIONALIZE ITS ROLL, WITH
RESPECTS TO THE BILL. AND IT
WOULD MAKE S.O.A.P. ORDERS
ISSUED CONSEQUENT WITH THE BILL
MORE ENFORCEABLE.
>> THANK YOU, MS. GORMAN, AND
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
BRING THE MAP UP, AS WELL, SO
EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE?
>> YES. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE
TO MOVE AMENDMENT ONE TO
COUNCIL BILL 120836.
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY, IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
ONE. CENTRAL STAFF HAS
DESCRIBED AMENDMENT ONE. SO,
THANK YOU, MS. GORMAN.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS -- AS
THE SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
TO ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU. AS MS. GORMAN HAS
DESCRIBED, THIS IS REALLY JUST
A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE ACCURATELY
DESCRIBING THE AREA OF THE
S.O.A.P. ZONE SO THAT IT IS
MORE CORRECTLY ENFORCEABLE, AND
ALSO'S SO THAT WE HAVE CLARITY
ON WHAT THE EXACT BOUNDARIES
ARE.
>> THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THIS
NOTES, AGAIN, THE COORDINATION
AND COOPERATION WITH ALL
ELEMENTS OF GOVERNMENT,
INCLUDING SPD, AND GIVEN THAT
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
HERE, TOO, I WANT TO
PARTICULARLY THANK NORTH
PRECINCT. THE CAPTAIN THERE HAS
BEEN AMAZING AT ENGAGING WITH
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALSO THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY
ARE SEEN IN THE NORTH PRECINCT,
PARTICULARLY ON AURORA. WERE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
REGARDING AMENDMENT ONE?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION, CHAIR.
AND I WANT TO SAY, CAPTAIN
EGRET IS THE CAPTAIN IN THE
NORTH PRECINCT.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY HER
NAME WRONG, SO THANK YOU FOR
SAYING THAT.
>> SHE IS TERRIFIC. AND TO MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T ASK THIS
QUESTION BEFORE, AND I DON'T
THINK I NOTICED ON THE MAP, BUT
IS THERE A REASON -- AND I KNOW
CAO IS PRESENT HERE, AS WELL,
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE --
IS THERE A REASON WHY THE
BOUNDARY DIDN'T CAPTURE THE
TWO SCHOOLS THAT ARE RIGHT OFF
OF AURORA THERE, BOTH CASCADIA
AND ROBERT EAGLE STAFF?
>> THE REASON THAT WE DID NOT
SPECIFICALLY PUSH THE
BOUNDARIES, IS THAT WE WERE
TRYING TO NARROWLY DRAFT AND
TAILOR THE S.O.A.P. BECAUSE WE
DON'T WANT IT OVERLY
EXPANSIVE, BECAUSE IT IS AN
EXCLUSION AREA. AND ALSO, THEY
ARE ARE MORE NARROWLY TAILORED,
THE STRONGER THEY ARE, LEGALLY.
SO, THAT IS WHY. BUT, IT WAS
ALSO THE THINKING IN CREATING
THAT ZONE, THERE WOULD
HOPEFULLY BE SORT OF SPILLOVER
DETERRENT EFFECT, WITHOUT
ACTUALLY HAVING TO CREATE THAT.
IT WOULD SORT OF BE DE FACTO,
BUT WITHOUT HAVING TO CREATE
THAT ADDITIONAL AREA. DOES THAT
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> IT DOES. I WOULD JUST LOVE
TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE
DETERRENT PIECES, BECAUSE I DO
WORRY THAT BASED ON WHERE THE
LINE IS DRAWN, WE WORRY ABOUT
PUSHING BACK TO BE TOWARD THE
SCHOOL INSTEAD OF AWAY FROM THE
SCHOOL. AND SO, YOU KNOW,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU KNOW I
AM A BIG PROPONENT OF THE
SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE NOT HAVING UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. SO, I WOULD LIKE
TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE
DETERRENT PIECES, SO THAT WE
ARE NOT CREATING UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
>> WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO
NOTE, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, AS
COMING OUT OF WHAT HAS BEEN
HAPPENING, PARTICULARLY WITH
GUN VIOLENCE AT OTHER SCHOOLS,
AND NOT TO GET INTO IT, BUT THE
LEVEL OF COOPERATION AND
DIALOGUE BETWEEN SPD AND THE
BROADER CITY OF GOVERNMENT WITH
THE SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS
AT A POINT WHERE I THINK WE ARE
WORKING TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES. AND THIS IS JUST
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT, WHICH
I THINK WILL HELP, SO THAT
THERE IS BASICALLY A QUESTION,
IN TERMS OF GETTING, YOU KNOW,
BETTER COORDINATION TO ENSURE
THAT THE SEAM -- IF YOU WILL,
WHICH IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM,
SEEMS ARE ALWAYS A PROBLEM --
BETWEEN SANTA FE SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND SEATTLE PD, AND/OR
THE GOVERNMENT OVERALL. WE WILL
WORK AS ENSUREIS
DISCUSSION, SO I HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO
INCLUDE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
>> AND AS CHAIR OF THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE, I HAVE
THESE DISCUSSIONS, AS WELL,
WITH SPS, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO
TALK OFF-LINE ABOUT HOW TO BEST
SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS AS WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH SOMETHING LIKE
THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SO, NOW, I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL FOR ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE VOTES IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, AMENDMENT ONE IS
ADOPTED. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO?
>> YES, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
CHAIR. I, AT THIS TIME, MOVE
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, VERSION
2, TO COUNCIL BILL 120836.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
NUMBER TWO, VERSION 2. CENTRAL
STAFF IS RECOGNIZED TO DESCRIBE
AMENDMENT TWO, VERSION 2.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR KETTLE. AS
VICE CHAIR SAKA ALLUDED TO,
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHANGES
IN THIS AMENDMENT. THE EFFECTS
STATEMENT IS QUITE LENGTHY. I
WILL MOVE THROUGH THIS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT
THE RECORD REFLECTS ALL OF
THEM. PLEASE, PLEASE STOP ME IF
ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ALONG
THE WAY. COUNCIL BILL 120386 IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, THE BILL'S SPONSOR.
FIRST OF ALL, IT WOULD MAKE A
NUMBER OF CHANGES TO CLARIFY
THE INTENDED DIFFERENTIATED
PERFORMANCE APPROACH FOR
DEFENDERS AND PATRONS OF
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
THE FIRST OF THESE IS THAT IT
WOULD DETERRENT -- D -- DEFINE
THE TERMS "BUYER" AND "SELLER,"
WITH THE SEATTLE -- WHERE THAT
IS APPLICABLE TO BOTH BUYERS
AND SELLERS OF SEX. IT WOULD
ALSO PROHIBIT A JUDGE OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT FROM
IMPOSING A S.O.A.P. ORDER ON AN
INDIVIDUAL CHARGED WITH OR
CONVICTED OF PROSTITUTION, OR
PROSTITUTION LOITERING AS A
SELLER. AND IT WOULD ALSO
INTENT THAT NEW SPD POLICIES
ADDRESSING ARRESTS FOR
PROSTITUTION AND PROSTITUTION
LOITERING, OR SELLERS, STATED
THAT DIVERSION AND/OR REFERRAL
TO SERVICES IS THE PREFERRED
DISPOSITION, AND THAT THE
POLICIES THEMSELVES REFLECT
THIS APPROACH. IT WOULD FURTHER
REQUIRE THAT SPD PROTOCOLS
RELATED TO THESE POLICIES BE
BASED ON TRAUMA INFORMED BEST
PRACTICES. NEXT, THE AMENDMENT
WOULD MAKE A NUMBER OF CHANGES
RELATED TO TRAINING
SPECIFICALLY. FIRST OF ALL, IT
WOULD REQUIRE THAT SPD TRAINING
ALIGNED WITH BEST PRACTICES FOR
WORKING WITH CFC VICTIMS, THAT
IT BE DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION
WITH DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER
GROUPS AMONG OTHERS WHO WORK
WITH COMMERCIALLY SEXUALLY
EXPLOITED INDIVIDUALS, AND THAT
IT INCLUDE, TO THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE, CFC SURVIVORS
THEMSELVES, AS TRAINERS.
SECOND, IT STATES THAT SPD
SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO TRAIN ALL
OFFICERS AND RESPOND WITHIN THE
PROPOSED S.O.A.P. ZONE ONE IN
THE BEST PROPOSED PRACTICES BY
OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR, AND ALL
OFFICERS WHO RESPOND TO CRIMES
THAT MAY INVOLVE CSC OR SEX
TRAFFICKING BY JANUARY 2026.
WITH RESPECT TO THE GROUP OF
DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER GROUPS
AND THOSE WHO WORK WITH
COMMERCIALLY SEXUALLY EXPLOITED
INDIVIDUALS, THE AMENDMENT
WOULD REQUIRE THAT GROUP, IN
COLLABORATION WITH SPD, TO
DEVELOP A TRAINING PROGRAM. IT
WOULD ALSO ADD REQUIREMENTS THE
SPD COLLECT THE AGE AND
RESIDENCY OF ALL INDIVIDUALS
APPROACHED FOR PROSTITUTION OR
FOR PROSTITUTION LOITERING AS A
SELLER. THE AMENDMENT WOULD
MAKE A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO
RECITALS. IT WOULD ADD A
RECITAL, EMPHASIZING THAT AN
EMERGENCY RECEIVING CENTER FOR
SELLERS WHO ARE CSC VICTIMS IS
CRITICAL TO THE DIVERSION FOCUS
APPROACH DESCRIBED IN THE BILL
AND IT WOULD EXPLICITLY STATES
THE COUNCIL'S INTENT TO
DECREASE THIS POPULATIONS
ACCESS TO SERVICES AND/OR
DIVERSION. ADDITIONAL NEW
RECITALS WOULD DESCRIBE THE
BILL'S INTENDED UTILITY TO SPD
IN ITS ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS
AGAINST THE SEX BUYERS AND
PROMOTERS, AND A FEW EDITS TO
EXISTING RECITALS, TO CLARIFY
THE BILL'S INTENT. FINALLY, IT
WOULD STRIKE THE BILL LANGUAGE,
INSTRUCTING SPD TO ENTER
S.O.A.P. ORDERS INTO
INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THIS
CHANGE IS A PARALLEL TECHNICAL
CONNECTION TO THE ONE THAT WAS
AMENDMENT ONE TO THE S.O.D.A.
BILL. IT REFLECTS ESTABLISHED
PRACTICE AND RELEVANT LABOR
AGREEMENTS, UNDER WHICH
EMPLOYEES PERFORM THIS WORK.
>> THANK YOU, MS. GORMAN. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THAT IS
QUITE THE RUNDOWN. THAT IS
QUITE THOROUGH AND CONCISE,
WHICH I APPRECIATE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS THE
SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS IT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. AGAIN, I
WANT TO THANK MS. GORMAN FOR
HER EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT WORK
ON THIS BILL. IT IS A DENSE
BILL, AND SHE HAS BEEN
INCREDIBLY PROFESSIONAL AND A
REAL PARTNER IN THIS. I WANT TO
SAY THAT AFTER THE FIRST
HEARING, WE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC
COMMENT. I REACHED OUT TO THE
PEOPLE AT THE TABLE, AND ALSO
AT THE ENDING EXPLOITATION WORK
GROUP, AND ASKED THEM FOR THEIR
FEEDBACK. MOST OF WHAT IS IN
THE AMENDMENT CAME DIRECTLY
FROM THEM. I DID HAVE TO REALLY
THINK ABOUT REMOVING THE
SELLERS FROM S.O.A.P., AND THAT
WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REQUESTS,
AND THIS BILL DOES THAT. I
THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DO
SO. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN
ABOUT UNDULY RUNNING THE RISK
OF BEING UNDULY PUNITIVE, AND
THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE INTENT OF
THIS BILL ALL ALONG, WHICH IS
WHY THIS AMENDMENT ADDS
ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE, STATING
CLEARLY THAT THE INTENT IS
DIVERSION AND REFERRAL TO
SERVICES ON A LIST OF SERVICES,
REQUIRING SPD TO EXPLICITLY
STATE THAT IN THEIR ARREST
POLICIES AND REQUIRES SPD TO
DEVELOP PROTOCOLS FOR BEST
PRACTICES IN WORKING WITH
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAS BEEN
COMMERCIALLY SEXUALLY
EXPLOITED. ADDITIONALLY, I DID
REACH OUT TO THE CHIEF OF
POLICE IN SHORELINE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE HAD A S.O.A.P. LAW
AND LOITERING LAW FOR A VERY
LONG TIME AND IT HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL. AND I ALSO WANTED
TO ASK THEN, YOU KNOW, WAS THE
SUCCESS IN BEING ABLE TO
ADDRESS THIS CRIMINAL
ENTERPRISE ACTIVITY UP THERE
RELATED TO THE LAW, OR WAS IT
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN? IT SAID,
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PIECE
CAME AFTERWARDS, AND IT
CONTINUES TO BE HELPFUL AND
IMPORTANT. THE REASON THEY WERE
ABLE TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION THAT WAS
OCCURRING UP THERE WAS BECAUSE
THEY HAD A LOITERING LAW AND
THEY HAD A S.O.A.P. LAW. I
ASKED THEM, WELL, I HAD AN
APPROACH TO REMOVE THE SELLERS
FROM THE S.O.A.P. PIECE, DO YOU
THINK THAT WOULD BE FATAL TO
THE ABILITY TO DISRUPT THIS
ACTIVITY AND THIS COMMERCIAL
ENTERPRISE, AND THE HARMFUL
BEHAVIORS THAT ARE GOING ON?
WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE INTENT,
TO DISRUPT AND PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL TOOLS, TO PROVIDE
SAFETY FOR ALL IN OUR
COMMUNITY. AND THE POLICE CHIEF
WAS VERY FRANK AND SAID THAT
SHE DID NOT THINK THAT WAS THE
CASE. THAT AS LONG AS WE HAD
THE LOITERING LAW IN PLACE, AND
WE HAD S.O.A.P. FOR THE BUYERS
AND FOR THE EXPLOITERS, OR THE
PIMPS, THAT WOULD BE AN
EFFECTIVE TOOL. AND SO, HEARING
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE
DIALOGUE, I DECIDED THAT THIS
WAS AN APPROPRIATE STEP TO
TAKE. AND SO, THAT IS WHY THAT
IS CONTAINED IN THERE. AND
ALSO, AGAIN, MAKING VERY CLEAR
-- AND I HEARD CONCERNS, AND I
THINK THEY WERE LEGITIMATE
CONCERNS, ABOUT PRIOR
INTERACTIONS WITH SPD. BEING
DISCRIMINATORY, BEING
HARASSING, NOT UNDERSTANDING
THE BROADER CONTEXT OF WHAT WAS
GOING ON. AND WE HAVE REALLY, I
THINK, PROGRESSED AS A SOCIETY,
SINCE WE REPEALED THE LOITERING
LAW, IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING
WHERE THIS IS A UNIQUE AREA OF
TRAUMA AND THAT IT IS A UNIQUE
POPULATION, WHICH REQUIRES
SENSITIVITY AND SPECIALIZED
TRAINING AND SKILL. AND SO, I
THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO
REQUIRE THAT WE HAVE THAT
PARTICULAR TRAINING FOR SPD FOR
ALL OFFICERS, AND TO START OUT
WITH OFFICERS WHO WOULD BE
POLICING THE S.O.A.P. AREA, BUT
EXPAND IT TO THE ENTIRE
DEPARTMENT. AND ALSO,
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, WE CANNOT
MANDATE -- BECAUSE OF
SEPARATION OF POWERS -- THAT
THEY INCLUDE PARTICULAR GROUPS
OR INDIVIDUALS IN THAT
TRAINING, BUT WE CAN STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE THEM TO INCORPORATE
SURVIVORS AND DIRECT SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AND THAT IS
SPECIFICALLY WHAT THIS
AMENDMENT DOES. SO, I WON'T GO
ON AND ON, BUT I JUST WANTED TO
BE CLEAR -- AND THE ONE PIECE I
DO WANT TO SAY THAT IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE
PEOPLE HAVE SAID, "WHY DON'T
YOU TAKE THE LOITERING FOR THE
WOMEN OUT OF THE LAW ENTIRELY?"
THE REASON THAT WE CANNOT DO
THAT, IS THE BILL WILL FALL
APART, AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO HOLD PIMPS ACCOUNTABLE. THAT
IS A PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS
BILL, AND IT STRESSED ME HERE
TODAY TO HEAR A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE SAY, THIS BILL DOESN'T
TARGET TRAFFICKERS OR PIMPS. IT
ABSOLUTELY DOES. I SPENT A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME
THINKING ABOUT -- RIGHT NOW, WE
HAVE PROMOTING PROSTITUTION,
WHICH IS TRAFFICKING AND WHAT
THE PIMPS ARE DOING. THAT IS A
FELONY. IN ORDER TO PROSECUTE A
FELONY, YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE A
VICTIM COME FORWARD, AND YOU
HAVE GOT TO HAVE A LOT OF
EVIDENCE. THAT FURTHER
ENDANGERS THE VICTIMS COMING
FORWARD. IT ALSO IS VERY TIME
INTENSIVE. SO, HOW DO WE
DISRUPT THIS ACTIVITY? HOW DO
WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO HOLD
THEM ACCOUNTABLE WITHIN OUR
MUNICIPAL COURT? WE CREATE A
CRIME CALLED PROMOTING
LOITERING FOR THE PURPOSES OF
PROSTITUTION, WHICH
SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBES A
BEHAVIOR THAT WE SEE PIMPS
ENGAGING IN. TRANSPORTING,
DELIVERY, MONITORING
SURVEILLING. IF THE UNDERLYING
CRIME -- IF LOITERING, THE
UNDERLYING ACTIVITY, IS NOT
ILLEGAL, THAN WHAT THEY ARE
DOING IS NOT ILLEGAL, AND WE
ARE LEFT, AGAIN, TO RELY ON THE
FELONY LAW TO RELY ON KING
COUNTY AND TO RELY ON VICTIMS
COMING FORWARD, AND WE ARE NOT
GOING TO DO THAT. WE ARE GOING
TO CREATE ANOTHER WAY TO HOLD
THEM ACCOUNTABLE THAT IS
PROTECTIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OF
THE WOMEN, BY GOING AFTER THE
BEHAVIOR, DIRECTLY. AND THAT IS
WHY WE HAVE TO KEEP THE
LOITERING PIECE. BUT, THAT IS
ALSO WHY I MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT THE PREFERRED DISPOSITION
-- AND AGAIN, I CANNOT MANDATE
BECAUSE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS
-- BUT, THE PREFERRED
DISPOSITION IS DIVERSION,
DIVERSION, DIVERSION, AND
SERVICES, SERVICES, SERVICES,
AND I HAVE SAID IT AGAIN, AND
AGAIN, THAT I WILL BE ASKING,
AT BUDGET, FOR ADDITIONAL
SERVICES, AND I EXPECT ALL OF
YOU TO BE HERE TO ALSO HOLD US
ACCOUNTABLE IN ASKING FOR
SERVICES AND MONEY, AND I HOPE
THAT YOU, TOO, WILL ALL BE HER
HOLDING OUR FEET TO THE FIRE.
AND WHILE I HAVE SPECIFICALLY
PUT LANGUAGE IN THAT SAYS
EMERGENCY RESEARCHING CENTER
AND SERVICES, ARE CRITICAL TO
DIVERSION. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT TWO?
COLLEAGUES? OKAY. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TWO?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE VOTES IN
FAVOR, AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS
ADOPTED. OKAY, THE AMENDMENT
HAD BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD AND
VOTED ON, WITH DISCUSSION
COMMENTS AND COMMENTARY FROM
BOTH OUR STAFF AND SPECIAL
GUESTS. WE ARE NOW READY TO
CLOSE TODAY AND CALL FOR A VOTE
ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF
PASSING THIS BILL AS AMENDED.
ARE THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS ON
THE BILL, AS AMENDED?
>> MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY, JUST
REALLY, REALLY QUICK --
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE TIME.
I WANT TO THANK MR. CHAIR AND
THANKED COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
AND THANK YOU, REBECCA, SARA
ANN, AND KRISTINE -- SORRY, I
KNOW YOU, FOR STEPPING FORWARD
TODAY. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS TO SHARE YOUR
STORY AND BE VULNERABLE IN THIS
SPACE. I JUST WANTED TO THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. I ALSO HAD
THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH YOU,
ALL, ON THE SILENT TASK FORCE,
AS WELL. A BLACK WOMAN LED
GROUP ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS
CONNECT SURVIVORS WITH
WRAPAROUND SERVICES, IN
HEALING, SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY,
AND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT
ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHEN
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THEY
AFTERCARE OF THE COMMERCIALLY
EXPLOITED WOMEN AND KIDNAPPED
GIRLS THAT ARE ON AURORA. AND I
JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT
THIS, YOU KNOW, EVERY NIGHT,
THERE ARE -- RIGHT NOW ON OUR
STREETS, THERE ARE UNDERAGED
GIRLS THAT ARE BEING RAPED BY
PRIVILEGED MEN. THEY ARE BEING
RAPED. LIKE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AND THAT IS
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON OUR
STREETS. SO, THAT IS WHY WHEN
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE BROUGHT
THIS FORWARD, I WAS SO INCLINED
TO , YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT
WAS GOING ON AND BE SURE THAT
WE ARE PROTECTING PEOPLE AND
THE AFTERCARE -- HOW I WILL BE
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO HAVE
THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR
THE YOUNG WOMEN. AND I ALSO
WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE
McKINNEY DENTAL PROGRAM FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
THAT THOSE PROGRAMS AND THOSE
SOCIAL WORKERS, AND THE FAMILY
SUPPORT WORKERS, ARE THE ONES
THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE
GIRLS AS THEY ARE COMING OFF OF
THE STREETS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE PROTECTED TO BE ABLE
TO GO TO SCHOOL. THEY ARE THE
ONES MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE
GETTING TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM
DR. SERVICES, THAT THEY ARE NOT
STANDING AT BUS STOPS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY HAVE HOUSING AND
FOOD IN THAT PROGRAM AND THAT
IS GOING TO BE OUR
RESPONSIBILITY, AS WELL, WITH
THESE SERVICES, TO ENSURE THAT
OUR McKINNEY PROGRAM WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE KIDS, AS THEY ARE
COMING OFF THE STREETS, HAVE
THESE RESOURCES WITH OUR
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS
WELL. THERE IS A MASSIVE
ECOSYSTEM THAT IS THE
AFTERLIFE, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE
BEING, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE
HELPING. AND SO, I JUST WANTED
TO RECOGNIZE THAT. AND I AM
ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING ON AN
AMENDMENT WITH CENTRAL STAFF,
AND HAS BEEN, TO ENSURE EFFORTS
THAT OUR SALIDA -- SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, REGARDING
THE ARREST REPORTS FROM THE
S.O.A.P. ZONE SO WE CAN HAVE A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
DEMOGRAPHIC THAT IS BEING
TARGETED, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
THAT WE ARE GOING AFTER THE
JOHNS AND PIMPS AND NOT
TARGETING THE WOMEN AND WANTING
THAT TO BE REPORTED AND
TRANSPARENT IN THAT. SO, THAT
AMENDMENT WILL BE COMING. I
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CENTRAL
STAFF ON THAT, AS WELL. SO, I
JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
AND SO, THANK YOU. LOOKING
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS
BILL, AND, YOU KNOW, MAKING
SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE
RESOURCES. SO, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, VICE CHAIR SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST
WANT TO FIRST, I GUESS,
RE-EMPHASIZE MY GRATITUDE TO
THE LEADERS AT THIS TABLE, FOR
EVERYTHING. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
MY APPRECIATION TO EVERY LAST
ONE OF YOU, COLLEAGUES FOR,
AGAIN, YOUR THOUGHTFUL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKING ALL OF
THESE BILLS BETTER. I ALSO -- I
DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS GOING
TO BE ANOTHER APPROPRIATE TIME
TO SAY THIS, SO LET ME JUST SAY
THIS NOW. I DO WANT THE RECORD
TO REFLECT EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED TODAY. MY IMPRESSIONS
OF WHAT HAPPENED TODAY -- OUR
MEETING WAS DISRUPTED, WE LOST
A FULL HOUR AND A HALF OF SOLID
MEETING TIME FOR THIS PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING,
BECAUSE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS --
NOT ALL -- INTENDED TO, AND
DISPLAYED BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT
THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
TO HARASS, BULLY, INTIMIDATE,
AND DISRUPT, AND NOT TO SHARE
THEIR POINT OF VIEW, BUT TO
DISRUPT US, CONDUCTING OUR
SUBSTANTIVE BUSINESS. WE HAD
TWO SUBSTANTIVE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY THAT WE
CONSIDERED, AND WE ARE GETTING
READY TO CLOSE OUT, NOW. BUT,
WE HAD TO RECONVENE MULTIPLE
TIMES, THREE, FOUR, I LOST
COUNT, ONE TO MANY. AND I
OBSERVED ON SECURITY FOOTAGE,
PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY OUT, SPRAY
PAINTING CITY PROPERTY,
DEFACING CITY PROPERTY. THAT'S
NOT SHARING A POINT OF VIEW AND
EXERCISING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT, PEOPLE. THAT IS
DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE OF
TAXPAYER MONEY. THAT IS NOT
BEING WILLING TO HAVE A
DIALOGUE, OR A CONSTRUCTIVE
CONVERSATION. SHARE YOUR POINT
OF VIEW. WE NEED TO DO BETTER
AS A CITY. I HELPED TO ASPIRE
TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
VOICES ARE HEARD. BUT,
COMPASSION DEFINES OUR
APPROACH. SO, THANK YOU, AGAIN,
TO THE LEADERS AT THIS TABLE.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHARE
THEIR POINT OF VIEW. THANK YOU
TO OUR SECURITY TEAM, TO KNOW,
AND OTHERS, AND FOR THE SPD
OFFICERS WHO RESPONDED. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR YOUR
EFFORTS TO RESTORE ORDER. IF I
CALLED UP OUR COLLEAGUES IN
BELLEVUE, OUR COUNCILMEMBER
COLLEAGUES IN BELLEVUE, OR
RENTON, OR THE MAYORS THERE AND
ASKED, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF
SOMEONE WENT TO A CITY HALL
MEETING AND SPRAY-PAINTED
DURING A MEETING? THE NOTION
THAT THEY COULD JUST WALTZ ON
OUT OF HERE -- WE NEED TO DO
BETTER. SO, IN ANY EVENT, I
WANT THAT TO BE KNOWN AND
DOCUMENTED AND CAPTURED,
BECAUSE IF NOT, IT WILL BE
WHITEWASHED AND SANITIZED. LET
IT BE PART OF THE RECORD. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, FOR PUTTING THAT INTO THE
RECORD. I WILL JUST ADD THAT
THROUGHOUT OUR DISCUSSION,
THERE HAS BEEN DISTURBANCE FROM
COMMENTERS, AND IT HAS DERAILED
CONVERSATION. BUT, WE CARRIED
ON. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THAT, OBVIOUSLY, THE POINTS
HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT YOU CAN'T
WATCH THE VIDEO THAT WAS
COMPILED WHEN WE FIRST
DISCUSSED THIS LEGISLATION -- I
WILL NOT SAY YOU CAN'T -- I
CANNOT, WITHOUT BEING
COMPLETELY MOVED, AND
HORRIFIED. BECAUSE AS WAS SAID,
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A
CHOICE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
MAKING. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
CHILDREN. AND HORRIBLE THINGS
THAT THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO. SO,
THANK YOU, AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE
TO BE LISTED AS A COSPONSOR
HERE. BUT, I JUST WANTED TO
NOTE THAT CLEARLY, THIS IS JUST
THE BEGINNING, AND YES, OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES ARE
STRETCHED THIN. YES, SO IS OUR
BUDGET, ET CETERA. BUT, WE
CANNOT JUST NOT DO ANYTHING.
AND WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE, I
WAS, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY -- I
THINK THAT WE ALL DID -- WE RAN
TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE, AND
THAT DOES NOT MEAN JUST LETTING
THINGS CONTINUE THE WAY THEY
ARE. SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON.
REALLY QUICKLY, I JUST WANT TO
SAY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. AS A
NAVY COMMANDER AND AIRCRAFT
CARRIER, YOUR POINT IS KEY,
BECAUSE I DEBRIEFED MY
DEPARTMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA,
YOU ARE THE COMMAND CENTER.
SUPPLY AND DEMAND MEANS THERE
IS GOING TO BE A SUPPLY. SO,
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE
NEED TO TELL OUR PRIVILEGED
MALES, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE
HORRIFIC NATURE OF THAT SUPPLY.
SO, THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING
THAT POINT AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. AND SPG POINTS
WITHIN THE AMENDMENT,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I
RECOGNIZE THAT TRAINING IS
GOING TO BE KEY, BUT WE WILL
WORK THAT. ALSO, TODAY'S FORCE,
LIKE TODAY'S SOCIETY,
UNDERSTANDS THESE YOUNG WOMEN
AND GIRLS ARE VICTIMS. I'VE
SPOKEN TO SO MANY OFFICERS THAT
HAVE TOLD ME, NO, THEY HAVE
ARRESTED A WOMAN, BUT THEY
WOULD TRY TO DO THEIR BEST AND
THIS IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT.
AND ULTIMATELY, IT COMES DOWN
TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND
OVERSIGHT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD
A DEBRIEFING ON SEPTEMBER 24th.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE
REVIEWING ALL OF THESE
RECORDING REQUIREMENTS --
>> CHAIR?
>> THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> CHAIR, SORRY TO INTERRUPT,
BUT FOR PARLIAMENTARY REASONS,
I MUST ASK THAT YOU -- BECAUSE
WE ARE COMING UP ON ANOTHER
MEETING -- I MUST ASK THAT CAN
YOU PLEASE CALL A RECESS, AND
THEN WE WILL RECONVENE, AND I
--
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
WILL CALL FOR A RECESS AT THIS
MOMENT, DUE TO THE FACT THAT
THIS COUNCIL MEETING WAS
SUPPOSED TO START.
>> OKAY, SO, WE WILL BE
STARTING OUR MEETING LATER,
SOME OF THAT WE ARE ON RECESS,
I AM LETTING YOU KNOW AND THEN
WE WILL RECONVENE, ET CETERA.
>>> I THINK WE CAN RECONVENE
AND CALL THE ROLE REALLY
QUICKLY AGAIN.
>> OKAY, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO PASS CB
120836 AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE VOTES IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, COUNCIL
PASSED CB 120836, AS AMENDED,
WILL BE SENT TO THE SEPTEMBER
16th CITY COUNCIL. WE HAVE NOW
REACHED THE END OF THE --
>> PLEASE STAY IN THE ROOM.
>> WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. IS
THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
>> YES. NOW I CAN SAY, DURING
THE OTHER BUSINESS SECTION, FOR
THE INFORMATION OF
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC,
GIVEN THE LENGTH OF THIS
MEETING AND IN THE INTEREST OF
GIVING COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF
A BREAK, WE WILL CONVENE AT
2:00 P.M. FOR THE REGULAR
COUNSEL MEETING . WE WILL
RECONVENE AT 2:45 P.M. NOW YOU
CAN CLOSE IT.
>> HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE,
WE ARE ADJOURNED.