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>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
TODAY IS JANUARY 13th, AND
THE CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 2:03.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TODAY WE HAVE TWO
PRESENTATIONS AND TWO
PROCLAMATIONS AND
NO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO MOVING RIGHT ALONG, ON
TOMORROW'S CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDA THERE ARE FIVE
ITEMS ON
THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
INITIALLY WE HAD JUST ONE
WEEKLY BILL PAYMENT ORDINANCE
AND COUNCIL BILL 120933 WHICH
WOULD
ALLOW RESIDENTIAL USES IN THE
STADIUM TRANSITION AREA OVERLAY
DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, I THINK I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE
SOME LATE- BREAKING ADDITIONS
TO THE
IRC FROM COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S OFFICE THAT WERE
INADVERTENTLY NOT INCLUDED IN
TIME TO BE
PUBLISHED ON THE IRC THAT
WENT OUT EARLIER TODAY, SO IT
WILL
BE REPUBLISHED.
THESE ARE RELATED TO CITY
LIGHTS, TRANSPORTATION,
ELECTRIFICATION
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PLAN AND
THREE
APPOINTMENTS. ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR
TOMORROW WE HAVE THE WEEKLY
BILL PAYMENT
ORDINANCE AND 13
APPOINTMENTS INCLUDING NINE
APPOINTMENTS
FROM THE HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES
COMMITTEE, THREE EACH TO
THE DISABILITY COMMISSION, THE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THE
LGBTQ
COMMISSION AND FOUR
APPOINTMENTS FROM THE
LIBRARIES,
EDUCATION AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE.
THREE TO THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY GOVERNING
COUNCIL
AND ONE TO THE HISTORIC
SEATTLE PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY GOVERNING
COUNCIL.
THERE ARE NO PIECES
OF LEGISLATION FROM
COMMITTEES LATER ON TOMORROW IN
THE
MEETING.
ALL RIGHT.
MOVING ON, JUST AN UPDATE ON
THE COUNCIL
VACANCY PROCESS. THE
APPLICATION PERIOD ENDED
ON JANUARY 9th AT 5:00 P.M. ,
AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE
HAS DISSEMINATED TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS A LIST OF 20 ELIGIBLE
APPLICANTS FOR CONSIDERATION,
AND THAT
LIST AND ALL OF THE
APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE ALSO
AVAILABLE
TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
WE ONLY HAD ONE COMMUNITY GROUP
EXPRESS INTEREST IN HOSTING
A COMMUNITY FORUM ON JANUARY
21st,
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO CITY
CLUB, WHO HOSTED OUR COMMUNITY
FORUM FOR THE VACANCY LAST
YEAR.
SO THEY WILL BE DOING IT
AGAIN THIS YEAR, AND THEY'RE
WORKING ON LOGISTICS FOR THE
FORUM INCLUDING THE LOCATION
AND THE
EXACT TIME THAT IT WILL START.
IT WILL BE IN THE EVENING,
AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE FURTHER
GUIDANCE
FOR COUNCILMEMBERS AT THE
LATEST TOMORROW MORNING ON
THE FORMATTING OF
SELECTING FINALISTS AND HOW WE
WILL CONDUCT INTERVIEW
QUESTIONS
AND THE TIMING OF THE OPENING
OF
OUR UPCOMING SPECIAL MEETING.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT ON
THE
VACANCY FILLING PROCESS.
SO MOVING ON TO OUR
PRESENTATIONS.
FIRST WE HAVE A STATE
LEGISLATIVE
SESSION UPDATE. SO CAN FOLKS
COME TO THE
TABLE, PLEASE.
TODAY WAS THE START OF THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND AS
YOU MAY KNOW THIS YEAR THE
SESSION IS SCHEDULED TO GO FOR
105
DAYS AND O.I.R. , THE OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS WILL BE HERE BRIEFING
GOING
FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON
IN OLYMPIA.
WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE
FOLKS GIVE US -- TELL US WHAT
IS HAPPENING DOWN THERE.
MEANWHILE, STAFF IS DOWN
THERE WORKING ON OUR BEHALF IN
THE ROOMS OF THE
LEGISLATORS. SO GO AHEAD AND
PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU'RE
FREE
TO BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M MINA
HASHEMI, I'M
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
I AM JOINED VIRTUALLY
BY COLLEAGUES FROM THE
STATE RELATIONS TEAM, SAMIR
JUNEJO AND ANNA JOHNSON, WHO
YOU WILL
HEAR FROM MOMENTARILY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
IT IS DAY ONE OF THE
LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
OVER 500 BILLS HAVE
BEEN PREFILED.
THE GOVERNMENT- ELECT HAS
BEEN BUSY MAKING APPOINTMENTS
AND
HIRING POLICY STAFF, NEWLY
APPOINTED LEGISLATORS ARE
RACING TO GET SITUATED IN
OLYMPIA,
AND THE PRELIMINARY SCHEDULES
FOR THIS WEEK HAVE BEEN
RELEASED.
THE SCHEDULE THE FIRST WEEK
IN SESSION IS ATYPICAL GIVEN
THE
GOVERNOR'S FAREWELL SPEECH
TOMORROW, AND THE GOVERNOR-
ELECT FERGUSON'S INAUGURAL
ADDRESS AS WELL AS ALL OF THE
OPENING CEREMONIES THIS WEEK.
COMMITTEES BEGAN MEETING
TODAY, AND IN THE FIRST WEEK
THERE ARE
77 HEARINGS SCHEDULED INCLUDING
IMPORTANT HEARINGS ON
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AS WELL
AS
OTHER POLICY PROPOSALS ON THE
CITY'S LIST
OF PRIORITIES. OUR IN- HOUSE
STATE
RELATIONS TEAM AND CONTRACT
LOBBYISTS
ARE WELL PREPARED GOING INTO
SESSION, AND THEY'RE NOW ON
THE GROUND IN OLYMPIA, HARD AT
WORK ADVOCATING FOR THE CITY.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR
YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SETTING
PROCESS AND FOR
YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR
TEAM THIS SESSION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING
YOU AND THE PUBLIC
UPDATED THROUGHOUT SESSION AT
THESE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE
BRIEFINGS.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO MY COLLEAGUES, SAMIR
AND ANNA.
>> EVERYONE, SAMIR JUNEJO,
STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR WITH OAR.
OUR PRESENTATION TODAY WILL
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE
THINGS ARE AT BASED FROM
THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND A
SHORT PREVIEW OF WHERE
WE ARE. SO I'M GOING TO START
WITH KIND
OF WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE WE
LAST TALKED, WHICH WAS THE
SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER.
THE GOVERNOR RELEASED
HIS PROPOSED BUDGET, AND
THE BUDGET -- AS A REMINDER,
THE
STATE REVENUE FORECAST SHOWS A
$12 MILLION SHORTFALL
OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND
THE
STATED REQUIREMENT TO A
BALANCED BUDGET
OVER FOUR YEARS.
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DEALS
WITH
IT IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.
ONE, PROPOSING $2 BILLION
IN
CUTS. AND ALSO RAISING $2. 6
BILLION.
GOVERNOR- ELECT FERGUSON
RELEASED A BUDGET PRIORITIES
DOCUMENT, NOT A FULL- FLEDGED
BUDGET
BUT ESSENTIALLY AN ADDENDUM TO
THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
IN HIS PRIORITIES HE PROPOSES
AN ADDITIONAL $4 BILLION IN
CUTS BUT MAKES CLEAR THAT
THERE WILL BE NO REDUCTIONS TO
BASIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC
SAFETY
AGENCIES. THE WAY HE DOES THIS
IS
BY DIRECTING AGENCIES TO MAKE
ABOUT 6% ON AVERAGE CUTS AND
DOES
NOT PROPOSE ANY REVENUE
PROPOSALS.
SO HE WILL NOT BE PROPOSING
THE WEALTH TAX, THERE WILL BE
NO CHANGES.
SEPARATELY, GOVERNOR- ELECT
FERGUSON'S BUDGET PRIORITIES
PROPOSED $800 MILLION IN
NEW SPENDING $100 MILLION
GRANT PROGRAM FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT
RECRUITMENT, $5 MILLION
TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG OF CASES
AT
THE WASHINGTON TOXICOLOGY LAB,
$240 MILLION FOR FREE SCHOOL
MEALS,
AND $20 MILLION FOR
FERRY SERVICE AND STAFF
RECRUITMENT.
HE ALSO PROPOSES $600 MILLION
IN HOUSING IN THE CAPITAL
BUDGET.
LASTLY, THERE WAS ONE CHANGE
IN THE SEATTLE DELEGATION.
SENATOR JOE FROM THE 34th
DISTRICT WAS APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNOR-ELECT TO HEAD
THE DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE. AN APPOINTMENT FOR
HIS
SEAT WILL BE COMING LATER THIS
MONTH.
CAUGHT OFF CALENDAR, THIS IS
THE
CALENDAR OF THE IMPORTANT DATES
FOR
THE SESSION. JANUARY 13th IS
WHERE WE ARE
NOW STARTING THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THE NEXT IMPORTANT DATE WILL
BE FEBRUARY 21st, WHICH IS
POLICY COMMITTEE
CUT-OFF. THIS IS THE DATE BY
WHICH
ALL BILLS HAVE TO BE VOTED OUT
OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES.
IF THEY'RE NOT VOTED OUT
BY FEBRUARY 21st THEY CAN NO
LONGER MOVE FORWARD THIS
SESSION.
THE EXCEPTION BEING BILLS
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT
THE BUDGET.
ALL REVENUE BILLS, FOR
EXAMPLE, ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE
CUT-OFFS.
THEY HAVE TO PASS BY APRIL
27th,
WHICH IS THE END OF THE
FEBRUARY SESSION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOOD
AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. GREAT TO
SEE YOU.
ANNA JOHNSON. I'M THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
FOR OIR.
THE NEXT PART OF OUR
PRESENTATION, WE WANTED TO
GIVE YOU ALMOST A STATUS UPDATE
OF
WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE AT
THEY STAND TODAY.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF BILLS
GET PREFILED THAT ARE RELATED
TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT
WE PASSED IN DECEMBER, SO
LIKE DIRECTOR HASHEMI
MENTIONED, THANK YOU FOR
PASSING A CONCISE
AND EFFECTIVE DOCUMENT.
THAT HELPS
US WITH OUR LOBBYING EFFORTS IN
OLYMPIA.
I WILL GO THROUGH SOME OF
THE PRIORITIES AND WHERE THEY
STAND
BASED ON THE SUBSECTIONS OF THE
AGENDA.
STARTING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY,
WE SAW THAT SENATE BILL 5098,
SPONSORED BY SENATOR VALDES,
WAS INTRODUCED AND ACTUALLY HAS
A
HEARING TOMORROW.
THIS BILL ESSENTIALLY
ALLOWS WEAPONS AND FIREARMS TO
BE RESTRICTED IN PARKS,
COMMUNITY
CENTERS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
COUNTY AND STATE FAIRS.
THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT TO
US BECAUSE IT DOES IMPACT OUR
SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS WELL
AS ALL OF
OUR CITY BUILDINGS.
WE ALSO SAW THAT HOUSE BILL
1112, SPONSORED
BY REPRESENTATIVE FARVAR,
GET INTRODUCED AND SCHEDULED
FOR HEARING THIS WEEK.
IT IS SPECIFIC TO OUR SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT AND IT ALLOWS
US
TO HIRE PRO TEMPORE JUDGES
THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
HOUSE BILL 1228 WAS
ALSO INTRODUCED.
THIS IS SPONSORED
BY REPRESENTATIVE HACKMEY.
THIS DEALS WITH THE TOXICOLOGY
LAB BACKLOG AND ALLOWS LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO USE CERTIFIED
OR ACCREDITED LABS TO SEND DUI
EVIDENCE AND FORENSICS
TO INSTEAD OF THE STATE
TOXICOLOGY
LAB.
SAMIR MENTIONED THAT
THE GOVERNOR ENSLEY'S BUDGET
WAS
RELEASED IN DECEMBER, AND ONE
THING THAT WE NOTICED IS
HE REIMPOSED THE 25% COST
SHIFT BACK TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FOR TRAINING NEW LAW
ENFORCEMENT
RECRUITS.
YOU MAY RECALL LAST YEAR THAT
THE STATE PASSED A BILL AND IN
THEIR BUDGET INCLUDED 100%
OF THE COST FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT TRAINING.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL BE
WORKING ON MOVING FORWARD
WITH THE BUDGET WRITERS.
NEXT WE HAD SENATE BILL
5052 FROM SENATOR SOLOMON
GET PREFILED.
THIS BILL DEALS WITH
CLARIFYING THE EXTENT IN
WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ABLE
TO
QUESTION JUVENILES WHEN THEY'RE
A VICTIM
OR A WITNESS OF A CRIME.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S
RELATED TO THE YOUTH ACCESS TO
COUNSEL PROGRAM THAT THE STATE
LAW
REQUIRES, AND IT PROVIDES
SOME CLARIFYING MEASURES THAT
WILL
HELP LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
MOVING FORWARD.
THIS BILL ALSO HAS A
HEARING THIS WEEK.
SOMETHING THAT THE CITY
IS LEADING ON IN PROGRESS IS A
BILL THAT ALLOWS PEDESTRIAN-
SAFE
SYSTEM. SO ESSENTIALLY BEING
ABLE
TO HAVE CARS AND PEDESTRIANS
SHARE THE ROADS SAFELY IN OUR
CITY.
>> TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SO
ON OUR PRIORITIES WE HAD
INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT
ACT LEGISLATION.
SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN A BILL
ON THAT BUT WE HAVE HEARD
THAT REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS WILL
BE
DROPPING A BILL ON --
ON ITA. SO WE WILL BE
MONITORING
THAT PRETTY CLOSELY.
THERE'S ALSO SENATE BILL 5126,
WHICH IS OSPI REQUEST
LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY
SENATOR NOBLES,
WHICH ESTABLISHES A STATEWIDE
NETWORK
FOR STUDENT MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT
CLOSELY
AS WELL.
ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND SMALL BUSINESS WE ARE
WORKING
ON A BILL THAT HAS NOT DROPPED
YET, BUT WE'RE STILL DRAFTING
A
BILL WHICH WOULD UPDATE OUR
OUTDOOR DINING REQUIREMENTS AND
ALSO
SEATTLE CENTER
ALCOHOL REGULATIONS,
MODERNIZING THESE
REGULATIONS TO ALLOW FOR
BETTER USE OF OUR PUBLIC SPACE.
SO THAT'S STILL IN PROGRESS.
ALSO, WE'RE GENERALLY
GOING TO BE WATCHING AND
SUPPORTING
2026, ROLL CUT FUNDING ACT,
THAT
THE LOCAL ORGANIZING
COMMUNITY WILL BE LEANING ON.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE WATCHING FOR
SMALL BUSINESS
LEGISLATION, AND WE HAVEN'T
IDENTIFIED
ANYTHING YET IN THE PREFILES
BUT
WE WILL BE MONITORING ANY
BUSINESS --
ANY BILL THAT HELPS
SMALL BUSINESSES VERY CLOSELY.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDED
$25 MILLION FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS.
SO THIS INCLUDES HOUSING
SERVICES BUT ALSO OTHER
SUPPORT SERVICES.
ALSO INCLUDED
$38 MILLION FOR ENCAMPMENT
RESOLUTIONS ON STATES
RIGHTS OF WAY.
THOSE ARE SLIGHTLY LOWER
THAN PREVIOUS FINANCE, BUT
BECAUSE
OF THE REVENUE SHORTFALL WE
WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT AT THE VERY
LEAST THEY ARE STILL FUNDED AND
ARE
NOT REDUCED MORE.
WE ALSO KNOW THERE WILL BE
A CONDO LIABILITY BILL
SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE
TAYLOR.
IT IS IN PROGRESS, HAS
NOT DROPPED YET.
THIS WILL REFORM CONDO
LIABILITY LAW WITH THE
INTENTION OF
MAKING IT EASIER FOR DEVELOPERS
TO DEVELOP CONDOMINIUMS
FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP.
AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY,
THERE'S $600 MILLION IN THE
GOVERNOR'S
CAPITAL BUDGET FOR HOUSING
WHICH INCLUDES THE HOUSING
TRUST
FUND, BUT ALSO CONNECTING TO
THE
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AND
ALSO THE RAPID CAPITAL
ACQUISITION
PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS
WITH HOUSING FOLKS ON THE
RIGHTS
OF
WAY. WE ARE WORKING WITH
REPRESENTATIVE FROM KING
COUNTY ON HOMELESSNESS
PROVIDERS ON
A JOINT BUDGET ASK TO
FUND CRITICAL HOMELESS SERVICES
AND PREVENT CLOSURE OF SHELTERS
WHO ARE LOSING ONE- TIME
FEDERAL FUNDS THAT ARE PROVIDED
BY
THE CITY OF SALE OR KING
COUNTY.
THAT'S IN PROGRESS AND
WE WILL BE UPDATING YOUYOU THAT
GOES ON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AND THE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
SPACE, WE SAW THAT HOUSE BILL
1150 FROM REPRESENTATIVE
BERRY WAS INTRODUCED.
THIS BILL WAS FORMERLY KNOWN
AS THE RAP ACT.
THIS YEAR IT IS THE
RECYCLING REFORM ACT.
THIS BILL WILL HELP SUBSIDIZE
CURBSIDE RECYCLING FOR ALL
OF OUR RESIDENCES BY CREATING
AN
EXTENDED PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY
PROGRAM FOR PAPERS AND
PLASTICS.
ALSO ON OUR AGENDA WE WANTED
TO SUPPORT ANY SORT OF FUNDING
AND
POLICY THAT HELPS DECARBONIZE
BUILDINGS, WHETHER IT IS PUBLIC
BUILDINGS, MULTIFAMILY AND
ALSO BUILDINGS WITHIN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE THAT HAVE TO COMPLY
WITH
PERFORMANCE ISSUES IN
THE FUTURE.
IN THE GOVERNOR'S
PROGRAM THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP WITH
DECARBONIZATION AND GRANT
PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS FOR
LOW- INCOME FOLKS AND
PROGRAMS FOR MULTIFAMILY
BUILDINGS
FUNDED BY CCA DOLLARS.
OUR LAST SECTION ON OUR
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA DEALT
WITH ADEQUATE FUNDING OF
SERVICES
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND AS
WE START TO ANALYZE THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND SEE THE
HOUSE AND
THE SENATE MAKE THEIR OWN
RESPECTIVE BUDGETS WE WILL HAVE
MORE
TO SHARE ON WHERE THINGS
ARE LANDING IN TERMS OF FUNDING
FOR SERVICES.
LIKE SAMIR MENTIONED WE WILL
BE KEEPING OUR EYE OUT FOR
REVENUE PROPOSALS AS THOSE
DON'T HAVE
TO FOLLOW THE CUT- OFF DEADLINE
SO
THEY COULD COME
AT ANY POINT DURING SESSION.
AND THEN WE WILL CONCLUDE
TODAY'S PRESENTATION WITH
WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK.
SO HEARINGS HAVE BEGUN TODAY,
THIS AFTERNOON.
TODAY WE SAW THAT HOUSE BILL
1217 FROM
REPRESENTATIVE ALVARADO
SCHEDULED FOR
A HEARING.
THIS BILL IS THE
RENT STABILIZATION BILL,
CAPPING
RENT INCREASES AT 7% ANNUALLY
FOR MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES.
ON TUESDAY ONE OF
OUR PRIORITY BILLS IS GETTING
HEARD,
SENATE BILL 5098.
LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER,
WE PLAN TO TESTIFY PRO ON
THIS BILL.
WEDNESDAY, ANOTHER ONE OF
OUR PRIORITY BILLS WAS
SCHEDULED
FOR A HEARING.
LIKE I MENTIONED, THE BILL
THAT CLARIFIES THE YOUTH ACCESS
TO COUNSEL PROGRAM.
WE ALSO PLAN TO HAVE SOMEONE
FROM THE CITY TESTIFY PRO.
AND THEN ON THURSDAY, HOUSE
BILL 1253, SPONSORED BY
REPRESENTATIVE YBARRA, THIS
BILL IS A CITY LIGHT
REQUEST LEGISLATION THAT
EXPANDS
THE ABILITY OF CONSUMER- OWNED
UTILITIES TO ENTER JOINT-
USE AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE
ENTITIES. ESSENTIALLY JOINT-
USE AGREEMENTS CAN HELP WITH
THE GENERATION
AS THE CITY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF CITY CREDITS.
WE WILL HAVE SOMEONE FROM CITY
LIGHT TESTIFYING ON OUR
BEHALF ON THE BILL.
THAT'S THE END OF
OUR PRESENTATION AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO BRIEFING YOU
THROUGHOUT SESSION.
WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> DO MY COUNCIL MEMBERS
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR
LOVING
TEAM
HERE?
NO?
DIRECTOR? GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HASHEMI
AND ANNA AND SAMIR, FOR YOUR
HELPFUL OVERVIEW.
APPRECIATE MORE TO COME ON
THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC DURING
THE SESSION.
FIRST OFF, I GUESS IT IS GOOD
TO
SEE THE $240 MILLION
FOR UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS
ON
GOVERNOR-ELECT FERGUSON'S
PRIORITY LIST.
COLLEAGUES, YOU WILL RECALL
LAST YEAR THAT IT IS SOMETHING
THAT WE COLLECTIVELY AS A NEW
COUNCIL ALIGNED ON AS A
PRIORITY, AND
I ORGANIZED AN EFFORT TO GET
A LETTER SIGNED BY ALL OF US,
AND THEN IT WAS READY TO GO AND
SHIP.
AND THEN I THINK THAT BILL THEN
IN THAT SESSION BECAME DOA
FOR SOME REASON, AND THEN IT
APPEARED ON OUROUR
CITY'S PRIORITY LIST FOR THIS
YEAR.
SO IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT ONE
LOOKING LIKE, WELL, NOTHING IS
GUARANTEED, BUT PUTTING
MORE ACTION AROUND THAT.
SO WE'LL STAY TUNED.
MY QUESTION PERTAINS TO
SLIDE FOUR ON THOSE VARIOUS
ITEMS THAT
WERE LISTED.
THAT LAST BULLET POINT
THERE THAT SAYS, QUOTE, IN
PROGRESS
PEDESTRIAN SAFE SYSTEMS
LEGISLATION.
AS CHAIR OF THE
CITY'S TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE,
I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO
LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
CAN YOU TALK JUST A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THAT ONE, WHAT
IT IS? SAFE SYSTEMS, I NOTE, IS
A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED APPROACH
TO, YOU KNOW, KEEPING PEOPLE
AND COMMUNITIES SAFE ON OUR
ROADS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE'S
A DIRECT TIE OR OVERLAY WITH
THAT, BUT, YEAH, CAN YOU JUST
TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THAT ONE?
AND NEXT STEPS AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> I CAN SPEAK ON THAT ONE.
SO THE IDEA IS -- WAS
SOMETHING,
I THINK, THAT IS BEING REFERRED
TO AS SHARED STREETS.
SO THESE ARE STREETS
WHERE VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS
CAN SHARE THE ROADWAY.
THERE'S NO LEGAL DESIGNATION
FOR THAT CURRENTLY, AND UNDER
STATE
LAW, EVEN THOUGH YOU
CERTAINLY SEE IT HAPPEN IN
PLACES LIKE
PIKE PLACE MARKET AND
OTHERWISE, AND SO THIS WOULD BE
A NEW
STATE LAW DESIGNATION FOR A
SHARED STREET.
IT ALSO WOULD ALLOW THE CITY
TO LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT BELOW
THE STATE FLOOR OF 20 MILES PER
HOUR, JUST ON
THESE PARTICULAR STREETS.
I CAN SEND YOU MORE INFORMATION
AS WELL.
>> YES, PLEASE.
PLEASE DO SEND MORE
INFORMATION OFFLINE.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS ON THAT
ONE?
>> WE'RE WORKING WITH
SOME LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE
EXPRESSED AN INTEREST, BUT KIND
OF WORKING
TO GET A SPONSOR AND GET A BILL
HEARING THAT WE HAVE
SOCIALIZED IT AND TALKED TO
THE TRANSPORTATION CHAIRS, AND
THEY'RE ALL VERY INTRIGUED
BY
THE IDEA. WE'RE
OPTIMISTIC.
>> AWESOME.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER MERCEDES
RINCK,
GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
IT IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.
IT IS STATE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
I'M SURE YOU ARE FEELING
THE EXCITEMENT.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE
OF
QUESTIONS TODAY. THE FIRST OF
WHICH BEING
COULD -- COULD YOU SPEAK
TO PERHAPS WHERE SOME AREAS
THAT THE CITY IS MOST CONCERNED
ABOUT LOSING FUNDING FOR AND
WHAT
KIND OF IMPACTS YOU MAY BE
TRACKING TO OUR RESPECTIVE
DEPARTMENTS
OR ANY PROGRAMS OR STAFFING?
>> I'LL FLAG -- YOU KNOW, AS I
MENTIONED, WE ARE WORKING ON
AN ASK RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES, SO WE'RE KEEPING A
CLOSE EYE ON THAT.
I THINK IT IS A LITTLE
EARLY TO SAY BECAUSE THE UNL
EARLY TO
SAY BECAUSE THE BUDGETS HAVE
NOT BEEN RELEASED AND THAT WILL
BE
OUR FIRST INDICATION OF
WHERE THINGS WILL BE CUT.
CERTAINLY THE
REVENUE CONVERSATIONS WILL BE
PART
OF THIS BECAUSE HOW MUCH THEY
CUT WILL BE DEPENDENT ON WHAT
KIND OF REVENUE OPTIONS ARE
THEY LOOKING AT.
SO I THINK -- BUT WE'RE
LOOKING AT CERTAINLY HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS IN
PARTICULAR. PARTICULARLY
HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE IT IS AN
OPERATING
BUDGET. WHEN IT COMES TO
HOUSING CONSTRUCTION WHICH IS
IN
THE CAPITAL BUDGET, THERE'S
LESS CONNECTED OR LESS AT ISSUE
BECAUSE THE REVENUE FORECAST
IMPACTS THAT LESS THAN IT
DOES THE OPERATING BUDGET.
AND THEN DEFINITELY ANYTHING
IN THE TRANSPORTATION
SECTOR BECAUSE THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET ARE --
ALSO HAVE NOT JUST
A SHORTFALL BUT ALSO BECAUSE
OF INFLATION AND COST
OVERRUNS, THEY'RE REALLY
LOOKING AT
TRYING TO JUST -- THEY'RE
LOOKING
AT CUTTING EXISTING PROJECTS
AS WELL.
SO THAT'S ONE THAT
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT AS WELL.
AND THEN WE CAN -- THERE'S --
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE
CAN FIND FOR YOU AS THEY COME
UP, BUT I THINK LATER --
LATER THIS -- DURING SESSION WE
WILL BE GOOD TO GO WITH A
BUDGET
OVERVIEW.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE
THE HARD WORK TRACKING ALL OF
THE
BILLS RELATED TO POLICY.
CURIOUS ABOUT IF OIR WILL
BE PLANNING TO TRACK THINGS
RELATED TO LOCAL COMMUNITY
PROJECTS,
LCPs THAT EACH MEMBER
OF THE STATE DELEGATION MAY
BE
ADVANCING? S
>> YEAH, WE TYPICALLY --
SOMETIMES THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
REQUESTING LCPs ASK
FOR THE CITY'S SUPPORT, SO WE
CERTAINLY FIND OUT ABOUT
THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS.
BUT WE TYPICALLY FIND OUT
ABOUT THE LCP LIST ONE THE
HOUSE
AND SENATE RELEASE THEIR
BUDGETS, AND THEN WE
INCORPORATE THAT
IN OUR TRACKING AS WELL, AND WE
SEE
WHICH PROJECTS
ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED IN
SEATTLE, WHICH
ORGANIZATION IT WILL GET THE
FUNDING, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING WE CERTAINLY REPORT
TO
COUNCIL AND EVERYBODY ONCE WE
KNOW MORE.
>> FABULOUS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS?
I'M NOT SEEING OTHER
HANDS. OKAY.
CLOSING
COMMENTS? NO?
WE --
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AS WE SAID, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
KEEPING YOU UPDATED AT THESE
REGULAR BRIEFINGS AND,
AGAIN, WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR ENGAGING WITH US THIS
SESSION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOUR TEAMS
INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR MAKING IT TODAY ON YOUR
FIRST DAY.
HAVE
A GOOD ONE. THANKS.
OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS A -- IS
CITY PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
IN A CHANGING FEDERAL CONTEXT.
AND WHILE FOLKS ARE COMING UP
TO
THE TABLE, I JUST WANT TO
REMIND PEOPLE THAT THIS IS --
THIS PRESENTATION IS BEING HELD
TODAY AT THE REQUEST OF
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN
KNOWING HOW CHANGES AT THE
FEDERAL
LEVEL COULD BE IMPACTING CITY
PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
PEOPLE ADDRESS VARIOUS ASPECTS
OF --
OF, YOU KNOW, THINKING
AND CONCERN.
I HAVE ASKED THE MAYOR -- THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO PRESENT ON
--
ON VARIOUS -- VARIOUS
ISSUES THAT I HAVE HEARD
BROUGHT UP
FROM COUNCILMEMBERs.
WE HAVE WITH US DEPUTY MAYOR
WONG AS WELL AS THOSE
WITH INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS
STILL AGAIN. THE DIRECTOR OF
THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND
THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE
AFFAIRS. I REALLY WANT TO THANK
YOU, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR TURNING
THIS PRESENTATION AROUND SO
QUICKLY AND PROVIDING US WITH
SOME INFORMATION FROM THE GET-
GO
AND PERHAPS BEING ABLE TO HELP
FOCUS OUR EFFORTS GOING FORWARD
AND WHERE IT WILL BE MOST
IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO STRESS TO
COUNCILMEMBERS THERE MAY BE
A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT --
OR LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT OUR
PANEL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
ANSWER TODAY.
AND SO THERE WILL BE -- THERE
WILL BE ANOTHER FORUM,
THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES
AND ANOTHER FORUM TO
HAVE THOSE -- THOSE
QUESTIONS ANSWERED COMING UP
SOON.
WE WILL PROVIDE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
SO I DON'T WANT TO PROCEED
WITHOUT SAYING, AGAIN, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD
AND PRESENT YOUR
PRESENTATION, AND THEN WE WILL
HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS
ASK QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
THANK YOU.
>> IS THAT
ONE ON?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
I'LL SCOOT OVER A LITTLE
BIT HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
COUNCILMEMBERS, WE ARE
PLEASED TO BE IN FRONT OF
YOU TODAY. I'M DEPUTY MAYOR
GREG WONG
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
WITH ME ARE DIRECTOR
MINA HASHEMI, DIRECTOR OF OUR
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS.
DIRECTOR HAMDI MOHAMED,
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
AND THEN DIRECTOR KIM FROM
THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF YOU
ON THIS.
AS WE KNOW, PRESIDENTIAL
TERMS ARE FOUR YEARS.
SO THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT
TIMES
AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WILL
BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
DIFFERENT ISSUES AS THEY ARISE.
BUT BEFORE WE GO INTO SOME
OF THE SPECIFIC THINGS WE ARE
DOING TO PREPARE FOR AN
ADMINISTRATION CHANGE, I WANT
TO BE ABLE
TO GROUND US A LITTLE BIT IN
OUR VALUES.
BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT
WE DO OR WHAT HAPPENS
NATIONALLY OR
INTERNATIONALLY, WE ALWAYS
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE GROUNDED IN OUR VALUES, IN
THE KIND OF ACTIONS WE TAKE
AND RESPONSES WE HAVE.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
HARRELL HAS SAID IS THAT
IN ONE SEATTLE WE
VALUE PRIORITIZE BUILDING A
CITY
THAT'S INCLUSIVE, IT IS
WELCOMING FOR ALL, IT IS
WHERE WE CHAMPION HUMAN RIGHTS,
WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
WE STAND FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
AND
INTERNATIONAL PEACE, WHERE WE
RECOGNIZE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS,
REFUGEES, THE LGBTQ+
COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF
COLORS, AND THOSE THAT ARE
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED.
I WILL PAUSE THERE
WHILE WE GET OUR TECH ISSUES
SORTED OUT HERE.
IS IT
WORKING NOW? OKAY.
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO GROUND US IN
THAT -- YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE
VALUE SLIDE.
BECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY REALLY
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE ONE THING
THAT WE KNOW IS THAT
THERE'S BEEN A LOT SAID AND A
LOT OF
CONJECTURE OUT THERE ABOUT WHAT
A NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
MEANS, AND THAT'S TRUE ANY
TIMES
P THERE'S A CHANGE IN
LEADERSHIP,
PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE'S
A SWING FROM THE
CURRENT LEADERSHIP TO THE NEW
LEADERSHIP.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHATTER.
ONE THING I WANT TO KEEP
CLEAR IS WE ARE BEING VERY
STRATEGIC
AND COORDINATED IN HOWEVER
WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO
WHATEVER THE ISSUES ARE THAT
COME UP.
SINCE NOVEMBER WE'VE
BEEN ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL
FEDERAL CHANGES THAT MAY COME
WITH A
NEW ADMINISTRATION.
I WAS ACTUALLY AT A BREAKFAST
BRIEFING THIS MORNING THAT
A LOCAL LAW FIRM PUT ON FOR
PUBLIC ENTITIES ABOUT THE
CHANGE IN
ADMINISTRATION.
THERE WAS OVER 100
PARTICIPANTS FROM SCHOOL
DISTRICTS,
CITIES, THE COUNTY, THE STATE,
ALL
WITH VERY SIMILAR QUESTIONS.
AND THE NUMBER ONE WORD
THAT CAME UP DURING THAT
BRIEFING WAS
UNCERTAINTY.
THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.
AND SO WE JUST NEED TO MAKE
SURE
THAT WE ARE RESPONDING
IN UNCERTAIN TIMES BY
LEADING THROUGH OUR VALUES AND
BEING
ABLE TO BE READY TO
ADDRESS WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY.
THAT SAID, THERE ARE THINGS
THAT WE CAN DO THAT ARE WITHIN
OUR
CONTROL, THAT WE CAN MAKE MORE
CERTAIN.
AND THERE'S REALLY I WOULD
SAY THREE MAIN COMPONENTS OF
WHAT
WE FOCUSED ON IN THE EXECUTIVE
SO
FAR.
FIRST IS VERY STRONG
INTERNAL COORDINATION WITH ALL
OF
OUR EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
CLEAR COMMUNICATION,
WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE TEAM IS
GOING TO BE CRITICAL IN THESE
TIMES
WHERE THERE MAY NEED TO BE A
RAPID
SPONSOR A QUESTION OF HOW
WE'RE ADDRESSING A POLICY.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS
ALREADY BROUGHT THIS TO OUR
CABINET, TO
OUR CABINET MEETINGS
REGARDING PROTOCOLS TO BE IN
PLACE
AND DEPARTMENT READINESS.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD HAD
SOME ALREADY FROM OIR AND OUR
FEDERAL
LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WHO
I BELIEVE WAS WITH YOU LAST
YEAR TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THESE
ISSUES.
THEY'RE ALREADY BRIEFING
THE DEPARTMENTS.
SO, AGAIN, WE CAN BE READY TO
KNOW WHAT IS COMING AND THEN
HOW
WE ARE GOING TO RESPOND.
THE SECOND THING IS THAT WE ARE
ENSURING THAT WE ARE
IN COMMUNICATION AND
COORDINATION WITH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT FEDERAL CHANGES
BY THEIR NATURE ARE FEDERAL.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE
NATIONWIDE, AND I THINK THIS IS
A
REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP
IN
MIND, IS THAT SEATTLE DOES NOT
STAND
ALONE.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH
OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE
LEVEL, CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR-
ELECT'S
OFFICE, AG- ELECT'S OFFICE,
WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE
COUNTY,
WITH PARTNERS NATIONALLY, WITH
OTHER CITIES SIMILARLY SITUATED
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE COORDINATED IN OUR RESPONSE
EFFORTS, AND WE HAVE
ALREADY BEGUN MANY OF THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. THIRD, WE HAVE
LOOKED AT,
GIVEN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
THINGS
THAT COULD HAPPEN, WHERE ARE WE
MOST LIKELY TO SEE SOME OF THE
FIRST
ACTIONS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
SAID THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE
CERTAIN ACTIONS ON DAY ONE, AND
WE
BELIEVE BASED ON
THOSE STATEMENTS THAT REALLY
WE'RE THINKING THAT THEY'RE
LIKELY GOING TO LAND, AND NO
BIG SURPRISE, IN THE IMMIGRANT,
REFUGEE AND MIGRANT SPACE.
SO THERE WILL BE A PORTION
OF TODAY WHERE WE REALLY DIVE
INTO THAT AND SOME OF
OUR PREPAREDNESS.
WE KNOW WE CAN'T COVER ALL
OF THE FEDERAL CHANGES
AND POTENTIAL STEPS IN ONE
BRIEFING
TODAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP THIS AT A RELATIVELY
HIGH LEVEL. OIR IS GOING TO
KICK US OFF
WITH TALKING ABOUT SOME OF
THE HIGH- LEVEL FEDERAL CHANGES
WE'RE GOING TO SEE.
OIR WILL SPEAK TO THE
IMMIGRANT,
REFUGEE AND MIGRANT
RESPONSE, AND HSC AND I WILL
TOUCH ON A
COUPLE OF DISCRETE ISSUES
WE HEARD REGARDING
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS BASED
SOME OF
OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
ONE THING WE DO KNOW HOWEVER IS
FROM THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION,
IS THAT WHERE LOCAL PROGRAMS
ARE THREATENED OFTEN THERE IS
ONE PIECE OF IT THAT IS A
STRATEGIC
RESPONSE THAT MAY
INVOLVE A LEGAL RESPONSE.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR
THAT TODAY WE'RE NOT HERE TO
TALK
ANY LEGAL STRATEGY, ANY SORT OF
THINGS THAT MAY HAPPEN
UNDER CERTAIN LAWS.
THAT'S NOT OUR PLACE.
CERTAINLY YOU ALL IN AN
EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN HAVE
THOSE DISCUSSIONS, BUT I JUST
WANT TO BE CLEAR THERE MAY BE
TIMES IF
THERE'S A LEGAL COMPONENT
TO SOMETHING WE MAY DEFER TO
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT.
SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO
KICK US OFF BY HANDING IT OVER
TO DIRECTOR HASHEMI FOR AN
OVERVIEW OF THE FEDERAL CHANGES
OF NOTE.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY
MAYOR WONG. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
TODAY I WILL BE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT OUR OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
IS EXPECTING FROM THE
INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
AND THE
119th CONGRESS AND HOW
WE'RE PREPARING AND
COORDINATING
WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS
AND
GOVERNMENTS. OIR HAS AN
EXPERIENCED
AND ORGANIZED TEAM IN PLACE TO
HANDLE FEDERAL
RELATIONS, INCLUDING STAFF WHO
SERVED
THE CITY DURING THE FIRST TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, A
DEDICATED FEDERAL AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
AND AN EXPERT LOBBYING TEAM ON
THE
GROUND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS
WE'RE EXPECTING IN THE
COMING DAYS AND MONTHS.
CONGRESS WILL USE BUDGET
RECONCILIATION, WHICH
ALLOWS THEM TO APPROVE BUDGET-
RELATED
LEGISLATION WITH A
SIMPLE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE
TO PASS
A PACKAGE CENTERED ON
IMMIGRATION AND TAX CUTS.
SLOWDOWNS ON THE DEPARTMENTAL
LEVEL DUE TO TURNOVER ON
BOTH THE CABINET AND STAFF
LEVEL ARE
EXPECTED, AND CONGRESS
WILL BEGIN HEARING THE
PRESIDENT- ELECT'S NOMINEES
THIS
WEEK. WE ARE ALSO EXPECTING A
SLEW
OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS DIRECTED
TOWARD ISSUES SUCH AS
IMMIGRATION,
HEALTH AND DEFENSE.
IN HIS FIRST
PRESIDENCY, PRESIDENT-ELECT
TRUMP
SIGNED SEVEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS
IN THE
FIRST TEN DAYS, AND LAST WEEK
HE PREVIEWED 100 EXECUTIVE
ORDERS TO REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP.
THERE IS A LOT OF NUANCE
TO FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT IN
THREE
BUCKETS.
FUNDING SET ON A FORMULA BASIS
WILL REMAIN
MORE STABLE THAN THE
COMPETITIVE SIDE. SOME EXAMPLES
OF FORMULA FUNDING
THAT THE CITY RECEIVES ARE THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANTS AND THE HOME
INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
FISCAL YEAR 2025 EARMARKS
ARE EXPECTED TO PASS UNDER THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION, WHICH
IS SET TO EXPIRE THIS MARCH,
AND THE CITY HAS FIVE PENDING.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY
THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING COULD
DECREASE, AND NEW
CONDITIONS MAY BE PLACED ON
COMPETITIVE
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WHICH WE
WILL
BE MONITORING CLOSELY.
SOME EXAMPLES OF COMPETITIVE
GRANTS ARE THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
RAISE
GRANT, FOR EXAMPLE.
OIR HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO
PREPARE FOR THESE CHANGES.
WE ARE MONITORING
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PROPOSALS AND
POLICY DAILY.
WE ARE ESTABLISHING EVEN
STRONGER LINES OF INTERNAL
COMMUNICATION TO
MAXIMIZE COORDINATION AND
ANALYSIS IN
A REALLY RAPID PACE.
WE ARE IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY'S
ON-THE-
GROUND LOBBYING TEAM
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AS WELL AS
OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
HERE IN
SEATTLE.
WE ARE COORDINATING REGIONALLY
WITH GOVERNMENT PARTNERS AT THE
STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL
LEVEL, AND WE HAVE ONGOING
PREPAREDNESS
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION
CHANGE INCLUDING FINALIZING
GRANT
AGREEMENTS, EVALUATING EXISTING
RESOURCES, AND EVALUATING
IMPACT TO
POTENTIAL FEDERAL POLICIES,
PLANNING
FOR STAFF TRAININGS AND MORE.
AND WITH THAT I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO DIRECTOR MOHAMED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
IT IS GOOD TO BE IN FRONT OF
YOU ALL TODAY.
MY NAME IS HAMDI MOHAMED.
FOR THE RECORD I'M THE
DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
BEFORE I DIVE INTO SOME OF
THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO JUST
SET SOME
FOUNDATIONAL INFORMATION.
WE ALL KNOW AND HAVE HEARD
THAT OUR U.S. IMMIGRATION
SYSTEM
IS BROKEN.
IT FACES DEEP SYSTEMIC
CHALLENGES, AND I WOULD SAY
POLICYMAKERS ACROSS ALL
SPECTRUM WOULD AGREE REGARDLESS
OF THEIR
IDEOLOGIES THAT OUR SYSTEM IS
OUTDATED AND REQUIRES
SIGNIFICANT REFORM.
AND WE OFTEN HEAR PEOPLE
SAY THAT WE ARE IN NEED
OF COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION
REFORM, AND THAT IS A FACT
THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE
ON. BUT WHILE THE RHETORIC MAY
SHIFT AND IDEOLOGIES MAY BE
DIFFERENT, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE
KNOW IS THAT WHEN EACH
ADMINISTRATION COMES IN THEY DO
SET A TONE,
AND YOU DO SEE A DIRECT IMPACT
INTO COMMUNITIES.
I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
OCCURRED IN 2016 THROUGH 2020,
AND I JUST WANTED TO ALSO
UNDERSCORE THAT WHILE THE
RHETORICS REALLY DID SHIFT
IN OUR COUNTRY DURING THAT
PERIOD,
THE DEPORTATION NUMBERS
DID REMAIN PRETTY CONSISTENT
WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION. BUT, AGAIN,
WHEN THOSE
RHETORICS CHANGE, WHEN WE HAVE
NEW IMMIGRATION POLICIES GET
INTRODUCED, WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT
INCREASED ENFORCEMENT, THERE
IS THIS HUGE UNCERTAINTY THAT
GETS
CREATED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR, AND
WHAT
WE END UP SEEING IS AN IMPACT
ON OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SEE AN IMPACT ON THE
ECONOMY.
WE SEE FOLKS
WHO FEAR THEIR GOVERNMENT AND
ARE NOT ABLE
TO ACCESS SERVICES THAT
ARE ESSENTIAL TO THEM AND THAT
THEY NEED.
SO DURING 2016 AND
2020 THERE WAS WERE A NUMBER OF
POLICY CHANGES THAT HAPPENED.
I FLAGGED A COUPLE OF THEM
HERE
FOR YOU. THE FAMILY SEPARATION
POLICY.
THERE WAS THE ATTEMPT TO
END DACA.
WE SAW THE TRAVEL BAN IN
2016, AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT
WAS INTRODUCED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION AT THAT TIME
WHICH LED
TO PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AT AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
AND THAT TRAVEL BAN WAS
TARGETING MAJORITY MUSLIM --
FOLKS
FROM MAJORITY MUSLIM COUNTRIES
AND IT KNOWN AS THE MUSLIM BAN
AT THAT÷÷ TIME.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE SAW
WAS A LOT OF LEGAL IMMIGRATION
RESTRICTION, A LOT OF
PROGRAMS THAT WERE IN PLACE TO
PROVIDE
WORK AUTHORIZATIONS AND LEGAL
PATHWAYS HAD ADMINISTRATION
CHANGES TO THEM, AND THAT ALSO
ADDED TO THE FEAR.
WE SAW THE CHANGE IN THE PUBLIC
CHARGE RULE WHICH EXPANDED THE
CRITERIAS AROUND GREEN
CARD ELIGIBILITY AND VISA ENTRY
APPLICATIONS, AND THOSE
CRITERIAS WERE CHANGED IN A
WAY WHERE IT DISCOURAGED
IMMIGRANTS FROM ACCESSING
THINGS
LIKE ESSENTIAL BENEFITS LIKE
HEALTH
CARE, HOUSING, BECAUSE OF
THE FEAR OF BEING SEEN AS A
PUBLIC CHARGE AND NOT BEING
ABLE
TO EITHER GET A GREEN CARD OR
BE DENIED ENTRY INTO THE U.S.
AND THEN WE ALSO SAW A LOT OF
ASYLUM RESTRICTIONS, THE
REMAIN-IN- MEXICO POLICY AND
SO
FORTH. SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND
OF
FLAG SOME OF THE STUFF THAT
HAPPENED IN 2016- 2020 THAT WE
MAY SEE
REOCCUR AGAIN.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY HEARING
FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE ARE ALSO AS AN OFFICE
HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND SO
IS
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND IN THIS SLIDE I JUST KIND
OF FLAG AND CALL OUT SOME OF
THE CONCERNS THAT WE'RE
HEARING FROM
FOLKS, RIGHT, THE FEAR OF MASS
RAIDS, THE REINSTATEMENT OF
PUBLIC CHARGE, THREATS
TO IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS, AND
A LOT OF THIS COMES FROM
SPECIFIC POLICIES THAT HAVE
BEEN
CALLED OUT BY THE INCOMING
PRESIDENT, POLICY AGENDAS THAT
HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSED WIDELY IN THE
PUBLIC, IN THE NEWS, AND
POLICIES LIKE -- AGENDAS LIKE
PROJECT
2025 THAT REALLY SPELL OUT
THE CHANGES THAT -- THAT THE
NEW ADMINISTRATION OR FOLKS IN
THE COMMUNITY WANT TO -- OR
FOLKS
IN THE PUBLIC -- I SHOULD
SAY THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
WOULD LIKE
TO SEE CHANGES TO.
AND SO THAT OBVIOUSLY
IS CREATING A LOT OF DISCUSSION
AND JUST A LOT OF FEARS.
AND THE THING THAT I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE IS THAT
REGARDLESS
OF THESE ACTIONS OCCURRING OR
NOT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE
CHILLING
EFFECT.
THAT IS THE REAL CONSEQUENCE
THAT WE WILL SEE AND WHAT WEWE
IN 2016, IS FOLKS WILL BEGIN
TO FEAR ACCESSING SERVICES.
IN 2016 WE SAW PARENTS AFRAID
TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL,
AND
SO -- AND PEOPLE BEING AFRAID
TO REPORT CRIMES AGAINST
THEMSELVES OR CRIMES THAT THEY
WITNESSED AND BEING AFRAID TO
ENGAGE
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO THAT CHILLING EFFECT IS
GOING TO BE A REALITY
REGARDLESS BECAUSE OF THIS
RHETORIC THAT
IS HAPPENING IN PUBLIC
FORUMS TODAY.
SO NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. THANK YOU.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
POLICIES IN PLACE TO ENSURE
THAT ALL
RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, IN WASHINGTON STATE
CAN
ACCESS SERVICES AND THAT
THEIR LIVES CAN CONTINUE
REGARDLESS.
AND I WANTED TO JUST ALSO NOTE
THAT, YOU KNOW, WASHINGTON --
THE CITY OF SEATTLE ACTUALLY
IS HOME TO OVER 140,000
FOREIGN- BORN RESIDENTS TODAY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, FOR INSTANCE, WE
HAVE OVER 50,000 ENTREPRENEURS
IN
OUR COMMUNITY WHO IDENTIFY AS
IMMIGRANTS, AND THERE IS
A REPORT THAT WAS PUT
TOGETHER BY THE NEW AMERICANS
ECONOMY
IN 2019 THAT SHOWED THAT
$12 BILLION WAS PAID IN TAXES
ALONE
BY OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
HERE LOCALLY.
SO THESE ARE FOLKS CONTRIBUTING
TO OUR LOCAL SOCIETY, AND THERE
ARE STRONG POLICIES IN PLACE
TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
CAN
ACCESS SERVICES.
I OUTLINED SOME OF THE POLICIES
IN PLACE.
SEATTLE ORDINANCE 1210-
63 PROHIBITS CITY OFFICERS AND
EMPLOYEES FROM INQUIRING ABOUT
IMMIGRATION STATUS UNLESS IT
IS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME SORT OF
JUDICIAL ORDER, SOME LAW BEHIND
IT, AND THAT IS TO ENSURE THAT
FOLKS CAN FEEL SAFE AND SHARE
INFORMATION ABOUT THEMSELVES
AND ACCESS OUR SERVICES.
AND THERE'S ALSO THE
WASHINGTON STATE KEEP
WASHINGTON
WORKING ACT THAT WAS PUT IN
PLACE.
THAT'S ALSO A SIMILAR LAW
ENSURING THAT FOLKS CAN
ACCESS SERVICES ACROSS
WASHINGTON
STATE AND RESTRICTING LAW
ENFORCEMENT
FROM COLLABORATING WITH FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION LAW
OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THAT
LEVEL.
AND THAT, AGAIN, IS TO
ENSURE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE TO GO
TO
PLACES LIKE THEIR JOBS.
MOVING US FORWARD, I ALSO
JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT IN
OUR
OFFICE WE HAVE
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR
COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE IN
CONTRACT WITH ABOUT 30
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE
DIRECT SERVICES.
WE ARE TALKING TO
THEM REGULARLY, CONVENING THEM,
AND, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERNS
THAT
THEY BRING UP, WE DISCUSS THAT
WITH THEM.
WE HAVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS, LEGAL
SERVICE PROGRAMS.
AND IN 2025 WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ENSURE THAT PEOPLE
GET
ACCURATE INFORMATION IN ANY WAY
THAT WE CAN, THAT WE COMBAT
MISINFORMATION AND ENSURING
THAT WE HAVE THINGS LIKE
KNOW-YOUR- RIGHTS TRAINING, TO
SUPPORT COORDINATION,
PREVENT OUTCRY AND SAVE PUBLIC
DOLLARS AND RESOURCES AND
ENSURING THAT
WE ARE BUILDING TRUST WITH OUR
IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES.
NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU.
AND THIS JUST KIND OF
UNDERSCORES, AGAIN,
REGIONAL COLLABORATION WILL BE
A
BIG FOCUS FOR US THIS COMING
YEAR.
WE ARE PARTICIPATING AT BOTH --
AT THE STATE LEVEL I SERVE
ON THE GOVERNOR- ELECT'S
PROJECT
2025 COMMITTEE.
WE'RE IN CONVERSATION WITH
THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL-
ELECT'S OFFICE AS WELL TO
ADDRESS
ANY POLICY CHANGES AND THINGS
THAT MAY HAPPEN.
AND SO -- AND THE GOAL IS
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
A UNIFIED APPROACH, WE ARE
TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND WE
ARE
COORDINATING WHERE IT IS
NEEDED.
I THINK DEPUTY MAYOR WANG
REALLY UNDERSCORED THAT AND IT
WILL
BE A FOCUS FOR OUR OFFICE AS
WELL, COORDINATION AND
REGIONAL COLLABORATION.
I BELIEVE THIS IS MY LAST
SLIDE.
I WILL JUST SAY IN CLOSING,
OUR GOAL IS TO AVOID CREATING
UNNECESSARY ALARMS WITH
OUR COMMUNITY AS SPECULATION
ABOUT POLICY CHANGES COME
ABOUT.
WE WANT FOLKS TO REMAIN CALM
AND THAT WE ADDRESS CHALLENGES
AS THEY ARISE AND AVOID CAUSING
ANY
SORT OF CHILLING EFFECTS.
HOWEVER, WE 'NOT NAIVE.
WE ARES CLOSELY
MONITORING POLICY CHANGES, NEW
AGENDAS THAT
ARE COMING FROM THE
FEDERAL LEVEL AND ENSURING AS
THEY GET
INTRODUCED THAT WE
COMMUNICATE THAT INFORMATION
ACCURATELY TO LEADERSHIP AND
ARE
BEING VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
WITH THAT SAID, I WILL PASS IT
ALONG TO DEPUTY MAYOR
WONG.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO CIRCLE BACK IN
HERE BECAUSE THE MAYOR TOOK A
RECENT ACTION RELATED TO THE
IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE AND MIGRANT
SPACE
THAT IS RELEVANT.
LAST WEEK THE MAYOR ISSUED A
MAYORAL DIRECTIVE TO ALL
DEPARTMENTS, TO THE
DIRECTORS, THAT OUTLINED MANY
OF THE
LAWS AT PLAY THAT DIRECT
MOHAMED
REFERENCED.
WE HAVE VERY STRONG STATE
AND LOCAL PROTECTIONS IN
PLACE RELATED TO OUR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES, AND ALSO ASKED
THEM
TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
TO PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL
CHANGES.
THAT INCLUDED MAKING SURE
THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR
VULNERABLE
COMMUNITY'S PRIVACY
RIGHTS, THEIR SAFETY, AND ALSO
MAKING
SURE THAT OUR RESOURCES,
WHICH ARE LIMITED, ARE USED FOR
CITY WORK, NOT FOR THE WORK OF
THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WE -- ALL DEPARTMENTS
ARE IDENTIFYING LEAD STAFF TO
SERVE AS A POINT PERSON SO WE
HAVE A
QUICK, A RAPID RESPONSE
ABILITY AS CHANGES COME.
ALL DEPARTMENTS WILL
BE REVIEWING THEIR POLICIES
TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING WE
ARE DOING IS ALIGNED WITH
THE CURRENT LAW IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
THERE IS THE KEEP
WASHINGTON WORKING ACT THAT
DIRECTOR
MOHAMED REFERENCED WAS PASSED
A FEW YEARS AGO.
WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYTHING IS SQUARE WITH
THE
CURRENT LAW AND POLICIES.
OIRA IS ALSO GOING TO DESIGN
A TRAINING PROGRAM, A
TRAIN-THE- TRAINER PROGRAM
WHERE
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TRAIN ALL
OF OUR EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS ON
WHAT TO DO IN CERTAIN
SITUATIONS IF FEDERAL
AUTHORITIES SHOW
UP AT THE DOOR AND HOW TO
BEST SUPPORT
OUR COMMUNITIES. THE NO-YOUR-
RIGHTS
TRAINING IS SOMETHING THAT DR.
MOHAMED
REFERENCED.
THAT'S SOMETHING OIRA DOES ON
AN
ONGOING BASIS.
IT ACTUALLY WASN'T IN THIS
MAYORAL DIRECTIVE BECAUSE
WE ALREADY DO THAT AND
WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT WORK.
ANOTHER KEY PIECE ON THIS
IS THERE'S A LOT OF
UNCERTAINTY IF
I.C.E. SHOWS UP AT A
CITY BUILDING OR CITY STAFF, WE
MADE
IT VERY CLEAR IF THAT HAPPENS
ALL STAFF ARE TO IMMEDIATELY
CALL THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
COUNCIL AND WE WILL WORK WITH
THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO
UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT
THERE'S
SUFFICIENT JUDICIAL
AUTHORITY FOR I.C.E. TO ACCESS
WHATEVER
THE REQUEST IS FOR,
WHETHER IT IS A BUILDING OR
INFORMATION.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE HAVE
STRONG LAWS PROTECTING AGAINST
THAT
AND IT IS ONLY IN LIMITED
SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS
AUTHORIZED.
AND THEN WE WILL BE, AS
WE ALWAYS DO -- AND I KNOW
YOU ALWAYS DO VERY WELL,
ENGAGING
WITH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT
IN
THIS.
THE MAYOR WILL BE MEETING WITH
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, OIRA AS
PART OF THE MAYOR'S
EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN DOING A
FABULOUS JOB OF
HOLDING ALL OF THE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE
AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO
MOVING FORWARD.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY KNEW THAT THAT
DIRECTIVE WENT OUT AS WELL.
AS I MENTIONED, IT IS
UNCERTAIN WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN, BUT I DO
THINK WHAT IS
CERTAIN IS SOMETHING IS GOING
TO
HAPPEN, RIGHT?
WE'RE NOT -- I THINK IT WAS
REALLY WELL SAID BY DR.
MOHAMED, WE'RE NOT NAIVE HERE.
THERE'S A WAY TO BE
STRATEGIC AND PLANNED OUT
WITHOUT CREATING
CRISIS AROUND EVERY
POTENTIAL THING.
IF YOU READ SOME OF
THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE
REFERENCED, IT IS THOUSANDS OF
PAGES,
HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS
OF PROPOSAL AND WE KNOW
THERE'S
A LOT OF GOOD WORK.
THE GOVERNOR- ELECT'S
OFFICE TRANSITION TEAM HAS A
GROUP WORKING TO REALIZE THE
IMPACTS,
AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
ARE WORKING ON THAT TOO.
SO WE'RE PART OF THIS.
WHILE WE SEE THE MOST
LIKELY FIRST ACTIONS IN TIM
GRANT, REFUGEE AND MIGRANT
SPACE
I WANTED TO SUCH ON TWO
OTHER POPULATIONS THAT WE THINK
ARE
VULNERABLE, THAT'S THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF RECEIPTORING
HETORIC AROUND TO
LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN PLACE
FOR
COMMUNITIES.
FIRST IS THE LGBTQ+
COMMUNITY, REPORTING AND
CELEBRATING
OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IS
SOMETHING THAT IS STRONGLY
ENGRAINED
IN OUR VALUATIONS AS
AN ADMINISTRATION AND AS A
CITY.
THE GOOD NEWS ON THIS IS THAT
BOTH THE STATE AND THE CITY
HAVE VERY STRONG LAWS IN PLACE
THAT
PROVIDE PROTECTIONS. BOTH
GENDER IDENTITY AND
GENDER EXPRESSION ARE ACTUALLY
PROTECTED
CLASSES UNDER STATE LAW AND
CITY LAW, WHICH
GIVES THEM -- GIVES THEM THE
ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S
ANTI- DISCRIMINATION LAWS
THAT ARE APPLIED EQUALLY TO
LGBTQ+
COMMUNITIES, AND CERTAINLY
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S NOT A RISE IN
DISCRIMINATION AND ALSO NOT A
RISE IN HATE
CRIMES AS WELL.
THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES ANY TIME
THERE'S A CHANGE AND THERE'S
RHETORIC
THAT CAN BE TARGETING
COMMUNITIES.
SO WE ARE -- FEEL VERY GOOD
THAT OUR STATE AND LOCAL LAWS
ARE STRONG TO PROTECT AGAINST
HATE CRIMES AND DISCRIMINATION.
OUR SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS A BIAS CRIMES
UNIT THAT IS
DEDICATED TO INVESTIGATING
HATE CRIMES, BIAS CRIMES.
SO AS THOSE -- IF -- YOU
KNOW, WE HOPE WE DON'T SEE AN
UPTICK IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
IN
THOSE TYPES OF INCIDENTS, BUT
IF WE
DO WE WILL BE PREPARED
TO INVESTIGATE AND BE ABLE TO
GO AFTER THE PERPETRATORS OF
THOSE HATE CRIMES.
AND THEN OUR OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS, THEIR ENFORCEMENT
DIVISION, ALWAYS INVESTIGATES
ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION
INCLUDING FOR LGBTQ+
COMMUNITIES.
THEY WILL CONTINUE
THAT ENFORCEMENT ROLE.
WE ALSO NOT ONLY THINK ABOUT
THE PROTECTIONS WE GIVE TO
COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO HOW
WE'RE INVESTING IN THEM
BECAUSE
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE STRONG,
THEY'RE
RESILIENT AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN
THEM
TO DO THAT.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
DIRECTOR KIM WHO WILL TALK A
LITTLE
BIT ABOUT SOME OF OUR
INVESTMENTS.
ONE THING PARTICULARLY ON
LGBTQ+ INVESTMENTS, WE ACTUALLY
DO
THIS THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR
DEPARTMENTS.
IT IS NOT LIKE THERE'S
ONE BUDGET LINE ITEM YOU CAN
POINT
TO, BUT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
A FEW THINGS DIRECTOR KIM
WILL TALK ABOUT IN THE BUDGET
THAT YOU RECENTLY PASSED THAT
HELPS
TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, DEPP UTY MAYOR WONG.
IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT -- OH, I'M
TANIA
KIM, THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN
SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, FOR THE RECORD.
IN THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT WE DO PROVIDE A
SAFETY NET.
AND FOR TODAY WE'RE JUST
HIGHLIGHTING FOUR INVESTMENT
AREAS, AGAIN, THAT
REPRESENTS MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS, BUT
AN INTERESTING SAMPLING FOR YOU
AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WHAT ARE WE DOING LOCALLY AND
WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW?
I ALSO WILL START IT IS A
PART OF OUR BASE BUDGET SO
WE SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD WE
ARE
PROACTIVELY INVESTING IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
SO FOR YOU, WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHTHIGHLIGHT
RESPONSES THAT WE
HAVE IN THE CITY.
FOR THE SEATTLE LGBTQ+ CENTER,
WE REALLY FOCUS ON EMPOWERING
BIPAC
LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS A
LOT OF TERMS WE
HEAR ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT
FOR THOSE IN THE VIEWING PUBLIC
IT
IS CONSIDERING OUR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE
INTERSECTIONALITY OF ALSO
BEING LGBTQ+, AND ENSURING THAT
WE OFFER WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORTS
FOR
THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS SO
THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO RESPOND
TO HARM
WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES
AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS
OF
RESILIENCY.
SO THERE'S AN INVESTMENT
THERE.
WE ALSO INVEST IN THE GAY
CITY HEALTH PROJECT WHICH IS
A RESOURCE AND REFERRAL LINE,
AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS
IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN ACCESS
INFORMATION.
IT IS THE OLD- SCHOOL
REFERRAL LINE BY
PHONE, IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE
AND IN PERSON.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
CONNECT PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES
SO THEY
CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE OTHER
RESOURCES THAT ARE IN
COMMUNITY.
ALSO I WANTED TO FLAG FOR
YOU JUST TO SHOW A RANGE OF
THE BREADTH OF INVESTMENTS IS
LAMBERT HOUSE.
WE ARE INVESTING IN
HOMELESSNESS
IN THIS SPACE FOR OUR YOUTH WHO
ARE AT RISK, AND IT IS A
WONDERFUL DROP- IN PROGRAM AS
WELL.
SO LAMBERT HOUSE OFFERS
IN- PERSON AND ONLINE PROGRAMS
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LGBTQ+
YOUTH.
THEY DO EVERYTHING FROM
JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.
THEY DISCUSS -- THEY HAVE
GROUPS, IT IS REAL IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THE PEER SUPPORTS AS WELL,
EVERYTHING FROM BOWLING
TO COMING OUT TO YOUR
FAMILY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS
A HOSTILE SITUATION, AND
EDUCATION
AROUND HIV, STD PREVENTION.
THEY ALSO OFFER SAFE SPACES
FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION AND
COMMUNITY
BUILDING, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT.
THESE PROGRAMS ADDRESS
THE COMMON CHALLENGES LGBTQ+
YOUTH
FACE, AND I HAD MENTIONED,
BUT JUST SUMMARIZING, FAMILY
CONFLICTS, WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN THEIR SOCIAL NETWORK AT
SCHOOLS AND IN COMMUNITY, AND
ALSO, OF
COURSE, DEPRESSION, MENTAL
HEALTH, SELF- ESTEEM
AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.
SO I TALKED ABOUT JUST
HELPING COMMUNITY HELP EACH
OTHER.
TALKED ABOUT ACCESSING
RESOURCES.
TALKED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE.
BUT WE'RE ALSO INVESTING IN
OUR
OLDER POPULATION, AND THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND THIS IS
A
CAPACITY- BUILDING CONTRACT
THAT
WE HAVE WITH GEN PRIDE.
THEY WORK WITH OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK
WITH LGBTQ OLDER ADULT
COMMUNITY,
AND THEY ARE ENSURING THAT
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND HUMAN
SERVICES
ARE CULTURELY RESPONSIVE.
IT IS CRITICAL FOR THE OLDER
POPULATIONS TO PROMOTE THE
COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS.
WE LEARNED IT THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC, SOCIALIZATION IS
NEEDED BUT YOU ADD THE LAYERS
OF THE NEEDS ONCE, AND IT
IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THE
CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS
TOGETHER.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
WE TALKED ABOUT DEPUTY
MAYOR WANG FRAMED IT
BEAUTIFULLY,
BUT WE'LL UNDERSCORE THAT THE
LGBTQ
COMMUNITY IS OVERREPRESENTED IN
A LOT OF THE ISSUE AREAS
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FACE AS
WELL TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
IT IS HOMELESSNESS, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT,
COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION, MENTAL
HEALTH, ET CETERA.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS
IN OUR BASE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KIM.
THE ONE OTHER TOPIC I
JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON VERY
BRIEFLY,
BECAUSE I KNOW CERTAINLY
THERE'S A LOT OF RHETORIC
AROUND IT,
IS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND HOW
WE PROTECT THEM.
YOU KNOW, ABORTION HAS
BEEN MOSTLY A FEDERAL AND
STATE ISSUE.
WE CERTAINLY KNOW ROE V.
WADE WAS LAW OF THE LAND FOR
DECADES,
AND IT WAS RECENTLY OVERTURNED.
THE STATE HAS VERY STRONG
PROTECTIONS IN PLACE
FOR ABORTION ACCESS
AS WELL. JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO WHEN
ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED
HOWEVER, MAYOR HARRELL AND
THIS COUNCIL LOOKED AT WHAT
ELSE COULD WE DO IN THIS SPACE.
WHILE IT IS MOSTLY A FEDERAL
AND STATE ISSUE, WE OBVIOUSLY
AS A
CITY VALUE HOLD IT VERY DEAR
AND WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR WOMEN
AND
THEIR RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE
IS PROTECTED AND SUPPORTED.
AND SO THESE WERE SOME
VERY RELATIVELY RECENT ACTIONS
TAKEN -- OH,
I'M SORRY. I'M ON THE STATE
SLIDE STILL.
JUST TO OUTLINE THE -- THERE
ARE THESE STATE LAWS THAT ARE
IN
PLAY, THEY REALLY DO PROTECT
ABORTION RIGHTS AT THE STATE
LEVEL, AT PRETTY MUCH THE
HIGHEST LEVEL THAT YOU CAN.
AND THEN LOCALLY -- WE'LL GO
TO THE NEXT SLIDE NOW.
AFTER THE DOBBS DECISION,
THE CITY ENACTED A NUMBER OF
ORDINANCES TO FURTHER
PROTECT PEOPLE SEEKING
ABORTIONS,
INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT
THAT IS ALSO A PROTECTED CLASS
UNDER LAWS, PUTTING IN
A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE FOR
PEOPLE WHO ENCROACH ON
INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ABORTIONS
OR
GENDER- AFFIRMING CARE.
SHIELD LAWS THAT PROHIBIT
SPD AND REALLY ANY CITY
ASSISTANCE
WITH OUT-OF- STATE ENFORCEMENT.
WE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT, WELL,
IF THERE'S AN OUT-OF- STATE
LAW THEY'RE TRYING TO ENFORCE
SOMETHING, WE HAVE A LAW IN
PLACE THAT PROHIBITS CITY
PERSONNEL FROM BEING PART
OF THAT INVESTIGATION.
AND WE MADE THOSE PROACTIVE
FUNDING DECISIONS, SO AT
THE TIME IT WAS A $250,000 TO
THE
NORTHWEST ABORTION ACCESS
FUND, WHICH IS THE PREEMINENT
FUND
IN THIS SPACE IN OUR AREA.
I BELIEVE THAT CURRENT
INVESTMENT THAT THE
COUNCIL PASSED IN THEIR MOST
CURRENT
BUDGET IS $274,000.
SO THAT AMOUNT INCREASED
AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE THE SAME BALANCE OF
PROTECTIONS WITH INVESTMENTS
TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO WITH THAT -- AGAIN, WE
KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY -- WE
COULD SPEND WEEKS ON END
TALKING
TO YOU ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES
THAT IMPACT THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, BUT
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A
HIGH- LEVEL OVERVIEW.
OUR NEXT STEP IN
THE EXECUTIVE -- AGAIN,
THINKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION
SPACE
BEING KIND OF DAY ONE ACTIONS,
IS MAKING SURE THE MAYORAL
DIRECTIVE IS IMPLEMENTED SO
WE'RE WELL- SITUATED TO
RESPOND CITY WIDE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
OIR, OUR LOBBYING TEAM IN DC
AND OUR DEPARTMENTS ON ANY
POTENTIAL
CHANGES.
CERTAINLY AS REFERENCED
EARLIER, SOME OF THOSE
RESPONSES MAY
BE LEGAL IN NATURE WHEN WE
WILL PARTNER WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND SOME OF
THEM MAY
BE LEGISLATIVE AT SOME POINT
IN NATURE IF THIS BODY DECIDES
TO DO ANYTHING AT THAT TIME,
THAT WOULD BE COUNCIL
COORDINATION.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE
TO COLLABORATE INTERNALLY,
EXTERNALLY, WITH ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS, CERTAINLY
THROUGHOUT THE STATE,
THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY.
THE MAYOR IS A VERY
STRONG LEADER IN THE U.S.
CONFERENCE
OF MAYORS SO HAS VERY STRONG
CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER MAYORS,
AND WE WILL BE TALKING TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE ALIGNED IN ALL
OF THE RESPONSES AND THAT WE
HAVE A
STRONG, COORDINATED
AND STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO MAKE
SURE THAT NO MATTER WHAT COMES
THESE
NEXT FOUR YEARS, GOOD OR
BAD, THAT WE WILL COME OUT AS A
STRONGER CITY THAT REFLECT
OUR VALUES AND SUPPORTS OUR
COMMUNITY.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THAT BRIEFING AND FOR BRINGING
IT TOGETHER
SO QUICKLY. IN LISTENING TO YOU
ALL SPEAK,
ONE OF THE REPEATED MESSAGE
WAS THAT WE WANT TO AVOID
CAUSING
UNNECESSARY FEAR AND
CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE CHILLING
EFFECT
THAT IT CAN HAVE AND HAS HAD
IN THE PAST ON OUR
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY,
AND
THEN WIDER IMPACTS ON -- WELL,
ON CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND
OUR
ECONOMY, ET CETERA.
SO I REALLY DID TAKE THAT TO
HEART.
I THINK IT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT
IS FOR US TO REALIZE,
ANOTHER THEME WAS WE ARE
PREPARED.
AND SO YOU DID SPEAK BRIEFLY
TO SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT YOU
ARE
TAKING, AND I'M SURE THERE'S
A LOT GOING ON THAT WE DON'T
HAVE REALLY TIME TO GET INTO
RIGHT NOW.
BUT THAT WAS A VERY -- I MYSELF
THAT I
FEEL WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT
AND WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IS IT IS
MOST IMPORTANT TO BE PREPARED
AND
TO CONVEY TO OUR RESIDENTS AND
COMMUNITIES AND
CONSTITUENTS THAT WE HAVE THEIR
BACK.
NO MATTER WHAT, WE
HAVE THEIR BACK AND WE ARE
WORKING WITH
OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE AND
THE
COUNTY AND ALSO WITH
OUR LOBBYISTS IN DC TO MAKE
SURE
THAT WE ARE PREPARED AND
READY FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT
COME
DOWN, BUT THAT IT DOESN'T
SERVE US WELL TO STOKE FEAR
UNNECESSARILY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL
OF THE HARD WORK THAT YOU
ARE DOING ON THAT FRONT.
I SEE THAT YOU HAVE A --
YOUR HAND UP, COUNCILMEMBER,
RIVERA.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN SPEAKING WITH DIRECTOR
MOHAMED FREQUENTLY THE PAST FEW
WEEKS AS
WELL, SO I WELCOME YOUR
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
OIRA AND HSC AND OIR FOR
BEING HERE.
REALLY APPRECIATE
THE PRESENTATION AND THE
UPDATE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT
DIRECT MOHAMED IN PARTICULAR
BECAUSE OIRA SITS ON THE
COMMITTEE THAT
I CHAIR, WE'VE BEEN IN
CONTACT
ALL OF LAST YEAR. AS YOU
COLLEAGUES REMEMBER,
MIGRANTS CAME TO ASK FOR
ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY,
AND DIRECTOR MOHAMED HAS BEEN
VERY
ACTIVE IN THIS SPACE.
I SAY THAT TO GIVE
ASSURANCE THAT THIS CITY IS
DOING ITS DUE
DILIGENCE AND VERY ACTIVELY
INVOLVED.
I HAVE -- DIRECTOR MOHAMED HAS
MY VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.
WE DO TALK REGULARLY ABOUT
THESE ISSUES, AND WE KNOW THAT
SINCE THEN SHE HAS BEEN
INVOLVED
AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND
AT THE STATE LEVEL, EVEN BEFORE
THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS HAPPENED
AND WE KNEW WHAT THE
NEXT ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE.
SO I SAY THAT TO REALLY SAY
I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
DEPARTMENT, ALSO WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I WILL SAY THAT
DEPUTY MAYOR WANG AND I WERE IN
CONTACT
RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTIONS AND
BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS ON THE
IMMIGRATION ISSUE AND MAKING
SURE THAT WE
WERE ABREAST ON -- YOU KNOW,
TO KNOW AS MUCH OR TO SHARE AS
MUCH AS WE KNEW.
I WILL SAY THAT I ASKED FOR
IN THE COMMITTEE THAT I CHAIR,
A PRESENTATION FROM OIRA.
BUT AFTER TALKING TO
DEPUTY MAYOR AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT
I DECIDED TO DO -- AND I'M
GLAD
WE DID A BIGGER BRIEFING
BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST
IMMIGRATION.
AND I WILL SAY THAT I VERY
MUCH APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP.
I HAVE BEEN INVITED AND
THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR WONG,
TO
AN UPCOMING COMMUNITY MEETING
WHERE WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO
COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
WORKING IN THIS SPACE
AND ALL, REALLY TO UNDERSCORE
WHAT THE PANEL HAS SAID AND
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, STAY ON
THE SAME PAGE AND CONNECTED AND
SHOW
A UNITED FRONT BECAUSE
WE VERY MUCH AGREE ON ALL OF
THESE
ISSUES. SEATTLE IS A SANCTUARY
CITY,
LET ME BE CLEAR.
THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE
AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, WITH DIRECTOR
MOHAMED AND WITH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND
MANY OF YOU THAT WE ARE
ALL ALIGNED
ON THAT. SO IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE CAN REST
ASSURED THAT WE HAVE THEIR
BACK, FULL
STOP, AND WE ARE GOING TO
WORK TOGETHER.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN AND I ECHO YOUR
SENTIMENTS, DIRECTOR
MOHAMED, DEPUTY MAYOR WONG, AND
COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, ON THE WE DON'T
WANT
TO STIR ALARM BECAUSE ALARM
DOES HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON
COMMUNITIES, AND WE DON'T WANT
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY
IN SEATTLE NOT TO SEEK
SERVICES BECAUSE THEY'RE
AFRAID.
AND WE DON'T WANT THEM NOT TO
SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL
BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID,
WHICH WE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING
TO
WORK VERY ACTIVELY, CONTINUE
TO WORK ACTIVELY TO ENSURE THAT
WE ARE PROTECTING OUR IMMIGRANT
POPULATIONS HERE IN SEATTLE.
AND SO I REALLY WANTED
TO UNDERSCORE THAT.
YOU KNOW, AS LEGISLATORS,
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S
INCUMBENT UPON US AND THAT
WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IS
NOT CREATING PANIC, BUT
ACTUALLY CALMING OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS WHAT WE CAN
PROVIDE, COMFORT IN KNOWING
THAT
WHATEVER COMES THAT WE HAVE
THEIR BACK.
IF WE DON'T SHOW
PANIC, COMMUNITY DOESN'T SHOW
PANIC, AND I THINK THAT IS A
VERY CLEAR
MESSAGE THAT WE SHOULD BE
SENDING TO COMMUNITY, AND
WITH OBVIOUSLY FREQUENT
COMMUNICATION SO THAT THEY'RE
ABREAST ON
WHAT IS -- WHAT WE KNOW AND
THAT
THEY KNOW THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY
WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
HERE
IN SEATTLE BUT ALSO AT THE --
IN DC, BECAUSE WE HAVE
FEDERAL LOBBYISTS IN DC WHO ARE
ON
TOP OF COMMUNICATING WITH
CONGRESS AND MAKING SURE -- AND
THE
WHITE HOUSE, AND -- WELL,
MAKING
SURE THAT WE AT LEAST KNOW THE
INFORMATION. IT ALSO BRINGS ME
COMFORT
THAT WE HAVE OUR, YOU KNOW,
SENATORS, PATTY MURRAY, EMORY
COUNTWELL, WHO ARE ALSO
ADVOCATES ON OUR
BEHALF.
THEY WILL LET US
KNOW INFORMATION AS WELL WHEN
WE
NEED TO ACT, AND, YOU KNOW,
THERE
IS NO CURRENT CAUSE FOR PANIC,
NOTWITHSTANDING I KNOW
THE ISSUES THAT MAY BE COMING
DOWN
THE LINE.
WE ARE NOT IGNORANT.
WE KNOW THINGS ARE COMING.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET, AND
THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS
PREPARE, AND I FEEL CONFIDENT
WE
ARE DOING THAT.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT FOR
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN HERE
ON
THIS PLANET A WHILE AND WE'RE
HERE
FOR THE 1996 WELFARE REFORM
ACT THAT HAD HUGE CONSEQUENCES
FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, AND
I
HAPPENED TO BE IN DC WORKING IN
THOSE DAYS, YOU KNOW, EVERY --
I MEAN IT IS JUST CYCLICAL.
I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
CORRECT, DIRECTOR MOHAMED.
THIS IS SOMETHING,
WELFARE REFORM IS SOMETHING
THAT'S BEEN
THE ONGOING ISSUE THAT WE
HAVE NOT SOLVED FOR IN A WAY
THAT WE
WOULD ALL LIKE AND THAT WE
HAVE TO CONSTANTLY STAY ON OUR
GUARD, BUT WE ARE.
OR AND WE ARE.
AGAIN, I FEEL REALLY LUCKY TO
BE IN SEATTLE.
NOT EVERY CITY IS WHAT SEATTLE
IS, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH OIR AND OIRA,
THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, ALL
OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE
MOVE FORWARD WE STAY ABREAST.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT IN
TERMS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT
I SHARE. WHAT I KNOW I WILL
SHARE
WITH YOU ALL, AND THAT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH --
TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT
OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION FEELS
THE SUPPORT AND CAN RELY ON
SEATTLE TO BE THERE FOR THEM,
NOT
JUST NOW BUT ONGOING INTO THE
NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>>
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, GO AHEAD.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR
TODAY'S PRESENTATION.
CERTAINLY I ALSO WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION
FOR COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S
COMMENTS ON THAT AMENDMENT, AND
I
WOULD STATE WE ARE COMMITTED TO
REALLY STANDING BY OUR
IMMIGRANT REFUGEE COMMUNITIES,
AND TRULY
TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I
APPRECIATED THE BACKGROUND,
THE CONTEXT WE ARE WORKING
WITH, ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THE
PREVIOUS
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. JUST
REALLY APPRECIATED
THE LEVEL OF DETAIL YOU BROUGHT
FORWARD AND WOULD ECHO ALSO
THE SENTIMENTS FROM THE
DEPUTY MAYOR.
WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE A
LOT LONGER OF A CONVERSATION
ABOUT
EVERYTHING THERE IS TO
DISCUSS, AND I WOULD EMPHASIZE
WE NEED TO
HAVE A CONTINUED DISCUSSION
ABOUT -- AS WELL AS
REGULAR INFORMATION FROM THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH ON THESE
ISSUES, ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE
INTO VERY
UNCERTAIN TIMES.
I'VE SPENT THE PAST COUPLE
OF WEEKS WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM
IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES, TO
OUR LABOR COMMUNITY, FOLKS WHO
WORK IN THE REALM OF
REPRODUCTIVE
JUSTICE AND LGBTQAI HEALTH CARE
AND, AGAIN, HAVE HEARD THE
RECURRING THEME OF
UNCERTAINTY, BUT ALSO A SENSE
THERE AREN'T
ENOUGH FOLKS TALKING ABOUT
WHAT IS TO COME AND A REAL
DESIRE TO BE HAVING THESE
GROUNDED,
CENTERED CONVERSATIONS
AND AT LEAST SHINING A LIGHT ON
THE MATTERS AS THEY STAND.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT
MAY BE OUT OF OUR CONTROL IN
THE MONTHS TO COME, BUT WHAT IS
IN OUR CONTROL IS BEING ABLE TO
GET GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE
ABOUT THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS DOING,
AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE
IN
OUR ROLE AS COUNCIL ARE ABLE
TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO
OUR COMMUNITIES RESPECTIVELY.
WITH THIS IN MIND AND
THE CIRCUMSTANCES AHEAD OF US,
I KNOW I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A
FEW FOLKS NOW, BOTH IN
COMMUNITY
AND IN HERE, AROUND
ESTABLISHING
A SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE TO
BE
FOCUSING ON THESE MATTERS SO
WE AS COUNCIL HAVE A
REGULAR LANDING PLACE WHERE WE
ARE HAVING THESE FOCUSED
CONVERSATIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH
SO MANY EMERGING MATTERS
THAT MAY COME OUT IN THE
COMING MONTHS.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE A
LOT OF OTHER TOPICS WE COULD
HAVE COVERED TODAY AROUND
IMPACTS FROM THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION.
WE KNOW, ESPECIALLY SEEING
WHAT HAS COME TO LIGHT IN
CALIFORNIA, A TRUE NATURAL
DISASTER WITH THE
WILDFIRES.
IT HAS ME THINKING ABOUT
THE SAFETY OF OUR FEMA
FUNDS, PARTICULARLY LOOKING
AT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A FEMA
DISASTER
AID REQUEST FOR WILDFIRES
THAT DESTROYED EASTERN
WASHINGTON THAT LEFT ONE CHILD
DEAD IN
2020.
I THINK THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT
RETALIATION TOWARDS THE STATE
OF
WASHINGTON AND SEATTLE.
WE'VE SEEN THAT HISTORICALLY.
SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON BEING
SINGLED OUT BY DONALD TRUMP AND
HIS ADMINISTRATION, AND SO
I RAISE THIS NOTION JUST TO
SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE --
THERE
WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
MISINFORMATION,
DISINFORMATION COMING AT US,
COMING TOWARDS OUR
COMMUNITY, AND COUNCIL
NEEDS TO BE REGULARLY INFORMED
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT YEAR AT THE
VERY
LEAST, LIKELY THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS
ON POLICY AND BUDGETARY
CHANGES THAT WILL LIKELY IMPACT
OUR
DEPARTMENTS' ABILITY TO SERVE
OUR CONSTITUENTS CITY WIDE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
A CONTINUED DISCUSSION WITH MY
COLLEAGUES PERHAPS
ON POTENTIALLY SETTING THAT UP.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TODAY TO SHARE
THE IMPORTANT PREPARATION WORK
YOU
ALL HAVE BEEN DOING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THIS BRIEFING.
I HAVE BEEN -- REALLY, I
HAVE BEEN PANICKING AND SO
THANK
YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS ABOUT THE
NEED TO KEEP THAT DOWN, BECAUSE
IT
IS OUR JOB TO ROLE MODEL AND
TO REALLY LET OUR CONSTITUENTS
KNOW
THAT WE ARE THERE FOR THEM
AND TO TAKE THINGS AS THEY
COME.
BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE
ALL OF THE INFORMATION, ALL OF
THE THOUGHT THAT'S GONE INTO
THIS.
I KNOW PART OF MY CONCERN WAS
I WASN'T REALLY HEARING --
I WASN'T HEARING BECAUSE YOU
ALL WERE VERY BUSY FIGURING OUT
HOW
TO RESPOND AND WHAT ALL
OF THE DIFFERENT PIECES ARE.
SO I ACTUALLY FEEL QUITE
REASSURED. TO COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S COMMENTS AGAIN,
THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
HAVE
CONTINUING ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS AND REALLY
IMPORTANT WE BE
KEPT IN THE LOOP SO WE CAN
RESPOND QUICKLY IF WE NEED A
LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE, AND ALSO
JUST
THE POWER OF THE BULLY PULPIT.
I THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, ABOUT YOUR REMARKS
THAT WE ARE HERE, THESE ARE
OUR VALUES.
EXCUSE ME.
AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
CHANGE. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD
TO BE
A MEMBER OF THIS BODY, TO BE
A MEMBER OF THE CITY, THIS
COUNTY AND THIS STATE FOR THESE
VERY
REASONS THAT WE DO
REALLY SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS IN
THIS
CITY, IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
WORK THAT
YOU ARE DOING AND PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO REACH OUT TO MY
OFFICE IF THERE'S ANYWAY THAT
I CAN BE
HELPFUL, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AND
WAYS TO WORK THROUGH WHAT IS
GOING
TO BE -- WHAT ARE
GOING TO BE INTERESTING AND
CHALLENGING TIMES.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY,
DEPUTY WONG AND THE TEAM, THANK
YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
GENERALLY I DON'T THINK WE
REALLY NEED TO RESPOND TO EVERY
LITTLE PIECE THAT COMES OUT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S
PRODUCTIVE.
HOW WE RESPOND IS BASICALLY
DOING OUR JOBS.
I THINK THAT'S THE KEY THING
HERE, IS WE JUST DO OUR JOBS.
WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC
SAFETY, I HAVE NINE ENTITIES
THAT
FALL UNDER THE COMMITTEE, SPD,
FIRE, CARE, OEM TO THE POINT
MADE EARLIER ABOUT FEMA, YOU
KNOW, WORKING WITH THOSE,
WORKING
WITH OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS,
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL
COURT, AND TO ENSURE THAT WE
ARE DOING OUR JOB TO CREATE A
SAFE BASE IN OUR CITY.
SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THIS BASELINE, BUT TO
THE POINT YOU RAISE, YOU KNOW,
NOT RESPONDING TO EVERYTHING
THAT
HAPPENS.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS
HELPFUL, AND I THINK THE KEY
THING IS,
AGAIN, TO RESPOND BY DOING
OUR JOBS.
I JUST WANTED TO REEMPHASIZE
THAT.
ONE THING -- AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK BEAT ME TO
IT A LITTLE
BIT, BUT PROBABLY THE
MOST IMPORTANT BULLET IN THE
ENTIRE BRIEFING COMES FROM OIR.
IT SAYS, ENSURE
RESIDENTS RECEIVE ACCURATE
INFORMATION
AND COUNTER
MISINFORMATION EFFECTIVELY.
ONE KEY THING THAT IS
CLEAR FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BOTH
AS
A COUNCILMEMBER AND MY FORMER
PROFESSION, IS THAT
THE DISINFORMATION AND THE
MISINFORMATION AND JUST
KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE TWO
IS KEY, AND THE COUNTERING
OF THAT IS TO, AGAIN, DO OUR
JOBS, PLACE OUT THERE WHAT IS
THE
ACTUAL TRUTH, WHETHER WE DO
IT IN COMMITTEE OR WE DO IT
HERE ON
THE COUNCIL OR WHEREVER IT IS.
THAT IS SO CRITICAL
BECAUSE IT IS THE -- IT IS THE
LACK OF
UPFRONT INFORMATION, YOU KNOW,
THE BASE INFORMATION THAT
WE HAVE FROM OUR CITY, FROM
WHAT
WE DO THAT IS GOING TO BE
SO VALUABLE.
JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT,
WHETHER IT IS FROM THE -- YOU
KNOW,
THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, YOU
KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE BRIEF OR
JUST EVERYONE IN A MORE
GENERAL
SENSE. SO I THINK, AGAIN,
UNDERSTANDING
THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN DISINFORMATION AND
MISINFORMATION MIGHT BE THE
BIGGEST STEP THAT ANY OF US
CAN TAKE.
SO, YEAH, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK BEAT ME TO THE POINT
REGARDING
THAT, REGARDING MISINFORMATION.
I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT
POINT, TOO.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE
BRIEFING.
>> OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY ELSE'S
HANDS UP.
I WILL LET YOU GO DO YOUR JOBS.
SO GOOD POINT, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TO BE CONTINUED AS
NECESSARY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG, LET'S
SEE, LET ME GET MY PLACE HERE.
WE HAVE PROCLAMATION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS
A PROCLAMATION FOR SIGNATURE
TODAY, DECLARING JANUARY
2025 TO BE HUMAN TRAFFICKING
MONTH. READ THE
PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I'M HONORED TO
BRING THIS
PROCLAMATION BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, HUMAN
TRAFFICKING OR COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION REMAINS A SCOURGE
IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I
WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
YOUR
SUPPORT LAST SESSION IN PASSING
THE CSC
LEGISLATION WHICH I THINK IS
REALLY IMPORTANT
FIRST STEP TO ADDRESSING WHAT
WE
ARE SEEING IN TERMS LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE AND, VERY
IMPORTANTLY, ENHANCING AND
BEEFING OUR SOCIAL
SERVICES RESPONSE.
SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT SUPPORT. I'M EXTREMELY --
I WANTED TO
SAY I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO
ALL OF
THE ADVOCATES WHO ARE WORKING,
PUTTING, YOU KNOW,
COUNTLESS HOURS IN THEIR WORK
TO SUPPORT
SURVIVORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING A
PATH FORWARD, AND I JUST WANT
TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS
IS A PROBLEM AND THAT WE NEED
TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
SURVIVORS AND HELP THEM FIND A
WAY, A
PATH FORWARD AND APPRECIATE THE
MAYOR AND THE HSD'S OFFICE
BRINGING FORTH THE REQUEST FOR
THE PROCLAMATION AND I HOPE
YOU WILL BE WILLING TO SIGN.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
NO? YEAH, I --
GO AHEAD.
>> SORRY.
SORRY, BOB. GO AHEAD, BOB.
HE HAD HIS HANDS
UP FIRST.
>> OKAY. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD,
YOU KNOW, TO HIGHLIGHT THE
ISSUE AND TO, YOU KNOW, RAISE
AWARENESS, AND ALSO TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
HER
WORK MORE GENERALLY HERE ON THE
COUNCIL, BOTH IN TERMS OF
HER BACKGROUND AND DESIRES TO
WORK THE ISSUE BUT ALSO AS
CHAIR
OF THE -- OF THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE AND
THE EFFORTS THAT SHE HAS DONE
TO
INCREASE RESOURCES TO HELP
IN THIS AREA, SPECIFICALLY AND
THEN MORE GENERALLY.
AS YOU KNOW FROM OUR WORK IN
2024.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
FOR RAISING THIS.
OF COURSE, I WILL SUPPORT
IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I TOO WANT TO ECHO A NOTE
OF GRATITUDE TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FOR KEEPING THIS AT OUR
-- AT
THE FOREFRONT.
IT IS VERY MUCH AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE, AND HERE IS WHAT I
THINK ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES,
IS
WE ALL AGREE AND WE ALSO NEED
TO
SAY IT PUBLICLY ONGOING.
BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE WE ALL
KNOW
WE AGREE DOESN'T MEAN -- WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WE TAKE
THIS
SERIOUSLY, THAT WE AGTHHAVE ONG
TO IT.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR US
-- OR FOR
KEEPING THE ONGOING FOCUS ON
THIS AS --
AS AN AREA THAT WE'RE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND
CHAMPION, YOU KNOW,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE VICTIMS OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
SO THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
UP, SO WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL
THE
ROLL ON -- PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO DETERMINE
WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD
LIKE
THEIR SIGNATURE AFFIXED TO THE
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
JANUARY AS
HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION
MONTH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>>
YES, AYE.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> AYE.
>>
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S
PROCLAMATION.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK HAS A
PROCLAMATION TO BE BLAINE
MEMORIAL DAY.
PLEASE READ IT BEFORE WE
SOLICIT
SIGNATURES. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT IS MY FIRST PROCLAMATION.
I HOPE I GET
A STICKER. REALLY HONORED TO BE
PRESENTING
THIS TODAY. THE PROCLAMATION
PROCLAIMS
JANUARY 26th TO BE
BLAINE MEMORIAL UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
APPRECIATION DAY.
ORIGINALLY NAMED THE
SEATTLE JAPANESE METHODIST
EPISCOPAL
CHURCH, IT TIES TO
FIRST GENERATION, ASSISTED BY
EDWARD LYNN BLAINE, HENCE THE
RENAMING TO BLAINE MEMORIAL,
DUE THE FACT
JAPANESE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO
ON-PROPERTY.
IT SERVED AS A PACE FOR
JAPANESE ANCESTRY PEOPLE WHO
WERE ASSISTED BY THE
SECOND GENERATION.
THE CHURCH AFTER BEING REBUILT
IN BEACON HILL DUE TO RED
LINING, SHARED RESOURCES,
AND PARTNERED WITH ACRS,
KIMBALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND
RAY
NEAR VALLEY FOOD BANK.
THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO
TACKLE ISSUES SUCH AS FOOD
INSECURITY, PROVIDING MEALS,
THANKSGIVING MEALS AND PRESENTS
TO
THE COMMUNITY DURING THE
HOLIDAY SEASON.
IT HAS HAD 120 YEARS OF
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND
SERVES
THE BROADER COMMUNITY INCLUDING
THE
NIKAI, ALL JAPANESE
GENERATIONS.
SHOULD THIS GO THROUGH WE WOULD
INTEND TO PRESENT IT
IN COMMUNITY ON JANUARY 26th AT
THE CHURCH AT 11:30 A.M. AND
WOULD WELCOME ANYONE WHO WOULD
LIKE
TO
JOIN. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT.
I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
OKAY. SEEING NONE, WILL THE
CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO
HAVE THEIR SIGNATURE AFFIXED TO
THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
JANUARY
26th, 2025, TO BE
BLAINE MEMORIAL UNITED
METHODIST
CHURCH
APPRECIATION DAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>>
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>>
EIGHT SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>>> NEXT WE HAVE OUR REGULAR
BLUE SKY, UNLESS THERE
IS FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE
PROCLAMATIONS, AND WE --
THE ROLL CALL BEGINS
WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, COLLEAGUES.
I WILL BE BRIEF.
LAST WEEK I MET WITH
THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL WHO
SHARED FEEDBACK ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
IT WAS CLEAR AFTER MEETING
WITH THEM THAT THEY WERE
UNAWARE
OF THE SPECIFICS OF THE
PROPOSAL THAT JUST FURTHER
UNDERSCORES WHAT I HAVE BEEN
SAYING
ABOUT THE LACK OF COMMUNITY
OUTREACH BY THE DEPARTMENT
RELATED TO
THE COMP PLAN AND THE
IMPORTANCE
OF CONTINUING TO DO THAT AS
WE CONTINUE TO -- TO MOVE
FORWARD AND REVIEWING THIS
LEGISLATION.
I ALSO MET WITH THE NEW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PIKE
PLACE MARKET PDA, RACHEL
HTENBERG.
WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.
I'M HAPPY RACHEL IS THERE
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH HER AS I KNOW ALL OF YOU
ARE,
AS WE ARE ALL SUPPORTIVE OF
PIKE
PLACE MARKET.
THEN I ALSO ATTENDED
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR
SEAN IAM, THE METRO BUS DRIVER
WHO WAS
MURDERED RIGHT BEFORE
THE HOLIDAYS.
METRO SHARED THAT THEY WILL BE
ENCLOSING CABS ON THE BUSES.
THEY'RE MAKING THAT
COMMITMENT, AND I WAS VERY
HAPPY TO HEAR IT.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH
YOU
ALL SO THAT YOU KNOW.
I WAS THERE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, WHO I'M SURE WILL
TALK ABOUT THIS SOME MORE.
BUT THAT IS WHAT I'VE
BEEN WORKING ON.
AND THEN OTHER THAN THAT, YOU
KNOW, CONTINUES TO BE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES ON THE NORTH
END THAT I CONTINUE TO BE
ACTIVE
WITH AND IN CONVERSATION
WITH SEATTLE -- THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO BRING FOCUS
TO
THE NORTH END, AND I LOOK
FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AS
WE CONTINUE TO TACKLE PUBLIC
SAFETY
ACROSS THE CITY.
UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS, I WILL PASS IT OVER
TO MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COLLEAGUES, GOOD AFTERNOON.
ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
FRONT I'LL ALSO
ENDEAVOR TO MAKE THIS BRIEF IN
THE INTEREST
OF TIME.
ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
FRONT, OUR NEXT
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEETING WILL BE NEXT
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21st, 9:30
A.M.
SO FINALIZING THE AGENDA THERE.
BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
REALLY IMPORTANT SUBSTANTIVE
ITEMS THAT
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING.
CURRENTLY TWO NEW PERMITS, TWO
PERMIT RENEWALS, AND AT
LEAST ONE PRESENTATION AS WELL,
A
FEW PRESENTATIONS INCLUDING ON
THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS
PROGRAM.
WHILE WE'RE ON
THE TRANSPORTATION TOPIC,
COLLEAGUES, I WOULD
ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY DISTRICT
COLLEAGUES TO START THINKING
ABOUT, IF YOU
HAVEN'T ALREADY, WHO YOU
MIGHT WANT TO NOMINATE AND PUT
FORWARD
TO SIT ON THE NEW LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
SO AS WE RECALL, THE
LEGISLATION THAT WE CREATED
PURSUANT
TO WHICH VOTERS ULTIMATELY
APPROVED OUR $1.55 BILLION
TRANSPORTATION
LEVY, THE NEW LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAS A
REVAMPED
STRUCTURE, AND -- AND, YOU
KNOW, TO HELP THINGS, MAKE
THING
MORE TRANSPARENT AND
ACCOUNTABLE.
AND PART OF THAT
INCLUDES EVERY -- ALL OF THE
SEVEN
DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS GET
ONE
APPOINTMENT.
SO PLEASE START TO THINK
ABOUT WHO YOU MIGHT WANT.
IT NEED NOT BE SOMEONE
DIRECTLY FROM YOUR DISTRICT,
FOR
CLARITY, BUT YOU DO GET TO MAKE
THE CALL.
HAPPY TO TALK OFF LINE
ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS DIRECTLY
WITH S.D.O.T. AS WELL ABOUT THE
LEVY.
THE NEXT THING I GUESS I WILL
--
I TOO WAS HONORED TO ATTEND THE
MEMORIAL OF KING COUNTY
METRO BUS DRIVER SEAN YIM WHO
WAS
MURDERED TRAGICALLY
IN DECEMBER. I ATTENDED
ALONGSIDE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
SAW THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
THERE
AS WELL. SO I'M ENCOURAGED.
I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I
HEARD,
AND I AM MEETING PERSONALLY
WITH METRO MYSELF, THE
LEADERSHIP OF
METRO TO DISCUSS TRANSIT
SECURITY AND WHAT MORE WE
COULD POTENTIALLY DO.
SO -- BUT, YEAH, GLAD TO
HEAR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT
THE
SORT OF BARRICADE BETWEEN THE
DRIVERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC.
I ALSO BECAME AWARE THAT --
SO THE SECOND THING THAT ATU
LOCAL FIVE -- ATU WAS CALLING
FOR --
CAN'T
FORGET THE LOCAL DESIGNATION
OFFHAND, BUT
THE SECOND THING THEY WERE
CALLING FOR WHICH IS SOMETHING
I AS
WELL WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH
IS
THE NEED TO ALIGN ON A
REGIONAL APPROACH TO TRANSIT
SECURITY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT NEXT
STEPS WERE INITIATED IN THAT
REGARD, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
PLUGGING IN AND -- AND SHARING
MORE OF
WHAT I LEARN AS -- AS THINGS
EVOLVE. FINALLY, I WILL NOTE,
COLLEAGUES, YOU ALL KNOW
THAT ERIC SCHMIDT IN MY
OFFICE STARTED LAST WEEK.
HE IS THE -- HE IS OUR
NEWEST DISTRICT AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
FOR DISTRICT ONE, AND I
HAVE PERSONALLY INTRODUCED HIM
TO SOME OF YOU ALL AND YOUR
STAFF.
PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE NOT
ALREADY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GO MEET
ERIC, PLEASE DO SAY HELLO.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE. I WELCOME ANY
COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK.
AND HEARING NONE, SEEING
NONE, I WILL PASS IT ON TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
I LOOK FORWARD TO JANUARY
21st, ROB SAKA DAY HERE AT THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
COLLEAGUES, WITH THAT, THE
JANUARY 15th
MEETING THIS WEEK FOR FINANCE
AND
NATIVE COMMUNITIES WILL BE
CANCELLED.
WE ARE WORKING WITH
EDNA TO CREATE THE CALENDAR FOR
THE YEAR
OF WHEN WE WILL HAVE THE
SELECT COMMITTEES, WHEN WE WILL
HAVE
THE FINANCE COMMITTEES AND
HOW THAT IS GOING TO WORK.
AS WELL, I HAVE BEEN
SPEAKING WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN
CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. THE LAST CHAIR
HAD NOT AT LEAST
TALKED TO ME AT ALL, AND SO
WE'RE IDENTIFYING THE FACT
THAT THERE ARE SOME DAYS IF
FINANCE ISN'T GOING IN THE
MORNING
WE CAN MOVE THE SELECT
COMMITTEE EARLIER IN THE DAY SO
THAT
WE'RE NOT HERE UNTIL 6:30 AT
NIGHT.
SO THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO ME.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH ME.
I'M HAPPY TO BE FLEXIBLE SO
THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING HERE
TOGETHER.
WITH THAT, I'VE GOT NOTHING
FOR
FULL COUNCIL.
EXTERNAL COMMITTEES,
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO BRING UP
LAST WEEK
I WAS AT SEATTLE CITY EMPLOYEE
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
BOARD AS WELL AS THE SOUND
TRANSIT
EXPANSION COMMITTEE BOARD.
IN BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS I
HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR BOTH OF
THOSE EXTERNAL BODIES TO GIVE
ME
BRIEFINGS BEFORE I TAKE VOTES.
IT HAS, HONESTLY, BEEN A
LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE.
I HAVE BEEN ESCALATING MY
REQUEST IN A POLITE MANNER
AND IT GOT TO THE POINT I
SUSTAINED FROM VOTES ON BOTH.
I SUPPORT THE FACILITIES
SOUTH PARCEL, EMINENT DOMAIN OF
THE
PARCELS, HOWEVER, I FINALLY
SAID, YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME
A BRIEFING BEFORE YOU ARE GOING
TO ASK ME FOR A VOTE.
SO WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN
WORKING WITH BOTH THEM AND
SOUND TRANSIT
TO SET UP A MORE ROBUST
BRIEFING
SCHEDULE.
BUT IF I'M GOING TO
BE REPRESENTING EACH OF YOU
COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES ON THESE BOARDS,
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE VOTES IF
THEY
HAVEN'T BRIEFED ME.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THOSE
BODIES PROVIDING ME THAT
OPPORTUNITY. THIS COMING WEEK
WE WILL HAVE --
WELL, LET ME TAKE ONE STEP
BACK.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY SOUND
TRANSIT HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE.
WE HAD AN ISSUE IN
DECEMBER WHERE THE NAMING
SURVEY FOR
THE DEBORA JUAREZ STATION,
CURRENTLY
KNOWN AS 130th STREET
STATION, SOON TO BE KNOWN AS
SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, THAT SURVEY
CLOSED BEFORE I OR
COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA COULD LIST IT OUT TO OUR
LIST SERVES.
SOUND TRANSIT DID REOPEN
THAT SURVEY FOR US AND WAS
INCLUDED, AND WE ALSO DIDN'T
DELAY
ANY TIMELINES FOR GETTING
THAT INFORMATION BRIEFED TO US.
I RECEIVED A BRIEFING THIS
WEEK.
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE -- I DON'T
WANT TO SPILL THE BEANS HERE ON
TV.
IT IS A GOOD -- THE NUMBER
ONE NAME IS A GOOD NAME.
IT DOES -- THERE WERE SOME
ISSUES RAISED WITH OUR COMP
PLAN, ONLY IN THE NAMING SENSE.
BECAUSE WITH A NEW LIGHT
RAIL STATION THERE, IT IS
CREATING
A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN A CERTAIN
WAY, AND THE SAME WAY THAT
THE COMP PLAN IS.
AND IF THE STATION NAME
IS DIFFERENT THAN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD
NAME, WELL, IT JUST MAKES US
ALL LOOK A LITTLE SILLY.
LET'S GET AHEAD OF THAT BALL.
HERE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU.
WE DO HAVE A SOUND TRANSIT
BOARD
MEETING NEXT THURSDAY.
WE SHOULD BE TAKING UP THE I-
405 STRIDE BUS RAPID TRANSIT
PROJECT, OMF -- THE
OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE FACILITY
SOUTH EMINENT DOMAIN AS WELL AS
PROPERTIES NEXT TO FEDERAL
WAY LIGHT RAIL FOR THE
STATION THAT'S OPEN FOR
SURPLUS, ADOPTING -- WE WILL BE
ADOPTING THAT STATION NAME FOR
THE NORTHEAST 130th, DEBORA
JUAREZ
STREET STATION.
THERE ALSO WILL BE PERFORMANCE
GOALS FOR THE INTERIM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
THE NEW CEO PROCESS IS
FULLY
UNDERWAY. WE EXPECT THAT THERE
--
THE SELECTION COMMITTEE WHICH
I BELIEVE IS SUMMERS, BALDUCCI,
BACHAS AND I'M BLANKING ON
THE LAST ONE OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD BUT I KNOW IT IS SOMEONE
FROM TACOMA.
THAT SELECTION PROCESS WILL
BE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
SO THEY WILL BE PUTTING
FORWARD A FEW NAMES FOR THE
BOARD TO BE
INTERVIEWING. SO I SHARE THAT
WITH YOU RIGHT
NOW, THAT IF THERE ARE
THINGS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
IN
THE NEXT SOUND TRANSIT CEO NOW
IS THE TIME TO LET ME KNOW
BECAUSE THIS PROCESS IS GOING
TO
MOVE PRETTY RAPIDLY.
WE WILL ALSO BE VOTING ON NEXT
BOARD MEETING FOR THE
AGREEMENT WITH LEHIGH FOR THE
SALE OF
THE TRANSIT PROPERTY IN THE
U DISTRICT TO BECOME
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS WHERE ROSIE'S VILLAGE
WAS.
THIS STREET VACATION CAME
THROUGH COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA'S TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE AND SO
NOW SOUND TRANSIT IS PUTTING
THE BOW ON TOP.
LATER THIS WEEK I ALSO WILL
BE IN THE ASSOCIATION OF
WASHINGTON
CITIES BYLAWS REVIEW COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA AND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
SIGNED UP FOR AWC ACTION DAYS
IN
FEBRUARY.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
I PUT IN THE PLUG NOW.
WE CAN HAVE -- THE MORE
THE MERRIER.
LAST YEAR IT WAS VERY
HELPFUL TO BE DOWN THERE
ADVOCATING FOR
THE PASSAGE OF THE TRAFFIC --
THE AUTOMATED TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS.
THIS WEEK IN DISTRICT SIX I
HAVE
OFFICE HOURS THIS THURSDAY, AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER
HOLGS HOLLINGSWORTH, I MAY TALK
TO YOU THE PARKS COMMITTEE.
I HAVE A QUESTION TO COME
TO SPEAK TO A CLASS AT
INGRAHAM, WHICH I KNOW IS NOT
IN
MY DISTRICT BUT WE'RE IN THE
CATCHMENT -- I GUESS I THINK
OF COUNCILMEMBER MOORE BECAUSE
YOUR KIDS WENT THERE TOO.
SCHOOL DISTRICT LINES DOWN
ALIGN
WITH COUNCIL GEOGRAPHY YET.
I MIGHT BE GOING UP THERE.
I WANTED TO FLAG THAT FOR ALL
OF YOU.
UNLIKE MY PREVIOUS TWO
COLLEAGUES, I WAS NOT SHORT.
THAT'S ALL
I'VE GOT. ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS?
I WILL PASS IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU,
CILMEMBER STRAUSS.
APPRECIATE YOU.
COLLEAGUES, PARKS,
UTILITIES TECHNOLOGY MEETING
WILL BE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22nd, AT
2:00 P.M.
THIS WILL BE A SHORT MEETING.
WE HAVE SOME APPOINTMENTS
THAT WE HAVE TO RUN THROUGH,
AND
THEN WE ALSO POTENTIALLY HAVE A
BRIEFING ABOUT LICENSING
FROM OUR SEATTLE CENTER.
BUT ALL IN ALL WE ARE STILL
WORKING ON THE AGENDA, AND
I ANTICIPATE THIS MEETING WILL
BE PRETTY QUICK AND TO THE
POINT.
ALSO, WANTED TO UPDATE
EVERYONE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
WE HAVE EVERYBODY ON THE
SCHEDULE TO MEET ONE-ON- ONE
WITH
OUR OFFICE TO KIND OF SET THE
TABLE AND GO THROUGH
SOME THINGS.
THE NEXT MEETING IS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15th.
THIS WILL BE AT 2:00 P.M.
WE TALK ABOUT GROWTH STRATEGY
--
WELL, THIS WEDNESDAY OBVIOUSLY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
GROWTH STRATEGY FROM OUR
MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND I'VE SEEN
A PRESENTATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL
SLIDES AND INFORMATION, AND
SO IT IS GOING TO BE A
GREAT CONVERSATION THAT WE'LL
HAVE
ON WEDNESDAY JUST TO CLARIFY
SOME
THINGS. ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR JUST
GOING
OVER SCHEDULING AND JUST
BEING FLEXIBLE THERE.
I KNOW, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
YOU HAD MENTIONED AS WELL ABOUT
SOME FLEXIBILITY OPTIONS AS
WELL.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
BOTH FOR THAT.
I ALSO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, YOU OFFERED AS WELL.
EVERYONE IS OFFERING THEIR
MEETINGS, THEIR COUNCIL
MEETINGS OR THEIR COMMITTEE
MEETINGS OPEN
FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR THAT.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE CAN HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GO
OVER A LOT OF THE INFORMATION.
IT IS REALLY DENSE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT
OF QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE AMPLE TIME TO GO OVER
EVERYTHING AND FOR US TO STAY
ENGAGED
AND CONNECTED AND TO GET OUR
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ONE, I
WAS READING A COUPLE OF
ARTICLES
AND I KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN
WATCHING
ABOUT THE FIRES THAT ARE IN
LOS ANGELES AND, YOU KNOW,
WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW
THAT LOS ANGELES IS -- I DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY MILES AWAY, IT
STILL
IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY AND US
AND
OUR HEART GOES OUT TO
THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN TRAGICALLY -- THE LIVES
THAT HAVE BEEN LOST AND JUST
THE DEVASTATION THAT I
HAVE SEEN. BUT DEFINITELY WANT
TO GIVE
A SPECIFIC SHOUT- OUT TO THE
280 FIREFIGHTERS FROM
WASHINGTON STATE THAT ARE DOWN
IN CALIFORNIA FROM 45 DIFFERENT
ENGINES, AND FOUR OF THEM
ARE FROM THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED OVER 60
ANIMALS, OUR SHELTER,
FROM LOS ANGELES.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD
FAMILIES AND PEOPLE
CONNECTED DOWN THERE, SO I JUST
WANT
TO SEND OUR LOVE AND
APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS
THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINE
SAVING HOMES AND SAVING PEOPLE
AND SAVING LIVES.
WITH THAT, THIS WEEK IN THE
COMMUNITY, NEXT MONDAY IS MLK
DAY, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
HOLIDAY.
I HAVE TWO -- I WILL BE IN
THE COMMUNITY CONNECTING WITH
A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SPEAKING AT
A HIGH SCHOOL, A
PRESENTATION LATER ON THIS
WEEK.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR FIRST
QUARTERLY DISTRICT
THREE BUSINESS MEETING WHERE WE
HAVE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
BUSINESSES
FROM OUR DISTRICT, SOME OF
THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS
AND A
LOT OF DIFFERENT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND DIFFERENT
AREAS WHERE WE WILL HAVE A
QUARTERLY MEETING TO GO OVER A
LOT OF COOL
INFORMATIONAL STUFF.
SO ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED TO
THROW
THAT OUT
THERE. THANK YOU ALL.
IF THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS, I WILL PASS IT OFF
TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. KETTLE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO SKIP
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
THIS WEEK, TOMORROW WE HAVE
OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE
MEETING.
AS MMM OF YOU KNOW, IT IS
ON LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS. THIS IS THE
SECOND MEETING ON
THAT TOPIC.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
GETTING THEIR AMENDMENTS IS SO
CENTRAL STAFF AND OTHERS COULD
WORK
THEM. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THIS THURSDAY I HAVE A KING
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
MEETING FOLLOWED BY REGIONAL
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE, AND
THAT
NIGHT I HAVE THE QUEEN
ANNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS
HOLDING
A MEETING AT THE QUEEN
ANNE COMMUNITY CENTER ON THE
COMP PLAN.
THAT MAY BE INTERESTING IN
THE SENSE OF COMING FROM THE
QUEEN ANNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
IN
TERMS OF HOW IT IS FRAMED, BUT
THAT WILL BE ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE COMMUNITY TO -- QUEEN
ANNE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT
THE
PREHENCIVE PLAN.
FRIDAY I WILL BE MEETING
WITH THE ST. PAUL CONSTITUENCY
IN
UPTOWN LOWER QUEEN ANNE.
I WANTED TO NOTE THIS WEEK
THAT THIS EVENING I WILL BE AT
THE AUSTRALIA AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP
DIALOGUE.
WE HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN
DELEGATION IN TOWN WITH A FOCUS
MAINLY ON
TECH, S.T.E.M. ,
ASTRONAUTICAL, AI, ACROSS
THE BOARD. AMAZON IS A KEY
PLAYER IN
THIS, AND I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE IS A
SUBMARINE
TOUR, BUT I'M HAPPY TO NOTE IT
IS
NOT IN BAINEBRIDGE ISLAND AS
THE PROGRAM SAYS.
IT IS GOOD TO NOTE OUR
SUBMARINE
BASE IS IN KITSAP PENINSULA.
THAT WOULD BE INTEREST.
MAYOR HARRELL WILL BE THERE
ALSO IN TERMS OF THE AMERICAN
SIDE, U.S. REPS LARSON AND
SMITH
AND OTHERS WILL BE THERE AS
WELL.
NEXT WEEK TO CONTINUE THE
THEME OF THINGS INTERNATIONAL,
I
HAVE A MEETING WITH THE
CONSULAR
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON,
THEIR LUNCHEON.
AND THEN THURSDAY OF NEXT
WEEK WE HAVE THE PSRC EXECUTIVE
BOARD, THE PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE
BOARD,
AND ALSO THE NEWLY
ESTABLISHED DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY
COUNCIL PUBLIC FORUM, WHICH IS
GOING
TO LOOK AT THE WORK OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AND WHAT WE HAVE
DONE OVER 2024 AND A LOOK AHEAD
INTO 2025.
SPEAKING OF THE
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY MORE
GENERALLY,
I WANTED TO NOTE LAST WEEK
ON FRIDAY I DID HAVE A MEETING
WITH
S.D.O.T. , DIRECTOR
SPOTS. PIKE PLACE RACHEL AS
WELL AS
MYSELF. THIS IS THE START
DIRECTLY FOLLOWING WHEN WE DID
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN REGARDING PIKE PLACE.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IS WE HAD
THIS INTRODUCTORY MEETING, A
VERY GREAT MEETING, AND
S.D.O.T.
AND THE PIKE PLACE PDA WILL
BE WORKING ON THE FACTORS
RELATED TO PIKE PLACE IN TERMS
OF ALL
OF THE VARIOUS ASPECTS THAT
NEED TO
BE ACCOUNTED FOR.
AND THEN MORE DETAILS TO
COME, BUT BASICALLY IN EARLY
APRIL THERE WILL BE A
LARGE STAKEHOLDER MEETING.
SO THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW,
LOOK AHEAD IN TERMS OF WHAT
NEEDS
TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO CREATE
A THRIVING AND VIBRANT PIKE
PLACE MARKET THAT IS SAFE FOR
ALL.
SO THOSE VISITING AND FOR
OUR RESIDENTS ALIKE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE
A LITTLE HEADS UP ON THAT,
AND COMING OUT OF LAST
WEEK'S MEETING WITH DIRECTOR
SPOTS FROM
S.D.O.T. AND MISLICHTENBERG
FROM THE PIKE PLACE PDA.
THAT'S IT UNLESS THERE'S
ANY QUESTIONS.
GOING ONCE,
TWICE, THREE. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, LET'S
SEE, SO THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING IS
THAT I WILL BE CANCELLING
THE NEXT HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING,
WHICH
IS CURRENTLY SET FOR JANUARY
22nd.
THE DEPARTMENTS OH AND HSD
ARE HARD AT WORK ON VARIOUS
THINGS,
NFTE AROUND OTHER ISSUES, AND
THEY JUST NEED ADDITIONAL TIME.
SO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF
EVERYONE'S NEED TO
HAVE PRODUCTIVE USE OF TIME, SO
WE
WILL BE CAN'T ELLING -- I WILL
BE CANCELLING THAT MEETING.
IN TERMS OF EXTERNAL
COMMITTEES LAST WEEK, I
ATTENDED THE
REGIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE
WHERE WE APPROVED THE MID
ANNUAL REPORT, THE HOUSING
THROUGH
HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT AND
ALSO THE AUTOMATED
FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION
SYSTEM RENEWAL PROPOSAL.
SO IT WAS -- I WAS THERE
WITH COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, IT
WAS
A PRETTY WEIGHTY AGENDA, BUT
ALSO VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE
ALL
OF THE EFFORTS, REALLY
SUCCESSFUL
EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING DONE
AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND
CLEARLY AND OBVIOUSLY SEATTLE
BEING
AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN
THOSE
EFFORTS. ALSO ATTENDED THE
AGING AND
ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND THEN
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO
JUST
GIVE A HEADS UP ON IS
EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED
AN INVITATION FROM MY OFFICE.
I RECEIVED AN INVITATION FROM
THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF
WASHINGTON, AND THEY WILL
BE HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL DINNER
ON JANUARY 25th AT THE IDRIS
MOSQUE IN
DISTRICT FIVE. THEY EXTENDED
THE INVITATION
TO
EVERYONE. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T
RECEIVED
AN INVITATION FROM MY
OFFICE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF
YOU
ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING.
I KNOW THEY WOULD REALLY,
REALLY APPRECIATE AS MANY
MEMBERS COMING AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE MAIN
THING I HAVE.
ALSO I WANTED TO ECHO THE
COMMENTS OF COUNCILMEMBER HONGS
HOLLINGSWORTH DOWN THERE
DOING INCREDIBLE WORK AND ALSO
CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK HERE
AS WELL, FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
THANK YOU.
NO QUESTIONS.
I WILL PASS IT OVER
TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU.
WELL, EXCITED TO SHARE,
WE WILL BE HAVING OUR FIRST
COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE YEAR,
COMMITTEE
OF CITY LIGHTS SUSTAINABILITY
AND ARTS AND CULTURE WILL BE
THIS FRIDAY AT 9:30.
OUR AGENDA, WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING THE
TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION,
STRATEGIC
INVESTMENT PLAN, AS WELL
AS DOING SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS
TO THE CITY LIGHT REVIEW PANEL,
AND
AT LAST HAVING THE LONG-
AWAITED BRIEFING FROM CITY
LIGHT ON
THE BOMB CYCLONE, IN RESPONSE
TO AGAIN EXPRESSING MY
APPRECIATION
TO CITY LIGHT IN PULLING THIS
TOGETHER. I KNOW THE EFFECTS
WERE
PROFOUND BUT A LOT OF HARD WORK
WENT INTO
RESTORING LIGHTS ACROSS
THE CITY.
EXCITED TO HAVE CITY
LIGHTS SHARE ON THAT WORK AND
REFLECT ON HOW THEY'RE
PREPARING
FOR FUTURE KINDS OF EVENTS OF
THAT
SORT.
IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE
EXTERNAL MEETINGS, LAST WEEK I
HAD THE
AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH
THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW THE
AMAZING PERSON WHO HEADS THAT
ORGANIZATION, SHE IS A
COMMUNITY LEADER IN HER OWN
RIGHT.
I WANT TO SHARE AT THE END
OF OUR MEETING SHE SHARED WITH
ME IN ALL OF HER YEARS SERVING
OUR REGION SHE HAD NEVER
BEEN TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF
CITY HALL
AND NEVER BEEN IN A COUNCIL
OFFICE.
IT WAS PROFOUND TO ME
GIVEN HOW MUCH WORK SHE HAS
DONE
ACROSS KING COUNTY AND WITHIN
THE
CITY AND WITH THE WORK THAT
THAT ORGANIZATION IS PULLING
AHEAD.
IT JUST HAD ME REFLECTING ON
THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN
CONTINUE TO
BRING FOLKS INTO THE HALLS
OF POWER AND BE ABLE TO
ADVANCE TRUE CHANGE THAT
SUPPORTS SO MANY COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN LEFT OUT
OF POWER.
FROM THAT POINT I WOULD
ALSO SHARE THAT MY STAFF WAS
ABLE TO
JOIN THE VIGIL FOR SEAN
YIM LAST WEEK AS WELL.
AND THEN WE MET WITH SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, MET WITH CHIEF
SCOGGINS.
WE WOULD LATER LONG TERM THAT
HE
MADE THE CALL TO
SEND FIREFIGHTERS TO
LOS ANGELES. APPRECIATE JOINING
IN THAT
EFFORT.
I WAS ABLE TO DO
COUNCIL ADDITION WITH THE AWARD
WINNING SEATTLE CHANNEL
ALONGSIDE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I IMAGINE
THAT SHOULD DROP
TODAY OR TOMORROW.
DEFINITELY TUNE IN FOR THAT
DISCUSSION.
THIS WEEK OUR TEAM WILL BE
JOINING MEETINGS RELATED TO
FIFA.
I WILL BE GOING TO A LUNAR
EVENT LATER THIS WEEK.
LASTLY WOULD UPLIFT WE
MET EARLIER TODAY WITH THE
SISTER
CITY ADVOCACY GROUP TO QUEUE
UP SPONSORING THE ANNUAL
NOROSE CELEBRATION THAT WILL BE
TAKING PLACE ACTUALLY HERE AT
CITY
HALL ON SUNDAY, MARCH
23rd. THIS EVENT WAS FIRST
BROUGHT HERE IN 2017 AS A
POSITIVE
AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
RESPONSE TO
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S
FIRST ADMINISTRATION'S
MUSLIM BAN. THIS EVENT REALLY
TOUCHES NEIGHBORS FROM OVER A
DOZEN COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN IN
TERMS
OF CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR.
SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL CLOSE US DOWN HERE.
LET'S SEE.
WE HAD THE FIRST MEETING OF
THE GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
LAST THURSDAY, AND WE VOTED
OUT COUNCIL BILL 120925 WHICH
IS
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES FOURTH QUARTER
EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, AND
THAT WILL GO BEFORE THE FULL
COUNCIL FOR A VOTE NEXT WEEK ON
JANUARY
21st.
AND THIS HAS JUST BEEN
LEGISLATION THAT HAS GONE IN
THE RECENT PAST STRAIGHT TO
FULL
COUNCIL, BUT BECAUSE THERE
CAN BE BUDGET IMPACTS FROM
EMPLOYEE
RECLASSIFICATIONS, I
PROCESSED ONE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION
LAST YEAR WHICH WAS THE FIRST
QUARTER SUPPLEMENT -- I MEAN
FIRST QUARTER EMPLOYMENT
ORDINANCE, AND THEN DID THIS
ONE AT THE
END, WHICH IS THE LAST
ONE FROM -- THERE WERE ONLY TWO
IN
2024, FROM 2024.
WE HAD A VERY ROBUST
DISCUSSION ABOUT TRANSPARENCY
AND
ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN
OUR DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO
RECLASSIFICATIONS, NOT JUST
FROM CIVIL TO EXEMPT BUT ALSO
WHEN IT
COMES TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
COMPENSATION. SO I APPRECIATE
FOLKS'
ATTENTION
ON THAT. IT CAN SORT OF BE A
DRY TOPIC.
LET'S SEE.
THE NEXT
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
WILL
BE NOT ON THURSDAY, THE 23rd,
AS
IT USUALLY IS BECAUSE WE WILL
BE HAVING A SPECIAL CITY
COUNCIL MEETING TO WORK ON THE
VACANCY,
BUT RATHER ON JANUARY 24 th AT
9:30. THAT IS FRIDAY, JANUARY
24th AT
9:30, WILL BE OUR NEXT MEETING.
IT IS A SPECIAL MEETING.
WE ARE STILL FINALIZING OUR
AGENDA, FOLKS, BUT THERE WILL
BE A BRIEFING ON COUNCIL BILL
120933 WHICH WOULD ALLOW
A LIMITED NUMBER OF
RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN THE
STADIUM
DISTRICT CONSISTENT WITH THE
PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE IN THE FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT ACCOMPANYING THE 2023
INDUSTRIAL LANDS LEGISLATION.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT
THIS COMING UP, BUT I'M
ADVANCING THIS LEGISLATION IN
PARTNERSHIP
WITH A LARGE COALITION
THAT INCLUDES BUT IS NOT
LIMITED
TO THE BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION
TRADES COUNCIL AND LOT OF THEIR
AFFILIATES, OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER,
THE
MARINERS, AND SEATTLE MAIN
WHICH IS
A NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION OF OVER
700 SMALL BUSINESSES, MANY
OF HOME COULD BENEFIT FROM
HAVING
SOME SPACE IN THAT AREA FOR --
FOR MAKING THEIR PRODUCTS AND
ALSO RETAILING THEM.
SO THAT WILL BE COMING UP ON
THE 24th AT 9:30 ON A FRIDAY.
AND THEN FINALLY I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT I ALSO, AS WAS
NOTED, ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL
SERVICE FOR SEAN YIM LAST WEEK
WITH
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE ON
METRO'S DECISION TO --
TO INSTALL PROTECTIVE
BARRIERS BECAUSE I HAD NOT
KNOWN THAT AND
I HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT --
I APPRECIATE THAT MOVE ON
THEIR PART.
SO WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO
ON
PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS TOWN,
AND THAT IS AN
ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT.
I WILL BE ATTENDING THE
2025 ORGANIZATION OF CHINESE
AMERICAN GOLDEN CIRCLE AWARDS
AND
LUNAR ÷÷NEW YEAR, AND I AM
LUCKY TO
BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS YEAR
BECAUSE
I TRIED TO GO EVERY YEAR.
AND WITH THAT I -- A
REMINDER AGAIN THAT WE WILL NOT
HAVE COUNCIL BRIEFING NEXT WEEK
IN OBSERVANCE
OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY.
AND SO THAT IS ALL I'VE GOT.
AND IT IS 3:52.
THIS MEETING
IS ADJOURNED.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I HAVE
A POINT OF ORDER.
I HAD MY
HAND RAISED.
>>
I DIDN'T --
>> YOU JUST SAID WE
ARE ADJOURNED.
I HAD MY HAND RAISED.
>> GO
AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> I'M SORRY.
DID I -- I'M JUST KIND
OF CATCHING MY BREATH AS WELL.
DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP
THE INDUSTRIAL AND MARITIME
LANDS DISCUSSION IN YOUR
COMMITTEE?
>> THAT
IS CORRECT.
>> AND HOW MANY MEETINGS ARE
YOU GOING TO HAVE ON
THIS BILL?
>> I AM HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU
OFFLINE.
THERE IS ON THE SCHEDULE FOR
THE
UB ABOUT HEARING AND
THE
COMMITTEE DECISIONS.
>> COUNCIL BRIEFING IS
A REALLY GREAT PLACE FOR US TO
HAVE
THIS
DISCUSSION. I'M GOING TO FLAG
FOR YOU RIGHT
NOW THAT IT IS -- WHEN WE
TOOK UP THE INDUSTRIAL MARITIME
LANDS YOU WERE HERE, YOU WERE
ON THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU DON'T KNOW,
WE RAN THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE LIKE BUDGET AT THAT
POINT.
WE HAD DEADLINES FOR
AMENDMENTS.
WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO
SCRAMBLE RIGHT NOW AND CATCH TO
SEE HOW MANY MEETINGS WE HAD ON
THAT
TOPIC. I THINK WHAT IS MOST
TROUBLING FOR ME IS BEYOND YOU
NOT
WANTING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION
HERE
AT COUNCIL BRIEFING ABOUT IT IS
THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO THE
LAND USE COMMITTEE OR TO THE
SELECT
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE.
COLLEAGUES, THERE WAS A LOT
OF WORK LEFT TO DO AROUND THE
STADIUM DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE
COAST GUARD, INCLUDING
WASKA, INCLUDING THE STADIUM
DISTRICT,
INCLUDING
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.
I GUESS I'M QUITE TROUBLED
TO HEAR THAT WE'RE TAKING A
ONE- OFF
APPROACH WHEN THERE WAS A REAL
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SET UP LAST
YEAR.
AND TO BE KIND OF CAUGHT
OFF GUARD HERE ON THE DAIS LIKE
THIS
WITHOUT A DESIRE TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, AND
THIS IS THE SECOND WEEK IN A
ROW
I HAVE BEEN TROUBLED TO HEAR
THAT
BILLS THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO
--
IN ANY OTHER YEAR, UNDER
ANY OTHER COUNCIL PRESIDENT
WOULD
BE GOING TO THEIR COMMITTEE OF
JURISDICTION ARE NOT.
LAST WEEK YOU SHARED IT
WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE
ON THE ISSUE.
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, BUT THE LAND USE
CODE,
SECTION 23 OF OUR CODE, IS
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE.
SO I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT
THAT.
I AM A LITTLE TROUBLED TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT
WAY.
IT IS 3:55, AND WE
ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.