BUDGET COMMITTEE MEET WILL GO
COME TO ORDER.
I'M DAN STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> AND CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
IS EXCUSED UNTIL SHE ATTENDS.
THE MARINERS GAME GOING ON RIGHT
NOW WHICH IS WHY I'M WEARING
THIS HAT.
IT IS, UNFORTUNATELY,
TIED AT THE TOP OF THE SIXTH.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA WITH
THE POTENTIAL VOTE ON THE
PROPOSED
0. 1% SALES TAX TO FUND PUBLIC
SAFETY PROGRAMS.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE'LL MOVE INTO THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD,
JUST NOTING WITH THE PUBLIC
HEARING LAST WEEK WE'RE
DEFINITELY GOING
TO MAKE SOME CHANGES BETWEEN
NOW AND THE NEXT ONE TO
EXTEND THE TIME A LITTLE BIT.
I WILL SAY WE OVERINDEXED
WITH HOW MUCH PARTICIPATION WE
EXPECTED. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT
IT IS
THE LEAST ATTENDED PUBLIC
HEARING
I'VE EVER SEEN IN ALL OF
MY YEARS AROUND HERE.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO
OVERINDEX EITHER WHICH WAY, BUT
WE WILL BE
MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING.
WITH THAT SAID WE WILL OPEN
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE
TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA
AND WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE CURRENTLY, ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN
IN PERSON AND CHECKING ONLINE,
13
ONLINE, FOR A TOTAL
OF 20. SO WE ARE GOING TO, BY
THE RULES
THAT I PUT FORWARD AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS COMMITTEE, WE
WILL USE THE FORMULA TO MAKE
IT CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE
FOR
THOSE PARTICIPATING.
IF THERE ARE 30 OR FEWER PEOPLE
SIGNED UP EACH PERSON
WILL RECEIVE TWO MINUTES.
IF THERE ARE BETWEEN 30 AND 60
PEOPLE, FOLKS WILL RECEIVE ONE
MINUTE. IF THERE'S MORE THAN 60
PEOPLE
SIGNED UP THE CHAIR WILL
DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE
LENGTH OF TIME.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS PRESENT.
WITH THAT SAID, TODAY FOLKS
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
IF YOU NEED TO SPEAK LESS,
IT'S OKAY TO SPEAK
LESS. AND SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY THEY
REGISTERED.
I WILL START WITH THE IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST AND THEN
GO
ONLINE.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE CHIME,
THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS
LEFT.
SPEAKERS' MICROPHONES WILL BE
MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END
THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED
TIME.
SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS NOW OPEN.
WE HAVE SAM WOLF, SLOAN
WALCOTT, BRANDIE FLOOD,
CHRISTOPHER,
MICHELLE AND KYLE.
WITH THAT, COME ON UP.
AND IF YOU'RE ON DECK, JUST BE
READY TO GO.
AND AS YOU HEARD LAST NIGHT, YOU
CAN MOVE THAT MICROPHONE AROUND.
JUST MAKE SURE IT'S
CLOSE TO YOUR MOUTH.
WITH THAT, GOOD AFTERNOON, SAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
HELLO AGAIN.
MY NAME IS SAM ROLF.
MY ROLE IS THE SEATTLE
LEAD PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
IN 2023 LEAD WAS IDENTIFIED
BY THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND BY SPD POLICY AS THE
DEFAULT RESPONSE FOR VIOLATIONS
OF
THE PUBLIC USE ORDINANCE.
BECAUSE OF THAT, 75% OF
ENCOUNTERS BY SPD FOR PUBLIC
USE WERE REFERRED TO LEAD
CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
AND SUBSEQUENT RECOVERY
SERVICES.
DESPITE THIS LEAD'S BUDGET
HAS DECREASED IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS. WITH THE PROPOSED ADD
FROM THE
SALES TAX LEAD WILL BE RESTORED
TO ESSENTIALLY CITY FUNDING IN
2022 PLUS AN
INCREASE COMMENSURATE TO THESE
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC USE REFERRALS.
WHILE RECENT YEARS SAW
LEAD'S BUDGET DECREASE, LEAD'S
EFFICACY
HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AND
REPLICATED ELSEWHERE IN THE
STATE, IN THE COUNTRY.
THIS YEAR THE NATIONAL
OFFENSE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY
NAMED LEAD AS A PREFERRED
STRATEGY IN
2021 AND
2023 THE WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE PREFERRED LEAD
AS THE PREFERRED STRATEGY.
THE KING COUNTY AUDITOR
FOUND LEAD TO BE A PROGRAM THAT
IS
RIGOROUSLY EVALUATED AND --
RIGOROUSLY EVALUATED
AND COLLECTING DATA AND USE THAT
GO
DATA TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS
EVIDENCE- BASED FRAMEWORK TO BE
NEGLECTED HERE AT HOME IN
SEATTLE. WITH THE PROPOSED ADD
IN THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET, LEAD WILL
BE BACK ON TRACK TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE HIGH- PRIORITY REFERRALS
CITYWIDE.
THIS IS CRITICAL FOR OUR WORK
NOT ONLY WITH SPD AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT BUT WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE
CITY. WITHOUT THIS FUNDING, WE
WILL NEED TO REDUCE THE SCOPE OF
REFERRALS WE RECEIVE AND
THE PROJECTS
THAT WE SUPPORT. AND IN SOME
SCENARIOS MAY
NEED TO DISCHARGE CURRENT
CLIENTS.
THIS WORK IS CRITICAL TO THE
CITY'S ABILITY TO END CYCLES OF
HARM FOR PARTICIPANTS AND TO
COMMUNITIES.
AND I ASK AND URGE COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT THE LEAD ADD IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS SIMONE FOLLOWED BY
BRANDIE AND THEN CHRISTOPHER.
SIMONE, WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
THERE WE GO.
SO GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SIMONE WALCOTT AND
I'M A SENIOR LEAD PROJECT
MANAGER. LEAD IS A FORCE
MULTIPLIER
FOR OTHER CITY INVESTMENTS LIKE
THE AMBASSADOR TEAM, THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION AND
IT'S ALSO EFFECTIVE AT
INCREASING EFFECTIVENESS OF
ADDITIONAL SERVICES LIKE
LAKESIDE
AND VALLEY CITIES.
WE'RE SEEING
PROMISING COLLABORATION IN
PLACES LIKE
THE CID AND THE DOWNTOWN
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT WITH OUR
THIRD AVENUE
PROJECT PARTNERS.
LEAD BRINGS SOMETHING UNIQUE
TO THE ECOSYSTEM AND IT'S LONG-
TERM
CASE MANAGEMENT.
IT'S THE PIECE THAT
HELPS PEOPLE WITH THE HIGHEST
BARRIERS MAKE
USE OF THE RESOURCES AROUND
THEM.
A GREAT EXAMPLE IS THE RECENT
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT,
LOW BARRIER APPROACH WITH THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, HARBOR
VIEW'S DOWNTOWN CLINICS, THE
ORCA CENTER, REACH, CO-LEAD AND
WE DELIVER CARE.
THIS CLINIC ENABLED 33 PEOPLE TO
ACCESS LONG- ACTING INJECTABLE
MEDICATION TO TREAT OPIOID USE
DISORDER THIS PILOT
PROJECT SEEMS TO BE RESONATING
WITH THE
PARTICIPANTS AS THEY'RE
ALREADY BUZZING ABOUT IT AND
TALKING POSITIVELY ABOUT IT IN
THEIR
COMMUNITY.
NOTABLY THOSE WHO ACCESS THE
POP-UP CLINICS ARE WORKING
WITH LEAD CASE MANAGERS AND
THIS HIGHLIGHTS HOW LEAD CASE
MANAGERS ARE EFFECTIVE AT
CONNECTING FOLKS TO COMMUNITY
RESOURCES.
OUR 2025 QUARTER TWO EVALUATION
SHOWS 1,086 TO TREATMENT OVER
THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR.
THIS REPORT WILL BE ON
OUR WEBSITE SOON, BUT YOU CAN
LOOK AT OUR PREVIOUS EVALUATIONS
ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
AND I'M SURE, AS YOU ALL
KNOW, ADDICTION DOES NOT EXIST
IN A
VACUUM. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE
WORK ARE
ALSO DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS
AND THAT'S WHY LEAD TAKES
THAT HOLISTIC APPROACH AND MAKES
LONG- TERM INDIVIDUALIZED
PLANS TO HELP SUPPORT PEOPLE AND
IMPROVING THEIR OVERALL
QUALITY OF LIFE NOT JUST
ADDRESSING
SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.
AN EVALUATION FOUND 18
MONTHS AFTER ENROLLING IN
LEAD PARTICIPANTS WERE 89% MORE
LIKELY TO OBTAIN PERMANENT
HOUSING, 46% MORE LIKELY TO
BE ON THE EMPLOYMENT CONTINUUM
AND
33% MORE LIKELY --
[ INAUDIBLE ]
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS BRANDIE FOLLOWED
BY CHRISTOPHER AND MICHELLE.
BRANDIE, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS BRANDIE FLOOD.
I'M THE DIRECTOR
OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE FOR
EVERGREEN TREATMENT
SERVICES, THE REACH PROGRAM.
WE'RE ONE OF THE
LARGEST TREATMENT --
OPIOID ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN
SEATTLE MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE
STREETS AND INTO RECOVERY.
SO I WANT TO FIRST START OFF
BY JUST THANKING YOU FOR
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND YOUR
2% SALARY INCREASE THAT YOU GAVE
TO
HOMELESS SERVICE WORKERS
AND HOUSING WORKERS IN THE CITY
THAT HELPS US CONNECT PEOPLE
TO SHELTER AND HOUSING, AND I
HOPE -- I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT
OF THINGS TO MANAGE, BUT I
HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE WITH THE
FEDERAL CUTS STILL BE ABLE TO
KEEP SHELTERS AND HOUSING
AVAILABLE.
OUR TEAM WORKS ON THE
STREET EVERY DAY.
WE'RE VERY COMPLEX PEOPLE.
WE NEED SAFE PLACES FOR PEOPLE
TO MOVE ON TO.
SO I'M HERE TO ALSO JUST
SAY WE'RE ONE OF THE
LONGEST STANDING -- WE'RE THE
FIRST PROVIDER -- SERVICE
PROVIDERS FOR LEAD PROGRAM, A
LONG- STANDING PROVIDER.
I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, BUT I WANT
TO REITERATE WHY LONG- TERM
CASE MANAGEMENT WORKS.
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO
WALK PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR CARE,
THEIR CONTINUUM CARE MAKING
SUSTAINABLE CONNECTIONS,
NOT QUICK ONES, THROUGH THEIR
LEGAL
ISSUES, THROUGH THEIR HOUSING
ISSUES, THROUGH
THEIR HEALTH CARE ISSUES.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH ONE
TOUCH. YOU HAVE TO DO THAT WITH
PEOPLE WHO WILL
WALK ALONGSIDE THE WHOLE WAY TO
HAVE A
SUSTAINABLE CHANGE THIS IS WHY
LEAD HAS
HAD SO MANY GREAT OUTCOMES WITH
OUR LEAD PARTICIPANTS BECAUSE OF
THAT LONG- TERM CHANGE.
WE'RE ABLE TO NAVIGATE ALL
THOSE SYSTEMS AND REALLY BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR
LEAD PARTNERS AND SO, FOR
INSTANCE, IN RAINER BEACH WE'VE
BEEN ABLE
TO WORK WITH COLUMBIA
CITY BAKERY÷÷BAKERY SAFEWAY AND
WHEN WE HAD A SITUATION WITH ONE
OF OUR
VERY COMPLEX FOLKS WAS REALLY
SICK, A YOUNG AFRICAN
AMERICAN WOMAN STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE AND A MAJOR HEALTH
ISSUE, THEY WERE ABLE TO CALL US
AND NOT THE POLICE AND NOT
THE PARAMEDICS TO COME AND WORK
WITH HER, GET HER CONNECTED
AND ACTUALLY GET HER TO SURGERY
AND CONNECT HER TO HOUSING.
THAT HAPPENS INTEREST LONG-
TERM CASE MANAGEMENT.
THAT HAPPENS WITH BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU, BRANDIE.
UP NEXT IS CHRISTOPHER
FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE AND OSAMA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER.
I'M A SENIOR PROJECT
MANAGER WITH THE SEATTLE LEAD
PROGRAM
AND A RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE'S THIRD CITY COUNCIL
DISTRICT.
HERE TODAY COMMENTING IN
SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX AND
ASKING $5
MILLION TO RESTORE LEAD'S
FUNDING.
LEAD IS AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
PROSECUTORS BE A SOCIAL SERVICE
WORKERS COLLABORATING IN A WAY
THAT
MAKES A
DIFFERENCE. ON PAPER IT
SHOULDN'T WORK
BUT IT DOES.
A 2019 STUDY BY
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
SHOWED
LEAD PARTICIPANTS OUTPERFORMING
A COMPARISON GROUP IN
EVERY CATEGORY MEASURED.
JAIL BOOKINGS DOWN 38% VERSUS AN
INCREASE OF 67%.
DAYS IN JAIL DOWN 30% VERSUS AN
INCREASE OF 111%.
PRISON INCARCERATION DOWN 71%
VERSUS AN INCREASE OF 114%.
THE NUMBER OF MISDEMEANORS DOWN
22% VERSUS NO CHANGE.
THE NUMBER OF FELONIES DOWN
19% VERSUS AN INCREASE OF 166%.
A $2,100 DECREASING COST TO THE
LEGAL SYSTEM.
DOZENS OF GOLD
STANDARD EVALUATIONS AND
HUNDREDS OF
SUCCESS STORIES EXIST TO PROVE
LEAD'S POSITIVE IMPACT ON
PUBLIC SAFETY IN SEATTLE.
THERE'S A REASON LEAD HAS BEEN
REPLICATED IN 24
STATES AS WELL AS SOUTH AFRICA
AND THE UNITED
KINGDOM. LOW AND MIDDLE- INCOME
AMERICANS
ARE FACING A LOOMING HEALTH
CARE CRISIS AS NEXT YEAR'S
CHANGES
TO FEDERAL POLICY WILL CAUSE AN
ESTIMATED 75,000 RESIDENTS TO IS
ONE OF THE FEW STOP
GAPS CAPABLE OF ENSURING THIS
DOESN'T
HAPPEN.
HAVING ACCESS TO
THE COMPREHENSIVE LONG- TERM
CASE MANAGEMENT LEAD PROVIDES
WILL ALLOW OUR PARTICIPANTS TO
SUCCESSFULLY
NAVIGATE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES
THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE
A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON
THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES AND THE
PUBLIC
SAFETY OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
I URGE THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO BE A LEADER IN
SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT
AND
UPLIFT THOSE WHO ARE MOST
VULNERABLE.
PLEASE RESTORE LEAD'S FUNDING
THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF THE
SAFETY SALES TAX.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS MICHELLE FOLLOWED BY
OSIMA AND THEN KYLE.
I'M SORRY IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING
NAMES HERE.
ANYTIME YOU'RE READY, TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE McCLENDON
AND I AM ONE OF THE LEAD
PROJECT MANAGERS AND PROUD TO BE
A MANAGER FOR THE EAST AND
THE SOUTH
PRECINCT. I WANTED TO STATE THAT
LEAD IS
A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO THE
CITY'S POLICY RESPONSE TO
PUBLIC DRUG
USE, BUT OUR COLLABORATION WITH
SPD GOES WELL BEYOND SIMPLY
RECEIVING REFERRALS AND THE
EAST PRECINCT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE
MEET
MONTHLY WITH SPD TO
DISCUSS PRIORITY INDIVIDUALS
APPROACH THAT MAKES US MORE THAN
THE
SUM OF OUR PARTS.
A RECENT EXAMPLE FROM THE
EAST PRECINCT HIGHLIGHTS THE
UNIQUE
STRENGTH OF THIS PARTNERSHIP, A
STORY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
WITH SPD COLLABORATION.
THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS
CONSIDERED HIGH PRIORITY IN
THE CAPITOL HILL AREA WHICH IS
A HIGH PRIORITY FOR OUR
CASE MANAGERS AS WELL AS SPD.
I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL LATE
IN THE EVENING HOURS FROM
SPD LETTING ME KNOW, INFORMING
ME THE INDIVIDUAL THAT
WAS CONSIDERED A HIGH PRIORITY
AND SOMEONE WE WERE LOOKING FOR
TO COMPLETE AN INTAKE WITH
WAS ACTUALLY AT THE PRECINCT
ASKING
FOR LEAD.
THE LIEUTENANT STAYED WITH
THE INDIVIDUAL, AND WE WERE ABLE
TO
RESPOND TO THAT INDIVIDUAL
AND THE OFFICER WITHIN 15
MINUTES.
THEREFORE, THAT INTAKE WAS
ABLE TO BE COMPLETED.
THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS GIVEN
SUPPLIES AS WELL AS OTHER
RESOURCES AND PROVIDED WITH NEXT
STEPS. WITH LEAD'S ABILITY TO
WORK CLOSELY WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT
AND OTHER PARTNERS DEPEND ON
LONG-TERM TRUST- BASED
RELATIONSHIPS.
THIS COLLABORATION IS BUILT
ON TRUST AND LEAD'S UNIQUE
PROGRAM
DESIGN. WITHOUT THE 5 MILLION IN
CONTINUED FUNDING LEAD WOULD
HAVE TO SIGNIFICANTLY
LIMIT REFERRALS AND REDUCE THE
NUMBER
OF CLIENTS WE CAN SERVE.
THAT MEANS FEWER PEOPLE
WILL BENEFIT FROM THE KIND,
EFFECTIVE
TRUST- BASED COLLABORATION IN
THE CHANGING LIVES AND THE
CITY NEEDS THIS APPROACH NOW
MORE THAN EVER.
IT'S
SOMETHING THAT IS VERY MUCH
WORTH INVESTING IN.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS -- AND AM I SAYING
IT RIGHT -- OSAMA?
AND THEN KYLE.
WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> I AM A LEAD CASE MANAGER.
I'M A RESIDENT IN RAINIER
BEACH.
MY AREA FOR MY WORKWORK
LITTLE SAIGON.
TODAY I WANTED TO TELL YOU
ABOUT A CLIENT.
HE HAD BEEN ON THE STREET UNDER
THE HIGHWAY AND THEN ON
THE STREETS IN CHINATOWN FOR
ABOUT SEVEN YEARS UNTIL LAST
YEAR.
HE'D BEEN HOUSED AT THE
BUILDING AND HE HEARS VOICES.
HE EXPERIENCES WHAT HE
CHARACTERIZES AS DIVINE
INTERVENTION.
IT MAKES IT REALLY HARD FOR HIM
TO TELL THE REALITY FROM
WHAT HIS VOICE IS SAYING.
BECAUSE OF THAT, HE'S ISOLATED.
HE DOESN'T -- HE'S UNABLE
TO TRUST RESIDENTS, UNABLE TO
TRUST CASE MANAGERS ON SITE.
YESTERDAY SOMETHING
WONDERFUL HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
THE CASE MANAGER AND I
WERE ABLE TO SIT DOWN FOR ABOUT
AN
HOUR VALIDATING HIS CONCERNS,
HIS
ANXIETY, THE VOICES HE'S
HEARING, AND HE OPENED UP
AND DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE HIS
STABILITY AND STAYING WHERE
HE'S
AT.
AND SO I WANTED TO SHOW YOU
WE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THAT,
ARE SO THEY
CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND UP NEXT WE HAVE KYLE
AND THEN WE WILL TRANSFER ONTO
ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENTERS
ONLINE WHO ARE NOT PRESENT ARE
DEVIN, WILL HIRSCH AND JOHN
AARONFELD.
IF ANYONE KNOWS THEM, LET THEM
KNOW THEY'RE NOT ON DECK.
>> I'M KYLE FROM DISTRICT 5.
I APOLOGIZE AS I'M NEW TO CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AND MY STATEMENT
MAY HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF IN
YESTERDAY'S MEETING AS IT'S
MORE ABOUT GENERAL BUDGET
NEGOTIATION.
I'VE NEVER BEEN HOMELESS
BUT HAVE COME CLOSE.
I COULDN'T WORK, COULDN'T
SEE, COULDN'T WALK, AND IT WAS
JUST LUCK AND PRIVILEGE THAT
KEPT
ME OFF THE STREETS.
JUST THAT GLIMPSE OF TRUE
POVERTY NEARLY DROVE ME
NUTS, AND WHAT I LEARNED FROM
THAT TIME WAS THAT THE MORE
DESPERATE YOU ARE, THE LESS
THINGS
LIKE CONSEQUENCES FACTOR INTO
YOUR DECISION MAKING.
SURVIVAL ALWAYS TAKES
PRIORITY AND DESPERATION MAKES
EVERYTHING ABOUT SURVIVAL.
THUS, IN MY VIEW, THE BEST
WAY TO HELP PUBLIC SAFETY IS
TO MINIMIZE DESPERATION, TAKING
CARE OF OUR CITIZENS' BASIC
MATERIAL NEEDS WILL
MINIMIZE CRIME FAR MORE THAN THE
THREAT OF PUNISHMENT WILL.
SO I'M SUPPORTING THE SEATTLE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET AND I'M
HOPING THAT YOU WILL HELP
PRIORITIZE
HELPING PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, KYLE.
WE'RE GOING TO NOW TRANSFER
INTO
ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
I'LL READ EVERYONE'S NAME AND
IT WILL HIRSCH IS
PRESENT BUT JUST SIGNED UP
TWICE, AND SO I'LL READ
THE NAMES AND THEN GIVE YOU A
GAME
UPDATE.
SO WE HAVE JOSH GARCIA, WILL
HIRSCH, HALLE WILLIS, DENNIS
PEREZ, ANGEL GUEVA, DANIELLE
HAMMOND, DAVID HAYNES, BRANDIE
McNEILL, IVAN NELSON,
CRYSTAL ERICKSON AND JOHN
AARONFELD.
EVERYONE IS PRESENT EXCEPT FOR
DEVIN.
AND WITH THAT WE WILL TRANSFER
IN AND GAME UPDATE, BAD NEWS
HERE, THE OTHER TEAM HAS
SCORED TWO RUNS AND SO WE'RE
NOW
DOWN 3-5.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH.
SO, WITH THAT, JOSH
GARCIA, WELCOME.
I SEE YOU'RE HERE. STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE.
YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
WELCOME.
>> HELLO, HELLO.
MY NAME IS JOSH GARCIA.
I WORK WITHIN THE LEAD PROGRAM
AND EVERGREEN TREATMENT
SERVICES FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR SUPPORT
SUPPORTING LEAD FUNDING AS
OUTLINED IN
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
SECOND, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
LEAD'S SUCCESS WITH MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH
SOME
FOLKS.
A 25-YEAR- OLD QUEER MAN I HAD
STRUGGLE WITH THE LANGUAGE
BARRIER.
WE HELPED NAVIGATE THROUGH
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT.
HE FEARED THE COURT SYSTEM
BUT BRAVED IT WITH SUPPORT OF
CASE MANAGEMENT AND LEAD
ADVOCATE.
EVERY TIME WE ENTERED INTO
THE COURT HIS HANDS WOULD
SWEAT PROFUSELY AND HE
WOULD PHYSICALLY START SHAKING
BECAUSE OF HIS LANGUAGE BARRIER
AND
THE IMPLICATIONS OF BEING IN
TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.
ULTIMATELY HIS CASE WAS
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE AND HE
MOVED TO BE A PRODUCTIVE
SEATTLEITE.
HE HAS A WASHINGTON STATE I.D.
HE HAS RECENTLY STARTED WORKING
AND IS PURSUING HIS VISA
TO FURTHER MAKE HIMSELF THIS HIS
HOME. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED
INCIDENT BUT ONE THAT WITH
SUPPORT
AND CAN BE AND HAS BEEN
DUPLICATED AS÷÷AS YOU HEAR FROM
MY
OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THE LINE.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART
OF THIS AND JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO BE
HEARD IN THIS
ROOM. GO MARINERS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOSH.
UP NEXT WE HAVE WILL HIRSCH, WHO
I SEE HAS
BEEN PROMOTED. WILL, STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE.
WILL, YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
TAKE IT AWAY AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME
TODAY.
MY NAME IS WILL HIRSCH.
I WORK FOR THE LEAD PROGRAM AS
AN ADVOCATE AND HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH THIS PROGRAM
FOR CLOSE TO FOUR YEARS NOW.
FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING
FUNDING AS OUTLINED IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND TO
ALSO GIVING US
THE OPPORTUNITY AND TIME TO
PROVIDE
SOME OF THE STORIES AND
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS
SPECIAL
ABOUT THE LEAD PROGRAM. SO I
CAME TO WASHINGTON
STATE ABOUT FOUR YEARS
AGO SPECIFICALLY TO JOIN THE
LEAD
PROGRAM. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED
WITH
THE CLIENT CENTER CARE AND
HARM REDUCTION APPROACH THE
LEAD PROGRAM PROMOTED.
I'VE BEEN VERY INTERESTED
IN WORKING WITH THE POPULATION
THE
LEAD PROGRAM SUPPORTS AND HAVE
SEEN WHAT IS REALLY
SPECIAL ABOUT IT SINCE COMING
HERE.
I HAVE WORKED AS A CASE
MANAGER AND A STREET OUTREACH
WORKER, NOW AS A LEGAL SYSTEM
ADVOCATE, AND HAVE GOTTEN TO
KNOW
MANY CLIENTS IN MY TIME WORKING
HERE.
I HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN
HOW CLIENTS HAVE TRIED TO
MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
FOR THEMSELVES OR HAVE
HAD SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY
IN MAINTAINING THOSE CHANGES
OVER
TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS
SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE LEAD
PROGRAM IS OUR ABILITY TO
PROVIDE
A CONNECTING THREAD FOR CLIENTS
AND TO WALK WITH THEM AS THEY
GO THROUGH THESE LARGE CHANGES.
I'VE DONE THINGS AS CASE
MANAGER
SUCH AS HELP
CLIENTS TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO
PLACES AS FAR AS
MONROE÷÷ IN ORDER TO ATTEND
DETOX AND THEN COME BACK TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IN ORDER TO
ATTEND INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT
SERVICES AND TO GET CONNECTED
TO HOUSING AND THROUGHOUT ALL OF
THESE
CHANGES CLIENTS OFTEN HAVE
MANY DIFFERENT PROVIDERS AND
VERY
DISORIENTING AND
VERY CHALLENGING FOR THEM TO
MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY AS THEY
MAKE THESE
CHANGES.
I LOVE THAT OUR PROGRAM
SUPPORTS CLIENTS, MEET THEM
WHERE THEY
ARE AT AND WALK THROUGH THEIR
STRUGGLES WITH THEM AND
HELPS PROVIDE THAT CONSISTENCY
AS THEY
RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY FROM
TREATMENT. I LOVE THAT THIS
PROGRAM CAN
GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO LEAN
ON AS THEY TRY TO MAKE THESE
CHANGES.
COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, WILL.
UP NEXT IS HALLE WILLIS FOLLOWED
BY DENISE -- OR DENNIS AND
ANGEL.
HALLE, YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS HALLE WILLIS AND I'M
THE POLICY MANAGER AT THE
COALITION OF HOMELESSNESS.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES COALITION
AND LIVE IN DISTRICT 5.
I'M COMMENTING ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND SALES TAX.
OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFER
WHEN EVERYONE CAN MAKE THEIR
BASIC
NEED. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX
FUNDING SHOULD BE USED TO
PREVENT INTERACTIONS
WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM BY SUPPORTING SOLUTIONS,
HOMELESSNESS, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
MORE.
THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER AS
WE FACE THE IMMINENT THREAT
OF MASSIVE FEDERAL HOUSING CUTS
AND THE LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDS
FOR
S.N.A.P. , MEDICAID AND MORE
THAT SEATTLE RESIDENTS DEPEND
ON.
PLEASE ALLOCATE A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF THIS NEW TAX TO
BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES ON
HOUSING, SHELTER AND
HUMAN SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AND
ENSURE THAT THIS TAX BENEFITS
THE
LOW-INCOME PEOPLE WHO WILL
BE HARDEST HIT BY A SALES TAX
DECREASE. THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS
TO LEVERAGE
THIS SALES TAX AND ALL
OTHER LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES TO
PROTECT OUR OWN.
THERE ARE TOUGH CHOICES AHEAD
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THIS
BUDGET
SEASON. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND MY APOLOGIES FOR THE
NEXT SPEAKER IF IT'S DENISE OR
DENNIS.
IT IS MY FAULT FOR NOT
PRONOUNCING YOUR NAME BETTER.
I SEE YOU'RE HERE, SO STAR 6 TO
UNMUTE.
DENISE OR DENNIS, MY APOLOGIES
FOR NOT PRONOUNCING CORRECTLY.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DENISE AND
I WANT TO START BY THANKING YOU
FOR
PRIORITIZING THE PUBLIC
SAFETY SALES TAX AND FOR
RECOGNIZING THAT HOW WE APPROACH
PUBLIC
SAFETY MATTERS JUST AS MUCH
AS THE GOAL ITSELF.
AS THE CO- PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR
CO- LEAD, I BELIEVE THIS
COUNCIL IS LOOKING IN THE RIGHT
PLACE
FOR BETTER INTEGRATION OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WITHIN
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE.
THAT'S WHERE TRUE CHANGE
HAPPENS.
CO- LEAD DOES WHAT
FIRST RESPONDERS CANNOT DO.
WE STAY WITH PEOPLE FOR THE LONG
JOURNEY.
WE WALK ALONGSIDE INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE LIVED THROUGH YEARS,
EVEN DECADES OF
TRAUMA SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY
MOVE
FROM SURVIVING, HEALING,
AND ULTIMATELY THRIVING.
LAST NIGHT SEVERAL
CO-LEAD PARTICIPANTS SPOKE
BEFORE YOU
AND SHARED HOW THIS PROGRAM
HAS CHANGED THEIR LIVES.
ONE PERSON COMPLETED
TREATMENT AND NOW IS IN
COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
PLAYING SOCCER AND
REBUILDING HIS LIFE.
DOMINICK SHARED THAT CO-
LEAD GAVE HIM A SECOND CHANCE, A
SAFE
PLACE TO SLEEP, FREE FROM
THE VIOLENCE HE ONCE KNEW AND
A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE.
ANOTHER SAID AFTER ENTERING
CO-LEAD WITH A SERIOUS MEDICAL
ISSUE, A PROVIDER TREATS
THEM WITH DIGNITY, SOMETHING
THEY SAID THEY'VE NEVER
EXPERIENCED
BEFORE.
THESE STORIES REMIND
US WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CARE
REPLACES
PUNISHMENT, WHEN COMMUNITY
REPLACES ISOLATION AND WHEN WE
BELIEVE IN PEOPLE'S CAPACITY TO
HEAL. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR YOUR
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP
AND FOR SUPPORTING LEAD AND CO-
LEAD AS WE HELP OUR INDIVIDUALS
FIND
SAFETY, RECOVERY AND A PLACE TO
CALL HOME.
>> THANK YOU, DENISE.
UP NEXT WE HAVE ANGEL RIVERA,
DAVID AND DANIEL.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
TAKE IT AWAY WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME
TODAY. I WANTED TO THANK YOU
FOR SUPPORTING LEAD FUNDING AS
OUTLINED IN THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET AND ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT DOING SO IS INSTRUMENTAL
IN CONTINUING THE GREAT WORK
OUR OFFICERS ARE DOING AND
WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE
WORK WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS. I WANTED TO TAKE THE
TIME I HAD
WITH YOU TO ILLUSTRATE JUST
HOW EFFECTIVE THE CASE
MANAGEMENT MODEL THAT LEAD
UTILIZES CAN
BE ON OUR CLIENTS.
I'VE BEEN WITH LEAD FOR ABOUT A
YEAR AS SUPERVISOR AND I REFLECT
ON MY EXPERIENCES OVER THE LAST
YEAR AND THINK OF ONE CLIENT IN
PARTICULAR. WE WILL CALL HIM
JOHN FOR THE
PURPOSE OF TELLING THE STORY.
JOHN I WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE
WITH WHEN HE WAS FIRST REFERRED
TO THE LEAD PROGRAM.
WHEN HE CAME INTO OUR
OFFICE HE WAS TERRIFIED TO SPEAK
WITH
ANYONE, SPOKE IN A LOW-
TONED VOICE AND FOUND IT
DIFFICULT TO
MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH
ANYONE BECAUSE OF THE THINGS HE
HAD
EXPERIENCED WHILE HE WAS
UNHOUSED.
WITH TIME HE BECAME
MORE TRUSTING OF ME AND HIS
ASSIGNED CASE MANAGER, SPEAKING
MORE
AND MORE AND EVENTUALLY COMING
IN
TO SEE HOW WE WERE DOING AND
BEGAN
ASKING FOR SUPPLIES HE
WAS LACKING IN A MORE CONFIDENT
WAY.
HE BECAME MORE
COMFORTABLE DISCLOSING HE WANTED
TO BEGIN SERVICES AND WANTED TO
MANAGE
HIS SUBSTANCE USE TO IMPROVE
HIS MENTAL HEALTH AND BEGIN
SEEKING HOUSING RESOURCES
THROUGH OUR
OFFICE.
A CASE
MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH
HIM, HAS HAD AN
INTAKE AT AN EMERGENCY
SHELTER AND HAS HAD A REFERRAL
FOR
A HOUSING UNIT AS OF THIS WEEK
ALL WHILE WORKING ON HIS LEGAL
GOALS.
JOHN FREQUENTLY SHARES HOW THE
LONG- TERM SUPPORT AND
SERVICES WE PROVIDED HIM HAVE
ALLOWED
HIM TO GET TO WHERE HE WANTS TO
BE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HE STILL
HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BUT FEEL
CONFIDENT HE CAN CONTINUE
TO ACHIEVE HIS GOALS WITH THE
SUPPORT THE LEAD PROGRAM OFFERS
HIM.
CLIENTS HAVE A MINOR OR MAJOR
SETBACK IN THEIR JOURNEYS,
THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS THEY
FEEL SHAME OR ASK CASE
MANAGERS IF THEY'RE UPSET WITH
THEM
FOR NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH
OR FAILING ON THEM, SHOWING THE
RELATIONSHIP AND THE WORK THAT
WE DO IS NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ANGEL.
UP NEXT IS DEVIN FOLLOWED
BY DANIELLE AND THEN DAVID
HAYNES.
DEVIN, I SEE YOU'VE BEEN
PROMOTED. WELCOME.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
THERE YOU ARE.
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE, TAKE IT
AWAY. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND THANK
YOU TO
THE WHOLE COUNCIL FOR HAVING US
TODAY.
THE TEAM HAS REALLY COME OUT.
IT'S BEEN REALLY INCREDIBLE TO
HEAR THE STORIES SHARED SO FAR.
MY NAME IS DEVIN AND I WORK AT
THE LEAD PROGRAM AT
EVERGREEN TREATMENT SERVICES.
I'VE ACTUALLY HAD THE CHANCE TO
BE ON OUR TEAM AT
EVERGREEN SINCE 2014.
I THOUGHT I WAS JUST GOING
TO COME WORK HERE FOR A SHORT
TIME,
AND NOW OVER THE LAST FOUR
YEARS I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MANAGE OUR LEAD PROGRAM AND
TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
BEST STEWARDING OPERATIONS AND
BEST
PRACTICES AND STAFFING FOR ALL
1,200 OF OUR ENROLLED
LEAD CLIENTS AND OUR PROGRAM
HERE AT
REACH.
IT'S BEEN A REAL HONOR.
I WANT TO JUST UPLIFT
THE STORIES SHARED TODAY ABOUT
HOW
LONG- TERM CASE MANAGEMENT
REALLY IS CRITICAL FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY AND TO INCREASE OUTCOMES
FOR INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY.
THE STORIES THAT ANGEL AND JOSH
TOLD, THAT OSAMA SPOKE TO,
THAT WILL SHARED SPEAK TO
ME ABOUT THE UNIQUENESS OF A
PROGRAM
LIKE OURS, AND I WANT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THE
LEAD BUDGET AS OUTLINED IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL THAT
WOULD ALLOW US TO BRING OUR
PROGRAM
BACK TO SCALE.
THANK YOU, SAM AND
CHRISTOPHER AND SIMONE, FOR
HIGHLIGHTING
HOW WELL LOVED THIS PROGRAM IS,
OUR BUDGET HAS NOT MET OUR
NEEDS FORFOR THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS.
SO IT'S EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO BRING
OUR COMMUNITY WORK BACK TO
SCALE.
THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN AN
INTERVENTION THAT IS
RESEARCH PROVEN AND THAT SERVES
THE
HARDEST÷÷ TO SERVE IN OUR
COMMUNITY IN A COLLABORATIVE
WAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, DEVIN.
FOLLOWING DEVIN IS DANIELLE
HAMMOND, DAVID HAYNES AND
THEN BRANDIE McNEILL.
DANIELLE, YOU'RE ALREADY OFF
MUTE.
WELCOME.
TAKE IT AWAY AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE.
>> THANKS.
MY NAME IS DANIELLE HAMMOND
AND I'M A SCREENING AND
OUTREACH
COORDINATOR AT THE REACH
AND LEAD PROGRAM.
I GREW UP OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE
AND I NOW LIVE IN THE EASTLAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'VE WORKED IN SOCIAL WORK
IN SEATTLE FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.
IN MY ROLE CURRENTLY I
RESPOND TO CALLS FROM SPD
OFFICERS WHO MAKE REFERRALS TO
LEAD.
WE RESPOND TO CALLS 24 HOURS A
DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK INCLUDING
BANK HOLIDAYS.
OFFICERS CAN MAKE TWO KINDS
OF REFERRALS TO LEAD.
OFFICERS CAN CHOOSE TO MAKE
A REFERRAL OR THEY CAN MAKE
A SOCIAL CONTACT REFERRAL
WHICH DOESN'T REQUIRE AN
ARREST.
BOTH PATHWAYS ALLOW THE
OFFICER TO DECIDE IF THE
INDIVIDUAL COULD BENEFIT FROM
INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT.
AFTER A REFERRAL IS MADE
DURING A PHONE CALL, I TRAVEL TO
WORK
TO GET THEM STARTED IF
INTERESTED.
I OUTREACH PEOPLE ON THE
STREETS, IN THE JAILS, IN THE
HOSPITALS.
I ALSO ASSESS INDIVIDUALS I
ENCOUNTER MIGHT BENEFIT
FROM LEAD AND WORK CLOSELY TO
DELIVER CARE TO DETERMINE NEXT
STEPS.
WHEN I STARTED WORKING WITH ONE
OF MY CLIENTS IN THE SPRING OF
2023, HE HAD WARRANTS,
LEGAL OBLIGATIONS OUT OF
SEATTLE, KIRKLAND AND KING
COUNTY
DISTRICT COURT AND SNOHOMISH.
I GOT TO WORK WITH HIM ON
IN- TREATMENT GET A FULL-
TIME JOB, GRADUATE, BECOME THE
HOUSE MANAGER AT HIS SOBER
LIVING, MOVE OUT OF THE SOBER
LIVING INTO A SOBER HOUSE, MOVE
OUT THAT HAVE SPOT AND INTO
AN APARTMENT OF HIS OWN AND WORK
TO REGAIN CUSTODY OF HIS -YEAR-
OLD
SON.
HE DIDN'T GET ENROLLED
UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2020.
HE DIDN'T GO INTO TREATMENT
UNTIL SPRING OF 2023.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE TAKES TIME.
IF YOU MAKE THAT CHOICE TO
CHANGE, IF YOU KNOW THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU
NAVIGATE
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
REACH AND LEAD HAS A POSITIVE
REPUTATION AMONG THOSE WHO --
INDIVIDUALIZED, CREATIVE,
CULTURALLY INFORMED SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DANIELLE.
UP
NEXT IS DAVID HAYNES. MR.
HAYNES, WELCOME.
I SEE YOU HAVE BEEN PROMOTED.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
TAKE IT AWAY AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU.
HOW MUCH DOES THE EXECUTIVES
OF LEAD MAKE WHO DON'T DO THE
OUTREACH?
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF
OUTREACH THAT WANT TO SKIM OFF
SELF-DESTRUCTIVES.
I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE HOW
MANY CAPACITY UNITS OF HOUSING
AND HOTELS REPEAT OFFENDERS
FROM LEAD GET BEFORE
INNOCENT, HOUSELESS CITIZENS WHO
HAVE
BEEN DISCRIMINATED BY THE
OUTREACH
CASE MANAGERS LOOKING FOR
SELF- DESTRUCTIVE, MORE
PROFITABLE, LESS
ACCOUNTABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO THEY
SKIM OFF OF
IN THEIR HALF- HEARTED EFFORTS?
WE NEED LIKE A TRUST PASS
FOR ALL THE LEAD RECIPIENTS
WHO START THEIR PATH IN
AN AUTHORIZED ENCAMPMENT
IF THEY'RE BOTHERING PEOPLE IN
THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST
ONES TO GET HOUSING
WHEN THERE ARE INNOCENTS WHO ARE
NOT
BOTHERING PEOPLE.
AND, ALSO, IS THIS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY TAX THAT HAS TO DO
WITH COPYCAT IN BOSTON AND
BALTIMORE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO
CLAIM
THAT NONPROFITS POLITICALLY
CONNECTED
TO COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ARE
GOING
TO QUELL THE GUN SHOOTING
BY LITERALLY USING TAX DOLLARS
TO
PAY GUN- TOTING CRIMINAL
GANG MEMBERS WHO ARE
RIVALLING AGAINST OTHER GANG
MEMBERS
WHO SHOT ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS.
AND AS LONG AS THAT
PERSON DOESN'T RETALIATE, THEY
GET PAID TO RELOCATE.
AND IF THEY'RE GOING
AROUND CAUSING TROUBLE,
THEY'RE LITERALLY PAID TWO
MONTHS'
RENT AND GIVEN FREE FOOD SO
THAT THEY -- AS LONG AS THEY
PROMISE
NOT TO GO ROB SOMEBODY.
AND THIS IS COMING OUT OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY TAX YOUYOU
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DISCUSSING
THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THE
DETAILS BECAUSE WE HAVE AN
IGNOBLE DIRECTOR WHEN IT COMES
TO THE
BUDGET, THE CENTRAL -- EXCUSE
ME, I DIDN'T MEAN THE BUDGET.
I MEANT THE BUDGET DIRECTOR
AND THE STAFF THAT SEEMS TO BE
COACHED ON
ONLY OFFERING GENERALITIES
INSTEAD
OF EXTENDING PRIORITIES
THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ESTABLISHED
YET
THE TAX HAS TO GO GO THROUGH.
WE KNOW THERE'S BAD POLICIES
OUT OF THE BUDGET THAT KEEPS
RUNNING
INTERFERENCE FOR REPEAT
INDIVIDUALS TAKING UP MOST OF
THE CAPACITY.
YOU AREN'T MAKING ANY EFFORTS
--
>> THANK YOU, MR. HAYNES.
UP NEXT IS BRANDIE.
BRANDIE, WELCOME.
I SEE YOU'RE HERE AND OFF MUTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS BRANDIE McNEILL
AND I AM A DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT
PURPOSE DIGNITY ACTION OR PDA.
I HELP MANAGE THE LEAD PROGRAM.
I'M CALLING TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF USING THE PUBLIC SAFETY TAX
TO
RESTORE LEAD FUNDING.
BY DOING SO YOU WILL MAXIMIZE
THE REACH OF LEAD AND
THEREBY MAXIMIZE MEDICAID
UTILIZATION
WHERE APPROPRIATE FOR LEAD
PARTICIPANTS.
LEAD IS, FIRST AND FOREMOST,
A PUBLIC SAFETY FRAMEWORK,
IT SUPPORTS PEOPLE WHO
INTERACT WITH
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DUE
TO EXTREME
POVERTY, SUBSTANCE USE AND
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH NEEDS.
GETTING THEM ON A PATH
OF RECOVERY AND REDUCING THEIR
ENCOUNTERS WITH THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT OVERLAP
BETWEEN THOSE WHO QUALIFY
FOR LEAD AND THOSE WHO
CONSISTENTLY
INTERACT WITH EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES.
WHEN THOSE FOLKS LACKED
HEALTH INSURANCE EACH AMBULANCE
RIDE
AND EACH EMERGENCY ROOM
VISIT COSTS OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM
AND OUR CITY MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
IN 2027 MEDICAID REQUIREMENTS
WILL CHANGE TO IMPOSE WORK
REQUIREMENTS.
A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO
QUALIFY FOR LEAD ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR MEDICAID AND MANY WILL ALSO
QUALIFY FOR EXEMPTIONS TO THOSE
WORK REQUIREMENTS.
WITHOUT LONG- TERM
CASE MANAGEMENT THOSE
EXPERIENCING EXTREME POVERTY
WITH
UNMET BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS
WILL
HAVE VIRTUALLY NO CHANCE OF
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING
EXEMPTION PAPERWORK ON THEIR
OWN. THE PROCESS WILL LIKELY
BE COMPLEX AND CONFUSING,
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION MANY
WON'T
HAVE AND WILL HAVE TO BE
REPEATED
AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS.
LEAD PARTICIPANTS, HOWEVER,
WILL HAVE A CASE MANAGER WALKING
ALONGSIDE THEM, HITTING THE
STREET, FINDING THEM
WHEREVER THEY ARE IN SIX MONTHS
AND
SITTING DOWN OVER
MULTIPLE SESSIONS IF NECESSARY
TO COMPLETE THE PAPERWORK AND
THEN OVER MONTHS AND YEARS TEACH
THAT PERSON TO COMPLETE THE
PAPERWORK
ON THEIR OWN. WHEN THAT LEAD
PARTICIPANT VISITS AN EMERGENCY
ROOM OR
IS CONNECTED TO AN EMERGENCY
CARE
PROVIDER, THEY WILL FREE UP
CITY DOLLARS FOR OTHER USES.
SIMPLY PUT, THE MORE PEOPLE WHO
CAN TAKE PART IN LEAD, THE
MORE PEOPLE WHO CAN RECEIVE
SUPPORT
IN ENROLLING AND
MAINTAINING MEDICAID ENROLLMENT
WHERE
ELIGIBLE.
IT NOT ONLY ADDRESSES
PUBLIC SAFETY BUT MAXIMIZES USE
OF
MEDICAID RESOURCES AND FOR
THOSE REASONS I URGE YOU TO
ADOPT THE
MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> THANK YOU, BRANDIE.
UP NEXT IS YVONNE NELSON, AND
JOHN.
WELCOME.
I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
TODAY, COUNCIL, AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR -- LEAD
IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET.
I WANTED TO REITERATE
HOW IMPORTANT LONG- TERM
CASE MANAGEMENT IS AND HOW
NECESSARY IT IS BY SHARING A
STORY OF A
CLIENT THAT I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE PLEASURE
TO FOLLOW AROUND FOR AN ENTIRE
YEAR BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO
ACCEPT ANY SERVICES.
THEY WERE BEING MOVED AROUND
FROM ONE STREET CORNER TO
ANOTHER, FROM ONE TENT TO
ANOTHER, AND AFTER
APPROACHING HER EVERY TIME,
FIRST
SHE WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING AND
THEN
AS TIME WENT ON AS SHE SAW I WAS
CONSISTENT, SHE BEGAN TO BUILD
TRUST WITH ME
AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP HER GET
INTO SHELTER, FROM
SHELTER, HOUSING.
I JUST BELIEVE STRONGLY IN
WHAT LEAD STANDS FOR AND HOW WE
BUILT RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER
ENTITIES WORKING IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR AND OTHER
PLACES
IN SEATTLE WHERE LEAD PERFORMS.
ALSO, THERE'S ANOTHER CLIENT
THAT WE CONNECTED TO HEALTH
CARE THAT CONTINUES TO BE ON
THIRD
AVENUE, AND SHE IS ABLE TO
CONNECT WITH ME, TO CONNECT
WITH NURSES IN THE REACH OFFICE
IN
MARKHAM.
ALL THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE
NECESSARY TO HELP MOVE OUR
CLIENTS IN A BETTER WAY AND IT
TAKES TIME TO DO THAT.
IT TAKES CONSISTENCY, AND
IT TAKES FOLKS TO
BELIEVE IN WHAT
WE ARE DOING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND UP NEXT IS CRYSTAL
ERICKSON FOLLOWED BY JOHN
AARONFELD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CRYSTAL ERICKSON,
AND I'VE BEEN WITH THE CO-
LEAD PROGRAM SINCE IT BEGAN
DURING
COVID. I STARTED AS A CASE
MANAGER
WITH CO-LEAD.
TODAY I HELP MANAGE CO- LEAD, A
TO LEAD, AND
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE LIVES
IT'S CHANGED.
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
PARTS OF CO- LEAD IS OUR AFTER
CARE
PHASE.
THE GOLDEN THREADS THAT CARRY
PEOPLE FROM SHELTER INTO
HOUSING AND HELPS THEM STAY
THERE.
FOR 12 MONTHS WE WALK ALONGSIDE
PARTICIPANTS,
PROVIDING INTENTIONAL CASE
MANAGEMENT, CONNECTING THEM TO
TREATMENT,
MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND COMMUNITY
SUPPORT.
THIS YEAR ALONE I'VE
WATCHED PEOPLE WHO ONCE
STRUGGLED ON
THE STREETS ENTER RECOVERY
THROUGH
PROGRAMS LIKE LAKESIDE,
RECONNECT WITH FAMILY AND BUILD
STABLE, HOPEFUL LIVES.
THE IMPACT OF LEAD IS ALL AROUND
US. WHEN YOU ENJOY MOVIE OR
MUSIC AT
COURTHOUSE PARKS, CATCH
A
MARINERS GAME, LOOK AROUND.
THOSE FACES LOOK
DIFFERENT BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO
ONCE
LIVED THERE ARE BUILDING
NEW BEGINNINGS THANKS TO LOAD
AND
CO-LEAD.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE
SALES TAX SO WE CAN CONTINUE
TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS THRIVE.
>> THANK YOU, CRYSTAL.
AND UP LAST BUT NOT LEAST JOHN
AARONFELD.
JOHN, WELCOME.
I SEE YOU'RE HERE.
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
>> HI, COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME.
I WANT TO BRIEFLY ECHO LEAD
DIRECTOR WOLF'S COMMENTS AS
WELL
AS THOSE COLLEAGUES.
I RUN THE ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE TEAM OUT OF SFD HEALTH
ONE WHERE WITH MANY OF THE
SAME
CLIENTS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IS WHOM
TO
REFER THESE CLIENTS TO ONCE
THE INITIAL CRISIS IS
STABILIZED.
WE AND PROGRAMS LIKE
OURS STRUGGLE TO IDENTIFY
DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL WORK WITH
OUR
HIGHEST NEED CLIENTS TO HELP
THEM NAVIGATE IN EXTREMELY
COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT HEALTH
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A STRONG AND
PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
LEAD
TEAM AND COORDINATE WITH THEM ON
THE
STRATEGIC AND CLIENT LEVEL.
I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO
MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR THIS VITAL
PROGRAM WHOSE IMPACT IS FELT
VERY
PROFOUNDLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU DO FOR OUR CITY.
SEEING AS WE HAVE NO
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS REMOTELY OR
PHYSICALLY
PRESENT, WE WILL END THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AND MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT
AGENDA
ITEM, COME UP TO THE TABLE.
WILL THE CLERK
READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> 121083 RELATING TO TAXATION,
IMPOSING A LOCAL SALES AND
USE TAX TO FUND INVESTMENTS IN
CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR
DISCUSSION AND A POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> A GAME UPDATE AS FOLKS
ARE GETTING READY, WE ARE DOWN,
8- 3,
SEATTLE MARINERS
AGAINST THE OTHER TEAM, IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE
EIGHTH. SO WE'VE GOT ANOTHER
INNING TO
GO.
WITH THAT WE'VE GOT DIRECTOR
BEN
NOBLE AND TOM MIKESELL OF
CENTRAL STAFF.
WE HAVE HAD THIS BILL
NOW BRIEFED THIS IS THE SECOND
FORMAL TIME IN THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.
IN ADDITION TO THIS
A RESOLUTION SPONSORING THIS TAX
WHERE WE
HAD TWO PRESENTATIONS AND A
FULL COUNCIL VOTE, SO THIS COULD
BE THE FIFTH TIME OR THE SECOND
TIME, DEPENDING ON HOW
YOU'RE COUNTING THIS ITEM
BEFORE US.
THIS IS SCHEDULED FOR A
VOTE THIS AFTERNOON, SO,
COLLEAGUES, PLEASE DO ASK YOUR
QUESTIONS ONCE THE PRESENTATION
IS
THROUGH.
I WILL ASK TO HOLD QUESTIONS
UNTIL THE END OF THEIR
PRESENTATION, MORE OR LESS WITH
SOME
NEW INFORMATION. WITH THAT, OVER
TO YOU, DIRECTOR
NOBLE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL IMMEDIATELY TURN
THIS OVER TO TOM, WALK YOU
THROUGH
A PRESENTATION WHICH WILL BE
VERY
FAMILIAR, LARGELY WHAT
WE PRESENTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
BUT
THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL
TO FRAME WHATEVER QUESTIONS AND
HAVE.
THE POINT IS MADE IN
THIS POWER POINT, BUT JUST TO
LAY OUT MAYBE
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
POLICY ISSUES OR DYNAMICS IS
THAT
THE BILL THAT YOU ARE LOOKING
AT TODAY WOULD AUTHORIZE
THE CITY TO IMPOSE THIS TAX AND
THE
TAX, AS TOM WILL EXPLAIN, HAS
SOMEWHAT LIMITED USES
AS TECHNICAL LEVEL BUT BECAUSE
OF USES TO SUPPLANT IT IS
GENERAL FUND FUND RESOURCE.
AND WHAT THE TAX DOES
IT AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO IMPOSE
IT.
IT DOES NOT SPEND THE MONEY.
THERE ARE NO APPROPRIATIONS MADE
IN THIS BILL.
THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT THE
MAYOR HAS PROPOSED WITH WITH
TO THIS NEW MONEY FOR 2026
ARE CONTAINED IN THE BUDGET, AND
SO
YOUR DISCUSSIONS
AND DELIBERATIONS ABOUT HOW TO
USE
THE MONEY MAKES SENSE IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET.
AGAIN, THIS BILL JUST SAYS
YOU CAN IMPOSE THE TAX AND WE'RE
HERE AND TOM WILL DESCRIBE
WHY IT IS YOU ARE HERE TODAY TO
TAKE THAT VOTE POTENTIALLY
RATHER THAN LATER IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS AS WELL.
SO, WITH THAT, TOM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE.
TOM MIKESELL WITH CENTRAL STAFF.
AS MENTIONED, THIS WILL BE
A LARGELY FAMILIAR PRESENTATION.
THERE ARE A FEW NEW
ADDITIONS THAT I'LL POINT OUT
ALONG THE
WAY. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX
BEFORE YOU TODAY, BACKGROUND IN
TERMS OF HOW THIS CAME TO BE IN
JULY
OF THIS YEAR.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED
CHAPTER 30, 2025 THAT PROVIDES
THE OPTION FOR THE CITY,
SALES TAX FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
PURPOSES.
AS ESTIMATED BY THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE CONFIRMED BY THE
FORECAST OFFICE THAT WOULD
GENERATE
$39 MILLION IN 2026.
THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT IS, IN
FACT, ALLOCATED IN THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU.
THIS COUNCIL BILL 121083
DOES NOT ACTUALLY SPEND THE
MACHINY THAT'S IN THE
APPROPRIATIONS
BILL. GIVEN THE POINT OF WHY
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW
AS OPPOSED TO WITH OTHER BUDGET
LEGISLATION THAT WILL COME LATER
IN YOUR SCHEDULE IS BECAUSE
OF THE DEPARTMENT REVENUE --
STATE DEPARTMENT OF
REVENUE IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINES
WHICH
REQUIRE THE TAX TO BE
APPROVED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 18th
IN
ORDER TO GET A FULL YEAR WORTH
OF
REVENUE. IF IT IS DELAYED PAST
THAT
POINT IN TIME WE WOULD ONLY GET
THREE- QUARTERS WORTH OF THAT
$39
MILLION ESTIMATE. SO ONE FINAL
POINT SEATTLE
CANNOT CREATE ANY OF ITS OWN
DEDUCTIONS, EXEMPTIONS
OR CREDITS AGAINST THIS TAX
BECAUSE
IT IS ACTUALLY A STATE TAX
THAT WE ARE GIVEN THE OPTION TO
EXERCISE.
I'M GOING TO MOVE INTO THE
POLICIES, WELL KNOWN THAT A
SALES TAX IS A REGRESSIVE
TAX BECAUSE IT IS PAID BY
EVERYONE WHO MAKES PURCHASES IN
THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, IRRESPECTIVE
OF THEIR INCOME
LEVELS. THE CURRENT TAX RATE
ON PURCHASES IS 10. 35% IN THE
CITY.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE KING
COUNTY DECISION TO EXERCISE THIS
SLICE
OF AUTHORITY WHICH IS A 0. 1%
TAX AND THEN THIS
PARTICULAR PROPOSAL WOULD
INCREASE THAT TO
10. 55% EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1st
OF THIS YEAR.
ONE THING TO POINT OUT IS THAT
MOST FOOD FOR HOME CONSUMPTION
IS
EXEMPT. THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE
OF THIS
TAX, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $25 ON
$25,000 WORTH OF PURCHASES.
AGAIN, NOT A VERY LARGE AMOUNT
IN TERMS OF ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.
THAT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT
YOUR INCOME LEVEL IS.
AND THEN ONE FINAL THING KIND OF
IN THE LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY
IN GENERAL ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC
SITUATION, WE HAVE AN
OCTOBER FORECAST AS YOU ALL KNOW
THAT WILL COME, I BELIEVE,
OCTOBER
20th, FROM THE OFFICE OF
CBO, INDICATIONS TO THE EXTENT
THAT
WE HAVE REAL- TIME DATA FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT --
APOLOGIES. I'M
NOT UP TO DATE -- HERE WE GO.
NOT UP TO DATE ON -- THE BALANCE
OF THE UNCERTAINTY WILL BE
NEGATIVE.
NEXT SELT OF POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS, THE UPDATED
PLAN FROM THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE SHOWS A $140 MILLION
DEFICITDEFICIT
THAT'S AN INCREASE FROM
THE DEFICIT THAT
WE SAW LAST YEAR FOR THE SAME
YEAR.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HIGH
TER DEFICIT IN THE CONTEXT OF
THIS
ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
AND THEN FINALLY THE
STATE LEGISLATION DOES NOT HAVE
THE SUPPLANTING CLAUSE.
IT NEEDS TO BE SPENT FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY IN THE EXISTING BUDGET OR
NEW APPROPRIATIONS.
WE'RE FURTHER ALONG THAN WE WERE
BEFORE.
AND THEN $15 MILLION THAT
IS SUPPLANTING APPROPRIATIONS
IN THE BUDGET AND WITH THAT $15
MILLION IS USED IN THETHE
BUDGET.
>> TOM, I'M GOING TO TAKE
A PERSONAL POINT OF ORDER.
THIS IS THE END OF YOUR
PRESENTATION?
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE TURN
OFF THE PROJECTOR SO, FOLKS,
IF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE ARE
USING EITHER OF THE TVs ON THE
SIDE
WILL BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
WITH THAT -- SORRY TO
INTERRUPT YOU AT THE END.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO
COMPLETE
WITH?
>> THAT'S IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AS
CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, I'LL CALL ON YOU
FIRST.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED
FOR
A WHILE NOW AND FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE AND IN
MY CONVERSATION WITH OTHERS
TO INCLUDE OUR BUDGET CHAIR,
HEY, HOW DOES THIS PLAY OUT IN
TERMS OF OUR ECONOMICS, HOW DOES
IT PLAY OUT IN REFORM, A FISCAL
STATUS AND EVEN GOOD GOVERNANCE
IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE IN
DOING THIS FOR THE REASONS THAT
ARE UNDERPINNED BY SOUND, GOOD
GOVERNANCE.
I THINK WE'VE REACHED THAT
POINT.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THE
OCTOBER FORECAST COMING OUT.
BUT WE KNOW THERE'S HEAD
WINDS IN OUR ECONOMY.
WE KNOW THERE'S DIFFERENT
PIECES
THAT HAVE SHOWN UP IN DIFFERENT
WAYS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS
YEAR.
TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND
IT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN THE
RECITALS WHERE IT NOTED PUBLIC
SAFETY CONTINUES TO BE A TOP
PRIORITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE
AND THAT THIS TAX WILL BE FOR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSES.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE
BEEN SPEAKING TO DURING THE
COURSE
OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS BUT ALSO
THE FULL COUNCIL IS
THE NEED FOR FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL
JUSTICE
SYSTEM. IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT
WE WE AND PART THAT HAVE GOES TO
THE
FUNDING. AN AREA IS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND
BASICALLY
THIS IS WHAT THIS BILL IS
LOOKING TO
DO AND ADDRESS THIS CHANGE
WHICH IS A STRUCTURAL REFORM
WITHIN
THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE OF
THINGS.
THE PROPOSED REVENUE INVESTMENTS
TO INCLUDE TREATMENT AND I
THANK THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR
HER
ADVOCACY.
AS WAS REPEATED YESTERDAY IN THE
KING COUNTY, NO LESS.
YOU CAN'T SUCCEED IN PUBLIC
SAFETY IF YOU CAN'T SUCCEED
IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND A
KEY PIECE OF THIS AND GOING BACK
TO THE IDEA OF THE
SCENE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY IS
THE PLACE THAT
LEAD, THE PDA'S LEAD PROGRAM IS
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THAT,
IMPORTANT FOR THE
CASE MANAGEMENT
PERSPECTIVE, IMPORTANT FROM THE
FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
IF WE'RE LOOKING TO SUPPORT
DIVERSION, A, WE HAVE TO
HAVE THE OFFICERS DOING THE
DIVERSION BUT THAT PROCESS,
THAT FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL ASPECT
TO
GET THEM FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH A
POLICE OFFICER TO POTENTIALLY
TREATMENT, IF IT'S ADDICTION,
IF
IT WARRANTS THAT.
AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE.
YOU NEED A FUNCTIONAL
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM AND WITH
WHAT'S
HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL
SIDE WITH THREATS TO
MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND THE LIKE,
THE CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LIKES TO PUSH
AND TO DOCUMENT THE STATUS
OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS IT
RELATES
TO POTENTIAL CHANGES IN
THE MEDICAID REQUIREMENTS.
THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT TO
BE AN÷÷AN INVESTMENT THAT PAYS
FOR ITSELF BECAUSE IF THE
MEDICAID PIECE FALLS APART THAT
IS MAJOR
PROBLEMS FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
BUT THEN IN TURN FOR THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE
REASONS WHY BEHIND THE PROPOSED
REVENUE
INVESTMENTS AND DROP
UNDERNEATH THAT THE IDEA OF A
FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM AND THE
IDEA IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SEPARATELY THERE'S THE PIECE
ABOUT ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE TAKING IN THE LESSONS
LEARNED
OVER THE LAST HALF DECADE OR
LONGER DECADES WITH THE CARE
DEPARTMENT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING
TO DO THERE AND TO ENSURE
THAT THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
PIECE
IS SUCCESSFUL MOVING FORWARD
BUT ALSO IN ELEMENTS LIKE FIRE.
NOW FIRE -- IT'S THE
RECRUITS BUT I HIGHLIGHT HEALTH
99,
HEALTH 1 AND THOSE PIECES AS
WELL.
AND YOU MENTIONED, MR.
MIKESELL, WHAT KING COUNTY HAS
DONE.
THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL HAS
DONE. I WANT TO NOTE,
COLLEAGUES,
THAT I'VE BEEN IN A LOT
OF CONVERSATIONS LATELY WITH
MY KING COUNTY COUNCIL
COUNTERPART AND I WILL CONTINUE
TO DO THAT.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
PUBLIC SAFETY GENERALLY BUT
ALSO TRANSIT SAFETY LIKE THE
WORK
THAT WE DID WITH CHAIR SAKA
AND HIS TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE
KING COUNTY METRO, ALL THESE
PIECES
ARE OUT THERE.
WE NEED TO BE WORKING
TOGETHER SO WE'RE IN SYNC AND
ARE
NOT DUPLICATIVE AND WORK WITH
OUR
COUNTERPARTS TO ENSURE
THAT WE'RE BEING SMART WITH THE
MONEY
AND NOT BEING DUPLICATIVE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND
SO THANK YOU
AGAIN. CHAIR, I KNOW THAT WE'RE
DOWN
3-8 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
WITH ONE OUT, SO A RALLY HAT.
I'M PUTTING ON MY MARINERS HAT
ON, TOO, TO INSPIRE A RALLY.
I'M GETTING SOME LOOKS BUT
CHAIR STRAUSS IS BEHIND ME ON
THIS
EFFORT.
RALLY CAP TIME ON THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
WITH THAT, JAVIER BAEZ
GROUNDS OUT TO FORCE AN OUT IT
THIRD
BASEMAN EUGENIO SUAREZ.
I CAN'T READ THAT FAST.
SO WE HAVE ANOTHER OUT WHILE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WAS
TALKING.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT SPONSORED
A RESOLUTION EARLIER THIS
YEAR EXPLAINING HOW YOU BELIEVED
WE SHOULD SPEND THIS FUNDING.
THIS IS NOT AN AUTHORIZATION TO
FUND THESE DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS THAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED
BUTBUT IT
CONNECTED TO THIS BILL.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS TO SPEAK ON
IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER
OF THAT RESOLUTION, BUT YOU
MIGHT SAY I HAD A CRYSTAL BALL
BACK IN
JUNE OR JULY WHEN I THOUGHT,
OKAY, WE'VE GOT THIS
LEGISLATURE
HAD AUTHORIZED THE NEW SOURCE
OF REVENUE AND I BET YOU THE
MAYOR IS GOING TO USE IT.
AND SO BASICALLY
ANTICIPATING THAT I HAVE BEEN
MEETING
WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THE PDA
AND ETS
FOR A COUPLE MONTHS PRIOR TO
HAMMER OUT A PACKAGE OF
INVESTMENTS THAT MADE SENSE
TO MOVE FROM A PROGRAM HERE AND
THERE TO HAVE A
MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO
HELP PEOPLE GET ON A PATH
OF RECOVERY
AND HAVE SOME PLACE TO GO
AFTERWARDS.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON
RECOVERY BASED
HOUSING. THE POINT IS, YES, THIS
PACKAGE, I'M SPEAKING ONLY TO
THE
LEAD AND THE TREATMENT
COMPONENTS
OF THESE INVESTMENTS, BUT THIS
IS -- THESE WERE -- THIS
LIST WAS ESTABLISHED A LONG TIME
AGO IN COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE
LEADERS AND ALSO
SERVICE PROVIDERS
THAT FALL FAR OUTSIDE THE
HOUSEHOLD NAMES.
I'M TALKING ABOUT HOPE AND
CHANCE AND WE HEART SEATTLE AND
AND -- ANYWAY.
THE RESOLUTION THAT CAME
FORWARD IN THE SUMMER WAS
PRESENTED
A LIST OF INTERVENTIONS THAT
WOULD BE GOOD FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT
ANY KIND
OF DIRECTION ON WHICH ONE IS
BEST TO CHOOSE.
THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO
RECOVERY.
ANYWAY, THE INVESTMENTS THAT --
LET ME JUST GET MORE REAL HERE.
THE INVESTMENTS THIS --
THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE
POSSIBLE BY PASSING THIS, IF WE
DO, THIS
LEGISLATION, SEEM LIKE A
NO-BRAINER RIGHT NOW BUT, IN
FACT, THEY'RE FAIRLY
EXTRAORDINARY. AND I'LL TELL
YOU WHY.
IT WASN'T SO LONG AGO, THREE
YEARS, IN FACT, THAT I HAD
TO LITERALLY BEG THE BUDGET
CHAIR
TO INCLUDE FUNDING
FOR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
PEOPLE WEREN'T READY TO
TAKE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE
OBVIOUS STEP TO BREAK THE CYCLE
OF
HOMELESSNESS,
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND OFTEN JAIL
AND DEATH.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
SOMETHING ABOUT THE PAY AS YOU
GO
FUNDING MODEL WHEREBY
CASEWORKERS WOULD REFER CLIENTS
WHO WERE
READY TO GO CLING TO GO A
RESIDENTIAL DRUG TREATMENT
CENTER OR
FACILITY, AND IT COULD
BE NONPROFIT OR PRIVATE,
WHICH WOULD IN TURN INVOICE THE
CITY ONCE TREATMENT IS COMPLETE.
WHAT I AM DESCRIBING NOW IS THAT
PILOT PROGRAM THAT
WAS SUCCESSFUL THE FOLLOWING
YEAR.
BUT I DO THINK THERE WERE
SOME BARRIERS BECAUSE THAT WAS
A NOVEL FUNDING MODEL.
BUT I, HAVEN'T SPENT A MONTH
IN TREATMENT MYSELF, WAS
ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED THERE WAS NO
PUBLIC
FUNDING, NOT FROM THE CITY
NOR FROM THE COUNTY FOR
COMPREHENSIVE ON- DEMAND
TREATMENT.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I
WAS JUST -- WHEN I TOOK OFFICE
IN
2022.
I THOUGHT THAT'S REALLY
CHANGE CONSIDERING THE GRAVITY
OF
THE FENTANYL CRISIS THAT WE SEE
ON OUR STREETS ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S WHERE THAT IDEA
CAME FROM AND THE ON- DEMAND
PART IS
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
TAKES A
REALLY LONG TIME TO GET A
MEDICAID-COVERED BED IN A
TREATMENT CENTER IN WHICH TIME
IT COULD VERY WELL BE TOO LATE.
SO, ANYWAY, FOR TOO LONG
WE'VE WATCHED PEOPLE SUFFERING
FROM
UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS
AND ALSO SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER DETERIORATE IN OUR
STREETS AND
MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LESS
SAFE AND SO NOW IT'S TIME TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
I RECOGNIZE VERY CLEARLY I
HAVE SOME COGNITIVE DISSONANCE
THIS
IS A REGRESSIVE TAX.
I DO -- I AM MINDFUL OF THAT,
AND I THINK THE BENEFITS THAT
WILL -- THAT WILL BE
GENERATED FROM THIS PACKAGE IS
FAR
OUT, FAR ECLIPSES THE
COST THERE BECAUSE÷÷ IT IS
DEFINITELY SOMETHING DRIVING SO
MANY OF
OUR OTHER CHALLENGES.
SO I REALLY THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, CHAIR, FOR HAVING THIS IN
YOUR
COMMITTEE, THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE, SO WE CAN GET
THIS DONE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE
RESOURCES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO
BEGIN HELPING OUR PEOPLE.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
TOM, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK
YOU TO CLARIFY A COUPLE
POINTS FROM YOUR PRESENTATION,
AND I WILL
SAY, I'M GOING TO SEPARATE OUT
THE USES, POTENTIAL
USES, BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE
BUDGET AND AS PART
OF THE BUDGET DELIBERATION, THE
USES CONTEMPLATED COULD
BE COVERED IN OTHER WAYS IF WE
SO CHOOSE.
I'M GOING TO SEPARATE THAT
OUT AND JUST REALLY TALK ABOUT
THE
SALES TAX, THE ACTUAL MECHANISM
OF DOING THETHE
ADDITIONAL SALES TAX.
SO ON PAGE ONE YOU HAVE HERE IN
YOUR PRESENTATION THAT SEATTLE
CANNOT CREATE ITS OWN
DEDUCTIONS, EXEMPTIONS OR
CREDITS AGAINST THIS TAX
SO THERE ARE LIMITED POLICY
CHOICES AND HOW IT IS
IMPLEMENTED.
DID THE STATE CONTEMPLATE, DO
YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY PASSED THIS
TAX WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WOULD MAKE CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS?
AND I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE.
IN NEW YORK CITY, FOR INSTANCE,
THE SALES TAX IS EXEMPTED FOR
ITEMS THAT ARE $100 AND
BELOW BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO
GET
TO ENSURING LOW- INCOME FOLKS
AREN'T HAVING TO PAY THIS, THE
SALES
TAX, TRYING TO GIVE, YOU KNOW,
A CONSIDERATION TO LOW- INCOME
FOLKS.
AND I WOULD HAVE WANTED TO
SEE THIS HERE.
I KNOW YOU AND I TALKED IT BUT I
WANT TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT
THE STATE --
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I
DON'T HAVE THE FULL LEGISLATIVE
RECORD AT MY FINGERTIPS, BUT I
DODO
THAT EXISTING RELIEF, SO
KEY AMONGST THAT IS IS THE
EXEMPTION
FOR FOOD FOR AT HOME
CONSUMPTION CARRIES THROUGH TO
THIS AS
WELL, SO IN THAT REGARD, AT
LEAST THAT
FEATURE THAT KIND OF HELPS
THOSE WHO HAVE LOWER INCOMES IS
STILL PRESENT IN THE EXISTING
BASE
SALES TAX AND WITH THE
INCREMENT, BUT I DON'T KNOW
WHAT
THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT PERHAPS
ADDING ADDITIONAL CARVEOUTS
BUT THERE WERE NOT ANY ADDED,
SIMPLY 0.1% INCREMENT.
>> AND I COULD ADD THAT I THINK
IT'S A SEPARATE ACTION AT THE
STATE LEGISLATURE THIS PAST
SESSION. THEY DID -- THE
STATE LEGISLATURE DID REDEFINE
THE SETS OF ACTIVITIES AND
GOODS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THE
SALES
TAX.
IN PARTICULAR EXTENDED TO
INCLUDE SOME LEVEL OF SERVICES.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAD THE
DISCUSSION AT THE SAME TIME,
BUT THERE WAS POLICY MADE WITH
REGARD TO WHAT THE SALES
TAX APPLIES THIS PAST
SESSION AT THE SAME TIME THIS
ADDITIONAL
TAXING AUTHORITY WAS APPROVED.
A THANK YOU, BEN.
THEY EXTEND WHAT HAD IT
COULD APPLY TO BUT DIDN'T GIVE
ANY
ALLOWANCES. FOR INSTANCE, I'LL
SAY FOLKS,
LOW- INCOME FOLKS, DON'T
ONLY HAVE TO PAPE FOR GROCERIES,
THEY
HAVE TO BUY SHOES FOR
THEIR CHILDREN AND COATS IN THE
WINTER AND THIS APPLIES TO A LOT
OF
THINGS LOW INCOME FOLKS HAVE
TO DEAL FOR AND IT DOESN'T
EXEMPT IF YOU GET A SANDWICH AT
THE SANDWICH SHOP, ET CETERA.
THOSE THINGS ARE SUBJECT TO THE
SALES TAX.
SO IT'S THE ITEMS YOU MIGHT
BUY AT THE GROCERY STORE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANT
TO HIT ON IS ON PAGE TWO WHEN
YOU -- THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE
EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK
LIKE.
THERE IS ANOTHER CONSIDERATION
WHEN YOU SAY, LIKE, IT WOULD ADD
$25 TO A 25 K PURCHASE.
WHAT IS IN CONSIDERATION IS WE
HAVE OTHER TAXES WE'VE LEVIED.
LAST YEAR TRANSPORTATION
LEVY, THIS YEAR OTHER LEVIES AND
NEXT
YEAR A PUBLIC LIBRARY LEVY.
KING COUNTY DID PASS A 0. 1%
SALES TAX THAT WILL START IN
JANUARY.
A LOT OF LOW- INCOME FOLKS ARE
THOSE TAXES
GET PASSED ON TO THE LOW- INCOME
FOLKS AS PART OF THEIR RENTS,
FOR INSTANCE. I KNOW THE STATE
HAS DONE
SOME ALLOWANCE FOR
INCREASEDINCREASED RENT
A LOT OF THIS STUFF DOES GET
PASSED ON TO LOW- INCOME FOLKS
AS WELL.
ALL THAT TO SAY I APPRECIATE --
LIKE, EVERY TIME WE DO A TAX,
WE SAY, OH, IT'S ONLY GOING TO
GO
UP A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.
THAT MEANS A COUPLE DOLLARS.
THEN ONCE YOU ADD ALL THAT
UP, ALL THE THINGS WE'RE
LEVYING, IT IS MORE SUBSTANTIVE
OR
SUBSTANTIAL THAN IT MAY APPEAR
FOR JUST TALKING ABOUT THE
ONE TAX IN TIME, SO I WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
CHAIR, I'M ASSUMING THAT AFTER
WE TALK WE'RE GOING TO
GO STRAIGHT TO THE VOTE, SO
I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE SOME
COMMENTS
ABOUT IN GENERAL.
COLLEAGUES, I'M STRUGGLING,
AS YOU CAN HEAR, WITH THIS THE
SALES TAX PROPOSAL,
ESSENTIALLY TAXING POOR PEOPLE
TO
HELP POOR
PEOPLE AND THIS DOESN'T SEEM
RIGHT TO ME.
AS YOU KNOW SALES TAX IS THE
MOST REGRESSIVE TAX AND THIS
PROPOSAL COMES ON THE HEELS OF,
AS I SAID EARLIER, KING
COUNTY ALREADY IMPOSING AN
INCREASE
BASICALLY, PREEMPTED US IN THIS
0. 1% SALES TAX INCREASE.
BRINGING SEATTLE'S TAX TO 10.
45
AND THEN, OF COURSE, 10. 55 IF
THIS SHOULD PASS.
SEATTLE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST
SALES TAXES IN THE
COUNTRY, HIGHER THAN NEW YORK
CITY,
CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO AND
BOSTON AND EVEN IN THE
OTHER EIGHT STATES THAT DON'T
HAVE
AN INCOME TAX LIKE WASHINGTON
STATE, IT IS HIGHER
THAN CITIES LIKE AUSTIN,
NASHVILLE AND
MIAMI.
WE CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH
A HUGE AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM
IN SEATTLE AND THIS
JUST CONTRIBUTES TO IT, AND,
HONESTLY, THIS PROPOSAL
IS TAKING A PLACE OF WHAT WE
KEEP
SAYING IS NEEDED, A HARD LOOK AT
THE CITY'S BUDGET.
WITH ALL THOSE COMMENTS, I WILL
SAY I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS
SALES TAX INCREASE.
IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO
ME
BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF TAXING
POOR PEOPLE.
THIS HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR
LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS AND THIS
AGE OF SEATTLE IS JUST GETTING
LESS AND LESS AFFORDABLE, IT
DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU'D LIKE
TO SPEAK, NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT
YOUR HAND UP.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
YOU ARE -- HANG ON REAL QUICK.
WE HAVE TO TURN
ON THE PROJECTOR MOMENTARILY.
TRY AGAIN.
>> HELLO?
>> THERE WE ARE.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING
THERE WITH YOU IN PERSON TODAY.
I AM SICK AND IT IS
BUDGET SEASON AND I FIGURED I
WOULD
SPARE YOU ALL FROM HAVING
TO DEAL WITH THIS.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE
QUESTIONS FOR THIS, PRIMARILY
JUST
ONE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL LOSS OF OUR FEDERAL
CONTINUUM OF CARE DOLLARS THAT
KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED WHO MAY
OTHERWISE BECOME HOMELESS.
A QUESTION FOR CENTRAL
STAFF, CAN THIS BE USED TO BACK
FILL
ANY FEDERAL CUTS TO CONTINUUM
OF CARE PROGRAMS SUCH AS
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS OR
OTHER
HOMELESS SERVICES?
ADDITIONALLY COULD THIS FUNDING
BE USED FOR GENDER- BASED
VIOLENCE SERVICES?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
AS I INDICATED IN THE
PRESENTATION THE
ACTUAL LEGISLATION DOES NOT HAVE
A
NONSUPPLANTATION CLAUSE.
ESSENTIALLY HOW THIS WORKS,
SO LONG AS WE HAVE ELIGIBLE
FUNDING WITHIN THE CITY BUDGET,
$1. 9
BILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND,
WHICH WE DO, THAT WE
COULD ASSIGN THIS TAX TO, THAT
WOULD
FREE UP
MONEY. IN FACT, THAT IS
HAPPENING CURRENTLY IN THIS
PROPOSAL.
THE CARE DEPARTMENT IS
FULLY FUNDED IN THE BUDGET, THAT
RESOURCE THEN GOES TO SOME OTHER
ADS AND, AGAIN, THIS WILL
BE COVERED IN MORE DETAIL IN THE
GENERAL FUND BALANCING
PRESENTATION.
THE BIGGER ISSUE IS ALL OF
THIS MONEY IS FULLY DEPLOYED IN
THE
BUDGET, ADDING SOME
NEW ALLOCATION WOULD REQUIRE
SOME
CUT IN THE PROPOSAL THAT'S
BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR ME A GENERAL POINT TO
MAKE THE DISTINCTION
BETWEEN AUTHORIZING THE TAX AND
THE USE
OF THE TAX, DISTINCT AND
IMPORTANTLY DISTINCT GIVEN THE
DEFICIT THAT'S FORECAST GOING
FORWARD.
IT WILL ALWAYS MAKE IT SIMPLER
TO BALANCE IF YOU HAVE MORE
REVENUE AND THIS REVENUE
IS
UNRESTRAINED IN TERMS OF ITS
USES.
HOW THE BUDGET AND FOR WHAT
BUT IT IS A REVENUE TOOL AND
THAT
IF YOU NEED TO CLOSE THE DEFICIT
THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DO THAT.
ONE IS TO INCREASE REVENUE AND
THE OTHER IS TO MAKE CUTS.
THIS WOULD BE A TOOL ON THAT
FRONT.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR THAT
ANSWER.
AND, CHAIR, DO YOU PREFER IF WE
MAKE FINAL REMARKS NOW?
>> YEAH, TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
COLLEAGUES, AS WE'VE NOW
DISCUSSED THIS PROPOSED
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX IS A
TOOL THAT
OUR STATE LAWMAKERS IN
OLYMPIA HAVE GIVEN TO UTILIZE TO
BALANCE OUR BUDGETS.
WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE
GIVING JURISDICTION OF THIS TOOL
BECAUSE THE NEED IS SO
DIRE, IT IS DISAPPOINTING AND
FRUSTRATING
THE OPTION THEY HAVE GIVEN US
IS ONE OF THE MOST REGRESSIVE
OPTIONS, A SALES TAX.
IT WILL PLACE
THE BURDEN ON OUR COMMUNITY WHO
ARE WORKING CLASS
AND LOW INCOME.
I CAN APPRECIATE OUR DISCUSSION
HERE TODAY AND ALSO VOICE MY
APPRECIATE FOR THE
INITIAL PROPOSAL FROM THE
EXECUTIVE
ON THE USE OF THESE
FUNDS PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF
FUNDING
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, OUR CARE
TEAM, TO FUNDING THESE
PROGRAMS IS IMPORTANT WHILE ALSO
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BALANCE SOME
OF OUR MOST TROUBLING
POTENTIAL LOSSES IN FEDERAL
FUNDING
CUTS AND I CAN SAY ALL THESE
THINGS WHILE NOTING THAT I WANT
TO
URGE THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY TO
WORK TOGETHER ON MORE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS AND
I WOULD LIKE
TO URGE THIS BODY TO WORK
WITH MY OFFICE TO WORK IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE THIS
YEAR TO CONTINUE LIFTING
RESTRICTIONS
ON
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR MORE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS.
I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THAT GOAL FOR
THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
WITH THAT I YIELD MY TIME. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUE, ANY OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE, I'LL MAKE MY
REMARKS AND THEN I'LL ALSO
GIVE YOU THE UNFORTUNATE GAME
UPDATE
THAT WE WILL BE GOING TO GAME
FIVE.
SO WE WILL HAVE A MARINERS GAME
FRIDAY, GAMEGAME FIVE.
ON THIS TAX BEFORE US OVER
THE PAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BEEN
IN A
PERIOD OF SLOWER GROWTH
AND HIGHER INFLATION AS COMPARED
TO THE PREVIOUS DECADE THAT WAS
HIGH GROWTH, LOW INFLATION.
WE HAVE SEEN INCREASING NEEDS
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND,
UNFORTUNATELY, STATE LAW
BANS MANY PROGRESSIVE TAX
OPTIONS.
WE SAW THIS AS WE HAD
THE REVENUE STABILIZATION WORK
GROUP
PROVIDE A NUMBER
OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND HATCH OF
THEM WERE NOT LEGAL TO
IMPLEMENT.
THE STATE HAS ALSO CAPPED
OUR TRADITIONAL TAX REVENUES IN
A
WAY THAT GROWS SLOWER THAN
INFLATION.
WITH OUR GROWTH PER YEAR THAT
IS WELL BELOW INFLATION EVERY
SINGLE YEAR.
THIS YEAR THE STATE
LEGISLATURE
GAVE CITIES AND COUNTIES IN
WASHINGTON VERY FEW OPTIONS TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
SERVICES WITHOUT MAKING OUR
BUDGET
INSOLVENT. THIS PROPOSED SALES
TAX WAS THE
ONLY SUBSTANTIVE OPTION
PROVIDED. I AM NO FAN OF
REGRESSIVE TAXES
LIKE THIS AND WE NEED OUR
STATE LAWMAKERS TO DO MORE AND
TO PROVIDE US MORE OPTIONS AND
TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT THEY
HAVE
CAUSED.
AT THE SAME TIME THIS TAX IS
SLATED TO GO TOWARDS
EXPANDING PUBLIC SAFETY
RESPONSES, ADDICTION TREATMENT,
AND
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THESE ARE WORTHWHILE INVESTMENTS
ONLY POSSIBLE WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
I WILL BE VOTING YES TODAY
AND OUR STATE HAS A LOT OF WORK
TO DO TO MAKE IT LESS
REGRESSIVE.
I WILL CONTINUE MAKING
CHANGES EVERY YEAR IN OFFICE.
IT WAS UNFORTUNATE WHAT
THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR
HAD MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON
THE TABLE AND THIS IS THE ONLY
ONE
THAT MADE IT OUT, THAT PASSED.
COLLEAGUES, WITH THAT,
IF THERE ARE NO FINAL COMMENTS,
I BELIEVE
WE STILL NEED TO MOVE, AND
THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WE
CAN DISCUSS AN ITEM WITHOUT
MOVING AND SECONDING IT.
SO AT THIS TIME I WILL
MOVE COUNCIL BILL 121083.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 121083.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON 121083.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>>
NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON?
>> YEA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
OH, JUST A SECOND,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I NEED TO CHANGE --
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> YES.
8 IN FAVOR, 1
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION PASSES.
AND IN ORDER TO MEET THE
UPCOMING STATE DEADLINES
AS PRESENTED IN THE
PRESENTATION JUST A MOMENT AGO
THE
COUNCIL MUST PASS THIS AND THE
MAYOR MUST SIGN IT BEFORE
OCTOBER
18th FOR COLLECTIONS TO BEGIN IN
QUARTER ONE OF 2026.
AGAIN, AS THE PRESENTATION
STATED, IF WE DO NOT MEET
THIS DEADLINE IT WILL BE $9
MILLION LESS THAT WE HAVE TO
ALLOCATE
TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
SAID ANOTHER WAY, IF WE TOOK
A 1% HAIRCUT ON EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE WOULD
HAVE $10 MILLION.
IF WE
EXCLUDED PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENTS, WE WOULD HAVE $5
MILLION.
SO THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY
REPRESENTS TAKING A 2% SKIM OFF
EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT
OTHER THAN PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENTS.
THAT'S THE GRAVITY OF WHAT
WE'RE DEAL WITH RIGHT
NOW. WITH THAT, I RECOMMEND THAT
COUNCIL BILL 121083 BE SENT
TO THE OCTOBER 14 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
IS THERE
ANY OBJECTION TO SENDING THIS
BILL TO THE OCTOBER
14 CITY COUNCIL MEETING?
HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND
THAT COUNCIL BILL 121083 BE SENT
TO THE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14,
SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
COLLEAGUES, THAT ENDS OUR
BUSINESS FOR THE ONLY ITEM
ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER?
SEEING AS WE HAVE NO
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS FOR THE GOOD
OF THE
ORDER, THIS DOES CONCLUDE THE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025,
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU.