>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THE JANUARY 17th 2025 SPECIAL
MEETING OF THE SEATTLE COUNCIL
WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:03 P.M.
I'M SARA NELSON, PRESIDENT OF
THE COUNCIL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> STRAUSS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AT
TODAY'S SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING.
THE COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED
AND WE'LL PROCEED WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME, WE
WILL OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SPEAKERS' COMMENTS SHOULD ONLY
RELATE TO THE ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
CLERK, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE
HAVE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE THREE IN-PERSON AND
FIVE REMOTE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
EVERYBODY WILL GET TWO MINUTES,
AND YOU MAY PROCEED WITH THE
IN-PERSON COMMENTERS, PLEASE.
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED.
WE WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS
OF IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND REMOTE
SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT HAS ENDED, AND SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS' MICS WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS
WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ALEX
TSIMERMAN, FOLLOWED BY ERIC AND
THEN HENRY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ZIEG HAIL, MY LOVELY SEATTLE.
FASCIST.
>> PAUSE.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM FURTHER
ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.
>> YOU DON'T WHAT WHAT IS I
SPEAK ENGLISH?
YOU WANT WHAT I SPEAK DIFFERENT
LANGUAGE, GERMAN, RUSSIAN?
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
LET ME KNOW.
THIS CIRCUS, I LOVE.
20 PEOPLE GO FOR ELECTION THIS
VERY NICE, BUT FOR LAST ONE, IF
I FEAR, I THINK LAST TIME I SEE
SEATTLE IS A REAL CITY, AMERICAN
CITIZEN, IN '99.
I REMEMBER WHEN 500 PEOPLE
ARRESTED.
I SEE IT.
IT'S A REAL CITY.
A REAL AMERICA.
RIGHT NOW, THEY ALL IDENTICAL.
FOR LAST 25 YEAR, THE CITY HAVE
75 COLLEGE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW WHAT
THIS MEANS.
LIKE A SLAVE.
LIKE COCKROACHES.
THEY SCARED HAVE DIFFERENT
OPINION.
THEY SCARED.
YEAH.
I UNDERSTAND.
THIS IS EXACTLY HAPPENED WITH
GERMAN NAZI.
PEOPLE SCARED GO -- HAVE
DIFFERENT OPINION.
IF YOU'RE COMMUNIST IN SOVIET
UNION BECAUSE YOU CAN BE IN
JAIL, YOU CAN BE DEAD, AND YOU
CAN LOSE JOB.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IS --
700,000 COCKROACHES SLEPT VERY
QUIET.
20 PEOPLE, WHAT IS YOU HAVE?
IT'S NOT MATTER WHO WILL BE
ELECTED.
IT WILL BE ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL
LIKE YOU.
NOTHING CHANGED.
NOTHING WILL BE CHANGED FOR 25
YEARS.
IT'S VERY INTERESTING CITY.
CITY OF IDIOTS IS EXACTLY MY
OPINION.
SO, RIGHT NOW, MY OPINION,
SIMPLE.
VIVA DONALD TRUMP.
VIVA NEW AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
VIVA 100 MILLION AMERICAN WHO
STAND UP AND WANT REAL CHANGES.
AND STOP THIS GOVERNMENT WHAT IS
WE HAVE.
THIS NAZI GESTAPO FASCIST
GOVERNMENT.
WE NEED CLEAN TOTALLY.
STAND UP, AMERICA.
IT'S MY OPINION.
FOR 25 YEARS.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC NIELSEN,
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ERIC NIELSEN.
I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ASKING
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO BECOME
A FINALIST FOR THE DISTRICT 2
VACANCY.
THROUGH MY LEADERSHIP OF SEATTLE
NEW LIBERALS AND MY POSITION ON
THE SEATTLE FREIGHT ADVISORY
BOARD AMONG MANY OTHER COMMUNITY
ACTIVIST INVOLVEMENTS OVER MY
LIFE, I HAVE PROVEN MY ABILITY
TO BUILD COMPROMISE AND TO
STRIVE FOR PRAGMATIC AND
DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
AS A CONTRACTS NEGOTIATOR AT
BOEING, I'VE DEVELOPED THE
ESSENTIAL SKILLS THAT TRANSLATE
DIRECTLY INTO THE JOB, WHICH IS
CAREFUL LISTENING, BALANCING
DIFFERING OPINIONS, AND FINDING
COMMON GROUND TO DELIVER
RESULTS.
MY CANDIDACY IS ROOTED IN DEEP
CONNECTION TO DISTRICT 2 AND
THEIR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
I MARRIED INTO A VIETNAMESE
IMMIGRANT FAMILY WHO HAS CALLED
THE DISTRICT HOME SINCE THE
1990s.
I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND HOW
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES AND
RISING COSTS ARE AFFECTING
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE,
ESPECIALLY THOSE IN LITTLE
SAIGON AND THE CID.
I UNDERSTAND MY ROLE WOULD BE TO
AMPLIFY THESE VOICES, NOT TO
SPEAK FOR THEM.
I'VE LEARNED THROUGH MY IN-LAWS
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN IMMIGRANT
IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE A PERSON OF COLOR, AND
ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE THOSE
PERSONALLY, I DO HAVE 25 YEARS
OF LIVED EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE THAT STRETCHES
WELL BEYOND THAT WITH MY PARENTS
AND GRANDPARENTS.
THIS IS MY PERSONAL CONNECTION
THAT DRIVES MY DEEP COMMITMENT
TO THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AND OUR
DISTRICT.
AS A RENTER IN MT. BAKER AND THE
YOUNGEST OF 20 CANDIDATES
APPLYING FOR THE POSITION, I AM
FOCUSED WITH ENERGETIC PASSION
AND FOCUSED ON URGENT ACTION.
MY VISION FOR DISTRICT 2 MATCHES
MANY OF YOUR PRIORITIES,
EXPANDING COMMUNITY-BASED
POLICING, IMPLEMENTING AUTOMATED
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, INVESTING
IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ON OUR
STREETS, AND ENSURING DENSITY IS
SHARED EQUITABLY ACROSS ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE CHALLENGES FACING DISTRICT 2
DEMAND FRESH ENERGY AND DEEP
COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING.
I'M PREPARED TO BRING YOU BOTH,
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS HENRY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HELLO, COUNCIL.
I AM HENRY ARMAS AMAYA,
APPLICANT FOR THE CURRENT
COUNCIL VACANCY AND NATIVE
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2.
I GREW UP IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ALL MY
LIFE.
I HAVE WITNESSED HOW CHANGE HAS
MANIFESTED ITSELF THROUGH
DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE,
BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS
APPEARING AND DISAPPEARING, AS
WELL AS COMMUNAL PROBLEMS THAT
COME, GO, AND COME BACK.
NOT ONLY WITHIN THE AREA I GREW
UP IN BUT ALSO WITHIN THOSE
COMMUNITIES AROUND IT WHERE I
HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOL, HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO PURCHASE GOODS AND
SERVICES, RECEIVE MEDICAL
TREATMENT AND MADE FRIENDS, AND
FOR ALL THAT, I'M GRATEFUL.
WHILE I ADVOCATE FOR SAFETY,
RESPECT, INCLUSIVITY, JUSTICE,
AND FOR THE GENERAL WELFARE OF
PEOPLE OF ALL RACES,
ETHNICITIES, CULTURES, AND
BACKGROUNDS, ULTIMATELY I HOPE
THAT WHOEVER IS CHOSEN FOR THE
CURRENT COUNCIL VACANCY IS
SOMEBODY WITH AN EMPATHY THAT
ENCOURAGES THE UNDERSTANDING OF
BOTH THE STRUGGLES AND NEEDS OF
ALL PEOPLE AND WITH THE
WILLINGNESS TO BE OPEN TO LEARN
AND TO ADAPT TO ATTEMPT TO
ACCOMMODATE THE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN -- WITHIN ALL OF US AS
INDIVIDUALS.
SOMEONE WITH A PLAN OR AT LEAST
IDEAS AIM TO LOOK FOR
SOLUTIONS, UNITE, AND INTEGRATE
PEOPLE OF ALL TYPES OF
CATEGORIES, WHETHER THEY ARE
BLUE-COLLAR WORKER OR A BUSINESS
OWNER, WHETHER THEY ARE HOMELESS
OR NOT, WHETHER THEY ARE FROM
ONE CULTURE AND RELIGION OR
ANOTHER, WHETHER THEY ARE FROM
THE AREA OR A TOURIST TO CREATE
AND BUILD AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
ENSURES DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY AND
ENFORCES THE UNALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PEOPLE AMONG THOSE LIFE,
LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS.
I THANK THE COUNCIL AND EVERYONE
AROUND ME FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SHARE SUCH WORDS.
THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO REMOTE
SPEAKERS, AND PLEASE PRESS STAR
6 AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD THE
MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED.
OUR FIRST REMOTE --
>> MY APOLOGIES.
WE HAVE ONE LAST IN-PERSON
SPEAKER, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE
INTO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE PROCEED.
>> MY NAME IS STEVE ZAMKE.
MY THOUGHT WAS THAT I WANTED TO
LEAVE WITH THE COUNCIL AS THIS
PERSON WILL BE FILLING A VACANT
SEAT AND THEN WILL STAND FOR
ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
SHE WILL BE TAKING THE POSITIONS
THAT MORALES HAD, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, AND THAT WOULD
MEAN SHE WOULD SHARE -- SHE OR
HE WOULD SHARE THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE, THE HOUSING AND VICE
CHAIR OF THE HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES.
AND I WOULD LOOK AT THAT AS
AREAS OF EXPERTISE OF WHOEVER
YOU DECIDE TO APPOINT WOULD BE
SOMEONE THAT WOULD BE ALREADY
HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO
MOVE FORWARD IN THOSE AREAS,
ALSO WOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE
FINANCE NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND
TRIBAL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE,
LIBRARIES, EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
CITY LIGHTS, ARTS, AND CULTURE,
BUT MY PRIORITY JUST REMAINS IN
STATING CHAIR OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE, HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES, LOOK AT SOMEONE THAT
HAS AREA OF EXPERTISE IN THAT
AREA THAT WILL HELP YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE CAN NOW PROCEED TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AFTER YOU
HAVE HEARD THE MESSAGE THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
MICHAEL, FOLLOWED BY DAVID
HAYNES.
GO AHEAD, MICHAEL.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MICHAEL
THUY.
I'M CALLING IN TO ADVOCATE FOR
AADONIS DUCKSWORTH.
I MEANT HIM AT A SNOWBOARDING
EVENT.
AS A LEADER AND MENTOR WITHIN MY
OWN COMMUNITY, I IMMEDIATELY
RECOGNIZED THE LIKE-MINDED
FOCUSED, EMPATHETIC FATHER AND
COMMUNITY LEADER IN ADONIS.
NOW, HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO KNOW HIM BETTER, I'M PROUD TO
SUPPORT HIS EFFORTS TO JOIN THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
THROUGH HIS HARD WORK AND
DEDICATION, ADONIS HAS SHOWED ME
THAT NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN COMMUNITY AND BRINGING THAT
COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO DRAW OUT
THE IMMENSE POSITIVITY AND
BEAUTY THAT IS ONLY POSSIBLE
WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNITED.
AS A SKATEBOARDER AND
SNOWBOARDER, I'VE LEARNED THE
MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CHANGE THE
WORLD IS TO START BY INSPIRING
CHANGE WITH THE PEOPLE WE
ALREADY INFLUENCE WITHIN OUR OWN
COMMUNITIES.
ADONIS REPRESENTS A FRESH
PERSPECTIVE.
BY LOOKING AT THE WORLD THROUGH
HIS LENS, I BELIEVE HE WILL CAST
A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE LIGHT
ON BRINGING VIBRANCY AND
EXCITEMENT.
AS THE ASSISTANT MANAGER OF
SPORTS SHOP AT BOLLARD, I STAND
WITH ADONIS DUCKSWORTH AND
IMPLORE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
HIS ASCENSION TO CITY COUNCIL
FOR DISTRICT 2.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE DAVID HAYNES, FOLLOWED BY
MYRA.
GO AHEAD, DAVID.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
DAVID HAYNES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR HAVING
THIS MEETING.
I THINK THAT THADDEUS GREGORY
SHOULD BE CITY COUNCIL'S NUMBER
ONE CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE HIS
RESUME AND EXPERIENCE IS WHAT
COUNCIL NEEDS TO HELP THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE AND THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GET IT RIGHT.
HIS INSIGHT WOULD HELP COUNCIL
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WHEN IT
COMES TO EXPEDITING THE
DESPERATE NEEDS FOR HOUSING AND
WOULD PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP
NEEDED TO HANDLE THE DEVELOPERS
AND THEIR RED-TAPE DELAYS IN
PROCESSING AND BRINGING CREATIVE
SOLUTIONS.
WE NEED A 21st CENTURY
FIRST-WORLD QUALITY GREAT
AMERICAN HOUSING BUILDOUT AND
THE ONLY PERSON TO TRULY BE
PREPARED TO LEAD ON DAY ONE IS
THADDEUS GREGORY.
NO OFFENSE TO THE OTHERS.
HIS CAREER HAS PREPARED HIM FOR
THIS ONE-YEAR TERM THAT WOULD
BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
WITH A TRUSTED, KNOWLEDGEABLE
LAND USE EXPERT.
IF COUNCIL WANTS TO PROVE THEY
ARE SERIOUS ABOUT DEVELOPING
HOMES, THADDEUS GREGORY WOULD BE
THE BEST CHOICE AS A CARETAKER.
HE KNOWS ALL THE NUANCES OF LAND
USE.
HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT TAKES TO
DEVELOP.
HE WOULD GET THROUGH ALL THE
RED-TAPE DELAYS.
HE WOULD BE A SHINING LIGHT OF
BRILLIANCE TO HELP THIS CITY
FINALLY GET IT RIGHT ON HOUSING.
I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
SERIOUSLY CONSIDER AND VOTE TO
APPROVE THADDEUS GREGORY FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL ELECTION.
I THINK HE WOULD MAKE SEATTLE A
BETTER PLACE TO LIVE WITH HIS
DECISION-MAKING ON THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE, AND NO OFFENSE, BUT
SEPARATELY, THE TEMPERATURES ARE
GOING DOWN TO FREEZING THIS
WEEKEND.
I'M WONDERING IF KEN COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY
GOING TO MAKE IT AN EFFORT TO
OPEN UP THE SHELTERS OR DO THEY
GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH
THEIR SIX-FIGURE SALARIES?
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MYRA,
FOLLOWED BY JUNE BLUE SPRUCE.
GO AHEAD, MYRA.
YOU MAY -- THERE YOU GO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MYRA.
I'M CAING IN.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE
IN-PERSON, BUT I'M WORKING, SO
I'M CALLING IN TO SPEAK FOR MARK
SOLOMON TO FILL THE VACANCY FOR
DISTRICT 2.
I'VE KNOWN MARK SOME LOMON FOR Y
YEARS.
OUR PATHS HAVE CROSSED ON
VARIOUS PROJECTS.
WE BOTH SERVED ON THE BEACON
HILL COUNCIL OF SEATTLE FOR A
TIME.
AND I'VE WORKED WITH HIM ON
PARKS ISSUES WHENWHEN WE
DESIGNING JEFFERSON PARK.
I SERVED ON THE PROJECT ADVISORY
TEAM.
MARK WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT
MAINTAINING LINE OF SIGHT WITHIN
THE PARK AND THE DESIGN SO THAT
JEFFERSON PARK WOULD BE A SAFE
PLACE.
AND SO, AS A RESULT, JEFFERSON
PARK IS BOTH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE
AND A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE FROM
ALL OVER THE CITY AND ALL OVER
THE REGION.
AND IT IS USED BY HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE EVERY DAY, THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME.
I'VE GONE THERE AND MET PEOPLE
FROM WEST SEATTLE, FROM ALL OVER
PUGET SOUND.
MOST RECENTLY, MARK HAS WORKED
WITH A TEAM OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TO RENAME THE GOLF COURSE
COMPLEX AT JEFFERSON PARK TO
HONOR BILL BRECHT JR.
HE HAS PUT TOGETHER A TEAM AND
LED A TEAM TO CHANGE THE NAME TO
HONOR MR. WRIGHT AND MR.
MR. WRIGHT'S FAMILY BECAUSE THEY
FOUGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION OF
GOLFERS IN COLOR IN SEATTLE, AND
IT'S HIS LEADERSHIP THAT BROUGHT
US TO A POINT WHERE THE GOLF
COMPLEX WAS RENAMED.
MARK -- MARK HAS THE CHARACTER
AND THE EXPERIENCE TO SERVE AS A
GREAT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I HOPE YOU CONSIDER PUTTING HIM.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUNE
BLUESPRUCE, FOLLOWED BY MARK
ROSE.
GO AHEAD, JUNE.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JUNE BLUESPRUCE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
I'M A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 2, AND I AM -- WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
SALISBURY AS THE REPLACEMENT FOR
THE OUTGOING COUNCIL PERSON FOR
MY DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON.
MR. SALISBURY HAS A LONG HISTORY
OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE THROUGH THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT.
HE HAS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF
ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
HE ALSO REALLY HAS WORKED
TIRELESSLY TO PLAN TO -- TO
CHANGE CURRENT PATTERNS OF
DISPLACEMENT IN VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES, AND THIS IS A
CRITICAL ISSUE COMING UP FOR
COUNCIL THIS YEAR.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I
BELIEVE, DOES NOT HAVE AN
ADEQUATE FOUNDATION IN AN
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PLAN, AND I
THINK MR. SALISBURY COULD BE A
VERY IMPORTANT VOICE FOR MY
COMMUNITY AND FOR THE WHOLE OF
SEATTLE AROUND PREVENTING
FURTHER DISPLACEMENT.
AS WE TRY TO INCREASE HOUSING
STOCK.
HE ALSO REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH.
HE'S SOMEONE WHO REALLY
UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF
HEALTH FOR COMMUNITIES AND HOW
THAT'S A MULTI-FACTORIAL.
IT'S NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL
ISSUE.
IT'S A PUBLIC ISSUE.
I HAVE A STRONG BACKGROUND IN
PUBLIC HEALTH, AND I THINK THAT
HE WOULD BRING THAT IMPORTANT
VOICE TO THE COUNCIL.
I REALLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU
TO SUPPORT HIM IN THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE MARK ROSE.
GO AHEAD, MARK.
>> SO, MY NAME IS MARK ROSE, AND
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF AND
IN SUPPORT OF ADONIS DUCKSWORTH
TO FILL THE OPEN POSITION.
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS, AND I
CAN'T SPEAK TO THE MOTIVATION OR
THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OTHER
CANDIDATES.
I CAN SIMPLY TELL YOU THAT I
KNOW THAT ADONIS HAS ONE
MOTIVATION FOR WANTING TO BE
PART OF THE COUNCIL AND THAT'S
TO MAKE THE CITY A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY
AND A BETTER PLACE TO RAISE HIS
DAUGHTERS.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I THINK IS A GREAT INDICATION OF
THE TYPE OF PERSON ADONIS IS IS
THE ONE ENDORSEMENT THAT HE HAS,
THAT HE HAS SOUGHT OUT FOR THIS,
IS FROM SKATE LIKE A GIRL, WHICH
IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS
PROMOTE SKATING, SKATEBOARDING
AMONG WOMEN.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEND TIME WITH ADONIS, TO SKI
WITH ADONIS, AND GET TO KNOW HIM
BETTER AND ABOUT WHAT MOTIVATES
HIM.
AND I CAN SIMPLY TELL YOU THAT,
YOU KNOW, AS WE SIT AND TALK
ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN
THIS CITY AND TO OWN A HOME AND
AT TIMES TO NOT FEEL SAFE IN
YOUR OWN HOME BECAUSE OF CRIME,
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TRY TO RAISE A
FAMILY AND NOT KNOW THAT YOU CAN
BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A PASSION
FOR TRYING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE
WITH ADDICTION AND TRY TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOUSING
PROBLEM THAT WE FACE, AND
LOOKING FOR A WAY AND AN OUTLET
TO TRY TO DO THAT, I'VE HEARD A
COUPLE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW WE
NEED TO LOOK AT SOMEBODY WHO'S
ELECTABLE OR THAT WAS READY TO
RUN FOR ELECTION AT THE NEXT
OPEN ELECTION, AND I CAN TELL
YOU, WITH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINTY,
THAT THAT'S NOT ADONIS' FOCUS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT HIS FOCUS IS
SIMPLY TRYING TO DO WHAT HE CAN
IN THE TIME THAT HE WOULD HAVE
TO MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE.
FOR HIM, YOU, ME, AND OUR
FAMILIES, AND I WOULD ALSO
CAUTION THE COUNCIL ON GETTING
TOO MYOPIC.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WAS OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> WE HAVE ONE LAST IN-PERSON
SPEAKER.
JARED.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WOULD LIKE THE IS IT CITY -- D
LIKE TO RECOMMEND FOR ANY PLACE
THAT HAS CHANGING ROOMS, LIKE
SUCH AS PUBLIC POOLS, LIKE LARGE
GYMS AND THINGS, FOR THE KING
COUNTY TO MAKE THREE RESTROOMS
GOING FORWARD, A MEN, WOMEN, AND
ONE FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT WAY, PEOPLE WILL
FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE
CHANGING AND ALL PARTIES WOULD
BENEFIT.
ALSO --
>> I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SPEAK TO
AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR
COMMENTS, PLEASE.
>> ALSO --
I JUST WANT THE CITY TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOMELESS
EPIDEMIC.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS,
AND THE TOURISM ECONOMY IN THIS
CITY IS PROBABLY HURTING.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW TOO MANY
PEOPLE THAT WOULD WANT TO TRAVEL
TO SEATTLE TO VIEW OUR FENTANYL
AND METH AMPHETAMINE EPIDEMIC AD
THE VANS THAT ARE PARKED
EVERYWHERE IN BALLARD AND THE
LITTER.
AND I BELIEVE THAT EVERY
HOMELESS PERSON FALLS INTO THE
CATEGORY OF NEEDING EITHER
REHAB, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,
HALFWAY HOUSE, OR JAIL.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE
ENOUGH -- ENOUGH -- SKILL.
SEATTLE RESIDENTS, TO HELP, AND
WE CAN TACKLE THIS PROBLEM
TOGETHER.
>> WE HAVE ONE MR. ORE SPEAKER
HAS JOINED US.
MIKE MULLEN.
>> I'M MIKE MULLEN.
I HAD DIALED INTO THE
LISTEN-ONLY.
I APOLOGIZE.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF ADONIS
DUCKSWORTH.
I GREW UP IN THE SEATTLE AREA,
WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, DID
PUBLIC SCHOOL HERE, WENT TO
COLLEGE HERE AND STARTED A
BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT
20 YEARS AGO.
SO, I'M DEEPLY CARE ABOUT
SEATTLE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE
TO HAVE ADONIS, TO CALL HIM A
FRIEND FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH
HIS FAMILY, BOTH ON A PERSONAL
LEVEL AND VOLUNTEERING IN
VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY ADONIS HAS MY
FULL SUPPORT BECAUSE I FULLY
BELIEVE IN HIS TRULY ALTRUISTIC
AND DEEP COMMITMENT TO SEATTLE,
ITS NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ITS
PEOPLE.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH ADONIS, HE'S
VERY THOUGHTFUL, EDUCATED, AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE CARES ABOUT
SEATTLE AND ITS PEOPLE, AND I
STRONGLY RECOMMEND HIM FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT FOR
HIS APPLICATION.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK AND TO SHARE MY SUPPORT.
>> OKAY, WE HAVE REACHED THE END
OF OUR ALLOTTED TIME FOR THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR TODAY,
SO PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS
AND ENGAGING IN THIS PROCESS.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR ONE
ITEM OF BUSINESS, CITY CLERK
SHIREEN DEADMAN HAS AN
ANNOUNCEMENT, SO GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
>> YES, HI, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL, AND TO THE PUBLIC, I
JUST WANTED TO MAKE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN EMAIL I
RECEIVED AT 1:59 P.M., SO THE
INFORMATION COULD NOT HAVE GONE
OUT BEFORE THIS MEETING.
THE CANDIDATE FOR THE DISTRICT 2
VACANCY NAMED NAKITA VENUS
SUBMITTED AN EMAIL WITH
DRAWING -- THE APPLICATION --
I'M NOT SURE WHICH PRONOUNS TO
USE -- WITHDRAWING THEIR
APPLICATION FROM THE PROCESS.
SO, JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW
BEFORE THEY STARTED VOTING THAT
NAKITA VENUS IS NO LONGER A
VIABLE APPLICANT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, SELECTION OF
CITY COUNCIL VACANCY POSITION
DISTRICT 2 FINALISTS.
>> SO, THIS IS -- THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, FOLKS.
THIS WILL COME IN TWO PARTS.
I MOVE, FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO
AGREE ON THE PROCEDURE AND THEN
MAKE NOMINATIONS.
SO, I MOVE TO ADOPT A VOTING
PROCEDURE TO SELECT CITY COUNCIL
POSITION DISTRICT 2 FINALISTS TO
BE AS FOLLOWS.
AS PRESIDENT, I'LL OPEN THE
NOMINATIONS TO SELECT CITY
COUNCIL POSITION DISTRICT 2
FINALISTS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE CALLED
ON IN THE ORDER OF THIS WEEK'S
ROLL CALL AND WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE ONE
APPLICANT AND PROVIDE COMMENTS,
AND THEN SECONDS ARE NOT
REQUIRED FOR THE NOMINATIONS.
AN APPLICANT WILL NEED TO BE
NOMINATED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER
FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE
COUNCIL VACANCY APPOINTMENT
PROCESS.
LAST YEAR, DURING THE NOMINATION
PROCESS, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
OFFERED A MOTION TO ALLOW
COUNCIL MEMBERS THE ABILITY TO
CHANGE THEIR VOTES, SO AS AA
OF CONSISTENCY, WE'LL
FOLLOW THAT PRACTICE AGAIN, AND
THEN AFTER NOMINATIONS ARE
CLOSED, THOSE FINALISTS WILL
MOVE FORWARD, AND THE COUNCIL
VACANCY APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
SO, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE
VOTING PROCEDURE?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE -- ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURE
GOING FORWARD?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COULD YOU
CONFIRM THE ROLL CALL ORDER,
WHAT WE HAVE UP HERE, I THINK,
IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE WERE
TOLD REGARDING ROLL CALL.
>> SURE.
MY ROLL CALL ORDER SAYS RIVERA,
SA KA, STRAUSS, KETTLE,
HOLLINGSWORTH, MOORE, RINCK AND
ME.
YEP.
SOMEBODY LEARNED THEIR ABCs.
>> AWESOME.
THANK YOU.
JUST WANTED CLARITY.
THANK YOU.
>> YEP.
BECAUSE "H" COMES BEFORE "K" IN
THE ALPHABET.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS OR CORRECTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PROCEDURE TO
NOMINATE FINALISTS FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 POSITION.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> YOOI.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO THE
SELECTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL --
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
PROCEDURE IS ADOPTED.
WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO THE
SELECTION OF THE FINALISTS
THEMSELVES.
AS I SAID, I ALREADY SAID THE
ROLL CALL ORDER, WHICH STARTS
WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA, AND
WILL PROCEED FROM THERE.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO MAKE A
NOMINATION AND PROVIDE COMMENTS
IF YOU WANT, AND BY THE WAY, IF
YOU -- COUNCIL MEMBERS DO NOT
HAVE TO PUT FORWARD A NAME
EITHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO OR
IF SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY SAID
YOUR NAME.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ALL RIGHT.
OUT OF THE GATE.
I GET TO GO.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL 19
CANDIDATES FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE.
I RECOGNIZE THESE ARE HARD JOBS
THAT REQUIRE A HUGE COMMITMENT,
AND I APPRECIATE THEIR INTEREST
IN ENSURING THAT THEIR DISTRICT,
DISTRICT 2, IS WELL REPRESENTED
ON THE COUNCIL.
I KNOW THAT THE NEEDS OF THE D2
ARE MANY AND LIKE MANY OF THE
DISTRICTS THAT THOSE OF US HERE
SERVE, CONSTITUENTS WANTS TO
FEEL HEARD AND SUPPORTED, THAT
THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING SLATE
OF CANDIDATES WITH DIVERSE AND
IMPORTANT SKILL SETS MAKING THIS
A VERY TOUGH CHOICE.
I LIKE MANY OF THE CANDIDATES
FOR DIFFERENTDIFFERENT AND
SKILLSETS AND HOPE THEY WILL
CONSIDER RUNNING FOR THE
POSITION THIS FALL IF NOT
SELECTED.
I WISH YOU ALL LUCK IN THIS
PROCESS, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU
ARE SELECTED, PLEASE KNOW THAT I
WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
TOGETHER IN WHATEVER CAPACITY
AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
TODAY, I WILL BE NOMINATING MARK
SOLOMON FOR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND I TOO WANT TO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND SINCERE
THANKS TO EVERYONE, ALL 19, 20
PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP, PUT THEIR
NAME ON THE LINE, AND YOU KNOW,
THIS IS A -- THIS IS AN
INCREDIBLY TOUGH JOB.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLY REWARDING ONE
AS WELL, BUT SERVICE REQUIRES
SOME SACRIFICE, AND IT'S
CHALLENGING.
BUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE ALL
HAVE, COLLECTIVELY, TO SHAPE A
BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CITY AND
OUR KIDS IS ONE THAT IT'S
VERY -- WELL, ONE THAT I'M
COMMITTED TO.
IT'S A COMMITMENT THAT I'M
COMMITTED TO, AND I KNOW THE 20
PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP ARE AS
WELL, AND SO I JUST WANT TO
EMPHASIZE, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
WHO PUT YOUR -- STEPPED UP TO
LEAD AND SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY
AND SERVE YOUR CITY IN SUCH A
PROFOUND AND IMPACTFUL WAY.
IN TERMS OF SOME THINGS THAT I
WAS LOOKING FOR AND WILL
CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THROUGHOUT
THIS PROCESS AS IT PLAYS OUT,
I'M LOOKING FOR A SERVANT
LEADER, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS
DAY ONE THE AWESOME
RESPONSIBILITY THAT THIS JOB
ENTAILS, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS
THAT THEY ARE AT OUR VERY CORE,
WE ARE SERVANTS OF PEOPLE.
AND PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY FOR A
WHILE, LONG TIME, IN VARIOUS
FACETS AND VARIOUS DIMENSIONS
AND DIDN'T JUST START SHOWING UP
YESTERDAY WHEN THEY LEARNED
ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT.
I'M ALSO SEEKING SOMEONE --
ANOTHER CRITERIA THAT I'M USING
THAT'S GUIDING MY DECISION
MAKING IS SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO
BE COMMUNICATIVE AND
COLLABORATIVE.
TOUGH JOB.
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE WHEN WE
COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER,
WE'RE COLLABORATIVE, AND THAT'S
THE -- THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF THE
APPROACH THAT I THINK WE ALL ON
THIS DAIS ASPIRE TO, TO ACHIEVE,
AND SO I'M LOOKING FOR THAT.
I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
WHO'S GOING TO TRULY PRIORITIZE
CONSTITUENT NEEDS IN THEIR
DISTRICT.
DISTRICT 2.
MANY DIVERSE, RICH COMMUNITIES
THERE, AND OFTENTIMES, THOSE
INTERESTS AND NEEDS ARE
OVERLAPPED, AND SOMETIMES THEY
DON'T, BUT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING
TO FOCUS ON ALL THE CONSTITUENTS
IN DISTRICT 2 AND SERVE -- FOCUS
ON SERVING ALL CONSTITUENTS AND
NOT PANDER OR PLACATE TO ANY ONE
PARTICULAR GROUP.
THAT INCLUDES SERVING AND
FOCUSING ON RESIDENTS OF THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT.
I'M ALSO SEEKING SOMEONE WHO
IS -- SO, THAT'S CONSTITUENT
WORK.
I THINK OUR CONSTITUENT WORK
SHOULD INFORM OUR POLICY WORK,
NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, BUT IN
TERMS OF THE SUBSTANTIVE POLICY,
I'M SEEKING SOMEONE WHO'S GOING
TO TRULY PRIORITIZE PUBLIC
SAFETY.
I'M ALSO IDEALLY LOOKING FOR
SOMEONE WITH LAND USE EXPERIENCE
OR JUST BROADER CITY PLANNING
EXPERTISE.
AND FINALLY, I WILL NOTE, I AM
SEEKING ANDAND RE-EMPHASIZE MY
ON THIS, BEEN CLEAR THE
WHOLE TIME, I'M PERSONALLY, AND
WE HAVE VARYING VIEWS, BUT I AM
PERSONALLY SEEKING SOMEONE WHO
IS INTERESTED IN BEING A
CARETAKER ONLY FOR THIS
POSITION, SOMEONE WHO IS
INTERESTED IN DOING THE JOB THE
BEST THEY CAN FOR THESE TEN
MONTHS AND THIS, AND ONLY THIS
JOB, AND SPECIFICALLY COMMITTED
TO ME OR THROUGH THEIR APPLICANT
MATERIALS OR OTHER COLLEAGUES
THAT THEY WILL NOT RUN IN
PARALLEL.
SO, THAT MEANS THAT THEIR NUMBER
ONE FOCUS IS ON SERVING,
GOVERNING, WHY?
BECAUSE THIS IS A TOUGH JOB.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE EXTRA
DEMANDS.
THE HOURS ARE CHALLENGING AT A
BARE MINIMUM, I ALWAYS TELL
PEOPLE, IT'S A 60-PLUS-HOUR
WORKWEEK IF YOU'RE DOING THE
BARE MINIMUM AND RUNNING A
CAMPAIGN ON TOP OF THAT AND THEN
WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT
FAMILY OR PERSONAL TIME.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
BE DOING THE COMP PLAN AND
CONSIDERING A PROPOSED RENEWAL
OF THE EDUCATION LEVY THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA IS GOING
TO LEAD AND SHEPHERD THROUGH OUR
BODY HERE.
THAT'S ON TOP OF THE OTHER
LEGISLATION, BOTH EXECUTIVE
PROPOSED, COUNCIL-PROPOSED, CITY
ATTORNEY-PROPOSED THAT WILL
INVARIABLY COME UP ON TOP OF
BUDGET, NUMEROUS DEPARTMENT HEAD
CONFIRMATIONS.
I'M JUST SEEKING SOMEONE WHO'S
GOING TO JUST FOCUS ON
GOVERNING.
THAT'S IT.
NOT CAMPAIGNING.
THAT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE
FOCUS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK OUR -- I DON'T THINK
WE'RE SETTING THIS PERSON UP FOR
SUCCESS, THEIR DISTRICT 2
CONSTITUENTS UP FOR SUCCESS, NOR
THE BROADER CITY OF SEATTLE UP
FOR SUCCESS IF THIS PERSON KNOWS
IMMEDIATELY THAT THEY COULD
POTENTIALLY AND WOULD RUN IN
PARALLEL.
THE LEARNING CURVE IS TOO STEEP.
SO, I TRUST THE VOTERS, AND I
WANT THEM TO DECIDE IN NOVEMBER,
AFTER A ROBUST CONVERSATION AS
CANDIDATES, AS ONE CANDIDATE PUT
OUT OR SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED,
WAS IT MONA SMITH?
THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 2 WILL
BENEFIT FROM A ROBUST INCUMBENT
LIST, PRIMARY DEBATE IN ADVANCE
OF THE NEXT ELECTION.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, MONA.
SO, THERE WERE SOME VERY
WELL-QUALIFIED PEOPLE,
INTERESTING GROUP, AND SOME
EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUALS IN THIS GROUP, IN
THIS COHORT AS WELL.
ADONIS, THADDEUS, NIMCO, EDDIE
LIN, CHUKUNDI, MARK SOLOMON,
WHO'S OFF THE BOARD NOW, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE
AS A CARETAKER ONLY.
AND BISHOP RAY ROGERS IS AN
EXCEPTIONALLY WELL QUALIFIED
PEOPLE HERE AND THIS IS TOUGH.
BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
NOMINATE CHUKUNDI SALISBURY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
HARD ACT TO FOLLOW THERE.
I'LL JUST, AS WELL, ALONG WITH
MY COLLEAGUES, WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE THAT'S APPLIED,
EVERYONE THAT REACHED OUT THAT
WAS INTERESTED.
THIS IS A -- AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU, IN PARTICULAR, FOR MAKING
THIS A DIFFICULT CHOICE, BECAUSE
WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES HERE FOR
THE PEOPLE LISTENING OR IN THE
ROOM.
MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY TOLD
YOU THAT YOU SHOULD JUST RUN FOR
THE OFFICE.
SKIP THE APPOINTMENT AND JUST
RUN.
THOSE -- THAT SENTIMENT STILL
HOLDS TRUE TODAY.
THE EXERCISE THAT WE ARE GOING
THROUGH TODAY IS SELECTING THE
EIGHT FINALISTS TO HAVE THE
COMMUNITY FORUM TO COME BEFORE
US AND INTERVIEW WITH COUNCIL,
AND SO I'LL BE MAKING A CHOICE
OF WHO TO PUT FORWARD TODAY, AND
IT IS A HARD CHOICE THAT I
DIDN'T COME TO UNTIL, YOU KNOW,
A COUPLE MINUTES AGO, BECAUSE
IT'S -- I'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH
IT, AND SO I JUST WANT THE
PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT I HAVEN'T
MADE A FINAL DECISION FOR WHO I
WILL BE VOTING FOR ON THE 27th,
BECAUSE THIS NEXT PERIOD OF
COMMUNITY FORUMS AND INTERVIEWS
WILL BE -- IS HOW I WILL COME TO
THAT DETERMINATION.
AND TODAY, I'M EXCITED TO PUT
FORWARD ADONIS DUCKSWORTH.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS,
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT THOSE AND
DOUBLE DOWN ON THOSE THAT -- THE
NOMINATION I'M PUTTING FORWARD
TODAY AND MAKING THOSE FINAL
DECISIONS WILL BE AS WE'RE GOING
THROUGH THE PROCESS, WHICH I
THINK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, FOR
DISTRICT 2, IS A SERVANT,
SOMEONE WHO'S PASSIONATE, THEY
HAVE ENERGY, THEY LOVE TO SERVE.
I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS LIST
LOVES TO SERVE.
THEY KNOW THE DIVERSITY OF THE
98118 ZIP CODE IN DISTRICT 2 AND
ALSO KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT 2
HAS BEEN, OVER THE YEARS, HAS
BEEN UNDERRESOURCED AND
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS IN
DISTRICT 2 THAT ARE VERY UNIQUE,
THAT HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS FROM
COLUMBIA CITY TO BEACON HILL,
STEWARD PARK, RAINIER BEACH,
RAINIER VALLEY, ALL THE
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE, AND I
THINK THAT'S WHY WE ALL LOVE
DISTRICT 2.
AND SO, THE NAME I'LL BE PUTTING
FORWARD TODAY IS NOMINATING
THADDEUS GREGORY.
AEUS GREGORY.
SNEF THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO'S APPLIED.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
SHOW THIS DESIRE TO SERVE
COMMUNITY, TO BE WILLING TO PUT
YOURSELF OUT THERE ON BEHALF OF
YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS,
THE RESIDENTS, NONPROFITS,
CHURCH GROUPS, ALL OF THE ABOVE,
AND I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE
WHO ALSO HAVE SHOWN IN THEIR
PACKAGES A DESIRE AND SHOWN THAT
THEY DO COMMUNITY SERVICE, THAT
VOLUNTEERISM PIECE THAT'S SO
IMPORTANT.
IT REFLECTS YOUR DESIRE TO
PARTICIPATE FOR THE BETTERMENT
OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
LAST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE, I KEEP
IN MIND, AND LAST YEAR, WE HAD
EIGHT CANDIDATES, AND I THINK IT
WAS AN INTERESTING PROCESS TO GO
THROUGH.
THAT WAS A LARGE GROUP, AND
CONSIDERING IT WAS A CITY-WIDE,
CONSIDERING THAT YOU KNOW, WE
HADN'T DONE IT IN A WHILE, AND
WE WANTED TO GIVE THE -- AFFORD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO AS MANY
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, I THINK IT
WAS GREAT THAT WE HAD EIGHT
NOMINEES REPRESENTING FROM EACH
OF US.
THIS YEAR, FOR DISTRICT 2, I
THINK IT'S BETTER FOR THE
PROCESS AND TO HAVE LESS, AND
WITH THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
AM, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THOSE
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SELECTED,
I'M GOING TO PASS IN TERMS OF
THE IDEA OF KEEPING THE NUMBERS
SMALLER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE
BETTER ENGAGEMENT NEXT WEEK AND
THEN THROUGH THE PROCESS
OVERALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU.
WELL, UNLIKE MY COLLEAGUES, THIS
IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS, AND
TO THAT END, AGAIN, I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS APPLIED
FOR THIS POSITION.
IT IS A BRAVE DECISION TO STEP
UP AND RAISE YOUR HAND,
ESPECIALLY TO LEAD DURING SUCH
CHALLENGING TIMES AHEAD OF US,
AND WE HAVE A LARGE BODY OF WORK
AHEAD OF US AS A COUNCIL THIS
YEAR AND ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING
FOR A PARTNER THAT CAN TRULY
REPRESENT THE CRITICAL NEEDS
WITHIN D-2.
AND I KNOW WHEN I WAS THINKING
ABOUT MY DECISION OF WHO TO PUT
FORWARD TODAY, I WAS THINKING
ABOUT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE I
HEARD AT THE DOORS WAS HOUSING.
BUT ALSO, HEARING A REAL NEED
FOR INVESTMENTS IN OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE AND EDUCATION.
AND SO, WANTING A -- SOMEONE WHO
IS JOINING US ON COUNCIL WHO HAS
EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THOSE
AREAS AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M
PUTTING FORWARD EDWARD LIN
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYBODY, FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
I AM LOOKING AT THIS.
I CAME AT THIS THINKING THAT I
VERY MUCH WANTED SOMEONE WHO
WOULD BE WILLING TO BE AT IT FOR
THE LONG HAUL BECAUSE THIS IS
A -- BECAUSE THE DECISIONS THAT
THEY MAKE DURING THE SHORT TIME,
DURING THE APPOINTMENT, WILL
RESONATE THROUGHOUT THE
COMMUNITY IN D-2 BECAUSE WE ARE
DOING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
AND THAT WILL GENERATE A LOT OF
STRONG FEELINGS AND ALSO -- AND
IT MAKES SENSE FOR THAT PERSON
TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO FACE
THE VOTERS IN THE FUTURE IN
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO
OUT AND TALK TO AS MANY PEOPLE
AS POSSIBLE IN THE DISTRICT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WAS FRAMING MY THINKING.
I WAS ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE
FACT THAT IT WOULD BE REALLY --
IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO HAVE
SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS ABOUT LAND
USE AND WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH OUR
LAND USE CODE AND WHO KNOWS HOW
THE CITY WORKS, ET CETERA, AND
I -- AND SO, THAT WAS PART OF MY
THINKING AS WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WAS REALLY
CONSIDERING THE DIVERSITY OF THE
COMMUNITY, AND THINKING ABOUT
THE -- WHAT I HEAR MOST OFTEN
FROM PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 2, AND I
AM NOW GOING TO REFER TO A --
A -- LAST SUMMER, DANNY WESTMEET
WROTE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THAT THE CID ARE
FACING, AND TALKED ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS IN THE CID AND
PARTICULARLY LITTLE SAIGON, AND
SO, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE
NEEDS TO BE REPRESENTATION FROM
LITTLE SAIGON, AND WE DO HAVE
ONE PERSON WHO IS THE -- WHO
SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE
FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON.
I AM VERY PAINED TO HAVE TO MAKE
THIS DECISION, BECAUSE I DO FEEL
THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN
THE -- IN THE POT THAT WOULD BE
GREAT AT THIS, AT THIS POSITION.
I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THERE BE
REPRESENTATION FROM THAT
COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD.
SO, I AM GOING TO NOMINATE
HONG CHHUOR FOR MY CHOICE.
PUBLIC SAFETY BEING THE ISSUE
THAT I AM HEARING MOST -- THAT
IS MOST URGENT IN THAT DISTRICT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS OR CHANGES THAT PEOPLE
LIKE TO MAKE TO THEIR
NOMINATIONS?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
SINCE I WENT FIRST AND THEN I
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO
ALL MY COLLEAGUES, I'M NOT
CHANGING MY NOMINATION, BUT I DO
WANT TO UNDERSCORE SOMETHING
THAT COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
SAID, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THAT UP, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS,
THAT THIS IS THE SLATE OF
FINALISTS.
WE WILL HAVE A PROCESS NEXT WEEK
FOR GOING THROUGH THE FINALISTS.
OUR NOMINATIONS DO NOT INDICATE
NECESSARILY THAT THAT IS WHO WE
ARE GOING TO SELECT, SO I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS,
TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S POINT,
THERE'S A ROBUST SET OF FOLKS ON
HERE, AND IT WILL GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY -- AND
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR SAYING YOUR WORDS
AS WELL.
WITH LESS FOLKS IN THE POT NOW,
WE CAN HAVE MORE ROBUST REVIEW
AND CONVERSATION, AND SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE PROCESS NEXT WEEK
AND DID WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT
FOR THE CANDIDATES SO FOLKS
AREN'T FEELING -- I'M SURE
THEY'RE FEELING A CERTAIN WAY,
BUT JUST PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS
IS NOW -- IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'VE
ALREADY MADE UP OUR MINDS.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
HEARING NO CHANGES OR ADDITIONAL
NOMINATIONS TO THE LIST OF CITY
COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 FINALISTS,
NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
FINALISTS.
PURSUANT TO SEATTLE MUNICIPALMU
390010, A FINALIST IS
REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
COMMUNITY-ORGANIZED PUBLIC FORUM
IN THE UPCOMING JANUARY 23rd
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE
ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
POSITION.
THE PUBLIC FORUM IS SCHEDULED ON
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21st, AT
COLUMBIA CITY THEATER FROM 5:30
TO 7:30 P.M.
THE VACANCY WEB PAGE HAS BEEN
UPDATED TO INCLUDE THESE
DETAILS.
A RECAP OF THE NEXT STEPS FOR
THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
VACANCY PROCESS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
FINALISTS ARE REQUIRED TO
PARTICIPATE AT THE PUBLIC FORUM
HOSTED ON JANUARY 21st IN ORDER
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
APPOINTMENT.
ON JANUARY 23rd, AT 1:00 P.M.,
THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD A SPECIAL
MEETING TO FURTHER INTERVIEW
FINALISTS WHO ATTENDED THE
PUBLIC FORUM.
AND ON JANUARY 27th, AT 9:30
A.M., THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD
ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING TO
APPOINT AN ELIGIBLE FINALIST TO
FILL THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
POSITION.
BEFORE I ASK IF THERE IS FURTHER
BUSINESS, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE --
I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT OF
PRIVILEGE TO THANK BISHOP RAY
ROGERS FOR THROWING HIS NAME
INTO THE RING.
IF I'M SEEMING EMOTIONAL AND --
IT'S BECAUSE IT REALLY DID
COME -- IT'S BECAUSE IT CAME
DOWN TO A DECISIONDECISION -- A
DECISION FOR ME AT THE LAST
MINUTE, AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT WE TALK A LOT ABOUT LIVED
EXPERIENCE, AND -- AND WANTING
TO INFLUENCE COMMUNITY AND YOUNG
PEOPLE AWAY FROM GUN VIOLENCE,
FROM -- WE HAVE A WHOLE SECTION
IN THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
CONTRACT DIVISION WHICH
ADDRESSES VIOLENCE PREVENTION,
ET CETERA, AND I JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT BISHOP RAY ROGERS, I
RECOGNIZE YOU IN THE ROOM TODAY,
AND I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU.
I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU AS I
WAS LEARNING ABOUT THE CITY, AND
I RESPECT THE INPUT THAT YOU
HAVE HAD ON COUNCIL MEMBERS AS I
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING
TO PEOPLE.
IN ANY CASE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR -- COLLEAGUES, FOR ALLOWING
ME TO SAY THOSE WORDS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT?
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE US RIGHT
NOW?
>> MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
I, TOO, WANTED TO ECHO THE
SENTIMENT OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID
AND EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION
AND THANKS TO BISHOP RAY ROGERS.
I'M GOING TO -- I'LL SHARE HERE,
AND THIS IS ALL I'LL TALK ABOUT.
YOU -- IT WAS A VERY CLOSE CASE
FOR ME, AND IT WAS A VERY
DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT YOU WERE
MY NEXT CHOICE, BUT I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND
ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU'VE
ALREADY DONE IN DISTRICT 2 AND
THE CITY AND ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CHEERING YOU ON AND
SUPPORTING YOU AND CONTINUING TO
PARTNER TOGETHER.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> ANY FURTHER BUSINESS?
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE
HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 21st,
AT 2:00 P.M.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE
ARE ADJOURNED.