GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL COME TO
ORDER. I AM SARAH NELSON,
RESIDENT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> HERE.
>> THE COUNCIL RULES WILL BE
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW PUBLIC
COMMENT IN TODAY'S SPECIAL
MEETING. HEARING NO OBJECTION
THE COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED
IN WE WILL PROCEED WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT. AT THIS TIME WE WILL
PLAN ON -- WE WILL OPEN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. BECAUSE
THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE CITY COUNCIL, SPEAKER'S
COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE SEND IT TO SPEAK
TODAY?
>> WE HAVE 17 REMOTE AND SEVEN
IN PERSON.
>> WE WILL GIVE EVERYONE ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK. WE WILL BEGIN
WITH THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> DO YOU NEED ME TO READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER
REGISTERED. WILL START WITH IN
PERSON AND MOVED TO PROMOTE.
BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND
THE ITEM YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WITH
10 SECONDS LEFT. MICROPHONES
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DON'T
AND COMMENTS IN THE ALLOTTED
TIME. THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW
OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST.
>> ALEX , STEPHANIE.
>> THE TIMER IS COMING UP.
THANK YOU. PLEASE BEGIN.
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE-LOW VOLUME
].
>> IT'S GOOD BECAUSE SHE GAVE
ONE MINUTE. SHE MAYBE DON'T
GIVE NOTHING BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH RIGHT
NOW. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] FOR 10
YEARS 100 TIMES I SPOKE AT CITY
HALL FOR THREE MINUTES, ONE DAY
A WEEK SO WE CAN COME AND
SPEAK. LOOK HERE. IT'S EXACTLY
1 MINUTE WITH CRITICAL POSITION
FOR MANY CITIES. I COME HERE
FOR 20 YEARS
>> PLEASE SPEAK TO AN ITEM ON
THE AGENDA IT.
>> WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE. NOTHING
IS DIFFERENT. STANDUP AMERICA
FOR DONALD TRUMP IN AMERICA FOR
EVERYBODY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> STEPHANIE AND THEN RUBEN AND
THEN STEVE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS
STEPHANIE. I AM A HOMEOWNER AND
13 YEAR RESIDENT OF SEATTLE AND
MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN. I'M
HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
EDWARD LIN TO FILL THE VACANT
POSITION. AS YOU CONSIDER
CANDIDATES WHO WILL BECOME YOUR
COLLEAGUE WANT TO SHARE WHITES
A PRIVILEGE TO CALL HIM MY
COLLEAGUE FOR FIVE YEARS AT THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING. HE IS FIRST
AND FOREMOST A GREAT LISTENER.
HE HAS THE ABILITY TO
UNDERSTAND SOMEONE'S CONCERNS
AND TURN THOSE CONCERNS INTO
ACTIONS AND ADVOCACY. ALL WILL
MAKING SURE EVERY VOICE IS
HEARD AND CONSIDERED. AFTER
HEARING FROM THE CANDIDATES
EARLIER THIS WEEK, I DON'T
ENVY YOUR POSITION OF HAVING TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN SUCH HIGHLY
QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. WHAT
WILL OFFER IS THIS, IF YOU ARE
LOOKING FOR A CANDIDATE AND
FUTURE COLLEAGUE WITH A DEEP
KNOWLEDGE OF THE CITY, HOW IT
WORKS, AND AN IMPORTANT
PERSPECTIVE AND HOW COULD BE
APPROVED. TO TRULY LISTEN AND
BE HEARD, AND A COLLECTIVE
MINDSET THAT WILL QUIETLY WITH
CONVICTION MAKE EVERYTHING HE
WORKS ON A LITTLE BETTER.
>> REVEREND WALDEN AND THEN
STEVE AND THEN JAMES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
REVEREND WALDEN. LONGTIME
ACTIVIST IN SEATTLE. A PROUD
MOTHER. I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN
FAVOR OF CHUKUNDI SALISBURY.
APPOINTED TO A POSITION , OPEN
POSITION DISTRICT 2. AND ALSO
JUST A LITTLE, TO HIGHLIGHT ALL
OF HIS GOOD WORK. HE IS
ABSOLUTELY A GOOD LISTENER. HE
HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN THE CITY.
HE IS A CITY EMPLOYEE. HE IS
BEEN IN THE CITY FOR A LONG
TIME. I JUST KNOW THAT YOU
WOULD NOT BE DISAPPOINTED TO A
POINT CHUKUNDI SALISBURY TO
THIS POSITION. HE KNOWS THE
SOUTH AND. ACTUALLY KNOWS THE
WHOLE CITY. HE DOES. HE KNOWS
THE WHOLE CITY. HE HAS FRIENDS
EVERYWHERE. AND HE IS AN
INNOVATOR. HE IS AN INNOVATOR.
HE STANDS UP , HE IS HONEST AND
ALL THE THINGS YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR. PLUS HE HAS CHARISMA. AND
HE ABSOLUTELY KNOWS HOW TO BE
IN THE WORLD WITH ALL PEOPLE.
CHOOSE CHUKUNDI SALISBURY.
>> GOOD MORNING. AFTERNOON.
STEVE, JUST A SUGGESTION , A
FEW QUESTIONS YOU MAY ALREADY
HAVE. ONE, I WOULD ASK THE
QUESTION ON THEIR EXPERIENCE OF
LAND-USE ISSUES CITYWIDE IN D2.
CHAIRING THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE. I WOULD ASK THE
QUESTION IF THEY HAVE ACTUALLY
READ THE REVISED DRAFT OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND IF THEY
HAVE ANY INITIAL THOUGHTS. I
WOULD ASK FOR THEIR EXPERIENCE
ON BUDGET ISSUES SINCE THEY
WILL BE DEALING WITH POTENTIAL
BUDGET CUTS OR WAYS TO RAISE
NEW REVENUE. AND LAST QUESTION
I WOULD ASK, EQUITY IN DISTRICT
2 AND CITYWIDE , BALANCING
NEEDED HOUSING, PARTICULARLY
FOR HOUSING WITH THE NEED FOR
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WHERE
PEOPLE LEARN. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE JAMES GABRIEL IS
THEN JAMES SHEPPARD.
>> I AM JAMES COMEY DON'T LIVE
IN THE CITY BUT MY PARTNERS AND
I BUILD SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING
UNITS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE I
WANT TO SAY AM GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE.
GRATEFUL FOR THE UPCOMING
DISTRICT TO REPRESENTATIVES,
HOWEVER IT MAY BE. I PRAY YOU
WOULD LEAD OUR CITY WELL AND
YOUR PEOPLE WELL. I AM ASKING
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND WHOEVER
IS ARE NEXT DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE, THAT WE WOULD
REDUCE THE ABILITY FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE TO RAISE TAXES ON
ITS PEOPLE. I KNOW THIS ISN'T
FOR TODAY TO BE VOTED ON BUT
THERE IS AN UPCOMING
PROPOSITION THAT WOULD INCREASE
THE TAX ON PEOPLE PRODUCING
OVER $1 MILLION PER YEAR
ANNUALLY WHO LIVE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE BY 5%. ALTHOUGH THAT
SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE BIT TO
SOMEONE LIKE US, AND MAYBE
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE
PRODUCING THAT INCOME, I AM
NOT. I BELIEVE IF WE RAISE
TAXES ON THEM IT WOULD INCREASE
THE ABILITY FOR THE CITY AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO RAISE TAXES
ON OTHER PEOPLE'S WEALTH WHICH
I DON'T THINK SHOULD BE THE
GOAL OF THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> I'M ENCOURAGED BY OUR CLERK
TO REMIND PEOPLE TO KEEP YOUR
COMMENTS TO THE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA WHICH IS OUR QUESTIONS
AND CONVERSATION WITH THE
DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATES. THANK
YOU.
>> JAMES SHEPPARD, DANIEL .
>> MY NAME IS JAMES SHEPPARD. I
LEAD THE RV REMEDIATION AND GEO
CLEAN PROGRAM FOR SPU. I WORK
FOR CLEAN CITIES. YOU MIGHT'VE
HEARD ME AS A SHIP IS WHAT I'M
CALLED FROM CITY EMPLOYEES. I
WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SEATTLE.
I JOINED THE CITY IN 1994 AFTER
GRADUATING FROM GARFIELD, I'VE
BEEN HERE 30 YEARS AND I'M
ONLY 48. I'VE NEVER USE THIS
FORM BEFORE PUT MY NAME BEHIND
ANYONE IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL.
BUT CHUKUNDI SALISBURY HAS HIS
EAR TO THE GROUND IN DISTRICT 2
AND ALL OF SEATTLE IS ONLY SPD
AND I WITH NO. WE HAVE BEEN ON
THE FRONTLINES OUR WHOLE LIVES
AND THAT IS NOT EVEN INCLUDING
OUR EMPLOYMENT. I AM HERE TO
SAY, IT WOULD BE A COLOSSAL
MISTAKE TO LET CHUKUNDI
SALISBURY LEAVE WITHOUT THIS
POSITION. HE IS PASSIONATE, HE
KNOWS HIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> DANIEL MOORE. FOLLOWING
DANIEL , MARCUS.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT
MATTER. MY NAME IS DANIEL
MOORE, I LIVE IN THE BEACON
HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. I'VE LIVED
THERE SINCE 1999. I WENT TO
COLLEGE IN MINNESOTA WITH
EDWARD LIN AND I'M HERE TO
SPEAK IN HIS BEHALF AND SAY HE
HAS BEEN A LONGTIME FRIEND,
LONGTIME CONFIDANT. I HAVE
ACTUALLY HIRED HIM AS A LAWYER
TO HELP WITH MY SMALL BUSINESS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
ALL ABOUT -- YOU ALREADY KNOW
HIS BACKGROUND AND EXPERTISE,
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS HOW
INCREDIBLE OF A LISTENER HE IS
AND HOW HE TAKES IN DIFFERENT
VIEWPOINTS AND IS ABLE TO COME
UP WITH SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE
FEELS VERY CONFIDENT IS THE
RIGHT ANSWER. I THINK HE WOULD
BE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM MEMBER
WORKING WITH YOU ALL. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT HE WOULD BE IN
THE LONG HAUL. A LONGTIME
RESIDENT, I WOULD HOPE THAT
WHOEVER YOU APPOINT TO THIS
POSITION IS SOMEONE WHO REALLY
WANTS TO BE THERE TO TAKE THIS
POSITION FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY AND
CONSIDERATION.
>> THERE IS A FAMOUS SAYING
THAT GOES, LIFE DOESN'T JUST
HAPPEN, LIFE HAPPENS JUST. IT
MEANS OFTEN TIMES, ALL THE
TIME, THINGS WORK OUT THE WAY
THEY SHOULD. WITH THAT BEING
SAID, I DON'T THINK IT'S A
COINCIDENCE THAT MARK SOLOMON
IS ONCE AGAIN A FINALIST . I
JUST WANT TO SAY, HONOR HIS
WORK. I THINK HIS WORKS
DESERVES BE HONORED THE WAY
YOUR WORK DESERVES TO BE ON IT.
THINK BACK TO A YEAR AND HALF
AGO WHEN YOU'RE KNOCKING ON
DOORS, GOING TO FARMERS MARKETS
AND PUT YOUR NAME OUT THERE TO
SHOW THE CITY I CARE. THAT IS
HOW I FEEL ABOUT MARK. I WORK
CLOSELY WITH TWO OF YOU AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY THE SAME WAY I
BELIEVED IN YOU I BELIEVE IN
MARK. THE COUNCILMEMBER WHO
DEPARTED, ANOTHER GREAT REASON
MARK SHOULD BE ELECTED IS
BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS HAPPENING
, THEY ARE GOING TO HAPPEN WITH
MARK. HE'S GOING TO ALIGN WITH
YOU IN THE WAY SHE DIDN'T
ALIGN WITH YOU. IT WILL BE AN
IMMEDIATE IMPACT FOR THE GOOD
OF THE CITY. I WANTED TO SAY
THAT.
>> THAT IS OUR LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER AT THIS MOMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. THE FIRST IS ANDREW
RICHARDSON. PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. AFTER
ANDREW WILL BE JIM BUCHANAN. GO
AHEAD, ANDREW.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL FOR TAKING MY
COMMENTS BY PHONE SO I CAN PICK
UP MY KID FROM SCHOOL THIS
AFTERNOON. YOUR KIDS ARE THE
SAME AGE AS MINE AND I KNOW HIS
PASSION FOR SERVING OUR
COMMUNITY. IT IS WITH GREAT
PLEASURE I OFFER MY STRONG
SUPPORT TO ADONIS DUCKSWORTH
FOR THE OPEN SEAT. HIS DEEP,
HOMEROOM UNDERSTANDING OF THEY
WERE PRIORITIES COUPLED WITH
EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
WORKING FOR POSITIVE OUTCOMES
FOR ALL OF SEATTLE MAKE HIM THE
STRONGEST CANDIDATE FOR THIS
JOB. I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR MORE
THAN 15 YEARS, I WITNESSED HIS
PASSION FOR EARNESTLY ENGAGING
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
FIRSTHAND WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER
AT THE TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. I CAN
ATTEST WITH INTEGRITY, HIS
INTEGRITY, DEDICATION AND
EARNESTNESS. HE IS A GENUINELY
GOOD PERSON MOTIVATED TO FIND
SOLUTIONS THAT WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. AND, I JUST OFFER THIS
AS A 17 YEAR RESIDENT WITH TWO
KIDS IN THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS , THANK YOU. I STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO CASTE YOUR VOTE FOR
ADONIS DUCKSWORTH.
>> NEXT IS JIM BUCHANAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS. I AM JIM
BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THE
WASHINGTON STATE -- I AM HERE
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
CHUKUNDI SALISBURY TO OCCUPY
THE VACANT SEAT IN THE SECOND
DISTRICT. HE IS AN IMPORTANT
PRODUCT OF OUR COMMUNITY. OVER
THE YEARS I HAVE SEEN HIM
CONSISTENTLY TACKLE HARD
SUBJECTS LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY,
YOUTH MENTORSHIP, LEGACY
HOMEOWNERSHIP, PRESERVATION,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ART AND
CULTURE.'S CONTRIBUTION TO OUR
CITY IS INVALUABLE. HAVING HIM
IN THE CITY COUNCIL ADDS TO THE
EXISTING TALENT OF COUNCIL AND
ELEVATES ITS ARMS TO STRETCH TO
TRINITY MORE EFFECTIVELY. 'S
COMMUNICATION THAT SHE
COMMUNICATES WELL AND HAS GREAT
SENSITIVITY TO LISTENING TO
OTHERS IN UNDERSTANDING POINTS
OF VIEW. HE ALSO HAS GREAT
MORALS, VALUES AND STRONG
CONVICTION. HE IS A TURNKEY HIT
THE GROUND RUNNING. HE
POSSESSES ALL THE SKILLS WE
NEED TO MAKE THE CITY MORE
EFFECTIVE FOR ALL. I ASK YOU
COLLECTIVELY TO VOTE TO PUT
CHUKUNDI SALISBURY IN THE OPEN
SEAT IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
DOUG HUNTER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM DOUG
HUNTER, SEATTLE RESIDENT,
NATIVE AND HOMEOWNER. I AM ALSO
HERE TO LEND MY FULL SUPPORT TO
ADONIS DUCKSWORTH FOR THE
DISTRICT 2 SEE. I'VE KNOWN HIM
FOR FIVE YEARS AND FIND HIM TO
BE AN EMPATHETIC, COMPASSIONATE
PERSON WITH GREAT COMMON SENSE
BASED ON HIS PERSONAL AND
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I DO
BELIEVE HIS PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
AND HE WOULD BRING LEADERSHIP
TO IT. I'M GOING TO SPEAK
BRIEFLY ON THE PERSONAL SIDE. I
HAVE OBSERVED HIS PASSION FOR
THE COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS
CAPACITIES, INCLUDING HIS
INVOLVEMENT IN THE
SKATEBOARDING COMMUNITY. I HAVE
A SON WHO GREW UP IN THE CITY
SKATEBOARDING, HE REMAINS VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT IT AND HE
ALWAYS MENTIONS THE COMMITTEE
ASPECT OF IT WHICH IS VIBRANT,
INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE. MORE
OFTEN THAN NOT WHEN HE COMES
HOME AFTER A SESSION HE SAYS, I
WONDER WHAT OUR SOCIETY WOULD
BE LIKE IF WE COULD ALL SAY
THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS. I KNOW
ADONIS BELIEVES ON ONE AND ONE
BUILDING --
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS OVER AS.
THEN ROSE.
>> EDWARD LIN IS THE PRIME
CHOICE FOR DISTRICT 2. HE
CHALLENGED THE IDEA THAT THE
NEW MINIMUM WAGE WAS CAUSING
BUSINESSES TO CLOSE. HE BEGAN
WITH, I SUPPORT OUR WORKERS WHO
ARE STRUGGLING AS WELL. HE
SAID, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ,
"WILL ULTIMATELY SUPPORT OUR
WORKERS AND OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES. " EDWARD LIN
SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESS TAX
CUTS AND HELP WITH BUSINESS
EXPENSES LIKE ACCOUNTANTS,
LAWYERS, ET CETERA. TO FIGURE
OUT APPLICABLE TAX BENEFITS TO
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. EDWARD
LIN CLEARLY MAKES THE
CONNECTION THAT BOTH WORKER
WAGES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO THE SUCCESS
OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN LITTLE
SAIGON, COLUMBIA CITY, AND
ACROSS ALL NEIGHBORHOODS.
EDWARD LIN --
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS ROSE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. PRESIDENT OF
CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE
HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF CHUKUNDI
SALISBURY. I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR
OVER 30+ YEARS. IME 50 YEAR
RESIDENT IN SEATTLE. I GREW UP
IN SEATTLE. I GRADUATED FROM
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL. I
GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON AND SEATTLE YOU.
I HAVE SERVED WITH CHUKUNDI
SALISBURY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
HE'S INTERGENERATIONAL . HE
HAS WORKED AS A BUSINESS OWNER,
HE HAS WORKED WITH SEVERAL OF
US WERE BUSINESS OWNERS. HE
KNOWS THE COMMUNITY. HE HAS
SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY. HE HAS
DONE HIS BEST TO BRING ALL OF
US TOGETHER. SO, I PERSONALLY
HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK WITH HIM. I BELIEVE THAT
HE WOULD BE THE RIGHT CHOICE
FOR THIS SEAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
MICHAEL. THEN VIOLET.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MICHAEL. I
AM A RESIDENT , SEATTLE
RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 5 IN THE
PINEHURST COMMUNITY. I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF MEETING ADONIS
DUCKSWORTH TWO YEARS AGO IN
WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON. IS A
LEADER AND MENTOR IN MY
COMMUNITY I RECOGNIZED A
LIKE-MINDED FOCUS, EMPATHETIC
FATHER AND COMMITTEE LEADER.
HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
KNOW HIM BETTER I AM PROUD AND
EXCITED TO SUPPORT HIS EFFORTS
TO JOIN THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL FOR THE VACANT SEAT IN
DISTRICT 2. I'M ACTIVELY
INVOLVED IN FOSTERING GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE
WITH THE SNOWBOARDING AND
SKATEBOARDING. AS A FATHER I AM
VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIS
DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING HIS
DAUGHTER IN HER PROGRESSION AS
AN ASPIRING YOUNG SKATEBOARDER
AND SNOWBOARDER. HIS CONTINUED
SUPPORT OF HER WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY IS A INSPIRING AND I
LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS AND IT SHOWS ME
HE CARES ABOUT SUPPORTING YOUTH
BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES. FOR
HIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION HE
HAS SHOWN ME THAT NOTHING IS
MORE IMPORTANT --
>>
>> NEXT
>> NEXT I AM A SEATTLE
RESIDENT. I LIVED THERE FOR
MANY YEARS. I AM CALLING IN IN
STRONG SUPPORT FOR ADONIS
DUCKSWORTH. FOR DISTRICT 2. HE
WOULD BE AN ADDED ASSET TO THE
CITY COUNCIL RIGHT NOW ,
WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHERS.
HE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE
COMMUNITY, HAVING DEEP
CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF US.
DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES . HE HAS
A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE
CITY WORKS. I WAS IMPRESSED, HE
IS A FAMILY MAN, HE LOVES THE
COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS PERSON
WOULD STRONGLY BE AN ASSET TO
THE CITY COUNCIL. WE HAVE A
GOOD COUNCIL TEAM AND ADONIS
DUCKSWORTH WOULD ADD TO THAT. I
AM IN STRONG SUADONIS
DUCKSWORTH, I HOPE YOU VOTE FOR
HIM. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CALEB
AND THEN JUNE. GO AHEAD, CALEB.
>> CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> MY NAME IS CALEB. I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY
AND I AM HERE TO RECOMMEND
CHUKUNDI SALISBURY FOR THE
VACANCY. I HAVE SEEN IN THE
COMMUNITY , EVEN BEFORE I TOOK
ON THE ROLE OF THE NONPROFIT,
SINCE I HAVE JOINED HE HAS
TAKEN ME WITH OPEN ARMS AND
ACCEPTED ME. I HAVE SEEN
WORKING WITH HIM, HE CARES
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEEPLY.
TWO, HE IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ON ALL
THE SUBJECTS THAT THE COMMUNITY
CARES ABOUT. WHEN DESCRIBING A
PROBLEM HE CHOOSES TO DIAGNOSE
BY LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY
AND BEING INVOLVED. HEARING IT
FIRSTHAND. HE CONSULTS WITH
EXPERTS AND HOLDS THAT VISION
OF THE COMMUNITY WILL
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM AT A
HIGHER LEVEL. AND THEN MAKES A
PRESCRIPTION EVERYONE IN THE
COMMUNITY CAN GET BEHIND
BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD AND KNOWS
HOW WE FEEL. HE HAS BEEN ON
MULTIPLE BOARDS INCLUDING THOSE
THAT CARE ABOUT HOUSING, CARE
ABOUT THE TREE CANOPY. THE LAST
THING I WILL SAY IS HE NOT ONLY
SERVES THE CITY OF SEATTLE --
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JUNE.
AFTER JUNE WILL BE EMILY JONES.
>> I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
2 WHICH IS THE MOST DIVERSE
AREA OF SEATTLE BY SEVERAL
FACTORS. THE RICH DIVERSITY IS
AT RISK BECAUSE OF
GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT
AS WELL AS OTHER FORCES. SOUTH
SEATTLE IS ALSO AN OUR MENTAL
JUSTICE PRIORITY AREA. OUR
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ARE
THREATENED BY LOSS OF TREE
CANOPY. WE NEED A COUNCILMEMBER
WHO CAN STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE
OF DISTRICT 2 NOW IN THIS
CRITICAL PERIOD BEFORE THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION. SOMEONE WHO
CAN STAND UP FOR A ROBUST
DISPLACEMENT PLAN BEFORE THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN IS APPROVED.
WHO CAN STAND UP FOR A REVISED
TREE ORDINANCE THAT PROTECTS
TREES ON LOTS UNDERDEVELOPMENT
WHICH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE
DOES NOT. I'M GOING TO LISTEN
CLOSELY TO THE CANDIDATE
ANSWERS BUT I BELIEVE ADONIS
DUCKSWORTH IS THE BEST
CANDIDATE TO REPRESENT DISTRICT
2. HE HAS BOTH LIFE AND WORK
EXPERIENCE TO PREPARE HIM FOR
THE ROLE AT THIS TIME. I'M
IMPRESSED BY HIS INTENTION TO
MAKE SURE THE VOICES OF PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN SOUTH SEATTLE ARE
HEARD. AS THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN
WAS FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY
JONES.
>> MY NAME IS EMILY JONES. I AM
CALLING INTO VOICE MY SUPPORT
FOR ADONIS DUCKSWORTH FOR THE
DISTRICT 2 , I LIVED IN VOTED
IN SOUTH SEATTLE FOR THE LAST
18 YEARS AND I HAVE KNOWN HIM
FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. I HAVE
LEARNED HE IS DEEPLY CARING AND
CONSIDERATE. HE CARES ABOUT HIS
FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE. I BELIEVE
HIS UNIQUE PERSONALITY TRAITS,
INCLUDING HIS CREATIVITY ,
COMPASSION AND LIFELONG
LEARNING MAKE HIM THE BEST
CHOICE TO BRING A CREATIVE AND
INFORMED APPROACH TO TACKLE THE
ISSUES THAT MODEL -- MATTER THE
MOST. HE IS INCREDIBLY CURIOUS
AND MAKES THE EFFORT TO GET TO
KNOW EVERYONE ON A PERSONAL
LEVEL. IT IS OBVIOUS HE CARES
ABOUT OTHERS AND WHAT THEY HAVE
TO SAY. I'M CONFIDENT THIS
ATTITUDE WILL TRANSLATE INTO
UNIQUE ABILITY TO SPEAK OUT
CONSIDER PERSPECTIVES. HE WILL
REPRESENT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A
DIVERSE CROSS-SECTION OF
COMMITTEE MEMBERS INCLUDING
THOSE WHO DON'T ALWAYS HAVE A
VOICE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARTHA
AND THEN MIKE MULLEN.
>> HELLO, PROUD RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE. MY BOYS GRADUATED FROM
HIGH SCHOOL AND I LIVE A FEW
BLOCKS FROM THE STATION. THE
COUNCIL WILL FACE A DIFFICULT
DECISION AND DEEP COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT WILL BE CRITICAL
MOVING FORWARD. BECAUSE OF THE
SITE WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT
FOR . [ INDISCERNIBLE-LOW
VOLUME ] HE IS WORKED ACROSS A
SPECTRUM OF STAKEHOLDERS
INCLUDING MULTIPLE BUSINESSES,
CURRENTLY SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I HAVE KNOWN
HONG CHHUOR THROUGH YEARS OF
SERVICE IN NONPROFITS. HE HAS
WORKED TO ADVOCATE FOR
EQUITABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
SHELTER, AND EMERGENCY. HE
SPENT A LARGE PART OF HIS
CAREER STUDYING FINANCE AND
NONPROFIT WHERE HE BUILT TRUST
IN THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SEATTLE --
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
MIKE. THEN DAVID.
>> MY NAME IS MIKE, I'M
CALLING TO SUPPORT ADONIS
DUCKSWORTH. I GAVE MY SUPPORT
AT THE JANUARY 17 MEETING IN A
DETAILED LETTER TO EACH
COUNCILMEMBER. ALTHOUGH THE
OTHER CANDIDATES MIGHT BE
QUALIFIED TO FILL THE DISTRICT
2 POSITION, I CAN'T COMMENT ON
THAT, BUT WHAT I CAN STATE
DEFINITIVELY BASED ON MY DIRECT
EXPERIENCE OF ADONIS DUCKSWORTH
IN WORK, VOLUNTEER AND AL
MATTERS, HE IS EXTREMELY
QUALIFIED. AND HAS A STRONG AND
HONEST DESIRE TO BE OF SERVICE
TO SEATTLE AND THE PEOPLE OF
DISTRICT 2. HE HAS MY FULL
SUPPORT BASED ON HIS SELFLESS
AND DEEP COMMITMENT TO BE OF
SERVICE, THOUGHTFUL, EDUCATED
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HE CARES.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID.
THEN BRENDAN.
>> THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES.
THIS IS A 10 MONTH JOB
SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO LAND
USE. THADDAEUS GREGORY HAS THE
RESUME TO PROVIDE THE
EXPERTISE. HE IS MOTIVATED TO
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON
LAND-USE. THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE CHAIR. WE DON'T NEED
SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A LAND-USE
EXPERT. LEARNING ON THE JOB THE
WHOLE 10 MONTHS. I HATE TO SAY
THIS, BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE
KNOWN THAT LISTENING TO THE
MODERATOR WHO I THINK MIGHT BE
A RADIO DJ. NO OFFENSE, THAT
MODERATOR IS KIND OF PATHETIC,
INCOMPETENT AND UNPROFESSIONAL.
IT WAS PAINFUL TO LISTEN TO. I
THINK IT TOOK 35 MINUTES TO GET
TO THE FIRST QUESTION. BECAUSE
HE HAD ALL THIS OTHER
IRRELEVANT STUFF TO SAY. THAT
HE STARTED INTERRUPTING PEOPLE
WITH HIS 15 SECOND WARNING THAT
DIDN'T LAST 15 SECONDS AND
THEN CHANGE IT TO 10 SECONDS
AND THEN FORGOT TO ASK PEOPLE
QUESTIONS. IT WAS PROOF WE NEED
SOMEONE MORE PROFESSIONAL TO
START OFFERING THE PUBLIC FORUM
MODERATION. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS BRENDAN.
THEN RUBY.
>> MY NAME IS BRENDAN, I AM
HERE TO OFFER MY SUPPORT TO
ADONIS DUCKSWORTH FOR THE CITY
COUNCILMEMBER IN DISTRICT 2.
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR EIGHT YEARS
AND FIND THEM TO BE MARKEDLY
INQUISITIVE, THOUGHTFUL AND
KIND HUMAN BEING. HIS
EXPERIENCE LENT ITSELF TO BE
SUPER ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY
AND IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE IS
UNPARALLELED IN WATCHING HOW HE
DEALS WITH FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY. HE HAS MY FULL
SUPPORT AND I HOPE YOU SELECT
HIM. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS RUBY.
>> MY NAME IS RUBY. ALTHOUGH I
AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3, MY
MOST CHERISHED MEMORIES ARE THE
DISTRICT OF MY BIRTH AND EARLY
CHILDHOOD, DISTRICT 2. IT WAS A
MAGICAL CHILDHOOD IN A MAGICAL
PLACE. IT IS WHERE MY LOVE OF
ART AND NATURE WAS BORN. IT IS
WHERE I LIVED WHEN MY DAD, U.S.
VETERAN, DIED AND WHERE I STILL
HAVE FAMILY. I TRUST CHUKUNDI
SALISBURY TO HONOR MY FAMILIES
DISTRICT 2 LEGACY AND KEEP
DISTRICT 2 INTACT AS WE
NAVIGATE HB 110, THE COMP PLAN
IN THE GOVERNOR'S
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MANDATE TO
DISTRICT 2 RESIDENCE. UP ZONING
DOES NOT EQUAL DISPLACEMENT,
HOWEVER AS CITY COUNCIL
CANDIDATE ROB SAID IN HIS 2015
DEBATE ON THE SEATTLE PANEL,
YOU CAN UPS ON THEM TO
ENCOURAGE TURNOVER . IN OTHER
WORDS, TO DISPLACE US. THAT IS
WHAT HAPPENED.
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE
PUBLIC HAS BEEN PAYING
ATTENTION TO THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
INPUT. WE ARE MOVING ONTO THE
NEXT -- TO THE ONE ITEM ON OUR
AGENDA, THE NEXT IS
PRESENTATIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL
CANDIDATES. AT THIS TIME I
WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO
COME TO THE TABLE. THERE ARE
NAMETAGS TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT
WHERE TO SIT. AND THIS IS HOW
IT WILL GO. FIRST WE WILL: EACH
FINALIST IN A MEDICAL ORDER BY
LAST NAME. EACH CANDIDATE WILL
HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS
THE COUNCIL AND PUBLIC.
FOLLOWING THAT, AND I WILL
REPEAT THIS AGAIN, EACH
COUNCILMEMBER WILL HAVE 10
MINUTES TO USE ANY WAY THEY SEE
FIT. FOR EXAMPLE YOU CAN ASK
THE SAME QUESTION OF EVERY
CANDIDATE. YOU CAN ASK A SUBSET
OF PARTICULAR QUESTIONS. YOU
CAN ASK THEM TO FOLLOW-UP ON AN
ANSWER THEY GAVE PREVIOUSLY.
HOWEVER YOU WANT, I WILL JUST
SAY IT WILL BE UP TO YOU TO
MANAGE RESPONSES TO YOUR
QUESTIONS. THINK ABOUT THAT AS
WE GO FORWARD. WE ARE NOW
PROCEEDING. THAT IS AN
INTERRUPTION. THIS IS
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR. IF THERE
IS ANOTHER OUTBURST YOU WILL BE
ASKED TO LEAVE. ALL RIGHT,
WELCOME, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU
FOR COMING TODAY. ALL RIGHT,
YOU KNOW HAVE THREE MINUTES
EACH TO TELL US MORE ABOUT
YOURSELVES AND, JUST SO YOU
KNOW, THE TIMER ON THE CLERKS
DESK WILL TURN YELLOW TO ALERT
YOU THAT YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS
REMAINING BEFORE YOUR TIME
EXPIRES. JUST TO BE FAIR,
MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED AT
THE END OF THREE MINUTES. WITH
THAT WE WILL PROCEED ENOUGH
MEDICAL ORDER. BY LAST NAME
STARTING WITH HONG CHHUOR. WAIT
A SECOND WILL BE PULL UP -- ALL
RIGHT. MAKE SURE IT IS VISIBLE
TO FOLKS. OKAY. PLEASE PROCEED.
>> SEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS I'M
HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU
TODAY AND GRATEFUL TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR APPOINTMENT. I
AM GRATEFUL FOR THE PROCESS,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BECAUSE I
WAS ABLE TO INTERACT WITH MOST
CUSTOMERS AND CANDIDATES AND I
GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE HUMAN
BEINGS THAT EACH OF YOU ARE AND
IN TURN HAVE YOU LIFT UP MY OWN
HUMANITY. BECAUSE OF THAT SOME
OF THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND
EVEN TEARS WERE WORTH IT.
PURSUING PUBLIC OFFICE WASN'T
WHAT I HAD IN THE CARDS
2025. WHEN PEOPLE I RESPECTED
ASKED ME IF I WOULD PUT MY NAME
IN THE HAT FOR THE APPOINTMENT
I TOLD THEM I WOULD THINK ABOUT
IT. AFTER MANY CONVERSATIONS
WITH MY FAMILY AND OTHERS, I
REALIZED MY UNIQUE BLEND OF
LIVED IN PROFESSIONAL EXPENSES
AND THE RELATIONSHIPS I HAVE
BUILT OVER MORE THAN 15 YEARS
OF SERVICE TO DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES GIVE ME INSIGHTS
AND PERSPECTIVES VALUABLE IN
ADDRESSING OUR CITY'S BIGGEST
CHALLENGES. THOSE INCLUDE
ADVANCING PUBLIC SAFETY,
INVESTING IN A THRIVING LOCAL
ECONOMY, AND ADDRESSING OUR
HOUSING FOR ABILITY AND HOUSING
HOMELESS CRISIS. MANY
CANDIDATES BRING CRAFTING
POLICY AND NAVIGATING THE INS
AND OUTS OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
OTHERS HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF
COMMITTED ENGAGEMENT AND
ACTIVISM. SO WHAT WOULD I
BRING? AND THE FIRST AND ONLY
PERSON IN MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY
TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. I WAS
A RENTER AND I LIVED IN
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. I JUGGLED
MULTIPLE HOURLY TIME JOBS INTO
MY 30 30s. I KNOW WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO LAND TIPS TO BUY
GROCERIES BECAUSE RENT TAKES UP
A PAYCHECK. I UNDERSTAND WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO WITNESS THE
OVERALL ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF OUR
REGION AND FEEL LIKE I AM
STRUGGLING TO KEEP A. THROUGH
MY FAMILY BUSINESS, I GET TO BE
PART OF DEFINING THE CHARACTER
MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I GET TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY NEIGHBORS
AND HIRE THEIR KIDS. I GET TO
DONATE TO SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS. I
GET TO MAKE PEOPLE SMILE BY
PROVIDING SWEET, FRIED DOUGH. I
CAN HELP GROW THE VOICES OF
SMALL BUSINESSES. IS A
NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL HAVE
SERVED THOSE WHO RELY ON
GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO BECOME
CITIZENS, GET JOBS, ACCESS
HEALTHCARE, REGISTERED TO VOTE,
LEAVE HOMELESSNESS BEHIND. SEEK
TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION, AND
SUPPORT YOUTH IN REALIZING THE
POWER AND POTENTIAL. I CAN HELP
RECONCILE LEGISLATIVE AND
POLICY INTENT WITH REAL-LIFE
IMPACT. MY COMMUNITY SERVICE
BEGAN 15 YEARS AGO WHEN I
HELPED TO REVIVE THE CAPITOL
HILL COMMITTEE COUNCIL. SOME
FOLKS I MET THROUGH THAT
EXPERIENCE REACHED OUT TO ME
WITH ENCOURAGEMENT WHEN THEY
LEARNED I WAS SEEKING
DISAPPOINTMENT. I WAS REMINDED
ABOUT THE POWER OF
RELATIONSHIPS, ACCOUNTABILITY
AND BUILDING TRUST. WHETHER OR
NOT I AM APPOINTED, I HOPE I
AM, I WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER
WITH FOLKS LIKE QUINN AT
FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON, JAMIE
AND JARED, JEFF AT THE CI BDI
A, THERE'S AND MANY OTHERS
EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE CITY'S
GEMS. IS A LONGTIME VOLUNTEER
AND BOARD MEMBER IT BREAKS MY
HEART TO SEE WHAT HAS BECOME OF
THE AREA AROUND LAMB SEAFOOD,
THE VETERANS COMMUNITY HALL. IT
IS CRITICAL WE HAVE SOME ON THE
COUNCIL WHO UNDERSTANDS AND HAS
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITIES AND COULD BE A
CHAMPION FOR ALL GOOD THINGS
HAPPENING IN THE CID, LITTLE
SAIGON AND ALL OF DISTRICT 2.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> I CANNOT SEE THE CLOCK.
THERE WE GO. PLEASE PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS,
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. TO MAKE
SEATTLE MORE WELCOMING, SAFE,
VIBRANT AND AFFORDABLE. KIDS,
CULTURE AND COMMITTEE. THOSE
ARE MY VALUES. KEEPING KIDS
SAFE. I WANT TO KEEP MY KIDS
SAFE AND THEIR FRIENDS SAFE. I
WANT TO KEEP THEM SAFE WHEN
THEY WALK TO SCHOOL, TAKE THE
BUS DOWNTOWN OR GO TO THE PARK.
CULTURE. I GREW UP ON BEACON
HILL. I REMEMBER IN 1993 I
TURNED 18 WHICH WAS AROUND THE
TIME OF THE GRUNGE ERA. I
REMEMBERED GOING TO SEE
SOUNDGARDEN AT MEMORIAL
STADIUM. PLAY GOLF AT JEFFERSON
PARK, SHOT ONE UNDER PAR AND
WON. I WAS A BALLBOY FOR THE
SONICS FOR TWO YEARS. THOSE
WERE VERY DEFINING MOMENTS IN
SEATTLE CULTURE. I WANT TO
PRESERVE, CELEBRATE AND PUSH
FORWARD CULTURE IF I SHOULD GET
THIS APPOINTMENT. COMMUNITY. I
HAVE WORKED FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR CLOSE TO 10 YEARS.
I HAVE A CAREER IN OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT AND THROUGH MY
CAREER I HAVE BEEN ALL ABOUT
BRINGING COMMUNITIES IN THE
CONVERSATION RATHER THAN
EXCLUDING. THIS IS HOW YOU GET
THINGS DONE. PROJECTS I HAVE
BEEN PART OF AND GOT BILLED,
SUCH AS 23rd AVENUE, EDISON
PRT, THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE, I
HAVE ALSO BEEN PART OF KEY
LEGISLATION, KEY POLICY AND
LEGISLATION THAT IS THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND
TRANSPORTATION LEVY. I KNOW HOW
TO GET THINGS DONE. I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO STEP INTO THIS ROLE
AND WORK AS A COUNCILMEMBER TO
ADOPT THE CONFERENCE OF PLAN.
WORK ON LEGISLATION. BE
RESPONSIVE TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT WORK THERE
ARE FIVE THINGS I WILL BE
PRIORITIZING OVER THE NEXT 10
MONTHS. THESE ARE THINGS I KNOW
CAN BE DONE. NUMBER ONE,
ADDRESS THE STATE OF EMERGENCY
IN THE CID LITTLE SAIGON.
NUMBER TWO, MAKE RAINIER AVENUE
SAFER. NUMBER THREE, ADOPT A
RESOLUTION THAT OUTLINES A
FRAMEWORK FOR HOW THE CITY
SHOULD BE ENGAGING WITH THE
COMMUNITY. NUMBER FOUR, HOST
SPD RECRUITING AND OUTREACH
FARES IN EVERY DISTRICT 2
NEIGHBORHOOD. NUMBER FIVE, GIVE
KIDS A DIFFERENT PATH. THAT'S
WHY WANT TO BREAK GROUND ON THE
RAINIER BEACH SKATE PARK. I'M
GOING TO STOP FOR A MOMENT,
TAKE A LISTEN. MY LIFE AND
CAREER HAS LED ME TO THIS
MOMENT. THIS IS JUST A
CONTINUATION OF THE WORK I HAVE
BEEN DOING. MANY PEOPLE IN AND
GETTING RESULTS. I ALSO WANT TO
TAKE THIS MOMENT TO JUST BE ON
THE RECORD AND SAY, IF I DO GET
THIS APPOINTMENT, I HAVE TALKED
WITH MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, AND
HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO RUN
FOR THE SEAT SHOULD I GET THIS
APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
>> MY NAME IS THADDAEUS
GREGORY. WE ARE GATHERED HERE
AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN CITY
HISTORY. THROUGHOUT D2 AND
ACROSS THE CITY WE FACE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. WE
NEED TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR
UNHOUSED COMMITTEE MEMBERS. AND
THE SPIRALING IMPACTS OF PUBLIC
SAFETY CHARGES THAT THREATEN
THE LIVABILITY OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND VITALITY OF
SMALL BUSINESSES. THE
CHALLENGES OUR CITY FACES ARE
SYSTEMIC. THEY MUST BE
ADDRESSED THROUGH SYSTEMIC
CHANGES. THERE IS NO STRONGER
TOOL TO CREATE THIS CHANGE IN
THE CONFERENCE A PLAN. THE SAME
PLAN CITY COUNCIL WILL SHAPE
OVER THE NEXT MONTHS. IS A
LAND-USE LAWYER, I KNOW
FIRSTHAND THE IMMENSE POTENTIAL
PLANNING DOCUMENTS HAVE TO
FOSTER A STRONGER SOUTH AND AND
50. I ENGAGE WITH THEM EVERY
DAY. I WORK ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS. IN EACH OF YOUR
DISTRICTS. USING THESE
DOCUMENTS TO CREATE THE FIRST
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
HOUSING THE FIGHTS AGAINST
DISPLACEMENT. THAT PROVIDES
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO LIVE
IN OUR COMMUNITIES . AND
INCORPORATES COMMERCIAL SPACE
TO ALLEVIATE FOOD DESERTS AND
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES TO THRIVE. I WORK IN
THE REGION HAS PRESERVED
INDUSTRIAL LAND, STRENGTHENING
THE SECTORS AND PROTECTING
BLUE-COLLAR UNION JOBS THAT
HELP THE BACKBONE OF OUR
ECONOMY. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND THROUGHOUT D2 MANY
NEIGHBORS FALL ASLEEP TO THE
CRACK OF GUNSHOTS AND SIRENS.
I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL
OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES
DISCUSSING HAD TO BETTER SERVE
OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT IS WHY I
HAVE ORGANIZED AND PARTICIPATED
IN THE EVENTS ALONGSIDE LEADERS
AT THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
DISCUSSING HOW COMMUNITY
INFORMED ELEMENT CAN STRENGTHEN
OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOW URBAN
DESIGN PRINCIPLES CAN CREATE A
SAFER CITY. PROTECTING OUR
COMMUNITY MEANS TAKING
CORRECTIVE STEPS TO AVOID
PROBLEMS. WE WANT TO WORK
ALONGSIDE THE COUNCIL TO
ACTIVELY ENGAGE COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS AND CID TO
PRESERVE THE STRONG HISTORICAL
LEGACY BUILT THERE. AS WE WERE
TO REVITALIZE BUSINESSES AND
HOUSING SERVING THE CID WE MUST
ALSO SAFEGUARDED AGAINST HARM
USING EQUITABLE INVESTMENT TO
REACTIVATE ITS STRENGTHS AND
SECURE THE UNREINFORCED MASONRY
ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST
ENDANGERED NEIGHBORHOODS AT
MORE RISK. IS A LIFELONG
RESIDENT, I WENT TO WASHINGTON
MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND OUT SERVES A
NONPROFIT BOARD SERVING
DISABLED RESIDENTS PROVIDING
CRITICAL EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR POC
YOUTH. THIS IS AND HAS BEEN MY
COMMUNITY. I LOVE MY COMMUNITY.
I LOVE MY CITY. WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE LASTING
POSITIVE CHANGE THAT WILL
REVERBERATE FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME I WANT TO USE MY LAND-USE
SKILLS AND LIVED EXPERIENCE IN
BUILDING A COMMUNITY TO CREATE
THIS CHANGE ALONGSIDE A
TALENTED CITY COUNCIL LIKEWISE
CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO
STRENGTHENING OUR BELOVED
SEATTLE. I HOPE YOU HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS EDWARD LIN AND I AM
HONORED TO BE HERE. IF
APPOINTED MY COMMITMENT IS TO
BE A GREAT COLLEAGUE TO YOU AND
TO BE ALL IN ON CONSTITUENT
SERVICES. I HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVE
MEMBER IN OUR COMMUNITY
SUPPORTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS , AT
WORK I ENJOY HELPING CLIENTS
SOLVE PROBLEMS AND ACHIEVE THE
GOALS. I WOULD TAKE THAT SAME
APPROACH OF SERVICE AND CARE TO
EMPOWER RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES OF THE TWO. WE KNOW
THE CID AND 12th AND JACKSON
NEEDS URGENT ATTENTION. I HAVE
BEEN TALKING WITH COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES
AND THE BIA AND WOULD BE
ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO WORKING
WITH THEM AND CBO'S LIKE
FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON TO
ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS OVER THE
NEXT 10 MONTHS. THE CID CANNOT
WAIT ANY LONGER. I KNOW WHOEVER
IS APPOINTED WILL HAVE TO JUMP
INTO COMMITTEE WORK . I
CONSIDER MYSELF A TEAM PLAYER
AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SERVE IN
ANY OF THE COMMITTEES IN
WHATEVER CAPACITY MAKES MOST
SENSE. THAT SAID, I LIKE TO
TOUCH ON HIGH MAY BE OF
SERVICE. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
WE MIGHT TALK ABOUT LAND-USE
LATER SO I WILL SAVE MY REMARKS
ON THAT. ANOTHER VACANCY IS
VICE CHAIR OF HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES , COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
WE CHATTED ABOUT HOUSING AND I
WOULD BE EXCITED TO WORK WITH
YOU ON ISSUES LIKE OPERATIONAL
CHALLENGES AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. ANOTHER ISSUE I AM
PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS YOUTH AND
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE CURRENT
LEVY PROVIDES CRITICAL SUPPORT
TO OUR D2 FAMILIES IN YOUTH
LIKE HEALTH CENTERS AND
SCHOOLS. AM EXCITED ABOUT THE
RENEWAL AND I WOULD LOVE TO
JOIN YOU IN THAT WORK,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AS CHAIR
AND VICE CHAIR OF LIBRARIES AND
EDUCATION . COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, I KNOW YOU CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT FIXING THE WRONGS
OF THE PAST AND THAT
PERPETUATING THE WRONGS OF THE
PAST WHEN IT COMES TO OUR COMP
PLAN. THE IMPACTS OF LOST
GENERATIONAL WEALTH, BILLIONS
FOR BLACK UNITY AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DUE TO
REDLINING AND PAST HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION. COMMENTS LIKE,
RUBY HOLLAND ADDRESSED ABOUT
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, WE NEED TO
HAVE STRONG ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
MEASURES AND I AM SO THANKFUL
YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
AS CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT
MLK AND RANIER ARE TO THE MOST
DANGEROUS CORRIDORS IN THE
CITY. I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH
YOU AND HOW TO ADDRESS THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THE GREAT
WORK OF YOUR COMMITTEE ON SMALL
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND
SUPPORT IS SO CRUCIAL TO THE
CID, TO RESTORING IT TO THE
GREAT PLACE WE KNOW CAN BE.
INTO HELPING THOSE BUSINESSES
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FUTURE EVENTS
LIKE THE WORLD CUP. AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, PUBLIC
SAFETY IS OBVIOUSLY A TOP
PRIORITY FOR D2 FROM LITTLE
SAIGON TO RAINIER BEACH. I LOVE
TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND ALL THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE
INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AND WITH ALL THE GREAT
COMMUNITY LEADERS HERE IN D2 TO
MAKE D2 A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE,
WORK, PLAY AND GO TO SCHOOL.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING
ME TODAY AND CONSIDERING ME FOR
THIS POSITION. IS A 27 YEAR
EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, AND A LONGTIME
ACTIVIST WITH A DEMONSTRATED
COMMITMENT TO DISTRICT 2 IN THE
ENTIRE CITY FOR THAT MATTER. I
WORKED CITYWIDE AS THE TRAILS
COORDINATOR WHERE I DIRECTED
THE GREEN SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP
INCLUDED THE YOUTH GREEN CORE
AND MANY ITEMS. HAVE A LONG
HISTORY OF SERVICE IN THIS
COMMUNITY AS AN EMPLOYEE. I
MOST CERTAINLY HAVE AN EVEN
LONGER HISTORY , WHICH I WON'T
NECESSARILY GO INTO ABOUT
EVERYTHING YOU CAN FIND ON MY
WEBSITE, I HAVE MANY EXAMPLES,
RECENT DEMONSTRATED ,
COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. TO THAT END I WOULD
LIKE TO BRING UP AT LEAST THREE
TOPICS RIGHT NOW. WE TALK ABOUT
THE COMP PLAN. IT IS IMPORTANT.
ONCE I SAW THE COMP PLAN COULD
DISPLACE MY COMMUNITY, I WENT
OUT AND FORMED A COALITION.
WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH MY
NEIGHBORS TO COME UP WITH OUR
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AGENDA. IT'S
NOT JUST, I WILL WORK ON THE
COMP PLAN, I HAVE WORKED ON THE
COMP PLAN AND OUR COMMENTS ARE
PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD AND I
THINK YOU MAY HAVE ARE COMMENTS
IN YOUR HAND NOW. I HAVE HANDED
THEM TO THE CLERK. THANK YOU
FOR READING OUR ANTI-DISPLACEME
NT AGENDA AND THAT AGAIN COMES
FROM A COALITION OF COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. PUBLIC SAFETY, I HAVE
CONVENED MANY EVENTS IN
RESPONSE TO GUN VIOLENCE. I
HAVE AN EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP
WITH PRECINCT COMMANDERS AND
CAPTAINS AND DETECTIVES IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHILE BEING
ON THE FRONT LINES AS A
VOLUNTEER WITH MOTHERS FOR
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. I HAVE
BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE
AND HAVE EIGHT LEVEL HEAD FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY. THE OTHER PIECES
EDUCATION. WE KNOW EDUCATION IS
GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT THIS
YEAR FOR THE PERSON WHO GETS
THIS POSITION. IS THE FOUNDER
OF 100 BLACK PARENTS, I HAVE
WORKED RECENTLY TO ADVOCATE FOR
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I DON'T
EVEN HAVE A STUDENT IN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MY SON IS IN
COLLEGE, BUT I SHOWED UP, WHEN
SCHOOLS WERE GETTING READY TO
GET CLOSED I WAS DOWN AT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS COUNCIL
MEETING. AND I SAT THERE AND
WORKED WITH THE FOLKS DOWN
THERE. THE POINT IS I HAVE A
HISTORY OF SHOWING UP AROUND
RECENT SCHOOL CLOSURES EVEN
WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE A CHILD OR
FAMILY IN THE SCHOOL. THE LAST
THING I WOULD SAY IN THE LAST
30 SECONDS I HAVE IS I WANT TO
ADVOCATE FOR THE COUNCIL TO
CHOOSE A CARETAKER. RIGHT? I
THINK OUR DISTRICT DESERVES A
PERSON WHO KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES
. I THINK OUR DISTRICT DESERVES
A TRUE CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A
ROBUST, DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. THE
EXPECTATION THAT A PERSON CAN
BE EFFECTIVE , AND EFFECTIVE
COUNCILMEMBER AND RUN AT THE
SAME TIME IS UNREALISTIC AND WE
WILL HANDICAP THAT CANDIDATE IN
THE DISTRICT AT THE SAME TIME.
PLEASE CONSIDER ME.
>> BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I HEARD
THERE WERE MATERIALS. I
APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE TURN ON THE
TIMER. YOU GO. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S GOOD
TO BE AMONG THIS COMPANY OF
PEOPLE YOU ARE CONSIDERING TO
BE YOUR NEXT COLLEAGUE. YOU
KNOW ME. I AM MARK SOLOMON. I
HAVE HEARD A LOT OF COMMENTS
RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. I AM
REALLY THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO
HAS 34 YEARS DIRECTLY INVOLVED
IN DELIVERING PUBLIC SAFETY
SOLUTIONS AND RESPONSES AND
WORK COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO ACTUALLY
DELIVER FOR THE PEOPLE OF D2.
BUT I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM
FOLKS , WHAT YOU DO OTHER THAN
PUBLIC SAFETY? IS THAT IT? IS
THAT YOUR ONLY BASKET? NO, IT
IS NOT. I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT I
THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY MORE
THAN JUST POLICE AND
FIREFIGHTERS. I WILL GIVE YOU
SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT. WHEN I THINK
ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, I HAVE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE THAT DO NOT HAVE
SIDEWALKS. WE NEED SIDEWALKS IN
RAINIER VIEW. I WANT TO WORK
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE SURE WE
CAN HAVE SIDEWALKS FOR
PEDESTRIANS SO THEY ARE NOT
WALKING ON THE STREET. TRAFFIC
SAFETY. IS A PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUE. ALONG RANIER BETWEEN
57th DOWN TO CITY LIMITS THERE
ARE NO TRAFFIC CONTROLS. WE
HAVE CARS THAT HAVE SLAMMED
INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S CARS AS
WELL AS PEOPLE'S HOUSES.
BECAUSE OF THE UNREGULATED
TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA. MY OWN
KID WAS SUBJECT TO -- WAS THE
VICTIM OF A CAR CRASH HEADING
NORTH, ANOTHER CAR HEADING
SOUTH, SPUN OUT OF CONTROL
BECAUSE OF SPEED AND HIT ON THE
PASSENGER SIDE. IF ALANA
WOULD'VE BEEN HIT ON THE
DRIVER SIDE A LOT OF WOULD'VE
BEEN DEAD. TALKING WITH
NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE ON THAT
STRETCH, ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO
TO PUT IN PLACE SOME KIND OF
TRAFFIC CONTROL MEASURES ,
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND
PERSONAL. I THINK ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IS A
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. WORKING
WITH BEACON HILL COUNCIL WE ARE
ADVOCATING FOR INCREASING THE
TREE CANOPY, INCREASING GREEN
SPACE AND MAINTAINING THE GREEN
SPACE WE HAVE. WORKING WITH THE
PORT OF SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY
AIRPORT ON THE MICRO
PARTICULATES AND HEALTH IMPACTS
HAVING ON OUR RESIDENTS,
ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS. HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS IS A PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUE. IF WE ARE TELLING
SOMEBODY WHO IS LIVING OUTSIDE
, AND LIVING OUTSIDE IS NOT
SAFE AND WE ARE TELLING THEM
YOU CAN'T BE HERE, WE'VE GOT
TO HAVE SOME PLACE FOR THEM TO.
WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. HE NEEDS TO BE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, NOT JUST
CONCENTRATED IN ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> WITH THAT WE WILL GO INTO
THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR MEETING.
EACH COUNCILMEMBER WILL BE
GIVEN 10 MINUTES TO PROVIDE
COMMENTS OR ASK CANDIDATES ANY
QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE. YOU
CAN DIVIDE YOUR TIME HOWEVER
YOU SEE FIT. THE TIMER ON THE
CLERK'S DESK WILL TURN YELLOW
TO ALERT YOU YOU HAVE 30
SECONDS REMAINING IN YOUR TIME.
AS I SAID BEFORE, IF YOU'RE
GOING TO BE ASKING THE WHOLE
PANEL A QUESTION, IT IS UP TO
YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE ABLE
TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THE
CANDIDATES AND EVERYONE HAS A
CHANCE TO SPEAK. HOWEVER YOU
WANT TO DO THAT IS UP TO YOU.
WE WILL START IN ROLLCALL
ORDER. THIS WEEK WE START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. PLEASE GO
AHEAD. THERE IS THE TIMER. GO
AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU. FOR CLARITY, I'M
GOING TO PLANT THE SEED NOW,
I'M GOING TO ASK TWO
QUESTIONS, ONE IS A YES OR NO
QUESTION PERTAINING TO THE
CARETAKER ISSUE. SECOND
PERTAINING TO THE COMP PLAN.
PLANT THE SEED NOW. GOOD
AFTERNOON DISTINGUISHED PANEL
OF CANDIDATES. I'M REALLY
HONORED TO SHARE THE SPACE WITH
YOU ALL. REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH YOU ALL IN MY OFFICE
PERSONALLY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT
WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH .
AND SHARE OUT MY PRIORITIES AND
WHAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY PARTNER
TOGETHER ON. IT HAS BEEN SUCH
GREAT PRIVILEGE. SO,
CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT
THIS FAR. IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT WEEK OR WHENEVER
WE ARE ANTICIPATED TO MAKE THE
FINAL DECISION, EVERY LAST ONE
OF YOU AND THE COMMUNITIES YOU
REPRESENT, WHICH TRANSCEND
DISTRICT 2 SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY
PROUD OF YOU RISING TO THIS
LEVEL TODAY. REGARDLESS OF WHAT
HAPPENS, I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER ON
ANY NUMBER OF THESE CHALLENGES.
SO CONGRATULATIONS. I LOVE
LISTENING TO ALL OF YOUR
STATEMENTS BECAUSE IT WAS VERY
CLEAR FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT
YOU ALL PAID ATTENTION TO OUR
CONVERSATION AND INCORPORATED
CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD
DIRECTLY TOGETHER WHICH IS VERY
LIKELY SAVVY IN A SMOOTH THING
TO DO. I HAVE BEEN CLEAR AND
CONSISTENT ABOUT MY PRIORITIES
FOR THIS PERSON IN THIS ROLE.
AND WHAT WILL ULTIMATELY GUIDE
MY PERSONAL DECISION-MAKING. I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO AREAS .
ONE IS A CARETAKER , AGAIN, I
BELIEVE THAT WE ARE NOT SETTING
ANYONE UP FOR SUCCESS BY
PUTTING SOMEONE IN THIS
POSITION THAT THEY MIGHT CHOOSE
TO RUN AGAIN, NOT SETTING THEM
UP FOR SUCCESS, OR CONSTITUENTS
IN THE BROADER CITY. FOR THOSE
REASONS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
NOW MORE THAN EVER WITH THE
COMPLEXITY AND VOLUME OF THE
WORK WE KNOW, WHO KNOWS WHAT WE
DON'T KNOW, COMING DOWN THE
PIKE. IT MAKES SENSE FOR A
CARETAKER, SOMEONE WHO'S GOING
TO COMMIT TO NOT RUNNING. THE
SECOND THING IS ALSO A PRIORITY
OF MINE. WILL JUST SHARE, THESE
REALLY SHARED PRIORITIES OF
WHOEVER ENDS UP IN THIS SEAT ON
AN APPOINTED OR ELECTED BASIS.
PRIORITIES OF YOUR WOULD BE
PREDECESSOR. THEY PRIORITIES OF
MINE OF CHAIR OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. NOT
JUST BECAUSE MY DISTRICT IS
OFTEN THE MOST IMPACTED, WE
WILL LEARN ABOUT THAT, BUT A
CITYWIDE PERSPECTIVE, I BELIEVE
THESE TWO POLICY AREAS
REPRESENT OUR GREATEST
CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
ME MACRO PERSPECTIVE
TRANSPORTATION POLICY. ONE IS
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY. VISION
ZERO. I HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER
OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS , TRAFFIC
DEATHS, SERIOUS BODILY
INJURIES, I HAVE THE HIGHEST
PROPORTION IN MY DISTRICT. UP
UNTIL RECENTLY DURING RECENT
REDISTRICTING THE DISTRICT 2
HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER. I
PICKED UP SODO AND THEREFORE
HIGHEST NUMBER. DISTRICT 2,
MARGINALLY BEHIND. TRAFFIC
SAFETY IS HUGE PARODY. HOW WE
CAN TAKE BETTER CARE OF ALL
PEOPLE AND SERVE ALL MODES ON
OUR ROADS. SECOND IS, AND I
THINK THAT SHOULD BE A SHARED
PRIORITY FOR WHOEVER ENDS UP IN
THE SEAT. SECOND IS MISSING
SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE A DEARTH OF
SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY. IS NO
SECRET. MYSELF, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
MISSING SIDEWALKS. I DISTRICT
HAS NUMBER TWO OUT OF ALL SEVEN
COUNCIL DISTRICTS. YOUR
DISTRICTS, DISTRICT 2, HAS THE
THIRD HIGHEST. AND UNDER THE
CURRENT PACE OF CONSTRUCTION IT
WOULD TAKE THE CITY 500 YEARS
TO FILL THAT GAP. 27% MISSING
SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY. 500
YEARS AT THE CURRENT RATE. DUE
TO TRANSFORMATIVE THINGS WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO MORE UNDER
THE RECENT VOTER APPROVED LEVY,
FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS THE SINGLE
BIGGEST ONE-TIME INVESTMENT IN
NEW SIDEWALKS SINCE CITY
HISTORY. WE NEED TO LOOK FOR
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO MORE .
ESPECIALLY IN THE LIMITED
RESOURCE ENVIRONMENT. THAT
MEANS POTENTIALLY REALLOCATING
RESOURCES AND DOING MORE. IT IS
A HUGE PRIORITY OF MINE. I
THINK THIS CITY, FROM A
TRANSPORTATION PERSPECTIVE, AND
WHOEVER ENDS UP IN THIS SEAT AS
A COLLEAGUE. ONTO THE
QUESTIONS. ONE IS REALLY SHORT.
YES OR NO. AND PERTAINS TO THE
CARETAKER ISSUE. TWO OF YOU
HAVE COMMITTED TO ME DIRECTLY
THE WOULD NOT, IF SELECTED, YOU
WOULD NOT CHOOSE TO RUN. SOME
OF YOU COULDN'T MAKE THAT
COMMITMENT AT THAT TIME. AND
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT
COMMITMENT AT THIS TIME AS
WELL. WHICH I TOTALLY
UNDERSTAND. LEAVING ROOM FOR
FLEXIBILITY. WE HEARD SOME
STRONG OPINIONS ON WHAT THEY
WOULD DO SELECTED. AND SOME
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. I
UNDERSTAND THAT. YES OR NO,
WOULD YOU DEFINITIVELY RULE OUT
RUNNING , THIS YEAR IN 2025, IF
APPOINTED . AS A LAWYER THERE
ARE AT LEAST TWO LAWYERS, LET
ME QUALIFY THAT, THERE ARE
COUPLE OF QUALIFICATIONS BEGIN
THERE. IF APPOINTED, AND THIS
YEAR. THAT MEANS OTHER YEARS,
AND IF YOU'RE NOT APPOINTED.
THE QUESTION IS, WOULD YOU
DEFINITIVELY RULE OUT RUNNING
THIS YEAR IF APPOINTED . GREEN
CARD MEANS YES. THE RED CARD
MEANS NO. ALL HOLD THEM UP,
PLEASE.
>> IF YOU'RE IN THE CAMP OF I
DON'T KNOW.
>> THE QUESTION IS WOULD YOU
DEFINITIVELY RULE OUT. IN THAT
CASE I WOULD SAY PROBABLY READ.
HOLD THEM UP. ACTUALLY, I HEARD
YOU SAY YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
BEING A CARETAKER. GREEN FOR
YOU.
>> MY BAD.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. MY NEXT
QUESTION, I HAVE THREE MINUTES
SO EVERYONE WILL HAVE 30 OR 45
SECONDS. COMP PLAN. THAT IS A
HUGE UNDERTAKING WE ARE
CONFRONTED WITH THIS YEAR
AMONGST MANY OTHER THINGS. WHAT
WOULD BE YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY
FOR THE COMP PLAN? WHAT WOULD
BE YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY THIS
YEAR AS A COUNCILMEMBER FOR THE
COMP PLAN? AND FAIRNESS TO HONG
WHO HAD TO FIRST LAST TIME, I
WILL START AT THIS END.
>> TO ENSURE AFFORDABILITY
THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
FOLLOWED BY -- ACTUALLY THEY
ARE IN TANDEM. WE NEED MORE
DENSITY, WE NEED THEM
THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND NOT JUST CONCENTRATED IN
ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY
TALKING ABOUT LOW INCOME
HOUSING, FOR HOUSING, TAX
CREDITS. HE NEEDS TO BE SPREAD
OUT RATHER THAN CONCENTRATED IN
D2 BECAUSE D2 HAS DENSITY BUT
DO WE HAVE AFFORDABILITY? THAT
IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT.
>> MY NUMBER ONE AGENDA WILL BE
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT,
STRENGTHENING THE
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MEASURES
WITHIN THE CURRENT COMP PLAN. I
COMMENTS ALONG WITH MIKE
COLLABORATORS HAVE BEEN NOTED
ON THE SITE. WE HAVE SOME
ACTUAL SKIN IN THE GAME. THIS
IS NOT ASPIRATIONAL. I HAVE
ACTUALLY READ THE PLAN WITH MY
TEAM. WE ALL COLLABORATED, AND
YOU HAVE A COMMENTS RIGHT HERE
FOR YOUR LEISURE WHEN YOU WANT
TO READ THEM.
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE THE MOST
RAPIDLY GROWING CITY IN THE
LAST DECADE AND WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO GROW RAPIDLY. THE
QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GROW
WITHOUT LOSING OUR IDENTITY?
FOR ME, THIS IS A CRITICAL
TIME, WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT.
WE HAVE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR
COMMITTEE, ESPECIALLY IN D2.
ALSO ANTI-DISPLACEMENT IS A
CRITICAL TOP PRIORITY, AS WELL
AS, HOW WE ENGAGE COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDINGS OUR COMMUNITY
BENEFITS FROM THIS UPDATE?
THANK YOU.
>> IS INVESTING IN DIVERSE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
MIXED USED DEVELOPMENT TO
ENSURE WE MAKE SPACE FOR SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS. ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO PURSUE THEIR ECONOMIC
PASSIONS IS CAPITALIZING ON
EXISTING OPTIONS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WHEN WE DO PUT IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PEOPLE ARE
ABLE TO GET AROUND THE CITY.
CREATING MORE SIDEWALKS IS PART
OF IT. WHICH IS MAKING SURE
PEOPLE CAN WALK FROM THERE
HOUSING TO THOSE TRANSPORTATION
OPTIONS.
>> FOR ME IT IS PLANNING,
DESIGNING AND BUILDING CITIES
FOR KIDS, ARE MOST VOLATILE
PEOPLE. THE CITY IT WORKS FOR
KIDS IT WILL WORK FOR
EVERYBODY. ENHANCING AND
PRESERVING THE CITY CULTURE.
AND UPLIFTING AND KEEPING
TOGETHER COMMUNITIES.
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT IS A HUGE ONE
FOR ME. KEEPING COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER BUT ALSO UPLIFTING AND
CELEBRATING COMMUNITIES. SO
KIDS, CULTURING COMMITTEE.
>> I'M GOING TO OVERRIDE , AND
IT WILL GIVE 30 SECONDS FOR THE
LAST ONE. BUT EVERYONE ELSE,
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
PLANNED IT SO EVERYONE CAN HAVE
A CHANCE TO SPEAK. THIS IS THE
ONLY TIME I'M DOING THAT
BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO LEAVE
ONE PERSON OUT.
>> WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE ALL IN
THIS CITY HAVE TO GET MORE
COMFORTABLE WITH DENSITY.
SEATTLE IS A CHANGING AND
EVOLVING CITY. WE ARE A DYNAMIC
CITY. PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE YOUR.
MY PRIORITIES, KNOWING THAT,
WOULD BE FOCUSING ON PROTECTING
THE MOST VULNERABLE. THAT MEANS
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT. NOT
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, BUT MAKING
SURE WE ARE AWARE THAT CAN
HAPPEN IN PREVENT IT WHERE IT
CAN. THE END RESULT I THINK WE
CAN COME FROM IS BY BUILDING
ENGAGEMENT AND TRUST AND
UNDERSTANDING THE PLAN ACROSS
THE CITY, MAKING SURE WE DO IT
IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES,
DIFFERENT MODES, MEETING PEOPLE
WHERE THEY ARE AT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL
RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
GO AHEAD.
>> I'M GOING TO SPEAK QUICKLY
BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE 10
MINUTES. I WISH I HAD MORE TIME
FOR YOU TO ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS. THAT IS WHAT I SENT
THEM AHEAD. I WILL GIVE YOU A
WARNING, I'M GOING TO SAY
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE CITY
OR MATTER BUT IT'S A FUN FACT.
IN MY SEATTLE CHANNEL INTERVIEW
IN DECEMBER INDICATED A
CARETAKER POSITION WAS WHAT I
WAS LOOKING FOR. I WILL SHARE
WITH YOU TODAY THAT I AM SO
HUMBLED AND IMPRESSED BY ALL
SIX OF YOU AFTER THE COMMUNITY
FORUM EARLIER THIS WEEK, I AM
EVALUATING PEOPLE ON THEIR
MERITS AND NOT NECESSARILY ON
THEIR CARETAKER. I DON'T INC.
THIS SERVES AS AN ADVANTAGE OR
DISADVANTAGE EITHER WAY. I AM
SO AGREEABLY HUMBLED AND
IMPRESSED BY THIS POOL. I WOULD
BE COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH ANY
OF YOU. FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT
MIDDLE SCHOOL DID YOU GO TO?
THE SECOND AND THIRD QUESTION
IS, THE PERSON WHO IS APPOINTED
TO FILL THIS VACANCY WILL CHAIR
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE AND HELP
THE COUNCIL ADOPT A NEW 20 YEAR
CONFERENCE OF PLAN. LAND-USE
EXPENSE, EXPERIENCE WOULD YOU
BRING TO THE COUNCIL? THE
SECOND PART IS HOW WOULD YOU
APPROACH THE DICHOTOMY OF OUR
CITY NEED FOR HOUSING AND
DENSITY WITH NEIGHBOR CONCERNS
THE DON'T WANT NEIGHBORHOODS
TO CHANGE. THE SECOND PART IS
MORE ABOUT VALUES. I'M NOT
INTERESTED TO KNOW YOUR
PRO-DENSITY OR ANTI-DENSITY.
MORE INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW YOU
APPROACH THIS WORK. I'M GOING
TO START RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
WITH EDWARD LIN AND WORK
TOWARDS HONG CHHUOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO TIME YOU, IF
YOU GET A MINUTE.
>> GIBBONS MIDDLE SCHOOL,
DURHAM NORTH CAROLINA. 15 YEARS
OF REAL ESTATE PRACTICE AS AN
ATTORNEY. THE PAST FIVE YEARS
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. I
DEEPLY FAMILIAR WITH OUR
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS IN THE
LAND-USE CODE. THOSE ARE THINGS
LIKE CHILDCARE BONUS, HOUSING,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONUS AND
THE MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORD
ABILITY PROGRAM. ANOTHER THING
I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON RECENTLY
WHICH IS BEFORE THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE NOW IS THE OFFICE TO
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION BILL.
ONE APPROACH I WOULD TAKE, PART
OF THE LAND-USE CODE , WE NEED
TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW
LAND-USE INTERACTS WITH OTHER
PARTS OF OUR PRIORITIES. THINGS
LIKE THE MULTI FAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION BILL. THINGS LIKE
MHA, ARE WE WORKING TOGETHER TO
REDUCE COSTS FOR DEVELOPMENT SO
WE CAN PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING? IN TERMS OF YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT VALUES ON THE
COMP PLAN, I THINK THIS COUNCIL
IS A GREAT CROSS-SECTION OF
SOME OF THE DEBATE IN
DISCUSSIONS WE ARE HAVING IS A
COMMUNITY. I THINK IT IS ALL
ABOUT LEANING IN. I THINK A LOT
OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT A
LOT OF THE SAME THINGS. WE
UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO APPLY BUT
IT'S ABOUT HOW AND WHERE AND
WHO BENEFITS. I REALLY BELIEVE
THIS COUNCIL THROUGH THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ARE GOING TO BE GREAT
LEADERS AND BRING THE COMMUNITY
TOGETHER TO HAVE A HARD
DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THADDAEUS.
>> I MENTIONED WASHINGTON AND I
ATTENDED U PREP. MY BACKGROUND
IS A LAND-USE ATTORNEY. EVERY
DAY AT WORK WITH COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS, PEOPLE BUILDING
OUR COMMITTEE. PEOPLE WHO ARE
HELPING BRING JOBS TO THE CITY.
AND ENSURE WE HAVE A COMMUNITY
WE LOVE AND ENJOY. I WAS ACTIVE
DURING THE MARITIME INDUSTRIAL
LAND STRATEGY. HELPING CREATE
HOUSING POCKETS. HELPING SECURE
INDUSTRIAL LAND. HELPING ENSURE
OUR TRANSPORTATION APPROACHES
WERE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT WE
HEARD FROM COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS. I HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS AS ZONE TRANSIT
PLANS IN THEIR EXPANSION,
ADVANCING PEOPLE'S CONCERNS
ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE
BUSINESSES AND HOMES. HAVE ALSO
-- AND FAMILIAR WITH MHA,
BONUSES, I WANT TO USE OUR
LAND-USE CODE TO HELP
ACCOMPLISH THE WORK THAT WE
WANT TO DO. WE NEED TO BRING
TOGETHER ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS,
OUR VALUES HAVE TO BE ONES THAT
BRING PEOPLE IN. BUT THAT ALSO
LISTENS TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
ALREADY IN PLACE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WENT TO MERCER MIDDLE
SCHOOL ON BEACON HILL. I MET MY
WIFE THERE. BACK IN 1988 AND WE
HAVE BEEN TOGETHER PRETTY MUCH
EVER SINCE. SO MERCER MIDDLE
SCHOOL. THAT IS THE SPOT.
LAND-USE. MY EXPERIENCE WITH
IT, I HAVE A BACHELORS DEGREE
IN URBAN STUDIES. A MASTERS
DEGREE IN PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION. I HAVE A MINOR
IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SYSTEMS. I DEFINITELY HAVE THE
EDUCATION FOR THAT. I INTERNED
AT THE CITY OF RENTON PLANNING
DEPARTMENT AND SINCE THEN MY
CAREER HAS BEEN IN
INFRASTRUCTURE. WE KNOW
LAND-USE AND THAT TYPE OF THING
IS NOT JUST ABOUT ZONING BUT
INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT IT. I
ALSO WORKED WITH MANY OF YOU ON
YOUR COMMITTEE SO I UNDERSTAND
HOW COMMITTEES WORK. SETTING
AGENDAS WITH DEPARTMENTS. AND
THEN DISCUSSING PASSING
LEGISLATION OUT OF THOSE
LEGISLATION COMMITTEES. THAT IS
PART ONE. IS A ONE MINUTE FOR
BOTH?
>> ONE MINUTE TOTAL. YOU WERE
THE FASTEST. HOW WOULD YOU
BALANCE THE VALUES OF NEEDING
TO BE DENSER WITH PEOPLE'S
DESIRE FOR NO CHANGE?
>> THAT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT,
TALKING ABOUT MERCER MIDDLE
SCHOOL, ME AND MY MOM LIVED IN
A TRIPLEX A COUPLE BLOCKS OFF
OF THE ARTERIAL. THAT TRIPLEX
DIDN'T LOOK ANY DIFFERENT FROM
ANY OTHER HOUSES ON THE BLOCK.
SO I HAD MY FRIENDS, WE HAD
ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE. ACCESS
TO TRANSIT. IT WAS GREAT AS A
KID GROWING UP. THINKING ABOUT
GOING FORWARD, I WANT TO
PROVIDE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY
FOR KIDS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WENT TO AUTO MIDDLE SCHOOL
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LAKE
WASHINGTON IN BELLEVUE. IN
TERMS OF LAND-USE, MY
EXPERIENCE COMES FROM BOTH MY
VOLUNTEER AND LIVED EXPERIENCE
AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN
TWO BROAD CATEGORIES. ON THE
VOLUNTEER SIDE THERE WAS A
COUPLE YEARS OF MY LIFE WHERE
TOD AND TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT WAS IN MY
VOCABULARY EVERY OTHER DAY.
VOLUNTEERING WITH THE CAPITOL
HILL COMMITTEE COUNCIL. AS I
MENTIONED I HAVE LIVED IN
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. I LIVED IN
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING HERE. FOR
ME IT IS ABOUT PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE OF WHAT WE CHOOSE TO
DO AND HOW I NAVIGATE SPACE. ON
THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE I HAVE
WORKED AT AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED TIME ALLIANCE OR WE
TALKED ABOUT LOOK AT THIS OPEN
SPACE, WHY CAN'T WE GROW FOOD?
IT TRANSLATED AND INTERSECTED
MY VOLUNTEER WORK WHEN
ADVOCATED A PARKING LOT TO
BECOME A PATCH ON CAPITOL HILL.
ON THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE I
WORKED AT PLYMOUTH HOUSING, A
HOUSING ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON
30% AND BELOW MI FOR THE MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR
POPULATION. ON THE PRIVATE
SIDE, WHEN OUR LEASE CAME UP
FOR KING DONUTS I WAS LOOKING
FOR A SPACE WHERE I CAN STAY IN
THE RAINIER BEACH AREA AND IT
WAS HARD. I WILL SAY THAT.
COMES TO THE SECOND PART OF THE
QUESTION, I WANTED TO ASK, WHY
DO WE LIMIT OURSELVES TO THAT
DICHOTOMY? TAKE A MOMENT TO
CONSIDER THE CHANGING NARRATIVE
AROUND CHANGING THE CHARACTER
NEIGHBORHOODS , IS A FORM OF
GATEKEEPING AND ARE WE A
SOCIETY THAT WANTS TO DEFAULT
TO I GOT HERE FIRST SO I WANT
TO MAKE THE RULES. THAT IS WHAT
I WOULD ASK PEOPLE.
>> I HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK
WITH THE DEPARTMENT AROUND
DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, PROBLEM
PROPERTIES WITHIN DISTRICT 2.
AND FAMILIAR WITH ZONING
ISSUES, LAND-USE ISSUES,
COMPLIANCE ISSUES. I BRING THAT
BOOTS ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCE.
AT THE SAME TIME I HEARD
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN BEING
DISCUSSED. I AM CERTIFIED IN --
I AM LOOKING AT THE COMP PLAN
AND HAVE SEEN CERTAIN AREAS IN
THE COMP PLAN WHERE WE CAN
INSERT THE LANGUAGE. I AM
WORKING WITH A GROUP RIGHT NOW
TO CODIFY IT INTO OUR
PERMITTING PROCESS, PLANNING
PROCESS. WE HAVE 43 OTHER
DISABILITIES AND JURISDICTIONS
THAT HAVE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
-- SEPTED CODIFIED IT.
INCLUDING ELECTRIC CITY.
SEATTLE DOESN'T HAVE IT. I
WANT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
GETTING INTO THE ISSUE OF ONE
OF THE THINGS I WANT TO CHANGE
ON THE COMP PLAN OR ADDRESS,
THE PERMITTING PROCESS. I HAVE
PERSONAL EXPENSE WITH HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET A PERMIT
TO BUILD A FREESTANDING 12 BY
16 SHED IN MY BACKYARD. IT TOOK
ME SEVEN MONTHS. TO GET A
PERMIT TO BUILD A SHED. SO.
SECOND PART, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE TO ENGAGE
THE TRINITY, LISTEN TO VOICES
AS PART OF THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
I ONLY GIVE YOU 45 SECONDS. I
THINK IT WENT UP THEIR NOSE
HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME AROUND
THE COMP PLAN. I HAVE REVIEWED
WITH MY TEAM AND I HAVE MY
COMMENTS. YOU KNOW WHERE I
STAND. WHAT I WILL SAY IN
ADDITION TO THAT, I HAVE MET
WITH LP CD AS A COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER, I MET WITH RICO AND
GAVE FEEDBACK, NOT IS MY JOB,
BUT AS A VOLUNTEER. WORRIED
ABOUT MY COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION
TO THAT, I HAVE WORKED FOR
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC FOR 20
YEARS AS A PROJECT MANAGER AND
I'M FAMILIAR WITH THINGS LIKE
THE CHECKLIST ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW. LASTLY, AS THE LEADER
OF THE BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERS,
I HAVE REVIEWED ALL TYPES OF
ZONING AND HOME THINGS THAT
RELATE. THANK YOU.
>> FOR THE RECORD, I WENT TO
WITMER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> IMMACULATE MIDDLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
COME ARE YOU WITH US? YOU MAY
ASK A QUESTION.
>> I AM. THANK YOU. I HAVE ON
HERE HONG CHHUOR AND EDDIE, YOU
DID NOT GO TO MY RIVAL MIDDLE
SCHOOL SO YOU GET POINTS THEY.
EVERYONE ELSE WENT TO RIVAL
MIDDLE SCHOOLS. REAL QUICK I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION IN THIS. IS NOT
EASY TO PUT YOURSELF ON THE
LINE. AND ALSO TO COME OUT TO
PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE IN THE
COMMITTEE. WITH YOUR VALUES AND
PRESENT YOURSELF. I KNOW IT'S
A LOT. I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL
THANK YOU ALL. I KNOW I TALKED
WITH ALL OF YOU EXCEPT EDWARD
LIN, WHO FOR THE RECORD, I AM
GOING TO CALL YOU. AND GOING TO
GET BACK TO YOU. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE I GIVE EVERYONE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION OR
WHATEVER WAY. I WANT TO MAKE
THAT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD. THE
OTHER THING I HAVE BEEN
LISTENING TO EVERYONE'S
COMMENTS, I HAVE WATCHED THE
FORUM TWICE, TO GET A BETTER
IDEA OF PEOPLE'S VALUES AND
WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING
TO THE TABLE. WHAT THEIR ISSUES
ARE. AND SO FORTH. I HAVE ONE
QUESTION I WILL BE ASKING
EVERYONE WILL GET ABOUT ONE
MINUTE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, I HAVE
HEARD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND KIDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW I AM
PASSIONATE ABOUT IS OUR KIDS
AND FAMILIES IN OUR CITY. WE
HAVE 105,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE
AGE OF 18 INNER-CITY. THAT IS A
LITTLE UNDER 20% OF HOUSEHOLDS
THAT HAVE KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF
18. THE HEALTH AND VIBRANCY TO
OUR CITY , THE HEALTH AND
VIBRANCY IN THE FUTURE OF
SEATTLE IS GOING TO RELY ON
YOUNG FAMILIES. AND KIDS. AND
SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
QUESTION TO YOU IS VERY SIMPLE.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? WHAT
ABOUT OUR BABIES, AS I ALWAYS
TALK ABOUT? I WOULD LOVE FOR
YOU TO SHARE SOME VALUES AROUND
BRINGING THOSE TO THE FAMILY
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL PROMISE
LEVY, I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA WILL SPEARHEAD THAT CAN
HELP YOU THAT. SHARE WITH US
SOME YOUR VALUES REGARDING
FAMILIES, YOUNG KIDS, CREATING
SAFETY AROUND THAT. YOU MIGHT
BE ABLE TO SAY I WANT TO DOUBLE
DOWN ON THIS PROGRAM THAT THE
CITY DOES OR WE COULD DO THIS A
LITTLE BETTER. BUT WHAT ARE WE
MISSING AS THE CITY FOR OUR
YOUTH, OUR KIDS, AND I HEARD
ADONIS DUCKSWORTH, THEY ARE
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION,
WHICH I TRULY AGREE WITH. THANK
YOU. WE WILL START WITH MARK
SOLOMON AND WORK OUR WAY DOWN.
CHUKUNDI SALISBURY AND AND WITH
HONG. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. REGARDING OUR KIDS. I
DO KEEP IN MIND WE DO HAVE
PLACES FOR KIDS TO GO TO
RECREATE. TO HAVE THOSE OPEN
SPACES. TO HAVE THE SKATE PARK
IN RAINIER BEACH. TO HAVE THE
PLAY STRUCTURES AT JEFFERSON
PARK. ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF
THE GROUPS I'M INVOLVED WITH
IS THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] GROUP.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS GEARED
TOWARD YOUNG PEOPLE. AND
LIFTING THEM UP IN TERMS OF
CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING AS
WELL AS MENTORSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES. TO PROVIDE THEM
A ROLE MODEL, A PATH TO SEE
THAT SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE ME
IS SUCCESSFUL. I WANT TO BE
THAT.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ARE GOOD. I
APOLOGIZE. I DON'T HAVE A WAY
TO SIGNAL. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> STARTING MY OWN TIMER. THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION. AS YOU
KNOW, MANY OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN
TO KNOW ME JUST RECENTLY. I AM
A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR
COMMUNITY AND HER CHILDREN. AS
A CERTIFIED PARKS KID, I GREW
UP AT MILLER COMMUNITY CENTER
AND I MOST CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED WITH PARKS. WHEN YOU
DRIVE BY CAR FOR COMMITTEE
CENTER YOU SEE THE WE LOVE OUR
FIELD MURAL I PAINTED IN 1998.
SO, I MOST CERTAINLY KNOW THE
VALUE OF HAVING PLACES FOR OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO AS A
COMMUNITY MEMBER. AND A PARKS
KID AND PERSON WHO GREW UP
HERE. I CAN REMEMBER THE DAYS
WHEN WE HAD CHILDREN STAY AND
WE HAD THE RIDE FREE ZONE. WE
HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS
THAT MADE IT EASY FOR FAMILIES
TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND GO TO
A LOT OF FREE THINGS. THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO ME. AND THEN
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, I HAVE A
DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO ENGAGE.
I DON'T HAVE A CHILD IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS RIGHT
NOW BUT YOU SEE ME AT THE
MEETINGS. AND SO, YEAH, THERE
YOU GO. I WANT TO WORK ON
BEHALF OF FAMILIES LIKE I HAVE
BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. I
HAVE BEEN DEEPLY COMMITTED TOUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR YEARS.
FOCUSED ON SCHOOL FUNDING. I
HAVE WATCHED WAY TOO MANY
SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WITH WHAT
IS GOING ON WITH THE SCHOOL
BOARD DISTRICT. OUR SCHOOLS ARE
STRUGGLING. AND EDUCATIONAL
INEQUALITY IN SEATTLE IS SOME
OF THE WORST IN THE NATION.
WHAT I HAVE REALIZED IS, A LOT
OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE
OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WHETHER
IT'S HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS,
GUN VIOLENCE, THOSE HAVE HUGE
IMPACTS IN OUR SCHOOLS. WITH
THE LEVY, THINGS LIKE
KINDERGARTEN READINESS,
WRAPAROUND SERVICES, PROVIDING
FOOD IN SUMMER PROGRAMS, THOSE
ARE HUGE WAYS WE CAN MAKE A
REAL DIFFERENCE OUR YOUTH. I
WOULD LOVE TO LEAN INTO THINGS
LIKE HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIPS.
CONNECTING ARE USED TO THE
ENORMOUS WEALTH OF JOB
OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.
WHETHER THAT IS WITH THE TRADES
OR TECH COMPANIES OR MARITIME
INDUSTRIES OR POLICE. THANK YOU
FOR THE QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU.
THADDAEUS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
ONE OF THE FIRST IMPORTANT
THINGS IS USING LEGISLATION
MEASURES AS WE APPROACH THE
PLAN TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES AND
KIDS REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT THEY GREW UP IN SO THEY
DON'T HAVE TO MOVE OUT AND TRY
TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND TRY TO
INTEGRATE INTO NEW PLACES,
KEEPING THOSE FAMILIES HERE.
CHILDCARE ACCESSIBILITY, WE
HAVE AN INCREDIBLE CHILDCARE
CRISIS WITH THE HIGH AMOUNT OR
WITH HOW MUCH CHILDCARE COSTS.
I HAVE WORKED ON PROJECTS THAT
USE INCENTIVES TO HAVE
CHILDCARE IN THE PROJECTS. TO
PROVIDE CHILDCARE AS PART OF
THE DEVELOPMENT WHICH ALLOWS
FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
DEVELOPMENT TO HAVE THE KIDS
CLOSE BY. IT'S ALSO INVESTING
IN SPACES. HAVING PLACES FOR
KIDS TO GO, ARTS, MUSIC AND
CULTURE. ARTICLE. WHEN DAY I
WAS AT NORTHWEST -- PARTNERING
TO GET KIDS INVOLVED IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> HI, ADONIS.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. THIS IS MAKING
ME THINK ABOUT MY OWN
EXPERIENCE AS A KID GROWING UP.
I THINK AS A CITY WE REALLY DO
HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
IT WAS ME AND MY MOM IN OUR
TRIPLEX AND SHE WAS WORKING TWO
JOBS AND I GUESS SHE NEEDED A
THIRD AS I HAD TO GET A JOB AT
THE GOLF COURSE. WHEN I WAS 12.
THE GULF CALLED , I'M WORKING
AND THEY SAID YOU SHOULD TRY TO
PLAY GOLF. IT WAS ALREADY
STRANGE BECAUSE I SKATEBOARD
AND NOW I AM SKATE BOARDING AND
PLAYING GOLF. BUT THEY GOT ME
INTO THAT. THOSE GUYS RAISED ME
OUTSIDE OF THE HOME. THEY WERE
THE MEN IN MY LIFE WHEN I
DIDN'T HAVE A MAN IN THE HOME.
IT HELP ME GET INTO HIGH
SCHOOL. THEY HELP ME GRADUATE
FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THEY TOOK
THIS KID WHO COULD'VE BEEN A
STATISTIC AND TOOK ME IN AND ON
THE OTHER SIDE I WAS ABLE TO GO
TO COLLEGE AND NOW I GET TO SIT
HERE AND HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THOSE ARE
THE TYPES OF THINGS HAPPEN WITH
THEM. TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS.
>> I LOVE THIS QUESTION.
>> HI, HONG.
>> I LOVE THIS QUESTION SO MUCH
BECAUSE IT MADE ME THINK OF MY
CHINESE CAMBODIAN HERITAGE.
FAMILY IS EVERYTHING IN MY
CULTURE. IS A SOURCE , FOR ME,
OF RESILIENCY, SUPPORT,
MENTORSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
TO MAKE SURE I AM ACCOUNTABLE
TO THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES I
AM PART OF. SO I DO THE RIGHT
THING AND SHOW UP AND
CONTRIBUTE. ON THE PROFESSIONAL
LIFE SIDE OF THINGS, I USED TO
WORK AT PLYMOUTH HOUSING
ADDRESSING OUR HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS BUT I DECIDED TO MOVE TO
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN BECAUSE
I SEE INHERENT HOPE IN
CHILDREN. THE ONLY THING THAT
STANDS IN THEIR WAY IS US. WE
NEED TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE
POTENTIAL, NURTURE THEIR GIFTS.
ANOTHER WAY I HAVE BEEN
SUPPORTING THIS IS OR THAT
SHOWS UP IN HER WORK IS
SUPPORTING MULTIGENERATIONAL
HOUSING WHICH I COME FROM. IT
WAS LOVELY FOR ME TO SEE MY
MOM, NIECES AND NEPHEWS
INTERACT WITH ALL OF US IN THE
HOUSE TOGETHER. I AM WORKING ON
A PROJECT WITH FRIENDS A LITTLE
SAIGON AND THE BIGGEST FOCUS IS
TO CREATE HOUSING THAT SUPPORTS
THESE TYPES OF FAMILY
CONNECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. DON'T ME TO CUT
YOU OFF.
>> THAT WAS IT. I JUST WANT TO
THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR
ANSWERS. I HEARD COMMUNITY
CENTER, ART, CULTURE, HOUSING,
FOOD, GOLF, FAMILY, ALL THE
THINGS THAT MAKE A WELL-ROUNDED
INDIVIDUAL. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
EVERYONE WHO IS HERE. I JUST
WANTED TO START WITH EIGHT
THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME
YESTERDAY. I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR THE BACKGROUND
PACKAGES, RESUMES AND COVER
LETTERS . AND THANK YOU TO
THOSE WHO ADVOCATED FOR YOU.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HERE, NOT
JUST IN PUBLIC,. THERE WERE
MANY ADVOCATES FOR EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND BOTTOM
LINE, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING HER
NAME FORWARD. IT'S A BIG STEP
AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON
LAND-USE BECAUSE YOU WOULD
SHARE LAND-USE COMMITTEE WITH
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
CONFERENCE A PLAN. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE YOU WOULD BE
VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. AS I
KNOW WITH WORKING WITH MY VICE
CHAIR AND PART BLICK -- PUBLIC
SAFETY IT'S IMPORTANT. YOU
WOULD BE A MEMBER OF FINANCE OF
NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT. IN ADDITION TO
SUSTAINABILITY, CITY LIGHT AND
ARTS AND CULTURE CHAIRED BY MY
NEIGHBOR TO THE RIGHT. BUT
ALSO, SURPRISE, THERE ARE
COUNTY AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES
YOU CAN DISSIPATE IN. I WAS
WITH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA THIS
MORNING WITH THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE. A LOT OF IT IS
RELATED TO GROWTH MANAGEMENT.
THE PLANNING COUNCIL OR PSRC,
PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL.
AND THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
POLICY COMMITTEE. THERE IS MORE
FOR YOU. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW. MY QUESTION
FOR YOU REALLY QUICK IS, HEADS
UP CIGARETTE GOING TO BE
SURPRISED, MY PRIORITIES ARE IN
TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE
CANDIDATES, CLICK SAFETY IS OUT
THERE. ON THOSE ISSUES.
IMPORTANTLY, YOUR WORK AND
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS, YOU
WILL HAVE STRONG COMBINATIONS.
ACADEMIC. VERY STRONG THERE AS
WELL. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK,
AND THE FOCUS IS, THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO ME, WHAT ARE YOUR
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES? WHERE HAVE YOU
BEEN A CIVIC VOLUNTEER? THIS IS
COME UP ALREADY BUT I THINK IT
IS SUPER IMPORTANT. IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR ME, LAST YEAR AND
THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY THOSE
INSTANCES WHERE YOU ARE WORKING
FOR AGAINST THE CITY. IS THAT
EXPERIENCE OF BANGING YOUR HEAD
AGAINST CITY HALL DOORS OR
WALLS THAT GIVES YOU SOME
INSIGHT WHEN YOU'RE ADVOCATING
FOR THAT COMMUNITY GROUP YOU
ARE PARTICIPATING IN. SPEAKING
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, REVEREND
WALDEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMITTEE WORK. MR. WHITE, AND
ALL THE OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR COMMUNITY WORK. WITH THAT
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ABOUT ONE
MINUTE FOR EACH OF YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, IF YOU
CAN HELP ME WITH THIS. I WILL
START WITH HONG. EVERYONE GOT A
HEADS UP YESTERDAY. HOW DOES
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERISM, BEING A
CIVIC LEADER, HELP YOU AND
HOW'S IT GOING TO INFORM YOUR
APPROACH TO THIS APPOINTMENT?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION AND FOR THE HEADS UP.
I WILL GO BACK TO SOMETHING I
SHARED AT THE BEGINNING WHICH
WAS, AROUND THE TIME I FIRST
BECAME A VOTER, I THOUGHT THIS
IS GOT TO BE THE LEAST I COULD
DO. I WAS INVOLVED , I SAW A
FLYER THAT SAID, COME TO THIS
COMMITTEE COUNCIL MEETING AND
BE A VOICE. THAT WAS HOW I GOT
SUCKED INTO THE COMMITTEE
COUNCIL AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT
I WAS SIGNING UP FOR. THAT WAS
THE BEGINNING. FAST-FORWARD A
LITTLE BIT, AS YOU KNOW I SERVE
ON THE FRIENDS A LITTLE SAIGON
BOARD, UNTIL RECENTLY THE BOARD
OF ASIAN COUNSELING AND
REFERRAL SERVICE. THAT IS A LOT
OF DIFFERENT WAYS. IT LOOKS
LIKE SHOWING UP FOR COMMUNITY
MEETINGS. IT LOOKS LIKE GOING
TO OLYMPIA AND TALKING WITH OUR
STATE REPRESENTATIVES ON BEHALF
OF A WHOLE SLATE OF PRIORITIES
FOR OUR AAPI COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND BEING
INVOLVED WITH THE VARIOUS
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES WE HAVE
IS A CITY AND REGION AND STATE
IS VERY MUCH A PART OF WHO I
AM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS I
VOLUNTEERED A LOT OF MY TIME IN
THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY HELPING
MEN AND WOMEN MOVE FROM DRUGS
AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION TO
RECOVERY AND GETTING BACK TO
THEIR FAMILIES. THAT IS THROUGH
UNION GOSPEL MISSION, SALVATION
ARMY AND SOMETIMES TWELVE-STEP
DOWN AT VIRGINIA MASON. I'M
GOING TO PULL A CHUKUNDI AND
GIVE A PLUG FOR THE RAINIER
BEACH SKATE PARK . IF YOU
GOOGLE KING 5 RANIER BEACH
SKATE PARK, SHE DID A NICE
STORY ABOUT THE SKATE PARK AND
WHY WE NEED ONE. THERE'S AN
EQUITY PIECE. THERE IS NO PARK
THERE BUT AT ONE POINT IN THE
DESIGN THE PARK WAS COVERED. I
WILL GIVE YOU A QUICK LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THIS. IN NORTH
SEATTLE HAVE ALTOGETHER SKATE
PARK COVERED. WHEN IT'S
RAINING AND COLD THE KIDS CAN
GO INSIDE. IN THE SOUTH AND WE
DON'T HAVE A PARK THAT IS
COVERED. KIDS DON'T HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE
TRANSPORTATION OR CAR TO GET UP
NORTH, YOU ARE NOT
SKATEBOARDING IN THE SOUTH END.
IN THIS POSITION I WILL FIGHT
FOR THAT PARK AND FIGHT FOR A
COVERED PART.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I GREW UP
VOLUNTEERING SERVING MEALS TO A
HOMELAND -- HOMELESS WOMAN'S
SHELTER. I SERVE ON THE
BENEFITS LOSS CENTER WHICH IS
AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES
LEGAL ADVOCACY TO PEOPLE LIVING
WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
DISABILITIES. I SERVE ON THE
BOARD OF RANIER SCHOLARS, A
PROGRAM I AM A GRADUATE OF AND
AND ALUMNI. RANIER SCHOLARS
HELPS YOUNG CHILDREN OF COLOR
EXCEL ACADEMICALLY, GET INTO
GOOD SCHOOLS. IT FOLLOWS YOU
FROM FOURTH GRADE THROUGH
COLLEGE GRADUATION. GIVING BACK
ALSO IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
INFORMS HOW WE CONNECT WITH
EACH OTHER. HOW WE MAKE DEEP
AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS.
DURING COVID FOR EXAMPLE I
WORKED WITH MUSICIANS ACROSS
THE CITY TO PROVIDE CONCERTS.
SO PEOPLE HAD SPACES TO COME
TOO. NORTH SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T
WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE WITH
COUNCIL PRESIDENT OR THE CLERK.
EDWARD LIN.
>> THANK YOU. AS I STATED
EARLIER, IT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT
THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOR
ME, I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED
IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. I AM
MARRIED TO AN EDUCATOR. BOTH
KIDS WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HERE. I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY
INVOLVED IN ADVOCACY AROUND
SCHOOL FUNDING, SPOKEN TO MOST
OF THE LEGISLATORS IN SEATTLE
AS WELL AS LEGISLATORS OUTSIDE
OF SEATTLE. WE HAVE THE SCHOOL
LEVIES COMING UP. PLEASE VOTE
IN FEBRUARY. I LIKE TO USE
LEGAL BACKGROUND TO HELP PEOPLE
WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE SAME
TRAINING OR ACCESS TO
INFORMATION. BEING ABLE TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OTHER
PARENTS AND I'M KIND OF LIKE A
POLICY NERD SO I THINK ABOUT
THIS STUFF ALL THE TIME AND
LIKE TO DO IN MY SPARE TIME.
JUST SOMETHING I ENJOY AND IT
COMES NATURALLY. IN PRIOR
PRACTICE, DOING STUFF LIKE PRO
BONO WORK, HELPING FOOD
LIFELINE WITH THEIR
HEADQUARTERS AND WAREHOUSE IN
PROTECTING PACIFIC NORTHWEST
BALLET WHO IS BEING CONDEMNED
BY SOUND TRANSIT.
>> I AM A LIFELONG COMMUNITY
AND VOLUNTEER SERVANT. TO THAT
AND I WAS IN YOUTH AND
GOVERNMENT AT THE YMCA AS A
TEEN AND ALL THE WAY TO TODAY I
AM A PCO IN THE 37th DISTRICT
CONTINUE TO BE SEPARATELY
ENGAGED AND ENGAGED WITH MY
COMMUNITY AROUND YOUTH
GOVERNMENT. I AM THE FOUNDER OF
BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERS WHERE
WE ARE PROTECTING AND WORKING
ON ANTI-DISPLACEMENT. AND THE
FOUNDER OF 100 BLACK PARENTS
WERE WE ADVOCATE FOR BLACK
FAMILIES AND YOUTH ON HOW TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT THE
FURTHEST FROM EDUCATIONAL
JUSTICE. AND THE FOUNDER OF
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY
THE SEATTLE FOUNDATION AND KING
COUNTY ELECTIONS TO GO OUT AND
DO VOTER REGISTRATION AND
ENGAGEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I
AM ON THE BOARD OF YMCA CAMPING
SERVICES MAKING SURE WE GET
KIDS OUTDOORS AND CONNECTED TO
NATURE. I SPENT SEVEN YEARS AS
A BOARD MEMBER ON THE HOMELESS
NEWSPAPER , REAL CHANGE. I AM
INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THAT
COMMITTEE. AND I VOLUNTEER AT
THE RANIER FAMILY FOOD BANK.
>> FOR THE QUESTION. IN THE
PAST I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED ON A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COMMITTEE
COUNCILS FROM MADRONA WHEN I
LIVED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO
RAINIER BEACH. PARTICIPATED IN
OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS BLACK
ACHIEVERS PROGRAM. 37th
DISTRICT PRECINCT COMMITTEE
OFFICERS WILL. LONGTIME BOARD
MEMBER OF YOUTH CARE. I THINK I
HOLD THE RECORD FOR SERVING ON
THAT BOARD FOR 27 YEARS UNTIL
THEY SAID, TIME TO GO.
CURRENTLY I AM SITTING ON THE
BEACON HILL COUNCIL AND WE HAVE
ADVOCATED FOR THINGS LIKE
WORKING WITH THE AIRPORTS
REGARDING THE MICRO
PARTICULATES IMPACTING THE
HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. I WAS
COCHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT
GOT JEFFERSON GOLF COURSE
RENAMED TO THE COMPLEX. WE
WORKED ON THE ISSUE OF
INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF GREEN
SPACE WE HAVE IN COMMUNITY BY
SECURING THE BLOCK AT 17th AND
WALKER AS OPEN SPACE. AS WELL
AS TRYING TO PRESERVE --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I SEE
THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, GO
AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I
WANT TO SAY I'VE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF BEING ABLE TO MEET
WITH ALL OF YOU BEFORE TODAY
AND REALLY ENJOYED THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAD AND FEEL
SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED THAT
YOU ALL BRING SUCH A DEEP BENCH
OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE EXPERIENCE
AND SUCH INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY
AND VARIETY. NO MATTER THE
OUTCOME HERE TODAY, OR IN THE
ELECTION, AND CONFIDENT
DISTRICT 2 IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS GOING TO BE WELL
SERVED. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING
YOURSELVES FORWARD. REALLY DO
APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GOING TO
ASK A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. I
THINK I WILL START WITH
THADDAEUS GREGORY. I AM A
SUPPORTER, AS I THINK ALL OF US
ARE , OF TREES. THAT IS A BIG
ISSUE. ONE OF THE THINGS I
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IS
WHETHER YOU THINK THE CURRENT
TREE ORDINANCE IS WORKING WELL
AND AS IT SHOULD, AND THE
SECOND PIECE IS, WOULD YOU
COMMIT , AS CHAIR OF THE
LAND-USE COMMITTEE, TO ACCEPT
AND HEAR LEGISLATION TO REVISIT
THE TREE ORDINANCE? THADDAEUS.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE WORKED ON
PROJECTS THROUGHOUT SEATTLE IN
ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS ENTRIES
ARE ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT. THEY
HELP FORM THE BACKBONE OF GREEN
SPACES. THE ENVIRONMENTS WE
LOVE TO ENJOY. TREES CAN
SOMETIMES BE COMPLICATED. AND
WE SEE THAT IN THE TREE CODE.
THE TREE CODE WORKS TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT. BUT SOMETIMES
MORE FLEXIBILITY NEEDS TO BE
ALLOWED. WHEN THAT FLEXIBILITY
IS THERE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT AS WE DEVELOP, IF ANY
TREES ARE TAKEN AWAY, WE
REPLANT. FOR FULL. WE HAVE A
GOAL OF HAVING A 30% TREE
CANOPY. IT'S SOMETHING I THINK
SEATTLE SHOULD ASPIRE TO. WE
CAN DO IT USING THE CONFERENCE
OF PLAN TREE CODE, I THINK WE
SHOULD USE THE TREE CODE ,
EXAMINE HOW WE CAN BOTH
INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENT AND USE
YOU DEVELOPMENT TO SPUR MORE
TREES , ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTH
AND. --
>> WE NEED TREES TO IMPROVE HER
QUALITY OF LIFE, TREES TO ME
DEFINE SEATTLE AND THAT JIVES
WITH THE CULTURE OF SEATTLE. AS
A LOT OF YOU KNOW IN THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY WE INVESTED
MILLIONS IN NEW TREES, NEW
STREET TREES. MY GOAL HERE IS
NO NET LOSS OF TREES. AND TO
ADD TREES WE CAN, THERE ARE
LOTS OF PLACES TO DO THAT,
ESPECIALLY IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT
AWAY BUT ALSO NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> WOULD YOU COMMIT AS CHAIR TO
HEARING TREE LEGISLATION?
>> I WOULD NEED TO GET A LITTLE
MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. HONG CHHUOR.
>> SAME QUESTIONS? OKAY. IN MY
MIND THERE ARE FEW THINGS
WRITTEN IN STONE THAT IS SAID
AND DONE AND WE SHOULDN'T
REVISIT. I WOULD BRING THAT
MENTALITY. AND THEN WHEN I
THICK ABOUT TREES, ONE MY
FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IS SPEND
TIME IN MY GARDEN AND I KNOW
THAT IS A PRIVILEGE I HAVE. AS
I SHARED EARLIER, I HELPED TO
PUSH FORWARD AND FIND FUNDING
FOR TEARING UP DIAMOND PARKING
LOT IN ONE OF THE DENSEST
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY TO
TURN INTO A PARK AND FEED
PATCH. ALSO I DON'T THINK
TREES ARE JUST DECORATION. THEY
ARE AND OF OUR MENTAL JUSTICE
ISSUE AND THEY ARE A SOCIAL
JUSTICE ISSUE, THE SHADE, THE
CLIMATE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS
ARE IMPACTING US AND WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE
THINGS. FOR THOSE REASONS I
WOULD DEFINITELY BE OPENING TO
REVISITING.. MARK?
>> I'M SORRY. I DON'T THINK
THE TREE ORDINANCE IS WORKING
RIGHT NOW AS IT CURRENTLY
STANDS. I DO WANT TO ADDRESS
IT. I DO WANT TO INCREASE THE
TREE CANOPY AS I MENTIONED PART
OF THE BEACON HILL COUNCIL, ONE
OF THE THINGS WE'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT IS A TREE I FEEL IF WE
HAD MORE TREE CANOPY THAT CAN
HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF MICRO
PARTICULATES. I WANT TO LOOK AT
THE COMP PLAN, TREE PLAN, HOW
CAN WE INCREASE HOUSING AND
KEEP TREES? I DON'T SEE IT AS
EITHER /OR, I SEE IT AS
BOTH/AND. THERE IS A REASON WE
ARE KNOWN AS THE EMERALD CITY.
THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR TREES. I
WANT TO SEE MORE OF THEM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I AM IN FAVOR OF REVISITING THE
TREE POLICY. FIRST AND
FOREMOST. SECONDARILY, IS A
FORMER MANAGER OF THE GREEN
SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP WHICH IS AN
EFFORT TO REFOREST OUR 500
ACRES OF PARKLAND IN SEATTLE, I
MOST CERTAINLY INTIMATELY
ENGAGED AROUND THE NEED FOR
TREES ALSO AS A COMMITTEE
MEMBER, I HAVE GONE TO BAT WITH
MY NEIGHBORS AROUND CUTTING
TREES AND THE LIKE. MOST
CERTAINLY I AM COMMITTED NOT
ONLY AS A PROFESSIONAL, BUT AS
A COMMUNITY MEMBER. AND
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF OUR
TREES. NOT ONLY AESTHETICALLY,
AS AN URBAN FOREST OR. I HAVE
SEEN THE STUDIES AND RESEARCH
AROUND THE HEAT MAPS AND LIKE,
THIS IS SOMETHING VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TO MY UNDERSTANDING, I
DON'T DIG ANYONE IS HAPPY WITH
THE EXISTING TREE ORDINANCE. I
WOULD CERTAINLY BE OPEN TO
REVISITING. MY ONLY HESITATION
WOULD BE I'M NOT SURE ABOUT
THE TIMING WITH THE COMP PLAN
AND WHICH COMES FIRST OR THIRD
DELAYS. THERE IS THIS HOUSING
VERSUS TREES, I THINK WE NEED
TO LOOK MORE COME PRINCIPALLY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LAND IN
SEATTLE. LIKE ADONIS DUCKSWORTH
WAS SAYING, ON BEACON WE HAVE A
HUGE COMEDIAN THAT GOES FOR
FOUR MILES AND THERE WAS A
GREAT ARTICLE ABOUT IT
RECENTLY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
MORE TREES THERE. WE HAVE A LOT
OF PAVEMENT AND WE ARE NOT
GOING TO BE GETTING RID OF CARS
ANYTIME SOON. BUT LONG TERM, WE
HAVE A LOT OF PAVEMENT IN THE
CITY. HOW CAN WE THINK
COMPREHENSIVELY ABOUT HAVING
BOTH TREES AND HOUSING AND THAT
IS HOW I WOULD APPROACH IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
QUESTION. SORRY, FOR THE
ANSWERS. THE OTHER QUESTION I
HAVE IS, IF YOU COULD ONLY
ACCOMPLISH ONE ITEM IN YOUR
TENURE, WHETHER IT BE 10 MONTHS
OR THE ENTIRETY OF THE TERM,
WHAT WOULD THAT BE? I GUESS I
WILL START AGAIN WITH THADDAEUS
GREGORY AND FOLLOW THE SAME
ROUTE.
>> I WANT TO CREATE A
CONFERENCE A PLAN THAT CREATES
AN EQUITABLE SEATTLE AND
PROVIDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
THAT PROVIDES DIVERSE HOUSING
OPTIONS THAT HELPS CREATE
CHILDCARE OPPORTUNITIES, THAT
CREATES MORE TREES AND
SIDEWALKS. I BELIEVE WE CAN DO
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ON TOP OF THE WORK OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER, I WOULD SAY MY
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, WHICH I
DID STATE IS ADDRESSING THE
STATE OF EMERGENCY IN SCID
LITTLE SAIGON. LOOKING AT
DIFFERENT WAYS TO UNLOCK
FUNDING, IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET,
FROM LAST YEAR. TO MAKE SURE
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHERS GET
THE ENFORCEMENT THEY NEED TO
HELP PEOPLE IN THE CAD AND
LITTLE SAIGON.
>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS A
PRIZE, IF I DO NOTHING ELSE, IN
MY 10 MONTHS ON THE COUNCIL, IT
WOULD BE SIMILARLY TO ADDRESS
THE TRAVESTY THAT IS OCCURRING
AT 12th AND KING IN LITTLE
SAIGON.
>> I CAN'T AGREE WITH YOU
MORE. I SEE IT ON A DAILY
BASIS. MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE
WORKING ON IT. THAT WOULD BE MY
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. IF I HAD A
SECOND ONE IT WOULD BE THE
PERMITTING PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN
THE 10 MONTHS HERE, OTHER THAN
COMING TO COMMITTEE MEETINGS
AND THE LIKE AND BEING ON TIME,
WOULD BE STRENGTHENING THE
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FRAMEWORK IN
THE COMP PLAN. WE KNOW IF WE DO
NOT STRENGTHEN THIS
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, 20 YEARS
FROM NOW THERE WILL NOT BE A
BLACK COMMUNITY AND MANY OF OUR
OTHER BIPOC NEIGHBORS AND THE
LIKE WHO ARE AT MOST RISK FOR
DISPLACEMENT WILL NOT EXIST
HERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS TO ME. WE HAVE
TO BE HERE TO WORK ON THESE
THINGS.
>> SUCH A HARD QUESTION. I CARE
SO DEEPLY ABOUT THE COMP PLAN
AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, BUT I'VE
GOT TO SAY THE CAD AND 12th AND
JACKSON. IT IS BEEN WAY TOO
LONG AND I CAN'T WAIT ANY
LONGER.
>> THANK YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO
ASK ANYMORE QUESTIONS. BUT TO
YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, I WENT TO THREE MIDDLE
SCHOOLS IN THREE YEARS. PICK
YOUR CHOICE. ONE IN SEATTLE,
ONE IN COLORADO AND ONE IN NEW
YORK. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU
ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT AND ANSWERS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING THEM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, GO
AHEAD.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR STEPPING UP TO DO THIS. AND
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR
FIELDING ALL OF MY QUESTIONS I
HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. I'M GOING
TO MAKE THE MOST OF OUR TIME
TOGETHER AND I PROMISE EVERYONE
WILL GET AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF
TIME. I'M GOING TO ASK A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR 32nd
ANSWERS AND CLOSE WITH A COUPLE
OF YES OR NO QUESTIONS. LET'S
DO THIS. THIS FIRST QUESTION IS
JUST FOR HONG, EDDIE AND MARK.
IN 30 SECONDS, WE KNOW THAT D2
HAS A HISTORY OF IS PLACING
BLACK, BROWN AND IMMIGRANT
COMMITTEES. THIS TWENTY-YEAR
COMP PLAN OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO MITIGATE THIS. WHAT ARE YOUR
IDEAS ON PREVENTING
DISPLACEMENT?
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCE OF
BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES. YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND OUR CULTURE, YOU
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR FAMILY
SITUATIONS. YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE APPROACH
MAKING A LIVING IN OUR LIVES. I
WILL SPEAK FROM MY EXPERIENCE,
WHICH IS I LIVED IN A
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD , A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. WHAT I'M
GOING TO LOOK FOR ARE
OPPORTUNITIES TO FIT MY FAMILY
IN A HOUSE AND THEN FOR US TO
HAVE SPACES WHERE WE CAN
CONDUCT FAMILY BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU. EDDIE?
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO
LEAN INTO AREAS LIKE COMMUNITY,
WEALTH BUILDING AND THE
EQUITABLE INITIATIVE. THE REAL
OPPORTUNITY HERE IS THE AREAS
THAT USED TO BE SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONED OR WE CAN DO GENTLE
DENSITY DUPLEXES, TRIPLEX IS.
WHERE SOMEONE CAN AGE IN PLACE
AND WE CAN REALLY BUILD WEALTH
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT
JUST HAVE IT GO TO OUTSIDERS.
SO PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN ONE AND
RENT OUT THE OTHER. THANK YOU.
>> MARKET?
>> I LOOK AT THE WORK WITH THE
BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNERSHIP,
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE AND
PROVIDING TOOLS FOR PEOPLE TO
STAY IN THEIR HOMES. TELLING
GENERATIONAL WEALTH. I BENEFIT
FROM THE FACT THAT I LIVE IN
HOUSE MIGRANT PARENTS BUILT. IF
I DIDN'T, I COULDN'T AFFORD
TO LIVE THERE. SO KEEPING
PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, HELPING
BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND
PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP.
>> FABULOUS, THANK YOU. THIS IS
NOW FOR CHUKUNDI, ADONIS, AND
THADDAEUS. UNDERSTANDING AS TO
MISSIONS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
ARE FROM VEHICLES AND FRONTLINE
COMMUNITIES LIKE SO MANY IN D2,
MOST OFTEN BEAR THE BRUNT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. HOW
WOULD YOU WORK TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM AND PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION?
STARTING FIRST WITH CHUKUNDI.
>> WILL CERTAINLY I WOULD
CONTINUE TO PROMOTE SERVICES
AND PROGRAMS LIKE THE METRO VAN
AND THE LIKE AND REALLY PROMOTE
THOSE THINGS WHERE FOLKS HAVE
ACCESS TO THEM. RAPID RIDE AND
THE LIKE. I WOULD ALSO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE THAT CAN TO
COMMUTE. BUT I WOULD ALSO
RESPECT PEOPLE WHO HAVE TWO OR
THREE JOBS AND NEED TO DRIVE
AND NOT VILIFY THEM.
>> THANK YOU. ADONIS?
>> TRANSIT, TRANSIT, TRANSIT.
IMPROVING THOSE CONNECTIONS TO
TRANSIT. BUT ALSO MAKING
TRANSIT SAFER. NOT JUST SAFER
TRANSIT ON THE ROAD BUT ALSO
FOLKS WERE ON THE BUS FOR THE
TRAIN, MAKE IT SAFER FOR THEM.
AND ALSO, RELIABILITY. WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THE ROAD IS IN
GOOD SHAPE SO THE BUSES CAN GET
DOWN THE STREET. ALSO
ENFORCEMENT ON THE ARTERIALS
WHERE WE HAVE TRANSIT LANES.'S
WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING
IN THE TRANSIT LANES AND
KEEPING TRANSIT FROM MOVING.
TRANSIT.
>> THANK YOU. NOW THADDAEUS.
>> TRANSIT IS KEY. IT IS
INVESTING IN MULTIMODAL
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
PROTECTING BIKE LANES.
INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE TO SAFELY
BE ABLE TO USE IT. VISITING
PARKING MINIMUMS. CONSIDERING
WHETHER HOW WE WANT TO APPROACH
THAT CONVERSATION. IT'S ADDING
THINGS LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER
STORES SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO
DRIVE MILES TO GET BREAD AND
MILK AND EGGS. THAT IS PART OF
MAKING A FOR HOUSING WORKABLE.
>> THIS NEXT QUESTION IS FOR
EVERYBODY. 30 SECONDS TO
RESPOND AND WILL GO FROM LEFT
TO RIGHT STARTING WITH MARK.
THERE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS
THAT GOVERNMENTS IN WASHINGTON
STATE CAN EXPERIENCE A LOT --
LACK OF FISCAL SUPPORT
RETALIATION FROM THE CURRENT
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HOW DO YOU
THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE
RESPONDING TO ACTIONS THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION MAY TAKE THE
COULD HARM OUR COMMITTEE AND
CITY GOVERNMENT?
>>
>> I THINK WE NEED TO GUARD
OURSELVES FOR WHAT MAY BE
COMING. JUST LOOKING AT THE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS AT FLOWN OUT
IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS DOES
GIVE ME PAUSE. IT MADE ME
THINK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DENY
AS MANY BECAUSE WE ARE A
SANCTUARY CITY, I'M GOING TO
FIND A DIFFERENT SOURCE OF
FUNDS SO I DON'T HAVE TO RELY
ON YOU. THAT IS ONE REASON I
HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR US TO
EXPLORE -- SOMETHING WE CAN DO
WE CAN SET THIS UP TO BORROW
AGAINST THEIR OWN ASSETS TO
FUND THEIR OWN PROJECTS SO WE
DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON THE FEDS
FOR THOSE FINDINGS.
>> I AGREE WE NEED TO ARM AND
GUARD OURSELVES FOR THE
INCOMING WAVE FROM THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION. TO THAT END, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MAKE SURE
WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR RAINY DAY
FUND AS WELL AS WORKING WITH
PRIVATE INDUSTRY IN WAYS WE CAN
FUND OTHER VENTURES. I HAVE
TALKED TO DIFFERENT COUNCIL
MEMBERS ABOUT LEANING IN ON
PRIVATE INDUSTRY, NOT JUST
ASKING THEM BUT ASKING THEM TO
PROTECT US AS A SANCTUARY CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ONE THING WE
REALLY JUST NEED TO DO IS COME
TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. WE ARE
A BLUE CITY, WE HAVE TO STOP
FIGHTING WITH OURSELVES . THE
BEST THING WE CAN DO TO PROTECT
OURSELVES IS TO TAKE CARE OF
OUR BUSINESS RIGHT HERE AT
HOME. THE OTHER THING WE NEED
TO FOCUS ON IS MAKING SURE LAW
ENFORCEMENT ISN'T DOING THE
WORK OF THE FEDS WHEN IT COMES
TO INTEGRATION ISSUES. THIS IS
SOMETHING PERSONAL TO ME AS A
SON OF AN IMMIGRANT AND OUR
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY NEEDS TO
FEEL SAFE AND NOT THREATENED BY
LOCAL POLICE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON
PROTECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS
FOR MARK -- COMMUNITIES ARE AT
RISK UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.
IT'S ALSO LOOKING TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH EXISTING
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE
OUR CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO DO IT
ALONE. WE HAVE INCREDIBLE
LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
MANY OF WHICH ARE HERE NOW,
THAT WE CAN WORK WITH. IT IS
PURSUING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS. ARE FUNDING
SOURCES CAN BE MORE DIVERSE.
>> I THINK IS A CITY OF
SEATTLE, WE CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE
OF HOW WE ARE PROTECTING
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. THERE
ARE SOME AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE RAINIER AVENUE CHURCH THAT
ARE HELPING AND WELCOMING
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.
HELPING THEM GET HOUSED AND GET
STABILIZED. ONE THING WE CAN DO
AS A CITY IS EXPEDITE RESOURCES
TO THE COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, BECAUSE TIME IS
OF THE ESSENCE. IF WE CAN
EXPEDITE RESOURCES THEY CAN GET
TO WORK TO HELP FOLKS WHO MAY
BE UNDER THE THREAT AS IT MAKES
ITS WAY HERE.
>> T█HE WORLD IS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT PLACE THAN THE FIRST
TRUMP PRESIDENCY. AT THAT TIME
I PONDER YOUR IS ORGANIZE AND
RESIST. FOR ME, WHEN I SEE THE
LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED, WE
DON'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL
BOB FERGUSON ANYMORE BUT WE
HAVE BROWN. WE DO HAVE A
GOVERNOR FERGUSON. WE ALSO HAVE
ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND WE
HAVE A KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE
FOR ME IT IS ABOUT RESISTING
AND ORGANIZING TOGETHER AS A
STATE.
>> A FINAL YES OR NO ROUND. DO
YOU SUPPORT A WORKERS RIGHT TO
ORGANIZE LABOR UNION? FABULOUS.
DO YOU SUPPORT DECREASING THE
NUMBER OF PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS IN THE PROPOSED COMP
PLAN?
>> THANK YOU. GIVEN THE CITY'S
CURRENT BUDGET SHORTFALL WOULD
YOU BE SUPPORTIVE OF SUPPORTING
REVENUE OPTIONS TO MAKE SURE
VITAL PROGRAMS ARE FULLY
FUNDED? GREAT. I HAVE MORE TIME
THAN I THOUGHT. WOULD YOU
SUPPORT HEIGHT NOTICES FOR
COMMUNITY LED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS? WOULD YOU
SUPPORT HEIGHT BONUSES FOR
COMMITTEE LED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS? MY LAST
QUESTION, DO YOU SUPPORT
EXPANDING THE -- LEVY FOR THIS
YEAR?
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
EVERYBODY WHO TURNED OUT TO BE
PART OF THIS PROCESS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
EUROPE.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THROWING YOUR NAMES IN
THE HAT. I KNOW IT IS A LOT OF
WORK NOT JUST THE PROCESS, BUT
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH YOU
CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY, SO
MUCH SO YOU DO WILLING TO THROW
YOUR NAME IN THE HAT AND DO
THIS JOB. I REALLY APPRECIATE
WHAT YOU BRING, EXCELLENT
EXPERIENCE AS I SAID LAST WEEK
THIS MAKES IT A HARD CHOICE. I
HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE IS YES
OR NO. ONE IS, HOPEFULLY YOU
HAVE A MINUTE TO ANSWER. I WILL
SAY I ALSO VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED YOU GOING THROUGH
THE PUBLIC FORUM. I WATCHED IT
THIS WEEK. I'M VERY IMPRESSED
WITH COMMUNITY QUESTIONS. AND
THEY WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL
QUESTIONS AND A VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED HEARING YOUR
RESPONSES TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING
THROUGH THAT FORUM. AND, MY
QUESTIONS ARE THESE, I AM SO
APPRECIATIVE OF MY COLLEAGUE
QUESTIONS. I AM LEARNING A LOT
THE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN ASKED. MY QUESTION IS, AS
YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS FACING A
LARGE DEFICIT IN 2027. WOULD
YOU SUPPORT THE MAYOR PROPOSAL
THAT WOULD INCLUDE THOUGHTFUL
REDUCTIONS BASED ON REVIEW OF
PROGRAMS AT THE CITY? THANK
YOU. YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO
RESPOND. HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE
PROGRAMS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR INTENDED OUTCOMES? WE CAN
START WITH HONG.
>> I WOULD BRING CURIOSITY TO
MY CONVERSATIONS. ADMITTEDLY, I
DON'T KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF
GOVERNMENT AND HOW IT WORKS,
BUT THE WAY I APPROACH BUDGETS
IS, I WILL JUST GO BACK TO
SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK ASKED ABOUT PROGRESSIVE
TAXES. I AM IN FAVOR OF KEEPING
AS MANY OPTIONS ON THE TABLE
FOR SOLVING OUR PROBLEMS. THE
STATE HAS DICTATED WHAT OUR
TOOLS ARE. FOR ME, HAVING
PROGRESSIVE TAXES IS AN OPTION
BUT MAY NOT BE THE FIRST ONE.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE
WE ARE SPENDING THE DOLLARS WE
HAVE WISELY AND THEN AGAIN,
LEAD WITH CURIOSITY BECAUSE
THERE IS A PATH FOR HOW WE GOT
THERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I
UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE THAT
MEANS PEOPLE'S LIVES. THEIR
LIVELIHOODS AND THE COMMITMENTS
CAN BE MADE AND WE NEED TO
HONOR THOSE.
>> I WOULD SAY AS WE DRAFT
LEGISLATION, LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME TYPE OF
OVERSIGHT, LIKE THE
TRANSPORTATION HAS A LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THERE IS
AN AVENUE THERE. ALSO, AS YOU
CHAIR YOUR COMMITTEES, YOU
BRING THE DEPARTMENTS TO THE
COMMITTEE, YOU ASK QUESTIONS,
YOU CAN TRACK BE ING US HOW THE
DOING. YOU HAVE COMMITTEES,
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES. IN
THE LONGER-TERM OUTSIDE OF THE
10 MONTHS YOU HAVE EXECUTIVE
STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT.
>> ACCOUNTABILITY, OVERSIGHT IS
KEY. BRINGING PEOPLE , BRINGING
DECISION-MAKERS TOGETHER.
PEOPLE DOING THE PROGRAMS.
CONSIDERING THE IMPACT OF THE
PROGRAMS AND HOW THE COMMITTEES
USING THEM. WHETHER THE
PROGRAMS ARE INDEED GOOD , BUT
UNDERUTILIZED DUE TO LACK OF
KNOWLEDGE. ONE OF THE GREAT
PARTS OF THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN
GETTING TO THE COMMUNITY AND
LEARNING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
SERVICES AVAILABLE. ALL THE
THINGS YOU WORKED HARD TO BRING
TO CITIZENS. BUT THERE ARE SO
MANY PROGRAMS PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW ABOUT. AS WE GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS, IS CONSIDERING HOW
THE PROGRAMS INTERACT WITH EACH
OTHER AND FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT
FUNDING TWO PROGRAMS DOING THE
SAME THINGS WHILE ALSO MAKING
SURE THE PROGRAMS ARE HELPING
THE COMMUNITY .
>> THANK YOU. HAVING WORKED AT
THE CITY AND WORKING WITH A LOT
OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, I
KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING GOOD
WORK. BUT, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
THERE TO BE THAT TRANSPARENCY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO THE
PUBLIC KNOWS, SO THE COUNCIL
KNOWS, THERE ARE REAL METRICS.
WE DO SEE THAT A LOT. FOR
EXAMPLE WITH THE HOUSING LEVY,
THERE ARE METRICS ABOUT THE
TYPES OF UNITS PRODUCED AND IT
IS MONITORED AND TRACKED. I
THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
ASPECT. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT
THAT COUNCIL UNDERSTAND THE
DEPARTMENTS ARE CERTAIN
PROGRAMS AREN'T WORKING IN
SILOS. HOW ARE PROGRAMS WORKING
TOGETHER AND NOT ACROSS
PURPOSES? THIS HAPPENED A FEW
YEARS AGO WITH OUR HOMELESS
RESPONSE SYSTEM. I KNOW THERE
WAS PUSH FOR A LOT MORE
TRANSPARENCY IN REPORTING.
IT'S HARD, YOU DON'T WANT TO
CREATE A HUGE ADMINISTERED OF
BURDEN FOR THE PEOPLE DOING THE
HARD WORK, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT
THERE IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
REPORTING BACK. THANK YOU.
>> SO, TWO WAYS OF LOOKING AT
THIS . FROM A COMMUNITY-BASED
PERSPECTIVE WE WANT TO HAVE
OVERSIGHT AND THE LIKE. WHAT I
WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF IS ,
ESPECIALLY CITY FUNDED
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING IN THE
FUNDING TO THOSE
COMMITTEE-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
THERE IS A CITY PERSON AS A
STORYTELLER, , NOT AS A HAMMER,
IF YOU WILL, BUT TO ASSIST. WE
KNOW THAT COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFTEN TIMES
RECEIVE CITY FUNDING, THEY ARE
REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.
THEY ARE RESPECTED, THERE ON
THE STREET CORNER WITH THE
YOUTH OR WHATEVER THEY ARE
DOING. MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST
STORYTELLER AND THEY MIGHT NOT
BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE THE VALUE
IN THEIR WORK. I GUESS AS AN
INTERNAL PERSON, I WORKERS
DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS, BUT
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPENDING
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. A LOT OF
TIMES WE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY
THAT WE COULD'VE SAVED. LET'S
LOOK AT THAT.
>> I RECALL HAVING A
CONVERSATION WITH AN
ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES
FUNDING FOR THE BREAKFAST GROUP
AND THE PERSON TOLD US, I'M
ABOUT DOCUMENTATION, NOT
CONVERSATION. SO SHOW ME YOUR
BOOKS. SO WHAT I AM THINKING
ABOUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT,
HOW DO WE HOLD PROGRAMS
ACCOUNTABLE, I WANT TO LOOK AT
DELIVERABLES. I WANT TO LOOK AT
WHAT THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES
WERE. WHAT DID THEY TELL US
THEY WERE GOING TO DO? WHAT DID
THEY DO WITH THE FUNDING WE
GAVE THEM AND HOW EFFECTIVE
WERE THEY IN USING THOSE
DOLLARS THAT WERE ALLOCATED TO
THEM? I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES,
IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO LOOK
AT WHAT HAS BEEN SPENT, WHAT IS
BEEN SPENT ON AND WITH THE
RESULTS OF THAT SPENDING OUR.
IF THE OUTCOMES DON'T MATCH
WHAT THE INTENT WAS, MAYBE WE
NEED TO RE-EXAMINE WHERE THE
FUNDING GOES.
>> THANK YOU. WITH 2 1/2
MINUTES TO SPARE I WILL GIVE
THAT BACK TO YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR
ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. THESE
ARE TOUGH JOBS, TOUGH
QUESTIONS. THESE ARE THE THINGS
WE GRAPPLE WITH. AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR
RESPONSES.
>> I JUST WANTED TO HEAR MORE.
OKAY, I AM READY. SO, I WILL
JUST FRAME THIS . FROM THE
MOMENT YOU DECIDED TO THROW
YOUR HAT IN THE RING YOU HAVE
BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE ALL OVER
DISTRICT 2. AND NARROWED THE
QUESTIONS DOWN TO TWO. THE ONE
I WILL BE ASKING YOU IS WHEN
YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER FOR 90
SECONDS. BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW THAT I AM STILL REALLY
FOCUSED ON -- I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS LATER ON
PERHAPS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE
FENTANYL CRISIS. ADDICTION,
DRUGS, IT WAS TOUCHED ON IN A
QUIDDITY FORUM IN A COUPLE
DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. THAT IS
WHY I AM NOT ASKING IT NOW. IF
YOTHOUGHTS ABOUT THAT,
BECAUSE IT IS LINKED TO PUBLIC
EDUCATION, HOUSING AND SAFETY.
THAT IS THE QUESTION I AM NOT
ASKING. HERE'S WHAT I AM
ASKING. YOU DID SPEAK WITH SO
MANY PEOPLE. AND , WHAT I AM
CURIOUS ABOUT IS, WHAT DID YOU
LEARN ABOUT DISTRICT 2 THAT YOU
DIDN'T KNOW ALREADY ? AND HOW
COULD THAT INFORM YOUR POLICY
PRIORITIES, IF AT ALL? THAT IS
A REALLY OPEN-ENDED QUESTION.
AND I HAVE MY CLOCK SET AT 90
SECONDS EACH. HONG, I'M GOING
TO ASK YOU TO START BECAUSE
IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO GO IN
THAT DIRECTION. THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO
HAVE ANYTHING NEW THAT YOU
HAVEN'T ALREADY HEARD. THE
GENERAL PIECES WOULD BE THAT WE
NEED TO HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER
WHO NOT ONLY SHOWS UP ,
ADVOCATES FOR US, LISTENS TO
US, REPRESENTS US. WE ALSO NEED
SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE A
CHAMPION FOR US. ONE WHO IS
GOING TO BE AN EVERYDAY PERSON
TO GO TOWARD LOCAL BUSINESSES,
CHECK IN WITH THEM, ASK THEM
HOW LIFE IS GOING. THIS IS NOT
A GOOD WAY OF SAYING IT, BUT BE
LIKE A CUSTOMER SERVICE
REPRESENTATIVE. SAY HOW CAN I
HELP YOU AND MAKE YOUR LIFE
BETTER? THAT THING YOU NEED,
THAT'S NOT ME, BUT WHAT I CAN
DO IS MAKE A FEW PHONE CALLS OR
MAKE SOME INTRODUCTIONS AND
JUST START A CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THIS THING
YOU NEED. THOSE COULD BE THINGS
LIKE, WHAT DO I DO IF SOMEONE
BREAKS THE GLASS IN MY
BUSINESS? WHAT SHOULD I DO IF
THERE IS A CAR THAT APPEARS TO
BE ABANDONED? WHAT SHOULD I DO
IF THERE SEEMS TO BE GARBAGE OR
ENCAMPMENTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE? WHO
DO I TALK TO , BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT TO GET THAT PERSON IN
TROUBLE. I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE
GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME. WHO
CAN I TALK TO? IT'S JUST TO
HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO
SHOW UP AND HELP AND LISTEN.
JUST TO FINISH, WE NEED SOMEONE
WHO IS GOING TO BE EXCITED AND
A CHAMPION AND NOT JUST BE
FOCUSING ON THE BAD THINGS. WE
NEED SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO
SAY, THIS COULD BE SO MUCH
MORE. AND I'M GOING TO BE A
PERSON WHO IS GOING TO LIVE
THAT AND TALK ABOUT THE
POSITIVE THINGS.
>> GO AHEAD, ADONIS.
>> OVER THE LAST MONTH IT HAS
BEEN AWESOME GOING AND TALKING
TO SO MANY PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
ORGANIZATIONS. MY WHOLE THING
WAS, WHO ELSE SHOULD I BE
TALKING TO? WHO ELSE SHOULD I
BE TALKING TO? THERE ARE NUMBER
OF THINGS I HAVE LEARNED OR
THAT WERE NEW TO ME. BUT THE
GENERAL THEME OF WHAT I HEARD
FROM PEOPLE, AND THIS IS WHY
IT'S ONE OF MY PRIORITIES, IT
WASN'T A PRIORITY BEFORE I
JUMPED INTO THIS, BUT IT BECAME
A PRIORITY AFTER TALKING TO SO
MANY PEOPLE, WHAT I AM HEARING
FROM PEOPLE, AND YOU KIND OF
KNOW IT IN THE CITY, BUT WE ARE
DOING OUR DAY TODAY WORK AND
DOING OUR THINGS, BUT PEOPLE
ALL THE WAY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE
PROJECTS WE DO, BUT THE CITY
NEEDS TO LISTEN. THE CITY NEEDS
TO LISTEN TO US. THAT WAS A
REOCCURRING THEME I HEARD OVER
AND OVER AND OVER. RIGHT? I
HEAR THIS. DOING PROJECTS. WITH
THE D.O.T. AND WHATNOT. WHEN
THE COFFEE SHOP OWNER IN
RAINIER BEACH SAYS, SOMEONE WAS
MURDERED NEXT DOOR AND I HAVE
BEEN TELLING THE POLICE, CAN WE
DO AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS ,
BUT MONTHS GO BY. ARE THEY
HEARING US? THAT IS WHY ONE OF
MY PRIORITIES IS TO GET THIS
RESOLUTION -- WORK WITH YOU ALL
TO GET THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTED
THAT OUTLINES THE FRAMEWORK FOR
HOW THE CITY SHOULD BE ENGAGING
WITH THE COMMUNITY. I THINK
IT'S A POSITIVE THING. HOW WE
SHOULD BE TALKING TO PEOPLE IN
DISTRICT 2. WHO SHOULD BE
INVOLVED, WHO SHOULD BE AT THE
TABLE? WHO ARE THE VOICES WE
NEED TO HEAR FROM SO WE CAN
TRULY SAY, HEY, WE ARE
LISTENING TO YOU. THAT IS WHAT
I HAVE LEARNED AND THAT IS WHAT
I WOULD DO.
>> BEFORE YOU START, I WILL
KIND OF RAISE MY FINGER AT 15
SECONDS, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. GO AHEAD.
>> THIS OPPORTUNITY, IT HAS
BEEN INCREDIBLE. WE MET WITH
COMMUNITY LEADERS, SUPPORTERS,
SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE
LEARNED I DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW,
PUBLIC SAFETY. FOR THE FIRST
TIME I WENT ON A RIGHT ALONG. I
TOOK A TOUR OF [ INDISCERNIBLE
], I TALKED TO POLICE OFFICERS
AS I SAW THEM IN COFFEE SHOPS.
I ASKED, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY? WHY DO WE NOT
HAVE MORE POLICE OFFICERS
JOINING THE FORCE? THIS YEAR
I'M SO HAPPY WE HAD A POSITIVE
ONE. ADJUSTMENT TO THE WORK
GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S LEARNING ABOUT WHAT
ACTUALLY GOES ON. IT'S
SOMETHING I HADN'T BEEN
EXPOSED TOO. I WAS SO HAPPY TO
HEAR ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT OFFICERS GET. IN THE
SOUTH PRECINCT THE HAVE A
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
COMING EVERY SINGLE WEEK. IT IS
ALSO JUST MORE DEEPLY LEARNING
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. IS GETTING
TO 12th AND JACKSON , FIRST ON
A THREE DAY PER WEEK BASIS AND
AFTER TALKING TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS, ON A DAILY BASIS SO I
CAN START RECOGNIZING PEOPLE
THERE. THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE
PRIORITY. SOMETHING WE NEED TO
TACKLE AND I WANT TO INVEST IN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> LIKE EVERYONE ELSE RE IT
HAS BEEN A REALLY MEANINGFUL
PROCESS. ONE, I JUST FEEL LIKE
I HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE INSIGHT
INTO THE PRESSURES THAT YOU
WILL FACE IN MEETING WITH SO
MANY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN
THE RANGE OF ISSUES YOU HAVE TO
FACE IN THE HARD QUESTIONS YOU
GET IN THE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
YOU GET THAT OFTEN IS
UNWARRANTED. ONE THING I HAVE
ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT, SO I'M
NOT ORIGINALLY FROM HERE, I
GREW UP ON THE EAST COAST, SO I
DON'T HAVE THE DEEP ROOTS MANY
IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN TRINITY
HAVE HERE, BUT ONE THING PEOPLE
HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT,
WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF IS,
THE LANGUAGE AND TERMINOLOGY.
SOME PEOPLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY
THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE CALLED
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY FEEL
LIKE, I AM AN AMERICAN, I'M
NOT INTERNATIONAL. OTHER PEOPLE
FEEL LIKE THEIR HERITAGE IS NOT
REPRESENTED BY JUST CALLING IT
CHINATOWN OR EVEN CHINATOWN,
LITTLE SAIGON AND JAPAN TOWN.
THERE IS A STRONG FILIPINO
HISTORY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT
HAS BEEN SOMETHING I NEED TO
CONTINUE TO LEARN AND LEAN
INTO. IT HAS BEEN FUN TO HEAR
SO MANY DIFFERENT VOICES ON
THAT. ONE OTHER SMALL THING,
THERE WAS A HOMELESS SHELTER
THAT WAS GOING TO BE PLACED IN
THAT COMMUNITY AND THEY
WEREN'T UPSET THAT THE
HOMELESS SHELTER WAS GOING TO
BE PLACED THERE. THEY WERE
UPSET THAT THEY WEREN'T SPOKEN
TOO. THAT REINFORCED TO MEET
THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS SO
IMPORTANT.
>> SO, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL,
I TALK TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID AT THE
FORM, I WAS AT THE LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD , IT WAS
CONTENTIOUS BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WAS GOING
TO LEAVE. I WAS THERE IS A
COMMITTEE MEMBER. I'VE BEEN
GOING TO THESE MEETINGS. WITH
THAT BEING SAID, WHAT I FOUND
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS SINCE
WORKING ON THIS IS I FIND
MYSELF DOING MORE EDUCATION
AROUND WHAT THE CITY OFFERS.
OFTEN TIMES WE RUN INTO PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE
COMPLETELY UNAWARE, RIGHT? A
COUPLE EXAMPLES ARE FOR EXAMPLE
THE CARE TEAM. I RAN INTO
PEOPLE THE SOUTH AND AND THEY
SAID, I'M TIRED OF THEM
SENDING PLEASE OUT FOR MENTAL
HEALTH EMERGENCIES. WE DON'T
NEED OFFICERS, WE NEED CARE.
HELLO, THERE IS A CARE TEAM. I
SENT SOMEONE A PICTURE
YESTERDAY OF THE CARE TAHOE.
THERE RCSO'S. THERE WAS A
PERSON WHO SAID THE CITY NEEDS
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE
VACANT STOREFRONTS DOWNTOWN. I
WAS LIKE, THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS THIS
PROGRAM. RIGHT, WHAT I FOUND IS
THERE IS A HUGE GAP IN THE
AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT IS
OUT THERE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
JUST DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE
GREAT WORK THAT THE CITY DOES .
AS AN EMPLOYEE I PRIDE MYSELF
ON KNOWING WHAT WE DO.
>> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, MARK.
>> I GET TO GO. GOOD. HAVING
WORKED IN THIS ROLE FOR 34
YEARS, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THAT
IN MY COMMUNITY, IN D2, I KNOW
THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY. I
KNOW THE ISSUES OF THE
COMMUNITY ON A GRANULAR LEVEL.
JUST LIKE CHUKUNDI WAS SAYING,
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR
COMMUNITY. I AM FIELDING PHONE
CALLS AND VOICEMAILS FROM
PEOPLE, EMAILS, ABOUT THINGS
THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY A LAW
ENFORCEMENT MATTER. BUT A
QUALITY-OF-LIFE MATTER. A
MATTER IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT
THEY WANT ADDRESSED. WHAT I AM
DOING IS MAKING SURE WE CONNECT
THOSE PEOPLE WITH THE PROPER
RESOURCES AND PULLING TOGETHER
THE TEAM TO ADDRESS THOSE
CONCERNS. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HAS BEEN CLEAR TO ME OVER
THE YEARS IS, A LOT OF
COMMUNITIES IN D2 DON'T FEEL
HEARD. THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE
THE CITY IS LISTENING. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT I AM ACTUALLY
KNOWN FOR. PEOPLE CALL ME
BECAUSE I ANSWER THE PHONE.
PEOPLE WORK WITH ME BECAUSE I
GET STUFF DONE. AND THAT IS
KIND OF THE ENERGY AND CUSTOMER
SERVICE -- I WOULD SAY IT IS A
CUSTOMER SERVICE ROLE. SERVING
THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE DO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I DO HAVE TO APOLOGIZE,
THERE WERE A LOT OF BELLS GOING
OFF ON MY PHONE. THAT THING. I
AM SORRY FOR BREAKING MY OWN
RULE FOR GOING OVER TIME.
COLLEAGUES. I APOLOGIZE. I
KNOW, I AM RECOGNIZING IT. I
SAID IT WASN'T GOING TO DO IT
AGAIN AND THEN I DID. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE HEARD FROM
EVERYONE. THANK YOU. LET ME SEE
WHAT MY SCRIPT SAYS WE HAVE TO
DO NOW. WE FINISHED WITH THIS
PROCESS AND WILL CONTINUE WITH
OUR DECISION-MAKING GOING
FORWARD. THERE WILL BE, AS YOU
KNOW, PER THE CHARTER, WE HAVE
27 DAYS TO FILL A VACANCY. 20
DAYS TO FILL A VACANCY
THEREFORE OUR DEADLINE IS THE
27th. AT THAT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING WE WILL MAKE A
DECISION. IS THERE ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THEIR APPEARANCE AND PARTNERS,
SPOUSES AND FRIENDS AND
SUPPORTERS IN CHAMBERS AND I
WANT TO THANK THEM ALL FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO COME OUT
HERE AND SUPPORTING YOUR
PEOPLE. AS A MOM, THAT IS
REALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME . I AM
SURE IT IS MEANINGFUL TO YOU,
PANELISTS, AND I JUST
GIVE EVERYBODY RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU .
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> JUST INQUIRING, I KNOW WE
HAD ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED THE
MONDAY SELECT COMMITTEE FOR
9:30 AM, BECAUSE WE HAD COUNCIL
BRIEFING, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE
COUNCIL BRIEFING? IS A
FLEXIBILITY ON THE START TIME?
>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT. I
HAVE YET TO TALK TO STAFF ABOUT
THAT. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE?
>> I FIND THAT 9:30 AM ON A
MONDAY IS PROBABLY A TIME I
MIGHT BE FOLLOWING UP WITH SOME
CANDIDATES AND HAVING MY SECOND
CUP OF COFFEE. I KNOW IT'S
GOING TO BE A LONG MEETING.
JUST INQUIRING.
>> THE FLEXIBILITY IS ON THE
OTHER END OF THE MEETING,
BECAUSE WE HAVE NOTICED IT
ALREADY. I'M GOING TO KEEP THE
START TIME AT 9:30 AM AND WE DO
NOT HAVE THE THINGS SCHEDULED
IN THE AFTERNOON. BUT, I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THERE IS SOME
OVERFLOW TIME. SO WE ARE NOT
RUSHED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THE SUGGESTION. IS THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTION OR SUGGESTION OR
IS THIS IT FOR THE COUNCIL? WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA. THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL MEET AGAIN ON
MONDAY, JANUARY 27. SCHEDULING
TO VOTE AND APPOINT A FINALIST
AT THE JANUARY 27 MEETING.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE
ARE ADJOURNED AND WE HAVE A
WEEKEND BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO
CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION
SHOULD WE WISH.