IS TO: 04, I AM SARA NELSON
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. IS CALLED THE
ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE MIKE MAX
HERE .
>> RINCK? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> HERE .
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ?
>> HERE .
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> HERE.
>> SIX PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WILL BE
EXCUSED WITHOUT OBJECTION . WITH
NO OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK IS EXCUSED . THERE ARE NO
PRESENTATIONS TODAY SO, WE WILL
OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, LIMITED TO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA, INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL COUNTER AND WORK
PROGRAM . LET US KNOW HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP.
>> EIGHT IN PERSON AND THREE
REMOTE.
>> LET'S GIVE EVERYONE TWO
MINUTES AND START WITH IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY, SO, WILL MODERATE , 20
MINUTES, SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE
REGISTERED, WE WILL CALL WITH IN
PERSON SPEAKERS, BEGIN SPEAKING
BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING THOMAS
SPEAKERS WILL CURE CHINA WITH 10
SECONDS ON LEFT AND AT TIME ,
YOUR MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED.
THE FIRST IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS
MINUTE HOUSTON FOLLOWED BY ALEX
ZIMMERMAN -- THE DEFENDANT WAS A
WOMAN AND NOT A MAN, DEFENDANT,
GEORGIA PHILLIPS , PDR REQUEST,
THEY TOLD THE JUDGE THE
DEFENDANT WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR
AND THAT IS WHY SHE COULD NOT
GET ON THE VAN. HERE IS THE
AUDIO.
>> THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT
COMPLICATIONS THAT CAME UP WITH
THAT. MEDICAL ISSUES, DENYING
EVEN TO GET ON THE BUS. SHE WAS
NOT ALLOWED TO GET ON THE BUS.
WHEELCHAIR-BOUND, HAVING BEEN
SHOT IN THE LIGHT PREVIOUSLY.
>> THAT WAS THE JUDGE RESPONDING
TO THE LAWYER STATEMENT AND THE
JUDGE DOES NOT DISMISS THE CASE.
HERE IS THE REST OF THE AUDIO.
>> DENY WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO
DISMISS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I
HAVE ALL THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
>> EVERY PART OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY STATEMENT ABOUT THAT
CASE WAS FALSE, THE JUDGE NEVER
FOUND -- NEVER DISMISS THE CASE
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS WALKED
BACK THEIR POSITION IN
DISQUALIFYING THIS JUDGE FROM
HEARING CRIMINAL CASES BUT THAT
IS NOT ENOUGH THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY PUT OUT A STATEMENT
IMPUGNING A SITTING JUDGE ,
TARNISHING HER REPUTATION BY
EXTENSION OF THE JUDICIARY ,
THEY HAVE NEVER TAKEN
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AND I WANT
TO REITERATE THE CITY COUNCIL
SHOULD ISSUE A RESOLUTION
CALLING ON THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
RETRACT THE FALSE STATEMENTS
THAT THEY MADE. THANK YOU.
>> ALEX ZIMMERMAN. AND THEN TIA.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
TRUMP SUPPORTER FROM BEGINNING ,
I HAVE 6000 DAYS OF TRESPASS,
DIFFERENT COUNCIL , I WANT TO
SPEAK ABOUT AGENDA NUMBER 3,
APPOINTMENT FOR MY COMMISSION, I
TRIED FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS A
DOZEN TIMES BUT NOBODY APPROVED
ME. YOU HAVE 6000 DAY OF
TRESPASS. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] YOU
ARE SMART. BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE
YOU DO NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO ME.
THIS MEANS I AM VERY GOOD. YES.
MY QUESTION TO THE IDIOT WHO SIT
HERE, MAYBE IT IS TIME TO ELECT
ALEX AMMERMAN AS PRESIDENT OF
KING COUNTY. HE GO FOR $450,000.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] THEY CUT ME
THREE TIMES FOR THREE YEARS,
SMART , ABSOLUTELY. VIVA TRUMP!
VIVA NEW AMERICAN REVOLUTION. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THEY ARE
MENTALLY SICK NAZI FACIST PIG.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> TIA, PLEASE, THANK YOU. THEN,
SANDY SMITH.
>> MY NAME IS TIA, I AM HERE IN
SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CONSENT
DECREE LEGISLATION AND ITS
CRITICAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE
FUTURE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN
SEATTLE . I WANT TO OPEN BY
EXPRESSING MY APPRECIATION FOR
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, SEATTLE
POLICE, FIRE, PARAMEDICS, AND
OUR CARE TEAM, THEIR DEDICATION
IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE SAFETY AND
WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES
ESPECIALLY IN MY VULNERABLE
COMMUNITY . I RECOGNIZE THE
IMMENSE CHALLENGES THAT FIRST
RESPONDER SPACE AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO THEM
THEY NEED TO EFFECTIVELY DO
THEIR DUTIES . SPECIFIC, I
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION AND
DIVERSITY IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
RESPONSE TO A GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS, SOCIAL WORKERS ,
AND OTHER TRAINED SPECIALISTS
WHO CAN PROVIDE APPROPRIATE
ASSISTANCE IN SITUATIONS THAT DO
NOT ALWAYS REQUIRE -- FIRST
RESPONSE IS CRUCIAL FOR
ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF
MY COMMUNITY AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES AT LARGE . WE MUST
ENSURE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED THE
RIGHT KIND OF HELP AT THE RIGHT
TIME. I ALSO SUPPORT LEGISLATION
THAT ADDRESSES DE-ESCALATION
TRAINING AND USE OF ALTERNATE
CONFLICT RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES
TO MINIMIZE THE USE OF FORCE AND
PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY SAFETY. A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC
SAFETY MUST INCLUDE CITIZEN LET
ACCOUNTABILITY, A COMMITMENT TO
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND
PERFORM , AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR
FIRST RESPONDERS . TRUE PUBLIC
SAFETY IS BUILT ON A FOUNDATION
OF TRUST, TRANSPARENCY , AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. BY WORKING
TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A SAFER
AND MORE JUST AND MORE EQUITABLE
CITY FOR ALL.
>> SANDY? FOLLOWING SANDY WILL
BE STEVE.
>> STILL A LITTLE TALLER THAN I
AM. I HAVE BEEN A BUSINESS OWNER
AND RESIDENT OF PINEHURST SQUARE
FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND I'M HERE
PRIMARILY ON BEHALF OF CIRCLE
THE SQUARE, OVER 100 MEMBERS ,
CITIZEN LET WORK WHERE WE ENGAGE
WITH OTHERS TO MAKE IT SAFER,
HEALTHIER FOR ALL OF US. WE WANT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU
ARE DOING IN THAT, THE NIGHTCLUB
THING, AMEN, THAT IS WHERE WE
GOT OUR TROUBLE. WE WANT TO CALL
OUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING
THE SOCIAL WORKER LED
INTERVENTIONS AND TRAUMA
INFORMED RESPONSES. WE SEE THE
CARE MEMBERS ON THE STREET, WE
GET TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. A WEEK
AGO, WE HAD A PERSON WITH A
KNIFE IN PIONEER SQUARE I CANNOT
TELL WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WHETHER IT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL
OR LITTLE DEAL AND THE POLICE
RESPONSE WAS SO MEASURED AND
BEAUTIFUL , NOTHING BAD
HAPPENED. WE HAVE THOSE THINGS
REGULARLY AND I WANT TO SAY, I
LIVE THERE LONG ENOUGH SO THAT I
REMEMBER WHEN WE KNEW OUR BEAT
COPS . WE WOULD HAVE COFFEE
TOGETHER. SOME OF THAT IS COMING
BACK. WE SOMETIMES HAVE THE
OFFICERS IN THE SQUARE AND WE
WILL STOP IN AND SAY, HOW IS IT
GOING? THIS IS HOW WE WANT TO
GET BACK INTO THE GOODNESS. ON
BEHALF OF ALL OF US, WE THANK
YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING
FOR A SAFER AND MORE HEALTHY AND
INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL .
MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU .
>> AFTER STEVE WE HAVE
CHARLOTTE.
>> MOST OF YOU KNOW ME BY NOW, I
AM IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION
BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, A
FOUNDING MEMBER OF ROUGHLY 180
RESIDENT THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC
SAFETY IN OUR CITY AND
ESPECIALLY IN WEST SEATTLE AND
AROUND THE ARBOR AVENUE POINT
AREA. WHEN WE WORK AS PARTNERS
TO IDENTIFY OUR UNIQUE SAFETY
NEEDS, WE HAVE SUCCESS . OUR
CITY PARTNERS ARE SOMETIMES HAVE
LACK OF STAFFING , AS IS THE
CASE WITH THE POLICE FROM AND
THE BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS
SOMETIMES GETS IN THE WAY.
GENERALLY, WE FIND THEM TO BE
VERY RESPONSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE.
GETTING PAST THE WE VERSUS US
MENTALITY AND WORKING TOGETHER
WITH MUTUAL RESPECT , ESPECIALLY
WITH FRONTLINE FIRST RESPONDERS,
IS PARAMOUNT TO MAKING SEATTLE
THE SAFEST OF CITIES. IT WILL BE
CRITICAL OF SEATTLE TO RETURN TO
A FULLY STAFFED , DIVERSE AND
WELL-TRAINED OF COMPASSIONATE
POLICE OFFICERS , CARE TEAM
MEMBERS , FIREFIGHTERS , EMTs ,
AMONG OTHERS, COMMITTED TO
BUILDING SAFETY IN ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACCOUNTABLE,
NOT ONLY TO THE COMMITTEE, BUT
THEMSELVES. SEATTLE CITIZENS
DESERVE A SAFE CITY AND FIRST
RESPONDERS DESERVE OUR RESPECT.
AT UTMOST GRATITUDE. PLEASE
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IN
RECOGNITION OF THE PEOPLE WE
RELY UPON EVERY DAY FOR SAFETY
AND PEACE IN OUR LIVES. LET'S
NEVER EVER RETURN TO A DEFUND
THE POLICE MENTALITY. THANK YOU.
>> CHARLOTTE, NONPROFIT , NEARLY
400, PART OF A FAMILY OF RETIRED
FIRE AND RETIRE LAW-ENFORCEMENT,
RESOLUTION 32167 IS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO, SEATTLE FINALLY
PULLING THE DAGGER OUT OF THE
BACK OF CITY POLICE OFFICERS
NEEDED TO BUILD TRUST WITH THEM
. IN THESE CHAMBERS, THERE WERE
OFTEN DEHUMANIZED , WE CITIZENS
RECOGNIZED , MANY OTHERS
RECOGNIZED, HOW BRAVE THESE
HUMANS ARE. RAVE MEN AND WOMEN
EVERY DAY RUNNING TO DANGER TO
HELP STRANGERS , THEY ARE NOT
RUNNING AWAY FROM IT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA THANK YOU FOR
ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS IN
CONJUNCTION WITH COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE , THIS RESOLUTION SETS
THE CITY PRIORITIES STRAIGHT , I
THINK, PLACING THE VALUE ON
HUMAN LIFE FAR ABOVE THE VALUE
OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES WHICH
SHOULD BREAK DOWN HERE. SOME OF
THOSE VERY RADICAL AND DIVISIVE
, DEFUNDING POLICIES WERE
PREDICTABLY DISASTROUS. TOO MANY
CITIZENS AND FAR TOO MANY
CHILDREN ARE DYING STILL ACROSS
WEST SEATTLE, I AND OTHERS ARE
ADVOCATING FOR SAFETY WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AS WE GO
INTO SOME, TYPICALLY AND
HISTORICALLY OUR MOST DANGEROUS
SEASON AND TODAY WE STAND WITH
OVER 300 OFFICERS SHORT. NEVER
AGAIN . WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO
MAKE SEATTLE BETTER AND SAFER ,
AND MY MESSAGE IS , LET'S GET
IT DONE. THANK YOU.
>> WE NOW HAVE VICTORIA PALMER
AND THEN GARY LEE.
>> HELLO , COUNCILMEMBERS , MY
NAME IS VICTORIA PALMER,
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER OF THE
KING COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY,
AND A RESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL
DISTRICT 6 . I AM HERE TODAY TO
APPLY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR
INTRODUCING RESOLUTION 32167
RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF OUR
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS , FIRE
DEPARTMENT , AND OTHER FIRST
RESPONDERS WORKING TOGETHER TO
IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY .
WHILE MAINTAINING ACCOUNTABILITY
AND COMPASSION. WE APPLAUD THIS
RESOLUTION , RECOGNIZING THAT
THE THIEF ON THE POLICE IN 2020
WAS MORE PUBLIC POLICY AND
MARKING THAT SEATTLE IS WELL ON
ITS WAY TO CORRECTING THIS
MISTAKE AND WE SUPPORT THE CITY
COUNCIL IN HIS PROGRESS TO
RESTORING GOOD GOVERNANCE,
REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION
AND WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO
VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM GARY LEE FROM CID AND I
WANT TO SUPPORT THAT RESOLUTION
AND ECHO WHAT THESE PEOPLE
BEHIND ME HAVE SAID. I AM
APPRECIATIVE OF MOVING FORWARD
FROM THIS DEFUND THE POLICE
MOVEMENT. WE APPRECIATE THE
POLICE FOLKS, THEY ARE SERVING
THE CITY , ESPECIALLY CID, AND
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL . LIKE YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THAT WAS OUR LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER. WE WILL MOVE INTO
REMOTE SPEAKERS . AS A REMINDER
TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS, PRESS
STAR 6. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
HOWARD DALE FOLLOWED BY DAVID
HAYNES. GO AHEAD, HOWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. DISTRICT 7 ,
AS WE HEARD AS RECENTLY AS
YESTERDAY, COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
OFTEN AND PASSIONATELY DUMP -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] TWO WEEKS AGO,
THE SPD KILLED EIGHT WHO WAS
BRANDISHING A WEAPON OR WHO HAD
NO WEAPON , 14 OF THESE PEOPLE
WERE CLEARLY EXPRESSING A SEVERE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THESE SPD KILLINGS
WAS CLEARED OR ACCEPTED AS
LAWFUL AND PROPER BUT ALL PARTS
OF OUR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM THAT TODAY YOU WILL VOTE
ON A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING
THE SUCCESS IN REFORM AND
ACCOUNTABILITY OF SPD, HOW TONE
DEAF AND HARD AS OVER THE LAST
35 YEARS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM,
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] , CIVILIANS
AND BRANDISHING ITS WEAPONS
KILLED BY POLICE, NINE , NINE
PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF
OVER 66 MILLION TRANSLATING TO
AN ANNUALIZED PER CAPITA KILLING
OF OVER 450 TIMES HIGHER IN
SEATTLE THAN IN THE UK, 459
TIMES COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU
STATED THAT SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICERS MUST DO WHAT IS
NECESSARY TO GET HOME ALIVE,
WHAT A SHAMEFUL STANDARD FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY, IMAGINE IF OUR
FIREMEN AND WOMEN INSPIRE.COM
WITH THE RUSSIAN TO BURNING
BUILDING? UNITED KINGDOM, POLICE
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] WE SHOULD HAVE
NO LOWER STANDARD . THE UK IS
NOT ALONE , MOST OFFICERS CARRY
GUNS, PEOPLE WITH ITS WEAPONS
ARE ALMOST NEVER SHOT AND KILLED
AND WE NEED A FULL HEARING ON
THIS PATTERN OF EXECUTING PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS, SUCH A HEARING WILL
REQUIRE SOMEONE WITH EXPERTISE
LIKE MYSELF TO ASK INTERESTING
QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN UNANSWERED
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] COUNCILMEMBERS
RINCK AND SOLOMON COMMITTED TO
HOLDING A TOWN HALL TO GET --
CONFRONT THIS ISSUE, SEVEN OTHER
COUNCIL NUMBERS, ARE YOU WILLING
TO PURSUE REAL ANSWERS OR
PERPETUATE INHUMANE PRACTICES ?
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DAVID HAYNES . GO AHEAD,
DAVID.
>> THANK YOU, MOST OF THE GUN
VIOLENCE IS DIRECTLY CORRELATED
TO LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS, AND
POLICE CHIEFS NOT BEING ACTUAL
CRIME FIGHTERS, COUNTLESS THINGS
YOUNG PEOPLE [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
THERE IS NO FOOD AVAILABLE WITH
ALL THESE PIECES OF REAL ESTATE
RUN BY SHADY CHARACTERS , YOU
WANT TO PROVIDE HOOKAH LOUNGE'S
THAT OFFER POISONS FROM THE
THIRD WORLD OF HARVESTING [
INDISCERNIBLE ] MARIJUANA CAFES
, MORE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] WILLING
TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY [
INDISCERNIBLE ] TO PROP UP SLUM
REAL ESTATE AS IT BEING
RESPECTFUL TO [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
AS LONG AS THEY CAN GENERATE
CASH TO TAXES AND USE TO BUY OFF
MORE VOTING BLOCKS AND PROBABLY
ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED PROPERTY
VALUES THAT DEVALUE COMMUNITY
SAFETY . NO INVESTIGATION OF THE
OVER SERVING BARTENDERS SENDING
EVERYONE OUT SWERVING HOME, FROM
TOXICS AND EGYPT AND OTHER THIRD
WORLD REGIONS THAT [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THE RESOLUTION
COUNCIL IS VOTING OUT TODAY THAT
I SUPPORT IS MORE EMPTY WORDED
VIRTUE SIGNALING AND COUNCIL
ALREADY BUDGETED MORE MONEY FOR
THE SAME SPINNING PARTY THAT
ORIGINATED FROM WHEN THEY
DEFUNDED THE POLICE AND SHIFTED
THE PARADIGM [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
PRIORITIZE FOR HOUSING AND
SERVICES, USING HOMELESS MONEY
OR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST WHITE
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] I HOPE
SOMEBODY SUES THAT SEATTLE
POLICE FROM AND THE CITY FOR
YOUR CONTINUED UNCONSTITUTIONAL
POLICE REPORT AND YOUR PRIORITY
TO HIRE UNTRUSTWORTHY POLICE
CHIEFS TO RUN INTERFERENCE FOR
DRUG PUSHERS WHO TURN AGAINST
THE COPS, WHILE GETTING RICH
PRIORITIZING OVERTIME [
INDISCERNIBLE ] AS THEY
DISPERSED CRIMINALS AROUND THE
CORNER, GOD BLESS THE TRUE
DEMOCRACY --
>> THAT WAS OUR LAST REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK TODAY.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED. MOVING ON, NO OBJECTION
TO INTRODUCTION A REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED .
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED HEARING ON , THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED . WE WILL CONSIDER
THE PROPOSAL CONSENT CALENDAR
AND THE ITEMS ARE, THE MINUTES
OF THE MARCH 18th, 25th
MEETINGS, 120961, SIX APARTMENTS
FROM THE HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICE COMMITTEE, ONE
APPOINTMENT FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY, CITY LIGHT, ARTS
AND CULTURE COMMITTEE, AND ONE
APPOINTMENT FOR THE LIBRARIES
EDUCATION AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS
THAT COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR? HEARING ON I MOVED TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR . IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND .
>> MOVED AND SECONDED. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> KETTLE?
>> YES .
>> RIVERA?
>> YES .
>> SAKA?
>> YES .
>> SOLOMON?
>> YES .
>> HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES .
>> NELSON?
>> YES .
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> IT IS ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> THE REPORT OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AGENDA ITEM 1,
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WORKERS AND VISITORS
TO FULLY SUPPORT, TRAINING ,
FIRST RESPONDERS COMMITTEE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] ACKNOWLEDGING
THE CITY'S ACTIONS TO REFORM
THE POLICE FROM WITH THE FEDERAL
CONSENT DECREE, TO RESOLVE THE
REMAINING ISSUES OF THE CONSENT
DECREE AND AFFIRMING THE
ESSENTIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY
THE POLICE TO THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE RESOLUTION BE
ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AS CHAIR ,
YOU WILL BY THE COMMITTEE REPORT
BEFORE THE SPONSOR ADDRESSES IT
.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. AS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, ALL I
WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW IS THANK
EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED
IN THIS PROCESS. WHICH IS NOT
JUST A RESOLUTION BUT ALL THE
WORK BEHIND IT RELATED TO THE
CONSENT DECREE. A SPECIAL THANK
YOU TO MY VICE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA , FOR HIS
WORK ON THIS, WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE A
WHILE. COLLABORATING WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK
HIM FOR THE EFFORT AND BEING A
LEADER ON THIS TOPIC , BECAUSE
HIS LEADERSHIP IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT . WITH THAT, I WOULD
LIKE TO HAND THE MICROPHONE OVER
TO MY VICE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA .
>> GO AHEAD , COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, VICE CHAIR .
>> THANK YOU , MADAM PRESIDENT
AND I WANT TO THANK MAYOR
HARRELL AND COUNCILMEMBER --
MAYOR HARRELL AND COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, NORMALLY FOR THIS
RESOLUTION BUT WHAT IT STANDS
FOR, A RECOMMITMENT TO
SUPPORTING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
PROFESSIONALS, FIRST RESPONDER
HEROES, AND DELIVERING A
WORLD-CLASS PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM
FOR ALL. TOGETHER, SINCE I TOOK
OFFICE JANUARY 2024 , WITH MANY
OF YOU ALL, COLLEAGUES , PROUD
TO SAY THAT THIS COUNCIL IS
PASSED 14 PIECES OF
TRANSFORMATIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
LEGISLATION. TO BETTER DELIVER
UPON OUR CHARTER RESPONSIBILITY
TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. AND , THIS
LEGISLATION ENABLES OUR CITY TO
TAKE A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS
DOING TWO THINGS, FINALIZING THE
2012 FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE , OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND HELPING TO SHAPE A FUTURE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY THAT
WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. BROADLY
SPEAKING, THIS RESOLUTION SETS
FORTH OUR CITY'S POLICIES WITH
RESPECT TO FIRST RESPONDERS.
EMPOWERING THEM TO EFFECTIVELY
CARRY OUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY
MANDATE. PROVIDING THEM WITH THE
APPROPRIATE TOOLS , RESOURCES,
AND TRAINING THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL . SAME TIME, SETTING
AND ENFORCING THE HIGH STANDARDS
OF EXCELLENCE AND
PROFESSIONALISM. AND, SWIFTLY
HOLDING INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE
FOR MISCONDUCT , NO DIFFERENT
THAN YOU WOULD ANY DEPARTMENT OR
ANY EMPLOYEE. ALL WHILE
ADVANCING A TRULY DIVERSIFIED
PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE MODEL ,
ONE THAT INCLUDES SOCIAL
WORKERS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
TEAMS, AND OTHER TRAINED CRISIS
RESPONSE PERSONNEL. AGAIN ,
TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS ANOTHER
CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS RESOLVING
THE REMAINING ISSUES ON THE
FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE AND BY
RECOGNIZING THE MANY PRIOR AND
CURRENT ACTIONS TO PERFORM ARE A
PLACE FOR WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING
AND UPLIFTING AND AMPLIFYING THE
WORK OF OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS.
KEY PROVISIONS INCLUDE
SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDERS ,
STRENGTHENING POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY , RECOGNIZING THE
VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY REFORMS THAT
OUR CITY HAS MADE, WE AFFIRM OUR
COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSIFIED
PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE, AND,
IMPORTANTLY , REVERSING DEFUND
COMMITMENTS AND PLEDGES BYPASS
COUNCILS, THIS LEGISLATION
ADVANCES ALL THESE EXCITING
THINGS AND MORE. I WANTED TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE, REFLECT
, AND ACKNOWLEDGE ONE SPECIFIC
ELEMENT OF THIS BILL , IT IS
REVERSAL OF THE DEFUND THE
POLICE MOVEMENT . AS A CITY
POLICY MATTER. NOW, IN 2020,
WHEN -- I WANT TO CLARIFY , IN
2020, WHEN COMMITMENTS TO THE
DEFUNDED SEATTLE POLICE FROM A
BUDGET BY 50% WERE MADE BY CITY
LEADERS, I WAS NOT IN OFFICE AT
THE TIME. NORE WERE MANY OF YOU
HERE TODAY, MY COLLEAGUES , I
WAS NOT INVOLVED , I DID NOT
SUPPORT IT AT THE TIME, I HAVE
NEVER HEARD OF, EVER , 10 YEARS
AS AN AIR FORCE VETERAN , 10
YEARS IN THE MILITARY, 10 YEARS
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN BIG
LAW AND BIG TECH, THEN LAW
SCHOOL, I HAD NEVER HEARD ON
STRIPPING RESOURCES FROM
ANYTHING AND EXPECTING THE SAME
INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION TO
PROVIDE BETTER RESULTS . I HAD
NEVER HEARD OF IT AND I DID NOT
SUPPORT IT AT THE TIME. BUT THE
CONTEXT AND THE HISTORY BEHIND
IT, I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE, SO,
WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED
ON CAMERA IN MINNEAPOLIS,
MINNESOTA , IT INSPIRED A RACIAL
RECKONING IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY . AS THE RESOLUTION
NOTES , THE ENSUING PROTESTS
CAUSED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS
OUR GREAT NATION , INCLUDING OUR
OWN IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
GOVERNMENT , TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
HISTORY OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM
WITHIN THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS. I
SHOULD ALSO NOTE , IRONICALLY,
AT THE TIME, THOSE DEFINED
COMMITMENT AND PLEDGES WERE MADE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THERE
WERE ZERO BLACK OR AFRICAN
AMERICAN , AFRICAN DESCENT,
COUNCILMEMBERS SERVING IN THE
COUNCIL AT THE TIME. STRANGELY,
THOSE DEFUND PLEDGES WERE MADE
AT THE HEIGHT OF A RACIAL
RECKONING IN AMERICA THAT NEEDED
TO HAPPEN IN 2020. THERE WERE
ALSO PURPORTEDLY MADE IT MY BEST
INTEREST. AS A BLACK MAN. AND
PURPORTEDLY IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF OTHER BLACK PEOPLE ACROSS OUR
GREAT CITY. I DID NOT BENEFIT
FROM THAT. NO COMMUNITIES I AM
INVOLVED WITH BENEFITED FROM
THAT. ALL COMMUNITIES . IT IS
DIVISIVE. SEATTLE , I AM PROUD
TO SAY , IS INCREASINGLY DIVERSE
FROM A DEMOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE.
AND WE WELCOME PEOPLE FROM ALL
BACKGROUNDS. AND MY COMMITMENT
IS TO MAKE SURE , I DO NOT CARE
WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE
FROM, YOU COME TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, YOU SHOULD FEEL SAFE
AND PROTECTED . AND FREE TO
EXPERIENCE THE MANY WONDERS AND
JOYS OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER. WE
ARE INCREASINGLY DIVERSE CITY
FROM A DEMOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE.
THAT SAID, WE ARE ALSO ONE OF
THE LEAST DIVERSE BIG CITIES IN
AMERICA. ONE OF THE WIDEST BIG
-- WHITEST BIG CITIES IN
AMERICA, AND THAT COMMITMENT TO
DEFUND THE POLICE WAS MADE
PURPORTEDLY IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
WITH NOT ONE BLACK PERSON ON
COUNCIL AT THE TIME . AS A BLACK
MAN , I WILL SAY, LOOK, LIKE IN
BROWN COMMUNITIES WE DO NOT NEED
WHITE SAVIORS. WE SPEAK, WE ARE
PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF SPEAKING
AND ADVOCATING ON OUR BEHALF, WE
ARE ALSO NOT A MONOLITH, BLACK
PEOPLE ARE NOT A MONOLITH. WE
AGREE ON ANY NUMBER OF THINGS
AND DISAGREE ON ANY NUMBER OF
THINGS, NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY
OTHER GROUP. AT THE TIME, THOSE
COMMITMENTS WERE MADE, PEOPLE
CHERRY PICKED , SPECIFIC VOICES
AND SPECIFIC PERSPECTIVES OF OUR
BLACK COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE AND
HELD IT UP AS THE PERSPECTIVE.
IT IS NOT , IT WAS NOT THIN AND
NOT TRUE NOW. -- IT WAS NOT THEN
AND NO TRUE NOW. IN CONTRAST TO
THE 2020 COUNCIL WHO MADE THOSE
DEFUND COMMITMENTS, GIVEN THE
SHIFT OF THIS COUNCIL'S
COMPOSITION , WE HAVE A HISTORY
MAKING THREE LACK
COUNCILMEMBERS. AT THE END OF
THE DAY, I BELIEVE THE INTENT
AND MOTIVES BEHIND DEFUND WAS
100% POSITIVE AND PURE. I THINK
WE WERE ALL HAVING THE SAME
SHARED GOALS AND MAKING SURE WE
HAVE A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE
SOCIETY FOR ALL. I THINK THAT
WAS THE WRONG APPROACH TO TAKE
THEN, AND I THINK, IN THE END,
IT WAS FLAT WRONG, DECISIVE AND
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, PURPORTING TO
ADVANCE A 50% THRESHOLD STANDARD
WAS ENTIRELY ARBITRARY AND
CAPRICIOUS. IT WAS A HEAD
SCRATCH OR. -- IT WAS A HEAD
SCRATCHER. AS A BLACK MAN
GROWING UP IN THIS COUNTRY, AN
AIR FORCE VETERAN, WAS ABLE TO
OVERCOME THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM,
AND ANY NUMBER OF LIFE
CHALLENGES WE ALL FACE, IT DID
NOT BENEFIT ME. IT DID NOT
BENEFIT ANY OF THE COMMUNITIES I
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH. SO,
WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED
ON CAMERA , I WAS OUTRAGED ,
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. BUT I WAS
ALSO UNIQUELY TRAUMATIZED MORE
THAN MOST BECAUSE, NOT ONLY IS A
BLACK MAN, WHO KNOWS WHAT
UNEQUAL JUSTICE FEELS LIKE AND
CAN FEEL LIKE, I WAS TRAUMATIZED
WHEN THAT HAPPENED , WHEN I SAW
THE VIDEO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED
POLICE BRUTALITY. NOT JUST THAT,
I , TOO, HAVE HAD THE KNEES OF
INJUSTICE PRESSED AGAINST MY
NECK. IN MY EARLY 20s FOR
NONSENSE THAT SHOULD'VE NEVER
HAPPENED TO BEGIN WITH, BY THE
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
BOOT, SO, THAT EXPERIENCE LET ME
KNOW THAT WE NEED BETTER
POLICING , NOT NO POLICING BUT
BETTER POLICING. I ALSO KNOW
FIRST-HAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS. THAT THEY PLAY
IN OUR SOCIETY. IN 2013 , ME AND
MY WIFE HAD JUST FINISHED
RUNNING THE BOSTON MARATHON, ONE
BLOCK AWAY FROM THE FINISH LINE
AT BOYLSTON STREET , WHEN, THE
FIRST OF MULTIPLE BOMBS WENT OFF
AND EXPLODED . I WILL NEVER
FORGET , IN THAT MOMENT, IN THE
CONFUSION AND CHAOS, IN THE PAIN
AND, PEOPLE WERE SCARED. THAT
UNFOLDED IN THOSE ENSUING
MOMENTS AFTER THE BOMBS WENT
OFF, MYSELF INCLUDED , I AM A
COMBAT VETERAN , I WILL NEVER
FORGET , IN THOSE MOMENTS, WHEN
EVERYONE WAS TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO ESCAPE THE DANGER,
RUN AWAY FROM IT, KEEP
THEMSELVES SAFE, I WILL NEVER
FORGET SEEING NOT DOZENS BUT
HUNDREDS OF FIRST RESPONDERS ,
FIREFIGHTERS , EMTs , YES ,
POLICE , PUTTING THEIR OWN
SAFETY AND SECURITY ON THE LINE,
RUNNING TOWARDS THE DANGER TO
PROTECT US. THAT IS HOW I KNOW
WE NEED FIRST RESPONDERS THAT A
WELL-TRAINED, WELL RESOURCED ,
AND THAT HAVE THE TOOLS
NECESSARY TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY
OUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY MANDATE.
MORE RECENTLY , A FEW NIGHTS
AGO, A SHOOTING IN DEL RIDGE
WHERE I LIVE, HUNDREDS OF
GUNSHOTS. IN MY OWN BACKYARD.
SPD RESPONDED AMPLY AND
CONDUCTED THE INVESTIGATION.
AGAIN , THAT IS HOW I KNOW WE
HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS, YES,
INCLUDING POLICE. U.S. DISTRICT
COURT JUDGE JAMES ROBILLARD ,
WHO OVERSEES SEATTLE COMPLAINTS
WITH THE CONSENT DECREE, AS
PREVIOUSLY NOTED, THAT THE WORDS
OF THE PAST OF SLASHING THE SPD
BUDGET AND WORSE, ABOLISHING THE
POLICE ENTIRELY, WAS NOT THE
PATHWAY TO LIFTING THE CONSENT
DECREE. THE COURT PREVIOUSLY
CRITICIZED SEATTLE A PROCESS
LEGACY DEFUND THE POLICE POLICY
AS A KNEE-JERK REACTION . IN
FACT, THE JUDGE PREVIOUSLY
NOTED, "THE CITY , THE MAYOR,
AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM
THE CITY COUNCIL NEED TO BE
CONSTRUCTIVE, NOT DESTRUCTIVE TO
PROGRESS ." COLLEAGUES , AS I
NOTED EARLIER, MOST OF US ON
THIS COUNCIL WERE NOT ELECTED TO
OFFICE WHEN THE DEFUND PLEDGES
WERE PUSHED . TO BE SURE , IF I
HAD BEEN ON THE COUNCIL , I
WOULD HAVE STRONGLY PUSHED BACK
AGAINST ANY ACTIONS TO THE FUND
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ANY
PUBLIC SAFETY. I REMEMBER
THINKING AT THE TIME, THE KING
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE , AT
THE TIME, DID NOT HAVE ANYBODY
CAMERAS, ANY TRUST BUILDING
MECHANISMS , BUT WE WANT TO
DEFUND THE POLICE? IF ANYTHING ,
TO BUILD TRUST, IMPROVE
TRANSPARENCY, STRENGTHEN
ACCOUNTABILITY, WE WILL NEED
PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES , THEY WILL NEED MORE
RESOURCES AND NOT LESS. SO, THIS
COUNCIL , PROUD TO SAY, HAS
TAKEN THE GUIDANCE OF THE COURT
TO HEART, THE CALL TO BE
CONSTRUCTIVE, NOT DESTRUCTIVE TO
PROGRESS , WE HAVE TAKEN THAT TO
HEART. TODAY, WE HAVE RENEWED
REASON FOR HOPE AND OPTIMISM .
THIS IS A NEW COUNCIL . A NEW
DAY IN SEATTLE. WE WORKED HARD
TO MAKE THAT SEATTLE POLICE
DRAMA A MODEL DEPARTMENT AND
GROW ITS RANKS. SOME WOULD SAY ,
WE PASSED THESE 14 BILLS , NO
NEED TO REVISIT OR RELIVE SOME
OF THOSE PAINFUL MEMORIES. I DO
THINK WE DO. I THINK WE NEED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT THAT
WORDS HAVE . IN ORDER TO
EFFECTIVELY AND COLLECTIVELY
HEAL AND MOVE FORWARD. AGAIN,
THAT IS ONLY -- DEFUND IS DONE
IF THIS PASSES , THAT IS THE
HEADLINE, DEFUND IS DONE, THIS
LEGISLATION ALLOWS US TO
COLLECTIVELY HEAL FROM THE
SHAMEFUL LEGACY OF DEFUND AND
OFFICIALLY PIVOT TOWARDS A
DIVERSIFIED RESPONSE MODEL THAT
COMMUNITY SO DESPERATELY NEED. I
AM PROUD OF THE WORK OF OUR
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ,
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT , AND
OUR NEW CARE DEPARTMENT . I AM
PROUD OF THE WORK DONE BY THIS
MAYOR, THIS COUNCIL , AND I URGE
YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS RESOLUTION
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THERE ARE
LOUD JAZZ HANDS IN THE AUDIENCE.
ANY COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA ?
>> THANK YOU . JUST TO
UNDERSCORE, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR BRINGING
THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AND FOR
GREATLY SETTING UP WHAT THIS
RESOLUTION HAS REALLY MEANT TO
DO . AND ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE , THAT IS
IMPORTANT, THAT MATTERS. YOU
SAID IT SO WELL, I WILL NOT
REPEAT ALL THE THINGS , BUT I
VERY MUCH SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION . I VERY MUCH
SUPPORT THIS STANCE. FOLKS NEED
TO ADMIT WHEN THEY MAKE
DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT SEEMED
AT THE TIME THE RIGHT THING TO
DO, BUT WE KNOW WAS NOT. I AGREE
WITH YOU , COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ,
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT DEFUND
RHETORIC WAS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO. WE NEED OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS, ALL OF THEM ,
INCLUDING POLICE , AND WE NEED
TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT
WE ARE PROVIDING THE TRAINING
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THEY
ARE ALWAYS DOING THE MOST GOOD
IN OUR COMMUNITIES . BUT THEY
ARE VERY MUCH -- WE VERY MUCH
NEED THEM, WHICH IS WHY , YOU
AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS
SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE , I HAVE
WORKED REALLY HARD TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH SPD AND I
ENCOURAGE CONSTITUENTS IN THE D4
TO DO THAT AS WELL. I APPRECIATE
WHAT AUDIENCE MEMBER SAID TODAY
ABOUT THAT , INCLUDING BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
CONSTITUENTS AND POLICE, BECAUSE
BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP IS WHAT
I BELIEVE ALSO LEADS TO BETTER
OUTCOMES IN COMMUNITIES , WHEN
POLICE SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF
THE COMMUNITY , WHEN ANYONE SEES
THEMSELVES AS PART OF COMMUNITY
, YOU GET BETTER OUTCOMES , THAT
INCLUDES OUR FOLKS THAT COME
HERE FROM OTHER PLACES, OF THE
COUNTRY , AND THE WORLD. WE ARE
A WELCOMING CITY. WE ARE A CITY
THAT WILL DO ITS DUE DILIGENCE
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS . I ALSO WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING , I THINK IT BEARS
MENTIONING IN THE LIGHT OF THIS
PARTICULAR RESOLUTION THAT YOU
ARE BRINGING FORWARD, AS PART OF
THAT DEFUND RHETORIC AND
MOVEMENT , THERE WERE SOME
ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ALSO GOT
CAUGHT UP IN THIS AGGRESSION IN
THE CITY , INCLUDING SOME
COUNCILMEMBERS . I AM GOING TO
RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER DEBORAH
MORRIS -- DEBORAH JUAREZ WHO WAS
THE SUBJECT OF PEOPLE COMING TO
HER HOME TO ATTACK HER, THIS
ALSO HAPPENED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, NOT JUST HERE. THE
FORMER MAYOR ALSO EXPERIENCED
THIS AS WELL. IT WAS THE TONE AT
THE TIME AND IT WAS NOT THE
PROPER TONE FOR OUR CITY. IT
DOES NOT MAKE PEOPLE SAFER AND
IT DOES NOT REALLY CORRECT WHAT
NEEDED CORRECTING. BUT TO THE
POINT OF YOUR RESOLUTION,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA , DOING THE
WORK OF DOING THE TRAINING AND
HOLDING POLICE ACCOUNTABLE, THAT
WILL MAKE A CHANGE. NOT THE
RHETORIC. AND THE HATE. I REALLY
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU
HAVE DONE IN PUTTING THIS
RESOLUTION TOGETHER . I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR , YOU KNOW , BEING
BOLD IN BRINGING IT FORWARD. IT
IS A RESETTING OF THE TONE IN
OUR CITY ABOUT OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS, ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
, ABOUT HOW TO TREAT EACH OTHER
WITH RESPECT, EVEN WHEN WE
DISAGREE. I HAVE SAID THIS ABOUT
100 TIMES , I THINK IN THE YEAR
I HAVE BEEN HERE, WE CAN ALL
AGREE TO DISAGREE, WE LIVE IN A
GREAT CITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF
THINGS IN COMMON. I SAY WE HAVE
SHARED VALUES . WE DO NOT ALWAYS
AGREE ON HOW TO GET TO SOME
SOLVES FOR POLICY ISSUES BUT WE
HAVE SHARED GOALS AND SHARED
OUTCOMES AND WE NEED TO TREAT
EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND
AGREE TO DISAGREE. THAT IS HOW
YOU SERVE , IN MY OPINION, OUR
CONSTITUENTS THE BEST AND I
THINK YOUR RESOLUTION GETS TO
THAT . AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AND
I WILL VOTE YES TO IT. AND , YOU
KNOW, I WILL ENCOURAGE OUR
COLLEAGUES ON YOUR BEHALF TO
JOIN US IN VOTING YES. THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO
RESOLUTION 32167 . AS STATED, A
RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE
SEATTLE RESIDENTS, WORKERS ,
STUDENTS AND VISITORS , DESERVE
TO BE SAFE AND FEEL SAFE . I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS
ON THAT POINT. BE SAFE AND FEEL
SAFE. SOMETHING I SEE AND FEEL
EVERY DAY IN TERMS OF THE -- AS
I WORK THE ISSUE RELATED TO
SAFETY THROUGHOUT OUR CITY ,
INCLUDING A FREEWAY PARK
YESTERDAY. RESOLUTION 32167 ALSO
SPEAKS TO OUR CONSENT DECREE
PROCESS. IMPORTANT ENTIRELY --
THROUGH ITS ENTIRETY, I WILL
SPEAK TO IT IN TERMS OF THE
SEQUENCE, BUT EACH AREA IS
IMPORTANT. IT IS ABOUT ENACTING
REFORMS. IT IS ABOUT IMPROVING
THE SEATTLE POLICE FOR , BUT OUR
ENTIRE SYSTEM. IT STARTED WITH
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BUT IT END WITH THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, CARE DEPARTMENT,
ENTIRE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
PART OF THIS REFORM IS MOVING
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
FROM BEING SO CENTRAL IN OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY POSTURE AND OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM, IT IS EASY
TO ADD THINGS ON TO THE MISSION
OF SPD BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO TAKE IT ON .
SOMETHING I KNOW FROM MY SPIRITS
IN THE MILITARY, DOD , BECAUSE
OF HIS LOGISTICS AND
COMMUNICATION CAPABILITY ,
INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITY, IT
WOULD TAKE ON MISSIONS THAT WERE
NOT TRADITIONALLY MILITARY.
BECAUSE IT COULD. BUT THAT ALSO
CAUSES PROBLEMS. I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
THIS IS ABOUT LOOKING AT THE
SYSTEM IN ITS ENTIRETY AND
FINDING THE SPD PLACE IN IT ,
ALLOWING IT TO FOCUS ON LAW
ENFORCEMENT , VIOLENT AND
PROPERTY CRIME . I WAS WORKING
THESE ISSUES DIRECTLY IN 2020
AND IT WAS INTERESTING THAT
PEOPLE ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT
PROPERTY CRIME. PARTICULARLY
WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO JUSTIFY
BUDGET DECISIONS. THEY NEED TO
FOCUS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT,
VIOLENT PROPERTY CRIME, OTHER
AREAS FOR SPD AND A KEY PART OF
THIS RESOLUTION AND THE CONSENT
DECREE PROCESS IS WHAT WE HAVE
DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST DOZEN
YEARS, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS REGARDING ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE TO HELP IN THAT
INTERSECTION BETWEEN PUBLIC
SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH,
SOMETHING I SPOKE TO A LOT OVER
THE COURSE OF MY CANDIDACY AND
ON THE COUNCIL. I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE
RESOLUTION CALLS OUT THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CARE
DEPARTMENT AND THEIR EFFORTS . I
HAVE DONE RIDE ALONG'S AND
VISITS TO FIRE STATIONS AND THE
WORK THEY ARE DOING , EXPANDING
THEIR CAPABILITIES, WE HAVE
HEALTHONE , THE CARE DEPARTMENT,
THAT WE ARE BUILDING OUT NOW.
INCREASING ITS CAPABILITY . IT
IS IMPORTANT THIS RESOLUTION
CALLS THAT OUT . ANOTHER
IMPORTANT AREA, I THINK THAT
GETS THE SHORT SHIFT, ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY I FOCUS ON IT, OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IS KEY,
THE PARTNERS ARE ONE OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS CONSENT
DECREE, A HIGHLIGHT OF THIS
RESOLUTION. I CONSTANTLY HAVE
MEETINGS WITH OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS. CDC, COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION , TALKING TO THEM
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
FACE AS A CITY TO INCLUDE WHAT
WAS MENTIONED IN PUBLIC COMMENT
. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THESE
ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE US IN A
PROPER WAY, INVESTIGATE PROPERLY
, INDEPENDENTLY, AND HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY , THIS IS PART OF
OUR JOB, TOO , ON THE CITY
COUNCIL . TO HAVE THAT OVERSIGHT
AND IN SHORT THESE PIECES ARE
DONE RIGHT . AS I SAID BEFORE, I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE
ACCOUNTABILITY, WITH THESE
REFORMS , YOU SHOULD WELCOME
ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT IS THE
MINDSET WE SHOULD HAVE , TO
WELCOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOES
TO THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. WE
ARE LOOKING TO SUPPORT THEM AND
THE OIG. THE KEY WITH OUR ROLE
IS HOW DO WE SUPPORT THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS, HOW DO
WE SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS? NOT
FAILURE. THAT APPLIES TO OUR
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PIECES AND
SPD ITSELF . TO THE LAST PART OF
THE RESOLUTION , IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS UP ,
PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD
OVER THE MONTHS, THAT REVERSES
ANY PRIOR COMMITMENTS OR PLEDGES
TO DEFUND OR ABOLISH SPD . THERE
IS A REASON WHY IS IS FOCUSED ON
THE DEFUND , I AM WELL AWARE OF
THOSE WHO SAY, NO DID NOT
HAPPEN. YOU CAN ALMOST SAY IT IS
FAKE NEWS. THEY GO TO THE
SPECIFIC BUDGET ACTIONS , OR
PIECES THAT WERE TAKEN. BUT THAT
IGNORES THE IMPACT OF THE PLEDGE
ON THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT
IGNORES THE IMPACT THAT THAT HAD
ON THEIR ABILITY TO DO THEIR
JOB. I SAY THAT PLEDGE DID HAVE
GRAVE IMPACTS ON OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE ARE LIVING DAY IN AND
DAY OUT, IN TERMS OF ANOTHER
IMPORTANT POINT, AS NOTED, WE
HAVE HAD 14 PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS
OUT OF HIS COUNCIL , IF YOU
COUNT THIS AS 15, WE HAVE
ANOTHER ONE RELATED TO
AFTER-HOURS, THE LATE-NIGHT,
THAT WILL BE 16. THESE ARE BILLS
WE ARE SHOWING OUR COMMITMENT TO
IMPROVE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY . AT
THE END OF THE DAY, JUST TO
CONCLUDE, WHAT WE NEED IS
LEADERSHIP. LEADERSHIP THAT IS
FORWARD THINKING , AND
UNDERSTANDING , THE IDEA OF
COMPASSION , BUT ALSO WISDOM ,
AS MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY
BEFORE, THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO
PRESS FORWARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY ,
BUT ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES . WE ARE LOOKING TO DO
THAT. I ADVOCATE FOR THAT . AS I
HAVE SAID BEFORE , THERE ARE TWO
SIDES TO THE SAME COIN, WE
CANNOT SUCCEED IN PUBLIC SAFETY
IF WE DO NOT ALSO SUCCEED IN
PUBLIC HEALTH. IT IS VERY CLEAR.
LEADERSHIP THAT ALSO BELIEVES IN
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, NOT
SELFIES , THE BELIEVES IN
BUILDING UP AND NOT TEARING DOWN
OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE A SAFE,
THRIVING, AND VIBRANT SEATTLE.
THAT IS MY UNDERLYING COMMENT.
IT IS ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND AS
SHOWING LEADERSHIP, THE ONLY WAY
TO DO THIS I ASKED MY
COLLEAGUES, VOTE IN AFFIRMATION
OF THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU ,
COUNCILMEMBERS .
>> PLEASE ALLOW ME TO MAKE SOME
COMMENTS AND I WILL OPEN IT UP
TO THE SPONSOR IF NEEDED, OR
ANYONE TO CLOSE OUT. I HAVE TO
SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
PUTTING IT SO ELOQUENTLY AND SO
VIVIDLY , COUNCILMEMBERS SAKA .
BECAUSE IT IS THE CATASTROPHIC
IMPACTS OF SEVEN OF NINE OF THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS PLEDGING TO THE
DEFUND THE POLICE IN 2020 , THEY
HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE, THAT
LARGELY LED ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE
IN 2022 . NOT JUST THE
SKYROCKETING PROPERTY CRIME AND
VIOLENT CRIME , AND DRUG
OVERDOSES THAT WERE A RESULT OF
DRUG DEALING AND INHUMANE
CONDITIONS PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE
, ET CETERA , BUT ALSO THE
UNACCEPTABLE LONG 911 RESPONSE
TIMES. I HAD A MOTHER-IN-LAW
LIVING IN TOWN , THE POINT IS. I
WAS MOTIVATED TO RUN FOR THAT
REASON. AND, I HAD TO WORK WITH
THAT COUNCIL IN MY FIRST TWO
YEARS , FOR PERSPECTIVE, HERE WE
ARE AFTER THIS HAS BEEN BEFORE
US FOR A WEEK OR TWO IF YOU
COUNT THE INTERACTION PROCESS IT
TOOK FOUR MONTHS TO GET MY SPD
HIRING BONUSES LEGISLATION
PASSED IN 2022. WHAT A
DIFFERENCE A SUPER MAJORITY OF
REINFORCEMENTS MAKES . THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD
WORK. IT IS A PLEASURE TO WORK
WITH YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE
PROGRESS WE CAN MAKE FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS TOGETHER . I DO
WANT TO NOTE, THE SYMBOLIC --
THE END OF A SYMBOLIC POLICY
ERROR WE ARE CELEBRATING, TO ME,
DEFUND THE POLICE , ET CETERA IS
LESS IMPORTANT , THIS COUNCIL
DOES TRULY SEEK TO LISTEN TO
THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND LISTEN TO
THE DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES .
I WOULD GO TO SO FAR AS TO SAY
THAT IS WHY YOU ARE ELECTED. I
WAS WATCHING YOUR CAMPAIGNS AND
IT WAS CLEAR THAT PUBLIC SAFETY
WAS TOP OF MIND FOR EVERYONE. I
DO HAVE TO SAY, WE ARE HERE
BECAUSE THE PUBLIC SPOKE LOUD
AND CLEAR ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY
WANT TO SEE. I HOPE THAT WE KEEP
THAT CLOSE CONNECTION. YES ,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA , THERE
WILL BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF
OPINION AMONG OUR CONSTITUENTS
AND THAT IS NATURAL AND WHAT IS
IMPORTANT IS WE WORK TOGETHER
AND DO NOT CLOSE OFF OPTIONS.
AND WE DO NOT GET TOO WEDDED TO
OPTIONS WE GET TUNNEL VISION AND
FAILED TO SEE THAT , BEING THAT
CONDITION CAN LEAD TO UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES THAT WILL HAVE
LASTING NEGATIVE EFFECTS. I
THANK YOU VERY MUCH , NOT JUST
FOR THIS LEGISLATION, BUT FOR
THE HARD WORK AND THE CHANGE IT
MANIFESTS. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCIL PRESIDENT
. WHEN I SEE DIFFERENCES OF
OPINION, I MEAN COLLECTIVELY
AMONG CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE
CITY , BECAUSE WE OFTEN GETS
PEOPLE COMING TO CHAMBER AND
THEY DO NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH
THE THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO
SEE. I WANT TO SAY THAT, I HOPE
WE ARE LEADING BY EXAMPLE , YOU
WILL NOT ALWAYS AGREE BUT WE DO
-- I ALWAYS ATTRIBUTE GOOD
INTENT TO EVERYONE AND TO THE
CONSTITUENTS THAT COME HERE AND
SPEAK WITH US. I WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE AGREEING TO
DISAGREE. BECAUSE THE
CONSTITUENTS WHO COME ALSO AT
DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS . I WANTED
TO CLARIFY THAT POINT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT . I THINK,
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO FOR ME,
HUMILITY , WE MUST HAVE HUMILITY
TO BE OPEN TO OTHER PERSPECTIVES
AND TO ADMITTING THAT WE HAVE
MADE A MISTAKE AS WELL. TO ME ,
THAT IS A SIGN OF GOOD
LEADERSHIP. AND GOING FORWARD
WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF AS
MANY PEOPLE THAT WE COULD
GATHER, OR DO THE MOST GOOD FOR
THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
THERE WE GO. ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS? YOU ARE NOT GOING TO
LET ME GET AWAY WITH A "STAR
TREK" QUOTE? [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
, FOR BRINGING THIS, MY HOME FOR
THE LAST 35 YEARS, THIS WILL
SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE, NOT JUST A
LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT IS A BIG
DEAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR WORK.
AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO GO A
LONG WAY,. I APPRECIATE YOU
BRINGING IT FORWARD.
>> WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE -- GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. IF I MAY? AWESOME.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES , I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS , COULD
NOT AGREE MORE WITH EVERYTHING I
HEARD, THIS IS ABOUT TURNING A
PAGE OF THE FRAMING FROM
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA , THIS IS A
RESETTING OF TONE , THE PERFECT
DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THIS IS ALL
ABOUT. AGAIN , AT THE END OF THE
DAY, I THINK , THE CONCERNS ,
THAT THE DEFUND PLEDGES AND
COMMITMENTS WERE ULTIMATELY --
CONCERNS THESE WERE DESIGNED TO
ADDRESS , ARE VALID CONCERNS .
IT IS NEITHER A PROGRESSIVE
THING OR A LIBERAL THING OR A
CONSERVATIVE THING , TO WANT TO
ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. OR A
DEMOCRAT THING OR A REPUBLICAN
THING. THIS IS A NONPARTISAN
OFFICE. BY A PROUD DEMOCRAT. THE
UNDERLYING ISSUE , ADDRESSING
THE UNDERLYING ISSUES IS A VALID
CONCERN, NOT PROGRESSIVE,
CONSERVATIVE, DEMOCRAT ,
REPUBLICAN THING. I APPRECIATE
THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS , ALTHOUGH
I DISAGREE ON SUBSTANCE AND
WHERE THEY LANDED, I APPRECIATE
THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS FOR TAKING
A DEEP SHOT DOWNFIELD. THESE ARE
HARD PROBLEMS . I DO NOT
QUESTION ANY OF THEIR MOTIVES .
I KNOW THEY ALL HAVE THE BEST OF
INTENT. PUREST OF MOTIVES. WE
HAVE THE SAME SHARED GOALS, TO
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. I GET IT. I
STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT
POLICY AND PLEDGE, BUT, I THINK
THEY ARE COMING FROM A GREAT
PLACE . THESE ARE HARD PROBLEMS
WE ARE FACING. AND, YOU GOT TO
BE WILLING TO TAKE DEEP SHOTS
DOWNFIELD. TO THE POINT FROM THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT , THIS IS
ABOUT HUMILITY AND GRACE , AND
WE NEED TO HUMBLE OURSELVES , IF
AND WHEN , THOSE BIG SHOTS , BIG
INVESTMENTS , DID NOT WORK. THAT
IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT , SO WE
CAN COLLECTIVELY MOVE FORWARD.
AGREE , CHAIR KETTLE , THIS IS
ABOUT LEADERSHIP, TOO . SOME
WOULD SAY WE DO NOT NEED TO DO
THIS, LET'S FOCUS ON 14 , WE
WILL BE 15 AND MAYBE 20 BY YEARS
END , PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS OVER
THE LAST 2024 AND 2025. YES I
THINK WE DO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE
PAST AND MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE IT
IS IMPACTFUL FOR ALL OF OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS . COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON SAW THE FIREFIGHTERS
UNION EARLY, YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY
STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS. IN ANY
EVENT, THIS IS ABOUT TURNING A
PAGE FOR SEATTLE. THIS IS ABOUT
RESETTING THE TONE. THIS IS
ABOUT ALLOWING US TO
COLLECTIVELY MOVE FORWARD. AND
CHARTER NEW , BOLD ,
TRANSFORMATIVE PATHWAY TOWARDS
BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES
FOR ALL. THAT GOAL , THAT WORK ,
I AM FULLY COMMITTED . IF YOU
SUPPORT THIS TODAY, THAT MAKES
CLEAR THE CITY IS FULLY
COMMITTED TO THAT WORK. AGAIN,
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE , AND THE MAYOR, UNUSUAL
STEP ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION IS
THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY CONCURRED
. THIS IS A CITY POLICY PRIORITY
, NOT JUST REFLECTING THE WISHES
AND INTENT OF THE COUNCIL, NOR
THE EXECUTIVE , THIS IS A CITY
POLICY. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU . WITH THAT, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> KETTLE?
>> YES .
>> RIVERA ?
>> YES .
>> SAKA ?
>> YES .
>> SOLOMON?
>> --
>> HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES .
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON ?
>> YES.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED .
>> 32167 IS ADOPTED. PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF
. NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR TODAY, AND
THERE IS NOT A RESOLUTION FOR
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION. IS
THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TO BE
EXCUSED ON TUESDAY, APRIL 15th.
>> THANK YOU . IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
WILL BE EXCUSED FROM THE APRIL
20 -- APRIL 15th, 2025 COUNCIL
MEETING HEARING NONE,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS EXCUSED
FROM APRIL 15th, 2025 COUNCIL
MEETING .
>> SAME FOR ME BUT APRIL 22nd .
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WILL BE
EXCUSED FROM THE APRIL 22nd,
2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE IS EXCUSED
FROM THE APRIL 22nd, 2025
COUNCIL MEETING. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER PIECES OF BUSINESS ? WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE
AGENDA, OUR NEXT MEETING IS
APRIL 8th AT 2:00 P.M. WE ARE
ADJOURNED. IT IS