22nd 2025 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:04. I AM SARA NELSON ,
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
>> PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE
ARE NO PRESENTATIONS TODAY, SO
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE WILL
OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT IS
LIMITED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THE DIRECTION OF THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND THE COUNCIL WORK
PROGRAM. HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE TWO REMOTE AND 19 IN
PERSON SO FAR.
>> 19? EXCELLENT.
WE WILL GIVE EVERYBODY ONE
MINUTE EACH AND WE WILL DO 10 IN
PERSON AND THEN GO TO THE REMOTE
AND THEN BACK TO THE IN PERSON.
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WIN AT 10 SECONDS LEFT OF
THEIR TIME AND SPEAKERS
MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT AND THEIR COMMENTS
WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO
ALLOW US TO CALL IN THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ALL RIGHT, WE WILL START WITH IN
PERSON THE SPEAKERS. FOLLOWING
PHIL WILL BE TIMOTHY.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE
AND I'M HERE BECAUSE THERE WERE
BULLETS FIRED INTO MY CAR PARKED
OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME THURSDAY
NIGHT. ONE OF THOSE BULLETS WENT
THROUGH MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT
WHICH I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO
COME DOWN AND LOOK AT WHEN I'M
DONE TALKING. THE RABBINIC
SHOOTINGS IN THE LAST 34 DAYS
AND THERE HAVE BEEN TWO IN THE
LAST FIVE. IN HIGH POINT ALONE.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE? NOTHING. I
CALLED MY PRECINCT 25 TIMES ON
THE SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH NO
RESPONSE. I MET WITH CAPTAIN
BEAR, SOMEHOW VIA EMAIL THIS
MORNING AND SHE GAVE ME
BOILERPLATE RESPONSES. AND SAID
THEY ARE INCREASING PATROLS.
THAT IS JUST A GENERAL JOB
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEATTLE PD.
CHIEF BARNES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU ARE ACTUALLY DOING.
ANYTHING HERE. I HAVE A LOT, I
HAVE ANOTHER MATTER. THIS -- IT
HAPPENS IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE
LIGHTS OUT, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU WANT TO COME LOOK AT IT?
WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THIS?
THIS IS A TWO-YEAR-OLD'S CAR
SEAT.
>> COULD YOU PLEASE SAVE THE
REST OF YOUR COMMENTS TO -- SO
THAT WE CAN READ THEM? IF YOU
HAD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, PLEASE
--
>> TIMOTHY IS NEXT AND THEN
HANNAH .
>> HELLO, I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF COMMON AREA
MAINTENANCE. IT IS AN ARTS AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATION DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE. I WANTED TO BRING UP A
PROJECT THAT WE ARE DOING TO THE
COUNCIL'S ATTENTION. IT WILL BE
IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO SAVE
A 30,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING
FROM DEMOLITION AND TURN IT INTO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE A
COALITION OF OVER 100 LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FOCUSED
AND OVER 1000 SIGNATURES AND
PUBLIC LETTER IN SUPPORT. AND I
DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT THIS ALIGNS
WITH THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN. THE GOAL OF BRINGING MORE
VITALITY AND ENERGY TO THE
DOWNTOWN CORE, AND WE HAVE ALL
THE MONEY RAISED OF OUR FIRST
PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION AND WE
JUST NEED THE CITY TO SAY YES.
PERFECT. WAS THAT MY WHOLE TIME?
FIVE SECONDS, I APPRECIATE YOU
GUYS.
>> HANNAH, FOLLOWING HANNAH WILL
BE HENRY.
>> HELLO. HELLO, PRESIDENT AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM COALITION
COORDINATOR OF PEOPLE POWERED
ELECTIONS WASHINGTON. SPEAKING
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS
MEASURE. TO ME, DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS ARE ABOUT AN ELECTION
OR CANDIDATE, THEY ARE A TOOL
FOR BUILDING THE MORE JUST AND
BEAUTIFUL FEATURE -- FUTURE THAT
I ORGANIZE FOR FROM CLIMATE
JUSTICE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FROM COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO
WORKERS RIGHTS. AND IT IS SO
EASY TO LOSE FAITH IN DEMOCRACY,
ESPECIALLY NOW. BUT THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM IS AN
ESSENTIAL PART OF ENSURING THAT
OUR VOICES ARE HEARD, OUR NEEDS
ARE PRIORITIZED AND OUR CIVIC
ANTICIPATION IS VALUED. PLEASE
ABOUT TWO AT A FUNDING RENEWAL
MEASURE TO THE AUGUST PRIMARY
BALLOT AND LET'S MAKE SURE THIS
PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE, THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE HENRY .
>> HI, MY NAME IS HENRY AND I'M
A RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF THE KING
COUNTY CHAPTER OF ONE AMERICA
VOTES. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS
MY SUPPORT FOR RENEWING THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM. SINCE
THE CITIZENS UNITED POSITION
REVERSED CENTURY-OLD CAMPAIGN
FINANCE LAWS IN 2010, NATIONAL,
STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS HAVE
BEEN UNDULY INFLUENCED BY LARGE
CORPORATIONS AND EXTREMELY
WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS. THE
DEMOCRACY PROGRAM, THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE
SEATTLE VOTERS IN 2013 IS ONE OF
THE WAYS THAT EVERYDAY AMERICANS
CAN RECLAIM THEIR VOICE IN
SEATTLE'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
STUDIES BY THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, GEORGETOWN AND STONY
BROOK HAVE SHOWN THAT DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS CORRELATE WITH A
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE MAKING SMALL
DOLLAR DONATIONS IN SEATTLE'S
ELECTIONS. WORKING-CLASS VOTERS,
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND YOUNG VOTERS
ARE BETTER REPRESENTED --
BOUCHER CONTRIBUTIONS THEN
TRADITIONAL CASH DONATIONS. SO
PLEASE, SUPPORT THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM, THANK YOU.
>> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. LIKE MANY FOLKS HERE I
AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE
POWERED ELECTIONS COALITION AND
I'M STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF
RENEWING THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PROGRAM TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO
START BY WISHING EVERYONE HERE
HAPPY EARTH DAY IS A STRONGLY
BELIEVE IN THE CONNECTION
BETWEEN VOTING JUSTICE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. AS A
YOUNG PERSON GROWING UP IN
WASHINGTON THE INCREASING
PREVALENCE IMPACTS OF THE
CLIMATE CRISIS WERE
UN-IGNORABLE. WILDFIRES MOW
CLOUDED THE VISION OF WHAT MY
FUTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT YET
MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE. YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE FACING A SIMILAR
CRISIS OF CYNICISM WHEN IT COMES
TO SEEING OURSELVES
REPRESENTATIVE AND OUR VALUES
BEING FOUGHT FOR BY OUR
ELECTED'S. HOWEVER, AS A NEW
SEATTLE RESIDENT I CAN SAY THAT
WHEN I RECEIVED MY DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS THIS YEAR I WAS
ECSTATIC TO HAVE A TANGIBLE WAY
TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT
ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS RUNNING
FOR OFFICE. THIS PROGRAM HAS
MADE SEATTLE A DEMOCRACY
CHAMPION WITH IN WASHINGTON, AND
THEREFORE MADE OUR STATE AND
NATIONAL LEADER. GIVEN THE
CONTEXT OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS
AND THE FEDERAL THREATS TO OUR
VERY DEMOCRACY WE CANNOT BACK
DOWN. I IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THE RENEWAL. LET'S
CONTINUE TO --
>> FOLLOWING RACHEL WILL BE
NATALIE MORGAN.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS RACHEL
SNOW. I WAS GOING TO SAY I
STRONGLY SUPPORT DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS. THEY MAKE IT POSSIBLE
TO SUPPORT AND DONATE TO A
CANDIDATE I SUPPORT REGARDLESS
OF MY INCOME STATUS. IT IS NOT
JUST ABOUT SUPPORTING CANDIDATES
RUNNING FOR OFFICE, IT IS ABOUT
SHINING A LIGHT AND PROVIDING A
PLATFORM TO THOSE MAKING AN
AMAZING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY REALLY
LOOKS LIKE. PLEASE VOTE TO PUT
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER RENEWAL ON
THE AUGUST PRIMARY BALLOT .
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> FOLLOWING NATALIE WILL BE
KERRY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS NATALIE. I'M
A PROUD SEATTLEITE , LIFELONG
WASHINGTONIAN. AN ORGANIZER FOR
THE DEMOCRACY CHAMPION NONPROFIT
WASHINGTON IN HERE WITH PEOPLE
POWERED ELECTIONS. I HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN PROUD OF OUR PROGRESSIVE
DEMOCRACY REFORM MEASURES AND I
HAVE ONLY VOTED BY MAIL AND IT
IS REALLY AWESOME, FRANKLY. I'M
SO GRATEFUL THAT SEATTLE HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER FOR OUR
STATE, FIGHTING FOR REFORMS THAT
ENCOURAGE MORE ENGAGED, INFORMED
AND REPRESENTATIVE VOTING
POPULATION. DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PROGRAM IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
SEATTLE'S LEADERSHIP IN
WASHINGTON'S FIGHT FOR A
STRONGER DEMOCRACY. WE HAVE
PROBABLY PILOTED A PROGRAM THAT
IS A UNIQUE AND AFFORDABLE
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF BIG
MONEY IN POLITICS, WHICH OFTEN
WORKS TO EXCLUDE ALREADY
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE
SUCCESS AND POPULARITY SPEAKS
FOR ITSELF. SEATTLE VOTERS
INCLUDING MYSELF SUPPORT THIS
PROGRAM BECAUSE IT HELPS TO
DIVERSIFY THE CANDIDATE POOL AND
INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT. I KNOW
WE ALL WANT EVERY VOICE TO BE
HEARD, SO PLEASE PRIORITIZE
DEMOCRACY AND ENCOURAGE CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT BY PUTTING THE
RENEWAL ON THE AUGUST PRIMARY
BALLOT, THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING KERRY WILL BE
CYNTHIA.
>> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I AM
ALSO AN ORGANIZER WITH FAIR VOTE
WASHINGTON AND A SEATTLE VOTER.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN ELECTORAL
AND LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS FOR
THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE AND
I HAVE NEVER BEEN PRIVILEGED TO
SEE THE PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY ON
DISPLAY LIKE I HAVE HERE IN
SEATTLE. THE SUCCESS IN ENGAGING
VOTERS AND WELCOMING CANDIDATES
IS SOMETHING WORTH PROTECTING.
PLEASE VOTE TO PLACE THE LEVY ON
OUR BALLOT SO VOTERS CAN DO WHAT
WE DO BEST AND VOTE FOR OUR
INTERESTS. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE CYNTHIA AND FOLLOWING
IS CINDY BLACK.
>> THE CINDY'S UNITE. HELLO,
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
CYNTHIA AND I SERVE AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
WASHINGTON -- AND PROUD MEMBER
OF PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS
WASHINGTON. AS YOU HAVE HEARD,
ONE OF THE PRIMARY BENEFITS OF
THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ITS ABILITY
TO EMPOWER MORE INDIVIDUALS TO
PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS BY
RENEWING THE PROGRAMS FUNDING WE
CAN CONTINUE TO INCREASE VOTER
ENGAGEMENT, ENCOURAGE SMALL
DONORS TO SUPPORT THEIR
PREFERRED CANDIDATES, AND FOSTER
MORE INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE
DEMOCRACY. THIS YEAR, SOME OF
YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM TAKES ON A
DEEPER MEANING FOR ME
PERSONALLY. AS A RECENT LEGAL
PERMANENT RESIDENT I'M FINALLY
ABLE TO USE THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM MYSELF. AFTER
YEARS OF TELLING OTHERS ABOUT
THIS PROGRAM, I CAN NOW
EXPERIENCE FIRST-HAND WHAT IT
MEANS TO HAVE A VOICE COUNT AND
LOCAL ELECTIONS. EVEN THOUGH I
STILL CANNOT VOTE.
FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS THIS IS
NOT JUST POLICY, IT IS PERSONAL.
IT OPENS DOORS TO CIVIC
PARTICIPATION THAT WAS ONCE
CLOSE TO US. THANK YOU.
>> WE NOW HAVE CINDY, CINDY WILL
BE THE LAST IN-PERSON SPEAKER
AND WE WILL MOVE INTO REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CINDY BLACK
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
FIXED DEMOCRACY FIRST AND A
MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE POWERED
ELECTIONS WASHINGTON COALITION.
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS
STRONG SUPPORT IN RENEWING THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER LEVEL WHEN
REFERRING IT TO THE BALLOT TO
LET VOTERS DECIDE. OUR
ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN WORKING ON
PUBLIC FUNDING OF ELECTIONS FOR
OVER 20 YEARS AND WE BELIEVE IT
IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST OPTIONS
WE HAVE THAT CAN HELP ADDRESS
THE ISSUE OF INFLUENCE OF MONEY
IN ELECTIONS. BEFORE THE PROGRAM
MOST SEATTLE VOTERS NEVER
DONATED TO AN ELECTION BEFORE.
THE SEATTLE PROGRAM EMPOWERS
RESIDENTS AND ALLOWS THEM TO
DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN
DEMOCRACY, GIVING THEM A BIGGER
VOICE AND WHO GETS ELECTED. AND
FOR CANDIDATES, RATHER THAN
FOCUS ON WEALTHY DONORS AND
SPECIAL INTERESTS, THE PROGRAM
ENCOURAGES THEM TO DIRECTLY
ENGAGE WITH CONSTITUENTS WHO NOW
ARE POTENTIAL DONORS THAT CAN
HELP FUND THEIR CAMPAIGNS. WE
ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES AND
REFERRED THIS TO THE BALLOT TO
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE, THANK
YOU.
>> A REMINDER TO OUR REMOTE
SPEAKERS TO PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD THE
MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
UN-MUTED. WE WILL BEGIN WITH DAN
FRENCH . HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
DAVID HAYNES. GO AHEAD, DAN.
>> MY NAME IS DAN FRENCH, I AM
ATTEMPTING TO BRING TO LIGHT
SOME BAD DECISIONS ON THE
SO-CALLED 130th STREET SAFETY
PROJECT. IT'S PROJECT IS
UNSAFE. I HAVE DOCUMENTED PROOF
OF ITS DANGERS AND I HAVE
PROVIDED MUCH OF MY CONCERNS TO
ALMOST EVERYONE INCLUDING
COUNCILMEMBERS. NO ONE SEEMS TO
BE INTERESTED IN SAFETY. THE
PLAN SHOWS A COMPLETE IGNORANCE
OR WILLFUL NEGLECT OF TRAFFIC
PATTERNS IN THIS AREA. TALK TO
ME. YOU HAVE MY CONTACT
INFORMATION. I CAN PROVIDE
EVIDENCE OF THIS BAD
INFORMATION. I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES. GO
AHEAD, DAVID.
>> THE MAYOR TRICKED THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY INTO
BELIEVING THAT HE WOULD SOLVE
THE ECONOMIC REVENUE DOWNTURN
DUE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS
AND HOMELESS CRISIS BY PROMISING
A WAR ON THE INNOCENT HOMELESS.
IT IS NOT WORK AND THE BUDGET
PROVES HE NEVER MEANT TO SOLVE
THE CRISIS YET THERE IS EVIDENCE
HE IS THE ORIGINAL VOTE ON
COUNCIL TO RELEASE DRUG PUSHERS
FROM JAIL AND THEN PRIORITY
HIGHER AND TRUSTWORTHY POLICE
CHIEFS WILLING TO IMPLEMENT
UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICE REFORM,
RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR REPEAT
OFFENDING LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS
CONDUCTING UNCIVIL WAR ON
COMMUNITY WITH IMPUNITY AND
ALLOWING RIVAL DRUG GANGS TO
ESCALATE MOST GUN VIOLENCE DUE
TO THE POLICE REFORMS. AS
COUNCIL DEFERS TO THE MAYOR, WHY
IS COUNCIL DEFERRING TO THE
MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP AS THE TOP
COP INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING A
MORE AGGRESSIVE INDEPENDENCE OF
LAW? AND I'M WONDERING WHY THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HAS
DECIDED TO CANCEL THEIR MEETING
THIS MORNING BECAUSE EVIDENTLY,
THEY HAVE DONE ENOUGH SIGNALING
AND MANIPULATING OF THE MEDIA
AND THE PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS --
>> THANK YOU, THAT WAS OUR LAST
REMOTE SPEAKER. WE WILL NOW MOVE
BACK INTO IN PERSON. OUR FIRST
SPEAKER IS ALICE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AS THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF FIXED DEMOCRACY FIRST, AND OF
ITS PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATION ,
WASHINGTON I
AM HERE TODAY TO HOPE THAT YOU
WILL PROVIDE A UNANIMOUS VOTE
FOR EXTENDING THE VOUCHER
PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL
AND THIS CITY HAS A HISTORY OF
SUPPORTING CAMPAIGN FINANCING
GOING BACK TO 1978. THE MATCHING
FUNDS WERE AND IN A WASHINGTON
STATE INITIATIVE, BUT WE WENT
FORWARD AND IN 2008 IT WAS
LIFTED AND IN 2015 THE VOUCHER
PROGRAM WAS PASSED. IT HAS MADE
SEATTLE A NATIONAL LEADER IN
CAMPAIGN REFORM AND I HOPE YOU
WILL --
>> FOLLOWING KEN WILL BE JOHN.
>> I AM THE PRESIDENT OF FIXED
DEMOCRACY FIRST, AND I'M HERE
ALSO TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES IN
THEIR EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
PUT THIS ISSUE ON THE BALLOT.
THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN OUR
POLITICAL SYSTEM COUNTRYWIDE IS
THE REASON THIS WHOLE COUNTRY IS
IN THE MESS IT IS AND THIS IS A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> FOLLOWING JOHN WILL BE
LILLIAN.
>> HI, DISTRICT 3 IN FAVOR OF
RENEWING DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS, AND
OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF
DEMOCRACY, EACH CITIZEN HAS CORE
POLITICAL RIGHTS AND EACH
CITIZEN HAS AN EQUAL RIGHT TO
DETERMINE WHO IS ON THE BALLOT.
EACH CITIZEN HAS AN EQUAL RIGHT
TO THE DEBATE IN THE ELECTION
AND EACH CITIZEN HAS AN EQUAL
VOTE IN THE ELECTION. MUCH OF
TODAY'S POLITICAL DYSFUNCTION
IS CAUSED BY SOCIETY FAILING TO
DEFEND THESE ESSENTIAL POLITICAL
RIGHTS. PARTICULARLY EQUALITY,
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER SYSTEM
DEFENDS THESE RIGHTS. THE LAST
10 YEARS HAS SHOWN MORE AND MORE
DIVERSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
RUNNING, MAKING THE CITIZENS
RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHO IS ON THE
BALLOT MORE EQUAL. MORE CITIZENS
HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THE FINANCE
PART OF THE ELECTION DEBATE,
IMPROVING THE QUALITY THERE. THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM IS A
VERY SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR
DEFENDING EACH CITIZEN'S
POLITICAL RIGHTS. THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL HAVE LILLIAN AND THEN
KIM.
>> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I AM
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LATINO
COMMUNITY FUND, A SEATTLE VOTER
AND DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PARTICIPANT. I'M HERE TO URGE
YOU TO PASS THE LEGISLATION THAT
WILL ALLOW THE RENEWAL OF THE
FUNDING AND IN MY WORK I GET TO
TALK TO SO MANY VOTERS ACROSS
THE ENTIRE CITY AND THIS IS
REALLY A WAY TO NOT JUST
INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION BUT
TO INCREASE THAT PARTICIPATION
AMONG OUR FIRST TIME VOTERS AND
TO ACTUALLY SEND A SIGNAL FROM
THE CITY, TO SEND A SIGNAL THAT
ELECTIONS THAT ARE DEMOCRACY IS
FOR ALL OF US AND IT IS NOT JUST
FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO
PROVIDE FUNDING TO PUT THEIR
MONEY, THEIR PERSONAL MONEY IN.
THIS IS REALLY WHERE WE SEE THE
POWER OF PEOPLE WANTING TO
PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY,
BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT IT IS FOR
THEM.
CANDIDATE POOL, IT INCREASES
VOTER TURNOUT AND SINCE THAT
SIGNAL TO OUR VOTERS AND TO THE
SEATTLE RESIDENTS THAT THIS IS
FOR THEM. THIS DEMOCRACY IS FOR
US. THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING KIM AND BARB WILL
BE MARTINA.
>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU TO OUR
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR
ALL OF YOUR WORK AND OPENING
YOURSELVES TO LISTEN AND
CONSIDER OUR COMMENTS RELATIVE
TO YOUR VOTE ON DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS TODAY. WE ARE
COPRESIDENTS OF THE LEAGUE OF
WOMEN VOTERS SEATTLE KING COUNTY
AND WE ARE A NONPARTISAN
ORGANIZATION. OUR MISSION IS TO
EMPOWER VOTERS AND DEFEND
DEMOCRACY . WE WORK FOR ALL THE
KING COUNTY DID COMMUNITY TO
LIFT UP DEMOCRACY BY ENGAGING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CIVIC
ACTIONS.
>> THE SEATTLE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PROGRAM IS AN ALREADY PROVEN
PROGRAM THAT WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY
SUPPORT. IT EMPOWERS VOTERS. IT
HAS PROMOTED AN INCREASE IN
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND MORE
DIVERSE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR
OFFICE AND REDUCED THE ROOTS OF
BIG MONEY IN POLITICS. IT IS THE
EXACT TYPE OF PROGRAM THAT ARE
DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY NEEDS.
LET'S ALL PROTECT AND EXPAND
LOCAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS
TO DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY. THESE
DO YOUR PART AND VOTE TODAY TO
PUT --
>> MARTINA, AND FOLLOWING
MARTINA WILL BE BENJAMIN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARTINA REPRESENTING
THE REGIONAL THINK TANK SITE
LINE INSTITUTE WHO SUPPORTS
CONTINUED DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
FUNDING. ONE OF THE PRIMARY
GOALS IS TO BRING MORE
SEATTLEITES INTO THE
CAMPAIGN-FINANCE CONVERSATION.
THAT GOAL HAS BEEN HUGELY
SUCCESSFUL. IN 2013 JUST 8800
INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTED TO A
LOCAL CANDIDATE AND IN 2021 IT
WAS 59,000. WE NOW HAVE ONE OF
THE HIGHEST CONTRIBUTOR RATES IN
ANY CITY WITH AROUND 10% OF
REGISTERED VOTERS, MORE THAN
DOUBLE THE PARTICIPATION OF MOST
COMPARABLE CITIES. THE PROGRAM
HAS DIVERSIFIED WHO GIVES TO THE
CAMPAIGN. PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOUNG
PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH LOWER
INCOMES ARE MUCH BETTER
REPRESENTED AMONG VOUCHER USERS
AND CASH DONORS. IN SOME
ELECTIONS VOUCHER USERS BETTER
REPRESENT DEMOGRAPHICS THAN
VOTERS DO. WE ARE MODELING
INNOVATION HERE IN SEATTLE AND
IT IS WORKING. PLEASE ALLOW
VOTERS TO KEEP FUNDING THIS
PROGRAM, THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE BENJAMIN.
FOLLOWING BENJAMIN WILL BE ALEX
AND THEN RACHEL.
>> I AM A SEATTLE VOTER AND I AM
HERE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT
DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY
ARE SEATTLE'S PART ALONG WITH
RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND THE
MOVEMENT TO DO NOTHING LESS THAN
REBOOT THE ENTIRE AMERICAN
EXPERIMENT.
TRUMP IS EFFECTIVELY CROWNING
HIMSELF KING AND NEITHER
CONGRESS NOR THE COURTS WILL
STOP HIM SO WE NEED TWO THINGS,
A NONVIOLENT COUNTERREVOLUTION
AND WE NEED STATE AND COUNTY
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BUILDING A
MODEL OF A BETTER DEMOCRACY THAT
WON'T FALL VICTIM TO THE SAME
FORCES THAT BROUGHT US TO THIS
IMPASSE. AND SO WITH DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS, THEY ARE A WAY TO MOVE
POWER IN ELECTIONS TO PEOPLE
FROM THE WEALTHY CAMPAIGN DONORS
WHO HAVE YOU KNOW, BROUGHT US
THESE, THIS BILLIONAIRE
CONTROLLED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND THOSE MODELS -- NEED TO BE
BUILT BECAUSE AND WE NEED TO
SCALE THEM UP TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IF DEMOCRACY IS TO
SURVIVE LONG-TERM.
>> I BELIEVE THE FIRST NAME
BEGINS WITH THE LETTER R? OKAY,
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER WHICH WOULD BE ANDREA.
>> AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS
HOLLINGSWORTH KETTLE RINCK
SOLOMON AND STRAUSS. OUR MEMBERS
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THESE
VOUCHERS AND HAVE BEEN ELATED TO
BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
PROGRAM IN THE PROCESS. AND I
THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE
CONTINUE TO THIS , AND SUPPORTED
AND HAD IT ON THE BALLOT IN
AUGUST, THANK YOU.
>> ALEX TSIMERMAN AND THEN IF
SOMEONE SIGNED UP THAT I WAS NOT
ABLE TO ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME,
PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU.
>> FASCISTS. I AM PRESIDENT OF
STANDUP AMERICA AND HAVE 6000
DAY OF TRESPASS FIVE TIME. I
WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SIMKIN
MINING COME FROM -- $300 BILLION
BUT [ INAUDIBLE ] YOUR POCKETS.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS? YOU
ARE PRIMITIVE, YOU KNOW WHAT
THIS MEANS? MAYBE YOU HAVE NO
MORE THAN FIFTH GRADE, THAT IS
WHAT HAS HAPPENED. IT IS NOT FOR
FREE, IT IS YOUR, MY, EVERYBODY
MONEY. SO IS DOING FOR SPECIAL
REASON CONTROLLING DEMOCRATIC
MAFIA? IS THIS HAPPEN FROM
BEGINNING ONLY FOR ONE REASON,
UNION CONTROLLING DEMOCRATIC
MAFIA SEATTLE 700,000 IDIOT WORK
FOR DEMOCRAT . VIVA TRUMP.
>> NOW WE HAVE RICH AND
FOLLOWING RICH WILL BE MARIE
SEO.
>> WHEN I WAS 15 AND KNOCKED ON
DOORS TO GET THE CITIZEN WITH
INITIATIVE PASSED, WHICH
ESTABLISHED THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM. ACCORDING TO
THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
STATISTICS, PRAISES IN SEATTLE
ARE 43% HIGHER IN 2025 THEN
2015. INCREASING THE LEVY BY 15%
TO MATCH INFLATIONARY INCREASES,
COST OF PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION,
CENTRALIZED SERVICE AND VOUCHER
DISTRIBUTION AS NECESSARY.
I JUST WANT ASSURANCES OF THE
CAP AMOUNT DISTRIBUTED TO
CANDIDATES MATCHES PREVIOUS
YEARS INFLATION SO WHEN THE COST
OF FLYERS AND DIRECT MAILING
INCREASES, SO DOES THE MAXIMUM
AMOUNT THE CANDIDATE COULD
RECEIVE. MAYOR HARRELL HAS SAID
HE WANTS TO EMPOWER LOCAL
CAMPAIGNS BY ENFORCING THE
MISCIBLE ELECTIONS AND I HAVE NO
IDEA HOW HE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS.
>> AND MARIE SEO, YOU ARE OUR
LAST SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM A LOBBYIST
WITH WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION
NETWORK AND ON BEHALF OF OUR
ORGANIZATION AND OUR MEMBERS WHO
RESIDE HERE IN SEATTLE WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR GIVING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOTE ON
THIS VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN
WE GIVE FOLKS ACCESS TO
DEMOCRACY AT THIS LEVEL WE
INCREASE PARTICIPATION, SO I'M
NOT GOING TO REPEAT A LOT OF THE
STUFF, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
WE ARE FULLY IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THAT WAS OUR LAST REGISTERED
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF OUR LIST OF
PUBLIC SPEAKERS SO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ --
EXCUSE ME, BACKING UP. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND 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 NOW
CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR AND THE ITEMS ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ARE THE MINUTES
OF APRIL 15th 2025 , COUNCIL
120973, PAYMENT OF BILLS AND
FIVE APPOINTMENTS FROM THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY
ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE
TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR? OKAY, HEARING NONE,
MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON ,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE
ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES IN LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF? ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF ITEM 1?
>> RETIRING INTRODUCE AND
COUNCIL BILLS CLERK FILES AND
APPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE RECEIVED
NO FURTHER ACTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, THIS RESOLUTION
EFFECTUATES RULE 1.8 .6 OF THE
GENERAL RULES AND PROCEDURES OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WHICH
ALLOWS THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER THE RETIREMENT OF ANY
COUNCIL BILL, RESOLUTION CITY
CLERK FILE OR APPOINTMENT WHICH
HAS BEEN IN A STANDING COMMITTEE
OR BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
AT LEAST ONE YEAR PRIOR TO MARCH
FIRST. ATTACHMENT ONE OF THE
RESOLUTION LISTS THE COUNCIL
BILLS RESOLUTIONS AND CLERK
FILES AND APPOINTMENTS THAT WERE
INTRODUCED AND REFERRED TO CITY
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR
SPONSORSHIP AND ACTION BETWEEN
JANUARY 2018 AND FEBRUARY 2024
AND WERE NEVER ACTED UPON BY THE
CITY COUNCIL. THE LIST IS BEEN
APPROVED BY EVERY COUNCIL OFFICE
IN THE CITY CLERK AND COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF. TO VERIFY THAT
THERE IS NO FURTHER ACTION
EXPECT TO BEFORE THE CITY
COUNCIL ON THESE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE LET'S
SEE, RESOLUTION -- I MOVE
RESOLUTION 32169. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
RESOLUTION.
ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? SCENE NONE, OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE IN THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? SEVEN IN
FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> GOVERNOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THE NEXT -- AGENDA ITEM 212-0957
RELATED TO PUBLICLY FINANCED
ELECTION CAMPAIGNS PROVIDING FOR
THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED
ELECTORS OF THE CITY AND
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON AUGUST
FIFTH 2025 ALL ARISE IN THE CITY
TO PROPERTY TAXES UP TO 10 YEARS
IN EXCESS OF LIMITATION OF
LEVIES IN 8455 RCW IN THE
PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE COSTS OF
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
AND OTHER CITY PURPOSES, THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION
WENT THROUGH THE GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, SO I WILL
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND
OPEN THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS. SO
THIS IS THE, THIS IS LEGISLATION
THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THE RENEWAL
OF THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
TO APPEAR ON THE AUGUST PRIMARY
ELECTION BALLOT, AND SO THIS WAS
HEARD IN MY COMMITTEE OVER THE
COURSE OF TWO MEETINGS AND
RECEIVED UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FOR
RECOMMENDATION . IT RECEIVED A
UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FOR
APPROVAL, EXCUSE ME. SO HERE IS
OUR TIMELINE HERE IS DETERMINED
BY THE TIMELINE AND THE DATES
THAT NEED TO BE HIT SO THAT --
TO ENABLE IT TO BE ON THE BALLOT
IN AUGUST. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY
-- I WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE
TO THE FOLKS HERE IN THE ROOM
AND WHO HAVE BEEN COMING TO
EVERY COMMITTEE WHEN THIS HAS
BEEN BEFORE US. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR HARD WORK, NOT JUST AT
PUBLIC COMMENT BUT ALL THE WORK
THAT LED UP TO THIS AND ALL THE
WORK THAT WENT INTO ACTUALLY
DESIGNING THE FIRST DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
ENGAGEMENT AND JUST A COUPLE
DETAILS, THE PROPOSED LEVY WOULD
GENERATE $4.5 MILLION PER YEAR
FOR THE PROGRAM AND IS INTENDED
TO REFLECT INFLATIONARY
INCREASES FROM THE CURRENT LEVY
OF ABOUT 4.1% ANNUALLY. SO WITH
THAT, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? I WILL LOOK TO SEE IF
THERE IS ANYBODY ON MY SCREEN,
NO. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU TO EVERYONE WHO BROUGHT THIS
FORTH AND I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER
OF THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PROGRAM. IT WORKED VERY WELL FOR
ME AND I THINK IT DOES TRULY
ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT IT SETS
OUT TO ACHIEVE. DEFINITELY NEED
TO SEE MORE EDUCATION,
PARTICULARLY IN THE DISTRICT 5.
WITHIN COMMUNITIES WHERE ENGLISH
IS A SECOND LANGUAGE . I THINK
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE
ADDITIONAL INTERPRETATION AND
OUTREACH. SO WE WILL BE WORKING
ON THAT, BUT I AM VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> I AM SO EXCITED TO VOTE ON
THIS TODAY. IN ANOTHER LIFE I
WORK FOR A NATIONWIDE
ORGANIZATION CALLED DEMOCRACY
MATTERS WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT
THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN
POLITICS, THE IMPACTS OF THE
CITIZENS UNITED DECISION, AND
ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM,
AND PUBLICLY FINANCED ELECTIONS.
AND WHEN SEATTLE FIRST PAST THE
VOUCHER PROGRAM IN 2015 I WILL
TELL YOU, THE NEWS HIT
NATIONWIDE. IT WAS ALL THE BUZZ
ON THE EAST COAST. IT IS JUST
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SEATTLE BEING
A CHEERLEADER IN DEFENDING
DEMOCRACY, AND THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM AS WE ARE TODAY
THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT IS A KEY
TOOL IN BALANCING THE PLAYING
FIELD BETWEEN BIG MONEY
INTERESTS AND WORKING PEOPLE.
THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES SMALL
DONORS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL
RACES BY PUSHING CANDIDATES TO
REACH OUT TO WORKING PEOPLE DO
NOT TYPICALLY RECEIVE OUTREACH
AND THE STORE OPENS THE PROGRAMS
WERE LESS INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY
PEOPLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE
FIRST PLACE. THIS PROGRAM SHOULD
CONTINUE AND I SINCERELY HOPE
MORE VOTERS IN OUR CITY TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT MOVING FORWARD.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, OUR
DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK. WE MUST
TAKE EVERY STEP HERE IN THE
SEATTLE TO PROTECT IT BECAUSE IN
A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY BILLIONAIRES
CANNOT BUY ELECTIONS. AND TODAY
IS JUST A SMALL STEP THAT WE CAN
TAKE TO DEFEND OUR LOCAL
ELECTIONS FROM FUTURE INFLUENCE
OF MONEY IN POLITICS. FOR THESE
REASONS AND MORE I URGE YOU TO
VOTE YES TODAY AS WE STAND TO
PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> WELL SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. I HAVE A STATEMENT OR
SOME COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. AND DON'T WORRY, IT IS
ONLY TWO PARAGRAPHS. SORRY. I
TRIED NOT TO LAUGH WHEN I SAID
THAT, BUT HE WILL WATCH THIS,
SAY SO HIS COMMENTS, WHEN I WAS
RUNNING FOR -- THESE ARE FROM
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. WHEN I WAS
RUNNING IN 2023 I HAD A FRONT
ROW VIEW OF HOMINY PEOPLE COULD
PARTICIPATE WITHOUT THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM. AND
HOW MANY COULD NOT. I REMEMBER A
WOMAN IN THE QUEEN AND WHO LIVED
IN SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
HOME. SHE DID NOT HAVE MUCH, BUT
THROUGH THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PROGRAM SHE WAS ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN OUR ELECTIONS AND
HER SIGNATURE FOR QUALIFICATION
AND LATER $100 IN VOUCHERS. I
COULD SEE THE SMILE IN HER EYES.
SHE WAS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
ENCOURAGES MORE DIVERSE
CANDIDATES AND MORE DIVERSE
VOTERS. ANTICIPATION IN
ELECTIONS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE
TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST
THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT . THE
PROGRAM HELPS OVERCOME BARRIERS
TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND EXPANDS
THE PLAYING FIELD FOR THOSE WHO
WANT TO EXPRESS THEIR VOICE IN
THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. AS OUR
AMERICAN EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY
FACES A NUMBER OF HURDLES AT THE
MOMENT, WE CANNOT STOP IN THE
PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION.
AND THAT IS FROM THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN OF
DISTRICT 7, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. AND JUST -- I HAVE
SUPPORTED THIS IN COMMITTEE AND
SUPPORT IT NOW, THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY IN
SEATTLE, IT IS SUCH A GAME
CHANGER FOR FOLKS AND IT IS AN
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
AND GET INVOLVED. I CANNOT BEGIN
TO TELL FOLKS HOW MANY PEOPLE --
IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME DONATING
TO A CAMPAIGN, PARTICIPATING AND
GETTING ENGAGED AND CONNECTING
WITH FOLKS AND UNDERSTANDING
LIKE HEY, THEIR VOICE MATTERS.
PARTICULARLY LOCAL ELECTIONS
WHICH PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND
OR LIKE SOME OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT ELECTIONS IN OUR TIME
AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT. NOTHING
WILL IMPACT YOU MORE THAN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND FOR SOMEONE TO
HAVE, TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN
PARTICIPATE AND HAVE THAT IMPACT
FOR DIFFERENT CANDIDATES AND
ALSO OFFER A MORE DIVERSE OPTION
OF NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPER
POLITICALLY MINDED THAT ACTUAL
LIKE CITY RESIDENTS. I LOVE TO
SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE EVERYDAY
FOLKS PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. SO I WILL BE VOTING
YES AS I DID IN COMMITTEE AND
YES FOR COUNCIL AS WELL. THANK
YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS
BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TO SUCCESS
TODAY. I SEE A LOT OF FRIENDLY
FACES AND PEOPLE THAT I COUNT ON
TO DETECT DEMOCRACY IN OUR CITY,
STATE AND NATION. I WILL NEVER
FORGET COMING TO HER HOUSE TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IDEA OF
DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS OVER A DECADE
AGO. IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE
TODAY AS WELL. DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS BRING DEMOCRACY TO
EVERYBODY'S HOME. IT ALLOWS
PEOPLE WITHOUT A NETWORK, A
WEALTHY NETWORK, TO BE VIABLE IN
THEIR CANDIDACY FOR PUBLIC
OFFICE. THIS MEANS CANDIDATES DO
NOT NEED TO BE TIED TO SPECIAL
INTERESTS TO WIN. THEY CAN JUST
TALK TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE. FOR ME,
THIS IS SPECIFICALLY MEANT THAT
I DID NOT NEED TO TAKE CAMPAIGN
DONATIONS THAT I FELT MIGHT HAVE
IMPLICIT STRINGS ATTACHED. IT IS
NOT USUALLY EXPLICIT, IT IS
USUALLY IMPLICIT. THIS ALLOWED
ME TO BE INDEPENDENT, MORE
INDEPENDENT, AND IT MEANT THAT I
ACTIVELY CHOSE TO KNOCK ON EVERY
DAY SEATTLEITES DOORS RATHER
THAN SPENDING TIME ON THE PHONE
CALLING POLITICAL DONORS FOR
WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS CALL
TIME. THIS SIMPLE IMPACT THAT
THIS PROGRAM HAS TO INFLUENCE
CANDIDATES TO PRIORITIZE BEING
AT PEOPLE'S DOORSTEPS RATHER
THAN ON THE PHONE IS A BIG DEAL
AND THIS IS HOW IT INCREASES
CIVIC ANTICIPATION AND EMPOWERS
VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATES
RATHER THAN NOT. I HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE PROGRAM EMPOWERING
VOTERS AND INCREASING CIVIC
PARTICIPATION IN REDUCING
RELIANCE ON MONEY FROM SPECIAL
INTERESTS. I HAVE SEEN THE
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS OF THIS
PROGRAM ON DEMOCRACY IN SEATTLE,
AND I'M EXCITED TO VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THIS LEGISLATION TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLOSE TODAY BY
SAYING THAT WE ARE, IN TAKING
THIS VOTE TODAY, ENACTING
DEMOCRACY HERE BEFORE US AT A
TIME WHEN OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WE
KNOW ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE --
ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE
CONTINUATION OF OUR DEMOCRATIC
PROCESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
SO, IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE SEND THIS TO THE BALLOT TO BE
APPROVED BY OUR VOTERS AND THIS
IS THE LAST TIME WE WILL BE ABLE
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS AS IT
TURNS INTO A BALLOT ISSUE, BUT I
FULLY SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND
WHAT IT REPRESENTS. IT
REPRESENTS PEOPLE PUTTING THEIR
VALUES, THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED
AND DESIGNED THIS PROGRAM HAVE
PUT THEIR VALUES BEFORE MONEY
AND YOU ARE ENABLING THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE TO DO THE SAME THING.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU SO MUCH. I'M HEARING A LOT
OF SUPPORT FOR THIS. I DID NOT
EXPECT OTHERWISE BUT AT A TIME
WHEN DEMOCRACY FEELS PERHAPS
FRAIL TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING
ON IN THE OTHER WASHINGTON, DO
WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS ALIVE AND
WELL HERE WITH OUR VOTE TODAY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. OKAY, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? GO AHEAD.
NO? OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? SEVEN IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL
RIGHT, MOVING ON, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 3?
>> THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE 1209
48, LINK TO THE SEATTLE
CONSTRUCTION CODES ALLOWING FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN
PRODUCTS AND THEY RECOMMENDED
PASSES AS AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON WILL PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
REGARDING 120948, THIS
LEGISLATION ALLOWS BUILDING,
PERMIT APPLICANTS AN ADDITIONAL
24 MONTH EXTENSION ON EXTENDING
THE PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND
ISSUED PERMITS FOR PROJECTS
VESTED TO THE 2015 AND 2018
SEATTLE BUILDING CODE
REQUIREMENTS. AT ITS CORE CB
120948 SUPPORTS CONTINUED
INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITY AS WE
WORK TO REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES
IN THE WAKE OF COVID . WITHOUT
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION ,
PROJECTS WITH PERMIT
APPLICATIONS VESTED TO THE 2015
AND 2018 CODES WOULD NEED
SIGNIFICANT REDESIGN. SHARED
THEIR APPLICATIONS OR PERMITS
EXPIRE AND MORE RECENT SEATTLE
BUILDING CODE PROVISIONS BE
APPLIED TO THE PROJECT .
THIS WOULD ADD SIGNIFICANT
REDESIGN AND PERMITTING COSTS TO
THE PROJECTS AND THREATEN
VIABILITY. AS WE CONTINUE
WORKING TO LIVE IN OUR CITY , CB
120948 WILL BETTER SECURE THE
CRITICAL INVESTMENTS WHICH
PROVIDE HOUSING AND JOBS
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. I
WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF
INSPECTIONS AND CENTRAL STAFF
FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND
CONTINUED DEDICATION TO
IMPROVING OUR CITY. AND I ASK
FOR SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
TO MY COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> WITH SO MUCH ECONOMIC
UNCERTAINTY BEARING DOWN ON US
FROM THE LITTLE GOVERNMENT BE IT
TARIFFS, INFLATION OR AN
UNCERTAINTY OF HOW OUR COUNTRY
WILL LOOK JUST MONTHS FROM NOW
FOR THESE PROJECTS WHICH INCLUDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS,
THESE MUST NOT FALL THROUGH.
ACROSS OUR CITY WE ARE SEEING
PROJECTS IN A HOLDING PATTERN,
NOT SURE IF THEY SHOULD MOVE
FORWARD IN UNCERTAIN TIMES,
LETTING THE PERMITS EXPIRE IS
NOT AN OPTION WE SHOULD PURSUE.
THESE PROJECTS REPRESENT
THOUSANDS OF HOUSING UNITS THAT
SEATTLE DESPERATELY NEEDS AND
WHEN THE PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD
THEY WILL SPUR REVENUE AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE
CITY. AS NOTED IN THE URBANIST,
DOWNTOWN THERE ARE 15 PROJECTS
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POISED TO
BRING IN AROUND $75 MILLION IN
FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
VIA THE CITY'S MHA PROGRAM.
THOSE FEES ARE AUTOMATICALLY
UPDATED EVERY YEAR TO ACCOUNT
FOR INFLATION, MEANING PAYMENTS
ARE THE SAME AS AN EQUIVALENT
PROJECT IN THE PIPELINE TODAY.
SO TO LET THOSE PERMITS EXPIRE,
THAT WOULD BE A DEVASTATING LOSS
ON SO MANY FRONTS, SO THEREFORE
I WILL BE VOTING YES ON
EXTENDING THE DEADLINE TO AN
ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS TO GIVE THE
PROJECTS THE TIME AND
FLEXIBILITY THEY NEED TO MOVE
FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. I'M LOOKING FOR OTHER
COMMENTS. NOT SEEING ANYTHING, I
WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS THE LEAST
THAT WE CAN DO, BECAUSE THESE
PROJECTS HAVE BEEN UP AGAINST
STRONG HEADWINDS AND I HAVE TO
SAY IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT
WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS AND
NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
ASSIST IN BUILDING NEW HOMES IN
THE CITY AND THAT IS WHY I WAS
SO MOTIVATED ON THE MAKERS
DISTRICT PUZZLE PASSED LAST
MONTH. THIS ORDINANCE IS ANOTHER
KEY CONTRIBUTION TO MAKING IT
EASIER TO BUILD HOUSING IN
SEATTLE. THE PANDEMIC CAUSED SO
MANY GOOD PROJECTS TO BE DELAYED
AND BY PASSING THIS ORDINANCE
TODAY WE WILL ALLOW MANY OF
THESE PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD
WITHOUT MAKING THEM GO BACK TO
THE DRAWING BOARD. PASSING THIS
COUNCIL BILL COULD LEAD TO
THOUSANDS OF NEW UNITS OF
HOUSING BEING BUILT INCLUDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH WOULD
OTHERWISE NEVER GET OFF THE
GROUND SO I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON FOR
LEADING ON THIS LEGISLATION AND
EVERYONE IN THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCING IT TO
FULL COUNCIL AND I HOPE THAT WE
CAN PASS IT TODAY.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS,
SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE IN THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? SEVEN IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL
RIGHT. THERE WERE NO ITEMS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, AND THERE IS NOT A
RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND
ADOPTION TODAY. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
COUNCIL?
ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S AGENDA. THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL
MEETING IS ON APRIL 29th AT 2:00
P.M. HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, IT IS NOW 2:52 P.M.
AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.