SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 03. I'M
SARA NELSON. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, OUR
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS I HAVE
A PROCLAMATION HONORING REVEREND
HARRIET WALDEN. THE PROCLAMATION
WILL BE SIGNED AND PRESENTED AT
TODAY'S MEETING AND COMMENTS ON
THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN I WILL
OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS. AFTER
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS WE WILL
AFFIX OUR SIGNATURES AND THEN
SUSPEND THE ROLES TO PRESENT A
PROCLAMATION TO OUR GUEST AND
ALLOW OUR GUEST TO PROVIDE BRIEF
COMMENTS. THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. ALL RIGHT. THE
ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS TO ISSUE
A PROCLAMATION THANKING REVEREND
WALDEN FOR HER YEARS OF SERVICE
ON THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION AND TO MARK WHEN SHE
FORMALLY RETIRED AS CO-CHAIR
LAST SEPTEMBER. GOT IN THE
WAY AND THEN THERE WERE A LOT OF
, WE RENTED A SPRING BREAK AND I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS
PRESENT TO PARTICIPATE IN
SIGNING. SUFFICE TO SAY THIS
PROCLAMATION IS A TAD LATE AND
IT DOES GO WELL BEYOND THE
REFERENCE WORK . THEY FOUNDED
FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN
1991 IN THE WAKE OF POLICE
OFFICER IN 1990. ALL RIGHT. FAST
FORWARD TO MY TIME ON COUNCIL,
ON FAIRBURY 1520 22 COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR RECEIVED A LETTER
SIGNED BY REVEREND WALDEN ON
BEHALF OF MOTHERS FOR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND IT WAS TITLED
MOTHERS SUPPORTS MORE SPD HIRING
TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR
CITY. UNDERNEATH THAT TITLE
WASN'T PART OF OUR CHARTER THAT
SAID THERE SHALL BE MAINTAINED
ADEQUATE POLICE PROTECTION IN
EACH DISTRICT OF THE CITY ,
ARTICLE SIX, SECTION 1. THE
LETTER BEGINS THAT IT SAYS NOT
ENOUGH TRAINED OFFICERS ARE
AVAILABLE TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND
TO 911 CALLS FOR HELP. WHEN
PATROL OFFICER COUNTER TO LOW,
SPD IS FORCED TO RESORT TO
EMERGENCY MOBILIZATIONS
REQUIRING SWORN TRAINED
INVESTIGATOR SUCH AS HOMICIDE
DETECTIVES TO RESPOND TO 911
CALLS. THIS MEANS EVEN MORE
HOMICIDE CASES WILL REMAIN
UNSOLVED , A CATEGORY THAT
INCLUDES FAR MORE BLACK VICTIMS
THAN ANY OTHER RACIAL GROUP .
THAT TRANSLATES INTO LESS
HEALING , AND LESS JUSTICE FOR
THE MANY FAMILIES OF BLACK
VICTIMS WHOSE CASES REMAIN
UNSOLVED. MOTHERS BELIEVES THE
SITUATION IS UNACCEPTABLE ,
ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD UPHOLD
THEIR OATH TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE
POLICE SAFETY FOR EVERYONE IN
OUR CITY. THEY SHOULD INCREASE
SPD BUDGET TO HIRE AND TRAIN
ENOUGH PATROL OFFICERS TO REDUCE
VIOLENT CRIME AND ENHANCE
JUSTICE, SEATTLE CITIZENS
DESERVE A SAFE CITY. ALL RIGHT.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER I INTRODUCED
MY FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION AS
A COUNCILMEMBER WHICH WAS
RESOLUTION 32050 STATING
COUNCIL'S INTENTION TO
IMPLEMENT HIRING INCENTIVES FOR
NEW AND LATERAL OFFICERS AND
LIFT THE BUDGET PROVIDER THAT
HAD BEEN PLACED ON SALARY
SAVINGS FOR UNFILLED POSITIONS
IN ORDER TO PAY FOR IT. PAST IN
MAY OF 2022 AND AS COLLEAGUES
KNOW LATE LAST YEAR WE EXTENDED
THAT PROGRAM WHICH WAS GOING TO
EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31st 2024 AND
WE INCREASED THE BONUS AMOUNT
FOR LATERAL OFFICERS. WE ARE
SEEING POSITIVE RESULTS IN
HIRING . THAT IS NOT JUST THE
RESULT OF HIRING BONUSES. ANYWAY
, I SAY THIS BECAUSE IT IS ONE
EXAMPLE OF HOW PROFOUND REVEREND
WALDEN'S INFLUENCE HAS BEEN ON
ME OVER THE YEARS AND AT THAT
MOMENT I'M SURE I'M NOT ALONE
IN WHAT I AM RECOUNTING TODAY.
THIS IS JUST MY STORY. SO, THAT
IS WHAT THIS PROCLAMATION IS
ATTEMPTING TO GET AT, THE LIVES
TOUCHED BY REVEREND WALDEN, NOT
JUST WITH HER WORK ON CTC BUT
BEYOND THAT. I WILL READ SOME
STANZAS OF THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS REVEREND HARRIET WALDEN
HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO
PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY,
UNDERSTANDING AND HEALING
BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE
COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, WHEREAS
REVEREND HARRIET WALDEN WAS A
FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION WHEN IT WAS
FORMED BY COMMUNITY IN THE WAKE
OF JOHN T WILLIAMS SHOOTING A
POLICE IN 2010 WHICH LED TO THE
CONSENT DECREE IN 2012 . WHEREAS
REVEREND HARRIET WALDEN WAS ONE
OF THE ARCHITECTS OF THE 2017
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
WHICH CREATED A THREE-PART
CIVILIAN LED POLICE ACCOUNT
ABILITY SYSTEM IN SEATTLE UNDER
WHICH THE CPC WAS MADE PERMANENT
AND ITS SCOPE EXPANDED. WHEREAS
REVEREND WALDEN SERVED WITH
DISTINCTION AMONG THE POLICE
DIVISION IN 2017 UNTIL STEPPING
DOWN ON DECEMBER 30th 2020 FOR
VOICE TO CLINICAL DISCUSSIONS OF
POLICE REFORM AND COMMUNITY
SAFETY. WHEREAS HARRIET
WALDEN'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN
ADVANCING MEANINGFUL
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACIAL
EQUITY, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND COMMUNITY TRUST IN SEATTLE
AND WHEREAS REVEREND WALDEN HAS
CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED
EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP BY
COMBINING SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE,
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND A
PROFOUND COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL
JUSTICE, I WILL JUST GET TO --
NOW THEREFORE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HONORS REVEREND HARRIET
WALDEN, AND ADVOCATE LEADER AND
CHANGE MAKER WHOSE IMPACT WILL
CONTINUE TO SHAPE AND INSPIRE
OUR CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME. THAT IS JUST SOME OF THE
TEXT . I AM PROUD TO PRESENT
THIS TODAY, ALBEIT A LITTLE BIT
LATE. DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
COMMENTS? LET ME SEE IF I CAN
SEE MY SCREEN. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> ME FIRST. AWESOME. THANK YOU
MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT. JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION
FORWARD. I WANT TO USE THIS AS
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO
HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE SERVICE
AND TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE TO OUR
SHARED COMMUNITY ACROSS SEATTLE
OF REVEREND, THE ESTEEMED,
DISTINGUISHED REVEREND HARRIET
WALDEN. I HAD THE PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE OF
ORIGINALLY MEETING REVEREND
WALDEN ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS
AGO NOW WHEN WE BOTH SERVED ON
THE MAYORS POLICE CHIEF SEARCH
COMMISSION. TASKED WITH HELPING
TO FORMULATE A SERIES OF
RECOMMENDATIONS AND QUESTIONS
THAT WOULD BE SELECTED
CANDIDATES WOULD BE ASKED FOR
THE CHOICE OF NEW POLICE CHIEF.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD
THE PLEASURE OF MEETING REVEREND
WALDEN. THAT WAS NO DOUBT THE
FIRST TIME SHE HEARD OF LITTLE
OLD ME . HER REPUTATION PRECEDED
HER AND I WAS WELL AWARE OF HER
SERVICE AND HER INVALUABLE MANY
DECADES OF INVALUABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF MANY
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY. WE
WERE IN THE TRENCHES TOGETHER
DOING THAT WORK , GOOD
OLD-FASHIONED NITTY-GRITTY
TRYING TO ELEVATE OUR CITY ,
TRYING TO RESTORE COMMUNITY
ORIENTED POLICING, TRYING TO
SELECT THE BEST LEADER FOR THE
CITY TO HELP TAKE THE CITY AND
NEXT PHASE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, ET CETERA.
THROUGH THAT TIME I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF BENEFITING GREATLY
FROM REVEREND WALDEN'S
MENTORSHIP, FRIENDSHIP ,
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND JUST SAGE
ADVICE ON ANY NUMBER OF
IMPORTANT TOPICS. SHE IS AN
ELDER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SO I
JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, REVEREND
WALDEN, I DO APPRECIATE YOU
PERSONALLY , ALWAYS HAVE, ALWAYS
WILL. I RESPECT YOU AS AN ELDER
IN OUR COMMUNITY . I HAVE A TON
OF RESPECT FOR YOUR ENTIRE
FAMILY MANY OF WHICH ARE HERE
WITH YOU TODAY AND YOU HAVE
CERTAINLY IMPACTED AND BENEFITED
MY LIFE AND I AM INSPIRED BY
YOUR SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE AREAS OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, POLICE REFORM,
RESTORING COMMUNITY ORIENTED
POLICING AND OTHERS. I APPLAUD
YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY , YOUR
WORK AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION AND
AS SOMEONE WHO IS, AGAIN, A
CHAMPION OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY , ONE OF THE
STRONGEST ADVOCATES OF COMMUNITY
POLICING. ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR
PERSPECTIVE AND I'M SO HONORED
TO BE ABLE TO JOIN AND ATTACH MY
NAME TO LITERALLY GIVE YOU YOUR
FLOWERS , THE PAPERWORK FORM,
TODAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL YOU DO.
IT'S CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK
TOGETHER. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMB
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
PROCLAMATION FORWARD. I'M GOING
TO SPEAK TODAY REGARDING WE
ALWAYS CALL HER, AFFECTIONATELY,
MOTHER WALDEN, BUT SHE IS KNOWN
TO THE COMMUNITY AS REVEREND
WALDEN FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL
GUIDANCE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO,
HE WAS A PERSON. YOU KNOW THE
WORK YOU HAVE DONE AT THE CITY
WITH POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS
SOMEONE I'VE LOOKED UP TO FOR A
LONG TIME GROWING UP IN THIS
COMMUNITY AND HAVING PEOPLE THAT
LOOK LIKE ME WALK THROUGH THE
TRENCHES AND BLAZE PATHWAYS FOR
FOLKS HAS BEEN REMARKABLE. ONE
OF THE THINGS I DON'T THINK A
LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU IS
YOU RUN A BOOK CLUB AT GARFIELD
COMMUNITY CENTER CALLED THE
MARCUS GARVEY BOOK CLUB BECAUSE
YOU ARE PHENOMENAL AS HE WOULD
LIKE TO SAY AND HOW INCREDIBLE
THAT IS TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR
KIDS. YOU'VE ALWAYS TALKED
ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR BABIES ARE
SAFE, COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE AND
YOU HAVE BEEN A BRIDGE IN THIS
COMMUNITY AND SUCH A BEACON OF
HOPE AND LIGHT FOR FOLKS. EVERY
TIME SOMEONE SEES YOU, YOUR
SMILING OR YOU ARE LAUGHING OR
YOU ARE BRINGING LEVITY TO
SITUATIONS. WE ARE INCREDIBLY
GRATEFUL FOR THAT. ONE OF MY
FAVORITE LINES YOU SAID WHEN WE
ALL GOT INAUGURATED, WHICH WAS
MY FAVORITE , WAS A BLACK PEOPLE
CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND
THAT WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE
LINE BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES OTHERS
SPEAK FOR US, BUT YOU WERE VERY
LOUD ABOUT THAT AND THAT WAS
AMAZING. THE FOUR SONS YOU HAVE
RAISED AND THEIR IMPACT IN THIS
COMMUNITY AND YOU'VE RAISED
INCREDIBLE SONS THAT THEY HAVE
GIVEN BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY.
JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I
KNOW YOU MIGHT BE RETIRED, BUT
YOU ARE NOT TIRED AS WE LIKE TO
SAY. YOU STILL HAVE A LOT TO
CONTINUE TO GIVE TO THIS
COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU. WE LOVE
YOU AND SO HAPPY TO SIGN ONTO
THIS PROCLAMATION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK ABOUT WHEN
I FIRST MET MOTHER WALDEN. IT
WAS MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN 30
YEARS AGO. WE WERE BOTH WORKING
ON USE POLICE RELATION ISSUES
AND IN THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD
WITH HER AND OUR COLLEAGUES AT
THAT TIME IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT
THIS IS NOT A WOMAN I WANT TO
MESS WITH. WHEN IT COMES TO
ACCOUNTABILITY , HOLDING POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE , HOLDING ME
ACCOUNTABLE , I CAN'T SAY
ENOUGH. I'VE HEARD YOU REFER
MANY TIMES AS MOTHER. ONE THING
I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY CALL
YOU DIRECTLY WAS JUST HARRIET.
NO. YOU ARE MORE THAN THAT. YOU
ARE A MOTHER, A REVEREND .
ANOTHER THING I RECALL IS YOU
ACTUALLY CHALLENGED ME . HE SAID
YOU'RE DOING ALL THE STUFF WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHAT ARE
YOU DOING FOR COMMUNITY ? FOR
YOUR COMMUNITY? IT MADE ME CHECK
MYSELF TO SAY WHAT AM I DOING IN
MY COMMUNITY FOR MY COMMUNITY?
AS A RESULT OF THAT I STARTED
DOING MORE FOR COMMUNITY, NOT
JUST FOR MY JOB . I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. FOR THOSE
REASONS AND MANY OTHERS, FOR
YOUR LONG LEGACY, LONG HISTORY
OF SACRIFICE TO THIS COMMUNITY,
THIS IS OVERDUE IN MY MIND SO
I'M HAPPY TO SIGN OFF ON THIS.
IN QUEUE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE.
>> THANK YOU . WELCOME. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. I DON'T
HAVE THE HISTORY LIKE MY
COLLEAGUES DO. WE FIRST MET AT
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
ADVISORY MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD
THAT WERE SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS
OF CONNECTING COMMUNITY AND SPD
TO INCLUDE THE BEFORE THE BADGE
PROGRAM WHICH IS A GREAT LEGACY.
ONE THING I NOTICED IN THOSE
MEETINGS , CLEARLY, A STRONG
VOICE AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, A
STRONG PRESENCE. THAT CONTINUED
ON ONCE I BECAME A COUNCILMEMBER
AND THEREFORE HAVING OVERSIGHT
WITH OUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS
, THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION AND WHETHER MEETINGS
IN MY OFFICE OR MORE BROAD
MEETINGS, AGAIN, SUCH A STRONG
VOICE AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY
SUCH A STRONG PRESENCE. THAT
WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE ON AND BE
BOLSTERED AND PROGRESS BECAUSE
OF THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE. I
THINK IT'S FITTING TODAY AS
PART OF THE AGENDA, AS PART OF
MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
INTRODUCE AN AGENDA ITEM RELATED
TO ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE CPC . AS I LOOK AT HER, I
SEE OUR FUTURE AND THE FACT THAT
SHE WALKS, AS THEY SAY, ON THE
SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO CAME
BEFORE AND IT IS STRIKING TO
HAVE OUR ACTING EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND YOURSELF. I THINK
IT IS A GREAT TESTAMENT TO
BUILDING COMMUNITY AND BUILDING
THE NEXT GENERATION. AS A
VETERAN I LIKE TO SAY TO BECAUSE
THIS IS OFTEN SAID TO MILITARY
PEOPLE OR VETERANS BUT IT SHOULD
BE MUCH BROADER THAN THAT. THAT
IS SIMPLY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. REVEREND WALDEN, I
WANTED TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO
SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR FEEDBACK, IT HAS MADE ME A
BETTER ELECTED LEADER FOR OUR
CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. YOU HAVE PAVED A
PATHWAY WHERE MANY OTHERS CAN
JOIN IN IN SO MANY WAYS TO HELP
AND ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY JUST BY
BEING PRESENT FOR OURSELVES.
IT'S BEEN A JOY TO GET TO KNOW
YOUR SONS. I ONLY KNOW TWO OF
THEM. IT'S FUN THAT WE SHARED A
TEACHER AT DIFFERENT TIS
IN COMMON AND WHAT HAS ALREADY
BEEN SAID AND I WILL REITERATE
RIGHT NOW IS NOT ONLY AM I
INSPIRED BY YOU AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP, THERE IS NO GREATER
TESTAMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
WITHIN YOU IS THE CHILDREN YOU
RAISE. IT'S NOT JUST YOUR BOYS
, BUT IT'S ALSO THE REST OF THE
COMMUNITY FOLLOWING BEHIND YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE MOMENT
TO SAY THANK YOU.
>> ONE FINAL COMMENT . TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
EARLIER NOTE WHETHER YOU REALIZE
IT OR NOT, MA'AM , I LEAN
HEAVILY ON THINGS I'VE HEARD .
VARIOUS WISDOM AND INSIGHT I'VE
HEARD YOU SAY OVERTIME AND ONE
OF THOSE FOR EXAMPLE IS WHEN YOU
SAID BLACK PEOPLE CAN SPEAK FOR
OURSELVES. I HAVE REMIXED THAT A
BIT AND TAKEN IT A BIT FURTHER
SAYING WE DON'T NEED SAVIORS,
BUT I HAVE LEARNED AND WILL
CONTINUE TO LEARN SO MUCH FROM
YOU AND I CAN'T THANK YOU
ENOUGH. WHEN I TALK ABOUT HOW I
PROUDLY STAND ON THE SHOULDERS
OF GIANTS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE
REVEREND WALDEN OVER HERE WHO,
BECAUSE OF THEIR SELFLESS
SERVICE AND COUNTLESS INSTANCES
OF SACRIFICE AND TREMENDOUS
IMPACT THEY'VE HAD OVER THE
CITY , OVER OUR REGION AND STATE
OVERTIME BECAUSE IT SOME THINGS
SHE'S HAD TO ENDURE IT CREATED
A BETTER PATH FOR ME , MADE MY
JOURNEY ALL THAT MUCH EASIER .
IS IT PERFECT TODAY? NO. BUT I
KNOW I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT
REVEREND WALDEN AND PEOPLE LIKE
HER . THE FOUR OF US ON THE
FRONT ROW IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
>> POINT OF ORDER. THAT'S
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
>> VERY DISRESPECTFUL AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN REVEREND
WALDEN. HONOR YOU, CELEBRATE YOU
AND APPRECIATE YOU AND I'M
FOREVER GRATEFUL. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> REVEREND WALDEN, YOU ARE A
STRONG PRESENCE AND COMMUNITY
ACROSS THE CITY AND I AM SO
GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOUR MANY
CONTRIBUTIONS, NOT JUST FOR YOUR
SERVICE ON THE CPC FOR ALL THE
CONTRIBUTIONS YOU'VE MADE TO
OUR CITY. OUR CITY IS BETTER
BECAUSE OF ALL YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS AND BECAUSE YOU
ARE IN IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
AM HONORED TO HONOR YOU TODAY.
WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT YOU HAVE
PUT SO MUCH INTO YOUR SELF OVER
THESE YEARS TO OUR CITY. THANK
YOU.
>> JUST ONE FINAL WORD. FROM THE
BOTTOM OF MY HEART, REVEREND
WALDEN, YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ADVICE
OVER THE YEARS AND WE HAVE
SHARED A LAUGH OR TWO. OFTEN
TIMES I THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD
SHE SAY, WHAT WOULD SHE THINK
WHEN I'M SITTING THERE TRYING
TO MAKE A DECISION AND THE
COMMUNITY THAT YOU HAVE
INFLUENCED ITS FAST . WHEN YOU
ALSO THINK ABOUT THE ACTUAL
FORMAL POLICY , MY THANKS, I
THINK, WOULD EXTEND TO THE WHOLE
CITY BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE
HELP MAKE SEATTLE A BETTER PLACE
BUT JUST GETTING OFF THIS ALL
THIS OFFICIAL TALK YOU'VE
OPENED MY EYES AND MADE ME A
BETTER PERSON AND BETTER LEADER.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT
SEEING ANY COMMENTS OR ANY OTHER
HANDS UP. WITH THE CLERK'S CALL
THE ROLL ON WHOEVER WOULD LIKE
TO SIGN THE PROCLAMATION?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE SIGNATURES WILL BE AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION THE COUNCIL RULES WILL
BE SUSPENDED FOR OUR GUEST TO
ACCEPT IT AND PROVIDE A FEW
REMARKS. THE COUNCIL RULES ARE
SUSPENDED. I WILL NOW PRESENT
THE PROCLAMATION.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. AS YOU MIGHT
KNOW MY NAME IS REVEREND
HARRIETT WALDEN, 1975 . SOME OF
MY CHILDREN ARE HERE TODAY. CITY
EMPLOYEE, BUT HE'S NOT WORKING
TODAY. LET'S GET . HE
GOT ALL THE TIME OFF. HE MAKES
EYEGLASSES, THAT'S WHAT HE
DOES. MY GRANDSON IS HERE. HE
GOES TO SCHOOL AT HOWARD. HE IS
HOME. I'M JUST , IT'S ONE OF
THE THINGS I WAS TAUGHT MANY
YEARS AGO IS TRY TO KEEP YOUR
WORD. LET YOUR WORD BEER BOND
AND SHOW UP AND WHEN PEOPLE TELL
ME THEY MIGHT COME OR MAYBE THAT
MEANS THEY ARE A NO-SHOW. ALWAYS
WALK THEM THAT WAY. I STARTED
MOTHERS AGAINST POLICE
HARASSMENT IN 1990. ONE OF MY
SONS ARE HERE RIGHT NOW. ERY PO
THE NEW ONE COMING RIGHT NOW BUT
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF
MEETING HIM. ONE OF THE THINGS I
ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, YOU CANNOT
ORGANIZE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
CRISIS. YOU NEED TO ORGANIZE AND
HAVE SOMETHING GOING BEFORE A
CRISIS COMES. CITIES THAT HAVE
SOMETHING GOING ON ALREADY
USUALLY DON'T GO UP IN SMOKE
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ORGANIZE
ALONG THE WAY. YOU HAVE TO BE IN
IT FOR THE LONG HAUL BECAUSE
CHANGE DOESN'T HAPPEN RIGHT
AWAY. THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE.
THERE'S A JAZZ SONG OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT I'M
GLAD YOU HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR
OVER THERE. I CAN SEE HER SMILE.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL. YEAH. THANK
YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED
TO DO WAS MAKE SURE WE HAD
OVERSIGHT IN SEATTLE. SOME
PEOPLE WANT TO GET TO THE BALLOT
AND MAYBE ONE DAY IT MIGHT GET
THAT WAY BUT ONE THING I KNOW IS
RIGHT AFTER THE WAR IT WAS THE
WAR THAT WOULD END ALL WARS.
THERE WAS A CHICKEN IN EVERY POT
AND A CAR IN EVERY GARAGE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID. I'M
GLAD I WAS RAISED THE WAY I WAS.
I WAS RAISED IN SEGREGATION,
NEVER HAD A WHITE TEACHER IN MY
LIFE. I STOOD AND I STAND HERE
TODAY PROUD OF BEING ABLE TO SAY
MY WORD WAS MY BOND AND IF I
COULDN'T DO IT I WOULD ALWAYS
LET YOU KNOW. I DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING BY MYSELF. SHE WORKS TO
BRING THE G -- DOJ TO TOWN.
ALMOST THREE DECADES. I'VE
GROWN UP . REALLY GROWN UP
DURING THIS PERIOD WE WERE WOMEN
OUT THERE STOPPING AND JUST
LOOKING AT THE POLICE AND NOT
BEING AFRAID. WE USED TO SAY IF
YOU WOMEN HAD HUSBANDS EVIL
WOULDN'T BE OUT HERE. GIVING
THE POLICE TROUBLE. YOU CAN GET
AWAY WITH THAT TODAY BUT ALL YOU
DO IS MAKE TROUBLE BECAUSE YOU
GOT NO HUSBANDS BUT WE WANTED TO
MAKE IT SAFE FOR THE CHILDREN
BECAUSE IN 1990 THEY WERE MAKING
BUT KIDS GET OUT THE CAR AND PUT
GUNS TO THE HEADS. WE STOPPED
THAT. WE DID. THEY WERE MAKING
BUT KIDS TURN THEIR HATS AROUND
AND SAY THEY WERE GANG MEMBERS
AND THEY WEREN'T . I'M PROUD
OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE. IS IT
UNFINISHED? YES. RIGHT NOW WE
SEE WHAT IS COMING AND I HOPE
SEATTLE WILL BE ABLE TO STAND TO
ALWAYS BE RIGHTEOUS AND DO RIGHT
FOR THE COMMUNITY. I'M SO
EXCITED I'M HERE INSTEAD OF
THERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE STARTED
THIS WORK THERE BUT I AM HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. REALLY
AND TRULY , I'M GRATEFUL. IN MY
LIFE I SAID WHAT DOES IT DO TO
LOSE YOUR SOUL? I CHILDREN WAS
MY SOUL . A LOT OF TIMES SOME
PEOPLE DO WORK BUT THEY DON'T
HAVE THEIR CHILDREN. CHILDREN
WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
FOR ME AND THAT'S WHAT I DID
THE WORK. I DID EVERYTHING. MY
CHILDREN AND OTHER PEOPLE'S
CHILDREN AND A CITY THAT HAS
MORE ANIMALS AND CHILDREN IS A
DYING CITY. SEATTLE, ON SOME
LEVELS, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
CHILDREN HERE. CHILDREN MAKE THE
WORLD GO ROUND. THEY MAKE YOU
GET UP IN THE MORNING . ALL
RIGHT? THEY MAKE YOU GET UP IN
THE MORNING . A CITY WITH
CHILDREN , WHEN WE MOVED HERE
SEATTLE WAS A KIDS PLACE . A
KIDS PLACE. YOU REMEMBER THAT.
NOW, IT'S NOT A SAFE PLACE FOR
CHILDREN. I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR ALL
THAT YOU ALL YOU ARE
THE LAST CHEAP DATE IN SEATTLE.
YOU SHOW UP FREE. I SHUT UP FREE
FOR 35 YEARS FOR MOTHERS AND MY
NEW REALITY IS THAT LOVE IS THE
ONLY THING GOING TO CHANGE THE
WORLD. I'M GOING TO PASS OUT
CARDS FOR PEOPLE AND ALSO THIS
IS A BIG DAY. GIVE US A DONATION
. JOIN US BEFORE YOU MEET US.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE
OUR WAY TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM
HERE . FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC
OUT THERE, THERE ARE SOME PHOTOS
BEING TAKEN AND NOW WE WILL GO.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE WILL
OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. IT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND THE COUNCIL WORK
PROGRAM. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE NINE REMOTE AND 23 IN
PERSON.
>> LET'S GIVE EVERYONE ONE
MINUTE AND START WITH 10 IN
PERSON AND ALL REMOTE.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER THEY
REGISTERED. ALTERNATE BETWEEN
SETS OF IN-PERSON SPEAKERS
ANIMATE SPEAKERS UNTIL PUBLIC
COMMENT HAS ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR A CHILD WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT AND SPEAKERS IF THEY DO NOT
AND THEIR COMMENTS IN THEIR
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOWS TO CALL
IN THE NEXT SPEAKER. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS.
ANDREW, JAMIE AND RACHEL.
>> THANK YOU. AT A TIME LIKE
THIS WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE FEDERAL LEVEL . DISREGARD TO
CONSTITUTION, TO HUMAN LIVES ,
DISREGARD TO EVERYTHING MORAL
AND LACK OF EMPATHY. WE IN
SEATTLE HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS
THAT CAME FROM CITY COUNCIL
SAYING SEATTLE IS A SAFE PLACE.
SAFETY IS TRANSPARENCY. PART OF
SAFETY IS CARING FOR PEOPLE, NOT
PROFIT. I DO ASK THAT YOU ALL
ASK YOURSELF AS WE ARE HERE
TODAY WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF YOU
GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSE
YOUR SOUL? THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING JAMIE IS RACHEL.
>> MY NAME IS JAMIE. MY FAMILY
LIVES IN DISTRICT TWO AND I'M
HERE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD BEGIN ETHICS LAWS IN OUR
CITY THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE
SINCE 1980. WORKING FAMILIES IN
SOUTH SEATTLE ARE STRUGGLING TO
PAY THE RENT, TO BILLS, CAR
PAYMENTS AND GROCERIES WHILE
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OFFICES IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ARE POSTING
BILLIONS OF PROFITS, CEOS ARE
GOING ON TOY RIDES. WE HAVE A
DEEPLY UNFAIR ECONOMIC SYSTEM
BECAUSE CORRUPT POLITICIANS LIKE
TRUMP AND POLICIES THAT BENEFIT
THEMSELVES AND THEIR BILLIONAIRE
FRIENDS. IS DEEPLY TROUBLING
SEATTLE WOULD CONSIDER
LEGALIZING JEFF PAZO'S VOTING
TO REPEAL THE JUMPSTART TAX AND
DEFUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IF
HE WERE ON CITY COUNCIL. PLEASE
REJECT THIS BILL, THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO USE JAN'S
HANDS.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS RACHEL.
YUMA CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
ELECTED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS
THROUGH OUR VOTES. WE HIRE YOU
WITH OUR VOTES TO DO THE JOB OF
WORKING FOR US , WE THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE HEART OF WHAT OUR
DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK
LIKE AND FUNCTION PROPERLY.
ROLLING BACK WOULD SQUANDER THIS
AND BECOME A THREAT TO OUR
DEMOCRACY. YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED
TO TRUST OR RESPECT JUST BECAUSE
YOU HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE. YOU MUST
EARN TRUST AND RESPECT. IT IS
YOUR JOB -- IT IS OUR JOB TO
HOLD YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS
ACCOUNTABLE. IT IS OUR JOB TO
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY AND IT IS
YOUR JOB TO HELP UPHOLD THESE
VALUES AND ENSURE US YOU ARE
MAKING DECISIONS FOR US BECAUSE
THIS IS WHY WE VOTED FOR YOU, TO
WORK FOR US. PLEASE VOTE NO ON
THIS PROPOSAL THAT WOULD FALL
BACK ETHICS PROTECTIONS. THANK
YOU. PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> MARSHALL AND THEN NATALIE.
>> HELLO. I'M A SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY EMPLOYEE AND LIVE IN
DISTRICT FIVE. I WOULD SAY IT'S
HONEY TO THE COUNCIL TALK ABOUT
ALL THIS POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
STUFF WHILE PEOPLE LIKE WERE
KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER,
THEIR FAMILY STILL HASN'T
GOTTEN JUSTICE AND THE CITY HAS
MORE LAWSUITS THAN I CAN COUNT
ON MY FINGERS AND TOES. I'M
HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CHANGE TO
ETHICS PROPOSITION BY MY
COUNCILMEMBER MORE . THIS IS A
TERRIBLE IDEA LOWERING ETHICAL
STANDARDS TO ALLOW OFFICIALS IS
A TERRIBLE IDEA. IF THIS CHANGE
PASSES ALL THESE COUNCILMEMBERS
WHERE THEY OWNED RESTAURANTS OR
OWNED BUILDINGS THAT PEOPLE PAY
RENT FOR WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON
THINGS THAT WOULD AFFECT THE
PEOPLE THAT USE THE SERVICES. TO
FRAME THIS AS A DEMOCRATIC
APPEAL IS A JOKE BECAUSE ARE SO
MANY CITIES ON THE WEST COAST
THAT HAVE THIS IN PLACE AND
FUNCTION FINE LIKE LOS ANGELES
AND SAN JOSE. TO CHANGE THIS IS
UNDEMOCRATIC. YOU SHOULD
REPRESENT YOUR COMMUNITIES, NOT
YOUR FINANCIAL INTEREST, VOTE NO
BECAUSE WE HAVE BIGGER ISSUES
LIKE SPD. THANK YOU.
>> NATALIE.
>> MY NAME IS NATALIE MORGAN.
I'M THE ORGANIZER FROM A
NONPROFIT WORKING ON DEMOCRACY
REFORM AND A MEMBER OF SEVERAL
DEMOCRACY FOCUSED COALITIONS.
LIKE MANY FOLKS HERE I'M ALSO A
SEATTLE RESIDENT HERE TO EXPRESS
MY OPPOSITION TO THE NEW
PROPOSAL CONCERNING THE SEATTLE
ETHICS CODE. CONCERNED ABOUT THE
CHANGES TO THE CODE THAT WOULD
ALLOW COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE ON
MATTERS WHERE THEY HAVE A
FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THIS
PROPOSAL AND MAINTAIN
TRANSPARENCY IN PUBLIC TRUST IN
OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. SEATTLE
SHOULD CONTINUE ITS LEADERSHIP
IN MOJUST AND
TRANSPARENT DEMOCRACY, NOT
REALLY BACK ESPECIALLY DURING
TIMES LIKE THIS. PROPOSAL HARMS
TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRACY AS A
RESULT IT WILL ERODE PUBLIC
TRUST. SOMETHING I THINK WE ALL
KNOW IS ALREADY PRETTY PEERLESS.
I WAS HERE TESTIFYING ON BEHALF
OF DEMOCRACY AND REALLY PROUD OF
SEATTLE'S LEADERSHIP AND I'M
DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE ROLLBACK
IS ON THE TABLE. PLEASE MAINTAIN
STANDARDS ALREADY IN PLACE AND
HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR VOTERS AND
OPPOSE .
>> DAVID. FOLLOWING DAVID IS
MATT .
>> I AM IN DISTRICT ONE. I'VE
BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS IN
SEATTLE, RETIRED THEORETICAL
PHYSICIST AND IF SOMETHING LOOKS
BAD IN HIS BAD. I THINK IT WOULD
NOT BE A GOOD IDEA TO PASS
SOMETHING THAT LOOKS BAD .
>> MATT .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WANT TO
ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I
WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THE URGENT
NEED FOR STRICT LABOR STANDARDS
IN SEATTLE'S DEVELOPMENT
ESPECIALLY AS WE ENGAGE IN
PROJECTS. IMPLEMENTING STANDARDS
GOES BEYOND COMPLIANCE. IT
FOSTERS STRENGTH IN ECONOMIC
GROWTH . BY INTEGRATING
APPRENTICESHIPS INTO OUR
PROGRESS WE CREATE PATHWAYS FOR
LOCAL WORKERS , YOUTH AND
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THESE
PROVIDE HANDS-ON TRAINING AND
EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS WITH
SKILLS FOR THE INDUSTRY. IT
BUILDS COMMUNITY WEALTH ,
SUPPORTING FAIR WAGES AND SAFE
WORKING CONDITIONS HELPS DRIVE .
BENEFITING EVERYONE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD ESTABLISHING CLEAR
LABOR STANDARDS BY PROACTIVELY
ADDRESSING THESE WE CAN AVOID
DISPUTES , ENHANCE PROJECTS
REPUTATION ATTRACTING MORE
INVESTMENT. LET'S COMMIT TO
STANDARDS IN SEATTLE'S
DEVELOPMENT. PLEASE SEE
WASHINGTON STATE HOUSE BILL 1206
FOR REFERENCE.
>> HI, I'M A MEMBER OF LOCAL
206 CARPENTERS UNION AND WHEN I
THINK OF HAVING OUR MEMBERS
WORKING IN THE SEATTLE AREA
SINCE I RESIDENT OF WEST SEATTLE
I'VE BEEN IN THE SEATTLE AREA
MOST OF MY LIFE . I STARTED IN
THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND
WHEN I THINK OF THE PROGRAM I
THINK OF MENTORSHIP AND THAT
WHERE I LEARNED SAFETY AND HAD
MANY MENTORS AND ENDED UP
BECOMING A MENTOR MYSELF TO
OTHERS. THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A
POSITIVE IMPACT ON MY LIFE AND
LIVING HERE IN WEST SEATTLE I
KNOW THERE ARE MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSES, HOUSING AND NEED TO
EMPLOY LOCALS TO KEEP THEM
EMPLOYED SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO
LIVE WHERE THEY WORK. IT'S
DIFFICULT TO FIND A PLACE TO
LIVE WHERE YOU'RE NOT JUST
RENTING . THERE'S A LOT OF
FAMILIES IN THE SEATTLE AREA
THAT CAN USE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THANK YOU.
>> ELIZABETH AND THEN GABRIEL
JONES.
>> AT AFTERNOON. I'M HUMBLED TO
BE HERE TODAY AND HONORED TO BE
HERE WITH A REMARKABLE GROUP OF
CITIZENS FROM OUR COMMUNITY NEAR
AND FAR. I'D LIKE TO WHAT I
HEARD REVEREND WALDEN SAY TODAY.
AS A HUMAN BEING LIVING ADJACENT
TO A PUBLIC SPACE I WOULD LIKE
TO HOLD UP OUR CIVIL SERVANTS,
POLICE AND OTHERS THAT NEED OUR
HELP AND NEED OUR HELP IN TERMS
OF SUPPORTING THEM AND IN TERMS
OF LETTING THEM KNOW WHEN THEY
FAIL US. THERE HAVE BEEN NO
FEWER THAN THREE INCIDENCES
WHERE MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD
BONFIRES OR OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES ADJACENT TO OUR HOME
WHERE WE HAVE CALLED IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE AND
WHEN THEY'VE QUARRELED THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE WE ARE FEELING OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY CORRALLED
THESE PEOPLE AND RATHER
OF THESE CODES YOU BROKEN
WHITE'S IMPORTANT YOU NOT BE
HERE AND DESTROY THINGS THEY SAY
YOU KIDS TO NOTHING WRONG. I
WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OUR
WONDERFUL CIVIL SERVANTS AND
CORRECT THESE ISSUES WE ARE
FILLING OUR YOUNG KIDS.
>> GABLE JONES IS THE NEXT
SPEAKER IN THIS AND THEN WE MOVE
TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> MY NAME IS GABRIEL JONES AND
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON A CHANGE
TO THE CODE OF ETHICS. I'M
SHOCKED AT HOW BRAZEN THE
ATTEMPT IS TO ENRICH YOURSELVES
AT A MAJOR COST TO YOUR
CITIZENS. WE HAD A VETERAN COME
IN AND TEARED UP TALKING HOW
SCARED HE WAS FOR COMMUNITIES
AND CITIZENS. WE HAVE UNHOUSED
PEOPLE ON THE STREET EVERY DAY
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GO AND WE
LACK SHELTER. SCHOOLS NEED
FUNDING, TRANSIT NEEDS WORK AND
SO MANY THINGS.'S COUNCIL
FOCUSES ON ENRICHING ITSELF.
FOCUSED ON DOING THINGS TO MAKE
THEMSELVES MONEY INSTEAD OF
FIGHTING AND PUTTING YOURSELF
OVER PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO ROLLBACK
PROTECTIONS. SO MANY ISSUES THIS
COUNCIL IS STRIVING TO PUT MORE
OUT ON THE STREET WHICH IS ALSO
WHY HE WAS DISGUSTED BY MEMO
SAYING THIS WAS DONE FOR
EQUALITY AND INCLUSION. I'VE
HEARD THE PHRASE AND THAT'S
WHAT THIS IS BUT NOT ONLY THAT
YOU'RE TELLING US WE SHOULD BE
HAPPY AND VERY THRILLED ABOUT
THE RAIN. TELLING US YOU'RE
EVICTING PEOPLE OUT IN THE COLD
IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE IS
APPALLING. IF SO MANY NEEDS THIS
IS SO WRONG AND I'M ASKING
COUNCILMEMBER KATHY MOORE TO
TAKE BACK THE BILL AND URGING NO
VOTE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER .
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU
HEAR YOU HAVE BEEN UNNEEDED.
YOU NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> THANK YOU. I AM CALLING TO
OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION PROPOSED
ABOUT THE ETHICS RULE. WE HAVE
HAD OUR CURRENT STATUTES IN
PLACE IT'S 1980 ALONG WITH MANY
OTHER LARGE CITIES ON THE WEST
COAST ALONE AND WE HAVE BEEN A
MODEL OF ETHICS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE COUNTRY
OR WHEN WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST
STATES TO REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO
CLOSE THEIR DONORS AND TO HAVE
SEATTLE GO BACK ON OUR ETHICS
CODE IN ORDER TO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBERS BE ABLE GAINST E
BELIEVE WE STAND FOR AND SAFETY
IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS. THANK
YOU AND I HOPE TO SEE THE
LEGISLATION REMOVED AND OR VOTED
DOWN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. CITY COUNCIL IS
CHANGING ETHICS POLICIES TO
INCREASE THEIR PERSONAL
BY
RICH POLITICIANS IS NOT
HYPOTHETICAL , IT IS FACT AND WE
ARE SEEING IT EVERY DAY. THE
WEALTHY CAN SWAMP OUR CITY WITH
CORRUPTION. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
BILL THAT ENDANGERS THE
VIABILITY OF OUR SHIPPING PORT
WHICH IS NOW UNDER LITIGATION.
LANDLORDS, MILLIONAIRES AND
THEIR SPOUSES ARE A VERY SMALL
GROUP IN THE CITY. ALLOWING THEM
TO OVERTAKE THE NEEDS OF AVERAGE
RESIDENCE IS OPENING UP THE
FLOODGATES TO MORE CORRUPTION .
COUNCILMEMBER KATHY MOORE,
PLEASE RESEND THIS BILL. THANK
YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I'M HERE TO SPEAK
AGAINST THE PROPOSED ETHICS
CHANGES. IN TODAY'S POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT WHEN WE ARE DEALING
WITH THE MOST CORRUPT PRESIDENT
IN OUR HISTORY , EASILY THE
WORST PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY ,
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO COMPROMISE
ON OUR VALUES. THE CITY COUNCIL
IS HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, NOT
TO SERVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL
INTERESTS. I ASK THAT YOU
REMEMBER, THAT YOU'RE HERE FOR
THE PEOPLE AND NOT FOR YOUR OWN
SELF-INTEREST. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> AT AFTERNOON. I AM A RESIDENT
AND COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A
VERY SMALL NONPROFIT. SPEAKING
IN OPPOSITION OF THE ETHICS CODE
CHANGE TODAY. WHEN WE WERE
FORMING OUR NONPROFIT LESS THAN
TWO YEARS AGO I LEARNED A POLICY
IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
POLICIES A NONPROFIT . AS AN
ORGANIZATION OF ONLY TWO STAFF ,
EVEN WE HAVE ONE IN PLACE THAT
ONLY BOARD MEMBER SIGN AND BOARD
MEMBERS RECUSE THEMSELVES IF
THERE'S A CONFLICT. I THINK THE
SAME EXPECTATION AT THE LEAST
SHOULD BE REQUIRED OF THOSE
MAKING THESE DECISIONS. AT THIS
TIME WE ARE SEEING SO MUCH FROM
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. WE
NEED TO CHOOSE TO DO BETTER AND
UPHOLD OUR ETHICAL STANDARDS
LOCALLY, THANK YOU.
>> IS HIGHLY OFFENSIVE WHEN THE
POLICE CHIEF MISLEADS THE
COMMUNITY SETTING EVIDENCE-BASED
DATA ON 911 CALLS FOR SERVICE AT
CRIME HOPS DOTS, PROPAGANDIZING
EMBELLISHMENTS ABOUT SAFETY.
THAT SAID, HIS THOUSAND SQUARE
FEET ALLOWED TO HAVE TWO OF
THOSE ON NOT ALLOWING ONE AT
1500 SQUARE FEET? I ASK BECAUSE
IT'S A TELLTALE SIGN OF
SABOTAGING A ROBUST HOUSING
BUILDOUT. IT BRINGS ME TO THE
ETHICS COMMISSION LEGISLATION
INTRODUCED. I THINK IF CITY
COUNCIL WANTS TO MAINTAIN THE
INTEGRITY OF ETHICS HOW ABOUT
YOU JUST CHANGE A COUPLE WORDS
AND HAVE THE DISCLOSURE
LEGISLATION ADDED TO THE SEATTLE
COMMISSION'S OVERSIGHT ON
REQUIRING CITY HALL, CITY
COUNCIL, THEIR STAFF DISCLOSE
THEIR CONFLICT OF INTEREST
BECAUSE WE CAN GO DOWN A LONG
LIST IN VIOLATION NOW GETTING IN
THE WAY OF PROPER ROBUST HOUSING
BUILDOUT'S.
>> THAT WAS OUR LAST PRESENT
REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> BACK TO IN PERSON. JORDAN
CROWLEY, DAVIES AND JULIA.
>> HELLO. I'M HERE AS THE CHAIR
OF THE THREE FOURTH DISTRICT
DEMOCRATS. EACH OF YOU WERE
ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO SERVE
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, NOT
REWRITE THE RULES FOR YOUR OWN
BENEFIT YET THAT IS PRECISELY
WHAT THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO
AMEND THE CITY'S CODE OF ETHICS
PROPOSES. THE FUNDAMENTAL OF THE
VARIABLE IS MEANT TO FOSTER AND
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT. THIS IS REGRESSION,
NOT REFORM. TO ARGUE CHANGES
NECESSARY IS TO ADMIT YOUR
DESIRE TO BREAK THE RULES AS
THEY STAND. RATHER THAN RECUSE
THEMSELVES OR CONFLICT OF
INTEREST ARISE SO SUPPORTING
REFERRED TO UNDERMINED PRECEDENT
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ROLLING BACK
CIVIL RIGHTS OF OUR CITY'S
WORKING-CLASS. THE MORAL STAKES
ARE SIMPLE, ELECTED OFFICIALS
UPHOLD THE ETHICAL SAFEGUARDS
PRESERVING OUR DEMOCRACY OR THEY
ERODE THEM TO PERSISTENT PRIVATE
INTERESTS. IF YOU CHOOSE THE
LATTER WE WILL NOT BE SILENCE.
TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL IS TO
DECLARE ETHICS OPTIONAL. THAT
CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHOULD BE
NO BARRIER TO POWER AND THE
PUBLIC GOOD IS OF NO CONCERN.
REJECT THIS BILL.
>> MATT AND THEN JULIA AND
SUMMER. I DON'T SEE MATT.
FOLLOWING JULIA WILL BE SUMMER
MILLER AND HALEY WILLIS.
>> AGAINST THE ETHICS EXEMPTION
FOR LANDLORDS I'M NOT A RENTER
BUT MY DAD WAS. HE WAS FOUND
DECEASED OF A HEART ATTACK
UNABLE 22nd. HE HAD BEEN AT THE
SAME PLACE AND HIS LANDLORD HAS
TWO UNITS. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY
FATHER'S APARTMENT WITH MY
BROTHER THE LANDLORD WAS INSIDE
GOING THROUGH MY DAD'S
POSSESSIONS. THE FIRST THING HE
SAID WAS I'M SORRY FOR YOUR
LOSS. THE SECOND THING WAS THE
ONLY RENT I NEED TO PAY IT RIGHT
NOW. HE FOLLOWED US AROUND
REFUSING TO LEAVE UNTIL EVEN
MODE . THE APARTMENT REIT AND
THERE WAS A STAIN WHERE MY
FATHER HAD PASSED. THE LANDLORD
HANDED ME A BOTTLE OF CARPET
CLEANER AND SUGGESTED I COULD
USE IT. WHEN I KNELT DOWN AND
MAGGOTS BEGAN DANCING OUT OF THE
CARPET I INSISTED WE CALL AN
ACTUAL COMPANY. WE HAD TO
LEAVE REPEATEDLY TO VOMIT SO BAD
OTHER TENANT HAD BEEN STAYING
WITH FRIENDS. THESE ARE YOU
SHOULD BE GUARDING THE HEN HOUSE
? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
>> REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING AFTER
PUBLIC SPEAKING, PLEASE. THAT IS
CALLED DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR .
>> WE HAVE SUMMER MILLER AND
FOLLOWING SUMMER IS GOING TO BE
HALEY WILLIS.
>> MY NAME IS SUMMER MILLER AND
I'M A MEMBER OF REVOLUTIONARY
WORKERS. I RENT A ONE BEDROOM
APARTMENT ON CAPITOL HILL AND I
COULDN'T AFFORD RENT I ALSO
COULDN'T AFFORD TO MOVE . LIKE
SO MANY IN THE CITY I HAD TO
TAKE ON A ROOMMATE AND SECTIONED
OFF THE BEDROOM WHICH WAS HALF
OF MY LIVING ROOM . THIS IS LIFE
FOR MENTORS IN SEATTLE WHILE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS RAKE IN
PROFITS AND COLLUDE USING
SOFTWARE NOW AT THE CENTER OF
FEDERAL PRICE-FIXING LAWSUITS.
WHAT IS DESPICABLE IS INSTEAD OF
FIGHTING THESE CARTELS
SEATTLE'S DEMOCRATIC
POLITICIANS ARE DOING THEIR
BIDDING. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET
THE LAWS THAT STOP
COUNCILMEMBERS WITH INTEREST
FROM VOTING ON LEGISLATION. A
CLEAR ATTACK ON THE BASIC
PROTECTIONS WORKING-CLASS
RENTERS FOUGHT TO WIN. THESE ARE
THE SAME DEMOCRATS WHO TRIED TO
REPEAL MINIMUM WAGE LAST YEAR.
THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED BY
SOCIALIST FOUGHT BACK AND
DEFEATED THEM. IT RAISED MINIMUM
WAGE TO 2076 FOR ALL WORKERS .
ANY DEMOCRAT WHO VOTES TO REPEAL
THESE SIDING WITH BILLIONAIRES [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU .
>> HALEY WILLIS. THEN IT WILL BE
HOWARD .
>> AT AFTERNOON. I'M THE POLICY
MANAGER AT THE SEATTLE KING
COUNTY COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS. I'M HERE TO
OPPOSE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO
OUR ETHICS LAWS. WE WANT AND
NEED HELP THE LOCAL DEMOCRACY
AND A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT CAN
TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE WHO LIVES
HERE NOW MORE THAN EVER. FOR
THAT TO HAPPEN PEOPLE NEED TO
HAVE TRUST IN YOU AND TRUST IN
THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. WE ARE
LIVING THROUGH TURBULENT ,
HOSTILE AND SCARY TIMES.
PEOPLE'S TRUST IN GOVERNMENT IS
VERY LOW. WE NEED STRONG ETHICS
LAWS IN PLACE TO PROSTILE FEDER
CLIMATE. WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
POLITICS AND ETHICS CANNOT BE
SEPARATED AND WE SHOULDN'T SHY
AWAY FROM STRONG ETHICS LAWS.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO ROLLBACK
YOUR ETHICS RULES. THANK YOU.
>> STOP . THIS IS THE LAST
WARNING. I WILL HAVE TO ASK YOU
LEAVE IF YOU CANNOT PLEASE
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.
>> HOWARD GAIL AND THEN ALEX .
>> THE MOST HYPOCRITICAL PART OF
THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON
ETHICS IS THE CLAIM FROM THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS
BILL GIVES MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT
DISTRICTS THAT INCLUDE
VULNERABLE OR HISTORICALLY
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES A
VOICE. THAT IS PERVERSE. THAT
VOICE IS DESIGNED FOR THE
DISADVANTAGED , FURTHER
DISADVANTAGING THE
DISADVANTAGED. WHERE THE WORKERS
ARE RENTERS WHICH INEVITABLY
HAPPENS WITH PEOPLE WITH
CONFLICTS ALWAYS USE THEIR
PRIVILEGE CONFLICTS TO
DISADVANTAGE THOSE WITHOUT
PRIVILEGE. WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ,
THE RATIONALE FOR THIS
LEGISLATION IS IT ALLOWS
REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE , BUT
THEY ARE GOING TO BE VOTING
AGAINST INTEREST. MY SUGGESTION
IS LET CONTINUE THE POLICY OF
NOT VOTING AND IF PEOPLE IN THE
DISTRICT DON'T LIKE THAT THEN
THEY CAN VOTE OUT THOSE PEOPLE.
IT'S A TOTALLY PERVERSE IDEA TO
CLAIM THAT THIS IS FOR THE
REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALEX. FOLLOWING ALEX WILL BE
AIDEN.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX TSIMERMAN .
I'M A TRUMP SUPPORTER , I AM A
MAGA MEMBER. I HAVE DATE OF
TRESPASS FROM YOU . I DON'T
THINK -- I SPEAK ABOUT SEATTLE
POLICE COMMISSION. FOR MANY
YEAR, FOR MANY MEETING. STUPID
COMMISSION IN MY LIFE. I GIVE
YOU TWO EXAMPLES. EXAMPLE NUMBER
ONE, I CANNOT SPEAK. PEOPLE
CANNOT SPEAK. AND IS NEVER
WORKING. THERE'S A DOZEN PEOPLE
IN THIS COMMISSION NOBODY HAVE
CRIMINAL. HOW YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT POLICE WITHOUT CRIMINAL
HISTORY ?
>> AIDEN CAROL AND THEN KATE
RUBIN . THEN GWENDOLYN.
>> ALL RIGHT. I GET TO FOLLOW
SATIRE. DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO
TRUST YOU IS THE QUESTION THAT I
KEEP ASKING MYSELF HERE BECAUSE
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW LONG YOU
WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THE WAVE OF
A REAL OR PERCEIVED OVERREACH .
THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF
LEGISLATION THAT CAN BE
PORTRAYED AS A BACKLASH TO FAR
LEFT WING INSANITY OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT. JUST BECAUSE IT
AFFECTS TENANTS AND OTHERS WHO
ARE LESS ABLE TO SPEAK UP DOES
NOT MEAN PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO
PAY ATTENTION OR HAVE ELECTORAL
IMPACT. WE SEE HOW ACCOUNTABLE
THE POLICE ARE WITH WHAT
PPENED LAST NIGHT.
>> MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN. I'M
THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND A
VOTED LIVING IN DT. I STRONGLY
OPPOSE THE PROPOSED CHANGE TO
THE ETHICS CODE . VOTERS ELECTED
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING YOU WOULD
RECUSE YOURSELVES YOU HAVE A
FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
DISCLOSURE IS NOT
ACCOUNTABILITY. EVEN IF YOU
BELIEVE YOU CAN SEPARATE YOUR
PERSONAL INTEREST FROM VOTES
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE FUTURE AS
WELL. THEY AREN'T ABOUT
INTEGRITY, THEIR BOUNDARIES OF
PUBLIC TRUST. LET'S BE CLEAR,
YOU CHOSE TO APPOINT A LANDLORD
TO COUNCIL KNOWING THE LANDLORD
TO RENT RATIO WOULD BE TO DO ONE
EVEN THOUGH SEATTLE IS A
MAJORITY RENTER CITY. NOW YOU'RE
TRYING TO CHANGE THE RULES TO
HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS A
MASSIVE BREACH OF PUBLIC TRUST.
THIS UNDERMINES THE PRINCIPLES
OF GOOD GOVERNMENT AND OPENS THE
DOOR TO ELECTED OFFICIALS USING
PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE, THANK YOU.
>> I BELIEVE THE FIRST NAME IS
GWENDOLYN HART AND THEN CAROL
NELSON .
>> I'M A RENTER IN GREEN LAKE
AND A MEMBER OF WORKER STRIKES
BACK. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST
A PROPOSAL TO REPEAL THE ETHICS
LAWS. WORKER STRIKE BACK WAS
STARTED BY FORMER CITY
COUNCILMEMBER AND WITH HER WE
WON THE CAP NEXT MONTH'S NOTICE
FOR RENT INCREASES, AND MUCH
MORE VICTORIES OF CITY COUNCIL
RESIDENT SARA NELSON HAS
PUBLICLY STATED HER INTENTION OF
REPEALING. SEATTLE IS A MAJORITY
RENTER CITY BUT WE SCRAPE FIVE
OH CORPORATIONS RAKE MASSIVE
PROFITS OFF OUR BACKS. THEY
SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISING COMING
FROM THE PARTY CONSIDERING
DEMOCRATS ARE CURRENTLY SLASHING
THE BUDGET 7 BILLION CUTTING
HOSPITALS , SCHOOLS,
FIREFIGHTERS, PUBLIC SERVANTS
WHILE THEY LEAVE THE WEALTH OF
THE BILLIONAIRES IN THE STATE
UNTOUCHED. THE SAME COUNCIL PUT
FORWARD A PROPOSAL TRYING TO
DISMANTLE THE MINIMUM WAGE
VICTORY WE WON AND WE BEAT THAT.
WORKING PEOPLE APPEALING THIS
LAW MEANS RIGHTS ARE COMING AND
WE KNOW ANY OF YOU IN FAVOR ARE
COMPLICIT. WE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION. WE WILL REMEMBER [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> CAROL NELSON AND .
>> HELLO THERE. MY NAME IS CARL
NELSON. THE 16 YEAR RESIDENT AND
MEMBER OF THE CEDAR CROSSING
TENANT ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TO
VOICE DISAPPROVAL FOR THE
PROPOSAL BACKS TO COUNCIL ETHIC
RESTRICTIONS. IT'S A TIME WHEN
OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT SHOWS NO
ETHICS WHICH IS WHY LOCAL
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO SHOW MORE .
MOST WEST COAST CITIES HAVE
ROLES LIKE THESE FOR A REASON
AND A DISKLESS CONFLICT OF
INTEREST IS STILL A CONFLICT OF
INTEREST EVEN ASSUMING THE
COUNCIL WILL WITHHOLD ITSELF TO
A HIGH STANDARD WE HAVE NO
INDICATION FUTURE COUNCILS WILL
FOLLOW SUIT. UNDERSTAND EVERYONE
ON THIS COUNCIL AND I BELIEVE
VOTERS MADE THE DECISION HE
WOULD BE GUIDED AND RESTRAINED
BY A CERTAIN SET OF ETHICS.
THOSE BEING PROPOSED TO THE
REPEALED WATER DOWN TODAY .
IT'S A BETRAYAL OF VOTER TRUST
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALL
DO SO.
>> ALLEN. THEN ROXIE.
>> I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 4
AND RENTER OF THE TENANT
ASSOCIATION. IT IS INCREASINGLY
ALARMING AT THE CURRENT
POLITICAL CLIMATE WITH INSTANCES
OF CORRUPTION AND DEALING AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL NOTABLY HIS
ASSOCIATES IS IMPERATIVE THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REINFORCED
RATHER THAN WEAKEN THEIR ETHICAL
STANDARDS. WEAKENING THE ETHICS
CODE COULD PAVE THE WAY FOR USES
OF POWER AND THE PUBLIC TRUST
AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE
ETHICS CODE IS ONE OF THE
STRONGEST AGAINST CORRUPTIONS
AND SERVES COUNCILMEMBERS ACTING
IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PUBLIC
RATHER THAN THEIR OWN FINANCIAL
INTERESTS. BY REQUIRING RECUSAL
PREVENTS CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT WOULD
SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISH
ACCOUNTABILITY AND PRIORITIZE
PERSONAL GAIN OVER PUBLIC
WELFARE. IT'S CONCERNING THE
COUNCIL FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
WOULD TAKE AWAY ONE OF OUR CITY
STRONGEST ETHICAL STANDARDS THAT
PREVENTS ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM
BENEFITING THEIR VOTES. FORMER
SEATTLE [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> ROXIE.
>> WHAT'S UP? HOW ARE YOU
DOING? SARA NELSON, YOU'VE GOT
$2.3 MILLION IN THE BANK OR
THAT'S WHAT YOUR NET WORTH IS
AND YOU ARE PROPOSING TO VOTE TO
REPEAL THE ETHICS THAT WOULD
ALLOW YOU TO FURTHER ENRICH
YOURSELF. IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.
I DON'T TRUST YOU IN FACT ,
MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON HERE I
DON'T TRUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T
HAVE ANY ACTUAL COMMUNITY WITH
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND
HERE, THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE
LIKE I DOWHO LIVE ON THE STREET
IN DIRE NEED OF HELP. DO ANY OF
YOU DO THAT REGULARLY? ARE ANY
OF Y'ALL INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE
WHO NEED HELP LIKE THE MOST
VULNERABLE? THANK YOU. THINK
ABOUT THAT. GET INVOLVED WITH
ACTUAL PEOPLE ON THE STREET.
>> AT AFTERNOON. I WANT TO POINT
TO THE SPECIFIC CODE EVERYONE IS
TALKING ABOUT. SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE 4.1 6.070 IS PRETTY SIMPLE
. IT DISQUALIFIES MEMBERS OF
COUNCIL OR ANY CITY EMPLOYEE
FROM PARTICIPATING IN DECISIONS
, SO THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE
ETHICS CODE WOULD MAKE THE
EXCEPTION FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
ALL OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE TO
FOLLOW THE STRAIGHTFORWARD
LOGICAL ETHICS CODE. WE'VE HEARD
THAT HAVE STOOD UP TO SAY THIS
IS THE ETHICS CODE WE WANT. A
FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY REQUIRES
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING
DECISIONS MAKE THEM FOR THE
PEOPLE, NOT FOR THEIR OWN
FINANCIAL INTERESTS. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO
SPEAK UP AND SAY WE BELIEVE IN A
STRONG ETHICS CODE AND THIS IS
HOW WE SUPPORT DEMOCRACY. THANK
YOU.
>> THAT WAS OUR LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF OUR LIST OF PUBLIC
SPEAKERS SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION ,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
NOW CONSIDER THE PROPOSED
CONSENT CALENDAR. THE ITEMS ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDE THE
MINUTES OF APRIL 29th, 2025
COUNCIL BILL 120976 WHICH IS THE
PAYMENT , TO APPOINTMENTS FROM
THE GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE AND ONE APPOINTMENT
FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS
THE COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM CONSENT CALENDAR?
ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE I MOVED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL IN THE
ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
ARE ADOPTED. WITH THE CLERK OF
FIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES
AND LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT TO 3144, PATRICE
TISDALE AS MEMBER OF THE LABOR
STANDARDS ADVISORY COMMISSION
PER TERM TO APRIL 30th, 2027.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO, I MOVE TO
CONFIRM APPOINTMENT 3144. IS
THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. IT
HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT. I WILL
ADDRESS IT FIRST AND THEN OPEN
THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS. THE
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
WAS NOT ABLE TO VOTE ON THE
INITIAL APPOINTMENT OF PATRICE
TISDALE DUE TO THE TERM AND
EIGHT WHICH WOULD'VE EXPIRED
BEFORE THE CONFIRMATION BY THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL. THIS
APPOINTMENT CORRECTS THE TERM
AND APPOINTEE WILL SERVE A FULL
TERM VERSUS US SHORTER-TERM . IT
WAS TO OUR COMMITTEE MEETING AND
WE ARE ABLE TO HEAR FROM THEM
AND BACKGROUND AND WHY THEY WANT
TO BE A MEMBER OF THE WERE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE LINGERING
FROM THAT PREVIOUS DISCUSSION?
ANY COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO THE
RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT OF ECI AMEH AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION. THE
COMMUNITY RECOMMENDS BE
AFFIRMED.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ECI AMEH
WHO IS THE ACTING EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE POLICE
COMMISSION FOR BEING HERE AND TO
BASICALLY HAVE THE BATON TOSS ,
IT WAS NICE IN TERMS OF THE
OPPORTUNITY EARLIER. COLLEAGUES
, I ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN
THIS APPOINTMENT . ECI HAVE BEEN
GREAT SINCE SHE FIRST STOOD UP
AS DEPUTY AND STOOD UP ACTING
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS . HER
LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN KEY. WHETHER
IT'S HER EDUCATION , A GRADUATE
FROM THE LAW SCHOOL , A MEMBER
OF THE WASHINGTON STATE BAR
ASSOCIATION AND BECAUSE OF MY
PERSONAL CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE
LAW SO FORTH OF THE WORK DONE ON
THAT FRONT WHAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT IS REPRESENTED IN YOUR
RECORD AND RESUMES, FIRST, YOUR
WORK WITH THE STATE . THE
OFFICES YOU'VE HAD AND THE
COUNTY WHEN THAT EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN REALLY STRONG AND FAVORABLE
IN TERMS OF MAKING YOU THE
CANDIDATE AND APPOINTMENT YOU
ARE IN ADDITION TO HERE IN
SEATTLE. BOTH THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS BUT MORE IMPORTANT
IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING ON
HERE. COMING IN AND MAKING AN
IMPACT RIGHT OFF THE BAT AS
ACTING AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU
FOR STANDING UP IN A DIFFICULT
SITUATION. SO, COLLEAGUES, I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I WILL JUST
END AS WELL BY SAYING THAT THIS
EXPERIENCE HAS A LOT FOR POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE POLICY
AND LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. ALL
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WITHIN
WASHINGTON STATE . IMPORTANTLY
FOR THOSE , PERHAPS THE CLOSEST
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH HER ,
THE CO-CHAIRS AND COMMISSIONERS
THAT WORK CONFIRM SHE IS WELL
QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FRANKLY I
CONCUR. COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF MEETING ECI A NUMBER
OF YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS
WORKING AT THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS AND I'M SO PLEASED TO
SEE YOU IN THIS ROLE. ECI, WE
ALWAYS SAY HARD-WORKING, BUT
IT'S TRUE. SHE CARES DEEPLY
ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES AND
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY CLOSELY
ALIGNED. I'M VERY PLEASED TO
SEE HER NOW IN THIS. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING HER. IT'S NICE TO
SEE YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE
HAVE SPOKEN ALREADY IN
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING READY
FOR THIS RESPONSIBILITY AND
CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY . WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE APPOINTMENT IS CONFIRMED.
CONGRATULATIONS , EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR. WILL NOW ADMINISTER
THE OATH OF OFFICE AND YOU WILL
BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC.
>> YEAH. ALL RIGHT. I WILL ASK
YOU TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
>> I AFFIRM I POSSESS ALL OF THE
QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED IN THE
SEATTLE CITY CHARTER AND THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE FOR THE
POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION . THAT I WILL SUPPORT
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES , THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON AND THE
CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND THAT I WILL
FAITHFULLY CONDUCT MYSELF AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION .
>> WHAT A DAY. THIS IS BEYOND
WHAT I EXPECTED AND THIS
EXPERIENCE, HAVING THE HONOR OF
SEEING THE PROCLAMATION FOR
REVEREND HARRIETT WALDEN AND
THEN TO BE ABLE TO SWORN INTO
OFFICE IN THIS IMPORTANT
POSITION. THIS HAS GONE BEYOND
MY EXPECTATIONS AND I THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I WANT TO SAY TO ALL
OF YOU , THAT'S MY NORMAL
GREETING TO YOU ALL IN NIGERIA
BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU IN PUBLIC
SAFETY YOU PROBABLY GOT USED TO
ME SAYING AND NOW WE HAVE A
DIFFERENT WORD FOR AFTERNOON.
THESE ARE THE TRADITIONAL COLORS
OF MY TRIBE IN OUR
ANCESTORS AND THE BLACK IS FOR
THE EARTH AND BURIAL SHROUD OF
OUR ANCESTORS AS WELL. I WEAR
THIS REALLY PROUDLY. THIS COMES
FROM NIGERIA, IT LIVES IN A
CHEST IN MY MOTHER'S HOUSE AND
EVERY TIME THE CHEST OPENS UP IT
MEANS SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY HAS
ACHIEVED A LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE
SO I'M SO PROUD THIS WAS OPEN
FOR ME. I'M PROUD TO SAY HERE
BEFORE YOU, TO STAND HERE BEFORE
YOU AS A FIRST GENERATION
IMMIGRANT ATTORNEY, RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE . ALL OF
THOSE ATTRIBUTES DESERVE TO BE
REPRESENTED IN THE HIGHEST
LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP IN THIS
GREAT CITY. I'VE SHARED SO MANY
OF MY GOALS FOR THE CPC AND
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE, BUT JUST
SO YOU HAVE THEM FRONT OF MIND,
REBUILDING OUR RELATIONSHIPS
WITH ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS IS
FIRST AND FOREMOST. WE TALK
ABOUT CPC'S RECENT AND THE
CHANGES OUR ORGANIZATION HAS
UNDERGONE IN THE LAST EIGHT
MONTHS, BUT KNOW THAT THIS IS A
SYSTEMWIDE RESET . THREE OUT OF
FOUR OF ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS
HAVE GONE THROUGH LEADERSHIP
CHANGES IN THAT TIME , THAT
WOULD BE OURSELVES, OPA AND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OUR
PARTNERSHIP AT THIS TIME IS
CRITICAL, MORE THAN EVER AS WE
LOOK AHEAD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF
A FUTURE IN SEATTLE AND
UNDERSTAND ACCOUNTABILITY MUST
BE TAKEN INTO OUR HANDS AND OR
ORGANIZATION IS HERE TO ENSURE
COMMUNITY ALWAYS HAS A SEAT AT
THE TABLE. I WANT TO GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO THOSE PARTNERS, TO
OPA, TO SPD , FOR THEIR SUPPORT
AND COLLABORATION. LAST WEEK CPC
HOSTED A MEETING OF THOSE
PARTNERS AT OUR OFFICE TO
DISCUSS CPC FEEDBACK ON SPD
POLICIES. WHAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR
A ONE HOUR MEETING TURNED INTO A
TWO HOUR WORK SESSION WITH
LEARNING, BRAINSTORMING AND . Y
TO MAKE THE POLICIES THE BEST
THEY CAN BE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
AND SPD AND THAT'S WHAT THE
PARTNERSHIP LOOKS LIKE 20
OPERATING AS IT SHOULD, AS IT
WAS DESIGNED TO OPERATE. WE ALSO
HAVE TO FOCUS ON SECURING OUR
RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE
ESPECIALLY IN THIS BUDGET
CONSTRAINED ENVIRONMENT. CPC
COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT TO ITS
CURRENT STANDING HAD IT NOT BEEN
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION IN
2024. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT
POSITION WAS NEVER FULLY FUNDED
NOR WERE OTHER OPERATING
EXPENSES THAT INCREASED DUE TO
EXPANDED ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE CHANGES IN 2023 .
BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY. NOT
JUST COMMUNITY OUTREACH,
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES TO OWN THEIR SEAT AT
THE TABLE AND TO CREATE THE
SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THE
WORK CPC IS DOING IS PAYING
DIVIDENDS FOR THE ENTIRE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND FOR
ALL OF YOU. WE ARE IN YOUR
DISTRICTS, THROUGH DISTRICT
LIAISON PROGRAM AND THE CITY AND
WE SHARE THE FEEDBACK WITH YOU
SO IT CAN INFORM THE IMPORTANT
DECISIONS YOU MAKE ON THE DAIS.
IT IS IMPORTANT WE WORK TOGETHER
BECAUSE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY
POLICE, THEY DON'T SEE
GOVERNMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL PARTS
, THEY DON'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN CPC AND OPA , THEY
DON'T EVEN SEE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE FRANCE. THEY SEE US
AS ONE CITY AND THE COLLECTIVE
IMPACT WE HAVE ON THEIR DAILY
LIVES. I WILL END HERE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ALTHOUGH YOU
ALREADY TOOK THE VOTE. FEEL FREE
TO FOLLOW UP ANYTIME IF THERE'S
MORE INFORMATION I CAN PROVIDE
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I THINK
MY TALENTED STAFF TEAM FOR THEIR
SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT,
COLLABORATION AND ALL OF THEIR
HARD WORK AND FOR OUR
COMMISSIONERS AND FOR MY HUSBAND
SEATED HERE . HUSBAND OF SIX
MONTHS BY THE WAY. WHILE ALL OF
THIS CHANGE IN CPC WAS HAPPENING
AND ALL OF OUR COMPLIMENTS, A
WEDDING WAS ALSO PLANNED DURING
THAT TIME. I WILL END BY SAYING
WHAT YOU'VE SEEN FROM THIS
ORGANIZATION IN THE LAST SIX
MONTHS IS LIGHT WORK FOR US.
IT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN
THE NEXT SIX SO PLEASE CONTINUE
TO WATCH AND SUPPORT US, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND
CONGRATULATIONS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM THREE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE COUNTS OF
THE 1209 49 RELATING TO LAND USE
AND ZONING EXPANDING HOUSING
OPTIONS BY USING BARRIERS TO THE
CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AS
REQUIRED BY STATE LEGISLATION,
RECOMMENDING THE BILL PASSES
AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
SOLOMON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
THE COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL BILL
120949 IS AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL
HELP SEATTLEITES NAVIGATE
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT
PERMITTING PROCESS AND INCREASE
OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD THIS
RESPONSE TO THE STATE HOUSE BILL
WHICH REQUIRES SEATTLE AND OTHER
CITIES AND COUNTIES PLANNING
UNDER THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT
TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS
WHEN REGULATING ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS. CARRYING OUT THE
STATE MANDATES IS INTENDED TO
PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE
CREATION OF A DU OF THE NEEDS
FOR AND BENEFITS OF DIVERSE
HOUSING OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. WE APPRECIATE THE HARD
WORK OF THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS AND
CENTRAL STAFF IN BRINGING THIS
NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO
FRUITION. I ASK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THIS CRITICAL ADU
BILL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT SUMMARY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THE BILL? HEARING
NONE , WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WITH THE CLICK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL
RIGHT. MOVING ON, THERE WERE NO
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR AND THERE'S NOT A
RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND
ADOPTION TODAY. IS THERE ANY
OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
AGENDA. OUR NEXT REGULARLY
SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
IS ON MAY 13th AT 2:00 P.M. IT
IS 3:26, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU, EVERYONE.