>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THE NOVEMBER 3, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SEATTLE
CITY
KOUP SILL WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT'S 2:02.
I'M COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
[ ROLL CALLED ]
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED.
IF THERE'S NO OPTION,
THE COUNCIL RULES WILL BE
SUSPENDED TO CONSIDER A
RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND
ADOPTION.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE RULES
ARE SUSPENDED AND THE
COUNCIL WILL PROCEED WITH
CONSIDERATION OF ITEM 1,
RESOLUTION 32186.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD?
>> RESOLUTION 32186, MODIFYING
THE OCTOBER 30, 2025 ,
THE DISRUPTION TO
SNAP BENEFITS.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO MOVE THE
RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO
ADOPT RESOLUTION 32186.
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
RESOLUTION.
>> AS SPONSOR, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS A SIMPLE
ADDITION ACKNOWLEDGING THE ORGS
THAT
HELP PROVIDE MEALS, THE FOOD
SYSTEM SECTOR IS INCLUDED IN
THIS.
SNAP BENEFITS ARE DIVERSE,
ACCEPT SNAP THROUGHOUT THE
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS,
THIS PROVIDES EXECUTIVE THE
FLEXIBILITY TO DISTRIBUTE
THE FUNDING DIFFERENT AVENUES.
WE'RE NOT DECIDING WHERE IT
GOES.
WE ARE GETTING THE EXECUTIVE THE
FLEXIBILITY TO DISTRIBUTE
WITH DIFFERENT AVENUES.
COLLEAGUES, I WOULD HOPE
FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS POINT, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE RULES WILL
BOW SUSPENDED TO ALLOW COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL.
HEARING NONE, RULES ARE
SUSPENDED.
BEN AND LAUREN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
>> LAUREN HENRY, CENTRAL STAFF,
LEGISLATIVE LEGAL COUNSEL.
>> BEN NOBLE, CENTRAL STAFF
DIRECTOR.
>> IF COUNCIL WISHES, I
CAN WALK THROUGH THE OCTOBER 30,
2025
MAYORAL CLAMATION AND
A SUMMARY AFFIRMING WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
SAID.
>> PLEASE DO.
>> ON OCTOBER 30,
2025, THE MAYOR DID ISSUE A
CIVIL EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
REGARDING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND ITS DIRE
IMPACTS
ON THE SNAP BENEFICIARIES IN
SEATTLE.THE
THE MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION
QUOTED THAT ROUGHLY 50,000
SEATTLE IETS
RECEIVED SNAP BENEFITS TOTALS
$16 MILLION PER MONTH AND
THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES WOULD BE IMPACTED DUE
TO THE
DISRUPTION IN MONTHLY SNAP
BENEFITS.
AS A RESULT, THE
PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED PURSUANT
TO SMC
10-.02.010, WHICH HAS EMERGENCY
POWERS.
THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN
CERTAIN PRE- EXISTING
CIRCUMSTANCES OR A
THREAT TO VARIOUS
CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THE SAFETY OR
WELFARE OF
SEATTLE'S RESIDENTS
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ENGAGE THOSE EMERGENCY
POWERS.
THAT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 30th.
SPECIFICALLY, THE MAYOR HAD TWO
DELEGATIONS TO HIS CITY
DEPARTMENT HEADS.
THE FIRST WAS TO THE
DIRECTOR OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AUTHORIZING THE SPENDING
OF EMERGENCY FUNDS TO MITIGATE
THE LOSS OF SNAP FUNDING AND
FOOD
ACCESS, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO CON TRAKTSING
WITH
CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS TO
INCREASE FOOD AVAILABILITY.
THE SECOND DELEGATION WAS TO
CITY DEPARTMENT HEADS
GENERALLY TO AUTHORIZE AND
PERMIT
THE USE OF CITY FACILITIES AND
EQUIPMENT
AND TO REASSIGN PERSONNEL
FROM THEIR ORDINARY DUTIES TO
ASSIST
IN THIS EMERGENCY.
NOW PURSUANT TO THAT SAME
SMC10.02.010 SUB
SECTION C. THE COUNCIL HAS FOUR
OPTIONS.
NOT TO ACT, IN WHICH
THE PROCLAMATION AND ANY
FORTHCOMING EXECUTIVE ORDERS
STAND AS THEY
ARE UNTIL THE CIVIL EMERGENCY IS
EITHER TERMINATED BY THE
MAYOR OR BY A TWO- THIRDS VOTE
OF THE
COUNCIL.
THEN THE THREE REMAINING
ACTS ARE ACTIONS OF THE COUNCIL.
ONE MIGHT BE TO CONFIRM AND
RATIFY THE MAYOR'S
PROCLAMATION AS IT STANDS.
THE SECOND WOULD BE TO
MODIFY THE PROCLAMATION.
THE THIRD MIGHT BE TO REJECT IT
OUTRIGHT.
THE PATH BEFORE YOU NOW BY
RESOLUTION IS A SIMPLE
MODIFICATION OF THE MAYOR'S
PROCLAMATION.
AS COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
STATED, THERE ARE JUST TWO
COMPONENTS TO THIS RESOLUTION.
BOTH RECOGNIZE THAT THE
SCOPE OF THE FOOD SHORTAGE WILL
LIKELY NECESSITATE DISTRIBUTION
TO
THE FULL SPECTRUM OF
ESTABLISHED FOOD SYSTEMS IN
SEATTLE.
THEY, THEREFORE, WILL
HAVE PROVISIONS WITHIN SECTION
3 REGARDING THE CONTRACT
AND BORROWING AUTHORITY TO
COMMIT THE MAYOR TO DISTRIBUTE
RESOURCES TO THAT FULL
SPECTRUM OF ESTABLISHED FOOD
SYSTEMS
BE IT MEAL PROVIDERS FOR
CHILDREN,
SENIORS, OTHER VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS, COMMUNITY
CENTERS, FOOD BANKS AND DIVERSE
FOOD DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS.
THE SECOND COMPONENT IS
TO COMMIT THE MAYOR TO
IN CONSULTATION WITH
COUNCIL IDENTIFY THE SOURCES OF
FUNDS
AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE FOOD
SHORTAGE AND DEMONSTRATE
THE PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES
AND
STAFFING EQUITABLE TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
TWO COMPONENTS TO THE
RESOLUTION.
I WILL PAUSE THERE FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> LET ME JUST JUMP IN AND
SAY THAT I -- SPEAKING FOR
MYSELF, IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE
EXPERIENCING OR WE ARE
RESPONDING TO THE IMPACT
OF WHAT'S BEEN A SLOW MOVING
TRAIN
WRECK, BECAUSE WE HAVE
BEEN SEEING THIS COMING FOR
A LONG
TIME. HOWEVER, NOW IT IS UPON
US.
I AM PROUD THAT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IS STEPPING UP.
WE KNOW THAT MORE THAN
50,000 PEOPLE IN SEATTLE ARE --
USE THIS BENEFIT.
WE ARE STEPPING UP TO PUT
AS MUCH RESOURCES AS WE CAN
FORWARD TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE IN
NEED RIGHT IN THIS VERY, VERY
MOMENT IN GOING FORWARD OVER THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THAT SYNOPSIS OF OUR OPTIONS AND
THE PROCESS THAT WE MUST GO
THROUGH.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS?
>> IF I MIGHT, I COULD
PERHAPS SHED LIGHT ON RESOURCES
THAT ARE
POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE AND
THAT ARE BEING IMPLICATION
TARGETED
IN THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION.
IN PARTICULAR, THE GENERAL
FUND HAS TWO LARGE RESERVES.
ONE IS THE RAINY DAY FUND,
OR MORE TECHNICALLY, THE
REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT.
THAT'S TO ADDRESS SHORTFALLS IN
REVENUE.
THAT'S NOT THE SITUATION WE'RE
IN HERE.
THE OTHER IS THE EMERGENCY
SUBFUND.
IT'S TO ADDRESS UNANTICIPATED
EXPENDITURES.
THAT IS
PRESUMABLY EXACTLY THE SITUATION
WE ARE IN.
AS OF NOW, THAT FUND HAS
JUST OVER $85 MILLION IN IT.
THERE'S A SET OF POLICIES
THATTHAT UPON THE CITY TO FULLY
FUND IT TO A LEVEL.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.
IF IT IS DRAWN UPON IN A
SIGNIFICANT WAY, POLICIES
CALL FOR IT TO BE
REPLENISHED OVER TIME AND IN
AN APPROPRIATE WAY. THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES
AVAILABLE FOR THIS KIND OF A
THING.
ALTHOUGH, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S
NOT WHAT ANYONE ANTICIPATED
THAT EMERGENCY SUBFUND BEING
USED
FOR.
FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER
PICTURE ABOUT
THE RESOURCES, THOSE ARE THEY,
IF YOU WILL.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, LAUREN AND BEN.
LET ME JUST ASK A QUICK
QUESTION. UNDER THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY
POWERS, IS THIS THE FIRST
TIME OUR CITY HAS DONE THIS FOR
SOMETHING AS BASIC AS FOOD?
ALSO, ARE THERE OTHER
CITIES DOING THIS?
>> I MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER
THE FIRST QUESTION.
THE MOST RECENT TIME THESE
POWERS WERE INVOKED WAS DURING
PANDEMIC.
THAT WAS MORE SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT
MEDICAL RESPONSE. PART THAT WAS
, AS I
RECALL, ABOUT FOOD.
THE MEALS AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN
VIA SCHOOL AND THE LIKE WERE
DISRUPTED.
THAT WAS PART OF THE OVERALL
EFFORT.
OBVIOUSLY, A DIFFERENT
SITUATION.
>> HOW ABOUT OTHER CITIES?
>> I HAVE ONLY BEEN READING THE
PAPER THAT YOU HAVE, THAT
THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE
AND
STATES DOING THINGS COMPARABLE.
>> THIS IS A FAST-MOVING ISSUE.
SO FAR, I HAVE READ
ABOUT VARIOUS STATE RESPONSES TO
STANDING UP FOOD
DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AND THE
LIKE.
I WOULD NEED TO GET BACK TO
YOU
ABOUT THE ARRAY OF CITY
COMMITMENT.
>> SO IS THIS -- IT'S $8
MILLION?
RAINY DAY?
I'M SORRY, JUST --
>> THE PROCLAMATION DOES NOT
REFERENCE A DOLLAR AMOUNT.
THE PUBLIC INFORMATION PROVIDED
BY THE MAYOR INDICATES THAT
AS MUCH AS $8 MILLION IS
WHAT THEY HAVE IN MIND, YES.
>> OVER TWO YEARS?
ONE YEAR?
>>
TWO MONTHS, AS I UNDERSTAND
IT.
>> TWO MONTHS, I'M SORRY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION
OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS, IS KING
COUNTY -- YOU HAVE HEARD
OF ANYTHING THE KING COUNTY
IS GOING TO BE DOING,
ESPECIALLY FOR UNINCORPORATED
KING COUNTY
RESIDENTS?
>> I HAVEN'T BUT I'M HAPPY
TO
LOOK INTO THAT AND REPORT BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S SEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU.
NOTING THAT PROVIDING FOOD
TO HUNGRY AMERICANS IS THE
DUTY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IN THIS TIME WHERE THEY ARE NOT
DOING THEIR JOB,
WE AS THE CITY COUNCIL ALONG
WITH THE MAYOR TO
KEEP PEOPLE FROM SEATTLE FED.
THIS PROPOSAL BEFORE US IS NOT A
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION.
WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO KEEP THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY
FED
AND HEALTHY TO THE BEST OF OUR
ABILITIES.
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO
REOPEN AND DO THEIR JOB SO THAT
EVERYDAY AMERICANS CAN GET
THE FOOD THEY NEED TO LEARN,
WORK,
PLAY, CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY AND
EVERYTHING ELSE.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY
AND GIVING THAT BACKGROUND.
I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING
COUNCIL HOLLINGSWORTH
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS AND SPEAKING TO THIS.
THIS BUILDS ON THE WORK YOU
HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF GROCERY
AND
PHARMACY DESERTS.
I HAVE HEARD YOU IN MEDIA.
I HAVE HEARD YOU FROM
HERE.
THAT LEADERSHIP IS IMPORTANT. SO
THANK YOU.
FOR YOUR WORK.
IN ANSWER TO THE POINT, WE NEED
TO ACT.
WE NEED TO SHOW LEADERSHIP.
WE NEED TO SHOW SEATTLE'S
VALUES.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT
ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT ESPECIALLY
IN
THIS AREA.
IN TERMS OF THE THREE OPTIONS,
YES, WE NEED TO ACT.
WE NEED TO MODIFY BASED ON
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'S
EFFORTS HERE. I WANTED TO KNOW,
WE DO NEED
TO GO BEYOND FOOD
BANKS. AT THE TIME, I DO WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU TO THE QUEENQUEEN
FOOD BANK THAT DOES GREAT
SERVICE.
THEY ARE AT SACRED HEART CHURCH
FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE BEEN THERE.
WHAT THEY DO IS INCREDIBLE FOR
THE SMALL SIZE THAT IT IS.
HAS AN OVERSIZED IMPACT
DESPITE ITS SMALL SIZE.
I WANT TO THANK THE MEN AND
WOMEN AND THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY
MAKE THE QUEEN ANNE FOOD BANK
WORK. BY THE WAY, THAT'S ALSO
NOT
THOSE THAT JUST WORK AT THE
FOOD
BANK, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT
THAT FOOD BANK, LIKE ALL THE
THE FOOD BANKS HAVE WITH
ALL THE GROCERY STORES OR MAYBE
A
BAKERY, ALL THE VARIOUS
PIECES OF THIS
FOOD DISTRIBUTION NETWORK, IF
YOU WILL.
IT'S A GRAND UNDERTAKING.
EVEN IF FOR A SMALLER ONE
LIKE THE÷÷THE QUEEN FOOD BANK.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY,
I THINK ALL OF US HAVE SEEN
THIS, BECAUSE IT'S PART OF OUR
DUTIES, GOING OUT IN COMMUNITY.
THERE YOU REALIZE
THAT FOOD BANKS, IT'S NOT
ENOUGH.
THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION THAT
HAPPENS IS TIED TO
OUR HOUSING AND SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
D- 7 DOWNTOWN BUT ACROSS THE
CITY, YOU SEE THIS
WITH PROVIDERS WHO ARE TAKING ON
THAT
PIECE, THAT FOOD PIECE TO
BRING TO THEIR CLIENTS, THEIR
PEOPLE,
THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE TAKING
CARE OF.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND
BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A
LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T SEE.
WE'RE PRIVILEGED IN TERMS OF
ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY,
HOUSING PROVIDERS, ENGAGING WITH
HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND SEEING THE
WORK THAT
THEY DO, PARTICULARLY IN THE
AREA OF FOOD.
TO ENSURE THAT THOSE THAT
ARE UNDER THEIR CARE OR THAT
THEY ARE ENGAGED
WITH ARE IN GOOD STEAD.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR
SERVICE.
I KNOW WE'RE COMING UP
ON VETERANS DAY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
THE PEOPLE OF THE QUEEN ANNE
FOOD BANK BUT ALL THE FOOD BANKS
FOR ALL THOSE HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT HAVE
THAT FOOD ASPECT TO THEIR
MISSION SETS TO SAY, THANK YOU
FOR
YOUR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU
SERVE, BUT ALSO TO OUR CITY.
I
JUST WANTED TO SAY A TRUE THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCIL
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THANKS FOR
SHOUTOUT FOR THE
QUEEN ANNE FOOD BANK.
TO ALL THE FOOD BANKS ACROSS
OUR CITY WHO ARE REALLY HAVING
TO PICK UP NOW WHERE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING
ITS
RESPONSIBILITY.
I WILL SAY, YOU MAY REMEMBER --
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MAYOR
ISSUING AN EMERGENCY
PROCLAMATION PRIOR DURING COVID.
THERE WERE FOOD ITEMS INVOLVED
WITH THAT.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS
ACTUALLY GIVING US MORE MONEY TO
FEED PEOPLE DURING
COVID AND NOW THEY'RE TAKING
MONEY AWAY SO
WE CANNOT FEED OUR PEOPLE IN OUR
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
INCLUDING SEATTLE.
THAT COULD NOT BE THE
MOST EGREGIOUS THING THAT I HAVE
EVER HEARD OF IN MY LIFETIME AND
OVER THE 30 YEARS THAT I HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS WORK AND IN THE
56
YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THIS PLANET,
UNACCEPTABLE, EGREGIOUS, NOT TO
FEED FAMILIES AND CHILDREN,
SENIORS, FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE
ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO TO GET
FOOD, I TALK TO WITH EVEN AT THE
STATE LEVEL, I WAS HAVING
A CONVERSATION WITH
A REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN DAVIS
WHO
HAS SOMEONE IN SHORELINE
WHO CALLED HER BECAUSE HE IS --
CAN'T LEAVE HIS HOME AND
HE
DOESN'T HAVE ANY FOOD OR ACCESS
TO FOOD.
THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
DURING COVID, YOU ARE RIGHT, WE
WERE GETTING MEALS TO
CHILDREN BECAUSE SOME MEALS
-- SOME CHILDREN, RATHER, THE
ONLY
MEAL THEY HAVE THAT DAY OR THE
ONLY COUPLE MEALS THEY HAVE,
THEY
HAVE AT SCHOOL.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO
GET MEALS TO THOSE FAMILIES SO
THEY CAN EAT.
NOW WE'RE SEEING
THIS ADMINISTRATION SAYING, WE
DON'T CARE ABOUT FAMILIES
ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
WE DON'T CARE WHETHER THEY
CAN EAT OR NOT.
IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
WE NOW HAVE TO PICK UP THE SLACK
FOR WHAT THEY REFUSE TO DO IS
COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE. I'M ANGRY ABOUT
IT.
I'M BEYOND ANGRY.
I'M SAD.
I'M ALL OF THE NEGATIVE
EMOTIONS AROUND THIS BECAUSE I
JUST CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IN 2026
THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. IT IS NOT
OKAY.
I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR
FOR ISSUING THIS EXECUTIVE
ORDER.
I STAND WITH YOU, COLLEAGUES,
TO SUPPORT THIS TODAY AND
FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW WE CAN GET
FOOD TO
OUR CITIZENS AND OUR
RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY WHO
NEED
FOOD BECAUSE OF THIS EGREGIOUS
ACTION BY THIS FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
IT'S NOT
OKAY. THEY NEED TO REOPEN, AND
THEY NEED TO FEED AND THEY NEED
TO RELEASE THOSE SNAP BENEFITS.
TOTALLY NOT OKAY.
THANK YOU.
I WOULD APOLOGIZE FOR MY
OUTBURST.
BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY
JUST NOT OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> OUTBURST APPROPRIATE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL ACTUALLY START MY
REMARKS BY THANKING COUNCIL
MEMBER
RIVERA FOR HER
ANGER. I SHARE IN IT.
IS IT UNACCESSIBLE,
THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE IN
RIGHT
NOW.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PASSION.
I SHARE IN IT AS WELL.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR YR
REMARKS.
AS THE CHAIR OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND
POLICY
CHANGES, MY OFFICE HAS
BEEN CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE
CHANGES
IN SNAP ELIGIBILITY FROM THE BIG
BETRAYAL BILL AND THE GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN.
WITH YOU ME BE CLEAR THAT THE
TRUMP REGIME AND CONGRESSIONAL
REPUBLICANS' INABILITY TO
GOVERN
AND WILLINGNESS TO
WEAPONIZE FOOD ACCESS FOR OVER
40
MILLION AMERICANS IS
UNPRECEDENTED AND INTENTIONALLY
CRUEL.
THIS PAST SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1,
ACTUALLY MARKS THE FIRST TIME
IN HISTORY THAT SNAP BENEFITS
LAPSED.
THIS INCLUDES PREVIOUS FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS.
THIS IS A POLICY CHOICE.
NEARLY ONE MONTH IN WITH NO
END OF THIS FEDERAL SHUTDOWN IN
SIGHT, REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN
OUR CAPITOL ARE CONTINUING TO
PLAY GAMES WITH LOW INCOME
FAMILIES AS LOW INCOME FAMILIES
ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET FOOD
ON THE TABLE FOR THEIR KIDS.
THIS MORE THAN, WE LEARNED
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL
ONLY,
QUOTE, BE OBLIGATED TO COVER 50%
OF SNAP
ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS ALLOTMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER.
THIS IS ONLY HAPPENING
BECAUSE OF A FEDERAL JUDGE
IN RHODE ISLAND ORDERED THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
TO START PROVIDING FULL
NOVEMBER BENEFITS OR PARTIAL
BENEFITS AS
USDA OPTS TO ONLY DRAW ON THE
SNAP'S CONTINGENCY FUND.
THE FUND GOVERNMENT HAS
THE POWER TO TURN THIS ON DURING
A SHUTDOWN AND
THEY LACK THE WILL
TO DO SO. THIS IS A CHOICE.
HERE IN SEATTLE, WE DO NOT
LACK THAT WILL.
WE REFUSE TO LET PEOPLE GO
HUNGRY.
SO I WILL BE THROWING ALL OF
MY SUPPORT
BEHIND THIS ACTION BY THE CITY.
I WANT TO CLOSE BY THANKING OUR
COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I SAW
SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS HAPPEN
OVER
THIS WEEKEND.
OVER THIS WEEKEND I WAS
IN CAPITOL HILL AND CAME ACROSS
A
POP- UP FOOD DRIVE SPONSORED
BY FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER TO MEET
THE
MOMENT.
IN TWO HOURS, THEY
BROUGHT TOGETHER -- WE HAD
NEARLY
2,000 POUNDS OF
FOOD DONATED BY OUR NEIGHBORS.
ALL OF THAT IS GOING OVER TO THE
FOOD BANK AS WELL AS JEWISH
FAMILY SERVICES.
I HAVE SEEN LOCAL
RESTAURANTS STEPPING UP TO BRING
TOGETHER
FOOD AND PROVIDE MEALS FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS,
I HAVE SEEN SEATTLE STEP UP
IN REMARKABLE WAYS.
IT'S NOTHING SHORT OF INSPIRING.
I WANT TO THANK EVERY
NEIGHBOR WHO IS DONATING TIME,
MONEY, PANTRY GOODS.
I WANT
TO THANK EVERY HUMAN SERVICES
3R0E PROVIDER ON
THE FRONT LINE
OF TAKING CARE OF OUR
MOST VULNERABLE. IT'S CLEAR THAT
WHEN THE
FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING BACK FROM
SUPPORTING PEOPLE,
IT'S CLEAR SEATTLE WILL STEP
UP.
TODAY'S ACTION CONFIRMS THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I, TOO, AM OUTRAGED AND
ALARMED THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS AND
INACTIONS,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S --
THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S WEAPONIZATION
OF FOOD,
THEIR POLITICALIZATION OF FOOD
LEADS
US TO THIS POINT WHERE WE ARE
AT TODAY.
I SHARE IN THE STRATION AND
CONCERN.
I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT
A MOMENT AGO THAT
THIS IS A FEDERAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
THE NEXT LAYER OF THAT I
THINK IS THE STATE.
I
THINK THE STATE HAS STARTED TO
STEP UP AND ACT.
NO DOUBT, THEY WILL PROBABLY
CONTINUE THAT.
HERE WE ARE AS A CITY, AS
A LOCAL MUNICIPALITY CALLED
UPON TO STEP UP AND ACT
OURSELVES.
THIS IS
OUTRAGEOUS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE IN THIS
POSITION.
EVERYONE DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE.
EVERYONE DESERVES TO HAVE THEIR
BASIC -- MOST BASIC
HUMAN NEEDS MET.
ESPECIALLY AND INCLUDING FOOD
ACCESS, AND FOOD SECURITY.
I KNOW THIS FIRSTHAND.
SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY RELIED ON
SNAP BENEFITS OR THE EE KWIFSH
LEND IN THE '80s, SOMEONE
WHO RELIED ON FOOD BANKS AND
FOOD SHELVES AND FOOD PANTRIES
TO
HELP MY FAMILY MEET ITS
BASIC FOOD NEEDS.
CHILDREN ARE GOING HUNGRY
BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION. OUR MOST
VULNERABLE ARE
GOING
HUNGRY BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, WHO
SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO COME TO
THIS COUNTRY IN THE HOPES THAT
THEY WILL, TOO, ONE DAY SHARE
IN THE PROSPERITY THAT THE
AMERICAN
DREAM HAS TO OFFER.
SOME OF THEM, NOT ALL, JUST NEED
A HELPING HAND WITH BASIC ACCESS
TO FOOD, TO HELP THEM
STABILIZE AND BE PUT IN A BETTER
POSITION
TO EARN A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES.
WE FAILED ON
THAT PROMISE. WE FAILED ON THAT
COMMITMENT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID.
BUT I WON'T FAIL ON
THAT
PROMISE. I WON'T FAIL ON THAT
COMMITMENT.
EVERYONE DESERVES BASIC
FOOD ACCESS AND SECURITY.
IT IS OUR MORAL IMPERATIVE TO
ACT.
ALTHOUGH I AM OUTRAGED
AND SHOCKED AND ALL THE
OTHER NEGATIVE EMOTIONS THAT YOU
EXPRESSED, I AM PROUD TO BE
ABLE TO, AS A CITY, STEP UP AND
HELP
IN SUCH A WAY.
WON'T HESITATE TO DO IT,
EITHER.
THIS IS OUR
MORAL IMPERATIVE TO ACT.
I WANT TO THANK ORGANIZATIONS
IN DISTRICT 1 THAT
HAVE STEPPED UP TO ANSWER THE
CALL FROM A LOCAL
COMMUNITY GROUP PERSPECTIVE AS
WELL, INCLUDING THE WEST SEATTLE
FOOD BANK.
CULTIVATE SOUTH PARK.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN IN DIRECT
CONTACT WITH BOTH OF
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS
IN DISTRICT 1 THIS WHOLE
WEEKEND,
THIS MORNING, LEARNING
WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO
SUPPORT THE NEED AND BACKFILL.
LEARNING HOW WE CAN HELP AS A
CITY.
WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR PART AS A
CITY.
WE'RE GOING TO STEP UP.
BUT THIS IS ULTIMATELY NOT
JUST A FEDERAL AND STATE AND
NOW WE'RE TAKING UP OUR SHARE
FROM
A CITY PERSPECTIVE, A CITY
RESPONSIBILITY, THIS IS A SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL.
IT'S NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENT
RESPONSIBILITY, HIGH LEVEL.
THIS IS A SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN
COMMUNITY.
I AM ENCOURAGED AND HEARTENED
TO HEART SOME OF THE
TREMENDOUS WAYS PEOPLE ARE
SHOWING UP.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN MY DISTRICT
AS WELL.
VOLUNTEERS.
WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
I'M CALLING ON EVERYONE TO
FIND A WAY TO STEP UP AND
SUPPORT
THE NEED, PROVIDE VOLUNTEER
HOURS
TO SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY FOOD
BANKS, WEST SEATTLE FOOD
BANK, FOR EXAMPLE.
DONATIONS, FOOD
DONATIONS, MONETARY DONATIONS
ESPECIALLY.
A LOT OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS COULD PARTICULARLY
USE MONETARY
DONATIONS.
WE'RE CERTAINLY COMING IN FROM
A
CITY PERSPECTIVE IN HELPING
WITH THE MONETARY PIECE.
THIS IS A COLLECTIVE SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE
TO TRULY LIVE UP TO OUR CITY'S
VALUES.
I WON'T HESITATE TO DO IT. BE
ABLE TO DO IT
TODAY. WE ARE HERE TO DO OUR
PART.
THANK YOU.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? ONE MOMENT.
I DO HAVE SOME SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS.
I HAVE TO NOTE THAT WHAT I --
I SECOND EVERYTHING PEOPLE ARE
SAYING. WE ARE RECOGNIZING
THE GENEROSITY OF OUR CITY.
I HAD OCCASION TO BE OUT
AND ABOUT GOING ON MANY PORCHES
YESTERDAY.
I SAW BAGS OF FOOD ON PORCHES.
IT'S NOT JUST
ORGANIZATIONS. IT'S INDIVIDUALS
THAT ARE
STEPPING UP.
WHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WON'T LEAD, SEATTLE
WILL. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING
AS A
CITY TODAY.
THE FACTS ARE RIGHT NOW
SPECIFICALLY THAT WE ARE
REALLY -- WE ARE TRYING TO
STEP IN AND MITIGATE AGAINST THE
UNCERTAINTY OF WHEN
FEDERAL RESOURCES WILL GET TO
THE
PEOPLE, TO THE TABLES IN
LIVING ROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AND
IN OUR CITIES.
ALTHOUGH FEDERAL COURTS
HAVE RULED SNAP FUNDING MAY
REMAIN, IT'S APPARENT THAT ONLY
HALF OF
ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WILL
RECEIVE THE BENEFITS THIS MONTH
OR
THEY WILL GET HALF AS MUCH AS
THEY
NEED. NO ONE WILL RECEIVE
ANYTHING
IF THIS DRAGS ON INTO DECEMBER.
THERE'S
SO MANY UNKNOWNS AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL.
ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, DO WE
KNOW HOW FAST THIS FUNDING CAN
BE RELEASED OR BE
NSFORMED INTO FOOD IN TRUCKS
AVAILABLE TO
FAMILIES?
I KNOW THAT DEPENDS ON THE
OUTLET.
I WANT TO ASK WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THAT.
THEN ALSO, I HAVE HAD QUESTIONS
PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, PEOPLE
ASKING, WHAT IF YOU DON'T NEED
ALL THE $8 MILLION OR WHAT IF
EVERYTHING IS FINE IN FIVE
WEEKS OR SIX WEEKS?
I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THOSE
DYNAMICS.
THE FACT IS THAT IT IS NOW
NOVEMBER 3rd.
THERE ARE PEOPLE
THAT HAVEN'T HAD
THE RESOURCES FOR TWO DAYS,
THREE DAYS.
IT'S IMPERATIVE WE GET GOING
AND NOT THINK TOO FAR DOWN THE
LINE.
BUT THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT
ARE OUT THERE.
IT'S JUST A
SHOCKING SITUATION
THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S INCOMPREHENSIBLE THE HARM
THAT MANY FAMILIES ARE FEELING
RIGHT NOW AND COULD BE --
COULD
CONTINUE TO FEEL IF WE DON'T ACT
RIGHT NOW.
AND WE ARE.
BUT THEY WILL
STILL BE A FEW DAYS IN ARREARS.
ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SHARE.
THANK YOU.
>> I DO NOT HAVE DETAILS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
THE DIRECTOR OF HSD HAS MET WITH
THE FOOD NETWORK AND THERE'S AN
ONGOING GROUP OF FOLKS
INVOLVED IN THAT WORK CONSULTING
WITH ONE
ANOTHER REGULARLY.
GIVEN ASSURANCES THAT THE
CITY WILL
BE PROVIDING RESOURCES SHORTLY.
THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE
AHEAD IMMEDIATELY IN TERMS OF
ORDERING AND BRINGING NEW FOOD
INTO THE
SYSTEM.
THEY KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE
REIMBURSED SHORTLY.
WITH THIS ACTION, YOU WILL
BE
CONFIRMING THE MAYOR'S
AUTHORITY.
IF THERE WAS ANY QUESTION ABOUT
THAT, THAT WILL HAVE
BEEN ELIMINATED
AS WELL. MORE THAN THAT, I
DON'T KNOW.
>> HOW DOES IT WORK WITH OTHER
ENTITIES THAT MIGHT NOT BE FOOD
BANKS?
YOU CAN SHED ANY LIGHT?
THIS IS --
>> I CAN DO MY BEST.
MY BEST EDUCATED GUESS.
IF
I GET NUMBERS WRONG, I
APOLOGIZE.
YOU HAVE FOOD BANKS.
THOSE ARE IN SEATTLE.
THOSE ARE ALL OVER SEATTLE.
THERE'S 32 OF THOSE.
IN THE CITY.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GET USDA
FUNDING, WHICH IS THE STATE
FUNDING AND ALSO FEDERAL
DOLLARS.
THEN YOU HAVE MEAL
PROVIDERS THAT ARE ALL
THROUGHOUT THE
CITY THAT DO DISTRIBUTION
THROUGH
OUR SENIOR CENTERS, COMMUNITY
CENTERS, ORGANIZATIONS
EVERYWHERE.
YOU HAVE OUR SENIOR CENTERS.
YOU HAVE MEAL PROVIDERS.
YOU HAVE COMMUNITY GARDENS.
YOU HAVE A VERY WIDE ARRAY OF
FOOD CHANNELS THAT CAN GET
TO PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO OVERWHELM A
SYSTEM.
YOU WANT TO GIVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF
FOOD DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS IN
CASE SOMETHING SWITCHES AT THE
FEDERAL OR -- YOU WANT TO
HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE OPTIONS TO
BE ABLE TO DO DISTRIBUTION.
THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT
DOES.
IN THIS CASE, DURING
THE PANDEMIC -- THIS IS A
MANUFACTURED CRISIS THAT'S
GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
PANDEMIC
WAS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.
AS THERE WAS FOOD CHANNELS THAT
WERE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, PRIME
EXAMPLE, WHEN AIRLINES SHUT
DOWN, A LOT OF THAT
FOOD WENT INTO THE FOOD BANK
SECTOR.
IF THE STADIUMS THAT SHUT
DOWN, THOSE WENT TO THE FOOD
BANK
SECTOR.
THEY OVERWOMENED THAT
SECTOR WITH THE FOOD BANKS.
THAT CONTINUED TO SPREAD OUT
INTO OTHER NETWORKS,
WHETHER MOBILE FOOD PANTRY,
WHETHER
YOU SAW CHURCHES DOING
DISTRIBUTION, WHETHER IT WAS
COMMUNITY
GROUPS, MISS
YVETTE. YOU HAVE ALL THESE
FOOD DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS.
THIS IS DIFFERENT
BECAUSE YOU ARE TAKING AWAY
PEOPLE'S
ABILITY TO GO PURCHASE THEIR
FOOD AT A
FARMER'S MARKET, AT A GROCERY
STORE, AT A MOM AND POP STORE
AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
THIS
WILL IMPACT US DIFFERENT THAN
THE PANDEMIC DID.
WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED IN ALL
DISTRIBUTION
CHANNELS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH
OUR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE KIDS ON
FREE
AND REDUCED LUNCHES.
IT'S NOT -- WE'RE NOT DECIDING
WHERE STUFF GOES.
THIS JUST GIVES THE
EXECUTIVE THE OPTION OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
FOOD OUTLETS.
IT'S NOT PUTTING ONE AGAINST
THE OTHER.
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO FOOD
BANKS. IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE DIFFERENT
OPTIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION FOR
FOOD.
>> I WOULD IMAGINE
THEY APPRECIATE THAT, TOO,
BECAUSE
OF
STAFFING SHORTAGES. I WOULD
IMAGINE.
>> CORRECT.
I WILL SAY THIS, THE ONE BARRIER
TO THIS IS YOU ARE FLOODING A
SYSTEM WITH FOOD AND THAT'S
GREAT.
BUT PEOPLE NEED
OPERATIONAL DOLLARS TO GO
DELIVER, TO FUND
PEOPLE, THE GAS, THE STORAGE
OF ALL THESE SUPPLIES.
IF PEOPLE ARE BUYING FOOD,
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO STORE IT
IN THE REFRIGERATIONS SO THEY
CAN GET LOWER COSTS DOWN?
THE TRANSPORTATION ALONE IS
SIGNIFICANT.
THE LAST MILE AS WE CALL IT
THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIRST
STEP.
THIS IS ALSO NOT SUSTAINABLE.
LIKE I ECHO MY COLLEAGUES,
WE
NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
REOPEN.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
VOLUNTEERING IS CRITICAL.
WITH THE OPERATIONALIZING OF
TRYING TO GET FOOD TO FOLKS THAT
IS ALSO REALLY HELPFUL.
THAT IS A WAY THAT
EVERYONE CAN GET INVOLVED.
I WILL SAY IN MY DISBELIEF
AND PASSION COMMENTS -- THANK
YOU FOR LETTING ME SAY THAT,
COLLEAGUES, I SHOULD HAVE REALLY
GIVING A SHOUTOUT TO SENATOR
MURRAY AND SENATOR
CANTWELL WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
I HAD A QUESTION, DIRECTOR
NOBLE, ABOUT THE STATE
LEVEL FUNDING, THE 2. 2 MILLION
THE STATE IS RELEASING AND HOW
--
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET AND HOW
CAN WE GET INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW THAT IS HELPING SEATTLE?
WHAT DOES SEATTLE --
WHAT SUPPORT CAN WE EXPECT TO
SEE?
I APPRECIATE GOVERNOR
FERGUSON'S SWIFT ACTION THERE.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE DO
ALL THESE EFFORTS FROM A FISCAL
STANDPOINT THERE ARE THINGS
YOU NEED TO DO AND PUT IN PLACE
TO BE ABLE TO RELEASE DOLLARS.
DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION
AND WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO
SEE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THAT
WILL
GET OUT TO THE CITIES?
>> AFTER THIS MEETING,
THAT FIRST QUESTION I CAN POSE.
WHILE I HAVE BEEN SITTING
HERE, A MOMENT TO CONSULT WITH
THE
EXECUTIVE, I HAVE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
DISTRIBUTION
MECHANISMS THEY ARE PURSUING.
THOSE INCLUDE FOOD BANKS,
MEALS PROGRAMS AND FOOD BAGS TO
SEND
HOME TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
AND THEIR PARENTS, FROM BOTH
CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND
SCHOOLS.
TO ME, THESE ARE FAMILIAR
SYSTEMS THAT WERE
TAPPED DURING THE PANDEMIC AS WE
DISCUSSED
PREVIOUSLY.
THAT IS AS I UNDERSTAND THE
WORK
UNDERWAY. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH
THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE
STATE MONEY IS FEEDING INTO
THAT SYSTEM AND WHETHER THERE'S
ANY WAY TO KNOW WHAT SHARE OF
THE
STATE'S MONEY
IS COMING TO THE SEATTLE AREA.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
I HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT
WITH THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
I WILL REACH OUT TO ASK
THAT QUESTION.
I APPRECIATE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, ALL THE WORK TO
MAKE SURE THEY ARE
PROVIDING FOOD TO THE KIDS AT
SCHOOL.
I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
HOW ALL OF THIS WILL BE
OPERATIONALIZED, BECAUSE
DURING COVID WE PARTNERED, WE
CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT
KIDS
AND THEIR FAMILIES
DID HAVE
FOOD. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING
NOW.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW,
COLLEAGUES,
WHAT I HEAR BACK IN TERMS OF
THAT.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT --
LOOK, EVERYONE -- ALL OUR
PARTNERS
ARE COMING TOGETHER TO REALLY
TRY TO
HELP OUR RESIDENTS.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
I JUST NEED -- THIS FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW WHO
IS NOT GOING HUNGRY TONIGHT?
TRUMP'S KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.
THOSE WHO IS NOT GOING HUNGRY
TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET THAT HECK OUT THE
DOOR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THETHE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
[ ROLL CALLED ]
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON
MY BEHALF?
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES.
THE CITY WILL NOW -- THE
CITY WILL DISCUSS AND HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO AFFIX OUR SNAG
TURS TO A LETTER DRAFTED BY
THE PUNL ET SOUND REGIONAL
COUNCIL RELATING TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM.
ANOTHER WRINKLE, FEDERAL
WRINKLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, THE PUGET
SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL OF WHICH
I
SIT ON THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE BROUGHT THIS --
IS BRINGING THIS LETTER TO
OUR ATTENTION AND REQUESTING
THAT WE
PROVIDE OUR SUPPORT.
IT IS A LETTER TO SENATOR
MURRAY. IT IS A LETTER THANKING
HER FOR
HER EFFORTS ON THE RELEASE
AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF
RELEASE OF THE CONTINUING OF
CARE FUNDS
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
HOLDING.
THIS IS TO THE POINT,
ANOTHER WRINKLE THAT
THIS ADMINISTRATION -- ONE MORE
THING
THEY ARE DOING TO BASICALLY WHAT
I SEE IS AN ATTACK ON OUR
RESIDENTS AND OUR FOLK THAT
NEED THE HELP THE MOST.
THIS FUNDING, THE CONTINUING
UPCARE FUNDING IS USED TO
PROVIDE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO
ARE
THE MOST DESPERATE NEED OF
SHELTER.
AS WE HAVE
SPOKEN ABOUT IN DISTRESSING
DETAIL, FEDERAL
ACTIONS ARE CREATING FEAR AND
CONFUSION AMONG THOSE IN NEED
OF OUR HELP.
THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY THE
PUGET SOUND COUNCIL
IN CONSULTATION WITH THEIR
LOBBIEST IN D.C. WHO IS OURS AS
WELL.
IT'S TO AMPLIFY OUR CALL TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
RELEASE OUR TAX DOLLARS SO WE
CAN
CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
YOU DON'T -- WE WON'T BE
TAKING
A ROLL CALL ON SIGNATURE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN,
OUR CLERK PROVIDED -- THERE'S
A PLACE YOU GO IN AND SIGN
YOUR NAME THAT THE PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED
FOR US.
BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING IN OPEN SESSION, I
WANTED
TO
BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION AT
THIS MEETING.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO EXPLAIN THE
MECHANICS?
>> JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
WE WILL DO ROLL CALL IN
OPEN SESSION.
IT WILL ALLOW YOUR STAFF TO
AFFIX YOUR
SIGNATURES ON THE
FORM LETTER ONLINE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I STAND CORRECTED.
ALSO KNOW I HAVE HEARD FROM
FOLKS ABOUT CONFUSION ABOUT THE
LETTER.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SENATOR
MURRAY'S OFFICE AND WITH
THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL
FOLKS. AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WHAT
THIS LETTER IS ATTEMPTING TO DO
IS,
AGAIN, TELL THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, PLEASE RELEASE
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE DOLLARS.
THERE WAS CONFUSION AS TO
A LITTLE BIT AT THE WORDING.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M
VERY CLEAR THAT WHAT THE LETTER
IS
ATTEMPTING TO REQUEST IS FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
RELEASE CONTINUUM OF CARE
FUNDING TO OUR
PROVIDERS.
WANTED TO SAY THAT
AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I KNOW SOME
OF YOU IN THE PAST HAVE SAID
THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT
TO
SIGN ON TO LETTERS.
THAT IS OKAY.
THIS IS IF YOU FEEL
COMFORTABLE, YOU CAN SIGN
ON. IF YOU DON'T, THAT'S OKAY,
TOO.
I KNOW WE'RE ALL GRAPPLING
WITH ALL -- THERE'S SO MUCH
COMING OUT OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THAT TRACKING IT
MINUTE BY
MINUTE IS REALLY -- HAS PROVED
CHALLENGING TO ELECTED
LEADERS ACROSS
OUR CITY, OUR STATE AND OUR
COUNTRY.
WE'RE ALL GRAPPLING
WITH THE BEST WAYS TO SHOW OUR
SUPPORT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WE JUST WANT TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT
TO OUR
RESIDENTS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EMILIA,
FOR CORRECTING
HOW WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T DO SIGN- ON LETTERS.
I WANTED TO SAY IT OUT LOUD.
AT SOME POINT YOU WILL SEE
THE SIGNATURE WON'T BE THERE
BECAUSE I DON'T DO SIGN- ON
LETTERS.
I HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE.
TO CHANGE MY APPROACH
NOW WOULD BE NOT IN KEEPING WITH
MY DECISIONS IN THE PAST RELATED
TO
SIGN-
ON LETTERS. DOESN'T MEAN I'M
NOT
CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUUM AND
CARE ALL
THE WAYS IT COMES TO US AND THE
PIECES OF IT AND THE NEED
FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO
ITS PART.
THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
APPROACH, IF YOU WILL, THAT
I HAVE
RELATED TO SIGN-ON LETTERS.
THANK YOU.
>> I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO
BE CONSISTENT SO NOBODY ASKS
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS LETTER FORWARD.
IT'S TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THE ISSUES RELATED TO
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE
FUNDING SURFACED IN OUR SELECT
COMMITTEE
MEETING ON HOUSING SOME MONTHS
AGO.
THEY SHARED ABOUT HOW THIS COULD
BE UNDER THREAT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
IN OUR REGION 4,500 HOUSEHOLDS
ARE HOUSED THROUGH OUR
CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDING.
THIS IS A HUGE DEAL FOR US.
I'M GLAD WE HAVE A LETTER
BEFORE US TO FURTHER ADVOCATE TO
OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION,
TO SENATOR MURRAY, BECAUSE OF
ITS
IMPORTANCE.
I WOULD NOTE THAT THE
NOFO ASSOCIATED HAS NOT BEEN
RELEASED.
IT CAN'T BE RELEASED.
IT WAS LATER THAN IT
EVER HAS BEEN RELEASED, EVEN
BEFORE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
JUST TO UNDERSCORE, WE ARE
IN TREMENDOUSLY UNPRECEDENTED
TIMES. THIS FUNDING IS
CRITICAL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
HOUSING
OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE
REGION, ESPECIALLY FOR
SUPPORT FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING.
I ALSO WANT TO AFFIRM
THE LISTENING PUBLIC THIS IS ONE
PEAS OF ADVOCACY
THAT'S IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO
DO
HARD WORK TO PLAN ABOUT LOU WE
WILL MAKE SURE THAT
ALL OF OUR HOUSING STAYS ONLINE.
THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH THIS.
WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT
THE COUNTY TO ALSO DEVELOP A
PLAN
FOR APPLYING FOR THE NOFO AND
PUTTING FORTH A COMPETITIVE
APPLICATION WILL BE IMPORTANT.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART
OF ADVOCACY HERE TODAY.
IT'S GLAD IT HAS COME TO
THE ATTENTION OF
THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
LETTER FORWARD TODAY.
I WILL ADD MY NAME. THANK YOU.
>> I ECHO THIS.
VICE CHAIR OF
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, WHAT IS THE
--
>> NO.
>> I SIT ON THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF
THE
PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL.
>> GOT IT.
ULTIMATELY, THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME THAT I CAN REMEMBER
THAT AFTER JUST ONE YEAR,
BECAUSE THEY WERE LATE, THAT
THESE CONTRACTS HAVE ONLY BEEN
ACTIVE FOR A YEAR.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO -- THE
POTENTIAL TO PULL OUT THE
RUG FROM UNDERNEATH THOSE
CONTRACTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE
BEEN DEPENDING ON THEM TO
HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.
IN
MY MIND, IT'S A COLOR OF MONEY
ISSUE.
WE PROTECT OUR PEOPLE.
MANY OF THESE ARE SEATTLE
RESIDENTS.
SO, THEREFORE, WE WOULD WANT TO
STEP UP ANYWAY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
SORRY.
GO AHEAD.
>> AM
I RECOGNIZED?
>> GO AHEAD,
YES.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR
FOR ADDING A FEDERAL RESERVE
ACCOUNT TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
IF THE DOLLARS DO NOT COME
THROUGH, IT WILL EAT UP
THE ENTIRETY OF OUR
FEDERAL RESERVE BUDGET.
WE ARE DOING BOTH THINGS.
WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE
UNCERTAINTY THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS CAUSING
UNNECESSARILY, AND IF FOR SOME
REASON WE WERE TO REDUCE
THE FUNDING IN THAT FEDERAL
RESERVE
ACCOUNT AND THESE DOLLARS
DIDN'T
COME THROUGH, WE WOULD BE IN A
WORLD OF HURT.
THIS IS MY PITCH TO
EVERYONE THAT WE SHOULD BE
ADDING TO THAT
FEDERAL RESERVE ACCOUNT
BASELINE MINIMUM BECAUSE OUR
CITY AND OUR
PEOPLE ARE ONE UNNECESSARY
MOMENT OF CHAOS AWAY FROM A
LOT OF UNCERTAINTY THAT IS NOT
NEEDED. WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN
AS THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TO
KEEP OUR GOVERNMENT RUNNING AND
TO
KEEP PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES
UNCHANGED.
IF WE REDUCE ANY OF
THAT MONEY IN THE FEDERAL
RESERVE
ACCOUNT AND THIS MONEY DOES NOT
COME
THROUGH FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT --
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF
PROBLEMS.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
I URGE YOU TO NOT
REDUCE THE FEDERAL RESERVE
ACCOUNT AS
WE WALK INTO THIS WEEK OF
AMENDMENTS.
THAT'S MY PITCH TO YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> BUDGET DELIBERATIONS TRAILER.
OKAY.
SEEING NO OTHER
HANDS, PLEASE FIND OUT WHO WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE
THEIR SIGNATURE ON THE LETTER.
[ ROLL CALLED ]
>> EIGHT SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S THAT.
WE WILL SIGN IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
ROLL CALL. WE HAVE NOW REACHED
THE
END OF TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE NOVEMBER 4 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING IS CANCELED.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET
ON NOVEMBER 12, 2025 AT 2:00
P.M.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, IT
IS
2:51. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.