>> [ MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME. WELCOME. KEEP
APPLAUDING. KEEP APPLAUDING.
GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. THIS IS
DISTRICT TWO. I LOVE MY
COMMUNITY. WELCOME, ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. THIS IS
AN EXCITING EVENING FOR US TO
BE HERE. OF COURSE THIS IS OUR
COMMUNITY . GOOD EVENING.
WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC FORM FOR
THE DISTRICT TWO COUNCIL
VACANCY. SEATTLE CITYCLUB,
WHICH IS A TRAILBLAZING CIVIC
NONPROFIT DEDICATING FOSTERING
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN
CHOSEN TO HOST THIS FORM FOR
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
POSITION NUMBER TWO VACANCY. I
WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SEATTLE CITYCLUB. BEFORE
I DO THAT, I WANT TO SAY A BIG
SHOUT OUT AND THANKS TO JEFF
CARTER , PROGRAM MANAGER FOR
SEATTLE CITYCLUB.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE WORK DILIGENTLY AND
URGENTLY AND EXPEDIENTLY .
YEAH. ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF TO
MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENED FOR YOU
SO THAT WE COULD ENSURE THAT
YOU WERE AWARE OF WHO THE
CANDIDATES WERE DURING THIS
PUBLIC FORUM . A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SEATTLE CITYCLUB. THEY
HAVE AN OVER 40-YEAR LEGACY OF
CRATING IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS TO
ENGAGE VOTERS AND HOLD ELECTED
OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE . OF
COURSE THEY ARE HONORED TO BE
ABLE TO BE PART OF THIS
CRITICAL DIALOGUE AS A LEADER
IN CIVIC INITIATIVES. THE
ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO
PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR OPEN
DISCUSSIONS THAT EMPOWER
RESIDENTS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE
VIBRANCY OF OUR CITY. RAINIER
AVENUE RADIO . YOUR COMMUNITY
RADIO STATION -- ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THE HOST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CITYCLUB. I AM TONY B. I'M
YOUR HOST ON RAINIER AVENUE
RADIO. I'M ALSO THE MANAGER. I
WILL BE THE MODERATOR FOR THIS
PUBLIC FORUM. WE ARE GOING TO
GET STARTED HERE IN A SECOND.
I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A
COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT I
THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO LISTEN TO
RAINIER AVENUE RADIO. THIS
FRIDAY WILL BE BROADCASTING THE
BASKETBALL GAME BETWEEN RAINIER
BEACH AND WEST SEATTLE. YOU CAN
TUNE IN FOR THAT. I ALSO INVITE
YOU TO ATTEND THE CALL TO
CONSCIENCE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
MUSEUM. THIS BUILDING YOU ARE
IN RIGHT NOW FOR THE ENTIRE
MONTH OF FEBRUARY WILL BECOME A
BLACK HISTORY MONTH MUSEUM .
ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL
INSTALLATIONS. IT WILL BE A
GUIDED TOUR. YOU WILL FIND
INFORMATION . THIS IS A HISTORY
THAT COMES FROM THE
ORGANIZATIONS , THE MOVEMENTS,
THE GROUPS, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO
MADE THE HISTORY . SO YOU'RE
GOING TO GET INFORMATION ON THE
SEATTLE CHAPTER OF THE BLACK AT
THEIR PARTY. YOU WILL GET
INFORMATION ON THE SEATTLE
BLACK FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.
YOU WILL GET INFORMATION ON THE
HISTORY OF AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS
TO SEATTLE . ONE OF THE
EXHIBITS I'M REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO IS A MEMORIAL IN
HONOR OF QUINCY JONES .
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF
COOL STUFF HERE. I WILL GIVE
YOU A LITTLE HINT. THE PIANO --
MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD THE STORY
ABOUT QUINCY AND HOW HE GOT
INTRODUCED TO MUSIC. WELL, HE
BROKE INTO A FORUM . ANYWAY, HE
BROKE INTO SOMETHING. AN ARMORY
IN BREMERTON. HE ATE LEMON
MERINGUE PIES AS KIDS AND DID
ALL THIS STUFF. HE WENT IN THIS
ONE ROOM AND SAW A PIANO. AND
THEN HE LEFT. SOMETHING TOLD
HIM TO CAME COME BACK. HE CAME
BACK AND HE TOLD THE STORY TO
STEPHEN COLBERT. HE HIT ONE OF
THE KEYS ON THAT PIANO AND HE
KNEW AT THAT MOMENT THAT THAT
IS WHAT HE WANTED TO DO FOR THE
REST OF HIS LIFE. NOW, WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE THAT VERY SAME
PIANO HERE. YES. FOR OUR CALL
TO CONSCIOUS EVENT. DEFINITELY
WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THAT
INFORMATION WITH YOU. THIS
PUBLIC FORM WILL BE BROADCAST
LIVE ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL AND
OF COURSE LIVE STREAMED ON
THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ALSO
BROADCAST ACROSS THE RAINIER
AVENUE RADIO BROADCAST MEDIA
NETWORKS . YOU CAN EXPECT AN
INSIGHTFUL AND TRANSPARENT
DISCUSSION WITH SEATTLE
CITYCLUB AND RAINIER AVENUE
RADIO CONTINUE OUR MISSION OF
FOSTERING AND INFORMING ACTIVE
CIVIC PARTICIPATION. WHY IS
THERE A VACANCY ON THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL? WELL,
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES
RESIGNED HER SEAT EFFECTIVE
JANUARY 6th, LEAVING A VACANCY
ON THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
BEGINNING ON JANUARY 7th. CITY
CHARTER GIVES THE COUNCIL 20
CALENDAR DAYS TO FILL A VACANT
COUNCIL POSITION. THIS 20-DAY
PERIOD BEGAN ON JANUARY 7th,
2025 . THE FIRST DAY FOLLOWING
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'
OFFICIAL RESIGNATION ENDS ON
JANUARY 27th, 2025 FROM THE
DATE OF THE APPOINTMENT , THE
NEWLY APPOINTED COUNCILMEMBER
WILL SERVE UNTIL THE 2025
GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS ARE
CERTIFIED BY KING COUNTY
ELECTIONS AND THE NEWLY ELECTED
COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING
DISTRICT 2 TAKES THE OATH . SO
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO MEET
THOPENING
STATEMENTS . JUST AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OUR
CANDIDATES. HONG CHHUOR .
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ADONIS DUCKSWORTH .
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THADDAEUS GREGORY .
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> EDWARD LIN .
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> CHUKUNDI SALISBURY .
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND MARK SOLOMON .
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> CANDIDATES, THESE ARE THE
RULES . EACH OF YOU WILL GET 60
SECONDS FOR AN OPENING
STATEMENT . YOU GET 90 SECONDS
TO RESPOND TO EACH QUESTION .
YOU WILL GET 60 SECONDS FOR
CLOSING STATEMENTS . THERE WILL
ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR
AUDIENCE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS
WELL. YOU CAN DO THIS IN A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS. I
THINK IT IS JEFF THAT HAS THE
CARDS THAT YOU CAN FILL OUT .
AND WE CAN ASK THE QUESTION FOR
YOU. OR, TAKE THE MICROPHONE
AND ASK THE QUESTION YOURSELF .
NOW, IF YOU ASK A QUESTION ON
THE MICROPHONE , MAKE SURE IT
IS A QUESTION AND NOT A
STATEMENT . AND KEEP IT BRIEF
SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THIS
MOVING. IF YOU ARE THINKING
ABOUT A QUESTION -- AND I LIKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I LOVE
MY DISTRICT TWO FOLKS. I LOVE
Y'ALL. THIS IS ABOUT YOU. THIS
IS WHAT A PUBLIC FORUM IS FOR.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT
BECAUSE THERE MAY BE THINGS
THAT COME UP OVER THE COURSE OF
THIS DISCUSSION WHERE YOU GO,
WAIT A MINUTE. I HAVE A
QUESTION. YES. WE WANT THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BE ABLE
TO ASK THAT QUESTION. SO THAT
IS GOING TO HAPPEN TOO.
REGARDING ANY FORM OF REBUTTAL,
THERE ISN'T ANY OPPORTUNITY TO
REBUTTAL OR REBUT. YOU GET 90
SECONDS IF THERE IS SOMETHING
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO
COMMENT ON SOMETHING SOMEONE
SAID OR YOU WANT TO FURTHER
ELABORATE . WHEN YOU GET INTO
YOUR 90 SECONDS, YOU CAN TAKE
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT .
AND YOU CAN USE 30 SECONDS OF
THAT. YOU WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS
LEFT. THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR YOU. HOWEVER, I WILL SAY
THAT I RETAIN THE RIGHT TO ASK
EACH OF YOU A QUESTION IF
SOMETHING COMES UP AND I FEEL
LIKE WE NEED MORE INFORMATION
ON IT OR I JUST WANT TO FURTHER
EXPLANATION. SO THAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN TOO. HAVING SAID
THAT, LET'S BEGIN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH OPENING STATEMENTS.
OUR FIRST OPENING STATEMENT --
AGAIN, YOU WILL GET 60 SECONDS
FOR THIS -- HONG CHHUOR .
>> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
HONG CHHUOR. I USE HE/HIM
PRONOUNCE. I'M HONORED TO BE
HERE TONIGHT AND I'M GRATEFUL
YOU MADE IT A PRIORITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS
WITH ME. TONIGHT I'M GOING TO
BE TALKING A LOT ABOUT MY MOM.
SHE IS GIVING ME HER CONSENT. A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO I AM. I AM
AN IMMIGRANT. I'M A CIVIL WAR
REFUGEE FROM CAMBODIA. SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, A BROTHER, A
SON, AND A HUSBAND. WHY AM I
HERE? I AM HERE WITH YOU THIS
EVENING BECAUSE I WANT TO
IMPROVE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IN OUR
CITY AND OUR REGION. WHAT DOES
THAT LOOK LIKE ? FOR ME IT IS
ABOUT HAVING GOVERNMENT THAT IS
RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO
THE PEOPLE. GROWING THE NUMBER
OF THRIVING WAGE JOBS AND
SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS IN OUR
ECONOMY. IT'S ABOUT HOUSING
AND HAVING HOUSING WE CAN
AFFORD. AND IT IS ABOUT
ENTERING NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FEEL
SAFE AND ARE WELL CARED FOR.
AND IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR
MOST VULNERABLE. AS A REFUGEE
-- DISPLACEMENT , MY CHINESE
CAMBODIAN HERITAGE AND THE
CULTURE THAT I COME FROM IS THE
BASIS FOR MY FOCUS ON
COLLECTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR
WELL-BEING.
>> AND, TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
AND , ADONIS DUCKSWORTH.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. MY
NAME IS ADONIS DUCKSWORTH. I
GREW UP ON BEACON HILL AND LIVE
IN RAINIER BEACH WITH MY WIFE
AND TWO DAUGHTERS. KIDS,
CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY MEAN
EVERYTHING TO ME. THOSE ARE THE
THINGS I VALUE AND THOSE ARE
THE THINGS I WILL BE FIGHTING
FOR. IF YOU LOOK BACK OVER MY
CAREER WITH THE CITY AND
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT ,
POLICY MANAGEMENT, YOU WILL SEE
THAT I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF
GETTING THINGS DONE IN THE
CITY. GETTING PROJECTS BUILT,
BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE
CONVERSATION, AND GETTING
POLICY AND LEGISLATION PASSED.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM EVERYONE
TONIGHT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ALL THE OTHER THINGS. I BET YOU
WE CAN ALL DO THAT WORK. LET ME
TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING TO DO
SPECIFICALLY FOR DISTRICT TWO
IF I GET THIS APPOINTMENT OVER
THE NEXT 10 MONTHS. NUMBER ONE,
WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE
STATE OF EMERGENCY AT 12th AND
JACKSON. NUMBER TWO, WE ARE
GOING TO DO SPD OUTREACH AND
RECRUITING FAIRS. WE ARE GOING
TO MAKE RAINIER AVENUE SAFER.
WE'RE GOING TO GET A
RESOLUTION PASSED THAT OUTLINES
A FRAMEWORK FOR HOW THE CITY
SHOULD BE ENGAGING WITH US
FINALLY, WE'RE GOING TO CUT
THROUGH THE RED TAPE AND BREAK
GROUND ON THE RAINIER BEACH
STATE PARK. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. LOOK FORWARD TO
THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. AND THADDAEUS
GREGORY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE. MY NAME IS THADDAEUS
GREGORY. JUST OVER THE HILL .
CURRENTLY LIVE SEATTLE.
DISTRICT 2. THIS IS MY HOME.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I LOVE
THE CITY. IT HAS BEEN AN
ABSOLUTE JOY TO HELP BUILD THE
CITY AS I WORK WITH LOCAL
HOMEBUILDERS. CRITICAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES.
ALSO TAUGHT ME HOW CRITICAL OUR
COMPETENCE OF PLAN IN THIS
CONFERENCE A PLANNING PROCESS
IS. I WANT TO USE THIS TRAINING
AS YOUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER TO
CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN
THE LAND USE CODE. OVER THE
PAST TWO MONTHS, I HAVE HIT THE
STREETS EVERY DAY TO HEAR FROM
CHNGES WE ALL FACE . I
BELIEVE TOGETHER WE CAN FACE
THESE CHALLENGES.
>> AND TIME IS UP.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT. EDWARD LIN .
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING,
EVERYONE. MY NAME IS EDDIE LIN.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE. LEARN
ABOUT ME AND EVERYONE ELSE UP
HERE AND WHY WE WANT TO
REPRESENT YOU IN CITY HALL.
I'VE WORKED AT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THE PAST
SEVEN YEARS AND I KNOW HOW CITY
GOVERNMENT WORKS , HOW TO
NAVIGATE BUREAUCRACY, AND HOW
TO FIGHT FOR YOUR NEEDS AND
PRIORITIES. I WASN'T BORN
HERE, BUT I CHOSE TO LIVE ON
BEACON HILL BACK IN 2007
BECAUSE AS A MIXED-RACE
CHINESE-AMERICAN I WANTED MY
KIDS TO GROW UP IN A DIVERSE
COMMUNITY WITH STRONG ASIAN
AMERICAN REPRESENTATION. I AM
MARRIED TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHER . OUR SONS WENT TO
PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE AND HAVE
BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE
COMMUNITIES. I'M MOTIVATED TO
ADDRESS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS AND I'M THE ONLY
CANDIDATE WITH YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. I LOVE TALKING TO AND
GETTING TO KNOW MY NEIGHBORS .
I WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN OPEN MIND
AND AN OPEN DOOR AND I WILL BE
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY REGULARLY
LISTENING TO YOU MAKING SURE
YOUR NEEDS AND YOUR VOICES ARE
UPLIFTED AT CITY HALL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND CHUKUNDI SALISBURY.
>> GOOD EVENING. ONCE AGAIN, MY
NAME IS CHUKUNDI SALISBURY. FOR
THE RECORD, YOU CAN FIND
EVERYTHING ABOUT ME AND WHAT
I'M ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT
TONIGHT AT CHUKUNDI .COM. I'M
A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THIS
COMMUNITY. I AM A 27-YEAR
VETERAN OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND PARKS AND RECREATION. THERE
I HAVE DONE MANY PROJECTS,
INCLUDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH
AND ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS. MANY
OF YOU HAVE SEEN ME AT THE
PUBLIC MEETINGS. I HAVE BEEN
LISTENING AND BRING THAT
FEEDBACK BACK ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMUNITY AROUND SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION. WHILE I STARTED
MANY INITIATIVES HERE AT
SEATTLE PARKS, I HAVE DONE EVEN
MORE IN THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE A
LONG TRACK RECORD OF
VOLUNTEERISM. I VOLUNTEERED
ACROSS THE CID . I HAVE DONE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH. I HAVE DONE
THE WORK . I GUESS WHAT I WOULD
END WITH IS I HAVE COMMENTS ON
THE COMP PLAN RIGHT NOW THAT
YOU CAN GO SEE ONLINE. IF YOU
ARE TRULY INTERESTED, GO LOOK.
>> TIME IS UP.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND MARK SOLOMON.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MANY
OF YOU KNOW ME. I HAVE BEEN IN
THIS COMMUNITY SERVING THIS
COMMUNITY FOR 34 YEARS AS A
SPECIALIST. I HAVE BEEN IN MANY
OF YOUR HOMES. I HAVE BEEN INTO
MANY OF YOUR BUSINESSES TALKING
TO FOLKS ABOUT SECURITY,
SAFETY, SAFETY FOR THEIR STAFF.
I KNOW THIS DISTRICT ON A
GRANULAR LEVEL . AND THAT IS
ONE OF THE THINGS I DO BRING TO
THIS POSITION AND WHAT I'M
FOCUSED ON IS NOT NECESSARILY
WHAT I HAVE DONE BUT WHAT I
INTEND TO DO IF I'M FORTUNATE
ENOUGH TO EARN THE VOTE TO
SERVE THIS DISTRICT. ONE OF
WHICH IS SUPPORT FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A
STOREFRONT REPAIR PROGRAM . HOW
ABOUT IF WE HAVE A STOREFRONT
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SO THAT
PEOPLE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
INCENTIVES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS
BEFORE THEY SUFFER A CRIME? I
AM ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN
STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING
PROCESS .
>> AND TIME IS UP. THESE ARE
YOUR CANDIDATES. WELCOME,
EVERYONE. MY NAME IS TONY. I'M
YOUR MODERATOR. WELCOME TO THE
COLUMBIA CITY THEATER.
109-YEAR-OLD BUILDING THAT IS
NOW HOSTING THIS EVENT IN
PARTICULAR. ONE OF THESE
CANDIDATES WILL BE YOUR NEXT
SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMEMBER .
ONE OF THE FOLKS ON THIS STAGE
-- THE SAME STAGE THAT HAS BEEN
GRACED BY THE LIKES OF JIMI
HENDRIX , QUINCY JONES,
NIRVANA, THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE STAGE IN
OUR COMMUNITY AND NOW WE CAN
SAY THESE SIX CANDIDATES, ONE
OF WHOM WILL BE YOUR NEXT
SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMEMBER ,
WILL ALSO HAVE BEEN ON THIS
STAGE. THIS HAS BEEN IN
ALPHABETICAL ORDER. I'M NOT
GOING TO MAKE YOU GO FIRST
EVERY TIME. I WILL BE SHIFTING
UP AND WE WILL GO BACK AND
FORTH. HONG, I WILL BE STARTING
WITH YOU FIRST. THIS FIRST
QUESTION . THIS IS A QUESTION.
AND I WILL QUESTION
FOR ANY CANDIDATE THAT NEEDS
THE QUESTION TO BE REPEATED.
THESE ARE NOT JUST MY
QUESTIONS. THESE QUESTIONS HAVE
COME FROM OUR COMMUNITY. I
PROBABLY WILL ASK A COUPLE
QUESTIONS BECAUSE I GOT A
MICROPHONE. AND I HAVE
CANDIDATES HERE. SO THAT IS
PRETTY COOL. BUT THESE
CANDIDATES COME FROM OUR
COMMUNITY. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A
QUESTION, YOU CAN GO TO JEFF
AND FILL OUT THE CARD OR WHEN
WE HAVE THE OPEN FORUM
MICROPHONE SESSION, YOU CAN ASK
YOUR QUESTION ON THAT
PARTICULAR MICROPHONE. HERE WE
GO. HONG. THE PEOPLE OF
DISTRICT 2 ELECTED TAMMY
MORALES . ON WHAT ISSUES,
POSITIONS DO YOU AGREE AND
DISAGREE WITH FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT , FIRST AND
FOREMOST, I WANT FOLKS IN THE
ROOM TO KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN
WORKING TOWARD PROGRESSIVE
CAUSES AND VALUES FOR THE LAST
13 YEARS WITH VARIOUS NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS RANGING FROM
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS,
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH , YOUTH
AND FAMILY SERVICES, YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ARTS. THAT
BEING SAID, I THINK OF MYSELF
AS A PRAGMATIC PERSON. SO I
ALWAYS THINK ABOUT, WHAT IS IT
WE CAN GET DONE? WHAT IS IT
THAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE MOST
IMPACT NOW? YOU MIGHT BE
WONDERING, WHAT SPECIFIC
THINGS? I DON'T KNOW THAT I
HAVE A SPECIFIC LIST I'M GOING
TO GO DOWN AND SAY I DISAGREE
WITH THIS AND I AGREE WITH
THAT. WHAT I SAID AT THE VERY
BEGINNING WAS, I JUST WANT US
ALL TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE SEATTLE
AND FOR THEM TO SAY, WHERE YOU
FROM? SEATTLE. I WANT THEM TO
SAY, THAT PLACE IS AMAZING.
THAT PLACE IS AMAZING. IT HAS
REALLY GREAT AMENITIES. THE
PEOPLE ARE FANTASTIC. THERE'S
JOBS. IT IS AN INTERESTING
PLACE. AND I WANT US TO FEEL
PRIDE WHEN WE GO OUT THERE. AND
WHAT VERY SPECIFIC POLICIES? I
REALIZE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING
I'M NOT GOING TO DO ON MY OWN.
I COME FROM A COLLECTIVE
CULTURE. THINGS ARE NOT BLACK
AND WHITE. THEY ARE NOT CUT AND
DRY. THE WAY FORWARD IS TO NOT
STICK MY FLAG DOWN AND SAY,
THIS IS THE ISSUE I'M GOING TO
MAKE. I AM GOING TO APPROACH
THE COUNCIL WORK BEING A
COLLABORATIVE TEAM PLAYER AND
REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE.
>> TIMES UP. OKAY. I'M GOING
TO ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN .
I'M ALSO GOING TO SUGGEST
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS
FOR A LONG TIME -- GET UP ON
THAT MICROPHONE SO YOUR VOICE
CAN BE HEARD WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING INTO THE MICROPHONE.
YOU ANSWERED THE QUESTION
HOWEVER YOU WANT TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION. I'M GOING TO ASK THE
QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED BY THE
FOLKS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'M
GOING TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN THE
LINE. ADONIS, THE SAME QUESTION
WILL BE FOR YOU. THE PEOPLE OF
DISTRICT TWO ELECTED TAMMY
MORALES . DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
ON WHAT ISSUES, POSITIONS DO
YOU AGREE AND DISAGREE WITH
FORMER COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. I
MEAN , A COUPLE YEARS AGO -- I
THINK TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO --
WE HAVE SOME NEW NEIGHBORS MOVE
INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD . THERE
HAD BEEN A SERIES OF SHOOTINGS
PRIOR TO THEM MOVING IN. WHEN
THEY MOVED IN, THE SHOOTINGS
JUST CONTINUED. AND OUR
NEIGHBORS HAD BULLET HOLES IN
THEIR HOUSE . SO THEY ORGANIZED
A NEIGHBORHOOD INTERVENTION .
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? I
REMEMBER ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS ON
THE CALL -- ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS
ON THE CALL. WE HAD A SERIES OF
THEM. THEY HAD ASKED THE
QUESTION, WHERE IS OUR
COUNCILMEMBER GIMMICK THAT IS
WHAT THEY ASKED. WHERE IS OUR
COUNCILMEMBER? I CANNOT ANSWER
THAT QUESTION. OKAY. BUT AT THE
SAME TIME, I WAS GETTING EMAILS
FROM WASHINGTON BOULEVARD . SO
IT WAS JUST KIND OF INTERESTING
THAT THAT IS HOW OUR
COUNCILMEMBER SHOWED UP. SO
GOING FORWARD , I HAVE A STRONG
EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED BY CRIME . IT IS A BIG
THING. IT IS A HARD THING TO
HAVE YOUR HOUSE BROKEN INTO
TWICE IN FOUR MONTHS FOR THE
SECOND TIME OUR HOUSE GOT
BROKEN INTO, THEY WASHED MY
FAMILY AS THEY WERE GETTING
READY TO GET IN THE CAR AND GO
TO THE DANCE STUDIO. PUBLIC
SAFETY . IT'S ONE THING I
DEFINITELY WANT TO FOCUS ON AND
SHOWING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY.
100%.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE ME
TO REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> I THINK I'M GOOD. THANK
YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL NUMBER MORALES FOR HER
HARD WORK . REPRESENTATION OF
DISTRICT 2. BEING ON CITY
COUNCIL IS A HARD JOB.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES DID WAS
SHE AIMED TO DO. TO UPLIFT
PEOPLE FROM BROAD SPECTRUMS OF
THE COMMUNITY. SHE HELPED TO
UPLIFT PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE
THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES. ON CITY
COUNCIL WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY
OF LEADERS. PEOPLE WITH
DIFFERING OPINIONS. AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES CAME FROM
A POSITION WHERE SHE LOOKED OUT
FOR PROGRESSIVE CAUSES . AS WE
ENVISION OUR COMMUNITY, I WANT
TO HELP PURSUE THE CAUSES THAT
UNITE US . HELP CREATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING . HELP MAKE
OUR CITY SAFER BY ENGAGING IN
BRINGING MORE POLICING TO OUR
COMMUNITY. HELP OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES BY CREATING A SAFER
NEIGHBORHOOD. BY LOOKING VERY
CLOSELY AT WHAT ASSISTANCE WE
CAN GIVE FOR THEM TO BRING
WORKERS INTO THEIR SHOPS . AND
TO BRING MORE PEOPLE ONTO THE
STREETS TO GO TO THESE
BUSINESSES. ULTIMATELY I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES DID, BUT
I LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING THE
BROAD SPECTRUM OF PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> EDWARD, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO
REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> I'M GOOD. IF YOU OF THE
THINGS I WOULD SUPPORT -- I'M
A BIG SUPPORTER OF PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE. THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL
TAX. I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF .
THAT REALLY HAS SAVED OUR
CITY'S BUDGET THE PAST FEW
YEARS . HUNDREDS OF MILLION
WENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
TO THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE , WHICH I BELIEVE
COUNCIL NUMBER MORALES WAS ALSO
A STRONG SUPPORTER OF . LAST
YEAR THE PUBLIC PAYROLL EXPENSE
TAX WAS INCREASED FOR STUDENT
MENTAL HEALTH BY 20 MILLION. SO
I SUPPORTED THAT. I THINK --
AND SHE ALSO HAD LEGISLATION
ABOUT FOR ZONING FOR
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WANT TO DO MIXED-USE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLUS SOME
COMMUNITY SPACE. AND I WOULD BE
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL. I
THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE BIG
AREA WHERE I DON'T BELIEVE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES REALLY
CHAMPIONED PUBLIC SAFETY FOR D2
WEATHER FROM 12th AND JACKSON
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GUN
VIOLENCE AND OTHER THINGS
IMPACTING RAINIER BEACH AND
RAINIER VIEW. SO, YEAH. PUBLIC
SAFETY. AND I THINK IT IS
BASICALLY A MISCONCEPTION THAT
D2 RESIDENTS DON'T CARE ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY OR DON'T WANT TO
LEASE. WE WANT CULTURALLY
COMPETENT POLICE. WE WANT
POLICE OFFICERS THAT LOOK LIKE
US, THAT NO OUR CHILDREN, THAT
SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE IS, THAT NO
OUR CULTURES. BUT WE DO NEED
POLICE WHEN YOUR HOUSE IS
BROKEN INTO. WHEN THERE IS GUN
VIOLENCE.
>> AND TIME IS UP.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT
THE QUESTION?
>> I THINK HE WILL REPEAT IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THE QUESTION. THIS IS FROM
OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS THE
QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED. THE
PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 2 ELECTED --
SO WE VOTED FOR DEMOCRATICALLY
ELECTED TAMMY MORALES. THINGS
ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE. ON WHAT
ISSUES , POSITIONS DO YOU AGREE
AND DISAGREE WITH FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU FOR REPEATING THE
QUESTION, TONY. FIRST OF ALL, I
WORKED CLOSELY WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND YOU
CAN SEE A PICTURE OF ME AND HER
ON MY WEBSITE AT CHUKUNDI .COM
WHERE I LET A COUPLE OF
DISCUSSIONS LAST YEAR . I WAS
ACTUALLY ENGAGED AROUND THE
PLAN. AROUND HOUSING ISSUES. I
WAS THERE. THESE ARE NOT JUST
THINGS I'M CONSIDERING. I HAVE
BEEN DOING THE WORK. AND I WAS
THERE HAND IN HAND WITH HER AS
WE SOUGHT TO ENGAGE THIS
COMMUNITY AROUND THE COMING,
PLAN AND THE COMPLICATIONS OF
IT . I LED TWO EVENTS WITH HER.
I MOST CERTAINLY WAS SUPPORTIVE
OF HER WORK BECAUSE THAT HAS
HELPED US HELP LEGACY
HOMEOWNERS AND THIS WORK AROUND
THE COUNTRY. ON THE FLIPSIDE, I
WOULD SAY THAT WHILE I MOST
CERTAINLY WAS A SUPPORTER ,
THERE WAS A LOT OF TIMES WHERE
TAMMY WAS NOT THERE. SO WE MOST
CERTAINLY HAVE HEARD ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE . I HAVE BEEN AT ALL
THE RALLIES. I WAS THERE AT THE
ELIJAH RALLY AT SAFEWAY. I WAS
DOWN THERE WHEN THE WORKERS
WERE SHOT AT . BUT CONVERSELY I
WAS AT THE LAKE WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD LEADING THE MOST
CONTENTIOUS MEETING I WOULD SAY
OF 2024. AND TAMMY SHOULD HAVE
BEEN THERE. WHETHER YOU ARE ON
THE VIOLENT SIDE, THE PUBLIC
SAFETY SIDE, OR THE
TRANSPORTATION SIDE, THERE WAS
A LOT OF TIMES WHERE I EXPECTED
COUNCIL NUMBER MORALES TO BE
THERE AND SHE WAS NOT THERE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MARK? WOULD YOU LIKE THE
QUESTION REPEATED?
>> NO. I'M GOOD. MOST OF YOU
ALREADY KNOW THAT TAMMY AND I
HAVE HISTORY BECAUSE IN 2019 WE
COMPETED FOR THIS SEAT. AND
THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES
WHERE WE DIFFERED. AND THOUGH
SHE PREVAILED IN THAT ELECTION,
WE STILL WORKED TOGETHER. I
STILL WORKED WITH HER ON THIS.
WE DID MEET WITH FOLKS AT 12th
AND JACKSON TO ADDRESS. WHAT
CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE? AND
IT WASN'T JUST A CITYFOLK. WE
HAD FOLKS THERE . WE WORK
TOGETHER ON ISSUES AROUND
VIOLENCE IN THE MOUNT BAKER
STATION . I HAD A GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WORKING WITH HER
AND HER OFFICE TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THE CONCERNS BROUGHT FORWARD
BY THE COMMUNITY. AS HAS BEEN
SAID, WE DIFFERED ON PUBLIC
SAFETY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
APPROACHES. BUT THAT DIDN'T
MEAN WE COULDN'T WORK TOGETHER
FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE
COMMUNITY.
>> YOU GOOD? ALL RIGHT. ALL
RIGHT. THIS NEXT QUESTION I'M
GOING TO START OFF WITH YOU,
ADONIS . IT IS AN ISSUE IN OUR
COMMUNITY. THERE IS REALLY A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS
THAT WERE ASKED, AND I'M GOING
TO ASK BOTH OF THEM. AND I KNOW
THAT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR
IS AN ANSWER ON WHATEVER YOUR
POSITION IS ON THESE TWO
QUESTIONS THAT ARE VERY
DIFFERENT IN WHAT THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR AN OPEN FOR IT ALL
RIGHT? OKAY. SO I WILL START
WITH THIS. THE PEDESTRIAN IS
ASIAN -- WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT SAFETY. THE PEDESTRIAN IS
ASIAN OF LAKE WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD HAS BEEN A
LONG-RUNNING DEBATE . GIVEN
THAT SOUTH SEATTLE HAS LESS
ACCESS TO PARK SPACE THAN THE
NORTH END , DO YOU THINK THE
STREET SHOULD BE CLOSED TO CARS
FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY? I'M
GOING TO READ ANOTHER QUESTION.
ALL RIGHT? LET'S SEE. OKAY.
MAKING LAKE WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO
PEDESTRIANS AND BIKES IS NOT
SOMETHING MANY IN D2 DESIRE.
BIKE LANES WERE INSTALLED IN D2
WITHOUT WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY
INPUT OR WARNING. WILL YOU
COMMIT TO KEEPING LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD OPEN TO
VEHICLES ? IF THAT IS CLEAR , I
CAN MAKE IT MORE CONCISE.
>> I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
ASKING. YEAH. YES. LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD SHOULD BE
ACCESSIBLE TO CARS. I WOULD
JUST POINT OUT YOU GO BACK TO
2020 DURING COVID AND THIS
STATE. THE SOCIAL DISTANCING. A
LOT OF CHATTER ON LINE. I WAS
THE ONE WHO CONNECTED WITH THE
PEOPLE FIRST WITH THE DIRECTOR
THEN DOWN AT THE PITS. EIGHT
WOMEN CAME AND MET WITH
ZIMBABWE AND I WAS THE FIRST
TIME THERE WAS A OPEN THE ROAD
BACK UP. I WAS THE ONE WHO DID
THAT WHEN I WAS WORKING AT
SDOT. ALL I WILL SAY ABOUT
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD IS THIS. I
DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS BEEN
DOWN TO THE WATERFRONT AND SEEN
THE WATERFRONT. I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE
WATERFRONT USED TO BE LIKE. IF
YOU GO DOWN TO THE WATERFRONT
NOW, IT IS AMAZING. IT IS
AMAZING WHAT CITY GOVERNMENT,
NONPROFIT, THE COMMUNITY CAN
GET TOGETHER AND DO. IT IS
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. SO WHY
CAN'T WE GET TOGETHER AND DO
THAT ON LAKE WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD? THEY WANT TO TELL ME
IT IS ABOUT MONEY AND ALL THE
DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WE HAVE
SEEN WHAT THE CITY CAN DO. SO
WE CAN COME TOGETHER. YOU CAN
HAVE CARS. YOU CAN HAVE BIKES.
YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE WALKING.
YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE
WATER AND YOU CAN KEEP THE
TREES DOWN THERE. YOU CAN DO
THAT IF YOU HAVE THE WILL TO DO
IT. OVER THE NEXT 10 MONTHS, I
WOULD LIKE TO LAY THE
FOUNDATION TO BUILD THAT AND DO
THAT ON LAKE WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE ME
TO REPEAT THAT? DO YOU GET THE
GIST OF WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT? I CAN CERTAINLY REPEAT
IT FOR YOU.
>> NO. I WOULD AGREE WITH
ADONIS. WE DO NEED TO HAVE IT
OPEN FOR VEHICLES AND FOR ALL
MODES. PEDESTRIANS, BIKES. ONE
THING THAT I HEARD IN THE
COMMUNITY -- I'M NOT A REGULAR
USER. I NEED TO GET DOWN TO
LAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD MORE
OFTEN. ONE THING I'M AWARE OF
IS WE HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY. I
HAVE A FATHER-IN-LAW. HE DOES
COME TO VISIT FROM TIME TO
TIME. PARALYZED ON HALF OF HIS
BODY. MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE FOR
OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. NOT
EVERYBODY CAN WALK OR BIKE. SO
SOME PEOPLE NEED TO TRAVEL BY
CAR. SOME PEOPLE USE THAT TO
GET THEIR KIDS THAT NEEDS TO BE
OPEN TO ALL MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION.
>> CHUKUNDI ?
>> THAT IS A PRETTY STRONG
QUESTION. I THINK I GOT THE
GIST OF THAT ONE THIS TIME. I
CAN GO AHEAD AND START THE
CLOCK . AGAIN, TALK ABOUT THIS
ON MY WEBSITE, CHUKUNDI .COM.
CHECK ME OUT. AND IF YOU DON'T
HEAR EVERYTHING I'M TALKING
ABOUT TONIGHT. WHAT I WOULD SAY
AND I HAVE HEARD SO FAR AND I
TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY, I WAS AT
ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS
PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE YEAR.
WHILE I AM COMMITTED TO SEEING
CARS ON LAKE WASHINGTON, THAT
IS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.
I WAS THERE TO SIT WITH
COMMUNITY. THAT IS THE KIND OF
COUNCILMEMBER WE NEED. NOW I
HAVE TO SHOW BECAUSE I'M A
COUNCILMEMBER. I SHOW UP
REGARDLESS. I WAS THERE. AND
THEN I HAVE OVER 25 YEARS -- 20
YEARS OF WORKING ON LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD. I BUILT
THE TRAIL. THE RUNNING TRAIL.
GOES FROM MOUNT BAKER TO THE
WRONG HOUSE TO THE MOUNT BAKER
BEACH. I BUILT THE TRAILS . THE
LAST THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT
LAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD
CHANNELING THE ELDERS OF THIS
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE MANY
TRANSPLANTS AND FOLKS . MANY
YEARS AGO YOU COULD DRIVE
AROUND STEWART PARK . AND WHAT
OLDER PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY
WOULD SAY IS, WE ALREADY DID
THAT . OKAY? SO THIS PROPOSAL
WAS BROUGHT. AND THE COMPROMISE
THAT WAS MADE MANY YEARS AGO
BEFORE MANY FOLKS MOVED HERE IS
THAT WE WOULD MAKE STEWART PARK
PEDESTRIAN ONLY . AND THAT IS
WHY THE LOOP BUT IF YOU GO BACK
THERE, THE LOOP USED TO BE YOU
COULD DRIVE. AND SO I WOULD
CONTEND THAT IT IS PEDESTRIAN
ONLY. LAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD
IS THE COMPROMISE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MARK.
>> SO I HAD HEARD ABOUT IT. I
WASN'T THERE BUT I HEARD ABOUT
IT. WHEN I HEARD WHAT THE
DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT MAKING
PEDESTRIAN ONLY AND BIKES ONLY,
I SAID, WHO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
IS SAYING THAT? AND THE WORD I
GOT BACK WAS, NO ONE. OKAY? SO
IF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE DO
NOT WANT A PEDESTRIAN ONLY, I
THINK THOSE ARE THE VOICES WE
NEED TO HEAR MORE. RIGHT? SO
ALMOST -- ALL MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING
VEHICLES. IT NEEDS TO STAY
OPEN.
>> OKAY.
>> HONG.
>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS OPEN TO
EVERYONE. OUR REGION IS
GROWING. OUR DISTRICT IS
GROWING. AND WE CANNOT AFFORD
TO STAKE OUT GROUND AND SAY,
THIS IS OURS. THIS IS FOR THIS
GROUP OF PEOPLE AND NOT FOR
THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW,
WE NEED TO KEEP -- THE THING
YOU WILL HEAR HOPEFULLY TONIGHT
IS THAT I AM FOR OPTIONS. I AM
FOR CHOICES . AND THE MORE THAT
WE KIND OF RESTRICT OURSELVES
FROM MAKING CHOICES THAT MAKES
PEOPLE FRUSTRATED. IT MAKES
PEOPLE FEEL UNHEARD. NOT
INCLUDED. A COMPANY LIKE AMAZON
CAN DECIDE ONE DAY THEY ARE
GOING TO REQUIRE ALL OF THEIR
WORKERS TO GO TO WORK. COULD WE
HAVE PLANNED FOR THAT? THEY DO
WHAT THEY DO. FOR US TO KIND OF
CUT OFF OPTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE AND
NEED TO JUST LIVE THEIR DAILY
LIVES, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
TO ME.
>> THANK YOU. I AM GOING TO
THROW A WILDCARD THING IN HERE.
>> I'M SO SORRY.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT
HAS BEEN SAID. I WANT TO KEEP
LAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD OPEN.
AS SOMEONE'S DAD WHO USED TO
BIKE ALONG THE ROAD, I ALSO
KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT IS
UNSAFE . AS SOMEONE WHO DRIVES
DOWN THAT ROAD, WHEN THE SPEED
BUMPS WENT IN, I WAS LIKE, OH,
YOU KNOW. THIS IS SLOWING ME
DOWN. I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL.
BUT ULTIMATELY THOSE SPEED
BUMPS ARE GOING TO SAVE LIVES.
THEY'RE GOING TO HELP PROTECT
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE
PURSUE VISION ZERO TO HELP
PREVENT PEDESTRIAN DEATHS. WE
WANT TO MAKE A CITY THAT ALLOWS
FOR MULTIPLE MULTIMODAL
TRANSPORTATION. PEOPLE ABLE TO
BIKE AND SCOOTER AND TAKE ALL
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
TRANSPORTATION TO WHERE THEY
NEED TO GET. I THINK LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD ALSO HAS
BICYCLE SUNDAY WHERE THEY DO
SHUT DOWN THE STREET. THEY
ALLOW PEDESTRIANS AND ALLOW
BICYCLES TO HAVE FREE REIGN.
CLOSING DOWN THAT STREET ALSO
HAS IMPACTS ON THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE THERE. IT RESTRICTS ACCESS
FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
SEVERAL HOUSES HAVE DIRECT
ACCESS FROM THE STREET TO THEIR
HOMES. AND WE WOULD BE
ESSENTIALLY ROBBING THEM OF THE
ABILITY TO DRIVE TO THEIR
HOUSE. AND SO AS WE MAKE
DECISIONS, WE NEED TO LISTEN TO
ALL STAKEHOLDERS. NONETHELESS,
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
MORE PARKS IN THE SOUTH AND AND
HAVE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE FOR
ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO EVEN IF THAT DOESN'T TURN
INTO THE PARK , WHICH IT SHOULD
NOT, WE SHOULD MAKE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING GREEN
SPACE IN PARKS.
>> THANK YOU , THADDEUS. MY
APOLOGIES. I SKIPPED OVER YOU.
I HAVE A WILDCARD QUESTION.
TAKE 15 SECONDS. THIS IS JUST
ME AND MY FELLOW COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO LIVE VERY NEAR LAKE
WASHINGTON . WHEN LAKE
WASHINGTON IS SHUT DOWN FOR
CARS AND IT IS JUST WALKING ,
THAT IS COOL. EXCEPT ALL OF
THOSE CARS PARKED IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND TAKE UP OUR
PARKING SPACES . AND SOMETIMES
DON'T RESPECT THE PROPERTY
BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST COMING TO
VISIT . AND I KNOW THIS IS A
COMPLICATED ISSUE, BUT I'M
JUST SHARING WITH YOU THE
EXPERIENCE THAT SOME OF US HAVE
WHO LIVE VERY NEAR THE LAKE
WHEN YOU SHUT THE LAKE DOWN.
CARS AND FOLKS PARK WHEREVER
THEY WANT TO . I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON
THAT. OR YOU CAN SAY NOTHING.
HONG, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT ? 15 SECONDS.
>> I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID
EARLIER IN THAT , WE LIVE AND
SHARE THIS CITY AND REGION
TOGETHER. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
WAYS TO MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE AND TAKE
UP SPACE. MAKE IT EASIER TO
TAKE BUSES .
>> AND THAT IS 15 SECONDS. I
APPRECIATE THAT. THIS IS MY
PERSONAL THING. BUT THAT IS WHY
I VOTE. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING? ADONIS. 15 SECONDS.
PEOPLE COME AND THEY PARK IN MY
PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF MY
YARD . THEY GET OUT AND THEY
LEAVE TRASH. AND I'M NOT COOL
WITH THAT. THAT IS JUST ME.
>> I SAW AN INSTAGRAM THING
THAT SAID, THE OLDER I GET, THE
MORE I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHO IS
PARKING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. I
GET THAT. THE SHORT ANSWER IS
PARKING ENFORCEMENT. IF THEY
ARE PARKING ILLEGALLY, WE NEED
MORE PARKING ENFORCEMENT TO
ENFORCE THAT. THAT IS THE SHORT
ANSWER. BUT IF THEY ARE NOT
PARKING ILLEGALLY, IT IS
ANNOYING. AND IT SUCKS. BUT
THEY CAN PARK THERE.
>> DO YOU FEEL MAY?
>> I DO FOR YOU. AND I'M NOT
SAYING THAT.
>> MAN, THAT IS OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> 15 SECONDS.
>> ULTIMATELY IT IS ABOUT
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION.
GROWING UP WE HAD AN EXPRESS
BUS RIGHT INTO THE PARK THAT
LET YOU GET TO AND FROM
DOWNTOWN AND OTHER PLACES IN
THE CITY. IT IS NOT THERE
ANYMORE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT
MORE WAYS TO CONNECT TO THE
SOUTH END TO THE REST OF THE
CITY.
>> TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
EDDIE? YOU KNOW WHERE I'M
COMING FROM. YOU SAID YOU LIVE
ON BEACON HILL. TRY LIVING ON
LAKE WASHINGTON AND THEY CLOSE
IT OFF TO CARS.
>> I THINK THIS IS WHY WE HAVE
TO TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE USING
THESE ROADS THAT ARE THE ONES
THAT ARE KIND OF THE EXPERTS ON
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE
THESE CHANGES. I HAVE SEEN
CHANGES ON BEACON HILL OR
COLUMBIA AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN PEOPLE START CUTTING
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS? WE
GOT TO ENGAGE WITH THE PEOPLE
USING THESE EVERYDAY THAT ARE
THE REAL EXPERTS AND WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN WE MAKE CHANGES.
>> THANK YOU. CHUKUNDI .
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? I WOULD SAY
AS A PERSON WHO HAS A TEAM AT
THE CITY THAT HAS BEEN VICTIMS
OF THE $250 MILLION PLUS BUDGET
SHORTFALL, THIS IS A REVENUE
OPPORTUNITY . AND WE NEED TO
INCREASE PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD
SAY IS -- YES. WE CAN MEET THE
BUDGET. THE OTHER THING I WOULD
SAY IS WE NEED TO MEET WITH THE
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT ARE
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME.
>> TIMES UP. MARK. WHAT DO WE
DO IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
>> YOU KNOW, GOING DOWN TO
SHORE PARK AND LOOKING AT ALL
THE CARS THAT ARE TAKING THE
PARKING ON THE SIDE STREETS.
BLOCKING PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS.
YEAH. THAT IS NOT COOL. I
UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING
FROM THERE. AGAIN, STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT. HOW CAN WE WORK ON
THIS TOGETHER?
>> TIMES UP. THANK YOU FOR
ANSWERING THAT QUESTION. WE ARE
ALL VOTING. OUR VOICE IS VERY
SMALL. IT IS A CITYWIDE THING.
WE WILL GO ONTO THE NEXT
QUESTION . THE QUESTION IS
ASKED IN THIS WAY. IF YOU
DON'T GET IT, I CAN RE-ASK IT.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS
YOUR POSITION ON THE THREAT OF
SOUND TRANSIT TO BUSINESSES,
RESIDENTS, AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS OF THE CHINATOWN-INTERN
ATIONAL DISTRICT AND THAT YOU
DON'T KNOW -- THIS IS A BIG
DEAL FOR LIGHT RAIL. WHERE IS
THAT LIGHT RAIL GOING TO BE
LOCATED? ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE
DISPLACED? IF YOU'RE
UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT ISSUE , I
DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO EXPLAIN
IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW. I'M
ASSUMING THAT OUR CANDIDATES
ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
WHERE YOU STAND ON THIS ISSUE.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS
YOUR POSITION ON THE THREAT OF
SOUND TRANSIT TO BUSINESSES,
RESIDENTS, AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS OF THE CHINATOWN-INTERN
ATIONAL DISTRICT . THADDAEUS,
I'M NOT GOING TO FORGET YOU
BECAUSE I'M GOING TO START
WITH YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. YOU KNOW,
RIGHT NOW THE CID IS IN A PLACE
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
UNACCEPTABLE. FOR THE CITY. WE
HAVE NOT SERVED THAT COMMUNITY
IN WAYS THAT THEY DESERVE . WE
HAVE NOT OFFERED THEM THE
AMOUNT OF SUPPORT. WE HAVE NOT
SAT DOWN AND LISTEN TO THEM IN
MEANINGFUL WAYS -- IN WAYS THAT
ALLOW FOR THE BROAD COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THERE TO HAVE THEIR
VOICES HEARD. EARLIER THIS YEAR
OR I GUESS IT WAS AT THE END OF
LAST YEAR, FEASIBILITY STUDY
CAME OUT AND SHOWED THAT THE
ORIGINAL FOURTH AVENUE PLAN WAS
PROBABLY NOT ABLE TO GO
FORWARD. DUE TO THE CONFLICTS
WITH AMTRAK AND PUBLIC RAIL
LINES. AND SO OUR SOLUTION HAS
TO BE GETTING BACK INTO THAT
COMMUNITY AND SAYING, OKAY,
WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM SEATTLE
TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE AND
ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT MAKE UP
A GOOD PORTION OF THE CID
COMMUNITY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO
THE RAIL LINE ? PART OF IT IS
ALSO THINKING OF WAYS. IF THE
STATION CANNOT BE -- IT HAS TO
BE FOR THE NORTH OR FURTHER
SOUTH, CAN WE CONNECT THE HEART
OF THE CID TO THOSE STATIONS
USING SHUTTLES ? USING OTHER
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION . BUT
REALLY IT IS SITTING DOWN AND
LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> TIMES UP. Z ? WOULD YOU MIND
GRABBING MY CHARGER FROM MY
LAPTOP ? THE BATTERY IS A LOT
RUNNING LOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE LIVE. EDDIE. WOULD YOU
LIKE ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> I'M GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WORKING AT THE CITY ,
ONE OF THE MAJOR AREAS OF
PRACTICE THAT I DID AS I
REPRESENTED PROPERTY OWNERS
BEING CONDEMNED BY TRANSIT. I
REPRESENT NORTHGATE MALL AND
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET. I SAW
WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MADE WHEN
YOU HAVE STRONG LEGAL
PRESENTATION. THEY SAID, WE
CANNOT PAY FOR THAT. WHEN YOU
HAVE STRONG LEGAL
REPRESENTATION, THERE IS A WAY
TO PAY FOR IT. WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN IN THE TWO -- WHERE THE
ONLY PART OF TOWN THAT HAS
MILES OF LIGHT RAIL. WHY IS IT
ONLY D2 ? IS IT TOO EXPENSIVE
OR INFEASIBLE? SO THAT IS MY
PUSHBACK. I WANT TO PUSH SOUND
TRANSIT TO SAY, HEY, NOT AGAIN
IN CHINATOWN. LET'S MAKE SURE
-- LET'S DO THE HOMEWORK.
LET'S SEE . I DON'T WANT YOU
CUTTING CORNERS ON COSTS. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- I'M
NOT AN ENGINEER, SO I DON'T
KNOW IF THE FOURTH IS POSSIBLE,
BUT I DO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU
HAVE THE COMMUNITY PUSHING FOR
SOMETHING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
PEOPLE AT THE TABLE. WHAT IS
IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS A BIG
QUESTION. THIS IS GOING TO BE
SOMETHING -- WHATEVER IT ENDS
UP BEING, IT'S GOING TO BE
THERE FOR 100 YEARS. BY JUST A
SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY OF YOU
ARE FAMILIAR? RAISE YOUR HAND
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT LIGHT RAIL SITUATION.
EVERYBODY. YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I
THOUGHT. CHUKUNDI .
>> THAT IS A REPEAT QUESTION
FOR ME.
>> THE WAY THE QUESTION IS
WRITTEN -- AND I WILL READ IT
THE WAY THE QUESTION IS WRITTEN
BECAUSE THAT IS WHY THEY WROTE
THE QUESTION THIS WAY -- LET ME
FIND IT AGAIN. SO I CAN'T SAY
IT JUST EXACTLY HOW THEY SAID
IT. THE QUESTION -- I'M GOING
TO PARAPHRASE A LITTLE BIT. THE
THREAT OF SOUND TRANSIT TO THE
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT . I AM ASSUMING THEY
ARE LEAVING OUT THE PART ABOUT
THE LIGHT RAIL AND THE IMPACT
THAT IS GOING TO HAVE ON THE
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT. AGAIN, I WON'T HAVE
TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE
POTENTIAL OBSTACLES RIGHT NOW,
BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE THERE
FOR 100 YEARS. CHUKUNDI .
>> THANK YOU FOR REPEATING THE
QUESTION THERE, TONY. WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS, FIRST OF ALL, AS
YOU CAN SEE FROM MY WEBSITE AT
CHUKUNDI .COM , ALL OF MY
ANSWERS ARE BASED ON MY REAL
LIFE EXPERIENCE. SOME PEOPLE
CALL ME ANECDOTAL, BUT THAT IS
JUST WHAT IT IS BECAUSE I
REALLY AM OUT HERE ACROSS THE
DISTRICT. SO, YES. I'M VERY
COGNIZANT OF THE THREAT BECAUSE
I HAD A BUSINESS ON MARTIN
LUTHER KING AND 38. I HAD A
BARBERSHOP RIGHT THERE NEXT TO
PLATINUM PLUS AND SOUND TRANSIT
CAME AND THEY PUT A GIANT PILE
OF CRUSHED ROCK THERE. MY
CUSTOMERS CANNOT GET TO MY
BARBERSHOP AND I MISSED THE
DEADLINE BY A MONTH. NIKITA AND
THOSE GUYS GOT THE FUNDING. SHE
WAS ABLE TO STAY IN BUSINESS. I
WAS NOT. I HAD CELEBRITY PEOPLE
COMING TO MY BARBERSHOP. THEY
COULD NOT FIND A PLACE TO PARK.
I WAS FORCED OUT. UNFORTUNATELY
I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO
HIRE EDDIE HERE. BUT MANY OF
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CAB
THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED DON'T
HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY . SO IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR US IN A REAL
WAY TO STAND UP FOR THOSE
BUSINESSES AND MAKE SURE IT IS
A GREAT PROCESS. BUT WE DO. WE
NOTE THAT THIS AREA IS GETTING
DENSER AND WE NEED
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. WE NEED
IT DONE IN THE RIGHT WAY. I
DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY
CLOSED DOWN LIKE MY BARBERSHOP
WAS CLOSED DOWN. IT WAS CALLED
METROPOLITAN BARBERSHOP. YOU
CAN GOOGLE THAT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MARK. DID YOU NEED ME TO
REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> I AM GOOD. FIRST OF ALL,
SOUND TRANSIT NEEDS TO REBUILD
THEIR TRUST OR ACTUALLY EARN
THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE IN CID
BECAUSE MANY FOLKS IN CID FEEL
LIKE -- SOUND TRANSIT HAS NOT
BEEN AN HONEST BROKER. AND THEY
HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH ENGAGEMENT
WITH THE COMMUNITY REGARDING
THE STUDY. FOURTH AVENUE SIDE.
FIFTH SIDE . DO YOU PUT IT
NORTH? DO YOU PUT ITSELF? THERE
NEEDS TO BE MORE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AROUND THIS ISSUE.
AND NOT ONLY SHOULD WE BE
LOOKING AT THE CID FOR THE
IMPACTS OF LIGHT RAIL . I'M
THINKING ABOUT THE WEST SEATTLE
EXTENSION. I'M THINKING ABOUT
HOW MANY BUSINESSES AND HOMES
WILL BE DISPLACED WHEN THEY PUT
IN A STATION AT THE ALASKA
JUNCTION AT 35th AND AVALON AS
WELL AS RIGHT THERE. THAT HAS
NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT. BUT
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING A LOT
OF FORMS AND A LOT OF
BUSINESSES, WHICH MEANS LOSING
A LOT OF TAX REVENUE. THAT HAS
TO BE TALKED ABOUT TOO. WHAT IS
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE? THE LIGHT
RAIL EXTENSION. MORE WIDE
LINES. SOMETHING WE NEED TO
CONSIDER.
>> THANK YOU. YOU GOOD?
KARAOKE? I DON'T KNOW.
>> GIVING ME A MICROPHONE IS
DANGEROUS. JUST TELLING YOU.
HONG, ARE YOU GOOD?
>> I'M SORRY BUT I DON'T HAVE
A WEBSITE OR HAVE OUTLINED ALL
OF MY THINGS. I'M NOT A
HIGH-POWERED LAWYER, BUT WHAT I
CAN SPEAK FROM HIS EXPERIENCE.
I WAS PART OF THE CAPITOL HILL
COMMUNITY OF THE COUNCIL WHEN
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PUTTING
IN HIS FIRST LIGHT RAIL
STATION. SO I HAVE LIVED
EXPERIENCE OF WHAT DISRUPTION
CAN TAKE PLACE. WE LOST SO MANY
LONG-TERM AND BELOVED
BUSINESSES. THEY ARE JUST GONE.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CID
AND LITTLE SAIGON , MAYBE THE
PHRASE HOTDOGS MEANS SOMETHING
TO YOU. UNCLE BOB SANTOS. HE
STOOD UP FOR THE CID AND THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT OF
CHINATOWN AND SAID, WE NEED TO
BE INVOLVED. IT'S NOT THAT WE
DON'T WANT LIGHT RAIL. IT'S
JUST THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU ARE PROTECTING US AND
MAKING SURE THE IMPACT ON THIS
IS MITIGATED. EVERY TIME THERE
IS A SPORTING EVENT. EVERY TIME
THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE A
WOMEN'S MARCH, IT IMPACTS US.
IT DIVERTS BUSINESSES. IT CLOGS
UP THE PEOPLE WHO GO THERE. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST AS TONY
SAID, MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. WE
WANT TO MAKE IT SO THAT WHEN
ALL OF US ARE LONG GONE , FOLKS
GO THERE AND THEY ARE GOING TO
BE LIKE, WHAT WAS SEATTLE
THINKING WHEN YOU HAVE TO
TRANSFER HERE AND GO BACK THIS
WAY ? SUPER CONFUSING. WE JUST
WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND MAKE
SURE THE DECISION-MAKERS ARE
UNDERSTANDING THIS IS PEOPLE'S
LIVELIHOODS. IT IS THEIR ENTIRE
LEGACIES IN THE CID. DON'T
JUST WIPE THEM OUT WITHOUT
TALKING TO THEM AND MAKING SURE
THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE
CHOICES BEING MADE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU. ADONIS.
>> THIS IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS BEEN
HISTORICALLY UNDER INVESTED IN
OR NO INVESTMENT AT ALL. AND
NOW THERE IS A BIG, MASSIVE
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT LOOMING
OVER THE CID, AND IT MAKES ME
THINK OF HOW WE HAVE DONE THIS
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
23rd AVENUE WAS A PROJECT THAT
I WORKED ON. I WAS THE OUTREACH
ON THAT THING EVERY DAY. THE CD
UNDER INVESTED IN FOR SO LONG
AND THEN WE COME IN WITH A BIG
ROAD PROJECT. WHAT I USED TO
HEAR FROM PEOPLE -- THIS IS
WHAT PEOPLE SAID TO ME. YOU
DIDN'T DO THIS PROJECT UNTIL
ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE MOVED IN.
THAT IS WHAT THEY USED TO SAY
TO ME. THAT WAS REALLY TOUGH.
THAT WAS REALLY HARD TO TAKE.
AND THEN YOU GOT A CONTRACTOR
WHO IS BASICALLY TAKING OVER
THE ROAD . AND IT IS REALLY
HARD TO GET IN PLACES.
BUSINESSES ARE SHUTTING DOWN.
THE THINGS I SAW WORK ON THAT
PROJECT -- GETTING ALL THE
ORGANIZATIONS . THE COMMUNITY
COUNCILS. ALL OF THOSE FOLKS IN
THE ROOM BEFORE YOU START
CONSTRUCTION. LET'S HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION. THE OTHER THING I
SAW WORK ON THAT PROJECT WAS
MITIGATION AND MITIGATION FOR
BUSINESSES DURING CONSTRUCTION.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF WAYS .
THAT COULD LOOK LIKE MONEY.
THAT COULD LOOK LIKE WORKING
WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO MAKE
SURE THE CONTRACTOR DOES NOT
SHUT DOWN ROADS AND VARIOUS
THINGS ON HOLIDAYS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT TO GET THE PROJECT.
WE GOT 23rd AVENUE BUILT. SOUND
TRANSIT IS GOING TO GET THIS
BUILT IN THE CID, BUT THEY HAVE
TO MAKE SURE THEY DO IT RIGHT
AND MAKE SURE THEY ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY AND HAVE THE RIGHT
KIND OF MITIGATION.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THADDAEUS,
I WILL NOT MAKE YOU ANSWER THE
QUESTION AGAIN.
>> THIS NEXT QUESTION I WILL DO
A LITTLE -- IT IS ABOUT
FENTANYL . TALKING TO AT THE
TIME BOTH CANDIDATES RUNNING
FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, IT WAS A
BIG DEAL . DIFFERENT APPROACHES
ABOUT HOW THEY WERE LOOKING AT
IT. I'M GOING TO ASK THE
QUESTION THE WAY THAT THE
QUESTION IS ASKED . YOU MAY
DISAGREE WITH THE WAY THAT THE
QUESTION IS ASKED . AS A
COMMUNITY, I HOPE YOU KNOW
BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT
ENOUGH THE IMPACT THAT FENTANYL
IS HAVING IN OUR COMMUNITY. DO
YOU KNOW THAT GREAT SCHOOLS
HAVE NARCAN SO IN CASE A GRADE
SCHOOL STUDENT ACCIDENTALLY
TAKES FENTANYL THEY CAN GET THE
CURE ? THERE'S OTHER THINGS
GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY
REGARDING FENTANYL AS WELL. WE
HAD A PROGRAM WITH AN EMT, A
SCHOOLTEACHER. ANYWAY, IT IS A
BIG DEAL IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE
DROP OF A PEN . PIN DROP .
FENTANYL CAN KILL YOU . IT'S
EVERYWHERE. ANYWAY. THE
QUESTION THAT I LIKE TO ASK OF
OUR CANDIDATES -- AND I'M
GOING TO START WITH YOU,
CHUKUNDI , WITH THIS PARTICULAR
QUESTION . DID I LOSE IT? I GOT
TO FIND THIS ONE. LET'S SEE
HERE. , I'M SORRY. GIVE ME A
SECOND.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> I HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF
QUESTIONS HERE. SO THE QUESTION
WAS, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO
SUPPORT -- WHAT WILL YOU DO TO
SUPPORT REHABILITATION IN
REGARDS TO THE EFFORTS TO
CONTROL THE FENTANYL SCOURGE IN
OUR COMMUNITY? CHUKUNDI , I
WILL START WITH YOU. YOU ANSWER
THE QUESTION HOWEVER YOU WANT
TO. THAT IS THE WAY THE
QUESTION WAS ASKED . WHAT WOULD
YOU DO TO SUPPORT
REHABILITATION? REGARDING THE
FENTANYL SCOURGE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, TONY. FIRST OF
ALL, PRIOR QUESTION WE TALKED
ABOUT THE CID. I JUST WANTED TO
REMIND PEOPLE THAT I HAD A
BUSINESS AT THE CORNER OF 14th
AND JACKSON FOR OVER 20 YEARS
AND IT BURNED DOWN ALONG WITH
OPERATION NIGHTWATCH. WE MOST
CERTAINLY HAD MANY FENTANYL
AFFLICTED PEOPLE THAT CAME IN
THERE. ACCORDING TO -- MOVING
ON TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS , I
AM INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH
THIS AND HAVE BEEN IMPACTED. MY
MOTHER WALKED THROUGH A
FENTANYL CLOUD IN HER LOBBY OF
HER BUILDING AND IT AFFECTED
HER IMMEDIATELY. SO I GOT THE
MEMO. I HAVE SEEN THE ALARM.
WHAT I WOULD DO SPECIFICALLY IS
MAKE SURE THAT WE PRIORITIZE
RESOURCES TO PROGRAMS LIKE THE
CARE TEAM AND OUR CSOS , AND
OUR RESPONSES SO PEOPLE CAN
HAVE A NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER
RESPOND TO THESE FENTANYL
CRISIS WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN
CRISIS. HOWEVER, PEOPLE THAT
REFUSE TREATMENT AND REFUSE
RESOURCES -- WE DO NEED TO HAVE
WAYS THAT WE CAN REMOVE THEM
FROM HURTING THEMSELVES AND
OTHERS. SO WE WANT TO HAVE A
REALLY VELVET GLOVE AS WE
APPROACH THIS . BUT IT WOULD
STILL BE --
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN
ADDITIONAL 15 SECONDS NOW THAT
I FOUND THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT DRUG
REHABILITATION AND MENTAL
HEALTH TO THOSE ESPECIALLY
DOING FENTANYL AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES ON THE STREET?
>> AGAIN, I WOULD JUST
PRIORITIZE RESOURCES THE CITY
HAS LAUNCHED. MANY INITIATIVES
NOW . THEY ARE JUST GETTING UP
ON THEIR FEET IN TERMS OF THE
CSOS. WE HAVE A CARE TEAM. SO
WE HAVE MANY RESOURCES AND BE
ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO MOVE AWAY FROM FENTANYL.
>> THE QUESTION AGAIN. HOW WILL
YOU SUPPORT DRUG REHABILITATION
AND MENTAL HEALTH ? IT IS UP TO
YOU. MAYBE YOU WON'T SUPPORT
IT -- TO THOSE ESPECIALLY DOING
FENTANYL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
ON THE STREETS. I SAY THAT JUST
BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ABOUT
HOW YOU SHOULD DEAL WITH THE
CRISIS. MARK ?
>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE
NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
. MORE CASEWORKERS. MORE DRUG
TREATMENT INTERVENTIONS. WE
CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.
THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN WE
LOOK AT A NUMBER OF FOLKS OUT
ON THE STREET IN CRISIS. MANY
OF THOSE FOLKS IN CRISIS ARE
COPING WITH THAT CRISIS BY
SELF-MEDICATING. AND BECAUSE
THEY ARE SELF-MEDICATING,
SOMETIMES THAT LEADS TO MORE
CRISIS. SO THERE IS AN
INTERSECTION I'LL BE THERE.
ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL ISSUE
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE
DONE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT IS
NOT JUST A LAW ENFORCEMENT FIX.
IT IS A HUMAN SERVICES FIX. IT
IS A MENTAL HEALTH FIX. AND WE
NEED TO INVEST THE DOLLARS IN
OUR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO
ASSIST PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THOSE
PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. I
HAVE A COLLEAGUE THAT WORKS IN
DEA AND THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM AND ONE OF
THEIR PROGRAMS THEY HAVE THEY
ARE GOING INTO SCHOOLS AND THEY
TALK ABOUT ONE PILL KILLED.
THERE IS SO MUCH FENTANYL OUT
THERE IT LOOKS LIKE CANDY. SO
IT IS A DANGER TO OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
>> 15 SECONDS.
>> AND BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A
DANGER TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AS
WELL AS A DANGER TO MOTHER WHO
WALKS THROUGH THAT CLOUD ,
WE'VE GOT TO INVEST THE MONEY
. AND IF THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE
IT, I WANT TO GO FIND IT.
>> TIME IS UP. HOW WILL YOU
SUPPORT DRUG REHABILITATION AND
MENTAL HEALTH TO HELP THOSE
ESPECIALLY DOING FENTANYL AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES ON THE
STREETS.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
FRAMING OF THIS QUESTION AND
THE WAY THAT MARK ANSWERED IT
BECAUSE I WOULD SAY THAT IF ALL
I HAD WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF
WALKING THROUGH LITTLE SAIGON
LIKE I DID THIS LAST WEEKEND, I
WOULD SAY MAYBE IT BECOMES AN
ENFORCEMENT THING. BUT I DON'T
SEE IT AS THAT. I THINK WE NEED
TO LOOK AT IT AS A HEALTHCARE
CRISIS THAT WE NEED TO TREAT.
THAT CAME FROM MY TIME WORKING
AT PLYMOUTH HOUSING. IT IS A
HOUSING NONPROFIT. THAT IS
WHERE THEY REALLY TAUGHT ME
THINGS LIKE TRAUMA INFORMED
CARE. THAT IS WHERE THEY TALK
ABOUT HARM REDUCTION. FOR ME,
WHEN I THINK OF WHAT WE NEED TO
DO, IT IS LIKE WHAT MARK SAID.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT
IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED THING.
WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WAS DONE. I
THINK IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED A
WEEK OR TWO BEFORE. THEY DID A
BUST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SUPPLIERS. WE NEED TO STOP THE
SOURCE. PEOPLE HAVING ACCESS TO
IT. AND THEN WE HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND CARE
FOR THE WHOLE PERSON. THEY NEED
TO STOP USING. THEN WE NEED TO
FIGURE OUT A FACILITY THAT THEY
MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO TO FOR
DETOX. AND THEN THEY WILL NEED
COUNSELING. BOTH EMOTIONAL
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. AND
THEN THEY WILL NEED JOB
TRAINING AND ONGOING SUPPORT
BECAUSE RELAPSING IS VERY MUCH
A THING. SO JUST LIKE MARK
SAID, YOU NEED TO BE A HOLISTIC
APPROACH FOR SOMEONE'S WHOLE
HUMANITY . THE ONLY WAY WE CAN
DO THAT IS TO TREAT IT NOT AS A
LEGAL PROBLEM AND A LAW
ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM SOLELY .
SOMETIMES THAT IS NECESSARY.
START FROM THE WHOLE PERSON
FIRST.
>> AND TIME IS UP. ADONIS, HOW
WILL YOU SUPPORT DRUG
REHABILITATION AND MENTAL
HEALTH HELP TO THOSE ESPECIALLY
DOING FENTANYL AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES ON THE STREETS?
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS PEOPLE DO
RECOVER. THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS.
PEOPLE DO RECOVER. THOSE ARE
PEOPLE'S MOMS AND DADS AND
BROTHERS AND SISTERS . THERE IS
PROBABLY A MOM AT HOME RIGHT
NOW WHOSE SON IS UP THERE IN
THE CID RIGHT NOW WONDERING
WHEN HER SON IS GOING TO COME
HOME. IF YOU'RE PICKING UP
WHAT I'M PUTTING DOWN, I HAVE
BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE
RECOVERY COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST
10 YEARS NOW. HELPING MEN AND
WOMEN -- MOSTLY MEN GET TO
MEETINGS . I DO A LOT OF MY
VOLUNTEER WORK AT THE SALVATION
ARMY AND UNION GOSPEL MISSION
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN I HEAR
STORIES OF RECOVERY. I HEAR
PEOPLE WHO GO FROM BEING ON THE
STREET TO GETTING A JOB AND
THEN THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE
YEARS LATER THEY ARE VERY
ACTIVE PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THE
SITUATIONS IS -- BECAUSE WHAT
HAPPENS WITH ADDICTION IS YOU
ARE OUT THERE DOING IT AND YOU
HIT BOTTOM. YOU HIT A BOTTOM.
YOU HIT THE BOTTOM. THERE YOU
ARE AT THE BOTTOM. UNLESS THAT
HAND IS THERE WHEN YOU ARE AT
THE BOTTOM, YOU START TO FEEL
BETTER. YOUR BUDDY CALLS YOU.
YOU ARE DOING IT AGAIN.
SOMEBODY HAS TO BE THERE WHEN
YOU HIT BOTTOM. WHEN YOU ARE
THERE, PEOPLE NEED TO BE
STABILIZED. YOU NEED TO
STABILIZE WITH SHELTERS AND
WITH HOMES BECAUSE OTHERWISE
YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GO BACK
OUT AND DO WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO DO. THEN YOU'VE GOT TO GET
THEM INTO A RECOVERY PROGRAM.
THERE IS ALL KINDS OF RECOVERY
PROGRAMS TO GET PEOPLE INTO.
THEN THEY NEED THAT LONG-TERM
CARE, WHETHER THAT IS
COUNSELING OR SOMEONE TO BE
THERE AND STAY WITH THEM TO LET
THEM KNOW THINGS ARE GOING TO
BE OKAY. THE GOOD NEWS IS
PEOPLE DO RECOVER.
>> THADDAEUS, HOW WILL YOU
SUPPORT DRUG REHABILITATION AND
MENTAL HEALTH HELP TO THOSE
ESPECIALLY DOING FENTANYL AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES ON THE
STREETS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. FIRST , WHEN WE
APPROACHED THIS ISSUE WE HAVE
TO APPROACH IT FROM A PLACE OF
LOVE. THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.
AS WE SAID , SOMEONE'S MOTHER,
FATHER, SON . THESE ARE THE
PEOPLE WHO WE NEED TO LOOK TO
TO SUPPORT THE MOST. IT IS AN
INTERSECTIONAL PROBLEM. I AM
HAPPY THAT THE CITY HAS
INVESTED MORE MONEY AND MORE
RESOURCES TOWARD HELPING YOUTH
GET MENTAL HEALTH CARE BECAUSE
IF WE ADDRESS PROBLEMS BEFORE
THEY EVEN START , WHEN WE HELP
CHILDREN NOT EVEN GET TO THE
PLACE WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO
USE DRUGS OR BE ENGAGED IN
FENTANYL, WE CAN HELP PREVENT
PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. IT IS
ALSO INVESTING IN THINGS LIKE
SPECIALIZED COURTS. THINK ABOUT
MENTAL HEALTH COURT. VETERAN
TREATMENT COURT . WAYS THAT
PROVIDE SPECIALIZED CARE. MORE
ONE-ON-ONE TREATMENT THAT LOOKS
AT THE PERSON AND HOLISTICALLY
PROVIDES THEM COUNSELING AND
TREATMENT OPTIONS. PART OF IT
IS PUTTING ALL OPTIONS ON THE
TABLE. AND HAVING VERY REAL
CONVERSATIONS. LOOK TO OTHER
CITIES THAT HAVE COMBATED THIS
PROBLEM LIKE VANCOUVER. THEY
HAVE ENGAGED IN THINGS LIKE
SAFE INJECTION SITES, WHICH
ALLOW FOR TESTING PRODUCTS TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING
TO DIE WHEN THEY ACCIDENTALLY
HAVE FENTANYL.
>> TIME IS UP. EDDIE? HOW WILL
YOU SUPPORT DRUG REHABILITATION
AND MENTAL HEALTH HELP TO THOSE
ESPECIALLY DOING FENTANYL AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES ON THE
STREETS?
>> THANK YOU, TONY. FIRST, WE
HAVE TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION. I
THINK THERE ARE SO MANY WHO
HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER . I HAD AN
OLDER BROTHER WHO WAS A CHRONIC
ALCOHOLIC AND DIED FROM
ALCOHOLIC -- ALCOHOLISM
-RELATED CANCER. YOU KNOW , WE
HAVE TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION.
I'M GLAD WE ARE TAKING STEPS.
WE PASSED A COUNTY CRISIS CARES
LEVY THAT IS TAKING TOO LONG TO
OPEN UP THOSE CRISIS CARE
CENTERS. THE MAYOR IS DOING AN
OVERDOSE RECOVERY , WHICH IS
GOING TO BE A GREAT RESOURCE
BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE OVERDOSE,
THEY ARE IN A VERY VULNERABLE
TIME. SO THAT IS A STRONG STEP.
AND I SUPPORT PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING . I SUPPORT
HARM REDUCTION. BUT I THINK WE
HAVE NEVER SEEN FENTANYL
BEFORE. AND NOW THE DRUG
CARTELS ARE PUTTING IN NEW
THINGS TO AVOID DETECTION . AND
SO I THINK THERE IS A QUESTION
THAT WE HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH
AS A COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW WE
ADDRESS -- WHAT DOES HARM
REDUCTION LOOK LIKE IF YOU TAKE
ONE PILL AND YOU DIE? WHAT DOES
HARM REDUCTION LOOK LIKE WHEN
OUR CHILDREN ARE DYING? SO I
THINK -- AND I'M CONCERNED
THAT WE HAVE DRUG DEALERS THAT
ARE EXPLOITING ARE HOMELESS.
THERE WAS RECENTLY A BIG BUST
OF PEOPLE OPERATING OUT OF THE
JUNGLE. SO WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO
USE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO AFTER
THE DRUG DEALERS . AND IF
PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR ASSOCIATED -- WE DO
NEED TO ADDRESS THAT TERMINAL
BEHAVIOR.
>> ALL RIGHT. THIS NEXT
QUESTION, MARK , I WILL BE
STARTING WITH YOU. THESE HAVE
ALL BEEN AMAZING QUESTIONS FROM
OUR COMMUNITY. THE SEAT IS
GOING TO GET A LITTLE HOT RIGHT
NOW, ALL RIGHT? AND I NEED YOU
ALL OUT HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS SEAT STAYS HOT ON THIS
QUESTION . THE QUESTION WAS
ASKED BY SOMEONE WHO CALLS
THEMSELVES AN OLD TIMER. SO
WHEN I'M READING THE QUESTION
-- AND I'M GOING TO READ IT TO
YOU. I'M FIGURING THIS IS A
PERSON WHO, LIKE ME, WAS BEFORE
THE INTERNET . BEFORE EMAIL.
BEFORE INSTAGRAM. BEFORE ALL OF
THESE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU
HAVE TO COMMUNICATE . SO THE
QUESTION IS THIS. YOU CAN
ANSWER IT HOWEVER YOU WANT TO .
BUT THIS IS HOW I AM LOOKING AT
IT. THE QUESTION SAYS, FOR US
OLD-TIMERS , WE REMEMBER BEING
ABLE TO CALL AND GET A RESPONSE
FROM OUR COUNCILMEMBER . WHAT
WILL YOUR CONSTITUENT RESPONSE
PHILOSOPHY BE?
>> SHOW UP. AND I LOOK AT MY
CITY COUNCIL ICON. MY CITY
COUNCIL HERO, SAM SMITH. RIGHT?
WHEN PEOPLE CALLED SAM'S
OFFICE, HE WAS SOMETIMES THE
PERSON WHO PICKED UP THE PHONE.
I WANT TO TALK TO SAM. THIS IS
SAM. THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING
THAT. AND THAT IS THE KIND OF
CUSTOMER SERVICE I WANT TO
PROVIDE. IF YOU CALL ME , I'M
GOING TO RETURN YOUR CALL. I
WANT TO SHOW UP IN YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANT TO BE
PRESENT FOR YOU. I WANT TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU. BECAUSE I
THINK ABOUT THE LINE OF WORK I
AM IN RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE DON'T
CALL ME BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING
A GOOD DAY. THEY CALL ME
BECAUSE THERE IS AN ISSUE THEY
WANT TAKEN CARE OF. THERE IS
SOMETHING THEY WANT RESOLVED.
THERE IS SOMETHING THEY NEED
ASSISTANCE WITH. IT IS MY JOB
TO DO THAT. IT IS MY JOB TO BE
OF SERVICE. AND I CANNOT BE OF
SERVICE IF I DON'T SHOW UP FOR
THAT IS A PRIMARY THING FOR ME.
SHOWING UP. BEING PRESENT.
LISTENING TO WHAT THE CONCERNS
ACTUALLY ARE AND WORKING WITH
FOLKS TO ACTUALLY DELIVER
RESULTS.
>> OKAY. HONG , SAME QUESTION
FOR YOU . AND I'M GOING TO GET
RIGHT BACK UP HERE AGAIN. WHAT
WILL -- THIS TECHNOLOGY IS JUST
-- MAN, PLAYING GAMES WITH ME.
THIS IS FROM AN OLD TIMER WHO
SAYS HE OR SHE REMEMBERS BEING
ABLE TO CALL AND GET A
RESPONSE. WHAT WILL YOUR
RESPONSE STRATEGY BE FOR YOUR
CONSTITUENTS? AND THERE IS A
LOT OF THEM. EMAIL, FACEBOOK. A
BUNCH OF WAYS. TELL US WHAT IT
IS. OR WOULD BE. YOU ARE GOOD.
>> I WOULD SAY, FIRST OF ALL,
DON'T LOOK AT THIS FACE AND
THINK THAT I AM NOT APPROACHING
OLD-TIMERS SHIP. I SHOW UP AS A
CURMUDGEON QUITE OFTEN THESE
DAYS. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THE
WAY I WOULD APPROACH IT IS
REALLY JUST TO BE PRESENT. TO
BRING RADICAL ACCEPTANCE AND TO
TALK ABOUT EVERYONE AND BE
WILLING TO HEAR THEIR HOPES,
THEIR DREAMS, THEIR
FRUSTRATIONS. I THINK IN MOST
OF MY EXPERIENCE OF WORKING
WITH PEOPLE -- AND I WORK WITH
PEOPLE A LOT, WHETHER THAT IS
BEHIND THE COUNTER IN MY
FAMILY'S BUSINESS, WHETHER IT
IS AT MY OFFICE WHEN I'M
WORKING WITH DONORS WHO ARE
FRUSTRATED WITH SOMETHING, OR
IF I'M WORKING WITH A PARENT
WHO JUST WANTS TO KNOW WHO TO
TALK TO TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES
THEIR YOUTH IS DEALING WITH , I
DON'T WORK WITH PROGRAMS. I
DON'T KNOW. LET ME FIND
SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP. LET ME
LISTEN TO YOU. I WANT YOU TO
FEEL LIKE YOU ARE THE ONE THAT
MATTERS TO ME RIGHT NOW. I WANT
YOU , THE HUMAN PERSON THAT IS
COMING TO ME FOR HELP, TO FEEL
LISTENED TO. AND I WOULD JUST
SAY I RECOGNIZE THAT MAY BE
THEY ARE NOT ASKING ME TO
RESOLVE IT. THEY JUST WANT TO
FEEL SEEN AND HEARD.
>> AND ADONIS, FOR US
OLD-TIMERS, INCLUDING MYSELF,
WE REMEMBER BEING ABLE TO CALL
AND GET A PROMPT RESPONSE FROM
OUR COUNCILMEMBER. WHAT WILL
YOUR CONSTITUENT RESPONSE
PHILOSOPHY BE?
>> I ATE MAD AT YOU IF YOU SAY
EMAIL.
>> IT'S ALL GOOD. I REMEMBER
THE PHONE STUCK IN THE WALL AND
YOU HAD TO DIAL THE THING. I
GET IT. WHAT COMES TO MIND IS
ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE --
RESPONSIVE AT FOLLOW-UP. I WAS
THINKING ABOUT AS A BUSINESS
OWNER I JUST HELPED WHO REACHED
OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHO
WAS STRUGGLING. HE HAD A
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON
WASHINGTON AND HIS BUSINESS WAS
OCCIDENTAL. HIS BUSINESS WAS
OFF WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON
AND OCCIDENTAL. THERE WAS A
CITY PROJECT ON WASHINGTON AND
A PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
SO NOBODY COULD GET INTO --
ONTO OCCIDENTAL. AND THEN HE
SAID EVERY DAY HE WOULD SHOW UP
TO WORK AND THERE WAS SOMEBODY
SLEEPING IN HIS DOORWAY . SO
JUST BEING AT THE CITY AND
KNOWING HOW THE CITY WORKS AND
KNOWING ALL THE DIFFERENT
PEOPLE, I WAS ABLE TO GET A
TIMELINE ON THE CITY PROJECT
AND WE GOT THAT WRAPPED UP. SO
WE GOT THAT ACCESS BACK. YES,
THERE IS A PRIVATE PROJECT. I
KNEW WHERE TO GO TO LOOK TO
CHECK THE TIMELINE ON THAT
PROJECT. I GOT THE TIMELINE
DOWN. REPORTED BACK TO THE
BUSINESS OWNER. HE WAS OKAY
WITH THAT. THERE WAS A PERSON
SLEEPING IN THE DOORWAY. HOW DO
WE DEAL WITH THAT? THAT IS UCD.
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS IN THE CITY
THAT DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
HOMELESS. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO
TRACK THAT PERSON AND GET THAT
PERSON MOVED. WHAT I DID WAS
RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY I
WALKED DOWN THERE . WASHINGTON
OPEN. THE PERSON WAS GONE AND
HE THANKED ME FOR IT. THAT IS
THE KIND OF WAY I WOULD BE
RESPONSIVE.
>> THANK YOU. THADDAEUS, SAME
QUESTION. FOR US OLD-TIMERS, WE
REMEMBER BEING ABLE TO CALL AND
GET A PROMPT RESPONSE FROM OUR
COUNCILMEMBER. WHAT WILL YOUR
CONSTITUENT RESPONSE PHILOSOPHY
BE AS YOU ARE SHARING THIS TO
THESE DISTRICT TWO FOLKS OUT
HERE AND LETTING THEM KNOW HOW
YOU WOULD GET IN.
>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
ROLES OF THE CD TWO
COUNCILMEMBER IS TO HELP
RESTORE FAITH IN THE COUNCIL.
HELP RESTORE FAITH THAT YOUR
COUNCILMEMBER IS LISTENING TO
YOU. AND IT IS RESPONDING
PROMPTLY. IT IS ALSO SHOWING UP
AND LISTENING AND HEARING WHAT
THE PERSON HAS TO SAY ACTIVELY.
AND AFTER THE CONVERSATION ,
FOLLOWING UP . HERE IS WHAT I
HEARD FROM YOU. WHAT YOU WANT
ME TO DO? IT IS ALSO BEING
PROACTIVE. GOING OUT AND
KNOWING ABOUT ISSUES. SO WHEN
THOSE CALLS COME IN AND WHEN
THE EMAILS COME IN , YOU ARE
ABLE TO JUMP IN AND TACKLE IT
IMMEDIATELY. YOU ALREADY HAVE
SOME BACKGROUND. AND YOU KNOW
AND HAVE SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHAT
YOU WANT TO DO. IT IS ALSO
KNOWING AND THINKING ABOUT, WHO
ARE YOU NOT HEARING FROM?
BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE PROBLEMS
I THINK SEATTLE IS FACING COMES
FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A
SEAT AT THE TABLE , WHO WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO LISTEN TO BECAUSE
WE HAVE NOT INVESTED THE
RESOURCES TO GO OUT AND HEAR
FROM THEM. IT IS WHY INVESTING
IN SOCIAL SERVICES IS
IMPORTANT. IT IS WHY OUR CITY
STAFF TO TALK TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. PEOPLE DEALING WITH
DRUG ISSUES. PEOPLE WHO ARE
DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND MAKING SURE THAT
THEY HAVE A PLACE TO COME AND
TALK .
>> TIME IS UP.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> EDDIE, FOR US OLD-TIMERS, WE
REMEMBER BEING ABLE TO CALL AND
GET A PROMPT RESPONSE FROM OUR
COUNCILMEMBER. WHAT WILL YOUR
CONSTITUENT RESPONSE PHILOSOPHY
BE?
>> THANK YOU, TONY. YOU KNOW, I
THINK CONSTITUENT SERVICES
REALLY IS THE TOP PRIORITY OF
BEING A COUNCILMEMBER AT LEAST
AT A DISTRICT FOR DISTRICT TWO.
THAT IS WHY I AM APPLYING FOR
THIS POSITION AND THAT WOULD BE
MY TOP PRIORITY. AND IT IS
SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOY. I HA
PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT. TO MEET
SOME OF THE FELLOW CANDIDATES
HERE ON STAGE. IT HAS JUST BEEN
SUCH A PLEASURE TO GET TO KNOW
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
COMMUNITY. AS FAR AS RESPONSE
PHILOSOPHY, I LOVE TO MEET
PEOPLE IN PERSON, BUT I THINK
YOU HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE
THEY ARE AT. SO SOME PEOPLE
LIKE THE PHONE. SOME PEOPLE
MIGHT WANT THAT EMAIL RESPONSE.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WANT YOU TO
MEET IN PERSON. SOME PEOPLE
MIGHT LIKE A COMMUNITY FORUM OR
COMMUNITY MEETING. SO IT IS
REALLY ABOUT BEING ACCESSIBLE
AND BEING RESPONSIVE IS REALLY
-- PEOPLE JUST WANT TO KNOW
THAT THEY ARE BEING HEARD. SO
YOU DO NEED TO GET BACK TO THEM
PROMPTLY SO THEY KNOW THAT.
>> THANK YOU. CHUKUNDI , FOR US
OLD-TIMERS , WE REMEMBER BEING
ABLE TO CALL AND GET A PROMPT
RESPONSE FROM OUR
COUNCILMEMBER. WHAT WILL YOUR
CONSTITUENT RESPONSE PHILOSOPHY
BE ?
>> THANK YOU, TONY. FIRST OF
ALL, ALL OF MY RESPONSES ARE
NOT ASPIRATIONAL. THEY ARE
BASIC THINGS THAT I HAVE
ALREADY DONE AND WILL CONTINUE
TO DO AS YOUR COUNCILMEMBER.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE SET UP
IN THE BLACK LEGACY HOMEOWNER
GROUP I HAVE FOUND IT IS THAT
WE HAVE A TICKET SYSTEM . WHEN
PEOPLE CALL US, OUR MEMBERS
CALL. I HAVE VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE
TICKETS. AND WE GET BACK TO
PEOPLE. THE OTHER THING IS WE
DO HOME SITE VISITS. WE TAKE
RESOURCES TO SENIORS RIGHT NOW.
THOSE OLD-TIMERS. I'M GOING TO
PEOPLE'S HOMES RIGHT NOW AND
MEETING THEM AND TELLING THEM
ABOUT THE SENIOR TAX EXEMPTION.
I SIT IN PEOPLE'S LIVING ROOMS
RIGHT NOW. THE OLD-TIMERS GIVE
ME A CALL. IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD HAVE IS
COMMUNITY MEETINGS BY PRECINCT.
I KNOW THE LINES ARE NOT THE
SAME, BUT I AM AN ELECTED PCO
IN THE 37th. SO I KNOW ABOUT
GOING TO MY NEIGHBORS' HOMES.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS
IN SEATTLE PARKS WE HAVE A
THING CALLED WORKPLACE
EXPECTATIONS. WE LIKE TO GET
BACK TO PEOPLE WITHIN 48 HOURS.
AND I WILL MOST CERTAINLY DO
THAT. SO THE OLD-TIMERS THAT
CALL MY OFFICE -- I WOULD GIVE
THEM A TRACKING NUMBER AND WE
WOULD GET BACK TO THEM. THAT
WOULD BE MY PLAN. AND I WILL
TAKE THE REST OF MY TIME ,
TONY, TO RESPOND TO THE
FENTANYL QUESTION. I BELIEVE
THAT WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT HAS
REASONABLE AND PRAGMATIC. MY
SEVEN YEARS OF SERVICE AS A
VOLUNTEER ON THE BOARD OF REAL
CHANGE ALONG WITH MY TIME ON
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADVISORY
COUNCIL BEFORE SPD UNDER CHIEF
NORM GAVE ME THE BEST OF BOTH
WORLDS TO APPROACH IT
PRAGMATICALLY AND WITH
COMPASSION.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WERE GOING TO GO ON TO OUR
NEXT QUESTION. THAT QUESTION
REALLY WAS A GOOD QUESTION FOR
Y'ALL. YOU HEARD THE RESPONSE
IF IT MADE SENSE TO YOU. IF IT
DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO YOU, YOU
ARE ENTITLED TO THAT TOO. I DID
SAY I WAS OLD-TIMERS, BUT YOU
DIDN'T HAVE TO CALL ME. YOU
CAN TEXT ME. TIMES HAVE
CHANGED. THAT IS JUST MY
FEELING ABOUT IT. I DON'T WANT
US OLD-TIMERS TO AUDIT
CATEGORIZED INTO, WE DON'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
ALL RIGHT? BUT I APPRECIATE
EVERYONE'S ANSWER HERE . YOU
ARE STILL GOING TO BE ON THE
HOT SEAT FOR THIS NEXT
QUESTION. AGAIN, OUR AUDIENCE
IS GOING TO HOLD YOU TO THIS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AUDIENCE
QUESTIONS IN A LITTLE BIT. THIS
IS PRETTY PLAIN AND SIMPLE,
MAYBE. MAYBE PRETTY PLAIN AND
SIMPLE. HONG, I'M BACK TO YOU
AGAIN. MAYBE THIS IS PRETTY
PLAIN AND SIMPLE. PLEASE ANSWER
THIS QUESTION SO THAT OUR
AUDIENCE KNOWS WHEN THEY LEAVE
HERE WHAT THE ANSWER TO THIS
QUESTION WAS OR NOT . IT'S UP
TO YOU. I'M NOT RUNNING FOR
OFFICE. WE DID VOTE THOUGH.
THIS IS NOT A VOTE. THIS IS
BEING SELECTED. WHAT ARE YOUR
TOP CONCERNS AND PRIORITIES FOR
DISTRICT TWO?
>> IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO CHECK
OUT MY MATERIALS, THIS WON'T
SEEM SURPRISING TO YOU, BUT IT
IS ADVANCING PUBLIC SAFETY,
INVESTING IN A THRIVING LOCAL
COMMUNITY, ADDRESSING OUR
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS. I THINK ALL OF THEM
FEED INTO EACH OTHER. YOU KNOW,
YOU CANNOT THINK ABOUT ANYTHING
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO
LIVE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A
PLACE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT AND BE
COMFORTABLE AND BE SAFE AND NOT
WORRY THAT YOUR PERSON OR YOUR
PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE
ATTACKED OR TAKEN FROM YOU, YOU
CANNOT THINK ABOUT THE NEXT
THING. IF YOU CANNOT FEEL LIKE
YOU CAN GO OUT INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND BE SAFE, WHY
WOULD YOU WANT TO PUT YOURSELF
OUT THERE TO OPEN UP A SMALL
BUSINESS? THE SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING
TO MAKE OUR DISTRICT AND OUR
CITY THE VIBRANT, THRIVING,
INTERESTING PLACE THAT IT IS.
IF WE TAKE ANY OF THOSE THINGS
OUT, WE ARE GOING TO BECOME
SOME MIDDLE AMERICA SUBURB
WHERE ALL WE HAVE ARE -- WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE PANERAS AND
WHATEVER. THAT IS YOUR CHOICE.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A
KING DONUTS. YOU ARE NOT GOING
TO HAVE THE REDWING CAFE. YOU
ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE . YOU
WON'T HAVE THESE HOMEGROWN
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT COME FROM
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE
BECAUSE WE CANNOT -- WE HAVE TO
DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS AT THE
SAME TIME. PUBLIC SAFETY.
INVESTING IN A THRIVING LOCAL
COMMUNITY. ADDRESSING OUR
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS.
>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU ,
ADONIS.
>> THERE IS THE WORK OF THE
COUNCIL. IF I GET THE
APPOINTMENT , I WILL BE ON THE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE WITH THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN . ALSO THE
CHAIR OF THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE. SO THAT IS THE WORK
OF THE COUNCIL. SPECIFIC TO
DISTRICT TWO , 12 AND JACKSON
CID. LITTLE SAIGON. TOP OF THE
LIST. NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WHAT
I HEAR FROM FOLKS DOWN THERE IN
ALL THE MEETINGS I HAVE HAD IS
THAT WE COMMENT WE GO. SO A
SUSTAINED EFFORT IN CID. LITTLE
SAIGON. I WANT TO DO -- WE
TALKED ABOUT HIRING POLICE FROM
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. FOR EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD HERE IN DISTRICT
TWO, I WANT TO HOST RECRUITING
AND OUTREACH FARES FOR SPD. SO
I'M THINKING BACK TO WHEN THE
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT USED
TO COME TO YOUR SCHOOL . IT WAS
KIND OF A COOL THING. I THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY
THERE. MAKING RAINIER AVENUE
SAFER. PERIOD. IT NEEDS TO BE
SAFER. THERE'S THINGS WE CAN
DO IN THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS.
PERHAPS STOP PEOPLE FROM
CUTTING IN THE CENTER TURN LANE
AND SOME OTHER THINGS I THINK
WE CAN DO TO MAKE RAINIER
AVENUE SAFER . THE FIRST COUPLE
MONTHS OF THIS APPOINTMENT.
THERE'S ONLY 10 MONTHS TO DO
STUFF. I'M THINKING ABOUT
THINGS THAT ACTUALLY CAN BE
DONE IN THOSE 10 MONTHS. THE
OTHER THING BECAUSE THIS IS
JUST WHAT I HEAR CONSTANTLY.%I
HEAR THIS CONSTANTLY. THAT THE
CITY DOES NOT LISTEN TO US.
THEY DON'T LISTEN TO US ON A
WHOLE NUMBER OF THINGS. SO THIS
IS WHY I WANT TO GET THAT
RESOLUTION PASSED AND OUTLINED
TO A FRAMEWORK FOR HOW THE CITY
SHOULD BE ENGAGING WITH US. THE
LAST THING, WHICH IS NEAR AND
DEAR TO MY HEART. I'M TRYING
TO GIVE KIDS A DIFFERENT PATH.
A DIFFERENT PATH. INSTEAD OF A
PASSIVE CRIME, A PATH OF
SKATEBOARDING. WE'RE GOING TO
BREAK GROUND ON THE RAINIER
BEACH PARK IN THESE 10 MONTHS.
>> I'M SORRY. I GIVE YOU FIVE
SECONDS LIKE THAT. OH WELL. YOU
HANDLED IT WELL. THADDAEUS ,
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP CONCERNS AND
PRIORITIES FOR DISTRICT TWO ?
TELL OUR PUBLIC AUDIENCE HOW
YOU ARE GOING TO GET IN.
>> OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY
TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
TALKING TO LEADERS . TALKING TO
SMALL BUSINESSES. TALKING TO
PEOPLE JUST WALKING DOWN THE
STREET . ASKING THEM, HEY,
WHAT'S UP? WHAT ARE YOUR
PRIORITIES? HOW ARE YOU
FEELING? AND WHAT I HAVE GOTTEN
BACK IS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND
HOMELESSNESS ARE THREE OF THE
TOP ISSUES . PART OF ADDRESSING
THIS IS LISTENING MORE TO THE
COMMUNITY. SHOWING UP . MAKING
SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN
REACH OUT TO THEIR CITY
COUNCILMEMBER AND KNOW THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE ACTION.
THAT THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND RUN
WITH IT AND TRY AND IMPROVE THE
SITUATION. INVESTING IN CID AND
LISTENING TO STAKEHOLDERS IN
THE CID. WE KNOW THAT 12 AND
JACKSON, 12 AND KING ARE
HOTBEDS. IT IS WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY AND BRINGING
TOGETHER COALITIONS TO ADDRESS
PROBLEMS AND CONNECTING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH EACH
OTHER. PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE
INVESTING IN POLICE . MAKING
SURE WE HAVE MORE POLICE
OFFICERS. A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS
WALKING DOWN THE STREET AT
RAINIER AND EDMONDS . NEARLY
KILLED IN A DRIVE-BY. 50 SHOTS
WENT OUT. AND I WAS VERY
THANKFUL THAT POLICE WERE ABLE
TO SHOW UP QUICKLY . THAT WE
HAD PEOPLE WHO WOULD RUN INTO
GUNFIRE TO PROTECT US . WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY, IT IS ALSO
BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER. I
REMEMBER HAVING OFFICER BACK
WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
>> AND TIME IS UP. EDDIE ? WHAT
ARE YOUR TOP CONCERNS AND
PRIORITIES FOR DISTRICT TWO
THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OUR
IN STUDIO AUDIENCE AND THOSE
WATCHING ACROSS THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL AND RAINIER AVENUE
RADIO BROADCAST MEDIA NETWORK
AND JUST LISTENING ON OUR RADIO
NETWORK? TELL US WHAT IT IS.
>> THANK YOU, TONY. LIKE MANY
OTHERS, PUBLIC SAFETY. 12 AND
JACKSON. AT THE SAME TIME ,
SPEAKING WITH THE CID BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, WE
ALSO HAVE TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC
PERCEPTION . WE DON'T WANT
PEOPLE TO AVOID THE CID. WE
WANT PEOPLE TO SHOP AND EAT
THERE. PLEASE EVERYBODY GO DOWN
THERE AND GO OUT TO EAT. YEAH.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS ARE
TOP PRIORITIES. IT HAS BEEN
WHAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE
PAST FIVE YEARS WITH THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING. AND WITH THE COMP
PLAN ON THE AGENDA, THAT IS A
HUGE ISSUE. PARTICULARLY FOR
THE DISTRICT TWO BECAUSE THEY
HAVE A DISPLACEMENT MAP AND
DISTRICT 2 IS THE MOST AT RISK
OF DISPLACEMENT . AND WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WRONGS OF
THE PAST -- THE REDLINING THAT
HAS BASICALLY ROBBED OUR D TO
THE COMMUNITY OF WEALTH
BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES -- WE
NEED TO CHANGE THAT AND WE NEED
TO GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME AND
START TURNING THE CORNER THERE.
WE NEED TO ADJUST SEGREGATION
IN OUR COMMUNITY. SEGREGATION
IS RELATED TO PRIOR PLANNING
AND IT IS PLAGUING OUR
COMMUNITIES. IT IS ALSO HARMING
OUR SCHOOLS. SCHOOLS ARE GOING
TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR ME. I
KNOW IT IS NOT TYPICALLY
SOMETHING FOR CITY COUNCIL, BUT
WE DO HAVE A FAMILY'S
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE
LEVY COMING UP THAT FUNDS
IMPORTANT WRAPAROUND SERVICES
FOR PROGRAMS LIKE FRIENDS OF
THE CHILDREN THAT HONG WORKS
WITH AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF.
PRESCHOOLS IN OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGE TUITION.
>> TIME IS UP. CHUKUNDI , WHAT
ARE YOUR TOP CONCERNS AND
PRIORITIES FOR DISTRICT TWO ?
>> THANK YOU, TONY. I THINK OUR
IN STUDIO AUDIENCE ALREADY
KNOWS THE BEGINNING MY ANSWER
HERE. MY PRIORITIES CAN BE
FOUND AT CHUKUNDI .COM. AND
THEY ARE THERE CLEARLY
OUTLINED. HOWEVER, I DON'T
HAVE A PROBLEM REITERATING THEM
RIGHT NOW. PUBLIC SAFETY AND
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT . ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY. THESE ARE MY
THREE TOP PRIORITIES . AGAIN,
AS I HAVE TALKED ABOUT ALL
NIGHT, I HAVE YEARS AND DECADES
OF ENGAGING WITH THIS COMMUNITY
IN DISTRICT TWO DOING THE WORK
AND HEARING FROM THEM. I'M NOT
JUST DOING OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT NOW BECAUSE I'M
RUNNING AND TRY TO GET IN
OFFICE. I ALREADY RAN FOR
OFFICE IN 2020. I MOST
CERTAINLY MET WITH MANY OF YOU
THEN. AND I HAVE CONTINUED THAT
WORK. SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT MY
TOP PRIORITIES, THEY TRULY COME
FROM COMMUNITY . IT IS NOT FROM
A SURVEY THAT I RECENTLY DID.
IT IS FROM THE WORK OF SITTING
IN YOUR LIVING ROOMS, BEING AT
THE RALLIES, BEING AT THE COMP
PLAN MEETINGS. HOSTING EVENTS
AROUND THE COMP PLAN AND THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN. I WAS THERE
AS A VOLUNTEER . NOT AS MY CITY
JOB . WHEN I TALK ABOUT MY
ENGAGEMENT, IT IS OFF THE
CLOCK. AND THAT IS WHAT IS
IMPORTANT AND WHAT I WILL BRING
TO THE TABLE AS A COUNCILMEMBER
. THAT PASSION AND DESIRE AND
DRIVE THAT YOU AND MANY IN THIS
COMMUNITY HAVE SEEN FOR ME IN
THE LAST 25 YEARS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MARK ? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS ?
>> TOP PRIORITIES . OBVIOUSLY
AS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT,
PUBLIC SAFETY. DISPLACEMENT.
THAT IS THE AFFORDABILITY .
BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
HAVING THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE
HOMES SO THAT GENERATIONAL
WEALTH CAN BE BUILT. AND WHEN I
THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY,
THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THIS
PAST WEEKEND. THERE WERE SIX
SHOOTINGS FROM THE SOUTH END.
ONE OF THEM IN SOTO. THAT IS
NOT THE TWO ANYMORE. FIVE OF
THEM WERE IN THE TWO . SEWER
PARK . NORTH BEACON HILL. THAT
IS A CONCERN FOR ME. WHEN WE
HAVE THAT LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE
GOING ON . AND IT IS NOT
NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT JUST
HAVING MORE COPS ON THE STREET
IS GOING TO PREVENT . SO WHAT
RESOURCES CAN WE TAP INTO THAT
WILL BE THOSE VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTERS? WHAT KIND OF
SUPPORT DO THEY NEED AND HOW
CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO
INTERRUPT THIS CYCLE? AND I
WILL SAY MORE ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT
COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS. PUBLIC
SAFETY TO ME IS ALSO ABOUT THE
VIABILITY OF OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITIES. WHEN WE HAVE
THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITIES,
WE TEND TO HAVE LESS CRIME. SO
HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES ? THAT IS ONE OF THE
REASONS I'M LOOKING AT, HOW
CAN WE CREATE A FUND ? GO OUT
AND FIND THE RESOURCES TO HELP
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES BEFORE
THEY ENCOUNTER ANY KIND OF
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE .
>> THANK YOU. ALL OF YOU. FOR
BEING ON THE STAGE. IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN ASKING A QUESTION
, THERE IS A MICROPHONE RIGHT
THERE . IN A VERY ORDERLY
FASHION , GO AHEAD AND WE CAN
LINE UP AS ONE THING OR WE DO
HAVE A MICROPHONE. I KNOW THERE
MAY BE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT
TO GET UP. I'M NOT SURE HOW
WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS YET,
BUT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION,
RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> I HAVE A BROKEN FOOT.
>> HOLD ON A SECOND. HOLD ON A
SECOND. THAT IS ONE PERSON.
ANYBODY ELSE , RAISE YOUR HAND
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION. OKAY. A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS DOWN HERE.
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO WE GOT YOU. AND THEN THE
PERSON WITH THE BROKEN FOOT
SPOKE UP . SO WE ARE GOING TO
DO THEM. BUT HERE'S A QUESTION
FROM OUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHY
. AND I ALWAYS ASK PEOPLE TO
COME DOWN HERE. THIS IS A
QUESTION . IS THERE ANY
COLUMBIA CITY BUSINESS OWNERS
IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT? OKAY.
YEAH. COLUMBIA CITY BUSINESS
OWNERS. ON FRIDAY WHEN WE WERE
PASSING OUT FLYERS TO LET FOLKS
KNOW THIS WAS TAKING PLACE
BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW -- IT IS
WHAT IT IS. BUSINESSES -- THREE
BUSINESSES ASKED BASICALLY THE
SAME QUESTION . AND THIS IS THE
QUESTION. AND I'M GOING TO
START WITH YOU , ADONIS . WHAT
WILL YOU DO TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES LIKE THOSE IN
COLUMBIA CITY THAT ARE
STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES SUCH AS
CRIME, POLICE RESPONSE TIME --
THAT IS A VERY REAL THING --
INCREASED COSTS RELATED TO THE
NEW MINIMUM WAGE AND OTHER
COSTS . ON FRIDAY WHEN WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THIS MEETING,
THREE SMALL BUSINESSES TOLD US
THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO CLOSE .
YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT THAT?
>> I HEARD THREE QUESTIONS IN
THERE.
>> YEAH. YOU GOT 90 SECONDS TO
WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH IT.
>> AND YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> I WILL REPEAT IT.
>> WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP
SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE THOSE IN
COLUMBIA CITY RIGHT HERE THAT
ARE STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES SUCH
AS CRIME , POLICE RESPONSE TIME
. YOU HEARD ME SAY THAT IS A
REAL THING. WE DON'T EVEN CALL
THE POLICE. INCREASE COSTS
RELATED TO THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE
. AND OTHER COSTS. ON FRIDAY,
THREE BUSINESSES SAID THAT THEY
MAY HAVE TO CLOSE .
>> JUST KEEPING BUSINESSES
AFLOAT. SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT
THAT , IT STARTS WITH ACCESS .
ACCESS TO THE BUSINESS. IF
CRIME IS AN ISSUE , THEN I DO
BELIEVE THAT WE DO NEED AN
INCREASED PRESENCE OF POLICE. I
WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT. IN THE CID,
THAT IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT
THAN COLUMBIA CITY. IT'S GOING
TO LOOK DIFFERENT THAN RAINIER
BEACH. ONE OF THE IDEAS WHEN I
WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE, I WAS
TALKING ABOUT, WOULDN'T IT BE
GREAT IF COPS GOT OUT OF THEIR
CAR AND WALKED A BEAT AND JUST
WALKED A BEAT AND GOT TO KNOW
THE BUSINESSES. GOT TO KNOW THE
PEOPLE. TALK TO PEOPLE. SO THEY
ARE WALKING THE BEAT. WHAT THIS
DOES IS IT CUTS DOWN ON THINGS
LIKE BURGLARIES AND WHATNOT .
SO THAT IS ONE WAY I BELIEVE
THAT WE CAN SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT WAY . IN TERMS
OF THE INCREASED COST OF
BUSINESS, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
INSURANCE IS GOING UP.
INSURANCE IS GOING UP BECAUSE
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. SO
THERE'S BUSINESSES IN BALLARD.
THERE'S BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN.
THIS BUSINESSES IN THE SOUTH
AND WHERE INSURANCE IS JUST
SKYROCKETING. IT IS
SKYROCKETING BECAUSE THEY
DON'T WANT TO ENSURE THESE
BUSINESSES BECAUSE CRIME IS SO
BAD. AND SO I THINK WE CAN
START WITH THE PLACE OF PUBLIC
SAFETY. INCREASED PRESENCE OF
POLICE ON THE GROUND IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING THE BEAT.
>> THANK YOU. THADDAEUS, SAME
QUESTION. YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT
IT?
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> WHAT WE DO TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES LIKE THOSE IN
COLUMBIA CITY A STRUGGLING WITH
ISSUES SUCH AS CRIME, POLICE
RESPONSE , INCREASED COST
RELATED TO THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE
-- THREE BUSINESSES SAID THAT
THEY MAY HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN ON
FRIDAY. THEY SHARED THAT INFO.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE SPOKEN
WITH MANY SMALL BUSINESSES IN
THE COMMUNITY RANGING FROM THE
TOP OF THE TWO . CID , DOWN TO
RAINIER BEACH AND ALL
THROUGHOUT, INCLUDING HERE IN
COLUMBIA CITY. IT IS AS ADONIS
SAID , ABOUT BRINGING POLICE
ONTO THE BEAT . AS TALKING
ABOUT INSURANCE , I TALKED TO
SOMEONE WHO'S INSURANCE WENT
UP 40%. I TALKED TO ANOTHER
BUSINESS OWNER WHO WAS REFUSED
INSURANCE. CANNOT EVEN GET
INSURANCE. AND SO WHEN, SAY,
YOUR WINDOW GETS BUSTED IN ,
THESE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
HAVING TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET .
SO IT IS BRINGING MORE POLICE
IN. BUT IT IS ALSO BRINGING
MORE PEOPLE TO THE STREET. WE
CAN ACHIEVE THIS USING THE COMP
PLAN USING PROCESSES THAT
INCREASE DENSITY. PROCESSES
THAT BRING MORE PLAYERS TO THE
TABLE TO FREQUENT THESE
BUSINESSES. LIVING IN OTHELLO,
WE SEE A BUNCH OF DEVELOPMENT
GOING ON, INCLUDING THE NEW
DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NEAR THAT
STATION. I'VE TALKED TO SMALL
BUSINESSES AROUND THEIR. THEY
ARE SEEING INCREASED NUMBERS OF
PEOPLE COMING IN. SO WE NEED TO
BUILD AROUND SMALL BUSINESSES.
PLAN OUR CITIES TO NOT ONLY
CREATE MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL
BUILDINGS , WHICH HAVE MORE
SPACES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
RENT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT
CHEAPER. BUT ALSO BRINGING
PEOPLE IN TO GO --
>> AND THAT IS TIME. EDDIE
CONNECT YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT
THE QUESTION OR ARE YOU GOOD?
>> I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. FIRST
OF ALL, I SUPPORT OUR WORKERS.
OUR MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS . THEY
ARE STRUGGLING AS WELL. THE
HARD PART -- WHAT WE ARE
STRUGGLING WITH IS THAT EVEN AT
HOME WAGE , YOU STILL CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE IN SEATTLE.
SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS ,
WHICH ULTIMATELY WILL SUPPORT
OUR WORKERS IN OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES. WE ARE DEALING WITH
A LOT OF INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES
HERE . ABSOLUTELY PUBLIC SAFETY
IS A KEY ONE. YOU KNOW, THE
BROKEN WINDOWS PROGRAM . I
HEARD IT DOES NOT PAY THE FULL
COST , ESPECIALLY IN HISTORIC
DISTRICT OF CHINATOWN . I WOULD
LOVE TO SUPPORT BROADER
EXEMPTIONS OR WAYS TO CUT
REGULATIONS AND TAXES FOR OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES. IT IS NOT
JUST THE TAXES THEY PAY BUT
THEY ALSO HAVE TO HIRE AN
ACCOUNTANT, HIRE A LAWYER TO
FIGURE THIS STUFF OUT. THAT
MIGHT BE A LOT MORE THAN THE
TAXES THEY END UP PAYING.
FINALLY, I JUST THINK WE COULD
BE CHEERLEADERS FOR OUR LOCAL
BUSINESSES. WE'VE GOT TO SHOP
AND EAT LOCAL. NOT JUST IN
CHINATOWN. COME ON DOWN TO
COLUMBIA CITY. SHOP AND EAT
LOCAL. THANK YOU.
>> CHUKUNDI , WOULD YOU LIKE TO
HAVE THE QUESTION REPEATED?
>> ALWAYS. PLEASE REPEAT THE
QUESTION.
>> I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR.
>> PLEASE REPEAT THE QUESTION.
>> WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP
SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE COLUMBIA
CITY THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH
ISSUES LIKE CRIME, POLICE
RESPONSE TIME, INCREASED COSTS
RELATED TO THE NEW MINIMUM
WAGE. TALK TO THREE BUSINESSES
ON FRIDAY WHEN WE WERE PASSING
OUT THIS INFORMATION THAT SAID
THEY MAY HAVE TO CLOSE.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR
REPEATING THE QUESTION, TONY.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS MY
EXPERIENCE COMES FROM SOMETHING
I REALLY DO . IT IS NOT
ASPIRATIONAL. I AM A MEMBER OF
THE ROYAL ESQUIRE CLUB RIGHT
HERE . I GO TO THE EXECUTIVE
MEETINGS. OUR WINDOWS HAVE BEEN
BROKEN, SO I STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH COLUMBIA CITY
BUSINESSES BECAUSE I AM ONE.
THAT IS WHY I RAISED MY HAND.
SO WHAT I WOULD DO FOR OUR
BUSINESSES HERE IN COLUMBIA
CITY AND BEYOND IS OF COURSE
WORK WITH SPD TO LOOK AT WAYS
WE CAN IMPROVE SAFETY AROUND
THESE FACILITIES . BETTER
LIGHTING. MORE CAMERAS AND THE
LIKE. I WOULD ALSO WORK WITH
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE
UNDERUTILIZED PROGRAMS RIGHT
NOW WHERE BUSINESSES CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE. THE OTHER
THING IS I WOULD WORK WITH THE
LOCAL BUSINESSES COLLECTIVELY.
USING GROUPS SUCH AS THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE CAN GET
ONE OF THE TOP 10 THINGS. TOP
FIVE THINGS. GROUPS LIKE THE
WASHINGTON HOSPITALITY
ASSOCIATION, WHICH I KNOW THAT
MANY MEMBERS IN THE BUSINESSES
HERE IN COLUMBIA CITY ARE A
MEMBER OF THAT. SO THAT IS WHAT
I WOULD DO IN RESPONSE TO THAT
QUESTION, TONY. I'LL USE THE
REMAINDER OF MY 20 SECONDS TO
REALLY TALK ABOUT MY RESPONSE
IN STANDING WITH THE VICTIMS IN
OUR DISTRICT WHEN CRIME IS HIT
HOME AND MURDER IS HIT HOME. I
WAS THERE AT CONNOR'S HOUSE
WHEN HE WAS MURDERED THAT NIGHT
BEFORE. I STOOD WITH HIS
PARENTS AND GALVANIZED OUR
COMMUNITY AROUND THAT. AND I
ORGANIZED A RALLY WHEN A MOM
WAS KILLED LAST YEAR. I BROUGHT
500 PEOPLE OUT. COMPASSION.
>> MARK ? WOULD YOU LIKE THE
QUESTION REPEATED OR ARE YOU
GET ?
>> NO. I GET IT. BECAUSE WERE
TALKING ABOUT HOW THE COLUMBIA
CITY BUSINESSES ARE FEELING.
AND I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE
COLUMBIA CITY BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION MEETING THIS
MORNING , AND WE TALKED ABOUT
THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAD. I AM
FAMILIAR WITH THE COLUMBIA CITY
BIA . I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS
WITH FOLKS FROM RAINIER ABC. WE
SPECIFICALLY TALK THIS MORNING
ABOUT OFFICERS GETTING OUT OF
THEIR CARS AND BEING IN THE
COMMUNITY MORE . BUT WE ALSO
HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY THAT
WE DON'T HAVE THE OFFICERS TO
DO THAT PROACTIVE WORK BECAUSE
OUR NUMBERS ARE DOWN. NOW, WE
ARE BRINGING MORE OFFICERS IN.
WE'RE GETTING MORE SLOTS IN
THE ACADEMY TO BRING MORE
OFFICERS ON BOARD. BUT FROM THE
TIME SOMEBODY APPLIES TO THE
TIME TO BECOME A USEFUL OFFER
-- OFFICER CAN BE UP TO TWO
YEARS. THAT IS A REALITY WE
HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. WHAT CAN
BE DONE IS CHUKUNDI MENTIONED.
I HAVE DONE THAT WITH A LOT OF
THE BUSINESSES IN COLUMBIA
CITY. GOING AND TALKING TO THE
FOLKS ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY.
TALKING AT PCC
ABOUT THE ROBBERIES THAT HAVE
HAPPENED ON THE EVAN STREET
CORRIDOR AND WHAT THEY CAN DO
TO BETTER SAFEGUARD THEMSELVES.
SO IT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF
WHAT WE DO AFTER THE FACT. IT
DOES GET BACK TO WHAT WE CAN DO
BEFORE THE FACT. WHAT CAN WE DO
TO ASSIST THOSE BUSINESSES TO
PREVENT THEM FROM BEING VICTIMS
OF CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE?
>> DO WE HAVE A MICROPHONE FOR
THAT PERSON IN THE BACK OF THE
ROOM WHO BROKE THEIR FOOT?
>> I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IN MY
HAND.
>> OKAY. I'M SORRY. I DID IT
AGAIN. HONG. GET MY ATTENTION.
>> YOU ARE GOING TO SKIP ME FOR
MY FAVORITE QUESTION OF THE
NIGHT SO FAR BECAUSE I GET TO
TALK ABOUT WHEN MY FAVORITE
PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. I GOT IT. I
TOLD YOU I GET TO TALK ABOUT
HER. MY MOM. IF IT GETS ME TO
ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHY I AM
UP HERE. I THINK ABOUT HER. SHE
POURS SO MUCH INTO OUR SMALL
BUSINESS. AND IT IS NOT JUST A
TRANSACTIONAL THING FOR HER. IT
IS OUR WAY OF LIFE. IT IS AN
EXTENSION. IT IS OUR HOPE. IT
IS OUR DREAM. FOR US TO BE ABLE
TO ADDRESS THIS A QUESTION IS
AMAZING BECAUSE, YES, WE DEAL
WITH CRIME. YES, WE DEAL WITH
INCREASED COSTS AND WAGES. WE
WANT TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO
WORK WITH US AND WE WANT THEM
TO BE NOT A STARBUCKS EMPLOYEE
WHEN THEY CAN COME WORK WITH
US. BUT WE NEED SUPPORT FROM
THE CITY FOR THAT. WE DO NEED
MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE TO
COME AND WALK IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD SO THAT PEOPLE SEE
THAT THERE IS SAFETY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. WE WANT TO LOOK
AT THINGS LIKE TECHNOLOGY
ACCESS AND TRAINING. I'M
TRYING TO TEACH HER ALL THE
TIME HOW TO USE OUR POS SYSTEM
. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD
GET RESOURCES FROM THE CITY TO
DO THAT. WE WANT TO MAKE IT
EASY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO COME
TO US . THAT IS ON THE ROADS.
THAT IS THE SIDEWALKS. THAT IS
TRANSIT. WE WANT THEM TO BE
ABLE TO PARK AND DO THEIR
BUSINESS AND GET ON WITH THEIR
DAY. WE WANT THE CITY TO
CONTINUE INVESTING TOOLS LIKE
THE TI FUND, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM AND INVEST
AND GROW OUR BUSINESS. WE WANT
SOMETHING THAT IS CRAZY AND
MAYBE OUT THERE BUT IT IS LIKE
HEALTHCARE. WE CANNOT COMPETE
WITH STARBUCKS. IF THERE IS
SOME KIND OF HEALTHCARE
MARKETPLACE THAT WE ARE SMALL
BUSINESSES CAN JOIN INTO, WE
CAN BECOME COMPETITIVE.
>> AND TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THIS
PART OF IT. I'M JUST GOING TO
ASK EVERYONE, PLEASE BE CIVIL .
I THINK THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN
CIVIL UP HERE ON THIS STAGE IN
ANSWERING QUESTIONS. YOU ARE
GOING TO GET, LIKE , 10 SECONDS
TO ASK A QUESTION. IF YOU HAVE
TO PROVIDE CONTEXT, I'M GOING
TO SAY, TAKE THE MICROPHONE AND
GIVE IT TO THE NEXT PERSON.
THIS IS CALLED GIVING YOU SOME
TIME TO FORMULATE THE QUESTION.
THAT IS WHAT I'M DOING NOW.
THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE ABOUT
30 SECONDS BECAUSE I WANT TO
GET AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE CAN
IN. ASK THE QUESTION IN ABOUT
10 SECONDS. IF YOU START
TELLING ME ABOUT YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCE, I'M GOING TO
SAY, TAKE THE MICROPHONE BACK
SO WE CAN GO TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT?
OKAY. FIRST QUESTION. THE
PERSON WITH THE BROKEN FOOT IN
THE BACK. PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME.
>> THE PERSON WITH THE BROKEN
FOOT IS YOUR GODMOTHER. THIS IS
DON MASON. I AM A FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE . I CONGRATULATE
ALL OF YOU .
>>, THE QUESTION.
>> MOST LIKELY THE PERSON IN
THE ROOM -- I AM AN ELDER OF
DISTINCTION. I KNOW FOUR OF
YOU. THREE, AND MY GODSON.
>> THE QUESTION.
>> I WANT TO KNOW THIS . DO YOU
REALLY -- HOW DO YOU REALLY
UNDERSTAND BEING A
COUNCILMEMBER? MOST OF THE
ANSWERS YOU HAVE GIVEN SOUNDS
LIKE YOU ARE RUNNING NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS. HOW DO YOU
UNDERSTAND WHAT A CITY COUNCIL
PERSON DOES?
>> HONG, HOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND
BEING A COUNCILPERSON?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE STAFF WHO
ARE THE POLICY EXPERTS. MY ROLE
IS TO BE YOUR BRIDGE. SHOW UP.
LISTEN TO YOU. UNDERSTAND WHAT
IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE. TAKE
IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW
POLICY AND WORK TOWARD A
SOLUTION WITH THE REST OF THE
COUNCIL.
>> ALL RIGHT. ADONIS.
>> TRANSPORTATION ADVISER IN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. I WORK
WITH THE COUNCIL EVERY DAY AND
CENTRAL STAFF EVERY DAY SO I'VE
GOT A GOOD SENSE OF THE WORK
THEY DO , HOW WE SET AGENDAS
AND WORK WITH THEM AND THE DAY
TODAY OF BEING A COUNCILMEMBER.
YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT. THADDAEUS.
>> I WORKED WITH CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS NOT ONLY IN
SEATTLE BUT ACROSS THE REGION.
I LEARNED ABOUT HOW THEY
ADDRESS PROBLEMS . WHEN TO USE
STAFF, HOW TO GET INTO THE
PUBLIC AND HEAR FROM
STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT HOW TO
ADDRESS ISSUES AND WHAT IS MOST
IMPORTANT.
>> EDDIE.
>> WORKING IN THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE WORK
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
REGULARLY. I HAVE WORKED ON
LEGISLATION, DRAFTED
LEGISLATION, AND WORKED CLOSELY
WITH CURRENT COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> CHUKUNDI .
>> I SEE MYSELF AT THE
INTERSECTION AUDI OF POLICY AND
GOVERNMENT AND ALSO COMMUNITY.
MOST CERTAINLY WE HAVE PEOPLE
IN THE OFFICE WHO KNOW POLICY
AND ARE EXPERTS. FOLKS THAT CAN
HELP YOU DRAFT LEGISLATION .
BUT MY JOB IS TO BE ABLE TO
REALLY CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY
AND SEE WHEN WE ARE GOING TO
FOLLOW THE POLICY AND WHEN WE
ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE POLICY.
>> MARK.
>> I SEE THE PRIMARY JOB OF A
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER NOT JUST
LEGISLATING. IT IS LISTENING.
IT IS BEING A SERVANT TO THE
COMMUNITY. SO THAT IS WHAT I
SEE THE PRIMARY THING. YEAH. WE
CAN DO THE POLICY THING. WE CAN
DO THE IMPLEMENTATION THING. WE
CAN DO THE PROBLEM-SOLVING
THING. BUT AM I REALLY
LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY? ARE
PEOPLE BEING HEARD? DO PEOPLE
FEEL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HEARD
AND THEIR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN
ADDRESSED? FOR ME, IT IS ABOUT
SERVICE .
>> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE
NEXT QUESTION HERE. SORRY, DON.
Y'ALL KNOW IF I'M WILLING TO
INTERRUPT MY GODMOTHER, I'M
SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. IT IS NOT
PERSONAL. NEXT QUESTION. I KNOW
THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS OVER
HERE. I'M GOING TO TRY AND
REMEMBER. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
THIS QUESTION FIRST AND ANSWER
THE QUESTION IN 10 SECONDS. ASK
THE QUESTION IN 10 SECONDS.
>> HOW SURE ARE YOU TO BE MORE
THAN THE LAST 10 COUNTY PEOPLE
ON THE BOARD TO THE PEOPLE ?
>> I'M NOT SURE .
>> HOW SURE ARE YOU GOING TO BE
MORE POSITIVE FOR THE PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY THAN THE ONES
THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD
BEFORE.
>> MARK, WE WILL START WITH
YOU.
>> AGAIN, IT IS LISTENING. IT
IS SHOWING UP. IT IS BEING
RESPONSIVE. JUST THAT SIMPLE.
BEING OF SERVICE TO THE
COMMUNITY.
>> HONG.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> YEAH. WHAT SHE SAID.
>> I WILL JUST DRAW FROM TWO
EXPERIENCES . MY EXPERIENCE IN
LIFE AS AN IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE, AND ONE IS A NONPROFIT
PERSON. YOU CANNOT MAKE IT IN
THIS WORLD AS AN IMMIGRANT OR
REFUGEE OR A NONPROFIT PERSON
WITHOUT HAVING HOPE THAT THE
WORLD CAN BE BETTER AND THAT
YOU CAN BRING PEOPLE ALONG TO
ACHIEVE THAT VISION. AND THAT
IS WHO I AM.
>> ADONIS.
>> SHOWING UP AND DEALING WITH
THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE IN
DISTRICT TWO ARE DEALING WITH.
SO THAT IS THE CAD , LITTLE
SAIGON, RAINIER AVENUE, MLK .
DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES TO
MAKE THOSE PLACES SAFER. I KEEP
HEARING IT. I KEEP HEARING IT.
BUT THE CITY DOES NOT LISTEN.
SO BY LISTENING -- BY GETTING
THIS RESOLUTION PASSED THAT
OUTLINES THE FRAMEWORK FOR HOW
THE CITY SHOULD BE ENGAGING
WITH THIS COMMUNITY -- THAT IS
ONE WAY TO DEFINITELY SHOW.
>> TIME IS UP. THADDAEUS.
>> IT IS SHOWING UP. IT IS
LISTENING. IT IS BEING
PROACTIVE AND SHOWING UP EVEN
WHEN PEOPLE DON'T ASK YOU TO
BE THERE SO YOU'RE ABLE TO
HEAR MORE DIVERSE VOICES IN THE
COMMUNITY. IT IS TALKING TO
GROUPS YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR POINT
OF VIEW SO YOU CAN INTEGRATE
IDEAS AND DISCUSS . AND IT IS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BRINGING
PEOPLE TOGETHER. BUILDING BROAD
COALITIONS BECAUSE THE ISSUES
THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US .
>> TIME IS UP. EDDIE, SAME
ANSWER .
>> I THINK IT IS ABOUT HARD
WORK . BEING HUMBLE. SHOWING UP
. NOT BEING IDEOLOGICAL. BEING
A PRACTICAL PROBLEM SOLVER .
LISTENING TO YOU. THIS
COMMUNITY IS AMAZING. THIS
COMMUNITY HAS THE RIGHT IDEAS.
I WANT TO UPLIFT YOUR IDEAS.
>> CHUKUNDI .
>> I PLAN ON USING MY 28 YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE AS A CITY
EMPLOYEE ALONG WITH MY MANY
DECADES OF BEING A COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER AND AN ELECTED PCO.
THAT COMBINATION OF KNOWING HOW
TO WORK IN THE CITY AND ALSO
WORK AND LISTEN TO PROVEN
DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO LISTEN
AND WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY AS
I HAVE DONE. THAT IS GOING TO
PREPARE ME TO MAKE SURE THAT I
AVOID THE PITFALLS OF MY
PREDECESSORS.
>> THANK YOU. MARK.
>> YOU WANT ME TO GO AGAIN?
>> OH, MARK. YOU STARTED. OKAY.
WAS EVERYBODY GIVEN AN
OPPORTUNITY? THERE IS A PERSON
RIGHT THERE . THERE'S THREE
PEOPLE RIGHT THERE. GET THEM
AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET
THROUGH THEM REALLY QUICKLY.
GET THIS PERSON RIGHT HERE AND
GIVE THEM THE MICROPHONE. LET
THEM GET THEIR QUESTION. MAKE
YOUR QUESTION CONCISE AND
QUICK. WE WILL DO THESE THREE
RIGHT HERE REALLY QUICKLY. GO
AHEAD. SAY YOUR NAME.
>> KIERSTEN. THE TWO IS AN AREA
OF HIGH PRIORITY FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THROUGH
EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION,
HEAT, AND NOISE POLLUTION. HOW
WILL YOU PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH
OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT AND YOUR
COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR TIME ON
COUNCIL?
>> REALLY QUICKLY, HONG.
>> IT IS BY WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THERE ARE
FOLKS ALREADY DOING THIS WORK.
THE NAME THAT COMES TO MIND IS
MARIA UP ON BEACON HILL. FOLKS
ARE RIGHT THERE UNDERNEATH THE
FLIGHT PATH. THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING THIS WORK. SO THAT IS WHO
I WOULD TURN TO. THE PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY.
>> ADONIS.
>> GOING BACK TO KIDS. KIDS,
KIDS, KIDS. I'VE GOT TO THINK
ABOUT WHERE WE ARE PLACING THIS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ARE WE
PUTTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
RIGHT ON ARTERIAL? WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT THIS, THAT IS AIR
POLLUTION FOR CHILDREN. THAT IS
WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT IN
TERMS OF, IS THIS GOING TO WORK
FOR KIDS? WHERE DO KIDS GET TO
PLAY? WHERE DO KIDS GET TO DO
THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO? IF
WE ARE PUTTING THEM RIGHT ON AN
ARTERIAL, THAT CANNOT BE
HEALTHY FOR ANYBODY.
>> THANK YOU. THADDAEUS .
>> YEAH. IT IS ABOUT USING THE
COMP AND USING OUR LATEST
STRATEGIES TO ENSURE THAT AS WE
ARE BUILDING DENSITY , WE ARE
MAKING SURE TO INVEST IN TREES
AND GREENERY THAT HELPS KEEP
OUR AIR CLEAN . THE LEGACY OF
THE SOUTH AND IS THIS BEING
BUILT IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA.
THIS BEING A FORMER LANDFILL.
AND SO MAKING SURE THAT YOU
REMEDIATE AND WORK WITH
PARTNERS .
>> TIME IS UP. EDDIE.
>> YEAH. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE
HONG PLAN. WE ARE IN A CLIMATE
CRISIS. WE SEE IT IN
CALIFORNIA. WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE REFUGEES COMING HERE .
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A
WORLD-CLASS TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM. OUR ROADS ARE NOT GOING
TO GET ANY BIGGER. WE NEED TO
HAVE MORE PEOPLE USING THEM. SO
THAT IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO
MAKE THE MOST OUT OF OUR ROADS
AND TRANSPORTATION.
>> CHUKUNDI .
>> AGAIN, AS I HAVE ANSWERED
EVERY QUESTION, I HAVE A
DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO WORK IN
THIS AREA. I HAVE BEEN DOING IT
FOR A LONG TIME. AS A
VOLUNTEER, I WOULD CONTINUE MY
WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON'S NATURE LAB WHERE
I SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COUNCIL
THERE. I WILL BRING THOSE TOOLS
AND TECHNIQUES OF LEADERS
AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE TO BE
HERE AT THE CITY. AND AS A
MEMBER OF THE PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT WHERE I
HAVE WORKED IN THE GREEN
SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP FOR 20
YEARS AROUND REFORESTING
DISTRICT TWO AND THE REST OF
THE CITY, I HAVE AN INTIMATE
KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO BRING TREES
TO OUR DISTRICT.
>> MARK?
>> I'M GLAD THEY MENTIONED
MARIA AND THE BEACON HILL
COUNCIL BECAUSE I ALSO SIT ON
THE BEACON HILL COUNCIL.
SPECIAL CONCERN FOR US BECAUSE
IT IS IMPACTING THE HEALTH OF
OUR NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY OUR
ELDER NEIGHBORS. INCREASING THE
TREE CANOPY IS ONE WAY WE CAN
DO IT. PRESERVING OPEN SPACE IS
ANOTHER WAY. THE COUNCIL WAS
ABLE TO GET A BLOCK DEDICATED
TO A PARK SPACE AT 17th AND
WALKER. WE FOUGHT HARD.
>> I'M SORRY. I AM SMASHED.
THE PUBLIC FORM WASN'T EVEN
SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE QUESTIONS
FROM THE AUDIENCE. I JUST
THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY
NECESSARY. WE WILL GET THIS
GENTLEMAN IN FRONT BECAUSE HE
HAD HIS HAND UP AND MAKE YOUR
QUESTION REALLY QUICK. PLEASE
ANSWER IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.
>> MY NAME IS DAVID. I WAS
WONDERING, WHAT INITIATIVE TO
BRING KINDNESS AND NEIGHBOR TO
THE COLUMBIA CITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY PROJECTS?
>> THAT IS THE QUESTION . WHAT
IS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION?
WE WILL START WITH YOU, ADONIS.
>> WHAT I HAVE FOUND WORKS IN A
LOT OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS
IS JUST ACTIVATING SPACES.
CREATING SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO
ENJOY MUSIC , CREATE ART, DO
ALL THE REALLY FUN THINGS THAT
PEOPLE DO . WORKING IN THE
D.O.T., WE HAVE A LOT . WE WORK
WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITIES TO
CREATE THESE SPACES. WHETHER
THAT IS STREET EATERIES OR
TEMPORARY CLOSURES OF SIDE
STREETS TO HAVE BANDS PLAY.
JUST REALLY ACTIVATING AND
CELEBRATING THE COMMUNITY.
>> THADDAEUS.
>> PART OF IT IS BY LEADING BY
EXAMPLE. BEING KIND TO
YOURSELF. ENGAGING WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SHOWING UP
AND LISTENING. IT IS CREATING
SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT.
IT IS TALKING TO PEOPLE IN
CULTURE . GETTING MORE EVENTS
WHERE PEOPLE CAN LISTEN TO
MUSIC . THIS IS THE STAGE WHERE
JIMI HENDRIX AND QUINCY JONES.
LET THAT MORE AND THAT. SEATTLE
HAS RICH ART HISTORY. LET'S
CAPITALIZE ON IT.
>> THANK YOU. EDDIE.
>> I AGREE. WE NEED MORE ART.
ONE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO
DO IS LEAD BY EXAMPLE. WE ARE
IN SUCH A DIVISIVE TIME AND
IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE
WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE
FEDS. WHAT WE CAN DO IS COME
TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO
SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND TO NOT
BE IDEOLOGICAL. TO ME PEOPLE
WHERE THEY ARE AT. TO NOT TAKE
THINGS PERSONALLY AND TO REALLY
LISTEN TO THESE HARD
CONVERSATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, TONY. THE
PROJECTS HE SPECIFICALLY ASKED
ABOUT PROJECTS I'M WORKING ON.
I HAD AN AMAZING NIGHT OUT WITH
MY NEIGHBORS ON MY BLOCK. I
WANT TO BRING THAT BACK WHERE
IT IS NOT JUST AN SPD THING. IT
IS A CITY THING. I WANT TO GET
NEIGHBORS INVOLVED IN THE ONE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY SERVICE
PROJECT. WE DID. I HAVE BEEN
THERE EVERY YEAR DOING THOSE.
THE OTHER THING ON A PERSONAL
LEVEL I HAVE BEEN LEADING
HEALTH WALKS AT STEWART PARK AS
A VOLUNTEER ONCE AGAIN. AND
THEN I WOULD BRING BACK
COMMUNITY MEETINGS. HAVING
ROUTINE COMMUNITY MEETINGS
RIGHT HERE.
>> THE QUESTION WAS , WHAT ARE
MY IDEAS TO BRING KINDNESS TO
COLUMBIA CITY?
>> THIS IS COUNTING INTO YOUR
TIME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. 15
SECONDS.
>> I WILL BE ASKING YOU THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO COME INTO
YOUR COMMUNITY AND SAY, HERE'S
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO FOR YOU
OR HERE IS MY IDEAS FOR YOU. I
WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AS TO
WHAT YOUR IDEAS ARE AND HOW CAN
I PARTNER WITH YOU TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN .
>> Z, I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD
PEOPLE. ONE MORE QUESTION IS
ALL WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TIME
FOR. WEIGHT . HONG. AGAIN, I'M
SORRY. GO AHEAD, HONG.
>> WITH ONLY 30 SECONDS TO
ANSWER, I WILL JUST SAY, SWEET
FRIED DOUGH. KING DONUTS. WE
PARTNER WITH A VARIETY OF LOCAL
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THEY
INCLUDE THE ABC BICYCLE CLUB.
BIKE WORKS. THE TENNIS CLUB.
NATIONAL MENTORSHIP MONTHS. WE
GAVE DUNLAP 100 DONUTS .
>> TIME IS UP. I MADE A
DECISION. SINCE WE STARTED A
LITTLE LATE, I HOPE
EVERYBODY'S NOT MAD AT ME.
I'M GOING A LITTLE BIT EXTRA.
ONE QUESTION OVER HERE. ASK THE
QUESTION.
>> HEY. MY NAME IS CLIFF. IF
YOU WERE ON COUNCIL IN THE LAST
YEAR AND YOU PROBABLY HEARD
ABOUT THE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
PILOT, WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED
THE -- THAT ? YES, NO, AND IF
NOT, WHY NOT?
>> THADDAEUS.
>> I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT THIS AFTERWARD. I DON'T
KNOW ABOUT THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT. EDDIE.
>> I BELIEVE THE CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES IS MORALES' ZONING
PROPOSAL THAT WOULD SUPPORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED FACES. AND YES,
I WOULD SUPPORT IT.
>> YES. I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
AND I WAS AT THE MEETING. I
HOSTED A MEETING IN MARCH OF
LAST MONTH OR LAST YEAR WITH
OUNCE MEMBER MORALES. I WAS
THERE SUPPORTING THAT WITH THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
SO, YES. I HAVE DONE THE WORK,
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE
WORK.
>> YES. HERE WE GO. HONG.
>> YES. I WAS REALLY INSPIRED
TO SEE ONE OF THE FIRST
BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM
BEING MARJORIE. AS A█ SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, RENT IS A BIG
PART OF OUR COST STRUCTURE. NOT
AS MUCH IS LABOR, BUT IT IS.
AND SO I WAS INSPIRED TO SEE
THAT THE CITY IS INVESTING IN
THE STABILITY AND EMPOWERMENT .
>> MISSED YOU LAST TIME.
>> APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> ADONIS.
>> THAT IS WHEN I HAVE TO LEARN
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. SO MANY
QUESTIONS. I'M GLAD WE DID
GET. HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE FOR OUR CANDIDATES?
>> [ APPLAUSE ].
>> THAT WAS COOL , BUT THIS IS
HARD WORK. THIS IS NOT AN
ELECTIVE PROCESS. SO I
APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL ARE
DOING. LET'S SERIOUSLY GIVE
THEM A BIG COLUMBIA CITY ROUND
OF APPLAUSE. THANK YOU FOR
RUNNING. THANK YOU FOR RUNNING.
DON'T BE MAD AT ME BECAUSE I
CUT SOME OUT HERE. SO EVERYBODY
IS GOING TO GET 60 SECONDS. 60
FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS. I'M
GOING TO BE HARD ON THAT
BECAUSE WE ARE A LITTLE
OVERTIME. 60 SECONDS FOR
CLOSING STATEMENTS. I'M GOING
TO GO IN REVERSE ORDER. MARK,
I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.
CLOSING STATEMENT. 60 SECONDS.
>> OKAY. I DO APPRECIATE
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONCERN ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY. I
HAVE SAID IN THE PAST THAT D2
IS MY HOME AND I WANT TO TAKE
CARE OF MY HOME. THE PEOPLE OF
THE TWO ARE MY FAMILY AND I
WANT TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY.
I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY ON A
GRANULAR LEVEL. I HAVE BEEN AT
EVERY INCH OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, I
HAVE BEEN IN MANY OF OUR
PEOPLE'S HOMES. SO I KNOW THE
CONCERNS. LIKE MANY OTHERS, I
KNOW HOW TO WORK IN
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER
ENTITIES, OTHER AGENCIES ,
WHETHER CITY, COUNTY, OR
COMMUNITY-BASED TO AFFECT
POSITIVE, IMPACTFUL CHANGE .
AND THAT IS WHAT I PLEDGE TO DO
AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON CITY
COUNCIL.
>> 15 SECONDS.
>> TO WORK FOR YOU, TO ADVOCATE
FOR YOU, TO LISTEN AND SERVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. CHUKUNDI .
>> STARTING MY OWN CLOCK. ONCE
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY
COMING OUT AGAIN. ANY QUESTION
YOU DID NOT GET ANSWERED FROM
ME SPECIFICALLY TONIGHT YOU CAN
GO TO MY WEBSITE AND SEND ME AN
EMAIL FROM THERE AND I WILL
RESPOND TO YOU . OKAY? I'M
VERY ACCESSIBLE ON ALL
PLATFORMS. THAT BEING SAID, I
REALLY WANT TO -- I DON'T HAVE
TO DREAM SELL HERE. I HAVE BEEN
DOING THE WORK AND I WILL TAKE
THAT AND EXTRAPOLATE IT IN THE
ROLE OF COUNCILMEMBER. OKAY?
AND SO MY WORK AND EVERYTHING
REALLY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. BUT
I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF
RIGHT NOW . SO I HAVE ABOUT 20
SECONDS LEFT. ALL I WOULD SAY
IS THAT WHILE WE MOST CERTAINLY
ALL HAVE AMAZING JOBS AND WE DO
OUR WORK AND WE ARE VERY
CAPABLE PEOPLE, WHAT YOU DO
AWAY FROM WORK ON YOUR SPARE
TIME AS A VOLUNTEER REALLY
DEFINES YOUR PASSION AND
COMMITMENT TO THIS DISTRICT ,
AND MINE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF .
>> TIME IS UP. THANK YOU,
CHUKUNDI . 60 SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT
REALLY WARMS MY HEART TO HEAR
EVERYBODY ELSE SPEAKING ABOUT
THE TWO. IT IS MY HOME. IT IS
YOUR HOME. IT IS WORTH
PROTECTING. WE HAVE GOT BIG
CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US. WE ARE
A RAPIDLY GROWING CITY. SO HOW
DO WE GROW? PROTECTING OUR
IDENTITY. HOW DO WE GROW WHILE
ALLOWING OUR ELDERS TO AGE IN
PLACE? HOW DO WE GROW WHILE
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR
YOUTH? IT IS AN ENORMOUS
RESPONSIBILITY. I WOULD WORK
NIGHT AND DAY TO REPRESENT YOUR
INTERESTS. ONE OTHER THING I
WANT TO MENTION IS IF APPOINTED
I WOULD RUN FOR ELECTION IN
NOVEMBER FOR A COUPLE REASONS.
ONE, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU. AND I
BELIEVE RUNNING HOLDS ME
ACCOUNTABLE. AND I WANT TO MAKE
THAT LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO
YOU TO REALLY ABSOLVING OUR
MOST COMPLEX AND INTERSECTIONAL
PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND THADDAEUS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING
OUT TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR
BEING INVOLVED IN THIS
POLITICAL PROCESS . YOUR
ENGAGEMENT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
POSITION. IT PRESENTS ITS
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
OPPORTUNITIES TO DRASTICALLY
CHANGE SEATTLE. TO CREATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING . TO HELP
ALLOW TEACHERS , EMTSS,
FIREFIGHTERS , BARISTAS --
EVERYONE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
-- THE CHANCE TO LIVE IN
SEATTLE. I HAVE TOO MANY
FRIENDS WHO HAVE LEFT.
BRILLIANT PEOPLE WHO WOULD HELP
THE CITY BE A BETTER PLACE TO
LEAVE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT
AFFORD IT.
>> 15 SECONDS.
>> I WANT TO WORK TOGETHER AND
BUILD BROAD COLLISIONS. I
LEARNED AS A YOUNG GET ABOUT
THE POWER OF BRINGING PEOPLE TO
POWER AND JUST DISCUSSING AND
TALKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE
SEATTLE A BETTER PLACE. THANK
YOU.
>> ADONIS, 60 SECONDS.
>> I'M JUST HUMBLED AND
GRATEFUL TO BE SITTING ON THE
STAGE WITH MY FAMILY HERE. GREW
UP ON BEACON HILL. I MET MY
WIFE AT MERCY MIDDLE SCHOOL. I
PLAYED GOLF AT JEFFERSON PARK.
I WAS A BALLBOY FOR THE SEATTLE
SUPERSONICS FOR A COUPLE OF
YEARS. I WENT TO U DUB AND
WORKED AT THE CITY AND DID A
LOT OF GREAT THINGS AT THE
CITY. A LOT OF THE PROJECTS YOU
SEE AROUND HERE PROJECTS
GETTING BILLED. TO BE SITTING
ON THE STAGE WITH ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY FOR HOW TO SERVE
PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I
GREW UP ON -- IN IS KIND OF
WILD. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE
AND IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE
YOU ALL. THANK YOU.
>> AND HONG.
>> I SHARE ADONIS' SENTIMENT
THAT THIS IS WILD TO BE UP
HERE. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO IS HERE TONIGHT. PEOPLE WHO
ARE TUNING IN ON LIVE STREAM.
PEOPLE WATCHING THE RECORDING A
LITTLE BIT LATER. IT IS REALLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT WE TAKE THE
TIME TO BE INFORMED AND
ENGAGED. AND SO I THINK MY
MOTHER, WHO IS OVER THERE, MY
HUSBAND WHO IS OVER THERE, MY
FRIEND JEFFREY, ANDREA, HER
HUSBAND, DARRELL, OTHER FOLKS
IN THE CROWD . THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE. JUST A
FRIENDLY FACE. I'M REALLY
EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING MY EXPERIENCE -- MY LIVED
EXPERIENCE AS AN IMMIGRANT AS
AN ASIAN AMERICAN, A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, A NONPROFIT
HUMAN SERVICE WORKER, AND THE
SERVICE THAT I HAVE GIVEN TO
THE COMMUNITY AND THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT I HAVE IN
THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SOLVE OUR
PROBLEMS.
>> 15 SECONDS.
>> IS A LONGTIME VOLUNTEER, I
UNDERSTAND YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW
UP NOT JUST AS YOUR DAY JOB.
THANK YOU, CITYCLUB, TONY B.
KUDOS TO MY FELLOW CANDIDATES
FOR YOUR DESIRE TO SERVE.
FINALLY, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
WHO HAS REACHED OUT TO ME
PERSONALLY JUST TO SAY GO HONG.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GIVE
YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE
FOR SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT
TONIGHT . THIS IS WHAT IT IS
ALL ABOUT. HAVING YOU HERE.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WHATEVER
YOU NEED TO DO, IF YOU LIKE A
CANDIDATE, CALL YOUR CITY
COUNCIL PEOPLE RIGHT NOW AND
SAY, I LIKE THIS ONE. THIS IS
WHAT I BELIEVE SHOULD HAPPEN.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. THIS IS
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO
DO THAT BECAUSE SOMEBODY ON
MONDAY IS GOING TO BE ONE OF
THESE INDIVIDUALS ON MONDAY
WILL BE YOUR NEW CITY
COUNCILMEMBER . AGAIN, MY NAME
IS TONY B. I AM UNASHAMEDLY --
Z, IF YOU COULD BE AT THE FRONT
HAVING EVER GOING TO FIRE. I AM
UNASHAMEDLY PROMOTING BLACK
HISTORY MONTH HERE AT THIS
MUSEUM BECAUSE IT IS SO
IMPORTANT. IF YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF WHO
WE WERE , IT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE
TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE WHERE
WE ARE NOW. COME HERE FROM THE
VOICES. THE PEOPLE, THE
ORGANIZATIONS, THE INSTITUTIONS
WHO CREATED THE HISTORY THAT
YOU CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE. IT
WILL BE HERE IN 14 INSTALLATION
STARTING HER VERY FIRST. GO TO
CALL TO CONSCIENCE.WORLD. THANK
YOU. THAT'S ALL THE TIME I
HAVE. THAT'S GOING TO DO IT.
IT IS ME, TONY B, SAYING,
WHETHER YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN OR
WHETHER YOU BELIEVE YOU CANNOT,
YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT. I AM
OUT. PEACE.
>> [ MUSIC ]