>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, IT
IS NICE TO SEE A FULL HOUSE
HERE. THIS IS THE THURSDAY,
MARCH 27th MEETING OF THE
GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE,
AND WE WILL COME TO ORDER AT
2:02. WHILE THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE? I AM SARA NELSON,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. ONE
NOTE, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH AND KETTLE ARE
BOTH EXCUSED.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
PRESENT, TWO EXCUSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED BUT HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL NOW
MOVE INTO OUR HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. COULD YOU PLEASE
TELL US HOW MANY PEOPLE SIGNED
UP?
>> THAT'S SCARY.
>> WE HAVE 13 IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS AND TWO REMOTE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY. GO AHEAD AND GIVE FOLKS
90 SECONDS , IF THAT DOESN'T
BLOW EVERYBODY'S PLAN FOR
EITHER A MINUTE OR TWO? LET'S
DO 90 SECONDS, PLEASE. ACTUALLY,
I'M JUST NOW REALIZING -- ONE
MINUTE EACH, AND LET'S START
WITH THE IN PERSON COMMENTERS,
WE WILL DO 10, THEN SWITCH TO
REMOTE, THEN BACK AGAIN.
>> ALL RIGHTY. I WILL CALL
SPEAKERS UP TO ORDER WAS SIGNED
UP TO SPEAK, STARTING WITH IN
PERSON COMMENTERS BUT WHEN YOU
HEAR THE CHIME, YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS LEFT. IF YOU WOULD SEE
THE TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE MAY BE
CUT OFF, SO WE CAN MOVE ONTO THE
NEXT SPEAKER. IF YOU ARE
OFFERING REMOTE COMMENT, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX TWO UNMUTE
YOURSELF. THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR
IN PERSON PUBLIC, WILL BE HANNAH
LINDEL SMITH, FOLLOWED BY ANDREA
B . AND FOLLOWING THAT, CINDY
BLACK. COME ON UP.
>> HELLO, CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS HANNAH
LINDEL SMITH. I AM THE COALITION
COORDINATOR FOR PEOPLE [
INAUDIBLE ] ELECTIONS, AND I AM
HERE SPEAKING IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF ADDING A NEW AGILE -- RENEWAL
MEASURE. I HAVE BEEN DOING
COMMITTEE AND POLITICAL
ORGANIZING WORK FOR OVER FOUR
YEARS. I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO
VOTE SINCE LAST MAY. AS I LOOKED
FORWARD TO MY 18th BIRTHDAY, I
ALSO LOOKED FORWARD TO MAKING MY
VOICE HEARD IN A DIFFERENT WAY,
ONE COMPLETELY UNIQUE TO
SEATTLE, USING MY DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS. TO ME, ACCURACY
VOUCHERS AREN'T JUST ABOUT AN
ELECTION OR CANDIDATE. THEY ARE
A TOOL FOR BUILDING A MORE JUST
AND BEAUTIFUL FUTURE THAT I
ORGANIZE FOUR POINT FROM CLIMATE
JUSTICE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ,
FROM WORKERS RIGHTS TO COMMUNITY
SAFETY. IT IS SO EASY TO LOSE
TRACK OF DEMOCRACY, ESPECIALLY
NOW. ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR
POLITICAL SYSTEM OFTEN SEEMS TO
FAIL US, BUT THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM IS AN ESSENTIAL
PART OF ENSURING THAT OUR VOICES
ARE HEARD, OUR NEEDS ARE
PRIORITIZED, AND OUR CIVIC
PARTICIPATION IS VALUED BUT
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ADDING
THIS RENEWAL TO THE AUGUST
BALLOT.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT WE WILL HAVE
ANDREA, THEN CINDY, THEN
CYNTHIA. COME ON DOWN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM ANDREA ,
ASSISTANT CLINICAL DIRECTOR WITH
[ INAUDIBLE ] 242 AND I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE 7000
MEMBERS OF [ INAUDIBLE ] WHO
HAVE ENDORSED AND SIGNED A
LETTER IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
HAVING THE SEATTLE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM ON THE BALLOT.
THE PROGRAM HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS
EFFECTIVENESS IN INCREASING
VOTER PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL
ELECTIONS, BROADENING
REPRESENTATION, AND ENCOURAGING
A MORE DIVERSE RANGE OF
CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR OFFICE. BY
EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO HAVE A
DIRECT STAKE IN THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS. DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS HELP
CREATE A POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
THAT BETTER REFLECTS THE VOICE
AND INTERESTS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE
PROGRAM HAS UNINTENTIONALLY
REDUCED THE INFLUENCE OF LARGE
CORPORATIONS IN SEATTLE
ELECTIONS, ENSURING THAT
RESIDENTS, RATHER THAN THE BIG [
INAUDIBLE ] HAVE A FAIR AND
MEANINGFUL SAY IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE IN
FAVOR OF CONTINUING THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM TO
UPHOLD THE MORE INCLUSIVE,
ELECTORAL PROCESS FOR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT WE HAVE
CINDY. THEN CYNTHIA, THEN TIM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR NELSON,
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I
AM CINDY BLACK, DIRECTOR OF THE
FIXED DEMOCRACY FIRST. I WOULD
LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG
SUPPORT FOR RENEWING THE LEVY
THAT FUNDS THE SEATTLE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM. OUR
ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN WORKING ON
PUBLIC FUNDING OF ELECTIONS FOR
OVER 20 YEARS, I BELIEVE IT IS
ONE OF THE STRONGEST OPTIONS WE
HAVE TO HELP ADDRESS THE
INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
BEFORE THE SEATTLE VOUCHER
PROGRAM, MOST PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
HAD NEVER DONATED TO A CANDIDATE
BEFORE. THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS
RESIDENTS TO DIRECTLY
PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY, GIVING
THEM A BIGGER VOICE IN WHO GETS
ELECTED. THE PROGRAM ALSO
ENCOURAGES CANDIDATES TO ENGAGE
MORE WITH CONSTITUENTS, WHO ARE
ALL NOW POTENTIAL DONORS THAT
CAN HELP FUND THEIR CAMPAIGNS,
RATHER THAN JUST FOCUSING ON
WEALTHY DONORS OR SPECIAL
INTERESTS. PLEASE MOVE THIS BILL
FORWARD, SO THE FULL COUNCIL CAN
VOTE TO PUT IT ON AUGUST PRIMARY
BALLOT, AND LET THE VOTERS
DECIDE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, CINDY. NEXT WE
HAVE CYNTHIA, THEN TIM, THEN
GABBY. COME ON UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR NELSON
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY
NAME IS CYNTHIA VASQUEZ AND I
SERVE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE WASHINGTON [ INAUDIBLE ] AND
AM ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THE
PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS
COALITION, WHO HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR THE RENEWAL OF
THE SEATTLE DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS
PROGRAM. ONE OF THE PRIMARY
BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN
ITS ABILITY TO EMPOWER MORE
INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN
ELECTIONS, BY RENEWING THIS
PROGRAM'S FUNDING, WE CAN
CONTINUE TO INCREASE VOTER
ENGAGEMENT, ENCOURAGE SMALL
DONORS TO SUPPORT THEIR
PREFERRED CANDIDATES, AND FOSTER
MORE INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE
DEMOCRACY. THIS YEAR, THE
PROGRAM TAKES ON AN EVEN DEEPER
MEANING FOR ME PERSONALLY BUT AS
A RECENT PERMANENT RESIDENT,
I'M FINALLY ABLE TO USE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS MYSELF. AFTER
YEARS OF TELLING OTHERS ABOUT
THIS PROGRAM, I CAN NOW
EXPERIENCE FIRST-HAND WHAT IT
MEANS TO HAVE MY VOICE COUNT IN
LOCAL DEMOCRACY, EVEN THOUGH I
STILL CANNOT VOTE. FOR ME AND
OTHERS, THIS PROGRAM IS IT JUST
POLICY, IT IS PERSONAL, IT OPENS
UP THE DOOR TO CIVIC
PARTICIPATION THAT WERE
PREVIOUSLY CLOSED TO US. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO
ENSURE VOTERS GET THE CHANCE TO
RENEW THIS FUNDING IN THIS
AUGUST PRIMARY.
>> THANK YOU, CYNTHIA. NEXT WE
HAVE TIM, THEN GABBY, THEN
ABIGAIL. COME ON UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON , CHAIR NELSON
AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS TIM O'NEIL, A DISTRICT
3 RESIDENT, AND RESEARCHING DATA
MANAGEMENT WASHINGTON COMMUNITY
LINES. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
RENEWAL OF [ INAUDIBLE ]
PROGRAM. THE GDP LOWERS
FINANCIAL BARRIERS FROM
CANDIDATES FROM DIVERSE
BACKGROUND'S TO RUN FOR OFFICE
AND ENCOURAGES INVESTMENTS IN
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING TO REACH A
BROADER BASE OF CONSTITUENTS.
RELATIVE TO OTHER CITIES IN
WASHINGTON, SEATTLE STANDS APART
WITH CANDIDATES THAT ARE MORE
REFLECTIVE OF OUR POPULATION BY
AGE, RACE, AND GENDER. THIS
STRENGTHENS OUR DEMOCRACY BY
ENSURING A GOVERNMENT THAT IS
MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF AND [
INAUDIBLE ]. IT HAS ALSO HAD A
POSITIVE LASTING EFFECT ON VOTER
TURNOUT IN SEATTLE, PARTICULARLY
AMONG COMMUNITIES THAT
HISTORICALLY DO NOT PARTICIPATE
IN LOCAL ELECTIONS, INCLUDING
YOUNG VOTERS, LOW INCOME VOTERS,
AND VOTERS OF COLOR. THOSE WHO
USE VOUCHERS ARE ALSO MORE
LIKELY TO VOTE IN FUTURE
ELECTIONS, WASHER AND LONG-TERM
CIVIC PARTICIPATION AMONG OUR
ELECTORATE. FOR THESE REASONS, I
URGE YOU TO ADVANCE THIS MEASURE
AND ALLOW VOTERS TO DECIDE,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. GABBY?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS GABBY
AND I I AM A SEATTLE DISTRICT 2
RESIDENT I URGE YOU TO ADVANCE
LEGISLATION TO RENEW THE FUNDING
FOR DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS BUT AS A
STUDENT WITH LITTLE INCOME, THIS
PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL. DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS LET ME MAKE MY FIRST
EVER CONTRIBUTION TO A POLITICAL
CAMPAIGN. I GREW UP THINKING
THAT POLITICAL DONATIONS WERE
ONLY FOR THE WEALTHY AND THAT
POLITICS WAS A GAME OF BIG
MONEY, BUT DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS
HAVE CHANGED THAT. THEY PUSHED
ME TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL POLITICS
AND PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE
DOWN BALLOT RACES, BECAUSE IT
FINALLY FELT LIKE I HAD A BITE
IN. DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS EMPOWER
YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME, THE FUTURE
OF OUR CITY, TO PARTICIPATE IN
OUR DEMOCRACY, WHEN OFTEN WE
LIKE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.
PLEASE PASS THIS MEASURE AND LET
VOTERS DECIDE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT WE HAVE
ABIGAIL, THEN SHANNON, THEN [
INAUDIBLE ], THEN BENJAMIN
DROWNED OUT THE FIRST 10.
>> I, I AM ABIGAIL, I'M
SPEAKING AS PART OF THE
WASHINGTON VOTING JUSTICE
COALITION. THERE IS A LOT OF
FEAR RIGHT NOW THAT MONEY AND
NOT PEOPLE DECIDE WHO HAS A SAY
IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS ARE GIVING PEOPLE A
LITTLE HOPE. AND I CAN TELL YOU
FIRSTHAND THAT THEY SET US APART
FROM THE REST OF THE STATE, AND
WE ARE THE TALK OF THE TOWN. I
CAN TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE WE
HAVE LISTENING SESSIONS WHERE WE
ASK PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE
ABOUT VOTING AND CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO
REVIEW SOME EXCERPTS FROM THAT.
PEOPLE FROM SEATTLE TO COME TO
THOSE SESSIONS LIKE JOSH SAY
THEY LOVE DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS AND
THINK THEY SHOULD BE EXPANDED
STATEWIDE. ANGIE FROM AUBURN
SAID DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS WOULD BE
A GAME CHANGER FOR LOW INCOME
FOLKS WHO WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
GIVE OTHERWISE AND WOULD BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES WHO
REPRESENT THEM. JIM FROM
MARYSVILLE SAID IT WOULD MEAN A
LOT TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO LOOKS
LIKE YOU, RATHER THAN SOMEONE
FROM CORPORATIONS. [ INAUDIBLE ]
SAID FELT LAST INVOLVED IN
POLITICS BECAUSE THINGS LIKE
EXCESS MONEY TO DONATE TO
CAMPAIGNS DIDN'T EXIST FOR HER.
REGINA FROM SPOKANE SAID THEY
COULD ENCOURAGE NEW CANDIDATES
TO RUN BUT I AM HERE TO THANK
YOU AND SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF
DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS, AND SEE WHAT
WE DO NEXT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
SHANNON, [ INAUDIBLE ], THEN
BENJAMIN. COME ON UP.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] MY NAME IS
SHANNON GRIMES. [ INAUDIBLE ] WE
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION TO
ENABLE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE
MIKE.
>> I'M TOO TALL FOR THIS. ONE
OF THE PRIMARY GOALS OF
DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS IS TO BRING
MORE CITY RESIDENTS INTO THE
CAMPAIGN-FINANCE CONVERSATION,
AND THAT HAS BEEN HUGELY
SUCCESSFUL. IN 2013 BEFORE THE
PROGRAM, JUST 8800 INDIVIDUALS
CONTRIBUTED [ INAUDIBLE ]. IN
2021, HE WAS 59,000. SEATTLE NOW
HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST
CONTRIBUTING RATES OF ANY U.S.
CITY, AT AROUND 10% OF
REGISTERED VOTERS. NEW YORK CITY
IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COMES EVEN
CLOSE. SEATTLE HAS MORE THAN
DOUBLED THE PARTICIPATION OF
OTHER [ INAUDIBLE ] . THE
PROGRAM HAS ALSO SUCCEEDED IN
DIVERSIFYING [ INAUDIBLE ].
WHILE DISPARITIES REMAIN, PEOPLE
OF COLOR, YOUNGER PEOPLE, AND
PEOPLE WITH LOWER INCOMES ARE
MUCH BETTER REPRESENTED AMONG
VOUCHER USERS [ INAUDIBLE ] . IN
SOME ELECTIONS, PEOPLE USING
VOUCHERS BETTER REPRESENT
SEATTLE [ INAUDIBLE ] . FOR MANY
PEOPLE USING VOUCHERS IS THE
FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER
DONATED TO A CAMPAIGN. [
INAUDIBLE ] PLEASE ALLOW VOTERS
TO KEEP FUNDING THIS PROGRAM,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [ INAUDIBLE ],
THEN BENJAMIN TO FINISH THE
FIRST HALF.
>> I AM A LITTLE SHORTER. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR NELSON AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY
NAME IS [ INAUDIBLE ] AND I AM A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR VOTE
WASHINGTON. I'M ALSO A SEATTLE
RESIDENT AND FORMER CANDIDATE
FOR SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS USED A DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM, I AM A STRONG
SUPPORTER AND URGE YOU TO PASS
THIS LEGISLATION. I KNOCKED ON
THOUSANDS OF DOORS AND TALKED TO
VOTERS DIRECTLY ABOUT THE
VOUCHER PROGRAM, AND I KNOW THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE IN
THIS WAY IS RECEIVED WITH
ENTHUSIASM. THERE ARE TWO GROUPS
THAT PARTICULARLY STUCK OUT TO
ME, GREEN CARD HOLDERS AND YOUNG
VOTERS. FOR GREEN CARD HOLDERS,
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS ARE A
MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN A WAY THAT VOTING
IS DENIED TO THEM. AND FOR YOUNG
VOTERS WHO OFTEN HAVE LIMITED
FINANCES , ALSO APPRECIATED
BEING ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO
PRIORITIES THAT WERE IMPORTANT
TO THEM. I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION FOR RENEWAL. I AM
PROUD THAT SEATTLE IS A LEADER
IN DEMOCRATIC [ INAUDIBLE ] IN
OUR COUNTRY AND I HOPE WE WILL
CONTINUE TO BE SO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND THEN TO ROUND
OUT THE FIRST 10, WE HAVE
BENJAMIN, COME ON DOWN.
>> GREETINGS, MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL. I DON'T DO THIS OFTEN.
MY NAME IS BEN, I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 2, AND I AM A BIG
PICTURE GUY, WHO IS DEEPLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THE PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY IS
NOW IGNORING REPEATEDLY CONGRESS
AND THE JUDGES, WHICH
EFFECTIVELY MEANS THE U.S.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NO LONGER
A DEMOCRACY. IT IS THEREFORE OUR
JOB NOT JUST USE NONVIOLENT
METHODS TO RESTORE SAID
DEMOCRACY, BUT TO ACTIVELY LOOK
FOR WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK BY
BREAKING THE LINK BETWEEN BIG
MONEY AND POLITICAL POWER, WHICH
IS WHAT THE SEATTLE DEMOCRACY
PROGRAM -- THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS PROGRAM IS ABOUT. WHICH
I AM STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF
RENEWING IT, BECAUSE RATHER THAN
KNUCKLING UNDER TO BOTH THE
CORPORATE OLIGARCHY AND
POTENTIAL RISING FASCISM, WE CAN
PAVE THE WAY FOR THE NEXT
ITERATION OF THE AMERICAN
EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
TO ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT AND
SAME RULES APPLY. HALEY, PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
[ INAUDIBLE ] MY NAME IS HALEY
FROM ASIAN COUNSELING AND [
INAUDIBLE ]. IN MY ROLE, I HOPE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE PROGRAM IS, HOW TO USE
THE VOUCHER, AND WHY [ INAUDIBLE
]. I WORK DIRECTLY WITH
IMMIGRANTS, SENIORS, AND ALSO
OTHER UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS TO
SPREAD AWARENESS AND MAKE [
INAUDIBLE ] ACCESSIBLE TO
EVERYONE. SO, THIS ONE IS
PERSONAL TO ME BECAUSE [
INAUDIBLE ] HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO USE THE VOUCHER MYSELF, EVEN
THOUGH I COULDN'T VOTE AT THE
TIME, THIS PROGRAM ALLOWED ME TO
[ INAUDIBLE ] IT WAS EMPOWERING
TO KNOW THAT [ INAUDIBLE ]. I
HAVE SEEN HOW THE PROGRAM COULD
HELP [ INAUDIBLE ]. I ALSO
WANTED TO SHARE A STORY ABOUT [
INAUDIBLE ]. SHE IS AN ELDER WHO
HAS LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR
DECADES, BUT HAS NO WAY TO
PARTICIPATE [ INAUDIBLE ]. SHE
WAS SURPRISED [ INAUDIBLE ] .
REALLY STRONGLY URGE YOU ALL TO
RENEW THE PROGRAM, SO MORE
RESIDENTS [ INAUDIBLE ] CAN
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THE
POLITICAL PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HALEY. ALL RIGHT,
WE WILL GO BACK TO IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENT, THE SAME RULES
APPLY. JUST A REMINDER, IF YOU
DO HEAR THAT TIME, YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS LEFT. TO CONCLUDE THE
LAST THREE, WE HAVE -- DOUBLE
HERE, WE HAVE BARB AND KIM. THEN
WE HAVE KATIE STOLTZ, THEN
FOLLOWING THEM, WE HAVE
GUILLERMO. COME ON DOWN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> HELLO, I THANK YOU TO ALL
GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND
OPENING YOURSELVES TO LISTEN AND
CONSIDER OUR COMMENTS RELATIVE
TO YOUR WORK ON DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS. I AM BARBARA AND THIS
IS KIM ALBERT, WE ARE PRESIDENTS
OF THE LEGAL WOMEN VOTERS OF
SEATTLE KING COUNTY. THE LEAGUE
IS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION.
OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER VOTERS
AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY. WE WORK
FOR ALL THE KING COUNTY
COMMUNITY TO LIFT UP OUR
DEMOCRACY BY ENGAGING COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IN CIVIC ACTION.
>> THE SEATTLE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PROGRAM IS AN ALREADY PROVEN
PROGRAM THAT WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY
SUPPORT. IT EMPOWERS VOTERS. IT
HAS PROMOTED AND INCREASED CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT, ENABLED A MORE
DIVERSE RANGE OF CANDIDATES TO
RUN FOR OFFICE, AND REDUCED THE
INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY IN
POLITICS. THIS IS THE EXACT TYPE
OF PROGRAM THAT OUR DEMOCRACY
AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE
COMMUNITY NEEDS. LET'S ALL
PROTECT AND EXPAND LOCAL CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS TO DEFEND
OUR DEMOCRACY. PLEASE DO YOUR
PART AND PUT THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER RENEWAL ON THE AUGUST
BALLOT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST TWO, WE
HAVE KATIE, THEN GUILLERMO. COME
ON DOWN.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR NELSON AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KATIE STOLTZ
AND I AM THE SEATTLE DISTRICT 6
PRESIDENT AND THE DATA DIRECTOR
FOR THE WASHINGTON KEY ALLIANCE.
WE ARE ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS
COALITION. I AM HERE LIKE MANY
TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT IN PASSING
LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW
SEATTLE VOTERS TO RENEW THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
FUNDING. SINCE THE CREATION OF
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM,
WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF SMALL
DONORS INCREASED FIVEFOLD.
SPECIFICALLY THAT OTHERS FROM
SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER $100
INCREASED BY 156%, WHILE MONEY
FROM LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS OVER
$250 HAS DECREASED BY 93%.
CURRENTLY, SEATTLE IS THE NUMBER
ONE CITY IN THE COUNTRY FOR
SMALL DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS. AS A
YOUNG PERSON, MY ABILITY TO
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT CANDIDATES
SINCE 2015 WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
AND I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE. AT A
TIME WHEN VOTING RIGHTS ARE
BEING ATTACKED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT
SEATTLE WHERE I KNOW OUR
LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO
BUILDING A MORE EQUITABLE AND
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WILL BE
PROTECTED. PLEASE PASS THIS
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
GUILLERMO, AND THEN AFTER THAT,
WE DO HAVE ONE FINAL REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> HELLO, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS
GUILLERMO AND I'M THE LEAD
FIELD ORGANIZER WITH ONE
AMERICA. ONE AMERICA IS A
501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
DEDICATED TO BUILDING POWER WITH
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES ACROSS WASHINGTON
STATE. WE COME TO YOU IN AN
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF RENEWING
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
AND URGE YOU TO PASS THIS
ORDINANCE FOR A FULL COUNCIL
VOTE. ON 2015, ONE AMERICA
PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN
ENSURING THAT LEGAL RESIDENTS
WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
PROGRAM. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE
SEEN VOTERS PARTICIPATE MORE IN
OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS. THIS
PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST
COMMUNITY CENTERED
CAMPAIGN-FINANCE PROGRAMS IN THE
COUNTRY. WHEN LOW INCOME AND
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES CAN
CONTRIBUTE REAL DOLLARS TO A
CANDIDATE , AND WHEN WE REDUCE
THE INFLUENCE OF BIG BUSINESS
AND OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS, WE GIVE
REAL HOPE TO THESE COMMUNITIES,
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE SEND A
MESSAGE AS A CITY THAT THEY CAN
RALLY AROUND A CANDIDATE OF
THEIR CHOOSING, SOMEONE WHO
COMES FROM THEIR COMMUNITY AND
REDUCE FINANCIAL BARRIERS THAT
EXIST IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GUILLERMO. THEN WE
ARE GOING TO GO BACK AND
CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT WITH
DAVID HAYNES. DAVID, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> HI, THANK YOU, DAVID, HOW
MANY PEOPLE GET PAID TO COLLECT
DATA ON CRIME AND STATISTICS?
AND HOW MANY SO-CALLED EXPERTS
ON CRIME ARE PROFESSORS THAT
HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY GEORGE
SOROS SPONSORED AGENDAS TO COME
UP WITH THESE RIDICULOUS IDEAS
FOR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY TO
FOLLOW, WHO ALREADY IMPLODED OUR
SOCIETY, WHO NOW ACT LIKE THEY
ARE AN EXPERT ON GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, ALWAYS TRYING TO
BLAME THE LAW ABIDING, IGNORING
THE FACT THAT [ INAUDIBLE ] FROM
JAIL AND SABOTAGING THE
INTEGRITY OF POLICE REFORM IS
THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY THE
VIOLENCE IS OUT OF CONTROL.
COUPLE THAT WITH AN IMMORAL
FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF [ INAUDIBLE
] AND TO HAVE A REAL DILEMMA
THAT HAS DESTROYED THE ECONOMY ,
AND YET, YOU PEOPLE ARE STILL
DOUBLING DOWN ON VIRTUE
SIGNALING AND MESSAGING, WHILE [
INAUDIBLE ] FAILURES TO
IMPLEMENT PROPER POLICY, WHO
INSTEAD MANIPULATE CRIME HOTSPOT
DATA , [ INAUDIBLE ]. FOLLOW
EVIDENCE-BASED 911 CALLS THAT
DELAY THE RESPONSES WHILE THEY
ARGUE WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT
CONSTITUTES A CRIME.
>> AND THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED AND WE WILL
MOVE ON WITH THE REST OF OUR
AGENDA. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1,
APPOINTMENT 03106, APPOINTMENT
OF VIVIAN VASSALL AS MEMBER,
SEATTLE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS
COMMISSION, FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 31st, 2027 FOR A BRIEF
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> HELLO.
>> HELLO THERE, THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR BARNETT. I WILL RELY ON
YOU TO PRESENT THE COMMISSION ,
AND ALSO SPEAK OF IT TO THE
APPOINTEE .
>> ALL RIGHT. THE WOMAN ON THE
SCREEN IS MS. VIVIAN VASSALL,
I'M GLAD YOU HAVE JOINED ME, VI
CHOICE OF THE COMMISSION FOR A
SEAT ON THE COMMISSION. WE GET
ONE SELECTION ON THE COMMISSION.
THE COUNCIL GETS THREE AND THE
MAYOR GETS THREE. SO, THIS IS
THE COUNCIL POSITION WHICH HAS
JUST COME UP. COMMISSION
POSITION, I AM SORRY. VIVIAN IS
A GRADUATE OF SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
AS AN UNDERGRAD AND THEN WENT TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOR
LAW SCHOOL. SHE NOW WORKS IN THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE UNDER
FORMER COMMISSIONER NICK BROWN.
AND YES, I'M JUST HOPING YOU
WILL GIVE HER YOUR VOTE TODAY. I
AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU HAVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
PRESENTING, AND HELLO, VIVIAN,
HANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY
AND STEPPING UP TO SERVE. COULD
YOU EXPLAIN JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT THE
COMMISSIONERS ACTUALLY WEIGH IN
ON?
>> OH, THE COMMISSIONERS WEIGH
IN ON ANY COMPLAINTS WE GET
UNDER ANY COMPLAINTS I DON'T
DISMISS, THAT COME IN EITHER A
UNDER THE ETHICS CODE, ELECTIONS
CODE, THE LOBBYING CODE, AND
THAT'S IT. AND WE ALSO DO THE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CODE,
BUT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER
THAT ARE LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
SO, THOSE ARE THE CODES WE
ADMINISTER. THE COMMISSION,
REALLY, THERE IS A BACKSTOP. IF
I DISMISS SOMETHING AND SOMEBODY
THINKS I HAVE DONE SO
INCORRECTLY, THEY CAN APPEAL TO
THE COMMISSION, AND THAT'S WHEN
THE COMMISSION WOULD STEP IN THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM, THE
COMMISSION OBVIOUSLY [ INAUDIBLE
] .
>> THANK YOU. WELL, GREETINGS. I
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US A BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU WOULD
LIKE TO BE ON THE COMMISSION.
>> YES, THANKS FOR HAVING ME
TODAY. SO, I AM BORN AND RAISED
IN SEATTLE, SO PROUD TO BE A
SEATTLEITE. LET'S SEE, SO YOU
HEARD MY ACADEMIC AND
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS, BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN IN MY OPINION, COMMITTED TO
PUBLIC SERVICE . I REALLY LOVE
LIVING IN THE CITY AND THE BRIEF
STANCE I TOOK LIVING ELSEWHERE
TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL KIND OF
SOLIDIFIED MY DESIRE TO RETURN
HERE AND COME BACK. SO, I WANT
TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE FOR A
NUMBER OF REASONS. ONE, I JUST
-- LIKE MANY OF OUR PUBLIC
COMMENTERS ARE THERE, REALLY
BELIEVE IN THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PROGRAM, AND THAT IS ANOTHER
PROGRAM THAT I AM UNDER THE
IMPRESSION THAT THE COMMISSION
HAS A ROLE IN PROTECTING THE
INTEGRITY OF. SO, I REMEMBER
WHEN THE PROGRAM WENT LIVE HERE,
AND -- IT WENT LIVE AND I WAS
INSPIRED BY IT JUST AS YOU WERE,
A LOT OF THE SPEAKERS SPEAKING
TODAY. AUNT I HAVE SOME FORMER
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES , OR
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WHO ARE
FORMER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
INCLUDING ZACH, WHO IS THE
CHAIR, [ INAUDIBLE ] OUTGOING
MEMBER, SHE IS A COLLEAGUE OF
MINE, AND THESE ARE JUST PEOPLE
WHO REALLY INSPIRED ME. [
INAUDIBLE ] NICK BROWN. AND I'M
JUST HONORED TO HAVE EVEN BEEN
INVITED TO INTERVIEW TO BE PART
OF THE COMMITTEE, AND SO FAR, I
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ONE MEETING
AND IT HAS BEEN SORT OF
EVERYTHING I ANTICIPATED IT TO
BE, AND I JUST WANT TO HELP KIND
OF MAKE THE CITY -- KEEP THIS
CITY THE GREAT PLACE IT IS. THE
17-YEAR-OLD THAT SPOKE EARLIER
JUST SORT OF REMINDED ME OF
MYSELF. I KNOW THAT I AT CERTAIN
POINTS IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
SPOKE BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD,
AND I ALSO -- THIS DOESN'T SHOW
UP ON MY RESUME, BUT BACK WHEN I
WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, GARFIELD, I
ALSO WROTE FOR A PUBLICATION
CALLED THE MIRROR. IT WAS OWNED
BY SEATTLE TIMES, AND IT WAS
JUST FOR TEENS. AND IT WAS
PUBLISHED ALL OVER THE STATE, SO
THAT WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL WAY
TO GET TO KNOW POLITICAL ISSUES,
AND ALSO GET TO KNOW WHAT OTHER
HIGH SCHOOLERS IN THE STATE
WHERE [ INAUDIBLE ]. I ALSO DID
PARTICIPATE IN [ INAUDIBLE ] .
BUT YEAH, JUST A PROUD
SEATTLEITE, LOVE IT. I FEEL LIKE
THE FURTHER I GET INTO MY
CAREER, THE FEWER AFRICAN
AMERICAN FEMALE ATTORNEYS I SEEM
TO COME IN CONTACT WITH AS FAR
AS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES GO. AND
I AM PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE FEW
, BUT I ALSO WANT TO CHANGE
THAT, AND I THINK ONE OF THE
BEST, MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS I CAN
CHANGE THAT IS [ INAUDIBLE ]
THAT LOOK LIKE MYSELF. SO,
HOPEFULLY OTHER STUDENTS AND
YOUNGER WOMEN WHO LOOK LIKE ME
CAN LOOK TO MEET AS A ROLE
MODEL. AND YET, THAT'S PRETTY
MUCH ME IN A NUTSHELL AND WHY I
WANT TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE IN A
NUTSHELL, AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DID
READ YOUR APPOINTMENT PACKET
THAT YOU PROVIDED , A LOT OF
GOOD INFORMATION. I WAS GOING TO
ASK, BEING NOMINATED BY THE REST
OF THE COMMISSION IS REALLY --
SPEAKS TO YOUR STANDING IN THE
COMMUNITY OR THE INTEGRITY THAT
PEOPLE SEE IN YOU, AND I WAS
GOING TO ASK, HOW DID YOU GET TO
KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE
COMMISSION, BUT YOU DID ANSWER A
BIT . PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES, AND
YOU'RE CLOSE TO SOME PEOPLE, SO
THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT MY
COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO ASK, OR
COMMENTS?
>> JUST A COMMENT. UM, MS.
VASSALL, YOU HAD ME AT SEATTLE
VIEW, JUST SAYING, BECAUSE I'M
ALSO A SEATTLE VIEW GRAD, SO
I'M GOOD.
>> G.O., RED HAWKS.
>> G.O., RED HAWKS, FORMERLY
KNOWN AS [ INAUDIBLE ] . THERE
YOU GO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE
CONFIRMED SOMEONE THIS MORNING
TO THE LEVY, AND THAT CONFIRMED
WE ARE MOVING ALONG FOR FULL
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION TO THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR THE
FAMILIES IN THE LEVY, AND I'M
GOING TO SAY WHAT I SAID THIS
MORNING NOW, WHAT I SAY EVERY
TIME WE HAVE A CONFIRMATION, IS
THAT I SO APPRECIATE FOLKS'
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN THESE
VOLUNTEER ROLES, MAKING THE
TIME. THOUGH VOLUNTEER AND
UNPAID, THEY ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND IT REALLY INFUSES
THAT COMMUNITY PIECE INTO THE
WORK THAT WE DO. AND SO, I
REALLY WANT TO THANK , YOU KNOW,
EVERYONE WHO SIGNS UP FOR THEIR
SERVICE. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE -- I WANT TO
REINFORCE HOW IMPORTANT THE
COMMISSION IS, BECAUSE THEY ARE
WEIGHING IN ON REALLY SENSITIVE
TOPICS. THAT HAVE REALLY HIGH
STAKES. ONE'S JOB, THE
VIABILITY OF ONE'S RACE FOR
OFFICE, ET CETERA, SO, THEY
REALLY HAVE TO GET INTO THE
DETAIL AND HAVE A LOT OF
KNOWLEDGE, AND REALLY , YOU
KNOW, BE WILLING TO SPEND THE
TIME, THEIR OWN PERSONAL TIME,
AND USE THEIR OWN PERSONAL
EXPERTISE. SO, I ALSO ECHO THE
THANKS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
EXPRESS FOR YOU, FOR STEPPING
UP. AND IF THERE AREN'T ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS -- THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE VOTE. OH, I HAVE TO
MOVE IT FIRST. ALL RIGHT. ONE
MOMENT, PLEASE. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF
APPOINTMENT 03106.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. JUST SO EXCITED.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 03106, WHILE THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
MOTION CARRIES, AND WITH THIS,
WE WILL GO TO FULL COUNCIL . NOT
NEXT TUESDAY, BUT THE FOLLOWING
TUESDAY. YES, THAT'S THE WAY
OUR SCHEDULE WORKS IN THIS
COMMITTEE. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU WALL.
>> ALL RIGHT. STAY SEATED.
>> ALL RIGHT, I WILL.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] I APOLOGIZE.
OKAY. [ INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU
ALL.
>> OKAY, BYE. ALL RIGHT, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 2
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2, COUNCIL
BUILT 120957, AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO PUBLICLY FINANCED
ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, PROVIDING
FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE
QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY
AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON
AUGUST 5th, 2025, OF A
PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING THE CITY
TO LEVY REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES
FOR UP TO 10 YEARS IN EXCESS OF
THE LIMITATION ON LEVEES IN
CHAPTER 84.55 RCW FOR THE
PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE COST AND
ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY'S
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM AND
OTHER CITY PURPOSES, OUTLINING A
PROCESS FOR CONTEMPLATION OF
CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM, APPLYING
RCW 84.30 6.381'S SENIOR
CITIZENS AND DISABLED PERSONS
EXEMPTION TO SUCH LEVY, AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN
FIRE ASK FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN
THIS ROOM KNOWS THIS, OF COURSE,
BUT BEFORE WE HAND IT OVER TO
THE PRESENTERS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR COMING, I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT ANYBODY WHO IS JUST
TUNING IN NOW UNDERSTANDS THAT
WE ARE NOT PASSING THE RENEWAL.
WELL, WE ARE VOTING TO SEND THE
PROGRAM TO THE BALLOT FOR VOTER
APPROVAL, SO WE ARE NOT MAKING
IT A UNILATERAL DECISION AT THE
CITY HERE, THIS WILL GO TO THE
VOTERS AS IT DID BEFORE, AND
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO GET IT
ON THE BALLOT. SO, WITH THAT,
WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES, THEN YOU CAN GO
AHEAD AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> I AND WAYNE BARNETT, I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE ETHICS COMMISSION.
>> RENE LeBEAU, PROGRAM MANAGER
FOR THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
PROGRAM.
>> DAN NOLTE.
>> AND BRIAN GOODNIGHT. [
INAUDIBLE ] COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US TODAY.
SO, EARLIER THIS MONTH,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND MAYOR
HARRELL WERE PROUD TO STAND WITH
SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES
BEHIND THIS, TO TOUT THE
GROUNDBREAKING SUCCESS OF THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM. AS
YOU WILL SEE IN THE PRESENTATION
FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARNETT
TODAY, THIS TOOL HAS OPENED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CANDIDATES WHO
WOULD HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED
RUNNING FOR OFFICE WITHOUT THIS
TOOL BEING THERE. I EXPECT AND I
KNOW THERE ARE MEMBERS ON THIS
COUNCIL WHO PROBABLY WOULDN'T
HAVE PLUNGED INTO THIS PROGRAM
HAD THIS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE. SO,
THE PROGRAM -- THE PRESENTATION
THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY WAS
RELATIVELY EASY ONE IN THAT MOST
MEMBERS ARE ALREADY INTIMATELY
FAMILIAR WITH THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM, SEVERAL HAVING
USED IT THEMSELVES. AND THANKS
TO THE 2015 VOTER INITIATIVE,
THIS WAS ALREADY IN THE BOOKS IN
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE, SO
THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU IN THIS
LEGISLATION IS SIMPLY WHETHER
YOU WANT TO ASK VOTERS TO
CONTINUE FUNDING THE PROGRAM
ANOTHER 10 YEARS VIA PROPERTY
TAX [ INAUDIBLE ]. SO, BEFORE I
BEGIN WORKING IN CITY COUNCIL
BACK IN 2007, I USED TO MANAGE
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND WORKED
AT A POLITICAL FUNDRAISING FIRM,
AND I SAW THE TOLL IT TOOK,
SITTING IN A CONFERENCE ROOM, [
INAUDIBLE ], TALKING TO A
LIMITED LIST OF POTENTIAL
DONORS, TO HELP FINANCE THEIR
CAMPAIGNS. AND WHEN I LOOK AT
MANY OF THE CAMPAIGNS BEING RUN
TODAY, I SEE PEOPLE STANDING IN
FRONT OF GROCERY STORES, OUTSIDE
LIGHT RAIL STATIONS, HOSTING
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER HOUSE PARTIES,
AND THERE IS NO OTHER CITY DOING
THIS. AS SEVERAL OF THE
COMMENTERS TESTIFIED BEFORE YOU
TODAY. SO, IT HAS BEEN A
REMARKABLE CHANGE AND ONE FOR
THE BETTER, WHICH IS WHY IT
MAYOR HARRELL HAS PROPOSED WE
CONTINUE FUNDING THIS ENDEAVOR
FOR ANOTHER DECADE, AND
ULTIMATELY AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NOTED, IT WILL BE UP TO SEATTLE
VOTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY
WANT TO DO THIS. SO, WITH THAT,
LET ME TURN THIS OVER TO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARNETT, WHO
CAN TALK YOU THROUGH THE LAST 10
YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE
NEXT 10 YEARS TO COME.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, DAN. I PUT TOGETHER A
BRIEF POWERPOINT FOR YOU, JUST
ON THE PROGRAM. DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS WERE CREATED BY VOTERS
IN 2015. THEY WENT INTO EFFECT
IN 2017. IT IS THE FIRST PROGRAM
OF ITS KIND ANYWHERE IN THE
WORLD. AND IT'S ADMINISTERED BY
US AT THE FCC. WE SEND FOUR $25
VOUCHERS TO EVERYONE IN THE
CITY, AND EVERY REGISTERED
VOTER, AND [ INAUDIBLE ]
RESIDENT WHO ASKS TO BE ON THE
PROGRAM. AND THEY CAN USE THOSE
VOUCHERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO
WHATEVER CANDIDATE THEY WANT, AS
LONG AS THEY ARE PARTICIPATING
IN THE PROGRAM. THEY HAVE TO BE
A PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAM TO
BE ABLE TO USE THE VOUCHERS. THE
MAYOR HAS PROPOSED A 10 YEAR
LEVY TO RENEW IT. AND THAT'S
WHAT I WILL TRY TO TALK YOU
THROUGH HERE, JUST WHAT HAS BEEN
GOOD ABOUT THE PROGRAM. OKAY.
THIS IS THE FIRST SLIDE, THIS IS
JUST SOMETHING -- IT IS TWO
PICTURES. THE FIRST ONE WAS
PREPARED BY SIGHT LINE PRIOR TO
THE VOTE TO PUT THIS MEASURE ON
THE BALLOT. IT IS 2013 AND
SHOWING WHERE VOTERS [ INAUDIBLE
] SEATTLE RACES. AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT IS NOT A VERY BRIGHT MAP.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
DON'T CONTRIBUTE. IN 2019, THAT
WAS THE SECOND YEAR UNDER THE
PROGRAM, THAT IS THE SECOND MAP.
YOU CAN JUST SEE, THE DOTS ARE
EVERYWHERE. PEOPLE ARE
CONTRIBUTING FROM EVERYWHERE IN
THE CITY. YOU CAN TELL WHERE THE
ZOO IS THERE, AND DISCOVERY
PARK, AND MAGNUSON PARK [
INAUDIBLE ] SO, THAT JUST GOES
TO SHOW HOW MUCH PEOPLE HAVE
REALLY TAKEN UP THE PROGRAM. OH,
SORRY. TOTAL NUMBER OF
CONTRIBUTORS, THIS IS SOMETHING
WE HAVE SEEN. PRIOR TO THE
PROGRAM GOING INTO EFFECT IN
2013, LESS THAN 17,000 PEOPLE
GIVE MONEY TO A CANDIDATE. BY
2021, WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON THE BALLOT AND OTHER CITYWIDE
SEATS, THAT ROSE TO 68,000 , SO
WE ARE SEEING NUMBERS UNLIKE ANY
OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY. IT
DID FOLLOW IN 2023, BUT WE
ATTRIBUTE THAT A LITTLE BIT
COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, SO
-- HERE IS ANOTHER THING THAT IS
DONE, IS PERCENTAGE OF
CONTRIBUTORS FROM OUTSIDE
SEATTLE. ROUGHLY A THIRD OF THE
MONEY FOR OUR CITY RACES USED TO
FLOW FROM OUTSIDE SEATTLE. PRIOR
TO THE DAWN OF THE PROGRAM.
SINCE THEN, IT HAS PLUMMETED TO
7%, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN
SEVEN. SO, THAT IS, I THINK, A
NOTABLE THING. UM, AGAIN, THIS
GRAPH SHOWS BEFORE THE VOUCHER
PROGRAM , THE TWO YEAR CYCLE
BEFORE, WHERE ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE ELECTED.
COMPARE THAT WITH THE TWO YEARS
AFTER THE PROGRAM , WHEN ALL
NINE COUNCILMEMBERS WERE
ELECTED. WE ONLY HAVE 2.67
CANDIDATES PER COUNCIL RACE
PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM. FIVE OF
THE NINE RACES HAD NO [
INAUDIBLE ], SO YOU JUST GOT
ONE CHANCE, THE GENERAL, TO VOTE
FOR PEOPLE, AND OFTEN TIMES,
SEVERAL OF THE CANDIDATES -- ONE
CANDIDATE ACTUALLY ENDORSED HIS
OPPONENT, SO, EVERY [ INAUDIBLE
] ON THE BALLOT, EIGHT OF NINE
WON. SEVEN WON BY MORE THAN 20
POINTS. THREE GOT MORE THAN 80.
[ INAUDIBLE ] PRIOR TO THE
PROGRAM. AFTERWARDS, WE ARE UP
TO SIX CANDIDATES PER ELECTION,
EVERYTHING GOES TO THE PRIMARY,
AND ONLY THREE OF THE NINE RACES
ARE DECIDED [ INAUDIBLE ]. ONLY
THREE CANDIDATES GOT MORE THAN
60% [ INAUDIBLE ]. UM, SO, THE
RENEWAL , THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE
VOTING ON. 10 YEAR PROPERTY TAX
LEVY, $4.5 MILLION A YEAR OVER
10 YEARS, SO $45 MILLION. .0142
SENT TAX RATE, WHICH COMES OUT
TO $13.07 ON THE OWNER OF A
MEDIAN PRICED HOME, WHICH IS
$920,000 NEXT YEAR. AND THE
VOTERS WILL CONSIDER THIS IN
AUGUST, IF YOU VOTE TO PUT IT
THERE. UM, I HAVE ONE MORE --
CAN YOU TAKE ME TO THE NEXT ONE.
THIS GOES TO SHOW HOW WE GOT TO
THE $4.5 MILLION. THE BOTTOM
LINE IS IF IT WAS 3 MILLION, AND
YOU CAN SEE IT WOULD GO QUICKLY
INTO THE RED. BY 2029, WE WOULD
RUN OUT OF MONEY. NEXT ONE UP IS
$4 MILLION, AND STILL IN THE
OUTER YEARS, WE DO RUN OUT OF
MONEY. BUT THE TOP ONE IS 4.5,
AND YOU CAN SEE, WE JUST
NARROWLY ARE IN THE BLACK FOR
ALL 10 YEARS. THIS IS A PROBLEM
WE ARE TRYING TO BUDGET 10 YEARS
OUT. [ INAUDIBLE ] AND WITH
THAT, I THINK I AM READY TO TURN
TO [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR QUESTIONS.
NEXT STEPS. WE DO HAVE YOUR NEXT
COMMITTEE VOTE ON THE 11th OR
10th. HAVE A CHANCE TO CAST A
VOTE ON THIS. IT WOULD THEN GO
TO FULL COUNCIL ON THE 22nd.
KING COUNTY'S SUBMISSION
DEADLINE IS MAY 2nd, THAT'S
WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT OVER TO
THE COUNTY TO LET THEM KNOW [
INAUDIBLE ] . AND ELECTION DAY
WOULD BE AUGUST 5th. PROPERTY
TAX COLLECTION WOULD START NEXT
JANUARY 1st. AND WE WOULD ALSO
PUT TOGETHER A TASK FORCE. IN
THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR,
WE WILL PUT TOGETHER A TASK
FORCE WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR TO START LOOKING AT
PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES. WE ARE NOT
SEEING ANY RIGHT NOW, BUT IF
PEOPLE WANT US TO CONSIDER THEM
OR IF COUNCIL WANTS TO TAKE
ACTION WITHOUT US, THAT WOULD BE
AVAILABLE [ INAUDIBLE ] . THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
ADD ANYTHING?
>> SURE, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. [ INAUDIBLE ] AGENDA
THAT WAS SENT OUT TO COMMITTEE
MEMBERS EARLIER THIS WEEK. IT IS
MOSTLY BACKGROUND, SIMILAR
CONTENT TO WHAT WAS PRESENTED
TODAY. THE ONLY THING I WILL ADD
FOR KIND OF THE BENEFIT OF THE
COUNCIL HERE IS IN TERMS OF
COMPARISON OF WHAT IT WOULD COST
, THE CURRENT LEVY VERSUS THE
PROPOSED LEVY, THE EXISTING LEVY
ON AVERAGE OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS HAS COSTED THE OWNER OF A
MEDIUM VALUE RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY ABOUT $8.80 A YEAR, SO
THE PROPOSED RENEWAL , AS
DIRECTOR BARNETT SAID, WOULD BE
ABOUT $13.07 PER YEAR. SO, JUST
IN TERMS OF COMPARISON. THANK
YOU.
>> THAT SPARKED A COUPLE
QUESTIONS. SARA, WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING BEFORE I ASK? SO, YOU
JUST TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE
PROPERTY OWNER WOULD BE PAYING,
BUT WHAT IS THE LUMP SUM THAT
YOU ARE HOPING THAT THE EXISTING
PROGRAM COLLECTS, AND I KNOW IT
VARIES BY YEAR DEPENDING ON THE
PROPERTY, BUT WHAT WAS THE
TARGET AND WHAT WILL BE THE
RENEWAL TARGET?
>> THE TARGET WAS $3 MILLION A
YEAR FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, DID
YOU WANT HIM TO ANSWER? SO,
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT 10
YEARS TO RAISE IT TO $4.5
MILLION. SO, $1.5 MILLION MORE
EACH YEAR.
>> IN ANTICIPATION OF ABOUT SIX
CANDIDATES OR SOMETHING A YEAR.
>> ALSO RISING COSTS. I MEAN,
REALLY, THAT IS SOMETHING JUST
FOR BUDGETING, THAT IS WHY WE DO
THE SIX CANDIDATES PER RACE,
EACH OF THEM USING SO MANY
VOUCHERS, THAT IS JUST A
BUDGETING THING WE DO. BUT IN
THE END, I THINK OUR GRAPH HERE
EVEN SHOWS, IT IS ROUGHLY 65% [
INAUDIBLE ] .
>> AND THE RATIONALE FOR THE
INCREASE IS A PRESUMPTION OF
4.1% ANNUAL CPI INCREASE. AND I
THINK BRIAN MENTIONED THAT IN
HIS MEMO, BASICALLY BRINGS THE
RIGHT TO THE $4.5 MILLION THAT
WE ARE RECOMMENDING [ INAUDIBLE
].
>> THANK YOU. YOU'RE LOOKING AT
ME LIKE -- GO AHEAD.
>> THE CPI INCREASE , WHY IS IT
CALCULATED -- I MEAN -- I GUESS
WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS WE HAVE
A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT WE
ESTIMATE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND HOW
YOU ARRIVED AT THE ESTIMATE,
RIGHT? AND THEN HOW MUCH DO YOU
ACTUALLY USE OF THE ESTIMATE,
SO, IS IT THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING
AN INCREASE BECAUSE WE ARE USING
X AMOUNT? WE THINK WE WILL USE X
AMOUNT MORE THAN WE ORIGINALLY
ESTIMATED FOR THE FIRST, YOU
KNOW, 10 YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM?
>> THE FIGURES WERE SET IN 2015
WHEN IT WENT TO THE VOTERS, SO
NOW THE FIGURE IS ALREADY 10
YEARS OUT, AND THEN ANOTHER 10
YEARS, IT WILL BE 20 YEARS OLD,
SO THIS IS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
THE RISING COST OF PAPER AND
STAFF AND MAILING AND
CAMPAIGNING. SO, THOSE ARE ALL
COSTS WHICH WE ARE TAKING --
TRYING TO ESTIMATE THEM.
>> THANK YOU. AND I GUESS MY
QUESTION IS DIFFERENT, IT'S HOW
MUCH ARE WE USING? BECAUSE
YOU'RE SAYING WE UTILIZE IT AT
ABOUT 65%, IS THAT WHAT I HEARD
YOU SAY?
>> WHAT WE UTILIZE IS A PERCENT
-- I THINK THE SIX CANDIDATES
PER RACE ALL USING VOUCHERS,
THAT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE KIND
OF -- THAT IS JUST A MECHANISM
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO USE AND THE
LAWSUIT SAYS WE HAVE TO USE IT,
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO. BUT WE
FIGURED IN 10 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE, WE KNOW WE'RE
SPENDING ROUGHLY 65% OF THAT.
AND ALL THE NUMBERS IN MY BUDGET
THERE WERE BASED ON 65%
SPENDING.
>> DID YOU SAY OVERSPENDING?
>> JUST SPENDING POINT
>> HOW ABOUT I TAKE A CRACK AT
IT? SO, IF THEY WERE TO HAVE SIX
CANDIDATES PER ELECTION AND
VOUCHERS, THE RENEWAL PRULD BE
BEOPOSED RIGHT NOW. SO,
THEY LOOKED AT THE HISTORICAL,
HOW MUCH HAS BEEN USED OF IT,
WHICH IS ABOUT 65%, AND THAT IS
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THEIR
PROTECTIONS, SO BASED ON
INCREASES TO STAFF COSTS,
VOUCHER DISTRIBUTIONS, PRINTING
AND MAILING, THOSE TYPES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND THEN
HOW MANY CANDIDATES ARE
PARTICIPATING AND HOW MUCH EACH
CANDIDATE IS ALLOWED TO RECEIVE
AND DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS, AND THEY
RENTED OUT FOR 10 YEARS, AND THE
$4.5 MILLION IS THE ONLY ONE
THAT DIDN'T GO INTO THE RED
OVER THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN, THAT'S
WHAT I WAS ASKING , USAGE VERSUS
UNDERSTAND, VERSUS DO WE REALLY
NEED WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR
BASED ON OUR UNDERSTAND, IF YOU
WILL, OF THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ARE
CALCULATING THE ESTIMATE, BUT
USAGE IS IMPORTANT IF PEOPLE
AREN'T REALLY UTILIZING IT, AND
WE HAVE UNDER SPEND EVERY YEAR,
THEN YOU COULD GO LESSER THAN
THE ESTIMATE OF THE $4 MILLION,
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY
UTILIZING THAT MUCH, DOES THAT
MAKE SENSE? SO, THAT GOES TO MY
QUESTION, BRIAN.
>> SO, WITH OUR PROJECTIONS, THE
$4.5 MILLION PER YEAR WOULD BE
REQUIRED. YET.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THAT'S
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE 35%
LEFT AFTER EACH -- I MEAN, IF
YOU SAY WE ARE ONLY USING 65%,
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE 35%
LEFT OVER? I THINK IT WAS CLOSER
TO 50 OR SOMETHING ONE OF THE
YEARS, YOU KNOW?
>> IT ROLLS OVER INTO THE FUND.
ALL THE FUNDS HAVE ONLY BEEN
USED TO DO THIS PROGRAM, SO, I
THINK THE DRAFTERS WHO PUT IT ON
THE BALLOT, THAT WAS SOMETHING
TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS CAN ONLY
BE USED FOR THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.
SO, I THINK WE REALLY DON'T
HAVE THAT MUCH LEFT OVER RIGHT
NOW, I THINK WE ARE ABOUT TO RUN
OUT ANYWAYS, SO YES.
>> CAN I ASK --
>> JUST -- YEAR-TO-YEAR, IT
EVENS OUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE
USAGE IN SOME AREAS THAN OTHERS?
>> YES, WE ARE VERY HARD TO
BUDGET. BECAUSE WE GO UP, WE GO
DOWN.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT -- CAN I ASK
ONE MORE QUESTION, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT? JUST IN TERMS OF
OUTREACH AND LETTING FOLKS KNOW
, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY, I GOT A
LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO
UTILIZE THEM, DO THEY EXPIRE?
JUST ALL OF THAT INFORMATION
FROM AN OUTREACH STANDPOINT AND
EDUCATION STANDPOINT, WHAT IS
THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, IF YOU
WILL, IF THERE IS ONE, TO LET
FOLKS KNOW HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO
USE THESE?
>> YEAH, WE DO SOME STUFF IN
HOUSE, WE DID IT ALL IN HOUSE
THE FIRST YEAR, BUT THEN WHEN WE
HAVE THIS STUDY TO LOOK AT IT, I
THINK [ INAUDIBLE ] TO LOOK AT
WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHAT WE CAN
DO BETTER. THEY ACTUALLY
RECOMMENDED WE START DOING SOME
CONTRACT WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, BECAUSE WE DID
NOT HAVE MUCH SUCCESS IN GETTING
INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
HARDER TO REACH, AND TELLING
PEOPLE WHAT THEY WERE. SO, WE
HAVE DONE A LOT OF EDUCATION
OVER 10 YEARS. WE CONTINUE TO
PRINT A LOT OF STUFF. IN SEVERAL
LANGUAGES. AND WE REALLY RELY ON
THE CBO'S TO REALLY GO OUT
THERE AND SPREAD THE WORD.
>> RIGHT, BECAUSE THE POINT IS
TO REACH THOSE FOLKS THAT DON'T
HAVE THE MEANS, BUT WE WANT TO
GET THEM ENGAGED, SO THAT'S WHY
I'M ASKING ABOUT OUTREACH AND
MAKING SURE WE ARE REACHING
FOLKS [ INAUDIBLE ] . I SEE
KNOBS IN THE AUDIENCE. THANK
YOU. [ LAUGHTER ] THANK YOU.
>> AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE
THAT EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
DOESN'T LEAD INTO SOME KIND OF
CAMPAIGNING.
>> OH, YES, WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE,
YOU CAN GO OUT, WE WANT YOU TO
PROMOTE THE PROGRAM. [ INAUDIBLE
] PLEASE DON'T MENTION
CANDIDATES.
>> CORRECT, VERY IMPORTANT. [
LAUGHTER ] THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> WELL, I SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM.
I WISH THAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
WERE HERE, BECAUSE HE IS A BIG
CHAMPION AS WELL, I KNOW THAT HE
WOULD LOVE TO SAY SOME REMARKS.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE CHOICE WAS DO
WE PROCESS THIS -- THE RENEWAL
THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE OR DO WE
MAKE PEOPLE GO OUT AND COLLECT
SIGNATURES ALL OVER AGAIN? WHICH
I CERTAINLY DID NOT WANT TO DO.
SO, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE
HAVE TIME IN THIS COMMITTEE TO
PROCESS -- NOT PROCESS, BUT
DELIBERATE, AND THEN MAKE SURE
THAT IT GETS ON THE PRIMARY
BALLOT. SO, I ADD ONE LAST
QUESTION. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES, SOME
CHANGES , I UNDERSTAND, ARE MADE
FROM CYCLE TO CYCLE BY THE
COMMISSIONER, RECOMMENDED OR
ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSIONER,
BASED ON CANDIDATES'
SUGGESTIONS FOR TWEAKING. YOU
KNOW, HOW CAN IT MAKE IT EASIER
TO CAMPAIGN WITH THEM? AND THEN
THERE ARE OTHER CHANGES THAT
COULD BE MADE THAT HAVE TO DO
WITH -- THAT WOULD REQUIRE A
CHANGE IN , I DON'T KNOW, THE
ENABLING LEGISLATION, IS THAT
HOW IT WOULD GO? TELL ME WHAT
KIND OF CHANGES CAN BE MADE AND
WHAT THIS TASK FORCE IS ABOUT?
>> I THINK THIS ONE MAY BE
BETTER HANDLED BY THE MAYOR'S
REPRESENTATIVE.
>> PART OF THE LEGISLATION WILL
HAVE US CONVENED EARLY NEXT
YEAR. SOMETHINGS CAN BE IMPOSED
BY THE ETHICS COMMISSION, FOR
INSTANCE, EARLIER, A FEW YEARS
AGO, I THINK THEY CHANGED THE
REGULATION FOR DEMOCRACY VOUCHER
COLLECTORS. BUT THERE ARE OTHER
ISSUES THAT, IN TALKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS, FOR INSTANCE, SOME
COUNCILMEMBERS -- SORRY, SOME
CANDIDATES ARE WORRIED THAT THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY ARE
COLLECTING DOESN'T ALLOW THEM
TO DO SUFFICIENT OUTREACH, AND
ALSO PAY THEIR CAMPAIGN MANAGER
A LIVING WAGE. I READ A RECENT
EDITORIAL IN THE TIMES THAT
RECOMMENDED DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS
BE SENT OUT LATER. THERE IS ONE
STAKEHOLDER GROUP, I WANTED TO
FIND OUT HOW TO MAKE IT EASIER
TO QUALIFY AS CANDIDATES, AND
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE PROBABLY
WORTHY OF HAVING A CONVERSATION
ABOUT, PROBABLY NOT WHEN WE ARE
AT FEVER PITCH, IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE CAMPAIGN SEASON, WHEN
SEVERAL INCUMBENTS ARE ON THE
BALLOT, SO ONCE WE HAVE ANOTHER
FULL YEAR OF MAYORAL DATA,
BECAUSE WE HAVE ONLY DONE ONE
MAYORAL TERM THROUGH THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM, IS A
TIME TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE
LOOK AT EVERYTHING WE HAVE DONE
TODAY AND TAKE A DEEPER DIVE IN
CONSULTATION WITH COUNCIL AND
ETHICS COMMISSION.
>> MAYORAL AND CITYWIDE COUNCIL
TERM.
>> I SHOULD POINT OUT, TOO --
>> THERE HAVE BEEN TWO, I THINK.
2017 AND 2021.
>> 2017 TO HAVE THE MAYOR.
>> WE REALLY THINK OF OURSELVES
AS HAVING TWO SETS OF CUSTOMERS.
ONE OUR CANDIDATES AND WE
OBVIOUSLY WANT THEM TO TAKE PART
IN THE PROGRAM AND TO USE IT, SO
WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM
ON THEIR EXPERIENCE. OUR OTHER
CUSTOMER IS REGULAR PEOPLE OUT
THERE ON THE STREET, PEOPLE WHO
USE THE VOUCHERS. WE REALLY TRY
TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM BOTH
OF THOSE GROUPS BEFORE WE DO ANY
CHANGES.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF
THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION IN A
POSSIBLE VOTE AT OUR NEXT
MEETING, WHICH IS APRIL 10th.
>> YES.
>> YEA, I WAS RIGHT. ALL RIGHT,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WHO
SHED -- IF COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
AREN'T HERE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
TO WHOM SHOULD THEY DIRECT THEM?
>> YOU SHOULD RUN THOSE
QUESTIONS THROUGH ME. IF THEY
REQUIRE INPUT [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, LET'S
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM,
PLEASE. READ IT INTO THE RECORD,
ITEM 3.
>> AGENDA ITEM 3, FOR
RECOMMENDATION TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS CURRENT
GUN VIOLENCE PATTERNS IN SEATTLE
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> WHILE YOU'RE GETTING
SETTLED, I WILL JUST SAY SOME
OPENING REMARKS, IF I MAY. WELL,
I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE NOISE
PIPES DOWN. OKAY, WELL, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY
TO PRESENT THIS AUDIT. I JUST
WILL EXPLAIN HOW THIS AUDIT GOT
HERE. JUST BRIEFLY. AND THEN
TURN IT OVER TO OUR PRESENTERS.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, I WILL SAY
THAT THIS -- THIS PARTICULAR
AUDIT GREW OUT OF A REQUEST FROM
MAYOR HARRELL AND I TO THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY AUDITOR , IT
WAS SUBMITTED I BELIEVE ON
JANUARY 7th, 2024, AFTER I
BECAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND WE
RESPECTFULLY -- AND IT READS ,
"WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT
YOUR OFFICE EGGS ASSIST [
INAUDIBLE ] ON THE SOON TO BE
DEPLOYED TECHNOLOGIES IS
DESCRIBED BELOW. WE REQUEST THAT
YOUR OFFICE UPDATE YOUR 2012
ASSESSMENT OF CRIME PREVENTION
PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE CITY,
INCLUDING PROGRAMS OPERATED BY
THE CITY AND THOSE RUN BY THE
COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE 2012
ASSESSMENT, PLEASE IDENTIFY THE
EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS, THOSE
WITH NO EVIDENCE OF
EFFECTIVENESS, THOSE THAT MAY BE
PROMISING, AND THOSE THAT MAY
CAUSE HARM. WE ALSO VALUE YOUR
OPINION ON WHAT CRIME PRODUCTION
--. -- [ INAUDIBLE ] WE WOULD
CONSIDER THIS ASSESSMENT AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE TO HELP INFORM
DECISIONS FOR THE 20 TWICE CITY
BUDGET WHICH WILL START BEING
MADE IN APRIL." SO, THAT WAS THE
REQUEST, AND BECAUSE IT WAS
SIGNED BY THE MAYOR AND THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IT GOT BUMPED
UP TO THE AUDITORS VERY BUSY
LIST OF REQUESTS, AND IT WAS
GOING FORWARD, AND THAT I WAS
SURPRISED TO LEARN, SHORTLY
AFTER THE GARFIELD SCHOOL
SHOOTING AT THE END OF LAST
SCHOOL YEAR, BECAUSE I SAID HOW
IS THAT AUDIT COMING ALONG? I
WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THE
AUDIT REQUEST HAD BEEN PUT ON
PAUSE BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
BECAUSE -- THE EXPLANATION WAS
HST IS PREPARING TO ISSUE A NEW
ROUND THAT WILL RESULT IN NEW
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. ASSESSING
THESE PROGRAMS IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE RFP RESPONSES SEEMS MORE
PRUDENT. WELL, I DISAGREE, I
THOUGHT THAT THE AUDIT COULD
INFORM THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS
THAT WE WANT RECIPIENTS OR THE
BIDDERS TO BE -- TO HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO EXECUTE. ANYWAY, I
KVETCH ABOUT THIS ON THE DAIS, I
ENDED UP TALKING TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, SO, THAT IS NEITHER HERE
NOR THERE, BUT I DID FEEL VERY
STRONGLY THAT THE FOCUS ON GUN
VIOLENCE WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
TO HAVE MORE ANSWERS ON, BECAUSE
THAT IS MORE SERIOUS, AND PEOPLE
ARE DYING, AND ALSO, AGAIN, A
TRAGIC FATALITY HAD JUST
HAPPENED AT GARFIELD. SO, THE
REQUEST -- I MADE A REQUEST TO
FOCUS ON THAT SLICE OF CRIME
PREVENTION, AND THIS IS WHAT WE
HAVE GOT BEFORE US. I UNCAUSED
THE WORK ON THE BROADER RANGE OF
PROGRAMS, AND THAT WILL BE
ONGOING, BUT I AM VERY GRATEFUL
THAT YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO
GET US THE INFORMATION ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE, THE NATURE OF IT, AND
PROVIDE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
RIGHT NOW. SO, WITH THAT, I WILL
LET YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
AM CLAUDIA GROSS-SHADER, AND THE
RESEARCH DIRECTOR WITH THE
OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR. I WOULD
QUICKLY LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY
COLLEAGUE ANDREW, WHO ALSO
WORKED ON THIS REPORT, AS WELL
AS OUR CITY AUDITOR, DAVID
JONES, WHO IS IN AUDIENCE.
>> NATALIE WALTON-ANDERSON,
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
>> WASHINGTON, DEPUTY MAYOR.
>> REBECCA BOATRIGHT, GENERAL
COUNSEL AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF ANALYTICS AND RESEARCH AT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. OUR REPORT OFFERS FOUR
CONCRETE THINGS THAT THE CITY
COULD DO TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
AND ADDRESS THE CURRENT GUN
VIOLENCE PATTERNS THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING IN SEATTLE. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE, ESPECIALLY
NOW, THAT OUR FOUR
RECOMMENDATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE
MORE CITY RESOURCES. OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS DO REQUIRE THE
CITY TO GET MORE ORGANIZED. MORE
ORGANIZED AROUND DATA THAT CAN
HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND AND
ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE, AND MORE
ORGANIZED IN COORDINATING
ACTIVITIES AMONG CITY
DEPARTMENTS, AND OTHER
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, ALL USING AN ALL HANDS
ON DECK APPROACH TO ADDRESSING
GUN VIOLENCE. WE DON'T HAVE TO
REINVENT THE WHEEL ON THIS. OUR
REPORT OFFERS EXAMPLES FROM
OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE
LED TO DECLINES IN GUN VIOLENCE.
AND WE HAVE NOTED IN THE REPORT
, WHERE FREE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO
SEATTLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE. THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AGREES WITH ALL
FOUR OF OUR AUDIT
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE RESPONSE LETTER
IS INCLUDED AS APPENDIX A IN OUR
REPORT. IN THE LETTER, THE
CITY'S CHIEF PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICER HERE, NATALIE
WALTON-ANDERSON, IDENTIFIES THE
THINGS THAT THE EXECUTIVE IS
CURRENTLY DOING AND PLANS TO DO
TO ADDRESS OUR AUDIT
RECOMMENDATIONS. THE LETTER
CLOSES BY SAYING, "OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT IS A LEARNING
ORGANIZATION. WE STRIVE TO DO
BETTER, IMPROVE PERFORMANCE,
MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, AND DO SO
WITH INTEGRITY, FAIRNESS, AND
JUSTICE. " AND OUR OFFICE, THE
OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR IS PART
OF THIS LEARNING ORGANIZATION.
OUR WORK, OUR AUDIT FINDINGS,
OUR AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND
OUR FOLLOW-UP ON OUR AUDIT
RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE
UNCOMFORTABLE AND CHALLENGING
FOR THE EXECUTIVE. SO, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE EXECUTIVES
COLLABORATION ON THESE AUDITS,
AND THEIR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OUR
SHARED GOAL OF DOING BETTER FOR
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. THE NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. FOR MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC, YOU CAN FIND OUR
REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE, THE LINK
IS UP THERE. AND WITH ALL OF OUR
AUDITS, WE FOLLOWED THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS,
SO YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF THE
QUALITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF OUR
WORK. IN ADDITION TO THIS AUDIT,
WE HARNESS THE POWER OF
ADDITIONAL AGENCIES AND
STAKEHOLDERS. WE RECEIVED THREE
FEDERAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE , OFFICE OF JUSTICE
PROGRAMS OF VIOLENT CRIME
REDUCTION ROAD MAP PROGRAM, AS
WELL AS FROM THE POLICE
EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM. THE
POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM
FUNDED A RESEARCHER, DR. LEXI
GILL, WHO WORKED IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. THERE CRIME STRATEGIES
UNIT. TO CONDUCT A SEATTLE GUN
VIOLENCE LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS FOR
THIS AUDIT. AND DAVID BAKER, THE
DIRECTOR OF DATA AND ANALYTICS
FROM THE KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE , HE WAS HERE
EARLIER, HE HAD TO LEAVE, BUT WE
REALLY DO APPRECIATE THEIR
COLLABORATION ON THIS WORK.
ALSO, WE APPRECIATE THE DEEP
COLLABORATION FROM THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE
PERFORMANCE , ANALYTICS, AND
RESEARCH GROUP PROVIDED TWO
CUSTOM REPORTS FOR THIS AUDIT,
AND REBECCA BOATRIGHT WHO
OVERSEES THAT GROUP IS HERE
TODAY. AND FINALLY, THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS
LISTED HERE ON THIS SIDE ALSO
PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON THE REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATIONS. NEXT SLIDE.
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT MENTIONED,
THIS AUDIT GREW OUT OF A REQUEST
FROM MAYOR HARRELL AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT SARA NELSON TO
EVALUATE THE CITY'S INVESTMENTS
IN PREVENTING AND REDUCING
CRIME, AND THIS AUDIT IS A FIRST
STEP TOWARD THAT GOAL OF
ENSURING THAT THE CITY'S
INVESTMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE. WE
LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT THE ISSUE
OF GUN VIOLENCE IN SEATTLE.
SEATTLE HAS SUSTAINED A
POST-PANDEMIC INCREASE IN
SHOOTINGS. ACCORDING TO SPD
DATA, BETWEEN 2020 AND 2024,
SHOTS FIRED INCREASED BY 71%.
NONFATAL SHOOTINGS INCREASED
58%. AND FATAL SHOOTINGS
INCREASED 23%. IN THIS AUDIT, WE
SOUGHT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT
THE CURRENT GUN VIOLENCE
PATTERNS THAT SEATTLE IS
EXPERIENCING. WE WANTED TO LEARN
HOW GUN VIOLENCE INTERSECTS WITH
OTHER ISSUES LIKE HOMELESSNESS
AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WHAT ARE
THE TRENDS IN YOUTH GUN
VIOLENCE? AND WHERE ARE THE
SPECIFIC PLACES IN SEATTLE WERE
GUN VIOLENCE INCIDENTS ARE
CONCENTRATED? NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. WHEN WE WENT TO FIND THE
DATA TO ANSWER THESE TYPES OF
QUESTIONS, WE BUMPED INTO OUR
FIRST FINDING AREA. WE FOUND
THAT UNLIKE SOME OTHER CITIES,
SEATTLE DOES NOT HAVE A
FRAMEWORK OR AN UMBRELLA FOR
COMING TOGETHER AS CITY AGENCIES
AND PARTNERS TO ASK THESE TYPES
OF QUESTIONS AND LOOK AT THE
DATA TOGETHER. AND THIS SHOULD
NOT BE MISUNDERSTOOD AS A
CRITICISM OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. IN FACT, SPD HAS
CAPACITY TO PERFORM
SOPHISTICATED DIAGNOSTIC AND
GEOSPATIAL ANALYSES RELATED TO
GUN VIOLENCE, AND WE HAVE LINKS
TO SOME EXAMPLES OF THESE TYPES
OF ANALYSES IN OUR REPORT. SO,
WHAT'S MISSING IS SYSTEMATIC
INFORMATION SHARING. AND HERE IS
AN EXAMPLE FROM OUR AUDIT. EARLY
ON IN OUR AUDIT, WE SPOKE WITH
PARKS OFFICIALS, SPD, AND THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND EVERYONE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WERE
CERTAIN PARKS IN SEATTLE WERE
GUN VIOLENCE WAS CONCENTRATED.
BUT THEY ALL COLLECTED THE DATA
DIFFERENTLY. DIFFERENT TIME
PERIODS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF
INCIDENTS, AND EVEN DIFFERENT
NAMES FOR THE LOCATIONS. SO, WE
ALL GOT ON THE SAME PAGE, AND
SPD CREATED A CONSENSUS REPORT
FOR US. IT IS SUMMARIZED IN
EXHIBIT SEVEN OF OUR REPORT ON
PAGE 21. IT IS TITLED SEATTLE
PARKS WITH HIGH INCIDENCE OF
SHOOTINGS AND SHOTS FIRED, FROM
JANUARY 2021 THROUGH AUGUST
2024. AND SO NOW, THIS TYPE OF
INFORMATION COULD BE HELPFUL TO
THE CITY IN FOCUSING ITS LIMITED
RESOURCES. AS COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON KNOWS, THERE ARE MANY
PROVEN, EFFECTIVE , PLACE-BASED
STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING VIOLENT
CRIME, LIKE IMPROVED LIGHTING
AND INCREASED ACCESS CONTROLS
THAT COULD BE EFFECTIVE AT THESE
PARK LOCATIONS. AND THIS IS JUST
ONE EXAMPLE. WITHOUT THIS
FRAMEWORK OR UMBRELLA FOR
INFORMATION SHARING, THE CITY IS
MISSING OUT ON IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER
UNDERSTANDING AND ACTION. OUR
REPORT OFFERS SOME EXAMPLES OF
SYSTEMATIC INFORMATION SHARING
FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
BALTIMORE HAS EXPERIENCED A DROP
IN VIOLENT CRIME SINCE 2021.
INCLUDING A 23% DROP IN FATAL
SHOOTINGS AND A 34% DECLINE IN
NONFATAL SHOOTINGS FROM 2023 TO
2024. AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT IN BALTIMORE AND IN A
NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES THAT WE
HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR REPORT, THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT THE
CONVENER. THE POLICE PARTICIPATE
IN INFORMATION SHARING, BUT THEY
DON'T HOLD THE UMBRELLA, IF YOU
WILL. IN BALTIMORE, FOR EXAMPLE,
THE CONVENING AGENCY IS THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD
SAFETY AND ENGAGEMENT. THEY
MAINTAIN AN ONLINE DASHBOARD ,
AND WE LOOK TO IT IN OUR REPORT
ON PAGE 11. IT IS CALLED THE
PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITY
DASHBOARD, AND IT COMBINES DATA
FROM POLICE, FROM PROSECUTORS,
AND FROM BALTIMORE'S
EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH
INTERVENTIONS, ALL IN ONE PLACE.
THE OFFICIALS IN BALTIMORE NOTE
THAT THE DASHBOARD IS DESIGNED
TO " ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO HOLD
AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE." WE OFFER
TWO RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS
AREA, AND BOTH OF OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ON PAGE 14.
FIRST, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE
CITY DEVELOP A MORE SYSTEMATIC
REPORTING AND INFORMATION
SHARING FRAMEWORK FOR GUN
VIOLENCE. AND WE NOTE THAT THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT WE
RECEIVED FROM THE POLICE
EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM, IT IS
STILL AVAILABLE IF THE CITY
WANTS TO CONTINUE ON THIS PATH.
SECOND, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE
CITY TAKE A LOOK AT THE
ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHED OUR
CARE DEPARTMENT, AND THERE IS
LANGUAGE IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT
SUGGESTS THAT CARE COULD
POSSIBLY, POTENTIALLY BE A
CONVENER FOR INFORMATION SHARING
AROUND GUN VIOLENCE. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. OUR SECOND FINDING AREA
IS THAT THE CITY DOES NOT
ROUTINELY OR SYSTEMATICALLY
ENGAGE IN OTHER -- ENGAGE OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS, OTHER
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN AN ALL
HANDS ON DECK APPROACH TO
ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE, BASED
ON DATA AND PROBLEM SOLVING.
FROM THE DATA THAT WE WERE ABLE
TO GATHER FOR THIS AUDIT, WE
IDENTIFIED SOME AREAS FOR THE
CITY TO ENGAGE IN PROBLEM
SOLVING. PROBLEM SOLVING TO
ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE IN PARKS,
OR GUN VIOLENCE WITH A DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE NEXUS, OR GUN VIOLENCE
WITH A NEXUS OF HOMELESSNESS. WE
HIGHLIGHT SOME EXAMPLES FROM
OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE
IMPLEMENTED AN ALL HANDS ON DECK
PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH. AGAIN,
BALTIMORE HAS DOCUMENTED THEIR
ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH IN
THEIR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PLAN,
THAT WAS REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE
IN 2020. THE 2024 UPDATE OF THE
BALTIMORE PLAN SHOWS THAT 54% OR
38 ACTION ITEMS OF THAT PLAN ARE
NOW COMPLETED. AND BALTIMORE IS
MEASURING ITS RESULTS THROUGH
RIGOROUS EVALUATIONS AND THROUGH
PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITY
DASHBOARD THAT I MENTIONED
EARLIER. MILWAUKEE PIONEERED THE
DEVELOPMENT , AND IT BRINGS
TOGETHER POLICE, CITY AGENCIES,
SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, PROSECUTORS,
CORRECTIONS, SOCIAL SERVICE
AGENCIES, AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO USE STRATEGIC
PROBLEM ANALYSIS , AND TO FOCUS
CITY RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY TO
ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE. HOMICIDE
COUNTS IN MILWAUKEE FELL 52%
OVER EIGHT YEARS THROUGH THE USE
OF THE HOMICIDE REVIEW
COMMISSION. THE NEXT GENERATION
OF THE HOMICIDE REVIEW
COMMISSION IS CALLED VIOLENCE
REDUCTION COUNCILS, AND THAT IS
ON PAGE STEEN AND 17 OF OUR
REPORT. THE VIOLENCE REDUCTION
COUNCILS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY
JOHNS HOPKINS, BLOOMBERG SCHOOL
OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND DR.
MALLORY O'BRIEN AND HER TEAM
FROM JOHNS HOPKINS HAVE OFFERED
TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH FREE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP
UNDERSTAND AND IMPLEMENT THIS
FRAMEWORK. SO, FOR THIS AREA, WE
RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY IMPROVE
ITS CAPACITY FOR PROBLEM
ANALYSIS TO ADDRESS GUN
VIOLENCE, AND WE RECOMMEND THAT
THE CITY IMPLEMENT A FRAMEWORK
FOR REGULAR SYSTEMATIC
COORDINATION AMONG CITY
DEPARTMENTS, OTHER GOVERNMENT
ENTITIES, AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE THE VIOLENCE
REDUCTION COUNCIL MODEL.
>> LAST, WE HAVE AN ITEM FOR
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. WE
ARE NOT MAKING A FORMAL AUDIT
RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE WE
OURSELVES DO NOT DO ANY AUDIT
WORK IN THIS AREA. HOWEVER, IN
2023, AT MAYOR HARRELL'S
REQUEST, THE CENTER FOR
EVIDENCE-BASED CRIME POLICY
CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF SPD
INVESTIGATIONS, AND THEY FOUND
THAT MANY OF SPD'S PRACTICES
RELATED TO INVESTIGATIONS WERE
NOT WELL ALIGNED WITH THE
RESEARCH ON WHAT IS EFFECTIVE
FOR POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. FOR
EXAMPLE, THERE WERE NO STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURES OR MANUALS
FOR INVESTIGATIONS, NO FORMAL
TRAINING PROCESSES, AND FEW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION
BETWEEN PATROL AND [ INAUDIBLE
]. THEY NOTED THAT , " EVEN IF
THE SPD RETURNS TO FULL PERSONAL
CAPACITY, THESE ORGANIZATIONAL
WEAKNESSES WILL CONTINUE IF
UNATTENDED ." AND THE REASON
THIS IS IMPORTANT , RELATED TO
OUR AUDIT REPORT, IS THAT
INFORMATION FROM POLICE
INVESTIGATIONS IS CRUCIAL FOR
UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THE
CURRENT GUN VIOLENCE PATTERNS IN
SEATTLE. FURTHER EFFECTIVE
POLICE INVESTIGATIONS CAN BE AN
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR
ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE, AND
THEREFORE, WE URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR
SPD'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE
WEAKNESSES IDENTIFIED IN ITS
INVESTIGATIVE OPERATIONS. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS A SUMMARY
OF OUR FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND
IT IS A BUSY SLIDE, IT IS REALLY
JUST AVAILABLE IN CASE FOLKS WHO
ARE VIEWING THIS PRESENTATION
WOULD LIKE TO DOWNLOAD THIS
SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY.
IN CONCLUSION, ALTHOUGH
ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE IS
EXTREMELY TIME CHALLENGING, OUR
AUDIT IDENTIFIES SOME CONCRETE
STEPS THAT THE CITY CAN TAKE
TODAY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND GUN
VIOLENCE AND ENGAGED THE WHOLE
CITY GOVERNMENT AND ITS PARTNERS
IN AN ALL HANDS ON DECK
APPROACH. AND THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL CITY RESOURCES. IN
FACT, OUR REPORT INCLUDES OFFERS
OF FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
HELP SEATTLE IMPLEMENT SYSTEMS
THAT HAVE A TRACK RECORD FOR
REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE IN OTHER
CITIES. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR INTEREST IN THE AUDIT
REPORT AND FOR INVITING US
TODAY, AND WITH THAT, I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO OUR PANEL,
STARTING WITH NATALIE
WALTON-ANDERSON OR WASHINGTON,
I'M NOT SURE. GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> TALK CLOSER INTO THE MIC.
>> LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. FIRST OF
ALL, I WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS
TO THE AUDITORS OFFICE AND DR.
CLAUDIA GROSS-SHADER FOR THE
WORK AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
FROM THIS AUDIT THAT WERE
COMMISSIONED BY, AGAIN, MAYOR
HARRELL AND COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND
ADDRESS THE CURRENT GUN VIOLENCE
IN OUR CITY. THE MAYOR'S TOP
PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
IN PARTICULAR, ADDRESSING GUN
VIOLENCE [ INAUDIBLE ] UTMOST
IMPORTANCE TO EVERY MEMBER OF
OUR COMMUNITY. OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT ALSO SHARES [
INAUDIBLE ] AND WORKED
TIRELESSLY TO ANALYZE,
INVESTIGATE, AND SOLVE CRIMES TO
GET GUNS OFF OUR STREETS,
ENFORCE OUR LAWS, BY ARRESTING
THOSE [ INAUDIBLE ] INVOLVED IN
GUN VIOLENCE. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
INTRODUCED THE ONE SEATTLE
RESTORATION FRAMEWORK THAT
SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT THAT
REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE CITYWIDE
IS A TOP PRIORITY. AND IT
AFFIRMS THAT NO ONE DEPARTMENT,
NO ONE SYSTEM, OR NO ONE
PROVIDER CAN DO THIS WORK ALONE,
AND THE SOLUTIONS MUST COME FROM
A COLLABORATION ACROSS THE
DEPARTMENTS, REGIONAL PARTNERS,
AND MUST ALSO INVOLVE OUR
COMMUNITY AND THEIR INPUT AND
WHAT THEY SAY, AND ALSO, AN
OVERALL HOLISTIC APPROACH. WE
HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENTS TO EXPAND
HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION, PROVIDE ACCESS TO
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, AND
WRAPAROUND SERVICES. THERE HAVE
ALSO BEEN INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOCUSED
ON MENTAL HEALTH, SCHOOL SAFETY
MEASURES, AND INVESTMENT IN
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMMING, AND
THAT PROGRAMMING IS A CLEAR
UPSTREAM APPROACH TO PREVENTING
GUN VIOLENCE. SPD CONTINUES TO
BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THEIR
ABILITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE,
UTILIZING DATA TO ESTABLISH
PATTERNS AND TRENDS, RESULTING
IN THE ABILITY TO USE OUR
EXISTING INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES
TO HAVE [ INAUDIBLE ] IMPACT. I
KNOW MY COLLEAGUE REBECCA
BOATRIGHT WILL TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT. WE ARE WORKING WITH BOTH
PROSECUTORS OFFICES, AND ALSO
AROUND THE REGION TO ENFORCE GUN
SURRENDER LAWS AS WELL. AND SPD
CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS WORK AND
PARTNERSHIPS REGIONALLY,
TOUCHING MANY OF THE OTHER 38
MUNICIPALITIES, BECAUSE AS WE
ALL KNOW, GUN VIOLENCE DOES NOT
STAY WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, AND IT
INTERSECTS CITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. SPD CONTINUES TO
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE AND EXPAND
ITS REGIONAL TASK FORCE WORK
WITH OUR REGIONAL AND FEDERAL
PARTNERS. THIS WORK INCLUDES A
COMMITMENT TO UNDERSTANDING AND
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THE DATA
AS TO WHERE THESE GUNS ARE
SOURCED. IN ADDITION, THE CITY
IS ALSO IN PROGRESS TO UPDATE
THE 2019 GUN TRACE REPORT, AND
THAT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THE
ORIGINS OF HOW THESE GUNS COME
INTO OUR CITY AND OUR REGION, IN
ORDER TO COMBAT AND REDUCE GUN
VIOLENCE. SPD CONTINUES TO WORK
WITH OUR JOINT FEDERAL AND
REGIONAL TASK FORCE
INVESTIGATIONS AND OPERATIONS,
AND THAT HAS RESULTED IN GUNS
OFF THE STREETS, COUNTLESS
ARRESTS IN CASES SUBMITTED FOR
PROSECUTION. IN 2023, SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOVERED 1918
GONE SPEED IN 2024, THE
RECOVERED 1934 GUNS, AND AS OF
FEBRUARY 28th OF THIS YEAR, THE
RECOVERED 436 GUNS. THAT IS
SEVEN GUNS ON AVERAGE PER DAY.
TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE, WE ARE
ALIGNED WITH THE AUDITORS REPORT
AND WE MUST HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE. AND
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE MORE WORK
TO DO. TURNING TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. FIRST
RECOMMENDATION ENCOURAGES THE
CITY TO REPORT GUN VIOLENCE
PATTERNS PUBLICLY. THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO
TRANSPARENCY, AND IN TERMS OF
MEASURING OUTCOMES AND
ESTABLISHING KEY PERFORMANCE
METRICS. AND HAVING HOURLY
PUBLIC DATA AND DASHBOARDS THAT
CAN BE INTEGRATED AND PUBLICLY
SHARED WILL INCREASE
COLLABORATION AND PROVIDE
VISIBILITY FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS,
FOR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, AND FOR
OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
IS BEING DONE. SIMPLY PUT, WE
AGREE WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION,
AND SPD HAS CURRENTLY MAINTAINED
A PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARD FOR
QUITE SOME TIME, WITH SOME OF
THE DATA ANALYSIS SUGGESTED IN
THE AUDITORS REPORT. THE
EXPANSION OF THIS DATA AND THE
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE IT MORE
WIDELY IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER, BALANCING THE NECESSARY
INTERESTS AND NOT COMPROMISING [
INAUDIBLE ] INVESTIGATIVE WORK
ALSO HAS TO BE [ INAUDIBLE ].
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO,
REGARDING CONTINUOUS UPDATES [
INAUDIBLE ] THE MAYOR IS ALSO
COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THOSE
UPDATES TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOR THE STATUS OF THE CARE
DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE DONE THAT
JUST RECENTLY. THE KEY HERE IS
TO UPDATE COUNCILMEMBERS AND OUR
COMMUNITY ON THE STATUS OF CARE,
PROGRESS RELATED TO THE
ORDINANCE, AND [ INAUDIBLE ].
WE HAVE STARTED THAT WORK WITH
THE INTERROGATIONS OF THE LEAD
AND CO-LEAD CONTRACT WITHIN
CARE. REMEMBERING THAT CARE WAS
LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2023, NOT
EVEN TWO YEARS OLD YET. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AND
CONSIDER [ INAUDIBLE ] TO BUILD
THE FOUNDATION FOR STAFFING,
TRAINING, AND BUILDING UPON NEW
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. AGAIN,
WE ARE BUILDING THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO REPORT ON THE
ABILITY TO HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS
INTEGRATED IN SUPPORT OF THE
ORDINANCE , AND CURRENTLY
WORKING WITH CHIEF [ INAUDIBLE ]
AND HER TEAM TO CONTINUALLY
UPDATE COUNTS ON THE PROGRESS. I
KNOW THAT IS A PRIORI FOR
COUNCIL. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER
THREE ENCOURAGES [ INAUDIBLE ]
PROBLEM-SOLVING ANALYSIS AND
PROBLEM ORIENTED POLICING.
AGAIN, WE ARE ALIGNED ON THIS
RECOMMENDATION AS WELL. SPD
SUPPORTS [ INAUDIBLE ]
EVIDENCE-BASED ANALYSIS TO
ADDRESS CRIME AND HAS BEEN DOING
SO FOR YEARS. IN HIRING CHIEF
BARNES, OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF,
EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING IS A
PRIORITY FOR THE CHIEF. [
INAUDIBLE ] AREAS OF CONTINUED
IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT. SPD SHARES A
RESPONSE OF SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF
PROBLEM SOLVING BASED WORK,
INCLUDING CRIME PREVENTION
THROUGH DESIGN AT EVERY
PRECINCT, AND MORE CONCENTRATED
RECENTLY WITH THE [ INAUDIBLE ]
INITIATIVE, AND ALSO THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM. SPD
WORKS ROUTINELY TO ADDRESS THOSE
FEW INDIVIDUALS THAT CREATE THE
MOST IMPACT, [ INAUDIBLE ] AT
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
WORKING WITH BOTH THE CITY AND
COUNTY PROSECUTOR, A COORDINATED
WAY [ INAUDIBLE ] HOLISTIC
RESPONSE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
IN ADDITION, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO
ASSESS THE SAN FRANCISCO MODEL
FOR ADDRESSING CRIME AND
DISORDER. AND THEY BROUGHT BACK
SOME LESSONS LEARNED THAT WERE
THOUGHT OF AND COMPREHENDED IN
TERMS OF OUR LAUNCH OF THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM. NEW
TECHNOLOGIES LIKE OUR AUTOMATIC
LICENSE PLATE READERS THAT ARE
INSTALLED ON PATROL CARS, OUR
REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER WILL
ALLOW A MUCH MORE [ INAUDIBLE ]
APPROACH TO ADDRESSING GUN
VIOLENCE AS WELL, AND WE HAVE
UTILIZED THE CRIME DATA TO PICK
THREE PILOT AREAS WHERE CRIME IS
CONCENTRATED FOR INSTALLATION OF
THOSE CAMERAS. SPD IS READILY
AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE UPDATES AS
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
ASSESSMENT THAT EVALUATED SPD'S
CURRENT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
SYSTEMS, POLICIES, AND
PRACTICES. THAT REPORT WAS
COMMISSIONED BY THE MAYOR , THAT
LEAD ON THIS ISSUE THAT CALLED
FOR AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT SAID
THAT WE NEEDED TO REFORM SPD'S
CURRENT INVESTIGATIVE POLICIES.
UPDATE ON THIS PROGRESS IS
CRUCIAL AND THIS IS A PRIORITY
FOR BOTH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
CHIEF BARNES AND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. LAST
RECOMMENDATION STATES THAT THE
CITY SHOULD IMPLEMENT FRAMEWORK
FOR REGULAR SYSTEMATIC
COORDINATION AMONG THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS, GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO
ADDRESS VIOLENCE. THE ONE
SEATTLE RESTORATION FRAMEWORK
NAMED THIS COORDINATION, AND THE
CITY HAS TAKEN THE FIRST STEP IN
IMPLEMENTING THAT. WITH
ESTABLISHING THE
MULTI-DEPARTMENT AND
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM. WE TOOK LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THE PLANNING STAGES
[ INAUDIBLE ] AND THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. TAKING FROM
THESE PLANNING STAGES , WE ARE
NOW READY TO BUILD AND EXPAND
THIS APPROACH WITH THE
ANTICIPATED LAUNCH OF OUR ONE
SEATTLE SUBCABINET, AND THE
SUBCABINET WILL BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE OVERSIGHT AND
INITIATIVES ACROSS THE
DEPARTMENT AND INVESTMENTS AS
WELL. INTEGRATING AND MAKING
SURE THAT WE HAVE A DATA CENTRIC
STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE MOST
URGENT PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS, GUN
VIOLENCE BEING AT THE TOP. WE
ALL BENEFIT FROM THE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND LESSONS
LEARNED IN THIS AUDIT, TO
UNDERSTAND AND CONTINUE TO
INFORM OUR NEXT ACTIONS URGENTLY
TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE AND TO
ENSURE THOSE EFFORTS ARE
EFFECTIVE AND ARE ALIGNED IN THE
VISION. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO
THANK THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL
UNDER DAVID JONES, AND DR.
GROSS-SHADER FOR THE AUDIT AND
THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> I AM GOING TO SAY A BRIEF [
INAUDIBLE ] DEPUTY MAYOR
WASHINGTON. I WANT TO SAY, AND
I'M SO HAPPY AND BLESSED TO
HAVE SUCH A STRONG, COMPETENT
WOMAN IN THIS POSITION, WHO IS
DOING AMAZING WORK WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO, THANK YOU
FOR INVITING ME , [ INAUDIBLE ]
. I THINK WORDS ARE POWERFUL,
AND SO, I WANT TO JUST PROVIDE
SOME CLARITY AROUND THE WORD
AGREEMENT. I WOULD SAY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AGREES WITH THE
AUDIT FINDINGS, BUT WE WERE
ALREADY DOING THE THINGS THAT
WERE IN THE AUDIT FINDINGS, AND
THERE IS A BIG DISTINCTION. I
WOULD ALSO ADD THAT AS A WOMAN
WHO IS RAISING A BLACK SON,
MARRIED TO A BLACK MAN, AND WHO
LOST MY BROTHER TO GUN VIOLENCE,
AND LAST SUMMER LOST MY NEPHEW
TO GUN VIOLENCE IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT
THE PERSON THAT THE MAYOR HAS
PUT OVER ORGANIZING THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY WORK, WHICH IS
ME, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND
ANYBODY MORE MOTIVATED OR
DEDICATED TO DOING SUCH A THING.
AND I THINK IT MATTERS, BUT
SOMETIMES WHEN WE SAY TO THE
COMMUNITY THAT THE AUDITOR'S
FINDINGS, AND THEN WE RESPOND TO
THE FINDINGS, WE TAKE AWAY FROM
THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ALREADY
IN SOME CASES DOING THE VERY
THING THAT WERE IN THE FINDINGS,
SO YES, I AGREE WITH YOUR
RECOMMENDATIONS AND I WANT TO
GET SPACE AND ROOM FOR
RECOGNITION THAT THROUGH THE
SEATTLE RESTORATION FRAMEWORK,
THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
C.A.R.E. DEPARTMENT, THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE C.A.R.E.
TEAM, THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF AN RFP THAT WILL BE RELEASED
THIS SUMMER, UTILIZING THE
BALTIMORE MODEL, GIVEN THE FACT
THAT OUR LIAISON FOR GUN
VIOLENCE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
IS ENROLLED IN A NATIONAL CVI
WORKSHOP, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND GIVE
OURSELVES SOME KUDOS FOR THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT
WE DO NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK
THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY
AND THANK YOU TO THE AUDITOR'S
OFFICE FOR A GOOD OVERVIEW OF
THE TYPES OF PROBLEM ORIENTED
POLICING APPROACHES THAT WITH AN
ALL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS HAVE BEEN
SHOWN TO LEAD TO DEMONSTRABLE
IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
CHIEF WALTON-ANDERSON ABLY
DESCRIBED MUCH OF THE WORK THAT
SPD IS DOING IN THIS AREA, SO I
WON'T REITERATE ALL OF THE
DETAILS THAT SHE SHARED. I DO
WANT TO EMPHASIZE A FEW POINTS.
WITHIN THE TOTALITY OF THE
ECOSYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
AND PUBLIC SAFETY, SPD OBVIOUSLY
PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE, AND SPD
HAS LONG UTILIZED PROBLEM
ORIENTED POLICING APPROACHES TO
ADDRESSING CHRONIC ISSUES,
INCLUDING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
THAT ARE DISCUSSED IN THE
RESPONSE AND INCLUDED WITHIN THE
REPORT. THE ULTIMATE LONG-TERM
SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS,
HOWEVER, REQUIRES A PARTNERSHIP
OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS, PUBLIC,
PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, UPSTREAM AND
DOWNSTREAM OF POLICE, SHIFTING
POLICE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS
CRIME AND DISORDER HAS BEEN
PROVEN TO HAVE SOME EFFECT ON
CRIME, BUT THESE STRATEGIES ARE
NOT SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME, THE
PARTICIPATION OF OTHER PLAYERS,
AND WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE THAT
ACKNOWLEDGED, AND THAT IS A
CRITICAL PART OF MAYOR
HARRELL'S ONE SEATTLE APPROACH.
THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
APPROACH TO CRIME AND DISORDER.
TO THAT END, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
A COUPLE POINTS ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE IN SEATTLE. FIRST, IN
CONTRAST TO THE JURISDICTIONS
NOTED IN THE AUDIT REPORT, GUN
VIOLENCE IN SEATTLE IS NOT SO
NEATLY TIED EMPIRICALLY TO A
PARTICULAR LOCATION, SUCH THAT
STRATEGIES HIGHLIGHTED IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS TO DECOUPLE THE
VIOLENCE FROM A PARTICULAR
LOCATION ARE NECESSARILY
APPROPRIATE. AND WE KNOW THIS
BECAUSE SPD TRACKS ALL SHOTS
FIRED EVENTS REPORTED, WHETHER
OR NOT THERE IS ASSOCIATED
PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURY, AND
WITH A TEAM OF HIGHLY TRAINED
AND EXPERIENCED INTELLIGENCE AND
DATA ANALYSTS, SPD HAS COME AS
CHIEF WALTON-ANDERSON NOTED,
SOPHISTICATED ABILITY TO
IDENTIFY ANY EMERGING OR
FORECASTED TRENDS. AS YOU KNOW,
CHIEF BARNES HIMSELF IS A MEMBER
OF THE EVIDENCE-BASED LEASING
HALL OF FAME AT GEORGE MASON
UNIVERSITY, HAS MADE VERY CLEAR
THAT SPD STRATEGIES AROUND CRIME
AND HARM REDUCTION WILL BE
ROOTED IN RIGOROUS ANALYSIS , TO
ADHERE TO BEST PRACTICES AND
EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING. SPD HAS
THE TEAMS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT
THIS DIRECTION. SECOND, WE ALSO
KNOW THAT MOST GUN VIOLENCE IN
SEATTLE IS HIGHLY LINKED TO
SPECIFIC PERSONS OR NETWORKS OF
INDIVIDUALS, AND THIS GETS INTO
A LIMITATION OF THIS AUDIT, LIKE
ANY THIRD-PARTY REPORT, DUE TO
LEGAL AND REGULATORY PARAMETERS
THAT OFTEN CARD INFORMATION
MATERIAL TO ONGOING
INVESTIGATIVE WORK. THE
STRATEGIES, METHODS, AND SOURCES
THAT UNDERLINE MUCH OF SPD'S
WORK IN THIS AREA IS NOT
INFORMATION THAT WE CAN OPENLY
SHARE. UNTIL A CASE AND
ASSOCIATED CASES INVOLVING THESE
INDIVIDUALS ARE CLOSED. FOR THAT
REASON, THE AUDIT DOES NOT GET
INTO A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF
THE CASES THAT SPD IS PRESENTLY
BUILDING, FREQUENTLY, ALONGSIDE
OTHERS, AS HAS BEEN NOTED AT THE
REGIONAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL,
WHICH I'LL DO RELY ON
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES AND
STRATEGIES. FINALLY, I WANT TO
TOUCH BRIEFLY UPON THE WORK SPD
IS DOING TO ADDRESS THE FINDINGS
OF THE GNU REPORT MENTIONED
EARLIER. AS CHIEF BARNES
PREVIEWED IN HIS REMARKS BEFORE
COUNCIL A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT IS A
HIGH-PRIORITY TO ADDRESS THESE
FINDINGS. SPD HAS MADE
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TOWARDS
INCREASING STAFFING, BRINGING
ONLINE NEW TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS,
BUILDING UP DEPARTMENT PROTOCOLS
AND SOP IS, AND IMPORTANTLY,
IMPLEMENTING RIGOROUS DATA AND
RECORDS GOVERNANCE PRACTICES,
ALL OF WHICH LEAD TO GREATER
EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. I
KNOW CHIEF BARNES LOOKS FORWARD
TO READING COUNCIL ON THIS WORK
WHEN WE HAVE MORE TIME THAN IS
ALLOTTED TODAY. THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
COMMENTS, EVERYONE. BEFORE I
PROCEED, CAN YOU TELL ME , WHEN
DID -- WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST DRAFT
OUT?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> EARLY NOVEMBER 2024.
>> OKAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS
SOMETIME OVER THE SUMMER MORE?
OKAY, ANYWAY, I HOPE THAT THERE
WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT
MORE FRANKLY AND PERHAPS
ONE-ON-ONE ABOUT SOME
DISAGREEMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE CONTENT, BECAUSE I NOW FEEL
LIKE IT'S A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD,
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A
CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THE WAYS
THAT YOUR FINDINGS WERE
CHARACTERIZED BEFORE WE MOVE ON
TO QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING. I SAW
YOU WRITING DOWN, SO IS THERE
ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
NUANCE?
>> AS CHIEF WALTON-ANDERSON SAID
IN THE EXECUTIVE RESPONSE
LETTER, OUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS A
LEARNING ORGANIZATION , AND THIS
IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION OF A
LEARNING ORGANIZATION, THE WHOLE
AUDIT PROCESS IS PART OF THAT
LEARNING. AS YOU SAW IN OUR
SIDES, THIS AUDIT WORK WAS
SCALED BACK FROM THE ORIGINAL
REQUEST THAT CAME TO US, BECAUSE
WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR INVESTMENTS
IN CRIME REDUCTION, CRIME
PREVENTION, COMMUNITY SAFETY,
BUT IT IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS,
AND THIS REALLY IS PART OF THAT
ITERATIVE PROCESS. WE HAVE TO AT
THE BEGINNING UNDERSTAND MORE
ABOUT WHAT THE CURRENT ALBUM
LOOKS LIKE IN SEATTLE TODAY, AND
I THINK THAT THERE IS AGREEMENT
HERE AT THIS TABLE THAT GUN
VIOLENCE HAS CHANGED
SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE
PANDEMIC. AND SO, WHAT DO THOSE
NEW PATTERNS OF GUN VIOLENCE
LOOK LIKE CUSTOMER IT SEEMS LIKE
THERE IS BROAD AGREEMENT THERE.
I WAS ACTUALLY WRITING THE AREAS
WHERE WE WERE IN AGREEMENT. I
WAS REALLY THRILLED TO HEAR FROM
DEPUTY MAYOR WASHINGTON THE HST
WILL BE USING BALTIMORE MODEL
FOR THE RFP THAT THEY WILL BE
RELEASING FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY
INVESTMENTS. ASK ONE QUESTION
REAL QUICK, WE ARE NOT USING THE
MODEL, WE USE THE MODEL TO
INFORM THE MODEL THAT WE
DEVELOPED, SO I AGREE WITH YOU,
IT IS A POWERFUL MODEL THAT
INFORMED OUR RFP.
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND
ANOTHER ASPECT THAT MAKES THAT
MODEL SO POWERFUL IS THAT THEY
RIGOROUSLY EVALUATE THAT WORK.
AND BY RIGOROUSLY EVALUATING,
THAT MEANS THAT THEY USE
SCIENTIFIC METHODS, AND IT IS
POSSIBLE, EVEN WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS,
TO USE SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO
UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT THE
PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE, HAVE
ZERO EFFECT, AND UNFORTUNATELY,
SOMETIMES OUR SOCIAL
INTERVENTIONS CAN HAVE THE
OPPOSITE EFFECT, THEY CAN
ACTUALLY HARM THE PEOPLE THAT WE
ARE INTENDING TO SERVE. SO, I
HOPE THAT RIGOROUS EVALUATION
WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE CITY'S
COMMITMENT AS HSD LOOKS TO
RELEASE THE RFP. I COULD GO ON,
BUT -- AND I WILL JUMP IN AGAIN
IF NEEDED.
>> WE WILL ASK QUESTIONS. UM, I
COME AT THIS FROM THE POINT OF
-- THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO DO
EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO
ADDRESS OUR VERY , VERY SERIOUS
PROBLEMS, AND SO, WE CAN PASS
NEW LAWS , PROVIDING ENFORCEMENT
TOOLS LIKE SODA AND SOAP, BUT
THOSE DON'T DO ANY GOOD UNLESS
OFFICERS ARE USING THEM, UNLESS
THE PORTS GRANT THE STAY OUT OF
THIS AREA ORDER, ET CETERA, SO
THAT IS AN ISSUE, THAT WE PASS
THE LAWS AND EXECUTIVE EXECUTES.
AND COUNCIL ALSO IS TRYING VERY
HARD TO EXERCISE OUR OVERSIGHT
RESPONSIBILITY , AS EVIDENCED BY
ALL THE FUNDS THAT WE PASSED
DURING BUDGET, ASKING A BUNCH OF
QUESTIONS TO MAKE INFORMED
BUDGET DECISIONS, WHICH IS, YOU
KNOW, ALSO LEGISLATION, IT IS A
WALL, SO WE ARE TRYING TO ASK
THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, AND THAT IS
WHY WE REQUEST AUDITS THAT ARE
PRESENTED HERE, AND THIS AUDIT
IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY , WHAT
ARE WE DOING NOW AND WHAT SHOULD
WE BE DOING AND WHY? AND WHAT I
LOVE ABOUT THIS IS THIS PROVIDES
FOR RESOURCES THAT ARE FREE IN
THIS DECLINING BUDGET
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE EXISTING
IN. WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANY
MONEY FOR THE ALREADY EXISTING
MODELS AND METHODOLOGIES AND
ADVICE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
THAT THE FEDERAL OFFICES AROUND
THIS REGION, DEA, DOJ, --
>> POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH
FORUM, THAT IS NOT A
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. ALSO, WE DO
HAVE AN OFFER OF FREE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE FROM JOHNS HOPKINS
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> RIGHT, AND THE SUBSTANCE
ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION, THE ONES THAT
WORK ON ADDICTION, AND THEN
THERE IS THE DEA'S OFFICE OF
THE HIGH INTENSITY DRUG AREA, IS
THAT HOW THEY'RE CALLED? YEAH,
SO, I LEARNED ALL OF THIS FROM
THE LAST [ INAUDIBLE ]. SO, I
COME AT THIS FROM A PERSPECTIVE
WHEN I AM READING THESE AUDITS,
THEY OFTEN REFER TO
RECOMMENDATIONS IN PREVIOUS
AUDITS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN
IMPLEMENTED, AND SO, THAT IS
FUELING SOME OF MY FRUSTRATION
THAT IF THERE IS EXPERTISE AND
RESOURCES OUT THERE, WHY AREN'T
WE USING THEM? SOME OF YOU
PRESENTED REALLY GOOD REASONS
WHY OR THINGS THAT YOU ARE
ALREADY DOING. I HADN'T HEARD
OF THE RESTORATION FRAMEWORK --
FRAMEWORK FOR RESTORATION, I
DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT STARTED.
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MY LACK OF
ATTENTION.
>> I THINK YOU CAME TO ONE, IT
WAS WHEN THE MAYOR WENT AROUND
THE CITY AND HELD PUBLIC SAFETY
FORUMS IN THE COMMUNITY AND TOOK
ALL THE FEEDBACK, AND THEN I
THINK IT WAS -- WHEN LAST YEAR?
>> OCTOBER. NEXT HE RELEASED THE
ONE SEATTLE RESTORATION
FRAMEWORK.
>> WELL, I DID NOT GO TO ANY OF
THOSE MEETINGS AROUND THE CITY,
BUT -- SO, THERE'S SOMETHING
GOING ON, AND I'M GLAD TO KNOW
THAT IT IS INFORMED A BIT BY THE
BALTIMORE WORK, BECAUSE THERE
ARE SO MANY -- A PLACE-BASED
POLICING IS NOW PART OF OUR
CIVIC LEXICON NOW, I BELIEVE, I
DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T TAKE
CREDIT FOR IT, BUT YOUR AUDIT ON
THE OVERLAP OF DRUGS AND CRIME.
SO, THIS IS WHERE I'M COMING
FROM, JUST, I AM READING FROM
ONE PERSPECTIVE. GREAT IDEAS
THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT TO MAKE
PERHAPS FASTER PROGRESS ON SOME
OF OUR PROBLEMS. I WILL NOTE
THAT ON PAGE -- LET'S SEE, THIS
PARTICULAR AUDIT SAYS OUR 2023
AUDIT ON ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME
IN SEATTLE RECOMMENDED THAT THE
CITY CONSIDER USING FREE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO
BEGIN TO BIPOC, WHICH IS
ORIENTED POLICING TECHNIQUES, TO
ADDRESS KNOWN ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME , FENCING OPERATIONS,
THESE SAME RESOURCES COULD BE
USED TO HELP THE CITY OF BIPOC
TECHNIQUES TO ADDRESS GUN
VIOLENCE IN THE CITY. FURTHER,
AS WE DESCRIBED IN OUR 2024
AUDIT ON PLACES IN SEATTLE WERE
OVERDOSES AND PRIMES ARE
CONCENTRATED, THE CITY HAS NOT
ROUTINELY USED AN EVIDENCE-BASED
PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM SOLVING
FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS PLACES
WHERE CRIME IS CONCENTRATED .
THAT IS ON PAGE 17. ANOTHER ONE
SAYS FOCUSED DETERRENCE IS
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY FOR
REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME USED ALSO
IN BALTIMORE AND NUMEROUS OTHER
CITIES, OUR 2015 STREET OUTREACH
AUDIT NOTED THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE DOES NOT USE A FOCUSED
APPROACH TO ADDRESS VIOLENT
CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION, AND
THAT IS STILL THE CASE TODAY.
SO, THIS IS WHAT I AM PICKING UP
ON, AND IT CERTAINLY SERVES NO
ONE FOR ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT
TO BLAME THE OTHER ONE. I JUST
-- I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE
EXECUTIVE IS OPEN TO ANY OF
THESE -- TO REACHING OUT TO THE
DOJ, THE DEA, AND THE AGENCIES
THAT ARE SUGGESTED HERE, TO
MAYBE MORE SYSTEMATICALLY ADOPT
WHAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING IN
OTHER CITIES. AND YOU, DIRECTOR,
STEPPED UP VALIANTLY AT THE
BRIEFING ON THE LAST
PRESENTATION AND TOOK THE LEAD
ON THAT, AND I WOULD LOVE TO
TALK WITH YOU ABOUT HOW THAT IS
GOING, AND I HAVE NO REASON TO
DOUBT THAT IT IS NOT. IT'S JUST
, I FEEL A SENSE OF URGENCY AND
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE
POSSIBLY CAN TO GO FORWARD, SO
THAT'S ALL I WILL SAY RIGHT
NOW. GO AHEAD.
>> SO, SPD ROUTINELY DOES A FAIR
AMOUNT OF WORK WITH
PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING AND
PLACE-BASED POLICING AND THAT
GOES BACK TO THE DAYS OF CHIEF
COLONEL [ INAUDIBLE ], AND HE
HAS EXPANDED THROUGH SINCE. THE
MICRO POLICING PLANS ON THROUGH
OUR PAST CHEATS, AND CHIEF
BARNES IS OBVIOUSLY VERY
COMMITTED TO EVIDENCE-BASED
POLICING APPROACHES AND THE WORK
THAT HE IS DIRECTING SPD TO DO.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARTICULAR
AUDIT, SPD FOCUSED ON THE TOPIC
OF GUN VIOLENCE, WHICH IS VERY
UNIQUE RELATIVE TO OTHER TYPES
OF CRIME AND DISORDER THAT WE
ARE ENGAGED WITH. THE
EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE CLOSELY AND
ADDRESSING, SO THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION INITIATIVES, THIRD
AND PIKE, AND IN THE CID, AND AS
I UNDERSTAND, COMING TO OTHER
AREAS OF THE CITY, THOSE ARE
EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF
PLACE-BASED POLICING THAT ARE
USED TO ADDRESS CRIME AND
DISORDER INDISCREET LOCATIONS
WHERE WE HAVE DATA TO SAY THIS
IS IN FACT A HOTSPOT FOR THIS
TYPE OF ACTIVITY, THAT LENDS
ITSELF TO INTERVENTIONS THAT
WILL START TO DECOUPLE THE
DISORDER FROM THE PARTICULAR
PLACE. SO, I DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE COUNCIL WITH THE
IMPRESSION FROM SPD THAT WE ARE
NOT ENGAGED IN THIS WORK
ONGOING, AND HAVE BEEN FOR AT
LEAST THE TWO DECADES THAT I
HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY, AND WE
ARE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO BRIEF
CANCEL ON ANY OF THE PROJECTS
THAT ARE ONGOING ON THAT END.
>> AND IF I CAN JUST ADD, I WAS
PRESENT AND RESPONDED ON BEHALF
OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO THE
LAST TWO AUDITS, IN TERMS OF THE
ONES YOU JUST REFERENCED, IN
TERMS OF INTERSECTIONALITY
BETWEEN OVERDOSE AND WHERE CRIME
IS [ INAUDIBLE ], AND ALSO THE
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT AUDIT. WE
HAVE USED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
AS ROAD MAPS FOR OUR DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM, FOR OUR
PLACE-BASED STRATEGIES, THE DATA
THAT WAS THERE. WE HAVE
CONNECTED AND HAD SEVERAL
MEETINGS AND FORWARDED
TRAININGS. WE HAVE EVEN REACHED
OUT TO SNOHOMISH COUNTY, [
INAUDIBLE ], THEY HAD AN EXAMPLE
OF, AGAIN, MORE OF A COORDINATED
APPROACH. SO, I WANT TO CONFIRM,
BUT ALSO JUST CORRECT THAT WE
ARE TAKING SERIOUSLY A
RECOMMENDATION [ INAUDIBLE ] ,
UNDER MY DIRECTION, IN TERMS OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM, AND
UTILIZING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
AS WE PLAN OUT HOW TO ADDRESS
WHERE CRIME IS CONCENTRATED OR
VIOLENT CRIME IS CONCENTRATED AT
THE CITY, SO I JUST WANTED TO
CLARIFY.
>> AND ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT
MIGHT BE HELPFUL. AND I DON'T
WANT TO VOLUNTEER YOU FOR AN
UPDATE ON THIS, BUT THIS COULD
BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL
COULD GET AN UPDATE ON, FROM
NATALIE AND HER TEAM. WHAT HAVE
BEEN THE FOLLOW-UP STEPS ON THE
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME AUDIT AND
THE OVERDOSE AND CRIME
PREVENTION AUDIT? I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO OFFER THAT -- WELL,
APPRECIATE THAT THE EXECUTIVE
HAS USED OUR PREVIOUS AUDIT AS
ROAD MAPS, AND THIS AUDIT TODAY,
FOR EXAMPLE, IT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL, SINCE THERE IS GENERAL
CONCURRENCE ON OUR AUDIT
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND SINCE THERE
IS THIS NEW STRUCTURE IN PLACE,
THE ONE SEATTLE RESTORATION
FRAMEWORK, THANK YOU, HOW DOES
THAT -- WHAT IS THE CROSSWALK
BETWEEN THE PRACTICES THAT ARE
BEING CONTEMPLATED FOR THAT ONE
SEATTLE RESTORATION FRAMEWORK
AND SOMETHING THAT HAS MORE OF A
TRACK RECORD, LIKE THE VIOLENCE
REDUCTION COUNCILS FROM JOHNS
HOPKINS? I MEAN, I THINK THAT
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JOHNS
HOPKINS WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP
US CONSIDER. IF WE HAVE MISSED
ANYTHING IN HOUSE SEATTLE IS
PROCEEDING OR IF THERE IS SOME
LEARNING FROM THEIR WORK IN
OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WITH THE
VIOLENCE REDUCTION COUNCILS,
THAT WE COULD INCORPORATE INTO
THE ONE SEATTLE RESTORATION
FRAMEWORK. AS I SAID AT THE
BEGINNING, WE DON'T HAVE TO
REINVENT THE WHEEL. WE CAN USE
THESE OTHER RESOURCES, THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE -- ACTUALLY
THE FOLKS FROM BALTIMORE THAT WE
TALKED TO WERE VERY FORTHCOMING
AND VERY WILLING TO SHARE
INFORMATION, SO THEY ALSO STAND
AS A RESOURCE. AND I THINK THAT
THIS CONVERSATION GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON WHAT
SEATTLE IS DOING OR
CONTEMPLATING DOING.
>> I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT
DIRECTOR KIM'S TEAM [ INAUDIBLE
] HAS TAKEN ON -- THEY ARE GOING
ON FIELD TRIPS TO ALL THE CITIES
THAT HAVE LIKE DEMOGRAPHICS TO
SEATTLE TO VISIT THEM AND SAY,
HEY, HOW IS THIS WORKING? ALSO
AGAIN, DAVITA IS TAKING TRIPS TO
OTHER JURISDICTIONS, SO THEY
HAVE BALTIMORE ON THEIR
SCHEDULE. THEY HAVE A LIST OF
CITIES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TO
USE THAT INFORMATION TO HELP
INFORM THE RFP. AND SO,
SOMETIMES I THINK WE SUFFER FROM
JUST NOT COMMUNICATING SOME
THINGS TO EACH OTHER, AND I JUST
-- I THINK WHAT I LEARNED FROM
THIS AUDIT IS THAT WE SHOULD
PROBABLY COMMUNICATE A LITTLE
BIT MORE, SO THAT YOU ALL ARE
UPDATED ON EFFORTS, AND ALSO
THAT YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING,
SO THAT WHEN WE DO UTILIZE THE
BRILLIANCE OF THE AUDITOR'S
OFFICE, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT
YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE ALREADY
DOING, AND THEREFORE, WE CAN GET
THE BEST OUT OF AN AUDIT REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATION. AND I'M NOT
SAYING THAT TO SAY THIS WASN'T
THE BEST [ INAUDIBLE ], BUT
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME
MISCOMMUNICATION ON WHAT IS
HAPPENING AND WHAT IS NOT
HAPPENING.
>> WELL, AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS
PUT OUT MONTHS AGO, AND THAT'S
WHY I WAS WAITING TO SCHEDULE
IT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE WERE
CONVERSATIONS BACK AND FORTH ON
ANY KIND OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR
WHATEVER. I WILL SAY THAT I DID
TALK TO DR. MALLORY O'BRIEN
YESTERDAY FROM JOHNS HOPKINS,
AND SHE DID EXPLAIN SOME OF THE
NEXT STEPS THAT WOULD HAVE TO
TAKE PLACE FOR THE VIOLENT --
VIOLENCE REDUCTION COUNCILS. AND
GIVEN THE SUCCESS THAT IT HAS
HAD IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, I
THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD
FIRST STEP. COUNCILMEMBER
SULLIVAN, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR, MADAM PRESIDENT. I AM IN
ALL OF [ INAUDIBLE ]. I THINK
YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY. YOU KNOW,
WE GO BACK AWAY. CLAUDIA, I
THINK WE FIRST MET DOING THE [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> YES, WE DID.
>> SO, WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY
THERE. AND I AM LOOKING AT THE
DREAM TEAM. DEPUTY MAYOR
WASHINGTON, I CAN'T AGREE MORE
WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WITH
YOUR WORDS. WORK IS BEING DONE.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER
PERSON TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE
CHAIN , TRYING TO GET THESE
THINGS DONE, AND I ALSO WANT TO
EXPRESS MY SYMPATHIES TO YOU FOR
THE LOSSES THAT YOU HAVE
PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED. THIS IS
PERSONAL. RIGHT? THIS IS AN
ACADEMIC. THIS IS A THEORETICAL,
THIS IS PERSONAL. AND I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I DO HAVE -- I
COULD TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THIS
FOR HOURS, BUT IN THE INTEREST
OF TIME, I DO JUST WANT TO SAY,
FOR CLARIFICATION, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT POP, YOU HAVE A
CRIME TRIANGLE, THAT ACTUALLY
PREDATES COLONEL [ INAUDIBLE ],
IT GOES BACK TO STAMPER. THIS IS
THE WORK THAT AS CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATORS, WE WERE
DOING, WE WERE IMPLEMENTING IN
THE STUFF THAT WE WERE DOING IN
COMMUNITY, AND VIOLENCE
PREVENTION , IN PARTICULAR
NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT HOTSPOT
PREVENTION, THAT PLACE-BASED
STUFF IS SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN INTERESTED IN, AND YOU
KNOW, THINKING ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE
] BEACH FOR EXAMPLE, WHY IS
ANDERSON A HOTSPOT? WHAT IS IT
ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PHYSICAL
LOCATION WHERE THINGS ARE ALWAYS
POPPING OFF? SO, I HAVE ALWAYS
WANTED TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORK THAT
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO BETWEEN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT, REALIZING
THAT, OKAY, WE HAVE CERTAIN
PARKS, FOUR OF WHICH IN MY
DISTRICT, ON THIS LIST, WHERE WE
HAVE HAD VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN
THOSE PARKS. ONE OF THE EASIEST
SOLUTIONS IS TO CLOSE OFF THE
PARKING LOTS, LOCK THEM AT
NIGHT. AND TRYING TO GET
COOPERATION FROM OUR OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO ACTUALLY MAKE
THAT HAPPEN HAS BEEN TOUGH. BUT
WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, WE HAVE
SEEN A DRAMATIC RESULT. SO, I
WOULD SAY THAT COOPERATION
BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, BETWEEN
AGENCIES, THAT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS
TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE IT AIN'T
JUST A POLICE ISSUE, IT AIN'T
JUST A PARKS ISSUE, IT AIN'T
JUST AN SDOT ISSUE, IT IS A
SEATTLE ISSUE, SO ALL THOSE
DEPARTMENTS NEED TO BE WORKING
TOGETHER, AND LET'S NOT GET IN
OUR OWN WAY IN TERMS OF SOLVING
THIS. WHEN I THINK ABOUT -- THE
VIOLENCE PREVENTION -- VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTION EFFORTS THAT HAVE
BEEN UNDERWAY IN COMMUNITY AND
REALIZE THAT SOME OF THOSE HAVE
BEEN INTERRUPTED RECENTLY -- AND
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS
PROBABLY WHY WE HAVE GOT NEW
RFPs GOING OUT THERE TO TRY TO
CALL SOME OF THAT CAPACITY BACK.
MY FEAR IS WHAT WE CAN GO TO
JOHNS HOPKINS AND [ INAUDIBLE ]
FOR THIS RESEARCH AND
ASSISTANCE, I'M NOT GOING TO
COUNT ON THE FEDS TO GIVE US
ANYTHING. AT THIS POINT. SO, HOW
DO WE AS A CITY SUPPORT THOSE
COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS WHEN WE
ARE FACING A $47 MILLION
SHORTFALL ? WHERE ARE WE GOING
TO COME UP WITH THE CASH TO
SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
PREVENTION EFFORTS, AND I WOULD
WELCOME ANY IDEAS TO HAVE ALONG
THOSE LINES. SO, THAT IS ONE
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON. THERE IS A LOT IN
THERE. I'M GOING TO GIVE IT A
START WITH THE LAST THING THAT
YOU ASKED ABOUT, WHICH IS HOW DO
WE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ? I THINK ONE OF
THE BEST WAYS THAT THE CITY CAN
SUPPORT THE GOOD WORK OF THESE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IS
BY HELPING TO SHARE WITH THEM
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS
EFFECTIVE AND WHAT IS NOT
EFFECTIVE. AND OUR OFFICE LOOKED
AT THAT IN 2012 , AND THERE IS A
LOT MORE KNOWN ABOUT WHAT TYPES
OF INTERVENTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE
AND WHAT IS NOT EFFECTIVE, AND
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING THAT
THE CITY CAN DO TO SUPPORT ITS
COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERS. IT
ALSO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING
IN SEATTLE. IN 2013, I -- FOR
OUR OFFICE, I WAS WORKING ON A
GRANT WITH FOLKS FROM THE CENTER
FOR EVIDENCE-BASED CRIME POLICY,
TO ADDRESS HOTSPOTS OF CRIME IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. AND WE WOUND
UP RUNNING INTO A PROBLEM WHEN
WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THE
TRAINING MATERIALS FOR THE TEAM
AT THE WEST PRECINCT. AND THE
ISSUE WAS THAT THERE WASN'T A
BROAD UNDERSTANDING ABOUT
PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING. AND
EVERYONE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT
HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE
APARTMENT BY CHIEF STAMPER, BUT
IT HADN'T BEEN ADOPTED. SO, WE
CALLED FORMER CHIEF STAMPER AND
ASKED HIM ABOUT PROBLEM-ORIENTED
POLICING. AND HE DID TRY TO
INTRODUCE THAT FRAMEWORK DURING
HIS TENURE AT SPD, AND IT
WASN'T WIDELY ADOPTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT. IT'S A SPECIFIC
FRAMEWORK , AND IT REQUIRES FOUR
STEPS . SO, THE FOUR STEPS ARE
QUITE SPECIFIC. IT IS SCANNING
THE ENVIRONMENT, ANALYZING THE
PROBLEM, THE RESPONSE, AND DOING
THE ASSESSMENTS. IT IS CALLED
THE SARAH MODEL. CARA. SO, IF WE
ARE ACTUALLY DOING
PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING IN
SEATTLE, WE WILL HAVE
DOCUMENTATION OF THAT , IN THAT
ASSESSMENT PIECE. WE WILL HAVE A
LIBRARY OF OUR EFFORTS IN
PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING THAT
WE CAN LOOK BACK ON AND GO
THROUGH AND LEARN FROM. AND WE
WILL HAVE REPORTS THAT WE CAN
VIEW AND LEARN FROM. TO PRESENT
DAY, IN TERMS OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF
PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING IN
SEATTLE. I'M THRILLED TO HEAR
THAT OUR NEW CHIEF IS REALLY
SUPER COMMITTED TO
EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING. AND
THAT THERE IS ENTHUSIASM FOR
THIS, BUT IT REQUIRES A LEVEL OF
RIGOR AND FOCUS ON ALL OF THOSE
STEPS, INCLUDING THE ASSESSMENT
STEP. AND THAT IS VERY HELPFUL
FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND
CONTINUOUS LEARNING, AND IF WE
ARE REALLY DOING THAT TYPE OF
EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING, IT WILL
INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE STEPS. ONE
OTHER THING THAT I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO SAY BROADLY, I DON'T
THINK -- AS DEPUTY MAYOR
WASHINGTON SAID, THAT WORDS ARE
IMPORTANT. AND THERE WAS A WORD
OF MISUNDERSTANDING THAT WAS
USED, AND I ACTUALLY DON'T
THINK THERE HAVE BEEN
MISUNDERSTANDINGS. I THINK --
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK
DAVITA BRISCOE, WHO IS THE
MAYOR'S GUN VIOLENCE LIAISON,
WHO WORKED WITH US ON THIS
AUDIT, AND SHE IS INCREDIBLY
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON ON THE GROUND HERE IN
SEATTLE, AND WHAT IS GOING ON
NATIONALLY AND WE WORKED WITH
HER VERY CLOSELY ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS REPORT, AND
SHE AGREES WITH EVERYTHING THAT
IS IN THIS REPORT, ALL OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. I THINK THAT
WHAT WE ARE HEARING IS THIS
TENSION THAT I TALKED ABOUT IN
THE BEGINNING. WE ARE PART OF
THE CITY'S LEARNING ECOSYSTEM ,
BUT WE ARE IN THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH, AND WE ARE ALWAYS
PUSHING THE EXECUTIVE TO DO MORE
AND DO BETTER. HEY, HAVE YOU
HEARD OF THIS RESOURCE, HEY, YOU
COULD TAKE YOUR FRAMEWORK UP A
NOTCH BY LOOKING AT THIS MODEL
FROM JOHNS HOPKINS. AND SO, I
THINK THAT PART OF WHAT YOU ARE
HEARING AT THE TABLE TODAY IS
ACTUALLY PART OF THE HEALTHY
TENSION OF BEING A LEARNING
ORGANIZATION. AND IT WILL BE
STRENGTHENED IF WE CONTINUE
THESE CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER AND
PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK
TOGETHER IN REAL TIME, LIKE ON
THESE VISITS THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS. HEY,
WELL, IF THE EXECUTIVE IS GOING,
MAYBE WE CAN TAG ALONG, AT LEAST
VIRTUALLY, SO WE CAN BE LEARNING
IN TIME WITH YOU AND SHARING OUR
INFORMATION IN REAL TIME WITH
YOU ALL. SO, I WILL LEAVE IT AT
THAT. I SEE THAT YOU'RE NODDING.
DEPUTY MAYOR WASHINGTON?
>> I WANT TO ANSWER ONE OF YOUR
OTHER QUESTIONS, TOTALLY AGREE,
THANK YOU. SO, WHEN MAYOR
HARRELL FIRST STARTED AND I WAS
TELLING HIM THIS MORNING, WE
HAVE SHORT MEMORIES. I WAS
DRIVING HERE TODAY AND I PASSED
AN ENCAMPMENT THAT AT ONE POINT,
AND YOU ALL WILL REMEMBER IT,
BECAUSE ALL OF YOU GUYS
CONTACTED ME, WHERE THERE WERE
SHOTS FIRED AT AN UNBELIEVABLE
AMOUNT EVERY DAY, PROPANE TANKS
EXPLODING. IT WAS CHAOTIC WHEN
WE CAME OUT OF COVID FOR VARIOUS
REASONS. AND SO, I HAD TO REMIND
MYSELF THAT WE HAVE DONE A LOT
OF WORK TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY,
AND WHEN I SAY TOGETHER, I MEAN
COUNCIL, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
THE COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY. SO, I
PASSED BY AND I WAS JUST LIKE,
WOW, THEY ARE CLEANING, PEOPLE
WERE PLACES -- OFFERED PLACES TO
GO INSIDE, THEN I SAW A SECURITY
GUARD HELPING A WOMAN TO MOVE
PAST SOME DISTURBANCE, AND
THOUGHTFULLY AND HELPFULLY
HAVING SOMEBODY MOVE ON, AND I
THOUGHT, THE STREETS ARE
BUSTLING AND PEOPLE ARE OUT
HERE. AND SO, WHEN THE MAYOR
FIRST STARTED, THE FIRST THING
HE SAID TO ME IS I WANT EVERY
SINGLE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES
COMMUNITY SAFETY FUNDING IN [
INAUDIBLE ], AND I WANT THEM TO
TELL ME WHAT THEY DO, HOW LONG
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT, HOW
MUCH THEY HAVE COME AND WHAT
OUTCOMES WERE. THAT ROOM WAS
PACKED. THAT WAS A MONTH, TOO,
PROBABLY, FROM WHEN YOU STARTED.
ONCE THAT WAS OVER, HE BROUGHT
DIRECTOR KIM AND I UPSTAIRS TO
HIS OFFICE AND HE SAID WE NEED
TO PUT THIS MONEY OUT TO BID,
BUT WE NEED TO DO SO
THOUGHTFULLY AND IT NEEDS TO BE
BASED ON RESEARCH, SO WE DID
THAT. LOTS OF STUFF HAPPENED
THAT WE DON'T NEED TO TALK
ABOUT. AND THEN TO YOUR POINT,
SOME BAD THINGS HAPPENED. THERE
ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE UNDER
IT INVESTIGATION, WHICH I WON'T
GO INTO, BECAUSE I'M NOT A
LAWYER, AN INVESTIGATION WHICH
SHOOK THE KIND OF MOVEMENT UP,
AND CONSTANT MOURNING, AND I AM
HOPING THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN
HEAL AND BE RESTORED FROM THE
TRAUMA THAT THEY EXPERIENCED.
AND WANT TO REMIND US THAT EVERY
DAY, PEOPLE THAT ARE ENTRUSTED
POSITIONS OF POWER MISUSE THAT
TRUST, WHETHER IT IS MONEY
LAUNDERING, SEXUAL ASSAULT,
FRAUD, WHATEVER IT IS, AND I
JUST WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE
DON'T HYPERFOCUS WHEN AN
ORGANIZATION RAN BY PEOPLE OF
COLOR IN THE COMMUNITY MAKES A
MISTAKE. WHAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR MONEY
IS BEING USED FOR THE PURPOSE
THAT WE FUNDED THAT ORGANIZATION
FOR, AND THAT WE CAN HOLD OUR
HEAD UP HIGH AND SAY TO THE
YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG ADULTS
THAT WE SERVE THAT WE ARE DOING
OUR BEST WORK. AND SO, I JUST
WANTED TO -- SO, THE RFP WAS
ACTUALLY ASKED FOR IN MAYOR
HARRELL'S FIRST YEAR, AND IT
WAS PUT OFF FOR VERY GOOD
REASONS, BECAUSE WE HAD TO
ADDRESS THE FIRST THING FIRST,
AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE
THAT DAILY, SOMETIMES MAYBE
WEEKLY EXPLOSIONS, FIRES
CONSTANTLY HAPPENING, TRYING TO
CONVINCE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE
ARE A CITY THAT APPRECIATE THEM
AND WANT THEM HERE, THAT TOOK
THREE YEARS. AND SO, WHAT I SAID
TO THE DIRECTORS, WE ARE RIGHT
ON TIME. I DON'T BELIEVE WE ARE
BEHIND, WE ARE RIGHT ON TIME,
BECAUSE COLLECTIVELY, WE DID THE
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FIRST. AND
NOW IT IS TIME TO GO A LITTLE
DEEPER AND START WORKING AT HOW
DO WE START MAKING THE SYSTEM,
THE COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE
SYSTEM, AND THEN THE SYSTEM,
POLICE, FIRE, AND ALL THAT
STRONGER? THAT IS WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. JUST A
COUPLE MORE COMMENTS, I KNOW WE
ARE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME. TO
THE POINT ABOUT THE RFP'S, I
THINK THIS IS A CONCERN THAT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS. I
THINK IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE WE
SPENDING, WHAT ARE WE SPENDING
IT ON, AND WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?
YOU KNOW? IF WE ARE GIVING MONEY
TO X ORGANIZATIONS, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING THE
OUTCOMES FROM THAT EXPENDITURE,
AND IF WE ARE NOT, MAYBE WE
SHIPPED THE MONEY SOMEPLACE
ELSE. SO, IT IS THAT WHOLE
ACCOUNTABILITY THING. TWO QUICK
THINGS. ONE IS -- YEAH?
>> AND THAT IS WHY -- WE ARE NOT
GOING TO BEAT THIS TO DEATH, WE
HAVE ALREADY BEEN AROUND THIS,
DEPUTY MAYOR, BUT THAT IS WHY I
BELIEVE -- ALL THE NECESSARY
WORK HAD TO HAPPEN, BUT BEFORE
ISSUING A NEW RFP FOR A
DIFFERENT KIND OF WORK, FIGURE
OUT WHAT IS -- WHAT KINDS OF
WORK THAT WE ARE ALREADY PAYING
FOR HAS BEEN AFFECTED, AND THEN
TRY TO FEEL LIKE HOW CAN THAT
INFLUENCE THE NEXT ROUND OF -- X
THAT WAS MY ONLY ARGUMENT, WE
ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE HORSE,
WE ALREADY DID IT. THE AUDIT
THAT CLAUDIA AND HER TEAM DID
YEARS AGO STILL STANDS. SO, MY
ARGUMENT BACK WAS WE DON'T NEED
TO PUBLISH ANOTHER REPORT. LET
US DO THE WORK FROM THE LAST
AUDIT, WHICH WE TRIED TO DO, AND
WE BASICALLY GOT AS FAR AS CITY
COUNCIL, AND WE WERE NOT ALLOWED
TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. AND
SO, WHEN I SAY WE ARE RIGHT ON
TIME, THANK GOD WE HAVE A
COUNCIL AND A MAYOR'S OFFICE
WHO DO AGREE THAT HOLDING PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE IS IMPORTANT, AND
THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT TO DO
SO, AND I HOPE YOU KNOW -- AND I
HOPE EVERYBODY CAN ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT, THE CONDITIONS WERE NOT
RIGHT TO DO SO TWO YEARS AGO. [
INAUDIBLE ] WILLING TO DO THAT.
>> THE AUDIT THAT THE MAYOR AND
I REQUESTED WAS TO GO BACK AND
LOOK AT THE 2012 AUDIT, THAT WAS
WHEN COUNCIL WAS DIFFERENT THAN
THE COUNCIL THAT YOU ARE
REFERRING TO. SO, PRESUMABLY,
THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CHANGED
ALSO, SO, IN ANY CASE -- GO
AHEAD. OH, YOU WANTED TO ADD A
COUPLE POINTS.
>> A COUPLE THINGS, ONE GETTING
BACK TO THE WHOLE PROBLEM
ORIENTED POLICING MODEL. OF
COURSE, I WAS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT AT THAT TIME, AND I
REMEMBER THE RESISTANCE AND I
REMEMBER WHAT THE RESISTANCE
WAS. AND TO SAY THE DEPARTMENT
HAS EVOLVED FROM THOSE TIMES.
SO, I THINK WE -- YOU KNOW, THE
DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES THAT
PROBLEM ORIENTED POLICING AND
CARA ARE GOOD TOOLS, AS OPPOSED
TO THAT SOUNDS TOO MUCH LIKE --
YOU KNOW, I CAME HERE TO ARREST
PEOPLE, THAT WILL KIND OF
ATTITUDE. AND SOME OF IT
ACTUALLY CAME DOWN TO
PERSONALITIES THAT WERE IN
LEADERSHIP AT THE TIME, THAT
RANK-AND-FILE HAD ISSUES WITH,
LET'S JUST PUT IT THAT WAY.
LAST THING IS ONE OF THE THINGS
ON THE STREET LEVEL THAT WILL
HELP OFFICERS IN THE PRESENT IS
GETTING OUR STAFFING LEVELS BACK
TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE CRIME ANALYSIS
DETECTIVES BACK IN THE PRECINCT
LEVEL. AND NOT JUST SITTING IN
THE REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER. IT
IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY
RELIED ON, YOU KNOW, DOING MY
WORK , MEETING WITH COMMUNITY,
GOING TO MY CRIME ANALYSIS
DETECTIVES AND SAYING, HEY, CAN
YOU RUN THESE STATS FOR THIS
QUARTER MILE FOR THIS MUCH
AMOUNT OF TIME, AND WITHIN A FEW
>>, I HAD THE DATA. THAT WAS
INCREDIBLE. AND I KNOW WE HAVE
LOST THAT ABILITY. IT WOULD BE
WONDERFUL TO HAVE THAT
CAPABILITY COME BACK.
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> SORRY, I WOULD LOVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF YOU ON THE
WORK OF THE PERFORMANCE
ANALYTICS TEAM, WHICH NOW
INCLUDES ALL OF OUR CRIME
ANALYSIS GROUPS. WE NOW HAVE ALL
OF OUR DATA CONSOLIDATED UNDER
ONE SYSTEM, WE ARE ABLE TO
ANALYZE OUR DATA AT A LEVEL OF
SOPHISTICATION THAT IS UNRIVALED
IN THIS COUNTRY, IF NOT THE
WORLD. WE ARE PUSHING THIS OUT
TO PRECINCTS. THE DASHBOARDS ARE
UP TO DATE, THEY ARE PARSABLE IF
YOU HAVE INTERNAL ACCESS TO THE
DASHBOARDS, THERE PARSABLE DOWN
TO THE STREET LEVEL OF DATA. WE
ARE NOT ONLY PROVIDING THE
NUMBERS, BUT WE ARE PROVIDING
THE ANALYSES AS TO WHAT THOSE
NUMBERS MEAN, AND WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE INCREASING CRIME
PREVENTION COORDINATORS TO BRING
THEM UP TO SPEED AS DATA
ANALYSTS, ENSURING THAT WE ARE
ALL OPERATING OFF OF THE SAME
DATA SET AND FRAMEWORK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND YOUR ANALYTICS WERE
COMPLEMENTED IN THE AUDIT AND
ISSUE WAS LET'S MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF IT
BEYOND THE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE
DOING THE DIRECT WORK. BUT GO
ON. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK DEPUTY MAYOR
WASHINGTON FOR BEING HERE. I
HAVE KNOWN DEPUTY MAYOR
WASHINGTON FOR A LONG TIME AND
THERE IS NO -- SHE -- I MEAN, I
CAN'T EVEN UNDERSCORE -- THE
LEVEL OF INTEGRITY AND THE CARE
THAT SHE BRINGS TO THE WORK AND
THE COMMITMENT IS
UNQUESTIONABLE. AND I KNOW
FIRSTHAND. GENERAL COUNSEL
BOATRIGHT, I HAVE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH YOU FOR
THE LAST YEAR , WE KNEW OF EACH
OTHER BEFORE THAT, AND I KNOW
HOW HARD SPD IS WORKING TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICE. I TELL
EVERYONE I KNOW HOW MUCH SPD IS
DOING TO REALLY RESPOND TO
PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE DISTRICT.
DIRECTOR WALTON-UNDERSTAND, YOU
ARE NEWER TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, YOU AND I HAVEN'T HAD
MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS
SITUATION , MAGNUSON PARK AND
THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND CLAUDIA, GROSS-SHADER, I
SAVED YOU FOR LAST, BECAUSE I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR VALIDATING
THE CONSTITUENTS OF MY DISTRICT
AND ME WITH THIS AUDIT. I HAVE
BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR,
AND MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE TOLD ME
ON A DAILY BASIS WHAT IS
BASICALLY CONTAINED IN YOUR
REPORT, THAT THE SITUATION IN
THE DISTRICT IS AS BAD AS THEY
THINK IT IS. THAT MAGNUSON PARK
WHO RATES FORTH OUT OF 11 ON
HERE, IS AS BAD AS THEY THINK IT
IS. WELL I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM
DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE BEEN
SOUNDING THE ALARM WITH SOME
FOLKS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE [
INAUDIBLE ] IN THE DISTRICT TO
NO AVAIL IN MY MIND. I DO THINK
THAT THIS REPORT UNDERSCORES --
THERE IS A CENTRALIZATION
PROBLEM IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY ,
AND PARTICULARLY THE GUN
VIOLENCE SPACE. THE DEPARTMENTS
ARE DOING GREAT WORK, AND I WILL
ALSO SAY PARKS, BECAUSE PARKS
ARE LISTED HERE. PARKS IS GIVING
GREAT ATTENTION AS WELL. AND
LAST SUMMER WHEN THE SITUATION
AT MAGNUSON PARK WAS REALLY
HEATING UP, PARKS TOOK ME
SERIOUSLY , SPD TOOK ME
SERIOUSLY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
DID NOT. THEY TRIED TO DIMINISH
WHAT I WAS SAYING, OH, THOSE ARE
KIDS PARTYING AT THE PARK. NO,
THEY WERE NOT KIDS PARTYING AT
THE PARK. SO, TO ME, THERE IS
EXACTLY WHAT THE REPORT SAYS. WE
NEED CENTRALIZED LEADERSHIP TO
TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS. THE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
ARE ALSO DOING THE BEST THEY
CAN. THEY NEED LEADERSHIP, TOO.
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT
YOUR -- THE ROAD MAP, I FEEL
LIKE SEATTLE STARTED AT STEP 7,
INSTEAD OF STARTING AT STEP 1.
AND YOU ARE NODDING, SO I THINK
YOU AGREE. [ LAUGHTER ] AND SO,
TO ME, THERE IS, NOTWITHSTANDING
WHAT DEPUTY WASHINGTON, AND I
DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT IT IS TRUE,
NOTWITHSTANDING THAT, WE NEED TO
BE HONEST. WE NEED TO BE HONEST
WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT WHAT
IS HAPPENING IN SEATTLE. AND
YES, POST-COVID, THINGS GOT
WORSE. YES, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
TRUE. AND WE NEED TO BE HONEST
ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND
WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER. AND THAT
DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE HARD
WORK THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN , THAT SPD
HAS DONE, THAT PARKS HAS DONE,
AND HSD AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS, BUT I FEEL LIKE
EVERYBODY IS GOING EVERY WHICH
WAY DIRECTION AND THERE ISN'T A
CENTRALIZED -- WE ARE ALL REALLY
A ONE SEATTLE. AND NOT JUST ONE
SEATTLE WITH THE EXECUTIVE AND
HIS DEPARTMENTS THAT HE
OVERSEES, BUT WITH THE COUNCIL
AS WELL. THAT WAS VERY CLEAR TO
ME OUT OF THIS AUDIT. AND IN
FACT, IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY THAT
I WAS SPEAKING WITH CHIEF
BARNES, AND I WAS SAYING,
BECAUSE HE WAS EXPLAINING ALL
THE HARD WORK THEY ARE DOING,
AND I SAID, CHIEF, EVERY DAY, AT
LEAST ONCE A DAY, I TELL PEOPLE
HOW HARD SPD IS WORKING. BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT, CHIEF BARNES IS NOT
JUST YOU. THIS DOESN'T JUST
FALL ON SPD. AND I HADN'T EVEN
READ THIS REPORT YET, BECAUSE I
READ IT TODAY, THIS MORNING, SO
IT WAS EXACTLY AS I WAS SAYING.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, EVERY
DEPARTMENT HAS TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND SOME OF THE STUFF IN HERE
ABOUT CLOSING GATES AT THE PARKS
AND THE LIGHTING, I JUST WAS
HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH
DEPUTY MAYOR FARRELL ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS, AND ALSO
WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. THIS
IS, TO ME, LOW HANGING FRUIT,
AND WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO FIND
WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. AND SO,
TO ME, IT WAS REALLY , LIKE I
SAID, VALIDATING. AND I WANT
ACTION. I DO. AND I AM HERE TO
WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO
GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET. BUT
MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW, I HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR, PUSHING,
PUSHING, PUSHING, PUSHING, AND I
NEED ACTION FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE THAT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED.
AND THAT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK
FOR, BECAUSE THE IS OUR
CONSTITUENTS. AND I'M TIRED OF
PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT SOMEHOW,
CONSTITUENTS ARE OVER BLOWING
THE SITUATION. THEY ARE NOT.
THIS REPORT SHOWS HOW BAD THINGS
ARE AT MAGNUSON PARK. AND AS I
HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR OVER A
YEAR, WE HAVE LOW INCOME PEOPLE
WITH TEENAGERS AND YOUNG
CHILDREN LIVING AT MAGNUSON
PARK. THEY ARE MY CONSTITUENTS
AS WELL. AND I AM HERE FOR THEM,
TOO. I AM HERE FOR EVERYBODY.
SO, I AM NOT GOING TO SIT AROUND
AND PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK
THAT WE HAVE DONE -- FOR THE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE THUS
FAR. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR WASHINGTON IN
PARTICULAR, BECAUSE YOU AND I
TALK ABOUT THIS OFTEN. WE DO
NEED TO DO BETTER, WE NEED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ABSOLUTELY THE
THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING, AND WE
KNOW THAT WE CAN, WE HAVE TO DO
BETTER, WORKING TOGETHER. AND TO
ME, THE COMMUNICATION PROBLEM IS
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM. AND THIS
DECENTRALIZED APPROACH THAT WE
ARE TAKING. AND WE HAVE A
RESOURCE ISSUE. THERE IS A
DEFICIT TO THIS CITY. AND WE
KNOW THAT IF WE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE THOSE
RESOURCES WORK BETTER FOR US.
AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE BLAMING
SPD OR ANY -- ANYONE
INDIVIDUALLY, OR COUNCIL, OR THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE INDIVIDUALLY,
BUT WE DO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND SO, YOU'RE HEARING MY
FRUSTRATION BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
I HAVE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM
FOR YEAR. AND MY CONSTITUENTS
ARE NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION .
THEY ARE GETTING DISMISSED. AND
I DON'T WANT THAT ANYMORE. AND
I THINK THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT
THEY ARE NOT WRONG. AND SO, I
REALLY CANNOT UNDERSCORE HOW
GRATEFUL I AM FOR THIS AUDIT. I
WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON , FOR REALLY
PUSHING ON THIS AUDIT TO HAPPEN.
AND YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE A RESPONSE TO THIS SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER, IN TERMS OF
ARE WE REACHING OUT TO DOJ AND
TO JOHNS HOPKINS? I UNDERSTAND
AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
GOT -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A
CRISIS WITH THIS NEW
ADMINISTRATION. AND WE KNOW THAT
THERE ARE PARTNERS IN BALTIMORE
AND MILWAUKEE AND OTHER PLACES
WHO WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
DOJ AND WITH JOHNS HOPKINS TO
BUILD A MODEL THAT WE CAN JUST
REPLICATE. WE DON'T NEED TO GO
ON OUR OWN. WE DON'T NEED TO BE
THE FIRST FOR EVERYTHING. BEING
THE FIRST SOMETIMES DOESN'T
MEAN WE GET IT RIGHT. SOMEONE
ELSE IS -- BALTIMORE, EVERYBODY
KNOWS, IT IS NOT A SECRET HOW
BAD BALTIMORE WAS. AND THEY ARE
HAVING SUCCESS. LET'S REPLICATE
SOME OF THAT HERE, AND WHAT DO
WE NEED TO DO TO DO THAT? AND I
AM HERE FOR THAT. SO, THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I DON'T HAVE
A QUESTION. I JUST HAD THAT
COMMENT, AND I WANTED TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND I
WELCOME A CONVERSATION WITH
MAYOR HARRELL . I MEAN, PUBLIC
SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE FOR HIM. I
WOULD HAVE LOVED FOR HIM TO HAVE
STOPPED BY TODAY. LET'S WORK
TOGETHER. THIS ISN'T EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL TAKING CREDIT. I AM NOT
ABOUT THE CREDIT. GM WASHINGTON,
YOU KNOW THAT, TOO. I DON'T
LIKE THE SPOTLIGHT, I DON'T
LIKE CAMERAS, I DON'T LIKE TO
BE ON THE NEWS. I AM ABOUT
WORKING TOGETHER ON BEHALF OF OF
THE PEOPLE TO GET THINGS DONE.
AND SO, AGAIN, I REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I
WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOU,
DIRECTOR WALTON-ANDERSON, IN A
ROBUST WAY. THERE IS NO CREDIT
HERE, LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO
GET IT DONE, AND LET'S BE
HONEST ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN. TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE ALL
MUTUALLY WANT. AND THANK YOU
AGAIN, CLAUDIA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, THANK
YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IN
BALTIMORE FOUND IT TO BE A
HELPFUL TOOL TO WRITE AN
ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A GUN VIOLENCE --
>> OH MY GOODNESS, LOOK AT THAT.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> SO, AND THEN, AND ALSO TO
YOUR POINT ABOUT MAGNUSON PARK ,
AND IT IS REALLY SO IMPACTFUL
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY DO COME
TOGETHER AND LOOK AT THE DATA,
AND WE ALL GOT ON ONE PAGE WITH
THE WAY THE DATA WAS COLLECTED,
AND THANK YOU, SPD, FOR
PRODUCING THAT REPORT THAT
ALLOWED US TO SEE, AND AN
EXAMPLE OF LOOKING AT THE DATA
TOGETHER IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW,
THE FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON, A
SMALL, COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION, ARE ACTUALLY DOING
PLATES BASED PROBLEM SOLVING,
AND THEY HAVE EVEN USED SOME OF
THE TECHNIQUES THAT WE HAVE
MENTIONED IN OUR AUDIT, AND THEY
HAVE COME UP WITH ABOUT 30
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, IT DOESN'T
REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES, BUT IT SPEAKS TO YOUR
POINT, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, IT
IS INCREASED INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY
AND COUNTY. THEY'RE JUST ASKING
FOR OUR AGENCIES TO COMMUNICATE
BETTER. THAT IS ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. X WORK
TOGETHER, AND I WILL SAY THAT I
HAD DON PRESENT ABOUT THAT
EFFORT AND LITTLE SAIGON, A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AT THE
COMMITTEE THAT I CHAIR. SO, I
GUESS. I MEAN, CONSTITUENTS WANT
ALL OF US, THE AGENCIES TO WORK
TOGETHER, AND LIKE I SAID, THE
VIOLENCE PREVENTION PARTNERS,
THEY NEED HELP TO IDENTIFYING
HOW TO EVEN VEST DO THEIR WORK,
BUT IT HAS TO START WITH A
TOP-DOWN COORDINATION ON BEST
PRACTICES, AND THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE GIVING THEM, AND THEN WHEN
WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THEM, WE
PUT THAT IN THEIR CONTRACTS, BUT
WE DID KIND OF AN UPSIDE DOWN.
THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT BEST
PRACTICES ARE. AND ALSO, BEST
PRACTICES TODAY MAY NOT BE WHAT
THEY WERE PRE-COVID, LET'S BE
HONEST ABOUT THAT, TOO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, CAN I
PLEASE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M
GOING TO CONTINUE TO REITERATE,
AND I TOLD YOU THIS WHEN YOU
ASKED ME ABOUT IT MAYBE LAST
YEAR. THERE IS A REASON WHY WE
ARE SITTING HERE, THERE IS A
REASON WHY WE STARTED AT STEP 7.
IT IS NOBODY'S FAULT THAT IS ON
THE DAIS RIGHT NOW AND IT IS NOT
ANY DEPARTMENTS FALL. I HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR 10 YEARS. EVERY
TIME WE GOT READY TO IMPLEMENT
SOMETHING THAT WAS
EVIDENCE-BASED, THAT HAD
OUTCOMES, THE CHAMBERS WOULD
FILL WITH PEOPLE, AND IT NEVER
GOT APPROVED. AND SO, I AM NOT
GOING TO DO MY JOB, I HAVE TO
STAND UP FOR THE DEPARTMENTS WHO
HAVE TRIED TO DO THIS WORK OVER
AND OVER AGAIN , AND I CANNOT --
WE HAVE A MOMENT RIGHT NOW WHERE
WE INTEND TO FULLY UTILIZE THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE WHO AGREES THAT
ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, SO THERE WILL COME
A TIME, AND I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, YOU SAID
THIS, WHERE WE WILL BE SITTING
AT THIS VERY TABLE, SAYING HERE
ARE THE RESULTS OF THE RFP, HERE
IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR,
HERE IS THE RFP, SO I HOPE FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN THE 10 YEARS I
HAVE BEEN HERE, WE CAN ACTUALLY
GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND
IMPLEMENT CONTRACTS WITH
OUTCOMES AND ACCOUNTABILITY. SO,
IT JUST MATTERS TO ME SO DEEPLY
THAT THAT IS NOT LOST. PEOPLE
HAVEN'T BEEN SITTING AROUND FOR
DECADES, TWIDDLING THEIR THUMBS,
NOT TRYING TO GET TO THAT VERY
POINT, THEY HAVE BEEN STOPPED,
AND THAT IS A PART
>> THAT IS WHAT I AM SAYING.
>> CAN I JUST BRIEFLY RESPOND IN
TERMS OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA SAID IN TERMS OF
COMMUNICATION. I WANT TO ADDRESS
A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA SAID JUST
IN RELATIONSHIP TO GUN VIOLENCE
AT THE PARKS AND BOAT LAUNCHES.
I THINK ONE THING IS OBVIOUSLY
DR. GROSS-SHADER DID AN
ANALYSIS, WORKING WITH SPD ON
THE SHOTS FIRED. OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY TEAM, AGAIN, THIS GOES TO
COMMUNICATION, AT THE SAME
INSTRUCTIONS WHEN I FIRST
ARRIVED HERE LAST SUMMER, AND
THE CONSTITUENT EMAILS OVER AND
OVER ABOUT NOT JUST SHOTS FIRED,
BUT THE NOISE AND OTHER ISSUES
THAT WERE GOING ON ACROSS THE
PARK, MAGNUSON BEING OUR LARGEST
PARK. [ INAUDIBLE ] THE BOAT
LAUNCHES OBVIOUSLY NEXT TO THE
WATER. SPD WAS ABLE TO DO THE
SAME SORT OF DATA, BECAUSE WE
WERE DOING OUR SUMMER PARKS
PLANNING, NOT AN EXCLUSION OF
COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT SORT OF CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS WE CAN HAVE IN TERMS
OF DATES AND IN TERMS OF DOING
SOMETHING MORE THAN ONE OFF M.O.
USE. I WOULD JUST SHARE WITH YOU
THAT PLANNING IS IN PROGRESS,
AND WHAT I AM HEARING FROM YOU
BECAUSE YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE
ABSOLUTELY VALIDATED, I DIDN'T
NEED THIS REPORT TO KNOW THE
THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON IN
MAGNUS IN WERE IMPORTANT, AND
THAT IS WHY MEETING WITH
MAGNUSON HOUSING, MEETING WITH
SANTOS PLACE, AND ASKING THEM TO
MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS WITH SPD,
WHAT IS YOUR SECURITY PLAN, WHAT
IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS TENANTS?
THOSE WERE THINGS THAT WERE DONE
NOT AN EXCLUSION, BUT ACTUALLY
BASED ON YOUR INPUT AND
ADVOCACY, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
AND ALSO, IN TERMS OF THE PARKS
SAFETY PLAN, WE ARE IN THE
PLANNING AND DRAFTING STAGE,
TRYING TO WORK WITH DM FARRELL
AND PARKS, TRYING TO GET PARKS
AND SDOT TO COME UP WITH A DRAFT
PLAN FOR PRESENTATION, I HOPE
THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE PRESENTED
TO TRY AND MEET THE NEEDS YOU
HAVE SAID, BECAUSE AS YOU HAVE
INDICATED, THOSE MOUs ARE NOT
THERE, BUT I AM HEARING YOU IN
TERMS OF WE NEED ENHANCED
COMMUNICATION AND FIGURING OUT
THE RIGHT WAY TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE WORKING WITH COUNCIL,
COMMUNICATING ON A PLAN THAT
WORKS FOR ALL OF THE
CONSTITUENTS THAT WE ALL SERVE.
BUT I AM HERE TO TAKE ACTION,
FOR SURE, AS YOUR CHIEF OF
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. I WILL VALIDATE ALL DAY
LONG THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT HAS
HAPPENED IN MAGNUSON, BECAUSE
LIKE YOU, I HEARD FROM THOSE
CONSTITUENTS AND WANT TO WORK
WITH YOU, AND I HAVE HEARD
SPECIFICALLY FROM YOU IN TERMS
OF YOUR ADVOCACY. SO, WE DO WANT
TO TAKE ACTION. WE ACTUALLY WANT
A PLAN THAT WORKS LONG-TERM, NOT
FOR JUST A ONE OFF FOR A FEW
DAYS. SO, I JUST WANTED TO
CONVEY THAT, AND I APPRECIATE
THE FEEDBACK, AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO TRY AND DO MORE TO
COMMUNICATE AND SHOW THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO TAKE URGENT ACTION IN
PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION
WITH ALL OF YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS ONE
THING, BECAUSE, ONE OF MY
BIGGEST THINGS ABOUT THIS REPORT
IS DOES THAT ONE SEATTLE
APPROACH IS MAKING SURE THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE ON THE FRONT
END, SO IF YOU'RE MEETING, YOU
KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW ON THE
FRONT END, WHEN YOU ARE COMING
TO THE DISTRICT. I DON'T WANT
CONSTITUENTS TO TELL ME THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN THERE OR THAT THE
MAYOR HAS BEEN THERE, OR GET A
CALL THE NIGHT BEFORE THAT THE
MAYOR IS GOING TO BE IN THE
DISTRICT, IF HE IS GOING TO BE
IN THE DISTRICT. HE WASN'T AT
THE ONE IN BITTER LAKE, WHICH IS
THE ONE ON THE NORTH END. THIS
IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT WE
WANT TO BE INVOLVED ON THE FRONT
END, SO THAT WE REALLY ARE
WORKING TOGETHER, AND I
UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR IS THE BOSS
OF THE DEPARTMENTS, I DON'T
WANT TO BE THE BOSS OF THE
DEPARTMENTS, I JUST WANT TO BE A
PARTNER ON THE FRONT END,
BECAUSE WE CONCERT CONSTITUENTS
BETTER THAT WAY, SO WHEN I AM
MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS, WE
HAVE A CONSISTENT MESSAGE AND I
HAVE THE INFORMATION TO SHARE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANKS, AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE PEOPLE AT
THIS TABLE, YOU ARE REPRESENTING
YOUR BOSS , YOUR EXECUTIVE BOSS
HERE. AND SO, YOU HAVE TO
PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION,
RESPOND IN A CERTAIN WAY, AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT, AND WHAT I
REALLY WANT TO HEAR, TO ME, IT
SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER ACCEPTABLE
RESPONSE WOULD BE, WOW, I HAVE
LEARNED SOMETHING IN THIS AUDIT,
AND MAYBE WE SHOULD DO THAT. WE
DON'T HAVE TO REHASH THE WHOLE
CONVERSATION. I THINK LEADERS
HAVE TO HAVE HUMILITY WHEN YOU
HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS, AS I AM
SURE YOU DO, AND FROM COUNCIL,
AND EVERYBODY IS SAYING, WE MUST
DO BETTER, BECAUSE IT DID READ
-- I HEARD A LOT TODAY AND IN
THE LETTER, WE ARE DEALING WITH
THIS, THIS, AND THIS, WHICH IS
GREAT FOR ME TO KNOW. THERE WAS
LESS, AND WE RECOGNIZE THESE ARE
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, THESE
ARE SOME OF OUR WEAKNESSES, OUR
WE HAD NEVER CONSIDERED THAT.
>> IF WE COULD ASK FOR THE SAME
RESPECT BACK, WHICH IS WHEN YOU
ARE GETTING READY TO LAUNCH
THIS, MY ARGUMENT TO YOU WAS WE
HEARD THE LAST AUDIT. WE ARE
WORKING ON THIS, AND WE DIDN'T
GET THAT SAME RESPECT BACK OF
HUMILITY, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN
HUMILITY. SO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
NICE TO KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HEARD
US WHEN WE WERE TELLING YOU THAT
WE ALREADY WORKING ON IT.
SO, I AGREE WITH YOU, I'M
ASKING FOR HUMILITY BOTH WAYS.
>> OKAY, THE LAST AUDIT, YOU
MEAN THE CRIME AND OVERDOSE ONE?
X THE ONE THAT YOU DID, THE
REASON I SAID I DIDN'T LEARN
ANYTHING IS BECAUSE I TOLD YOU
BEFORE, THE THINGS IN AUDIT OUR
LITERATURE, I HAVE A MASTERS
DEGREE IN HUMAN SERVICES, SO I
DON'T NEED AN AUDIT, TO TELL ME
THE THINGS I CAN SEE ON THE
STREETS AND THINGS THAT I HEAR
FROM CONSTITUENTS, SO I'M JUST
ASKING, BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING
TO THE EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE WHEN
YOU ARE MAKING THE COMMENTS THAT
THE HUMILITY GO BOTH WAYS. I AM
HAPPY TO BE HUMBLE IF WE CAN
PARTNER IN BEING HUMBLE BOTH
WAYS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND
>> AND THAT WAS A EXECUTIVE THAT
CAME TO ME AND SAID, HEY, WILL
YOU SIGN ON WITH ME? I WAS ONLY
TWO YEARS ONTO MY JOB HERE IN
COUNCIL. HEY, WOULD YOU SIGN ON,
WE CAN DO THIS. SO WE MAKE SURE
WE ARE SPENDING MONEY ON THE
RIGHT PROGRAMS, SO THAT'S HOW
THAT STARTED? IN ANY CASE, IT IS
GOING TO BE ALL OF US WORKING
TOGETHER, AND THERE IS ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT ON ALL FRONTS, AND I
HOPE MAYBE WE CAN BE BROUGHT IN
EARLIER, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO KNOW MORE SPECIFICALLY SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT ARE MENTIONED
IN THE AUDIT THAT ARE BROUGHT
UP, THAT COULD BE REALLY
VALUABLE, AND AGAIN, IF THEY ARE
ALREADY WORKING IF THEY ARE
WORKING A NEW PROGRAM, HAS
REALLY SEATTLE SPECIFIC ELEMENTS
IN IT, BUT THERE ARE ALSO TRIED
AND TRUE, TESTED, EVIDENCE-BASED
PROGRAMS, THAT WHEN I SEE 50%
REDUCTION IN VIOLENCE OVER THE
COURSE OF EIGHT YEARS FOR
MILWAUKEE, WHEN I SEE 29% IN ONE
YEAR IN LAS VEGAS FOR
IMPLEMENTING PROBLEM ORIENTED
POLICING, AND WHEN I HEAR --
LET'S SEE, ANOTHER ONE WAS --
LARRY SAID LAS VEGAS, CINCINNATI
HAD TREMENDOUS REDUCTION AS
WELL, SO WHEN I AM SEEING THOSE
DOUBLE-DIGIT REDUCTIONS IN GUN
VIOLENCE, AND OTHER CITIES, FOR
HAVING IMPLEMENTED SOME OF THESE
MODELS , AND THESE MODELS ARE
AVAILABLE TO US FOR FREE, THAT
IS WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME,
AND AT SOME POINT, WE WILL PARSE
OUT, WHAT ARE WE ALREADY DOING?
BUT THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO
KEEP PUSHING, SO THAT WE DON'T
HAVE THE NEXT MODEL, NEXT AUDIT
ON SOMETHING ELSE, AND THERE
AREN'T THINGS SAYING, WELL, AS
WE SAID IN THIS ONE, IN THE 2025
AUDIT, WE SHOULD DO THIS.
THAT'S THE CIRCULAR DYNAMIC
THAT I WANT TO AVOID, AND IF
THERE ARE GOOD IDEAS, LET'S DO
THEM.
>> ALSO, JUST TO LIGHTEN THE
CONVERSATION HERE, I HAVE A
SCIENCE DEGREE, AND I ALWAYS
THINK OF MOLECULES, YOU KNOW,
WHEN ATOMS ARE HEATED, THERE
LIKE BUMPING INTO EACH OTHER,
AND I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE OF
THAT HAPPENING, SO, LET'S COME
TOGETHER, SO WE CAN REALLY WORK
TOGETHER, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU
ALL -- YOU ARE HERE REPRESENTING
THE EXECUTIVE, AND INDIVIDUALLY,
IT'S NOT A FRUSTRATION ON
PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT AS A
WHOLE, YOU ARE SENSING A
FRUSTRATION THAT IS COMING FROM
OUR COLLECTIVE CONSTITUENTS, AND
CP, YOUR CITYWIDE, SO, YOU HEAR
IT FROM EVERYONE ACROSS THE
CITY, SO WE NEED TO WORK
TOGETHER TO DO BETTER TOGETHER,
BECAUSE INDIVIDUALLY, THERE IS
SO MUCH HAPPENING, BUT IF WE
CAN, YOU KNOW, WORK AT THE FRONT
END TOGETHER, IN A CENTRALIZED
APPROACH, AND THAT IT GOES DOWN
TO THE DEPARTMENTS, I THINK WE
WILL ACHIEVE MORE FASTER, AND I
GUESS THAT IS WHAT I AM TRYING
TO COMMUNICATE.
>> [ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
>> AND I HOLD BOTH THE
PROFESSIONAL DEGREE AND THE
PERSONAL DEGREE AND I DESERVE
THAT RESPECT, SO I ALSO HAVE
THICK SKIN AND I LOVE THIS KIND
OF DISCORD, I DON'T THINK, WE
ALL TALK OFF-LINE, THIS ISN'T
TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD AS NOT
GETTING ALONG, AND I ALSO WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE MOVE
FORWARD THAT WE ALL FEEL
RESPECTED. CLEARLY YOU DIDN'T
FEEL RESPECTED ON SOME POINT ON
BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENCIES,
BUT I DIDN'T FEEL RESPECTED AND
HEARD AT ALL, SO HOW DO WE DO
THIS BETTER NEXT TIME?
>> AND IF THAT WAS COMING FROM
ME, APOLOGIES, BECAUSE THIS IS
NOT THAT I DON'T INDIVIDUALLY
DISRESPECT ANYONE, AND YOU AND I
ARE LIKE-MINDED, AND WE WORK
WELL TOGETHER, WE ALWAYS BRING
EACH OTHER EARLY AND OFTEN FROM
THE BEGINNING, AND FROM THE TIME
I HAVE WORKED HERE, WE HAVE
WORKED ON A FEW THINGS, NOT
MANY, BECAUSE I DON'T SIT ON
HUMAN SERVICES, BUT I KNOW
BECAUSE WE WORK EARLY AND OFTEN,
WE ACHIEVE GOOD OUTCOMES, I
THINK. THANK YOU.
>> AND THE STRONG FEELINGS OF
ALL THESE WOMEN HERE , THERE IS
NO APOLOGY, THERE SHOULD BE NO
APOLOGY FOR CARING SO MUCH. I
THINK THAT IS WHAT IS ON DISPLAY
HERE. WE CARE ABOUT OUR WORK, WE
CARE ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR
WORK AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE
REACTING STRONGLY AND ALSO WE
ARE CHANNELING THE STRONG
EMOTION, ANGER, FRUSTRATION AND
HOPE FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.
>> 100%.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND
THANK YOU ALL FOR PRESENTING
TODAY.
>> I WILL KEEP ASKING.
>> OH, YEAH. IS THERE ANY
BUSINESS ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO
BRING UP? OKAY, THIS CONCLUDES
THE MARCH 26 MEETING OF THE
GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEETING, IT
IS 4:29 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.