WILL THE CLERK CALL ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> PRESENT.
>> AND CHAIR MOORE .
>> PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE
APPOINTMENT TO THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THEN AN
APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
ROOTS HOUSING PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY GOVERNING COUNCIL.
THEN WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS TO
THE PACIFIC HOSPITAL
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY GOVERNING COUNCIL .
THEN WE HAVE FIVE APPOINTMENTS
TO THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION. ALL OF OUR
APPOINTMENTS TODAY ARE FOR
POSSIBLE VOTE THEN WE WILL HAVE
TWO INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. THE
FIRST IS A STATUS UPDATE ON
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
FUNDING. THE SECOND IS A
PRESENTATION ON FOOD SECURITY.
WE RECEIVED AN UPDATED SLIDE
PRESENTATION ON THE LATTER
PRESENTATION YESTERDAY EVENING.
IT WAS EMAILED TO STAFF THIS
MORNING AT 7:05. THERE ARE
PHYSICAL COPIES HERE IN
CHAMBERS. I BELIEVE WE ARE
LOSING MORE AM AT 11:00, SO I
WILL WORK TO MOVE THROUGH THE
FIRST PORTION OF OUR AGENDA
RATHER QUICKLY AND ASK THAT
QUESTIONS BE HELD TO THE END OF
THE AGENDA. IF THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS, WE SHALL MOVE INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID CLOUD --
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IT SHOULD
RELATE TO TODAY'S AGENDA OR BE
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CHAIR, WE HAVE NO IN PERSON
COMMENTERS AND ONE ONLINE
COMMENTS ARE.
>> THANK YOU. THE ONE SPEAKER WE
HAVE TODAY WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
ONLINE SPEAKER. MADAM CLERK, CAN
YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS ?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE UP TO 20 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
TIME. THE MICROPHONES WILL BE
MUTED IF THEY DO NOT FINISH
THEIR COMMENT WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME SO AS TO ALLOW US
TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST
IS DAVID HAINES. PRESS *6 TO
UNMUTE. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
>> HOW MUCH DID THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES SPEND
TO GO TO WORKING VACATION ON
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND TO RUN
INTERFERENCE FOR CRIMINAL REPEAT
OFFENDERS IF THEY
UNCONSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIZE THEM
FOR HOUSING AND SERVICES FIRST
WHILE RACIALLY DISCRIMINATING
AGAINST CITIZENS? THAT IS A
CONCERN. WITH THE FOOD
INSECURITY, IT IS TIME THAT THE
WASHINGTON STATE FARMERS GET
EMBRACED BY THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY TO START DIRECT BUYING
AND BRINGING PERMANENT FARMERS
MARKETS AND MAYBE GETTING SOME
PURCHASES FOR THE FOOD BANKS
THAT NEED TO STAY OPEN LONGER
INSTEAD OF MAKING PEOPLE COME IN
FOR PART-TIME HOURS AND TAKE
THEIR EXPIRED FOOD THAT WAS
DONATED THE PREVIOUS WEEK SO
FOOD BANKS CAN SAVE MONEY NOT
THROWING THINGS AWAY THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD NOT BE EATING. IT IS NOT
FAIR THAT FARMERS ARE ALLOWED TO
EXPORT TO CHINA AND INDIA , YET
THEY DON'T WANT TO BRING THE
FOOD TO MARKET HERE IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON OR IN THE UNITED
STATES BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING
TO PUT A SUPPLY AND DEMAND
SQUEEZE AND ALLOW FOR THIS
MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FOOD AVAILABLE
SO THEY CAN SET THE RATE. IT IS
ALMOST LIKE CAIN OF CAIN AND
ABEL UPSETTING GOD. MAYBE THE
FOOD BANKS NEED TO STOP THE --
STOP BEING SO ABUSIVE. GOD BLESS
CHRISTIAN COMPASSION, BUT DON'T
LET IT BE UNDERMINED. IF YOU
WANT TO IMPROVE THE POLICIES
INSTEAD OF BACKSTABBING AND
UNDERMINING PUBLIC SAFETY BY
STILL RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR
DRUG PUSHERS, YOU WOULD STILL
GET A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY. IF
YOU ARE GOING TO PUSH A BUNCH OF
RACE BAITING VOTING BLOCKS, ALL
YOU WILL DO IS CAUSE PEOPLE TO
UNNECESSARILY SUFFER SOME MORE,
WHICH IS --
>> CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR
LIST OF SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE
ARE NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED
SPEAKERS. WE WILL PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS. PEOPLE ARE
ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON
THE SIGN-UP CARDS AT THE PODIUM
OR TO EMAIL COUNCIL . WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD? THIS IS
03141, THE APPOINTMENT OF
FATHIYA ABDI . THIS IS FOR
BREATHING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WE SERVE AS AN ADVISORY
COUNCIL TO THE MAYOR AND OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS. SHE IS SERVING
THEM REMAINING TERM OF THE
VACANT POSITION. SHE HAS
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN EQUITY
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WITH THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN NETWORK OF
WASHINGTON. SHE PREVIOUSLY
WORKED FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS AN
EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
STRATEGIST. E LOOKS FORWARD TO
MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGE FOR
COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY
INEQUITIES AROUND SYSTEMIC
RACISM AND OPPRESSION. I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE ON THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS BEFORE WE MOVE
FOR A VOTE? SEE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
03141. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATION?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR MOORE?
>> AYE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 2 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> THE APPOINTMENT OF DREW WEBER
FOR A TERM OF TWO 2026.
>> THANK YOU. THIS OVERSEAS ALL
ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITY
INCLUDING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT,
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, AND
ONGOING OPERATIONS. HE IS ALSO
SERVING THE REMAINING TERM OF
THE VACANT POSITION. SHE IS
DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING AND
ADVISORY SERVICES. SHE BRINGS AN
ABUNDANCE OF EXPERIENCE IN
ADVISORY ROLES, TECHNICAL
ACCOUNTING, AND OTHER PROJECTS
TO NAME A FEW. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING YOUR EXPERIENCE TO THE
PDA. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE FOR
VOTE? SEEING NONE, I RECOMMEND
THAT THE COMMITTEE MOVE TO
CONFIRM APPOINTMENT. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>>
>> MOTION CARRIES.
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENT WAS SENT -- WILL BE
SENT TO THE NEXT COUNCIL
MEETING. THE CLERK PLEASE READ
INTO THE AGENDA ITEMS THREE AND
FOUR? REAPPOINTMENT OF PAUL
FELDMAN AND DORIS W. KOO AS PART
OF THE COMMUNITY ROOTS HOUSING
PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
GOVERNING COUNCIL , FOR
BREATHING, DISCUSSION , AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THE PACIFIC HOSPITAL
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY GOVERNING COUNCIL
FUNDS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH
EQUITY IN KING COUNTY. THE
GOVERNING COUNCIL HELPS OVERSEE
THE BODY OF WORK. THEY CURRENTLY
SERVE AS BOARD MEMBERS AND HAVE
BEEN NOMINATED FOR REAPPOINTMENT
BY THE PH PDA GOVERNING COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE FOR A
VOTE ? SEEING NONE, I MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
03139 AND 03140 .
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR MOORE?
>> AYE .
>> IT HAS BEEN APPROVED. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEMS FIVE
THROUGH NINE INTO THE RECORD?
THIS IS FOR APPOINTMENTS OF KATE
FAORO WRIGHT, AMANDA DEFISHER,
KRYSTAL GUERRERO, VINATI
MAMIDALA, AND WHITNEY NAKAMURA
AS MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION FOR TERMS
THROUGH JULY 1, 2026.
>> THANK YOU. THE SEATTLE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION SERVES IN AN
ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL. KATE IS A NEW
APPOINTING WHO WOULD BE SERVING
OUT THE TERM. SHE LOOKS TO BRING
HER POLICY ADVOCACY TO THE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION TO CREATE
LASTING, POSITIVE CHANGE FOR
WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SEATTLE.
AMANDA IS A NEW APPOINTING --
APPOINTEE. SHE ADVOCATES FOR
GENDER EQUITY AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE. SHE VOLUNTEERS AT A DAY
CENTER ON AURORA AVENUE. IT IS
HER PERSONAL MISSION TO LEAVE
EVERYTHING IN A BETTER PLACE.
KRYSTAL SERVES AS CO-CHAIR OF
THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND
LOOKS TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE.
VINATI HAS WORKED WITH THE BILL
& MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION SINCE
2003 AND LOOKS TO CONTINUE HER
WORK ON THE COMMISSION. WHITNEY
HAS SERVED AS CO-CHAIR AND WAS
WITH US IN THE CHAMBERS LAST
WEEK TO RECEIVE THE SEXUAL
AWARENESS THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT
AWARENESS PROCLAMATION. SHE
LOOKS FORWARD TO THE WORK THEY
HAVE PLANNED. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK HER ANOTHER REAPPOINTMENTS
FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THE
COMMISSION. THESE FIVE
APPOINTEES ARE COMMITTED TO
EMPOWERING WINDHAM AND ADVANCING
GENDER EQUALITY. I AM GRATEFUL
FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO
DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS
TO THESE CAUSES. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS BEFORE WE MOVE
FOR A VOTE WE SEE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I NOW
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 03134 THROUGH
03138. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR MOORE?, AYE.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES.
>> THAT WILL BE SENT TO A FUTURE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. NOW THAT
WE HAVE MOVED THROUGH THE
APPOINTMENTS, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE AGENDA ITEM INTO
THE RECORD.
>> HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
FUNDS, FOR BREATHING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WANT
TO BRING IN ANNIE MAHER . I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO YOU NOW. GOOD
MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM
JOINED BY MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR
THIS MORNING. SO I'M HERE TODAY
TO BRING A FEDERAL AFFAIRS
UPDATE CENTERED ON HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES. I WILL START
WITH A LANDSCAPE UPDATE AND DIVE
INTO WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LEVEL
BOTH FEDERALLY AND LOCALLY, THEN
DIVE INTO SOME OF THE LOCAL
EFFECTS WE ARE SEEING HERE AT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HERE AND
ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. I WANTED
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS
PRESENTATION IS VERY FOCUSED TO
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THERE
IS A LOT OF INTERSECTION RIGHT
NOW TO HEALTH. I AM HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR
FOLLOW-UP A MORE SPECIFIC ITEMS
THAT MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE
PRESENTATION.
>> WOULD YOU MIND PULLING THE
MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OF COURSE. IS THAT BETTER?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
>> YOU WILL LIKELY REMEMBER IN
FEBRUARY THAT CONGRESS CONFIRMED
ROBERT KENNEDY, JR. AS OUR NEW
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES. THIS WAS A FAIRLY
CONTENTIOUS VOTE AT THE TIME, IT
DID SIGNIFY WIN FOR PRESIDENT
TRUMP AND GOP LEADERS. HHS'S
HOUSES SOME KEY AGENCIES SUCH AS
THE JOINT -- FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, AND
CENTERS FOR MEDICAID AND
MEDICARE SERVICES. OVER THE
COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS,
WE HAVE SEEN A HANDFUL OF
EXECUTIVE ORDERS ANNOUNCED
RANGING FROM THOSE DIRECTLY
RELATED TO HEALTH AND AN
INTERSECTION ON THE HEALTH
SECTOR. THIS RANGES FROM
WITHDRAWING FROM THE WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO ENFORCING
THE HYDE AMENDMENT , WHICH
PREVENTS FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
ELECTIVE ABORTIONS. WE HAVE ALSO
SEEN SOME EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT
ARE NOT AS SPECIFIC TOATION, SOC
TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
BUT DO HAVE AN INTERSECTION.
THAT IS GUARANTEEING STATE
PROTECTION AGAINST INVASION,
WHICH REQUIRES MEDICAL
INFORMATION UPON ARRIVAL AT THE
BORDER. WE HAVE SEEN MORE
SPECIFIC ONES SUCH AS
ESTABLISHING THE MAKE AMERICA
HEALTHY AGAIN COMMISSION . THIS
IS FOCUSED ON PREVENTING
CHILDHOOD CHRONIC DISEASE, WHICH
HAS BECOME A PRIORITY OF THE
ADMINISTRATION AND SECRETARY
KENNEDY. ALL OF THESE EXECUTIVE
ORDERS MAY NOT IMPACT THE WORK
OF THE CITY DIRECTLY, THEY WILL
BE CONCERNS TO OUR CITIZENS AND
OUR CONSTITUENTS AND HAVE
TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECTS ACROSS THE
STATE. WE ARE ALSO MONITORING
HOW THESE PLAY OUT, AS SOME OF
THE EFFECTS WE MAY NOT FEEL FOR
YEARS TO COME. ANOTHER MAJOR
ACTION THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
HAS TAKEN WAS THE ANNOUNCEMENT
OF MAJOR STAFF CUTS AND
CONSOLIDATION OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES. WE ARE ALSO
REFERRING TO THAT AS HHS. THIS
HAS MAJOR CONSEQUENCES AND I
WILL DIVE INTO THAT MOMENTARILY.
BEFORE THAT, ANOTHER KEY ASPECT
OF EVERYTHING SWIRLING AROUND
THE FEDERAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW IS
BUDGET RECONCILIATION. BUDGET
RECONCILIATION IS A TOOL THAT
CONGRESS CAN USE, A SPECIAL
PROCESS THEY CAN USE TO PASS
SPENDING RELATED BILLS.
REPUBLICANS ARE USING THAT RIGHT
NOW TO PASS THEIR SPENDING BILL,
WHICH IS BEING SHORT TERMED AS
THE MEGA BILL. THIS IS TARGETED
AT THE 2017 TAX CUTS ALONG WITH
IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER AND
ENERGY. IN ORDER TO FUND THOSE
PRIORITIES, REPUBLICANS ARE
LOOKING AT CUTTING SOCIAL
SERVICES, SO THINGS LIKE
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. WE WILL
BE WATCHING AS THESE DISCUSSIONS
PAN OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
ALL OF THAT IS REALLY JUST TO
SAY THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CHAOS
AND UNCERTAINTY AT THE MOMENT.
IF YOU ARE FEELING THAT, IT IS
DEFINITELY INTENTIONAL. WE ARE
RIGHT NOW JUST TRYING TO MONITOR
AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF
EVERYTHING HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
PART OF THAT, AS MENTIONED, ARE
THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CUTS. ON APRIL 1, THE
ADMINISTRATION DID BEGAN MAKING
CUTS AT HHS , AIMING TO
CONSOLIDATE SEVERAL AGENCIES
SUCH AS THE FDA, THE CDC, AND
NIH. IS ESTIMATED RIGHT NOW THAT
UPWARDS OF 10,000 EMPLOYEES HAVE
ALREADY LEFT THE DEPARTMENT .
OVERALL, THEY ARE TARGETING
AROUND 25% OF TOTAL STAFF , SO A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF HHS'S
STAFF. WE HAVE SEEN COURT
CHALLENGES TO THIS. SECRETARY
KENNEDY HAS ALSO ADMITTED THAT
SOME OF THESE FIRINGS WERE
ACCIDENTAL. WE ARE MONITORING
HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT. OF
COURSE, THAT HAS RESULTED IN A
LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND GENERAL
CONFUSION FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS ,
ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE FUTURE
OF OUR REGIONAL OFFICE.
UNFORTUNATELY, REGION 10, WHICH
REPRESENTS WASHINGTON, WAS A
PART OF THOSE INITIAL CUTS . ON
APRIL 1, WE SAW AROUND 200
EMPLOYEES REMOVED FROM THE
REGION 10 OFFICE OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES , WHICH IS
LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET IN THE
COLUMBIA TOWER. THE REGIONAL
OFFICE DOES A LOT OF WORK AROUND
PUBLIC HEALTH, SO IMMUNIZATION,
DISEASE CONTROL, HEALTH EQUITY.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HSD, WE ARE
TRYING TO COORDINATE AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE CUTS MEAN
FOR SEATTLE. PART OF THIS
COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN IN
CONSTANT CONTACT WITH OUR
DELEGATION, ESPECIALLY SENATOR
MURRAY'S TEAM ON THIS FRONT.
SHE OVERSEES THE HEALTH
COMMUNITY , AND IS ATTUNED TO
THESE ISSUES. SHE DID RELEASE A
STATEMENT ECHOING CONCERNS OVER
HHS. WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL
TO HAVE OUR DELEGATION SUPPORT
BEHIND US. THAT HAS BEEN A
CRUCIAL ASPECT OF THE WORK THAT
HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS. I WANT TO PAUSE HERE.
THERE ARE A A LOT OF THINGS WE
COULD COVER IN THIS LENS , BUT I
WILL DIVE INTO SOME OF THE
EFFECTS WE ARE SEEING HERE IN
SEATTLE. AS MENTIONED, THE
EFFECTS OF THESE WILL BE PRETTY
WIDESPREAD. RIGHT NOW, I'M
THINKING ABOUT IT IN THREE
BUCKETS. SO COMMUNICATION,
POLICY, AND PROGRAMMATIC
CONCERNS. ON A REALLY HIGH
LEVEL, IF THERE IS NO ONE IN THE
OFFICES, THERE WAS NO ONE TO DO
THE WORK. WE MAY SEE LACK IN
RESPONSES OR POTENTIAL DELAYS ON
PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT
WE HAVE WITH HHS, ALONG WITH OUR
PARTNERS. THE GOOD THING IS THAT
WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES IN THIS
VOTE. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE
STATE AND COUNTY AND OUR LOCAL
PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT WE
DON'T LOSE ALL THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS AND THE WORK WE
HAVE BEEN DOING WITH HHS DOES
CONTINUE. ALONG WITH THIS, WE
ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
TO HIGH-LEVEL POLICY AREAS. I
WANT TO SAY THAT NOT ALL OF
THESE AREAS ARE DIRECT WORK OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AND I
INCLUDED THEM TODAY AS THEY MAY
BE ISSUES THAT ARE CONCERNING TO
YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU MAY SEE
TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECTS. SOME OF
THESE CHANGES INCLUDE CUTS TO
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE, AS
MENTIONED. WE ARE TRACKING THE
SPENDING PACKAGE BY CONGRESS.
TRUMP HAS MENTIONED THAT HE
WANTS TO USE THESE CUTS AS A WAY
TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. SO WE ARE
TRACKING THAT. FOOD SECURITY,
DEPARTMENTS LIKE HST AND OSD
DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE FOOD
ARENA. THEIR WORK RELIES GREATLY
ON NATIONAL POLICY. FOOD HAS
BECOME A PRIORITY FOR SECRETARY
KENNEDY. OBVIOUSLY TRACKING
CONCERNS THERE. WE ARE ALSO
SEEING DRAMATIC CHANGES IN
MEDICAL RESEARCH. AS YOU ALL
KNOW, SEATTLE IS A MEDICAL
RESEARCH HUB. WE WILL SEE
IMPACTS TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS ,
ESPECIALLY UNIVERSITIES LIKE THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. WE ARE
ALSO SEEING COOPERATION WITH
I.C.E. AS A REQUIREMENT FOR
FEDERAL FUNDING. SO THAT HAS
LEVELS OF CONCERN FOR US WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CITY
ATTORNEY TRACKING WHAT THE
RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT WILL BE
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I ALSO
WANTED TO FLAG A FEW
PROGRAMMATIC CONCERNS THAT COULD
BE AT RISK. SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,
ALSO KNOWN AS S.N.A.P., IT LOOKS
LIKE UPWARDS OF $1 MILLION IN
USDA FUNDING COULD BE CUT . A
LOT OF OUR SEATTLE CONSTITUENTS
RELY ON S.N.A.P. BENEFITS. THE
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS
LIHEAP'S ADMINISTRATIVE THROUGH
WASHINGTON STATE COMMERCE. WE
HAVE CUSTOMERS WHO RELY ON
LIHEAP BENEFITS TO PAY THEIR
UTILITY BILLS . WE COULD SEE
EFFECTS TRICKLE-DOWN THERE, AS
WELL. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ALSO
PROPOSED CUTS TO HEAD START
FUNDING. IS UNCLEAR WHETHER
CONGRESS WOULD PROCEED WITH
THAT, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY
MONITORING THE IMPACTS ON OUR
YOUNG POPULATION THERE. LASTLY,
JUST SEEING FREEZING OF NIH
GRANTS. AS MENTIONED, WE ARE
WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF OUR
RESEARCH PARTNERS. I AM GOING TO
PAUSE THERE . I AM HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. WE ARE
ALWAYS HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP ON
MORE SPECIFIC ISSUES.
>> THINK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH , CHAIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. THESE ARE
EXTREMELY CONCERNING
DEVELOPMENTS. THIS SLEDGEHAMMER
APPROACH TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
PARTICULARLY SOME OF OUR MOST
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS AND THE WORK
BEING DONE IS UNCONSCIONABLE. I
KNOW IT IS NOT EASY BEING THE
BEARER OF BAD NEWS. I KNOW MANY
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE ARE BEING
AFFECTED BY SOME OF THESE CUTS,
ESPECIALLY IN OUR MEDICAL
RESEARCH INDUSTRY. I LEARNED HOW
BAD IT IS WHEN I VISITED THE
HANDS OFF SIGNS STABLE AT THE
HANDS OFF PROTEST A FEW WEEKS
AGO. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO PROTECT THESE PEOPLE AND
THE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE IN THE
SCIENCE COMMUNITY. YOU ARE ALSO
BRIDGING THE FOOD SECURITY
ISSUES, AS WELL. I WANT TO NOTE
THAT IN MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE,
I PUT FORWARD A PROCLAMATION
HONORING THE LOCAL FOOD ACTION
INITIATIVES. THIS IS ALSO REALLY
CONCERNING TO ME, AS WELL. I AM
SURE YOU WILL GET INTO MORE
DETAIL ON THAT. I DO HAVE A
QUESTION. ARE THERE ANY ACTIONS
BEING TAKEN RIGHT NOW TO
MITIGATE SOME OF THE CAUSES ,
SOME OF THESE FUNDING CUTS OR
IMPACTS THAT YOU KNOW OF OUTSIDE
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE? ARE
THERE BEST PRACTICES WE COULD BE
LEARNING FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
OR WITHIN OUR STATE?
>> OF COURSE. I APPRECIATE YOUR
ATTENTIVENESS TO THESE ISSUES.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS
HAPPENING. WE ARE DOING OUTREACH
TO OUR DELEGATION AND WORKING
WITH THEM. WE HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING TO OUR REPUBLICAN
CONGRESS, AS WELL. WE ARE
WORKING WITH OUR DELEGATION. WE
ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE AS WELL ON
THESE ISSUES. IN TERMS OF
FUNDING, WE ARE WORKING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW THAT PANS OUT. WE
WILL BE WORKING IN COORDINATION
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND
COUNCIL ON FIGURING OUT HOW TO
ADDRESS THE FUNDING DEFICIT.
>> THANK YOU. JUST ONE FINAL
THING? THANK YOU. YOU HAVEN'T
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
RIGHT NOW, BUT I WANTED TO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING OUR
FEDERAL TEAM AVAILABLE EVERY
SINGLE WEEK TO TALK TO ALL THE
COUNCIL OFFICES TO KEEP US UP TO
SPEED. THAT IS INVALUABLE
INFORMATION THAT YOU ARE
PROVIDING ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
>> I WOULD JUST REITERATE -- AND
TO THANK YOU, ANNIE, FOR ALL
THAT INFORMATION. EVERY LEVEL IS
IMPACTED BY THE ACTIONS AND
RHETORIC OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
WE ARE TRACKING VERY CLOSELY,
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR
PARTNERS. I THINK A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE TAKING A PRETTY
CONSERVATIVE STANCE RIGHT NOW
AND WAITING TO SEE. A LOT OF
THIS IS STILL , WE DON'T KNOW
HOW THINGS WILL SHAKE OUT IN THE
END. WE ARE PULLING BACK A
LITTLE, WAITING TO SEE IF AND
WHEN WE MAY NEED TO FILL SOME
GAPS AND HOW WE CAN DO THAT. WE
ARE DOING SOME WORK WITH THE
CITY INTERNALLY, AS WELL. WE ARE
DOING THE SAME PROCESS. WE ARE
HAPPY TO KEEP YOU UP-TO-DATE.
THE FEDERAL IS IMPACTING, AS YOU
ALLUDED TO, COUNTY, TRIBAL,
INTERNATIONAL, AND STATE. I AM
HAPPY TO TALK ON ANY OF THOSE,
AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
FOR YOU. JUST MORE OF A
STATEMENT. I HEARD IT WAS
ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING THAT THE
WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE WAS
BEING GUIDED. THE HEALTH
INITIATIVE, CLOSE TO 162,000
WOMEN ARE BEING SERVED IN THAT
THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND
SINCE 1991. IT IS NOW CUT.
RESEARCH BEING DONE ON THERAPY,
HEART DISEASE, CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE , VISION LOSS, MENTAL
HEALTH , I GUESS FOR THE RECORD
I WANT TO SAY I FAIL TO SEE WHY.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? WHAT IS
THE PURPOSE? IS IT TO MAKE
AMERICA GREAT AGAIN OR TO MAKE
AMERICA DIE QUICKER? I JUST
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSES. I
DO NT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
PROVIDING INFORMATION AND
HELPING INFORM US AS TO WHAT,
MAYBE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TAKE
CARE OF OUR FOLKS, OUR RESEARCH
INSTITUTES. THERE HAVE BEEN
IMPACTS AS A RESULT OF THAT
INITIATIVE BEING GUTTED. MANY
INSTITUTIONS LOCALLY ARE
UNIVERSITIES OR BIOTECH. FUNDING
IS GOING AWAY. I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY. I JUST WANTED TO
EXPRESS MY DISMAY AT THE
WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE BEING
TRASHED . I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY
FRUSTRATION THAT THE FOLKS ON
THE OTHER COAST DON'T SEEM TO
CARE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO
THE PEOPLE HERE. WE NEED TO TAKE
CARE OF THE PEOPLE HERE AS BEST
AS WE CAN. THANK YOU FOR
PROVIDING INFORMATION TO HELP
INFORM US ON THOSE DECISIONS.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> I ECHO YOUR CONCERN THERE
ACROSS THE BOARD. IT IS MORE
UNFORTUNATE NEWS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. CANDIDLY, I
DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY CAREER
WORKING IN HUMAN SERVICES AND
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY. THE SYSTEM
WAS ALREADY FRAGILE AS IS. IT
WAS ALREADY UNDER RESOURCED.
SERVICE PROVIDERS WERE NOT
GETTING THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT
FOLKS . THERE WERE ALREADY
CHALLENGES FACING THE SYSTEM.
NOW WE HAVE ADDED A COMPLETE
LAYER OF UNCERTAINTY AND A LEVEL
OF HARM. I AM TREMENDOUSLY , I
AM BEYOND CONCERNED. I AM
PANICKED AT WHAT THIS ALREADY
MEANS FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE AN UNRESOLVED BUDGET
CHALLENGE AT THE STATE LEVEL
THAT IS THREATENING A NUMBER OF
THESE SAME PROGRAMS. WE ARE IN
THE MIDST OF A TRADE WAR THAT IS
ALREADY TRIGGERING HIGHER COSTS
FOR WORKING FAMILIES. THIS IS ME
RINGING THE ALARM THAT WE HAVE
TO ACT IMMEDIATELY AND LIKELY
START MOVING IN NEW WAYS TO
ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR SO
MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY .
OTHERWISE, WE ARE GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT FOLKS GOING HUNGRY,
MORE FOLKS BECOMING UNHOUSED,
PEOPLE GETTING SICKER. THIS IS
DIRE. I JUST WANTED TO START ON
THAT NOTE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS FOR TODAY AS I AM
DIGESTING ALL OF THIS. I WANTED
TO BRING UP SOMETHING RELATED TO
THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SECRETARY ABOUT NEWS RELATED TO
IS OPPOSE IT AUTISM REGISTRY. I
KNOW THIS IS EMERGING NEWS. IS
CERTAINLY STARTLING AND HARKENS
TO SOME REALLY DARK HISTORY THAT
WE KNOW WELL AROUND WHAT WE DO
WHEN WE LOOK AT DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES.
>> THAT IS NEW NEWS TO ME. I
WILL LOOK INTO THAT. I AM HAPPY
TO TALK TO OUR LOBBYISTS AND GET
SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT
FRONT AND REPORT BACK. THAT IS
VERY UNFORTUNATE NEWS. IT IS
ALSO NEW. I AM HAPPY TO LOOK
INTO THAT. I IMAGINE THERE WILL
BE TRICKLE-DOWN CONSEQUENCES OF
THAT ACTION.
>> IT IS FRIGHTENING AND BRINGS
A FEW GENERAL X IDEOLOGIES. DO
WE HAVE A LIST OF CITY OF
SEATTLE CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED
SPENDING OR PROJECT FUNDING
EARMARK REQUESTS THAT WERE LOST
DURING THE FINAL BUDGET
NEGOTIATIONS? DOES THE CITY PLAN
TO REAPPLY FOR PROJECTS IN THIS
FISCAL YEAR?
>> WE DO HAVE A LIST. YES, WE
HAVE BEEN MOVING FORWARD WITH
OUR EARMARK PROCESS. WE ARE
LOOKING AT RE-SUBMITTING THE
FUNDING FOR THOSE PROJECTS. WE
HAVE BEEN UPDATING YOUR COUNCIL
STAFF SO THEY SHOULD HAVE
INFORMATION. I WILL FORWARD THE
LIST OF EARMARKS THAT WE ARE
SUBMITTING.
>> THANK YOU. AS WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT, THERE HAVE BEEN
LAYOFFS TO FEDERAL WORKERS
ACROSS THESE AGENCIES. IS THERE
AN ENTITY TRACKING WORKERS
EXITING FEDERAL JOBS AND SEEKING
EMPLOYMENT?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OUR
CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES ARE DOING
THEIR BEST TO TRACK THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO THE PROCESS
OF GOING ABOUT IT , THERE HAS
BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION AND
UNCERTAINTY TRYING TO BRING BACK
EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN FIRED
WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR
EMAILS TO KNOW THAT. I DO
BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN
DIFFICULTIES IN UNDERSTANDING
THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS. HOWEVER,
HHS HAS POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE
THE NUMBER OF CUT EMPLOYEES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK
YOU FOR COMING HERE TODAY TO
PRESENT THIS INFORMATION. I KNOW
IT IS NOT EASY BEING THE BEARER
OF BAD NEWS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. WE KNOW THE CITY OF
SEATTLE CANNOT TACKLE COLLEAGUE
TO NEED TO FIND WAYS TO WORK
WITH OUR COUNTY AND STATE
PARTNERS TO WHETHER THIS. WHAT
IS BEING PRESENTED HERE, IT IS
VERY UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT IS
COMING BEFORE US. IT IS LOOKING
VERY GRIM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE
HAVING ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. AS COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHERE
TO BEGIN. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS. THERE ARE SO MANY
LAWSUITS OUT THERE THAT IT IS
HARD FOR ME TO KEEP TRACK. 'S
WASHINGTON ENGAGED IN ANY
LAWSUIT AROUND THE CUTS TO
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THAT
WE KNOW OF?
>> THERE HAVE BEEN LAWSUITS
AGAINST HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES. MY UNDERSTANDING --
>> I BELIEVE WE JOINED RUN --
JOINED ONE AROUND NIH FUNDING.
WE CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF AN
AUDIT OF THAT, AS WELL.
>> I WOULD ALSO JUST ENCOURAGE
DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH THE
OFFICE, AS WELL , ON THE LEGAL
FRONT.
>> THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. IT
SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD BE JOINING
A LAWSUIT TO CHALLENGE THESE
CUTS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, WHICH ARE SERVICES
THAT ARE VITAL TO EVERYONE'S
SURVIVAL. THIS IS THE MOST BASIC
LEVEL OF NEED WE ARE ADDRESSING.
TWO POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
HERE, AS WELL, AND I AM SURE YOU
ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE
COUNTY AND THE STATE. I THINK WE
ARE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE IT IS
A FIVE-ALARM FIRE. I FEEL WE ARE
TOO SILOED. WE HAVE THE OPEN
MEETINGS ACT, WHICH WE NEED TO
COMPLY WITH, BUT I AM WONDERING,
IS THERE TALK IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, THE EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE
ABOUT CONVENING ALL OF THE
ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE
JURISDICTIONS FROM LOCAL THROUGH
STATE TO TALK ABOUT, JUST TO DO
A DEEP DIVE IN HOW WE RETHINK?
THERE ARE CERTAINLY RESOURCES .
WE ARE LOSING A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT, BUT HOW DO WE BETTER USE
THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE ? HOW
DO WE GET CREATIVE? HOW DO WE
CONTINUE TO KNOW WHERE THE
ASSAULTS ARE COMING FROM AND
PERHAPS ANTICIPATE THEM ? THAT
IS MY QUESTION.
>> I AM HAPPY TO TALK FURTHER
ABOUT HOW TO CONVENE CERTAIN
GROUPS. PEOPLE ARE TALKING IN A
BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS. PUGET
SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL HAS BEEN
OVERSEEING A LOT OF THE REGIONAL
WORK. I KNOW THE MAYOR IS A PART
OF THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
ALONG WITH SOME OF OUR NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE LEAGUE OF
CITIES. THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT
RESOURCES FOR ADVOCACY. I AM
HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT CONVENING
ACROSS JURISDICTIONS.
>> I HAVE ONE THING. THERE HAVE
BEEN SEVERAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL
WORKGROUPS THAT HAVE POPPED UP
AROUND VARIOUS ISSUES THAT WE
ARE A PART OF THAT FOLKS IN THE
CITY ARE A PART OF. AS ANNIE
ALLUDED TO, THE ISSUES ARE SO
WIDESPREAD, A LOT OF THESE ARE
NICHE ISSUES. THERE ARE GROUPS
THAT ARE JUST LOOKING AT
IMMIGRATION. THERE ARE GROUPS
THAT ARE LOOKING AT CHILD CARE
FUNDING. TO YOUR POINT, IS THERE
A NEED FOR A BROADER SCOPE? THAT
WOULD BE A PRETTY BROAD LIST OF
ENGAGING FOLKS. THAT IS
SOMETHING WE ARE INTERESTED IN
LOOKING AT, TOO, AND PARTNERING
WITH YOU ALL.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT . I
RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A
SYSTEMATIC DISMANTLING. THE
INTENT IS INTENTIONAL CHAOS AND
TOO MANY FIRES. IT SEEMS LIKE WE
COULD CREATE A BROAD OVERVIEW
AND THEN WE COULD DIVIDE INTO
TOPIC SPECIFIC DISCUSSIONS FOR
PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS TO COME
TOGETHER TO INFORM US. I
APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO
ENGAGE IN THAT. I DID HAVE A
SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF SECTION 8 HOUSING. DO
WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT? I
KNOW THAT EMERGENCY HOUSING
VOUCHERS, I BELIEVE, WERE CUT
FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING , WHICH
IS REALLY JUST CUTTING YOUR NOSE
OFF TO SPITE YOUR FACE. I AM
WONDERING ABOUT THE SECTION 8
VOUCHER PROGRAM.
>> I DO KNOW THAT SECTION 8
HOUSING IS BEING TARGETED. I AM
NOT SURE OF THE SPECIFIC STATUS
OF WHERE WE ARE AT. I HAVE BEEN
HEARING THAT THAT WAS ANOTHER
AREA OF CONCERN. AGAIN, I AM
HAPPY TO CHECK WITH OUR
LOBBYISTS ON MARRIOTT -- ON
WHERE WE ARE AT SPECIFICALLY
WITH SECTION 8. I UNDERSTAND THE
INTERSECTION OF HOUSING HERE, AS
WELL. I AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I AM ALSO CURIOUS. I KNOW THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A MANDATE TO
COMPLY TO GET THE MONEY. I KNOW
-- I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE
ARE SEEING FOR SPECIFIC SEATTLE
GRANTS, HAVING TO COMPLY WITH
I.C.E. IS THAT ACROSS THE BOARD?
IS IT MORE SPECIFIC?
>> IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS NOT
WIDESPREAD, BUT MORE SPECIFIC.
IT APPEARS THAT CERTAIN
DEPARTMENTS ARE SEEING CHECK THE
BOX REQUIREMENTS ON THEIR
GRANTS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS
IS IN TERMS OF THEIR AGREEMENTS.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE
STARTING TO SEE.
>> HAS THERE BEEN A DECISION AT
THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL ABOUT HOW TO
DEAL WITH THAT?
>> WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION REGARDING THIS
ISSUE. I WOULD PROBABLY DEFER TO
THEM TO SPEAK ON THAT ISSUE. BUT
YES, WE ARE DEFINITELY THINKING
THROUGH HOW TO GO ABOUT IT.
>> THAT IS A TRICKY ONE TO
NAVIGATE, FOR SURE.
>> YEAH.
>> I WILL SAY THAT IT IS
SOMETHING THEY ARE STILL LOOKING
AT, THE LEGAL ASPECT OF IT. WE
HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN LEGAL
GUIDANCE OF IT. IT IS STILL IN
THAT SPECIFIC REALM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. DO YOU
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
NO? I KNOW IT IS NOT ALWAYS FUN
TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS,
THE STRESSING NEWS. I APPRECIATE
THE PRESENTATION TODAY AND THE
WILLINGNESS TO KEEP US APPRISED,
TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN
DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOW WE CAN BEST RESPOND TO ALL
OF THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SOME
OF THE FOLLOW-UP. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU,
CHAIR MOORE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE PARTNERSHIP .
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM SURE COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
IN HER FEDERAL AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE. THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING OF THIS CONVERSATION.
ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE FINAL AGENDA ITEM INTO
THE RECORD
>> AGENDA ITEM 11, SEATTLE FOOD
SECURITY FOR BREATHING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> I HAVE INVITED SOME PEOPLE TO
DISCUSS THIS. COULD YOU PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THE
ORGANIZATION TO REPRESENT AND
THEN GIVE YOUR PRESENTATION?
>> I AM DARCY BUENDIA,
CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT HUNTER
INTERVENTION PROGRAM , AS WELL
AS A MEMBER OF THE MEALS
PARTNERSHIP COALITION.
>> HELLO, CHAIR MOORE AND
EVERYONE ELSE. I AM MARCIA
WRIGHT-SOIKA. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF FAMILYWORKS , WHICH
IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES
ON FOOD INSECURITY AND FAMILY
SUPPORT IN DISTRICT 4. I AM HERE
IS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
FOOD COMMITTEE, WHICH REPRESENTS
A COALITION OF 28 FOOD BANKS
SPREAD ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MOORE AND
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I AM
AARON CZYZEWSKI, THE DIRECTOR OF
ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY AT
FOOD LIFELINE. FOOD LIFELINE IS
A FEEDING AMERICA PARTNER
SERVING WESTERN WASHINGTON. I DO
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND
ADVOCACY, DAY-TO-DAY LOBBYING. I
AM ALSO PART OF THE FOOD POLICY
FORM FOR THE STATE.
>> WELCOME.
>> I WILL JUMP RIGHT IN. THERE
WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF THE PREVIOUS
PRESENTATION THAT WILL RESONATE
WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE
HUNGER RELIEF COMMUNITY IS
HAVING WITH NEW LEADERSHIP FROM
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION , NEWLY
CONTROLLED CONGRESS , AND NEW
LEADERSHIP WITHIN FEDERAL
AGENCIES THAT IMPACT OUR
EFFORTS. I WANT TO START AT A
HIGH LEVEL AND MENTION SOME OF
THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, MOST
CLOSELY OPERATIVE IN HUNGER
RELIEF WORK. MANY OF YOU WILL BE
FAMILIAR WITH SOMETHING
ORGANIZED UNDER THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE. I WILL NOTE THAT
WITHIN USDA, MOST OF THESE
PROGRAMS WERE ORGANIZED AFTER
THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES,
WHICH OPERATES ABOUT 15
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AS WE KNOW OF
SOME CERTAIN CUTS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN SOME SPECIFIC
AREAS. AS YOU WILL SEE, THIS
SEEMS TO STILL BE A LOVE
OPPORTUNITY WITHIN USDA AND FOOD
AND NUTRITION SERVICES FOR
FURTHER CUTS AND IMPACTS. I
MENTIONED 15 PROGRAMS. SOME WE
WILL GET INTO VERY SPECIFICALLY.
JUST TO GIVE YOU THE BROADEST OF
OVERVIEW, THINK ABOUT S.N.A.P.
THERE IS THE NATIONAL SCHOOL AND
BREAKFAST LUNCH PROGRAM, WIC,
THE SENIOR FARMER MARKET,
NUTRITION PROGRAMS, FRUIT AND
VEGETABLE INCENTIVES, AND ON AND
ON. TODAY, SOME OF THE KNOWN
CUTS THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT
HAPPEN IN THE SPACE OF THE
EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. THAT IS FOUNDATIONAL IN
TERMS OF SUPPORT FOR FOOD
BANKING. A LOT OF GOVERNMENT
COMMODITY ARRIVES IN THE STATE
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. AND THEN
SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THAT, THERE
IS FUNDING FROM WHAT IS CALLED
THE COMMODITY CREDIT
CORPORATION. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY
A CORPORATION THAT ALLOWS USTA
TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR A
VARIETY OF PURPOSES, AND THIS IS
OFTENTIMES BEEN THE SOURCE OF
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HUNGER
RELIEF. THE USDA ALSO HAS
OPPORTUNITY THROUGH WHAT THEY
CALL BONUS COMMODITIES. THERE IS
ALSO FUNDING THAT ARRIVES
THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED TEFAP
STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION. ALSO
YOU PROBABLY HEARD IN THE NEWS
ABOUT CUTS TO LOCAL FOOD
PURCHASING AGREEMENTS AND LOCAL
FOOD FOR SCHOOLS, TWO IMPORTANT
PROGRAMS. AND THEN THE
POTENTIAL, OR THE ANTICIPATED
CUTS TO S.N.A.P. YOU HEARD THE
$230 MILLION FIGURE ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT. I DO WANT TO NOTE
THAT WITH REGARD TO LOCAL FOOD
PURCHASING AGREEMENTS, THERE IS
THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCAL
CONTRACTS. THERE IS A PROGRAM
THAT ALLOWS FOR SIMILAR SOURCING
OF LOCAL PRODUCE FOR SCHOOLS.
WHAT IS NOTEWORTHY ABOUT THESE
PROGRAMS IS THAT THEY WERE
LARGELY INSPIRED OUT OF THE
PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE. THEY
PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ENCOURAGE FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE
. SO NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT
WITH LOCAL GROWERS TO SOURCE
FOOD LOCALLY. CAN WE GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE? JUST ILLUSTRATE SOME
OF THE KNOWN CUTS IMPACTING
STATE WITHIN TEFA
IMMEDIATELY $500 N WAS CUT
FROM THE COMMODITY CREDIT
CORPORATION FUNDING. $17 MILLION
IS THE AMOUNT THAT WASHINGTON
STATE IMMEDIATELY LOST IN TERMS
OF FUNDING FOR FOOD COMMODITIES.
WITHIN LFPA, YOU SEE $500
MILLION , WHICH IS AN IMPACT IN
OUR STATE OF A AND HALF A
MILLION DOLLARS. AND THEN THERE
WAS A BIG CUT HERE, 6 1/2 --
$660 MILLION. THE STATE IMPACT
OF THAT IS ABOUT $30 MILLION.
ONE THING WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE S.N.A.P. AT LEAST 1.2
MILLION PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON
STATE RECEIVED SOME BENEFITS
FROM THAT IN 2024. THAT INCLUDES
JUST OVER 200,000 IN KING
COUNTY. THERE WAS AN ANNUAL
VALUE OF JUST OVER $400,000 THAT
WAS USED TO PURCHASE CRITICAL
FOOD SUPPLIES FOR THEIR
HOUSEHOLDS. THE HOUSE HAS
DIRECTED THE AGRICULTURAL
COMMITTEE TO REDUCE THE USDA
BUDGET BY ABOUT $400 BILLION.
THE ANTICIPATED AMOUNT OF THAT
TO COME FROM S.N.A.P. IS $230
BILLION, SO JUST OVER HALF. WHEN
WE THINK ABOUT TRYING TO ACHIEVE
THAT NUMBER, WHAT WE REALLY
ANTICIPATE IS THAT THERE IS
LIKELY GOING TO BE REDUCED
BENEFITS. THERE ALSO BE A
RE-CALCULATION OF WHO IS
ELIGIBLE. THAT MEANS FEWER
HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS WASHINGTON
STATE AND ALSO WITHIN CITY
LIMITS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR
S.N.A.P. BENEFITS. WE ARE
WEIGHING THAT WITH THE REALITY
OF HUNGER LEVELS BEING AT CRISIS
LEVELS ACROSS THE STATE. IN
SEATTLE FOOD BANKS SPECIFICALLY,
WHERE WE SEE ABOUT 1 MILLION
VISITS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THERE
ARE AT LEAST 22,000 MORE VISITS
TO SEATTLE FOOD BANKS AMONG
SEATTLE FOOD COMMITTEE MEMBERS
THAN IN 2023. I WOULD JUST LIKE
TO ASK THAT SOME OF THE MEAL
PROGRAM IMPACTS WE ARE SEEING,
WHICH CLOSELY MIRROR WHAT OUR
PARTNERS ARE SEEING.
CALCULATIONS FROM THE MEALS
PARTNERSHIP, CHAR PRIMARILY
PROGRAMS FROM WITHIN SEATTLE
FROM 2023 TO 2024 SAW A 24%
INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION IN
MEAL PROGRAMS, WHICH MAKES A LOT
OF SENSE BECAUSE WHEN S.T.E.M.
IS LESS AVAILABLE, PEOPLE WILL
DEFAULT TO DEPENDING MORE ON
MEAL PROGRAMS AND FOOD BANK
SERVICES. ANECDOTALLY, I WILL
ADD THAT PROGRAMS IN MY OWN
ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAMS IN OUR
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ARE SEEING
PARTICIPATION THAT IS AT THE
LEVEL THAT WE WERE ALSO
EXPERIENCING IN THE COVID ERA.
THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE
ARE NO LONGER DOING THAT WITH
COVID ERA FUNDING , WHICH
GREATLY INHIBITS OUR ABILITY TO
SERVE OUR UNITY AND THE BEST WAY
POSSIBLE AND PROVIDE THE PUBLIC
SAFETY BENEFITS . THAT IS ONE OF
THE THINGS WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH
IN OUR MISSIONS.
>> USED THE TERM, CHAIR MOORE,
ABOUT SYSTEMATIC DISMANTLING.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE DOWNHILL
IMPACTS OF S.N.A.P. CUTS , WE
ARE ALSO WEIGHING THE FACT THAT
S.N.A.P. IS OFTEN USED AS A
DIRECT CERTIFICATION FOR MAKING
SOMEONE CATEGORICALLY ELIGIBLE
FOR A LOT OF OTHER BENEFITS THAT
SERVE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. IN
THINKING ABOUT REDUCED
ELIGIBILITY AND S.N.A.P. BEING
MORE RESTRICTIVE, WE SEE
POTENTIAL FOR DOWNHILL IMPACTS
ON FEWER SCHOOLS REACHING THE
COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION
, WHICH ALLOWS FOR SCHOOLWIDE
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
PARTICIPATION IN WASHINGTON
STATE. THERE WILL BE FEWER
FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE SUMMER EBT
BENEFITS , WHICH HELP TO
THINGS LIKE AND
INCREASED FOOD INSECURITY WHEN
KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOLS AND
THEREFORE OUT OF SCHOOL MEAL
PROGRAMS. WE ANTICIPATE A
SMALLER TEFAP ALLOCATION FOR THE
STATE, AS WELL AS FAMILIES THAT
ARE RECEIVING BENEFITS THAT ARE
AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGERED BY EBT
PARTICIPATION. ONE THING TO ALSO
NOTE IS THAT WASHINGTON STATE
WILL BE DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECTED BECAUSE WE ARE PRETTY
SOPHISTICATED IN OUR STATE IN
LINKAGES AND MAXIMIZING WAIVERS,
PROCESSES IN ORDER TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR FOLKS TO ACCESS
BENEFITS AND TO QUALIFY. SO THE
UNDOING OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO CAN EVEN BE ELIGIBLE FOR
S.N.A.P. WILL MAKE SOME OF THOSE
PROGRAMS MORE DIFFICULT TO
ACCESS.
>> MADAM CHAIR
>> DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? GO
AHEAD.
>> BEFORE WE LEAVE S.T.E.M., I
HAVE A QUESTION. YOU INTERACT
WITH LAWMAKERS FROM ACROSS THE
STATE, RIGHT? WHAT ARE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS SAYING?
WHAT ARE THEY HEARING FROM THEIR
CONSTITUENTS?
>> WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A
NUMBER ON THE AGRICULTURE
COMMITTEE. WHAT WE HEARING FROM
REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS IS A
FOCUS ON WORK REQUIREMENTS. AND
ALSO THEY ARE CONCERNED FOR
FRAUD OR MISUSE OF FUNDS WITHIN
THE PROGRAM. THEIR VIEW WOULD BE
TO LOOK FOR MORE STRINGENT WORK
REQUIREMENTS IN S.N.A.P. AND
REFORMS THAT WOULD ACHIEVE THE
PURPOSE OF LIMITING ANY MISUSE
OF S.N.A.P. BY BENEFICIARIES.
RIGHT NOW, I THINK THERE HAS
BEEN PRETTY ADEQUATE PRESSURE
ABOUT PROTECTING S.N.A.P., BUT
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT CONGRESS
MAY IN A SIMILAR FASHION WITH
MEDICAID TO SHIFT MORE FINANCIAL
BURDEN ON THE S.N.A.P. PROGRAM
TO THE STATE. THAT IS THE LAY OF
THE LAND THERE.
>> IT IS UP TO LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICTS, I WOULD IMAGINE, TO
CARRY THE VOICES UPSTREAM SO WE
CAN DELIVER THE MESSAGE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE HAD A
PRETTY CONSISTENT RESPONSE
ACROSS THE HUNGER RELIEF
SPECTRUM. WE NEED TO LIFT UP THE
STORIES, THE CONCERNS, AND URGE
CONGRESS TO PROTECT THESE
IMPORTANT SAFETY NET PROGRAMS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I DID SAY WE WILL HOLD
QUESTIONS TO THE END, BUT WE ARE
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. IF PEOPLE
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT S.N.A.P.
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ASK,
THAT IS OKAY. OR ANYTHING ABOUT
THE PRESENTATION UP TO THIS
POINT. WE CAN TAKE THEM.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL
FOR THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO
TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES FED AND
HEALTHY. I KNOW WE ARE MOVING
INTO SOME REALLY FRIGHTENING
TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO BEING
ABLE TO FULFILL THAT MISSION. MY
QUESTION IS RELATED TO S.N.A.P.
SPECIFICALLY. OF THE PROPOSED
$230 BILLION IN CUTS TO THE
STATE BUDGET, DO WE KNOW THE
IMPACT ON SEATTLE SPECIFICALLY
YET?
>> I THINK I HAVE AN ANSWER FOR
YOU, BUT I LOST THE LAST PART OF
YOUR QUESTION.
>> WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO SEATTLE
SPECIFICALLY?
>> THE $230 BILLION PROPOSED
CUTS TO S.N.A.P., AND I WOULD
LIKE TO ADD THAT S.N.A.P. IS THE
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN THE
NATION AGAINST HUNGER. FOR
EVERYONE MEAL THAT THE FEEDING
AMERICA NETWORK PROVIDES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY , THE CHARITABLE
HUNGER RELIEF SYSTEM, S.N.A.P.
PROVIDES NINE. ANY DEGRADATION
IN SUPPORT FOR S.N.A.P. WOULD
SEVERELY HARM OUR ABILITY TO
FEED OUR COMMUNITIES. WE DON'T
KNOW EXACTLY HOW THOSE CUTS WILL
BE MADE MANIFEST, BUT I CAN USE
THE RECENT EXPERIENCE OF THE
S.N.A.P. EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS
THAT WERE IN EFFECT DURING THE
PANDEMIC. THOSE ALLOTMENTS TOOK
SOMEONE FROM WHATEVER BENEFIT
LEVEL THEY QUALIFIED FOR TO THE
MAXIMUM THAT THE PERSON WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE FOR. WHEN THAT PROGRAM
SUNSETTED, WASHINGTON STATE LOST
AROUND $93 MILLION A MONTH IN
FOOD BENEFITS FROM THAT
ADJUSTMENT. WHATEVER THAT NUMBER
MAY END UP BEING IN TERMS OF HOW
THOSE CUTS ARE MANIFESTED IN
WASHINGTON STATE IN SEATTLE, IT
WILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
>> THANK YOU FOR LAYING THAT
OUT. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT S.N.A.P. I AM
WONDERING ABOUT THE WIC PROGRAM
AND IF WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
CUTS BEING MADE TO WIC RIGHT
NOW.
>> WE DO. S.N.A.P. INTERESTINGLY
IS BOTH UTILIZATION , IT IS NOT
OPTIMIZED WITHIN WIC. THERE IS
STILL WORK TO BE DONE TO MAKE
SURE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY ARE
ACCESSING THE BENEFIT. I HAVE
NOT HEARD SPECIFICALLY OF ANY
SIGNIFICANT CUTS COMING THIS
WAY. WE BASICALLY HAVE CASELOAD
ISSUES WITH WIC.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR LAYING OUT HOW S.N.A.P.
IS THE FIRST POINT AND A
CONNECTOR TO SO MANY OTHER
SOCIAL SERVICES. I KNOW WE HAVE
A NUMBER OF PIECES OF STATE
LEGISLATION THAT ARE TIED TO
THEIR ELIGIBILITY AND MAKING
THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN
ENROLLMENT IN S.N.A.P. AND AUTO
ENROLLMENT INTO OTHER PROGRAMS
AT THE STATE LEVEL. I DON'T
KNOW IF A FULL CROSSWALK HAS
BEEN DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL,
BUT WE SHOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT FOLKS ARE NOT LOSING THEIR
WAY AS IT RELATES TO S.N.A.P.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO
REITERATE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW
THEY ARE GOING TO GET TO THAT
$230 BILLION. IT COULD REMAKE
THE PROGRAM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT WILL HAVE DOWNHILL EFFECTS
THE FOLKS IN WASHINGTON STATE
AND THE CITY.
>> MAY I ASK A QUESTION? WHAT IS
THE ELIGIBILITY? WHAT IS THE
INCOME A FAMILY OF FOUR, LET'S
SAY , WHAT INCOME MAKES ONE
ELIGIBLE FOR S.N.A.P.? DOES
ANYBODY KNOW?
>> IT IS 150% OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL.
>> 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL. DO WE KNOW WHAT THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL IS FOR A
FAMILY OF FOUR?
>> WE CAN DOUBLE CHECK THOSE
NUMBERS AND GET BACK TO YOU.
>> IT IS PRETTY MUCH
SUBSISTENCE.
>> AND FAR BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN
INCOME.
>> WAY BELOW. WE ARE NOT TALKING
ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ANY ACCESS
MONEY . THESE ARE PEOPLE AT THE
VERY BOTTOM OF OUR ECONOMIC
SYSTEM.
>> IF I MAY, I CAN CONFIRM IN
THIS WAY THAT WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE , WITH
REGARD TO THE TEFAP PROGRAM,
APPLIED FOR AND USDA PREVIOUSLY
ACCEPTED A WAIVER THAT ALLOWS
FOR TEFAP FOODS TO BE
DISTRIBUTED TO HOUSEHOLDS UP TO
400% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL. THAT WAS ESTABLISHED
BECAUSE OF THE NEED. IT IS TRUE
THAT AT 150% OF THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL , THAT IS NOT
REACHING EVERYONE WHO HAS NEED.
>> CHAIR MOORE?
>> YES?
>> FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION
AND BECAUSE YOU ASKED, THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL FOR A
FAMILY OF FOUR IS AROUND $32,000
THIS YEAR.
>> $32,000 IS THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL. SO 150% OF THAT.
I AM JUST CURIOUS, WHAT IS THE
IMAGINED ABUSE OF THE S.N.A.P.
PROGRAM? IT IS MY WORDS TO SAY
IMAGINED. WHAT IS PUT OUT THERE?
WHERE IS THE FRAUD, WASTE, AND
ABUSE THAT SUPPOSEDLY EXISTS IN
THE S.N.A.P. PROGRAM THAT FEEDS
PEOPLE?
>> THAT HAS BEEN PERSISTENT
RHETORIC FROM CONSERVATIVE
LAWMAKERS OVER MANY DECADES. IN
TERMS OF WHAT HUNGER
INTERVENTION PROGRAM -- DARCY
SEES AND WHAT I SEE, THEY ARE
USING THAT AS A WAY TO MAKE WHAT
ARE VERY LIMITED BENEFITS REALLY
STRETCH. THERE ARE A LOT OF
FOODS THAT ARE EXCLUDED THAT YOU
CANNOT USE S.N.A.P. BENEFITS
EVEN TO PURCHASE IN OUR LOCAL
GROCERY STORES AND OTHER FOOD
ENTITIES. THE PERCEIVED ABUSE
DOES NOT LINE UP WITH WHAT THE
ACTUAL BENEFIT OFFERS SOMEONE IN
TERMS OF PURCHASING POWER.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK, TOO, WE
ARE NOTING THAT WITH THE
CRACKDOWN ON I.C.E. AND NOW
PEOPLE WHO ARE EVEN ELIGIBLE FOR
THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT
PARTICIPATING IN THEM . IS THAT
CORRECT BECAUSE OF CONCERN ABOUT
BEING IDENTIFIED,
MISCOMMUNICATION ABOUT THINGS
LIKE FREE AND REDUCED SCHOOL
LUNCH?
>> THERE IS DEFINITELY A
CHILLING EFFECT THAT THAT HAS ON
PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THE ACTUAL
REGULATIONS.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY MORE
QUESTIONS ABOUT S.N.A.P.? OKAY,
GO ON. I THINK WE ARE MOVING
OVER TO TARIFFS?
>> OKAY, SO CERTAINLY WE HAVE
THE CONCERN OF THE DIRECT
IMPACTS OF FUNDING CUTS. TERRACE
PRESENT ANOTHER INTERESTING
POTENTIAL IMPACT IN FOOD
BANKING. THE RATE INCREASE WE
ARE EXPERIENCING NOW IS LARGELY
DRIVENINCREASING COST OF
FOOD. WE EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE
DURING THE FIRST TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, THE TRADE WARS
OF THAT TIME . WHEN THOSE COSTS
ARE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS, THAT
CREATES HARDSHIP FOR FAMILIES
WITH TIGHT BUDGETS AND INCREASES
THEIR RELIANCE ON FOOD BANKS FOR
SUPPORT. I WILL ADD ONE OTHER
CONSEQUENCE DURING THAT PERIOD
OF TIME IS THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WAS REQUIRED TO
PURCHASE COMMODITIES FROM
GROWERS IN THE U.S. AND A LOT OF
THAT PRODUCT WAS PUSHED INTO THE
HUNGER RELIEF SYSTEM. IT WAS
REFERRED TO AS TRADE MITIGATION
PRODUCTS. WE DID SEE SOME UPSIDE
FROM THE TRADE WARS. CUTTING OFF
ACCESS TO MARKETS OUTSIDE OF THE
COUNTRY CAUSED A LOT OF THAT
FOOD TO BE PUSHED INTO THE
HUNGER RELIEF SYSTEM.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT S.N.A.P. IN A
LOT OF WAYS BEING PART OF A WEB
OF BENEFITS THAT LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS ARE CONNECTED TO. IN
ALLUDING TO THE PRESENTATION
EARLIER ON THE LEAKED HHS BUDGET
THAT CAME OUT LAST WEEK, WE ARE
SEEING THAT THERE ARE PROPOSED
CUTS TO LIHEAP FOR 2026 . WE
ALSO ANTICIPATE THAT ANY USERS
OF THE LIHEAP PROGRAM COULD SEE
THE PROGRAM RUN OUT OF FUNDS AS
SOON AS OCTOBER. IN WASHINGTON
STATE, LIHEAP IS CONNECTED TO
S.N.A.P. ELIGIBILITY. IF YOU ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR S.N.A.P. , YOU
BECOME CATEGORICALLY ELIGIBLE
FOR LIHEAP. IT IS ONE OF THE
WAYS WE MAKE THAT PROGRAM AN
INCOME VERIFICATION AND MAKE
ENROLLMENT MORE EFFICIENT IN
ORDER TO GET ASSISTANCE INTO THE
HANDS OF FOLKS FASTER. AS WE
NAVIGATE THIS, THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT DOWNHILL IMPACTS
WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY
ASSISTANCE, AS WELL.
>> AND I ALSO WANT TO TO POINT
OUT A RECENT AND VERY CONCERNING
CUT TO THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM.
THE REASON I WANT TO TO POINT
OUT THIS CUT IN THIS
PRESENTATION SPECIFICALLY IS
BECAUSE AMERICORPS MEMBERS DO SO
OFTEN WORK IN AND SUPPORT
ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
FOOD BANKS AND MEAL PROGRAMS.
THERE WERE SOME RATHER LARGE AND
VERY CARELESS CUTS RECENTLY IN
WHICH ONE OF THE MAJOR BRANCHES
OF AMERICORPS, THE NATIONAL
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS, WAS
COMPLETELY DISMANTLED AND EVERY
SINGLE MEMBER WAS JUST
TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY. IN
ADDITION TO THAT, 75% OF THEIR
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
HAS BEEN LET GO. WE DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE THE NUMBER OF
WHAT THAT HAS REDUCED US TO IN
WASHINGTON STATE. WE DID HAVE
5300 SERVING AMERICORPS MEMBERS
PRIOR TO THAT CUT. IF I CAN
DESCRIBE THE IMPACT THAT
AMERICORPS MEMBERS DO HAVE IN
SEATTLE , IF YOU THINK OF ALL
THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THIS
TREE, IN RELATIVE TERMS, ONE
SMALL OUT CROPPING OF AMERICORPS
MEMBERS IS HOSTED BY UNITED WAY
OF KING COUNTY. UNITED WAY OF
KING COUNTY ALONE DISTRIBUTES 15
YEAR-LONG AMERICORPS MEMBERS AND
45 MEMBERS WHO SERVE IN THE
SUMMER TO ANTI-HUNGER
ORGANIZATIONS ONLY. THOSE
MEMBERS SERVE 35,000 HOURS EVERY
YEAR AND CONNECT WITH AND SERVE
AT LEAST 7000 SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
THAT PROGRAM IS STILL INTACT AND
MOVING FORWARD. AFTER SUCH
CHAOTIC RECENT CUTS, I POINTED
OUT THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
WOULD BE SCARY TO LOSE.
>> WE WILL SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF
TIME TALKING ABOUT REDUCED
CAPACITY FOR OUR LOCAL FOOD
SAFETY NET. I DID ALSO JUST WANT
TO MENTION THAT THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
REPRESENTED HERE ARE ALREADY
IMMERSED IN TRYING TO MEET THE
MOMENT IN TERMS OF THE FOOD
INSECURITY CRISIS THAT WE ARE
SEEING PLAY OUT ACROSS THE CITY
AND THE STATE. WE HAVE HAD TO
DIVERT A LOT OF ENERGY TO KEEP
UP WITH THE DELUGE OF EXECUTIVE
ORDERS, THINGS THAT REALLY HARM
THE ABILITY FOR US TO DO OUR
WORK TO TRY TO QUANTIFY WHAT THE
LOCAL IMPACT IS NOW AND COULD
BE. THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT
NOW. WE COULD ALL WALK AWAY FROM
THIS MEETING AND LEARN SOMETHING
COMPLETELY NEW THAT WE WOULD
THEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME
EXERCISE. IN 2024, SEATTLE FOOD
BANKS DISTRIBUTED 1.25 MILLION
POUNDS FROM THE TEFAP PROGRAM.
THAT IS ABOUT 5% OF ALL THE FOOD
THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED IN THE CITY
AT THAT TIME. WITH THE
CANCELLATION OF THAT FUNDING
PROGRAM , WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING
AT A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION FROM
JUST THAT ONE AREA. WITH THE
LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING AGREEMENTS
FOR SEATTLE FOOD BANKS
SPECIFICALLY, MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE FOOD COMMUNITY , IT
PROVIDED AROUND $300,000 OF
PURCHASING CAPACITY FOR LOCAL
FARMERS AND GROWERS , WHICH
PROVIDES LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE
AND OTHER GOODS. THAT COMES AT A
PREMIUM IN FOOD BANKS. WHILE
$300,000 MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A
LOT, IT IS IN TERMS OF LOCALLY
GROWN FOOD THAT IS PROVIDED. FOR
FAMILYWORKS SPECIFICALLY, 24% OF
THE LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE THAT
WE DISTRIBUTED IN OUR FOOD BANK
LAST YEAR WAS FUNDED BY THE
LFPA. THAT HAS ALSO BEEN , THAT
PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELED. I
ALSO WANT TO TO POINT OUT SOME
OF THE DOWNHILL IMPACTS. THERE
ARE 11 LOCAL FARMS THAT WERE
SUPPORTED JUST FROM THAT
$300,000 LFPA UTILIZATION FROM
THE SEATTLE FOOD BANKS. I ALSO
WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THERE
ARE NUMEROUS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
THAT UTILIZE LFPA TO PROVIDE
SUPPLIES IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS
. MANY CULTURAL HUBS AND
ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE CITY
SUCH AS THE CENTER FOR
MULTICULTURAL HEALTH ARE
INVOLVED. STILL ME? SO THE SLIDE
WE HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, IT SAYS
SOLUTIONS. I WOULD SOFTEN THE
LANGUAGE AND CALL THEM
RECOMMENDATIONS. THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING
THAT WAS PRETTY PRESCIENT LAST
YEAR WITH THE PASSING AND
RELEASE OF THE LOCAL FOOD ACTION
PLAN. MANY OF THE STRATEGIES
THAT WE NEED TO MEET THE MOMENT
AND TO INSULATE US FROM WHAT WE
ARE ALREADY SEEING IN TERMS OF
FEDERAL IMPACTS ON OUR FOOD
SECURITY PROGRAMS, THERE ARE
NUMEROUS PRIORITIES WITHIN THIS
FOOD ACTION PLAN THAT IF
ADEQUATELY RESOURCED AND
DEPLOYED BY THE CITY COULD WALK
ALONGSIDE US IN MEETING SOME OF
THESE CRITICAL CHALLENGES THAT
WE WILL SEE PLAY OUT THIS YEAR
AND NEXT YEAR AND IN THE FUTURE.
ONE IS TO PRIORITIZE CULTURALLY
RELEVANT AND EQUITABLY PURCHASED
FOODS IN CITY PROGRAMS. ANOTHER
PRIORITY IS TO STRENGTHEN THE
CAPACITY OF MEAL PROGRAMS AND
FOOD BANKS . WE WANT TO
STRENGTHEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOOD
PROGRAMS. WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN
AND SUSTAIN FOOD AND MEAL
PROGRAMMING FOR OLDER ADULTS.
AND WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE FOOD
ACCESS FOR UNSHELTERED
POPULATIONS. ONE OF OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO URGE
COUNCIL AS YOU ARE DELIBERATING
THE BUDGET LATER THIS YEAR TO
THINK ABOUT DEPLOYING THIS TO
MEET ITS FULL PROMISE , WHICH I
THINK COULD HELP US MEET A LOT
OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE
CONCERNED WILL GET DROPPED OFF
WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL CUTS
COMING DOWN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
>> MAY I JUST ENDORSE DARCY'S
COMMENTS HERE? THIS IS AN
EXTRAORDINARY PLAN AND WE
SUPPORT EVERYTHING SHE SAID.
>> IN OUR SECOND SLIDE ON THIS
TOPIC, WE BUILD ON WHAT MARCIA
SAID AND THE GOOD WORK OF OUR
PRESENTERS WHO WERE JUST PRIOR
TO US. THIS BUILDS ON THE
CONVERSATION THAT I HEARD ALL OF
YOU HAVING ABOUT WHAT WAYS WE
BUILD CONVERSATIONS WITH
DIFFERENT LEVELS AT THIS POINT
TO START SOLVING THESE CRISES.
JUST ADDING TO THAT
CONVERSATION, WE WOULD SUGGEST
COLLABORATING WITH MEMBERS OF
THE WASHINGTON CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION, INCLUDING OF COURSE
SENATOR MURRAY AND
REPRESENTATIVE JAYAPAL TO
STRENGTHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOOD
SECURITY BY COLLABORATING WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE , MEMBERS OF
THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL , THE
U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, AND
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
THOSE OF US HERE AND MANY OF US
IN OUR COALITIONS ARE STRONG
SUPPORTERS OF INCREASING FUNDING
AND INVESTMENT IN THE FOOD
SECURITY SYSTEM, INCLUDING
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WILLING TO
ADVOCATE AND WILLING TO RALLY
OUR CONSTITUENTS TO ADVOCATE FOR
ALONG WITH YOU ALL. WITH THAT,
THAT IS THE END -- WEIGHT.
>> I JUST MAYBE WANTED TO
UNDERSCORE ONE POINT FROM A
PREVIOUS SLIDE IN TERMS OF
PARTNERSHIP. ONE OFFERED THAT
ESPECIALLY NOW AT THE STATE
LEVEL, I SEE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
PARTNER WITH STATE LAWMAKERS IN
THIS AREA. AGAIN, IN THIS PERIOD
OF TIME, WE WILL NEED TO BE MORE
SELF-RELIANT. I WILL POINT OUT
THAT STATE REPRESENTATIVES SUCH
AS CHRISTINE REEVES, WHO IS NOW
THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE
AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE ,
INTRODUCED A BILL THIS SESSION
THAT CALLS FOR A STATEWIDE
COORDINATED STRATEGY FOR FOOD
SECURITY. I SEE THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO COME
WITH ITS FOOD ACTION PLAN TO
HELP INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT
OF A STATEWIDE STRATEGY. I THINK
THAT PARTNERSHIP WOULD SERVE THE
STATE WELL. AND THEN ALSO AT
THIS TIME, AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE
TO PIVOT IN MANY WAYS AND FIGURE
OUT WHERE WE CAN LEVERAGE THINGS
THAT EXIST NOW. I WILL NOTE THAT
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AT THE STATE
LEVEL HAVE BUILT UP NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT , THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY.
THEY HAVE STARTED A SUSTAINABLE
CENTER FOR FOOD MANAGEMENT THAT
IS PROVIDING A PURVIEW OVER
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PLAN THAT IS
CALLED USE FOOD WELL WASHINGTON.
THIS WAS A PLAN THAT WAS CALLED
FOR IN PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED
LEGISLATION, INCLUDING A 50%
REDUCTION IN WASTE BY 2030. IT
IS A LITTLE COMPLICATED , BUT
THE POINT IS THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY IN USING WASTED FOOD
REDUCTION AS A PLATFORM TO
ENCOURAGE FOOD DONATION, WHICH
IS ANOTHER STREAM OF FOOD THAT
IS AVAILABLE SHOULD WE BE ABLE
TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BRING IT
INTO COMMUNITIES. RECENTLY, A
WASHINGTON COMMODITY DONATION
PROGRAM WAS CREATED AT THE STATE
LEVEL. WHAT IT DOES IS SOURCES
UNSOLD PRODUCE THAT IS AVAILABLE
FROM WASHINGTON GROWERS AND
MOVES IT INTO HUNGER RELIEF. IT
OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL
GROWERS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR
THE HARVESTING AND
TRANSPORTATION COSTS THEY INCUR
WHEN MAKING THOSE DONATIONS.
TENS OF MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF
PRODUCE ARE AVAILABLE IN THIS
WAY. WASHINGTON CENTER FOR
SUSTAINABLE FOOD MANAGEMENT HAS
STOOD UP A STATEWIDE FOOD
DONATION WORK GROUP. AS WE
SPEAK, THEY ARE FINALIZING
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUSINESS AND
RETAIL SECTORS TO ENCOURAGE FOOD
DONATION, ENCOURAGING AND
SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES AND
BUILDING UP OF CAPACITY TO MOVE
AGAIN FOOD THAT IS OTHERWISE
UNSOLVED INTO HUNGER RELIEF.
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR WORK TO
BE DONE IN ALL AREAS TO GUARD
AGAINST SOME OF THE LOSS THAT WE
WILL SEE FROM FEDERAL SUPPORT.
IN NO WAY WILL IT MAKE UP FOR
THE ABILITY AND THE SCOPE AND
THE SIZE OF WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO DO.
CERTAINLY DOES PUSH US FURTHER
INTO AREAS WHERE WE CAN BECOME
MORE SELF-RELIANT AND CREATE
MORE SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE
FOOD SYSTEMS.
>> I WANT TO THANK SO MUCH EVERY
EMPLOYEE , VOLUNTEER, COMMUNITY
MEMBER DOING THE DIRECT SERVICE
THAT STANDS METAPHORICALLY IN
THIS ROOM WITH US. I WANT TO
THANK SO SINCERELY EVERYONE ON
THE COUNCIL HERE TODAY FOR YOUR
VERY CLEAR INTEREST IN THE TOPIC
AND THE ABUNDANCE OF TIME THAT
YOU HAVE AFFORDED US TODAY ,
INCLUDING THE GOOD QUESTIONS
THAT YOU HAVE ASKED. WE
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON?
>> I WILL KEEP MY QUESTIONS
BRIEF. WITH REGARD TO
CAFETERIAS, RESTAURANTS,
STARBUCKS , YOU HAVE A LOT OF
PREPARED FOODS THAT AT THE END
OF THE DAY, WHAT HAPPENS WITH
THAT? ARE THOSE FOODS, CAN THEY
BE DONATED TO SHELTERS? OR ARE
THERE CURRENT RESTRICTIONS FOR
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS? SO MAYBE
THEY WILL NOT SEND A BAGEL THAT
WAS BAKED YESTERDAY TO A FOOD
BANK OR THE CAFETERIA IN THE
BUILDING , THEY ALWAYS HAVE
ACCESS FOOD AT THE END OF THE
DAY. DOESN'T GO IN THE TRASH OR
CAN IT GO TO SOMEPLACE THAT IS
SERVING MEALS FOR THOSE WHO ARE
UNSHELTERED? CAN YOU SPEAK TO
THAT REALLY QUICK? THEN I WILL
HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR
YOU.
>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS, IT
DEPENDS. IT SOMETIMES DOES FIND
ITS WAY INTO THE EMERGENCY FOOD
SYSTEM , SOMETIMES THROUGH FOOD
LIFELINE, WHICH HAS A MORE MAJOR
PROGRAM THAT THE PLOY'S FOOD
RESCUE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE DIRECT
RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY HAVE
WITH FOOD BANKS. THERE ARE
ALWAYS CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD
SAFETY, TRANSPORTING FOOD
PROPERLY, MAKING SURE IT MEETS
THE NEEDS OF THE ORGANIZATION
THAT IT GOES TO. THERE ARE
HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY. THE SHORT
ANSWER IS THAT IT DOES HAPPEN
AND IT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN
MORE. I DON'T THINK IT IS THE
GOLDEN TICKET OUT OF THE
PROBLEM. IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THE SOLUTION.
>> I AM NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING
FOR A GOLDEN TICKET, BUT
SOMETHING. IS THERE SOMETHING
THAT THIS BODY CAN DO TO EASE UP
THE , TO OPEN UP THE PIPELINE A
LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THOSE FOODS
FROM THE ORGANIZATIONS I AM
TALKING ABOUT, FROM THE GROCERY
STORES, STARBUCKS, YOU NAME THE
ENTITY THAT HAS THOSE PREPARED
FOODS? IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN
DO TO OPEN UP THE PIPELINE TO
MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET
THE FOOD WHEN THEY ACTUALLY NEED
IT , AS OPPOSED TO WINDING UP IN
THE COMPOST BIN?
>> I CAN THINK OF TWO THINGS.
WHEN I MENTIONED THE FOOD
DONATION WORKGROUP COMING UP
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY WILL
SPEAK TO THE SUBJECT MATTER. I
THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY BE
COMPELLING FOR THE CITY TO
RECEIVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
AND TO CONSIDER HOW THEY CAN
ELEVATE THEM WITHIN THE CITY. A
LOT OF OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THIS
AREA COULD BE REALIZED BY MORE
PROMOTION AND AWARENESS FOR
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DONATION TO
HAPPEN SAFELY AND WHERE THERE IS
CAPACITY. NEARLY UNIVERSALLY,
PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE TO WASTE FOOD
AND THEY WOULD HAPPY TO DONATE
IT , BUT SOMETIMES DO NOT KNOW
WHERE TO DO THAT. THAT IS WHERE
PROMOTION WOULD BE REALLY
HELPFUL. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT
MIGHT BE LIMITING DONATION THAT
COULD BE HAPPENING NOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. WHEN I
LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE
CUTS, MY FEELING IS THAT THERE
IS NOTHING THAT IS OFF THE
TABLE. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
EVERYTHING.
>> AGREE.
>> FOR FOOD SECURITY. MY LAST
QUESTION IS, I TRY TO WRAP MY
BRAIN AROUND WHAT IS PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND HOW WE
COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY IN THE
FACE OF CUTS FROM THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, WHAT DOES PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE LOOK LIKE TO YOU ?
>> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE
CITY CONVENED A REVENUE
STABILIZATION TASK FORCE A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO . THEY HAD A
NUMBER OF IDEAS FOR POTENTIALLY
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS. CAN
INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM REALLY
LOOKING AT INCOME , TAXES ON
BUSINESS , A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE
THAT WE HOPE COUNCIL CONTINUES
TO REVIEW AND DELIBERATE , AS
WELL AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
>> I CAN THINK OF MAYBE THREE
THINGS. THE IMMEDIATE THING IS
THE WEALTH TAX. WASHINGTON STATE
HAS THE SECOND MOST REGRESSIVE
TAX CODE IN THE COUNTRY THE POOR
FAMILIES ARE PAYING MORE THAN
THEIR SHARE OF INCOME FOR STATE
AND LOCAL TAXES. SO IT ALSO
LOOKS LIKE THE WORKING FAMILIES
TAX CREDIT. MAYBE IT IS POSSIBLE
THAT THE CITY LOOKS AT SOMETHING
TO FURTHER EXTEND THE BENEFIT OF
HELPING FOLKS WHO ARE PAYING
MORE INTO THE SYSTEM THAN IS
THEIR FAIR SHARE. AND THEN IT
LOOKS LIKE RELIEF. ONE OF THE
REVENUE PROPOSALS FOR THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
RIGHT NOW IS A REDUCTION IN
SALES TAX. WE NEED TO FIND, A
TAX CUT NEEDS TO BE BALANCED. WE
NEED TO MOVE TOWARDS GREATER
EQUITY IN THE TAX CODE. ALSO
LOOKING AT THE SHEER NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT REVENUE PROPOSALS THAT
ARE BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE NOW,
YOU CAN LOOK AT A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WAYS. THERE IS A LOT
OF NEED FOR CREATIVE THINKING.
RIGHT NOW, THERE IS TOO MUCH
BURDEN PUT ON LOW INCOME,
WORKING FAMILIES. POVERTY IS THE
CAUSE OF HUNGER. I APPRECIATE
THE INTEREST IN YOUR QUESTION.
WE KNOW WE CAN'T FOOD BANK OUR
WAY OUT OF FOOD SECURITY. WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES
ARE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY CAN
MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE STATE TAX
SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON IS UPSIDE
DOWN. AGAIN, THERE ARE MANY
THINGS THAT FRUSTRATE ME. THIS
IS ONE OF THEM. WITHOUT ACTION
ON THE STATE LEVEL TO ACTUALLY
DO AN INCOME TAX, THAT LIMITS
WHAT WE CAN DO. CONTINUING TO GO
AFTER WEALTH OR HIGHER EARNERS
OR EMPLOYERS, WE SAW THAT THE
FORECAST CAME IN MUCH LOWER THAN
WE WERE ANTICIPATING. WE HAVE
THAT DEFICIT TO DEAL WITH IN THE
CITY. WE HAVE THE STATE DEFICIT
TO DEAL WITH. AND THEN THERE IS
THE CUTOFF OF FUNDING FROM THE
FEDS. I AM TRYING TO WRAP MY
BRAIN AROUND WHAT WE CAN DO
GIVEN ALL OF THOSE REALITIES.
FOR ME, NOTHING IS OFF THE
TABLE. I ALSO REALIZE THAT THERE
ARE THINGS THERE REALLY DO RELY
ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO
ENACT. HOW MUCH WE MAY BE ABLE
TO DO HERE IS NOT GOING TO MAKE
OF THAT SHORTFALL, I DON'T
BELIEVE, WITHOUT CAUSING FURTHER
HARM. SOMETHING I STRUGGLE WITH.
I THINK YOU FOR INDULGING ME
WITH MY QUESTIONS AND PROVIDING
YOUR FEEDBACK. I AM LOOKING FOR
A WAY FORWARD WITH SOLUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOORE. I
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
THE PANEL . I THINK THEY HAVE
GIVEN US A CLEAR LOOK AT WHAT
THEY KNOW AT THIS TIME. I THANK
YOU FOR BEING SO DIRECT WITH US
ABOUT WHAT A PATH FORWARD CAN
LOOK LIKE. WHEN I WOULD LIKE TO
COMMENT ON WITH MY TIME HERE IS
TO CONTEXTUALIZE MORE OF WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT. SINCE WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LINE, BY DOING A LITTLE
BIT OF QUICK MATH, WE ARE
LOOKING AT 150% OF THE FPL. FOR
A FAMILY OF FOUR, THAT IS
$48,000 A YEAR. THAT IS A FAMILY
THAT IS WITHIN 30% AMI FOR
SEATTLE HOUSEHOLDS. THAT IS
CONSIDERED AN EXTREMELY LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLD. HOUSEHOLDS AT
THIS LEVEL THAT ARE EXTREMELY
LOW INCOME, IN KING COUNTY, 23
UNITS OUT OF EVERY 100 ARE
ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE AND
AVAILABLE FOR THESE FAMILIES. WE
HAVE A HUGE DEFICIT OF HOUSING
THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO THESE
FOLKS. 84% OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS
ARE COST BURDEN. THEY ARE PAYING
MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR MONTHLY
BILLS TOWARDS HOUSING. NOW WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT A REALITY
WHERE THEY NEED TO PAY MORE FOR
FOOD AS WELL? I UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION BY
REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS WHO TALK
ABOUT FRAUD AND ABUSE OF THESE
PROGRAMS, BUT THESE ARE TIRED
NARRATIVES. THEY ARE INSULTING,
OBSCENE NARRATIVES. EVERYTHING
THAT WE ARE SEEING HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW , THIS IS AN ALL-OUT
ASSAULT ON POOR PEOPLE. I THINK
WE NEED TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON
THAT. WE HAVE TO DO WORK IN THE
CITY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SAY
WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE
GOING TO DO THE WORK TO MAKE
SURE NOBODY GOES HUNGRY IN THIS
COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON RAISING
THE POINTS ABOUT OUR BUDGET
DEFICIT AND THE DISCUSSION WE
HAVE HAD ABOUT OUR STATE TAX
SYSTEM. WE ARE LOOKING AT 60% OF
WASHINGTONIANS, THE BOTTOM 60%
ARE PAYING 13.8% OF THEIR INCOME
IN TAXES. THE TOP 1% IS PAYING
4.1%. THAT KIND OF INEQUITY IS
UNSUSTAINABLE. WE ARE SEEING
THAT PLAY OUT RIGHT NOW. IT IS
UNSUSTAINABLE. WITH OUR OWN
BUDGET DEFICIT, OVER $240
MILLION. THAT IS JUST RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS NOT FACTORING IN OUR
UPCOMING FORECAST. WE HAVE TO
PURSUE SOMETHING. WE HAVE TO
PURSUE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE. THE
OTHER OPTION IS TOO HEINOUS TO
THINK ABOUT IN REGARDS OF WHAT
IT MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE
WILL NEED AN ALL HANDS ON DECK
APPROACH. OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN
WATCHING TO SEE HOW THINGS
HASHED OUT IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE. WE WOULD LIKE WHAT
HAPPENS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE
, BUT WE ARE DOING TO BE
COMPLEMENTARY TO WHAT THEY ARE
PURSUING. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING
AT THE REVENUE STABILIZATION
TASK FORCE REPORT, WHICH
OUTLINES SOME OPTIONS. WE HAVE
HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF
OUR PARTNERS. WE ARE GOING TO
NEED TO JUST WORK CLOSELY WITH
OUR COUNTY PARTNERS AS WELL ON
THIS. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU
MADE A FANTASTIC POINT EARLIER
ABOUT CONNECTING ON MULTIPLE
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. I KNOW FOR
THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE, WE ARE
WORKING ON A JOINT SESSION WITH
KING COUNTY COUNCIL WITH THE
FEDERAL COMMITTEE. THAT IS A
LITTLE BIT OF NEWS. WE ARE STILL
WORKING ON A DATE FOR THAT. THAT
IS A GREAT FIRST STEP OF HAVING
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY, AND THE
STATE GOVERNMENT TOGETHER IN THE
SAME ROOM, WORKING ON THESE
ISSUES. WE ARE GOING TO NEED AN
ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH. WE
CERTAINLY HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO
BE WORKING ON THIS WITH YOU. I
APPRECIATE YOU FOR COMING HERE
TODAY AND LAYING THIS OUT FOR
US. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS GOING TO
BE A REALLY TOUGH ROAD AHEAD. I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU, SHARE, ON ANY UPCOMING
PRESENTATIONS OF THIS MATTER. I
THINK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
TOPIC TODAY. THIS IS A FRUITFUL
DISCUSSION THAT HAS CATALYZED ME
EVEN MORE TO BE DOING WORK IN
THIS AREA. I AM COMMITTED TO
MAKING SURE NO ONE IN THIS
COMMUNITY GOES HUNGRY. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE
RUNNING A LITTLE BIT OVER, SO I
WILL KEEP MY REMARKS SHORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR THE SOLUTIONS PAGE
PROVIDING US A ROADMAP. IS SO
HELPFUL TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF,
FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING
THE WORK, SOME CONCRETE STEPS WE
CAN TAKE. DEFINITELY WE WILL BE
LOOKING AT THAT , WAYS WE CAN
IMPLEMENT THAT. THANK YOU FOR
THE ADVICE ABOUT REACHING OUT TO
, WAS IT REPRESENTATIVE FREEZE,
TO WORK ON THAT. I DO WANT TO
NOTE THAT ON THE REQUEST FOR
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE , I DID
BRING A BILL LAST FALL FOR
CAPITAL GAINS, WHICH WOULD HAVE
BEEN SET ASIDE FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND FOOD ASSISTANCE,
AS WELL AS HOMEOWNERSHIP
ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE BEEN IN FOOD
CRISIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME. IT
HAS BEEN A SILENT CRISIS. NOW IT
WILL NOT BE SO SILENT,
UNFORTUNATELY. IT IS UNFORTUNATE
THAT IT IS A CRISIS AT ALL. I
REMAIN COMMITTED TO BRINGING
FORTH A CAPITAL GAINS PROPOSAL
DIRECTED AT RENTAL ASSISTANCE
AND FOOD ASSISTANCE. I NO ONE --
LOTS OF PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A
BITE ADDED. IT IS OUR
FUNDAMENTAL OBLIGATION AS
REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS
COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE
ARE FED AND WE KNOW THERE IS
ENOUGH TO GO AROUND TO DO THAT.
WHEN WE COME TO THE BUDGET , WE
NEED TO BE REALLY PREPARED TO
HAVE SOME HARD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
WHERE WE NEED TO POTENTIALLY
REPRIORITIZE. WE NEED TO PURSUE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. CAPITAL
GAINS IS TRIED AND TRUE. IT
TAKES A WHILE FOR THE MONEY TO
ACCUMULATE. WE NEED MONEY MORE
IMMEDIATELY. WE ALSO NEED TO
THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE IN A FOOD
CRISIS THAT IS ONLY GOING TO GET
WORSE. WE ARE IN A CRISIS OF
RENTAL ASSISTANCE. IT IS ONLY
GOING TO GET WORSE. WE NEED TO
BE PREPARED TO REPRIORITIZE FOR
THESE BASIC NECESSITIES THAT ARE
REQUIRED WITH US AS ELECTIVE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS
COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
PROVIDED. I AM JUST PUTTING IT
OUT THERE FOR NOW, FOOD FOR
THOUGHT BASICALLY. AGAIN, THANK
YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. I WISH
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH WERE
HERE. SHE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE
AND A HUGE ADVOCATE. WE TALKED
LAST YEAR ABOUT WORKING
TOGETHER. NOW WE HAVE MORE
PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS ISSUE. WE
HAVE THE CRITICAL MASS TO MAYBE
BRING MORE CONCRETE WORK FORWARD
THIS YEAR. THANK YOU AGAIN.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE IN TOUCH
WITH MY OFFICE AND THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER OFFICES. IF YOU
HAVE ANY SORT OF SUGGESTIONS
ABOUT HOW LOCAL RESIDENTS CAN
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE WORK YOU
DO, ALL OF US HAVE NEWSLETTERS.
WE ARE HAPPY TO PUT OUT
SUGGESTIONS OR REQUESTS IN THE
NEWSLETTER . PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY ARE ASKING, HOW CAN WE
HELP? WE NEED TO PUT OUT A CALL
FOR DIAPERS. WE DID THAT WHEN
THAT WAS CUT. THANKS TO THE
IMMINENT WISDOM OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION. I AM HAPPY TO
PUT SOMETHING OUT LIKE THAT FOR
DONATIONS OR VOLUNTEERS OR
WHATEVER IT IS I CAN HELP ON A
MORE DAY-TO-DAY LEVEL. AGAIN,
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE FOR
THE WORK THAT YOU DO. ALL RIGHT,
WE HAVE RUN OVER. HOPEFULLY
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, THIS CONCLUDES THE
APRIL 23 MEETING OF THE HOUSING
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED
FOR MAY 14, 2025. THE TIME IS
11:10. WE ARE ADJOURNED.