[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK
YOU. THANK YOU.
I HAVE MORE FRIENDS HERE
THAN I
THOUGHT. I HAVE TO CHANGE MY
REMARKS SINCE I'M STANDING, OF
COURSE, WITH MY LOVELY WIFE,
JOANN, AND
I WANT
TO --
[ APPLAUSE ] I OF COURSE WANT TO
THANK ALL
OF YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH
ME TODAY.
I SPOKE TO MAYOR- ELECT KATIE
WILSON TO CONGRATULATE HER ON
A HARD- FOUGHT VICTORY.
I LET HER KNOW THAT OUR TEAM
IS STANDING BY TO MAKE NOISE IN
THE
BACKGROUND.
I LET HER KNOW THAT OUR TEAM IS
STANDING BY TO
BEGIN THE TRANSITION WORK
WITHOUT
HESITATION AND THAT I LOOK
FORWARD TO WELCOMING HER TO CITY
HALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AND I WISH HER WELL.
AND IT WAS A VERY DELIGHTFUL
CONVERSATION. SO, I FEEL VERY
GOOD ABOUT
THATTHAT
CONVERSATION. AND I FEEL VERY
GOOD ABOUT THE
FUTURE FOR THIS COUNTRY AND THIS
CITY STILL.
THAT IS THE ATTITUDE WE HAVE TO
HAVE, AND I HOPE THAT
EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR THE SOUND
OF MY
VOICE FEELS THE SAME.
I'VE SAID REPEATEDLY THAT
THIS JOB DOES NOT BELONG TO ONE
PERSON.
IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T BELONG TO
ME. YOU KNOW, I SIMPLY BORROWED
THE
TITLE OF THE MAYOR TO ENJOY
A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO
SERVE THE PUBLIC.
AND IT'S BEEN MY ABSOLUTE
HONOR, THE HONOR OF MY LIFETIME
TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE.
NOW, FOR YOU HISTORY BUFFS, I DO
WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT I WAS
BOTH THE 54th AND THE 57th
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I WANT MY FULL CREDIT FOR
THOSE FIVE DAYS IN 2017.
AND I WANT TO GROUND US IN A
QUOTE, A QUOTE THAT I THINKTHINK
VERY APROPOS.
DON'T FEAR FAILURE.
IT'S NOT FAILURE BUT LOW AIM
THAT'S THE CRIME.
IN GREAT ATTEMPTS, IT
IS GLORIOUS EVEN TO FAIL.
AND I ASK THOSE THAT ARE
THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC
SERVICE, THOSE WHO ARE IN PUBLIC
SERVICE, THOSE THAT ARE IN
PRIVATE
SECTOR, IN WHATEVER YOU DO, AIM
HIGH.
AND YOU WILL NEVER FAIL.
YOU WILL LEARN.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THIS MORNING
I SPOKE WITH OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND I SPOKE WITH OUR CABINET
MEMBERS, I HAVE TO TELL YOU
THAT I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE
TEAM WE'VE BUILT HERE IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND IN OUR
CABINET.
I MEAN, PHENOMENAL HUMAN BEINGS.
THE CALIBER OF SERVICE-
DRIVEN LEADERS WHO COME TOGETHER
EVERY SINGLE DAY TO SIMPLY DO
THINGS FOR OTHERS.
IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO SERVE
THEM.
THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO PUT THE
NEEDS OF THE CITY FIRST.
THEY ARE NOT POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED, DRIVEN BY HUMAN
POWER, HUMAN EMOTION, INTELLECT,
CREATIVITY, INNOVATION,
MISSION-DRIVEN. IN THE 16 YEAR
OF PUBLIC
SERVICE THAT I HAVE GIVEN
SEATTLE, I
HAVE MADE, BY THE WAY, EXACTLY
16 MISTAKES.
[ LAUGHTER ] ONE EACH YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S THE SAME
MISTAKE EVERY YEAR.
AND THAT MISTAKE IS EVERY
YEAR I WANTED TO DELIVER A
SPEECH OR
PARTICULARLY THE STATE OF THETHE
CITY I ACTUALLY
WANTED TO RAP IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I WANTED TO SPIT
A RHYME. I WANTED TO UNLEASH IT.
>> GO.
>>
COME ON.
>> BUT I WAS SMARTLY OVERRULED.
MY WIFE SAID WE'VE BEEN
TOGETHER A LONG TIME.
SHE HAS PUT UP WITH ME
FOR A LONG TIME, AND I THINK
I'VE EMBARRASSED HER ENOUGH
OVER
THE YEARS.
AND I WOULDN'T EMBARRASS
HER WITH TRYING TO
RAP. BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I
REALLY TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT I
HAVE, THE
DEPARTMENT LEADERS HERE.
I HAVE CABINET
LEADERS HERE. I REALLY TAKE
PRIDE IN
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.
WE RE- INVENTED THE OFF-
SHORE RECRUITING AND RESTORED
STAFF FROM
THE 1990 LEVELS, UNPRECEDENTED
LEVELS OF
POLICE OFFICERS.
150 OFFICERS HIRED THIS YEAR.
WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
EVERYONE PITCHED IN TO GET THE
CULTURE WE WANTED.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WE BUILT FROM SCRATCH THE
CARE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS GOING
TO BE
WHAT NEW POLICING WILL BE ALL
ABOUT.
SEATTLE IS THE LARGEST CITY IN
THE COUNTRY WITH THIS KIND OF
MODEL.
AND WITH THE CONTRACT
CURRENTLY IN FRONT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL --
AND I WANT TO TAKE
PAUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE FOR THEIR
FINE SERVICE -- THAT WE WILL
UNLOCK
THE TRUE POTENTIAL OF WHAT
A PUBLIC SAFETY SHIFT
PARADIGM LOOKS LIKE.
WE CHAMPION THE DUAL
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
APPROACH,
LED TO MORE THAN A 25% REDUCTION
IN FATAL OVERDOSES IN
SEATTLE. WE ARE LITERALLY
SAVING LIVES. WE INVESTED OVER
$1 BILLION
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND
WE'RE SET TO SPEND, BECAUSE OF
THE GENEROSITY OF THE VOTERS,
1 BILLION THROUGHOUT THE
HOUSING LEVY.
AND UNDER OUR ADMINISTRATION,
WE CREATED OPEN FUNDED AND
PRESERVED OVER 8,000 UNITS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT WORK.
THIS IS THE WORK THAT
YOU DID. WE RESTORED HUNDREDS OF
PARKS AND PLAY FIELDS AND
SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY,
PUBLIC
SPACES AND REDUCED -- BY 80% BY
INVESTING AND HELPING
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MOVING INTO
SHELTERS,
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
MOVING FROM SHELTER TO
HOUSING BY 50%.
THIS IS THE WORK YOU ALL DID.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ME AND IT'S
NEVER
BEEN ABOUT ME.
WHEN VOTERS THIS YEAR COMMITTED
TO MAKING THE SAME LEVEL
OF GENERATIONAL
INVESTMENTS INTO THE EVERY
CHILD, $1.3 BILLION
EVERY CHILD READY
INITIATIVE, EVERY CHILD THAT
GOES TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LIKE
JIMMY BUCANNON AND ME, HARD
HEADS AT
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL WHO
DIDN'T HAVE A LOT
OF MEANS. EVERY ONE OF THESE
KIDS, JIMMY,
WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL TWO
YEARS FOR COLLEGE BECAUSE OF
THE WORK YOU ALL DID.
4,500 SLOTS FOR CHILD CARE AND
PRE-KINDERGARTEN SLOTS.
WE BROUGHT DOWNTOWN BACK FROM
LIFE SUPPORT.
WE BROUGHT THE WATERFRONT TO
FRUITION. WE REWROTE THE TAX
CODE,
GETTING 9% OF SEATTLE'S SMALL
AND
MEDIUM BUSINESSES A TAX BREAK.
WE PASSED NATION LEADING
BUILDING EMISSION STANDINGS AND
TOOK CLIMATE ACTION TO
ENSURE SEATTLE WILL CONTINUE TO
BE RECOGNIZED AS A CLIMATE
LEADER
IN THIS WORLD.
THAT'S THE WORK THAT YOU DID.
WE WON THE RIGHT TO HOST
THE 2026 FIFA GAMES AND
DELIVERED
TO THE MAJOR BASEBALL LEAGUES
ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE ALL
STAR
EXPERIENCES THEY'VE EVER HAD.
YOU ALL DID THAT WORK.
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT ME TO
BEGIN WITH.
I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE
WORK
THAT YOU PUT IN.
WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT PEDESTRIANIZING CERTAIN
AREAS THAT HAVE NOT
BEEN PEDESTRIANIZED BEFORE, LOOK
AT
PIKE PLACE MARKET.
LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO, REIMAGINING, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHAT
THE DOWNTOWN WILL BE.
IT WAS NOT MY VISION ALONE.
IT WAS YOUR IDEAS THAT PUSHED
US, SAID CAN WE DO THIS?
CAN WE DO MORE?
WE'VE REIMAGINED WHAT
THE SEATTLE STADIUM WILL LOOK
LIKE WITH MEMORIAL
STADIUM. AND I'M LOOKING INTO
PEOPLE'S EYES BECAUSE I'M
THANKING THEM -- WITH MY MIND BY
THE WAY.
I'M THANKING THEM WITH MY MIND.
BECAUSE WHEN WE TALKED
ABOUT MEMORIAL STADIUM, WE
TALKED BIGGER THAN THAT.
WHAT CAN THAT WHOLE
CAMPUS THAT PUT US ON THE MAP IN
1962, WHAT
CAN THAT LOOK LIKE
MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
THAT IS OUR LEGACY, NOT MY
LEGACY.
THAT IS OUR COLLECTIVE LEGACY.
THANK YOU, MY TEAM.
THANK YOU.
I SAID EARLIER I AM HONORED TO
SERVE YOU.
IT IS MY HONOR TO BE WITH YOU.
BUT THAT'S WORK THAT WE'VE DONE
AND THE WORK THAT'S IN
PROGRESS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
FUTURE. THE WILSON
ADMINISTRATION
WILL HAVE NEW IDEAS.
THEY WILL HAVE A NEW VISION.
BY WINNING THE ELECTION, THEY
HAVE EARNED THAT RIGHT.
WE MUST LISTEN TO THE
YOUNG VOTERS.
WE REALIZE THAT WHEN I HAD WON
IN 2021 TO THIS CURRENT
ELECTION, THERE WERE 12,000 MORE
BALLOTS OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED.
NEW PEOPLE WITH NEW IDEAS.
THERE WERE OVER 15,000 NEW
REGISTERED VOTERS.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE BELIEVE
THEIR VOICES ARE NOT BEING
HEARD.
THEY'RE SEEING DUE
PROCESS VIOLATED.
THEY'RE SEEING A THROWBACK
IN HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY THAT
WE
LOVE, A THROWBACK INTO
RACISM AND UNFAIRNESS.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THESE
YOUNG VOICES.
WHILE IT IS VERY SEDUCTIVE
TO STAY IN CAMPAIGN MODE AND
LOOK AT THE WILSON
ADMINISTRATION FROM A
COMPETITIVE LENS, I
WILL NOT DO THAT.
I BELIEVE IN MY HEART --
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES
GOING ON FOUR DECADES I
WILL SPEAK FOR MY WIFE.
I BELIEVE IN OUR HEARTS
THAT THEY WANT THE SAME
THING, FAIRNESS, JUSTICE,
PEACE, EQUITY, EQUALITY.
THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR
SAFETY.
THEIR ADMINISTRATION WILL FIGHT
FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
THEY WILL FIGHT FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
AND I PRAY THAT THEY ARE
FIGHTING WITH LOVE.
IF THERE'S ONE LEGACY THAT
I WANT TO LEAVE IS THAT I TRIED
TO
LEAD WITH LOVE.
MY HUMOR IS A FORM OF LOVE.
THAT WASN'T A JOKE!
[ LAUGHTER ] MY -- MANY PEOPLE
GREW UP WITH
ME, AND I HAVEN'T CHANGED.
I USED TO SAY THAT IN LITTLE
LEAGUE BASEBALL, THAT
THROUGH PAIN -- NATE, THROUGH
PAIN, YOU'VE GOT TO SMILE
THROUGH IT.
AS I SAID TO MY CABINET, I'M
KNOWN TO CRACK JOKES AT
FUNERALS.
THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED
IT THE MOST.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE.
THIS CITY'S GOING TO BE
FINE. WHY?
BECAUSE ALL
OF YOU. ALL OF YOU.
SO, THERE'S A FEW FOLKS I'M
GOING TO THANK, AND I'M
GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE HERE
BECAUSE
I ONLY SCRIBBLED A FEW NAMES AND
I DIDN'T KNOW ALL OF YOU, DON
MASON, WERE GOING TO BE HERE.
SO, I'M GOING TO THANK YOU
JUST
BECAUSE YOU'RE --
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
.
>> BUT I WANT TO -- I'M GOING
TO SAY, MARTA JOHNSON --
>> SHE'S RIGHT
THERE.
>> -- WE JUST FELL IN LOVE.
MARTA, THANK
YOU. AND NICOLE MUNOS, I WANT TO
SAY THANK
YOU, NICOLE. WE LOVE YOU SO
MUCH.
YOU ARE MY NEW ADOPTED DAUGHTER.
AND MANY, MANY VOLUNTEERS,
QUITE FRANKLY TOO MANY TO NAME.
BUT KNOW THAT YOU WON'T
BE GETTING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
FROM
US, BUT YOU HAVE OUR SINCERE
LOVE, VERY SINCERE LOVE.
I'M GOING TO EMBARRASS
SOME PEOPLE.
BUT THAT'S -- THIS
IS MY SWAN
SONG. I CAN DO THAT, MARGARET,
RIGHT?
I CAN EMBARRASS PEOPLE?
OKAY.
MARGARET SAID I
COULD. CHRISTIAN -- I'VE RELIED
ON
CHRISTIAN FOR 16 YEARS, AND YOU
ARE A GOOD PERSON.
YOU ARE A PERSON OF HIGH
INTEGRITY.
YOU HAVE A NORTH STAR
THAT NO ONE SHOULD EVER
QUESTION.
I'M GETTING A LITTLE EMOTIONAL.
THANK YOU, MY FRIEND.
MY SPOKESPERSON, JAMIE
HOUSEN. WHERE'S JAMIE?
[ APPLAUSE ]
I LOVED ARGUING WITH JAMIE.
BECAUSE THEY NEVER -- THEY
NEVER -- THEY STOP, AND
THEN FIVE MINUTES LATER YOU
FORGOT YOU'RE ARGUING.
AND I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER
WHO WINS THE ARGUMENTS HALF
THE
TIME. BUT YOU ARE NOTHING SHORT
OF
BRILLIANT, MY FRIEND.
AND YOU HAVE A PROMISING
CAREER IN FRONT OF YOU NO MATTER
WHAT
YOU DO.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING
MY FRIEND, BEING MY SON.
I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, JAMIE.
I'M GOING TO START RATTLING OFF
NAMES. ANDREW, YOU ARE SMART AND
HARDWORKING. THANK
YOU, ANDREW. TIFFANY WASHINGTON
--
[ APPLAUSE ] I'M GOING TO
MENTION
THREE IN ONE
BREATH HERE. TIFFANY WASHINGTON,
NATALIE WALTON ANDERSON, AND
DPSH
AND THE REASON I MENTION THEM IN
THE SAME BREATH IS I CALLED
UPON THE -- CAN YOU RAISE YOUR
HANDS WHEREVER YOU ARE?
THERE YOU ARE.
I CALLED UPON THESE THREE PEOPLE
TO TAKE SOME OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT WORK,
DIFFICULT PORTFOLIOS, PUBLIC
SAFETY,
HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION,
FIGURE IT ALL OUT AND MAKE OUR
CITY
SAFE/CLEAN, MAKE IT
ALLOWABLE ACCESSIBLE TO
EVERYONE, WHETHER
THEY ARE DISABLED,
WHETHER THEY ARE WITHOUT
SHELTER.
DO THIS DIFFICULT
PORTFOLIO IN THE MATTER OF LOVE,
AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU.
HANDI MOHOMMAD, I LOVE YOU.
WHERE ARE YOU?
I DON'T KNOW WHERE HANDI IS.
SOMEONE SAID IN THE CABINET
THIS MORNING, THEY SAID, YOU
HAVE
A SECRET
GIFT, HARRELL. YOU -- YOU SEE
PEOPLE.
JENNIFER CHILES SAID -- I LOVE
YOU, JENNIFER. SHE SAID, YOU SEE
PEOPLE.
I DO RECOGNIZE TALENT.
ALONG THOSE LINES I WANT
TO THANK HANDI.
I WANT TO THANK GREG WONG AND
TIM BURGESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TIM IS THE BUTT OF A LOT OF
OUR JOKES, BY THE
WAY. THEY'RE JUST -- TIM, I LOVE
YOU
SO MUCH.
WHERE IS TIM?
>> RIGHT THERE.
>> THERE'S JUST A LOT TO
WORK WITH WITH TIM.
THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIAL
THERE, TIM, AND IT JUST -- IT
NEVER
ENDS.
AND I'M SORRY.
BUT TIM AND I CAME IN
AS POLITICIANS TOGETHER IN
2007. WE WON IN 2008.
AND HE'S BEEN A DEAR, DEAR
FRIEND, AND I VALUE YOU SO MUCH.
AND I CAN'T COMMIT TO NOT
JOKING
ABOUT YOU WHEN I LEAVE THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
BUT I NEED YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH
I LOVE AND RESPECT YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TIM
BURGESS.
JEREMY ROCCA AND
JENNIFER SAMUELS I'M GOING TO
SAY IN THE SAME BREATH.
I SEE JENNY HERE.
I KNOW JEREMY IS IN NEW YORK.
YOU'VE BEEN WITH ME SINCE
2007/2008, AND I CAN'T THANK
YOU ENOUGH, WHEN WE WERE
ON THE CITY
COUNCIL. DAN HAS BECOME A GREAT
FRIEND.
OF COURSE DAN IS SITTING IN THE
BACK.
OF COURSE HE WOULD BE
BECAUSE HE NEVER WANTS
ATTENTION.
BUT HE IS SUCH A STRONG, SMART
PERSON, WHO I LOVE DEARLY.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IN OUR
WORKPLACE, WE LITERALLY TELL
EACH OTHER WE LOVE EACH OTHER IN
A VERY HR- APPROPRIATE WAY, BY
THE WAY.
BUT WE EXPRESS THAT, AND
DAN KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE AND
RESPECT YOU. KRISTA VALDEZ
PROBABLY
DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO
GIVE HER A
SHOUTOUT BUT I HAD TO BECAUSE
SHE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE
I ACTUALLY TALKED INTO WORKING
FOR
OUR ADMINISTRATION.
AND SHE HAS JUST BEEN -- I
CAN'T
TELL YOU.
YOU WENT BEYOND -- I HAD HIGH
EXPECTATIONS FOR YOU, AND YOU
WENT BEYOND THOSE EXPECTATIONS,
KRISTEN.
I CAN'T THANK
YOU ENOUGH. MS. BARBARA JARRETT?
WHERE ARE YOU?
I'VE GOT TO CALL YOU UP.
I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW MS.
JARRETT WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHER AT GARFIELD AND TAUGHT
ME A LOT ABOUT BLACK HISTORY AND
WAS A GRADUATE FROM SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY. AND EVERY SINGLE DAY
I
WALK INTO THE OFFICE -- AND BY
THE
WAY, I HAVE A LOT OF CITY
EMPLOYEES
FOR YOU.
I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO
THIS,
BARBARA. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT
I HAVE
TO ISSUE ONE
MORE EXECUTIVE ORDER BEFORE I
LEAVE OFFICE.
I WILL BE MANDATING FIVE DAYS
A WEEK FOR EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE
UNTIL DECEMBER -- I'M
JUST JOKING.
PRESS, THAT WAS A JOKE.
PRESS, I
WAS JOKING. GETTING BACK TO MS.
JARRETT. EVERY SINGLE DAY WE
WALK
INTO THE OFFICE, YOU GREET US
WITH
A SMILE, A WARM SMILE.
AND THAT'S HOW WE START OFF
THE
DAY. AND AS
I SAID THIS MORNING -- I'M GOING
TO SAY IT AGAIN --
WE ALWAYS TELL OUR
CHILDREN TWO VERY SIMPLE LESSONS
IN LIFE.
IN A WORKPLACE, BE DELIGHTFUL.
BE DELIGHTFUL.
AND NUMBER TWO, ALWAYS BE
THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK TO
SOMEONE.
AND I WILL -- MY STAFF
WILL SAY -- I'LL SAY, NOW,
WHAT'S THAT
PERSON'S NAME? MIKE.
HEY, MIKE.
NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN.
HEY, MIKE.
HOW ARE YOU?
THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN OUR
OFFICE, THEY KNOW HOW MUCH WE
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
AND IT STARTS WITH A SMILE
EVERY SINGLE MORNING.
I'M GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE
WITH
THIS, BUT I DON'T CARE AT
THIS POINT.
JOY HOLLINGSWORTH, I'VE GOT
TO CALL YOU OUT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THE APPLAUSE SAYS IT ALL, JOY.
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.
AND I'M REALLY -- I'M
COUNTING ON YOU.
I'LL JUST PUT IT THAT WAY.
ENOUGH SAID, OKAY?
AND BECAUSE YOU
HAVE EIGHT COLLEAGUES, I'M
COUNTING
ON ALL OF YOU, BY THE WAY.
WE STILL HAVE A BUDGET THAT'S
BEING DELIBERATED.
WE HAVE SOME LEGISLATION
WE'RE CONSIDERING.
BUT JOY, YOU'RE VERY
SPECIAL, AND I JUST WANTED TO
SAY
THAT PUBLICLY.
NOW, THERE ARE SOME OF YOU WHO
I DIDN'T MENTION BY NAME.
I WILL TALK TO YOU.
IT'S JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO
HAVE A LITTLE FUN WITH THAT.
THERE ARE COMMUNITY LEADERS
HERE, PEOPLE FROM
THE PHILANTHROPIC CIRCLES,
FROM BUSINESS CIRCLES,
NEIGHBORHOOD CIRCLES,
CONSULTANTS.
YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE SOMEONE'S
PROBABLY PAYING YOU.
NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.
I'M KIDDING.
I'VE GOT TO HAVE FUN.
YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD FUN WITH
THIS JOB FOR FOUR YEARS.
YOU DO KNOW THAT, RIGHT?
YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE,
AGAIN, IT WAS NEVER ABOUT ME.
IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE CITY.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE
PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY.
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, AND I
BELIEVE THIS WITH
ALL OF MY HEART, THAT THE
ANSWERS IN
THIS COUNTRY WILL BE FOUND HERE
IN
SEATTLE. EVERYONE HERE,
REGARDLESS AS
TO WHAT DEMOGRAPHIC YOU CHOOSE
TO
CLAIM, YOU CARE ABOUT RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
YOU CARE ABOUT IT.
YOU CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.
YOU CARE ABOUT EDUCATION.
I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT.
WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT
APPROACHES ON HOW WE WANT TO GET
THERE,
AND I SAY THIS LOUDLY FOR THE
WILSON ADMINISTRATION.
WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT TACTICS
ON HOW TO GET THERE, BUT I
BELIEVE OUR CORE VALUES ARE THE
SAME.
AND I CANNOT SAY THAT IN
OTHER
STATES. I CANNOT SAY THAT IN
OTHER
CITIES.
I CAN SAY THAT FROM SOMEONE JUST
BORN EIGHT BLOCKS FROM HERE.
I CAN SAY THAT ABOUT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, THAT YOU CARE
ABOUT THESE THINGS.
AND THAT IS THE ONE
SEATTLE CONCEPT.
I KNOW PEOPLE GOT --
WELL, WHERE WAS I GOING WITH
THIS
CONCEPT? I WAS GOING WITH THE
CONCEPT
THAT ABOVE ALL ELSE, WE
WILL FOCUS ON WHAT WE HAVE IN
COMMON.
WE CANNOT BE DEFINED BY OUR
DIFFERENCES. WE CAN CELEBRATE
OUR
DIFFERENCES ONLY TOWARD THE PATH
TOWARD
COMMONALITY. THAT'S WHAT
DIFFERENCES DO.
AND BECAUSE MY OPPONENT AND
I MIGHT HAVE HAD DIFFERENCES, I
WILL FOCUS ON THE NEXT
SEVERAL YEARS ON WHAT WE HAVE IN
COMMON.
AND IF WE FOCUS ON THAT, WE
WILL ALL WIN.
THERE ARE NO WINNERS AND
LOSERS IN THE GAME OF POLITICS,
THE
WAY I LOOK AT IT.
IT'S A CONTINUUM.
SEATTLE WILL BE FINE.
I WILL MAKE SURE OF THAT.
I'M NOT RETIRED.
I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
[
APPLAUSE ] SO, TO CLOSE, I'LL
SAY THIS
-- AND I'LL ASK -- I'LL
RESPOND
TO A FEW QUESTIONS.
I'M GOING TO BE ASKED 100 TIMES
WHAT AM I GOING TO
DO. WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?
WHAT'S THE NEXT CHAPTER?
SO, I WANT TO SAY THIS RIGHT
NOW AND SHOW A LITTLE
VULNERABILITY
HERE. BUT I HAVE TO GET IT OUT,
JIMMY.
I HAVE TO GET IT OUT.
I'M THINKING ABOUT PURSUING
AN ACTING CAREER.
COUPLED WITH A SINGING CAREER.
SINGING WITH A LITTLE RAP.
I'M ALL RIGHT.
I'VE GOT A VISION OF TAKING
A LITTLE EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE
AND PUTTING A LITTLE SOMETHING
ON TOP OF IT IS WHERE I MIGHT
BE DOING.
I -- I'M GOING TO BE KNOWN AS
MASTER
B.RUCY. MY -- MASTER B.RUCY.
WHEN YOU SEE ME, CALL ME MASTER
B.RUCY. IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE
RECEPTION OF MY NEW NAME I WAS
HOPING TO GET.
NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE
SEEING HOW BRUCE IS SPELLED.
YOU'RE WITH ME, RIGHT?
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
FUNNY. IT'S B.RUCE.
IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I
HAVEN'T WRITTEN MY NEXT CHAPTER
YET.
MANY OF YOU KNOW I'M A MAN
OF FAITH.
HE WRITES OUR CHAPTERS.
I WILL HIT MY KNEES WITH MY
WONDERFUL WIFE, AND WE
WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR NEXT
CHAPTER
IS.
BUT WE WILL KNOW IT WILL
BE BASED ON INCREDIBLE ENERGY
AND
LOVE FOR THIS CITY AND LOVE FOR
ALL OF YOU.
OUR GRANDDAUGHTER -- OUR
YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER, EMMY, WE
HAD TO HAVE SOME FAMILY
GET
TOGETHERS. AND WE SAID TO
HER, WELL, HOW DO YOU
FEEL, EMMY? AND SHE WAS HAPPY.
SAID, YOU KNOW, I LOST THE
ELECTION, RIGHT?
WELL, I'M HAPPY.
SHE SAYS, I'M HAPPY BECAUSE
I GET MY PAPA BACK.
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.
AND WE HAD TO MISS A FEW
THINGS THAT I DON'T LIKE
MISSING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET
THOSE --
THAT TIME BACK.
SO, IF MY RAPPING AND
SINGING CAREER DON'T PAN OUT,
WE
WILL STILL BE HERE SERVING
YOU BECAUSE YOU MEAN THAT MUCH
TO
ME, TO US.
AND WE LOVE ALL OF YOU THAT
HAVE TAKEN THIS JOURNEY WITH US.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> YEAH.
I WILL -- PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.
I WILL TAKE A QUESTION OR TWO IF
THERE ARE SOME TO HAVE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE PASTOR KERRY
ANDERSON.
I WOULD LOVE TO
RECOGNIZE, THIS IS MY PASTOR
RIGHT HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. AND GI, WHO IS MY
MOTHER'S VERY
CLOSE FRIEND, GI CHAN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
MANY OF YOU KNOW GI'S LATE
HUSBAND, WHO WAS A
TRAILBLAZER IN HIS OWN RIGHT.
AND YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A --
YOU'RE LIKE ANOTHER MOTHER TO
ME,
AND YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO MY
MOTHER.
AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH
FOR BEING HERE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
I'LL TAKE -- YES, BROTHER
LYNCH?
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> YEAH.
I'LL REPEAT THE QUESTION.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I WOULD
HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY LOOKING
BACK?
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A FAIR
QUESTION.
I THINK I'LL GO CRAZY IF I
PUT TOO MUCH ENERGY BEHIND
THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG JOB.
AND HOW WE MAKE
DECISIONS BECOMES CRITICAL.
YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS
BY TALKING TO PEOPLE FIRST,
GETTING
VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES.
YOU DO THE HARD RESEARCH.
YOU LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES.
YOU CHECK YOUR GUT, YOUR NORTH
STAR, WHAT'S RIGHT.
AND THEN YOU MAKE
YOUR DECISIONS.
AND IF THAT DIDN'T CREATE THE
OUTCOME THAT YOU WANT, THAT
WAS STILL THE RIGHT DECISION TO
MAKE. AND THEN YOU MAKE
ANOTHER DECISION AND YOU ADJUST.
SO, I CAN'T SAY I SHOULD
HAVE IMPLEMENTED A POLICY OR
MADE
A DECISION THAT I WOULD
HAVE
CHANGED. IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
BECAUSE I DON'T WALK THROUGH
LIFE THAT WAY.
I'M SURE IT'S GOOD FOR
POLITICAL
FODDER TO THINK ABOUT THAT,
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS.
BUT I JUST DON'T PUT A LOT
OF ENERGY THERE.
ENERGY IS, SORT OF, A
WEIRD THING.
I TRY TO KEEP IT IN A
PAUSED
WAY. SO, I DON'T HAVE A GOOD
ANSWER FOR YOU.
THE FACT IS THAT
HINDSIGHT IS WHAT?
>> 20/20.
>> SMART AUDIENCE HERE.
THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT KIND OF
HINDSIGHT, SO I'M GOING TO
MOVE ON.
YES?
>> BEING THAT THIS RACE IS SO
CLOSE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT
HOW YOU MADE THE DECISION TO
CONCEDE?
WHY? AND IS THERE A PLAN
[ INAUDIBLE ] MOVING FORWARD?
>> YEAH.
SO, TO BE CANDID WITH YOU,
SEBASTIAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE SAYING THAT I SHOULDN'T
CONCEDE
AND THAT THERE WERE
ANOMALIES AND DIFFERENCES.
THIS IS A INCREDIBLY HIGH VOTER
TURNOUT, AND IT WAS UNEXPECTED,
THESE NUMBERS.
BUT I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS,
THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO
CONCEDE. AND I'LL LET OTHERS
WORRY ABOUT
THAT.
I WANTED TO BRING TO MY CABINET
SOME CLOSURE.
THE NUMBERS NOW, I THINK,
WERE LESS THAN 2,000 VOTES.
SO, I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WORRIED
ABOUT RE- VOTES AND ALL THAT
OTHER STUFF.
I'M NOT GOING TO PERSONALLY
WEIGH IN ON THAT.
THE FACT IS THAT IT
CONTINUES TO BE A CLOSE RACE,
BUT I'LL
LET OTHER PEOPLE, SORT OF,
MAKE THAT -- THOSE DECISIONS.
I'M NOT WEIGHING IN ON
THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> I'M NOT IN A
POSITION REALLY TO ANSWER IT.
I PROBABLY HAVE
CONSULTANTS AROUND HERE TO
ANSWER
THAT QUESTION.
I'M JUST TRYING TO -- I HAVE,
BY
MY ESTIMATION, ANOTHER SIX WEEKS
TO RUN THE
CITY.
WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE
TAPE AND BE THE
BEST ADMINISTRATION WE CAN,
AND WE'LL LET OTHER PEOPLE
FIGURE
THAT
OUT. [ APPLAUSE ]
I'LL COME HERE AND I'LL
COME
HERE. AARON
ALLEN?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] ONCE YOU
REST, GET YOUR THOUGHTS
TOGETHER, ARE YOU STAYING IN
POLITICS?
>> THE QUESTION IS ONCE I REST
AND GET MY THOUGHTS
TOGETHER, WILL I STAY IN
POLITICS?
THERE'S YES IN THIS SENSE.
THE OTHER QUESTION, WILL I
RUN FOR ANOTHER AUDIENCE.
I'M SORRY?
>> IF THE ACTING AND RAPPING
DON'T PAN OUT.
>> YEAH. DON'T SELL ME SHORT ON
MY ACTING AND RAPPING.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
IS TAKE A LITTLE TIME, PUT
THINGS IN
PRAYER, AND WE'LL MAKE SOME
DECISIONS.
I HAVEN'T EXCLUDED ANYTHING.
THE FACT IS -- LET'S SEE, I'VE
GIVEN -- THIS IS MY THIRD
SPEECH TODAY.
SO I CAN'T REMEMBER, DID I
SAY THIS EARLIER TODAY OR DID I
JUST SAY IT -- IN 2019, I GAVE A
GREAT, GREAT
SPEECH RIGHT IN THERE.
IT WAS A RETIREMENT SPEECH.
RIGHT IN THERE.
IT WAS ONE OF MY BEST SPEECHES.
I HAVE THE TAPE.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M
LIKELY NOT TO COME BACK IN CITY
HALL.
AND NOW HERE 16 YEARS LATER,
I'M STILL HERE.
SO, I DON'T KNOW -- AND THAT'S
JUST THE HONEST TRUTH.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
1970 -- 1979 -- THIS WASN'T
IN MY SPEECH, BUT YOU PROMPTED
THE QUESTION.
IN 1979, I CAME TO CITY HALL.
I'D JUST GOTTEN MY COLLEGE
DEGREE, AND I -- DON,
YOU COULDN'T TELL ME MUCH.
I GOT MY POLITICAL SCIENCE
DEGREE FROM UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, AND I WENT UP
TO CITY HALL AND THE CITY
COUNCIL AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR
AND
SAID, I'D LIKE A
JOB. AND I TALKED TO THE FIRST
BLACK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, SAM
SMITH.
AND HE HAD A CHIEF OF STAFF,
AND IRONICALLY, HER NAME
WAS FLORENCE HARRELL, MY AUNT.
AND CONSTANCE RICE, WHO'S
OVER HERE -- I WANT TO PUBLICLY
THANK YOUR HUSBAND.
YOUR HUSBAND, NORM RICE, IS
ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND GREG NICHOLS WORKED IN THAT
OFFICE.
AND TOM RASMUSSEN, A FORMER CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER, IS ON STAFF.
I WANT A JOB.
WELL, WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE?
I DON'T HAVE ANY.
THEY SAID, WE CAN HIRE YOU FOR
SIX WEEKS.
I DON'T KNOW IF LYNNE RIGHT IS
HERE.
LYNNE RUTH HIRED ME FOR
SIX
WEEKS. SHE STILL WORKS FOR THE
CITY.
I'LL TAKE IT.
I DIDN'T EVEN ASK WHAT IT PAID.
I JUST WANTED THAT JOB.
AND THEN AFTER SIX WEEKS, THEY
SAID, WELL, WE FOUND SOME MORE
BUDGET FOR YOU.
ANOTHER SIX WEEKS, ANOTHER
SIX WEEKS.
THAT TURNED INTO A COUPLE OF
YEARS. AND I SAID, YOU KNOW,
I'M
GOING TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL
AND
LIKELY MAYOR SOME
DAY. THAT WAS A LIFE-
CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
AND I LEARNED ONE THING OUT
OF THAT STORY IS THAT I
NEVER PREDICT WHAT I'M GOING TO
DO
IN A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE
FROM YEAR IN THAT SENSE BECAUSE
POLITICS ARE WEIRD.
AND SO WE'LL
JUST SEE. THAT'S HOW THINGS
HAPPEN
SOMETIMES.
SO, I SAW
AMARI.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
THIS HAS BEEN -- THIS
CABINET OBVIOUSLY HAS THE MOST
BLACK FACES AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR FROM THE CABINET.
AND NOW -- AS MAYOR,
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE
ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH THE CABINET
THAT YOU CHOSE
[ INAUDIBLE ].
>> I'LL REPEAT THE QUESTION AND
MY ANSWER.
WHAT I AM MOST PROUD OF IS
THAT IN THE WORLD WHERE WE
ARE QUESTIONING DIVERSITY AND
EQUITY
AND INCLUSION THAT WE HAD
THE MOST DIVERSE EXECUTIVE TEAM
AND
CABINET. IT WASN'T BECAUSE THEY
WERE
DIVERSE. IT WAS BECAUSE THEY
WERE
THE BEST.
AND THAT BEING A BIRACIAL BLACK
MAN, I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY PREJUDICES GOING
INTO AN INTERVIEW PROCESS.
I LOOK FOR LIFE EXPERIENCE.
I LOOK FOR HEART AND GRIT AND
TENACITY. THESE PEOPLE THAT I
HIRED ARE
JUST AWESOME.
AND I PRAY THAT
OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS AND EVEN
THE
WILSON ADMINISTRATION UNDERSTAND
THAT.
WHAT I'VE SAID REPEATEDLY
IN MANY OF MY POLITICAL CAREER
ISIS WHEN YOU GROW UP BIRACIAL,
I DON'T MAKE ANY
ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ANYONE BASED
ON SKIN
COLOR.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I FIT
INTO
THAT CONVERSATION. SO, IF I
LOOKED AT SOMEONE
AND THEY WERE BLACK OR WHITE
OR ASIAN OR LATINO OR NATIVE
AMERICAN, HOWEVER THEY
IDENTIFIED, I'D GO RIGHT
TO THEIR HEART FIRST.
ARE THEY KIND PERSON?
ARE THEY A HARD- WORKING PERSON?
AND SO I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE
SET A STANDARD, A BAR IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE
NATIONAL
DISCUSSION. TRUMP HAS THIS ALL
WRONG.
HE HAS -- HIS
MENTALITY ON THIS DISCUSSION IS
ALL WRONG,
THAT ALL PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS
BEING DIVERSE, THEY DO NOT
WANT SPECIAL TREATMENT.
THEY DO NOT WANT HANDOUTS.
THEY WANT AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
TO COMPETE.
AND IF YOU GIVE THEM THAT --
[ APPLAUSE ]
IF YOU GIVE THEM THAT, THEY
WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
ONE OF
THE REASONS I'VE TRIED TO BE A
LONG LGBTQ+ SUPPORTER IN
MY TENURE IS THAT I KNOW WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO BE OTHERED.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
WALK AROUND SOMETIMES WITH YOUR
HEAD DOWN, FEELING LESS THAN.
FOR ME, THAT IS WHAT
THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING
UNDERREPRESENTED IS ABOUT.
AND IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT I
TAKE PRIDE IN -- AND I DON'T
CARE WHAT THEY SAY, WHAT THEY
WRITE ABOUT ME.
I KNOW ME.
AND THIS PERSON WHO HAS KNOWN ME
SINCE I'VE BEEN 18
YEARS OLD, SHE KNOWS ME, THAT
I'M NOT
A CRUEL PERSON.
I'M NOT A BIGOTED PERSON.
I AM FLAWED, LIKE MANY
HUMAN BEINGS.
BUT I TRY TO LEAD
WITH LOVE. AND THE CABINET THAT
WE PUT TOGETHER WAS BASED ON
LOVE, BASED ON AN INSIGHT, THAT
THESE
ARE GOOD PEOPLE, AND THEY
COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND
EVEN AGES, TIM BURGESS.
THEY EVEN COME IN AGES, TIM
BURGESS.
THAT'S THE LESSON OF SEATTLE.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THAT
CONTINUES.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE SPECIAL HERE.
AND I -- TO YOUR QUESTION,
THAT, I WOULD NEVER CHANGE.
THAT, I WOULD NEVER CHANGE,
HOW I TRY TO SEE PEOPLE.
WE'LL TAKE A FEW MORE
QUESTIONS.
YES, JOHN?
>> DO YOU HAVE ADVICE YOU
WOULD SHARE -- ONE POLICY THAT
YOU
HOPE HER ADMINISTRATION CARRIES
ON?
WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
>> THE QUESTION IS WHAT
ADVICEADVICE WOULD GIVE TO
MAYOR- ELECT
WILSON?
AND IF THERE'S ONE THING I WANT
HER TO CONTINUE, THAT WOULD
THAT
BE? THAT IS A VERY TOUGH
QUESTION.
I MAY HAVE TO CALL ON
MY SPOKESPERSON FOR THAT ONE.
BUT I'M NOT.
LET ME -- OKAY.
I'M GOING TO GO WITH EDUCATION.
I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO
--
WELL, THAT'S
ACTUALLY -- SO, I'M GOING TO
TAKE EDUCATION.
I'M GOING TO GO TO OUR
ECONOMICECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. THEY BOTH START
WITH THESE.
EDUCATION IS SO CRITICAL WITH
THIS LEVY THAT YOU ALL
JUST PASSED.
THAT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR THE
CITY, ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER.
THAT IS A GAME
CHANGER FOR THIS CITY.
WE HAVE JOBS THAT PEOPLE CAN
BEBE
TRAINED IN.
HAVE APPRENTICESHIPS
IN THE PORT AND MARITIME
INDUSTRY.
WE HAVE FOLKS THAT GO
INTO HIGH- TECH OR BIOTECH.
EDUCATION, YES.
THEY HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN
AND TRIPLE DOWN IN EDUCATION.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT
BROUGHT ABOUT MY OPPONENT'S
EDUCATION,
BACKGROUND, ALL THAT STUFF.
PUT ALL THAT TO THE SIDE.
EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE
THE EQUALIZER FOR ALL OF US.
THE REASON I SAID I WANTED
TO MORPH INTO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE AT THE END
OF THE
DAY, THIS MAYOR AND NO MAYOR
WILL BE
ABLE TO AUTOMATICALLY
DICTATE THAT 1. 2, $1.3 MILLION
HOUSE
AND MAKE IT COME DOWN TO 4 OR
$500,000. THAT'S OUT OF THEIR
PAY GRADE.
SO, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS
DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GETGET
DOWN THROUGH PERMIT
PROCESSES, THROUGH MONEY AND
INVESTMENTS, AND BUILD
AGGRESSIVELY.
YES, WE COULD DO
ALL THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
THERE
HAS TO BE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THERE HAS TO BE JOBS FOR
EVERYBODY.
WE CANNOT LOSE JOBS HERE
IN SEATTLE.
AND THEY HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
OUR POLICIES -- OUR
POLICIES -- THEY SAY, HE
LIKES BUSINESS. I LIKE JOBS IS
WHAT I LIKE.
I LIKE -- WHETHER IT'S THE CEO
OR THE JANITOR OR EVERYWHERE IN
BETWEEN, WE NEED THOSE JOBS HERE
IN SEATTLE.
AND WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT.
WE CANNOT TAKE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR
GRANTED.
AND I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL
SHOUTOUT TO MARKA McINTIRE,
WHO HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY
PHENOMENAL
IN THIS SPACE, A
PHENOMENAL LEADER IN WHAT HE'S
DONE
WITH SEATTLE RESTORED AND THE
LIBERTY PROJECT AND THE
CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAM AND THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
FUND -- YOU
DIDN'T THINK I KNEW ALL THAT
STUFF. THE STUFF THAT YOU'VE
DONE HAS
BEEN NOTHING LESS
THAN
PHENOMENAL. SO, EDUCATION AND
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. AND PUBLIC SAFETY
IS
THE EQUALIZER.
AND THE REASON WHY WE RAN ON
A PUBLIC SAFETY PLATFORM
ISN'T BECAUSE WE WANT COPS
EVERYWHERE.
YOU KNOW, BOSTON -- I THINK
THEIR RATIO IS, LIKE, 3 TO
1,000. THE RATIO I WAS SHOOTING
FOR IS
1. 9 PER 1,000.
WE TRY TO CALIBRATE, LOOK AT
BEST PRACTICES, WHAT MAKES
SENSE IN THE CITY.
BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO
FEEL SAFE.
EVEN THE PERSON THAT COULD
BE HARMING THEMSELVES, I WANT
THEM TO GET HELP IF THEY'RE
KILLING THEMSELVES WITH DRUGS.
I WANT PEOPLE COMMITTING
CRIME AND THREATENING OTHERS TO
BE
ARRESTED. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS
THAT.
POLITICS GET VERY SIMPLE WHEN
YOU BOIL IT DOWN TO THE BASICS.
SO, I WANT THEM TO CONTINUE
EMPHASIZING KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.
AND YES, THE CARE DEPARTMENT IS
A BEST PRACTICE.
SO, WHATEVER THAT PUBLIC
SAFETY ECOSYSTEM LOOKS LIKE,
JONATHAN, I WANT TO KEEP THAT.
SO, MY ANSWER IS
THREE-FOLD. EDUCATION, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE MOST
EXPENSIVE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY?
>> I'LL REPEAT THE QUESTION.
DO YOU THINK I
UNDERSTOOD ADEQUATELY HOW MUCH
PEOPLE ARE
STRUGGLING IN TERMS
OF AFFORDABILITY IN THIS CITY?
AND I'M GOING TO ASSUME
YOUR POSITION IS COMING FROM A
GOOD PLACE BECAUSE WE DON'T
STRUGGLE
WITH AFFORDABILITY.
I THINK PEOPLE KNOW THAT.
BY THE WAY, WE WORK VERY,
VERY
HARD. I'VE GOT TO PUT THAT OUT
THERE.
>> YES, WE DO.
>> WE WORK VERY, VERY HARD.
SO, LET ME ASK YOU A
QUESTION
DIRECTLY. YOU DON'T MEAN
THIS TO BE OFFENSIVE -- HOLD UP.
NO, YOU DON'T.
BEAR WITH ME.
BUT TO SOME EXTENT, IT'S ALMOST
AN OFFENSIVE QUESTION.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW THE
SCARS
THAT I HAD WORKING WITH A MOM
AND DAD WHO DID NOT GO TO
COLLEGE. YOU DON'T KNOW THE
SCARS
I HAD WHEN I SAID WHEN I WAS IN
HIGH
SCHOOL, ONE REASON WHY I
WORKED SO HARD TO GET AN
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP AS A
FOOTBALL
PLAYER, BECAUSE I KNEW MY
MOM AND DAD COULDN'T AFFORD TO
SEND
ME TO COLLEGE.
THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL, I
WAS WEIGHING ABOUT 200 POUNDS, I
HAD AN OLDER BROTHER, AND WE --
ALL
OF US SHARED JUST ONE BATHROOM.
AND WHEN YOU'RE THE
YOUNGEST, YOU GET THE SHORT END
OF THAT
STICK, MY BROTHER.
SO, THE PAIN THAT PEOPLE FEEL
RIGHT NOW IS NOTHING I HAVE TO
READ ABOUT.
I SPENT AN
INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME÷÷TIME
IN TALKING
TO POOR PEOPLE.
MY WIFE WAS -- WORKED FOR
UNITED WAY.
SHE'S BEEN IN THE HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES.
SHE WAS THE CEO OF UNITED WAY.
WE HAVE DEDICATED OUR LIFE TO
HELPING POOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT
WAS US.
AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE
POLICIES THAT WE'VE DONE,
ALL OF THE -- I ALWAYS TELL
PEOPLE, LOOK AT THE 1,300 PIECES
OF LEGISLATION THAT I PROPOSED
OR
PASSED. IT'S DESIGNED TO UPLIFT
PEOPLE
FROM THE ROOTS OF POVERTY
AND BEING UNDERREPRESENTED.
SO, THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD MORE
THAN
MY EAR.
THEY'VE HAD MY ATTENTION AND MY
ENERGY. IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL
THAT
WAY, IT COULD BE BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE TRYING TO ATTACK US AND SAY
WE DIDN'T GET IT.
BUT WE GET IT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET IT.
WE SPEND AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF
TIME IN COMMUNITIES
BOTH DONATING MONEY, MENTORING
PEOPLE, TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT
HOW TO BE BETTER.
BECAUSE JOANN AND I, WE
COULD HAVE BEEN STATISTICS.
OUR PATHS TO BEING
THE FIRST LADY AND THE MAYOR
WERE NOT --
NOT EASY.
SO, YES, I THINK THAT
WE UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT
OF POOR PEOPLE.
OKAY. SO, I'M GOING TO -- I'M
GOING TO -- HANDI, I GAVE YOU
ALL
THE SHOUTOUT, ALL THE LOVE.
YOU
MISSED IT. YOUR FRIENDS WILL
TELL YOU
ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
MY
FRIEND. I LOVE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SERVE. AND FOR THE LAST TIME
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ME SAY
THIS --
NO, PROBABLY
NOT -- ONE SEATTLE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]