>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
IS EXACCUSED. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. SEEING AND HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. I WANT TO WELCOME
EVERYONE HERE THIS MORNING. WE
HAVE ONE COUNCILMEMBER REMOTE.
WE HAD SOME TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES YESTERDAY SO I'M
HOPING EVERYTHING WILL BE GOOD
WITH THAT AND THE CALL IN AND
EVERYTHING ELSE. WITH THE TEAM,
IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT COMES
UP, WE WILL ADJUST. I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU, STARTING THE NEW
YEAR AND I KNOW COUNCIL, PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETINGS HAVE
HAD A TENDENCY OF RUNNING LONG
BUT THIS MORNING, I DON'T THINK
THAT WILL HAPPEN. AND PLEASE
REMEMBER TO SILENCE YOUR PHONES.
OKAY. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
CLERK?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ONE PERSON
SIGNED UP REMOTELY AND ZERO IN
PERSON SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
>> WELL, IN THAT CASE, THAT
PERSON WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES AND
THEN WE WILL START THE REST OF
OUR BUSINESS. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. IT IS UP TO 60
MINUTES, SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT.
SPEAKERS MICS ARE MUTED IF THEY
DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN
THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST AND ONLY SPEAKER ON THE
LIST, DAVID AIMS. PLEASE
REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR 6. GIVE
ME ONE SECOND TO SHARE IT. ALL
RIGHT. GO AHEAD.
>> HI. DOES THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION THAT THINK THAT THE
THREAT IS THE COPS? I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. ANYWAY,
LUCKILY, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT
OF INCENT RESIDENTS IN THE AREA
WHERE ALL OF THE GUNSHOTS TOOK
PLACE. I THINK THERE IS A REAL
CONCERN ABOUT T THE TRAINING OF
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEIR
POLICIES THAT SEEM TO GET IT
WRONG. I'M WONDERING WHERE THE
LAWS ARE THAT HELP GUIDE THE
COPS TO FIGHT THE CRIME THAT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH ALL OF THE
LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS AND LIMPS
WHO ESCALATE THE CRIME AND GUN
VIOLENCE. MAYBE IF WE HAD BETTER
TRAINING FOR THE COPS THAT ALLOW
THEM TO PASS INJUNKYS TO ALLOW
THE NONDEPLOYED COPS AT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO QUESTION
CIVILLY IN THE INTERROGATION
ROOM TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY KEEP
GETTING THE DRUGS BEFORE THEY
LET THEM OUT ON A GET OUT OF
JIEL FREE LIST. IT DOESN'T
MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GIVE
THEM COPS, IF YOU CONVINCE THEM
TO CONDUCT A WAR ON THE
HOMELESS, THEY WILL DO THAT FOR
AN EASIER PAY DAY. THEY ARE NOT
TRAINED PROPERLY BECAUSE THE
POLICE CHIEFS HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWING UBCONSTITUTIONAL
POLICE REFORM THAT EXEMPTS
LOW-LEVEL PUSHERS FROM JAIL.
THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE SUCCESS
TO COMBAT CRIME TO MAKE US SAFE
BUT WE ARE GETTING MORE
PROPAGANDA OUT REACH SHOWING
CITIZENS HOW NICE THEY ARE AND
NOT COMBATTING CRIME AND FALSELY
ASSURING US ABOUT HOW SAFE WE
ARE BECAUSE THE COPS AROUND YET
NOT TO BE FOUND WHEN THINGS HIT
THE FAN. MAYBE IF WE DIDN'T
HAVE POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
EXCUSES OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH
REESOURCES AND I THINK IT IS
ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD
MISMANAGEMENT AT THE HIGHEST
LEVEL BECAUSE YOU ARE CHOOSING
CHIEFS AND COPS BASED ON GENDER,
SKIN COLOR, AND SEXUAL
ORIENTATION AND NOT THE
QUALIFICATION OF NOBLE AND
PROPER TRAINED THAT YOU HELPED
MANIPULATE THE MEDIA WHICH HAS
FAILED TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY
SAFE. WE HAVE HOT CHICKS IN
UNIFORM FALSELY ASSURING US.
>> OKAY THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MR.
AIMS. AT THIS POINT, WE WILL
MOVE ON TO THE FOUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS WHICH WILL BE DONE AS A
COLLECTIVE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEMS ONE THROUGH
FOUR IN THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENTS 3044 THROUGH
3069, APPOINTMENT AND
REAPPOINTMENT OF DAVID BENCH
LOUCH AND JOEL MERKEL AS MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 31, 2027. APPOINTMENT
OF AURALSER WEST FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 21, 2026. AND
REAPPOINTMENT OF JOSEPH SEIA AS
POLICE COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 31, 2025. PLEASE JOIN
US AT THE TABLE.
>> THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR
JOINING US THIS MORNING. WE WILL
HAVE ONE MORE JOINING US. SO WE
WILL GIVE SOME TIME FOR HIM TO
ARRIVE. BY WAY OF EXPLANATION,
AND THIS COULD BE A LEAD IN, WE
DID THE APPOINTMENT AND
REAPPOINTMENT FIRST OF THE TWO
CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEES TO THE
CPC, THE COMMUNITY T POLICE
COMMISSION. THE NEXT TWO ARE
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS. TEEING OFF
THE POTENTIAL TALKING POINT AS
WE TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MR.
MERKEL AND COULD WE HAVE
EVERYONE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
AND THEN BEGIN THE PRESENTATION?
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR KETTLE,
THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME FOR
CPC APPOINTMENT CONFIRMATION
HEARING. I'M JOEL MERKEL,
CURRENTLY CO CHAIR. I'M HERE TO
PRESENT THE NOMINEES OF WHICH I
AM ONE. SO THANK YOU, HAPPY TO
GO INTO THAT MORE. I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO THE CURRENT INTERIM AND
LET HER RESPOND.
>> MY NAME IS ESY OMY. I'M
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF POLICE COMMISSION.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M NAY IS
ARLECIER WEST AND I'M ONE OF
THE NOMINEES FOR THE CPC
COMMISSIONERS.
>> THANK YOU. SO I WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE A GENERAL INTRODUCTION
TO THE CPC AND THE NOMINATION
PROCESS FOR COMMISSIONERS AND
THEN TURN IT OVER TO INTERIM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ECI AMEH TO
PROVIDE MORE ON THE NOMINEES. AS
A GENERAL MATTER, THE CPC THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
HAS 15 POSITIONS. FIVE OF WHICH
ARE APPOINTED BY THREE DIFFERENT
APPOINTING AUTHORITIES, MAYOR,
CITY COUNCIL, AND CPC. A SLIGHT
CORRECTION, CHAIR KETTLE, I
BELIEVE ONE OF THE NOMINEES IS A
CPC NOMINEE. I THINK THAT IS
JOSEPH SEIA.
>> CORRECTED, THANK YOU.
>> MS. WEST IS A MAYORAL
APPOINTEE, AND THEN I OF COURSE
AM A CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE OF THE
THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO JUST KIND
OF IDENTIFY IN THIS MOMENT IS WE
ARE KIND OF IN A PERIOD OF MAYBE
TRANSITION MIGHT BE THE RIGHT
WORD. THE CPC HAS BEEN VERY
ACTIVE IN THE CONSENT DECREE
LITIGATION FROM THE BEGINNING.
WE ARE A CREATURE OF THE CONSENT
DECREE. WE WERE CREATED FROM THE
CONSENT DECREE IN 2012. IN 2017,
WE WERE MADE A PERMANENT
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITY WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, ALONG WITH OIG
AND OPA. A LOT OF THE WORK WE DO
NOW IS OUTSIDE OF THE CONSENT
DECREE BUT WE ARE STILL
INVOLVED. THE CITY AS YOU KNOW
IS MOVING TOWARDS ENDING THE
CONSENT DECREE. THAT'S PART OF
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CROWD
CONTROL ORDINANCE THAT THE CPC
HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH. SO THERE
WILL BE A TIME SOON WHEN WE WILL
BE IN A POST CONSENT DECREE
WORLD. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
THE CPC HAS TAKEN A POSITION ON
IN COURT OF SUPPORTING IN LARGE
MEASURE BECAUSE THE CPC HAS
TAKEN THE POSITION THAT IT IS
BETTER FOR THE CITY AT THIS TIME
TO RETURN A LOT OF THE AUTHORITY
AND ATONOMY OF POLICING POLICY
TO LOCAL CITY LEADERS. UNDER THE
CONSENT DEGREE, A LOT OF THAT
HAS TO GO THROUGH THE FEDERAL
JUDGE. WE THINK IT IS TIME TO
HAVE IT RETURNED TO THE CITY.
THAT'S THE POSITION WE HAVE
TAKEN IN COURT FILINGS. THAT'S
WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE
HORIZON. THAT WILL DEFINE NOT
ONLY OUR WORK BUT HOW THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS WORK
TOGETHER WITH CITY LEADERS AND
POLICE LEADERS. SO IN THAT VEIN,
WE WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM
HAVING THE 15 POSITIONS THAT ARE
OUTLINED IN THE ORDINANCE
FILLED. AND SO WE -- I HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AND OTHER
COMMISSIONERS TO IDENTIFY
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO
HAVE ENTHUSIASM AND TALENT AND
AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT
MATTER AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO
PROVIDE THAT WORK. THE CPC HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A WORKING
COMMISSION. COMMISSIONERS ARE
EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST
10 HOURS PER MONTH OF THEIR
TIME. WE HAVE MULTIPLE PUBLIC
MEETINGS. WE HAVE WORK GROUP
MEETINGS. AND THERE IS A LOT OF
EMAILING, PHONE CALLING, OTHER
SUCH MEETINGS AND RESEARCH AND
PREPARATION THAT GOES INTO DOING
THE WORK. WE ARE A WORKING
COMMISSION. AND IT DOES TAKE A
LOT OF SACRIFICE FOR MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY TO DO THE WORK. SO
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE NOMINEES
HERE TODAY, VOLUNTEERING
THEMSELVES FOR THIS WORK. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF
THEM AND THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR
MAKING TIME FOR THIS. HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS,
THANK YOU.
>> SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP SOME
GENERAL POINTS, ANY QUESTIONS,
VICE CHAIR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE? I DO APPRECIATE THAT
POINT ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
WORKING ON. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
AND OBVIOUSLY THE CROWD
MANAGEMENT PIECE IS IMPORTANT,
LESS LEEKTAL WEAPONS. I WILL SAY
NOW THERE WILL BE AN AMENDMENT
OFFERED AT FULL COUNCIL WHICH
INCORPORATES CPC ITEMS. SO I
JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT,
DETAILS LATER. YOU WILL NUT BE
ABLE TOSEE IT UNTIL THE END OF
THE WEEK. BUT WE CAN DISCUSS
THAT LATER. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THAT VOICE. THAT IS A SEGUE
FOR ME WHICH IS A POINT THAT I
HAVE BEEN SAYING ON A REGULAR
BASIS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR
THREE ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS IN
THIS PROCESS. ONE OF MY GOALS IN
A VERY GENERAL WAY IS TO HELP
OUR ACTABILITY PARTNERS BY
SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS.
SOMETIMES INADVERTENTLY WE KIND
OF SET THEM UP FOR FAILURE. SO
WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THOSE PIECES
AND WHAT WE CAN DO. THAT WILL BE
A TOPIC OF A FUTURE COMMITTEE
MEETING AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW
YEAR. BUT WITH THAT, I JUST
WANTED TO SAY, BECAUSE THOSE ARE
GENERAL PIECES, BY THE WAY, WE
DO HAVE ONE, AND I'M WORKING ON
IT TOO. BUT WE WILL GET INTO
THAT LATER AS WELL. SO OVER TO
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, I HAVE JUST
GREETED YOU IN THE LANGUAGE OF
NIGERIA. IF YOU WANT TO SAY YOU
ARE ALL FINE, YOU CAN SAY ALOW
BEHI. AND IF YOU WANT TO SAY YOU
ARE NOT FINE AND YOU WANT TO
SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT, YOU
SHOULD CONSULT WITH MY MOTHER
BUT I WANTED TO GREET YOU IN MY
LANGUAGE TODAY. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AGAIN,
I'M ECI AMEH, INTERIM OF THE
OFFICE OF POLICE COMMISSION. I
WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE
RECRUITMENT PROCESS. WE ARE SO
EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY
FOUR COMMISSIONERS, TWO FOR
REAPPOINTMENT AND TWO SEEKING AN
INITIAL TERM ON THE COMMISSION.
THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS LOOKING TO
SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THIS
WAY. THAT IS A VERY EXCITING
THING TO BRING TO YOU TODAY,
ALSO THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL OF
THE ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS IN
THAT PROCESS. PERTHE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE WHICH
IS 125315, COMMISSIONER SHALL BE
REPRESENTATIVE OF SEATTLE'S
DIVERSE POPULATION, DRAWN FROM
DIFFERAND RACIAL AND
ETHNIC GROUPS INCLUDING
IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE COMMUNITIES,
AND FROM THE AFRICAN AMERICAN,
LGBTQ, YOUTH, FAITH, BUSINESS,
AND OTHER COMMUNITIES REFLECTING
THE OVERALL DEMOGRAPHICS OF
SEATTLE RESIDENTS. COMMISSIONERS
MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO RELATE,
COMMUNICATE, AND ENGAGE
EFFECTIVELY WITH ALL COMMUNITIES
AND PARTICULARLY WITH THOSE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
POLICING. SO TO T THAT END, A
GAP ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED BY
THE CPC LAST FALL TO IDENTIFY
WHERE REPRESENTATION FROM THOSE
COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS WAS
LACKING ON THE CPC. YOU WILL SEE
THAT COMING UP IN JUST A MOMENT
ON THE SCREEN. WE SHARED THAT
GAP ANALYSIS WITH THE
AUTHORITIES, MAYOR'S OFFICE,
CITY COUNCIL, AND COMMISSION.
THIS GAP ANALYSIS WAS USED TO
GUIDE OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
WHEN WE PERFORMED THE GAP
ANALYSIS, WE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL
GROUPS THAT WERE CURRENTLY NOT
REPRESENTED ON THE CPC. I WON'T
READ THEM ALL BUT I WANT TO CALL
OUT BLACK MEN, FORMERLY
INCARCERATED PEOPLE, PACIFIC
ISLANDER PEOPLE, SOUTH ASIAN
PEOPLE, EAST ASIAN PEOPLE,
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THERE
WERE ALSO LACK OF REPRESENTATION
FROM DIFFERENT EXPERTISE GROUPS.
THAT INCLUDES HOUSING, SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM K-12,
DEPARTMENT OF PUB ALIC DEFENSE,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND EXPERTISE
IN AN ANALYSIS OF DISPARATE
IMPACT, AND STRATEGIES TO
IMPROVE RACIALLY DISPARIS
IMPACT. WE SAW SOME GEOGRAPHIC
GAPS, DISTRICT 2, 4, 5 WERE
MISSING IN TERMS OF
REPRESENTATION ON THE
COMMISSION. COCHAIR MERKEL
SHARED THE EXPECTATIONS WITH YOU
EARLIER BUT I WANTED TO SHARE
THAT BECAUSE THE GAP ANALYSIS
DROVE OUR OUT REACH TO THE
VOLUNTEERS WE ARE PRESENTING TO
YOU TODAY. JOEL MERKEL IS AN
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH
THE WASHINGTON ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE. HE HAS SERVED
AS A COCHAIR SINCE 2022. WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR HIS CONTINUED
DEDICATION TO THE COMMISSION. AS
YOU HEARD EARLIER, COCHAIR
MERKEL IS A COUNCIL APPOINTEE.
ARLECIER WEST IS A SENIOR HUMAN
RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER FROM
THE KING COUNTY CENTRAL STAFF.
WEST IS A MAYORAL APPOINTEE. I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO HER IN JUST
A MOMENT TO SAY MORE ABOUT HER
INTEREST IN JOINING THE
COMMISSION. JOSEPH SEIA IS THE
DIRECTOR OF OCEANA NORTHWEST. HE
HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A
COMMISSIONER. HE IS A CPC
APPOINTEE. JOSEPH COULD NOT JOIN
US TODAY BUT HE EXPRESSES HIS
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT HIS
COMMUNITY ON THE CPC. ARLECIER
WEST, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A
LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR INTEREST
IN JOINING THE COMMISSION?
>> I WOULD, AND THANK YOU FOR
THAT. WHAT INTERESTED ME ABOUT
THIS POSITION SPECIFICALLY IS
THAT IT ENCOMPASSES SO MUCH OF
MY CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY. I
WORK AS A SENIOR BUSINESS
PARTNER WITH THE KING COUNTY
COUNCIL. I FIRST STARTED MY
CAREER AS A FAMILY SUPPORT
WORKER FOR A HEAD START PROGRAM
IN SEATTLE. THERE I SERVED ON
THE COMMITTEE IN MY POSITION AS
A PERSON WHO TOOK CARE OF THE
MOST VULNERABLE IN THE
COMMUNITY, THE YOUNG HEAD START
FAMILIES. FROM THERE, I LEARNED
THAT IF I WANTED TO MAKE A
BIGGER DIFFERENCE, I NEEDED TO
HAVE MORE EDUCATION. I WENT BACK
TO SCHOOL, TO WSU, TO STUDY
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS. FROM
THERE WENT INTO PUBLIC
COMMUNICATIONS AND NOW I'M IN
HUMAN RESOURCES. MY HEART IS TO
SERVE PEOPLE. IN THIS POSITION,
SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO
ARE BIPOC AND HAVE THAT NEED FOR
PEOPLE AROUND THEM TO PROTECT
THEM. I ALSO SERVE IN MANY ROLES
AS PART OF MY SORORITY, AS PART
LIAISON FOR MY GIRL SCOUT GROUP,
DIFFERENT THINGS WHERE I HAVE
RESPONSIBILITIES TO SERVE PEOPLE
IN AN ACCEPT WHERE THEY
SOMETIMES AREN'T SEEN. THEY
NEED SUPPORT. COMING INTO THE
COMMISSION, HEARING WHAT THE
COMMISSIONERS DO, BEING THAT
LIAISON POINT THAT PUBLIC
RELATIONS VOICE FOR BOTH SIDES,
I THOUGHT WAS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO LEND MY
KNOWLEDGE, LOVE, EXPERTISE, AND
EXPERIENCE. SO THAT WAS ONE OF
THE REASONS I WAS INTERESTED IN
THE POSITION. I COME FROM
EDUCATION. I'M WSU AND
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, I
LEARNED SO MUCH IN BOTH OF THE
INSTITUTIONS OF WHY IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE
EDUCATED SO THEY CAN BE A VOICE
FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T ABLE TO DO
THAT. AND WORKING WITH HEAVILY
UNIIZED GROUP WITH KING COUNTY
AND WORKING WITH FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT DIVISION, SOME OF THE
GROUPS THAT I SERVE SPECIFICALLY
WERE THOSE WHO ARE ESL LEARNERS.
A LOT OF OUR CUSTODIANS ARE
PEOPLE WHO REALLY DIDN'T GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOICE.
THEY WERE FEELING THEY WERE
COMING INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY
-- THIS IS SUCH A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY. AND FROM THERE, I
WAS ABLE TO HELP THEM TO GET THE
SKILLS THEY NEEDED TO APPLY FOR
HIGHER POSITIONS. THESE TYPES OF
GROUPS I HAVE WORKED WITH SO
MUCH AND I WANTED TO CONTINUE TO
DO THAT. AND ALSO WITH THE
SAFETY PORTION OF WHAT THE CPC
DOES, I'M EXCITED TO BE THAT
VOICE, THAT IN BETWEEN FOR BOTH
GROUPS FOR THE POLICE FIELD AND
ALSO THE COMMUNITY, JUST EXCITED
TO BE HERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY I ACCEPTED THE
NOMINATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SOME
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, VICE
CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ACORO,
THANK YOU. THAT MEANS GOOD
MORNING IN URUBEA. MY FATHER'S
MOTHER TONGUE. SO THANK YOU FOR
SHARING A GREETING IN EDOMA.
OVER 250 ETHNIC GROUPS IN
NIGERIA AND MANY, MANY TRIBES AS
WELL. MORE THAN JUST THE THREE
DOMINANT TRIBES. BUT IT IS ONE
OF THE WORLD'S MOST DIVERSE
COUNTRIES IN AFRICA ITSELF THE
MOST DIVERSE CONTINENT IN THE
WORLD. SO IT IS GREAT TOSEE A
FELLOW NIGERIAN.
>> YES, IT IS.
>> AND SEPARATELY, I KNOW YOU
ARE ON AN INTERIM PACE S BUT
WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT OFF LINE
WITH YOU AND COCHAIRS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO RECONNECT. BUT I
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK. I
WAS LOOKING AT YOUR PRESENTATION
ON SOME OF THE KNOWN GAPS AND
HOW THAT KIND OF GUIDED YOUR
DECISION MAKING IN TERMS OF OUT
REACH AND FILLING THOSE GAPS AND
ADDRESSING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
IF YOU WILL. JUST CURIOUS, THE
COMMISSION IS A VOLUNTEER
COMMISSION. THERE IS A FINIGHT
AMOUNT OF SLOTS. THERE IS ALWAYS
GOING TO BE INSORT OF GAPS, AND
JUST CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, THESE ARE THE GAPS
THAT EXIST TODAY AND WITH NEW
EXPERTISE WE WILL HELP ADDRESS
THE GAPS. BUT ON A MORE DURABLE,
SUSTAINED BASIS, HOW ARE YOU
THINKING ABOUT ADDRESSING THOSE
GAPS OF THE MOMENT, WHATEVER
THEY MIGHT BE?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER. SO
EXCITED TO SEE A FELLOW NIGERIAN
ON THE DIS. I WANTED TO SHARE A
LITTLE OF OUR STRATEGY IN
RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION AROUND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OF THE
GROUPS. AS YOU NOTED, THIS IS
NOT A STATIC SITUATION. THE
IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING WITH
COMMUNITIES, BASED ON THE NEEDS
OF COMMUNITIES AND EMERGENT
ISSUES THAT COME UP IN PUBLIC
SAFETY. THE STRATEGY WE ARE
USING INVOLVES A SIMPLE DECISION
TREE. WE LOOK AT COMMUNITIES
MOST IMPACTED BY POLICING. THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT IS DATA SHOWN.
WE CAN USE THAT WHERE THE
COMMUNITIES ARE. WE LOOK AT DO
WE HAVE CURRENT RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES ON THE
CPC, YES OR NO. IF YES, WE
MAINTAIN AND CONTINUE THE
RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE. IF NO, WE
IDENTIFY COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY
LEADERS, AND OTHERS WE CAN REACH
OUT TO ESTABLISH THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS. WE HAVE AN
ENGAGEMENT SPECTRUM THAT WE HAVE
CREATED FROM 10 TO 5. A 1 IS A
ONE TIME INTERACTION, TABLING AT
A COMMUNITY EVENT, FESTIVAL OR A
GATHERING FOR THAT COMMUNITY OR
ORGANIZATION. ENGAGEMENT AT
LEVEL 5 IS SERVING ACTIVELY ON
THE COMMISSION, AND AN
ENGAGEMENT AT A 3 IS A REGULAR
PRESENCE AT THOSE COMMUNITY
MEETINGS, OFTEN PRESENT TING AND
WE HAVE A REGULAR STANDING
ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT PARTICULAR
COMMUNITY GROUP. WE DEVELOP A
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MATRIX THAT
PUTS ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS
AT DIFFERENT ENGAGEMENT LEVELS
AND WE USE THAT AS OUR WORKING
PLAN TO WORK WITH GROUPS. WE ARE
CONTINUALLY ASSESSING THAT. THE
IDEA IS TO ASSESS THAT ON A
QUARTERLY BASIS. STAFF FROM THE
COMMUNITY TEAM ALONG WITH
COMMISSIONERS THAT SERVE ON A
SUBCOMMITTEE, ENGAGEMENT
COMMITTEE, ONE OF THE STANDING
COMMISSIONS IN THE BYLAWS, THEY
REASSESS THAT MATRIX AND MAKE
CHANGES. IF WE HAVE AN INCIDENT
THAT HAPPENED IN A PARTICULAR
COMMUNITY, FOR INSTANCE, AN
OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN A
COMMUNITY, WE MAY RAMP UP THE
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY
EITHER TEMPORARY OR ONGOING
BASIS. THIS IS AN ASSESSMENT WE
MAKE. WE HAVE A FINIGHT NUMBER
OF SEATS BUT WE HAVE TO HELP
THOSE IMPACTED BY POLICING AND
WE HAVE TO THINK BEYOND THE
SEATS ON THE COMMITTEE TO SEE
HOW WE WILL ENGAGE WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
>> LOVE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
RESPONSE AND GLAD YOU ARE HARD
AT WORK WITH THE ISSUES IN TERMS
OF THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND
THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE AND THE
UNDERLYING WORK AS WELL, EQUALLY
IMPORTANT IN MY VIEW. AND OTHER
QUESTION, MORE OF A COMMENT. MS.
ARLECIER WEST, HELLO, SO GOOD TO
SEE YOU. FULL DISCLOSURE, I KNOW
MS. WEST. I GREW UP WITH MS.
WEST, A FELLOW ALUMOF CAMP
MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL, GO ROYALS.
WE OUT THERE.
>> I HAVE TO SAY GO CHARGERS ON
BEHALF OF MY WIFE, FROM CENT
RIDGE.
>> MR. CHAIR, NO ONE CARES ABOUT
THE CHARGERS. BUT IN ANY EVENT.
SO GOOD TO SEE YOU IN THIS
CAPACITY. IT HAS BEEN DECADES
BUT I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND SO
HONORED TO BE IN A POSITION TO
HELP NOW SUPPORT IN YOUR WORK IN
VARIOUS CAPACITIES. GOOD TO SEE
YOU AT THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL
AS WELL. I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME
CALLS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
TREATING YOU RIGHT OVER THERE.
IN ANY EVENT, LET ME ASK, I
GUESS THIS IS FOR ALL OF THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS UP FOR
APPOINTMENT THAT ARE PRESENT, I
THINK IT IS JUST TWO. WHAT IS
THE THING THAT EXCITES YOU MOST
ABOUT THIS WORK? WHAT IS THE
THING THAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST
ABOUT THIS WORK, PARTICULARLY ON
A GOING FORWARD BASIS? I SUPPOSE
I SHALL START WITH THE COCHAIR.
>> CELEBRITY SAKA, THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION. YOU KIND OF GET TO
THE HEART OF WHAT DRAWS
COMMISSIONERS TO BE SECOMMUNITY
TO DO THIS WORK AND WHAT IS YOUR
WHY. THAT'S A COMMON QUESTION
THAT PEOPLE ASK IN ANY WORK YOU
ARE DOING. AND MY WHY IS PRETTY
BASIC. YOU LOOK AT MY RESUME AND
MY BACKGROUND WHICH IS PART OF
MY APPOINTMENT PACKET, I'M
SURE. I STARTED MY LEGAL CAREER
WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES
SENATE AS A POLICY ADVISOR TO
SENATOR CANTWELL. I DID A LOT OF
OVERSOIKT. I WAS WORKING IN
CONGRESS WHEN GEORGE W. BUSH WAS
PRESIDENT AND DEMOCRATS WERE
MINORITY. I WORKED WHEN
PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT
AND THE DEMOCRATS WERE MAJORITY.
I WORKED ON BOTH SIDES AND DID A
LOT OF OVERSIGHT. I SAW HOW
IMPACTFUL POLICIES ARE IN
PEOPLE'S EVERY DAY LIVES. WHEN
I CAME TO SEATTLE, I WORKED IN
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR TEN
YEARS, PREDOMINANTLY DOING
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE A█ND CHIL
ABUSE CASES. I SAW HOW THE
SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WE HAVE
AND POLICING IMPACTS PEOPLE ALL
OVER THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING
VICTIMS OF MANY CRIMES WHO ARE
THRUST INTO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM THROUGH NO CHOICE OF
THEIR OWN AND IT IS AN
UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE. A LOT OF
THOSE FOLKS ARE FROM VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. AS A PROSECUTORS, I
WAS EXPECTED TO GO INTO COURT
AND BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST
ETHICAL STANDARDS. AND THAT'S
RIGHT, THAT'S JUST BECAUSE IF
SYSTEM HAS THE POWER TO TAKE
AWAY PEOPLE'S LIBERTY, THEN THE
PROCESS TO ACHIEVE THAT MUST BE
HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD. SO
ACCOUNTABILITY FROM MY DAYS IN
AN PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE WAS POUR
MOUNT TO ME. SO SEEING A LOT OF
DISCUSSION AND DEBATE IN SEATTLE
POLICING AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY
ISSUES, SEEING WHAT I SAW AS
PERCEIVED RESISTANCE TO
ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THOSE
OFFICERS, SOME OFFICERS THAT I
WORKED WITH IN MY CASES, KIND OF
CONFUSED ME. I THOUGHT GIVEN MY
EXPERIENCE IN THE WORK, WORKING
WITH COMMUNITIES THROUGH MY WORK
AND MY BACKGROUND IN POLICY AND
OVERVOITH SIGHT, I WAS EXCITED
TO GET INVOLVED IN POLICING
POLICY ISSUE, SOMETHING I
DEVELOPED AN IN BUT ALSO
ACCOUNTABILITY. THE SYSTEM HAS
BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR
THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE CONFIDENCE
IN IT. THAT'S MY WHY. THAT'S
WHY I GOT INVOLVED. I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO TOIP THIS WORK. I'M
HONORED THE COMMITTEE CHOSE ME
AS A COCHAIR. I I CAN SAY ONE
THING ABOUT MS. WEST BEFORE
TURPING IT OVER TO HER, WHEN I
BECAME A COCHAIR, I WAS THE ONLY
ATTORNEY ON THE COMMISSION.
BEING AN ATTORNEY AND HAVING
THAT BACKGROUND I THINK HAS
REALLY HELPED MY SERVICE AS A
COCHAIR. BUT THE OTHER THING
THAT THE ORDINANCE DOES IS IT
MAKES THE COCHAIRS OF THE CPC,
THE ACTUAL EMPLOYEE SUPERVISOR
OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THERE
IS SPECIFICS IN THE ORDINANCE
AND BYLAWS THAT WE HAVE THAT
OUTLINE HOW TO DO THAT WORK. AS
AN ATTORNEY IT HAS BEEN REALLY
HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT BACKGROUND
AS I DO THE WORK. ONE THING THAT
HAS BEEN LACKING I THINK, THAT I
DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT UNTIL I MET
MS. WEST RECENTLY WAS A
BACKGROUND IN HR. SHE IS A
SENIOR HR BUSINESS PARTNER AT
THE KING COUNTY CENTRAL STAFF.
SHE HAS ALSO EXPRESSED INTEREST
T TO ME IN BECOMING A COCHAIR
ONCE SHE IS CONFIRMED AND JOINS
THE COMMISSION WHICH I'M
ECSTATIC ABOUT. HAVING HER AS A
COCHAIR WOULD BE AMAZING
ESPECIALLY WITH HER BRINGING HR
BACKGROUND AND EXPERTISE. WE
HAVE A GAP ANALYSIS IDENTIFYING
COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO BE
REPRESENTED THAT ARE
UNDERREPRESENTED AND ALSO HAVING
THE BACKGROUND AND SPOORNS IN
DIVERSITY THERE IS SOMETHING
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME
AS COMMISSIONER AND COCHAIR.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT HER
NOMINATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YES, AND WHAT EXCITES ME
ABOUT THIS POSITION IS THAT I
GET TO CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY
AND THE PEOPLE I LOVE. THE
OFFICERS ARE PART OF SPD HERE
TODAY THAT NEED TO KNOW THAT
THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT
ARE WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF. THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW THERE IS
SOMEONE WHO WILL LISTEN AND THEY
WILL CARE AND THEY WILL BE
EXCITED TO WANT TO BRIDGE THE
GAP. THERE ARE POLICIES THAT
NEED TO BE EXPLAINED WHEN WE GO
TO COMMUNITY EVENTS. THERE ARE
TIMES WHEN PEOPLE NEED TO BE
HEARD AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE THAT FACE,
THAT VOICE, THAT HEART THAT THEY
HAVE THERE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW
THAT THERE IS TEAM DEDICATED TO
WORKING BRINGING THE TWO
TOGETHER. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY
IT IS A PEACE MAKER POSITION BUT
A POSITION THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO
KNOW THERE IS AN INVESTMENT. AND
I'M INVESTED INTO MAKING THIS
CPC APPOINTMENT WORTH THEIR
WHILE.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> VICE CHAIR, CAN I JUMP IN
REALLY QUICK AND HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE RABBI
BENCHLOUCH TO THE TABLE TOO?
>> SURE.
>> I WAS TRYING TO FIND THE
RIGHT TIMING AND NOW IS PROBABLY
GOOD. RABBI, IF YOU CAN COME UP
THAT WAY AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF
AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO ANSWER THE
VICE CHAIR'S QUESTION AS HE
CONTINUES ON. IF YOU COULD -- I
APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF THE
MISCOMMUNICATION OF THE MEETING.
THE ARRIVAL TIME WAS ON MY SIDE.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> PULL THE MIC CLOSE.
>> THERE WE GO, GOOD MORNING.
WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT? MY
INSPIRATION?
>> AN INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF
FIRST AND THEN KIND OF GOING TO
THE VICE CHAIR SAKA'S QUESTION,
WHAT IS DRIVING YOUR DESIRE TO
SERVE ON THE COMMISSION.
>> WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST
ABOUT THE WORK, PARTICULARLY ON
A GOING FORWARD BASIS, PUTTING
ASIDE THE LOOK BACK?
>> IT IS VERY EXCITING TO BE IN
THE FORUM. THE FIRST TYPE OF
FORUM FOR MYSELF. AS A
DISCLOSURE, I AM NEW TO SEATTLE,
LESS THAN THREE YEARS. BUT NOT
THAT NEW THAT MY CHILDREN HAVE
NOT FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE
MARINERS AND SEAHAWKS SO THAT IS
A GOOD START. I'M A RABBI IN A
COMMUNITY HERE. SEATTLE JEWISH
COMMUNITY HAS 70,000JEWS THAT
CALL THEMSELVES JEWISH BUT MANY
MORE, PROBABLY ABOUT 100,000.
WITH MORE THAN 50 JEWISH
INSTALLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
GREATER SEATTLE AREA. OUR
COMMUNITY IS VERY DYNAMIC,
DIVERSE, DIVERSIFIED AND IT HAS
MANY TIMES OF JEWS WITH MANY
TYPES OF NEEDS IN MANY PARTS OF
TIME. IT EXCITES ME AND INSPIRES
ME TO BE HERE TO BE THE VOICE OF
THE COMMUNITY WITH THE MANY
NEEDS THAT ARRIVE. THERE IS AN
INFLUX OF JEWISH PEOPLE MOVING
TO SEATTLE CONTINUOUSLY, EVERY
YEAR FOR A MEREIAD OF REASONS
BUT PREDOMINANTLY VOCATIONAL
REASONS. HIGH TECH AREA, A LOT
OF PEOPLE COMING HERE FROM OTHER
STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO
REPRESENT AND TO BRIDGE THEIR
NEEDS AND ALSO FOR THE
COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
VERY MUCH BELIEVES IN POLICIES
AND THE STRENGTH AND THE STAMINA
OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE
BELIEVE IN THAT ETHICALLY,
RELIGIOUSLY, HISTORICALLY, AND
ALSO OF COURSE, THERE IS A GREAT
NEED FOR US TO HAVE THAT IN
ORDER. WHEN MOSES WENT OUT FROM
THE HOUSE OF PHARAOH, I WAS
READING ABOUT IT NOW IN THE
WEEKLY TORAH PORTION, HE ONLY
WENT OUT TWICE FROM THE PALACE
AND EACH TIME HE SAW SOMETHING
WAS NOT RIGHT AND HE RESPONDED
TO IT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE
CARRY WITH US. WE WANT TO BE
ALERT, AWARE, AND RESPONSIVE TO
WHAT GOES ON AROUND US IN THE
COMMUNITIES, NOT ONLY TO
OURSELVES AND TO ANYTHING THAT
WE MAY SEE. WE NEED TO ARE HAVE
THE PROPER FUNCTIONALITY OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT. WE
SUPPORT THAT WHEREVER WE ARE
HISTORICALLY AND NOW IN OUR
DAYS. SO IT INSPIRES ME VERY
MUCH AND INSPIRES ME TO KNOW YOU
ARE FROM PART OF AFRICA THAT IS
NOT FAR FROM WHERE I LIVED IN
AFRICA FOR FIVE YEARS. BUT
EITHER WAY, I'M A RABBI, ALSO A
CLINICAL PSYCHOTHERAPIST THAT
HAS EXPOSURE TO MANY PARTS OF
THE COMMUNITY AND SEES AND HEARS
THE TYPES OF DIFFERENT NEEDS AND
I AM INSPIRED BY THOSE NEEDS AND
BY THE NEEDS TO BRIDGE AND
CONNECT.
>> AWESOME. I WILL JUST SAY, MR.
COCHAIR, MS. WEST, RABBI, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION
AND DEVOTION TO THIS WORK AND
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN
THIS WAY AND SERVE AGAIN IN THIS
WAY. I'M INSPIRED MS. WEST BY
YOUR BRAVERY AND WILLINGNESS AND
COURAGE TO POTENTIALLY STEP UP
AND SERVE IN A MORE, EVEN
STRONGER LEADERSHIP CAPACITY.
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE
IS A LEADER. AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT, AMPLIFY
AND UPLIFT YOUR WORK IN ANY WAY
I CAN. AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
SERVED ON MULTIPLE GOVERNMENT
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, NONPROFIT
BOARDS BEFORE I RAN FOR OFFICE,
I KNOW FIRST-HAND THE IMPACT
THAT YOUR WORK HAS AND REGULAR
READ REPORTS THAT COME FROM THE
VARIOUS COMMITTEES. I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND AN
HONOR TO SUPPORT YOU ALL TODAY.
LET'S TOUCH BASE OFF LINE IF
YOU ARE SO WILLING AND GET AN
INTROSYNC SCHEDULED. NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS MR. CHAIR BESIDES GO
ROYALS..
>> GO ROYALS.
>> ROYAL POWER.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR. TO
COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT MOORE,
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YEAH, I HAVE COMMENTS BUT
FIRST A QUESTION . ON THE
GREETINGS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE. YOU
GIVE OF YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE
AND YOUR HEART AND SOUL TO THE
WORK AND I KNOW IT IS A BIG
RESPONSIBILITY AND IT IS A BIG
THING TO TAKE ON. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. FOR THIS COMMISSION,
PERHAPS MORE THAN OTHER
COMMISSIONS BECAUSE OF THE
NATURE OF THE WORK. ONE QUESTION
FIRST, MS. WEST, I SEE THAT YOUR
APPOINTMENT STARTED ON, WELL THE
MATRIX SAYS 1/1/24. I'M
ASSUMING THAT IS A MISTAKE OR --
OKAY.
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION. SO THE
ANSWER TO THAT IS IN THE SPRING
OF 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERED SOME TECHNICAL
CHANGES TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE THAT TWEAKED SOME OF
THE PROVISIONS THAT RELATED TO
THE CPC. ONE OF THOSE WAS TO
REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE
COMMISSION FROM 21 COMMISSIONERS
TO 15 COMMISSIONERS. WHEN THE C
PRGS C WAS INITIALLY CREATED OUT
OF THE CONSENT DECREE, WE HAD 15
COMMISSIONERS. THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE IN 2017
EXPANDED IT TO 21 AND THEN IT
WAS REDUCED TO 15 IN 2023. THERE
WAS A NEED TO ENSURE THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TERMS EXPIRED PER YEAR
SO THAT IT WASN'T AN OVERLOAD
OF TERMS THAT EXPIRED IN ONE
YEAR. SO THEY RESET THE
BEGINNING AND END OF EACH THREE
YEAR END FOR EACH APPOINTING
AUTHORITY. THAT WAS DONE WITH
THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. SO THE TERM
THAT MS. WEST IS BEING APPOINTED
TO IS ALREADY HALFWAY THROUGH AT
THIS POINT, OR AT LEAST ONE YEAR
INTO IT. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF
STAGGERING THE EXPIRATION OF
TERMS IN SPOTS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT SHE
IS ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ORDINANCE
FOR REAPPOINTMENT FOLLOWING THIS
TERM FOR UP TO THREE, THREE-YEAR
TERMS.
>> GOT IT, THANK YOU. THAT WAS
MORE COMPLICATED RESPONSE THAN I
THOUGHT. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A
TYPO. BUT WHAT I WAS GETTING AT
IS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO
RECRUIT. BECAUSE YOU HAD STARTED
TALKING ABOUT THAT. SO I WAS
JUST NOTING THAT THAT IS AN
ISSUE FOR MANY OF THE
COMMISSIONS BUT I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON
IT. I WAS GOING TO PUT IN A
SHAMELESS PLUG TO OUT REACH TO
NEIGHBORHOOD BIAs OR CHAMBERS
BECAUSE I REMEMBER THERE WAS ONE
MEETING WHERE THE ISSUES OF
SMALL BUSINESSES WERE FOCUSED ON
AND SO I KNOW THAT THEY COULD BE
ENGAGED AS WELL. JUST A
SUGGESTION, NOT A CRITICISM BUT
CAME INTO MY MIND. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. I'M GLAD YOU CAN BE
RENEWED. CLEARLY YOU AS AN HR
SPECIALIST, FIRST AND FOREMOST,
YOU UNDERSTAND ORGANIZATIONS AND
YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND THE
PERSPECTIVE. YOU ARE TRAINED TO
UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE
PERSPECTIVES OF EVERYONE IN THE
ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. RABBI,
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE
TABLE AND SHARING BRIEFLY A
LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. I
HAVE TO ADMIT THAT WHEN YOU SAID
THE WORDS AND GIVEN THE INFLUX,
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT A RISE IN ANTI-SEMITISM IN
THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEED FOR
MORE COLLABORATION OR NOT
NECESSARILY MORE COLLABORATION
BUT I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE
GOING TO MAKE THE POINT THAT
THERE IS AN INCREASED
VULNERABILITY THAT YOU WERE
REPRESENTING AND THEN YOU
DIDN'T SAY THAT. BUT I WANT TO
SAY I HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS
WITH LEADERS IN THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY
APPARATUS HERE SO I RECOGNIZE
THAT. ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, AS
A THERAPIST, YOUR SKILLS AS WELL
WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
WILLING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. I SEE A HAND
UP BUT THAT IS FOR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
ANYTHING? GOING ONCE, TWICE.
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
AGAIN. I RECOGNIZE THIS PROCESS
BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH IT AT THE
REQUEST OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. AND I
RECOGNIZE WHAT THE WORK AND THE
DUE DILIGENCE THAT I WAS DOING,
THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT PLAYS
INTO WLAT THE CPC DOES AND
PARTICULARLY FOR THE COCHAIRS.
WE OFTEN TALK UP HERE TALKING TO
THOSE FROM VARIOUS TYPES OF
COMMISSIONS. FOR THE LEVEL OF
EFFORT IN TERMS OF TIME, ENERGY,
AND EVERYTHING, AND THAT'S
ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT I KNOW
SOME HAVE MORE THAN OTHERS.
PARTICULARLY, WHEN YOU ARE
LEADING AS A COCHAIR, IN TERMS
OF TALKING TO PAST COCHAIRS, IT
IS DEFINITELY HIGHER ORDER IN
TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF EFFORT. I
WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU
TO MR. MERKEL FOR THAT AND FOR
HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMISSION
THUS FAR. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A
BIG WELCOME AND I DON'T WANT TO
INTIMIDATE YOU WITH SAYING THERE
IS A LOT OF WORK BUT THERE IS A
LOT OF WORK, HOPEFULLY AS A
COCHAIR FOR YOU COMING INTO THE
CPC. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING
YOUR PERSPECTIVES, BRING YOUR
BACKGROUNDS FOR ALL OF THE
REASONS THAT WERE DOCUMENTED IN
THE MEMO. BUT JUST TO ADD THOSE
PIECES THAT MAY NOT BE THOUGHT
OF. I OFTEN TALK ABOUT BE
PRESENT, BE MINDFUL, BE
PREPARED. BEING PRESENT IS BEING
THERE. NOT DOOM SCROLLING ON
YOUR PHONE OR WHATEVER. BUT
BEING MINDFUL IS TAKING AN EXTRA
STEP IN TERMS OF PUTTING
YOURSELF IN SOMEONE ELSE'S
SHOES AND THEN BRINGING THOSE
SPECIFIC INPUTS THAT REALLY MAKE
A DIFFERENCE. IN DOING SO, YOU
ARE PREPARES TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. I THINK ALL THREE OF
YOU INCLUDING MR. SEIA WILL MAKE
A DIFFERENCE ON THE CPC. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THE SAME
ON THE STAFF AS WELL. YOU WILL
FIND THAT I LOVE LANGUAGES, NOT
THAT I CAN SPEAK THEM VERY WELL
BUT I LOVE BRINGING THOSE PIECES
AND I LOVE LEARNING THE HISTORY.
THAT GOES TO THE POINT OF BEING
PRESENT AND BEING MINDFUL.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DRAW
FROM MY SPOORNS WHEN I WAS AT
THE EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS AND
HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
HORN OF AFRICA, KNOWING THE
CHALLENGES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
BOTH AS SEA AND IN WEST AFRICA
GENERALLY. THOSE PIECES ARE
REALLY HELPFUL. I THINK IT IS
HELPFUL FOR US TO KNOW AS
SEATTLEITES TO KNOW ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND WHERE
THEY COME FROM IN THE WORLD AND
THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND
WHAT THEY BRING. THESE ARE GREAT
POINTS AND I'M VERY THAPGFUL
BECAUSE NOW EVERYONE KNOWS I'M
THE SON OF TWO IMMIGRANTS AND
THE LIKE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE
FACING THE CPC ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS. ANY LAST QUESTIONS? I
ALWAYS HESITATE TO LOOK OVER TO
MY VICE CHAIR BUT I THINK WE ARE
GOOD. IN THAT CASE, I WOULD LIKE
TO MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 3066 THROUGH 3069.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. IT IS
MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS. AND ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS? HEARING AND SEEING
NONE, WILL THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL AND THE RECOMMENDATION TO
CONFIRM THE RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
3066-3069. CONGRATULATIONS TO
THREE OF YOU PLUS MR. SEIA WHO
COULD NOT JOIN US TODAY. THE
MOTION CARRIES AND THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
APPOINTMENTS BE CONFIRMED WILL
BE SENT TO THE FEBRUARY 4, CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. ON TOP OF THAT,
CLERK, ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS? NO?
OKAY. MY POLICY DIRECTOR AND
CLERK OF THE COMMITTEE HAS
ALWAYS GOT SOME GOOD IDEAS. I
NOTED HERE THAT THIS WILL GO TO
THE FULL COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 4.
AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE,
THAT IS ALSO THE DAY THAT OUR
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS CROWD
MANAGEMENT BILL WILL GO. AS I
HINTED, THERE WILL BE SOME
AMENDMENTS TO INCLUDE A COUPLE
FROM ME AND ONE WHICH IS TAKING
IN THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION. SO THANK YOU
AHEAD OF THAT. AND OBVIOUSLY, WE
WILL FOLLOW UP BETWEEN NOW AND
FEBRUARY 4. WITH THAT, WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
AGENDA. I HAVE TO SAY, THIS IS
LIKE THE SHORTEST PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING EVER. FOR
THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, AND I
APOLOGIZE TO MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE COMMITTEE, USUALLY IT GOES
MUCH LONGER, AND SOMETIMES CAN
BE A LITTLE TESTY, A LITTLE
EXCITING. SO YOU KNOW, EVERY NOW
AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
COMMITTEE MEETING THAT BALANCES
THAT OUT A BIT. SO THANK YOU FOR
TODAY. AND SO IN SAYING WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
AGENDA AND THERE IS NO COMMUNITY
OR BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE US.
SO SEEING AND HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
♪